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There’s just something about reading a slow-burn romance between two people you know are meant to be together, even if they don’t. Fake relationships can lead to some pretty funny and heartwarming moments between characters, and we as readers love every moment of it. So we have made a list of our favorite fake partner romance books and we are so excited to share them with you!
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
Scientists require proof, which is why Olive Smith doesn’t believe in lasting romantic relationships. In a strategy to convince her best friend that she is dating, Olive kisses the first man she sees, Professor Adam Carlsen. Somehow, the young hotshot professor agrees to a fake relationship. After Olive’s career almost imploding and the unyielding support from Adam, the two might realize that their experiment is close to combustion.
Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall
Luc O’Donnell is second-hand famous and hates every part of it. The dad he’s never met is a famous rockstar and now that he’s done going in and out of rehab, he’s making a comeback. Which puts Luc right back into the public eye. So, to clean up his image, Luc must find a nice and normal relationship. Incomes Oliver Blackwood, a nice, normal barrister who is an ethical vegetarian, and has never inspired a moment of scandal in his life. Definitely, boyfriend material. Unfortunately, other than being gay and single, they have nothing in common. So they strike a deal to be publicity-friendly boyfriends until the dust has settled. Then they can go their separate ways and pretend it never happened. But where does a fake relationship end, and a real one begin?
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
Olive Torres is usually the unlucky twin and assumes the role again at her sister Ami’s wedding where she has to bear the company of the best man and her arch-nemesis Ethan Thomas. However, as luck will have it, when everyone at Ami’s wedding gets food poisoning, except for Olive and Ethan, the two head off on Ami’s honeymoon together. What starts off as pretending to be newlyweds evolves into something real.
The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas
Catalina Martín was perpetually single. So, when her sister announced that she would be getting married in just four short weeks, she knew the race was on to find a stand-in man who’d be willing to travel to Spain as her loving boyfriend. What she was not expecting was that her number one nemesis, Aaron Blackford, would volunteer to play the role. Even though he’s a total egomaniac and drives her up crazy, her choices were limited. With the wedding just days away, Catalina must decide quickly if she wants to bring her all-American boy across the pond or disappoint her family and show up solo.
The Dating Plan by Sara Desai
Desperate to get her meddling family out of her workaholic life, Daisy Patel decides to ask her childhood crush to be her decoy fiancé. Liam Murphy agrees to Daisy’s plan, since his inheritance of the family fortune is dependent on him being married. Too late, they realize that their history of heartbreak will make this fake relationship anything but convenient.
The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory
This debut romance novel will give you hope that love may find you when you’re least expecting it. After a chance encounter on an elevator, Alexa agrees to go with Drew to his ex’s wedding but by the end of the date, the two are surprised by what a great connection they have. Entering into a long-distance fling, this unexpected couple will find out just how far their love can go.
If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane
It started as a fauxmance: a fake relationship to strategically give one another the chance to achieve their goals. Laurie was humiliated and needed to give the rumor mill something else to talk about when her partner, who works with her, of over a decade breaks up with her and announces that his new girlfriend is pregnant. Jamie just wanted to impress the bosses, let them know he can be loyal and committed. It was perfect, and weirdly it was working. But what happens when the fine line between pretending to be in love and actually falling in love starts to blur?
Accidentally Engaged by Farah Heron
If you are looking for a story full of romance, steamy chemistry, and yummy Indian food references, this is it. Reena is in her twenties with a career that is going nowhere and according to her parents, it is time to find a husband. Reena makes delicious sourdough bread and it even helps her to meet her charming and handsome neighbor Nadim. The fun starts when Reena and Nadim, fake an engagement to enter a cooking contest. This book has plenty of romance, Indian culture, and food. Also, a good dose of a loving but meddling family!
Yes & I Love You by Roni Loren
Hollyn Tate is Miz Poppy, but Miz Poppy is not Hollyn Tate. Miz Poppy is the vibrant reviewer whose commentary brightens the New Orleans nightlife, while Hollyn Tate is the real face behind the media star. Hollyn has spent her whole life hiding behind the facade, but when her boss tells her that she must reveal her true identity or she’s fired, Hollyn looks to an unexpected source to help her out. Jasper Deares is an actor, improv star, and way, way out of Hollyn’s league. His charm is making her say yes to things she would never even consider. Yet, as they continue with their improv games, Hollyn can’t help but wonder if she’s actually acting as the lines of their relationship become blurrier.
Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner
Working side by side in Tinseltown, Emma and Jo have always had a professional relationship; but one click of the camera captured a photo that led people to assume that these ladies were more than just friends. As they bond over these circulating rumors and try to squash the gossip, they begin to realize that there might just be some truth to the tabloid tales.
Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur
The relationship ends on the stroke of New Year for fake couple Darcy Lowell and Elle Jones. After a horrendous blind date between the two, they never thought they’d have to deal with each other again. That is until Darcy lies to her brother, who happens to be Elle’s new business partner, and tells him the date went great in hopes to keep him from playing matchmaker again. With some begging and a few conditions, Elle agrees to pretend they’re dating, at least until New Year’s Eve. But as the two seem to develop feelings, they start to wonder if opposites really do attract.
The Place Between by Kit Oliver
Dr. Charles Henry Abbot, PhD has the worst idea ever, at least in Ned’s opinion. Pretend to date, convince their co-workers, and their boss, that they’re in a relationship and nailing this whole personal life thing … and each other. Ned thinks it’s an awful idea, but with his life in shambles from the divorce, single parenthood, and trying to graduate grad school, he can’t help but say yes to his former professor and now colleague, and apparently fake boyfriend. But will their fake relationship reveal something more real than they have ever had?
The Dating Playbook by Farrah Rocho
Software engineer Daisy Patel has her life figured out and that does not include finding love or getting married—much to the dismay of her family members. To get her family off her back, Daisy asks her old childhood crush, Liam Murphy, to pose as her fiancé. Liam, who needs to be married in order to get his inheritance, agrees. However, after a series of fake dates sparks fly, but the duo soon realizes that their arrangement isn’t convenient for either of them.
Never Fall for Your Fiancée by Virginia Heath
Hugh Standish, Earl of Fareham, does not want a wife, despite his matchmaking mother’s wishes. So, to keep his mother at bay, Hugh makes up a fake fiancée. However, his plan starts to smack him in the face when he learns that his mother is on a ship inbound for England. Then he runs into Minerva Merriwell, a woodcut engraver trying to support herself and her two younger sisters since their father abandoned them. When the Earl asks Minerva to pose as his fiancée while his mother is visiting, she knows the offer is too good to pass up. Yet, things don’t always go to plan and while they try to keep their stories straight and his mother convinced, Minerva and Hugh might be finding a true romance underneath their lie.
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