Full of sass,love, drama, and humor, this book has it all. A fun easy read that draws you in and makes you feel like your friends with the characters rooting for love to win. Grab this book and you won’t be disappointed, but you will be wanting cupcakes.

Enjoyed this read! It's the perfect reverse grumpy sunshine mixed with some fake dating. Jada is the scorned reality TV star that said "no" to the favorite member of the show and Donovan is the sweet football player who started a cupcake shop that is struggling to maintain customers. There meet cute is ... well memorable to say the least. She walks in and is not impressed with the design but Donovan won't stop until she tries a cupcake.

Loved Donovan and his business partners!! They offered to host a book club and even read the romance books. The surprising twists and banter in this book had me laughing, especially when they started working together. Definitely a fun rom com read to check out!

"Yes I love you with all my heart. I even love you more than my shoes!"

When you wear Louboutin stilettos this is a real declaration of love. Fake It Till You Bake It by RomCom novelist Jamie Wesley is a fun sexy love story and as an added bonus lots of cupcakes!

Donovan is a professional football player who knows he is close to the end of his career. As someone who is a planner, who earned a business degree on his athletic scholarship, he is already planning his future by opening the cupcake bakery Sugar Blitz.

Enter the younger beautiful Jada who he overhears say his shop's ambiance is "Stale, probably like the cupcakes." So begins the collision of stalwart Donovan and "Cupcake Shop Critic" Jada.

Jada has been hiding out since being on the reality show, My One and Only ala "The Bachelor." She has been bombarded with hate for turning down the lead's proposal. Through circumstances beyond her and Donovan 's control she starts working at the bakery. When she is cornered about refusing the proposal she kisses Donovan and tells everyone it's because she fell in love with Donovan. We now have my favorite romance trope, fake relationship.

There is a lot of self deprecating (mostly by Jada) humor, funny awkward moments, stolen kisses and some very blushing love making that had me whisper, "Oh My!"

There are also very sweet encounters, not just from peanut butter chocolate cupcakes, like this one:

"What are you doing out here?"
"Looking for you."
"Why?"
"Because it was never an option that I wouldn't."

"Oh My!" I think my favorite thing about this romance was the comfort it provided me. It was funny, cute, a bit steamy, and made me swoon. Like a cupcake it was comfort food for my heart.

I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via #netgalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What's not to love about a fake dating romance between a chaotic princess and an uptight football player-turned-baker?! Truth is, I've never met a foodie-themed romance I haven't enjoyed. Food has the power to bring people together and as much as I live for food porn in general, it's the "baking/cooking together" scenes that really get my heart going! Add in the fact that I'm a huge reality TV stan didn't hurt either.

If you're a fan of slightly-predictable, but still enjoyable Hallmark movies with a little more steam and a LOT more diversity, you'll probably enjoy this one. It might take a while to get into this one, but it's well worth the read. It's a fun, quick - one you could easily plow through the whole thing during an afternoon by the pool - and the ridiculously charming cast of side characters has me already itching for the next book in the series.

Also, please note that even though the book is told in dual POV, it's also written in third person narration. Obviously, it's all about personal preference, but I would've much rather gotten to experience the character's thoughts and emotions through their eyes. Happy reading!

If you enjoy reading about: the after-effects of dating reality shows, pro football players who bake, how going viral affects your day-to-day, trying to figure out your life path after dealing with over-bearing parents, and/or fake dating, then give Fake It Til You Bake It a go!

I knew I'd enjoy this book based off the premise, but the storyline is deeper than it appears overall. Both main characters have a lot of things going on inside their brains-how to make a living, following passions, and learning how to push past others' expectations of you. There's a lot of heart and a little steam. Overall, it's a sweet read, that would probably be awesome to read beside a beach or pool this summer!

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's for the e-ARC!

I was hooked and almost had to stop and start baking while reading this one! Jada stops into a cupcake bakery with her best friend and while making snarky comments, which she is good at doing, she is overhead by one of the owners, Donovan, who challenges her. Little do they know that a few days later they are put together by her grandmother and his boss, AKA owner of his football team, when she asks Donovan to give Jada a job. He really cannot refuse and they find a way to work together. Soon they all the chemistry really does rub off and when Jada's not so distant past comes back to bite her she uses Donovan as her love interest and they are "fake dating" both for the sake of the shop and to keep her reputation intact. Will they survive all this "fakeness" or will it turn all too real? This one was great and I cannot wait to see what happens in the next installment with the bakery's partners.

Fake It Till You Bake It was a fun romance.

The book has both the male and female 3rd person POVs. The male POV is Donovan. He is a football player and also the co-owner of Sugar Blitz cupcake store. The female POV is former reality star Jada.

This was a quick read with much to enjoy. I loved the reality show aspect. I loved the football aspect. Although I wish that we had gotten to see some football. This book is about NFL players. However since we don't get to see them play/practice/workout I can't really consider this a sports romance.

The main focus of the story was definitely the cupcake store. And I loved everything about the store. And the romance was so good!

This was a really cute romance. The last page makes it seem like this is going to be a series. I definitely hope that it will be as I really enjoyed these characters and would love to see them again.

Jada is just coming off a less than positive stint on a 'Bachelor' type show, and Donovan is trying to figure out why the cupcake business he owns with two of his fellow NFL players isn't doing as well as they'd like. When Jada's grandmother strong arms her into working at the cupcake shop, sparks start to fly.

This was a fun and steamy book full of great side characters, lots of humor, and even some poignant lessons about figuring out our place in the world. Jada and Donovan had amazing chemistry, Donovan's fellow owners gave some great comic relief, and almost all of it takes place amongst the backdrop of a cupcake bakery. What more could you ask for in a romcom?

This was a great and fun read with just the right amount of spicy romance! I'm excited that it seems to be the first in a series, and will definitely be lining up to get my hands on the next one!

Thanks to St Martin's Press for the provided ARC!

This book was a super cute fake dating romance, one of my favorite tropes. I loved the relationship built between Jada and Donovan, the tension was top notch and I was totally swooning in that moment when they both admitted there was nothing fake going on. I really enjoyed the setting of the cupcake shop and am hoping we get books for the other two owners because I will definitely pick them up!

Jada is unpopular with the general public after she made it to the finale of a popular dating show and rejected a marriage proposal. Her wealthy parents have cut her off so she must convince her grandmother, who owns an NFL team, to give her access to her trust fund early. Her grandmother agrees with one condition - she must find a job and keep it, specifically a job at a cupcake shop owned by one of her players.

Donovan owns a cupcake shop with his two best friends, and he needs to find a way to increase foot traffic to their shop so they can increase their revenue. When Jada stops by the shop with one of her friends and makes negative comments about cupcakes, Donovan takes an instant disliking to her. When the owner of his NFL team says that she'll agree to a favorable contract if he employs her granddaughter, he has to say yes.

Things I liked:
-The cupcakes and any scenes in the kitchen!
-The events held at the shop
-Donovan's friends

Things that didn't quite work for me:
-There was almost no conflict. The most interesting conflict happened 90% into the story and at that point things were wrapping up so it felt like too little, too late.
-Jada was not a likeable character. A woman from a very wealth family needing more money to start a business wasn't someone who I felt like I needed to root for.
-Not enough cupcakes or time in the cupcake shop. With a title including the word "bake" I expected more time in the kitchen.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4. It was an overall enjoyable read and I will read more books by Jamie Wesley in the future, but aspects of this didn't quite click for me.

Thank you to SMP and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy. All thoughts are my own.

A feisty opposites attract fake dating adventure about a reality television star falling for the professional football player who owns a cupcake shop. Filled with great banter and plenty of mishaps, this is an adorable and bougie summer read about finding love and learning to navigate parental expectations verses following the heart.

Jada is still in hiding after turning down a television marriage proposal, so when her Grandma sets her up to work at a cupcake shop she’s hoping to hideaway and prove she can succeed. Little does she know that her job will be with the dashing professional footballer Donovan. And even though the two start off on bad terms, they can’t seem to get enough of each other while fake dating.

There were a lot of pluses and minuses for me while reading this one. On the minus side, I had a hard time connecting with the characters, I felt like the relationship developed too slowly, and there weren’t enough internal descriptions for me to relate. On the plus side, I loved the setting of the cupcake shop and loved all the shenanigans with the minor characters. All in all, this is a cute read that ended up being a lot better as I continued. The ending had me wanting more!

Thank you to Netgalley and St.Martin’s Press for a digital arc.

I’ll admit that i had high hopes for Fake it till you Bake it, and unfortunately this just didnt hit the mark for me.

I didn’t necessarily love either of the main characters or their relationship, which was a disappointment. I felt there was a disconnect .

For me, this was a very middle of the road rom-com, and while it wasnt my favourite, i would recommend it for a light, easy read.

A very cute and fun story, while predictable the characters were endearing and the story had a good pace and enough different plot lines to keep it interesting. I enjoyed this book as a light and run romantic read.

I enjoyed this enemies to lovers, fake dating romance. The plot is interesting and it’s well written. I liked the characters a lot - a pro football player named Donovan and a woman named Jada, who was on The Bachelor but turned down the proposal, making her a social media sensation.

Donovan and two of his friends opened a cupcake bakery together, planning for their life after football. He plays pro football for a team in San Diego owned by a formidable woman, Mrs. T.

Jada goes to the bakery with a friend and is very critical, insulting the cupcakes and the decor and annoying Donovan. Unfortunately, after her disaster on reality TV, she needs a job and her scientist parents are cutting her off. Her grandmother (Mrs. T.) sets her up with a job in a bakery and she ends up working for Donovan.

They have instant chemistry and are attracted to each other, but Jada’s life is full of chaos and Donovan likes his life planned out. When a reporter tracks Jada down, Donovan pretends to be her boyfriend to save her embarrassment. Now what do they do?

Synopsis:
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 from Jamie Wesley, Fake It Till You Bake It.

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.

Fake it Till You Bake It is a sweet confection of a novel, the perfect story to curl up with and enjoy with a cupcake on the side.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was a sweet read (pun intended). It reminded me of a W Network movie or a netflix show that doesn't get renewed for another season. I kept feeling like there were spots where the book could have ended beautifully and then it didn't, without any real conflict or storyline (or sometimes unnecessary plot points) to move it forward.

The book started off really well and I was enjoying reading it, but sadly by the end of it, I'm not sure I'd recommend it. This might be an unpopular opinion as I've seen lots of hype for it on bookstagram but sadly, I don't think this was a hit for me.

Thank you netgalley and St. Martin's Press @SMPromance for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

This book was ok. I like the concept of three pro footballers starting a cupcake shop and finding love. Our heroine, Jada, leaves a lot to be desired. Poor little rich girl who goes through life with no plan and struggling because her funds get cut off. I just found her super annoying. Donovan I loved and thought he deserved better.

The book was a slow read for me and I hope Nicholas and August get better matches in future books.

Thanks to the publisher for a review copy via NetGalley.

4 Stars. Great character development. Well worth the read.

Fake It Till You Bake It is how you write a romance. A reality star and a cupcake-baking football player pretend to be a couple to protect her image and help his bakery become more successful.


The first time Donavan meets Jada, she insulted his bakery, the Sugar Blitz.


“It’s so……. Stale, probably like the cupcakes”


Donavan could not let her comments pass. So, he proceeds to call her out on her insults. The second time Donavan meets Jada, she is walking into the office of his boss, Mrs. Joyce Townsend, the owner of the San Diego Knights. Jada is her granddaughter and wants Donavan to hire her to help teach her some life skills and some responsibility.

Jada is willing to play her grandmother’s game long enough to get access to her trust fund. It doesn’t help she is the most hated villain on the internet because she turns down a marriage proposal on the reality show My One and Only. Her privileged life takes a negative turn and she decides to forgo all social media while she figures out her next plan.

Donavan is trying to make his bakery successful. Sales are not very good and he doesn’t have much time to teach pampered princess Jada some life skills but he gives her a job plus a pair of crocs to replace her Jimmy C

In the beginning, Jada is very vain and superficial. As the story progresses her overflowing cuteness makes her character traits more likable.

What I love about this story was that fake dating took a life of its own. I was more than 40% into the story when they are mistaken as a couple and the idea emerges. Before that happens and their life as a couple begins, we get a glimpse of Jada’s life and Donavan’s life as two separate people. This is why I loved this story so much. The fake dating trope was not thrown immediately into the plot. Like the story, it was a slow burn.

The writing and sexy banter and dialogue were top notice. I love the voice of Jada as pampered princess and Donavan as an uptight baker. However, I do wish we had more of Donavan’s professional life thrown in the mix. It seems he devotes all his time to the bakery in the offseason so not enough professional football moments to swoon with.

Fake It Till You Bake It stands out as funny and a lot of fun to read. The story is like a cupcake: sweet and delicious.

This book was a sweet, corny, and funny read. I finished it in a day and a half. Jada and Donovan are so perfect for each other. Their chemistry was off the charts. I loved their banter and smartassery through the whole book. The way they supported and cared for each other had me swooning. I also love the sport stars passion for baking and turning it into post playing career by opening a bakery.
The cast of friends and support characters were great. I want a sequel to find out more about the best friends and if that epilogue is any indication we might just get one.



Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin

Jada becomes the most hated person in television after turning down a proposal on a reality dating show. Her parents have cut her off financially over the embarrassment and she needs a job. Her grandmother, who owns the pro football team, begs one of her players to hire her at his cupcake shop that he runs on the side with two other players. When a reporter tracks her down and mistakenly thinks she and Donovan are together, the story goes viral and cupcake sales are through the roof. They agree to go along with it to help each other out, but suddenly the sparks are feeling all too real.
At first, just like Donovan, I hated Jada! She's the spoiled princess with a whiny poor me attitude, sad that everything isn't just handed to her and says anything even if it hurts people. But her character really matures through the book and she realizes she needs to be independent without falling back on her trust fund to survive. You would think three pro football players baking cupcakes would be ridiculous, but this author really makes it work and has fun doing it. I received an advance reader copy of this book. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

This book was very cute!

I want to start off by saying I enjoyed this book! Donavan was such a driven character. A total contrast to Jada who was lost and finding her stepping stone again. But in a way, it all worked out. The banter and chemistry were great! It was a fast-paced romance, but super cute. It was an overall cute, funny, and simply entertaining book!