Review: Love You, Mean It

Love You, Mean It by Jilly Gagnon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Overall, this was an entertaining book. I was a little surprised to see how much the first couple of chapters were a duplicate of "While You Were Sleeping" (which reminded me of how much I liked that movie and that I should re-watch it!), but it quickly came into its own.

It was a typical enemies to lovers, to being in love book with several different monkey wrenches thrown into the mix.

I would have liked to have seen less inner dialog, extra-long descriptions of inanimate objects, and perhaps an epilogue to see how Ellie and Theo were doing in the future.

This was a very fast read, and it appealed to me quite a bit. I tend to stay away from books like this because I think they wouldn't appeal to someone my age, but if all these types of books were written with a mix of characters like this one, I would be more tempted to read more of them.

It sure is a book that I'm going to recommend!

*ARC was supplied by the publisher Dell/Random House, the author, and NetGalley.

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SYNOPSIS: "A playful romantic comedy featuring dueling delis, fake dating, a shockingly awesome ex, and just the right amount of amnesia.

Ellie Greco wishes she weren’t stuck in Milborough. For a few brief, shining years, she escaped her hometown to pursue her dream career—designing beautiful, elaborate costumes for theater—until her father's death five years ago called her home to run the family's decades-old deli. Yes, she loves the place, but she’d always thought she was meant for more exciting things than stocking the right tinned fish. But when Ellie hears that a local landlord is planning to rent to Mangia, the glitzy gourmet food department store, Greco's Deli's very existence is suddenly in jeopardy.

She tries to plead her case to Theo Taylor, scion of the property management firm about to put her out of business, but their meeting goes from bad (it’s not her fault he’s infuriating) to worse (no one expects the ceiling to literally fall in).

With Theo out cold, Ellie panics and claims to be his fiancée… and almost passes out herself when amnesia means Theo seems to actually believe her. Soon, the effects of the head injury wear off, but Theo proposes that their “engagement” stick around. If they manage to convince enough people they might both get what they an end to the Mangia deal. Ellie doesn’t trust him (after all, if Theo Taylor wants it, how can it be good for her?) but seeing no other option, reluctantly agrees.

And miraculously, the fake engagement seems to be working—even Ted, Theo’s shrewd, cold father seems convinced—that is until Sam, Theo’s ex-fiance, reappears on the scene. Not only does she see through their ruse, she proposes an arrangement of her own, forcing Ellie to decide between blossoming friendship, her family legacy, and the burgeoning romance she frankly never asked for."