This was a fast paced and over all fun read!

I loved the premise of this book, and it definitely has a rom com feel to it, but also has the main character, Holden dealing with his grief of losing his mom.

Holden and Leo have excellent chemistry, and they really bonded about their shared experiences. There is plenty of spice in this book, but also some big emotions. As a reader I felt more understanding with how Holden acted, especially since he followed through with his goals to work on his grief.

Have you ever had a book that in theory should be perfect for you but then you go to read it and it just doesn’t work for you, at all? Yeah that was my experience with this book.

First things first, I’ve read one other book by this author and enjoyed it, so I was really not expecting to struggle with the writing style as much as I did. It felt so clunky and awkward, none of the interactions between characters felt genuine, and (at least for me) even the spicy scenes felt… just awkward. Like Holden and Leo had no chemistry, at really any point.

I also went into this really excited for a competition show romance but the actual competition show was barely in the book. They spend most of the book “preparing” for the audition but really there’s not any preparation, just awkward spicy scenes. There’s also one involving a cucumber which is… fine, also apparently cucumber is a fruit, which is something I didn’t know.

I usually try to find something I like about a book for a review but this just… didn’t work at all for me. I didn’t connect with any of the characters, or really like them at all, the pacing was all over the place, and I honestly wish I had DNFed this instead of struggling my way through.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the gifted eARC.

When Holden gets dumped by his boyfriend instead of convincing him to go to LA to compete on his favorite game show, he heads to LA alone to wallow since the trip was already paid for... Then comes Leo who agrees to audition for the game show as Holden's (fake) boyfriend, I mean they could both use the prize money! 
I liked Holden and I liked Leo but I didn't feel their connection when reading their story. There wasn't any of the usual fake-dating-tension around them, everything was taking place over the span of a couple of days, and the big "test" was the game show which was glossed over so quickly. The character growth that Holden showed was a redeeming factor for me. It took a lot for him to work on himself rather than to *SPOILER*(?) jump right into a new relationship. 
So while this book isn't my newest favorite, I still really enjoy Timothy's writing and have loved his other works - don't let my not loving this one deter you from reading his other books!
Thank you, NetGalley and Harlequin, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

4.5 - “All this time, I’ve been so down on myself over all the miseries life has dealt next assuming the universe owed me happiness now in return, but perhaps happiness doesn’t work that way.”

Listen, I will read anything Timothy Janovsky writes. He never disappoints and I always fall so in love with these beautiful characters he creates. He has this way of blending the romance, the comedy, and the heartfelt moments really beautifully in all of his books. This one was no different.

Recently dumped, Holden James is having a meltdown in a hotel in Los Angeles, watching his dream of participating on Madcap Market float away. Leo Min, the handsome concierge becomes his unlikely ally. Armed with pizza and Monopoly, Leo helps distract Holden from his misery and also agrees to be his fake boyfriend to audition for the show. They are great at convincing everyone that they're a real couple, including themselves.

Following Holden through his breakup and his trip to LA for Madcap Market (a game show like Supermarket Sweep) is such a blast. He convinces Leo, a handsome concierge working in his hotel, to be his partner for the show by agreeing to fake date. And if there’s anything I love, it’s a good fake dating trope. Holden and Leo have such great chemistry, and they both have these really great arcs through the book. Holden confronts his mother’s death and what effect that had on him, and Leo struggles with leaving his mom alone to move into his own place. The way they talk and interact is heartwarming, and I loved seeing Leo with his mom.

All of the conflicts in the story felt based in reality and Holden's struggles are so heartbreaking. His dad is such a bright light in the story, optimistic and supportive, and there are small moments between them that I thought spoke volumes. His dad just wants Holden to be treated well and be happy.

“Happiness is something we make for ourselves. Happiness is finding people who care.”

I loved how this story was told with the backdrop of the game show, but we got a tighter focus on Holden and Leo. Some of my favorite books are the ones with meaningful character arcs, and I just think Holden comes such a long way by the end.

It’s just an absolutely fabulous read.

This was such a cute, fun, steamy read! I loved Supermarket Sweep when I was younger so the backdrop of the gameshow was a lot of fun and very unique. I really enjoyed how fast paced this book was, and even though it did deal with some heavy themes, the whole thing felt like a light and easy read.

Timothy Janocsky has become of my go to authors, an instant read. The fake dating game is cute, but a little too out there for me. The progression of the relationship from strangers to lovers was a tad too rushed for me, however Janovsky’s humor shines through as always and makes this an enjoyable read regardless

This author has been very hit or miss for me and unfortunately this one was a miss. The MC starts off extremely unlikeable (which is usually the case with this author) but even as the story progresses I just found myself having a hard time rooting for him.

Also, I think I was expecting a little more or something different in regards to the competition. This is entirely a me issue but it did impact my ability to enjoy this book.

A really warm and engaging read, I binged it in like half a day! The connection between the MC and his ship was depicted so well, and they were perfect for the fake dating to love trope 😭

TWs - death of parent due to cancer and subsequent grief (death off page, grief on page), homophobia by a parent (past)

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

A steamy fake dating take on Supermarket Sweep? Be still my reality TV loving heart.

It's gloriously erotic but also touches on themes of grief and independence. Like literally *so* spicy for my little fantasy reader heart. Leo Min is an absolute hottie and Holden is no slouch either. I loved how this book focused on them chasing their dreams, be them in dance or game show grocery store aisles. It felt so perfectly Timothy Janovsky, but also a welcome departure from his more chaste romances.

*Thank you to Afterglow and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

Oh how I love Timothy Janovsky! He will certainly be an auto-read for me. The premise of this book was so fun and unique, and he has an amazing way of seamlessly weaving in great depth to his books (and, of course, some spice 😏). This was a great exploration of grief and the effects it has on mental health and relationships. That being said, be aware of that content warning prior to reading. I can’t wait for his future releases if there are anywhere near as fun and enjoyable as this one! 5 ⭐️ Thank you Harlequin Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

I feel like the pacing in this one was all over the place, especially since the hook is the game show and then it was such a small actual part of the book and left not a lot of room afterwards for the changes Holden ends up making to work through his grief and insecurities. I did like both Holden and Leo as characters but ultimately it wasn't enough for me to get fully invested in their relationship or the book as a whole.

The (Fake) Dating Game by Timothy Janovsky.

Summary: Holden James picked the worst time to have a meltdown. His chance to audition for his favorite 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 misery. But at least the hotel service 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…

Review: I was SO pleasantly surprised by this book! We are talking romance, fun, deep connections, self love, GRIEF. Oh how beautifully it was handled! This book is a hug.

#TheFakeDatingGame #NetGalley

**I was provided an electronic ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for honest review.**

Timothy Janovsky's newest contemporary romance is The (Fake) Dating Game. Readers follow Holden who is in the middle of a series of downs. Newly broken up with, moved back in with his father, stuck in dead end jobs, and stuck in the cycle of grief after the death of his mother six years prior, Holden is looking for a change. And he's determined that the game show he and his mom loved is the ticket to get there. When Holden travels to Los Angeles to audition for the show, he meets Leo, the handsome concierge who agrees to fake a relationship so they can compete. When fake dating causes real feelings, Leo and Holden have far more to face than just the competition.

Janovsky wrote an accessible, rapidly consumable romance that is not at all shallow despite the lightheartedness. Janovsky doesn't shy away from dealing with the problems in Holden and Leo's lives head on nor does he shy away from the high spice developments in their blossoming relationship. One of the things I was most fond of is how Holden comes to deal with his ex after taking the appropriate time to deal with his own problems. Janovsky achieved a great balance of quick, forward-moving pacing along with allowing characters to sit in their emotions.

Overall, this was exactly what I wanted from a quick romance like this and I am eager to explore more from Timothy Janovsky.

Loved it. Janovsky gets better with every book. It was fun, had great characters, and a had a bit of steam. No notes.

Thank you to the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is Janovsky's steamiest book and it was so much fun! I am such a sucker for the following:
-fake dating
-reality tv settings
-grumpy x sunshine

and this book delivered those tropes in the goofiest, most swoon-worthy iterations!

I highly recommend this contemporary achillean romcom!

The spice was definitely spicing in this new Timothy Janovsky Rom-Com! The couple didn’t give me fake dating vibes as much as I had expected and there wasn’t as much tension as I am used to seeing in fake dating tropes. They definitely had a connection right off the bat though because the steaminess was supurb, and I loved them as a couple by the end. Unfortunately I believe that when reading the description of this book, I assumed that it was more about Holden and Leo fake dating and being a part of the game show. I may be wrong but I expected the game show part to be a lot earlier and longer in the book than it was. It felt like it was rushed and the “after show” part went by way too quickly. It was a good book nonetheless. I enjoyed my time reading it!

I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is honest, unbiased, and completely my own.

This was a super cute, very fun M/M romance centered around a game show, and touching on grief of a parental death and loss of a long-term relationship.

Both MCs were very likable, their ‘love’ story was cute and engaging, and I found myself rooting for them both in the game show and in their individual relationships. Their characters were not overly fleshed out, and I felt this book could have either been shorter or more detailed, but it’s a great read for a lighthearted story.

There is a los a lot of spice, and a bit of a build up leading into their physical relationship.

A game show to win, a fake boyfriend, and two guys falling in love. Holden James is about to ask his longtime boyfriend to join him in an audition for his favorite game show, Madcap Market, except his boyfriend dumps him and kicks him out... leading to Holden having a bit of a meltdown and destroying the minibar in a Los Angeles Hotel. Yet what Holden never expects is that the very hot concierge offers to grab pizza with him and maybe even a kiss. Cue, Leo Min, a gorgeous, funny guy who somehow worms his way into Holden's heart. Holden and Leo connect and when Leo gets fired, Holden asks him to be his partner in Madcap Market. The cash prize would help him and Holden would get the chance to be on the show he loved to share with his mom who had passed away. They both agree that they have enough chemistry to be a fake couple for the show... yet its beginning to feel very real. To his ultimate surprise, Holden discovers that his ex, who had dumped him and disliked the show, is now a contestant of the show and he wants to get revenge against Holden. Holden and Leo are now trying to win a competition but also figure out the very real feelings between them. This was a cute and steamy read featuring a game show. It was fun and overall a good time. Holden and Leo were a cute couple and this was a fast and easy read. I'd definitely recommend this for anyone looking for a quick steamy cute rom com.

*Thanks Netgalley and HARLEQUIN - Romance (U.S. & Canada), Afterglow Books by Harlequin for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Unfortunately this did not work for me. I was not even able to finish the book which is sad because the premise really rocked! But there are too many quippy one liners that made me unable to finish or even connect to the characters. The fight in the restaurant was so cringe …. I just don’t think this author is for me.

Thank you so much to the author for the advance copy of this book!

I became an instant fan of Janovsky's work after first reading Never Been Kissed and I swear he is just getting better and better with each book. I thought New Adult was my favorite but this is now my favorite book of his.

"Holden James, you haven't experienced unraveled until you've had me inside you."

Holden & Leo. My boys.
I love them both so much! I love their banter and then when its flirtatious even better!! They just brought the best out of one another and they crossed paths at the most important time in their life. They both just had so many layers and though they were not together very long they were able to peel back those layers. They were just so attracted to one another and love when authors have their characters partake in casual/no strings attached sex because it feels realistic. Holden and Leo started their relationship as just a potential hook up but as romance readers know what always happens.

If you have read Janovsky's prior work, you know that his books are primarily closed door or slightly open in the term of romance. In this way, the door was pretty much ripped off its hinges. I love seeing this side of his writing. There were three moments that I can think of where my jaw was on the floor and also cheering in my head as it was happening (iykyk).

One of my favorite things to have in a romance book is a karaoke scene. No matter the book the karaoke part always ends up being my favorite part of the book & more times than not become an important part of the book. This book was no exception. And we are lucky enough to not only have 1 karaoke moment but 2!!!! This made me so incredibly happy!

"It's horrible when someone is both everywhere and nowhere all at once, and there's nothing you can do about it."

Despite this gorgeous colorful cover, this book does tackle grief head on. Holden lost his mother years prior but he never dealt with the grief of losing her. He held on so much and let the grief consume his whole being which cost him his relationship with his now ex. Holden had some meaningful conversations not only with Leo, his ex Buckley and most importantly his father. I have not lost a parent but I have had lost in my life and the quote above just hit me in my feels. There is no right or wrong way to grieve and you could feel that things were brewing as the book went on until it just came to a head. My heart just broke for him. But I am glad he was able to take time towards the end to work on himself & make strides to talk about his grief.

I do not have memory of ever watching Supermarket Sweep so I didn't have a connection to the game but that didn't take away from understanding Madcap Market. I thought that was such a fun element to the romance and made it unique compared to other romances I have read.

I know Timothy has a book coming out later in 2024 and I'm even more excited after reading this!

If you are. a fan of fake dating, food competition games, steamy romance with lots of heart - check this out!

Swoon Meter: 7/10
Karaoke: YES