My Fake Valentine

Holiday High #1

by Kellie McAllen

Mia's star desperately needs polishing. Can a fake relationship make her shine?

Mia Black “aka” Black Sheep, is the slightly geeky, kind of smart, but otherwise lusterless middle daughter of a family full of shining stars. Literally, like, movie stars.

Austin is the super cute, uber-popular, basketball phenom whose athletic career just took a nosedive when his failing grades landed him in academic probation. Basically Mia’s polar opposite.

When Austin impulsively kisses Mia in the hallway in front of everyone, pretending he’s moved on from the girl who just dumped him, he begs Mia to play along and promises he’ll make it worth her while. Mia knows her reputation could use some help, and Austin is the perfect guy to elevate her from not to hot. All she has to do is help him get his grades up, and Austin will pretend to be madly in love with her. Sounds like a win-win for both of them, right?

Fake it till you make it, the saying goes, and Mia and Austin soon realize that opposites do attract. But can their relationship, and their reputations, survive when the whole school finds out they were only faking?

If you like fun and flirty teen contemporary romance books by authors such as Kelly Oram, Jessica Park, Amy Sparling, or Nicola Yoon, you'll love My Fake Valentine!

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Fake Dating, High School, Rom Com, Holiday

206 pages, Paperback

First published January 29, 2018

About the author

Kellie McAllen is a USA Today Bestselling author who has her nose in a book whenever she can. When she's not reading or writing, she's usually hanging out at the beach, guest judging on DWTS (from her living room), or watching cute cat videos. She lives in North Carolina.

Reviews

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

“How can I be so attracted to someone and still want to kick him in the groin every time I see him”

✨Is so good to read a fun contemporary romance without so much DRAMA!!!!!!!
✨I really liked the characters, and the friendships.
✨ I adore this book, although it did made me realize how single I am! Ah well, that’s life.

[Mandie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was a cute, fun read. And I just loved Mia and Austin!!

I read and reviewed and advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own

[GimmeAllTheWerdssss · Rating 3 out of 5]

The idea is interesting and while I know the author can write a great story this one feel a little short for me. I felt that the relationship progressed a little too quickly and therefore it made it unbelievable.
While I liked the characters I never got a real feel of them. While the author tried to convey their emotions there were a lot of contradictions between the thoughts and the actions - the Hero being the biggest issue.
However, if you’re looking for a light read with minimal drama then this is for you. As all of Kellie’s writing this one is safe and while I had some problems, the issues it touched on - image, peer pressure, etc - were real and I do feel that the author did a good job with that aspect of the storyline. Also, I will def be reading the next one as enjoyed the future heroine in this book - she felt more real as she wasn’t afraid to be herself.

[Yoda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I KNOW I´ve read it, I also know that I can´t tell you any of the plot. But thats why I loved it, entertaining, pointless, fluffy, exactly what I needed.

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read pretend relationship and was like: why not? A lot of reasons it seems. This book is just so silly.

And the main characters loved Suicide Squad. I think that says it all.

[ahr-eh-lli · Rating 2 out of 5]

Y’all... this was middle school or something like that. I felt like i was reading stuff meant for my cousins (well... true) but then they said stuff exactly like my cousins. I felt weird. Anyways, some comments were noooot what I would love to read and even something i wouldn’t like middle schoolers or idk, teens to read. Slutshaming? Really?

[Sandee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet young adult romance. She comes from a famous family, he is the golden boy of the high-school.

[Beth Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

[I recieved this ARC for review for free from the author.]


Mia Black, Ordinary girl always feels outshined by her celebrity family.

Austin the ultra popular, attractive, althete on academic probation.

Total opposites.

Changes one day when Austin kisses Mia out of no where in the middle of the hallway.

They decide to use each other.
Austin will be Mia's boyfriend till Valentine's Day and Mia will tutor Austin so he can play.

Sounds like it will be easy right?

They both find out that opposites attract.

Super cute and flirty but also goes into how teenage/high school communication can be confusing and guesswork in relationships.

I sure felt the way Mia did sometimes trying to figure how a boy felt.

Was is a bit cliche in the popular boy falls for the geek girl? Yes, but only a very little bit.

Personally, I like that. It was a quick, fun read that let you escape reality for a while and feel young snarky, superhero type love. 🤣

I can not wait for the next book, who i can only guess is Mia's best friends book.

[Rissi]

Cute, but not my favorite YA romantic-comedy.

The trope is the "fake dating" romance, and while the characters are fun, the plot itself didn't hold my interest. Also, Mia disappoints me based on what my first impressions of her where.

A fun read if you want a fast-paced weekend read.

Content: there's sexual innuendo (talk about having sex) and a non-graphic sex scene.

[Karla✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un poco cliché y con un final apresurado, pero un buen romance adolescente.

[☆☆Hannah☆☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read an ARC copy of this.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a great start to their story. I liked how different Mia was from her family and the people at school. It made her so much more likable. Thankfully by the end she was happy being herself. I'm looking forward to seeing how their story will continue.

[Chelsey with a y · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was a very cute read. Predictable but still so enjoyable

[Sara Oxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Fake Valentine by Kellie McAllen a sweet and funny five-star read that I will re-read several times over. This was my first read by this author and I’m so glad I took a chance, a friend recommended the book to me and I will give her all the coffee and cake she wants for this recommendation. Mia ‘Black Sheep’ Black has always been looking for a place to fit in, a geeky girl in a family of stars. But as a character she shone out from the crowd and created her own stratosphere and she takes you the reader along for the ride. I know Austin Meyers may be a self-centred, egotistical, annoying, gorgeous, magnetic, heartthrob, jerkface ever and also a very well written character but he still didn’t shine as much as Mia did in this story. When a deal between them becomes so much more what will the future hold?
This was such a sweet, honest (even though it’s kinda about a lie), compelling read I did that terrible thing of thinking just a couple of chapters before bed, and finished the whole thing. It’s not a super long read and it’s just the perfect length each word flows from the last and you will be smiling like a creeper most of the way through, even though the worst of it, there are reasons to smile.
If you are after a read that is sweet, compelling with a charming edge then this is the one for you, I’m sure I will be re-reading this story again and again and when the next book in the series comes out, I will be reading that I already can’t wait.

[Natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I normally like fake dating stories, but in this case, Austin just did not appeal to me. The way his plagiarism was handled was not remotely realistic, and the way that Mia took him back after that made her a doormat. They had some chemistry and I liked he genuinely liked her for who she was, but I could not get past the plagiarism.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Content: language, closed-door teen sex, innuendo

[Desi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Muyyy malooo, con unos protagonidtas terribles, o sea, nada bueno por ningún lado....

no lo recomiendo

[LizC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, funny, good :D

[Katherine Paschal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mia lives in her famous family member's shadow, always overlooked, untalented, not pretty... She would love to be just like them, but knows she just isn't. When popular jock Austin grabs her in the hallway and kisses her, acting like they are dating, Mia is shocked. Austin is having a bad day- he was just told his grades are so bad he is now on academic probation and his girlfriend was about to break-up with him until he pretended he was dating another random girl he saw in the hallway. Austin can't believe it when Mia offers him a proposition- pretend they are dating so she can get popularity and she will tutor him without anyone knowing. What could go wrong with that?

I did not really care for Austin, he was shallow, called his ex a bitch multiple times which I thought was uncalled for and a big fat cheater- he only felt remorse because he likes Mia, not because he did something terrible and unethical- he even says that he would have used her essay no problem if it wasn't hers, also he was a public groper of boobs and ass

I was confused about Mia's motivation though. If she wanted to be popular so bad why didn't she just tell everyone who her family was to begin with- that is just the same as having a fake relationship with a popular boy to get friends- either way they are not really your friends- it was a lame idea to me.

My favorite character was Mia's best friend Carrie who is literally the best friend any girl could hope for and very forgiving- if I was treated as a cast off like Mia treated her I would not be friends anymore. She rolls with whatever Mia throws at her and is her biggest cheerleader. The girl needs a makeover STAT but has a heart of gold- maybe she can have a book next?

This was overall a very fast fluffy read aka listen too, roughly 5 hours so something you can pick up and read if you are in the mood for an easy teen romance (which does include sex and drinking, heads up if you are looking to recommend this to a younger YA reader).

The narrator did a really good job of creating personalities for both Austin and Mia and I would listen to more narrated by her in the future.

[Angela ReadingCave · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am just going to put it all out there- I didn’t like this one.

Mia is the middle child with complete middle child syndrome. Wooow is me, I am forgotten, my sister and brother outshine me. She has a huge birthmark on her face and this is what causes her not to want to shine? This is what causes her to hide, then she gets tired of hiding and so propositions a guy she doesn’t know but who kissed her at school anyway? I tutor you, you pretend to like me, I get popular. Umm her family alone could have done that. Mia is way too insecure for me, not even that, it is more that she has the lowest self esteem possible.

Austin is a jerk. That is the best way to put it. Umm… grabbing a random gal and kissing her is never a smart move. Neither is not doing your homework for that matter. Like seriously, who is this guy and why does Mia like him? Oh wait, to make her popular that is why.

The best thing about this story was Kerri, Mia’s bestie and you know what Mia treats her like crap. I would have walked away from her if I were her friend.

The blurb says that if you like Kelly Oram you will love this one which is why I one-clicked it. This is a hard no for me.

There are a lot of individuals for that liked this one. There are links to two of their reviews:

Sara Oxton

Teresa


My Rating 2 out of 5 stars

Favorite Quote There was none….

Other People
Kerri- Mia’s bestie
Chloe- Austin’s ex

[Samantha Zee · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted something quick to read since I had a book I preordered coming out today and ended up with this one since I love the fake boyfriend/girlfriend troupe. I wish I realized how young it was, because even though these characters were juniors in high school, the romance part was a bit innocent, which is fine, just boring and kinda awkward to read.

Also it switched POVs between the leads Mia, who is from a star filled family that she does not connect with due to the fact that she has a huge birthmark on her face (that she keeps covering up, even after finding love so kinda upset she doesn't just accept it), and Austin, who is a star basketball player who gets kicked off the team because of his grades and reads like a douchey popular guy (though he does tend to have some character development, so good for him).

Regardless, this is like a tween -teenager read, and reading it past that age made me cringe at parts. I liked the BFF relationship between Mia and Kerri, but I thought that Mia and Austin were a bit too much at times.

Not my cup of tea, but if you are trying to introduce a younger girl to reading, this could be fun for her.

[Rebekah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a clean YA

This seemed cute and I like the holiday title to this book. Cute premise. However, the story seems really rushed toward the middle and end. Also the story did build with language and crudeness. Probably a PG13 book.

Content: The main characters do have sex. This part isn't super descriptive but tied into the rest of the book is a bit crude. I would not want my teens to read this.
Language: High school language. No f-bombs.
Religious: No.

I'm vacillating between one and two stars, but I'm going with two because again the title/cover/story tie-in to Valentine's day was fun.

Happy reading!

[ஐ Katya (Book Queen)ஐ · Rating 2 out of 5]

The heroine is 15 at the start of the novel, then has her 16th birthday. I don't really find it appropriate nor was it important (enough) to the story for her to lose her virginity. (Although no sex scene was actually written, so no gory details.) If your're writing YA, keep it clean. Otherwise, it's not a bad YA story. Just hate that our hero steals and cheats.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was cute, but I didn't really feel the love develop which is always a big hang up for me in love stories. It just felt instant and instantly they were in love forever and ever. I wanted more struggle. I did like the sweet factor, I just needed some more strife to make it for me!

I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily reviewing.

[Cait · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this, but I've downgraded it one star because the relationship between the two main characters kind of bothers me. The heroine forgives the hero too easily because she has basically no self esteem (IMO), and I didn't think the hero had matured very much by the end. I realize not every relationship lasts forever, but I feel that theirs is pretty much doomed because of these issues.

[Jana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5

It wasn’t bad, and the premise was good. But I did not like Austin. I found him to be too cocky and not apologetic enough. There was something about him that I did not trust.

But Mia was wonderful. She blossomed really held her own. I wish there was more about her family and their changes.

Overall, it was a good book and I am planning on reading the rest of the series.

[Nerdy Housewifey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Meh

This book is very superficial, usually in lighthearted funny YA contemporary books we as readers get to delve beneath the surface and find out what the jocks and nerds are really like underneath it all. This book what you saw is what you got and I just wasn’t feeling a shallow, vapid jock as a love interest.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: My Fake Valentine
Author: Kellie McAllen
Publisher: Long Chair Literature
ISBN: B077ZZ46TB
Buy Link: http://www.kelliemcallen.com/
Reviewer: Teresa Fallen Angel
Blurb:
Holiday High 1

Mia's star desperately needs polishing. Can a fake relationship with Austin make her shine?

Mia Black is the slightly geeky, kind of smart, but otherwise lusterless middle daughter of a family full of shining stars. Literally, like, movie stars.

Austin is the super cute, uber-popular, basketball phenom whose athletic career just took a nosedive when his failing grades landed him in academic probation. Basically Mia’s polar opposite.

When Austin impulsively kisses Mia in front of everyone, he begs Mia to play along. Mia knows her reputation could use some help, and Austin is the perfect guy to elevate her from not to hot. All she has to do is help him get his grades up, and Austin will pretend to be madly in love with her.

Fake it till you make it, the saying goes, and Mia and Austin soon realize that opposites do attract. But can their relationship, and their reputations, survive when the whole school finds out they were only faking? 

Total Score: 5/5

Summary:
This was step back into the crazy time that is high school. Mia has spent her three years in high school keeping a low profile with only her best friend Kerri knowing the truth, all of her family a celebrities leaving her overshadowed. Even when she was given a small roll in the school play of Aladdin, they were to busy to see it. When the lead actress was pulled form the show, Mia was the only one who could fill in giving her a chance to shine and she did an incredible job.

Austin may be the most popular jock in the school, but that doesn't stop the vice principle from informing him that unless his grades improve he is off the basket ball team. If that wasn't enough, when his girlfriend Chloe hears about that she drops him like last weeks garbage. Not to be outdone, he informs her that he is seeing Mia and breaks up with her. Mia has no idea what is going along, but isn't that just like high school. The two agree to fake it as long as Austin agrees to be her fake boyfriend for Valentines Day.

This was a wonderful romp through a more simple time when popularity rules the school, jocks and cheerleaders rank on top, and drama is the name of the game. Mia and Austin's lives are about to get more complicated. Mia's reclusive and quiet reputation is about to change as she has to deal with Austin's flighty, playboy attitude.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young high school couple, each with their own inadequacies, team up to help each become a better person. Funny at times, sweet usually. An enjoyable read for those looking for a love story with a happy ending, wherein the couple each make advances in their maturity as the story progresses.

On the night of the school play, the 3rd harem girl, Mia, is bumped up to star role when the lead actress and her understudy are both unable to perform. She knows the lines, but has never acted before-at all! This was to have been the debut on the stage in a tiny role, just to see if she could do it. Her genetics win out (parents are in show business), and she loses the anonymity she has enjoyed at this school. Her performance draws attention to who her parents are and now everyone knows who she is.
Enter the star athlete and his girlfriend Chloe. Austin has just learned that he is off the team due to academic probation-he has failing grades. Chloe is in the process of breaking up with him as she realizes this, and Austin beats her to the punch by suddenly announcing he wants to end their relationship and states that he has been seeing Mia. He walks over to Mia and lays a big kiss on her in front of Chloe and the whole world. Thus, 2 characters who had previously never even spoken to each other, are thrust to the center of attention of their entire class.
Austin needs a tutor, Mia needs a “fake’ boyfriend to help gain attention to her from other guys in their class. They make a bargain: Mia will tutor Austin and Austin will pretend to be her boyfriend until Valentine’s day. Along the way, they begin to care for each other.
There are problems: Chloe resents Mia, Mia is jealous of her own sister, and a sweet 16 birthday party goes awry. Nevertheless, true love prevails!

In exchange for an honest review, I was given an Advance Copy of this story, and this review is without further compensation.

[Caprice · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Fake Valentine by Kellie McAllen is the story of Mia Black and Austin Meyers. Austin is the school sports star, and everyone knows who he is. Mia, on the other hand, tries to be as invisible as possible. Her parents are very famous in the show business world, but Mia feels that she doesn't measure up to the others in her family. On a whim, she auditions for a small part in the school play. But when the female lead is put on academic probation and the understudy is sick, she has to fill in for the star. Suddenly, everyone knows who she is. Austin, meanwhile, finds out his grades are too bad to allow him to stay on the basketball team. In a loud fight and breakup with his cheerleader girlfriend, he tries to save his image by pretending he has been seeing Mia all along. In a desperate attempt to bring his grades up, he gets Mia to tutor him in exchange for acting the part of her boyfriend at least through Valentine's Day.

I really liked this book. The theme of an unnoticed high school girl suddenly thrust into the spotlight is very relatable. The storyline and characters are well thought out and developed. As anyone who has ever been the one whom nobody notices, one of the things they most envy about the "beautiful people" is the popularity that those students enjoy. However, that popularity is not all that it's thought to be. And sometimes the most popular student discovers that not being in the limelight all the time is actually a good thing.

This book is sure to be enjoyed by high school students and young adults, because it so accurately captures the issues that many people live with every day. Kellie McAllen has once again highlighted normal teens and their actions and behaviors. I highly recommend it.

I requested an ARC of this book with the intention of giving an honest review, which I have done here.

[Queenielyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Fake Valentine is a fast-paced book in which the setting is briefly about Mia and Austin having to pretend in a relationship until Austin fixed his grades up to the standards in order for him to be qualified in basketball varsity. Plus, Mia can boost her confidence with Austin being popular in school and finally be in the spotlight. Win-win situation!

Honestly, I did not find any fault in the plot except how cheesy and cute Austin can be. Really, I understand why Mia would be melting and wishing Austin would stop then thought otherwise. I like how Mia has managed to embrace her family who are superstars in different areas. Being grateful is one thing and being confident that she has a family well-known in Hollywood and respected in that order.

As for my own view on Austin, he can get really possessive and desperate. Describing him that way does not mean I view him negatively. It is just that his personality reflects to me in that manner because for one, if he wants something he must have it. Not in an instant way but really grab the opportunity not to miss any of it. Aside from his failing classes, I am sure he has that drive in him to do something great. Mia would have agreed with me on this too!

Overall, My Fake Valentine is a light, fluffy, chick-flick and definitely an easy read for the weekend. The drama isn't so over-the-top and I like it just the way it is!