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Babes of Brewing #4
Worst Faking Idea
** Spicy version **
Their secret fake relationship began with a little white lie...
Nora
My ginger beer brewery is, quite literally, my life.
Unfortunately, my male business partner's new fiancée is insanely jealous. It's only a matter of time before she forces him to quit, which means we'll both lose the business we love.
So I ask him what will get her to back down.
A boyfriend.
I make one up, telling her it's too early to introduce him, which works right up until she walks in on a heated private conversation between me and Cormac, my soon-to-be stepbrother.
She comes to a wild the reason I'm keeping my boyfriend secret is because it's him.
I know I should set her straight. Cormac is the last person I'd ever date, and not just because our parents are about to get married. He's awkward, introverted, and has the people skills of a houseplant.
But I'm desperate enough to tell the worst lie ever.
Cormac
Nora makes me an offer any sane man would refuse.
She wants me to be her secret fake boyfriend–an act that only has to work on two people.
In exchange, she promises to help me brush up my dating skills.
It doesn't seem like much of a bargain, to be honest. She's been prickly since high school and isn't much of a charmer herself, but I agree because I've promised my father I'll try to get along with her.
But the more time Nora and I spend together, the more I realize that I'd like our secret fake relationship to be real.
** A standalone romcom in the Babes of Brewing series. **
There are TWO different versions of this
1) A spicy, open door version with some strong language and sex scenes
2) A closed door version with mild language and only kissing.
Please choose the version that's best for you!
Their secret fake relationship began with a little white lie...
Nora
My ginger beer brewery is, quite literally, my life.
Unfortunately, my male business partner's new fiancée is insanely jealous. It's only a matter of time before she forces him to quit, which means we'll both lose the business we love.
So I ask him what will get her to back down.
A boyfriend.
I make one up, telling her it's too early to introduce him, which works right up until she walks in on a heated private conversation between me and Cormac, my soon-to-be stepbrother.
She comes to a wild the reason I'm keeping my boyfriend secret is because it's him.
I know I should set her straight. Cormac is the last person I'd ever date, and not just because our parents are about to get married. He's awkward, introverted, and has the people skills of a houseplant.
But I'm desperate enough to tell the worst lie ever.
Cormac
Nora makes me an offer any sane man would refuse.
She wants me to be her secret fake boyfriend–an act that only has to work on two people.
In exchange, she promises to help me brush up my dating skills.
It doesn't seem like much of a bargain, to be honest. She's been prickly since high school and isn't much of a charmer herself, but I agree because I've promised my father I'll try to get along with her.
But the more time Nora and I spend together, the more I realize that I'd like our secret fake relationship to be real.
** A standalone romcom in the Babes of Brewing series. **
There are TWO different versions of this
1) A spicy, open door version with some strong language and sex scenes
2) A closed door version with mild language and only kissing.
Please choose the version that's best for you!
412 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 14, 2026
About the author
Angela Casella
42 books891 followersANGELA CASELLA lives in Asheville, North Carolina with her husband, her daughter, and their ill-behaved corgi in an extremely small bungalow. She spends her days writing and pretending to market. She writes solo romcoms and also has three co-written series with Denise Grover Swank.
You can subscribe to her newsletter for exclusive free content and updates on her projects! http://subscribepage.io/AngelaCasella...
You can subscribe to her newsletter for exclusive free content and updates on her projects! http://subscribepage.io/AngelaCasella...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 307 reviews
May 14, 2026
4🌟, 3🌶️
Nora and Cormac were, without a doubt, my favorite couple in the entire series.
Their banter was sharp, funny, and completely effortless. The fake dating setup was such a fun way to bring them together, and I loved how their slow-burn chemistry gradually turned into something undeniable.
What I loved most was the vulnerability beneath all their teasing. Both Nora and Cormac carried insecurities from their pasts, and it was incredibly satisfying to watch them find comfort and acceptance in each other. Cormac was thoughtful, steady, and quietly swoon-worthy, while Nora’s journey felt honest and heartfelt.
This book was the perfect send-off to this cozy world. Between the brewery, the wonderful side characters, and a romance that was equal parts sweet and spicy, I finished with the biggest smile on my face.
Their story left me with the biggest smile and made me want to reread the whole series all over again.
~~~~
Huge thank you to Angela Casella & The Author Agency for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
Nora and Cormac were, without a doubt, my favorite couple in the entire series.
Their banter was sharp, funny, and completely effortless. The fake dating setup was such a fun way to bring them together, and I loved how their slow-burn chemistry gradually turned into something undeniable.
What I loved most was the vulnerability beneath all their teasing. Both Nora and Cormac carried insecurities from their pasts, and it was incredibly satisfying to watch them find comfort and acceptance in each other. Cormac was thoughtful, steady, and quietly swoon-worthy, while Nora’s journey felt honest and heartfelt.
This book was the perfect send-off to this cozy world. Between the brewery, the wonderful side characters, and a romance that was equal parts sweet and spicy, I finished with the biggest smile on my face.
Their story left me with the biggest smile and made me want to reread the whole series all over again.
~~~~
Huge thank you to Angela Casella & The Author Agency for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
May 12, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Ok so this book was super cute. I am a sucker for the fake dating trope and I think that wasn’t even my favorite part of this book by Angela Casella.
I loved how Cormac was always looking out for Nora. Making sure that she was just DONE being taken advantage of or walked all over. He knew that Nora was IT for him. I also ADORED Dottie and Ann and the Fairy Godmother chat group they had 😂 They gave him all the tips and tricks on how to win the girl and even made him get some super sexy slutty glasses. Slutty glasses is my favorite micro trope now for real.
Nora is having some struggles with the brewery due to Jose’s fiancée, Pansy. And boy, did she add some good drama to the story or what! I loved all her scheming and you love to hate Pansy in this one and watch her downfall. It was so satisfying. Nora, however, was really hard for me to enjoy. She had so much going on in this book that you couldn’t really feel the connection between her and Cormac. Plus, there was the fact that they were recently officially step brother and step sister. Skirting around that issue just had me all stressed out lol.
Either way, I would recommend this book especially if you’re following along with the series!
Tropes✨
🤫 (Secret) Fake Relationship
😡 Reunited with High School Nemesis
🧲 Opposites Attract
🤓 Hot Nerd Hero
🙋🏻♂️ He Falls First
😣 Horrible Double Dates
Thank you so much to Hambright PR and Angela Casella for this opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review!
Ok so this book was super cute. I am a sucker for the fake dating trope and I think that wasn’t even my favorite part of this book by Angela Casella.
I loved how Cormac was always looking out for Nora. Making sure that she was just DONE being taken advantage of or walked all over. He knew that Nora was IT for him. I also ADORED Dottie and Ann and the Fairy Godmother chat group they had 😂 They gave him all the tips and tricks on how to win the girl and even made him get some super sexy slutty glasses. Slutty glasses is my favorite micro trope now for real.
Nora is having some struggles with the brewery due to Jose’s fiancée, Pansy. And boy, did she add some good drama to the story or what! I loved all her scheming and you love to hate Pansy in this one and watch her downfall. It was so satisfying. Nora, however, was really hard for me to enjoy. She had so much going on in this book that you couldn’t really feel the connection between her and Cormac. Plus, there was the fact that they were recently officially step brother and step sister. Skirting around that issue just had me all stressed out lol.
Either way, I would recommend this book especially if you’re following along with the series!
Tropes✨
🤫 (Secret) Fake Relationship
😡 Reunited with High School Nemesis
🧲 Opposites Attract
🤓 Hot Nerd Hero
🙋🏻♂️ He Falls First
😣 Horrible Double Dates
Thank you so much to Hambright PR and Angela Casella for this opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review!
August 7, 2026
"𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘦."
"𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘐'𝘥 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶."
My face hurts from smiling so much. Book two from The Sisterhood of the Traveling Books won my whole heart!
Y'all, everyone deserves a Cormac in their lives. This man LOVES Nora and would literally give her the world if he could. I loved watching their (secret) fake relationship slowly build to something more. & to top it off he's a hot nerd who wears glasses and plays the bass in a band?! 🥵
I did not realize going into this book that it was apart of an interconnected series! I'm so excited to read the rest of the series and dive deeper into the other brewery babes love stories.
I highly recommend this if you're a fan of witty banter, fake dating, and tons of juicy drama.
𝘼𝙙𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙏𝘽𝙍 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚...
🍺they're step siblings
👓secret fake relationships
🍺corgi sidekicks
👓nerd with slutty little glasses x ginger beer brewer
"𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘐'𝘥 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶."
My face hurts from smiling so much. Book two from The Sisterhood of the Traveling Books won my whole heart!
Y'all, everyone deserves a Cormac in their lives. This man LOVES Nora and would literally give her the world if he could. I loved watching their (secret) fake relationship slowly build to something more. & to top it off he's a hot nerd who wears glasses and plays the bass in a band?! 🥵
I did not realize going into this book that it was apart of an interconnected series! I'm so excited to read the rest of the series and dive deeper into the other brewery babes love stories.
I highly recommend this if you're a fan of witty banter, fake dating, and tons of juicy drama.
𝘼𝙙𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙏𝘽𝙍 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚...
🍺they're step siblings
👓secret fake relationships
🍺corgi sidekicks
👓nerd with slutty little glasses x ginger beer brewer
May 19, 2026
In the last book in the Babes of Brewing series, Nora owns a brewery with one of her good friends, Jose. However, his girlfriend doesn’t like their working relationship. Nora needs a fake relationship and fast to keep her brewery. Literally, in walks her soon-to-be stepbrother & high school nemesis, Cormac to help fend off this jealous partner’s girlfriend. In return, Nora gives Cormac some spicy dating lessons & promises to sit his super energetic corgi, Cookie. Trust me, this is an adventure that you don’t want to miss!!!!
I absolutely loved the Babes of Brewing Series! Nora & Cormac’s story tie in perfectly! The enemies to lovers turn into a fake relationship with spicy lessons and the yearning between the hot nerd & leading lady is completely worth a read. I loved the little final blow to Jonah who helped to start this whole series off! I also enjoyed that each side character had their part in bringing Cormac and Nora together, especially Cookie, Ann & Nathaniel! This story has romance, is hilarious & is the perfect way to end this series!
I absolutely loved the Babes of Brewing Series! Nora & Cormac’s story tie in perfectly! The enemies to lovers turn into a fake relationship with spicy lessons and the yearning between the hot nerd & leading lady is completely worth a read. I loved the little final blow to Jonah who helped to start this whole series off! I also enjoyed that each side character had their part in bringing Cormac and Nora together, especially Cookie, Ann & Nathaniel! This story has romance, is hilarious & is the perfect way to end this series!
May 15, 2026
3.5⭐️
This was a cute read! I went in knowing this was a part of a series, but it made for a decent standalone, with minimal confusion as far as the other established characters go.
For me, this started off really strong, but sadly lost a bit of its luster as the story progressed. However, I found Nora to be a hilarious and lovable FMC, which really brought so much spunk to the reading experience. It felt a bit longer than it needed to be, as some of the sub-plots were a tad drawn out. Was really hoping to see some more resolution as far as Pansy was concerned, as she was a big part of the plot from the start. The spice was tasteful and not overly spicy. Overall, it was a cute, funny, and entertaining read!
Thank you to Hambright PR for the advanced eARC❤️
This was a cute read! I went in knowing this was a part of a series, but it made for a decent standalone, with minimal confusion as far as the other established characters go.
For me, this started off really strong, but sadly lost a bit of its luster as the story progressed. However, I found Nora to be a hilarious and lovable FMC, which really brought so much spunk to the reading experience. It felt a bit longer than it needed to be, as some of the sub-plots were a tad drawn out. Was really hoping to see some more resolution as far as Pansy was concerned, as she was a big part of the plot from the start. The spice was tasteful and not overly spicy. Overall, it was a cute, funny, and entertaining read!
Thank you to Hambright PR for the advanced eARC❤️
Did Not Finish
May 6, 2026Thank you to the author and Hambright PR for the ARC, I truly appreciate the opportunity to read and give my honest review.
Unfortunately, this one wasn’t for me. I made it to about 20% before deciding to put it down, mainly because it leaned much more young adult. While the characters are in their early 20s, they came across significantly younger in both their actions and the overall dynamic. The situation that leads to the fake relationship felt a bit too immature for my personal taste.
That said, if you enjoy a lighter, more youthful tone with a fake dating trope, this could be a fun read for you.
Unfortunately, this one wasn’t for me. I made it to about 20% before deciding to put it down, mainly because it leaned much more young adult. While the characters are in their early 20s, they came across significantly younger in both their actions and the overall dynamic. The situation that leads to the fake relationship felt a bit too immature for my personal taste.
That said, if you enjoy a lighter, more youthful tone with a fake dating trope, this could be a fun read for you.
May 20, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book was such a fun surprise. I went in expecting a light fake dating romcom and ended up getting something much more heartfelt and emotional than I expected.
Nora and Cormac had the best chaotic chemistry from the very beginning, and I loved watching the tension slowly build while they both tried to pretend none of it meant anything. The banter was sharp, the double dates were painfully hilarious, and the slow realization that maybe their “fake” relationship wasn’t actually fake anymore had me completely hooked.
Cormac absolutely stole the show for me. He was awkward, nerdy, sweet, and completely gone for Nora from the start in the most lovable way possible. And yes, the glasses definitely made him even better.
I also loved that this book comes in both a sweet/closed-door version and a spicy/open-door version so readers can choose the experience that fits them best. Such a fun and unique idea.
Beyond the romance, the found family moments and matchmaking elderly ladies added so much charm and warmth to the story. And the corgi honestly deserves its own shoutout because it was iconic.
This was funny, comforting, romantic, and surprisingly emotional in all the best ways. Definitely one of those romcoms that leaves you smiling while reading.
Tropes:
Fake dating
Hot nerd MMC
He falls first
Opposites attract
Found family
Romcom banter
Matchmaking elderly ladies
Iconic corgi
Spice: Available in both closed-door and open-door versions.
This book was such a fun surprise. I went in expecting a light fake dating romcom and ended up getting something much more heartfelt and emotional than I expected.
Nora and Cormac had the best chaotic chemistry from the very beginning, and I loved watching the tension slowly build while they both tried to pretend none of it meant anything. The banter was sharp, the double dates were painfully hilarious, and the slow realization that maybe their “fake” relationship wasn’t actually fake anymore had me completely hooked.
Cormac absolutely stole the show for me. He was awkward, nerdy, sweet, and completely gone for Nora from the start in the most lovable way possible. And yes, the glasses definitely made him even better.
I also loved that this book comes in both a sweet/closed-door version and a spicy/open-door version so readers can choose the experience that fits them best. Such a fun and unique idea.
Beyond the romance, the found family moments and matchmaking elderly ladies added so much charm and warmth to the story. And the corgi honestly deserves its own shoutout because it was iconic.
This was funny, comforting, romantic, and surprisingly emotional in all the best ways. Definitely one of those romcoms that leaves you smiling while reading.
Tropes:
Fake dating
Hot nerd MMC
He falls first
Opposites attract
Found family
Romcom banter
Matchmaking elderly ladies
Iconic corgi
Spice: Available in both closed-door and open-door versions.
May 11, 2026
Nora is the ginger beer babe, aka one of the four women who were unbeknownst to them involved with the same duplicitous (quadplicitous?) man. It’s been a while since the revelation, and while we’d met the other three women on their journey, we probably know Nora the least. While she was deceived by the same man, her feelings toward him weren’t as intense as the other ladies.
As this book opens, Nora’s mother is marrying her high school nemesis’s father, and at the same time, her business partner Jose’s fiancée has been trying to push Nora out of the partnership, apparently since she and Jose dated briefly before quickly deciding they were much better off as friends and business associates. Casting about for a way to keep her position, Nora creates a fake boyfriend of her own, but when that falls through none other than her new stepbrother bails her out by pretending to be involved with Nora, albeit on the DL so their parents aren’t shocked.
Of course, Cormac is painfully handsome and brilliant, but an inability to read social cues makes his interactions with the brash, funny, and socially intrepid Nora extremely awkward and prone to misinterpretation. However, as the pair spend time together, their mutual admiration grows, and it’s not long before their fake embraces become all too real. Nora, however, fears that deep down she’s like her own duplicitous father, and tries to give Cormac up to spare him what she’s certain is future heartache. Through it all, the pair must conceal from their parents any relationship they have with each other, real or fake.
I enjoyed this so much, as an end to the Asheville-set series, and I love that Falling for Mr October gets its two main love interests from a side quest contained in this novel, kicking off a new series itself. Angela Casella is an auto buy for me, and this didn’t disappoint. Nora and Cormac are adorable - and steamy - together, and Cookie the corgi is the cherry on top.
I was fortunate to have received an advance reader copy, and I’m pleased to share my honest review.
As this book opens, Nora’s mother is marrying her high school nemesis’s father, and at the same time, her business partner Jose’s fiancée has been trying to push Nora out of the partnership, apparently since she and Jose dated briefly before quickly deciding they were much better off as friends and business associates. Casting about for a way to keep her position, Nora creates a fake boyfriend of her own, but when that falls through none other than her new stepbrother bails her out by pretending to be involved with Nora, albeit on the DL so their parents aren’t shocked.
Of course, Cormac is painfully handsome and brilliant, but an inability to read social cues makes his interactions with the brash, funny, and socially intrepid Nora extremely awkward and prone to misinterpretation. However, as the pair spend time together, their mutual admiration grows, and it’s not long before their fake embraces become all too real. Nora, however, fears that deep down she’s like her own duplicitous father, and tries to give Cormac up to spare him what she’s certain is future heartache. Through it all, the pair must conceal from their parents any relationship they have with each other, real or fake.
I enjoyed this so much, as an end to the Asheville-set series, and I love that Falling for Mr October gets its two main love interests from a side quest contained in this novel, kicking off a new series itself. Angela Casella is an auto buy for me, and this didn’t disappoint. Nora and Cormac are adorable - and steamy - together, and Cookie the corgi is the cherry on top.
I was fortunate to have received an advance reader copy, and I’m pleased to share my honest review.
May 17, 2026
Book Title: Worst Faking Idea (Babes of Brewing Book 4)
Author: Angela Casella
Publisher: Self (independent)
Pub Date: May 14, 2026
Dates Read/Listened: May 5, 2026 – May 16, 2026
🗣️ 𝚀𝚞𝚒𝚌𝚔(𝚒𝚜𝚑) 𝚃𝚊𝚔𝚎: I don’t normally like to read a series out of order, but Worst Faking Idea made me do it, and I don’t regret it. I will say you get some spoilers for the first 3 books, but it honestly made me want to read them more, and you better believe I will be doing that. This was a laugh-out-loud funny read, and I adored the characters and Cormac’s cute corgi! I chose the spicy version of the book, and I thought it was blended in perfectly. It didn’t come into play until further into the story and really matched what was going on with Nora and Cormac’s fake relationship. Fake dating is my favorite trope, and it was executed so well in this novel. I loved Casella’s writing, and it flowed as effortlessly as the banter. The characters felt so undeniably real, and if you love romance, I am telling you this is a must-read! I can’t wait to read more from this author and more of the series. Instant fan here. 🙋🏼♀️
T͏h͏i͏s͏ B͏o͏o͏k͏ i͏n͏ 5͏ E͏m͏o͏j͏i͏’s͏ o͏r͏ L͏e͏s͏s͏: 🐕🤖🫚🍺🤥
𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
𝙼𝚢 𝚂𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 🌶️🌶️.5 + 🍦
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Author: Angela Casella
Publisher: Self (independent)
Pub Date: May 14, 2026
Dates Read/Listened: May 5, 2026 – May 16, 2026
🗣️ 𝚀𝚞𝚒𝚌𝚔(𝚒𝚜𝚑) 𝚃𝚊𝚔𝚎: I don’t normally like to read a series out of order, but Worst Faking Idea made me do it, and I don’t regret it. I will say you get some spoilers for the first 3 books, but it honestly made me want to read them more, and you better believe I will be doing that. This was a laugh-out-loud funny read, and I adored the characters and Cormac’s cute corgi! I chose the spicy version of the book, and I thought it was blended in perfectly. It didn’t come into play until further into the story and really matched what was going on with Nora and Cormac’s fake relationship. Fake dating is my favorite trope, and it was executed so well in this novel. I loved Casella’s writing, and it flowed as effortlessly as the banter. The characters felt so undeniably real, and if you love romance, I am telling you this is a must-read! I can’t wait to read more from this author and more of the series. Instant fan here. 🙋🏼♀️
T͏h͏i͏s͏ B͏o͏o͏k͏ i͏n͏ 5͏ E͏m͏o͏j͏i͏’s͏ o͏r͏ L͏e͏s͏s͏: 🐕🤖🫚🍺🤥
𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
𝙼𝚢 𝚂𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 🌶️🌶️.5 + 🍦
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
May 6, 2026
I loved how this book is available in two version: a spicy version with full open door spice and a closed door version. I chose the spicy version and spice it not, I absolutely adored it. There’s nothing I love more than a yearner mmc who’s desperately trying to confess to a totally oblivious fmc. They’ve known each other since high school, and at the start it seems like they hate each other, but oh it’s much more than that, it’s pure yearning and childhood love (this man literally followed her around with puppy dog eyes but she didn’t even notice). And the seven minutes in heaven thing? Girl has liked him longer than she thinks but won’t admit it. Now suddenly they’re in a fake dating relationship (that he’s totally trying to make real) to expose her friend Jose’s terrible fiancée. And to make it even more taboo, they’re now step siblings because of their newly married parents. This book was full of so much fun and sweet moments, he literally consults advice from fortune telling “little old ladies”. Nora and Cormac are the sweetest and most chaotic couple ever. But it was also so endearing, because both of them come from families with estranged parents and didn’t really believe in love, yet Cormac spends so long trying to convince Nora that they deserve love. Now here is where I convince you to read the spicy version because this man may seem like a sweet, awkward, nerdy boy on the outside, but that man is a FREAK in the sheets. Point one, he wears freaking GLASSES and nothing is hotter than a man stopping in the middle of making out to take off his glasses. Point two, the things this man does with ice cream?? Yeah I think that’s reason enough because it was HOT. So please read this book, it’s spicy but also has an amazing plot (with some great plot twists, and characters that will make you swoon so hard. I give this a 5/5
May 15, 2026
5 ⭐ ARC Review - The only stepbrother fake dating romance book I’ve read that I genuinely loved and didn’t give me the ick. The character growth and banter are top tier!
🍎 For Fans of:
- romcom
- fake dating
- stepbrother romance
- wedding attendees
- hilarious & adorable banter
- healing daddy issues
- great friend group
- meddling old ladies
- dog side character
- single timeline
- dual POVs
✏️ Spoiler-Free ARC Review
Nora’s mom is marrying her high school nemesis (Cormac)’s dad. Cormac’s secretly had a crush on her since forever so when Nora asks him to be his fake secret boyfriend, he agrees. What could go wrong?
This. THIS is how you write a stepbrother romance without it feeling weird. Maybe it’s because I read the sweet version (yes, there’s a spicy version too!), but it never felt icky.
For this one, since there is a shared history (they’ve known each other since grade school) and the banter feels so… right? It’s funny banter but it’s also so comfortable because they’ve known each other and have a shared history, even if they were never friends.
Not only do we get incredible banter, but we also see each of the main characters grow into the full versions of themselves. Their relationship has a natural progression, real concerns, and comforting moments of friendship, family, and finding who and what is right for you. The character growth is real and their entire friend group made me so happy for them.
I saw someone online post about how this is an auto-read / auto-buy author for them and I totally get it. The writing is phenomenal and makes you feel like you’re always in on the jokes. Plus, with the dual POV writing, it’s truly heartwarming seeing these little interactions from both sides.
🖤 Thank you to author Angela Casella and Hambright PR for the advanced reader copy (ARC).
As always, my reviews are honest, my own, and voluntary!
📚 Book: Worst Faking Idea: A Sweet Romantic Comedy by Angela Casella
📅 Release Date: OUT NOW (2026)
⭐ Rating: 5 out of 5
🍎 For Fans of:
- romcom
- fake dating
- stepbrother romance
- wedding attendees
- hilarious & adorable banter
- healing daddy issues
- great friend group
- meddling old ladies
- dog side character
- single timeline
- dual POVs
✏️ Spoiler-Free ARC Review
Nora’s mom is marrying her high school nemesis (Cormac)’s dad. Cormac’s secretly had a crush on her since forever so when Nora asks him to be his fake secret boyfriend, he agrees. What could go wrong?
This. THIS is how you write a stepbrother romance without it feeling weird. Maybe it’s because I read the sweet version (yes, there’s a spicy version too!), but it never felt icky.
For this one, since there is a shared history (they’ve known each other since grade school) and the banter feels so… right? It’s funny banter but it’s also so comfortable because they’ve known each other and have a shared history, even if they were never friends.
Not only do we get incredible banter, but we also see each of the main characters grow into the full versions of themselves. Their relationship has a natural progression, real concerns, and comforting moments of friendship, family, and finding who and what is right for you. The character growth is real and their entire friend group made me so happy for them.
I saw someone online post about how this is an auto-read / auto-buy author for them and I totally get it. The writing is phenomenal and makes you feel like you’re always in on the jokes. Plus, with the dual POV writing, it’s truly heartwarming seeing these little interactions from both sides.
🖤 Thank you to author Angela Casella and Hambright PR for the advanced reader copy (ARC).
As always, my reviews are honest, my own, and voluntary!
📚 Book: Worst Faking Idea: A Sweet Romantic Comedy by Angela Casella
📅 Release Date: OUT NOW (2026)
⭐ Rating: 5 out of 5
May 14, 2026
Worst Faking Idea is the fourth book in the Babes of Brewing Series- it's fun, it's spicy and it did not disappoint!
As with the other books in this series, the author offers you the spicy or sweet version. I will always take the spice, thank you!
Nora and Cormac are such a sweet and unique couple. They struggled with some really uncomfortable + awkward situations back in high school and here they are, being forced to face the awkwardness, when their parents, Moira Applebaum and Eugene Peebles, fall in love and get married. Pretty awful, right? To add to that drama , Nora is in the middle of a financial/ownership issue with her brewery which she runs with (Jose) her best friend, once boyfriend, and his fiancé (Pansy) does not love the arrangement. Let the fun continue when Nora decides to ask Cormac to be her fake boyfriend to try and run Pansy off because she doesn't want to lose her brewery + she knows that Pansy is legit not a good person. SO MUCH ENTERTAINING CHAOS + DRAMA!! I love how all the character's stories come together in this fourth book. We get some answers and justice when it comes to Jonah- the terrible ex who is responsible for bringing all the brewery girls together, and we get all the happy endings that will never get old!
Cormac is the BEST! He will have you pulling for him from the beginning. I honestly don't think there was one single time in the story that I didn't think he was wonderful! He's a little nerdy- with the glasses that make him a lot good-looking- and he and Nora have amazing chemistry, especially during those moments when they forget they're pretending. This little gem is out TODAY, and I highly recommend you getting this on your TBR, especially if you have enjoyed the other books in this series: Best Served Cold (Sophie + Rob), Worst Nanny Ever (Hannah + Travis) and Best Kind of Trouble (Brian + Liam).
Big THANK YOU! to author, Angela Casella and Hambright PR for this gifted, advanced listening copy. All opinions are my own.
As with the other books in this series, the author offers you the spicy or sweet version. I will always take the spice, thank you!
Nora and Cormac are such a sweet and unique couple. They struggled with some really uncomfortable + awkward situations back in high school and here they are, being forced to face the awkwardness, when their parents, Moira Applebaum and Eugene Peebles, fall in love and get married. Pretty awful, right? To add to that drama , Nora is in the middle of a financial/ownership issue with her brewery which she runs with (Jose) her best friend, once boyfriend, and his fiancé (Pansy) does not love the arrangement. Let the fun continue when Nora decides to ask Cormac to be her fake boyfriend to try and run Pansy off because she doesn't want to lose her brewery + she knows that Pansy is legit not a good person. SO MUCH ENTERTAINING CHAOS + DRAMA!! I love how all the character's stories come together in this fourth book. We get some answers and justice when it comes to Jonah- the terrible ex who is responsible for bringing all the brewery girls together, and we get all the happy endings that will never get old!
Cormac is the BEST! He will have you pulling for him from the beginning. I honestly don't think there was one single time in the story that I didn't think he was wonderful! He's a little nerdy- with the glasses that make him a lot good-looking- and he and Nora have amazing chemistry, especially during those moments when they forget they're pretending. This little gem is out TODAY, and I highly recommend you getting this on your TBR, especially if you have enjoyed the other books in this series: Best Served Cold (Sophie + Rob), Worst Nanny Ever (Hannah + Travis) and Best Kind of Trouble (Brian + Liam).
Big THANK YOU! to author, Angela Casella and Hambright PR for this gifted, advanced listening copy. All opinions are my own.
July 20, 2026
💜 Nora & Cormac finally get their moment in the spotlight 💜
Worst Faking Idea is the final book in the Babes of Brewing series, and I'm not ready to say goodbye.
Nora and Cormac had secret crushes on each other in highschool, but when Cormac refused to follow through with Nora during Seven Minutes in Heaven, and she accidentally destroyed his science project, they became nemeses. Over a decade later they're thrown together when their parents fall in love and get married. With the help of two matchmaking elders and a plan that includes secret fake dating to unmask the truth behind Nora's business partner's financé, they finally give in to their attraction. Instead of worrying about what the past and what could go wrong, it's time they open their eyes and hearts to what could go right.
I love the found family in this series and the way they help Nora and Cormac work through the obstacles in their path to a happy relationship, including insecurities and past family trauma.
Cormac is the quietly sexy introverted type, which just does it for me. *Swoon* It's part of the reason him and Liam are my favorites. (Shhh, don't tell Rob and Travis, who have their own appeal.)
𝐅𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬:
𝙸’𝚖 𝚐𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝙲𝚘𝚛𝚖𝚊𝚌 𝙿𝚎𝚎𝚋𝚕𝚎𝚜’𝚜 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍, 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚜 𝚒𝚝 𝚘𝚛 𝚗𝚘𝚝.
“𝚈𝚘𝚞’𝚛𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗 𝙸 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎.”
“𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞’𝚛𝚎 𝚎𝚡𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚊𝚜 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚜 𝙸 𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚠 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎.”
“𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚍𝚘𝚗’𝚝 𝚍𝚘 𝚊𝚗𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚠𝚊𝚒𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚎𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚞𝚛𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞, 𝙽𝚘𝚛𝚊. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚘𝚗’𝚝 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚛.”
𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚋𝚒𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝙽𝚘𝚛𝚊 𝙻𝚎𝚒𝚐𝚑 𝚒𝚗 𝚑𝚒𝚐𝚑 𝚜𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚘𝚕, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚝𝚑 𝚒𝚜, 𝙸’𝚖 𝚊 𝚕𝚘𝚝 𝚏*𝚌𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚗 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚗𝚘𝚠.
🤫 Secret fake relationship
🫠 He falls first and hard
👓 Slutty little glasses
🍺 Brewery owner (FMC)
🤖 Science nerd (MMC)
😂 Banter
🐶 Corgi sidekick
🫂 Found family
📚 Open & closed door versions
💘 Mick, the fourth member of Garbage Fire, and Hazel, Nora's cousin, are getting their own story. Yay!
Worst Faking Idea is the final book in the Babes of Brewing series, and I'm not ready to say goodbye.
Nora and Cormac had secret crushes on each other in highschool, but when Cormac refused to follow through with Nora during Seven Minutes in Heaven, and she accidentally destroyed his science project, they became nemeses. Over a decade later they're thrown together when their parents fall in love and get married. With the help of two matchmaking elders and a plan that includes secret fake dating to unmask the truth behind Nora's business partner's financé, they finally give in to their attraction. Instead of worrying about what the past and what could go wrong, it's time they open their eyes and hearts to what could go right.
I love the found family in this series and the way they help Nora and Cormac work through the obstacles in their path to a happy relationship, including insecurities and past family trauma.
Cormac is the quietly sexy introverted type, which just does it for me. *Swoon* It's part of the reason him and Liam are my favorites. (Shhh, don't tell Rob and Travis, who have their own appeal.)
𝐅𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬:
𝙸’𝚖 𝚐𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝙲𝚘𝚛𝚖𝚊𝚌 𝙿𝚎𝚎𝚋𝚕𝚎𝚜’𝚜 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍, 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚜 𝚒𝚝 𝚘𝚛 𝚗𝚘𝚝.
“𝚈𝚘𝚞’𝚛𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗 𝙸 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎.”
“𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞’𝚛𝚎 𝚎𝚡𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚊𝚜 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚜 𝙸 𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚠 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎.”
“𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚍𝚘𝚗’𝚝 𝚍𝚘 𝚊𝚗𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚠𝚊𝚒𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚎𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚞𝚛𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞, 𝙽𝚘𝚛𝚊. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚘𝚗’𝚝 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚛.”
𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚋𝚒𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝙽𝚘𝚛𝚊 𝙻𝚎𝚒𝚐𝚑 𝚒𝚗 𝚑𝚒𝚐𝚑 𝚜𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚘𝚕, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚝𝚑 𝚒𝚜, 𝙸’𝚖 𝚊 𝚕𝚘𝚝 𝚏*𝚌𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚗 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚗𝚘𝚠.
🤫 Secret fake relationship
🫠 He falls first and hard
👓 Slutty little glasses
🍺 Brewery owner (FMC)
🤖 Science nerd (MMC)
😂 Banter
🐶 Corgi sidekick
🫂 Found family
📚 Open & closed door versions
💘 Mick, the fourth member of Garbage Fire, and Hazel, Nora's cousin, are getting their own story. Yay!
June 22, 2026
This book was sooo much fun and I fell for cormac soooo freaking hard. He is a broody, nerdy genius, with sexy glasses, plays base guitar and has a corgi like sign me up and take me away!! He is giving me seriously Spencer from criminal minds vibes hehe 🤭 just no crime fighting.
These two had a fun story line as well. They are ‘technically’ step siblings - their parents got married at the start of the book. And they have known each other for most their lives. They grew up and went to school together, so much so they have thought the other hates them all this time because of some situations when they were kids. But when Nora is in a rock and hard spot cormac is literally the only one that can save her so she can save her brewing company. And what better plot twist then a crazy jealous fiancé of her buisness partner causing all kids of drama?!?
The meddling grandmas in this book were hilarious as well. I can only imagine they played a roll in the previous books! This girl squad sure knows how to wrangles these youngsters and reading tea leaves isn’t their only party trick!
You learn a lot in this book too of the friend group Nora is apart of. Makes me need to go back for the other books in this series (there are 3!) and find out more of their stories! Such a fun time they are and a crazy set of circumstances that brought them together.
Overall such a fun story and I legit devoured this book in less than 2 days! Couldn’t put it down and enjoyed all the laughs, spicy moments, and fun characters shenanigans!!
These two had a fun story line as well. They are ‘technically’ step siblings - their parents got married at the start of the book. And they have known each other for most their lives. They grew up and went to school together, so much so they have thought the other hates them all this time because of some situations when they were kids. But when Nora is in a rock and hard spot cormac is literally the only one that can save her so she can save her brewing company. And what better plot twist then a crazy jealous fiancé of her buisness partner causing all kids of drama?!?
The meddling grandmas in this book were hilarious as well. I can only imagine they played a roll in the previous books! This girl squad sure knows how to wrangles these youngsters and reading tea leaves isn’t their only party trick!
You learn a lot in this book too of the friend group Nora is apart of. Makes me need to go back for the other books in this series (there are 3!) and find out more of their stories! Such a fun time they are and a crazy set of circumstances that brought them together.
Overall such a fun story and I legit devoured this book in less than 2 days! Couldn’t put it down and enjoyed all the laughs, spicy moments, and fun characters shenanigans!!
May 15, 2026
This is the fourth and final book in this awesome series, and this is Nora and Cormac’s story.
These two had a crush on each other in high school, and they are about to become stepsiblings, as Nora’s mother is marrying Cormac’s dad. Nora’s ginger beer brewing company is her like, but she is on the brink of losing it, due to her partner’s jealous girlfriend, so she agrees to get herself a boyfriend, and Nora finds herself convincing Cormac to be her fake boyfriend.
This is a well written easy to read, slow burn romcom, with family, friendships, emotions, tension, fake dating, secrets, tad suspense, opposites attract, enemies / lovers, matchmaking, romance, humour, witty banter, undeniable chemistry, and love, which leads to an entertaining, unpredictable, and fun, addictive page turner.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.
These two had a crush on each other in high school, and they are about to become stepsiblings, as Nora’s mother is marrying Cormac’s dad. Nora’s ginger beer brewing company is her like, but she is on the brink of losing it, due to her partner’s jealous girlfriend, so she agrees to get herself a boyfriend, and Nora finds herself convincing Cormac to be her fake boyfriend.
This is a well written easy to read, slow burn romcom, with family, friendships, emotions, tension, fake dating, secrets, tad suspense, opposites attract, enemies / lovers, matchmaking, romance, humour, witty banter, undeniable chemistry, and love, which leads to an entertaining, unpredictable, and fun, addictive page turner.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.
June 1, 2026
omg I’m OBSESSED with this book. I did not expect to love it so much. I knew it had fake dating which is an all time fave, but when I started this I was immediately pulled in. Right off the bat, I was intrigued by the characters and their stories. I literally finished this so quickly and found myself trying to pick this up to read any chance I got.
Cormac I loved him so much. He’s literally a hot nerd that has been in love with this girl for years. The way he yearns for her??? I was SOLD. Nora is such a strong and funny fmc, I loved her personality. And them both together ugh I couldn’t get enough. They had the best banter and chemistry.
I’m literally so obsessed with this book that now I want to go back and read the other books in the series.
Thank you so much to Hambright PR for providing me with the opportunity to read this arc.
Cormac I loved him so much. He’s literally a hot nerd that has been in love with this girl for years. The way he yearns for her??? I was SOLD. Nora is such a strong and funny fmc, I loved her personality. And them both together ugh I couldn’t get enough. They had the best banter and chemistry.
I’m literally so obsessed with this book that now I want to go back and read the other books in the series.
Thank you so much to Hambright PR for providing me with the opportunity to read this arc.
May 14, 2026
I absolutely LOVED this book! Everything about Cormac made him the perfect MMC! He honestly just kept getting better with every single chapter. I adored how gentle he was with Nora and he truly understood her heart and never made her feel like she needed to be less
The side characters were honestly some of my favorites as well… Ann and Dottie provided the perfect comic relief throughout the story. If you’re looking for an addictive romcom, this is the one for you. Worst Faking Idea released today, and one of the coolest things about this release is that it caters to every reader: there’s a spicy open door version AND a closed door version! Make sure to grab the one that fits your preference!
Thank you to Hambright PR and Angela Casella for allowing me to read this ARC!
The side characters were honestly some of my favorites as well… Ann and Dottie provided the perfect comic relief throughout the story. If you’re looking for an addictive romcom, this is the one for you. Worst Faking Idea released today, and one of the coolest things about this release is that it caters to every reader: there’s a spicy open door version AND a closed door version! Make sure to grab the one that fits your preference!
Thank you to Hambright PR and Angela Casella for allowing me to read this ARC!
May 15, 2026
Thank you to Angela Casella and Hambright PR for the advanced reader copy of Worst Faking Idea, book four in the Babes in Brewing series.
I absolutely LOVED this book. Fake dating is my all time favorite trope and this DELIVERED. Cormac is wonderfully awkward and nerdy and Nora is wild and free spirited. There is pining and yearning and so many fun adventures and silly antics.
I didn’t think a man with a name like Cormac Peebles could become one of my ultimate book boyfriends, but honestly he is exceptional. And his quirky Corgi named Cookie with her antics were just the icing on the cake!
This book was full of wonderfully quirky characters and friends that are family. The spice was perfectly sprinkled in and done well, the banter was excellent!
The most SOLID 5 stars from me!
I absolutely LOVED this book. Fake dating is my all time favorite trope and this DELIVERED. Cormac is wonderfully awkward and nerdy and Nora is wild and free spirited. There is pining and yearning and so many fun adventures and silly antics.
I didn’t think a man with a name like Cormac Peebles could become one of my ultimate book boyfriends, but honestly he is exceptional. And his quirky Corgi named Cookie with her antics were just the icing on the cake!
This book was full of wonderfully quirky characters and friends that are family. The spice was perfectly sprinkled in and done well, the banter was excellent!
The most SOLID 5 stars from me!
May 11, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
Well that was such a good time! I absolutely loved Cormac-he’s such a green flag!! A super sweet, thoughtful, and nerdy guy! This was my first book by this author and I didn’t realize it was part of a series so I will definitely be going back to read the other ones. This was so funny, sweet, and spicy. I had a great time! My favorite parts:
💕 Great banter
💕 The insane Corgi named Cookie
💕 Cormac’s slutty glasses and how nerdy he was
💕 The Fairy Godmothers group chat
💕 Fake dating (turns out I love this trope)
Well that was such a good time! I absolutely loved Cormac-he’s such a green flag!! A super sweet, thoughtful, and nerdy guy! This was my first book by this author and I didn’t realize it was part of a series so I will definitely be going back to read the other ones. This was so funny, sweet, and spicy. I had a great time! My favorite parts:
💕 Great banter
💕 The insane Corgi named Cookie
💕 Cormac’s slutty glasses and how nerdy he was
💕 The Fairy Godmothers group chat
💕 Fake dating (turns out I love this trope)
May 15, 2026
I was hoping we’d get a book focused on Cormac! He’s absolutely brilliant and you can tell he’s neurodivergent. I loved his introduction in the previous book from the series. He’s soft, supportive, brilliant, blunt, and loyal. Nora is successful, dedicated, strong willed and healing.I loved the slow burn between them. It stems back to their childhood. I’m still cackling at Pansy and her Pads 😂. Her antics were wild and entertaining. This one is so fun! Thank you Hambright and Angela Casella for this Arc! Happy Pub Day! 💜
May 18, 2026
4 ⭐️ ARC review from Hambright PR & Angela.
Do you love:
💜 fake dating
🩷 step siblings
💜 dog dad
🩷 golden retriever MMC
💜 Rom Com vibes
This is your book. Nora will do anything to save her business including fake dating her newly step brother to ensure her best friend doesn’t sell due to his crazy finance. Cormac is giving golden retriever energy- will do anything for her, falls hard and honestly such a fabulous man! The banter is sweet, the spice was good and honestly if you love Rom Coms this is your next read 🥰
#HPRWorstFakingIdea
#AngelaCasella
#HambrightPR
Do you love:
💜 fake dating
🩷 step siblings
💜 dog dad
🩷 golden retriever MMC
💜 Rom Com vibes
This is your book. Nora will do anything to save her business including fake dating her newly step brother to ensure her best friend doesn’t sell due to his crazy finance. Cormac is giving golden retriever energy- will do anything for her, falls hard and honestly such a fabulous man! The banter is sweet, the spice was good and honestly if you love Rom Coms this is your next read 🥰
#HPRWorstFakingIdea
#AngelaCasella
#HambrightPR
May 22, 2026
Cormac and Nora made an interesting couple. The fake relationship was a definite stretch and it worked, for the most part.
The back story of their HS years, the long standing feud, the banter, all good. It was referenced many times that Cormac might be autistic. To me, he seemed more like Monk. OCD, definitely. He quickly learned how to better interact with others and pick up more social cues.
Nora was less organized as a character, possibly by design. She grew on me though.
I enjoyed the story. Happy all the friends, apart from Mick,found their forever loves.
I am very excited to see we have more Cafiero‘s on the horizon. Bring on the shirtless Chef Giovanni!
The back story of their HS years, the long standing feud, the banter, all good. It was referenced many times that Cormac might be autistic. To me, he seemed more like Monk. OCD, definitely. He quickly learned how to better interact with others and pick up more social cues.
Nora was less organized as a character, possibly by design. She grew on me though.
I enjoyed the story. Happy all the friends, apart from Mick,found their forever loves.
I am very excited to see we have more Cafiero‘s on the horizon. Bring on the shirtless Chef Giovanni!
June 23, 2026
This was seriously one of my favorite romcoms. I loved that it has a solid story line with a lot of layers. It's fun and messy all at the same time. The spice worked well for the story without being cliche or cheesy or overdone. I loved the slow build up of chemistry and the tension was absolute perfection. It's one of those romcoms you hope all your friends read. The FMC had a unique personality and I absolutely was here for her. The MMC also was not the typical book boyfriend type, he was more of the nerdy cutie. AND it worked. The vulnerable moments are there. The soft and not so soft moments. And it all builds up to a beautiful and believable love story.
May 17, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
I enjoyed the rom com aspect a lot. Dottie and Ann were hilarious. I do feel it could have been spicer but I did appreciate having the option on whether or not I wanted the spice at all. I ABSOLUTELY loved Cormac and the fact that he was more than likely on the spectrum (we don’t have many characters like that). The subplot with Ann was sweet but also confusing because I wasn’t sure it was necessary. Overall it was a pretty good read though 🫶🏼📚
Thank you to HambrightPR for the ARC 🖤
I enjoyed the rom com aspect a lot. Dottie and Ann were hilarious. I do feel it could have been spicer but I did appreciate having the option on whether or not I wanted the spice at all. I ABSOLUTELY loved Cormac and the fact that he was more than likely on the spectrum (we don’t have many characters like that). The subplot with Ann was sweet but also confusing because I wasn’t sure it was necessary. Overall it was a pretty good read though 🫶🏼📚
Thank you to HambrightPR for the ARC 🖤
May 20, 2026
OMG I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH!!
I’ve loved Angela Casella’s books ever since I read “worst nanny ever” and she really outdid herself with Worst Faking Idea
I adored Cormac and Nora; he’s such a sweetheart and she’s so feisty (his exact opposite) but they were absolutely perfect for each other 🥹🥹🥹
The plot was fantastic, it was such a fun read and I had such a great time with it
Angela Casella definitely writes the best rom coms and I highly recommend her Babes of Brewing series ❤️
I’ve loved Angela Casella’s books ever since I read “worst nanny ever” and she really outdid herself with Worst Faking Idea
I adored Cormac and Nora; he’s such a sweetheart and she’s so feisty (his exact opposite) but they were absolutely perfect for each other 🥹🥹🥹
The plot was fantastic, it was such a fun read and I had such a great time with it
Angela Casella definitely writes the best rom coms and I highly recommend her Babes of Brewing series ❤️
July 5, 2026
Love Cormac and Nora but lets be honest the stars were the Fairy Godmother's and Cookie. Lol No seriously I really enjoyed this romcom. The premise was fun, the dynamic between Cormac and Nora was fun, but what I really loved was that with Cormac's personality it never had to be said that he was clearly on the spectrum but it was brought up and easily dismissed as I never felt the need to be tested. I absolutely loved that because he was just himself
May 23, 2026
Great conclusion to the Babes in Brewing series! It was nice to see Nora and Cormac come together to get their HEA. Their story is sweet and spicy and there are lots of laughs too, as well as some suspense with the Pansy situation. Also look for a reappearance of Jonah (with a satisfying conclusion!) I thought the plot and characters were well developed and it was nice seeing the couples from the earlier books in the series. This book can be read as a standalone but I recommend reading the series in order for the best experience. It’s a great series.
May 18, 2026
Super cute. The whole series. I really enjoy this author and how she writes her characters. This one had an opposites attract, fake-dating theme with fantastic banter. (I also love that there’s a spicy & non-spicy version available.)
May 14, 2026
Angela Casella has done it again. This book was soooooooo good, I devoured it almost in a day. First of all, I have to confess how much I love the author for providing two versions of her book, a clean one and a spicy one, so readers have the choice to read what they are most comfortable with, without compromising on the story. I chose the sweet version.
I loved Nora and Cormac; they were both wonderful characters. Nora was incredibly focused and strong; she would do anything to prevent her from losing the beloved brewery she built with her friend Jose, even faking a relationship with Cormac to pacify Jose's insecure girlfriend. The problem is that Cormac is her new stepbrother (nothing taboo here; they are adults, they haven't grown up as siblings, his father has recently married her mother).
Cormac has had a crush on Nora since school, but since then, they have done nothing but snipe at each other, masking deeper feelings on both sides. Cormac was freaking adorable. He is definitely a people pleaser, only for those he cares about, but he is such a good person. He humours the old ladies and their meddling in his love life to the point that he actually starts seeking their advice. He turns up to support his elderly neighbour when nobody else does. His dog is also the most adorable pup, even if she does have anxiety and attachment issues. He instantly trusts Nora to take care of her.
I loved watching them grow as a couple and overcome their difficulties and issues together. It was also nice to see characters from other Angela Casella's books appear, either as main supporting characters or brief cameos and setups for the next book.
I loved Nora and Cormac; they were both wonderful characters. Nora was incredibly focused and strong; she would do anything to prevent her from losing the beloved brewery she built with her friend Jose, even faking a relationship with Cormac to pacify Jose's insecure girlfriend. The problem is that Cormac is her new stepbrother (nothing taboo here; they are adults, they haven't grown up as siblings, his father has recently married her mother).
Cormac has had a crush on Nora since school, but since then, they have done nothing but snipe at each other, masking deeper feelings on both sides. Cormac was freaking adorable. He is definitely a people pleaser, only for those he cares about, but he is such a good person. He humours the old ladies and their meddling in his love life to the point that he actually starts seeking their advice. He turns up to support his elderly neighbour when nobody else does. His dog is also the most adorable pup, even if she does have anxiety and attachment issues. He instantly trusts Nora to take care of her.
I loved watching them grow as a couple and overcome their difficulties and issues together. It was also nice to see characters from other Angela Casella's books appear, either as main supporting characters or brief cameos and setups for the next book.
June 29, 2026
The Babes of Brewing is so entertaining, and the banter between Nora and Cormac was delightful. I truly adore this series and love the way the story line weaves through including the brewing process of both the beer and the relationships.
The banter, the secretiveness and the fake dating setup were all done so well. I will definitely be recommending this one to anyone for a different genre of romance.
Thank you to Angela Cassella and Hambright PR for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest opinion.
The banter, the secretiveness and the fake dating setup were all done so well. I will definitely be recommending this one to anyone for a different genre of romance.
Thank you to Angela Cassella and Hambright PR for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest opinion.
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