I have been following this book since there was buzz about an english version (and a decision between the pink or green cover) and was super excited to dive into this book.

I really enjoy an academic romance, but I don't love the dynamic of the FMC being tutored by the MMC. I don't love the power imbalance and I don't love the fact that she's considered "less intelligent" than Dylan.

This archetype was definitely not for me, as much as I wanted to enjoy this book!

I give this book a 3.5/5.

Cute read but lacked chemistry imo. I liked the fake dating trope but a lot just fell short unfortunately

I had incredibly high hopes for this book as the reviews are generally positive and I've saw the book on social media numerous times, however, after the first five chapters, I began to realize that I wasn't going to enjoy Lessons In Faking as much as I anticipated.

Despite being set in college, it reads very Young Adult/High School, which I later learned was because this is based on a Harry Potter fan-fiction titled "Potter?" from Wattpad, where it was a Draco Malfloy x Reader story that took place during the events of the Harry Potter series. Meaning in the original version of the story, the characters would've been fifteen or sixteen. After learning it was a fan-fiction it became incredibly clear that it was and made it hard for me to focus on the story because of how fan-fiction heavy it was.

The main girl is the sister of Henry Presley (Harry Potter) and she has lived in her golden-boy brother's shadow for as long as she can remember. Their parents are dead prior to the start of the novel. She starts at Hall Beck U (Hogwarts) and lives with Wren, the two get along well at first, but their friendship is pretty much flushed down the toliet, but I'll get there.

Dylan McCarthy (Draco Malfloy) is the love interest. He's Henry's rival and becomes Athalia's tutor in Professor Shaw's (Professor Snape's) class.

The whole "fake dating" plot line didn't make much sense for the characters, and by 60 or 70%, I was bored of it.

Don't even get me started on the whole Wren was only mad at Athalia for dating McCarthy because she had feelings for her. It was a waste of character development.

Now what did I like about this book? I think that the whole premise could've been better if it wasn't blatantly fan fiction and was more original story (i.e. the After series by Anna Todd, where she only used names and appearances of One Direction in the fan fiction, thus making it a mostly original story) I also think that Mae has a good writing style, but I can't ignore the fact that the story is so undercooked, undeveloped.

Overall, 2.75/5, It could've been better.

Loved the book written beautifully and will be recommending it to everyone Story was so cute and there wasn’t a part I didn’t love

This was an interesting read. It read a little YA in their maturity and talking but we are supposed to believe they are 20-some college age kids. I wanted a little more maturity. I also believe maybe this was a "English not the first language" type of situation, so I would really feel like the editor for the US team should iron out some dialogue stuff because I missed certain transitions multiple times. I also couldn't help but feel like this was an AO3 Harry Potter turned book? Maybe it's because they characters seemed a little immature but so many things made me feel like Professor Shaw was just Snape lmao.

I liked the spice and the dialogue between the 2 main characters, needed more depth and more side characters.

3.5

I thought that this was a fun short read. It is pretty cliché, but it wasn't bad because of the cliche. I did find that there was a lot of telling rather than showing, and I wanted to be trusted more as a reader throughout the story.

Cute romance read! I did really enjoy this book, I gave it 3.5 starts because it kinda lacked in the plot department for me! I did love the banter between characters and the tension that it built up between athalia and Dylan, overall it was a quick and easy fun read!

I absolutely adored this book. I read it so fast and loved it so much! The characters and their dynamics as well as their challenges and slow yearning towards each other just made the book that much better. I didn’t want the book to ever end!

A fun, easy, and fast-paced college romance with great banter, fake dating, and just the right amount of heart. Perfect if you love light love stories.

This was a great book! It was fun, cute, and spicy!

Definitely one of those turn your brain off and enjoy kind of books! The pacing wasn't always great but the story for the most part kept me engaged and hooked, which was a lot of fun!

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC!

thank you for this opportunity! i enjoyed this cute book! i have been following the author on instagram for a long time and i’m so happy i got to read her book. i really enjoyed her writing and i hope i will be able to read her other books!

Selina Mae delivers a witty and heartfelt rom-com that balances laugh-out-loud moments with genuine vulnerability. Lessons in Faking follows a delightful fake relationship trope, but it’s the character growth and authentic emotional beats that steal the show. Perfect for fans of Emily Henry and Talia Hibbert, this book is a warm, feel-good escape with real depth.

Lessons in Faking is a cute, well-executed college rom-com. It engages with the classic tropes of enemies to lovers and fake dating just right. It is a light and easy read, while still creating a deep and meaningful relationship between our two main characters.

honestly such a cute and fun read! if you need something as a palette cleanser this is a perfect book!

Lessons in Faking, a fun quick fake dating romance!

First off, thank you to Lyx, Selina Mae, and Net Galley for the advance copy.
Athalia and her estranged brother have a falling out and in order to keep his attention on her life, she pretends to date his sworn college rival. While the two continue their ruse, they find themselves becoming closer until fake feelings become real.

I will fully say that I went into this book with the expectations of it being a pretty quick and easy read and this was the case. I did not go into it expecting life altering prose and earth shattering characters. I wanted an overall lighthearted read and honestly that's what I got. Interwoven in that was a touching story on grief, loss and how we handle those occurrences in life.
The romance between Athalia and Dylan was sweet and the little hints of him falling first made it even sweeter as the book continued on.
I had minimal cons to this book. There did seem to be a shallowness to the characters and their disputes overall and it did leave me wanting more. Sometimes Athalia felt too superficial with her lack of goals and ambition but by the end of the book it seemed to fit her character.

Overall, I enjoyed this read and was super happy to read it as it got me out of a major reading slump!

I mean -- it wasn't a bad book, very much enemies to lovers kind of deal. I personally did not resonate with it as much as I do, but that could be cos of readers burnout.

These was a fun read. I’m always done for a fake dating trope! I enjoyed the banter between the characters.

I'm here reviewing this exclusively to NetGalley because I don't want to de-influence people on reading this book because of my personal opinions.
This type of books are not cut out for me, because I love when I can have a deeper connection with the character, and I have no idea how the hell some authors can make it look like the characters are actual people, but I love it. That's one of my major problems with this book. The story also seems a bit rushed and it's not memorable. I love cliche/cute romances with a *common?* kind of story, unfortunately for me this was the kind of book I believe I would forget after a month or less. It was like reading one of those wattpad fanfics when I was twelve, so points for the nostalgia

This was a fun story! Great story line, inviting characters and it holds your attention! Highly enjoyed the romance too! Always game for a college romance!

2.5 stars rounded up. I was not the biggest fan of the mmc's full name being used so much. also the fake dating felt a little off?

Not really for me but im sure those who love fake dating / academic setting would loveee this

Thank you Lyx, NetGalley and Selina Mae for a gifted earc in exchange for an honest review