The Fake Out

Reviews

• Bella

  Started May 19, 2026 · Finished May 20, 2026

  I loved these characters. The story was so fun, I could barely put it down. However, I felt that part of the storyline was wrapped up really quickly and didn’t get the attention I expected. The way it was built up at the start of the book made me think that things with Rory’s dad would be handled a little differently. There were also small parts that crept in towards the end of the story that I didn’t feel needed to be there at that point in the storyline. But still a really good, fun, spicy story!

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• julie ✨
  funnylightheartedMedium-paced

  Started December 17, 2023 · Finished December 19, 2023

  I can't place my finger on why exactly this book feels like a bit of a miss for me. While I liked the characters and the romance (I'm a total sucker for the fake-dating trope), there were some things that I found unrealistic or aspects that I'd wanted more detail on. But first, the good: I enjoyed Hazel and Rory as leads. Their individual arcs were well-executed, with Hazel finally reaching a place in her life where she could start work on her lifelong dream, and Rory learning that there's more to hockey than being the superstar. The family dynamics in the book were interesting, too; it was so different to see Hazel struggle with the way her mom would put herself down, and it was refreshing that Rory was able to see new sides of his parents after letting down his walls and being honest with them. As for the issues... Firstly, I had some minor complaints about the romance between Rory and Hazel. We're told that they knew each other relatively well in high school, and that Rory was interested in Hazel at the time but didn't pursue anything because she was seeing someone else. I would have appreciated more details, maybe some conversations or memories they had of the time, to make that aspect of the story more concrete. As it is, we get thrown into an established relationship right off the bat (which is kind of disorienting), and Rory is basically in love with Hazel from the start (which I'm not necessarily against, but without the context of their prior relationship is a little off-putting). Another issue I had was the portrayal of their jobs. We rarely see Hazel in her role as a physio for the team; it's not even really mentioned as something that happens off-page, which is a little disappointing. But I was more frustrated with Rory's job (though it is mostly just me being very nit-picky as a real-life hockey fan). A lot of Rory's arc revolves around him learning that he doesn't have to be the one scoring goals to make a difference on the team, and while that's certainly true, his dad and parts of the plot make it seem like he's less valuable for evolving into a better playmaker, which is stupid. (It's also frustrating that this evolution is not only so quick it's basically overnight, but that Rory is great at it from the start and never makes any mistakes.) Also, the story makes the team's coach kind of the end-all-be-all controller of the organization, which isn't how it works. For example, towards the end of the book, Rory's name is thrown around in some trade rumors, and the story makes it seem like the coach and owners have the final say in any deals, completely ignoring the existence of General Managers. Again, this is a "me" thing, and it won't make a difference for more casual observers of the sport (or those wholly unfamiliar with it). The last complaint I have is kind of the overlap of two smaller issues: Rory's character as a romantic lead and plot points that seemingly exist for the sole purpose of showcasing Rory's "perfection". For example, at one point the team is hanging out at a bar, Hazel's ex is drunk, and he kisses her without her consent. To me, this scene was wholly unnecessary to the plot and exists only to reinforce the "Rory perfect/Ex evil" thing. There's also a scene where Rory goes complete bananas because Hazel trips while skating and another where he gets drunk and gets a tattoo for her. Personally, I didn't care for anything Rory did during any of these scenes, and it kind of baffled me that Hazel found it endearing. But again, this probably just boils down to personal preference. Overall, this essay might make it seem like I really didn't like this book. And while I'll definitely say I preferred the first in the series, I don't think this was a bad addition to it. Maybe a reread down the road will change my mind. I'm still looking forward to the next book.

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