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!

The Faking Game is a light, entertaining fake relationship romance with all the classic tropes: a successful CEO, witty banter, and undeniable chemistry. Olivia Hayle delivers an easy, fast-paced read that's perfect for a lazy afternoon.

The dynamic between the main characters is fun at times, and there are a few genuinely sweet moments. However, the plot feels quite predictable, and the emotional depth is a bit lacking. The characters don’t always feel fully developed, and some scenes come across as rushed.

It’s not a bad book by any means—if you enjoy fake dating stories and are looking for something light and uncomplicated, you’ll likely have a good time. But it doesn’t offer much that’s new or particularly memorable in the genre. A decent, quick read, but not a standout.

I loved the relationship that developed between West and Nora. It was amazing to read how he encouraged her, helped her grow and to believe in herself so she could, learn about herself and go after what she wants. West helped Nora stand up for herslf and take control of her life. I loved how protective he was of Nora but also supportive and understanding that she still needed to live and wouldn't let the stalker stop her from doing that. I was so invested in the characters and I would highly recommend this enemies to lovers story about love, personal growth and friendship. I can't wait to see what Olivia Hayle has in store next!

I really loved the vibe from this book, because it is an enemys lovers, there is a stalker involved and it’s forbidden love.
The story is about Nora and West and they hate eachother. West is Nora’s brothers best friend. Because Nora has a stalker West became her bodyguard.
You really get to know them both, so it’s not just a story only about their relationship.

Personally I don’t really like spicy books, so that’s why I gave it three stars. But if you like spicy books and what I’ve written above, I would really recommend you to read this!

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for a review.

This was such a good story but wayyy spicer than I anticipated. This is an easy quick read perfect for a beach or pool day.

Nora Montclair, a model, seeks refuge at her brother’s best friend West Calloway’s lavish estate to escape a persistent stalker. To protect her—and help West proposes a fake‑dating arrangement. What starts as a convenient cover-up quickly evolves: West offers dating lessons, emotional support, and safety, all while navigating his own walls. Their journey to fiercely protective lovers is heartbreakingly real.

What truly stood out is the slow-burn development—the intimate glances, the supportive banter, the deeply personal growth you feel with each chapter. Nora steps out of her comfort zone, shedding her people‑pleasing habits with West's help—respectfully, patiently, lovingly. West, the quintessential billionaire brother’s‑best‑friend, is both protective and emotionally available—not just a trophy hero, but a real person capable of vulnerability. Their first kiss is chef’s kiss, built on trust and genuine affection

🔍 Why It’s a Must-Read
Tropes Done Right: Billionaire romance ✔️ Fake dating ✔️ Brother’s best friend ✔️ Slow burn ✔️

Character Arc Highlight: Nora's growth from people-pleaser to confident partner feels earned and inspiring.

West’s Emotional Depth: He’s protective, guided by loyalty—and that emotional availability adds real substance.

Warm, witty banter & chemistry: Their dialogue keeps you smiling while the intimacy keeps you melting.

⭐ Final Take
A beautifully layered romance that blends steamy chemistry, heartfelt growth, and a sweet-but-steady romance arc. If you're drawn to emotionally invested billionaire romances with slow-burning attraction and authentic character development, this is one to stash in your TBR. Just imagine a warm cup of tea... perfect for cozy weekend reading.

Respectfully, this was good and at the same time it wasn’t. The story itself was cute. But then…
First of all, i get it, West once said something that hurt the fmc’s feelings. I really understand it. But it doesn’t have to be repeated so many times.
Second, the whole virgin-trope can be good, but it has to be done well. But i didn’t liked how it was played out in this book. I know there are people with zero knowledge, but this was over the top clueless… the spicy scenes were just so cringe and i felt really embarrased the way Nora acted in these scenes.
Third, the reveal of the stalker? I found it really anticlimatique… had expected something crazier…
On the positive side when there were no spicy scenes, it is a good story that I enjoyed.
Respectfully, I wasn’t a fan. I will definitely try one of Olivia Hayle’s other books to see if it’s her writing or just this book I didn’t like.

This book takes all of your favorite tropes and packages it in a fun and unique story.
Fake dating ✔️
Brothers best friend ✔️
Billionaire Romance ✔️
Forced proximity ✔️
Throw in a dangerous stalker, a woman on a mission to improve herself, a brother’s best friend who wants to fix all of her problems and you get a swoon worthy romance. Can’t wait for the next 3 books! 🩷🩷🩷

I really enjoyed and liked this and I do love a bit of fake dating and then add billionaire trope it’s something special (because who wants reality at the moment or ever) 🥲 I thought the romance and the spice were brilliant , I loved watching the FMC grow and our MMC way with words at the right times (chefs kiss). Wonderful