The Truth About Faking (The Truth, #1) by Leigh Talbert Moore

Nov 25, 2012 Leigh Moore rated it 5 of 5 stars · (Review from the author)

TTAF is one of the first books I ever wrote. It's a happy little love story that I hope will make readers smile, swoon, and fall in love.

Maybe it will surprise you, maybe it will share a little something about how trying to make people be what they aren't is bad and how change is good. But mostly I hope it warms your heart and spreads the joy. <3

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Sep 24, 2012 Arlene rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2012, ya-contemporary, young-adult

Rating: 3.5 Stars

I had the pleasure of receiving a copy of The Truth about Faking by Leigh T. Moore for review and after reading the synopsis I have to say I was definitely intrigued. When I jumped into this book, it took me about 50 pages or so to catch the cadence of the narrative and enjoy this light YA Contemporary novel about love, friendship and learning to live with your choices.

In this story, we meet Harley who’s had a crush on Trent for quite some time. So, she takes matters into her o...more Rating: 3.5 Stars

I had the pleasure of receiving a copy of The Truth about Faking by Leigh T. Moore for review and after reading the synopsis I have to say I was definitely intrigued. When I jumped into this book, it took me about 50 pages or so to catch the cadence of the narrative and enjoy this light YA Contemporary novel about love, friendship and learning to live with your choices.

In this story, we meet Harley who’s had a crush on Trent for quite some time. So, she takes matters into her own hands and puts a plan together to try and get his attention. She does this with the help of the new guy in school named Jason. Harley convinces him to pretend they’re dating along with a few other schemes to hopefully get Trent to notice her. As Harley and Jason become closer friends, their relationship begins to change, but Harley has too much time vested in landing Trent, that she’s not ready to abandon her plan. This all comes to a crash landing, when Harley realizes she’s been aiming for the wrong target, but is it too late to undo the damage she’s done?

Overall, I really came to like Harley’s character despite her poor assumptions and choices at times. There were awkward moments, but that only achieved to make the novel a bit more charming. I must point out that in this book, Harley is a pastor’s daughter and there were a couple of scenes where I felt it got a bit preachy, but not enough for me to abandon the story or feel uncomfortable. It was light and it was used sparingly enough to not detract from the novel. I did like how Moore incorporated Harley’s moral choices as part of her responsibility to her family and making the right decisions played a significant influence on her because of her family’s position in the community.

Jason was definitely my favorite character in this novel. He was adorable, friendly, and just an all-around-good-guy, which is always pleasant to experience in books. I liked the decisions he made and how he played his part throughout the book. Jason was perfectly crafted as the gem of this book.

As far as Trent and Ricky, I figured out that piece of the story well before the half point, but I still enjoyed watching it play out and witnessing Harley’s reaction when she discovered the truth about these two characters.

Overall, it’s a good book for YA Contemporary fans that don’t mind a delicate mix of religious influence along with a good serving of current and relatable issues. I really enjoyed this one.
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Nov 23, 2012 Emily rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: for-review, self-pubbed, kindle, oh-so-sweet, read-in-2012

2.5 stars

When we first meet Harley, she’s determined to bag a date with Trent – AKA her future husband and Mr Right. She's got it all figured out. But her carefully laid plan starts to go awry when Jason James crashes into her with his car. He’s nothing like Trent and, worse, he's completely ruining Harley's plan. As she gets to know Jason and Trent more, she starts to wonder what she really wants… Should she stick to her guns? Or should she be brave and try something new? On top of her awkward...more 2.5 stars

When we first meet Harley, she’s determined to bag a date with Trent – AKA her future husband and Mr Right. She's got it all figured out. But her carefully laid plan starts to go awry when Jason James crashes into her with his car. He’s nothing like Trent and, worse, he's completely ruining Harley's plan. As she gets to know Jason and Trent more, she starts to wonder what she really wants… Should she stick to her guns? Or should she be brave and try something new? On top of her awkward romantic life, things are complicated for Harley at home. Her mother’s suspicious relationship with one of her students is attracting attention and Harley has no idea why her mother doesn’t just put an end to all the rumours.

The Truth About Faking is a sweet contemporary YA novel with an admirable message about forgiveness and acceptance at its heart. I loved the romance between Harley and Jason – it was heart-warming but not toothache-inducing sweet. Talbert Moore writes deliciously funny dialogue à la Meg Cabot and this made the banter between Harley and Jason really fun to read. As a well-developed and interesting character, Jason was definitely the star of this novel. But unfortunately these things weren’t enough to make up for parts of the novel that didn’t work for me.

Harley makes the worst decisions. She decides to do things based on big assumptions and little logic. Most of the time I kind of wanted to reach through the screen and shake her. She’s the sort of main character that makes you want to yell, “Are you freakin’ kidding me?” I might've been able to forgive Harley's terrible decision-making skills – who hasn't done something silly over a guy before? – but she’s also pretty selfish and harsh on her parents, which made it hard to sympathise with her. I love it when characters have realistic flaws, but Harley’s redeeming qualities were few and far between.

Talbert Moore says this was one of the first novels she ever wrote, and this is reflected in the quality of the writing. Clumsy sentences made this a difficult read. This one stands out most in my memory: “Somehow, someway, something must’ve gone wrong for our special moment to have gone so wrong.” Um…what? Something went wrong because something went wrong? I can’t help but think these issues would’ve been fixed with another round or two of close editing. However, Talbert Moore definitely has a grasp on good story-telling techniques and I look forward to seeing her prose develop.

Perhaps the biggest qualm I had with TTAF was its predictability. There's a huge twist revealed towards the end, which I figured out pretty early in the book. It was so obvious to me and I thought Harley was catching on a little too slowly. This made me feel as though the story was dragging and made the whole experience quite frustrating. I really liked the concept of the twist, but I wish it had been executed better.

The interesting themes and cute romance compelled me to keep reading until the end, but bigger problems were too hard to overlook when considering my overall feelings about the novel. I'd only recommend this one for die-hard contemporary romance fans looking for a light-hearted (but not life-changing) read.

**
Thanks to the author for providing a review copy. This review and other fun things can be found at Daisy Chain Book Reviews.(less)

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Sep 11, 2012 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: indie

The Truth about Faking had all the elements of a great YA book. It had a strong story line, wonderful characters and was clean enough for a teenage girl yet entertaining enough for me! I read so many YA novels with damaged characters, which I love, but I also like this type which centers around relatively normal teenagers dealing with what life throws at them.

Harley (love that name) is a typical teenage girl. She worries about how she looks, finding the perfect boy who can give her that perfect...more
The Truth about Faking had all the elements of a great YA book. It had a strong story line, wonderful characters and was clean enough for a teenage girl yet entertaining enough for me! I read so many YA novels with damaged characters, which I love, but I also like this type which centers around relatively normal teenagers dealing with what life throws at them.

Harley (love that name) is a typical teenage girl. She worries about how she looks, finding the perfect boy who can give her that perfect kiss and wants others to like her. She is also the minister's daughter and lives life on the straight and narrow for the most part. She thinks she has her future all figured out and will one day walk down the aisle in her Greek inspired white wedding dress with braids in her hair, marrying Trent. Well, life through the eyes of a seventeen year old isn't always what it seems and she may soon realize not all dreams are meant to become reality.

Trent is a great guy; he is kind, considerate and very respectable. So many girls in school want to date him but he doesn't seem to into any of them. Then Harley finds out that he may like her after all and tries to sway him her way by fake dating the new guy, Jason.

Jason is the boy I would have fallen for in school. He has a great sense of humor, always listens and hears what Harley is saying, and has a playful quality. He does not fit into Harley's perfect picture; he swears, drinks, and drives a Gremlin. Through most of the book, this boy genuinely put a smile on my face!

Now, there are secrets being kept by several of the characters in this book that will have an affect on the outcome of the little love triangle. Besides Harley's relationship issues, she also has a suspicion that her mother is having an affair with her massage therapy student which seems ridiculous to everyone else because of Harley's parent's still very sizzling relationship. Harley soon learns things aren't always how they seem...

This book is a breath of fresh air and I would highly recommend it for anyone who is searching for a lighter, yet very entertaining read. I can guarantee you will fall in love with the characters while appreciating the Talbert Moore's writing style.
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Sep 28, 2012 Melissa E rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemp

Plot 8/10: This book sounds like it would be a love triangle, but it's more of a love pentagon. It's also very realistic to how relationships work in high school where everyone dates each other's exes. I remember my senior year I worked at Applebees and it seemed like every week a couple would break up and go out with new coworkers. Things got messy, just like they did in this book. Although I did figure out the big twist before it happened, my interest never faded. I had to find out how it woul...more Plot 8/10: This book sounds like it would be a love triangle, but it's more of a love pentagon. It's also very realistic to how relationships work in high school where everyone dates each other's exes. I remember my senior year I worked at Applebees and it seemed like every week a couple would break up and go out with new coworkers. Things got messy, just like they did in this book. Although I did figure out the big twist before it happened, my interest never faded. I had to find out how it would all end! The plot was cute and fun one moment and then it would touch on a serious topic. It's great when books can do that without loosing the light feeling of the book.

Characters 9/10: I liked that Harley actually had parents and some morals! That alone made her stand out from other YA books. At first I kept picturing my brother's dog everytime someone said Harley in the book. Once I got over that I was able to picture the cheerleading reverand's daughter who is pretty, but still feels like she's stuck in her awkward teen phase. She was instantly likeable...her friend Shelly, not so much. Shelly disreguards everyone's feelings and blames her parent's divorce on her behavior. She's known Harley since Kindergarden and yet she doesn't realize she's hurting her? Either that or she just was selfish which made me hate her. Jason was exactly what every girl wants-minus the Gremlin, his rusty car with no AC. He's funny, charming, assertive, and actually cares about Harley. Oh and he's hot (just look at the cover). Trent seemed a little bland to me, but I guess I could see why Harley would be interested in him.

Setting 10/10: Since it's contempt it's mostly her house, school, and town, but I liked the idea of it being a cute and safe little town where everyone knows each other. And the scenes by the lake were my favorite. The skinny dipping incident made me giggle.

Pacing 10/10: It starts off with action and humor which is the best way to start a book, in my opinion. It reminded me of the beginning of Of Poseidon where I'm smiling right away as the two main characters meet in a funny way.

Style 10/10: I couldn't believe this was a self-published book. The quality of writing was so high. I loved that it felt authentic to a high schooler. All of Harley's thoughts, feelings, and actions seemed so realistic. She writes similarly to one of my favorite authors, Sarah Dessen. She tucks a few messages/life lessons in there when you're not looking. Like the message about accepting change in our lives. I was thinking about it this morning while I brushed my hair with my brush that has been broken for 3 years. I hate change and haven't replaced the brush because I like the one I have even if I constantly have to worry about it flying off the handle and landing in the toilet. Harley has dreamt of being with Trent for years and she's having a hard time accepting she can change her mind and be with Jason. She grew up with Trent and he is familiar, her feelings for him are familiar. Jason makes her feel out of that comfort zone so she fights against it. There were a few other messages, but I'll let you discover them.

Final Thoughts: If you're looking for a fun, cute, light read this is it! I see this book going far if enough bloggers read it and get the word out. So you should pick it up before it gets popular...so you were one of the cool ones who found it first! I hope L.T.M. write some more because I would totally read another book of hers. I know I said I wasn't going to read any indie books, but this one was so good, I'm starting to rethink that decision.

Total: 97/100

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Jan 13, 2013 Landy Jimenez rated it 4 of 5 stars

Super cute story.
Love Jason and how he knew what he wanted.

The author did a great job of developing the main characters and gave something more than just a passing glance to the secondary ones.
This is a story about faking, and sometimes not faking it and been real to oneself.
Even if Jason and Harley's story start with real it goes very quickly into the faking area, even though you can tell not everyone is faking it in this relationship. And our girl learn rather quickly that faking it, is not a...more

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Jan 16, 2013 Lori rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: indie

I know what you are thinking. I NEVER rate anything under 3 stars. This doesn't mean the book was horribly unreadable. I read it in one sitting. It was cute. But predictable. I know, this is a YA contemp romance. It's not like this book was put out to change the world. I know that. It just wasn't completely satisfying.
If you are looking for a cute, quick, fluffy read then I think this might work. But don't expect big butterflies or huge plot twists.
I should note. No matter what your friend is...more

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Oct 14, 2012 Merin rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012, author-requests

3.5/5 stars.

When I accepted this book for review, I was hoping it would be a fun, cute contemporary read. And that's exactly what it ended up being. Even though it took me a ridiculously long time to finish The Truth About Faking, it wasn't really the book's fault at all; I just had SO many real life things to take care of that reading became secondary. Even when I was annoyed with the main character for her choices and decisions, each time I set it down it was generally with a smile on my face....more 3.5/5 stars.

When I accepted this book for review, I was hoping it would be a fun, cute contemporary read. And that's exactly what it ended up being. Even though it took me a ridiculously long time to finish The Truth About Faking, it wasn't really the book's fault at all; I just had SO many real life things to take care of that reading became secondary. Even when I was annoyed with the main character for her choices and decisions, each time I set it down it was generally with a smile on my face. I enjoyed watching the main character's growth as she realized that she'd been wrong, and I also enjoyed the fact that the book wasn't really all about her, but also included some issues with her parents, her church, and some other issues that are definitely affecting teens today. All in all it was a really well-written book that I enjoyed quite a lot.

I had a bit of trouble adjusting to the main character's name - Harley - at first, because I had a student by that name a few years ago and my Harley was very definitely a boy. So every time I read her name at the start, it threw me a bit. But aside from that, the book was instantly engrossing and fun. I loved watching how Jason - who wound up being my favorite character in the book - slowly turned Harley's carefully planned life completely upside down. I loved how she couldn't help herself from having fun with him on their "fake dates", even when she didn't want to. I liked watching her evolution, from someone who has an ideal "Mr. Right" to someone who realizes that sometimes what you have planned out for yourself is impossible, and actually not at all what you want.

What annoyed me with this book, though, was watching Harley jerk Jason around; she likes him almost from the get-go, but refuses to acknowledge it. She treats him terribly at times, and I actually sort of cheered when he finally stood up to her behavior. No guy should allow a girl to go back and forth like she was doing, and even though it's obvious how much he cares for her, she really needed to get herself figured out. I also could see some of the revelations coming from a mile away; that sort of bothers me, particularly when the main character is always so shocked at the developments. But again, Harley's inability to figure out what she wants made for a more detailed, better developed "growing up" process, and allowed the reader to really see her character growth.

If you're looking for a light, fun, contemporary book to read, give this one a try. I definitely enjoyed it from beginning to end, and any book that leaves me with a smile on my face and warm fuzzies in my heart is definitely a good thing.

A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!

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Oct 24, 2012 Juhina rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-books, ebook

3.5/5 stars

The Truth about Faking was a cute contemporary. Initially I wasn't the best fan of the main protagonist, Harley, especially with her mind set on Trent. Also, Jason was a bit needy and I didn't like how he wasn't playing it cool with the fake dating. Over time, Harley was more bearable but Jason just got better for me. He finally put his foot down and decided he didn't want to get played, which is when Harley finally sees the good thing in front of her. Towards the end, it definitely g...more

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Jan 12, 2013 Kami rated it 1 of 5 stars

I am seriously giving myself gold stars for finishing this...it was not what I expected at all. In this case, that is NOT A GOOD THING

The story is disjointed, annoyinging and predictable. Evidently, everyone's problems are solved because someone else is gay. The author was trying to make a point about stereotypes and living in dreamland, well Ms. Moore, try harder next time.

Initially, I was overwhelmingly annoyed. Harley is ridiculously disillusioned even for a 16 year old and her friend...more

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Mar 27, 2013 Carla rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorite-books

5 STARS WOULDN'T GIVE THE BOOK JUSTICE. IT DESERVES A LOT MORE THAN THAT. 10 stars! ♥ **spoilers ahead

It was late at night, around 12AM, when I suddenly decided not to sleep early and read a book instead. I decided to read this one. I've had a copy of this book for a little more than two months, and whenever I wanted something to read, I've always read something else. I was skeptical about this one. I can't believe that I didn't read this sooner. The best book I've read this March 2013, no kiddi...more

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Jan 11, 2013 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5 Stars

Really enjoyed this story and it had a great message about not judging people, but a couple of things drove me crazy. Shelly may be the worst best friend ever - you do not date the boy your best friend has been crushing on for over a year, even if you call it reconnaissance for said friend. No. Just no.

And, about half-way through the book Jason exhibits very bad friend/date behavior. He pushes Harley to drink when she doesn't want to and then pushes her to kiss him after she repeatedly...more

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Jan 01, 2013 Diana Vasquez rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: nook-books

I'm going to start with the one thing you must know in order to read this book. Harley Andrews is CRAZY! She comes up with the most insane plans to win a guy who hasn't shown any kind of romantic interest in her when they is a PERFECTLY good guy who wants her. I would have wanted a second book to see what happens with Harley & J.J. but nope a single novel sadly. I think I know a lot about people based on their actions. I predicted most of what would happen in this book and came out correct e...more

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Oct 19, 2012 Cindy Hudson rated it 5 of 5 stars

When Harley starts to fake-date Jason as a way to get Trent to like her, she knows she’s got to keep her mind on what’s important: getting Trent as her boyfriend. After all, ever since he rescued her after she bumped her head in sophomore year, she’s known he was the one for her. Trouble is, she has a lot of fun with Jason and he’s easy to talk to.

Things also get more complicated when Harley’s mom is accused of an inappropriate relationship with one of her massage students and her dad’s jobs as...more

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Oct 07, 2012 Dee rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-contemporary, read-in-2012

This book was very good and kept my eyes glued until the very last page. I couldn't seem to get enough of it. I was just so hooked and seemed to devour this book at once. It had a very interesting storyline. This girl Harley wants Trent who just broke up with Stephanie, so she fake dates Jason to make him and jealous and realize that he really wants her after getting some scoop from her best friend. The said girl mentioned that he 'asked about her' and this gets her so excited. Things seem to go...more

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Sep 27, 2012 Susan Quinn added it

Shelves: indie

Moore takes us to the mythical Southern town of Shadow Falls, where people leave their doors unlocked, the streets are wide and quiet, and the Presbyterian Church looms large, especially for Harley, given she's the preacher's daughter. But all the stereotypes those images conjure are turned upside down by Moore as she brings this small-town to life with characters like a super-hot massage therapist for a mom and cranky Mrs. Bender who speaks inappropriately about bodily processes. Leigh delivers...more

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Sep 19, 2012 Angela rated it 5 of 5 stars

He loves me, he loves me not, he loves me, he loves me not . . .

It can be hard when you're a teenager with a crush. Not only do you have to compete with all those raging hormones, but it's easy to idolize someone that doesn't idolize you back. I remember those years, and man were they painful. I was so shy I had a hard time ordering a burger at McDonalds. How on earth could I talk to boys?

In Leigh T. Moore's book, The Truth About Faking, Harley has a similar problem. She's obsessed with a boy na...more

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Sep 13, 2012 Clarissa Draper rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-books

This is a YA love story.

Because I'm a mystery writer, I wasn't sure I would like this YA book. I've read books like this in the past and have a hard time getting through them. However, I seriously couldn't put this one down until I finished it.

What I loved:

(1) I loved the characters--especially Jason. The main character had her flaws (she was stubborn--like her mother--and because of that, often couldn't understand the people around her) but also had so many wonderful qualities I wanted her to...more

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Apr 27, 2013 rhea bobis rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

SQUEEE! The story totally swept me off my feet. It's funny, sweet, romantic and with a great storyline. If the book cover captured my attention first, the story itself is even worth better. It feels good to read something that is wholesome without that much sex scenes on it (as the trend nowadays), though I don't have any objections on that. It's just that I found this one so refreshing that I could not put it down until I reached the final page.

What endeared me to this story is that it was able...more SQUEEE! The story totally swept me off my feet. It's funny, sweet, romantic and with a great storyline. If the book cover captured my attention first, the story itself is even worth better. It feels good to read something that is wholesome without that much sex scenes on it (as the trend nowadays), though I don't have any objections on that. It's just that I found this one so refreshing that I could not put it down until I reached the final page.

What endeared me to this story is that it was able to capture all the emotions of a typical teenager Harley who is trying to deal with the issues in life being thrown at her. She is also the pastor's daughter and maintaining a good image is very important. She has this dream of becoming the future wife of the gorgeous and most famous boy in their school - Trent and she's very determined to make her dream come true not until she met the new boy in town - Jason. They met when Jason accidentally bumped her car one day and Jason is the complete opposite of her Mr. Right - he swears, drives this Gremlin car and he doesn't have this "lavender blue eyes" she's been dreaming about. With the appearance of Jason in her life, could he ruin everything? Then Harley convinced Jason to play as her "fake boyfriend" and go on a "fake date" to make Trent jealous and decide of pursuing her.

This story conveys a lot of positive messages like not judging people based from their outside appearances, strong family ties, good spiritual values and doing everything for the things and people you love, etc. The setting of the story is very admirable as well, Shadow Falls is a small community where everyone knows each other. However it has its own disadvantages as well - news and gossips spreads faster and nothing and no one escapes from it. Then there's this rumor about her Mom and her massage therapy student where Harley found herself caught in between telling her Dad about it and just letting it go. I love how Jason was able to help Harley deal with it, comforted her and just being with her at those times she needed somebody to lean on.

Jason and Harley really looked good together though at first their relationship was a fake but as the story unfolded, Harley realized what she was really been missing out. The revelations in this story were flawlessly done. The witty banters of Harley & Jason made me laughed. I completely adored Jason here, he's more than a "hot" guy, he's also attentive, caring, lovable and empathically listens to Harley. How could I not love him! He's so swoon-worthy!

The creek scenes, the luau party, the whole walking with interlaced fingers and the kissing scenes are unforgettable and just amazing. This is one of those stories that you wish there's a second book because you just can't get enough of and don't want to say goodbye yet.

I loved the story - every single part of it. Very refreshing, entertaining, romantic and sweet. Something that would touch your heart and make you fall in love all over again. All the revelations in this story would make you glued on your seat and flip through each page until you finish the entire book.

It's the first book I read from the author but definitely won't be my last....

A must read...:)(less)

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Apr 24, 2013 Amanda Grooms rated it 3 of 5 stars

Cute story. Harley kind of bored me with her super structured plans for Mr. Right, especially when she would ignore blatant good things about the person right in front of her. I liked Jason a lot. At the beginning, he reminded me a bit of an over eager puppy, but he became edgier as the story continued. Shelly, Harley's BFF, struck me more as a frenemy then a friend. I think twice in the whole story, at the start and finish, she acted a little more like a friend would, but the rest of the time s...more

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Oct 23, 2012 The Sweet Bookshelf rated it 5 of 5 stars

Whoa. This book needs to be on your radar. No joke. I was all over it. If you liked Anna and the French Kiss or The Summer I Turned Pretty then you will like this one. I love this cover! It fits with the story line well. Plus I think the guy is hot in it. I could just stare at him all day.

There is a creek in the neighborhood that Harley, Jason, Trent, and Shelly all end up meeting at at different times during the story. It's almost like a safe place. I found myself eager for the next time they...more

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Sep 15, 2012 Naj (Unputdownable Books) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012

The Truth About Faking (TTAF as we call it on social networks) is one of those books I'll read as an eBook and then get the paperback just to show it off on my shelf and to fellow readers. It's a fluffy and a cute book for teenage girls or girls in general. I know for sure some moms would like this.

The book starts with Harley thrown in an accident where she meets a new addition to the town, Jason. He's cute and accurately described as 'hot' throughout the entire book. And when Harley gets home...more The Truth About Faking (TTAF as we call it on social networks) is one of those books I'll read as an eBook and then get the paperback just to show it off on my shelf and to fellow readers. It's a fluffy and a cute book for teenage girls or girls in general. I know for sure some moms would like this.

The book starts with Harley thrown in an accident where she meets a new addition to the town, Jason. He's cute and accurately described as 'hot' throughout the entire book. And when Harley gets home she's on the phone with her best friend, plotting how to get another guy from school, Trent, to ask her out. I found their plan to get Trent cute and funny. It made me think about what I would do to get a guy to ask me out. Anyways, things happen, Jason interferes and ruins Harley's chances with Trent and now Jason and Harley have to fake date to make Trent realize he wants her. I know, its a typical highschool move but it was so fun to read.

Some characters were great and fun to read about, like Jason and Ricky, while the rest were just infuriating! I didn't like Shelly (Harley's best friend) much. She is so oblivious to Harley's feelings sometimes that she doesn't realize she's hurting her. Best friends are supposed to be attentive towards each other. Well, I'm just glad she stopped being infuriating towards the end. I also didn't like that woman who hates Harley's mom and constantly finds a way to ruin everything for her, just because of a job her husband didn't get. Childish much?

I enjoyed reading about Harley, her life, her struggles, etc. Moore wrote a great character all girls can connect and relate to. I felt Harley's pain and happiness throughout the entire book and that connection just kept me reading all the way to the end.

The best part of the book is the messages that it holds. The book had many messages, all telling you things like 'not to judge without knowing the whole story', 'somethings are really not what it seems', and my favorites would be : 'If you want something, get it. There's no point in wasting time pondering the what if's'. There are many more in the story but I'll let you guys figure them out yourselves.

The Truth about Faking is a wonderful, fluffy, fun, and page-turning romance that'll make you squeal, laugh, smile, frown, cry and most of all, it'll make you turn those pages faster because it's just that good. Leigh Talbert Moore you are an awesome author! Don't stop writing! :)
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Jan 12, 2013 Susie Guzman-carrasco rated it 5 of 5 stars

Very cute book, kept me reading!

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Dec 19, 2012 Krissy P (Kris) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance, ya-contemporary

Sweet Contemporary Romance

What initially attracted me to this story was the cover. It’s beautiful, romantic and just makes you say “awww.” I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet little romance. Although the h, Harley, annoyed me for at least half of the book, the H, Jason, saved this story for me. I absolutely love him; he’s funny, adorable, and smitten with Harley.

WARNING CONTAINS VERY MILD SPOILERS:

Harley is a teenage girl who has a dream of a future with local hot boy, Trent. Her plans take a nose...more Sweet Contemporary Romance

What initially attracted me to this story was the cover. It’s beautiful, romantic and just makes you say “awww.” I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet little romance. Although the h, Harley, annoyed me for at least half of the book, the H, Jason, saved this story for me. I absolutely love him; he’s funny, adorable, and smitten with Harley.

WARNING CONTAINS VERY MILD SPOILERS:

Harley is a teenage girl who has a dream of a future with local hot boy, Trent. Her plans take a nose dive when Jason, the new boy in town, crashes into the back of her car and into her life. She’s so close to getting what she wants when Jason interrupts her encounter with Trent. Annoyed at Jason for ruining her chances, she hatches a new plan to “fake” date Jason to get Trent interested in her. Jason is everything a girl could want and it’s obvious that Harley is starting to have feelings for him, but she denies them because being with Jason is not part of “the plan.” Honestly, I hated how she used him and I really could not stand her for the first half of the book. It was not until she realized what a catch Jason is and that Trent is just not what she had hoped for, that I really started to like her character.

Jason and Harley definitely have their ups and downs and the question becomes now that she finally realizes just how special, wonderful and incredibly sweet Jason is and that her feelings for him are real, will it be too late?

Well, things are definitely not always as they seem. This story is full of misunderstandings. Secrets will be revealed and lives will be changed. One secret was not much of a surprise and I had it figured out fairly early on in the book.

One thing I found strange was Harley’s relationship with her best friend, Shelly. This girl walks all over her and Harley lets it happen. Shelly knew Harley had feelings for Trent but goes out with him anyway. As soon as Jason and Harley end their “fake” relationship, she’s ready to mount the guy. They may have only been “faking” their relationship at that point, but Shelly did not know that. What kind of friend does this? Where is the code of ethics for your fellow woman? Your friend’s ex should be off limits, IMO.

Although it may have been slightly too young for me, I thought this was a really cute story and I would recommend it for any lover of young adult contemporary romance.

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Oct 03, 2012 Annmarie (World of Books) rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars

From the moment I saw this book I instantly took a liking to it. I really liked the cover and the summary sounded like something I would enjoy. I did enjoy the book but not as much as I thought I would.

This isn't really what I was expecting when I started the book. For one, it brings up religion a lot throughout the book. Which considering her father is a reverend it makes sense. But I didn't know that it would play a big part of the book when I decided to read it. And it's not that I...more 3.5 stars

From the moment I saw this book I instantly took a liking to it. I really liked the cover and the summary sounded like something I would enjoy. I did enjoy the book but not as much as I thought I would.

This isn't really what I was expecting when I started the book. For one, it brings up religion a lot throughout the book. Which considering her father is a reverend it makes sense. But I didn't know that it would play a big part of the book when I decided to read it. And it's not that I have a problem about the whole religion thing but...I don't like to read a book that makes me feel like I'm being preached to . I don't usually read books that bring up religion but I guess after a while I got used to it.

I liked Harley but it felt like that borderline, could easily change type of relationship for me. I hated how she was okay with using Jason and treated him really bad at times and then wants to turn around and pull the whole "saving myself" virgin act. I'm sorry but she just annoyed me. Basically, Harley makes a lot of stupid mistakes but as the story goes on she did grow on me. It just took a little while.

Jason is the new guy in town and instantly takes a liking with Harley after he accidentally hit her car. I really liked Jason and thought he was a way better guy for Harley then Trent. He's so sweet and funny and really wants the best for Harley. And Harley doesn't even notice what a great guy she has in front of her till it's too late. Or is it?

I think the summary pretty much sums up exactly what the book was about. There were a few surprises that I wasn't expecting but for the most part I knew what to expect. At times I felt like the story was being drawn out and I felt like the story could have ended a while ago but then the author put some obstacle in the way just to keep the story going.

The Truth About Faking is a cute read but if you don't really like books that involve religion then this might not be the book for you. But if you don't have a problem with a little religion talk and like contemporary romances then I think you'll really enjoy this book.

*Received from author in exchange for honest review.
**This review also appears on my blog World of Books(less)

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Apr 20, 2013 Maddie rated it 3 of 5 stars

The Truth About Faking I bought on a whim on my Kindle. I really loved the concept of the book and was looking forward to how it was going to be told.

Suffice to say, I was a tad disappointed with how it turned out.
It started off well. It's written in first person and in present tense, which makes an interesting change, but sometimes made the transitions of time a tad clumsy.

I really liked Harley as a character, and the contrast between her parents was inspiring - you can obviously find love a...more

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Sep 21, 2012 Hannah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: hot-boys-alert, indie-author-love, the-pile-of-favourites, ya-contemporary

Sometimes, all a girl needs is a good YA contemporary where she can laugh, cry, sigh and swoon over the hot guys. The Truth About Faking is that novel. And lucky for me, I was that girl. I love a good YA contemporary romance.

Usually I lay it heavy on the drama-rama novels, the ones where everything is happening faster than you can say "leave me alone, I'm reading." Usually in the form of paranormal or dystopian, those are the books that tend to weigh you down, even if you enjoy them. So to perk...more Sometimes, all a girl needs is a good YA contemporary where she can laugh, cry, sigh and swoon over the hot guys. The Truth About Faking is that novel. And lucky for me, I was that girl. I love a good YA contemporary romance.

Usually I lay it heavy on the drama-rama novels, the ones where everything is happening faster than you can say "leave me alone, I'm reading." Usually in the form of paranormal or dystopian, those are the books that tend to weigh you down, even if you enjoy them. So to perk me up, I devour about three or four rom-comps to push me back up.

TTAF was just what the doctor ordered. Funny, sweet and completely charming, it swept me off my feet, and I spent the whole afternoon devoured in my copy. Screw uni work, I wanted to see if Harley finally realized that Jason was hot stuff.

Now, I'm a little bias when it comes to novels. You see, I tend to be quite judgemental, and base my opinions around the romantic potential in a novel. If I don't feel the 'tingles', then it just doesn't cut it for me, no matter how awesome the plot and characters. If the romance doesn't do it for me, then I can safely say the rest of the book won't.

I fell in love with Jason when he first crashed into Harley's life - literally.

Harley was a girl who I loved. She was sassy, vibrant and completely head over heels in love. As much as I'm a sap for romance, I'm also a cynic. Normally, girls who are like "OMG He's the one! The lucky man I'm going to marry!" (if you get that quote, I will seriously show you some love!) make me barf. I hate it. But I found myself totally girl-crushing on Harley that it didn't matter. Leigh has wonderfully crafted the book so that you feel you're Harley's third BFF, the one that's there all the time. Sometimes I did feel like slapping her in the face and saying "WAKE UP GURL!" but that was all part of the attraction. What I loved the most was how she dealt with the issue between her Mum and the massage student. Harley doesn't take any crap from nobody, and I liked that.

Both Jason and Trent were wonderful guys. Right from the start, Jason's in your face cockiness made me smirk and laugh as much as he did. His romance with Harley was one of those that made you have every entire emotion under the sun, and I think there were times when I was actually squeeing out loud. Trent as well, was a wonderful guy, and I loved Harley's crush on him.

The only character I really didn't connect with was Shelley, which was a shame, as I thought her a bit superficial for a bestie, especially at the start. I mean, what BFF goes out with the guy you've been lusting over for ages? That's like, the rules of feminism! But anyway.

The plot was just right as well. There were some great serious issues that were dealt with, and I loved the way they were handled with a naturally light overtone. You really connect with the book. If you love YA romances as much as I do, I seriously recommend getting your hands on this treasure. A fun and easy light read, Leigh hits all the right spots at all the right times.(less)

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Nov 11, 2012 Jewelz rated it 5 of 5 stars

When I read the description for this book I thought it sounded absolutely adorable. And there's just something about the fact that a plan can change a person's feelings that makes me get all happy and excited. And yes, indeed, this plan sure did. I had so much fun reading this book!

Harley lives in one of those small town places where EVERYONE knows everyone's business. And may I just say, I would not enjoy living in one of those towns. But then Mr. Jason comes in and turns everything upside down...more When I read the description for this book I thought it sounded absolutely adorable. And there's just something about the fact that a plan can change a person's feelings that makes me get all happy and excited. And yes, indeed, this plan sure did. I had so much fun reading this book!

Harley lives in one of those small town places where EVERYONE knows everyone's business. And may I just say, I would not enjoy living in one of those towns. But then Mr. Jason comes in and turns everything upside down. He is so swoony. Seriously. And I'm sure everyone's like, "Big surprise. This is Julia, for crying out loud." BUT COME ON. Who doesn't enjoy a book about a swoon worthy guy? Will someone please tell me?

Harley is the reverend's daughter which causes for a lot of stereotypes. I mean, the first thing you think about when you think of a reverend's daughter is crazy and rebelling. So she's got a lot of stuff to live up to. But all Harley wants is to date Trent, which I think is totally not as good as Jason, but of course she doesn't see that until later. I'm not gonna lie I thought Harley was a complete and utter idiot for a little bit because she was totally missing out on Jason for Trent, but things got better!

Jason was fantabulous. You could pretty much categorize him into one word and that would be it. He was quirky and different but he was also STINKING GORGEOUS. And those are my favorite guys to read about. The kind that aren't all suave and smooth but beyond adorable and know just the right thing to say at the most random times. I also loved how confident he was. He wasn't arrogant or cocky, he was confident. And there's a difference, people. He also liked Harley for her. And he was always there when she needed someone to talk to.

And then Harley has no idea what to do because she's been crushing on Trent for forever and she's starting to really like Jason. And we all know the better decision is Jason, DUH. But poor Harley doesn't. I wanted to step into that book shake the girl, and say, "CHOOSE JASON. CHOOSE HIM OR I WILL." But that didn't happen. Because you can't step into books. If you could I wouldn't be here right now. Harley also has to deal with the fact that everyone's gossiping about her mother and her mom's new massage student. This girl has got some confusion.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! And if you follow me on Twitter you saw that I was a little bit frustrated with all of the New Adult coming out. I know it's a VERY popular genre, but I'm not in my late teens yet and I'm not aloud to read New Adult. And it's super hard to find a good YA contemporary romance that's for teens my age. This one was PERFECTION! I was super happy to read it. If you're looking for a sweet romance that's filled with swoon worthy moments, this one's your book!(less)

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Nov 14, 2012 Brittan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

This review was marginally posted on my book blog, Written By Brittan

The Truth About Faking is electrifying and refreshing. It is an alluring, airy contemporary, that will make you laugh and smile. The character are so realistic and relatable. This book is airy, a bit realistic, fun, and a great refreshing read.

This a enlivening contemporary with meaningful and realistic undertones. Harley's life changes when Jason literally runs into her life. Jason make her life crazier then it already is at...more

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Oct 28, 2012 Lauren Johnson rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really liked this book. It was sweet, cute, and fun to read. I'm on the Jason bandwagon for sure! He was interesting and witty and seemed wise beyond his years. I thought Harley was quite the typical young girl with a major crush. What young girl hasn't decided what their future husband will be like, and in fact, get it all wrong? She was smart yet naive like most teenagers. I thought the author did a nice job facing stereotypes head on. Harley's mother was a strong character and the dynamic b...more

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topics	posts	views	last activity
COMING FEB. 21! The Truth About Letting Go	1	23	Feb 10, 2013 01:17pm
Ask Leigh Talbert...: Faking a Playlist	2	13	Nov 28, 2012 08:16pm
Ask Leigh Talbert...: Questions?	4	13	Nov 02, 2012 08:59am
Ask Leigh Talbert...: Religion in Rom-coms	1	5	Nov 01, 2012 01:50pm

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