Pump Fake

X’s and O’s #5

by Allie Lasky

It sounds too good to be true: your ex is caught cheating with someone else, so you hook up with their ex to make your ex and her ex feel like the clowns they are… and it turns out, your new fake girlfriend is actually pretty awesome, and you would die before letting anything happen to this incredibly strong, confident woman whose heart is a little bit bruised.

Sounds convoluted? Wouldn’t it be easier to say, I’m fake dating the woman whose ex cheated on her with my ex, in a petty attempt to get revenge on the losers who tried to break our spirits. There. Not so complicated, is it?

Except Deisy and I are supposed to be in a platonic arrangement. We’re both on the rebound, and consciously doing this together in a way that lets our hearts recover while our heads wrap around the trauma they caused. It’s not supposed to get physical…

Until it does.

PUMP FAKE is a fake dating relationship, college sports romance featuring a class-clown youngest-child football player, and a swimmer who can withstand anything… except the tidal wave of emotion trying to bring her down.

TW: emotional neglect, emotional abuse, off-page SA, and light kink play

Genres: Sports, Romance, Contemporary

441 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 8, 2023

Reviews

[M · Rating 1 out of 5]

too many disconnected sub-plots

I like the two main characters and their story, but there were so many disconnected sub-plots that the author didn’t really seem to know what to do with. Plot points got brought up suddenly, out of nowhere, only to never be brought up again. The characters seem to get personality changes from one chapter to the next. Characters didn’t behave like actual humans do.

This felt like the ideas for about three books crammed into one with all the sub-plots. Surgery? Family estrangement? Past abusive relationships? BDSM? Alcoholic family members? Interpersonal conflicts wrapped up in 30 seconds? Finding a job after college? Just way too much going on. The surgery story line really got me. We find out most of the way through the book that a character has had multiple surgeries with difficult recoveries — which has never been mentioned before — and then they suddenly have another surgery…and then are out at a big gathering the next day. That’s now how this works, that’s not how storytelling works, that’s not how having and recovering from surgery works!

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Fake Pump", book 5 in Allie Lasky's Xs and Os series, tells the story of Deisy and Amir, two college athletes who know of each other through their shared sporting lives but are thrown together through circumstances no one wants to happen.

We meet Deisy first and we are shown that she's a strong young woman who appears to be comfortable in her own skin and assertive where she needs to be. However, appearances aren't always truthful. Deisy's facade cracks when she catches her long-time boyfriend cheating with Amir's girlfriend at a college party.

When we see Amir, we see him with his insecurities laid out immediately. From previous books in the series, we know he's close with his linebracker family and they all like things to be...just as they should. In this book, we learn that Amir's insecurities are based on who he thinks the world wants him to be.

Thrown together because of their partners' inability to honor commitments, Deisy and Amir think they only have that and their athletic backgrounds in common. They learn how far from the truth it is. They are younger children in large families, their majors are similar enough (sports media versus sports management) and they hide their bruised emotions and personalities behind what others expect. In their time together, they encourage one another in ways that allow the facades to drop. While doing that, they grow with each other, for each other and for themselves.

While "Fake Pump" is a slow-burn romance, the heat is a natural progression and more authentic to Deisy and Amir's growth as a couple. It was a book that I didn't want to stop reading until the very end.

[Neshaisabookworm’s Book Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was so different from all of the others. For one it’s a slow burn. Like slooooooooow burn! The scenes when they come *pun intended* are absolutely fucking perfect! It has elements that I normally don’t read but the way it’s written is perfect and really opened my eyes to something new.

Deisy and Amir shouldn’t work especially with how they got together but that’s why they work so well. It’s like they’re kindred spirits. Perfectly imperfect for each other.

As a BIPOC woman, I LOVE THE BIPOC REPRESENTATION IN THIS BOOK!!!

Two brown main characters?! FUCK YEAH!!!

This series by Allie never misses. Each book is phenomenal. I can’t wait to read what’s next!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[TELA666 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This can easily be read as a standalone as the world building covers the previous couples and others. It might be a tough one to start with though as both Amir & Deisy are one of six siblings so there are a lot of people.
That being said Amir & Deisy themselves are the focus, we spend time with them both separately and together. It is more if a slower pace than the other books but I like the variety. They both have insecurities but deal with them differently, those methods balance each other and what starts as a revenge, face saving fake dating situation becomes so much more.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[K Webz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fake dating, sports romance, and revenge all wrapped into one. Makes one heck of a story. It is a slow burn story with lots of heat.

When Amir and Deisy find their significant others in a compromising position, they decide to fake date. What starts out as fake soon turns into something real.

Both have vulnerabilities that pore through the pages. The emotions of the characters are so raw at times.

A beautifully written story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[HeadCanonHeadCase · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deisy and Amir learn that that current partners are cheating on them...with each other. To help deflect from the fallout, Deisy asks Amir to be her date to a family wedding. But what starts as two friends pretending to date turns into something much more.

Read if you like:
-Dual Athlete Sports Romance
-Fake Dating
-Hurt/Comfort
-Healing

Definitely one of my top three from X's and O's. I loved Deisy and Amir dynamic. They had amazing chemistry and I loved that he supported her. Plus, I always go a little feral for hurt/comfort and healing arcs.

[Laura Black Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and very sex positive. A quick read with an endearing young couple navigating college life and sport. He plays football, she swims. Amir and Deisy are great together. They support each other, and Amir is both a gem and a catch. Sometimes his inner voice feels a bit older than he actually is, but it's a minor quibble. Wish we'd all had a boyfriend so patient and understanding - and adventurous - in the sack. Deisy is a honey, and so good for her to find Amir.

Recommended!

[Pilar Garcia · Rating 1 out of 5]

le pongo 1 estrella porque no puedo ponerle 0, que decirles.

no sé ni qué leí trama y hechos confusos, conversaciones inconclusas. monólogos internos demasiado extensos, repetitivos y voy a decirlo, al pedo. a Allie se le agotó el gancho inicial -y principal- antes del décimo capítulo y tuvo que sacar de la galera sucesos para lograr llegar a los 63 capítulos.

63 capítulos.

tranquilamente pudo haber sido una novela de ¼ de la longitud actual y creo que hasta funcionaba mejor.

[Veronica Albertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was just as good as the first two, I read! I loved how they instantly connected and found each other amidst a heartbreaking situation, and they managed to find love with each other and I loved the way the ending in this one played out! I can’t wait to read Greg’s story! Great work!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kayla Pocernich · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a great read and what starts off as fake relationship between Amir and Deisy turn out to be so much more than that has the start spending more time together. If you love a fake relationship, sports romance you will love this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amir and Deisy are so freaking cute together! This was my first ever actual "sporty" romance book and I was not disappointed. Spice level I'd say is about 2/5. There's lots of build up and the character development is amazing! I love how the main characters were so open with eachother, and that was what they needed.
Definitely recommend for others to read.
5/5 stars!

[Rebecca Jameson · Rating 3 out of 5]

emotional ride

3.5⭐️

There were many parts of this book I liked so much. The care between the fmc and mmc is probably some of the best I’ve read. Real life not just everything works happily ever after. Dragged a bit for me with some thing which is why it’s not higher. The emotion though so good.

[Willie-mai · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book I’ve read by this author and I throughly enjoyed it! It’s well written, entertaining and emotional college romance! It’s a slow burn but the steam definitely picks up!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Maja · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fifth book in X's and O's and it was as good as the previous stories. It's about Deisy and Amir, written in the dual first person, point of view which I always love. I loved this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tara · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book was long and drawn out and felt pretty insincere. I wanted to like the characters but it felt like the author was just putting different scenarios together to make a book— trying too hard to make it relatable and it ended up falling flat.

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

Was there a plot? So many past and future characters to introduce and explain. I got so lost. And bored.

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Deisy and Amir’s book. It was an intriguing and engaging read. And am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Emma Steel · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Adilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️ first ever swimmer romance definitely rated it higher bc of that but it felt very realistic too

[Kaity · Rating 5 out of 5]

these two are so serene and sweet together <3

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel was a sweet college athlete romance. Amir and Deisy both have emotional baggage after their past unsuccessful romances. After finding their significant others cheating they decide to fake a relationship to save face…until it becomes real. Amir is one of the sweetest book-boyfriends I have encountered. He goes out of his way to make sure Deisy knows she has choices and puts her in control. While I do prefer more heat and steam in my books this one required a slow burn to stay true to the characters. This was a great addition to the series!