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forgottencupoftea's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment and Sexual content
Moderate: Body shaming and Fatphobia
britwalsh16's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I love a good enemies to lovers romance! I enjoyed this book very much. Hazel and Rory’s story was perfect. They make such a sweet pair, Rory chasing after Hazel since high school, & Hazel fighting her attracting to Rory so she doesn’t get hurt again. But neither of them realize what awaits them. And the whole hockey team & organization that stands behind them is amazing, and something I love so much about the hockey organization & community, they’re a family, & when someone threatens that family they deal with it, even when the threat comes from within, they stand behind eachother & protect! Connor made a great villain, & I love how no matter what he did, Hazel & Rory didn’t let him get between them. I want a love like that!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Body shaming, Infidelity, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Cursing, Emotional abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Violence, Alcohol, Fatphobia, Eating disorder, Grief, and Sexual assault
scienceparrot's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
✅ Fake dating
✅ Golden retriever MMC
✅ Body positive FMC
Steam:
🔥5/5
This book got me in the warm and fuzzies. I loved how caring Rory was and clearly head over heels for Hazel. Yet he kept their fake relationship light without revealing his feelings until she was ready. Love a confident MMC who can read when the FMC is so obviously in the deep end yet gives her all the space without taking away attention, a caring MMC who’s a boss in bed _swoon_
I loved how Hazel had her own ambition and could pull her own weight against bullies and antagonists. She was definitely one to win over because of her past trauma, and it was so sweet to see her learn to trust Rory.
Stephanie Archer can definitely write steamy build-up like in her other series — the payoff was sooooo good.
✅ Golden retriever MMC
✅ Body positive FMC
Steam:
🔥5/5
This book got me in the warm and fuzzies. I loved how caring Rory was and clearly head over heels for Hazel. Yet he kept their fake relationship light without revealing his feelings until she was ready. Love a confident MMC who can read when the FMC is so obviously in the deep end yet gives her all the space without taking away attention, a caring MMC who’s a boss in bed _swoon_
I loved how Hazel had her own ambition and could pull her own weight against bullies and antagonists. She was definitely one to win over because of her past trauma, and it was so sweet to see her learn to trust Rory.
Stephanie Archer can definitely write steamy build-up like in her other series — the payoff was sooooo good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Eating disorder and Emotional abuse
bog223's review
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
leonie555's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Eating disorder and Body shaming
kuroko's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Violence
Minor: Toxic relationship
duarshe's review
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I have yet to find a romance that I can justify being 400 pages (or more) long. I liked the book, but did it need to be 400-pages long? The answer is no. To be honest, I've read shorter books that have felt longer and more dragged out than this one; but still, it could've been at least 50 pages shorter. Besides, after reading so many romances, I have acquired trust issues from the main couple getting together about ten or so chapters before the end of the book just to add some final conflict that avoids the inevitable end of the story. However, when Rory and Hazel got all lovey dovey way before the end there was no final conflict, although my trust issues were convinced there was going to be one. My point being, I'm grateful there wasn't one because I REALLY didn't need more conflict, but because of that I believe the story could've ended sooner.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Toxic relationship
readwithria's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The Fake Out was a fun and fast read with the perfect balance of spice, character development, and plot. I had a great time, and will definitely keep an eye out for other books by Stephanie Archer.
Read if you love
🩵 dual POV
🩶 fake dating
🩵 protective/slightly possessive MMCs
🩶 FMCs who stand up for themselves and their loved ones
Read if you love
🩵 dual POV
🩶 fake dating
🩵 protective/slightly possessive MMCs
🩶 FMCs who stand up for themselves and their loved ones
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Cursing
Minor: Sexual harassment
gabs_parr's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Loved this book more than the first. This couple was more relatable to me than the first couple because Hazel’s passionate but kind personality is so similar to mine. The way she behaves in her relationship though, anxious-avoidant, snarky, while also being deeply loyal, protective, and supportive- and secretly caring more than she’s willing to admit even to herself at first… for better and for worse, was like watching myself in a mirror. It was sweet to see a girl like us get a happy ending.
This book also improved in the first. Every problem that I had with the first book was addressed in this book to at least some degree. My biggest issue with the first book was that the main characters didn’t have friendships outside of each other and I thought that was weird. In this book, Hazel has a slightly deeper relationship with her sister than was shown in the first book and Rory’s relationship with Jamie has healed so that friendship is a shown, along with some blossoming casual relationships with other men on The Storm, including Hayden and Coach.
This book also contains a better balance of romance, friendship, and … love scenes than the first book did. A much, much better balance. The ones that were included fit into the story much better and they were still just as well done as the ones in the first book. Another improvement I loved to see.
I really loved the storylines with their parents in this book. All 3 of them. Very well done.
I would recommend this book to any romance reader looking to get into the sports romance genre.
This book also improved in the first. Every problem that I had with the first book was addressed in this book to at least some degree. My biggest issue with the first book was that the main characters didn’t have friendships outside of each other and I thought that was weird. In this book, Hazel has a slightly deeper relationship with her sister than was shown in the first book and Rory’s relationship with Jamie has healed so that friendship is a shown, along with some blossoming casual relationships with other men on The Storm, including Hayden and Coach.
This book also contains a better balance of romance, friendship, and … love scenes than the first book did. A much, much better balance. The ones that were included fit into the story much better and they were still just as well done as the ones in the first book. Another improvement I loved to see.
I really loved the storylines with their parents in this book. All 3 of them. Very well done.
I would recommend this book to any romance reader looking to get into the sports romance genre.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Abandonment, and Body shaming
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Infidelity
brandie_abbie19's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Abandonment, Infidelity, and Sexual content
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, and Violence