Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review. This was so cute! I'm always a fan of fake dating and found it easy to get invested in Summer and Jules' relationship. I also really resonated with Summer's struggles with anxiety and with her parents. I did at times struggle with aspects of the writing and there were certain story aspects that just weren't my cup of tea, so this wasn't quite a five star read for me. However, I read it in one sitting and definitely enjoyed it! One final note I have is that, while marketed as YA, this read along the lines of NA to me. While this did not impact my enjoyment of it, it is something I would note before going into it.

Bhuiyan crafts a smart, nuanced look at the cost of visibility—especially for brown kids in entertainment—layered beneath a sparkling, tropey fake-dating setup. Summer and Jules have delicious chemistry, but what really sells it is the emotional growth: these are two young artists trying to take control of their own narratives.

The dialogue sparkles, the romance simmers, and the pop culture commentary feels spot-on. Plus, the tension between performance and authenticity hits hard, especially for readers navigating expectations from family or culture.

I’ll Pretend You’re Mine by Tashie Bhuiyan is an absolute joyride of fake dating, laugh-out-loud moments, and swoon-worthy chemistry! The characters are vibrant and relatable, with sparkling dialogue that keeps you smiling from start to finish. Bhuiyan masterfully balances humor with heartfelt emotion, crafting a story full of charm, cultural richness, and genuine connection. The romance feels fresh, fun, and oh-so-satisfying, and the emotional growth along the way makes it even better. If you love rom-coms with heart, witty banter, and a couple you’ll root for all the way, this book is for you. A total feel-good must-read!

This was the first book I've ever read by Tashie Bhuiyan, and it was absolutely incredible! I enjoyed every aspect of the journey so much and couldn't help but finish this book in one sitting.
I'll Pretend You're Mine is about a singer (Summer) who breaks free from their toxic parent's managements, and yet struggles to adjust to her newfound freedom while unable to fully accept the idea of resisting her parents. She accidentally lands headlines after an accidental run-in with a popular actor (Jules) who's just came back after disappearing off the internet for a year and is known as a heartbreaker. They get into a fake relationship for mutual benefits and can't help but develop a friendship over time... and maybe even something more.
To begin with, I think that this story did such a great job at building off of classic tropes such as fake dating and actor x singer. The fake dating lasts a long time, but it reflects the internal conflicts of both Summer and Jules, who are both hesitant to let go of their fake relationship due to the real feelings brewing. It was really amazing seeing how their friendship developed over time, and watching the progression as they both became a vital part of each other's lives. Additionally, I really enjoyed their individual conflicts and seeing how they helped each other overcome it. I especially enjoyed the parts where we begin to see Summer finally be able to write songs again!
In terms of the characters, Summer was a very complex and fun character to follow. I really liked the voice she was written with, and seeing her internal struggles, especially whenever her parents tried contacting her. Jules was also just an incredible male lead! I liked how, contrary to his public image, he's such a thoughtful and supportive person and is just in general a massive green flag. Their relationship was adorable and all their little interactions left me with butterflies.
Barbie, Zach, and Raj were also some of the best side characters and friends I could've asked for. It was incredibly heartwarming seeing all their interactions and just how supportive they all were. I really wish we got more of them!
Overall, this was such an incredible book and I would absolutely recommend it to anyone!

Such a fun fake dating romance! I loved the premise and just kept falling for these characters. The main couple had the right amount of chemistry, and I felt for them all the way through. I just enjoyed Summer and Jules as companions, but together I felt they were a believable couple. I also enjoyed the representation of mental health and queer identities. There were a few times when I had to suspend my beliefs, mostly about the film industry based on what I know of it. Overall, this was a really fun YA romance, especially now that we really need fun contemporary novels in the world.

4 stars

It took me way too long to write this review, but I was absolutely blown away by this book. Tashie Bhuiyan will always be iconic and her books will always make me feel something. The raw reality of Summer's experience with her parents and dealing with cutting them off was so emotional and sensitively handled. I loved that all of Summer's friends and management supported her through writers block and her anxiety. Jules was such a good male main character. He was so developed as a character, and everything he did for Summer was so adorable. Their relationship is one I genuinely felt would be the type that would last long after the happily ever after. They lifted each other up during difficult moments and supported the wins of the other. I could go on and on about this book, but it would be better to just read it!

Thank you Netgalley and publishers for the digital advanced copy!

3/5
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an arc. All opinions are my own.

Characters: 4/5
Romance: 3/5
Plot: 3/5
Writing: 3/5

This is the sort of cheesy, saccharine sweet new adult romance that I think hopeless romantics would love. It does cover some darker topics (mainly emotion manipulation/abuse, and anxiety) but it keeps up a pretty feel-good vibe in my opinion. The romance is also pretty slow burn, with no spice.

Unfortunately, I just didn’t find this book particularly memorable. Which is totally fine, not every book needs to be groundbreaking. I just really wish we got a bit more yearning.

Overall, I think there are some people who would absolutely love this book, but it just didn’t quite hit for me personally!

4.75 ୭ ˚. ᵎᵎ ”If there are alternate universes though, I hope I meet you in every single one.”
Without fail Tashie Bhuiyan had a magnifying glass on a small piece of my soul and then writes a book hyper focused on that. It feels like she watching me. “It’s not selfish to want control over your own life.”

”It’s a little terrifying to be known so well, but I also wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

The romance in this is so easy. Everything about them flows naturally. They’re so perfect for each other. “I can’t imagine knowing him and not falling for him. To know Jules is to love him.” Summer is especially Rapunzal coded which is maybe why I feel so connected to her. I can tell how much Tashie loves her characters in every book.

”I hope you choose to be true to who you are, even if it’s only in the safety of your own heart.”

Songs I thought of::
Nobody Gets Me - SZA
I Know You - Faye Webster
Free - Kpop Demon Hunters

Thank you to netgalley, the publishers, and for always letting me read her books in advance, and Tashie for writing stories that deeply perceive me. “Half of me sings in response to being perceived so deeply...” Right as Rain is going to DESTROY me

I need Spencer and Barbie’s love story now.

Thank you so much to Harper Collins Children for the complimentary copy!

This book is out now!

If Tashie Bhuiyan writes it, I will read it. I feel like her work is vastly underrated. I love how she incorporates pop culture themes into her books. And perhaps because of being a loyal follower of hers on IG, I see those glimpses of that side and how it leaks onto her pages that I feel that way. She has a way of dabling into tropes that feel fresh and her characters feel real. This is not her first celeb romance book but this is the first time where both parties are celebrities.

PR relationships are very well known in Hollywood. You never know who is truly dating who. And it makes me wonder who started as a PR and ended up really falling in love. Summer and Jules both needed a win for their careers and fake dating seemed to be a way to boost their stock. They are both young, hot, in the prime of their career and ready for them each to be even more respected and recognized.

Sigh. Summer and Jules they were just so darn cute with one another. They both are in this bubble and eventually become each other's best friend. Over the course of the book as they spend time together doing these PR dates and pap walks, they began to have real genuine feelings for one another. And by the end even with being at odds, they still championed for one another and Summer was just so proud of him.

Just like with her past books, Bhuiyan incorporates mental health struggles esp with Summer. Bhuiyan wrote in her author's note that this story means a lot to her and that she relates a lot to Summer. My heart just goes out to her and hope she finds that inner peace. Summer did not have it easy with her controlling parents and wanting to do things for herself. She is also pansexual and felt that she could not be her true self because of her parents or even with the world. She is still very young and working things out with herself while also running a business. I was happy that Summer stood up for herself when it came to her career as well as just her parents. Even though she was young, she learned to set those boundaries because it was just consuming her. Likewise could be the same for Jules and his competition with his former friend Alex.

Also want to make a comment on how Bhuiyan does her chapters, in this book it is through tabloid headlines. I thought it was so created and sets the tone of what will be happening in that chapter.

I started reading this one in tandem with the audio before switching to the audio. This is the second time that Soneela Nankani has done one of Bhuiyan books and once again nails it!

This was not my favorite Bhuiyan book and that's okay! I still really enjoyed it. I do recommend if you love fake dating, celebrities and toxic parents.

First of all, I am so incredibly grateful to have received an early copy of I'll Pretend You're Mine. I've been a fan of Tashie Bhuiyan since before she published her first novel. The fact I'm even writing this review now is so surreal.

As for the actual review, it's Tashie Bhuiyan; of course the book is perfect. Her ability to blend sweet romances with all the emotions under the sun never ceases to amaze me. Jules is moving to the top of my list of book boyfriends, and Summer deserves the world. They fit together like puzzle pieces, and their character development—both personal and joint—is impeccable. Bhuiyan also makes me so emotional, but IPYM takes the cake.

To those of you reading this review, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?? GO READ I'LL PRETEND YOU'RE MINE!!!!

4.5 stars
Oh I LOVE THIS. A singer and an actor fake-dating for PR stunt, and it was so FUN.

Summer Ali just fired her parents as her managers because she’s done with their toxicity and over-controlling behavior. But she realized that she’s lost, totally don’t know what to do with her life without them, began second-guessing her actions that also didn't help her anxiety at all. Then enter Jules Moradi, an actor who's been a victim of media circus since he’s young, painting him to be a womanizer. via their shared manager, Jules proposed a PR stunt deal that could benefit them both.

since i'm a swiftie, thankfully i'm quite aware of the recent pop culture, so i get the references used in this book. the chapter titles being gossipy headlines is a brilliant concept that fits the theme so well. as for the characters, they're all very prominent & shine in their own way but their combined interactions just meld nicely. i loved Summer, Barbie, and Zach's trio friendship dynamics that felt both grounding and uplifting. i adored Summer and her sister's sisterhood, how they constantly bicker and tease but it's clear that they love each other dearly. and of course the star of the book, Summer & Jules.

their relationship was SO endearing, a perfect combination of fun banter and calming comfort. it didn't take long for them from being completely PR stunt-ing to genuine friends. they helped each other going through difficult times: Summer's struggle with anxiety and her toxic parents, and Jules with his identity crisis and something from his past. they bring the best out of each other and I couldn't be happier for them even though they're fictional:'

one thing that prevented me from giving this full 5 stars, is that there's several noticeable scene jumps that took some details away. for example on their early dates, Summer was making cheesecake for Jules (per his request) but we've never gotten to see Jules eat it. I understand the plot must keep going but I wouldn't mind more details, you know? but okayy.

lastly, THE EPILOGUE ugh I loved it so much. It's just a series of headlines but it exactly gives what I wanted from an epilogue. Tashie you're a genius, I'm sorry I just made myself read your book now and I swear I'd check your backlists soon. Can't wait for her next book which I noticed has the same title as the movie starring Jules in here???

I've read all of Tashie's books and have loved every single one! This one is no different. Despite being a little different from her other books, I think this story is beautiful. I love the anxiety rep, the talk about media and hollywood. I also adored the romance. I think Jules and Summer are so sweet.

I adored Tashie Bhuiyans debut book A Show for Two and when I saw this on NetGalley I was hoping i’d get approved because it seemed so up my alley. Fake dating romance with mental health and anxiety rep?! like count me in!

To say I adored this would be an understatement. Tashie Bhuiyan writes such fleshed out and well rounded characters and Summer and Jules did not disappoint.

Summer is barely an adult dealing with the fallout of leaving her abusive parents behind as her managers in an attempt to move forward with her life and her career. She suffers with some major anxiety as is but especially surrounding the lasting trauma of how her parents raised her. Summer was such a lovable character who was just trying to find her place without her parents controlling her life. The love she has for her sisters and her friends was so pure. The way she’d risk her own happiness and peace to protect her sisters was so sweet and shows who Summer is at her core. I adored the bond Summer had with Safi and Jana even with the age differences because as much as Summer adored them, they adored her just as much.

Jules was also written so well and I loved him so much. He comes off at first as a nice, but standoffish, kind of guy. As the book continues we learn more and more as at why that is. He’s accidentally created a reputation for himself as a womanizer and so fake dating Summer is basically his chance at redemption. Jules was such an adorable character who was just so sweet and cared so incredibly deeply for his family and Summer.

I loved this fake dating because the relationship didn’t develop on sexual tension and attraction. It developed based on their friendship and connection and I adored seeing the way it blossomed throughout the book. The part that tipped Summer off that maybe he felt the same way was when he called her his best friend and I find that so incredibly endearing.

At the end of the day Summer and Jules are just two kids that happen to be in the spotlight. They’re dealing with the media and expectations from the world while also dealing with their own expectations of themselves. Summer is grappling with trying to decide if she should risk coming out as Pansexual, even in a smaller way such as including she/her pronouns in a song. Jules is grappling with feeling he’s not good enough to be more than the “best friend” in a role while also feeling like he’s not dark enough to play an Iranian role and play a character more true to who he is.

Summer and Jules both grow so much in this book and blossom into such beautiful characters and I loved how they helped each other get there. While they have a fight near the 85% mark of the book, it was definitely an essential part of the story because it really kick started each of them to stop letting others hold them back. This wasn’t a third act breakup that felt unnecessary, I think this added so much to their characters even though they still weren’t official yet.

My one complaint with this book was the fact when they did finally get together, it was the last chapter. We never really got to see them be together as an official couple. I know it probably wouldn’t have been much different considering their entire relationship was built on their friendship, but I do wish we could’ve seen a little of them together and see how Summer is when she’s not holding herself back. I thought the epilogue was fun with all the titles of articles throughout their relationship, but I wish we could’ve gotten a written epilogue as well.

I loved this book so much though. This was a book that reminds me why I love a YA romance. It’s not so much about the sexual tension so many adult romance books are, but it’s more on their friendship and interactions as a whole.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for an honest review ◡̈

not my usual genre, but a very enjoyable read nonetheless!
thank you netgalley for an e-arc!!
i really enjoyed the south-asian rep in this story as one myself. this story felt like one of those fun movies about pop stars, but also tackled mental health issues. fake dating is one of my favorite tropes and this one delivered well. the romance was never overly sweet, but still heartwarming enough.

Tashie never disappoints.
When this book was announced I was so excited and I was not disappointed.
I am an absolute sucker for romance and this hit everything I love in a romance book, it had fake dating, friends to lovers and found family.
I always love how the author perfectly describes how it feels to have anxiety. Plus she always does the round family trope justice

I can’t wait to continue to read Tashie’s work and hopes she branches out to NA/adult romances in the future

I really enjoyed depth of the characters as the theme of just because they’re in the spotlight doesn’t mean they don’t have problems. I loved the growth of characterization of both of their parts in standing up to their toxic relationships in their life- Jules with his ex-best friend and Summer with her toxic parents. I love the deep dive into how the thoughts of your parents can influence you and have such an impact on anyone & setting boundaries.

*4.5

Thank you for the e-arc Harpercollins!

This was my first book by Tashie and I simply will admit that I’m craving more!!

I’ll pretend you’re mine is YA fake-dating romance that will tear you up and fill your heart with so much warmth.

Summer is truly the sweetest, seeing her grow within herself and start healing was so special. My girl deserves all the love in the world ❤️‍🩹

The conversations around toxic & emotionally abusive parents were handled with love. As someone who grew up in a toxic and abusive household, seeing this be talked about in YA books with an acknowledgment of how exhausting it can be for children is so needed.

Jules truly is that guy!! He came to serve main lead energy and it was served with delicacy.

I think this book highlights the importance of friendship in love and I adore that!

Tashie Bhuiyan has a gift and I cannot wait to explore that in her other works!

Summer is my fav pansexual everrrrrrrr 🙂‍↕️🩷💛💙

Summer loves music and has been making a name for herself in the music industry for awhile. Summer is now 18 and free of her controlling parents! She is ready to take charge of her own life and path.

Soon though Summer develops writer's block. She decides it's time to do things differently. She then decides to do a PR stunt with child-actor and now a ladies man, Jules. Jules keeps his distance at first, trying to keep things professional. As time goes on though, he learns they are more alike than he thought. Summer too.
Will they sacrifice dreams for their hearts?


A great YA read that deals with tough and serious topics that teens face everyday. Even with not being famous! I will recommend this book to others!

3.5 i am a bit disappointed, but as a day1 tashie fan i will always support her and cannot wait for future books

a book with a good playlist is a book i KNOW will be good!! such a cute and fun book and i had such a food time reading and seeing the characters grow. this was my first book i read of tashies but i will absolutely be reading more from her!!