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Canaan Island #1
Fakers
An alternate cover edition can be found here.
Kyra Aberdeen is a YouTube sensation. Her bubbling personality and fresh beauty capture her audience each week, but they don't know the truth-she's just faking it. Beneath the surface of light-hearted smiles is a simmering darkness threatening to pull Kyra under.
When Kyra moves to Canaan Island and buys her deceased mother's childhood home, she hopes to confront the lurking shadows haunting her every step. But when she meets her grumpy contractor, even her best-laid plans start to unravel.
Hale Cooper is as brutally honest as he is intriguing. He hates fakers, and isn't afraid to call Kyra on her false personality. Yet, she is drawn to him, and the unexpected attraction to a man who challenges her to be her true self lands her in unchartered waters.
But if she lowers her guard and allows herself to be honest with Hale, will the darkness creep in too?
*This book is recommended for mature readers due to some sexual content and language. Cutting is represented in this book, and scenes may be considered triggering to some.*
Kyra Aberdeen is a YouTube sensation. Her bubbling personality and fresh beauty capture her audience each week, but they don't know the truth-she's just faking it. Beneath the surface of light-hearted smiles is a simmering darkness threatening to pull Kyra under.
When Kyra moves to Canaan Island and buys her deceased mother's childhood home, she hopes to confront the lurking shadows haunting her every step. But when she meets her grumpy contractor, even her best-laid plans start to unravel.
Hale Cooper is as brutally honest as he is intriguing. He hates fakers, and isn't afraid to call Kyra on her false personality. Yet, she is drawn to him, and the unexpected attraction to a man who challenges her to be her true self lands her in unchartered waters.
But if she lowers her guard and allows herself to be honest with Hale, will the darkness creep in too?
*This book is recommended for mature readers due to some sexual content and language. Cutting is represented in this book, and scenes may be considered triggering to some.*
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 28, 2014
934 people are currently reading
1779 people want to read
About the author
Meg Collett
29 books546 followersBestselling and award-winning author Meg Collett lives the cozy mountain life in a tiny home in Tennessee with her dogs. Inspired from an early age by her grandmother’s spicey mystery novels, Meg dreamed of writing books of her own one day. Today, with countless stories to her name, she’s known for weaving tales with monsters, bad language, and lots of kissing. When she’s not writing, Meg enjoys coaching rowing, playing video games, and trout fishing. Discover more about her work at megcollett.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 206 reviews
September 23, 2014
ARC provided by author in exchange of honest review
☆☆☆☆ 4 Being Real Stars ☆☆☆☆
Ready...Set.. Go...SMILE!!! Behind the smile and bubbly personality of Youtube blogger sensation, Kyra Aberdeen lies a broken girl with emotional and physical scars to prove it. Kyra has perfected being FAKE for her family, friends, and followers. What others don’t know is that behind the facade, is a young woman dealing with secrets, depression, a death of a mother, and feelings of abandonment from her grandparents. Simply, Kyra is barely breathing and surviving but that all changes till she meets her new friendly neighbor, Stevie, and the Cooper brothers, Cade and Hale. Friendships begins to bloom and slowly Kyra finds herself letting her guard down. Soon the REAL Kyra Aberdeen begins to appear.
If you want others to see the real you, then you must LOVE yourself first and accept everything about oneself including the flaws. Behind the lens of her camera, Kyra is truly hurting. Raw emotional pain and baggage from never experiencing love from her maternal grandparents and a part of her is dealing with her mother’s suicide. Take that into account, she is struggling with her illness of depression and cutting. Kyra can plaster a fake smile and tell people she’s okay but as you peel the layers her emotional scars , it has truly hindered her from fully being happy that is until she meets Hale Cooper. Hale has no problem calling out on Kyra’s bullshit. He can see through the fake facade and tells Kyra to stop being fake and start being real. The blunt nature of Hale shocks her but hearing the TRUTH was refreshing. It was a cold splash to the face that Kyra can no longer FAKE her happiness. So what will it take for Kyra to shed the protective layers she tries hard to hide? Will Hale Cooper be able to heal her? And will she will be able to finally be REAL or will she continue to be a FAKER and fade in with the crowd?
The relationship of Hale and Kyra was absolutely refreshing. I love the innocence and at the same time sexiness Meg Collett incorporated in the story-line. Yes, this book had a romantic aspect but I think the big emphasis of this book is the character development of Kyra. Depression is nothing to be ashamed of. As humans we all have flaws and we must learn to overcome them and not be afraid to get help. This was my first book that I have read from Meg Collett and I must say that FAKERS was a great read. It had be me devouring the book in one sitting. Fakers is a book to be experienced. It is raw, touching, and emotional. This book reminds us all not to judge a book by it’s cover and it’s never too late to begin anew. The journey of happiness is not instant but takes time and Meg Collett highlights that in this book. There is nothing FAKE about this book. So if you are looking for a book to experience, then I suggest you go read Fakers.
Meg Collett
☆☆☆☆ 4 Being Real Stars ☆☆☆☆
Ready...Set.. Go...SMILE!!! Behind the smile and bubbly personality of Youtube blogger sensation, Kyra Aberdeen lies a broken girl with emotional and physical scars to prove it. Kyra has perfected being FAKE for her family, friends, and followers. What others don’t know is that behind the facade, is a young woman dealing with secrets, depression, a death of a mother, and feelings of abandonment from her grandparents. Simply, Kyra is barely breathing and surviving but that all changes till she meets her new friendly neighbor, Stevie, and the Cooper brothers, Cade and Hale. Friendships begins to bloom and slowly Kyra finds herself letting her guard down. Soon the REAL Kyra Aberdeen begins to appear.
If you want others to see the real you, then you must LOVE yourself first and accept everything about oneself including the flaws. Behind the lens of her camera, Kyra is truly hurting. Raw emotional pain and baggage from never experiencing love from her maternal grandparents and a part of her is dealing with her mother’s suicide. Take that into account, she is struggling with her illness of depression and cutting. Kyra can plaster a fake smile and tell people she’s okay but as you peel the layers her emotional scars , it has truly hindered her from fully being happy that is until she meets Hale Cooper. Hale has no problem calling out on Kyra’s bullshit. He can see through the fake facade and tells Kyra to stop being fake and start being real. The blunt nature of Hale shocks her but hearing the TRUTH was refreshing. It was a cold splash to the face that Kyra can no longer FAKE her happiness. So what will it take for Kyra to shed the protective layers she tries hard to hide? Will Hale Cooper be able to heal her? And will she will be able to finally be REAL or will she continue to be a FAKER and fade in with the crowd?
The relationship of Hale and Kyra was absolutely refreshing. I love the innocence and at the same time sexiness Meg Collett incorporated in the story-line. Yes, this book had a romantic aspect but I think the big emphasis of this book is the character development of Kyra. Depression is nothing to be ashamed of. As humans we all have flaws and we must learn to overcome them and not be afraid to get help. This was my first book that I have read from Meg Collett and I must say that FAKERS was a great read. It had be me devouring the book in one sitting. Fakers is a book to be experienced. It is raw, touching, and emotional. This book reminds us all not to judge a book by it’s cover and it’s never too late to begin anew. The journey of happiness is not instant but takes time and Meg Collett highlights that in this book. There is nothing FAKE about this book. So if you are looking for a book to experience, then I suggest you go read Fakers.
Meg Collett
September 28, 2014
Fakers
Meg Collett
✩★✩★✩5-Emotional Stars✩★✩★✩ ✩
*ARC given by the author in exchange for an honest review*
The story is about pretending to be someone else, acting like nothing is bothering you and that everything is just perfect. BUT deep down no one has any idea what's really going on with you and how you're really feeling deep inside. No one will understand how you really feel because it's your body and mind. It's you!
Kyra is a YouTuber, who is all smiles on camera but in reality has her own demons and tries to deal with it the best she can. Her mother died in prison and was a drug addict. She started drinking, but eventually stopped before it became uncontrollable. She's a 24 year old virgin, but just because she is doesn't make her a prude. Growing up with no love surrounding her, it was hard. She has a grandmother name Florence, who is a disgrace to all the grandmothers out there. She did nothing to support Kyra. All she did was tell her how awful Kyra's mother was. All the hateful things she would say about her mother that made Kyra feel even worse and did not help with harming herself. It's her way to cope with the pain she feels and the frustration she has for her grandmother.
Hale likes to keep it to himself. He's been in jail before for something he didn't even do. Somehow the town sleeps better knowing that Hale is in jail, even for the most idiotic reason. The town only waits for something involving Hale and without even giving him the chance to explain, they just throw him in jail automatically. He is the type that does not socialize much and hates bullies. Was always there to protect his brother Cade.
Reading this book made me all emotional. For someone who has been through depression and who sell themselves short, you can relate to Kyra. I had to keep an open mind when I read this book. Having anxiety issues is not fun and I wouldn't wish it for anyone to experience. If you don't have the right kind of support around you or get the help to better yourself, it will end up killing you. All Kyra wanted was to be loved and to be wanted. She did not get that from the only family she had left, which was her grandmother. I hated the fact that the only thing that maybe could've stopped Kyra from harming herself was kept from her by her grandmother. Will Kyra be strong enough to stay alive? Or will she end up killing herself when she finds out more about her mother's past from her horrid grandmother?
This is something I should apply to my real life. Going through what Kyra went through is hard to experience and fighting to stay strong is exhausting. Always worried about what other people's opinion about you. Their opinions count the most even though they shouldn't. It's a fight every day. Harming yourself doesn't solve anything. By doing that, you just end up hurting yourself even more and the people around you, the people who care about you the most. Reading Kyra and Hale's story hit home for me. I broke down after reading their story and there's also a lesson to be learned. I would highly recommend this to people who is insecure and feels alone and not allowing themselves to be loved. This was a heartfelt read by Meg Collett and I loved it!
Meg Collett
✩★✩★✩5-Emotional Stars✩★✩★✩ ✩
*ARC given by the author in exchange for an honest review*
The story is about pretending to be someone else, acting like nothing is bothering you and that everything is just perfect. BUT deep down no one has any idea what's really going on with you and how you're really feeling deep inside. No one will understand how you really feel because it's your body and mind. It's you!
Kyra is a YouTuber, who is all smiles on camera but in reality has her own demons and tries to deal with it the best she can. Her mother died in prison and was a drug addict. She started drinking, but eventually stopped before it became uncontrollable. She's a 24 year old virgin, but just because she is doesn't make her a prude. Growing up with no love surrounding her, it was hard. She has a grandmother name Florence, who is a disgrace to all the grandmothers out there. She did nothing to support Kyra. All she did was tell her how awful Kyra's mother was. All the hateful things she would say about her mother that made Kyra feel even worse and did not help with harming herself. It's her way to cope with the pain she feels and the frustration she has for her grandmother.
Hale likes to keep it to himself. He's been in jail before for something he didn't even do. Somehow the town sleeps better knowing that Hale is in jail, even for the most idiotic reason. The town only waits for something involving Hale and without even giving him the chance to explain, they just throw him in jail automatically. He is the type that does not socialize much and hates bullies. Was always there to protect his brother Cade.
Reading this book made me all emotional. For someone who has been through depression and who sell themselves short, you can relate to Kyra. I had to keep an open mind when I read this book. Having anxiety issues is not fun and I wouldn't wish it for anyone to experience. If you don't have the right kind of support around you or get the help to better yourself, it will end up killing you. All Kyra wanted was to be loved and to be wanted. She did not get that from the only family she had left, which was her grandmother. I hated the fact that the only thing that maybe could've stopped Kyra from harming herself was kept from her by her grandmother. Will Kyra be strong enough to stay alive? Or will she end up killing herself when she finds out more about her mother's past from her horrid grandmother?
This is something I should apply to my real life. Going through what Kyra went through is hard to experience and fighting to stay strong is exhausting. Always worried about what other people's opinion about you. Their opinions count the most even though they shouldn't. It's a fight every day. Harming yourself doesn't solve anything. By doing that, you just end up hurting yourself even more and the people around you, the people who care about you the most. Reading Kyra and Hale's story hit home for me. I broke down after reading their story and there's also a lesson to be learned. I would highly recommend this to people who is insecure and feels alone and not allowing themselves to be loved. This was a heartfelt read by Meg Collett and I loved it!
March 3, 2018
2.5 stars
New Adult books are clearly not for me. I was looking forward to this one (if that's the right term), because the heroine struggles with the serious issue of self-injury. The characters were caricature-ish and a little flat. I'm also not sure how I feel about how SI is dealt with, especially one specific incident. I applaud Collett for incorporating it though, which is basically never done.
I ended up kind of skimming substantial sections, because I just couldn't get into it. There was an over-the-top eye-roll-ingness that I couldn't get over, but again, I think that's more the genre, than Collett specifically.
New Adult books are clearly not for me. I was looking forward to this one (if that's the right term), because the heroine struggles with the serious issue of self-injury. The characters were caricature-ish and a little flat. I'm also not sure how I feel about how SI is dealt with, especially one specific incident. I applaud Collett for incorporating it though, which is basically never done.
I ended up kind of skimming substantial sections, because I just couldn't get into it. There was an over-the-top eye-roll-ingness that I couldn't get over, but again, I think that's more the genre, than Collett specifically.
May 24, 2016
Sappy. The most depressed meets the grumpiest most miserable and they change each other and live happily ever after.
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March 20, 2019🎁 FREE on Amazon today (3/20/2019)! 🎁
August 19, 2014
Kyra Aberdeen, has moved home. Well at least to the home her mother grew up in. An old victorian that needs a lot of work. She bought the house because, she needed closure. Her mother had become addicted to drugs, ended up in prision pregnant, and then killed herself when Kyra was just a baby. Her grandparents, disowned her mother, and when she was born, wanted nothing to do with her. So her uncle and aunt raised her. Another reason for needing the closure, is Krya suffers from depression, and when the drinking wasnt helping she began to cut herself.
She hires local contractor brothers Cade and Hale Cooper to do the work on the house. Cade is the business part of the company and Hale is the worker. Where Cade is friendly and out-going, Hale is cranky. Her neighbor Stevie, is her age, and they get along great, except for Stevie having a drinking problem. And she also finds the rest of the neighbors to be nosy old ladies, who want to rule the street, tell her who she should be friends with, and also complain about the garden in the front of the house because its so overgrown.
Kyra and Hale have a hate at first sight relationship. But the tension is mostly because they are drawn to each other. Kyra is living in 1 room of her house while things are being fixed, but when she goes looking in rooms she sits in a window seat in the front of the house, only to find it has a hidden compartment. In there are photo albums of her mother growing up. She has to try to work her way through the emotions that surface with this, running into her grandmother, and also her feelings for Hale. And living so close to the ocean, that is her only get away, her solace. But when her friend has a accident after drinking, her relationship with Hale and all the rest of the stress, shes in a very dark place that she has to try to survive.
This is a first for Meg Collett, she didnt just hit it out of the park with this one, but out of the universe!!! It brings to the surface what one goes through when dealing with depression, and how even having one person to talk to makes the difference!!
She hires local contractor brothers Cade and Hale Cooper to do the work on the house. Cade is the business part of the company and Hale is the worker. Where Cade is friendly and out-going, Hale is cranky. Her neighbor Stevie, is her age, and they get along great, except for Stevie having a drinking problem. And she also finds the rest of the neighbors to be nosy old ladies, who want to rule the street, tell her who she should be friends with, and also complain about the garden in the front of the house because its so overgrown.
Kyra and Hale have a hate at first sight relationship. But the tension is mostly because they are drawn to each other. Kyra is living in 1 room of her house while things are being fixed, but when she goes looking in rooms she sits in a window seat in the front of the house, only to find it has a hidden compartment. In there are photo albums of her mother growing up. She has to try to work her way through the emotions that surface with this, running into her grandmother, and also her feelings for Hale. And living so close to the ocean, that is her only get away, her solace. But when her friend has a accident after drinking, her relationship with Hale and all the rest of the stress, shes in a very dark place that she has to try to survive.
This is a first for Meg Collett, she didnt just hit it out of the park with this one, but out of the universe!!! It brings to the surface what one goes through when dealing with depression, and how even having one person to talk to makes the difference!!
November 12, 2014
I received this arc for an honest review. I'm trying to gather my thoughts & emotions as I write this because it was an emotional read. Right off the bat I knew it was gonna get to me at the dedication. The author dedicated this book to "those who struggle with darkness". This book has some serious subject matter alcoholism, depression & cutting. This story is about Kyra trying to fake her way to happiness to battle the darkness within. She moves to the island of Canaan where her mother grew up in hopes to get some family insight & hopefully help her resolve her demons. Along the way she becomes really good friends with Stevie who is also battling demons of her own. They slowly confide in each other & one part I really liked was when Kyra told Stevie "We're not broken"...... And than she finished it off with "because we deserve the happiness we fake". I thought that was profound because I've often used the term fake it til you make it. This book really showed how people struggling with things in there lives cope, many cope with fake happiness or anger or fighting. No way is wrong but it is just a band aid. I felt like all the characters in this book were really strong & brave. I also felt that Meg really did a wonderful job hitting on these deep topics & making you connect with the characters. It also made me think about how I fake through some struggles in my life & how people I know also fake it. We all at some point paste a smile on our face when really that's the last thing we want to do. In a way this book was therapeutic & I'll definitely be recommending this book to friends.
September 18, 2014
I enjoyed reading this book. I loved watching Kyra grow as a character. I loved watching her find a piece of her missing soul. I love the reconnection she was experiencing from a part in her life she felt was missing.
I wanted to laugh, I wanted to cry, I wanted to fan myself with all the Hot and Spicy part!!
I just loved all the Characters. Stevie was a hoot. She had me rolling, loved her dearly. Loved Hale, even though he frustrated me at times. I love Kyra, even though she focused so much on the outside you could feel what a great person she was on the inside. Love Hales Brother and Mom..
The only negative thing that kind of takes away from the story is how many times the word Fakers or Faking it was used. But, I believe this was well written and it is a great read!
I wanted to laugh, I wanted to cry, I wanted to fan myself with all the Hot and Spicy part!!
I just loved all the Characters. Stevie was a hoot. She had me rolling, loved her dearly. Loved Hale, even though he frustrated me at times. I love Kyra, even though she focused so much on the outside you could feel what a great person she was on the inside. Love Hales Brother and Mom..
The only negative thing that kind of takes away from the story is how many times the word Fakers or Faking it was used. But, I believe this was well written and it is a great read!
March 20, 2017
3.5 it was originally a 3 but that ending was pretty good, but it may be triggering for some people so I would read with caution. It was a cute read, there were some things that were kind of annoying but nothing that stopped me from continuing on.
September 26, 2017
First things first. Kudos to the author for putting a warning on the blurb.
*This book is recommended for mature readers due to some sexual content and language. Cutting is represented in this book, and scenes may be considered triggering to some.*
I saw this book as a free download on Amazon and the cover intrigue me - not a typical 'romance' cover and having read the blurb I realised that this had the potential to be something a lot meatier than the usual saccharine 'pap' so often written.
I would like to write a much longer review - but GR is beg its usual crappy self and I don't have the patience to fight it.
(example..... This I hatGR displys when type wihout ausig pafter vey single letter...'
This is what GR displays when I type without pausing after every single letter)
And even then I am forced to go back and edit nearly every single word. And if I copy/paste it has a habit of deleting the whole thing.
Suffice it to say that I loved this story. There were some aspects I was not so keen on -forgiveness after decades of abuse and neglect is NOT something I agree with, or even see as possible but the writing and the description of self-abuse was pretty darned good
Four stars rounded up for the great cover and the author's warning.
*This book is recommended for mature readers due to some sexual content and language. Cutting is represented in this book, and scenes may be considered triggering to some.*
I saw this book as a free download on Amazon and the cover intrigue me - not a typical 'romance' cover and having read the blurb I realised that this had the potential to be something a lot meatier than the usual saccharine 'pap' so often written.
I would like to write a much longer review - but GR is beg its usual crappy self and I don't have the patience to fight it.
(example..... This I hatGR displys when type wihout ausig pafter vey single letter...'
This is what GR displays when I type without pausing after every single letter)
And even then I am forced to go back and edit nearly every single word. And if I copy/paste it has a habit of deleting the whole thing.
Suffice it to say that I loved this story. There were some aspects I was not so keen on -forgiveness after decades of abuse and neglect is NOT something I agree with, or even see as possible but the writing and the description of self-abuse was pretty darned good
Four stars rounded up for the great cover and the author's warning.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 16, 2023
I’ll probably write a rant review later, but this book made me so angry and I need to cool off a little first.
September 27, 2014
A copy given by author, in return for an honest review.*
The Fakers is a story about a girl who lives through life with a fake smile on her face, one who doesn’t let anyone in. She is a YouTube sensation, who has major followers. Even her followers never saw the real her, everyone just lets her by with her fakeness…Until Hale that is.
Hale called her out on her bulls*** the first chance he got. Hale was all about being real and he cannot stand fake people at all. He told her the truth, even if it hurt her every chance he got. Little by little he stripped her wall down, until she finally started opening up. Even though at times, things Hale says hurt..she welcomed them, because it helped her come out of her shell the more time they spent together. Hale was real and never hides anything, he tells people what he wants when he wants. The more she got to know him, the more she realized what a great guy Hale really is. Hale made her feels things she never felt before, because of him she started to do things she never done before and she wasn’t afraid any longer.
When it comes to their outside world, Hale was misunderstood..but with her, she understood him completely, after she got to know him of course. Even with the help of Hale and her new best friend Stevie, she knew she still had a problem. A problem that she had been ignoring. She was broken, growing up without her mom..who died while she was young. She was supposed to call and find a new therapist, but she never got around it, until one day after finding out things about her mom, she confronted her grandma. Her whole I’m ok act, came crashing down. She even pushed Hale out, when all he wanted to do was comfort her. After he left, she did something that sent her to the hospital, when Hale came back, he had to see what it was himself and it broke him down. Which is the time he finally admitted to himself, how much he loved her.
Will Kyra finally get the help she needs, so she can heal from all the pain she had been feeling?
Then find her happy ending with Hale?
Or Will Hale leave because he doesn’t think he is a strong enough man for her?
Read and find out.
I really enjoyed this story and the innocence that goes with it. Hale may be straight forward and what he says can be hurtful at times, but he is just someone who was the truth always. He doesn’t want anyone hiding around the bushes, he can’t stand fake people and doesn’t want to waste time with any of them. So when Kyra came into his life, he did everything he could to get her out of the act of everything is fine with that smile she gave everyone…because he knew that she was so much more than that. So much more and he wanted part of her world.
This is the first Meg Collett book I’ve read and I can’t wait to sink into her Trilogy End of days, which has been waiting in my kindle for months. So many books so little time..
The Fakers is a story about a girl who lives through life with a fake smile on her face, one who doesn’t let anyone in. She is a YouTube sensation, who has major followers. Even her followers never saw the real her, everyone just lets her by with her fakeness…Until Hale that is.
Hale called her out on her bulls*** the first chance he got. Hale was all about being real and he cannot stand fake people at all. He told her the truth, even if it hurt her every chance he got. Little by little he stripped her wall down, until she finally started opening up. Even though at times, things Hale says hurt..she welcomed them, because it helped her come out of her shell the more time they spent together. Hale was real and never hides anything, he tells people what he wants when he wants. The more she got to know him, the more she realized what a great guy Hale really is. Hale made her feels things she never felt before, because of him she started to do things she never done before and she wasn’t afraid any longer.
When it comes to their outside world, Hale was misunderstood..but with her, she understood him completely, after she got to know him of course. Even with the help of Hale and her new best friend Stevie, she knew she still had a problem. A problem that she had been ignoring. She was broken, growing up without her mom..who died while she was young. She was supposed to call and find a new therapist, but she never got around it, until one day after finding out things about her mom, she confronted her grandma. Her whole I’m ok act, came crashing down. She even pushed Hale out, when all he wanted to do was comfort her. After he left, she did something that sent her to the hospital, when Hale came back, he had to see what it was himself and it broke him down. Which is the time he finally admitted to himself, how much he loved her.
Will Kyra finally get the help she needs, so she can heal from all the pain she had been feeling?
Then find her happy ending with Hale?
Or Will Hale leave because he doesn’t think he is a strong enough man for her?
Read and find out.
I really enjoyed this story and the innocence that goes with it. Hale may be straight forward and what he says can be hurtful at times, but he is just someone who was the truth always. He doesn’t want anyone hiding around the bushes, he can’t stand fake people and doesn’t want to waste time with any of them. So when Kyra came into his life, he did everything he could to get her out of the act of everything is fine with that smile she gave everyone…because he knew that she was so much more than that. So much more and he wanted part of her world.
This is the first Meg Collett book I’ve read and I can’t wait to sink into her Trilogy End of days, which has been waiting in my kindle for months. So many books so little time..
November 21, 2014
Fakers is such a sweet and romantic story. You will love the characters and their cute banters throughout the story. As soon as I began reading I couldn’t put it down because I needed to know if Kyra would get her mom’s childhood home fixed and if her and Hale would find a way to be together and be real with one another.
Kyra is such a sweet and wonderful character. I loved that she took a leap of faith and moved to her mom’s childhood home in hopes to feel closer to her. But I worried about her through the book and hoped that she didn’t relapse. I hated that she tried so hard to hide behind her smiles and YouTube videos so no one would know just how sad she really was inside. I loved that Hale brought so much out of her including letting her know she needed to be real with him.
Hale is well he’s a bit of a strong and captivating character. I loved that he took no crap from anyone, but hated that he too hid himself from the world because of how judgmental everyone was. His character will steal your heart when he shows his soft side. I loved how dynamic the characters were and that they were drawn to each other.
But can they save one another and help one another grow, or will they give up and avoid the heartache that a relationship can bring if it all falls apart? Well you’ll have to read for yourself and see. Fakers has everything you look for in a story. A wonderful story line, villainous characters, friendship and the beginning of a remarkable love.
I give Fakers Four out of Four Romantic Stars
Kyra is such a sweet and wonderful character. I loved that she took a leap of faith and moved to her mom’s childhood home in hopes to feel closer to her. But I worried about her through the book and hoped that she didn’t relapse. I hated that she tried so hard to hide behind her smiles and YouTube videos so no one would know just how sad she really was inside. I loved that Hale brought so much out of her including letting her know she needed to be real with him.
Hale is well he’s a bit of a strong and captivating character. I loved that he took no crap from anyone, but hated that he too hid himself from the world because of how judgmental everyone was. His character will steal your heart when he shows his soft side. I loved how dynamic the characters were and that they were drawn to each other.
But can they save one another and help one another grow, or will they give up and avoid the heartache that a relationship can bring if it all falls apart? Well you’ll have to read for yourself and see. Fakers has everything you look for in a story. A wonderful story line, villainous characters, friendship and the beginning of a remarkable love.
I give Fakers Four out of Four Romantic Stars
August 30, 2014
So I read Meg Collett's End of Days series and fell in love with her beautiful writing. I was granted the pleasure of being one of the first to read her soon to be released novel, Fakers. In Faker's you will meet Kyra, a beautiful and bright young woman, seemingly on top of the world with a successful career and a new home owner. But we soon discover there's more to her than a pretty smile and a banging body. Kyra has a darkness in her and she has mastered the art of hiding or 'faking' it.
But then comes in the incredibly sexy contractor Kyra hired to fix her new home, Hale, and we see all the walls coming down.
Let's put aside the incredible chemistry between these two and mention the awesome secondary characters. Stevie will have you in stiches of laughter.
All and all, this was an AMAZING novel that I would highly recommend to everyone!
But then comes in the incredibly sexy contractor Kyra hired to fix her new home, Hale, and we see all the walls coming down.
Let's put aside the incredible chemistry between these two and mention the awesome secondary characters. Stevie will have you in stiches of laughter.
All and all, this was an AMAZING novel that I would highly recommend to everyone!
September 3, 2014
First I want to say, I am absolutely floored! Meg is a new author and I fell in love with her stories before she even had the first one published. The End of Days series is a paranormal series with Angels and Demons. So when she said she would be writing a romance, I knew I would give it a shot even though I just can never get into them. I didn’t have high hopes for enjoying Fakers because I like fantasy and paranormal. Boy did Meg blow me away! I fell in love with all of the characters in this story, where usually I only have a few beloved characters.
Meg is able to make you feel every human emotion as you read her work. You will laugh and cry. Your heart will soar and it will shatter. This is definitely a story I would recommend to anyone. It is one of those stories that no matter your preferred genre, you are going to fall in love with it.
Meg is able to make you feel every human emotion as you read her work. You will laugh and cry. Your heart will soar and it will shatter. This is definitely a story I would recommend to anyone. It is one of those stories that no matter your preferred genre, you are going to fall in love with it.
January 8, 2018
This book had me confused. I loved the way it began, all light and bubbly and fun. Then it fell over the edge and left me wondering what happened.
The main character, Kyra, is a broken person. She hides her darkness behind her smile and bubbly personality. Moving to her mother’s childhood home and beginning a restoration have been on her bucket list. Living in the same community with her cold, hateful grandmother is painful and triggers an emotional rollercoaster.
Kyra’s contractor, Hale, is an outcast. Trouble finds him wherever he goes. This talented grumpy man is brutally honest and calls Kyra on her lack of emotion and her fake persona. She is drawn to Hale and begins to open up to him. As Kyra begins to share her life and story with Hale, she has to deal with the darkness she tries so hard to keep hidden.
The other characters rounding out this ensemble are Cade, Hale’s younger brother and partner in business and Kyra’s neighbor, Stevie, who is an artist. Cade was bullied as a youngster because he had a stutter that he has worked hard to overcome and Stevie’s parents are reality stars who exploit her at every chance. Stevie deals with her parents by drinking. She is an alcoholic.
This was a sad book. There was not a happy person in the story. The neighbors and the entire town were very unaccepting of newcomers and gossiped about everyone and everything.
I spent the month of December reading feel good, happily ever after books. I said this to say that this might have been a bad choice on my part when coming off of a syrupy sweet December marathon!
I will definitely pick up another book by this author when I haven’t been on a fairytale kick! ;)
The main character, Kyra, is a broken person. She hides her darkness behind her smile and bubbly personality. Moving to her mother’s childhood home and beginning a restoration have been on her bucket list. Living in the same community with her cold, hateful grandmother is painful and triggers an emotional rollercoaster.
Kyra’s contractor, Hale, is an outcast. Trouble finds him wherever he goes. This talented grumpy man is brutally honest and calls Kyra on her lack of emotion and her fake persona. She is drawn to Hale and begins to open up to him. As Kyra begins to share her life and story with Hale, she has to deal with the darkness she tries so hard to keep hidden.
The other characters rounding out this ensemble are Cade, Hale’s younger brother and partner in business and Kyra’s neighbor, Stevie, who is an artist. Cade was bullied as a youngster because he had a stutter that he has worked hard to overcome and Stevie’s parents are reality stars who exploit her at every chance. Stevie deals with her parents by drinking. She is an alcoholic.
This was a sad book. There was not a happy person in the story. The neighbors and the entire town were very unaccepting of newcomers and gossiped about everyone and everything.
I spent the month of December reading feel good, happily ever after books. I said this to say that this might have been a bad choice on my part when coming off of a syrupy sweet December marathon!
I will definitely pick up another book by this author when I haven’t been on a fairytale kick! ;)
March 24, 2017
I enjoyed this read. It definitely came around and lived up to its title since everyone was having to fake their feelings. It did feel a little dark at the end and I wish that we had seen a little more light before it concluded but in connection to the characters, I'm glad that Kyra and Hale were able to balance each other and agree to work through their issues.
April 5, 2016
I didn't dislike this book completely, but it certainly isn't one I'd recommend or read again, it was just okay. I had a few issues with things that just bugged me too much to let slide.
1) Toward the beginning of the book Kyra makes a comment that either she doesn't swear or very rarely does, yet throughout the rest of the book she has quite the potty mouth.
2) Kyra and Stevie become best friends after a week or two of living across the street from each other. They barely know each other.
3) Kyra claims to be a vegetarian on multiple occasions, yet eats meat here and there. Either you are or you aren't, there is no middle.
4) Okay, this isn't against the writing, just my personal preference. I do not like facial piercings and could never find them attractive, so Hale never appealed to me one bit.
1) Toward the beginning of the book Kyra makes a comment that either she doesn't swear or very rarely does, yet throughout the rest of the book she has quite the potty mouth.
2) Kyra and Stevie become best friends after a week or two of living across the street from each other. They barely know each other.
3) Kyra claims to be a vegetarian on multiple occasions, yet eats meat here and there. Either you are or you aren't, there is no middle.
4) Okay, this isn't against the writing, just my personal preference. I do not like facial piercings and could never find them attractive, so Hale never appealed to me one bit.
September 26, 2017
This book followed a story line I've read before about a woman moving alone to an island to an old home and renovating it and falling in love with the contractor! Of course this book had differences but the story was quite predictable and melodramatic. Interesting how the characters move to a new place and immediately find their best friend and love of their life within a day or two.
June 9, 2016
Loved it! Excited for the next installment!!
May 20, 2019
You know? I quite liked it. There were times when I was a little bit bored or not quite as invested as I would have liked, but it wasn't bad. I think it handled the serious subjects pretty well and the relationship (though somewhat stereotypical there at the beginning, what with the obligatory arguing and tension between the two leads) worked out nicely in the end. I like that the ending wasn't a sugary sweet happily ever after, but rather a "yes, we are going to work on this relationship like two rational adults because we love each other and it's worth it." I mean, I'm all for HEA's, but considering WHERE the book ended, this felt more realistic.
My biggest complaint was the rather misplaced scenes that were meant to make you laught but really just felt silly considering the tone of the rest of the book. Like the entire renovation crew seeing Kyra naked and her flailing afterwards, Kyra and Hale walking in on Stevie and Cade having sex etc. I GET what the scenes were for, but they just made me roll my eyes because they would have fit better in a hysterical chic lit novel. I mean, this is chic lit (and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that) but I'm talking about that special brand of chic lit that's just very over-the-top and, well, hysterical. This one wasn't that and I would have liked it more if it hadn't tried to be something it wasn't.
Faking it, if you will.
Ba dum tss!
Joke aside, I quite liked it. I liked the characters and, sure, there was an unnecessary amount of drama here and there, but that's okay. I don't think I'll continue the series, but I liked it well enough.
Also: warnings for self harm, discussions/mentions of suicide, and alcoholism.
My biggest complaint was the rather misplaced scenes that were meant to make you laught but really just felt silly considering the tone of the rest of the book. Like the entire renovation crew seeing Kyra naked and her flailing afterwards, Kyra and Hale walking in on Stevie and Cade having sex etc. I GET what the scenes were for, but they just made me roll my eyes because they would have fit better in a hysterical chic lit novel. I mean, this is chic lit (and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that) but I'm talking about that special brand of chic lit that's just very over-the-top and, well, hysterical. This one wasn't that and I would have liked it more if it hadn't tried to be something it wasn't.
Faking it, if you will.
Ba dum tss!
Joke aside, I quite liked it. I liked the characters and, sure, there was an unnecessary amount of drama here and there, but that's okay. I don't think I'll continue the series, but I liked it well enough.
Also: warnings for self harm, discussions/mentions of suicide, and alcoholism.
February 16, 2017
Fakers has one of the best group of characters I have read in a long time and I can honestly say this story is more than just Kyra and Hale, it has Stevie and Cade along with all the eccentric residents of Canaan Island.
Upon finishing Fakers I immediately downloaded book 2 Keepers which is Stevie's story.
As I began highlighting favourite paragraphs because they touched my soul and gave me tingles it told me I am reading a beautiful love story and Faker's did not disappoint.
The friendship between Stevie and Kyra was beautiful as was Kyra's story of finding her home and a connection to her mother. Kyra's background story with her grandmother and mother is heartbreaking but also immensely gripping and it is not finished - what is in her mother's diary? Will her grandmother give Kyra's mother a beautiful gravesite with light and flowers?
One character who showed he is more than just alpha hotness is Hale, he stepped up at the end of this book and he is my hero. The love, compassion and instinct in pushing Kyra to open up gives an amazing depth to this story.
I love the new covers of this series with the weatherboard houses. Faker's covers some deep and emotional issues, it is done with compassion however it has so many moments of humour and lightness that it does repair your heart.
I am in love with this story, it's residents and it's location, I cannot wait to start book 2!
Quote: "We just cope the best way we know how, but its not the best way, because it hurts us. So we have to learn a new way, a better way. Because we deserve the happiness we fake."
Upon finishing Fakers I immediately downloaded book 2 Keepers which is Stevie's story.
As I began highlighting favourite paragraphs because they touched my soul and gave me tingles it told me I am reading a beautiful love story and Faker's did not disappoint.
The friendship between Stevie and Kyra was beautiful as was Kyra's story of finding her home and a connection to her mother. Kyra's background story with her grandmother and mother is heartbreaking but also immensely gripping and it is not finished - what is in her mother's diary? Will her grandmother give Kyra's mother a beautiful gravesite with light and flowers?
One character who showed he is more than just alpha hotness is Hale, he stepped up at the end of this book and he is my hero. The love, compassion and instinct in pushing Kyra to open up gives an amazing depth to this story.
I love the new covers of this series with the weatherboard houses. Faker's covers some deep and emotional issues, it is done with compassion however it has so many moments of humour and lightness that it does repair your heart.
I am in love with this story, it's residents and it's location, I cannot wait to start book 2!
Quote: "We just cope the best way we know how, but its not the best way, because it hurts us. So we have to learn a new way, a better way. Because we deserve the happiness we fake."
December 22, 2019
A contemporary romance featuring several broken people who find each other during a renovation.
A young woman buys her mother's old home on Canaan Island in order to become closer to the mother she never really knew. Her mother committed suicide in jail, hanging herself, not long after having her daughter Kyra. Like mother like daughter as Kyra battles depression by cutting to excise the pain. Now, grown she has purchased a house that needs renovating, and she hires a construction company owned by two brothers, Cade and Hale.
They, too, have issues of brokenness. Hale is the protector of both his brother and his mother, but has anger issues and hates 'fakers' on principle, and Kyra is a perfect example. She fakes being happy and carefree on her influencer blog, and she tries to fake her way around Hale. Still, there is chemistry between them.
Kyra's next door neighbor, Stevie, has her own (faker) issues...with alcohol and with her parents.
Estranged-from-her-birth grandmother, Florence, is a faker, too, hiding behind bitterness and condescension. She wants nothing to do with her granddaughter Kyra, and frankly, she is willing to buy her off to leave the island where they now both live.
Can Kyra and Hale work out their differences and recognize their love? Will Florence and Kyra ever reconcile? Will Kyra learn to stop faking happiness and deal with her depression and urges to cut?
Kudos to the author for taking on the issues of cutting and depression. There are several What-the-tuck trends (hair tucking and smirking come to mind) as well as a few mis-chosen words and/or typos.
A young woman buys her mother's old home on Canaan Island in order to become closer to the mother she never really knew. Her mother committed suicide in jail, hanging herself, not long after having her daughter Kyra. Like mother like daughter as Kyra battles depression by cutting to excise the pain. Now, grown she has purchased a house that needs renovating, and she hires a construction company owned by two brothers, Cade and Hale.
They, too, have issues of brokenness. Hale is the protector of both his brother and his mother, but has anger issues and hates 'fakers' on principle, and Kyra is a perfect example. She fakes being happy and carefree on her influencer blog, and she tries to fake her way around Hale. Still, there is chemistry between them.
Kyra's next door neighbor, Stevie, has her own (faker) issues...with alcohol and with her parents.
Estranged-from-her-birth grandmother, Florence, is a faker, too, hiding behind bitterness and condescension. She wants nothing to do with her granddaughter Kyra, and frankly, she is willing to buy her off to leave the island where they now both live.
Can Kyra and Hale work out their differences and recognize their love? Will Florence and Kyra ever reconcile? Will Kyra learn to stop faking happiness and deal with her depression and urges to cut?
Kudos to the author for taking on the issues of cutting and depression. There are several What-the-tuck trends (hair tucking and smirking come to mind) as well as a few mis-chosen words and/or typos.
July 30, 2017
Though this story seems somewhat superficial in places and the dialogue sometimes a bit melodramatic, it delves into the significant subject of being an authentic person. Through her main characters, Kyra and Stevie, Ms. Collett focuses on those who struggle with mental illness or addiction but mask their struggles with fake cheerfulness and smiles. She also briefly touches on the two-faced personality that smiles and feigns kindness, but later shows disrespect and even contempt in the presence of others. She effectively shows the pitfalls of judging a person based on appearances or first impressions.
Ms. Collett handles these topics well, but wraps them in adult situations and some sexual scenes which she describes in graphic detail. If this isn't your cup of tea, it can spoil the novel for you.
In dealing with the issue of judging others, the author ironically blatantly judges those who struggle with this very issue! In one dialogue between Kyra and her love interest, she states outright that "some people don't deserve to be treated nicely." Sounds like intolerance for the intolerant if you ask me. hahaha This underlying message throughout the book put a sad spin on the whole thing for me. I've learned as I've grown in my Christian faith that ALL of us need grace, especially the ungracious. I would have liked to see Ms. Collett's characters grow to realize their own error in judging those they deem unworthy of the grace they are asking for themselves.
Ms. Collett handles these topics well, but wraps them in adult situations and some sexual scenes which she describes in graphic detail. If this isn't your cup of tea, it can spoil the novel for you.
In dealing with the issue of judging others, the author ironically blatantly judges those who struggle with this very issue! In one dialogue between Kyra and her love interest, she states outright that "some people don't deserve to be treated nicely." Sounds like intolerance for the intolerant if you ask me. hahaha This underlying message throughout the book put a sad spin on the whole thing for me. I've learned as I've grown in my Christian faith that ALL of us need grace, especially the ungracious. I would have liked to see Ms. Collett's characters grow to realize their own error in judging those they deem unworthy of the grace they are asking for themselves.
June 3, 2017
fakers
By: Meg Collett
This is a good romance book with some unusual twists. It's full of "broken" people.
The book is a quick read that maintains a steady pace. It's not a "thriller" or "action-packed suspense", but readers won't be bored. It's a good book for Young Adult readers and older.
Kyra Aberdeen is a YouTube sensation. Bright, bubbly, full of laughter and smiles. Her whole life is a lie. She's a faker. Kyra has battled depression all her life. The book begins as Kyra moves from California to Georgia to find herself before the darkness consumes her.
Without giving away too much of the story - the book delves BRIEFLY into depression, alcohol/substance abuse, and bullying. The book wasn't very realistic in the life altering effects of those problems, BUT the book never claimed to be, nor was it written as, a medical text book on Mental Health issues. I disagree with other reviewers who fault the author on this point. My advice, just accept the book as the romance story it is.
https://www.amazon.com/review/REYAHPV...
By: Meg Collett
This is a good romance book with some unusual twists. It's full of "broken" people.
The book is a quick read that maintains a steady pace. It's not a "thriller" or "action-packed suspense", but readers won't be bored. It's a good book for Young Adult readers and older.
Kyra Aberdeen is a YouTube sensation. Bright, bubbly, full of laughter and smiles. Her whole life is a lie. She's a faker. Kyra has battled depression all her life. The book begins as Kyra moves from California to Georgia to find herself before the darkness consumes her.
Without giving away too much of the story - the book delves BRIEFLY into depression, alcohol/substance abuse, and bullying. The book wasn't very realistic in the life altering effects of those problems, BUT the book never claimed to be, nor was it written as, a medical text book on Mental Health issues. I disagree with other reviewers who fault the author on this point. My advice, just accept the book as the romance story it is.
https://www.amazon.com/review/REYAHPV...
October 1, 2023
Got to the end of the book and just wished I had DNF’d.
I disliked the love interest and the best friend - Hunter and Stevie, they were not my vibe and the premise of the book, being about how all the characters are fake and hide behind masks, for different reasons and just not being their true selves wasn’t portrayed very well.
I only kept going due to the family aspect with Kyra’s mother who killed herself and her bad relationship with her grandmother, but it really just eventuated into nothing.
And what was with the sexual encounters in this book.. best friend has been rushed to hospital after an accident - oh let’s just have sex before we go.
He’s going down on her, she has her happy ending and then he’s straight away throwing up in the bushes from the dinner they had apparently - gross 🤢
And sex in a hammock - can someone please explain how this is? 😂
Safe to say, I’m not interested in carrying on with the series.
I disliked the love interest and the best friend - Hunter and Stevie, they were not my vibe and the premise of the book, being about how all the characters are fake and hide behind masks, for different reasons and just not being their true selves wasn’t portrayed very well.
I only kept going due to the family aspect with Kyra’s mother who killed herself and her bad relationship with her grandmother, but it really just eventuated into nothing.
And what was with the sexual encounters in this book.. best friend has been rushed to hospital after an accident - oh let’s just have sex before we go.
He’s going down on her, she has her happy ending and then he’s straight away throwing up in the bushes from the dinner they had apparently - gross 🤢
And sex in a hammock - can someone please explain how this is? 😂
Safe to say, I’m not interested in carrying on with the series.
June 11, 2024
Kyra Aberdeen, a successful YouTube producer, hides her severe depression behind a fake personality, smiles and positivity masking her misery.
Her mother died in prison when she was just a year old and her grandparents completely ignored her - she was raised by an aunt and uncle.
She's just bought the house her mother grew up in in Canaan Island – it needs a lot of work.
Enter handyman, builder and hardman Hale Cooper.
He's a miserable git on the surface but this reader suspected hidden, softer depths (I was right).
Her next door neighbour, Stevie, is an alcoholic on the verge of losing it all (her parents are to blame, apparently!)
It's all too New Age for me and I just wish someone would smack some sense into Kyra and Stevie - it's all 'Me, Me, Me!)
Brace yourself for lots of angst!
“Fakers” is not for me.
2 Stars.
Her mother died in prison when she was just a year old and her grandparents completely ignored her - she was raised by an aunt and uncle.
She's just bought the house her mother grew up in in Canaan Island – it needs a lot of work.
Enter handyman, builder and hardman Hale Cooper.
He's a miserable git on the surface but this reader suspected hidden, softer depths (I was right).
Her next door neighbour, Stevie, is an alcoholic on the verge of losing it all (her parents are to blame, apparently!)
It's all too New Age for me and I just wish someone would smack some sense into Kyra and Stevie - it's all 'Me, Me, Me!)
Brace yourself for lots of angst!
“Fakers” is not for me.
2 Stars.
July 21, 2017
3.75-4 Faker Stars. Kyra Aberdeen has had a rough life. She never knew her mother. She was reluctantly raised by her aunt and uncle. Her grandmother hates her. She's always had to put on a happy face so no one knows the hurt she carries inside.
Hale Cooper is a surly construction worker who is doing the reno on Kyra's home. He hates fakers and he can tell that Kyra is faking just about everything. He taunts and torments her just to get an honest reaction.
Can they truly open up to one another? One fateful night puts everything in perspective for both of them.
This book hits lots of emotions, some of them are hard to handle. Ms Collett gives insight to the emotional problems that many people face and lets you see the raw emotions of the person.
Hale Cooper is a surly construction worker who is doing the reno on Kyra's home. He hates fakers and he can tell that Kyra is faking just about everything. He taunts and torments her just to get an honest reaction.
Can they truly open up to one another? One fateful night puts everything in perspective for both of them.
This book hits lots of emotions, some of them are hard to handle. Ms Collett gives insight to the emotional problems that many people face and lets you see the raw emotions of the person.
August 23, 2023
When Kyra purchased her mother's childhood home in the Canaan Island of the Atlantic Ocean, she had a LOT to learn about remodeling and construction workers! Thank heavens she had a neighbor, Stevie Reynolds, to share wine, laughs and history of her mother. Stevie could be counted on to not mince words! She was funny, honest and eclectic!
Cade, owner of the construction company, & Kyra were both so head strong, they needed Cade's brother, Hale, to often referee for them. As if it can't get any more upsetting, Kyra's grandmother Florence was throwing up her own smoke screens to upset Kyra and make her question her decision to stay! Just little things like telling Kyra she didn't want her there. :(
By the end, you'll learn there are lots of Fakers!
Cade, owner of the construction company, & Kyra were both so head strong, they needed Cade's brother, Hale, to often referee for them. As if it can't get any more upsetting, Kyra's grandmother Florence was throwing up her own smoke screens to upset Kyra and make her question her decision to stay! Just little things like telling Kyra she didn't want her there. :(
By the end, you'll learn there are lots of Fakers!
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