The Faking Game

The Billionaire Games #1

by Olivia Hayle

West Calloway is rich, arrogant, and my brother’s best friend. Now we’re faking a relationship in public… while he gives me dating lessons in private.

When a stalker forces me out of my apartment, my brother insists I stay somewhere safe—in his best friend’s legendary estate. With the tall, handsome, frustrating man I once had a silly crush on, while he never liked me.

But then West suggests we fake date to send a message: I’m taken and well protected. I agree on one condition… he helps me practice real dating.

I don’t know how to date, and West doesn’t do love. It’s perfect. Soon, we’re practicing it all in secret. Dates. Kissing. Sleeping in the same bed. The only rule? My brother can never find out.

West learns what I like, buys me gifts, praises me, and helps me to stop people-pleasing. Maybe I’ll even ask him to help with my virginity, too...

But the way he’s looking at me now? It’s not part of any lesson. And when he touches me, it feels like he’s forgotten this is just practice...

Genres: Romance, Fake Dating, Contemporary Romance, Forced Proximity, Contemporary, Billionaire Romance, Enemies To Lovers

512 pages, Paperback

First published May 25, 2025

About the author

Hi there! I'm Olivia.
I write romance with billionaire heroes (despite never having met one in person). They're strong, ambitious, they don't need love... until they meet the women who change their minds.

I love witty banter, smart heroines, big cities and perfectly tailored suits. You'll find all four in every one of my books! 💜

➡ Explore the bonus content: https://oliviahayle.com/bonus-content
➡ Visit https://oliviahayle.com

READING ORDER
You can read any of the books as standalones, because each book follows a new couple. But if you ask me? This is my personal preference...

The Connovan Chronicles
- Best Enemies Forever
- The Perfect Mistake
- One Wrong Move

New York Billionaires
- Think Outside the Boss
- Saved by the Boss
- Say Yes to the Boss
- A Ticking Time Boss
- Suite on the Boss
- 12 Days of Bossmas

Seattle Billionaires
- Billion Dollar Enemy
- Billion Dollar Beast
- Billion Dollar Catch
- Billion Dollar Fiancé

Brothers of Paradise
- Dark Eyed Devil
- Ice Cold Boss
- Red Hot Rebel
- Small Town Hero

Standalones
- Arrogant Boss
- Look But Don't Touch
- The Billionaire Scrooge Next Door
- How to Honeymoon Alone

Reviews

[JadeLovesBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book, it looked me dead in the eyes and whispered "that's my good girl" and I ate that shit up. I said yes, Daddy West I AM a good girl 🥺 💅

Nora: rich 25 year old model virgin has a stalker she needs protection from. She's a massive people pleaser and has issues with relationships - or lack of relationships. Her goal is to lose her virginity by the time she turns 25. Hmmmm I wonder who can help with all of those things?

West: the best friend of Nora's brother. Rich. Sexy. Heir to an empire. Kind of a dick, kind of a religious experience.

Nora moves to NY to start her fashion era and ends up needing protection.
West needs a fake fiancé and Nora needs safety from her creepy stalker weirdo. West promises to help her with her awkward dating life. Lots of orgasms, a mountain of sexual tension, and one emotionally unavailable billionaire ready to fix it all with his mouth. 😮‍💨✨


Pros
• ✨well written and easy to fly through like my last three situationships
• ✨west is a man who sees her. like genuinely. and also wants to rail her into self-confidence
• ✨smut is solid. big yes to the “let me show you how beautiful you are” energy
• ✨the praise kink is out here doing the LORD’S WORK. if you’re into being told how special you are every two pages? babe. this is your roman empire.


Cons
• ✖ pacing was like my emotional stability... all over the place
• ✖ SO MUCH PRAISE. like girl i get it you’re insecure but we do NOT need an affirmations seminar every chapter
• ✖ some scenes were less “dialogue” and more “let’s unpack every single negative thought you've ever had in monologue form”
• ✖ west could’ve used a little more edge… he’s like 70% therapist, 30% sexual fiend


final thoughts:
this book is for girlies who want a slow burn with tension, free therapy, and the overwhelming urge to be validated 24/7. if you like broody rich men who say “you’re perfect just like this” while folding you in half - congrats, your new book boyfriend is here.

[madi · Rating 1 out of 5]

dnf at 60%

this started off cute, and i was honestly excited for the fake dating + brother’s best friend setup… but somewhere along the way, it lost me. the pacing was slow, the banter wasn’t landing, and the chemistry just wasn’t giving what it needed to give.

and listen… that scene where they’re literally just standing there watching people have sex?? like?? it was so awkward and not in a funny or spicy way — just weird. i couldn’t recover after that 😭

₊˚ ‿︵‿︵‿︵୨୧ · · ♡ · · ୨୧‿︵‿︵‿︵ ˚₊

𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ pre-read ♡⋆°｡⋆𐙚
⤷ the cover was cute and i’m a fake dating girly so here we are 🤭

[Mira · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐

Nora comes from a wealthy family and is a well-known model, but she dreams of becoming a fashion designer. She also has a stalker who’s been following her, so after moving to New York, her brother insists that his best friend keep an eye on her. For Nora’s safety, West suggests she move into his estate—which he’ll lose unless he gets married before turning 30.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. Nora has spent her whole life trying to please everyone, but West teaches her to put her own desires and ambitions first. Their relationship is healthy and develops gradually—and that party scene was so hot! I also really enjoyed West’s friends and the way they joked around with each other.

But I was a bit thrown off by the whole stalker situation. The entire plot revolves around Nora being followed, but the resolution felt rushed. Honestly, it wasn’t what I expected. I also felt like the story dragged a little at times.

It’s a light romance with spicy scenes that makes for a lovely evening read!

𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✓fake dating
✓brother’s best friend
✓roommates
✓virgin heroine
✓dating lessons

Thank you to NetGalley and Olivia Hayle for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Dul · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me feel so good inside. It's perfect when you need something happy to read. The characters feel like real people, not just people in a story. This novel really caught my attention and I found it hard to stop reading.

Nora moves to New York City to start her career in fashion design. She wants to leave behind her past life as a model and escape from a dangerous person who won't leave her alone. West Calloway, who is her brother's closest friend, becomes the person who keeps her safe. To protect Nora, they must act like they are dating even though they're not really together.

The excitement between them is unreal, but how they fit together is wonderful. The writer did a great job showing Nora's doubts, and I believe lots of people will relate to her. How they communicate with each other is fantastic. When they spend time together, everything feels so easy and lovely.

It's perfect for readers who love tales where the guy genuinely treasures and shields his partner. The romance between West and Nora feels honest and heartwarming.

Thank you for the ARC 🫶🏼

[Anila · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rating: 2.25⭐️

I have seen this book pop up on my feed a few times and decided to give it a try.

I saw a lot of myself in the female lead Nora, especially when it came to her relationship problems and people pleasing tendencies. As for the male lead West, he was protective, but never to the point where it felt overbearing. On paper, they sound like great protagonists, but I could not bring myself to care about them. I didn’t feel that West and Nora had any sort of spark or chemistry between them. Their conversations felt so repetitive as well. It was always about Nora being too complaisant and then West praising her for the simplest things. I was over it after the first few times it happened.

The book was also way too long and the plot moved way too slowly. I honestly found myself getting bored a lot throughout the book and ended up skimming the last few chapters. There were definitely some moments that could have been removed to help the story flow better. The smut was pretty good though, probably the highlight of the book for me.

And so, I’m in the minority on this one and didn’t really end up enjoying the book.

[Dar ⟢ _littlebookishblog · Rating 4 out of 5]

A stalker. A fake relationship. A billionaire best friend. What could possibly go wrong?

The Faking Game is everything I want in a contemporary romance—sharp banter, believable chemistry, and loveable characters. It follows Nora, a model quietly dreaming of becoming a designer, and West, the stoic billionaire heir who’s not only her brother’s best friend… but also the safest option when she needs to hide from a stalker. The solution? Move in to West’s gated estate. Pretend to date. Hope feelings don’t get involved (spoiler: they absolutely do).

But what surprised me most was how layered this story felt beneath the fun setup. Nora’s journey as a people-pleaser hit so close to home—constantly shrinking herself, putting others first, second-guessing every boundary she tries to set. Watching her slowly start to stand taller, say no, and ask for what she actually wants? That resonated on a personal level. It was validating in a quiet, powerful way.

And West? He sees the way she dims herself and refuses to let her do it. He calls it out. He challenges her. He praises her for taking up space—sometimes with words, sometimes with (very convincing) actions. His desire for Nora isn’t just romantic or physical—it’s rooted in who she really is, even when she doesn’t believe in that version of herself yet. He’s a mirror, a catalyst, a spark.

I gave this a solid 4 stars. It’s a bingeable read with smooth writing and great pacing. I did find the stalker plot’s resolution a little underwhelming and would’ve loved more depth in the side characters. Still, this ARC was a joy to read, and I can’t wait to see what Olivia Hayle writes next! If you love fake dating, brother’s best friend, and emotionally satisfying slow burns—this one’s for you.

──. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for sending me a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Faking Game by Olivia Hayle
Release Date: May 25, 2025

[Kim · Rating 1 out of 5]

One of the few DNF’s in a very long time because it constantly felt like he was “teaching” a silly virgin teenager how to act like a normal woman.

Zero chemistry between them and for a really busy and cold billionaire he suddenly had an awful lot of free time to spend on her.

[Kayla_Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Billionaire romance
Best friend’s little sister
Fake dating
Virgin FMC
Sign me up!

West is tasked with protecting his best friend’s little sister Nora. She agrees to stay at his estate and he’s going to teach her how to date. The chemistry between these two was off the charts and I ate it up!! Talk about the perfect book boyfriend!

[sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was adorable and I equally loved the FMC and MMC. They were both mature and their growth throughout the book felt natural and organic. It was really refreshing. This is my first book by this author but I'm looking forward to the second one in the series 👀 the setup at the end already has me intrigued 🙂‍↕️

Thank you Olivia Hayle and NetGalley for the arc!

✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on tiktok ⋆☾✩⁺₊✩

[poppi ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5☆

first olivia hayle book that i have experienced so far and i had a blast. the writing, the story, the characters.. everything was truly amazing.

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. . ݁₊

i fell in love with west. i genuinely think there’s just something so beautiful about a book boyfriend named west because it seems to be a pattern. they’re always perfect.

the way that he pays attention to detail, does the smallest of things to ensure that his partner is happy. goes out of his way to make sure that she’s respected, that she knows her worth and how to stand up for herself. puts her protection above all else and makes sure that she’s out of harms way. allows her to take over his home, make the space her own and makes sure she has an area to create her fashion pieces and she’s able to express herself. nora is one lucky woman.

he’s even become a cat daddy by the end of the book. how can a man get more perfect?! he simply can’t.

nora herself is a little firecracker. i enjoyed seeing her come out of her shell and stand up for herself, allowing others to see who she truly is and letting go of the people pleasing that she’s always done her whole life. seeing her leave a career that she didn’t enjoy and only did to make others happy, to then starting her own fashion line and joining a competition and winning?! that was everything. but to see her stand up for herself to her family and put her own feelings first, was just everything.

i see bits and pieces of myself in nora and to see her happy in the end made me so happy. i truly think these two were perfect for one another and they compliment one another so well.

excited to see what book 2 brings. i know rafe will be just as incredible as west and i can’t wait.

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

The whole stalker plot just never works for me 😭 them finding out who it was, was so anticlimactic and boring. Romance was cute though, loved them

[Büşra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ayyyy aşırı aşırı aşırı çok sevdim. Bu kitap beni çok mutlu etti. Zaten abinin en yakın arkadaşı ve zorunlu yakınlık var en sevdiğim şeylerden birisi.😁
West ve Nora birbirlerinden nefret ettiklerini düşünüyorlar. Yani West Nora’nın kendisinden, Nora’da West’in kendisinden nefret ettiğini düşünüyor. Ama Nora stalker’i yüzünden New York’a geliyor ve hala bu olay devam ettiği için abisinin en yakın arkadaşı West’in yanında yaşamak zorunda. Ve bunların güvenlik işleri bu adamı yakalayacak. Öncelikle Nora çevresindeki herkesi memnun etmeye çalışan birisi kimsenin ona hayal kırıklığına uğramasını istemiyor. Bu yüzden kendinden çok fazla Ödün vermiş ve ne istediğini bilmiyor daha doğrusu ne istediğini biliyor ama kimse hayır diyemiyor. Ve bu sevgililik hayatında da böyle doğru düzgün bir ilişkisi olmamış ve bunu öğrenmek istiyor ileride mutlu bir aile kurmak için.

West Nora’ya hem hayır demeyi hem insanlarla tartışmayı hem de sevgililik olayını öğretiyor diyebiliriz. Çünkü onunla sahte sevgililik olayına ihtiyacı var.

İlişkilerinin ilerleme şekli çok hoşuma gitti birbirlerini tanıyarak başladı ve yanlış anlaşılmalar çözdüler. Buralar çok zevkliydi. Oldukça slow ama bir o kadar da alev alevdi çünkü malum bir şeyler öğretiyor bize.😌😈👉🏻👈🏻

Ben bayağı sevdim bu kitabı ve kesinlikle devamını diğer karakterleri heyecanla bekliyorum . Bu yazar gerçekten comfort comfort birisin😍

[NMmomof4 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars

Quick Opinion: I'm not doing my typical review format because I feel like I spent enough time with this book. It was long. And it felt long at times. I liked some parts, others not so much. I didn't like the miscommunication, especially with the H encouraging the h to stick up for herself-- why didn't she do that more with her feelings for him?! The ending was what I would barely call an HEA ending because it didn't give me nearly enough closure for me they do get married (off page) and focuses more on setting up the next book. After 488 pages in my kindle app it was very disappointing tbh. I know this is kind of hyped right now, but it was 3 "just okay" stars for me.

[flowergirl.reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg. This book needs to be talked about more!!

[krislyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️ um hello!!!!!! I loved this! This was the first book I’ve read of the author’s and I will definitely pick up more of her books! Her writing reminds me of Lauren Asher & I was sooooo here for it.

Nora & West!!!!! I love them both so much, I loved seeing their growth throughout the book, especially my baby Nora. I went in a bit worried just because I truly didn’t think this book should be as long as it was, but I was so wrong! I LOVE the fake dating trope, so this was right up my alley & I enjoyed this book so so much !!!!!

Also, whenever there is a cat involved, I will be reading.

[mili ⋆˚✿˖° · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 / maybe 3.75 ⭐️

Ahhh I don’t really know how I feel about this one. It started a bit messy for me, then I was totally invested, but after a while it felt repetitive in the dialogue, and honestly... it felt endless 😩

I still had fun reading it, but the length was definitely the biggest issue for me. I was also expecting something much more impactful from the stalker plot and it ended up feeling a little disappointing.

That said, I really loved how West supported Nora in setting clear boundaries and standing up for herself. I also really appreciated her character development, seeing her grow in confidence, learning to ask for what she needed.

Anddd let me tell you, definitely didn’t expect all that smut! 🤭 not complaining tho haha

I’m still curious about the rest of the series, so I’ll probably continue reading the next ones!

[Linna • linnareads · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Faking Game by Olivia Hayle 💕

I really enjoyed this one! I found the fmc to be incredibly relatable for a number of reasons and thought the mmc was absolutely perfect for her. While this is a 500 page book, it didn't feel anywhere near that long.

Nora has recently moved to New York for her career aspirations and to get away from her stalker. When something happens in her first few weeks there where she is no longer safe at her apartment, she ends up moving in with her brother's best friend West who has been asked to help keep her safe. The one and only West that she has had a crush on for years despite him being standoffish and appearing to not like her. So when they end up staying in the same house and West proposes they fake date to help keep her safe, they finally get to know each other more. The fake relationship ends up being a benefit to them both but Nora gets the added benefit of West offering to let her practice all aspects of being in a relationship with him including going on dates, kissing, and more.

In no way did I ever feel like West tried to take advantage of the fake dating relationship with Nora. He truly cared for her wanting to keep her safe and encourage her to be herself. It's the sort of classic case of the guy being grumpy on the outside but so down bad for her on the inside. It is a bit of a slower burn though progresses really well with the help of the fake relationship. The way that West so freely offers praise to her in all situations had me swooning! He wanted her to be open with him while also encouraging her to speak up and tell him what she is and isn't comfortable with.

While West was focused on keeping her safe he did so without being too overbearing. The whole stalker plot flows through the whole book but it does so without overtaking the story. At times I even forgot it was a thing keeping the book lower stakes. The focus is very much on Nora experiencing what it is like to be in a relationship with West.

🤍 brother’s best friend
👥 close proximity
🤭 fake dating
🐾 includes a cat
📝 dating lessons
✨ he likes to praise her
👏🏻 no third act breakup

dual POV
5/5 stars ⭐️
3/5 spice level 🌶️

[♡❀Caroline. K❀♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

• Fake Dating
• Brother's Best Friend
• Dual POV
• Slow Burn

Nora is forced to move into her brother's best friend's estate, after a stalker disrupts her life and safety. West proposes a solution to send a message to the stalker... They should fake date.

Truly, I was not expecting to like it as much as I did. In the beginning, it was a bit slow. I wasn't sure where the book was taking us, with the amount of conflicts there were. But in the end, it did come to a satisfying conclusion. I did enjoy seeing Nora people's pleasing issues, it wasn't just an after thought in the book. You can see her progress throughout the book and not see it go to waste towards the end. This book was a fun and easy read for anyone who's interested.

Thank you Netgalley and Olivia Hayle 🫶🏾

[Canan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tam dozunda ve oldukça akıcı bir kitaptı. Bir iki noktanın hızlı geçtiğini düşünüyorum ama bunun dışında kendini okutan bir hikayeydi.
West ve Nora arasındaki flört dersleri yavaş yavaş, adım adım gerçekleşti. Aceleye getirilmemesini, hemen konuya geçmemelerini de sevdim.
West'in duyarlı tavırları, Nora'ya öncelik vermesi de tatlıydı.

Ben sevdim 😍 öneririm.

[em · Rating 5 out of 5]

i’m not sure how Olivia does it, but her books just keep getting better and better over time. this MIGHT just be my favorite book she’s ever written. it has all of my favorite tropes (fake dating, brother’s best friend, roommates, and dating lessons). West is an absolute angel (he’s protective, emotionally mature, strong, caring, and has a praise k!nk that i’m obsessed with). And then there’s Nora, who is officially one of my favorite fmc’s ever. She’s vulnerable, yet strong, and i love her personality so much. together West and Nora are fucking electric and i could not love them more. this is such a raw and vulnerable book and it fixed a part of me that i didn’t even know needed to be healed.

thank you so much to Olivia for letting me continue to be a part of her beta team! i love you and your books more than words can say 🫶🏻

[lucialeelibros · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW 💜💰

This book destroyed me in the best way possible.
Just when you think Olivia can’t possibly outdo herself, she shows up like, “Hold my pen.”
And boom—there you are, rethinking your entire emotional capacity.

I’m beyond grateful to Olivia’s team for letting me read this ARC. It’s the first early copy I’ve received from her, and honestly? What a ride. What. A. Gift.

So let’s talk about Nora and West. She’s 24 (almost 25), he’s 29 (about to hit 30). Nora is the younger sister of West’s best friend. Both come from obscenely wealthy families—Nora’s family owns one of the biggest fashion conglomerates in the world, and West? He’s old money. Like ancestors-in-portraits-staring-you-down kind of old money.

But the story doesn’t revolve around wealth or power. That’s what I loved. Their money is context, not conflict. They meet as equals, and the focus stays on their emotional growth. And let me tell you, it’s beautiful.

We get some of the best tropes ever:
Fake dating? Check.
Enemies to lovers? Absolutely.
Slow burn that will make you want to scream into a pillow? OH YES.

But at the heart of it all, there’s West.
And if you’ve read Olivia before, you know her male leads tend to fall first. West? He worshipped the ground Nora walked on. Every word, every gesture, every choice was full of patience, kindness, and love.
His love didn’t just lift Nora up—it reminded her who she really was. Confident. Whole. More than enough.

Their connection unfolds slowly but intensely, in a way that feels real. And the way Olivia builds this relationship? Chef’s kiss.

Also, let’s talk about West’s friends—aka future book boyfriends. The shy one. The funny one. The serious one. And West, who’s like a blend of them all. I’m already obsessed with every single one of them.

This book made me feel everything. It was romantic, grounded, tender, and addictive.
5/5 stars, no doubt.

Thank you again, Olivia, for this opportunity. I can’t wait to read what’s next.

[Esther · Rating 1 out of 5]

The writing was not for me. I had to push myself to finish this.
The last half of the book I skimmed.
The premise of the plot/story I liked but the execution was lacking.
Lot's of sex scenes (skimmed) as they were robotic and filler in my humble opinion.
Book was way too long.
Don't think this author is for me.

[felicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s not a typical cliche billionare romance. This says a lot.

[aleerless · Rating 5 out of 5]

and that's why fake dating is the best trope ever

[Melissa (Mel’s Bookshelf) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure exactly what it was about this one... perhaps it was the trope? Virginal gorgeous model and the rich protective idiot. I struggled to get through it.
There was a sub plot which went absolutely nowhere and the neediness and whinging from every single character got on my nerves. Even the cat!

I didn't like the back and forth viewpoints or the group texts.
Some half decent steamy scenes, but I really didn't like the main characters. Or the secondary ones. Or the setting.

Onwards

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75⭐️

[María · Rating 3 out of 5]

Estoy cansada de los ROMANCES MEDIOCRES con personajes genéricos y portadas súper preciosas 😭 Háganle justicia lpm ¿por que algo tan lindo si el contenido va a ser lo más INTRASCENDENTE del mundo?

[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfection. No notes.

[Franzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

West Calloway. WEST CALLOWAY 🤩🥵💞❤💖🤩🥵💞❤💖🤩🥵💞❤💖🤩🥵💞❤💖

if this wasn't an arc review, that would be my whole review. but alas...

"The Faking Game" with it's 500+ pages is definitely longer than the usual romances I read but once I got into it, I was so hooked. This is brother's best friend at its best, Olivia Hayle at hers.

West and Nora's relationship feels so natural and oh, is it hot 😍 I saw so much of myself in Nora (yes, in more than just her virginity 🥲) and reading Olivia's acknowledgements at the end made that all the more special 🥹

She really writes the only millionaires/billionaires I accept because yes, they are alphas, and yes, they want to pay for everything, but they do it in such a *soft* way, in a way that doesn't feel like a macho asshole. West is really, really big on praise – that's all I'll say here 🤭

West is so protective of Nora and it killed me 😭 he gives her the freedom she needs but he's just sooo worried all the time and I loved that, too.

I had a completely different hunch for where the stalker story would go and I hope we still see in my suspect in later books! 🕵🏼‍♀

So excited for the next book already – Rafe was such an interesting character here and I'm looking forward to getting into his mind.

Thank you to the author for providing me with a free, early copy 🩷

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

This started out promising with an interesting twist on the whole fake dating thang but boy oh boy it went south so quick. There’s just so much wrong with so much of it - West is just taking advantage from the get go, Nora has zero backbone and the outcome of the whole threat situation was so weak. Don’t even get me started on all the condescending praise. Ick. And that’s not me kink shaming, it was just too much and so weak