Hard to Fake: A Brother's Best Friend Sports Romance

Piper Lawson

Aug 2025 · Denver Kodiaks Book 1 · Piper Lawson Books · Narrated by Simone Lewis and Tim Paige

About this audiobook

A spicy, swoon-worthy fake dating romance from bestselling author Piper Lawson!

It’s not every day you ask your older brother’s best friend to be your fake boyfriend. But desperate times call for gorgeous, impulsive measures.

Miles Garrett isn’t just a pro basketball player with a heart-stopping smile and cocky charm. To me, he’s the guy who always put friends and family first… and the college crush I never got over.

When my sorority sister shows up to our reunion with my ex, I need a plus-one who’ll have my back—and save my pride. Enter Miles, the perfect fake boyfriend.

Except he doesn’t do anything halfway.

Miles plays to win. He says he’ll be the best fake boyfriend I’ve ever had… and he means it.

But when his gaze tracks mine across a crowded room, when he shields me like I’m his to protect, when our just-for-show kisses set my skin on fire—it stops feeling fake. Fast.

I’m falling for the one guy who’s always been off-limits. Because with Miles? It’s impossible to fake what’s always felt real.

Tropes:

Brother’s best friend

Fake dating

Pro athlete hero with a cinnamon roll center

Sassy, confident heroine

College crush turned slow burn

Only one bed

Hard to Fake is a pro basketball romance with banter, spice, and all the swoony vibes. It's the first book in the Denver Kodiaks series. Binge Miles and Brooke’s entire addictive story today!

Want more Denver Kodiaks?

Check out the King of the Court series for Clay and Nova’s story:

1. Game Changer

2. Shot Taker

3. Play Maker

4. Game Day

Keywords: sports romance, basketball romance, fake dating romance, brother’s best friend, forbidden love, alpha male, contemporary romance, swoony hero, funny romance, slow burn, strong heroine, booktok romance, new adult romance.

Perfect for fans of: Carrie Ann Ryan, Corinne Michaels, Susan Stoker, Natasha Madison, Chelle Bliss, Christina Lauren, Colleen Hoover, Talia Hibbert, Helena Hunting, Elle Kennedy, Kristen Callihan, Melissa Foster, Bella Andre, Sarina Bowen, Vi Keeland, Winter Renshaw, Meghan March, Willow Winters, Carly Phillips, Erika Wilde, Kendall Ryan, Jillian Dodd, Melissa Foster, Nana Malone, Anna Todd, Lauren Blakely, Julia Kent, Siobhan Davis, Vivian Wood, JS Scott, LJ Shen, Louise Bay, TL Swan, Nicole Snow, MS Parker, Lucy Score, Ava Harrison, Parker S Huntington, Ivy Layne, Tia Louise and Ainsley St Claire.

Ratings and reviews

After reading the e- book I had to listen to the audiobook and I am so glad that I did because it is excellent. Narrated by Tim Paige and Simone Lewis who do a Fabulous job at portraying Miles and Brooke. They both express all the emotions right and tell the story perfectly. Listening to the characters you love have a voice is a whole different experience,hearing all their angst and joy makes the story that much more special.Tim and Simone take Hard To Fake to another level of greatness.

Miles and Brooke's story begins, and I am here for it. Attraction and chemistry burns brightly between these two and the sparks they generate are fierce and fiery. Both characters are extremely likable, and they seriously had my heart simply aching for them. The smart and snappy combination of banter, emotion, humor, drama, spice, intensity and twists got me deeply invested and passionately rooting for this pair. Of course, that left me eager and anxious to find out what happens in book number t

This is the first in the Denver Kodiaks series. Miles is such a great character and I was so glad to read his story. He comes to Brooke's rescue on multiple occasions and I absolutely love his need to protect. The chemistry between these two are off the charts. Simone Lewis and Tim Paige do a fantastic job narrating and bringing these amazing characters to life. I would highly recommend this five star sports romance!

About the author

Piper Lawson is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of smart and steamy romance.

She writes women who follow their dreams, best friends who know your dirty secrets and love you anyway, and complex heroes you’ll fall hard for.

Piper lives in Canada with her tall and brilliant husband. She’s a sucker for dark eyes, dark coffee, and dark chocolate. 

For a complete reading list, visit www.piperlawsonbooks.com/books

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Simone Lewis is a classically trained audiobook narrator from Charlotte, North Carolina, who now makes her home in Portland, OR. Her acting training, facility with accents and obsession with books have led to her narration of dozens of audiobooks as well as an Audie nomination. 

In her free time, Simone grows herbs and wildflowers, plays improvisational jazz piano, and takes her dogs for hikes. She also loves to travel the world in search of her own romantic adventures.

Tim Paige is an audiobook narrator with a passion for rom coms, superheroes, and telling stories that provide an escape from the world (or a new lens with which to view it). A former full-time touring musician, Tim has played on some of the biggest stages in the world. He is the voice of "The More You Know" on NBC, and has provided voice-over for many national commercials, promos, trailers, and video games. When he's not narrating audiobooks or voicing fun projects, you'll most often find him playing pretend with his two sons, shouting at the television during Syracuse Orange basketball and football games, or cooking up tasty vegan treats.