This book was amazing and I devoured this book in just a few sittings! I loved the character development and how the story progressed.

3.5 stars! This was fun, but not my favorite Livy Hart book. I never really got too invested in Sebastian and Nora’s relationship until the end, which was cute. Spice was good, just didn’t connect with the story that much. It also felt at times like there were too many characters to keep track of.

The Great Dating Fake Off by Livy Hart
Rating: 4/5
Release Date: 6 August 2024

Nora D'Amato was the epitome of loyalty when it came to her best friend. Need her to play the role of besotted admirer to fend off his overly enthusiastic Italian family? Consider it done. Attend a wedding just to appease the overbearing relatives? No problem. Endure six days at a luxurious resort while witnessing the clash of the bride and groom's families? She'd grab the popcorn and settle in for the show.

However, there was a tiny complication. Nora's crush—someone who occupied her thoughts in ways she'd rather not admit—was also in attendance. Sebastian Rossi was like a temptation she couldn't resist, looking irresistibly delicious, making her pulse race faster than a melting scoop of gelato in a heat wave.

Yet, Sebastian was off-limits... officially, at least. He was here with his pretend date for the wedding, owing Nora big time for keeping an eye on his nonna during his frequent work trips. A week in the Adirondacks seemed like a simple task, especially since Sebastian's lifestyle didn't allow for real relationships. Definitely not with Nora, the charming manager of the local bookstore who occupied his thoughts more than he cared to admit.

In the midst of a wedding battleground, with two families at odds, there was no room for flirting or clandestine rendezvous. Every move was under scrutiny, whether it was during the pickleball tournament, the tense confrontations between patriarchs, or even the unconventional bachelorette party involving bull-riding. Any misstep could unravel everything, risking the exposure of secrets they were sworn to protect.

There's an abundance of reasons to adore this gem. Hart's trademark humour dazzles in this uproarious comedy of mishaps. The chemistry between Nora and Seb practically leaps off the page. And let's talk about the sizzle—those steamy moments are off the charts (thanks to some photo booth antics)! The ensemble cast, comprising two feuding Italian families with their own juicy secrets, is simply stellar!

"The Great Dating Fake-Off" is an absolute riot and I would happily recommend it.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Entangled Publishing, LLC | Entangled: Amara, and the author, Livy Hart, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Nora loves her life in Great River. She's found a stable job at a bookstore, and her manager and best friend, Benji, provides her social life. When Benji needs help dealing with his overbearing family at his sister's wedding, Nora steps up to be his fake girlfriend. What she didn't expect was to run into the hot guy who runs the Boys mentoring club at the same wedding.

Sebastian struggles to live up to his parents' legacy, but his work opening Boys clubs across the country helps him feel like he's making a meaningful impact. When his grandmother needs support, he comes home to help her and takes some time off from his travels. He also agrees to be his best friend Alessia's fake date to her brother's wedding. The problem is that the bride and groom's families have been feuding for generations, promising plenty of drama.

When Nora and Sebastian discover they are both at the wedding fake dating, they can't stop running into each other. The chemistry between them is undeniable, but they must navigate their budding romance amidst the messy family drama.

As the family tensions explode, triggered by Nora and Sebastian's failing attempt to maintain their fake dating ruse, the bride calls off the wedding. The two, along with their friends and family, work together to reunite the bride and groom. Forced to spend more time together, Nora and Sebastian can't deny their true feelings and realize their connection is something special and unique.

Get ready for lots of hilarious family feuds and drama, spicy intimate scenes, and the beautiful found family dynamics that are a hallmark of Livy Hart's romances. While this story isn't your typical fake dating trope, its unique twist and larger cast of characters kept me thoroughly engaged.

Nora and Sebastian find their way to each other, creating the home they both crave and need.

Now, what about Benji's story, Livy? That seems like it would be a fun one to read!

This book publishes on August 6th, and I highly recommend pre-ordering it now!

Thank you to Livy Hart for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

“Have I earned the right to call you by your last name like your best friends do?”
“Wear the name out. Someday it could be yours.”

Each Livy Hart book just keeps getting better and better!

Synopsis:
Nora’s best friend - Benji- has a giant Italian family who won’t let up on why he doesn’t have a girlfriend. So for his sisters wedding, Nora steps up and pretends to be his girlfriend. The problem? The guy she DOES like is also at the wedding …. Pretending to be someone else’s date.

My Thoughts:
Sebastian and Nora were just combustible in the best way. The one liners were phenomenal. The love was so perfect. Nora falls first, but Sebastian catches up quickly and will fight anybody that gets in her way. She’s bookish and loyal. He’s protective and constantly feeling like he’s not good enough. The side friendships were also terrific. I just really loved this whole book.

What You’ll Find:
💕 Fake Dating….other people
💒 Big Italian Wedding
🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Rival families
💪 “Touch her and die” vibes
🔥 Spice
2️⃣ Dual POV
🚘 Forced proximity

I really enjoyed reading this book!
You get to attend an italian wedding and meet Nora and Sebastian, two of the best book characters out there! I think they are great people and enjoyed every second with the loyal duo that's just so caring.
The book made me laugh and feel the feels and it was spicy so all I look for when grabbing a romance!

The Great Dating Fake Off by Livy Hart

This book has it all, its both cozy and outrageously funny. Two fake couples, hidden relationships, secrets and of course over the top large Italian families It has the PERFECT summer romcom vibes, on the beach with a frozen margarita would be my ideal reading plan.

We follow Nora who works at a bookstore owned by her best friend Benji as they dive head first into the world of fake dating. Benji’s sister is getting married and Benji’s mom and sister are dying to set him up with a date. Nora jumps in pretending to be his girlfriend and ends up attending a week long wedding event! Oh my, that not all. Cue smoking hot Sebastian Rossi, who would get any girl hot and bothered is also attending and might have his eye on Nora. Sebastian also has his own fake date.

I loved this book so much and here is a few reasons why.
Big Italian family drama! This one hits close to home, while I might not be Italian I did marry into a very large Italian family and the drama in this book is 100% correct. I could not have written it better myself. There is just so much chaos here, and when you add a second family to that it becomes like a category 5 hurricane, no one is getting out of there unharmed.

Book loving nerdy main female character. I mean common do I really need to go into details about why Nora is one of the best characters I have read about. She just is so you should read it and find out for yourself.

The feelings this book gives. I was happy, I was sad, I was on the edge of my seat with worry and I was kicking my with glee. It was outrageously funny, like laugh out loud to giggling to myself like a school girl at all times. The characters have sass, the drunken moments are oh so real! It’s a real emotional roller coaster so keep all hands and feet inside and enjoy the ride, its not stopping until its over.

The last point I need to make is the spice is top tier here. It is not in your face throughout the book but it’s there and wow… I now need to buy myself a sturdy reading chair, IYKYK

Livy Hart is now on my buy anything published list!

Thank you Entangled Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC copy.

This was my first Livy Hart book and I absolutely loved it.

This book was about an Italian wedding and some fake relationships.

Sebastian and Nora are the main characters. Sebastian literally makes you feel all the feels. Gosh, what a guy. I would love another book with these characters!

It’s a cute, quick read! Highly recommend for those that love rom-com novels.

The Great Dating Fake Off by Livy Hart is straight up fun, heartwarming, and spicy.

This book is was absolutely refreshing and great. This is my first Livy Hart book and I loved it! Nora and Sebastian were the perfect sunshine and golden retriever himbo couple. Nora is so loyal and loving despite everything she has gone through with in the past and Sebastian who cares so deeply about the people around him and constantly feels like he isn't enough and finally understand each other. I loved their dynamic and storyline. There is Dual POV, fake dating, Italian families and their rivalries, so much teasing and banter, he's obsessed with her and knows her love language so perfectly. This book is such a perfect summer romance read and I loved the side characters and found family and how perfectly Nora and Sebastian fit and I cannot wait to read more books by her. This is a highly recommend book to read!

I adore Livy Hart! More people need to hop on it for loving her books because what a rollercoaster of fun and PINING!

Nora truly just wanted to make the best of it for her friend, how could she know she would fall for another wedding guest that is in a fake dating situation? The yearning between these two was hot and heavy, even just eye contact between the two turned into a moment where the whole world disappeared. And of course they kept getting thrown together, teammates in pickle ball, having to save the wedding by running out for flowers. There was so many shenanigans going on that I couldn't help but giggle for most of this book.

If you are a Christina Lauren or Ali Hazelwood fan then this is a must read!

Not one but two fake romances makes for a very interesting saturation at this wedding.

Nora & Sebastian are harbouring secret crushes on each other but are unable to act on them due to two fake dating pacts that they have with close friends. Torn between their blossoming romance and their duty to their friends, caught up in a war between families and trying to catch some time together when they can these two have a fun and interesting road ahead of them before they can truly be together, if they can get together that is.

This book as fun. I like a bit of drama and I love to people watch and this book brought both of these elements together for me. With both main characters having responsibilities and fake dating pacts with their close friends to think of while trying to navigate what is essentially forbidden love is such a great idea. This book has it all.

I loved The Great Dating Fake Off. This book pulled me in from the first page. Sebastian and Nora had tons of chemistry and were just a delight. I’m Italian American and recognized so much of my own family in the meddlesome Italian families in this book, which made it a really fun read. I was laughing or nodding in recognition at so many parts.

Livy Hart is my go-to author for spicy, funny romances. Her main characters are relatable and charming, and her side characters are a hoot.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC, which was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Livy Hart has made it so easy to fall in love with Sebastian and Nora! I loved getting to know these characters and the crazy Italian families they are thrown into. It was sweet, spicy and funny, which is everything I look forward to in a romcom. Livy Hart is quickly becoming a must read author for me!

Livy Hart does it again!!! This book is at turns hilarious, heartfelt, kind, sexy, and so very real. Hart creates a bustling cast of characters at a destination wedding we all have fun watching as a fly on the wall. Livy Hart is my favorite contemporary romcom writer, and she once again proves herself in The Great Dating Fake Off!

Title: The Great Dating Fake Off by Livy Hart

Release Date: August, 6th, 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Stars

One over-the-top Italian wedding. Two fake couples. And a million hilariously disastrous possibilities…what is there not to love?!!!

Nora D’Amato will do anything for her best friend, including pretending to be in love with him to appease his nosy Italian family and attending a chaotic wedding. The only problem? Her crush, Sebastian Rossi, is also at the wedding with his own fake date. While trying to keep up appearances amidst feuding families, high-stakes pickleball tournaments, and bull-riding bachelorette parties, Nora and Sebastian must avoid letting their true feelings slip, risking a comedic disaster if their secrets are exposed.

Why I loved It:

🤣 Laugh-Out-Loud Moments: Straight up, I read this book with a big goofy smile plastered on my face. The humour was on point! Livy Hart’s wit shines through every page, delivering a delightful mix of slapstick comedy, sharp dialogue, and situational humour.

🍝 Big Italian Family Drama: God bless big Italian families and their drama. The dynamic between the D’Amato and Rossi clans is both heartwarming and hilariously chaotic, adding layers of authenticity and charm to the story.

❤️ Adorable Fake Dating Trope: The fake dating scenario is executed to perfection. Nora and Sebastian’s chemistry sizzles, making their awkward encounters and secret glances all the more enjoyable. It’s a trope we all love, done in a fresh and engaging way.

📚 Nostalgic 90s Vibes: If you’re a 90s lover and want to feel nostalgic, read Livy Hart! Her writing effortlessly weaves in cultural references that will transport you back to simpler times, enhancing the overall reading experience.

🥰 Relatable and Lovable Characters: Her writing makes me laugh and gasp and fan myself. The characters are wonderful and clever. Nora and Sebastian are people you’d want to be friends with, even if you’re not cool enough to join their circle. They’re relatable, flawed, and utterly lovable.

🌟 Emotional Roller Coaster: I laughed, I cried, I blushed, and I fanned myself. This book takes you on an emotional roller coaster, something I’ve been sorely missing from many of my recent reads. Livy Hart knows how to tug at your heartstrings while keeping you entertained from start to finish.

The Great Dating Fake Off by Livy Hart is a delightful rom-com that ticks all the right boxes. It’s funny, heartwarming, and brimming with romantic tension. If you’re looking for a book that will make you laugh out loud and swoon simultaneously, this is it. Dive into the hilarity and chaos of Nora and Sebastian’s world—you won’t regret it!


Thank you to The Publisher Entangled Publishing, LLC | Entangled: Amara ,The Author Livy Hart & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

What a great and fun read! It was my frist read by Livy Hart but I can't wait to dive into the rest of her books. Her characters are likeable, relatable and all around funny. The plot and twists had me laughing out loud a lot of the time. Loved the characters and the development, their backstories, their families and friends. All of it was so much fun. Nora...goodness I wish I could have her as a best friend!

Livy Hart has written a great book that had me hooked from the first page! Starting with a meet cute in a book store, so relatable for everyone who loves books, to a secret semi-forbidden romance, to a happily ever after. I will certainly be keeping a look out for future books by Livy Hart. The spicey scenes were well written and had me wanting to re-read the book as soon as I finished it. The characters are well written and very relatable. Nora is a quiet, kind of nerdy girl who enjoys the simple things in life. like finally having a place to call home. Benji is also quiet and his love for his bearded dragon will make any reptile lovers heart happy. Sebastian is a lover at heart but puts out an act of being a detached tough guy, with a soft spot for helping kids.

This is a must read for everyone who enjoys romance novels where you will enjoy all their secrets alongside them.


*I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review.*

This was the perfect romance. It was funny, relatable, and had the perfect amount of banter and spice.

Someone hand me a fan because the heat Livy Hart put in this book has me about to faint.
Absolutely loved the story as a whole and the chemistry balance. The pacing was really done--the only thing I struggled with was the amount of characters involved. I know it's a lot of Italians (my husband is Italian, so I get it), but sometimes it was a challenge not to confuse them.

A cute little quick read.

I wasn’t too sure about the pop culture references dating this book when I started reading, but once I got into the story it didn’t really bother me.