This is Livy Hart at her best (every book is Livy Hart at her best). Sebastian Rossi is officially at the top of my favorite MMC list. He was protective of Nora in the best ways, but him watching out for deer while she drives is something so personal to me 😭 And making sure she was always fed 🫠 I love him your honor. Not to mention, these two were absolutely feral for each other and so bad at keeping it a secret. I loved every moment of this book.

I absolutely loved this book! It was a very cute story that had me giddy from beginning to end. I was hooked right away and just didn't want it to end! I loved the characters, the tension, the amazing banter, the spice, the found family and so much more. This book has a little bit of everything all baked up into the perfect delicious read! If you like romcoms with lots of humor and heart then this book is for you! I highly recommend it!

Thank you NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for allowing me to read this book ahead of release in exchange for my honest opinion.

Livy Hart is an auto-buy, auto-read, auto-everything for me. She does not miss. I still need to go back and read Talk Flirty to Me, but I’ve read everything else she’s written and loved all of it. And this is her best book yet.

First of all, it was such a unique take on the fake dating trope (which is one of my favorites). Sebastian and Nora are fake dating OTHER PEOPLE as plus ones for a week-long wedding event after having met previously and experienced instant chemistry. The name of the game becomes “don’t get caught lusting after each other while we’re supposed to be dating other people” and let’s just say, they’re not great at the game.

The chemistry and tension between Sebastian and Nora is palpable and electric. Their first kiss is hotter than some full on down-to-business scenes I’ve read. And when the full on down-to-business hits in this book? Steamy and sultry feels like downplaying it. Livy Hart writes the kind of spice that is elite to me. I can feel the emotional connection and the physical connection is elevated because of it.

The emotions of a story are more important than anything to me, and this one put me through the wringer. I very rarely tear up or shed actual tears over a romance novel if there isn’t some kind of permanent loss/grieving element to the plot, but I did twice in this book. Seb and Nora’s life paths were divergent while their attraction was undeniable and irresistible. They were setting themselves up for heartbreak and both knew it going in. Bless the promise of the HEA because my heart was breaking alongside them while I waited for them to figure it out.

I could continue to ramble about everything I loved from this book, but I’ll end as soon as I share how much I also loved the secondary characters. Benji and Alessia specifically brought so much added depth to the story. It wouldn’t have been the same without them.

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to @entangled_publishing and @netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
One of my first ARCs from Entangled Publishing was for Some Kind of Blunderful by Livy Hart. Since then, I have read all her books because I love her humor, her writing style, the spice and banter, and the HEA. The Great Dating Fake Off was no different. If you enjoyed the Italian family in Talk Flirty to Me, you are in for a treat.
When two people from the feuding families fall in love, they can only hope the feuding will finally come to an end. There is so much stress about the wedding planning from the food to the flowers, everyone has a say and nothing is going right. There’s some fake dating going on between friends, and some secrets that come out at this week-long family get together, and some major chemistry happening.
I loved all the craziness between the families, the friendship between Benjamin and Nora and the chemistry between Nora and Sebastian. I also love Benjamin’s nonna who loves her frozies (margaritas). As much as the families are in each other’s business, they are a great bunch and remind me of my crazy Mexican family. If you are looking for a laugh out loud rom com with some family chaos and some spice, this is it. Keep the great reads coming Livy. I will definitely be buying this in paperback.

It has banter and drama and family and 2 adorable main characters with good chemistry, add in a little spice, and you have yourself an adorable little romance book.

A full cast of endearing characters, especially our lovable FMC and MMC; two boisterous Italian families complete with a decades-long feud; and a fun, unique take on the familiar fake-dating trope make this novel an absolutely entertaining, deliciously HOT, super sweet read you won't want to miss! Loved it!

I am a self-admitted book worm, and I have been the majority of my life. Here lately, I gravitate towards suspenseful books. One genre that I have also been gravitating towards is books that make me laugh. Because of this, and how much I enjoyed “Planes, Trains, and All the Feels” and “Some Kind of Blunderful,” I was very excited to read this book.

This is the third Livy Hart that I have read, and this book was just as amazing as the other two. One of the things that I was not expecting is that this book also hit me directly in the feels. The ending is probably one of the most satisfying that I have read in a while. I also really enjoyed the side characters in the book. I became really invested in their stories, too. I would love to know what next for her boss (hint, hint: bonus epilogue, please!)

I definitely enjoyed this book, and would recommend this book to anyone that wants to read a satisfying HEA.

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

4.25/5
Really cute story. It's chaotic and fun. The characters are well developed and love the group of them together and the mesh of different personalities the author has created. It is a dual pov romance which I absolutely love seeing both sides happen. It's a tad bit insta-lovey but for romance book it isn't to bad. Really cute romance, quick paced and loved along with a good plot.

Thank you NetGalley and Entangled for the opportunity to read this e-arc. This is my honest opinion.

What's more fun than a fake-dating couple wading into an over-the-top Italian wedding featuring a Capulet and Montague style family feud? How about two fake-dating couples!

After a childhood of continuous moves, Nora D’Amato has finally found her place - she's got her own apartment, a solid job, and she's making real friends. When one of said friends needs to get his overbearing family off his back, Nora steps into the role of (fake) girlfriend for his sister's wedding. Playing the part of a happy couple for the next week should be no problem, or at least it wouldn't have been if Nora didn't run into her new crush, Sebastian, at the check-in desk. But it turns out Nora and Benji aren't the only ones with something to hide this week. Sebastian and his date Alessia, the groom's twin sister, have chosen to undertake a fake-dating scheme of their own. Now the only way both couples will survive this wedding with their 'relationships' in tact, and keep the family drama from escalating even further, is if Sebastian and Nora refrain from acting on the feelings that are blossoming between them.

The Great Dating Fake Off is a delightfully entertaining and dramatic good time! Double the fake relationships means double the potential for disaster, adding a fun level of risk to an already chaotic story. Nora and Sebastian as both great friends - it was so easy to see why they'd fall for one another, which really added to the romance I thought. I also really loved seeing their interactions with the other characters, particularly Nella who was a delight all her own, and the family drama was as crazy as you would expect, but I was very pleased the resolution. I'll say it, Alessia was a true MVP. Wonderfully paced with a sweet and spicy romance, this was a great read!

Thank you to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

If Livy Hart has no fans it must mean I’m dead. My absolute favorite romance/rom com writer in the game. Her books might be the only rom coms that actually make me laugh and the romance is top tier.

I loved both the MMC and FMC in this one, and their romance was wonderful. Their connection felt genuine and sincere. I was so invested in their happily ever after and very satisfied with how it ended. Would absolutely recommend this book and all of Livy Hart’s books!

Thank you NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for this ARC! It was my absolute delight to get my hands on this one!

an absolutely delightful book. i could not stop reading! i was immediately drawn to the premise of nora and sebastian fake dating their best friends at a big italian wedding but falling for each other despite their commitments to appear in love with other people. all the moments they shared really built a strong foundation for their relationship. this book was funny, romantic, earnest and HOT. a near-perfect rom com.

This was my first Livy Hart book and it didn't disappoint. She managed to capture the chaos of a huge wedding and dealing with aunts and cousins in that hectic environment perfectly!

From the get-go, our main characters Nora and Sebastian feel like whole characters with believable quirks and personalities, and I was immediately rooting for them. I loved the double fake dating scenario-a refreshing take on an age old trope. The two warring families was a super fun setting for shenanigans and just as you thought it was getting too slapsticky, the plot swerved on a corner that made me even more invested in the plot as the comedic tone took a backseat.

This was a perfect, fun, well written and actually funny romcom, excellent wedding season read!

Wedding shenanigans, best friends, a fake relationship, pickleball, intense flirting, and a ton of secrets in this slow burn romance.

What would you do if your parents were relentless and meddled in your dating life?

Sometimes the truth has a way of surfacing no matter what you do to prevent it. Who can you trust? It's time to find love in the most unexpected place and when you least expect it.

A great fun read perfect for a quick escape! Happy reading.

W-o-w. Hart's Great Dating Fake Off makes me feel summer and romance to the max!! It feels like big family dinners and italian humor and everything that I'm looking for in my romance. This fake dating twist hasn't been done before that I've seen and she pulled it off in a way that had me laughing and tearing up, I am so impressed. It was a full rom-com experience start to finish that I will be telling every person I know about. Rom coms at their best right here!

Nora and Sebastian have been attracted to each other since day 1, but separately agree to be in fake relationships with other people for a wedding. More than that, the groom and bride's families have been in a feud with each other for generations, and Nora and Sebastian find themselves dragged into the family drama in more ways than one. This was a cute twist to the fake-dating trope combined with West Side Story-type family feud.

This book had a dual POV and LOTS OF SPICE/lust/angst/yearning. Sebastian and Nora have a lot of chemistry together and they clearly like each other a lot. What I liked about their relationship was that there were never any doubts/misunderstandings. They communicated well and both parties always knew about each other's feelings and circumstances. The only problem with their relationship is logistical but big. It was nice to see how they decided to overcome this hurdle in their relationship.

The side characters, namely Benjamino and Alessia, were so great and supportive. They offered sage advice and support to Sebastian and Nora. I think the biggest theme of all this was family. There was clear unconditional love from both families, and they all wanted what was best for their children. The family dynamics were hilarious and I loved seeing how the feud resolves.

This was my first book of Livy Hart's, but definitely not the last! Also shoutout to Tairn, the bearded dragon (ifykyk)!

Thank you to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Let me start by saying, I love Hart's writing style and I always enjoy her ability to set a scene and make you feel like you are there living in the moment with the characters. The Great Dating Fake Off had me immersed in the setting, but I struggled to find an attachment to our main characters and did not find myself invested in what happened to them. The chemistry between them was apparent when they were privately enjoying each other's company, but it was a bit too instalove for me, but with that being said, I think that element sets this story and couple apart from our normal fake dating storylines. On the other hand, I really enjoyed the side characters and looked forward to the entire group being together to see what shenanigans would ensue.

Overall a fun read, I just struggled to find myself invested in the main characters.

4.5/5
Absolutely love the name and the cover! Super eye catching and engaging.

This is a wonderful rom com and exactly the fun kind of romance book I was looking for recently. The characters are hilarious and extremely lovable.

Loved the build up with the relationship and tied it into a fake dating trope sealed the deal for me. I also adored the MMC he was extremely likable and had me rooting for him.

This is also a dual POV book which I’m a big fan of. I would love to see some continuations with other book spinoffs with the other characters to for a romance universe. That would be interesting!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
Another fun read from Livy Hart!
My first read of hers was a YA that I generally enjoyed but felt a little disconnect from. This adult romcom was much more my speed and so I liked it even more! I enjoy so much that Hart dives into the tropes and the humor we want from a classic romcom.

ARC Book Review: *The Great Dating Fake Off* by Livy Hart

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5 stars)

Livy Hart’s *The Great Dating Fake Off* is a delightful rom-com that expertly blends humor, romance, and a dash of family drama. With its engaging plot and charming characters, this novel is an entertaining read that will keep you hooked from start to finish.

Plot Summary:
Nora D’Amato finds herself in a whirlwind of wedding chaos when she agrees to be her best friend's fake girlfriend to help him fend off his overly invested Italian family. What starts as a simple favor quickly escalates into a full-blown charade at a lavish resort, complete with feuding families, a pickleball tournament, and even a bull-riding bachelorette party. To make matters more complicated, Nora’s longtime crush, Sebastian Rossi, is also at the wedding with his own fake date. As secrets and feelings surface, Nora and Sebastian must navigate the hilarious and unpredictable wedding week without exposing their true emotions.

**Characters:**

- **Nora D’Amato:** Nora is a relatable and endearing protagonist. Her loyalty to her best friend and her internal struggle with her feelings for Sebastian make her a character worth rooting for. Her witty and self-deprecating humor adds to her charm.
- **Sebastian Rossi:** Sebastian is the quintessential romantic hero—handsome, caring, and just a bit mysterious. His dedication to his nonna and his genuine affection for Nora make him a perfect match for her. The chemistry between them is palpable and adds depth to their interactions.

Themes:

1. **Fake Relationships:** The novel plays on the popular fake relationship trope but adds its unique twist with the backdrop of an Italian wedding and multiple layers of deception. The tension between pretending and genuine emotions creates a compelling dynamic.
2. **Family Dynamics:** The story beautifully captures the complexities of family relationships, especially within the context of a big, loud, and loving Italian family. The interactions between family members are both humorous and heartwarming.
3. **Self-Discovery and Love:** Both Nora and Sebastian embark on a journey of self-discovery throughout the novel. Their evolving feelings and personal growth highlight the importance of being true to oneself and embracing love when it comes.

Writing Style:
Livy Hart’s writing is fresh, funny, and full of heart. The dialogue is sharp and witty, perfectly capturing the playful banter between characters. Hart’s ability to blend humor with genuine emotion makes for a thoroughly enjoyable read.

**Final Thoughts:**
*The Great Dating Fake Off* is a laugh-out-loud romantic comedy that delivers on both humor and heart. Livy Hart has crafted a delightful story with memorable characters and a plot full of amusing twists and turns. Whether you’re a fan of rom-coms or looking for a feel-good read, this book is sure to leave you smiling.

Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys a good fake dating story with a side of family antics and heartfelt romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for providing an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute story.
It's different from the usual fake dating trope, which was nice and caused its own type of fun and problems.
The romance was okay. It was an instant attraction, with a bit of build-up. However, I feel that Nora and Sebastian didn't have much chemistry other than the sex. Written in dual POV, I was hoping for more emotion.
The steamy scenes were pretty good, detailed but not in your face. They can be skipped, but they do get mentioned later in the book.

I really liked the supporting characters. They were fun and I'd love to see more from them.