This story starts out with Jada & her friend going into a cupcake shop where she starts to bad mouth the shops ambience by calling it stale. Donovan, the shop owner, takes offense to what he hears and the two have some words together that are rude & snarky until she walks out of the shop.

Jada is a woman who comes from money who is between jobs at the moment. She was also just recently in a Bachelor style reality show & turned down the proposal in the end where she is now the villain all over social media right now. Her grams owns a football team and one of her players, Donovan, owns a cupcake shop. Grams gives Jada an ultimatum that she must work for 6 months with a steady job & great reviews from her supervisor in order to get her trust fund.

Donovan is a control freak who is a football player with a passion for cupcakes. He owns a shop that sells a variety of cupcakes but his business hasn’t been doing well. He wants to ask Mrs. T, Jada’s Grams & owner of his football team, advice for his business where he gets roped into having her granddaughter come work for him.

When Jada begins working with him she makes many mistakes which gets Donovan upset. But soon enough Jada’s denied proposal catches up with the two of them when a reporter finds her working there. Jada is so flustered by the questions that she tells her that Donovan is her man & kisses him. The two fake date until they finally realize they are actual perfect for each other.

The only parts of the story i don’t like is Jada is rude. She walks into a business & is badmouthing it while giving him terrible attitude. She isn’t super likable.. she does get a little better but then towards the end Jada all of the sudden flips a switch and doesn’t want to be with him & wants to go do her own thing.. like no please don’t do that. But I understand that this usually happens at the end of some novels that you have to have a hiccup before the HEA.

Giving this 4 stars because the plot was so fun and the characters were easy to love after they started to get along better & it was an enjoyable read. This comes out June 21 & it’s a cute one!

Thank you to the author & publisher for this arc!

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Jamie Wesley is a new-to-me author, and one I’m definitely excited to try more from. Fake It Till You Bake It is such a fun, sweet confection of a romance, the literary equivalent of the sweets in the book: sugary (with a dash of heat) and full of heart.
The opening chapters instantly hooked me on Jada and Donovan, and their dynamic. They don’t exactly have love at first sight, and while I did feel like Jada’s self-confessed brutal honesty in the moment was more brutal than anything else, Donovan gave back as good as he got. I enjoyed seeing things unfold, with them being thrown together due to her grandmother also being the owner of his football team, and good ol’ meddling (but loving) Grams gets Jada a job at Donovan’s bakery.
The premise for them beginning to fake date was interesting, as it was motivated by generating positive buzz for Jada in the aftermath of a disastrous stint on a reality dating show, not to mention providing good press for the bakery. I really liked how they moved pretty seamlessly from faking to making things real. There are some *small* issues I had with some aspects of the relationship, but generally I really liked them together.
Jada is the more complex of the two. She’s still finding her feet and she struggles with insecurities, thanks to her parents having such high standards. Both of them are doctors, but she has dyslexia, and she deals with ableism and rejection from them as a result. I feel like this did make her a bit *too* insecure, as even after proving she could handle something pretty major on her own, her insecurities still get the better of her, because of how she ended up in her current state of success. I could understand the rationale, but I also felt the leap in logic she takes in connecting professional and personal was a bit much, even considering how linked the two had been up to this point.
Donovan is super sweet when he unwinds a bit (his uptight nature is frequently remarked upon in the book!), and I liked how supportive he was of Jada, including in confrontations with her impossible-to-please parents and vengeful reality show producers and jilted co-stars. He isn’t perfect, as in one of Jada’s biggest crises, he panics and doesn’t adequately offer his support, even though he had been there for other, external battles. But he has a good heart, and that made me still believe in them despite how out-of-nowhere that moment was.
While this is a self-contained, stand-alone love romance, there’s plenty of teases for what’s to come with future installments following Donovan’s fellow football players/bakery co-owners. And the epilogue ends on a rather suspenseful note, hinting at what’s to come for the next book, so my hype is high.
In spite of some of my minor issues, I really liked this, and would recommend it to lovers of contemporary Black romance and/or romances about bakeries.

rating: 2.5

Well, I thought I'd really love this one, sadly that was not the case. Fake dating usually involves some type of insta love or falling in love very fast, and normally, I don't have a problem with that if the characters are well written and their love feels real, but here, it felt more like Jada and Donovan were in love because that's what they were supposed to do. I just didn't feel anything for them or the rest of the characters, which in turn, made me not care for the plot, and which is why I took a whole month to read the book.


Thank you to St. Martin's Press for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is one of the cutest, must ridiculously enjoyable romance books I've ever read!
Donovan is a star football player who has opened a cupcake shop with his two best friends. Things are going okay, but not nearly as well as they had hoped.
Jada is a woman who has been all over, doing a little of everything, when she follows her bestie into a cupcake shop, and immediately starts insulting the building and the cupcakes, not realizing that Donovan is right behind her.
She ends up having to work there, and she and Donovan butt heads at every opportunity. Donovan quickly realizes that this women is hurting, and very talented at bringing people into the shop and also, really great at PR..
The heat between these two is off the charts, and the love permanent.
Do Not Miss This Book!

Super sweet romance that will have you craving cupcakes! I love the hate-to-love vibe, the witty back-and-forth banter, the sexy glances at each other, and those hot moments between Jada and Donovan (wow is it hot in here?) . It's so fun that this romance is centered around a cupcake shop needing a second chance, a woman who also needs a second chance due to a reality tv series, and a man willing to take a chance on love.

Although I love the sassy banter between the two of them, sometimes it felt a little cheesy and things were overexplained, but I still really enjoyed this book regardless. I loved Mrs. T and how she doesn't hesitate to meddle in her granddaughter's affairs in order to help her, even if Jada doesn't see it like that at the time.

A fun romp for sure!

A fake boyfriend troupe turned real boyfriend between a reality TV "villain" and an NFL player who moonlights as a cupcake aficionado? Yeah, that will do. Donovan is a straight laced footballer who is trying to make his cupcake shop a success, and Jada came fresh of the set of a reality show where she turned down the marriage proposal that was supposed to launch her influencer career. They both have more in common than they realize, and end up in a fake relationship turned real relationship before you know it.

The characterization of both Jada and Donovan was fantastic. We learned more about the leads than I anticipated, like how Donovan likes control related to his upbringing with a father who has a gambling problem, and how Jada folds when thinking about how her scientific and perfect parents would think about her job in the cupcakery.

The story itself was farfetched at times, but was still enjoyable. It read kind of like a Hallmark movie, where everything just kind of falls in place. I did enjoy it, wished that maybe it was a little steamier but what we did get was fantastic. I also loved the representation of dyslexic people and how Jada addressed it several times in the book. The story felt fresh and kept me coming back for more.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Jada Townsend-Matthews could be the most hated woman in America. She is a freshly minted former reality TV star, who in a decision that shocked America, turned down the proposal at the end of "My One and Only". Now, back home, and still lost as to what her purpose in life is - she's been staying in her condo to avoid the hate that has literally been following her everywhere. (As well as flooding her social media pages). Hoping for access to her trust fund, she agrees to work at a cupcake shop on her grand mother's wishes, to prove she can hold a job. The only problem? She's met the owner, at said cupcake shop before (it did not go that well). Enter professional football player and cupcake store owner, Donovan Dell. Will she be able to get over her initial dislike of this man and hold the job? Or will her normal instincts kick in and cause everything to fall apart around her, yet again?

This was such an enjoyable story! I really enjoyed the humor sprinkled throughout the story, as well as the sense that the author really understood who these two were, especially Jada. I found myself rooting for Jada right away - and understanding where she was coming from. It really checked all the boxes for me. It was fun and funny, it had great chemistry between the leads, funny side-kicks, the conflict, what it was and how it was handled was surprising. And it was an extra bonus that the main setting happened to be a cupcake shop. I will say there was a couple of little hiccups that I wasn't fond of but they didn't detract from the story/journey for me. It's also definitely left open for a part two that I hope comes around soon! I would absolutely recommend this to anyone that likes a sweet love story that doesn't get as steamy as some I've seen as of late.

Jamie absolutely killed it! I loved this book so much. It was wholesome and funny. Y’all will love this

Fake It Til You Bake It hooked me right from the beginning. I loved how sassy and strong our main character, Jada is. Donovan was truly a romance novel's dream man. Mrs T made me laugh and simultaneously want a Grams hug. The characters were top notch likeable.

One thing that bugged me throughout was the fact that Donovan is a current NFL player but he doesn't practice or condition. I would have loved to see more football story line and less reality TV story line. I'm looking forward to reading August story next!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

This was a sweet romance (pun intended) and I loved the setting of a cupcake shop and seeing Jada work hard at event planning. The main characters felt a little flat to me personally although I did love their banter and flirting. I think the supporting stars such as Jada's grandma, Nick, and August really shown in this book! I felt like the third act breakup was a little unnecessary and would've preferred to see the drama with Lila more fleshed out and prolonged to see how they handled it together as a couple in order to grow from it.

his is perfect for fans of Jasmine Guillory and Lyssa Kay Adams.

Infamous reality TV star and an athlete who owns a cupcake shop? Fake dating? Yes and yes!

Jada and Donovan could not be more opposite but when circumstances come together and fake dating seems to benefit them both, what could go wrong?

Between the banter, friends (and customers!) who are like family (I hope we see more of August and Nicholas 🙏🏼😍), and all the cupcake talk I really enjoyed this book!!

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin’s press for the opportunity to read and review this book!

I love this very amusing romantic comedy. Former reality star Jada gets off on the wrong foot with Donovan when she insults NFL star and bakery owner's cupcakes before she has even tried one. Though he thinks that she is beautiful, he finds her impulsive and bougie. Jada thinks he's overly serious but gorgeous. Jada ends up working with him in the bakery. To change her reviled image and to help his struggling business, they pretend to be dating. As they get to know each other, love can't be far behind. I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. The story, the characters, the dialogue, and the humor pulled me in right away. I love Jada and Donovan's honesty and candidness. I love how they saw below each other surfaces and protected each other. This is my first book by the author and I look forward to reading more of her books. I hope this is the start of a series and there will be books focusing on Donovan's business partners and fellow teammates.

Loved the fake dating and family drama. Great read that left me craving cupcakes!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Fake dating! Sizzle! Family drama! Fun read that I couldn't put down.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

FAKE IT TILL YOU BAKE IT is romantic fiction at its best, filled with charm, missed opportunities, swoon worthy characters and baked goods. Jamie Wesley manages to fit in all the necessities plus plenty of rom com humor in this sweet tale of fake romance turned real between a sports star turned baker and a reality star turned hot mess. This adult book is a joy to read. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley

Description:
A reality star and a cupcake-baking football player pretend to be a couple in order to save his bakery in this sweet and sexy romance from Jamie Wesley, Fake It Till You Bake It.

Thoughts:
I loved the premise of the story and was drawn in by the cover. Jada and Donovan both have their flaws, but there is a lot to like about them as well. They bring the hood out in each other and boy do they bring the steam. They both overcome family drama and can relate to each other on that level. I enjoyed all of the references to baking! I have a strong sweet tooth!

My only real problem with the story is the timeline. They go from hating each other to head over heels in love in a matter of days! Then they are meeting the parents and it all happens to quickly to seem real. If someone was head over heels for me in three days, I’d be a bit freaked out.

Overall, it’s a fun, steamy read. Just don’t get caught up in the timeline!

Read If:
🧁 You like the fake dating troupe.
🧁 You love a book with some steam.
🧁 You enjoy lots of references to baking and cupcakes.
🧁 You don’t mind a quick timeline.
🧁 You like family drama.

Honestly, I was really hoping to enjoy this way more than I did. At first it was alright and it picked up especially because of the fake dating scheme. However, that was quickly discarded and it felt like this book was just kind of... pointless? As much as I enjoyed some of the banter, I didn't really feel any attachment to the characters or any need for the drama. It felt like there were no stakes even though the book felt like it was trying to have stakes?

Honestly, there were some moments that I did enjoy. The way Jade grew to realize her full potential and gain her confidence was really great. I feel like I wanted more of her personal growth and the romance kind of hindered that. I think just for vibes this book would definitely be something fun, and maybe as an audiobook it would be more entertaining. But for me, this just lacked a spark that I really wanted in this.

I loved this so much! If you give me a book with a cupcake shop as a central plotline, I will devour it. This was a really sweet romance with two protagonists I enjoyed. I felt like their storyline was unique-- the reality TV show angle was so clever, and highly entertaining. The romance felt realistic. Loved!

Fake It Till You Bake It follows a reality tv star and a football player/cupcake shop owner in a fun opposites attract romance story. Jada Townsend-Matthews became famous on a reality dating show and is now looking for her next opportunity until she receives her inheritance. Her grandmother, the owner of the San Diego Knights football team, offers Jada a deal to receive her inheritance early. Jada will receive the money if she is able to hold down a job for six months. This brings her to the employment of Donovan Dell.

Donovan Dell is a San Diego football player who is also the co-owner of a cupcake shop, Sugar Blitz, with two of his teammates. Right away the concept of the ex-football player opening a bakery was a fun idea to include in the novel as it reminded me of the three former players in real life who opened Cupcake Guys in Austin, Texas and became more well-known with surface pro commercials shown in the US beginning in 2020. Also, with three of them owning the shop, I could automatically picture two additional novels created to make this a series with one novel for each of the men.

Donovan agrees to employ Jada as a favor for Jada’s grandmother. Once Jada begins working there, media speculation emerges, and the public begins to believe the two are an item. Since it seems to increase business, the two of them agree to fake date. The chemistry they shared was apparent on every page and I enjoyed the two of them slowly lowering their guard to get to know the other. Jada’s dyslexia were a heart-warming addition to her character as it helped show a vulnerability. While I enjoyed this part of her, I still had a very difficult time understanding her rudeness. Her banter, at times, with Donovan read as sugar-wrapped insults where the writing was trying to pass them off as witty, but they came off as mean. While she had hidden esteem issues, it was difficult to connect with her using it as an excuse, in a way, to be conceited and rude to others. I understand the idea of creating this tougher exterior that will be melted away, but unfortunately it did not read that way to me.

Overall, Donovan and Jada were sweet together and I loved their opposites attract romance. Their timeline was a little on the insta-love side, but I could see their connection and how a relationship would work between them. The side characters were all enjoyable and worked well with the main two. Even though it was not a big deal in the story, one detail that stood out was Jada’s grandmother was a POC and an owner of a billion-dollar football team. Both in the real world and in many stories, there are POC players or coaches in sports, but I cannot recall any where they were an owner. It was not a major talking point of the story, but just was a detail that I noticed. As all the characters and the bakery, itself, with the amazing baked goods (the descriptions do make you want a cupcake immediately), I really do hope that this turns into a series, and I can revisit this set of characters soon!

**I want to give a special thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, St. Martin’s Griffin, for a review copy of this entertaining novel. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

I wanted to like this book more than I did because the plot seemed cute. But ultimately, the execution just seemed a little weak and there were a lot of plot holes or questions that I had about the plot that seemed to make no sense. I liked the characters ok and I assume this is going to be a trilogy where each of the bakery owners gets their own book (it’s 3 football players who own a bakery and they do all the baking while being professional football players - HOW IS THIS SUSTAINABLE?!?) Sorry, I am really just fixated on this and I need to let it go.