Thank you for the chance to read the ARC, Olivia!
As a long term fan of Olivia’s work, this was a joy. I loved the fake dating and the date practice premise and the characters were brilliant. Bring on Rafe’s book!

This was the first book of Olivia's that I have read and I feel like I have been missing out. This book is such a heartwarming story. There is not one criticism I can think of the only thing that would have made it better for me would be that there was less spice but that is just my preference (not a criticism). I would definitely recommend this book to romance lovers but probably more to to those who like plenty of spice.

Thank you to net galley, the publisher and most of all to Olivia Hayle for allowing me to read this book - I cannot wait to read rafe's story!!!

This book was adorable and I equally loved the FMC and MMC. They were both mature and their growth throughout the book felt natural and organic. It was really refreshing. This is my first book by this author but I'm looking forward to the second one in the series 👀 the setup at the end already has me intrigued 🙂‍↕️

I really enjoyed this! I’m a sucker for a forced proximity, lovers to haters, and fake dating plot. Some of the romance, the lessons, felt forced or unbelievable and juvenile for a 24 year old woman as one myself, but I can look past it. Overall I think it was really well written and I’m excited for its release!

The Faking Game was such a super cute read, with just the right mix of spice and plot to keep things interesting. The story centers around Nora and West—Nora being the little sister of West's best friend, and West reluctantly stepping in as her bodyguard when she starts being stalked. What starts as a favor quickly turns into something a lot more complicated, especially as West begins to question the oath he made to never get involved with his best friend's sister.

I’ll admit, the book started off pretty slow and felt like it was dragging in the beginning but once it picked up, it really picked up. The chemistry between Nora and West was undeniable, and their banter and growing connection was so good.

That said, I did wish the stalker subplot had a bit more weight or danger to it—it felt like a missed opportunity for some higher stakes or suspense. Still, the romance was sweet, the slow burn paid off, and the balance of heartfelt moments and steamy tension made it a worthwhile read.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read your arc on NetGalley 🙏🏼

What a great book. It was wonderfully written and it had all of my favorite things in a book. There was romance, banter, angst and mystery. It had my favorite trope of brother's best friend. The story moved quickly but had all the good parts of the story in it. I can wait for more of the books to come out!!!

This story follows Nora, a people pleasing model. She discovers she has a stalker and wants to leave for a new start in New York. However, she has a very overprotective brother who makes his best friend, West, make sure Nora is safe from her stalker. The pair start to fake date to send a message, Nora is well protected and to stop West’s mother from setting him up. With this deal another one arises, West has to teach Nora how to data.

I enjoyed this book a lot, i found the characters to be likeable and their chemistry read very realistic. It’s refreshing to read a billionaire plot where the FMC is also wealthy as the power dynamic feels healthier in my opinion. Nora is such a sweetheart and i found myself routing for her to overcome her struggles throughout this book. West was also such a refreshing MMC, the way he treated Nora had me giggling and kicking my feet.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Olivia Hayle for letting me read the arc for this book, i appreciate it so much!!

Genre/Type: Romance
APK: E-book
Page count: 394
Rating：⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Series or Standalone: Book One in The Billionaire Games
Tropes or Themes: Brothers Best Friend, Billionaire, Stalking, Praise K!nk, Cat Parents, Jealousy, Sexual Content, Dirty Talk

Thank you to Olivia Hayle and NetGalley for this arc.

I loved this book! It was so freaking cute. West is the epitome of a book boyfriend that you wish was real. He loved and took so much care of Eleanore. He was so sweet with her.

I look forward to the rest of the series!

A brilliant fake dating (with slight enemies to lovers) romance! Miscommunication, MMC helps our Nora learn how to date. West is broody and exactly what you want from this loveable, charming billionaire. The whole “I’ll protect you” vibe is *chefs kiss*. The romance of the summer!!

I really enjoyed this book I love the main characters and their love story it was so beautifully done and executed great

Loved this book

The faking game begins with nora dealing with a stalker. Nora leaves her home and goes to new york to get away from her stalker siuation. Her brother has securtiy for Nora at all times and that includes one of his best friends, west. Nora always had a crush on west but he kinda rejected her when they were younger. To get a better handle on the stalker, west comes up with plan to fake date Nora. I did enjoy Nora and west but the story felt very long at times.

I really liked reading this book, and I look forward to the rest of what I hope will be a series. This is definitely a slow burn, kind of romance, but once it lights up, it is an inferno. I never thought I had a praise kink before but the MMC is definitely making me question that. The FMC is giving off demi and neurodivergent vibes, but nothing that is expressly written in cannon.

The only cons are how slow the burn was and the fact the "bad guy" seemed to come out of nowhere. But it did set up for the next book, so I can understand it at least.

The Faking Game is an absolute delight! It has the most delicious blend of tropes:
- childhood crush
- frenemies to lovers
- brother's best friend
- fake dating
- dating lessons

It's long but the build is perfection, the chemistry is off the charts and the relationship development is so fun to read.

5/5 STARS - I AM UNWELL. DO NOT SEND HELP ⭐️

The Faking Game has officially rewired my brain. If you hear distant screaming? That’s just me reliving the orchard scene on a loop.

West Calloway: certified menace to my sanity. Tall, rich, broody, and the absolute definition of “I don’t do relationships” - until he’s fake dating his best friend’s sister and teaching her how to actually be loved. Excuse me? Sir? That was an attack 😭

And Nora?? Nora is ME. A people-pleasing, boundary-lacking sweetheart just trying to figure out how to exist without setting herself on fire to keep others warm. Watching her fall for West (and herself) was like therapy wrapped in spice and sprinkled with “brother must never find out” tension. I want to give her a hug. And maybe also borrow her man.❤️‍🔥

Let’s talk about the STEAM:
🌶️ The toy scene? I died.
🌶️ The orchard? I died again.
🌶️ The bed-sharing, the secret touches, the slow descent into “this isn’t fake anymore,” and that final look that says you’re mine now??? Dead. Gone. Ghosted by my own heart rate.

I have HIGHLIGHTED half this book like it’s my job. This wasn’t just a romance. This was an experience. A healing. A masterclass in swoon, spice, and emotional gut-punches.

Thank you, @oliviahayle, for reviving my soul and resetting my romance bar to “West Calloway or nothing” 😭😭😭❤️❤️❤️❤️

Faking Game was amazing!!

*"enemies" to lovers
*fake dating
*brother's best friend
*forced proximity
*billionaire romance
*virgin
*praise kink

This book was such a fun read. The storyline was great and the spice was 🥵 As someone who is an absolute people pleaser Nora's character spoke to my soul. I loved that West helped her be strong and learn how to set boundaries in her relationships. Their love story was so wholesome and cute. Beyond happy that the typical miscommunication trope didn't take place because I CANNOT stand that haha!

I am so excited this is going to be a series of 4. While I'm waiting on the next one to come out later this year, I'm going to look up all the other books by this author!!

Huge thank you to Olivia Hayle and NetGalley for an eArc to read and review.

I loved this book! The Faking Game was definitely long, but it never dragged and it gave Nora and West’s relationship the time and space to fully bloom. I was hooked the entire time, particularly because fake dating is my favorite trope. These two were absolute perfection together. Nora, with her people pleasing tendencies, needed someone like West, someone who encouraged her to speak up, stand firm, and go after what she really wanted. And he showed up for her in the most sweet, patient, and quietly powerful ways.

What made this story shine for me was how Olivia Hayle built Nora and West’s emotional connection. They communicated so well about everything except, well... their real feelings, which made the slow burn even more delicious. Their tension, their growth, and their banter was all so natural and compelling. I was smiling half the time and definitely highlighting way too many lines from West’s POV (seriously, the man is peak book boyfriend).

Also, I am already obsessed with the friend group. I need Rafe’s book immediately, and if Alex and Amber don’t end up together, I’ll riot. Their chemistry was too obvious to ignore.

Read this if you love fake dating, brother’s best friend, slow burn romance with heart, depth, and just the right amount of spice.

Thank you to NetGalley and Olivia Hayle for the eARC of this book.

This book is really long but I enjoyed it. Nora and West are so good together and I'm obsessed with every part of them. He was so good at getting her to stand up for herself and admit what she actually wants. These two communicated about literally everything except their real feelings. I loved this and I'm looking forward to the books about his friends. I'm assuming Rafe is next and then Alex and Amber(they have to be together).

I received an arc through netgalley.

Oh me oh my… West Calloway, you ARE the standard!
This is my first ARC EVER; I was browsing and as soon as I read the blurb for this book, I KNEW I had to request it. And it did NOT disappoint.
Brother’s best friend, fake dating, and teaching her how to be in a relationship? Oh I’m so in.
Nora and West’s story is a beautiful, filled with yearning and swoon-worthy slowburn. Seriously, my stomach was constantly filled with butterflies, and my mouth hurt from smiling so much.
Nora has people-pleasing tendencies, but West doesn’t receive the same treatment, and he helps her let go of trying to make everyone else happy, and to stand up for herself.
West’s POVs are everything I want to read from a MMC, you truly haven’t read yearning like this. He BREATHES for her.
Ugh, I love him.
It’s filled, DRENCHED, with incredible banter, and ohmigod the sexy scenes.
Their mutual growth throughout this book is exquisite, and it doesn’t feel forced.
Reading Nora’s progression was truly satisfying, and it had me cheering for her the whole time.
And for my praise-kink girlies, which I now have, thank you very much, this one’s for you.
This is my first Olivia Hayle book, and trust me, I’ll be reading every other book she has as soon as I finish posting this review.

I really enjoyed The Faking Game by Olivia Hayle! It’s definitely a slow burn but I love that it gives time for the relationship between West and Nora to develop. West and Nora as characters are great. West was patient helping Nora in her lessons and we slowly saw her confidence grow. He was also very caring and protective, making sure that she was/felt safe. As a couple they are so lovely and I’m glad we saw that love develop over time. Initially I thought the book would feel long but it was perfect for their story! Thank you Netgalley for this arc, I appreciate it and highly recommend it!

It took me a while to decide what to rate this book and finally settled on three stars. I enjoyed reading it, and it was a fast read for me. But it wasn’t anything remarkable. But it also wasn’t terrible at all. I mean, you can do no wrong with fake dating. I see a little bit of myself in Nora, which I liked. I liked Nora a lot. I’m glad she finally found someone who let her be her true self and set boundaries and love her still after the fact. West is so good for her, they’re literally a match made in heaven. The stalker plot was interesting enough until we found out who’s the stalker. It was underwhelming. The way we found out who it is and who the stalker is. Even the resolution is a little boring. I hope we see more of it in Rafe’s book. I’m definitely reading his book. The epilogue here got me curious on what the hell happened to him in the summer.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.