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!

I just don’t know if I have very many thoughts or feelings towards this book. Take it or leave it, it wasn’t super memorable.

Like any basic good fake dating trope, but I just couldn’t get sucked into this one. I finally got more into it after the dating started, but then I just thought meh. Nothing bad really to say but I’m not raving either. The characters really didn't stand out to me, and I feel I could have made more of a connection if they had

Rom coms are big these days and I thingk this one will win the hearts of all readers! Well written and kept me reading late into the night. Look for more from this author!

I loved this book! It was such a fun get away from thrillers. I have to throw in rom coms to cleanse my pallet, here and there. This was the perfect pick. Now I need to look up this authors thriller! I had no idea she had written any in that genre. I'm pretty sure everyone will love this book. The characters were great (ok, the main character, got on my nerves a tiny bit....with her over thinking) but either way, this was a fun read.
Thanks to netgalkey, the publisher and author for the chance to read this ARC. (Sorry my review is late, I'm trying to catch up!)

This romcom was the perfect mix of small town, enemies to lovers, and fake dating. These are my favorite troupes and to have them all in the same book, I was destined to love it. I laughed, I cried, I hurt for the characters. If you are looking for a Hallmark type book, this one is for you.

This book is well-written, but I had trouble with the initial premise that kept me from being immersed in Ellie and Theo's relationship progression. I wish there had been less lying in this book overall, but that being said, there were definitely moments of beauty as their relationship unfolded.