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.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Hate to Fake It to You by Amanda Sellet!

Thanks, St. Martin's Griffin, for the arc!

I tried. Twice. DNFs both times.

Once with the arc, then I waited for it to be published to listen to the audiobook. This book was a hot mess. I love goofy romcoms, but this book tried too hard, becoming too confusing and not funny.

The only good part was the goats in the book and on the cover.

I really wanted to love this one. The faux-influencer, playing a part, but potentially getting to live out her dream as a writer if things go well, meets the quiet, gruff wildlife photographer who prefers being out in nature than surrounded by wealth. They have more in common than he realizes, but Libby can't let down her guard in fear of losing the opportunity she may have within Hildy's company.
First of all, Libby's best friend was kind of an asshole. I get tough love, but she was harsh, a lot of the time. And is the one who made Libby go along with this plan to pretend to be Lillibet in person when she didn't want to.
Also, there were repeated references to Libby's childhood and strained mother-daughter relationship, but it just stayed as references. To bring it up that many times, I felt like it needed to be explored a bit more and how that all impacted her as an adult (because clearly it did).
Someone told me it helped to read not as a romance, but as a quirky comedy, with all this ridiculousness happening. Framing it that way did help a bit.
I will say, I loved the relationships between Jefferson and Hildy. Hildy herself was a very funny and strong female character, and the rapport she and Jefferson had was so cute, like a begrudging older brother/exasperating younger sister dynamic but full of love. That was probably my favorite relationship in the book.

Hate to Fake It to You by Amanda Sellet is an uproarious and heartwarming romantic comedy that delivers on both humor and heart. Libby Lane, a waitress living a low-key life on Oahu, embarks on a wild, fake-it-till-you-make-it journey when she and her friends create an entirely fictional, influencer persona named Lillibet. Lillibet’s health-conscious, glamorous lifestyle is a far cry from Libby’s real, laid-back existence. What starts as a harmless joke spirals out of control when a real influencer catches wind of the fake feed, and suddenly, Libby’s whimsical masquerade becomes something much more complicated.

When Hildy Johnson, a media mogul’s ambitious daughter, arrives in Hawaii to take the Lillibet brand to the next level, Libby and her friends are forced to up the ante, pretending everything from a husband to a fake holiday to keep the ruse alive. But things get messy—and hilarious—when Jefferson Jones, a wildlife photographer who sees through the charade, enters the picture. What ensues is a delightful mix of mistaken identities, romantic tension, and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.

Sellet masterfully captures the chaotic energy of a screwball comedy while offering a deeper exploration of identity, self-worth, and the pressure of living up to an online persona. Libby is a relatable and lovable character, navigating the absurdities of her situation with wit and charm. Her chemistry with Jefferson is electric, and their evolving relationship adds a sweet layer to the comedy.

With a quirky plot, lovable characters, and a fast-paced narrative, Hate to Fake It to You is the perfect pick for fans of feel-good rom-coms. It’s a fun and refreshing twist on the influencer culture and a reminder of the importance of being true to oneself—no matter how many goats or fake holidays are involved. If you’re looking for a laugh-out-loud, feel-good read, this book delivers in spades.

I did not feel super connected to the characters in this one - it's also sometimes hard for me to like books that include social media because I work in the field. They felt too chaotic and it wasn't what I expected going into it.

Unfortunately I DNF'd early on because I did not like the dialogue. The characters felt immature, making it hard for me to connect.