Unfortunately, this was a miss for me. While fake dating is one of my favorite tropes, this was not done very well.
The entire book is based in America, yet it felt like I was reading a British based book. It wasn’t just fake dating, but complete fake personalities where the two people lied to each other the entire book. I did not feel they had any chemistry and did not have any interest in how the story went. I ended up DNFing around 60% because it was an absolute chore to read. Give two stars because I know it takes a lot of time and effort to write a book.

Many thanks to the publisher and the offer and NetGalley for my advanced copy.

"Fake it til you make it" by Laura Carter delivers a charming and enjoyable read that kept me hooked from start to finish. Abbey and Ted's devastating breakups set the stage for a whirlwind romance filled with unexpected twists and turns. Carter skillfully develops their characters, making them relatable and endearing despite their flaws. While I wished for a bit more depth in some scenes, the overall story is engaging and entertaining. The dynamic between Abbey and Ted as they navigate misunderstandings and form a beautiful friendship is heartwarming.
"Fake it til you make it" is a delightful read that will leave you smiling and longing for more.

Very grateful to the publisher for my copy through NetGalley, opinions are my own

This was a cute fake dating rom com (my favorite!). I feel like the premise of the book has been done so many times, but the author was able to put a fresh spin on it. I loved the characters and the tension throughout the book. I do feel the ending was a little rushed, All that buildup for a page or two of an ending.

I enjoyed this romcom, not just because of the fun, fake-dating premise, but because the MCs were unique yet very relatable. After they both experience heartbreak, they each feel the need to reinvent themselves by trying on new personas and acting confident despite their real confidence being terribly shaken. At the heart of their need for reinvention are the universal questions, "Wasn't I good enough? Am I good enough?" When Abbey meets her irritating, handsome neighbor, they are both wearing their new personas. Sparks fly (irritation and attraction!) but as they get to know each other, they begin to see what’s under the bravado and lies. They begin to really see each other for who they are - a work in progress - and definitely enough.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 1/2)
🌶️🌶️

There were some cute bits of this book I will admit but the more I read on the more I realised I am not growing to these characters and to be honest I was getting bored. Our MFC was a bit odd in that she blew all her saving to pretend to play the part of someone successful but like what was the reason? And then the MMC just gave me weird vibes with the way he describes women oh and his nice guys finish last attitude. Honestly drove me insane. I ended up dnfing at 40% cause I could not take anymore.

How many times has a book or movie started with the main character losing their job and finding out their significant other was cheating in the same day? Can we retire this setup please?

As other reviewers have mentioned, there were some issues that made it hard to get into this story. These were the ones that bothered me:
1. The lying. Of course there's some lying in fake dating scenarios, but this went on way too long.
2. The stereotyping and misogyny toward women who are into fashion/designer items.
3. The constant Britishisms for American/Canadian characters.
4. The plot holes of Abbey googling Ted and his brother but not realizing she's with the non-professional athlete person; and that Abbey's mother could book a plane trip for Ted (crossing a country border!) under the wrong name with no issues.
5. The toxic behavior of Abbey's mother being tolerated and explained away as just really wanting her children to be happy. Surrrre.
6. The financial unrealities of a wedding fund paying for 6 months' rent in a luxury NYC apartment, and of Abbey's only two job possibilities being auditing or an extra on a TV show.

So, it wasn't my cup of tea, but if you want a light, Hallmark-style fantasy rom-com, maybe you'll like it.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

Unfortunately, this was a complete letdown from the first page to the last.
Where was the chemistry that I was promised, where's the tension that derives from the fake dating?
What I got was two dull people with exactly 0% of chemistry, who lie to each other until the very end of the book, they come clean at about 20 pages to the end. Are we serious?

I chose to request the arc of this book based on the fake dating premise, knowing that they would lie to other people about their situation, not that they would invent fake personas and fake names for each other. I've never read a more misleading synopsis.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I guess this serves as a reminder that I really do not like dual POV romance. I have yet to read a dual POV romance where the guy sounded like a catch when we're in his chapters.

Ted most definitely did not sound like a catch. He came off as a bore and judgmental. Oh yeah, what a dreamboat.

Abbey's a bit dull herself, but I might have been able to stand this story if it had been only her POV.

This is purely a light and fluffy romance that doesn't really have any substance but it still quite a cute ride.
We follow Abbey as her life falls apart spectacularly (her boyfriend dumps her and tells her he has been cheating on her & she then looses her job the next day) and in true Rom-Com fashion she kinda has a mental breakdown disguised as reinventing herself and being happier.
Naturally she moves into a new, fancy ass apartment but has the most annoying neighbor (you can already see where this is going right?) Needing a date for a vow renewal she ropes him into it, even though they basically hate each other and can't stand to be in the same room together.

Lighthearted, predictable, very quick to move romance between two opposites who more than just attract each other, it was a fun enough time. There's also the fake dating trope which is always fun and always leads to some real feelings developing, but also annoyingly a lot of miscommunication too.
The ending felt very rushed though, likely because of how much time the two main characters spent lying to each other which i didn't like at all. For me it just cheapened the whole story and their budding relationship, and left quite a sour taste in my life which meant that i couldn't fully enjoy what was happening.
If there is one thing i hate the most in romance books it is when they decide not to communicate properly and would rather make everything more complicated than it has to be by not being honest with themselves or each other...

Saying all of that, it was still fun enough, just not as good as i think it could have been. In my opinion for it to be a better enemies to love type of romance there needs to be something other than miscommunication stopping them from liking each other...

I usually despise the misunderstandings trope coz it usually goes wrong so easily. But this book nailed it in every sense of the word, coz it's just awesome. It's funny, light-hearted, thoughtful, and overall, a very enjoyable.

The MCs are so lovable, and I was rooting for them both from the start. I'll say that they have way too many similarities though. Both tech nerds with cheating partners. It's cool that they relate, but their backstories were repetitive. It didn't bother me too much, coz as i said, Abbey and Ted made so much sense to me, weirdly relatable though my life is nothing like theirs .They are literally made for each other, and their chemistry is sizzling! They fit together perfectly and the way they support each other was just fab.

With the ending, I think that's where a lot went wrong. The story just abruptly ended without showing a proper resolution into Ted's problems. Worse than this, we didn't get to see a lot of Ted and Abbey actually dating, so that was annoying. I'd really have appreciated an epilogue to peek into their happily-ever-after.

Nevertheless, I'd recommend this book coz I still love it. Must read for fans of fake dating, dual POV, HEAs, clean romance, and those in need of a good laugh.

This was a light-hearted, quick weekend read. It had all of the tropes that one could ask for, fake dating, mistaken identity, slow burn, family drama, ex drama, but the ending fell a little flat for me. I loved Abbey and Ted getting to know each other, whether real or fake, and could feel the chemistry. However, the whole plot of this story was smushed together in the last 10% of the book.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for providing me with this Arc in exchange for my honest review!

The book has
- fake dating
- dual pov
- low-spice romance

This book intrigued me with the promise of "chemistry you'll be thinking about long after turning the last page". But sadly I did not see any kind of chemistry between the two main characters. And I could not connect with the characters, sadly. Because beforehand I was truly excited to read this book.

This review may contain spoilers.

I normally like fake dating tropes BUT what I did not like was the excessive continuation of their lies. I get the "fake it till you make it" idea and I can understand that it can help to give you some confidence in some situations but continuing such a massive lie like the male main character did? Why? And it could have been easily resolved within the first few chapters. This whole storyline annoyed me quite a lot! And what bothers me a lot is how could he get through the airport customs without the right passport? This makes no sense to me. And sadly I found there to be quite a lot of a double standards and quite harsh comments especially about the female characters. Both from the mmc and fmc. At one point one female character is described as stunning and truly beautiful and then she has the most unnatural lips which disgust him? All these double standards while always being like "don't be biased" while being biased. What also doesn't resonate with me is the idea that women who are good with numbers could not be liked by the famous sport guy and only an actress would be good enough. This also applies the other way around. Can we not?

Overall I would give this book 1,5 ⭐ which I would round up to 2 ⭐.

4.20!

"But God, I’ll miss him. I miss him now and we still have days together. It’s like the countdown to a vacation you wish you could continue forever."

This was expected from the moment I read Sama's review, I knew I was going to love it and this book did not fail to make me love it. It was so cute! I was laughing giggling (I don't giggle) and was kinda blushing (I don't blush either) at their interactions. Not gonna lie, I don't always have the best experiences with YA romances they come across as too cheesy or straight up cringe or some YA just add the filthiest smut there is at the end of the book. The writing did not disappoint either! I was fully invested in it and if I was not busy preparing for me exams, I would have binge read it. S0, safe to say that I am going to read more if this author's works.

The plot was also very entertaining we follow our main characters Ted and Abby who have both suffered from their partners cheating on them with their best friends and the way Laura wrote it was so good because the way they met and the circumstances were>> I loved it! So they both meet and I don't want to spoil but certain scenarios lead them to start fake dating eventually leading to Ted having to go with Abbey to her parents anniversary but also keep in mind there is this very blah trope miscommunication but I did not mind it THAT much, it's because both of the MC's lie to ach other about their real identity but they are obviously falling for each other and dont know how to communicate.

Abbey, I love witty characters who come up with great comebacks because the way she made me laugh proves why this book is labelled as a rom-com it was so fun to read about her. I honestly would have depressed myself to sleep if I was her because the first two chapters for her are a NIGHTMARE. I loved how she thought of ted as arrogant and stubborn + full of himself when he was neither and was just pretending LMAO.

Ted, when I tell you he stole the show for me!! He was the perfect cutest cinnamon roll to ever exist and I related to him so much! software engineer?! shy?!? dorky?!?!? I think all the men who take CS can relate to him. I love how he dealt with his problems and his ex gf also liked how he told Abbey that he's a professional athlete 😭😭😭 (mood) and the way man acted like one so easily?? kheir, I love how that lead to the start of their fake dating.

The romance for me was perfect! there was nothing about it that I would change. I was promised a clean romance with slow burn, angst and sweet heartfelt moments and it delivered on them all! It was the way that the tension was radiating off of them uuffff *chefs kiss*

The only reason why I did not rate it higher was because of the third act and how rushed it was, now I did not mind the third act breakup but it was done too late. We did not get to process anything because it was just one minute the thing happening and then the other everything was solved and I was like okayy! lets see how it goes from here and then I turn the page to find two horrifying words THE END like?? but besides that I really enjoyed it.

I read this one because of Sama and also because I wanted a clean romance because of Ramadan. I would recommend that you read it if you liked better than the movies or any cute YA romance.

*Thank you to Boldwood books for an E-Arc of this book in exchange for a honest review*

"Fake It 'til You Make It" is a nice light romance to enjoy on a warm summer day.

Abbey is in her late 20s, with the perfect job and the perfect man, living in the wonderful New York City. Except...her perfect world comes crashing down when she returns from a business trip only to come home to be dumped by her boyfriend. And to rub salt to the injury he tells her that he's been cheating on her. When Abbey thinks things cannot get any worse...she basically gets fired from her job the next day.

So newly single and unemployed, naturally she decides to live her best life and fake the life she'd rather have. She starts by moving into the fanciest building in New York and buys herself a new expensive wardrobe of her dreams. Except her single life isn't all sunshine and rainbows. Her upstairs neighbour is super annoying and likes to bounce baseballs on the wall all day and night. And she has to find a date for her parents' vow renewal to show her ex-boyfriend that she's doing fine. So naturally she goes on a hunt for a date on Tinder...but maybe finding a date will be easier than she thought and all she needs to do is visit her new neighbour.

I enjoyed the story for the most part. It was a rather quick and fun enemies-to-lovers and fake dating romance. However, there's a lot of miscommunication and lying about the real identities of people. I didn't like the miscommunication that the main characters had, not to mention they are lying to each other for basically the whole book. The story also dragged a bit in the middle of the book but the ending felt way too rushed. But still a solid 3 stars out of 5 for me.

If this sounds like your jam, you might want to pick up "Fake It 'til You Make It".

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher Boldwood Books for giving me a copy of the e-book in exchange for my honest review.

The biggest issue with this book is that it is set in America/Canada but it is so obviously written by someone English. None of the phrases or slang used in the dialogue would ever be used in conversation by an American. Also no American uses whatsapp. I’m all for people researching and exploring to write about places they aren’t actually from but could we even have a crumb of forethought????

Beyond the language issues this was aggregating to read. There was absolutely no good reason for these two characters to be lying to each other at all from the very beginning.

The chemistry between these two characters was really nice. Unfortunately it was soured by the underlying lies the entire time.

Also the formatting is weird. Apostrophes and quotation marks are not the same punctuation.

ARC from NetGalley and Boldwood Books

Such a sweet, clean romance! The idea of this was amazing, but it fell a little short for me. I wanted to love it, but there was nothing unique about it

Abbey's world comes crashing down when her boyfriend reveals he's met someone else on the same day she loses her job. Determined to start fresh, Abbey splurges her wedding savings on renting an apartment in her dream building and revamping her wardrobe. But when her ex and a date are invited to her parents' vow renewal, Abbey realizes she needs to up her game. In a desperate move, she concocts a plan to fake a romance and enlists the help of her hot new neighbour. As Abbey dives into the world of fake dating, she discovers unexpected chemistry and learns valuable lessons about love, self-discovery, and embracing new beginnings.

It is a delightful and hilarious rom-com filled with wit, charm, and plenty of heartwarming moments that will leave readers smiling from ear to ear. Abbey's journey from heartbreak to self-discovery is both relatable and empowering. Carter expertly captures Abbey's vulnerability and resilience as she navigates the ups and downs of love and career setbacks. Readers will find themselves rooting for Abbey as she embarks on her journey to reinvent herself and find happiness on her terms.

The fake-dating trope is executed with flair and originality, adding layers of humour and romance to the narrative. Abbey's chemistry with her hot neighbour sparks from the very beginning, creating palpable tension and sizzling moments that leap off the page. Carter's writing is witty and engaging, drawing readers into Abbey's world and inviting them to experience the highs and lows of her romantic escapades. Beyond the romance, it explores themes of self-discovery, friendship, and the courage to embrace new beginnings. Abbey's journey of personal growth and empowerment is inspiring, offering valuable lessons about resilience and the importance of staying true to oneself.

It is a charming and heartwarming rom-com that will leave you laughing, swooning, and cheering for Abbey's happily ever after. With its delightful characters, witty dialogue, and feel-good storyline, this book is sure to brighten any reader's day.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood books for the ARC!

Abbey is certain that her boyfriend is about to propose when she is left reeling from his announcement that he has found someone else. Her whole life is flipped on end and she sets out to live the life she has always dreamed of. She gets the fancy apartment and a new wardrobe to match but she no longer has the dream guy. After a couple of run-ins with her hot new neighbor, she is left with the impression that he is a playboy baseball player who lives up to the stereotype of the hot rich athlete. He just might be the answer to her problem, though, when she learns that her ex is invited to her parent's vow renewal and he's bringing a date. Can she keep up the ruse of this fake new life without it all crumbling down?

This was a cute and light read but it felt pretty slow going at the beginning and rushed at the end. I wish the mistaken identity storyline was resolved a lot quicker and I felt drawn out of the story multiple times throughout with different phrases from the characters (who are American and Canadian living in New York City) that seemed more British. This made the characters feel a little less genuine. Overall, this would be an easy and quick read perfect for a beach trip!

Abbey is a business auditor in New York City, freshly back from a business trip - her boyfriend wants to get together for dinner - she thinks he's going to propose, but instead she finds out that he's been cheating on her, and wants to break up! Not only does she have to move out of their apartment, but she loses her job the next day! She then takes all her wedding funds and rents a posh new apartment with it, not knowing how to pay for it in the future. Ted is a tech genius from Silicon Valley who just found out that his business partner has been having an affair - with Ted's fiance! Ted leaves for New York City - borrowing his brother, Mike's apartment, which is one floor above Abbey's!

Abbey thinks that Ted is Mike, a famous baseball player, and Ted doesn't bother to correct her. When Abbey's ex happens to see the two of them together outside of their building, the two pretend to be dating, to make him jealous. Abbey then asks Mike/Ted to continue the charade and be her date to her parents' vow renewal ceremony in Canada.

When Abbey and Mike/Ted travel to Canada, all reality ceases, as the plane tickets are reserved in Mike's name, even though Ted is the one traveling - and no border issues are experienced at all! This plot hole is never considered, or brought up at all! (This was a cute "fake dating" story, but lost it's luster because of this error by the author or the editors.)

This title from Boldwood Books will be published on April 8, 2024. Thanks to Net Galley and Boldwood Books for the Advance Reader Copy of this book.

A little bit enemies, a little bit fake dating and ultimately friends to lovers. Abbey and Ted get off on the wrong foot when meeting in their apartment lobby. She just moved in following her longterm/predestined for each other by their parents bf cheating on her and his fiance cheated on him with his business partner so he fled to his brothers apartment across the country. They could have easily made a sorry having a bad day comment and gotten straight to being friends, but nooo, that'd be too easy 🤣🤣.

She sneaks a peak at the name on the mail and assumes his name is Mike (who is actually his brother). Abbey is reinventing herself and Ted needing a change just runs with it. They both fall into these characters, fall into friendship and when she needs a date to her parents vow renewal to show up her douche canoe of an ex, they inevitably fall straight into feelings.

Overall, there's a handful of things I enjoyed about this book, the fake dating, the friendship between the two main characters, and the different settings. But, there were some strange things too, there's a lot of British humor for characters that are from California/Canada but meet in NY that didn't make sense, the plot line with the sister felt a little extra prominent, and while the third act fight felt realistic, the reconciliation lead to one of the most abrupt endings ever. I have SO many unanswered question but over all a light fun read for a rainy day.

Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC in exchange for my review!