Fake Dating the Grumpy Quarterback

by Gianna Ward

The plan was fake dating—not falling for the girl whose heart I broke back in high school.

My reputation and career are on the line.

The girl I used to tease and want, but never deserved, is back in town.

She's smart, sassy, and still mad enough at me to keep it strictly business…

It’s only for the cameras!

Her happy nature will lighten my grumpy image.

What starts as staged hand-holding deepens. Stolen glances, chemistry and trust are what blur every line between pretend and real.

Her growing closer to my son makes the lie feel authentic and I’m falling for her.

When my ex storms back demanding custody. It throws our fake romance into chaos! Leaving Cammie questioning everything and me scrambling not to lose her.

I’m playing for keeps. And I’m not stopping till she’s mine—no matter how many downs it takes.

137 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 17, 2025

Reviews

[Chad Barrus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the author but wasn’t required to post a review. This is my honest
opinion voluntarily given after reading it.

Chandler is a professional football star but has a severe problem due to his reputation. He’s told to clean up his act or else and when he meets the new physical therapist, he knows he wants to change it with her but he’s already broken her heart once in the past and he may be out of luck!

This is a story of both having a second chance of love if they can put their past behind them and work towards a mutually fulfilling relationship instead.

I enjoyed this story and could easily identify with
Cammie and her initial reaction to seeing Chandler again after what he did to her! When they reach a compromise and start being together their attitudes start to change. However conflicts arise which could
end it all!

I think you’ll find the situation these two find themselves in eerily similar to what people nowadays
experience given the same situation!

I heartily recommend this book as one I think you’ll
enjoy and appreciate! As I said earlier, it reads like experiences all of us with few exceptions find ourselves agreeing with. Hence the easy connection!

Pick up and enjoy this book today!

[John Belcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a definite slow burn that you can't help but be drawn into. Gianna does a tremendous job of weaving the story and bringing to life the characters like Cammie, Gregory, and Chandler. Cammie's parents try to force her into their mould, particularly her father, showing zero support or concerns encouragement for her life, training, or her boyfriends. Chandler was forced to show no feelings when he lost his father to cancer during his junior year of high school. Chandler headed down the wrong path in life until his team managers called an intervention or else. Cammie is just starting as the teams PT (physical therapist), which Chandler desperately needs due to strained ligaments in his hamstring. Cammie reminds him of his past, which he desperately wants to forget, and he reminds Cammie of all the teasing and hurt and humiliation he caused her in high school. Now, they are forced to work together, and the slow burn begins. An excellent story and well deserving of five-stars"

[Lindsey Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️️⭐️/ ️🌶️

A wonderful slow burn that keeps readers hooked on the romance and what will happen between our two MCs. Gianna Ward has written a sweet, clean romance in Fake Dating the Grumpy Quarterback. When two high school acquaintances are thrown back together, their history provides the perfect fake dating situation to help them deal with feelings that have been there since high school.

Cammie is excited for her new job, being a fairly new physical therapist and landing a job with a football team. She is excited about what doors this may open later in her future, but one thing she didn’t expect was to see her high school crush and heartbreak. The last thing she needs is to be reminded of that time of her life, especially when her parents never stop reminding her of how she doesn’t measure up. My heart broke for her in this regard, but I loved seeing her become more self confident and someone stick up for her.

Chandler has always had to repress his feelings. Never learning how to properly handle them, he goes off the rails to the point that his team managers call for him to clean up his image or possibly put his spot on his team in jeopardy. When he sees the girl he had a crushed on in high school, but never felt like he deserved, the sparks fly. A fake relationship has Chandler realizing what he wants in life and it is Cammie. But how could she ever forgive him for the pain he’s caused her in the past? All he knows is the more time they spend together and the closer her and his child become, the less he wants their relationship to be fake.

This is a quick, sweet read that truly held my attention from beginning to end. Gianna provided wonderful characters who truly captivated you with their past struggles and hurts while trying so hard to provide a better future for themselves. As they grew closer and shared emotions that they had pushed down deep, they find themselves becoming the best version of themselves. I loved how much happened in this book, while being under 200 pages. Well done Gianna!

As always, review any author notes before reading.

What to Expect:
🏈Workplace Romance
💖Past Trauma Healing
🏈High School Acquaintances
💖Football Player MMC
🏈Physical Therapist FMC
💖Fake Dating
🏈Mutual, Secret Pining
💖Clean Romance

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chandler and Cammie knew each other from ‘before’. He was her high school crush, and her first heartbreak.
Poor Cammie. I had no idea what was going on - he’s bad-mouthing her to everyone and acting like she would cause trouble!!??

Her history with him is complex, and the author releases it in small amounts. She thought they were friends and was prepared to tell him how she felt. He suddenly ghosts her and gets with her best friend. Instantly, I thought her supposed BFF was whispering in his ear… luckily I was wrong.

Once they got together though, super sweet. There was some drama with the ex-wife. The dreaded third-act breakup. Then the redemption and dream ending.

This was a super quick, super sweet read. Thoroughly enjoyed.

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

[Jane litherland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is sweet and a real treat. He’s a football player who would lay you soon as look ,but not anymore that part of his world is done. He’s trying to come good . His image and his body needs therapy and that’s where she comes in . His high school ex, she’s sassy and sexy but it’s strictly business because he did her wrong when they were together. He doggone broke her heart back then. Cammie was the one he left behind. Not unkindly but he tries to appease and when his ex shows up ,it’s please fake date me. He broke her heart back in high school ,he was a fool.Now’s the time to make amends and then just maybe she’ll appease and spend time alone. Great writing ,it’s got characters to believe in with a bit more bite. I enjoyed reading ,it was a delight . I read it into the night.

[TL Bradshaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of inconsistencies....

I did not realize the book was short until things were moving quickly out of the blue.
I did like the beginning of their fake relationship and how they were both resistant, since this was neither of there decision. But just two weeks in and they were falling for each other. The hang up about high school wasn't explained though such a big deal was made about it.
I was a little confused by the start of her own practice while working pt for the leopards.
Megan was a mystery with no job and I'm assuming homeless as she hadn't had a job in two years and a drug addict.
I'm happy it ended well though I was surprised when cammie called herself Gregory's "mommy".

[Shannon Binegar-Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

He is a famous football player in need of physical therapy and an image upgrade. She is the new therapist and the one he hurt in high school. Can they pull off the fake dating for his image. Can she forgive him for his past mistakes? Will his ex-wife ruin everything? Time will tell. I found this story to be very charming. I enjoyed it very much.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book provided by booksprout.

[Chandra Luna · Rating 4 out of 5]

She's the new physcial therapist just trying to make a name for herself so she can get good jobs. He's the star quarterback and her bully in high school. Neither one was expecting the other but when he needs an image makeover, he knows he can can't on her, because she hates him and won't fall in love- or does she?.

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

[Megan Olds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Likable romance and characters. Also gotta feel for Cammie with a dad like that. And I get how Chandler comes off as having a player persona to the public even though we as readers get the benefit of dramatic irony to see that he’s not. Man—there’s even representation of female-led sexual assault!

[LaRae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story! Fun banter and a slow burn. Couldn't put it down!

[Tina Sanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

I was really into this story at first, then toward the end it became this sappy run over me story that made me lose interest. Otherwise slot of it was good.

[Char ღ Denae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fake Dating the Grumpy Quarterback by Gianna Ward is a well-written romance featuring a grumpy, single dad, pro football player and a sweet, sunshiny, physical therapist.
Chandler broke Cammie’s heart in high school and now, she’s stuck working with him. Keeping her distance is harder than she thought, especially when he asks her to help him by fake dating him.
An emotional, enemies-to-lovers, fake dating romance, this one has a whole lot packed into a novella with a very satisfying, happy ending.

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