Fake It Till You Bake It

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY APR 18, 2022

Opposites attract in this low-angst rom-com from Wesley (Make the Play), which follows a self-centered reality star and a rule-following, cupcake baking football player who fake a relationship to save his bakery. Jada Townsend-Matthews is infamous for turning down the proposal of a fan favorite contestant on a reality-TV dating show. She's working to restore her image when her grandmother, the owner of a San Diego football team, ropes her into working at Sugar Blitz bakery, which is owned by the team's star, Donovan Dell. Jada must prove her ability to be responsible and hold down real work in order to gain access to her trust fund. When the tabloids mistake Jada and Donovan for a couple, Jada goes with it in order to save face, and Donovan, seeing an opportunity to increase sales for his failing cupcakery, agrees to fake a relationship. Proximity pushes their relationship to become more real than fake, but familial baggage could cost them their happy ending. After a slow start, Wesley does a good job bringing these two together through some fun tropes, though their chemistry remains a bit tepid. Readers will long for a greater connection between the romantic leads but will appreciate the mellow sweetness of the atmosphere.