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Strap in. We’re going deep. This week on First Dates & Soulmates, it’s a trope episode! And we’re dissecting every glorious and absurd nuance of fake dating.
Nikki may think this trope is the Chardonnay of romance (she’ll drink it if you serve it), while Meg is out here creating full frameworks while waiting in line at Disneyland.
In This Episode:
* Why so many fake dating books fall apart if the initial premise isn’t strong
* Why romantic vulnerability matters more than jellybeans
* The difference between fake dating for good vs fake dating for damage control
* The role of the designated extroverted friend and why we all need one
* When fake dating turns into real cheerleading, and why that’s hot
Meg loves a third-act breakup. Nikki wants to be your fake date and your designated hype woman.
Leave a review, comment on Substack, tell us your favourite fake dating books, or ask Nikki to be your designated fake fiance so you can get that promotion!
Shop Our Fake Dating Rec List *Amazon Affiliate Links
Books & Media We Mention:
* Heat Transfer by Cathryn McIntyre
* Reckless Hearts by Jax Calder
* Book Boyfriend by Claire Kingsley
* Fall Risk by Abby Jimenez
* The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
* Love Light Farms by B.K. Borison
* Not the Girl You Marry by Andie J. Christopher
* Best Man by Lily Morton
* Paper Roses by Lily Morton
* How Not to Fall and How Not to Let Go by Emily Foster
* Honestly, I'm Totally Faking It by Amanda Gambill
* Weight of It All by N.R. Walker
* The Confetti Hitched Series by Lily Morton
* The Brannon Boys Series (Heat Transfer is book one) by Katherine McIntyre
* The Kings of Chaos series by Jocelynn Drake
* The Edge of Fate by Sheena Jolie
* How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
* The Proposal
* 10 Things I Hate About You
* Just Go With It
* The Bachelor (Chris O’Donnell movie)
* Purple Hearts
* The Firm
* Sleepless in Seattle
* Bridgerton
* Sex and the City
Follow the show on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/
Follow the show on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmates
Follow the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmates
Download your copy of the 2025 book bingo card at https://bit.ly/fdsmbingo
View the full show notes on our Substack.
Order Meg’s debut novel, Peppermint Bark, No Bite (affiliate link)
Shop our affiliate book recs on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/caseboltcreative
Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe!
By Meg Casebolt & Nikki McKnight4.7
33 ratings
Strap in. We’re going deep. This week on First Dates & Soulmates, it’s a trope episode! And we’re dissecting every glorious and absurd nuance of fake dating.
Nikki may think this trope is the Chardonnay of romance (she’ll drink it if you serve it), while Meg is out here creating full frameworks while waiting in line at Disneyland.
In This Episode:
* Why so many fake dating books fall apart if the initial premise isn’t strong
* Why romantic vulnerability matters more than jellybeans
* The difference between fake dating for good vs fake dating for damage control
* The role of the designated extroverted friend and why we all need one
* When fake dating turns into real cheerleading, and why that’s hot
Meg loves a third-act breakup. Nikki wants to be your fake date and your designated hype woman.
Leave a review, comment on Substack, tell us your favourite fake dating books, or ask Nikki to be your designated fake fiance so you can get that promotion!
Shop Our Fake Dating Rec List *Amazon Affiliate Links
Books & Media We Mention:
* Heat Transfer by Cathryn McIntyre
* Reckless Hearts by Jax Calder
* Book Boyfriend by Claire Kingsley
* Fall Risk by Abby Jimenez
* The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
* Love Light Farms by B.K. Borison
* Not the Girl You Marry by Andie J. Christopher
* Best Man by Lily Morton
* Paper Roses by Lily Morton
* How Not to Fall and How Not to Let Go by Emily Foster
* Honestly, I'm Totally Faking It by Amanda Gambill
* Weight of It All by N.R. Walker
* The Confetti Hitched Series by Lily Morton
* The Brannon Boys Series (Heat Transfer is book one) by Katherine McIntyre
* The Kings of Chaos series by Jocelynn Drake
* The Edge of Fate by Sheena Jolie
* How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
* The Proposal
* 10 Things I Hate About You
* Just Go With It
* The Bachelor (Chris O’Donnell movie)
* Purple Hearts
* The Firm
* Sleepless in Seattle
* Bridgerton
* Sex and the City
Follow the show on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/
Follow the show on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmates
Follow the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmates
Download your copy of the 2025 book bingo card at https://bit.ly/fdsmbingo
View the full show notes on our Substack.
Order Meg’s debut novel, Peppermint Bark, No Bite (affiliate link)
Shop our affiliate book recs on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/caseboltcreative
Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe!

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