Fool Me: A fake-dating Sweet Romantic Comedy

by Cynthia Summer

He's got three fake dates to win her heart.

She's got three fake dates to destroy him.

Aspiring actress Sadie Heppner made a pact with her sisters to stay single while they each vie for a significant family inheritance. She's not even allowed to date. But pretend dating doesn't count, does it? Because after delivering lunch to the most famous actress in Hollywood, Sadie gets the offer of a lifetime. In exchange for going on three fake dates with an actor, she'll get a role in the upcoming blockbuster, Surf Summer. Too bad the actor turns out to be the guy with the million-dollar smile everybody fell for in college, but who made Sadie's life miserable. No worries. This is Sadie's comeback story! She'll get her big break while exacting cold revenge on the cad.

Up-and-coming actor Grant Mason can't believe he gets to go on three dates with the woman who made him believe in love at first sight. The trouble is, even two years after college graduation, her death glare makes clear she still thinks they're enemies. To become her leading man, Grant needs to figure out why she thinks he's rotten tomatoes and prove her wrong. But the movie reveal party for Surf Summer is only a few weeks away. If his future co-star, the biggest diva in Hollywood, gets jealous of the fake dates, he could lose his heart and his career...

Perfect for fans of Emma St. Clair and Sarah Adams, this laugh-out-loud, slightly goofy, clean rom-com is a summer escape any time of year.

Look for all of the Sister Spinster Pact
Fool Me * Wreck Me (Preorder for July 12) * Un-Marry Me (Coming this August)

Genres: Contemporary, Romance

233 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 17, 2025

Reviews

[Jill Dodson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light and sweet, just what I needed for a summer pool read!

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book!!

I absolutely loved the idea behind this story and its execution was also wonderful. The characters were well written and developed, and the overall storyline was adorable.

Friendly feedback (with spoilers!): the ending seemed a bit abrupt, as did Ginny’s presence at their wedding. I would have loved to see some relationship development between the main characters before a wedding scene. I feel like it would’ve been a great epilogue scene after we get to know them as a real couple first.

Thank you to the author, Cynthia Summer, and BookSirens for the ARC! I am so excited to read the rest of the Spinster Sisters books!!

[Julie Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had so much fun reading this sweet rom-com story! I loved Sadie and Grant. They had me giggling, a lot! And my heart ached a little for them for their history and the ups and downs of life they went through. But I loved watching them get this second chance to heal and set things right. Sadie might not have quite been on board with the assignment, but she was definitely all in for making sure Grant got what he deserved...at least she thought he deserved it. Hahaha!

Honestly, I loved it! The dates Sadie plans were great. She might have been trying to sabotage Grant and make him look not as wonderful as he is, but he is such a genuine person that the dates turned out completely different than what Sadie thought was going to happen.

I loved Sadie and and her sisters. They take good care of each other, especially since their parents passed away years ago. They bonded together and watch out for each other. And I can't tell you how much I loved the the great aunt's added complication to their lives. Haha! These ladies can handle it all and not get entangled with love before her stipulations. Right? Hmmm... I guess we'll see. *smirks*

I loved the different dynamics in this story with the characters, their history, their futures, a great aunt stepping through her will, old roommates, hollywood, and true love! You're going to be completely engaged with this darling story. And I promise, there will be lots of laughs. Especially with the mud. Hee Hee!!!

I can't wait to see what Cynthia Summer has in store for us readers next! This was my first read by her and I'm hooked!

Content: Clean. Some sweet kisses. Talk of the death of parents.

I received a copy from the author through BookSirens. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a delightful read!! It was fast paced and entertaining and I was able to devour it all in one sitting.

The Hepner sisters are about to become millionaires, but there is one catch. In order to get their inheritance, the must each remain unmarried until their 30th birthday. So together they make the Spinster Sister pact.

Sadie is the youngest sister and an aspiring actress. Fresh off of making the no dating pact with her sisters, she finds herself in a predicament. To help thwart a publicity scandal, she agrees to go on 3 fake dates with rising star Grant Mason in return for a role in a blockbuster film. The catch.....Grant is the guy who dated all 3 of her roommates in college and she harbors hatred for him for breaking their hearts. Here is her chance to exact revenge on their behalf and to show the world what a bad guy he is......or is he?

This book was so refreshing. The story was sweet, fun, pure and entertaining while pulling at your heartstrings and putting a smile on your face. The characters are written so well with lots of dynamic between them. I loved the strong bond that the sisters share as well as the personality and witty banter of some of the other characters. Then of course there are Sadie and Mason and their three fake dates....

If you are looking for a quick and delightful read with a great story line and filled with funny feelgood moments, then this is the book for you! This is the first book in a trilogy, and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next two! I am definitely a huge fan.

I received a free advance review copy of this book and am leaving a voluntary review.

[EVANGELIA MARAGKOPOULOU · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grand fell in love with Sadie at first sight at their first day in college but she hated him all those years . Now 6 years later Sadie is trying to land an acting role in a movie but she is unlucky , but she and her 2 sister will inherit 1 million each if they stay single until they reach their 30th birthdays . She only has 6 year left to get the money . When she is delivering the lunch to a very famous actress she gets the opportunity of her life to get a role in a movie , the only thing she has to do is go in three dates with the new and up coming actor Grand Mason . Sadie only agrees but she tells them that she will arrange the dates . She tries to humiliate him and make him look bad to the paparazzi but he ends up loving everywhere they go . What started as revenge make her see him and realize the man that he truly is .
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sudeshna Banerjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cynthia Summer's "Fool Me" is a charming fake-dating cute romantic comedy ideal for a carefree feel-good read. The heroine of the story is up-and-coming actress Sadie Heppner, who, under a family inheritance agreement, can't date. But her dream acting gig has a condition: three pretend dates with actor Grant Mason, the same guy who tormented her in college.

Sadie views this as her opportunity for career advancement and a little sweet revenge. She does not expect Grant's real attraction and his discombobulation by her hostility.

The book excels on their comical and frequently clumsy efforts to walk the line between their pretend relationship and fighting off past misconceptions and emerging feelings. "Fool Me" fulfills its guarantee of a laugh-out-loud, somewhat goofy, and ultimately endearing romance that will leave readers smiling. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking for a fun light romance, this book is for you. The series features 3 sisters that take a spinster's pact to inherit money from a great aunt. The sisters lost their parents in a tragic accident and each is impacted differently. This book is centered on Sadie.

Sadie is a quirky aspiring actress. I love her spunkiness and creativity. Grant is her fake date (who really wants these dates to be real). Throw in an entitled A-list actress that wants everything her way and let the high jinks reign. The characters are believeable and likeable.

Of course, her sisters do play a role in the story as the spinster pact says no dating. A fun story with that typical HEA in some very unexpected ways, so give it a try.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Eva Edge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fool Me by Cynthia Summer is a fun, cute, entertaining and easy-to-read romantic comedy that is just a perfect palate cleanser between thrillers.
Sassy, full-of-themselves characters, past anger, and a desire for revenge, classic enemies-to-lovers comedy. I was giggling and laughing, and I believe the smile didn't leave my face all the way through.

Sadie had hated Grant since college. She could list you plenty of reasons for that! Now Sadie has a chance to make him pay, and she grabs this chance with both hands!

This is such a delightful read, a super cute storyline filled with funny moments about sisterhood, love, revenge and power! Such a perfect summer read! So grab a cocktail, book and head to lie in the garden.

[Kryztle | kryztlereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ 4 | 🌶️ 0

It isn’t a novella but it gives me that vibe. Totally a quick, feel good, summer read! It felt a little predictable and rushed at the end, but I enjoyed it nonetheless! I devoured this in a day.

I love how Grant is just so easy going, trusting and head over heels in love with Sadie. Sadie’s character is complex and her motives were understandable. I love when she reconnects with her old roommates. Sadie’s sisters are such opposites. I disliked Monique and loved Ginny!

I cant wait to read about the other Spinster Sisters!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Amanda Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book "Fool Me". Grant and Sadie's story is hilarious. I just love how Sadie is so out to make Grant pay. It doesn't seem to matter what she does to Grant, he always comes out looking even better. I wanted to keep reading this book because I wanted to know what was going to happen! I can't wait to read the stories for the other sisters.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I would highly recommend this book, and any book by Cynthia Summer!

[Aubree · Rating 3 out of 5]

I suppose this deserves 3 1/2 stars at least. It was cute. Fun premise and I really liked the first half, even if the pacing was so fast I wondered if I was reading a novella (it was on my kindle). It just got a little zany and went a bit off the rails at the end without actually making laugh. There too much miscommunication but I don’t know… it wasn’t a bad read but not particularly memorable.

Kissing only, no langauge

[Carolina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fool me is a romcom with the most beloved tropes—fake dating—with enough charm, sass, and heart to keep readers hooked from the first page.
Sadie’s and Grant’s story was really fun and easy to read, a little bit predictable but really enjoyable and I can’t wait to read the next spinsters sisters pact book in the series.

[Nari · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun and sweet romance

This is a quick read. I really liked getting to know these three sister and especially getting to know and follow Sadie and Grants story in this book. The story was fun snd I enjoyed the romance that bloomed between Sadie and Grant. I am looking forward to the next book.

[The Swoony Awards]

This book has been nominated for a 2025 Swoony Award, to vote for it click here: Swoony Awards.

[Lindsay Rankin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun story to read, and I am looking forward to reading the next story in the series when it releases!

[Kami · Rating 2 out of 5]

I rarely DNF a book but I just couldn’t hang in there with this one. Slow, forced and contrived. There isn’t any spice which is great but just was a boring read.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise was really promising and up to 2/3rds of the way I liked it. But the ending felt waaaay rushed and complicated and ruined the book for me.

[Hannah Emerson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nope. But I’ll probably read the next sister’s story. 🫠