Fake It Till You Bake It
Author: Jamie Wesley
Reviewer: Jen
Rating: B-
What I’m Talking About:
Donovan Dell is a successful professional football player for the Knights and the co-owner of Sugar Blitz, a new cupcakery in San Diego. WIth profits declining for the past six weeks, he knows he needs to do something to keep his dream alive.
Jada, granddaughter of the Knight’s owner, is a reality show star who is hated because she turned down a marriage proposal from the show’s bachelor on national TV. When her grandmother proposes she work for Donovan to gain some real world experience, neither Jada nor Donavan think it is a good fit. However, when word gets out that Jada and Donovan are dating, Sugar Blitz becomes the newest hotspot in town.
Fake It Till You Bake It checks all of my boxes on paper: meet-cute, fake relationship, friends-to-lovers, and cupcakes. Jada is no-nonsense and freely gives her opinions. Donovan is a number-crunching, reserved man who doesn’t care for all of the negative social media attention following Jada. They clash, but there is a strong attraction and mutual respect. However, when backed into a corner, Jada implies Donovan is her boyfriend. Thinking Donovan would rebuke the lie, she’s surprised that he plays along. And both are shocked at the positive responses, which lead to more sales. Of course, there is only so long they can pretend when the attraction is so strong. I appreciate that Jada took the time to figure out who she is before committing to something bigger.
As cute and perfect the book should have been, something was lacking for me. The premise is perfect: a bit of sports, fake dating, finding one’s self… but I never fully got into the story, and there isn’t one specific reason why. The characters are enjoyable, likable, and together they make an adorable couple, yet both fell a bit flat. Donovan’s character isn’t all that memorable, and Jada had all of the issues. Additionally, I didn’t care for the storyline involving the TV producer who wanted to connect with Jada. The whole thing felt a bit contrived and unrealistic. And finally, a huge pet-peeve of mine, the couple literally gets their HEA on the last page of the book.
In the end, I really wanted to love Fake It Till You Bake It but I just didn’t. Still, if you enjoy fake relationships, reality TV, and cupcakes, this one may be a winner for you.
My Rating: B- Liked It — But I had a few small issues
Jen
About the Book:
Jada Townsend-Matthews is the most reviled woman in America after turning down a proposal on a reality dating show. When she comes home to lick her wounds, Jada finds herself working at San Diego’s newest cupcake bakery, Sugar Blitz, alongside the uptight owner and professional football player Donovan Dell.
When a reporter mistakenly believes Jada and Donovan are an item, they realize they can use the misunderstanding to their advantage to help the bakery and rehabilitate Jada’s image. Faking a relationship should be simple, but sometimes love is the most unexpected ingredient.
Release Date: June 21, 2022
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Series: Standalone (book 1)
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format(s): paperback (336 pages), e-book, audiobook
Book Source: Publisher/ NetGalley
Purchase Info:
Amazon (affiliate link)