Fake Dating, Real Healing, and a Love Worth Fighting For
5 out of 5 stars
Sometimes a book just clicks with you, and Playing for Keeps by Monica McCallan, narrated by Lori Prince, was that book for me. It’s the perfect blend of fake relationship charm, slow-burn romance, and personal growth, all set against the cozy backdrop of Stoneport, Massachusetts. From the very first chapter, I was rooting for Sydney and Reese — not just to find love, but to find healing too.
Sydney King’s story hit me right in the heart. After a devastating sports injury and a messy breakup, she returns home to pick up the pieces. What she doesn’t expect is to get tangled up in a fake dating scheme with her ex-boyfriend’s sister — a woman who’s trying to prove her own worth in a family that overlooked her. Watching Sydney and Reese support each other through past hurts, messy family dynamics, and the complicated emotions that come with starting over made this romance feel so genuine and comforting.
Monica McCallan’s writing shines here. Her characters feel real — their conversations, their dreams, even their doubts are drawn with such care that you can’t help but fall in love with them. I loved how the story didn’t rely on unnecessary drama; the emotional depth came from the characters learning to trust, forgive, and believe in themselves again. It’s a beautifully hopeful story about finding your own version of success and happiness, no matter what life throws at you.
And I can’t talk about this audiobook without mentioning Lori Prince’s narration — she’s simply incredible. She brings a softness and sincerity to the story that makes me feel like I was right there, cheering on Sydney and Reese.
Playing for Keeps is an absolute must-listen if you love fake dating tropes, characters who communicate like grown-ups, and romances that feel like a warm hug. It’s easily one of my favorite sapphic romances. It was sweet, satisfying, and full of heart.
Book Description:
A year ago, Sydney King was a successful pro tennis player with a long-term boyfriend, a plan for the future, and a shot at fulfilling all her dreams.
Now, she has a cheating ex-boyfriend and a career-ending injury, and—quite frankly—things could not be going worse for her.
She hopes that returning home to Stoneport, Massachusetts, will be the reset her life needs—until she finds out her ex’s wedding to the woman he cheated with is the social event of the season.
The last person Sydney expects to find camaraderie with is her former fiancé’s sister, Reese Devereux. Back home after the purchase of a local inn, Reese has wounds of her own and seems even less enthused about her brother’s wedding than Sydney.
When an unexpected mix-up creates the perfect story that she and Reese are dating, shockingly, Reese runs with it. Sydney knows it’s a bad idea, but being on Reese’s arm gives her the chance to pretend life is just a little bit more in her control than it feels.
Both women are coming home to their pasts, but it’s up to them to decide what they want their futures to look like.
The Love Lie by Monica McCallanNarrator: Lori Prince
Length: 12 hrs and 34 mins
Published by Tantor Audio on April 7th 2025
Genres: LesFic/Sapphic Fiction, Slow Burn, Sports Romance
Also by this author: The Flaw In Our Design, Then & Now, When I'm With You, Back In Your Arms
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