Let me tell you these characters are portrayed so perfectly, Harper, Dex, Christopher and all other characters make this story a masterpiece! I can’t wait to read more by this order! Outstanding start to finish!!!

This small town romance is definitely cute. It comes across like a cheesy hallmark movie with a big city lawer coming to a small town and ends up having to save the day. It is a fake dating grumpy sunshine book. But it comes off a little too much like instalove with both characters seemingly falling in love at first sight and since it is also dual POV we don't get the stakes and angst of not knowing if the other character is still fake dating or if they caught real feelings. It was enjoyable still and both characters do have good chemistry together.

Thank you to Netgalley for an E-ARC! This book is out now!

Review: I loved this book. It was a comfort read that takes place in a small town called Hunter’s Creek where everyone knows each other. I loved both Christopher and Harper. They were complete opposites of each other but complimented each other so well! This was a sweet, swoony, and clean romance. I was pleasantly surprised that even the secondary characters were well written. I would absolutely recommend this book!

Faking it with the grump by @kateokeeffewriter
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Christopher is a grumpy lawyer who goes to Hunter’s Creek Washington to do work at a local lumber mill. At the same time, Harper, a sunny local is broken up with and moves from LA to back home. One night at a bar, Harper ends up kissing Christopher. They then begin to hatch a plan to begin to fake date. But, is there love just fake?
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I got to read this early thanks to @netgalley
Overall, I really enjoyed it. This book will make you laugh, cry, smile, and gasp. Of course not all at once😉 All things that were much needed on this Tuesday.

Emoji to describe:👨🏽‍💼👩🏼‍🏫🍰☕️
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5
Read time: 2 days
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When Harper Cole finds herself being dumped publicly by her childhood sweet, now Hollywood star, Dex Ryan, all she wants to do is hide. So, she returns to her home town of Hunter’s Creek. However, her notoriety cannot be escaped, and she decides to throw herself at the new guy in town, Christopher Young, and convince him to be her fake ‘boyfriend’. Meanwhile Christopher, is also hiding the fact that he has been brought in as a lawyer, involved in the sale of the town’s lumber mill. He intends to return to NYC as soon as he can, to get his long deserved promotion. Yet, after dating Harper, even if it is fake, soon begins to mean more than that.
This was a sweet romance, that was also quick to read. It is funny with some great characters and will leave you with a smile. Very light-hearted.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this story! It was a fun read to see a free spirit matched up with a stiff, professional type. His deception was forgivable. It was nice to see him let loose around the girl. I would read more in this series.

This book was an adorable break from my typical reads. The cast of characters and location choice definitely made it worth the read, and the author’s decision to embrace the “Hallmark movie” trope with humor made me appreciate it much more than if it hadn’t been mentioned. I did find the main characters to be repetitive with their inner thoughts at times, but the banter they had with each other through the story makes up for all of that. I’d definitely suggest this to anyone looking for a cute, small town rom-com love story.

Others have already said this, but definitely a hallmark movie in the making. I liked the start of this. The story and circumstance were clever. But then it settled so quickly. I needed a stronger commitment to the Grump bit. The lead, Harper, realized Christopher wasn’t actually that grumpy so quickly that the name of the novel became obsolete. The fake dating lasted like two days. This story just needed more development and time I think.

I am still interested in reading the second book though, following Harpers sister Ryn, and her friend Gabe. I’m hoping for a third story with the oldest sister Marlowe as well.


Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of “Faking it with the Grump.” All opinions are my own.

I received an advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

I love me a grumpy sunshine book. The grumpier the better and the sunnier the better. I was excited to read this book it checked all my favorite boxes - grumpy sunshine, small town romance, fake dating and the main character is a teacher (like me). Unfortunately, the boxes may have been checked but the book missed the mark, at least for me.

I liked the setting of the book and how all of the characters knew everybody. I couldn't connect with Harper or Christopher. I felt their personalities were not explored. It was instalove overload - like I think they just looked at each other and were already in the midst of daydreaming of kissing each other. The character development wasn't there.

It was a very clean book - no spice at all. Zero. Zilch. None. I am a teacher - so I find it so cringe when teacher main characters are just portrayed as so perfect and their classroom is so perfect. Like come on? Have you been in a second grade classroom recently? They will not be sitting quietly while you run your small groups. It was just cringe. Also, it took me so long to finish this because I am not a quitter but I sure wanted to quit this one.

This was an okay romance story with all of the characters. The two main characters were Harper and Christopher.

Harper has returned to her family's home town after her boyfriend breaks up with her. She get a part time job with the local school in town. She feels that everyone is pitying her since her ex also was from the same town so when she meet a new guy that has came to town on business. She decides to see if he will fake date her.

Christopher has came to Hunter's creek for work. His boss has sent him there for business with there local lumber mill. He happy to be going because it will maybe get a promotion. But when he get to the town there not much there. But he does see a local diner and decided to eat there. While on the way out he see a woman that catches his interest. He see her later on at a bar and start to talk to her. While talking she asks a surprise type of question.

This was an okay story to read. It had a little bit of action and a lot of drama throughout. It had a few giggles within.

I received a complimentary copy via Booksprout and Netgalley. This is my honest unbiased opinions.

This book is like the very best kind of Hallmark movie!! I smiled the whole way through.

Christopher & Harper couldn’t be more different and that’s what makes them perfect for each other. This small town, fake dating, grumpy/sunshine was just the funny feel good story I needed. I’m looking forward to more stories from this series.

Definitely recommend

I am smitten with the story between Harper Cole and Christopher Young. This story is absolutely adorable and makes my heart happy.

Harper recently moved back to her home town after a bad breakup.

Christopher is from New York, but is on a long work trip in her small town.

The sweet people of this small town just want Harper to be happy, so naturally they are all trying to set her up with the single men they know. To escape these set-ups, Harper tells them she is dating the handsome businessman who is in town...

Love blossoms and grows to something so beautiful. This story is so sweet . Super clean, Hallmark-ish story!

Sexy, cute, and fun! New author for me and was happily surprised with how much I liked this genre! Would recommend!

This small town romance is charming and Harper, the female lead is convincing. I'm not sure though about the chemistry and the possible ways to solve the complication were set out early on. The 'Topher' name felt a bit silly. Overall, for a light, easy and quick (and closed book) read, this is well worth a look.

Thanks very much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Finished ✔️ Faking It With the Grump by Kate O’Keeffe

4 ⭐️’s
Publish Day: March 14th, 2023
Kindle Unlimited: No
Hallmark movie in a book
LOVED thus book
Great clean rom com
Highly recommend for any rom com lover
Wonderful book from this author
Won’t be my last book by this author
I loved every second of this book
Yes, I’d highly recommend this book

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Faking It With The Grump is the first book in the developing Second Chance Cafe Trilogy. Harper Cole sunshine personified heads back home to Hunter’s Creek after she gets dumped by her longtime sweetheart Dex Ryder where she meets grumpy lawyer Christopher Young. Upon coming home everyone in town wants to set up Harper and help heal her heart, so to help get people to stop she starts fake dating Christopher.

Ooft! Fake dating and sunshine x grump romance in a small town? Yes please!!! This book is everything you expect in a classic romance story and it’s heart warming and I seriously can’t wait for the next book! Also can someone please turn this into a movie for me??? I need to see Christopher in ironed jeans and all! 😍😍

3.5 stars

This book was so cute!! Full transparency here: whatever has small town romance, fake dating and grumpy x sunshine will always win me over and I will never, everrrr, say "no" to such book!

The story follows Harper Cole who gets dumped rather publicly at one of the most romantic spots in L.A but her high-school-sweetheart and now one of the biggest Hollywood stars, Dex Ryder.
As if this wasn't hard-bad-sad enough, moving back to the small town both Harper and Dex grew up in isn't any bed of roses, either.

And how do you think our Harper feels when literally everyone in Hunter's Creek is trying to set her up with every bachelor in town? Yeah, doesn't seem like fun.

So when Harper spots a new-hot-guy in town, Christopher Young, she sees a perfect opportunity: convince him to fake-date her so that everyone can move on and stop bringing all the spotlight on Harper. Especially since Christopher is in town for business and his stay in Hunter's Creek is very temporary - around 2-3 months, to be more precise. So, you see, a perfect opportunity indeed! I mean, what can possibly go wrong here?

I loved getting to know Harper and Christopher, seeing their differences and also how they complement one another.

Btw, Christopher is not your usual grump. He has his grumpy moments, but he's the sweetest at heart and I could easily see him winning an amazing book boyfriend award.

This book is like a romantic Hallmark film: short, light, sweet, romantic and with a HEA. It's "Not exactly a straightforward love story, but it's the best love story because it's ours."

Thank you NetGalley, Xpresso Book Tours and Kate O'Keefe for providing me the early copy of this book.

Faking it With the Grump, by Katie O’Keeffe, is a quick, easy, rom-com read that reminded me of a Hallmark movie. Thanks, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with an ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

This was a very G rated cutesy hallmark type book. When you just want something cute and light, maybe a little predicate or to read on the beach or something this could be that book. Only 3 stars because I like my books to have a little more uumph to them, but that’s personal preference.

Faking it with the grump was such a sweet read. I loved the small town setting and how it had the Hallmark movie vibes. Big shot lawyer guy goes to a small town and and local girl moves back home and fake dating chaos ensues.

This book was fast paced and I didn’t want to put it down, I just wanted to hug it when it was over if I could’ve. I definitely recommend it for those who love Hallmark style romances and fake dating. It is a clean romance and it was a five star rating since I got through it during a time I had a reading slump. I liked the author’s writing style and how everything wraps up in the end.

Thank you Netgalley and publishers for allowing me the chance to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.