Tuesday, June 21, 2022

Review - - Fake it Till You Bake it

Fake it Till You Bake it: A Novel
by Jamie Wesley
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Release Date: June 21, 2022
Reviewed by PJ
 


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 struggling bakery and rehabilitate Jada's image. Faking a relationship should be simple, but sometimes love is the most unexpected ingredient.




PJ's Thoughts:

What a thoroughly charming story! I read it in one day. Will probably read it again. It made me smile, laugh out loud, sigh with delight, and crave cupcakes. So. Many. Cupcakes.

Jada is lying low, trying to get her life back on track after the social media sh*tstorm that followed her refusal of the final proposal on a reality dating show when she's upended again by a surprise family ultimatum. Donovan, a pro football player, along with two teammates, has just realized his dream of opening a cupcake shop but business is falling off rather than picking up steam. Fate sets them up as adversaries, her grandmother (his boss), sets them up as co-workers, and an unexpected twist has them fake dating. Did I mention that they also have off the charts chemistry and his (meddling) friends think they'd make a perfect match? Reality dating shows, football, enemies-to-lovers, and cupcakes. It's like Jamie Wesley wrote this book just for me! 

I adored this couple with their snappy banter, simmering chemistry, and surprising work partnership. I loved that Wesley gave them the necessary time to work through personal issues and find their footing before leading them into a romantic relationship. I loved Jada's evolution, how she slowly began to discover her strengths, how Donovan's perception of her shifted in the process, and his defense and support of her against naysayers. I enjoyed their layers, their teasing humor, and the emotional baggage that had to be sorted. It was just enough to give complexity and texture to the lighthearted, humorous parts of the story. And I loved the secondary cast! There's so much potential there for future stories and I, for one, cannot wait to read them.

I enthusiastically recommend adding this one to your summer reading list but a word of advice: you might want to make a batch of cupcakes to nibble on before you turn that first page. Just sayin'.

 

7 comments:

  1. This sounds so cute, thanks for the review. And thanks for introducing me to another new to me author. Hope everyone is well.

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  2. Great review! I’m so excited for this one. The cover is stunning!

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  3. This one sounds like a delightful way to spend a summer day. Especially those days when things are chaotic and you just need a sweet diversion, with cupcakes. Thank you for the review.

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  4. I agree with you. I received an ARC of this and I loved it!

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  5. I agree PJ and look forward to more from her.

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  6. Sounds very cute! I'll put this on my list!

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