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Fake-ish
Always a bridesmaid, never a bride—and that’s the way I like it.
I may be anti-marriage, but I’m still pro-romance. Case in point? That sexy curmudgeon I met last year during my cousin’s tropical bachelorette getaway.
That grump was Dorian, the groom’s old college roommate, there for the bachelor party. I couldn’t get enough of his messy brown hair and gorgeous turquoise eyes. We connected on a deep level—emotionally and physically.
But the timing wasn’t right. So we made a pact to reconnect in two years. Now I’m starting a new “job.” It’ll take a lot of work and pays really well—I’m talking seven figures here. All I have to do is pretend to be my boss’s new fiancée…and spend eight weeks with his family on their private island. How hard could it be?
Turns out, a lot harder than I thought. Because the man I’m pretending to love? He’s Dorian’s brother, and now all bets are off…
A sizzling romance about two people who fall in love, go their separate ways, and then try to reconnect against all odds.
I may be anti-marriage, but I’m still pro-romance. Case in point? That sexy curmudgeon I met last year during my cousin’s tropical bachelorette getaway.
That grump was Dorian, the groom’s old college roommate, there for the bachelor party. I couldn’t get enough of his messy brown hair and gorgeous turquoise eyes. We connected on a deep level—emotionally and physically.
But the timing wasn’t right. So we made a pact to reconnect in two years. Now I’m starting a new “job.” It’ll take a lot of work and pays really well—I’m talking seven figures here. All I have to do is pretend to be my boss’s new fiancée…and spend eight weeks with his family on their private island. How hard could it be?
Turns out, a lot harder than I thought. Because the man I’m pretending to love? He’s Dorian’s brother, and now all bets are off…
A sizzling romance about two people who fall in love, go their separate ways, and then try to reconnect against all odds.
264 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 5, 2023
1436 people are currently reading
5211 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 441 reviews
September 26, 2025
Dorian, the mmc was so in love with another woman before the heroine that he proposed to her...
Dorian's brother Burke stole her from him, and then he met the heroine and told her about how much he is against marriage and asked the heroine to wait for him for TWO years... TWO years!
Um, okay...
Then Burke offers the heroine an opportunity to get 1 million dollars to pretend to be his fiancée in order to get his inheritance. Fair enough. It's a win win in my eyes.
Dorian and Briar have zero chemistry.
Story is not romantic, it's tedious.
Briar, the heroine is fkin stupid and too preoccupied about things that are not in her best interest.
All she needed to do was do her job, get her million dollars, and leave.
Dorian started calling Briar a "gold digger" on sight after they meet again when she is pretending to be Burke's fiancée.
Dorian sounds like a bitter incel who thinks a woman's life should be on pause for him for 2 years until he decides to give her the time of day, and I'm supposed to be rooting for this man who wasn't willing to even date her, let alone marry her, and expected her to wait for him for two years while he pinned for another woman his brother stole from him...
How is this romance?
Also not only do these two have zero chemistry, there was also no smut.
Criminal.
I resent this stupid book for wasting my time.
Dorian's brother Burke stole her from him, and then he met the heroine and told her about how much he is against marriage and asked the heroine to wait for him for TWO years... TWO years!
Um, okay...
Then Burke offers the heroine an opportunity to get 1 million dollars to pretend to be his fiancée in order to get his inheritance. Fair enough. It's a win win in my eyes.
Dorian and Briar have zero chemistry.
Story is not romantic, it's tedious.
Briar, the heroine is fkin stupid and too preoccupied about things that are not in her best interest.
All she needed to do was do her job, get her million dollars, and leave.
Dorian started calling Briar a "gold digger" on sight after they meet again when she is pretending to be Burke's fiancée.
Dorian sounds like a bitter incel who thinks a woman's life should be on pause for him for 2 years until he decides to give her the time of day, and I'm supposed to be rooting for this man who wasn't willing to even date her, let alone marry her, and expected her to wait for him for two years while he pinned for another woman his brother stole from him...
How is this romance?
Also not only do these two have zero chemistry, there was also no smut.
Criminal.
I resent this stupid book for wasting my time.
May 5, 2024
it kinda sucked-ish.
(but, ngl, i had fun at first. i'm not sure i'm ready to let this book spoil the author for me for good, so i'll give winter renshaw another try in the future.)
(but, ngl, i had fun at first. i'm not sure i'm ready to let this book spoil the author for me for good, so i'll give winter renshaw another try in the future.)
December 6, 2023
I loved the meet cute as Dorian and Briar first laid eyes on each other during their mutual friends’ destination bachelorette/bachelor party. I started smiling only one chapter in as the author’s charm and talent shows thorough in her main characters. This couple was so playful and fun, genuinely enjoying each other’s company as the venue was just not their thing.
Dorian is the manager of a popular band and it just wasn’t the right time to start a relationship with his travel commitments, but Blair made a lasting impact on him. She’s fresh off a recent break up and unemployed, and needed to get her life in order. They had a deep emotional connection which only made their physical connection that much stronger. They were like two magnets being pulled together.
She proclaims she never wants to be married, but with a man like Dorian, she can’t help but wonder, “what if…” She was totally smitten with Dorian and knew in her heart no other man could compare. I swooned when he asked her to wait for him…now fast forward a year later when they meet again under unusual circumstances and she is not only engaged, she’s engaged to his nemesis and brother, Burke! Burke was a real tool, and doesn’t have a chance in this love triangle, but it was fun to see him try.
Fake-ish is a total standalone and as you can probably guess by the title, a “fake” engagement with a non-disclosure agreement in place. Lots of laughs as poor Dorian keeps steaming up his eye glasses when he sees the two of them together–he is so mad she’s not with him. Both Dorian and Briar do have opportunities to spend time together and they both do a lot of self-reflection over the many weeks they spend on their family’s private island. There’s so much sexual tension I thought one of them would explode!
Lots of truths are eventually revealed and true love triumphs as these two soulmates couldn’t be apart for long. I truly loved both Dorian and Briar and how the author describes their personalities and their easy-going relationship. They just naturally fit.
I didn’t care very much though for his family, or his ex-girlfriend who makes an appearance. He has a rocky relationship with all of them, and it’s for good reason. But there were moments when I thought that his sister or brother would redeem themselves and form a close bond with Dorian, but that didn’t happen. I’m proud of Dorian for upholding his values and self-worth, and how he always treated Briar with respect. He was a man of character and it showed in his actions.
I do feel the miscommunication and conflict was the main focus of the book and it dragged on a bit. We had a fun beginning chapter with lots of build-up, and I would have liked an additional chapter or two at the end with them together, especially since they decided to never put down roots and be nomads. To each his own. If they are happy, that’s all that matters. Not everyone dreams of the white picket fence. I applaud the author for not always doing cookie-cutter romances. Her characters and storylines are always unique.
Dorian is the manager of a popular band and it just wasn’t the right time to start a relationship with his travel commitments, but Blair made a lasting impact on him. She’s fresh off a recent break up and unemployed, and needed to get her life in order. They had a deep emotional connection which only made their physical connection that much stronger. They were like two magnets being pulled together.
She proclaims she never wants to be married, but with a man like Dorian, she can’t help but wonder, “what if…” She was totally smitten with Dorian and knew in her heart no other man could compare. I swooned when he asked her to wait for him…now fast forward a year later when they meet again under unusual circumstances and she is not only engaged, she’s engaged to his nemesis and brother, Burke! Burke was a real tool, and doesn’t have a chance in this love triangle, but it was fun to see him try.
Fake-ish is a total standalone and as you can probably guess by the title, a “fake” engagement with a non-disclosure agreement in place. Lots of laughs as poor Dorian keeps steaming up his eye glasses when he sees the two of them together–he is so mad she’s not with him. Both Dorian and Briar do have opportunities to spend time together and they both do a lot of self-reflection over the many weeks they spend on their family’s private island. There’s so much sexual tension I thought one of them would explode!
Lots of truths are eventually revealed and true love triumphs as these two soulmates couldn’t be apart for long. I truly loved both Dorian and Briar and how the author describes their personalities and their easy-going relationship. They just naturally fit.
I didn’t care very much though for his family, or his ex-girlfriend who makes an appearance. He has a rocky relationship with all of them, and it’s for good reason. But there were moments when I thought that his sister or brother would redeem themselves and form a close bond with Dorian, but that didn’t happen. I’m proud of Dorian for upholding his values and self-worth, and how he always treated Briar with respect. He was a man of character and it showed in his actions.
I do feel the miscommunication and conflict was the main focus of the book and it dragged on a bit. We had a fun beginning chapter with lots of build-up, and I would have liked an additional chapter or two at the end with them together, especially since they decided to never put down roots and be nomads. To each his own. If they are happy, that’s all that matters. Not everyone dreams of the white picket fence. I applaud the author for not always doing cookie-cutter romances. Her characters and storylines are always unique.
October 23, 2023
I don't mind insta-love too much if there is a proper connection and chemistry to build on, but this book lacked all romance or chemistry. Every relationship was so shallow, surface emotions only.
I still don't understand why the three kids hated each other so much? To the point where they were not just aloof or distant from each other but malicious.
I found Dorian to be unlikeable. I know Burke had form, but his immediate hatred of Briar in the present was off putting. Even if he'd assumed something was fishy but she'd stonewalled because of the NDA. The obstacle that was frustrating. What was going to happen if she spilled?
I really struggled to keep reading this one, only reaching the [cheesy] ending because it is a relatively short book and I like to at least try to finish ARCs to get a full sense of the book to review.
I still don't understand why the three kids hated each other so much? To the point where they were not just aloof or distant from each other but malicious.
I found Dorian to be unlikeable. I know Burke had form, but his immediate hatred of Briar in the present was off putting. Even if he'd assumed something was fishy but she'd stonewalled because of the NDA. The obstacle that was frustrating. What was going to happen if she spilled?
I really struggled to keep reading this one, only reaching the [cheesy] ending because it is a relatively short book and I like to at least try to finish ARCs to get a full sense of the book to review.
December 5, 2023
Fake-ish🙌
Wow, what an adventure I feel like I’ve just experienced at the hands of Dorian and Briar😁 I truly feel as though Briar was between a rock and a hard place there for while and this author has a way of making poignant statements with what she writes…thought provoking and I love it❣️
Burke has asked Briar to accompany him to his family’s island, as his fiancée, over the summer to spend time with his family. However, unbeknownst to Briar, the man she met a year ago in the Dominican Republic, is none other than Burke’s brother, Dorian…and also the man she’s waiting on🥹
It soon becomes clear intentions and omissions are aplenty and Briar has to wad through it all to discover the truth and get the HEA she wants🥰 A fantastic story that I really enjoyed and did not want to put down. Definitely recommend. I received an advanced copy via Netgalley and thank the publisher and author for the opportunity. I voluntarily leave my honest review❤️
Wow, what an adventure I feel like I’ve just experienced at the hands of Dorian and Briar😁 I truly feel as though Briar was between a rock and a hard place there for while and this author has a way of making poignant statements with what she writes…thought provoking and I love it❣️
Burke has asked Briar to accompany him to his family’s island, as his fiancée, over the summer to spend time with his family. However, unbeknownst to Briar, the man she met a year ago in the Dominican Republic, is none other than Burke’s brother, Dorian…and also the man she’s waiting on🥹
It soon becomes clear intentions and omissions are aplenty and Briar has to wad through it all to discover the truth and get the HEA she wants🥰 A fantastic story that I really enjoyed and did not want to put down. Definitely recommend. I received an advanced copy via Netgalley and thank the publisher and author for the opportunity. I voluntarily leave my honest review❤️
September 9, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake Romance for the opportunity to read this ARC in return for my honest review.
Fake-ish is a fast paced romance, written by Winter Renshaw. It tells the "right person, wrong time" trope when Briar meets the love of her life at the bar at her friend's bachelorette party, after a magical one night stand she promises Dorian she'll wait for him.
Two years later, Briar finds herself in a fake-relationship with her boss - to convince his family he deserves his third of his inheritance. She accompanies him to his family's ISLAND house 🤩 (I wanna family island that is used for yearly holidays omg) for his family holiday - only to find out his Boss's brother is the guy she promised to wait for 2 years earlier.
Bound by a NDA and not wanting to break off her end of the deal ($1 milli) she's gotta stay quiet. But that takes a turn when her bosses dad's health takes a sudden decline.
This book has VERY minimal spice (two scenes one at the start and one at the end that are very bland) but the dual POV of Dorian and Briar made me hungry for the next chapter. I read this in one sitting and recommend it to anyone who loves a feel good, good story line romance!
Fake-ish is a fast paced romance, written by Winter Renshaw. It tells the "right person, wrong time" trope when Briar meets the love of her life at the bar at her friend's bachelorette party, after a magical one night stand she promises Dorian she'll wait for him.
Two years later, Briar finds herself in a fake-relationship with her boss - to convince his family he deserves his third of his inheritance. She accompanies him to his family's ISLAND house 🤩 (I wanna family island that is used for yearly holidays omg) for his family holiday - only to find out his Boss's brother is the guy she promised to wait for 2 years earlier.
Bound by a NDA and not wanting to break off her end of the deal ($1 milli) she's gotta stay quiet. But that takes a turn when her bosses dad's health takes a sudden decline.
This book has VERY minimal spice (two scenes one at the start and one at the end that are very bland) but the dual POV of Dorian and Briar made me hungry for the next chapter. I read this in one sitting and recommend it to anyone who loves a feel good, good story line romance!
December 4, 2023
Winter Renshaw delivers complicated emotions so effortlessly in her books! Fake-ish is a perfect blend of angsty, heartaching and sweet feels. Dorian gives the tortured, brooding and intense vibes those make my heart and panties melt. Briar captured my heart too, with her beautiful sunny soul. They met under impossible circumstances but love makes everything possible.
When Briar agreed to act as her boss's fake fiance for eight weeks and spend the time with his sick father and divided siblings..she didn't know she is gonna come face to face with the same man she fell in love with one hour ago. Dorian is the brother and he is enraged at her .Because one year ago, when they met at the wedding of their mutual acquaintances, they promised each other to wait without contact till he can be free from his obligation as band manager and give her the full attention she deserved. Now Briar is stuck at a rock and hard place. The family is going through so much crisis and drama and she is clueless how to navigate it all.
This set up of an obnoxiously healthy and dysfunctional family in a luxurious island was intriguing. It was like a reality show. Her fake fiance boss, Burke is a money hungry businessman robot who just needs this fake engagement to get all the inheritance money. The sister is also stuck in a marriage and wow she can be really nasty and bitter. Then there is Dorian who doesn't care about the money. He made his own from the band. Their father is trying to make up for the lost time but there is too much bad blood among the siblings, so much history of betrayal and secrets and the cracks are big. Briar is stuck in middle of this.
At first I was a bit sceptical about the flashbacks in every alternate chapter because I didn't understand the necessity to go in details of that one wedding party trip. But then I realised it's so important. Two complete strangers fell in love there. Both afraid of love, both anti marriage, both sceptical about happily ever after..but they connected like magic. You can feel that through the chapters. They parted ways with a promise and they never stopped loving each other. But now Dorian sees her as his brother's fiance and that dredges up all kind of anger and pain. Oh my the angst is beautiful here. The author is shredding your hearts slowly and you are at her mercy. Then secrets come out. Tragedies unfold. Choices are to be made. I think Briar stood so strong through it and even at the worst situations, she thought about everyone. She really has a big heart. Open. Unconditional..Vulnerable. Dorian definitely took some time to go beyond his anger and grief. The spice wasn't a lot here but the touches here and there, the almost breakdown moments..keep the sizzle alive. There was something so dreamy about the way they met and fell in love and went through the heartbreak to find happily ever after. Winter Renshaw is a master at dual POV where she writes in a flawless way like we are in head and heart of the characters and it's just so easy to connect with them.
I reviewed an early copy voluntarily
When Briar agreed to act as her boss's fake fiance for eight weeks and spend the time with his sick father and divided siblings..she didn't know she is gonna come face to face with the same man she fell in love with one hour ago. Dorian is the brother and he is enraged at her .Because one year ago, when they met at the wedding of their mutual acquaintances, they promised each other to wait without contact till he can be free from his obligation as band manager and give her the full attention she deserved. Now Briar is stuck at a rock and hard place. The family is going through so much crisis and drama and she is clueless how to navigate it all.
This set up of an obnoxiously healthy and dysfunctional family in a luxurious island was intriguing. It was like a reality show. Her fake fiance boss, Burke is a money hungry businessman robot who just needs this fake engagement to get all the inheritance money. The sister is also stuck in a marriage and wow she can be really nasty and bitter. Then there is Dorian who doesn't care about the money. He made his own from the band. Their father is trying to make up for the lost time but there is too much bad blood among the siblings, so much history of betrayal and secrets and the cracks are big. Briar is stuck in middle of this.
At first I was a bit sceptical about the flashbacks in every alternate chapter because I didn't understand the necessity to go in details of that one wedding party trip. But then I realised it's so important. Two complete strangers fell in love there. Both afraid of love, both anti marriage, both sceptical about happily ever after..but they connected like magic. You can feel that through the chapters. They parted ways with a promise and they never stopped loving each other. But now Dorian sees her as his brother's fiance and that dredges up all kind of anger and pain. Oh my the angst is beautiful here. The author is shredding your hearts slowly and you are at her mercy. Then secrets come out. Tragedies unfold. Choices are to be made. I think Briar stood so strong through it and even at the worst situations, she thought about everyone. She really has a big heart. Open. Unconditional..Vulnerable. Dorian definitely took some time to go beyond his anger and grief. The spice wasn't a lot here but the touches here and there, the almost breakdown moments..keep the sizzle alive. There was something so dreamy about the way they met and fell in love and went through the heartbreak to find happily ever after. Winter Renshaw is a master at dual POV where she writes in a flawless way like we are in head and heart of the characters and it's just so easy to connect with them.
I reviewed an early copy voluntarily
December 6, 2023
A fake fiancé, second chance romance between a woman who fell hard for one brother over a magical summer only to find herself in a fake dating situation with his brother two years later in order to fulfill inheritance conditions. Lots of forced proximity, forbidden love and pining in this latest from Winter Renshaw. It was good on audio but not a favorite for me. Recommended for fans of authors like Elizabeth O'Roarke. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
December 7, 2023
The last book I read by this author, I really enjoyed it. It was simple and wholesome. This book on the other hand? Was dry. Boring. Meaningless. I liked the premise of the characters meeting at a party, both bored and disconnected from the rest of the group and building their own bubble where they connected and enjoyed each other. But while they were criticizing others, honestly the MCs felt like the pretentious people they claimed to dislike. Oh we’re so different. We don’t believe in marriage. I honestly do not get the aspect of anti marriage for the plot. It was absolutely unnecessary. And unlikable. Whatever. They pretended that they were right while everyone else was wrong. While they were saints while everyone else was greedy, materialistic and selfish. Is there any character in this book that the MCs did not try to put down? Dorian doesn’t like social media, it’s a waste of time, it’s superficial, useless blah blah. Right. That’s makes you an ideal and unique man right? Not.
Dorian and Briar connect so deeply, they hook up and second all their time together. But his job is gonna take him places, he has to travel constantly so that’s not conducive to a relationship. So he asks her to wait for him for two years when he quits and will be back on new York. In the meantime no contact. Seriously? Loving someone and trying to find a foothold for the relationship in between your career is not optional. You don’t ask someone to edit like that without contact. How do you even know that you’re gonna feel the same when you meet after years? That was so lame. And Briar agreed. Because she’s the basic FMC where her life is upturned and her belief in love shaken by her bf screwing her bestie. Most cliche plot ever.
I thought there would be angst. But there was zero. Briar was fake engaged to his brother but they didn’t know that. Not once did Dorian try to communicate with her and ask her why she stopped waiting for him, if she stopped loving him. He never tried to get the woman that he desperately loved from his asshole of a brother who clearly doesn’t love her.
Everyone is such a villain in this book. Nicola. Burke. They are greedy, money hungry, family hating people ever. They don’t really care about their siblings. Maybe a little about their father. Burke was a workaholic, unsocial man with no feelings but he was supposedly in love with his ex fiancée but she left and he never bothered to get her back. Nicola revolved around gee children and could hardly tolerate her husband. Gosh everyone annoyed me so much. The thing is, I’m not going mad with rage as this book was so impassively written that it failed evoke such strong emotion in me. But I know I hated it because I was supposed to hate it. Maybe my rant portrays this book was one of the worst ones I’ve ever read but it’s not even that. This book is just lame. And the ending was even lamer. Dorian and Briar get together obviously, it was a rushed union and then fast forward five years later, they are happily together but never married because why do you need it? It’s the worst creation in mankind right? They’re too cool for that. Stupid people.!
Dorian and Briar connect so deeply, they hook up and second all their time together. But his job is gonna take him places, he has to travel constantly so that’s not conducive to a relationship. So he asks her to wait for him for two years when he quits and will be back on new York. In the meantime no contact. Seriously? Loving someone and trying to find a foothold for the relationship in between your career is not optional. You don’t ask someone to edit like that without contact. How do you even know that you’re gonna feel the same when you meet after years? That was so lame. And Briar agreed. Because she’s the basic FMC where her life is upturned and her belief in love shaken by her bf screwing her bestie. Most cliche plot ever.
I thought there would be angst. But there was zero. Briar was fake engaged to his brother but they didn’t know that. Not once did Dorian try to communicate with her and ask her why she stopped waiting for him, if she stopped loving him. He never tried to get the woman that he desperately loved from his asshole of a brother who clearly doesn’t love her.
Everyone is such a villain in this book. Nicola. Burke. They are greedy, money hungry, family hating people ever. They don’t really care about their siblings. Maybe a little about their father. Burke was a workaholic, unsocial man with no feelings but he was supposedly in love with his ex fiancée but she left and he never bothered to get her back. Nicola revolved around gee children and could hardly tolerate her husband. Gosh everyone annoyed me so much. The thing is, I’m not going mad with rage as this book was so impassively written that it failed evoke such strong emotion in me. But I know I hated it because I was supposed to hate it. Maybe my rant portrays this book was one of the worst ones I’ve ever read but it’s not even that. This book is just lame. And the ending was even lamer. Dorian and Briar get together obviously, it was a rushed union and then fast forward five years later, they are happily together but never married because why do you need it? It’s the worst creation in mankind right? They’re too cool for that. Stupid people.!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2023
This was really good. I'm a sucker for second chance romances so I already knew this would be right up my alley. Yes, it was predictable but it was also different from anything I read from fake dating trope. I read in one setting.
✓ Fake Dating
✓ Instalove
✓ Second Chance
✓ Family Drama
✓ Dual Timeline
✓ Dual POV
>>> Audiobook included on Kindle Unlimited <<<
✓ Fake Dating
✓ Instalove
✓ Second Chance
✓ Family Drama
✓ Dual Timeline
✓ Dual POV
>>> Audiobook included on Kindle Unlimited <<<
December 12, 2023
A pesar de que me gusta esta escritora, no sé qué ha hecho en este libro. Definitivamente lo que ha hecho no me ha gustado. Una historia de amor que es más una historia de desencuentros y malentendidos, en la que el 90% del tiempo que pasan juntos los personajes es para estar incómodos, pues muy novela romántica no la veo yo.
Los protagonistas se conocieron y gustaron hace un año y ese en encuentro nos lo van fraccionando para que lo vayamos leyendo de modo alterno con el presente. Por mucho que significara para ellos, no tiene tanta chicha como para sostener ni su amor ni mi atención. La parte del presente, además, es bastante tontucia, un quiero y no puedo que no termina de cuajar por ningún lado.
Una pena
Los protagonistas se conocieron y gustaron hace un año y ese en encuentro nos lo van fraccionando para que lo vayamos leyendo de modo alterno con el presente. Por mucho que significara para ellos, no tiene tanta chicha como para sostener ni su amor ni mi atención. La parte del presente, además, es bastante tontucia, un quiero y no puedo que no termina de cuajar por ningún lado.
Una pena
December 9, 2023
Bro.. this book's premise had so much potential but it was executed so poorly imo. Everything was so rushed, there was lots of eavesdropping to reveal secrets which felt very silly and lazy. The mmc and fmc were so bland, there was literally no character development whatsoever.
I am very annoyed 🧐
I am very annoyed 🧐
March 25, 2024
This book should change the title to Totally Fake because there was absolutely nothing romantic about it just a lot of tedious drama.
🚨 Dorian doesn't want to get involved with anyone... yet. One crazy night he is head over heels with Briar and he makes her promise to WAIT FOR HIM for TWO YEARS! TWO DAMN YEARS! No communication, no nothing, just wait for him to finish the tour of the band he manages.
🚨 Briar is so stupid that she says sure why not and after the year she signs an NDA and $1 million dollars with her BOSS to pretend to be his fiancée in order to get his inheritance.
🚨 Turns out her boss, Burke, is Dorian's brother and here starts the drama of 'stole her from your brother' and Briar turns into a shit puddle because she wants the $1 million dollars but can't tell the truth to Dorian and she still wants him.
🚨 Dorian starts calling Briar a lot of things and throws into her face the “I would’ve waited for you,” I tell her. “And I was. I was waiting for you.” and step away like a whiny 5-year-old boy.
🚨 Briar was supposed to put her life on hold while Dorian licking his old wounds because his brother stole the previous girl to whom Dorian almost felt like loving her? fuck him! He said more than once that he had zero intentions of getting married or any sort of long-term commitment or even date her!
🚨 Turns out all the siblings Nicola, Dorian, Burke hate each other guts but we don't get any reasons why besides the inheritance and their dad's money.
🚨 All the characters names were horrible: Dorian, Burke, Nicola, Briar, Dashiell, Audrina, Augustine, Remy, Redmond.
Bottom line, the entire story was Briar acting like the first thing she said she wasn't. Pretending to be something they’re not for money. There was no chemistry between Dorian and Briar, there was no point to even bring Audrina to the picture... what a waste of my damn time.
🚨 Dorian doesn't want to get involved with anyone... yet. One crazy night he is head over heels with Briar and he makes her promise to WAIT FOR HIM for TWO YEARS! TWO DAMN YEARS! No communication, no nothing, just wait for him to finish the tour of the band he manages.
🚨 Briar is so stupid that she says sure why not and after the year she signs an NDA and $1 million dollars with her BOSS to pretend to be his fiancée in order to get his inheritance.
🚨 Turns out her boss, Burke, is Dorian's brother and here starts the drama of 'stole her from your brother' and Briar turns into a shit puddle because she wants the $1 million dollars but can't tell the truth to Dorian and she still wants him.
🚨 Dorian starts calling Briar a lot of things and throws into her face the “I would’ve waited for you,” I tell her. “And I was. I was waiting for you.” and step away like a whiny 5-year-old boy.
🚨 Briar was supposed to put her life on hold while Dorian licking his old wounds because his brother stole the previous girl to whom Dorian almost felt like loving her? fuck him! He said more than once that he had zero intentions of getting married or any sort of long-term commitment or even date her!
🚨 Turns out all the siblings Nicola, Dorian, Burke hate each other guts but we don't get any reasons why besides the inheritance and their dad's money.
🚨 All the characters names were horrible: Dorian, Burke, Nicola, Briar, Dashiell, Audrina, Augustine, Remy, Redmond.
Bottom line, the entire story was Briar acting like the first thing she said she wasn't. Pretending to be something they’re not for money. There was no chemistry between Dorian and Briar, there was no point to even bring Audrina to the picture... what a waste of my damn time.
March 1, 2024
WHAT A CONUNDRUM!
Briar and Dorian meet at at a destination engagement party and end up getting left by the party bus. Spending the entire night together talking, they forge a bond, completely changing their initial impressions of each other. Spending the next few days together changed the course of their lives. They planned to meet up in 2 years when Dorian would quit managing his band and stop traveling.
The shock of their lives is when they meet up a year later, Briar as the fiance of Dorian's brother! Briar is just doing it as a favor to her boss and he's paying her. Its just to make his sick father happy, or so she thinks. But the NDA she signs makes it impossible to explain anything to Dorian! What a conundrum!
These two have some painful interactions and my heart bled for them both. More issues are revealed which muddied the water even more! I couldn't figure out how they were ever going to resolve everything, but they did manage to do it! And I loved the Epilogue!
I listened to this book on Kindle Unlimited Listen and Read and enjoyed the narration!
Briar and Dorian meet at at a destination engagement party and end up getting left by the party bus. Spending the entire night together talking, they forge a bond, completely changing their initial impressions of each other. Spending the next few days together changed the course of their lives. They planned to meet up in 2 years when Dorian would quit managing his band and stop traveling.
The shock of their lives is when they meet up a year later, Briar as the fiance of Dorian's brother! Briar is just doing it as a favor to her boss and he's paying her. Its just to make his sick father happy, or so she thinks. But the NDA she signs makes it impossible to explain anything to Dorian! What a conundrum!
These two have some painful interactions and my heart bled for them both. More issues are revealed which muddied the water even more! I couldn't figure out how they were ever going to resolve everything, but they did manage to do it! And I loved the Epilogue!
I listened to this book on Kindle Unlimited Listen and Read and enjoyed the narration!
December 7, 2023
4.5 stars
This has been such a good read. Told from dual povs, we get to understand our two main characters well. Both Briar and Dorian are independent and opposed to marriage, but not love and romance. Their initial meeting, and the attraction they experience is a great combination of fun, banter and the clear meeting of soul mates. That Winter Renshaw then proceeds to tell the story by switching between two timelines, is testament to strong plotting and good storytelling. Their reunion is in very difficult circumstances and leads to misinterpretation and angst. Burke is a jerk! The fake relationship he finagles Briar into is a strong indicator of his poverty of character, though Briar's reasons make sense to me. Briar's dignity and caring heart ensured that she is a favourite character!! Nicola is pretty messed up and the situation on the family island, toxic. What a great reading combination!
This has been a fast-paced read, with plenty of incident and an interesting concluding chapter! Great stuff 💖💖💖💖💖
This has been such a good read. Told from dual povs, we get to understand our two main characters well. Both Briar and Dorian are independent and opposed to marriage, but not love and romance. Their initial meeting, and the attraction they experience is a great combination of fun, banter and the clear meeting of soul mates. That Winter Renshaw then proceeds to tell the story by switching between two timelines, is testament to strong plotting and good storytelling. Their reunion is in very difficult circumstances and leads to misinterpretation and angst. Burke is a jerk! The fake relationship he finagles Briar into is a strong indicator of his poverty of character, though Briar's reasons make sense to me. Briar's dignity and caring heart ensured that she is a favourite character!! Nicola is pretty messed up and the situation on the family island, toxic. What a great reading combination!
This has been a fast-paced read, with plenty of incident and an interesting concluding chapter! Great stuff 💖💖💖💖💖
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2024
I liked the premise of this book, it has a lot more to offer than your typical fake engagement troupe. I really wasn’t sure of the underlying motives of all of the characters so it was interesting to watch how it all played out.
April 6, 2025
SACK ME
It’s been 3 days and I forgot to write a review, I want to say something witty but maybe we should be alarmed that I’ve forgotten what this book was about 3 days later
It’s been 3 days and I forgot to write a review, I want to say something witty but maybe we should be alarmed that I’ve forgotten what this book was about 3 days later
September 16, 2023
What a great book! I love it!
It is about Briar and Dorian, who meet at a bachelor and bachelorette party which both of them don’t particularly enjoy, since it is basically a group of people getting drunk. They meet and start talking…
The next time I catch the bartender’s eye, I order two ice waters and slide one of them to Dorian. Tomorrow’s supposed to be a day at the resort’s private beach, but I have a feeling half of these people are going to be too hungover to enjoy it.
“You’re giving me a hard time about not having fun and now you’re ordering water?” he asks with a huff.
“It’s called pacing myself. Tomorrow’s beach day, and I love beaches more than anything in the world. I’ll be damned if I miss it.” Pointing to his water, I say, “Drink up.”
“Who said I was going to the beach?”
“You’re just going to sit in your room, feeling sorry for yourself? Thinking about the girl who broke your heart in the relatively near or distant past?”
He fights a smirk and rolls his eyes. “Do you always say the first thing that comes to your mind?”
“Pretty much.”
…and I really have to commend the author because the dialogue is amazing! It is funny, deep, entertaining and you can see yourself having this conversation with a great guy, too. The pace is perfect. I love that their relationship is not rushed. It’s not too rushed, not too slow, just perfect. The author took just enough time to see them blossom and build a beautiful thing together. You just see their bond develop!
But all of this is one year ago. The next chapter is the present time, and Briar is accompanying her boss Burke to a family holiday as his fake fiancé. Burke is paying her a lot of money to act as his fiancé to placate his father, who is ill. And he made her sign an ironclad confidentiality agreement. No problem, you think, just act the fiancé for eight weeks on a sunny island, collect the money and that’s it. Not exactly, since Burke’s brother turns out to be Dorian! You quickly notice that Briar and Dorian had something real and something special going on, so Dorian can’t understand why Briar is engaged to his brother, of all people. The Rothwell family dynamic is awful, and his brother is cold and distant. His sister is not much better. So how is it possible that the easygoing, fun loving Briar who didn’t ever wanted to get married and promised to wait for him is suddenly engaged to Burke?
Each chapter in the book highlights the heaviness of the situation, and the story is told with flashbacks; from one year ago until the present time. The chapters about them meeting one year ago show the beautiful, developing relationship between Dorian and Briar, their emotional connection, and then the next chapter in the present time shows the present time and all the tension, the questions and the lack of communication, where they used to talk about everything. This going back and forth is perfectly done because you understand more and more how special it is what Dorian and Briar had, and how incredibly undoable it is for them to be torn apart by the current situation. The frustration and heartbreak is evident and you just can’t put the book down because you have to know what happens next.
The one thing I majorly dislike, is that Dorian and Audrina have been dating for several years before… I won’t spoil that. But despite that, the book is really great and I can definitely recommend it to everyone. The conclusion is perfect, not cheesy, but the only way they can have their happily ever after: they get together again and don’t need many words because they are O.K., they’re each other’s person. I loved it!
Go read this book! You won’t be able to stop until you finished it.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher, Montlake, for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
It is about Briar and Dorian, who meet at a bachelor and bachelorette party which both of them don’t particularly enjoy, since it is basically a group of people getting drunk. They meet and start talking…
The next time I catch the bartender’s eye, I order two ice waters and slide one of them to Dorian. Tomorrow’s supposed to be a day at the resort’s private beach, but I have a feeling half of these people are going to be too hungover to enjoy it.
“You’re giving me a hard time about not having fun and now you’re ordering water?” he asks with a huff.
“It’s called pacing myself. Tomorrow’s beach day, and I love beaches more than anything in the world. I’ll be damned if I miss it.” Pointing to his water, I say, “Drink up.”
“Who said I was going to the beach?”
“You’re just going to sit in your room, feeling sorry for yourself? Thinking about the girl who broke your heart in the relatively near or distant past?”
He fights a smirk and rolls his eyes. “Do you always say the first thing that comes to your mind?”
“Pretty much.”
…and I really have to commend the author because the dialogue is amazing! It is funny, deep, entertaining and you can see yourself having this conversation with a great guy, too. The pace is perfect. I love that their relationship is not rushed. It’s not too rushed, not too slow, just perfect. The author took just enough time to see them blossom and build a beautiful thing together. You just see their bond develop!
But all of this is one year ago. The next chapter is the present time, and Briar is accompanying her boss Burke to a family holiday as his fake fiancé. Burke is paying her a lot of money to act as his fiancé to placate his father, who is ill. And he made her sign an ironclad confidentiality agreement. No problem, you think, just act the fiancé for eight weeks on a sunny island, collect the money and that’s it. Not exactly, since Burke’s brother turns out to be Dorian! You quickly notice that Briar and Dorian had something real and something special going on, so Dorian can’t understand why Briar is engaged to his brother, of all people. The Rothwell family dynamic is awful, and his brother is cold and distant. His sister is not much better. So how is it possible that the easygoing, fun loving Briar who didn’t ever wanted to get married and promised to wait for him is suddenly engaged to Burke?
Each chapter in the book highlights the heaviness of the situation, and the story is told with flashbacks; from one year ago until the present time. The chapters about them meeting one year ago show the beautiful, developing relationship between Dorian and Briar, their emotional connection, and then the next chapter in the present time shows the present time and all the tension, the questions and the lack of communication, where they used to talk about everything. This going back and forth is perfectly done because you understand more and more how special it is what Dorian and Briar had, and how incredibly undoable it is for them to be torn apart by the current situation. The frustration and heartbreak is evident and you just can’t put the book down because you have to know what happens next.
The one thing I majorly dislike, is that Dorian and Audrina have been dating for several years before… I won’t spoil that. But despite that, the book is really great and I can definitely recommend it to everyone. The conclusion is perfect, not cheesy, but the only way they can have their happily ever after: they get together again and don’t need many words because they are O.K., they’re each other’s person. I loved it!
Go read this book! You won’t be able to stop until you finished it.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher, Montlake, for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
dnf
November 13, 2023DNF at 60%
September 15, 2023
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 3 Stars
This book left me feeling emotionally whiplashed. What on earth? I'm not even sure if I liked it at this point.
The premise was initially quite enjoyable, but the drawn-out NDA situation became tiresome. Briar's passivity in the face of mistreatment really bothered me, as I would have stood my ground with that family. Moreover, if Nicola hadn't overheard the conversation between her and Burke, she might not have said anything to Dorian. That's messed up! If he truly is the love of your life, why not just be honest with him? Who cares about the NDA?
I also had mixed feelings about the relationships between the brothers and sisters. They were likable at times, but downright awful at others. They gave me emotional whiplash too.
I believe this book suffered from being both too short and too long simultaneously. It was too short to fully delve into and develop the family dynamics, so everything remained somewhat surface-level. On the other hand, the book felt too long because the conflict dragged on for far too long. This left me unsatisfied with the love story. I was hoping for more tender moments, and I didn't get them. (crying emoji)"
This book left me feeling emotionally whiplashed. What on earth? I'm not even sure if I liked it at this point.
The premise was initially quite enjoyable, but the drawn-out NDA situation became tiresome. Briar's passivity in the face of mistreatment really bothered me, as I would have stood my ground with that family. Moreover, if Nicola hadn't overheard the conversation between her and Burke, she might not have said anything to Dorian. That's messed up! If he truly is the love of your life, why not just be honest with him? Who cares about the NDA?
I also had mixed feelings about the relationships between the brothers and sisters. They were likable at times, but downright awful at others. They gave me emotional whiplash too.
I believe this book suffered from being both too short and too long simultaneously. It was too short to fully delve into and develop the family dynamics, so everything remained somewhat surface-level. On the other hand, the book felt too long because the conflict dragged on for far too long. This left me unsatisfied with the love story. I was hoping for more tender moments, and I didn't get them. (crying emoji)"
September 8, 2024
This was cheesy. Repetitive, irrational, and underdeveloped in lots of places. It was, however, also fun and funny, engaging and easy. Fake-ish delivers exactly what it promises: an average but fun, simple love story that includes a twist on the traditional fake relationship, an improbable reason why the protagonists can’t be together or communicate effectively, and a positive and expected ending. The main female protagonist does come off as pick-me, despite meta efforts to be otherwise, and the main male protagonist does only like her because she’s not like other girls. Also, the chemistry is fine, if not exactly what you might expect with a Hinge date that you expected to be terrible but ended up being okay enough that you go on three more dates before deciding the person is, in fact, boring. Dorian and Briar seem to have never spoken to other people before, hence why they fall in love with each other after having one (1) full conversation. Whatever. This isn’t supposed to win a Pulitzer.
Read
November 3, 2025DNF at 8%
Ummmm… What happened to feminism? Why are we - as women - giving men new terms to use against us? When I read the phrase “pick-me girl,” followed by the subsequent description, I was saddened.
However, when the FMC went on to be the very thing she had described, I laughed out loud at the hypocrisy. What is worse than a supposed “pick-me girl” pretending to be something they’re not for love? Someone pretending to be something they’re not for money.
Ummmm… What happened to feminism? Why are we - as women - giving men new terms to use against us? When I read the phrase “pick-me girl,” followed by the subsequent description, I was saddened.
However, when the FMC went on to be the very thing she had described, I laughed out loud at the hypocrisy. What is worse than a supposed “pick-me girl” pretending to be something they’re not for love? Someone pretending to be something they’re not for money.
September 28, 2023
This one did not click for me in any way shape or form.
I couldn’t connect with the writing, with the characters with anything 😫
Thank you Netgalley for kindly giving me an arc 🫶🏻
I couldn’t connect with the writing, with the characters with anything 😫
Thank you Netgalley for kindly giving me an arc 🫶🏻
December 15, 2023
No connection between the two of them in my opinion
September 20, 2023
Wow - Dorian & Briar’s Angsty Slow Burn Comes Thru In The End! Their Story Is Complex. It Is Initially Hard To See What Direction Things Will Go, Thanks To An NDA Silencing Briar. She Is Painted As A Liar, & There Is Nothing Dorian Hates More Than Liars.
Briar, about twenty-nine, loves life in Manhattan. After finishing college in the Midwest, she left her hometown in Prairie Grove, Nebraska behind and never looked back. She loves adventure and dreams of traveling one day. She never wants to get married; it just doesn't appeal to her. She hasn't had much luck in the love department, as evidenced by her most recent breakup. Bad things tend to come in threes - and she lost her job, her boyfriend, and her best friend all in one miserable week.
Her cousin Vivi's joint bachelor/bachelorette party in the Dominican might be a little overkill, but as a member of the wedding party, Briar has no choice but to attend. Bar hopping and drinking to oblivion isn't her cup of tea. Fortunately, Briar's favorite thing ever is a day at the beach, so she plans on making the most of those three days.
Dorian, thirty, loves his job. He is the manager of Phantom Symphony, a band that skyrocketed to fame about a year ago. Life on the road with the band is demanding, but he wouldn't give it up for anything. That makes it impossible to hold down a relationship, as evidenced by the breakup with his girlfriend a few years ago. They had been together a few years before she gave up on him; it didn't take her long to move on, though. Dorian hates living in the past, so he is fine with how it turned out. He can easily throw himself into his career since he has no intention of ever getting married.
Dorian detests wasting time, liars, and weddings. Not surprisingly, he isn't thrilled about leaving the band behind to fend for themselves when he needs to make an appearance at his college roommate's bachelor/bachelorette event in the DR. It is the least he can do since he has no intention of attending the wedding. Benson's fiancée Vivi isn't Dorian's biggest fan since all her attempts to match him with her friends never worked out - and some of those women are even in attendance.
As the party bus makes its first stop of the night, a sexy stranger takes a seat at the bar next to Briar. Dorian immediately attracts her interest, but she has no expectations. She is nursing a broken heart, and he doesn't seem available. While everyone else is dancing the night away, she and Dorian sit on the sidelines talking about everything under the sun. Their connection is unlike anything she has felt before, but they both know it isn't going anywhere. At the end of three days in paradise together, they stick to their convictions and agree to walk away, returning to their separate lives.
One year passes ...
Burke Rothwell runs his international investment firm with an iron fist. He is intimidating and moody, and he just asks Briar to be his fake fiancée. She was hired to work in his marketing department a couple of months ago, never imagining what it would lead to. The idea of spending eight weeks with Burke has zero appeal, but the payday is something she cannot refuse. In exchange for helping him to convince his father that he is happy, she will walk away with a cool million dollars. The eight weeks on the family's sixty-five-acre private island off the coast of North Dune, Massachusetts doesn't sound too bad, either. She looks forward to spending lots of time at the beach.
Briar never suspects that her past and present are about to collide, but that seemingly innocent non-disclosure agreement she signed for Burke soon makes her out to be a liar. There are secrets and misunderstandings along the way, but the couple eventually finds their happy ending.
Wow! Dorian and Briar's story is complex. Both are independent-minded and enjoy their alone time. They've each suffered some heartache, although Briar's is more recent. Neither wants to get married, yet they are both open to love. The story revolves around the Rothwell family, which is full of drama and things left unsaid. The quarrels and positioning make it impossible for an outsider to interpret what is really happening, and none come out looking good in the end. It lends an angsty vibe to this romance. While there is a happy ending, note that it is slightly unconventional. I would love to see a bonus epilogue even further in the future to see how things turn out for this couple.
Dorian and Briar's slow burn comes through in the end. It is initially hard to see what direction things will go, thanks to the NDA effectively silencing Briar. She is painted as a liar, and there is nothing Dorian hates more than liars. The dynamics in the Rothwell family feel realistic. I had thought Nicola's flair for drama meant she might be happier than she let on, though. It was sad to see how it all devolved. The story is well-written. It is complex and layered. The characters are three-dimensional. The story is written in first person. The POV alternates between Dorian and Briar. I rate this book 4.5 stars.
I received an advance copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Briar, about twenty-nine, loves life in Manhattan. After finishing college in the Midwest, she left her hometown in Prairie Grove, Nebraska behind and never looked back. She loves adventure and dreams of traveling one day. She never wants to get married; it just doesn't appeal to her. She hasn't had much luck in the love department, as evidenced by her most recent breakup. Bad things tend to come in threes - and she lost her job, her boyfriend, and her best friend all in one miserable week.
Her cousin Vivi's joint bachelor/bachelorette party in the Dominican might be a little overkill, but as a member of the wedding party, Briar has no choice but to attend. Bar hopping and drinking to oblivion isn't her cup of tea. Fortunately, Briar's favorite thing ever is a day at the beach, so she plans on making the most of those three days.
Dorian, thirty, loves his job. He is the manager of Phantom Symphony, a band that skyrocketed to fame about a year ago. Life on the road with the band is demanding, but he wouldn't give it up for anything. That makes it impossible to hold down a relationship, as evidenced by the breakup with his girlfriend a few years ago. They had been together a few years before she gave up on him; it didn't take her long to move on, though. Dorian hates living in the past, so he is fine with how it turned out. He can easily throw himself into his career since he has no intention of ever getting married.
Dorian detests wasting time, liars, and weddings. Not surprisingly, he isn't thrilled about leaving the band behind to fend for themselves when he needs to make an appearance at his college roommate's bachelor/bachelorette event in the DR. It is the least he can do since he has no intention of attending the wedding. Benson's fiancée Vivi isn't Dorian's biggest fan since all her attempts to match him with her friends never worked out - and some of those women are even in attendance.
As the party bus makes its first stop of the night, a sexy stranger takes a seat at the bar next to Briar. Dorian immediately attracts her interest, but she has no expectations. She is nursing a broken heart, and he doesn't seem available. While everyone else is dancing the night away, she and Dorian sit on the sidelines talking about everything under the sun. Their connection is unlike anything she has felt before, but they both know it isn't going anywhere. At the end of three days in paradise together, they stick to their convictions and agree to walk away, returning to their separate lives.
One year passes ...
Burke Rothwell runs his international investment firm with an iron fist. He is intimidating and moody, and he just asks Briar to be his fake fiancée. She was hired to work in his marketing department a couple of months ago, never imagining what it would lead to. The idea of spending eight weeks with Burke has zero appeal, but the payday is something she cannot refuse. In exchange for helping him to convince his father that he is happy, she will walk away with a cool million dollars. The eight weeks on the family's sixty-five-acre private island off the coast of North Dune, Massachusetts doesn't sound too bad, either. She looks forward to spending lots of time at the beach.
Briar never suspects that her past and present are about to collide, but that seemingly innocent non-disclosure agreement she signed for Burke soon makes her out to be a liar. There are secrets and misunderstandings along the way, but the couple eventually finds their happy ending.
Wow! Dorian and Briar's story is complex. Both are independent-minded and enjoy their alone time. They've each suffered some heartache, although Briar's is more recent. Neither wants to get married, yet they are both open to love. The story revolves around the Rothwell family, which is full of drama and things left unsaid. The quarrels and positioning make it impossible for an outsider to interpret what is really happening, and none come out looking good in the end. It lends an angsty vibe to this romance. While there is a happy ending, note that it is slightly unconventional. I would love to see a bonus epilogue even further in the future to see how things turn out for this couple.
Dorian and Briar's slow burn comes through in the end. It is initially hard to see what direction things will go, thanks to the NDA effectively silencing Briar. She is painted as a liar, and there is nothing Dorian hates more than liars. The dynamics in the Rothwell family feel realistic. I had thought Nicola's flair for drama meant she might be happier than she let on, though. It was sad to see how it all devolved. The story is well-written. It is complex and layered. The characters are three-dimensional. The story is written in first person. The POV alternates between Dorian and Briar. I rate this book 4.5 stars.
I received an advance copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 22, 2024
Check out our full post for FAKE-ISH on Wicked Reads.
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Mary – ☆☆☆☆☆
4.5 stars
Briar and Dorian meet at a mutual friend's wedding and hit it off. They were left at several bars during the bar crawl, so they went alone. The more time they spent alone, the more they had in common. They didn't want to say goodbye in the end and didn't want to have a long-distance relationship, so they decided to wait two years and start a relationship.
It is now a year later, and Briar is pretending to be in love with a man, who turns out to be Dorian's brother, and it feels like she is betraying Dorian. She can't explain why she is with his brother so he would understand, and Dorian doesn't seem to care.
This story started out fun and flirty. But turns into a drama filled with pain, family, and greed. Will Briar and Dorian make their way back to each other or is the damage too far gone? This author has a way of making me laugh and cry at almost the same time. She can pull you into a story from the very first page and you are glued until the end. I loved Briar and Dorian and I hope you do too.
Ruthie – ☆☆☆
3.5 stars of fake...ish
I really enjoyed the start of the book – still confused how Briar could afford to attend her cousin's event, when later she was clearly not well off, but still, it was a fun adventure in the Caribbean to start the story. The 'wait two years' thing is strangely liberating I think, and I had no problem with the fake engagement as it filled a gap, however, the way Burke treated her would have made me break the deal!
The island holiday set up was clever, and I found the dynamics engaging but in a harsh, thank goodness that is not my life way – definitely a clear nod to money not being a true source of happiness! It made it difficult to care about them, when it was far more to do with getting an inheritance, and not family time.
I was glad that the book resolved a number of issues in a believable way, with siblings staying in character, but it was slightly depressing to have to acknowledge such flawed selfish people do exist! Briar was consistently the naive one in the story, and thankfully she did end up with the right, loving outcome, but it was a mind-bending journey!
Avid Reader – ☆☆☆
M/F Romance
This is a second chance story, but I'm not 100% that I would consider this a romance. It's more of a second chance friendship – maybe in another book, turned romance.
The actual story here is a little farfetched and not something that I would normally read. The couple meets and then they don't see each other for several years. By that time, she, (Briar) has signed an NDA with Dorian's brother, Burke – who is a seemingly greedy guy, in my opinion. Burke won't let her out of the contract, so in order to get the money Burke promised, Briar has to stay quiet, despite knowing that it's effectively ending any chance she might have had with Dorian.
Overall, this was a somewhat convoluted story with more young adult dialogue and feelings than what I would have expected.
Reviewers received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
November 25, 2023
This love story swept me off my feet and left me craving more!
Fake-ish follows the story of Dorian and Briar. Briar might be anti-marriage but hasn't given up on the idea of love. When she meets Dorian, their connection is instant, but the timing couldn't be more wrong. So, they make a pact to reconnect in two years. But, fate had other things in mind for these two. Briar starts a new job that pays well, and all she has to do is pretend to be her boss's fiance. Sounds easy enough. That is until Briar discovers that Dorian is her boss's brother...
Fake-ish pulled me in from the first page. I loved the connection between Dorian and Briar. You could tell they would be each other's game changer if only timing had been on their side. I loved the curveballs that life threw at them and enjoyed the glimpses of their past and seeing just how deep their connection went. The road to happily ever after for these two certainly wasn't an easy one, but I loved watching them fight for what they wanted.
Overall, I found this book to be an enjoyable read. I easily devoured it in just a few short hours and loved getting swept up in Dorian and Briar's story.
*I was provided an ARC copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review*
Fake-ish follows the story of Dorian and Briar. Briar might be anti-marriage but hasn't given up on the idea of love. When she meets Dorian, their connection is instant, but the timing couldn't be more wrong. So, they make a pact to reconnect in two years. But, fate had other things in mind for these two. Briar starts a new job that pays well, and all she has to do is pretend to be her boss's fiance. Sounds easy enough. That is until Briar discovers that Dorian is her boss's brother...
Fake-ish pulled me in from the first page. I loved the connection between Dorian and Briar. You could tell they would be each other's game changer if only timing had been on their side. I loved the curveballs that life threw at them and enjoyed the glimpses of their past and seeing just how deep their connection went. The road to happily ever after for these two certainly wasn't an easy one, but I loved watching them fight for what they wanted.
Overall, I found this book to be an enjoyable read. I easily devoured it in just a few short hours and loved getting swept up in Dorian and Briar's story.
*I was provided an ARC copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review*
December 9, 2023
Angst? 5/5
Actual romance? Eeek like 2.5/5, reads like my total guilty pleasure bc I love it but feels a little awkward and forced and contrite when reading it. It bookended the book so wasn't much but it made for a kind of rough beginning and a cheesy ending.
Writing 3/5. This book was written in past/present and that was good and bad. Bad because it wasn't as effective as other books. There was nothing hiding the past, just their sweet meet cute of what they're holding onto today. But for that same reason, it was Good because I actually enjoyed it this time, the past felt more like a treat rather than a detractor or something that was anxiety inducing. The climax also felt a little dropped. Like all the right things happened in the right order but then the actual execution of it just fell a little flat.
Side characters 3/5 I feel like they lacked a bit of dimension. Or characters that you thought could be deeper ended up being flat in the end.
Overall I really enjoyed this book, I read it all practically in one sitting. I loved the premise of the book. I loved that I never doubted their feelings for one another. I think this will end up being a 3.7-4.0 read but it won't be one you end up disappointed that you decided to sit down with.
Actual romance? Eeek like 2.5/5, reads like my total guilty pleasure bc I love it but feels a little awkward and forced and contrite when reading it. It bookended the book so wasn't much but it made for a kind of rough beginning and a cheesy ending.
Writing 3/5. This book was written in past/present and that was good and bad. Bad because it wasn't as effective as other books. There was nothing hiding the past, just their sweet meet cute of what they're holding onto today. But for that same reason, it was Good because I actually enjoyed it this time, the past felt more like a treat rather than a detractor or something that was anxiety inducing. The climax also felt a little dropped. Like all the right things happened in the right order but then the actual execution of it just fell a little flat.
Side characters 3/5 I feel like they lacked a bit of dimension. Or characters that you thought could be deeper ended up being flat in the end.
Overall I really enjoyed this book, I read it all practically in one sitting. I loved the premise of the book. I loved that I never doubted their feelings for one another. I think this will end up being a 3.7-4.0 read but it won't be one you end up disappointed that you decided to sit down with.
December 11, 2023
2⭐️s
Great premise, terrible execution. It starts off pretty well with a slightly different fake dating set-up… and I liked the “then and now” organization of the chapters so that not everything is revealed at once… I was hooked… but then it feels like half way, Renshaw thinks, “screw this, I’m just going to find a way to end it quickly”. The chain of events a week into this holiday from hell was just lazy writing. Briar may have signed an NDA with the asshole brother (Burke), but she could have told him the truth about her and Dorian. And there is no resolution to the siblings damaged relationship. Finally, as dislikable as Burke was, I thought how his storyline ended was ridiculous. BTW, in case you’re wondering, open door but not too much steam.
It’s frustrating b/c this could have been good.
Great premise, terrible execution. It starts off pretty well with a slightly different fake dating set-up… and I liked the “then and now” organization of the chapters so that not everything is revealed at once… I was hooked… but then it feels like half way, Renshaw thinks, “screw this, I’m just going to find a way to end it quickly”. The chain of events a week into this holiday from hell was just lazy writing. Briar may have signed an NDA with the asshole brother (Burke), but she could have told him the truth about her and Dorian. And there is no resolution to the siblings damaged relationship. Finally, as dislikable as Burke was, I thought how his storyline ended was ridiculous. BTW, in case you’re wondering, open door but not too much steam.
It’s frustrating b/c this could have been good.
November 27, 2023
The premise of this book intrigued me. Once I started reading, I couldn't stop. I was curious to see how this story would play out, especially when I found out that Briar couldn't tell Dorian that her relationship with his brother was fake. At the beginning of the story, I thought that at some point Dorian's brother and sister would have some redeeming qualities and grow on me, but they didn't. I was surprised by how much I disliked them by the end of the book. Overall, this is a sexy, swoony, entertaining and fun second chance romance with a little bit of angst that I throughly enjoyed. I loved the little twist with the inheritance and Briar and Dorian's happily ever after.
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