What do you think?
Straight Detour #1
Faking It Right
A fake relationship with his best friend is either the worst idea Ryker has ever had or the plot twist his love life desperately needed.
I’ve always been straight. Like, straighter than the pole my sister’s girlfriend uses for her exotic dance cardio class. But that doesn’t mean I want to go on another one of my mom’s blind date setups, which have historically been as successful as using a flamethrower to fix a bad haircut.
To avoid my mother’s disastrous matchmaking attempts, I ask my openly gay roommate to pretend to be my boyfriend when we go home for spring break. You know, the one who’s been trying to get in my pants since freshman year with the determination of a squirrel hoarding nuts for winter. What could possibly go wrong?
Other than Harley has a gorgeous face that makes strangers walk into street poles, the body of someone who actually uses his gym membership, and enough charm to talk his way out of a speeding ticket while getting the officer’s number. Naturally, I say yes when he offers to show me why my dating history with women can be summed up somewhere between “meh” and “this is why my therapist deserves hazard pay.”
And just like that, my membership to the Straight Guy Club is permanently revoked. Oops?
Faking It Right is a steamy, laugh-out-loud MM romantic comedy featuring a bisexual awakening everyone saw coming except Ryker. It also stars a flirtatious best friend with the subtlety of a glitter bomb and a bad date so absurd it could be a case study in chaos theory.
The Straight Detour series explores what happens when sexuality takes the scenic route. The road to true love always begins with a wrong turn and ends with the liberating realization that your heart doesn’t care about the rules you thought you had to follow.
I’ve always been straight. Like, straighter than the pole my sister’s girlfriend uses for her exotic dance cardio class. But that doesn’t mean I want to go on another one of my mom’s blind date setups, which have historically been as successful as using a flamethrower to fix a bad haircut.
To avoid my mother’s disastrous matchmaking attempts, I ask my openly gay roommate to pretend to be my boyfriend when we go home for spring break. You know, the one who’s been trying to get in my pants since freshman year with the determination of a squirrel hoarding nuts for winter. What could possibly go wrong?
Other than Harley has a gorgeous face that makes strangers walk into street poles, the body of someone who actually uses his gym membership, and enough charm to talk his way out of a speeding ticket while getting the officer’s number. Naturally, I say yes when he offers to show me why my dating history with women can be summed up somewhere between “meh” and “this is why my therapist deserves hazard pay.”
And just like that, my membership to the Straight Guy Club is permanently revoked. Oops?
Faking It Right is a steamy, laugh-out-loud MM romantic comedy featuring a bisexual awakening everyone saw coming except Ryker. It also stars a flirtatious best friend with the subtlety of a glitter bomb and a bad date so absurd it could be a case study in chaos theory.
The Straight Detour series explores what happens when sexuality takes the scenic route. The road to true love always begins with a wrong turn and ends with the liberating realization that your heart doesn’t care about the rules you thought you had to follow.
458 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 21, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
January 29, 2026
2,5 ⭐
Sometimes I love books that are over the top, but this book was too much of that even for me. The constant sex talk bored me to tears at the end of it. This didn't needed to be 450 pages long, could've easily been half of that. And Ryker's family being so invested in his sex life was too cringe for me to enjoy the banter and jokes. Some of the jokes/metaphors were fine, I enjoyed the first 150 pages and I did like the friend group at the end, but will probably not continue with this series unfortunately.
Sometimes I love books that are over the top, but this book was too much of that even for me. The constant sex talk bored me to tears at the end of it. This didn't needed to be 450 pages long, could've easily been half of that. And Ryker's family being so invested in his sex life was too cringe for me to enjoy the banter and jokes. Some of the jokes/metaphors were fine, I enjoyed the first 150 pages and I did like the friend group at the end, but will probably not continue with this series unfortunately.
November 21, 2025
I truly love this author, she’s usually an instant-buy for me. I was really excited for this book, and while I did enjoy the plot, it didn’t hit the same way her other stories usually do for me.
I also felt like the family didn’t really respect the character’s boundaries, and the whole dinner scene didn’t add much to the story in my opinion. There were still things I liked, though, and I know a lot of readers might connect with it more than I did.
The story has that fun friends/roommates to awakening/lovers vibe that I normally adore, but MC2 came off a bit too controlling for my taste. And there were quite a few moments where everyone seemed to gang up on MC1 for jokes, it felt more humiliating than funny. I definitely didn’t laugh as much as other reviewers seem to.
The tone also leaned a lot more toward smut than the cute or sexy fluff I was expecting, and for someone who’s supposed to be having an awakening, everything moved really fast. Yes, they’re adults, but I would’ve liked to see them slow down a little, explore their feelings, maybe even go on a date before things escalated the way they did. I kinda felt like the MC1 was still questionning himself all while having "intercourse".
It wasn’t the perfect fit for me, but I can absolutely see this being a great read for others. If you love high-heat romances, chaotic friend groups, fast pacing, and a lighter and more playful approach to character growth, this book will probably be right up your alley.
I also felt like the family didn’t really respect the character’s boundaries, and the whole dinner scene didn’t add much to the story in my opinion. There were still things I liked, though, and I know a lot of readers might connect with it more than I did.
The story has that fun friends/roommates to awakening/lovers vibe that I normally adore, but MC2 came off a bit too controlling for my taste. And there were quite a few moments where everyone seemed to gang up on MC1 for jokes, it felt more humiliating than funny. I definitely didn’t laugh as much as other reviewers seem to.
The tone also leaned a lot more toward smut than the cute or sexy fluff I was expecting, and for someone who’s supposed to be having an awakening, everything moved really fast. Yes, they’re adults, but I would’ve liked to see them slow down a little, explore their feelings, maybe even go on a date before things escalated the way they did. I kinda felt like the MC1 was still questionning himself all while having "intercourse".
It wasn’t the perfect fit for me, but I can absolutely see this being a great read for others. If you love high-heat romances, chaotic friend groups, fast pacing, and a lighter and more playful approach to character growth, this book will probably be right up your alley.
November 16, 2025
'Faking It Right: A Friends-to-Lovers MM Romance' (Straight Detour Book 1) written by Ariella Zoelle
Straight college guy, Ryker, and his flirty gay roomate, Harley, best friends for years... until the day that Ryker's class gets canceled and he comes home early only to discover Harley butt-naked and spread-eagled out on their living room couch, and in the midst of an epic blow-job being preformed enthusiastically by another naked guy! Wowza!
Does Harley act embarrassed at being caught? Nope! He just lazily smiles and invites Ryker to come sit next to him and watch!
What do you think Ryker does? Shuffle away and hide his shock and embarrassment in his room? Or nervously walk over to sit on the couch next to Harley?
What do you think blow-job guy does?
(Hint: you'll have to read it to find out...(grin)...yeah, not throwing spoilers in here!)
This was a fun romp into exploring one's sexuality, while at the same time acknowledging how difficult it can sometimes be!
Includes Ryker's well-meaning but extremely meddlesome mother's repeated attempts to fix him up with a variety of straight girls, including the latest debacle who is invited to a family dinner and shows up with a plethora of astrological & past life information including the many, MANY past lives where they were "fated mates"!
This book is hilarious! I can't begin to tell you about all the silliness that goes on, both behind closed doors between Harley & Ryker, and also at the family dinner table with Ryker's sister Sawyer and their parents, and various other characters who make appearances throughout this tale.
In addition, there's Ryker who's going through all kinds of angst about his sexuality, basically his ongoing confusion about what's going on within himself, mentally & physically, now that he seems attracted all of a sudden to his roomie, who has also been his best friend for years.
Yeah, a familiar trope, but one well-written featuring a combination of silliness and seriousness as Ryker grapples with his mixed up feelings about Harley.
And Harley? I love this character, who's always known what he wants and has amazing patience, not to mention a fabulous sense of humor! Sometimes his vulnerability shows through, and when Ryker can occasionally get out of his mental head-trips, he sees that too. They are very sweet together!
A shout out to all the other interesting friends, family, and side characters who run interference throughout his life!
I enjoyed this book and can't wait for sequels!
(Note: I was able to buy an advanced release e-book copy from the author's website, as I'm signed up for her newsletter)
(A side note: I have actually read most of this author's other books, but due to a move, haven't had time to mark them as read or do reviews yet; will do soon as they're lots of fun! )
Two thumbs up! 👍👍
Straight college guy, Ryker, and his flirty gay roomate, Harley, best friends for years... until the day that Ryker's class gets canceled and he comes home early only to discover Harley butt-naked and spread-eagled out on their living room couch, and in the midst of an epic blow-job being preformed enthusiastically by another naked guy! Wowza!
Does Harley act embarrassed at being caught? Nope! He just lazily smiles and invites Ryker to come sit next to him and watch!
What do you think Ryker does? Shuffle away and hide his shock and embarrassment in his room? Or nervously walk over to sit on the couch next to Harley?
What do you think blow-job guy does?
(Hint: you'll have to read it to find out...(grin)...yeah, not throwing spoilers in here!)
This was a fun romp into exploring one's sexuality, while at the same time acknowledging how difficult it can sometimes be!
Includes Ryker's well-meaning but extremely meddlesome mother's repeated attempts to fix him up with a variety of straight girls, including the latest debacle who is invited to a family dinner and shows up with a plethora of astrological & past life information including the many, MANY past lives where they were "fated mates"!
This book is hilarious! I can't begin to tell you about all the silliness that goes on, both behind closed doors between Harley & Ryker, and also at the family dinner table with Ryker's sister Sawyer and their parents, and various other characters who make appearances throughout this tale.
In addition, there's Ryker who's going through all kinds of angst about his sexuality, basically his ongoing confusion about what's going on within himself, mentally & physically, now that he seems attracted all of a sudden to his roomie, who has also been his best friend for years.
Yeah, a familiar trope, but one well-written featuring a combination of silliness and seriousness as Ryker grapples with his mixed up feelings about Harley.
And Harley? I love this character, who's always known what he wants and has amazing patience, not to mention a fabulous sense of humor! Sometimes his vulnerability shows through, and when Ryker can occasionally get out of his mental head-trips, he sees that too. They are very sweet together!
A shout out to all the other interesting friends, family, and side characters who run interference throughout his life!
I enjoyed this book and can't wait for sequels!
(Note: I was able to buy an advanced release e-book copy from the author's website, as I'm signed up for her newsletter)
(A side note: I have actually read most of this author's other books, but due to a move, haven't had time to mark them as read or do reviews yet; will do soon as they're lots of fun! )
Two thumbs up! 👍👍
January 6, 2026
DNF @ 30%
Uhh, that first scene really was something... Can't say I've ever read anything like it given how brazen the sexual voyeurism was (almost tiptoed into sexual deviance imo with how Harley talked an unwilling Ryker into watching him get a BJ).
Harley in general felt a bit problematic in how he didn't respect Ryker's boundaries, constantly touching him, hitting on him, and putting him in sexual situations he was clearly uncomfortable in. Ryker deep down wanting to do them didn't really make it ok to me considering 1. Harley couldn't have known Ryker's internal thoughts and 2. Ryker himself wasn't fully cognizant of them either
I hated it when Ryker kept on asking himself why he was going along with Harley and letting himself be put into those sexual situations. I get being confused about new sexual feelings, but Ryker just kept on asking himself "why?" and it got super repetitive.
I appreciate that they talked about Ryker's sexual awakening, but I wasn't a big fan of how lightly they treated it considering Harley had apparently been pining for Ryker for a long time now (you'd think he'd be more excited rather than teasing) and Ryker was a bit too casual for someone who'd never even considered doing things with a man before. The story rubberbanding them back to "we're just fake dating" didn't really feel like it made sense considering the revelations (Ryker wasn't entirely straight and Harley had a crush on him). Those two things should've caused a bigger discussion over their fake dating (or at least a promise of one) because they were a fundamental shift in the basis of their friendship. Harley hiding his feelings behind "I just wanted to be sure we had chemistry in our fake relationship" and was fine if the POV had been Ryker's, but I needed to see more internal hope and dismay in Harley after just having had sex with his crush of three years who he just found out wasn't as straight as he previously assumed.
Then we get 12 pages of Ryker and Harley bantering more about sex where somehow Harley isn't fearful of letting Ryker know he'd been attracted to him for the past few years and it was WAY too long. We'd just gotten out if a multi chapter sex scene, idk why the author decided to interject even more sex into Ryker and Harley's debriefing about their situation. It should've just talked about Ryker's sexual awakening, Harley's attraction, and what that meant fit their fake dating. We didn't need every other paragraph to be about sex interrupting things (it probably would've saved 6 pages in the process).
Ryker's family fixating on his relationship was fine, them constantly bringing it back to sex was exhausting after the last two chapters had already basically done the same thing.
I had to call it when the next day started and it just felt like a repeat of the last one. Ryker and Harley have sex, Ryker hints at some discomfort around his sexuality but Harley still pushes him to do it, Ryker's family obsesses about them being together, they have to go somewhere but end up having more sex before. All the sex was just so boring since it was so pervasive. I wanted a romance, not an erotica meaning I needed more development of the relationship OUTSIDE of just getting their dicks wet.
Uhh, that first scene really was something... Can't say I've ever read anything like it given how brazen the sexual voyeurism was (almost tiptoed into sexual deviance imo with how Harley talked an unwilling Ryker into watching him get a BJ).
Harley in general felt a bit problematic in how he didn't respect Ryker's boundaries, constantly touching him, hitting on him, and putting him in sexual situations he was clearly uncomfortable in. Ryker deep down wanting to do them didn't really make it ok to me considering 1. Harley couldn't have known Ryker's internal thoughts and 2. Ryker himself wasn't fully cognizant of them either
I hated it when Ryker kept on asking himself why he was going along with Harley and letting himself be put into those sexual situations. I get being confused about new sexual feelings, but Ryker just kept on asking himself "why?" and it got super repetitive.
I appreciate that they talked about Ryker's sexual awakening, but I wasn't a big fan of how lightly they treated it considering Harley had apparently been pining for Ryker for a long time now (you'd think he'd be more excited rather than teasing) and Ryker was a bit too casual for someone who'd never even considered doing things with a man before. The story rubberbanding them back to "we're just fake dating" didn't really feel like it made sense considering the revelations (Ryker wasn't entirely straight and Harley had a crush on him). Those two things should've caused a bigger discussion over their fake dating (or at least a promise of one) because they were a fundamental shift in the basis of their friendship. Harley hiding his feelings behind "I just wanted to be sure we had chemistry in our fake relationship" and was fine if the POV had been Ryker's, but I needed to see more internal hope and dismay in Harley after just having had sex with his crush of three years who he just found out wasn't as straight as he previously assumed.
Then we get 12 pages of Ryker and Harley bantering more about sex where somehow Harley isn't fearful of letting Ryker know he'd been attracted to him for the past few years and it was WAY too long. We'd just gotten out if a multi chapter sex scene, idk why the author decided to interject even more sex into Ryker and Harley's debriefing about their situation. It should've just talked about Ryker's sexual awakening, Harley's attraction, and what that meant fit their fake dating. We didn't need every other paragraph to be about sex interrupting things (it probably would've saved 6 pages in the process).
Ryker's family fixating on his relationship was fine, them constantly bringing it back to sex was exhausting after the last two chapters had already basically done the same thing.
I had to call it when the next day started and it just felt like a repeat of the last one. Ryker and Harley have sex, Ryker hints at some discomfort around his sexuality but Harley still pushes him to do it, Ryker's family obsesses about them being together, they have to go somewhere but end up having more sex before. All the sex was just so boring since it was so pervasive. I wanted a romance, not an erotica meaning I needed more development of the relationship OUTSIDE of just getting their dicks wet.
November 27, 2025
Harley, gorgeous blond-haired and blue-eyed college dreamboat, has had an unrequited crush on his “straight” roommate, Ryker, for some time. Despite Ryker’s absolute self-affirmation of his heterosexuality, he just can’t bring himself to date the girls his mother tries to set him up with. However, the game his mom is playing with his love life is getting on the man’s nerves… it seems that Ryker just can’t get away from his meddlesome mother’s matchmaking efforts. Going home to Ryker’s house with Harley over school break turns out to be the ideal time to get his mother off his back – or so it seems. When Ryker asks his gay roommate Harley to be his fake boyfriend over the break, Harley doesn’t need to be asked twice. But at the end of the charade, will our guys still be able to go back to being just casual friends?
Faking It Right is an extremely fun, romantic and entertaining novel! The plot is imaginative and amusing - and never predictable. The main characters, Ryker and Harley, are both really well developed… arrogant and sexually uninhibited Harley has all the attributes to get whomever he wants as a boyfriend, it seems. The one he wants the most, however, he can’t have. Ryker is pragmatic and cautious when it comes to relationships, and one could say he’s also questioning his sexual orientation, as well. He has feelings for Harley… and living with the man for three years in a dorm room and learning the man’s likes, dislikes and nuances already makes Ryker an expert fake boyfriend. But when the lines of friendship are crossed, who is to decide if it’s a fake or real relationship?
I especially enjoyed the secondary characters in this novel. Ryker’s parents are both so open, friendly and accepting, and together with Ryker’s sister Sawyer and her girlfriend Gia – they all give the book a phenomenal sense of familial ambiance that just can’t be beat!!
Faking It Right is a wonderful book, very well-written and imaginative … and left me with a sense of happiness! 5 stars!!
Faking It Right is an extremely fun, romantic and entertaining novel! The plot is imaginative and amusing - and never predictable. The main characters, Ryker and Harley, are both really well developed… arrogant and sexually uninhibited Harley has all the attributes to get whomever he wants as a boyfriend, it seems. The one he wants the most, however, he can’t have. Ryker is pragmatic and cautious when it comes to relationships, and one could say he’s also questioning his sexual orientation, as well. He has feelings for Harley… and living with the man for three years in a dorm room and learning the man’s likes, dislikes and nuances already makes Ryker an expert fake boyfriend. But when the lines of friendship are crossed, who is to decide if it’s a fake or real relationship?
I especially enjoyed the secondary characters in this novel. Ryker’s parents are both so open, friendly and accepting, and together with Ryker’s sister Sawyer and her girlfriend Gia – they all give the book a phenomenal sense of familial ambiance that just can’t be beat!!
Faking It Right is a wonderful book, very well-written and imaginative … and left me with a sense of happiness! 5 stars!!
November 16, 2025
3.5* rounded up
I love Ariella's bi-awakening book, Honeymoon Ever After and Flawsome Explorations are two of my favourite books.
I love her fluffy romances, easy to read and a nice way to spend an afternoon.
This one is slightly different. It very much reads like a constant joke and for me that's where the book lacks a bit.
Poor Ryker never gets a break. Asking his roommate to pretend to be his boyfriend to avoid another blind-date disaster sounds great. But I struggled connecting with Harley. Harley is a horndog and a lot of the interaction between the two guys is based on the size of his equipment and how to convince Ryker that he is not straight by seducing him constantly.
I do miss the care and attention I know and love from the other books.
Ryker's family is also not giving him a break. Overjoyed by the announcement that Harley and Ryker are dating, poor Ryker is still the victim of more teasing and jokes. While some are quite funny, it does get a bit long.
Add the dinner of hell with the intended blind date and I wonder why Ryker hasn't run off to never come back again. The blind date was funny but not for nearly 2 chapter.
I started to like Harley slightly more towards the last 1/4 of the book when he shows more about his feelings and comes over more serious.
It may be that college age romances are just not for me.
I love Ariella's bi-awakening book, Honeymoon Ever After and Flawsome Explorations are two of my favourite books.
I love her fluffy romances, easy to read and a nice way to spend an afternoon.
This one is slightly different. It very much reads like a constant joke and for me that's where the book lacks a bit.
Poor Ryker never gets a break. Asking his roommate to pretend to be his boyfriend to avoid another blind-date disaster sounds great. But I struggled connecting with Harley. Harley is a horndog and a lot of the interaction between the two guys is based on the size of his equipment and how to convince Ryker that he is not straight by seducing him constantly.
I do miss the care and attention I know and love from the other books.
Ryker's family is also not giving him a break. Overjoyed by the announcement that Harley and Ryker are dating, poor Ryker is still the victim of more teasing and jokes. While some are quite funny, it does get a bit long.
Add the dinner of hell with the intended blind date and I wonder why Ryker hasn't run off to never come back again. The blind date was funny but not for nearly 2 chapter.
I started to like Harley slightly more towards the last 1/4 of the book when he shows more about his feelings and comes over more serious.
It may be that college age romances are just not for me.
November 22, 2025
FAKING IT RIGHT is the first book in the Straight Detour series.
Ryker and Harley have been friends for three years and living together for the last two. Harley is gay and Ryker is very straight. When Ryker walks in on Harley and a hook up Ryker can't seem to look away from what's happening in front of him. Harley insists that he stays and watch Ryker can't seem to walk away. He doesn't understand why his body is reacting to way it is but it doesn't mean anything, right? Ryker's mom has a horrible habit of setting him up with woman that are nothing that Ryker wants and when he goes home for break his mom is already ready with the next one. Ryker thinks the only way out of it is if he and Harley pretend to be boyfriends to get his mom off his back. Harley is more than happy to help Ryker especially since he's been in love with him for the last three years and Ryker has no idea. When they kiss for the first time Ryker knows it's nothing like he's ever experienced before and is very confused on what that means. Harley is more than happy to show Ryker how good it could be between them if he would just give it a chance.
I love a good bi-awakening fake relationship troupe so enjoyed watching Ryker's bi-awakening even if he didn't completely understand it at first. Harley did have a cocky attitude that got to be a bit much but overall it was a cute read. The random scene in the middle was kind of a miss for me with the dinner but it was good overall.
I was given a free copy of this book to read and review for Neon Rainbow.
Ryker and Harley have been friends for three years and living together for the last two. Harley is gay and Ryker is very straight. When Ryker walks in on Harley and a hook up Ryker can't seem to look away from what's happening in front of him. Harley insists that he stays and watch Ryker can't seem to walk away. He doesn't understand why his body is reacting to way it is but it doesn't mean anything, right? Ryker's mom has a horrible habit of setting him up with woman that are nothing that Ryker wants and when he goes home for break his mom is already ready with the next one. Ryker thinks the only way out of it is if he and Harley pretend to be boyfriends to get his mom off his back. Harley is more than happy to help Ryker especially since he's been in love with him for the last three years and Ryker has no idea. When they kiss for the first time Ryker knows it's nothing like he's ever experienced before and is very confused on what that means. Harley is more than happy to show Ryker how good it could be between them if he would just give it a chance.
I love a good bi-awakening fake relationship troupe so enjoyed watching Ryker's bi-awakening even if he didn't completely understand it at first. Harley did have a cocky attitude that got to be a bit much but overall it was a cute read. The random scene in the middle was kind of a miss for me with the dinner but it was good overall.
I was given a free copy of this book to read and review for Neon Rainbow.
November 21, 2025
Ugh. Ok. How to write this. I honestly have no idea. Harley got on my nerves from the moment he was on page. It wasn’t the sex. It was the cocky attitude and “everyone wants me” attitude. This author has written some comfort reads for me that I have gone back and read again and again, but this one is not one of them. I guess it just hit me wrong from the first chapter and I couldn’t recover from that. The humor from the family hit me wrong too. This book was just not for me. Harley and Ryker do have a good relationship. The dynamic works for them. Also, his mom? Oh my goodness give it a rest already. It was cringy.
This story is a common enough trope and one that often brings me joy, the fake relationship part anyway. I also don’t mind bi awakening stories. This one got on my nerves early on. I think it was Harley’s “everyone wants me” attitude. He’s a bit cocky and arrogant. There is a gentle heart in there, but I wasn’t really a fan of the character. Ryker’s family is a bit much and is over the top ridiculous. Some of the banter struck me more as familial bullying than playful ribbing and fun. It is probably because I got started off wrong and couldn’t really recover from it.
This story is a common enough trope and one that often brings me joy, the fake relationship part anyway. I also don’t mind bi awakening stories. This one got on my nerves early on. I think it was Harley’s “everyone wants me” attitude. He’s a bit cocky and arrogant. There is a gentle heart in there, but I wasn’t really a fan of the character. Ryker’s family is a bit much and is over the top ridiculous. Some of the banter struck me more as familial bullying than playful ribbing and fun. It is probably because I got started off wrong and couldn’t really recover from it.
November 22, 2025
Though not a fan of "fake relationship" trope i love anything by Ariella and this story was spot on!
Harley and Ryker’s friendship has been three years in the making, built on easy banter, genuine care, and on Harley’s side, a spark he’s never quite managed to hide. Ryker, meanwhile, has spent years happily assuming guys simply weren’t his thing… until a fake-dating scheme, a meddling family, and one very persuasive best friend start unravelling that certainty in the most delightful way. The bi-awakening element is handled with humour, warmth, and just the right amount of emotional depth.
Ariella’s signature style is all over this book in the best possible way. Expect laugh-out-loud moments, wonderfully chaotic side characters, brilliant banter, soft and swoony scenes, and a level of on-page chemistry that practically glows. The whole thing is feel-good, funny, and full of heart.
If you adore friends-to-lovers stories with a healthy dose of steam, warmth, and queer joy, this one is an absolute treat. A huge thank-you to Ariella for giving Harley and Ryker the story they deserved.
i received a free copy and this is my review
Harley and Ryker’s friendship has been three years in the making, built on easy banter, genuine care, and on Harley’s side, a spark he’s never quite managed to hide. Ryker, meanwhile, has spent years happily assuming guys simply weren’t his thing… until a fake-dating scheme, a meddling family, and one very persuasive best friend start unravelling that certainty in the most delightful way. The bi-awakening element is handled with humour, warmth, and just the right amount of emotional depth.
Ariella’s signature style is all over this book in the best possible way. Expect laugh-out-loud moments, wonderfully chaotic side characters, brilliant banter, soft and swoony scenes, and a level of on-page chemistry that practically glows. The whole thing is feel-good, funny, and full of heart.
If you adore friends-to-lovers stories with a healthy dose of steam, warmth, and queer joy, this one is an absolute treat. A huge thank-you to Ariella for giving Harley and Ryker the story they deserved.
i received a free copy and this is my review
November 20, 2025
It’s true that I’ve been waiting for this book for a long time…years even, and I’m glad to report that it did not disappoint! I am a hardcore fan of the friends-to-lovers trope and this book has all the elements that I love.
To set the stage, Harley and Ryker have been friends since they first met 3 years ago as freshman in college. Harley immediately felt another kind of spark that Ryker didn’t, because guys were not on his radar in that way. So add bi-awakening to the plot line and color me happy.
If you’re already a fan of Zoelle, you will recognize her signature writing style that includes lots of funny banter, warm and fuzzy scenes between the MCs, friends/family that provide extra opportunities for more hilarious fun, quirky historical facts, and let’s not forget the on-the-page steam going on. If that is your kind of book, you will find it here …as well as in her wonderful library of previous titles.
Thank you Ariella for bringing this story to life for me and all the friends-to-lovers fans in the romance world! *Mwah*
To set the stage, Harley and Ryker have been friends since they first met 3 years ago as freshman in college. Harley immediately felt another kind of spark that Ryker didn’t, because guys were not on his radar in that way. So add bi-awakening to the plot line and color me happy.
If you’re already a fan of Zoelle, you will recognize her signature writing style that includes lots of funny banter, warm and fuzzy scenes between the MCs, friends/family that provide extra opportunities for more hilarious fun, quirky historical facts, and let’s not forget the on-the-page steam going on. If that is your kind of book, you will find it here …as well as in her wonderful library of previous titles.
Thank you Ariella for bringing this story to life for me and all the friends-to-lovers fans in the romance world! *Mwah*
November 24, 2025
This is a steamy tale of discovery between best friends, Ryker and Harley. To stop his mother from setting him up on blind dates with girls, Ryker suggests that he and Harley pretend to be boyfriends during their mid-term break, visiting his family.
Harley is the more confident of the two and has been hiding the fact that he’s in love with Ryker since they met, while Ryker is shy, oblivious and ignoring his feelings. There are many funny moments and lots of family teasing and banter, plus one last over-the-top blind date before Ryker accepts his newfound identity.
The book is the start of a new series and it’s different from most of the author’s other books I’ve read. While the storyline was enjoyable and there were some laugh-out-loud moments, the book felt a bit too lengthy to me, and I found the family teasing too much at times. Plus, despite Ryker’s constantly questioning everything, things got steamy rather quickly, which seemed a bit too fast.
Having said that I enjoyed it overall, and if you’re looking for a fun book with lots of heat, then this is one for you.
Harley is the more confident of the two and has been hiding the fact that he’s in love with Ryker since they met, while Ryker is shy, oblivious and ignoring his feelings. There are many funny moments and lots of family teasing and banter, plus one last over-the-top blind date before Ryker accepts his newfound identity.
The book is the start of a new series and it’s different from most of the author’s other books I’ve read. While the storyline was enjoyable and there were some laugh-out-loud moments, the book felt a bit too lengthy to me, and I found the family teasing too much at times. Plus, despite Ryker’s constantly questioning everything, things got steamy rather quickly, which seemed a bit too fast.
Having said that I enjoyed it overall, and if you’re looking for a fun book with lots of heat, then this is one for you.
November 26, 2025
I loved this book!
This book is absolutely amazing! The story of Ryker and Harley is one of best friends who become so much more! Ryker and Harley have been best friends forever and roommates for the last three. Harley has feelings for Ryker but Ryker insists he’s straight. All that changes when they head home to spend Spring Break with Ryker’s family. A ploy to keep his mom from continuing her matchmaking has Ryker asking Harley to be his fake boyfriend. The adventure this leads to is an absolute joy to read! I love how their fake relationship turns real and all the chaos that ensues along the way! His family and Harley find lots of ways to make Ryker blush and I love the way those scenes unfold. One last arranged date with a girl by the name of Maylin was one of the best parts of the story and it was absolutely hysterical! When the two return to college after Spring Break, their relationship continues to grow and I love how the two manage to get even closer and I love how their story ends!
I read an ARC copy of this book and am volunteering my honest review.
This book is absolutely amazing! The story of Ryker and Harley is one of best friends who become so much more! Ryker and Harley have been best friends forever and roommates for the last three. Harley has feelings for Ryker but Ryker insists he’s straight. All that changes when they head home to spend Spring Break with Ryker’s family. A ploy to keep his mom from continuing her matchmaking has Ryker asking Harley to be his fake boyfriend. The adventure this leads to is an absolute joy to read! I love how their fake relationship turns real and all the chaos that ensues along the way! His family and Harley find lots of ways to make Ryker blush and I love the way those scenes unfold. One last arranged date with a girl by the name of Maylin was one of the best parts of the story and it was absolutely hysterical! When the two return to college after Spring Break, their relationship continues to grow and I love how the two manage to get even closer and I love how their story ends!
I read an ARC copy of this book and am volunteering my honest review.
November 28, 2025
Ryker and Harley's friendship really gets put to the test when Ryker's cancelled class means coming home early to see Harley being... serviced.
That, along with the brilliant plan of pretending they're a couple when they go to Ryker's family home for the holidays. Harley is nothing but confident, funny and totally in love with his best friend. Getting the chance to be close to Ryker is a dream and he's not going to waste the opportunity! For me, he did seem slightly too pushy on occasion but compared to Ryker's matchmaking mother, that's all a walk in the park. The date disasters he has been set up on leave everyone laughing with one more live performance to come.
Whilst Ryker does stress and over think about this new found attraction to his best friend, he is also brave in talking through and those steps to try something that he finds scary but worth it in the end.
Ariella is a favourite author of mine when it comes to a low angst romantic comedy and she's written another one to love and enjoy.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
That, along with the brilliant plan of pretending they're a couple when they go to Ryker's family home for the holidays. Harley is nothing but confident, funny and totally in love with his best friend. Getting the chance to be close to Ryker is a dream and he's not going to waste the opportunity! For me, he did seem slightly too pushy on occasion but compared to Ryker's matchmaking mother, that's all a walk in the park. The date disasters he has been set up on leave everyone laughing with one more live performance to come.
Whilst Ryker does stress and over think about this new found attraction to his best friend, he is also brave in talking through and those steps to try something that he finds scary but worth it in the end.
Ariella is a favourite author of mine when it comes to a low angst romantic comedy and she's written another one to love and enjoy.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
November 28, 2025
I haven't enjoyed a book in a long time until I read this.
Harley has had a crush on his bff/roommate forever. The problem is Ryker is straight and has no idea about Harley’s crust.
Then Ryker is going home but has this mother that insists on trying to find him a partner so Ryker has this idea to get Harley to be his pretend boyfriend. That doesn’t work out as planned.
This author has the talent of describing the back and forth between these two and conversations with others that are out of the normal. I laughed more than once and got a number of looks but the story is just that much fun. The conversation between them is always fun especially when Harley explains how his first and his first heartbreak happened. These guys have known each other forever and Harley is really part of Ryker’s family. They make the perfect pair and everyone but Ryker sees it so the surprise by Ryker is also endearing.
This is a story I will reread and I seldom do that. This has made me want more by this author.
Harley has had a crush on his bff/roommate forever. The problem is Ryker is straight and has no idea about Harley’s crust.
Then Ryker is going home but has this mother that insists on trying to find him a partner so Ryker has this idea to get Harley to be his pretend boyfriend. That doesn’t work out as planned.
This author has the talent of describing the back and forth between these two and conversations with others that are out of the normal. I laughed more than once and got a number of looks but the story is just that much fun. The conversation between them is always fun especially when Harley explains how his first and his first heartbreak happened. These guys have known each other forever and Harley is really part of Ryker’s family. They make the perfect pair and everyone but Ryker sees it so the surprise by Ryker is also endearing.
This is a story I will reread and I seldom do that. This has made me want more by this author.
December 1, 2025
𝙎𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙡𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙖𝙩 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚. 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚, 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙡𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙩𝙤𝙤, 𝙜𝙞𝙙𝙙𝙮 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙡𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙪𝙥 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙖𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙧 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚.
🍁🍁🍁🍁
Harley and Ryker’s journey takes place in Faking It Right by Arielle Zoelle, part of the Straight Detour universe.
Ryker’s mom tries to set him up on yet another blind date, and his brilliant idea is to have Harley, his best friend and roommate, who has been secretly crushing on him for the past three years, pretend to be his boyfriend. The last thing Ryker was expecting was to fall in love with his best friend.
Ryker and Harley have the classic best friend banter that had me laughing out loud. Ryker’s family is an interesting bunch. I am glad that, even through all the weirdness and innuendos, Ryker and Harley were able to find the bond they were both searching for.
You’ll vibe with Faking It Right if you enjoy…
✦ MM
✦ Best Friends
✦ Roommates
✦ Fake Relationship
✦ Bi•Awakening
✦ Found Family
🍁🍁🍁🍁
Harley and Ryker’s journey takes place in Faking It Right by Arielle Zoelle, part of the Straight Detour universe.
Ryker’s mom tries to set him up on yet another blind date, and his brilliant idea is to have Harley, his best friend and roommate, who has been secretly crushing on him for the past three years, pretend to be his boyfriend. The last thing Ryker was expecting was to fall in love with his best friend.
Ryker and Harley have the classic best friend banter that had me laughing out loud. Ryker’s family is an interesting bunch. I am glad that, even through all the weirdness and innuendos, Ryker and Harley were able to find the bond they were both searching for.
You’ll vibe with Faking It Right if you enjoy…
✦ MM
✦ Best Friends
✦ Roommates
✦ Fake Relationship
✦ Bi•Awakening
✦ Found Family
November 20, 2025
If you’ve read Love Practise you might recall the MC North Easton is an author. Faking It Right is his book come to life, so this is written with North’s sense of humour. It deviates from Ariella’s usual style and I am here for it. There are so many hilarious metaphors and dirty jokes throughout the whole book.
Harley has been in love with his oblivious best friend Ryker for three years. When Ryker accidentally walks in on him with another man in their living room, somehow his short-circuited heterosexual brain decides that asking Harley to be his fake boyfriend to get his mother off his back from setting him up with awful blind dates is a great idea.
Queue sharing a bed, Ryker’s hilarious family members, and a surprise blind date coming to a disastrous family dinner. This book had me laughing from start to finish and I can see it being one I read again. Can’t wait to read the others in this series!
Harley has been in love with his oblivious best friend Ryker for three years. When Ryker accidentally walks in on him with another man in their living room, somehow his short-circuited heterosexual brain decides that asking Harley to be his fake boyfriend to get his mother off his back from setting him up with awful blind dates is a great idea.
Queue sharing a bed, Ryker’s hilarious family members, and a surprise blind date coming to a disastrous family dinner. This book had me laughing from start to finish and I can see it being one I read again. Can’t wait to read the others in this series!
November 22, 2025
In order to avoid another awful mom date setup for spring break, Ryker asks his college roommate, Harley, to be his fake boyfriend. Harley has teased and flirted with Ryker the entire time t hey've been rooming together, 3 years. This is a pretty average fake dating/bi awakening/friends to lovers tale. Ariella Zoelle approaches the tropes with a light hand and good humor, making it a delightful and quick read. Ryker is sweet, slightly confused for the feelings he's developed for Harley. Harley is a complete flirt. He's also a bit overconfident and egotistical, Fortunately, the author does delve into his backstory which explains why he's the way he is.
Overall this is a high heat, fast paced low angst friends-to-lovers story. Not exactly original, but Ms Zoelle's writing style does make it fresh and fun.
I received an advanced copy of this ebook and this is my review.
Overall this is a high heat, fast paced low angst friends-to-lovers story. Not exactly original, but Ms Zoelle's writing style does make it fresh and fun.
I received an advanced copy of this ebook and this is my review.
December 20, 2025
3.5 stars
It fascinates me that in the majority of the books that Ariella has written that have a bi-awakening trope, the formerly straight guy ends up loving to bottom immediately and often ends up being the primary bottom in the relationship. Not that I'm going to complain much about my fiction involving unlikely scenarios. Anyway, this book was funny, but I did think that the Maylin dinner was over-the-top ridiculous. Besides, whose parent is going to still have the blind date she's set up for her son come to dinner when she's learned he's now in a relationship? Seriously? She was more worried about her reputation for hospitality rather than her son's comfort, why? I think if my mom had told me at breakfast that she hadn't canceled the blind date's invitation, then I would have made arrangements to be out for dinner with my boyfriend that night instead.
It fascinates me that in the majority of the books that Ariella has written that have a bi-awakening trope, the formerly straight guy ends up loving to bottom immediately and often ends up being the primary bottom in the relationship. Not that I'm going to complain much about my fiction involving unlikely scenarios. Anyway, this book was funny, but I did think that the Maylin dinner was over-the-top ridiculous. Besides, whose parent is going to still have the blind date she's set up for her son come to dinner when she's learned he's now in a relationship? Seriously? She was more worried about her reputation for hospitality rather than her son's comfort, why? I think if my mom had told me at breakfast that she hadn't canceled the blind date's invitation, then I would have made arrangements to be out for dinner with my boyfriend that night instead.
November 16, 2025
Another success from Ariella! I love that it's an easy to read, low angst book. what's not to love about Harley? He's a package deal except for his inability to commit... and the perfect roommate to Ryker... who was his cause of his inability to commit. it was Ryker, whom he has secretly loved and desired from afar. Ryker, who has lived in denial, not realizing his attraction to Harley until he gets a front row seat to one of Harley 's in discretions. Their scheme to get Ryker's "matchmaker from hell" Mother off his back seemed to work at first. Their story of coming together for real is fun to read and even funnier when Maylin entered the picture. This book is full of love, laughter, and coming to terms, and I couldn't have enjoyed it more.
November 21, 2025
This book is a delightful friends-to-lovers story with bi-awakening. Harley and Ryker are roommates, and Harley is a constant flirt, always joking around. It’s not until later in the book that we truly see his serious side. He’s constantly trying to seduce Ryker with innuendos and flirty behavior, and poor Ryker never gets a break. His family clearly doesn’t respect his boundaries and are always trying to set him up against his will. Inevitably, he begins to question his attraction to Harley, and things progress quickly. This was a bit different from other books by this author, but still enjoyable. If you’re looking for a high-heat, fast-moving, low-angst friends-to-lovers story, this works!
Read
November 21, 2025FAKING IT RIGHT - ARIELLA ZOELLA
This book has so many laugh out loud funny moments in it, you won’t be able to put it down!!
Ryker and Harley are best friends and roommates, and when Ryker’s matchmaking mother is trying to set him up again during spring break, it’s Harley to the rescue.
Imagine having someone there for you no questions asked. What Ryker doesn’t know is Harley has been crushing on him for 3 years and is more than happy to share how much he really cares about him.
There are great supporting characters throughout the book, and the love and humor shared by Ryker’s family is brilliant. This author is creative and writes wonderful stories that will stay with you long after you finish her books. Add Ariella to your must read list today!
This book has so many laugh out loud funny moments in it, you won’t be able to put it down!!
Ryker and Harley are best friends and roommates, and when Ryker’s matchmaking mother is trying to set him up again during spring break, it’s Harley to the rescue.
Imagine having someone there for you no questions asked. What Ryker doesn’t know is Harley has been crushing on him for 3 years and is more than happy to share how much he really cares about him.
There are great supporting characters throughout the book, and the love and humor shared by Ryker’s family is brilliant. This author is creative and writes wonderful stories that will stay with you long after you finish her books. Add Ariella to your must read list today!
November 22, 2025
Thank you, Ariella & Neon Rainbow, for my copy of Faking it Right. This is the first book in the Straight Detours series. Ryker is adamant he is straight and he is oblivious that he best friend Harley has been pining for him for 3 years! To save himself from his Mom's matchmaking he asks Harley to be his 'fake' boyfriend. I am actually find this book hard to review I literally laughed out loud, swooned & clutched my imaginary pearls but I found it unnecessarily long. I am conscious that this is book 1 in the series & characters were being introduced, I will definitely read book 2 when it is available.
💖 MM Romance
💖 Fake Relationship
💖 Awakening
💖 Friends to Lovers
💖 Roommates
💖 Pining
💖 Dual POV
💖 Epilogue
💖 MM Romance
💖 Fake Relationship
💖 Awakening
💖 Friends to Lovers
💖 Roommates
💖 Pining
💖 Dual POV
💖 Epilogue
November 28, 2025
Ryker and Harley's romance was a sweet and giggle-inducing journey of two best friends falling head over heels in love. What this book lacked in intense drama and angst it made up for with pages of hilarious banter and hot as heck steamy moments. Ryker was adorably flustered about his sexual awakening, and Harley found the perfect balance between walking him through it with baby steps and shoving him off the deep end. There was enough fluffy fun to build an army of blankets, and it was so easy to connect with the characters every step of the way. The pacing was a tad slow for my personal preferences, but that didn't stop me from enjoying the book all the way through to the epilogue.
**I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.
**I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.
November 30, 2025
This book is sweet romantic tale of best friends finding more.. Ryker is so tired of his mom trying to find the perfect one for him. He just wants everyone to stay out of his dating life. When he accidentally walks in on his gay best friend with a hook up he notices more than he should about his best friend.
So when it comes time to go to his Moms he begs Harley to go with him as his *fake* boyfriend.
Harley has been trying to get into his best friends pants for forever so when Rykers offers him a chance to show his feelings he takes it an runs with it!!
This book is low angst with fun times. When Ryker realizes that he has more feelings for his best friend than just friends. This author is amazing as to bring you a sweet loving plot that is low angst. Just a sweet read.
So when it comes time to go to his Moms he begs Harley to go with him as his *fake* boyfriend.
Harley has been trying to get into his best friends pants for forever so when Rykers offers him a chance to show his feelings he takes it an runs with it!!
This book is low angst with fun times. When Ryker realizes that he has more feelings for his best friend than just friends. This author is amazing as to bring you a sweet loving plot that is low angst. Just a sweet read.
November 18, 2025
Amusing friends to lovers rom-com that is almost ALL spice. If they're not doing it, they're talking about doing it, or the side characters are talking about them doing it.
Ryker thought he was straight until he needed a fake boyfriend to take home to the family so that mom would stop setting him up with girls he wasn't interested in. He asks his roommate Harley, who has been attracted to him the entire time they've been rooming together. Harley agrees immediately, and it a very short span of time before they end up in bed together. Ryker's family knows it's real the minute they show up together. It takes a bit for Ryker to admit it to himself (& Harley), but they get their HEA.
Ryker thought he was straight until he needed a fake boyfriend to take home to the family so that mom would stop setting him up with girls he wasn't interested in. He asks his roommate Harley, who has been attracted to him the entire time they've been rooming together. Harley agrees immediately, and it a very short span of time before they end up in bed together. Ryker's family knows it's real the minute they show up together. It takes a bit for Ryker to admit it to himself (& Harley), but they get their HEA.
November 28, 2025
Faking It Right is a fun, romantic, and genuinely heartwarming fake-dating story. Harley, the charming and confident dreamboat, has long crushed on his “straight” roommate Ryker—who can’t seem to date any of the girls his meddling mom sends his way. When Ryker asks Harley to pose as his boyfriend over school break, sparks fly, lines blur, and both men are forced to question what’s real. The chemistry between Harley and Ryker is fantastic, and the supporting cast—especially Ryker’s warm, accepting family—adds a wonderful sense of comfort and humor. Imaginative, well-written, and full of joy, this book left me smiling.
Read
November 21, 2025Ryker is the oblivious 'straight' guy who stumbles into a scene where his best friend and roommate is with a guy... and that unlocks something that other people have known for years... he and Harley are really good for each other. Watching Ryker process his new identity, watching Harley's patience was lovely. For me, I found the book got a little repetitive and could have been shorter, but the comedic elements kept things moving. This book is low angst and combines first times and introspection with crazy family and comedic moments and was a fun read.
November 18, 2025
I really enjoyed how this was hysterically funny while still keeping a real character feel. I felt like Ryker's reactions to being attracted to Harley were expected. He was clueless but once he was in, literally, he was all in! These two spent a lot of intimate time together trying everything. And funny enough talking about doing everything. I was so happy for poor gorgeous Harley because heart has always belonged to Ryker.
November 20, 2025
Oh, in the first 2-minutes … I was blushing and laughing. A third of the way through the book and I was rooting for Harley and Ryker like my life depended on it. Harley’s the absolute sweetest; his brutal honesty, and playfulness. I was praying he didn’t get his heart hurt - even inadvertently, by Ryker. But alas, a HEA prevailed.
And PS honorable mention goes to Maylin … May she find love in her next life.
And PS honorable mention goes to Maylin … May she find love in her next life.
November 28, 2025
This is a fun and flirty straight-to-gay book with lots of laughs, as Ryker, trying to avoid his mother's matchmaking, asks his gay best friend Harley to be his fake boyfriend. What could possibly go wrong? There is no real surprise how the story goes as Ryker's eyes are opened to new possibilities, but it's a riotously fun ride, and I just loved both Harley and Ryker.
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.
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