Fake It Til You Bake It is a cute, fun, fast paced rom-com about Jada, America’s most hated reality TV star, and Donovan, a professional football player who also owns a cupcake shop (Sugar Blitz). Jada and Donovan enter into a fake relationship in order to help save the cupcake shop and improve Jada’s public image, but their chemistry is undeniable and things go from fake to real very quickly.

This book is a lot of fun. It’s sweet (cupcake pun intended), low angst and adorably predictable. I could feel the chemistry between Jada and Donovan and I loved how lively, unpredictable Jada kept reserved, type-A Donovan on his toes. The story is well written and funny and I enjoyed the great banter and side characters. Donovan’s teammates and co owners of Sugar Blitz added a lot of humor and I’m hoping to see more of them in future books!

There’s great dyslexia rep in the story and a found family element that was really special. I think the book tries to be enemies to lovers at first, but Jada and Donovan have one tense encounter in the beginning and after that they get on very well. There’s a bit of a slow burn and I loved that moment when these two finally admit their feelings. There isn’t a lot of spice, but when it’s there it is top tier!

Overall, I really liked this one and I think fans of Talia Hibbert or Helena Hunting will also! Read if you like reality shows, baking and sports romance without any actual sports. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy to read and review.

I was here for sweet Donovan and sassy Jada in this love story. It felt real and it felt right. The right amount of tension. The right amount of believability. The right amount of drama. All together a great beach reach and also a fun get together with your girlfriends and dish about book! I’m all in and can’t wait for the book 2 on Donovan’s friends!!!!

I will start by saying, if you’re reading this book then you know how it’s going to end. It’s a romance and they have the happy ending baked right in (see what I did there 😝). That means that I’m rating on things like pacing, characters, and writing.

The story is set in a cupcake shop in San Diego. Jada and Donovan have great chemistry and even though it can border on cheesy, it’s expected given the genre. The writing is snappy and the characters are well developed. There are a couple of mentions of damage from the past that feel a bit out of place and half baked, but it doesn’t ever derail the story. I really love that we get a lot from Donovan’s perspective, it’s great to celebrate Black love and success in multiple generations, and it’s a happy little romance book.

The strength of this novel is in the pacing, it moves really quickly, and doesn’t throw too big of a hurdle between our protagonists. I don’t need 30-60 pages of the main characters separate from each other. Although, I could see the pacing bothering some people because the end wraps up quickly.

Good read all around. I would love to see Jamie Wesley writing a full behind the scenes reality tv romance novel next. The glimpses that we get in this book makes me think it’d be perfect.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s for the early copy in exchange for my review.

This was a cute and fast paced book. I loved the Black representation in this book because I feel that there is an underrepresentation in the book community. It was a fun and easy read. I love the fake dating trope- and the slight "enemies to lovers" that we got from the beginning. I wish that the enemies to lovers carried more throughout the story, because I got the insta love vibe. I will admit- I was waiting for a big betrayal moment but that never came, and I am happy it didn't. I feel like the concept of time is never really discussed in the book. Things went by so fast and at one point the main character is saying "a month ago I said this" and you realize just how fast everything progressed. And then suddenly from that moment forward 3 months zoom by and I just felt confused. I did appreciate the dual POV because I always like knowing what each person is thinking. All in all, I think this was a cute, quick read.

Just the cover and the concept of this one had me picking it up. I would definitely recommend not reading this on an empty stomach, because it definitely made me want many many cupcakes. 

Donovan’s scheduled, routine-oriented nature seems like it would be perfect for running a business, but he’s still struggling to find a way for his cupcake shop to thrive. Jada’s recently returned from a stint on a reality show and shakes up more than just the way he runs his store. The attraction is as instant as the dislike. 

I really loved both of their complicated pasts, their struggles, and their banter. I loved watching the struggle to balance attraction and dislike, especially once they started pretending to date. I cheered when they made their relationship real, and I could not believe how well the ending wrapped up the story so perfectly for these two characters. 

I loved everything about this book and thought their fake dating was extremely believable. If you love enemies to lovers, celebrities, fake dating, or closed door romances with implied intimacy, I’d definitely recommend this one. 

I received an advanced copy of this book courtesy of Netgalley and St. Martin's Press. I'm leaving this review voluntarily.

***ARC received from St. Martins Griffin and NetGalley in exchange for honest review, opinions are all my own. Thank you!***

Fake It Till Your Bake It is a perfectly adequate summer read, its not terribly nor is it the best but it hits all the right notes of a book you can get lost in and leave you likely craving cupcakes.

The story is told between two points of view, Jada and Donovan. Jada is currently social medias number 1 villain for breaking the heart of social media current heart throb of choice after not accepted his proposal. The other is Donovan, a cupcakery owning NFL player struggling to keep his business afloat. This was one of those rare romance book cases were I preferred the male lead over the female lead. Jada starts off rude and it was hard for me to connect with her as the book went on. While Donovan is a little more uptight, very set in his ways but I still really liked him. I found his struggles with his business and his family far more relatable than Jada. I did eventually warm up to Jada

Donovan and Jada do have chemistry and they are ultimately a sweet couple but when it came to romance I found myself more invested in the bromance than the romance. Donovan, August and Nicholas are not just equally passionate about their bakery, they are equally supportive of each other and I found myself wishing that the book spent more time with them than with Donovan and Jada.

Now any good romance novel has to have troubles/conflict and I both liked and disliked the way they were handled. Donovan’s troubles come from his struggling business and I absolutely did not for one second believe that a cupcake shop run by three incredibly attractive men that happened to be star football players for the local team was failing. Seeing how they worked there that place should have been swarming with fans, single ladies and tourists hoping to be helped by the football stars. It would have also attended some conflict if they tried to figure out how they would handle it come the end of off season. I will applaud this book for handling the main conflict to Jada and Donovan’s relationship as I would have expected two successful adults to handle it. It is one of my least favorite parts of romance books when characters suddenly turn dumb in the face of conflict and allow themselves to be manipulated into a bigger issue. It was refreshing to see the opposite happen, which made Jada’s next decision so frustrating.

The first half of this book was difficult for me to get into but it significantly picked up once Jada and Donovan began the fake dating and I liked it a lot more. The romance felt like a natural progression and while I didn’t really like Jada at the beginning I did like her by the end as she slowly became her own person. After a shaky start this turned out to be a good read that I did ultimately like.

Donovan Del owns The Sugar Blitz with two of his teammates. He is also a star on the San Diego football team. The owner of the team Mrs T wants a favor from him. Jada Townsend-Matthews is Mrs T's granddaughter. She moves from job to job because they just hold her attention. The last one has made her a social pariah. She can't go anywhere without the haters attacking her personally. The favor is Jada is to work at the bakery for 4 months and she would get access to her trust fund. What could possibly go wrong. Donovan is all about control. Growing up there was nothing but havoc and now he is rigid and controlling. Jada brings chaos into everything. She is the odd child. Her parents and sisters are all professionals. Yet these opposites attract. She brings out his softer side and he also protects her from the crazies. Into each relationship, a little flour will fly. She needs to figure out her life first without family help. In the end, Momma knows best.

**I was gifted a digital ARC by Netgallery to give a honest review, thank you to NetGallery gifting this to me**

The past couple years I have been getting into romances, and really enjoying them. They are such great books to get into in between all my hard fantasy books that break my heart. We all need some HEA's sometimes!

Fake It Till You Bake It is no different. It is such a fun read, and took me maybe 3-4 times sitting down to read it completely. Probably would have been faster if I had more time to read it, but alas.

Donovan Dell is such a fun character. I really like how Jamie wrote him. I also love being in his head, and seeing Jada as he sees her. It's so fucking adorable, and I hope my own partner thinks of me like that sometimes.

In the first bit, I did not like Jada. I found her rude, mean, and honestly a bit annoying. But, Jamie wrote her so well. You understand as you learn more about her why she is the way she is, and it was layers of layers of her. I loved it. I loved Jada.

Overall, it was such a fun read, and I am glad I was given the chance to read it.

3.5 stars

Something I don’t see enough of in books of any genre is a dyslexic main character, especially a dyslexic FMC. Jada’s dyslexia is by no means the main storyline, but it’s not just mentioned and brushed aside either. I really appreciate that the other brought the issue up organically throughout the story because it DOES effect Jada and how she interacts with the world around her.

Jada and Donovan have a spark right from the start. But their start is a bit contentious. I guess you could say this is an enemy to friends to lovers story. Their journey was a joy to read and very sweet, with plenty of underlying sexual tension to boot.

For the first very little bit, it’s easy to think Jada will be an unlikable character. But as soon as things switch to her POV I was won over by her grit and determination. Sure, growing up rich with a trust fund means she has grown up privileged. That doesn’t mean she hasn’t had her struggles or family issues. Plus, Jada recognizes her privilege so is very self-aware.

Donovan and his two best friends, the owners of a bakery, are wonderful together. I love their comradery and that they keep it real with one another. I’m positive this will be the first book in a series and we’ll get to see each of these big, tough guys find their HEA. It must be noted that, although it seems Donovan’s football career may feature into the story at the beginning, it really doesn’t. So much so that I found it odd. Not that I thought this would be a story about football, I just thought it would be mentioned more.

Although I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I did find myself easily able to put it down. It was engaging to a certain point, but I cannot put my finger on what was missing for me to be fully engrossed. I definitely want to read more by this author. Hopefully, as I already mentioned, a book about Donovan’s buddy’s getting their stories told.

Fake It Till You Bake It was a fun read and one I didn't know I needed after some heavier books.

Donovan Dell is a successful football player, but is all about having order in his life, so he's already thinking about life after football. Enter the cupcakery he and two of his friends and teammates started, called Sugar Blitz. While they started out gangbusters, lately their sales numbers have been dropping and Donovan is trying to figure out how to turn the tide.

Jada Townsend-Matthews is learning that all attention isn't good attention. She went on a reality dating show thinking it might help her get ahead with the dreams she had for her life, but little did she know that when she turned down the proposal of the show's lead, she would become the most hated woman in America. When Jada goes into Sugar Blitz with a friend, lets just say that her first run-in with Donovan is just that, a run-in. It did not go well at all!

When Donovan and Jada are forced to work together thanks to her grandmother and the owner of the team Donovan plays for, they find they have more chemistry than they might have initially realized. Couple that with the fact they can help one another with the issues they are both facing and a fake romance commences. Will it stay that way or will real feelings find their way through?

As I mentioned above, this was a fun read and one I'm glad I picked up!

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

This was really sweet. I loved the pacing of the romance, which happens a bit earlier than most romances, but it allowed the relationship to breathe. Of course, that doesn’t mean there wasn’t an eleventh hour plot twist… This book also explores the idea of self-worth and imposter syndrome, which I think way more people suffer from than are willing to admit. So bravo for bringing it up!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The most hated reality show bachelorette and a cupcake baking football player fake dating to rehabilitate her reputation and save his bakery.

From their memorable meet cute, I loved Jada and Donovan as a couple. Yep, I'm Team #JaDon. Jada brings just the right amount of chaos and unpredictability to Donovan's otherwise well planned, orderly life. In addition to their banter and how they balance each other, I enjoyed how both Jada and Donovan grow throughout the story.

The side characters are another highlight! From Mrs. T (Jada's grandmother and Donovan's billionaire team owner boss) to Donovan's teammates/business partners and everyone in between, they are a special part of what makes Fake It Till You Bake It so great. I can't wait to read the next book in this series!

This opposites attract, fake dating romance with minimal drama is the perfect light & fun read!.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy to read and enjoy. This voluntary review reflects my honest opinion.

When I read the first line of Fake It Till You Bake It and realized this was about an NFL star who BAKES (!!!!!!) I knew I would love it and I was not disappointed! This was sweet, (literally!) sexy, fun, heartfelt, and romantic. The perfect cozy romance novel to save when you just need something to binge read! Comes out on Tuesday - although I saw a physical copy at B&N yesterday so its out early in some places!

Thank you SO much to St. Martins for this advanced copy!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the advanced reading copy via Netgalley. Review contains my own thoughts and opinions.

When Jada turns down the proposal on a Bachelor-esque show, she doesn’t expect the public outcry and ridicule. Her grandma has the perfect solution - work for Sugar Blitz, a cupcakery. Grams is also the owner of the local football franchise, and the restaurant is owned by three of the team’s players, including Donovan Dell.

Jada and Donovan start off on the wrong foot, but soon enough the chemistry starts to leap off the page. It was a quick and enjoyable read and perfect for summer, especially when you’re craving something sweet!

Even better, it seems to be a setup for a trilogy, with future books featuring Donovan’a friends and fellow business owners.

I did feel the conflict towards the end and resolution felt a bit rushed; I would have loved to see a few more chapters dedicated to it.

I recommend you pick this one up if you’re interested in:

🧁 bakery owned by three professional football players (but how did they have time for both?)
💋 fake dating
💕 enemies to lovers
🙌🏻 dyslexia rep

This was just too stinkin cute!! I really loved this book; I'm always a sucker for the fake dating trope. This book had everything I love in a romance: cute characters, a fun storyline, some spice, and, of course, a happy ending. Fake It Till You Bake It is definitely one of my favorite romance reads of the year and a perfect Summer read if you were looking for something to pick up. My one an only complaint was the final conflict between Jada and Donovan. It just seemed, pardon my football pun, out of left field. It just didn't add to the story and seemed like a desperate attempt for conflict that wasn't really needed. Overall, though, I really enjoyed this book and if you're a fan of sweet, fluffy romances I highly recommend you pick this one up.

Also, the author totally set this up to be at least a trilogy. Can't wait to see what shenanigans August has gotten himself into in the next book!

A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this novel!!!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5) / 🌶🌶 (Spice Level 2)

Rep: black romance, dyslexia rep

TW/CW: Sexual content (18+), toxic parental environment, mentions of gambling addiction, harassment on social media (cyberbullying)


Do you like?: black romance, enemies to lovers, fake dating, workplace romance, and mutual pining

If so, then I highly recommend this book for you!!

Fake It Till You Bake It is a black romance novel following Donovan and Jade. Donovan Dell is a professional football player for the San Diego Kings and co-owner of Sugar Blitz, a cupcake shop he co-owns with his teammates/best friends. With the appeal of the shop coming to a plateau, he must figure out a way to bring a steady line of customers back into the business. Jada, an impulsive, go-with-the-flow woman whose public enemy #1 after turning the proposal of an eligible bachelor on the nation’s hottest reality dating show. After not being on the best of terms from a ‘stale’ introduction, Jada is given the opportunity to prove herself to her grandmother and gain her trust from her grandmother. What does she have to do? Work at Sugar Blitz as an employee under Donovan’s authority. But things go sour when a tabloid comes into Sugar Blitz asking Jada about the turned down engagement and she pulls Donovan into a fake relationship. The two must pull off the perfect fake relationship to not only save Jada’s reputation but get business in Sugar Blitz booming again. Can these two pull it off without ripping each other’s heads off? Or will they finding out that the heat their feeling is not from the kitchen, but from the burning passion they have growing for one another?

This was definitely the read I needed to pull me out of my 3 month long reading slump! The biggest pro of this book was that we got see a professional athlete heavily involved in a business endeavor that he is passionate about. I loved the banter between Jada and Donovan. As a fellow woman who likes to keep men on their toes. I love reading a woman who can make a man flustered. I also loved that we got to see representation of how adults handle dyslexia and even Jada giving some tips on how to copes for some disadvantages she may have. Donovan was such a refreshing male character. I loved how much of a family man he was and the relationship he had with the women in his family. My favorite characters were Jada’s grandmother, August, and Nicholas. I’m really hoping we can get love stories for Nicholas and August in the future. That would be amazing!!!

Jamie, you did the thing with this novel and I cant wait to read more from you!!!

Due to technical difficulties with the NetGalley shelf app, I am unable to review this book. I will have to wait until release day to read it. I am still very excited to read this, and will post a review on Goodreads.

A football star who opens a cupcake shop? Sign me up!

I feel like I've been reading so many books that make me want sweets. With this and the cupcake mysteries I need to make a batch of cupcakes!

We had a great meet cute for Jada and Donovan. It got them definitely more on the lines of enemies to lovers. They butted heads right away. It doesn't help that they are total opposites. Jada is very much a free spirit and Donovan is very into control.

Jada has had a rough go of it after appearing on a Bachelor-like show. She made it to the end, but rejected the lead's proposal. And literally everyone hates her. This seemed a little unrealistic since people can get fired up about reality TV, but would they really shame her and attack her whenever she goes out in public? Idk maybe that's just me.

Jada ends up lying to the producers, saying she had someone back home which results in her and Donovan lying about being in a relationship. But honestly it felt real from the beginning. Their chemistry was there right away.

Donovan was such a book boyfriend. He always stood up for Jada and was her biggest supporter. And he bakes so win-win.

There was a cliff hanger with one of Donovan's friends and I'm very interested to see where that goes and another story in Sugar Blitz.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Netgalley and Jamie Wesley for the ARC copy.

I hate giving poor reviews, and I was very thankful to be asked to read a copy of Fake It Until You Bake It..... but I just didn't like this book. Honestly, if I wasn't reading an ARC, I probably would have DNF'd. This book was just not good. It was soooooo cheesy, the fake dating to real dating felt incredibly forced, the characters were annoying, and the concept didn't really make sense.

For example, how did 3 professional football players playing in the NFL have enough time to run a cupcake restaurant? It kept making references to the fact that they were there constantly at the store, so I don't understand how they had the time! I also didn't like the knock off Bachelor idea. It seemed copied, and I didn't love it. The whole end "problem" was stupid too. Sorry!

I did enjoy the diversity and representation this book gave, and I liked the cupcake descriptions, but other than that, this book was too long, super cheesy, and one that I mainly skimmed.

Hopefully this is just a me problem and others will love it, but in terms of romance books. this was far from my favourite.

Thank you again though for the ARC copy. I appreciate it!

A cute romance, but not much substance. Great representation and diversity. It had a slow start, chemistry felt forced between the characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.