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Honestly, I'm Totally Faking It
Rach is a down-on-her-luck, happy-go-lucky kind of lady … Sure, she may be an assistant to personal assistants, crashing on her ex-boyfriend’s couch, and have a whole secret past, but mostly, things are great.
Until she:
1. Meets Pres — an aspiring politician, certified Capricorn, and a definitely “unlikable” dude (he knows, he had a poll done on it) —and
2. Accidentally goes viral at the same time. (The internet is calling it “Boobgate.”)
His PR person says they should capitalize on the fame. Pres only wants to win an election. And Rach, well, she really just wants to keep her job.
Now she must decide if she can be herself and get the guy, too, or if faking it until you make it is all it’s cracked up to be…
Until she:
1. Meets Pres — an aspiring politician, certified Capricorn, and a definitely “unlikable” dude (he knows, he had a poll done on it) —and
2. Accidentally goes viral at the same time. (The internet is calling it “Boobgate.”)
His PR person says they should capitalize on the fame. Pres only wants to win an election. And Rach, well, she really just wants to keep her job.
Now she must decide if she can be herself and get the guy, too, or if faking it until you make it is all it’s cracked up to be…
362 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 7, 2022
428 people are currently reading
8,537 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Gambill
4 books349 followersAmanda is a Top 40 Amazon contemporary romance bestselling author. She likes love stories, messy characters, secrets, and will always make at least one bad joke when she’s supposed to seem serious and important.
As a former journalist, published poet, award-winning public relations professional, and digital marketing agency executive, she now writes romance books full-time.
She's currently working on her next book (#Sable ❤️🔥). If you want to stay in the know and see her writing process, teasers, and more, make sure you follow her on Instagram at @byamandagambill. And drop her a message! She loves meeting her readers.
As a former journalist, published poet, award-winning public relations professional, and digital marketing agency executive, she now writes romance books full-time.
She's currently working on her next book (#Sable ❤️🔥). If you want to stay in the know and see her writing process, teasers, and more, make sure you follow her on Instagram at @byamandagambill. And drop her a message! She loves meeting her readers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,043 reviews
April 14, 2023
Honestly, I totally loved it!! (I wonder how many other reviews start that way?? 😂)
An expertly executed grumpy/sunshine, fake dating, workplace romance, Honestly I’m Totally Faking It was wonderfully steamy and so easy to binge over a weekend. I loved Rach’s unflinching optimism and how it was balanced with Pres’s straight-laced honesty. They had great chemistry!!
The writing was fantastic, with moments that made me laugh out loud and others that made me swooooon. I especially loved the not-birthday birthday party and the following scene on the terrace - so, SO good.
The only fault I can find with this book, and this is totally a me thing, is that I would have loved a dual POV so we could have had a little more insight to Pres’s thoughts and feelings about Rach. Definitely still recommend this book 100% and I am so excited to tackle Amanda’s backlist now!
ETA: April 13th, 2023
Loved it even more the second time around. Pres and Rach are PERFECTION. I can’t get enough.
An expertly executed grumpy/sunshine, fake dating, workplace romance, Honestly I’m Totally Faking It was wonderfully steamy and so easy to binge over a weekend. I loved Rach’s unflinching optimism and how it was balanced with Pres’s straight-laced honesty. They had great chemistry!!
The writing was fantastic, with moments that made me laugh out loud and others that made me swooooon. I especially loved the not-birthday birthday party and the following scene on the terrace - so, SO good.
The only fault I can find with this book, and this is totally a me thing, is that I would have loved a dual POV so we could have had a little more insight to Pres’s thoughts and feelings about Rach. Definitely still recommend this book 100% and I am so excited to tackle Amanda’s backlist now!
ETA: April 13th, 2023
Loved it even more the second time around. Pres and Rach are PERFECTION. I can’t get enough.
July 14, 2024
-ˋˏ 3 stars
Not the worst romcom I've read. Had so much potential.
This story follows Rach, a personal assistant to the personal assistant, who somehow finds herself working for a young, hot politician, Pres & having to be his fake girlfriend for PR.
I couldn't enjoy the start fully though because I knew boobgate was gonna happen (I mean, it's on the freaking cover) but it took a while for us to get there, and I'm not a fan of a disaster like this so I was anxious the whole time lol
And I also wasn't a fan of how Rach responded to insults. I get that she was supposed to be a positive person but making light of someone completely obliterating your self-worth is pathetic, not admirable. I wish she stood up for herself more.
The writing was ok but too descriptive sometimes. There was a lot of this happening:
Very impressive that she was able to identify clothes by brand like that just by visual alone. From afar. Without looking at the labels. It was never mentioned that Rach spent her free time looking at high-end clothing but hey what do I know. Maybe she'd be more lucky trying out a career as a stylist instead??
I enjoyed the romance though. Pres was a great hero. They had great chemistry. Despite not liking Rach very much, I was ready to give this a 4 star at least, because the romance did make me swoon sometimes.
But then the ending happened.
I just couldn't wrap my head around how stupid and naive Rach was at the end. It didn't take a genius to know what the angle was behind that offer. At that point Rach just lost me. She was so oblivious to everything & would probably continue being that way had she not accidentally seen something. I could NOT believe she could be THAT stupid. It was embarrassing and I was half hoping Pres would come in, saw it, and be like nah you're actually too much of an idiot to be with me. The whole thing was unrealistic, too over the top, and just an overall mess. Please stop writing heroines like this I BEG YOU.
Naive ≠ being positive
Being positive ≠ total dumbass
Dumbass ≠ "You're so smart, Rach"
Not the worst romcom I've read. Had so much potential.
This story follows Rach, a personal assistant to the personal assistant, who somehow finds herself working for a young, hot politician, Pres & having to be his fake girlfriend for PR.
I couldn't enjoy the start fully though because I knew boobgate was gonna happen (I mean, it's on the freaking cover) but it took a while for us to get there, and I'm not a fan of a disaster like this so I was anxious the whole time lol
And I also wasn't a fan of how Rach responded to insults. I get that she was supposed to be a positive person but making light of someone completely obliterating your self-worth is pathetic, not admirable. I wish she stood up for herself more.
The writing was ok but too descriptive sometimes. There was a lot of this happening:
“He was gorgeous in a Fendi gray wool overcoat layered over a fitted cream cashmere sweater, slim fit jeans, and cream calfskin Givenchy lock boots.”
Very impressive that she was able to identify clothes by brand like that just by visual alone. From afar. Without looking at the labels. It was never mentioned that Rach spent her free time looking at high-end clothing but hey what do I know. Maybe she'd be more lucky trying out a career as a stylist instead??
I enjoyed the romance though. Pres was a great hero. They had great chemistry. Despite not liking Rach very much, I was ready to give this a 4 star at least, because the romance did make me swoon sometimes.
But then the ending happened.
I just couldn't wrap my head around how stupid and naive Rach was at the end. It didn't take a genius to know what the angle was behind that offer. At that point Rach just lost me. She was so oblivious to everything & would probably continue being that way had she not accidentally seen something. I could NOT believe she could be THAT stupid. It was embarrassing and I was half hoping Pres would come in, saw it, and be like nah you're actually too much of an idiot to be with me. The whole thing was unrealistic, too over the top, and just an overall mess. Please stop writing heroines like this I BEG YOU.
Naive ≠ being positive
Being positive ≠ total dumbass
Dumbass ≠ "You're so smart, Rach"
![Profile Image for Jessi ❤️ H. Vojsk [if villain, why hot?].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1745335152i%2F66224803._UY200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
February 10, 2023
I'd always wondered what it meant
when someone kept their real smile hidden. Now I wondered what it meant if someone kept it reserved for just one person.
Story 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Imagine you’re a girl full of positivity but with really bad luck.
How do you imagine that, you ask?
Let’s do some quick checks.
Living on your ex boyfriends couch?
✅ Check.
Being assistant of the assistants?
✅ Check.
No one remembering your real name?
✅ Check.
The whole nation seeing your boobs on television because you accidentally walked in on your boss - that you thought was a really old grumpy man but is actually his hot son - giving an interview?
✅ Check.
Luckily for Rach they met on a party so she’s not some strange stalker creeping in his apartment, but actually his good assistant?
So naturally they start fake dating so his popularity rises and he can start his career in politics.
And everything starts getting into chaos.
Characters 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Not gonna lie. Rach had my whole respect when she was still so positive, so full of life even after so many things happening (where I would be like - ah shit kill me know and then BAM Depression)
She was this intelligent ball of sunshine looking after everyone while totally being neglected.
Until Pres came along. Well at least after a while of working together.
He’s a rather cold and stubborn rich boy but he also has morals and principles and is a really really caring (fake) boyfriend doing all the fake and other things 🌝
Relationships 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Normally I’m like: a boss and his employee? Ew. Speak about rather unbalanced dynamics.
But in this case he was the boss, but he was also listening to her and they were more of a team than a boss-employee-relationship.
They treated each other well and I really liked their game of honesty.
Writing 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I’m not sure if it was because of this cutie pie named Rach, but I enjoyed reading this book a lot.
It was exactly what I needed to lift my mood.
when someone kept their real smile hidden. Now I wondered what it meant if someone kept it reserved for just one person.
Story 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Imagine you’re a girl full of positivity but with really bad luck.
How do you imagine that, you ask?
Let’s do some quick checks.
Living on your ex boyfriends couch?
✅ Check.
Being assistant of the assistants?
✅ Check.
No one remembering your real name?
✅ Check.
The whole nation seeing your boobs on television because you accidentally walked in on your boss - that you thought was a really old grumpy man but is actually his hot son - giving an interview?
✅ Check.
Luckily for Rach they met on a party so she’s not some strange stalker creeping in his apartment, but actually his good assistant?
So naturally they start fake dating so his popularity rises and he can start his career in politics.
And everything starts getting into chaos.
Characters 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Not gonna lie. Rach had my whole respect when she was still so positive, so full of life even after so many things happening (where I would be like - ah shit kill me know and then BAM Depression)
She was this intelligent ball of sunshine looking after everyone while totally being neglected.
Until Pres came along. Well at least after a while of working together.
He’s a rather cold and stubborn rich boy but he also has morals and principles and is a really really caring (fake) boyfriend doing all the fake and other things 🌝
Relationships 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Normally I’m like: a boss and his employee? Ew. Speak about rather unbalanced dynamics.
But in this case he was the boss, but he was also listening to her and they were more of a team than a boss-employee-relationship.
They treated each other well and I really liked their game of honesty.
Writing 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I’m not sure if it was because of this cutie pie named Rach, but I enjoyed reading this book a lot.
It was exactly what I needed to lift my mood.
September 13, 2023
4.75⭐️ Honestly i’m totally obsessed with this book.
Truly, obsessed is a understatement. This book is so 2000’s rom-com coded and is so underrated, it’s a hidden gem. Rach and Pres’ banter was so fun and made me laugh out loud at times.
They were everything to me, the tropes were just immaculate in this book and really well written. I swooned many times and smiled while reading because of how cute it was. I love rom-coms so much and this is now one of my favorites ever that I need everyone to read!!!
“It’s not my dream. You are. Because who I want to be most is yours. Your teammate. Your plus-one. Your boyfriend. Your partner. All yours.” 🥹🩷
Truly, obsessed is a understatement. This book is so 2000’s rom-com coded and is so underrated, it’s a hidden gem. Rach and Pres’ banter was so fun and made me laugh out loud at times.
They were everything to me, the tropes were just immaculate in this book and really well written. I swooned many times and smiled while reading because of how cute it was. I love rom-coms so much and this is now one of my favorites ever that I need everyone to read!!!
“It’s not my dream. You are. Because who I want to be most is yours. Your teammate. Your plus-one. Your boyfriend. Your partner. All yours.” 🥹🩷
June 1, 2024
➸ 4 stars
“You say the strangest things. I’ve never been able to predict your responses. It’s fascinating. You’re fascinating.”
Tropes:
↬ Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
↬ Contemporary Romance
↬ Singular POV; First Person
↬ Romcom
↬ Billionaire/Assistant
↬ Politician Hero
↬ Fake Dating
↬ Grumpy/Sunshine
↬ Slow Burn
Ratings:
↬ Initial Intrigue: 5/5
↬ Characters: 4/5
↬ Plot: 5/5
↬ Structure 4/5
↬ World-Building: 3/5
↬ Writing: 5/5
↬ Uniqueness/Creativity: 4/5
↬ Overall Enjoyment: 4.5/5
↬ Read: on Kindle
_________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐
I’ve been seeing Honestly, I’m Totally Faking It make the rounds as a romcom type of contemporary romance and I immediately became intrigued. When I found out it had one of my absolute favorite tropes, boss x assistant, I knew it would be something I’d read in the very near future. I’m very happy to say that after reading this book, I totally get all the hype.
The FMC Rach becomes the politician MMC Pres’s assistant, and accidentally flashes the entire world when he’s on a meeting call. They have to fake date each other in the fall out, and I thought this was a really fun take on this type of trope. It was lighter and more fun than some of the other books in this genre, but I really enjoyed it.
The characters both on their own and together felt like they had a realistic and sweet connection. Rach is very funny and uses her humor as a coping mechanism, and Pres just really understood her and took it at face value. He supported her through all of ups and downs, and didn’t look down on her just because she was his assistant (which I feel like a lot of MMC’s in this trope unfortunately do). I love how Pres was just one of the only people to truly understand Rach’s humor, and I think their connection from being friends to lovers was so genuine and beautiful.
I also think this book benefited a lot from just being told Rach’s POV. Sometimes singular POV just doesn’t work for me, but u thought it was really nicely done, and left me both guessing at Pres’s thoughts, and loving being in Rach’s head. Rach really was the star of this book! She was just absolutely freaking hilarious, and so brilliant.
I just found this book absolutely funny and charming! Amanda Gambill’s writing and humor shines through with Rach’s character, and really does a nice take on a lot of the tropes involved in here! This was such a great read, I can’t wait to read more from this author.
* * *
This was absolutely hilarious and so freaking cute! RTC
“You say the strangest things. I’ve never been able to predict your responses. It’s fascinating. You’re fascinating.”
Tropes:
↬ Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
↬ Contemporary Romance
↬ Singular POV; First Person
↬ Romcom
↬ Billionaire/Assistant
↬ Politician Hero
↬ Fake Dating
↬ Grumpy/Sunshine
↬ Slow Burn
Ratings:
↬ Initial Intrigue: 5/5
↬ Characters: 4/5
↬ Plot: 5/5
↬ Structure 4/5
↬ World-Building: 3/5
↬ Writing: 5/5
↬ Uniqueness/Creativity: 4/5
↬ Overall Enjoyment: 4.5/5
↬ Read: on Kindle
_________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐
I’ve been seeing Honestly, I’m Totally Faking It make the rounds as a romcom type of contemporary romance and I immediately became intrigued. When I found out it had one of my absolute favorite tropes, boss x assistant, I knew it would be something I’d read in the very near future. I’m very happy to say that after reading this book, I totally get all the hype.
The FMC Rach becomes the politician MMC Pres’s assistant, and accidentally flashes the entire world when he’s on a meeting call. They have to fake date each other in the fall out, and I thought this was a really fun take on this type of trope. It was lighter and more fun than some of the other books in this genre, but I really enjoyed it.
The characters both on their own and together felt like they had a realistic and sweet connection. Rach is very funny and uses her humor as a coping mechanism, and Pres just really understood her and took it at face value. He supported her through all of ups and downs, and didn’t look down on her just because she was his assistant (which I feel like a lot of MMC’s in this trope unfortunately do). I love how Pres was just one of the only people to truly understand Rach’s humor, and I think their connection from being friends to lovers was so genuine and beautiful.
I also think this book benefited a lot from just being told Rach’s POV. Sometimes singular POV just doesn’t work for me, but u thought it was really nicely done, and left me both guessing at Pres’s thoughts, and loving being in Rach’s head. Rach really was the star of this book! She was just absolutely freaking hilarious, and so brilliant.
I just found this book absolutely funny and charming! Amanda Gambill’s writing and humor shines through with Rach’s character, and really does a nice take on a lot of the tropes involved in here! This was such a great read, I can’t wait to read more from this author.
* * *
This was absolutely hilarious and so freaking cute! RTC
October 25, 2023
I mostly read dual POV books, but I love when a single POV is actually done well. When you don't even need the other character's perspective because you can understand them and their motivations perfectly. So, obviously, Pres was great. Very sweet.
THAT said, I fucking hated Rach. Jesus Christ. I almost DNF'ed the book multiple times in the first chapters. The only reason I kept going was because I was supposed to be studying for midterms and I couldn't possibly justify investing time on another book at that point, that would be acknowledging I was very much procrastinating.
She went on and on about being "optimistic" and "seing the good in everything", which just means she was a fucking doormat and let everyone treat like absolute shit. Fortunately, this does get a little better as Pres starts standing up FOR her (when he is present) or I would be very hoarse from screaming at my kindle.
Also, she is literally the dumbest person I've ever met. Not kidding. In the beginning she sees a lingerie piece in her ex's bathroom (I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE SHE WAS LIVING ON HIS COUCH) and because this story wants to be so quirky, thinks it's her birthday gift and he wants to get back together. Of course it's not, it belongs to his new girlfriend (who she also lets her treat her like a maid). And she puts it on and wears it her entire workday. Gross.
After all that, I still held on hope. I thought to myself, "Well, this is really bad, but surely there will be character development, and she will redeem herself, right?" NO. NOT RIGHT. It's so sad how this book had potential to be one of my favorites, but instead it's just 300 pages of a person not changing anything at all about her life. At about 90%, she breaks up with MMC and when his dad randomly invites her to his mansion and offers her literally "everything she wants in life" in exchange for a recorded interview, she thinks nothing of it. Nothing. When it ends up being a trap, OF FUCKING COURSE, she even says she was naive to think this wasn't too good to be true. AFTER SAYING SHE WASN'T STUPID. Girl, you are the definition of stupid. If you looked up the word stupid google would literally show you your face. So, 300 pages later, she still makes the same dumb, easily avoided, mistakes while Pres does change for the better. Not a great way to end a book.
Sorry for the rant. I know this an unpopular opinion (how anyone could rate this a 5 star is beyond me, I truly admire their patience) but I was going insane after finishing this and I had to let the world know about it.
THAT said, I fucking hated Rach. Jesus Christ. I almost DNF'ed the book multiple times in the first chapters. The only reason I kept going was because I was supposed to be studying for midterms and I couldn't possibly justify investing time on another book at that point, that would be acknowledging I was very much procrastinating.
She went on and on about being "optimistic" and "seing the good in everything", which just means she was a fucking doormat and let everyone treat like absolute shit. Fortunately, this does get a little better as Pres starts standing up FOR her (when he is present) or I would be very hoarse from screaming at my kindle.
Also, she is literally the dumbest person I've ever met. Not kidding. In the beginning she sees a lingerie piece in her ex's bathroom (I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE SHE WAS LIVING ON HIS COUCH) and because this story wants to be so quirky, thinks it's her birthday gift and he wants to get back together. Of course it's not, it belongs to his new girlfriend (who she also lets her treat her like a maid). And she puts it on and wears it her entire workday. Gross.
After all that, I still held on hope. I thought to myself, "Well, this is really bad, but surely there will be character development, and she will redeem herself, right?" NO. NOT RIGHT. It's so sad how this book had potential to be one of my favorites, but instead it's just 300 pages of a person not changing anything at all about her life. At about 90%, she breaks up with MMC and when his dad randomly invites her to his mansion and offers her literally "everything she wants in life" in exchange for a recorded interview, she thinks nothing of it. Nothing. When it ends up being a trap, OF FUCKING COURSE, she even says she was naive to think this wasn't too good to be true. AFTER SAYING SHE WASN'T STUPID. Girl, you are the definition of stupid. If you looked up the word stupid google would literally show you your face. So, 300 pages later, she still makes the same dumb, easily avoided, mistakes while Pres does change for the better. Not a great way to end a book.
Sorry for the rant. I know this an unpopular opinion (how anyone could rate this a 5 star is beyond me, I truly admire their patience) but I was going insane after finishing this and I had to let the world know about it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2023
I really liked this.
4.5 stars. It starts off a little over the top and there are farcical elements. But it is also such a sweet exploration of two people who are fake to everyone and find themselves in their fake relationship with each other.
I loved this a lot. There is never any doubt in my mind that these two just keep liking each other more and more throughout the story. And he believes her and supports her even when her past is brought up.
I loved how the heroine settles into herself throughout. She is very guarded and uncomfortable in the beginning and feels more powerful at the end.
The heroine has been around the block a lot. She starts off the book living with an ex (as an ex) so there’s definitely acknowledgment of them having been together. But once she meets the hero, there’s no looking back. Not sure when the hero has dated. Seems like far in the past.
4.5 stars. It starts off a little over the top and there are farcical elements. But it is also such a sweet exploration of two people who are fake to everyone and find themselves in their fake relationship with each other.
I loved this a lot. There is never any doubt in my mind that these two just keep liking each other more and more throughout the story. And he believes her and supports her even when her past is brought up.
I loved how the heroine settles into herself throughout. She is very guarded and uncomfortable in the beginning and feels more powerful at the end.
The heroine has been around the block a lot. She starts off the book living with an ex (as an ex) so there’s definitely acknowledgment of them having been together. But once she meets the hero, there’s no looking back. Not sure when the hero has dated. Seems like far in the past.
May 22, 2022
honestly, this was so sweet. 🧡🥺🤗
April 20, 2025
if you enjoyed kyra parsi (a deal with the bossy devil, failure to match), give this a go!!!
I wanted something fluffy, funny, and sexy, and that is exactly what I got with this.
I found Rachel really funny and an invigorated version of the quirky cliché FMC, and honestly same for Pres as the uptight, straight laced, control freak MMC. Their characters both had some depth and unique qualities to each of them that made them stand out for me.
The banter was fun and silly, the buildup of tension between them was funny and steamy, and overall, I just found them incredibly endearing together.
if you're looking for a fun romance, pick this up!
I wanted something fluffy, funny, and sexy, and that is exactly what I got with this.
I found Rachel really funny and an invigorated version of the quirky cliché FMC, and honestly same for Pres as the uptight, straight laced, control freak MMC. Their characters both had some depth and unique qualities to each of them that made them stand out for me.
The banter was fun and silly, the buildup of tension between them was funny and steamy, and overall, I just found them incredibly endearing together.
if you're looking for a fun romance, pick this up!
June 19, 2023
this book was so good omfg😭 a hidden gem! how is this not more popular?! the banter was so dang good and oh my gosh pres and rach were EVERYTHING 😭
June 22, 2023
4.5*
this was so 2000’s romcom coded 😭😭😭 presrach are actually my babies
this was so 2000’s romcom coded 😭😭😭 presrach are actually my babies
March 3, 2025
4.25 ⭐️
If you’re looking for a rom-com that’s equal parts witty, chaotic, and charming, this book delivers in spades. With a delightfully messy protagonist, a grumpy-yet-endearing love interest, and a PR nightmare gone viral, it’s the perfect blend of humor and heart.
What I Loved:
✔️ Rach is Hilarious – She’s an absolute disaster in the best way possible. Down on her luck but still rolling with the punches, she’s the kind of protagonist you root for even as she stumbles through life. Her inner monologue is pure comedic gold.
✔️ Pres is the Perfect Grump – A Capricorn politician who commissioned a poll on how unlikable he is? That alone made him intriguing. His buttoned-up, serious demeanor contrasts hilariously with Rach’s chaos, and their banter is top-tier.
✔️ Boobgate = Iconic – The whole viral moment that kicks off the plot is laugh-out-loud funny, and the way it spirals into a PR romance is a fantastic setup. The social media aspect feels fresh and relevant without being cringey.
✔️ Romance with a Side of Satire – While it’s a love story at heart, it also playfully skewers politics, viral culture, and the absurdity of PR spin. It’s sharp and self-aware in the best way.
What Kept It from 5 Stars:
❌ Slightly Rushed Ending – The build-up was fantastic, but the resolution felt a little too quick. I wanted just a bit more payoff, especially with Rach’s personal journey.
❌ Predictable (But in a Good Way) – It follows the classic rom-com beats, which is comforting but not necessarily surprising. If you’re looking for deep twists, this isn’t the book—but if you want fun and flirty, it nails it.
Final Verdict:
If you love rom-coms that embrace their ridiculousness while still delivering swoon-worthy romance, you’ll have a blast with this one. Definitely worth a read for a good laugh and some feel-good vibes!
🎶 "Juice" – Lizzo
🎶 "Shut Up and Dance" – WALK THE MOON
🎶 "Love on Top" – Beyoncé
If you’re looking for a rom-com that’s equal parts witty, chaotic, and charming, this book delivers in spades. With a delightfully messy protagonist, a grumpy-yet-endearing love interest, and a PR nightmare gone viral, it’s the perfect blend of humor and heart.
What I Loved:
✔️ Rach is Hilarious – She’s an absolute disaster in the best way possible. Down on her luck but still rolling with the punches, she’s the kind of protagonist you root for even as she stumbles through life. Her inner monologue is pure comedic gold.
✔️ Pres is the Perfect Grump – A Capricorn politician who commissioned a poll on how unlikable he is? That alone made him intriguing. His buttoned-up, serious demeanor contrasts hilariously with Rach’s chaos, and their banter is top-tier.
✔️ Boobgate = Iconic – The whole viral moment that kicks off the plot is laugh-out-loud funny, and the way it spirals into a PR romance is a fantastic setup. The social media aspect feels fresh and relevant without being cringey.
✔️ Romance with a Side of Satire – While it’s a love story at heart, it also playfully skewers politics, viral culture, and the absurdity of PR spin. It’s sharp and self-aware in the best way.
What Kept It from 5 Stars:
❌ Slightly Rushed Ending – The build-up was fantastic, but the resolution felt a little too quick. I wanted just a bit more payoff, especially with Rach’s personal journey.
❌ Predictable (But in a Good Way) – It follows the classic rom-com beats, which is comforting but not necessarily surprising. If you’re looking for deep twists, this isn’t the book—but if you want fun and flirty, it nails it.
Final Verdict:
If you love rom-coms that embrace their ridiculousness while still delivering swoon-worthy romance, you’ll have a blast with this one. Definitely worth a read for a good laugh and some feel-good vibes!
🎶 "Juice" – Lizzo
🎶 "Shut Up and Dance" – WALK THE MOON
🎶 "Love on Top" – Beyoncé
November 15, 2024
Not even joking when I say I had to put down my kindle MULTIPLE TIMES at the beginning of this book and take a few seconds because I felt like I was the one going through these mortifying moments but it also made me laugh A LOT. I’ve said this a million times and I’ll definitely be saying it again, I LOVE GRUMPY MEN.
September 23, 2024
One of my Top 20 of 2022 selections is releasing on audio this month, and I’m happy to report that the audio is good! This underrated indie romance was so much fun to read, and the quirky comedy paired with the compelling romance made it one of my favorite books of 2022. If you haven’t read this grumpy/sunshine, boss/assistant, fake relationship romance yet, now is the perfect time!
Audio note: The audio is good! It’s a single perspective romance, so Dahlia Summers is the only narrator. I’m not familiar with her, but I liked her voice. Maybe not my favorite audiobook ever, but it’s well done. The runtime (10-11 hours) means this will either be a full day binge or run into multiple days, but the story is compelling enough to warrant that. It’s a slower burn, but there are a few comedic moments near the beginning that you likely won’t want to listen to at work. Otherwise, the lighthearted rom com vibes are perfect for an easygoing listen. I’m glad this is finally releasing in audio – the book is excellent.
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REVIEW:
There's just something so absolutely delicious about peeling back the layers of a prickly grump, figuring out what makes him tick and finding that gooey marshmallow center hiding beneath his beautiful but thorny exterior. And that is where this playful grumpy/sunshine romance shines! This one came on my radar out of nowhere, so I went in with zero expectations and no idea what kind of vibe I'd find once I started turning the pages. But it gripped me almost immediately, with a relatable heroine, a great meet cute, and an exceedingly memorable scene that sparks the fake relationship dynamic. I snort-laughed, I swooned, and I savored the slow burn to SIZZLE romance that kept me hooked to every page. The slow build in intimacy and balance between laugh out loud moments, tender interactions, and pure chemistry made this such a nuanced and engaging read. We only get the heroine's perspective, and I loved unraveling the mystery that is our curmudgeonly hero. This couple was GREAT together, and I devoured it at a rapid pace. I loved it!
The story follows Rach, a woman who is endlessly upbeat, even though nothing seems to be going her way. So when she accepts an assignment as the assistant to a difficult boss sight unseen, Rach is optimistic that it will lead to good things. Unfortunately, her first interaction with her new boss does not go as expected... at all. After she accidentally flashes millions of people on live TV, Rach's new boss publicly claims that she's his girlfriend. As a politician with a reputation to uphold, it's the only reasonable explanation for why a woman would be walking around his home in her birthday suit. The real reason is a little more complicated, lol, but Rach soon finds herself taking on the role of fake girlfriend. Spending time with Pres allows her to discover that his bark is much worse than his bite, and there's actually a funny, nerdy man lurking beneath the surface. But Rach knows that Pres would never accept her as a real partner if he knew the full story, so the only relationship they can have is of the fake variety.
The blurb only scratches the surface, there is a whole lot to love about this book. It's like all of my favorite tropes were mixed together to make the perfect recipe for romance - strangers with a unique meet cute, grumpy/sunshine, opposites attract, fake dating, and a complicated office dynamic. All major wins for me. I loved trying to figure Pres out, and Rach was such a great heroine that I didn't mind being in her headspace the whole time. I also loved that the story was more complex than it might seem on the surface. It's got that fun cover and a hysterical first act, which made me think it would be pure rom com. But as the story progressed, the intimate moments shone, and there were some deeper themes that developed along the way. We see how these two very different people have had similar experiences that have shaped them into the people they are today, and they both just want to feel like enough on their own. That's one of the things that I loved about Pres the most - he was constantly building Rach up, nurturing her self-esteem and becoming a better man in the process. Not that he wasn't already secretly a sweetheart, but they really brought out the best sides of each other. Their chemistry was also SO good, and I was surprised by just how spicy this gets - in a good way! It put me through my paces emotionally, with everything from laugh out loud comedy to heartache and tension that I felt through the pages. I was completely invested in their relationship, and that made this one of the easiest 5-star ratings I've given in awhile.
Audio note: The audio is good! It’s a single perspective romance, so Dahlia Summers is the only narrator. I’m not familiar with her, but I liked her voice. Maybe not my favorite audiobook ever, but it’s well done. The runtime (10-11 hours) means this will either be a full day binge or run into multiple days, but the story is compelling enough to warrant that. It’s a slower burn, but there are a few comedic moments near the beginning that you likely won’t want to listen to at work. Otherwise, the lighthearted rom com vibes are perfect for an easygoing listen. I’m glad this is finally releasing in audio – the book is excellent.
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REVIEW:
There's just something so absolutely delicious about peeling back the layers of a prickly grump, figuring out what makes him tick and finding that gooey marshmallow center hiding beneath his beautiful but thorny exterior. And that is where this playful grumpy/sunshine romance shines! This one came on my radar out of nowhere, so I went in with zero expectations and no idea what kind of vibe I'd find once I started turning the pages. But it gripped me almost immediately, with a relatable heroine, a great meet cute, and an exceedingly memorable scene that sparks the fake relationship dynamic. I snort-laughed, I swooned, and I savored the slow burn to SIZZLE romance that kept me hooked to every page. The slow build in intimacy and balance between laugh out loud moments, tender interactions, and pure chemistry made this such a nuanced and engaging read. We only get the heroine's perspective, and I loved unraveling the mystery that is our curmudgeonly hero. This couple was GREAT together, and I devoured it at a rapid pace. I loved it!
The story follows Rach, a woman who is endlessly upbeat, even though nothing seems to be going her way. So when she accepts an assignment as the assistant to a difficult boss sight unseen, Rach is optimistic that it will lead to good things. Unfortunately, her first interaction with her new boss does not go as expected... at all. After she accidentally flashes millions of people on live TV, Rach's new boss publicly claims that she's his girlfriend. As a politician with a reputation to uphold, it's the only reasonable explanation for why a woman would be walking around his home in her birthday suit. The real reason is a little more complicated, lol, but Rach soon finds herself taking on the role of fake girlfriend. Spending time with Pres allows her to discover that his bark is much worse than his bite, and there's actually a funny, nerdy man lurking beneath the surface. But Rach knows that Pres would never accept her as a real partner if he knew the full story, so the only relationship they can have is of the fake variety.
The blurb only scratches the surface, there is a whole lot to love about this book. It's like all of my favorite tropes were mixed together to make the perfect recipe for romance - strangers with a unique meet cute, grumpy/sunshine, opposites attract, fake dating, and a complicated office dynamic. All major wins for me. I loved trying to figure Pres out, and Rach was such a great heroine that I didn't mind being in her headspace the whole time. I also loved that the story was more complex than it might seem on the surface. It's got that fun cover and a hysterical first act, which made me think it would be pure rom com. But as the story progressed, the intimate moments shone, and there were some deeper themes that developed along the way. We see how these two very different people have had similar experiences that have shaped them into the people they are today, and they both just want to feel like enough on their own. That's one of the things that I loved about Pres the most - he was constantly building Rach up, nurturing her self-esteem and becoming a better man in the process. Not that he wasn't already secretly a sweetheart, but they really brought out the best sides of each other. Their chemistry was also SO good, and I was surprised by just how spicy this gets - in a good way! It put me through my paces emotionally, with everything from laugh out loud comedy to heartache and tension that I felt through the pages. I was completely invested in their relationship, and that made this one of the easiest 5-star ratings I've given in awhile.
December 19, 2022
honestly (and i know that this will make me sound like a hater), my biggest complaint about this book was how often the characters laughed.
every other line of dialogue, it seemed someone was laughing—and laughing for literally no reason, at that, because nothing that any of these characters said was even remotely funny. the word "laugh" (or variations of it) was used 398 times throughout the book, which is slightly more than once per page, and there wasn't a single time where i felt like that was a warranted reaction from the characters. it really came across to me like, rather than making the book actually funny, the author was desperately trying to CONVINCE readers that it was funny, which just lends a heavy-handed feeling to the entire book. it was a bit of a bummer.
aside from that, and with respect to the romance in particular: i didn't feel any real connection between the ML and FL. the FL's "quirkiness" was overbearing to the point that it almost made me DNF, and the ML didn't feel at all fleshed out to me. i think that their relationship needed more development before they were proclaiming their undying love to each other and whatnot. i also felt that the final act breakup was a bit contrived, but what do i know?
i'm sure that this book will hit the marks for a lot of people; unfortunately, i'm just not one of them.
every other line of dialogue, it seemed someone was laughing—and laughing for literally no reason, at that, because nothing that any of these characters said was even remotely funny. the word "laugh" (or variations of it) was used 398 times throughout the book, which is slightly more than once per page, and there wasn't a single time where i felt like that was a warranted reaction from the characters. it really came across to me like, rather than making the book actually funny, the author was desperately trying to CONVINCE readers that it was funny, which just lends a heavy-handed feeling to the entire book. it was a bit of a bummer.
aside from that, and with respect to the romance in particular: i didn't feel any real connection between the ML and FL. the FL's "quirkiness" was overbearing to the point that it almost made me DNF, and the ML didn't feel at all fleshed out to me. i think that their relationship needed more development before they were proclaiming their undying love to each other and whatnot. i also felt that the final act breakup was a bit contrived, but what do i know?
i'm sure that this book will hit the marks for a lot of people; unfortunately, i'm just not one of them.
November 14, 2024
well, it’s crazy how fast i finished reading this, let alone stated that i love it when i’m just at 9%. i’m constantly feeling itchy with the humiliation it gave me but i couldn’t put it down, i laughed and giggled most of the time.
the premise and plot line was so gripping, the writing was comforting, both of the main characters have a lot of baggage (i always love realistic characters) she’s so precious, sweet, truthful and selfless. easily impressed people just being herself while he’s this devastatingly gorgeous, ridiculously rich guy which makes him a difficult person, he’s always find it hard to trust people that leads to never experienced anything real in his life. although having this incompatible background in life, nevertheless these grumpy-sunshine were bound to falling in love😍🤏🏻
i would say it’s a pretty light novel with some mainstream tropes but i still find it extremely entertaining. i had a really good time reading it.
the premise and plot line was so gripping, the writing was comforting, both of the main characters have a lot of baggage (i always love realistic characters) she’s so precious, sweet, truthful and selfless. easily impressed people just being herself while he’s this devastatingly gorgeous, ridiculously rich guy which makes him a difficult person, he’s always find it hard to trust people that leads to never experienced anything real in his life. although having this incompatible background in life, nevertheless these grumpy-sunshine were bound to falling in love😍🤏🏻
i would say it’s a pretty light novel with some mainstream tropes but i still find it extremely entertaining. i had a really good time reading it.
July 18, 2022
INCROYAAAAABLE. Absolument tout ce que j’aime dans une romcom, et plus encore. Pourquoi est-ce qu’elle n’a pas davantage de visibilité ?! Pres et Rach méritent d’être découverts par le monde entier. Je me suis éclatée à leur côté comme je le fais rarement. Et ce livre m’a hantée pendant toute ma lecture ; dès que je devais le poser, j’y pensais encore et encore. Impossible de me détacher d’eux.
Cette romance, c’est beaucoup d’humour et beaucoup d’alchimie. En plus, il y a des tropes qui vont bien comme le fake dating et le grumpy/sunshine, c’est forcément une recette qui fonctionne. Et entre nous, le smut est très très cool aussi (vous faites ce que vous voulez de l’info). Même les personnages secondaires sont bien trop cools à suivre, et ma chouchou est Sable !
Plus particulièrement, j’ai fondu pour la loyauté de Pres, et pour les dramas que l’autrice évite. Au niveau des fatidiques 80%, elle a su rester proche des personnalités de ses personnages, c’est-à-dire deux adultes qui savent communiquer, sans en faire trop. Il n’y a pas plus différents que nos deux MC, mais ils se complètent si bien. C’est vraiment une évidence, et j’ai eu la sensation que c’était réel. Que j’étais dans leur quotidien. Que j’étais presque une copine de Rach (I wish). Et dire que je ne pourrai plus jamais le découvrir pour la première fois…
Cette romance, c’est beaucoup d’humour et beaucoup d’alchimie. En plus, il y a des tropes qui vont bien comme le fake dating et le grumpy/sunshine, c’est forcément une recette qui fonctionne. Et entre nous, le smut est très très cool aussi (vous faites ce que vous voulez de l’info). Même les personnages secondaires sont bien trop cools à suivre, et ma chouchou est Sable !
Plus particulièrement, j’ai fondu pour la loyauté de Pres, et pour les dramas que l’autrice évite. Au niveau des fatidiques 80%, elle a su rester proche des personnalités de ses personnages, c’est-à-dire deux adultes qui savent communiquer, sans en faire trop. Il n’y a pas plus différents que nos deux MC, mais ils se complètent si bien. C’est vraiment une évidence, et j’ai eu la sensation que c’était réel. Que j’étais dans leur quotidien. Que j’étais presque une copine de Rach (I wish). Et dire que je ne pourrai plus jamais le découvrir pour la première fois…
January 18, 2023
Original Review:
How has this book not blown up, oh my god it is everything.
Detailed Review:
It's been two weeks since I finished this book, and I still think about it. For a book I picked up on a whim, I cannot believe nobody else is talking about it because this is some good shit.
If I were to pitch this book, I would tell you to imagine Red, White & Royal Blue, but only one of the MCs is in politics, and the fake-friendship is fake-dating for the public eye. Add to that a heroine who is sweet as pie and just trying to do her absolute best, a serious and grumpy nepo-baby hero trying to make his own mark on the world and in politics, some fantastic dirty talk, a dash of good humor, and a predictable but well-handled third-act conflict.
This was just so good.
How has this book not blown up, oh my god it is everything.
Detailed Review:
It's been two weeks since I finished this book, and I still think about it. For a book I picked up on a whim, I cannot believe nobody else is talking about it because this is some good shit.
If I were to pitch this book, I would tell you to imagine Red, White & Royal Blue, but only one of the MCs is in politics, and the fake-friendship is fake-dating for the public eye. Add to that a heroine who is sweet as pie and just trying to do her absolute best, a serious and grumpy nepo-baby hero trying to make his own mark on the world and in politics, some fantastic dirty talk, a dash of good humor, and a predictable but well-handled third-act conflict.
This was just so good.
July 6, 2024
I can't tell you how much I loved reading that book. I actually LAUGHTED sometimes and smiled at other times. They were so freaking cute. I wish I could forget and re-read it.
06/07/2024: Reread and well, I still loved it. 🫠 💕
06/07/2024: Reread and well, I still loved it. 🫠 💕
February 1, 2025
Are you kidding me????? This was one of the best Ron-coms I’ve ever read???? Hello???? Book people where are you???
January 18, 2023
I wanna start this off by saying that im fully aware that I am not the target audience for this type of story. It’s not my type of humor and I suffered A LOT of second hand embarrassment.
Although the beginning was pretty hard for me to get through (due to second hand embarrassment ) I pushed through it and it started to get better and I even appreciated some of the later jokes!
I’m never a fan of characters keeping secrets from each other but I felt like the secret the h chose to keep for a while was fine, it was more personal than it was a secret but when the H started opening up and sharing stuff and she still kept it a secret I was starting to get annoyed. Especially since there were feelings developed and her secret would have a big impact on the H’s future goals but in this case the secret was kept to trigger the third act break up. I wasn’t expecting it ( I forgot contemporary romance loved this) and I thought it was stupid how it happened. The separation was even more stupid! And then it kept going downhill and I wasn’t even satisfied with how they got back together. The ending portion is what lowered my rating, I personally thought the whole ending portion was awful but the OTT/comedic parts were fitting for the story.
In conclusion, If you’re a fan of romantic comedies then this is actually a great read and I 100% recommend it, you will not be disappointed.
But since I’m a grump with a dry sense of humor, to me, this was just okay. I liked it enough to finish it but I hate 3rd act breakups especially when I think they happen for stupid reasons which is usually the case. 😤
The spicy scenes were 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
I love an H who is vocal! 🥰
No cheating/no sharing/no drama 🥰
The h’s ex said some things that had me fuming. 😤 The ex invites the h out and she assumes it’s a double date and brings the H. She only has eyes for the H and it didn’t cause any tension between the couple so I don’t really consider it OM drama.
HFN but others could consider it a HAE.
( I’m greedy, I wanted more )
Although the beginning was pretty hard for me to get through (due to second hand embarrassment ) I pushed through it and it started to get better and I even appreciated some of the later jokes!
I’m never a fan of characters keeping secrets from each other but I felt like the secret the h chose to keep for a while was fine, it was more personal than it was a secret but when the H started opening up and sharing stuff and she still kept it a secret I was starting to get annoyed. Especially since there were feelings developed and her secret would have a big impact on the H’s future goals but in this case the secret was kept to trigger the third act break up. I wasn’t expecting it ( I forgot contemporary romance loved this) and I thought it was stupid how it happened. The separation was even more stupid! And then it kept going downhill and I wasn’t even satisfied with how they got back together. The ending portion is what lowered my rating, I personally thought the whole ending portion was awful but the OTT/comedic parts were fitting for the story.
In conclusion, If you’re a fan of romantic comedies then this is actually a great read and I 100% recommend it, you will not be disappointed.
But since I’m a grump with a dry sense of humor, to me, this was just okay. I liked it enough to finish it but I hate 3rd act breakups especially when I think they happen for stupid reasons which is usually the case. 😤
The spicy scenes were 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
I love an H who is vocal! 🥰
No cheating/no sharing/no drama 🥰
The h’s ex said some things that had me fuming. 😤 The ex invites the h out and she assumes it’s a double date and brings the H. She only has eyes for the H and it didn’t cause any tension between the couple so I don’t really consider it OM drama.
HFN but others could consider it a HAE.
( I’m greedy, I wanted more )
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 3, 2024
I listened to this audio after needing a pallet cleanser from my last read and it was the fun, kinda cringe romcom i needed tbh. The narrator was a good one, i was interested the whole time and was able to follow the story.
This is a light read thats just fun. The fmc is new to working with her grumpy and difficult boss and after a bad interaction her boss says he’s her boyfriend to save his reputation as a politician. They start fake dating and there are so many fun moments along with chemistry. The romance does get steamy after they start spending time together and i loved how the mmc was researching how to be the best boyfriend. The fmc is keeping w secret which affects their relationship so there is a bit of conflict. Overall a fun and short read.
Tropes/themes:
- Romcom
- Fake relationship
- Boss/assistant
- grumpy x sunshine
- Ridiculous at times but fun
This is a light read thats just fun. The fmc is new to working with her grumpy and difficult boss and after a bad interaction her boss says he’s her boyfriend to save his reputation as a politician. They start fake dating and there are so many fun moments along with chemistry. The romance does get steamy after they start spending time together and i loved how the mmc was researching how to be the best boyfriend. The fmc is keeping w secret which affects their relationship so there is a bit of conflict. Overall a fun and short read.
Tropes/themes:
- Romcom
- Fake relationship
- Boss/assistant
- grumpy x sunshine
- Ridiculous at times but fun
August 29, 2024
This book really surprised me! The heroine’s bimbo-like dialogues were borderline annoying at first, revealing her belief that she’s not ‘important enough’/‘somebody.’ However, as the story unfolds, her true intelligence, maturity, and charm shine through. The romance is engaging, and the hero adds just the right amount of intrigue. It’s a fun, layered read that keeps you hooked from start to finish.
September 18, 2023
I hated rach so much she got on my nerve, I don't understand why she lied to him throughout the entire book. Also I was waiting for rach's character development where she doesn't let everyone walk all over her but it never happened, like just because you're an assistant doesn't mean everyone can treat you like shit. The book was boring even the epilogue was one of the most boring epilogues ever.
/“It was all fun and games, but this is serious now, Pres. I don’t want to do it anymore. We have to stop before it gets too real. It isn’t real,” I said stoically. “It’d never been real.”/ GIRL YOU'RE THE ONE AT WRONG HERE STFU.
Also my biggest ick is that when she doesn't want to swear so she says things like that.
Fudge brownie, fudge nuggets, sofa-king sorry.
NO. Like its fine if you don't wanna swear but don't act like a 10 year old.
/“It was all fun and games, but this is serious now, Pres. I don’t want to do it anymore. We have to stop before it gets too real. It isn’t real,” I said stoically. “It’d never been real.”/ GIRL YOU'RE THE ONE AT WRONG HERE STFU.
Also my biggest ick is that when she doesn't want to swear so she says things like that.
Fudge brownie, fudge nuggets, sofa-king sorry.
NO. Like its fine if you don't wanna swear but don't act like a 10 year old.
April 13, 2022
this book has grumpy/sunshine AND fake dating. honestly I’m totally in love. Pres and Rach are such a cute couple, his grumpiness and nerdiness?? simply the best. my new book bf. gods, I really didn’t want to finish this book.
April 12, 2023
This is the sweetest book to ever exist in the entire universe ever.
Pres said this - "I'm not stuck with you. You know what I want. In meetings. In conversations. Or, like, this. So I have a hard time following why I need someone else. When I have ... you." and i fell in love.
The fact i found this book and i kept reading it.. it was meant to be.. someone asked on r/romancebooks if anyone can name this book and it got solved. I looked it up and it was only available as an e-book on KU. No audiobooks, no physical copies in my country. I was hmm.. I'm not the kind of person who sits down to read but I'd give it a shot since it's a Saturday (22nd Oct 22) and I've got nothing better to do.
There's this secondhand embarassment thing going on early on but i like her spirit so much, she's invisible and she's trying her hardest. I'm not attracted to perfection but the effort someone puts in so eventhough i was cringing, her goodness, her brand of sunshine kept me from putting it down and boy do i thank whichever god was in charge of my reading schedule that day.
Then her conversation with Pres i was just like okayy.. fake name, okay. Like the mess wasn't fixing itself still but then boobgate happened and it just goes uphill from there.
There's a quote in Emma, if i loved you less i might be able to talk about it more. I have same feelings about this book. I've been trying to write a good review for it but i just end up reading my notes and highlights and then the whole book. Before i read this one i hadn't read an e-book in over 2 months. I've mentioned it in every recommendation post on reddit and it's the second book i recommend on my goodreads account. I'm so glad stars aligned for me that day.
While Rach has the kind of optimism that makes you want to be with her, it's her struggles that make you fall in love with her. That girl is perfect.
a devastatingly attractive look crossed his face, somewhere between a secret smile and a smirk.
He laughs and smiles just for her. My little Type A cinnamon roll.
The only laugh came from Pres, and he turned it into a cough when he realized he’d been the only one.
Come on.
And she deduces his manner so quickly.. like yeah this dude is just organised and specific and doesn't tolerate mediocrity, i can get behind that and they work so well. I'm trying so hard not to just quote the entire book.
His nicknames for her.. Lil booty ham sandwich is my favourite too, Pres.
When she slams the door on his face. 👍🏻 I love when my characters do that. Especially in Kulti.
“It feels personal.”
“I think it’s a fair question for my girlfriend.”
I laughed again. “You’re really hammering ‘girlfriend’ into your vocabulary, aren’t you?”
Who doesn't like that in fake dating?
When they go grocery shopping! And we find out he's not just a nerdy guy but also suffers from migraines which alters his mood. Talk about being misunderstood.
He frowned at being told what to do, but it was more of a pout, a face I didn’t think he realized he made. If he knew his lips formed a perfect, disgruntled heart, with the purity of a sleepy child and a tiredness that softened his eyes, he probably would have been even grumpier.
“Most assistants would have already quit by now.”
“They would have already been fired.”
My mouth dropped open, and he threw his head back and laughed. His laugh was loud, this really great delighted sound, and for once, I didn’t care that people stared at me in the grocery store.
The shedding and snoring conversationnnnnn. Ugh! They're so cute. And then when he finally slept over and was waiting to tell her this tidbit of information so eagerly and he was so proud. D.I.A.B.E.T.E.S
Pancake debacle and when before she gets stuck taking people's coat. I love how she just gets handed jobs.
Would you bring me a sparkling water? If I come back now, it’ll mess up the scary-I’m-your-boss vibe, and I’m thirsty. -James Prescott “Choosing LBHS” St. Clair
p.s. I liked how you organized my call notes.
That, I was almost certain, was Pres’ version of flirting.
He’d looked at it then me, and if a man could’ve fallen in love with an organized binder, that was the moment.
The animal shelter, truth chicken. That PICTURE!
We stood at a standstill, attempting to scowl at the other without breaking into grins.
When he has that migraine attack which leads to face-riding. Talk about progression of events.
we’d realized he had a thing for me sitting on his desk and I had a thing for him kneeling for me.
Hot!
“You sure you don’t believe in luck?”
“How about I just believe in you, Rach.”
Also that good night, buddy scene. 😂
The agressive cuddle in chapter 29.
His note in the binder for college❤️
I mentioned chapter 29 cause it's the last nice, normal chapter before ✨the break-up✨
Then the interview thing and the big speeches from both of them was good stuff.
I've edited some parts cause i realized I'd written a sparknotes version of the book but you should read this yeah. 10/10 would recommend.
Pres said this - "I'm not stuck with you. You know what I want. In meetings. In conversations. Or, like, this. So I have a hard time following why I need someone else. When I have ... you." and i fell in love.
The fact i found this book and i kept reading it.. it was meant to be.. someone asked on r/romancebooks if anyone can name this book and it got solved. I looked it up and it was only available as an e-book on KU. No audiobooks, no physical copies in my country. I was hmm.. I'm not the kind of person who sits down to read but I'd give it a shot since it's a Saturday (22nd Oct 22) and I've got nothing better to do.
There's this secondhand embarassment thing going on early on but i like her spirit so much, she's invisible and she's trying her hardest. I'm not attracted to perfection but the effort someone puts in so eventhough i was cringing, her goodness, her brand of sunshine kept me from putting it down and boy do i thank whichever god was in charge of my reading schedule that day.
Then her conversation with Pres i was just like okayy.. fake name, okay. Like the mess wasn't fixing itself still but then boobgate happened and it just goes uphill from there.
There's a quote in Emma, if i loved you less i might be able to talk about it more. I have same feelings about this book. I've been trying to write a good review for it but i just end up reading my notes and highlights and then the whole book. Before i read this one i hadn't read an e-book in over 2 months. I've mentioned it in every recommendation post on reddit and it's the second book i recommend on my goodreads account. I'm so glad stars aligned for me that day.
While Rach has the kind of optimism that makes you want to be with her, it's her struggles that make you fall in love with her. That girl is perfect.
a devastatingly attractive look crossed his face, somewhere between a secret smile and a smirk.
He laughs and smiles just for her. My little Type A cinnamon roll.
The only laugh came from Pres, and he turned it into a cough when he realized he’d been the only one.
Come on.
And she deduces his manner so quickly.. like yeah this dude is just organised and specific and doesn't tolerate mediocrity, i can get behind that and they work so well. I'm trying so hard not to just quote the entire book.
His nicknames for her.. Lil booty ham sandwich is my favourite too, Pres.
When she slams the door on his face. 👍🏻 I love when my characters do that. Especially in Kulti.
“It feels personal.”
“I think it’s a fair question for my girlfriend.”
I laughed again. “You’re really hammering ‘girlfriend’ into your vocabulary, aren’t you?”
Who doesn't like that in fake dating?
When they go grocery shopping! And we find out he's not just a nerdy guy but also suffers from migraines which alters his mood. Talk about being misunderstood.
He frowned at being told what to do, but it was more of a pout, a face I didn’t think he realized he made. If he knew his lips formed a perfect, disgruntled heart, with the purity of a sleepy child and a tiredness that softened his eyes, he probably would have been even grumpier.
“Most assistants would have already quit by now.”
“They would have already been fired.”
My mouth dropped open, and he threw his head back and laughed. His laugh was loud, this really great delighted sound, and for once, I didn’t care that people stared at me in the grocery store.
The shedding and snoring conversationnnnnn. Ugh! They're so cute. And then when he finally slept over and was waiting to tell her this tidbit of information so eagerly and he was so proud. D.I.A.B.E.T.E.S
Pancake debacle and when before she gets stuck taking people's coat. I love how she just gets handed jobs.
Would you bring me a sparkling water? If I come back now, it’ll mess up the scary-I’m-your-boss vibe, and I’m thirsty. -James Prescott “Choosing LBHS” St. Clair
p.s. I liked how you organized my call notes.
That, I was almost certain, was Pres’ version of flirting.
He’d looked at it then me, and if a man could’ve fallen in love with an organized binder, that was the moment.
The animal shelter, truth chicken. That PICTURE!
We stood at a standstill, attempting to scowl at the other without breaking into grins.
When he has that migraine attack which leads to face-riding. Talk about progression of events.
we’d realized he had a thing for me sitting on his desk and I had a thing for him kneeling for me.
Hot!
“You sure you don’t believe in luck?”
“How about I just believe in you, Rach.”
Also that good night, buddy scene. 😂
The agressive cuddle in chapter 29.
His note in the binder for college❤️
I mentioned chapter 29 cause it's the last nice, normal chapter before ✨the break-up✨
Then the interview thing and the big speeches from both of them was good stuff.
I've edited some parts cause i realized I'd written a sparknotes version of the book but you should read this yeah. 10/10 would recommend.
December 7, 2023
I refuse to believe the MMC, Pres, is any iteration of a real person.
Exhibit A:
He loved soccer, he listened to old presidential speeches when he went on daily morning runs…
What the fuck?
Imagine running 10k while the Gettysburg Address blares in your ears.
I’d throw up.
Exhibit B:
He does not know what a social invitation looks like as highly social politician.
He looked at the invite not seeing anything wrong. “It’s a birthday party.”
It didn’t even say who was being celebrated.
“You couldn’t manage an exclamation point?”
“I added a color.”
“Navy. You added a pop of navy on top of plain white.
Is she dating dwight shrute?
This is a man who is constantly socializing in his day job as a…. Politician?Political Commentator? They get invitations to events, work with a PR people, and study political strategies, political language, blah blah blah… a million reasons why a sane man would have never written “It’s a birthday party” on a plain white paper and consider it a proper invitation.
hence , my robot-theory.
Exhibit C:
Out of touch with common culture. Does not want to be pumpkin king.
“What is a fall festival?” Pres groaned. “Are we celebrating dead leaves and an abundance of moss?”
honestly, this one is actually very true. I chuckled to myself a little.
“I detest attending events unrelated to issues I care or know about. I want to be mayor, not pumpkin king.”
I feel being pumpkin king would be may more exciting than being mayor, but that is just me.
BONUS: meaningless but juicy mention
“ He came back late, sweaty, breathless, and smelling like cigarettes.”
delicious🥴
He always smells like cigarettes and for a main character who says she hates the smell of cigarettes, how does she conveniently ignore that smell on him??
Final thoughts:
There were a lot on cringey interactions. None of the characters appealed to me because Pres and Rach seem like caricatures of sitcom characters. The interactions were dull. The villains seemed to depicted with a soap opera-esque evilness. It almost felt cartoon-y, if that makes sense.
The typical straight-laced robot meets hot-chaotic-too-accident-prone-to-live girlfriend trope. It took me nearly a month to finish this book.
“You’re such a nerd! Why are people afraid of you? You really are like a prickly pear margarita. Sugary sweet.”
He laughed, bumping my shoulder with his. “You say the strangest things. I’ve never been able to predict your responses. It’s fascinating. You’re fascinating.”
Im trying so hard not be a bitter old hater. this is love. He’s not a robot…. except all I can think about is how his response reminds me of that time I dissected a frog in high school bio and accidentally found neon green poop in its gut.
“It’s fascinating. You’re fascinating.”
Exhibit A:
He loved soccer, he listened to old presidential speeches when he went on daily morning runs…
What the fuck?
Imagine running 10k while the Gettysburg Address blares in your ears.
I’d throw up.
Exhibit B:
He does not know what a social invitation looks like as highly social politician.
He looked at the invite not seeing anything wrong. “It’s a birthday party.”
It didn’t even say who was being celebrated.
“You couldn’t manage an exclamation point?”
“I added a color.”
“Navy. You added a pop of navy on top of plain white.
Is she dating dwight shrute?
This is a man who is constantly socializing in his day job as a…. Politician?Political Commentator? They get invitations to events, work with a PR people, and study political strategies, political language, blah blah blah… a million reasons why a sane man would have never written “It’s a birthday party” on a plain white paper and consider it a proper invitation.
hence , my robot-theory.
Exhibit C:
Out of touch with common culture. Does not want to be pumpkin king.
“What is a fall festival?” Pres groaned. “Are we celebrating dead leaves and an abundance of moss?”
honestly, this one is actually very true. I chuckled to myself a little.
“I detest attending events unrelated to issues I care or know about. I want to be mayor, not pumpkin king.”
I feel being pumpkin king would be may more exciting than being mayor, but that is just me.
BONUS: meaningless but juicy mention
“ He came back late, sweaty, breathless, and smelling like cigarettes.”
delicious🥴
He always smells like cigarettes and for a main character who says she hates the smell of cigarettes, how does she conveniently ignore that smell on him??
Final thoughts:
There were a lot on cringey interactions. None of the characters appealed to me because Pres and Rach seem like caricatures of sitcom characters. The interactions were dull. The villains seemed to depicted with a soap opera-esque evilness. It almost felt cartoon-y, if that makes sense.
The typical straight-laced robot meets hot-chaotic-too-accident-prone-to-live girlfriend trope. It took me nearly a month to finish this book.
“You’re such a nerd! Why are people afraid of you? You really are like a prickly pear margarita. Sugary sweet.”
He laughed, bumping my shoulder with his. “You say the strangest things. I’ve never been able to predict your responses. It’s fascinating. You’re fascinating.”
Im trying so hard not be a bitter old hater. this is love. He’s not a robot…. except all I can think about is how his response reminds me of that time I dissected a frog in high school bio and accidentally found neon green poop in its gut.
“It’s fascinating. You’re fascinating.”
December 16, 2023
5/5 - This book was an pleasant surprise and one of the best books I’ve read in 2023. I love a good grumpy/sunshine, and this is definitely one of the best. Well written, great characters, excellent pacing.
FMC Rach was a excellent, super fun heroine - really positive, smart, funny, and self deprecating. V v v v v relatable.
MMC Pres was your classic grump with an icy heart who thaws out. He was great, not as memorable as Rach for me, but I liked him a lot. I do wish we got Pres's POV in the book, but it's nbd.
Overall the dynamic between Pres and Rach was superb. Rach started as Pres's assistant, but there was no power imbalance which was sooo refreshing. Pres immediately understood what she brought to the table, listened to her, and took her seriously. Banter was natural and funny, great tension between them, and relationship developed so nicely.
Loved the book, totally recommend.
FMC Rach was a excellent, super fun heroine - really positive, smart, funny, and self deprecating. V v v v v relatable.
MMC Pres was your classic grump with an icy heart who thaws out. He was great, not as memorable as Rach for me, but I liked him a lot. I do wish we got Pres's POV in the book, but it's nbd.
Overall the dynamic between Pres and Rach was superb. Rach started as Pres's assistant, but there was no power imbalance which was sooo refreshing. Pres immediately understood what she brought to the table, listened to her, and took her seriously. Banter was natural and funny, great tension between them, and relationship developed so nicely.
Loved the book, totally recommend.
April 14, 2024
Loved Rach’s quirkiness and hilarious moments. She’s very genuine and her genuine connection with Pres. There’s fake dating but eventually lines start getting blurry and he’s become obsessed with understanding Rach.
“He was watching me, a small smile on his face. “You don’t need to play games to make a good impression, Rach. You should be yourself.”“Which version? One that polls the best?”“You,” he said, brushing his fingers over my cheek and pressing a small kiss against my forehead, “just you. You as yourself. The best version.”
“He was watching me, a small smile on his face. “You don’t need to play games to make a good impression, Rach. You should be yourself.”“Which version? One that polls the best?”“You,” he said, brushing his fingers over my cheek and pressing a small kiss against my forehead, “just you. You as yourself. The best version.”
July 5, 2024
Honestly, I'm totally surprised by how much I enjoyed this book!
It was a great romcom to dive into on a rainy day, and so fitting to read a political subplot heavy book a day after General Election 😂🇬🇧🎆
The humour was genuinely funny, and I even found myself getting a bit emotional at times. The premise was hilariously cringe-worthy, the chemistry between the characters was incredibly hot, and most importantly, I had a lot of fun reading it.
4/5 ⭐
It was a great romcom to dive into on a rainy day, and so fitting to read a political subplot heavy book a day after General Election 😂🇬🇧🎆
The humour was genuinely funny, and I even found myself getting a bit emotional at times. The premise was hilariously cringe-worthy, the chemistry between the characters was incredibly hot, and most importantly, I had a lot of fun reading it.
4/5 ⭐
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