2.5/5 stars

This story seems to suffer from trying to be enemies-to-lovers without having a good reason for the characters to even so much as to dislike each other, so it just comes off as odd and leaves you thinking "Wait.. did I miss something? why is she so mad??"

If you remove the FMC taking a strong dislike to the MMC for no real reason it is a sweet story.

This book deals with Alzheimers and the impact it has on a person and those around them. As someone who has managed this illness within my family I have to say there were a lot of tears in my eyes. I felt seen and heard, like I wasn’t alone to feel those things that no one is meant to say.

The story had a perfect balance of emotion, selflessness, wisdom, and compassion which I hoped wouldn’t take away from the gravity of the subject. At the same time the hope, the love, and the moments of joy we all grasp for when they are gifted to us.

Heartfelt… Joyful… Emotional. Are the last three words I will say about the books.

Spicy Level - 🌶️

Note: Please read and review all trigger warnings before reading any recommended book. We love to read for our pleasure, so keep your mind, and emotions safe!

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for giving me an opportunity to listen an advanced copy of this audiobook!

I was pleasantly entertained by this book! It has one narrator, who voices all characters, and I thought she did a lovely job capturing their personalities!

This book is centered around the main characters struggle with her grandmothers worsening Alzheimer’s, so keep that in mind that it does have heavier moments. It also has more explicit content without being overly spicy, but it was pretty tame/tastefully done. The author did a great job balancing having a plot but still being an easy to read romance!

Overall, this book had my crying and laughing in the way that only a great book can.

Fake It Like You Mean It by Megan Murphy is a charming and engaging audiobook that strikes a great balance between humor and depth. Narrator Alex Picard delivers a vibrant and heartfelt performance, bringing the characters and their journey to life. While the story is light and fun, it also touches on some deeper themes, adding richness to the overall experience. It’s an easy listen with a mix of romance and real moments, perfect for anyone looking for something both entertaining and meaningful.

#MeganMurphy #FakeItLikeYouMeanIt #NetGalley #DreamscapeMedia

Megan Murphy delivers one of the most genuine, heartfelt romances I’ve read in a long time.
This book follows Elle, who moves in with her grandmother Lottie—the woman who raised her—after her dementia worsens. As Elle grapples with the pain of watching Lottie forget her, the struggles of caregiving, and the pressure of honoring her grandmother’s legacy, she meets Adam, Lottie’s new home aide. Elle and Adam clash at first—but when Lottie begins mistaking them for her younger self and her late husband, they make the impossible choice: pretend to be happily married.
Sometimes fake dating stories rely on tropes that feel rushed or forced, but Elle and Adam’s slow burn is so much deeper—woven with living grief, past heartbreak, and a love story that unfolds in the quiet moments. This book beautifully explores the different forms of love—not just romantic, but the love between generations, between a caregiver and their patient, between a family built from loss.
Get your tissues ready for this one.

I received this book as an ALC from NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape for the opportunity to listen to this book! @NetGalley @DreamscapeMedia

I'm not sure how to rate this book. Overall, it's an ‘OK’ read but parts of it just didn't fit right with me. As someone who has delt with being a caregiver for an Alzheimer's patient, the representation here felt true but made for a heavy backdrop for a rom-com.

Elle (a podcaster) moves back to her childhood home to take care of her grandmother who has Alzheimer. But when she gets there, there is also a very hot nurse taking care of her. I didn't love the power dynamic of the MMC being the nurse and FMC being a family member.

I'm sure lots of people will like this book but it was just a few too many "off" elements for me, personally. I did receive this title as an ALC and attest that I am leaving my review honestly and voluntarily.

A beautiful story of caring for a loved one while finding what truly matters to you. It highlighted the lows off caring for someone when they’re not themselves in such a real way. Lovie’s words of wisdom are truly ones everyone should keep with them. I really appreciated the ending as well.

DNFing at 38%

While I was not enjoying this, I was persevering. Until I got to a giant gaping plot hole. So I quit.

Basically, Elle is very rude and her hostility towards Adam makes no sense. He is not quite as terrible.
Also, I get that those with Alzheimer's can be combative/aggressive at times, but the body shaming came out of nowhere and doesn't really make sense.
The final straw? When Elle freaks out about driving. Um, like a few chapters back she took Lovie out and had a flat tire, which sparked yet another fight with Adam. Are we supposed to forget that she already went out driving all day without freaking out?

So between Elle being insufferable and for no reason, and now the plot hole, I quit.

Fake It Like You Mean It by Megan Murphy is a romance that straddles the line between heartwarming and bittersweet, but ultimately left me feeling a little conflicted. The story follows Elle, who returns home to care for her grandmother who has Alzheimers that has progressed significantly. She runs into her grandmother’s live-in-nurse in a very strange way and the tension between them is palpable. What starts as sharp banter quickly morphs into something more complicated when they’re forced to pretend to be a couple for her grandmother’s sake.

The romance between Elle and Adam is entertaining but feels somewhat predictable. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic is fun at first, but the development of their relationship seems a bit too reliant on the fake-dating trope. While there are moments of real vulnerability and tenderness, the pacing of their emotional journey felt a bit forced. The slow burn is enjoyable, but it lacks the deeper emotional complexity I was hoping for.

Where the book truly shines, however, is in its portrayal of Alzheimer's. Murphy captures the heartbreaking reality of watching a loved one lose themselves with sensitivity and grace. Lovie’s character, in particular, stands out as a touching anchor to the story, offering a deeper layer to the narrative than just the romance. Elle’s struggle with balancing family responsibility and her own grief is genuinely moving, and it adds an emotional depth to the book that I wasn’t expecting.

That said, while Fake It Like You Mean It offers some emotional moments, the focus on the romantic plot sometimes overshadows the more complex themes of family, loss, and personal growth. For those who enjoy a light-hearted fake-dating romance with some emotional undercurrents, this book will likely hit the mark. However, if you’re looking for a story that dives deeper into grief and healing, the emotional payoff may not be as strong as anticipated.

In the end, Fake It Like You Mean It is a solid read, but it’s one that doesn’t quite balance its romantic and emotional elements as well as it could have. It’s enjoyable, but it could have been more.

"Fake it Like You Mean It" by Megan Murphy is a heartwarming and humorous romance that follows Elle, a podcaster who finds herself in a fake relationship with Adam. What starts as a convenient arrangement quickly evolves into something much deeper, as they navigate personal challenges, family dynamics, and the complexities of vulnerability and love.

"Fake it Like You Mean It" was a delightful blend of sweet, funny, emotional, heartbreaking, and swoon-worthy romance, with a dash of spice to keep things interesting.

Megan Murphy did a fantastic job of portraying Elle's emotional journey as she grapples with her grandmother's Alzheimer's. The author masterfully depicts Elle as a fully realized character, showcasing her desire to live her own life while also dealing with the realities of her grandmother's condition. It was particularly moving to see Elle come to terms with the fact that she might not be able to be her grandmother's sole caregiver. I loved how she used her podcast to raise awareness and support research and families facing similar challenges.

The development of Elle and Adam's relationship was beautifully done. Adam's ability to see and understand Elle, to help her embrace her emotions without judgment, was truly touching.

The close proximity, one bed, and enemies-to-lovers tropes were executed perfectly, adding to the tension and chemistry.

I received this audiobook from Dreamscape Media via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, and I can confidently say it was a thoroughly enjoyable and deeply affecting read.

Disclaimer: Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this advanced audiobook.

What a great book! I just really enjoyed every moment of this.

Elle is very close with her grandma (aka her Lovey) and now her Lovey has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. When the Alzheimer’s begins to worsen, Elle moves back home with her grandma and meets Nurse Adam, her grandma’s caretaker .

Ohhhhh Nurse Adam 🔥 I really enjoyed the banter and the slow burn between Elle and Adam. I thought the Alzheimer’s plot was really interesting and will feel relatable to so many readers. I enjoyed the fresh twist this book brings to some common romance tropes.

- Enemies to Lovers
- Forced Proximity

Thank you Megan Murphy and NetGalley for this audiobook arc.

Podcaster Elle moves back home when her grandmother Lovie's dementia progresses to the point where she needs continuous care. When she comes home, she doesn't expect to fall into bed (literally) with her grandmother's home health nurse, Adam.

Caregiver fatigue is real. This book made me feel that deep in my bones. The relationship between Elle and Lovie felt so real and made the book for me. I did not connect to the relationship between Adam and Elle.

3/5 Stars

I loved this book! It was so sweet and touching, and I was hooked from the start! I can’t wait to read more by Megan!

Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for the ALC.
.
The story was about Elle, who was taken care by her grandmother Lovie who now has Alzheimer's, and Adam, who home nurses Lovie.
How Elle and Adam bounds over their pasts and insecurities was so emotional. The communication between them was honestly so pure, even though the thoughts Elle had about Adam were not. She was attracted to him from the first time she saw him and again i would ask for 2nd pov because that's a biggest thing for me a book can lack. It really destroy my attachment with other character. Adam was unbelievably supportive for what? All he gets to hear and handle clumsy Elle and he falls for her? To be honest, in the last 10 chapters i kept zoning out because all of their conversation seems so unnecessary and fillers.
It was a good read for readers who love to read
-Enemies to Lovers
-Forced Proximity
-One Bed
-Wholesome Interactions
-Heartwrecking Moments

4.5 stars
Thank you, Netgalley, for an ALC of Fake It Like You Mean It in exchange for my honest review.

This novel tells the story of a podcaster, Elle, that was raised by her grandparents after the tragic death at young age of her mother. Now that her last relative, her grandmother got older and have somewhat advance stages of Alzheimer, she decides to leave Chicago and go back to her hometown to help taking care of her alongside a nurse that her grandmother hired before her diagnose.

I really loved the layers of conflict we have in this novel. Starting with her troubled relationship with death and losing people that are close to her, her relationship with her grandmother now has another shape due to the disease condition and the fact that she had to abandon her career for a moment to be a caregiver. Aside from that, we also have romance with the nurse that starts on the wrong foot (and although some can find her annoying for being stubborn and rude to him regarding the care of her grandmother- which is basically one of the denial phases of grief- I totally get what she is going through).
On his side, we also see a lot of guilt and conflict with his family, which reflects on his relationship with Elle.

Overall, this is an amazing book about grieving people who are still alive while cherishing their last moments with us. The narration was so good that I really had tears in my eyes during the most dramatic dialogues.
I just gave it 0.5 star less because I found the beginning of the book quite slow and I saw myself putting it aside. However, by the 20% of it things started to pick up in my opinion and I really got invested in the story.

🎧 AUDIOBOOK REVIEW 🎧

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape media for the audio ARC!

4 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️

First of all I enjoyed this audio alot! The narrator did a great job embodying each character in the book! I’m usually not a fan of single narrators but this one was great.

Enemies to lovers is one of my fav tropes so this had me hooked from the beginning. Elle’s grandmother Lovie’s Alzheimer’s is progressing and it’s now Elle’s turn to take care of her. Along the way she meets Adam Lovie’s live in nurse. He’s a pain in her ass but eventually they fall. It’s a beautiful story of caring for a loved with Alzheimer’s disease. It’s a mean nasty disease that takes away our love ones before they even leave this earth. I personally have dealt with this with my Nana it’s very hard. But the author did a great job at telling a story that involves the disease. Highly recommend.

This is an emotional and heartbreaking story of falling in love while caretaking for a family member with Alzheimer's.
"Life isn't meant to be easy and no one makes it out alive" is the quote that broke me. This book makes me feel fragile. As someone whose grandfather had Alzheimer's I held this book closer to my heart. There is so much love in this story. The details and information are informative and accurate. This book is an easy quick read that hits the spot. I need a hug!

Fake It Like You Mean It is a heartwarming and engaging story that blends fake dating, personal growth, and the challenges of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s. The book explores how past experiences shape us, highlighting the importance of healing and opening up to love.

This was a quick, enjoyable read that balanced emotional depth with lighthearted moments. The characters were well-developed, and their journey felt both heartfelt and authentic. I also really enjoyed the narration, which brought the story to life in a compelling way.

If you enjoy fake-dating romances with emotional depth and strong character development, this is definitely worth picking up

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this free advance readers copy.

This books is amazing, it touches on Alzheimers and dementia in a way that even when you haven’t had any experience with it you understand what the characters are going through.
I love how her grandmother played match maker without even knowing it. Somewhat expected her to say I was faking it the whole time. But the struggles of loosing a person, or being stuck on living on repeat the same day, because is the day that makes her feel safe are incredibly well written. How the struggles of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s is taxing, physically qnd emotionally.

The love store is slow, it’s the little things, the smoothies after a morning run. He is kind and caring , she is wild and free spirited. They had great banter and amazing chemistry.

I listened to the audiobook, it was great to feel like I was there. The small quips and comments under her breath were on point. Great narration.


Thank you NetGalley for the Audiobook ARC

I love how the author portrayed a I loved one loosing themselves to the Alzheimer’s disease. I didn’t feel any connection between the fmc and Mmc.

The Fmc was rude to the Mmc Adam for no reason. For Lovie being her only living relative it didnt seem like she ever kept tabs on her. I mean if she did she would realize her grandmother with Alzheimer’s would have a live in nurse!!!


I liked the banter between Adam and Elle and them fake dating to appease to Lovie. I just thought their relationship was unprofessional!!


Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape media for the ALC in exchange for my honest review