Review: Fake It Like You Mean It by Megan Murphy – A Tender, Trope-Filled Treat
📚 Tropes I Love in This One:
✔️ Forced Proximity
✔️ Fake Dating
✔️ One Bed
✔️ He Works for Her (!!)
✔️ Emotional Depth
✔️ Slow Burn with Sweet Heat
Let me just say this: obsessed doesn’t even begin to cover it. As a reader who usually chases down the spiciest of storylines with a side of heartbreak (bonus points if there's a dramatic third-act breakup), this book was a quieter, sweeter surprise—and I loved every second of it.
Fake It Like You Mean It by Megan Murphy is an emotional, slow-burn romance that doesn’t shy away from real-life heartbreak, while still giving you all the tropey goodness we romance lovers crave. It’s sweet. It’s funny. It’s sad in that soft, lingering way. And it’s layered with chemistry that simmers more than it sizzles—until it does.
Let’s talk setup: Elle is navigating life while caring for her beloved grandmother, Lovie, who’s in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. Anyone who’s watched a loved one fade away piece by piece will feel this one deep in their soul. The grief, the frustration, the quiet heartbreak of not being recognized by the person who raised you—it’s all here, and it’s handled with so much care.
Enter Adam. Lovie’s incredibly kind, incredibly frustrating (at first), incredibly attractive nurse. Who, oh yes, also happens to be working for Elle. That’s right—we’ve got some workplace proximity layered into this emotional sundae.
When circumstances push them into a fake dating situation, things spiral—beautifully. Forced proximity? Check. One bed? Oh, absolutely. The kind of slow-burn tension that makes you want to scream into a pillow? Delivered. Watching their connection unfold from guarded to tender to romantic had me swooning in the best way.
Now, if you’re looking for something blazing hot, this one lands more in the “sweetly steamy” category—there’s spice, yes, but it’s meaningful, not gratuitous. The emotional intimacy shines just as brightly as the physical.
And the audiobook? Flawless. The narration pulls you in and refuses to let go—warm, expressive, and perfectly matched to the tone of the story. It’s one of those audiobooks you feel as much as you hear.
Final Thoughts:
Fake It Like You Mean It is the kind of romance that sneaks up on you—gentle at first, then all-consuming in the best way. If you love heartfelt stories with lovable leads, deep emotional resonance, and just enough steam to leave you smiling, this one's a must.
🎧 Audio book (which this review was based upon) available on libro.fm. Huge thanks to them and Dreamscape Media for the chance to listen and fall head over heels.