Queen B’s Decree: I can’t say I’ve ever met anyone who has fake dated in real life, but oh mylanta I love it in fiction.
After Remy’s very public break up (seriously, ouch), Lake realizes this is his chance to finally spend time with the woman he can’t stop thinking about. He’ll be her wedding date and her new fake boyfriend to help offset some of the humiliation from the Jumbotron.
What’s always great about this trope is how both characters always want the relationship to be real…but they’re too chicken to talk about it. It’s one that I know will have an easy resolution to the third-act breakup—let’s be real, we know it’s happening—because all they have to do is communicate and poof ✨HEA✨.
So we get one of my favorite tropes, with humor, deeper dives into anxiety, agoraphobia, and grief (or lack thereof), found family and supportive friends, and a bit of self-discovery. And in duet narration, with the wonderful Erin Mallon and Jason Clarke. Another great one from Lauren Blakely.
Book: Just Playing for Keeps by Lauren Blakely
Series: Hockey Ever After #2
Genre: Hockey
Plot Devices/Tropes: fake dating