| Title | : | Fake Out (Fake Boyfriend, #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 318 |
| Publication | : | First published March 15, 2018 |
The reason I rarely go home is three simple words: I’m a liar.
When the pressure to marry my childhood sweetheart became too much, I told her I was gay and then fled to New York like my ass was on fire.
Now, five years later and after a drunken encounter, I find myself invited to her wedding. And I have to bring my boyfriend—the boyfriend who doesn’t exist because I’m straight.
At least, I think I am. Meeting the guy I’m bribing to be my boyfriend for the weekend makes me question everything about myself.
DAMON
When my sister asks me to pretend to be some straight guy’s boyfriend, my automatic response is to say no. It’s because of guys like him people don’t believe me when I tell them I’m gay.
But Maddox has something I need.
After an injury that cost me my baseball career, I’m trying to leave my playing days behind and focus on being the best sports agent I can be. Forty-eight hours with my sister’s best friend in exchange for a meeting with a possible client. I can do this.
I just wish he wasn’t so hot. Or that he didn’t kiss like he means it.
Wait … why is the straight guy kissing me?
*Fake Out is a full-length MM novel with no cliffhanger.*
Fake Out (Fake Boyfriend, #1) Reviews
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I have nothing but LOVE, LOVE, LOVE for this story.
On the surface, it was just your run of the mill "dude learns he's into guys and finds love" tale; however, the way that it was told turned out to be utterly entertaining and completely charming.
Maddox was the consummate hetero man-whore and commitment-phobe. With a heart of gold, of course.
And Damon was the ex-star athlete, whose career ended abruptly due to an injury, and he was angry at the world because he'd never be on the field again.
I absolutely loved the cat and mouse play between Maddy and Damon. Once Maddy realized what he wanted, the chase was on. But Damon tried his hardest to not be "an experiment" for a (another) possibly-bi guy with a very high likelihood of running scared.
Maddy's attitude as the story progressed was nothing less than dramatic, yet always believable. The only part in the story that I found to be forced was the final "misunderstanding" chapter section, which was thankfully resolved quickly.
Then you have Stacy, Maddy's best friend and Damon's sister. She was a goddamn trip, no lie. Many times in romance, the female best friend character tends to either make me cringe or roll my eyes, but not in this story. The book wouldn't have been the same without her.“That’s all you have to say? Huh?”
“What, you want me to throw you a pride parade for figuring out you like dudes? I don’t give a shit who you fuck, so long as it’s not me.”
There was also a bit of drama from Damon's homophobic ex-best friend, Eric (*cough-closet-case-cough*). He was an asshat of epic proportions and, while I didn't condone his behavior, I did BEGRUDGINGLY empathize with him. Even though I didn't want to. At all!
The story was moderately angsty, but nothing too gut-wrenching, as we saw the guys find their footing and finally realize they made one another happier than they'd ever been before.I always used to think relationships meant compromising what you want for something somebody else wants, but I never realized that when you meet that one person who becomes your priority it’s not compromising because you’d willingly do anything to make them happy. Just like I know Damon would do the same for me.
*Swoon*
As for you durty girls and boys out there, YES, the book was extremely steamy. Like fog up your glasses territory here, folks. I didn't skim a single word of those sexy scenes.Apparently, I’m a greedy bottom. Interesting.
There wasn't much I'd have changed about this fun and flirty story, so if you're a fan of snark and banter, I'd definitely recommend it.
I'm giving this adorable, bi-for-you story 4.75 *sweet-and-steamy* stars and I'm *DYING* to read more of this series. : )
Trigger Warning: There were a few humorous moments in the book that weren't particularly PC; however, I was able to just take them for the *JOKES* that they actually were. But I'm not that easily-offended, so just a warning.
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This is a new to me author, and the blurb had me very curious.
This story was pretty much the world upside down for me.....
When Maddox felt like he couldn't break up with his high school girlfriend, he told her he was gay, just so he could escape her....and she wouldn't be too broken hearted.
Things pretty much blow up in his face though, when his ex informs the whole town of his gayness, before he even gets home. This includes his parents, who are really supportive of him being gay.
Now this would be a good time for Maddox to fess up...but he doesn't. He figures there will be plenty of time in the future, to set things straight (see what I did here) and he doesn't want to disappoint his parents by admitting, that he lied.
Fast forward 5 years, when Maddox suddenly bumps into his ex girlfriend at her bachelor party. Stupid man that he is, he tells her he has a boyfriend....so she invites the both of them to the wedding :P
And just like the first time around.....she makes sure everyone knows about him and his boyfriend....including his parents.
There is only one thing to do now..... confess to his parents !! NOOO....OF COURSE NOT !!
He goes out and finds himself a fake boyfriend. He knows his best friend's brother is gay and he makes a deal with the man....
Damon is not a big fan of straight men lying about being gay, but hey....at least he is getting something out of this sharade...
But what happens, when what was fake turns real....
Both men can't deny their attraction towards each other...but....Damon is pretty worried about being a straight man's experiment... Will Maddox be able to convince him, that his feelings are real...
I really enjoyed reading this story, even though I was a bit apprehensive at first. But just like Damon, I found out that there really were no cruel intentions in Maddox' lies. Was he an idiot ?? Well yes he was, but he wasn't an evil one :P
I will definitely keep an eye out for more books by this author.
My reviews are posted on
DirtyBooksObsession
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You guys, I was grinning like a fool and laughing out loud the entire time I was listening to this audiobook. I loved it SO MUCH. Maddox told his old girlfriend he was gay in order to break up with her before leaving for college, so his entire hometown and family think he's gay, even though he's not. Is this problematic? Of course. But every single character in the book tells Maddox how horrible that is and never condones that action. Maddox ends up bringing his best friends brother home to his ex's wedding as his fake boyfriend. I love a good fake dating trope and this did it SO WELL. They had to act all cuddly and in love (and share a bed!) and it was so cute watching Maddox falling for Damon when he didn't expect to at all. Seriously, I was obsessed with those two.
I really loved Maddox's journey towards understanding his sexuality and not being completely sure or comfortable with the labels he was discovering. He talked to his friends and Damon and just tried to understand things he had done in his past and what his sexual identity was. Also, I LOVED Damon's character. He has his own past of being an openly gay baseball player who was destined to go pro, but he injured himself and his career was over before it began. I really loved how Maddox was there to help him go through his emotions that were still there over failing and not having baseball anymore. Also, I cannot WAIT for Matt and Noah's story that's next! Another fake dating story! I loved every character in this book and it really reminded me of the Morgan Brothers series by Lauren Rowe. We have a cast of characters that are super close and who also have families that show up and shake things up. I couldn't recommend this book enough! -
This was..... not my fav. The characters were super bland and I’ve seen this plot a thousand times before. It wasn’t terrible but thank u, next
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5 Stars!
I am a huge fan of the fake relationship trope. Like, major. I will read just about every book I come by with if it has the fake relationship trope going on. So of course I picked this one up as soon as I saw it on my feed and I loved it.
Maddox is single and known for being a man-whore. He has commitment issues that run so deep that he literally ran from home leaving behind an ex and his small home town believing he was gay. Yes, you read that right. He didn't have the nerve to break up with his then girlfriend and thought the best way to see his way out was to lie and tell her he was gay which of course had her outing him to the whole town. To him the problem was solved. That is until he runs into that ex at a bar and she extends an invitation to him and his "boyfriend" to attend her wedding. Just like before she lets everyone in his hometown know he and his boyfriend will be in attendance. She's a peach ain't she? In doing so it reaches his parents who are not too happy that they once again had to find out important information about their son from a second party. He's in a panic cause he knows he will have to show. His mother won't let him escape attending since it'll give his parents a chance to see him. He isn't big on going home for visits so it's been awhile. He's always felt like he didn't belong in that small town or his family. Not that he isn't loved, he just notices the differences in looks, and for good reason. Gotta read it to figure that one out cause there will be no spoiling from me dolls!
He spills his troubles to his best friend who just so happens to have a gay brother who is willing to fit the role of fake boyfriend for the weekend. But then sparks fly and Maddox is thinking he might not be so straight.
Damon had dreams of becoming a professional baseball player but those dreams died when he threw out his pitching arm. But he had a back-up plan. He is studying trying to finish his law degree and will be working as a sports agent. He is too busy for a relationship and barely has time for friends or his sister outside of his studies. But with this fake boyfriend business comes the opportunity of meeting a possible client in the hockey world. But after meeting Maddox and sharing a kiss while dancing at his ex's wedding he's thinking he might just fit time in for this man. That is if he was gay and if Damon wasn't still feeling the burn of rejection from his use to be best friend. He doesn't want to be someone's experiment and he's afraid that is all Maddox is looking for.
This was a really fun read with very little angst. I really loved these two together and enjoyed their banter. The sister/best friend was pretty entertaining as well.
I can't wait for the next one!
Happy reading dolls! xx -
![Carol [Goodreads Addict]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1626057011i/10717098._UX200_CR0,33,200,200_.jpg)
Fake Out is book one in the Fake Boyfriend series by Eden Finley. This is my very first book by Eden.
Maddox (Maddy) O’Shay is twenty-three years old. For just over a year, since he graduated from college, he has been working for an advertising firm along with his best fried Stacy. Maddy is a bit of a player, never staying with a girl more than one night. The only relationship he stayed in was back in high school. She was the girl everyone expected him to marry, the girl that had him running for his life to escape from. And also the girl he lied to and told her he was into men so he wouldn’t hurt her. Now Maddy’s ex is getting married and wants him to come to her wedding, with his boyfriend.
Damon King is Stacy’s brother, and is openly gay. He’s just a couple of months away from finishing grad school. Stacy talks him into posing as Maddy’s fake boyfriend for the weekend of the wedding. It’s not exactly his dream weekend, posing as the boyfriend to a straight guy. And after meeting Maddy, Damon knows he’s in trouble. Because he’s attracted to him. And that’s the last thing he needs.
Maddy has always felt unsettled, like he just didn’t quite belong anywhere. But for some reason, with Damon, he feels right. He can’t understand it. It’s freaking him out a little bit. But it’s also something he wants to explore.
“I don’t know what it is about this guy that draws me to him, but all I know is I want to be near him. Even if it’s just as friends.”
And so Maddy and Damon’s journey begins. It’s a bit of a rocky start, but they somehow navigate through the bumps and find their way through. They have to fight not only their own insecurities, but the ghosts of their pasts, as well as the opinions of their families and friends.
This was a steamy, sweet story that I enjoyed. This is a trope I dearly love but for some reason, though, I didn’t really connect the way I wanted with these two. There were no butterflies, there was no swooning. But it was still enjoyable following them along on their journey of both self discovery and how to be a couple.
For more about this book and so many more, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
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This was a nice surprise.
3 stars for the Audiobook
4 stars for the story.
The Audio-book was just ok. I enjoy Alexander Cendese and Iggy Tom narration, but here it was somehow a miss. There was no distinction between the Mc's voices, i was left confused at times trying to figure out who was who.
On the plus side, This was cute, light and enjoyable.
The Chemistry between the Mc's was evident and hot!
The banter had me like:
It was a little on the soap side but i still liked that there was no unnecessary drama, Maddox and Damon talked to each other.
The side characters were interesting, especially Stacy the best friend/sister, as for Stacy she could be a bit much for some readers but i liked her.
Overall it was enjoyable. -
sorry, i’m not a fan of people over their 20s who project their insecure, disingenuous, and immature attitude towards others because they didn’t get what they wanted in their past life so they think making assumptions and being an asshole is the right thing to do.
next -
3.5 Stars
My huge problem was with the narration, the lack of distinction between MCs’ voices! And it made me confused at some part! But the story itself was good and I had a good laugh with it! I liked both characters but that Stacy girl, she was on my nerve! She was a great sister and best friend but still, I couldn’t tolerate her! Told in dual POV, 1st person. It’s the first installment in the "Fake Boyfriend" series and it can be read as a standalone. Looking forward to reading (not listening) book two! Overall, I liked the narrators' performance (most of the time) and hope you enjoy it as well! -
4 stars
I have had this audio book for the longest time in my library, and when a friend recommended it I bumped it up on my tbr. I’m glad I did. Eden Finely is a new to me author and I can’t wait to continue with this series. The fake dating troupe is one I always love and this was done so well.
Maddox needs a fake boyfriend to go to his ex-girlfriends wedding. I know, it sounds complicated and it kind of is. Maddox is perpetually single and a bit of a man-whore. He told a little white lie to an ex about being gay to break up with her and now his whole town thinks he’s gay. He doesn’t care about that, but he’s stuck going to the wedding and needs to take his ‘boyfriend’. He manages to get his best friend Stacy’s brother to go with him.
Damon and Maddox get along well. They have fantastic banter and it’s believable that they’re in a relationship. I loved them both together. They were a lot of fun.
“Damon Isaac King … wait, your initials are—”
I grit my teeth. “I know. You don’t think Stacy has made that joke to our parents ever since I came out? ‘No wonder he likes dick when his initials are DIK.”
Damon makes Maddox feel things he’s not used to feeling. Aside from some college experimentations, Maddox has never been into guys but he’s really into Damon. Maddox has to come to terms with his sexuality while Damon has to come to terms with Maddox maybe being the real deal.
The relationship between Damon and Maddox was great. I loved the build up as well as seeing them go from fake dating to a relationship and how they navigated that. This book was a lot of fun to listen to and had the perfect amount of steam!
“I finally get it. I don’t give a shit about labels, because I don’t need to. All I need to care about is making this guy mine.”
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"I found it- where I'm supposed to be. It's with you."
yep, maddox found where he's supposed to be and what he's supposed to be. surprise surprise:
ok technically that gif isn't 100% true but i'm not going to spoil the story for you. what i will say, is that this book was fcking awesome. i thought the whole fake boyfriend/fake fiance/fake relationship trope was pretty played out but i guess i just thought that because all the one's i've read have been straight. and boring.
this wasn't straight and it sure as hell wasn't boring. as the blurb says, maddox has been pretending to be gay and needs a bf to attend his ex-gf's wedding. damon is the fake bf. but this story was more than just a straight guy figuring out he isn't so straight. it's about self acceptance, fighting bigotry, and family. about finding your place and what you want out of life.
but in a totally fun & totally un-serious way. i adored it. no excess drama, no wild declarations of unrequited love. this book was so sweet & so wholesome. everybody needs to go read this, stat.
buddy read with my partner in all things gay:
hayley -
I read this during our Texas Snowpocalypse so I can't remember enough to be detailed in this review. However, it was sweet, funny, and definitely a great "fake boyfriends" book.
Hey weather:
So freaking rude! -
Maddox and Damon were amazing together. While this has a trope used many times (fake relationship), this one felt different to me. The person doing the pushing away was not who I expected. I was also happy that it didn’t last too long because it was impossible for them to stay away. I could feel their chemistry coming off the pages. They were 🔥
This has a great cast of secondary characters that added nicely to the story. I’m truly looking forward to Noah and Matt’s story. -
4 Stars
Fake Out is my first ever Eden Finley read and I’m happy to report that I ate this story up with enthusiasm and delight.
As far as fake-relationship tropes go, this one was executed at a perfect slow-burn pace and in an authentic manner, which made embracing in MC Maddox’s bi-awakening all the more plausible, after he meets and inevitably falls for best-friend Stacy’s older, gay brother Damon.
I liked the overall story a lot, but I wasn’t personally a fan of the initial fake-relationship set up—with Maddox needing a fake-boyfriend to take home to his small-town for his ex-girlfriends wedding, because once-upon-a-time he’d falsely used the “I’m gay” line to break up with her, leading her and the entire town, including his family, to believe he was a gay man, when in fact, he identified as straight. It was deceitful on one hand and kind of offensive to the queer community on another, at least that was my personal reaction to it.
Thankfully, Maddox redeemed himself fairly quickly, not only in his personal wish to never hurt others intentionally, but also in the open-minded and eager way he did finally admit to and embrace his first (or second) true sexual attraction to another man.
I also appreciated that Damon was a well-rounded character of his own right and not simply a tool of male sexiness to help Maddox along with his bisexual discovery. Damon was a good man, with a kind heart and a lot of hurt over his lost sports career and his complicated relationship with his old best friend. I liked that he was tentative in moving forward with anything sexual and/or romantic with Maddox, at least initially, not because he didn’t feel a spark between them, but because he was aware of the weight of his own hang-ups and also of the personal needs of Maddox going forward in his newly discovered sexual identity.
I liked these two as a couple, quite a lot actually, and I did fly through their story at a fast clip. But the main reason I’ve decided to go with a 4-star rating, instead of something a little higher, as I was first considering, is because there were a few negative/derisive moments in the story, where the characters jokingly judged other people or places (like vegans and paramedics, or Canada, for instance) that really left a bad taste in my mouth. It felt judgy and cruel, instead of funny, as I'm sure was the intention. And I can’t even mention best-friend/sister Stacy and her stupid-ass, embarrassingly immature pranks without wanting to hit something.
So, yeah, there were a couple of things I wished had played out differently here, but this largely remained a fun, sexy and well-written best-friends-brother, fake-relationship themed M/M romance, and I’ll definitely be back for more. -
I enjoyed the first half, light silly premise but likeable characters who get called on their nonsense. It did drag a bit with the talk of labels but a positive spin of accepting self, no denial and no evil-female-ex. Wish I'd stopped reading in the middle though.
For me it went downhill at about the halfway point. Sudden drama. Unnecessary and unexplored. Oddly I'd have preferred some agnst to it sinking immediately into the background. Crazy aunt appeared later as a device for something else, but was off-page which in the circumstances gave me a really off-kilter vibe. I kept expecting something more from that but it never materialises.
Then there's BFF/sister Stacy. At first she seemed fun, by the end I hated her. Seriously girl needs to grow the hell up! She was immature, annoying and ever present. When shite goes down Maddock should be standing by his boyfriend, not having to walk Stacy out and talk her down - she who caused the drama. She looses the story a star.
Noticed by the end I was having to stop and work out which character's pov I was reading Damon or Maddox. Their voices became interchangeable and the story had lost it's appeal.
Not a series I'll be continuing, there were things I liked, Noah who will likely be in book two was one of those, the fact the boys do talk between blow-jobs. But for me the second half of this book didn't work, a large part will depend on your mileage with Stacy who is highly likely going to return. Maybe you'll find her funny. -
*4,5 stars*
This was an unexpected delight.
Unexpected because this is a new author to me and I decided on the spur of the moment to go for it! (Thanks Christelle, for drawing my attention to this!)
I really liked it for ...
- the snarky humour
- MCs I could relate to and who acted (mostly, XD) responsibly with each other despite some confusion and issues
- the well written banter
- the way Maddox comes to terms with his sexuality
- the slow burn between Maddy and Damon
- how we are all the way with them, witnessing all their ups and downs and how their relationship evolves slowly from a caterpillar to a beautiful, knock-out butterfly stage.
- all the conversations between Maddox and Damon (these guys actually talk about their problems!)
- all the feels and all the firsts for Maddox (so well done)
However, Stacy's antics did raise my eyebrows a bit. I felt that she takes her sense of humour a bit too far, particularly at the end of the book (you know what I mean when you get there ....)
All in all - a total winner in the humorous section whilst telling a sweet and touching romance.
Really looking forward to book 2 about Matt and Noah!
No doubt we will hear from Eric again at one point, too? -
Audio - 3 good enough stars
Story - 4 stars
This was so much fun! I totally understand the Fake Boyfriend series craze now. The story was funny without being silly. That's the kind of romantic comedy I can enjoy! On to the next... -
⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Not for me, I guess*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱
Maddox ‘Maddy’ Colin O’Shay (23) and the pretend boyfriend he bribed, Damon ‘Dik’ Isaac King (how old?). Damon want to say no, as he has history with straight men, but Maddox has something he needs; soon to be a sports agent and Maddox can give him a meeting with a high-profile hockey player. Maddox lied to his girlfriend in order to breakup with her and said he was gay. 5 years he managed to avoid her, and then her mets her at her bachelorette party. She and everyone else in the hometown believes Maddox is indeed gay and invites him and his boyfriend to her wedding. A boyfriend he doesn't have. So Damon becomes is fake boyfriend. Overall, it was nothing special about this book. I didn't feel much towards any of the characters, nor the story. It was just a book to read and that's all. Nothing special to write home about, unfortunately.Why explore the rest of the world when the person who makes it go ’round is the man standing in front of me?
That’d be totally romantic to say aloud if Damon wasn’t holding a silicone dildo ready to shove in my ass right about now.
Other characters:
↦ Chastity Wells, one and only ex-girlfriend of Maddox.
↦ Stacy ‘Stace’ King (23), Maddox's friend and Damon's sister.
↦ Alana O’Shay, Maddox's mom, and Colin O’Shay, Maddox's dad.
↦ Will and Jared, Maddox's best friends from high school.
↦ Matt Jackson, friend of Maddox and a famous athlete (NFL Star).
↦ Rebecca going to be a litigator, Skylar, pediatric nurse , Wyatt, a data manager for a start-up, Noah, a trust-fund baby, and Aron; Damon's friends.I finally get it. I don’t give a shit about labels, because I don’t need to. All I need to care about is making this guy mine.
Quick basic facts:
Genre: - (New Adult? Adult?) Contemporary Romance (M/M).
Series: - Series (Standalone?), Book One.
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Favorite character? - Damon ‘Dik’ Isaac King, I think.
Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Unsure.
Would I recommend this book/series? - Unsure.
Will I read this again in the future? - Probably not.
Rating - 2.5/3 stars. -
4.5 stars!
“Damon Isaac King … wait, your initials are—”
I grit my teeth. “I know. You don’t think Stacy has made that joke to our parents ever since I came out? ‘No wonder he likes dick when his initials are DIK.”
I don't want to jinx it, but I've been on a reading winning streak lately and this was just the most recent book I read that was awesome! All my trusted MM reviewer goodreads friends loved this, so I shouldn't be surprised, but I am a wildcard and don't always love what everyone else does.
A great play on the fake boyfriend trope, this one comes with a little bit of a twist. When Maddox was in high school, he broke up with his girlfriend by telling her he was gay (when he really wasn't). In return, she "outed" him to the whole town, including his parents. Not wanting to seem like an asshole, he went along with the charade and moved to NYC. Now years later, he reconnects with his ex, only to have him and his "boyfriend" invited to her wedding. Thus begins a fake boyfriend drama llama.
I love a good MM read, I haven't read one for a while and this is a genre I need to dive into more often. Loved the banter between Maddox and Damon and their friends. This was on steamy book so if you are looking for something smutty look no further. It also had sweet moments but it wasn't sugary so I was very happy about that. I would love to read this author again!
“I finally get it. I don’t give a shit about labels, because I don’t need to. All I need to care about is making this guy mine.”
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I really enjoyed this! Loved all the characters and am excited for Noah and Matt’s story.
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4.5 Stars!
Banter for the win.
No idea why I waited so long to read this series.
Loved this one and can't wait to read the others in the series. -
Re-read October 2018
I wasn't sure if I could get used to two narrators instead of one, but I have to say that these two voices worked quite well together. I'm totally doing the sequel on audio as well.
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This book was fun. I really loved how light-hearted Maddox was. The storyline held so much potential for all kinds of angst, but it never went there. Yes, there was a big misunderstanding in the middle, but it was solved almost immediately, so that didn’t really bother me. And there was some unexpected angst near the end, but even that was doable for me.
Maddox is kind of a manwhore. He is not looking for commitment and slept his way through college. The only real friend he has is the one woman who refuses to sleep with him. Stacy is his best friend and helps him out when he needs a date to his ex-girlfriend’s wedding. She helps him out by introducing her gay brother Damon.
Maddox told his high school sweetheart that he was gay so he could break up with her. Maddox is not big on confrontations, so better she thinks he’s gay than tell her he doesn’t want to marry her. Of course Maddox never thought the whole town would know only hours later. And that’s why his entire hometown thinks he’s gay.
And that’s why he needs a date to his ex-girlfriend’s wedding. A male date.
Damon agrees to do this because Maddox promised to introduce him to his brother in law, who is a famous hockey player in the NHL.
When the two spend a couple of days together in Maddox’s parent’s house, sleeping in the same bed, Maddox seriously starts questioning his straightness. He might not be gay, but he could be bi he thinks. Especially since he wants Damon to kiss him, hold him down, ravage him, anything that brings their bodies closer together.
But Damon has been burnt by a ‘straight’ guy before, so he doesn’t want to be Maddox’s experiment. But it’s a good thing Maddox doesn’t give up that easily….
Maddox was hilarious. I really loved him. I was a bit hesitant about him since it’s was mentioned a lot that he was such a manwhore, but the thing is, it is said by his friends, but he never acted like one. He was all about Damon as soon as he met him and never wanted anyone else. I loved that.
Damon was a bit harder for me to like at first. He was so cautious. And while I got why, it was also a bit annoying at times. But thank heavens he pulled his head out of his ass quite fast and was all in then.
There almost no relationship angst in this. I say almost, because it takes them a little while to get together and there is sort of a fight near the end. But it was over before I knew it and it wasn’t dragged out.
A fun light-hearted story with some fabulous sexy times (). -
Get it here:
Amazon US *
Amazon UK
I don't even know how to put into words how much I enjoyed this couple. Maddox and Damon were amazing together and I loved the dynamic of the whole semi-straight-guy-wants-gay-guy but gay-guy-rejects-straight-guy thing. It was really fun to see them wanting each other and holding off on their desires while all that sexual tension just got stronger.
But then they got together and gave in to that desire and my Kindle about caught on fire. Holy hell these two were scorching! I loved that chemistry and it was one of the best things about this book. There's honestly so much more to say about it but it would end up a jumbled mess so I'm just going to end this review by saying Eden Finley just got herself a new fangirl and I can't wait to read more of her stories. -
DNF @ 50%
“Dinner’s almost ready, Mom says. Aunt Cheri stares at Mom in silent question. ‘I have a vegan option for you,’ she adds.
Still a nutcase. Vegetarians, I can forgive. Vegans? Are they even real humans?”
Nope. Not cool.
Authors, why do you find it necessary to ridicule those whose lifestyle choices are different than yours? I have seen similar “jokes” like this pop-up in numerous novels. This type of humor is not funny. Please stop.
This story spends an inordinate amount of time bemoaning close-minded people in small towns. Do you honestly believe that your mockery demonstrates your open-mindedness? This story did not work for me at all. When the MC's friend Stacy hires a man to "play gay" because she believes it will be funny/shocking for a man to dress a certain way, I should have stopped reading. I kept trying to power through, but it got worse. The whole "humor" element seemed to be the author trying to get laughs at others' expense. No thanks. That poorly conceived "vegan joke" was the last straw.
I am not a nutcase. I am definitely a real human (who will not be spending money purchasing this book).
Read via Kindle Unlimited -
Not in the mood for a full review so I’ll summarize. 😌 Too slow-paced for my liking. The first time they had sex is at 70% mark which is way too long in my book. 😬 Maddox is really afraid of commitment and an all-round diva. Damon is a perfect boyfriend. The more I read contemporary, the more I realize they are way too vanilla for me except for some very few authors who can hit the nail in this genre. 😏 The first time they had sex is hot enough that I’m willing to rate a half-star more. The ending is more like a HFN. An epilogue into their future would be awesome but I guess the author is going to include glimpses into this couple in the second book in the series. Good enough but didn’t blow me away. 😌 A kudos for nailing the deflowering of a butt-virgin though. 😁
3.5 it was enjoyable stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 -
LOVE LOVE LOVE this book!!!
Plot:
Maddox needs a fake boyfriend to go to his ex-girlfriends wedding. This is because years ago, he told a little lie about being gay to break up with his girlfriend and then fled to New York but now, his ex is getting married and he needs a date and so, he convinces Stacy's brother, Damon who is gay, to play fake-boyfriend for him.
Maddox and Damon were adorable together! Their banter was hilarious and I loved them so much. It was so fun to watch them navigate their lives together and find what they needed in each other! It obviously wasn't easy for Maddox to find out he was bi, all of a sudden but I liked that he took everything in stride even though he was a little hesitant at times.
“Damon Isaac King … wait, your initials are—”
I grit my teeth. “I know. You don’t think Stacy has made that joke to our parents ever since I came out? ‘No wonder he likes dick when his initials are DIK.”
Although, Maddox was shown as a man-whore due to his man-whorish ways, he actually cared deeply even though he was a little insecure at times. Especially when he said things like this... I swooned, hard!
Why explore the rest of the world when the person who makes it go 'round is the man standing in front of me?
I enjoyed this book so very much! If you're looking for a sweet, funny m/m romance with a fake-dating trope and a lot of steam, this book is highly recommended!
“I finally get it. I don’t give a shit about labels, because I don’t need to. All I need to care about is making this guy mine.” -
4.5 stars.
“Sarcasm is great. You can say anything and pretend you’re joking. People think I’m hilarious when in reality I’m just an asshole.”
This book was super cute!!! GAH!!! Almost everything I look for when I'm looking for my next M/M read. And let's appreciate that cover for a second, okay? *swoon*
The blurb caught my attention right off the bat and the author was also new to me. I haven't read a book about a fake relationship in a very long time so this was perfect. Add in good banter, and it was amazing.
I turn to my pretend boyfriend who has obviously been keeping a huge secret from me. “So, Simba—”
“Fuck me,” Damon mumbles.
“You didn’t tell me you were famous.”
“Because I knew you’d call me fucking Simba.”
I ended up enjoying this so much more than I expected. Since I had never read anything by the author, I was a bit apprehensive going it. But it turned out to be a totally unique and great read. I was hooked from the beginning to the end. I loved the friendship that came first between Maddy and Damon. And when the chemistry happened, it was great.
I'm excited to read more books by the author in the future.
Why explore the rest of the world when the person who makes it go ’round is the man standing in front of me?
-
The blurb initially turned me off of this one. But then my friend, Todd, said the magic word - banter.
Yeah, that's all it takes.
I'm glad I did. It was so much better than I thought! And the fake boyfriend trope was executed really differently here - and only took up a small portion of the story.
The rest was just FUN!
No melodrama to be found. Just two guys who kinda pine for each other until they figure their shit out.
With an awful lot of UST mixed in. And aforementioned banter.
I'm really looking forward to Noah's story next! -
***3 - 3.5 Stars*** for both, audiobook and story
Post-teen drama XXL, that got one or another facepalm from me, but it also made me laugh, so all's good. ;-)
The narration had me mega-confused at times as to who's talking at the moment. Both narrators can do better! -
After the CU Hockey series, I wanted to give other Eden Finley books a chance. Definitely a whole series of the fake dating trope because that is SO MY FAVORITE. Anyway, I liked the story a lot but I didn't love it. Fake Out receives 3 out of 5 stars.
The story revolves around Maddox and Damon. Maddox told his ex-girlfriend he was gay in order to break up with her for real and flees to another city. A few years later, he encounters her in a bar. Chastity tells him she is going to marry. Maddox panics while she also says they should have been the ones to get married. So, he states to have a boyfriend. A non-existent boyfriend who gets invited to Chastity's wedding. Enter Damon, brother of Stacy, Maddox's best friend. Damon agrees to act like his boyfriend during the weekend of Chastity's wedding. Only... Maddox realizes he isn't that straight at all and Damon didn't expect to get feelings for a straight guy.
I have a confession to make. The fake dating trope is my ultimate weakness. I knew I had to read this when I found out about Finley having written a whole series dedicated to it. Only, this book was so fun to read but not the best when it came down to it. Technically, the fake dating part was short and it blossomed into real feelings real fast. Regardless, the story is well written and the built up is also perfect. It just didn't capture my heart wholly.
Some aspects of the book weren't it for me. I disliked some of the characters. Especially Stacy, Damon's sister. Who repeatedly hurts him and Maddox every single time she 'pranks' them. Like common?! You should know when enough is enough. Also, I really do not understand how Stacy didn't put two and two together when she heard about Damon's troubled incident with another guy... (Y'all know what I mean). Noah is another character I just didn't click with. So, I am skipping his book (for now). The set-up doesn't sound like my cuppa tea either.
Eden Finley is such a great author. 10/10 would recommend reading Fake Out. Maddox seem to have no problem being attracted to guys as well. YAS! I stan a non-problematic bisexual awakening. Damon is an out gay sports agent. Although he has problems letting guys in due to someone who made him insecure. After a while, he really warms up to Maddox. It is such a sweet love story. If you LOVE the fake dating trope, you should read the series for sure. I know I will.
