Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing the ARC.

This is the first book I've read by Olivia Hayle and I wasn't sure what I expected. But I came away from this book completely engrossed in this world that Hayle has built and the characters that live in it. Despite the fact that this book is about a billionaire and a model, these characters felt real to me, especially Nora and her ongoing struggle with setting boundaries and people pleasing. This book was evocative and tender, and I really fell in love with both Nora and West.

I thought the prose in this story was really well done and the plot was executed well. It is a very character-driven read, but the plot really held the book together well. I typically don't like stories where there's a virgin and a "teacher," for lack of a better term, often times because it feels slightly misogynistic. But Nora's hang ups came across as really authentic to me, and West was very up front about how he was not suffering at all in this arrangement, either.

Definitely looking forward to more from this author.

Title: The Faking Game
Author: Olivia Hayle
Genre: Romance with open door spice 🌶
Rating: ★★★★☆
Release Date: 25th May 2025
Publisher: Victory Editing

Review:

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

The Faking Game is the first book I’ve read by Olivia Hayle, and honestly—I’m wondering what took me so long! This story follows virgin FMC Nora and her brother’s best friend, MMC West, in a deliciously trope-filled fake dating setup that’s super easy to follow and enjoy.

One of my favorite tropes—“teach me”—is in full swing here, as Nora and West enter a win/win ruse that quickly spirals into something more. With undeniable chemistry, a looming threat, and a strict deadline in play, I was hooked and turning pages fast. And yes, the trouble was worth it 😉 (IYKYK).

What I Liked:

-The story moves fast with no unnecessary fluff up front.

-The chemistry between the leads is believable and super engaging.

-Great use of classic tropes with a modern, spicy twist.

What Could Be Improved:

-Some parts felt a bit rushed and could’ve benefited from a little more depth and detail.

Final Thoughts:
A fun, flirty, and spicy read that’s perfect for fans of Wingman by Stephanie Archer. I’d recommend this to anyone looking for a quick romance with heat and heart.

Follow me on TikTok for more recs!
Laced in Lit... 🩷

Comprobado que esta autora nunca defrauda.

La tensión que ha creado entre West y Nora ha sido una MARAVILLA, cada una de las lecciones era más hot que la anterior y su química era innegable.

Lo que se viene para futuros libros va a ser MUY top

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review of this book.

Wow - for starters this book had me hooked from the dedication page. Nora and West's story had me hooked. I started this book at 5pm and finished it by 9am the next day. I couldn't put this book down. I wanted to know what happened every flip of the page. This book has some of the BEST tropes: fake dating, enemies to lovers, brothers best friend, slow burn, and a stalker! & the spicy scenes in this book - top notch! I cannot wait for the next book! I will be stalking the release -- see what I did there.

But honestly, this book was a quick and easy read. Absolutely everything I enjoy about reading. I really enjoyed reading this from both perspectives throughout the story, because it added more details and you really felt like you could put a picture together in your head of what was happening.

I have a feeling we will see some BookTok about West and the boys from this book. Can't wait to continue this series and pick up a bunch more of Olivia's books! What a great find & perfect right in time for Summer!!

This is my first book by this author, but it wont be my last, because i LOVED this. The amount of pining. banter and romance was perfect. West and Nora had me giggling and kicking my feet like a giddy school girl. Brothers best friend, fake dating, slow burn and insane banter is the perfect recipe for a good contemporary romance. I felt like the stalker plot sort of fell through, but i didnt mind all that much. . Im so excited to continue this series, Im hooked!

5 stars – I’m in love.

OMG this book was everything. Fake dating? Best friend’s little sister?? Sign me up. I seriously couldn’t put it down.

Nora and West completely stole my heart. Their chemistry was so natural and sweet, but also so hot when it needed to be. The spice? Absolutely perfect—just enough to make me blush without taking away from the story.

West was such a soft, steady presence for Nora. I loved how he never pushed her but still helped her realize her strength. Their dynamic felt so real, and watching her come out of her shell because of how safe she felt with him? Ugh. I’m obsessed.

I already miss them. Like, truly. I need a physical copy of this book on my shelf ASAP because I know I’ll be rereading it every time I need to feel something.

Thank you so much for the ARC—it was honestly such a beautiful read.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC opportunity!!!
4.5/5 ⭐️
I was hooked from the moment I started reading this book. The characters were really relatable, which is something that I always enjoy. A brothers best friend trope is always a win! The plot was a little predictable, but it was nice to be able to switch my brain off. There were a few grammatical mistakes near the end of the book, but they were small and only noticeable if you really read every single word.
I would totally recommend this book to everyone who loves the brothers best friend trope done right, friends to lovers, fake dating and secret relationship. It’s a perfect book to pick up if you need a fun easy read to enjoy between two heavy plotted books. There were a few small things that just didn’t fit into my 5 star box, the 3rd act conflict wasn’t executed properly for my taste - I wish they were better on the communication part but it is not a miscommunication trope book by my taste. I didn’t like the way that there were a few subplot lines that weren’t getting any ending, hopefully they will get an ending in a later book, like the story with Amber and Hadrian, it was just kinda explained briefly but we never actually got to understand what happened with them and Hadrian and the other boys. Some of the things I love about the book were the love you could feel between the FMC and the MMC, the confidence she gets from being able to be herself around him, the way there is a few scenes throughout the book that made me really feel for the characters (yes I cried! Both happy and sad tears)

The ending had me in the feels! I can’t wait to see what this series has in store in the future!

OMG this story was everything I needed! Olivia Hayle is definitely one of my favorite contemporary romance writers!
When a stalker forces Nora out of her apartment, her brother insists she stays somewhere safe—in his best friend’s legendary estate. With the tall, handsome, frustrating man she once had a silly crush on. But then West suggests they fake date to send a message: she’s taken and well protected. Nora agrees on one condition… he helps her practice real dating. Soon, they’re practicing it all in secret. Dates. Kissing. Sleeping in the same bed. The only rule? Her brother can never find out.
This book is super addictive. I couldn’t stop reading. Nora is such a beautiful character. I adored her from the begging. She’s strong and I felt so attuned with her pleasing need. West is perfect for her, always challenging her motives, helping her find her own voice. I was fascinated by him. By his sexiness, of course, but also by the way he cares about her and her desires. And the chemistry between them!!! SOOOO GOOD! It’s a slow-burn romance full of spicy moments that are THE HOTTEST! I just loved everything about it! I´m definitely buying this one in paper.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

4.25 ⭐️

I’ve not read any of Olivia Hayle’s books before but I was pleasantly surprised by this! Thank you for NetGalley for allowing me to read this Arc 🥰

The first 20-30% was a bit slow, I felt like not much was happening but then it all finally clicked into place and the other 70% was amazing!

The romance between the main characters was very adorable, I didn’t realise I might have a praise kink until now 🤣🫣 West was such a gentleman and I realised how similar I am to Nora. Being able to read what she deserves and to be more firm helped me realise my own feelings. This book felt so empowering and the writing was so addictive.

Nora’s character development was great. She started off as such a people pleaser and then finally started standing up for herself. West was super protective and encouraging, always praising Nora for everything. Their chemistry was unmatched and I found myself giggling at a lot of the writing.

I couldn’t put this book down! Super excited to read Rafe’s book when it’s released too. Definitely recommend picking this up when it releases ☺️

Tropes:
- Fake Dating
- Billionaire Romance
- Touch Her & Die
- Best Friends Little Sister

This was a fun new billionaire romance. I haven't read anything by this author before, I but I will be looking into her backlog.

I really enjoyed reading about West and Nora. Their banter was great and it had a lot of great tropes (brother's best friend, fake dating, dating lessons). I will say I wish there was a little more of a slow burn for the mmc. While he was trying to keep his distance from his best friend's little sister, he sure jumped into plenty of *things* with her quickly.

I am excited to see where the rest of the series goes, I am assuming it will be with the other three male characters.

Equally sweet and steamy story -- the stalker storyline was resolved quickly and a bit anti-climatic and could have done with less of the trouble nickname but overall liked the writing and will explore more by this author

4⭐️
Loved this so so much! It was my first Olivia Hayle book and i'm so so glad it was this one! I loved the writting style and the slow burn between the 2 main characters. Loved that there was the story with the stalker aswell. Made me hooked even more. It was extremley easy to follow and the characters were easy to relate to. I loved Noras character progression through the book. Easy 4 stars ✨️

A great book . Nora and West know each other for years because he is her big brother's best friend . Nora is a famous model and she is trying to prove herself as a fashion designer . The last few months she has a stalker and her brother tells her that while she lives in New York she has to been protected by West . She always had a crush on him but he never saw her like a woman but now that the stalker is very close to her West suggest she moves in his family mansion and they pretend they are couple so they make whoever is behind the messages to reveal himself . But fake dating and him helping her became more comfortable with dating makes them realize that they are in love . Will West break the pact he and his best friends made years ago to never date theirs sisters ?
I loved all the guys Alex James Rafe and Amber . Looking forward for all of their stories and maybe Amber can be with either James or Alex ?
I received this book from netgalley , the author and the publisher as an ARC . Thank you . All thoughts and opinions are my own .

✨4 stars ✨
🌶️ 4 spice 🌶️

’I’ve been afraid of ruining her, but here she is, ruining me. Lesson by lesson and day by day.’

First off, thank you to Olivia Hayle for approving me for an arc on netgalley! here is my honest review as always

What to expect in this
* Heiress x Heir
* Brothers best friend
* Fake dating
* Model to fashion designer FMC
* Stalker
* Protective MMC
* Dating ‘practice’

I had so much fun reading this book!
I thought it was so cute and so spicy which was pleasantly unexpected. I 100% judged a book by its cover and it was absolutely worth it.

I really enjoyed the whole dating practice that happened in this. I thought it was really cute the way that West helped Nora feel more comfortable in so many different ways. I enjoyed seeing her character develop over the books and her learning to set boundaries. I thought their relationship was just so cute.

I also really enjoyed how this book has lined up for the next book as well. It has definitely made me intrigued for Rafes book!

Check TWs and CWs
Happy reading 🩶

Rating: ★★★★★
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Summary:
This book was an instant win thanks to its perfect storm of beloved tropes. The chemistry between West and Nora was electric, with West’s quiet devotion and Nora’s ambition making them a standout couple. The plot juggled romance, suspense, and personal growth without missing a beat. The only minor gripe? Wishing the villain faced a bit more justice—but the setup for the next book promises more. A five-star, spicy, trope-filled delight!

I knew from just 1% into this book that I was going to be hooked. The moment the overprotective older brother’s best friend entered the scene, I was done for. I’m a sucker for every single trope this book had to offer—it honestly felt like it was written just for me.

Tropes:
- Brother’s Best Friend
- Sunshine x Grumpy
- Enemies to Lovers
- Secret Dating
- Virgin FMC
- Marriage of Convenience

What I Loved:
WEST – The brooding. The yearning. The years of watching her from afar, unable to act on it—my God. The chemistry and tension were off the charts. West has a bit of a sordid past, but it doesn’t define him or weigh the story down. Honestly, it felt like nothing else in his life mattered once he finally had Nora in his grasp. And I was so here for it.

NORA – I'm usually pretty harsh on female leads. They often fall flat, and it only gets worse when they're written as virgins—it so often turns them into this infantilized, blank-slate character. Not Nora. She's ambitious, driven, hardworking, and genuinely afraid of failure—but she shows up and tries anyway. She's the kind of woman who throws herself into everything. She’s written to feel angelic, but still incredibly relatable.

The PLOT – This book could not pick a single struggle—and I loved that. We had sneaking around, a stalker leaving creepy notes and photos, Nora battling personal boundaries, and her setting herself up for success. I was worried it would feel too jumbled or that something would be left unresolved, but I doubted Olivia for nothing—she wove everything together beautifully.

What Didn’t Work:
Honestly, I struggled to find much to critique. If I had to nitpick, I wish Wilde had gotten more of a comeuppance than just being ruined and punched once by West. That said, based on the hints dropped toward the end, I imagine that thread will be picked up in Rafe’s story—so I’ll reserve final judgment.

Thanks to the publisher for sending me The Faking Game, but this one just didn’t work for me.
West was the highlight. She was inspiring, determined, and honestly the only reason I pushed through. The writing itself was solid and well done, but the story was way too fluffy for my taste. I found the male main character super annoying
Also, this book felt so long. I kept waiting for it to pick up or surprise me, but it just dragged.
One thing I was interested in was the stalker subplot, it added a darker twist I wasn’t expecting, but the ending left me disappointed. I was hoping for more depth or at least some real payoff, but it kind of fizzled out.
If you like sweet, fluffy romances with fake dating and a little suspense, this might work for you. But for me, it just wasn’t a favorite.

⭐️ rating = 4/5 lost weekends in Siberia

This was a NetGalley arc request for me. I mostly requested it due to its high star rating on NetGalley. I was a bit skeptical about whether I’d actually enjoy this book, I was being unnecessarily judgy based on the title.

Was this book a foray into topic tier fiction? No. Was it deeply profound? No. Was I unable to put it down? Yes!

This book is about Nora and West. Can I ask, what is it about MMC’s with the name Wes/West/Weston and the correlation between that and the fact that they are all hot as hell?!
Anyway Nora and West are a heiress and heir, respectively, from different powerful families. Linked together by West and Nora’s older brother Rafe’s friendship (one of those fun friendships where they can never touch the others sister).
Nora is being stalked and is under the protection of West. Somehow under the protection situation, West and Nora start dating lessons, as inexplicably beautiful, rich Nora has no relationship experience.
If this seems like a really terrible idea, you’d be right! What follows is some kind of acid trip of escalating relationship lessons… including visits to a sex shop and an educational experience on a pool table.

What the author does really well is build some serious tension. I mean it’s hot! The second half takes the SMUTcapades to the next level. I think I enjoyed the first half a lot more. But this was mostly because I enjoyed the simmering tension between Nora and West and I can get over excessive smut quickly.
But for a smut lover this is well written and will be a fun 5/5 read.

I also wasn’t the hugest fan of West’s praise kink. But he even references it isn’t for everyone and he’s right, it’s not for me!!

⭐️4.0 🌶️2.8

✨Thank you to NetGalley and Olivia’s team for this ARC ✨

I devoured this book in 24 hours. It has all the tropes I love! Fake dating, brother’s best friend, marriage of convenience, billionaire MMC……

Nora and West were so adorable. I believed every aspect of their story. I didn’t have any expectations going into this book, and I’m more than satisfied.

Olivia is a genius. I think she may have solved my reading slump. Can’t wait to read about Rafe next!

The Faking Game has so many favorite romance tropes all wrapped up with a luxury brand bow. Fake dating, brothers best friend, teach me, and more! One thing I adored about the teaching part was that the main focus was confidence, saying no, and being okay with not being a people pleaser. It was lovely seeing Nora develop her confidence and stand up for herself. The “suspense” aspect was anticlimatic at best, but still played an important role.

But holy cow- Olivia knows how to write some SPICE without going over the top.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! This had a lot of my favorite tropes: billionaire, best friend’s brother, fake dating. It was cute and fun. It was a little too long for me, but I overall enjoyed it. The MMC was swoony!