I had such high expectations. The beginning was tough. Jada is not a likable character. I felt the main female character was a little immature when it came to donovan ad the breakup that late in the book? I enjoyed Donavn. i loved the way he stood up to her family especially her parents. i enjoyed the scheming and the way that jada dealt with her.

Fake It Till You Bake It is a great read for anyone who loves a good romance and a good cupcake! My mouth was drooling throughout the entire book. I would kill to try one of the famous s'mores cupcakes....
I really appreciated the amount of character development that all of the characters went through over the course of the book. Both of our protagonists (Jada and Donovan) shed their icy exteriors and get to know each other through more than just their fake dating scheme. Some of my favorite characters were Jada's grandmother, the regulars at Sugar Blitz, and Ella, the overexcited employee. Fake It Till You Bake It is written in a way that made me feel warm and comfortable. It is an ode to small bakeries everywhere and a reminder that you can find love in the most unexpected places. Everyone loves reality TV dating shows, everyone loves football, and everyone will love this book.

I received an advanced reader’s copy of Fake It Till You Bake It by Jamie Wesley for review.

This was a lovely story. Jada and Donovan are perfect for each other. Donovan supports Jada, reassuring her and having her back when needed. Jada livens and adds fun to Donovan’s life. I liked that the Jada and Donovan were shown spending lots of time together and the romance developed gradually.

This was the first story I’ve read by this author and I’m looking forward to reading the next in this series.

This was a cute book overall. I think it may have just been a case of too many recent reads in the food/restaurant/reality-tv- related subgenre of romance. This book pairs up a recently disgraced reality tv star, Jada Townsend-Matthews, and a cupcake-baking football pro--Donovan Dell.

The two have an awkward meet cute where Jada insults his cupcakes, then--surprise! Jada's grandma is Donovan's football team boss. Since she's been recently cut off from her parents' purse strings, grandma gives her a second chance to "earn" her trust fund. If she can work at Donovan's shop without incident, she's good to go.

Sugar Blitz could use Jada's creative eye and warm personality to draw in customers, so the duo reluctantly agrees to the arrangement. They're still not sure things are going to work, but when a reporter spins a story about the two being an item, they realize it could work for both of them. Cue the fake dating fun!

It's got great chemistry and steam, some neurodivergent rep with Jada's dyslexia, and some really fun-sounding events at the shop. Thanks to SMP Romance for a review copy! Off to indulge my cupcake craving :)

This book follows Donovan, a NFL football player and also the co-owner of the cupcake shop “Sugar Blitz”, and Jada, the daughter of doctors with high expectations and granddaughter of the owner of Donovan’s football team. She is also hiding from the fans of The One and the Only, the reality TV show where she declined a proposal from the lead man. The two meet when Jada comes into the cupcake shop and immediately critiques the shop and its products. In a turn of events, these two end up in a fake dating situation.
Overall, I liked the concept of this book, but it was just a little lackluster. It kept me interested throughout the story, but the logic of the character did not always make sense. Their chemistry did not seem real most of the time and relied on the author telling you rather than showing you. The timeline of the plot was also confusing. It seemed to jump around with no explanation and was hard to follow.
The setting of the cupcake shop was something that I don’t read a lot of and was very enjoyable. Jada’s grandma, Mrs. T, was the standout character of this story.

A cute and sweet treat
4 stars

This is my first book by Jamie Wesley and also - hopefully - the start of a new series about a trio of professional American football players who own and run a cupcake shop. And having enjoyed this one, if August and Nicholas get their own stories, I will definitely be grabbing those up, too.

The writing is really fresh, lighthearted and drew me in right away. It’s the kind of book that you pick up to read just a little and suddenly you find yourself finishing yet another chapter.

When we first meet Jada she’s being a little bit snarky. Add to that, the fact that she’s universally hated for a small incident on a national TV dating show, and I was sure that I would hate her. And yes, she’s a teeny bit abrasive at times, and sometimes too honest, and determinedly independent - but I couldn’t help but like her. She’s sassy - which gives her fantastic banter with Donovan but she’s also got extremely relatable vulnerabilities. And I know she’s fictional but I also loved her dress sense!

I have equally as much love for Donovan. While he’s always something of a type-A personality, the way he gets all uppity and stern when around Jada just made me happy. The pair just rub each other the wrong - or the right - way and the spark was delicious as the cupcakes. I love a bit of enemies-to-lovers, getting all riled up goodness!

It wasn’t just Jada and Donovan that had a great relationship in the book. Donovan and his two business partners / friends / teammates were bromance banter goals. They were hilarious and I devoured any scene they were together in. Fingers crossed that this pair get their own stories as I’m already half in love with them, too! Bonus points if one of them end up with Jada’s bestie, Olivia!

I really enjoyed this tale and it really started off strong. It was when it got towards the end that it started to lose its depth. It was as if the ending needed fleshed out a bit more. Spoiler I mean, there’s the inevitable break-up which Donovan does not see coming. And then 3 months passes before he makes his move. They express that they missed the other and they’re back together. Now I’m not normally one to lobby for more talking between my main characters in a book but I wanted Jada to explain her issues so they could grow as people and as a couple. I felt it was an opportunity missed to really solidify their relationship. SPOILER. But there was still a happy ending so I was more than happy with that. And there’s an epilogue! YAY!

This book is as sweet and delicious as the cupcakes made by Sugar Blitz. I mean, this book should either come with some sort of warning for all the scrumptious cupcakes it describes - or perhaps it should come with free cupcakes. Either way, you’re going to want to stuff your face - either with this book, with cupcakes or both. Looking forward to the next and very pleased to have discovered a new author in Jamie Wesley. 4 stars.

As an aside, I don’t care what anyone says - I HATE the word till. Until or ’til for me. I will happily die on this hill but, thankfully, this has absolutely no bearing on my rating of this book.

4 A Cute Read Stars!!

This is my first book by Ms. Wesley and it was cute read. I loved the setting not only in San Diego, where I’m from, but also the cupcake bakery that Donovan, a NFL player owns. This story centers around Donovan and Jada a Reality Star that needs some rehab on her image thanks to turning down a marriage proposal on national television.

There’s definitely a draw between these two upon their meeting at his bakery… this girl throws all sorts of attitude at him, but Donovan is confident not only in himself, but most definitely in his cupcakes… and so begins their “fake” relationship that will help both of them in different ways.

I loved their push and pull and how they both changed as the story progresses. Jada is a woman that doesn’t like to show emotions because she doesn’t like to feel vulnerable, but as her feelings for Donovan we see her heart changing. And while Donovan wasn’t looking for love, only to rescue his cupcake shop, things change and “fake” becomes real!

This is a great summer read and I thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Wesley’s writing and story telling!

Very early on I was drawn to this book because that cover? Absolute art! Plus this book is chock-full of some of my favorite things - fake dating, food, and fantastic friendships. This is such a delightful book and I’m so glad I had the opportunity to read it.

Jada has a tendency to make impulsive decisions but when one of those impulsive decisions led to her being on a reality TV show and then declining the proposal when she was the final contestant, she’s been extra-adrift and feeling like a failure. Donovan is used to keeping everything logical and in control, but Jada disrupts his logical paths by telling him where he can improve his business and bringing new energy to the cupcakery. When Jada gets accosted by a nosy journalist she claims Donovan is her new boyfriend and suddenly they have to keep up the farce both to limit some of the Internet hate Jada has been receiving since she turned down the proposal on TV and to hopefully revive Donovan’s business which has steadily been slowing down.

I really enjoyed the dynamics between Jada and Donovan, and the way their relationship grew over time. They had such a great rapport and so much great banter, plus their attraction was so obvious and sweet. I also loved Donovan’s friendship with August and Nicholas, who he’d opened his business with, and would have loved to see more of Jada with her friends. Everything was so sweet and fun and I just had such a delight reading this book. I cannot wait to see what’s going to happen with August with that ending and hope he and Nicholas have upcoming stories. All around a fun read that I’d absolutely recommend if you’re a fan of fake dating and baking romances!

Mmmmmm...cupcakes!

Super sweet (pun intended) about Donavan Dell, a football star, and Jada Thompson-Matthews, the granddaughter of his team's owner. Jada was recently on a Bachelor-esque reality TV show. At the last minute, she turned down the lead's proposal - sending the producers and all of America into a tailspin! How dare she
reject Dr. John! She heads home to San Diego, bombarded with negativity on social media. When Jada can't seem to get on the track to success, Grams asks Donavan to give Jada a job. How can he say no, especially since his contract is up for extension?

Donavan is all logic and order. Jada? She's pretty much the opposite. Her dyslexia hasn't helped nor has the fallout from the failed proposal. Opposites? Yes, they are! But, like in all good rom-coms, they end up faking a relationship to keep the paparazzi at bay, plus that's going to bring business into the struggling cupcake shop. Needless to say, all's well that ends well.

There's nothing too surprising in the storyline. I did like Jada's ownership of her dyslexia. While her parents treated it as a flaw, she accepted it as part of who she is - even though her parents definitely left psychological scars.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the entire premise, it is one of my favorite tropes ever and i just loved the main characters jobs and how it was incorporated. I did however wish, there had been more of the actual fake dating. I feel like it kind of lacked in that area, i wish we could've seen them battle that more, however everything else was really fun and sweet to read about. Very cute beach read.

I thought this was cute- albeit a bit predictable and formulaic. I thought Jada and Donovan were sweet, but I never fully was into it. Could be me reading way too many romances lately.

“Love mixes with sugar and flour.”

Synopsis: Jada Townsend-Matthews is the most reviled woman in America after turning down a proposal on a reality dating show. When she comes home to lick her wounds, Jada finds herself working at San Diego's newest cupcake bakery, Sugar Blitz, alongside the uptight owner and professional football player Donovan Dell. When a reporter mistakenly believes Jada and Donovan are an item, they realize they can use the misunderstanding to their advantage to help the struggling bakery and rehabilitate Jada's image. Faking a relationship should be simple, but sometimes love is the most unexpected ingredient.

Personal review: 4 stars

A reality star and a cupcake baking football player pretend to be a couple in order to save his bakery - with the trope of fake dating - what’s not to love! Main character Donovan is a planner and Jada is just NOT part of his plan, but inserts herself into his life and ruffles his feathers in the best of ways! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

Fake it Till You Bake It is a standalone rom-com by author Jamie Wesley. It’s a dual POV with a HEA.
Tropes:
– fake dating
– forced proximity
– enemies to lovers
– big city
– opposites attract
– workplace romance

By the numbers quick review:
★ Character dev.: 👤👤👤👤
★ Plot: 📚📚📚📚
★ World building: 🌎🌎🌎🌎
★ Romance: 💕💕💕💕
★ Sexiness: 🔥🔥
★ Overall Rating: 3.6

Such sweet & lighthearted romance! I enjoyed the humor and banter in this quick fun romance as well as getting to know its cast of delightful characters.

I enjoyed the cute cheesiness that felt perfect for the start of summer.

Such a fun, sweet, tension filled fake dating Black romance between Donovan, a pro football player who owns a struggling cupcake shop, and Jada, a rich young woman who social media made into a reality TV show villain. In a last minute bid to get access to her trust fund, Jada goes to work for Donovan at his cupcake shop. And in a moment of panic in response to paparazzi, Jada ropes Donovan into a fake relationship. There is great banter and chemistry, and unlike some other reviewers, I don't feel like it was insta-love. Insta-attraction, definitely, and the pace does move quickly, but I think that is pretty realistic for someone you have a strong attraction to and basically are spending 24/7 with working together.

This was a fun romance set in a cupcake shop between a football player and a woman who was on the equivalent of The Bachelor. Fake dating leads to real feelings, as it tends to happen. 😊

This was a fun read that was perfectly fine. It was just a little too *shrug* for me. And there were a few smaller nitpicks that dropped it to just below a 3⭐ rating, but if you like the setting and the trope, it's definitely worth checking out.

There were a few things I liked about the book:
I really liked some of the side characters, they were quite fun. Mrs. T the grandmother, Donovan's teammates, his mom, sisters etc. My guess is that if there is a next book, it'll be about one of the teammates (August) and Donovan's sister. I might be checking out that book since I really liked August as a character.

For the main romance of the book, it developed quite well, and I liked their enemies to fake dating to lovers journey. The setting for the romance was great as well. Who wouldn't love a cupcake store! And I loved that Donovan introduced Jada to Crocs. They ARE the most comfy.

Also, I really appreciated that the main character had dyslexia and especially that it wasn't just glossed over, it came up in variance instances and handled well.

But I also had a lot of small issues with the book:

The characters felt a little one-dimensional. Donovan is a hard-ass, Jada is "bougie", they didn't really seem to grow out of that. Their depth came from some backstories but those felt more like telling than showing. Instead of having the characters act with nuance because of their background, those stories were just told over a conversation.

A lot of the side plots seemed to come out of nowhere for me. Especially the villain-like characters just felt like they were added for the sake of drama, and the issues seemed to be resolved almost as soon as they arose. Which made me question their necessity beyond adding more pages to the book.

Similarly, the third act breakup seemed random. I don't know why they broke up, and I don't know how it served the story, they got back together practically right after.

Finally, in general, I don't think I connected to the writing style, which meant I didn't connect as much to the characters or the situation.

Having said all that, it was still a fun read, I didn't dislike it. It was a perfectly fine romance.

Overall rating: ⭐⭐.8, rounded up to 3

Thank you to St Martins Press and NetGalley for the eARC!

This book should come with an advisory label: "WARNING This product is guaranteed to cause extreme hunger and cupcake envy. Read on a full stomach and/or with a batch of sweets close at hand for emergency consumption." A tad rocky in the first and final acts, but everything in between is pure joy, as the leads bicker, banter, and fall hopelessly in love, egged on by their incorrigible friends. I grinned, giggled, sighed, and generally had a marvelous time. Highly recommended for romcom lovers.

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Whew, am I mad I waited so long to read this fantastic book!

This book has it all: a fiery heroine, a outwardly-seeming grump with a huge soft inside as our hero, cupcakes, football players baking cupcakes, fake dating with real feelings, and reality TV shenanigans.

Jada and Donovan definitely get off on the wrong foot when they first meet, and I adored the immediate banter and obvious chemistry that they had. When they end up working together at Donovan's bakery while Jada works on figuring out what she wants to do with her life and prove she's trustworthy enough for her trust fund, sparks and wits fly. Then you throw in the impulsive fake dating scheme and Donovan's perfectly logical, ordered life is thrown into chaos--and of course, he loves it.

I really liked the heart and spirit of these two characters. Jada, despite being a rich "bougie" woman who hasn't figured out what she is going to do with her life after becoming the most hated woman in America by turning down a swoony man on a Bachelor-like show, lives her life out loud and is unapologetically honest and herself. She refuses to be as ashamed of her dyslexia as her parents are, and I loved that she did what she needed to to thrive in the world. Donovan, who clings to logic and reliability due to a less than stable childhood, is still very kind-hearted and generous, even when he is acting a little principal-esque.

The obvious chemistry between the two characters leaped off the page, and when they finally got together it was hot!! I would have read 12 more sexy scenes between these two, but will settle for the ones we got.

My only real quibble with this book was the third-act "conflict" that separated them. I understood what the author was trying to do with it, but it just didn't ring super true to me that they would have just surrendered like that. However, luckily we don't have too much of them being miserable, and I can't wait for what seems to be the next book that was perfectly set up in the epilogue!!

CW: gambling addiction, minor ableism, parental disapproval/shaming

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review - all thoughts are my own. This book was a fun rom-com about a professional football player who also owns a cupcake shop. Jada still reeling from her reality show break up needs a job and Donavon owes Jada's grandmother a favor so Jada starts working at the cupcake shop, there are some misunderstandings and sparks flying - you just can't help but smile with this book. Bravo - can't wait for more from this author!

Faking dating and cupcakes!!

Who could want more than that?? This was a super fun story, and with baking being front and centre, it made to be a sweet story too! You'll definitely enjoy this one with the loveable characters and all of the sweet treats!

Thank you to NetGalley and SMP for the earc in return for an honest review.

A sweet fake dating romance!

Fake It till You Bake It features lovely flawed characters that have great character development as the story progresses. I thought I wouldn’t like Jada because of the way she acted and spoke in her first meeting with Donovan, but she grew on me and made me root for her. Donovan is a sweetheart who also developed and accepting of changes out of his comfort zone which I like. This book deals with relatable themes like family dynamics, self-love, and hard work. I appreciate the dyslexia rep too. I also must mention that the secondary characters in this story are adorable as well!