[Sita’s Review]: Faker by Sarah Smith

Debut author Sarah Smith nails this fun and sexy multicultural romance where two office foes hammer out their differences to build a love that will last...

Emmie Echavarre is a professional faker. She has to be to survive as one of the few female employees at Nuts & Bolts, a power tool company staffed predominantly by gruff, burly men. From nine to five, Monday through Friday, she's tough as nails--the complete opposite of her easy-going real self.

One thing she doesn't have to fake? Her disdain for coworker Tate Rasmussen. Tate has been hostile to her since the day they met. Emmie's friendly greetings and repeated attempts to get to know him failed to garner anything more than scowls and terse one-word answers. Too bad she can't stop staring at his Thor-like biceps...

When Emmie and Tate are forced to work together on a charity construction project, things get...heated. Emmie's beginning to see that beneath Tate's chiseled exterior lies a soft heart, but it will take more than a few kind words to erase the past and convince her that what they have is real.

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

“Not everything needs to be a powerful statement about character or society or whatever. Sometimes, things are the way they are and nothing more” – Sarah Smith, ‘Faker’

This quote that popped up while I was reading and basically shouted at me on how I was feeling. I’m sorry I was really wanting to love this book but I couldn’t help but be underwhelmed and a little bored.

And it’s a perfectly fine book. And for a debut, it’s a damned good start.

But I just couldn’t connect with what was happening. Which is weird because it was built up with a lot of elements I can totally relate too and appreciate reading in a book. An MC person of colour. A MC who is intensely introverted – same here, a big ol’ 98% Introvert on my Myers-Briggs test. Close quarters. An array of workmates you both adore and dislike immensely. A love of mangoes. Having a small circle of trusted people. Having a ‘fake it ‘til you make it’ attitude to get through the day.

Both Emmie and Tate were solid, likable characters to know. And as Emmie learns more about Tate and falls for him, I fell for him. He dishes out some swoony one-liners in there. 

And the momentum of the story didn’t flounder anywhere 

All of that sounds great right?!

Right!!!

So what’s wrong?

All of those fantastic elements but it’s like a puzzle that had been pieced together slightly wrong. There wasn’t anything tying everything together. Something to break that barrier from just witnessing something happening somewhere ‘over there’ to really being in the thick of it all, to living in it right there with those characters. 

I think this will vary from reader to reader. Like I said, so many wonderful things, and they obviously stood out for me notice. And others out there will love what this author has created. For me, it was missing something – maybe the lack of humour throughout to brighten up the whole story – but not everyone needs what I do in a book.

A good debut.  Maybe not for me. But I can appreciate it will appeal greatly for others.

Sita

New Zealand born and bred. Likes to read or Netflix, sometimes both at the same time.