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.

Donovan is a football player with a struggling bakery. Jada is an impulsive wanderer who, after becoming reality TV's newest villain and being cut off from her parents, needs a new job to show that she’s serious about life.
This was a slow-read kind of book. I'm typically a fast-paced kind of reader, so this was new to me. This book felt very detail-heavy and it dragged. Donovan's caring and reserved nature and Jada's outgoing nature made for a great pair, and I wish we got to see more of their relationship develop. There were few deep emotional connections, just a general sense of lust and desire. I liked that they knew how to communicate and that there were no misunderstandings in their relationship, and I loved the constant banter and teasing. But the only scene that stood out to me was the affirmation scene. 😍
Overall, I wish there was more depth and connection to the plot for both the characters and the reader.
I tell you, I was craving cupcakes the entire time I was reading the book. Especially the Smores cupcake! I was salivating 🤤
Thank you, St. Martin's Press and Netgalley, for this galley for an honest review!

Jada Townsend-Matthews is public enemy #1. Turning down a marriage proposal on a reality dating show will do that. She’s back home trying to put her life back together and pick herself up after the negative social media storm that has been her life for the past months. She’s coerced into working for San Diego’s newest cupcake bakery, Sugar Blitz, owned by the mightily attractive professional football player, Donovan Dell. Word gets out and a reporter comes by mistakenly believing Jada and Donovan are a couple. After a rush of positive social media comments and an uptick in cupcake sales, Jada and Donovan decide to keep up the dating façade. Rules are set. Fake dating begins. And good publicity is the result. But no one expected love to grow.

This was an enjoyable read. The beginning was a little slow and I wasn’t sure I would like Jada (she seemed quite the spoiled rich girl at the beginning). But after a while the story picked up and caught my interest. And Jada redeemed herself with her desire to do actual work and not just mooch off her rich relatives. Donovan is a straight-lace hero who doesn’t know how to handle Jada’s chaos. Until he does and realizes he needed some chaos in his life. The fake dating trope was done well and the ease into a real relationship wasn’t filled with miscommunications or annoying angst. Once you get past the slow beginning, the pacing was good. There were fun characters. A great epilogue and teaser to a second book which definitely intrigues me.

If you like a fake dating trope, professional athletes, cupcakes, and a slightly meddling grandma, then pick this book up when it releases on June 21st.

Thank you netgalley for the chance to read this book. All opinions are my own.

Donovan Dell and his two best friends don’t just play professional football, they also bake and own/operate a cupcake bakery called Sugar Blitz. After refusing a proposal on a dating show, shown across the world, Jada Townsend-Matthews can’t escape the anger of the fans. When she starts working at Sugar Blitz, they are mistaken for a couple which they realized could benefit them both professionally speaking; help boost sales at the stop and help improve Jada’s reputation. What could go wrong?



Fake It Till You Bake is a steamy, and hilarious fake dating romantic comedy. Jada and Donovan were great characters, they were so open and raw with each other and just comfortable being themselves. The chemistry was undeniable and believable, and the multiple POVs intensified it. The pace was too all over the place, sometimes it dragged too much and sometimes it went way too quickly and felt rushed which didn’t really do it for me. Overall, it was a good read with great, likeable characters.



Thank you St Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for a review.



Book hits shelves on June 21, 2022!

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reading copy! This was a sweet romance full of cupcakes and light hearted fun. Jada just finished a Bachelor type of reality show where she publicly refused a marriage proposal. Donovan is a professional football player, who recently opened a cupcake shop. They’re thrown together when Jada’s grandmother, who owns the football team, forces Jada to work for Donovan to help with the shop. Fake dating, chaos, schemes, and romance ensue! This was a little slow paced for me at times and the ending felt rushed, but the relationship between the two main characters were sweet. Overall I recommend this book for fans of fake dating, cupcakes, and contemporary romance.

This book was a quick, cute insta-love romance. I liked the characters and even before that last hint at the end, I was sensing sequels with August and Nicholas as the leads (August and Sloane maybe for book 2) and I hope I’m right - I love the NFL pro/baker bffs dynamic and I’m anxious to read more about these sweet jocks.

The premise of this book was a mashup of old tropes in a kind of new situation. There was one good steamy scene. Some fun banter. What took me out of the story was that sometimes the writing was overly cheesy, even for a rom-com. Also, any romance reader knows the formula and towards the end we are waiting to see what problem will pop up that keeps the characters from being together until they solve it. The made-up problems that aren’t real problems until the characters make them problems get on my damn nerves. I was excited when an ACTUAL problem emerged. But then they solved it in the next chapter and moved onto the fake problem. So that was a disappointment.

I liked this book and I would definitely read more from this author but there were just a few things that kept me from loving it.

Fake It Till You Bake It
Rating: 4 cupcake stars
Series: It is not mentioned that it's in a series, but based on how the book ended I'm sure we're going to see more of these three football players who opened a cupcake shoppe.
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC given through NetGalley for review. All opinions are my own.

I'll start off by saying that I was very close to DNFing this story. Jada, our female lead, is a little too much at the beginning. She read to me as a spoiled brat. She can't hold a job and loves to spend her family's money...but I'm very happy to say that I loved seeing her character grow and became this woman who finally finds her calling and that is able to stand on her two feet without her parents support. (Her billionaire grandmother helps but only as mentor.)
The romance of the story was very sweet and I really enjoyed how opposite their personalities were. Donovan was the quiet, stoic and analytical one and she's the loud, outspoken one. They complimented each other very well. I loved their fake dating plan because it was to help out both of them in the dilemma they were in. Their bantering was very entertaining and when they soon realize that feelings are no longer fake the story became even more entertaining to read.
The reason I gave it a 4 star was because the conflict at the end seemed a little off...also the time jump was a little surprising and I hadn't realized it had happened until actual time passed is mentioned by one of the characters. I understand why Jada made that decision but I hope it was not added just to add a last minute drama to the story because I don't think it was needed.

I look forwards to reading more of these football players and see them fall in love.