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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
jcrawford31's review
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual content, and Abandonment
Moderate: Toxic friendship and Fatphobia
kaelielily's review
emotional
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
3.75
This book was a very cute, but also very spicy read.
The fake dating trope turned very quickly, maybe a little too quickly, into not so fake dating, and while I appreciate the lack of a third act breakup, I felt like the plot was a little too straightforward and too little drama, which made it feel drawn out unnecessarily.
It was very spicy, but could’ve done with cutting some of the scenes out, as they felt a little repetitive,
Nonetheless I very much enjoyed the book and it was a fun palate cleanser for in between heavier books.
The fake dating trope turned very quickly, maybe a little too quickly, into not so fake dating, and while I appreciate the lack of a third act breakup, I felt like the plot was a little too straightforward and too little drama, which made it feel drawn out unnecessarily.
It was very spicy, but could’ve done with cutting some of the scenes out, as they felt a little repetitive,
Nonetheless I very much enjoyed the book and it was a fun palate cleanser for in between heavier books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual content and Sexual harassment
honestlybella's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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? No
3.5
i loved the set up and the tension and their banter! but was def too long for my taste and honestly just TMI at some points (esp. the spicy scenes lol but that’s just me) and i LOVED seeing the set up for the next book in the series and getting to read about pippa and jamie again
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Moderate: Body shaming, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Eating disorder, Abandonment, Dysphoria, Fatphobia, and Violence
xlaurareads'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
this one was incredible! the banter, the funny remarks, the love and adoration for each other, the fake-dating that went from fake to totally not fake real quick - everything! hazel and rory are really just the perfect match. i love how she is this stubborn fmc that stands up for herself and others and doesn't take shit from anyone while also being an immensely caring person who looks after everyone and wants to make her dreams come true while also being a tad scared of falling in love. and rory is just the perfect mix between a golden retriever boyfriend and possessive caveman, i love how sure he always was about himself and hazel getting together and how he evolved during the whole book, not only personally but also in his way to play hockey. the whole issue with connor, the greatest asshole to ever be written about, was kinda annoying because i hated that prick so much that i could've thrown the biggest tantrum whenever he appeared...but it made hazel and rory fall for each other during their whole time faking their relationship, so it was fine. i also liked how both of them worked on resolving their family issues together and it made me happy how everything turned out in the end. oh, and the spicy scenes were amazing, too
all in all, i absolutely loved this book! and i'm so looking forward to my boy hayden's book - i can't wait!
all in all, i absolutely loved this book! and i'm so looking forward to my boy hayden's book - i can't wait!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
ylimesnwot's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Sexual harassment
Minor: Abandonment
blissfullibrary's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
5.0
Rory & Hazel.
RORY & HAZEL!
I couldn't put it down. Funny banter and great character growth.
RORY & HAZEL!
I couldn't put it down. Funny banter and great character growth.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Body shaming
Minor: Sexual harassment
culzean'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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Abandonment, Medical content, Cursing, Toxic relationship, Fatphobia, Sexual assault, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Body shaming, Sexism, and Eating disorder
occasionalyarnie's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I can't place my finger on why exactly this book feels like a bit of a miss for me. While I liked the characters and the romance (I'm a total sucker for the fake-dating trope), there were some things that I found unrealistic or aspects that I'd wanted more detail on.
But first, the good: I enjoyed Hazel and Rory as leads. Their individual arcs were well-executed, with Hazel finally reaching a place in her life where she could start work on her lifelong dream, and Rory learning that there's more to hockey than being the superstar. The family dynamics in the book were interesting, too; it was so different to see Hazel struggle with the way her mom would put herself down, and it was refreshing that Rorywas able to see new sides of his parents after letting down his walls and being honest with them .
As for the issues... Firstly, I had some minor complaints about the romance between Rory and Hazel. We're told that they knew each other relatively well in high school, and that Rory was interested in Hazel at the time but didn't pursue anything because she was seeing someone else. I would have appreciated more details, maybe some conversations or memories they had of the time, to make that aspect of the story more concrete. As it is, we get thrown into an established relationship right off the bat (which is kind of disorienting), and Rory is basically in love with Hazel from the start (which I'm not necessarily against, but without the context of their prior relationship is a little off-putting).
Another issue I had was the portrayal of their jobs. We rarely see Hazel in her role as a physio for the team; it's not even really mentioned as something that happens off-page, which is a little disappointing. But I was more frustrated with Rory's job (though it is mostly just me being very nit-picky as a real-life hockey fan). A lot of Rory's arc revolves around him learning that he doesn't have to be the one scoring goals to make a difference on the team, and while that's certainly true, his dad and parts of the plot make it seem like he's less valuable for evolving into a better playmaker, which is stupid. (It's also frustrating that this evolution is not only so quick it's basically overnight, but that Rory is great at it from the start and never makes any mistakes.) Also, the story makes the team's coach kind of the end-all-be-all controller of the organization, which isn't how it works. For example,towards the end of the book, Rory's name is thrown around in some trade rumors, and the story makes it seem like the coach and owners have the final say in any deals, completely ignoring the existence of General Managers . Again, this is a "me" thing, and it won't make a difference for more casual observers of the sport (or those wholly unfamiliar with it).
The last complaint I have is kind of the overlap of two smaller issues: Rory's character as a romantic lead and plot points that seemingly exist for the sole purpose of showcasing Rory's "perfection". For example, at one point the team is hanging out at a bar,Hazel's ex is drunk, and he kisses her without her consent . To me, this scene was wholly unnecessary to the plot and exists only to reinforce the "Rory perfect/Ex evil" thing. There's also a scene where Rory goes complete bananas because Hazel trips while skating and another where he gets drunk and gets a tattoo for her . Personally, I didn't care for anything Rory did during any of these scenes, and it kind of baffled me that Hazel found it endearing. But again, this probably just boils down to personal preference.
Overall, this essay might make it seem like I really didn't like this book. And while I'll definitely say I preferred the first in the series, I don't think this was a bad addition to it. Maybe a reread down the road will change my mind. I'm still looking forward to the next book.
But first, the good: I enjoyed Hazel and Rory as leads. Their individual arcs were well-executed, with Hazel finally reaching a place in her life where she could start work on her lifelong dream, and Rory learning that there's more to hockey than being the superstar. The family dynamics in the book were interesting, too; it was so different to see Hazel struggle with the way her mom would put herself down, and it was refreshing that Rory
As for the issues... Firstly, I had some minor complaints about the romance between Rory and Hazel. We're told that they knew each other relatively well in high school, and that Rory was interested in Hazel at the time but didn't pursue anything because she was seeing someone else. I would have appreciated more details, maybe some conversations or memories they had of the time, to make that aspect of the story more concrete. As it is, we get thrown into an established relationship right off the bat (which is kind of disorienting), and Rory is basically in love with Hazel from the start (which I'm not necessarily against, but without the context of their prior relationship is a little off-putting).
Another issue I had was the portrayal of their jobs. We rarely see Hazel in her role as a physio for the team; it's not even really mentioned as something that happens off-page, which is a little disappointing. But I was more frustrated with Rory's job (though it is mostly just me being very nit-picky as a real-life hockey fan). A lot of Rory's arc revolves around him learning that he doesn't have to be the one scoring goals to make a difference on the team, and while that's certainly true, his dad and parts of the plot make it seem like he's less valuable for evolving into a better playmaker, which is stupid. (It's also frustrating that this evolution is not only so quick it's basically overnight, but that Rory is great at it from the start and never makes any mistakes.) Also, the story makes the team's coach kind of the end-all-be-all controller of the organization, which isn't how it works. For example,
The last complaint I have is kind of the overlap of two smaller issues: Rory's character as a romantic lead and plot points that seemingly exist for the sole purpose of showcasing Rory's "perfection". For example, at one point the team is hanging out at a bar,
Overall, this essay might make it seem like I really didn't like this book. And while I'll definitely say I preferred the first in the series, I don't think this was a bad addition to it. Maybe a reread down the road will change my mind. I'm still looking forward to the next book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming and Sexual harassment
aimee_not_amy's review
emotional
funny
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? Yes
5.0
Stephanie Archer is an auto-buy author for me and The Fake Out is another in a long line of knockouts from her! The Fake Out is an opposites attract, grumpy/sunshine, fake dating story, all of which are my favorite tropes. Rory is the epitome of golden retriever boyfriends and I loved how much Hazel had to try to stifle her laughter around him. I need my own Rory! He was so sweet and all in to help Hazel get on her ex's nerves. I loved that Hazel is a total badass and Rory knows it and loves it about her. The way the two of them protected each other was really great.
The best part isno third act break up!! . That's really what made it 5 stars for me.
The best part is
Content Warnings
Minor: Body shaming, Sexual harassment, and Eating disorder