Aaron Milburn is on the verge of becoming Wearside FC's new captain-if he can keep his name out of the tabloids. Brooke Davison is already a star, leading both Wearside Women and the England Lionesses with discipline and determination. When a drunken mistake puts Aaron's future at risk, he needs to clean up his act fast, and Brooke might just be the only person who can help. Their solution? A carefully crafted plan to salvage Aaron's reputation: a fake relationship that will convince the world he's settled and responsible. But as they play the part of the perfect couple, the embers of attraction that have always smouldered between them threaten to catch fire. The lines between friendship and something more blur, and soon, pretending doesn't feel so fake after all. Playing for Real is an open-door, best friends-to-lovers, fake dating romance filled with sizzling chemistry, heartfelt moments, and the thrill of risking it all for love.