This is such a fun romantic comedy of a book. Imagine You’ve Got Mail but in 2024, it’s a family deli instead of a bookstore, and there’s my favorite trope - fake dating. Ellie Greco runs her big Italian family’s deli in the suburbs outside Boston. Theo Taylor is the heir to their town’s wealthiest family, but he rarely agrees with his dad or his ruthless business decisions. The two of them team up to stop his dad from bringing in an Eataly-esque enterprise, which would surely put Ellie’s family deli out of business. There are hijinks, steamy moments, and plenty of family drama - good and bad. I really enjoyed reading it. 

"Love You, Mean It" by Jilly Gagnon offers a fresh spin on the "While You Were Sleeping" premise, blending it seamlessly with the fake dating trope. While I enjoyed the story, I found myself frustrated with Ellie's reluctance to confront her true feelings, despite the evident growth and self-reflection needed. It was intriguing to see Theo taking the lead in the relationship, but Ellie's inability to reciprocate, despite his clear affection, left me sympathizing with him and questioning Theo's quick forgiveness in the third-act breakup. I felt so bad for Sam, who tried to give Ellie an out sooo many times and she just wouldn't take it. Despite these flaws, "Love You, Mean It" delivers an enjoyable read with a flawed but relatable female protagonist. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.