Quick Synopsis – A waitress masquerading as an influencer and a wildlife photographer are on a collision course with romance—and chaos—in Hate to Fake It to You, a zany modern twist on a screwball comedy classic about figuring out what you really want—by pretending to be someone you’re not.

Song This Reminds Me Of – Reflection by Christina Aguilera

Publication Date – July 16, 2024

Steamy Rating – 🌶️

Overall Rating – 2 out of 5 ⭐

Review – I liked this book, but I thought it could have used more spice. Don’t get me wrong there is some spicy kissing, but that’s about it. Also, some of the storylines are left open at the end of the book, which could set this up for a series, but it just felt like something was missing.

Libby is a waitress in Hawaii who wants to be a journalist and Jefferson is a part-time wildlife photographer and a rescue person in Wyoming. Their lives become intertwined when a rich heir to a media empire, Hildy, gets lost during a snowstorm. Jackson rescues her and Hildy decides to play up the rescue into a romance. When the media runs with their “romance”, Hildy decides to take a vacation to Hawaii to meet one of her Instagram idols, Lillibet. The problem is Lillibet is made up, Libby is one part of Lillibet with Jean (her roommate).

This book is rife with the miscommunication trope and pretending to be someone you’re not. The thing is the writing isn’t bad, but the plot has way too much going on. It’s really hard to tell what anyone’s motivation is. I wish that this was more focused on Jefferson and Libby, the background was distracting. Like is Mr. L really a pyscho? Is Hildy’s Uncle that big of a misogynist? It’s just too many plot points that honestly felt unresolved.

This was just an okay book in my opinion, I think that the author is a good writer I just really didn’t love the story.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.