My Fake Rake audiobook

Wow...so I was pleasantly surprised. This was my first historical romance.My Fake Rake may have proven to little ole me that I actually might end up really enjoying historical romances. I didn't really think about the fact that a lot of them would probably end up being slow burn because of societal expectations of the time, but that's definitely right up my alley! I read a few reviews of this book before finishing it and I learned that these books may possibly be based on 80's films. If so, this definitely reminded me heavily of Can't Buy Me Love which I really enjoy! This book and the movie focus on a young woman taking the opportunity to teach her friend how to be "cool/popular." Of course in doing this both realize their attraction and fall in love. In this first book of the series, Grace enlists the assistance of anthropologist Sebastian to transfer him into rake in hopes of attracting the attention of another man. Of course, things go in a completely different direction than expected. Some of the things that I enjoyed most about this book definitely included the characters and the notations and push back against traditional societal gender roles. I loved that Grace was confident in her career as well as the exploration of her own body. There was a specific scene in which she admits to exploring her body on her own and I was here for the confidence she exuded in admitting that. It was amazing to see that placed within the framework of this book because it not only pushes back against the idea that women should be chaste and not engage in such things back then, but it also pushes back against those who still have those standards today. There were also side characters who addressed issues regarding sexism and colonialism. Leigh definitely captured two delightful souls in Grace and Seb. They are both bookworms who come off as really shy but dedicated to their work. I think that the awkwardness that they exude around each other once that attraction occurs is purely delightful. I thought it was the cutest thing ever. BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT SEB'S MOUTH DURING THAT STEAMY SCENE. All I'm going to say is that I was not expecting that AT ALL and I was here for every single word! I did have a few issues with this book in terms of plot. I like the friends to lovers trope for my own personal reasons *wink*; however, sometimes I feel like getting to the point at which they recognize that they are lovers takes too long and it felt that way for me in this book. There was a miscommunication that happens in the second half of the book that was completely unnecessary in my opinion and it extended the length of the novel. For me this creates situations where I get bored or frustrated with the characters and I felt a little frustration towards Grace and Seb. Don't get me wrong I do understand why Leigh used that as a means to get to certain aspects of the plot; however, I feel as though the communication was so minor and happened at such an awkward moment that she could have used something else. I also wish that she would have had Seb's father on page for some conflict resolution. It felt almost like it was included for plot development but then forgotten by the end of the book. Other than that I thought it was a great romance. I enjoyed Seb and Grace as a couple and I'm excited to see what else is in store with the rest of the series!

This hit the spot for me in terms of both the trope combo and the writing. The tropes were some of my favs: slow burn friends to lovers, sweet/cinnamon roll hero, STEM heroine, geeky romance, & fake dating. Tone wise, I liked that this had a light, fun perspective rather than overly angsty, even though there were some definite FEELINGS and PINING happening

Will two persons who have feelings deeper than friendship for another take the risk to damage their relationship and open their heart or will they keep their emotions shut down and risk to let happiness pass them by?This is my first book written by Mrs Eva Leigh and it won’t be the last, this book was unputdownable, why I even chastised myself for choosing to read it on a working day!Mrs Leigh has crafted a vivid tale of finding its with blood and flesh lively characters.I simply adored this rather reversal of my Fair Lady with Sebastian Holloway as Eliza Doolittle.I immediately fell in love with Mrs Leigh hero, I loved Sebastian, I rooted for him, my heart arched and broke for him, I cheered too for him! As all along his relationship moved from caring to deep love for Grace, he also found his voice and his confidence.He is not the usual alpha man so oftenly portrayed in romance novels, he is the one waiting in the shadows, the one who will notice the heroine and give his handkerchief is needed. For her, he accepted to become someone else, to face his own fears and stand by her side to make her felt desired. Even ready to fade away back in the edges of her life if necessary to provide her what she asked for.Don’t ask me why but I portrayed him as Eddie Redmayne as Newton Scamander, his gangly physic, his long frame avoiding other’s glares, his mane of hair ...« he could not consider failure. He’d been a disappointment to his family—he refused to disappoint someone he truly cared about. »For a clever woman, Lady Grace was one very slow on the uptake, she catalogued all the things she liked then loved about him as she wanted to remember them but it took her so very very long to comprehend her own feelings I wondered where her big brain has gone. She is a recognized entity in her field but really guileless reading love. But I loved her, she is just ignorant and by analyzing all her own reactions and feelings, she accepted she made a mistake, a big one. The main problem was she did acknowledge him as her friend but didn’t really saw him for the man who makes her heart beats faster, her belly flutters. She needed closeness and nearly losing him to understand how perfect he was, this man who faced his fears only for her.The period of Sebastian metamorphosis from a bookworm to a rake was quite full of witty banters and quips between the trio of friends, Grace, Seb and Rotherby, at time it was really hilarious. It was really a marvel of twists and bounces from one situation to an other.« “What I wear is serviceable enough. I’ve had this waistcoat for years.” “And it deserves some rest to repay its decade of valiant service,” Rotherby noted. “A rake is never dressed in clothing that’s old enough to marry.” »The Love triangle trope is far from my favorite as it always leaves one party hurt.And in this story, there is no vilain in this story, just a young woman who didn’t understand fully the range of her action when she jumped on the battlefields to win one man’s interest when her heart was already pulsing faster when close by an other. Why I even felt more sorry for FredericKs, as he is the underdog of the book, but stairs do gracious even in his defeat.« “I wanted Mason, but it’s Sebastian I need.” »Until the very last chapter, I was on edge, worried by Grace and Seb inability to see past their own mask, then there was this love declaration scene, one of the most beautiful I have read since long. My heart had stopped to beat for some seconds, as I was keyed up by what I was reading. This was the perfect rendition of Sebastian’s personality, a knight with or without a shining armor, who would follow to the end of the earth the woman he loved.A special mention for Rotherby, for a duke, he is quite an amazing character too, aware of his flaws and playing with them, his friendship with Sebastian was so refreshing, a peer with a commoner and this same lofty peer, a rake of a Duke, playing matchmaker for his friend.Why I was so happy to learn he will be the next rake in this series, what a fabulous hero he will make.A big fat 10 starsI was granted through Edelweiss an advance copy by the publisher Avon. I had previously to it preordered my own copy.Here is my true and unbiased opinion.https://m.facebook.com/story.php?stor...

Theyre both kind of idiots but they're cute idiots. They're outcasts and friends first but when she helps him transform into a Rake, she can't help but fall more in love with him. To his surprise, he also grows feelings for her too and now he can't seem to piece together what is happening since she's had a crush on someone else for so long. There is miscommunication and lack of communication and it gets frustrating but i really liked it. This series is also very sex positive. Nice to see our heroine not too stupid of a virgin heroine.

✨Mount me!✨I’m normally not a friends to lovers person but these two were super cute and the passion was definitely still there. I loved watching them watch the other, realizing all the small things they loved and were attracted to. I also really appreciated that her parents were kind and didn’t tell Seb to fuck off for not being titled. It was sweet and unexpected!I demand more sex! This was pretty good, and I really loved the friends to lovers here but I severely tuned out for an hour at the end bc they were separated for a long loooong time. I know Ms. Eva can write a scorcher and that’s what I was hoping for here. Seb was a shy little nugget who got a little dirty but I wanted him FILTHY. It was also super slow burn so that also intensified the need for a great great pay off when they finally banged it out. On the flip side, I always love a virgin hero moment and that could have been SO FUN here: sex advice from Rothbury, lady of dubious quality instructions, the possibilities are simply endless. I loved when her mom was like . . . that Adonis is your . . . friend??? Are you . . . okay? And when Rothbury was like “tell him” when Seb simply couldn’t believe he was attractive. On that note, his character description is my CATNIP. I’m picturing Chris Hemsworth in glasses and wow am I an artist. What a pretty picture. Glasses glasses gl-ass-es. ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5 🌶🌶🌶5/5

Sebastian Holloway has secretly adored Lady Grace Wyatt ever since sharing a pencil with her in the library they both frequent. But Sebastian is merely a poor scholar with no prospects, and Lady Grace is on a mission to make a famed naturalist she wants to wed notice her, a plan that includes molding Sebastian into a rake of the first order. But as these two bookish souls spend more and more time together, they realize that that happiness and true love may be right under their bespactacled noses.I had a grand time watching these two nerds blushingly fall in love with each other and I cannot wait to read more in this series! There are a lot of great lines, but I'll wait until I see a finished copy before quoting. I received a free ARC in exchange for a fair review.

Lady Grace Wyatt studies reptilese and amphibians. Even if it doesn't make her popular in the eye of the ton, she's confident in herself and is okay with being a wallflower. Sebastian Holloway is an anthropologist. He comes from a wealthy family but he have no fortune, since he decided to pursued his own studies and doing what he loves. He's penniless and not the most suave when it comes to social interaction. At least he have great friends that he met at Eton years ago.Sebastian also have Grace as a friend. The two of them met in a library 4 years ago and they've been meeting from time to time ever since. She might have hope for something more at the beginning but he never let on that he saw her differently than as a friend or colleague and now she have a crush on an other man. So when Grace confide in him that her father, who's not going well, wants her to marry, but that the man she wants doesn't see her like she wants to, Sebastian, in his wisdow observations of the human nature, offer to transform himself or at least, fake at being a rake to court her and makes the other man take an interest in her. But both are inexperience with rakehood so one of Sebastien's friend, the Duke of Rotherby, will come to their aid. It's all a good plan until Grace begin to realize that maybe Sebastian is the one she really needs and wants.I heard that the premise for the book or at least some inspiration came from 80's rom com and difficult not to think about Breakfast Club when you read the prologue. It's so rare we get to read moments at Eton. Usually when there's talk about attending, it's a mention or two about it by the characters so it made me happy to witness it and it was so great that I wished the prologue was longer. If I was living in London in 1817 (thank God I wasn't!), I think me and Grace would have been friends. If nerdy heroes are your Kryptonite, you'll be pleased with Sebastian! He totally charmed me anyway.

3.75 stars Definitely a cute romance, I think friends to lovers is one of the best romantic tropes and this delivered. Recommend as a light read, I did struggle with maintaining my interest halfway through. I think it's an adorable story and I was rooting for them the entire time!

Actual Rating: 4.5 starsPartway through this book (which I was already loving) I found out it was inspired by 80's teen movies and totally blew my mind! My Fake Rake is very reminiscent of Pretty in Pink (with the ending that always should have been) meets Regency romance, complete with nerdy characters, a cinnamon-roll hero who undergoes a rakish makeover, and a great friends-to-lovers slow burn romance. This made me laugh out loud on several occasions and was just a whole lot of fun. I am always a fan of romances with nerdy characters, strong friendship, and a cinnamon roll hero. This was right up my alley, so thank you to whoever recommended it to me, since I unfortunately cannot recall!

My new favorite kind of book can be summed up as "these two dummies.” It is clear to their friends that anthropologist Sebastian and herpetologist Grace have feelings for one another but it takes them much, much longer to figure it out. There was so much pining, especially on Sebastian’s part as he feels doomed to remain only friends with Grace. There’s a makeover transforming Sebastian into a rake, a scheme for Grace to catch a naturalist’s eyes, and then the dawning realization that Sebastian is really the only man she wants. It got a titch overdramatic toward the end but I didn’t mind because of how wonderful the rest was.I loved The Breakfast Club framing for the arc of the series and to introduce the strong friendship between the heroes. I can’t wait to see where it goes from here!CW: social anxiety, heroine’s father has a heart condition, brief reference to corporal punishment, heroine’s mother had complications during labor and lost ability to get pregnant, ableist line (“blind leading the bespectacled”)

Attempting to fill the Bridgerton void with other regency books— this one did an excellent job.