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Fake It 'Til You Break It

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Fake.
That’s what we are.
That’s what we agreed to be.


I thought it would be harder, convincing everyone our school’s star receiver was mine and mine alone, but we played our parts well.

So well, the lines between us began to blur until they disappeared completely.


The thing about pretending, though, someone’s always better at it, and by the time I realized my mistake, there was no going back.


I fell for our lie.
And then everything fell apart.

It turned out, he and I were never playing the same game.

He didn’t have to break me to win.
But he did it anyway.

399 pages, Paperback

First published February 5, 2020

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About the author

Meagan Brandy

36 books12.9k followers
USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Meagan Brandy writes New Adult romance books with a twist. She is a candy crazed, jukebox junkie who tends to speak in lyrics. Born and raised in California, she is a married mother of three crazy boys who keep her bouncing from one sports field to another, depending on the season, and she wouldn't have it any other way. Starbucks is her best friend and words are her sanity.

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5 stars
11,696 (42%)
4 stars
9,177 (33%)
3 stars
4,865 (17%)
2 stars
1,198 (4%)
1 star
471 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,542 reviews
Profile Image for mel ☽.
369 reviews10.4k followers
February 10, 2020
whoever chose the cover is a marketing genius because y'all know we've been thirsting on Chase Mattson for a while now.

ok so when i first discovered that Nico (H) was the one that was PINING over Demi (h) for years i was like y e s. that shit is so rare.

and the fact that this has a fake relationship trope where H's reason is to secretly make the h fall in love with him, while h's reason is to make Alex (OM) jealous because she had zero romantic feelings for the H before this all happened?? y e s.

though, i know a lot of people are hesitant to read new adult books takin place in high school, i still think this was still pretty good so i would still recommend this.

characters:
Demi was your not so typical new adult heroine where she's smart and doesn't date, though, she was also atypical since she wasn't a virgin (surprising right?) and she's part of the popular crowd.

Nico was apparently your typical football player, quiet and kind of a loner man ho. but honestly, his man ho vibes were actually pretty tame compared to other H's i've read so i appreciated that at least.

as for the side characters/friends, i found them soo annoying in the beginning. they were the literal definition of cockblockers and i don't know... they were just too much and too loud for me if that makes sense. mostly in the beginning tho.

OW/OM drama (SPOILERS):
one thing i hated here was that little voyeur scene in the beginning where h sees H having sex with OW in his hot tub (h & H are neighbors and H lives behind her). i don't really know why this scene was included because it was kinda irrelevant and honestly, compared to the intimate scene between h & H, this whole scene just made it seem like H enjoyed his time with the OW more than with the h since there was only one scene with h and all the other intimate scenes after that were either fade to black or it was only told. i think the main reason for this is how it was written.

i'll give y'all an example of a quote from the h:

"They were so lost in each other they didn't even—or couldn't even—realize how loud they were being. He had Sandra in tunnel vision, a tunnel that leads straight down his shaft. I mean, he was enjoying her just as much, his groans... deep and exhilarated as he chased his release."


i know H was probably thinking about h since he caught her but like-

description

WHY ??

silver lining to this was that Demi didn't feel angry or hurt and she actually didn't even feel any romantic feelings towards the Nico till they were fake dating. but you know. still. this scene was just ew.

as for OM drama, Demi lost her virginity to Trent aka Nico's best friend. to be fair, i understand his anger and betrayal and im actually pretty glad he knew he was being hypocritical since she literally saw him have sex with someone else AND he also hooked up with her dancing coach soo.

fake relationship:
this was my favorite part of this book since we get to see Nico doing most of the chasing. there were a lot of cute moments because of this and ugh i was all for it.

_______________________________

one of my guilty pleasures is new adult high school romance since the first romance book i've ever read has this trope so it's kind of sentimental to me and i think that this was a pretty good NA book despite of my dislikes.

anyways, the best thing about this book is the Chase Mattson cover soo.

3.5 stars
Profile Image for ❥ KAT ❥ Kitty Kats Crazy About Books.
2,323 reviews9,246 followers
February 2, 2020
23153712-SX540
fake

'FAKE IT 'TIL YOU BREAK IT:' Is a full length, stand alone, New Adult/Romance novel by Meagan Brandy. Spoken in 'Dual Perspectives.' Demi & Nico.

Being that the author is Meagan Brandy of course I was going to jump on this one!! Going into this I had high expectations, this was one of my most highly anticipated books and coming from a series that I loved from this author I knew that this one wouldn't disappoint. And it didn't!!

This was a slow burn, about half way/ish all the drama, the angst, and all the feels starting cannonballing into me from out of nowhere, and that's exactly what I wanted and needed to happen.

These two were perfect for each other, like this book their romance slow burned but you could feel where the author was going with this, their connection simmered away in the background, and just at the right time it ignited and I LOVED seeing that combustible connection. It's was raw, it was beautiful, it was heartfelt and it was utter perfection.

This book was adorable, from the fake relationship to it slowly evolving into more, from seeing these two characters grow as individuals to a couple was endearing. And that right there cemented me to them. I loved these two, from the ups and downs, from the topsy turvy way of going about dating made for an enjoyable, unputdownable read.



Profile Image for Sarah.
1,742 reviews1,324 followers
February 6, 2020
***AVAILABLE NOW - FULL REVIEW ***

GAHHHH!!!!!!!! BRAND NEW WORLD. NEW CHARACTERS. I absolutely love this story. The heroine is so fun, the hero is to die for. I fell in love with these two as they fell in love with each other. And in true Meagan fashion, she has some surprises up her sleeve. Get ready for amazing!

Demi and Nico are all of the things. Every single one. Nico seems all broody and stolid, but there is so much more below the surface, so much he is trying to shield. With each chapter, Meagan showed us pieces behind the mask, and I was unable to resist him.

Demi is the sweet girl we love. Very different from her previous heroine, but still able and willing to stand her ground when pushed too far. I lived for those moments when she did.

There is also a whole host of secondary characters I loved. The friendship between the girls and Nico and Trent adds so much depth to the characterization of Nico and Demi as well as the plot.

Additionally, the chemistry between these two is so good. The tension, the flirting, the uncertainty that comes with a fake relationship made me flip threw these pages so fast. I couldn’t get enough of them. With all Meagan Brandy books, though, wait for those surprises because she has them coming and they are GOOOD. So. Good. It ties all the pieces together and makes Nico and Demi’s hard fought HEA so freaking magical.

Meagan Brandy has delivered another cast of characters to love, another swoon-worthy, brooding hero, and another romance to get swept away in. Fake It ‘Til You Break It is sure to be a fave.

BETA read
Profile Image for Dawn.
530 reviews
February 6, 2020
Disappointed

Waited for this to out and expected so much more. The Hero was the oh so typical hero these days (like seriously l, couldn’t you have gotten a little creative here?) who is in love with our heroine but dates and screws everyone else because, you know “he has his reasons”. Completely unoriginal and boring. Also... For some idiotic reason the author had our heroine screw the H’s best friend (twice) while he was in love with her. This was not necessary to the plot, the book could have went on without this. It was gratuitous, just like the slutty chicks our hero just had to hook up with (insert eye roll here). Here’s a hint to the author, if you can’t write a book without a major plot point being that the main character screws someone else, don’t bother writing. Leave the other people out of it if this is a two person romance. Unless you just don’t have the talent for it!?
Profile Image for ♂️Must Have Book Boyfriends ♂️.
515 reviews2,186 followers
February 6, 2020
FIRST TOP READ OF 2020!


HEAVEN SENT ME NICO, and I loved every minute.





#FACTS:

✅ Meagan's newest hero is HAF.
✅ You're gonna jizz your pants when you read this book 😍🤤🔥
✅ You might throw your e-reader a couple times. Come on, it's Meagan. 🤷‍♀️
✅ The heroine is TO DIE FOR. 🙌🏻
✅ The tension is off the charts!!! 🔥😲
.
.
FAKE IT 'TIL YOU BREAK IT is LIVE!

Amazon US → https://amzn.to/2vYlBTh
Amazon CA → https://amzn.to/3bdSMlN
Amazon UK → https://amzn.to/2uceVAv
Amazon AU → https://amzn.to/2upjQht
Paperback → https://amzn.to/2OAC2vg

🏈 💃🏼 #FITYBI #NewAdult #ComingSoon #Standalone #EnemiesToLovers #FakeRelationship







#FITYBI #MUSTHaveBookBoyfriend #NewAdult #MeaganBrandy #TeaserTour

Profile Image for Sonia.
1,035 reviews1,306 followers
November 15, 2023
3 meh stars

Sigh. Man. I wanted to love this, I was enjoying it so much- and I wasn’t minding the slow burn… until I got to the end and realized that we get the SAME amount of smexy scenes of the H with OW as we do of the H with the h (and two FTB scenes). Sorry- that’s not enough for me; if I’m going to stomach seeing the H with OW (in GRAPHIC detail), then I better see better/multiple scenes with the h once their relationship gets going, and I was disappointed 😫.

Nico and Demi used to be close when they were growing up, well, they ARE next-door neighbors. But they drifted apart years before. They get paired up as partners in their chem class, which irritates Demi since she thought she was going to be paired up with her longtime crush, Alex. Nico tells her that her “crush” is more than happy to be paired up with his new partner,Sandra, and is “actively” pursuing her.

Well, that same night, Demi hears noises and looks out the window- sure enough, Nico’s in the pool, with the SAME woman Alex is after, Sandra, and Demi decides to watch them together 🙄😐. Does Nico know she’s watching? Yup. Does he care. No. He keeps going 😐. SIGH- whyyyyyy?!?! 🤦🏻‍♀️. Whyyy is this here 😐. But since this is all in the beginning, I was able to continue (with some molar-grinding lol).

At school, their pairing-up is a disaster. Nico’s not making it easy for Demi to do the work, and she wants to maintain her valedictorian status, so she needs to find ways of convincing him to cooperate. After much thinking, Nico decides he’s going to be in a fake-relationship with Demi, whether she’s willing to or not 😈😅.

Possible SPOILERS:
What I liked/loved:

-the TWISTS 🤯

-A bulldozing H, one that takes ownership and fights for his woman, and Nico does that. Sure, it’s all “fake,” but is it really? I mean, he fights Alex when it comes to Demi- I love how protective he becomes… and even possessive (even when she doesn’t know about it), and he’s always to take his “fake” relationship further. While they’re doing this, they��re going to be faithful to each other, something Nico is especially willing to do 👏🏻.

-he calls her PIXIE 🥰

-An h that isn’t a v when the H is. But her limited one-person experience wasn’t all that great- and it’s been years 🙄. If I have a manhoar as an H, then I appreciate that the h isn’t inexperienced (I also don’t mind if the h is a v).

-the H has secretly infatuated with the h (for once- but I have my reservations about this, see below…)

-the intense chemistry/connection between Nico and Demi. Yes, it’s slow-burn, but dear lord, there’s definitely chemistry that had my heart racing

-both have a messed-up home life which allows them to connect in more ways than one. I wanted to hug them both 🥺

-the OMD 😈 yes, I said it. I want the H to fight for the h lol, especially when he’s a hooooar and thinks it’ll be easy for him

What I didn’t like/love or wish there was more of:
-the smexy scenes😐. I cannot recall ever being let down like I was with this book😏. If I’m going to read the H with OW (in the beginning of the book, so I can “forgive” him), then I expect there to be tons of explosive, raw, passionate smexy times with the h. We get ONE. ONEEEE!!!!! 🤬 We also get two FTB scenes. WHYYYYY?!?! I was nearing the end of the book, frustrated that we’ve only had one, and then… WOMP WOMP… it ends 😐

-the amount of OW that have been with the H that appear/make drama. Ugh.

-the reasons why the H never stepped up with the h. While I understood why he stayed away, you mean to tell me that the solution to not following through with your feelings for the h is to be a hooooar instead? Sorry. It doesn’t sit well with me. I get it. I do. But really? Gah. Maybe if we hadn’t seen so many of his previous f buddies, I would’ve been okay. Maybe if we had more than one intimate scene, I would’ve been okay. I guess we’ll never know 🤷🏻‍♀️.

-the c@ck bl@ck!ng friends- they interrupted way too many times for my liking lol. They probably contributed to the lack of smexxxy times lol

⚠️safety squad⚠️ SPOILERS
-no cheating/sharing
-H recently had a gf OW1- she doesn’t create too much drama
-H is with OW2 in his pool and the h hears/watches them 😒 (before they’re together)
-she’s not a v (one previous partner, 2 years before, 2 times), the person she was with was satisfying for me 😈
-h’s coach pairs herself up (OW3) with the H for a dance routine- they get very touchy 😐🤬
-OM keep wanting the h’s attention and constantly fights the H
-at senior sunrise, OW2 from beginning of book tries to entice H again
-no c@nd@ms. She’s on the pill. But is he clean? The word “condom” never appears in the book- and we don’t see if he used one with the OW 😐
-HEA
Profile Image for Phuong ✯.
661 reviews7,421 followers
February 1, 2020
You know that trope where the guy is secretly pinning for the girl for years and she has no clue? The jealousy, the angst, the feeling of unrequited love, the longing stares, the hurt? The excellence. I'm done for that trope.
"Your worth isn't measured in your accomplishments, Nico, even though you have many to be proud of. It's how hard you love that counts."

『 LIKED: 』
❃ I liked the Demi and Nico as individuals and together. In their own way they knew exactly what they wanted. When Demi realised she had feelings for Nico, she never looked back and fought for him. I love it when characters don't shy away from their feelings and confront them head one. Demi is mostly a sweet girl, but when her claws come out she can kickass too!

❃ Nico is the definition of tough shell, soft core. On the outside it seems like Nico is just another broody & popular athlete, which is not a lie. But he is more than that, how he cares for his mother. How he respects Demi's boundaries and never pushed her for more. My favourite Demi and Nico moments were when Nico would do something for Demi and she's super surprised that he gets it right, cause she never expected him to care, but he always cared and he always saw her.

Supportive friendships. I think it's so important to have healthy female and male friendships, so books that have this get extra points.
Demi and her girls were so much fun. Krista, Macy and Carley are the type of girlfriends you would love to have in your life. They are up to no good, but have your back no matter what. The other bright friendship was between Nico and Trent. I really loved Trent as a side character. He is such a loyal and patient friend. No matter how hard Nico tries to push him away, he always stays by his side. Honestly the side characters in this book are gems!

『 DIDN'T LIKE: 』
❃ I'm getting to that age, where I found most high school drama pretty exhausting. For the most part of the book the drama wasn't too bad. Then, the secrets were out and I was trying so hard not to roll my eyes sometimes. The conflict kinda felt weird and unnecessary.

❃ There were some conflicts solved really fast, that it felt rushed. I don't know which solution would have been the better one: leave open questions or solve them but rushed. Both solutions would have been unsatisfied for some readers.

The pros clearly outweighed the cons for me. Overall I really liked it! I'm hoping Meagan will write a book for the rest of the characters.

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for lazybookconqueror.
329 reviews88 followers
February 2, 2020
This book was so cute.

description

From time to time I really enjoy high-school romances, they give me all the nostalgic vibes and feels. However, when you move HS Romance to the New Adult category it can be difficult to get it right. Very often you see characters that are larger than life, absurdly rich, controlling the whole school, etc... and while that can be fun, it can get old very quickly too.

So, I was very pleasantly surprised that this wasn't the case with Fake It 'Til You Break It. This was a sort of down to earth story, where you can actually see (or remember lol) teenagers behaving the way they did in the book - refreshing.

description

Of course, you have the fake relationship that is nothing new under the sun. Guy likes girl, there's a sort of absurd reason for them not to be together, they start a fake relationship that evolves to something real, Yadda yadda. But, the way the story is told is honestly ADORABLE.

The overall conflict was a bit exaggerated, and their parents were over the top (bad parenting much?). But other than that the miscommunication made sense, and I can see 18-year-olds (ish) behaving and talking like they did in the book. I loved all the characters, they were such a fun gang. And the chemistry between Nico and Demi? SWOONY.

description

Thank you Wildfire Marketing Solutions and Meagan Brandy for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Bee.
149 reviews437 followers
May 7, 2020
4 STARS

I think... I seriously think that... that I might’ve found them you guys... Mature high school main characters and a fabulous couple that I seriously loved. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but these characters were amazing. And this book is a living proof that you can write some sensible teenagers, authors. Not all of them have to be stupid airheads and annoying pricks!

But I digress.

These characters were pure gold. I’m head over heels in love with our remarkable heroine Demi ”don’t touch my man” Davenport. This chick is FIERCE, protective, possessive, and freaking kick ass. Man, I loved her so much. I think possessive heroines are so understated in NA romance. I love ladies who stand up for their men and claim them. Nico was such a delicious alpha hero himself, and man did my heart flutter when I found out his little ”secret”. It was SO ROMANTIC!

Demi and Nico were like two peas in a pot, a match in every sense of the word. They were both untamed in so many ways, but also vulnerable, resilient and loving. Their love story was definitely slow burn and I ADORED how the sex came after the friendship. Their scenes were well developed and I cheered them on with everything I had.

Like I said, I just loved these characters. Demi, Nico and their friends. They made such an awesome and supportive group and I felt really good reading this book. There were a few scenes that I didn’t really like and/or found unnecessary, but luckily, they didn’t take much away from my overall enjoyment.

I’ve been unsure about Meagan Brandy, but I’m so happy I took the plunge. This was an awesome friends-to-lovers, fake dating story. I repeat, I LOVE DEMI DAVENPORT & NICO SYKES. My sassy queen and her hot ass king. Highly recommend!
Profile Image for Elle G. Reads.
1,663 reviews883 followers
January 28, 2020
Release Date: February 5, 2020
Actual Rating: 5 stars

Young Adult Romance | Opposites Attract | Fake Relationship

EEEPPP! I’ve been CRAVING a book like FITYBI for so long that I almost gave up in my pursuit because I couldn’t find what I was looking for!! But this book gave me ALL I NEEDED in a romance and truly blew me away! This book is EVERYTHING! From the first few pages I was obsessed and this obsession grew with each word. Being in this world was like being in heaven and I couldn’t put it down. Meagan Bandy SLAYS the new adult romance genre and it’s very apparent WHY when she writes a book like THIS. Gosh, it’s so good I may even have to go read it a second time just to get these feels all over again!

Fake It Till You Break It is a smorgasbord of tropes (LOL I never thought I would use that word in a review but it’s so FITTING). This book is an opposites attract romance, a fake relationship romance, and new adult/young adult HIGH SCHOOL romance. It’s much tamer than The Brayshaw series but just as swoony! I love how Meagan can write uber sexy novels and sweeter romances- she has the skill to nail them all! This book is also set in a brand-new world that I hope to see more of. I know it’s a standalone, but maybe some day in the future well see some more books? Here’s to hoping!

Anyway, in this one readers will meet Demi and Nico. Demi is the kind of girl who doesn’t care about boys and relationships- she’d rather do good in school. She’s not a nerd per se but she definitely sits closer to that than being a pompom welding girl who prefers socialization over grades. Nico on the other hand is a brooding bad boy. He’s got an ALPHAtude in the beginning of the book, but readers will see a little bit of a softer side as the book progresses. NOT too much though- he still comes off as a bad boy through and through! I loved this! I don’t always want to see heroes change for the heroines and it was nice to see him still stay in the same shell.

Nico and Demi, while totally opposite, decide that they should pretend to be dating. Why? Well, I won’t tell you because it will spoil some of the story, but they DO, and it turns into something neither of them were expecting. Of course, there’s a bit of drama and everything they build during their fake relationship comes tumbling down at their feet. Can they overcome it all? Or are they destined to stay FAKE? You’ll have to read to find out!

Once again, Meagan Brandy writes absolutely PERFECTION. Readers will quickly see why when reading this one and are sure to have a hard time putting it down. I highly recommend it!

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Profile Image for Mia.
2,368 reviews920 followers
February 8, 2020
Why do I do this to myself? I should've DNF at beginning but I thought maybe it got better... that was a big mistake.
If someone told me a 13 year old had written this book i'd believe them.
Profile Image for NiCoLeTa E. {Addicted To Books}.
1,415 reviews85 followers
February 5, 2020
***5 "Only a matter of time!!!" stars***

#IT'S LIVE!!!#



"You don't have to be looking to find the best fucking thing for you.
Sometimes all you have to do is open your eyes and realize it found you first."


A strange thing really!!! I'm drawn toward Meagan Brandy's books like a moth to a flame and even though she is burning me down every single time, i just can't seem to stay away and i don't ever want to!!!
There isn't a book of hers that it doesn't draw me into it and swallow me whole...
And i'm loving when something like that is happening...
I love all the drama, the angst and the refreshing touch that she is providing me with through her writing.
And this book wasn't an exception and i had so many expectations of her after the Brayshaw series and she met them all!!!

"Who am I kidding... there is no preparing for a guy like him.
Fake feelings or not."


Guys, it's time for you to meet Demi and Nico...
Two wonderful kids with many parental issues that are about to fake date... Or not??? Ugh???
Well, i loved these two very much...
Nico was the broody, silent guy who is making you hot and bother just because he exists and Demy was so carefree and wonderful when the opportunity to be like that was showing up...
These two used to spoke to each other some years ago, after all they are neighbors, but then Nico stopped every interaction with Demy and life just go on...

“He thinks he’s a candy bag and all girls have his kind of sweet tooth, and when you don’t, you’re as worthy as a wallflower.”

"Seems the boy knows you better than you think."
Does he?


Now, they are becoming partners at school and even though, Demy is not very happy with this arrangement, she can't do anything for that...
And since that moment, Nico seems to be everywhere around her and he is proposing a strange arrangement that will benefit both of them...
She will win the one that she wants and he is claiming that he has his own reasons...
Will this fake dating will be beneficial after all or it will comfuse things furthermore???

"You're supposed to act like you want me. That is your job."
After a moment I nod, reiterating what he said to me before, "Make people believe this."
He shakes his head, reaching up to tuck a loose piece of my hair behind my ear.
"No?"
"No," he confirms. "Not people... Me. Make me believe it, D."

"When I think of her, I want more.
When I touch her, I hate to stop.
When I look at her, I see mine.
I need her to feel the same."


I loved Demy very much... She had her own issues to face, but she was always so nice and easygoing... I loved how she were with her friends... and I liked how devoted she was to dancing...
I also liked how she was when she was with Nico...
Nico had serious problems in his life... And he didn't want to drag Demy or anyone into them...
He just needed his peace, but he is about to lose it... once and for all.
I love how well he was playing this game... I liked how he tricked Demy to participate...
And even though he wasn't admitting it, he had so much things to gain from this arrangement... and that was showing through out the book all the time... Slip of the tongue, i guess!!!

"My little Pixie... An elusive unattainable creature. Can hardly see it. Can't possibly catch it... Could never keep it."

"This is a problem because I no longer want to fake date Nico. I sort of want to keep him."


Well, i loved this story and this couple very much...
I loved the intensity and the connection between them...
I loved how beautiful they were fitting together...
I even loved their stubborness and bad decisions...
I loved the feels and the anticipation that i was having through out the reading process...
And I loved their friends very much!!!

"Even if we had to fake it to make it, I was sure of..."

"Even when you had no fuckin’ clue… you were my baby."


Oh no!!! Don't you dare to think that i loved everyone in here...
There were persons that i hated with all my guts and that i would love to put some sense inside their shitty heads several times!!!
Bahaha... But that's the beauty of reading!!! To love and to hate so intensely!!!

"I need to distance myself of Nico because...
When he says it's time to break, I just might.
He and I, we're nothing.
Fake as the smile I'll wear today."


***I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC copy of this book.***
Profile Image for Weronika -  Little Steamy Reads.
633 reviews102 followers
January 25, 2020
„Even when you had no fuckin’ clue… you were my baby.”


NO. FREAKING. WORDS. This is exactly the proof why Meagan took New Adult romance world like a hurricane and turned it upside down. Her writing style is flawless. Her stories are unputdownable. Her characters are perfectly imperfect and instantly likeable. FITYBI is absolutely amazing. I was captivated right from the first page and I couldn’t put this book down even for a second. Nico and Demi made me completely obsessed with their story!


This new world Brandy has created instantly sucked me in. I swooned, I laughed, I got pissed and got all hot and bothered. FITYBI has everything perfectly balanced- it has suspense, angst, steam and sweetness. Secrets that have been kept throughout the storyline has me at the edge of the seat, while at the same time I was immensely enjoying Demi and Nico’s relationship development. But Meagan Brandy, completely in her style, was throwing curveballs every now and then and those unexpected twists often left me stunned and speechless. And that made piecing the whole picture so much sweeter!

Nico has my heart. There are no words to describe my love for this guy. He’s stubborn, persistent and a little hot-headed. He’s also guarded and at first he seems aloof, but as we get to know him we see that it’s a mask he wears. With all walls down he’s a caring, sweet and resolute guy. Did I mention that he’s sexy AF and I wanted to climb him like a tree from the very beginning?

Demi is a loveable girl, always nice and dutiful, but she has also inner strenght that shows exactly when it's needed. That girl definitely knows which battles she needs to fight and when to let go. I loved that she was so down-to-earth but also fierce at the same time.

These two were so much more than just a fake relantionship. Their chemistry was electrifying and sexual tension was combustible. I was constantly biting my lip when they were together and every turn in their relationship left me gasping. I adore them separately, but there are no words to express my love for them as a couple!


Fake It ‘Til You Break It is perfect in every way- it has unique storyline, characters to die for, surprising and thrilling plot-twists. It’s delicious, intense and sexy as hell. Meagan Brandy has created another addicting and brilliant story that’s a MUST READ!




*ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for ✩ Mira ✩.
94 reviews157 followers
September 14, 2020
4 stars

When I think of her, I want more.
When I touch her, I hate to stop.
When I look at her, I see mine.


this book really is that bitch™ - high-school romance, fake dating, neighbours, a dash of enemies-to-lovers, pining for YEARS from the hero and some (i'll admit) pretty interesting drama (which still was as preposterous as you'd expect in a hs romance)

I'll admit, going into Fake It 'Til You Break It, I didn't expect to like it all that much, I am often disappointed with high-school romances yet somehow I can't stop myself from reading more and more BUT reading this one had me


The Characters
Nico

uuuummmm the model on the cover??

as if there was a chance i wasn't going to like the hero when i imagined him looking like THAT


No, really, I loved Nico. He was just my type of sad boi, an asshole to everyone but his significant other and honesty that shit just does it or me. He was far from perfect. This boy was possessive™, deeply untrusting and sometimes acted like you know....a man, but like the stupid things men do, yk, I really have no other way to describe it. Yet, I couldn't help but adore him, his not so good qualities made him even better in my eyes.

Homeboy had been pining for her for YEARS


Demi

Demi was also an amazing character. I loved how she never did what Nico expected her to, no matter how much of an asshole he was, she stood by her choices, she defended what and who she wanted and never betrayed him. She was really smart and logical, and I agreed with her every time.
I really don't have much else to say, she never stooped low and was an icredibly good character, and I admire her.

The Romance
demi for the first 50% of the romance:


Okay, let's talk fake dating. The way it's usually done is that both charaters are reluctant to do it, but proceed with it because they have something to gain from it. Well, in Fake It 'Til You Break It it's even better because while Nico is the one to suggest it, it is never fake for him. Back to what I said before, he has wanted her since before freshman year. You could see how real it was for him and it gave me all he feels!! The pining!!!!!!

Now, I'll admit, he does manipulate her a bit to get her into the arrangement BUT it's in the name of love, so I'll just pretend I didn't notice it.


Actually, how Nico and Demi first end up together is by being paired by their chamistry teacher who apparently did this thorough research on each individual student just so that he could pair them into perfect opposites and he has them spend half of the lessons in different locations across the school 'getting to know their partners' and doing ZERO chemistry

I mean, I'd be more likely to accept that if it were psychology or something, but chemistry????? Also whoever that teacher is


Except for the slow and honestly a bit weird beginning, once the fake dating commenced I ate that shit up.

Them being together and slowly sharing more and more and getting closer and them kissing 'to keep up the charade' and then accepting that it's all been real.


There was one essential thing missing here through, namely, the grovelling.

"You didn't have to break me to win."


Nico acted shitty quite a few times and while, yes, most of the times, you could say that he did what he did because of his issues, it still doesn't excuse his attitude. Yet, somehow, Demi was always the one who ended up apologizing or trying to mend their relationship...

In coclusion, Fake It 'Til You Break It is a great fake-dating romanance with a dash of something more added in. A quick read that made me swoon, definitely recommend it if you're looking for something similar.
Profile Image for GimmeAllTheWerdssss.
592 reviews238 followers
Shelved as 'never-gonna-read'
February 5, 2020
MB basics ---

Manwhore Hero - there's ALWAYS OW drama and the Hero is ALWAYS extremely experienced...most of the time we get to know just "how" experienced he is.

Heroine is either a virgin, basically a virgin, or if she has any experience we don't get any information about it. I figure if its good for the goose then its good for the gander but apparently while MB feels the need to share explicit details of the hero's sex life all we get told is that the heroine has had sex.

When the inevitable drama happens and the H/h split the Hero will never apologize to a satisfactory level. You will NEVER see him grovel. What you WILL see however is the heroine rolling over and just taking him back.

Sorry...I've tried with a handful of MB books and they're all the same so I'm out....
Profile Image for Dora Koutsoukou (hiatus).
1,951 reviews560 followers
May 22, 2022
2,5 ❤️😔⭐️s

I am very glad for all the readers who read this story and loved it. However I can not share their feelings.

I struggled to finish it, couldn’t be invested in the story nor the characters, as simple as that.
Profile Image for Bookgasms Book Blog.
2,837 reviews1,429 followers
January 28, 2020
LAWWWWWWD! When Meagan Brandy said Fake It 'Til You Break It (FITYBI) was a fake relationship story with a twist she really wasn't kidding. Good Lord was this story amazing. Nico and Demi were #EveryDamnThing and then some! This story had sexual tension in SPADES! And Nico? Ummmm I may secretly love him just as much as Big Man! His swagger, his possessive nature and his chemistry with Demi was fireeeee. They seriously burned up the pages with their connection!

I have been a fan of this author for a while but when I heard she was writing outside of the Brayshaw world I was intrigued. But honestly? This book just legit came out of nowhere and knocked me flat out! And all I can say is Effin Meagan Brandy Angst, man. It kills me (and my stomach) every damn time!! I might have thrown my kindle more times than I could count because the secrets and shocking twists and turns between Nico and Demi could rival a rollercoaster. 

Overall, I loved this story so much. The love, the friendships, the passion, the angst and the gut punching revelations made this an amazing five star ride from beginning to end! 5 stars! ~Ratula ❤
Profile Image for Syndi.
3,135 reviews911 followers
June 16, 2020
What do I know? When I picked this book, I do not have much expectation since I know this is a YA novel. To my surprise I end up loving it so much.

This book somehow manage to blend a mature YA characters and their drama. Their family background, high school's drama feel very real to me. It is not OTT plot with an inmature characters.

The plot build in nicely and every secondary characters have their role in the lie, betrayal, secret and twist. Drama, drama, drama.

I love Demi and Nico coming together. Teraing apart their walls and finally see who they really are for each other.

Overall this is a wonderful wonderful book.

5 stars
Profile Image for FictionalDen.
254 reviews240 followers
August 15, 2020
What the fuck did I just read
Honestly I didn’t even read the whole thing after they started “fake dating” I just started skipping five chapters and was skimming through.

So lets just start by saying our MG Demi has had a thing for a boy named Alex for two years now but he never pays attention to her, flirts with her when they are alone but in public acknowledges her as just a classmate.

Senior year she decides to finally make a move on him, but then Nico comes into the picture our Hero. They were childhood friends I believe but suddenly after 8th grade stopped talking. So many years past by where they hardly ever talked but now they end up being chem partners for the rest of the year. She is annoyed because she wanted to be Alex’s partner and Nico is angry because she is too blind to see that Alex doesn’t want her.

So he decides to help her with his own ulterior motive (which was sooo obvious that he likes her) and they both start fake pretend dating. Because Alex has a sort off rivalry with Nico. He wants everything Nico has including the girls he fucks. So once they start fake dating Alex obviously starts noticing Demi and now finally wants her. I mean how many wattpad books did we read with the same plot?

PLOT TWIST
DEMI ENDS UP FALLING FOR NICO AND THEY START ACTUALLY DATING. So didn’t see that coming but then Nico gets very angry when he gets to know Demi is not a virgin and she lost it TWO YEARS a go to a guy named Trent who is Nico’s best friend AND who is also currently dating and madly in love with on off Demi’s friend. BUT NICO DOESNT CARE HE IS ANGRY THAT HE IS NOT HER FIRST AND TRENT IS.
But finally when his man ego or whatever is not hurt anymore he goes to her and apologizing blah blah and then they are back together.

THEN COMES THE OTHER PLOT TWIST
We get to know why Alex has always hated Nico? Because he is his stepbrother and always wanted everything Nico has, love if the parents, the popularity and all the girls. THAT is why Nico stopped talking to Demi after 8th grade because he was so in love with her but scared that Alex will steal Demi from him because he isn’t good enough. AND THEN DEMI COMES TO A CONCLUSION THAT NICO ONLY FAKE DATED HER TO GET BACK AT ALEX FOR TAKING EVERYTHING FROM HIM. But then later Nico goes to her and tells her no baby I always wanted to. I was scared I thought you would leave me for him that’s why I fake dated you so that you could finally see me and like me and blah blah blah.

”Don’t play, baby.”
“Tell me I am,” I rasp.
When his brows dip, I continue.
“Your baby.” My eyes hit his. “For reals, not for fakes. For keeps, not for now.”


🤮
August 4, 2023
Can’t buy me love!



The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙💚❤️💜
Steam: 🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙📔
World building: 🌏🌍🌏🌎
Character development: 🤓😉☺️😍🥰
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Dual Narration

The heroine: Demi Davenport - in Chemistry, lab partners are assigned, and Demi expects to be assigned to Alex, the guy who is second in their class and has been her partner for the last two years, but instead is assigned to Niko Sykes. Demi isn’t a fan of Niko, especially since he bit her in the third grade. When she is mooning over Alex, Niko tells her not to bother as Alex is already chasing after another girl.

The Hero: Niko Sykes - he is a tall, handsome football god in their high school. He has an on again, off again girlfriend. He lives in the hour behind Demi Davenport’s. They were friends as kids but haven’t been for a long time. He loves to rile her up.

The Story: Though Demi really dislikes Niko, she can see how attractive he is and can’t help herself from watching when she sees him in his hot tub with a girl through her bedroom window. Of course, he sees her watching and gives her the business the next day at school. The next few weeks at school go in a similar way, with them getting thrown together at different times and not getting along too well. Though it becomes obvious that he has more interest in her than he pretends.

When he sees that Demi is interested in his teammate and nemesis Alex, he offers her a proposition to have a fake relationship. He tells her that acting desperate isn’t the way to get Alex’s attention. That he won’t want her if getting her is too easy. That Alex only wants what belongs to someone else. So she agrees and they fake it.



I call the fake high school relationship romance the ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’ trope. I used to love that movie. Like the movie, this one is a bit juvenile in parts, though what else can you expect from a high school romance. It was pretty obvious to the reader that despite his reputation and the fact that he had the on again, off again romance with Josie, he has had a crush on Demi for quite a while and this was his way to get her attention. Though Demi had no clue. The book gets better as it goes on and there is some relationship drama as well as family drama with each of the main characters.

This book was told in dual points of view via dual narration. It was narrated by Christian Fox and Jennifer Mack. Jennifer Mack’s voice isn’t my favorite but isn’t too annoying. She is able to show emotion through her voice, but there is something about her voice that I don’t really like. Christian Fox has a great voice and does a terrific job.

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Profile Image for Melanie (mells_view).
1,777 reviews364 followers
December 14, 2020
Cute fake date high school read.

I thought this was a cute fake date to lovers. Demi and Nico both have their own intentions when starting the fake date relationship, and I think it’s pretty obvious where it’s all headed and how each of them actually feels. Anyway. I rated this a three, because it did feel like something was missing for me. I can’t really explain what, but it felt like it was like at the top of the hill, but the story never quite climbed over it for me. Still good and entertaining, but yeah.
Profile Image for ABookLover73.
375 reviews217 followers
February 8, 2020
#DEMIANDNICO4EVER

FIVE "FAKE" STARS for Demi and Nico 💖💙💖💙!!!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

After I've read the "Brayshaw High" series, I had big expectations from Meagan and her next book.

And she did it again.

Meagan absolutely amazed me with this book and made me fall in love with her writing again.

"Fake It 'Til You Break It" is a high school romance book with a fake relationship trope.

Demi is a female character you usually don't meet in books. She is everything that one a mean girl needs to be.

But, she is not a mean girl.

Yes, she is a cheerleader, smart and beautiful...

But, she is also a sweet and shy girl who is scared to ask the boy she has a crush on if he is interested in her too...

I really loved her and she was a surprise after Raven who is the complete opposite of her.

Nico from the other hand is the male character you will fall in love with as soon as you meet him.

I loved his protective side for Demi.

Demi and Nico's relationship, though it was false from the beginning, it was everything.

It was a real one without them even being aware of it.

I loved their chemistry.

If you're looking for a high school romance book and you also love Meagan Brandy's writing style, then this is BOOK FOR YOU!!!

Highly recommended!!!
Profile Image for Rochelle ♡.
386 reviews210 followers
February 25, 2020


Fake romance with irresistible slow burn, subtle opposites attract and the faintest hint of hate to love made me fall in love with Fake It ‘Til You Break It. Meagan Brandy created an absolute and distinctive new adult romance in creative, near flawless execution it enthralled me in the best ways conceivable. Grabbed my attention and didn’t relent. With a carefully crafted narrative and brilliant structure, she’s delivered a delightfully unique romance I devoured and consumed!

When I think of her, I want more. When I touch her, I hate to stop. When I look at her, I see mine.


Different from your standard teen heroine, Demi’s smart with an interest to succeed and dedicates herself to achieve; she’s known around school without turning into a devious character; and she’s sexually experienced and confident, a distinct contrast from your standard untouched ‘perfect’ heroine. Sweet and mature, Demi is also fierce sassiness and resolute attitude when needed.

Nico is an antithesis of Demi: hot-headed, stubborn and the broodiest, most cautious footballer. Beneath his surface of disinterest and aloofness though, there’s a hidden affectionate and sweetened side to this hero that astonished me. I couldn’t contain the butterflies in my stomach, or prevent my emotions from spiralling when we discover the reasons behind this sudden faux romance and realise there’s kindness behind the coldness.

This is a problem because I no longer want to fake date Nico. I sort of want to keep him.

When Demi and Nico transitioned from an uncertain convenience into something more momentous, the slow burn that kindled and crackled across the scenes left me with countless positive feelings. It felt as if my heart would burst from excitement as the slow burn, filled with so much flirtatious banter and sexual tension simmered into an intense connection. I adore the way the romance bloomed and flourished.

You don't have to be looking to find the best fucking thing for you.
Sometimes all you have to do is open your eyes and realize it found you first.


Meagan Brandy transcended standard high school romance and restored my belief that it is more than self-entitled kids with absurd wealth, another dark romance with kids that terrorise others or the overused miscommunication enemies to lovers narrative. She introduced some memorable dynamics, executed massive narrative twists with precision and inserted serious chemistry that crackled across the chapters.



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Profile Image for NMmomof4.
1,587 reviews4,257 followers
January 10, 2021
3 Stars

Overall Opinion: This had been on my tbr list for a while so I thought I’d give it a go. I enjoyed myself and got through it, but just barely tbh. I was confused when all the secrets were finally revealed. I didn’t fully understand the H’s motives and actions. If I’m being frank, it seemed like an attempt to have a bully type romance where the H has a love/hate relationship with the h but it fell short somewhere. I also didn’t feel like there were enough interactions with just them connecting to understand their shift into not pretending any longer. Overall I didn’t hate it, but it was just okay for me.

Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Demi and Nico’s story. They are back-yard neighbors and have known each other for many years. When Nico offers to pretend to be Demi’s boyfriend so she can get another boys attention, Demi is shocked because he hadn’t talked to her in a few years even though they have mutual friends. She accepts his arrangement and they start the charade. Feelings start to develop and the lines start to blur. There is some drama, a few sexy scenes...and they get a HFN ending.

Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Demi and Nico’s POV.

Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.

Instalove: No, they’ve known each other for years.

H (Hero) rating: 3 stars. Nico. I thought he was okay. I didn’t like his agenda and once it all came out, it left me confused as to his motives.

h (heroine) rating: 4 stars. Demi. I liked her. I appreciated how she was nice to everyone even when provoked (and not in a doormat way)

Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed

Push/Pull: Yes

Heat level: Good/mild. They have some tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but only a few scenes and not so much it takes away from the story. They aren’t intimate until ~80%, so it’s what I would call a slow burn.

Descriptive sex: Yes

OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes

Sex scene with OW or OM: Yes

Cheating: Not between mcs

Separation: Yes

Possible Triggers: Yes

Closure: This had a cute epilogue that I would classify as a HFN ending but I’m sure others would be fine in calling this a HEA

Safety: This one should be either Safe or Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences
Profile Image for kendyl ʚ♡⃛ɞ (semi-hiatus).
157 reviews1,825 followers
March 29, 2023
this book was a solid 3.5 stars. where are my one tree hill besties at?!?! guys when i tell you this couple reminded me of nathan scott and haley james…my absolute FAVORITE couple in that show. nico and demi are so cute omg. i absolutely adored demi🥺such a sweet girl. and nicooooo🤭🤭i absolutely adored him too. it’s just the little things he did for her🥺ALSO what he did so he didn’t lose her (you have to read the book to understand) but guys🥺🥺🥺it made me sad and mad omg. i definitely recommend this book is you love the fake dating trope…i couldn’t give this book 4 stars simply because it’s just not my favorite trope. also because there were like three characters in the book that i fucking despised….like they were just so irritating. if this book was focused solely on the couple, i would’ve easily given this book 4 stars so that’s why i recommend reading it especially if you love meagan brandy as much as i do🫶🏼





SPOILER WARNING besties stop reading now if you haven’t read this book🫶🏼





y’all. this guy alex. such a fucking lame. i cannot tell you how much i despise him and everything he had to do with this book, like boy get out of here. i literally just wanted to throw this book so far across my room every time i saw his name……..my heart literally broke for nico and demi. literally hate nico’s dad and demi’s mom omg. absolutely adored nico’s mom and demi’s dad tho. guys i was so pissed finding out that alex was nico’s step brother…it was just so annoying and the fact that he literally would successfully take everything nico had/wanted. that’s why he stopped talking to demi when they were kids :((((((((((((( SICK it’s just the way nico always wanted her but was afraid he’d lose her to alex. shit pissed me off so badddd. this book was good, i just feel that the only thing i liked about it was the couple which is fine because they’re the main characters, but i just felt that the plot could’ve been better and the writing too. say you swear will always be my number 1🤭🫶🏼
Profile Image for Elisabetta Veneziani.
784 reviews32 followers
June 13, 2020
4,5 ⭐️
Adorato!! 😍😍😍 Perché io non ho mai conosciuto un Nico al liceo?!?!? Perché?!?! 😖😖
Ho odiato non avere troppo tempo a disposizione perché altrimenti questo libro me lo sarei divorato, mi ha preso da subito, ho apprezzato molto lo stile di scrittura dell’autrice che ti tiene incollato alle pagine, ho amato i personaggi ed era da mesi che uno young adult non mi piaceva così, peccato solo per il finale che mi ha convinto un po’ meno rispetto al resto, però assolutamente consigliato!!
Profile Image for Heather❀Kiss The Pages❀.
710 reviews296 followers
August 21, 2020
From the beginning of this book, the whole basis of the "fake" relationship just didn't make sense for me. The heroine is trying to get another guy jealous so she has her reasons. We don't understand fully why the hero wants to help her. In fact he acted like he either hated her or was secretly in love with her. Neither of those things explain why he would want to help her get the attention of another guy. The confusion just gets worse from here. There are lots of secrets, twists and turns. However rather than create that great high school angst, it ended up exasperating me because I was just in a constant state of confusion while reading this. The storyline didn't flow well and the characters' personalities were giving me whiplash. Just to reiterate I was in a constate state of confusion during this book and so the last few chapters I just kind of lost interest and skimmed till the end.
Profile Image for Karen Mc .
984 reviews770 followers
April 21, 2020



Here I sit after a binge of four Meagan Brandy books and I still want—no NEED—MORE. More of Brandy’s breathtakingly beautiful and brilliantly wielding words. More of her captivating characters. More of her carefully crafted and creatively plotted worlds. More of what this master storyteller and a new favorite author of mine pens into words.




Meagan Brandy delivers big in FAKE IT ‘TIL YOU BREAK IT, a can’t-put-it-down devilishly delight of a YA romance with ALL THE FEELS. This book was my DRUG and I could not inhale it fast enough. Amusing. Arousing. Angst-filled. Addicting. I was so CAPTIVATED and CONSUMED that I devoured—more like demolished—this romance in one sitting! I couldn’t put it down!

A little of her would never be enough. A taste would only leave me starved.


Fake It ‘Til You Break It. With its laugh-out-loud banter, witty dialogue, playful plot, compelling characters with fire-hot chemistry, enticing enemy-friends-lovers storyline, and slow burn that blazes the whole time reading ... what’s not to love? I fell hard for the cocky alpha of a hero with a hidden heart and the sassy beauty of a heroine who was created for him in a romance forged by fate. Demi’s sass mixed with Nico’s broody persona peppered with all the angst was off-the-charts hot. A hero and heroine who exploded together. Perfection.

He has to feel it, right?


Fake It ‘Til You Break It is FIRE fused with FEELS!!! A heady hit of heat, humor, and heart that I devoured from beginning to end. I loved it, craved it, and need more now. This romance is simply IRRESISTIBLE. A can’t miss guilty pleasure that OWNED EVERY OUNCE OF ME.

”All I saw was you.”


➡️ https://amzn.to/31ulKt2




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Profile Image for Ria.
147 reviews493 followers
May 7, 2020
Pleasantly Surprised :)

Prior to this book I have never finished a book by this author, for some reason I couldn’t connect with her writing style. Then Nico & Demi happened....

I hardly ever read fake relationship tropes because let’s be honest they kinda suck....then there was the fact that it’s teenagers. I feel like this book had so many things stacked against it but it was actually well executed.

" I’m what she wants, and what my baby wants, she gets. “

I loved Nico, he’s one of my favorite teen H’s that I read in a really long time. I also really loved Demi, especially in the end. She’s a boss ass bitch and she takes no shit from anyone. I love how she stood up for herself and Nico.

Shockingly I don’t have a lot to say about this book, just that it was well written and I enjoyed it.
I definitely recommend!!

4 Beautiful Stars


“Don’t play, baby.” “Tell me I am,” I rasp. When his brows dip, I continue. “Your baby.” My eyes hit his. “For reals, not for fakes. For keeps, not for now.”
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