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Vancouver Storm #2
The Fake Out
Gegen die Macht der Liebe gibt es keine Verteidigungsstrategie
Hazel ist die Physiotherapeutin der Eishockey-Mannschaft „Vancouver Storm“. Als ausgerechnet ihr Ex Connor als neuer Spieler im Team begrüßt wird, ist sie kurz davor, alles hinzuwerfen. Die Beziehung zu ihm war ein riesiger Fehler, den sie einfach nur vergessen möchte.
Auf Rory liegen die Hoffnungen des Trainers. Doch er befindet sich in einer Krise und zweifelt grundsätzlich an seiner Karriere. Gegen den Rivalen Connor empfindet er von Anfang an eine heftige Abneigung. Was läge da näher, als sich mit Hazel zusammen zu tun und ein Liebespaar vorzugeben, um Connor zu reizen? Womit die beiden nicht rechnen: dass aus ihrem Spiel rasch Ernst wird …
Hazel ist die Physiotherapeutin der Eishockey-Mannschaft „Vancouver Storm“. Als ausgerechnet ihr Ex Connor als neuer Spieler im Team begrüßt wird, ist sie kurz davor, alles hinzuwerfen. Die Beziehung zu ihm war ein riesiger Fehler, den sie einfach nur vergessen möchte.
Auf Rory liegen die Hoffnungen des Trainers. Doch er befindet sich in einer Krise und zweifelt grundsätzlich an seiner Karriere. Gegen den Rivalen Connor empfindet er von Anfang an eine heftige Abneigung. Was läge da näher, als sich mit Hazel zusammen zu tun und ein Liebespaar vorzugeben, um Connor zu reizen? Womit die beiden nicht rechnen: dass aus ihrem Spiel rasch Ernst wird …
465 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 7, 2023
11478 people are currently reading
124694 people want to read
About the author
Stephanie Archer
13 books11.9k followersStephanie writes spicy, hilarious rom-coms. Her books feature sharp banter, stubborn women, lots of laughs, and guaranteed HEA’s. She lives in Vancouver, Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 14,101 reviews
January 13, 2024
i was scratching my head on how to rate this one because it wasn’t incredibly unique or the MOST deeply emotional
but there isn’t a single thing i’d change about this book. it was sexy, fun, romantic, and the characters were really likable. i’ve struck out with soooo many sports romance from my favorite authors lately. so it’s refreshing to read something so great by an author i haven’t previously had any luck with.
definitely check this out if you’re looking for a slump buster 🫶🏻
but there isn’t a single thing i’d change about this book. it was sexy, fun, romantic, and the characters were really likable. i’ve struck out with soooo many sports romance from my favorite authors lately. so it’s refreshing to read something so great by an author i haven’t previously had any luck with.
definitely check this out if you’re looking for a slump buster 🫶🏻
June 25, 2025
If you’re looking for a fun, insanely bingeable, spicy hockey romance that will make you giggle and kick your feet… YUPPPPPP THIS IS IT! Was it my favorite hockey romance ever? No, but it was exactly what I needed! I quite literally could not put this down!
- fake dating
- golden retriever MMC who’s absolutely obsessed with her in the best way
- athletic trainer black cat FMC
- he falls first
- banterrrrrrr
Rory. Miller. That is all.
- fake dating
- golden retriever MMC who’s absolutely obsessed with her in the best way
- athletic trainer black cat FMC
- he falls first
- banterrrrrrr
Rory. Miller. That is all.
November 23, 2024
5 stars
This book was an absolute delight! It was so wholesome and cute! Every moment was brimming with cuteness, and i found myself living for each and every adorable interaction. I was craving a good sweet romance, and this one delivered perfectly. I'm in love with these characters 🥺🎀🧸
⌞ Rory Miller & Hazel Hartley ⌝ ✴︎˚｡⋆
Rory and Hazel are perfect for each other! their relationship was sweet, healthy, and full of the kind of warmth that makes you root for them. They teased each other in the most adorable ways, showed they cared deeply, and were refreshingly honest about everything. also, the smut? 🤭 the dirty talking? jejshshsj
⌗ –
Rory's love language is all about giving gifts and making things right. He absolutely loved spoiling Hazel and never hesitated to show how much he cared. even though he kept his feelings to himself when they were in high school because she was dating someone else, the moment he saw her again, it was game over for everyone else. He's the ultimate green flag, completely head over heels for Hazel. His compliments, the way he hyped her up, and his constant support were so wholesome. 🤭
⌗ –
⌗ –
Hazel was such a well-written character. The way her quirks and concerns were portrayed felt so genuine. she was truly amazing and matched Rory's energy perfectly, giving him just as much support as he gave her. She was the perfect balance to Rory, and i liked her a lot 💗
⌗ –
The parents' relationship and Rory's constant struggle with the spotlight left me in awe. It was clear how selfless he was, especially when he saw hockey as a team effort instead of a spotlight for himself. His character development was great, showing how he wanted to be better and happier <3
“My dad never gave a shit about me playing hockey. It didn’t matter that I played professionally or broke records.”
“I didn’t want you to think I didn’t care,” he says quietly.”
I thought his dad might be bad, but those last chapters were so emotional. knowing his parents' perspective made it clear they were doing their best to show love and support in their own way. his dad was grumpy and overbearing, but his backstory with his own father explained so much. and his mom's regrets about their strained relationship made sense. I just loved that they reconciled in the end and are going on dates and therapy. His father genuinely loved his mother.
• I'm a bit puzzled about Hayden and Darcy tho. like, her and Kit have been together for seven years, and he's genuinely a nice person. But i know the author might do something to make him seem bad just for the sake of the couple.
This book was an absolute delight! It was so wholesome and cute! Every moment was brimming with cuteness, and i found myself living for each and every adorable interaction. I was craving a good sweet romance, and this one delivered perfectly. I'm in love with these characters 🥺🎀🧸
“You’re so beautiful that it makes my chest hurt.”
⌞ Rory Miller & Hazel Hartley ⌝ ✴︎˚｡⋆
Rory and Hazel are perfect for each other! their relationship was sweet, healthy, and full of the kind of warmth that makes you root for them. They teased each other in the most adorable ways, showed they cared deeply, and were refreshingly honest about everything. also, the smut? 🤭 the dirty talking? jejshshsj
⌗ –
“You’re so patient.”
“You’re worth the wait.”
Rory's love language is all about giving gifts and making things right. He absolutely loved spoiling Hazel and never hesitated to show how much he cared. even though he kept his feelings to himself when they were in high school because she was dating someone else, the moment he saw her again, it was game over for everyone else. He's the ultimate green flag, completely head over heels for Hazel. His compliments, the way he hyped her up, and his constant support were so wholesome. 🤭
⌗ –
“There’s a beat where we glance at each other again before looking away. He’s flushing, I think."– ugh
⌗ –
“My feelings for her are so fucking obvious it’s not even funny.”– 🤌🏻🥺
Hazel was such a well-written character. The way her quirks and concerns were portrayed felt so genuine. she was truly amazing and matched Rory's energy perfectly, giving him just as much support as he gave her. She was the perfect balance to Rory, and i liked her a lot 💗
⌗ –
“Can I tell you something?”
“I love you”
The parents' relationship and Rory's constant struggle with the spotlight left me in awe. It was clear how selfless he was, especially when he saw hockey as a team effort instead of a spotlight for himself. His character development was great, showing how he wanted to be better and happier <3
“My dad never gave a shit about me playing hockey. It didn’t matter that I played professionally or broke records.”
“I didn’t want you to think I didn’t care,” he says quietly.”
I thought his dad might be bad, but those last chapters were so emotional. knowing his parents' perspective made it clear they were doing their best to show love and support in their own way. his dad was grumpy and overbearing, but his backstory with his own father explained so much. and his mom's regrets about their strained relationship made sense. I just loved that they reconciled in the end and are going on dates and therapy. His father genuinely loved his mother.
• I'm a bit puzzled about Hayden and Darcy tho. like, her and Kit have been together for seven years, and he's genuinely a nice person. But i know the author might do something to make him seem bad just for the sake of the couple.
August 6, 2025
4.45!
“I think maybe I’ve always loved her, because this feeling in my chest isn’t new. I just have a name for it now.”
Started this series just because of this book and book 4, and I don't care if I had to push through book one because 'The Fake Out' was everything I wanted it to be. Let's start with the writing, I believe I could read any Stephanie Archer book and not be bored. Her prose is so addicting and consuming. The best part is that all her books have short chapters, making them easy to breeze through. The writing is very easy to follow, and it's so engaging, the way she blends the humor, romance, and the mental health rep goes in such a nice fashion. She truly made this series captivating because I am devouring one after the other 😋
“And even when we’re a hundred years old,” he whispers, “I’ll be flirting with you to get your attention.”
Rory Miller, When I tell you that this man carried the entire book on his shoulders. Hazel needs to give him a massage cuz that man's shoulders must hurt after carrying the entire story. I loved his character so much, mainly because he was so charismatic and energetic. His flirty nature was blush-inducing 🙂↕️, and oh my god, the mouth on this man 🥵. I loved his interactions with Hazel, the way he chased after her, and how he dealt with some of the situations. The whole storyline with his mother was written very well, and it made me very emotional. The storyline with his father, on the other hand, uff, I feel so bad for him 😔 Hazel Hartley, I loved how she played hard to get. I loved her ability to be professional and her revenge on Connor. She was such an interesting character to read about, her pov's were able to match Rory's (which is a massive compliment) because not once did I sigh in irritation, nor was I bored, and I also loved how she urged Rory to meet his mom. I love her so much!!
“I hate Rory Miller’s stupid fucking arrogant grin. I hate it so much that I think about it all the time.”
The romance slapped! Like, I went in expecting a lush swoonworthy romance, and this is exactly what I got, with Hazel playing hard to get and Rory's flirting, the yearning was insanely good, the chemistry?? Off the charts. The tension?? Radiating off the pages. The spicy scenes were so hot, I'm not even joking, they were so well written, and some of them were so well placed given the situations. Their domestic moments were even cuter, them being there for each other whenever the other wanted them. Both of them support each other's decisions regarding their parents; Rory complementing Hazel's mother because of her insecurities was so sweet. These two had a great romance, and idk how the next one is going to beat this.
I'm going to start book 4 before book 3 because I need to know about the hype.
“I love you. I was scared to say it. I’m still scared, but – I always want you to know you’re loved.”
Overall, a stunning sequel!
___
Roryyy, I just know I will love you so much 🙂↕️ Hoping it's 5 stars<3
“I think maybe I’ve always loved her, because this feeling in my chest isn’t new. I just have a name for it now.”
Started this series just because of this book and book 4, and I don't care if I had to push through book one because 'The Fake Out' was everything I wanted it to be. Let's start with the writing, I believe I could read any Stephanie Archer book and not be bored. Her prose is so addicting and consuming. The best part is that all her books have short chapters, making them easy to breeze through. The writing is very easy to follow, and it's so engaging, the way she blends the humor, romance, and the mental health rep goes in such a nice fashion. She truly made this series captivating because I am devouring one after the other 😋
“And even when we’re a hundred years old,” he whispers, “I’ll be flirting with you to get your attention.”
Rory Miller, When I tell you that this man carried the entire book on his shoulders. Hazel needs to give him a massage cuz that man's shoulders must hurt after carrying the entire story. I loved his character so much, mainly because he was so charismatic and energetic. His flirty nature was blush-inducing 🙂↕️, and oh my god, the mouth on this man 🥵. I loved his interactions with Hazel, the way he chased after her, and how he dealt with some of the situations. The whole storyline with his mother was written very well, and it made me very emotional. The storyline with his father, on the other hand, uff, I feel so bad for him 😔 Hazel Hartley, I loved how she played hard to get. I loved her ability to be professional and her revenge on Connor. She was such an interesting character to read about, her pov's were able to match Rory's (which is a massive compliment) because not once did I sigh in irritation, nor was I bored, and I also loved how she urged Rory to meet his mom. I love her so much!!
“I hate Rory Miller’s stupid fucking arrogant grin. I hate it so much that I think about it all the time.”
The romance slapped! Like, I went in expecting a lush swoonworthy romance, and this is exactly what I got, with Hazel playing hard to get and Rory's flirting, the yearning was insanely good, the chemistry?? Off the charts. The tension?? Radiating off the pages. The spicy scenes were so hot, I'm not even joking, they were so well written, and some of them were so well placed given the situations. Their domestic moments were even cuter, them being there for each other whenever the other wanted them. Both of them support each other's decisions regarding their parents; Rory complementing Hazel's mother because of her insecurities was so sweet. These two had a great romance, and idk how the next one is going to beat this.
I'm going to start book 4 before book 3 because I need to know about the hype.
“I love you. I was scared to say it. I’m still scared, but – I always want you to know you’re loved.”
Overall, a stunning sequel!
___
Roryyy, I just know I will love you so much 🙂↕️ Hoping it's 5 stars<3
December 26, 2023
writing: fine | plot: she had RANGE–from body positivity to backdoor activities in the same chapter go off 😂 | ending: woah nelly | spice: I have qs but I don't need answers
my opinion
FINALLY. After dnf-ing no less than 10 hockey romances, I found what that I enjoyed and powered through in two late ass nights (ask me how fked my sleep schedule is now). I found The Wrong Mr. Right from this author to be meh, which is why I initially avoided this one. Regrets. The Fake Out was MUCH stronger—from the writing, to the plotting, to the character development.
Now, let me make this clear: my ratings for romance are 99% based off vibes because in my irrelevant opinion, the purpose of romcoms is to bring vibes. Just make my lil fidget spinner heart feel something and I'm happy to overlook the low-lights of this book: VERY questionable spice, calling her a fire-breathing dragon, using the f-word 273 times (I love a good f-bomb, but the book is only 438 pages so let's relax), and a very accelerated timeline in the last third that would give a military couple a run for their money.
Now the positives: fun, flirty, sarcastic banter (I lol'd internally). LOVED the body positivity/inclusivity talk. Very realistically portrayed. Next, I liked Rory... and that's saying a lot because I'd chalk up 9/10 of those dnfs to the MMC's pov giving me the ick. Rory was cocky, yes, but not in an angry way. When he asked an unimpressed Hazel if she wanted an autograph after scoring, I smiled like a loser because THAT'S the type of funny, cocky shit I like. She also humanized him with his daddy issues (lol) and he was nice to others. You would think that's bare minimum, but trust me, some of these MMCs are one dry spell away from becoming an incel.
Anyways. Ineth conclusioneth *posh accent*, is this perfect? No. But is it fun? Yes. Looking forward to Hayden's story next!!!!
pros & cons
pros: loved the banter, great body positivity/inclusivity rep, bingeable, Rory💖, both characters had well flushed out backgrounds, just good vibes
cons: some of the spicy scenes were highly out of pocket, A LOT of f-bombs (and that's saying something because I swear like a sailor), a bit corny but it's romcom so yolo (yes I still say yolo)
___
Check out my YouTube and my TikTok
my opinion
FINALLY. After dnf-ing no less than 10 hockey romances, I found what that I enjoyed and powered through in two late ass nights (ask me how fked my sleep schedule is now). I found The Wrong Mr. Right from this author to be meh, which is why I initially avoided this one. Regrets. The Fake Out was MUCH stronger—from the writing, to the plotting, to the character development.
Now, let me make this clear: my ratings for romance are 99% based off vibes because in my irrelevant opinion, the purpose of romcoms is to bring vibes. Just make my lil fidget spinner heart feel something and I'm happy to overlook the low-lights of this book: VERY questionable spice, calling her a fire-breathing dragon, using the f-word 273 times (I love a good f-bomb, but the book is only 438 pages so let's relax), and a very accelerated timeline in the last third that would give a military couple a run for their money.
Now the positives: fun, flirty, sarcastic banter (I lol'd internally). LOVED the body positivity/inclusivity talk. Very realistically portrayed. Next, I liked Rory... and that's saying a lot because I'd chalk up 9/10 of those dnfs to the MMC's pov giving me the ick. Rory was cocky, yes, but not in an angry way. When he asked an unimpressed Hazel if she wanted an autograph after scoring, I smiled like a loser because THAT'S the type of funny, cocky shit I like. She also humanized him with his daddy issues (lol) and he was nice to others. You would think that's bare minimum, but trust me, some of these MMCs are one dry spell away from becoming an incel.
Anyways. Ineth conclusioneth *posh accent*, is this perfect? No. But is it fun? Yes. Looking forward to Hayden's story next!!!!
pros & cons
pros: loved the banter, great body positivity/inclusivity rep, bingeable, Rory💖, both characters had well flushed out backgrounds, just good vibes
cons: some of the spicy scenes were highly out of pocket, A LOT of f-bombs (and that's saying something because I swear like a sailor), a bit corny but it's romcom so yolo (yes I still say yolo)
___
Check out my YouTube and my TikTok
December 11, 2023
loved doing br with my pookie Iqra 💗
i’m too lazy for a review🤡 just go read this🫵🏼 trust me💋 and go read this right now 🫦💗
If my heart is a house, Rory now lives there.
“I’m so proud of you,” she says, and I memorize this moment to keep with me forever, this quiet stillness with someone I never thought I’d have.
“It’s like we’re in a snow globe,” I whisper, and she smiles as I lean down to kiss her.
“You’re my tiny fire-breathing dragon.”
~~~~~
TAKE MY MONEY 💰💰💰💰💰🤗🤗🤗
GIVE THIS TO ME RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!❗️❗️❗️❗️👹👹👹👹
i’m too lazy for a review🤡 just go read this🫵🏼 trust me💋 and go read this right now 🫦💗
If my heart is a house, Rory now lives there.
“I’m so proud of you,” she says, and I memorize this moment to keep with me forever, this quiet stillness with someone I never thought I’d have.
“It’s like we’re in a snow globe,” I whisper, and she smiles as I lean down to kiss her.
“You’re my tiny fire-breathing dragon.”
~~~~~
TAKE MY MONEY 💰💰💰💰💰🤗🤗🤗
GIVE THIS TO ME RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!❗️❗️❗️❗️👹👹👹👹
June 1, 2024
4.5 stars*
i love to have fun!!!!!!
i love to have fun!!!!!!
December 13, 2023
PLS IF YOU TAKE ANYTHING AWAY FROM MY BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS, LET IT BE THE FAKE OUT AND STEPHANIE ARCHER.
i can’t even put into words how much i loved this book and it gave EVERYTHING.
emotionally intelligent characters who both go through personal development and help each other and are just so lovable and perfect in their flaws? check.
absolutely, laugh out loud funny, witty, banter that had me giggling and swinging my feet? check.
the most delicious build up of chemistry that had me grinning and tearing through the pages to finally see them together? check.
the most adorable, sweet, obsessed, incredible love? check.
simply perfect. just trust me and read it. rory miller is without a doubt her best hero. he was cocky and funny but also the most supportive and just so so hot!!!! and hazel!!! i just want to be a grant sister so bad. i love her and she is for the mean, funny girls.
i can’t even put into words how much i loved this book and it gave EVERYTHING.
emotionally intelligent characters who both go through personal development and help each other and are just so lovable and perfect in their flaws? check.
absolutely, laugh out loud funny, witty, banter that had me giggling and swinging my feet? check.
the most delicious build up of chemistry that had me grinning and tearing through the pages to finally see them together? check.
the most adorable, sweet, obsessed, incredible love? check.
simply perfect. just trust me and read it. rory miller is without a doubt her best hero. he was cocky and funny but also the most supportive and just so so hot!!!! and hazel!!! i just want to be a grant sister so bad. i love her and she is for the mean, funny girls.
January 2, 2024
I love hockey romance.
December 30, 2023
BR w My precious pookie 💗🌸💓
ೃ⁀➷ 4.5 stars *ੈ✩‧₊˚
This book, these characters, and this universe will forever live in my head rent-free. The way I fell in love w the side characters as much as the MCs hello??!
Rory has the softest heart ugh while reading I would melttttt bc he would say the most adorable things. He’s husband material 1000%. This guy deserves all the happiness in the world 🥹🥹
the way he immediately recognised when he’s fucked up or done something to upset Hazel and would do the most to make up for it even after he’s apologised 😩 This is the one thing I loved the most about him bc he never gave their arguments any room to grow or cause them to break up/stop talking to each other. The communication was there and it was beautiful 🤧💗
Hazel has my hearttt- no bc when she was falling for him but didn’t realise it, she would say the most wholesome things in her inner monologue for him and I couldn’t stop smiling bc she was so gone for him as he was for her and I loveedddd every second of it.
Hazel and Pippa's loving relationship as siblings made me incredibly happyyyyy. One of the best things abt this book truly.
I also rlly liked how the parents weren’t made out to be the villains and were shown as complex characters. It allowed room for every character to grow and forgive which I love to see in books. It gave more depth to the MCs and now I cannot get over hm I’m in love w this author's writing style.
Also separate mention for the smut in this book bc 😮💨😮💨😮💨😮💨 RoryHazel ate me up w their chemistry. The mouth on this man 🫦 and the way Hazel gave back as good as she got 💅
Cannot wait to rinse this author’s backlist when I need a good pick me up 🤭💗
𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲:
Hayden and Darcy’s story seems interesting but the friends-to-lovers trope and I have a rocky history 😭 I’m still hopeful this author’s writing style might change that for me tho 🤞🤞🤞
ೃ⁀➷ 4.5 stars *ੈ✩‧₊˚
This book, these characters, and this universe will forever live in my head rent-free. The way I fell in love w the side characters as much as the MCs hello??!
Rory has the softest heart ugh while reading I would melttttt bc he would say the most adorable things. He’s husband material 1000%. This guy deserves all the happiness in the world 🥹🥹
the way he immediately recognised when he’s fucked up or done something to upset Hazel and would do the most to make up for it even after he’s apologised 😩 This is the one thing I loved the most about him bc he never gave their arguments any room to grow or cause them to break up/stop talking to each other. The communication was there and it was beautiful 🤧💗
Hazel has my hearttt- no bc when she was falling for him but didn’t realise it, she would say the most wholesome things in her inner monologue for him and I couldn’t stop smiling bc she was so gone for him as he was for her and I loveedddd every second of it.
Hazel and Pippa's loving relationship as siblings made me incredibly happyyyyy. One of the best things abt this book truly.
I also rlly liked how the parents weren’t made out to be the villains and were shown as complex characters. It allowed room for every character to grow and forgive which I love to see in books. It gave more depth to the MCs and now I cannot get over hm I’m in love w this author's writing style.
Also separate mention for the smut in this book bc 😮💨😮💨😮💨😮💨 RoryHazel ate me up w their chemistry. The mouth on this man 🫦 and the way Hazel gave back as good as she got 💅
Cannot wait to rinse this author’s backlist when I need a good pick me up 🤭💗
𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲:
Hayden and Darcy’s story seems interesting but the friends-to-lovers trope and I have a rocky history 😭 I’m still hopeful this author’s writing style might change that for me tho 🤞🤞🤞
March 7, 2025
5 stars
My obsession with hockey romances and Rory Miller has no limits. I have read my fair share of this genre, but this book is so special to me and definitely my favourite in this series. I loved everything about this book, and I don’t think it 500 pages were enough because I need more of Rory and Hazel. I simply couldn’t put it down or live my life as a normal person because my head and heart were filled with Rory and Hazel.
The Fake Out is pure perfection and a gem in the hockey romance genre. Stephanie Archer won my heart with this book. Her writing has improved, and the way she crafted one of the cutest, healthiest, and most mature romances ever written in this genre is commendable. The story is simple, but her layered and compelling narrative pulled me right into its depths. This is a feel-good romance book and a perfect blend of laughter, swoons, and wholesome, emotional moments. I am also loving the found family that only seems to be growing with each book.
Rory Miller, the kind, hilarious, and gentle man, has me wrapped around his little finger. I love this man an insane amount. He’s the perfect mix of cocky and arrogant, with a competitive and playful streak, but he has a heartfelt candour that makes me melt for him every time. In simple words, in a fictional world of toxic hockey players, he is truly a gentleman. Rory is a great player, but him going through a burnout phase added more depth to his character. I appreciate how he tried to be someone he could be proud of and not just a star hockey player his dad made him to be. He’s also a bit unhinged when it comes to Hazel, and I loved it when he did something completely out of character just for her. His sweet and caring nature, paired with his raw honesty, made me love him even more. His love languages had me feeling all giddy because this man loves to treat his woman right—he loves to give her gifts, and his words of affection and affirmation to make her feel special were so sweet.
“I want Hazel in my head. I like her there, taking up space, watching with that approving little smile. Hazel stepped into my mind, and good things started happening in my life.”
Hazel Hartley can’t stand Rory Miller, and she hates hockey players. In the previous book, Hazel’s character was more of an ice queen sister who couldn’t be melted by just any hockey player. She is all sharp edges, with a confident, independent, and calm persona that makes people wary of her. But behind all those rough edges is a gentle heart that is kind and affectionate with the right people. There was also a subtle vulnerability to her character when it came to her career and how she only wanted to do her best for her mother and herself. I love how she leaned into it instead of being afraid of it, making it her strength to work through her issues. I love how she encouraged Rory when he was struggling, how much she understood him, and how she tried to be there for him even when her biggest fear was loving someone.
“I can already feel it starting—this urge to be the loving, encouraging person he needs in his life.”
Rory and Hazel have such a beautiful and effortless relationship. There was animosity between them, but it only heightened their chemistry to another level. Rory loved Hazel long before, and seeing him work his magic in their fake relationship charade to make Hazel fall for him was so adorable. They have fiery banter, and the teasing back and forth that had been going on for years fuelled the tension between them, which burned even hotter once they started fake dating. They are so good at riling each other up, and both have a competitive streak, so neither backs down without a fight.
There is something about the effortless simplicity of love that tugs at my heartstrings every time, and what Rory and Hazel had was simple, pure, and wholesome. No unnecessary drama—just their slowly progressing friendship, that felt strange yet comforting, and love made better by eliminating fears with effort, actions, communication, and reassurances.
There was no third-act breakup, and it was refreshing to see characters communicate like adults. I loved how everything was wrapped up and how there are some potential couples for future books in the series that I’m excited to read about. I can’t wait to see the other hockey players get their own love stories—especially the grumpy goalie!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I NEED RORY MILLER. PLEASE AND THANKYOU.
my third hockey romance this month already 😗 I need some serious help 😭
“If my heart is a house, Rory now lives there.”
My obsession with hockey romances and Rory Miller has no limits. I have read my fair share of this genre, but this book is so special to me and definitely my favourite in this series. I loved everything about this book, and I don’t think it 500 pages were enough because I need more of Rory and Hazel. I simply couldn’t put it down or live my life as a normal person because my head and heart were filled with Rory and Hazel.
The Fake Out is pure perfection and a gem in the hockey romance genre. Stephanie Archer won my heart with this book. Her writing has improved, and the way she crafted one of the cutest, healthiest, and most mature romances ever written in this genre is commendable. The story is simple, but her layered and compelling narrative pulled me right into its depths. This is a feel-good romance book and a perfect blend of laughter, swoons, and wholesome, emotional moments. I am also loving the found family that only seems to be growing with each book.
“It’s not fake anymore,” I whisper. “Is it?” Rory shakes his head. “No, Hartley. It isn’t.”
“It hasn’t been fake for me for a long time.”
Rory Miller, the kind, hilarious, and gentle man, has me wrapped around his little finger. I love this man an insane amount. He’s the perfect mix of cocky and arrogant, with a competitive and playful streak, but he has a heartfelt candour that makes me melt for him every time. In simple words, in a fictional world of toxic hockey players, he is truly a gentleman. Rory is a great player, but him going through a burnout phase added more depth to his character. I appreciate how he tried to be someone he could be proud of and not just a star hockey player his dad made him to be. He’s also a bit unhinged when it comes to Hazel, and I loved it when he did something completely out of character just for her. His sweet and caring nature, paired with his raw honesty, made me love him even more. His love languages had me feeling all giddy because this man loves to treat his woman right—he loves to give her gifts, and his words of affection and affirmation to make her feel special were so sweet.
“I want Hazel in my head. I like her there, taking up space, watching with that approving little smile. Hazel stepped into my mind, and good things started happening in my life.”
Hazel Hartley can’t stand Rory Miller, and she hates hockey players. In the previous book, Hazel’s character was more of an ice queen sister who couldn’t be melted by just any hockey player. She is all sharp edges, with a confident, independent, and calm persona that makes people wary of her. But behind all those rough edges is a gentle heart that is kind and affectionate with the right people. There was also a subtle vulnerability to her character when it came to her career and how she only wanted to do her best for her mother and herself. I love how she leaned into it instead of being afraid of it, making it her strength to work through her issues. I love how she encouraged Rory when he was struggling, how much she understood him, and how she tried to be there for him even when her biggest fear was loving someone.
“I can already feel it starting—this urge to be the loving, encouraging person he needs in his life.”
Rory and Hazel have such a beautiful and effortless relationship. There was animosity between them, but it only heightened their chemistry to another level. Rory loved Hazel long before, and seeing him work his magic in their fake relationship charade to make Hazel fall for him was so adorable. They have fiery banter, and the teasing back and forth that had been going on for years fuelled the tension between them, which burned even hotter once they started fake dating. They are so good at riling each other up, and both have a competitive streak, so neither backs down without a fight.
“Our eyes meet, and her full mouth tips up into a pretty smile. I think maybe I’ve always loved her, because this feeling in my chest isn’t new. I just have a name for it now.”
There is something about the effortless simplicity of love that tugs at my heartstrings every time, and what Rory and Hazel had was simple, pure, and wholesome. No unnecessary drama—just their slowly progressing friendship, that felt strange yet comforting, and love made better by eliminating fears with effort, actions, communication, and reassurances.
“For how long?” She looks so hopeful but uncertain that my heart breaks all over again.
“For as long as you want, Hartley, I’m yours. Even longer, probably.” Forever, I hope.
There was no third-act breakup, and it was refreshing to see characters communicate like adults. I loved how everything was wrapped up and how there are some potential couples for future books in the series that I’m excited to read about. I can’t wait to see the other hockey players get their own love stories—especially the grumpy goalie!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I NEED RORY MILLER. PLEASE AND THANKYOU.
my third hockey romance this month already 😗 I need some serious help 😭
July 14, 2025
જ⁀➴ 𝟑.𝟐𝟓₊˚⊹💜 𝟘𝟟/𝟙𝟚/𝟚𝟝—𝟘𝟟/𝟙𝟛/𝟚𝟝
not bad and pretty quick-paced but overall i don’t think i’ll be reading anymore books from this author (at least specifically from this series).
to be honest, i don’t understand all the good reviews because this book was just so mediocre. it was so insta-lovey, like where was the she hates him, he likes her trope i was looking for?? they already liked each other by the first quarter and we’re already fooling around…what happened to a slow burn?! and it was also about 100 pages too long because why was more than half the book already them together?! look, long contemporary romance books can be fun but only if there is an actual plot to sustain it (please authors, bring back plots in books).
i’ve seen a pattern in this author’s books where the premise will be strong and seem really good, then it floats into insta-love with about 15ish chapters (this is not exaggerated) of them doing sexual things. sometimes we need to cut the same repeats of the same scenes and cut it to maybe from 14 chapters to 5 because there is no reason to have all of the same recycled scenes (to put it in icebreaker has 11 chapters).
and this being called fake-dating? why are we lying. in the first quarter they were already doing it. while their banter was fun in the first 150ish pages and i was giggling while reading some of rory’s lines, this was more friends with benefits than fake-dating. i also felt like they were feeling more lust than love as they didn’t really have any reasoning to like each other more than that the other one was hot.
that being said, it is quick-paced and easy to read (how i read it in 2 days despite not loving it) so if you want something easy to get through, this could be an option. if you liked ‘play along’ by liz tomforde, this reminds me of a more spicy, less plot based, more insta-lovey version of it.
╰┈➤ tropes to expect!
✎ gift giving, texts, acts of service
✎ ex boyfriend’s rival
✎ pro-hockey romance
✎ fake dating
✎ spicy, open door romance
✎ he falls first
₊˚⊹ ᰔ 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝:
i didn’t like the first book in this series because i thought it was too spicy (i like spice but when it’s every other chapter and the plot is practically vanishing away, it gets to a point) and too insta-lovey but i’ve only heard amazing things about this book and the rest of the series!! 💜👀 also just letting y’all know the first book had more spice than ice breaker…
not bad and pretty quick-paced but overall i don’t think i’ll be reading anymore books from this author (at least specifically from this series).
to be honest, i don’t understand all the good reviews because this book was just so mediocre. it was so insta-lovey, like where was the she hates him, he likes her trope i was looking for?? they already liked each other by the first quarter and we’re already fooling around…what happened to a slow burn?! and it was also about 100 pages too long because why was more than half the book already them together?! look, long contemporary romance books can be fun but only if there is an actual plot to sustain it (please authors, bring back plots in books).
i’ve seen a pattern in this author’s books where the premise will be strong and seem really good, then it floats into insta-love with about 15ish chapters (this is not exaggerated) of them doing sexual things. sometimes we need to cut the same repeats of the same scenes and cut it to maybe from 14 chapters to 5 because there is no reason to have all of the same recycled scenes (to put it in icebreaker has 11 chapters).
and this being called fake-dating? why are we lying. in the first quarter they were already doing it. while their banter was fun in the first 150ish pages and i was giggling while reading some of rory’s lines, this was more friends with benefits than fake-dating. i also felt like they were feeling more lust than love as they didn’t really have any reasoning to like each other more than that the other one was hot.
that being said, it is quick-paced and easy to read (how i read it in 2 days despite not loving it) so if you want something easy to get through, this could be an option. if you liked ‘play along’ by liz tomforde, this reminds me of a more spicy, less plot based, more insta-lovey version of it.
╰┈➤ tropes to expect!
✎ gift giving, texts, acts of service
✎ ex boyfriend’s rival
✎ pro-hockey romance
✎ fake dating
✎ spicy, open door romance
✎ he falls first
₊˚⊹ ᰔ 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝:
i didn’t like the first book in this series because i thought it was too spicy (i like spice but when it’s every other chapter and the plot is practically vanishing away, it gets to a point) and too insta-lovey but i’ve only heard amazing things about this book and the rest of the series!! 💜👀 also just letting y’all know the first book had more spice than ice breaker…
Read
November 28, 2025₊˚⊹⋆ ⛸️ pre-read
⤿ started november 16 • finished november 19
okay so i literally love them with my whole heart ?!!?! rtc🥹
another day another hockey romance !! the first book was pretty mid but i adore rory & im beyond excited to get his pov (especially w miss hazel hartley 😩)
⤿ started november 16 • finished november 19
okay so i literally love them with my whole heart ?!!?! rtc🥹
another day another hockey romance !! the first book was pretty mid but i adore rory & im beyond excited to get his pov (especially w miss hazel hartley 😩)
dnf
January 15, 2024DNF at 43%. I like the hero but I’m not vibing with the writing at all. I’m also in the mood for something that’s more of a slow burn. This just isn’t doing it for me right now. Their romance just didn’t feel real to me. It was mainly lust based.
I also just think this author is not for me. This is the second book that I dnf by her 😭.
I also just think this author is not for me. This is the second book that I dnf by her 😭.
March 8, 2025
3.85 stars
only reason i didn’t give it 4 stars is bc of the epilogue.. like why was it so fast 😭
only reason i didn’t give it 4 stars is bc of the epilogue.. like why was it so fast 😭
July 10, 2025
barking.
July 17, 2025
3⭐️
If this wasn’t an amazing way to continue a series, I don’t know what is. This was so good!! I did have some issues with this but overall I did enjoy myself and the story.
The romance between Rory and Hazel was that of perfection. I have yet to read a book with that much chemistry and love and care between the characters. Hazel is such a positive light and her character was very relatable and so down to earth. I absolutely adored the way she cares for others and how she views life as a glass half full rather than half empty; it’s extremely refreshing! It hit really close to home when she would try and help her mother with body image and just trying to get her to love herself the way that everyone else does. It was so thoughtful and beautiful to see both of them blossom.
Rory…I would do ANYTHING. For this man!! He cares for the person he loves like the end of the world is coming and he wants to put it all out there. He’s witty and funny and the perfect book boyfriend. I definitely think we could all use a Rory, I think the world would be a better place if we did. 😭 The one thing about him that really stuck out for me was the fact that Rory let NOBODY decide how he should do things. His character growth specifically with his dad on this was beautiful and I loved seeing his redemption arc when Hazel came into his life.
Now, the part I had the whole issue with. I really didn’t care for the fact that this book had little to zero plot. The romance WAS the plot and not just the romance itself, but I wish there was a bit less spice and we got more substance rather than constant sex scenes. I know, this is mainly a personal preference, but if you’re someone who is more plot driven and a book that actually has a point to it, this is not it. The romance in this was incredible I can’t lie; I did love it. However, I wasn’t a huge fan of the way this ‘fake dating’ book was executed. I think it really fell flat in that department cause they already really liked each other before going into it to make Hazel’s ex jealous and I never got that fake dating vibe. It seemed real for the entirety of the book. That’s not me saying that’s a bad thing, but I would’ve liked more tension and angst and build up before jumping straight into the deep end.
Overall, I love this series point blank period. It’s fun, hilarious, sweet, and charming! There’s not actually a whole lot to dislike so far. While this is a hockey romance, the hockey is more on the back burner to the romance and I didn’t actually mind. Like I stated, the romance itself was incredible and the spice was good (but excessive) but it didn’t feel all that fleshed out. I look forward to continuing this series still! It’s the perfect palette cleanser and a pretty quick read so if you’re a hockey lover who also happens to love a feel-good romance with a lot of spice, this would be for you!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
𝓟𝓻𝓮-���𝓮𝓪𝓭:
It's been ages since I read the first book, but I still remember how much I loved it so I hope I feel the same about this one 💜
If this wasn’t an amazing way to continue a series, I don’t know what is. This was so good!! I did have some issues with this but overall I did enjoy myself and the story.
The romance between Rory and Hazel was that of perfection. I have yet to read a book with that much chemistry and love and care between the characters. Hazel is such a positive light and her character was very relatable and so down to earth. I absolutely adored the way she cares for others and how she views life as a glass half full rather than half empty; it’s extremely refreshing! It hit really close to home when she would try and help her mother with body image and just trying to get her to love herself the way that everyone else does. It was so thoughtful and beautiful to see both of them blossom.
Rory…I would do ANYTHING. For this man!! He cares for the person he loves like the end of the world is coming and he wants to put it all out there. He’s witty and funny and the perfect book boyfriend. I definitely think we could all use a Rory, I think the world would be a better place if we did. 😭 The one thing about him that really stuck out for me was the fact that Rory let NOBODY decide how he should do things. His character growth specifically with his dad on this was beautiful and I loved seeing his redemption arc when Hazel came into his life.
Now, the part I had the whole issue with. I really didn’t care for the fact that this book had little to zero plot. The romance WAS the plot and not just the romance itself, but I wish there was a bit less spice and we got more substance rather than constant sex scenes. I know, this is mainly a personal preference, but if you’re someone who is more plot driven and a book that actually has a point to it, this is not it. The romance in this was incredible I can’t lie; I did love it. However, I wasn’t a huge fan of the way this ‘fake dating’ book was executed. I think it really fell flat in that department cause they already really liked each other before going into it to make Hazel’s ex jealous and I never got that fake dating vibe. It seemed real for the entirety of the book. That’s not me saying that’s a bad thing, but I would’ve liked more tension and angst and build up before jumping straight into the deep end.
Overall, I love this series point blank period. It’s fun, hilarious, sweet, and charming! There’s not actually a whole lot to dislike so far. While this is a hockey romance, the hockey is more on the back burner to the romance and I didn’t actually mind. Like I stated, the romance itself was incredible and the spice was good (but excessive) but it didn’t feel all that fleshed out. I look forward to continuing this series still! It’s the perfect palette cleanser and a pretty quick read so if you’re a hockey lover who also happens to love a feel-good romance with a lot of spice, this would be for you!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
𝓟𝓻𝓮-���𝓮𝓪𝓭:
It's been ages since I read the first book, but I still remember how much I loved it so I hope I feel the same about this one 💜
May 29, 2024
4.5 Skating Lesson Stars ⭐
Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Giddy! That is how this book makes you feel! Utterly and completely GIDDY! It had me kicking and squealing, giggling like a schoolgirl with a crush and just overall shaking my legs at how cute and awesome it was.
I was elated at the events that happened and loved how things unfurled. The two flirting with each other was excellent and the way these two migrated from fake to not fake was TEXTBOOK PERFECTION on how to pull off that trope FANTASTICALLY! (Mostly because the lines blurred so well you weren't sure when they realised this is no longer fake between them - because it was WELL BEFORE they told each other).
Hazel is the team's physiotherapist and older sister of Piper, who was the main character in Behind the Net. Hazel has a dilemma, her cheating ex-boyfriend has just been traded into the hockey team she works for and she is assigned as his physiotherapist. He is also the reason Hazel has closed off her heart to any professional sports player - because you can't get hurt if you never open yourself to it in the first place. Rory has been secretly pining after Hazel since she was his math tutor in high school, so to keep her Ex at bay, the two strike up a fake relationship as a way to hinder any advances that her ex might make.
This book does interpersonal relationships really well. Especially how difficult it can be to maintain and work on those relationships. Hazel's relationship with her mother is quite strained as her mother is battling with a body image problem. She was a ballerina that hasn't been able to dance for a while, so is super critical of how she looks. As a result, she doesn't allow herself to try any experiences because of how her body would be perceived. This goes against everything Hazel is trying to achieve with her dream of opening a body-positive yoga studio.
Rory has a strained relationship with both his parents. He believes that choosing hockey and staying with his dad forced his mom away. However, with age, it's become clear that his dad seems to love hockey and only hockey. Being Rory's agent he pushes Rory in directions that don't make him happy anymore causing conflict between the two.
Hazel and Rory's relationship was absolutely beautiful because the two of them bring out the best in each other. Rory makes Hazel see that she can do anything. She can make her dreams a reality and her presence makes people's lives better. He helps her overcome her fear of love and the underlying trauma her ex caused and helps her see how amazing she is. Likewise Hazel makes Rory find his love for hockey again. At the start of the book, has lost touch with what the game means to him. Due to his father's influence, he is just going through the motions and being who he thinks his father wants him to be. But Hazel changes his perspective, opens his heart to collaboration and teamwork and gives him the chance to be his own type of role model allowing him to balance life and hockey in a way his parents never managed to do when he was growing up.
The spice in this was also fun! Rory makes Hazel feel incredibly sexy by sending her a shit ton of lingerie which the two of and enjoy through various phone exchanges and spicy scenes.
Tropes in this include:
▶Enemies Hate to Love
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Hockey Romance
▶ Found Family
▶ Golden Retriever/Cinnamon Roll
▶ Fake Dating
▶ No Third Act Breakup
▶ It's always been you
▶ Forehead Kisses
Overall this felt just like a sweet and cute Hallmark movie, that is just going to make you giddy and smile. It was absolutely adorable and a fantastic book to pick up if you are looking for your next hockey romance fix!
Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Giddy! That is how this book makes you feel! Utterly and completely GIDDY! It had me kicking and squealing, giggling like a schoolgirl with a crush and just overall shaking my legs at how cute and awesome it was.
I was elated at the events that happened and loved how things unfurled. The two flirting with each other was excellent and the way these two migrated from fake to not fake was TEXTBOOK PERFECTION on how to pull off that trope FANTASTICALLY! (Mostly because the lines blurred so well you weren't sure when they realised this is no longer fake between them - because it was WELL BEFORE they told each other).
Hazel is the team's physiotherapist and older sister of Piper, who was the main character in Behind the Net. Hazel has a dilemma, her cheating ex-boyfriend has just been traded into the hockey team she works for and she is assigned as his physiotherapist. He is also the reason Hazel has closed off her heart to any professional sports player - because you can't get hurt if you never open yourself to it in the first place. Rory has been secretly pining after Hazel since she was his math tutor in high school, so to keep her Ex at bay, the two strike up a fake relationship as a way to hinder any advances that her ex might make.
This book does interpersonal relationships really well. Especially how difficult it can be to maintain and work on those relationships. Hazel's relationship with her mother is quite strained as her mother is battling with a body image problem. She was a ballerina that hasn't been able to dance for a while, so is super critical of how she looks. As a result, she doesn't allow herself to try any experiences because of how her body would be perceived. This goes against everything Hazel is trying to achieve with her dream of opening a body-positive yoga studio.
Rory has a strained relationship with both his parents. He believes that choosing hockey and staying with his dad forced his mom away. However, with age, it's become clear that his dad seems to love hockey and only hockey. Being Rory's agent he pushes Rory in directions that don't make him happy anymore causing conflict between the two.
Hazel and Rory's relationship was absolutely beautiful because the two of them bring out the best in each other. Rory makes Hazel see that she can do anything. She can make her dreams a reality and her presence makes people's lives better. He helps her overcome her fear of love and the underlying trauma her ex caused and helps her see how amazing she is. Likewise Hazel makes Rory find his love for hockey again. At the start of the book, has lost touch with what the game means to him. Due to his father's influence, he is just going through the motions and being who he thinks his father wants him to be. But Hazel changes his perspective, opens his heart to collaboration and teamwork and gives him the chance to be his own type of role model allowing him to balance life and hockey in a way his parents never managed to do when he was growing up.
The spice in this was also fun! Rory makes Hazel feel incredibly sexy by sending her a shit ton of lingerie which the two of and enjoy through various phone exchanges and spicy scenes.
Tropes in this include:
▶
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Hockey Romance
▶ Found Family
▶ Golden Retriever/Cinnamon Roll
▶ Fake Dating
▶ No Third Act Breakup
▶ It's always been you
▶ Forehead Kisses
Overall this felt just like a sweet and cute Hallmark movie, that is just going to make you giddy and smile. It was absolutely adorable and a fantastic book to pick up if you are looking for your next hockey romance fix!
December 7, 2023
“You’re so beautiful that it makes my chest hurt.” My heart pounds. “And even when we’re a hundred years old,” he whispers, “I’ll be flirting with you to get your attention.”
the fake out is going down as my fav stephanie archer book (sorry finn!!) rory & hazel’s hate to love fake dating romance was perfect and I loved every second.
when hazel’s ex joins the team she’s a physical therapist for, rory - her borderline nemesis - offers to fake date her so they look good as he just got captain on the team. the two of them forming a friendship, shameless flirting, and the HEAT omg I loved every second.
boy obsessed & soft for only her are two of my fav things and rory is it!!!! he was so good and kind and patient with her. I was giddy, kicking my feet, and blushing the whole time.
thank you sm for an arc!! It’s out now!
read if you like
✨ hockey romance
✨ fake dating
✨ hate to love
✨ golden retriever boy obsessed
✨ found fam vibes
✨ no third act break up (one of my fav things about stephanie’s books tbh)
the fake out is going down as my fav stephanie archer book (sorry finn!!) rory & hazel’s hate to love fake dating romance was perfect and I loved every second.
when hazel’s ex joins the team she’s a physical therapist for, rory - her borderline nemesis - offers to fake date her so they look good as he just got captain on the team. the two of them forming a friendship, shameless flirting, and the HEAT omg I loved every second.
boy obsessed & soft for only her are two of my fav things and rory is it!!!! he was so good and kind and patient with her. I was giddy, kicking my feet, and blushing the whole time.
thank you sm for an arc!! It’s out now!
read if you like
✨ hockey romance
✨ fake dating
✨ hate to love
✨ golden retriever boy obsessed
✨ found fam vibes
✨ no third act break up (one of my fav things about stephanie’s books tbh)
July 14, 2025
changing my rating to 3 stars bc the more i think about it, i didn’t really love it 😭 i’m too lazy to rewrite my review though, so it’s staying as is 🤷♀️
after hating the first book, i was so nervous going into this one, but omg—this one actually worked for me! it felt so much more engaging and fun compared to book one.
hazel was everything i wanted: confident yet grounded. she had snark, heart, and real emotional layers. i loved how she could hold her own and still care deeply — she felt genuinely relatable in the best way.
and rory… my golden retriever hero <3 he was protective, sweet, and genuinely funny. his banter with hazel was top-tier, and he had that "he falls first" charm that hit just right. his POV made me emotional more than once, and the way he loved her?? ugh. obsessed.
the fake dating was fun. the chemistry actually worked this time, and there were so many moments that made me smile. and i loved that there wasn’t a third act breakup — it made everything feel more mature and way more satisfying.
overall, this was so much better than the first book. hazel brought the sass, rory brought the heart, and together their story made me smile, swoon, and root for them hard.
₊˚ ‿︵‿︵‿︵୨୧ · · ♡ · · ୨୧‿︵‿︵‿︵ ˚₊
𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ pre-read ♡⋆°｡⋆𐙚
⤷ even though i hated the first book the excerpt for this one had me smiling like an idiot… so now i’m actually excited for this one??
after hating the first book, i was so nervous going into this one, but omg—this one actually worked for me! it felt so much more engaging and fun compared to book one.
hazel was everything i wanted: confident yet grounded. she had snark, heart, and real emotional layers. i loved how she could hold her own and still care deeply — she felt genuinely relatable in the best way.
and rory… my golden retriever hero <3 he was protective, sweet, and genuinely funny. his banter with hazel was top-tier, and he had that "he falls first" charm that hit just right. his POV made me emotional more than once, and the way he loved her?? ugh. obsessed.
the fake dating was fun. the chemistry actually worked this time, and there were so many moments that made me smile. and i loved that there wasn’t a third act breakup — it made everything feel more mature and way more satisfying.
overall, this was so much better than the first book. hazel brought the sass, rory brought the heart, and together their story made me smile, swoon, and root for them hard.
₊˚ ‿︵‿︵‿︵୨୧ · · ♡ · · ୨୧‿︵‿︵‿︵ ˚₊
𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ pre-read ♡⋆°｡⋆𐙚
⤷ even though i hated the first book the excerpt for this one had me smiling like an idiot… so now i’m actually excited for this one??
December 26, 2023
another 6 star masterpiece😭😭
December 11, 2023
4.5 ⭐
MCs:
- Rory Miller
- Hazel Hartley
Book info:
- Fake dating
- Boy obsessed
- Slowburn
- Sports romance (Hockey)
- Body dysmorphia
- Controlling parent
- OMD
- Non-virgin MCs
- No cheating, owd, 3rd act breakup
- HFN (engaged)
This book was soooo good! I think I smiled most of the time I was reading it and I had so much fun with Rory and Hazel's story.
Background:
Hazel's cheating ex-boyfriend, Connor, was traded to Rory's team, and she was assigned to be his physiotherapist. On their first session, Connor assumed that Hazel was still hung up on him, so she blurted out all of a sudden that she was dating Rory. After all, Connor and Rory had disliked each other since high school, and Hazel thought that using her ex's rival was the best way to show Connor that she had moved on and was no longer affected by him. And Rory was more than happy to take advantage of this opportunity to finally win Hazel over. Hence, the start of their fake dating scheme.
==== Rory ====
Rory has had feelings for Hazel for a long time; when I say he's boy obsessed, he truly had it so bad for her. Even when they were younger, he was drawn to her, and that attraction came back when he saw Hazel a year ago. He was also thrilled to learn that she was the physio for the team he was being traded to. He has been celibate for the past year and a half and has never looked at any other women after seeing Hazel again. I know it's fiction, but this is the level of commitment I would expect from my MMC, and kudos to Rory for setting the bar high.
This guy was cocky and arrogant, but he's also Hazel's sweetest, most protective, loving, and perfect fake boyfriend. He always wants to give her everything she needs and make her smile. Also, he was so smitten with Hazel that he couldn't keep his hand off of her. I can't stop giggling over his flirtatious and seductive antics; they made me feel very hot and bothered. This man was almost perfect, and damn it, he had me wishing I had my own Rory.
==== Hazel ====
For the most part of the book, I liked her. She wound up becoming guarded and settling for hook-ups after her ex cheated on her. To be honest, I didn't mind that she's a player—my double standard is coming through—but I really enjoyed this FMC because it's not something you read very often. Her one-night rule is something she has never broken, yet she did for Rory. However, I find it a little annoying that she hesitates so much all the time because she keeps thinking Rory is the same as her ex. Her reluctance makes sense to me, but he has never given her any reason to worry. He has been a steady guy through and through.
But when Hazel eventually admitted how she really felt for Rory, I did start to like her. She turned into his biggest ally and has stood by him ever since. She showed him how much he was worth of love and assured him that she would always be by his side. Even though it took her a while to realise that she loved him, I'm glad that when she did, she gave her all to the relationship.
==== Overall ====
Rory wants Hazel to want him, but Hazel is hesitant, so the story progresses at a slow burn pace. It took Hazel a while to overcome her mistrust of hockey players. Though they were fooling around, the actual deed occurs at the 80% mark in the story. While I never got bored of the story and these two kept me interested, I find it a bit bothersome that they only became intimate in the final 20% of the book.
The fake dating was entertaining because the tension and chemistry between the MCs were off the charts. I was swooning over their kisses and lingering touches, and I couldn't stop grinning at their scenes.
And the spice, gooood, it was so hot! I was fanning myself over these scenes, and damn, they were both so good at it. I would definitely say it was worth the wait, and readers must bear with it because when it burns, it really burns!
I also appreciated that the MCs were able to resolve their differences with their parents. Hazel and her mother have become closer, and Rory and his family have begun attending therapy. I always thought it was great when characters in stories made the decision to improve themselves.
Overall, I really liked it, and since I can't get enough of Rory, I'll definitely read it again. 😂 The majority of the rating went to him and the work he put into this story. This is definitely worth reading and recommending.
MCs:
- Rory Miller
- Hazel Hartley
Book info:
- Fake dating
- Boy obsessed
- Slowburn
- Sports romance (Hockey)
- Body dysmorphia
- Controlling parent
- OMD
- Non-virgin MCs
- No cheating, owd, 3rd act breakup
- HFN (engaged)
This book was soooo good! I think I smiled most of the time I was reading it and I had so much fun with Rory and Hazel's story.
Background:
Hazel's cheating ex-boyfriend, Connor, was traded to Rory's team, and she was assigned to be his physiotherapist. On their first session, Connor assumed that Hazel was still hung up on him, so she blurted out all of a sudden that she was dating Rory. After all, Connor and Rory had disliked each other since high school, and Hazel thought that using her ex's rival was the best way to show Connor that she had moved on and was no longer affected by him. And Rory was more than happy to take advantage of this opportunity to finally win Hazel over. Hence, the start of their fake dating scheme.
==== Rory ====
Rory has had feelings for Hazel for a long time; when I say he's boy obsessed, he truly had it so bad for her. Even when they were younger, he was drawn to her, and that attraction came back when he saw Hazel a year ago. He was also thrilled to learn that she was the physio for the team he was being traded to. He has been celibate for the past year and a half and has never looked at any other women after seeing Hazel again. I know it's fiction, but this is the level of commitment I would expect from my MMC, and kudos to Rory for setting the bar high.
This guy was cocky and arrogant, but he's also Hazel's sweetest, most protective, loving, and perfect fake boyfriend. He always wants to give her everything she needs and make her smile. Also, he was so smitten with Hazel that he couldn't keep his hand off of her. I can't stop giggling over his flirtatious and seductive antics; they made me feel very hot and bothered. This man was almost perfect, and damn it, he had me wishing I had my own Rory.
==== Hazel ====
For the most part of the book, I liked her. She wound up becoming guarded and settling for hook-ups after her ex cheated on her. To be honest, I didn't mind that she's a player—my double standard is coming through—but I really enjoyed this FMC because it's not something you read very often. Her one-night rule is something she has never broken, yet she did for Rory. However, I find it a little annoying that she hesitates so much all the time because she keeps thinking Rory is the same as her ex. Her reluctance makes sense to me, but he has never given her any reason to worry. He has been a steady guy through and through.
But when Hazel eventually admitted how she really felt for Rory, I did start to like her. She turned into his biggest ally and has stood by him ever since. She showed him how much he was worth of love and assured him that she would always be by his side. Even though it took her a while to realise that she loved him, I'm glad that when she did, she gave her all to the relationship.
==== Overall ====
Rory wants Hazel to want him, but Hazel is hesitant, so the story progresses at a slow burn pace. It took Hazel a while to overcome her mistrust of hockey players. Though they were fooling around, the actual deed occurs at the 80% mark in the story. While I never got bored of the story and these two kept me interested, I find it a bit bothersome that they only became intimate in the final 20% of the book.
The fake dating was entertaining because the tension and chemistry between the MCs were off the charts. I was swooning over their kisses and lingering touches, and I couldn't stop grinning at their scenes.
And the spice, gooood, it was so hot! I was fanning myself over these scenes, and damn, they were both so good at it. I would definitely say it was worth the wait, and readers must bear with it because when it burns, it really burns!
I also appreciated that the MCs were able to resolve their differences with their parents. Hazel and her mother have become closer, and Rory and his family have begun attending therapy. I always thought it was great when characters in stories made the decision to improve themselves.
Overall, I really liked it, and since I can't get enough of Rory, I'll definitely read it again. 😂 The majority of the rating went to him and the work he put into this story. This is definitely worth reading and recommending.
June 6, 2024
dnf at 53%, chapter 41
ᯓ ☆1.5 stars
It was cute and everything, but it was so boring and dragging. and this was fake dating??? It was literally the furthest thing from fake dating, in my opinion. also, I didn't feel they were loving each other; I felt they were just lusting for each other. okay, at first it was cute, and I was giggling and all, but bro, in these 53%, there was nothing happening between them—no conflict, no fights, no anything. even when there were little fights that could lead to misunderstandings—don't get me wrong, I literally hate misunderstanding and miscommunication tropes—they would be fine the next minute. I mean, you both know how to communicate and all, good for you. but I want something to happen. I'm bored, bro. I don't think I can handle cuteness in 82 chapters and an epilogue.
the writing style wasn't helping either. the MMC was so good, to be honest, but I don't care anymore.
ᯓ ☆1.5 stars
It was cute and everything, but it was so boring and dragging. and this was fake dating??? It was literally the furthest thing from fake dating, in my opinion. also, I didn't feel they were loving each other; I felt they were just lusting for each other. okay, at first it was cute, and I was giggling and all, but bro, in these 53%, there was nothing happening between them—no conflict, no fights, no anything. even when there were little fights that could lead to misunderstandings—don't get me wrong, I literally hate misunderstanding and miscommunication tropes—they would be fine the next minute. I mean, you both know how to communicate and all, good for you. but I want something to happen. I'm bored, bro. I don't think I can handle cuteness in 82 chapters and an epilogue.
the writing style wasn't helping either. the MMC was so good, to be honest, but I don't care anymore.
February 10, 2024
good fucking shit
February 22, 2025
pre-review
every time I read the name Rory I think of Roary the racing car theme song HAHA
every time I read the name Rory I think of Roary the racing car theme song HAHA
December 8, 2023
The Fake Out is a sweet and steamy fake dating, he falls first, hockey romance full of banter and so many swoony moments! The story follows Hazel, a physiotherapist for the Vancouver Storm hockey team, and Rory, captain of said team. When Hazel's ex is drafted into the group and she is forced to be his therapist, she and Rory devise a plan to fake a relationship in order to make her ex jealous and improve Rory's image. However, as the two get closer, lines blur, and Rory and Hazel are unsure if what they are doing is fake or if they are both in this for real.
I am absolutely in love with Rory and Hazel, the way they came together and learned to lean on each other was so sweet and charming! The romance was romancing, let me tell you, Stephanie Archer knows how to craft a story. I loved that Rory and Hazel communicated when there were issues and there was no third-act breakup, the two were so healthy and supportive of one another. The way they both grew for each other and themselves was adorable. Rory went from this cocky but secretly lonely hockey player to an compltely devoted and caring partner to Hazel and it was so refreshing and endearing to watch him realize how gone he was for her. I am so excited for the rest of the series, I can't wait for Hayden's story!
~Many thanks to Stephanie Archer for an ARC of the book in return for an honest review.
I am absolutely in love with Rory and Hazel, the way they came together and learned to lean on each other was so sweet and charming! The romance was romancing, let me tell you, Stephanie Archer knows how to craft a story. I loved that Rory and Hazel communicated when there were issues and there was no third-act breakup, the two were so healthy and supportive of one another. The way they both grew for each other and themselves was adorable. Rory went from this cocky but secretly lonely hockey player to an compltely devoted and caring partner to Hazel and it was so refreshing and endearing to watch him realize how gone he was for her. I am so excited for the rest of the series, I can't wait for Hayden's story!
~Many thanks to Stephanie Archer for an ARC of the book in return for an honest review.
December 18, 2023
I really enjoyed this! It reminded me of why I am such a big fan of the fake dating trope. Review to come!
December 31, 2023
5 ✰ I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH! 🐿️💜
* screaming and crying cause it’s over *
I loved every second that I spent reading this c̶u̶t̶e̶ spicy hockey romance 💌
Wait… wait… I got something for all of you…
* magic spell * 🪄
“Even when we’re a hundred years old, I’ll be flirting with you to get your attention.” ❄️
“Don’t bully me, Hartley. It turns me on.” 👌🏻
“ If my heart is a house, Rory now lives there.” 💘
“ Be a good fake girlfriend, Hartley, and let me kiss you.” 😍
“ Hartley. Wear those earrings. If you lose one, I’ll buy you another. I’ll buy you ten.” 🥺
Rory: I called your parents earlier.
Hazel: Why?
Rory: Because you wanted it, Hartley. ⛸️🏒
IM A FREAKING STAN OF THIS BOOK ‼️💜
* screaming and crying cause it’s over *
I loved every second that I spent reading this c̶u̶t̶e̶ spicy hockey romance 💌
Wait… wait… I got something for all of you…
* magic spell * 🪄
“Even when we’re a hundred years old, I’ll be flirting with you to get your attention.” ❄️
“Don’t bully me, Hartley. It turns me on.” 👌🏻
“ If my heart is a house, Rory now lives there.” 💘
“ Be a good fake girlfriend, Hartley, and let me kiss you.” 😍
“ Hartley. Wear those earrings. If you lose one, I’ll buy you another. I’ll buy you ten.” 🥺
Rory: I called your parents earlier.
Hazel: Why?
Rory: Because you wanted it, Hartley. ⛸️🏒
IM A FREAKING STAN OF THIS BOOK ‼️💜
December 10, 2023
by page 10 he’s in love with her
what happened to relationship development?
what happened to relationship development?
September 3, 2024
i would like to make it clear that rory is my man 😂🤭❤️
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