The fake dating trope is one of my favorites with its forced proximity and stakes, even though I’m always worried about the third-act conflict, afraid it'll be the classic “I know this isn't real” moment. I find that really annoying, and it doesn't make much sense either, since the point is often just to put on a show in front of others. If the person is caring and loving when it's just the two of you, why would that be fake? It's a pretty artificial conflict. I know I sound like a hater right now but I needed to say it. Now on to the romance book recommendations!
Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee
Dylan Tang agrees to be Theo Somers’ fake boyfriend to win a mooncake competition and save his family’s business.
Circling Back to You by Julie Tieu
Cadence Lim reconnects with Matt after a missed connection years earlier leads them to the same workplace. As they collaborate, Cadence must confront her fears about love and timing while deciding if this second chance romance is worth it.
Fake It Till You Make It by Jamie Wesley
Former athlete April Jones pretends to be in a relationship with chef Bennett Taylor to boost both their careers.
For Butter or Worse by Erin La Rosa
Nina Lyon and Leo O’Donnell are rival chefs forced to fake a romance for publicity after clashing on a cooking show.
How to Fake It in Hollywood by Ava Wilder
Grey Brooks agrees to a fake relationship with rising actor Ethan Atkins to repair his reputation and keep her career afloat.
If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane
Laurie Watkinson fakes a relationship with colleague Jamie Carter after a painful breakup. Their arrangement helps them both professionally, but Laurie begins to question what she truly wants from love.
I’ll Pretend You’re Mine by Tashie Bhuiyan
Mariam Ibrahim agrees to pretend to date her brother’s friend, Yusuf, for family reasons. As they spend time together, Mariam discovers deeper feelings that challenge her expectations and fears.
Make a Scene by Mimi Grace
Retired actress Retta Majors hires Duncan Maxwell to pose as her boyfriend to impress her ex.
Love, Spells, Trouble by Nia Davenport
Retta Majors, dealing with her ex’s engagement to her cousin, decides to attend the wedding with a fictional boyfriend, leading her to hire Duncan Gilmore, a focused gym owner, to pretend to be her partner.
Say You’ll Be Mine by Naina Kumar
Meghna Raman, a theater teacher and aspiring playwright, agrees to a fake engagement with grumpy engineer Karthik Murthy to help her move on from her best friend Seth, who is engaged to someone else.
The Ex-Perimento by Maria J. Morillo
Rocha and her ex must work together on a project that forces them to revisit their past relationship in this second chance romance.
The Break-Up Pact by Emma Lord
June Hart and Levi Shaw, two friends who haven’t spoken in ten years pretend to date to repair their public images after messy breakups. As their fake relationship gains attention, they begin to reconsider what they mean to each other.
The Romance Rivalry by Susan Lee
Irene Park, a successful online book reviewer, attempts to find true love in college by applying romance book tropes, only to be challenged by her rival, Aiden Jeon, to see who can succeed first. As their competition turns into a fake dating partnership, Irene discovers that real-life romance is more complex than fiction, prompting her to step out of her comfort zone and become the protagonist of her own life.
The Plus One by Mazey Eddings
Indira and Jude, childhood enemies, find themselves relying on each other as fake dates at a wedding after Indira’s breakup and Jude’s struggle to readjust from his travels.
This May End Badly by Samantha Markum
Doe and Wells enter a prank war at their elite school that escalates quickly. As the rivalry intensifies, Doe begins to see Wells in a different light, complicating everything.
Some Other Now by Sarah Everett
Seventeen-year-old Jessi Rumfield, who once felt like part of the Cohen family, finds herself estranged after Rowan’s disappearance, Mel’s remission, and Luke’s resentment. When Luke returns from college and asks Jessi to pretend to be his girlfriend for Mel’s final months, she is drawn back into the Cohen world, longing to be part of the family again.
Hate to Fake It to You by Amanda Sellet
Libby Lane and her friends create a fake Instagram persona, Lillibet, as a joke, but their charade is threatened when real influencer Hildy Johnson visits Hawaii to discuss a business opportunity. As they escalate the deception, Libby must navigate her growing attraction to Hildy’s companion, Jefferson Jones, while keeping their elaborate lies intact.
To Woo and to Wed by Martha Waters
This is the final installment in the Regency Vows series. It follows West, the Marquess of Weston, and Sophie, Lady Fitzwilliam Bridewell, who were once nearly engaged. They reconnect after years apart, with Sophie proposing a fake engagement to help her sister, Alexandra, move forward with her own romance. Despite Sophie’s vow not to risk her heart again, she finds herself questioning her feelings for West as they spend more time together.
For more book recommendations, visit my dedicated section.
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