Tessa needs money—fast. Losing her part-time job means rent is due with no way to pay it. Desperation drives her to sign up for a dating app that lets people hire fake boyfriends. The last person she expects to get matched with? Mason, her grumpy, stubborn ex-best friend from college.

Mason only signed up to make ends meet and cover his student loans, but being paired with Tessa throws him for a loop. Once inseparable, they haven’t spoken in years. Now, the app keeps glitching and pairing them for job after job—forcing them to play the perfect couple at family gatherings, glamorous galas, and even a romantic weekend getaway.

Old wounds resurface, and unresolved feelings bubble to the surface. The more they pretend, the harder it is to deny the chemistry simmering between them. As their past collides with their present, Mason and Tessa must confront their biggest fear—what if the line between fake and real love has already blurred beyond recognition?

When the app makes them the face of its latest campaign, the world is watching—and so are their hearts. Can they stop faking it long enough to admit the truth? Or will fear and pride keep them apart once again?

One thing’s for sure—pretending to be in love has never felt this real.

Avery L. Monroe