Emotionally DNFd at 40%, but forced myself to keep going because it was a quick read. This book had all my favorite tropes (enemies to lovers, fake dating, etc), but when you pair it with the most insufferable characters that lack any chemistry it’s hard to enjoy. I wanted to like this, and maybe others will, but it just wasn’t for me.

I feel like this is the quickest I’ve gotten through an ARC in awhile, but I think this book appeared at the exact right time!

I say this as the biggest compliment - this is a book that isn’t taking itself too seriously. Sometimes I read books in a similar vein and struggle with them, because the situations feel too unrealistic or I find myself questioning every decision the main character makes. But this book is like a less cliche Hallmark/Lifetime movie - it has tropes that we all know and love, but they fit together like a puzzle and it’s the kind of story that you could easily replicate and find a real life version of with your old high school classmates.

Anyway - Ellie and Theo were great main characters. Like I said, I struggle with MC’s where you question their decision making (you know the ones where you ask yourself every time - do you just hate yourself?) and that wasn’t an issue with these two. Ellie and Theo join the ranks of characters that you’re cheering on to get their heads out of their butts.

All in all, really happy to have read this and definitely would recommend to anyone who just needs a read to make them happy.

Jilly Gagnon’s “Love You Mean It” is a delightful romantic comedy that checks all the boxes for a heartwarming, humorous, and thoroughly enjoyable read. With dueling delis, fake dating, unexpected friendships, and a touch of amnesia thrown into the mix, this book is a recipe for entertainment success.

The story revolves around Ellie Greco, a talented costume designer who reluctantly returns to her hometown to run her family’s deli after her father’s passing. She dreams of a more exciting life but faces the threat of losing her family legacy when a posh gourmet food store, Mangia, plans to set up shop in her neighborhood. Enter Theo Taylor, the man behind the impending deal, and their meeting couldn’t have gone worse. When an accident leaves Theo with amnesia and Ellie in a tight spot, she claims to be his fiancée to protect her deli’s future.

What follows is a hilarious journey as Ellie and Theo navigate their fake engagement, trying to convince everyone that they’re madly in love. The chemistry between them is palpable, and Gagnon brilliantly explores the tension and unexpected feelings that arise from their pretend relationship. Ellie’s wit and determination, coupled with Theo’s charm and vulnerability, make for an engaging dynamic that keeps readers hooked.

But the story doesn’t stop there. Enter Sam, Theo’s sharp-witted ex-fiancée, who adds another layer of complexity to the narrative. Her reappearance forces Ellie to make difficult choices about friendship, family, and her own budding romance.

Jilly Gagnon’s writing is sharp and witty, with humor that will make you laugh out loud. She skillfully weaves together a charming tale of love and self-discovery against the backdrop of dueling delis and a high-stakes business deal. While the premise may seem familiar, Gagnon injects fresh energy and depth into the story, making it a standout in the romantic comedy genre.

“Love You Mean It” is a page-turner that keeps you engaged from start to finish, and it delivers just the right dose of romance, humor, and heart. It’s a story about embracing unexpected opportunities, finding love in unexpected places, and learning that sometimes, the path to your dreams takes a detour through the most surprising of circumstances.

In summary, if you’re a fan of romantic comedies with engaging characters, clever humor, and a touch of amnesia-induced chaos, “Love You Mean It” by Jilly Gagnon is a must-read. It’s a four-star gem that will leave you with a smile on your face and a warm feeling in your heart.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Ellie Greco is doing everything she can to keep the family Italian deli thriving. Theo Taylor is doing everything he can to purchase the building across the street and bring in an Italian food conglomerate...right? A series of misunderstandings, bouts of amnesia, and a fake engagement blend together in a feel good romance about two people filled with misconceptions about each other.

Readers may relate to some of the relationship insecurities that the characters deal--family issues, money issues, class issues--and get a kick out of the lengths that Ellie will go to in order to prove that she and Theo really aren't meant to be.

Thanks to NetGalley & Random House for the digital ARC.

I appreciated the publisher reaching out to me to review this book. I enjoyed the premise, which follows Ellie's family business, the efforts to save it from Big Business, and her romantic entanglement. Ellie was not really relatable however, and there wasn't a lot of connection with the romance with Theo. I mostly enjoyed other aspects of the book rather than the main characters - I needed MORE from them (the foundation is there, just needs something in addition).

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine/Dell for this Arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is a story of how Ellie abs Theo fake date and try to save Ellie’s deli. This felt different than most other fake dating books I’ve read. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a cute weekend read.

Love You, Mean It is a charming, small town romance featuring Italian food, amnesia, and a fake engagement. WHAT'S NOT TO LIKE?! It also contains my favorite trope - when a woman (who swears she doesn't love him) ardently defends the MMC to his shitty family. It always makes me want to stand up and cheer! (And swoon).

Thanks to Ballantine, the author, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my review.

Ellie will do anything to save her family’s deli when the threat off a big box store, Mangia, may be moving in around the corner from her busy little shop.
She hooks up with the son of creepy businessman who owns the large building and they fake an engagement to save her family’s legacy.
A few twists and turns, back stabbing and sex and off you go. Enjoy this fun read!

Love You, Mean It by Jilly Gagnon took me awhile to get into, but I did enjoy it when I had finished it.

I had a hard time getting into the first few chapters because Ellie was incredibly negative about her customers and everything in general, but I guess I got used to her, because I liked her at the end. When she meets up with her former high school classmate, Theo, to discuss the property issues the story really starts and it has major overtones of (aging myself here) While You Were Sleeping - the movie with Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman.

I won't give spoilers away, but Ellie does some semi-shady things that would be absolute deal breakers for me if I were Theo, but they resolve them and everyone gets their happily ever after.

This book was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher for an honest opinion. The review is entirely my own.

Love You, Mean It was such a fun rom-com read. I've read other rom-coms before where amnesia was a trope, but what I liked about this one was that both characters ended up being in on the plan. Usually only one of the couple is in it on, but having having Theo getting over his brief memory loss so quick was such a fun spin on it! I loved the shenangins that allowed for, and how it lead to Theo and Ellie's relationship developing. I also loved all the characters in this book, from the main couple to the secondary characters! The chemistry between the main couple was fantastic, and their friends/family really added to the narrative. Once I started Love You, Mean It I could not put it down. I will definitely be recommending it to my friends.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and Netgalley for the ARC so I could read this book!

This was a cute, quick beach read. The characters were likable.
It stayed true to the Hallmark movie type of formula, so it was very predictable throughout. That was the main problem with the book - there were no unexpected twists and turns. I could have told you who would end up together from the first page the characters were introduced.
Throwing in the amnesia angle just seemed trite and tired.
There were moments that broke the mold - the sewing angle - but they were dropped.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I am so incredibly picky with rom com novels because they usually feel too formulaic. Not this one. In fact it had me guessing about a few people until the end. Gagnon’s writing is so spectacular that you can’t stop reading. I could see everything she was describing and Ellie Greco’s inner dialogue is hilarious and worthy of many a cute sassy t-shirt-isms. In addition I need a Mimi in my life, just saying. I also have never wanted to beat the crap out of any character with a link of cured salami like I did with Ted. His personality just oozed with the perfect amount of asshole-ness. Enough so that I completely hated him without making it turn him into some 1%er caricature.

I absolutely loved this. Spicy rating would be 🌶🌶🌶/5 but for anyone not into that you can easily skip past it. It will be released in April 2024 so be sure to add it to next summer’s TBR list now!!!

A fun read that kept my attention. I got a bit tired of some descriptions of building/housing interiors, especially descriptions of furniture.

A decent rom-com, which is a genre I am exploring.

This was not my favorite romance but I do see why others may love it. Some of the tropes that it included were just not for me, but I understand why it may be a favorite for different people.

title: Love You, Mean It

author: Jilly Gagnon

publisher: Dell

publication date: April 30, 2024

pages: 304

peppers: 3 (on this scale)

warnings: dead sibling from violent accident

summary: Ellie, who runs her family's deli, is upset to learn that a rich boy she knew in high school is working to bring a giant Italian food emporium to town. She ends up in a fake relationship with the rich boy to try to prevent his family's real estate empire from moving ahead with that plan.

tropes:

big business threatens small business
family businesses
fake engagement
the one that got away
great friends
family means everything
rich man with horrible, controlling father
dead sibling and parent
temporary amnesia

enemies-to-lovers
we're not right for each other

cousin is best friend

what I liked: This trope-heavy book delivered a lot of fun in the fake-engagement-turns-into-real-love category. I liked the scenes of family and food.

what I didn’t like:

their dark moment is pretty dark, as they both say extremely harsh things.
I'd want her, in particular, to figure out her feelings quicker, as she tells the same lies too herself too many times

overall rating: 4 (of 5 stars)

I enjoyed reading this book and finished it pretty quickly. The characters showed real growth and experienced changes in their perspectives that indicated real growth as individuals. I appreciated that they were two people who had very different life experiences and yet ended up on similar life paths. It was their similarities that allowed them to really impact each other. That said, I am not especially fond of either of the main characters and didn't really relate to them. That's me personally; however, I am sure many would.

Jilly Gagnon creates strong believable characters in Love You, Mean It who immediately draw the readers into the story. Ellie’s flimsy claim to be Theo’s fiancé bumps along weakly, but gradually gains acceptance with the appearance of a uniquely untrustworthy character, Sam. Sam adds depth and unease to what might have been a simple girl-meets-boy romance. Maybe Ellie distrusts the wrong people. Definitely a fun read.

Such a cute love story! Fans of 90s rom-coms will enjoy this one. It’s funny, heard warming, and relatable. Highly recommend!

Ellie moved back home to run her family deli when her dad died. Theo is running his family real estate business and is about to bring in a big competitor that will put Elli's deli out of business. Ellie is bound and determined to keep her deli afloat at any cost, including a fake engagement to Theo after he is injured on the job and has amnesia. Loved the sparks between these two, as well as the supporting characters and interesting plot.

"Love You, Mean It" was a charming romcom, earning a solid *4.5 stars*, featuring a determined young woman fighting to save her family's deli upon learning a big-box store might invade their town. The story is rich with elements like amnesia, a fake engagement, a disapproving wealthy family, found friendship, and contrasting personalities, adding delightful layers to the plot.

The author excelled in character development, bringing both main and supporting characters to life, making readers feel intimately connected to them. The chemistry between the love interests, complete with witty banter, added an enjoyable dynamic to the narrative.

My only negative is I craved more at the end—an epilogue would have been the perfect conclusion! Nonetheless, this book is undeniably adorable, and I'll gladly recommend it to fellow readers.

Thank you to NetGalley, Author, and Publisher for this ARC for my honest review!