My Favorite Fake Romance

The Favorites, Book 3

By: Elizabeth O'Roark

Narrated by: Kasi Hollowell, James Cassidy

Faking it never felt this good.

Dr. Easton Walsh thought she’d be showing up to her best friend’s wedding with a dazzling ring and a fiancé everyone wanted to Instagram. Instead, her boyfriend dumped her over what was supposed to be a proposal dinner and the only man offering her a lifeline is the last one she’d ever choose: Elijah Cabot. Her best friend’s older brother. The guy who broke her heart once already.

He'll help make her ex jealous...All she has to do is help him drive his grandmother across several states to the wedding. Easy.

But the fake relationship is starting to feel real, and the longer the trip goes on, the harder it is for Easton to remember that Boston—and her carefully built life—don’t include Elijah. Especially when her ex starts dangling threats that could derail her career if she doesn’t come back to him.

Now Easton has to decide: risk everything for a second chance at the one man she shouldn’t want…or keep playing it safe, even if it means losing the best thing that’s ever happened to her—again.

©2025 Elizabeth O'Roark (P)2025 Elizabeth O'Roark

Easton & Elijah

Easton was hoping to get engaged before her best friend's wedding, but instead, she’s dumped. Determined to make her ex jealous, she convinces Elijah, her best friend’s brother, to pretend to date her if she agrees to take a road trip with him to the wedding. Their journey is so fun, and I can’t get enough of Elijah’s grandmother! Her hilarious, teasing comments at Easton’s expense are priceless, and Easton always has the perfect comeback.

As they travel together, the chemistry between Easton and Elijah becomes impossible to ignore, and their fake relationship starts to feel very real. Narrators Kasi Hollowell and James Cassidy bring Easton and Elijah to life beautifully, capturing all the tension, humor, and heart. I adore this series, and this book is just as fantastic as the rest!

Good story

There are many inconsistencies between the book and the audio (MMC 35 vs 36 years old, grandma Carol is referred to as Mary, the car is a Jetta and then a Honda, also some sentences are missing or different) i guess they used a different version. Other than that, the story is compelling. A little frustrating sometimes. The narrators are excellent.

simple amazing. Elijah and Easton.... sigh

•Tropes: Enemies to lovers, Best Friends brother, Forced Proximity.

• Thoughts:
Easton and Elijah are perfection!!! I have loved their story so much. The banter was freaking top notch! I laughed so hard, but not only that there was so much heart and so much emotion between these two. I loved how Elijah and Easton interacted with one another, how quick Easton is with her wit! I love how Elijah sees Easton for who she is! I devoured this book so fast, and I am not gonna lie, I am so sad this series is complete. Its been a top series for me this year!! I definitely will recommend this book, this series.

Narrator Thoughts:
Narrators: Kasi Hollowell and James Cassidy
•Duet Narration. 1.70x
I have not heard of Kasi before this book, but I will be seeking out her narrations. I adored her and how she brought Easton to life. She did an amazing job, and James Cassidy was fantastic . I freaking loved him as Elijah. He was perfection!!!

Honestly l, all three books were incredible, all 3 Audiobooks were phenomenal! Definitely amazing.

Loved favorite book in the series

Loved favorite book in the series . Such an amazing story with a HEA. Emotional with lots of funny parts throughout the book. Loved the narrators.

💗🎭 Fake dating, real feelings, and a road trip.

💗🎭 Fake dating, real feelings, and a road trip that rewrites everything 🎭💗

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
Spice-meter: 🌶️☆☆☆☆ (1/5)
Audiobook: 🎧 dual narration
Serie: The Favorites, Book 3, fully enjoyable as a standalone

My first Elizabeth O’Roark book, and what a ride. My Favorite Fake Romance hooked me right away with its sharp mix of heartbreak, resentment, and the kind of chemistry that simmers even when the characters would prefer it didn’t. What pulled me in most was Easton herself: a woman who’s spent years pleasing everyone but herself, suddenly thrown onto a collision course with the one man who once cracked her heart clean open. Their dynamic is a delicious blend of old wounds, unspoken longing, and reluctant partnership, turning a simple fake-dating setup into something genuinely emotional. Add a cross-country trip, a cantankerous grandmother with lethal one-liners, and the slow, breathless shift from enemies to something much softer, and the book becomes equal parts fun, tense, and tender. It’s a slow burn with teeth humorous, heartfelt, and surprisingly moving.

The Story
After being dumped at what should’ve been her proposal dinner, Dr. Easton Walsh refuses to show up at her best friend’s wedding alone and humiliated. Enter Elijah Cabot, her best friend’s older brother, the man who once left her gutted, and the only one offering a solution: pretend to be her boyfriend and make her ex squirm. All he asks in return is help driving his grandmother across the country. The deal is simple… until the miles stack up and the line between fake and real blurs. With her ex threatening her career and Elijah slowly becoming impossible to resist, Easton is forced to choose between the safe path she’s always walked and the man who’s become her greatest risk, and her greatest chance at something real.

🎧 Narration
Narrated by Kasi Hollowell and James Cassidy
Hollowell is new to me, but she impressed me immediately warm, sharp, and effortlessly expressive. She captures every facet of Easton, from her people-pleasing tendencies to her fire, making her feel fully lived-in. Cassidy delivers exactly what I expect from him: depth, charm, and that quiet emotional punch he’s so good at. Together, they breathe life into every character, even the side voices. Their chemistry is stellar, their performance compelling, and they elevate the story from enjoyable to addictive.

What I Loved
✔️ The sharp, addictive banter
✔️ A genuine slow burn packed with longing
✔️ Elijah: protective, steady, emotionally layered
✔️ Easton: a people pleaser learning her worth
✔️ The road trip magic small moments with big impact
✔️ Granny’s sassy, unfiltered commentary
✔️ Low-spice, high-emotion dynamic
✔️ Strong audiobook performances

Tropes & Vibes
✔️ Fake Dating
✔️ Enemies to Lovers
✔️ Second Chance Energy
✔️ Brother’s Best Friend
✔️ Road Trip Romance
✔️ Protective Hero
✔️ Slow Burn
✔️ Banter-Rich
✔️ Emotional but uplifting

Final Thoughts
My Favorite Fake Romance blends humor, heartbreak, and slow-burn tension into a story that lands its emotional beats without ever feeling heavy. Easton and Elijah have the kind of chemistry that sneaks up on you, building through stolen glances, late-night confessions, and road-trip intimacy. Add in a delightfully grumpy grandmother and strong narration, and the book becomes a warm, engaging listen. Charming, heartfelt, and compulsively readable, this was a standout surprise.