Fake Love

by Andie Bale

The Holidates app is supposed to help you get an easy date. Helping you find your soulmate should not be an option.

Mona Higgins needs a break from men. The last relationship she thought she was in had been one-sided, with the guy blowing hot and cold, and just messing with her head in general. She finally put a stop to it, but, due to prior commitments, she needs a date for an event, pronto. The fake dating app is the perfect solution to her problems. She only needs one date, not a soulmate.

Alex Connors is a classic example of how the parents’ divorce can traumatize the children that came out of their marriage. He has major commitment issues, and he thinks everyone is out for his money. He doesn’t trust anyone. Sometimes, not even himself. But when he realizes that his on again, off again girlfriend is finally ready to move on permanently, he loses all common sense. She signs up for a fake dating site, and he wants to be her one date she’ll never want to let go.

The Holidates Series
Need a date for a holiday event? A family dinner with nosy relatives pestering you about settling down? The Holidates App is the perfect answer to your busy lifestyle needs. With this dating app, find the perfect rental date; both parties set the terms and conditions, absolutely no strings attached.

Join your favorite instalove authors every month of the year for a new holidate story gone bad...or oh so right. Holidates will prove tested and true to give you ALL the feels and become your new favorite app.

300 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 30, 2025

About the author

Andie Bale lives in Ann Arbor (Go Blue!), Michigan, with her husband, daughter and awesome four-legged baby. Her love of reading started at a young age when sneaking her mother's romance books to read was the highlight of her day. Now, she is beyond grateful and excited to be able to bring the characters in her head to life.

Reviews

[Amanda M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This holiday story is an amazing read. I loved reading every bit of it. I liked the enemies to lovers concept and how the characters were true opposites of each other. There’s also evident tension brewing between the main characters that turns into more. This is a well balanced story with just the right amount of romance sprinkled in with moments that will have you laughing and witty banter. This is a must read page turner.


Thanks to the author and Brooksprout for an advance. My opinions are my own and freely expressed.

[Engrossed Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mona and Alex have this toxic relationship, whereby they break up/he pushes her away by letting his past determine his future, they go on break and when he's ready they get back together. However Mona's had enough and it's over for good now. She's blocked him on every communication channel and Alex can't get in contact with her and that's where the book begins.

Alex begins to realise that he really misses her, I don't think he's ever had the chance to truly miss her before. Because whenever they broke up, after fighting his demons and getting out of his head, he was quick to arrive at her apartment to open arms. Now that's not an option.

Finding out that Mona has joined a dating agency pushes him to evaluate their relationship and consider how he would feel when she started to date someone else or worse yet if they never got back together.

The dialogue is really what sells this book, it's witty, funny and laugh out loud on occasion. You really do feel that Alex and Kyle are best friends, You also believe these conversations between Mona and Alex because until now they've had poor communication.

Read on for terrible first dates, inappropriate behaviour at a Michelin starred restaurant and a relationship getting the attention it deserves by both parties investing in it.

Yes Alex is a boor, intervening in his friends relationships and spewing his biases but we see growth and development. He comes to see the error of his ways. Mona is a frustrated doormat whose struggles in life make it hard to let go of the one thing that brings her joy but also pain. Finally she starts to prioritise her own mental health and wellbeing.

This is the first book I have read in the Holidates series and I've enjoyed it enough to have a look at the other couples in this universe. A fun quick read.

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

[Shawna · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Fake Love (Holidates) by Andie Bale

Fake Love is one of those romances that sneaks up on you—lighthearted on the surface, but surprisingly emotional once you get invested.

Mona is incredibly relatable. Burned by a situationship that messed with her head, she’s done with men and absolutely not looking for love. All she wants is a simple, no-strings fake date to get through an obligation. Her boundaries make sense, and I really appreciated that she knows her worth and refuses to settle for crumbs again.

Alex, on the other hand, is a walking bundle of commitment issues and unresolved baggage. His distrust of relationships and fear of being used for his money are frustrating—but in a very human way. He’s flawed, emotionally messy, and completely panics when he realizes Mona is truly moving on. Watching him spiral and then slowly confront his own self-sabotage was one of the most satisfying parts of the story.

The fake dating trope is done well here, with plenty of tension, jealousy, and “this is definitely not fake anymore” moments. The chemistry is strong, the banter works, and the emotional payoff feels earned. I especially liked that Alex actually has to grow—this isn’t an instant fix or a magic love cure. He has to choose Mona, openly and honestly, or risk losing her for good.

Spicy, fun, and emotionally grounded, Fake Love balances humor with heart and delivers a solid HEA that feels deserved. If you love fake dating, emotionally guarded heroes, and heroines who won’t accept half-love, this one is absolutely worth the read. 💕📱✨.

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

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mona and Alex have been a FWB/situationship/relationship complete with dramatic breakups and makeups for over four years until Mona finally decides she's had enough, and tries to really make a clean break and then slowly he realises that he's in love with her but has not known for his entire life how to love anyone but himself. Mona runs into one of Alex's friends, Cal, who reminds her that she's supposed to join their charity dinner, and now she has to go on the Holidates app to find her plus one date for the dinner, especially since she needs to one-up Alex.

After you realise Alex's backstory you can kind of empathise with him, but I'm a little conflicted about long-suffering Mona, who is full of sass and can give it to her boring dates straight, but has tolerated Alex for far too long. Ok she finally decides to put her foot down but then still sleeps with him. Girl! Otherwise she was very likeable and held the story together.

Coincidentally I have also read Cal and Evie, and Hayden and Ray's stories as part of the Holidates series, and really enjoyed those stories too, and they and the other cast in this book apart from Mona and Alex really brought the story together. I especially enjoyed the interaction between Alex and Kyle.

This story is a little long-ish but flowed easily and some parts really pulled at my heartstrings. Overall you can vividly imagine this as a rom-com, I enjoyed it a lot. I am looking forward to more from the author!.

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

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved everything about this book! Being a fan of the other Holidate books, I knew this one would be good, but I was shocked by how much I enjoyed it. It's a true enemies to lovers and two people that can't escape the pull no matter how hard they try. Mona is brass, sassy, and will put you in your place. Her only weakness is Alex, the guy who broke her heart and is convinced every woman is a gold digger. I was captivated by how they were oil and water, and all their friends were against their relationship. The tension and witty banter were addictive. It was heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. At times I wanted to yell and shake them, others I was cheering and yelling finally. The perfect balance of high tension, hilarious outbursts, and incredibly steamy moments. My favorite of the series so far!

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

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

This hits hard for some people who have been in this situation before, loved the characters and the accountability. Enjoyed how Mona knows she deserves better, especially when Alex realizes just what he’s losing. Loved how the characters grow and develop in confronting their own issues, in trying to be better and present with the here and now. Great fake dating scene as these two navigate through the ups and downs, as the chemistry between them is solid, it’s just putting trust and your heart on the line, that’s tough.

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

[Suzanne McNeill Taviner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must confess that I was not keen on Alex, to start with! He kept on stringing Mona along and emotionally hurting her. But as we got to know a bit more about him, we could see that there were reason for this behaviour, I loved Kyle calling him out and being a good friend to him, helping to sort his head out, but Alex didn't make it easy!!
Loved the ending though, it was so sweet.

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

[CJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author has given us a wonderful story that pulls us into the lives of Mona and Alex. The heartwarming story keeps us turning the pages with heartbreak, humor, determination and realizations.

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

[Debbie Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. I enjoyed this story that ends with Mona and Alex finally getting together. It wasn't an easy road but the journey was well worth it.

[Michelle Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

She just wanted to move on but her past wouldn't let her go. Now here she is trying something new but keeps hitting road blocks. He can't let her go even when he pushes her away. Now he is bound to try anything to keep her. I would love a book with all of them.

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