Read by Alex Picard
Oaks Sisters, Book 1
From the publisher:
Fake dating, enemies to lovers, and a wonderfully unique forced proximity debut romance, perfect for fans of Elena Armas’s The American Roommate Experiment and Drew Barrymore’s classic rom-com Fifty First Dates.
Elle’s grandmother Lovie has always taken care of her, as long as she can remember. But remembering is just the problem. With Lovie’s Alzheimer’s progressing fast, it’s Elle’s turn to step up.
Leaving Chicago behind, the last thing she expects when she walks through the door of her childhood home is Adam Wheeler—in her bed. Live-in nurse and pain in the ass, Adam is here to do his job. Eat, sleep, nurse, repeat.
Thrown together to care for Lovie, tensions rise and lines are drawn, but there’s a bigger problem: in her Alzheimer’s riddled mind, Lovie’s convinced that Elle and Adam are madly in love.
Certain she’ll forget by morning, Elle and Adam play along. The only snag? She doesn’t forget.
Lovie is the only person who thinks this fake dating scheme is real…so why is Elle fantasizing about Adam when he’s not around? And why is it getting harder to pretend?
Fake It Like You Mean It is the perfect blend of romance, laugh-out-loud comedy, and heartbreaking beautiful moments.
“The fake dating trope takes on unexpected emotional depth in Murphy’s utterly endearing debut . . . [With] perfect pacing and chemistry that leaps off the page.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Elle and Adam have so much chemistry . . . A moving romance that balances the heartbreak of slowly losing a relative to Alzheimer’s with the thrill of falling in love.” —Kirkus Reviews
This is a heartwarming yet emotionally charged romance that balances laughter, sizzle, and poignant moments. The story follows Elle, who returns home to care for her grandmother, Lovie, as Alzheimer’s takes its toll. Elle’s life is complicated by Adam, Lovie’s live-in nurse, with whom she shares a dynamic that evolves from sharp banter to a deep connection. When Lovie mistakenly believes they are a couple, they play along, leading to an intimate and tension-filled fake relationship.
As they care for Lovie together, their bond grows naturally through shared vulnerability, humor, and care. The novel compassionately portrays Alzheimer’s, making Lovie a central figure in the narrative. Beyond romance, it explores the pain of losing a loved one and Elle’s journey of self-discovery amidst grief and family responsibilities. This book is a gem for fans of fake dating and slow-burn romances, offering a blend of light-hearted moments and emotional depth.
This was the first romance I’ve listened to in a while with only one narrator, and Picard does a great job with it. Murphy’s debut is a winner, and I’m looking forward to her next book!
3/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
FAKE IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT by Megan Murphy. Narrator: Alex Picard. Dreamscape Media; March 18, 2025. Listening Length: 10 hours.
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