This was such a good, bingeable contemporary romance! Brother’s best friend who’s a billionaire? Fake dating? A stalker? Yes, yes, yes—I was sold.

West is a consent KING, and the mouth on him? I’m not surprised Nora folded for him. You could really feel the chemistry between them—the tension was palpable.

I will say I wanted a little more from the stalker reveal; it felt a bit brushed over.

This was my first book by Olivia, and it definitely won’t be the last. I’m already looking forward to reading Rafe’s book!

Thank you Olivia Hayle for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was the first book that I’ve read by Olivia Hayle and I don’t think it will be the last. If you are like me and love a fake dating trope with a side of spicy lessons, this is a solid bet for you. Nora is a perpetual people pleaser, so much so that she has had zero success in relationships. When she finds herself with a stalker, her extremely protective older brother enlists his best friend to protect her. The problem is, her protector is the same man that turned her down years ago and their interactions since have been strained. I loved that Nora was in therapy trying to deal with her issues and that setting boundaries was a big focus for her character. Yay positive mental health rep! West was a pretty swoony MMC once he let his guard down a bit. The way he treated Nora and empowered her rather than coddled her was everything. I loved the group chat with his friends too. This was the first book of a new series and it looks like the rest of the books will be theirs, so I’m looking forward to more of those chats! Overall, I really enjoyed this one.

Good story But honestly I would have enjoyed it a bit more if it was a bit shorter. 60 chapters felt a lot. It was close to Ana Huang but not exactly the same.

I read some other reviews and people have really liked it. Maybe this one is not for me or maybe I need to reread it in future. But best of luck! Hope it's a success.

Thanks Netgalley and Olivia Hayle

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is the first book I've read by Olivia Hayle and I absolutely loved it!
I loved Nora's character development throughout the book and how West was there every step of the way supporting her (Nora has a bit of a people pleasing problem, can relate lol). The chemistry between West and Nora felt so seamless.
The way they communicated about their wants and needs was so mature and felt so natural and realistic. Also, the spicy scenes were hot!
Overall I would definitely recommend this book! And I'm looking forward to the next book in the Billionaire Games series!

Nora moves to New York City to compete in a fashion designing competition in an effort to make a name for herself and set herself apart from her family legacy as a model. Nora has always been crushing on her brother’s best friend, West, and West has never reciprocated. With Nora, miles away from home, West is tasked with watching over her when Nora’s safety is threatened by a stalker.

Brother’s best friend, fake dating, & roommates!

I was giggling and kicking my feet the entire time. 30% into this read and I could already feel the tension between Nora and West. The banter, chemistry, and spice made this so entertaining. This is the first book in a 5-book series and we get glimpses of the Billionaire Games men throughout the story. This was my first read from this author, and I’m now really looking forward to reading the rest of her work!

Thank you to Olivia Hayle and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Forced proximity AND a fake relationship? Fine, twist my arm and sign me up 🤣

The Faking Game has so many of my favourite romance tropes, following Nora (a people-pleasing model who dreams of becoming a designer) and West (a broody billionaire who drives Nora insane and is her brother's best friend). I loved the banter, the character development and especially the relationship dynamic. It felt organic and authentic, with both Nora and West learning about themselves along the way and growing into their relationship.

There were so many different elements to this story that set it apart from the typical billionaire romance romcom. There were deep emotions explored, and Olivia has written this story wonderfully to explore these more complex elements without it feeling immature or superficial. The stalker plot adds intrigue and suspense to the story, but it comes off a little rushed and unresolved, but if you're reading this book for the romance, it's just a minor thing.

Thank you so much to the author and NetGalley for the eARC of this book!

This book had me hooked from page one. Fake dating, brother’s best friend, billionaire vibes—it’s the perfect mix I didn’t know I needed. Nora and West’s chemistry is chef’s kiss, the slow burn is delicious, and the Gossip Girl-level drama with actual heart had me fully invested. Also, West Calloway? Newest member of my book boyfriend club.

Beyond the swoon, the emotional depth hit so good. Their physical closeness mirrored their personal growth in the most beautiful way. Nora’s glow-up was empowering, and West was the kind of supportive love interest we all deserve. Add in hilarious banter, real lessons, and moments that made me squeal? Yeah, instant fave.

Huge thanks to the author and NetGalley for sending me the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. 💖

The Faking Game is my first Olivia Hayle book and it will definitely not be my last.

This book was perfection from the very beginning. Billionaire contemporary romances are my favorite, and this one checked every box.

Nora is a model who wants to stop living for everyone else and finally chase her own dream of becoming a fashion designer. West Calloway is a billionaire and her brother’s best friend, who’s now tasked with keeping her safe after a stalker enters the picture. They decide to pursue a fake relationship: not only to throw off the stalker, but to keep West’s mother from meddling in his love life.

Nora is such a people pleaser, and I kept getting frustrated with her—until it hit me that I was really seeing parts of myself in her. Watching West push her to finally put herself first, whether it was with her family, her career, or her relationships, made me melt.

I rated this 4 stars. The stalker element added great tension, and I would have loved to see it explored even more. If you love billionaire romances with a brother’s best friend dynamic and a fake dating trope, you should definitely check this book out!

--

Thank you Olivia Hayle and NetGalley for the arc!

The Faking Game is a slow-burn romance that builds tension and character depth with each page. Initially, I found the pace a little sluggish, but once the main characters, Nora and West, dive into their "lessons" in dating, the story really gains momentum. West and Nora’s dynamic is both fun and heartwarming, and the way they complement each other is what makes their romance truly enjoyable. The book’s ending also left me eager for more, especially with the tease of Rafe’s story. It sets the stage for the next book in the series, and I’m excited to see where it goes from here. If you enjoy slow-burn romances with great character development, The Faking Game is definitely worth the read.

Fake dating. Brother’s best friend. A billionaire. Angst. Emotional growth. This book had everything I normally love.
Thank you to NetGalley and Olivia Hayle for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

The Faking Game is the kind of romance that pulls you in from the first page and doesn’t let go. I devoured this book. Throughout reading this book, I wanted to reach into the pages and hug them.

Nora is a model and heiress with dreams of becoming a designer but beneath her beauty and fame, she’s spent years trying to please everyone but herself. West, her brother’s best friend and a billionaire who’s stoic on the outside, but fiercely loyal and protective. When a stalker forces Nora into hiding, West offers her safety... and proposes a fake relationship that slowly becomes anything but fake.

What made this book stand out to me is how emotionally grounded it is. Yes, it has all the fun tropes fake dating, forced proximity, a touch of marriage of convenience (but also not) but it also has depth. Nora’s learns to set boundaries, speak up for herself, and finally stop shrinking to fit other people’s expectations was so empowering. Her growth felt earned and incredibly relatable for me, as someone that does not speak up.

This book doesn’t just deliver romance it delivers healing. And while the stalker subplot wrapped up a bit quickly for my taste, it didn’t take away from the emotional resonance of the story.

If you’re looking for a romance that blends billionaire fantasy with believable growth, swoony lines, and deeply satisfying character development, The Faking Game is it. I cannot wait for the next book in this series! Thankyou again netgally and Olivia Hayle.

Love Love Love!! 5 stars

The story, the characters, and the plot were perfect. Could not put this book down. The book was a steady-paced read, similar to their relationship, which was perfect—had me kicking my feet, squealing.

The characters showed immense growth throughout the book, gradually throughout the book. Even the minor characters stood out and excited you for the next book.

The ending was also perfect and brought it up to 5 stars, showing how they finally get together and everything is tied together.

Thank you Netgalley for this arc!

𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟓𝐭𝐡, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 🥳
𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ★★★★★ (5⭐️)
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

My Thoughts: I absolutely loved this book. The Faking Game earned its rating in every possible way. The writing was beautiful, and while it’s a slow burn novel, the pacing was good and kept me invested from beginning to end. I loved the mystery and drama woven into the story👌🏾 it will definitely keep you flipping pages, especially as you try to figure out who the stalker is.

The story had everything you could want! 🥹Romance, tension, growth, and a lot of spice. And I mean… the praise kink in this book?????
SO. DAMN. SEXY 😻😻

The story follows Nora, who ends up moving in with her brother’s best friend, West, after being targeted by a stalker. What starts as a protective arrangement quickly turns into a fake dating setup👀one that benefits them both but slowly starts to blur into something real. Their chemistry is unreal, and the slow unraveling of emotions and hidden truths kept me completely hooked.
_
What I loved most about this book is that it wasn’t just hot and swoony—it was full of heart. It beautifully explored themes of healing, self-worth, and the power of putting yourself and your feelings first, and refusing to feel guilty for doing so. It’s about learning to stand your ground, say no, and grow into the best version of yourself. As a young woman reading this, so much of what Nora did, went through, and felt was incredibly relatable and made the story feel even more empowering. There were so many validating, real moments—especially if you’ve ever struggled with people-pleasing or putting your own feelings on the back burner. But beyond all of that, this is still very much a romance novel at its core. It gives you swoony tension, heart-fluttering chemistry, and tropes like enemies to lovers and brother’s best friend. It’s sweet, emotional, sexy, and fun—all wrapped into one unforgettable read.

The romance in this book was so heartwarming and cutesy—it completely pulled me in. From the start, there’s clear tension between Nora and Wes, giving off that addictive enemies-to-lovers vibe with a brother’s best friend twist. As the story unfolds, their connection deepens in such a beautiful and unexpected way. I loved how they both opened up more through their “lessons,” slowly letting their walls down. Wes paid close attention to her in ways that felt so genuine—remembering little things she never realized he noticed—and Nora, in turn, trusted him in a way she hadn’t trusted anyone else. You could really feel how much she wanted him, not just physically, but emotionally, instead of trying to find someone new or moving on. Their bond felt deep, real, and intentional. The slow burn made it all the more satisfying, and the growth in their relationship—from tension to vulnerability to love—was everything I wanted to see.

Loved it. We love a brothers best friend romance who also teaches her how to stick up for herself. West is a feminist icon and all that Nota is feeling is so relatable and just never talked about. I definitely loved that aspect so much and look forward to the rafe’s story!!!!

i utterly devoured this book. in one night, this book had me crying with emotion, crying with laughter and just on a true rollercoaster - as any good book should.
i’m always a sucker for a brother’s best friend romance, especially a billionaire based one, and this one did not disappoint. west and nora are two completely lovable characters, as are their friends and loved ones, and were the perfect balance of relatable and unrelatable. i cannot wait for rafe’s book and getting to arc read this was one of my greatest pleasures.
i fully recommend this to any romance reader, and any fan of ana huang should come running to read olivia’s work!

"He identified one of my core fears within one lesson. I'm terrified of making people upset. I'm a people-pleaser to my core, with everyone but him. And he's challenging that."

This line hit me like a punch to the chest. I immediately connected with Nora's fear of disappointing others and constantly putting everyone else's needs before her own. Watching her relationship with West evolved felt natural and deeply satisfying. The pacing of her growth through the "lessons" never felt rushed or fake- it was organic, vulnerable and real.

West was the perfect counterpart to Nora. Gentle but firm, he respected her boundaries while still challenging her mindset. He helped her realize that saying "non" doesn't make you a bad person. For anyone who's ever felt like they had to shrink themselves to keep others comfortable, Nora's journey will resonate with you.

The banter between Wet and Nora was perfect and let's be honest - West's praise game was A+. And the kind of emotional support he was giving her was top romance.

I'm a sucker for a best friend's little sister trope, and Olivia absolutely nailed it. The flashbacks were a great touch, adding emotional depth and history without interrupting the present-day flow.

Overall, this book gave me all the feels, full of self discovery, empowerment and laughs and I highly suggest you add it to your list of books to read.

Thank you for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review - it was such a joy to read!

Nora and West are dynamite. We have a lovely couple that shouldn’t be drawn together: ahem, brothers BFF, she’s off limits, she’s a virgin… enter West, who just can’t help himself except to her. I’ll allow it. 😆 This book was delicious. I also want dating lessons from West and I’m old and married. The whole premise of the book was she asks for dating lessons and he needs a fake girlfriend so win-win.
Until they discover things about each other such as: a marriage clause to keep his family home… but hello forced proximity, they’re already sharing said home.
I love Nora’s character and the friendships she develops throughout the book. Including with the MMC, because let’s face it: they are a match in every way.
This book was surprisingly sizzling with a side of praise and this girl approves. I’m hoping this turns into a series, because I want more of these boys and the women that break them.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
The Faking Game by Olivia Hayle completely surprised me—in the best way.

I really liked this one. The characters were well-developed, emotionally layered, and genuinely compelling. Nora was easy to root for, and West? Sexy, funny, and exactly the kind of protective, charming love interest I wanted for her. Their chemistry was off the charts.

The plot had everything I was looking for: fake dating, opposites attract, slow burn tension, and just the right dose of drama. I especially loved the subtle thriller subplot—Nora having a stalker added a nice edge and created the perfect excuse to throw her into her brother’s best friend’s arms (which I obviously loved).

If I had one gripe, it’s that they both kept assuming the other was faking their feelings the whole time—even though neither of them ever was. Just communicate, please!

This book delivers on:
💍 Fake dating
🔥 Opposites attract
🛡️ Protective MMC
⏳ Slow burn
💼 Heir to an empire
🌶️ Spice: 4/5

Plus, the author sets up book two perfectly, and I can’t wait to dive in.

I received this arc from NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own!

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★★★★
𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: May 25 2025
𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪:

This book just completely grabbed me with its charm and the way it explores the push and pull between these two West and Nora.

What I really, really loved about this book is the chemistry between them practically leaped off the page. You could feel the sparks flying every time they were in the same room. It wasn't just about the physical attraction, though there was PLENTY of that! It was about the slow burn, the forbidden glances, the little moments of vulnerability they shared.

Nora is a character you can't help but root for. She's kind and a bit insecure, but she’s also strong, determined, and has a quiet fire in her. Watching her come into her own throughout the story, thanks in part to West's unintentional support, was so satisfying. She starts off a bit shy and unsure of herself, but West's…ahem… "lessons" really help her to realize her worth and find her voice.

And West? He's the kind of brooding, ridiculously attractive hero with a hidden soft side that just makes you swoon. The way he starts to see Nora, not just as his best friend's little sister, but as a desirable woman, is truly captivating. He goes from being emotionally unavailable to completely smitten and a really good boyfriend.

Olivia does a fantastic job of building the tension between them, making you desperate for them to just give in to their feelings. And when they finally do? Fireworks! Seriously, the chemistry between them is sizzling, and the intimate scenes are beautifully written.

I can't say too much without giving away spoilers, but trust me when I say that this is a must read for any romance lover. It's funny, heartwarming, and steamy, with characters you'll fall in love with and a story that will stay with you long after you've finished reading. Get ready to clear your schedules, because once you start this book, you won't want to put it down. I can’t wait for everyone to read it as well!

𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦: Billionaire romance, virgin fmc, roommates to lovers, brother’s best friend, fake dating

Absolutely devoured The Faking Game by Olivia Hayle in only a few hours. It’s impossible to put down once you start reading it. It’s the perfect trope combination of fake dating, forbidden love, forced proximity, brother's best friend, and billionaire…all wrapped up in a bow.

Let’s start with Nora. She’s been raised to be a people-pleaser, so she typically does what everyone else wants her to do. That is until she decides to move to New York and enter a design competition…which no one in her family seems to take seriously. The worst part? She has a creepy stalker who has followed her from Europe to NYC requiring her to have increased security.

That’s where West comes in. He is her brother’s best friend and oversees her security. It only takes one incident before he has her move in with him. Did we mention that Nora is insanely attracted to West? And the feeling is mutual although he refuses to act on it because of her brother.

It’s only a matter of time before West breaks…especially when they decide to fake a relationship to send a message to her stalker and get West’s mother off his back about getting married. Plus, Nora wants to get more experience dating so she creates a list of things for West to help her with…countdown until they can’t keep their hands off each other.

This book is full of tension between Nora and West, twists and turns, and incredible spice. Highly recommend adding it to your TBR list if you love a fast-paced romance novel that you won’t want to stop reading.

Thanks again to Olivia Hayle and NetGalley for providing an ARC of The Faking Game!

I signed up for this ARC just a couple days before the release date... I know, crazy right?

I went into this, thinking it would be a fun read. I love books like this--I mean would doesn't like a good brother's best friend, fate dating trope.

But this fell flat for me. I DNF'ed at 10%. The writing wasn't my style, and I just couldn't' connect to the characters or to the story.

I apologize for the sucky review, I know there will be a lot of people who will enjoy this! I hope you have a good release!
-Review will be posted after a week-

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC