Fake It Till You Love Me

by Alexx Andria

A small-town romantic comedy featuring fake dating, forced proximity, sharp banter, and a slow-burn age-gap romance.

Willow Monroe knows exactly who she is—or at least who she isn’t.

She’s not a success story. She’s not the girl with a five-year plan. She’s a twenty-three-year-old coffee shop manager clinging to independence, pouring perfect lattes, and trying not to let everyone else’s expectations crush her.

Then her smug ex walks into her café with his perfect life and his perfect fiancée… And Willow panics.

Enter Callum Hayes—forty, divorced, devastatingly put-together, and the architect who’s been sparring with her over coffee foam for a year. When Willow blurts out that he’s her boyfriend, Callum does the unthinkable. He plays along.

Genres: Amazon

416 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 7, 2026

About the author

Alexx Andria is a USA TODAY bestselling author of spicy romance novels ranging from rom-coms to billionaire and everything in between.
Signed books available on her website!

Reviews

[Puna · Rating 4 out of 5]

It kind of felt like the H was originally written as older but then author changed her mind lowered his age but didn’t adjust all the ages and years that things happened in his life. He was 40 but had been an architect for 20 yrs and there was no mention of him graduating years early. He had been married for 15 yrs and divorced for 8 but it wasn’t mentioned that he had been 17 yr old groom. If you ignored all of that it was a decent book.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I should probably admit that I’m not a fan of the age gap trope. As a woman over 50, I would love to see men find love with mature women. After all, I think women my age are so much more interesting than inexperienced twenty-somethings. :) Having said that, I still decided to read Alexx Andria’s new release. I had read several of her previous books and liked her writing style, so I figured I’d give this one a try. And boy am I glad I did.

This book was incredible. I fell in love with both Willow and Callum. The author managed to write an age gap romance that actually honestly addressed the issue. And she did it from both perspectives. Willow and Callum each struggled with the age gap, and they both gave it serious consideration. Of course, I’m not giving anything away when I say they gave in to their mutual attraction, but it was only after they genuinely dealt with the possibilities their differing ages offered.

And that kind of genuineness flowed through the whole story. You really could feel the attraction between them, the push and pull, the concerns and the cautions, the surprise, the excitement, the whole riot of emotions they went through. Willow and Callum, and their relationship, felt real, and I was cheering them on every step of the way.

This is an absolutely wonderful story of two people who truly see each other and love one another for all they are. It was beautiful. I highly, highly recommend it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much more than I was expecting!

This book is so much more than it's blurb.
I went and expecting some sort of fluffy little small town barista rich guy romance where their jobs were just decoration. I got so much more.
Callum is an architect. I love how that infused his Outlook on life and the language throughout the book in terms of everything from relationships to day-to-day life to work. Some books a person is just their job and it's a footnote but in this it was part of who he was and how he sees the world. The writing was beautiful and the use of words create images and metaphors was excellent.
I like willow. She wasn't some fluffy little barista. As someone who was a barista for 20 years I appreciate the reality of coffee shop life portrayed, and the way others view your profession.. And the struggles her life had taken in terms of the expectations of people around her.
This book had all the feels, and it had a little bit of o w drama but in a way where no one was necessarily the bad guy.
This book highlighted what I love and hate about this sort of situation in real life.
I feel for his ex-wife and daughter because he was so distant and focused on work at the beginning. But then of course I also love him and we will together.
Highly recommend and I will definitely look into other books by this author.

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderfully well written age-gap romance read. I typically don't LOVE age gap as they tend to either ignore the gap or make it the sole focus, but Andria does a wonderful job of captivating you with these characters who come thru as opposites but are completely drawn to each other. Main characters are Willow and Callum. Callum is a closed off architect, while Willow is resourceful barista. These two were delightful and the storyline flowed beautifully. I can't wait to see what Andria will write next!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe more like 2.5 stars.

Their banter was the best part, sadly we didn’t get a lot of it.

The third act breakup was forced. It was shitty for Willow to believe what Jessica was saying. Jessica and Callum divorced 8 years ago. People change. Willow knew what current Callum was like. She also knew the ‘arrangement’ they had barely lasted a day. It was very clear they were dating. And that was all Callum needed to say during that driveway argument.

But if you love age gap stories, you’ll probably enjoy this. It’s mentioned in almost every chapter how much of an age gap there is.

[Mary Mac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Callum an annoyingly beautiful closed off architect.

Willow a determined spirited resourceful barista

Opposites yet drawn, circling around each other till Callum made a move and Willow blinked.

I loved the flow, the ebb, the journey.

Loved the mood, the laughter and most of all loved Willow and Callum.


I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sissy Satterfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Willow & Callum
This story and the way that it was written, is so well done. It has the MCs really communicating about their future and that is what really sets this one apart for me. Willow is young, but smart, she shines in this story! Callum is a good man and they make a great couple. I Loved them and this Story!!! I Recommend. No Spoilers!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Willow is a barista/manager at a coffee shop, and Callum is an architect who gets his coffee there. I love how the author brought the characters together in this fun, age gap, opposites attract romance. What starts as a fake romance turns into real love and had me cheering for Willow and Callum to get their happily ever after. Fake It Till You Love Me is a sweet love story, and I loved it. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.

[Tami Schafer · Rating 4 out of 5]

very enjoyable story

I enjoyed the story and the dynamics and all the thought they put into their age gap sometimes Love is a tricky thing and you take it as it is
And hold on with both hands

[Michael Mcfarren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warm and inviting

This was a predictable story that warmed the heart and kept inviting you to stay and see how it really ended. I’m becoming a fan of Ms Andria and her ability to tell a story that last beyond the last page.

[Krisztina B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woooooow😍😍😍😍😍😍what a book. Absolutely loved it 🥰 I hate third act break up but it was very short here and I could get over it😅😂beautiful story 🥰

[Mindy M]

Soft DNF at 37%