By: Bella North
Many thanks to Bookouture for the ARC of this book and the stop on the book tour!
About the Book
It’s all fun and games until fake starts to feel like forever…
My life revolves around two things: football, and family. Romance? Not so much. But my fans have other ideas. And they’ve turned my easy-going life into a nightmare with their campaign to find me a wife…
My childhood best friend Serena thinks it’s hilarious. She’s always wanted the big, swoony love story, but instead, she has a controlling ex she can’t shake breathing down her neck. And then the solution to both our problems hits me: a fake romance. ‘Settling down’ with Serena will get the fans off my back, and having a muscly football player on her arm should be enough to warn off her ex. Plus, we’re best friends, so what could go wrong?
Our first date is set for the city’s annual charity ball. I’m smug as I imagine how easy my life will be after tonight. Except, when my lips touch Serena’s in front of the flashing cameras, when I hear her soft sigh as I dip her lower, something like panic creeps through my chest. I’m not meant for love—letting people down runs in my genes. I can’t do that to Serena. I won’t.
As the story we’re spinning gets bigger, so do the feelings I’ve worked so hard to chase away. We want completely different things. But I can’t stop wondering: do we both want the one thing that counts—each other?
My Review
I really enjoyed this book. I didn’t read the first two in the series, and you don’t need to in order to read this one. However, after finishing this book, I really wish I would have read them! If they were anything like this one, I know that I would have enjoyed them!
This is a friends to lovers, fake dating romance book. Fake dating has to be one of my favorite tropes. The way that North wrote their friendship really made me, the reader, believe this friendship. You could tell that these two knew each other well. They grew up together, and were very comfortable around each other. That also made it really believable when they started catching feelings for each other.
This book also looks going through difficult things. This time it was Chase going through something difficult. I don’t want to give anything away, but I loved how much Serena stood beside Chase, always letting him feel supported. Even when he pushes her away at one point, she does send him a few texts to let him know that she is there for him. I will say that I think him dealing with some of his struggles via professional help could have been something that was explored further. It felt like in one night he was suddenly over it and was okay after feeling a certain way his whole life.
There is also some spice in the book. It felt right for these characters. So if you like a sweet, spicy, deep romance, give this one a try. Oh yeah, there were a few times I shed a few tears!
Publish Date: April 27, 2026
Find the book here.
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About the Author
Bella North writes spicy sports romances with equal parts heart-racing chemistry and heartfelt emotion. Her debut series, Oakwood Ranch , introduces readers to the sizzling lives of three gorgeous brothers who play for the NFL, blending the thrill of the game with the heat of romance. When she’s not writing, Bella enjoys walking her dog or hitting the gym and dreaming up new swoon-worthy stories.
Bella also writes twisty psychological thrillers as Lauren North.
You can find Bella on Instagram, Facebook and Bluesky.
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