This is the story between Evie and Fraser, the classic brother's best friend, love forever, pinning, miscommunication, and mixed in some fake dating and this is the story. If you like any of these tropes, then check this read out.

I love hockey stories, and the banter was done really well but I honestly didn't connect with the characters and put this down a couple times having to come back to finish it.

Evie, aka "Breakup Sneeze Girl," needs a date for her ex's wedding after her breakup goes viral. Enter Fraser, her brother's best friend and her high school crush who vanished seven years ago. Though initially hesitant, their fake date turns into a fake relationship, rekindling old feelings. Fraser, a guarded pro hockey player, shows a tender, protective side that makes Evie fall for him all over again. His thoughtful gestures and intense blue eyes are impossible to resist. The story beautifully blends banter, heartfelt moments, and a heartwarming happily-ever-after. This book is a delightful closed-door romance, perfect for fans of pro hockey, fake dating, and second chances. I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet, emotional read.

Title: The Fake Out Flex
Author: Ash Kelly
Genre: Romance
Media: ebook
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Favorite quote: "The majority of people are good, Fraser. We can't let our lives be dictated by the tiny percentage who aren't. If people are truly so messed up that they'd make fun of a kid with an intellectual disability, that says everything we need to know about them."
Sum of this book in 5 words or less: Tell each other!!
KU: Yes

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Themes: brothers best friend, pro hockey player, fake dating

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Thoughts:

Short summary - Evie needs a date to her ex’s wedding, and that’s where Fraser steps in. Fraser and Evie go on to be fake boyfriend/girlfriend.

These two were so cute! I love that it’s revealed that Evie’s brother set it up so that they could finally reveal that they’ve loved each other since high school.

I liked this book and it was a simple short sweet romance that’s totally worth it! It's a closed door spice level - they’re both virgins waiting for marriage.

If you like fake dating , brothers best friends and sports romances you will enjoy this. Fraser is a hockey player and Evie is a news reporter. Evie is broken up with on live tv her brother insist that she takes a date to her exs wedding. This book is an enjoyable read and enjoyable banter throughout. Thank you to the author , publisher and Net Galley for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

This will be an odd review, because I can see how good the book is, but it’s like just not for me personally. This book feels like someone I’d meet, could be nice to, but could never become strong friends with, that’s how little I connected with these characters.

On the other hand, I have nothing bad to say about this book at all, like zero complaints. This isn’t something I come across often, and I hope people still try this book! The writing is entertaining, the story is paced well, and the characters have great development! A sweet hockey romance is always fun, and overall enjoyable. I hope this book does well!

Big thanks to the author/Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing this eARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own and freely given.

I was hooked by the intriguing setup of this story! Evie, our leading lady, finds herself in a pickle when she needs a date to her ex's wedding. Cue her (meddling) brother's best friend, Fraser, swooping in to save the day. - as a 'fake' date. But here's the kicker—they share a complicated history and sparks fly as they navigate this fake relationship turning real.

First off, let's talk tropes! This book is a goldmine for romance lovers, with fake dating, hockey romance, and that irresistible brother's best friend dynamic. The banter between Evie and Fraser had me grinning from ear to ear, and their chemistry is off the charts. Additionally, it's worth noting that this is a clean sports romance, free from steamy scenes (kissing only - both MCs are virgins waiting fro marriage).

While I was totally invested in the witty banter and fiery chemistry between our main characters, I have to admit I hit a bump in the road with the time jumps in the second half. It felt like we missed out on some of the juicy fake dating moments that I was eagerly anticipating. Nevertheless, the quirky friend group and laugh-out-loud banter kept me engaged until the end.

On a more serious note - while I appreciated the inclusivity, I couldn't help but feel that the portrayal of Down Syndrome was not entirely accurate. It's crucial for authors to do thorough research and ensure that characters with disabilities are authentically represented. I grew up with a family member with DS and this is something I hold very close to my heart.

Overall, "The Fake Out Flex" delivers on the promise of a heartwarming sports romance with plenty of banter and feels. Despite a few hiccups, it's a fun and charming read that's perfect for cozying up with on a lazy afternoon. If you're a sucker for fake dating and hockey romance, this one's a must-read!

Overall Rating: 3.5 stars, 0 chili peppers (no spice except kissing)

***ARC Review***
This was a cute hockey romance but I caught myself wanting more. I didn’t hate it but I didn’t love it either. I was really invested in the first half of the book. I really enjoyed the banter between Evie and Fraser. I caught myself laughing, but then I started to get bored in the second half. My biggest complaint is the time jumps. I felt like this caused us not to see much of the fake dating. I’m also not a huge fan of flashbacks but it made sense why this book had them. Overall I still enjoyed this book and this was a great debut novel. I can see potential for the rest of the series.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for letting me read this ARC!

I read this ARC on NetGalley
This story is the perfect mix of romcom, friends to lovers and hockeymance! I loved how the characters evolved by breaking down each others walls and looking past each others imperfections. The wonderful group of friends and a meddling brother were great additions. All wrapped up with a couple of grand gestures. I will definitely recommend this and am looking forward to whatever book 2 has in store.

ARC Review- I absolutely adored this book! Hockey Romance, Brothers Bestfriend, Boy Next Door, Childhood Crush, Second Chance Romance.
The story was sooo cute! I loved the banter, the plot, the characters! I was laughing and smiling so much while reading this story! Enjoyed it and will be thinking about these characters for awhile!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I overall thought this was such a cute fun read. I LOVE hockey romances and this checked all my boxes in that regard. I found myself genuinely giggling throughout this book and found the comedy in it to be actually funny. The banter and comedic timing was there every time and it made me love the characters even more! I always appreciate a closed-door romance and this was definitely it. While the emphasis on the virginity trope wasn't my favorite, as at times it felt over the top, I do appreciate romances that are willing to include that. This was such a great debut read, and one that I will have to absolutely add to my shelf!

This book has all of the tropes that us romance lovers absolutely adore indulging in. Fake dating, hockey romance, protective MMC, fiery banter - everything was here!
The relationship between our FMC and MMC is great from the get go. This is a clean sports romance book with no spice. Normally I’d find a book bland that has no spice (personal preference), but the tension between the two characters is so sexually charged that I found I didn’t really miss the spice at all!
I loved the development of the relationship between the two characters, along with the flashbacks to childhood which really help us to fall in love with their relationship. I also love how thoughtful and kind the MMC is - the little things he does throughout the book and his final big grand gesture are all so so sweet! I was rooting for these two throughout the whole book.
I honestly really enjoyed this book but just felt there was a tiny something missing - I can’t place it (and maybe it was the spice!) but I just don’t feel I can give it 5 stars for that reason.
Thank you to Netgalley, Victory Editing Netgalley Co-op and Ash Kelly for this ARC.
Publishing date: 15/05/24

I really enjoyed this book. There are so many tropes that I absolutely love, hockey romance, brother's best friend, celebrity, fake dating. All of the tropes were amazing. I also loved that it was closed door. I wish more hockey romances were closed door.

It's been a long time since I read a close-door romance so full of chemistry. I turned the pages one after the other until the end, all without stopping smiling.
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Evie is a reporter on a local news station and in her segments she provides a bit of optimism but in reality she is still trapped in the meme of the most humiliating situation of her life, when her ex-boyfriend breaks up the relationship on air.
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After such humiliation everyone expects her to never want to see him again but when the invitation to his wedding arrives a few months later she is determined to go and prove that she is perfectly fine.
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but of course her brother doesn't believe her and decides to interfere by getting her a fake date and no one better than her best friend Fraser Redmacher, hockey player and golden son of their hometown, her old high school crush
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I didn't give much importance to the background, the chemistry between them was so good, and their dialogues complemented each other so well that I just wanted to continue reading them.
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It's been a long time since I read a close door that deals with the representation of virgins who want to wait for marriage out of their own conviction and I thought it was well done. I love how things are going, how they both get to know each other and become something more. It was really good
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Thanks to Ash Kelly and her team for give me a copy of this beautiful book in exchange for my honest and voluntary opinion
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I really liked this debut book by Ash Kelly. The writing was snappy. There was banter galore. I was drawn to the characters immediately.

I felt like the author took the usual formulas for romcoms and knew what bothered readers and purposefully did something different. Enter exhibit 1... Truth fries!

For a debut book, I thought this was very well done. I've seen some other reviews and know that the author will learn from some of the things mentioned in them and grow as her writing journey continues.

I'm not here to dissect the writing. There was one topic that I felt may have been a focus a little too much. Mentioning the virginity issue once would have been fine for me. I honestly don't think that is a big topic of conversation among girl friends. I understand why the author included it, and I applaud her for it. It may have just been a bit over done.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and look forward to reading more in this series.
I sincerely thank the author and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This was such an incredible debut book. This book was laugh out loud funny, sweet and I could not get enough of the banter, Fraser and Evie were made for each other. I loved Levi's scheming to get them together and the pining on Fraser's part. I can't get over the fact that this is a debut book, Ash is so incredibly talented!

This was a cute, banter filled kissing only fake dating pro hockey player romance. The first in a new series, this works as a standalone and is perfect for fans of Jenny Proctor and Emma St. Clair's Appie's series. I quite enjoyed the small town, found family, brother's best friend trope and look forward to more from this new to me indie author. Many thanks to NetGalley and the author for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

This book is sure fun! I really enjoyed the closed door romance for a change, and the chemistry between the characters.

Overall, "The Fake Out Flex" is a sweet and entertaining read that will leave you turning the pages. Many thanks to the Ash Kelly for providing an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 14th May 2024

Evie is on a streak of relationships ending at the one year mark. Her last break up ended with her becoming a viral meme. She's now been invited to her ex's wedding and her brother has arranged for his best friend to be her date. Nate is her brothers life long bestfriend who used to live next door, and he and evie had a bit of a history. Now they have a fake date, but after the wedding they go to the beach and the thing with being a pro hokey player is paparazzi is everywhere. And they get caught up and become viral. So they decide to ride out the fake dating till the hype dies down so she doesn't get embarrassed again. But they both have secrets that could change everything.

This was the cutest! Swooniest! Funniest book!

It's a closed door romance and I LOVED IT!

There were a few mentions of the 90's (see quotes) that rattled me 😂😂😂 just made me feel old 🤭

But this was such a cute story and not your 'typical' like every other hockey romance.

Definitely need to add it to your tbr.

💙

"I've never heard of this before."
"Apparently it's something people used to do all the time in the dark ages.'
"You mean the '90s?"

"So how would a real man break up with me?"
"A real man would never break up with you in the first place, Evie . A real man would be smart enough to realize what a precious gift it is to be with you. A real man would do whatever he could to keep you happy and safe and would always keep two shovels in his car for any unexpected no-questions-asked moments that might arise."

"because if there's one thing that makes romance readers want to hurl their books or Kindles at the nearest wall, it's the overused, clichéd, third-act breakup due to miscommunication. That has been done to death. Don't be that girl, Evie. You're better than that."

I loved this book! It is a closed door hockey romance. Which is exactly what I wanted to read. And I was not disappointed. The romance was perfectly written and I could not put this book down!

Another great hockey romcom! Brother’s best friend. Childhood friends. Fake dating. Found family. Closed door romance.

This is Ash Kelly’s debut novel, and I’m excited to read more books in this series!