Faking It Paperback – August 23, 2011

This book was everything I thought it would be and more....It asks so many questions that really made me think.Are we capable of having great sex with our partner/lover if we do not open ourselves completely? Is confidence all there is to it or is the vulnerability and exposure of your innermost feelings and dreams essential to have a sex life with no walls/barriers? How important is it for a woman to let go completely during sex in order to orgasm? How much does body image effect how we are in the bedroom? How much does the "idealism" of what we are supposed to do (both men and women) effect our performance.Are we capable of having a "sex only" relationship with someone without developing feelings for them? If so - what kind of sex would that be based on the above?Can women and men really be friends after they have slept together and opened themselves up completely to one another?Do we ever really stop loving someone who we have let into our hearts?The title of this novel is apt in so many ways. We fake so many parts of our lives - especially when it comes to matters of the heart. We protect ourselves constantly and have so many defenses to stop people from actually getting in. Once someone does get in and for whatever reason it does not work out, we then spend so much energy discounting them and pretending that they meant nothing, or no longer hold a place in our hearts.Whilst this novel is a light read and a delight to read - you can take more from it if you choose.If we dropped all the pretense and the "faking" what would happen? How raw would love be? How quickly would you actually realise whether someone is right for you or not? If we stopped pretending and followed our hearts and our bodies rather than our heads or the image of what we "want" or "need" where would we be?

I really enjoyed the book. It was not your typical romance. Andrea Cuttrone, a college English professor, is at a faculty cocktail party in New York when she meets Devin, the owner of a professional escort service meeting the needs of many of Andi's colleagues. Andi was raised in a strict Italian family with two older, protective brothers. Because of her upbringing, she is ashamed of her sexuality and not confident with men. Although she has dated, she is now 34 and still a virgin. She makes a deal with Devin to teach her to be comfortable with her own body in exchange for writing lessons since she can't afford his exhorbitant fees.Andi must sign a contract promising not to fall in love with Devin before they begin their lessons. She has the first hour to instruct him in writing. He gets the next hour to teach her about passion and intimacy without actually having sex with her. When the contracted period of time is up, they still find time to meet with each other. They go to art galleries, dinner, the movies and generally just enjoy each other's company.Andi can't understand why Devin doesn't want to be more than an escort. He has a passion for art and is a talented artist. When he was younger, his father did not support his interest in art saying real men were not artists. His father is not proud of his escort business either. With his dying breaths, Devin's father tells him he always loved him and is proud of him for his financial success.By this time in the book, Andrea has met and become very comfortable with Sam Van Zant, another English professor with a style similar to her own. She decides to get a job back in New England near where Sam works. Her dilemma is that she has feelings for both Devin/David and Sam.I highly recommend that you read this book to see which man she ends up with.

I'm at a bit of a loss on how to review this book. Since the implementation of whisper sync technology I frequently listen and read a book as I go about my daily routine of life. To help explain my review conundrum...I was in my backyard, earbuds in putting away rafts, noodles, etc. anticipating the incoming storm blowing said items away when this story concluded. I stood motionless (noodle in hand) for a moment then simultaneously ripped the earbuds from my ears and shouted WTF then awkwardly realized my neighbors were in their back yard as well. Hmmm..So, here we go."Faking It is an engrossing novel about two people discovering their authentic selves". This my friends is copied and pasted from the synopsis, take it literally!!This story was so not what I was expecting. The jacket does not do the depth and the emotional quality of the story line justice. Yes, yes, gorgeous escort guy, shy, somewhat needy girl, bam they collide and a 'relationship' begins. What I neglected to glean from the synopsis is the depth and intricacies of the relationship they form. The places they go together; physically and emotionally made for a really great (however gut wrenching) story. The characters of Devin and Andi are well develop and extremely likable. Devin was much more complex than I anticipated him to be. IMO Sam could have been more developed but hey WTF do I know?So, a great story, loved the characters, emotionally invested in the story. Why so conflicted you say?I HATED the ending. Now before you go all...crap it has a cliffy or just ends or yadda, yadda, yadda, it's none of those things. This is strictly a 2yr old, bottom lip sticking out, pouting while stamping my foot temper tantrum because I didn't get my way AND I will add it is an ending that I think most would agree with; makes sense even. To give more detail would lead to close to a spoiler so I'm so not going to go there. I feel the need to write the author and tell her in my best New Hampshire accent that she has driven me BatShit crazy.The book is well written with a story line that is paced fast enough to keep your attention but slow enough to let you absorb the emotion that permeates the dialogue between Andi, Devin, David and Sam. Devin and David***sigh**so torn, so sad....I need more David, more Devin, more art gallery. So I end one of the weirdest reviews I've written the way I and the book parted ways WTF!Happy reading.