I love reading a good romcom between other heavy books and genres. This was a fun, cute and silly book that gave me out loud giggles. Refreshing! I would read more from this author!

This book had a great setting! Libby Lane’s presence online is fake; there she is “Lillibet,” put together, fabulous, creative, and just has the perfect life. In reality, she’s a waitress living in a rundown apartment with her best friend Jean. Hildy Johnson had her life saved by Jefferson. She’s part of a media dynasty and loves Lillibet. So she travels with Hawaii to speak with her about a job opportunity. Now, Libby has to scramble to make it seem like her online persona is real. How long can she keep this charade up? Fake marriages, fake houses, fake life… but real feelings for Jefferson.

I really wanted to love this book. Alas, this book was not for me. I’ll explain why, but first let me get into the aspects I really liked. First, the setting – what better place than Hawaii? And I’m not just talking about touristy Hawaii, I’m talking about the real Hawaii where the natives live. I wish we had a bit more of their stories, but I did love Keiko and Tutu. Second, I also really liked the end. I mean we know we’re going to get a HEA, but it was sweet.

I just didn’t connect with any characters, I didn’t believe the love story between Libby and Jefferson until the end, I’m not a huge fan of instalove and that’s what it felt like. I was bored while reading it. I really tried to like it. I don’t give up on books hoping that they get better and I’m glad I didn’t give up because I did enjoy the end and I did enjoy seeing things work out for Keiko.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

Ok I know I’m apparently in the minority with this review but here it goes.

I couldn’t get into this book! From the very first page I was so incredibly confused. I felt like important details were left out that could’ve helped the reader know what was going on instead on just throwing them head first into the deep end. Second, I didn’t find this humorous at all…it felt like she was trying too hard. I couldn’t connect with the FMC at all and actually ended up despising her best friend. Also, I just felt like this book was all over the place and I couldn’t keep up!

I was so disappointed with this book because the plot sounded so good and the cover is adorable but this book fell flat for me.

I’m giving this 2/5 stars just because the cover is cute and it had so much potential.

This was a cute and silly and completely over the top romcom perfect for a summer afternoon. The author really brought the setting to life in this book. I could perfectly picture the Hawaiian setting. It didn’t take me a little bit to get to know the characters because of how we were just thrown in to the story and I felt like there could’ve been a bit more exposition introducing them. But once I grasped the gist of the story, it was easy to follow. Overall, it was cute and I’d read this author again.

This one is a zany, suspend belief romcom with some truly ridiculous antics. A fake influencer scrambling to try and make her opulent online life real to impress someone is chaos waiting to happen.

Unfortunately, this one did not work for me. I had trouble suspending disbelief, did not enjoy the miscommunication, and could not connect with the main characters. I hope this works for others!

Hate to Fake It to You by Amanda Sellet ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Utterly ridiculous and nonsensical. Laugh out loud funny. Escapism. This book’s description promised screwball comedy and it delivered. It didn’t take itself too seriously at all (I mean, there were poop jokes!)

This was a fun read that leaned just a bit too nonsensical to me. Everything was exaggerated to a large degree, and it didn’t feel grounded in any portion. I didn’t really connect with any of the characters nor did I buy into any part of the plot.

With that being said, it was a great escapist read. The Hawaii setting was so well done. At times, I felt I was there too. Once I let myself just read and not try to connect the plot dots, I was able to just enjoy the silliness (and I did laugh out loud a few times).

Fans of light reads, silly reads, and reads that focus on the absurdity of everyday life will enjoy this one.

I was so excited to read a book set in North Shore on Oahu since I grew up on the island. The author's note that her mom grew up there, I had high expectations in regards to accuracy of the island. Sellet did a good job describing the north side of the island and the local foods. What disappointed me was that none of the characters spoke pidgin English which is such a big part of the culture.

The story for me was just a little slow and I wasn't vested in Libby and Jefferson's love story. I think all the lies that the story was built on just turned me off.

Thank you @smpromance @netgalley for a copy of this book.

I hard core judged a book by its cover here, it was so cute and I was expecting a fun romcom.

Then I see the author describes this as an homage to the Hollywood screwball comedy. And you know what, it was all that and a bag of chips.

With characters that the reader couldn't connect to, humor that wasn't funny, and a relationship that didn't give much for the reader to root for, not even the goats could save the plot. For those that are stuck in their melissa mcarthy bridesmaids comedy era, you may enjoy it, but this was not the light hearted rom com I prefer to read.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my review!

Well written and so many hilarious moments!

I had an amazing time meeting and getting to know Libby and Jefferson.

These scenes were so fun to experience!

I can honestly say I haven’t laughed so much while reading in ages!

Definitely a must read!! Highly recommended!!

thank you to netgalley for the e-arc. thanks, but definitely respectfully no thanks. overall, i think this is my last romance where the characters don't communicate or hold secrets from someone. the "romance" in this was simply instalove and awful. also hated the influencer aspect.

Well, this book won't go in my "would recommend" pile, unfortunately. I really wanted to like it but that just didn't happen.

I did enjoy the last 5% of the book, but the rest of it wasn't for me.

The story seemed immature, and ridiculous. Yes, I know it's fiction, but unless you're reading fantasy I feel like it should at least feel like the story could be true. Or at the very least feasible. So much of the story was just absurd.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The characters feel a bit flighty but the story was cute. The humor is good and the banter between all the characters was fun. I enjoyed the story and how the Libby seemed to find a way to be true to herself. I received an advance copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

I have somewhat mixed feelings about Hate to Fake It to You by Amanda Sellet. I'm rounding up to 3 stars. Overall, I thought it was fine, but not something I enjoyed reading very much. I didn’t like the characters or the storyline. The madcap antics were so over the top, but compared with the rest of the story, I think they ended up being some of the stronger parts. I did like the setting, and the locations seemed like they were described well.

This was a DNF for me, unfortunately. Romcoms are my favorite genre and St Martin's generally publishes many of my favorites each year, but I could not get past how stupid the influencer personality was. I refrained from sharing these thoughts on Goodreads or my Booksta account, as I mostly try to support authors not bash.

I had a hard time getting into this book. I ended up putting it down halfway through, I just wasn't as invested as I would have liked to be. There is a chance I will pick it back up at a later time to try again, it may have just not been the right time for me.

Thank you, Netgalley for my copy to review.

Ooof. I tried. I really freaking tried. I picked this up and put it back down several times over the course of a few weeks hoping something would finally spark my interest but nothing ever did.

This was…choppy. Sloppy. Confusing. I could see where there was humor attempted but it came off as more slapstick and deranged/manic. Everything was based on lies which didn’t lend for a very cute beginning or end for JJ and Libby.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book for review.

An enjoyable read from this author. A full review of this arc to follow and to be posted on publication date.

Hate to Fake It to You
A Novel
by Amanda Sellet
"Hate to Fake It to You" by Amanda Sellet is an entertaining read, but it didn't leave a lasting impression on me. The story follows Libby Lane, a waitress pretending to be an influencer, and Jefferson Jones, a wildlife photographer. Their paths cross in Hawaii, leading to a series of comedic misadventures involving a fake marriage, borrowed goats, and a made-up holiday.
While the premise is fun and zany, the book didn't keep me too invested. The fake marriage and slow burn romance were predictable, with typical miscommunications and ups and downs. Although it's a light-hearted and enjoyable read that many will like, it wasn't particularly memorable for me. The characters and plot felt somewhat formulaic, and I found myself not thinking much about it after finishing. Overall, it's a decent book for a casual read, but it didn't stand out in a significant way.

Very grateful to the publisher for my copy, opinions are my own

OK, so I 100% chose this book because of the adorable goats on the cover. Unfortunately, in the end, I really wanted more goats in the story. Hate to Fake It to You is a rom-com set in beautiful Hawaii, and I definitely felt the tropical presence. I just didn't feel the romance between the FMC Libby and the MMC Jefferson. She was an immature new adult would-be influencer. He was an established 30-somthing wildlife photographer. I just don't see how he would be all that into her. Except, well, guys often are into the not so smart hot messes it seems. That's probably why I'm still single2, lol. I guess I just like my FMC to be smarter and more together.

2.5 starts rounded up because a goat ate her bikini top.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Screwball comedy romance!

Libby Lane has lived her life just making do after being raised by her single mother but now she and her roommate Jean need to fake living an influencer’s life as Lillibet at a borrowed house to hopefully sell the idea to media mogul heir. But nobody can keep their plans straight when everything goes off the rails.

Libby is faking living her best life as Lillibet at her fake husband’s house with her best friend playing the housekeeper playing host to media heir Hildy Johnson and her rescuer and boyfriend Jefferson Jones nobody is real.

If you like your romance mixed with a little bit of old fashioned screwball comedy with everybody a fake version of themselves.

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