Here are the best fake dating trope books, including must-read romance novels filled with slow-burn tension, hilarious setups, and couples who definitely weren’t supposed to fall in love.
Trope: Fake Dating Book Recs (1-20)
Yours Truly
Author: Abby Jimenez
Series: Part of Your World #2
Tropes: Fake Dating, Grumpy x Sunshine, Epistolary Romance, Forced Proximity, Workplace Romance
First and Forever
Author: Lynn Painter
Tropes: Fake Dating, Enemies to Lovers, Romantic Comedy, Forced Proximity
Release Date: May 12, 2026
Cover Story
Author: Mhairi McFarlane
Tropes: Fake Dating, Enemies to Lovers, Workplace Romance, Slow Burn, Character Growth
Contractually Mine
Author: Jennifer Chipman
Series: Best Friends Book Club #2.5
Tropes: Fake Dating, Accidental Pregnancy, Billionaire Romance, Workplace Romance, He Falls First, Found Family, Black Cat x Golden Retriever, Marriage Of Convenience, One Night Stand
Release Date: May 1, 2026
The Hotshot
Author: Piper Rayne
Series: The Dugout #1
Tropes: Fake Dating, Single Guardian, Best Friend’s Older Brother, Sports Romance, Baseball, Found Family
The Launch Date
Author: Annabelle Slator
Tropes: Fake Dating, Workplace Romance, Friends To Enemies To Lovers, Forced Proximity
Hoax And Kisses
Author: Elodie Colliard
Series: When in Pine Falls #1
Tropes: Fake Dating, Small Town, Opposites Attract, Found Family, Rivals To Lovers
To Love Jason Thorn
Author: Ella Maise
Series: Love & Hate #1
Tropes: Fake Dating, Brother’s Best Friend, Friends To Lovers, Marriage of Convenience, Second Chances
Lessons In Faking
Author: Selina Mae
Series: Hall Beck University #1
Tropes: Fake Dating, Enemies To Lovers, College Romance, Brother’s Rival, Forced Proximity, Academic Tutoring, Sibling Tension And Unresolved Grief, Sports Romance, Soccer
Colt
Author: Jessica Peterson
Series: Double U Ranch #1
Tropes: Fake Dating, Friends To Lovers, Lessons In Seduction, Small Town, Cowboys, Mutual Pining
Release Date: August 18, 2026
Merry Little Kissmas
Author: Lauren Blakely
Series: Evergreen Falls #2
Tropes: Fake Dating, Best Friend’s Brother, Holiday Romance, Small Town, Grumpy x Sunshine
Power Play
Author: Chelsea Curto
Series: D.C. Stars #2
Tropes: Fake Dating, Grumpy x Sunshine, Teach Me, Accidental Marriage, Friends To Lovers
What Happens in Amsterdam
Author: Rachel Lynn Solomon
Tropes: Fake Dating, Marriage of Convenience, Forced Proximity, Marriage Pact, Second Chance Romance
The Right Move
Author: Liz Tomforde
Series: Windy City #2
Tropes: Fake Dating, Forced Proximity, Opposites Attract, Best Friend’s Brother, Grumpy x Sunshine, Roommates To Lovers, Only One Bed, Sports Romance, Basketball
Dungeons and Drama
Author: Kristy Boyce
Series: Gaming and Romance #1
Tropes: Fake Dating, Opposites Attract, Enemies To Lovers, Dungeons & Dragons, Musical Theater, Family Dynamics
Practice Makes Perfect
Author: Sarah Adams
Series: When In Rome #2
Tropes: Fake Dating, Friends To Lovers, Forced Proximity, Small Town, Grumpy x Sunshine
Happy Place
Author: Emily Henry
Tropes: Fake Dating, Second Chance Romance, Forced Proximity, Miscommunication, Found Family
Playbook
Author: Rebecca Jenshak
Series: Holland Brothers #2
Tropes: Fake Dating, Grumpy x Sunshine, Sports Romance, Football
Only Between Us
Author: Ellie K. Wilde
Series: Oakwood Bay #2
Tropes: Fake Dating, Sports Romance, Football, Enemies To Lovers, Opposites Attract, Second Chance Romance
Fake Dating My Best Friend
Author: Leah Blair
Tropes: Fake Dating, Friends To Lovers, Childhood Crush, Small Town, Matchmaking Business
Trope: Fake Dating Book Recs (21-40)
The Spanish Love Deception
Author: Elena Armas
Series: Love Deception #1
Tropes: Fake Dating, Enemies To Lovers, Slow Burn, Workplace Romance, Grumpy x Sunshine, One Bed, Opposites Attract
The Dating Dare
Author: Jayci Lee
Series: A Sweet Mess #2
Tropes: Fake Dating, Best Friend’s Brother, Unconventional Romance
While You Were Seething
Author: Charlotte Stein
Tropes: Fake Dating, Romcom, Forced Proximity, Enemies to Lovers
Release Date: April 14, 2026
Fire and Ice
Author: Carly Robyn
Series: Boston Bobcats #2
Tropes: Fake Dating, Enemies to Lovers, Opposites Attract, Forbidden Love, Grumpy x Sunshine, Sports Romance, Hockey
Release Date: April 23, 2026
Never Fall for Your Fiancée
Author: Virginia Heath
Series: The Merriwell Sisters #1
Tropes: Fake Dating, Fake Engagement, Enemies To Lovers, Opposites Attract, Forced Proximity, Slow Burn, Family Dynamics, Misunderstandings, Humorous Situations, Hidden Identity, Secret Romance
A Fine Line
Author: Juliana Smith
Series: Wells Family #5
Tropes: Fake Dating, Enemies to Lovers, Food Truck Rivalry
The Deal
Author: Elle Kennedy
Series: Off-Campus #1
Tropes: Fake Dating, Enemies To Lovers, Healing, Consent And Sexuality, Self-Worth And Identity
The Proposal Project
Author: Donna Marchetti
Tropes: Fake Dating, Forced Proximity, Enemies to Lovers
Love, Theoretically
Author: Ali Hazelwood
Tropes: Fake Dating, Enemies To Lovers, Slow Burn, He Falls First, Grumpy X Sunshine
The Bodyguard
Author: Katherine Center
Tropes: Fake Dating, Celebrity Romance, Healing, He’s Protective
As Long as You Love Me
Author: Marianna Leal
Tropes: Fake Dating, Enemies to Lovers, Forced Proximity
Take A Hint, Dani Brown
Author: Talia Hibbert
Series: The Brown Sisters #2
Tropes: Fake Dating, Enemies to Lovers, Grumpy x Sunshine
Stranger Things Have Happened
Author: Kasie West
Tropes: Fake Dating, Enemies to Lovers, Therapy Sessions
Release Date: April 14, 2026
The Love Wager
Author: Lynn Painter
Series: Mr. Wrong Number #2
Tropes: Fake Dating, Friends To Lovers, Only One Bed, Miscommunication
Outplayed
Author: Mina Myles
Series: Westchester University #1
Tropes: Fake Dating, Hockey Romance, Opposites Attract, Forced Proximity, Black Cat FMC x Cinnamon MMC, Enemies to Lovers, Sports Romance, Hockey
Fall I Want
Author: Lyra Parish
Series: Cozy Creek Collection #1
Tropes: Fake Dating, Billionaire Romance, He Falls First
Fall at Once
Author: Nora Everly
Series: Cozy Creek Collection #3
Tropes: Fake Dating, Single Dad, Firefighter Romance
The Fine Art of Faking It
Author: Lucy Score
Series: Blue Moon #6
Tropes: Fake Dating, Enemies to Lovers, Second Chance Romance, Small Town
Her Greatest Mistake
Author: Hannah Cowan
Series: Greatest Love #1
Tropes: Fake Dating, Second Chances, Sports Romance
Catching Feelings
Author: Emily Charlotte
Series: Varsity #2
Tropes: Fake Dating, Friends To Lovers, Second Chance, Sports Romance, Football
Release Date: September 1, 2026
Trope: Fake Dating Book Recs (41-60)
Lovelight Farms
Author: B.K. Borison
Series: Lovelight #1
Tropes: Fake Dating, Friends To Lovers, Found Family, Small Town, Holiday Romance
The Front Runner
Author: Elsie Silver
Series: Gold Rush Ranch #3
Tropes: Fake Dating, Enemies to Lovers, Slow Burn Romance, Small Town Romance, Redemption Arc
The Cheat Sheet
Author: Sarah Adams
Series: The Cheat Sheet #1
Tropes: Fake Dating, Friends To Lovers, Slow Burn, Sports Romance, Football
A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon
Author: Sarah Hawley
Series: Glimmer Falls #1
Tropes: Fake Dating, Enemies To Lovers, Forced Proximity, Grumpy x Sunshine, Age Gap, Forbidden Love, Found Family, Small Town, Paranormal
Terms And Conditions
Author: Lauren Asher
Series: Dreamland Billionaires #2
Tropes: Fake Dating, Marriage of Convenience, Workplace Romance, Forced Proximity, Age Gap, Billionaire Romance
Love on Deck
Author: Kasey Stockton
Series: Arcadia Creek #1
Tropes: Fake Dating, Enemies to Lovers, Forced Proximity, Small-town Setting, Second Chances
Take A Number
Author: Amy Daws
Series: Wait With Me #4
Tropes: Fake Dating, Reformed Playboy, Friends With Benefits
Hopeless
Author: Elsie Silver
Series: Chestnut Springs #5
Tropes: Fake Dating, Fake Engagement, Grumpy x Sunshine, Small Town, Healing, Slow Burn
Wyatt
Author: Jessica Peterson
Series: Lucky River Ranch #2
Tropes: Fake Dating, Friends To Lovers, Lessons In Seduction
The Kiss Quotient
Author: Helen Hoang
Series: The Kiss Quotient #1
Tropes: Fake Dating, Romcom
The Duke & I
Author: Julia Quinn
Series: Bridgerton #1
Tropes: Fake Dating, Friends To Lovers, Brother’s Best Friend, Grumpy x Sunshine, Period Romance, Historical Romance
Better Than The Movies
Author: Lynn Painter
Series: Better Than The Movies #1
Tropes: Fake Dating, Enemies To Lovers, Friends To Lovers, Slow Burn, Grumpy x Sunshine
False Play
Author: Yinn Quirós
Series: Chicago Strikers #1
Tropes: Fake Dating, Forced Proximity, He Falls First, Sports Romance, Hockey
Rival Darling
Author: Alexandra Moody
Series: The Darling Devils #1
Tropes: Fake Dating, Enemies to Lovers, Bad Boy, Sports Romance, Hockey Romance, Romcom
Well Matched
Author: Jen DeLuca
Series: Well Met #3
Tropes: Fake Dating, Grumpy x Sunshine, Slow Burn, Small Town, RenFaire, Only One Bed, Age Gap
Love Arranged
Author: Lauren Asher
Series: Lakefront Billionaires #3
Tropes: Fake Dating, Second Chance Romance, Enemies To Lovers
Rinkmates
Author: Nova Banks
Series: The Mates Series #1
Tropes: Fake Dating, Enemies to Lovers, Hockey Romance, Grumpy x Sunshine, Sports Romance, Figure Skating, He Falls First, Reformed Playboy
Trying To Score
Author: Kendall Ryan
Series: Hot Jocks #3
Tropes: Fake Dating, Second Chance Romance, Friends To Lovers, Sports Romance, Hockey
Famous Last Words
Author: Shann McPherson
Series: New York Thunder #1
Tropes: Fake Dating, Enemies to Lovers, Bad Boy, He’s a Cinnamon Roll, Black Cat FMC, He Falls First, Hockey, Sports Romance
Funny Feelings
Author: Tarah DeWitt
Tropes: Fake Dating, Romcom, Meet Cute, He Falls First, Age Gap
Trope: Fake Dating Book Recs (61-80)
Faking with Benefits
Author: Lily Gold
Series: Faking with Benefits #1
Tropes: Fake Dating, Multiple Love Interests, Friends To Lovers, Age Gap, Unresolved Past, Love Triangle, Forbidden Romance, Teacher-Student Relationship
Snowed In
Author: Catherine Walsh
Series: Fitzpatrick Christmas #2
Tropes: Fake Dating, Forced Proximity, Second Chance Romance, Holiday Romance, Snowed In
Lassoed Love
Author: Ann Einerson
Series: Silver Saddle Ranch #2
Tropes: Fake Dating, Small Town, Cowboy Romance, Friends To Lovers, Spicy Lessons
In The Net
Author: Lyssa Lemire
Series: Sin Bin Stories #5
Tropes: Fake Dating, Rivals To Lovers, Only One Bed, Sports Romance, Hockey
Fake Skating
Author: Lynn Painter
Tropes: Fake Dating, Friends To Lovers, Sports Romance, Hocket, Family Dynamics, Small Town
The Dare
Author: Elle Kennedy
Series: Briar U #4
Tropes: Fake Dating, Sports Romance, Hockey, College Romance, Body Positivity, Opposites Attract
Hate to Fake It to You
Author: Amanda Sellet
Tropes: Fake Dating, Enemies To Lovers, Found Family, Slow Burn, Forced Proximity, Secret Identity, Opposites Attract
Even Exchange
Author: Hailey Dickert
Tropes: Fake Dating, Sports Romance, Family Secrets, Friends To Lovers, Accidental Pregnancy, Forced Proximity, Spicy Lessons
Funny Story
Author: Emily Henry
Tropes: Fake Dating, Opposites Attract, Roommates To Lovers, Romcom
Circling Back to You
Author: Julie Tieu
Tropes: Fake Dating, Friends To Lovers, Workplace Romance, Forced Proximity, Grumpy x Sunshine, Family Dynamics
The Love Hypothesis
Author: Ali Hazelwood
Tropes: Fake Dating, Grumpy x Sunshine, Workplace Romance
Good Boy
Author: Elle Kennedy & Sarina Bowen
Series: WAGs #1
Tropes: Fake Dating, Enemies to Lovers, Friends With Benefits, Family Dynamics, Second Chance Romance, Opposites Attract, Sports Romance, Hockey
My Favorite Holidate
Author: Lauren Blakely
Series: Evergreen Falls #1
Tropes: Fake Dating, Billionaire Romance, Single Parent, Workplace Romance, Holiday Romance, CEO Romance
Pitcher Perfect
Author: Tessa Bailey
Series: Big Shots #4
Tropes: Fake Dating, Enemies To Lovers, Sports Romance, Baseball, He Falls First, Opposites Attract, Reformed Playboy
This May End Badly
Author: Samantha Markum
Tropes: Fake Dating, Enemies To Lovers, Prank War, Friendship Dynamics, Rival Boarding Schools, Coming Of Age Story
Falling
Author: Janisha Boswell
Series: North University #1
Tropes: Fake Dating, Grumpy x Sunshine, Found Family, He Falls First, Friends To Lovers, Only One Bed, Sports Romance, Hockey
Evening the Score
Author: Lexi LaFleur Brown
Tropes: Fake Dating, Enemies to Lovers, Secret Identity, He Falls First, Sports Romance, Hockey
Release Date: May 26, 2026
Christmas Fling
Author: Lindsey Kelk
Tropes: Fake Dating, Forced Proximity, Enemies to Lovers
I’ll Pretend You’re Mine
Author: Tashie Bhuiyan
Tropes: Fake Dating, Celebrity Romance
Codename Charming
Author: Lucy Parker
Series: Palace Insiders #2
Tropes: Fake Dating, Self-Discovery, Celebrity Romance, Workplace Romance
Trope: Fake Dating Book Recs (81-100)
Lovestruck
Author: Celeste Briars
Series: Minnesota Mustangs #2
Tropes: Fake Dating, Tutor x Hockey Player, Found Family, Sports Romance
Breaking Point
Author: Mads Rafferty
Series: IceHawks #1
Tropes: Fake Dating, Healing, Love as Redemption, Strength and Resilience, Forgiveness
That Kind of Guy
Author: Stephanie Archer
Series: Queen’s Cove #1
Tropes: Fake Dating, Enemies to Lovers, Marriage Of Convenience, Small Town
The Romance Rivalry
Author: Susan Lee
Tropes: Fake Dating, College Romance, Bookish Protagonist, Humorous Banter, Romcom, Rivals To Lovers
Play Along
Author: Liz Tomforde
Series: Windy City #4
Tropes: Fake Dating, Forced Proximity, Workplace Romance, He Falls First, Accidental Marriage, Only One Bed, Sports Romance, Baseball
The Fake Out
Author: Stephanie Archer
Series: Vancouver Storm #2
Tropes: Fake Dating, Ex Boyfriend’s Rival, Sports Romance, Golden Retriever Hero, Forced Proximity, Hockey
It’s All in Your Head
Author: Sabina Nordqvist
Tropes: Fake Dating, Fake Relationship, Grumpy/sunshine, Athlete Hero, Chronic Illness Representation
Offside Play
Author: Lyssa Lemire
Series: Sin Bin Stories #1
Tropes: Fake Dating, He Falls First, Grumpy x Sunshine, Sports Romance, Hockey
Fix Her Up
Author: Tessa Bailey
Series: Hot and Hammered #1
Tropes: Fake Dating, Second Chance Romance, Self-Discovery, Female Empowerment, Best Friend’s Sister
Spiral
Author: Bal Khabra
Series: Off The Ice #2
Tropes: Fake Dating, Sports Romance, Hockey, Ballet. Opposites Attract, Forced Proximity
The Fake Mate
Author: Lana Ferguson
Tropes: Fake Dating, Grumpy x Sunshine, Age Gap, He Falls First, Soulmates, Friends With Benefits, Forced Proximity, Workplace Romance, Omegaverse, Werewolves
We Are Never Getting Together
Author: Janette Rallison
Tropes: Fake Dating, Enemies to Lovers, Reverse Parent Trap
Release Date: April 7, 2026
Bleacher Report
Author: Kenna King
Series: The Rookie Hawkeyes #2
Tropes: Fake Dating, Fake Relationship, Strangers to Lovers, Forced Proximity, Sports Romance, Hockey
Alive At Night
Author: Amelie Rhys
Series: Wildflower #1
Tropes: Fake Dating, Enemies to Lovers, Workplace Romance, Best Friend’s Brother
The Dixon Rule
Author: Elle Kennedy
Series: Campus Diaries #2
Tropes: Fake Dating, Enemies to Lovers, Grumpy x Sunshine, Sports Romance
Untruly With You
Author: Florence Fields
Series: Wonderings #2
Tropes: Fake Dating, Enemies to Lovers, Small Town, Family Drama, Personal Growth
Kiss Her Once for Me
Author: Alison Cochrun
Tropes: Fake Dating, Holiday Romance, Second Chance Romance, Family Dynamics, Meet Cute
Call The Shots
Author: Bree Hayden
Series: For The Arena #1
Tropes: Fake Dating, Enemies to Lovers, Forced Proximity, Grumpy x Sunshine, Sports Romance, Hockey
Maid for Each Other
Author: Lynn Painter
Tropes: Fake Dating, Class Disparities, Opposites Attract, Forced Proximity
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before
Author: Jenny Han
Series: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before #1
Tropes: Fake Dating, Coming of Age, Family Dynamics
Trope: Fake Dating Book Recs (101-120)
Betting on You
Author: Lynn Painter
Tropes: Fake Dating, Enemies To Lovers, Forced Proximity, Opposites Attract
The Break-Up Pact
Author: Emma Lord
Tropes: Fake Dating, Friends To Lovers, Second Chances, Miscommunication, Childhood Friends
Picking Daisies on Sundays
Author: Liana Cincotti
Tropes: Fake Dating, Friends To Lovers, Second Chance Romance, Unspoken Feelings, Personal Growth
Surprisingly Us
Author: Erin Hawkins
Series: Unexpectedly in Love #4
Tropes: Fake Dating, Slow Burn Romance, Friends To Lovers, Childhood Friends, Ballet
Once Upon A Fake Date
Author: Jennifer Chipman
Series: Castleton University #2
Tropes: Fake Dating, Friends To Lovers, College Romance, Theater Kids, Sorority Girl, Sports Romance, Lacrosse Boy, Sleeping Beauty Inspired, Childhood Friends
The Wedding Crasher
Author: Mia Sosa
Tropes: Fake Dating, Opposites Attract, Forced Proximity, Family Dynamics, Only One Bed
If You Give A Grump A Holiday Wishlist
Author: Ann Einerson
Series: Aspen Grove #0.5
Tropes: Fake Dating, Grumpy x Sunshine, Small Town, Holiday Romance, Only One Bed
The Holidate Switch
Author: Torie Jean
Tropes: Fake Dating, Enemies to Lovers, Soulmates, Chronic Illness Representation, Only One Bed
The Ex Talk
Author: Rachel Lynn Solomon
Tropes: Fake Dating, Workplace Romance
Perfect Deke
Author: Ruth Stilling
Series: The Blade Kings #1
Tropes: Fake Dating, Forced Proximity, He Falls First & Hard, Sports Romance
Get A Room
Author: Casey Dembowski
Series: Soundtracks of Love #3
Tropes: Fake Dating, Enemies to Lovers, Best Friend’s Brother, Forced Proximity, Forbidden Romance
One For The Road
Author: Elliot Fletcher
Series: The Macabe Brothers #3
Tropes: Fake Dating, Opposites Attract, Forced Proximity, Single Mom, Grumpy x Sunshine
Release Date: June 4, 2026
Make The Play
Author: Hailey Rodger
Series: Colorado Storm #2
Tropes: Fake Dating, Frenemies To Lovers, Hockey Romance, One Night Stand, Age Gap, Golden Retriever x Black Cat, Sports Romance, Hockey
Love and Other Brain Experiments
Author: Hannah Brohm
Tropes: Fake Dating, Forced Proximity, Slow Burn, Competent Heroine, Nerdy Hero, Workplace Romance, Independent Heroine, Rivals To Lovers
Better Not Pout
Author: Maren Moore
Series: Mistletoe Falls #1
Tropes: Fake Dating, Holiday Romance, Small Town, Grumpy x Sunshine
The Daisy Chain Flower Shop
Author: Laurie Gilmore
Series: Dream Harbor #6
Tropes: Fake Dating, Found Family, Small Town, He Falls First
Release Date: May 19, 2026
The Game Changer
Author: Lana Ferguson
Tropes: Fake Dating, Brother’s Best Friend, Childhood Crush, Sports Romance, Hockey
The Wedding Scoop Of The Year
Author: J.S. Cooper
Series: Whisper Cove Billionaires #1
Tropes: Fake Dating, Billionaire Romance
The Faking Game
Author: Olivia Hayle
Series: The Billionaire Games #1
Tropes: Fake Dating, Brother’s Best Friend, Forced Proximity, Slow Burn, Emotional Growth
The Great Dating Fake Off
Author: Livy Hart
Series: Planes, Trains, and All the Feels #2
Tropes: Fake Dating, Forced Proximity, Enemies To Lovers
Looking for more upcoming reads? Don’t miss my monthly book release guides and TBR lists!
