A review by sarahm96
The (Fake) Dating Game by Timothy Janovsky

3.5

*SPOILERS* 
  • Alright Holden sounds kind of annoying but Buckley also sucks 
  • I still don’t understand what Madcap Market is? Like the concept eludes me 
  • Leo’s introduction is pretty fun 
  • Love the T Swizzle references, especially ATW (TV) (10 minute version) 
    • Is it really a rom com if you don’t mention Taylor Swift? 
  • Weaponizing your forearms is mean, Leo 
    • Especially in Monopoly 
  • I will never understand people who say “oh your grief is unhealthy after all this time” my guy this person lost a loved one????? Grief is a lifelong process you asswipe 
  • Well that escalated rather quickly 
  • Can someone please teach Leo that there are appropriate times for joking & it’s generally not while taking clothes off with a near-stranger
    • Add “it’s weird to name your own dick” to that teaching list
  • Aaaaaand we’re scheming to get 100K 
  • I still don’t get how this game works
  • One of my favourite things about the fake dating trope is that everyone thinks that it’s a perfectly normal solution to a problem
    • I want to live in a world like that 
  • Holden if you’re going to fake date some guy for a reality show then you absolutely need to unpack your trauma for that my dude 
  • There we go 
  • “I’m an ace at playing pretend” sure Leo. Famous last words. 
  • Again, I would like to know what the fuck happens on Madcap Market 
    • I sort of get Price is Right vibes? 
  • Somehow, the use of the word “penis” during sex scenes gives me the ick 
    • Which is ridiculous 
  • Leo’s mom sounds adorable 
  • Cooking together is one of those things that sounds like a great couple activity in theory but is in fact terrible in practice 
  • Ahh but Holden you definitely can build a life in a week do you know nothing about romcoms 
  • I’m not usually of this opinion, but I think this book would be good as a dual POV
    • I’d love to know what’s going on in Leo’s head 
  • Also it’s so clear that these two are obsessed with each other 
  • I love when authors introduce characters & specify that they’re white. It’s a nice reminder that white shouldn’t be the default assumption 
  • Oh Leo you are done for 
  • Not loving the phrase “shooting ropes” 
  • Lying in general is scummy but lying about being in an open marriage feels extra scummy
  • Well at least they’ve both admitted that this fake dating could be the start of something real 
    • That’s a lot farther than most people usually get 
    • They’re going to talk about trying to real date!! Instead of the usual “there’s no way he likes me back & it’s all in my head” garbage 
    • We love communication 👏🏻👏🏻
  • Fuck off Buckley 
  • Buckley can extra fuck off dude you broke up with Holden so what the hell is up your ass 
  • Salmon Sliders is a nauseating team name for the record 
  • Yay team eggplant! 
  • Holden I will fucking kill you if you leave Leo for the love of god you’re allowed to grieve the death of your mom why are you doing this 
  • “I won’t hurt Leo” *proceeds to leave without saying goodbye like an utter tool*
  • The figurines oh my god 😩😩
  • Buckley didn’t deserve what Holden did for him but I’m glad that Holden found a path to grieving in a healthier way 
  • A scavenger hunt!! 
  • The last 10 pages almost made up for that third act breakup. Almost.