Member Reviews

Fake dating! Amnesia! Drama! This fun and light hearted read was a great palette cleanser romcom. FMC was a little too dramatic at times. I think I would've enjoyed this more if I loved their relationship just a bit more. It didn't feel as believable as I would've liked. But overall, a good time!

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Ellie Greco’s life in Milborough is a colorful mix of small-town charm and big-city dreams. The deli she runs, a family legacy, is full of warmth and character, but it’s facing a serious threat from a glitzy new gourmet store. Meanwhile, Theo Taylor's world is all sleek, corporate gloss, and his plans to turn Ellie’s deli into a casualty of progress create a real clash of worlds.

The story does a great job of highlighting the contrast between Ellie’s cozy, familiar deli and Theo’s upscale business empire. This setting makes Ellie’s struggle to save her family’s business feel urgent and personal. The quirky details of Milborough and the high-stakes tension with Theo add depth to the plot, making Ellie’s fake engagement and the evolving romance feel both entertaining and relatable.

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This book is a playful rom-com featuring dueling delis, fake dating, a surprisingly awesome ex, and a dash of amnesia. The story follows Ellie Greco, who’s back in her hometown running the family deli after her father’s death. Things take a wild turn when a fancy gourmet store, Mangia, threatens her deli’s survival. Enter Theo Taylor, the landlord’s heir, who ends up with a bump on the head and some convenient amnesia, leading Ellie to claim they’re engaged.

The premise sounds like a lot of fun, and it does have its moments. The fake engagement and the antics that follow are amusing, and the dynamic between Ellie and Theo has some sparks. However, I have to admit, I didn’t really connect with Ellie as much as I hoped. She’s got her charm, but something about her just didn’t click for me. As for the execution of the plot, it felt a bit off. What sounded like a fun, quirky setup didn’t quite live up to its potential. The pacing was uneven, and some plot twists felt forced rather than organic. The reappearance of Theo’s ex-fiancé, Sam, added some drama, but it wasn’t enough to fully salvage the story for me.

That said, there are definitely some enjoyable parts. The small-town setting is cozy, and the dueling delis aspect brings a unique flavor to the rom-com genre. Theo’s character has some nice development, and the fake dating trope does lead to some genuinely funny and sweet moments.

Overall, this was a 3 star read for me. It’s a light, entertaining book that’s perfect for a lazy afternoon, but it didn’t quite hit the high notes I was hoping for. If you’re a fan of rom-coms with a twist, it might still be worth checking out.

Thanks so much to Random House, Ballantine for the opportunity to read and review this book!

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

“[A] delightfully tropey rom-com . . . This is a sweet confection.”—Publishers Weekly

Ellie Greco wishes she weren’t stuck in Milborough. For a few brief, shining years, she escaped her hometown to pursue her dream career—designing beautiful, elaborate costumes for theater—until her father's death five years ago called her home to run the family's decades-old deli. Yes, she loves the place, but she’d always thought she was meant for more exciting things than stocking the right tinned fish. 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, but their meeting goes from bad (it’s not her fault he’s infuriating) to worse (no one expects the ceiling to literally fall in).

With 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 (after all, if Theo Taylor wants it, how can it be good for her?) but seeing no other option, she reluctantly agrees.

And miraculously, the fake engagement seems to be working—even Ted, Theo’s shrewd, cold father seems convinced—that is, until 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.

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Another book that disappointed me this spring! Could not get attached to the characters or the story, and it just didn't work for me!

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thank you netgalley for the e-arc. i liked the story well enough but what a horrid FMC. she is so negative and turns people off with her negativity. i almost wanted to skip through the parts of her narrarating.

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This was a funny book about this woman who was trying to save her family i D e I l Ted is new property manager and he wants to turn the deli.Into a gourmet shop. So she pretends to like this man and agrees to marry him.I thinks turn up very differently in the book. It was trying to have a different life but sometimes things change in life.

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It was such a cute, wholesome yet unique storyline that hooked me from the beginning. The author did a great job of weaving in details without losing the reader in them.

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So much happens in this story of love, that it became a compelling read. Ellie wants to save her family’s deli from a big box grocery. She must get close to the rich boy who will own the property for the grocery. Amnesia and fake dating lead to a real romance. Throw in an ex-girlfriend, an elitist family and some business deals and the result is a really good story. Thank you NetGalley for providing the ARC.

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I was so excited to read this based on the title and cute cover! I've never read anything by this author before and I was pleasantly surprised by the story! It was cute and lighthearted, just what I was looking for! Thank you for the chance to read this book!

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When will these Little Guy vs Big Guy stories actually pay off with the Little Guy winning?

Okay, that's a bit of an over-simplication. But I wanted to root for Ellie and Greco's deli SO BADLY, but she was not a fun character to root for nor was she very self aware. Her and Theo's scheme ends up being predictable - and not in a good way - and I just wish the author had taken this in a very different direction. Just not a good book for me...

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I really enjoyed Ellie and Theo’s story. The bond they developed throughout the book was strong. There were a lot of moments I laughed out loud. I do think the story line could have been a little better but overall, it was enjoyable.

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From the very beginning the FMC seems very unlikable because she seems very negative and down on herself and I'm tired of seeing woman like that in romance. Especially the trope of women sacrificing themselves for their family businesses.

This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review, as always, all words are my own.

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Ellie Greco starts as a down-on-her-luck mc with an added splash of sass and pretention around people she thinks assume "she's lower than". It's a hard pill to swallow in a fmc, but not an unknown one. Her feelings about her current station in life are valid, but it isn't until the station is threatened that she finally bucks up and tries to save it, with the help of Theo Taylor. I love a good fake dating scheme (because they always end up together), but the third act breakup was ROUGH. Obviously, they make up in the end, but the journey was a long one.
I love all the food in this book though, that will always bring me back.

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This was cute and easy! I read it in a day alternating between the ebook and audiobook. I adored the narrator - she nailed the different voices and accents!

Beware - the first chapter is rough. Ellie is so negative and rude. But I’m begging you to push through and keep going! As you get to know Ellie you’ll root for her a bit more. I didn’t … love her; she self sabotages and lies, and it’s irritating. But she’s not as bad as the first chapter makes her out to be. Theo is a sweetheart!

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Ellie Greco moved back on to Milborough after her dad’s death a few years ago to take over the family deli. Ellie wishes she wasn’t stuck in this life, but she’s resigned to it, at least that’s what she tells herself. When a competent store is getting ready to come to town, Ellie is ready to do all she can to keep them from coming, including pleading her case to Theo Taylor. When she is pleading her case, Theo is in an accident and comes ups with amnesia for a little while. During the time Ellie claims she is his fiancée just so she can check on him, but it sticks and before she knows it Ellie is fake engaged to Theo. The pair come up with a plan to thwart his dad’s plans and save Ellie’s deli. It’s all an act, until it isn’t and suddenly Ellie wants nothing more to be in her home town with this man she thought she hated running her family’s deli, but is that in the cards?

I didn’t know what to except when I picked this book up. I’ve read other books by this author and they weren’t totally for me, but this romance mixed it up. I’ve also read other romances with amnesia lately wasn’t a fan, but I definitely enjoyed this take on this trope. There was really nothing about this book that I didn’t like. I enjoyed the characters and their love story. The chemistry and comedy in this romance was great and had me coming back for more. This was the type of romance book that I didn’t want to put down and couldn’t wait to get back to. If you are in the moody for a fun romcom with snarky characters that are perfect together, this book is a fun summer read!

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My thoughts- Cute, cute, cute! Ellie & Theo meet over a business disagreement, but their relationship jumps to the next level when a ceiling falls- injuring Theo. In a fit of panic, Ellie tells a nurse she’s Theo’s fiancé. To her shock, he agrees because he’s suffering from short term memory loss! ⁣
⁣What to expect: enemies-to-lovers, fake dating, open book, and so much family drama! I did think Ellie was a little hard to like… She’s very negative and quite mean to both herself and others! ⁣
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⁣Overall- I was a fan of this book on audio! It was quick, fun listen! Three and a half stars- rounded up to four! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⁣
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⁣Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for a copy of Love You, Mean It in return for my honest review. This one is available now!

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✨ 𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰✨

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 🌶️🌶️
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬: 15 & 21
𝐒𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧: 49%
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬: Small town romance, fake engagement, opposites attract, reversed grumpy x sunshine
𝐏𝐎𝐕: 1st person, Single POV
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Single
𝐊𝐔: No

This was a fun romcom with a different twist to the fake dating trope with a hint of amnesia. I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump lately and just finished a long fantasy book so this was just the palate cleanser I needed!

I liked how the characters were flawed and messy. I even liked Theo’s (MMC) ex-girlfriend Sam, and I loved how her character wasn’t the classic b!*&%y ex that we often see in romance novels.

I didn’t like how quickly everything was resolved after the 3rd act conflict. Even though the author resolves everything, it seemed too fast and easy for me. But overall, this was a quick, easy, and fun read!


⚠️𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬:⚠️
Multiple open door scenes with explicit descriptions
Strong language

𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬:
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Loss of a loved one (recounted), grief and loss depiction, alcohol consumption, mention of heart attack, hospitalization & strained family relationships

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This was a pretty mediocre romance. I didnt love it and I didnt hate it. Just not my favorite. It took me a while to get through.

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I tried very hard to finish this book, but it just didn’t sit right with me. I wasn’t enjoying the story, was not a fan of either character, and did not feel the chemistry with this relationship. While I love enemies to lovers in fantasy, it is often so poorly done in contemporary. There’s also other woman drama, poorly expressed emotions, and lack of character depth.

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