4⭐️I absolutely LOVED Nora and West together. I’m a sucker for a brothers best friend romance book and I think this one was done really well. My only issue is that I feel like the resolution to the stalker subplot was somewhat out of nowhere and maybe a bit unlikely to actually occur. To me, it would have made more sense to have someone stalking Nora due to her own fame instead of this. But I really enjoyed reading this book and I’m looking forward to picking up the rest in the series when they come out!

Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing, and Olivia Hayle for the opportunity to read this book!

*review posted on goodreads*

Even though I feel awful DNFing ARCs I just wasn't enjoying myself. I feel like it might be mostly a me problem as I think I've outgrown billionaire romances. However, I do have to point out that the writing felt very stilted and could definifinetly have benefited from a few more rounds of editing.

Unfortunately, I have had to dnf The Faking Game at 44% of the way through. The beginning was so good but as it progressed, it started to become slow and my attention drifted away. The hot and coldness of West towards Nora began to bother me as I got further into the book. I wish this could have been a better review.

Rating: 5⭐️/5

So good from start to finish. West and Nora both come from insanely wealthy families with an old vs new money vibe. All of my favorite tropes in one: enemies to lovers, fake dating and a slowwwww burn 🔥. The chemistry between them is insane and I loved every second of it.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

It took a few chapters for me to get into this book, but I ended up really enjoying it.

He is your brother's best friend? Okay, so that's an obstacle.
But he is rich and very willing to protect you? Obstacle has been knocked down at this point, because your brother can have another best friend and go kiss some rocks if he thinks that factor will stop you from being with West. I'm just saying!

This story has suspense, but also romance!! Suspense because the FMC has a stalker and at various occurrences, I leaned into the book curious to know if the stalker would appear right then and how would that direct the story/plot. Romance because of what I literally just said about West, plus what is in the synopsis.

I do know that I stated the brother can have another best friend and go kiss some rocks, but I will admit that I am interested in reading Rafe's story!! Because with the way this story ended, yes I want to know what takes place for him.

DNF
I had to DNF this book sadly, it was not bad at all, there were some mistakes in the writng but besides that it wasn't bad. For me it was just too long for what it was, and it has so much potential so I may come back and read later but as of right now I am choosing to soft dnf this one!

ARC copy - Honestly, I admit that the beginning took a little while to get going, but after getting past a quarter of the way through the book, we're really into it! I'd never read any of this author's books, and it was honestly a great discovery✨

Despite a few slow moments at the end of the novel, I loved the story and the relationship between Nora and West 🥹🥹seriously, West?? Damn that man 🫦🫦

As for the characters themselves, I really liked Nora; she's truly a character you can relate to, and I really liked her development throughout the novel, but I won't say anything... It's up to you to discover.

The plot keeps us on the edge of our seats throughout the story, and despite the stalker story, it's a refreshing, good-vibe read! So go read it!!!

Many thanks to net galley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

brothers best friend and fake dating and the two best friends in the world and I love that for me and them. Nora has a stalker and to stay safe, her older brother had her move in with one of his best friend, West 👀 to appease his mother and to draw out her stalker, they fake date. YES PLEASE - bless @victoryeditingngc for this NetGalley one. I’m excited for the brothers other friends’ stories!

This was such a good book! I loved the writing, especially the way the characters were build. There were nice twists and banter and just overall great chemistry. It's very much worth a read!

3,5 */5*

I was excited to start The Faking Game, it's a great concept, just the kind of thing I usually like. It started off cute and I actually liked the story all the way through, the only problem I had was with the main character, Nora.

Nora comes from a wealthy family, very beautiful (obviously...), well-known model girl. Hence, she obviously has a stalker who needs someone, a strong, sexy man to protect her. Her brother's best friend is perfect for the role, and the rest I think everyone can guess.

Overall, I loved it, but Nora pissed me off. She has spent her whole life looking at what is good for others and is totally insecure about herself, which was emphasized a lot, so I felt a bit dragged out and bored in parts of the story.

Thank you NetGalley and the author for gifting me this ARC, its been a great opportunity being able to read this new and upcoming romance story.

I enjoyed this book, it enjoyed the characters and reading how Nora and West evolved throughout this story, I wish we got to see a little bit more passion between them, that saying, it was still a great love story. It just needed that little bit more of "my God, I need him/her now and level up the spice".

The story between them and how Nora grows as a character is beautiful and lovely to read, making it easy to relate to. I would recommend on

I love books that explore women growing in confidence and coming into their own and Nora certainly does that in this book. I really related to Nora and her insecurities. West was her perfect fit because he was completely confident in who he was. I think writing about a woman claiming her sexuality is hard but the author did this is a very realistic way. As Nora develops she does it with anxiety, excitement and determination. It was a beautiful love story between the two of them.

Pre Thoughts
- Fake dating?

Overall
One chapter in and already invested. This is a great Rom-om book with complex characters and a great story line. Immerse full read, with descriptive world building.
Broody MMC that softens over the course of the book. I love that the MMC fostered a good environment for the FMC to learn how to set boundaries in a relationship.

Stars 4.5 rounded to 5
Spice 4

Tropes
- Fake dating
- Slow burn
- Forced proximity
-Learning to set boundaries

I will need to get a physical copy of this, it is a lovely read.

Thanks netgalley, Victory editing and Olivia Hayle for the opportunity to read this e ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own Xxxx

The Faking Game by Olivia Hayle is everything I love in a romance—fake dating, forced proximity, and a protective billionaire hero with a marriage deadline.

The heroine, an aspiring fashion designer with a stalker, is taken in by the hero for her safety, and their arrangement quickly turns into something real. Their chemistry is electric, and the slow-burn romance is perfectly paced. The second half was SPICY!

I especially loved the family dynamics and how naturally the emotional moments unfolded. A perfect mix of heart, heat, and tension. Highly recommend!

Nora’s trying to make a name for herself without her super-rich and powerful family’s influence, but when a stalker starts threatening her life, she has no choice but to rely on her brother’s best friend, West, to keep her safe. So, Nora moves into West’s family estate and pretends to date him to keep the stalker away, as well as the number of prospective brides his mom is showing him. But if Nora’s going to sacrifice her freedom and pretend to date West, she wants something in return: she wants West to teach her how to date. And guess what? When West takes the time to get to know her and buys her presents, and she starts sleeping in his bed, they start to wonder if this fake relationship was ever really fake.

I went from loving every single second of this novel to wondering what just happened. The pacing was a huge issue at certain parts; Nora’s inner dialogue became too repetitive, making the story feel a bit clunky in the middle. Some of the spice had me rolling my eyes, and I feel like the payoff with the stalker reveal wasn’t worth all the pages that were put into the storyline. Honestly, I couldn’t believe that that was how this major storyline was going to end; it felt so lackluster.

HOWEVER…I am going to continue with this series. There were so many good parts that I think/hope that this is a series that will get better and better with each novel.

✨FAKE dating + dating lessons + brother’s best friend = my entire personality for the week.✨
Olivia Hayle, ma’am, you did not have to go this hard… and yet you did. 🫠💗

In The Faking Game, we get:
💋 Fake dating turned very real
💋 Brother’s best friend who falls first (and HARD)
💋 A slow burn that flirts, aches, and finally delivers
💋 Soft praise kink + protective energy + secret bed sharing
💋 Dating lessons... that may or may not lead to more than just practice 👀

Nora is sheltered, sweet, and finally learning to stand on her own. West is closed-off, commanding, and hopelessly gone for her—even when she doesn’t see it yet. Watching them unravel each other’s defenses felt like falling in love in real time. Slow, soft, wrecking.

💭 “The way he’s looking at me now? It’s not part of any lesson.”
THAT LINE LIVES IN MY HEAD RENT-FREE.

This book has all the emotional ache and payoff you could want, without unnecessary drama or toxicity. Just the kind of story that holds you close and reminds you—you deserve someone who sees you. (And maybe buys you sparkly things while kissing you breathless.)

🖤 Thank you to @netgalley & @oliviahayle for this ARC!

#TheFakingGame #OliviaHayle #NetGalley #FakeDatingTrope #BrothersBestFriendRomance #SlowBurnRomance #RomComReads #RomanceBookstagram #FictionalMenAreSuperior #BookReview #BookishLove #BookBoyfriendEnergy #Bookstagram #ContemporaryRomance #NewReleaseAlert #SpicyReads

The Faking Game is a steamy billionaire , forbidden romance and I devoured!!!

The chemistry between the two mcs was undeniable. The spice was wayyy spicer than expecting and I loved every second of it.

This book not only gave you swoon worthy moments, spice, a stalker! But it was at its core a heartwarming romance.

If you like
Billionaire romance ✔️
Fake dating ✔️
Brother’s best friend ✔️
Slow but worth it burn ✔️

This one’s for you!

Will definitely be stocking in my shop!

I believe The Faking Game is the book closest to my heart. It is beautifully written, with an amazing plot and interesting characters.

I loved West a lot, he was so understanding, patient and sweet to Nora. Their interactions were really enjoyable and I couldn’t stop giggling while reading.

However, the star of the show, Nora, is the first FMC I have read about that I truly saw myself in. From her people-pleasing ways and keeping everyone at arm’s length, I felt as though I was reading about myself with every page turned. Her story helped me a lot and made me realize the strength in myself and also how important it is to sometimes put yourself first. She is amazing, strong, funny, intelligent, ambitious and really talented.

I have nothing bad to say about this book, maybe that I wish it was longer haha. I can’t wait to get a physical copy and recommend it to everyone I know!

Many thanks to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 🫶🏻

I am absolutely obsessing over these characters. West and Nora are everything. I loved the slow burn and steamy chemistry between West and Nora. The emotional growth from each character was great and relatable. It was such a sweet and engaging read. Hot but respectful chemistry. Definitely a book that I would 1000% recommend and will be recommending to my girlfriends!