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Fakecation
After her last relationship ended terribly, Amelia Rogers has managed to avoid dating for five years. And while she’s fine with it, her mother isn’t.
When Amelia finds out she's is trying to set her up on their family vacation, she knows her mother won't take no for an answer. After all, it's been far too long since Amelia went on a date.
So, she lies to get out of it. Amelia may not have a real boyfriend, but she does know one single guy in her life that might be willing to play the part, even if he is her quiet, private coworker.
Daniel Anderson is in trouble. His wife left him for a member of his own family, and they want to tell people about their relationship. What he needs is to look like he's over his ex-wife, and is isn't sure about how to do it.
Both Daniel and Amelia need each other to play the part of a significant other. Going on a free vacation shouldn't be too hard for Daniel, and Amelia thinks she can easily be Daniel's new girlfriend to offset whatever news is going to drop about Daniel.
Neither of them want a relationship, so it should be easy to pretend to be in one without actually falling in love.
Right?
A steamy, heartwarming story about finding love after you've been hurt, and the power of being patient with someone.
When Amelia finds out she's is trying to set her up on their family vacation, she knows her mother won't take no for an answer. After all, it's been far too long since Amelia went on a date.
So, she lies to get out of it. Amelia may not have a real boyfriend, but she does know one single guy in her life that might be willing to play the part, even if he is her quiet, private coworker.
Daniel Anderson is in trouble. His wife left him for a member of his own family, and they want to tell people about their relationship. What he needs is to look like he's over his ex-wife, and is isn't sure about how to do it.
Both Daniel and Amelia need each other to play the part of a significant other. Going on a free vacation shouldn't be too hard for Daniel, and Amelia thinks she can easily be Daniel's new girlfriend to offset whatever news is going to drop about Daniel.
Neither of them want a relationship, so it should be easy to pretend to be in one without actually falling in love.
Right?
A steamy, heartwarming story about finding love after you've been hurt, and the power of being patient with someone.
266 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 14, 2022
88 people are currently reading
1392 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
May 19, 2022
Eğer bir kitabın içine gitme imkanım olsaydı, bu kitap ilk beşte yer alırdı. Zira parça-pinçik etmek istediğim, rezalet ötesi pislikler vardı 🤦🏻♀️ Allah'ım nasıl delirttiler insanı. 🤬 Lucinda ve Michael ikilisini kaynar kazanlara atasım var. Öyle sinir, öyle nefretlikler 🙄
Hikaye hakkında ne söylesem bilemedim. Sahte Sevgili vb. temalı kitapları severim. Hem iş arkadaşı, hem de sahte sevgili teması olunca bir bakmak istedim. Sanırım sevdim. 😅Amelia ve Daniel aynı firma da, farklı alanlarda yöneticiler. Kimseye anlatmasada da Amelia, Dikkat Eksikliği Hiperaktivite Bozukluğu (DEHB) muzdariptir. Bu ve geçmişinde ki acı deneyim yüzünden kolay arkadaş edinemez, kolay güvenmez. Daniel ise, sesiz, içe kapanık ve ateşli biridir. Özellikle dışarıdan mükemmel görünen evliliği, iş arkadaşlarının gözü önünde bitince iyice kendi kabuğuna çekilir.
İlerleyen kurgu da çiftin sevgili rolü yapması ve bir haftalık tatil süreci konu ediliyor. Hikaye de yazarın bize sunduğu unsurlar var. Normal şartlarda hadi canım, bunun bu rahatsızlığı mı var? Bunun şu özelliği-derdi mi var? derdim. Yazar bize her şeyi anlatmak, üstümüze bir dünya konu atmak istemiş. Bu işlerken olumsuz hissedebileceğiniz çok şey var ama nedense beni rahatsız etmedi. Hatta çiftin hikayesine kendimi kaptırdım. Sanki dert ortağı olup onları dinledim. Bilmiyorum ama bana iyi gelen bir kitaptı.🌟
Amelia ve Daniel'in ilişkisinin gelişmesini, en çok da Daniel'in nezaketini sevdim ❤️
Hikaye hakkında ne söylesem bilemedim. Sahte Sevgili vb. temalı kitapları severim. Hem iş arkadaşı, hem de sahte sevgili teması olunca bir bakmak istedim. Sanırım sevdim. 😅Amelia ve Daniel aynı firma da, farklı alanlarda yöneticiler. Kimseye anlatmasada da Amelia, Dikkat Eksikliği Hiperaktivite Bozukluğu (DEHB) muzdariptir. Bu ve geçmişinde ki acı deneyim yüzünden kolay arkadaş edinemez, kolay güvenmez. Daniel ise, sesiz, içe kapanık ve ateşli biridir. Özellikle dışarıdan mükemmel görünen evliliği, iş arkadaşlarının gözü önünde bitince iyice kendi kabuğuna çekilir.
İlerleyen kurgu da çiftin sevgili rolü yapması ve bir haftalık tatil süreci konu ediliyor. Hikaye de yazarın bize sunduğu unsurlar var. Normal şartlarda hadi canım, bunun bu rahatsızlığı mı var? Bunun şu özelliği-derdi mi var? derdim. Yazar bize her şeyi anlatmak, üstümüze bir dünya konu atmak istemiş. Bu işlerken olumsuz hissedebileceğiniz çok şey var ama nedense beni rahatsız etmedi. Hatta çiftin hikayesine kendimi kaptırdım. Sanki dert ortağı olup onları dinledim. Bilmiyorum ama bana iyi gelen bir kitaptı.🌟
Amelia ve Daniel'in ilişkisinin gelişmesini, en çok da Daniel'in nezaketini sevdim ❤️
October 30, 2024
2 stars ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧˚.🎀༘⋆Fakeaction˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧˚.🎀༘⋆
⁺₊★·.´🎧✩°｡ 0:56 ──♡───── 3:32 ⁺₊🎧★·.·´
🎶
Amelia (h) has spent the last five years avoiding relationships after a disastrous breakup, and she’s determined not to let her meddling mom set her up again. But when her mother ups the ante, Amelia accidentally claims she’s dating her coworker, Daniel (H)—a man she’s always found attractive but who’s strictly professional. She’s not dating him at all, and now her mom has sent him a friend request, planning to invite him on their annual family vacation.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: THOUGHTS*.☽ .*:☆ﾟ. ───
Okay, so the dialogue in this book felt super monotone and forced. I mean, really? They fall in love in such a short amount of time? I get that there can be attraction, but she was totally pining for him even when he was still married! And then, out of nowhere, he notices her after his divorce? Honestly, they didn’t act like they were in their mid-thirties at all—it just felt off. The story could have been way more interesting if it focused on a platonic friendship, with her hating her ex and him dealing with his wife’s trauma. But instead, they jump straight to love in a week.
Honestly, if she really wanted to talk about her ADHD and anxiety, she could have just told Daniel. Like, come on, she’s a grown woman. It’s frustrating to see her act like she can’t have a mature conversation about her mental health. I totally get that there’s still a lot of stigma around mental health issues, but they’re both in their thirties. At that age, you’d think they’d be comfortable enough to have those kinds of discussions. I mean, how can you expect your family or friends to believe you’re in love when you can’t even share such an important part of who you are? It just doesn’t add up. You’re not even being honest with each other. It’s hard to buy into their relationship when they seem so far removed from real life.
They’ve been together for just a week, right? Daniel is busy talking about how his wife left him for his father, THE ENTIRE TIME. He comes off as super reserved, and honestly, it feels so unrealistic that they’d even make plans as a couple to just wake up and break up. I mean, first of all, why are they even pretending to date in the first place? It feels so forced. And then there’s her job in HR—come on! It’s not like that’s some field where you can just throw caution to the wind and break all the rules. You’d think they’d have more sense than to get involved like this. Honestly, it’s confusing why they’re even dating at all. There’s no chemistry between them. She was already interested in him when he was married, but he never paid her any attention back then. Plus, he jumps into this situation that’s so unlike him, just to escape from his father for a week? It’s all a bit too convenient, especially with the news coming out that he’s engaged to his ex-wife. All of this makes it hard to invest in their story. There’s no depth to their connection, and it feels like they’re skipping all the important parts of building a real relationship. If they can’t even have an honest conversation about their pasts and feelings, then how can we believe they’re really into each other?
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: OVERALL*.☽ .*:☆ﾟ. ───
Honestly, the writing style in this book really threw me off. Nothing about it pulled me in; it felt super choppy and kind of immature. The dialogue was so monotone that I didn’t feel any emotion from the characters. It was like they were just speaking without any real connection, and everything felt really calculated. I found it all pretty boring and dull, to be honest.
˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧˚.🎀༘⋆Fakeaction˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧˚.🎀༘⋆
⁺₊★·.´🎧✩°｡ 0:56 ──♡───── 3:32 ⁺₊🎧★·.·´
🎶
Will we ever have a happy ending? Or will we forever only be pretending?🎶
Amelia (h) has spent the last five years avoiding relationships after a disastrous breakup, and she’s determined not to let her meddling mom set her up again. But when her mother ups the ante, Amelia accidentally claims she’s dating her coworker, Daniel (H)—a man she’s always found attractive but who’s strictly professional. She’s not dating him at all, and now her mom has sent him a friend request, planning to invite him on their annual family vacation.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: THOUGHTS*.☽ .*:☆ﾟ. ───
“I need people here to think I’ve moved on from my ex-wife.”
“She’s with someone else. Someone . . . well-known.”
“Is this the news that drops in a week?”
“And you want to look like you’ve moved on.”
Okay, so the dialogue in this book felt super monotone and forced. I mean, really? They fall in love in such a short amount of time? I get that there can be attraction, but she was totally pining for him even when he was still married! And then, out of nowhere, he notices her after his divorce? Honestly, they didn’t act like they were in their mid-thirties at all—it just felt off. The story could have been way more interesting if it focused on a platonic friendship, with her hating her ex and him dealing with his wife’s trauma. But instead, they jump straight to love in a week.
“Amelia,” Daniel started. “Do you want me near you?”
“J-just go,” she managed to choke out. “You don’t have to stay for this.”
“No,” he said, which surprised her. She looked at him, and he was kneeling in front of her. “I’m not leaving you.”
Honestly, if she really wanted to talk about her ADHD and anxiety, she could have just told Daniel. Like, come on, she’s a grown woman. It’s frustrating to see her act like she can’t have a mature conversation about her mental health. I totally get that there’s still a lot of stigma around mental health issues, but they’re both in their thirties. At that age, you’d think they’d be comfortable enough to have those kinds of discussions. I mean, how can you expect your family or friends to believe you’re in love when you can’t even share such an important part of who you are? It just doesn’t add up. You’re not even being honest with each other. It’s hard to buy into their relationship when they seem so far removed from real life.
“Amelia, you are my best friend and the greatest person I could ask to share my life with. I never thought I would get married again, but you changed everything for me, and I want to ask if you would . . . if you would marry me.”
“You stole my idea.”
They’ve been together for just a week, right? Daniel is busy talking about how his wife left him for his father, THE ENTIRE TIME. He comes off as super reserved, and honestly, it feels so unrealistic that they’d even make plans as a couple to just wake up and break up. I mean, first of all, why are they even pretending to date in the first place? It feels so forced. And then there’s her job in HR—come on! It’s not like that’s some field where you can just throw caution to the wind and break all the rules. You’d think they’d have more sense than to get involved like this. Honestly, it’s confusing why they’re even dating at all. There’s no chemistry between them. She was already interested in him when he was married, but he never paid her any attention back then. Plus, he jumps into this situation that’s so unlike him, just to escape from his father for a week? It’s all a bit too convenient, especially with the news coming out that he’s engaged to his ex-wife. All of this makes it hard to invest in their story. There’s no depth to their connection, and it feels like they’re skipping all the important parts of building a real relationship. If they can’t even have an honest conversation about their pasts and feelings, then how can we believe they’re really into each other?
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: OVERALL*.☽ .*:☆ﾟ. ───
Honestly, the writing style in this book really threw me off. Nothing about it pulled me in; it felt super choppy and kind of immature. The dialogue was so monotone that I didn’t feel any emotion from the characters. It was like they were just speaking without any real connection, and everything felt really calculated. I found it all pretty boring and dull, to be honest.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2022
This one sizzles 🔥🔥🔥
The vacation may be fake but the vibes are real 🙌🏼
It was hard for me to stop smiling at several points during this novel - Fakecation is an undeniably good time. The setup is catchy and the main couple has major chemistry 💚 The setting is dreamy and lends itself effortlessly to cute moments between the pair that had my heart fluttering 80 miles per hour
Our heroine Amelia carries one of the dual POVs and the story follows her unlikely romance with coworker Daniel (second POV) when they are both thrust into a romantic beach getaway. The narrative flows easily between the two of them, and both POVs are enjoyable to read. I had some initial issues with the setup since I could've thought of a few ways to get out of it which would have negated the story premise, especially when the character is so intelligent otherwise. I also felt that the dialogue could be tightened up in places. Neither of these detract significantly from a good read.
Now let me pause for a second and gush about how much I like Amelia - she's a young, but high powered executive who takes absolutely no shit and I love her for it. This does not prevent her from being a warm and relatable character as author Elle strikes a great balance between her ambition and a genuinely kind personality. You'll definitely feel for Amelia and fret along with her as her professional and personal lives collide in the steamiest of ways.
And Daniel? Oh Daniel. He starts off hewing to that cold and aloof love interest trope, but quickly develops complexity. I won't spoil one of the early twists in his torturous love life, but it had me gasping and giggling helplessly. What can I say? Daniel's a dreamboat, but also a genuinely exciting character. I kind of wanted to wrap him up in a weighted blanket and tell him everything would be alright.
The novel also explores mental illness, and the character's experiences with managing her illness are raw and honest, without being patronizing.
One of my favorite things about this novel is the fact that both characters are introverts, firmly proving the case that introvert romance can be spicy too ❤️🔥
Keep an eye out for John, Amelia's younger brother who steals the show in every scene he's in, and prepare to groan and roll your eyes at certain bad-ex behavior that keeps the stakes high 💀
My recommendation? Grab this comfortably sized romance and devour in a single sitting on a lazy Sunday or long flight. Enjoy!
The vacation may be fake but the vibes are real 🙌🏼
It was hard for me to stop smiling at several points during this novel - Fakecation is an undeniably good time. The setup is catchy and the main couple has major chemistry 💚 The setting is dreamy and lends itself effortlessly to cute moments between the pair that had my heart fluttering 80 miles per hour
Our heroine Amelia carries one of the dual POVs and the story follows her unlikely romance with coworker Daniel (second POV) when they are both thrust into a romantic beach getaway. The narrative flows easily between the two of them, and both POVs are enjoyable to read. I had some initial issues with the setup since I could've thought of a few ways to get out of it which would have negated the story premise, especially when the character is so intelligent otherwise. I also felt that the dialogue could be tightened up in places. Neither of these detract significantly from a good read.
Now let me pause for a second and gush about how much I like Amelia - she's a young, but high powered executive who takes absolutely no shit and I love her for it. This does not prevent her from being a warm and relatable character as author Elle strikes a great balance between her ambition and a genuinely kind personality. You'll definitely feel for Amelia and fret along with her as her professional and personal lives collide in the steamiest of ways.
And Daniel? Oh Daniel. He starts off hewing to that cold and aloof love interest trope, but quickly develops complexity. I won't spoil one of the early twists in his torturous love life, but it had me gasping and giggling helplessly. What can I say? Daniel's a dreamboat, but also a genuinely exciting character. I kind of wanted to wrap him up in a weighted blanket and tell him everything would be alright.
The novel also explores mental illness, and the character's experiences with managing her illness are raw and honest, without being patronizing.
One of my favorite things about this novel is the fact that both characters are introverts, firmly proving the case that introvert romance can be spicy too ❤️🔥
Keep an eye out for John, Amelia's younger brother who steals the show in every scene he's in, and prepare to groan and roll your eyes at certain bad-ex behavior that keeps the stakes high 💀
My recommendation? Grab this comfortably sized romance and devour in a single sitting on a lazy Sunday or long flight. Enjoy!
January 19, 2023
This book is so amazing. Honestly, it's a little scary how much it fit my life. This book wasn't written perfectly, and I got hung up at times, but the story was so worth it and then some. It really helped me realize that I'm not the only one going through what I'm experiencing. You can definitely tell that Elle writes from the heart and her own experiences with ADHD. Even Daniel’s relationship with his dad felt familiar at times, especially when Randy was giving him advice. I really appreciated Amelia’s inner thoughts, even if they were a little too real and on the dot for me. I feel like this book was made for me and I would love for more people to discover it. Such important topics covered with delicacy, but also truth.
May 29, 2022
I loved this book! It made me smile, it made me laugh and I loved the representation and authenticity within its pages. The main characters were interesting and good people who have gone through a lot. We see their relationship develop from barely knowing each other, to admiring each other and eventually more. There are sweet moments and steamy ones too. Tropes included fake dating and one bed.
Amelia has ADHD and her mum has Bipolar Disorder. There is also a gay side character character and a lesbian side character.
There were talks about mental health and abusive relationships (mental, emotional and physical). We saw the characters trying to support each other in dealing with what has happened to them and the advocacy of therapy and medication.
This is a lovely romance book and I highly recommend it!
Amelia has ADHD and her mum has Bipolar Disorder. There is also a gay side character character and a lesbian side character.
There were talks about mental health and abusive relationships (mental, emotional and physical). We saw the characters trying to support each other in dealing with what has happened to them and the advocacy of therapy and medication.
This is a lovely romance book and I highly recommend it!
January 22, 2023
Another cute one from Elle Rivers - Amelia and Daniel were both solid likeable main characters, the inclusion of mental health issues was well handled and I particularly liked the discussions of ADHD in adult women. The plot with Lucinda and Daniel's father was wild but also it worked well and at least it was something interesting rather than just standard cheating.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2024
LOVE it! I read it before and got to ARC read the new version. I love how Elle depicted the challenges of ADHD and the internal struggles that come along with it. The fake dating was definitely cute and thankfully missing the cringe that normally happens in these stories. The progression of their relationship felt truly natural and how they help and support each other is top tier. Amelia and Daniel are couple goals. Realistic and honest but caring. I’d love to see more from them and their families. John and Terri as comic relief was an added bonus.
August 5, 2022
This was a new to me author and I have to say, there are so many things about this book that I loved. For one, everyone needs a Daniel. Secondly? The mental health representation was so refreshing. You don’t see that often when it comes to less “sexy” disorders, like ADHD and bipolar. Especially in the scenes where you get a raw look at what it’s like living with a disorder that affects how you function with even the most basic of tasks. The banter was great, and I found myself rooting for the characters. (Except Lucinda, she can kick rocks) Overall really enjoyed this read, and look forward to reading more from Elle in the future!
June 28, 2024
Arc Review:
Overall Rating: 4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating: 3 🔥🔥🔥
Tropes:
- Fake Dating
- Forced Proximity (One Bed)
- Workplace Romance
- ADHD Rep
- Slow Burn
- No Third Act Break Up
I enjoyed reading this book, I love a fake dating relationship so you already had me there but I also loved the representation within this book not a lot of people write about ADHD in women and I would love to see it more so this book just had something special that I could some what relate to. This book also had great characters and and a good story line.
Overall Rating: 4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating: 3 🔥🔥🔥
Tropes:
- Fake Dating
- Forced Proximity (One Bed)
- Workplace Romance
- ADHD Rep
- Slow Burn
- No Third Act Break Up
I enjoyed reading this book, I love a fake dating relationship so you already had me there but I also loved the representation within this book not a lot of people write about ADHD in women and I would love to see it more so this book just had something special that I could some what relate to. This book also had great characters and and a good story line.
June 24, 2024
🌊☀️ARC REVIEW☀️🌊
AHHHH THIS BOOK!! 😍😍 all the feels man! ugh “he’s a good man savannah” 🥹😂 but seriously this book scratched all my itches! It was so sweet and such a great read. I read it in one sitting yall! Our story follows Amelia and Daniel who agree to fake date to solve their own problems that come with the troubles of their past relationships. We start off with Amelia, who is a headstrong woman with a heart of gold! Upon having lunch with her mom Amelia spots Daniel, a coworker who she of course finds extremely attractive and her mom,as any nosy mom would, just runs with it when she sees her staring. She assumes that her daughter must be dating him and decides to send him a friend request to invite him on their upcoming family vacation. Mortified Amelia knows she needs to tell Daniel what happened and explain why on earth her mom is sending him a friend request. Daniel, having just gone through a rough divorce when he found out his wife was having an affair with none other than his own father, 😵💫 is just tired of the pity talk and glances he gets at work and wants nothing more than to move on, focus on work and keep his personal life private. However that’s all ruined when his father and ex wife announce that they are going to go public with their new incredibly inappropriate relationship. Realizing that his dirty laundry is about to be aired Daniel decides that he will take Amelia up on her fake dating offer and go on vacation with her family. The two hit a few snags as they embark as “new lovers” on a vacation with her family to a small beach town in South Carolina. But spending time with each other outside of work the two realized they are not as put together as the other perceives. Immediately being welcomed by Amelia’s warm and loving family Daniel is astonished to find out that not everyone is as bad as his ex and his father and he’s not expected to be “perfect”. Meanwhile Amelia realizes that Daniel is and can be there for her time and time again, which constantly surprises her and makes her rethink her 5 year decision to stay single after the trauma her ex gave her. Little by little the two learn to trust each other, communicate what they are feeling and open up with their past traumas.
i seriously loved both Amelia and Daniel! Ugh they really deserved each other. Nobody deserves what they went through and i found myself constantly rooting for them the whole time and to confess that their “fake” relationship wasn’t fake lol Daniel gave me green flags all the wayyyy! with how much he’s had to deal with he was such a sweet guy and never took it out on anyone. The same with Amelia, she was constantly dealing with so much but never took her anger out on anyone. This books gets some extra brownie points for me for 1) being dual POV! and 2) Bringing awareness to mental health issues!
a big thank you to Elle Rivers for providing this e-ARC to me!! You once again had me ROPED in 😍 sorry it’s a bit late 😭
Fakecation is out and can be bought on Amazon!! It’s also on KU! please make sure to read the trigger warning in her authors note in the beginning 🫶🏼
AHHHH THIS BOOK!! 😍😍 all the feels man! ugh “he’s a good man savannah” 🥹😂 but seriously this book scratched all my itches! It was so sweet and such a great read. I read it in one sitting yall! Our story follows Amelia and Daniel who agree to fake date to solve their own problems that come with the troubles of their past relationships. We start off with Amelia, who is a headstrong woman with a heart of gold! Upon having lunch with her mom Amelia spots Daniel, a coworker who she of course finds extremely attractive and her mom,as any nosy mom would, just runs with it when she sees her staring. She assumes that her daughter must be dating him and decides to send him a friend request to invite him on their upcoming family vacation. Mortified Amelia knows she needs to tell Daniel what happened and explain why on earth her mom is sending him a friend request. Daniel, having just gone through a rough divorce when he found out his wife was having an affair with none other than his own father, 😵💫 is just tired of the pity talk and glances he gets at work and wants nothing more than to move on, focus on work and keep his personal life private. However that’s all ruined when his father and ex wife announce that they are going to go public with their new incredibly inappropriate relationship. Realizing that his dirty laundry is about to be aired Daniel decides that he will take Amelia up on her fake dating offer and go on vacation with her family. The two hit a few snags as they embark as “new lovers” on a vacation with her family to a small beach town in South Carolina. But spending time with each other outside of work the two realized they are not as put together as the other perceives. Immediately being welcomed by Amelia’s warm and loving family Daniel is astonished to find out that not everyone is as bad as his ex and his father and he’s not expected to be “perfect”. Meanwhile Amelia realizes that Daniel is and can be there for her time and time again, which constantly surprises her and makes her rethink her 5 year decision to stay single after the trauma her ex gave her. Little by little the two learn to trust each other, communicate what they are feeling and open up with their past traumas.
i seriously loved both Amelia and Daniel! Ugh they really deserved each other. Nobody deserves what they went through and i found myself constantly rooting for them the whole time and to confess that their “fake” relationship wasn’t fake lol Daniel gave me green flags all the wayyyy! with how much he’s had to deal with he was such a sweet guy and never took it out on anyone. The same with Amelia, she was constantly dealing with so much but never took her anger out on anyone. This books gets some extra brownie points for me for 1) being dual POV! and 2) Bringing awareness to mental health issues!
a big thank you to Elle Rivers for providing this e-ARC to me!! You once again had me ROPED in 😍 sorry it’s a bit late 😭
Fakecation is out and can be bought on Amazon!! It’s also on KU! please make sure to read the trigger warning in her authors note in the beginning 🫶🏼
April 3, 2023
This novel started off cute with the fake dating setup and I was enjoying it. Then it had a strong mental health rep and LGBT side characters and I was excited because these things are often overlooked.
What happened? No, seriously. Cause I don't know the exact moment it went off the rails for me but I can say this: The mental illness rep was shoved down your throat time and time again without giving you time to chew. FMC family seems to be very open and honest about their issues to the point of WTAF?? Her mom has no boundaries and it really made me uncomfortable by proxy. We're supposed to think the FMCs family is really open and supportive (No, really we are told multiple times they are so I guess it's true) but her mom is that icky type of invasive and nobody can make her stop cause she's bipolar therefore she can't help herself. She also had strong feelings that her daughter should be as open as she is about her mental health struggles and it was really preachy. Telling your boyfriend about your mental health struggles is a private decision and her family constantly blabbed things to him that were none of their business. Let HER decide what to tell him and when. But she also knows her family is like this so there was so much added angst anytime her family talked with him privately so if you know your family has no boundaries then either 1) don't bring him or 2) tell him yourself before it slips.
Miscommunication trope really ruins a good book and this is no different. More importantly, it was the only plot. All the side stories were all leading to this: Miscommunication and Mental Illness rep. That's it. And the book quickly got boring and repetitive AF.
Also, red flag on the gay sibling storyline. I don't know what point in a relationship you tell your close friends that your sibling is gay but I HATED the way the FMC kept it a secret. Her brother is very open about it but then she warns him that her bf doesn't know so he tries to butch himself up (?) to keep the secret. Why????? She is worried about MMC reaction but that little bit right there is telling. She's the homophobic one, not the MMC.
What happened? No, seriously. Cause I don't know the exact moment it went off the rails for me but I can say this: The mental illness rep was shoved down your throat time and time again without giving you time to chew. FMC family seems to be very open and honest about their issues to the point of WTAF?? Her mom has no boundaries and it really made me uncomfortable by proxy. We're supposed to think the FMCs family is really open and supportive (No, really we are told multiple times they are so I guess it's true) but her mom is that icky type of invasive and nobody can make her stop cause she's bipolar therefore she can't help herself. She also had strong feelings that her daughter should be as open as she is about her mental health struggles and it was really preachy. Telling your boyfriend about your mental health struggles is a private decision and her family constantly blabbed things to him that were none of their business. Let HER decide what to tell him and when. But she also knows her family is like this so there was so much added angst anytime her family talked with him privately so if you know your family has no boundaries then either 1) don't bring him or 2) tell him yourself before it slips.
Miscommunication trope really ruins a good book and this is no different. More importantly, it was the only plot. All the side stories were all leading to this: Miscommunication and Mental Illness rep. That's it. And the book quickly got boring and repetitive AF.
Also, red flag on the gay sibling storyline. I don't know what point in a relationship you tell your close friends that your sibling is gay but I HATED the way the FMC kept it a secret. Her brother is very open about it but then she warns him that her bf doesn't know so he tries to butch himself up (?) to keep the secret. Why????? She is worried about MMC reaction but that little bit right there is telling. She's the homophobic one, not the MMC.
March 22, 2023
3.5 Stars -
I’m a sucker for the fake relationship trope. In fact, I’ve read 3 just this week. I would say it’s one of my top favorite tropes.
I loved the inclusion of ADHD in a female lead character. As an adult woman in my 30’s this hits so close to my experiences as well. I wasn’t even diagnosed until I was in my early 20’s and have chosen to stay unmedicated but have children who are both medicated and I was able to see the struggle in them after knowing what to look for. I also loved that Amelia had a supportive family who not only did their best to understand her, they tried to make things better when they could and gave her space when they couldn’t.
I really don’t like reading third person POV and sometimes if I start a story in that POV I won’t even continue reading it but since this was one of my favorite tropes I decided to give it a chance. I do have to say that this one was difficult to read even more because of the use of the characters names so much. It’s like when you say a word so many times over and over it loses it’s meaning for a bit. Had it been in first person POV I would have enjoyed it a little more. At times the third person POV made me feel like I was reading a children’s book explaining every single thing a character did. There was also a chapter that started with Amelia’s name but it was actually in Daniel’s POV. It was confusing for a moment but then I laughed it off. There were a few typos throughout but nothing major that drew too much attention away from the storyline.
The things that I wasn’t a huge fan of was the way Daniel let Lucinda and his father continue to have so much control over his life. Why did Lucinda even still have access to his apartment? Why not change the locks? I’m glad that Amelia stood up for him and he finally did what he should have done long ago but that was so frustrating.
Overall I enjoyed the story and if none of those writing style issues bother you then it’s a good read. I probably won’t read anything else from the author just because of that reason only.
I’m a sucker for the fake relationship trope. In fact, I’ve read 3 just this week. I would say it’s one of my top favorite tropes.
I loved the inclusion of ADHD in a female lead character. As an adult woman in my 30’s this hits so close to my experiences as well. I wasn’t even diagnosed until I was in my early 20’s and have chosen to stay unmedicated but have children who are both medicated and I was able to see the struggle in them after knowing what to look for. I also loved that Amelia had a supportive family who not only did their best to understand her, they tried to make things better when they could and gave her space when they couldn’t.
I really don’t like reading third person POV and sometimes if I start a story in that POV I won’t even continue reading it but since this was one of my favorite tropes I decided to give it a chance. I do have to say that this one was difficult to read even more because of the use of the characters names so much. It’s like when you say a word so many times over and over it loses it’s meaning for a bit. Had it been in first person POV I would have enjoyed it a little more. At times the third person POV made me feel like I was reading a children’s book explaining every single thing a character did. There was also a chapter that started with Amelia’s name but it was actually in Daniel’s POV. It was confusing for a moment but then I laughed it off. There were a few typos throughout but nothing major that drew too much attention away from the storyline.
The things that I wasn’t a huge fan of was the way Daniel let Lucinda and his father continue to have so much control over his life. Why did Lucinda even still have access to his apartment? Why not change the locks? I’m glad that Amelia stood up for him and he finally did what he should have done long ago but that was so frustrating.
Overall I enjoyed the story and if none of those writing style issues bother you then it’s a good read. I probably won’t read anything else from the author just because of that reason only.
June 20, 2024
I loved this book! It made me smile, it made me laugh and I loved the representation and authenticity within its pages. The main characters were interesting and good people who have gone through a lot. We see their relationship develop from barely knowing each other, to admiring each other and eventually more. There are sweet moments and steamy ones too. Tropes included fake dating and one bed.
Amelia has ADHD and her mum has Bipolar Disorder. There is also a gay side character character and a lesbian side character.
There were talks about mental health and abusive relationships (mental, emotional and physical). We saw the characters trying to support each other in dealing with what has happened to them and the advocacy of therapy and medication.
This is a lovely romance book and I highly recommend it!
I like this book! I loved how this book representation and authenticity of ADHD and mental health. It is nice to see inclusive and able to make people feel relate to. Main character is very interesting and have been through lot in their life. They have build their relationship to get know each other and grew their sparks. girls there is steamy spice scene!
(FMC) Amelia has ADHD and her mom has illness is Bipolar Disorder. There is lot mention regard to mental health which mean is you will see involves about mental health and abusive relationship regard to mental, emotional, and phsyically. Keep that mind, she is not taking any shit from nobody and very strong woman.
(MMC) Daniel... ohhh Daniel.. he is very interesting guy. we need Daniel for sure but he is caring and supportive.
it is really good romance book and highly recommend you to read the book!
Amelia has ADHD and her mum has Bipolar Disorder. There is also a gay side character character and a lesbian side character.
There were talks about mental health and abusive relationships (mental, emotional and physical). We saw the characters trying to support each other in dealing with what has happened to them and the advocacy of therapy and medication.
This is a lovely romance book and I highly recommend it!
I like this book! I loved how this book representation and authenticity of ADHD and mental health. It is nice to see inclusive and able to make people feel relate to. Main character is very interesting and have been through lot in their life. They have build their relationship to get know each other and grew their sparks. girls there is steamy spice scene!
(FMC) Amelia has ADHD and her mom has illness is Bipolar Disorder. There is lot mention regard to mental health which mean is you will see involves about mental health and abusive relationship regard to mental, emotional, and phsyically. Keep that mind, she is not taking any shit from nobody and very strong woman.
(MMC) Daniel... ohhh Daniel.. he is very interesting guy. we need Daniel for sure but he is caring and supportive.
it is really good romance book and highly recommend you to read the book!
July 14, 2024
“I love you for everything you are, ADHD and all, because you’re still you. Even when you’re struggling. You’re always Amelia, and that’s who I love. I would do it all for you if you would let me.”
This book was everything I wanted and more. There's something that's just so beautiful about two broken people finding and healing each other. The abuse and neglect that both Amelia and Daniel had faced from their previous partners was terrible and seeing them realize through each other that there's someone who can love you right and accept you just the way you are made me so emotional.
I also loved how well the topic of mental health was handled in this book. Both Amelia and Daniel's struggles were shown to us in such a way that you can't help but connect with them. I also loved Amelia's family with all my heart. They're so open and loving and welcoming. Even Daniel's mom and sister's relationship with him was so heartwarming to see.
Another thing I really loved was how the fake dating aspect was handled. Usually, in books, when the emotions start getting real, there's miscommunication and angst, and this book had none of it. When Amelia and Daniel realized they were serious about each other, there wasn't any drama or unnecessary breakup. They were simply honest with each other and accepted that they were a lot more than faking it.
We all deserve an Amelia and a Daniel in our lives to love us.
This book was everything I wanted and more. There's something that's just so beautiful about two broken people finding and healing each other. The abuse and neglect that both Amelia and Daniel had faced from their previous partners was terrible and seeing them realize through each other that there's someone who can love you right and accept you just the way you are made me so emotional.
I also loved how well the topic of mental health was handled in this book. Both Amelia and Daniel's struggles were shown to us in such a way that you can't help but connect with them. I also loved Amelia's family with all my heart. They're so open and loving and welcoming. Even Daniel's mom and sister's relationship with him was so heartwarming to see.
Another thing I really loved was how the fake dating aspect was handled. Usually, in books, when the emotions start getting real, there's miscommunication and angst, and this book had none of it. When Amelia and Daniel realized they were serious about each other, there wasn't any drama or unnecessary breakup. They were simply honest with each other and accepted that they were a lot more than faking it.
We all deserve an Amelia and a Daniel in our lives to love us.
June 22, 2024
"Fakecation" by Elle Rivers stole my heart from the get-go. It had everything I look for in a cozy romance read: no miscommunication trope, no third-act breakup, and characters that were real and incredibly lovable. The mental health representation for ADHD, BPD, and anxiety was spot on, making the story even more relatable and heartfelt. Every second of it was a joy to read.
John has now officially become my favorite 'sibling of the main character' ever. His presence added so much depth and warmth to the story. Mandy and Randy's relationship is the epitome of relationship goals—solid, supportive, and deeply loving.
So, ladies, don't settle for an Andrew because your Daniel might be just around the corner. And gentlemen, don't let a Lucinda ruin your chances with an Amelia. This book reminds us all that the right person is worth waiting for and that love can be as comforting as it is exhilarating.
John has now officially become my favorite 'sibling of the main character' ever. His presence added so much depth and warmth to the story. Mandy and Randy's relationship is the epitome of relationship goals—solid, supportive, and deeply loving.
So, ladies, don't settle for an Andrew because your Daniel might be just around the corner. And gentlemen, don't let a Lucinda ruin your chances with an Amelia. This book reminds us all that the right person is worth waiting for and that love can be as comforting as it is exhilarating.
October 3, 2022
I really liked the premise of this book. Fake dating is one of my favorite tropes and though there were some really good moments in this book I was left wanting more steam between the characters.
The spice was enjoyable and their slow burn from co-works to lovers felt realistic as they leaned more about who the other truly was. I enjoyed the kindness and compassion the characters showed to each. I just wish there had been more longing, pining, lingering looks and grazes leading up to the spicy scene.
Also there is a lot of focus on mental health in this novel including anxiety, panic attacks, bipolar and ADHD. I think the scene of the MC coping with sensory overload at the beach was spot on.
The second half after the vacation did drag a bit but I loved Amelia telling off Daniel’s dad & his ex wife. By far my favorite part.
The spice was enjoyable and their slow burn from co-works to lovers felt realistic as they leaned more about who the other truly was. I enjoyed the kindness and compassion the characters showed to each. I just wish there had been more longing, pining, lingering looks and grazes leading up to the spicy scene.
Also there is a lot of focus on mental health in this novel including anxiety, panic attacks, bipolar and ADHD. I think the scene of the MC coping with sensory overload at the beach was spot on.
The second half after the vacation did drag a bit but I loved Amelia telling off Daniel’s dad & his ex wife. By far my favorite part.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2024
The way I devoured this book in one sitting. I am a sucker for anything fake dating and I'm pleased to say that this book has become one of my favourites, dare I say even a 6-star read for me. The chemistry between Daniel and Amelia was everything. I loved how they connected emotionally and leaned on one another during tough times. This book has raised my expectations of men because Daniel was the most caring and understanding person. I thoroughly enjoyed the plot and writing of this book and can't wait to read more of Elle River's writing. Fakecation has become one of my top reads and I would recommend it highly if you're a fan of fake dating, forced proximity, one-bed trope, co-workers and no third-act break-up.
Thank you to Elle Rivers for giving me access to an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Elle Rivers for giving me access to an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 23, 2024
Bwa. I liked this book very much. It wasn't anything spectacular or anything, but is was pretty good. I lined the representation of adhd, and other mental health things. I didn't like the fact that Amelia was so emberassed abt her adhd, i kinda get it but still it was a bit much i think. I lined Daniel. His ex mariage was a fun en original twist with the cheating and his wife. But i still think it could have went a lot more in detail and shit. Love that there was lgbtq representation too. I line the relationship of Amelia and Daniel, but i do think it was all a bit fast. I mean you get to know a person really well when you live together. But still after 5 days or so already having feelings is a bit fast. For the rest I really like the relationship and how they helped each other
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2022
I loved this book so much. I related ti ameliorate a lot. I too struggle with ADHD and a lot of days it’s not easy. I loved seeing that represented in a book.
I also loved both of the main characters had toxic exes. So many times in these books, the FMC is the one struggling with a toxic ex, but I know many men who have them as well so that was nice to see in book form.
So many things about this book were so well done, I was immediately hooked into this book. Elle did a beautiful job telling Amelia and Daniel’s story. Both characters definitely deserved their happily ever after and I’m glad they both got it.
I also loved both of the main characters had toxic exes. So many times in these books, the FMC is the one struggling with a toxic ex, but I know many men who have them as well so that was nice to see in book form.
So many things about this book were so well done, I was immediately hooked into this book. Elle did a beautiful job telling Amelia and Daniel’s story. Both characters definitely deserved their happily ever after and I’m glad they both got it.
June 29, 2024
This booked pissed me off.
1) they made a whole deal about the ADHD disability when we all knew the Hero wouldn’t have care. It dragged the book on for no reason.
2) Hero irritated me by always talking about his ex and keep making himself so accessible to her. Ofc she will keep coming to your apartment if you don’t block her nor change your locks or call security!!!
3) way too much build up with little to no smut/physical interaction. we got two and after that, they act like an old married couple…
I feel like I wasted my time. 3.5/5
1) they made a whole deal about the ADHD disability when we all knew the Hero wouldn’t have care. It dragged the book on for no reason.
2) Hero irritated me by always talking about his ex and keep making himself so accessible to her. Ofc she will keep coming to your apartment if you don’t block her nor change your locks or call security!!!
3) way too much build up with little to no smut/physical interaction. we got two and after that, they act like an old married couple…
I feel like I wasted my time. 3.5/5
August 17, 2024
The fake dating trope is one of my favorite. Unfortunately, in this book, while the plot was good, I didn’t feel like there was any chemistry between the two main characters. It felt the entire time as if they are literally just coworkers and nothing else, so it doesn’t come as natural when they finally end up in “spicy time”. It fell very flat. Many stuff were good though. I like the main characters by themselves, and so think it’s great when Amelia tell Lucinda and Daniel’s father off. The writing style is good
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2024
As someone who also has anxiety and ADHD, this book has kinda left me wondering-am I not making as big a deal of it as I should be? The tiptoeing around mental health almost made it feel like it IS shameful and counteracted the openness of Amelia’s family and Daniel.
The speed to read is relatively breezy because you want to get to all the next steps but I did find elements of the plot rather far fetched but this was my first time reading a book like this so I’m sure it’s on trend with others like it.
It was sweet to see them fall into each other and how they balance each other out.
The speed to read is relatively breezy because you want to get to all the next steps but I did find elements of the plot rather far fetched but this was my first time reading a book like this so I’m sure it’s on trend with others like it.
It was sweet to see them fall into each other and how they balance each other out.
June 12, 2025
im afraid to say this was just bland.
i went in with minimal expectations but the books writing threw me off. these characters just felt very two dimensional to me and is the chemistry in the room with us? because it sure wasn't between the main chars. it's rushed and their relationship feels forced plus where is the passion???
how do you just casually fall in love? learn from this book
plus the dialogue was monotone and felt not very natural
i feel like the writing was just not for me, wouldve liked it more otherwise bec i do like the tropes this book had.
i went in with minimal expectations but the books writing threw me off. these characters just felt very two dimensional to me and is the chemistry in the room with us? because it sure wasn't between the main chars. it's rushed and their relationship feels forced plus where is the passion???
how do you just casually fall in love? learn from this book
plus the dialogue was monotone and felt not very natural
i feel like the writing was just not for me, wouldve liked it more otherwise bec i do like the tropes this book had.
July 23, 2022
Very sweet story led by two layered characters that feel more human than most of the romance books I am used to. The conflicts seem natural with the progression of the relationship and i genuinely loved how comfortable this whole book feels. Complete with honest conversations about mental health, trauma and the lasting impact of bad relationships. Definitely a sweet and fun read despite that though, which is an impressive feat in itself :)
May 13, 2024
Loved this book wayyyy too much. Hands down the best fake dating trope book I've ever read!!!!!!
I hate when the leads have miscommunication, and this book deals with conflicts in a very mature way. This book also dealt with mental health in a very non-taboo way and that I really loved.
All and all, just such a cute read. I recommend it to anyone who likes lighthearted, slice of life-esque, cute books 🌸
I hate when the leads have miscommunication, and this book deals with conflicts in a very mature way. This book also dealt with mental health in a very non-taboo way and that I really loved.
All and all, just such a cute read. I recommend it to anyone who likes lighthearted, slice of life-esque, cute books 🌸
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September 18, 2025DNF @11%
fairly certain this was not proofread, revised or even thought through before it was published.
I wanted to gouge my eyes out. idk how I even made it 11% in.
it's so terribly written, like... a 13 year old on wattpad writes better than this.
I have so many issues with just the 11% i read, but I'm not commenting further because my blood pressure is rising and I almost hurled my phone across the room.
fairly certain this was not proofread, revised or even thought through before it was published.
I wanted to gouge my eyes out. idk how I even made it 11% in.
it's so terribly written, like... a 13 year old on wattpad writes better than this.
I have so many issues with just the 11% i read, but I'm not commenting further because my blood pressure is rising and I almost hurled my phone across the room.
September 22, 2022
I loved this book!! The representation of mental and emotional issues is refreshing. I've never been through a divorce but the narcissistic, manipulative ex-wife is a deeply hated character for me although my ex never tried to become anything other than a stranger after we parted ways. Fakecation wrapped up well in the end and left me wanting more.
May 2, 2024
4.5
It was so good to see what ADHD and panic attacks do to someone. I do believe it is like that, and it’s so emotional that got me hooked. I also loved the part where they ✨COMMUNICATE✨, they really did and they were so perfect for each other
I just love them
But the epilogue? That got me laughing so hard with the simultaneous proposal from both of them 😂
It was so good to see what ADHD and panic attacks do to someone. I do believe it is like that, and it’s so emotional that got me hooked. I also loved the part where they ✨COMMUNICATE✨, they really did and they were so perfect for each other
I just love them
But the epilogue? That got me laughing so hard with the simultaneous proposal from both of them 😂
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 22, 2024
I read Fakecation in one setting! Of course the title immediately pulled me in as I'm a sucker for fake-dating. Amelia and Daniel were a fun couple I absolutely loved Daniel especially! There were moments where I felt like Amelia was great and had an interesting character story and depth. But I also had moments where she frustrated me, putting her emotions over the feelings of those around her. I also love the mental health awareness discussed throughout the book! Overall, it is a quick read that will scratch that fake-dating itch for sure.
Thank you to Elle Rivers for an arc in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you to Elle Rivers for an arc in exchange for an honest review!
May 1, 2025
amelia and daniel were cute but their relationship felt so surface level and fast moving at times. there wasn’t enough of either character for me to fully connect to so it fell flat. hoping my next elle rivers read is better because i know she can write characters that grip you, and she has done it multiple times in the past. unfortunately this was not one of those times.
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