Very nice light read. We meet Jada, a reality TV star who is trying to find her way in life and out of the spot life when she meets Donavon, a pro football player and co-owner of a cupcake shop. I enjoyed their banter and chemistry.

The book had potential, and but the story moved too slow and the fake "relationship" didn't work for me.
Jada goes into Donovan's cupcake shop with a friend and makes a bunch of disparaging and "bougie" comments. She's pretentious, and she's trying to get access to her trust fund early. She has dyslexia, but here it felt like a ploy to humanize her or ger her some sympathy - it's shown as being a reason her scientist parents are disappointed in her.
Donovan is hard working and serious, and he's trying to be financially responsible, but his cupcake shop is losing money. Jada's grandma owns the football team he plays for, and she has Jada go work at the shop. They end up fake dating because the fans of a Bachelor-style TV show she was on flock to the cupcake store, and she blurts out a lie that they are together.
I didn't find it believable that Donovan would keep her working there after some of the things that happened. I appreciate Jada's personal growth, but found that a bit farfetched also. It feels like a considerable amount of time goes by while she's working in the shop, but the book mentions them falling in love in two weeks. The switch from fake to real all seems to be based on physical attractiveness. The characters overcame enough obstacles and issues that breaking them up almost at the end felt really abrupt and out of nowhere.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is such a perfect book for something light, new , and something to fill your soul with cupcake cuteness! It got a little steamy at times which I enjoyed quite a bit. The chemistry between the two characters felt real and I was rooting for them the entire time. This book is perfect if you want a light entertaining read for the summer!

Fake It Til You Bake It is a mix of two of my favorite activities-baking and sports! Add in some fake dating, a sunny California beach setting, and a touch of steam-and you have a perfect mix!

Yes, this romance has some steamy moments, but most of them are PG-13. There is one place that is a little steamier than others. But even then, it’s not excessively detailed.

Sugar Blitz is the kind of place I would love to have near me, a neighborhood cupcakery where people can gather and socialize. Oh, and have some delicious cupcakes! You can’t forget the cupcakes!

Reading a romance with more male characters than females was a bit unusual. August and Nicholas are Donovan’s friends, business partners, and teammates. They also appear quite a bit in the story, as most center around Sugar Blitz. Ella is the only other employee at Sugar Blitz. The only female other than Mrs. T, who is in the story consistently, is Oliva-Jada’s best friend.

A fabulous rom-com! I've not read any books by this author previously, but now I will look for them. I was pulled into the story from the first page. The story was just out and out fun. I had many laugh out loud moments when reading. Jada was relatable and I found myself rooting for her from page one. Donovan was a perfect fit for her. I loved Donovan's friends and hope they each get a story of their own too! I received an advance copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

All of the ingredients were there, but this turned out pretty *stale* ifykyk

I really wanted to love this. I can appreciate a good fake dating story as much as the next girl. The entire book was just missing that spark and connection between the characters. I never really connected to Jada or Donovan and wasn't sure what about them worked together. The one thing that Donovan disliked about Jada off the bat became the one thing he loved about her - her bougie attitude.

The timing was very confusing to me. It seemed as though the entire story took place within a week, but I believe several months were supposed to have passed because she kept planning events. This had that feeling where it seemed like the chapters were all written individually and then stitched together later. It made things a bit confusing and made the romance feel very instalove.

Overall, this was a quick fun read, but very surface level and formulaic. If you're looking for an easy, predictable romance, then pick this up.

Also, does Donovan ever actually play football? When does he workout/train?

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an Advanced Reader Copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Football players that bake and own a cupcake shop? Count me in.

Fake It Till You Bake It was an adorable, light, and easy read. Jada is a bit of a princess and doesn’t know what to do with her life after her last failed adventure on a reality dating show. She is shopping and getting a cupcake to cheer herself up when she first has a hate/cute with Donovan, where she rudely disparages his cupcakes and the shop. So it’s a surprise to her when the next day her grandmother (Donovan’s football boss, by the way) tells her that she’ll be working at Donovan’s bake shop.

I really thought Jada would be a difficult character to like. Her introduction to us…doesn’t put her in the best light! But as we get to know her better, she becomes more and more relatable.

And Donovan gave me some heart eyes. He was just such a stubborn and by-the-book man, that seeing him fall for Jada was adorable. He tried to resist and stick to their “fake dating” plan, but he couldn’t hold out. Their chemistry was hot and I loved the amount of steam we got. The plot was a little predictable, but was enjoyable nonetheless.

I’m hoping for more from Jamie Wesley—I need August’s book STAT.

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

I just reviewed Fake It Till You Bake It by Jamie Wesley thanks to NetGalley. Jamie Wesley's "Fake It Till You Bake It" is really beautiful. You have two character's who have imperfections but are perfect for each other. I really enjoyed this book. #FakeItTillYouBakeIt #NetGalley

I LOVED THIS NOVEL SO SO MUCH!!!! Jamie, you have an absolute masterpiece here. As I sat and filmed a review of my thoughts on YouTube (a review that will be uploaded soon after I finish this written one), there was close to no critiques as I pretty much finished this book in one sitting, starting at Chapter 4. Jada was so well-written, and I swooned over Donovan almost as soon as I read his perspective. Their relationship dynamic was absolute perfection, because we had our enemies to lovers trope, but done in a more mature way that wasn't filled with angst or hiccups that would last for chapters upon chapters. I also appreciated how Jada and Donovan never hid how they were feeling about certain things, hence keeping up open communication and honesty throughout. I felt this was such a refresher from usual enemies to lovers relationships in other novels I have read. I also enjoyed the other characters like Jada's Grams (Mrs. T), and Donovan's teammates Nicholas and August, and his old neighbor, Ella who was absolutely adorable and sweet, providing us the comedic relief we needed especially at the beginning of the novel amidst Donovan and Jada's antics.

Though this never really took away from the novel, there were some things that could have been worked out a little more, such as there were times that the narrative was focused on Jada a lot more than Donovan, so much so that there were multiple chapters that would only have her perspective. I also think the friction with her parents should have been placed earlier in the text, like a little after the middle of the novel, so that could have really been resolved later on. I also think the reason for Donovan and Jada's break later on in the novel (pretty much in the end), could have been a tad more dynamic and reasonable because seeing that for the majority of the novel, the decisions and conversations made had been so mature, this just got a little confusing for me. But these are really minor things that I noticed, as I still finished most of the book in the day, and I still loved it so much.

Based off of everything, I will be giving this book 4.5 of 5 stars!

This book had so much promise....if it weren't for that heroine, I would have loved it, I can tell. However, she was perhaps the most unlikable character I have read in years. The book begins with her being an absolutely horrible person towards the hero, insulting his bakery and literally throwing his cupcake at him after he gives her one for free. You see, she enters the bakery and immediately starts insulting the ambience and food, without having even tried anything. The hero overhears, and she assumes he's just a worker and not the owner, and then he buys her a cupcake to prove to her that what they sell tastes good. After taking a bite, she refuses to admit it tasted amazing and throws it at him, icing flying everywhere. Soon afterwards, when we switch to her POV, my hope that seeing her perspective will help are dashed - she is a spoiled, entitled woman who hasn't had to work hard for anything in her life and looks down on everyone. She excuses her behavior at the bakery, just making a joke out of the fact that she has a big, obnoxious mouth, and her friend lets her get away with it. Then she finds out she has to hold on to a job for six months in a bakery to gain access to her trust fund, and she immediately starts complaining.

On top of all this, the hero is actually turned on by her horrible behavior in the beginning, and I was, for lack of a better word, appalled. We're not talking about just a grumpy heroine who is bantering with the hero. He is a genuinely nice person who loves to bake, trying to live out his dream, and she practically spits on it for no reason. And this is the basis for attraction? If that's what he's attracted to, fine for him, but I can't get behind this couple at all.

This book is perfect to incorporate into the library. Not only does it provide diversity in every aspect: race, gender roles, and even different professions. My students will love this book because it's a refresher from what they normally read. It provides a slow burn romance and a trope that is fancied between my students, enemies to lovers. It provides comedy, romance, and dram.

Story had potential but I didn't connect with the characters as much as I like. Pacing was a bit slow.

I loved the story. It was sweet, and sassy. It made me want to bake or visit my local bakery while reading it. I can't recommend it enough. This was my first book from this author and it won't be my last.

Fake dating? Love it!

Thank you so much for allowing me to read and review your titles. I really not the opportunity!


I do appreciate it and continue to review books that I get the chance to read.
Thanks again!

Sweet and savory is what you get when a reality star and football baker date.

Fake it Till You Bake It by Jamie Wesley was a sexy sweet fake dating love story and I loved it. This was a story about Jada, a former reality star that everyone loved to hate and Donovan, a footballer turned baker. Donovan had a limited amount of time left in his football career, so he decided to open a bakery with his friends to make sure he had something to fall back on. Unfortunately, it was hitting a slump and he didn’t know what to do about it. One day, Jada ended up working at the bakery and one thing led to another which ended with them in a fake relationship. But it became a win-win situation for both, as it helped with business and kept the negativity about her down. Can they keep it going for the long haul or will things begin to shift?

From the beginning, we were met with deception which ultimately set the tone for the rest of the story. With the mix of an analytical, “it has to be done this way'' type of person and a free spirit, things were bound to get a bit exciting. Both testing each other’s limits and opening each other up for growth was inevitable, much like mixing ingredients and baking them. The banter from day one, yes please! I loved that the characters were total opposites because it added to the humor that was all over this story.

The realism was insane, with pop culture references, real life situations with family and expectations, as well as the struggles people go through. It hit lots of great issues without being forced in your face. I also liked that there was the inclusion of neurodiversity and showing there is nothing to be ashamed of nor compensated for. Jada’s dyslexia was her strength and shall we say, superpower!

Oh my goddess, the sexual tension! Whew, can we get a fan? This is what it means to turn up the heat without going over the top with it. It was so beautifully executed and seamless.

Fake it Till You Bake It was such a fun story and hidden in there was kind of a coming of age situation happening. More like coming into maturity and finding that balance of who you are vs who people want you to be vs what you think people want you to be or need you to be. This is a common occurrence in adults in their 20s, so it was pretty relatable. Nice!

I love a good enemies to lovers and fake dating story. But with the added bonus of yummy baked goods, it was super enticing! If you are looking for these tropes with some Black leads and a bit of neurodiversity in the mix, this is for you!

I’d love to see more from Jamie Wesley!

FAKE IT TILL YOU BAKE IT – Jamie Wesley
St. Martin’s Griffin
ISBN: 978-1-250-80185-2
June 21, 2022
Romantic Comedy

San Diego, California – Present Day

Jada Townsend-Matthews became the most hated woman in America after she turned down the marriage proposal from the bachelor star on a reality show. She has been keeping a low profile—and trying to avoid social media—but with her twenty-sixth birthday almost here, she needs to find a job to appease her grandmother, who holds the purse strings on Jada’s trust fund. Her grandmother owns the San Diego NFL football team and the team’s star defensive end owns a cupcake bakery, so it is decreed that Jada work there. The problem is that Jada is all too familiar with the cupcake shop and its owner, Donovan Dell. She recently went into the bakery and insulted Donovan’s business. Now she has to spend the coming months working for him.

Donovan doesn’t really want Jada working for him, but since there are delicate contract negotiations going on to extend his football contract, he can’t tell the owner no. He figures he can put Jada out front at the counter and she will do little damage, but it doesn’t stop him from watching her. Jada has her ups and downs, yet also has some good ideas, even if they do clash occasionally. But one day, a customer recognizes Jada from the TV show and asks if Donovan is the man that she claimed on the show finale was the reason why she couldn’t accept the marriage proposal. Jada, in a panic, turns to Donovan and kisses him.

With the rumor going strong that Jada and Donovan are romantically involved, the bakery, called Sugar Blitz, takes off. People come in to gawk at both Jada and Donovan, as well as buy lots of cupcakes. Donovan decides he likes the idea of pretending to be Jada’s boyfriend. But soon, fake becomes reality. They’re attracted to each other. As soon as Jada gets her hands on her trust fund she will be gone. Can Donovan convince her to stick around? How will their relationship affect his future with the football team?

FAKE IT TILL YOU BAKE IT is a funny and romantic tale about a man and woman who are polar opposites, yet still manage to fall in love. Donovan grew up in a family struggling with poverty and he used his football skills to parlay it into a lucrative NFL career. He’s always enjoyed baking cupcakes, so with two fellow football teammates, they opened Sugar Blitz. However, the business is now struggling a little bit. Enter Jada, who is from a wealthy family. She has struggled to “find herself” and is willing to do what it takes to access her trust fund when she turns twenty-six. Even if it means working with the surly (and decidedly attractive) Donovan. Despite their battles with each other, their sexual chemistry soars off the charts. But can it lead to more than a fling? Things are not so easy for them on their road to a happily-ever-after. Will they succeed—or will their differences derail their romance?

An intriguing and fun premise makes FAKE IT TILL YOU BAKE IT a must read for lovers of romantic comedy. Don’t miss this enjoyable tale.

Patti Fischer

This was a quick and easy reading opposites attract, fake dating romance.

The “meet cute” kind of set me off on the wrong foot with this book. I didn’t think Jada’s behavior was very cute at all so it was kind of an uphill battle for me to like her. She did win me over by the end but it was slow going.

Donovan however I liked from the beginning, but I wish we could have gotten to know him better. He stayed pretty surface level and I never really understood why he was so drawn to Jada. Also we’re told he is a professional football player but that really wasn’t a part of this book at all. I never thought I’d say this but it needed more sports.

Overall it was cute, just not spectacular.

*I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for this ARC!*

This was such a cute contemporary romance! It was a combination of the ‘enemies to lovers’ and ‘fake dating’ tropes, both of which I am a big fan of. Add to all of that that it is set in a cupcake shop run by three hunky professional football players and you have a really fun story!

I liked both of the main love interests. Donovan was so serious and so ambitious. He reminded me a little bit of myself, so I kept finding myself telling him to loosen up! Jada was spunky and feisty, which made her a brilliant foil to Donovan. It was a fun romance to watch play out.

The two other football players were fun to get to know. I really felt like Wesley was gearing us up to have this be a series. I would love to see a book about each of these men’s love stories. I hope that my assumption is correct 🙂

All in all, this was a cute and sweet (no pun intended 😉 ) romance! If you are a fan of the ‘fake dating’ trope, you will enjoy this book!

My Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I gave Fake It Till You Bake It 4 Stars!

Fake It Till You Bake It is going to be one of the top vacation reads this summer. I can feel it.

The story introduces Donovan Dell, a pro football player trying to get a bakery business to flourish. He knows the game cant last forever but he’s at a bit of a loss on how to improve his fall backs standing. When the owner of his team asks him to hire her granddaughter he had no idea it would be the currently vilified reality star Jada Townsend.

Insert Jada. She feels lost and needs direction. Somehow she ends up working for Donovan. Te two do not get on at all but eventually come to an agreement that they need each other to help out their own situations. In order to advance their goals they agree to fake date, and it works. Somewhere along the lone those fake feelings start turning real.

These two don't have the typical dynamic you see in a lot of Rom-coms recently. Yes they bicker quite a bit. There’s definitely the enemies to lovers chemistry going on. Because of this some might find the first half of the book to drag in bits. Some of it to feel stilted or awkward but it plays into how the characters feed off each other.
Overall, fun quick summer read.

This was an enjoyable book and didn’t feel as long as it was. Donovan is an NFL football player and along with two of his team mates and friends have a cupcake shop which is on the verge of failing.
Jada, an opinionated disgraced reality tv star is bought along to said cupcake store by her friend and is less than impressed. Voicing her opinions on the stale store which is overheard by Donovan, the two then obviously grate on each other.
As it turns out, the two are thrown together when Jada’s grandma and owner of the NFL team Donovan plays for asks Donovan to hire her.
Not having the best start, the two do clash with each other. But the two have to start a fake relationship when Jada’s disgraced tv reality past comes to haunt her.
Donovan, the straight laced, does things by the book combined with Jada’s opinionated and impulsiveness, how will this fare!
A sweet book with a little heat! Enjoyable to read.