Delightful! What a fun twist on a contemporary shifter romance. The concept does require you to know about the omega verse going into this, but nothing a quick internet search can’t fix. Highly recommend!

It's not often you see a fake relationship blended with a fated mate setup, but this managed that particular combination deftly while making a setting where shifters are known and part of the regular working conditions believable. Throw in a surprise pon farr and you've got a winning recipe for all the feels.

3.5 stars

i really like this, i thought it was fun and i hope a lot of werewolf books like these come out in the future. i think the authors biggest problem is that these books are 400 pages. there’s no reason a romance book should be longer than 320 pages and this was no exception. i felt like the smut happened too soon. it was about 39% so the rest ended up being ok because the build up was gone. i also felt like these characters were too grown to be dumbasses. why are you confused as to why you can tell when his mood changes. you know why, don’t be dumb. other than that! i do recommend this book!

This book was so FREAKING cute! I ate this up and left no crumbs. After reading Lana's the Nanny, I already knew going into this book that I would love it & I absolutely did.

It was cute, fun, had a good paranormal plot, and such a fantastic amount of chemistry between the two main characters. Characters who are doctors. Who are also wolf-shifters. It could not be more perfect to me.

They were adorable, sweet, and their romance blossomed so beautifully throughout the entire book. I was hanging on the edge of my seat as I read it. The fake dating trope has always been my favourite, so add it on top of the omega verse and it's guaranteed to be a good read for me!

This book was absolutely fantastic and I loved every minute of it!

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Just on vibes alone, this was freaking amazing! There were a few parts of the story that was meh to me but the connection I felt between these two completely overshadowed it. I could not stop smiling, they were that cute. 😍

Noah is a huge grump but Mackenzie is super sweet and sassy so the two of them together are hilarious. The banter was funny as hell especially with how serious Noah is because Mackenzie is so unserious. They would seem like oil and water but they're somehow perfect together.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

*I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review with my honest opinion.*

I. Loved. This. This is the first time I've read an alpha/omega story traditionally published and I want more of it. I don't know how people who have never read such a fanfic will feel about it but it's also a good way to introduce people to it. However I think it could do a much better job explaining terminology to people at the start. The other tropes in this are really fun, workplace romance and fake dating!

The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson was cute... from what I remember.

I read this a little over a week ago and I'm already forgetting what happened. However, if you're looking for a fun quick fake dating book then this one goes on my list of recommendations (because how good are they most of the time anyways).

I would definitely argue that this is one of the better rom coms I've read this year, but there still wasn't anything "wow" that popped out to me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher foor an advanced copy of this book.

Ferguson’ books are already and automatically becoming my favorite and I can’t get enough. I grabbed this one for a quick break between some longer series I’ve been reading. This was the perfect mix of hot steaminess and super sugary sweetness. Although this is merely the second book by the author but I’m just so happy to be reading an another Fergsuon story. They seems to be positively the best! Loved and adored it

I didn't end up finishing this one but it wasn't the book's fault. I definitely think you'll enjoy this if wolfy paranormal romance is your thing.

What a fun read with lots of spice!! (I wish I had a dollar for every time I read the words “knot” and “slick”.)

My biggest issue with this book is the writing style and general vibes. I, personally, didn’t care for the writing in this story. Additionally, The Fake Mate felt like a lackluster version of The Love Hypothesis with doctors and wolf shifters instead of PhDs.

If you are a fan of Ali Hazelwood and are looking for spicier boos, this one is for you! Sadly, it just didn’t work that great for me. Thank you for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first book by Lana Ferguson and I enjoyed it. I knew nothing about wolf shifter romances or that there was an entire omegaverse handbook for the romance world, so this was definitely eye-opening for me!

There were times it felt a bit repetitive and a couple of inconsistencies in what the characters said. Hopefully, those inconsistencies will be cleaned up in the final version. The repetitiveness made the writing feel a bit green. I think the author could have varied her word choices to help with this, too.

This was definitely a spicier book than I typically read, and the fact I decided to read it while on an 11-hour plane ride back from Europe made for an interesting experience, to say the least haha.

I did like Mackenzie's character as well as Noah's – I particularly liked how sweet he ended up being under all those walls he put up. They both had to learn to open themselves up and be vulnerable. I liked seeing them grow.

A fun and relatively easy read that was enjoyable. I'll be keeping my eye out for what Lana Ferguson does next.

The Fake Mate is wildly sexy and addicting! Fans of Ali Hazelwood will adore this read by Lana Ferguson. I really loved Mackenzie and Noah and I am nominating Noah for book boyfriend of the year. I have never read a shifter romance, but if Lana Ferguson chooses to write one again, I am on board 100%. If she is planning on writing another I hope it’s soon.

Thank you NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group, Berkley, for the chance to read this book in exchange of an honest review.

Mackenzie Carter isn't so lucky in dating lately and only a year out of residency her grandmother's obsession of her finding a mate and settle down is driving her crazy. So she decides to lie and blurts the first name she can't think of and of a person she would never date, Noah Taylor, the big bad wolf of Denver General.
On this side, Noah is a interventional cardiologist and an unmated alpha, forced to hid the latter because of the stigmas surrounding it. When an anonymous tip risk ruin everything, he's left with two choices: come clean and risk his carreer or find a mate. Like the ER doctor asking him to be her fake boyfriend. Slowly though, the lines between real and unreal become to blur and they start to fall in love with another.

The fake mate is the story of two wolf shifters who agree to fake mate to get advantages of this situation, but that slowly mature into something more steamy and real for both of them. I really liked this book. It's my first book about shifters, so I was really curious and I wasn't disappointed by the story. It's a quick and funny read, a very steamy paranormal story, even though slighly predictable. I do enoyed the story, though.

Thanks so much to Berkeley for this advanced copy of The Fake Mate!

WOW did I enjoy this book! Whenever I’m starting a new romance I’m always nervous to see how slow the upstart is, but this one I couldn’t put down right from the beginning. I loved the almost enemies to friends to lovers plot with a fake dating plot on BOTH ends. The drama set in the hospital felt like a great episode of Grey’s Anatomy and the steam was steaming. Overall, such a fun, romantic and dramatic read — can’t wait to continue to read whatever Lara Ferguson writes in the future!

This was genuinely such a fun read! It was perfect for preparing for the fall/spooky season with the MCs being shifters. Adding the trope of fake dating made it a chef's kiss! This book was spicy, fun, and cute - a joy to read.

I honestly went in hoping for a fun read, and instead I got a book I couldn't put down.

I truly loved this book and the inner battles that both Mack and Noah have bring both characters to life. I loved the dual POV throughout and how it was a mix of different types of stories that worked so well together. If you want a great vacation book, weekend book, rainy/snowy day read this is it.

This was such a treat. After reading and loving The Nanny, I was so excited for what Lana Ferguson would put out next, and this did not disappoint. I really loved how a generic hospital setting was elevated by the fact that these two are wolf shifters. There's really no other way I can describe it other than that it is so camp. I'm obsessed.

As for Mack and Noah's relationship, we know Lana is gonna keep us fed with the spice. And she delivereddd!! And not only was the spice fantastic, Mack and Noah's chemistry was off the charts and their relationship progression was super satisfying. I can't wait to read what Lana puts out next!

Thank you to Berkley for the ARC :)

I was looking for something light and fun to read and The Fake Mate was just what I needed.. It’s about Mackenzie (Mack) Carter and Noah Taylor, who are both doctors and wolf shapeshifters. This is a steamy romcom with fake dating and grumpy/sunshine MCs.


Mackenzie (Mack) Carter has been working in the ER for the past year. Her gran, who she loves dearly, wants to see her settle down and has been setting her up on dates that have been disastrous, like the one who was a mansplainer and even one who asked if she could keep her tail in her human form while having sex.  Mack does not want to go on any more awkward blind dates so she lies and tells her gran that she is seeing someone and when her gran asks for a name, Mack tells her Noah Taylor, a handsome but grumpy doctor that she works with whom she barely knows.


Noah is a well-respected interventional cardiologist and the department head at the hospital with a reputation for being a grouch. He is suspicious about why she needs a fake boyfriend but sees it as an opportunity. It turns out he needs a fake mate because someone filed an anonymous complaint with the hospital board that he is an alpha shifter and could be dangerous. (In this world, it's not a big deal to be a shifter--humans know about them and don't think it's any big deal--but alphas have a reputation for being scary.) Noah is facing a disciplinary hearing because he didn’t inform the board of his alpha status when he was hired. People are afraid alphas might not be able to control their temper but if an alpha has a mate they aren’t considered a threat. Only one person at work knows about Noah’s alpha status and Noah wanted to keep it that way--he has been taking hormone suppressants to mask his scent. He asks Mack if she would be his fake mate so the hospital board won’t fire him. She agrees and they begin their fake relationship.


She tells her best friend Parker, who works in IT in a cubicle in the basement about the fake dating, and he is the voice of reason warning her to be careful. Soon their Mate status becomes the focus of gossip around the hospital. I was surprised that people had so much time at a busy hospital to talk about their love life and this went a little over the top for me but maybe it was meant to add humor to the story.


I liked Mack. She was chatty, full of sunshine, beautiful, and always saying funny things to try and make Noah laugh. She was raised by her grandparents after her parents passed away when she was younger. Her gran was a lot of fun and she along with Mack’s friends from work were made me laugh with their banter.


Mack and Noah start seeing more of each other as they plan their Fake Mate dates. They are of course--it's a romance!--wildly attracted to each other and there is a nice buildup of tension between them, especially when they decide to be fake mates with benefits. The Fake Mate has many spicy hot scenes and is even a little steamier than Ferguson's last book, The Nanny.


As they continue to fake date and real have sex, the two begin to develop real feelings for each other. Noah turns all possessive alpha for Mack and it’s sweet that he’s there for her when she goes into heat. Mack is the perfect fake mate for Noah, even standing up for him when he needs her most. The two are the kind of couple you completely believe in and I really liked their interactions both in and out of the bedroom.


I haven’t read a lot of shapeshifter romances so some of the terms used in the story were new to me like alpha, omega and knotting plus I couldn’t wait to see them both shift. I felt like the author did a good job introducing the shapeshifter world without making it overwhelming.


This is a charming feel good romance with sweet and funny moments and entertaining banter. There is a mystery as they uncover who is causing all the chaos for Noah and Mack. I recommend this book to readers who like shapeshifter romance or want to escape with a story that is fun and different from typical rom coms.

The Fake Mate felt like it was specifically made for me. Hospital romances are so underutilized and it seems like they're hiding in the supply closet just waiting for their moment to shine. I love reading books with medical settings, both fiction and nonfiction alike. What makes The Fake Mate so unique was the wolf element. It was such an original concept that I couldn't help but applaud the author's creativity. I have heard rumblings of Lana Ferguson's popularity on TikTok and I can see for myself that it's well-founded. I was immediately attached to the main couple and I knew they were true mates despite their attempts of folly.

The Fake Mate had a really neat premise and I was fully invested in their journey. The addition of the mating scents and keeping up appearances was so unique. That meant the couple had to make furtive meetings to uphold the mating scent. Sweet hugs and rubbing necks was a great example of the tenderness that comprised their relationship. I adored seeing how their dynamic evolved over time as they developed true feelings for each other. My main complaint was the use of the word "slick". It grossed me out and I never want to hear that term ever again.

Lana Ferguson thoroughly impressed me with The Fake Mate. I currently have The Nanny on hold from the library and I'm waiting with baited breath for my turn to come. The chemistry was undeniable, the creativity was unmatched, and her originality was off the charts. I read this book in a single day and it made me wanna howl like a wolf. These two lupine doctors were a match made in heaven. If I worked at that supernatural hospital, I wouldn't believe she was The Fake Mate for a single second!

The Fake Mate proves that I will happily and willingly read any book Lana Furgeson writes no matter what the genre. I didn't read the synopsis when I decided to read this book. I saw Ferguson's name as author and was sold because I loved her debut The Nanny. Later, I read the blurb and wondered what I had gotten myself into. I probably should have guessed by "Mate" in the title, but it didn't occur to me. I am pretty vocal about avoiding shifter romances. They are just not books I'm into normally. I mean, I've read a few. I'm just not interested in the genre. That's all. BUT. I loved this book. I had to get used to all of the alpha, omega, knot, heat, and neck sniffing talk at first, but the writing and romance was so much fun!

My favorite thing about this book was the characters and their developing romance. Mackenzie was smart, bubbly, and well-liked by her friends and peers. Noah was smart, highly regarded in his profession, kind of a grump, and very frowny. People were a bit intimidated by him. They had medicine in common but were opposites otherwise. When they end up in a mutually benefiting fake relationship, it's no surprise that people have a hard believing these two have been hiding a relationship. Their intense chemistry and developing like for each other even surprises them. There's a ton of sweet, caring, extremely passionate (Don't let that cute cover mislead you!), and fun moments between them in this book. Mackenzie and Noah were adorable together. I absolutely loved every minute I spent with them. So much so, that if Ferguson wrote another shifter romance, or maybe one about an alien or vampire, I would read that, too.