April 1, 2025 • 55 mins
Devonnie, Christina, and Jordan are all here for this episode to give you 13 romance recommendations featuring the "Fake Dating" trope!
The "Fake Dating" trope is when two characters start out by pretending to be in a relationship to achieve certain goals; like cleaning up one's reputation or making an ex jealous. This trope is full of denial, secret pining, chaos, drama, and lots of romantic tension! There's something for every romance reader in this chaotic episode full of book banter and romance recs.
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Devonnie (00:00):
To Romance Recs.
We're three romance obsessedbesties sharing book Recs broken
down by genres and tropes so youcan be sure you're getting
exactly what you want out ofyour next read.
Hi, it's Dev.
Jordan (00:13):
Hey
Christina (00:14):
What are you reading, Dev?
Jordan (00:15):
are you reading, Dev?
Devonnie (00:17):
golly.
Every week it's the same thing.
It's like I, it's like I don'tknow what I'm doing.
It's like I've never done this
Jordan (00:24):
You're new here.
It's
Devonnie (00:25):
I'm so new here.
Sorry guys.
Jordan (00:27):
It's only been a year
Devonnie (00:29):
I know
Jordan (00:30):
this episode coming out marks exactly a year that we've
been putting out content.
Devonnie (00:36):
So crazy, oh my gosh
Jordan (00:38):
what are you reading?
Devonnie (00:39):
Okay, to be fair.
I'm reading a lot, but I'm alsoreading nothing I want to be
very honest with you.
There is so much happening andnothing My life is like so
chaotic that I can't actuallymaintain The things that I'm
reading but number one, I amreading a manuscript by my baby
boo Glenn, which y'all don'tcare about yet, but you will.
(01:01):
That is very important.
Jordan (01:02):
Just Glenn.
It's kind of like Prince.
She only needs one name.
Devonnie (01:05):
yeah.
Glenn.
Yeah.
No, Glenn Ashley Patterson.
Yeah.
But she's very famous.
We love you, Glenn.
But then I'm also, please do notkill me.
I am still reading out of thewoods.
I've had the arc for so long.
I am still reading that bookbecause I didn't expect it to be
as emotional as it is andHannah, I will send you my
(01:26):
therapy bill, you evil woman.
So yeah, I'm reading those twoand actually I'm, I have about
35 minutes left in Scythe andSpire by Bryn Weaver, which I
have thoughts.
So yeah that's my reading, butyeah, there's so much happening
and it's so chaotic.
Jordan (01:44):
Oh.
Well, hi! I'm Jordan.
I am currently reading Blood andBetrayals by Janet Rose and
Alexis Rune.
I am on their ARC team.
I am part of their littlecommunity.
By the time this comes out, itwill have, I think the book will
have been out for less than aweek.
If you don't have it downloadedalready or pre ordered, what are
(02:06):
you doing?
Go get it.
I am only 53 percent of the wayinto this book and I never want
it to end, but I also need it.
I need to know what happens.
So it's, sorry, we're not doinga review on that.
I'm also about to startlistening to an ALC of Heathens
by Alta Hensley.
I'm such a good
Christina (02:25):
everyone.
I'm Kristina, and I'm simplebecause I'm only reading one
book, which is To Con Gentlemanby Sarah Adams.
The end.
Jordan (02:37):
think maybe we're just too complicated.
Devonnie (02:39):
yeah, we are a little too.
is the vibes we bring to thefunction
Jordan (02:44):
all of that to say, buckle up for some bookish
banter.
I'm gonna take Christina's line.
Devonnie (02:52):
Buckled strapped in much in my child seat so Today's
very exciting because our themefor The episodes for the books
we're gonna recommend to youguys before we get into these
quotes is fake dating Which wehaven't done before and I'm very
excited.
I want to hear the recs that youguys have I'm excited to share
(03:13):
mine But yeah, to our listeners,if you really love the fake
dating trope, this is definitelythe episode for you because
we've got a bunch of recs foryou to kind of satisfy that need
if you will.
Jordan (03:23):
If you liked the wedding date, if you liked 10 Things I
Hate About You, if Basically, ifyou are a millennial, you grew
up with a lot of rom com.
Fake
Devonnie (03:34):
yeah.
Lot of angst.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So this is that episode for you,but I do, I would like to share
my quote.
I think I need to go firstbecause I fear mine is sad
Jordan (03:46):
okay.
Devonnie (03:46):
I know I want to get it out the way.
I'm sorry.
Both of you were like, Oh God.
Okay.
My quote is actually from one ofthe books I'll be talking about
tonight, which is Spiral by BalCabra.
It is the second book in her,it's not off campus series.
I can never remember the name ofthis series.
Please hold.
Jordan (04:06):
Hey, I want to say happy birthday to future me, because
tomorrow's my birthday.
In this world.
Christina (04:12):
Yeah.
Devonnie (04:13):
in
Jordan (04:13):
happy birthday
Christina (04:13):
Happy birthday Jordan!
Jordan (04:15):
Happy birthday future you.
Devonnie (04:17):
Yay.
Jordan (04:17):
34.
We're
Devonnie (04:20):
Love that for you.
Love that for you.
Okay, so back to my quote.
Christina (04:24):
Oh, sorry.
Devonnie (04:25):
Unhinged already.
So the book is Spiral by BobCarver.
The series is Off the Ice.
This is book two in that series.
It's a hockey romance, so if youlove a hockey romance, it's
good.
This quote specifically though,it Sage, who is the female main
character, is one character thatI feel like insanely connected
(04:46):
to.
I feel like I've never read acharacter as Me coded as Sage
and in this quote Eli isbasically telling her that she
doesn't like he wants to help.
She doesn't have to be so tough.
And this is what he says.
First, he says to himself, thisis a speech I might've practiced
in my head a few times becauseSage is allergic to help.
(05:09):
You set up your life to neverhave to rely on anyone, but when
you've come to a point where youneed to, you're angry about it.
Why can't you let me do this onething for you?
When I tell you I was boohoo andcrying because the thing that he
does.
really was so helpful, but herpride, her defense mechanism,
did not allow her to see howhelpful it was.
(05:31):
She lashed out about it.
And I was like, that is me.
And it made me really sadbecause I was like, I do this
all the time and I hate that.
But yeah, it's really hard,especially the way Sage grew up.
So it's very sad.
It was very tender, but I wantedto share it because I'm
recognizing These things inmyself.
And so reading a character who'salso like this, number one,
makes me feel not as crazy, butnumber two makes me realize
(05:53):
that, you know, the workcontinues.
Okay.
Jordan (05:57):
know why you had to call me out like that too because
Christina (06:00):
thought we weren't recommending self improvement
books.
Oh my god.
Jordan (06:04):
That was I feel really uncomfortable over here
Devonnie (06:07):
why I wanted to go first.
Cause I feel like y'all aregoing to come with the joy and I
just need to, you know, to getthis out.
Jordan (06:12):
Okay.
Well, I decided that I'm gonnado it a little different kind of
I just I'm gonna so blood andbetrayals By Jeanette Rose and
Alexis Roon I'm not even donewith this video This book, like
I said, but I've highlighted somuch and a lot of them are small
one liners, but this book is sogood with the one liners.
(06:32):
And when I tell you this bookis, it's filling the void that
Zodiac Academy left in my life.
Anyways, so I'm going to readjust a few.
I'm going to go through my listand read just a few one liners.
Gross.
The idea of a guy being anythingother than a bastard is probably
the most unbelievable thing I'veever heard.
(06:53):
Yeah.
Great.
Destinies are not for thepresent.
They are for the distant future.
I love that quote.
Christina (07:00):
I'd like it in the present though.
Oh
Jordan (07:04):
especially in these romantic, like they want, they
see their destiny and they're sofocused on their destiny that
they're forgetting that it'snot.
Now, that's later.
There are those who die in fireand those who thrive in it.
Devonnie (07:18):
Love that.
Jordan (07:19):
You do not get to decide your worth to someone else.
Only they
Christina (07:23):
love that.
Devonnie (07:24):
Yeah, I love that
Jordan (07:25):
I love that quote and then I'll end on a funny one.
Summer is the female maincharacter and she's talking to
her, the MMC about her bestfriend and roommate.
She goes, she's going to fuck ashifter.
I clarify, greeting him with akiss.
He bought her a smoothie andshe's gonna thank him with her
snatch.
Devonnie (07:45):
Okay, no to the word snatch.
Jordan (07:47):
I love it, because I use it.
Christina (07:50):
I
Devonnie (07:50):
makes me want to vomit.
What?
Snatch?
Christina (07:55):
wrong with that?
Devonnie (07:57):
are we snatching people's body parts into us?
I just
Jordan (08:01):
snatchers.
Christina (08:02):
It's snatching something into it.
Devonnie (08:04):
Exactly, I hate that.
I hate that visualization.
No, Jordan!
Christina (08:08):
where else is it
Jordan (08:09):
she's a vampire too, so there's lots of snatchers.
Devonnie (08:15):
I hate it.
We need to make a episode all onwords that I hate in books.
Jordan (08:19):
Oh, that could be like, we'll end up with an entire book
of words that we don't like.
Christina (08:24):
Okay, here I go.
Jordan (08:25):
of this episode is just for us.
No one else.
Christina (08:26):
And I was sitting here giggling, kicking my feet,
thinking about this quote, andnow I think about it and I'm
like, you know what, it'sactually sad, but here I go.
Devonnie (08:35):
Oh God.
Christina (08:37):
Here I go.
It's from a book I'm alsorecommending.
It's by Alexis Hall calledBoyfriend Material.
And it's the two main malecharacters talking to each
other.
And the one guy, he says, Youreally do own your illiteracy,
don't you?
And he says, Yeah, I'm thinkingabout moving to America and
running for political office.
Jordan (09:01):
Stop it.
Oh
Devonnie (09:04):
That's actually really funny.
I'm sorry.
Should I laugh?
I feel like that was supposed tobe funny, right?
Jordan (09:09):
yeah, and isn't this isn't this like Regency?
Christina (09:12):
No,
Jordan (09:13):
Regency?
Oh, it's not?
Christina (09:14):
but it takes place in London, so
Jordan (09:16):
Okay.
Devonnie (09:17):
mean
Jordan (09:17):
Oh my god.
Devonnie (09:19):
By default regency.
So
Jordan (09:21):
my god
Devonnie (09:21):
that is so funny.
Yeah Is it not?
Christina (09:30):
I don't think so.
Devonnie (09:32):
I feel like
Jordan (09:33):
a time period
Devonnie (09:35):
yeah, london is a time period
Christina (09:37):
What?
No, the Regency is a timeperiod.
Devonnie (09:40):
London is stuck in the time period of Regency.
Anywhere that's still got a kingand a queen, it's it's giving a
regent.
Christina (09:50):
Even Japan?
Jordan (09:51):
Okay, I
Devonnie (09:52):
if you have a king and a queen,
Jordan (09:54):
fake
Devonnie (09:54):
you're in Regency.
Ha!
Jordan (09:56):
so fake dating I'm really excited for this Thanks
for your quote everybody Thatwas fun.
So my first recommendation ofthe day is the fake out by
Stephanie Archer This book twoin Vancouver Storm series.
I think I recommended the firstone in a different episode last
(10:19):
year, like
Devonnie (10:19):
Yeah, behind the net.
Jordan (10:21):
Yeah, so this is book two.
The FMC is boy obsessed.
And we meet her in the firstbook, but these are all like
interconnected standalones, shehas She's really big into body
positivity and she teaches yoga,and she's really big on making
it accessible for all bodytypes, and all people and she
(10:42):
has a rule for herself.
She doesn't hook up with thesame guy more than once.
Her ex.
who hurt her, very bad is comingback to town because he just got
drafted onto the team, theVancouver team, and when he
comes she kind of freaks out,she has a moment, and she wants
to make him jealous, and whatbetter way to do that than with
(11:03):
his long time rival.
Who is also on the team.
So when the ex moves to town,she's back at him by fake dating
his teammate, Rory Miller.
I mean, with a name like RoryMiller, you know, he's a bro.
Like a hot bro.
Okay.
This story is full of bodypositivity, very witty banter
(11:26):
really hot smut, and just Thegreatest MMC.
Yeah, Rory is top tier bookboyfriend material.
So just it's very supportive inall the best ways no red flags
Devonnie (11:43):
Oh, wow.
I
Jordan (11:44):
Yeah, but still interesting, which is, I feel
Devonnie (11:48):
That's crazy.
No red flags, but you know, it'sstill interesting.
Jordan (11:50):
it's still interesting.
Christina (11:54):
He's the green flag guy.
Jordan (11:55):
I realize how that sounded, but I just mean like in
Christina (11:58):
That's a very Jordan comment though.
Jordan (12:00):
Which, yeah, well, I did make it.
The Fake Out by Stephanie Archeris really good.
I don't want to say too much ofit because I just, I don't want
to give too much away.
There you go.
Someone else.
Take it away, please.
Christina (12:13):
Okay, The Fake Mate by Leanna Ferguson.
This book has my absolutefavorite subgenre of all time,
which is Omegaverse.
And it's actually one of thebest published Omegaverse
stories I've ever read.
I'm usually an AO3 Omegaversegirly, so I'm an expert on these
things.
So this was refreshing to readone that's published that
actually managed to do it fairlywell.
(12:34):
So this story follows Mackenzie,who's a young ER doctor.
She's hiding her classificationas an Omega because she wants to
be recognized for her work as adoctor instead of for what she
is.
Unfortunately, her grandma keepspestering her about bringing
home a boyfriend.
So to kind of appease hergrandma, she asks this grumpy
cardiologist, Dr.
Noah Taylor to be her fake date.
(12:54):
And this happens to work outperfectly because Noah just got
called to work, or to the boardof the hospital to explain why
he's an unmated alpha and didn'tput that on his paperwork when
he signed up for the hospital.
Anywho, that's part of theirworld.
Anywho, she agrees to be hisfake date so he can still work
for the hospital as acardiologist and so she can
appease grandma, right?
(13:15):
And so they decide they have tokeep up this ruse being seen
outside the hospital, enteringand leaving the hospital at the
same time or people are going tonot believe they're a mated
pair.
So they're going out on publicdates and everything's fun and
then BAM! Out of nowhere.
Her blockers stop working andshe goes into heat at work.
And there just happens to be analpha there that maybe could
(13:35):
help her, right?
Jordan (13:36):
The heat breaks.
Christina (13:38):
I know.
And so he takes her to like aski lodge that's middle of
nowhere alone, and they staythere for a week.
It's great.
Devonnie (13:47):
Yep.
I love this.
Christina (13:49):
I know.
And then they come back and arestill working on their fake
dating and wondering if it couldwork out if they can keep up all
the fun things that go with thefake dating.
It's a funny and spicy book,grumpy and sunshine vibes, and
Omegaverse, so you really can'tgo wrong.
Devonnie (14:06):
Yeah, I read this one and I enjoyed it.
I did.
I was kicking my feet a littlebit.
Yeah, it was a fun little readfor sure.
Christina (14:12):
Yeah.
What about you, Dev?
Aww.
Namedrop.
Devonnie (14:17):
fake dating rec is going to be a love like the sun
by Riz M.
Nielsen.
I'm not sure if I've spokenabout this, but I feel like I've
read a quote from this book orI've mentioned that I was
reading it before, but I don'tthink I like spoke about it too
much, but I really love this.
It is like one of my leastfavorite tropes, which is
friends to lovers.
Jordan (14:36):
Oh.
Devonnie (14:37):
I know, like I don't typically love friends to
lovers, but I really enjoyedthis and I read this last year I
think but I wrote a little likesynopsis of what it is.
Best friends Lanai and Isaachave always ignored the
simmering chemistry betweenthem, but when Lanai and her mom
are at risk of losing theirnatural hair store business,
Isaac steps in.
Using his fame to drive businessfor Lanai by faking a
(14:59):
relationship, the two spend thesummer trying to secure an
investor for wildly green.
That's the name of the business.
The two quickly realized thatthe feelings they've been
ignoring are now bubbling to thesurface and no amount of
reminding themselves that it'sfake and they're just best
friends will save them from thefallout.
It was really cute to black maincharacters.
(15:21):
It's like black love, veryblack, loved it.
Rissa's writing is like sobeautiful.
It was nice to see parts of myown life in a story.
Just like random things likeLinnea does Isaac's hair or his
mom, her mom used to do Isaac'shair and just having him sit
down on the floor and they'relike greasing his scalp and I'm
(15:42):
just like, wow, that's pluckedright out of my life.
So that was really nice.
I really enjoyed it.
The cover is so beautiful forthis book as well.
But yeah, I'm typically not.
Friends to lovers girly and thishad it, it's not super spicy.
I'm going to give this like atwo on the spice scale.
You do get a little, and it's alittle, it gets a little like
crazy, but the spice is not themain thing.
(16:03):
Their friendship and their loveunfolding.
Is definitely the main beat ofthe story, but it was really
beautiful and also pretty funnybecause he's famous and she's
just like a little wallflowerwho wants to stay home and run
her
Jordan (16:16):
She's just a girl.
Aww.
Devonnie (16:18):
just a girl trying to survive and like everywhere she
goes now, everyone's that'sIsaac Jordan's girlfriend.
Oh my goodness.
She's with Isaac Jordan.
And she's please.
I've known him since we werechildren.
Yeah it's really cute, but yeah.
She's who, Isaac?
Jordan (16:33):
That loser?
No way.
Devonnie (16:35):
definitely suggest people read it.
It's a beautiful little story.
Christina (16:39):
Aww.
Jordan (16:39):
I love it.
My second almost didn't make itbecause I almost didn't read it
in time.
I dropped in my Libby accountlast week and I listened to it
in a day.
This is my first recommendationwritten by a man.
And it's okay.
Devonnie (16:58):
shock,
Christina (16:59):
is branching out.
Jordan (17:01):
I know.
I know.
Christina (17:03):
the first on this whole podcast
Jordan (17:05):
Don't worry, it's
Devonnie (17:05):
think so.
I think so.
I think it might be the
Jordan (17:08):
it's okay.
It's called The Fake Dating Gameby Timothy Janowski.
You might have seen it around.
It's got a cutesy cover.
Like they're on a game show.
And it's just so fun.
If you want Just like cute,funny, but there's like some
(17:30):
deeper meaning in there and justlike a really fun premise.
This is it.
There are some heavier themes ofProcessing grief like throughout
time and things, but so our maincharacter Holden.
He is a mess.
Absolute mess.
(17:51):
His boyfriend of Four yearsbreaks up with him very publicly
in a restaurant.
A very nice restaurant that helike was paying for with a
credit card that he like.
It was a big deal.
And he brought his boyfriendthere'cause he was gonna ask him
a question to go on.
He was gonna ask him to go onhis favorite game show.
(18:13):
Okay.
And it was a game show that hewatched growing up with his mom
and it meant.
This game show means like a lotto him, right?
And his mom passed away when hewas younger.
And so it just, he got a ticketto go try out and he was going
to ask his boyfriend, made a bigdeal.
And instead his boyfriend brokeup with him and the whole, while
like everyone in the restaurantwatched and he like broke it to
(18:36):
him that no, you haven't beenpaying half of the rent.
Of course you can't pay for it.
I've been, he's then where's mymoney been going?
And he's well, I've been takingyour money.
You've been paying for a quarterof it.
Like it just, it was messy.
It was.
And painful and he kicked himout and so he had to go back and
live with his dad, but he wasdetermined He's well, I have a
my best friend, but this is mybest friend.
(18:58):
Who's also my exes friend Butlike we're good friends, right?
so he goes to LA because that'swhere the tryouts are and he
goes and he was gonna ask her togo on the show with him And he,
she's just aloof the whole timeand then blows him off and says
no, I don't, she said, I thinkI'd be like choosing sides.
Devonnie (19:19):
Mmhmmm.
Jordan (19:21):
not going to do that with you too.
And so she doesn't do it forhim.
And he just goes back to his,this cheap hotel room.
And of course there's this likecute but annoying guy behind the
desk who gives him shit.
And but he goes to his room andgets drunk by himself that night
and just blasts.
(19:42):
This, a Taylor Swift song onrepeat.
Sorry, Christina.
I don't remember what TaylorSwift song.
But the guy from the front deskcalls up.
He's hey, you gotta stop whilethat's a great song, you need to
turn it off.
We're getting everyone can hearyou.
You're getting a lot ofcomplaints.
It's late.
He's I won't, you'll have bring,he's I won't turn it off unless
you bring me pizza, because he'swasted, and So this guy gets off
(20:05):
his shift and he brings himpizza and they sit there
chatting and they play like aboard game together and the guy
is just like there for them andthey like They have this bond,
and they're like, I don't know,then the next day he loses his
job, the front desk guy, and Notnecessarily, no, not because of
(20:26):
the Taylor Swift thing.
We're just, this guy's wholeseries of unfortunate events.
So anyways, but they becomefriends with also sexual
chemistry, and they're like,well, what if, he's well, I'll
go on the show with you.
I'll do it.
And so he, Holden is traininghim how to play this game,
(20:46):
right?
Devonnie (20:47):
Right.
Jordan (20:48):
this is what you can expect.
We're gonna do this.
And it's like a supermarket dashkind of a game.
So there's like all this stuff,right?
And so they're like going aboutit and it's just so sweet, but
they have sexual chemistry too,the spice is hot, and, but
they're like, we're a fake date,we'll tell them we met in an
online forum for this game,they'll eat it up.
(21:08):
And of course, they kind of fallfor each other, but they both
have their own separate baggagethat they really have not They
haven't come to terms with yet.
And so it's them Trying toresolve things but also figure
out where they are with eachother but the way it's handled
is so beautiful and it's notfrustrating and it's honest and
(21:32):
upfront and It's just reallygreat.
Devonnie (21:35):
No.
I love that.
And I love me a game show.
Jordan (21:39):
I know it was so fun.
And it was a big part of thestory
Devonnie (21:42):
I was gonna ask that because I need that.
I need the game to
Jordan (21:44):
Oh, and you see them on the game.
They're doing ridiculous things.
They're like behind the scenesoh, and I didn't even tell I
don't know if I want to ruinthat but there is a surprise
when he gets To the show to filmabout who's there to compete
against him.
Christina (22:07):
dun.
Jordan (22:08):
Huh
Devonnie (22:11):
okay.
Well,
Jordan (22:12):
so
Christina (22:12):
have here.
Jordan (22:14):
Well, well, well if it isn't the consequences of your
actions.
Wild.
Christina (22:21):
Okay, my next recommendation is also a queer
romance.
Boyfriend Material by AlexisHall, and I think she's a really
great queer representationauthor.
I really loved this book.
This book is actually one of thefunniest books I've ever read.
Seriously.
It follows Lucien O'Donnell.
I want to say that right.
Lucian.
It's not the American way.
(22:41):
They said that Americans say itwrong.
Lucian.
Lucian O'Donnell, who is the sonof two famous rock stars in
England.
And he has a hard timemaintaining his good public
image.
The paparazzi always seems tocatch him in a bad light.
And he has some emotional damagebecause he had an ex boyfriend
who sold him out to The Sun,which is a popular rag newspaper
in England, for 50, 000.
(23:03):
sold his story out to him and sothat was bad.
And so he doesn't want to dateanymore but he's always going
and doing hookups and gettingdrunk and on drugs and stuff and
so the paparazzi's alwayssnapping pictures and anywho, so
he's at a risk of losing his jobhe really loves, which is my
favorite thing ever.
He works at a non profit forpeople who are trying to save
dung beetles.
(23:25):
I kid you not.
I had to research how importantdung beetles were to ecology
after this book.
It's true.
Jordan (23:32):
Oh, it is true.
It's a real thing.
Okay.
Christina (23:34):
It's a real thing.
Without dung beetles, wewouldn't have any plants left in
the world.
So you can thank the dungbeetles and this character for
saving them.
Devonnie (23:43):
I feel like i've actually read something where
that was like A main thing inthe book
Christina (23:47):
Everyone's save the bees, but you need to save the
dung beetles too.
So just so you know.
Okay, anywho.
He's gonna lose his job if hedoesn't fix up his image in the
media.
So he like, 911s his gay friendsin his chat.
They have a gay friend chat,right?
And he's I need a fake dateASAP.
And his friend's don't worry, Ihave someone I can hook you up
with.
And he's not that stuck upsnooty guy who's a lawyer, but
(24:12):
he agrees to go on a fake datewith him.
His name is Oliver Blackwood andhe's like high society,
everything completely opposite.
Jordan (24:22):
Mhm.
Christina (24:23):
exactly.
You know, you just know he comesfrom money with that name.
Devonnie (24:26):
Yes, the name
Jordan (24:27):
And he's making money still.
Devonnie (24:29):
Yes.
Christina (24:30):
he's actually a def
Jordan (24:31):
long?
Christina (24:33):
and he says everyone who finds out I'm a defense
attorney is like immediatelyturned off saying I'm letting
criminals back on the street.
But I think people that can'tafford representation need it,
and it needs to be a fair systemfor everyone.
So he's like really dedicated tohis cause, right?
So you have these two men whoare very dedicated for their
causes, and they figure outthat's like the one thing they
have in common.
Devonnie (24:53):
I'm sorry because you say these two men dedicated to
their causes and one's cause isthe dung beetles and the other's
cause is criminal defense issending me Please continue.
I just I was like not
Christina (25:09):
Well,
Devonnie (25:09):
being very different
Christina (25:11):
wouldn't have criminals to defend without
plants, without the dungbeetles, okay?
Devonnie (25:14):
You're right.
You're right.
The criminals wouldn't have an
Jordan (25:17):
What if Oliver was like defending people that go around
killing dung beetles?
Like
Devonnie (25:22):
And there's the overlap there's the connection
Jordan (25:26):
Sorry
Christina (25:27):
Okay, so Oliver needs a date to go to his parents big
huge anniversary party at theirestate, right?
And he needs to bring someone.
And then Lucien needs someone togo to his big work party.
It's their big crap.
C R A P, which is the initialsfor his company.
He needs someone to take to hiscrap party.
(25:48):
Party, okay, so
Jordan (25:50):
What's the address dress
Devonnie (25:52):
What's the dress code?
Jordan (25:54):
Brown?
Christina (25:54):
Black tie
Devonnie (25:56):
Oh.
Jordan (25:57):
Brown tie.
It's
Devonnie (25:59):
Ew.
Christina (26:02):
So they agree to this fake date to help each other out
mutually exclusive, right?
but As they work together and goon Dates and talking and stuff
they find out that maybe youknow, even though they have two
separate walks of life that theycould find happiness even though
they both have Rough goes of it.
And this book is hilarious.
The banter is funny.
The Representation, there's likeliterally every type of
(26:25):
representation you could everimagine represented in this book
And it's just not just thrown inthere for good cause like for
just no good reason like it'sall represented fairly and
equally And I love that I justlove the way the characters
learn to not only care for eachother But really themselves
because they really have to It'smessy.
They really have to come toterms with their own histories
(26:46):
and, you know, the things thatthey've gone through.
And then this book has a sequelcalled Husband Material, and a
third book, which is about to bereleased soon, called Father
Material.
Yeah.
Jordan (26:56):
Oh
Devonnie (26:57):
I love that.
Christina (26:58):
get to see their progression.
Yeah.
Devonnie (27:01):
I love that.
That is so cute.
Now we know they get married inthe end and become fathers, but
Jordan (27:05):
No, ours are different characters.
Devonnie (27:07):
oh yeah, or is it different characters?
Christina (27:09):
I haven't gotten to read the second one yet, because
I've been reading other things,but it does start with them, so
I assume it's the same.
Jordan (27:15):
Oh,
Devonnie (27:15):
Well, that is interesting.
Yeah.
To know, and then to watch themin the, cause I feel like it's
very hard as a writer to grow,make your characters grow and
they will have to change
Jordan (27:24):
contemporary when you're not like bringing in new worlds
or things like that.
Devonnie (27:29):
Yeah.
So that's actually reallyinteresting.
Christina (27:32):
Yeah.
Devonnie (27:32):
Good share.
And the name of that book again,
Christina (27:35):
Boyfriend material by Alexis Hall.
Devonnie (27:37):
Wait for me to boyfriend, husband, and then
daddy.
I mean, father.
Also daddy.
Anyway moving right along todaddy's my next.
D squared.
Oh, that's a brand.
D squared is a brand.
Don't sue me.
My next rec is actually going tobe a series that I know for a
fact I've mentioned before onthis podcast, but I'm going to
(28:00):
mention it again just for thisspecific take a hint, Danny
Brown is book two in the Brownsisters trilogy and they, each
sister kind of gets their ownvibe.
This is definitely the fakedating book.
Danica Brown is a PhD student.
She is very much chasing likeacademic renown.
(28:21):
She is in it for the plot.
Like she really wants to seewhat having all these accolades
is going to bring her.
But also that's her focus.
She previously had arelationship with a woman go
terribly awry.
And so she's kind of justwritten relationships off
regardless of the gender,they're a waste of time.
That's her vibe.
She's y'all are going todistract me from my work and I
(28:41):
can't have it get out of mylife.
Scram.
However, she is a girl withneeds enter Zafir.
And sorry, I think that's hisname.
Yeah.
So he's an ex rugby player andhe now works security at the
college where Danica is studyingslash teaching and one fire
(29:03):
alarm happens where they getplaced in the A little bit of a
predicament.
He is seen rescuing Danica fromthe building that is not on
fire.
And it the video of him bridestyle carrying her goes viral.
And now everyone has hashtaggedthem DrRugbae.
(29:25):
Everyone, the entire world isinvested in their story.
What's going on here?
The ex rugby player, like he's arecluse, he disappeared and
look, he's back.
And then who is the doctor withhim?
What a baddie.
What they realize is that theycan have a mutual, mutually
exclusive relationship becausethe paparazzi, the fame, the
attention is actually aidingZAF.
(29:46):
It's a charity for kids.
He where he teaches them rugbyand stuff and life skills, he
has a charity and they'regetting the charities getting so
much attention and just moneyand resources that he loves the
publicity, even though he's likea little bit of a recluse,
right?
But he'll do it all for thecharity.
Then I go wants to get laid.
Okay.
Danny just wants to get laid.
(30:07):
So she's yeah, live for kids.
I'll do it, babe.
Pretend we're in a relationship.
Absolutely.
No feelings, but let's likescratch this itch because we
have chemistry.
You know what I'm
Christina (30:17):
And if you've ever seen rugby players thighs.
Devonnie (30:19):
Thick.
Okay.
This also takes place in London.
You know, I'm keeping the Londonconnection here for us.
But yeah, it does take placethere.
So obviously rugby, well, Iguess it could always be a
straight anyway, moving along.
Their relationship is.
so funny because Danny also withbeing super hyper focused on her
goals, she lets things fall tothe side.
(30:40):
She like, doesn't realize thatHey babe, loosen the reins a
little bit.
You can enjoy this life.
And then Zaf is actuallysecretly a hopeless romantic.
So this might not be the bestsituation to be in a fake dating
situation.
So You know, emotions andfeelings.
Yeah.
So when you have two people whoare looking for very different
things come together, they kindof have to find a middle ground
and decide if they want to walkaway from each other and just
(31:04):
call it what it is.
Or if Danny will allow herselfto Come back to the land of
dating and spending your lifewith someone.
Yeah, I really loved it.
And it's, sorry, I didn't saywho it's by, but it is Take a
Hint, Danny Brown by TaliaHibbert, who's one of my
favorite writers.
She's just so good.
Her banter is actuallydiabolical.
It's so funny.
(31:24):
And it does get spicy,
Jordan (31:26):
Love it.
Christina (31:28):
With those thighs, I hope so.
Devonnie (31:30):
right?
And they, the thighs Imentioned, the thighs and the
booty, I'm sure I mentioned onZAF like multiple times
throughout the book.
Christina (31:37):
That's why I watch rugby.
Devonnie (31:40):
That's why we all watch rugby.
Are we watching it for the ball?
Not that ball.
Jordan (31:46):
My God.
You went into that knowing whereyou were going.
You went into that, like, how doI talk about their balls?
Like how do I.
Devonnie (31:54):
I did.
I think I set myself up
Christina (31:56):
How can I bring up genitalia?
Jordan (31:59):
Genitalia.
Jesus.
On that note if you were a fanof the 2005 motion picture, The
Wedding Date, starring DebraMessing and Dermot Mulroney,
this next one is for you.
This one, I would say, wentviral, but it got very mixed
(32:22):
reviews.
I feel like I saw a lot ofnegative things about it, which
Made me not really care to readit, but then I got a special
edition on accident through thebookish box.
The Spanish Love Deception byElena Armas.
Went ahead and when I finallyread it because it became
available on Libby and I'm likeperfect I can just listen to
(32:42):
this one day.
It was so good.
I don't know what people weretalking about and I love The
movie, The Wedding Date this islike the same thing, only set in
Spain.
And instead of hiring a maleescort, she brings a co worker.
It's a classic tale inliterature.
(33:03):
Catalina is panicking becauseshe told her mom that she's
going to bring her boyfriendhome to Spain for her brother's
wedding.
She lives in New York,currently, for her job.
Her ex?
And his fiancée will of coursebe there and are in the wedding
party.
So that's kind of one of thereasons why she panicked, right?
(33:23):
There is no boyfriend for her tobring.
There hasn't been a boyfriendfor years.
She just
Christina (33:29):
it's dry pickings.
Jordan (33:29):
Yeah, she just, I mean, she's been focused on work.
Work is her whole life.
When she's freaking out aboutthis, telling her bestie in the
hallway at work the next day, ofcourse, who overhears her?
But her work rival.
She refers to him as her enemy.
Honestly, her inner monologue,and I think that's why people
didn't like it, because herinner monologue is aggressive.
(33:51):
And oh, that's my work enemy.
I fucking hate him.
Not mean aggressive, but do youknow what I mean?
It's just a lot going on upthere.
She's concocted all thesestories in her brain, but that's
why I loved it because it feltso realistic.
Yes, like an adult LizzieMcGuire.
That's perfect.
(34:11):
But he overhears her admittingwhat she said to her mom, that
she needs a date to the wedding.
And he's take me.
And she's fuck off.
She would never be so desperateas to spend time with him alone.
Let alone let him pretend to beher boyfriend in front of her
nosy, extremely close, Spanishfamily.
(34:35):
Going home, everyone is up inyour business, everyone deserves
to know, wants to know what'sgoing on, you know?
And they become attached.
So she's just no.
But then, the date gets closerand closer, and he keeps
dropping these hints look, I'mnot gonna tell you again, but
I'll be there.
But he does it in like thiscocky way that she's just she
(34:56):
just hates it.
But she has no other choice butto take him.
And It plays out how I think youwould expect, but he is so
patient, but so self assured andwe don't get his POV and I think
that would've, I would'veenjoyed it more, but then, you
know, I get the mystery aspectof it, not knowing what he's
(35:17):
actually thinking about her butit's just It's so sweet, and the
way he is with her family it'sjust so cute, but she's in
denial and I loved it.
So the haters can suck it, butno, I'm just kidding.
I know not everyone likeseverything and that's fine.
But you're wrong.
Christina (35:36):
Okay.
My next recommendation is FakeIt Till You Bake It by Jamie
Wesley.
Jordan (35:43):
So you bake it?
Christina (35:44):
Fake it till you bake it.
Jordan (35:45):
Cute.
Devonnie (35:47):
I'm so excited for this one.
Christina (35:49):
This book follows Jada Townsend Matthews, who is
the newest, most hated woman inthe world.
Okay, she was on a reality TVshow similar to The Bachelor,
right?
And she got to the finalepisode, he got down on one
knee, he asked him on live TV,will you marry me?
And she's no, and left the show.
Okay.
On social media, people are justripping this woman to shreds.
(36:11):
She can't even leave her housebecause anytime she's in public,
people are approaching heryelling at her, calling her mean
names, like, Why did you turndown that poor doctor?
He was so perfect, and you'rejust a spoiled brat right?
So she can't go anywhere.
She even tries to go shopping tocheer up because, you know,
shopping cheers people up.
But she just gets approached bypeople.
Jordan (36:30):
It's Christina.
I can't believe that.
Christina (36:33):
It does.
Okay.
Okay.
So she gets approached bysomeone who says mean things to
her.
So she decides, her and herfriend, that they're going to go
drown their woes in this localbakery down the street, right?
This cupcake bakery, right?
And this cupcake bakery happensto be owned by Donovan, who's an
NFL star, right?
He decides he loved baking withhis mom as a child.
(36:54):
And so like to recapture thatmagic, he starts baking
cupcakes,
Jordan (36:57):
Stop it, Donovan.
So cute.
Christina (37:02):
Right, she goes to have this cupcake, she tells
Donovan, not knowing he's theowner, that this is the worst
cupcake ever.
Jordan (37:08):
Oh my god.
Christina (37:10):
it's the best cupcake ever, she refuses to say that to
him because he's Here, if youdon't like it I'll let you have
it for free and stuff.
He's trying to drum up business,right?
Anywho, it's like a roughsituation.
But, also at the same time,she's really rich.
She's got a trust fund.
But her parents have shut herout of her trust fund because
she's like 28, she has never hada job, her parents, and she's
(37:32):
like flouting around todifferent things like being a DJ
in Europe and this and that.
And her parents are like, yougotta settle down and do
something.
You have to work first.
You have to work for six monthsin a solid job, then you can
have your trust fund back,right?
Anywho, she ends up getting ajob at this bakery with this
guy.
Jordan (37:49):
Naturally.
Christina (37:50):
Yes, and of course, eventually someone finds her
there, the media finds herthere, and he's, they're like,
why didn't you marry thisperfect doctor, yada.
She like, Pulls Donovan in for akiss and she's because I've been
in love with this guy all alongof course, I couldn't marry
someone else.
Donovan's as shocked as themedia.
He's like what's happening?
Jordan (38:10):
guy.
Run.
Dude, run.
Christina (38:13):
He's like what?
So he
Jordan (38:17):
Oh.
Devonnie (38:19):
so cute
Christina (38:21):
calls her back to his office like tell me what the
heck's going on and she tellshim and he had never heard Of
this show right like TheBachelor.
He had never watched it.
He was He's well, all I do isbake and play football.
So that's all I do.
Jordan (38:34):
Naturally.
Christina (38:34):
an NFL
Devonnie (38:35):
Right, that's crazy
Christina (38:38):
So she's please just help fake date till this like
news cycle blows over, right?
Like then no one will care.
We can have a big fake breakup,but it'll bring in business to
your business because his shopisn't doing so well.
Since it first opened, it's kindof lost its appeal.
So he's okay, I can see theappeal to that.
It'll bring up media buzz.
And it'll lay the people off ofyou, so they agree to fake
dating.
(38:58):
But just the cupcakes in thekitchen, things heat up.
Jordan (39:03):
the fuck
Devonnie (39:04):
love a good pun!
Jordan (39:08):
Oh.
Oh.
Christina (39:13):
they also get very sweet.
No, I'm just kidding.
I'll get done.
Devonnie (39:17):
Christina! Yes, jail, actually.
Christina (39:22):
Anywho yeah, things progress with their fake dating
relationship and you have to seehow it goes.
But I will say this is a trilogybecause there are three NFL
owners of this bakery.
There are three co owners andeach one follows a different
owner and their situationships.
So
Jordan (39:39):
Wait, NFL meets bakery is just wild to
Devonnie (39:43):
Wild,
Jordan (39:44):
that they're spending time in the bakery, not just
like owning it, and makingappearances is
Christina (39:49):
Yeah,
Devonnie (39:50):
actually baking.
Christina (39:51):
most of it is in the baker, which she also can't bake
for shit because she's been thisspoiled girl her whole life.
She's never even made toast andhe's trying to teach her how to
make a cake.
She literally sets the kitchenon fire the first time.
Jordan (40:01):
Of course.
Devonnie (40:02):
Oh, God, as you
Jordan (40:03):
hard to do.
Devonnie (40:04):
Right.
Christina (40:05):
it's good.
So like by the end she, youknow, has earned her stuff
because she's actually learnedhard work.
Yeah, and able to open her ownbusiness and all this and
there's a great turnaround forher character.
So it's great to see that.
Jordan (40:18):
She goes from never having a job to opening her own
business.
That is crazy.
Devonnie (40:25):
Yeah.
But yeah, this, the cover ofthis is so cute, so that's why I
wanted to read it, so I'm gladyou read it and it does sound
like it was very cute.
Jordan (40:31):
it sounds fun.
Devonnie (40:33):
Like a fun little read.
Yeah.
A little, like a little bit ofchaos.
Jordan (40:36):
is what I love about fake dating though.
I feel like you have to have atleast some form of humor You
have to have at least some formof chaos, like you said, you
need the chaos
Christina (40:47):
have some necessity event.
Jordan (40:49):
and you have, and then it all is going to come to a
head when there's too muchtension.
And we haven't really talkedabout the trope as a whole, but
I, that's what I love about fakedating, is like, the denial of
what's happening, or the unsure,like I'm feeling this but they
aren't, I don't want to likemake them uncomfortable, but are
they feeling it?
(41:09):
That's so fun.
Christina (41:11):
The pining.
Devonnie (41:12):
love that.
Yes.
The pining, the yearning.
Jordan (41:15):
Or the oh shit moment when they're like, oh, no, I
have feelings
Devonnie (41:19):
Yeah
Jordan (41:20):
oh
Christina (41:20):
caught some feelings.
Devonnie (41:22):
yeah,
Jordan (41:23):
away it'll go away
Devonnie (41:24):
right, right, let me ignore it.
We're just, this is, this endson September 3rd, 1963.
Jordan (41:29):
Yeah, 63
Devonnie (41:32):
it's just whatever.
They like, pick this arbitraryend and then stick to it.
And so you're, they feel likecompelled to stick to the, and
it's please relax.
That's my favorite part of it,but also the most annoying
because y'all do realize you'rehuman beings, right?
If you're catching feelingsright now, it's okay that this
doesn't end on November 2nd.
Like it's all right that you
Jordan (41:50):
Oh, it's so dramatic.
Because it's you literally madeup this date.
Oh,
Devonnie (41:57):
don't have to follow it.
Jordan (41:58):
gonna happen if you don't?
I mean, oh, I
Devonnie (42:02):
But that's the good part about it okay, my next rec
is also about a bakery which isThanks for that layup.
This is make a scene by MimiGrace and the cover of this book
is like one of my favorites It'sjust so cute.
So adorable Basically, we haveRhetta majors who I mean talk
(42:23):
about a bad day she's having abad life because her ex and her
cousin are getting married andshe has a bakery and everyone in
the family is just basicallyside eyeing her, like waiting
for her to be like, to havefeelings about the ex and the
cousin getting married to lashout or be upset and angry.
And she's kind of just look, wegot to get past this people like
(42:45):
let us, but no one believes thatshe's calm and fine about it.
Her life may be in shambles, butshe wants to move past it.
Yeah, it hurts.
It sucks.
Does she want to see themparading around?
No.
She wants to get past it.
So the only way to do that is tofind someone new.
Enter Duncan Gilmore, wholiterally has a boxing gym down
(43:06):
the street.
Jordan (43:07):
Duncan Gilmore?
And
Devonnie (43:09):
Gilmore,
Jordan (43:10):
he owns a gym?
You guys, we need a wholeepisode on just names because
Wow.
Devonnie (43:18):
Duncan Gilmore, he owns a boxing gym down the
street.
He's, when I thought he was aplayer, he's a player.
He's not with anyone more thanonce.
He's not looking for arelationship.
He doesn't want to be like sweptup in anybody's drama.
But he meets Reda and he's kindof like, all right, fine.
When she propositions him, he'slike, all right, let's I'll do
it.
You'll you can help me and thenI can help you.
(43:40):
Like it's only going to be for aweek.
We'll get you through thewedding.
And you'll also attend an eventfor me and we'll just.
Have it as it is.
The only thing is, which none ofthese fake dating people seem to
realize, is that you end upfalling for each other.
Right?
Like, how inconvenient to fallfor another human being that you
said you would not fall for.
You know, you put yourself inromantic situations, y'all are
(44:03):
holding hands and skipping andlicking frosting off of
cupcakes, and you didn't thinky'all were gonna fall in love?
Hello?
Jordan (44:08):
front of people.
You're
Devonnie (44:11):
You're like, yeah, it's like
Jordan (44:13):
Should we practice this kiss first?
Should we practice?
Should we not?
Devonnie (44:17):
practice.
You know, I love a practice I
Jordan (44:20):
Yeah, I need to get in the
Devonnie (44:22):
Yeah, we're gonna be my family.
We have to make this believable.
So
Jordan (44:25):
Maybe hold my hand for a while first.
Like a whole week! We shouldcuddle every day for 20 minutes
just to be so I stop jumpingevery time you're around.
Those are my sorry.
Devonnie (44:36):
No, I do love, honestly, I'm laughing and I'm
making fun of it, but fakedating, it really is funny.
It's just, it's definitely likea nice palate cleanser.
There are big dating books withlike higher stakes and like lots
going on, but.
There are other fluffy, cuteones that are just so comical
because that has to be anelement in the fake dating.
But yeah, this was just it was,it, the heavier things for me
(44:57):
was the inability for Retta'sfamily to just let her be, let
her have that peace.
Let her exist outside of thegrief of mourning a relationship
that she was trying to get overand now has to see all the time.
And on top of that, she You knowwhat?
I'm not going to spoil the bookbecause there is a scene in this
book at the wedding that makesme want to jump into the book
(45:22):
and tussle.
Okay.
And Reda, she's a better womanthan me.
Let me tell you that she is abetter woman than me.
It's really cute.
I'm pretty sure Lenny Kaufmanalso designs this cover, which
is if you know anything aboutme, I'm a Lenny Kaufman stan.
I love her zon.
I love her so much.
Her illustrations, chef's kiss.
(45:42):
You may collect your favoriteauthor's books.
I'm trying to collect all ofLenny's covers.
You know, that's the vibe.
So yeah, I really love that.
What else?
What else?
Yeah, it was really good.
It was fun.
Again, black characters, whichis also nice.
Love me, a black girl in lovefrom infinity to infinity.
Yeah, real sweet.
Mimi Grace.
And also, it is the first bookin a trilogy.
It's the Love Struck trilogy.
(46:03):
And there are two other booksafter that, which are also so
beautiful.
These covers are like chef'skiss.
Ooh, is that my like?
Most recent chef's kiss.
I feel like I haven't done thatin a while.
Anyway, there,
Christina (46:15):
on a bakery.
Devonnie (46:16):
period.
We love that.
We love that.
Chef's kiss on the bakery.
Yes, exactly that.
So yeah, it was, it's justreally, it's really nice.
I loved it.
I enjoyed it.
It was cute.
It was fuzzy.
Made me want to punch the air,but good fake dating.
Jordan (46:32):
Love it.
I have a couple honorablementions We're like, oh, we
should do fake dating.
That's a good, we haven't done atrope episode for a while.
Oh no, I'm gonna have to readsome.
But looking over my catalog, Ihad to pare it down.
Because I my catalog, yeah, Igotta whip out my
Christina (46:47):
catalog?
Jordan (46:48):
No, it's like a scrapbook.
It's like
Christina (46:50):
a little Rolodex, that's all I could think you'd
go through
Jordan (46:52):
god, yes! I love it.
I will mention Bridesmaid forHire by Megan Quinn.
I have recommended that on aprevious episode, so I won't go
into it, but that's probably oneof the funniest books I've ever
read.
For me I enjoy Megan Quinn.
palette cleansers for me.
She cranks out so many that Ifeel like some are hit or miss
(47:14):
with me.
This one was one of the bestbooks I read last year.
So funny.
If you want to cry laughing,This is it.
And then Her Greatest Mistake byHannah Cowan.
I am going to talk more aboutthis book when we do Friends to
Lovers in a month or two.
Shout out to the winners of ourGalentine's Day event.
(47:37):
Because they chose that themefor our last episode of the
season.
But, Her Greatest Mistake.
They are childhood best friendsthis is another hockey romance.
There was a huge falling out andthey haven't seen each other for
years.
He needs to clean up his imageand be seen with someone and his
publicist is Here use her and hehas to approach her after X
(48:01):
amount of years like they runinto each other And then his
publicist has this idea is likeyou need to date and clean up if
you want to renew your contractand she feels like she owes him
because of this big thing thathappened, you know years ago And
it's just really good and I'lltalk more about it Like I said
on that episode But if you'rereally wanting another one, he
didn't give you enough a fakedating her greatest mistake by
(48:22):
Hannah Cowan
Christina (48:23):
I have one quick shoutout too.
It's a YA shoutout.
It's called the fake datingtrope.
So I thought that was officiallyimportant here.
It's by Jennifer Ann Shor.
This story takes place in a highschool, so it's definitely teen
romantic comedy.
But it's about a bookworm and abaseball player who agreed to a
fake relationship.
And it has a lot of funliterature tropes because she's
(48:44):
a reader and so she's I'mliterally in my books.
She recognizes that and puts itout and like talks about all the
tropes and stuff.
It's super cute, light, easyread so if you're looking for
something without any spice orclosed door or YA that would be
something for you, the fakedating trope.
Jordan (49:00):
I love that
Devonnie (49:01):
have one more which is the book that my quote was about
I saved this one for lastbecause honestly Again this
book, yes, this book resonatedwith me Paul Cabra I loved it.
Okay this is the second book inthe series, like I mentioned,
and it is the Off the Iceseries.
This one is called Spiral, thefirst one was called Collide.
(49:22):
In Spiral, it follows Sage andEli, and Sage is a prima
ballerina.
Okay.
She loves ballet.
She works her butt off.
However, she is kind of incharge of her younger brother.
They have a very tragic andtumultuous upbringing.
Their parents were really intodrugs more than they were into
being parents.
(49:43):
And so she has stepped up and isbasically her brother's guardian
has tried to put him throughschool all while chasing her own
dreams.
And mind you, she's not like 30or something.
She's like mid twenties, likestill trying to figure life out
herself.
So she's growing up as she'sdoing all these things.
She's like whip smart.
She's so funny.
And she's also like fearlesslyherself, even in all the flaws
(50:07):
that are built into hercharacteristics.
She is also the niece of theTeam owner of the Toronto team,
the like famous Toronto hockeyteam, and she goes to a charity
event where she basically teamsup with a hockey player and he
begs her to bid on his friend.
(50:27):
His friend happens to be Eli.
Eli is being chased down like apiece of meat on the charity
block.
Like when I tell you they'reauction, auctioning off dates of
the players, like they do, Iguess.
And Eli is like at the top ofeverybody's list.
They want him and he is tryingto keep a low profile.
He doesn't want all thisattention.
Anyway, Sage agrees to do thebidding.
(50:48):
She spends like 10, 000 on Eli.
None of her money.
She doesn't have it.
She's broke.
Okay, right.
She gets it from the Otherhockey player who is also the
main character of book one.
So it was really nice to seethat connection.
So she bid, she gets a date withEli and they just, you know,
collect the date now in Sage'sstory before they go on this
(51:08):
date, she's having a terribletime landing the part of Odette
and Swan Lake with thisprestigious ballet.
It is very difficult becausewhat she realizes now is this
ballet.
While they want someone who'ssuper talented, who can emote,
who can dance.
They're also looking for someonewith a social media background
who can fill their theater seatsbecause at the same time you
(51:28):
want talent, but you need to getbutts in seats, right?
And she's sages or nobody.
So she's fighting for her lifeto get these parts in this
specific part.
What she doesn't realize is thata snapshot of her and Eli on the
date sends the rumor mill, like.
Spiraling.
They think they're dating.
Now all of a sudden she's ofintrigue.
Right?
Jordan (51:46):
I forgot we were in fake dating, so I was like,
Devonnie (51:48):
it is fixed it.
Right?
Jordan (51:50):
I was like, where is it gonna go?
Devonnie (51:54):
What, right?
What Eli gets from this isbecause he has this is the
strangest thing about this book.
When you meet Eli, he's verysweet, he's kind, he's timid,
he's shy.
He likes to be in control.
And you start to notice thatvery early.
But it's not, oh, it's oh,you're like, oh, that was weird.
But you keep reading.
But he's still very calm, veryshy.
(52:16):
However, the media has paintedhim as this like hooligan with
women.
He like, he's like a player.
He's a bad boy.
The man just minds his business.
He walks into his hotel room andthere's naked ladies in there.
He can't control that people areselling out his room number.
He's not doing anything withthem.
He's kicking them out.
But the paparazzi don't care.
All they can talk about is Eli'sa player.
(52:36):
Da, all, you know, all thesethings.
And Basically he, when Sageproposes that they date,
obviously it's for her benefitfor the ballet, but for him,
she's I can help you clean upyour bad boy image.
Maybe have these women stopchasing you into your hotel
room.
He
Jordan (52:49):
some of them,
Devonnie (52:50):
some of them, right?
Yeah.
He shuts her down.
He shuts her down.
Nope, he like not having it.
He shuts her down.
He's no, that's stupid.
I don't have time for this.
And then after hanging out withSage, he realized, oh, she's
kind of cool.
I'll do it.
But this, I mean, the book isobviously very fake dating.
It's a famous hockey player, aballet dancer, who's not really
(53:11):
dancing because she can't get apart.
She's just like making endsmeet.
She aspiring.
It has a lot of like heavythemes from her grief with her
family.
His background he's adopted andhe loves his.
His adopted parents, but hisfather is like horrific.
His birth father is horrific.
He's a drunk, he extorts Eli inthis book.
And so they're both battlingtheir own things, but when
(53:34):
they're together, they are justmagic.
And the way my favorite part ofthis book, the fake dating is
great.
My favorite part of this book isthe way Eli chooses to love
Sage.
It is just it is so touchingbecause, okay, I'm giving myself
away, but I may know what alittle bit of that feels like
right now in my current momentin life.
(53:56):
And so when I recognize, when Isee the way he handles her, I'm
like, wow, she is living, we'reliving the same life.
Like you don't have to be hard.
You don't have to do it allyourself.
Someone will love you like verydeeply and care about you and
want the best for you, and itwon't be hard, you know?
So yeah this, I've never read acharacter who's just more like
(54:16):
me than Sage.
So I really enjoyed it, and itis funny, and there's banter,
and the Spice, good God.
So yeah, please read it.
I didn't give you the wholebook.
Honestly, there's so much thathappens.
But yeah, please read it.
Jordan (54:35):
That's perfect.
There's so many I think we'regonna need to do a special post
just with all of these.
And then I know we have evenmore, these are just our top,
most notable recs.
Make sure you are following uson Instagram, threads, TikTok,
(54:56):
for even more.
Thanks for listening to usramble about fake dating.
You can find our favorite bookrecs from our favorite episodes,
as well as behind the scenescontent.
Again, that's at romancerexpod.
So make sure to give us a followhere.
Yes, wherever you're listening,make sure you're subscribed,
following, and on our socials,and we'll be back in two weeks
(55:19):
with another episode.
Christina (55:21):
Bye.
Jordan (55:22):
Bye!
Devonnie (55:23):
Bye.
To Romance Recs.
We're three romance obsessedbesties sharing book Recs broken
down by genres and tropes so youcan be sure you're getting
exactly what you want out ofyour next read.
Hi, it's Dev.
Jordan (00:13):
Hey
Christina (00:14):
What are you reading, Dev?
Jordan (00:15):
are you reading, Dev?
Devonnie (00:17):
golly.
Every week it's the same thing.
It's like I, it's like I don'tknow what I'm doing.
It's like I've never done this
Jordan (00:24):
You're new here.
It's
Devonnie (00:25):
I'm so new here.
Sorry guys.
Jordan (00:27):
It's only been a year
Devonnie (00:29):
I know
Jordan (00:30):
this episode coming out marks exactly a year that we've
been putting out content.
Devonnie (00:36):
So crazy, oh my gosh
Jordan (00:38):
what are you reading?
Devonnie (00:39):
Okay, to be fair.
I'm reading a lot, but I'm alsoreading nothing I want to be
very honest with you.
There is so much happening andnothing My life is like so
chaotic that I can't actuallymaintain The things that I'm
reading but number one, I amreading a manuscript by my baby
boo Glenn, which y'all don'tcare about yet, but you will.
(01:01):
That is very important.
Jordan (01:02):
Just Glenn.
It's kind of like Prince.
She only needs one name.
Devonnie (01:05):
yeah.
Glenn.
Yeah.
No, Glenn Ashley Patterson.
Yeah.
But she's very famous.
We love you, Glenn.
But then I'm also, please do notkill me.
I am still reading out of thewoods.
I've had the arc for so long.
I am still reading that bookbecause I didn't expect it to be
as emotional as it is andHannah, I will send you my
(01:26):
therapy bill, you evil woman.
So yeah, I'm reading those twoand actually I'm, I have about
35 minutes left in Scythe andSpire by Bryn Weaver, which I
have thoughts.
So yeah that's my reading, butyeah, there's so much happening
and it's so chaotic.
Jordan (01:44):
Oh.
Well, hi! I'm Jordan.
I am currently reading Blood andBetrayals by Janet Rose and
Alexis Rune.
I am on their ARC team.
I am part of their littlecommunity.
By the time this comes out, itwill have, I think the book will
have been out for less than aweek.
If you don't have it downloadedalready or pre ordered, what are
(02:06):
you doing?
Go get it.
I am only 53 percent of the wayinto this book and I never want
it to end, but I also need it.
I need to know what happens.
So it's, sorry, we're not doinga review on that.
I'm also about to startlistening to an ALC of Heathens
by Alta Hensley.
I'm such a good
Christina (02:25):
everyone.
I'm Kristina, and I'm simplebecause I'm only reading one
book, which is To Con Gentlemanby Sarah Adams.
The end.
Jordan (02:37):
think maybe we're just too complicated.
Devonnie (02:39):
yeah, we are a little too.
is the vibes we bring to thefunction
Jordan (02:44):
all of that to say, buckle up for some bookish
banter.
I'm gonna take Christina's line.
Devonnie (02:52):
Buckled strapped in much in my child seat so Today's
very exciting because our themefor The episodes for the books
we're gonna recommend to youguys before we get into these
quotes is fake dating Which wehaven't done before and I'm very
excited.
I want to hear the recs that youguys have I'm excited to share
(03:13):
mine But yeah, to our listeners,if you really love the fake
dating trope, this is definitelythe episode for you because
we've got a bunch of recs foryou to kind of satisfy that need
if you will.
Jordan (03:23):
If you liked the wedding date, if you liked 10 Things I
Hate About You, if Basically, ifyou are a millennial, you grew
up with a lot of rom com.
Fake
Devonnie (03:34):
yeah.
Lot of angst.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So this is that episode for you,but I do, I would like to share
my quote.
I think I need to go firstbecause I fear mine is sad
Jordan (03:46):
okay.
Devonnie (03:46):
I know I want to get it out the way.
I'm sorry.
Both of you were like, Oh God.
Okay.
My quote is actually from one ofthe books I'll be talking about
tonight, which is Spiral by BalCabra.
It is the second book in her,it's not off campus series.
I can never remember the name ofthis series.
Please hold.
Jordan (04:06):
Hey, I want to say happy birthday to future me, because
tomorrow's my birthday.
In this world.
Christina (04:12):
Yeah.
Devonnie (04:13):
in
Jordan (04:13):
happy birthday
Christina (04:13):
Happy birthday Jordan!
Jordan (04:15):
Happy birthday future you.
Devonnie (04:17):
Yay.
Jordan (04:17):
34.
We're
Devonnie (04:20):
Love that for you.
Love that for you.
Okay, so back to my quote.
Christina (04:24):
Oh, sorry.
Devonnie (04:25):
Unhinged already.
So the book is Spiral by BobCarver.
The series is Off the Ice.
This is book two in that series.
It's a hockey romance, so if youlove a hockey romance, it's
good.
This quote specifically though,it Sage, who is the female main
character, is one character thatI feel like insanely connected
(04:46):
to.
I feel like I've never read acharacter as Me coded as Sage
and in this quote Eli isbasically telling her that she
doesn't like he wants to help.
She doesn't have to be so tough.
And this is what he says.
First, he says to himself, thisis a speech I might've practiced
in my head a few times becauseSage is allergic to help.
(05:09):
You set up your life to neverhave to rely on anyone, but when
you've come to a point where youneed to, you're angry about it.
Why can't you let me do this onething for you?
When I tell you I was boohoo andcrying because the thing that he
does.
really was so helpful, but herpride, her defense mechanism,
did not allow her to see howhelpful it was.
(05:31):
She lashed out about it.
And I was like, that is me.
And it made me really sadbecause I was like, I do this
all the time and I hate that.
But yeah, it's really hard,especially the way Sage grew up.
So it's very sad.
It was very tender, but I wantedto share it because I'm
recognizing These things inmyself.
And so reading a character who'salso like this, number one,
makes me feel not as crazy, butnumber two makes me realize
(05:53):
that, you know, the workcontinues.
Okay.
Jordan (05:57):
know why you had to call me out like that too because
Christina (06:00):
thought we weren't recommending self improvement
books.
Oh my god.
Jordan (06:04):
That was I feel really uncomfortable over here
Devonnie (06:07):
why I wanted to go first.
Cause I feel like y'all aregoing to come with the joy and I
just need to, you know, to getthis out.
Jordan (06:12):
Okay.
Well, I decided that I'm gonnado it a little different kind of
I just I'm gonna so blood andbetrayals By Jeanette Rose and
Alexis Roon I'm not even donewith this video This book, like
I said, but I've highlighted somuch and a lot of them are small
one liners, but this book is sogood with the one liners.
(06:32):
And when I tell you this bookis, it's filling the void that
Zodiac Academy left in my life.
Anyways, so I'm going to readjust a few.
I'm going to go through my listand read just a few one liners.
Gross.
The idea of a guy being anythingother than a bastard is probably
the most unbelievable thing I'veever heard.
(06:53):
Yeah.
Great.
Destinies are not for thepresent.
They are for the distant future.
I love that quote.
Christina (07:00):
I'd like it in the present though.
Oh
Jordan (07:04):
especially in these romantic, like they want, they
see their destiny and they're sofocused on their destiny that
they're forgetting that it'snot.
Now, that's later.
There are those who die in fireand those who thrive in it.
Devonnie (07:18):
Love that.
Jordan (07:19):
You do not get to decide your worth to someone else.
Only they
Christina (07:23):
love that.
Devonnie (07:24):
Yeah, I love that
Jordan (07:25):
I love that quote and then I'll end on a funny one.
Summer is the female maincharacter and she's talking to
her, the MMC about her bestfriend and roommate.
She goes, she's going to fuck ashifter.
I clarify, greeting him with akiss.
He bought her a smoothie andshe's gonna thank him with her
snatch.
Devonnie (07:45):
Okay, no to the word snatch.
Jordan (07:47):
I love it, because I use it.
Christina (07:50):
I
Devonnie (07:50):
makes me want to vomit.
What?
Snatch?
Christina (07:55):
wrong with that?
Devonnie (07:57):
are we snatching people's body parts into us?
I just
Jordan (08:01):
snatchers.
Christina (08:02):
It's snatching something into it.
Devonnie (08:04):
Exactly, I hate that.
I hate that visualization.
No, Jordan!
Christina (08:08):
where else is it
Jordan (08:09):
she's a vampire too, so there's lots of snatchers.
Devonnie (08:15):
I hate it.
We need to make a episode all onwords that I hate in books.
Jordan (08:19):
Oh, that could be like, we'll end up with an entire book
of words that we don't like.
Christina (08:24):
Okay, here I go.
Jordan (08:25):
of this episode is just for us.
No one else.
Christina (08:26):
And I was sitting here giggling, kicking my feet,
thinking about this quote, andnow I think about it and I'm
like, you know what, it'sactually sad, but here I go.
Devonnie (08:35):
Oh God.
Christina (08:37):
Here I go.
It's from a book I'm alsorecommending.
It's by Alexis Hall calledBoyfriend Material.
And it's the two main malecharacters talking to each
other.
And the one guy, he says, Youreally do own your illiteracy,
don't you?
And he says, Yeah, I'm thinkingabout moving to America and
running for political office.
Jordan (09:01):
Stop it.
Oh
Devonnie (09:04):
That's actually really funny.
I'm sorry.
Should I laugh?
I feel like that was supposed tobe funny, right?
Jordan (09:09):
yeah, and isn't this isn't this like Regency?
Christina (09:12):
No,
Jordan (09:13):
Regency?
Oh, it's not?
Christina (09:14):
but it takes place in London, so
Jordan (09:16):
Okay.
Devonnie (09:17):
mean
Jordan (09:17):
Oh my god.
Devonnie (09:19):
By default regency.
So
Jordan (09:21):
my god
Devonnie (09:21):
that is so funny.
Yeah Is it not?
Christina (09:30):
I don't think so.
Devonnie (09:32):
I feel like
Jordan (09:33):
a time period
Devonnie (09:35):
yeah, london is a time period
Christina (09:37):
What?
No, the Regency is a timeperiod.
Devonnie (09:40):
London is stuck in the time period of Regency.
Anywhere that's still got a kingand a queen, it's it's giving a
regent.
Christina (09:50):
Even Japan?
Jordan (09:51):
Okay, I
Devonnie (09:52):
if you have a king and a queen,
Jordan (09:54):
fake
Devonnie (09:54):
you're in Regency.
Ha!
Jordan (09:56):
so fake dating I'm really excited for this Thanks
for your quote everybody Thatwas fun.
So my first recommendation ofthe day is the fake out by
Stephanie Archer This book twoin Vancouver Storm series.
I think I recommended the firstone in a different episode last
(10:19):
year, like
Devonnie (10:19):
Yeah, behind the net.
Jordan (10:21):
Yeah, so this is book two.
The FMC is boy obsessed.
And we meet her in the firstbook, but these are all like
interconnected standalones, shehas She's really big into body
positivity and she teaches yoga,and she's really big on making
it accessible for all bodytypes, and all people and she
(10:42):
has a rule for herself.
She doesn't hook up with thesame guy more than once.
Her ex.
who hurt her, very bad is comingback to town because he just got
drafted onto the team, theVancouver team, and when he
comes she kind of freaks out,she has a moment, and she wants
to make him jealous, and whatbetter way to do that than with
(11:03):
his long time rival.
Who is also on the team.
So when the ex moves to town,she's back at him by fake dating
his teammate, Rory Miller.
I mean, with a name like RoryMiller, you know, he's a bro.
Like a hot bro.
Okay.
This story is full of bodypositivity, very witty banter
(11:26):
really hot smut, and just Thegreatest MMC.
Yeah, Rory is top tier bookboyfriend material.
So just it's very supportive inall the best ways no red flags
Devonnie (11:43):
Oh, wow.
I
Jordan (11:44):
Yeah, but still interesting, which is, I feel
Devonnie (11:48):
That's crazy.
No red flags, but you know, it'sstill interesting.
Jordan (11:50):
it's still interesting.
Christina (11:54):
He's the green flag guy.
Jordan (11:55):
I realize how that sounded, but I just mean like in
Christina (11:58):
That's a very Jordan comment though.
Jordan (12:00):
Which, yeah, well, I did make it.
The Fake Out by Stephanie Archeris really good.
I don't want to say too much ofit because I just, I don't want
to give too much away.
There you go.
Someone else.
Take it away, please.
Christina (12:13):
Okay, The Fake Mate by Leanna Ferguson.
This book has my absolutefavorite subgenre of all time,
which is Omegaverse.
And it's actually one of thebest published Omegaverse
stories I've ever read.
I'm usually an AO3 Omegaversegirly, so I'm an expert on these
things.
So this was refreshing to readone that's published that
actually managed to do it fairlywell.
(12:34):
So this story follows Mackenzie,who's a young ER doctor.
She's hiding her classificationas an Omega because she wants to
be recognized for her work as adoctor instead of for what she
is.
Unfortunately, her grandma keepspestering her about bringing
home a boyfriend.
So to kind of appease hergrandma, she asks this grumpy
cardiologist, Dr.
Noah Taylor to be her fake date.
(12:54):
And this happens to work outperfectly because Noah just got
called to work, or to the boardof the hospital to explain why
he's an unmated alpha and didn'tput that on his paperwork when
he signed up for the hospital.
Anywho, that's part of theirworld.
Anywho, she agrees to be hisfake date so he can still work
for the hospital as acardiologist and so she can
appease grandma, right?
(13:15):
And so they decide they have tokeep up this ruse being seen
outside the hospital, enteringand leaving the hospital at the
same time or people are going tonot believe they're a mated
pair.
So they're going out on publicdates and everything's fun and
then BAM! Out of nowhere.
Her blockers stop working andshe goes into heat at work.
And there just happens to be analpha there that maybe could
(13:35):
help her, right?
Jordan (13:36):
The heat breaks.
Christina (13:38):
I know.
And so he takes her to like aski lodge that's middle of
nowhere alone, and they staythere for a week.
It's great.
Devonnie (13:47):
Yep.
I love this.
Christina (13:49):
I know.
And then they come back and arestill working on their fake
dating and wondering if it couldwork out if they can keep up all
the fun things that go with thefake dating.
It's a funny and spicy book,grumpy and sunshine vibes, and
Omegaverse, so you really can'tgo wrong.
Devonnie (14:06):
Yeah, I read this one and I enjoyed it.
I did.
I was kicking my feet a littlebit.
Yeah, it was a fun little readfor sure.
Christina (14:12):
Yeah.
What about you, Dev?
Aww.
Namedrop.
Devonnie (14:17):
fake dating rec is going to be a love like the sun
by Riz M.
Nielsen.
I'm not sure if I've spokenabout this, but I feel like I've
read a quote from this book orI've mentioned that I was
reading it before, but I don'tthink I like spoke about it too
much, but I really love this.
It is like one of my leastfavorite tropes, which is
friends to lovers.
Jordan (14:36):
Oh.
Devonnie (14:37):
I know, like I don't typically love friends to
lovers, but I really enjoyedthis and I read this last year I
think but I wrote a little likesynopsis of what it is.
Best friends Lanai and Isaachave always ignored the
simmering chemistry betweenthem, but when Lanai and her mom
are at risk of losing theirnatural hair store business,
Isaac steps in.
Using his fame to drive businessfor Lanai by faking a
(14:59):
relationship, the two spend thesummer trying to secure an
investor for wildly green.
That's the name of the business.
The two quickly realized thatthe feelings they've been
ignoring are now bubbling to thesurface and no amount of
reminding themselves that it'sfake and they're just best
friends will save them from thefallout.
It was really cute to black maincharacters.
(15:21):
It's like black love, veryblack, loved it.
Rissa's writing is like sobeautiful.
It was nice to see parts of myown life in a story.
Just like random things likeLinnea does Isaac's hair or his
mom, her mom used to do Isaac'shair and just having him sit
down on the floor and they'relike greasing his scalp and I'm
(15:42):
just like, wow, that's pluckedright out of my life.
So that was really nice.
I really enjoyed it.
The cover is so beautiful forthis book as well.
But yeah, I'm typically not.
Friends to lovers girly and thishad it, it's not super spicy.
I'm going to give this like atwo on the spice scale.
You do get a little, and it's alittle, it gets a little like
crazy, but the spice is not themain thing.
(16:03):
Their friendship and their loveunfolding.
Is definitely the main beat ofthe story, but it was really
beautiful and also pretty funnybecause he's famous and she's
just like a little wallflowerwho wants to stay home and run
her
Jordan (16:16):
She's just a girl.
Aww.
Devonnie (16:18):
just a girl trying to survive and like everywhere she
goes now, everyone's that'sIsaac Jordan's girlfriend.
Oh my goodness.
She's with Isaac Jordan.
And she's please.
I've known him since we werechildren.
Yeah it's really cute, but yeah.
She's who, Isaac?
Jordan (16:33):
That loser?
No way.
Devonnie (16:35):
definitely suggest people read it.
It's a beautiful little story.
Christina (16:39):
Aww.
Jordan (16:39):
I love it.
My second almost didn't make itbecause I almost didn't read it
in time.
I dropped in my Libby accountlast week and I listened to it
in a day.
This is my first recommendationwritten by a man.
And it's okay.
Devonnie (16:58):
shock,
Christina (16:59):
is branching out.
Jordan (17:01):
I know.
I know.
Christina (17:03):
the first on this whole podcast
Jordan (17:05):
Don't worry, it's
Devonnie (17:05):
think so.
I think so.
I think it might be the
Jordan (17:08):
it's okay.
It's called The Fake Dating Gameby Timothy Janowski.
You might have seen it around.
It's got a cutesy cover.
Like they're on a game show.
And it's just so fun.
If you want Just like cute,funny, but there's like some
(17:30):
deeper meaning in there and justlike a really fun premise.
This is it.
There are some heavier themes ofProcessing grief like throughout
time and things, but so our maincharacter Holden.
He is a mess.
Absolute mess.
(17:51):
His boyfriend of Four yearsbreaks up with him very publicly
in a restaurant.
A very nice restaurant that helike was paying for with a
credit card that he like.
It was a big deal.
And he brought his boyfriendthere'cause he was gonna ask him
a question to go on.
He was gonna ask him to go onhis favorite game show.
(18:13):
Okay.
And it was a game show that hewatched growing up with his mom
and it meant.
This game show means like a lotto him, right?
And his mom passed away when hewas younger.
And so it just, he got a ticketto go try out and he was going
to ask his boyfriend, made a bigdeal.
And instead his boyfriend brokeup with him and the whole, while
like everyone in the restaurantwatched and he like broke it to
(18:36):
him that no, you haven't beenpaying half of the rent.
Of course you can't pay for it.
I've been, he's then where's mymoney been going?
And he's well, I've been takingyour money.
You've been paying for a quarterof it.
Like it just, it was messy.
It was.
And painful and he kicked himout and so he had to go back and
live with his dad, but he wasdetermined He's well, I have a
my best friend, but this is mybest friend.
(18:58):
Who's also my exes friend Butlike we're good friends, right?
so he goes to LA because that'swhere the tryouts are and he
goes and he was gonna ask her togo on the show with him And he,
she's just aloof the whole timeand then blows him off and says
no, I don't, she said, I thinkI'd be like choosing sides.
Devonnie (19:19):
Mmhmmm.
Jordan (19:21):
not going to do that with you too.
And so she doesn't do it forhim.
And he just goes back to his,this cheap hotel room.
And of course there's this likecute but annoying guy behind the
desk who gives him shit.
And but he goes to his room andgets drunk by himself that night
and just blasts.
(19:42):
This, a Taylor Swift song onrepeat.
Sorry, Christina.
I don't remember what TaylorSwift song.
But the guy from the front deskcalls up.
He's hey, you gotta stop whilethat's a great song, you need to
turn it off.
We're getting everyone can hearyou.
You're getting a lot ofcomplaints.
It's late.
He's I won't, you'll have bring,he's I won't turn it off unless
you bring me pizza, because he'swasted, and So this guy gets off
(20:05):
his shift and he brings himpizza and they sit there
chatting and they play like aboard game together and the guy
is just like there for them andthey like They have this bond,
and they're like, I don't know,then the next day he loses his
job, the front desk guy, and Notnecessarily, no, not because of
(20:26):
the Taylor Swift thing.
We're just, this guy's wholeseries of unfortunate events.
So anyways, but they becomefriends with also sexual
chemistry, and they're like,well, what if, he's well, I'll
go on the show with you.
I'll do it.
And so he, Holden is traininghim how to play this game,
(20:46):
right?
Devonnie (20:47):
Right.
Jordan (20:48):
this is what you can expect.
We're gonna do this.
And it's like a supermarket dashkind of a game.
So there's like all this stuff,right?
And so they're like going aboutit and it's just so sweet, but
they have sexual chemistry too,the spice is hot, and, but
they're like, we're a fake date,we'll tell them we met in an
online forum for this game,they'll eat it up.
(21:08):
And of course, they kind of fallfor each other, but they both
have their own separate baggagethat they really have not They
haven't come to terms with yet.
And so it's them Trying toresolve things but also figure
out where they are with eachother but the way it's handled
is so beautiful and it's notfrustrating and it's honest and
(21:32):
upfront and It's just reallygreat.
Devonnie (21:35):
No.
I love that.
And I love me a game show.
Jordan (21:39):
I know it was so fun.
And it was a big part of thestory
Devonnie (21:42):
I was gonna ask that because I need that.
I need the game to
Jordan (21:44):
Oh, and you see them on the game.
They're doing ridiculous things.
They're like behind the scenesoh, and I didn't even tell I
don't know if I want to ruinthat but there is a surprise
when he gets To the show to filmabout who's there to compete
against him.
Christina (22:07):
dun.
Jordan (22:08):
Huh
Devonnie (22:11):
okay.
Well,
Jordan (22:12):
so
Christina (22:12):
have here.
Jordan (22:14):
Well, well, well if it isn't the consequences of your
actions.
Wild.
Christina (22:21):
Okay, my next recommendation is also a queer
romance.
Boyfriend Material by AlexisHall, and I think she's a really
great queer representationauthor.
I really loved this book.
This book is actually one of thefunniest books I've ever read.
Seriously.
It follows Lucien O'Donnell.
I want to say that right.
Lucian.
It's not the American way.
(22:41):
They said that Americans say itwrong.
Lucian.
Lucian O'Donnell, who is the sonof two famous rock stars in
England.
And he has a hard timemaintaining his good public
image.
The paparazzi always seems tocatch him in a bad light.
And he has some emotional damagebecause he had an ex boyfriend
who sold him out to The Sun,which is a popular rag newspaper
in England, for 50, 000.
(23:03):
sold his story out to him and sothat was bad.
And so he doesn't want to dateanymore but he's always going
and doing hookups and gettingdrunk and on drugs and stuff and
so the paparazzi's alwayssnapping pictures and anywho, so
he's at a risk of losing his jobhe really loves, which is my
favorite thing ever.
He works at a non profit forpeople who are trying to save
dung beetles.
(23:25):
I kid you not.
I had to research how importantdung beetles were to ecology
after this book.
It's true.
Jordan (23:32):
Oh, it is true.
It's a real thing.
Okay.
Christina (23:34):
It's a real thing.
Without dung beetles, wewouldn't have any plants left in
the world.
So you can thank the dungbeetles and this character for
saving them.
Devonnie (23:43):
I feel like i've actually read something where
that was like A main thing inthe book
Christina (23:47):
Everyone's save the bees, but you need to save the
dung beetles too.
So just so you know.
Okay, anywho.
He's gonna lose his job if hedoesn't fix up his image in the
media.
So he like, 911s his gay friendsin his chat.
They have a gay friend chat,right?
And he's I need a fake dateASAP.
And his friend's don't worry, Ihave someone I can hook you up
with.
And he's not that stuck upsnooty guy who's a lawyer, but
(24:12):
he agrees to go on a fake datewith him.
His name is Oliver Blackwood andhe's like high society,
everything completely opposite.
Jordan (24:22):
Mhm.
Christina (24:23):
exactly.
You know, you just know he comesfrom money with that name.
Devonnie (24:26):
Yes, the name
Jordan (24:27):
And he's making money still.
Devonnie (24:29):
Yes.
Christina (24:30):
he's actually a def
Jordan (24:31):
long?
Christina (24:33):
and he says everyone who finds out I'm a defense
attorney is like immediatelyturned off saying I'm letting
criminals back on the street.
But I think people that can'tafford representation need it,
and it needs to be a fair systemfor everyone.
So he's like really dedicated tohis cause, right?
So you have these two men whoare very dedicated for their
causes, and they figure outthat's like the one thing they
have in common.
Devonnie (24:53):
I'm sorry because you say these two men dedicated to
their causes and one's cause isthe dung beetles and the other's
cause is criminal defense issending me Please continue.
I just I was like not
Christina (25:09):
Well,
Devonnie (25:09):
being very different
Christina (25:11):
wouldn't have criminals to defend without
plants, without the dungbeetles, okay?
Devonnie (25:14):
You're right.
You're right.
The criminals wouldn't have an
Jordan (25:17):
What if Oliver was like defending people that go around
killing dung beetles?
Like
Devonnie (25:22):
And there's the overlap there's the connection
Jordan (25:26):
Sorry
Christina (25:27):
Okay, so Oliver needs a date to go to his parents big
huge anniversary party at theirestate, right?
And he needs to bring someone.
And then Lucien needs someone togo to his big work party.
It's their big crap.
C R A P, which is the initialsfor his company.
He needs someone to take to hiscrap party.
(25:48):
Party, okay, so
Jordan (25:50):
What's the address dress
Devonnie (25:52):
What's the dress code?
Jordan (25:54):
Brown?
Christina (25:54):
Black tie
Devonnie (25:56):
Oh.
Jordan (25:57):
Brown tie.
It's
Devonnie (25:59):
Ew.
Christina (26:02):
So they agree to this fake date to help each other out
mutually exclusive, right?
but As they work together and goon Dates and talking and stuff
they find out that maybe youknow, even though they have two
separate walks of life that theycould find happiness even though
they both have Rough goes of it.
And this book is hilarious.
The banter is funny.
The Representation, there's likeliterally every type of
(26:25):
representation you could everimagine represented in this book
And it's just not just thrown inthere for good cause like for
just no good reason like it'sall represented fairly and
equally And I love that I justlove the way the characters
learn to not only care for eachother But really themselves
because they really have to It'smessy.
They really have to come toterms with their own histories
(26:46):
and, you know, the things thatthey've gone through.
And then this book has a sequelcalled Husband Material, and a
third book, which is about to bereleased soon, called Father
Material.
Yeah.
Jordan (26:56):
Oh
Devonnie (26:57):
I love that.
Christina (26:58):
get to see their progression.
Yeah.
Devonnie (27:01):
I love that.
That is so cute.
Now we know they get married inthe end and become fathers, but
Jordan (27:05):
No, ours are different characters.
Devonnie (27:07):
oh yeah, or is it different characters?
Christina (27:09):
I haven't gotten to read the second one yet, because
I've been reading other things,but it does start with them, so
I assume it's the same.
Jordan (27:15):
Oh,
Devonnie (27:15):
Well, that is interesting.
Yeah.
To know, and then to watch themin the, cause I feel like it's
very hard as a writer to grow,make your characters grow and
they will have to change
Jordan (27:24):
contemporary when you're not like bringing in new worlds
or things like that.
Devonnie (27:29):
Yeah.
So that's actually reallyinteresting.
Christina (27:32):
Yeah.
Devonnie (27:32):
Good share.
And the name of that book again,
Christina (27:35):
Boyfriend material by Alexis Hall.
Devonnie (27:37):
Wait for me to boyfriend, husband, and then
daddy.
I mean, father.
Also daddy.
Anyway moving right along todaddy's my next.
D squared.
Oh, that's a brand.
D squared is a brand.
Don't sue me.
My next rec is actually going tobe a series that I know for a
fact I've mentioned before onthis podcast, but I'm going to
(28:00):
mention it again just for thisspecific take a hint, Danny
Brown is book two in the Brownsisters trilogy and they, each
sister kind of gets their ownvibe.
This is definitely the fakedating book.
Danica Brown is a PhD student.
She is very much chasing likeacademic renown.
(28:21):
She is in it for the plot.
Like she really wants to seewhat having all these accolades
is going to bring her.
But also that's her focus.
She previously had arelationship with a woman go
terribly awry.
And so she's kind of justwritten relationships off
regardless of the gender,they're a waste of time.
That's her vibe.
She's y'all are going todistract me from my work and I
(28:41):
can't have it get out of mylife.
Scram.
However, she is a girl withneeds enter Zafir.
And sorry, I think that's hisname.
Yeah.
So he's an ex rugby player andhe now works security at the
college where Danica is studyingslash teaching and one fire
(29:03):
alarm happens where they getplaced in the A little bit of a
predicament.
He is seen rescuing Danica fromthe building that is not on
fire.
And it the video of him bridestyle carrying her goes viral.
And now everyone has hashtaggedthem DrRugbae.
(29:25):
Everyone, the entire world isinvested in their story.
What's going on here?
The ex rugby player, like he's arecluse, he disappeared and
look, he's back.
And then who is the doctor withhim?
What a baddie.
What they realize is that theycan have a mutual, mutually
exclusive relationship becausethe paparazzi, the fame, the
attention is actually aidingZAF.
(29:46):
It's a charity for kids.
He where he teaches them rugbyand stuff and life skills, he
has a charity and they'regetting the charities getting so
much attention and just moneyand resources that he loves the
publicity, even though he's likea little bit of a recluse,
right?
But he'll do it all for thecharity.
Then I go wants to get laid.
Okay.
Danny just wants to get laid.
(30:07):
So she's yeah, live for kids.
I'll do it, babe.
Pretend we're in a relationship.
Absolutely.
No feelings, but let's likescratch this itch because we
have chemistry.
You know what I'm
Christina (30:17):
And if you've ever seen rugby players thighs.
Devonnie (30:19):
Thick.
Okay.
This also takes place in London.
You know, I'm keeping the Londonconnection here for us.
But yeah, it does take placethere.
So obviously rugby, well, Iguess it could always be a
straight anyway, moving along.
Their relationship is.
so funny because Danny also withbeing super hyper focused on her
goals, she lets things fall tothe side.
(30:40):
She like, doesn't realize thatHey babe, loosen the reins a
little bit.
You can enjoy this life.
And then Zaf is actuallysecretly a hopeless romantic.
So this might not be the bestsituation to be in a fake dating
situation.
So You know, emotions andfeelings.
Yeah.
So when you have two people whoare looking for very different
things come together, they kindof have to find a middle ground
and decide if they want to walkaway from each other and just
(31:04):
call it what it is.
Or if Danny will allow herselfto Come back to the land of
dating and spending your lifewith someone.
Yeah, I really loved it.
And it's, sorry, I didn't saywho it's by, but it is Take a
Hint, Danny Brown by TaliaHibbert, who's one of my
favorite writers.
She's just so good.
Her banter is actuallydiabolical.
It's so funny.
(31:24):
And it does get spicy,
Jordan (31:26):
Love it.
Christina (31:28):
With those thighs, I hope so.
Devonnie (31:30):
right?
And they, the thighs Imentioned, the thighs and the
booty, I'm sure I mentioned onZAF like multiple times
throughout the book.
Christina (31:37):
That's why I watch rugby.
Devonnie (31:40):
That's why we all watch rugby.
Are we watching it for the ball?
Not that ball.
Jordan (31:46):
My God.
You went into that knowing whereyou were going.
You went into that, like, how doI talk about their balls?
Like how do I.
Devonnie (31:54):
I did.
I think I set myself up
Christina (31:56):
How can I bring up genitalia?
Jordan (31:59):
Genitalia.
Jesus.
On that note if you were a fanof the 2005 motion picture, The
Wedding Date, starring DebraMessing and Dermot Mulroney,
this next one is for you.
This one, I would say, wentviral, but it got very mixed
(32:22):
reviews.
I feel like I saw a lot ofnegative things about it, which
Made me not really care to readit, but then I got a special
edition on accident through thebookish box.
The Spanish Love Deception byElena Armas.
Went ahead and when I finallyread it because it became
available on Libby and I'm likeperfect I can just listen to
(32:42):
this one day.
It was so good.
I don't know what people weretalking about and I love The
movie, The Wedding Date this islike the same thing, only set in
Spain.
And instead of hiring a maleescort, she brings a co worker.
It's a classic tale inliterature.
(33:03):
Catalina is panicking becauseshe told her mom that she's
going to bring her boyfriendhome to Spain for her brother's
wedding.
She lives in New York,currently, for her job.
Her ex?
And his fiancée will of coursebe there and are in the wedding
party.
So that's kind of one of thereasons why she panicked, right?
(33:23):
There is no boyfriend for her tobring.
There hasn't been a boyfriendfor years.
She just
Christina (33:29):
it's dry pickings.
Jordan (33:29):
Yeah, she just, I mean, she's been focused on work.
Work is her whole life.
When she's freaking out aboutthis, telling her bestie in the
hallway at work the next day, ofcourse, who overhears her?
But her work rival.
She refers to him as her enemy.
Honestly, her inner monologue,and I think that's why people
didn't like it, because herinner monologue is aggressive.
(33:51):
And oh, that's my work enemy.
I fucking hate him.
Not mean aggressive, but do youknow what I mean?
It's just a lot going on upthere.
She's concocted all thesestories in her brain, but that's
why I loved it because it feltso realistic.
Yes, like an adult LizzieMcGuire.
That's perfect.
(34:11):
But he overhears her admittingwhat she said to her mom, that
she needs a date to the wedding.
And he's take me.
And she's fuck off.
She would never be so desperateas to spend time with him alone.
Let alone let him pretend to beher boyfriend in front of her
nosy, extremely close, Spanishfamily.
(34:35):
Going home, everyone is up inyour business, everyone deserves
to know, wants to know what'sgoing on, you know?
And they become attached.
So she's just no.
But then, the date gets closerand closer, and he keeps
dropping these hints look, I'mnot gonna tell you again, but
I'll be there.
But he does it in like thiscocky way that she's just she
(34:56):
just hates it.
But she has no other choice butto take him.
And It plays out how I think youwould expect, but he is so
patient, but so self assured andwe don't get his POV and I think
that would've, I would'veenjoyed it more, but then, you
know, I get the mystery aspectof it, not knowing what he's
(35:17):
actually thinking about her butit's just It's so sweet, and the
way he is with her family it'sjust so cute, but she's in
denial and I loved it.
So the haters can suck it, butno, I'm just kidding.
I know not everyone likeseverything and that's fine.
But you're wrong.
Christina (35:36):
Okay.
My next recommendation is FakeIt Till You Bake It by Jamie
Wesley.
Jordan (35:43):
So you bake it?
Christina (35:44):
Fake it till you bake it.
Jordan (35:45):
Cute.
Devonnie (35:47):
I'm so excited for this one.
Christina (35:49):
This book follows Jada Townsend Matthews, who is
the newest, most hated woman inthe world.
Okay, she was on a reality TVshow similar to The Bachelor,
right?
And she got to the finalepisode, he got down on one
knee, he asked him on live TV,will you marry me?
And she's no, and left the show.
Okay.
On social media, people are justripping this woman to shreds.
(36:11):
She can't even leave her housebecause anytime she's in public,
people are approaching heryelling at her, calling her mean
names, like, Why did you turndown that poor doctor?
He was so perfect, and you'rejust a spoiled brat right?
So she can't go anywhere.
She even tries to go shopping tocheer up because, you know,
shopping cheers people up.
But she just gets approached bypeople.
Jordan (36:30):
It's Christina.
I can't believe that.
Christina (36:33):
It does.
Okay.
Okay.
So she gets approached bysomeone who says mean things to
her.
So she decides, her and herfriend, that they're going to go
drown their woes in this localbakery down the street, right?
This cupcake bakery, right?
And this cupcake bakery happensto be owned by Donovan, who's an
NFL star, right?
He decides he loved baking withhis mom as a child.
(36:54):
And so like to recapture thatmagic, he starts baking
cupcakes,
Jordan (36:57):
Stop it, Donovan.
So cute.
Christina (37:02):
Right, she goes to have this cupcake, she tells
Donovan, not knowing he's theowner, that this is the worst
cupcake ever.
Jordan (37:08):
Oh my god.
Christina (37:10):
it's the best cupcake ever, she refuses to say that to
him because he's Here, if youdon't like it I'll let you have
it for free and stuff.
He's trying to drum up business,right?
Anywho, it's like a roughsituation.
But, also at the same time,she's really rich.
She's got a trust fund.
But her parents have shut herout of her trust fund because
she's like 28, she has never hada job, her parents, and she's
(37:32):
like flouting around todifferent things like being a DJ
in Europe and this and that.
And her parents are like, yougotta settle down and do
something.
You have to work first.
You have to work for six monthsin a solid job, then you can
have your trust fund back,right?
Anywho, she ends up getting ajob at this bakery with this
guy.
Jordan (37:49):
Naturally.
Christina (37:50):
Yes, and of course, eventually someone finds her
there, the media finds herthere, and he's, they're like,
why didn't you marry thisperfect doctor, yada.
She like, Pulls Donovan in for akiss and she's because I've been
in love with this guy all alongof course, I couldn't marry
someone else.
Donovan's as shocked as themedia.
He's like what's happening?
Jordan (38:10):
guy.
Run.
Dude, run.
Christina (38:13):
He's like what?
So he
Jordan (38:17):
Oh.
Devonnie (38:19):
so cute
Christina (38:21):
calls her back to his office like tell me what the
heck's going on and she tellshim and he had never heard Of
this show right like TheBachelor.
He had never watched it.
He was He's well, all I do isbake and play football.
So that's all I do.
Jordan (38:34):
Naturally.
Christina (38:34):
an NFL
Devonnie (38:35):
Right, that's crazy
Christina (38:38):
So she's please just help fake date till this like
news cycle blows over, right?
Like then no one will care.
We can have a big fake breakup,but it'll bring in business to
your business because his shopisn't doing so well.
Since it first opened, it's kindof lost its appeal.
So he's okay, I can see theappeal to that.
It'll bring up media buzz.
And it'll lay the people off ofyou, so they agree to fake
dating.
(38:58):
But just the cupcakes in thekitchen, things heat up.
Jordan (39:03):
the fuck
Devonnie (39:04):
love a good pun!
Jordan (39:08):
Oh.
Oh.
Christina (39:13):
they also get very sweet.
No, I'm just kidding.
I'll get done.
Devonnie (39:17):
Christina! Yes, jail, actually.
Christina (39:22):
Anywho yeah, things progress with their fake dating
relationship and you have to seehow it goes.
But I will say this is a trilogybecause there are three NFL
owners of this bakery.
There are three co owners andeach one follows a different
owner and their situationships.
So
Jordan (39:39):
Wait, NFL meets bakery is just wild to
Devonnie (39:43):
Wild,
Jordan (39:44):
that they're spending time in the bakery, not just
like owning it, and makingappearances is
Christina (39:49):
Yeah,
Devonnie (39:50):
actually baking.
Christina (39:51):
most of it is in the baker, which she also can't bake
for shit because she's been thisspoiled girl her whole life.
She's never even made toast andhe's trying to teach her how to
make a cake.
She literally sets the kitchenon fire the first time.
Jordan (40:01):
Of course.
Devonnie (40:02):
Oh, God, as you
Jordan (40:03):
hard to do.
Devonnie (40:04):
Right.
Christina (40:05):
it's good.
So like by the end she, youknow, has earned her stuff
because she's actually learnedhard work.
Yeah, and able to open her ownbusiness and all this and
there's a great turnaround forher character.
So it's great to see that.
Jordan (40:18):
She goes from never having a job to opening her own
business.
That is crazy.
Devonnie (40:25):
Yeah.
But yeah, this, the cover ofthis is so cute, so that's why I
wanted to read it, so I'm gladyou read it and it does sound
like it was very cute.
Jordan (40:31):
it sounds fun.
Devonnie (40:33):
Like a fun little read.
Yeah.
A little, like a little bit ofchaos.
Jordan (40:36):
is what I love about fake dating though.
I feel like you have to have atleast some form of humor You
have to have at least some formof chaos, like you said, you
need the chaos
Christina (40:47):
have some necessity event.
Jordan (40:49):
and you have, and then it all is going to come to a
head when there's too muchtension.
And we haven't really talkedabout the trope as a whole, but
I, that's what I love about fakedating, is like, the denial of
what's happening, or the unsure,like I'm feeling this but they
aren't, I don't want to likemake them uncomfortable, but are
they feeling it?
(41:09):
That's so fun.
Christina (41:11):
The pining.
Devonnie (41:12):
love that.
Yes.
The pining, the yearning.
Jordan (41:15):
Or the oh shit moment when they're like, oh, no, I
have feelings
Devonnie (41:19):
Yeah
Jordan (41:20):
oh
Christina (41:20):
caught some feelings.
Devonnie (41:22):
yeah,
Jordan (41:23):
away it'll go away
Devonnie (41:24):
right, right, let me ignore it.
We're just, this is, this endson September 3rd, 1963.
Jordan (41:29):
Yeah, 63
Devonnie (41:32):
it's just whatever.
They like, pick this arbitraryend and then stick to it.
And so you're, they feel likecompelled to stick to the, and
it's please relax.
That's my favorite part of it,but also the most annoying
because y'all do realize you'rehuman beings, right?
If you're catching feelingsright now, it's okay that this
doesn't end on November 2nd.
Like it's all right that you
Jordan (41:50):
Oh, it's so dramatic.
Because it's you literally madeup this date.
Oh,
Devonnie (41:57):
don't have to follow it.
Jordan (41:58):
gonna happen if you don't?
I mean, oh, I
Devonnie (42:02):
But that's the good part about it okay, my next rec
is also about a bakery which isThanks for that layup.
This is make a scene by MimiGrace and the cover of this book
is like one of my favorites It'sjust so cute.
So adorable Basically, we haveRhetta majors who I mean talk
(42:23):
about a bad day she's having abad life because her ex and her
cousin are getting married andshe has a bakery and everyone in
the family is just basicallyside eyeing her, like waiting
for her to be like, to havefeelings about the ex and the
cousin getting married to lashout or be upset and angry.
And she's kind of just look, wegot to get past this people like
(42:45):
let us, but no one believes thatshe's calm and fine about it.
Her life may be in shambles, butshe wants to move past it.
Yeah, it hurts.
It sucks.
Does she want to see themparading around?
No.
She wants to get past it.
So the only way to do that is tofind someone new.
Enter Duncan Gilmore, wholiterally has a boxing gym down
(43:06):
the street.
Jordan (43:07):
Duncan Gilmore?
And
Devonnie (43:09):
Gilmore,
Jordan (43:10):
he owns a gym?
You guys, we need a wholeepisode on just names because
Wow.
Devonnie (43:18):
Duncan Gilmore, he owns a boxing gym down the
street.
He's, when I thought he was aplayer, he's a player.
He's not with anyone more thanonce.
He's not looking for arelationship.
He doesn't want to be like sweptup in anybody's drama.
But he meets Reda and he's kindof like, all right, fine.
When she propositions him, he'slike, all right, let's I'll do
it.
You'll you can help me and thenI can help you.
(43:40):
Like it's only going to be for aweek.
We'll get you through thewedding.
And you'll also attend an eventfor me and we'll just.
Have it as it is.
The only thing is, which none ofthese fake dating people seem to
realize, is that you end upfalling for each other.
Right?
Like, how inconvenient to fallfor another human being that you
said you would not fall for.
You know, you put yourself inromantic situations, y'all are
(44:03):
holding hands and skipping andlicking frosting off of
cupcakes, and you didn't thinky'all were gonna fall in love?
Hello?
Jordan (44:08):
front of people.
You're
Devonnie (44:11):
You're like, yeah, it's like
Jordan (44:13):
Should we practice this kiss first?
Should we practice?
Should we not?
Devonnie (44:17):
practice.
You know, I love a practice I
Jordan (44:20):
Yeah, I need to get in the
Devonnie (44:22):
Yeah, we're gonna be my family.
We have to make this believable.
So
Jordan (44:25):
Maybe hold my hand for a while first.
Like a whole week! We shouldcuddle every day for 20 minutes
just to be so I stop jumpingevery time you're around.
Those are my sorry.
Devonnie (44:36):
No, I do love, honestly, I'm laughing and I'm
making fun of it, but fakedating, it really is funny.
It's just, it's definitely likea nice palate cleanser.
There are big dating books withlike higher stakes and like lots
going on, but.
There are other fluffy, cuteones that are just so comical
because that has to be anelement in the fake dating.
But yeah, this was just it was,it, the heavier things for me
(44:57):
was the inability for Retta'sfamily to just let her be, let
her have that peace.
Let her exist outside of thegrief of mourning a relationship
that she was trying to get overand now has to see all the time.
And on top of that, she You knowwhat?
I'm not going to spoil the bookbecause there is a scene in this
book at the wedding that makesme want to jump into the book
(45:22):
and tussle.
Okay.
And Reda, she's a better womanthan me.
Let me tell you that she is abetter woman than me.
It's really cute.
I'm pretty sure Lenny Kaufmanalso designs this cover, which
is if you know anything aboutme, I'm a Lenny Kaufman stan.
I love her zon.
I love her so much.
Her illustrations, chef's kiss.
(45:42):
You may collect your favoriteauthor's books.
I'm trying to collect all ofLenny's covers.
You know, that's the vibe.
So yeah, I really love that.
What else?
What else?
Yeah, it was really good.
It was fun.
Again, black characters, whichis also nice.
Love me, a black girl in lovefrom infinity to infinity.
Yeah, real sweet.
Mimi Grace.
And also, it is the first bookin a trilogy.
It's the Love Struck trilogy.
(46:03):
And there are two other booksafter that, which are also so
beautiful.
These covers are like chef'skiss.
Ooh, is that my like?
Most recent chef's kiss.
I feel like I haven't done thatin a while.
Anyway, there,
Christina (46:15):
on a bakery.
Devonnie (46:16):
period.
We love that.
We love that.
Chef's kiss on the bakery.
Yes, exactly that.
So yeah, it was, it's justreally, it's really nice.
I loved it.
I enjoyed it.
It was cute.
It was fuzzy.
Made me want to punch the air,but good fake dating.
Jordan (46:32):
Love it.
I have a couple honorablementions We're like, oh, we
should do fake dating.
That's a good, we haven't done atrope episode for a while.
Oh no, I'm gonna have to readsome.
But looking over my catalog, Ihad to pare it down.
Because I my catalog, yeah, Igotta whip out my
Christina (46:47):
catalog?
Jordan (46:48):
No, it's like a scrapbook.
It's like
Christina (46:50):
a little Rolodex, that's all I could think you'd
go through
Jordan (46:52):
god, yes! I love it.
I will mention Bridesmaid forHire by Megan Quinn.
I have recommended that on aprevious episode, so I won't go
into it, but that's probably oneof the funniest books I've ever
read.
For me I enjoy Megan Quinn.
palette cleansers for me.
She cranks out so many that Ifeel like some are hit or miss
(47:14):
with me.
This one was one of the bestbooks I read last year.
So funny.
If you want to cry laughing,This is it.
And then Her Greatest Mistake byHannah Cowan.
I am going to talk more aboutthis book when we do Friends to
Lovers in a month or two.
Shout out to the winners of ourGalentine's Day event.
(47:37):
Because they chose that themefor our last episode of the
season.
But, Her Greatest Mistake.
They are childhood best friendsthis is another hockey romance.
There was a huge falling out andthey haven't seen each other for
years.
He needs to clean up his imageand be seen with someone and his
publicist is Here use her and hehas to approach her after X
(48:01):
amount of years like they runinto each other And then his
publicist has this idea is likeyou need to date and clean up if
you want to renew your contractand she feels like she owes him
because of this big thing thathappened, you know years ago And
it's just really good and I'lltalk more about it Like I said
on that episode But if you'rereally wanting another one, he
didn't give you enough a fakedating her greatest mistake by
(48:22):
Hannah Cowan
Christina (48:23):
I have one quick shoutout too.
It's a YA shoutout.
It's called the fake datingtrope.
So I thought that was officiallyimportant here.
It's by Jennifer Ann Shor.
This story takes place in a highschool, so it's definitely teen
romantic comedy.
But it's about a bookworm and abaseball player who agreed to a
fake relationship.
And it has a lot of funliterature tropes because she's
(48:44):
a reader and so she's I'mliterally in my books.
She recognizes that and puts itout and like talks about all the
tropes and stuff.
It's super cute, light, easyread so if you're looking for
something without any spice orclosed door or YA that would be
something for you, the fakedating trope.
Jordan (49:00):
I love that
Devonnie (49:01):
have one more which is the book that my quote was about
I saved this one for lastbecause honestly Again this
book, yes, this book resonatedwith me Paul Cabra I loved it.
Okay this is the second book inthe series, like I mentioned,
and it is the Off the Iceseries.
This one is called Spiral, thefirst one was called Collide.
(49:22):
In Spiral, it follows Sage andEli, and Sage is a prima
ballerina.
Okay.
She loves ballet.
She works her butt off.
However, she is kind of incharge of her younger brother.
They have a very tragic andtumultuous upbringing.
Their parents were really intodrugs more than they were into
being parents.
(49:43):
And so she has stepped up and isbasically her brother's guardian
has tried to put him throughschool all while chasing her own
dreams.
And mind you, she's not like 30or something.
She's like mid twenties, likestill trying to figure life out
herself.
So she's growing up as she'sdoing all these things.
She's like whip smart.
She's so funny.
And she's also like fearlesslyherself, even in all the flaws
(50:07):
that are built into hercharacteristics.
She is also the niece of theTeam owner of the Toronto team,
the like famous Toronto hockeyteam, and she goes to a charity
event where she basically teamsup with a hockey player and he
begs her to bid on his friend.
(50:27):
His friend happens to be Eli.
Eli is being chased down like apiece of meat on the charity
block.
Like when I tell you they'reauction, auctioning off dates of
the players, like they do, Iguess.
And Eli is like at the top ofeverybody's list.
They want him and he is tryingto keep a low profile.
He doesn't want all thisattention.
Anyway, Sage agrees to do thebidding.
(50:48):
She spends like 10, 000 on Eli.
None of her money.
She doesn't have it.
She's broke.
Okay, right.
She gets it from the Otherhockey player who is also the
main character of book one.
So it was really nice to seethat connection.
So she bid, she gets a date withEli and they just, you know,
collect the date now in Sage'sstory before they go on this
(51:08):
date, she's having a terribletime landing the part of Odette
and Swan Lake with thisprestigious ballet.
It is very difficult becausewhat she realizes now is this
ballet.
While they want someone who'ssuper talented, who can emote,
who can dance.
They're also looking for someonewith a social media background
who can fill their theater seatsbecause at the same time you
(51:28):
want talent, but you need to getbutts in seats, right?
And she's sages or nobody.
So she's fighting for her lifeto get these parts in this
specific part.
What she doesn't realize is thata snapshot of her and Eli on the
date sends the rumor mill, like.
Spiraling.
They think they're dating.
Now all of a sudden she's ofintrigue.
Right?
Jordan (51:46):
I forgot we were in fake dating, so I was like,
Devonnie (51:48):
it is fixed it.
Right?
Jordan (51:50):
I was like, where is it gonna go?
Devonnie (51:54):
What, right?
What Eli gets from this isbecause he has this is the
strangest thing about this book.
When you meet Eli, he's verysweet, he's kind, he's timid,
he's shy.
He likes to be in control.
And you start to notice thatvery early.
But it's not, oh, it's oh,you're like, oh, that was weird.
But you keep reading.
But he's still very calm, veryshy.
(52:16):
However, the media has paintedhim as this like hooligan with
women.
He like, he's like a player.
He's a bad boy.
The man just minds his business.
He walks into his hotel room andthere's naked ladies in there.
He can't control that people areselling out his room number.
He's not doing anything withthem.
He's kicking them out.
But the paparazzi don't care.
All they can talk about is Eli'sa player.
(52:36):
Da, all, you know, all thesethings.
And Basically he, when Sageproposes that they date,
obviously it's for her benefitfor the ballet, but for him,
she's I can help you clean upyour bad boy image.
Maybe have these women stopchasing you into your hotel
room.
He
Jordan (52:49):
some of them,
Devonnie (52:50):
some of them, right?
Yeah.
He shuts her down.
He shuts her down.
Nope, he like not having it.
He shuts her down.
He's no, that's stupid.
I don't have time for this.
And then after hanging out withSage, he realized, oh, she's
kind of cool.
I'll do it.
But this, I mean, the book isobviously very fake dating.
It's a famous hockey player, aballet dancer, who's not really
(53:11):
dancing because she can't get apart.
She's just like making endsmeet.
She aspiring.
It has a lot of like heavythemes from her grief with her
family.
His background he's adopted andhe loves his.
His adopted parents, but hisfather is like horrific.
His birth father is horrific.
He's a drunk, he extorts Eli inthis book.
And so they're both battlingtheir own things, but when
(53:34):
they're together, they are justmagic.
And the way my favorite part ofthis book, the fake dating is
great.
My favorite part of this book isthe way Eli chooses to love
Sage.
It is just it is so touchingbecause, okay, I'm giving myself
away, but I may know what alittle bit of that feels like
right now in my current momentin life.
(53:56):
And so when I recognize, when Isee the way he handles her, I'm
like, wow, she is living, we'reliving the same life.
Like you don't have to be hard.
You don't have to do it allyourself.
Someone will love you like verydeeply and care about you and
want the best for you, and itwon't be hard, you know?
So yeah this, I've never read acharacter who's just more like
(54:16):
me than Sage.
So I really enjoyed it, and itis funny, and there's banter,
and the Spice, good God.
So yeah, please read it.
I didn't give you the wholebook.
Honestly, there's so much thathappens.
But yeah, please read it.
Jordan (54:35):
That's perfect.
There's so many I think we'regonna need to do a special post
just with all of these.
And then I know we have evenmore, these are just our top,
most notable recs.
Make sure you are following uson Instagram, threads, TikTok,
(54:56):
for even more.
Thanks for listening to usramble about fake dating.
You can find our favorite bookrecs from our favorite episodes,
as well as behind the scenescontent.
Again, that's at romancerexpod.
So make sure to give us a followhere.
Yes, wherever you're listening,make sure you're subscribed,
following, and on our socials,and we'll be back in two weeks
(55:19):
with another episode.
Christina (55:21):
Bye.
Jordan (55:22):
Bye!
Devonnie (55:23):
Bye.
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