Perfecting the Art of the Fake Relationship Trope in Romance Books

In My Best Friend's Wedding, main character Jules tries to win the love of her best friend, Michael, by inventing a fake engagement to make him jealous. In a hilarious twist of events, Jules's "fiancé" shows up, and he's nothing like Michael expected. If you've seen the movie, then you're familiar with the fake relationship trope that many romantic books and films have been based on. It's a timeless ploy to get someone riled up, whether that be the main character's friends, ex-lovers, or parents. And it sells.

But how do you write a novel about fake dating successfully? I'm here to lay out the pieces, one by one, and I've included several writing prompts to entice your creativity.

1. Choose a sub-trope

   Fake dating/fake relationships could include any type of relationship between two people, but some of the most interesting I've read about and written about include: fake engagement, fake boyfriend/girlfriend, and fake friend. Choosing the right one for your main characters helps shape the entire narrative, so think carefully. Or spin it on its head and write about a completely new trope!

   
   

   Writing prompt: Imagine the meet cute for a strangers-to-lovers romance. Choose fake best friend as your sub-trope.

   
   

2. Set the scene

   Where the fake relationship trope occurs in the world matters as much as your sub-trope. If you're writing about a fake boyfriend/girlfriend, you'll likely want your characters to interact with their friends and relatives at some point in the book. Setting the scene in one of the MCs' hometowns or at a family reunion ensures hilarity, intimacy, and a straightforward look into the MC's life.

   
   

   Other ideas for setting include: destination wedding, bachelor/bachelorette party, funeral, and summer camp.

   
   

   Writing prompt: Your fake dating novel starts at a dysfunctional family reunion. Write a meet-the-parents scene.

   
   

3. Make a deal

   Many books that involve a fake dating trope explore the consequences of the two characters making a deal, such as hiding one of their identities, saving one of their reputations, or helping one of them prove their worth. The consequences of upending the deal prove a turning point in the narrative, so create a bargain that readers can't resist.

   
   

   Start with sketching out the MCs' personalities, their deepest wishes, and their family dynamics. What do they need in order to survive the next 200+ pages? And what's at stake for the other MC?

   
   

   Writing prompt: One MC is grumpy. The other MC is sunshine. They agree to date to save the grumpy MC's reputation. Write a scene where the sunshine MC almost reveals their secret.

   
   

4. Tell the secret

   Letting the cat out of the bag often leads to conflict and tension between the main couple, which ultimately pieces them back together (if you want a happily ever after/happy for now ending). However, how the secret is revealed matters. Does a side character discover the truth and let it out when the MCs don't expect it? Does one of the MCs let something slip? Or do the MCs agree to let the world know all on their own? After you've settled on your reveal, flesh out the consequences for each MC. Are they alienated from their family? Rejected by their friends? Or simply angry at themselves and reflecting on what truly makes them happy?

   
   

   Writing prompt: One of your MCs has been betrayed by a friend, who told everyone what's happening. How do each of the MCs react when they discover what's happened? To the friend? To each other?

   
   

5. Fall in love (or don't)

   How you tie everything together at the end of your novel matters too. Many fake dating relationship books follow a pattern where, at the end, the couple actually falls in love. In rare instances, this doesn't happen (such as in My Best Friend's Wedding), but generally, readers expect a HEA or HFN conclusion. Choose your delivery of the final scenes wisely, as they can make or break your book. Don't want your characters together at the end? That's fine, but have a reason to support it. Otherwise, why invest so much time telling the story?

   
   

   Writing prompt: You choose a Happy For Now ending. Write the last conversation your characters have exploring what that means.

If you're thinking about writing a fake relationship novel, do your homework. Think creatively and carefully. And let your creativity soar.