Welcome to my not-so-fairy-tale life, where kissing Mr. Wrong is my brilliant plan to avoid Mr. Right – or so I thought.
It’s one thing to be dumped by the guy you thought you were going to marry, but it’s quite another to move back to the small town you’re both from when he’s a huge Hollywood celebrity and you’re…not. But I need to be home right now, surrounded by the people I love, working in my new teaching job at Hunter’s Creek Elementary.
The problem is, everyone is trying to set me up with their son or their nephew or their long-lost cousin twice removed. Either that or they’re throwing me pitying looks.
What do I do? I spot the new guy in town. Christopher Young, the suit-wearing, definitely-does-not-belong-here stiff, and I go right up and kiss him. It’s…well, it’s unexpectedly nice. As in blow your socks off nice. But I’m not looking for a relationship with the guy. Not a real one, anyway.
As a temporary resident, Christopher is perfect fake boyfriend material, and just what I need to get the townsfolk off my back. The fact that he’s gorgeous in a buttoned-up kind of way and doing weird things to my blood pressure doesn’t mean a thing. Really.
Not. A. Thing.
Faking It With The Grump is a grumpy-sunshine, opposites attract, fake relationship romance set in the small town of Hunter’s Creek, Washington. It’s the first book in the new Second Chance Café series. Each book follows a different sister’s love story, and can be read as a standalone novel or as part of a series.
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Praise for Faking It With the Grump:
“Small town, fake relationship, grumpy sunshine. All my favorite tropes wrapped up in one gorgeous, feel-good rom com.” –USA Today bestselling author, Whitney Dineen
“What a charming rom com! I have already packed my bags, ready to move to Hunter’s Creek.” – bestselling author, Melanie Summers
“Escape to the charming small town of Hunter’s Creek in this hilarious and heart-warming rom com.” –USA Today bestselling author, Delancey Stewart
Reader’s LOVE Faking It With the Grump:
“Like a Hallmark movie with much better kissing.” – Bookstagrammer
“L-O-V-E-D this book!” – Amazon reviewer
“Um, how can a book be so dang cute?” – Goodreads reviewer
“Oh what joy, what a brilliant start to a new series, I have already packed my bags ready to move to Hunter’s Creek.” – Goodreads reviewer
“The pacing, writing, and characters were perfect. I read this in a couple of hours. I just could not put it down.” – Goodreads reviewer
“This is a Hallmark movie in a book (which the book even pokes fun at), and I am so here for it.” – Amazon reviewer
“Faking It With the Grump by Kate O’Keeffe is the perfect mix of romance in the does she/does he style — just adorable.” – Bookbub reviewer “This was the perfect book. I devoured it. Loved the chemistry and the slow burn. Loved the small town. I was smiling the whole time I was reading. I can’t wait for the second in the series. Everything about this book was perfection. I didn’t want the book to end!” – Amazon reviewer
“This book was sweetness times two. I loved the premise, the characters, the community, the conflict, the slow burn, the groveling, the drama, the reconciliation, and the conclusion.” – Amazon reviewer
“What do you get when you mix together opposites attract, grumpy/sunshine, fake dating, and slow burn tropes, and then you add a cute Hallmark vibe to it? An absolutely adorable story, that’s what!” – Apple reviewer
Titles in the Sisters & Sweethearts series:
Each title in the series can be read as a standalone as each book is about one of the three Cole sisters, Harper, Ryn, and Marlowe. If you want to read them in order, here it is:
Book 1: Faking It With the Grump
Book 2: Faking It With My Best Friend
Book 3: Faking It With the Guy Next Door
Below are some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Faking It with the Grump
What is Faking It with the Grump about?
Faking It with the Grump is a fun, feel-good romcom starring Harper Cole, a recently dumped schoolteacher who returns to her small hometown—only to fake date the most buttoned-up guy in town to stop everyone from setting her up. What starts as a public kiss with a stranger quickly spirals into fake dating chaos… and possibly something real.
Who is Harper Cole?
Harper Cole is one of three sisters in the Cole family, each of whom gets her own love story in the Sisters & Sweethearts series. She’s a dedicated teacher, recently heartbroken, and not looking for love—especially not with someone as grumpy (and handsome) as Christopher Young.
Who is the “grump” in Faking It with the Grump?
That would be Christopher Young—suit-wearing, emotionally unavailable, and very much not small-town boyfriend material. But when Harper kisses him in a moment of desperation, he unexpectedly agrees to play the part… and may just steal the show.
Who are the main characters inFaking It with the Grump?
Christopher Young and Harper Cole are the main characters, total opposites who fake date one another for their own individual reasons.
Is Faking It with the Grump part of a series?
Yes! It’s book one in the Sisters & Sweethearts series, set in the cozy small town of Hunter’s Creek, Washington. Each book focuses on one of the three Cole sisters and their journey to love. You’ll meet them all in every book, but each story can be read as a standalone.
Do I need to read the other Sisters & Sweethearts books first?
Not at all! Faking It with the Grump kicks off the series and is a complete standalone with a full happily ever after. If you love it, you can keep reading to discover the stories of Harper’s sisters.
Is Faking It with the Grump a closed-door romance?
Yes! Like all of Kate O’Keeffe’s romances, it’s sweet and closed-door. Expect all the swoony tension, kissing, and emotional intimacy—with zero on-page heat.
What tropes are in Faking It with the Grump?
Tropes galore for your romcom-loving heart:
- Fake dating
- Grumpy/sunshine
- Small-town romance
- Opposites attract
- One impulsive kiss
- Found family and sister bonds
Where is Faking It with the Grump set?
The book is set in Hunter’s Creek, a fictional small town in Washington state. Think charming shops, nosy neighbors, and plenty of cozy small-town vibes.
Is there a happy ending?
Absolutely. Expect a satisfying HEA with heart, humor, and maybe a little swooning over Mr. Grump himself.
Who would enjoy this book?
Fans of small-town settings, fake dating antics, sweet slow-burn romance, and sisterly banter will love Faking It with the Grump.
Where can I read Faking It with the Grump?
You can grab the ebook on Amazon and it’s on Kindle Unlimited, too. The paperback is available at all online retailers, and the audiobook is available wherever you get your audiobbok,s including libraries. Faking it with the Grump is perfect for curling up with something sweet and satisfying.