The Cheat Sheet

Ok, here's my dilemma with this book: I love love love fake dating stories, but I Do Not Like Friends to Lovers. (yes, the capitalization on that is important)

I requested The Cheat Sheet because if I see fake dating mentioned anywhere I have to read it. As such, that's my main concern in this review.

So, how was the fake dating? Mediocre to Terrible

My opinion, as mentioned, is tainted by my dislike of friends to lovers. It took a while to get to the fake dating, and we already know at this point the main characters have been in love with each other for nearly a decade (I can't remember the ages of the characters, so that's a rough estimate. They could be thirty, they could be twenty (they act more like teenagers so it's hard to judge)).
The Cheat Sheet featured many of the aspects of Friends to Lovers that make me dislike the trope. The central premise of the book is that Nathan and his friends come up with a list of things to try to get Bree to see him in a romantic light. Aka – getting out of the friendzone. A plus of this situation – he's fairly sure she might have feelings for him already. A negative – it gives me the ick. I can't express well what puts me off, but the fact they don't just sit down and have a conversation now that they're grown adults and both single is annoying. Also, it feels underhanded. Relationships change, and friends do become lovers. But it feels like a violation of trust when Nathan uses the pretense of the fake relationship to kiss, hold hands, and touch Bree when she isn't aware of his feelings and purpose. It made all my favorite parts of fake relationships feel slimy because there was a personal agenda behind it.

Another drawback: the writing. It read like mid-tier fanfiction (and no, I can't expound on that. That's just what it is) It's the kind of writing where if you're reading a fanfic of a ship you love and it's an intriguing premise, you don't care about writing as long as you can understand what's happening. When it's a published book with characters you don't already know or care about, I expect more.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.