The Fake Fling

Bar Down #3

by Cali Melle

more info coming soon :)

Genres: Hockey, Fake Dating, Romance, Sports, Hockey Romance, Sports Romance, Forced Proximity

Kindle Edition

Expected publication November 13, 2026

About the author

Cali Melle is a USA Today Bestselling Author who writes sports romance that will pull at your heartstrings. You can always expect her stories to come fully equipped with heartthrobs and a happy ending, along with some steamy scenes.
In her free time, Cali can usually be found living in a magical, fantasy world with the newest book or fanfic she's reading or freezing at the ice rink while she watches her kids play hockey.

Reviews

[Chelsea Mansell · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

The Fake Fling by Cali Melle eARC Review 💙✈️

The cutest fake dating romance I have read in a long time. Cali’s books are like comfort reads for me and I know everytime I pick one up I’m going to love it.

Cameron and Elena are so cute in thinking that fake dating is going to be a temporary fix to some of their problems, especially when these two have so much built up tension between them. 😏

This was such a fun, quick and cute read. I adore the found family in this series so much and Cali writes some of the best banter there is.

What to expect:
Brother’s teammate
Forced proximity
Hockey romance
Fake dating

Thank you so much Cali for the arc!

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

a fake dating romance set in italy??? SIGN ME UP!! cali gave us another great book!! everything she writes is always good! swoon city!!!

i loved elena and cameron!! they both fit really well together. it’s (i assume) hard having feelings for your friend’s sister, but cam was such an angel and went about everything the right way. he was just such a good guy. and elena was my girl!!! she deserves the whole world btw <3

[Nickole · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Rcvd an ARC from the author.

We meet Elena who just got dumped via phone call from her boyfriend. She decides then and there to no longer date men who play sports. Her brothers bff and teammate Cam checks up on her and she tells him the news and they have an almost kiss. Fast forward 2 years, El tolerates Cam and calls him "a headache in human form." It is how they roll. Cam likes to tease El, it is his favourite pasttime. Unfortunately, his ex Mackenzie is back to stalking him. His teammates tell him to get a girlfriend so she takes the hint. It's Cams bday and while out celebrating, his ex comes in to ruin it for him and El makes the decision right then and there to pretend to be his gf. this seems to sway his ex. But the universe has other plans. Cam's cousin is getting married in Italy and his ex is friends with the bride who happened to tell everyone that he has a girlfriend. Cam asks El to fake date him for the wedding week, all expenses paid. El agrees. What is the worst thing that can happen on a fake dating wedding vacation? good read!

[Emaan · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗶 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗔𝗥𝗖! 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟯𝘁𝗵, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗺𝗮𝘇𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲+.

Elena was relatable. From what I remember of their dynamic in previous books, she had a little fire in her interactions with Cam, and I saw some of that here, but it was all playful banter and teasing. But she was a person who had moments of vulnerability and insecurity, and although it was a little frustrating, I figured it wasn’t too unrealistic.

Cam always struck me as flirty and a little goofy, but I learned there was more to him than that. He was honest, but he did have some avoidant tendencies. But I did know one thing, he was down bad for Elena, he gave Matteo and Theo a run for their money.

The story was cute, with relatively low stakes, and a quick and easy read, but there were serious moments as well.
Are Posey and Cross next?

TW: terminal illness

[Jennifer W · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

Thank you for this arc!! ✨

I had soooo much fun reading The Fake Fling! I just love Cam and Elena, their chemistry is perfect and their banter top tier 🤭 I loved this story’s setting, with them faking it during a destination wedding, I did a lot of giggling. Basically no hockey but I didn’t mind, which I usually do… so I guess that’s a good review in it self 🙈

It was fast paced and fun, I don’t think I was bored once. I enjoyed how we got to see the previous couples and other characters as well! The guys’ groupchat is hilarious 😂

And Cam.. I just loved how emotionally mature he was. Green flag men for the win ❤️

Also, the spice is spicin 🌶️ oh boy 🤭

[Thyra Allestria · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, I'd like to thank Cali Melle for providing me with an ARC copy!

TO BEGIN WITH: I AM ACTUALLY SO OBSESSED WITH ELENA AND CAMERON. Like, excuse me??? A brother's-best-friend romance, fake dating, a trip to ITALY, forced proximity, AND ONE BED??? I mean, hon, you had me at trip to Italy, but let's ignore that little detail, because Cali, you cannot just throw all of my favourite things into one book and expect me to act normal about it. LIKE GURL, BACK UP A LIL BIT!!

NOW! CAMERON. GOOD LORD. I absolutely adored him. There's something about a love interest who is so effortlessly caring, attentive, and completely gone for the girl that gets me EVERY SINGLE TIME. The little things he does for Elena, the way he looks out for her, and the way their relationship slowly shifts from friendship into something more had me grinning at my book like an absolute idiot. I loved that he wasn't just some random guy she suddenly developed feelings for, either. Their existing friendship made everything SO much sweeter, and I was eating up every little interaction between them!!! (but i was lowkey screaming at elena in my head to stay away from my new man, i'm sorry, don't come for me <33)

AND THE CHEMISTRY??? HELLO???? Their banter was so much fun, and I loved watching them navigate the whole fake-dating situation. There were so many moments where I just wanted to grab them both by the shoulders and scream at them. The tension, the little moments of affection, the growing realisation that maybe this arrangement wasn't quite as fake as they thought... I WAS INVESTED.

I also have to talk about ITALY because the setting was genuinely such a treat (definitely not because i'm biased towards it <33 /j). The wedding, the family interactions, the atmosphere, and all the time Elena and Cameron got to spend together made the whole story feel so warm and romantic. I genuinely think that it was the perfect backdrop for their relationship, and I honestly could have spent another hundred pages following them around Italy.

I especially loved how comforting this book felt. It had that lovely combination of humour, romance, and sweetness that makes you want to curl up with a blanket and read until you accidentally finish the entire thing. I was smiling through so much of it, and I genuinely didn't want to leave these characters behind.

Now, there were a couple of things that kept it from being a five-star read for me. Some of the internal thoughts felt a little repetitive, and I would have loved for certain emotional moments and relationship developments to be explored in more depth. BUT EVEN THEN, I had such a good time with this book that I really cannot complain too much.

Cali Melle, you have my heart. Elena and Cameron were SO ridiculously easy to root for, and this was exactly the kind of romance I needed. I NEED MORE BOOKS LIKE THIS. If you love brother's-best-friend romances, fake dating, Italy, adorable chemistry, and a love interest who makes you want to kick your feet and scream into a pillow, PLEASE PICK THIS UP.

FOUR STARS, AND I AM STILL THINKING ABOUT THESE TWO. <33

[Cigi cini · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

🏒 Hockey Romance
💞 Fake Dating
🚫 Best Friend’s Sister
📚 Bookstore FMC
🏒 Hockey Player MMC
💔 Sworn Off Love
🇮🇹 Destination Romance
💍 Italian Wedding
🏡 Forced Proximity
💋 Kisses That Feel Too Real
❤️‍🔥 Unexpected Feelings
🛡️ Protective MMC
🥹 Finding Love Again
🔥 Undeniable Chemistry
❤️ Happily Ever After

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25

The Fake Fling by Cali Melle was such a fun, sweet and swoony addition to the Bar Down series, and honestly, Elena and Cameron were exactly the kind of pairing I love. Give me a hockey player, his best friend’s sister, a fake relationship and a romantic trip to Italy, and I am completely sold.

Elena Ford has had enough of heartbreak. She’s perfectly happy living her quiet little life, working at the bookstore and keeping romance firmly off the table. No drama, no complications and definitely no hockey players turning her world upside down. Unfortunately for Elena, Cameron Shaw has other ideas, even if he doesn't realise it yet.

Cam is struggling after a difficult hockey season, his confidence has taken a hit, and his ex just doesn't seem to understand that their relationship is over. When Elena unexpectedly steps in and pretends to be his girlfriend, neither of them realises just how complicated that one little lie is about to become.

And when that fake relationship earns Elena an invitation to a family wedding in Italy, things get a whole lot more interesting.

Because seriously, how are you supposed to pretend to be in love when you're surrounded by beautiful Italian countryside, romantic vineyards and a man who is becoming increasingly difficult to resist?

I loved the dynamic between Elena and Cam. Elena is determined to protect her heart, while Cam is trying to find his confidence again, both on and off the ice. Neither is looking for anything serious, but somewhere along the way, their arrangement starts becoming something neither expected.

And those moments when the fake kisses start feeling a little too real? Absolutely loved them!

What I really enjoyed was watching two people who weren't looking for love slowly realise that sometimes the best things happen when you least expect them. The Italian setting added that extra touch of romance, and the whole fake dating situation made their growing feelings even more entertaining.

The Fake Fling is a sweet, romantic and feel-good hockey romance filled with unexpected feelings, undeniable chemistry and plenty of swoony moments. Elena and Cam were such a lovely pairing, and this was another enjoyable addition to the Bar Down series.

Sometimes the best love stories start with a little lie, and Elena and Cam certainly prove that! ❤️

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Happiness is fleeting. You make the rest of the world quiet. I feel content with you. Happy, but at peace.”

✔️hockey romance
✔️fake dating
✔️Italian vacation
✔️brother’s teammate
✔️forced proximity
✔️no 3rd act breakup
✔️second gen series

I am really enjoying this series, and this book is a great addition. I love a good fake dating romance, and I appreciate that this book gives a meaningful reason for them to fake date (and it’s not just a convenient excuse to hide their feelings for each other the whole time). Elena (FMC) and Cameron (MMC) have been friends for several years, because he is her brother’s close friend and teammate. They like to push each other’s buttons and flirt, but never take it further than that. When Cam’s ex won’t leave him alone and he needs a date to his cousin’s wedding in Italy (that his ex will be attending because she’s a friend of the bride), he asks Elena to go as his fake girlfriend and she accepts (partially to help Cam, partially because it’s a free trip to Italy). They know they have limited time before they have to go back to reality, but what if they chose to continue to be together once the vacation ends?

These two fight their feelings hard, but in the end it’s inevitable that they end up together. While I wish at times that the story and character development was a little deeper, I like that this is a quick read without a lot of extra fluff. I love that there isn’t a dramatic third act breakup, and the typical “brother’s best friend drama” isn’t an issue here (though the MCs think it could be an issue). The MMC is a green flag and there just isn’t any drama. Sometimes I need a book I know I can pick up and just enjoy (and not stress about the angst level), and this one is perfect for that.

This is a second generation series, but you don’t have to read the Aston Archer’s series to enjoy this book (Elena’s parents are the couple from Make Your Change). Though this is a hockey book because the MMC is a pro hockey player, it takes place entirely in the offseason so don’t expect any hockey on page. Like I said before, I enjoyed this book quite a bit and look forward to what is coming next, especially if I’m correct about who the next couple will be after the little hints that were dropped in this story.


*I am so grateful to be a member of Cali Melle’s ARC/Content Team! Thank you so much to Cali and her team for the opportunity to ARC read this book! All opinions are my own*

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhh! This series just keeps getting better and better 😍

I was so excited for Elena and Cam's story from the moment that I read "The End" in The Baby Bluff and Cali did not disappoint 🥰

Elena and Cam have been flirty friends for years but both of them think that's as far as it should go despite the simmering deeper feelings for one another - due to the fact that Elena is Matteo's sister and Cam is Matteo's best friend and teammate 🤭 Who doesn't love a brother's best friend romance?

When Cam's crazy stalker ex won't leave him alone, the friend group jokes that he needs a new no nonsense girlfriend to put her in her place and while out at the bar for Cam's birthday, Elena steps up to the challenge and does just that. 😅 This leads Cam to ask Elena to join him as his "fake" girlfriend for a week long trip to Ilaly for a family wedding ... that Ms. crazy ex also happens to be attending.

In a romantic setting at a Tuscan Villa, these two both get cozy with one another in their only-one-bed suite and it doesn't take long for fake kisses and fake dates to turn into so much more 🥰

Cam is such a sweetheart and loves Elena like she truly deserves after heartbreak 🥹 And that boy 🥵 A built hockey player, grey sweatpants, pierced and reads rom-coms to get closer to his woman 🫠 Book boyfriend perfection 😍

Elena is such a strong willed, take no crap FMC but underneath her fearless exterior, she is terrified to be hurt again. I love how she trusted Cam enough after building their friendship to be able to let her walls come down and allow love in again 🥹

The chemistry between these two had me fanning myself 🔥 The banter was perfection and I absolutely loved catching up with the rest of the Bar Down found family to see where they are now ❣️

I also have a feeling we got a sneak peek into who book 4 in the series may be about 👀 and now I find myself, again, counting down the days until the next book is in my hands!

Such a sweet, fun and spicy read!

So grateful to Cali for the ARC in exchange for my honest review 💙

[Besties Never Not Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Cali Melle for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

I read the first two books in the Bar Down series and was incredibly grateful to receive an ARC for the third. This one exceeded my expectations! I absolutely LOVED it, and it’s my new favourite in the series. I finished it in a single day!

Two years ago, Elena’s baseball-playing boyfriend breaks up with her over the phone, and she swears off all athletes. While processing what happened, she shares a moment with Cameron Shaw, her brother Matteo’s hockey teammate and one of his closest friends. Nothing develops from it, as they both know they’re off limits to each other.

Fast forward two years. The chemistry between Elena and Cameron is still going strong, but nothing has come from it. Cameron takes digs at Elena, and she gives it right back to him. Their friends don’t know if they love or hate each other. When Cameron needs a fake girlfriend to keep his ex away at his cousin’s wedding in Tuscany, he asks Elena. She says yes on account of the free trip to Italy.

Elena and Cameron were very cute together. Their flirty and witty banter made me laugh and smile, and their text messages were a highlight for me. Cameron has no filter. He says what he wants, and Elena doesn’t know if he’s serious half the time. Cameron was also thoughtful and a true gentleman. They did a great job pushing each other away initially, which made it even better when they finally got together.

An added bonus was Cali Melle bringing back the characters from the first two books. I loved seeing what Matteo, Jade, Lucy and Theo were all up to. The change in scenery to Italy was also nice, as it gave Elena and Cameron time to develop their relationship without everyone around. Cross kept them connected to their normal lives.

I also want to give a shout out to the LGBTQ+ representation, with Cameron having two moms and Logan being a gay hockey player. Both were simply part of the story, which I appreciated.

Overall, this was another great book in a series that I love, and I’m now counting down to the fourth book!

[Briana Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review ✨
First I would like to say a big thank you to Cali for letting me be a part of this ARC Team!
Rate: 5/5⭐️
Spice: 2.5/5🌶️

What to expect when reading ;
-Hockey Romance
-Fake Dating
-Brother Teammate/ Friend
-Forced Proximity
-One Bed
-Found Family

This is book three of the Bar Down Series! In this book you get to follow Elena and Cameron! Cameron will do anything to make his crazy ex-girlfriend leave him alone. Elena plan to be his pretend girlfriend has now put these two in a situation. Just pretend and remember it’s fake right? What if those lines get a little blurry?

Okay hands down, I think I’m in love with Cameron Shaw, this man had me in an absolute puddle🫠 How Cali writes such swoon worthy men, I don’t think I will ever understand, but I thank the Gods that she does because these are TOP TIER MEN! From start to finish this book had me hooked, I finished this in one day because I couldn’t put it down. I enjoyed how playful they were and they had a very sweet tension filled chemistry. They made me so giddy the entire time. I felt like I was in a movie, this was such a fun read, the flow was perfect. There were so many little things that made this two the cutest but also sooooooo dang hot. I don’t want to give too much away but, this is definitely a must read because she could of given us five hundred more pages and I think I would still need more of these two lol


Side notes:
-Close by Nick Jonas
-buddy reading 🥹
-Matty’s “Go get your girl, Shaw”🥹

Fav Quote:
•”you’re setting a boundary…. one I won’t cross… not unless you ask me to.”
•”She’s under my skin. She’s has been since the moment I met her.”

Make sure you get your copy of this book🤍
#bookstagram #romance #review

[Amber Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cali Melle has done it AGAIN! Three books into the Bar Down series, and I think The Fake Fling might just be my favorite so far! I absolutely loved Jade and Matteo, and Lucy and Theo, but Elena and Cam might have just stolen the top spot!

First of all, the banter? Top freaking tier! The back-and-forth between Elena and Cam was everything. Their chemistry, the teasing, the flirting, the tension! I was grinning like an idiot and kicking my feet like a schoolgirl. I seriously couldn't get enough of these two!

And can we talk about the group chats?! Because they continue to be one of my absolute favorite parts of this series. The guys are hilarious, and the group chat chaos is GOLD! I swear Cali could write an entire book of nothing but their text conversations, and I'd eat it up.

A hockey player, his best friend's little sister, fake dating, and a trip to ITALY?! Seriously, what's not to love?! I loved Elena and Cam together, especially how something that was supposed to be completely fake turned into something so much more.

And the Italian countryside?! The vineyards, the wedding, the romance of it all! Talk about the perfect setting for two people who are supposed to be pretending they're in love. Yeah, good luck with that!

One thing I absolutely adore about this series is the friendships and the team dynamics. The Ice Hawks are such a fun group of characters, and every book makes me love them a little more. Between the hilarious banter, the group chats, and the relationships, I just can't get enough.

Three books down, and I'm officially obsessed with this series. Cali Melle, please keep them coming because I'm not ready to leave the Ice Hawks behind!

[Briana Bailon · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️/ 3🌶️

*Thank you to Cali Melle for this ARC, I appreciate it.

What’s not to love about a hockey romance with fake dating, a wedding destination to Italy, sharing one bed, and said hockey player essentially having feelings for his friend/ teammate’s sister? This book was lighthearted, fast paced, had good humor, and a bit of spice to heat things up. Cameron and Elena agreed to fake date in order to get rid of Cameron’s ex from constantly trying to get back with him, and it proved VERY SUCCESSFUL since the fake dating ended up being so easy for Cameron and Elena to do. I liked how the story early on established how Elena and Cameron had something going on between them two years prior so, it made sense once they started fake dating. The story felt fast paced, but at the same time I was able to get a grasp of Cameron and Elena realizing their true feelings for one another. The destination wedding for Cameron’s cousin’s wedding was lovely because it felt like Cameron and Elena got to escape a bit from their regular lives, and enjoy spending time together. Of course, this book wouldn’t be complete without having the rest of the characters from the previous books which they did make appearances, and there was that bit of found family still going strong. With the book being around 200-something pages, it was a quick read, and it gave the right amount of romance, banter, passion, and enthusiasm between Cameron and Elena. If you want a hockey romance that isn’t too long, has fake dating, a green flag MMC, teammates/friend’s sister, traveling to a different country, forced proximity, and lovable characters, then I think you’ll like this book.

[Soft and Sinister · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

If you haven't read a Cali Melle book before then it is time... this book was everything that I hoped for and then some! I read the first two in the series and to say that this book did not disappoint would be an understatement... I'm on the edge of my seat for Cross and Posey's book...
The story:
I love a fake-dating trope... add in my brothers' team mate and best friend - call me hooked. This story plays off in Italy and it was such a beautifully written story. This book had banter, insanely funny text threads and chemistry that was off the charts. I really enjoyed that most of the book up to 69% was spice free - shows that if the chemistry is written well there's no real need for it.
What stuck with me:
The instant chemistry between Cam and El was really so entertaining, they had this enemies-to-lovers banter and I was here for all of it!!
What surprised me:
The quick read this was - I just didn't want to put this book down! Absolutely inhaled it!
What frustrated me:
Urgh I feel like Cam and El was too worried (in the beginning) about how it will influence Matteo and Cam's friendship BUT I must say that I did like how it was handled in the end...
What I would tell another reader:
Just read this book! You will love every moment... you've got off-season hockey romance so they are not away the whole time, you have banter between the MC's and in the group chats, you have insane chemistry and a strong FMC that takes absolutely no crap from anyone... This should be added to your tbr asap! Thank you Cali Melle for this e-arc in return for an honest review!!

[Bronwyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc review!!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Firstly I would like to thank Cali for the arc, I had so much fun with this one.

Okay I’ve been hooked on this series from the get go and apparently they just keep getting better and better, and I don’t even know how that is possible considering this whole series is AMAZING!

Elena and Cam are something else, I remember getting little bits and pieces of them in the other 2 books and I just had a feeling they would get together but I couldn’t be sure, all I could do was hope 🤭

The chemistry between these 2 was so cute and off the charts and don’t even get me started on there banter omg Cam loves getting a reaction from Elena and Elana loves putting him in his place 🤪

Cam secretly being in love with Elena for 2 years and not fully admitting his feelings was adorable, Elena having trouble admitting her feelings because she didn’t want to get her heart broken and wanted to come first was just 😩

These 2 are the cutest thing ever and I loved getting to read there story!

Falling in love in Italy what a dream 😍 it was so perfect for them.

This one was another easy 5 star read for me, every book in this series so far has been, and I’m so excited for more books in this series to come. 🫶🏽

If you haven’t picked up the down bar series yet now is your chance. you won’t be disappointed.

Also I’m just going to come out and say it, Cali I totally feel a little somethin somethin with Cross and Posey 🫦🤞🏼

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I say it every time I pick up her books: Cali Melle knows how to write phenomenal hockey romances! I couldn't put this down and flew through it because it was so good. It's your classic faking dating brother's friend for a destination wedding, and it was done very well. This book was such a fun read and got me smiling, giggling, and swooning hard.

I absolutely loved the dynamic between Elena and Cameron. From the very beginning, you can tell there's an undeniable connection between the two from them. The banter, the tension, and chemistry was everything and made me all giddy. And when the fake dating arrangement started, I was screaming into my pillow because I couldn't get enough of Elena and Cameron. I couldn't get over how love they have for each other. They're so perfect together and seeing them lower their walls for each other was extremely heartwarming.

Special shoutout to Cameron for being the most green flag MMC I've read about. An emotionally intelligent and mature man who truly respects, listens, and remembers what Elena shared? Chefs kiss. Perfect man. Give me a Cameron Shaw please!

I feel like I say this every time I read a new Cali Melle book, but this couple may be my favorite one she's written. If you're looking for a fast-paced, sweet romance with amazing chemistry and banter, you're gonna love The Fake Fling.

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cameron & Elena

I devoured this book within a day!
Short, cute and sweet, this story has everything to love from a Fake Dating romance!

These two have tiptoed around each other for a few years never crossing that line as Elena's brother is Cam's teammate. These two use banter as foreplay and when Cam's ex wont stop hounding him, Elena comes in to save the day posing as his girlfriend.

Before they know it Cam's entire family know about his new relationship and the agree to continue faking it as they go to Italy for Cam's cousins Wedding!

The setting was beautiful, the one bed situation was perfection and then you have built up chemistry that is just dying to explode!

Loved everything about this story and cannot wait for more to come!

- Fake Dating
- Holiday Romance
- Forced Proximity
- Brother's Best Friend
- Only One Bed

5⭐️2🌶

Bonus Points go to Cross, i loved his side character energy in this and how he was just continually laughing at Cam and Elena's insistence that this was just 'fake'.
Bring on his story!! (Hopefully with Posey) 🤞🏻

Thankyou to Cali & team for the opportunity to read this one early 🫶🏻

[Fernanda Dzib · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

I just want to say that I loooooooooved Cam and Elena so much 😩❤️

I mean, Cam was pining for Elena for over two years since they almost kissed one night, but here’s the thing, she’s the little sister of one of his best friends and team mate, so she’s off limits 👀

But when her ex is trying to make him take her back, Elena jumps in and says she’s his new girlfriend 🙊 which leads to Cam asking her to keep being his fake girlfriend for his cousin’s wedding in Italy 😮‍💨❤️

I loved Elena too, she’s so sweet and fun and kind and caring but she’s also sassy and stubborn and she likes to keep Cam on his toes 🙊 I think the thing I loved the most was the fact that both, Cam and Elena were trying to fight their feelings for each other while also thinking their feelings were one sided 🙈 Cam is so perfect 🥹 he’s also sweet and flirty and he’s caring and protective and he’s so in love with Elena 😩❤️

O honestly enjoyed this books so much and I skit couldn’t stopped reading until I finished 🙊 now I really need Posey’s book because I feel she’s going to have and epic love story, and I might know who’s gonna be her happily ever after 🙊✨

[Mckenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series so much! I have been very excited for Elena and Cam’s story and it didn’t disappoint!

Elena and Cam have been flirty friends for years but never acted on anything, just pushed those feelings down. Cam is also Elena’s brother's best friend and teammate so that did affect things for them.

Who wouldn’t want to go to Italy for a family weekend and be in a fake relationship. They get pretty cozy in a one bed suit and it doesn’t take long for those fake kisses and fake dates to turn into so much more.

Elena and Cam are so good together! Cam is such a sweetheart and truly loves Elena. I love all their banter and they have some strong chemistry. Also Cam is a hockey player, wears grey sweatpants, is pierced and reads romances… perfection!

Elena is so strong willed. She doesn’t take crap from others and she has her walls up. After building her friendship with Cam she started trusting again and let her walls come down.

I loved getting to see the other characters in the series!

[Sofia Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fake dating romance with the intensity of Call Melle’s writing.
The Bar Down series keeps getting better, sweeter and swoonier. The Fake Fling is also funny, hot, spicy and seriously good.
The story of Elena and Cam pretending to be in a committed relationship in order to help Cam get rid of a very invasive, complicated ex, takes a drastic turn when they are invited to a family wedding in Tuscany.
The forced proximity makes them aware of their attraction, deep connection and hidden feelings.
Cali Melle is an artist at giving the reader a full experience. You can laugh with the funny banter, swoon with the romantic scenes, blush with the hot spice and yearn for the HEA.
The Fake Fling deals with friendships that are put to the test, heartbreak, slow burn and unexpected feelings that turn into a once in a lifetime kind of love willing to fight and face all the obstacles.
Thank you for the ARC.

[Mini Mo · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

I am such a sucker for fake dating!

I ate this book up! I love fake dating and this one did the trope justice. I was worried about a third act breakup or the ex GF doing something slimy towards the end but it ended perfectly!

I loved watching the relationship between El and Cam. They had feelings for each other for years but never acted on them because of friends and family.

They get the opportunity to fake date when Cam's ex becomes a bit of a stalker. Cam invites El to be his plus one at his cousin's wedding (in Tuscany!) to help sell the "fake dating". Except Grandma has a dying wish for Cam to get married and Cam can't say no, especially since he's already fallen for the perfect girl.

Tropes:
Hockey romance
Fake dating
Brothers teammate/friend
Found family
Forced proximity
Only one bed
Destination wedding (not theirs)

[Ciara H · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Cali Melle does it again!

There is just something about Cali's writing that never fails to make me happy. Her characters, their connections, and the way she brings their stories to life make every book feel like such a treat.

I absolutely loved Elena and Cameron together. Their connection felt so natural, and I adored how easy things seemed between them. Sometimes you just want a couple who fit together effortlessly, and these two delivered!

And can we talk about Warren Cross for a second? Because I absolutely adored him. He was such a great addition to the story and definitely deserves his own appreciation.

That being said, Matteo Ford, you still have my heart. Nobody is taking that top spot anytime soon. 😂

Another feel-good read from Cali that left me smiling. At this point, I don't think she knows how to disappoint me.

A solid five stars! ❤️

[Kerry Glynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Cali Melle for the eARC of this book.

I love this book series and each book just keeps getting better and better. I love the close knit group of friends and family that are always showing up for each other throughout this entire series.. Cameron and Elena had chemistry from the first page and it did not stop! The yearning was just so well done and the fact that the setting of Italy was so part of the book it was like a character by itself. I could see the settings in my head and I just love how Cali makes you feel the emotions of the FMC and MMC throughout her books. The spice was spicy and the banter was on point! I like the friendship that not just Cameron but Elena also had with Cross which was so sweet and I cannot wait to see what happens in the next book for him and I’m hoping it’s with Posey! Great series, definitely would recommend!!

[NursingMyTBR · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
🏒 hockey romance
🇮🇹 brothers friend and teammate
🏒 only one bed
🇮🇹 forced proximity
🏒 found family aspect
🇮🇹 fake dating

I really enjoyed this title by Cali Melle! Cameron and Elena played the slow game with hiding their attraction from each other for years. After Elena gets burned by an athlete she is hesitant to give another athlete a chance. Enter Cam who is so down bad for her that he takes his time and proves that not all men are the same. Even though it seems Elena is doing Cam a favor by fake dating him to scare away an ex she really aligns herself right into Cams path. Cam’s family was so sweet and really gravitated towards Elena. Cam and Elena had great chemistry together, I enjoyed their banter and the push/pull of their relationship. The pacing was great and easily made it a one day read for me.

[Lou_lovesreading · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Absolutely devoured Cam and Elena.
I loved their fake dating, brothers’ best friend trope and all based in Italy!
Cam is so loveable, he is the cutest golden retriever MMC I have read in a while. Elena is a strong and stubborn FMC who has had her heart broken before and steers clear of men in sport until Italy, until fake dating is no longer fake, till their chemistry is off the charts and “fake” is a word we can no longer use.
I loved these two together, Cam does so much for Elena because not only does he love her, he just wants her to be happy and be there for her. Elena realises Cam is everything she is looking for and more.
The writing was amazingly done, their anguish, their chemistry, their love were coming off the pages.
Thank you so much to Cali and her team for this eARC in exchange for my honest review

[Laced In Lit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for the ARC 🩷
🏒 Hockey player MMC
👌 Fake dating
🔥 One bed
🥵 Brothers friend
😜 He's p!erced
🍆 Just the tip...
Really enjoying this series!
Short, spicy read for lovers of fake dating and spice!
Cam needs a fake date for a wedding in Italy where his ex will be attending. Elena is happy to take one for the team until she finds out they need to share a bed!
Sparks fly and the fake relationship isnt so fake any more 🔥
I thought the communication was good between the pair up until the L word... Cam telling her brother before her miffed me a little. I also think it was very soon to be saying the L word especially for such a short time period. Maybe a prologue showing that there was tension before the forced proximity situation might have helped.

[Betty Wong · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

Well I’m having so much fun reading this series. If you are a devout Cali Melle fan like me you’re devouring this series after absorbing every morsel of the Aston Archers series, which featured the parents of the kids in this series.
This time we are focused on Elena and her guy Cameron. Yes, it’s a fake dating story but there’s a good amount of spiciness to heat you up but my favorite part? It’s set around a trip to Tuscany for a family wedding. So fun!! There is something so sweet with these two. They have great chemistry but it’s the way Cali envelops us into these two really sweet souls that has you rooting for them as they fall straight in!
It’s such an easy read…I quickly devoured this book and seriously had to force myself to put it down and go to bed at 3am!!

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for this advanced copy.

Cameron has wanted Elena for years, but as his teammate’s sister, she’s always been off limits. That is, until Elena steps in to help him get rid of an obsessed ex and suddenly a fake relationship is born. And we all know how these things tend to go!

I absolutely loved the flirty bickering and banter between these two, and the girl and boy group chats were an absolute highlight.

An emotionally mature MMC paired with a more guarded FMC is such a perfect combination. Cameron was so easy to love, and watching him slowly break down Elena’s walls was great.

A low drama, easy to read romance with plenty of banter, great chemistry and a happy ending. Exactly the kind of feel good read I was in the mood for!

[Olivia Tsianakas · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fake Fling was such an easy, enjoyable read! I absolutely loved the chemistry between Cam and Elena, especially their playful banter and the tension that had clearly been building between them for years.

I really enjoyed the fake dating aspect, especially with the story being set in Italy for majority of the time. It was lighthearted, fun and had me smiling throughout.

Cam was such a green flag, and I loved seeing how their relationship developed beyond the teasing and flirting. I also loved getting to see some familiar faces from the previous books!

Overall, such a cute, feel-good romance and exactly the kind of easy read I needed.

Thank you to Cali Melle for the opportunity to read this ARC!

[Piu Sarkar · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

This freakin' book!! Atp everyone I know knows my love for second gen romances. And this one was no exception.

I was kinda bored when I picked this book up earlier today. The goal was to read a few chapters and put it away for now, but now I'm here writing the review few hours later.

This book was so precious. Easy fast read with lovable characters, chaotic friend groups and the same homely feeling I get while reading Cali's books.

This book wasn't unpredictable. There are no sharp twist and turns. Cali catered the tropes amazingly fs. I hated Mackenzie, Loved El and Cam (and their family and friends).