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Sun Tower #2
Fake It Till We Make It
In the glittering world of high fashion and Hollywood, Nyla Ghilzai's world spun into a nightmare when she was left standing alone at the altar, her humiliation broadcasted to the world. Her escape plan? A quiet retreat to her cousin's Rhode Island cottage, along with a vow to turn her back on the glitz and glamour forever. But just when she thought she'd left it all behind, a familiar flame in the form of her father’s ex-bodyguard appears at her doorstep with a bold proposition: three months of a fake relationship in exchange for protecting her identity.
In the quiet corner of suds and steam at a Korean BBQ restaurant, Shahzad Arain's world takes an unexpected turn. He faces a sudden crisis when Maira, his best friend's younger sister, gets a marketing internship in NYC without a place of her own. Faced with her overprotective brother's hesitation to allow Maira to move in with just him, Shahzad conjures a bold scheme: he'll rekindle a fake relationship with a woman from his past, persuading his best friend to let his sister crash at his apartment. The catch? The leading lady he hires is none other than Nyla Ghilzai.
As they act their way through a tangled reel of emotions, digging up buried feelings and making the most of their borrowed time together, Nyla and Shahzad soon understand that in the game of love, it's not about faking it till you make it—it's about finding the real thing.
In the quiet corner of suds and steam at a Korean BBQ restaurant, Shahzad Arain's world takes an unexpected turn. He faces a sudden crisis when Maira, his best friend's younger sister, gets a marketing internship in NYC without a place of her own. Faced with her overprotective brother's hesitation to allow Maira to move in with just him, Shahzad conjures a bold scheme: he'll rekindle a fake relationship with a woman from his past, persuading his best friend to let his sister crash at his apartment. The catch? The leading lady he hires is none other than Nyla Ghilzai.
As they act their way through a tangled reel of emotions, digging up buried feelings and making the most of their borrowed time together, Nyla and Shahzad soon understand that in the game of love, it's not about faking it till you make it—it's about finding the real thing.
395 pages, Paperback
First published February 10, 2024
37 people are currently reading
1119 people want to read
About the author
Noor Sasha
4 books298 followersI’m Noor Sasha, a twenty-something-year-old, and I write about love sometimes.
Instagram: @authornoorsasha
Twitter: @authornoorsasha
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Instagram: @authornoorsasha
Twitter: @authornoorsasha
TikTok: @authornoorsasha
Goodreads: Noor Sasha
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
May 29, 2025
pre-read:・❥・ WLGYL slapped my ass so ik this one will.
post read: “A bit of advice from one woman to another: date a man you can see yourself marrying, not babysitting.” THIS AUTHOR HITS EVERYTIME.
fake it till we make it follows a supermodel who's gone into hiding after the public humiliation of being left at the altar and her fathers ex-bodyguard who she had a one night stand with a year ago. (it was so iconic). so a year after the hookup shahzad comes knocking on nyla's door, begging for her to be his fake girlfriend. it turns out his bestie's lil sister is staying with him for college and shahzad told him he had a gf for him to trust shahzad. so boom- time to fake date ;)
thoughts and opinions on the characters
the characters were so amazingly created. i loved them all and connected with them all. their backstories and all. i feel like i could see how they both lived daily which i admired. plus it was well written, chemistry and all.
nyla ghilzai. this woman. i love her so much. the author's depiction of her being a sunshine character really hit the nail in the bud, because she was such a ray. but she was a sunshine with a sad mind, which was ALSO nailed. I've read characters with that background before, like kenji from shatter me, but it did feel forced. the author used her to tackle body dyspmorphia and BED (the later which the author struggles with) and i loved the representation. although i feel like it could have been a more prominent thing in her thoughts/inner monologue/pov. instead it felt like it was an add on to her character. it was there at the start but then sort of disappeared when she moved in with shahzad and it's not like he was reaffirming her or anything. her school girl pining for shahzad was absolutely EVERYTHING and i was here for it, although i wasn't expecting her to confess so early. we got few glimpses of her being an iconic baddie but i do wish we got more. she's such a girl boss though, i love nyla ghilzai with al my heart.
shahzad arain. please marry me. i fell for him in book one of this series and let me tell you i was drooling over shahzad since page fucking one. the ultimate grump who is untimely changed by she, who is nyla ghilzai. this man was so unbelievably fine. i wasn't into the name in book 1 but something in me woke UP at the end of book one and something in me started purrin'. this man knows how to treat you. this guy is a CHEF too. bet he looks hot doing it too. this man was a SIMP, knees on the floor typa guy. he folded so hard. he was pathetic. he was begging. he was everything.
proof? here,
other characters.
i loved maira sm, i was ready for a cute bond between her and nyla which was there but not as prominent as i liked. i loved loved maira. like she's so underrated.
also- now i understand something about alina and azeer that i mentioned in that review. i thought they fucked and we weren't told, but they genuinely hadn't fucked. and the reason makes me wanna hug alina. i miss my girl.
zineerah and raees got me gigglin' n shiiii, i can't wait for their book.
thoughts and opinions on the plot
okay, i have a few things that were a let down:
->when the characters have sexual history there needs to be sexual tension, right? i feel like there wasn't enough/it was too little, which disappointed me. don't get me wrong i loved how cute they were but... that's all they were. cute. i thought there would be angsty pining but we got simple pining. it deflated me when i realised we weren't getting any of that sexual tension or memories of how they fucked like a gazillion times in book one which was explicitly said. i disagree with the authors approach to closed door smut scenes, when the history they have is sexual. i understand the author might not want to write it but like... it left the book missing.
fyi- there were like 2 non explicit sex scenes, none of which was the 'first' time which made me feel robbbbbeddd af. i'd also expect, because shahzad is a manwhore, for him to be a dirty talker and a teaser and all kinds of hot in bed, but if I'm being honest- he was giving mid, purely because of how love sick he was.
they both gave lovesick teenagers in bed tbh. i will have to reimagine ;)
->i feel like we missed out on the words of affirmation part of love when it came to her body dysmorphia. also, did she lose weight when it came to her fashion show? her body dysmorphia wasn't that present then. it didn't feel like these issues were like addressed. they were brushed over.
->the useless scenes. the basketball draagggeeeeed. it had zero purpose because it wasn't brought up again. yes it gave insight into his childhood but it was way too long and boring. we never even saw those people again. the lie that nyla told those girls?? was it needed?? no. i think that section of the book, prior to the notorious mmc fuck up, should have been focused on how they lived at home and their job at the Korean food place, which was an excellent touch btdubs.
->i liked the nightmare scene. correction, i loved the nightmare scene. it was a perfect segway for nyla to open up to shahzad about her dad's abuse. but guess what? it. never. happened. we got one line about how her dad would waterboard her and then it was never mentioned- i was so... lost?
->ALSO- THEY NEVER SHARED A BED (pre-confession) actually illegal. maybe it's cause ms author knew it would end in a fuck. hehe. and they never kissed on the mouth during the fake dating :( even sadder. not over the no-angst in this book.
->okay last criticism, which is kinda a hot take: the grovelling was over done. he didn't need to go that long grovelling and she should have forgiven him sooner. MAJOR SPOILERS IN THIS PARAGRAPH. WARNING NOW. yes, he made the deal but he never tried to convince her and the choice to return was all hers in the end. he did still betray her though but it didn't solicit a grovelling like that to be honest. he even called the deal off and returned the money.(side note Abe ur a piece of shit :) ) continuing... so yeah, i didn't think he should have grovelled so much. it was a big deal, but not a huge deal. and honestly when that happens it can put me off the couple. and i think he should have tried to make her jealous- but he was so considerate when he explained why not, help.
good shit-
->i love them. i love love love them. the love i have for them is insane.
->I NEED A F.C.K. KISS FROM SHAHZAD. it was so freaking cute. the knuckle kisses i adored the freaking most. it's officially their thing.
->these characters were like perfect. there were so many, which could be annoying but i think it represented the little found family they had.
->CHEF. shahzad was so inexplicably hot. like, i was panting over this mf. I just know, he would gently hold your chin as he slid into your mouth during a bj (VIVID IK BUT IT MAKES SENSE)
->the pink, embracing and loving the femininity
->the freaking ketchup packet question
->how much they love each other and not just how much he loves her
i need more unhinged content from them like them saying:
moremoremore. no more tragic shit, time for iconic nyla+shahzad.
anyways... my final rating: 3.75 stars
greasy sweaty men give me the hots too, nyla.
post read: “A bit of advice from one woman to another: date a man you can see yourself marrying, not babysitting.” THIS AUTHOR HITS EVERYTIME.
fake it till we make it follows a supermodel who's gone into hiding after the public humiliation of being left at the altar and her fathers ex-bodyguard who she had a one night stand with a year ago. (it was so iconic). so a year after the hookup shahzad comes knocking on nyla's door, begging for her to be his fake girlfriend. it turns out his bestie's lil sister is staying with him for college and shahzad told him he had a gf for him to trust shahzad. so boom- time to fake date ;)
thoughts and opinions on the characters
the characters were so amazingly created. i loved them all and connected with them all. their backstories and all. i feel like i could see how they both lived daily which i admired. plus it was well written, chemistry and all.
nyla ghilzai. this woman. i love her so much. the author's depiction of her being a sunshine character really hit the nail in the bud, because she was such a ray. but she was a sunshine with a sad mind, which was ALSO nailed. I've read characters with that background before, like kenji from shatter me, but it did feel forced. the author used her to tackle body dyspmorphia and BED (the later which the author struggles with) and i loved the representation. although i feel like it could have been a more prominent thing in her thoughts/inner monologue/pov. instead it felt like it was an add on to her character. it was there at the start but then sort of disappeared when she moved in with shahzad and it's not like he was reaffirming her or anything. her school girl pining for shahzad was absolutely EVERYTHING and i was here for it, although i wasn't expecting her to confess so early. we got few glimpses of her being an iconic baddie but i do wish we got more. she's such a girl boss though, i love nyla ghilzai with al my heart.
shahzad arain. please marry me. i fell for him in book one of this series and let me tell you i was drooling over shahzad since page fucking one. the ultimate grump who is untimely changed by she, who is nyla ghilzai. this man was so unbelievably fine. i wasn't into the name in book 1 but something in me woke UP at the end of book one and something in me started purrin'. this man knows how to treat you. this guy is a CHEF too. bet he looks hot doing it too. this man was a SIMP, knees on the floor typa guy. he folded so hard. he was pathetic. he was begging. he was everything.
proof? here,
“I . . . I need you, Nyla.”
other characters.
i loved maira sm, i was ready for a cute bond between her and nyla which was there but not as prominent as i liked. i loved loved maira. like she's so underrated.
also- now i understand something about alina and azeer that i mentioned in that review. i thought they fucked and we weren't told, but they genuinely hadn't fucked. and the reason makes me wanna hug alina. i miss my girl.
zineerah and raees got me gigglin' n shiiii, i can't wait for their book.
thoughts and opinions on the plot
okay, i have a few things that were a let down:
->when the characters have sexual history there needs to be sexual tension, right? i feel like there wasn't enough/it was too little, which disappointed me. don't get me wrong i loved how cute they were but... that's all they were. cute. i thought there would be angsty pining but we got simple pining. it deflated me when i realised we weren't getting any of that sexual tension or memories of how they fucked like a gazillion times in book one which was explicitly said. i disagree with the authors approach to closed door smut scenes, when the history they have is sexual. i understand the author might not want to write it but like... it left the book missing.
fyi- there were like 2 non explicit sex scenes, none of which was the 'first' time which made me feel robbbbbeddd af. i'd also expect, because shahzad is a manwhore, for him to be a dirty talker and a teaser and all kinds of hot in bed, but if I'm being honest- he was giving mid, purely because of how love sick he was.
they both gave lovesick teenagers in bed tbh. i will have to reimagine ;)
->i feel like we missed out on the words of affirmation part of love when it came to her body dysmorphia. also, did she lose weight when it came to her fashion show? her body dysmorphia wasn't that present then. it didn't feel like these issues were like addressed. they were brushed over.
->the useless scenes. the basketball draagggeeeeed. it had zero purpose because it wasn't brought up again. yes it gave insight into his childhood but it was way too long and boring. we never even saw those people again. the lie that nyla told those girls?? was it needed?? no. i think that section of the book, prior to the notorious mmc fuck up, should have been focused on how they lived at home and their job at the Korean food place, which was an excellent touch btdubs.
->i liked the nightmare scene. correction, i loved the nightmare scene. it was a perfect segway for nyla to open up to shahzad about her dad's abuse. but guess what? it. never. happened. we got one line about how her dad would waterboard her and then it was never mentioned- i was so... lost?
->ALSO- THEY NEVER SHARED A BED (pre-confession) actually illegal. maybe it's cause ms author knew it would end in a fuck. hehe. and they never kissed on the mouth during the fake dating :( even sadder. not over the no-angst in this book.
->okay last criticism, which is kinda a hot take: the grovelling was over done. he didn't need to go that long grovelling and she should have forgiven him sooner. MAJOR SPOILERS IN THIS PARAGRAPH. WARNING NOW. yes, he made the deal but he never tried to convince her and the choice to return was all hers in the end. he did still betray her though but it didn't solicit a grovelling like that to be honest. he even called the deal off and returned the money.(side note Abe ur a piece of shit :) ) continuing... so yeah, i didn't think he should have grovelled so much. it was a big deal, but not a huge deal. and honestly when that happens it can put me off the couple. and i think he should have tried to make her jealous- but he was so considerate when he explained why not, help.
good shit-
->i love them. i love love love them. the love i have for them is insane.
->I NEED A F.C.K. KISS FROM SHAHZAD. it was so freaking cute. the knuckle kisses i adored the freaking most. it's officially their thing.
->these characters were like perfect. there were so many, which could be annoying but i think it represented the little found family they had.
->CHEF. shahzad was so inexplicably hot. like, i was panting over this mf. I just know, he would gently hold your chin as he slid into your mouth during a bj (VIVID IK BUT IT MAKES SENSE)
->the pink, embracing and loving the femininity
->the freaking ketchup packet question
->how much they love each other and not just how much he loves her
i need more unhinged content from them like them saying:
moremoremore. no more tragic shit, time for iconic nyla+shahzad.
anyways... my final rating: 3.75 stars
February 9, 2024
OMG THIS BOOK WAS EVERYTHING I JUST FINISHED I WANT TO RE READ IT!!!
I loved book 1 but book 2 with Nyla and Shahzad? UGH MY ENTIRE HEART.
This book called me single multiple times and I’m okay with it!
-Celebrity x Bodyguard romance
-FAKE DATING
-Dual POV
-GROVELING TO THE MAX
I absolutely loved Nylas growth and progression throughout the book (def check TW’s!!!). She grew so much as a character and her always being a people pleaser especially with her shady ass dad. Seeing her find healthy habits just made me so happy because you can see the work she puts in.
SHAHZAD IS MY MAN MY MAN MY MAN !!!!!!!
First of all this man is a PUPPY CINNAMON ROLL I SWEAR???? He was so cute but grumpy at first and then completely falls for Nyla and becomes completely obsessed with her while they’re fake dating AND BABY I ATE IT UPPPPPP!!!
ALSO HE COOKS????? HES LITERALLY A CHEF.
He’s so cheesy and cutesy with her it’s freaking sweet and I’m single af.
If you’re a fan of groveling… strap in baby cus HE WAS PUTTING IN WERKKKKKKKK.
Anyways I love this book I’m obsessed and would like another book just on them doing absolutely anything, thanks!
Thank you Noor Sasha for the ARC I’ll be waiting for book 3 :)
I loved book 1 but book 2 with Nyla and Shahzad? UGH MY ENTIRE HEART.
This book called me single multiple times and I’m okay with it!
-Celebrity x Bodyguard romance
-FAKE DATING
-Dual POV
-GROVELING TO THE MAX
I absolutely loved Nylas growth and progression throughout the book (def check TW’s!!!). She grew so much as a character and her always being a people pleaser especially with her shady ass dad. Seeing her find healthy habits just made me so happy because you can see the work she puts in.
SHAHZAD IS MY MAN MY MAN MY MAN !!!!!!!
First of all this man is a PUPPY CINNAMON ROLL I SWEAR???? He was so cute but grumpy at first and then completely falls for Nyla and becomes completely obsessed with her while they’re fake dating AND BABY I ATE IT UPPPPPP!!!
ALSO HE COOKS????? HES LITERALLY A CHEF.
He’s so cheesy and cutesy with her it’s freaking sweet and I’m single af.
If you’re a fan of groveling… strap in baby cus HE WAS PUTTING IN WERKKKKKKKK.
Anyways I love this book I’m obsessed and would like another book just on them doing absolutely anything, thanks!
Thank you Noor Sasha for the ARC I’ll be waiting for book 3 :)
February 17, 2024
The fake dating romance Fake It Till We Make It, written by Noor Sasha, centers on dishboy Shahzad Arian and actress Nylana Ghilzai.
I really wanted to adore and enjoy this book, but I was unable to do so. I had great expectations for this book because I really enjoyed WLGYL and it was Noor's debut book, but it fell short of my expectations.
First of all, this book's beginning was confusing. Maybe because I had forgotten most of the characters from the first book, I was unsure of what was going on, bc it felt odd to me that Nyla and Shahzad were immediately developing a close relationship.
Having said that, I loved Shahzad and the way he looked after Nyla. Like I mean he really did start crying when he saw how gorgeous his girl looked, and he carried hair ties for Nyla. And that’s not even all of what he did for her.
To be honest, I thought the cover and the tropes were adorable and fantastic, but I didn't like how the tropes were executed.
I really wanted to adore and enjoy this book, but I was unable to do so. I had great expectations for this book because I really enjoyed WLGYL and it was Noor's debut book, but it fell short of my expectations.
First of all, this book's beginning was confusing. Maybe because I had forgotten most of the characters from the first book, I was unsure of what was going on, bc it felt odd to me that Nyla and Shahzad were immediately developing a close relationship.
Having said that, I loved Shahzad and the way he looked after Nyla. Like I mean he really did start crying when he saw how gorgeous his girl looked, and he carried hair ties for Nyla. And that’s not even all of what he did for her.
To be honest, I thought the cover and the tropes were adorable and fantastic, but I didn't like how the tropes were executed.
August 17, 2025
3.25★
April 8, 2024
THIS FUCKING BOOK HAD ME GRIPPING EVERYTHING NEAR ME AND GIGGLING HARDDDD. NEVER SETTLE FOR ANYONE LESS THAN SHAHZAD SWEAR HE SET THE BAR SO FUCKING HIGHH. HE GROVELED FOR 8 MONTHS I WAS ROTTING IN MY BED OF SADNESS FOR 10 WHOLE CHAPTERS WHICH IS WHY IT GETS 4 STARS. i said what i said ✌️
February 12, 2024
4.75 ★
first off, i want to start off by apologizing for this extremely late review. I'M SORRY NOOR I BLAME IT ON MY READING SLUMP.
second off let's get into this thing :D
🎀 nyla my absolute baby, she was such a precious soul during the entire book. such a gentle, kind and soft woman but one who knew her worth and holyhell did i admire her for that. i love how we got to see her struggle with her image and her mental health, it made her that much more real to me.
🧸 SHAHZAD THE EMO KING. pls nyla literally called him a princess at some point😭 i loved this man somuch, his grumpy ass had me at the first peek of him. his love language being acts of service was so real because damn did dude know how to accentuate that. the way he took care of nyla was so ❤️🩹❤️🩹❤️🩹
I ATE THIS BOOK UP AND I WOULD SELL MY SOUL TO READ IT AGAIN.
yes azeeralina, i see you, you little hotties. i'm coming for you next.
first off, i want to start off by apologizing for this extremely late review. I'M SORRY NOOR I BLAME IT ON MY READING SLUMP.
second off let's get into this thing :D
🎀 nyla my absolute baby, she was such a precious soul during the entire book. such a gentle, kind and soft woman but one who knew her worth and holyhell did i admire her for that. i love how we got to see her struggle with her image and her mental health, it made her that much more real to me.
🧸 SHAHZAD THE EMO KING. pls nyla literally called him a princess at some point😭 i loved this man somuch, his grumpy ass had me at the first peek of him. his love language being acts of service was so real because damn did dude know how to accentuate that. the way he took care of nyla was so ❤️🩹❤️🩹❤️🩹
I ATE THIS BOOK UP AND I WOULD SELL MY SOUL TO READ IT AGAIN.
yes azeeralina, i see you, you little hotties. i'm coming for you next.
February 11, 2024
I received this book as an arc so to start off with, thank you to Noor and her team for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Fake It Till We Make It revolves around the lives of Nyla Ghilzai and Shahzad Arain, two very interesting individuals who end up in a 'fake' relationship. For some context, we meet both of these characters in 'When Life Gives You Lemons' (GO READ IT IF YOU HAVEN'T!), with Nyla fully emersed in her modelling career and Shahzad acting as her bodyguard.
Nyla Ghilzai is a girl who's been through it all. Her Afghani father pushed her into the modelling industry (even though her true passion has always been designing clothes) and saying that she had 'daddy issues' is an understatement. He dictated everything from what she ate (primarily ice and fruits) to how she dressed and even who she married. Nyla's life came crashing down the day her husband-to-be abandoned her at the alter. She took refuge in her cousin's vacation home, detaching herself from the world she has previously been a star in. When Shahzad Arain (her ex body-guard) shows up at her door with a proposition, she finds it hard to deny.
Shahzad Arain is (*sighs because how do I explain this man*).....something. He's an amazing dad (to the most adorable dog everrrr), an even better brother, and somehow, is even better at being in a FAKE relationship. While Shahzad's true passion is cooking ('chef') his most important priority is being able to assist his sisters hence never pursues his dream of opening a restaurant. When his best friend Mustafa calls him, telling him about how his sister needs a place to stay in New York, Shahzad immediately spins a tall tale about his (non-existent) partner. Realising that he has messed up, Shahzad goes to the one person who might just help him, unfortunately she is Nyla Ghilzai (aka, 'troublemaker').
Fake it Till We Make It is a story filled with love, in thousands of forms. It showcases the love between siblings, the love between cousins, the love between friends, the love between colleagues, the love between a pet and their owner, and most of all, the love between 2 individuals who are made for each other. Despite the mistakes they make, and the fact that it took a year for Shahzad to win Nyla over again, they came back to each other, which is what true love is, and that is what Noor has (BEAUTIFULLY) portrayed with this couple.
Fake It Till We Make It revolves around the lives of Nyla Ghilzai and Shahzad Arain, two very interesting individuals who end up in a 'fake' relationship. For some context, we meet both of these characters in 'When Life Gives You Lemons' (GO READ IT IF YOU HAVEN'T!), with Nyla fully emersed in her modelling career and Shahzad acting as her bodyguard.
Nyla Ghilzai is a girl who's been through it all. Her Afghani father pushed her into the modelling industry (even though her true passion has always been designing clothes) and saying that she had 'daddy issues' is an understatement. He dictated everything from what she ate (primarily ice and fruits) to how she dressed and even who she married. Nyla's life came crashing down the day her husband-to-be abandoned her at the alter. She took refuge in her cousin's vacation home, detaching herself from the world she has previously been a star in. When Shahzad Arain (her ex body-guard) shows up at her door with a proposition, she finds it hard to deny.
Shahzad Arain is (*sighs because how do I explain this man*).....something. He's an amazing dad (to the most adorable dog everrrr), an even better brother, and somehow, is even better at being in a FAKE relationship. While Shahzad's true passion is cooking ('chef') his most important priority is being able to assist his sisters hence never pursues his dream of opening a restaurant. When his best friend Mustafa calls him, telling him about how his sister needs a place to stay in New York, Shahzad immediately spins a tall tale about his (non-existent) partner. Realising that he has messed up, Shahzad goes to the one person who might just help him, unfortunately she is Nyla Ghilzai (aka, 'troublemaker').
Fake it Till We Make It is a story filled with love, in thousands of forms. It showcases the love between siblings, the love between cousins, the love between friends, the love between colleagues, the love between a pet and their owner, and most of all, the love between 2 individuals who are made for each other. Despite the mistakes they make, and the fact that it took a year for Shahzad to win Nyla over again, they came back to each other, which is what true love is, and that is what Noor has (BEAUTIFULLY) portrayed with this couple.
February 26, 2024
Okay first of all, I did not know that this was part of a series since I went in blind. Saw one tiktok that talked about the real deal of groveling and I caved in.
Holy shitballs this is what groveling is. The effort, the length of time, the dedication that was put into every little things he did. OMFG. Swoon!! Also, hello, representation of a culture that still embraces tradition without being cliche? Count me in!! This was such an easy quick read. Long, but well worth it with the amount of groveling I got from this. I also love how realistic it felt for him to feel down after thinking his efforts have gone to waste.
4 stars because I wish they could have handled the fmc's issues better, and not just with a band aid solution. i wish she was given more depth because it felt a little shallow.
Over all, I enjoyed this. The smut was good too and the puppies?!?!! ahh too adorbs!
Holy shitballs this is what groveling is. The effort, the length of time, the dedication that was put into every little things he did. OMFG. Swoon!! Also, hello, representation of a culture that still embraces tradition without being cliche? Count me in!! This was such an easy quick read. Long, but well worth it with the amount of groveling I got from this. I also love how realistic it felt for him to feel down after thinking his efforts have gone to waste.
4 stars because I wish they could have handled the fmc's issues better, and not just with a band aid solution. i wish she was given more depth because it felt a little shallow.
Over all, I enjoyed this. The smut was good too and the puppies?!?!! ahh too adorbs!
March 2, 2024
I thought these two were so cute together🥹 I loved each of their cameos in When Life Gives You Lemons, so I was super excited for them to get their own book too! Their chemistry was so good and the fact that these lovesick fools thought they were ever actually “fake dating” is baffling😂 I thought the groveling carried on a bit too long, at least without getting Nyla’s pov in there. I feel like if we got to understand what she was going through at those times too and not just Shahzad’s I would’ve understood her stance a lot better because by the time we do get her pov again it’s like 6 months in and they still haven’t even talked to one another about what happened. One of my least favorite tropes is miscommunication/lying/withholding major truths and Nyla are birthday twins (April 16th!) so I for sure was right there with her for the groveling, but I thought she would want all the details and a clearer picture of what happened a little sooner. BUT THE LOVE NOTES??! Shahz had me absolutely swooning before, during, and after the groveling. And Nyla is stronger than me because I would’ve folded once I realized he was my new neighbor and started making and delivering my meals via Sky 3 times a day😭 I absolutely obsessed with these characters and this series, so I’m super excited to read Zineerah and Raess’ story!!
February 9, 2024
thank you to the author for the arc!!
some cw: ed, parental abuse & neglect, anxiety & panic attacks
this whole book is just so *chefs kiss* i love it when romance books focus on character development. i LOVED when life gives you lemons so i had high expectations for this book, which the author managed to meet! one thing about this book that's different from WLGYL is that these people are broke and it's nice to read about characters who aren't billionaires once in a while.
nyla is an absolute icon, she is such a realistic character, she has flaws and her growth throughout the book is amazing. also, she is a little delusional and i love that for her <3 shahzad is so obsessed with her in the most respectful way (!!!) and the grovelling is PHENOMENAL. the romance is so yummy, the angst and communication is there and they are the most barbie & ken pairing to exist fr.
anywho, i highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an emotional romance and im so excited about book 3 (i need the book like i need oxygen)
some cw: ed, parental abuse & neglect, anxiety & panic attacks
this whole book is just so *chefs kiss* i love it when romance books focus on character development. i LOVED when life gives you lemons so i had high expectations for this book, which the author managed to meet! one thing about this book that's different from WLGYL is that these people are broke and it's nice to read about characters who aren't billionaires once in a while.
nyla is an absolute icon, she is such a realistic character, she has flaws and her growth throughout the book is amazing. also, she is a little delusional and i love that for her <3 shahzad is so obsessed with her in the most respectful way (!!!) and the grovelling is PHENOMENAL. the romance is so yummy, the angst and communication is there and they are the most barbie & ken pairing to exist fr.
anywho, i highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an emotional romance and im so excited about book 3 (i need the book like i need oxygen)
November 5, 2024
Chef and troublemaker
Two a drift characters, suffering from parental neglect has different reactions to their trauma. One is a people pleaser the other don't believe in marriage. Add in a dash of eating disorder and a bot of self sabotage...
Two a drift characters, suffering from parental neglect has different reactions to their trauma. One is a people pleaser the other don't believe in marriage. Add in a dash of eating disorder and a bot of self sabotage...
August 13, 2025
do you think we're compatible, Shahzad?
November 30, 2025
3,75/5
January 17, 2025
For starters I would like to thank Noor for sending me an ARC copy of Fake it Till We Make It!
Like everyone else I fell in love with Noor's writing and characters in When Life Gives You Lemons <3
Fake It Till We Make It was such a cute and yet angsty romance book filled with self-discovery and incredible character development.
Shahzad and Nyla are both extremely complex character who deserve nothing but the worlds greatest treasures. Although their relationship began with a one night stand, then following a fake dating scheme and ended up leading to a pure form of romance.
I absolutely loved how both Shahzad and Nyla pushed each other to be better for not only each other but themselves as well. This is the kind of growth I love to see in romance books.
Nyla is such a strong and vulnerable character, throughout the entire book all I wanted to do was give her the biggest hug. She really was put through it but she came out stronger in the end. And has such a supportive boyfriend. (Shahzad def gives Ken vibes)
Shazad really took his role in this book seriously, his character development is one that I enjoyed. He broke out of his shell and became exactly the kind of man that Nayla knew he could be and the version of himself that he needed to heal. (I love it when men aren't afraid to be emotionally vulnerable).
I also wanted to highlight that please take caution in the trigger warnings provided in the book because the book does carry sensitive topics (BDE, Body dysmorphia, emotional abuse and more are shared in the trigger warning page)
Cannot wait to see what Noor has in store, as always she blew me away and cannot wait for you all to experience the same feeling.
Like everyone else I fell in love with Noor's writing and characters in When Life Gives You Lemons <3
Fake It Till We Make It was such a cute and yet angsty romance book filled with self-discovery and incredible character development.
Shahzad and Nyla are both extremely complex character who deserve nothing but the worlds greatest treasures. Although their relationship began with a one night stand, then following a fake dating scheme and ended up leading to a pure form of romance.
I absolutely loved how both Shahzad and Nyla pushed each other to be better for not only each other but themselves as well. This is the kind of growth I love to see in romance books.
Nyla is such a strong and vulnerable character, throughout the entire book all I wanted to do was give her the biggest hug. She really was put through it but she came out stronger in the end. And has such a supportive boyfriend. (Shahzad def gives Ken vibes)
Shazad really took his role in this book seriously, his character development is one that I enjoyed. He broke out of his shell and became exactly the kind of man that Nayla knew he could be and the version of himself that he needed to heal. (I love it when men aren't afraid to be emotionally vulnerable).
I also wanted to highlight that please take caution in the trigger warnings provided in the book because the book does carry sensitive topics (BDE, Body dysmorphia, emotional abuse and more are shared in the trigger warning page)
Cannot wait to see what Noor has in store, as always she blew me away and cannot wait for you all to experience the same feeling.
May 15, 2024
Pre-Read
I loved the chemistry between Alina and Azeer in WLGYL and the introduction to Nyla and Shahzad was nice. I’m so excited for this to come out. I just know Noor is gonna slay once again
Post-Read
Ugh. I just loved this book so much. Shahzad being so overprotective of both Nyla and Maira. And the fact that Maira basically became Shahzad and Nyla’s daughter when they were living together.
The grovelling was top tier. Him trying to keep his distance while keeping her safe and making her meals everyday was just too cute.
Sky and Caramel being the cutest Arain babies ever. If someone gifted me a puppy, I’d fall in love
Now just patiently waiting for CLTCL to see what Raees and Zinneerah’s love story has in store for us. Ps the fact that Raees is 6’5 and is currently serving golden retriever vibes already has me in love. Plus the fact that Nyla and Aleena are both gushing over him while they have men like Shahzad and Azeer just tells me that Raees might just become my favourite in the series. Can’t wait till December
I loved the chemistry between Alina and Azeer in WLGYL and the introduction to Nyla and Shahzad was nice. I’m so excited for this to come out. I just know Noor is gonna slay once again
Post-Read
Ugh. I just loved this book so much. Shahzad being so overprotective of both Nyla and Maira. And the fact that Maira basically became Shahzad and Nyla’s daughter when they were living together.
The grovelling was top tier. Him trying to keep his distance while keeping her safe and making her meals everyday was just too cute.
Sky and Caramel being the cutest Arain babies ever. If someone gifted me a puppy, I’d fall in love
Now just patiently waiting for CLTCL to see what Raees and Zinneerah’s love story has in store for us. Ps the fact that Raees is 6’5 and is currently serving golden retriever vibes already has me in love. Plus the fact that Nyla and Aleena are both gushing over him while they have men like Shahzad and Azeer just tells me that Raees might just become my favourite in the series. Can’t wait till December
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 4, 2024
2.5?? 3???⭐️
Honestly this book exhausted me to the point of passing out. I just wanted it to finish. The storyline itself was good but the execution was horrendous😭 I didn’t like Shazadh since the beginning for the things he said and thought of Nyla and then he fell in love but mans FELL HARD and the groveling was needed but it was so hard to finish it😭😭😭
Honestly this book exhausted me to the point of passing out. I just wanted it to finish. The storyline itself was good but the execution was horrendous😭 I didn’t like Shazadh since the beginning for the things he said and thought of Nyla and then he fell in love but mans FELL HARD and the groveling was needed but it was so hard to finish it😭😭😭
January 31, 2025
That's not what I was expecting. Bad muslim rep and the character did things that I was like, huh?
I love the characters. It's a shame in the first book. They were like dogs. But i love them in their own book.
I liked the start, and I liked the grovelling. The epilogue was so cute that I'm glad the 3rd book is coming out
I love the characters. It's a shame in the first book. They were like dogs. But i love them in their own book.
I liked the start, and I liked the grovelling. The epilogue was so cute that I'm glad the 3rd book is coming out
September 4, 2023
SO EXCITED OML
June 3, 2024
4.25 ⭐️
i really enjoyed this book much more than the first one and that says a LOT. firstly, can we just talk about the author’s writing style?? i mean it’s literally so comforting ngl. part of the reason i enjoy noor’s books is her writing style.
let’s talk about the characters. NYLA my girl 🥹 i wanna give her a hug. i loved her so much. there were so many times i felt relatable and at many instances my heart broke for her. but truly i loved seeing her confident side and i was truly proud of her. also love how she made shahzad grovel 🤌🏼😼.
now, SHAHZAD. man was down bad but refused to believe it at first? i mean it’s a cliche never mind. i really loved him. his selflessness was one of the qualities i really admired about him. AND I HATE HIS MOTHER. she’s literally one of those evil aunties which are pretty common in south asian families but make her an evil mother too. shahzad deserved a better mother, period. but i loved how much he cared about his sisters that he literally put aside his own dreams.
now shahz and nyla as a couple? PERFECT!! from fake dating to falling in love, from losing her to trying to get her back and seek her forgiveness, this was a book i never knew i needed. literally amazing!!
the only downside i felt was the lack of muslim rep but again the author has said so more times than one that there is no muslim rep in her books so it’s really important to have this information beforehand you start the book. if you’re looking for a muslim rep or even south asian rep in this book for the main couple im afraid you won’t find any. i think the main characters were atheist cuz that is the only possible explanation. anyways, apart from this one thing i feel like the book was perfect and if you’re looking forward to reading it i’d suggest you pick it up right away.
i’m just SO excited for book 3 i can barely contain my excitement. i’m desperately waiting for the release of it. noor pls release it soon 😭
i really enjoyed this book much more than the first one and that says a LOT. firstly, can we just talk about the author’s writing style?? i mean it’s literally so comforting ngl. part of the reason i enjoy noor’s books is her writing style.
let’s talk about the characters. NYLA my girl 🥹 i wanna give her a hug. i loved her so much. there were so many times i felt relatable and at many instances my heart broke for her. but truly i loved seeing her confident side and i was truly proud of her. also love how she made shahzad grovel 🤌🏼😼.
now, SHAHZAD. man was down bad but refused to believe it at first? i mean it’s a cliche never mind. i really loved him. his selflessness was one of the qualities i really admired about him. AND I HATE HIS MOTHER. she’s literally one of those evil aunties which are pretty common in south asian families but make her an evil mother too. shahzad deserved a better mother, period. but i loved how much he cared about his sisters that he literally put aside his own dreams.
now shahz and nyla as a couple? PERFECT!! from fake dating to falling in love, from losing her to trying to get her back and seek her forgiveness, this was a book i never knew i needed. literally amazing!!
the only downside i felt was the lack of muslim rep but again the author has said so more times than one that there is no muslim rep in her books so it’s really important to have this information beforehand you start the book. if you’re looking for a muslim rep or even south asian rep in this book for the main couple im afraid you won’t find any. i think the main characters were atheist cuz that is the only possible explanation. anyways, apart from this one thing i feel like the book was perfect and if you’re looking forward to reading it i’d suggest you pick it up right away.
i’m just SO excited for book 3 i can barely contain my excitement. i’m desperately waiting for the release of it. noor pls release it soon 😭
April 18, 2024
I really didn't expect the turn the story took and I kinda loved it, it was a little iffy but they belong together or at least he belongs with her. Absolutely love Sky and Caramel, and rubina, I like that she butted in without actually butting in.
2nd act break up was so expected and the 3rd act was adorablely creepy to a tiny extent. Also love how supportive their family is!
"Keep your head low, and don’t point at every little thing you find fascinating[...]Instead, you will whisper your excitement to me so it doesn’t go unappreciated"
"I also didn’t have the solution because it required money, and money required knowledge, and knowledge required time, and my time required healing"
“What is fear, if not the voyage of bravery.”
"I allotted three minutes out of my schedule for this. Keep me updated through emails. I hate text messaging."
"The only person you need to please and keep happy is yourself"
"What’s the moral of your story, kid?”
“Does every love story need a moral?”
“No,” I mumble. “No, I guess not. Some stories are not meant to be lessons."
After thoughts:
He was kinda super attached, not in a bad way but it was kinda weird after everything he 'said' in the beginning and the last book.
2nd act break up was so expected and the 3rd act was adorablely creepy to a tiny extent. Also love how supportive their family is!
"Keep your head low, and don’t point at every little thing you find fascinating[...]Instead, you will whisper your excitement to me so it doesn’t go unappreciated"
"I also didn’t have the solution because it required money, and money required knowledge, and knowledge required time, and my time required healing"
“What is fear, if not the voyage of bravery.”
"I allotted three minutes out of my schedule for this. Keep me updated through emails. I hate text messaging."
"The only person you need to please and keep happy is yourself"
"What’s the moral of your story, kid?”
“Does every love story need a moral?”
“No,” I mumble. “No, I guess not. Some stories are not meant to be lessons."
After thoughts:
He was kinda super attached, not in a bad way but it was kinda weird after everything he 'said' in the beginning and the last book.
February 11, 2024
this one's for all the girlies who loved groveling bc shahzad did it SO PHENOMENALLY!! you will get chapterSSS of him pining for her. though our tattooed soft-hearted grump has a complex personality but he still managed to grow and became the man he knows nyla deserves. oh, and he cooks. breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks. all for her.
and as for nyla, the ambitious fashionista barbie with a strong soul, all i want to do is wrap her in a hug every time she shows her vulnerability and the good thing is shahzad was always there to do it first. i love how they both pushed each other to heal and to be better. they love each other wholeheartedly even through the tough times. this book perfectly blends angst and heartwarming romance with characters that you can't help but fall in love with.
thank you to the author for the arc <3 — please check trigger warnings!
and as for nyla, the ambitious fashionista barbie with a strong soul, all i want to do is wrap her in a hug every time she shows her vulnerability and the good thing is shahzad was always there to do it first. i love how they both pushed each other to heal and to be better. they love each other wholeheartedly even through the tough times. this book perfectly blends angst and heartwarming romance with characters that you can't help but fall in love with.
thank you to the author for the arc <3 — please check trigger warnings!
August 6, 2024
I’m kinda upset with this book cus I really really liked the first one, first book was cute and had me giggling and kicking my feet. This one just made me cringe so badly and I hated Shazad so badly because he’s so toxic. If he were a real person he would’ve been sent to jail or at least had a law suit for stalking. He was such a big ick. He didn’t respect Nyla in any way. She told him multiple times that he has to stop calling her baby but he didn’t listen. She wanted space but he literally didn’t give her any because he moved next door to her. Which is not “cute” it’s more rather creepy and weird. Sorry for the bad review but this book is just straight up toxic and if people want to have a relationship like this they need mental help cus this is NOT how a relationship should be. Space should be allowed and respect has to be given. The mc didn’t show any of this in the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2024
Another great book by Noor Sasha!
After When Life Gives You Lemons I was excited to read about the next couple. This was one of my August reads and it is a great read. I like the story line and the best part was the grovel. I found the dog parts cute, especially during the grovelling part. Nyla and Shahzad have a history together but when Shahzad needs help he reaches out to Nyla. Nyla is a realistic character in the way that she is a people pleaser. With her mom separated from her dad, she listens to her dad to keep him in the picture. The background story of both the characters is so well written. I found the nicknames; chef and Troublemaker so cute.
This book does include some content warnings such as; body dysmorphia, harmful diets, eating disorders and a few more that are listed on the author's Instagram.
After When Life Gives You Lemons I was excited to read about the next couple. This was one of my August reads and it is a great read. I like the story line and the best part was the grovel. I found the dog parts cute, especially during the grovelling part. Nyla and Shahzad have a history together but when Shahzad needs help he reaches out to Nyla. Nyla is a realistic character in the way that she is a people pleaser. With her mom separated from her dad, she listens to her dad to keep him in the picture. The background story of both the characters is so well written. I found the nicknames; chef and Troublemaker so cute.
This book does include some content warnings such as; body dysmorphia, harmful diets, eating disorders and a few more that are listed on the author's Instagram.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2024
3,75
Very mixed feelings
I had really high hopes and expectations for the second book because I LOVED the first one so much.
It started very weak for me
I didn‘t like the MMC in the beginning, he was just using her and didn‘t really care or notice anything about her
He did eventually get better so theres that
I wished that her eating disorder was „shown“ a bit more than told, since this is a very big topic i feel this could have been a little bit more explored
What I looooved about this is the grovelling at the end! 10/10! It was so good and sweet - i feel like this saved the whole book for me
All in all it was enjoyable :)
Very mixed feelings
I had really high hopes and expectations for the second book because I LOVED the first one so much.
It started very weak for me
I didn‘t like the MMC in the beginning, he was just using her and didn‘t really care or notice anything about her
He did eventually get better so theres that
I wished that her eating disorder was „shown“ a bit more than told, since this is a very big topic i feel this could have been a little bit more explored
What I looooved about this is the grovelling at the end! 10/10! It was so good and sweet - i feel like this saved the whole book for me
All in all it was enjoyable :)
April 2, 2024
Finally writing a review for this…..it’s like a 2.5⭐️
I loved book 1 but this just didn’t do it for me. Like the tropes are there and everything is there but it was so hard for me to read this book Idek why like i had to take a lot of breaks. It felt dragged? But so slow at the same times. And there were good aspects too and I liked them. There were cute scene etc etc and they were adorable but it just felt so bleh at times and I was just like no😭there were swoon worthy moments but then there were moments where I literally skimmed so basically it didn’t do it for me. It’s the same writing as book 1 cuz same author but idk I feel like the writing gave me a headache. Idk anyway.
I loved book 1 but this just didn’t do it for me. Like the tropes are there and everything is there but it was so hard for me to read this book Idek why like i had to take a lot of breaks. It felt dragged? But so slow at the same times. And there were good aspects too and I liked them. There were cute scene etc etc and they were adorable but it just felt so bleh at times and I was just like no😭there were swoon worthy moments but then there were moments where I literally skimmed so basically it didn’t do it for me. It’s the same writing as book 1 cuz same author but idk I feel like the writing gave me a headache. Idk anyway.
May 11, 2024
Omg where do I even start from? It was a five star read for me. Cause this book was literally perfection!
I love love love nyla and shahzad. Their relation was so beautiful. The way shahzad took care of nyla and nyla supported shahzad🤌🏻 they both are perfect for each other. And the groveling part. OMG!!! that left me on my knees for shahzad. Literally and figuratively. I love how nyla made shahzad work for his forgiveness and how shahzad never backed down cause he knew nyla was the one for him. When shahzad said that his love language was acts of service and oh boy how he proved that thing in the book was absolutely swoon worthy 😭.And Alina, Azeer and Zoha’s cameo god how much I miss and love them. This books was totally worth reading and I would totally recommend it
I love love love nyla and shahzad. Their relation was so beautiful. The way shahzad took care of nyla and nyla supported shahzad🤌🏻 they both are perfect for each other. And the groveling part. OMG!!! that left me on my knees for shahzad. Literally and figuratively. I love how nyla made shahzad work for his forgiveness and how shahzad never backed down cause he knew nyla was the one for him. When shahzad said that his love language was acts of service and oh boy how he proved that thing in the book was absolutely swoon worthy 😭.And Alina, Azeer and Zoha’s cameo god how much I miss and love them. This books was totally worth reading and I would totally recommend it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 16, 2024
Rating : 5/5
Spice:1/5
Tropes:
Fake Dating
Grumpy x Sunshine
Ex Model x ex -bodyguard
Roommates to lovers
Groveling
This was my first book by this author and it was utter perfection. As Indo- Caribbean it was great having some presentation of our culture.
I loved the dynamic between the main and side charters and I felt like I was part of big family.
It was great to see the FCM character develop through out the book and creating better habits for herself. After everything that she has been through with her dad.
Shahzad is everything you need in a book husband from building her a garden to meal prepping. Also the groveling this man did in this book to get his girl back *chefs kiss ** ( no pun intended IKYK).
If you're into these tropes, please stop what you’re doing and go read this book.
Spice:1/5
Tropes:
Fake Dating
Grumpy x Sunshine
Ex Model x ex -bodyguard
Roommates to lovers
Groveling
This was my first book by this author and it was utter perfection. As Indo- Caribbean it was great having some presentation of our culture.
I loved the dynamic between the main and side charters and I felt like I was part of big family.
It was great to see the FCM character develop through out the book and creating better habits for herself. After everything that she has been through with her dad.
Shahzad is everything you need in a book husband from building her a garden to meal prepping. Also the groveling this man did in this book to get his girl back *chefs kiss ** ( no pun intended IKYK).
If you're into these tropes, please stop what you’re doing and go read this book.
March 2, 2024
DNF.. oh god this story was so bad i just want to rewrite even though I know nothing about writing just for the greater good 🌝
The hero was not heroing and he definitely gave me the ick.
I wanted to read this because all reviews talked about how the groveling was so good but I couldn't reach that point in the book.
The hero was not heroing and he definitely gave me the ick.
I wanted to read this because all reviews talked about how the groveling was so good but I couldn't reach that point in the book.
March 19, 2024
Ok so I was obsessed with the first book (even though it was arranged marriage) and so this was an automatic add to TBR for me. there was just something missing for me (not sure tbh), BUT don't get me wrong I really enjoyed this book (mans does some SERIOUS grovelling) and we love an overprotective dog dad.
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