Thank you Netgalley and Dell Publishing for the eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really, really wanted to love this one but unfortunately it fell a bit flat for me and I was dreading the last half of the book. The premise of an amnesia-induced fake engagement scheme was super fun. I'm extremely happy that this part of the story wasn't (unethically) dragged out longer than it needed to and the fun banter between the two characters was well done.

My biggest issue(s) were with the main characters and the secondary plot that overshadowed the originally story. Sam's (Theo's ex) purpose in stirring up drama didn't really serve its intended purpose and by the second half of the book, I was actually rooting for her instead of Ellie, the FMC. The third act conflict was so stress-inducing and its eventual resolution felt choppy and rushed. I'm a raging feminist but I've never been so frustrated with a female character. Me??? Siding with a MAN? 😮‍💨 I honestly would not have been surprised if the main characters didn't end up together or if they didn't stay together past the book, which I don't love feeling after reading a romance book. 😕

This was a cute, easy read, but it didn’t hold my attention and I found myself putting it down a lot. I’m not sure why - maybe it was the characters, maybe because it was predictable - but I don’t think I would read it again.

3.75 stars rounded up to 4

the slowburn was slowburning pls the first time they kissed was 50ish% through the book. I didn't love this book but I liked it enough that I might reread it at some point in the future. (probably when I get the physical copy I preordered)

I liked the vibe between her and Sam and I love that she ended up realizing that she could care about the deli and follow her passion by creating clothes at the same time, that those aren't mutually exclusive paths. we love bella (not just bc that's my name) she was trying her hardest to make sure it all worked out and she was prepared for anything.

idk what it says about Theos judgement that he went along with it but ig he had a head injury so it's excusable.

i didn't love her hate all the rich viewpoint bc it seemed like she just hated anyone who was rich or popular in high school like those aren't defining characteristics in someone's personality they should have no sway on how you treat someone. she was right about some of them but characterizing a large group based on the actions of few is not right. maybe the outliers are actually the people like Paul or Ted and most people are nice.

I also hated the way Theo acted when he was on the defensive during that one fight - that's not the way you treat people you love and his actions afterwards made me not like him

chase = 💔💔💔
ellies dad = 💔💔💔

I was crying actual tears at like 3 points in the book but idk if that says something about the book or me.

yk what I think both ellie and Theo would benefit from? a therapist. they need to talk out their issues and fix them. they both need to work on their coping mechanisms.

This book was a great read and refreshingly had more to offer than the standard romance story. Knowing the genre and how most enemy to lover books goes, it was easy to predict the outcome of the book from the very beginning. The stage is set early to address the main conflict in the story, but there was surprising turns in the characters and their traits. Each part leaves you wanting to know what happens next as both main characters become more vulnerable to the reader and most importantly each other.

The premise of this book sounded interesting (they are fake engaged to save her family business), but it did not work for me.

The characters were my biggest issue. Theo (MMC) was fine, I guess. He had a backstory that could've been explored a lot more, but instead fell flat. He sometimes came off as cold. Ellie (FMC) was unlikable. She was negative and judgmental and I could've understand why she did some of the things she did. Her friendship with Sam (Theo's ex) was something I could've done without. Sam was annoying. It was shitty to say she'd only help Ellie save her family business if she helped her get back together with Theo.... who is an adult and made it clear he didn't want to get back together with her.

Overall, the book was very frustrating and if it wasn't an arc, I would've DNFed it. I think with more likable characters and losing the ex storyline (or ending it earlier), I would've enjoyed it more.

So this was the first book that I have read from Jilly Gagnon. When I first started it, Ellie was annoying, and I had to put it down. Then once I picked it up again, I was able to continue. Basically this was a good book. I do like the fake engagement story line, as well as when Theo lost his memory for a short time and then still going along with the fake engagement. I thought Theo was great but I had a hard time with Ellie. She seemed a very immature and caused drama. So that was one thing I wished she was different. It really had some cute parts too though. I did enjoy reading it and would recommend.

you're telling me Jilly Gagnon the mystery writer is writing an enemies to lovers with amnesia and fake dating? okay sign me up. yes please. i'm here for it. 1000 percent. it was super fun. i needed this so much

Thank you to the publisher for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

This was such a fun book. I am a sucker for enemies to lovers, but this book was even better because there's amnesia AND a fake engagement. The characters were so well-rounded as well.

I recommend this book to fans of dislike to love, fake engagements/dating, and strong side characters.

DNF at 60%. I kept with this book until the secondary plot was introduced of the MMC's old girlfriend wanting the FMC to help her get back with him. But mostly, I really didn't like the FMC's personality and her potty mouth did not add anything except to make me dislike her more. The relationship between the couple didn't seem to work and the sex just felt like an add in.

This one was hard for me to get into but I'm glad I picked it back up. I really enjoyed the tropes and the eventual progress of the characters.

This is a romantic comedy with flair. It has interesting characters who are willing to do almost anything to get what they want. Ellie and Theo embark on a fake engagement that will leave readers turning the pages and laughing. They will entertain and surprise readers at every turn. Readers will love how the story concludes as Ellie and Theo falls in love.

Deeply enjoyed how this was a real estate book and gourmet foods book in addition to being a fun and fizzy enemies-to-lovers romp. Bonus points for how well the snooby WASPs and peculiar geographies of suburban Massachusetts are captured.

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

Ellie Greco and Theo Taylor are an unlikely duo for anything, never mind posing as an engaged couple. Ellie is working in her father's legacy deli, trying to keep it from going out of business with the threat of superstore Mangia coming to town per Theo Taylor's father's development deal. At first glance, Ellie is a little bit scrappy and direct with no desire to beat around the bush or mince words. Theo, on the other hand, comes from wealth and privilege and oozes class and seems all business with a time is money attitude.

One concussion and falsehood gone viral later, they are posing as significant others because it could benefit both of them. Ellie can potentially save her deli and Theo can focus on a different real estate project of interest. Selling the lie isn't as difficult or as fake as it seems except when Theo's dad or ex begin to meddle. I really didn't think I could believe in their building chemistry, but I was absolutely sold on it and appreciating how much Theo cared for Ellie. Even more amusing is how much Ellie tries to distance herself from buying into the authenticity of their mutual feelings and making a bit of a mess of it all. However, I enjoyed watching Ellie struggle and fail only to see her finally connect the dots and realize that she has to confront her feelings and make the effort to pull herself out of her self-imposed rut to achieve her goals. Theo continued to surprise me in the best ways and didn't disappoint with his business negotiations even at the very end.

⭐️⭐️⭐️From Random House Publishing: Ellie Greco wishes she weren’t stuck in Milborough. For a few brief, shining years, she escaped her hometown to pursue her dream career—until her father's death five years ago called her home to run the family's decades-old deli. But when Ellie hears that a local landlord is planning to rent to Mangia, the glitzy gourmet food department store, the very existence of Greco’s Deli is suddenly in jeopardy.

She tries to plead her case to Theo Taylor, scion of the property management firm that is about to put her out of business.

When an accident leaves Theo out cold, Ellie panics and claims to be his fiancée . . . and almost passes out herself when amnesia means Theo seems to actually believe her. Soon, the effects of the head injury wear off, but Theo proposes that their “engagement” stick around. If they manage to convince enough people, they might both get what they want: an end to the Mangia deal. Ellie doesn’t trust him but seeing no other option, she reluctantly agrees.

Then Sam, Theo’s ex-fiancée, reappears on the scene. Not only does she see through their ruse, but she proposes an arrangement of her own, forcing Ellie to decide between a blossoming friendship, her family legacy, and the burgeoning romance she frankly never asked for.
*********************
My review: Ellie and Theo are both flawed and hurt. Both wanting to do something to keep the past alive. While Ellie's initial "I'm the fiancée" declaration was super trite and silly, it worked because Theo is not as oblivious, amnesiac, and shallow as she thought.
Ex girlfriend Sam is fun...you never know whether to trust her or not. Is she a help for Ellie's self proclaimed fish-out-of-water persona, or not? The author kept me wondering how and if Ellie, Theo and Sam could pull off the plan to benefit all of them.

I liked the fun, witty banter and humor throughout the book. The story interested me but I wish Ellie had a bit more self confidence and was a little more likeable. She stands up for herself at times but spends too much time thinking about being the fish-out-of-water. With that attitude it was a stretch to see how Theo saw her any other way.

⭐️⭐️⭐️Thank you to NetGalley and Dell Publishing for an advance digital copy in exchange for my review.

Love You, Mean It...
Overall this was a good book. I do like the fake engagement trope, along with Theo losing his memory for a short time and then still going along with the fake engagement. I thought Theo was great but I struggled with Ellie. She just seemed a little immature and caused drama. So that was one thing I wish was different. It really had some cute moments though. I think this book will hit well with some and not so well with others. I did enjoy reading it and would recommend.

I had really high hopes for this book and while it was a cute, easy read, it just wan't my favorite. Loss of memory and fake engagement books are really cute but I was not the biggest fan of Ellie. She seemed unsure and maybe that is because she was faking, but I needed more from her. I loved the drama when Theo's ex- fiancé came in the picture. It did have a predictable 3rd act breakup.

I liked this book but I didn't love it as much as I had hoped to. The Greco family was wonderful, the setting great, I really enjoyed the momentary amnesia and fake engagement. I loved Theo, who is genuine and earnest from the start. Ellie.... I struggled a bit with her. She waffled a LOT. And seemed to create a lot of drama. She just wasn't someone I connected with, although I did love the dancing and singing with her dad. Overall it was good and I'm glad I read it.

A enjoyable rom-com. I really enjoyed the fake dating part and friendships made. Recommend for a quick read.

While this book didn’t work well for me, I think there is an audience that would enjoy it and it did have its moments. I have had it for while and decided not to re-read the synopsis before jumping into it. I’m glad I didn’t because I thought I knew how it would go but then was pleasantly surprised. Theo and Ellie did have some sweet moments but I wanted more connection and communication between them. The romance felt rushed and lusty which isn’t my cup of tea. There was also another plot point involving a side character that just got frustrating. It also has a lot of strong language and was more open door than I expected.

I received an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley. The thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

Content Notes: Strong language, open door romance