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palmington_'s review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-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
4.75
i loved this book so bad.
i've never reviewed a book before i was finished with it, but about 50% of the way through this book, i knew it was going to be one of my favorite reads.
the book flows so incredibly smoothly, it was genuinely impressive. nothing felt forced or awkwardly written - often when i'm reading new adult i worry that it's going to sound like a 40/50 year old writing about 20somethings - but this book was just so well done. the banter between the two main characters was chef's kiss. the conversations with side characters felt realistic. the pacing and dialogue was just overall so perfect.
i actually really really enjoyed the fmc - i liked her devotion to her cause and how headstrong she was. she was a lil prickly but very loving and committed to the things she belived in and i ate it up!
the mmc - i absolutely melted for him. just a very well written MMC. i cant think of one ive liked better amongst my recent reads. i love that he was receptive to change both within himself and with his relationships (both personal and career). his emotional maturity and development happened so naturally throughout the book and i just couldn't get enough of him.
im not big into sports romance and really haven't understood the increase in them over the past couple of years - this was SO well balanced between sports and contemporary romance that it didnt even phase me ! if sports really arent your thing, i still highly recommend you check this out !
this book touches on anxiety (in many forms) and i think it's so well done. as someone who is chronically anxious and often depressed, i think it was done very well in this book. it definitely isnt reflective of everyone's situations, but it's a great look at how our home lives can shape our outlooks on the world, ourselves, and our relationships.
overall, i loved this book so so much and i wish i couldve read it slower but i genuinely couldnt put it down. i read this thing in like 12 hours.
the only reason i gave it a 4.75 instead of a 5 is because the fmc had a couple moments where i was like, 'girl come on, really?' and there were a couple lines that felt a little awkward. but these are so tiny and barely noticeable -- im just neurotic.
please read this ! if youre on the fence, read it ! it's so fun and fluffy and sweet and touching and i just love it. easily my fave read of 2024 so far (and ive read 26 books this year!)
4.75 stars (theres something minor keeping it from being a 5 star but it's great and im going to reread it for sure)
i've never reviewed a book before i was finished with it, but about 50% of the way through this book, i knew it was going to be one of my favorite reads.
the book flows so incredibly smoothly, it was genuinely impressive. nothing felt forced or awkwardly written - often when i'm reading new adult i worry that it's going to sound like a 40/50 year old writing about 20somethings - but this book was just so well done. the banter between the two main characters was chef's kiss. the conversations with side characters felt realistic. the pacing and dialogue was just overall so perfect.
i actually really really enjoyed the fmc - i liked her devotion to her cause and how headstrong she was. she was a lil prickly but very loving and committed to the things she belived in and i ate it up!
the mmc - i absolutely melted for him. just a very well written MMC. i cant think of one ive liked better amongst my recent reads. i love that he was receptive to change both within himself and with his relationships (both personal and career). his emotional maturity and development happened so naturally throughout the book and i just couldn't get enough of him.
im not big into sports romance and really haven't understood the increase in them over the past couple of years - this was SO well balanced between sports and contemporary romance that it didnt even phase me ! if sports really arent your thing, i still highly recommend you check this out !
this book touches on anxiety (in many forms) and i think it's so well done. as someone who is chronically anxious and often depressed, i think it was done very well in this book. it definitely isnt reflective of everyone's situations, but it's a great look at how our home lives can shape our outlooks on the world, ourselves, and our relationships.
overall, i loved this book so so much and i wish i couldve read it slower but i genuinely couldnt put it down. i read this thing in like 12 hours.
the only reason i gave it a 4.75 instead of a 5 is because the fmc had a couple moments where i was like, 'girl come on, really?' and there were a couple lines that felt a little awkward. but these are so tiny and barely noticeable -- im just neurotic.
please read this ! if youre on the fence, read it ! it's so fun and fluffy and sweet and touching and i just love it. easily my fave read of 2024 so far (and ive read 26 books this year!)
4.75 stars (theres something minor keeping it from being a 5 star but it's great and im going to reread it for sure)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Eating disorder
Minor: Sexual harassment
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
sami_leigh's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
5.0
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
I want to be someone who Hazel’s proud to be dating, even if it is pretend.
Rory deserves to be shown that he’s loved.
He’s my safe place to land.
🥅 First person dual POV
🥅 Enemies to lovers
🥅 Fake dating
🥅 NHL Hockey player / Physical Therapist
🥅 High school crush — she was dating his rival
🥅 He falls first —Hard
🥅 She’s saving to start an inclusive yoga/therapy studio
🥅 He’s trying to balance his fathers expectations with actually liking his life
🥅 Well established secondary characters; Owens (Book 3), Darcy, Streicher & Pippa (Book 1)
🥅 Spice 🥵 ‘good girl’
🥅 MC growth; self worth/confidence, past relationship trauma, childhood trauma, risking a relationship
🥅 No third act break up 🙌🏻
🥅 Body respect 😍
🥅 Epilogue
⚠️ Toxic relationship (past), toxic relationship (parent), infidelity (past relationship), sexual harassment (by secondary character), body shaming (by secondary character towards themselves).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Body shaming, Infidelity, and Sexual harassment
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
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
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
ambercunningham's review
lighthearted
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Abandonment, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
aelin_morgenstern's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Sexual content, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Abandonment and Sexual harassment
sdupont's review
emotional
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
5.0
Holy hockey hotness!! This book is fabulous. Stephanie can honestly do no wrong. This book has everything and is the perfect mix of banter, comedy, sweetness, pining, and spice. I just adored Rory and Hazel. Rory has it bad for Hazel and it is so endearing. I loved seeing their relationship evolve and grow. As Hazel dropped her guard their relationship was able to become much deeper and meaningful. Rory is a man in love and pulls out all the stops during the fake dating scheme to make sure he keeps his girl. Also we must acknowledge his nickname for her because how cute?? Honorable mention to rest of the guys on the team, I love the tight-knit friendships. I absolutely recommend this book to the hockey girlies and the fake dating fans. You will not be able to put this one down!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, and Abandonment
Minor: Infidelity