⭐️⭐️⭐️

FAKE IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT by Megan Murphy is a lighthearted and engaging read that explores themes of confidence, self-discovery, and personal growth.

The writing is sharp, and the author’s humor shines through in many parts of the book, making it an easy read. The romance was sweet, though it felt a little predictable at times.

While the overall message about self-acceptance is great, I found some of the character development to be a bit rushed. Certain key moments felt a little forced, and I struggled to connect with the protagonist in some parts of the story. The pacing was also uneven—at times, the plot felt a bit repetitive, and some of the secondary storylines didn’t add as much to the main narrative as I had hoped.

Ultimately, while *Fake It Like You Mean It* has its heart in the right place, it didn’t quite live up to the promise of its premise for me. It’s an enjoyable read for fans of light romance and self-discovery, but it left me wanting a bit more depth and substance.

Thanks to Alcove Press and NetGalley for the ARC! Opinions are my own

I am forever interested in romances featuring people in medical professions. I think it stems from both my interest in public health and also the fantasy of the empathetic male healthcare worker. But perhaps I'll unpack that another time.

Anyways.

I think that is what inspired me to pick up "Fake It Like You Mean It". Plus I couldn't resist the premise of two people having to pretend to date for the sake of someone losing their memory. I will say, this book definitely falls on the more emotional side of the cartoon cover romance spectrum. It was pulling at emotional threads I didn't really know I had. One of the major, major themes and central plot premises of this book is the realities of caring for a loved one, and former caretaker, who can no longer take care of themselves and does not remember you. The book does not shy away from the emotional turmoil this causes or the less glamorous physical aspects of this.

I will say, that there were some elements of the caregiving piece that I wished were addressed a little more in depth, or not raised and then ignored for the rest of the story. Sometimes it felt like a can of worms was opened and then kind of pushed to the side.

The romance here was nice, I liked both of the characters. Sometimes it felt like things happened or they said things that weren't super built up to, but I don't think that really detracted from the overall experience of reading the book.

4 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Alcove for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

⭐️: 5/5
🌶️: 2/5
Format: 📱

WOW. Get ready to cry. I would say I'm a moderate crier. I cry at some things. But I BAWLED. Multiple times. This was one of the most relatable, viscerally emotional stories I've read in a long time. Murphy did such an excellent job fleshing out these characters, and they were so real, and I felt everything right along with them. The entire story takes place in this bubble, but it was so well developed I didn't want to leave.

The portrayal of Lovie's Alzheimer's here is gut-wrenching. While there was a tiny bit of suspension of disbelief needed in terms of how the in-home care team operated, it was to the benefit of the plot and the romance. I was able to vividly picture Lovie's situation, the setting, and their interactions, and Elle's inner monologue at those interactions just hit me so hard. While I don't have any relations with Alzheimer's, it was just so beautifully illustrated that I got so into it.

I am shocked that this was a debut novel. It's incredible. I highly recommend anyone check it out!!

I really enjoyed Fake It Like You Mean It. It was a fun and lighthearted romance, but what truly stood out to me was how it touched on some deeper, more sensitive topics, like dementia. I wasn’t expecting the story to explore those emotional moments, but it added so much heart and depth to the characters and their journey.

The chemistry between the leads was fantastic, and their banter felt natural and genuinely funny. I found myself rooting for them from the start. Even though the fake-dating trope is predictable, it’s done so well here that I didn’t mind at all. The mix of romance, humour, and emotional moments struck a great balance.

There are a few slower sections, but the strong writing and heartfelt themes kept me hooked. This book is not just about romance—it’s about family, resilience, and finding love even in the messiness of life.

Lovie's Hard Love Rule Number 50: Buy this book or request it from your local library because you will read it and then fall in love with it.

"Love it part of being human, Elle. The best part. It's ingrained in our skin and bones... etched onto our souls. We don't forget that easily, no matter how hard we try." Megan I loved every minute with Ellie and Adam, the good and the bad. I can't wait for others to discover all of Lovie's Hard Rules, even HHALT. 😉

Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for the eARC of Fake It Like You Mean It.

*Fake It Like You Mean It* is a great story. Elle and Adam’s begrudging partnership turns into a charming and slow-burning romance, set against the poignant backdrop of Lovie’s Alzheimer’s journey.

This felt like a proper emotional rollercoaster.

The premises of the story was nice and I really liked the characters and how they opened up more as the story went on. The chemistry between the characters was nice, I wouldn't have minded a even more slow burn but regardless I really enjoyed the romance aspects in this story.

Not only is this a cute romance story it also touches a heavy and important topic about Alzheimer and about living and caring of someone who is suffering of alzheimer. How that person becomes someone completely different.

This is absolutely such a wonderful book I would gladly recommend to everyone who likes a nice fake dating slow burn with the side of some heavier topics!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an advanced reader copy. All thoughts are my own.

"𝐌𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐞 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 '𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬', 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐲 '𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞'"

En pocas palabras: me ha encantado.

En 𝗙𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗜𝘁 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗜𝘁 nos encontramos con una historia adulta y madura, ambos protagonistas me han gustado mucho y he llegado a conectar bastante con ellos, sobretodo con Elle.

En el tercer capítulo sabía que ya me iba a detrozar por la temática del libro y no me he equivocaba, ha sido todo tan bonito, tan dulce y tan desgarrador que problablemente sea uno de mis libros de romance más top de este año.

Una de las cosas que más he disfrutado ha sido el desarrollo de la trama romántica, la he sentido real, me ha encantado ver como desde el principio son unos desconocidos que no tenían nada de ganas de encontrarse y con el paso del tiempo junto van surgiendo sentimientos y una sensación de camadería de ellos muy bonita.

Adam Wheeler es un amor y un crush bastante real, creo que hablo por todas cuando necesitamos un hombre así en nuestra vida 😛


Thanks NETGALLEY for the ARC.

🍀DEBUT REVIEW🍀

📖Fake It Like You Mean It
✏️By @megmurphywrites
🗓️March 18, 2025

Before picking up Murphy’s debut, I wholeheartedly expected an easy read brimming with laughter—a classic meet-cute fueled by forced proximity, instant attraction, and all the beloved tropes that define my favorite genre. And you know what? This book is all of those things—my favorite cozy moments bundled up like a giant, comforting blanket wrapping me in a warm hug.

But what I didn’t expect were the heartbreakingly accurate depictions of the daily struggles of caring for patients with Alzheimer’s disease. That part hit me hard, making this debut carve out a space in the most tender, emotion-filled corner of my heart.

Murphy’s attention to detail—the smallest, most mundane aspects of life with someone suffering from Alzheimer’s—is extraordinary. These moments resonate deeply with my own experiences, and I often found myself reaching for tissues during scenes that, on the surface, might seem insignificant. But they’re anything but.

It’s difficult to put into words how beautifully this book captures the challenges faced by those whose loved ones are living with Alzheimer’s. Elle and Adam’s emotional journey is raw, heartfelt, and incredibly moving. Watching them lean on one another, finding strength and solace in their growing bond, felt like a balm for the soul. They’re absolutely perfect for each other, and I adored witnessing the progression of their relationship.

This debut surprised me in the best possible way. I want to climb to the top of the Willis Tower and shout for everyone to IMMEDIATELY preorder Murphy’s stunning work, available on March 18 everywhere books are sold 💝

#bookstagram #booklover #booknerd #book #debut #contemporarybooks #romancebooks #romancereader #bookaddict #bookreview #bookblogger #booklove #bookrecommendations #bookrecs #debutauthor #debutbook #bookblogger #bookblog #alcovepress #fakeitlikeyoumeanit #arc #netgalley #enemiestolovers #2025debutauthor #2025debut #forcedproximityromance #meganmurphy #forcedproximity #mutualpining #alzheimers

I was so glad to receive an ARC of this book, having been the youngest child of youngest children, very early on in life I had a few family members who were diagnosed with alzheimer's or dementia. It is a reality I know all too well and this book brought shined some light on that while being equal parts funny, romantic and heartbreaking. Megan Murphy did a great job balancing all of these elements to write a book I can't wait to recommend and also read again myself.

I have had the absolute delight of connecting with Megan and after reading her debut novel, it’s no wonder it was picked up!

Fake It Like You Mean It feels like a warm hug tinged with sadness. Leaving you unsure of whether you should laugh or cry as you journey through this beautiful love story.

Elle and Adam’s chemistry jumps off the page, but more than that, their banter mixed with the vulnerability they share is *chefs kiss*

And I can’t forget my favorite part of this story—Elle’s grandmother, Lovie. You will need boxes of tissue for just her character alone. The amount of love and care Megan put into not only writing her character but exploring this particular topic of grief as you watch someone fade away from Alzheimer’s was beautifully done.

Overall, this was such a wonderful debut and I am so excited for all that’s to come from Megan. Fake It Like You Mean It releases March 18th and I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy!

Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for giving me an arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

I loved this book! Fake dating is one of my favorite tropes and this book did not let me down. It was so well written and took me through a whirlwind of emotions.

It was giving The Notebook vibes. Like Allie, Elle’s grandmother, Lovie, has Alzheimer’s disease and relives her romance with her husband through Elle and Adam. It was such a unique idea and I couldn’t get enough.

Adam is a perfect book boyfriend. He is so patient, kind and caring even when Elle shows the worst sides of herself.

This book made me laugh, cry and swoon and I cannot recommend it enough! If you like an enemies to lovers, fake dating, slow burn, you do not want to miss out on this amazing love story!

Overall, Fake It Like You Mean It was a really cute story. FMC Elle finds herself in quite the predicament when her grandmother, Lovie, Alzheimer’s progresses and she needs full-time care. Cue Adam, the sexy, selfless, all around good guy nurse who takes care of Lovie and Elle cannot stand but also can’t stay away from. Tropes included are fake dating, enemies to lovers, only one bed. The one thing I didn’t enjoy about the book was that when Lovie would get mean with Elle, do to her Alzheimer’s, Elle’s knee jerk reaction at the beginning was to get even, to pull a prank on her. Which seemed a little harsh to me. You wind up finding out the reason why Lovie is so harsh but personally, I don’t think my first reaction to a loved one with Alzheimer’s being mean would be to be mean back..

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the opportunity to read this ARC!

In Fake It Like You Mean It, Elle, a podcaster who lives in Chicago, heads home to help take care of her grandmother, Lovie. Lovie’s Alzheimer’s is progressing, and in her rush to get home, she doesn’t realize that the home health company has placed a full-time nurse at home to care for Lovie. Elle and Adam are forced to figure out how to share the caretaking responsibilities… while Lovie thinks they are her and her husband!

What a deep, heartfelt, and overall wonderful story! Megan Murphy perfectly balances the comedic elements of a classic rom-com with the heartbreaking reality of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s. I was laughing and crying along with Adam and Elle!

Elle is such a raw portrayal of the difficulties of dealing with losing a loved one to Alzheimer’s disease. You can see her pain with Lovie not recognizing her and how it affects her life. And Adam! What a thoughtful and loving man, but in his career as a nurse and in his personal life.

Again, what a wonderful story!

I wasn't too impressed. This was a flimsy enemies to lovers (though to be fair most romances these days are), and coupled with the general sadness the premise relies on, this was just okay for me. I didn't fully buy the buildup of emotional closeness between the two MCs, and felt whiplashed by the pacing of the physical tension. Overall kind of uninspiring, which is a bummer because I appreciate the Alzheimer's rep in any book, but especially a romance one. The author just got my attention at the very beginning and then didn't do anything with it.

This was such a fun time, had so many laugh out loud moments! Was such a blast to read and I loved that it didn’t have the normal meet-cute moment but kept it interesting and kept the story flowing the whole time! The only thing I wasn’t a fan of was the running when things got hard, I understand commitment issues but I’ve never enjoyed a MC who decides running away is how to handle the situation, just takes me out of enjoying the couple.
Other then that it was such a fun time!

If you've read books like Dear Dotty by Jaclyn Westlake or The Girl Series by Lindsey Kelk, you're already familiar with stories that are categorized as contemporary romances but lean more toward themes of self-discovery and coming of age, with romance playing more of a supporting role than taking center stage. Fake It Like You Mean It follows that same trend. While there is a sweet love story with a little steam, it doesn't take long to realize that Alzheimer's is the main character. This book delves deep into how Alzheimer’s transforms the lives of everyone involved - from family, friends, and caregivers (not always one and the same) to those battling a disease that robs individuals of what they hold dear: their memories, their connections, and, in many ways, their sense of self.

What do you do when the woman who means the world to you no longer recognizes you? That has quickly become Elle Monroe’s reality as one call confirms the worst: her grandmother, Lovie, is moving into stage two of Alzheimer’s, requiring around-the-clock care. Stubborn as her grandmother made her, Elle is determined to be there for the woman who raised her. One way or another, she will give Lovie the care she needs. But first, she has to deal with one minor inconvenience. Unknown to her, AngelCare brought in a 24/7 nurse by the name of Adam Wheeler.

She doesn’t want or need his help and is determined to send him packing - until Lovie mistakes Elle and Adam for a younger version of herself and her late husband. To protect her mind, Elle and Adam agree to play along, hoping she’ll forget the next day. The problem? She doesn’t forget. In fact, the stubborn streak Elle inherited is alive and well, pushing Elle and Adam into more and more awkward situations filled with admiration and affection.

Elle has no problem playing pretend for the sake of her grandmother, but when her fantasies start to star a certain home care nurse, Elle may just discover her grandmother isn’t quite done handing down life lessons.

While I enjoyed the story, I wasn’t the biggest fan of Elle. From the first encounter, she came off as pushy and abrasive.

That said, I did appreciate the moments where Elle dropped the tough-girl act and became more relatable. Seeing how distraught she was over what was happening with her grandmother was heartbreaking. But then she’d do something petty and you’d be quickly reminded of your disdain for the character. Despite this, the fact that I adored her by the end shows just how intentional Megan was with her writing.

The pacing of the book could be described as somewhat slow. While it’s not presented in real time, its day-to-day structure creates a steady, deliberate rhythm that mirrors the nature of caregiving for someone with Alzheimer’s. This slower pace serves a purpose. It allows readers to fully grasp the reality that no two days are the same. Skipping ahead or glossing over weeks wouldn’t have been as effective when portraying life with someone who believed every day was "Monday in May." From the need for routine and the chaos caused by interruptions, to coping with unexpected changes, to the shifts in personality depending on interactions, and those fleeting lucid moments - each aspect is captured in detail to give readers a 360-degree perspective of how much Alzheimer’s takes, not just in general but moment by moment.

I’ll admit, I had a very basic understanding of Alzheimer’s before reading this book, but it did an incredible job of educating, highlighting, and simplifying without diminishing the weight of the disease. It even prompted me to ask more questions, such as, “What’s the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia?” (Spoiler: Alzheimer’s is a form of dementia.)

As I said before, I wouldn’t consider this a traditional contemporary romance. Instead, I would categorize it as women’s fiction because the focus is on Elle’s evolution and growth. It’s a gentle read that doesn’t overwhelm with any one emotion - it’s not too sad, too funny, or too steamy. Instead, it’s a smooth and thoughtful story that takes you on the scenic route to its final destination, making every step of the journey feel intentional and worthwhile. It will make you think and reflect, and the wisdom it imparts - whether through Lovie’s hard truths, Adam’s perspective, or Elle’s realizations - leaves a lasting impact in ways you wouldn't imagine.

This book was EVERYTHING. A fake-dating romance that blends heartfelt moments with so much humor and tension, it had me hooked from start to finish. The setup two people pretending to be a couple to keep a loved one happy is emotional gold, and Megan Murphy nailed it.
Elle and Adam? Their chemistry was 🔥🔥. From their sharp banter to their slowly growing connection, I couldn’t get enough of them. And the tropes? Forced proximity, one bed, AND slow burn? It was perfection. Murphy wrote their relationship so authentically it wasn’t just tropey fluff (though I love that too); it felt real, raw, and layered with so much emotion.

What really stood out, though, was Lovie. Her Alzheimer’s storyline brought such a bittersweet depth to the book. Her lucid and not-so-lucid moments were heartbreaking and beautifully written, and her bond with Elle was just as moving as the romance.

It’s hard to believe this is a debut because the writing was incredible. This book was fun, emotional, and SO worth the read. Highly recommend to anyone who loves fake dating, slow-burn romances, and stories that remind you why you love love.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I knew this book was going to be difficult for me to read because of it dealing with the topic of Alzheimer’s when I just lost my mother to Alzheimer’s 11 months ago. That being said this book is so beautifully written.

This book is a slow burn fake dating romance that covers the topic of what it’s like to watch a family member struggle with Alzheimer’s. A beautiful balance between comedy and heartbreak which Megan captured beautifully.

This book made me laugh and it made me cry, a lot, I recommend this book to anyone that has the chance to read this beautifully written book I promise you won’t regret it if you’re a fan of slow burn fake romance enemies to lovers books.

Thank you Netgalley and alcove press for the arc

Thank you to NetGalley for the copy of this book to read. This is 3.75 stars rounded up to 4 for me. I love that a good portion of the book is dedicated to Elle’s grandmother and her Alzheimer’s - there is no “happy” ending and no magic cure to make her grandmother happy which I appreciate. I love happy endings but with topics such as Alzheimer’s, it’s so important to keep it honest and I appreciated that. The story between Elle and Adam is a great love story and is a happy ending.

I did feel like the book was a bit all over the place in the middle - like it was just different stories here and there but in a way it was nice to see the different days and what they consisted of. I wish more time was spent talking about both of the main characters childhoods as well.

I would recommend this book and it was heart warming and heart breaking at the same time. Very well written!