Book Review

Publication: July 16, 2024

Rating: 2 stars

I’m not sure why I requested this but I guess I was hoping for something different. I ended up putting this one down and moved on to other books.

This felt reminiscent to “50 First Dates”. Unrealistic, trying too hard, ridiculous “funny”.

Also, let’s leave the withholding secrets behind!

If you are a fan of Christina Lauren’s writing then you will love Hate to Fake It To You by Amanda Sellet. This book is a beautiful rom-com that also serves as a love letter to Oahu, Hawaii. While I was slightly disappointed that there was only one semi ‘romance’ scene, the banter between all the characters had me chortling, even in my COVID induced haze. Amanda did a great job at keeping the story moving but the character development for our main gal, Libby, seemingly happened overnight and the reconciliation at the end kind of left me wanting.. but overall, it was a super cute read that definitely makes me want to go back to Oahu and visit the spots mentioned, especially the ones I missed (like Matsumoto shaved ice).

Overall this was a fun summer read. The rom-com definitely leans a lot into the com part, but that doesn’t bother me too much. I enjoyed the banter but wish there would have been more depth to the relationship building.

I got 10% into this book and decided to DNF. The writing style wasn’t for me. It was hard to follow and just confusing to read.

This was a fun Rom-Com book. First for me from this author. It had really funny moments and the goats were so adorable! I'm not a huge fan of miscommunication but understand how this drives the plot of a book. But the excessive miscommunication between these two became so frustrating to me. Even the side character annoyed me at times. The book was well written and had some very good scenes. I’d say this book is “good” not “great.”

This wasn’t a hit for me, but I hate when books get dismissed because of lower ratings, and this story had potential. I loved the concept, but it just didn’t follow through on the type of romantic comedy I expected based on the synopsis. My major critique would be dual pov. I think had the author done this, it would have hit more with the audience. But Single POV books have to be able to carry the story alone, which unfortunately this book just did not.

“Hate to Fake it to You” is a rom-com by Amanda Sellet. Let me start with the positives - this book’s cover is completely and utterly adorable! I loved the goats (goats!!!) and the synopsis sounded very interesting. And, I’ll admit, I’m a huge 1930s screwball comedy movie person so that was another huge attraction. I wish that my expectations had been met. I struggled with caring about this book - and (once again) I really so wanted to. I had difficulty relating to Libby’s friends - they really seemed more like toxic frenemies and their schemes while on paper could have been funny seemed more like someone needed to either a) have a clue-by-four, or b) have someone person-up and be a responsible adult. These are adults - with responsibilities, with jobs, with bills, and yet they’re so over-the-top that it seemed forced (sometimes) and not funny (at other times). While I know this book is a “love letter” to Hawaii (I mean, look at that cover again!), I really felt like it could have been anywhere there were scenic beaches and a decent holiday spot. I’d give a tentative recommendation of this book, but it was not the book for me - and I really wish it had been!

I liked this book, but I thought it could have used more spice. Don't get me wrong there is some spicy kissing, but that's about it. Also, some of the storylines are left open at the end of the book, which could set this up for a series, but it just felt like something was missing.

Libby is a waitress in Hawaii who wants to be a journalist and Jefferson is a part-time wildlife photographer and a rescue person in Wyoming. Their lives become intertwined when a rich heir to a media empire, Hildy, gets lost during a snowstorm. Jackson rescues her and Hildy decides to play up the rescue into a romance. When the media runs with their "romance", Hildy decides to take a vacation to Hawaii to meet one of her Instagram idols, Lillibet. The problem is Lillibet is made up, Libby is one part of Lillibet with Jean (her roommate).

This book is rife with the miscommunication trope and pretending to be someone you're not. The thing is the writing isn't bad, but the plot has way too much going on. It's really hard to tell what anyone's motivation is. I wish that this was more focused on Jefferson and Libby, the background was distracting. Like is Mr. L really a pyscho? Is Hildy's Uncle that big of a misogynist? It's just too many plot points that honestly felt unresolved.

This was just an okay book in my opinion, I think that the author is a good writer I just really didn't love the story.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This was a great book. I connected with the characters. I felt engrossed with the plot. I would read another book by this author.

The cover is what first captured my attention so I was looking forward to diving into it. With that being said it just fell short for me. I couldn’t really connect with the characters which made it tough to keep my attention throughout and I was a bit confused on what was going on in certain areas and I am also not a fan of this miscommunication trope, and there is ALOT of that in here. I feel like if you want a super easy laid back summer read, this is a good book but it just wasn’t for me.

This is a 3.5 star rating for me mostly due to the massive amount of miscommunication in this book that felt forced in some spots. I'm never a fan of miscommunication but I do understand how it drives a plot so I let it slide most of the time. Unfortunately, the 1.5 stars I took off this rating was strictly due to the excessive miscommunication. It got to be too much and I was frustrated with all the characters involved.

However, with that said, it is a fun and somewhat comedic book (the goats were amazing). It's lighthearted and was an easy read.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

HATE TO FAKE IT TO YOU by Amanda Sellet is an upcoming romcom full of slapstick hijinks.

Libby and her friends have created an Instagram influencer Lillibet, a spot-on satire full of inane platitudes and inspirational woowoo. (Each chapter starts with one of her posts, and they are amazing.) There's one small problem: they have violated Poe's Law, which says that without a clear indicator of satirical intent, a parody can (and let's face it, will) be interpreted as a sincere expression of those beliefs.

Cue Hildy, the rich and famous heiress who is a huge Lillibet fan. Through a series of increasingly absurd choices, next thing you know, Hildy and her photographer is visiting Libby, who has to keep up the Lillibet charade. There's a fake boyfriend, fake husband, borrowed goats, a portrait of Libby as the Birth of Venus, and some real chemistry between a fake boyfriend and a fake wife.

It is all very silly and fun, not a book that takes itself seriously at all, which is something we all probably need now and then. HATE TO FAKE IT TO YOU comes out July 16th.

Hate to Fake it to You is a self-proclaimed zany modern twist on a screwball comedy classic - unfortunately that didn’t quite work for me. However, this is 100% on me. I was drawn in by the cute cover and beach romance premise (and the promise of goat escapades - that definitely delivers) that I tried to oversee the miscommunication and hiding of secrets main plot points, which are just not plot lines I enjoy overall.

I think it will find its audience, and they will have a great time with it.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advanced electronic copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the ARC of this book!

This is a perfect summer beach read, that will also make you wish you were in Hawaii. Best friends, Libby and Jean, come up with a plan to get their dreams jobs by pretending to live the life of their made up persona. Fake it until you make it is working for them until Hildy arrives with Jefferson and Libby starts to sense a connection with him. It wouldn't be a problem if Libby didn't have a fake husband, and Jefferson and Hildy weren't fake dating. Beautiful settings and great food made this story stand out. It's a PG-13 rating as far as spice goes.

Slow to start and quick to fizzle, this book had me entertained and eager to read, but sadly only for maybe the middle 15 chapters. Libby is a giving and loyal waitress with a side hustle cosplaying as a kumbaya-singing, crystal-healing influencer. Her world is flipped on its head when she’s given the chance to cosplay as this version of herself to a super-fan of hers who also happens to be the key to progressing past this false persona to focus on her true passion of writing. Jefferson is a stoic and perceptive wildlife photographer who accompanies Libby’s #1 fan to document her wellness retreat, but when he accidentally meets the real Libby it’s not so easy for her to resurrect the ruse.

I was very, very confused for the first five chapters of this book as I felt it was a lot of heavy lifting to set up this story in order to have Libby and Jefferson meet. However, I quickly became invested in the ploy, and I found Jefferson and Libby’s bond to be so exciting to watch as Libby tried to play her persona in the face of someone she wanted to truly see her. The side characters made this book for me; Libby’s best friend Jean was funny and extravagant, and their close bond provided deeper meaning to this book. The middle of this book was my favorite part for the above reasons, but as it came to a close, I felt something was missing. For me it felt like the chemistry Libby and Jefferson had wasn’t developed enough, so it fizzled by the end when their love was supposed to have grown to new heights. This book definitely has fun moments and witty dialogue, but ultimately I was left disappointed by the lackluster ending.

This book was sincerely so funny. The comedy portion of this romantic comedy was completely fulfilled. I would have loved more chemistry between the two main characters because the romance element was lacking. I did love the friendships even if they needed more development.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Everyone gets a glow-up on social media, but Libby Lane's online persona is the fakest of fakes. Cooked up as a joke by Libby and her best friends, Lillibet is the affluent, healthier-than-thou opposite of her glam-free life on the side of Oahu most tourists never see. The phony fronting is all in good fun, until a real influencer stumbles onto the Love, Lillibet Instagram feed and starts making waves.

When Hildy Johnson, the ambitious junior member of a media dynasty, travels to Hawaii to talk to Lillibet about parlaying her lifestyle brand into a job, Libby and her friends scramble to take the make-believe to a new level. Complicating the charade even further is Hildy’s handsome companion, a wildlife photographer named Jefferson Jones, whose keen eye sees more than he lets on.Between the pretend husband, borrowed goats, a made-up holiday, and Libby’s very real attraction to Jefferson, it’s anyone’s guess which lie will blow their cover first . . . especially since Lillibet isn’t the only one with something to hide.

This one is tricky for me. I enjoyed this—I really did. But the unrelenting itch of people who lie and make up more and more stories to cover said lie—it got under my skin. Okay, but if you read the blurb, you already know that. That said, there were lots of cheesy, over-the-top moments that made me laugh, and overall it was an entertaining few hours I don't regret. Would I recommend this? Not to most of my reading buddies, but there are a few that enjoy this type of humor that would enjoy it. 3.5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

i was hopeful going into this book that i would enjoy it a lot more than i did. i couldn’t connect to the characters, and i couldn’t see or feel the chemistry between the MMC and FMC. there are positives to this book though, the banter and the goats were funny and sounded cute. i found myself wishing there was more describing to the setting they were in, i mean it is hawaii after all! i can see lots of potential for many people enjoying it more than i did, as it is a enjoyable read for the summer!

thank you to the author, netgalley, and st. martin’s griffin for the opportunity to receive an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the cover of the book! I thought the premise as well as the setting in Oahu was pretty good. These were the main attractors for me. The writing felt choppy in parts and I couldn't connect with the characters or the plot. Sorry, but this was a DNF for me!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

#NetGalley, #Hatetofakeittoyou

3.5 stars
This is an entertaining, laugh out loud read. Jefferson and Libby are interesting, intriguing, entertaining, complex, fun characters. Overall, I enjoyed their romance and the path it took to get to their HEA. These two are fund to spend time with. The secondary characters added to the fabric of the story. These characters and their quirkiness added to the laughs and at time my enjoyment of the story. I wasn’t a fan of Jean’s from the start and didn’t warm up to her by the end of the book. There were parts of this book that I really loved and other parts that I didn’t like/enjoy.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.