Incredibly charming and cute, with great banter and chemistry between the leads. I enjoyed this so much. I really thought I was going to hate Jada and her bougieness from the beginning, but she immediately won me over with her toughness and her vulnerability, and I ended up absolutely adoring her. I liked that for the most part, things that would have led to miscommunication in another story were addressed quickly and neutralized, but the final conflict felt super rushed and underdeveloped. So looking forward to more from Jamie Wesley in the future!

Such a cute read and a laugh out loud story! I became attached to these characters and their personalities.

Jada Townsend-Matthews turned down a proposal on a reality dating show, earning public ire. Coming home to San Diego, she bumps into professional football player and bakery owner Donovan Dell. They're mistaken for an item, and decide to use that to help the bakery's popularity and repair Jada's image. But a fake relationship might not be so fake after all.

The fake dating trope is a fun one when done well, and is the main component of our meet-cute.

Jada had been hiding to avoid those intensely angry with her and Donovan focused on his football career as well as baking. Jada at first insults the shop, then later it turns out her grandmother owns the team Donovan plays for. She has her own hang-ups about dyslexia and "ruining" everything she tried to do, though she's twenty-five and still figuring out a potential career.

Donovan believes in tactics and study, and taking a logical approach; opening the shop instead of converting the building into apartments was as wild as he got, and even then he researched the business proposal thoroughly.

Impulsive Jada and straitlaced Donovan are the opposites that needed to balance each other out. Each has their insecurities and supports each other to the best of their ability. Of course, there's the dark moment of the story, where the two separate before getting back together and being stronger for it. It's scary to be emotionally vulnerable, but we know they'll get there.

I adored the book and raced through it in a single day. It's as light and fluffy as a frosted cupcake.

What a funny first meeting for this couple. Donovan is a successful football player and is following a dream with his best friends by opening a cupcake bakery. He is very focused on providing for his mom and sisters and hates surprises. I love his focus as he sets goals and attacks them but the bakery is struggling which has him confused. Jada has struggled to find her purpose and passion in life. She comes from a family of doctors and scientists which has always had her feeling less than. Her grandmother challenges her with working a job for 6 months before she can have access to her trust fund. What she doesn’t expect is to have Donovan as her boss, especially after her not so great first impression. What Jada does do well is make people comfortable and happy which seems to be just what the bakery needs. I love how this Donovan and Jada push each other to be better. Donovan needs to loosen up and accept help while Jada needs someone in her corner, giving her that confidence boost so she can find the courage to trust her heart. I had fun with their chemistry and banter. Really a fabulous read. I voluntarily read an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.

This book was so incredibly cute and left me really craving a cupcake!

Honestly, the synopsis had me at an NFL star cupcake baker and reality star as I’m a sucker for the celebrity trope. Then add in fake dating and I’m already cozied into my couch ready to read!

This book was CUTE and a light, fun quick read. It was sweet like the cupcakes that left me constantly hungry for more.

It took me a minute to take the heroine seriously, as her reasons for getting the job and fake dating revolve around obtaining her trust fund which automatically makes me roll my eyes, but, I quickly began to like her as she settled into her role at the cupcake shop!

I recommend this one to those who love the fake dating trope and are into sweet books with extra frosting.

Thank you so much to the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

This cover and blurb was too cute for me not to enjoy or believe the romance in this book. Something has to be wrong with me (sad face)!

This story starts off with Jada going back to her home town after turning down a proposal on a reality tv show. To get Jada out of this funk, her grandmother gets her a job at this very cute bakery in town that ran by a professional football player, Donovan Once the media get ahold of the fact that Jada and Donovan will be working together at the bakery, they spin a story about them being in love and dating. Should Jada and Donovan tell the media the truth or keep it to themselves and save the bakery from closing.

I swear the book is super cute because the majority of it takes place inside the bakery and if it doesn't make you want sweets while reading it, then you are doing it wrong. I had at least two cookies while reading this book. What I didn't like about this book is the romance and chemistry between the two main characters. I don't know what it was but I didn't believe they had feelings for each other and fell in love.

This book was a great read. You have some hot chemistry even though it is suppose to be a fake relationship. I love that Jada goes through a journey of self discovery. Heat, chemistry, self discovery and love all wrapped up in this wonderful book.

3.5 Stars**

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was such a fun read! There were a lot of cupcake references that I really enjoyed.

I really enjoyed the fact that Donovan was the one who owned the bakery. I also really enjoyed the banter between Donovan and Jada and how she would rile him up in order for him to not be so serious all the time.

My favorite scene would have to be the affirmation scene where Donovan helps Jada feel more assured of herself after being torn down. Both of the characters really helped to better the other and that was really nice to see.

Overall, this was a sweet romance with a little bit of bachelor vibes and some drama to match. Good if you’re looking for a quick read to activate your sweet tooth.

Light and easy, this fake relationship romance is low angst fun. It plays up the tropes for a lighthearted, laidback read, and I loved the hero. He's a cinnamon roll sweetheart who knows his pro football career will end at some point, so he's opened a bakery with his two best friends. This certainly felt like the start of a series revolving around the bakery, and I'd be interested in checking out more from this new-to-me author. Not only is the representation great, but the book has a pretty solid vibe once you get past the info dump at the start. It was perhaps a little too slow moving for me at times and the ending was kinda lame, but I enjoyed it overall. There's nothing like a sweet hero who isn't afraid of a relationship, and it was easy to see the chemistry between this couple.

The story follows Jada, a fashion-obsessed woman who is really hoping her inheritance will come through soon. While Jada is confident in most aspects of her life, she lives with dyslexia, and that has made finding a career that works for her a struggle. After a disastrous Bachelor-style reality show left her internet infamous, Jada is struggling more than ever. So when her friend takes her to a new bakery, Jada is... not the nicest. Turns out, the stern yet sexy guy she gets into an argument with is not only the bakery's owner, but also one of the star football players on the team her grandmother owns. And in a troubling turn of events, Jada will now need to work for Donovan if she has any hope of getting her inheritance. As the two bicker and banter - and somehow fall into a fake relationship - they soon realize that opposites really do attract.

It's my first time reading something from the author, so I really wasn't sure what to expect. That adorable cover gave me high hopes, and the story mostly lived up to that. I wasn't a fan of the third person writing style at the start, but it became much easier to settle in once the many characters and somewhat complicated storyline was introduced. After that, we get a lot of Jada and Donovan falling for each other, which was a lot more fun to read. I never fully related to Jada, but Donovan was easy to love - such a great guy. And while the story tackles a few subjects that could've weighed it down, it remained low angst and easygoing the whole way through. There's also a touch of steam and some playfulness, which made for a light read. I'm looking forward to checking out more from the series, Donovan's friends have tons of potential. I received an early copy and am voluntarily leaving a review of this fake relationship romance.

(3.5/5 rounded up)

This was a delightful, sweet and entertaining romantic-comedy. The storyline was enjoyable, a little bit slow to start but it made up for it in the end. It was a bit predictable but this was different from other romances I've read. There was a steamy part in there but wasn't overdone. And the characters were very likable. Now I'm wondering if there will be another book as a follow-up to this one as the ending was a bit confusing and what I think might be a cliffhanger. ?? I'm hoping there will be a Book Two here.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the review copy.

In this fake dating romance, Jada, fresh off rejecting the eligible bachelor on a Bachelor-type show, takes a job at cupcake shop owned by Donovan, a professional football player. A gossip blogger catches Jada at the shop and Jada kisses Donovan to get the blogger to leave her alone. The pair begin a fake relationship which leads to real feelings.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I am really tired of the fake dating trope. Yes, there are times when it really really works, but this one didn’t bring anything new to the table. I was especially annoyed that this book also heavily relied on miscommunication, which is probably my least favorite trope. I really wanted to like the book more than it was. I was excited to read a book with Black leads, especially one with a football playing baker, but it fell flat for me. It was by no means bad, but just didn’t do anything for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have been excited by the storyline of this book since I first heard the pitch and I’m VERY happy to say it did not disappoint. I loved Jada and Donovan and their supportive relationship. The black moment is mildly gray and makes total sense for their relationship. This is the first novel I’ve read by Wesley, but it won’t be the last. There is a big tease at the end, so I’m hoping we see more of Sugar Blitz soon.
4.5 stars

🧁🧁🧁🧁.5 rounded up

Gah ~ hot football players that bake! yes please!

Donovan plays for the San Diego Knights and also owns the cupcake shop Sugar Blitz with two of his teammates. Business isn't as great as he'd like it to be, so he sets up a meeting with the witty and knowledgeable owner of his team, Mrs. T. It turns out Mrs. T has a plan of her own that will not only help Donovan, but her granddaughter, Jada, too.

Jada is currently the most hated woman in America for saying no to a proposal on one of the most popular reality dating shows. Her parents are cutting her off, so she has no choice but to go along with Grams's plan and start working at the bakery that she just called 'stale' the previous day. I love her honesty and how she interacts with people. She's dyslexic and I thought that was well written.

Donovan is a logical man who likes order and stability. He's always calm, cool and collected. He isn't expecting to be thrown into a fake relationship in order to drum up sales, but he goes with the flow and soon realizes it's the best decision of his life.

As always I loved that it goes back and forth between their perspectives. I liked that Jada went after what she wanted, but I didn't care for the inevitable breakup we always get in this trope.
Grams is great! I really loved every character. Donovan, Nicholas and August have a great friendship ~ do I smell a book for each of them too???

A fun, fake dating, slow burn quick read. I can't call this a sports romance because it's the off season, so there is no football playing going on. I enjoyed their banter and sweetness. There was a little too much talk about social media for me. I could have went for a recipe or two for some on the delicious sounding cupcakes.

I have mixed feelings about the epilogue, was it too rushed? ~ (view spoiler) But it seems it might be setting us up for another book ~ yay!!
This is my first time with this author and I've got my eyes peeled for her next book!

Fake dating, hot athletes, and baking! This book has it all.

Jada is off from reality TV and is hated for turning down a proposal while Donovan is a NFL player with bakery dreams. when a misunderstanding leads to the media assuming they are dating, sparks fly!

Jada and Donovan are an adorable couple with an amazing chemistry. Both have family expectations and there is a lot of potential with the side characters for future books.

I received an ARC from Netgalley.

This was the definition of a sweet and easy summer romance. The characters were both engaging and had a bit of depth. I love their chemistry and was really rooting for them. This book is a 3.5, but I will round it up to a 4 simply on the strength of Nicholas and August who are Donovan’s best friends, teammates, and business partners.

There were parts of the story that felt like glaring stereotypical romance novels plot points resulting in a jolting thrust into the next act rather than a bit more fluidity in its progression. However, the overall story was engaging, and I thought the pacing worked despite these points.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Just off the cover alone, I was in for this book! This was such a fun read, but now I want cupcakes so bad! This is your typical fake dating / workplace romance trope, except with celebrity-esq main characters. Jada was on a bachelor type show who ends up being portrayed as the villain, while Donovan is a pro football player entertaining her passions in baking. Their meet cute is hilarious, and the chemistry was wonderful. While this book could easily come off as a cute brainless romance novel, the plot added a lot of substance about finding your passions and fighting for what you want. Definitely don't pass on this one!

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review. This book releases 6/21!

Loads of fun in this cute romance!

I love the sparkling wit, the delightful humor, and the charming characters. Donovan is a football star from a working-class family who, with a couple of his teammates, also runs a local cupcake shop. Jada is a trust-fund baby whose down-to-earth grandmother (the football team's owner) wants her to learn about life. Grams puts these two together and lets the sparks fly!

There is a lot of fun in this story, though the writing could have been a bit tighter. Some situations are left to descend into chaos without explaining why the characters didn't take reasonable action to stop it, and a few slang words were a bit overused. Aside from those minor issues, the story had a terrific flow and I really liked the way the characters interacted with each other.

I hope future books will focus on Donovan's partners, as I'd love to read those stories. Donovan and Jada's HEA was very sweet and sincere, after a heartwarming reunion scene. Sports fans might be a bit disappointed, since this appears to be set in the off-season without a single football scene. If you're looking for a satisfyingly cute rom-com, this book was written for you. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

My review will be posted to Goodreads and instagram (@centralparkreader)

“He wanted more of her. He wanted her to be his. He wanted to be hers.”

Fake It Till You Bake It by Jamie Wesley
Pub Date: 6/21/2022 - Available Now!
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 (4/5)
Spice: 🌶🌶 (2/5)

Jada is a former contestant given a bad edit on a reality dating show. Donovan plays football for the local NFL team and owns a cupcake shop with his 2 besties Nicholas and August. Sales are down in the bake shop and Jadas struggling with her private and public image. Together they fake date to overcome their struggles while trying to ignore the real sparks.

Overall this book is such fast paced. I love the twists and turns. The meet cute is SO GOOD it made me gasp. I love a male lead who seems like he’s got a hard exterior and interior but actually is a total softy and that’s what Jamie Wesley gives us.

If you like:
- Black Love
- Fake Dating
- Cute Nicknames
- Reality show drama

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martins Press for proving me with an eARC of this novel.

Thank you to SMP Romance and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. These opinions are my own.

Donovan and his teammates opened Sugar Blitz, a cupcake shop, as an investment for when their football playing ends. Jada comes into the store and isn't complimentary. Sparks fly!

This book is such fun. It made me want to eat all the cupcakes. I loved seeing Jada grow and move on from her distressing reality TV times. And I really enjoyed how the book talked about her having dyslexia. Her chemistry with Donovan was excellent.

I especially loved Donovan, Nicholas, and August. They're all so unique and also such great characters. So I loved seeing that the ending includes a set-up for a sequel with August.

And I really enjoyed the Hamilton references throughout.

Overall very cute concept. Loved the fake dating and enemies-to-lovers tropes. Extra points for representation!! My only critique is that it dragged a bit especially in the first 50-60%. However, it’s a quick, cute read. Perfect palate cleanser and perfect for getting out of a reading slump.