Cover of Just for Show by Jae
sapphicHot

Just for Show

by Jae

2018

What happens when an overachieving psychologist with OCD tendencies and an impulsive, out-of-work actress start a fake relationship?Claire Renshaw thought she had it all: a successful career as a couples therapist, a publishing contract for her self-help book, and a happy relationship. But her perfect world falls apart when her fiancée calls off their engagement. Because of that, even her book deal might be off the table. After all, readers don't want relationship advice from someone who can't even make her own relationship work.So Claire sets out to hire herself a fake fiancée.Lana Henderson, the actress who shows up to audition for the role, is not exactly Claire's ideal woman. Her frankness and the messes she leaves everywhere drive Claire up the wall. At least she won't fall in love with someone like Lana.But soon, Lana starts to win her over with her big heart, tickle fights, and--gasp!--carbs after six. The longer they pretend to be a love-struck couple, the less fake their kisses feel and the more the lines between reality and role begin to blur.Once the book contract is signed, will they walk away or is their relationship no longer just for show?A lesbian romance where role-playing has never been so irresistible.

Opposites AttractSlow BurnSlow Burn
Editor ReviewedAI-AssistedRomance Profile Available
Your rating:

About This Book

Just for Show is a sapphic romance novel by Jae, first published in 2018 by Ylva Publishing. Readers can expect opposites attract, slow burn; hot heat; a slow burn and emotional tone.

At a glance

Genre
sapphic
Trope
Fake Relationship
Heat
Hot
Ending
HEA
Mood
Slow Burn
Published
2018

Where to read or listen

Get Just for Show by Jae

These store links are affiliate links (Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org and Libro.fm). As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.

Should I read this?

Why You May Love This Book

You may love this if…

  • When a rigid couples therapist hires a messy, impulsive actress to play her fiancée to save a book deal, the lines between their contract and their hearts begin to blur.
  • Fans of Jae's slow-burn style
  • Readers who love the Fake Dating trope
  • Cozy
  • Features Fake Relationship

This may not be ideal if…

  • Readers seeking high-stakes action
  • Readers who dislike rigid or 'Ice Queen' protagonists
  • Readers looking for dark or high-angst themes
Romance Profile

The Romance

Tropes, dynamics, and the chemistry that drives this story.

Tropes

Fake RelationshipOpposites AttractIce QueenForced ProximityGrumpy/SunshineFake Engagement

Relationship Dynamics

Professional/ContractualMutual GrowthThawing the Ice QueenRoommates

Details

Type: Contemporary

Pairing: F/F

Power balance: Balanced

Slow BurnStrong (70 out of 100)
Relationship TensionVery strong (75 out of 100)
Emotional IntimacyVery strong (85 out of 100)
Emotional Experience

How It Feels

The emotional landscape you'll move through while reading.

High comfort, moderate tension, moderate humor, and a strong emotional payoff.

AngstMild (35 out of 100)
ComfortVery strong (75 out of 100)
HumorStrong (55 out of 100)
TensionStrong (60 out of 100)
DarknessLow (10 out of 100)
Emotional IntensityStrong (65 out of 100)
Emotional PayoffVery strong (90 out of 100)
Tear RatingLow (20 out of 100)
Pacing: Steady
Tone:HeartwarmingRomanticLightheartedSincere
Heat & Explicitness

Heat Level

Based on available metadata and editorial review.

Heat Level
On-page sexual contentMild (45 out of 100)

Moderate

Explicitness: Open Door
Sexual content present
Heat information is based on available metadata and editorial review. Reader sensitivities vary.
Reader Fit

Who Is This Book For?

Best for

Fans of Jae's slow-burn styleReaders who love the Fake Dating tropeFans of Grumpy/Sunshine dynamicsReaders looking for competence porn

Reading mood

CozySoftHopefulAmused

May not suit

Readers seeking high-stakes actionReaders who dislike rigid or 'Ice Queen' protagonistsReaders looking for dark or high-angst themes

Recommended audience: Adult

Content Guidance

Content Guidance

Story & Themes

The Story

Spoiler-Free Synopsis

Claire Renshaw is the queen of order and relationship advice, but her personal life is in shambles after her engagement ends. With a publishing contract for her self-help book at risk, she decides to fake a relationship to maintain her image. She hires Lana, an actress who is her polar opposite in every way. As they navigate the demands of their public performance, the forced proximity leads to unexpected intimacy and the realization that their best relationship might be the one they're pretending to have.

Central Conflict

The tension between professional reputation and personal authenticity, alongside the 'opposites attract' clash between Claire's OCD-like need for control and Lana's chaotic, impulsive nature.

Setting

Unknown

Themes

Fake engagementProfessional reputationOpposites attractCharacter-drivenSapphic contemporaryFake RelationshipOpposites AttractSlow BurnHeartwarmingContemporary Romance

Strengths

  • Strong character development
  • Classic tropes executed with depth
  • Balance of humor and emotional resonance

Consider before reading

  • Predictable ending common to the trope
  • OCD representation may be interpreted as personality quirks rather than a clinical diagnosis
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Book Club

Discussion Guide

Questions to deepen your reading experience or spark a book club conversation.

  1. 1

    How does the central conflict shape the relationship between the main characters?

  2. 2

    Which theme — Fake engagement — resonated most strongly with you, and why?

  3. 3

    How does the setting influence the characters' decisions and their relationship?

  4. 4

    Did the emotional payoff feel earned by the story's buildup?

  5. 5

    How do the relationship dynamics evolve throughout the story?

  6. 6

    Who would you most want to recommend this book to?

  7. 7

    How did the pacing affect your reading experience?

  8. 8

    Which aspect of the story did you find most compelling?

Questions are generated from approved book intelligence and may not reflect every reader's experience.
Trust & Transparency

How This Profile Was Created

Eikna uses book metadata and AI-assisted analysis to create structured romance profiles. Public profiles are reviewed and approved by an editor before publication.

Editor reviewed:
Yes
Last reviewed:
September 19, 2026
Confidence:
High confidence
Profile version:
eikna-public-book-intelligence-v1
Meet the writer

About the Author

J

Jae

Reader Reviews

What Readers Say

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Publication Details

Publisher
Ylva Publishing
Published
2018
ISBN-13
9783955339821
ISBN-10
3955339823

Just for Show: quick answers

Who wrote Just for Show?
Just for Show was written by Jae.
When was Just for Show published?
Just for Show was first published in 2018 by Ylva Publishing.
What genre is Just for Show?
Just for Show is a sapphic romance novel, with opposites attract, slow burn.
How spicy is Just for Show?
EIKNA rates Just for Show as hot heat.

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Where to read or listen

Get Just for Show by Jae

These store links are affiliate links (Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org and Libro.fm). As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.

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