Which Books Explore Fake Happiness In Modern Life?

Maria Walker has spent her entire life under the weight of expectations in a world where reputation trumps happiness. As the daughter of the respected Walker family, every choice—including her relationship with kind, loyal Noah Bennett—is judged by high society, who see him as far beneath her standing. Daniel Rothfield faces a different pressure. The powerful, emotionally guarded CEO of Rothfield Holdings has avoided relationships since a devastating breakup left him unwilling to risk love again. Yet his parents and business partners insist a man of his status needs to project stability—and a serious relationship is the perfect image. When Maria and Daniel unexpectedly arrive together at a prestigious charity auction, a fleeting moment ignites rampant speculation. Within hours, social media explodes with rumors that the billionaire CEO and the Walker heiress are secretly dating. Rather than deny it, Daniel proposes a solution: pretend the rumors are true. A fake relationship solves both dilemmas. Maria’s parents would stop pressuring her about Noah, while Daniel’s family and associates would see him finally settling down. It’s meant to be simple, temporary, and strictly controlled. Rules are set: No real feelings. No crossing boundaries. No forgetting it’s just an act. But pretending to be in love proves far more complicated than planned. As they appear together at events, family gatherings, and public functions, undeniable chemistry emerges—shifting from performance to something dangerously authentic. Meanwhile, Noah grapples with quiet jealousy fueled by headlines and photos, Daniel’s past resurfaces to threaten the facade, and their carefully built lie begins to crumble. In a society that measures love by status and appearances, Maria and Daniel face an undeniable truth: the relationship they pretended to have may be the most real thing either of them has ever felt.

During a family dinner, the older relatives smiled and encouraged Dylan Jenkin and me to sit together. But once I sat down, he casually turned away and settled beside my stepsister, Ivy Langford. One of the elders said teasingly, “Aren’t you and Nina joined at the hip? We thought you two might make it official today. Why aren’t you sitting together?” Dylan chuckled and poured Ivy a cup of tea. “Don’t get the wrong idea. Nina and I are just close friends,” he said with calm and casual ease. His gaze swept over me without a hint of affection. Then, he turned to Ivy beside him. His voice grew gentler as he said, “I’ve always liked girls like Ivy.” Laughter echoed around the table, yet a chill settled into my heart. No one knew that we had been secretly dating for three years. After countless nights in each other’s arms, he reassured me that he would tell the family about us once his older brother had a girlfriend. He said they might see his brother as irresponsible and immature if he revealed his relationship first. I finally saw the truth behind those excuses: he simply did not love me. I forced a smile and nodded along with his words. “Yes, we’re just friends.” Dylan exhaled in relief. He was clearly pleased with my response. He had no idea that I was not actually playing along. With those final words, I stopped holding on and gave up on our secret relationship.

Lucy George has spent her entire life fighting for stability. With her father's debts mounting, her family's future hanging by a thread, and every opportunity slipping through her fingers, the last thing she expects is an offer from one of the most powerful men in the country. Albert Craig, a billionaire CEO, media darling, and untouchable. When a scandal threatens Albert's reputation and puts a multi-billion-dollar merger at risk, he proposes a solution neither of them sees coming—a six-month contract relationship. All Lucy has to do is pretend to be his girlfriend, attend events, smile for the cameras, and convince the world they're in love. In return, Albert will solve every financial problem her family faces. It should have been simple. Business, nothing more. But behind Albert's perfect smile lies a web of secrets, family betrayals, and dangerous lies. As their fake relationship begins to feel painfully real, Lucy finds herself falling for a man she was never supposed to trust. And when the truth finally comes to light, she must decide whether love is worth risking everything. Because some contracts come with fine print. And some lies are too expensive to forgive.

In a single night, Serena Vale's entire world falls apart. Her ex-fiancé is set to marry her sister, and to make matters worse, her family blames her for it. Just when Serena thinks things couldn't be more disastrous, she receives a dreaded invitation to the wedding. Enter Damien Cole-ice-cold, irresistibly charming, and richer than anyone she knows. He proposes a deal: pretend to be his girlfriend to make his ex-girlfriend jealous and sidestep a marriage he doesn't want. In exchange, he promises to help her regain her footing in life, one public appearance after another. What begins as a plan for revenge and temporary convenience, quickly spirals into stolen glances, kisses that feel far too genuine, and secrets that neither is prepared to face. Yet, they both agreed to one rule: never fall in love. But the heart doesn't follow rules or contracts. If stories filled with fake romances, slow-burning tension, family feuds, betrayal, and a dangerously possessive billionaire entices you, then Selfish Romance will be your next obsession

When broke event planner Isabella “Izzy” Hart agrees to fake an engagement with cold, commanding tech billionaire Alexander Blackwood, she thinks it’ll be simple: smile for the cameras, fake a few kisses, collect the money, and walk away. But nothing about Alex is simple. Not the way he looks at her. Not the way he touches her like she belongs to him. And definitely not the way he says: “If this is just business… why does it feel like you’re mine?” It was supposed to be fake. Now neither of them knows what’s real.

​One fake fiancé. Two dangerous secrets. Zero room for error. ​Zoey Aguilar has lost it all: her wedding, her status, and her pride. To survive her ex’s high-profile gala with her head held high, she needs a miracle. Or at least, a very convincing fake fiancé. ​But the man who shows up isn't the escort she hired. ​Enter Christian Bellucci. Reclusive, powerful, and cold, he’s a billionaire who doesn't play games unless he’s winning them. He needs Zoey just as much as she needs him, and he’s willing to lie to the world to get what he wants. ​As their "relationship" becomes a public obsession, the lines between acting and reality begin to blur. Caught between a past that won’t let go and a man whose calm control hides a storm of devotion, Zoey realizes she’s trapped in a web of family pressure and deadly jealousy. ​In this game of revenge and ownership, Zoey must decide: is she reclaiming her life, or is she becoming his most prized possession? ​Walking away once cost Zoey her reputation. This time, it might cost her life.