Thank you to Netgalley and Olivia Hayle for this e-arc.

Okay this book was so cute! This had all my favorite tropes: Fake dating, billionaire, best friends brother and a regency vibes which is very popular these days. I also loved the FMC and MMC. Their chemistry felt so natural they were so cute and sweet. I love a book when you can really feel the chemistry and vulnerability without it being forced or cringe and this story just felt so natural. If you like Romance and Historical Regency romance like a Bridgerton this book could be your gateway to a more contemporary romance that give you all the feels.

The Faking Game by Olivia Hayle is a captivating romance that hits all the right notes. When the heroine moves in with West Calloway—her brother’s wealthy best friend—for safety reasons, a fake relationship turns into something far more real. What starts as a protective arrangement becomes a slow-burn, emotionally rich love story full of tension and chemistry.

It balances witty banter, swoon-worthy moments, and genuine emotional depth with ease. West is both guarded and charming, while the heroine’s personal growth feels authentic and empowering. Their dynamic is addictive, making it hard to put the book down.

With just the right mix of heat, heart, and humor, The Faking Game is a must-read for fans of the fake dating trope done right. I couldn’t stop smiling—and swooning.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely devoured this!!

I knew I would love this book from the blurb alone, but I did not anticipate just how much I would love it. The relatability, the slow burn, the SPICE… incredible no notes. This may be my new favorite Olivia Hayle book.

Nora might just be the most relatable FMC I’ve ever read–is this play about ME? Every little detail about her had me hitting pause because it was a little too real! Who gave Miss Olivia access to my diary? It was so amazing seeing her growth throughout the book. I was so giddy and proud whenever she had a breakthrough moment.

West was so perfect with Nora, like… woah, yeah! No notes. The way he cared for her and was so firm, yet gentle with her when she got into her head was so adorable. Where is my West to teach me to stop being such a people pleaser?

The slow burn and the smut were actually so perfect. The tension and build up got me. The delicate balance of West helping her set boundaries while also getting her to push them… phew! Sometimes long, drawn-out smut can be A Lot, but it worked so well with this book. It fit both characters so well and actually felt realistic. There's no “I’m a virgin but I somehow am a sex goddess my very first time” messiness; just real, sometimes awkward scenes that actually progress the plot.

My singular issue with this book was the timeline being a bit confusing at times. I found myself circling back to previous chapters to figure out what day/week/month we were on. It only happened a few times, but that did take me out of the immersion.

Truly loved this book so much and will be giving it a reread <3

ALSO I’m so excited to read Rafe’s book, but Alex and James have me SO intrigued. I must know more!

I ate this book up! It was adorable and just put me in such a good mood lol. I loved both the hero and heroine so much.

This story is about Nora, she bends over backwards for her family and dates that she knows won’t go anywhere. When a stalker makes a dangerous move she moves to New York for a fresh start, away from her stalker. Her Brother Rafe decides it’s best since he isn’t New York that his best friend West, filthy rich and painfully arrogant- who Nora once had a crush on who never returned her feelings.

West needs to send his mother a signal to stop her from trying to set him up with women since it becomes a very prominent part of his life. West suggested that fake dating will keep his mother at bay and the stalker who lurks in the shadows a sign to back off since now she’s protected from all angles. But Nora, has a goal in her heart. Lose her virginity by 25… only problem is… she’s never been in a relationship. West is up for the challenge of teaching her.

I loved this book! The characters were loveable and their banter was believable. The lust, the like and the love were all believable and it moved in an incredible and enjoyable pace through the book. West is an incredible MMC and I loved his respect for Nora and of course his best friend. Nora is a fierce FMC who I find myself in her throughout the book! I highly recommend reading this book!

Thank you to Net Galley and Olivia Hayle for sending me an ARC copy of this book 🫶

Genre: Romance
APK: E-Book
Page count: 394
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Series: The Billionaire Games (Book one of four)
Tropes: Fake Dating, Best Friends brother, Stalking, Billionaire, Sexual Content, Praise, Dirty Talk.

My first Five Star Read for May 2025. I hadn’t read anything by Olivia Hayle before but I’m definitely going to read more of her books in the future because I loved The Faking Game.

Nora is such a great FMC, I like how she tries really hard to keep her independence and not let anybody else know how terrified she is by the stalker. She’s such a sweetheart and it’s easy to see why everybody from Darcy (the cat) to West’s sister, Amber and the Fairhaven staff are all charmed by her. I can definitely relate to how much of a people-pleaser she is.

West is just the Perfect Book Boyfriend. The chemistry between them is Off. The. Charts. It’s sweet that he calls Nora “trouble” and is determined to make sure that she never puts on a mask around him and asserts herself. They can both be themselves around each other. West is so caring with Nora outside the bedroom that it makes the spicy scenes that much hotter and they’re already five-alarm hot.

Is it greedy that I want stories for the rest of the group (especially Nora’s brother, Rafe) ASAP?

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 - 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for sending me a digital ARC 💖

Nora—an heiress, model, and relentless people pleaser who prioritizes everyone’s needs, even beyond her family—is used to living for others. But when a stalker shatters the illusion of safety, she’s forced to abandon her glamorous life in Paris and seek refuge in New York. There, a surprising new arrangement changes everything—giving her a front-row seat to the softer, hidden layers of the enigmatic West.

West—heir to the Cal Steel empire—is as infuriating as he is elusive. Arrogant, fiercely private, and emotionally unavailable, he keeps the world at arm’s length. So when he agrees to a fake dating arrangement with his best friend’s sister, it’s not out of goodwill—it’s because he needs to. The plan is simple: protect Nora, keep up appearances, and keep emotions out of it. It’s supposed to be a temporary strategy, nothing more. But Nora isn’t the type to go along with a charade without something in return. She agrees—on one condition: West has to teach her how to date. What starts as a deal quickly begins to blur the lines between fake and something dangerously close to real.

This book was so damn good!!! Their dynamic was electric- the forbidden chemistry, the praise.. UGH- there were moments that keep me glued to the page at 2AM. Dont get me started on the spice... Literally could not put the book down.

This wasn’t just a romance built on tropes—it was about two people learning to trust each other in the middle of chaos. Nora’s stalker adds a layer of suspense without overshadowing their growing adoration for each other. The gradual shift from fake to real feels earned, not rushed.

Olivia’s writing style is effortless— it just hits you right in the feels.. and that cliffhanger... I need book 2 like yesterday...

Oh my goodness, I just finished the faking game by Olivia Hayle and wow it was truly amazing.
5 ⭐️

I couldn’t put this book down after I finally was able to get it started and deep dive. It had me going through so many emotions it will be stuck in my brain for ages and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

If you love a brother’s best friend and a billionaire combo this book is definitely needed on your list, The tropes for this book were to die for. It was a slow burn with humour and flirtyness that had me giggling while reading.

West Calloway is now on my book boyfriend list and definitely in the top 3.
I saw so much of myself in Nora especially with her being a people pleaser and wanting to change. I think I learnt a few things from west Calloway myself.


Thank you to netgalley and Olivia Hayle for the opportunity to read this arc and it being my first is very special

Thanks to the author Olivia and NetGalley for an eARC of this amazing book. I can’t believe I haven’t read any of this authors books before because I seriously loved this story and the characters. I ate up every second of this book. Definitely spicy but also so sweet. Let’s just say I may love West haha. Definitely recommend, like seriously check this out asap. ❤️

I absolutely adored West and Nora, and thoroughly enjoyed the story telling throughout this novel. The plot was decent while still hitting hard on a lot of spice between the characters. My only complaint is that this book felt about 150 pages too long, but I still really enjoyed it! It just felt slow/a little dragged out

Olivia Hayle is a remarkable story-teller. The Faking Game is a good mix between pulls at your heartstrings while keeping you on your toes. If life didn’t keep getting in the way, I wouldn’t have put this book down, seriously!

Thank you for that experience Olivia Hayle & NetGalley! I thoroughly enjoyed it. ♡

If you want to read the blabbery version of this review, my Goodreads is linked as well.

If predictable billionaire romances are wrong, then I don't wanna be right.

If you love romances with spice and a whole lot of tropes - this book checks a lot of boxes: enemies to lovers, fake dating, forced proximity, best friend’s sister, billionaire romance. Like, wowzers - it's a lot to pack in one book but it works and delivers. It moves quick and feels well paced!

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 / 3.5
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!!

Nora is a model who's trying to become a fashion designer. She's lately been gotten a stalker, and moves to New York City, to unfortunately be found there at her new job the next day. Nora's brother asks his best friend West to protect her. West proposes they fake date in public, so the stalker takes a hint and backs off, while West's family can get off his back about still being single.

I read another novel by this author "How to Honeymoon Alone" last year, and this upcoming release is just as good!

It's giving "Twisted Lies", without a morally grey hero, but with an unexperienced heroine.

Nora's character hits home. She's a people pleaser to her core. She always wants to make everyone happy, even if it comes with sacrificing her own well being. She's never been in a relationship 'cause she can't stand a possibility of disappointing someone or not living up to someone's expectations.

Which is why Nora decides to fake date her brother's best friend in exchange of dating lessons. But West does so much more. He really helps her to finally be able to express herself, to set healthy boundaries, to get angry. Nora's journey was really beautiful.

The chemistry between West and Nora is sizzling. I loved all the yearning and pining between the two. I appreciated that they are both from the same social class, bringing a better level of understanding of each other's lives.

My little complaint is about the ending. This book is over 500 pages long, yet the final plot point felt pretty rushed.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for sending me a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and can be found below.

The Faking Game by Olivia Hayle
——

A stalker. A fake relationship. A billionaire best friend. What could possibly go wrong?

The Faking Game is everything I want in a contemporary romance—sharp banter, believable chemistry, and loveable characters. It follows Nora, a model quietly dreaming of becoming a designer, and West, the stoic billionaire heir who’s not only her brother’s best friend… but also the safest option when she needs to hide from a stalker. The solution? Move in to West’s gated estate. Pretend to date. Hope feelings don’t get involved (spoiler: they absolutely do).

But what surprised me most was how layered this story felt beneath the fun setup. Nora’s journey as a people-pleaser hit so close to home—constantly shrinking herself, putting others first, second-guessing every boundary she tries to set. Watching her slowly start to stand taller, say no, and ask for what she actually wants? That resonated on a personal level. It was validating in a quiet, powerful way.

And West? He sees the way she dims herself and refuses to let her do it. He calls it out. He challenges her. He praises her for taking up space—sometimes with words, sometimes with (very convincing) actions. His desire for Nora isn’t just romantic or physical—it’s rooted in who she really is, even when she doesn’t believe in that version of herself yet. He’s a mirror, a catalyst, a spark.

I gave this a solid 4 stars. It’s a bingeable read with smooth writing and great pacing. I did find the stalker plot’s resolution a little underwhelming and would’ve loved more depth in the side characters. Still, this ARC was a joy to read, and I can’t wait to see what Olivia Hayle writes next! If you love fake dating, brother’s best friend, and emotionally satisfying slow burns—this one’s for you.

I’ve read all of Hayle’s books and this is by far my favourite. This was perfectly paced. Swoony, full of tension and I just loved both the main characters. Their relationship developed in such an organic way despite the situation. The spice was delicious. The whole story was delicious

This was a total page turner and to make things better it kicks off a series too - double good news! This was a good old fashioned romance and then there is a twist in it. West and Nora agree to fake date which suits them both, only things are never that simple and feelings happen. Whilst this isn’t a new plot, this tale is very well told. There is a family dynamic to play into the relationships., irritating and involved mothers and brothers, and a stalker which adds a frisson of danger. A great book, that totally hooked me and made me fall in,love with the characters. I can’t wait for book 2.

Ooooh, Olivia you've done it again. I absolutely loved West and Nora.

I loved how he built up Nora's security little by little, always by her side. Always making things happen effortlessly, he's a beauty.

And her, I loved how we saw her slowly growing up over the course of the book, and slowly asking for what she wanted without realizing it.

Just when you think you can't read anything else from Olivia that you love, she goes and gives you these little gems.

Wow, what a book. I enjoyed it a lot, the characters were fun to follow, I would love to read more about Amber, she seemed great for sure. It didn't take me too long to read this book as I kept wanting to know what was going to happen to the main characters, the chemistry between them was off the chart and I was not disappointed. I will for sure check out more books from this author.

This book is definitely spicy, but I thought it was well done. I definitely prioritize the plot over the spice so I was impressed with how much it added without taking away from the story.

I gotta love fake dating and this definitely did not disappoint.

This brother’s best friend + forced proximity romance was a fun read. Very spicy in the best way. You will definitely want to add this to your summer reading list.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.