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The Match Faker
He’s not her perfect match, but he might be perfect for her.
Jasmine Palmer is looking for love, but only if it comes with stability. Unfortunately, this also leads to f*ckbois. After another one dumps her by text message, Jasmine hires a professional matchmaking company to search for her. They say they’ve found her perfect match using their matching algorithm with a 99% success rate. But “Nick” is an immature bartender with a bad case of Peter Pan Syndrome, even if he is hot and nice. He may not be boyfriend material, but she decides to cut her losses and asks him to help her save face at an upcoming event where her now engaged ex will be. It’s a one-time arrangement that won’t hurt anyone.
This isn’t the first time Nick has followed a beautiful woman with a questionable idea. So, when Jasmine, a random customer at his bar, asks him to pretend to be her boyfriend, because she made the mistake of working with her ex and his parents, he figures he’s done a lot worse for far less. A night of rubbing elbows with rich people is a nice change from cleaning drunk people puke from the bar’s bathrooms and trying (and failing) to win his father’s approval. They even have a pretty nice time…and a really nice kiss. When Jasmine offers to repay the favour whenever he needs one, he wants to cash in sooner rather than later.
Prim and proper Jasmine could be the key to a harmless ruse that would get him the loan he needs to buy his bar. But just when he thinks they’re partners in crime, he realizes that this whole time Jasmine thought he was someone else with the same name.
If he tells her the truth, she might think he purposefully misled her and pull out of their deal. But losing her might actually be worse than losing his livelihood.
Either love or science will prevail when it comes to deciding if these two misfits can redefine what it means to be a perfect match.
Jasmine Palmer is looking for love, but only if it comes with stability. Unfortunately, this also leads to f*ckbois. After another one dumps her by text message, Jasmine hires a professional matchmaking company to search for her. They say they’ve found her perfect match using their matching algorithm with a 99% success rate. But “Nick” is an immature bartender with a bad case of Peter Pan Syndrome, even if he is hot and nice. He may not be boyfriend material, but she decides to cut her losses and asks him to help her save face at an upcoming event where her now engaged ex will be. It’s a one-time arrangement that won’t hurt anyone.
This isn’t the first time Nick has followed a beautiful woman with a questionable idea. So, when Jasmine, a random customer at his bar, asks him to pretend to be her boyfriend, because she made the mistake of working with her ex and his parents, he figures he’s done a lot worse for far less. A night of rubbing elbows with rich people is a nice change from cleaning drunk people puke from the bar’s bathrooms and trying (and failing) to win his father’s approval. They even have a pretty nice time…and a really nice kiss. When Jasmine offers to repay the favour whenever he needs one, he wants to cash in sooner rather than later.
Prim and proper Jasmine could be the key to a harmless ruse that would get him the loan he needs to buy his bar. But just when he thinks they’re partners in crime, he realizes that this whole time Jasmine thought he was someone else with the same name.
If he tells her the truth, she might think he purposefully misled her and pull out of their deal. But losing her might actually be worse than losing his livelihood.
Either love or science will prevail when it comes to deciding if these two misfits can redefine what it means to be a perfect match.
270 pages, Paperback
Published November 15, 2024
24 people are currently reading
459 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
October 28, 2024
♡ Fake dating
♡ Mistaken identity
♡ Opposites attract
♡ Forced proximity
♡ Soft and very angst
I’ve read all of Ruby’s books so I have no idea why it surprised me to feel sucker-punched while reading this one, especially the last quarter of it. Let’s start from the beginning, though…
Oh how could I understand Jasmine. Sacrificing your happiness just because you need stability and security is something I can strongly relate to so she was my favorite part of the book. The constant battle she had within herself between her feelings for Nick, her insecurities, her need to be perfect… I could read ten books with her as main character.
I have no words to describe how incredible this romance was. I panicked a lot at the beginnning because I’m usually fine with mistaken identity unless it involves lying… and it does in here. I was very scared because lying can totally ruin a book for me but I kept reading hoping that it wasn’t going to drag until the end. Gladly it didn’t, but the consequences of the lie did have an impact until the end and the angst nearly ended me. I even teared up reading the last few chapters because the sadness in Nick and Jasmine was getting to me. I love a rewarding happily ever after!
TW: Parental abandonment, estranged relationship with a parent
Rating: 5/5
Steam level: Open door, +5 scenes, high level of detail
ARC provided by Ruby Barrett. Opinions are my own!
♡ Mistaken identity
♡ Opposites attract
♡ Forced proximity
♡ Soft and very angst
I’ve read all of Ruby’s books so I have no idea why it surprised me to feel sucker-punched while reading this one, especially the last quarter of it. Let’s start from the beginning, though…
Oh how could I understand Jasmine. Sacrificing your happiness just because you need stability and security is something I can strongly relate to so she was my favorite part of the book. The constant battle she had within herself between her feelings for Nick, her insecurities, her need to be perfect… I could read ten books with her as main character.
I have no words to describe how incredible this romance was. I panicked a lot at the beginnning because I’m usually fine with mistaken identity unless it involves lying… and it does in here. I was very scared because lying can totally ruin a book for me but I kept reading hoping that it wasn’t going to drag until the end. Gladly it didn’t, but the consequences of the lie did have an impact until the end and the angst nearly ended me. I even teared up reading the last few chapters because the sadness in Nick and Jasmine was getting to me. I love a rewarding happily ever after!
TW: Parental abandonment, estranged relationship with a parent
Rating: 5/5
Steam level: Open door, +5 scenes, high level of detail
ARC provided by Ruby Barrett. Opinions are my own!
May 28, 2025
if ruby barrett writes it, i WILL read it. This was absolutely steamy and so much fun to read. she's the buttoned up one who is dumped by her boyfriend who is also her coworker (so awkward especially since his parents' own the company too). To make matters worse, he immediately gets ENGAGED. What!
Jasmine decides to try out the apps as she desperately needs to show that she DOES NOT care, and needs a date to the engagement party. When she arrives for her date at a divey bar for karaoke with her first match, she believes it is actually the bartender and he just goes along with the mistake.
Nick is my sort of grunge-y man i am really into in fiction; think Nick from New Girl. Sort of a fuckboi, sort of a lost soul who just really loves his bartending gig, and someone who is really into eating out, if you catch my drift.
I again, should have reviewed this closer to finishing but that is life; just read this, you won't regret it.
Jasmine decides to try out the apps as she desperately needs to show that she DOES NOT care, and needs a date to the engagement party. When she arrives for her date at a divey bar for karaoke with her first match, she believes it is actually the bartender and he just goes along with the mistake.
Nick is my sort of grunge-y man i am really into in fiction; think Nick from New Girl. Sort of a fuckboi, sort of a lost soul who just really loves his bartending gig, and someone who is really into eating out, if you catch my drift.
I again, should have reviewed this closer to finishing but that is life; just read this, you won't regret it.
November 24, 2024
Ruby Barrett has officially joined the ranks of authors I’d preorder without a second thought. So when The Match Faker appeared on my Kindle Friday morning, I was ecstatic!😍
📖: Jasmine Palmer is done with her parade of f*ckbois and craves stability in love. 💔 After a brutal breakup, she turns to a matchmaking service with a 99% success rate. Enter Nick—a bartender with Peter Pan Syndrome who’s definitely not the stable guy she’s looking for. When she needs a fake date to her ex’s engagement party, Nick is her guy. What starts as a simple ruse quickly turns into fake-dating chaos, secret identities, and, of course, falling for each other. 💘
My 💭:
Ruby Barrett strikes again! Jasmine and Nick’s chemistry is explosive—fiery, unpredictable, and impossible to ignore. The emotional depth? Spot-on. And the laughs? So many! One scene near the end had me grinning like a fool. 😂 I also swooned so many times. Heartstrings pulled TIGHT.
Nick Scott is the book boyfriend of my dreams: sweet, communicative, attentive, and exceptionally 🥵talented. 🌶️
He’s got humor, heart, and just the right amount of vulnerability to make him irresistible.
Jasmine is just as compelling. She’s intelligent, composed, fiercely protective, and caring, especially to those she loves. She’s so much more than the “perfect match” she thinks she is, and with Nick, they create pure magic.
Also, the Canadian vibes? 10/10. 🇨🇦 The nods to The Tragically Hip made my heart sing!
If you love fake dating, slow-burn romance, and characters who’ll steal your heart while making you laugh, The Match Faker should be at the top of your TBR. Available to buy now and KU!
📖: Jasmine Palmer is done with her parade of f*ckbois and craves stability in love. 💔 After a brutal breakup, she turns to a matchmaking service with a 99% success rate. Enter Nick—a bartender with Peter Pan Syndrome who’s definitely not the stable guy she’s looking for. When she needs a fake date to her ex’s engagement party, Nick is her guy. What starts as a simple ruse quickly turns into fake-dating chaos, secret identities, and, of course, falling for each other. 💘
My 💭:
Ruby Barrett strikes again! Jasmine and Nick’s chemistry is explosive—fiery, unpredictable, and impossible to ignore. The emotional depth? Spot-on. And the laughs? So many! One scene near the end had me grinning like a fool. 😂 I also swooned so many times. Heartstrings pulled TIGHT.
Nick Scott is the book boyfriend of my dreams: sweet, communicative, attentive, and exceptionally 🥵talented. 🌶️
He’s got humor, heart, and just the right amount of vulnerability to make him irresistible.
Jasmine is just as compelling. She’s intelligent, composed, fiercely protective, and caring, especially to those she loves. She’s so much more than the “perfect match” she thinks she is, and with Nick, they create pure magic.
Also, the Canadian vibes? 10/10. 🇨🇦 The nods to The Tragically Hip made my heart sing!
If you love fake dating, slow-burn romance, and characters who’ll steal your heart while making you laugh, The Match Faker should be at the top of your TBR. Available to buy now and KU!
December 19, 2024
Never has there been a book I've read more during the hours between 2-4am than The Match Faker, my third book from Ruby Barrett!
Barrett creates conflict for her characters, then slowly helps them resolve said conflict in a slow and deliberate way... all while her characters build themselves into better humans along their journey! Seriously, the care Barrett cradles her characters with is second to none!
I'm a big fan of Barrett's steam! She does it like no one else... and her books always have standout scenes (with very memorable locations and positions)! I can't exactly describe the one scene from this book, but it did that thing where it goes from hot and heavy to slow and emotional... and it pulled at all my heart strings!
There's an epilogue in the paperback copy (I read an eARC), and I'm so happy to have discovered it when I went to read the acknowledgments! This epilogue gets all the shiny stars!
One more thing: all save Moonbar!
Thank you Ruby Barrett for the complimentary copy to read and review.
Barrett creates conflict for her characters, then slowly helps them resolve said conflict in a slow and deliberate way... all while her characters build themselves into better humans along their journey! Seriously, the care Barrett cradles her characters with is second to none!
I'm a big fan of Barrett's steam! She does it like no one else... and her books always have standout scenes (with very memorable locations and positions)! I can't exactly describe the one scene from this book, but it did that thing where it goes from hot and heavy to slow and emotional... and it pulled at all my heart strings!
There's an epilogue in the paperback copy (I read an eARC), and I'm so happy to have discovered it when I went to read the acknowledgments! This epilogue gets all the shiny stars!
One more thing: all save Moonbar!
Thank you Ruby Barrett for the complimentary copy to read and review.
March 30, 2025
While this book was delightfully hot, there were a couple of things that didn’t work as well for me. First, the FMC jerks the MMC around back and forth so much that by the time she makes her big gesture, I’ve sort of tapped out of the romance. It feels like he fell first and he fell harder and she never really caught up. Second, the epilogue, when she thinks she might be pregnant but instead of sharing her fear with him, she shares it with his friend and he overhears her saying to keep of a secret. Like, idk if I can trust in a relationship where the FMC is not willing to share her fears and anxieties with the person she’s professed to love. I liked parts of it but not all of it.
Content notes: parental abandonment
Content notes: parental abandonment
November 18, 2024
she is snooty, pretentious and insufferable and he acts like a teenager instead of someone in their 30s but atleast he was more tolerable than her 💀🤷♀️
November 16, 2024
4.5⭐️ rounded up for Goodreads
🌶️🌶️🌶️
“Like it’s a box to be checked? A means to an end.”
He opens his eyes, his dark irises swimming with outrage, and walks me back until my lower back hits the kitchen counter.
“Absolutely the fuck not.”
The Match Faker was so addictive and I read it in one sitting. I can’t even put my finger on exactly how Ruby Barrett does it, but she manages to write characters with such emotional depth in less than 300 pages.
Jasmine and Nick meet by mistake when Jasmine is waiting for a man from a dating app to show up at the bar. They have an instant chemistry that I found to be so satisfying. Jasmine and Nick both have the biggest hearts and desire to be kind to one another despite lots of ups and downs.
If you want to read about a man who has emotional intelligence but is masculine as hell, meet Nick. He’s the most attentive and communicative man.
If you haven’t read Ruby Barrett’s writing before - her spice is top tier as well. This book was so sexy while also being meaningful and making me feel invested in the story.
🌶️🌶️🌶️
“Like it’s a box to be checked? A means to an end.”
He opens his eyes, his dark irises swimming with outrage, and walks me back until my lower back hits the kitchen counter.
“Absolutely the fuck not.”
The Match Faker was so addictive and I read it in one sitting. I can’t even put my finger on exactly how Ruby Barrett does it, but she manages to write characters with such emotional depth in less than 300 pages.
Jasmine and Nick meet by mistake when Jasmine is waiting for a man from a dating app to show up at the bar. They have an instant chemistry that I found to be so satisfying. Jasmine and Nick both have the biggest hearts and desire to be kind to one another despite lots of ups and downs.
If you want to read about a man who has emotional intelligence but is masculine as hell, meet Nick. He’s the most attentive and communicative man.
If you haven’t read Ruby Barrett’s writing before - her spice is top tier as well. This book was so sexy while also being meaningful and making me feel invested in the story.
November 17, 2024
Wow this was so much fun!! This is the only non owned book I read during Owned October and I read 25% in one sitting which shows how quick I was invested in the story! (Also that I was willing to break my own reading challenge for this book the day it hit my kindle).
This novel was SO MUCH FUN!! I love a match maker moment (anyone else think of the Fiddler on the Roof song anytime you hear the word match maker? Just me?) and the sort of twist in this book was so much fun!! I’m a big character reader and I loved both Jasmine and Nick so much and totally got where they were coming from. They are total opposites which I always love seeing.
There first meeting was so much fun to read! Lowkey a meet disaster which is one of my favorite things to read.
This is a book for the eldest daughters!! Jasmine has given up a lot for her sister and she doesn’t regret it, but it makes it hard for her to do anything for herself!! I LOL’d when her sister was like “use our savings for a matchmaker”.
It’s on the spicier side if that is a pro or a con for you.
Overall, I had a great time with this one and it just was such an enjoyable read!! I started rereading parts of this to make my review more detailed and had to stop myself from just committing to a full on reread.
*thank you to Ruby Barrett for an eARC; all thoughts are my own*
This novel was SO MUCH FUN!! I love a match maker moment (anyone else think of the Fiddler on the Roof song anytime you hear the word match maker? Just me?) and the sort of twist in this book was so much fun!! I’m a big character reader and I loved both Jasmine and Nick so much and totally got where they were coming from. They are total opposites which I always love seeing.
There first meeting was so much fun to read! Lowkey a meet disaster which is one of my favorite things to read.
This is a book for the eldest daughters!! Jasmine has given up a lot for her sister and she doesn’t regret it, but it makes it hard for her to do anything for herself!! I LOL’d when her sister was like “use our savings for a matchmaker”.
It’s on the spicier side if that is a pro or a con for you.
Overall, I had a great time with this one and it just was such an enjoyable read!! I started rereading parts of this to make my review more detailed and had to stop myself from just committing to a full on reread.
*thank you to Ruby Barrett for an eARC; all thoughts are my own*
2024-dnf
November 20, 2024No star rating since I read less than half
DNF at 46%
I don’t know if it’s me just being in a funk, but I am not connecting with this at all. I don’t really like either of the characters, and the reasoning behind the miscommunication with the mistaken identity is so minor.
Pretty disappointed since the friendship study is probably going to be my top contemporary read of the year - this just feels totally different
DNF at 46%
I don’t know if it’s me just being in a funk, but I am not connecting with this at all. I don’t really like either of the characters, and the reasoning behind the miscommunication with the mistaken identity is so minor.
Pretty disappointed since the friendship study is probably going to be my top contemporary read of the year - this just feels totally different
October 9, 2024
I truly couldn't put this down, the only reason I didn't finish it in one day is because I had to sleep. Another cute, fun, swoony read from Ruby. I'm in love with Nick and also would like to raid his closet for his excellent band tee collection.
April 10, 2025
I always enjoy a good mistaken identity, fake dating story! Nick and Jasmine brought out the best in each other, even though it took a few rough patches to get there. Nick was endlessly patient with her and her uptight ways.
The banter made me laugh and conflicts felt believable.
The only struggle I had was the placement of some of the “extracurricular activities” throughout the story. It felt out of character for Jasmine to instigate it during those times and made it feel like it was added just for the spice effect.
I could have done without the 3rd act breakup, but it honestly fit in with her personality and was resolved quickly.
The banter made me laugh and conflicts felt believable.
The only struggle I had was the placement of some of the “extracurricular activities” throughout the story. It felt out of character for Jasmine to instigate it during those times and made it feel like it was added just for the spice effect.
I could have done without the 3rd act breakup, but it honestly fit in with her personality and was resolved quickly.
October 25, 2024
Ok I loved every second of this book!
This is one of those rare books where I wish it were longer so I can be captured in its story longer!
Thank you Ruby for the ARC 🖤
This is one of those rare books where I wish it were longer so I can be captured in its story longer!
Thank you Ruby for the ARC 🖤
November 18, 2024
2.5 ⭐️
I wanted to like this so bad!!! Unfortunately, this was not for me. The characters had so much potential but fell flat. I didn’t believe the relationship and I don’t believe the characters would stay together. The writing and plot felt disjointed and I felt completely removed from the story. Womp womp 🙃
I wanted to like this so bad!!! Unfortunately, this was not for me. The characters had so much potential but fell flat. I didn’t believe the relationship and I don’t believe the characters would stay together. The writing and plot felt disjointed and I felt completely removed from the story. Womp womp 🙃
April 4, 2025
OBSESSED doesn’t even BEGIN. The chemistry, the location (Toronto), just Nick in general, and the SPICE 👀. GAAH this was so so good.
Nick had me literally laughing out loud and giggling to myself. His little one liners absolutely killed me. The whole washing dishes and him going “my Chumbawumba shirt!!”. Literally on his knees in the kitchen and then about to high five Jasmine’s sister for a LOTR reference. I also loved all his inner dialogue and actions when standing up for women in general. LOVE HIM. This book was TOO good. It also ended way too fast. I’m at least happy we got an epilogue and seeing all the ways Jasmine made his situation better, but I wanted like at least two more chapters after her karaoke. I NEEDED MORE.
Every single spice scene lives in my head. It’s just on loop. I love how he essentially worships her. And tells her exactly what she deserves. She’s never been kissed like someone just wants to kiss her? Boom, Nick kisses her exactly how she wants to be kissed. She’s so good at asking for exactly what she wants.
This story was built on a miscommunication trope, but im happy that they figure it out before they get too deep. And then they sort through it together. It wasn’t like this big huge angry thing, despite her bringing up a few times later that he lied.
I’m not shocked about the decision she made once she got the email from OG Nick, but I’m still a bit frustrated by it. She still HAD to?? I mean I get it, with the kind of personality she has. But STILL. MOONBAR?
I loved that they wove in the difficult relationship with Nick and his Dad. That we got to see multiple interactions and see their relationship change with time.
Close proximity, fake dating, one bed?? 10/10. I loved.
5⭐️4🌶️
Nick had me literally laughing out loud and giggling to myself. His little one liners absolutely killed me. The whole washing dishes and him going “my Chumbawumba shirt!!”. Literally on his knees in the kitchen and then about to high five Jasmine’s sister for a LOTR reference. I also loved all his inner dialogue and actions when standing up for women in general. LOVE HIM. This book was TOO good. It also ended way too fast. I’m at least happy we got an epilogue and seeing all the ways Jasmine made his situation better, but I wanted like at least two more chapters after her karaoke. I NEEDED MORE.
Every single spice scene lives in my head. It’s just on loop. I love how he essentially worships her. And tells her exactly what she deserves. She’s never been kissed like someone just wants to kiss her? Boom, Nick kisses her exactly how she wants to be kissed. She’s so good at asking for exactly what she wants.
This story was built on a miscommunication trope, but im happy that they figure it out before they get too deep. And then they sort through it together. It wasn’t like this big huge angry thing, despite her bringing up a few times later that he lied.
I’m not shocked about the decision she made once she got the email from OG Nick, but I’m still a bit frustrated by it. She still HAD to?? I mean I get it, with the kind of personality she has. But STILL. MOONBAR?
I loved that they wove in the difficult relationship with Nick and his Dad. That we got to see multiple interactions and see their relationship change with time.
Close proximity, fake dating, one bed?? 10/10. I loved.
5⭐️4🌶️
April 20, 2025
⭐️3.75. This was a cute little palate cleansing read. I love the whole "matchmaker mistake" trope, so this was a win for me. I will say, I didn't love the FMC. Jasmine didn't have a great character arc, and I don't love the way she kept treating Nick. It felt ingenious. Maybe I just wanted more for Nick. A little rough around the edges, but a sweet himbo underneath.
May 10, 2025
So..... I finished this in 1 day..... I refused to put it down!!!!!
September 29, 2025
When nick wore his glasses… 🙂↕️ YUP.
August 8, 2025
Nick and Jasmine are complete opposites. He works as a bartender at a dive bar, and she works at an upscale design firm. She works with her ex and his parents, and when she gets invited to her ex's engagement party, she hires a matchmaking service to find her a date.
The matchmaking service finds her a match with 99% certainty. When she goes to meet him, she mistakenly thinks her date is Nick the bartender. Nick goes along with it, and he agrees to be her date. He wants her to pretend to be his girlfriend in front of his family. As they pretend to date, he starts to feel things for her, but he fears that if he tells her the truth, he will lose her.
They go on a road trip to his parents house together, and they also wind up sharing a bed together. The mistaken identity adds another layer to the story, and when she finds out the truth, will she be able to forgive him and move on from it or will it be the end for them?
This a slow burn, but spicy, dual POV romance. The Canadian setting added a lot to the story too, and I really enjoyed this book.
Thanks to the author, Ruby Barrett, for an ARC.
The matchmaking service finds her a match with 99% certainty. When she goes to meet him, she mistakenly thinks her date is Nick the bartender. Nick goes along with it, and he agrees to be her date. He wants her to pretend to be his girlfriend in front of his family. As they pretend to date, he starts to feel things for her, but he fears that if he tells her the truth, he will lose her.
They go on a road trip to his parents house together, and they also wind up sharing a bed together. The mistaken identity adds another layer to the story, and when she finds out the truth, will she be able to forgive him and move on from it or will it be the end for them?
This a slow burn, but spicy, dual POV romance. The Canadian setting added a lot to the story too, and I really enjoyed this book.
Thanks to the author, Ruby Barrett, for an ARC.
November 22, 2024
Dnf at 33%
This was genuinely awful. They both were so annoying and I couldn’t connect with them. Idk I kinda wish he just told her who he was from the start or like maybe this just not be the plot????
I tried to pick it back up from where I left off and I couldn’t do it.
This was genuinely awful. They both were so annoying and I couldn’t connect with them. Idk I kinda wish he just told her who he was from the start or like maybe this just not be the plot????
I tried to pick it back up from where I left off and I couldn’t do it.
November 28, 2024
Have you ever wanted an opposites-attract, mistaken identity, fake dating, soft and horny story that was also set in Toronto that was ALSO full of delicious banter and deep characters and the most down bad man? May I present: The Match Faker by @rubybarretwrite.
I love Ruby’s writing - “The Friendship Study” is one of my favorite reads this year and getting another view into Ruby’s amazing author brain is such a treat. I love how soft her books are, how they explore people and relationships that aren’t just romantic. I love that her romances are predicated on communication (even if it’s stunted at times) and two people who are so into each other, but the guy is always down extra bad.
Jasmine and Nick had such a fun and beautiful love story. Despite starting off with a case of mistaken identity and morphing into a reluctant fake dating scenario, it’s clear that they bring out the best in each other - they help each other find their passion and strength. Jasmine has tried to be perfect her entire life, believing that she needed to make herself small, to hide her needs and wants so that others would feel comfortable and stay. She is a Mirrorball girlie through and through. Nick, however, gives no craps and lives his life the way he needs to to be happy. Even if that means he’s become a bit of the black sheep of his family.
I loved getting to see Nick pull Jasmine out of her shell, giving her the space to be who she wants to be. The man would lay down over a puddle for her so she wouldn’t get her feet wet, honestly. I can’t explain it but this man was everything - a bit of a goofball, but serious when needed. Completely in awe of Jasmine no matter what she was doing/wearing/eating/saying. Charming and sweet and then you get to the spicy and he ratchets it all up to an 11 (temp got real hot there when I was reading).
This is Ruby’s first indie and I’m so beyond thrilled to have had a chance to read it early. This book deals with some heavier topics (like parental abandonment/neglect), but also has beautiful dialogue, incredible banter, and honestly effortless pacing that made me not want to put this down.
I love Ruby’s writing - “The Friendship Study” is one of my favorite reads this year and getting another view into Ruby’s amazing author brain is such a treat. I love how soft her books are, how they explore people and relationships that aren’t just romantic. I love that her romances are predicated on communication (even if it’s stunted at times) and two people who are so into each other, but the guy is always down extra bad.
Jasmine and Nick had such a fun and beautiful love story. Despite starting off with a case of mistaken identity and morphing into a reluctant fake dating scenario, it’s clear that they bring out the best in each other - they help each other find their passion and strength. Jasmine has tried to be perfect her entire life, believing that she needed to make herself small, to hide her needs and wants so that others would feel comfortable and stay. She is a Mirrorball girlie through and through. Nick, however, gives no craps and lives his life the way he needs to to be happy. Even if that means he’s become a bit of the black sheep of his family.
I loved getting to see Nick pull Jasmine out of her shell, giving her the space to be who she wants to be. The man would lay down over a puddle for her so she wouldn’t get her feet wet, honestly. I can’t explain it but this man was everything - a bit of a goofball, but serious when needed. Completely in awe of Jasmine no matter what she was doing/wearing/eating/saying. Charming and sweet and then you get to the spicy and he ratchets it all up to an 11 (temp got real hot there when I was reading).
This is Ruby’s first indie and I’m so beyond thrilled to have had a chance to read it early. This book deals with some heavier topics (like parental abandonment/neglect), but also has beautiful dialogue, incredible banter, and honestly effortless pacing that made me not want to put this down.
April 24, 2025
This was A GOOD TIME! It was chaotic and messy and SO sweet and SO SOFT! I loved Nick and Jasmine so much! Their chemistry was absolutely delicious and it was honestly so fun watching them figure it out!! They were total opposites and NOT a perfect match…but also the match that made sense!! I love a little fake dating, a little hidden identity! Ruby Barrett knows how to write a deliciously steamy book with SO MUCH HEART!
Nick is a man who is SO DOWN BAD! He saw a sad girl pouring her heart out and just wanted to help!!! And I loved how easily he did just that! And Jasmine! Just a sad people always leave girl who is looking for perfection…only to find that her perfect match is not someone she’d ever think it would be! When they were good they WERE GOOD!!
The back and forth and the miscommunication was tough. BUT it did make sense for their situation! So I’m not super mad about it. I did actually hate that she kept leaving him though, it broke my HEART. Again she had things to work through! But it still hurt.
Ruby’s writing some kind follow up, Most Likely to Match and I’m already so excited!
Nick is a man who is SO DOWN BAD! He saw a sad girl pouring her heart out and just wanted to help!!! And I loved how easily he did just that! And Jasmine! Just a sad people always leave girl who is looking for perfection…only to find that her perfect match is not someone she’d ever think it would be! When they were good they WERE GOOD!!
The back and forth and the miscommunication was tough. BUT it did make sense for their situation! So I’m not super mad about it. I did actually hate that she kept leaving him though, it broke my HEART. Again she had things to work through! But it still hurt.
Ruby’s writing some kind follow up, Most Likely to Match and I’m already so excited!
October 26, 2024
I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to receive a digital ARC of The Match Faker. I am proud of Ruby Barrett because she lives in my home city! This is the first book i have read written by Ms. Barrett.
It is a fairly simple & predictable premise, with a bit of a twist. Perhaps I am getting too long in the tooth for this genre, and I couldn't really connect with the characters. I loved that it took place in Toronto (why not Ottawa?). I feel this book would be a guilty pleasure, a light story based around lots of steamy sex scenes. If this is your cup of tea, I am sure you will love it. A pretty quick & easy read, not too deep but titillating - an escape from routine - couldn't help but to keep reading til the end.
It is a fairly simple & predictable premise, with a bit of a twist. Perhaps I am getting too long in the tooth for this genre, and I couldn't really connect with the characters. I loved that it took place in Toronto (why not Ottawa?). I feel this book would be a guilty pleasure, a light story based around lots of steamy sex scenes. If this is your cup of tea, I am sure you will love it. A pretty quick & easy read, not too deep but titillating - an escape from routine - couldn't help but to keep reading til the end.
August 12, 2025
The Match Faker had me feeling ALL kinds of things, and often had me wanting to hurl it across the room while shouting at both Jasmine and Nick (FMC and MMC). THAT is how invested I was in the story.
Ruby Barrett has done a remarkable job at telling an emotional, sweet, and spicy story with some incredible banter and one-liners. The details were well thought out and the plot was beautifully constructed to provide what I found to be a well-rounded story from start to finish.
Both characters had aspects I could relate to, but I will say I found my heart bleeding Nick quite often. Newest book boyfriend? Absolutley!
I really enjoyed The Match Faker and would recommend it! (please be aware of content warnings before reading as this might not be everyone's cup of tea).
Ruby Barrett has done a remarkable job at telling an emotional, sweet, and spicy story with some incredible banter and one-liners. The details were well thought out and the plot was beautifully constructed to provide what I found to be a well-rounded story from start to finish.
Both characters had aspects I could relate to, but I will say I found my heart bleeding Nick quite often. Newest book boyfriend? Absolutley!
I really enjoyed The Match Faker and would recommend it! (please be aware of content warnings before reading as this might not be everyone's cup of tea).
October 15, 2024
Thank you Ruby Barrett for an e-arc! The first book of theirs I read was The Friendship Study which I absolutely LOVED. Ruby’s writing is so witty and relatable and quick paced that you can’t put it down!
I was super interested in the tropes and plot of The Match Faker and enjoyed it, but some of it didn’t quite meet the mark for me. I think the storyline was all there, but the placement of it didn’t really flow well and the conflict between the main characters was repeated too much.
But besides that, this one was good and the chemistry and tension between Jasmine and Nick was hot. I think the readers who like fake dating and MMCs who give off Nick Miller vibes will enjoy this one!
I was super interested in the tropes and plot of The Match Faker and enjoyed it, but some of it didn’t quite meet the mark for me. I think the storyline was all there, but the placement of it didn’t really flow well and the conflict between the main characters was repeated too much.
But besides that, this one was good and the chemistry and tension between Jasmine and Nick was hot. I think the readers who like fake dating and MMCs who give off Nick Miller vibes will enjoy this one!
November 16, 2024
Con: there was sooo much sex in the second half, it was what kept the plot going??? I don’t know, it felt like the author mostly used it to fill the pages because she didn’t know what else to write.
The fmc got her boobs done and they kept coming back to that a lot throughout the book, it was a little gross after a while, like who cares.
Pro: they had great chemistry, the angst and drama were delicious. They both don’t want kids (yay). Overall the book is extremely easy to read.
(Bigger spoiler: this book is nasty, as in there’s quite a bit of cum play, I’ve read tons of sex scenes but some of the ones I found here made me stop and stare at the wall)
The fmc got her boobs done and they kept coming back to that a lot throughout the book, it was a little gross after a while, like who cares.
Pro: they had great chemistry, the angst and drama were delicious. They both don’t want kids (yay). Overall the book is extremely easy to read.
(Bigger spoiler: this book is nasty, as in there’s quite a bit of cum play, I’ve read tons of sex scenes but some of the ones I found here made me stop and stare at the wall)
April 15, 2025
Ruby Barrett does it again! If you are a fan of involuntary swooning so hard you have to your heartrate in check, get your hands on a copy of “The Match Faker”. You have been warned… the peppers are flaming hot! Such a simple fake dating scenario to start, but it twists and blends into something complicated and gorgeous. As I have noticed with all of Barrett’s books, the sensual scenes are luxurious, metaphorically no expenses are spared. Barrett uses every tool in the arsenal to give you an artistic and visceral experience. You will feel your heart drop into your stomach in the best way possible!
November 15, 2024
I loved this book so much! The perfect combination of horny & heartfelt, which seems to be Ruby Barrett's particular form of ✨magic✨ as a writer. I could easily have gobbled it up in one day, but I found myself reading extra slow so I wouldn't have to stop reading about Jasmine & Nick.
I give this book:
10/10 green bathing suits
10/10 inexplicably sexy research binders
10/10 pearl necklaces
And extra love for the mutually enjoyable tittyfucking. 🥰 We love a king who loves our boobs, respectfully.
I give this book:
10/10 green bathing suits
10/10 inexplicably sexy research binders
10/10 pearl necklaces
And extra love for the mutually enjoyable tittyfucking. 🥰 We love a king who loves our boobs, respectfully.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2025
3.5 but rounding up because I was glad the misunderstanding/ miscommunication was cleared up relatively early and Ruby Barrett knows how to write a spicy scene 😅 A cute fake dating story that moved quickly but not so fast it felt totally unrealistic and a diverse set of minor characters. I felt like Jasmine’s breast augmentation weirdly took up a lot of emotional space in the book yet we never really understood why she got one at 18 in the first place? I would read Jade’s story if Barrett ever did that!
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