A charming rom-com with sharp wit and a sweet center. The fake dating trope is used well here, and the chemistry really landed. Occasionally felt a bit YA-ish, but that didn’t stop me from rooting for these two. A light, satisfying read.

First I’d like to thank the author & the publisher for allowing me to read the EARC for this book. I enjoyed this story overall. At times it was a little outlandish, but lots of moments had me cackling with laughter. I enjoyed the characters in the story, I thought they all tied the story together nicely.

I did not finish this book because it was complete nonsense and did not seem worth continuing. 2 stars.

The cover of this book is what initially made me want to pick up this book. I mean how can you resist goats. This book had a fun premise and had a great setting of Hawaii. This book had humor and heart, and is an easy fun romance book to pick up.

Let's be honest here: this was a requested because of the cover. With the hope of a Hawaiian meet-cute (and goats), I was very mistaken. After receiving the approval of this book, it sat and sat...and for good reason. Sadly, I don't know what this was about. I listened and attempted to follow along, but I couldn't tell you what happened in this book.

One star for finishing it, one star for goats.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This released July 16, 2024.

Thank you NetGalley for this review copy. This was a really great read and I really loved the character building.

Amanda Sellet brings the perfect mix of humor, heart, and romance in Hate to Fake It to You, a smart, fast-paced rom-com that explores the complexities of relationships, self-identity, and the not-so-glamorous realities of fake dating.

The story follows Natalie, a quick-witted, sarcastic high school senior who finds herself in a fake relationship with her longtime crush, the charming but slightly clueless Noah. What starts as a favor to avoid unwanted attention at a school event quickly spirals into a whirlwind of mixed signals, mounting tension, and complicated emotions.

Sellet does an excellent job of blending humor with more serious themes of personal growth and navigating the challenges of high school life. Natalie’s voice is fresh, funny, and incredibly relatable, and her awkward yet endearing relationship with Noah makes for some truly delightful (and sometimes cringe-worthy) moments. Their banter is sharp and clever, creating a chemistry that’s impossible to ignore—even if they’re pretending to be a couple.

But Hate to Fake It to You isn’t just about the romance—it’s also a story about understanding your worth, letting go of expectations, and embracing the messiness of growing up. Natalie’s journey to self-acceptance is poignant and uplifting, reminding readers that true love starts with loving yourself first.

Sellet’s exploration of the fake-dating trope is both clever and charming, and she gives it a fun, modern twist. It’s a perfect read for fans of rom-coms with substance, strong female protagonists, and relationships that evolve in unexpected and meaningful ways.

While I appreciate the ARC, I am not the right target audience for a slapstick fake dating rom com. I can see this being a fun low stakes summer read.

Still one of the most charming reads I’ve picked up lately! The chemistry between the characters was so fun, and I loved how lighthearted yet emotionally grounded it was. Fake dating + real feelings = always a win for me.

This is a really funny story of a waitress in Hawaii with a totally fake lifestyle online persona. She gets exposed when a woman from the mainland comes to meet her.
She doesn’t want to admit she’s a fraud, so she and her friends try to back up her stories with some pretty outrageous stunts. It’s funny but also kind of sad that she works so hard for an imaginary lifestyle.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book! The title and this beautiful cover drew me in and i was excited to read this book! I will be recommending this book to others for readers advisory.

I have tried to pick this one up twice but ultimately ended up DNFing after two attempts. Although it seemed like a fun premise, I wasn't a fan of the large amounts of deception the characters are partaking in and the way it was playing out.

I am sure others will enjoy this story but unfortunately it was not for me.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Such a fun read. A feet kicking, giggle inducing, romantic quick read. Highly recommend for my book slump girlies.

This story had an interesting premise, but the entire relationship that builds up through the book is steeped in deception. Both lead characters are harbouring secrets of their own and when one comes cleans, the other still holds back. I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters deeper than surface level. There just wasn’t anything to keep me caring about them beyond some annoyance. It really bothered me that everything somehow was Libby’s fault; that just doesn’t make sense to me.
The writing itself was alright. There are some good moments in the story and the dialogue was fun at times.
It’s a decent middle of the road book.
I would recommend it to anyone looking for a silly, fast-paced romcom.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for a digital advanced copy of the book.
The opinions expressed are honest and my own.

Taking place in Hawaii it will have you dreaming of the beauty and warm weather. Libby Lane, a waitress with a secret online life, has mastered the art of social media fakery. Her carefully curated Instagram persona, Lillibet, lives a glamorous and healthy existence, miles away from Libby's reality, the line between real and reel blurs when a real influencer shows up on Lillibet's doorstep, seeking to turn her online fame into reality. To keep the charade going, Libby and her friends embark on a mission of borrowed goats, made-up holidays, and a pretend husband. Things get complicated when Jefferson Jones, a handsome wildlife photographer with eyes as sharp as his camera, enters the picture, seeing through the facade, sparking a real connection with Libby that threatens to expose her entire web of lies. As secrets unravel and misunderstandings pile up, Libby must navigate a chaotic world of fake influencers, hidden identities, and unexpected romance. The characters are fun and will make you laugh out loud.
Could easily be turned into a Hallmark movie. Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity.

This was a fun story about a social media personality that got way out of hand. I loved the local Hawaiian landscape and the effort she went to to pretend to be Lilibet. It was humorous and, although predictable in places, a very cozy read.

Hate to Fake It to You is a romcom about a woman whose fake online persona needs to suddenly become real. When someone is coming to stay with her to get the full experience, she has to pretend to be the yoga-loving spiritual person she pretends to be online.

The good pieces are that there were a few funny moments and the romance piece of it was enjoyable. For me, it was just a bit too silly. I'm fine with weird situations or awkward happenings but this book turned that up to the extreme and I spent a lot of the book rolling my eyes at the outlandish situations. At its most basic, her friend (who had the idea of pulling off this pretend visit) immediately can't keep character and speaks with an accent? It just felt like they weren't even trying but then the book presented it as having real stakes in order to have a place to live. The tone was inconsistent and I struggled to take the characters seriously.

Despite all that, it was still a fun read and it's fast-paced with a good romance portion.

I laughed, I cried, I fell in love….with Jefferson am I right? Cute little romcom set in Hawaii with an awesome cast of characters!

Thank you NetGalley and Griffin for my advanced copy!

This book had a clever storyline, though it wasn’t my absolute favorite. I still found it enjoyable, even if the slapstick humor took me a while to warm up to. The plot is a mix of ironic coincidences and amusing confusion, but at its heart, it’s a sweet romance.

This book was an okayish read, though it wasn’t one of my top picks for romance. I had a hard time connecting with the characters and their relationship, but there were still aspects I appreciated. The idea was there but just wasn’t executed fully.