read if you love:
•reverse grumpy x sunshine
•he falls first
•sports romance
•fake engagement
•bookish hero

this book was all things a perfect romcom should be — original meet cute, great banter and hilarious lol moments among so many other things i absolutely loved about this book.

MAE! oh my goodness, does this woman speak my language. she was the ultimate blend of sass and sarcasm and is easily my favorite grumpy heroine. her quick wit and sharp tongue was perfection and i love the way chris handled her. her prickly nature never got to him and his golden retriever personality balanced mae out in the most beautiful way.

i loved watching these two fall in love. it was easy to see chris’ feelings even though we only had mae’s pov. he truly SAW her, and the special way he told her “i love you” turned me into an absolute puddle.

this book was so much more than a romcom;
at its core is a heartwarming story. i loved mae’s relationship with her sister iris and all she was willing to do for her family. i loved mae and chris’ book club and them picking out books together. i love how much the town rallied to try to save the library. i loved chris’ nicknames for mae and his protective nature. ahhhh i loved this book and there is so much more, but you should just read it for yourself to enjoy this story of pure delight!!

thank you to netgalley for an advanced copy. my thoughts are my own.

"Oh, you beautiful, strong, rainbow-colored lady water buffalo."

"Halfway to brave is scared."

Sharon's debut book, "The Do Over", made me an instant fan of her rom-com stories. So when I was gifted her follow up novel "The Fake Out" I was innnnn!! Peterson's work gives readers:

〰️ closed door romance
〰️ laugh out loud banter
〰️ plus size representation
〰️ men who understand boundaries
〰️ bold family dynamics
〰️ supportive best friend (who is a bit unhinged, in the best possible way)
〰️ strong female leads with confident personalities

“The Do Over” is everything I love in my rom-com novels — packed full of love, laughter, growth, and learning with the most *chef’s kiss* HEA.

Oh this was so much fun and not at all what I expected! I went into this with hopes of having my normal average fun with a sweet rom-com but it felt so much more than this. There was some excellent character growth and progression, a sweet love blossoming, hilarious chapter openers with some cheesy pick-up lines, fun MC’s with huge families and the writing was delicious I ate it up!

My favourite part was honestly each chapter opening with a pick-up line, they were so funny and made the book so lighthearted and fun!
I loved all the characters, the reverse grumpy sunshine was definitely a treat and also fresh instead of it being a grumpy MMC! (Not that I ever complain about that, who would)
Maebell, firstly what a sweet name!? She was grumpy, moody, glass half empty. But she had so much character growth. She went from not believing in romance like in her novels to obviously falling for Chris!
And Chris was a sweetie! The perfect cinnamon roll boyfriend and I was HERE for that!
He also had such a big family and really cared for his sister, was a huge reader, and was 6”5? Do you need anything else in a man?! I think not.
Iris was also funny, Mae’s sister. She was witty and definitely had some character depth I did not expect either!
I enjoy their father being a part of the story to add some necessary family drama into the mix!
This has forced proximity, grumpy sunshine, fake-dating (fake engagement) and was such a sweet fun and hilarious rom-com. Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an ARC.

This book was so good!!!!! I’m obsessed with the fake dating trope so this was heaven!!!! Ugh I had so much fun reading it and I just didn’t want it to end💗🫶🏻

Small-town librarian Mae has a heart of gold. She is fiercely loyal and does what she can to look after her mum and sister. In her role as librarian at Two Harts Mae is used to clearing up mess. However, when football player Chris Sterns is found asleep in the library she isn’t prepared for what comes next.
Chris is taking some time out from being in the public eye, and his relentless charm and positivity is something Mae doesn’t know what to do with. From their snarky chats to their two-person book club, it’s clear these two are becoming friends.
It’s for this reason that when Chris asks Mae for help, she agrees. Their ‘engagement’ is meant to be a diversion…but what do you do when the feelings are real? A remarkably chaste and wholesome romance, with a nice line in feel good.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this.

I loved this! I enjoyed the author's debut novel, but it was missing something for me personally, but this book I absolutely loved! The romance was great, I enjoyed the characters, especially the tall, handsome NFL player, Chris ;)

Mae is a small-town librarian at Two Harts Public Library, she loves her job and helping everyone that she can though she does have a feisty side. When she comes across a sleeping giant in her library one day whilst closing she's not sure what to do. Chris is a sexy, caring NFL all-star, he's come to town to lay low and avoid the press whilst going through a scandal. The two begin an unlikely friendship and eventually agree on how best to save Chris’s reputation, a fake engagement!

I enjoyed the romance a lot! Usually, I'm not a fan of fade-to-black/clean romance but Chris was just such a sweetie that I enjoyed it nonetheless! I loved his fascination with Romance books and his and Mae’s smutty book club was such a fun time! I enjoy the Grumpy x Sunshine trope in romance and I especially love when the male main character is the happy, smiley character with labrador vibes while the female character is the grumpy, guarded character with black cat energy.

Overall this was a really enjoyable read! Will definitely be reading more of the author's work as it comes out. I really recommend this book for romance lovers in need of a small-town romance this summer!

If the fake fiancee trope is one you enjoy this book is a must. It was wonderfully written and I could not put it down. I love a feisty Bookish main character and devoured this book in one day!

One of my favourite tropes is fake dating/marriage of convenience and this book lived up to my expectations. Chris was a bubbly sunshine, while Mae was a more serious grump and their constant bickering left me with a smile on my face as I read. Why do I love it so much when a guy knows exactly how to get on your nerves?‽! If that’s not enough tropes for you there’s also the fact that he’s a NFL star (though you wouldn’t really know it cause he hardly plays it during the story), and we also have a “one bed” moment.

There was the right amount of heart, humour and chemistry to have me devouring this book in a day. There wasn’t any spice but you didn’t really need it in this book, it was cute and with enough longing in it that you hardly even noticed. I will definitely be looking for other books by this author. Please tell me Ali is getting her own book?

Thanks to #NetGallery and the publisher. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Genre: Romance
Format: Digital
POV: Single
Spice: 0/5
Age suggestion: 16+

Chris was such a cutie hero. I loved how much he enjoyed riling Mae up and how he was never faced with her grumpiness, in fact he was charmed by it. He was not only a adorable hero but a damn good brother too.

Mae was dealt with so many bad hands that she was kinda a pessimist. But a pessimist with huge heart. I love how responsible she was and how much she loved her family. She never once lost her cool. I loved her friendship with Ali they were so much fun with their pranks. Can’t wait to read her book.

I especially love a book when there are a bunch of colourful and eccentric secondary characters. They were such a lovely bunch from Chris’ 4 sisters to Mae’s library assistant. I couldn’t get enough of their antics.

Also the pick up lines in the beginning of each chapter…. Too good! I highlighted almost all of them.
Overall a very enjoyable and must read.
Standalone, KU.

—small town romance, fake relationship.
—reverse grumpy x sunshine.
—hilarious moments.
—athlete x librarian
—clean romance.

This was a very enjoyable read for me. I love the little pick up lines at the start of each chapter sent in by fans. They are so funny and add something special to the book. Mae was a take charge and in control woman who had so much weight to carry and a lot of responsibility that she took on. Chris was a golden retriever of a man and I loved his personality and how you could tell he fell for Mae. They worked so well together no matter how hard they (mainly Mae) fought against it. His family was amazing and so enjoyable! I also love how the Author included side characters with more serious health issues. I thought she handled them very well while also informing the reader about the condition along with the effects they had on loved ones. There were so many cute moments that had me smiling! I loved that the FMC was plus size without having the plot revolve around that or have her be constantly insecure about it. It was just how she was and Chris never treated her any differently because of it. The ending was really good, although I wish Peter had a little more payback come his way. I’m excited to read her other book “The Do-Over” after reading an excerpt of it!

If there's anything to take away from “The Fake Out”, it’s that it will suit you just fine.

“A frown tugged at his mouth, ‘Well, I like to read and I like you.’”

Welcome to Two Harts, where the latest small-town romance is the talk of the town. Local Librarian Maebell Sampson meets football star, Chris Sterns and a lot happens in a short amount of time that flips Mae’s life upside down. There's a book club (that consists of just the two), a house full of bunny memorabilia, an ex who just so happens to be the town's mayor, and a fake marriage agreement. Not to mention each chapter starts with a cute pick-up line or anecdote.

But by far my favorite thing? Although I loved seeing multiple stories unfold of everyone else around her, I also love Maebell’s character. It’s no secret that I love when a book specifically mentions if a character is plus-sized so I was super happy to see that Mae was confident in her own skin before Chris came along. She works hard and she is an example of how eldest daughters take on the burden of taking care of the family. If she helps others, then who is there to help her? *cough* Chris? *cough*

He definitely fell first but I’d say she fell harder and I was glad to be along for the ride. I’ll definitely add this to the books I will always reread.

This was so cute! Mae is a sarcastic librarian (hello self!!) carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. Chris is a beefcake football player with a heart of gold. Lots of troupes here but it’s all in good fun. I love their banter and Two Harts. I want a friend like Ali and I would do my best to never get on her bad side. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC

This is the 2nd book I have read by Sharon. I read her debut in August last year and absolutely loved it. I was very excited to read this as fake lovers to real lovers is a trope I really enjoy.

I absolutely loved our main character Mae. She is very independent (perhaps too much), strong-willed and would do anything to help out someone in need.

Chris is a complete sweetie. He has a big heart and uses her fame and wealth for such good causes. He also knows how to take a joke and how to tease Mae. This clearly comes from growing up with 4 sisters. All in all, I adored Chris.

I really loved the pickup lines at the beginning of each chapter. Some were really funny and some were downright cringy but I looked forward to reading them all.

If you are looking for a funny, light-hearted read then this is for you. I found it a perfect way to spend my weekend.

This was so cute! A very sweet rom com with lots of swoon-worthy moments between the main characters. I love .e a good football player and Chris is a golden retriever through and through.

It's a little longer than I typically like for a romance book but the friendship and tension between the two MCs was great. I loved the Taco Truck scene 😂

Not quite as sweltering as I typically like, but definitely delightful and fun to read. I'm so glad I got to read this ARC and add another 5 star read to my list!

3.5 stars

I appreciated how complex Peterson tried to make Mae. She gave her a whole list of things she’s struggling with. However, when those conflicts bleed into their surface-level thoughts, it becomes a little too unrealistic. Trust your readers to read between the lines of a character’s organic thoughts.

One of my notes was that I couldn’t understand why Chris was immediately attracted to Mae. I think this story would have benefitted greatly by being dual POV. Especially when characters (Chris) make illogical decisions, it’s important for us readers to understand how those decisions came to be.

I love when authors play with format, so I really enjoyed the use of text messages! So fun and cute! I was excited every time one popped up on the page.

There were *great* displays of showing and not telling. Chris did an amazing job of trying to help her with her problems without being obvious about it. Very romantic subtleties that I adored.

Overall, this was a very solid book blended with some too-cheesy moments. I’m excited to see what Peterson does next

The Fake Out - Sharon M. Peterson.

#TheFakeOut is a scrummy love story, about a small town librarian and her unexpected connection with ‘The World’s Sexiest Man’ who just so happens to be a famous NFL player.

I completely fell in love with Mae and Chris. They are both so likeable, and totally sparked off each other.

I honestly can’t recommend this book enough.
It’s so warm and uplifting, squeeze your heart lovely and pee your pants funny!

I loved the one liners at the beginning of each chapter. They were very funny.

Extremely well written from start to finish, and very easy to get into.
I couldn’t wait to see how the story ended, but equally I didn’t want to leave these gorgeous characters behind.

Quite simply, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVED IT!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

With thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for a digital arc of this title.

#BooksOnTour

The Fake Out was seriously like a huge boost of serotonin.. I swear you cannot read this book and have a straight face throughout it. I was laughing out loud and giddy with how happy reading this book was making me.

I just finished it last night and I already miss this story world. This was my second book by this author & for the life of me I could not pick a favorite if I tried.

Not only is the female lead a hilarious (& grumpy) librarian but she may just be one of my favorite rom com female leads EVER! I never knew I needed the reverse grump/sunshine trope in my life but here we are and I can never go back.

Now, the male lead.. the famous football player who reads, is the sunshine personality of this story, loves his family to death, wants to be a doctor AND volunteers at a sick children’s hospital!! He is the epitome of the most perfect man on Earth who could only exist in the fictional world. 😭

This book will have you laughing out loud, swooning left and right and if you don’t give it five immediate stars after reading it then there is something seriously wrong with you and someone should send the Sisters, Iris AND Mae after you 😂 Kidding. Well not really, trust me and go read this book now!

My Thoughts: I absolutely adored this book! So much so that I’m struggling to put my thoughts into words 🤦🏻‍♀️

Mae, is working herself into the ground with a second job that her family don’t know about, to help pay off her mums medical bills that at the minute are staggeringly high and constantly increasing, adding her mums care to the mix as well as a teenage sister that can’t seem to stick to curfew and you soon realise that she’s spinning so many plates that it won’t be long before one gets dropped, but will she ask for help? – absolutely not!

Chris Sterns is a hugely successful NFL player who has escaped to Two Harts for a little bit of down time, they’re talking about him and some girl in the press, it’s not what they think but he won’t give up what he knows, he has to protect her anonymity at all costs.. but why? who is she?

As soon as these 2 meet, they hit it off, not in the way that you think. But they both give as good as they get, the banter is off the charts! I was laughing out loud repeatedly throughout the whole book!

I won’t give too much away because where’s the fun in that, but this book was the distraction I needed at just the right time, I finished it 4 days ago and I’m still thinking about it, all the characters feel like friends, friends that I was sad to leave behind.

I got the warm and fuzzies regularly, i swooned more than once.. (a guy that reads romance books, it’s like my perfect man smirk 😏)

The fact that all the chapters were started with a pick-up line/pick-up story that I assume were sent into the author was something unique and added something extra to the story.

I love a good romcom because you know a HEA is guaranteed, but sometimes I wish that it was part of a series so we get to see the characters again.. this is one of those times.

Will I read this again in the future? absolutely yes.

Is Sharon an author I will look out for in the future? also yes but Mae, Chris and all the other characters will be hard to beat!

Mae is a librarian in her hometown of Two Harts and finds her life turned upside down when famous NFL player, Chris Stern strikes up a friendship with her. It all comes about when she wakes him up upon closing time, only to find him listening in to her steamy audiobook. When a article is leaked of Chris coming out of a Las Vegas club with a woman, Mae agrees to fake an engagement with him to give him a better image, whilst in return she will have the funds to pay her mother’s medical bills. Yet, their relationship turns into something that is definitely not fake.
This was an entertaining read with plenty to keep anyone entertained. Chris and Mae are two great characters whose dialogue is full of banter and quips. Many of the secondary characters were delightful and also quite quirky!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was such a cute book. I was obsessed with Mae and Chris from the start definitely recommend checking this out.

I was worried because it’s not your typical steamy romance and I usually get bored but it kept me entertained throughout the whole book 🥰