Join us on a literary world trip!
Add this book to bookshelf
Grey
Write a new comment Default profile 50px
Grey
Subscribe to read the full book or read the first pages for free!
All characters reduced
#FakeDating Classics Collection - cover

#FakeDating Classics Collection

George Eliot, Jane Austen, Oscar Wilde, Alexandré Dumas, Henry James, Anthony Trollope, Edith Wharton, Anita Loos, Frances Burney, Pierre Choderlos de Laclos

Publisher: e-artnow

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Summary

Discover the timeless stories and grand romances from literary classics that helped create and define this beloved genre. In the #FakeDating Classics Collection, you'll encounter a world of hidden identities, social maneuvering, and relationships born from pretense—only to blossom into something genuine. The charm of "fake dating" lies in the playful deception that gradually gives way to heartfelt emotions, often revealing hidden desires and testing the boundaries of loyalty, duty, and love. It's a formula that has stood the test of time, captivating readers then and now with its blend of intrigue, wit, and passionate confessions.

One intriguing example is Henry James's The Wings of the Dove, where secrets and ulterior motives entangle a young heiress and the couple who scheme to benefit from her inheritance. Frances Burney's Evelina introduces us to a charming but naive heroine who navigates London society while contending with misunderstandings and shifting identities. Dangerous Liaisons by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos is a daring exploration of seductive games, manipulation, and carefully orchestrated romantic entanglements.
Anthony Trollope's The Way We Live Now depicts a world of financial swindles and arranged matches, showing how deception can unexpectedly lead to genuine attachments. Meanwhile, The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton follows Lily Bart, who struggles with societal expectations and gambles with her reputation in a world where appearances are everything. Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest revels in a comedic labyrinth of assumed names, fashioning a lighthearted farce around secrets that keep lovers guessing.
Lady Susan by Jane Austen offers a more sardonic take, starring a brilliant yet self-serving widow who manipulates potential suitors with panache. Alexandre Dumas's The Lady of the Camellias weaves a poignant story of a courtesan who masquerades her own frailty and emotions for the sake of love. In George Eliot's The Mill on the Floss, the constraints of family, honor, and tradition create misunderstandings that could rival any modern "fake dating" plot. Finally, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes by Anita Loos sparkles with comedic flair, depicting a heroine who manipulates perceptions to climb the social ladder—yet often finds herself charmed in the process.
Each of these classics illuminates the timeless fascination with relationships forged, at least initially, under false pretenses. Through humor, heartbreak, and sometimes scandalous intrigue, these authors reveal how genuine affection can take root even in the most contrived circumstances—leaving us with stories that continue to enchant and resonate today.
Available since: 11/10/2024.
Print length: 3170 pages.

Other books that might interest you

  • Good with Children - cover

    Good with Children

    Margot Early

    • 0
    • 1
    • 0
    Raising a family on his own doesn't leave widowerSeamus Lee much time for cultivating new relationships.Which is just how he wants it. But Rory Gorenzi, theunconventional wilderness instructor at his children'smountain school, has other ideas.…Ever since their arrival in the snowy Colorado town,Rory finds the Lee clan impossible to resist. But it'sobvious that Seamus is hiding something. Can Rorybreak through his defenses to learn his secret—and tohelp him become the father his children need?Because he's the man she wants to get to know…a whole lot better.
    Show book
  • The Gypsy in the Parlour - A Novel - cover

    The Gypsy in the Parlour - A Novel

    Margery Sharp

    • 0
    • 2
    • 0
    In Victorian England, a glamorous, mysterious young woman overturns the lives of a traditional Devonshire farm family, in Margery Sharp’s humorous, heartwarming New York Times–bestselling novel On a farm in Devonshire, during a long hot summer, three women await the arrival of a fourth. The corseted, petticoated Sylvesters are no ordinary females. They are as fair-tempered as they are big and strong, the wives of modestly prosperous farmers who can stand up to the heat of a parlor—their pride and joy—as well as a scorching harvest field. And the men they chose for husbands are their equals. Today is cause for celebration: The youngest Sylvester brother is arriving with his bride-to-be.   But Fanny Davis will change all their lives. The slender, petite woman is given to unnamed ailments and is full of secrets. Where did she come from? What does she really want from the bumpkin she agreed to marry? None of the Sylvester ladies can imagine the tempest that will strike their peaceful farm when the deadly Miss Davis gets to work.    
    Show book
  • The Master of Blacktower - cover

    The Master of Blacktower

    Barbara Michaels

    • 0
    • 1
    • 0
    “[An] engrossing blend of romance and gothic mystery. The suspense is well done in a fine story line with plenty of unpredictable twists and turns.” —Midwest Book Review 
     
    Damaris Gordon shuddered at the thought of working for the cruel and bitter Master of Blacktower—but her father’s death left her no choice. Suddenly her fate—her life itself—was in the black silk-gloved hands of Gavin Hamilton, a man scarred and tortured by an unspoken past, whose mocking laughter echoes through his ancient Scottish estate. Damaris has heard the whispers that accuse Gavin Hamilton of his wife’s death and his young daughter’s crippling injury. But the pain and sadness barely hidden behind his blazing dark stare touch Damaris deeply—and a courageous heart is luring her to the estate’s topmost tower in search of his dangerous secrets. 
     
    Praise for New York Times–bestselling author Barbara Michaels 
     
    “Barbara Michaels is a consummate storyteller.” —Mary Higgins Clark, #1 New York Times–bestselling author 
     
    “This author never fails to entertain.” —Cleveland Plain Dealer 
     
    “No one can match Barbara Michaels.” —Phyllis A. Whitney, New York Times–bestselling author
    Show book
  • Fresh-Start Ranch - cover

    Fresh-Start Ranch

    Leann Harris

    • 0
    • 1
    • 0
    After seeing Tessa Grant calm his storm-spooked horse, Ethan McClure is impressed.  But does the new vet have what it takes to prove her mettle with Ethan's local horse-rescue group? Ethan can't deny her healing touch with animals…or her powerful effect on this rancher. But Tessa is busy trying to get her footing after leaving Kentucky to start over in this mountain town. When she learns a family secret that turns her world upside down, Tessa's ready to push everyone away. Unless Ethan can help her embrace forgiveness—and forge a path to her heart along the way.
    Show book
  • An Overdue Match (Checking Out Love) - cover

    An Overdue Match (Checking Out...

    Sarah Monzon

    • 1
    • 2
    • 0
    Can a librarian's matchmaking mischief lead to a love that rewrites their stories? 
     
    If the covers of every romance book ever published didn't convince librarian Evangeline Kelly that she isn't heroine material, her fiancé calling off their wedding when she lost her hair to alopecia did. But what's a girl head over heels for love to do when her feelings are unrequited? Matchmake, that's what. Armed with library patrons' check-out histories, she's determined to make at least one love connection--even if it's not her own.  
     
    Tattoo artist Tai Davis is used to people judging him with a single glance, so it doesn't surprise him when the town's quirky new librarian believes his bad-boy reputation without giving him a chance. He can't help being intrigued by her, though, so when he discovers Evangeline's secret matchmaking scheme, he's not above striking a bargain with her. She just has to agree to one date with him for every time she uses his hometown knowledge to set up library patrons on a romantic rendezvous. The deal is made, but in the process, they both might learn you can't judge a book--or each other--by the cover.  
     
    "With a uniquely heartfelt message, lovable characters, and laugh-out-loud moments, Sarah Monzon's novel is a delight!"--MELISSA FERGUSON, bestselling author of How to Plot a Payback 
     
    This is a sweet he-falls-first, opposites attract, matchmaker romantic comedy with disability representation. Perfect for fans of books about books and kisses-only romances.
    Show book
  • 37 Questions - cover

    37 Questions

    June Kaye

    • 0
    • 1
    • 0
    A tornado warning and a magazine quiz bring an unlikely pair together in this meet-cute romance debut perfect for fans of Notting Hill and Before Sunrise. 
    Nora is struggling with a corporate job that leaves her no time for family and the aftermath of an ill-advised hookup with a colleague who she's discovered had a girlfriend. And now there's a tornado warning on the news... of all things. Nora's prepared to hunker down alone for the storm with wine and a good book, until a beguiling (and admittedly handsome) British man shows up at her door. 
    Aiden tries to stay under the radar, but after starring in a string of popular movies it's become nearly impossible. So when Nora doesn't recognize him, begrudgingly letting him inside her home to shelter in place only after confirming he's an old friend of her landlord, he's relieved by the chance to be himself without the dynamics of celebrity.
    As they settle in, what starts as jokingly killing time answering questions for a silly magazine quiz turns into an evening of raw and meaningful discussion and blossoming feelings. But their new bond will be tested as soon as the sun peeks out. Nora is bound to find out who Aiden really is—and when she does, can their connection survive the storm?
    Show book