The Good Guy Challenge

De: Lauren Blakely

Narrado por: Jason Clarke, Stella Hunter

Fake real dating the one who got away? Sign me up…

There’s just something about bad boys. Tattoos and leather jackets, am I right? Trouble is, my last boyfriend was a teensy bit too bad and now he’s in prison. Yikes.

When my friends challenge me to take a dip in the good guy side of the dating pool, I see their dating bet and I raise it, looking up the guy I crushed on growing up.

With a winning grin and heart of gold, Gabe Clements is now the star receiver for a pro football team. Except, the supposed good guy turns out to be nothing like I imagined. He’s better. He’s growly, possessive, smoldering.

And he’s determined too. At the end of the night, he asks me to be his fake real girlfriend for the rest of the week.

Sounds like my kind of dating challenge since he’s a good guy by day, and a very dirty man after dark. I’ll cure my bad boy blues in no time.

Well, as long as I don’t fall for Gabe’s big heart too.

©2022 Lauren Blakely Books (P)2025 Lauren Blakely Books

5 STARS! Sweet, romantic & seriously sexy fake date sports romance!

The Good Guy Challenge was a Blakely style mash-up of her wonderful contemporary romances and her white hot After Dark series. A fake-dating, MF sports romance, Blakely brought together a couple with a bit of history and an age gap in this sweet and surprisingly spicy story. I listened to the audiobook, and I was positively captivated by Stella Hunter and Jason Clarke’s performances.

Gabe and Ellie have known each for years. Their families were friends and neighbors, Gabe was her childhood babysitter, and unbeknownst to him, he later was teenage Ellie’s secret crush. Fast forward a decade and some change, and Gabe is entering his final year in the NFL, and actress/screenwriter Ellie has just relocated back to California after a horrific breakup to focus on her new project. Her friends have challenged her to date a good guy, and as it turns out, Gabe just happens to be one.

Blakely penned an absolutely addictive story here that was meant to get lost in. Gabe and Ellie’s connection was sincere and authentic, their attraction to each other was electric, and their banter was sassy and witty. While they meshed well everywhere, Gabe and Ellie were especially in sync in the bedroom where their sexy, spontaneous sides really came out to play. Full of heart-revving heat and feel-good emotions, The Good Guy Challenge was full of absolutely everything I love about a Blakely novel. Five smooches from me for The Good Guy Challenge by Lauren Blakely!
~Danielle Palumbo, Red Cheeks Reads

Deliciously dirty fake to forever romance!

Give me all that spice and anything but nice! The Good Guy Challenge by Lauren Blakey was a deliciously dirty fake to forever age gap romance that brought all the HEAT and the SWOON. Seriously, Ellie and Gabe’s instant, fiery hot chemistry never made “bad” feel so “good!” This is book 2 in Lauren’s The Girlfriend Playbook series, and she definitely came to play!

Stella Hunter and Jason Clarke narrate this audiobook, and whew…did these two bring on quite a few blushes with their blazing performances. Stella’s performance of Ellie was fantastically flirty, fun, and alluring. Plus, Stella is spot-on showcasing Ellie’s confidence in the bedroom and in life! Jason brings his signature growly tone to Gabe’s dominant, charismatic, and possessive persona which proves the good guy next door is filled with filthy good intentions. (Yes, please!) I always love when Jason and Stella are paired together because they never fail to bring so much passion to their performances which in turn makes you love the characters even more.

Overall, I LOVED this book. If you are a fan of an age-gap romance with a hot hunky wide receiver, a successful actress turned writer, former teenage crushes, family friends, reconnecting at Gin Joint, Venice Beach, Adirondack chair spice, a cute little dog named Gigi, poker games with the guys, smokin HOT role play steamy scenes (hey there sexy priest), fake dating, lawn croquet, egg nog parties, and a HEA that challenges your heart in all the best ways, then you will love Ellie and Gabe’s fake to forever story. I always look forward to more from Lauren Blakely!

Good can be oh so bad in the best way

Book two in The Dating Games series is full of hotness. This author has brought it all into this book. There is an age gap, naughty fantasies, role-playing, and a cute pup named Gigi that steals the show.

Ellie has dated the worst bad boys and when her last relationship blows up her friends challenge her to date a good guy for a change. She knows just the right guy. Gabe is ten years older than Ellie but she had a teenage crush on this hot, sweet guy and knows he is still that nice guy all these years later. She had no idea about Gabe's bad-boy side until they spend a week pretending to be together and what a week it is.

Gabe's last relationship blew up in a way that made him feel he was damaged. He is a professional football player by day and has dirty fantasies at night and wants a partner that wants the same thing. When he and Ellie get together he has no idea this sweet girl he once knew would be his equal in the bedroom or out. They are perfect together and one week will not be enough.

Jason Clarke and Stella Hunter are amazing to listen to in this book. Jason definitely brings Gabe's naughty side out and Stella is just perfect for Ellie. They were both great.

A steamy, sexy and still sweet listen!

Have your ac on and your fire extinguisher at the ready when you start this book!

What’s sexier than a football player with tattoos? One that is a good guy at heart and knows how to take care of his woman in every way. Gave grabbed me from the start! I loved his passion and how secure he was in what he wanted. He never compromises or waivers. Fans of Jason Clarke’s narrations will not be disappointed by his portrayal of Gabe! His sultry voice will make your toes curl!!!

Ellie is new to the city, about to start a new chapter in her life from on screen to behind, not to mention leaving the bad guys in the rear view mirror. Stella Hunter brings a fresh voice to Ellie where you hear the sweet in her character but feel the sexy too! These two together are shear magic!

When these two old friends meet up years later, their chemistry is undeniable. They can both help scratch an itch for each other. He can help her appear to her family that she’s put toxic relationships in the past, and maybe she can help Gabe explore the more adventurous sides of his desires.

These two embark on one week of exciting mornings and delicious nights that will make your toes curl and make you gasp for breath. With each sexy day that passes, these two take you on a roller coaster that you want to ride again and again. At times, what they do and say to each other made me blush! Their connection is fun, flirty, dirty and hotter than the California sun!

GREAT Listen!

Another hit from my favorite author!! You don't have to wait for the heat in this story-the main MC's have a surprising connection throughout the story. This age gap, friends to lovers romance is such a great listen. And Jason Clarke makes a swoon worthy book boyfriend.

Spicy dirty talk

Loved this fake dating, friends to lovers romcom. The MMC, Gabe, might be one of my fave of all time (and wow the dirty talk was next level 😅). Open door, 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5, so much fun.

Another Banging Hit!

Another Banging Hit! Elizabeth @ Carolina Chic’s Read

Gabe and Ellie are electric! This tale of two people that finally find their match is spectacular! Loved this story as much as the first in the series! More Please!

5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Hot🔥

I love a good guy who turns dirty under the sheets 🤭
The story it self is not anything new, but the narration added more fire 🔥

Stella Hunter and Jason Clarke are amazing ❤️

Move Over Christian Grey, Gabe Clements is in the

The Good Guy Challenge is the story of Gabe Clements and Ellie Snow. Both of them are coming off bad relationships and just want to find the other piece to their puzzle. Gabe wants to find someone who has the same bedroom tastes as he does, and Ellie wants to find her good guy. Can they find that in each other?

Holy Smokes!!! This was giving me back to the Exquisite series vibes WHICH IS WHAT I HAVE BEEN DYING TO SEE from Lauren. From the moment these two characters met there was so much simmer, sizzle and heat I thought my AirPods were going to COMBUST! From Ellies smart and sassy remarks, to Gabes kinkery in the bedroom and the various (public ;-) ) roll play situations...I am blushing just thinking of it. This will most definitely be a book a listen to again.

This book was narrated by a veteran for LB books and a newbie. Jason Clarke, oh boy did he bring his A game for Gabe. He was so good at playing the sweet caring Boyfriend on the outside in public, and then switching to his naughty self in a heartbeat. Plus there is an added bonus at the very end of the book, Irish Jason!! You don't to miss it so make sure you keep it on till the very last second. Stella is new for Lauren, while I was skeptical because she has generally not been a favorite of mine. But I did enjoy her narrations as Ellie in this book.

Gabe hits the right spot🫦

Oh my GABE😱 Ladies Lauren has created the perfect man. An absolute good guy who is oh so sexy in the bedroom. He is the epitome of age is just a number because this 36 year old is 🥵 no matter if he is football Gabe, stranger Gabe or Professor Clements🔥🔥🔥

I absolutely love Gabe & Ellie for each other. At first time wasn’t on their side but the universe lined up and got it right💕

💕fave quotes 📖

This is not a picnic kiss. It’s nightclub devastation.🥵🥵🥵

We’re not a red-and-white-checked-tablecloth kind of couple. We are satin sheets and blindfolds.🤤

I’m about to have a drink with the guy I harbored a wicked, forbidden crush on when I was in high school. Back then, I was fifteen. He was twenty-five. He was all kinds of off-limits, and yet Gabe Clements sleeping on my parents’ couch in all his muscly, bearded glory was my gd sexual awakening when I was busy growing b°°bs.——Yass girl!!!