Fake It Till You Bake It by Jamie Wesley: Book Review

Fake It Till You Bake It is the latest release from Jamie Wesley. With an expected release date of June 21, 2022, Fake It Till You Bake It will be the perfect addition to your summer reading plans! This rom-com introduces readers to Jada Townsend-Matthews, a woman trying to figure her life out after a disastrous appearance on a reality show, and Donovan Dell, a cupcake bakery owner. She’s impulsive, and he’s methodical. What could go wrong when they have to work together?

I want to thank St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Fake It Till You Bake It. All opinions presented here are solely mine.

Synopsis from Goodreads

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.

Positives

An easy read! Perfect for a weekend curled up on the couch, by the pool, or at the beach.

Jada has dyslexia and isn’t ashamed of it. She mentions it to Donovan when he asks why she’s adjusting the settings on the tablet, and it’s mentioned again when she’s asked to read on live tv. While I’m not dyslexic, learning more about the tips and tricks used to help them navigate the written word is great.

Mrs. T, Jada’s grandmother, is probably the grandmother we all wish we could have. She’s a straight-talking, no-nonsense woman and a perfect role model!

Negatives

Bit of a spoiler here, but why are Jada’s parents so negative towards Jada? So what if she doesn’t want to study science or be a doctor? What’s wrong with letting her chase her dreams? I know that they are written that way to help explain Jada’s actions and motivations.

My Opinions

Fake It Til You Bake It is a mix of two of my favorite activities-baking and sports! Add in some fake dating, a sunny California beach setting, and a touch of steam-and you have a perfect mix!

Yes, this romance has some steamy moments, but most of them are PG-13. There is one place that is a little steamier than others. But even then, it’s not excessively detailed.

Sugar Blitz is the kind of place I would love to have near me, a neighborhood cupcakery where people can gather and socialize. Oh, and have some delicious cupcakes! You can’t forget the cupcakes!

Reading a romance with more male characters than females was a bit unusual. August and Nicholas are Donovan’s friends, business partners, and teammates. They also appear quite a bit in the story, as most center around Sugar Blitz. Ella is the only other employee at Sugar Blitz. The only female other than Mrs. T, who is in the story consistently, is Oliva-Jada’s best friend.

In the epilogue, a line teases another possible visit to Sugar Blitz, and I hope it happens soon.

If you are looking for a quick, easy read that is perfect for the summer (or anytime, actually), then you should check out Fake It Till You Bake It!

Looking for some more books to read? Check out my other book reviews and my monthly reading wrap-ups.