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I’ll Pretend You’re Mine
Summer Ali has been making a name for herself in the music industry for years, slowly but surely climbing the charts—but the world doesn’t know her stage parents are the ones who molded her entire public persona. Finally eighteen, Summer breaks free of their control and focuses on creating her own path.
Upon running into writer’s block, Summer grows eager to take any opportunity to shake things up—even if it means agreeing to a PR stunt with child-actor-turned-playboy, Jules Moradi, famous for his tabloid escapades.
At first, Jules keeps his distance, maintaining professional boundaries. But as time passes, his walls come down, and Summer uncovers who he is beyond his reputation, and it’s someone more like her than she ever realized. As the lines blur between fake and real, Summer begins questioning who she is and what she wants—and if her dreams are worth sacrificing her heart.
Upon running into writer’s block, Summer grows eager to take any opportunity to shake things up—even if it means agreeing to a PR stunt with child-actor-turned-playboy, Jules Moradi, famous for his tabloid escapades.
At first, Jules keeps his distance, maintaining professional boundaries. But as time passes, his walls come down, and Summer uncovers who he is beyond his reputation, and it’s someone more like her than she ever realized. As the lines blur between fake and real, Summer begins questioning who she is and what she wants—and if her dreams are worth sacrificing her heart.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published June 3, 2025
37 people are currently reading
11018 people want to read
About the author
Tashie Bhuiyan
7 books2,402 followersTashie Bhuiyan is the author of Counting Down with You, A Show for Two, Stay with My Heart, and I'll Pretend You're Mine. She is a New Yorker through and through, and hopes to change the world, one book at a time. She loves writing stories about gaining agency through growth and surviving against all odds. When she's not doing that, she's probably traveling, attending a concert, or bothering her cat, Zuko.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 271 reviews
June 22, 2025
✩ 4.25 stars ✩
What to Expect:
➼ Fake Dating/PR Stunt
➼ Pop Star x Actor
➼ Friends-to-Lovers
➼ Found Family
➼ Anxiety Rep
➼ Pansexual FMC
➼ Emotionally Abusive Parents (FMC)
➼ Narrated by Soneela Nankani
➼ First Person POV
This was honestly one of the best YA Romances I’ve read. The fake dating was really well done but in a different way than I’m used to. In adult romances, fake dating is usually all about the slow burn tension, but in this book it was about the genuine connection and friendship they built over time. Their fake dating relationship lasted a pretty long time considering it started as a PR stunt (over half a year), but that made sense considering he was trying to ditch his playboy persona. It also seemed like they just genuinely liked spending time together, so neither of them brought up ending their arrangement. Love it when a plot feels realistic.
There are a lot of fictional couples that I just don’t feel have real world compatibility, but these two couldn’t be much more perfect for each other. I loved how well they cared for each other and met each other’s needs and how well he fit with her friends and she fit with his family. They were very young when they met, but they started their relationship on the firm foundation of trust, friendship, and mutual respect. I really loved that the author included a little epilogue of their future together. When I love a couple, I like to know a little about where they end up and I was glad these two ended up happy and in a good place together.
They are both famous, but both characters were very down to earth and there was really no drama to speak of until the end where there was a little 3rd act break up. Technically they weren’t actually dating yet, but they did take some time apart after speaking some hard truths. I’m not a fan of this trope, but in this case I think it was needed so they could both come to their senses and realize what they really wanted.
The FMC had very high functioning anxiety (since she can still perform on stage, etc.) that I thought was very well represented. Even if she can mostly keep it under wraps, it was still crippling when she did suffer from an anxiety attack. The FMC is also pansexual and if I’m honest, I could see a lot of scenarios where I might feel like an author was just throwing that in to claim diversity and then still write about a heterosexual couple, but I felt like it was very relevant in this storyline since the FMC was in the spotlight and because she had such controlling/traditional parents.
I don’t want to give too much away, but if you’re in the market for a YA romance, I’d definitely recommend picking this up! This went beyond a fluffy surface level romance and touched on a lot of other important topics beyond what I mentioned here. And as an added bonus, the cover is adorable! 🤗 I think you need it on your shelf. 😏
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: Flying through books this weekend because they’ve all been so good! 🙌🏻
It seems like all the author’s decided to write NYC 🚕romances this summer and I’m not mad at it. Since this one’s YA I think I’ll be able to refrain from comparing it to Promise Me Sunshine.
At least I hope so… 😅
≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫
Connect with me on Instagram
What to Expect:
➼ Fake Dating/PR Stunt
➼ Pop Star x Actor
➼ Friends-to-Lovers
➼ Found Family
➼ Anxiety Rep
➼ Pansexual FMC
➼ Emotionally Abusive Parents (FMC)
➼ Narrated by Soneela Nankani
➼ First Person POV
This was honestly one of the best YA Romances I’ve read. The fake dating was really well done but in a different way than I’m used to. In adult romances, fake dating is usually all about the slow burn tension, but in this book it was about the genuine connection and friendship they built over time. Their fake dating relationship lasted a pretty long time considering it started as a PR stunt (over half a year), but that made sense considering he was trying to ditch his playboy persona. It also seemed like they just genuinely liked spending time together, so neither of them brought up ending their arrangement. Love it when a plot feels realistic.
There are a lot of fictional couples that I just don’t feel have real world compatibility, but these two couldn’t be much more perfect for each other. I loved how well they cared for each other and met each other’s needs and how well he fit with her friends and she fit with his family. They were very young when they met, but they started their relationship on the firm foundation of trust, friendship, and mutual respect. I really loved that the author included a little epilogue of their future together. When I love a couple, I like to know a little about where they end up and I was glad these two ended up happy and in a good place together.
They are both famous, but both characters were very down to earth and there was really no drama to speak of until the end where there was a little 3rd act break up. Technically they weren’t actually dating yet, but they did take some time apart after speaking some hard truths. I’m not a fan of this trope, but in this case I think it was needed so they could both come to their senses and realize what they really wanted.
The FMC had very high functioning anxiety (since she can still perform on stage, etc.) that I thought was very well represented. Even if she can mostly keep it under wraps, it was still crippling when she did suffer from an anxiety attack. The FMC is also pansexual and if I’m honest, I could see a lot of scenarios where I might feel like an author was just throwing that in to claim diversity and then still write about a heterosexual couple, but I felt like it was very relevant in this storyline since the FMC was in the spotlight and because she had such controlling/traditional parents.
I don’t want to give too much away, but if you’re in the market for a YA romance, I’d definitely recommend picking this up! This went beyond a fluffy surface level romance and touched on a lot of other important topics beyond what I mentioned here. And as an added bonus, the cover is adorable! 🤗 I think you need it on your shelf. 😏
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: Flying through books this weekend because they’ve all been so good! 🙌🏻
It seems like all the author’s decided to write NYC 🚕romances this summer and I’m not mad at it. Since this one’s YA I think I’ll be able to refrain from comparing it to Promise Me Sunshine.
At least I hope so… 😅
≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫
Connect with me on Instagram
May 26, 2025
hello, tashie here. :) only a few days left until this book officially comes out, so I wanted to come by and leave a little note before I skedaddle outta here!
so let me tell you about IPYM! as you probably know by now, it's a YA novel about a popstar and an actor who wind up fake dating for a PR stunt. but it's also about so much more than that. I consider this book to be a YA contemporary coming-of-age story more than anything else because it focuses so deeply on the main character summer's journey as she grows and grapples with her identity and her mental health.
this is a book about unlearning abuse, mapping out a road to recovery, and regaining agency. this is a book about love as something brave and kind and patient. this is a book about eldest daughter and eldest sister trauma. this is a book about learning how to pull away from toxic relationships and maintaining boundaries for your own healing. this is a book about how our reputations can precede us but they do not define us--and how sometimes we pretend to be people that we're not.
this is a book about finding people who see us for who we truly are and love us through it all.
it's a very personal book to me in many ways and I love summerjules so deeply, but you can read more about that in the author's note at the beginning of the book. :)
for anyone wondering about trigger warnings: anxiety, racism, homophobia, and parental abuse and neglect (verbal and psychological.) if any of these concern you, please feel free to reach out via the contact form on my website for more information.
enjoy reading! I'm sending all the love. xo
so let me tell you about IPYM! as you probably know by now, it's a YA novel about a popstar and an actor who wind up fake dating for a PR stunt. but it's also about so much more than that. I consider this book to be a YA contemporary coming-of-age story more than anything else because it focuses so deeply on the main character summer's journey as she grows and grapples with her identity and her mental health.
this is a book about unlearning abuse, mapping out a road to recovery, and regaining agency. this is a book about love as something brave and kind and patient. this is a book about eldest daughter and eldest sister trauma. this is a book about learning how to pull away from toxic relationships and maintaining boundaries for your own healing. this is a book about how our reputations can precede us but they do not define us--and how sometimes we pretend to be people that we're not.
this is a book about finding people who see us for who we truly are and love us through it all.
it's a very personal book to me in many ways and I love summerjules so deeply, but you can read more about that in the author's note at the beginning of the book. :)
for anyone wondering about trigger warnings: anxiety, racism, homophobia, and parental abuse and neglect (verbal and psychological.) if any of these concern you, please feel free to reach out via the contact form on my website for more information.
enjoy reading! I'm sending all the love. xo
June 3, 2025
I need no other details besides knowing its by Tashie 🫶🫶
Time for my actual review of this absolutely amazing book because I already found my second six star read of the year!
This book follows Summer Ali, a singer songwriter who left an abusive home and is struggling to find her footing as she experiences writers block and deals with her trauma. As she is changing her career, she runs into playboy actor Jules Moradi, who disappeared for a year and is now back.
The media immediately assumes they are dating, and Summer's new manager offers her a deal where she will fake date him to improve his reputation for an upcoming movie and potentially have the opportunity to create a song for that movie. Summer accepts the deal and this book follows her experience as she navigates her trauma, potential confounding feelings, fear, and the question of who is she?
"I wish for happiness in whatever form it might be."
Tashie's characters and books make me feel so seen. With every book she writes, I feel more and more seen, especially with Summer. She is someone who doubts herself and does not know how to break out of the shell she was put into. Her character development over the course of the book is amazing and commendable. I love the support she has from friends and how it emboldens her to find her own inner strength.
"I wasn't putting up with anything. You are not a burden to me. I am always, always happy to help you when you need it."
No thoughts, just Jules. He was such a loving character and the complete opposite of how the media portrayed him in the book. He also had amazing growth throughout the book and he supported Summer so much! They were each other's rock and it was just beautiful. The side characters also bolstered the story and made it so much better. I sooo need another story of Barbie and then Zach and then Raj (when you meet them you will also love them dearly!)
"If there are alternate universes though, I hope I meet you in every single one. Even if we're regular kids who never set foot on a film set or stage. I want you there with me."
Summer x Jules. Literally no other thoughts omgs. They are the absolute cutest and the way their relationship grew over time throughout the book was the best! I loved the soft moments they shared and how they grew closer over time. I just cannot get over them (and also Tashie's incorporations of the title into the story omgs)
If you want a read where you will smile, cry, and then have your heart break, this is the read for you. Also make sure that you read her other books because ALL her books are amazing!
Time for my actual review of this absolutely amazing book because I already found my second six star read of the year!
This book follows Summer Ali, a singer songwriter who left an abusive home and is struggling to find her footing as she experiences writers block and deals with her trauma. As she is changing her career, she runs into playboy actor Jules Moradi, who disappeared for a year and is now back.
The media immediately assumes they are dating, and Summer's new manager offers her a deal where she will fake date him to improve his reputation for an upcoming movie and potentially have the opportunity to create a song for that movie. Summer accepts the deal and this book follows her experience as she navigates her trauma, potential confounding feelings, fear, and the question of who is she?
"I wish for happiness in whatever form it might be."
Tashie's characters and books make me feel so seen. With every book she writes, I feel more and more seen, especially with Summer. She is someone who doubts herself and does not know how to break out of the shell she was put into. Her character development over the course of the book is amazing and commendable. I love the support she has from friends and how it emboldens her to find her own inner strength.
"I wasn't putting up with anything. You are not a burden to me. I am always, always happy to help you when you need it."
No thoughts, just Jules. He was such a loving character and the complete opposite of how the media portrayed him in the book. He also had amazing growth throughout the book and he supported Summer so much! They were each other's rock and it was just beautiful. The side characters also bolstered the story and made it so much better. I sooo need another story of Barbie and then Zach and then Raj (when you meet them you will also love them dearly!)
"If there are alternate universes though, I hope I meet you in every single one. Even if we're regular kids who never set foot on a film set or stage. I want you there with me."
Summer x Jules. Literally no other thoughts omgs. They are the absolute cutest and the way their relationship grew over time throughout the book was the best! I loved the soft moments they shared and how they grew closer over time. I just cannot get over them (and also Tashie's incorporations of the title into the story omgs)
If you want a read where you will smile, cry, and then have your heart break, this is the read for you. Also make sure that you read her other books because ALL her books are amazing!
May 29, 2025
Another emotionally deep YA coming of age story featuring a South Asian American teen singer who has recently cut ties with her controlling parents only to find herself fake dating an actor. I loved the T. Swift similiarities in this story, how well the author writes about mental health and accepting that it's okay to remove emotionally abusive people from your life. There's also a relatable coming out as pansexual storyline made more challenging by living in the limelight and having homophobic parents. I adored the friends to lovers fake dating romance, it was sweet and swoony all at the same time with no unnecessary drama or miscommunications. Great on audio too narrated by a fav, Soneela Nankani. Highly recommended! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
February 9, 2025
i thought about just saying there will be no explanation (as to why i keep reading tashie bhuiyan’s books) there will just be reputation etc. as a bit. but i suppose i do have things to say about this one.
i’ll start kindly. the relationship was nice. they actually like each other but not so much as they have no edge. miss summer felt dimensional to me. certainly the lead with the most built-out conflict with her parents. her sisters were sweet. jules felt like a real character! and uh. i guess that’s what we’ve got.
madame authoress, i know that most authors don’t read reviews of their books but if somehow this manages to reach you, i beg you. please get your entertainment industry jargon right. olease. i can’t take it. a film IN PRODUCTION simply couldn’t host multi round auditions to replace their LEAD ACTOR. preproduction maybe they can get away with this. perhaps that’s what was meant.
there hasn’t been a teenaged best actor nominee since 1939. the youngest best director winners were both 32, and the first won in 1931, holding the record for over 80 years. that there’s an actor out there of age to play the parent of a teenager with “close to a half dozen oscars” when the single performer with the most AA wins is katharine hepburn (who won four over 50 years, the first when she was 27, her final when she was 74) is PREPOSTEROUS.
there are only TWO directors whose projects “[guarantee] oscar nominations” and they are steven spielberg and martin scorsese, who have been working since the 1970s. they are old, they are white, they are the original vanguard. nominations and wins do happen for a debut director’s first feature, but everything else is dependent on the film’s critical reception, distributor, release strategy, studio campaign, talent campaign etc etc etc etc. none of which is really explored in this book.
the academy doesn’t reveal a nominee shortlist for the performance awards. the academy has a luncheon for all nominees before the ceremony so they could not have avoided each other for that long. the academy has historically (until two weeks ago reportedly because of the wildfires but i think because of emilia perez) invited every original song nominee to perform and it’s a rare occasion when a performer declines (hi kendrick, hope you bring out sza for all the stars at halftime tomorrow).
one of my big hair-ripping problems with a show for two (bhuiyan’s other movie-based book) was that it was inauthentic to how people who like film talk. this is just inauthentic to the inner workings of the entire film industry. this stuff is all common knowledge among movie dorks and very easily researched. it reflects bad on editorial that it’s all so inaccurate.
all this being said, the book reads very quickly. as long as you don’t care what’s going on in their professional lives, you’ll probably enjoy it. thanks netgalley and harper for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
i’ll start kindly. the relationship was nice. they actually like each other but not so much as they have no edge. miss summer felt dimensional to me. certainly the lead with the most built-out conflict with her parents. her sisters were sweet. jules felt like a real character! and uh. i guess that’s what we’ve got.
madame authoress, i know that most authors don’t read reviews of their books but if somehow this manages to reach you, i beg you. please get your entertainment industry jargon right. olease. i can’t take it. a film IN PRODUCTION simply couldn’t host multi round auditions to replace their LEAD ACTOR. preproduction maybe they can get away with this. perhaps that’s what was meant.
there hasn’t been a teenaged best actor nominee since 1939. the youngest best director winners were both 32, and the first won in 1931, holding the record for over 80 years. that there’s an actor out there of age to play the parent of a teenager with “close to a half dozen oscars” when the single performer with the most AA wins is katharine hepburn (who won four over 50 years, the first when she was 27, her final when she was 74) is PREPOSTEROUS.
there are only TWO directors whose projects “[guarantee] oscar nominations” and they are steven spielberg and martin scorsese, who have been working since the 1970s. they are old, they are white, they are the original vanguard. nominations and wins do happen for a debut director’s first feature, but everything else is dependent on the film’s critical reception, distributor, release strategy, studio campaign, talent campaign etc etc etc etc. none of which is really explored in this book.
the academy doesn’t reveal a nominee shortlist for the performance awards. the academy has a luncheon for all nominees before the ceremony so they could not have avoided each other for that long. the academy has historically (until two weeks ago reportedly because of the wildfires but i think because of emilia perez) invited every original song nominee to perform and it’s a rare occasion when a performer declines (hi kendrick, hope you bring out sza for all the stars at halftime tomorrow).
one of my big hair-ripping problems with a show for two (bhuiyan’s other movie-based book) was that it was inauthentic to how people who like film talk. this is just inauthentic to the inner workings of the entire film industry. this stuff is all common knowledge among movie dorks and very easily researched. it reflects bad on editorial that it’s all so inaccurate.
all this being said, the book reads very quickly. as long as you don’t care what’s going on in their professional lives, you’ll probably enjoy it. thanks netgalley and harper for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
April 21, 2025
Since I discovered I'll Pretend You're Mine on twitter last year it became one of my most anticipated 2025 releases, so imagine my surprise when I managed to get the ARC. Happy doesn't even begin to describe it.
If I could give this book six stars I would. It is exactly the type of book I was looking for, it's like the author looked into my mind and wrote the perfect book for me. I was on stan twitter for the longest time so all books with celebrities immediately catch my attention, but this ended up being so much more.
In I'll Pretend You're Mine we follow Summer, a teenage singer that got famous really fast through a singing competition and recently chose to let go of her parents as her managers. I'm certain we've all heard many stories of abusive parents, but Tashie managed to write in a way that made it feel so real and I deeply felt every struggle Summer went through on letting go of toxic patterns. On the other side we have Jules, an actor that had scandals printed all over the media and needs to clean his image for a film that he thinks will change his career. Cue in fake dating for publicity.
Now I must say this is so much more than a fake dating book, the comfort and companionship they find in each other is so wholesome and inspiring, their other friends are a necessary part of the story and every character felt so real. In the end I think this book is mostly about finding yourself, about surrounding yourself with the right people, friends that make you a better person and help you be free and happy.
I wish I could stay in this book forever, I didn't want it to ever end. I would love to read about the rest of their lives, what happens with Zach and Barbie and how they get their happy endings. I absolutely loved this book, an instant new favourite.
I urge you to please read it once it is released(June 3rd!), really give it a chance because it is so, so wonderful.
Thank you HarperCollins and Netgalley for the ARC!
If I could give this book six stars I would. It is exactly the type of book I was looking for, it's like the author looked into my mind and wrote the perfect book for me. I was on stan twitter for the longest time so all books with celebrities immediately catch my attention, but this ended up being so much more.
In I'll Pretend You're Mine we follow Summer, a teenage singer that got famous really fast through a singing competition and recently chose to let go of her parents as her managers. I'm certain we've all heard many stories of abusive parents, but Tashie managed to write in a way that made it feel so real and I deeply felt every struggle Summer went through on letting go of toxic patterns. On the other side we have Jules, an actor that had scandals printed all over the media and needs to clean his image for a film that he thinks will change his career. Cue in fake dating for publicity.
Now I must say this is so much more than a fake dating book, the comfort and companionship they find in each other is so wholesome and inspiring, their other friends are a necessary part of the story and every character felt so real. In the end I think this book is mostly about finding yourself, about surrounding yourself with the right people, friends that make you a better person and help you be free and happy.
I wish I could stay in this book forever, I didn't want it to ever end. I would love to read about the rest of their lives, what happens with Zach and Barbie and how they get their happy endings. I absolutely loved this book, an instant new favourite.
I urge you to please read it once it is released(June 3rd!), really give it a chance because it is so, so wonderful.
Thank you HarperCollins and Netgalley for the ARC!
May 1, 2025
This is my first read from Tashie and it won’t be my last!!!
I really enjoyed reading Sumaira’s (Summer) story! It was both heartbreaking and relatable. Seeing her blossom and find her voice amongst the chaos was inspiring. And let’s not forget the main love interest Jules. He’s a multi-layered guy who saw our girl and was giddy everytime!
I can see this being adapted for screen because it read like a good romcom, coming of age story!
I really enjoyed reading Sumaira’s (Summer) story! It was both heartbreaking and relatable. Seeing her blossom and find her voice amongst the chaos was inspiring. And let’s not forget the main love interest Jules. He’s a multi-layered guy who saw our girl and was giddy everytime!
I can see this being adapted for screen because it read like a good romcom, coming of age story!
Want to read
November 29, 2025the cover has me sold
June 10, 2025
This is more of a 3.5. I was super excited for this release, but the characters and romance ended up falling a little flat for me, unfortunately. I am still a fan of this author, though, and will definitely check out more of their works in the future. RTC
August 8, 2025
Was up until 2 AM, read this in one sitting. Tashie can do no wrong.
Want to read
August 25, 2025౨౿ 𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 | 🎤
✎ 2025 /03/ 05
sadly because of personal reasons i won't be reading this novel.
✎ 2025 /02/ 07
guys i am such a big fan of tashie and like she is one of the most relatable authors for me personally.
also take some time to appreciate the gorgeous stunning jaw dropping cover?!!!!! like this has to be the prettiest one everrrr. like i need it in my hands rn like yes pls. also the plot?? fake dating with a PR stunt and popstar x child actor?? her plots and storylines are always so fun.
rn the ranking of her books
1. a show for two - 5 ✭
2. counting down with you - 5 ✭
✎ 2025 /03/ 05
sadly because of personal reasons i won't be reading this novel.
✎ 2025 /02/ 07
guys i am such a big fan of tashie and like she is one of the most relatable authors for me personally.
also take some time to appreciate the gorgeous stunning jaw dropping cover?!!!!! like this has to be the prettiest one everrrr. like i need it in my hands rn like yes pls. also the plot?? fake dating with a PR stunt and popstar x child actor?? her plots and storylines are always so fun.
rn the ranking of her books
1. a show for two - 5 ✭
2. counting down with you - 5 ✭
August 19, 2025
4.5/5 stars
oh my god. man i didn't expect to love this as much as i do but wow this was fantastic. the way tashie portrayed mental health and struggling with toxic people and parents in your life is so realistic and done well even though it's quite hard to read, which is sadly a lot of people's reality. i adore the fmc and her friendships with her 2 loyal best friends and her bond with her sisters. i also adoreee the way the romance was building so slowly but steadily, and that they became good friends that slowly trusted each other with their struggles and ended up becoming each other's comfort person and then they fall for each other from there. they really did fake dating so well here that it got me giggling and loving every moment of it
oh my god. man i didn't expect to love this as much as i do but wow this was fantastic. the way tashie portrayed mental health and struggling with toxic people and parents in your life is so realistic and done well even though it's quite hard to read, which is sadly a lot of people's reality. i adore the fmc and her friendships with her 2 loyal best friends and her bond with her sisters. i also adoreee the way the romance was building so slowly but steadily, and that they became good friends that slowly trusted each other with their struggles and ended up becoming each other's comfort person and then they fall for each other from there. they really did fake dating so well here that it got me giggling and loving every moment of it
May 12, 2025
Review: 4.5 stars
I was conned into reading this by Farah, a friend who wanted to read it. I binged this book in one sitting and do not regret it.
Summer Ali is in a dilemma; she managed to pull herself away from her controlling parents and set herself up with a new manager thanks to the help of her friend, Barbie, who is also couch surfing. While visiting her manager, she unexpectedly ran into Playboy actor Jules, and the media shipped them together. Because of this, they agreed to a PR stunt to fake-date to help Jules’s audition for an upcoming movie, which may be the next Oscar-winning hit.
Oh gosh, this book is adorable! This is my first Tashie Bhuiyan book, and it does not disappoint. The setting speaks to the celebrity world, and we get peeks of it through Fashion Week, a singing tour, movie set visits, and award shows.
Summer’s character development is phenomenal. At the start of the book, she has just broken away from her emotionally abusive, controlling parents and is slowly taking pains to figure out her life while letting go of her toxic parents. She struggles with putting boundaries against her parents. She suffers from anxiety and would get overwhelmed at crowded events with hints of impostor syndrome. Jules, on the other hand, is portrayed as a playboy actor who is not serious about his career and needs a clean image to win the audition for an upcoming movie that may break his career. He also suffers from misplaced loyalty towards his ex-best friend and his racial identity.
Their relationship naturally progresses from strangers to tentative friends to being in love. I love how they balance each other out and slowly seek each other out for companionship. Urgh, the forehead kisses, hugs, and wonderful talks they have as they slowly get to know each other peppered throughout the book were so cute!
The book also touches on strong friendship. Summer has a strong bond with her friends, Barbie and Zach, and I love how she can call or unexpectedly drop in for a visit as she struggles with her anxiety, and they will always be there to help her through it! It’s just amazing to see true friendship like this.
This is a lovely read as it speaks to anxiety, friendship, love, the celebrity world, impostor syndrome, identity themes and learning to put yourself first.
Thank you, HarperCollins and FrenzyBooks, for the lovely e-ARC.
I was conned into reading this by Farah, a friend who wanted to read it. I binged this book in one sitting and do not regret it.
Summer Ali is in a dilemma; she managed to pull herself away from her controlling parents and set herself up with a new manager thanks to the help of her friend, Barbie, who is also couch surfing. While visiting her manager, she unexpectedly ran into Playboy actor Jules, and the media shipped them together. Because of this, they agreed to a PR stunt to fake-date to help Jules’s audition for an upcoming movie, which may be the next Oscar-winning hit.
Oh gosh, this book is adorable! This is my first Tashie Bhuiyan book, and it does not disappoint. The setting speaks to the celebrity world, and we get peeks of it through Fashion Week, a singing tour, movie set visits, and award shows.
Summer’s character development is phenomenal. At the start of the book, she has just broken away from her emotionally abusive, controlling parents and is slowly taking pains to figure out her life while letting go of her toxic parents. She struggles with putting boundaries against her parents. She suffers from anxiety and would get overwhelmed at crowded events with hints of impostor syndrome. Jules, on the other hand, is portrayed as a playboy actor who is not serious about his career and needs a clean image to win the audition for an upcoming movie that may break his career. He also suffers from misplaced loyalty towards his ex-best friend and his racial identity.
Their relationship naturally progresses from strangers to tentative friends to being in love. I love how they balance each other out and slowly seek each other out for companionship. Urgh, the forehead kisses, hugs, and wonderful talks they have as they slowly get to know each other peppered throughout the book were so cute!
The book also touches on strong friendship. Summer has a strong bond with her friends, Barbie and Zach, and I love how she can call or unexpectedly drop in for a visit as she struggles with her anxiety, and they will always be there to help her through it! It’s just amazing to see true friendship like this.
This is a lovely read as it speaks to anxiety, friendship, love, the celebrity world, impostor syndrome, identity themes and learning to put yourself first.
Thank you, HarperCollins and FrenzyBooks, for the lovely e-ARC.
May 14, 2025
3.75 stars rounded up!
I can always count on Tashie to write a cute story with great emotional beats & celebrity vibes. Love my girl for that. This story was really sweet!
Tashie’s last 2 books have been less romance than contemporary imo, which is fine, but they need to be marketed that way bc I was more let down by this story than I would have been if I went in with the correct expectations.
I loved this fmc. Her struggles were relatable. But I found myself wanting more of the romance. I was in the fmc’s head, but she knew more about the MMC than I did bc the book jumped around and they hung out off-page. So the romance of it all was underwhelming. Definitely worth the read though if you’re looking for a cute & emotional ya! I loved the FMC's story and the struggles she went through were so real and not ones I see often in media.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
I can always count on Tashie to write a cute story with great emotional beats & celebrity vibes. Love my girl for that. This story was really sweet!
Tashie’s last 2 books have been less romance than contemporary imo, which is fine, but they need to be marketed that way bc I was more let down by this story than I would have been if I went in with the correct expectations.
I loved this fmc. Her struggles were relatable. But I found myself wanting more of the romance. I was in the fmc’s head, but she knew more about the MMC than I did bc the book jumped around and they hung out off-page. So the romance of it all was underwhelming. Definitely worth the read though if you’re looking for a cute & emotional ya! I loved the FMC's story and the struggles she went through were so real and not ones I see often in media.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
November 24, 2025
so this is immediately my favourite f/m romance and it's not even a competition. usually straight romances have a level of hetero-cringe that i just have to look past to enjoy the story but this made me realise i need to have higher standards because when i tell you this was PERFECT with zero cringe!! (this is probably because it's still very queer but more on that later)
summer ali is an 18 year old popstar still reeling from cutting off her abusive parents. jules moradi is an actor with his reputation in tatters before his career had the chance to really take off. so of course they decide that faking a relationship for pr will solve all of their pressing issues! i found this to be such a unique portrayal of the fake-dating trope because summer and jules grow closer as FRIENDS first and foremost and then fall in love overtime. it's such a real and heartwarming relationship that you just cant not root for them.
summer as a character is so. perfect!!! i just want to give her a hug and put her in my pocket forever. she actually deserves the world and i see myself in her so much oh my shayla 💔💔 she's a closeted pansexual (because her controlling parents are homophobic too) and has anxiety and writer's block and all of her struggles are so relatable like ill actually start crying if i think about it for too long. but then her finding friendship and support in her queer friends and little sisters and unconditional love with jules is the sweetest thing to witness. i feel like a proud older sister. summer you are so special to me!!!
so yeah this will probably become a new comfort read in due time because it's just so perfect in a way few contemporary books are. im moved, im gagged, im heartbroken and intrinsically changed. everyone read this now!!!
summer ali is an 18 year old popstar still reeling from cutting off her abusive parents. jules moradi is an actor with his reputation in tatters before his career had the chance to really take off. so of course they decide that faking a relationship for pr will solve all of their pressing issues! i found this to be such a unique portrayal of the fake-dating trope because summer and jules grow closer as FRIENDS first and foremost and then fall in love overtime. it's such a real and heartwarming relationship that you just cant not root for them.
summer as a character is so. perfect!!! i just want to give her a hug and put her in my pocket forever. she actually deserves the world and i see myself in her so much oh my shayla 💔💔 she's a closeted pansexual (because her controlling parents are homophobic too) and has anxiety and writer's block and all of her struggles are so relatable like ill actually start crying if i think about it for too long. but then her finding friendship and support in her queer friends and little sisters and unconditional love with jules is the sweetest thing to witness. i feel like a proud older sister. summer you are so special to me!!!
so yeah this will probably become a new comfort read in due time because it's just so perfect in a way few contemporary books are. im moved, im gagged, im heartbroken and intrinsically changed. everyone read this now!!!
March 6, 2025
If you are a hopeless romantic who would die to find love like in Taylor songs, this book is for you🫵.
Thank you to Harper Collins for the DRC!
I tend to be very picky with my romance books; even small things turn me off, but I absolutely loved this book. From faking dating to mental health struggles, I felt like everything was done very well. Going in this book, I actually had no idea that it also has queer representation; I was very happy when I found that out.
Characters
Summer Ali—Block me out coded
I think a lot of readers out there, like me, would relate to Summer to a great extent. Summer’s struggles with anxiety, especially anxiety related to coming out, will make a lot of readers feel seen. Whenever her parents come up in any chapter, my blood boils. Like, how can you treat your kids like that? I absolutely loved her relationship with her sisters; it made me miss my sisters 🥺🫶. Also, quick question: how do you find real-life Barbie Li and Zach Murphy?? Summer and her best friends were one of my favourite parts of this book; I would love to join one of their gossip sessions.
Jules Moradi-Clean coded
Jules Moradi, all of us deserve a partner like him, but sadly he doesn’t exist 😭😇. Jules was a well-written character; his story was making my blood boil, and I was very angry at his ex-friend. His ex-friend can respectfully smash his head on a wall or something. Jules's family was adorable, and it warmed my heart the way they treated Summer.
The balance of this book was impeccable, it was equal parts humorous, sad and romantic. The romance was incredible; so many scenes from this book are ingrained in my mind. I don’t want to spoil anything for you guys, but there was this one scene I particularly loved; it was after Jules’s film premiere, and it has my heart. This book is like having a companion to go through a hard day with; it will definitely help in uplifting your spirits.
Release date: 3rd June, 2025
Thank you to Harper Collins for the DRC!
I tend to be very picky with my romance books; even small things turn me off, but I absolutely loved this book. From faking dating to mental health struggles, I felt like everything was done very well. Going in this book, I actually had no idea that it also has queer representation; I was very happy when I found that out.
Characters
Summer Ali—Block me out coded
I think a lot of readers out there, like me, would relate to Summer to a great extent. Summer’s struggles with anxiety, especially anxiety related to coming out, will make a lot of readers feel seen. Whenever her parents come up in any chapter, my blood boils. Like, how can you treat your kids like that? I absolutely loved her relationship with her sisters; it made me miss my sisters 🥺🫶. Also, quick question: how do you find real-life Barbie Li and Zach Murphy?? Summer and her best friends were one of my favourite parts of this book; I would love to join one of their gossip sessions.
Jules Moradi-Clean coded
Jules Moradi, all of us deserve a partner like him, but sadly he doesn’t exist 😭😇. Jules was a well-written character; his story was making my blood boil, and I was very angry at his ex-friend. His ex-friend can respectfully smash his head on a wall or something. Jules's family was adorable, and it warmed my heart the way they treated Summer.
The balance of this book was impeccable, it was equal parts humorous, sad and romantic. The romance was incredible; so many scenes from this book are ingrained in my mind. I don’t want to spoil anything for you guys, but there was this one scene I particularly loved; it was after Jules’s film premiere, and it has my heart. This book is like having a companion to go through a hard day with; it will definitely help in uplifting your spirits.
Release date: 3rd June, 2025
February 16, 2025
This was another fantastic, wonderful read that got me in the feels, I loved these characters and their story!
Want to read
April 6, 2025this looks SO CUTE
March 16, 2025
3.75
i love my little tashie bhuiyan universe so much
i love my little tashie bhuiyan universe so much
August 22, 2025
✨six beautiful freaking stars✨
i could not be more satisfied with this book oml
the characters? yes.
the plot? yes.
the ending? yes.
every single thing about this? yes.
yesyesyesyesyesyesyes
i loved how it ended with all of the headlines describing their relationship UGHHHHH I LOVEEEEEEEEEEE
🎤🎬
i could not be more satisfied with this book oml
the characters? yes.
the plot? yes.
the ending? yes.
every single thing about this? yes.
yesyesyesyesyesyesyes
i loved how it ended with all of the headlines describing their relationship UGHHHHH I LOVEEEEEEEEEEE
🎤🎬
February 17, 2025
4,5*
This book was refreshing, captivating, and free of clichés. It’s great to read a story that takes the overused fake-dating trope and gives it a fresh and unique twist. Normally, I’m not a fan of stories featuring celebrity protagonists, but Summer was a fantastic lead. I really liked how her strained relationship with her strict parents was explored and how she gradually learned to break free from their control throughout the novel.
Our love interest, Jules, a former child actor now trying to make it in Hollywood, also carried his own burdens. As a Persian man, he is often perceived as white but wishes he could play more diverse roles.
This YA romance tackles serious topics such as whitewashing, racism, and sexism in the film and music industries. Both main characters were compelling, and it was beautiful to see their relationship develop organically. There’s no "love at first sight" here—just the delicate growth of a deep friendship that might evolve into something more.
After already enjoying Tashie Bhuiyan’s last book, I was even more impressed with I'll Pretend You're Mine.
Thanks to Edelweiss and HarperCollins for the review copy.
This book was refreshing, captivating, and free of clichés. It’s great to read a story that takes the overused fake-dating trope and gives it a fresh and unique twist. Normally, I’m not a fan of stories featuring celebrity protagonists, but Summer was a fantastic lead. I really liked how her strained relationship with her strict parents was explored and how she gradually learned to break free from their control throughout the novel.
Our love interest, Jules, a former child actor now trying to make it in Hollywood, also carried his own burdens. As a Persian man, he is often perceived as white but wishes he could play more diverse roles.
This YA romance tackles serious topics such as whitewashing, racism, and sexism in the film and music industries. Both main characters were compelling, and it was beautiful to see their relationship develop organically. There’s no "love at first sight" here—just the delicate growth of a deep friendship that might evolve into something more.
After already enjoying Tashie Bhuiyan’s last book, I was even more impressed with I'll Pretend You're Mine.
Thanks to Edelweiss and HarperCollins for the review copy.
May 7, 2025
thanks to NetGalley for the eARC
⭐️=4.75 | 😘=2 | 🤬=3 | 😭=3 | 14/15+
summary: teenage pop star and teenage actor are fake dating but make it make me cry!!
thoughts: so I guess I’m in my grown-adult-crying-over-YA-romance-novels era?? this was so sweet and the protagonist was surprisingly relatable (or at least, her emotional state is relatable to the injured 16–19 year old still wandering through my psyche) and I cried at least thrice while reading it which is kind of embarrassing and definitely speaks to my mental state but anyways!! I enjoyed this—so emotional feat. a very sweet main relationship but I especially loved the FMC. only complaint is that I would have preferred a slightly longer denouement, but besides that this was really, really lovely.
⭐️=4.75 | 😘=2 | 🤬=3 | 😭=3 | 14/15+
summary: teenage pop star and teenage actor are fake dating but make it make me cry!!
thoughts: so I guess I’m in my grown-adult-crying-over-YA-romance-novels era?? this was so sweet and the protagonist was surprisingly relatable (or at least, her emotional state is relatable to the injured 16–19 year old still wandering through my psyche) and I cried at least thrice while reading it which is kind of embarrassing and definitely speaks to my mental state but anyways!! I enjoyed this—so emotional feat. a very sweet main relationship but I especially loved the FMC. only complaint is that I would have preferred a slightly longer denouement, but besides that this was really, really lovely.
June 17, 2025
*4.5
Thank you for the e-arc Harpercollins!
This was my first book by Tashie and I simply will admit that I’m craving more!!
I’ll pretend you’re mine is YA fake-dating romance that will tear you up and fill your heart with so much warmth.
Summer is truly the sweetest, seeing her grow within herself and start healing was so special. My girl deserves all the love in the world ❤️🩹
The conversations around toxic & emotionally abusive parents were handled with love. As someone who grew up in a toxic and abusive household, seeing this be talked about in YA books with an acknowledgment of how exhausting it can be for children is so needed.
Jules truly is that guy!! He came to serve main lead energy and it was served with delicacy.
I think this book highlights the importance of friendship in love and I adore that!
Tashie Bhuiyan has a gift and I cannot wait to explore that in her other works!
Summer is my fav pansexual everrrrrrrr 🙂↕️🩷💛💙
Thank you for the e-arc Harpercollins!
This was my first book by Tashie and I simply will admit that I’m craving more!!
I’ll pretend you’re mine is YA fake-dating romance that will tear you up and fill your heart with so much warmth.
Summer is truly the sweetest, seeing her grow within herself and start healing was so special. My girl deserves all the love in the world ❤️🩹
The conversations around toxic & emotionally abusive parents were handled with love. As someone who grew up in a toxic and abusive household, seeing this be talked about in YA books with an acknowledgment of how exhausting it can be for children is so needed.
Jules truly is that guy!! He came to serve main lead energy and it was served with delicacy.
I think this book highlights the importance of friendship in love and I adore that!
Tashie Bhuiyan has a gift and I cannot wait to explore that in her other works!
Summer is my fav pansexual everrrrrrrr 🙂↕️🩷💛💙
December 2, 2025
★★★²⁵
rtc!!
rtc!!
June 23, 2025
CELEBRITY ROMANCE WIN.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM || TIKTOK
Celebrity romances are hit or miss for me in the romance department and I am happy to report this one was a great read for me. I loved the audiobook, it really brought the book to life for me.
I loved the coming of age theme and the journey Summer went on to find herself and the strength it took to make some hard and big decisions. I loved the close relationships Summer had with her sisters and her friends. I love seeing the balance of positive relationships between the heaviness of Summer’s parents and other circumstances. And I found the anxiety rep to be very relatable.
Jules and Summer had the sweetest chemistry. From a fake dating vibe to the slow friendship build to lovers. I loved all of the tender moments they shared and how you could see them slowly opening up and pulling away from toxic situations.
Overall audience notes:
- YA Contemporary Romance
- Language: mild
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: low
- Content warnings: racism, homophobia, anxiety, parental abuse/neglect
BLOG || INSTAGRAM || TIKTOK
Celebrity romances are hit or miss for me in the romance department and I am happy to report this one was a great read for me. I loved the audiobook, it really brought the book to life for me.
I loved the coming of age theme and the journey Summer went on to find herself and the strength it took to make some hard and big decisions. I loved the close relationships Summer had with her sisters and her friends. I love seeing the balance of positive relationships between the heaviness of Summer’s parents and other circumstances. And I found the anxiety rep to be very relatable.
Jules and Summer had the sweetest chemistry. From a fake dating vibe to the slow friendship build to lovers. I loved all of the tender moments they shared and how you could see them slowly opening up and pulling away from toxic situations.
Overall audience notes:
- YA Contemporary Romance
- Language: mild
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: low
- Content warnings: racism, homophobia, anxiety, parental abuse/neglect
July 13, 2025
~ 4.5 ☆s
May 25, 2025
well, duh. need a physical copy of this book so bad.
April 6, 2025
thank you to netgalley for the arc!
this was such a fun and heartwarming book, and one of my most anticipated of the year, so you can imagine how pleased i am to get a chance to read it a little early!
tashie has such a way with words and her ability to weave the themes of identity and family and sexuality into a story without making it feel too heavy is always such a breath of fresh air. fake dating is such a popular trope but tashie managed to make it feel like i was reading it for the first time - and unfortunately for our leads summer and jules i didn’t believe that it was fake mere chapters after it began 🙂↔️
i had such a good time with this story, it was so sweet and truly felt like a warm hug - this will be going directly into my stack of comfort reads. i absolutely adored summer, her struggles with her sexuality (especially in regard to how her parents will react) is something i’m sure a lot of us can empathise with. jules was as lovely as i was expecting him to be, and again i think we can all think of a time or two we’ve had an old friend we can’t bear to let go of even when it’s beyond time to move on. as for summer and jules as a couple all i can say is i screamed into my pillow at multiple points 😭
i can’t recommend this enough - 300+ pages and i sat and read the entire thing in one sitting without once feeling bored.
once again, thank you to tashie for letting us into her universe, and thank you to netgalley for the arc!
this was such a fun and heartwarming book, and one of my most anticipated of the year, so you can imagine how pleased i am to get a chance to read it a little early!
tashie has such a way with words and her ability to weave the themes of identity and family and sexuality into a story without making it feel too heavy is always such a breath of fresh air. fake dating is such a popular trope but tashie managed to make it feel like i was reading it for the first time - and unfortunately for our leads summer and jules i didn’t believe that it was fake mere chapters after it began 🙂↔️
i had such a good time with this story, it was so sweet and truly felt like a warm hug - this will be going directly into my stack of comfort reads. i absolutely adored summer, her struggles with her sexuality (especially in regard to how her parents will react) is something i’m sure a lot of us can empathise with. jules was as lovely as i was expecting him to be, and again i think we can all think of a time or two we’ve had an old friend we can’t bear to let go of even when it’s beyond time to move on. as for summer and jules as a couple all i can say is i screamed into my pillow at multiple points 😭
i can’t recommend this enough - 300+ pages and i sat and read the entire thing in one sitting without once feeling bored.
once again, thank you to tashie for letting us into her universe, and thank you to netgalley for the arc!
April 26, 2025
every book I read from this author feels like they went back in time to me at 16 and asked me what my perfect book would be.
Tashie Bhuiyan writes the sweetest ya contemporary romances that incorporates serious topics such as mental health, racial issues, and toxic family relationships and this one is no different. I love seeing books like this being directed to teens and younger readers because good books seem to be so rare in this age category these days. even though some of the dialogue between jules and summer isn't entirely realistic (I'm sorry but most teens do not have that much emotional intelligence), it's nice to see compared to the horrific miscommunication seen in other romance books.
as much as I loved seeing a character with anxiety like mine, I didn't really connect with summer or any of the other characters in particular which made it hard to get into the story at times. I didn't love the book as much as I hoped but I get what it was. it was a love story for teens who feel trapped in their roles, who just need a push in the write direction and I love it for that.
thanks to edelweiss and harper collins for the arc!
Tashie Bhuiyan writes the sweetest ya contemporary romances that incorporates serious topics such as mental health, racial issues, and toxic family relationships and this one is no different. I love seeing books like this being directed to teens and younger readers because good books seem to be so rare in this age category these days. even though some of the dialogue between jules and summer isn't entirely realistic (I'm sorry but most teens do not have that much emotional intelligence), it's nice to see compared to the horrific miscommunication seen in other romance books.
as much as I loved seeing a character with anxiety like mine, I didn't really connect with summer or any of the other characters in particular which made it hard to get into the story at times. I didn't love the book as much as I hoped but I get what it was. it was a love story for teens who feel trapped in their roles, who just need a push in the write direction and I love it for that.
thanks to edelweiss and harper collins for the arc!
March 22, 2025
Review to come, thank you Netgalley for my ARC!
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