Jasmine Guillory's Favorite Fake Dating Romance Novels

New York Times

19-06-2025

Fake dating was one of the first romance novel tropes I fell in love with — so much so that I've included it in two of my own books (my first, 'The Wedding Date,' and again in 'While We Were Dating').
The premise is admittedly a bit ridiculous. Is there a good, genuine reason two people would pretend they're in a relationship? In most cases, no (but a great writer can make me buy it). Does it have much basis in reality? Probably not — unless there are people pretending to date all around us and we're none the wiser! But this trope has always resonated with me in part because human beings are so bad at communication — especially when a repeated, difficult conversation is involved ('When is it going to be your turn?' is a question every unmarried bridesmaid has fielded multiple times) — and because I've always loved playing pretend.
As a romantic plot device, fake dating enables you to quickly delve into the psyches of the main characters. From the jump, we find out what matters to them, how they want to be perceived, what they're afraid of and what their friends and family think of them. Everyone in my immediate family besides me is a psychologist, so of course this is what I care about the most when it comes to romance novels — both as a reader and as a writer.
The best fake dating novels are funny, joyful and deeply romantic, and delve into all of the ways it's difficult and wonderful to be a human being. Here are some of my favorites. (I'm on the record already as loving several of them, which I have blurbed or recommended on NBC's 'Today' show, but my love remains undimmed.)
Act Like It
Set on London's West End, 'Act Like It' pairs Lainie, a charming rising star, with Richard, the theater world's jaded bad boy. They reluctantly agree to fake a relationship at the suggestion of management, who are hoping to boost ticket sales for their new show, rehabilitate Richard's public image and help Lainie regain her mojo after being publicly cheated on by her co-star ex-boyfriend. Despite (or maybe because of) their initial dislike for each other, the two have immediate chemistry, but the actual romance develops slowly and believably, with a deeply satisfying climax.
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