Reviews

The Perfect Fake Date by Naima Simone

andrea_author's review

5.0

Kenan has been in love with his best friend Eve for 15 years. But Eve has a thing for his brother. He makes a deal with her: if she helps him with a business venture, he'll help her win his brother's heart. Only things don't go as expected. Could Kenan have a chance with Eve at last?

This is a super-steamy romance with complex characters and complicated family relationships. Naima Simone is brilliant as usual, delivering an entertaining and satisfying read.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

hannas_heas47's review

4.0

The perfect fake date…. Weird title since all Kenan said was he’d help Eve win over his brother. The feelings they had for each other were real. No one spends two decades with someone without some real feelings. The book is simply put together with a little angst as these two finally put their fake selves away and just become real! Four stars!

xoselenanicole's review

emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 Is this what love feels like? Kenan and Eve are amazing. I enjoyed this story from beginning to end, and it was a good quick read. The supportive words and actions from both characters, was so wholesome. They spoke affirmatively to each other regardless of what was going on in their lives and that did it for me.

I was highlighting paragraphs back to back. I’d imagine Naima’s keyboard was on fire as she typed this one out 

curvyblackgeek's review

emotional funny reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

There is a reference to 2 Thessalonians 3:10 that made me laugh for a really long time

richardwriteson's review against another edition

4.0

I am a serious Naima Simone stan I do not care what she writes. I will read it. I know she writes for Harlequin (and has written several things) but this didn't really feel like a Harlequin book. Because whoa... it was hot. So hot. Yes, the trope of fake dating is a little contrived but with Kenan and Eve, it didnt feel that way. Billionares want what they want and get what they get.

stephsromancebooktalk's review against another edition

4.0

4.25 Stars / 3 Steam Fans

The Fake Perfect Date was a fun friends-to-lovers story. I enjoyed how Kenan and Eve were great friends from the beginning of the story.

Video review available in Week 2: Jan 9 – Jan 15, 2022, total weekly book reviews on Steph's Romance Book Talk Patreon.

For other bookish content, check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.

booktothepointe's review

5.0

Everything I could ask for in a category friends to lovers: short, spicy, to the point.
Eve and Kenan are childhood buddies, K makes a deal with E that includes helping her get the attention of his brother but they end up falling for each other instead.
Family drama, secrets revealed, spicy scenes, true love in the end *sigh* fabulous book

cakt1991's review against another edition

emotional 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

4.0

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley. Review is based on purchased print copy. All opinions are my own. 
 The Perfect Fake Date has all the elements I love in a romance, like friends to lovers, the man pining for the woman who takes time to notice him, and fake dating to obtain the notice of the man’s brother. 
With that setup, I was not disappointed. I love Kenan and Eve together, and I was so happy when she realized she had feelings for Kenan instead of Gavin (although Gavin isn’t a bad guy, necessarily). 
I also love how both had family issues to work through. Eve’s relationship with her mother, who didn’t want her to pursue her current line of work, was well done. And there’s a big reveal on Kenan’s side of things that really makes him question everything, but I appreciate the way it was handled within the space allotted, reinforcing the bonds of unconditional love and forgiveness among family. 
I really liked this, and would recommend it to anyone who likes category-length contemporary romance. 

lateresita27's review

emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

bookedinsideout's review

1.0

1. Where was the fake date?
2. What’s the big deal about designing and creating a lingerie business again that you think your mom would be ashamed of you?
   (Even her mom is confused when she finds out the “secret”.)
3. How old is the heroine and she’s won a teacher’s award and business award in the same year?
4. The best way to get a guy’s attention is to pretend you’ve got something going with his brother? Really?
5. There was really no big realization that she was romantically interested in her best friend.
6. The hero misunderstands a situation and right away says outright that he could trust her or trust his eyes and he’s going to trust his eyes. Swoon.