This book was not it for me. The premise was great, and I was hoping for good things after the author's first novel that I thought was cute. But the dialogue felt forced, there was nothing natural. Everything seemed really clunky and repetitive. The drama around her family as a side story was even unnatural and not fully fleshed out. I felt like things were thrown into the story to add some flair and they took away from the real story. Everything was awkward and unnatural. I finished it because I really wanted to like it, but even the way the couple came together at the end was bizarre. It had some redeeming qualities at the end, like how Harsha made up with her cousin and the heartwarming conversation with her aunt, but I didn't enjoy this otherwise.

This fake-relationship trope has become a fave of mine. Harsha’s family are rich and blah blah, she is the black sheep of the family and newly brokenhearted, she goes to her fave café where Veer works, and everything is a little better. Until her cousin sees them together and mistake’s Veer for being her boyfriend. And there we have it!!! But this is the thing Veer has feelings for her, and Harsha does as well, OH GOODNESS this romance between them is the smoothest and sweetest romance ever. I loved how quickly their characters develop through family issues and even their careers, I adored these two.

Thank you Netgalley and the Publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Cant Help Faking in Love by Swati Hegde is a charming and humorous love story filled with heartfelt moments. I found myself cheering for the characters from start to finish. This delightful tale left me yearning for more.

This book is not for me. It’s a matter of taste that has nothing to do with the quality of the book. It’s too new adult and too serious for me. I couldn’t relate to the characters.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

idk what I kept putting off this book... I LOVED IT!!!
Idk about anyone else, but for me everything in this book was AMAZING until the 4th quarter of the book, it was just not as good as the first 3 quarters of the book. but besides that, everything was great!!
3.5 stars
full rtc

This was super cute! I love a fake dating story and really enjoyed how the relationship both characters had with their families played into the story. A super quick and fun read!

Thanks to Dell Romance for letting me read this book early!! All thoughts are my own!!

I ADORE THIS BOOK!!! I need to read Match Me If You Can expeditiously.

I love fake dating so much, and this version was genuinely one of the best I’ve ever read. Veer and Harsha are so tender and sweet. They cared about each other so much from the beginning, and it made their chemistry so good!! I truly loved their bond and friendship and how realistic it was when it changed into more. I loved that they were friends before, and I loved that Veer had a crush on Harsha before they started fake dating.

Harsha’s bond with her aunt was really touching, especially when you consider how the rest of her family treats her. I really enjoyed how she and Neha talked things out and decided to work on being closer instead of in competition. Complicated family dynamics will always get me. Harsha spent so much time and energy trying to make it on her own. She was so ambitious and strong. I loved watching her become more confident in herself and stand up for herself.

Veer’s family was one of my favorite parts of this book. Everything he did was to support them, and it was so touching. His care for Arjun and unconditional love when Arjun came out to him made me genuinely tear up. I loved how he encouraged their mom to be more open about asking Arjun about it, even when it wasn’t what she was expecting.

The third act breakup not really being a break up was THE BEST THING!! I love when books either don’t have a third act breakup or when it’s reasonable. This one made sense, but also wasn’t really a third act conflict to me. They were still communicating through it, and they reconciled their concerns maturely.

The COMMUNICATION!! EMOTIONALLY MATURE ADULTS!! WE LOVE TO SEE IT!!

I can’t wait to read everything Swati Hegde writes for the rest of time!

This was a sweet and fast read, perfect for the beach. It follows the trope of fake dating perfectly and gives us a lovely HEA. This book may be a little different than the usual 'fake' dating because it was set in India, and India follows a different set of standards than most Americans do. Yes, there was a bit of pre-marital sex involved, but nothing too descriptive.

Veer is really a wonderful character, a rare mixture of caring, responsibility, heavy emotions, and, eventually, a deep love.

Harsha is a little more challenging to describe; she was born rich but is determined to make it on her own. At first, she displays a bit of snobbishness, but we soon discover the truth. She didn't have a wonderful upbringing (at least in her eyes), her beloved cousin has turned into someone Harsha doesn't recognize, which puts Harsha in a jamb when her cousin's wedding is approaching.

All in all, it is a fun read with a message. A great second book since her debut with Match Me If You Can. As I said, it is a fun book for beach or vacation.

ARC supplied by the publisher Penguin Random House, the author, and NetGalley

Fake dating romance with difficult family dynamics, a big fat Indian wedding, and plenty of heart.

Harsha and Veer were both great characters, and they had incredible chemistry. Their hesitations and obstacles felt authentic to their situation rather than overinflated or immature. Although there's a HEA, the side plots aren't all wrapped up in a tidy bow, which felt more realistic. I found myself wondering about the secondary characters' "real" stories, too!

Ok...can you say chemistry? This one had it. I love a fake dating trope. I also loved that there wasn't spice. A good read that I finished in one sitting. Thank you for the opportunity to read this arc.

The chemistry was EVERYTHING to me. This was such a fun fake dating love story and I loved how it incorporated some intense family dynamics. I literally ate this one up!

Get read to fall in love with these characters. This romance was so cute! Harsha and Veer had the best chemistry. I instantly loved them from the first meeting.

Fake dating romances are my jam and Hegde executed this trope to perfection! Like I said before, the main characters chemistry really sells this romance from the start. They were just perfect together. I couldn't get enough of their scenes.

I think the author did a wonderful job of also displaying family dynamics and how complex they can be. I liked the glimpse at Indian culture as well.

A perfect romcom read!

Whats a girl to do when your family mistakenly assumes your barista is the perfect boyfriend you've been dating... and now you have to attend a family wedding and the only option is to pay said barista/aspiring actor to be your fake boyfriend... only you're beginning to fall for him and you can't tell if he's only in it for the money, if his feelings are real or if he's just that good of an actor.... and if you both could make it work despite being from two completely different worlds. Harsha Godbole has cut herself off from her family, her wealthy multi-million dollar family that has hug ties to the Bollywood world. Harsha just wants to make it as a photographer without her family's name attached to her life, but she finds herself in a rut: her boyfriends keep dumping her for someone else, she hasn't made it big or gotten a steady job, and she's developed a huge crush on her cute barista. When Harhsa's perfect cousin mistakes Harsha's barista for her boyfriend and Harsha goes with it she finds herself in a new problem... and the only person she can count on is her barista to help her. Veer Kannan has always done everything for his family ever since his father left them. Veer works to put his brother through school while helping his mom. Veer dreams about making it as an actor but he just has not had his big break yet and spends his days working at a coffee shop and crushing on a certain customer... but when she asks him to be her fake boyfriend and he needs money to pay for his brother's upcoming tuition bill they strike an agreement: Veer will pretend to be Harsha's perfect boyfriend for her family for the wedding weekend and Harsha will pay him the full amount to meet his brother's tuition. Harsha and Veer come from two different worlds but the more time they spend together the harder it becomes to see where the line between faking a relationship and being in a relationship is. Can they make it through the weekend without anyone catching onto them and will they finally give into the feelings they have for each other? This was a sweet read, it's very much a slow burn fake relationship read and it was an easy one to get through. I adored the author's previous book and this one was just a fine read for me. I'm a sucker for a fake relationship and though I wish there was a bit more in the relationship department for these two, it was overall a fun read.

Release Date:February 11, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for providing this ARC for my voluntary and honest review!

I was already a fan of this author’s previous work, Match Me If You Can, and I really enjoyed this one as well!

A photographer striving to forge her own path and a barista/aspiring actor engage in a mutually-beneficial fake relationship for an upcoming wedding. I loved the addition of the sitcom quotes at the beginning of each chapter (and the nod to the Ross and Rachel first kiss/Central Perk scene… *chef’s kiss*). Another really sweet and fun read by Swati Hegde!

This one was super cute! I loved the fake dating trope and both Harsha and Veer had such a cool character development. Sweet, no spice, no intense 3rd act break up. Instagram review posted 1/28/25.

5 stars!

Surprise surprise, I rated another fake dating romance highly. I loved this book so much. The instant crush between the two threatened by the fake relationship and untrue assumptions of the other was a fun take. I loved both characters desires to make it on their own while still knowing the inherent privileges they have. The care they took of each other was sweet while still attempting to maintain the "fake" boundary. Oh and the sitcom love quotes for each chapter? Absolutely loved that touch!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

This is a charming read with everyone's beloved fake dating trope. Loved Harsha for trying to make a name for herself, as well as the banter between her and the love interest. The strong descriptions make it easy to fall into the story. However, there's a lack of balance between exposition and action; the story would have been stronger with more "show" than "tell," which can drag down the pacing.

4.5 stars rounded up. This was my first time reading a romance set in India and I absolutely adored this book. Swati Hegde created a story that was so rich and vibrant while tackling some very real issues that reach across cultures. Harsha was such a strong and vulnerable heroine, and I loved how goofy Veer was also loving, kind, and sensitive. The two of them together were perfection!

Thank you to Dell and Random House for providing this ARC for my honest review.

Faking dating— a tried and true premise, however familiar and overdone, Swati's ability to weave humor, relatable conflict, and sweet moments of romance makes the book a charming and enjoyable read. Contemporary romance with a cultural shift that makes it fresh!

Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine & Dell and NetGalley for the ARC.

This was a fun story. Loved the main characters. And once again, I am a sucker for fake boyfriend trope.