The Dating Game

by Mona Shroff

A fake romance will solve all their problems

…And stir up a bunch of new ones!

Veterinary student Saira Rawal definitely believes in love. It’s just…not for her. Not when getting through her days without panic attacks is struggle enough. But at least she has Tyler Hart—her brother’s best friend, who has always been her safe space. He even takes her in when she and her disaster of a therapy puppy need somewhere to stay! So when she can return the favor, helping him save face with his brother by pretending they’re together, she steps right up. With a pretend relationship, it’s not like there’s any chance of someone really getting hurt…right?

From Harlequin Special Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.

Once Upon a Wedding

Genres: Romance

270 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 30, 2025

Reviews

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Dating Game by Mona Shroff
Once Upon a Wedding series #7. Harlequin Special Edition diverse category romance. Can be read as a standalone.
Tyler Hart is happy to be Saira Rawal’s best friend and sounding board. He wants so much more.

I was so happy to see this was Taylor and Saira’s story. Reading her brother’s story before this one (If You Can’t Stand the Heat), we already know Taylor has a thing for Saira. Getting to read the relationship become real was perfection. Especially with an adorable puppy! Panic attacks can be devastating and with the puppy and an understanding helping hand, managed. The subject added depth to the characters with compassion.
Plus a charming romance finally sealed after a bit of pretend. A chef’s kiss.

[thebeespot72 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5/5

I’ve been a long-time reader of Harlequin Romance Books, from purchasing them from the supermarket to subscribing to them so they could be delivered to my house. I still have some paperbacks. Mona Shroff’s The Dating Game was quite nostalgic to read, with its traditional cover, and I loved that. But what I was excited to read was the brother’s best friend trope.

Saira was such a fun and sassy FMC. She literally moved into Tyler’s life and ruffled it up. Saira needed a place to stay with her un-potty-trained puppy, so she temporarily moved into her brother’s best friend's place. The two have known each other since childhood, but there’s romantic tension between them. What makes this story even better is that Tyler needs a fake girlfriend. The whole thing escalates when people find out, and things get out of hand. There’s good use of humor woven throughout, making the overall story pretty light.

There is an underlying storyline that addresses Saira’s panic attacks and anxiety. The Dating Game is focused on romance between the two characters without the spice factor. Though that’s not what I typically read, I still enjoyed the story and thought the dialogue was well written.

Thank you to @hqn_shamelessromantics and Author Mona Shroff for the gifted e-copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Escaping in Pages · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating - 4/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Date Read - November 17, 2025
Publication Date - December 30, 2025

*I received an E-ARC of this book for free in exchange for an honest review* - Thank you @harlequinbooks, @hqn_shamelessromantics and @netgalley!

The Dating Game is the last book in an interconnected series and you do not need to read the others to enjoy this one. This book has the brother's best friend trope, which is one of my favourites and it hits every time! With this one in particular, I like that the emotional connection is shown and starts right away. I also like that the author shows how suddenly and almost randomly a panic attack can happen, while using humour to address misconceptions about therapy and balancing those with the real benefits. If you like men who are certified lover boys, this is this book for you! Certain scenes had me giggling and there’s a bit of a mystery that added some depth to the plot. Overall, this is a quick and cute read, which is what I was looking for! If you enjoy fake dating romances with mental health rep, you might enjoy The Dating Game!

Get excited to read The Dating Game, available December 30! 🎉

*Please check trigger warnings*

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC. I really really enjoyed this book. I love all of her books and I hate to say this, but I think this was my most favorite!!!

I loved the romance part and the friendship, but the dog part was so fun to read!! I enjoyed the roommate part. I also felt seen and acknowledged with the story line of anxiety issues. Then the part with parent issues and addiction. I felt like this book was a self help book in healing.

Way to go Mona!!!

[Happily Ever After Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed at Happily Ever After Romance

The Dating Game is a charming romance, the seventh title in the Once Upon a Wedding series. I’ve read some of the titles in the series and enjoyed myself in this world. I believe you can easily enjoy Saira and Tyler’s story on its own, but it may tempt you to go pick up the earlier books in the series. This one “feels” like the final story, but I’ve learned never to say a series is done because authors surprise me all the time. *grin*

One rambunctious puppy, who doesn’t quite get the idea of potty-training (or should be in Saira’s apartment to begin with), is the catalyst for Saira and Tyler to finally acknowledge the attraction that’s been brewing between them for years. But not before we’re taken on an adorable journey of puppy chaos, brother issues, and a fake relationship that turns out to be not so pretend after all. The subject of panic attacks is thoughtfully and respectfully addressed in a way that I appreciated.

I had such fun with Tyler and Saira, and one cute, mischievous puppy. Their story was well-written, full of emotion, with laughter as the key and heartbreak avoided. If you enjoy a friends-to-lovers trope, with a couple who are believable and totally cute, then you’d enjoy The Dating Game by Mona Shroff. I would not hesitate to recommend this one.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley, and I sincerely thank the author or publishing house for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

[Sonal · Rating 4 out of 5]

When their parents divorced, Tyler Hart spent more time with their mom, while Colton went to NY with their dad. Colton has always made Tyler feel inferior. When Colton makes a surprise visit with his new fiance, Tyler is shocked to realize that it's his ex, Rita.
Saira Rawal has grown up with her brother's best friend, Tyler. When she gets kicked out of her apartment for having a dog, she knows Tyler will let her stay with him temporarily while she studies to become a veterinarian.
When Colton arrives with Tyler's ex as his new fiance, Saira decides to pretend she and Tyler are also engaged. This causes all kinds of chaos and tension, especially between Saira's brother, Aneel, and Tyler. Saira and Tyler however, have been hiding their feelings for each other for years. Now, this lie has made them face their feelings.
This is supposed to be the last installment of Mona Shroff's Once Upon A Wedding series. I have thoroughly enjoyed everything I've read by the author and this was no exception. There were some serious issues that were addressed in the story, mainly dealing with mental health. I appreciated how the topics were presented. I've really grown to love the characters from this series and hope there is more to their stories to come!
Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

[Suz Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Tyler’s twin announces his engagement to Tyler’s ex-girlfriend, family friend Saira announces she’s Tyler’s fiancé. Her lie escalates when her brother objects to the fake engagement and Tyler’s mom starts planning a joint engagement party for the twins.

I enjoyed the antics of Saira’s rescue puppy, her dealing with her panic attacks, her journey in becoming a veterinarian, her culture, her friends, and the way she attempts to reconnect with her estranged father. Her brother’s negative response to the engagement, her mental health issues, and Tyler’s complicated relationship with his twin provide conflict. Seeing the relationships between various characters strengthen over the course of story and Saira learning to manage her depression and anxiety make the novel a worthwhile read.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to Harlequin Enterprises ULC for providing an Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Sumedha (Pages & Pacifiers) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this ARC to support a fellow south Asian author. What I didn’t expect was the well fleshed out characters and the true in depth integration on Indian culture into the entire plot! Loved it!

✍️ “I’m not running. Not unless you’re running with me.“

What a beautiful representation also of the journey a person, and a couple, goes through when dealing with depression. It’s so rare to discuss mental health in the South Asian community and this book did a tremendous job of addressing the impact and survival from it. I just loved it!

Pick this one up if your go to romance tropes include brother’s best friend, fake dating, and cinnamon roll MMC. This is book is the perfect mix of those three with a touch of Indian culture to add that extra touch of sparkle.

🙏 Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Books for sending me an ebook for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Kate Vale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another in the Once Upon a Wedding series, in which veterinary student, Saira Rawal, is plagued by panic attacks and stands up for her best friend when Tyler Hart is confronted by his twin brother who has just become engaged to a woman Tyler dated years earlier. The fake engagement that Saira tries to pull off soon creates complications for both herself and Tyler and their respective families.

And then, she fails her boards which means she won't be able to be hired at the local vet clinic that she has always wanted to work at. How will all this play out? Can she pass her Boards next year and what about a job? Will she ever qualify for one? More importantly, what is she going to do when that fake engagement reveals how Tyler really feels about her?

[Crystal P · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think what I enjoy most about friends to lovers is the commitment that each has to maintaining the friendship. Saira Rawal and Tyler Hart end up in a fake engagement in the best possible way - seriously, as soon as Saira's brother's presence was made known, I *knew* that things were about to get real. The fake engagement makes them face their very real feelings. I love so very much about this story!!!

[Lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first book by this author.
Brother’s best friend is one of my favourite tropes but this story wasn’t for me. The storyline dragged and I struggled to finish. The premise was interesting but I felt it could have been better, perhaps if written as a novella.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

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