Ten Rules for Faking It
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4.0 • 45 Ratings
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- $12.99
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
"A wholesome, slow-burn romance that will warm your heart...This is a Hallmark movie in book form." - USA Today bestselling author Helen Hoang
What happens when your love life becomes the talk of the town?
As birthdays go, this year’s for radio producer Everly Dean hit rock-bottom.
Worse than the “tonsillectomy birthday.” Worse than the birthday her parents decided to split (the first time). But catching your boyfriend cheating on you with his assistant?
Even clichés sting.
But this is Everly’s year! She won’t let her anxiety hold her back. She’ll pitch her podcast idea to her boss.
There’s just one problem.
Her boss, Chris, is very cute. (Of course). Also, he's extremely distant (which means he hates her, right? Or is that the anxiety talking)?
And, Stacey the DJ didn’t mute the mic during Everly’s rant about Simon the Snake (syn: Cheating Ex).
That’s three problems.
Suddenly, people are lining up to date her, Bachelorette-style, fans are voting (Reminder: never leave house again), and her interest in Chris might be a two-way street. It’s a lot for a woman who could gold medal in people-avoidance. She’s going to have to fake it ‘till she makes it to get through all of this.
Perhaps she’ll make a list: The Ten Rules for Faking It.
Because sometimes making the rules can find you happiness when you least expect it.
“Once you start reading, you won’t be able to put it down.” - Lyssa Kay Adams, author of The Bromance Book Club
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
The clever premise of Sullivan's debut falls flat in execution. On radio producer Everly Dean's 30th birthday, she catches her boyfriend in bed with another woman and accidentally rants about it live on air. When the station owner hears her meltdown, he moves to replace Everly, but station manager Chris Jansen, who has a crush on Everly, proposes a wild idea to save her job. Everly's tirade got listeners invested in her love life, so Chris pitches a show in which Everly will find a new boyfriend by dating listener-nominated men and recapping her dates on air. Everly's attraction to Chris turns into real feelings after he matter-of-factly takes her anxiety disorder into account in planning the show, but his role as her boss gives her pause. Readers will share her reservations, as, though Sullivan attempts to update the workplace romance trope for the modern age, Chris's handsy jealousy over Everly's dates screams for an HR intervention. The dates themselves are fun but repetitive, and aggravating detours into the relationship struggles of Everly's immature parents slow down the otherwise zippy rom-com plot. Die-hard fans of The Bachelorette will enjoy this novelistic take on the theme, but others may want to give it a miss.
Customer Reviews
Great debut
This book was such a wonderful debut!! My heart broke for Everly in the beginning but watching her come into her own over the course of this contest was amazing. I cracked up at some of the dates and felt her anxiety in my soul. There were definitely times when I wanted Chris to speak up and toss his hat in the ring but ultimately I loved that these two seemed to fall in love without even realizing it.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed that there’s more from these characters. I need to see more from Chris’ brothers and Everly’s friends.
Fake it til you make it
This is a great book. The characters are really well developed; each having their own ‘voice’ and personality befitting their role in the story. I loved the relationship portrayed between the two friends, Everly, our heroine, and her best friend, Stacey. The way they confided in each other, supported each other, and ‘got’ each other is the way all friendships should be. The hero, Chris, is an amazing guy. Trying to juggle the needs of the business, his undercover requirements to his father, and his attraction to Everly, would have a lesser man going crazy. His sensitivity to Everyly’s needs was really well-written. The way he responded to her anxiety episodes was nothing short of perfect (okay, it is fiction, but really well-written in this aspect). Truthfully, the sensitivity in this book in dealing with the anxiety issues Everly faces was so well done, I’m not sure there could be anything better written in a fiction story. This is a sweet, gentle romance, showing amazingly sensitive treatment for an anxiety condition. There are elements of humor, and many places where the book made me laugh, but I wouldn’t call it a rom-com. It is a very good book, and one I highly recommend. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. This is my freely given, honest review.
Rules? Who needs rules?
Ten Rules for Faking It by Sophie Sullivan is such a lovely, romantic story of falling in love. It really was a super cute book. The way she incorporates the main characters anxiety into every day life not only gives readers a great perspective of what others that suffer from anxiety go through but also how people with anxiety can work to adapt their lives around this emotion or behavior. The way her hero Chris was so considerate in all her feelings makes you swoon and fall in love with him quickly. The back and forth banter between the two is witty, electric and gave even me butterflies. The only draw back to this book was how long it took to develop the story line but looking at it overall and the message that comes across, I actually appreciated the length of it. I was able to read this book as an ARC from the publisher and will definitely try to read both Sophie’s and her alter ego Jody Holford in the near future!