4.5/5

this was a fun read!

i loved leo and holden and how their relationship developed. i really liked reading their interactions and even though it was quite fast-paced, still enjoyable and believable. the sprinkle of d/s undertones in their sex scenes was a nice surprise too. i could have done with more mutual pining in the ‘faking’ part, the oh but he’s acting bc this is pretend angst. but fake dating is my fave trope and i’ve read so many so my expectations are high by default lmao.

i also liked the way grief and grieving was covered in this as a secondary plot thread tied to holden’s character development. and i loved the scenes with leo’s mom.

the main conflict/antagonist’s motivations and actions were a bit wobbly and forced, especially with how it concluded. it did feel a bit, oh, we need a villain or to add tension for the last quarter of the book without relying on the miscommunication trope - these boys do talk to each other! - it was a bit clunky for my tastes. but, that wasn’t a huge deal breaker, probably just me being picky.

overall this was a fun rom-com with lovable characters! mvps are leo’s mum and holden’s dad.

Hello everyone, I'm Mr. C Reviewer, and tonight we're discussing (He/Him) Timothy Janovsky's book. The [Fake] Dating Game. This was my first time reading one of his work's and after reading this one I do think that I would like to give his other book's a go.

I'd like to extend a huge thank you to Netgalley for providing a copy of 'The [Fake] Dating Game' as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is set to be Published January 23rd, 2024. The narrative, told using first person perspective following Holden's point of view and spans 29 chapters and an epilogue which in total has 288 pages.



Summary: Holden James finds himself in a downward spiral as he grapples with the challenges life has thrown his way. His opportunity to audition for the beloved game show, Madcap Market, which should have been a shining moment honouring his late Mum, instead plunges him into a state of despair. Alone in a dreary hotel room, nursing a broken heart and drowning in sorrow after a recent breakup, Holden seeks solace in the confines of his room. However, an unexpected encounter with Leo Min, the charming and enigmatic concierge, brings a glimmer of hope into his bleak existence.



Review: -I appreciated that there was a trigger warning at the beginning of the book. The descriptions of the characters and places were well-done. It was easy to follow along, and there were some humorous moments that helped balance out the seriousness of the plot. I never found myself getting bored while reading. The pacing was mostly good, although I was surprised that the game show portion only lasted for a short time towards the end of the book. I had expected it to be a longer and more prominent part of the story.

I typically don't enjoy books with time jumps, especially after the main character's breakup. However, in this particular book, the timing of the jump felt appropriate and it only occurred once in the main storyline. Plus, We had already gotten to know the main character well by that point. What I enjoyed about the book was the use of a different font for most of the text messages, setting them apart from the rest of the book. However, there was one instance where this was not done - a written note from one of the characters in the story.

My favourite aspect of this book was Holden's journey of healing. I felt it was portrayed with sensitivity, and I appreciated that it took time for him to get there. It wasn't a cliché where love magically solves everything, which was refreshing. Additionally, the scavenger hunt scene was a standout moment for me. The main premise - pretending to date in order to be on a reality show - doesn't quite add up since they are actually seeing each other and wanting to know where it could lead to. However, this minor detail did not detract from my enjoyment of the overall story.

-I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the characters in the book, especially Holden. His genuine passion and excitement for Madcap Market was contagious and I found myself connecting with him on a personal level at times. It was evident that he carried emotional weight from events in his past, and I could feel his emotions as he spoke about them. This added depth to his character and made me even more invested in his story.

Holden's mother sounded like a remarkable person, always there to support him. I wished there were flashbacks in the book that allowed us to get to know her better. However, I was glad we eventually got to meet Holden's Dad. In the beginning, I wasn't sure if we would since he was only mentioned in phone calls and not seen in person. He turned out to be a kind and caring person.

I couldn't help but think Leo and Holden made the cutest pair. As their journey together progressed, I found myself enjoying their growing bond more and more. They just fit together so naturally that I immediately found myself rooting for them. I loved how open they were with each other, always supporting and understanding each other. Their playful banter was a delight to read, especially when it turned flirtatious. It was heart-warming to see Leo give Holden the space he needed to heal, without pushing him too hard. While I did feel like their relationship timeline was rushed, it was balanced out by seeing how Holden and Leo helped each other in different ways throughout the story. Leo's mother was a great addition to the story, showing love and acceptance towards her son and Holden. I would definitely be interested in tasting some of her dishes after reading about them in the book.

-The book's ending with the epilogue was satisfying and left me feeling fulfilled. While the story didn't completely blow me away, I appreciate the increase in queer sweet, feel-good, rom-coms being released. It left me craving pizza in a hotel room and someone to embrace. I believe this book would make for a great movie on the big screen.

-I was ecstatic when I discovered that this book was also available as an audiobook, and even more so when I found out it was narrated by the talented Mark Sanderlin. Listening to the audio while reading greatly enhanced my experience with the book. Mark's clear and easy-to-understand voice made it even more enjoyable. Each character had their own unique voice in the audiobook, bringing them to life and adding an extra layer of richness to the story. I feel that Holden's character, in particular, was well-suited to Mark's voice.

I rate each story I read out of 10 and for this one, I give it an 7. Remember this was what I thought about the book personally and I suggest that you give it a go for yourself.

This is the funny, pacy, sexy escapist treat I needed, whilst also being a warm, realistic exploration of grief, and who we become when we lose someone we love. Feels like an odd juxtaposition, put that way, but Janovsky handles it intelligently and sensitively so that it doesn't jar. Holden and Leo spark from their first encounter, and amidst the banter and the lust there's a depth to them as individuals, and to their dynamic, which has elements of trust and care from the start, that makes the fake dating trope that much more fun to explore. Plus, amidst preparing to audition for a frantic supermarket sweep-style gameshow, there's time for broken-hearted Monopoly, home-cooking, unabashed public singing, revenge weight-lifting, and plenty of bicep admiration. Top marks!

THE [FAKE] DATING GAME is the second Timothy Janovsky romcom I’ve read [check out my review of NEW ADULT here] and I think I can safely add him to my auto-buy authors list.
In theory, the story revolves around a long-running television game show, based in a grocery store/ supermarket (US readers, think Guy’s Grocery Games. For us UK readers, picture a high-octane Supermarket Sweep). Add to that the fake dating angle (my all-time favourite romance trope) and I couldn’t request this ARC fast enough.
Imagine my surprise then, when neither of those elements actually played a huge part in the actual plot. AND I LOVED IT ANYWAY!
While this definitely has everything you could want from a romcom – hilarious shopping trips, sizzling chemistry, and a late-night Taylor Swift All Too Well sadness session – it has more than that too. Holden is in a tough place at the start of the novel (and pretty much throughout) and Leo has his own baggage. Between them, we’re looking a grief after the death of a parent, painful break-ups, and facing up to the fact that maybe your job is just okay, not some glittering dream career. Janovsky balances these darker themes with the romance and the comedy, so nothing overpowers the others (and throws in a healthy dose of spice for good measure!).
I had a lot of fun with THE [FAKE] DATING GAME and I’m looking forward to seeing what the author writes next.

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me. I just don’t think the writing style is for me at all, and I really couldn’t get on with the MMC. I feel like the premise of this book was really good but it just fell short for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC copy in return for an honest review.

I love gameshows and I also love queer romances, so a combination of the two was a really exciting prospect for me. I am apparently in my Mills & Boon era, as this is my second read from them in just a week. I think I was a bit more prepared for the spice level this time though.

Holden James is ready to audition for Madcap Market, the supermarket themed gameshow that he watched with his beloved late mother. However, he needs a partner to audition with and his boyfriend has just decided to leave. Desperate and heartbroken, Holden decides to go to LA for the audition anyway but now he’s wasting away in his hotel room. However, the concierge Leo is seriously hot and is apparently interested in cheering Holden up.

I thought I was a gameshow fan until I ‘met’ Holden. I can’t say I’ve ever recorded them and watched them again. However, I understood his reasons for doing so. The contestants aren’t actors -they’re real people. So, it’s extra comforting to see real people who are like you on TV.

As you might expect, the humour is very camp and it made me smile so much. I was very much rooting for Holden and even when he was feeling incredibly sorry for himself, I knew he’d find the strength to get out of it. Especially once he had Leo’s support.

It would have been easy to see Leo as a bit of flightly player but I really enjoyed him. I kind of wish he was straight because I definitely fancied him! He’s respectful and loyal and exactly what Holden deserves. The romance does get pretty filthy in places, so that’s something to be aware of, if you’re not really into sex scenes.

The (Fake) Dating Game is a fun, queer romance that is sexy, cheeky and heartwarming all at the same time. Holden and Leo are great together and the unique backdrop of the gameshow gives it a little something different. I think I’d have enjoyed a bit more serious tension but if you take it as just a slice of fun, that’s easy to get past.

This romance follows two strangers who pretend to be a couple in order to get on a supermarket sweep-style game show.
Over the course of the story, the main character, Holden, goes on a real emotional journey, the depth and honesty of which was the book’s strongest component. And, fortunately for both him and the reader, Holden’s journey involves meeting a handsome man in need of the cash prize from winning the show. I really liked Holden and Leo’s connection, and I thought the sex scenes struck a great balance of lust and connection.
Although I found the pacing a little too fast, I still had a good time reading this book.

I am a sucker for a fake dating trope and this fake dating book did not disappoint. We had our main character Holden going to LA to audition for a game show. The books ties and exploration of grief was done very well with Holden audition being due to the connection of his mum to the game show. Grief is not always handled well in books and can be tricky but the exploration was very well handled. It was my first book by Timothy Janovsky and I enjoyed his writing style.

I did feel like the relationship was rushed but seeing Holden and Leo help each-other in such different ways did make up for it. I am not someone who particularly enjoys third act conflict and with ending seemed quite rushed it all seemed a little predictable. Nevertheless it was a light fluffy romance great for reading after a very intense emotionally draining book. I loved Leo, their dynamic and how much her was there for Holden.

Thank you Mills & Boon, Afterglow Books and NetGalley for the Arc

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC of 'The (Fake) Dating Game' by Timothy Janovsky.

'The (Fake) Dating Game' is my second Timothy Janovsky ever and honestly, this was stale in comparison. The MC annoyed me to no ends and I just felt like it was dragging and the only highlight was the sexual scenes - which were a little over the top but what else do I expect for a book published by the Gods known as Mills & Boon. The only reason it gets a 3 is purely because Janovsky has such a good writing style when not being dragged down by weird lines said by characters.

Funny and sweet romcom that feels a little slight. Holden is obsessed with Madcap Market, a shopping game show he watched with his Mum before she died. He plans to finally go on the show with his boyfriend, until he gets broken up with and has to go to LA alone. When crying in his room to Taylor Swift (relatable), the hotel concierge comes to check on him, they flirt, and decide to go on the show together. But the show wants chemistry, so they decide to pretend to be a new couple. Will it be real, or will they lose it all? I did get invested in this sweet romcom, and I cared about Leo and Holden. However, somehow everything about it wasn't quite enough. Holden's arc is about his grief over his mother, but this feels slightly confused and underdeveloped until the end. The relationship between the two men is the strong part of this, but it feels rushed at the beginning and end. The central idea - that they're lying about dating to get on the show - doesn't fully work, since they're... not? The men are dating and seeing where it will go, which is what they tell the producers. Aside from fudging the details of how they met and Leo pretending to be a fan of the show, nothing they say is a lie. They get together with little angst or slowburn, which could be disappointing because of personal preference, but adds to the feeling that all of it could have had more time and effort. That is made worse by a large, important plot point happening off-page. The style also made me really roll my eyes at times. Leo feels far less fully realised than Holden, charming and attractive with a sense of humour but his internality never really comes across, which also feels true of Holden at times. The ending is sweet and shows the characters developing but still feels rushed.

I love a good fake dating romance and this delivered. Holden and Leo are the cutest and deserve the whole world.

Janovsky has created a heartwarmingly emotional book that deals with love and grief, and ultimately learning how to be happy with where are in life even if it wasn’t what you expected initially.

Holder’s story hit a little too hard because I get how parental loss can completely derail your life (cancer sucks), I get how it feels not being happy with where you are and struggling to find that balance. It’s one of the reasons I got attached to his character so quickly.

Reading as Leo and Holden help each other become more confident and as Holden recognises that the headspace he’s in isn’t ideal for a relationship and not what Lee deserves is heartbreaking and powerful (and god it got me emotional), Lee showing up at the end was amazing and perfect.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book but warning it is quite spicy and, so if that makes you uncomfortable I would proceed with caution.

CW: Grief, Sexual content, Mentioned death of parent (recurring) + do check for other content warnings before reading.

When I saw this one on Netgalley I requested it immediately, without even reading the blurb because if Timothy Janovsky wrote it, I read it, so I basically went blind into this book.

I am a sucker for fake dating, and this kind of fake dating, with real chemistry, and slowly developing emotions just *chefs kiss*. Holden and Leo are precious, the relationship with their parents is refreshing and all together even with the heavier part this is a breath of well written fresh air.

Ready. Set. Faux. Holden James picked the worst time to have a meltdown. His chance to audition for his favourite game show, Madcap Market, should have been a moment of triumph — a glorious, loving homage to his adored mom, who died six years ago.

Instead, he’s destroying the minibar in a grim Los Angeles hotel room… recently dumped, partnerless and sliding into a crushing black hole of anguish. But the hotel service in abject misery is sublime. It even comes with an unfairly fit and sexy (smart-ass) concierge who arrives at the door with pizza, Monopoly and deliciously distracting forearms.

All Holden knows about Leo Min is that he’s beautiful and unexpectedly sympathetic, and the chemistry between them is beyond. Maybe it’s even enough to convince everyone, including the show’s casting directors, that they’re a real couple.

All they’d have to do is crush the competition, win the huge cash prize and all of Holden’s problems — his broken heart, his buried grief, his complete lack of money and direction — will be fixed. Of course, reality doesn’t quite work out that way. But love is an entirely different game…

I received this book as an ARC as it seemed like something I’d usually read, and let me tell you, it did NOT disappoint!

THIS BOOK!! It had everything in it, I was hooked from the beginning. For my first time reading anything with spice in it, it had the right amount of that as well as the right amount of romance and angst.

I really connected with the MC a lot during some parts, which is always a great thing when reading a book. I could really feel how he felt whenever he was talking about certain things that had happened in his past.

This book made me feel every emotion possible and I would highly recommend it to anyone that wants to read it when it comes out!

For the most part I loved this. The ending, however, didn't land for me. It was all rushed and a bit predictable and saccharine

Holden James finds himself in a downward spiral. His anticipated audition for the beloved game show, Madcap Market, intended as a tribute to his late mother, turns into a bleak experience. Recently dumped and sinking into despair, Holden resorts to wrecking the minibar in a dreary hotel room.

Yet, amidst the gloom, there's the solace of room service. Enter a charismatic (and smart-mouthed) concierge named Leo Min, bearing pizza, Monopoly, and distracting forearms. Holden discovers little about Leo, except that he's strikingly beautiful and unexpectedly understanding, and the chemistry between them is electric. Perhaps it's enough to convince the show's casting directors that they make a convincing couple. Winning the competition and the substantial cash prize could potentially solve all of Holden's problems – a shattered heart, suppressed grief, and a lack of both funds and direction.

As with most plans, reality takes an unpredictable turn. Love, it seems, is a game with its own rules, and success may be more elusive than expected.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

This story was a lot more than I expected and I enjoyed going on a wild ride with Holden as he travels to LA to audition for a gameshow that connects him to his mum. This story is definitely chaotic, with Holden’s character spiralling in response to all the different things going on in his life, but his connection with Leo is incredibly sweet (but the spice is not!) and I maybe would have even loved to see Leo as the main character in this. Beyond the fake dating this book looks at embracing your identity, following your passions, but also it explores grief in a very real way. I didn’t love Holden as a character but I did enjoy this story for everything else. It’s a little crazy and plenty hot, and showed the reality of grief and how important it is to process emotions in a healthy way. The light and heavy topics were a perfect balance!

*eARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

this was a great book! holden's character was the best part for me, i loved how enthusiastic and loving he was about Madcap Market! also leo was a great love interest and i really liked their communication and intimacy. also the emotional side of the story exploring grief was really well-handled and made me emotional but hopeful.
i found the last third of the book a little confusing though - there were some plot events i wasn't expecting, plus i felt the fake dating was not significant enough to be in the book's title.

Brilliant fun - steamy and romantic.
Not quite as twisty as I'd hoped - the 'fake dating' element is forgotten at points. Nevertheless, it's moving, naughty, and highly enjoyable

I read this book after a string of dark and intense reads, and it was the absolute perfect palate cleanser. I whizzed through it in an evening - a soft and fluffy romance with lovely characters and a gentle plot. A delightful read for fans of contemporary romance!

Great spicy quick read!

Immediately read this after seeing it available as enjoyed one of the authors previous novels and didn’t disappoint.

Based around the madness of a similar sounding tv show to our very own supermarket sweep, we get the delectable fake (at first) love story of Holden and Leo. Of course it goes with some setbacks and bumps along the way but we got our HEA!

Really enjoyed the development of the romance and also had heartfelt moments with Holden dealing with his grief.