What is the fake dating trope?
Two people agree to pretend to be a couple — to fool a family, win an inheritance, save face at a wedding — and set rules that inevitably break. The trope gives instant intimacy (hand-holding, public kisses) with built-in deniability, so feelings can grow while both insist it's an act.
Common variations
- Fake engagement
- Fake marriage for a visa or inheritance
- Fake dating to make an ex jealous
- Pretend courtship in historical romance
What to watch out for
- The fake relationship hurting innocent third parties
