Unfortunately, I gave this one a shot twice, and honestly? I should’ve known better the first time. I really wanted to like it, but it just fell flat—like a pancake with no syrup. Sometimes you gotta accept when a book just isn’t your cup of tea and move on to the next adventure.

Due to personal reasons, I was unable to read and review this book in a timely manner. Thank you for the opportunity. I apologize for any inconvenience. ###########################%%##########

Sweet love story with a unique premise. I loved the banter between the MCs and the fake-dating trope is a winner.

*Fake It Till You Bake It* by Jamie Wesley is a delightful and steamy romance that blends the fake dating trope with a sweet bakery setting. I really enjoyed the chemistry between Jada and Donovan, and the way their relationship evolved from a business arrangement to something more genuine. The supporting characters added depth and humor to the story, and the cupcake-filled backdrop was a fun touch. While some moments were a bit predictable, overall it was an engaging and enjoyable read.

My first book from this author, it was a great surprise. Loved the couple, loved their story and loved all the baking!

I’m a sucker for any book set in a bakery, and this one definitely delivered. It’s a fun fake dating story with a mix of football players, reality TV drama, and—most importantly—plenty of cupcakes. A breezy summer read you can zip through, with a touch of steam to keep things interesting!

Jamie Wesley serves up a delightful romance in Fake It Till You Bake It, mixing fake dating, a grumpy-sunshine dynamic, and delicious cupcakes into one irresistible package. Jada, a reality TV star with a PR problem, and Donovan, a straight-laced football player turned bakery owner, fake a relationship for mutual benefit—only to realize the sparks between them are very real. If you love swoony sports heroes, strong-willed heroines, and a cozy, feel-good vibe, this book is a must-read.

2.5 stars! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I was really into Fake It Till You Bake It at first, but after the initial chapters, it started to feel a bit too cliché and predictable. The enemies-to-lovers vibe had potential, but it got bogged down with too many unnecessary elements. I liked the characters, but the pacing slowed, and I lost interest—even the first spicy scene didn’t hold my attention.

The characters themselves were solid—Jada and Donovan have good chemistry and growth, but I felt like the story packed in too much. We had social media drama, family issues, business stress, and tons of conflict, and at some point, it just felt like there was too much going on for the romance to shine through.

The second breakup felt repetitive and unnecessary—it wasn’t needed when there were already plenty of layers to their relationship. Also, some of the phrasings seemed off, like when Donovan, a guy from Brooklyn, casually says “besotted fool.” It felt out of place and pulled me out of the story.

It was decent overall, but nothing that will stick with me or make me revisit it. I’m unsure if I’ll pick up the second book, but I’m curious to see if the writing improves.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a super sweet romance and I really loved the setting of the bakery. The fake dating and enemies to lovers aspects were a lot of fun and I really found myself rooting for Jada and Donovan!

Jada, a reality TV pariah, and Donovan, a perfectionist football player-turned-bakery owner, strike a fake-dating deal to save both her reputation and his struggling business. A sweet and delicious blend of fake dating and grumpy x sunshine! I love a good swoon-worthy love story, and this one delivered with an added amount of spice.

Even though parts of the novel felt a bit exaggerated and like the romance was moving too fast, I still had a good time. The chemistry between Jada and Donovan really enhanced the plot. Beyond enjoying the romance, I appreciated that the book covered some serious topics like gambling addiction, the effects of social media, and parental relationships. All in all, I thought this was a fun and delightful read filled with humor and some genuinely touching moments. The writing was solid, the setting was fantastic, and the characters felt fully developed.

OK JAMIE! What a fun, hot, witty book. I loved everything about this from start to finish. The banter!! THE! BANTER! I love fake dating and this was executed perfectly.

A reality star and a cupcake-baking football player pretend to be a couple in order to save his bakery in this sweet and sexy romance

This was such a great story that will make your heart smile several times as the main characters come to the conclusion that they are more important to each other than the "fake" reasons they were pretending.

This book has been on my Netgalley shelf for years and I haven’t picked it up. No shade to the author or the book, I think my taste has just changed and I’m not the right person to review it anymore.

This was so very cute! I loved the idea of Donovan being a pro football player while also being a baker! The connection between Jada and Donovan was sugar-y sweet cuteness!

I didn't care for the third person narration and I just wasn't fully blown away by this story!

But still a very cute and easy read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced eARC.

I wanted to like this, but it was just meh to me. I didn’t really like either one of the characters. The plot wasn’t that interesting either, but overall, it was just an okay read.

Life got in the way and I could not finish the book. Thanks to the publishers for the chance to read the book.

"Fake It Till You Bake It" was a fun, light read that delivered exactly what I expected: a sweet romance with plenty of cupcakes and a dash of fake dating drama. Jada and Donovan have an opposites-attract dynamic that’s entertaining to watch unfold, and the bakery setting adds a cozy, feel-good vibe.

That said, while I enjoyed the story, it didn’t quite hook me the way I hoped it would. The characters were likable but didn’t feel particularly unique, and the plot followed a pretty predictable path without too many surprises. Still, the chemistry between Jada and Donovan had its moments, and their banter kept things lively.

It’s the kind of book that’s perfect for when you’re in the mood for something light and low-stakes—enjoyable, but not a new favorite. If you love fake dating tropes, cupcakes, and feel-good romances, it’s worth a read.

This was a slow, quiet, but then explosive read.
Relatable aspects to each of their lives.
The romance was off the charts!
Real life issues, gambling addiction to the impact of social media on lives to blackmail to teamwork to how parents’ opinions and actions affect their children even as adults.
The pot was well thought out and was well written!