On the HahaFiction shelf
Hate to Fake It to You
Waitress Libby Lane and her friends invent Lillibet, an Instagram personality rich enough to make self-care a full-time occupation. Then media heiress Hildy Johnson arrives on Oahu with a job opportunity. Libby needs a convincing home and husband in a hurry, while Hildy’s photographer companion Jefferson makes her wish she could introduce herself honestly.
From the publisher’s blurb
“Don’t we all deserve a Me-mas once in a while?”Read the full description at Amanda Sellet, Hate to Fake It to You, chapter 1; excerpt provided by St. Martin’s Griffin
Paid link · We earn commissions from qualifying Amazon purchases. Affiliate disclosure
What makes it funny?
Libby’s opening post promotes Me-mas, a holiday devoted entirely to herself. Writing its serene lifestyle captions means trying to ignore power tools, loud Adele and the dubious contents of her refrigerator. Later, a cocktail party calls for a centerpiece assembled from driveway shells and a friend’s improvised Irish accent.
The comedy at work
The fake account gives Libby control over every detail until she has to perform its promises for visitors. Each improvised solution requires more pretending, including a marriage that gets in the way of a real attraction. Her friends help sustain the illusion while introducing complications of their own.
Try this if…
Readers who enjoy a crowded screwball romance can follow several people trying to keep their stories straight. The lifestyle-influencer spoof also offers a specific target: the labor of making an ordinary life look effortless and luxurious online.
Good to know
Sellet describes this as a very loose retelling of Christmas in Connecticut. The action moves to Hawaii, and an invented holiday takes the place of Christmas.
A few distinguishing details
- A fake influencer whose potential employer comes to visit
- Me-mas, a holiday devoted to the person celebrating it
- A Hawaiian take on a classic screwball setup
More funny contemporary romance
Sources & further reading
- Hate to Fake It to You | Macmillan
Publisher
- Publishers Weekly review
Review
- Author interview
Author commentary
- Publisher and opening excerpt
Publisher
Something we should correct? Let us know.