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.

This book was delectable in more ways than one!
You have an NFL player that is a baker, passionate about pastry life, owns a cupcake shop! Like how swoony is this premise already?
He meets the vivacious lead while she is at his bakery talking smack and he catches her, dares her to try a cupcake and she leaves on such a sassy note.
Which sets up for some more hilarious and addictive banter between them two for the rest of the book.
The banter between them is probably my most favorite part, and the supporting cast is my second fav part. I know this is setting up for more books in the series so you can color me invested and ready for the next.
This has all the elements I love in Rom Coms plus lots of yummy cupcake talk! Def recommend to all!

This was a sweet romance, the fake dating trope is always fun and I liked how this was introduced into the story felt believeable.
Jada has been villified on social media for refusing a proposal on a reality dating show and has returned to her home town to lie low and figure out her life. Donovan is a pro football player who likes order and control and plans in advance. And as such he knows football wont last forever and has invested in a cupcakery (adorable! first time Ive heard this term, I know, I live under a rock!) That is not doing great. Through a misunderstanding they enter a mutually benificial fake dating situation. Her to improve her image and him to drum up business for his cupcakery.
I loved how Jada owned the situation she was in (though I didnt think she was at fault at all!) and was determined to brazen it out. They both have past issues with parents that they were working through and I loved that they were slowly learning to lean on each other. And that Jada was finally able to figure out what she really wanted to do with her life. Donovan was swoony and I loved the relationship he had with his two sisters. The plot was uncomplicated and just allowed the characters to shine and I fell in love with them. This was a fun, quick (at times spicy) romance read and I think its a perfect one to get you out of a slump.

Thanks to St. Martin's for an advanced copy of Fake It Till You Bake It.

This has everything I love in a book:
-Football player
-Bakery
-Fake Dating
-Workplace Romance

But unfortunately, this one was a miss for me. I didn't feel the chemistry between the two and Jada seemed a little too immature for me.

Fake dating is one of those tropes that never feels old to me. It's intriguing to see a pair/group of people land up on faking a date as the best viable solution to their problem, especially when it's because the characters panic.

In the case of this book, fake <i>anything</i> can lead to a storm that obliterates everything in its path.

Jada Townsend-Matthews is a social media pariah. Everyone hates her for rejecting the fan favourite bachelor publicly, on a reality TV show, and she can't turn two steps without being recognized for it. San Diego seems like a good bet to lie low for a while, but as usual, she has no idea how wrong she is.

Baking and football are the two things Donovan Dell invests his energy in. He's no-nonsense, likes to have a plan for everything, and has a ten step idea of what his future is going to look like. Unfortunately, that future is put into jeopardy when his cupcake business starts to decline in sales and popularity, and further so when Jada crashes into his life.

She comes into Sugar Blitz as a critic of his cupcakes, but stays as the newest employee...and later, his very public, very fake girlfriend.

Jada's desperate to give some backing to the story she spun with the showrunners about why she, who was top contender for marrying the most sought-after bachelor, rejected him - she told them that she had someone at home.

When faced with her lies, she's more than a little desperate, and one impulsive move on her part sends her and Donovan on a whirlwind of fake dating that ends up benefitting both of them, but also ends up balancing each other out.

That was one of the things I loved most about these protagonists - they were very clearly opposites, but instead of feeling that they're out of each other's leagues, or that they don't even belong in the same circles, you end up seeing a balance struck between them. Jada draws Donovan out of his shell without shoving him alone into the unknown, and Donovan patiently centers her without suffocating her. And I love that you don't end up seeing them leaving the other in the dust - even when they're not obliged to be there, they are!

With the way the whole conflict and antagonist were hyped, I expected the resolution to give us a little more excitement. All the strings were wrapped up, but it felt a little rushed to me. Maybe it's the drama-chasing personality in me, but the ending felt flat to me.

Still, this was a very cute read, and I do think that the author has left just enough strings for another book...perhaps starring a certain stoic side character...?

[Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for providing this ARC to me in exchange for an honest review!]

Cute, lighthearted romance with likeable characters. Jada starts off as a terrible person but becomes more likeable as the book progresses. I loved the concept of the cupcake shop owned by three athletes and Jada's events were a fun addition to the shop. Great vacation read.

This was an okay example of fake dating, but the book never really flowed well for me and felt more like vignettes with Jada and Donovan. The timeline felt strange with time skips that didn't make sense or even feel like they were at a different point in time. The biggest problem is that I just didn't care about Jada or Donovan. Nothing made them interesting or likable, and I felt like facts were thrown at me about both of them while never knowing either of them. This might be due to having both points of view in the book because everything felt repetitive.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the free book.
I binged this book in a day, and it was so much fun. I loved Jada and Donovan. There's fake dating, lots and lots of yummy cupcakes, and so much drama in this book. The characters were relatable and flawed. I enjoyed how they complemented each other, which added chemistry to the fake dating scene. The friend side characters were lots of fun. I also enjoyed Jada's character arc. She had to work through so many difficult problems yet kept moving forward - which looked different as she grew in the story. These characters were heartwarming and fun to read about. If you're looking for a fun romance with depth with memorable characters, check this one out.

3.5 stars

After turning down a proposal on a reality dating show, Jada Townsend-Matthews becomes public enemy # 1 on social media. Circumstances lead Jada to work at Sugar Blitz, a cupcake bakery owned by uptight professional football player Donovan Dell. When a reporter mistakenly believes that Jada and Donovan are dating, they go along with the ruse to create some positive publicity for both Jada and the bakery.

The blurb gives you an idea of the main tropes at play, but it doesn't reveal how Jada first meets Donovan and how she actually ends up working at his bakery. And I won't spoil it for you because their first meeting is epic 😂

I loved the dialogue, the banter, the chemistry, and the humour. I think the author nailed all the necessary elements of a romcom. The plot is ordinary, but the characters are all SO MUCH fun!! I enjoyed the main leads and the supporting characters so much. I even loved the regular customers at the bakery. The steam level is not as high as I was expecting, but it didn't diminish my enjoyment of the romance.

Fake It Till You Bake was a solid 4 stars until the final act. There was already a really good conflict in the final act that Jada and Donovan resolved together as a couple. But the author added another conflict that I felt was unnecessary. Furthermore, since the story is mostly focused on Jada's issues, I felt like Donovan's issues were quickly wrapped up for the sake of getting wrapped up. Aside from the final act, I really enjoyed this book! I hope we're getting August's book after that ending 😂

This is a new-to-me author so I was interested in checking out her writing style and excited to see if the story matched the cover. After reading it, I can easily sum this book up in one simple word. Cute. From the cover to the title to the story. It's just a cute. I can honestly say that I enjoyed this tale about football player/baker Donovan Dell and rich girl without a plan Jada Townsend-Matthews.

The Good
-The snark between the two. Not over-the-top, but enough to see it's just covering stubbornness and mutual attraction.
-Donovan. I was liking me some uptight Donovan. He wasn't over-the-top masculine or anything. He was just a believably real man and came off as someone that I'd be attracted to.
-Nicholas and August. Ummm, yes please give me more.
-Surprisingly, Jada. I wasn't sure I was gonna like Jada but her character had layers and she grew on me. Likable but flawed.
-No silly misunderstandings. This couple actually talked!
-Men baking!!!

The Bad
-This is just me, but I can't stand sports romance most of the time. Particularly when the male protagonist is black. It always feels like a lazy stereotype. As if the only successful black men are the ones who play football or basketball. In this case, it is only a mild strike since Donovan is a baker too! Like I said, my personal dislike.
-Jada isn't likable in the beginning. This isn't necessarily a bad point, since she grows and you fully get to know what her issues are. Just don't stop reading when you first meet her!
-The story drags in certain areas.

While cute isn't usually my go-to in romance, it is something that I enjoy when it's well written. Fake It Till You Bake It, while not the most exciting, is lighthearted and easy to read. Perfect for a lazy, hot day. When this book releases, get yourself a cool drink, a sweet treat (preferably a cupcake!) and settle in front of the AC for a relaxing couple of hours. Overall it was pretty good and it looks like it will be a series so I'll be keeping a look out. 4 stars.

3.5⭐️

I love a good fake dating romance, but this one was a bit underwhelming for me.

Jada was a contestant on (essentially) The Bachelor, where she turned town a proposal from the lead. Her billionaire grandma (the owner of a football team) sets her up with a job at a cupcake shop owned by one of her players.

I liked the setting a lot!! Most of the book was set inside the cupcake shop, and it was cute and cozy. I also though Jada was a likable main character, and the writing was good! It flowed well and was a pretty quick read.

Unfortunately I just couldn’t believe in the chemistry between the main characters… I felt no sparks whatsoever. They said the right things, but I didn’t feel it. This is also a bit of a slow burn… but without the sexual tension.

The MMC described the FMC as bougie soooo many times and it felt excessive to me, especially since she was so humble. Just because she likes shoes she’s automatically the most bougie person he’s ever met? Eh

Overall there isn’t anything wrong with this book and parts of it I had a lot of fun with, it just didn’t fully do it for me. I’d definitely recommend still giving it a try though!!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

let me first say that i enjoyed this book... because i did.

but when i got to the breakup 92% into the story i wanted to throw my tablet across the room.

I was loving Donovan and Jada. They were such a cute couple. I loved their meet-cute and I loved how they went from not liking each other to fake dating to real dating to falling in love.

But that breakup really pissed me off. I just knew they were going to slide right into their happily ever after once they conquered those two twits plotting against them. I felt like that whole section was totally unnecessary. It happened so late in the book and spanned only a few pages.

Overall, the book was good. That breakup just irked my soul.

Fake It Till You Bake It was such a delight! I loved Donovan and Jade so much. They had such fun banter and hot chemistry. I normally don’t read a ton of books about athletes and I was a little hesitant to read this one. I’m happy I read it anyway because I loved it! I think this might turn into series and if it does, I can’t wait!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Totally awesome book. Jada is coming out of a reality tv show where she turned down a marriage proposal. This has made her hated by everyone on social media. Donovan is a professional football player and part owner in a cupcakery. The story is full of wonderful humor. Jada is a walking disaster with a mouth that often says the wrong thing. Donovan loves order and things that are practical. The two of them together are spectacular. The sparks fly as they parry words. Falling in love is not in their playbook but it’s just what happens to these two.

I LOVED it. I loved the relationship Jada had with her Grandma, and thank goodness she had that. I also loved the relationship that Donovan had with his family, including his sisters. Another one where I forgot to read the summary and was so surprised with the initial twist! This was such a good story that mixed my favorite things - sweets and a good romance. I couldn’t read this one fast enough and really hope this will become a series.