Usually not a fan of the fake dating trope, but this was fun and different. The book is a great vacation/beach read with memorable characters and setting.

Thank you so much @netgalley and @jillygagnon for this lovely ARC!

Guys, it’s literally a meat cute. Ellie Greco gives up her big dream to be a seamstress to the stars when her father’s death brings her home to Milborough and she agrees to helm Greco’s Deli in his stead. Five years pass, Ellie has turned Greco’s into not just a deli but a cute little charcuterie shop, but a local bigwig company is in discussions to rent a property to Mangia’s, an Italian style eatery (think Eataly, IYKYK). Ellie tries to persuade the landlord’s son Theo not to rent to Mangia’s, but Theo is kind of a jerk. Just when things get tense, a ceiling fixture drops on Theo and he’s knocked unconscious. Ellie feels horrible and lies in order to see what happens in the hospital, and voila, Theo is her fake fiancé.

This book has a little You’ve Got Mail style David and Goliath deli wars going on, and a little bit of While You Were Sleeping with the amnesia fiancé. For all the worriers, the one sided deception is very quick and instead it’s a fake engagement bonanza to keep Mangia from winning the deli wars.

Somewhere in the middle of all of that, Ellie and Theo fall in love. It’s a rivals to schemers to lovers and I couldn’t be happier to have had an advanced copy. Welcome to romance writing @jillygagnon !!!

This is the third romcom I’ve received to review that has been less than stellar. I feel like the premise was a good one (girl tries to save family’s deli) but the execution just didn’t hit the mark for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and The publisher for this ARC. I fell in love with this story. It was funny and romantic. A must read.

This was a delightful approach to the fake dating/fake fiancé trope. Theo’s amnesia lasted just as long as it should. It was fun to see Ellie and Theo’s relationship grow, I was rooting for them from the start. This will be a perfect, light read heading into the summer!

OK I love this book so much. It was such a cute story and the characters are so adorable and charismatic. You can’t help it. Love all of them! Highly recommend this book, especially for romance lovers like me. 4 1/2 stars!

I love this book, and I love the fact that the author, and I almost share the same name. it was a fantastic read.

This was a fun, lighthearted romance set in a small town in New England. I thoroughly enjoyed the author's version of the enemies to lovers trope, although the plot didn't blow me away.

Ellie has moved back home from NYC after her father's death. She felt forced to go and run the family's deli. A new competitor could drive her out of business so she begins fake dating her cousin's ex to try to get him to squash the deal. That's it in a nutshell. There's a brief "While You Were Sleeping" plotline but it quickly changes into a fake dating scenario instead. The characters are hard to like. Theo might be the most likable and he's really supposed to be the worst. Sam is too competitive, too successful, too gets-everything-she-wants. And Ellie is her own worst enemy. She is given a lifeline time and time again but uses it to choke herself instead.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

"Love You, Mean It" by Jilly Gagnon is a delightful romantic comedy that seamlessly weaves together humor, fake dating, and unexpected twists, creating a thoroughly entertaining story. Ellie Greco, caught between her dream career and the responsibility of running her family's deli in Milborough, faces a crisis when the future of Greco's Deli is jeopardized by the arrival of Mangia, a glamorous gourmet food department store. The plot takes a humorous turn when, in a moment of panic and a touch of amnesia, Ellie claims to be engaged to Theo Taylor, the man seemingly threatening her family's business. What unfolds is a charming and funny tale of fake engagements, surprising alliances, and the unpredictable nature of romance.

Gagnon skillfully navigates the dynamics between Ellie and Theo, creating characters with depth and charm. The initial desperation behind the fake engagement evolves into a surprisingly effective strategy to thwart the threat from Mangia. The introduction of Sam, Theo's ex-fiance, adds an intriguing twist, forcing Ellie to navigate a complex web of relationships and make choices that challenge her priorities. "Love You, Mean It" is a feel-good rom-com that not only delivers on humor and wit but also explores themes of friendship, family legacy, and unexpected love. Gagnon's storytelling is engaging, and the chemistry between the characters keeps readers invested in the delightful chaos that unfolds.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of Love You, Mean It by Jilly Gagnon.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

What a fun read! I've been reading a lot of thrillers and such lately, so this was a lovely refresher. For some reason, I love a fake dating trope and this one isn't too insta love or cringey. Instead, it feels balanced and is just a good, light read!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC!

I really wanted to love this book. Fake dating is one of my favorite tropes. It was so hard for me to get into. The catch just wasn’t there for me and I couldn’t connect with the characters.

If you are a fan of You’ve Got Mail and While You’re Sleeping then this book is for you! This book had so much more but I really enjoyed it. All of the relationships with the FMC Ellie were lovely. From her family elders and her cousin, to new friends and allies. And let’s not forget the enemies to lovers fake dating trope with Theo, this book was perfect.

If you are looking for a light hearted, fun, romantic story with some spice in the right places then you picked the right book!

5 ⭐️s from me!

Give me a fake dating/engagement trope and I'm gonna love it.

Ellie and Theo were so cute from the beginning and even tho i feel like the relationship turned romantic very fast (i need more suffering and angst most of the time) it was very genuine and mature, i dont see much of miscommunication between them which makes this story a lot more easy to read for me.

The main plot makes sense from the beginning but i think it could've been more complicated at the end, the whole problem gets fixed basically at the last 10% of the book which makes me want more of the relationship between Ellie and Theo at the end.

Overall it was so cute and romantic and funny and i feel it's a very fast and easy read.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an advance copy in exchange of an honest review.

3.5/5 stars, rounded up. This book ticked all the expected boxes of an enemies to lovers story. It was not the most original or the most realistic, but it didn't need to be. It was an enjoyable read with a great cast of characters (really, there could have been a lot more of the Greco clan!!). Theo and Ellie were a fun couple.

I wasn't quite sure how it would play out - due to some previous reviews - but I really ended up loving this book! Small town (think: Stars Hollow) meets big business drama, lots of classic tropes (BFF's ex, enemies to lovers, fake dating, friends with ex) ... there was A LOT happening but it was easy to follow and fall into. You have to try to empathize with the MCs and where they have been, their pasts and subsequent mental health/habits, to really appreciate where they end up. Enjoy!

no because why am i giggling and kicking my feet?! i did not expect to love this book the way i did. however let me insert that i also lowkey had extreme anxiety due to the love triangle (if we should even call it that). i think i covered my eyes and threw the book down like 10 times. perhaps that just means im an ellietheo super fan and i can handle that. this book is so so so cute. enemies to lovers done perfectly. also… theo is secretly a little mush and idk how ellie didn’t realize how down bad he was for her, anyway shoutout jilly gagnon for writing a wonderful book, love you mean it for real!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this arc.

I really wanted to like this book, but I was ham me to get past chapter 3. I couldn't get into the characters and the plot was too slow for my liking.

In the captivating novel, "Love You, Mean It" by Jilly Gagnon, readers are introduced to Ellie Greco, a young woman longing to break free from the confines of her small hometown, Milborough. Despite having pursued her dream career of designing theatrical costumes, Ellie's father's untimely demise compelled her to return home and manage the family's deli, a responsibility she never anticipated. However, when news surfaces that Mangia, a glamorous gourmet food department store, intends to rent a nearby location, Greco's Deli faces the threat of closure. Desperate to save her family's business, Ellie attempts to reason with Theo Taylor, the heir to the property management firm responsible for her impending misfortune. Unfortunately, their encounter quickly spirals from unpleasant to disastrous when an unexpected mishap leaves Theo unconscious. In a panic, Ellie blurts out that she is his fiancée, only to be astounded when Theo awakens with amnesia and starts to believe her deception. As they navigate this peculiar charade, Theo proposes that they maintain the façade, hoping it will dissuade the Mangia deal. Reluctantly, Ellie agrees, despite her reservations about Theo's true intentions. Surprisingly, their fake engagement gains momentum, winning over even the discerning Ted, Theo's austere father. However, just as their plan appears foolproof, Sam, Theo's ex-fiancée, resurfaces, jeopardizing their intricate web of lies. Not only does Sam see through their charade, but she proposes an alternative arrangement that forces Ellie to make a challenging decision between newfound friendship, family legacy, and an unexpected romance that was never on her agenda. Jilly Gagnon skillfully weaves a tale of self-discovery, unexpected alliances, and the complexities of love in "Love You, Mean It." Through Ellie's eyes, readers experience her inner conflict as she navigates a world filled with deceit, ambition, and the pursuit of personal fulfillment. Gagnon's meticulous character development brings the story to life, allowing readers to forge emotional connections and empathize with Ellie's dilemmas. The author's vivid descriptions transport readers to the idyllic yet suffocating Milborough, where the clash between tradition and progress becomes the backdrop for Ellie's journey. Gagnon's prose is both engaging and witty, infusing the narrative with humor and moments of deep introspection. As the captivating plot unfolds, the reader is kept on the edge of their seat, eagerly turning pages to discover the outcome of Ellie's predicament. "Love You, Mean It" is a delightful exploration of personal growth, unexpected romance, and the complexities of family and friendship. Jilly Gagnon's masterful storytelling and well-crafted characters make this novel an absolute page-turner. Prepare to be immersed in the world of Ellie Greco as she grapples with life-altering decisions, all while trying to keep her family's deli afloat.