This was so good, I was happy squealing (something I almost never do at a book).

A heartwarming, swoonworthy romantic comedy that ticked all the right boxes. I read all of this in one sitting and thoroughly enjoyed every second of it!

'Because this was for show; it was fake. But fake had never felt so real'.

Synopsis
Our FMC, Mae, is going through a time of hardship - working two jobs to pay her mothers medical bills. One of her jobs is in the local library, and that's where she meets Chris.. asleep.

'Cows had brown eyes. He had cow eyes. Nothing remotely interesting about that. Unless you were a female cow on the prowl. Which I was not'.

Turns out, Chris is a hot shot, famous football player, but news articles have been released that puts him in a bad light. To solve this problem, they come up with a plan.. a 'fake engagement' contract. This will give the news something else to talk about.. and a beneficial relationship for the both of them - for Chris, good news coverage, and for Mae, help with medical bills.

What could possibly go wrong with a 'fake engagement'? Especially when real feelings come to light. 

Thoughts
Honestly could not put this book down. The tension between Mae and Chris was 'chefs kiss', brilliant banter and a swoonworthy romance. The amount of times I had to say outloud, 'just tell him you love him already!'.

The pick up lines throughout had me snorting in places, both at the start of chapters and through Chris's character, in this reverse grumpy/sunshine romantic comedy!

'Is that a mirror in your pocket? Because I can see myself in your pants'.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC copy, this review is voluntary.

Mae is a small town librarian who finds a hunky football player asleep amongst the books one evening ... And finds herself fake engaged to a human ball of sunshine!

This was a sweet and funny romance with one of my favourite tropes - grumpy / sunshine - and I'll definitely be picking up more from the author!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

What a joyous romance than had me hooked from the beginning. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for a review.

This is a very heart melting swoon worthy book. I couldn't put it down. I would watch this as a movie on repeat!! Loved this!!
I just reviewed The Fake Out by Sharon M. Peterson. #TheFakeOut #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

To Sprinkles and Elmie…🏈📖

They are so cute! I think I’m all over the place with my reading because this book was so nice. My thriller era was keeping me up at night and I needed this cute cozy read to calm me down. I think this is the perfect book to read on a sunny day. Comes out July 5th, just in time for your vacation!

Funny, fierce, fabulous, for real. THE FAKE OUT is a great friends to lovers, grumpy/sunshine romance. (She’s the grump. He’s the sunshine.)

When a famous football player falls asleep in Mae Sampson’s library, he quickly insinuates his way into the small town of Two Harts where Mae is holding the library, her salary, and her family together by the skin of her teeth. When a gossip site attempts to smear Chris with a sketchy story, his PR team proposes a fake fiancé. Chris proposes Mae. It’s all just a fake out. But then she starts falling for real.

Loved this second romcom from Sharon M. Peterson!
5 stars!
Heat level: just kissing

I love Sharon Peterson stories and RAN to request this ARC. I just adore everything she puts out but this title was so special! It was the perfect depiction of a reverse grumpy sunshine. There was banter, tension, chemistry and love. I just had the best time and cant recommend this title enough!

This was such a cute book! Grumpy/sunshine trope with back and forth banter between main characters that I loved and had me laughing out loud. Definitely one I'll recommend to those who want a fun, lighthearted romance!

I absolutely adored this book. I read it in one day, it was just so addictingly adorable and funny.

The pick up lines at every chapter opening were my favourite part... but I really enjoyed Mae and Chris, and the cast of characters around this. I wanted to spend more time with Chris' sisters, and Iris, and Ali... everyone was just so much fun.

It is all very predictable in the best way possible - it would definitely be a great comfort read to pick up time and time again. There is great chemistry and classic antics and it just read like a big cozy hug.

10/10 would fully recommend and will definitely want to read again.

The Fake Out - what should I say?
I totally enjoyed reading this book.
It‘s hilarious and so emotional. I really liked it!

Def can recommend this amazing story

The Fake Out was a cute rom-com between Mae, the librarian, and Chris, the footballer. It was a small-town romance with a zany cast of characters. Chris was a really good rom-com boyfriend. I think I would've enjoyed Mae being more honest about her feelings and talking over her fears as it was obvious Chris was very into her. I enjoyed that we saw a lot of more of Mae's career as a librarian than Chris's career and that they still got to be close to her family. I really enjoyed the scenes with Chris's family.

The book was well-written and kept me entertained throughout. I just wish Mae had been more receptive to Chris. I think the fact that the very PG action takes place pretty far into the book contributes to this fact because although they are reading romances they aren't really acting it out like I would expect!

THE PICKUP LINES!!!! Please if you read this for nothing else, just read it for the pickup lines. I'm telling you, I CACKLED!

I adore Sharon Peterson's books. They are wholesome, feel-good romances that are right on par with Sarah Adams. But what distinguishes Sharon from others is her wit. It cracks like a wip and will leave you breathless from laughter when you least expect it.

The Fake Out had me grinning from ear to ear from the time Maebell found Chris in her library all the way until epiligue.

Read if you love:
🤍Grumpy x Sunshine
🤍Fake dating / engagement
🤍Opposites attract
🤍Banter

I love Sharon M. Peterson’s romcoms! Her books are always so cute, with several laugh out loud moments, plus the pick up lines in this book are the perfect extra touch! I really like Mae as a character, she is very strong, sometimes to her own detriment, but it all comes from a good place. Chris’ optimism is unbelievable and he is definitely the sunshine character in this couple and the perfect match to Mae’s grump. If you are looking for a pick me up story this is a great choice, and you will be smiling before you know it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the early access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was definitely intrigued with the sneak peek blurb about the sleeping football player waking up to a romance audio book. Chris is a perfect golden retriever book boyfriend.
This book would be the most perfect Hallmark movie. It has all the tropes!! Small-town romance, fake engagement, engagement of convenience, reverse grumpy sunshine, golden retriever hero!!
The writing style let me insert myself right into their world & immerse myself into it.
Mae was not my favorite. She had more conflicts in this book than anyone I've ever seen [which I guess I shouldn't hold against her character]. That was a little excessive at times. She was also very immature. She's supposed to be late 20s I think and gets panicked over a forehead kiss. I get being inexperienced, but it was noted that she had been in a 2 year relationship previously. Her personality and actions would have been more believable if she was just getting out of high school....not a whole grown woman.

4.3 / 5 ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for allowing me access to the book for an honest review.

“It suits you” 💖

The Fake Out is about a small-town librarian Mae who meets an NFL all-star player Chris. Mae is working at the library shelving back books when she notices a sleeping Chris. They develop a great friendship which eventually leads to a fake engagement. The offer of the engagement is beneficial for both parties.

This book was a fast-paced rom-com. This is the first rom-com I have read and I was not disappointed. The book had me happy, laughing, sad and hopeful.

Each chapter begins with a cheesy pickup line, the book is filled with tension, chemistry, and funny banter.

The book has several different tropes:
Friends to lovers
Reverse grumpy / sunshine
Fake engagement of convenience

Overall, this book was well-written and a quick read with a beautiful love story!

The Fake Out is a RomCom book with a VERY slow burn. If you like that type of book, you will really like the Fake Out. I tend to like a book with more steam, but I still really liked this book-even though there was no steam. It is also told in a single point of view instead of dual, again, not my favorite, but Ms. Peterson was able to keep me invested in the story to the end! You don't know me, so you don't know that that speaks volumes, but it does. This book is good, yes a bit predictable, but still really good. I enjoyed it from start to finish. Very well done. 5 stars! Thank you NetGalley and Sharon Peterson for an advanced copy.

Just like the Do over this romcom had me hooked from the very start. Although it’s predictable it’s still a good time. I would definitely recommend to anyone who needs a pick me up or is in a reading slump.

Almost every page had us laughing! Hilarious banter between all the characters throughout the entire story made our smiling cheeks hurt. As if it wasn't entertaining enough (which it truly is), this story will have your heart swooning at the journey Mae and Chris travel together. If you like punny pickup lines, you'll LOVE Chris and, even more, Mae's T-shirts. Such a wonderful blend of humor and love makes this book definitely Worth The Read.

-Worth The Read Podcast

🌟🌟🌟🌟
4/5 stars
Small town romance
Famous football player and the librarian.

From the very first line, which made me snort by the way, I was hooked.
It all beyond in a library, it's closing time and the librarian is listening to an audio book whilst hoping the last straggler, whom seems to be fast asleep, will wake and leave soon. In hilarious fashion however, it seems the audio book is playing out loud and is at an especially steamy part and of course this is when we realise the stragglers is awake!
Not only was this a strong start, it helps that the book continued to serve in this fashion. With wit, humour and sass.
Lover the characters, main and side. Great storytelling and worldbuilding. Thoroughly enjoyed and will be looking at the authors other books too.

I really enjoyed this book! It was a cute rom com with some of my favourite tropes, and all of the characters were so easy to love! Some characters did have flaws that annoyed me, but that is a sign of good writing if it made me feel that way!