“Fake Dating” books belong to a popular sub-genre of romance fiction where the main plot follows characters who start a pretend or fake relationship for various reasons. Although initially staged or faked for convenience, this relationship leads to genuine feelings and a real romantic connection as the story progresses.
Fake dating is when the two main characters pretend they’re dating for some odd reason. The reasons for this can be diverse, such as wanting to make an ex-partner jealous, needing a date for a social event, or attempting to gain some benefit that requires a partner.
As the characters spend more time together, they usually develop real feelings for each other. This change from pretense to genuine affection is a central theme. The tension between what the characters are pretending to feel and what they are feeling adds depth to the story. This leads to internal conflicts and misunderstandings.
20 Fake Dating Books (Fake Relationship & Marriage)
Like most romance novels, “Fake Dating” books usually end with the characters realizing and admitting their true feelings for each other, leading to a satisfying conclusion. They showcase a gradual development of emotions and relationships. The trope fits contemporary, fiction, non-fiction, or fantasy books. This genre is popular because it combines the excitement of a new romance with the charm of watching a relationship evolve from pretense to genuine love.
The journey from fake to real affection in these stories is filled with humorous, touching, and sometimes awkward moments that engage readers. Characters in these stories go through significant personal growth. They learn about themselves, what they value in relationships, and how to be honest with their feelings. This can be inspiring and thought-provoking for readers.
So if you want to know these stories, you must read this book. I will discuss the 20 best fake dating books at the top of my list. These books guarantee a feel-good experience, usually culminating in a happy ending. This can be particularly appealing if you’re looking for a story that leaves you feeling uplifted and optimistic. Let’s begin!
Name | Storyline | Tropes |
---|---|---|
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood | A fake dating scenario evolves into genuine romance in the academic world of STEM. | Fake dating, enemies to lovers, academic setting, STEM backdrop, forbidden romance, humorous banter, slow burn, strong female lead, grumpy one loves the sunshine one, workplace romance. |
Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey | A romance novel about the transformative power of love, featuring a woman’s journey of self-discovery and a relationship that challenges societal expectations. | Friends to lovers, small-town setting, renovation theme, brother’s best friend, career transformation, strong female protagonist, comedic elements, steamy scenes, makeover trope, sports romance (former baseball player). |
The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams | A heartwarming romance about best friends realizing their true feelings for each other amidst the backdrop of professional sports. | Friends to lovers, sports romance (football), fake dating, unrequited love, comedic elements, strong female character, childhood friends, secret crush, supportive friendships, public figures/private lives contrast. |
Not Pretending Anymore by Penelope Ward | Two roommates enter a fake relationship for personal gains, only to discover genuine feelings in the process. | Fake relationship, roommates to lovers, mutual attraction, emotional healing, contemporary setting, personal growth, dual perspectives, humorous elements, family dynamics, hidden feelings. |
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang | A woman with Asperger’s hires a male escort to teach her about relationships, leading to unexpected love. | Neurodiverse protagonist, reverse Pretty Woman, fake relationship, steamy romance, emotional growth, opposites attract, male escort, self-discovery, contemporary setting, vulnerability and acceptance. |
The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas | A captivating romance about a woman who brings a colleague to Spain under the guise of being her boyfriend, leading to unexpected love. | Fake dating, enemies to lovers, workplace romance, destination wedding, cultural exploration, slow burn, strong female lead, banter-filled dynamics, family involvement, emotional vulnerability. |
The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata | A slow-burn romance about a personal assistant and her stoic, professional football player boss entering a marriage of convenience. | Marriage of convenience, slow burn, sports romance (American football), grumpy hero, strong-willed heroine, workplace dynamics, character-driven narrative, personal growth, emotional depth, protective hero. |
Marriage for One by Ella Maise | A romance that explores the journey of a woman entering a marriage of convenience with a mysterious man, leading to unexpected love and self-discovery. | Marriage of convenience, slow burn, mysterious male lead, strong female protagonist, personal growth, emotional healing, contemporary setting, contract relationship, gradual romance, mutual understanding. |
To Love Jason Thorn by Ella Maise | A romance about childhood friends reunited, with the girl’s long-time crush evolving into a deeper relationship under the glamour of Hollywood. | Childhood friends to lovers, celebrity romance, Hollywood setting, unrequited love becomes mutual, light-hearted banter, strong chemistry, fame and normalcy contrast, playful dynamics, family influences, personal growth journey. |
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren | A humorous and romantic story about two enemies reluctantly embarking on a free honeymoon trip together, leading to unexpected love. | Enemies to lovers, fake relationship, forced proximity, vacation setting, mistaken identities, comedic elements, family dynamics, opposites attract, luck and misfortune theme, light-hearted romance. |
The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren | A single mother is skeptical about love, tries a new DNA-based matchmaking service and gets paired with its founder, leading to unexpected romance. | Science meets romance, single parent, opposites attract, matchmaking service, skeptical heroine, tech entrepreneur hero, contemporary setting, ethical dilemmas, humorous banter, heartwarming family dynamics. |
Fake Out by Eden Finley | A fake relationship between two men, one pretending to be gay to avoid his ex-girlfriend, leading to real feelings and self-discovery. | Fake relationship, coming out, LGBTQ+ romance, friends to lovers, mistaken identity, humor and banter, self-discovery, small-town setting, emotional growth, confronting past issues. |
Talon by Carian Cole | A deeply emotional romance about a young woman healing from trauma with the help of a rock star, leading to an intense and transformative love. | Rock star romance, age gap, healing from trauma, intense emotional connection, protective hero, strong female protagonist, found family, dark pasts, passionate love story, character-driven narrative. |
Play by Kylie Scott | A spontaneous, passionate romance between a woman and a charismatic rock star, blending humor, vulnerability, and the challenges of fame. | Rock star romance, fake relationship, instant attraction, light-hearted humor, public-private life contrast, strong female lead, vulnerability, personal growth, contemporary setting, band dynamics. |
Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert | A witty and heartfelt romance about a career-focused academic and a security guard faking a relationship for the public, which evolves into genuine love. | Fake relationship, career-oriented heroine, friends to lovers, humorous banter, opposites attract, public relations stunt, emotional vulnerability, strong female lead, contemporary setting, mutual support. |
The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon | A captivating romance set in the world of public radio, where two co-workers pretend to be exes for a show and navigate their growing real-life attraction. | Workplace romance, fake exes, enemies to lovers, radio show setting, forced proximity, contemporary love story, banter and chemistry, ethical dilemmas, strong female protagonist, professional competition. |
The Dating Plan by Sara Desai | A lively romance about a software engineer and a venture capitalist entering a fake engagement for mutual benefits, leading to unexpected love. | Fake engagement, childhood friends to lovers, romantic comedy, strong female lead, multicultural characters, family dynamics, personal growth, matchmaking, tech industry setting, humorous elements. |
Accidentally Engaged by Farah Heron | A charming and humorous story about a woman who enters a fake engagement with her neighbor to enter a cooking contest, leading to genuine romance and self-discovery. | Fake engagement, cooking competition, neighbors to lovers, multicultural romance, family expectations, contemporary setting, food and culture theme, personal growth, community ties, light-hearted humor. |
First Comes Like by Alisha Rai | A modern romance about a beauty influencer and a Bollywood star navigating a relationship that starts online and evolves amidst public scrutiny and personal challenges. | Celebrity romance, social media dynamics, fake relationship, cultural diversity, public-private life contrast, strong female protagonist, contemporary setting, emotional depth, mistaken identity, family involvement. |
While We Were Dating by Jasmine Guillory | A romance is about a Hollywood actress and an advertising executive who start a casual fling that deepens into an emotional connection, against the backdrop of fame and personal aspirations. | Hollywood romance, casual relationship becomes serious, workplace dynamics, publicity-driven relationship, emotional vulnerability, strong chemistry, personal growth, fame and normalcy contrast, family influences, contemporary setting. |
1. The Love Hypothesis
It’s grumpy sunshine, workplace, and fake dating. Olive is a grad student. She’s twenty-six to be a scientist, and she had an ex-boyfriend. Her best friend is interested in her ex-boyfriend. She has no hard feelings about it, but her best friend feels guilty, so she refuses to date. Olive comes up with the idea to tell her best friend she’s dating someone so she can date her ex-boyfriend without feeling guilty.
It’s confusing, but Olive tells her best friend she’s on a date. Then, her best friend sees that they are all in the lab instead of on a date. So, she kisses the professor to make it seem like they are together. It’s a professor, Adam Carlson. He is super grumpy at all. The graduate students are scared of him because he fails everyone and he’s super strict.
So when Olive realizes it’s him, she’s guilty, but then the whole book is them deciding that they’re going to fake date. Then, all this reasoning for fake dating him is because she wants her best friend to date the guy without feeling guilty. Adam’s pretending he has this girlfriend so that it seems he has roots there and won’t get up and leave. So they’re both gaining something from this relationship.
Author: Ali Hazelwood
Average Rating: 4.6/5
Category: Romantic Comedy
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Library Binding | Kindle
2. Fix Her Up (Hot & Hammered)
If you’re hearing about it now, it’s brother’s best friend, fake dating again. Georgette is the girl character. She’s the youngest sibling in her family. There’s a significant age gap between her and her siblings, who don’t take her seriously. Georgette is a goofy, funny, carefree girl; her whole family is super serious. They own a house-flipping business, and she has no interest in being part of that. So they push her aside from her brother’s best friend, Travis.
They’ve been friends their entire lives. Georgette always had a crush on him growing up like she knew it was never going anywhere. He becomes a professional baseball player but gets injured and moves home. Travis is so upset, and Georgette gets him out of his shell. She has a good, sunny personality, but Travis immediately notices how her family treats her.
Gradually, Travis ends up caring and loving. But the fake dating comes in when Georgette realizes that no one in her town takes her seriously. They see her as a little girl. So she wants to change her reputation. She comes up with the idea to fake date someone. So she’s finally seen as wanted, and her family will start taking her seriously. But Travis is also trying to change his reputation because he is a player and a guy who gets every girl he sees. So they end up fake-dating each other.
Author: Tessa Bailey
Average Rating: 4.3/5
Category: Contemporary Romance
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD
3. The Cheat Sheet
This book is about Bree and Nathan, best inseparable friends since high school. Bree is a ballerina, and Nathan is a football player. They’ve always been inseparable. They live down the street from each other but date other people. It’s never been romantic, but it’s a dual point of view. You get to see that both of them have been in love with each other since they met. They think they’re in the friend zone, but both are in love.
There was an embarrassing second-hand moment where Bree got super drunk and accidentally confessed all her feelings about Nathan to a reporter. Also, the reporter writes a whole article about it. It goes viral, and then Nathan gets shocked. But Bree immediately denies it. Nathan ends up coming up with a list called the cheat sheet. He’s going to start to show Bree that he loves her.
Author: Sarah Adams
Average Rating: 4.3/5
Category: Contemporary Romance & Comedy
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD
4. Not Pretending Anymore
Molly is a night nurse. She works overnight, and she’s looking for a roommate to live with her to split the rent with her. So she’s doing interviews and finding no one to move in with her. Then Declan shows up for the interview, but Molly rejects him because she needs a girl roommate. But Declan convenience her somehow. He works during the day, and Molly works at night. They’ll never cross paths, so that’s their plan. They end up talking to each other a little bit, becoming friends.
Molly confesses that she’s also crushing on this guy from her work. So they’re both pining after other people. They always talk about their feelings because they’re close friends and live with each other now. As they both know that the other person is in love with someone else, they devise this idea to fake date each other to make their love interest jealous.
Then they start fake dating, go to bars together, and go to dinners in front of their crush. They get into these other relationships when it works, and the other is jealous. So you get to see both sides of the jealousy.
Author: Penelope Ward
Average Rating: 4.5/5
Category: Mental Health, New Adult Romance
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle
5. The Kiss Quotient
Stella Lane has autism. She’s always been uncomfortable with physical intimacy and relationships. Her family puts a lot of pressure on her to settle down, get married, have kids, and she doesn’t feel ready for a relationship. Then, Michael Phan comments on how he’d be into her at work. What motivates her to start experimenting and getting comfortable with her sexuality?
So, she decides to hire a male escort to teach her how to be in a relationship and be intimate with someone. She hires Michael. Michael is very comfortable with intimacy. It’s his job, but you find out why that’s his job and his whole backstory as you watch him and Stella have this fake relationship. Their fake relationship extends past physical stuff, like they start getting confused. There’s jealousy in this book. You get a lot of backstory on both the characters.
Author: Helen Hoang
Average Rating: 4.4/5
Category: Multicultural Romances, Comedic Dramas & Plays
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle | Mass Market Paperback
6. The Spanish Love Deception
This is workplace rivals, fake dating like they (Aaron and Catalina) hate each other, but they also don’t. Aaron, over here, is Catalina talking about how she needs to go to this wedding and how she needs to bring a date. But she had no one to go with her, and he offered to go immediately. That’s not something an enemy would do.
Aaron tells Catalina he needs her to go on fake dates because of an upcoming event. He doesn’t have one for that, so they could have this relationship where Catalina comes with him as his date. Then he’ll go with her as her date. That’s why he offered. So they both get something from it and have to go on these fake dates and act like they don’t like each other.
It’s a slow burn all the way leading up until they go to Spain for this wedding together. Moreover, they’re fake dating at this wedding. So he meets her family, and he does such cute stuff. Aaron is perfect in how their fake relationship goes and how he shows how he cares about her. His love language is physical touch, which gives me butterflies the whole time I read it.
Author: Elena Armas
Average Rating: 4.4/5
Category: Multicultural Romances
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle
7. The Wall of Winnipeg and Me
Vanessa is the assistant to this NFL player named Aidan. He disregards and treats her badly, and she does so much work for him that he doesn’t appreciate it. So, she ends up quitting for a little while. Vanessa has to marry Aidan because he’s not a USA citizen, and he’s to stay so he can play football. He offers to pay her, and she needs money.
So she ends up moving in with him and in her room. It’s a marriage convenience from their forced proximity. They have to act like they’re together in front of many people. There’s also a slow burn and pain, but it’s in the best way. Aiden goes from having a hard time with no emotions to such a simp for her.
Author: Mariana Zapata
Average Rating: 4.6/5
Category: Sports Romance
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD
8. Marriage for One
Another Marriage of Convenience book is Marriage for One. This book, Grumpy Sunshine, gives me butterflies to think about it. Someone in Rose’s family passes away and inherits a building through the will, but she only gets that building if she’s married. Jack is a lawyer, so he sits down with her. He said that you need to be married to inherit this building.
Also, Jack proposed that she marry him to get the building. Rose eventually agrees because she wants to start a coffee shop. It’s been her dream to own a little coffee shop. They call this building but must be married to the Will validation. So they go to all these events together, they do all this stuff. But there’s a plot twist, leading to a lot of drama. His character development is excellent.
Author: Ella Maise
Average Rating: 4.3/5
Category: Billionaire Romance
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD
9. To Love Jason Thorn (Love & Hate)
This one is also a marriage of convenience, but they’re childhood friends (Jason and Olive) and brother’s best friends. Olive has always loved him, but they haven’t seen each other in 10 years. Olive became a writer, and she wrote a romance novel. The main character is inspired by Jason and her childhood crush on him. It ends up developing into a movie, and guess who gets cast as the main character, Jason?
He’s an actor now and famous. So, he’s playing the role that he inspires. But Jason almost loses this role because he has a bad reputation in Hollywood for sleeping around, being a player, and not taking his job seriously.
So, his management ends with the idea that if he gets married, the media will leave him alone, and people will take him seriously. His management is showing him all these other actresses that he can marry. After reuniting with Olive, he starts to develop feelings for her, and it’s a role reversal like she used to be obsessed with him.
Author: Ella Maise
Average Rating: 4.3/5
Category: College Romance & Comedy
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD
10. The Unhoneymooners
This is one of the first rom-com books I fell in love with. Pick this one up if you haven’t read it already. The main girl in this book is also named Olive. Olive is getting married and is the maid of honor at the wedding. Then, the groom’s brother is the best man. Olive hates him as she has never gotten along with Ethan during her sister’s entire relationship.
So they avoided each other, and they’re the maid of honor and the best man at this wedding. They both have given speeches, and they see each other. Everyone at this wedding gets food poisoning except for Olive and Ethan, who didn’t eat out of the buffet. Their siblings had a pre-paid honeymoon. They need to take their honeymoon because everyone else is sick.
So, all of Ethan plans this honeymoon to avoid each other and have separate vacations. But they realize it’s a couples resort. All these couples’ activities that they have to do together are forced to be close and act like they’re together. Then Olive sees someone at this resort that she knows. Ethan’s ex-girlfriend shows up, and they use Olive to make her jealous. But then they start genuinely falling for each other.
Author: Christina Lauren
Average Rating: 4.5/5
Category: Humorous American Literature
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD
11. The Soulmate Equation
I love all of Christina Lauren’s books. Speaking of Christina Lauren, another fake dating book they have is The Soulmate Equation. This one is about Jessica and River. Jessica works at a coffee shop every day, sitting at a table on her computer, and she sees the same man (River) every day who never says thank you.
One day, River in the coffee shop will create a dating app that pairs with an actual soulmate based on DNA. Jessica ends up doing this test. A few days later, Jessica gets her results back, and it says that she has a perfect match. Someone in their system is her perfect DNA soulmate. So they call her into the office, and it is the guy (River) from the coffee shop, the app’s creator. They get matched, and they’ve had a few interactions back and forth.
They realize they don’t like each other. River believes that this software is one hundred percent accurate. For the proof, they need to fake the date. Jessica is a single mom, and she does it for the money. So she ends up fake-dating River for the cameras and advertisement. When they start falling for each other, and lines start blurring, and it’s so cute, he develops a relationship with her daughter.
Author: Christina Lauren
Average Rating: 4.4/5
Category: General Humorous Fiction
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle | Audio CD
12. Fake Out (Fake Boyfriend)
This book follows a guy (Maddox) who has a girlfriend and doesn’t know how to break up without hurting her feelings. So he told her that he was gay. So she ends up telling everybody in his hometown. Everybody thinks he’s gay, even though he is allegedly straight. When Maddox runs into her five years later, and she’s getting married, she invites him to her wedding.
So he gets one of his best friends, who has a gay brother, to come with him to the wedding and act like they are together. The story goes from there of them having this fake date at a wedding. I highly recommend this one, especially if you want an LGBT track.
Author: Eden Finley
Average Rating: 4.4/5
Category: LGBTQ+ Romance
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle
13. Talon (Ashes & Embers)
This is part of a series, but you can read this book alone. It’s about two people (Talon and Asia) who sign up for a program where you answer many questions about yourself and get matched with somebody who will potentially be a perfect match. Also, you have to marry them blindly, not even seeing them once stay married for six months. Then, the end is supposed to see the psychology behind the questions, whether it was their perfect match, and how the marriage went.
So Talon and Asia ended up signing up for it and getting paired. They are opposites, and they could not be less alike. The story progresses from there, from them having this fake marriage. It’s usually two people having to pretend they’re together to hide from some other secret. Also, It’s an unexpected romance that blossoms between these two characters.
Author: Carian Cole
Average Rating: 4.7/5
Category: New Adult & College Romance
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD
14. Play (Stage Dive)
This is the second book in the Stage Dive series of companion novels. The book series follows a band, and every band member has their book. So this follows the drummer (Mal Ericson), who has a bad reputation. He’s been doing many crazy things, and his bandmates say you must do something respectable.
So Mal ends up striking a deal with a girl who’s a big fan of the band. But she’s very reserved and shy and desperately needs money. They have a fake relationship with the public, and the story goes from there. I like this one because it incorporates the celebrity aspect of fake dating. There are many times when we’re speculating which celebrities are fake dating in the real world. So, to see it play out in a romance book was fun.
Author: Kylie Scott
Average Rating: 4.7/5
Category: Coming of Age Fiction, Erotic Fiction
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD
15. Take a Hint, Dani Brown
This book was named Dani, who is a professor at the school. There’s a fire drill, and she doesn’t know about it. She gets stuck in the elevator, and her friend (Zafir), a security guard in the same building, saves her and carries her out like a firefighter. People take a video of it, and it becomes viral. They captured those 15 minutes of fame and fake dates to help Zafir. After all, he helps run a non-profit for a kid’s sports camp.
They’re friends, which could be a friend to lovers and fake dating ones. The more they fake dates, the more they realize they have feelings for each other. Both the characters are amazing. Dani is very bold and energetic. She knows what she wants, and she’s confident. Zafir is the human definition of a cinnamon roll. So this is a perfect fake dating book, in my opinion.
Author: Talia Hibbert
Average Rating: 4.5/5
Category: Multicultural Romance
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD
16. The Ex Talk
In this book, Shay and Dominic work at NPR in Seattle, and their station isn’t doing the best. So they need some new podcasts. Shay came up with the idea for the Ex Talk, where the couple that was together talked about their relationship and how they could be friends. At first, Shay and Dominic must pretend they have been in a relationship.
So it’s not necessarily fake dating, and the fact is that they’re faking that they are dating. But they’re faking this relationship in some way or another. The more they do this radio show podcast and talk about their ex-relationship, the more they realize they like each other and want to become real.
Author: Rachel Lynn Solomon
Average Rating: 4.2/5
Category: Romantic Comedy, Women’s Fiction
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle
17. The Dating Plan (Marriage Game)
This book follows a character named Daisy, the software engineer. She has no interest in love. Then, who enters her life again is Liam. He is her older brother’s best friend, whom she’s always had a crush on. He was supposed to take her to prom so many years ago. But he abandoned it and never talked to her for a year.
Through the course of events, Liam needs a fake fiance. It’ll help Daisy, too, because of her business. She can use his company to help with their company. So they pretend that they’re engaged, and feelings go on from there. This is another book that has multiple tropes. It’s got the fake dating, but I would also consider this a second-chance romance because they have feelings for each other in the past, and they’re revisiting those.
Author: Sara Desai
Average Rating: 4.1/5
Category: Family Life Fiction, Romantic Comedy
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle
18. Accidentally Engaged
The main character of this book is Reena. She has a family that’s always wanting her to marry a Muslim guy, but she doesn’t want to marry anybody. Nadim, her new neighbor across the hall, is her father’s pick for marriage. They make a friendship. This baking competition happened because Reena is also a baker and loves baking.
This baking competition is only for married or engaged couples. So they pretend to be engaged to go on this baking competition. Reena proposed to Nadim for this fake engagement. Gradually, their fake romance turns into a real one.
Author: Farah Heron
Average Rating: 4.3/5
Category: Marriage & Divorce Fiction
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD
19. First Comes Like (Modern Love)
This book follows a character named Jia, a beauty influencer who always has her eyes on the prize. She doesn’t have time for love, but a certain Bollywood star is in her DMs. So they start talking, and she has feelings for him. Then, when she meets him in real life, it turns out that he isn’t talking to her at all. It was some random person catfishing her.
So when Dev (Bollywood star) meets Jia, he immediately likes her and still can’t get her out of his head. The paparazzi catch them together, and it goes on a whirlwind from there. So his family is bombarding her, and she’s tired of it. She has to fake date to help her family a little bit. So they decide to do a fake date for a while.
Author: Alisha Rai
Average Rating: 4.3/5
Category: Asian American Literature & Fiction
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle | Audio CD
20. While We Were Dating (The Wedding Date)
The story follows Ben and Anna. Ben works for a marketing company. He meets Anna, who is a famous movie actress. Anna asked him to fake a date because it could greatly help her public image, and she has a big premiere coming up. So they decide to fake date. If you want a quick summer read related to fake dating, It’s good.
Author: Jasmine Guillory
Average Rating: 4.3/5
Category: Multicultural Contemporary Romance
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle
5 Spicy Fake Dating Books
“The Unhoneymooners” by Christina Lauren: This novel features Olive and Ethan, who go on a non-refundable honeymoon trip together after the bride and groom fall ill. Despite their mutual dislike, they pretend to be newlyweds, and, as you might expect, things heat up between them.
“The Kiss Quotient” by Helen Hoang: It’s a unique twist on the fake dating trope with a refreshing perspective. Stella, a woman with Asperger’s, hires an escort, Michael, to help her learn about relationships and intimacy. Their professional arrangement soon turns into a complex, heartfelt connection.
“To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” by Jenny Han: This young adult novel is a lighter take on the fake dating trope. Lara Jean’s secret love letters get sent to her crush, including her sister’s ex-boyfriend. She starts a fake relationship with another recipient, Peter, to save face, leading to unexpected feelings.
“The Wedding Date” by Jasmine Guillory: A charming story about Alexa and Drew who get stuck in an elevator and then agree to a fake date for Drew’s ex’s wedding. The chemistry and banter between them make the story engaging and pleasantly spicy.
“Take a Hint, Dani Brown” by Talia Hibbert: This novel features a fake relationship between Danika, a career-focused academic, and Zafir, a security guard with a romantic side. Their arrangement to fake dates for publicity leads to genuine attraction and steamy moments.
5 Ya Fake Dating Books
“To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” by Jenny Han: This is a popular YA novel where high school junior Lara Jean Covey’s secret love letters are accidentally sent out to her former crushes. To avoid embarrassment, she agrees to enter a fake relationship with one of the recipients, Peter Kavinsky.
“10 Blind Dates” by Ashley Elston: After Sophie’s boyfriend breaks up with her, her family sets her up on ten blind dates during the holiday season. The concept of family involvement and the range of dates make this a fun and heartwarming read.
“The Fill-In Boyfriend” by Kasie West: When Gia Montgomery’s boyfriend, Bradley, dumps her in the parking lot of her high school prom, she convinces a random guy to play the role of Bradley for the night. The story unfolds as this fake relationship starts to feel real.
“Fake It Till You Break It” by Jenn P. Nguyen: Mia and Jake have mothers who are obsessed with getting them together, but they can’t stand each other. They decide to fake a date and then stage a dramatic breakup. As they pretend, their feelings start to change.
“Analee, in Real Life” by Janelle Milanes: Analee Echevarria prefers living in her online game world where she’s comfortable. When high school heartthrob Seb asks her to pretend to be his girlfriend, she navigates real-life feelings and experiences.
5 Steamy Fake Dating Romance Books
“The Wall of Winnipeg and Me” by Mariana Zapata: This novel features a slow-burn romance between Vanessa, a hardworking assistant, and Aiden, a professional football player. Aiden asks Vanessa to enter a fake marriage to help him stay in the country, leading to a complex and steamy relationship.
“Marriage of Inconvenience” by Penny Reid: Part of the ‘Knitting in the City’ series, this book follows the story of Kat and Dan, who enter into a marriage of convenience due to Kat’s inheritance issues. Their fake relationship evolves into something real and intense.
“Roomies” by Christina Lauren: This novel is about a marriage of convenience between Holland, who has a crush on a street musician, and Calvin, who needs a green card. Their arrangement leads to unexpected chemistry and steamy encounters.
“The Deal” by Elle Kennedy: A part of the ‘Off-Campus’ series, it features a fake relationship between Garrett, a hockey player who needs help with his grades, and Hannah, who agrees to tutor him in exchange for his help in making her crush jealous. Their agreement leads to a passionate connection.
“Boyfriend Material” by Alexis Hall: Luc, the son of a rock star, needs to clean up his image, and Oliver, a barrister, needs a date for an event. They agree to fake dates, and their relationship turns passionate and emotional.
5 High School Fake Dating Books
“To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” by Jenny Han: This popular YA novel revolves around Lara Jean, who starts a fake relationship with Peter Kavinsky to avoid confronting a past crush. Their pretend romance takes place in the backdrop of high school, with all its drama and excitement.
“The Fill-In Boyfriend” by Kasie West: When Gia Montgomery’s boyfriend dumps her on prom night, she convinces a random guy to be her fill-in boyfriend for the evening. The story captures the high school experience, focusing on relationships, reputation, and self-discovery.
“Fake It Till You Break It” by Jenn P. Nguyen: Mia and Jake have been neighbors and enemies since childhood. To stop their mothers from setting them up, they decide to fake date and then have a messy break-up. Their high school setting adds more complexity to their pretend relationship.
“Always Never Yours” by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka: Megan Harper is known for dating someone just before they finds their true love. She starts a fake relationship with Owen Okita, her friend, to win over her latest crush, but things don’t go as planned in this high school drama.
“99 Days” by Katie Cotugno: Molly Barlow finds herself in a complicated situation when she returns to her hometown for the summer. She gets involved in a fake relationship with Gabe Donnelly, but things get complicated with his brother, Patrick, her former love.
5 Enemies To Lovers Fake Dating Books
“The Hating Game” by Sally Thorne: This novel features Lucy and Joshua, workplace rivals who despise each other. Their dynamic changes when forced into a situation that leads them to pretend to be in a relationship, sparking a complex and steamy romance.
“The Unhoneymooners” by Christina Lauren: Olive and Ethan, who can’t stand each other, end up on a non-refundable honeymoon trip together. They have to pretend they are a married couple, leading to a series of comedic and romantic misadventures.
“Hate to Want You” by Alisha Rai: This story revolves around Livvy and Nicholas, who once had a passionate relationship but now can barely stand each other due to a family feud. They enter a fake relationship for different reasons, rekindling old flames and intense emotions.
“From Lukov with Love” by Mariana Zapata: Jasmine and Ivan are figure skaters who’ve always been at odds. Forced to team up for a competition, they start with a rocky partnership that slowly turns into a deeper connection, blending the fake dating and enemies-to-lovers themes.
“Pretending” by Holly Bourne: April is tired of dating. She creates a new persona and starts a fake relationship with Joshua, who believes she’s perfect. Their relationship, built on April’s deception, navigates the thin line between love and hate.
5 Fake Dating Romcom Books
“The Love Hypothesis” by Ali Hazelwood: This novel features Olive, a Ph.D. student, who fakes a relationship with Adam, a grumpy professor, to convince her best friend that she’s dating again. Their pretend romance leads to genuine chemistry and comedic situations.
“Boyfriend Material” by Alexis Hall: Luc, the son of a rock star, needs to clean up his image. He enters a fake relationship with Oliver, a barrister who needs a date for a work event. Their interactions are filled with humor, misunderstandings, and evolving emotions.
“The Wedding Date” by Jasmine Guillory: Alexa and Drew meet in an elevator and then agree to a fake date for Drew’s ex’s wedding. Their story mixes charming and awkward moments with a light-hearted and sweet romance between them.
“Not So Nice Guy” by R.S. Grey: Best friends Ian and Sam agree to pretend they’re dating to make Ian more desirable to other women. The plan, however, backfires as real feelings emerge. This book is known for its witty dialogue and humorous scenarios.
“The Spanish Love Deception” by Elena Armas: Catalina needs a date for her sister’s wedding in Spain, and her annoying colleague, Aaron, volunteers. Their trip to Spain and the pretend relationship evolve into something deeper, offering humor and romance in equal measure.
5 Sports Fake Dating Books
“The Wall of Winnipeg and Me” by Mariana Zapata: This slow-burn romance involves Vanessa, an assistant, and Aiden, a professional football player. Aiden asks Vanessa to enter a fake marriage with him for immigration purposes, leading to an unexpectedly deep connection.
“Fumbled” by Alexa Martin: In this story, Poppy Patterson, a single mother, reconnects with her high school sweetheart, T.K. Moore, who is now a professional football player. They end up in a fake relationship that rekindles old flames and introduces new challenges.
“Play” by Kylie Scott: Anne agrees to pretend to be the girlfriend of Mal Ericson, the drummer for a famous rock band who also loves to play football. This arrangement helps Mal with his public image, but their fake relationship starts feeling very real.
“Blindsided” by Amy Daws: This novel features a fake relationship between Freya, a physiotherapist, and Mac, a professional soccer player. Their pretend romance to make Mac’s ex-girlfriend jealous slowly evolves into a genuine connection.
“Pucked” by Helena Hunting: Violet agrees to a fake relationship with Alex, a professional hockey player, to help him manage his public image. Their agreement leads to humorous situations and a growing romance.
5 LGBTQ Fake Dating Books
“Boyfriend Material” by Alexis Hall: Luc, the son of rock stars, needs to clean up his image and enters a fake relationship with Oliver, a barrister who needs a date for a work event. Their relationship evolves amidst misunderstandings and real emotions in this charming story.
“Red, White & Royal Blue” by Casey McQuiston: Alex, the First Son of the United States, and Henry, the Prince of Wales, are forced into a fake friendship after a public altercation. This arrangement turns romantic as they develop real feelings for each other.
“The Love Study” by Kris Ripper: Declan is a YouTuber who runs a dating advice channel. Sidney, who has sworn off relationships, agrees to go on a series of dates organized by Declan for his show, leading to an unexpected connection.
“Fake Out” by Eden Finley: Maddox needs a fake boyfriend to attend a wedding and avoid his ex. He enlists the help of Damon, who agrees to the charade. Their pretend relationship leads to genuine feelings in this heartwarming story.
“Date Me, Bryson Keller” by Kevin van Whye: Bryson Keller, the popular high school jock, must date the first person who asks him out each week. Kai Sheridan, a closeted classmate, asks Bryson out, and what starts as a fake dating arrangement becomes deeper.
5 Celebrity Fake Dating Books
“The Unhoneymooners” by Christina Lauren: While not celebrities in the traditional sense, Olive and Ethan find themselves pretending to be newlyweds on a honeymoon in Hawaii. The twist? They can’t stand each other. Olive’s twin sister is a well-known figure in her field, adding a celebrity angle to the story.
“Act Like It” by Lucy Parker: This novel is set in the world of London’s West End theatre. Lainie and Richard, two actors, are asked to fake a relationship to improve their show’s publicity. The line between acting and real feelings starts to blur in this charming romance.
“Just for Show” by Jae: Psychologist Claire and actress Lana engage in a fake relationship to help Lana get a major role. As they play the part of a couple in the public eye, their pretend romance begins to feel all too real.
“Roomies” by Christina Lauren: Holland Bakker’s marriage to Calvin McLoughlin, a gifted musician from Ireland, starts as a fake arrangement to help him stay in the U.S. The story evolves as they navigate the complexities of a public relationship that turns genuine.
“Starstruck” by S.E. Anderson: Sally’s life changes when she lands a role in a major sci-fi TV series. When a photo of her with co-star Becks is mistaken for evidence of a romantic relationship, they start a fake dating scenario, which takes a real romantic turn.
5 Friends To Lovers Fake Dating Books
“Not So Nice Guy” by R.S. Grey: Best friends Ian and Sam have always been just that—friends. But when they pretend to date, real feelings begin to emerge. This book combines humor and romance in a story about realizing love might have been there all along.
“Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating” by Christina Lauren: Hazel knows she has a lot to handle, and Josh, her best friend’s brother, and her college acquaintance, understands her perfectly. They set each other up on disastrous double-blind dates, not realizing they might be perfect for each other.
“Sincerely, Carter” by Whitney G.: Carter and Arizona have been friends since childhood. When they start faking a relationship with Carter’s family, they begin to see each other in a new light, complicating their longstanding friendship with emerging romantic feelings.
“Blurred Lines” by Lauren Layne: Parker and Ben have been friends for years and are sure that sex will never complicate their friendship. They decide to become friends with benefits but soon realize their feelings for each other are deeper than they thought.
“The Marriage Game” by Sara Desai: After a disastrous blind date, Layla Patel and Sam Mehta share an office space. They start as reluctant friends and decide to fake a date to appease Layla’s family, leading to unexpected romantic feelings.
These novels explore humor, heartache, and heartfelt moments. They are perfect for readers who enjoy seeing a platonic relationship blossom into a romantic one.
If you enjoy romance with a twist of pretend scenarios leading to real emotions, these books are enjoyable and emotionally enriching for you to explore.
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