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Just for Him #3
The Fake Boyfriend Fiasco
He’s in love. She’s faking it. Footballing legend Nik Christou leads a charmed life. Rich, successful, and internationally adored, no woman (or man) has ever rejected him—until a tattooed goddess blows his mind and captures his heart with just one kiss. Distrustful of men and disdainful of love, Aria Granger’s tongue is as sharp as her winged eyeliner. She knows from experience that Nik, like any smoking-hot himbo with bags of cash, is too good to be true—so she’s determined to send this walking temptation packing. Fortunately, Nik’s devised the perfect strategy to win his woman… What could possibly go wrong?
The Fake Boyfriend Fiasco was previously titled Sweet on the Greek. This edition has been somewhat edited, but never it still features a chaotic hero who falls first (and hard ), a grumpy, tattooed heroine, and a team of underworked, overpaid, and incredibly nosy sports stars.
The Fake Boyfriend Fiasco was previously titled Sweet on the Greek. This edition has been somewhat edited, but never it still features a chaotic hero who falls first (and hard ), a grumpy, tattooed heroine, and a team of underworked, overpaid, and incredibly nosy sports stars.
216 pages, Paperback
First published July 20, 2018
702 people are currently reading
5933 people want to read
About the author
Talia Hibbert
30 books34.3k followersTalia Hibbert is a New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author whose books are available in 15 languages.
Best known for her Brown Sisters series, Talia writes spicy, inclusive romance novels starring complicated characters who make readers feel seen. Talia's debut romantasy will hit shelves in Summer 2026.
A typically cantankerous Brit, Talia's hobbies include chugging cups of tea, eating too many biscuits, and complaining bitterly about the weather.
Best known for her Brown Sisters series, Talia writes spicy, inclusive romance novels starring complicated characters who make readers feel seen. Talia's debut romantasy will hit shelves in Summer 2026.
A typically cantankerous Brit, Talia's hobbies include chugging cups of tea, eating too many biscuits, and complaining bitterly about the weather.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 813 reviews
July 18, 2024
talia hibbert forever!
this was a short book that was mostly about two things:
- overcoming hyper-specific and very disturbing trauma
- smut.
these are two things that i don't love in my romances in general, and especially in combination due to the breakneck tone shifts switching back and forth between them entails, but i enjoy everything by talia hibbert and it was nice to read about these two nice people being nice to each other.
in the moments that weren't, you know. the stuff that makes me upset and the stuff that makes me blush like a proper old woman.
i'm sorry. i wish i was cool.
bottom line: not my favorite talia hibbert, but still by talia hibbert.
(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
this was a short book that was mostly about two things:
- overcoming hyper-specific and very disturbing trauma
- smut.
these are two things that i don't love in my romances in general, and especially in combination due to the breakneck tone shifts switching back and forth between them entails, but i enjoy everything by talia hibbert and it was nice to read about these two nice people being nice to each other.
in the moments that weren't, you know. the stuff that makes me upset and the stuff that makes me blush like a proper old woman.
i'm sorry. i wish i was cool.
bottom line: not my favorite talia hibbert, but still by talia hibbert.
(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
July 24, 2018
This book has:
- a box full of sex toys
- constant banter
- illicit tattoos done in a friend's kitchen
- an epilogue that takes place decades into the future (my new favourite thing)
This book does not have:
- any chill whatsoever
- a box full of sex toys
- constant banter
- illicit tattoos done in a friend's kitchen
- an epilogue that takes place decades into the future (my new favourite thing)
This book does not have:
- any chill whatsoever
September 8, 2019
3 Stars
Hmm. I’m finding this a tricky one to rate/review. A pros and cons list might be the way to go!
Pros:
- a diverse cast of characters and a focus on an interracial relationship.
- a bisexual male protagonist (I think my first outside of M/M romance) with a heart of gold.
- a sex-positive heroine with balls of steel and a badass attitude.
- a fake-relationship trope.
- brief but appreciated appearances of series regulars (including Olu/Keynes, Jennifer and Theo).
- a HEA delivered in a smile-inducing epilogue, set decades in the future.
- the story is excellently written, as all of Hibbert’s books tend to be.
Cons:
- a set-up that felt slightly awkward in its execution.
- (for me personally) there was a lack of chemistry between the leads, which left me disengaged and kind of uncaring towards the characters.
- a cast of secondary characters I cared nothing about (Nik’s friends; not Aria’s!!).
- a male protagonist who had seemingly slept with everyone in his life, from his best friend, to his teammates, to his friend’s girlfriends, and everyone in-between — seriously, the breadth of his sexual history was a huge turn off.
- a conflict that didn’t make much sense to me, resulting in my feeling like the heroine wascrapping on overreacting unnecessarily.
Yep, it’s clear I have lots of mixed feeling toward this one. I didn’t hate it, but it certainly proved to be my most unlikeable Talia Hibbert read to date — it makes me feel a bit like a failure/traitor for even reacting in such a way, but what can ya do!?
At least now I’m good to go with Hibbert’s M/M spin-off story, Work for It, starring series regular Olu/Keynes. I’m here for it!
Hmm. I’m finding this a tricky one to rate/review. A pros and cons list might be the way to go!
Pros:
- a diverse cast of characters and a focus on an interracial relationship.
- a bisexual male protagonist (I think my first outside of M/M romance) with a heart of gold.
- a sex-positive heroine with balls of steel and a badass attitude.
- a fake-relationship trope.
- brief but appreciated appearances of series regulars (including Olu/Keynes, Jennifer and Theo).
- a HEA delivered in a smile-inducing epilogue, set decades in the future.
- the story is excellently written, as all of Hibbert’s books tend to be.
Cons:
- a set-up that felt slightly awkward in its execution.
- (for me personally) there was a lack of chemistry between the leads, which left me disengaged and kind of uncaring towards the characters.
- a cast of secondary characters I cared nothing about (Nik’s friends; not Aria’s!!).
- a male protagonist who had seemingly slept with everyone in his life, from his best friend, to his teammates, to his friend’s girlfriends, and everyone in-between — seriously, the breadth of his sexual history was a huge turn off.
- a conflict that didn’t make much sense to me, resulting in my feeling like the heroine was
Yep, it’s clear I have lots of mixed feeling toward this one. I didn’t hate it, but it certainly proved to be my most unlikeable Talia Hibbert read to date — it makes me feel a bit like a failure/traitor for even reacting in such a way, but what can ya do!?
At least now I’m good to go with Hibbert’s M/M spin-off story, Work for It, starring series regular Olu/Keynes. I’m here for it!
Read
July 24, 2018Pure joy. I read this in a single sitting, blissfully. Aria is brilliant, a heroine with twofold intimacy problems but who knows herself. She's determined, practical, and absolutely hilarious--this is one of the funniest books I've read in ages and her death glares are a thing of beauty. Nik is also a delight--amiable, none too bright, looks like the typical romance alpha male but is in fact a puppydog of epic proportions.
He is also cheerfully and positively bi! And the football WAGs he hangs out with are mostly thoroughly nice people! And the world is diverse and Aria is a big woman and much lovely variety of human nature is here because this author actually writes inclusion and HEAs for everyone, which is rarer than you might think in a genre that's supposed to offer love and hope but all too often has "for conventionally attractive white people" in the small print.
A marvellous read, highly recommended, and glom the entire backlist while you're at it.
He is also cheerfully and positively bi! And the football WAGs he hangs out with are mostly thoroughly nice people! And the world is diverse and Aria is a big woman and much lovely variety of human nature is here because this author actually writes inclusion and HEAs for everyone, which is rarer than you might think in a genre that's supposed to offer love and hope but all too often has "for conventionally attractive white people" in the small print.
A marvellous read, highly recommended, and glom the entire backlist while you're at it.
July 29, 2021
❝Every time I try to think about the future, I freeze. I can’t see anything.❞ Except you. I see you like a light in the dark.
Another lovely Talia Hibbert book!! The epilogue was so cute 🥺💓
____________________
ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ꜰᴏʀ ʜɪᴍ1.) Bad for the Boss — 3.8 stars
2.) Undone by the Ex-Con — 4.3 stars
3.) Sweet on the Greek — 4 stars
July 28, 2018
Review to follow when I have shed the treacle.
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Lots of spoilers ahead!
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I often rate and wait, because it tends to show me which authors have "street teams" or "fan girls". Hibbert appears to have one or both, as they descended on this book like worker bees doing their best to repair the "harm" done by an honest (aka not premeditated positive) rating or review. As this rarely is noticed by time-pressed readers who check ratings before buying, it needs to be clearly stated. If within 24 hours of a negative review/rating twelve (!) 4 and 5 star ratings "happen", and only one single other normal looking review, on a book which at this time has only 83 ratings all put together, then I tend to believe appearances. It's a common enough pattern with authors placing a lot of import on marketing and business practice. Others name this pattern for what it is: shilling. Look at it and form your own verdict, but be aware of it.
With that we come to the story itself.
Okay, this book came with solid recommendations as a sex-positive, interracial romance from two people whose verdicts I tend to value highly, which is why I read it. Now, after the deed, I wonder whether we actually read the same book - or what else may have happened.
Let's start with saying that by now, after the umpteenth romance featuring either clinical depression, or PTSD due rape, or shell-shock or some other form of mental illness of that type, I am absolutely tired of reading of it as the cause for romantic complications or problems. For one thing, but very rarely are these illnesses depicted realistically, for another, I loathe when magic genitals then cure them, and lastly, the way they usually get written is utterly boring. This book was no different in this aspect than any other abusing mental illness to facilitate tropes.
What happened to people just falling in love? Without issues?
Next, I remember having a quite heated discussion with one of the people recommending this WIP about the use of words like "caramel", "chocolate" or "olive" for skin tone. As a writer, though Caucasian myself, I argued that of course such comparisons invoke a taste and along with that an emotion and that this is something I want to do, especially in an erotic context. Now call me bowled over when I now find a PoC writer using these expressions several times and said reviewer doesn't complain. Either it is okay for a PoC writer to do so, and not for a Caucasian writer, which would be utter hypocrisy, or I made a point? Heh. I don't know which, but I am amused. I still do not mind the use of edible comparisons for skin tone.
Unfortunately that was about the last moment I was amused with this book. Next I learned that not just the FMC is suffering from PTSD and is clinically depressed to boot, the MMC is also clinically depressed. A fine twosome! Good grief, how dreary.
From there on Eros entered the picture and things went sharply downhill. I don't know why people think this book and this style of writing is in any way, shape or form erotic...
Let me state that something which is skeevy when you apply it to a penis, is exactly as skeevy when you do it with a clitoris. I'm an equal opportunities girl, meaning that what is good for the gander is always also good for the goose!
At that point, her brain powered down completely to accommodate for all the extra blood her other body parts were demanding. And by ‘other body parts’ she meant her clit, which might as well be a bloody landmine. One touch and she’d explode.I already find this offensive when written about a guy, because while erections take place unvoluntarily, they - as a rule - do not mean your brain is out of the equation. The very idea reduces men - when applied to penes - to brutes, and it isn't in the slightest more of a compliment when applied to women. On the contrary! It reduces people to their genitals and objectifies them, and unfortunately this isn't the last time this book does just that.
The heroine, Aria, ogles the hero (Nic), drools over him, objectifies him at every turn, in short she behaves towards him exactly the way that feminists have been fighting against men behaving towards women. I say it again, just because it is a woman doing this to a man instead of the other way around, doesn't mean it is acceptable, amusing or sex-positive behaviour. On the contrary, this is as close to rape culture as a twin. Or as fellow writer Eric Plume put it:
"In all seriousness though, I do wish more writers would realize that "sex positive" does not equate out to "would fuck anything that will hold still long enough". For a variety of reasons that is not sex positivity, that's just letting society's conventions about sex define one's choices, just in a different way."
He nails one of my main problems with the entire book. It reads like straight, skeevy gender-inversion: everything which especially feminist women loathe in patriarchal men is what the heroine of this book does to the male hero and is how she herself behaves. The farther I read the more I came to loathe Aria, whose behaviour was getting more unacceptable by the chapter.
This wasn't helped by the fact that practically all of the sex, including the sex toy scenes, read like porn I watched in the past. There was no passion, no emotion and above all no love or falling in love involved, it all was pure lust. As such - so sorry - it leaves me disinterested. Two rutting animals? And rutting to scripts I know from porn movies? I didn't experience even a flicker of emotion digging through an endless amount of coarse, vulgar, mechanic sex scenes.
And, oh, the assumptions of the author: that women as a rule are excited by or love potty-mouthed MCs for instance. I sure as hell don't enjoy vulgar language, it is not a taboo, it is just the sign of lacking education. By the way, the heroine is written as actually being proud of her lack of education. That was a new one for me! My respect for Aria was non-existant at that point, especially as the author did her very best to paint Nic also being an idiot with an IQ of less than room temperature. Neither of them subverted this by behaving intelligently later, either.
Or the assumption that women in general like being eaten out, always come like a train from being eaten out, or love deep throating men. Hello? Roughly half of all women prefer vaginal orgasms to clitoral ones, at least a third dislike oral sex and the absolute majority of women do not consider BJs per se something which turns them on. Most try their damndest to avoid having to give them and no woman has a clit in her throat either. Now think hard how erotic sex scenes are which mostly consist of such stuff...
What stayed with me in the end was the fact that this book had lots and lots of sex directly written down from porn flicks, and a couple which never felt like falling in love. They both were just horny and acted upon their lust without the slightest attempt at sophistication, emotion or aestheticism. It was as erotic as watching two snails fornicate.
So where is the bloody romance?
Ha!
Yes, for good measure Hibbert threw in a few typical romance tropes after roughly 80% of the book. E.g. the Big Misunderstanding, which was completely contrived (I mean, how stupid is Aria? She asked for that job!). Next came something which I really hate: Aria and Jen decide that Nic will have to grovel. What for? For Aria's utter stupidity? For the fact that she prostituted* herself? And last but not least the HEA of a marriage with children lasting already 25 years in a soppy epilogue so sweet it gave me caries. None of this convinced me Aria and Nic fell in love in the course of the book.
* I wished authors would realise that every time their characters exchange sexual behaviour against money or favours these characters prostitute themselves and turn the other into a punter or a pimp. For more than 300,000 £? That's prostitution all right, don't kid yourself! Which adds a particular level of ickiness to this book, as no one even seems to reflect on that fact. And prostitution, so sorry, is for this reader the opposite of sex-positivity.
Then, I personally do not like tattoos. But to each their own. However, describing the hero getting "a stick-and-poke" without any input and under decidedly negative circumstances (the alcohol level in his blood alone should have meant abstaining) just convinces me he is too stupid for his own good. Which makes him less of a prize, except for his money. Which is very materialistic, right?
Lastly, the author claims that her story contains subverted biphobia. I disagree.
Yes, she has bisexual characters. Yes, one character gets aggressed and talked about for sleeping with both men and women. Yes, that snitch gets a kick in the shin. But the author shouldn't think she acquired any laurels by that, because at the same time she portrayed bisexual people as so randy for anything which moves as to fuck everybody without cause or discern - just because.
As if being bisexual is some mental illness which turns people into sexaddicts incapable of keeping their vaginas and penes in their trousers for a few moments a day. In short, she portrays bisexual people as the sleazos and debauched lechers they already are in the opinion of heteronormative people anyway.
So a huge thank you for absolutely nothing!
April 20, 2022
Spanish Love Deception is poison, and this was the antidote
November 1, 2023
reread 11/2023
4,5 stars.
Talia Hibbert is one of my favorite authors, and I love to reread her books, they leave me with a smile on my face.
I last read this a few years ago, going through the author's entire backlist, rated it 4 stars then, but now I'm going a bit higher because I had such a fun time with Aria and Nik.
I usually don't like insta-anything, but in this book it was absolutely amazing to see how Nik (who was attracted to Aria from the moment he met her) fell for her.
He fell fast and hard, and Aria was just slowly following behind. She didn't trust herself and wasn't convinced about him at first.
It was awesome to see him falling in love, being smitten and nervous, and trying not to push too fast too hard, because he knew Aria was attracted to him but not more.
Aria was a terriffic character on her own. Bold, self assured, on the rounder side, but sure of herself and her worth. I loved her.
Talia Hibbert's female MCs are such a delight to read!
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read 02/2021
Sweet story, I liked this and the previous book more than the first in the series... Although Work For It is like a whole categorie better than voljme 1 to 3.
4,5 stars.
Talia Hibbert is one of my favorite authors, and I love to reread her books, they leave me with a smile on my face.
I last read this a few years ago, going through the author's entire backlist, rated it 4 stars then, but now I'm going a bit higher because I had such a fun time with Aria and Nik.
I usually don't like insta-anything, but in this book it was absolutely amazing to see how Nik (who was attracted to Aria from the moment he met her) fell for her.
He fell fast and hard, and Aria was just slowly following behind. She didn't trust herself and wasn't convinced about him at first.
It was awesome to see him falling in love, being smitten and nervous, and trying not to push too fast too hard, because he knew Aria was attracted to him but not more.
Aria was a terriffic character on her own. Bold, self assured, on the rounder side, but sure of herself and her worth. I loved her.
Talia Hibbert's female MCs are such a delight to read!
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read 02/2021
Sweet story, I liked this and the previous book more than the first in the series... Although Work For It is like a whole categorie better than voljme 1 to 3.
June 20, 2025
this is why I have trust issues with Goodreads... 3.69? for this amazing book?? I just can’t. anyways this was SO good. Talia Hibbert delivered yet again. this was exactly the kind of fast paced fake dating, opposite attracts romance that I crave. Nik was damn sexy, and I loved how he pined and turned lovesick fool for Aria. the spice was perfect, the humour hit just right, and I’m simply obsessed with Talia Hibbert’s writing.
June 15, 2020
3.5 stars
i love talia hibbert and will literally read anything she writes
i love talia hibbert and will literally read anything she writes
May 9, 2024
I listened to this audiobook which was an ALC and if you're looking for a quick spicy read I would recommend it. I thought the narrators did a good job of bringing the characters and plot to life. The mmc is a rich footballer and instantly is attracted to the mmc when they meet, he needs her help and they agree to a fake date. The fmc does not have a good track record with relationships and has sworn them off so they agree to a no-strings-attached situationship while fake dating. I liked the fmc and watching her learn to be in a relationship with someone who actually cared for her. The mmc was boy obsessed and I also loved that. There is a lot of spice in this and overall it was decent despite some clinginess.
Read for:
- Fast read
- Golden retriever mmc/black cat fmc
- Grumpy mmc/ sunshine fmc
- He falls first
- Plus size fmc
- Queer rep
Read for:
- Fast read
- Golden retriever mmc/black cat fmc
- Grumpy mmc/ sunshine fmc
- He falls first
- Plus size fmc
- Queer rep
November 25, 2022
talia hibbert does obsessed, silly heroes so well
November 22, 2023
i am just a talia hibbert girl for lifeeee
this was such a quick, fun, spicy read. and the hero, nik, is down so so bad. he literally sees her, knows she’ll say no if he asks her out, so he pays her to be his fake girlfriend so he has time to win her over.
just so much fun!!! talia writes the best banter and aria was one of my favorite curvy heroines ever. she knew she was hot af. they were so so hot and funny and perfect!!!!
this was such a quick, fun, spicy read. and the hero, nik, is down so so bad. he literally sees her, knows she’ll say no if he asks her out, so he pays her to be his fake girlfriend so he has time to win her over.
just so much fun!!! talia writes the best banter and aria was one of my favorite curvy heroines ever. she knew she was hot af. they were so so hot and funny and perfect!!!!
November 26, 2025
"I don't know what you want."
"I told you: I want you to be my scary, fake girlfriend."
Sexy and funny and a really good time! This man is giving 100% simp energy and I love that for me.
Thank you to Dreascape Media and NetGalley for an audio ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 22, 2018
talia hibbert is the goddess of romance and make me realise how vanilla i am
full review to come
full review to come
February 1, 2024
A delightful experience - this isn't at all my favorite Talia Hibbert I've read so far, but there is something about her writing that is rude, juicy and freaking enjoyable. Must be the English lingo! I feel like this book had a bit of a tonal issue, because the trauma that Aria talks about in therapy in the beginning of the book is jarring compared to the rest of it (until the third act conflict, ofc), which is generally fun, breezy and hilarious.
I really like the idea of a main character in a romance really wanting love - like Aria does -, but this isn't exactly that, cause she just doesn't really want love at this moment in time. And I really loved the Greek bisexual himbo Nik, who has never fallen in love, but he falls hard. As hard as... I'm not going to finish that sentence, but I am going to acknowledge that the romance is very instalusty and they really do fall for each other very quickly (it's a short book, I didn't mind!).
I've realized relatively recently that I really don't mind slutty & horny bisexual characters, we come in all shapes and sizes, and even if this is our stereotype, there is nothing wrong with being slutty & horny. It actually can be very fun!
Just because you aren't on the same page, doesn't mean you can't enjoy the book together!
I really liked this quote, because I think that's what happens in real life. Sometimes relationships evolve differently for people, but the book is still fun and so many times, there can be a lot of room to grow. It was also nice how in tune Nik was and kept checking in with Aria about their (at first) fake relationship. Cute!
I really like the idea of a main character in a romance really wanting love - like Aria does -, but this isn't exactly that, cause she just doesn't really want love at this moment in time. And I really loved the Greek bisexual himbo Nik, who has never fallen in love, but he falls hard. As hard as... I'm not going to finish that sentence, but I am going to acknowledge that the romance is very instalusty and they really do fall for each other very quickly (it's a short book, I didn't mind!).
I've realized relatively recently that I really don't mind slutty & horny bisexual characters, we come in all shapes and sizes, and even if this is our stereotype, there is nothing wrong with being slutty & horny. It actually can be very fun!
Just because you aren't on the same page, doesn't mean you can't enjoy the book together!
I really liked this quote, because I think that's what happens in real life. Sometimes relationships evolve differently for people, but the book is still fun and so many times, there can be a lot of room to grow. It was also nice how in tune Nik was and kept checking in with Aria about their (at first) fake relationship. Cute!
May 9, 2024
I’ve yet to be disappointed by a Talia Hibbert book. She’s so great at crafting romances that have excellent chemistry between unique characters. Fake dating is always one of my favorite romance tropes, and I think it worked here to create an interesting story and conflict between the characters. Nik is a former professional footballer and is instantly smitten when he meets Aria. In order to get more time around her he decides to offer her a job as his fake girlfriend during a vacation with his friends. He tells her he wants someone around to keep overeager fans from hitting on him.
This was just a super fun read. I loved getting to see Nik and Aria get to know more about one another. Especially Aria’s background, she’s had an interesting relationship with romances in the past in contrast with Nik who has never been one for relationships. Outside of their general chemistry in learning more about each other, Aria and Nik have excellent sexual chemistry. The steamy scenes were varied and well-written, they didn’t feel like carbon copies where it ultimately starts to feel a bit boring. I also loved how there was queer rep within the book, Nik is bisexual and is very open with Aria about who he has hooked up with in the past. I enjoy it when books that might simply look hetero on the surface have queerness within the main couple.
I’m glad I finally picked this up due to the new audiobook that’s coming out. It has inspired me to explore even more of Talia Hibbert’s backlist!
Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was just a super fun read. I loved getting to see Nik and Aria get to know more about one another. Especially Aria’s background, she’s had an interesting relationship with romances in the past in contrast with Nik who has never been one for relationships. Outside of their general chemistry in learning more about each other, Aria and Nik have excellent sexual chemistry. The steamy scenes were varied and well-written, they didn’t feel like carbon copies where it ultimately starts to feel a bit boring. I also loved how there was queer rep within the book, Nik is bisexual and is very open with Aria about who he has hooked up with in the past. I enjoy it when books that might simply look hetero on the surface have queerness within the main couple.
I’m glad I finally picked this up due to the new audiobook that’s coming out. It has inspired me to explore even more of Talia Hibbert’s backlist!
Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 14, 2024
Short, sweet, sexy, but a bit difficult to believe when the relationship takes only 6 days before the first “I love you”.
Aria and Nik, however, have such an interesting dynamic and Aria on her own is a powerhouse main character. She’s difficult to tear your eyes away from so actually Nik was gonna real for the love at first sight thing.
CW: explicit sexual content, references to toxic/abusive parent, references to kidnapping + stalking, brief biphobia
Aria and Nik, however, have such an interesting dynamic and Aria on her own is a powerhouse main character. She’s difficult to tear your eyes away from so actually Nik was gonna real for the love at first sight thing.
CW: explicit sexual content, references to toxic/abusive parent, references to kidnapping + stalking, brief biphobia
October 6, 2023
So, jetzt ist es offiziell: Ich habe jedes Buch von Talia Hibbert, das einfach so irgendwo erhältlich ist, gelesen. Rezensiert noch nicht, aber gelesen. Bekomme ich bitte Applaus? Oder, noch besser: Ein Bonusbuch von Talia Hibbert, mit dem ich mir die Zeit bis zur nächsten Veröffentlichung vertreiben kann? Die ist nämlich aktuell erst für 2024 angekündigt. Keine Ahnung, wie ich die Zeit bis dahin vertreiben soll...
"The Fake Boyfriend Fiasco" ist eines der ersten Bücher von Talia Hibbert und das einzige aus dieser Zeit, das heute noch gekauft werden kann. Beim Rest hat sich Hibbert dazu entschieden, den Kauf zu beenden. Nachvollziehbare Entscheidung - nicht weil ich glaube, dass Hibberts ältere Bücher so schlecht sind, sondern weil ich das aus Autorinnenperspektive inzwischen verstehe. Wenn ich mir so ansehe, was ich vor einigen Jahren bis Jahrzehnten so geschrieben habe, kann ich das durchaus verstehen. Das ist zwar auch heute noch online zu finden (fragt nicht danach, ihr bekommt keine Antwort auf den Titel, den ihr dafür auf Wattpad suchen müsstet!), aber nur noch mit entsprechendem Vorwort, das meine Leser:innen darauf aufmerksam macht, dass ich halt echt noch sehr jung war, als ich dieses Buch geschrieben habe und dass ich dieses Buch heute nicht mehr unbedingt als großartig bezeichnen würde. Gebt mir noch fünf Jahre, dann wird dieses Buch ganz sicher offline sein.
In diesem Buch geht es um Nik und Aria. Nik ist Sportler und hat Probleme, damit Grenzen zu setzen, gerade wenn es ums Flirten oder um Beziehungen geht. Deswegen hat er Aria als Fake-Freundin angeheuert, um solchen "Missverständnissen" in Zukunft aus dem Weg zu gehen. Deswegen und weil er sich bei ihrer ersten Begegnung unsterblich in sie verliebt hat. Aria wiederum hat gar kein Interesse daran, sich in eine neue Beziehung zu stürzen - nicht nach der Art und Weise wie ihre letzte Beziehung geendet hat.
Wie auch die anderen Bücher Talia Hibberts mochte ich auch diesen Roman. Allerdings reiht sich dieser Roman in einer Reihung aller Hibbert-Bücher doch eher weiter unten in der Liste ein. Nicht weil es so schlecht ist, aber es sticht einfach weniger hervor, die Figuren sind weniger ausgereift, die Dialogen nicht ganz so genial. Ich denke, dass hier einfach auch das Alter des Werkes sichtbar wird. In der Zwischenzeit gab es eine Entwicklung in Schreibstil und co. und ich bin sehr froh, dass es die gab. Dieses Buch ist nicht schlecht, aber ich weiß nicht, ob ich eine solche Obsession mit den Werken der Autorin entwickelt hätte, wenn das mein erstes Buch gewesen wäre. Wahrscheinlich nicht, glaube ich.
Mein Fazit? Eine nette Lektüre, die späteren Bücher von Talia Hibbert finde ich aber besser.
"The Fake Boyfriend Fiasco" ist eines der ersten Bücher von Talia Hibbert und das einzige aus dieser Zeit, das heute noch gekauft werden kann. Beim Rest hat sich Hibbert dazu entschieden, den Kauf zu beenden. Nachvollziehbare Entscheidung - nicht weil ich glaube, dass Hibberts ältere Bücher so schlecht sind, sondern weil ich das aus Autorinnenperspektive inzwischen verstehe. Wenn ich mir so ansehe, was ich vor einigen Jahren bis Jahrzehnten so geschrieben habe, kann ich das durchaus verstehen. Das ist zwar auch heute noch online zu finden (fragt nicht danach, ihr bekommt keine Antwort auf den Titel, den ihr dafür auf Wattpad suchen müsstet!), aber nur noch mit entsprechendem Vorwort, das meine Leser:innen darauf aufmerksam macht, dass ich halt echt noch sehr jung war, als ich dieses Buch geschrieben habe und dass ich dieses Buch heute nicht mehr unbedingt als großartig bezeichnen würde. Gebt mir noch fünf Jahre, dann wird dieses Buch ganz sicher offline sein.
In diesem Buch geht es um Nik und Aria. Nik ist Sportler und hat Probleme, damit Grenzen zu setzen, gerade wenn es ums Flirten oder um Beziehungen geht. Deswegen hat er Aria als Fake-Freundin angeheuert, um solchen "Missverständnissen" in Zukunft aus dem Weg zu gehen. Deswegen und weil er sich bei ihrer ersten Begegnung unsterblich in sie verliebt hat. Aria wiederum hat gar kein Interesse daran, sich in eine neue Beziehung zu stürzen - nicht nach der Art und Weise wie ihre letzte Beziehung geendet hat.
Wie auch die anderen Bücher Talia Hibberts mochte ich auch diesen Roman. Allerdings reiht sich dieser Roman in einer Reihung aller Hibbert-Bücher doch eher weiter unten in der Liste ein. Nicht weil es so schlecht ist, aber es sticht einfach weniger hervor, die Figuren sind weniger ausgereift, die Dialogen nicht ganz so genial. Ich denke, dass hier einfach auch das Alter des Werkes sichtbar wird. In der Zwischenzeit gab es eine Entwicklung in Schreibstil und co. und ich bin sehr froh, dass es die gab. Dieses Buch ist nicht schlecht, aber ich weiß nicht, ob ich eine solche Obsession mit den Werken der Autorin entwickelt hätte, wenn das mein erstes Buch gewesen wäre. Wahrscheinlich nicht, glaube ich.
Mein Fazit? Eine nette Lektüre, die späteren Bücher von Talia Hibbert finde ich aber besser.
January 12, 2025
3.5
alt grumpy black women 😍😍😍 enough said
alt grumpy black women 😍😍😍 enough said
January 27, 2019
*I was sent an eArc of this book in exchange of an honest review*
CW: Mention of kidnapping, drug use, explicit sex scenes, biphobia (challenged)
Full review originally posted on my blog: Word Wonders
This blog has turned into a Talia Hibbert stan account and I HAVE NO REGRETS! With each and every book of hers I read, I’m just made more sure that she’s one of the greatest romance authors out there, who actually knows what she’s doing and how to write healthy and yet exciting relationships. This one takes the cake though, Sweet on the Greek is easily my favourite book of hers I’ve read so far and one of my favourite romance books in general. PLEASE READ IT IF YOU LIKE ROMANCE!!!
This is actually the third book in a series, but as per ME fashion, I have not read any of the previous books before reading this one (by the time I’m writing the review, I’ve read the first book). The writing is Talia’s writing is Talia’s writing. Meaning that it’s amazing, equally soft and sweet and hot and dirty. Like I said in all my reviews for her previous books, I have ran out of praise for it, but yes, it’s great, wonderful, iconic and you should read all her books.
First up, we have Aria, a serial lover, she jumps from one relationship into another but after a traumatic experience she has (happens in book 1) she’s traumatized, doesn’t trust men OR herself and swears off dating, eventhough, you know, she loves love and has a lot of it to give. That quote up there is about her and she’s just such a genuinely loving person, she’s overflowing with love and gives it out so easily, the people she gives it to though aren’t the greatest. She’s tough but also vulnerable. She’s confident, honest and hilarious, she’s also pierced and heavily tattooed and I’m absolutely in love with her.
Then, Nik. He’s a huge dorky dumbass who sometimes did the right things for the wrong reasons or the wrong things from the right reason but who is at the end of the day, a sweet softy who also happens to be hella sexy and cocky. I like to think of him as a gentleman with a filthy brain. Nik has never had a serious relationship but lots and lots of flings, that being said, he’s actually a hopeless romantic who daydreams about his own happily ever after. ALSO, I almost forgot to mention that he’s bisexual, and greek, and bisexual. He calls Aria greek pet names and I kind of melt a little inside.
Then they meet, girl who knows a lot about relationships but has sworn off them, guy who has never had a relationship but really wants one now (with her), immediate attraction happens, fake dating also happens when he needs someone to ward off attention, and the rest is history. I’ve rooted for them more than I’ve rooted for any couple in my life, they were just so meant to be, their chemistry is undeniable, their banter equally teasing and hilarious, that I found myself either grinning or giggling through 90% of the book. They’ve had so many soft and heartwarming moments that gave me all the heart eyes. But they also had very VERY smutty moments, there is one scene specifically that is engraved in my brain because of how good it was.
I also loved all the friendships in this one, Nik’s friends of course, but also Aria’s, especially Jen and Theo and how protective they are of her because she’s just THAT PRECIOUS. Aria must be protected at all cost and I’m glad she has Nik to treasure her. And now I want to reread it *cries*.
CW: Mention of kidnapping, drug use, explicit sex scenes, biphobia (challenged)
Full review originally posted on my blog: Word Wonders
This blog has turned into a Talia Hibbert stan account and I HAVE NO REGRETS! With each and every book of hers I read, I’m just made more sure that she’s one of the greatest romance authors out there, who actually knows what she’s doing and how to write healthy and yet exciting relationships. This one takes the cake though, Sweet on the Greek is easily my favourite book of hers I’ve read so far and one of my favourite romance books in general. PLEASE READ IT IF YOU LIKE ROMANCE!!!
This is actually the third book in a series, but as per ME fashion, I have not read any of the previous books before reading this one (by the time I’m writing the review, I’ve read the first book). The writing is Talia’s writing is Talia’s writing. Meaning that it’s amazing, equally soft and sweet and hot and dirty. Like I said in all my reviews for her previous books, I have ran out of praise for it, but yes, it’s great, wonderful, iconic and you should read all her books.
First up, we have Aria, a serial lover, she jumps from one relationship into another but after a traumatic experience she has (happens in book 1) she’s traumatized, doesn’t trust men OR herself and swears off dating, eventhough, you know, she loves love and has a lot of it to give. That quote up there is about her and she’s just such a genuinely loving person, she’s overflowing with love and gives it out so easily, the people she gives it to though aren’t the greatest. She’s tough but also vulnerable. She’s confident, honest and hilarious, she’s also pierced and heavily tattooed and I’m absolutely in love with her.
Then, Nik. He’s a huge dorky dumbass who sometimes did the right things for the wrong reasons or the wrong things from the right reason but who is at the end of the day, a sweet softy who also happens to be hella sexy and cocky. I like to think of him as a gentleman with a filthy brain. Nik has never had a serious relationship but lots and lots of flings, that being said, he’s actually a hopeless romantic who daydreams about his own happily ever after. ALSO, I almost forgot to mention that he’s bisexual, and greek, and bisexual. He calls Aria greek pet names and I kind of melt a little inside.
Then they meet, girl who knows a lot about relationships but has sworn off them, guy who has never had a relationship but really wants one now (with her), immediate attraction happens, fake dating also happens when he needs someone to ward off attention, and the rest is history. I’ve rooted for them more than I’ve rooted for any couple in my life, they were just so meant to be, their chemistry is undeniable, their banter equally teasing and hilarious, that I found myself either grinning or giggling through 90% of the book. They’ve had so many soft and heartwarming moments that gave me all the heart eyes. But they also had very VERY smutty moments, there is one scene specifically that is engraved in my brain because of how good it was.
I also loved all the friendships in this one, Nik’s friends of course, but also Aria’s, especially Jen and Theo and how protective they are of her because she’s just THAT PRECIOUS. Aria must be protected at all cost and I’m glad she has Nik to treasure her. And now I want to reread it *cries*.
July 23, 2018
Talia Hibbert has quickly become one of my new favorite romance authors. I love how she subverts so many of romancelandia's annoying tropes. Her heroines are quirky, sex-positive and not inclined to take crap from the hero. Her heroes are alphas, but they're also nice guys. In this case, a nice guy who was a bit of a man-slut (but a nice one).
Nik never expected to fall hard for a sexy, plus-sized, tatted goddess who lives life by her own rules. And Aria was my favorite character from Bad for the Boss, so I was happy she got her own story. Aria doesn't do relationships, but she still likes sex. What happens when famous footballer (soccer for us Yanks) who literally has women (and men) at his beck and call meets the one woman who wants nothing to do with him? Pretend to be a couple at a swanky villa in Spain of course. Why? Because Nik needs a fake girlfriend to keep the women from trying to jump in his pants, and the only woman he wants is Aria. Even throwing in a bit of financial compensation, because Nik believes that Aria won't agree otherwise.
Did I mention that Nik is bisexual? He is. Get over it.
Usually insta-love makes me roll my eyes, and frankly only works when there's a lot of humor involved. These two want each other, and the tension between is thicker than wallpaper paste. And their first encounter was both funny and hot. In fact, the sex scenes in this book are scorching hot, but consensual.
Yes Virginia, consent is sexy! Asking a partner if something is okay can be hot. Who knew?
My only complaint is one that I've noticed about contemporary heroines - the idea that any openly sexual woman has to have some "trauma" as a part of why she has lots of sex and/or isn't into relationships. Yes, there's a difference between sex and love and conventional wisdom has it that women don't know/can't tell or have to be emotionally involved. Male characters are allowed to like sex and/or not be into relationships just because they can. Newsflash: women like sex - a lot - and more often than not, there's no horrible past involved. Also newsflash: some women are perfectly happy not being in a relationship in order to have sex. While in Aria's case her relationship issues were about her parents who were in a dysfunctional marriage, and another relationship that nearly cost her best friend her life. Still, she was open about her needs and not afraid to break out her toybox.
Outside of that one pet peeve, I really loved this sexy story. Now I just need Keynes' book.
Nik never expected to fall hard for a sexy, plus-sized, tatted goddess who lives life by her own rules. And Aria was my favorite character from Bad for the Boss, so I was happy she got her own story. Aria doesn't do relationships, but she still likes sex. What happens when famous footballer (soccer for us Yanks) who literally has women (and men) at his beck and call meets the one woman who wants nothing to do with him? Pretend to be a couple at a swanky villa in Spain of course. Why? Because Nik needs a fake girlfriend to keep the women from trying to jump in his pants, and the only woman he wants is Aria. Even throwing in a bit of financial compensation, because Nik believes that Aria won't agree otherwise.
Did I mention that Nik is bisexual? He is. Get over it.
Usually insta-love makes me roll my eyes, and frankly only works when there's a lot of humor involved. These two want each other, and the tension between is thicker than wallpaper paste. And their first encounter was both funny and hot. In fact, the sex scenes in this book are scorching hot, but consensual.
Yes Virginia, consent is sexy! Asking a partner if something is okay can be hot. Who knew?
My only complaint is one that I've noticed about contemporary heroines - the idea that any openly sexual woman has to have some "trauma" as a part of why she has lots of sex and/or isn't into relationships. Yes, there's a difference between sex and love and conventional wisdom has it that women don't know/can't tell or have to be emotionally involved. Male characters are allowed to like sex and/or not be into relationships just because they can. Newsflash: women like sex - a lot - and more often than not, there's no horrible past involved. Also newsflash: some women are perfectly happy not being in a relationship in order to have sex. While in Aria's case her relationship issues were about her parents who were in a dysfunctional marriage, and another relationship that nearly cost her best friend her life. Still, she was open about her needs and not afraid to break out her toybox.
Outside of that one pet peeve, I really loved this sexy story. Now I just need Keynes' book.
September 26, 2020
I...did not understand the ending kerfuffle over the "lie" the hero told the heroine. I am normally big into that kind of thing mattering and everyone forgiving too fast, but truly, I felt like the heroine was making a mountain out of a molehill.
May 7, 2025
The Fake Boyfriend Fiasco was such a cute, fun reprieve from my usual reads. This is a low-threshold romance that throws the reader right into the story of the two protagonists, and I live for short romance books like these. Yes, to some it might be a little too quick and too short, but it’s a you get what you expect kind of situation with these (older) Talia Hibbert novels (/novellas?). So what you 100% get is a yearning, down-bad, down-quick male love interest who is absolutely swooning for the heroine. Another guarantee is a stunning female main character with curves, tattoos, and a dream. The spice is decent, not cringeworthy and utterly entertaining.
I love me a good TH break. Keep ‘em coming, babe.
I love me a good TH break. Keep ‘em coming, babe.
June 22, 2025
Fake dating romance between footballer Nik and sassy tattooed goddess Aria.
June 5, 2024
Talia did not dissapoint with this story. The character introductions were hilarious and I was hooked from the very first page. I loved the chemistry and banter between the two.
Nikolas falling first for Aria was my favorite thing. That man did what he could to get his girl and I loved that. Aria had a strong backbone and she easily became one my favorite characters to have been written into a fake dating trope.
Nikolas falling first for Aria was my favorite thing. That man did what he could to get his girl and I loved that. Aria had a strong backbone and she easily became one my favorite characters to have been written into a fake dating trope.
March 12, 2025
*2.5 stars rounded down to 2 stars*
Hmmm. I usually really enjoy Talia Hibberts stuff, but with this being one of her earlier works perhaps I should’ve been more sceptical. This is fine and will work for you if you’re looking for a good humoured, fast paced, romance pick me up, but a lot of elements fell really flat for me unfortunately. The more I think about the book, the worse my opinion on it becomes.
For a fake dating trope book, where the fake dating is explicitly mentioned in the title, this did it a massive disservice. It felt like it didn’t even try and make the character fake date, it just felt like they were dating from the get go. They acted as a real couple, everyone thought they were a real couple.. they were basically just a couple from the beginning. Apart from some throwaway dialogue that was rushed through it really didn’t do the trope justice at all. Plus, the agreement they had was so bizarre. A stranger is just going to throw a big wad of cash at you and fly you to a different place with minimal explanation and you just go with it? It was a little weird to me, and the set up didn’t feel very authentic and realistic. I know it’s just supposed to be a lighthearted romance book, but elements like that that I can’t immerse myself in really remove me from the story.
Alongside that trope idea not really landing, their entire relationship didn't feel developed enough at all. The book itself is set over 6 days, and by the end they’re both saying they love you. They meet, decide to fake date, catch feelings, have a third act breakup, and declare that they love each other… all in the span of 144 hours. It was just far too rushed for me, it gave absolutely no time for their relationship to actually develop and came across as instalove. As characters themselves I think they were a bit bland and two dimensional, so seeing them as a couple didn’t really excite me either sadly. I liked that our male main character was bisexual, and that their sex life was pretty fun and full of open and transparent communication and boundaries.
It also didn’t deliver a lot on any of the story outside of the romance, so we ended up in a bubble. Side characters didn’t feel fully realised, and there didn’t seem to be any supporting plot alongside the love story so it wasn’t really super engaging to me. There was a very random inclusion of a previous trauma, and it started talking about kidnapping?! That element felt so randomly thrown in, and was 100% not as explored as it should have been. It felt so out of place!
If you’re looking for a short romance romp this may be ideal for you, but I had a touch too many hangups.
Hmmm. I usually really enjoy Talia Hibberts stuff, but with this being one of her earlier works perhaps I should’ve been more sceptical. This is fine and will work for you if you’re looking for a good humoured, fast paced, romance pick me up, but a lot of elements fell really flat for me unfortunately. The more I think about the book, the worse my opinion on it becomes.
For a fake dating trope book, where the fake dating is explicitly mentioned in the title, this did it a massive disservice. It felt like it didn’t even try and make the character fake date, it just felt like they were dating from the get go. They acted as a real couple, everyone thought they were a real couple.. they were basically just a couple from the beginning. Apart from some throwaway dialogue that was rushed through it really didn’t do the trope justice at all. Plus, the agreement they had was so bizarre. A stranger is just going to throw a big wad of cash at you and fly you to a different place with minimal explanation and you just go with it? It was a little weird to me, and the set up didn’t feel very authentic and realistic. I know it’s just supposed to be a lighthearted romance book, but elements like that that I can’t immerse myself in really remove me from the story.
Alongside that trope idea not really landing, their entire relationship didn't feel developed enough at all. The book itself is set over 6 days, and by the end they’re both saying they love you. They meet, decide to fake date, catch feelings, have a third act breakup, and declare that they love each other… all in the span of 144 hours. It was just far too rushed for me, it gave absolutely no time for their relationship to actually develop and came across as instalove. As characters themselves I think they were a bit bland and two dimensional, so seeing them as a couple didn’t really excite me either sadly. I liked that our male main character was bisexual, and that their sex life was pretty fun and full of open and transparent communication and boundaries.
It also didn’t deliver a lot on any of the story outside of the romance, so we ended up in a bubble. Side characters didn’t feel fully realised, and there didn’t seem to be any supporting plot alongside the love story so it wasn’t really super engaging to me. There was a very random inclusion of a previous trauma, and it started talking about kidnapping?! That element felt so randomly thrown in, and was 100% not as explored as it should have been. It felt so out of place!
If you’re looking for a short romance romp this may be ideal for you, but I had a touch too many hangups.
June 19, 2024
full respect to talia hibbert, but this was very much not the kind of romance that i normally pick up or enjoy.
i would describe the fake boyfriend fiasco as a very sex-forward novella more than anything else. it takes place over the span of a little over a week, if i remember correctly, and as it comes in at under 200 pages, really crams the insta-love/insta-lust into the story as early as possible.
there are a couple of things happening here that i do think bring down the rating from a more objective perspective. for one, this is one of hibbert’s first books, and while it’s been polished up and recently republished, it definitely doesn’t feel as practiced as some of her later work. it was also originally published as part of the “just for him” series, of which the first two books have been unpublished. so there’s naturally several references to characters or events from these unpublished books that don’t make a whole lot of sense or that feel sudden or out of place when reading this as a standalone. for example, the entire setup to aria’s backstory and trauma is that she dated someone who stalked and tried to murder her best friend, which is 1) extremely out of place tone-wise from the rest of the book and 2) introduced and explained so rapidly that it’s almost jarring.
but there were also other dynamics and tropes being explored here that probably would make this a worthwhile read to an audience that wasn’t me, specifically. nik has his playboy-turned-monogamist arc, and while i already don’t love this particular trope, it feels even more exaggerated to have him go from casually sleeping around to head-over-heels in love with aria when the whole thing happens in a matter of days. the leads also have really great physical/sexual chemistry, but even at the end i felt like i was missing something from a more emotional angle. i like my romances to be heavier on the emotions and tension, and i’m always going to pick a slowburn over whatever you want to call this, so again, this is more of a me problem than an inherent flaw of the book itself. i also get kind of icked out by the dynamic of a wealthy man getting a woman involved in a fake dating scheme without being open about the conditions or reasons behind it, so while i really liked aria and was happy that she got her ending, there was a part of me that was like, “run, girl!” the entire time. 🤷♀️
i’m also kind of split on how i feel about the bisexual rep in this book. on the one hand, it’s great! bisexual in men don’t get a lot of positive representation, but this is now the third book by hibbert that i’ve read where a queer protagonist is hypersexual/really into casual hookup culture (it is not an exaggeration for me to say that nik has slept with every single one of his friends). it gets to a point where i start to feel a little weird about it.
i would describe the fake boyfriend fiasco as a very sex-forward novella more than anything else. it takes place over the span of a little over a week, if i remember correctly, and as it comes in at under 200 pages, really crams the insta-love/insta-lust into the story as early as possible.
there are a couple of things happening here that i do think bring down the rating from a more objective perspective. for one, this is one of hibbert’s first books, and while it’s been polished up and recently republished, it definitely doesn’t feel as practiced as some of her later work. it was also originally published as part of the “just for him” series, of which the first two books have been unpublished. so there’s naturally several references to characters or events from these unpublished books that don’t make a whole lot of sense or that feel sudden or out of place when reading this as a standalone. for example, the entire setup to aria’s backstory and trauma is that she dated someone who stalked and tried to murder her best friend, which is 1) extremely out of place tone-wise from the rest of the book and 2) introduced and explained so rapidly that it’s almost jarring.
but there were also other dynamics and tropes being explored here that probably would make this a worthwhile read to an audience that wasn’t me, specifically. nik has his playboy-turned-monogamist arc, and while i already don’t love this particular trope, it feels even more exaggerated to have him go from casually sleeping around to head-over-heels in love with aria when the whole thing happens in a matter of days. the leads also have really great physical/sexual chemistry, but even at the end i felt like i was missing something from a more emotional angle. i like my romances to be heavier on the emotions and tension, and i’m always going to pick a slowburn over whatever you want to call this, so again, this is more of a me problem than an inherent flaw of the book itself. i also get kind of icked out by the dynamic of a wealthy man getting a woman involved in a fake dating scheme without being open about the conditions or reasons behind it, so while i really liked aria and was happy that she got her ending, there was a part of me that was like, “run, girl!” the entire time. 🤷♀️
i’m also kind of split on how i feel about the bisexual rep in this book. on the one hand, it’s great! bisexual in men don’t get a lot of positive representation, but this is now the third book by hibbert that i’ve read where a queer protagonist is hypersexual/really into casual hookup culture (it is not an exaggeration for me to say that nik has slept with every single one of his friends). it gets to a point where i start to feel a little weird about it.
December 2, 2023
Nik was so immediately gone for Aria and I ate it up with a spoon. He was such a sweetheart! Transforming a playboy without even knowing it has to be the ultimate fantasy. One of my favorite dynamics is when a sunshine character looks at the grumpy one and can only see how sweet and soft they are, completely dismissing their surly demeanor. And this happened immediately with Nik and Aria! Aria was no slouch either—she believed in Nik and could see through to the heart of him (even while completely missing that he was in love with her.) Their respective insecurities made sense, especially when they came to a head, and it made the HEA that much more satisfying. I loved this so much.
Also: Nik's group of friends were wonderful. Great casual queer rep and lots of history between them all.
Characters: Nik is a bisexual white Greek retired football star. Aria is a 27 year old fat Black British tattoo artist with lip and nose piercings. This is set in Greece, Spain, and England.
Content notes: biphobia (countered), past abduction and attempted murder of FMC’s best friend by FMC’s boyfriend (he was stalking her and used FMC to get closer), past career-ending knee injury, stick-and-poke tattoo, past divorce (FMC), past verbal abuse and fatshaming by FMC’s ex-husband, past death of MMC’s father, on page sex, orgasm control, masturbation, sex toys, alcohol, inebriation, excessive drinking, hangover, cigarettes, mentions of recreational drugs (secondary characters), diet culture, small penis joke, gendered pejoratives, ableist language
Also: Nik's group of friends were wonderful. Great casual queer rep and lots of history between them all.
Characters: Nik is a bisexual white Greek retired football star. Aria is a 27 year old fat Black British tattoo artist with lip and nose piercings. This is set in Greece, Spain, and England.
Content notes: biphobia (countered), past abduction and attempted murder of FMC’s best friend by FMC’s boyfriend (he was stalking her and used FMC to get closer), past career-ending knee injury, stick-and-poke tattoo, past divorce (FMC), past verbal abuse and fatshaming by FMC’s ex-husband, past death of MMC’s father, on page sex, orgasm control, masturbation, sex toys, alcohol, inebriation, excessive drinking, hangover, cigarettes, mentions of recreational drugs (secondary characters), diet culture, small penis joke, gendered pejoratives, ableist language
October 20, 2023
3⭑
Tropes;
Fake Dating
Guy Falls First
Reformed Player
One Bed Trope
Dual POV
This was okay… I was excited to start it bc it was one of the few Talia books I had left to read and unfortunately did not love it as much as I thought I would.
Reading her older books makes you realise how much her writing has improved bc this was pretty basic but enjoyable enough for 190 pages.
Tropes;
Fake Dating
Guy Falls First
Reformed Player
One Bed Trope
Dual POV
This was okay… I was excited to start it bc it was one of the few Talia books I had left to read and unfortunately did not love it as much as I thought I would.
Reading her older books makes you realise how much her writing has improved bc this was pretty basic but enjoyable enough for 190 pages.
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