There’s something irresistibly captivating about the fake dating trope in romance literature. Whether it’s a business arrangement gone awry, a scheme to make an ex jealous, or a desperate attempt to appease meddling family members, these stories capture our hearts with their delicious tension and inevitable journey from pretense to genuine love. We’ve curated a list of the most compelling fake dating romances that masterfully blend chemistry, humor, and heart-fluttering moments.
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
Olive Smith, a third-year Ph.D. candidate, doesn’t believe in lasting romantic relationships. To convince her best friend that she’s dating and happy, she impulsively kisses the first man she sees: young hotshot professor Adam Carlsen. The brooding scientist surprisingly agrees to keep up the charade and their fake relationship starts generating some very real data. As their experiment extends beyond the lab, Olive discovers that Adam’s reserved exterior hides a passionate heart and her hypothesis about love might need serious revision.
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Dating Dr. Dil by Nisha Sharma
Kareena Mann would rather restore classic cars than search for love, but when her father promises to give her the family home if she gets engaged within four months, she’s forced to reconsider. After a heated argument with Dr. Prem Verma—host of The Dr. Dil Show—goes viral, her prospects seem doomed. Meanwhile, Prem needs funding for his community health center and Kareena’s matchmaking aunties offer a solution: if he convinces Kareena he’s her soulmate they will support him financially. As they navigate their arrangement, these opposites discover that sometimes the thin line between hate and fate leads straight to love.
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The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas
Catalina Martín is desperate for a date to her sister’s wedding in Spain. When her infuriating colleague Aaron Blackford offers to play the part of her American boyfriend, she reluctantly accepts. As they traverse the vibrant streets of Spain and face her extensive family, Catalina discovers layers to Aaron she never expected. Between wine-soaked evenings and traditional family gatherings, their carefully constructed facade begins crumbling, revealing something far more authentic than either anticipated. Under the warm Spanish sun and her family’s watchful eyes, Catalina learns that sometimes love speaks its own language—and her heart might have been lost in translation all along.
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Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon
TV meteorologist Ari Abrams and sports reporter Russell Barringer devise a Parent Trap-style scheme to get their divorced bosses back together and improve their toxic workplace. As they orchestrate “accidental” meetings and romantic scenarios, their own chemistry becomes impossible to ignore. Through rainy Seattle days and behind-the-scenes drama, they discover that while they can’t control the weather, they might be able to forecast their own happy ending. Between plotting matchmaking schemes and dodging office politics, they learn that sometimes the best weather report is the unexpected storm of love that sweeps you off your feet.
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The Dating Plan by Sara Desai
Software engineer Daisy Patel needs a fake fiancé to stop her family’s matchmaking attempts. Enter Liam Murphy, her childhood crush and venture capitalist, who needs a bride to secure his inheritance. Their practical arrangement comes with a detailed dating plan, complete with public dates and family dinners. But as they check off items on their relationship checklist, real feelings begin to compute, forcing them to debug their hearts’ programming. Between coding sprints and family obligations, they discover that sometimes the most complex algorithms can’t account for the simple truth: love doesn’t follow a plan.
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Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall
Luc needs to fix his messy public image and fast. The answer? Oliver Blackwood— a perfectly proper lawyer who’s never been in the gossip magazines. Oliver is everything Luc isn’t: neat, professional, and scandal-free. They strike a deal to pretend to date. Oliver gets someone to bring to fancy work events and Luc looks like he’s finally grown up. But their fake relationship starts feeling real and soon they both have to decide if their pretend romance is worth turning into the real thing, no matter what people might say about them.
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The Lucky Escape by Laura Jane Williams
When Annie’s fiancé leaves her at the altar, she impulsively accepts her old friend Patrick’s suggestion to use her honeymoon tickets—with him as her stand-in husband. Their Instagram posts from the Maldives fool everyone, but as they share sunset walks and midnight conversations, Annie realizes that sometimes the best love stories start with an escape plan. Between poolside cocktails and adventurous excursions, their staged photos for social media begin capturing moments that feel genuinely real. As Annie’s broken heart begins to heal under the tropical sun, she discovers that the perfect honeymoon might be the one that wasn’t supposed to happen at all.
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The Stand-In by Lily Chu
After losing her job and struggling to care for her sick mother, Gracie Reed can’t believe her luck when Chinese movie star Wei Fangli offers her a golden opportunity: stand in as her double at public events while she secretly takes time off. The money is great, but navigating high society alongside Fangli’s charming colleague Sam Yao proves more challenging—and thrilling—than expected. As Gracie juggles designer gowns, red carpet appearances, and a growing attraction to Sam, she discovers their pretend romance might be her most convincing performance yet. But in a world of smoke and mirrors, can their connection be real?
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This May End Badly by Samantha Markum
At Weston School, senior Doe lives for the century-old prank war against rival Winfield Academy. When news breaks that the schools will merge, she hatches a desperate plan to prove the two schools should stay separate. Her scheme? Fake-dating Wells, the cousin of her nemesis Three, Winfield’s unofficial king. It’s meant to be simple: she helps Wells recover a family heirloom, he helps her get under Three’s skin. But as pranks escalate and feelings deepen, Doe’s web of lies starts to unravel. When a serious threat emerges against a younger student, she must decide what matters more: winning the war or fighting for what’s right.
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The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson
ER doctor Mackenzie, desperate to stop her grandmother’s matchmaking, impulsively claims she’s dating the last person anyone would believe: Noah Taylor, Denver General’s notoriously grumpy cardiologist. Meanwhile, Noah, an unmated alpha wolf hiding his true nature, needs a fake mate to save his career after his secret is exposed. Their solution seems perfect—a mutually beneficial arrangement with clear boundaries. But when their pretend relationship evolves into a friends-with-benefits situation, the lines between fake and real begin to blur. As their clinical approach to love gets complicated by genuine feelings, both discover that matters of the heart can’t be controlled.
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The Deal by Elle Kennedy
Hannah Wells is confident about everything except romance. When she finally finds someone who sparks her interest, there’s just one problem: getting him to notice her. Enter Garrett Graham, hockey team captain fighting to keep his GPA high enough to stay on the team. Their deal seems simple—she’ll tutor him if he helps make her crush jealous with some fake dates. But when one pretend kiss ignites unexpected passion, their carefully planned arrangement combusts into the hottest hookup of their lives. Now Garrett’s done with playing pretend, but convincing Hannah that they’re more than just a game might be his toughest score yet.
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Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison
Lovelight Farms is in trouble: dead trees, invading raccoons, and missing shipments have turned Stella Bloom’s beloved Christmas tree farm into anything but magical. Her last hope? A contest run by influencer Evelyn St. James offering a $100,000 prize. Just one tiny problem: Stella claimed she runs the farm with her boyfriend—who doesn’t exist. Enter Luka Peters, her best friend who dropped by for hot chocolate and somehow ended up playing the role of devoted boyfriend. But as they work to create the perfect holiday romance for social media, their pretend relationship starts feeling surprisingly real. Maybe this Christmas, they’ll both get exactly what they didn’t know they wanted.
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