Hate to fake it to you

While Libby Lane's everyday life as a waitress in Hawaii is nothing special, she enjoys putting on her influencer alter ego Lillibet, who boasts about her extravagant self-care rituals and extremely healthy lifestyle on social media. Her posts are all in good fun until they catch the attention of Hildy Johnson, who wants to visit Libby in person and offer her a job as a writer for her new media platform. Suddenly, Libby is scrambling to make her pretend "Love, Lillibet" life look real for Hildy--which includes a fancy house, a fake husband, and her friends acting as the hired help. They need to keep the ruse going long enough for Libby to secure the job, but an unexpected connection between Libby and the photographer accompanying Hildy throws a wrench in the plans. Inspired by the screwball comedies of Hollywood's golden age, this madcap rom-com offers plenty of hijinks. The characters feel like sketches more than fully realized people, but the Hawaiian setting and lighthearted tone may appeal to readers looking for a beachy romance.

YA author Sellet's adult debut (after By the Book) attempts to raise the curtain on the world of over-the-top lifestyle influencers through comedic pratfalls but both the humor and the romance fall flat. Libby Lane, a sometimes waitress and aspiring writer living in Oahu, maintains an online persona named Lillibet, a vapid, rich influencer offering meaningless meditative clichés and silly skin care tips. When Lillibet is approached by semi-famous Hildy Johnson, a young professional from a media dynasty family, with an offer to expand Lillibet's brand, Libby and friends scramble to make Libby's life appear to match the one she posts online and keep Hildy from learning the truth. Their scheme is complicated by Libby's attraction to Hildy's travel companion, wildlife photographer Jefferson, who's introduced as Hildy's boyfriend. Unbeknownst to Libby, however, the relationship between Jefferson and Hildy is a ruse designed to lend Hildy credibility. The result is that everyone is lying to everyone else, leaving readers with no one to root for. Jefferson feels particularly one-dimensional, making it hard to see him as a romantic hero. The slapstick comedy attempts to emulate classic screwball romances, but without an emotional core to keep things grounded, this disappoints. Agent: Bridget Smith, JABberwocky Literary. (July)

Beginning as a joke and an outlet to hone their talents, three friends create a fake rich influencer personality named Lillibet, who happens to catch the eye of Hildy Johnson, beloved niece of a massive media mogul. After being rescued from an avalanche by Jefferson Jones, Hildy brings both the hot and observant Jefferson and the salivating media to find Lillibet in Hawaiʻi, hoping to create her own media empire with Lillibet as the feature. Libby, Jean, and Keoki quickly throw together a plan--fake house and fake husband for Lillibet included--and begin to put on the act of their lives in the hopes this will finally be the break they all need. With faux lovers, real feelings, hidden agendas, and imaginary lifestyles crashing together, hijinks quickly ensue, and Libby is sure it's only a matter of time before everything comes crashing down. VERDICT In her first romance book geared to adults, Sellet (Belittled Women) captures the banter and antics of an old Hollywood screwball romantic comedy while bringing the North Shore of Oahu to life. A perfect beach read.--Kellie Tilton