Fake It by Lily Seabrooke is a fun f/f romance with a fake relationship plus friends with benefits situation, set against the backdrop of a reality tv cooking show. Get some treats ready, because this book has two chefs and a bunch of amazing food.
After dreaming for years of opening an upscale restaurant, Avery Lindt has finally done it. Now she just needs to get patrons in the door at Paramour so she can keep it afloat. Unfortunately, that gets much harder when Avery makes a powerful enemy out of smarmy celebrity chef and restaurant tycoon, Mike Wallace, who targets Paramour with a smear campaign.
Holly Mason is also a celebrity chef. She’s starting her sixth season hosting a reality show where she guides failing restaurants back to life. Holly is bored with the show, but she’s rapidly reinvigorated when she learns her ex-boyfriend, Mike Wallace (yes, the very same jerkface!) is making deals with her production company to steal the show from her. So, Holly’s agent, Tay, unleashes a bold strategy: replacing their planned restaurant for the season with Paramour and turning its reputation around (because eff Mike Wallace).
Holly and Avery have quite the shock when they learn the other part of Tay’s plan: Tay’s boosted interest in Holly by planting a story that Holly is romantically involved with Avery. What could possibly go wrong, especially when they agree to become friends with benefits? Surely there’s no way they can possibly fall in love while working together to take down a terrible man (yes, they can and it’s glorious).
Pros And My Favourite Parts
There’s so much to love about Fake It, between Avery and Holly’s chemistry, the deliciousness of seeing a very bad dude get his comeuppance, and all the food. I also wholeheartedly believe in the happily ever after, because the romance is constructed so well. So, I’d rather talk about a few of the other elements that especially stood out for me.
The first is that Avery is a trans woman and the author is, too. I’ve had a hard time finding f/f romances with a leading trans woman that’s written by a trans woman. Also, while I enjoy reading about trans experiences, I appreciate that Fake It isn’t specifically about Avery being trans. It’s an f/f romance that includes someone who happens to be trans. This reminds me of Sheena’s phrase “incidental lesbian,” and Fake It has left me craving more books with incidental trans women.
The next thing I love about this book: Avery is freaking adorable and I want to be friends with her. She’s a big believer in positive self-talk, “fake it till you make it,” and generally manifesting things by putting them out into the universe in the hopes of bringing them back to her. Because I’m a skeptical person who doesn’t believe in manifesting, I wasn’t initially sure I could connect with Avery and her relentless positivity in the face of adversity. However, she’s so earnest and works so hard to achieve her dreams that I couldn’t help but root for her.
Finally, I’m pretty sure this is the first fake-relationship romance I’ve read that includes a friends-with-benefits element. I knew Holly and Avery were done for the moment they agree to no-strings sex because their attraction is so strong and their chemistry is unreal. I also love that they define what they’re okay with and what they’re not as part of their agreement, because it bakes consent into how they operate both in and out of the bedroom.
Cons And Heads Up
Nothing from me.
The Conclusion
I love this book. It sucked me in and kept up way too late for a few nights in a row because it’s just that good. Watching Avery and Holly fall in love was completely satisfying and I will definitely read this book again.
Excerpt from Fake It by Lily Seabrooke
“Hello, and thank you for your patience,” a woman’s voice said from behind me, and I turned to look at her—a woman maybe in her late twenties, looking stunning in a well-tailored navy suit. She didn’t look like a waiter, not wearing the uniform everyone else was, but she held a pad of paper and a tray, and she swept across the room all grace and confidence until I made eye contact with her, and she stopped short. “Oh. Wow. You’re… Holly Mason.”
Maybe my career wasn’t completely in shambles. I gave her a sly smile. “A fan? It’s nice to meet you. Don’t worry, I’m not here to criticize your kitchen.”
She swallowed nervously, a pink flush creeping into her cheeks. She was, frankly, drop-dead gorgeous—maybe it was just the suit doing it for me, but with the brown hair ending in loose waves at her shoulders, bright green eyes, and a deep nude lipstick, it all made her look like elegance and class wrapped up in one very sexy, suit-wearing package with beautifully long legs.
“That’s a relief,” she said. “It’s… wow. It’s an honor. I’m—a fan. Yes.” She shook her head, regaining her composure, putting on the professional’s smile. “I’m so sorry. You’re here for dinner, not for awkward fan interactions. Thank you so much for choosing Paramour. I’m Avery Lindt, the owner, and I’ll be here to take your order tonight. Can I get you started with something to drink?”
Ah—and here she was herself. The one who’d spat in Mike’s face and sent him packing, at the expense of her entire very luxurious restaurant. That made her two of my weaknesses—brunette and ready to tell Mike Wallace to go fuck himself.
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Bits and Bobs
ISBN number: 9798451184288
Publisher: Indie author
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