I love love love fake dating!! I enjoyed this one but it was just okay. I felt like I needed more depth with Ellie and Theo. I also really didn’t love Sam. She was always creating angsty drama when I just wanted to see the love blossom.

It's a story that's been done many times before but this setting and the two characters are really cute. She's determined and manages to keep her gimmick going. It's a fun rom-com.

This is a really cute story with an MC you can’t help but to adore and an MMC that will probably be your next book boyfriend. I love that this story gives you the feeling that you can have passion and dreams, but it’s also OK if they change.

You know a book is good—and has you hooked from the start—when you find yourself telling your husband about it. Even better? When he starts asking how it’s going and wants all the deets. I’m not sure I can say enough good things about Love You, Mean It.

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

This book has everything I look for to keep me engaged and eager to read during my free time (which, as a first-year mom, is rough):

💃🏻 A spunky main character (plus a feisty grandmother)

🎬 While You Were Sleeping/You’ve Got Mail vibes at the start

💍 A fake fiancé trope

❣️ He falls first

🙌🏻 Women supporting women

I’m sure there’s more, but those are just a few of the key elements that caught—and kept—my attention.

I loved Ellie. Her spunk was hilarious, and her indecisiveness and insecurities made her incredibly relatable. I rooted for her and Theo the whole time. But I also really liked Sam, Theo’s ex-fiancée, and how she and Ellie built a genuine friendship throughout the ruse. Honestly, I loved all the characters—especially Mimi, Ellie’s grandmother, who had me cackling with her sass. The apple definitely didn’t fall far from the tree, which made their relationship even more special.

I’m not sure if it was the cover or the title that didn’t initially grab me, but I’ll admit: I’m a little embarrassed it took me this long to finally read it. It was sitting on my TBR pile way too long!

Did I buy Jilly Gagnon’s newest book when I was only 60% through this one? I sure did. If What If It’s You is even half as good as Love You, Mean It, I know I’m in for another fantastic read. Can’t wait to dive in!

Thank you, Jilly Gagnon, Random House Publishing - Ballantine, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book!

I must say I was really not impressed with this one. I came to talk about the characters but I must make mention of the letter from the author at the end of the book. Her explaining of her characters was off putting almost like she felt she needed to teach her readers a lesson on “real” people. I will say it definitely explains why every character was so unlikable. I failed to see any redeeming qualities in any of them. If Sam loved Theo so much, you’d think she recognize Theo having real feelings for someone. Then to still “try” after Ellie and Theo’s falling out… just, no. The fact that Theo just jumped into a date with Sam was also so off putting. Ellie… I just don’t even know what to say about her. She’s a liar, sure to herself most of all but saying all that to Sam and then sleeping with Theo in a car in public because I guess they just couldn’t wait to get to one of their places. This does not a good person make. How Theo is cold and mean and then tricking her into thinking he was going to bring Mangia in to spite her? Like capital letters RED FLAG.
I didn’t mind the story itself, if the characters were more likable, I probably would have really enjoyed it. I definitely would have the given the author another shot, until her letter. Definitely not for me.
I’m giving it two stars just for the bones and the possibility of what could have been.

Overall: 2/5
Audio: 4/5
FMC: 1/5
MMC: 2/5 but 5/5🚩
Spice: 2/5 (while I was not a fan of the whole overarching drama the car scene brought, it was hot)

🥖🥖🥖🥖/5

I loved the general plot of this story! It was a unique twist to While You Were Sleeping and brought an even more interesting twist with the an amnesia and fake engagement tropes added in together. I loved that the amnesia part was both funny and absurd and dramatic and so serious. And how it turned into a fake engagement. It was so satisfying to watch that little enemies to reluctant lovers play out. I giggled so much in those scenes.

I liked the overall theme of his family legacy being about to demolish her family’s legacy. It made the story more high stakes and emotionally charged. And I loved the dynamic between Ellie and Theo and how they both fit into this scheme they agreed upon to stop the development.

It really made me love Theo because we saw him as both the devote businessman but also the tender hearted, down to earth guy next door. While maybe their communication could’ve been better. There’s not much I would’ve changed about Theo.

Ellie, however, frustrated the heck out of me. I wanted to love her so bad. I empathized with her, but sadly she didn’t grab my heart the way I would’ve preferred. She often times couldn’t decide what she wanted and then caused dramatic and angsty moments for herself while also burying her feelings and denying absolutely everything that was right in front of her. And then on top of it she kept lying to the friends she was trying ”so hard” to make because she was lying to herself about things, but rather than it being solved so easily, she kept making. it. worse. I actually didn’t believe she wanted to find happiness because she was so exasperating about everything.

Nonetheless I loved the plot. I loved the side characters. And the tension between Ellie and Theo was good. Especially during the tennis match, when it really shouldn’t have been tension-ing in that scene (IYKYK). I just wish the entire plot line with Ellie and one of the side characters played out differently because that is basically what ruined part of the story for me.

Ellie is determined to save her family's deli when a new chain is rumored to be coming to town. She goes to meet with Theo, the privileged owner of the building that would become the chain's future home and tragedy strikes. Ambition makes Ellie make a choice to move forward that changes the trajectory of many different pieces of her life.

I enjoyed the characters overall, but I had a lot of trouble getting through this one. Morally speaking, lying just isn't something I'm okay with, especially with how it was handled here. Fake dating when there is a mutual agreement is one thing. To dupe a person who can't remember what's going on and build a relationship? It just rubbed me the wrong way.


Thanks for the ARC!

Fake fiancé chaos + family deli drama = a total win! Ellie’s desperate (and hilarious) attempts to save her family business by pretending to be engaged to the infuriatingly charming Theo had me laughing and rooting for them. Throw in some amnesia and an ex-fiancée, and you’ve got all the rom-com vibes. A fun, sassy read that hits all the right notes!

A playful romantic comedy featuring dueling delis, fake dating, a shockingly awesome ex, and just the right amount of amnesia

Witty, twisty, and full of bite, this one delivers a juicy story beneath its glossy surface. The satire hits hard in places, and while a few side characters felt one-note, the main voice sparkled. Perfect for fans of social scheming with a dark twist.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of Love You, Mean It by Jilly Gagnon in exchange for my honest review and feedback. Cute premise of the book but it was a bit slow for me. I love the cover as it's very eye catching.

Loved this book i really couldn't get fully into it though for me personally. 4 stars for the characters and romance

Love You, Mean It by Jilly Gagnon is a fun rom-com that plays with fake dating, accidental amnesia, and small-town charm. When Ellie, a former costume designer turned deli manager, pretends to be engaged to Theo—the rich developer’s son—to save her family business, things spiral into a messy, heartfelt slow-burn romance. The banter is witty, the chemistry builds nicely, and the quirky side characters add a lot of heart. While Ellie’s choices can be a little frustrating, the overall ride is sweet, funny, and satisfying—perfect if you’re in the mood for something playful with just enough emotional depth.

With Love You, Mean It, Jilly Gagnon shifts from thriller / suspense to Rom-Com. Most established authors that do this utilize noms de plume, but Gagnon doesn't, although she still plays out all the typical tropes. I probably grabbed this because I recognized the name although I don't typically read contemporary romance. Enemies to lovers / fake dating / moved back home from big city Hallmark movie, but spicy. Cute supporting characters.

I think they are both awful people. That's all I can really say. I know it was only for a small part of the book, but I cannot root for a main character who pretends to engaged to a man who has amnesia for their own personal gain. Nope.

This was a cute one! It was fluffy and clearly reminiscent of While You Were Sleeping, which I love. I wouldn't say it's one of my favorite romance books that I've read, but it was definitely a fun time. The fake dating trope is kind of a hit or miss for me, but this one was for sure a hit. I'd recommend it.
3.5 stars rounded up.

Fake dating rom-com , fake engagement, family drama and dueling delis. Yes Dueling delis. This book is so funny and charming with great characters who grow and develop throughout the story. really enjoyed this one and hope to read more from the author.

If you’re looking for a sweet romcom to fill a few hours, Love You, Mean It by Jilly Gagnon will fit the bill! It’s a fun fake dating book set in the world of NYC delis. There are enough food restaurants that’ll make you hungry while reading, so prepare a snack ahead of time.

I liked the storylines in this one, but Ellie wasn’t my favorite FMC. I kept expecting to warm up to her but didn’t quite get there. This might totally be a me thing, so if this is on your tbr don’t let my opinion here deter you. And I did enjoy when she found more confidence to go after what she wanted at the end!

This one went deeper than I thought it would, touching on grief and family expectations. But the fake dating shenanigans provided lots of levity.

Love You, Mean It is one of those books that’s enjoyable to read, if not super memorable. And that’s ok! I’m perfectly fine with enjoying books in the moment and then forgetting mostly everything within a few days.

**3-Star Review of *Love You, Mean It* by Jilly Gagnon**

*Love You, Mean It* by Jilly Gagnon is a lighthearted exploration of modern relationships, focusing on the complexities of friendships, love, and personal growth. The story follows two women, navigating their lives and the ups and downs of their emotional connections with others, especially within the world of social media and modern communication.

The writing is witty and the dialogue flows easily, with Gagnon capturing the nuances of female friendship and the challenges of figuring out what you want in life and love. The characters are engaging, though some of their decisions felt frustratingly predictable at times. I appreciated the humor woven throughout, which provided a nice balance to the more serious moments of self-reflection.

However, while the book is fun and has some heartfelt moments, the pacing can feel uneven, especially in the middle, where the plot loses a bit of momentum. The story touches on meaningful themes but doesn’t quite dive deeply enough into the emotional stakes to make it truly impactful. Additionally, some secondary characters felt underdeveloped, and the resolution, while satisfying, felt somewhat rushed.

Overall, *Love You, Mean It* is an enjoyable and quick read for those seeking a light, humorous take on relationships. While it doesn’t offer anything particularly groundbreaking, it’s a solid pick for a casual read but may not linger in your thoughts long after finishing.

Love You, Mean It by Jilly Gagnon is a super fun rom-com with an unforgettable premise! Ellie and Theo’s meet-cute is one for the books—Ellie is trying to save her family business when a ceiling collapses, and Theo ends up with amnesia, leading him to believe that Ellie is his fiancée. I was immediately hooked by this twist!

While the pace slows down a bit after the chaotic start, the story is still so enjoyable. There’s a mix of business rivalry, drama, and enemies-to-lovers tension that makes their romance extra satisfying. I loved how their relationship developed, which made their eventual romance feel so earned.

Theo and Ellie’s chemistry was on point, and the heartwarming friendships added so much charm. The romance had just the right amount of steam, and the whole story had me grinning from start to finish.

If you’re a fan of sweet rom-coms with great characters, a little steam, and a fun twist, Love You, Mean It is a must-read!