It was nice to see a romantic lead deal with anxiety in a real and tangible way. As a reader I wanted her to overcome the anxiety, which isn't realistic, but it seemed she took a step back for every step forward. It did drag a bit. Very enjoyable read.

Ten Rules for Faking It is a sweet, sensitive coworkers to lovers trope. It's predicatable and you know where it will end up, but you can't help but root for Everly and Chris. What I loved about this book is that Chris is a nice person: he sees past Everly's severe social anxiety disorder and genuinely acts in ways that he thinks will benefit Everly and make her happy. I also loved the friendship between Everly and her best friend, Stacey. There's so much support and love between the characters. I also think that Sophie Sullivan does an excellent job describing what it is like to live with social anxiety when she wrote Everly's characteristics (some call them quirks, I call them real life). I rated this one a 3 because I predicted 99% of what would happen in the book and because it was too sweet for my taste at times - we're talking primetime Hallmark Channel movie level of pure. It was an enjoyable, fast paced read and perfect if you want a sweet escape with moderate drama and mild steam.

Advanced readers' copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Available 2021.

It's all fun and games until someone suffers an anxiety attack. Poor Everly. She has a history of very bad birthdays, and her 30th starts out epically bad - finding her boyfriend in bed with his assistant. Then she airs her grievances and her feelings about dating on the air for all of her radio audience to hear. Lets just say Everly has a lot of baggage to weigh her down along with her generalized and social anxiety.

Chris is the radio station's manager. He is paying his dues and dancing to his father's tune in order to get where he really wants. Chris has a lot of strong ideas and is a natural leader. But he is struggling against the ever changing whims of his father. To be honest, hearing about his dad - I'm not sure how his dad stayed so successful.

Chris has been interested in Everly since the first time they met, but didn't want to approach her because (1) he wasn't planning on staying and (2) he's her boss and the radio station has a no fraternization policy. Everly didn't notice him and thought he actively didn't like her. After the unfortunate event - Chris comes up with an idea to help the station and save Everly's job - by running a bachelor like promotion. Its all very cute and CHris and Everly are very sweet together as they resist their attraction.

The thing was, there is a LOT going on in addition to the romance between Chris and Everly, dealing with Chris's dad, Everly's nutty parents, her friend Stacey, Chris's brothers, and Everly's anxiety (which is pretty much a third wheel to every interaction in the book) - I didn't really feel the connection between Chris and Everly all that much. I think it was because we spent most of our time with them apart - or in Everly's head worrying.

I appreciate the attention paid to Everly's anxiety - but think she really needs some therapy (like she recommends to her parents and Stacey suggests). I wasn't convinced of a happily ever after for her and Chris. More of a happy for now - but without therapy, I don't see it lasting or going the distance. Chris worked through his primary issues - but although Everly started - she didn't really make significant breakthroughs with herself. She starting standing up for herself - and showed a willingness to open up - but I'm not sure trusting others was really there even at the end.

With all that noise in the book - I just couldn't stay focused on it and found myself skimming to get to sections where Everly and Chris were doing something fun - or Stacey was there.

This was a good book - but not an amazing one!

I received it as an ARC from NetGalley, but these opinions are all my own.

Everly Dean works as a producer at a failing radio station, and on her birthday her best friend airs her dirty laundry, that she caught her boyfriend heating on her with his assistant on her 30th birthday, on air. She is completely mortified, and goes home to create then rules to push herself this year. She receives a tremendous amount of support from their listeners. Their boss, Chris, decides to use their new found popularity to boost their ratings and save the station. The network uses her as a sort of bachelorette, where she dates prospective bachelors who apply, but things aren't so simple because Everly suffers from extreme social anxiety. The whole book revolves around Everly pushing her boundaries during the date sand getting herself out of her comfort zone. The only problem is that she is falling for her boss, Chris, which was not part of the plan.

I received an ARC via Netgalley from the publisher. All opinion are my own. I LOVED this book so much. Beverly's anxiety was handled so well, and as someone who suffers from anxiety, it was refreshing to see this in a book. I have never read a book where the heroine has anxiety, and it was great to see someone with real thoughts and real feelings get overwhelmed in their every day life. Chris was a total cinnamon roll hero. He was so sweet and understanding of Everly's anxiety. Their relationship felt organic, and you really felt the push/pull of wanting to be together but knowing they couldn't. If you love boss/employee, anxiety, and reality show dating tropes then this book is for you. This was easily my second favorite book of the year, and it was a solid 5 star read!

I absolutely loved this novel and the fresh, heartwarming, and delightful plot. This romance felt different because of the irreverent humor of our protagonist, and the will they-won’t they kept me excited and rooting for this pair. Thanks so much to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

‘Ten Rules for Faking It’ has a fairly unusual plot I think, or at least one that I’ve not come across in a while: the bachelorette within a radio setting, a harebrained idea of the station manager thanks to a hapless moment during which radio producer Everly Dean had her unfortunate private life and messy break up aired, quite literally, during a programme.

But her manager Chris Jansen slowly worms his way onto her radar and into her heart while this fake dating ensues, though there are many hurdles to jump through before their HEA comes along.

As far as rom-comedies go, this one’s a cute and sweet-ish read, but one that went on a tad too long, with the focus bouncing from Everly’s dates to Chris’s own family issues and back again when I was simply looking for the steady (and hopefully) steamy build to their developing relationship after a while.

In essence, I was expecting a faster-paced romance given the smouldering tension beneath it all, but instead got a slow, slow burn that only came to fruition way down the line. Much of Everly’s and Chris’s attraction seemed internalised as they got under each other’s skin—along with a lot of second-guessing themselves and each other moments as they fumble through Everly’s dating opportunities—and I started skimming as a result, impatiently waiting for the moment when both realised that their feelings were in fact, not unrequited.

What stood out however, was Sophie Sullivan’s articulate portrayal of Everly and her panic attacks in the mesmerising last quarter of the book that simultaneously sent the angst soaring: her struggles with unrequited emotions and the rigid framework through which she viewed life, the need for quiet and space for all variables to be accounted and fixed for in order to manage the anxiety that seemed like an overwhelming constant—all of which made Everly a likeable and relatable heroine who didn’t shy away from these issues but tried to deal with them the best she could.

Overall, a somewhat uneven read that made this rating sit right in the middle of the table: bumpy at times, boring in bits (and lacking smexy times), then with a brilliant finisher.

On her 30th birthday, Everly, who already hated birthdays, discovers her boyfriend in bed with another woman; Everly then (unknowing) rants live on the radio about it. With the listeners invested from there and the radio station needing a ratings boost, Everly agrees to a bachelor type dating scheme to boost ratings and revenue. With her boss (who Everly thinks dislikes her), her BFF, and her major anxiety along for the ride, Everly attempts to navigate dating as part of a radio stunt.
Ok, that's a terrible description of this book as the book is mainly about Everly's crippling anxiety while a slow-burn romance with Chris goes on on the side. The focus on Everly and her dates is MINIMAL, so don't go in expecting that to be the plot of the book.
I wish at some point a friend or relative had addressed Everly seeking professional, medical help for her issues, which regularly lead to panic attacks and her digging her fingernails into her hands out of stress. She needs to embrace therapy and it would have been nice if that could have been addressed at some point instead of Everly just having to live with this overwhelming anxiety...honestly her anxiety stressed me out a lot. Her parents seemed completely oblivious to the fact that Everly suffered from mental health issues at all? At the end of the book I thought someone was meeting her to give her the courage to go to her first therapy session, but that wasn't what was happening at all.

Ten Rules for Faking It by Sophie Sullivan is a light fun read. I liked seeing how Everly was able to work with her anxiety to start living. It did drag in spots and it especially took entirely too long for Chris and Everly to get together. However, still worth reading and the relationship between Stacey and Everly was wonderful.

Everyone has problems, but for Everly, her problem is that EVERYONE knows her problems. When her birthday rolled around and her best friend/ radio personality decides to surprise her on-air, instead of a joyous rendition of “Happy Birthday”, the listeners get a first-hand account of Everly’s embarrassing discovery of her boyfriend getting down and dirty with his PA.

I loved Everly’s incredibly relatable inner monologuing which provided a realistic insight into living with anxiety and the struggles and pressures of trying to accomplish the simplest of tasks, hypersensitivity to those around you, and the constant obsessing over things.

This was a fun and quirky read that was refreshingly honest about the realities of turning 30 and trying to land the guy, get a promotion, and step out of your comfort zone!

Huge thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!

I must say this book was not bad! I didn't set expectations like I usually do which may be why I quite enjoyed it!
3.5*

I sped right through the book. Sophie Sullivan's writing style is quirky, fun and entertaining. There were parts of the book that were funny, others that completely broker your heart and others that made your hear flutter. She definitely has a way of writing that makes you feel what the characters are feeling which is something I really enjoy in books. She also focuses a ot of energy on painting a true picture of what it could be like to have an anxiety disorder which was refresing and real.

There were a couple of things, however, that made the book DRAG (main reason why there isn't a higher star rating). The romantic aspect of the book took forever to develop- it was like we were never going to get to the good part.. it just dragged on and on and on. What was up with the very minimal details given about Everly's other dates? And Chris being so overly understanding and accepting of her anxiety without evey once losing his patience?? What is this guy- completey superhuman? At least Stacey could get frustrated with Everly!! (LOVED Stacey BTW!!!.

Overall I enjoyed Sophie Sullivan's writing style and sense of humour and wouldn't mind reading a sequel-- maybe going into Noah's side of things or exploring Stacey's life?.. Could be interesting.

ARC received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

A fun read that brings to light anxiety in a very realistic way. I rooted for the relationship more for Chris than for Everly.

I just finished reading this book and loved it. It's heartwarming and funny, and the characters are awesome.
Things I loved:

Everly and Stacey's friendship - they are amazing woman who bring each other up! All women need a friendship like this one.

All of the friendships - the camaraderie in the workplace - the characters like each other. It takes Everly quite a while to open up and get to know her co-workers because she is very shy and deals with anxiety. It's okay though. Once she starts to feel at ease with the people at work, they accept her.

Everly's quirkiness - Everly's quirkiness is anxiety. The storyline addresses a real issue with humor and grace.

Everly's lists - just loved them.

Chris - who wouldn't like a boss like Chris!

The storyline - Stacey is a deejay. Everly is her producer. It's Everly's birthday and unbeknown to her, Stacey starts to sing happy birthday on air. Evelyn has had a heck of a morning and lets Stacey know why. Unfortunately, she lets all of the listeners in on her morning as well, Need I say more?

This book made me laugh so hard that I cried! It's a must read!

5 stars

Everly Dean has a bad track record for baaaaad birthdays. This year was no different. When her best friend, Stacey, accidentally put her confession of Everlys BF cheating on her On-Air at their radio show- it tops the worst birthdays.
Everly comes up with a list of 10 Things for furture to ‘Fake It’. She has to get out from this curse. Her boss at the station, Chris, comes up with a contest to have Everly date and have listeners have a say on her dates. Talk about paypack!
What everyone doesn’t know is Everly’s severe social anxiety. She will do everything she can do be stronger and work past it. But can she get past her true love??

My heart is so full after finishing this book! For someone that has struggled with anxiety most of my life, reading this brought so much hope. Even knowing it’s fiction, seeing what Everly went through and how she overcame different situations made me take a look at things I stress over daily. This book my me laugh out loud, cringe for her, cry, and left me feeling happy. I can not wait to order my copy of this book.

I liked how this book normalized anxiety disorders and showed what it’s like living with anxiety. The romance sort of took forever to happen, which made the story drag for me. Thank you Netgalley for an ARC. All opinions are my own.

I picked up this book hoping for a light, fun read, and that's exactly what I got. While a lot of plot points were fairly predictable, it was still the kind of book I love to read when I just want comfort and entertainment. I especially appreciate the banter between the characters and the pop culture references. Some other reviews mention that the characters could be a little one-note; I don't disagree, but it didn't really bother me.

At the start of the book, it get like every other romance story I’ve ever read. Beautiful girl (who doesn’t know she’s beautiful) is bad at dating and swears off men only to fall in love at the end. RIGHT! ...but wrong. Everly’s issues showcased throughout the novel are so brutally honest and real. Her panic attacks, shaking, tapping, and debilitating social anxiety are things so many people deal with in their every day lives as well. As an anxious person, I saw myself in Everly. She was raw and real.
This book has its quirks, but it was different than many others of its genre. It is therapy positive, and supports getting help! I was captivated from the start. This will be a book that I hold many others to in the future.

I wanted to like this book so badly. The premise was so fun, but everything fell flat for me. It dragged so much.

This was an easy breezy read. The radio station setting was fun and different, and the premise of the dating promotion was cute. The romance was very clean, nothing racy really, which is fine for some. I expected it to be funnier. The best friend had a lot of unused potential for comedy. The main character felt very wishy-washy and was so terrified of being embarrassed at all times it just felt very constrained.. I realize that this was her social anxiety was her main defining character trait, but it made her feel very boring and annoying after a while.

Sophie Sullivan’s ‘Ten Rules for Faking It’ is a sweet, witty rom-com that doesn’t shy away from the heroine’s struggle to manage her anxiety.

Every year Everly Dean dreads her birthday. So when the big 3-0 arrives, it shouldn’t have surprised her that she’d start the morning discovering that her boyfriend is cheating on her with his personal assistant, and that she’d unwittingly air all of her dirty laundry on-air at the radio station where she works. When her distant (and annoyingly handsome) boss, Chris, sends her home for the day, it’s just icing on the proverbial cake. Left alone with her anxious thoughts, Everly starts to obsess. Can she turn her 30th year around? Will she finally be able to manage her at-times debilitating anxiety? She’s not sure, so she’ll make a list to help her, just in case: Ten Rules for Faking It.

One of the things I most appreciated about this novel is its unflinching look at anxiety and how it can affect someone’s daily life. Everly is constantly exhausted by the mere task of managing all of her anxiety, and her resilience and strength translate to the page. As a sufferer of anxiety myself, I found the invitation into Everly’s thoughts and feelings to be wholly authentic and relatable. I also love how Chris accepts Everly for all the parts of who she is.

Additionally, there is a beautifully strong female friendship between Everly and Stacey that is a delight to read. The dialogue is witty, poignant, and real. And the chemistry between Everly and Chris is slow burning and delicious, though hardcore romance readers expecting an intimate scene may feel slightly let down that the actual act occurs off page. But trust me, there is still enough sizzle to make this a wholly satisfying read.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an ARC of ‘Ten Rules for Faking It’ in exchange for my honest review.