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She’s America’s It girl. He’s Britain’s most eligible bachelor.

First impressions are supposed to last … but they’re losing track.

Summer in the Hamptons is predictable. Lavish parties. Polo matches. Private yachts. Same people, different place.

So the surprise arrival of Charles Marlborough causes an excited stir throughout the highest echelons of society. The upper crust he’s come to impress. Wealthy elites he has to impress.

Billionaire heiress Elizabeth (Lili) Kensington isn’t dazzled by Britain’s youngest duke. She’s glimpsed the imperiousness behind the charming facade of New York’s newest deity and resolved to stay far away.

The only daughter and eldest child of American royalty, Lili is well-acquainted with unwavering attention. She’s used to fake flattery and whispers about her family’s immense wealth. Accustomed to men trying to cajole their way into her bed and her bank account. But her attempts to humble Charlie only make her more confused about his true character.

Each time their privileged worlds collide, Lili and Charlie’s perceptions of each other shift. They put on acts in public but stop performing when they’re alone. Motivations become murky. Feelings form. Secrets spill.

She swore she’d never fall for a false god.

He never intended to fall at all.

Even patricians can’t lay perfect plans …

470 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 10, 2024

927 people are currently reading
8539 people want to read

About the author

C.W. Farnsworth

39 books5,277 followers
C.W. Farnsworth is the author of numerous adult and young adult romance novels featuring sports, strong female leads, and happy endings.

Charlotte lives in Rhode Island and when she isn’t writing spends her free time reading, at the beach, or snuggling with her Australian Shepherd.

Find her on Facebook (@cwfarnsworth), Twitter (@cw_farnsworth), Instagram (@authorcwfarnsworth) and check out her website www.authorcwfarnsworth.com for news about upcoming releases!

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 502 reviews
Profile Image for Lilyya ♡.
656 reviews3,740 followers
October 10, 2024
3.75 stars

“you’re the person I want when I’m happy or hurt or scared or … always.”


It was so refreshing to be reunited with the Kensigntons family and their unique yet hilarious dynamics for a third round. second-generation books/series always evoke a sort of nostalgia while being immersed in them. the romance in “False God” was portrayed with a push-and-pull tone, causing the protagonists to jump at each other one minute and then share a passionate and intimate scene the next. the author’s writing is always so fluid and easy to read that I devoured this novel in one sitting. If you’re in the mood for a light enemies-to-lovers romance with a soupçon of aristocracy, this is the perfect read for you !

many thanks to the author and Valentine PR for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Profile Image for Koisty.
454 reviews1,129 followers
October 11, 2024
4 Beautiful Stars ⭐️
Spicy Level: 🌶️.5/5

I have a secret... I love Regency romance, BUT NOT the whole historical thing. I love the nobility system. So, the fact that this was a modern-day story about a Duke and an heiress legitimately gave me butterflies! It had elements of the aristocratic lifestyle but still gave me the contemporary fix that I adore.

𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
This is a dual POV story that follows Charles Marlborough and Elizabeth Kensington. They meet one day in a Hampton stable while Elizabeth is busy stroking a horse and connecting with it. While they (mostly she) pretend it doesn't make an impact, it actually has a significant effect on both of them. For the first time, neither of them has to pretend to live up to the facade of their titles—his as "Duke" and hers as "Billionaire Heiress." Given that both are considered "socialites," they often run into each other at similar events. Soon, this proximity starts to cause them to develop feelings. However, the Duke has a problem—he inherited a title with a mountain of debt.

𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
I liked Elizabeth. I felt she was incredibly honourable, standing up for what she wanted and what made her happy while navigating the perilous minefield that can be rich society. She’s pursuing a career she loves, even if it’s not what people would expect from a billionaire heiress. She’s sweet, she cares about her friends, she’s generous, and she’s nothing like the spoiled rich princess stereotype. Elizabeth felt incredibly real—the kind of person you’d want as a best friend, because she looks out for you, genuinely cares, and doesn’t let money define her opinion of people. Given that one of her biggest fears is being defined by money, it was sweet to see how she never let someone’s wealth or yearly earnings affect her judgment.

Charles is a wonderful take on a modern Duke. He has a strong sense of duty and responsibility for his role, but he also genuinely cares about his family and is very protective of his sister and grandmother. He’s been dealt a rough hand, sacrificing his dreams and aspirations to protect the duchy. He’s also dealing with other family issues, like the abandonment by his mother and now their rekindling relationship. My only issue with him is that he’s incredibly proud, and that pride often leads him to run away from his problems. He takes a long time to learn to ask for help or open up about his situation because he’s carrying the weight of the world (and the dukedom) on his shoulders. This had a big impact on someone as young as he is, but in the end, he didn’t let his pride rule him.

Their romance took time to develop, but that’s why it was so impactful. It was sweet and grew out of mutual attraction and like-mindedness. What made it so adorable was that both of them found someone who made them better. I love how Charles was always there for Elizabeth, caring for her and looking after her. That’s one of my favourite tropes, and coupled with “tending to her injuries”—SIGN ME UP for 100 of these men, please! He just played directly into my soul!

If you love rich people drama or adore Gossip Girl, you’ll love this. It has rich society, New York, rich kids spending lavish amounts of money, and living what I would call an ACTUAL DREAM! They’re spending weekends in the Hamptons for events, then flying across the world in a private jet to lie on beaches. It’s not a realm many people are privy to, so reading about it and living vicariously through it will definitely give you that fix!

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ Dual POV
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Strangers to Lovers
▶ British MMC
▶ Tending to Injuries
▶ Duke x Billionaire Heiress
▶ He Takes Care Of Her

𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▷ More
▷ Mine
▷ He does her hair
▷ Were you mauled by a bear?

Overall, I went into this with very little expectations and it gave me EVERYTHING I NEEDED!

Thank you to C.W. Farnsworth and Valentine PR for the gifted copy.
All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Emily G.
525 reviews26 followers
October 13, 2024
Me 🤝 Books with Taylor Swift Songs in the title

I spent 300 pages preparing myself for a miscommunication third act breakup that never happened - angels cheered.

This was a really enjoyable billionaire romance. It has a sense of modern-day regency (if that's a thing?) with the MMC being a Duke. I could not relate to a single character but I liked that. The only toxic thing about this book is Charlie's sisters behaviour but what do you expect from a rich 20 year old?

There is a definite back and forth with this romance but I do not think this was frustrating and actually helped build the genuity of the characters romance and development.

Tropes and Microtropes
-Pining
-Jealousy
-Slight Miscommunication
-He does her hair
-Strangers to Lovers
-Billionaire
-Duke/Medical Student x Architect/Billionaire Heiress

many thanks to the author and Valentine PR for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review
Profile Image for swedishruler B.
333 reviews154 followers
Read
October 9, 2024
I can’t rate this because I skipped so much. This book was boring. Seing crew and scarlet couldn’t save this. Listen I wanted more of crew and scarlet but not like this 😂🤣😅 so I plead to stop this.
Profile Image for joni ౨ৎ .
450 reviews397 followers
Want to read
December 14, 2024
the name itself makes me wanna read thisss
Profile Image for Natalie | nats.bookrecs.
671 reviews49 followers
October 10, 2024
✨ billionaire romance
✨ she’s American heiress x he’s a british duke
✨ dislike to love
✨ benefits
✨ hurt x comfort

Fake empire was one of my fav billionaires arranged marriages and when I saw their daughter Elizabeth was getting a second generation book I ran to sign up. And this book was everything I wanted. An American Heriess who is always known for her status and money and a British Duke who is trying to save his struggling family finances. And the way they find peace in one another they haven’t found since. I love the way Elizabeth holds her own in a world of men and people wanting something from her from a young age. That from the beginning she doesn’t let the Duke get to her until he does.

Their back and forth banter is some of my favorite and I love watching them slowly lower their walls for each other. This had characters from past books and sneak peeks at siblings I hope we get to see more of. A very hard earned happily ever after and a couple that will stick with me for awhile.
Profile Image for NMmomof4.
1,793 reviews5,052 followers
October 25, 2025
3 Stars

Opinion Breakdown
The Good: The premise, the unique type of mcs, and the banter.

The Not-So-Good: The lack of chemistry or tension.

The Bad: The ending. Super disappointing.

Overall: This was my first book by this author and I'm not sure why exactly I hadn't jumped into the bandwagon that came with the previous books in the connected series. Maybe it was just that there was a ton of hype that I was worried it wouldn't live up to. I like that I started with this "new generation" spinoff. Maybe I'll even go back to read some books from the first series now. I enjoyed parts of it and struggled with others. I felt like while there were a good bit of sexy scenes, they felt kind of disconnected and seemingly there just to be there. I didn't really feel the connection or I guess intimacy of it. But I did enjoy their banter. The ending was super disappointing and tbh this might hold me back from other books from this author I this was the normal ending. Otherwise it was enjoyable.

Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Lili and Charlie's story. They keep on bumping into each other and find themselves drawn to one another. They experience quiet moments with each other away from the expectations that come with being an heiress and newly appointed Duke, and see that they are not what their persona suggests. There are some secrets revealed, some miscommunications, and some sexy times...and they get a HFN ending,

Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Lili and Charlie's POV.

Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.

Instalove: No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings.

H (Hero) rating: 3.5 stars. Charlie. I liked him more than the h but I wanted him to be more vulnerable with her.

h (heroine) rating: 3 stars. Lili. I thought she was just alright.

Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed

Push/Pull: Yes

Heat level: Moderate/Good. They have some good scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story. I didn't really get the chemistry and I felt like there wasn't that tension that I like in these types of stories.

Descriptive sex: Yes

OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Very mild jealousy

Sex scene with OW or OM: No

Cheating: No

Separation: Yes, but then again no, since they aren't technically "together"

Possible Triggers: Yes

Closure: This is by far my biggest issue! I wanted much more of an ending with a jump ahead glimpse into their future. I would call this a HFN ending

Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers
Profile Image for Ange.
47 reviews1 follower
October 6, 2024
False God arc by C.W. Farnsworth

Hooked from the very beginning! I loved that at the start of False God, you get some back story about the characters. I loved the meet cute between Lili and Charlie, you can feel the chemistry and sexual tension right from the start.
If you like billionaire romance - where the billionaire is a strong female - you will love False God. Include a grumpy duke with secrets - it’s the perfect combination.

C.W Farnsworth is a go to author for me. I have loved every book of hers that I have read.

False God is out on October 10th!!

Thank you to Valentine PR and C.W. Farnsworth for this Earc copy.
Profile Image for Flo.
83 reviews1 follower
October 16, 2024
spectacular give me 14 of em right now
Profile Image for Shannai.
603 reviews30 followers
October 8, 2024
5 ⭐️♾️

Charlotte doesn’t write a bad book and it’s a hill I will die on, because I don’t know what was laced in this because I ate it up!! A female billionaire, with a last name that carries weight across the world and a Duke, a whole Duke was something I didn’t know I needed!

Ever since it was announced that Scarlett, Crew and Scarlett’s daughter was getting her own book, I have been excitedly waiting to see how she would favour; she’s definitely a mixture of her parents with Scarlett’s Grace and poised nature and Crew’s humour and stubbornness!

Charles Marlborough was an absolute dream omgg, I thought Will from All the Wrong Plays was my favourite mmc of Charlotte’s to be written, but hello Charlie, the man that you are!! A whole duke! 🤭🥵

I almost shed a tear at learning about Teddy 😭

What I love most about second generation series is seeing the children of the characters whom you fell in love with find their own entities and paths; how their parents have worked hard to provide them with everything that they may not have had as kids, and Scarlett and Crew were exactly that! Seeing them so settled in their lives, and happy was just so heartwarming!

I absolutely cannot wait for what’s to come next for the Kensingtons! Thank you endlessly to Charlotte and Valentine PR for the e-arc! 🥰

Tropes

Billionaire heiress
British hero
America’s it girl
Slow burn
Profile Image for Odetteandbooks.
130 reviews
January 2, 2025
Tropes:
💎Billionaires (both of them)
💎American heiress x British Duke
💎His father left him debts
💎Lust at first sight
💎Sassy heroine
💎Close friend group

C.W Farnsworth can do no wrong. Another great book by her!

If you’re a fan of the push-and-pull trope, this one’s for you. Even if Charlie and Lily (a.k.a Elizabeth) get together during the first half of the book, the constant push-and-pull between them keeps you on the edge of your seat.
I personally loved the miscommunication between them in the beginning, because the fact that Lily overheard Charlie criticizing her, consolidated her as a heroine who knows how to stand up for herself (seeing Charlie get confused as she kept reintroducing herself was extremely fun to read).
The fact that they kept finding themselves at the same events was hilarious, as they could not escape one another even if they tried.

Charlie was a cup of Black coffee with 3 spoonful’s of sugar: Stoic and a bit icy to the outside world, yet as sweet as they come on the inside. He had the weight of the world on his shoulders, and he did everything he could to take care of his sister and his grandmother.

Elizabeth was such a fun yet sweet character. She was aware of her privilege, but she strived to become something of herself.
Seeing Charlie make her feel proud of her accomplishments, was heart warming.
Her competitive side was my favorite aspect of her, specially, after Charlie found out about it and used it to his advantage.

This story contains a plethora of side characters: From Elizabeth’s family (and yes, we get to see the king and queen Scarlett and Crew, as well as Oliver), to Charlie’s family, to Elizabeth’s friends.
The friend group dynamic is everything and more. They are protective of each other, yet funny and willing to throw harmless jabs and embarrass each other, just like life-long friends would.

The next book will be Kit’s story. Judging by the little tid-bits of information we got from the last chapters, it will probably by a Boss x Secretary relationship, one of my all-time favorite tropes.

Fig and Blythe may also have a book, but this one’s not confirmed, I’m just basing it on Charlie’s internal monologue in the epilogue. Based on his reaction to Fig and Blythe standing by each other, I’m willing to bet he will be as protective as they come.

*Thank you, to the author and Valentine pr for the ARC
Profile Image for Katie Boulay.
152 reviews14 followers
October 22, 2024
If you’re a fan of like Maxton Hall, old money, princess diaries that is the vibes I’m getting from this book all wrapped up into one!! I’m always a big CW girl, but I really really REALLY enjoyed this one! It got me out of my book slump to be completely frank! It’s a slow burn with on again off again, but not so much that gets you frustrated. It makes your heart hurt for them, but oh so giddy when they figure it all out! Lili is THE it girl that I want to be, and Charlie is the gentleman out of a fairytale. And I’m sorry THE car scene?? oh my.

Y’all bare with me, I’m finally getting all my missing reviews from the hurricane in😅

-enemies to lovers
-second chance?
-self discovery/growth
-old money
-forbidden love??
-reformed playboy
- they both fall hard friends
Profile Image for meg.
409 reviews87 followers
July 9, 2025
4.5 stars as lilli and charlie were great and had the buzz! no third act breakup but a couple of filler scenes knocked it down .5 stars 😁
Profile Image for maitha.
24 reviews
December 30, 2024
5 ⭐️’s

I mean, how could I not pick this up with a title like that??? Taylor Swift would be proud. And let me tell you, this book did not disappoint. It was like diving headfirst into a storm, intense, chaotic, and somehow beautiful. The characters weren’t just people; they were entire worlds, each with their own mess and magic. The story? It didn’t drag me in, it yanked me by the collar. I could feel every word. 4.5 stars because perfection is rare, but this came awfully close.


meme if you don’t read this, I’m disowning you!!!!
Profile Image for Catarina Vieira | umlivroduplicado.
698 reviews57 followers
October 18, 2024
This story was truly enjoyable for me!

Charlie and Lili were such a good couple with an amazing chemistry - you know that couples that you can feel how into each other they are? They were one of those couples that we totally end up loving!

I loved Lili from the start and her family dynamic as well as her friends group was so amazing to read and know about!

But, for me, it was charlie that stole the show!! I was on my knees for him - his background and how obsesse he was with Lili made me SCREAM FROM HAPPINESS and I found myself giggling and kicking my feet all the time!

Long short story: if you love billionaire romance, royality and a couple with hot chemistry read this one!!
Profile Image for Roza.
215 reviews203 followers
December 31, 2024
4 ⭐ This was better then i was expecting! It's more of a 3.5 star but as it's the last read of 2024 I will round it up to 4 and hope all next year reads will be better 😂 First meeting was cute then it got little slow but after the wedding get away it picked up and I actually loved their moments! They were cute and you could see how much both cared and loved each other. I think some stuff could've been different but overall I liked the couple and plot was okay too.

Happy New Year Everyone 🎆
Hope 2025 will be a great year for all of us ❤️
Profile Image for Katie W.
239 reviews
February 12, 2025
I didn’t love it but I didn’t hate it either… cute romance but also couldn’t get past the “rich kids trying to still be humble while traveling on a private jet” vibes.
Profile Image for momma_who_reads.
247 reviews7 followers
October 11, 2024
“I love you, Charlie. So much. It absolutely terrifies me how much I love you. How my life felt perfectly full until you walked off when Chloe called me and how I’ve thought about you ever since. How you’re the person I want when I’m happy or hurt or scared or … always. I want you always. And I’ll wait, however long it takes for you to sort things out, because I don’t want anyone else.”

If there’s one thing you need to know about me, I go FERAL for a second gen book and False Gods did NOT disappoint! Seeing Crew and Scarlett as parents and getting a glimpse into their relationship again, LIVED FOR IT! Crew as a dad, everything I could hope for.

Lilli and Charlie, oh you stubborn, stubborn people!! I don’t think I’ve ever read a book with two such stubborn main characters!! I spent so much of this book wanting to shake them both into TALKING to each other!! Their chemistry was fire but I was ready to throw my kindle at them so many time!! I loved them so much together and every time they separated… argh!!! As frustrating as they were I absolutely loved this story so much!! Can’t wait for Kit to be taken down some pegs in book 2!

“You wreck my control just by existing, Elizabeth Kensington.”
Profile Image for Maggie | MagReadsBooks.
489 reviews16 followers
October 2, 2024
False God, the first in Farnsworth new Kensingtons series, felt a lot different than her sports romance stories that I usually read. I LOVED the early meetings between Lili and Charlie, as they were funny and kept me on my toes. I loved not knowing how these two were going to react to each other every single time they ran into each other from page 1 to 429. It had strong British humor vibes, which I loved.

I liked the dynamic between the two as they navigated two very different places in life. Lili always felt like the black sheep of her family, with different ambitions and motivations to get through. Charlie was very determined into adulthood, but always knew where he would end up- just not that it would be so soon or in those circumstances. The "secret" tension was a bit drawn out for me, as we all kind of know how those storylines go, but it didn't deter too much from the romance storyline that was my favorite part.

Overall, while not my normal read, I did enjoy the story. There was very little set up for what's next (I was shocked it was family not friend group based on the amount of content) so I think it will be interesting to see another side of the Kensington family. I am assuming this is a second gen series, so I would assume reading the first set of books would have heightened the intrigue of this book had I read them first.
Profile Image for Travelogged Blogs.
1,555 reviews129 followers
October 10, 2024
"Most of my life, I didn’t know Charles Marlborough existed. And now, it’s hard to remember a time when he didn’t cross my mind hourly."

This book was exactly what I needed to get out of my reading slump! The push and pull between Lili & Charlie was excellent and kept me engaged! I loved Lili, she was confident, smart and kind but also had a vulnerable side that set her apart. Charlie was a bit hard to understand initially but he didn't play games and was pretty much a sorted and good guy. The chemistry between them was palpable and the ending was also very adorable. And getting to see Crew, Scarlett, Oliver & Hannah again was so fun! Overall, this book was enjoyable and I finished it in one sitting! Can't wait for more to come from this world!

I received an ARC in exchange of an honest review
Profile Image for nicole.
591 reviews3 followers
October 15, 2024
communication issues galore but I loved it
Profile Image for Mary.
449 reviews8 followers
October 16, 2024
I loved Charlie and Lili; two people born into legacies, albeit different ones, and neither one cares about the titles or the wealth.
Though, the half truths and omissions and misunderstandings were beginning to bother me. The reluctance and trepidation made sense at times, but it was still aggravating.
I enjoyed the characters, the group of friends, and the journey Charlie had after his father's death.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 502 reviews

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