All’s fair in love and coffee wars—until my heart gets invovled.
Moving back to my Washington hometown is tough, but having Oliver Langdon as my neighbor is a whole lot tougher. He’s the big shot behind Steamy Coffee, the same chain that’s making life hard for the café I’m running for my aunt right next door.
Sure, Oliver’s got that tall, dark, and seriously-stop-being-so-handsome vibe going on. And yeah, I flirted with him before I knew he was my business rival. But chiseled jawlines aren’t my kryptonite. He’s the competition, plain and simple—even if things between us are heating up more than a cup of his fancy espresso.
Then he jumps in as my fake date to help me dodge my cheating ex, and suddenly my heart’s not so sure he’s just the enemy.
Will my head be able to keep things straight, or will I end up falling for the guy I’m supposed to beat in this crazy heart vs. head showdown?
Faking It With The Guy Next Door is an enemies-to-lovers/ more romance set in the small town of Hunter’s Creek, Washington. It’s the thirs book in the Second Chance Café series. Each book follows a different sister’s love story, and can be read as a standalone novel or as part of a series.
Praise for Faking It With the Guy Next Door:
“This book gave me all the feels: laughter, tears, and a serious case of the swoons.” – Amazon bestselling author, Melanie Summers
“Witty banter and some serious chemistry between the two main characters makes this enemies to lovers story sizzle!” – USA Today bestselling author, Delancey Stewart
“I loved this book so hard I’m packing my bags and moving to Hunter’s Creek.” –USA Today bestselling author, Whitney Dineen
Reader’s LOVE Faking It With the Guy Next Door:
“A wonderfully funny, moving romance with a feel-good ending.” – Booksprout reviewer
“Wow, what a wonderful story!” – Amazon reviewer
“There is enemies to lovers, and then there is Marlowe & Oliver. They’re like Napalm. Combustible during bickering, and also in their attraction to each other.” – Goodreads reviewer
“There is enemies to lovers, and then there is Marlowe & Oliver. They’re like Napalm. Combustible during bickering, and also in their attraction to each other.” – Goodreads reviewer
“This story would make an awesome Hallmark movie!” – Bookbub reviewer
“I am usually all about the steam, but Kate O’Keeffe’s ‘closed-door’ romances are just so so good that I know I’m going to love them before I even start.” – Goodreads reviewer
“Her ‘Second Chance Café’ series is an absolute winner.” – Goodreads reviewer
“I fell in love with Marlowe and Oliver!” – Amazon reviewer
“This book has everything I love best about ‘enemies to lovers’ stories. Marlowe and Oliver aren’t even like oil and water, they’re more like fire and gasoline: completely explosive. They kind of only had two modes – fighting and falling for one another. But I didn’t mind that in the least. Their banter was so much fun when they were fighting, and when they were falling, they were just too cute for words.” – Booksrpout reviewer
“I hate the thought that with the last of the Cole sisters happily coupled up, we may have reached the end of the series. I’m not in any way prepared to let go of these characters just yet.” – Booksrpout reviewer
Titles in the Sisters & Sweethearts series:
Each title in the series can be read as a standalone as each book is about one of the three Cole sisters, Harper, Ryn, and Marlowe. If you want to read them in order, here it is:
Book 1: Faking It With the Grump
Book 2: Faking It With My Best Friend
Book 3: Faking It With the Guy Next Door
Below are some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Faking It with the Guy Next Door by Kate O’Keeffe
What is Faking It with the Guy Next Door about?
It’s a sassy, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romcom featuring Marlowe Cole and her infuriatingly attractive next-door neighbor, Oliver Langdon. He’s the brains behind a flashy coffee chain threatening her aunt’s cozy café—and her peace of mind. But when he volunteers to be her fake date to help her dodge an ex, Marlowe starts wondering if the guy she’s supposed to hate might just be her perfect brew.
Who are the main characters in the book?
- Marlowe Cole – the youngest Cole sister, fiercely loyal, coffee-loving, and not here for corporate takeovers… or charming smiles that make her forget herself.
- Oliver Langdon – the tall, dark, annoyingly gorgeous CEO of Steamy Coffee, aka the enemy next door. He’s cool under pressure, excellent with an espresso machine, and maybe hiding more heart than he lets on.
Is Faking It with the Guy Next Door part of a series?
Yes! It’s book 3 in the Sisters & Sweethearts series, which follows each of the Cole sisters as they find love in the small town of Hunter’s Creek, Washington. While each book stands alone with its own swoony HEA, reading them all gives you the full sister-filled experience.
Do I need to read the other Sisters & Sweethearts books first?
Nope! You can jump right into Marlowe’s story without having read the first two books. That said, if you love small-town settings, sibling banter, and sweet romantic arcs, you’ll definitely enjoy the series as a whole.
What romance tropes does this book feature?
Faking It with the Guy Next Door is a trope lover’s dream:
- Enemies to lovers
- Fake dating
- Small-town romance
- Opposites attract
- Rivals in business and love
- Forced proximity
- Grumpy/sunshine (depending on the moment!)
- And yes—coffee wars
Is Faking It with the Guy Next Door a closed-door romance?
Yes! Like all Kate O’Keeffe books, it’s sweet, clean, and closed-door. Expect loads of chemistry, flirty banter, and heartfelt emotion—with zero on-page heat.
Is there a happy ending?
Absolutely. You’ll get a warm, satisfying happily ever after that wraps up both the rivalry and the romance in the most delicious way.
Where is the book set?
The story takes place in Hunter’s Creek, Washington, a charming small town full of gossiping locals, quirky committees, and just enough drama to fuel a romcom (or three).
Is the ebook in Kindle Unlimited?
Yes! You can read Faking It with the Guy Next Door for free with Kindle Unlimited, or buy it as an ebook or paperback on Amazon.
Who would enjoy this book?
Romcom fans who love:
- Sizzling enemies-to-lovers tension
- Fake relationships with real feelings
- Small-town charm
- Coffee shop rivalries
- Sassy heroines and secretly sweet heroes
will find Faking It with the Guy Next Door absolutely irresistible.
Where can I read Faking It with the Grump?
You can grab the ebook on Amazon and it’s on Kindle Unlimited, too. The paperback is available at all online retailers, and the audiobook is available wherever you get your audiobbok,s including libraries.