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shamaramill's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Body shaming, Cursing, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Emotional abuse
circe813's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
In Behind the Net, I did NOT like Rory Miller. However, this book does a great job of explaining why he is the way he is (or was—there’s excellent character development here) and redeeming him.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Abandonment
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexual assault
Great representations of affirmative consent!rebakesl's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I LOVED this book. The fake-dating trope done SO well, great teasing banter, steamy and spicy without all the icks. I wish childhood traumas could be resolved so easily, but it’s a true HEA, even with the parent relationships.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Body shaming, Cursing, Eating disorder, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Infidelity, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
britwalsh16's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I love a good enemies to lovers romance! I enjoyed this book very much. Hazel and Rory’s story was perfect. They make such a sweet pair, Rory chasing after Hazel since high school, & Hazel fighting her attracting to Rory so she doesn’t get hurt again. But neither of them realize what awaits them. And the whole hockey team & organization that stands behind them is amazing, and something I love so much about the hockey organization & community, they’re a family, & when someone threatens that family they deal with it, even when the threat comes from within, they stand behind eachother & protect! Connor made a great villain, & I love how no matter what he did, Hazel & Rory didn’t let him get between them. I want a love like that!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
scienceparrot's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
✅ Fake dating
✅ Golden retriever MMC
✅ Body positive FMC
Steam:
🔥5/5
This book got me in the warm and fuzzies. I loved how caring Rory was and clearly head over heels for Hazel. Yet he kept their fake relationship light without revealing his feelings until she was ready. Love a confident MMC who can read when the FMC is so obviously in the deep end yet gives her all the space without taking away attention, a caring MMC who’s a boss in bed _swoon_
I loved how Hazel had her own ambition and could pull her own weight against bullies and antagonists. She was definitely one to win over because of her past trauma, and it was so sweet to see her learn to trust Rory.
Stephanie Archer can definitely write steamy build-up like in her other series — the payoff was sooooo good.
✅ Golden retriever MMC
✅ Body positive FMC
Steam:
🔥5/5
This book got me in the warm and fuzzies. I loved how caring Rory was and clearly head over heels for Hazel. Yet he kept their fake relationship light without revealing his feelings until she was ready. Love a confident MMC who can read when the FMC is so obviously in the deep end yet gives her all the space without taking away attention, a caring MMC who’s a boss in bed _swoon_
I loved how Hazel had her own ambition and could pull her own weight against bullies and antagonists. She was definitely one to win over because of her past trauma, and it was so sweet to see her learn to trust Rory.
Stephanie Archer can definitely write steamy build-up like in her other series — the payoff was sooooo good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Eating disorder and Emotional abuse
rinne_reads94's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Emotional abuse
Pressure from a dad manager and decades of emotional / mental pressuresdupont's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Holy hockey hotness!! This book is fabulous. Stephanie can honestly do no wrong. This book has everything and is the perfect mix of banter, comedy, sweetness, pining, and spice. I just adored Rory and Hazel. Rory has it bad for Hazel and it is so endearing. I loved seeing their relationship evolve and grow. As Hazel dropped her guard their relationship was able to become much deeper and meaningful. Rory is a man in love and pulls out all the stops during the fake dating scheme to make sure he keeps his girl. Also we must acknowledge his nickname for her because how cute?? Honorable mention to rest of the guys on the team, I love the tight-knit friendships. I absolutely recommend this book to the hockey girlies and the fake dating fans. You will not be able to put this one down!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Infidelity
ylimesnwot's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Sexual harassment
Minor: Abandonment
readastray's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I will start off by saying how thrilled and thankful I am to get the opportunity to read an advanced reader copy of another one of Stephanie’s books. She has knocked it out of the park with Rory and Hazel’s story!
I really didn’t know what to make of Rory Miller in the first Vancouver Storm book, but he very quickly won me over in The Fake Out. In fact, he probably secured a top spot in my ranking of the Stephanie Archer-verse of Book Boyfriends (TM). And don’t tell Pippa, but I think I have a new favorite Hartley sister! It didn’t take long to realize that a fake-dating book between these “enemies” was going to be dynamite.
Rory and Hazel’s relationship is like watching an immovable object meet an unstoppable force in the most entertaining way possible. I thoroughly enjoyed having a front row seat to their teasing, banter, and button-pushing. What I loved most about Rory was his unwavering commitment to winning over Hazel despite her reservations. Hazel acts tough to protect herself, but opens up and thrives under the right conditions.
The entire book had me giggling, gasping, and blushing. I even drew out reading this book an extra day or two because I wasn’t ready to lose that first-read feeling. Stephanie has an uncanny knack for creating these compelling characters who just fit together like puzzle pieces. 10/10 would recommend The Fake Out as your next winter rom-com read!
Spoiler-ish(?):
There’s no dreaded third act break-up!
I really didn’t know what to make of Rory Miller in the first Vancouver Storm book, but he very quickly won me over in The Fake Out. In fact, he probably secured a top spot in my ranking of the Stephanie Archer-verse of Book Boyfriends (TM). And don’t tell Pippa, but I think I have a new favorite Hartley sister! It didn’t take long to realize that a fake-dating book between these “enemies” was going to be dynamite.
Rory and Hazel’s relationship is like watching an immovable object meet an unstoppable force in the most entertaining way possible. I thoroughly enjoyed having a front row seat to their teasing, banter, and button-pushing. What I loved most about Rory was his unwavering commitment to winning over Hazel despite her reservations. Hazel acts tough to protect herself, but opens up and thrives under the right conditions.
The entire book had me giggling, gasping, and blushing. I even drew out reading this book an extra day or two because I wasn’t ready to lose that first-read feeling. Stephanie has an uncanny knack for creating these compelling characters who just fit together like puzzle pieces. 10/10 would recommend The Fake Out as your next winter rom-com read!
Spoiler-ish(?):
There’s no dreaded third act break-up!
Content Warnings
Minor: Emotional abuse and Gaslighting