Rating: 3.5 Stars - rounding up for the strong ending

Everly hates her birthday! Each "celebration" has been marred in some way, and this year takes the cake. She thought she was sharing her birthday woes with her best friend, but ended up sharing them with ALL their listeners. It seemed many listeners were rooting for Everly to forget "him" and find her Mr. Right. And so, armed with her list of rules for faking it, Everly sets out to find her happy.

I absolutely loved the premise of this book, and it started out really strong. I was laughing a LOT and really enjoying meeting Everly and the rest of her radio family. Everly had a lot of baggage to unpack before she could honestly find her Mr. Right, and I was more than rooting for her to notice the mr.-right-in-front-of-you. Chris was a gem. I was so glad we got the story from both his and Everly's perspectives, because I had a fabulous time in his head. The more I got to know him, the more I wanted him to forget the rules or quit his job or something, because I thought he was the man she deserved. He saw her, appreciated her, and seemed to understand her in a way other men hadn't. What more could I want for Everly?

Though the romance was of the slow burn type, which I am generally not a big fan of, I did like seeing these two grow closer to one another as they worked through their respective baggage. The ending was especially strong, I know I was wearing a grin because of it.

Overall: It was great seeing Everly go from faking it to making it.

"Ten Rules for Faking It" is the very definition of a slow-burn romance, a character-driven novel where the attraction takes a while to develop. This is a long (almost 400 pages) book, and I will admit that it took me a while to get into it. But eventually, I came around and really enjoyed it, due in part to the very realistic portrayal of a woman who suffers from anxiety. I have first-hand experience in this regard, and I suspect the author does, too.

The story begins on Everly Dean’s thirtieth birthday, which is an unmitigated disaster. She learns that her boyfriend is cheating on her, and when she arrives at the radio station where she works as a producer, the DJ mistakenly leaves the mic on when Everly launches into an epic rant about her now-ex’s infidelity. Thousands of listeners in their small California town are now aware of Everly’s romantic woes, to her mortification.

Deciding that she needs a change, Everly begins to write down a set of rules to help her start a new chapter in her life, including “push the boundaries of your comfort zone.” So when her boss suggests a “Bachelorette”-type contest to find Everly a new boyfriend, she reluctantly agrees; the station needs to boost its ratings, and listeners have been flooding the station with calls with advice and support ever since her hot mic incident. She’ll go on dates with six different men, and keep fans posted as to how things are working out.

Chris, Everly’s boss and the station manager, is keeping a whole bunch of secrets. For one, he has a crush on Everly; he’s hoping that if she finds love, he won’t think about her so much. Unbeknownst to his staff, he’s not just their boss, he’s also the station owner’s son. His father is a New York magnate who has been placing Chris in various positions throughout his business empire to prepare him to take on a bigger role in his company. Once Chris has made the station a success, he’ll be able to move back to New York and start working at his dream job.

Everly’s social anxiety makes the dating game a challenge, but she keeps at it, hoping that something will spark with one of the contestants. But she can’t help feeling that the man she’d really like to date is the one who thought of the contest to begin with, which must mean he doesn’t feel the same, and then there’s the company’s no-fraternization policy…

I really enjoyed the relationship between Everly and her best friend Stacey, the DJ whose show she produces. Like many introverts, Everly has paired up with an extrovert, who encourages her to come out of her shell. Conversely, I’m not sure we needed quite so much detail about Everly’s parents and their dysfunctional on-again, off-again relationship, but I suppose it provides some context for their daughter’s own history of romantic skittishness.

Incidentally, Everly doesn’t “get over” her anxiety—gradually, she begins to cope a bit better, while her friends and loved ones accept it and try to help her manage it. Now that’s what I call a happy ending.

Book Info
Paperback, 384 pages
Expected publication: December 29th 2020 by Griffin
Original Title Ten Rules for Faking It
ISBN 1250624169 (ISBN13: 9781250624161)
Edition Language English
Other Editions (3)
Source:Netgalley EARC
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BOOK BLURB

What happens when your love life becomes the talk of the town?

As birthdays go, this year’s for radio producer Everly Dean hit rock-bottom.

Worse than the “tonsillectomy birthday.” Worse than the birthday her parents decided to split (the first time). But catching your boyfriend cheating on you with his assistant?

Even clichés sting.

But this is Everly’s year! She won’t let her anxiety hold her back. She’ll pitch her podcast idea to her boss.

There’s just one problem.

Her boss, Chris, is very cute. (Of course). Also, he's extremely distant (which means he hates her, right? Or is that the anxiety talking)?

And, Stacey the DJ didn’t mute the mic during Everly’s rant about Simon the Snake (syn: Cheating Ex).

That’s three problems.

Suddenly, people are lining up to date her, Bachelorette-style, fans are voting (Reminder: never leave house again), and her interest in Chris might be a two-way street. It’s a lot for a woman who could gold medal in people-avoidance. She’s going to have to fake it ‘till she makes it to get through

all of this.

Perhaps she’ll make a list: The Ten Rules for Faking It.

Because sometimes making the rules can find you happiness when you least expect it.

My Thoughts


Very much a Rom-Com with serious moments. Like others before it that I have read what is obvious to the reader takes a while to become true for the characters themselves.

Especially given the situation that Everly finds herself in at the beginning of the book.

Everly Dean is very relatable so are her actions and reactions as well.

I liked her characters growth and the fact over the course of the story she managed to finally step outside her fears a little at a time so by books end Everly got everything she hoped for personally and professionally.

Some readers like myself will find her journey one they can learn from. Other readers however may not but rather find this to be one like a million others whose outcome outweighed the way in which it worked out for the best in the end.

For me though each new Contemporary Rom-Com tales are one of my favorite types of romance stories.

They give readers a chance to see a different spin on how certain couples come to be.

In this instance the rocky road to a fulfilling relationship for lead character Everly Dean starts off with a whimper and ends with a satisfying, well earned bang.

[EArc from Netgalley]

On every book read as soon as it is done and written up for review it is posted on Goodreads and Netgalley, once released then posted on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles as well.

OH MY GOD. Did the universe just send me this book as a sign? Did Sophie Sullivan write it for me? Or an I just really lucky for finding this wonderful rom-com about breakups, shitty boyfriends, dating attempts and anxiety just as I'm struggling with each of these?!

Not gonna lie, it's been a tough time putting myself together after a nasty breakup with a nasty long-term boyfriend of mine during the pandemic when dating options are close to none and the economy is crumbling. Picking up Ten Rules for Faking It, I knew I was reaching for a good rom-com, but I didn't know perfect it would be for me at this time. Nothing has managed to lift my spirits like this book, all the while making me feel understood.

This novel is about Everly who caught her dumb boyfriend cheating on her ON HER BIRTHDAY. She is a ball of anxiety and avoidance. But then she decides that nobody can ruin another year for her, so she will be the amazing, hot, ambitious, loving and lovable woman that she is. However, as a result of an unfortunate event in the life of a radio and podcast producer, (almost) the entire world could hear her talk sh*t about her cheating ex. And now everybody wants to date her!!

Ten Rules for Faking It touched my heart just when I needed it. It made me laugh and gave me hope that love is out there! Go read it!!

*Thank you to the Publisher for a free advance copy of this book for a free copy of this book ine xchange for an honest review.

This book was just ok for me. It had an interesting plot and good character development, but overall, it wasn't something that stood out. The ending was very predictable and I felt getting there was long-winded. If there were about 50 less pages and maybe a twist or two, I would have enjoyed it more.

I enjoyed this book, it was a slow burn romantic comedy and perfect for snuggling up and reading on a lazy afternoon that doesn't tax the brain. I loved the characters and the storyline was nice. It lacked a little something in the middle but it was still a great read.

This was a very sweet, light romantic comedy and I enjoyed it! The depiction of anxiety, especially while dating, was pretty spot-on. This is also the second romance I've read recently in the radio/podcast world (first being The Ex Talk) and I think it may be one of my new favorite premises--it felt very modern and fresh. I would definitely recommend this for fans of Sophie Kinsella, Mhairi McFarlane-type romances,

Loved this book. The characters were believable and easy to connect with. I loved how the biggest motif was social anxiety. Some parts were predictable but the ending was not. I was hoping to have Staceys ending included , but would love a second book from a series to showcase her story by itself.

This was an awesome slow burn. The way Everly's anxiety was written was realistic and compassionate. Having a thousand thoughts at once and running through every imaginable what-if scenario is relatable to anyone with anxiety. The people who loved her didn't see it as something that needed to be fixed and Chris took it in stride as just another part of who she was. I loved how they took the time to build their friendship and grew to like each other before jumping straight to being a couple.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this one and read it in two sittings. Everly decides to take on a new challenge at work, and the chaos and fun helps her recognize who she is and why she’s amazing without letting her anxiety define her. It's definitely a slow burn romance, but I liked the chemistry between Chris and Everly and the friendship between her and Stacey.

I thought Everly was especially relatable as I'm also an introvert approaching my 30th birthday, but she faces a lot more social anxiety. I appreciated the representation of her anxiety and how Chris and Stacey learned to help her navigate it, but it occasionally felt like it was too repetitive.

Overall I recommend this one as I loved Everly's growth and the connection between the characters. This one is perfect for fans of Hallmark movies — a workplace romance without any steam. Pick this one up when it publishes December 29!

Sophie Sullivan’s Ten Rules for Faking It wasn’t quite what I expected going into it. I enjoyed this book, its sweetness, its occasional humorous moments, its strong female friendship, & how sensitively it was written, but I also didn’t expect it to revolve *so much* around the heroine’s self-described severe social anxiety.

The heroine Everly’s anxiety is referenced in the blurb. But I do want to be clear that that is actually a really big part of the book—of the plot & of Everly’s arc.

At the beginning of Ten Rules radio show producer Everly Dean gives an accidental on-air tirade about her cheating ex. People are interested in the story.

Her boss, Chris Jansen, who secretly has feelings for Everly but who’s also determined to re-locate back to NYC once he gets the okay from his boss dad, decides to turn lemons into lemonade. He proposes that Everly do a bachelorette kinda thing: she’ll go on dates with carefully selected men & eventually choose one as winner, all the while documenting her experiences for the radio station blog.

Everly agrees because her Ten Rules of Faking It suggests that it would be a good way to get out of her so-called comfort zone. & why would the hero even propose this idea? Chris knows his professional plans & while he wants Everly, he also wants her to “be happy.” (He also wants to bring in ad money.)

Watching Everly & Chris move from people who barely talk to close friends who support each other & offer understanding is quite heartwarming. I love how he recognizes signs that she’s experiencing anxiety & over the course of the book, how he assures her that she’s strong & someone he wants & wants to be with.

Everly’s increasing willingness to be vulnerable with others & to, as she notes, come to terms with who she is, anxiety & all, is beautiful. I have anxiety & that line about self-acceptance stopped me in my tracks.

Perhaps my biggest issue with the book has to do with the conflicts. The first conflict feels so sustained to me & then shortly after it was resolved the other popped up, & the pacing of those felt somewhat emotionally frustrating to me as I was reading it.

Also, I thought it was odd that therapy is only suggested for Everly once, & very obviously ignored on her part. It seems strangely included to me—not to mention that I see a lot of value in therapy itself.

This book has some moments that really touched me, & I think it has a lot of good things to say. But execution-wise, it isn’t always my cup of tea.

3.5 ⭐️. Ten Rules for Faking It is out on 12/29. Thanks to St. Martin’s Press & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

This is exactly the kind of book one should read if they're looking for a feel-good slow burn contemporary romance. I swift through the pages today because I really wanted to see how Everly's story goes.

Let me just mention how much I laughed with Everly throughout the book. Maybe it's because I relate to her being afraid to try out new things that are beyond the boundary of her comfort zone. She had me rooting for her entirely. Then there is Chris who happens to be her boss. He is both rich and... some sort of a knight in shining armor? He falls to that trope with how much he seems to save the day. I was irked for the most part of him playing hero because it's unrealistic. He can't possibly know what to do with Everly's issues all the time.

I liked the whole aspect of the Bachelorette in a radio show. Usually, I wouldn't like a harem but this one was fun to read. Especially when the whole time Everly is doing it, she's actually pining for her boss.

A 4/5 star for Sullivan's debut. Hoping to read more of her works in the future.

Ten Rules for Faking It really stood out to me in a very crowded field of wonderful romance novels. It has all the prerequisites for a grand love story: delightful supporting characters, tender and funny moments, swoon-worthy scenes, a slow-burn romance, and a couple of grand gestures. What set this book apart for me were the main characters, Everly and Chris, whose emotions were so raw and complicated. Watching these two fall for each other felt intimate and personal, and my heart soared and plummeted along with theirs. I felt every sigh, every touch, every tear....and I was sad when the book was over. I have a feeling that the author is not done with these characters yet—at least I hope she’s not, because I would love to read more!

A girl with social anxiety finds love. As much as I wanted it to, this book never captured my own affection. It would be more affecting for younger readers than older. The characters were immature, floundering in their everyday lives, each protagonist having overbearing and inappropriate parents. The hero encourages the object of his affections to date others and she does. The constant attention given to quirks and foibles struck this reader as intrusive. By the time of the denouement my eyes rolled. This is an adequate romance but not for me.

Ten Rules For Faking It by Sophie Sullivan is a fun, light read that is great for a Saturday afternoon at home with college football, your favorite TV show or Christmas movies on in the background.

Synopsis: Everly Dean has never had the best luck with birthdays. But her 30th might just take the case. Not only did she break up with her boyfriend, she also manages to accidentally air all her dirty laundry about said break-up on the radio. So, she makes a list — 10 ways to make it through her thirties — and this time, she’s determined to stick to it. If only there wasn’t a very cute radio station manager throwing her off track.

Everly is a lovable and highly relatable character, and I appreciated how Sullivan depicted facets of Everly’s severe social anxiety and her coping mechanisms, some of which are similar to my own. I felt that her anxiety was given all due respect and I loved that her friends, family and romantic interest didn’t view it as an issue at all.

That being said, I didn’t ever feel overly attached or invested in the characters, and I don’t really think I ever got 100% in their heads, which I like to do when I read a romance story. This book has alternating points of view between Everly and her romantic lead, Chris, which I normally like, but I felt the transitions between the two could’ve been done more smoothly.

I also felt the book became somewhat repetitive toward the end, which I think was supposed to be a byproduct of Everly’s anxiety — all the going back and forth of her mind and emotions — but actually just served to annoy me in large part. I wanted to be invested in the ending but all the back and forth left me somewhat exhausted.

This is a pretty PG romance so if you’re not into steam, this is a good option! I wish it’d given me a few more butterflies but I think so much focus was given to Everly’s strength and character building (which was great, don’t get me wrong) that sometimes I felt like the romance portion fell by the wayside.

Just the perfect fake-lovers romance for the fan of the genre. The perfect summer beach read and after reading it you will know why. A real page turner for romance addict and a funny read for everyone.

I loved this sweet, swoony duo so much! I mean clearly I did since I read this in well under 24 hours. I was so invested in the relationship between our protagonists that I could not put it down. The side characters were also completely lovable too in case you were wondering.

I have to say that there was just not enough kissing in this book for me. On the steamy scale rank this one low or you might be disappointed. I kept waiting for physical contact to happen...and waiting...and waiting...and guess what? I am still waiting. I think this could end up frustrating many a romance reader and so I wanted to give you a fair warning. However, I think the story is well worth it and still very romantic despite this.

Why do I think this? The characters are so well written and the relationship between Everly and Chris is one that I could not help but root for. I really wanted these crazy kids to work it out. I also very much appreciated that it dived so deeply into what it is like to live with anxiety. As someone who also struggles with an anxiety disorder it was nice to see that representation. I definitely related on many levels throughout the book.

The romantic tension in this one was off the charts in my opinion and if you are looking for a sweet, romantic read this might just be the one for you. If you struggle with anxiety, you will feel seen. If you just need a little happiness while a pandemic is raging throughout the world, this book might be a lovely distraction.

This is a quick read and a sweet romance with an interesting premise. I respect the author for writing a book that's really at its core a commentary on anxiety. Sadly, the excessive internal monologue in this novel ruined the reading experience. It's distracting and pulled me out of the story.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the complimentary copy. This one is not for me.

This was an okay read. It was written well enough and I think Everly and Chris had chemistry, but I didn't always connect to their romance. At times the situations felt forced. Overall, not a bad story though.

I was not a fan of this book. I tried several times to get into it, but I just could not do it. The main character was way too much of a doormat to be even remotely interesting.