Fake It Till You Make It: A Sweet Romantic Comedy

by Dianne Oren

Ashley

My ex-fiancé jilted me twice—proof my taste in men is deeply questionable. So I'm done with relationships. Permanently.
Just call me the Dragon Lady. I guard my heart like a dragon guards treasure. Unfortunately, when the jerk shows up again, I need proof I've moved on. Fast.

Enter six-foot-two, absurdly attractive, and the sole surviving resident of my friend zone. One fake Valentine's date. No feelings. Definitely no complications.

Except we're also best man and maid of honor at our best friends' wedding. And pretending is getting harder than I expected.

Rick

Ashley thinks I'm safely tucked in the friend zone. She's wrong.

I've never been passive about what I want—and what I want is her. Agreeing to be her fake date isn't a favor. It's strategy.

When she accidentally face-plants her strawberry mask onto my white shirt? I keep it. Wear it as pajamas just to mess with her. She calls it The Great Ashley Shirt War. I call it phase one.

She thinks I'm patient. She has no idea I'm playing the long game.

And I always win.

Genres: Romance

338 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 3, 2025

About the author

Dianne Oren enjoys writing sweet, swoony romantic comedies. She lives in the Dallas/Fort Worth area of Texas with her husband Kevin, dogs Duke & Daisy, house panther Finn, and Rebel...the tiny gray potato tornado.

Reviews

[EVANGELIA MARAGKOPOULOU · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it so much . Ashley after a very bad break up has became the Dragon Lady and no man is going to get through her heart . When her ex fiance is going to be at the charity gala that she is organise for her father she has to find a date and she ask her friend Rick , a sexy blond 6 feet 2 looking like Viking God guitarist of Royal Rebels . What Ashley doesn't know is that Rick has feelings for her and will do anything for her . Will he be able to realise that in the world real and wonderful men exist ?
I received this book from the author and the publisher as an ARC . Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own .

[Aunt LoLo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious and swoony

This was a delight, from start to finish. I love a dual POV romance, because you can see the thought process on both sides and it covers a multitude of sins, haha. I was laughing out loud, and watching them fall in love genuinely made me giggle and do a little happy dance. The proposal made me cry. Not much I would change about this book - it was pretty great! (I do wish I knew what ended up happening with the ex in that last conversation. Maybe there's a scene floating around somewhere I can find.) Besides showing an adorable (and clean, kisses only) love story, the friend group is amazing. Just lovely. Five stars! A few notes: This is #2 in the series, but it's what I found first, and it's honestly fine that way. I'll go back and see Zach and Marina's love story later. Also, trigger warnings for loss of a parent, heart attack, and heart attack scare (in the story).

[Poetsiren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely became one of my favorite clean romance novels!! There is a continuation of the first novel's romance in the background (YAY!), while the pining of Rick for the recently jilted Ashley takes main stage. It's beautiful how he works at winning her over and the way they interact seems so much like a real-life romance as they learn how to communicate with each other while also navigating through the drama of her ex and trouble with her father's health. I bought the first book for a friend so she could catch up with me. I cannot wait for the continuation of these San Francisco stories in future books!!!

[Tanya Thrasher · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars!

I really love this series, "San Francisco Hearts," by Dianne Oren. The story is awesome. The characters are a riot, and it's just all around a fun, easy read! I will definitely keep looking for books from this new author! Kudos, Dianne! Great job! Keep those stories coming!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

From a mermaid to a dragon! I love getting to visit our favorite inner circle and Rebels! This friends to lovers story is a sweet romance with a swoon worthy man! You’ll fall in love with Rick not just because of how he treats Ashley, but how he is with all of her friends!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story.

Content: passionate kissing, innuendo, a few swear words

[Kelsey Dicou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I am in love with this series!! I can't wait for books 3 & 4 to come out later this year.

Just do me a favor and read How to Date a Mermaid and Fake It Till You Make It. You won't regret it!

[Rhea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet romantic book! I love this sequel to How to Date A Mermaid! From mermaids to dragons, it’s such a FUN read! I can’t wait for the next one in the series!

[BJ Kellogg · Rating 3 out of 5]

So much kissing he is a Viking god and she has blonde hair. Does this band ever rehearse or practice?
I enjoyed the book but it needed more explosions, plot twists, villains and may I say sex?

[Karen Docter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute and fun romantic comedy. This book is wholesome and sweet. The hero is to die for. Loved this book.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to the author for an advanced reader copy (ARC) of this lovely continuation of the characters from her first full length novel: How to Date a Mermaid. This book completely can stand alone but gosh you owe it to yourself to meet these amazing people in it!! I think this author has topped herself with this latest book and I believe other readers will feel the same. I laughed, I cried, I even yelled “don’t do that!!”a few times. You will lose yourself in the kindness of people and for that it’s worth your time. My opinions here are my own and not influenced in any way. Awaiting (impatiently) for the next book in this delightful series.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a sweet romance that I thoroughly enjoyed. It is the second book in a series by a new author to me. The basis of the story revolves around a women who had been badly hurt in the past and does not want to be involved with anyone and the guy who wants to change her mind. He decides that spending time in the Friend Zone, and making it as inviting a place as possible that he will want to stay in is the way to go forward. This is the second book in a series but it is a stand-alone story. Although it is stand-alone, I wished I had read the first book first. There are references to things that happened in the first book that I wish I had more information about. There was great conversation among several groups (the four female friends, the hero and heroine, the hero and his best friend, etc). Enjoy a great story.