Ten Rules for Faking It

I thought this book sounded good so I decided to take a chance and I'm mostly glad I did. That being said, I will admit it wasn't a perfect read. Unfortunately, there were a few things that really bugged me and a couple of pet peeves along the way, to boot. Still I can honestly say that I enjoyed this read. I really liked Everly and I felt a deep personal connection to her, that I think other readers will as well. She is a character with issues and that is something I highly appreciate when readers are still exposed to an almost endless stream of perfection that is unrealistic and unattainable for most of us. The storyline itself is cute, funny and a tad over-the-top but I felt that was mostly in the best way. Chris was quite likable and I thought sweet. As for the romance side of this book; it is classified as a slow-burn and frankly I would have very much preferred that to be kicked-up by many levels. While I liked this pairing, I felt there were no real sparks between them, just embers that in my opinion never received enough time or care to grow into the flames I wanted for this couple and believed Everly deserved. Of my own accord I am posting an unbiased review.

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.

Everly and Chris’ story in Ten Rules for Faking It by Sophie Sullivan, is an emotional, slow-burn and heartwarming story. Introverts and those with anxieties will definitely be able to relate to the story and especially Everly. Birthdays have never been good for Everly Dean, she has a list of some really awful ones, but this year radio producer Everly has definitely hit rock-bottom. First she caught her boyfriend cheating on her with her assistant. Then, walking into the radio station Stacey the DJ starts to sing “Happy Birthday” to her. Not realizing they are on the air, Everly let loose with all that has gone wrong that day ranting about her cheating ex and how she dislikes birthdays. Everly wants to overcome her anxiety and pitch her podcast idea to her boss. There’s just one problem, her boss, Chris is very cute and he’s extremely distant. That means he must hate her. Maybe that’s just her anxiety talking. Ok, that’s three problems, not one. After hearing her rant, people are lining up to date her, Bachelorette-style, and fans are voting. Suddenly, the idea takes off into a contest, run by the radio studio, to find the one for Everly. Working with Chris on the contest she discovers her interest in him is a two-way street. Chris seems to understand her and her anxieties. He knows how to anticipate when she is having, or about to have, an anxiety attack. The contest and all that goes with it is too much for Everly; she’s just going to have to fake it until she makes it through all of this. Everly, the queen of avoiding people, the one who lives by lists and rules, realizes that she just needs to make a list: The Ten Rules for Faking It, to get through this. After all, sometimes making the rules can help you find happiness when you least expect it. Chris, the station manager, has been attracted to Everly since his first day at the station; but Chris is hiding secrets from the employees. He does understand Everly, better than most but the station has a strict no-fraternizing policy preventing them from exploring the attraction between them. Their magnetism pulls them together, forcing Chris to want to take care of and protect Everly. Everly has recognized the chemistry arcing between them, making it difficult to go on dates with other men, when she wants the winner to be Chris. When Chris opens up and deals with his secrets, he knows he might lose Everly, but then again, she, and what they have, just might be stronger than he realizes. Ms. Sullivan wrote an emotional, slow-burn and heartwarming story that should not be missed. She provided a tale rich with emotions, sizzling chemistry, sarcasm, revealing conversations, and endearing characters giving Everly and Chris a chance at a life together. I recommend Ten Rules for Faking It to other readers. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.