Firstly, a big thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

I absolutely loved this book. Easily a 5⭐️ read. One of my favourite books I’ve read this year. I was so engrossed in the story that I didn’t want to put it down. It was funny, emotional, heartwarming, and heartbreaking all at once.

Cara and Millsy BELONG together. Their chemistry is undeniable, they’re so comical together, but above all, the love they have for each other is so apparent.

The plot is so well written, and it keeps you hooked with every page you turn. I would have liked to have seen a bit more written about certain moments, like when they go on a little trip together to see It’s a Wonderful Life etc. I think it would have been good to see more of them in scenarios where they didn’t actually have to act as a couple and to see what they would be like together without people around them. But that’s only a little thing I would have liked more of.

This is the perfect rom-com. You can feel the tension between Cara and Millsy all the way through the book, it has some laugh out loud moments from her dating fails and the mischief Cara and Millsy get into, there’s heaps of drama, and of course, romance and a little bit of spice! The ending was absolutely perfect as well, it was the ending I was hoping for.

I found out this was the follow-up to The Plus One Pact by the author where the main characters meet after I finished the book. I wish it was mentioned in the beginning so i could’ve read it first. Aside from that, it was a decent second chance romance book . The lack of communication between Cara and Millsy was kind of off-putting. The book would've been half its length if they'd just sat down and had a proper conversation like mature adults. Miscommunication normally isn’t my cup of tea though so it could just be me

The book is a sequel to One Plus Pact. The book is centered around Cara and Millsy, everyone's favourite couple. They have broken up but decide to pretend to be together for for the holiday season.

There was many funny moments in the book and I did like the couple however while I like the fake dating trope, the biggest issue between the couple was miscommunication which im not a fan of. Overall the story was good and well written.

Thank you Net Gallery and Boldwood Books for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC

Portia Macintosh is a gem. The Faking Game is another brilliant and wonderful book to add to the collection. In fact, I’m sure Portia is getting better and better with every book.

This is full of more wonderful characters who you can’t help but adore. I love the Christmassy vibes that have been thrown in.

This is a book that has had me full on laughing one minute and crying the next. This has been brilliant from beginning to end.

Portia has transported me to the pages of this one. I felt as though I was watching the events play out in front of me.

This has been a nice light hearted gem by a brilliant author. I have nothing negative I can say about this book. It is just wonderful from beginning to end.

This is a book I have no hesitation in recommending. Portia is superb and a must read author.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the ARC I'm exchange for an honest review!!

I found this to be a just-okay story. I found out from other reviews that this is a sequel - which I don't recall seeing anywhere in the book description or on NetGalley, which to me is a little strange. Had I known, I probably would've tried to read the first book first. I struggled to vibe with the characters in this book; I feel like I got a lot of info, yet I barely know them. Perhaps I wouldn't have struggled as much had I read the first books before it.

This book clearly is meant to be a rom com. I can see where it attempts to be funny - however, I ended up finding a lot of those parts either cringy or annoying. Cara's family particularly bugged me - the aunt and the cousin especially! I know that was done on purpose, but they kept making me angry. The repetition of Cara and Millsy getting into scrapes and having to work together to get out again was also tedious, in my opinion.

There were some parts I enjoyed. The dates were funny. I liked Cara's business partner, Charlie. The plot was okay; the second half of the book was better than the first half, in my opinion. But all in all I found this book to be quite... Average. I think I would've preferred it as a film, which I'd kill a couple of hours watching one night, rather than a book that's taken longer to read. But all in all it was okay. I think you'd like this if you like the written version of a Christmas romcom film.

3.5 stars 🌟

Cara and Millsy have broken up, but decide to keep pretending they are together, in order to survive the holiday season with their families.

A cute premise, and one of my favourite tropes, but the miscommunication between these 2 really did not do it for me. By the end, I wasn't even sure if they should be together or how they would make it work with their very different and time-consuming careers. And then their relationship went from 0-100 in the last few pages which honestly it wasn't really building to.

Still, really funny in-between scenes and very well written.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC. All views are my own.

This was good! I’m a huge fan of fake dating .
It was a okay vook for me. It is a sequel so I needed to reread the first one.
A 3.5 stars read for me.

I honestly am not 100% sure how I feel about this book. I fell in love with Cara and Millsy in the Plus One Pact. In fact, that was the book that got me hooked on Portia MacIntosh's writing. This is a follow-up of them a few years later. I feel I would have enjoyed it more if I had read them closer together but my biggest issue with the book was how much miscommunication there was. It felt like most of the book could have been easily avoided with a simple grown up conversation. And it felt a bit crazy that when they do have a conversation near the end they go from 0-200% all in one go.

All in all, I loved getting to see old characters again but this wasn't as good as the first book for me.

Cara and Millsy, once popular and fun-loving, have broken up. They face a busy schedule with family and friends, so they make a pact to pretend they're still in love and survive the festivities without suspicion. Will they fake it or realize they're meant to be together?

I read The Plus One Pact by the author, which is the book where the story of Cara and Millsy started. I enjoyed reading that one and couldn't wait to get back to where they are now.

This is a cute holiday read that is funny and entertaining. The fake dating and second-chance romance worked well hand in hand. The premise was good and had family drama, if you like it. I was smiling, feeling bad for the characters and more. The author took me on an emotional ride.

I would recommend reading The Plus One Pact to get to know the characters well.

Add it to your TBR!

Cara and Millsy, once everyone's favourite couple, navigate the awkward aftermath of their breakup during a calendar full of events and celebrations. Faced with the dilemma of not wanting to disappoint friends and family, they hatch a plan: pretend to be madly in love until the festive season is over, and then deal with the breakup in the new year. The story unfolds with humour and holiday spirit as Cara and Millsy grapple with the challenges of faking their love amidst the festivities. Will they successfully navigate the charade, or will the magic of the season reveal that maybe they're meant to be after all? The novel is a delightful exploration of love, laughter, and the unexpected twists that come with the holidays.

This lighthearted and amusing rom-com, ideal for the holiday season, will have you already feeling the Christmas cheer. The author's witty humor skillfully guides you through a nearly impossible book to set aside. This book is worth a shot if you're a fan of fake dating and second-chance romances.

Initially, this book seemed like an enjoyable, breezy read. Having completed it, I can confirm that it did offer those elements, but perhaps not to the degree I had anticipated. It was fun but didn't quite reach the level of enjoyment I had hoped for. You might understand that it didn't fully meet my expectations.

I must also mention that the characters felt somewhat two-dimensional, and I didn't get to know them as well as I would have liked. Furthermore, I struggled to comprehend why everyone was so enamored with the central couple. The blurb made it a significant point, but I found it hard to see why in the book. Numerous family members didn't seem overly invested in their relationship, and, to be honest, I didn't feel a strong connection either.

In the end, I found this book enjoyable, but it didn't surpass that level. It's not groundbreaking or terrible; it just had a few aspects that bothered me, and these concerns grew significantly after I finished the book. It's a quick read; I finished it in a single day. However, I couldn't help but think that it had the potential to be so much better.

I’d like to start this review by thanking NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Portia Macintosh for the Arc access to this book!

The Faking Game is such a heart-warming holiday romance that explores family dynamics and the idea that families aren't perfect. I was captivated from the start as I adore a second chance romance and fake dating trope (especially between ex-lovers). There are elements between suspense, romance, family dynamics making it an amazing cosy Christmas-themed book that gets you into the holiday spirit. The atmosphere is cosy and I felt immersed in the holiday spirit. The way that this book has made me excited for Christmas is crazy.

I looove a second chance romance and this book definitely delivered. The tension and the unresolved feelings between Cara and Millsy was amazing *chefs kiss*. It added depth to the story and made me want to keep turning the pages as they navigated the challenges of pretending to be in a relationship for their families sake. Portia has expertly written this trope.

The portrayal of imperfect families added a touch of reality to the story. It is a reminder that not all families are perfect and that holidays can really bring the worst out of your loved ones. It felt relatable.

This book is perfect for those who love a holiday themed romance. Portia Macintosh will 100% become an author I gravitate to!

I didn't realize this was a sequel to another book. Had I known, I probably wouldn't have requested it so that's my fault. However, I feel like I've watched a movie like this before. Fake holiday romance, meets second chance love, meets "hey, I actually love you". It was good, nothing special as to the plot though. It is a typical holiday romance.

A holiday fake dating, miscommunication, second chance romance, with a love triangle.

This is a sequel to the Plus One Pact, which I wish I had known prior to reading the Faking Game (I hate reading out of order!). Friends-to-Lovers Cara and Millsy have been together for awhile now, and everyone loves their relationship. When Millsy goes to LA for a movie role they grow apart but decide not to tell their families they have broken up. It's the holidays and they are traveling so they don't want to rock the boat. They decide to wait until New Year, and then publicly break up. Miscommunication, a dialogue coach, and some pining later, they decide they are better together.

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my unbiased review.

I’d like to start this review by thanking NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Portia Macintosh for the Arc access to this book!

The Faking Game is the follow up novel to Mills’s and Cara’s romance story. After they break up, they end up faking their relationship until the family holidays are over.

Even though they are not together anymore, they still know each other's likes and dislikes. They created a little routine of things they do together, like Cara eating the frosting from the cupcakes Mllsy eats because he doesn’t like it. Adorable! Also, these two (mostly due to Cara’s clumsiness) end up in the most awkward situations and have to come up with a way of solving it together.

I thoroughly despised the other woman scenario, in which Millsy was always with Tally and she was always getting in their way. Half of the time it felt like her only purpose was to drag the book instead of contributing to the plot. Additionally, the lack of communication between Millsy and Cara almost drove me crazy! It was clear that they still loved each other and if one of them had had the guts to say something about it they would have spared themselves from a lot of heartache.

Overall, this was an entertaining book. Not a five star read, but it had a couple scenes that made me laugh and fall a little bit in love with the characters. If you’re looking for a romcom book that’s easy and fast to read then this might be for you (after you’ve read “The Plus One Pact” Ofc).

This book was about fake dating and second chance romance and it should have been absolutely perfect. The synopsis was enough to give me a dopamine rush. But the execution was not so good. I felt that the author relied too heavily on miscommunication as a tactic to create tension and also felt the characters did not have any depth. I later found that the author had written a book about these two characters before and maybe I would have cared more about the characters if I had read that one

I would recommend this book to people who like fake dating, forced proximity, second chance romance and holiday romance

Starting a new Portia MacIntosh story I usually know I am going to be entertained with both romance and laughter, but this RomCom was somewhat different. We don't get the meet cute between Cara and Millsy, instead we get to follow their story after it is all over and they are pretending still to be a couple over the holiday season. This is a sequel to The Plus One Pact which I listened to a few years ago.
Just like when they got together, wherever Cara and Millsy seem to go, drama follows them. The whole story I wondered where Portia was going to take it... will Cara and Millsy realize breaking up was a mistake because they are great together? Will their secret be revealed?
I think some of the funniest things included Cara's dad and him being from Yorkshire and some of the dialogue was really great.

Cara and Joe have been together for years and they’re surrounded by family members who think they’re perfect together. So, rather than ruin Christmas by admitting they’ve broken up, the pair plan to go along with the big family Christmas and hope nobody finds out what they’re hiding.
Naturally, this doesn’t quite go according to plan.
The pair are quite entertaining and there’s plenty of opportunity to show us how good they are together. There’s some misunderstandings and a couple of potential banana skins to navigate.
From the start you sense how this will go. It delivers an entertaining read, while sticking safely to our expectations.

This book had it all! I love how this writer made me smile and I love how some parts were so cheesy . Definitely a great fake dating story

I really enjoyed this fake dating rom com with a bit of a difference to the usual fake dating storylines.

Cara and Millsy were in a long term relationship but had recently split up but due to a lot of social gathering over the festive period they decide to pretend to everyone else they are still a couple.

I liked Cara and Millsy although at times they did frustrate me a bit by not communicating properly to each other how they felt. Tally was super annoying I didn’t like her at all.

Some of the problems they got themselves into had me laughing. I loved the chemistry between the two characters aswell.

I didn’t realise that this book is a sequel to The Plus One Pact, this one can be read as a standalone but you would get a better understanding of the characters from reading the first book.

Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources and the publisher for having me on the tour and for my gifted ebook.