Timothy Janovsky is the author of several popular queer romance books. With “The Fake Dating Game, he is the inaugural author for the launch of Harlequin’s new spicy romance line, Afterglow Books.
Holden James’s dream of being a contestant on his favourite game show, Madcap Market, is one step closer to reality. He’s booked tickets for himself and his boyfriend to travel to LA to audition for the show. But when he presents the idea to his boyfriend, he is not only refused, but he is dumped in the process. Holden is determined to audition, as it would pay homage to his adored mom, who loved the show but tragically died six years ago. So Holden flies off to LA and settles in a shabby hotel room, hoping to convince his friend Alexia to audition with him. When Alexia rejects his offer, he drowns himself in sorrow back at the hotel and becomes acquainted with the handsome concierge, Leo, who works the front desk. Leo sympathizes with Holden and arrives at his hotel room door with pizza and Monopoly to brighten up Holden. The chemistry between the two is immediate, and the two not only become intimate but also decide to audition for the game show together. In the days that follow, Leo has to fast-track to become an expert on the game show, and the two men face some unexpected obstacles that put everything in jeopardy!
The storyline is entertaining, straightforward, and fast-paced. Although this book is full of spicy romance and witty humour, it also deals with darker issues such as loss and depression. These darker themes are woven into the story, rather than taking centre stage, and give the novel a deeper overall message that is evident when listening. Like many romantic comedies, the plot is highly unlikely, but the story still remains very enjoyable. It should also be noted that this book has some very spicy scenes and is suited for an adult audience. It also should be noted that the story doesn’t fit a typical fake-dating narrative where the characters gradually develop feelings for each other. Instead, Holden and Leo have an immediate mutual attraction, and the only falsehood they concoct is in explaining how they met to the organizers of the game show.
Narrator Mark Sanderlin is the perfect choice for this book, as his upbeat and humour-filled narration keeps the overall tone of the book very light and fun despite the darker elements. In fact, Sanderlin’s narration is so entertaining and easy on the ears that the audiobook is reminiscent of listening to the audio of a rom-com film. If you’re looking for a well-narrated, engaging story that includes some meaningful messages and some serious spice, definitely give this one a listen!