I loved the found family vibe of Libby and her friends, their relationship was definitely my favorite part of this book. Libby’s chemistry with her love interest, Jefferson, just didn’t quite click for me but the overall story was enjoyable!

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC of this one. Unfortunately, it was not for me and I feel like it is just written for a much younger audience. The dialogue felt very silly and young and the concept of the fake influencer felt ridiculous. Other people may like this one but it was not one I enjoyed. Thanks for the opportunity to review it.

ARGH. I really did enjoy Sellet's other books so I went into this one expecting good things. I won't say that I adored her previous books, because they did have parts that I found hard to get through and both took me a while to warm up to the main character. In this book, I did not have the same issue warming up to Libby, and I found that there were no horrible characters (i.e. no one was a bad guy). And maybe that was where it was lacking, because the result of not having anything for Libby to rail against or be contrasted with is that liking the book came down to liking the characters. And despite Libby being likeable, her failure to say "no" to Jean and to agree to catfish Hildy and Jefferson really made me angry with her. Also, even though she and Jean don't have a lot of money, there is no reason for them to be living in squalor. Cockroaches are common in Hawaii so that wasn't the part that got to me. It was the whole didn't wash her clothing and wore her underwear inside out that made me cringe. Sorry, but that is just gross. I also feel like she had some people around her who would have ensured she was able to pay for the laundromat or loan her access to a washing machine. But from start to finish, it was her supposed best friend Jean who irked me. This is the person who essentially set Libby up for this and then hangs her out to dry, and then to add to this, acts like Libby is the one at fault. I think that, as the book progressed, I started to put Jean in the bucket of horrible person and eventual enemy, but (mini spoiler) nope, she stays her BFF no matter how horrible a person she is.


Hildy and Keoki are surprisingly the most decent characters and the two who I was rooting for to make good things come of their respective ventures.

The romance was fine. Felt a little icky because Libby is married or pretending to be married and yet she is pursuing and pursued by someone else. Infidelity, even fake infidelity, gets my back up in any romance novel.

So, I gave this a 3 star because there were some cute moments, goats, and Hawaii. But I was tempted to bring it down to a 2 start for Jean being a jerk alone.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘵. 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯'𝘴 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸!

More comedy than romance, Hate to Fake It With You gave me a few good laughs but personally fell short in the romance department. The plot felt almost frivolous in its eccentricity and ultimately lacked any real depth, making it difficult for me to invest in the relationships here. The first 2/3 of this book was a bit slow but picked up in the last act, I only wish we had a bit more time to sit with the developed and have everything wrapped up.

The standout aspect of this book in my opinion remains the location (Hawaii) which had me yearning for a sun bed and shaved ice in the dead of a North Eastern winter.

The underlying commentary here on social media authenticity is worth noting and a big draw to me originally but proved tricky for me as a reader to take seriously in between the sometimes forced comedic aspects of the story and ultimately left me wanting more.

That being said, although this story didn't resonate with me personally, I think this is a quick, quirky read that works for someone looking to pick up a lighthearted beach or vacation read

I was initially attracted to this book because of its charming cover, which seemed to promise a light-hearted beach romance involving goats. While I can't deny that the book delivers on that aspect to some extent, it ultimately fell short of my expectations. I struggled to connect with the characters and found the plot to be quite tedious. The introduction of each chapter, with its focus on influencers, felt forced and cringeworthy. Despite many reviews describing the book as incredibly funny, I found it to be trying too hard to be humorous. The only part that truly captured my attention was the scene where the goat ate the protagonist's bikini top, but overall, I felt indifferent towards it. While I'm aware that many people may enjoy this book, unfortunately, it just didn't resonate with me.

This novel was fantastic - the characters were likeable and well developed and I lol'd numerous times throughout. A fun romcom - and cute cover to boot.I look forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

First, thank you the Net Galley and publishers for the opportunity to give my opinion on this book.

I absolutely fell in love with the book, Hate to Fake It to You. It was such an easy, lighthearted read. If you enjoy Emily Henry or Tessa Bailey, this book would be great for you. Or if you want a summer, beach, vacation romance this is the book for you. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

An influencer fake “lillibet” gets the opportunity to become the journalist she always has dreamed to be when a REAL influencer/millionaire Hildy comes to her island to celebrate a “me-mas” and learn from her favorite influencer Lillibet, who is actually Libby, who doesn’t live the influencer life she portrays. Libby is interested in Hildy’s boyfriend/camera man who saved her from an avalanche, the avalanche caused her to be saved by said camera man who now they tour together in interviews? But he isn’t actually her boyfriend. Libby/lillibet pretends to be the influencer she portrays online by pretending to be married, live in a mansion and own goats all while falling for the camera man guy. Sound confusing and far fetch and hard to get through and a little unrelatable? It is 😅

Big thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read this book! The plot was incredibly unique. The characters were also so vastly different. They were a bit hot and cold or hard to track sometimes, but this vague cloud around who they really are and WHY they are them made it a bit hard to really understand/root for them. Like Miss Jean? She’s too messssssy without a fundamental pull for me. This could always be leaning into a sequel, but I felt I would’ve drawn into the storyline earlier on with a little bit more umph. We initially get heavy Hawaiian lingo, but that seems to trail off throughout the book and lose its magical spark. I found the storyline the complete opposite. It was slow to start and was drawing me along until I hit about half way and was flipping pages for my Hallmark-style ending! I really enjoyed watching how the second half play out which is why I give this book four stars leaning from my 3/3.5. A bit more introspection from these characters combined with some supplemental Hawaii descriptions for those of us only traveling by book would really knock this story out of the park! Overall, it was such a fun read! I just tend to be a bit picky ;)

This book is amazing! The characters are awesome, the story is cool, and the writing is really, really good. It's the kind of book you can't put down, and when you finish it, you just want to tell everyone to read it too. Definitely an enjoyable read!

Hate to Fake It to You by Amanda Sellet is AMAZING! I laughed so hard that I cried! Every quirky thing that happens to Lizzbet is pure chaos and I related to it all. Pure rom-com gold!! 5+ stars

In the realm of contemporary literature, Amanda Sellet's Hate to Fake It to You emerges as a delightful social commentary on the pervasive nature of online facades and the complexities of modern relationships. Set against the backdrop of Oahu's captivating scenery, the novel weaves a tale of deception, love, and the struggle for authenticity in the digital age. At its core, the story follows Libby Lane, a young woman whose carefully crafted online persona, "Lillibet," becomes entangled in a web of misunderstandings when a prominent influencer expresses interest in turning her fake lifestyle brand into a lucrative reality. Libby's journey is a relatable one, as she grapples with the pressures of maintaining an idealized online presence while navigating the messy realities of her offline existence. Sellet deftly explores the irony of Libby's situation, highlighting the lengths to which people go to project a flawless image online, often at the expense of their true selves. The novel is further enriched by a cast of vibrant characters, each with their own motivations and secrets. Hildy Johnson, the ambitious media mogul, is a formidable force who challenges Libby's carefully constructed facade. Jefferson Jones, the enigmatic wildlife photographer, adds a layer of intrigue as his keen observation threatens to unravel Libby's carefully crafted web of lies. Hate to Fake It to You is a humorous and heartwarming exploration of the complexities of modern relationships, the allure of social media, and the importance of embracing authenticity. Sellet's writing is witty and engaging, effortlessly drawing readers into Libby's world. The novel's pacing is brisk, maintaining a sense of anticipation as the stakes rise and Libby's deceptions teeter on the brink of exposure. Overall, Hate to Fake It to You is a refreshing and insightful read that offers a thought-provoking examination of the impact of social media on our lives. Sellet's clever storytelling and relatable characters make this novel an enjoyable and thought-provoking experience for readers of contemporary fiction and romantic comedies alike.

A witty, quick read. Reminiscent of “The Importance of Being Earnest” in its slapstick humor and antics, with good intentions all around. Really enjoyed the unique storytelling and the beautiful setting that was painted. Now I badly want to vacation in Hawaii!

Hehe. This was fun. That's all I really have to say, be honest. It was enjoyable. I had a good time. Definitely recommend.

Fairly predictable rom com but it was still a good read that I enjoyed. But this would still be one that I would recommend.

This book had me laughing out loud. The writing style was engaging which had me quickly hooked.
Thanks Net Galley for the advanced reader copy

This book got quite confusing at times and I was not sure what was going on. Or who different characters were. And how it all connected. I really had to push myself to finish this book and it was difficult.

This book was so much fun! A light romance to take me out of the dark thrillers I have been reading and it was just what I needed. If you want to read a sweet romance, this is right up your alley.

Huge thanks to NetGalley for this ARC! This was a cute rom-com, that had me laughing the entire time. I really didn’t think I would like the “influencer” aspect, but it ended up being hilarious and I love how it showed that you can be so much more than the typical influencer.

This is also a perfect read for spring break or summer time!

I loved how their love for each other made them stronger than any problems that came their way. It was so refreshing and heart warming. I absolutely loved and adored them.