Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for this ARC!

Thought I could rein in my personal biases so I could really enjoy this book but I just cannot get over how unethical the whole set up was. Yes, I knew the premise going in from the blurb, but I was so intrigued about how it would play out. But alas, at the end of the day, it affected my reading experience.

Firstly, it is a well written book in general. The pacing flowed well and the themes of grief and caregiver stress was treated with realism and love. I really felt for the FMC and the MMC and their respective burdens. My heart also ached reading about the whole Alzheimer's experience and how it not only affects the person with it, but those around them too. Side characters are well developed and the love story (no matter what I felt about the ethics of it) was sweet - I could see how they came to develop feelings for one another. The banter was funny, especially the FMC's inner thoughts and sense of humor.

My favourite scene would have to be the 'crying over spilt milk' moment. What a watershed moment. Also love the imagery and symbolism with the flowers.

I did think the FMC's level of initial antagonism was a bit much but it is hard to judge considering what she was going through at that time. Also the MMC's social media presence was so cringey for me I quickly skimmed those portions lol.

Would not read again as it was quite an emotionally heavy read for me - but I would be interested in reading whatever else Megan Murphy writes in the future.

Overall rating: 3.75/5

This has a cute premise. I love a good fake dating trope, however I didn't feel the spark that i needed to keep me invested!

This force proximity romance is absolutely bursting with tension and heightened emotions. While a little predictable, I still enjoyed every moment of this read. The navigation of living with someone with Alzheimer's was well addressed while definitely adding to the overall storyline.

Fake It Like You Mean It by Megan Murphy is an emotional, beautifully written romance that deftly balances humor with deeper themes.

Elle, a spirited podcaster, returns home to help care for her grandmother with Alzheimer’s, only to find her room taken by a (very good-looking) male nurse. As they manage caregiving and their own sparks, an enemies-to-lovers dynamic builds into something unexpectedly heartfelt.

Murphy’s writing truly shines, capturing both the lighthearted and the profound.

It’s funny, tender, and laced with genuine love and heartbreak. I found myself invested in the characters and their growth, making it an unforgettable read. This book is full of LOVE.

A heartfelt 4 stars! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I don’t know where to file this one. There were times when the relationship between Lovie and Elle was moving and made me viscerally sad. So then the jump to the romance with Adam felt jarring, and their relationship felt a little shallow. There was just an attempt to cover too much serious subject matter and kind of missed the mark on everything. Attempting an Alzheimer’s romance novel was brave, however, so I’m still giving it three stars.

What a beautiful story. Alzheimer’s is a heartbreaking disease and it’s handled so beautifully in this story. Elle’s podcasts are the key to behind the scenes. These show the emotions of how many people cope with having a loved one transition into their new normal. As she loses a little more of Lovie each day she gains a relationship with Adam. With his background he shares his knowledge of how to navigate through these hard times and to accept that there is no magical cure. Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove press for this free advanced copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Such a cute read! I breezed through this and loved the characters and the banter. A simple and very enjoyable romance!

This was so cute! If you're into contemporary romances, I would definitely give this one a go. I believe this is the author's debut--and this is my first novel I've read by her--and I GREATLY enjoyed it! (And I definitely agree that The American Roommate / Fifty First Dates comp is accurate).

Basically, the story begins with Elle coming back to her childhood home to find Adam Wheeler in her bed. He's been the live in nurse to help take care of Elle's grandmother, who is dealing with an Alzheimer's diagnosis. The issue is that her grandmother, Love, is convinced that Elle and Adam are in love--thus begins our forced proximity, fake dating situation (which I'm a sucker for every time).

I can say, if you are wary of sick loved ones within a book, this one might not be for you, HOWEVER, it was handled very well, and while there are heartbreaking/touching moments, the book does keep the lighthearted feel and there were uplifting/funny scenes, too.

Highly recommend!

Oh man, this book. Reading it I was thinking that it's a good story but it could be better written. The main characters seemed a bit flimsy. The FMC was likeable enough but also hiding, from herself and, in turn, the reader. The MMC also was a slow rollout to understand him. They were both a bit unfinished feeling. Perhaps this was intentional?

But, I found myself crying. I related to being the caregiver. I took care of my mom for years as she died a millimeter at a time. I saw my grandfather profoundly affected by dementia. This feeling of helplessness, anger, and love was so clear and so true and so resonant. I appreciated that depth in this otherwise light book. I didn't think I would recommend this book but it snuck up on me. A good read if you want to read about grief with a HEA on the side. 3.5 stars. Thanks to Net Galley and Alcove Press for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐/🌶️ Fake It Like You Mean It by Megan Murphy is about a podcaster named Elle who decides to move from Chicago back to her hometown with her grandmother, Lovie, to help take care of her as her Alzheimer's progresses. When she arrives at Lovie's home, she stumbles into her old room, but it turns out to be occupied... Enter Nurse Adam. Adam is Lovie's sexy live-in nurse while they are waiting for insurance to approve a long term care facility, who is not too thrilled about getting kicked out of the bed he's been staying in. He also looks strikingly like Elle's grandfather, Bobby. With the confusion around who Adam and Elle are to Lovie, they are forced to pretend for her sake to avoid shattering everything she thinks is real, but can they even get along well enough to pretend?

✨ Fake dating, forced proximity, only one bed, strangers to... Something more?

This book is heartbreaking and tragic, focusing on what it's like to watch a parental figure age and lose her own memories... But it's well balanced with Elle's own fond childhood memories, and the new ones she creates while caring for Lovie. It's funny and beautiful and even a little spicy.. Definitely worth the read!

Elle (a podcaster) moves back to her childhood home to take care of her grandmother who has Alzheimer. But when she get's there, there is also a very hot nurse taking care of her.

At first I didn't really like Elle's behavior towards Adam because she was acting like it was a competition who knew Lovie (grandmother) better. Thankfully that changed very soon and there was a lot of tension between them. They even start to fake date.

It was nice to read and learn a bit about the Alzheimer disease and what it does to the loved ones. Adam was really supportive and understanding towards Elle. I was scared that the book would have a heartbreaking ending but I am glad it didn't.

This book was funny, wholesome, spicy and also a sad a certain parts. I actually cried at a certain chapter and I was teary eyed a lot of times. I loved it very much and recommend it to all the romance lovers!

Tropes:
- Podcaster x Nurse
- Forced proximity
- 3rd act breakup
- Alzheimer disease
- Fake dating

"I only want whatever you're ready to give, even if it's nothing at all."

Great read! Had some of my favourite tropes- enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, hilarious banter, It also touches on a very difficult subject and the effects that both love and loss have on us.

Fake it like you mean it by Megan Murphy is a perfect book for a sweet romance reader.

Adam
✅ live in nurse/ caregiver

Elle
✅ podcaster
✅ Lovie’s grandchild

✅ Forced proximity
✅ fake dating
✅ enemies to lovers
✅ a lot of bickering
✅ tear jerker ( I’ve cried a lot for the last chapter in the book and I cried more for Lovie and Elle)
✅ high sexual tension
✅ plenty of spicy scene: intense and explicit 🔥🔥🔥

I’ll definitely need to read another book from Megan Murphy

I really enjoyed this novel. It was full of all of my favorite things: banter, enemies (or dislike) to lovers, slow burn romance, and of course humor. This book explores so many complex dynamics and feelings about love and loss. I truly enjoyed every moment of it.

This was such a beautifully written and emotional Al read, really gives you a look into caring for someone with Alzheimer’s. It’s was also a very sweet and romantic love story ❤️

Elle’s grandma has Alzheimer’s, she goes back to her hometown to help care for her. Adam is Lovie’s life in nurse, Lovie sees the two of them and is convinced they’re in love. Not wanting for confuse her further, they go along with it, but are the feelings as fake as they’re telling themselves they are?

This is such a lovely spin on a fake dating trope, bring awareness to Alzheimer’s while also keeping a story fun and romantic. I absolutely adored this book and these characters, this was such a well written book. I absolutely recommend this book!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I adored this book so much. I read this book on the same weekend as the 10th anniversary of my grandpa's death. This hit all the heartstrings. All the laughter, all the tears. I love that it was both a slow burn, but also not. I would read this again.

All I wanted was a cute romcom, but did I get that from this book? Yes, and so much more.

Don't be fooled by the cartoon cover because this book packed a lot of emotions.

Elle's grandmother, Lovie have Alzheimer so she went home to take care of her. She didn't anticipate the live-in nurse, Adam. Lovie thought they were a couple and remembered it, so Elle and Adam perpetuate a ruse as to not tip Lovie's emotions off.

For a debut novel, this book really hits the spot. You got some romance to balance all the emotional stuff of being a caregiver. The banter and tension was great. I love how as we go along the story, we explored more Elle's emotions and Adam's story.

My grandmother had Alzheimer and as someone who knows exactly how Elle's feels, it just made me a blubbering mess because it was captured so thoroughly in the book.

Not a fan of the third-act conflict nearing the end, but I just love how the story resolved that I can forgive that part. Mostly.

Overall, I love my reading experience even though it made me cry so much.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher. I did not understand why these two didn't like each other. That plot point made no sense...

"Fake It Like You Mean It" follows Elle and Adam as they care for Lovie, Elle’s grandmother who is suffering from Alzheimer’s. The story features a unique dynamic with Elle as Adam’s boss and Lovie mistaking Adam for her late husband. Throughout the story, Elle’s podcast offers an emotional outlet for her grief. The emotional weight of Alzheimer’s resonated with me, and while the romance felt secondary, I still found the novel enjoyable.

I’d recommend it to fans of heartfelt contemporary romance, like works by Ali Hazelwood or "The Dead Romantics."

Thank you to NetGalley and Megan Murphy for the ARC of Fake It Like You Mean It! If you’re in need of a warm, cozy romance, this book is a perfect winter read. Watching the characters fall in love despite their own challenges was heartwarming, and I was rooting for them as a couple all the way to their well-deserved happy ending. I also loved the storyline with the grandmother; it was a sensitive topic handled with such care and love, making it even more personal and resonant. This book truly left me with all the warm, fuzzy feelings!