Book: Play Fake by Riley Paige
Reviewed by Maggie Hayes
Rating: 4.5/5
📚 ARC REVIEW 📚
Play Fake by Riley Paige
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75 (4.75/5)
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC!
Beckett, a college football player in his senior year, was burned by a past relationship and keeps his heart heavily guarded. When he meets Sophie, a cheerleader in his psych class, he’s immediately drawn to her, but he’s convinced friendship is as far as it will go.
When Sophie’s parents push her to return to her cheating ex, she asks Beck to play fake boyfriend. As they spend more time together—working on a class project and hanging out as friends—their feelings start to shift. The question becomes: will Beckett let Sophie in, or will his past hold him back?
If I had to describe this book in one word, it would be SWOONY. Every interaction between Beckett and Sophie gave me heart eyes.
Beckett proves early on that he is a good man. He comforts Sophie—then a stranger—after she catches her boyfriend cheating, warns the ex to back off, and walks her home so she isn’t alone at night. Later, when she tells him about her testing anxiety, he offers to study with her despite his packed schedule. And they actually study. He’s not trying to make a move. And the forehead kisses? SWOON.
And Sophie… I melted when she learned Beckett has celiac disease and immediately made small lifestyle changes to support him—stocking gluten-free snacks, adjusting her kitchen, and making him feel safe. It’s such a thoughtful gesture that shows how deeply she cares. Watching her fit seamlessly into his family—sweet with his little sister and endlessly patient with his mom—had me begging Beckett to put a ring on her.
I loved getting to see them become true friends before anything romantic developed. And the slow burn with low spice? Perfection. I was just as excited for their first kiss as I was for Carter and Lyla to finally hook up in the previous book.
If you’re in the mood for a sweet, swoony college romance, add Play Fake to your TBR.
Tropes: 🏈 Football player x cheerleader | 🫶 Friends to lovers | 💘 Fake dating | 🔥 Slow burn | 🌾 Celiac rep
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