Caught in a Bad Fauxmance
Elle Gonzalez Rose
Caught in a Bad Fauxmance
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Elle Gonzalez Rose
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
Devin Báez and Julian Seo-Cooke are sworn enemies locked in a fierce family rivalry, but when Julian needs a fake boyfriend, Devin steps in—only to find that pretending to hate might be harder than he thought. What if this fake romance turns into something real? Suddenly, the line between love and payback gets dangerously blurry.
Quick Assessment
This young adult romantic comedy follows Devin and Julian, two teens from rival families who enter a fake relationship during a winter break competition. The story explores themes of family loyalty, rivalry, and LGBTQ+ identity with humor and warmth, suitable for readers aged 13 and up. Parents should note mild romantic content and themes around family conflict, but nothing graphic or intense.
Why we rated Caught in a Bad Fauxmance 12LE
Caught in a Bad Fauxmance is written at a Level 7 reading level across 321 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Caught in a Bad Fauxmance works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Caught in a Bad Fauxmance as 12LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, Caught in a Bad Fauxmance explores romance, lgbtq+ representation, humor, family, and coming of age — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about romance, lgbtq+ representation, humor.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
Marisol Acts the Part
Elle Gonzalez Rose
Marisol Acts the Part
Elle Gonzalez Rose
Blackmail boyfriend
Chris Cannon
Blackmail boyfriend
Chris Cannon
Forbidden Boy
Hailey Abbott
Forbidden Boy
Hailey Abbott
The Feud
Tonya Taylor Ramagos
The Feud
Tonya Taylor Ramagos
Faking It
Pete Johnson
Faking It
Pete Johnson
Faking normal
Courtney C. Stevens
Faking normal
Courtney C. Stevens
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780593645796
- Pages
- 321
- Publisher
- Joy Revolution
- Published
- 2023
- Type
- Fiction