All Athalia Pressley wants is to rebuild the shattered bond with her twin brother, Henry. But after years of distance, she's starting to believe it's impossible--until a statistics class lands Athalia with an unexpected tutor: Henry's sworn enemy and campus golden boy Dylan McCarthy. Suddenly, she has her brother's undivided attention. Dating is the last thing on Athalia's mind--especially not with the arrogant, impossibly hot McCarthy, who embodies everything Henry despises. But when she realizes her brother's sudden interest hingest on Dylan's presence, Athalia makes a reckless bargain: she and McCarthy will fake date, giving her the perfect excuse to stay in Henry's orbit.

so they fake date and even make a contract for it. a little outside of what I'd expect for two people so young but it was cute. A fun fake dating, rival romance

Absolutely loved this book, I feel like going into it I was a bit worried that I wouldn't like it. I ended up loving it. The way the author wrote the story was beautiful. I would say check for trigger warnings. Bring your tissues.

Okay but Lessons in Faking had me in my feelings! We’ve got fake dating, rival energy, twin drama, and of course… butterflies. Athalia is just trying to fix things with her twin brother (cue the emotional damage), but instead she ends up fake dating his sworn enemy slash infuriatingly hot golden boy, Dylan McCarthy. The banter?? The tension?? The contracted fake dates that spiral into real feelings?? I was HERE for it.

If you love:
• Enemies-to-lovers-but-make-it-fake-dating
• A morally conflicted golden boy
• Girls who just want to feel seen
• And boys who fall first, hard, and forever

…then give this one a shot! It’s messy, a little chaotic, but still hits that sweet spot of angsty fluff and tension you didn’t know you needed.

It could just be that I was feeling overly emotional today however, this book had me swooning, crying, laughing and feeling every emotion in the book. “Lessons in Faking” strays away from the brother’s best friend trope and focuses on brother’s enemy, which I LOVED.

Each of the characters were so beautifully flawed and well-thought out that I cared for each of them. Especially our MMC, Dylan. Throughout the story, getting to know more about Dylan his family, and who he is meant so much to me.

The authors commitment to exploring Athalia’s grief and how it affects her relationship with her brother was beautiful. From the beginning of the book you are sucked into the story and it feels as if Athalia and Dylan are your best friends and you’re watching all of this from the sidelines. I fell in love with every side character, even her brother, even when he was pissing me off.


The author does an excellent job in portraying difficulties that one may have when coping with grief, including mental health struggles. Please make sure to check the trigger warnings for this book! I cannot wait for this book to be published so I can have it on my bookshelf and I cannot wait for it to be in the hands of readers everywhere as it is one of my favorite reads of the year.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this early in exchange for my honest feedback!

Oh. My. God. This was so cute and so good. If you love Ali Hazelwood’s Deep End and Elle Kennedy’s college hockey series this one is for you! Obsessed with McCarthy. Loved the complex character relationships and trying to figure out what is happening in their own worlds and povs made the book that much more interesting!

A fresh, funny, and emotionally sincere romance that puts a clever twist on the classic fake-dating trope. With sharp banter, heartfelt moments, and just the right touch of vulnerability, this book delivers on both swoon and substance.

I really enjoyed this book. I'm really delighted to see a US publisher translating romance novels from Germany. I hope to see more international books like this!

This was a fun story! Great story line, inviting characters and it holds your attention! Highly enjoyed the romance too! Always game for a college romance!

This being my first experience with a sports romance novel was such a delight.
It delivered the perfect amount of yearning, compassion, and tenderness shared between the main character and her love interest. Even with the swift pacing, the characters felt fleshed out and scrupulous.
One of the key elements of the story were that of intimate bonds, and how family doesn’t always mean who you’re tied to by blood. This highlighted the main character, Athalia, and her relationship with her best friend, Wren, that I felt helped contribute so much to the story aside from the sparkling romance.
The fake dating, especially when it involves your brother’s arch rival, only added to the tension deliciously. With them starting off as annoyances to one another, their quick quips and sarcastic dialogue was the cherry on top.
This story definitely made the goal as one of my favorite lighthearted romances of the year!

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read Lessons in Faking! I really enjoyed this sweet and heartfelt slow-burn romance. Athalia and McCarthy had great chemistry, and the fake dating setup was full of charm, humor, and emotional depth. Their banter felt natural, and the shift from reluctant partners to something more was fun and satisfying to watch unfold.

My only critique is that the buildup felt a little slow—it took me a bit to get fully pulled into the story. That said, once it found its stride, I was hooked. The second half delivered on the tension, heart, and payoff I was hoping for.

Overall, it's a cute and engaging read with a meaningful look at love, connection, and second chances. Thank you again for the ARC—I appreciated the chance to read and review it!

This was a flirty and fun story, but also one that deals with complex sibling relationships. I think Mae did a good job crafting interesting characters and dialogue. The book held my attention, and I wanted to see the outcome. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

First of all - thank you to NetGalley and S&S for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Listen… listen listen listen. This is a fake-dating-turned-lovers book and I ATE THIS UP. Was it predictable? Yes. Was it a masterpiece? Nah. Were there times where they changed scenes without saying they were changing scenes and it confused me a bit? Yeah… But did I enjoy the HELL out of it? ABSOLUTELY.

I’m eating this man up. We love a man that truly believes in her.

I read this pretty fast. Would’ve read it in a single sitting if I had the time. It was a page turner for sure.

These was a fun read. I’m always done for a fake dating trope! I enjoyed the banter between the characters.

thank you for this opportunity! i enjoyed this cute book! i have been following the author on instagram for a long time and i’m so happy i got to read her book. i really enjoyed her writing and i hope i will be able to read her other books!

Loved the book written beautifully and will be recommending it to everyone Story was so cute and there wasn’t a part I didn’t love

I absolutely adored this book. I read it so fast and loved it so much! The characters and their dynamics as well as their challenges and slow yearning towards each other just made the book that much better. I didn’t want the book to ever end!

4.25 ⭐️’s

This was such a good college romance. Fake dating, forbidden romance, rivals, soccer… I loved the MMC so much, and I appreciated that the FMC was a little complicated in her own way.

There were some things I felt I didn’t quite get the answers to, but they weren’t so important to the plot that I was upset.

I loved that the FMCs twin brother and best friend served important purposes, but they did not take away from the story. They were in the book just enough, and were referenced several times.

The banter between the FMC and MMC was top notch. I always love good banter.

🌶️🌶️🌶️Some detailed scenes. Not an overly spicy book though.

🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷 The romance in this was perfect. It wasn’t cringy or over the top. I felt like it was so well done.

I binged this book in a day! Fake dating? Slow burn? Sign me up!!
When Athalia proposed entering into a fake relationship ship with her brothers arch rival in order to punish him, the last thing she expected from Dylan Mcarthy Williams was the attraction she felt every time she was near him. She was supposed to hate him too, but why did she seem to forget that with every encounter. Could he have feelings as well?
It’s a fun, easy romance read and I enjoyed it!

I was hooked on this book from the first chapter. I absolutely loved Lessons in Faking. Bring tissues for this book because it will leave you wrecked. If you love enemies to lovers, I highly recommend this book.

I devoured this book in one sitting!! It was an amazing story with the banter, the fake dating, the angst and tension was perfection!

5 STARS!!

To get back at her twin brother, Athalia decides to fake date her brother's arch nemesis who just so happens to also be her statistics tutor.

There was just something about this book that grabbed me, took a hold of me, and ran. I literally finished this book in a day that's how much I was enthralled by it. I will say it took me a little to get into it but once we were there I was locked in baby and I never wanted to go back.

Enemies/Rivals to lovers will always be a top trope of mine if for nothing else but the banter it brings to a story and let me tell me they brought it. There was just something about Athalia and Dylan/McCarthys dynamic that did it for me. The one thing that did bother me a little was I felt like she didn't really have a reason to hate him but then Athalia was a self aware queen and was like "yeah I don't even know" so I let it slide.

Honestly I can't even say more than that. Just hovered it for yourself please!!

Instagram post to come!

Lessons in Faking by Selina Mae is a charming, witty, and utterly addictive romance that hits all the right notes. What starts as a pretend relationship quickly turns into a whirlwind of real feelings, messy emotions, and undeniable chemistry.

Selina Mae delivers lovable characters you root for from the first page. The banter is hilarious, the slow-burn tension is perfection, and the emotional payoff is so satisfying. It’s more than just a rom com, it’s about self discovery, vulnerability, and allowing yourself to be truly seen.

I really enjoyed this as a enemy to lovers romance, it uses that concept perfectly and was able to tell the story that I was wanting. The characters were so well written and had that feel that I wanted in characters in this type of book. Selina Mae has a strong writing style and was able to weave this in a way that was perfect and glad I got to read this.

This was such a fun quick read! Athalia’s brother hates Dylan so she should too…but she uses him to get at her brother. It’s a fun fake dating trope book and i really enjoyed reading it!

The writing style is breezy and accessible, perfect for when you’re in the mood for something comforting but not too heavy. It’s the kind of book you can fly through in a weekend.
The dynamic between Athalia and Dylan is full of spark. Their interactions are witty and playful, and fans of slow-burn romance will appreciate the way their relationship gradually evolves. I absolutely loved it!

Thank you so much to netgalley and LYX for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

Absolute WONDERFUL read for this autumn season!! This book deals with grief, sibling tension and internal pressure while also being a silly fake dating story. The way every single topic is handled with such care is truly a breath of fresh air. Of course we have to mention the absolute book boyfriend Dylan!! The care this man puts into everything he does for Athalia is so heartwarming!! <spoiler>I don’t think I’ll ever get over that panic attack scene!!</spoiler>

Welcome to Hall Beck University! I seriously need a t-shirt. Talk about a delightful and heartwarming romantic comedy that hits all the right notes.

This novel takes the popular "fake dating" trope and infuses it with so much wit, charm, and emotional depth that it feels fresh and absolutely unmissable. The chemistry between the two main characters is off the charts, and their journey from reluctant partners to something more is a joy to read. Mae's writing sparkles with genuine humour, making for a truly engaging and fast-paced story.

What makes this book a five-star read is Mae’s ability to balance the lighthearted, laugh-out-loud moments with tender, meaningful emotional beats. The characters are so well-developed that you'll feel completely invested in their personal growth and their relationship.

No spoilers, but I can say the plot delivers on its promise and provides a fantastic and deeply satisfying romantic experience. For anyone who loves a feel-good romance with plenty of sparkle and a happy ending, this book is the perfect choice.

Thank you to NetGalley and LYX for a temporary e-ARC!

Really, really enjoyed this book and it is a great palate cleanser if you’re like me and read a lot of fantasy books. Very fast-paced and I’m a sucker for the fake dating trope.

This was such a fun read! I loved the mix of tension, banter, and slow-burn chemistry, and the whole fake-dating setup kept me hooked. The FMC was easy to root for, and I really enjoyed watching her relationship with the MMC shift in unexpected ways. It gave me all the swoony, feel-good vibes I look for in a romance without ever feeling too heavy. Definitely one of those books you can finish in just a couple of sittings.

I really enjoyed this book! Catch me reading a college romance any day! This book was cute, flirty, and everything i was looking for!

Lessons in Faking is everything you want from a fake dating romance: witty banter, slow-burn tension, emotional payoff, and a happily-ever-after that feels 100% earned. If you're a fan of tropes done right, this one deserves a spot on your shelf.
What makes this book shine is the chemistry. The characters click—not just physically, but emotionally. As their fake relationship plays out in front of friends, family, or the public eye, little moments start to blur the lines: a lingering look, an unplanned act of kindness, a kiss that feels just a little too real.
The author balances humor, heart, and heat perfectly. There are laugh-out-loud moments (thanks, awkward fake couple shenanigans), but also surprising depth as both characters confront what real love means—and what they’re afraid to lose. Watching them slowly realize what’s been obvious to everyone else is a delicious kind of torture.

You know what, we love a rich girl with some baggage. Wealthy baddies need a love story too.
Loved this fun, flirty but still very real romance from Selina. A great read and can’t wait for the next book in the Hall Beck University series!

Cute book! It was easy to read and follow. The banter and humor between the main characters was awesome. I really enjoyed the female character development and McCarthy is just perfect.

I devoured this book in less than 6 hours. It was lighthearted, amusing, sweet and captivating all in one. I do wish there was a little more hesitation in their fake relationship as time progressed, and maybe even a bigger story arc, but it still served to be an enjoyable read.

The humorous anecdotes (J names being toxic gave me quite the laugh) mixed with the sexual tension/chemistry was a perfect blend that lended to the enemies to lovers trope. The connection painted between Athalia and McCarthy is so fierce that it almost jumped off the pages, coming alive in my mind as I read. There were only a few spicy scenes, but they were 3.5/5 spiciness.

Overall, I would recommend this book to those who love sweet romances with a more playful than serious feel to it.

This was a great book! It was fun, cute, and spicy!

Definitely one of those turn your brain off and enjoy kind of books! The pacing wasn't always great but the story for the most part kept me engaged and hooked, which was a lot of fun!

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC!

My rating for Lessons In Faking is more 3.5 stars. This was a cute read and I found myself smiling throughout the book. I enjoyed banter with the main couple. I also enjoyed the sibling dynamic between Henry and Athelia. I just wish that they had more moments throughout the book or that their scenes were a little more fleshed out, especially at the end. Overall, this was a quick and cute read.

I really enjoyed reading this title, it was quick and easy. I do feel that it was anti-climatic, nothing major happened or a big reveal. I do think both characters showed growth, I hope that a future title is centered on her brother to help us understand him more or potentially the roommate.

⭐️ 4.5 Stars

I really enjoyed Lessons in Faking by Selina Mae! I was in a bit of a reading slump, but I decided to finally pick up this ARC and it turned out to be exactly what I needed. I flew through it in under 48 hours because I just couldn’t put it down.

The story follows Athalia, who ends up fake-dating Dylan aka her brother’s enemy as a way to reconnect with her twin. What starts out as a simple plan quickly turns into something more complicated when their pretend relationship starts feeling a little too real.

This book gave me:

✅ Fake dating (done so well!)

✅ Brother’s enemy tension

✅ Family bonds & sibling dynamics

✅ A romance that’s both sweet and spark-filled


Selina Mae perfectly balances the lighthearted chaos of fake dating with heartfelt, emotional moments, especially around family and belonging. Athalia and Dylan’s chemistry was natural and fun, I was smiling through so many of their interactions.

If you like your romances with banter, tension, and plenty of heart, definitely add this to your TBR. It releases on November 11th, 2025, and I think romance readers are going to love it!

✨ What do you do when you realize the only way to get your brother’s attention is by dating his nemesis? Easy—you fake date him. Not the best idea… especially when he’s too good at it. 👀
I enjoyed every single minute of this book! It had me smiling from start to finish and laughing. A super cute hate-to-lovers + fake dating combo. 🖤
Fake dating is one of my favorite tropes, and it was done so well here. They even made a contract with rules to follow… rules that, of course, ended up getting broken.
I loved the bickering between Athalia and Dylan, even more when it continued after they no longer hated each other. Athalia was so relatable and hilarious (her dynamic with her best friend? Pure gold). And Dylan? Absolute book-boyfriend material. Selina gave us a brand-new green flag to obsess over.
He’s cocky, teasing, and a little bit of a clown, but it’s his sweet side that won me over. Honestly, he took better care of her than her own brother (who I would’ve gladly smashed a couple of times 😅).
And if you love nicknames, prepare yourself: the way he calls her “Princess” made me melt. 💕
The book releases on November 11—and it is coming with the prettiest sprayed edges!

Thank you LYX for this earc in exchange for an honest review.

This book delivers all the classic romance tropes I love—enemies to lovers and fake dating—wrapped in a fun, bingeable package.

Athalia’s desire to reconnect with her twin brother creates a surprisingly heartfelt core to the story, and her chemistry with Dylan crackles from their very first tutoring session. Their fake-dating contract sets the stage for witty banter, stolen glances, and those slow-burn moments where you just know they’re falling for each other despite every “rule” they set. I especially enjoyed how tutoring sessions naturally morphed into sweet, staged dates that felt playful and genuine.

The pacing is brisk and the dialogue sparkles, making it an easy read to fly through in a weekend. I only wished for a little more depth in some of the emotional beats—especially the tension with Athalia’s brother—which could have added an extra layer of complexity. But the romantic payoff is worth it, and the enemies-to-lovers dynamic stays satisfying from start to finish.

If you love a campus romance with witty banter, fake-dating shenanigans, and a golden-boy hero who surprises you with his tenderness, this one deserves a spot on your TBR. A charming, heart-fluttering read I’m happy to recommend.

Synopsis:
It is nearly impossible for Athalia to get her brother's, attention, but when Athalia gets her new stats tutor, McCarthy, her brother's enemy, suddenly her brother is very interested in Athalia's life. Deciding to capitalize, Athalia makes a deal to fake date McCarthy. However, as their fake dating continues, Athalia realizes just how hard it is to pretend that what they have is fake.

Review:
I really enjoyed this book. I read it all in one day because I was hooked. I really enjoyed the romance, and the banter between Athalia and McCarthy. There were a lot of good moments between Athalia and McCarthy, too. My only thing that takes away from the book is that I feel like there could have been even more resolution at the end as far as her relationship with her brother, and maybe a few other things, but that is a bit minor, because I did enjoy the book so much overall.

The concept of this me had me snagged from the beginning, and im not quite finished with it, but it's definitely getting 5 stars from me.

I truly enjoyed this book! This is the first time I've read this author and it definitely will not be my last. I enjoyed the flow of the story and the MC's. Thank you for the ARC!

This was really cute and really fun. I loved the banter and how the story unfolded. Definitely a cute one.

The best feeling is reading a book that turns out better than expected, and that’s exactly how I felt here. From the start, I loved the characters and quickly became invested in their lives. I knew Dylan was attracted to Athalia, but once the fake dating began, it was over for me. I couldn’t stop giggling at their banter and the way they constantly tried to annoy each other.

The story opens with Athalia being forced to accept tutoring from Dylan, her twin brother’s enemy, after failing algebra. Though she complains and refuses at first, tutoring becomes unavoidable. Feeling ignored by her twin, Athalia realizes he only pays attention when Dylan is involved, which pushes her into a fake dating scheme to get his attention.

Fake dating is my second favorite trope (with second chance always at the top), and I loved the dynamic between Dylan and Athalia. The little fake gestures slowly turning real, the shift from tutoring sessions to Dylan showing up at her apartment to care for her, and the mix of hate and sarcasm 🤭 it all had me grinning at their relationship.

My favorite detail was Dylan asking for her least favorite flower and then giving it to her every week. If that doesn’t perfectly capture the essence of their fake dating, I don’t know what does. The only thing I wished for was more insight into why Henry hated Dylan so much. It felt brushed off, though maybe his book will reveal more.

This was such a fun, quick read! I loved the chemistry between Athalia & Dylan 🩷 Their banter and their denial of feelings? Hilarious 😂

The writing’s casual, which made it super bingeable. If you love fake dating romances with playful banter and great chemistry, add to your tbr! ✨️

Thank you, NetGalley, for sending me this book. All opinions are my own.

A sweet story which was both lighthearted and emotional at the same time! I always love a scene where he takes care of her when she’s sick and I loved to see the little ways he took care of her throughout,

3.5⭐️
I love the idea behind this story line and it ended up keeping me more engaged than I was expecting. It’s not often that a book like this can surprise me with a plot point and it managed to do just that!

I also think that Athalia and Dylan’s story is very cute, just somewhat predictable. At times, I felt that maybe the characters were overdramatic and didn’t necessarily act as one would in real life. Which I think is to be expected somewhat in fiction but I noticed this multiple times with multiple different characters and it did sort of remove me from the story and I had to pull myself back in. But, I do think this was a cute and simple read!

Thank you to NetGalley, LYX, and Selina Mae for the opportunity to read this ARC!

*review posted on goodreads*

This book was soooo good it was the perfect mix of banter and love I feel most enemy to lover books they fall in love way too quickly but that was definitely not the case with this book it was a slow burn and made me yearn for the love please make this your next read !!

I really enjoyed the characters and the relationship, but some parts felt rushed and some of the lack of communication wasn’t my favorite. But overall I enjoyed the story and would recommend.

This was such a cute book. The TENSION. The only thing I would've changed is for the two main characters to have more of a conversation about it becoming real.

A full 5 Stars, pretty sure it was exactly what I was craving. I was laughing, I was crying, I was HERE FOR IT. The MMC was perfect, though I would have loved if they had gone more into the "him not hating" her part!

very thankful to have gotten my hands on this arc!

✨ARC✨Lessons in Faking✨

I want to thank Netgalley, LYX, and Selina Mae for the opportunity to read an advanced reader copy of Lessons in Faking.

Athalia Pressley is struggling in statistics and finds herself being assigned her brother’s teammate and biggest enemy as her tutor. Athalia asks Dylan to be her fake boyfriend because she craves attention from her brother.

For a good part of the book this was hard for me to understand but as the book went on it really started to resonate. Athalia and her brother (Henry) lost their parents in an accident when they were young and Athalia misses the only remaining part of her family she has left. Even though Henry lives across the street from her and goes to the same college they never see each other because Henry does not make an effort to see her. Henry only seems to come into Athalia’s life when he wants to control it. Athalia begins to learn that seeing her brother means doing something that would ultimately make him upset.

I felt that the book was slow to start but when both Athalia and Dylan start to open up the story became more and more intriguing. It begins to be more about Dylan being good for Athalia than their need to make Henry angry. For example, the thanksgiving scenes were crucial to the plot. These scenes showed who Dylan truly is as a person and really helps the reader connect to him. You see his genuine care and concern for Athalia and how good he is for her. Prior to this, it was a little hard to truly connect to him and truly understand his character.

I also really enjoyed Wrens character. I loved that she was someone that Athalia could count on even when they were fighting. I think that the fact that Wren has a crush on Athalia was an interesting take on why she hated Dylan but was also a little confusing as it came out of what felt like left field. That being said, I love that Wren was able to find someone who she truly connected with to and for someone to take care of her when Wren always cares for everyone else.


Tropes:
Fake Dating
Brothers enemy-lovers

4.5 stars. It is hard for a book to make me laugh out loud (multiple times!) and tear up, and genuinely enjoy the flirting without cringing once, but this book did it all. I came in very skeptical of the idea that she was trying to make her brother mad, but it came together really well and was so sweet. Loved every second of this book.

Absolutely DEVOURED this one. Fake dating is one of my top favorite tropes. Dylan was EVERYTHING as the MMC. I loved the back and forth banter between Athalia and Dylan. If anything I wish it could have been longer because I love them SO so much

The fake dating and banter in this book is TOP TIER, I couldn't get enough of it!
I highly recommend

I loved Dylan because of his quips and realness. I related to him more than I did to Pressley because while I also did bad in stats at least I never cheated. I did think the romance was adorable though.

This book. WOW!!!! Sports Romance, Fake dating twin brother's rival. I read in one sitting and the ending wrapped everything up perfectly. I can't wait to read more.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7788622331
https://www.tiktok.com/@deanna2128/video/7536796460759764238?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7517065125934990861

This is one of my favorite romances ever. The banter had me kicking my feet and I was giggling throughout the entire book. Athalia’s inner monologue took me through so many different emotions, at times funny, other times sad, but always profound.

I also loved meeting Dylan. He was so sweet to Athalia! Overall I loved watching their relationship grow.

Who doesn't love a fake dating troupe. This book was a quick, fun read. some smut, so not ya. The sport theme is light. one pov. found family. There is a trigger for the loss of family, not on page.

Truly enjoyed this book and the romance of it. After reading, I saw the author started on Wattpad (my OG favorite) and I am truly so excited to see what this author has in store for the future; as well as, the other books in the series!!

Lessons in Faking is such a cute read. I read this in a day and do not regret for a single moment blocking out life to read it in its entirety.
What do you do when your twin brother does something that irks you to your soul time and time again? Why that's easy, you pretend date his nemesis. Only this time, it wasn't so bad pretending.

Athalia and Dylan are enemies because her family deems it so. After spending some time with him, she realizes he's not as bad as others have made him out to be and they build a friendship.

This story is full of surprises, secrets, drama, and love. It's brought to us with creative writing, wonderful characters and an excellent storyline.

Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review <3
3.5 stars

Lessons in faking by Selina Mae was a quick, fun and easy read. Super cute and lighthearted, with a touch of spice. She fake dates her statistics tutor who is also her brother’s enemy/ rival, because she doesn’t believe that her brother truly cares about her, and she wants to get a reaction out of him. I usually love a fake dating trope and this one was good, but it just felt a little lackluster, and I think for me it was maybe because of the reason they were fake dating to begin with. I really enjoyed the banter and bickering between Dylan and Athalia, and I feel like their chemistry is what really made this book truly entertaining. Also no third act breakup? A+

Also just found out there will be a second book about the brother and his ex-girlfriend Paula?!? Hello drama, will definitely be checking that out when it comes out,

Lessons in Faking is such a fun and engaging read, mostly because of the sharp banter and sizzling chemistry between the leads. The dialogue flows effortlessly, and the witty back-and-forth kept me hooked from start to finish, it felt natural, flirty, and full of that delicious tension you hope for in a romance. The romance itself really shines; the slow build and sparks made it easy to root for the characters, and when the emotions finally cracked through the banter, it felt so rewarding.

That said, Athalia’s obsession with her brother does veer into a slightly unhealthy territory at times. While it adds complexity to her character, it occasionally pulled me out of the story because of how much it overshadowed her other relationships. Still, Selina Mae balances it well enough that it doesn’t ruin the charm of the book, it just adds another layer to Athalia’s personality that readers may find intriguing or frustrating, depending on perspective.

Overall, this was a delightful romance with clever banter, heartfelt moments, and enough tension to keep the pages flying. If you love witty dialogue and layered characters, this one is worth picking up!

Thank you to Netgalley and LYX for an ARC e-book.

Lessons in Faking tells the story of Athalia. After the death of her parents, she feels distant from her twin brother and would do anything to get his attention. Anything includes dating his rival, Dylan. They get into a tutoring relationship and start spending time together, which evolves into fake dating, finally getting her Henry's (her brother) attention.

We'll start with the good things. Does it hit the standard romance checklist? Yes, and in sincere/heartfelt ways. Are the characters likeable, with genuine emotional connection rather than instalove? Yes. Is there the standard, the man always thought she was great? Yes. It does everything you're promised from the genre, and also has emotional backstory that explains how Athalia got to where she is, and why her brother's attention is so important to her. Overall, it does what it's supposed to, and it does it well.

My biggest, and really only, complaint. Athalia has absolutely no growth in the book. She hurts people around her, mostly unintentionally, but never apologizes/makes amends. Instead, all the people that she hurts have to work through it alone and then come back and apologize to HER. Granted, we can see inside her head and understand how she's feeling, but she doesn't communicate even those bare minimum thoughts of accountability to the actual people she hurt. Everything else in her personality was great and she was a likeable character, but the lack of any self-awareness at all drove me a little crazy.

SO GOOD! It's no wonder this was picked up by a publisher after being self-published. The banter is incredible. This is some of the best enemies-to-lovers banter I've read in a hot minute. It's very, very snarky and very, very fun. I loved both characters. He acts like a prick most of the time, but he's actually so sweet and caring, and his actions reflect that (taking care of her when sick, giving her his shoes and walking home barefoot bc her feet were hurting from her heels, waiting for her to get inside before leaving, carries her bag & shoes for her, etc). The only reason this isn't a 5 star is because it felt like something was missing. I wanted a little bit more from the romance. If this would've been a little bit longer, we would've gotten that and this would've been a 5 star. Still loved it regardless!

Lessons in Faking by Selina Mae
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★.5/ 5
Spice: ♥︎ ♥︎ ♥︎ / 5
Release: 11/11/25

“All I ask is that you have some mercy on me, Pressley.”

An enemies-to-lovers meets fake-dating romance, Lessons in Faking follows Athalia Pressley, a rich, sharp-tongued college student at Hall Beck University who just wants to rebuild her fractured relationship with her twin brother Henry. When her statistics professor assigns her a tutor, she’s horrified to discover it’s none other than Henry’s sworn rival on the soccer team, Dylan McCarthy Williams.

“You’re a once-in-a-lifetime kind of woman, Athalia”

This book was pure fun. It blended all my favorite tropes. Athalia’s wit, sass, and secret vulnerability, love. Dylan’s quiet, loyal pining completely stole my heart. The banter ties everything together. It’s not filler dialogue; it’s the lifeblood of their relationship. Every sharp comeback and flirty remark builds intimacy, turning staged affection into something that feels inevitable. That’s why the book reads like a romcom you’d rewatch on repeat.

Of course, there were a few little snags. The resolution with Henry felt a bit quick, and some of the subplots (like Wren’s hinted crush and Blake’s side story) seemed unfinished. The addition of a summer house even gave Summer I Turned Pretty vibes. But these were small distractions compared to the charm of the central romance.

Read if you like:
* Annoyance-to-lovers
* Fake dating
* Brother’s enemy romance
* Tutor x tutee dynamics
* Romcom banter that feels like foreplay
* Wattpad-core storytelling

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Selina Mae and Lyx for having me on this team.

Instagram, Tome, and Facebook Reviews Coming Soon.
Amazon upon Release.

3.5 Star review

Selina Mae’s Lessons in Faking kicks off with an intriguing premise: a fake relationship, tangled emotions, and a university backdrop ripe for drama. I found Mae's writing style to be engaging, and while the right ingredients are there, the execution leaves me wanting more.
The plot revolves around Athalia's relationship with her brother, marked by his lack of attention and emotional distance, yet it was never explored. Instead, the plot meanders around the fake dating trope without anchoring it to a compelling backstory. I feel like it was a missed opportunity to deepen the narrative and give the story a strong emotional spine. I kept waiting for that punchy twist. The first half was dragging, with unclear motivations. That said, the second half picked up considerably. Despite its structural shortcomings, I enjoyed the overall reading experience.
This story has plenty of heart, but it could have used "something more" to stand out. I’ll be curious to see where the series takes us next.

UM YES!

I absolutely loved this book and story. the tension. the loathing. the slowly falling in love. gosh!

a thalia is putting so much pressure on herself to live up to her parents expectations, what she believes they are. as well as trying to gain the attention of her brother in a way that’s shows he still cares.. and what better way to do that than to fake date the one person your brother loathes.

thanks to tutoring sessions with dylan, they slowly form a bond and with these fake dates and learning more about one another..well of course it’s only a matter of time before the contract gets broken. someone has to fall in love.

dylan is DOWN BAD, but plays into the annoyed stereotype so well. and the little hints you get throughout to book which points to his true motives of agreeing to help her well…i couldn’t stop smiling.

Fake dating turned into love. The romance was fun, it had amusing moments but the plot was lacking - they both wanted to annoy her brother for different reasons… It was a cute read though.

I have been waiting for this book for so long and was so glad to get my hands on it and read all the amazing things!

I really enjoyed this book! The story was engaging and easy to follow, and the characters felt real and relatable. Definitely worth the read.

lyrical and fun romance with some great plotting and interesting vibes. would recommend this one. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

Lessons in Faking is a captivating and emotionally resonant take on the classic fake dating trope, exploring sibling dynamics, unspoken grief, and relationship mending.

Athalia Pressley seeks to reconnect with her estranged twin brother, Henry, and enlists her brilliant and attractive tutor, Dylan McCarthy, as her partner in a staged relationship. Initially calculated, Athalia’s efforts lead to a genuine connection.

Athalia’s sharp wit and vulnerability make her relatable, while Dylan embodies the ideal golden boy with a hidden depth. Their electrifying banter and undeniable chemistry make their pretend romance a delightful delight.

Thank you NetGalley and LYX for the ARC!