First impressions: the cover art and colors are so pretty!! Then, the story's premise sounds like fun.

The setting was cute. A cupcake bakery is always a great place for romance to spark. I really liked how both Jada and Donovan were fleshed out as characters. (I was especially partial to Jada though.) Their concerns were written and treated with care within the story. In turn, their journey was well-developed and I was rooting for them every step of the way. I think the timing was appropriate. Sometimes these types of stories can feel rushed or too slow but this one was just right. I am excited to hear more about the other characters because there were hints to their history.

A new football romance series I won’t be able to resist.

This was my first Wesley book, and it won’t be last. Three football players owning a bakery and the women who they fall for, what’s not to love? This first book is about the main manager, Donovan and the reality television star Jada. These two are opposites attract with a hefty dose of can’t resist.

While the only downer to this book is the slow start, took me about three chapters to really since into the story, Wesley quickly changes tactics and soon I was committed to the game Jada and Donovan have playing. A little fake relationship to feed into Jada’s reasons for why she left the hero of her “Bachelor-esque” reality show stranded, and in turn bring more popularity to Donovan’s business. Naturally, falling in love along the way isn’t the goal, but they can’t stay away from each other.

Characterization is so key in this story and Jada is written to perfection, everything include the walls she builds to protect herself, that bougie exterior, and her deeply-entrenched insecurities were so easy to latch onto and empathize with. I wanted Jada to succeed at everything, including a future with Donovan Dell. Said football player brings plenty of his own to the table from fear of a relationship stopping him from his primary focus. Did I mention Jada is the daughter of the woman who owns the football team Donovan plays for? Drama for miles, ladies and it’s so worth it.

Add in a couple villains who are double icky, and they get theirs. Every reader of this blogs knows how I like my villains treated, with a good, tall glass of retribution. They get it. And Wesley sets up the future books in this series with precision. I can’t wait to read the next one.

Overall, a great contemporary sports romance that has a good balance of drama, jokes, romance, and tropey goodness. For readers who enjoy Lyssa Kay Adams.

~ Landra

"Fake It Till You Bake It" was just delightful—perfect RomCom with the spice you want from a Romance. The heat starts about 53 percent in (I had to stop and look at the ebook percentage), partly because I was shocked I was halfway done with the book because I sped through the book. I read it in one sitting—just enough drama, but not a major drama.

Jada Townsend-Matthews is a reality TV Bachelorette-like constant turns down the proposal of the Bachelor on national television, and any goodwill she had is gone. She is hiding out and trying to figure out her life. Donovan Dell plays professional (American) football and runs a cupcake shop with two other players.

Higher power in terms of a grandmother/fairy godmother who owns the footfall team Donovan plays on and is the grandmother of the shunned Jada decides they both to could each other out. So Jada works at the bakery where her past comes trolling in, and fake dating begins to boost sales and recover her image. Easy. Totally.

But cupcake batter turns into cupcakes, and so does fake into real.

Fake It Till You Bake It had all the ingredients for a perfect romance, but it was difficult for me to fully immerse myself in the story. Donovan and Jada's first meeting was entertaining with Donovan unwilling to back down from Jada’s unwarranted critique of the cupcakes even if her comment about the ambiance hit the mark. It was a great way to introduce the characters to each other and to start building their attraction. Donovan and Jada had great banter, and it was one of my favorite parts of the book. After their first meeting, the chemistry between the leads fluctuated, sometimes it was present and other times I couldn’t feel it. The romance also moved slowly, with nothing particularly butterfly-inducing until more than halfway through the book.

While I immediately liked Donovan, he doesn’t undergo much character development. Jada is the more interesting character. She displays a tough exterior to the world, but she’s more vulnerable than she lets on. She’s timid when it comes to her family, and she’s still trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life. All these things added depth to Jada’s character, but I was disappointed that they were not better explored.

Fake It Till You Bake It hooked me with fake dating and cupcakes. There are multiple layers to Jada that had the potential to make the novel a better read for me, but the presentation seemed very surface-level, like something to checkmark and make Jada interesting as opposed to being explored. I liked the novel but thought it could have been better.

Finished this one in one day and not only do I love Jada and Donovan but also I’m craving some cupcakes 🧁🧁

Read if you want:
-fake dating
-enemies to lovers
-open door romance (a big slow burn)
-cupcake inspiration

Not only will you love the main couple here but you will also fall for the other characters. The epilogue has me on the edge of my seat waiting for the next book!

Oh my gosh! That was just about too cute for words. I mean, cupcakes, reality television, and a fake relationship; what’s not to love about that? At first, Jada wasn’t my favorite person in this story, but it didn’t take very long before we saw why she’s as prickly as a porcupine. It took a little bit to get beyond all those spiky defenses to get to her soft mushy heart inside, yet it was pretty clear exactly what made Donovan so crazy about her. And he’s what book boyfriend dreams are made of: smart and successful, sweet and caring, alpha and vulnerable. Sigh! Where can we clone him so I can have one of my very own? They’ve also got an amazing supporting cast backing them up. There to lend a helping hand when the going gets tough or call them out when they get caught in the spiral of their own thoughts. I loved these characters so much that my fingers are crossed that we’ll get to see more books about these amazing men and women.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book through NetGalley.

This story was so entertaining and enjoyable. Jada is a reality star back home to lick her wounds after turning down a proposal on the reality dating show she was on. Donovan is a professional football player who owns a bakery. When she starts working there and along side him neither of them expect the mishap of a reporter thinking they're an item. To help the struggling bakery and to help mend Jada's image they fake date to help both of them along. A simple fake relationship soon turns into something so much more. I really loved this story and how it gave off a bit of a Hallmark movie vibe to it which I always love as well. Thank you NetGalley for an arc of this book.

Fake It Till You Bake It blends the perfect recipe for a delicious treat. A reality star and football player pretend to be in a relationship to save his bakery.

When Jada Townsend-Matthews turned down the most anticipated proposal on reality tv, she became public enemy number one. With nowhere to turn, she decides to go home and get her life back on track. Unsure of what to do or where to go, she stops by San Diego’s newest buzzed cupcake shop and really puts her foot in her mouth. Not knowing who Donovan is, she leaves a strong impression that haunts his thoughts of who this mystery woman is. When a proposal from her grandmother comes to give her the financial stability she desperately needs, she takes the offer until she realizes she may have made a mistake.

Donovan Dell is a professional football player with a sweet tooth for business. He and his best friend opened the popular bakery, Sugar Blitz with ambitious goals and aspirations to succeed. With business declining, he’s been trying to figure out how and ways to improve but it all takes money that he isn’t making. When he was offered a possible solution to help from his NFL boss for his business, not wanting to let her down, he agreed to give her granddaughter a chance. Little does he know how life’s about to throw him a curveball.

As time went on, and they got past their first encounter experience, Jada proved to bring more than her sassy attitude. When a reporter happened to be in the bakery one day and put her on the spot, the only way to get out of it was to imply they were an item. Seeing the positive upswing and the advantages pretending could be a win-win situation, they find themselves mixing the ingredients for the perfect recipe.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one. This was such a fun read. I just loved the chemistry between Jada and Donovan. Their savory and sweet combination truly made some laugh-out-loud moments. I love a good fake relationship trope because they give the reader something to love towards. I really enjoyed the roles the friends and family played in the book. It brought a nice balance and comfort that drew you in and felt welcomed.

I’m curious to know if this is a stand alone or will there be another book. The epilogue seeks to leave us with a cliffhanger so we'll have to be on the lookout. I can’t forget to mention how cute that cover is. I’m looking forward to reading what's to come. I’d recommend adding this one to your summer reading list.

This is a fun story about Jada and Donovan. Jada is a recent reality show participant who is being hassled about the outcome and Donovan is a professional football player and a co-owner of a cupcake bakery with two of his teammates. I really enjoyed how positive the storyline is and how they brought out the best in each other.

I received a free copy of this book to review from St Martin’s Press through NetGalley and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Wow, this was such a charming book! A fake-dating romance with a foodie theme is what bookish dreams are made of. Many thanks to the publisher for approving me to read it early! <3

I have been loving opposites-attract romances so much lately, and boy-oh-boy, Fake It Till You Bake It made me fall in love with the trope even more! It's really fitting that the book is getting published on the first day of summer because it's the perfect beach read to escape to. :') The setup of the story was unlike anything I have ever read before, so that added a very engaging and charming touch to the plot. I mean, the main location of this book is a bakery that football players open together, I don't think my fluff-loving heart can obsess over a story arc more than that.

I absolutely loved Jada and Donovan's story. Their chemistry literally leaped off from the pages, MY GOSH. The banter was top-notch and so, so perfectly written. The humor content was one of the highlights of reading Fake It TIll You Bake It too. I adored how Jada and Donovan complimented each other. Their relationship development was really wholesome. I especially loved the last few chapters, because I honestly wasn't expecting the twists and turns the storyline took!

Also, the side characters??? LOVE LOVE LOVE. Nicholas, Olivia and August have my whole heart. They were all so loving and entertaining. I loved reading about their cheesy/wholesome encounters with Jada and Donovan. One of my favorite parts of the story was how it showcased how differently the media treats men and women. I really appreciated that the author bought up some serious topics in a light-hearted romance!

I honestly cannot wait for the next books in the series. I am so invested in the characters - I WANT MORE, LIKE RIGHT NOW!!

This was cute and I always enjoy a fake dating scenario, but ultimately I don't think this was the right book for me at the right time. I wanted a little more from the characters.

I received an ARC via Net Galley.

Donovan Dell is a professional football player with his eye towards a future without football. Jada Townsend is a former reality tv star who is in search of a career. This is definitely a romance where opposites attract. Donovan is orderly, neat, and logical. Jada is messy, and considers herself the family screw-up. But in true romance fashion, both characters have their insecurities that stem from their childhoods. I really liked them as a couple. I am not a fan of the fake dating trope, but I am so glad that I read this book. .

A fun, sugary sweet, enemies-to-lovers room-com. I enjoyed every delicious bite of this delightful story. Meeting Donavan and Jada was a real treat. Plus there was cupcakes!

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

I found Fake It Till You Bake It to be a cute fake dating romance. There were points that I felt it was a little slow, but overall I enjoyed reading it. It's possible that I felt it was slow because when I read it I was tired so I missed some things. I am very much looking forward to reading the second book in this series with August as the lead.
I enjoyed that the male lead, Donovan, wasn't just a macho jock, while he was a professional football player we hardly saw him in his role as a player, we primarily saw him working as a baker in the cupcake bakery that he owns with some of his buds. I really liked that we got to see him as a more than a jock, which can be an over played trope. But him also having a side hustle with the hobby he loves, that is traditionally seen as a feminine hobby was so refreshing.
I also thought it was nice to see the female lead Jada, embracing her learning disability and learning that she doesn't have to be defined by it. I also liked that when she was on the dating show that seemed very similar to the Bachelor she wasn't willing to compromise when it came to love, while she liked the bachelor on the show, she didn't see them having a future together and didn't want to lead him on future. The fact that she became a viral internet sensation was an unfortunate consequence of her decision but she stands by it.

This was a super cute fake dating story. Donovan is a super serious football player that owns a bakery. And Jada is the most hated woman on reality tv. The two really started off rocky when Jada made comments about the bakery but when they started, “fake dating” the two became really close. It was cute, I liked their friendly banter, the way that Donovan helped Jada overcome her insecurities and how Jada helped Donovan break his barriers down as well. Jada kept Donovan on his heels he was so out of his league. Opposites attract and when they bring out the best in one another, it is 10x better. I enjoyed this read. I received a arc from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I loved everything about this book! I am always attracted to books that deal with fake romance and baking so this one was calling my name, but man I didn't think I would love it as much as I did. I just felt like the characters were fabulous and I appreciated the cute bakery. I can't wait to read more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley, St Martin’s Press and Jamie Wesley for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this one since I requested it without reading much of the synopsis - I’m a sucker for baking romances now! I loved the characters and the storyline. It was actually quite unique and I loved seeing another aspect to the athlete in this novel because we really hear next to nothing about his career as he plans for what comes after. The banter was amazing and I would definitely recommend!

Thank you to Netgalley + the publishers for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"Fake It Till You Bake It" by Jamie Wesley, in which a reality star and a cupcake-baking football player pretend to be a couple in order to save his bakery.

When reality star Jada Townsend-Matthew finds herself working at San Diego's newest cupcake bakery, Sugar Blitz, she ends up working with pro football player Donovan Dell. A reporter mistakes them as a couple. so the two decide to embark in a fake relationship. Since they both can benefit from the fake relationship, what could go wrong?

"Fake It Till You Bake It" is a sweet story about faking it till you make it, literally. Making baked goods that is.

I’m a sucker for fake dating AND opposites attract so this already had my interest before I started. The characters had amazing chemistry and loved the heat factor.

I loved this little story so much! It’s everything I want in a romance: sweet, funny, and spicy. I loved Jada and Donovan so much. I loved their backgrounds and their growth throughout the book. The supporting characters were great, too. Mrs. T was a firebird. I am a sucker for the fake dating trope and I feel like this one was done so well. I will definitely read another one by this author!