Footballer Follies

The Brotherhood: Legacy #4

by Merry Farmer

It all starts with a second chance to right the wrongs of the past…

Supermodel Ellis Dixon lives a life that most men would envy. But underneath the glitz and glamor lies guilt and self-loathing for the numerous mistakes of his life. He knows he needs to become a better man, and when he’s thrown together with the man he bullied mercilessly in school, it seems like he might finally have a shot at redemption.

But broken hearts don’t heal overnight.

Rising football star Raeburn Kauffman might be the darling of the Ealing Eels, but he still carries the scars of the way Ellis once treated him. Only now, the boy who once made him feel stupid and unloved is bending over backwards to help him navigate the stormy waters of celebrity. Worse still, Rae is starting to remember all the reasons he had such a crush on Ellis to begin with.

Is the whole thing a second chance to fall in love or a recipe for more heartache?

Footballer Follies is the fourth book in The Legacy series…which tells modern-day stories of the men of The Brotherhood. It involves a reformed bully trying to make amends, fake boyfriends with not so fake feelings, a team on the verge of relegation, two careers on the line, bad decisions made at Casino Night, the same nightmare with new players, a shot at redemption, and, of course, the nearly two-hundred-year-old organization known as The Brotherhood. You can read more about the origins and Victorian doings of The Brotherhood in The Origins and The Brotherhood series.

Genres: M M Romance, Sports, Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Contemporary, Soccer, Queer

243 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 19, 2024

About the author

USA Today Bestselling author Merry Farmer lives in suburban Philadelphia with her two cats, Justine and Peter. She has been writing since she was ten years old and realized she didn't have to wait for the teacher to assign a creative writing project to write something. It was the best day of her life. Her books have reached the top of Amazon's charts, and have been named finalists for several prestigious awards, including the RONE Award for indie romance.

Reviews

[⋆｡°✮ Lucy InTheSky ✮°｡⋆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not so sure about this one.

This is the first time I'm reading this author and I love myself a bully, even a redeemed bully romance with none of the bullying on-page (yeah, I can live with that), but as promising as the first half of this book was, it dragged on for too long in the second part and so many side characters were thrown in with no closure where there actually had to be one, that I just didn't enjoy the story very much.

🟢 (Ex) Bully romance
🟣 Model/ soccer player
🟡 Openly gay twink was the bully; the jock was the bullied kid (high school)
🔵 Both MMCs gay (both 28)
🟠 Fake relationship
🟢 Written in BE
🌶️ Some smut, a lot off page, scenes not developed enough; t/b

This all sounds fantastic, right? With an interesting twist of Ellis, the scrawny gay guy being the biggest bully to Rae, a timid, awkward jock with learning disabilities where the bully knew the jock was gay but constantly berated him and put him down for millions of things and yeah, it was nasty.

So naturally I expected a bit of a payback, especially since in present Rae is a professional soccer player and he's very reluctant to have anything to do with Ellis, but because of the circumstances they were thrown into, Ellis and Rae decide to have a fake relationship for the press alone, just to help Rae become more favourable and get more endorsements - and for Ellis to wash off his guilt of the past torment he's caused to Rae.

It does work, almost - if you consider Rae's agent that had a minor and completely irrelevant, almost ridiculous role here, then consider Ellis' agent with his threats that didn't get resolved nor did Ellis fire him, a bunch of model friends that are obnoxious, a couple of meddling parents, then the guys at the Chameleon club, then the coach, teammates - and I probably forgot someone, because there were so many side characters, too much.

The relationship development was not to my liking, it wasn't passionate or at least a bit tense and special, it was very ordinary, there's no other word for it.

The sex scenes started out great, but quickly winded down, almost nothing happened between them for the majority of the story and if it did, it was off-page. They did keep asking each other "Wanna fuck?", but then you'd expect actual fucking and it didn't happen. They should've been all over each other, right?

As great as it was the first time with the rough sex, I still think the author didn't develop the intimacy or the sex scenes well enough. It was hot, that first time, but I just somehow couldn't get into it after, I expected a build-up, but it was either off-page or there weren't enough details there for my taste.

"He didn’t need excuses or apologies. All he needed was Ellis, there with him, panting and emotional as their bodies rocked together and their kisses went on and on."

"Rae was certain they’d find all sorts of kinky ways to have sex in the future. He was willing to bet that Ellis could show him a thing or two, and he was interested in learning."



I feel kind of robbed. 😄 Robbed because their first time having sex held so much promise.
Yeah, this wasn't working for me.

The resolve of the whole fake relationship situation was again kind of boring and surrounded with too much talking and too many side characters, the last 30-40% of the story was anticlimactic, it just didn't deliver what I'd naturally expect from the blurb and where everything was going in the first half.

I don't believe Ellis and Rae love each other, it's not felt. I don't believe they're it for each other. I don't feel the connection there, Ellis didn't do that much grovelling and the only taste of his medicine was for the whole 5 minutes when he met the wives of the other players.
So no, not really.



I am interested in Oakley's story, that's Ellis' ex, but based on the storytelling I don't think I'm up for it.

[Molly Otto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure about this one

2.5 rounded to 3
I'm just not sure about this one. Reformed bully romance is a weakness of mine, and yet this one didn't hit right for me. I appreciated that it was the opposite of the usual in the jock was the one bullied, yet I didn't feel the connection. Even when he does apologize, I just didn't feel it was completely genuine.

[Shonee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must be a terrible person, because I wanted Ellis to suffer more than he did, and for Rae to be more bitter than he was. That wouldn't have made either of them happy, though, so I'm glad that things worked out the way that they did. There was definitely angst in this. I loved the aspects of the media being involved, and everyone kind of getting a front seat to witness what's happening with them.

[VicReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute read.

You would think Ellis and Rae had it all. One being a model and one a soccer player but underneath it all they both had some unresolved trauma that prevented them from living their life to the fullest.

This took me awhile to get into it. Not sure if it was from being written in 3rd person or the plot but I knew that I wanted to stick it out and see how it ended.

To see both of them men go through what they did and heal and love was amazing.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Supermodel Ellis Dixon lives a life that most men would envy. But underneath the glitz and glamour lies guilt and self-loathing for the numerous mistakes of his life. He knows he needs to become a better man.
Rising football star Raeburn Kauffman might be the darling of the Ealing Eels, but he still carries the scars of the way Ellis once bullied him.
The fourth book in the series & it’s easily read on its own. Another page turner from the author I loved both Rae & Ellis who were both successful but had lots of insecurities, they meet by chance & are stuck in a lift only to find the paparazzi waiting for them as they emerge, so Rae’s agent has the bright idea that they fake date. Well that’s going to go well isn’t it? As both have been attracted to each other since school but the baggage they both carry needs to be addressed. I loved their journey to a HEA, which whilst there was angst there was also forgiveness & learning to move forward. An engrossing romance which I devoured in a sitting
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

[Edga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, however, did take me a while to get into the story. The premise is an unusual one, based on the idea of the bullying schoolboy being gay, and the bullied is a jock. Not something you get to read about that often, if at all. I enjoyed the book, seeing how Rae's character developed, and grew in strength, after being initially introduced as the victim was entertaining. Ellis was an interesting character, obviously very troubled, his story showed how there are always two sides to a story, and all it takes is a bit of communication and less reaction to understand the reasons behind the actions. A good read, if overly long, however, a lovely ending.

[Bkwrm24 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellis and Rae ❤️

4 Stars ⭐️

I love a good redemption trope and this book had just that. Ellis has guilt for days, guilt of his recent past and a heavy guilt that goes further back to when he and Rae attended school together. I was pleasantly surprised with the role reversal of the past events between these two and how the redemption arc played out. The build up to trust and forgiveness between Ellis and Rae was endearing and at times very sweet. The relationship between the two was supportive and more emotional than I had expected at first but only it added further depth to this story. These men were very sweet together and the chemistry between them was fire, they had such a hard fought HEA, but it was well worth the wait. The modern brotherhood is another bonus to this read and the side characters are great. This series is so good. I would most definitely recommend this read, especially for fans of Merry Farmer stories.

* I received an ARC from GRR, this is my open and honest review *

[Crisana]

DNF. Everyone is unlikeable here, except for Rae and it's too farfetched how these 2 are reunited.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was actually so sweet.

I was prepared to hate Ellis for his past with Rae, but then I got to know him and understood most of his attitudes.

“Being surrounded by people didn’t always mean someone wasn’t alone.”

Ellis has many past traumas and is very afraid to face them.

“Let’s conquer the world and our demons together.”

When their paths cross again, Ellis finds a way to vindicate himself with Rae, who tries to help him with his public image and his ankle injury.

“Was this what normal people felt when they were slowly falling in love with someone?”

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Making Amends

Ellis & Raeburn (Rae)
Rating: 3.5 ⭐

- Sports Romance
- Footballer/Model
- Hurt/Comfort
- Enemies to Lovers

This book took me longer to get invested in it than the prior stories. I was eager to see what would happen to Ellis after the accident and his breakup with Oakley from "Billionaire Breakdowns". It's been about a year and half since the accident here where Ellis is in a deep state of depression and feeling massive guilt for many things in his life. His original guilt was how he treated Raeburn in school when they were younger, he was a horrible bully to the poor footballer. Raeburn may be a star player now but he still carries the trauma from being bullied the way he was, making his ability to socialize as an adult a difficult task. Raeburn is currently going through a period of rough performances and bad press interviews, neither helping his career or confidence. These two end up in a fake relationship by the weirdest twist of fate and both men have their own agendas they hope to achieve from this collaboration. There is a lot of healing on both sides in this book and there's some misunderstandings along the way. Rae could've easily hated Ellis but he never did and he's always held a torch for the man who tormented him. I like them together as a couple and they were really only fake for like two dates, then these two spent months falling in love with each other during their arrangement.

Verse: No
HEA: Yes

[Penumbra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Footballer Follies is the fourth book in the ‘Brotherhood Legacy’ series. This stars Ellis Dixon, a model, and Raeburn Kauffman, a star soccer player. This is told in third person from Ellis and Rae’s povs.

I’ve read books two and three in this series. Ellis appeared in Book Two as the model who was driving the car when he and Oakley Manfred, his ex, got into a crash that ended up paralyzing Oakley so that he’s confined to a wheelchair. Ellis has been consumed by guilt since the accident. We learn that he’s also harbored guilt over the way he treated Raeburn when they were in school together. The accident with Oakley, heightened the guilt not only with Rae, but also with Oakley. Ellis has been attending the Eel’s soccer matches, on which Rae is the star, in hopes Ellis can find forgiveness. Through an accidental meeting with Rae on an elevator, Ellis sees his chance for forgiveness by helping Rae learn how to deal with the press and spiff up his image. Rae however, doesn’t trust Ellis. Ellis and his friends made Rae’s school life hell, so that even into adulthood, Rae has no confidence in himself as a person or his athletic ability.

Wow, was this story a tug-of-war of personalities. I felt like I was in a tumbling dryer with the way Ellis and Rae kept going at each other. Rae decided to let Ellis help him learn how to deal with the press, because Rae thought he could get revenge on Ellis for the way he treated Rae in school. But Rae isn’t really the revengeful kind. He is however snappish, and Ellis tends to give advice in a way that’s critical. Since Rae is already sensitive to criticism, especially Ellis’ the two of them are constantly butting heads and arguing with each other, while at the same time being attracted to the other. The attraction makes it even more stressful. On top of that, Ellis admits to Rae he wants to make up for all the bad things he did in school, and Rae is annoyed that Ellis is only using Rae to make himself feels better. After awhile Rae realizes it isn’t all about him and Ellis, it’s also about Ellis and Oakley and what happened with the crash, and afterwards. Rae tries to get Ellis to talk about it, or at least see a therapist, but Ellis refuses. Ellis goes into a spiral of depression when he starts to think about the accident, or runs away from people and Rae. Also, because of Ellis’ emotional state, his modeling career is suffering. Ellis is such an emotional mess it throws all interactions between him and Rae into a tornado.

The author did a good job expressing the stress and anguish of the characters in the scenes. However, for me, that much upheaval had me putting the book down a few times because the stress between Ellis and Rae was too much. I really liked the fact that the author introduced the topic of seeking therapy to help the characters understand their emotions and to get over the guilt. Therapy has been mentioned in this author’s books before. I like the idea because therapy is often considered a taboo subject for men, as if they get help, they’re considered weak, when that isn’t true. I like that the author mentions it as an option for emotional and mental help.

I wasn’t sure how the author was going to create a convincing enemies to lovers’ story between Rae and Ellis, but it all worked out in the end. Ellis did the most character growth after facing his past, which was mainly Oakley. Ellis made a very heart-felt apology, so much so that it embarrassed Oakley. Oakley was quite a different person from the second book. He was gentler and wasn’t full of anger. Anyway, Oakley had to explain a few things to Ellis about how they broke up. And here is where I spotted a continuity error in the book. More than a few times in the story, Ellis remembers how Oakley broke up with him before the accident. But somehow when there’s the scene between Oakley and Ellis, Oakley reminded Ellis that Oakley broke up with Ellis before the accident, and then it’s like suddenly Ellis remembers that Oakley did. It’s a continuity problem that doesn’t ring true. Ellis knew Oakley broke up with him before the accident, so why have Ellis pretend that he doesn’t remember Oakley broke up with him until their conversation? I dislike it when authors write characters that ‘back-track’ like this. As if something didn’t happen, even though the character mentions it did.

One thing I wish had happened in the story but didn’t, is that Rae told off Ellis’ manager to keep his nose out of their relationship after Rae and Ellis were together. That manager made things worse for Rae and Ellis and needs to be told off. I would’ve loved to see it.

I enjoyed Footballer Follies even though the emotional drama between Ellis and Rae was too much at times so that I had to put the book temporarily aside. Both Ellis and Rae learn and grow, and make a good couple at the end. Finally, I liked the author bringing up the topic of therapy so that the characters could heal. I recommend this book to others and will likely continue to read the rest of the series. I give this story, 4 Stars.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Julie Underhill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Footballer Follies by Merry Farmer is the 4th book in her The Brotherhood: Legacy series. In this story a bully and the man he bullied find solace for their troubles in each other. Raeburn Kauffman was an excellent football player (the soccer kind) and was playing for the Ealing Eels professional team but was having a tough time. He had been bullied mercilessly in high school and had low self esteem as well as being unable to talk to the press or stand up for himself because of this. Ellis Dixon was his main bully and was now a fashion model. But he also had his troubles in that he had caused an accident that had paralyzed his former boyfriend and he ran away after it happened. This is all he thinks about and it has also caused him to want to make amends for his bullying which has him attending all of the Eels games to watch Rae. Then they have a chance meeting when Rae is trying to get away from the press and Ellis away from other fans, when they are caught coming out of an elevator at the stadium which leads to speculation that they are a couple. While Rae at first wants nothing to do with this, Ellis helps him stand up to the press and tells him he can help him do better in this area. So they begin a fake relationship that has many ups and downs where they try to help each other, and of course, over time it turns into a real one, even though they have a hard time believing this could happen. Ellis refuses to get help for his trauma, guilt, and depression over the accident and in believing that Rae forgives him for being his bully. Rae pushes Ellis to get help which only causes him to pull back, plus he has problems with his football game that needs attention. Then he gets injured and Ellis decides he is going to help him with his recovery, which leads them to really get to know each other and also to some very hot love scenes. There is a final incident that causes them to be apart, but also to realize the love they have for each other and what they have to do to get to their HEA, which they do because they know they are better men with each other. I enjoyed this very angst filled story. You really felt for each character, even though the problems they were going through were so very different. Rae was trying to overcome what happened to him in high school and get on with his life despite the obstacles that were thrown at him. Ellis knew he was a bully but he was scared of what would happen if he didn’t act the way he did and the guilt over accident almost did him in, but with Rae’s love he was able to get past it. The other characters played an important part in the story, especially several players on the team who taunted Rae, and the men who were Ellis’s friends at the Chameleon Club as well as other models who helped him see what he needed to do. And the ex-boyfriend who was involved in the accident also helped when he finally went to him to ask forgiveness over what had happened. I also really liked that main message behind this story which was to look at your past and see what you can do to seek forgiveness for things you may have done that hurt others. I recommend this story, especially if you like hurt/comfort sports stories with some angst as the main characters find their way to love.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy all the books in the Brotherhood series, both Origins and Legacy. This one is no exception. The characters are complex and interesting. Both Rae and Ellis are dealing with things from their pasts as teens and things more current in their lives, trying to navigate their present without really dealing with all the baggage they are carrying. When they meet again by accident ten years later, they are convinced by Rae’s agent to begin a fake dating relationship. As time passes, all their baggage comes into play as old attractions and feelings grow, but those voices in their heads lead to incorrect interpretations of words and deeds, threatening what they could have. Will they make the choices needed to move their relationship forward or will old patterns of behavior tear them apart?

It is always interesting to see past Brotherhood members make an appearance and have an impact on the lives of the current characters. In this case it is Ellis’s life and the impact from Oakley (book 2) on Ellis’s past and present relationships and life in general.

One thing that struck me about Rae and his career as a football player (English version), is how the impact of an injury of one player can lead fans and even teammates to blame a losing season on one person. If the injury of one can be the cause of a losing season after the injury, it seems to me there is something wrong with the makeup of the team itself. If a team depends on all players to win, losses should be based on the same principal—win or lose as a team, not one individual. It was just a thought that in sports, especially, emotions seem to overcome logic when it comes to blame, and the results could lead to additional trauma for the injured player. I’m not sure if that was a side message, but it was one for me.

Another message thread I got was the importance of doing whatever you need to do to deal with past life traumas, talking about it to help process the thoughts and emotions, and going as far as getting professional help if needed so you can move on to live a happier and more productive life. I thought the author did a good job reiterating it several times with both characters.

Anyway, thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next one. The author has a wealth of characters passing through the books to be able to create an endless number of Brotherhood books if she chooses to do so. I would happily read them all, the writing, characters and plots are that good.

I received an ARC of this book and this is my voluntary review.

[Ellie (On a break, mostly rereading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Footballer Follies is book four of Merry Farmer's The Brotherhood: Legacy series. I've gushed about it for my review of the first three books, so I'm just going to get to the point - although these are standalone books, I definitely recommend not just reading this series, but the historical based MM series by Farmer about the formation of The Brotherhood. Such a fascinating world that has been built!

This book picks up with a character we were only briefly introduced to in the second book, Ellis Dixon. His ex was the focus of the second book and so Ellis's story comes as a sort of redemption arc for the famous supermodel who is also a member of The Brotherhood club. Ellis carries mental scars from his past, especially about the boy that he had bullied at school, as well as his ex who had become a paraplegic after they had broken up in a car accident not caused by Ellis but Ellis was the car's driver. Even after nearly two years, Ellis is still dealing with the mental trauma.

Raeburn Kauffman is the hottest player for the football team the Ealing Eels. He is also the boy who had been bullied so badly by the popular Ellis and his mates at school. When Rae and Ellis meet by chance, Rae doesn't want to believe that Ellis has changed. He too carries the emotional scars from his past, as well as living with the current stress of his football career and dealing with media.

Rae and Ellis come to a deal - a fake relationship and Ellis helping Rae to deal with being in the limelight. What happens is a journey of discovery as the men see changes and help each other heal through their relationship.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Slwd · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Footballer Follies” is the fourth book in Merry Farmer’s Brotherhood: Legacy series, her modern world where The Chameleon Club still holds center stage since the 1830s as a safe haven for gay men, and now in modern times membership has expanded to the entire LGBTQ+ spectrum. In this offering we have a reappearance of supermodel Ellis Dixon (from book two “Billionaire Breakdowns) suffering from his guilt over the accident that paralyzed ex-boyfriend Oakley Manfred and his cowardice of actions afterwards. To top that, he subjects himself to watching a former schoolmate and (British) Football star ⚽️ Raeburn Kauffman, remembering their school days when Ellis and his cohorts relentlessly bullied Rae. Ellis believes he ruined Rae’s life. After the latest loss, Ellis and Rae are stranded in an elevator together. This sets in motion a great story of a “fake” boyfriend tale for the press, second chances, redemption, sizzling attraction, and scorching hot open door m/m sex scenes. This is all rolled into a well thought out story with emotionally deep characters who need to heal themselves and heal each other together as a couple not as two single men haunted by the past. This m/m romance fits right into The Brotherhood universe and concludes with a heartfelt happy ever after. As usual, Merry Farmer does her due diligence when it comes to even the smallest details from the British football league to athletic injuries to add authenticity to her story. Definitely recommended for lovers of the genre and fans of Merry Farmer’s work. I eagerly await for book five in the series!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Suzanne Irving · Rating 5 out of 5]

But I don’t like sports stories???

I don’t read sports stories but this is Merry Farmer and it’s part of the Brotherhood Legacy series so of course I had to go ahead and try it. Sob. All the feels. Carrying on from the story in volume 2 which is about Oakley who was in a car crash with Ellis this book is about how Ellis has been doing. Not well is the answer and Ms Farmer leads him to the person who he used to bully in school who is now a famous footballer (soccer player). I have read quite a few books about people who were bullied going to confront their bully but of course Ms Farmer has to switch things around and have the bully trying to make it up to the guy he tormented. We get appearances from characters from other books and the now stately Chameleon Club of course and I love this aspect of the stories and that the stories don’t have only the couple involved. It makes them more realistic and interesting to me.
This couple has a lot going on and I like how Ms Farmer entwines their stories and how they end up helping each other. Raeburn’s character is also a way that she talks about learning difficulties and how they can affect people emotionally, especially when you add the inevitable bullying to them. She does such a great job of bringing things like this into the tale without ever seeming like she is lecturing. The amount of research that she does is impressive and shows in her work. Just make sure you have some hankies because this one will probably make you cry.

[Clara Martinez Turco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Footballer Follies is an adorable enemies-to-lovers, fake relationship, sports romance. Ellis and Rae couldn't be more different if they tried.

Ellis Dixon is a supermodel who used to torment and bully Rae back in high school. Ridden with guilt after an accident that left his ex-boyfriend paralyzed, he knows he needs to be a better man. But, most days, he feels he is drowning.

Football (soccer) has always been Raeburn Kauffman's life. Despite now being a Premier League player, he still doubts himself and bears the scars of being bullied in school. His team isn't doing well, and he blames himself. Running away from the media after a disastrous match, he comes face-to-face with Ellis.

Ellis sees the encounter as an opportunity to make amends. He offers to coach Rae with the media while also pretending to be his boyfriend, which would improve his public image. A reluctant Rae agrees, thinking he can make him pay a bit for what Ellis did to him in high school.

But pretending comes at a price. The more they get to know each other, the more they discover how they have changed. Attraction grows, and feelings develop. The truth is these imperfect characters are perfect for each other.

Ellis and Rae's growth is phenomenal, and how they fall into a natural friendship and relationship is heartwarming. Merry Farmer writes about grief, trauma, and mental health respectfully and beautifully. Footballer Follies is a book that resonates. It might have been slow-paced, but I couldn't put it down.

[Pontiki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellis is a fashion model who carries a lot of guilt about being the driver in a car accident that left his ex paralyzed. He goes to watch Rae, a football player, to wallow in his guilt about bullying him when they were in high school and he was jealous of him.

By a fluke, they meet again in an elevator, and Ellis apologizes and wants to help Rae improve his media presence.

Rae has always had a crush on Ellis, and agrees to let him help him after they’re caught by paparazzi and Ellis offers to fake date him. They face the media and Rae learns how to handle them.

As they date, they learn more about each other, and Rae sees that Ellis is not OK, hasn’t been working, and is weighed down by the past. But he won’t talk about it, though someone else tell Rae about the accident.

When Rae is injured, Ellis comes and takes care of him, and they act more like real than fake boyfriends. But after a fiasco post game when the team is relegated, Ellis thinks he’s ruining things and breaks up with Rae.

He then finds he has to clear the air with his ex, and both men also want to be there to help each other going forward.

This was an interesting story, with the bully being the gay kid. The roots of his behaviour aren’t dealt with well, but his genuine sorrow and pain make him believable. I love the warmth of Rae and the kindness of Oakley, and Ellis grew on me too, after awhile.

I received this ARC for free, and am providing my honest review with gratitude.

[Merissa (Archaeolibrarian) · Rating 4 out of 5]

FOOTBALLER FOLLIES is the fourth book in The Brotherhood: Legacy series, although you don't necessarily have to have read all of them. I do think it would help with some of the subtler nuances of the story, but that is usually with side characters, rather than the main ones.

Rae and Ellis went to school together although it was not a fun time for either of them. Rae was the sports star who struggled with other lessons. Ellis was the 'out' gay boy in the school, fearful of losing his crown. So he became the thing he had feared happening to himself - the bully. Unfortunately, most kids don't think about anyone other than themselves, and Ellis had no thoughts about how his actions affected Rae until years later.

I loved the turnabout in this story. It is unusual for the twink to bully the jock, but it worked here. I also loved seeing Rae grow and change as he became more confident in himself. Yes, both of these have baggage, quite understandably, but they helped each other.

A smooth read that is both emotional and steamy. I enjoyed this addition to the series and look forward to reading more.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jan 22, 2024

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved Rae but still not sure about this

I'm not keen on bully redemption and Ellis wasn't the easiest character to love. He appeared briefly in Billionaire Breakdowns and while what happened then looms large in his mind, and the series features cameos from other books, this can definitely be read as a standalone.
Rae was an absolute sweetheart and didn't deserve the treatment he got years ago from Ellis and the treament he's getting from his team and the so-called supporters. He was a ball of insecurities and doubt, lacking confidence and self-worth after severe bullying at school. I just wanted to wrap him up in cotton wool and protect him from everyone.
Ellis was a harder sell, as I said. He wasn't dealing with what happened in Billionaire Breakdowns nor his guilt over what he did to Rae, so he was basically a neurotic mess who didn't know if he was coming or going and it got frustrating. Rae ended up helping him more than he helped Rae.
I kept getting Roy Kent vibes from Rae, even though he wasn't really like Roy so colour me surprised when Merry said at the end that she'd sort of based Rae on Roy, but I'm just watching Ted Lasso for the fourth time round at the moment (last night it was Beard's wild night out!) so that could have contributed. Roy Kent and Raeburn Kauffman forever!
I loved seeing familiar faces and am definitely now looking forward to the next one with Kit and Walt.

[KelseyreadsHR · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brotherhood Legacy #4

This can be read as a standalone but does make mention of previous MC in earlier books. There is also reference to an event from book two however, enough detail is given in this one to not make it necessary to read first, but why wouldn’t you want to?

I enjoyed this break from my usual historical romance genre for this book (and series). Both of these MC have anxieties and vulnerabilities that stem from different experiences. I liked how they each helped one another by offering support and encouragement but allowed the other to resolve the issues they were facing themselves instead of for them. I resonated with the feelings Rae was experiencing and also some of his anxious thoughts - whether that comes from being a former college athlete or not. I’m on the fence though about the background Rae and Ellis share and the likelihood of a former adolescent bully and the one being bullied resolving age old hurt to the point of finding a HEA with one another. I was able to put this out of my mind for most of the book because the author did a good job of explaining the insecurities Ellis felt that made him lash out as a teenager and the genuine regret he felt and forgiveness he was seeking. Rae was also forgiving and I appreciated the ending with an open discussion on therapy.

There are three encounters that are mid steam.

[Tara · Rating 1 out of 5]

I should have DNFed this - it really wasn't for me.
While this book is set in the UK and tries to sound British, it is written in American English, which I found strange and jarring. The author peppers in a few "blokes" and "arses" to try to sound British, but these characters are very American. I'm not British, but I've consumed enough British media to know that this book is doing a bad job of masquerading as British.
The author also mentions at the end at that they had a British football sensitivity reader and did a ton of research about British football... but the entire time they refer to the team manager as the coach rather than the manager. That may have been a deliberate choice to appeal to American readers, but it really annoyed me to read that the author had a football sensitivity reader and got something as basic as that wrong.
But aside from these nitpicks with the writing, I didn't like the book. I found Ellis to be insufferable and selfish. Rae was a strange character that I could never fully understand his personality or motivations - to read in the authors notes that he was based on Roy Kent from Ted Lasso was so strange - he's not like Roy Kent at all!
The bully romance angle was a strange choice and not well executed. There are no real side characters to help carry the story. The sex was minimal and not sexy.
Again, I should have DNFed.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Footballer Follies by Merry Farmer is my favorite read of the year so far! I adore all of the series involving The Brotherhood, and this book maintains that streak.

Ellis was Rae’s high school tormentor. Ever since his car accident with Oakley he felt guilty for how he handled the breakup of his relationship with Oakley following the accident. That guilty feeling brought back memories of his treatment of Rae in high school.

I love a good enemies to lovers romance, and when Farmer combines that with fake dating it’s magical. Ellis and Rae know how to press all of the other’s buttons. Their chemistry sizzles on the page. I could hardly put this book down to take care of irl responsibilities.

Ellis really experiences emotional growth in this book, and Farmer doesn’t shy away from showing their struggles as they muddle through their complicated relationship. Their story has just as much emotional depth as Oakley’s story which pleasantly surprised me. We also get to see Oakley again in a cameo role. I can’t wait to see what Kit and Walt’s story brings to the table!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mandy (MP Book Reviews) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ellis Dixon may be a glamorous supermodel, but beneath the surface he carries guilt and regret for the mistakes of his past — especially the way he bullied Raeburn Kauffman in school. When fate throws them back together, Ellis sees a chance at redemption. Rae, now a rising football star adored by fans of the Ealing Eels, still bears the scars of Ellis’s cruelty. Yet as Ellis works to support him through the challenges of fame, Rae begins to remember the crush he once had on the boy who hurt him. Their reunion forces both men to confront old wounds, blurred lines between fake and real feelings, and the possibility that second chances can heal — or reopen — broken hearts.

I loved this story about whether forgiveness and love can grow from the ashes of past cruelty, and if redemption can truly rewrite history. Both men wrestled with the divide between how the world sees them and who they truly are. I liked that vulnerability was the key to healing — but it required courage to risk being hurt again. I did find some parts of the story were mostly a farce which became silly at times. Easy to read and understand. This was an MM story with mature content.

[Manon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good addition to the modern Brotherhood series.

You have bully to lovers to friends here. Rae and Ellis' relationship does not start anywhere traditionally.

Ellis has more than his fair share of baggage. On top of him feeling guilty of being the driver on the night of a car accident, he also is Rae's old school bully. When forced into a fake dating situation, their not-so-comfortable togetherness is bringing out all sorts of old hurts.

It is an interesting tale, both need the other and while it may have started as an attempt to ease Ellis' guilt over the past by helping Rae to get more comfortable with the media and his team, he slowly realises what the reason for his past behaviour was and what he actually wants now. Rae can't shift his feeling of being a let-down and always expecting the worst of people.

I found that Rae's side of the story was overshadowed by Ellis' in the middle of the book but towards the end, he is the one taking charge and responsibility and it's a sweet HEA.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is full of hurt/comfort, with trauma that's left to fester and continues to effect the MC's life -until an elevator incident puts in motion sn unexpected reunion, and the beginning of healing. Nothing is straightforward for Ellis and Rae though, as they are each dealing with their own outside situations, as well as a shared past and tentative present.
Rae is a good man with a huge heart. Ellis is good at covering up the pain and guilt he feels deep inside. One wants revenge, one wants redemption. What they get is to slowly work their way to healing, a deep connection, a beautiful love, and a sweet HEA.
This book was a bit slow to start and therefore dragged a bit and I would have liked some background on Ellis and why he has certain behaviors. Other than that, I found this book to be really enjoyable, emotionally rich, entertaining, and I would recommend it.

I received an ARC from GRR, this is my honest review.

[Traci S · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️
Fake dating isn’t a favorite of mine but Rae and Ellis have such a fraught history which makes their story interesting. Both Rae and Ellis should be enjoying the fruits of their success but they both are stuck. Ellis is carrying a ton of guilt. He was the driver of a car accident which left his ex permanently injured and still harbors guilt from his years bullying Rae in school. Rae still deals with the scars left by the bullying and is struggling to adjust to his very public life as a rising soccer star. They are unfortunately incredibly bad at communicating which was frustrating and the story did drag a bit for me. Overall, I liked both main characters and enjoyed seeing them work through their own personal demons. I appreciated their story of redemption and forgiveness and they do pull off a nice happy ending for themselves.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[L H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stories about someone who was a bully and who is moved to want to work toward redemption and forgiveness with the person they bullied are among my favorite tropes. They are an opportunity to read about the growth of both of the persons involved. Ellis was the bully whose negative behavior had an impact on Rae who is dealing with some issues and is in a slump. I liked that the author let us peek behind the curtain to learn that Ellis was not as put together as he appeared and that in truth both men were dealing with some mental health concerns and this point when they encounter one another there are not just sparks but their time together helps both of them deal with past issues and recover forward. It also brings them into a relationship that I am sure Rae could not have foreseen with the guy he felt was not kind to him in the past.
I received an ARC from GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ellis, a model struggling with undiagnosed and unaccepted PTSD, and Rae, a football (soccer) player who’s in a playing slump due to severe confidence and CPTSD issues, accidentally run into each other years after they went to school together. Note that neither character is formally diagnosed, but I think the warning is relevant for folx who might otherwise be activated by that aspect of the plot.

The book is creative and thoughtful about bullying, who bullies, and why, without giving anyone a pass for their behavior. Additionally, the relationship Ellis and Rae end up building as adults is believable, both in how it evolves and the setbacks they navigate.

I received an advance copy. This is my own opinion. I give the book 5 out of 5 and I’m enjoying the books in the Brotherhood Legacy series.

[Susi June · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story really frustrated me. To quote Black Eyed Peas "where is the love?" I didn't feel a connection between the two main characters whatsoever. I guess they build one in the weeks they spend together but it wasn't shown at all. Rae was great, he was a sweetheart and I wanted to hug him so many times. Ellis on the other hand annoyed me. It was always me, me, me with him. He just wanted to clear his own guilt. I have to say I'm not a bully romance fan so that's problem one of the reasons I didn't enjoy this book as much. Normally I smile a lot when I read a romance but unfortunately I don't think I smiled once while reading this one. That's not to say this is a bad book, I'm sure other people will enjoy it more than me. I didn't have to fight to get through it but it also didn't capture me personally.