How does a one-night stand turn into your fake girlfriend?Senior year. I should be partying and living it up with my friends before graduation, but one more mistake and I’m off the team. Enter Chloe.She comes into my life at a low point, but she becomes the bright spot I reach for every day.She’s the kind of girl who makes a guy want to be a better man. And for a while, I even start to believe … man. And for a while, I even start to believe I’ve changed enough to deserve her.
I’ve got my eye on the future, and I’m letting my past stay where it belongs.
But the thing about the past… it always comes back to bite you when you least expect it.
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Great Read! I love this entire series. I love this genre, college… hot athletes… all the angst of such a pivotal time in life… Romantic, fun twists. One of the best series ending books I’ve ever read 🙂
Nathan and Chloe are just so swoony. These damaged charaters really stepped up into wonderful charaters. Highly recommended
Chloe and Nathan meet at a sports event that neither one really want to be at but find comfort in each other’s company for the night. They connect and end up spending the night together – only for Chloe’s roommates (who are not really big fans of her) to find her and Nathan the next morning in a compromising position. So the logical thing to do, so her roommates don’t hate her further, is to lie and say that Nathan is her boyfriend. So the plan is they pretend so Chloe’s roommates accept her for two months and she will pay Nathan for his time. What could go wrong?
Nathan and Chloe were fantabulous. I loved everything about them but I think what I loved the most was how this fake relationship trope played out. This is usually one of my least favorite tropes but I truly enjoyed Jenshak’s play on it. It was different and so beyond refreshing. Hands down my favorite fake relationship book to date. I really enjoyed the ride that Nathan and Chloe took us on, their growth and development, their connection and chemistry was amazing but my absolute favorite part of this book was how they characters handled the conflict. It hit me to the core – I have never felt like a conflict was handled so perfectly. I can’t say anything without spoilers but I loved it, truly and deeply. There is no spoiled, entitled, how could you do this to me, over the top drama conflict. It was real, I wish that I had better words for it but the way that Chloe and Nathan handled it was real. I respected that so dang much. This author continues to blow my mind. She is becoming a one-click for me real fast.
I ended up putting this book down and didn’t finish reading it
I’m sad to see this series come to a close, but The Fake does provide us with a satisfying ending. Chloe situation is practically ripped from the headlines, and I love how Rebecca Jenshak gave an alternate perspective to what is portrayed in reality in this regard. I’ve wanted Nate’s story since he was introduced, but I especially wanted to see him get a HEA after he suffered a bit of heartbreak and rejection in The Tip-Off. His backstory and the responsibility he took on made him a very sympathetic hero and I think one of my favorite aspects of the book was that when ish hit the fan, it didn’t take an inordinate amount of time for the dust to settle – because I don’t think I would’ve enjoyed reading about Nate being in any kind of emotional turmoil for any longer than necessary. I also really loved the fake relationship trope utilized here. I think I can officially say that Rebecca Jenshak is a must read author for me and I can’t wait to read whatever she comes out with next! 4 out of 5 wine glasses.
A delightful and pleasant listening experience!
Jason Clarke and Ava Erickson will knock your socks off with the brilliant and perfect performance of this audiobook. Both of them are pretty amazing at voicing each character and bringing them to life.
The Fake is the 4th and final book in the Smart Jock series, and can be listened/read as standalone as the previous installments.
Nathan and Chloe’s story is one that will still your heart. Their chemistry and connection is palpable, and their journey believable and captivating through the voices of Jason Clarke and Ava Erickson. This two narrators had been an automatic buy since I first found them.
All in all, this is a well written sports romance, with a heartwarming, sexy, funny, and sweet storyline beautifully brought to life by two great narrators that will make of this, a delightful and pleasant listening experience.
I really enjoyed this book a lot. I’m giving it 4.5 out of 5 stars.
First, I loved being able to actually get to know Nathan! We met him in the other books, but honestly, he was off in his own world. We didn’t get to see him as much as the other guys. And we finally got to see his backstory that was talked about vaguely before. He was a very believable character to me, and while he didn’t always make the right choice, he was trying to do what he thought was best at the time. I liked him a lot, and my heart went out to him.
As for Chloe, I wouldn’t say she was my favorite female character from this author, but she wasn’t bad. I felt like I didn’t really get to know her as deeply as I wanted to. Because of what she dealt with before coming to Valley U, she had some reservations about most things besides volleyball. There was one part in the book where I knew something was going to happen, and I was just waiting for the other shoe to drop. It could have gone a lot worse, and my heart went out to her, but at least she finally found a group of people at her new school that had her back.
All that being said, I liked how these two weren’t a picture perfect couple, and that what they had was real. Except when it wasn’t haha. I also enjoyed that they hung out with each other’s friends/roommates, because I got to see a lot of the characters I’ve loved. Overall, I thought this was a great ending to this series, and I can’t wait to read more from this author.
Coming from two opposite ends of the social spectrum, Nathan and Chloe couldn’t be any more different.. Humbled by circumstances that both teach them some hard lessons, the two cross paths at exactly the right time they’re meant to. When Chloe asks Nathan to pretend-date her in exchange for cash, he initially refuses as he intends to date her for real. But desperation comes in different forms and sizes, and they learn that while unconventional, what each other has to offer is exactly what they need.
The romance doesn’t give you time to dwell on it; it jumps full force — and in the best way possible. There’s no beating around the bush, no denial, they’ve been attracted to each other since the day they met. There’s some hesitation that comes from Chloe, but you understand from the get-go just exactly why. Nathan is patient with her, you can’t help but root for him despite the bad decisions he’s made in the past.
The two are so compelling as individuals, seeing how realistic their struggles are. But together, they’re just magic and it’s admiring how they truly do make each other better. Author Rebecca Jenshak does a stellar job of humanizing these characters and an even better job at bringing them together as a couple. Nathan and Chloe fit right in among the other Smart Jocks couples, their simplicity even resembling a close kinship to the first couple of the series, Blair and Wes.
The Smart Jocks group has had some of the best relationships and friendships and The Fake is hands-down another book to add to the series of the best people one could ever meet.
I think Nathan and Chloe are my favorite couple. Nathan and Chloe have a mind blowing night and the next day isn’t what Nathan expected. Chloe is trying walk a straight line after the fall out at her old school. All she wants is for the girls on her team to like her. Nathan is walking a fine line with the basketball team. The way these two become a couple is just too swoony. Wanting so much to help each other but when they are together there is nothing fake about the way they feel.
Loved this story so much!!!.
This is the fourth book in the Smart Jock Series, a college sports romance. I love this Series! This story is my favorite of the Series. Nathan and Chloe’s story is beautiful. They are both athletes. Chloe is a lovely woman, resilient, understanding, and mature. Nathan is handsome, caring, and protective. I like the friendship and the solidarity between the teammates. This is a sweet, sexy and heartwarming romance. Jason Clarke and Ava Erickson did an amazing job with the narration. I enjoyed it and I highly recommend it.
Valley U basketball player and former party boy Nathan Payne has been trying to change his ways and make money to send home. He’s just landed himself in hot water and almost lost his scholarship when he meets Chloe McPherson.
Beach volleyball player Chloe just transferred to Valley U after being expelled from her previous school because of a scandal. Her teammates have been giving her a hard time–until they see her with Nathan! Chloe realizes that the best way to get them to see beyond her past is for them to think she’s dating Nathan. She makes an offer that Nathan could hardly refuse: pretend to be her boyfriend and she’ll pay him for his time. Things go well until their feelings get in the way…
I loved how Chloe and Nathan are both damaged by their past and how they both “fix”each other. There’s so much more to Nathan than meets the eye.
Narrators Jason Clarke and Ava Erickson did a great job bringing this story to life.
The Fake is a contemporary new adult romance written in dual first-person POV and performed in dual narration. It’s a low-angst standalone that ends with a HEA. No cliffhanger, no cheating.
I received this book at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review.
I am so loving this Smart Jock series and The Fake is no exception. This is Nathan and Chloe’s story and it did not disappoint. This story will touch your heart as you get into these characters lives. They were both likable and relatable and you will be rooting for them throughout the story. This novel included sports romance and fake relationship tropes in a NA setting and I was hooked from beginning to end and could not put it down. I loved these characters, I loved the storyline, and I loved the appearances for the other characters from the previous novels. It all just came together to make this a novel a fantastic read and one I would highly recommend to all lovers of sports romance.
The audiobook was narrated by Jason Clarke and Ava Erickson. They did a fantastic job with the narration and were perfectly suited to these characters. They infused the right amount of emotion into the story and had excellent pace and timing. I enjoyed listening to them narrate this novel.
The Fake
Smart Jocks, Book 4
By: Rebecca Jenshak
Narrated by: Jason Clarke, Ava Erickson
Smart Jocks is one of my favorite sports romance series. Rebecca Jenshak has an intuitiveness to this college age that is refreshing and realistic, yet lets me escape as I listen to the story. This one is Nathan and Chloe. Nathan is a college basketball star, well known on campus. Chloe is a volleyball player, just transferred and with her history is having a problem fitting in. And how does she make her first attempt? She claims Nathan to be her boyfriend. And now the fun begins with her fake boyfriend. There is a lot of emotional baggage on both sides of this fake relationship, and Jenshak knows just how to pull at my heart strings and make me root for their happiness. It’s definitely a book that relates to today’s college experience, from acceptance in, finding friends and trying to figure out where life is supposed to go. I love Nathan and Chloe, each seeming so real. They are a great way to end this amazing series.
Narration by Jason Clarke and Ava Erickson just enhance the story. They are an amazing team, really compliment each other and find a way to make the characters their own. Clarke is the perfect, sexy jock, with his warm voice and vulnerable sound. Erickson has a voice that exudes that new adult sound, finds the emotional side and comes out as Chloe. I loved their portrayal of the story.
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The Fake (A College Sports Romance) Smart Jocks, Book 4 is a fun flirty listen. My favourite in this series so far. I absolutely loved Chloe and Nathan. The plot was entertaining with a morsel of melodrama, and romantic with characters compelling.
I loved the ending.
Narators Jason Clarke, Ava Erickson did wonderful narrating this audio. It was a smooth listen. Ava’s dulcet intonation was perfect for Chloe’s story. Loved listening to Ava Erickson.
Audio Review
It’s Nathan’s senior year and he can’t afford to be kicked off the team but he also can’t afford anything. Money it tight so he makes some poor choices to get by. When it all blows up he is at his lowest when he spots a beautiful girl that seems like she is in the same shape as he is.
Chloe has transferred to Valley her senior year because of a scandal at her former college. All she wants is to be accepted for the good player she is and to finish out her year. Her roommates/teammates are not welcoming her with open arms and she doesn’t know what to do to change that when along comes Nathan. Maybe he can help her and she him. What neither of them realized was that they would help each other just not in the way they first planned.
I absolutely loved this series, each one is terrific but Nathan and Chloe are my favorite. Great story looked at from no money to too much money and how each have dealt with it. We get to catch up with the former characters which was great. These are each standalone books so you don’t have to have read/listened to the others to enjoy this one but if you haven’t I highly recommend them as well.
Jason Clarke and Ava Erickson are terrific in this audiobook. I love listening to both of them. Great job from start to finish.
A great story with an underwhelming writing style, this book didn’t capture my attention for long, and I didn’t feel any chemistry with the characters. Instead of reading about the way they evolved and dealt with their issues, the book centers on their daily routine and sexy times. Both characters have issues and they are addressed but not with the attention I would have liked. Instead, I read about Chloe’s dresses, her studies, her movements through the day. For me, this would have been a great book without the minutiae of their daily activities and more about their thoughts and feelings, the environment, the family interactions, etc.
Chloe was expelled from Golden U in California, because her parents bought her admission. She thought she was enjoying a full ride as a beach volleyball athlete. Her parents are very wealthy and they wanted to make her life easier and instead, caused a scandal and her expulsion. She didn’t know anything about it and yet was a victim of her parents actions. She transferred to Valley U in Arizona and is like a pariah because everybody assumes she bought her admission there too. Her world is beach volleyball and now she will have to prove her worth in her game and win over her teammates and fellow students. She shows her strong core because she’s determined to work hard and prove that her worth as an athlete and persevere in her goals. In that, she’s awesome.
Nathan has a full ride in Coastal in basketball. He’s a great player with a bright future. His problem is that his father died when he was a senior in high school, his mother got so depressed she checked out from the world, lost her job, and their finances are dire. His younger brother is having a hard time, with no money to finance his hockey sport. Nathan tries to help with finances but got into big trouble with his coach and was almost expelled from the team. He lost his source of additional income and is now trying to figure out how to help his family. I felt for Nathan and his bad choices, which were made out of desperation. He was a good guy who was dealt a bad turn and he was scrambling to balance all his issues and come out on top.
Enter Chloe with all her money and her need to be accepted by her peers. They agree on a fake relation so she will pay him for his efforts, he can pay for his brother’s hockey equipment and she can win acceptance from her peers since Nathan is big time in the campus. As expected, the fake turns real but they don’t dare bring up feelings with each other.
This was a great story but I had a hard time staying focused. This was not a riveting read for me and I only finished to comply with the review request.
So I had this idea that Nathan’s book was going to be heartbreaking. After the bits and pieces I had picked up from him as a secondary character I knew that he had issues at home and was absolutely the least fortunate of the white house boys. And I guess I made assumptions. And I was pretty much wrong on most of them.
The things I learnt about Nathan in this book made me hurt for him but not in a sad, broken way. Because Nathan was so much more than I thought. He was so sweet and all the stupid things he did were done innocently for the right reason. And I was such a massive fan of his throughout the whole book.
And Chloe was pretty great herself. Her story hit pretty close to some recent news headlines and I have to admit it made me think about the other sides of the story. Chloe acted exactly like I imagine most young women in her position would but with a lot less wallowing in self pity.
I adored these two together. And I really loved seeing it all work out so perfectly in the epilogue. And as always it was great to catch up with the other couples. I really hope that this series never ends.
Sometimes when you try to forget the past, you forget to look forward.
Nate and Chloe are athletes, both have hard past that they try to forget. But they can’t and they have to learn hove to cope with it.
Together they are fire and their story is fire too.
I love this series so much and can’t wait for the next book or any book by Rebecca Jenshak.
Not ready to let this series go, but apparently I must since this is the last book. I’ve been waiting for Nathan’s story and once it hit my e-reader, I jumped right in and didn’t stop till the end because it was just that good. Both Chloe and Nathan have some issues and events from their respective pasts that they’re trying to overcome and not let the issues defeat them. This particular story is a bit more emotional, and I liked how Ms. Jenshak was able to weave in some of the situations real life college athletes have to face, I thought it was well-done. So while I’m sad this is the final book, I think it was the perfect way to wrap up the series.
This book was the perfect ending to the Smart Jocks series. I was so excited to get Nathan’s story after what we did learn about him from the previous books in the series. Nathan holds the weight of the world on his shoulders and feels the pressure. Chloe is starting over at a new school after being humiliated after being kicked out of her previous school at the end of her junior year. They find common ground neither thought they would and a bond begins. Their story goes from lust to being in a mutually beneficial fake relationship to being in a relationship and it’s the sweetest story.