3.5/5

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was super cute! I really loved the PR Stunt/Fake Dating aspect of it. I thought Jules and Summer were cute but I do wish I felt their chemistry a bit more.

I also really appreciated the anxiety rep in this book. I feel like a lot of it represented what I feel on a regular basis.

Overall, this was a cute and easy read!

Summer's emotional journey is what I loved the most about I'll Pretend You're Mine, more than the romance itself actually. This book is ultimately about healing and ending toxic relationships, as well as how to cope with oppressive media attention for both Summer and Jules. a lot of emotional growth and a good romance!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
I went into I’ll Pretend You’re Mine expecting a sweet, lighthearted YA romance, but what I got was so much more. Tashie Bhuiyan delivers a story rich with depth, heart, and important lessons about self-worth, found family, and breaking free from toxic expectations.

The relationship between Summer and Jules starts as an awkward, PR-driven arrangement but slowly transforms into something warm, genuine, and healing. Summer, newly independent and navigating life outside her parents’ suffocating control, finds companionship in Jules—a guarded actor who’s been burned by betrayal before. Their journey toward trust and love is both tender and deeply rewarding.

One of the standout elements of this novel is how it explores identity, ambition, and self-belief. Jules struggles to see his true talent, weighed down by the hurtful words of someone who once mattered to him. Meanwhile, Summer battles the internalized doubts placed upon her by her parents. Yet, through each other—and the unwavering support of friends like Barbie and Zach—they find the strength to reclaim their passions on their own terms.

With Jules (Persian) and Summer (Bangladeshi) at the center, I’ll Pretend You’re Mine also shines in its representation, showcasing characters of color navigating the complexities of both their careers and personal lives. This book is a heartfelt, beautifully layered story that goes beyond romance, offering readers a powerful message about self-acceptance, love, and the importance of choosing the people who truly see you.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

hānai family: A family of choice, a chosen family, a found family.

That's how I would describe this book to any potential reader. Yes, it's Jules' and Summer's story. But it's also the story of a friendship trifecta made up of Summer, Zach and Babs. There's a multitude of scenes where there's mutual support of all three by all three.

Then there are the two younger sisters of Summer who, despite all the emotional turmoil she endures with her estranged parents, manages to be a constant in their lives. She's had a musical hit and is branching out in her career but recognizes the importance of the sisterly bond.

Only part I felt was flat were the two dimensional parents-their nasty texts, verbal disparagement is felt but not sure why they are the way they are. Need the why explained as don't feel its fair to automatically prescribe to these first generation immigrants their mentality is the norm.

This ARC was provided by the publisher, HarperCollins Children's Books | HarperCollins, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

#IllPretendYoureMine #NetGalley

I love fake dating, and unfortunately this one fell short for me. This felt very dated in 2022, and I wonder how it'll age. I also am not an expert, but I don't think some of this is how the real world works and had to really suspend disbelief for this book.

thank you netgalley for the arc! 🌟 4 stars just because i realized halfway through that i have outgrown YA novels (not a bad thing!) but this was really cute. i think i would've enjoyed it more if it was about adults vs teen stars (again, just my own personal pref). i loved the diverse rep in this book & how unique of a premise it is. you can tell tashie is a fangirl at her heart (same) and it shows - that makes the book even more authentic.

also the playlists at the beginning of each part with the season is SO fun. i always listen to music while reading and this was a great way to incorporate favorite songs that fit the writing!

Characters: 4⭐
Plot: 4.5⭐
Writing Style: 4⭐
Enjoyment: 5⭐
Overall rating: 4.5⭐

What to expect? I'll Pretend You're Mine follows Summer Ali as she navigates separating from her abusive, controlling parents who previously managed her singing career. In the process, she finds herself fake dating Jules, and the two slowly form a deeper connection as they fool the public one stunt at a time. This is a book about acceptance, identity and fame.

Things I loved?
🔸 I loved the use of chapter titles as article headlines and then the little epilogue filled with them. I thought that was really creative.
🔸 I loved that a playlist was included with each section of the book. It really added to the atmosphere for me.
🔸 This might just be the first book I've read where I'm happy the author included some song lyrics. The way they were slid in was so great, and each lyric was well written. I wouldn't be surprised if the Bhuiyan writes songs.
🔸 The relationship between Jules and Summer is so sweet and wonderful. I really liked how their relationship was the focus of the story, but it also wasn't. And it wasn't really a source of conflict.
🔸 This book touches on so many impactful topics like queer identity, race, media portrayal, complicated family dynamics, the ins and outs of fame, what we feel owed, etc. And it doesn't feel like too much at any point. They're all woven together wonderfully while still keeping the romance as the heart of the book.
🔸 And lastly, I liked that spice didn't feel needed at any point. This book was about so much more than that.

What could be improved?
🔸 I will say, I wished we'd gotten a few more deeper moments between Jules and Summer towards the end. I felt the conflict resolution that happens is a little too quick.

Books recs if you liked this one?
🔸 Faking with Benefits by Lily Gold. If you love fake dating, turned real, then this is the book for you. It's an RH, sweet read that leaves you more than satisfied at the end. This romance does have spice though.
🔸 Love, Hate & Clickbait by Liz Bowery. Another fake dating romance that deals with media attention and queer identity. This book delves more into politics, but it's a really great read too.

Would I recommend this book? Yes! This was a great read.

I was quite excited to read I'll Pretend You're Mine, a YA RomCom about the PR relationship between a young singer songwriter and a child star turned serious actor, and I found myself really enjoying with the story and the relationship between Jules and Summer. This book touches on abusive parents, toxic friendships, race/culture dynamics especially in fame, sexuality, and self confidence struggles and I think that will reach many readers.

While I do wish I could give this book 5 stars, I think that there are times where this book does too much and keeps things too surface. While all the touchpoints of the book are real, I feel like we didn't really get to dive into one area enough. I will also say that some of the dialogue felt unnatural for two people who were supposed to be so connected. There were times both Summer and Jules felt too old for the book. I, personally, would have loved to see therapy worked into this book more - it would have made so much of this book feel more grounded.

That being said, there is much to really like about this book! The friendships that Summer has, how the ending comes together, and the dynamic with her sisters made this so enjoyable and will recommend people to read!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for a copy of this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love fake dating and celebrity romances, so I'm disappointed this one fell flat for me.

The writing style was very Contemporary Fiction as opposed to Contemporary Romance. (Think the opposite of the bouncey rom-com vibes of Meg Cabot, Jenny Han, and Lynn Painter.) The romance is obviously a huge part of the overall plot, but I'd argue Summer's growth in the A Plot. Take out her actually falling for Jules, and you still have a full book. Because of that, it's very inside Summer's head, and to be honest, it sounds like Summer need to go to therapy for a good, long time. She's only 18 in the start of the book but is an internationally famous pop star whose parents have carefully controlled and curated her image. So to an extent, her bumbling naïvety makes sense. But to a huge extent, she's an internationally famous pop star, it doesn't. She doesn't think to call her PR team because she got them through her parents. Wut. They work for Summer, which isn't even her real name so would be easy to distinguish between. Like I said, therapy will do her wonders.

Unfortunately for me, I found the writing style to be something that was easy to put down and walk away from, without having that "I have to get back to it asap!" feeling. The beginning of the story didn't feel like it started in the right place for me, but this is a product of it being more Contemporary Fiction that more strictly adheres to the Save the Cat methodology of needing to have the Slice of Life opening. The opening was boring to me. It picked up pace *a little bit* but was still overall fairly slow and not as engaging as I would've liked. Because this was billed to me as a Romance, I was expecting a little quicker of a pace, a little more time with the main couple, even at the beginning, and a little more capital R Romance conventions. Had I known going in that it was really more Contemporary Fiction with a Heavy Romance Plot, my expectations would've been different.

This is the most generation specific book I have ever read, and I've been reading YA books since they were called "Teen." The author covered all the Gen Z topics possible, it felt like: race, anxiety, depression, sexuality, parentification. In a way, it felt very, very real. And in a way, it felt very key-word-soup. I'm not a reader who has to connect with any aspects of the main characters to enjoy the novel, but Summer was hard for me. She is very, very, VERY self-aware of a lot of her issues, but then also doesn't really do anything about most of them. Or she does something and then internally freaks out over doing the something and forces an anxiety attack on herself. I almost wish she HAD gone to therapy, in the book, or at least done something, anything, to learn actual coping skills rather than just having friends, who are all her same age, reassure her and validate her feelings.

The ending was too rushed for me. The Third Act Breakup comes at almost 90%, and then they get together at almost 96%. But then there's backmatter, so you really don't get a lot. The epilogue is cute--it's a bunch of headlines from the course of their relationship--but because the ending was so abrupt, it wasn't cute in a satisfactory way.

I wanted more romance in the Romance department, so even that wasn't really enough to draw me in. That being said, it was sweet as could be, and I did enjoy watching them get to know each other and grow that way. I just wanted way more focus there.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC of this one. The Kindle price being set at $15.99 is a tragedy that I hope they fix.

I am addicted to singer x actor romances but the thing I appreciate most from I'll Pretend You're Mine isn't the romance; it's Summer's emotional journey. As a teen popstar with anxiety and trauma from her parents, Summer really needs a hug and to cut her emotionally abusive parents off. Ultimately, this book is about breaking off toxic relationships and healing, for both Summer and Jules, and how to deal with suffocating media attention. That devastating scene with the paps literally made me cry. Summer is just a kid.
On the other hand, Summer and Jules' fake-dating PR stunt is starting to feel more real than it's supposed to. With Jules' comforting hugs and her friends' unwavering support, Summer now has to deal with *feelings*. Their romance was the cutest thing ever. From walks in the park to showing up to award shows on Jules' arm, Summer finds herself falling from platonic to romantic. I loved their scenes so much. I have so many highlights in my ARC showing just how many lines I loved.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

I loved the first 25% but then something just stopped clicking for me unfortunately. The depiction of anxiety bugged me in this book and I guess I would’ve liked the MC to learn better tools to help her cope with those feelings rather than relying on reassurance from others which tends to validate your fears and keeps the cycle going.

I also just didn’t love how quickly the romance ramped up without them becoming official yet but still saying the big L word.

With that being said, I think the epilogue was very clever and cute! I usually hate epilogues in romances and this was very sweet!

I will always be sat for a Tashie Bhuiyan book. I'll Pretend You're Mine didn't disappoint (I will have to say, comparison is the thief of joy and I did not enjoy this one as much as I did her others, but that doesn't mean this still wasn't good).

I loved the characters, the friendships and the support system that Summer has was so well done, and needed for a character with That much familial issues. I loved that Summer and June were a slow romance, like they were faking it, but eventually the lines blurred. It was a slow fall, like all of a sudden you realize that you do care for that person you see and talk to 24/7 more than just as a friend. All in all, loved this with my whole heart.

Thank you to Netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I'll Pretend You're Mine is a showstopping romance and Tashie Bhuiyan's best work. Reminiscent of her dazzling debut, Counting Down With You, both are filled with a fake-dating, swoon-worthy romance that will leave readers full of love for Bhuiyan and her characters.

Summer Ali and Jules Moradi are by far my favorite characters to date within the Tashie Bhuiyan literary universe. Their stories were tangible and intentional, with every detail meticulously placed to develop their relationship AND individual character arcs from beginning to end. To best promote this excellent book, I will keep this review spoiler-free. However, let me tell you... the romance is romancing. I'll Pretend You're Mine may have been the best application of the fake-dating trope I have ever read, and believe me, I am no stranger to the storyline. I quite literally could fill this entire review with giggling and kicking-my-feet-level quotes from both characters!!!

However, the romance is a mere fraction of what makes this book so outstanding. Tashie Bhuiyan lovingly intertwined Summer and Jules' romance with friendship and sisterhood, adding richness to the story. Instead of creating plot points disguised as a quirky best friend, Bhuiyan gave us younger sisters and best friends you grow to love equal to her main characters. I'll Pretend You're Mine tackles the hard-hitting topics of early adulthood, too. Bhuiyan handled imposter syndrome, sexuality, emotional abuse, whitewashing, anxiety, and more with the grace and dignity they deserve in a Young Adult novel.

The last tangent I'll go on comes from the little details I LOVED in the book! Like me, if you are a long-time fan of Tashie Bhuiyan, you will be ecstatic to see cameos from some of your favorite characters within the Tashieverse. I will not get into the specifics, but it was like a mini-epilogue for their stories. There may or may not be a little teaser for Right as Rain hidden in there too. I'll Pretend You're Mine has FOUR, count them, FOUR baller playlists built into the novel that set the tone so well for the different sections. Every chapter title is a magazine headline that follows Summer and Jules's relationship as it grows throughout the novel. I love the attention to detail added to every book Tashie Bhuiyan writes!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Harper Collins Children's Books for the ARC. I'll Pretend You're Mine is available wherever books are sold on June 3rd, 2025. Do yourself a favor and pick up this fantastic romance!!! <3

I love Tashie Bhuiyan's books, but this one let me down a little. Fake dating is one of my favorite tropes, and a big reason why I loved Counting Down With You so much, but this story just didn't fully sell me on it. I really liked that this story dealt with issues like extricating yourself from toxic relationships and struggling with self-doubt. However, I just had a really hard time with the relationship between Summer and Jules. Don't get me wrong, it is really sweet and supportive and I love watching their friendship/relationship develop, but I wish there had been more time with them after they acknowledge what they really meant to each other. Not a bad book by any means, but just didn't really do it for me the way some of Tashie's other books have.

I’ll Pretend You’re Mine offers a refreshing take on the fake-dating trope, avoiding clichés and delivering a unique, captivating story. Summer, despite my usual aversion to celebrity protagonists, was an excellent lead. Her strained relationship with her strict parents was explored in depth, and I loved seeing her gain independence throughout the book.

Jules, a former child actor trying to make it in Hollywood, also has his own struggles. As a Persian man, he often faces whitewashing and yearns for more diverse roles. The novel tackles important issues like racism, sexism, and the challenges of the entertainment industry. The slow-burning romance between Summer and Jules is heartfelt, evolving from a deep friendship rather than love at first sight.

Having loved Tashie Bhuiyan’s previous work, I was even more impressed with this one.

I’ll Pretend You’re Mine by Tashie Bhuiyan is such a cute young adult book. I loved reading about the two main characters, the progression from friends to something more was done so well. Summer the fmc was adorable and I found myself relating to her a lot. Jules was also a fun character to read about. The development of each character over time was super cool to read about. I also loved the dynamic the Jules and summer had with other side characters and each other. This book was such a gorgeous story, one that was entertaining as well as representative to themes that most books do not cover.

Thank you to Netgally and HarperCollins Publishers for the opportunity to eARC I'll Pretend You're Mine.

I just finished binging this over the corse of 4 hours and cannot sing enough praises. This felt so special in a sea of romance novels directed at young adults that I have rewritten this review a few times trying to find the right words. This is fake dating done right. It's slow burn executed perfectly. It has the right mix of flirting, yearning, and pining. The writing style was very well done.

Summer and Jules felt so natural as thing began spilling and falling into place. Their chemistry from the first meeting is clearly there and it feels magnetic for the reader. I could not help but find myself drawn in more and more as the story progressed and their true romance began to blossom. I really appreciated how that romance was also hinted to us as readers through Summer randomly thinking of song lyrics and how progressed. It was just an added layer to the beauty of this.

I feel like I'll Pretend You're Mine also tackled some very large issues regarding mental health, discrimination, and toxic families. It was so interesting to me how Summer and Jules seem to have very opposite family types and seeing how that played a role in both of them with their security within themselves. Their friendships were also so refreshing. I always worry with books featuring the celebrity type of characters that the toxic friend group is always going to turn up, but it didn't here.

The 3rd act conflict really is the star of the show for me, though, because of how real it felt. It was an argument any of us could have with our significant other. It was not some out of left field thing. It felt so natural with two very human characters handling it in a mature and realistic way. The resolution to it also felt so real.

I truly enjoyed this book a lot. Thank you so much for giving me the chance to read it early

This was a delightful new installment from Bhuiyan—a return to fake-dating with a celebrity angle this time, explorations of family boundaries, sexuality, and anxiety, an extremely heartwarming romance, and cameos from previous characters that fans will love!

this story follows summer, a very loveable singer/songwriter who just turned 18 and is trying to cut ties with her controlling parents. she had moved in with one of her best friends, Barbie who is just the sweetest human being but on her way to a meeting with her new manager she literally runs into this famous actor Jules Moradi who has a very well known reputation of being a playboy/heartthrob type. there were tons of paparazzi around during this little meet cute so obviously social media is going crazy with rumors which leads to a PR stunt that forces the two to fake date, And on top of her parents and PR she’s trying to deal with her writers block and anxiety.

it kind of reminded me of the disney channel movie, starstruck if you’ve seen that, mixed with to all the boys i’ve loved before. the main trope in this one was fake dating and i guess forced proximity which i feel like is pretty overused and not in a good way, but i feel like this book was able to use it well.

i gave this book 4 stars because it took me a little while to get into it, but once i got about half way through the book and got to know all the characters i couldn’t put it down. it’s pretty predictable, but it definitely had me giggling and kicking my feet the last few chapters.

i thought all the characters were written really well, and they’re all so easy to fall in love with. they all felt like real people with depth and realistic responses to all these situations they were thrown into. They each had their own personalities and seeing all the relationships develop was definitely one of my favorite parts because they felt REAL. this spread from her roommate, best friends, to her younger sisters, to the love interest. the whole book took place over about a year so the timing was realistic and nothing was too rushed or thrown together.

overall, i’m not going to lie this book wasn’t life changing in any way, but it had a lot of cute moments and was a pretty quick read with a lot of good insights on creating your own path through all the challenges you might be facing.

I loved this book. I've been a fan of Tashie Bhuiyan for her last few books, and I fully believe this one is her best work. I absolutely fell in love with the characters at the heart of the story, and I love how she balanced Summer's pain over the situation with her strength, seeing both sides made her feel so real. Her relationship with Jules felt incredible natural and I loved to read them fall for each other. The side characters felt like the best of loyal friends, and I wish we got more of them, but I can't complain too much about a book I loved so much.