Fake It 'til You Make was such a fun ride. Abbey and Ted were perfect for each other. I will always pick up a "nerdy" romance book and I did enjoy this quite a bit.
The book is a breeze to get through – it's light, it's fun, and it moves through complex emotions without weighing you down. That's the charm of it. But, if I’m being honest, I do wish Abbey and Ted had been more upfront with each other earlier on. The end felt a bit rushed, like we suddenly jumped to the resolve and neatly tied up all loose ends. Real life is messier than that, and a bit more honesty earlier could have added depth.
Still, I had a good time reading it. It's a solid "feel-good" pick, and I breezed through it.

Thanks to Boldwood Books/Laura Carter/NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I’m definitely keeping an eye out for more from this author.

This is an upbeat, light and airy new romance novel following two characters as they detangle their lives and their feelings for each other. Both have been cheated on by the one “everyone thought would be forever” and they have both branded themselves as “the one who always comes second place”, so when they meet both put on acts they think will make themselves more appealing to the world. With tropes of miscommunication, grumpy neighbours to lovers, and some really loveable side characters, this will make a great light summer or spring read.

3.5 ⭐️ Overall, I found this book very enjoyable, though I really wish all the lies they told each other had been sorted out a bit earlier. The ending felt very abrupt after all the secrets came unraveled, there were no real consequences of anyone’s actions. But this isn’t a massive issue since the point of the book is a lighthearted romance.

Thank you to Laura Carter, her publisher, and NetGalley for this advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. I look forward to seeing what she writes in the future!

Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for an advance e-copy of Fake it til you Make it by Laura Carter, in exchange of an honest review.

This charming and lighthearted novel offers a delightful blend of popular romance tropes that will appeal to a wide range of readers. The gradual development of the characters' relationships provides a captivating narrative arc. While the interweaving of miscommunication and mistaken identities tropes may be somewhat unconventional, their consistent presence throughout the story prevents them from becoming overly jarring. The author skillfully orchestrates the characters' interactions, allowing them to engage in witty banter while also experiencing significant personal growth. The absence of explicit content ensures a clean romance, yet the palpable chemistry between the main characters maintains a high level of romantic tension. The secondary characters are equally well-developed and serve as valuable additions to the storyline. However, the ending of the novel leaves some questions unanswered. The abrupt resolution of the fake dating arrangement and the swift transition to a happily ever after could have benefited from a more gradual unfolding. An epilogue would have provided a satisfying sense of closure and answered lingering questions about the characters' future. Despite this minor critique, the novel remains a highly enjoyable read that will leave readers yearning for more. This was a solid 3.90 Stars read for me!

This book would have been 4 stars if it weren't for how long it took for all the lies told to be straightened out. The lies start really early on in the story and the main one - Abbey and Ted lying to each other about who they are, lasts until basically the last chapter of the book and that was just frustrating!

Abbey thought she was getting a proposal from her long time boyfriend, Andrew, when instead he tells her he's leaving her for someone else. Then she's fired from her job as an auditor the next day, to make matters worse. Her best friend, Shernette, and her sister, Dee, encourage her to "fake it till she makes it" and buys herself a whole new wardrobe of designer clothes and rents an apartment in a fancy building in New York city that she can only just afford.

Ted has fled San Francisco to his brother's apartment in New York after finding his fiancée and best friend mid-act. He's hiding from the world while he tries to figure out his next step with his business.

Abbey and Ted run into each other in the building and Abbey mistakes Ted for his brother Mike when he drops some mail and he doesn't bother to correct her. But as they get to know each other better and spend more time together they begin falling for the parts of each other that aren't a lie - but neither of them admit to the lie until the very last minute, on the night of Abbey's parents vow renewal that Ted has accompanied her to as Mike, her fake boyfriend to save face in front of her ex.

There were a lot of loose ends that were never tied up - even though Abbey exposed Andrew for being a cheater, he seems to have gotten away with it when really her family and Ted should have torn him a new one as well as his mother who seems just as horrible. Ted's accountant wanted to speak to Abbey about a job where she could work from anywhere - what happened to that? Did Ted even tell her? But the biggest part left untold was Ted finally confronting his business partner and fiancée. There should have at least been some closure around this bit - the biggest thing happening in Ted's life that sent him hiding to New York in the first place, but no! We're just left to wonder.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Thanks NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this book, but unfortunately this book wasn't for me.

‘Fake It ‘til You Make It’ was an easy read even it became a bit tedious for me after a while.

Abbey and Ted, recently broken up with their respective partners due to cheating, form a fake relationship to keep face in front of Abbey’s family.
They also both lie to one another about who they really are - Abbey pretends to be an actress and Ted pretends he’s his brother Mike, an professional baseball player. This causes all kinds of problems and misunderstandings and drama.

It was a big annoyance to me, since the misudnerstanding trope is definitely not my favourite. Abbey and Ted kept going on like this until the very end. They kept telling themselves that was the day they were going to come clean, and they always changed their mind at the very last minute. It became boring pretty soon.

Both of the characters personalities seems to rely on their breakpups and there wasn't much else to them. The srotyline feels forced, the revelation - which was not brought on by any of the main characters - came from someone else. Segue the shortest epilogue I've ever seen when the characters reconcile expressing their love for one another, but still, the fact that they lied to each other was discussed at all.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an early copy of this book to review.
I needed this book. I have been reading so many thrillers lately that I needed a romance story. I knew what would happen because all fake relationship books end like that, but I still loved it!
I loved Ted, I thought he was an awesome character. And Abbey was so relatable, just trying to find herself and be confident.
Fleur and Andrew made me so mad. I was so glad Abbey was finally able to stand up!
I did feel the ending was a little rushed, I was hoping to see more of their story after being together.
Overall I liked this book a lot and very cute funny romance story.

3-4 stars

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this book. It was my first by this author, and while I did love the story premise, I felt it needed more. I needed an epilogue, or a few more chapters at least to see what happened with the couple.

I also really couldn’t get over the use of apostrophes in place of quotations around spoken parts between characters. It really bothered me and almost made me quit. I am glad I stuck it out though, until the end where again, I felt I needed more

Ted and Abbey had both been deceived by their partners and trying to figure out their lives by faking who they really are. As their fake relationship starts as a way for Abbey to confront her ex boyfriend, their interactions improve and the chemistry between them is strong. But can they really face their feeling with all the lies and pretend between them? Funny and sexy but a little slow in the story development

1.5 I love a book with a good trope, so that is the reason I wanted to read this one. However, I felt like everything about this book was very surface level, especially the characters. I didn't find them relatable or appealing. Also, I did not enjoy the fact that the lies in this book lasted for the majority, and then they were almost swept under the rug with a quick finish to the book. I just don't think this book was for me, but to each their own.

This has a whole lot of potential from the blurb but I gotta be honest, it dragged. The only thing keeping me from DNFing it is giving it a chance and that I can move kn to the next book on my list. Maybe I expected more laughs, more chemistry, but it lacked. I was ridden with anxiety when the shoe will drop, when it will crash and when it did, it really did in a cliche way. Don't get me wrong, i love good cliches, but the way I already know it will blow during the wedding and the all the nonsense happened 70% of the book, the slow burn was not slowburning at all. I wish I could say better things apart from, i wish i has friend and sister like abbey has.

Thanks netgally and publisher for ARC.

Thanks to the publisher (via NetGallery) for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun dual POV fake dating, mistaken identity, neighbours, closed door romance. Low spice/steam. Enjoyable… however, I missed some deeper connection between them, and felt there needed to be more banter and relationship development, lacked chemistry, but some likeable elements to the read overall, certainly enough so that I wanted to keep reading. Entertaining.

Super cute book!! I laughed, I cringed, and I almost cried. The trope is totally predictable but if it's your thing, this book will please you. Both of the leading characters were very endearing. I loved reading from both their perspectives and seeing all the obvious assumptions along the way.

The final resolution happened very fast though, in my opinion. It could've been drawn out at least a little longer, add some suspense, even though you know how it'll turn out.

This book is mainly set in New York, with a trip to Canada, but there was phrasing and words in the book that didn't fit the locale. It was weird and because of that it stood out to me.

I would recommend this book. I hope there's a follow-up!!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book starts with Abbey thinking her boyfriend is going to propose to find out not only has he been cheating but he is breaking up with her! To make matters worse she loses the job she loves!
After blowing her savings to rent her dream apartment Abbey meets her gorgeous new neighbour ‘Mike’ (who is actually Ted, Mikes younger brother)
Both Abbey and Ted have both been cheated on in their relationships and end up fake dating to make their exs jealous.
To say I feel frustrated with Ted! He just needs to stop with all the lies and tell Abbey who is actually is! I do actually love Ted though, he is so cheeky and loveable!
I have enjoyed every page of this book! I could not put it down! I found my self laughing, crying and wanting to scream in frustration!
I just wanted a bit more from the ending! Like what happened with Ted’s business? Does Abbey find her dream job? Does she get to stay in her apartment or does she move and love with Ted?
This is the first book I have read by Laura Carter and it definitely won’t be my last!

If this book was a song: 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗲𝘀 • 𝗙𝗹𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗰

After six weeks away at work, Abbey is looking forward to reuniting with her boyfriend at their favorite Brooklyn taco joint. Her friend suggests that maybe his urgency means he’s going to propose.

In fact, no.

Not only does he break up with her — he’s in love with someone else, that cheater, but the next morning there’s trouble — the account she was away working on found big problems in the numbers she’s crunched, and long story short, she’s lost her job.

So what’s a red blooded, jilted, unemployed girl to do? Abbey uses her wedding savings to rent her dream apartment, get a makeover…and hope for the best?

Just as she’s about to cross paths with her ex, the cute guy from the penthouse steps in, pretends they’re dating, and helps Abbey save face.

Ted is a tech wizard nursing his own breakup: he walked in on his fiancée and best friend having sex in his office. So he’s fled San Francisco to hole up in his brother’s NYC apartment to figure out his next steps.

Unfortunately, Abbey believes Ted is Mike, his pro baseball playing, playboy living brother, and Ted believes she’s a snooty actress with a shopping problem — fake identities fly!

When Abbey needs a date to her parents’ party to thwart her ex at said party, M̶i̶k̶e̶ T̶e̶d̶ Mike (?!) is the obvious choice.

Sparks fly but with so much dishonesty and half truths, will these two kids be able to find love?

This is a romance with no spice told in first person, alternating chapters. The first person threw me initially as it reads like you’re peering into a diary. Also Abbey seems like she’s on the spectrum initially but is never established as such, which makes the narrative harsh in some places.

Overall, as a kooky, fake dating, fake identity romcom, it works. It’s funny and endearing in turns, and despite it all, you’ll root for your new favorite couple.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC to read and review. Available April 8, 2024.

Abbey and Ted end up single and decide to fake a relationship, and ultimately, they fall for each other in this quick, breezy rom-com.
I thought the characters were overall a bit immature with all things related to life and relationships, but this made for a fun read.
Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for access to this e-ARC.

Fake It ‘til You Make It shares Abbey and Ted’s stories. It is a lovely light read that made me smile a lot.

I enjoyed getting to know Abbey and Ted. I knew I was invested in them as a couple because the feeling of dread whenever they appeared ready to broach certain subjects was real – and that is what kept me hooked! I hated the circumstances which brought them together, and thoroughly enjoyed seeing those who needed retribution for what they did receive it. I do wish that there had been more to the ending of this narrative. The balance of the storyline isn’t quite right for me, in that the build up to the final and dramatic scenes is long, and then the ending if you flick two pages together you could almost miss it.

As I questioned situations throughout the storyline, the author gave me explanations to support those feelings and actions – although I always had a feeling there was something more to Abbey’s auditing career move. The story is told through the perspectives of both Ted and Abbey, which helped to understand the situations they found themselves in.

Overall, this is a nice and easy read. As supporting characters go, I absolutely love Dee. Maybe we’ll get her story one day!

3.5-4 stars

3.5 stars

Fake It Till You Make It follows Abbey and Ted, two people who've just had their relationships fall apart. When Ted and Abbey run into each other in their new apartment building, a case of mistaken identity leads to a fake dating scheme to convince their exes (and Abbey's family) that they've happily moved on. BUt they're not only keeping secrets from the people around them, Ted and Abbey are keeping secrets from each other. When those secrets come out, will the growing feelings that these two have for each other stand the test?

I thought this book was cute! I love a fake dating trope and I think this book pulled it off really well. Abbey and Ted were both interesting characters who overcame lots of their own insecurities through the book, realising that people really could love them for who they actually were, rather than the fake versions of themselves they were trying to be. I liked the relationships that Abbey had with her best friend and sister and the exploration of her relationship with her parents was interesting too. I wish we'd gotten a bit more insight into some of Ted's relationships as I don't feel like these were shown as in depth as Abbey's.. I really enjoyed how sweet and light hearted this book was too. Even though it did have some more poignant, emotional moments, most of it was very easygoing, which was just what I needed. The slow-burn was great, with Abbey and Ted going from enemies, to reluctant allies, to friends and, finally, to falling for each other.

While I did enjoy this book, I did struggle with some aspects of it. The lying was a bit too much for me in some places. There were so many times that both Abbey and Ted could've come clean to each other and then let their insecurities stop them from doing so, which I found frustrating at times. I had to suspend my disbelief quite a lot to believe that they would both get past being lied to for so long by the person they want to be with, particularly considering how both their previous relationships ended. I also felt like some of the storylines were dropped and never really went anywhere - Abbey's job search, Abbey's sister's story (maybe one we'll get in another book?), Ted's relationship with his business partner to name a few. I would've loved even just a short epilogue to tie up some of these loose ends.

Despite some of my issues, I found this book really entertaining and was really immersed in the story. If you're looking for a cute, quick, light hearted rom com then I would definitely recommend checking out this book!

Abbey and Ted are both recovering from finding out their respective partners have been cheating on them. They're both new to the apartment building (Abbey has spent her wedding fund on six months' rent, and Ted is living in his brothers currently-vacant penthouse). The two strike up a reluctant alliance when Abbey runs into her ex--and his new girlfriend, who happens to also live in the building. But they're both pretending to be someone they're not: Abbey is pretending to be an actress who can actually afford the rent long-term, and Ted is pretending to be his brother.

I loved the premise of this book, the plot, and the characters, but some of the prose lost me a little bit. Abbey makes comments about not wanting to be called "babe" because it's misogynistic... which really highlights how misogynistic some of Ted's thoughts are (like assuming all women who wear designer are shallow, or thinking his ex looks like a prostitute in her outfit). Abbey also has some pretty misogynistic thoughts at times, which is at odds with some of her other views. So that was pretty jarring.
This is much more minor, but Ted's POV chapters often use phrasing that's definitely not American, even though he is, and again that's fairly minor but it happened enough to pull me out of the story a couple of times.
Those issues aside, though, I did really like this book. I wish the tension/drama/reveal at the end had been drawn out a bit more, just because it was great and the book led up to it so well and I would have loved to get a little more angst at the end. But I loved how things resolved, and I definitely rooted for the characters the whole time.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, I DNF’d this book at 30%.

I did not like how the characters talked about each other, especially the male main character. Ted was giving off incel vibes - very much “I’m a nice guy why don’t girls like me why do they like douchebag bad guys wahhhhh” which is soooooo insufferable. I also did not love how he spoke about women either - Fleur is a model and it is her job to make money off of her body (an interesting complicated topic), which does not automatically make her an airhead AND THEN to assume all women who are influencers/models/actresses etc are dumb/materialistic/lack substance etc is just such a misogynist take that I thought we were all done with. I guess not. It then takes too long for him to come to the realization not all people are like that, but I’m sure he probably still thinks that considering Abbey is not in that sphere of influence anyways? And then they have bigger problems, like the fact they both are lying about who they are. I also HATE the name Ted. I did not like how Abbey talked about other women in the novel, which really just sealed the deal on DNF’ing (“smells expensive but looks cheap”… like girl you just got a clothing update and you think printed jungle pants are apart of a capsule wardrobe??? Or the cheap shots at her sister-in-law. Anyways…). I also did not love her dialogue and how she spoke - it was very Christian girl autumn, such as “IRL”, “what the fudge”, “Frecking”, etc.

It takes them until 40% of the novel to finally agree to their fake dating which just makes the book pace so slow and boring, another reason I DNF’d. There were 2 interesting juicy bits before that, but not enough to keep reading. I really was excited for the plot of this book, the execution is just poor. I really enjoyed their meet cute and thought it was funny, then everything else was kind of downhill from there. I wouldn’t call it a miscommunication trope book, because they never really talk to each other in the first place and just assume things about one another instead. If you want a fake dating book, this could be for you, but unfortunately it really rubbed me the wrong way.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Laura Carter's "Fake It Til You Make It" offers a cute journey through unlikely romance but falls short in consistency and depth. The story follows Abbey and Ted, two characters navigating similar relationship woes but taking divergent paths—one wealthy, the other faking it. While their evolving relationship from contentious neighbors to faux lovers carries moments of sweetness and humor, the pacing of the book felt off. Setting the stage took far too long and I almost DNFed the book before 50% because I felt like nothing was happening. The ending was cute though mostly predictable. All in all a fun read with a few cons.