A review by laura_cs
Ten Rules for Faking It by Sophie Sullivan

5.0

I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Radio producer Everly Dean is having the worst birthday ever. Worse than the birthday spent in the ER. Worse than the birthday where her parents announced they were separating (for the first time). Somehow, finding your boyfriend in bed with his assistant (assisting him in an, uh, unique way) then ranting about the experience ON LIVE RADIO takes the birthday cake.

Humiliated, Everly makes a list of Rules for Faking It, AKA surviving her thirties. She'll try new things, speak up for herself, pitch her ideas at work, and generally be bold--all things that are hard to do when one has anxiety. Unexpectedly, she gets an opportunity to put her Rules to the test when her (dreamy) boss--in an attempt to save Everly's job, her best friend/DJ's job, and his own--suggests that they turn all of the incoming listener support towards Everly and offers to replace her cheating slimeball ex into a Bachlorette-style contest. Six strangers. Six dates. One second date.

Everly agrees, but try as she might, none of the men she chooses for her dates capture her heart. No, against all logic, her heart is leaning towards Chris, her boss. Who maybe hates her. Who maybe.... likes her back?

Sullivan's brilliant debut rom-com is fun, sexy, addicting, and shines a light on dating with a mental illness--in this case, anxiety. (Let's just say, I felt for Everly. A lot.) Not to mention, this is a great book about self-care, and how that often means having to set boundaries with a variety of people--to include your parents--in order to thrive. Snagging a copy of "Ten Rules for Faking It" is a great way to welcome in 2021 and set your own goals and rules for making the new year your year. Not to mention, it's a good way to laugh and swoon away the garbage fire that was 2020.