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Sparring Partners
Not yet published
Expected 31 Mar 26When a Gen Z content creator meets a brooding MMA coach, they are the hottest thing on the mat in this forced-proximity, enemies-to-lovers sports romance for fans of Nikki Castle and Elle Kennedy.
Gloves off.
And hands on…
When things get hard, some choose “flight…”
It’s been a year since Lily Parker fled to Chicago, hoping to lose herself among millions of people. Becoming the new content creator for a South Side MMA gym isn’t just a fresh start or a new job—it’s a chance to save the gym and help women protect themselves. But while the gorgeous, scarred and tatted-up MMA coach has marked Lily as an enemy, there’s definitely something spicy between them…
He chooses “fight.”
Kieran Sullivan only knows how to use his fists. His body is a testament to survival and protecting those he loves—and that does not include the gym’s newest employee. But when a video goes viral, Kieran and Lily must play nice in front of the cameras to keep the gym’s fans happy. Now the internet is obsessed with their scorching, will-they-or-won’t-they chemistry.
Sometimes, the only thing that separates love from hate is knowing exactly who your opponent really is.
From showing up to glowing up, the characters in Afterglow Books are on the path to leading their best lives and finding sizzling romance along the way. Don’t miss any of these other fun titles…
Love and Other Hollywood Endings by Susannah Erwin
The Summer of Perfect Mistakes by Cynthia St. Aubin
Meet Me in a Mile by Elizabeth Hrib
Gloves off.
And hands on…
When things get hard, some choose “flight…”
It’s been a year since Lily Parker fled to Chicago, hoping to lose herself among millions of people. Becoming the new content creator for a South Side MMA gym isn’t just a fresh start or a new job—it’s a chance to save the gym and help women protect themselves. But while the gorgeous, scarred and tatted-up MMA coach has marked Lily as an enemy, there’s definitely something spicy between them…
He chooses “fight.”
Kieran Sullivan only knows how to use his fists. His body is a testament to survival and protecting those he loves—and that does not include the gym’s newest employee. But when a video goes viral, Kieran and Lily must play nice in front of the cameras to keep the gym’s fans happy. Now the internet is obsessed with their scorching, will-they-or-won’t-they chemistry.
Sometimes, the only thing that separates love from hate is knowing exactly who your opponent really is.
From showing up to glowing up, the characters in Afterglow Books are on the path to leading their best lives and finding sizzling romance along the way. Don’t miss any of these other fun titles…
Love and Other Hollywood Endings by Susannah Erwin
The Summer of Perfect Mistakes by Cynthia St. Aubin
Meet Me in a Mile by Elizabeth Hrib
288 pages, Paperback
Expected publication March 31, 2026
9 people are currently reading
4741 people want to read
About the author
Erin Rose
2 books54 followersErin Rose is the pen name of co-authors/best friends Katie Erin and Katie Rose. Lovers of all things Romance and advocates for mental health, you can expect to find hard-won happily ever afters in their stories. They currently live in Shepherdstown, WV, with their respective husbands, children, and dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
November 19, 2025
I went into Sparring Partners expecting a basic, fun sports romance and was pleasantly surprised by the emotional depth woven throughout Kieran and Lily’s story. Both main characters carry significant childhood—and even adult—trauma, and their individual healing journeys add meaningful weight to what could have been a simple rivals-to-lovers setup.
What begins as a workplace rivalry quickly shifts into a relationship of convenience, a way for them to let off steam, and it evolves naturally into something deeper. The grumpy x sunshine dynamic between Kieran and Lilly is wonderfully done, and their chemistry is undeniable. I especially loved Kieran’s fierce protectiveness—not just toward Lily but toward his siblings, for whom he sacrificed so much. Lily’s journey toward finding a found family in the gym and among her friends was equally rewarding, grounding the romance in strong emotional ties outside the central relationship.
The tension between Kieran and Lilly is electric, and the exploration of Lily’s control kink was handled with trust, care, and authenticity. Their dynamic feels mature and well-balanced, with each character meeting the other’s vulnerabilities with genuine understanding.
The pacing overall is strong and kept me engaged from the very beginning. My only critique is that the ending felt a bit abrupt, as though there was still room for a slightly smoother wrap-up. Even so, Sparring Partners is a compelling, tension-filled romance with well-drawn characters and satisfying emotional layers. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to reading more from Erin Rose.
**Open Door Romance - I will be honest, I expected quite a bit of spice but was suprised with only a handful of scenes and instead a very plot driven story!
What begins as a workplace rivalry quickly shifts into a relationship of convenience, a way for them to let off steam, and it evolves naturally into something deeper. The grumpy x sunshine dynamic between Kieran and Lilly is wonderfully done, and their chemistry is undeniable. I especially loved Kieran’s fierce protectiveness—not just toward Lily but toward his siblings, for whom he sacrificed so much. Lily’s journey toward finding a found family in the gym and among her friends was equally rewarding, grounding the romance in strong emotional ties outside the central relationship.
The tension between Kieran and Lilly is electric, and the exploration of Lily’s control kink was handled with trust, care, and authenticity. Their dynamic feels mature and well-balanced, with each character meeting the other’s vulnerabilities with genuine understanding.
The pacing overall is strong and kept me engaged from the very beginning. My only critique is that the ending felt a bit abrupt, as though there was still room for a slightly smoother wrap-up. Even so, Sparring Partners is a compelling, tension-filled romance with well-drawn characters and satisfying emotional layers. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to reading more from Erin Rose.
**Open Door Romance - I will be honest, I expected quite a bit of spice but was suprised with only a handful of scenes and instead a very plot driven story!
March 1, 2026
4.75 out of 5…and that is ONLY because I need MORE!!
No, seriously, this was a 5/5 star read for me- talk about the cutest little MMA fighter romance I’ve ever read! I’m not a huge reader of this subsection of sports romance, but I think Sparring Partners may have changed my mind…
Kieran and Lily’s relationship was so cute to watch unfold, and for being such a short little read, we saw quite a lot happen in a very little amount of time. The emotions that both Kieran and Lily portray get very deep/heavy at times, which helped me (as a reader) grow to feel that their relationship was more authentic than if it had just been a light-hearted insta-love type of book. In the end, this book highlights that strength can come in many forms, both physically and mentally. And watching both characters overcome their fears (while also falling in love😍) made for a very enjoyable story! Now, who do I have to pester for a lil epilogue about the future, or maybe two of them: one for Danny and one for Saoirse?!
Oh, and Vovik can go fall off a bridge. I may be the one to push him (if Kieran doesn’t get there first😂).
Thank you to Shameless Romantics & Harlequin Books for this ARC!
No, seriously, this was a 5/5 star read for me- talk about the cutest little MMA fighter romance I’ve ever read! I’m not a huge reader of this subsection of sports romance, but I think Sparring Partners may have changed my mind…
Kieran and Lily’s relationship was so cute to watch unfold, and for being such a short little read, we saw quite a lot happen in a very little amount of time. The emotions that both Kieran and Lily portray get very deep/heavy at times, which helped me (as a reader) grow to feel that their relationship was more authentic than if it had just been a light-hearted insta-love type of book. In the end, this book highlights that strength can come in many forms, both physically and mentally. And watching both characters overcome their fears (while also falling in love😍) made for a very enjoyable story! Now, who do I have to pester for a lil epilogue about the future, or maybe two of them: one for Danny and one for Saoirse?!
Oh, and Vovik can go fall off a bridge. I may be the one to push him (if Kieran doesn’t get there first😂).
Thank you to Shameless Romantics & Harlequin Books for this ARC!
November 16, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley for giving me an ARC.
I don't know where to start. I just finished this book and oh my heart. The story was so cute and Keiran and Lily will be in my heart forever. They are my new babies.
I didn't think I would love the book as much because the fmc is an influencer, but Lily really stole my heart.
Both Keiran and Lily had a rough life and a rough childhood, I don't feel like that was worked out as much, like it was only touched on the surface, but their love story did feel whole and perfect.
Will maybe edit this review when I have thought a bit more about the story, but I really just had to talk about it right now.
I don't know where to start. I just finished this book and oh my heart. The story was so cute and Keiran and Lily will be in my heart forever. They are my new babies.
I didn't think I would love the book as much because the fmc is an influencer, but Lily really stole my heart.
Both Keiran and Lily had a rough life and a rough childhood, I don't feel like that was worked out as much, like it was only touched on the surface, but their love story did feel whole and perfect.
Will maybe edit this review when I have thought a bit more about the story, but I really just had to talk about it right now.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I read this book so quickly! I had a hard time putting it down. For such a short book, I was surprised by the amount of emotional depth the authors were able to fit into the story.
This book is not a slow burn! The attraction between the main characters is immediate, and there is a lot of banter and cute moments.
I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys:
-flirty tension
-friends with benefits trope
-complicated characters
Thank you to NetGalley and Shameless Romantics for a review copy of this book.
This book is not a slow burn! The attraction between the main characters is immediate, and there is a lot of banter and cute moments.
I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys:
-flirty tension
-friends with benefits trope
-complicated characters
Thank you to NetGalley and Shameless Romantics for a review copy of this book.
November 15, 2025
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by Harlequin - Romance through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
3.5 stars.
A sweet and sexy romance between two wounded individuals, “Sparring Partners”, by Erin Rose, features a hero who is a protector at heart and a determined heroine with a troubled past.
I loved how Kieran and Lily first meet, and how some antagonism blends with attraction and chemistry in their initial interactions.
Kieran is a fierce protector; his devotion to his family and the affection he demonstrates, for example towards his niece, is endearing, softening considerable the “brute” MMA coach.
Lily is a fighter, a woman determined to overcome the dramatic circumstances she went through.
I liked the passion between them and how they surrender so totally.
I enjoyed how the author described the hero, giving a very visual and impressive portrait of all that sex-appeal.
I also liked the warmth and friendliness in the gym and the Chicago setting.
I felt the final part of the story dragged a bit, and there was too much sex and family drama.
3.5 stars.
A sweet and sexy romance between two wounded individuals, “Sparring Partners”, by Erin Rose, features a hero who is a protector at heart and a determined heroine with a troubled past.
I loved how Kieran and Lily first meet, and how some antagonism blends with attraction and chemistry in their initial interactions.
Kieran is a fierce protector; his devotion to his family and the affection he demonstrates, for example towards his niece, is endearing, softening considerable the “brute” MMA coach.
Lily is a fighter, a woman determined to overcome the dramatic circumstances she went through.
I liked the passion between them and how they surrender so totally.
I enjoyed how the author described the hero, giving a very visual and impressive portrait of all that sex-appeal.
I also liked the warmth and friendliness in the gym and the Chicago setting.
I felt the final part of the story dragged a bit, and there was too much sex and family drama.
January 25, 2026
I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley and once I got into the story I couldn’t put it down. I really enjoyed seeing the main character grow over the course of the story. The pacing was well-balanced, and the plot was engaging and fun without feeling rushed. Overall, it’s a strong sports romance with a romcom feel and an entertaining storyline. I’d highly recommend it to readers looking for a good character-driven sports romance.
November 6, 2025
Strap in for a scorching-hot and emotionally fulfilling ride. I went into Sparring Partners expecting a high-heat enemies-to-lovers romance - and I definitely got one! But what took me by delightful surprise was the depth of emotion I felt for these two wounded souls whose connection was so deeply healing. The chemistry between Kieran and Lily downright sizzles, from when they're first circling each other in the early pages, to when they fool themselves that they're not that into each other (sure, Jan), to when they finally admit the truth to themselves and each other. Erin Rose's ability to combine searing spice with tender vulnerability is applause-worthy. And they introduced a cast of supporting characters that have made me hungry for their next offering! Thank you for allowing me an early read of this wonderful debut. <3
November 14, 2025
Received this eARC from NetGalley and LET ME TELL YOU - Kieran and Lily will live rent free in my head for a long time. 🤌🏻❤️
November 21, 2025
This is the first book I’ve ever read by Erin Rose, and I loved it.
This book was unexpected. I thought I was grabbing a lighthearted sports romance. What I got, instead, was a book with emotional depth and incredible characters.
Lily & Kieran both went through abusive childhoods. Lily then endured abuse as an adult at the hands of her ex. Watching her navigate that trauma and take back control of her life was inspiring.
Kieran learning to deal with his own trauma and realize that he deserves happiness too was no less inspiring.
I wish there had been more of a conclusion with Lily and her ex when he’s mentioned at one point in the book, but that’s didn’t detract me from the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for this advanced reader copy.
This book was unexpected. I thought I was grabbing a lighthearted sports romance. What I got, instead, was a book with emotional depth and incredible characters.
Lily & Kieran both went through abusive childhoods. Lily then endured abuse as an adult at the hands of her ex. Watching her navigate that trauma and take back control of her life was inspiring.
Kieran learning to deal with his own trauma and realize that he deserves happiness too was no less inspiring.
I wish there had been more of a conclusion with Lily and her ex when he’s mentioned at one point in the book, but that’s didn’t detract me from the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for this advanced reader copy.
December 18, 2025
This was such a good book! Wow the author absolutely makes you fall in love with this whole cast of characters, Kieran and Lilly have so much baggage between them that it almost is doomed from the start, but when they finally allow trust in…a wonderful story comes through. I want to find out what happens with the rest of the Sullivan clan, they were such bright lights in this love story. The humor, family bonds, friendship, love and loss is all here making this a must read.
December 28, 2025
Ok I loved this book!!! The feel of the book had me sucked in. It’s funny, deep, understanding, and some sprinkle of spice 🤭. I needed more honestly; I felt like there needs to be a second book for these characters. Plus additional ones for each of Kieran’s siblings. I honestly need a Maeve and Seb story 😍. Kieran and Lily start out in as enemies but totally attracted to each other. Like come on, the man is an MMA coach/ex contender. The man is jacked 😂 . I’d gladly be a test subject for him 😂. I loved the relationship lily and Kier had, yes there agreement was mutual but they both were harboring their own demons. But they both understood that their demons are what made them stronger. This a good romance read! Especially if you need some in depth characters with lots of banter and built up tension. Let Kieran scratch that itch 😆.
Lily, girl I just wanted to hug you. Her past is one that slit of people can connect with. It’s a very true thing that happens and I loved that about her character. She got out of a situation and bettered herself. She busted her butt and it all paid off. In more ways than one 👀. Plus we all need a Nat in our life, always the antagonist but always the safety net. Lilys group of friends reminded me that a family can be people you choose, not just blood.
Kieran, man you had me at the drool worthy body. But then comes in his family and I melted. This man dropped everything for them and I loved that. Erin did such a great job at capturing his personality. His strong traits of being a family man, protector, lover 🥰, truly make him the better man to ANYONE. Maybe except Seb, we all need a Latin daddy too 😂.
I got this as an ARC from NetGalley. I 1000% recommend for a good romance read.
Lily, girl I just wanted to hug you. Her past is one that slit of people can connect with. It’s a very true thing that happens and I loved that about her character. She got out of a situation and bettered herself. She busted her butt and it all paid off. In more ways than one 👀. Plus we all need a Nat in our life, always the antagonist but always the safety net. Lilys group of friends reminded me that a family can be people you choose, not just blood.
Kieran, man you had me at the drool worthy body. But then comes in his family and I melted. This man dropped everything for them and I loved that. Erin did such a great job at capturing his personality. His strong traits of being a family man, protector, lover 🥰, truly make him the better man to ANYONE. Maybe except Seb, we all need a Latin daddy too 😂.
I got this as an ARC from NetGalley. I 1000% recommend for a good romance read.
February 25, 2026
I don’t normally write reviews for many books, but this one deserves it…big time. I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC, as this debut novel doesn’t release until March 31, 2026.
I went into this book thinking about how refreshingly unique an MMA-focused sports romance would be in a market that seems to be saturated with hockey. As I was reading, I realized how very correct that assumption was! It was like breathing fresh air into sports romance. There’s definitely space for MMA-focused romance…and Kieran and Lily’s story is a perfect starting point.
This book was so beautifully crafted. The characters are written to have their flaws, but to be honestly human as well. The authenticity of their dialogue and actions made their story so approachable for all types of romance readers. Kieran and Lily just feel so real and genuine…like people you could be friends with. Their banter had me giggling and their struggles brought tears to my eyes. And their…inventive…interludes leave the reader deliciously breathless. I definitely got attached to these two!
Supporting them is a whole host of family and found family, all of whom are important in developing the MMC and FMC. I’m hopeful that some of these characters will also receive their own stories in future books…they definitely deserve to be explored. Oh! And Kieran’s niece calling him “Kiki”?!? Be still, my heart!
My only wish for this book was that it could have been longer! I took much longer than usual in reading it because I didn’t want it to end. To the publishers at Harlequin, you chose well with this book. Your readers will clamor to see more from this author duo! And to the authors, thank you for creating such a sweet (and spicy) story to share with your readers. Looking forward to more!
I went into this book thinking about how refreshingly unique an MMA-focused sports romance would be in a market that seems to be saturated with hockey. As I was reading, I realized how very correct that assumption was! It was like breathing fresh air into sports romance. There’s definitely space for MMA-focused romance…and Kieran and Lily’s story is a perfect starting point.
This book was so beautifully crafted. The characters are written to have their flaws, but to be honestly human as well. The authenticity of their dialogue and actions made their story so approachable for all types of romance readers. Kieran and Lily just feel so real and genuine…like people you could be friends with. Their banter had me giggling and their struggles brought tears to my eyes. And their…inventive…interludes leave the reader deliciously breathless. I definitely got attached to these two!
Supporting them is a whole host of family and found family, all of whom are important in developing the MMC and FMC. I’m hopeful that some of these characters will also receive their own stories in future books…they definitely deserve to be explored. Oh! And Kieran’s niece calling him “Kiki”?!? Be still, my heart!
My only wish for this book was that it could have been longer! I took much longer than usual in reading it because I didn’t want it to end. To the publishers at Harlequin, you chose well with this book. Your readers will clamor to see more from this author duo! And to the authors, thank you for creating such a sweet (and spicy) story to share with your readers. Looking forward to more!
December 9, 2025
I went into this expecting a cute little MMA romance, a rivals to lovers, with some spice. Honestly, these cute cartoon covers be out in the world misleading people. I never get quite what I’m expecting… good thing I love a good surprise!
And what a surprise this one was! What I got was not quite what I expected and I loved it! The characters both have traumatic pasts, that adds to the depth of the story and the characters.
Kier is tall, handsome, built, and every bit focused on his siblings and the gym he works at succeeding while keeping the peace. His life has routine and structure….until Lily.
Lily comes in appearing to be all sunshine and rainbows. All cute dances and living the life of an influencer. But she’s running from a painful past.
I loved the natural progression of rivals to just being two people letting off steam, to learning more about each other, to ultimately falling in love. She learns to rely on him, and he learns to rely on her. They become each others safe spaces,
And isn’t that really what loves about? Finding that person you can trust with your heart, that will be a safe place to land?
The chemistry is good, the spice isn’t as heavy as I expected, but that’s totally fine, a good story doesnt need it.
I wish this book was longer. There’s definitely plenty of room for more exploration of the characters, their backstory, and so much more. I sincerely hope to see more books from this author with the same characters, or novella’s.
I do want to warn anyone reading, to make sure to check any trigger warnings!
A big thank you to netgalley, and Harlequinn for this e-arc! This is definitely a book I’ll be adding to my recommendation list! I’ll be recommending it to friends and followers.
And what a surprise this one was! What I got was not quite what I expected and I loved it! The characters both have traumatic pasts, that adds to the depth of the story and the characters.
Kier is tall, handsome, built, and every bit focused on his siblings and the gym he works at succeeding while keeping the peace. His life has routine and structure….until Lily.
Lily comes in appearing to be all sunshine and rainbows. All cute dances and living the life of an influencer. But she’s running from a painful past.
I loved the natural progression of rivals to just being two people letting off steam, to learning more about each other, to ultimately falling in love. She learns to rely on him, and he learns to rely on her. They become each others safe spaces,
And isn’t that really what loves about? Finding that person you can trust with your heart, that will be a safe place to land?
The chemistry is good, the spice isn’t as heavy as I expected, but that’s totally fine, a good story doesnt need it.
I wish this book was longer. There’s definitely plenty of room for more exploration of the characters, their backstory, and so much more. I sincerely hope to see more books from this author with the same characters, or novella’s.
I do want to warn anyone reading, to make sure to check any trigger warnings!
A big thank you to netgalley, and Harlequinn for this e-arc! This is definitely a book I’ll be adding to my recommendation list! I’ll be recommending it to friends and followers.
February 13, 2026
4.5 🌟
I absolutely love forced proximity (literally- workplace romance, they can’t escape each other 🤣) and when the MMC and FMC think they can be FWB and no strings attached… feelings will always happen and I am here for it!
We had one awesome MMC! Kieran was complex yet strong and not whiny like some MMCs are portrayed in books I’ve read before and I love it!
Lily was very relatable as well.. I don’t want to spoil anything but we see how she handles and has grown from a past situation into her own strong, independent person and I loved it!
They definitely both had the wrong preconceived notions of each other so it was heartwarming reading their love story!! I loved their story, their perfectly imperfect story. I like a good fast paced romance with real relatable people who have went through real things, from family problems to domestic violence (TW).. this book has it all and portrays all of it in a beautifully weaved together story with a satisfying ending!
I would love for this to be a series because I am also invested in all the side characters!!
Thanks to Harlequin and NetGalley for the eARC!!
I absolutely love forced proximity (literally- workplace romance, they can’t escape each other 🤣) and when the MMC and FMC think they can be FWB and no strings attached… feelings will always happen and I am here for it!
We had one awesome MMC! Kieran was complex yet strong and not whiny like some MMCs are portrayed in books I’ve read before and I love it!
Lily was very relatable as well.. I don’t want to spoil anything but we see how she handles and has grown from a past situation into her own strong, independent person and I loved it!
They definitely both had the wrong preconceived notions of each other so it was heartwarming reading their love story!! I loved their story, their perfectly imperfect story. I like a good fast paced romance with real relatable people who have went through real things, from family problems to domestic violence (TW).. this book has it all and portrays all of it in a beautifully weaved together story with a satisfying ending!
I would love for this to be a series because I am also invested in all the side characters!!
Thanks to Harlequin and NetGalley for the eARC!!
January 18, 2026
~NetGalley Arc~
First and foremost thank the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC.
Unfortunately I had to DNF it at 20%. It just wasn’t for me. The writing style was a bit off. It felt like it should have been a Dual POV but was in third person. I got confused reading it and had to go back a couple times to remember who it was focused on. I wanted to love it so badly and tried multiple times but couldn’t enjoy it the way I had hoped. I’d definitely be open to reading more from the author. Again, I just feel like this particular story wasn’t for me. I wish the author nothing but success.
First and foremost thank the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC.
Unfortunately I had to DNF it at 20%. It just wasn’t for me. The writing style was a bit off. It felt like it should have been a Dual POV but was in third person. I got confused reading it and had to go back a couple times to remember who it was focused on. I wanted to love it so badly and tried multiple times but couldn’t enjoy it the way I had hoped. I’d definitely be open to reading more from the author. Again, I just feel like this particular story wasn’t for me. I wish the author nothing but success.
November 15, 2025
*Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the eArc*
This packed a lot more heart than I expected it to, the characters felt authentic, although at times a little surface level. For what I thought was going to be a silly goofy sports romance, this had surprising depth. It did unfortunately do the thing I hate where names for real life things are changed (for copyright I assume?) but it takes me out of the story every time. Overall very solid romance, it probably could have been longer to tie up some plot points.
This packed a lot more heart than I expected it to, the characters felt authentic, although at times a little surface level. For what I thought was going to be a silly goofy sports romance, this had surprising depth. It did unfortunately do the thing I hate where names for real life things are changed (for copyright I assume?) but it takes me out of the story every time. Overall very solid romance, it probably could have been longer to tie up some plot points.
December 30, 2025
This book surprised me!
I thought it would be a happy go lucky sports romance but it was very thoughtful in the way that the FMC and MMC dealt with emotions and past traumas.
If I saw this book at a bookstore I would definitely pick it up and recommend it to friends.
It is a bit insta lovey but I loved how it wrapped up.
The writing is also great!
Thank you Harlequin for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I thought it would be a happy go lucky sports romance but it was very thoughtful in the way that the FMC and MMC dealt with emotions and past traumas.
If I saw this book at a bookstore I would definitely pick it up and recommend it to friends.
It is a bit insta lovey but I loved how it wrapped up.
The writing is also great!
Thank you Harlequin for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 9, 2026
This was so good and surprising in all the best ways. The title and description are deceptive in a good way, I love how deep into Kieran and Lily's characters and history the author went. I worry sometimes about books with influencers as main characters, but it was done really well here and didn't ever feel over the top or cringe. The spice level is perfect for the emotional weight of the story and I loved the chemistry between the main characters. When it clicked, it clicked perfectly.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for this eARC!
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for this eARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Afterglow Books for this ARC!
Lily and Kieran. These two! My God! I needed more of them. Two broken adults trying to figure out what loving someone looks like while healing the hurt other people caused them in the past. I wanted to hua both of them and get in line to fight Kieran's dad and Lily's ex. I wish we could've caught a glimpse of their life together after the fight and the bia love declaration because I couldn't get enough of them.
Lily and Kieran. These two! My God! I needed more of them. Two broken adults trying to figure out what loving someone looks like while healing the hurt other people caused them in the past. I wanted to hua both of them and get in line to fight Kieran's dad and Lily's ex. I wish we could've caught a glimpse of their life together after the fight and the bia love declaration because I couldn't get enough of them.
November 16, 2025
I really enjoyed this novel. It was easy to follow and had a good cast of characters. plus there were plenty of spicy scenes between the main characters. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading more by the author.
💖 Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
💖 Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
January 20, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
I loved this. The broody mma fighter and the upbeat influencer. SASSY! Their chemistry was damn hot and i felt it from the first meeting even while butting heads. I liked all of the side characters too. I feel like they brought more to the story and made me laugh throughout.
The heaviness the characters dealt with was done with a lot of care. It was written well and i felt their emotions throughout the story. Also, i really enjoyed seeing Kiernans hardness crumble around Lily. The way they started with no strings and the way those strings started to connect was perfect! This was my first Erin Rose book and i really enjoyed their writing and can’t wait to read more!
I’m thankful for harlequin and the shameless romantics for the advanced copy on NetGalley. 🤍
I loved this. The broody mma fighter and the upbeat influencer. SASSY! Their chemistry was damn hot and i felt it from the first meeting even while butting heads. I liked all of the side characters too. I feel like they brought more to the story and made me laugh throughout.
The heaviness the characters dealt with was done with a lot of care. It was written well and i felt their emotions throughout the story. Also, i really enjoyed seeing Kiernans hardness crumble around Lily. The way they started with no strings and the way those strings started to connect was perfect! This was my first Erin Rose book and i really enjoyed their writing and can’t wait to read more!
I’m thankful for harlequin and the shameless romantics for the advanced copy on NetGalley. 🤍
December 5, 2025
no because I loved this so much
Read
March 10, 2026DNF
I need to start this review with a confession: I requested this book without realizing it was written in third-person POV. That is technically on me. However, I would also like to gently (not gently) suggest that maybe the reason I didn’t realize is because this book feels like it desperately wants to be a dual POV romance but is being held hostage by third-person narration for reasons I cannot fully comprehend.
Like… imagine a romance that clearly wants to let both characters speak directly, spiral internally, and give us their messy little emotional monologues, but instead we’re standing outside the window while a narrator explains what’s happening. That’s the vibe. It’s like watching a couple argue through frosted glass while someone narrates their jawlines.
And listen, I’m not anti–third person. I read third person all the time. But this particular book reads like it was originally conceived as dual POV and then someone went “what if we made this slightly more confusing for fun.”
And here’s the thing: third person in romance is already kind of fighting an uphill battle for me. Not impossible, but it’s rarely the choice that enhances the genre. Most romance thrives on that close, messy emotional intimacy where you’re fully inside the characters’ heads: spiraling with them while they overanalyze every conversation, every accidental hand touch, every mildly suggestive eye contact across a room. That’s why dual POV works so well. You get both sides of the chaos.
Third person can absolutely work, but usually when it’s very tightly focused on the characters. And honestly, the place I see it shine the most is in fantasy, especially epic fantasy, where the story needs that slightly wider lens to move between characters, plotlines, worldbuilding, political drama, magical nonsense, and probably a dragon or two without giving the reader emotional whiplash. When you’re juggling kingdoms and prophecies and morally gray warlords, third person makes perfect sense.
But in contemporary romance? Where the main draw is the emotional push and pull between two people? Third person can sometimes make it feel like you’re watching the relationship through a window instead of sitting in the room with them.
And that’s kind of what happened here.
Instead of feeling immersed in the characters’ thoughts, I felt like the narrator was hovering above them with a clipboard, occasionally stepping in to inform me about the architectural significance of someone’s jawline.
Multiple times I had to scroll back up the page just to re-orient myself. Who are we following right now? Who is speaking? Who is having the emotional moment? Why do I feel like the narrative camera is floating around the room like a ghost that hasn’t decided which character it wants to haunt?
If this had simply been dual POV. Boom. Fixed. Problem solved. Let them narrate their own lives. Freedom for the characters.
But no. Instead we’re hovering.
And God, the writing style, because this is where things started getting… chaotic for me.
This book is very firmly in the telling camp. And I mean telling. We are told things constantly. The narrator is extremely eager to inform us about everything: what someone looks like, how someone stands, the exact geometry of someone’s face, the emotional significance of someone breathing slightly differently.
And look, description is great. Love description. Big fan of a well-timed he was devastatingly handsome. Perfect. Excellent. Moving on.
But what kept happening here was that we would be in the middle of a scene, like, actual dialogue is happening, the story is moving, people are interacting, and suddenly everything screeches to a halt so we can enter a full National Geographic documentary about this man’s bone structure.
It felt like:
Character: says something.
Narrator: WAIT. STOP. FREEZE FRAME. Before we continue, we must discuss this man’s jaw for approximately three paragraphs.
And I’m sitting there like… okay but the scene??? The conversation??? The momentum???
We’re just pausing the entire narrative so the narrator can wax poetic about cheekbones like we’re composing a love sonnet dedicated to this man’s face.
And it wasn’t just once. This happened multiple times. Scenes would literally stop so we could get a detailed glamour-shot description of someone’s appearance, like the author suddenly remembered oh wait the readers must understand this man is attractive.
Yes. I believe you. The man has a jaw. We can proceed.
The descriptions also felt a bit unnatural in the flow of the scene. Instead of blending into the moment, it felt like someone hitting pause on reality so we could insert a slow-motion photoshoot in the middle of a workplace conversation.
And speaking of workplace conversations… can we talk about the first interaction situation.
Because this is where I emotionally started packing my bags.
One of the first times the FMC interacts with the MMC, she immediately goes off on him about bringing his child to the workplace. And when I say goes off, I mean the energy is very much:
“Excuse me sir how dare you have a child in my general vicinity.”
And I just sat there like… ma’am. Please relax. We are on page ten. Maybe lower the judgment level from eleven to like… a four.
It felt extremely high-horse energy right out of the gate. Like we skipped the entire phase where characters behave like normal humans and went straight to workplace moral policing.
And I get that characters can start off prickly. But this felt less like playful tension and more like someone immediately deciding they are the official Child Presence Enforcement Officer.
Which made it really hard for me to warm up to her, because my first impression was basically:
“Why are you yelling.”
And that’s not exactly the emotional starting point that makes me root for a character.
Because when characters are introduced, I usually want at least something to latch onto. A personality quirk. A charm point. A moment that makes me curious about them.
Instead my brain was mostly thinking: wow that escalated quickly.
Between that and the constant descriptive detours, I started to feel really disconnected from the characters themselves. Which is… not ideal in a romance, where the entire point is that you care about these two people and want to watch their relationship develop.
But because the narrative voice kept hovering above everything, occasionally swooping in to narrate someone’s bone structure again, I never fully settled into their perspectives.
It felt like the story kept stepping between me and the characters going “hold on, let me explain his jawline one more time.”
And at some point I was like… okay but do they have personalities.
To be clear, this is very much a me problem in terms of reading preferences. I know some readers enjoy a more descriptive, narrator-driven style.
But for me personally it made the pacing feel really strange.
Scenes would start, momentum would build, and then suddenly we’re in a paragraph about how the light reflects off someone’s hair like a shampoo commercial directed by Shakespeare.
Again, I respect the enthusiasm. But my brain kept going: can we please continue the conversation.
All that said, I’m not completely writing it off forever.
I might actually come back to this once the audiobook comes out. Narration can genuinely change the entire experience of a story. Sometimes books that don’t work for me on the page end up working much better in audio.
So who knows. Maybe audiobook-me will have a completely different experience.
But current reading-with-my-eyeballs me spent a lot of time flipping back a page, trying to figure out whose thoughts I was in, and being unexpectedly forced to contemplate the poetic majesty of a man’s jawline.
Which, respectfully, was not the journey I expected to go on.
So yeah. For me personally, this one just wasn’t it.
But if you love very descriptive third-person narration, enjoy a narrator who is extremely invested in physical descriptions, and don’t mind a little POV floatiness, you might have a better time with it than I did.
As for me, I will be patiently waiting to see if the audiobook version can rescue me from the jawline chronicles.
I need to start this review with a confession: I requested this book without realizing it was written in third-person POV. That is technically on me. However, I would also like to gently (not gently) suggest that maybe the reason I didn’t realize is because this book feels like it desperately wants to be a dual POV romance but is being held hostage by third-person narration for reasons I cannot fully comprehend.
Like… imagine a romance that clearly wants to let both characters speak directly, spiral internally, and give us their messy little emotional monologues, but instead we’re standing outside the window while a narrator explains what’s happening. That’s the vibe. It’s like watching a couple argue through frosted glass while someone narrates their jawlines.
And listen, I’m not anti–third person. I read third person all the time. But this particular book reads like it was originally conceived as dual POV and then someone went “what if we made this slightly more confusing for fun.”
And here’s the thing: third person in romance is already kind of fighting an uphill battle for me. Not impossible, but it’s rarely the choice that enhances the genre. Most romance thrives on that close, messy emotional intimacy where you’re fully inside the characters’ heads: spiraling with them while they overanalyze every conversation, every accidental hand touch, every mildly suggestive eye contact across a room. That’s why dual POV works so well. You get both sides of the chaos.
Third person can absolutely work, but usually when it’s very tightly focused on the characters. And honestly, the place I see it shine the most is in fantasy, especially epic fantasy, where the story needs that slightly wider lens to move between characters, plotlines, worldbuilding, political drama, magical nonsense, and probably a dragon or two without giving the reader emotional whiplash. When you’re juggling kingdoms and prophecies and morally gray warlords, third person makes perfect sense.
But in contemporary romance? Where the main draw is the emotional push and pull between two people? Third person can sometimes make it feel like you’re watching the relationship through a window instead of sitting in the room with them.
And that’s kind of what happened here.
Instead of feeling immersed in the characters’ thoughts, I felt like the narrator was hovering above them with a clipboard, occasionally stepping in to inform me about the architectural significance of someone’s jawline.
Multiple times I had to scroll back up the page just to re-orient myself. Who are we following right now? Who is speaking? Who is having the emotional moment? Why do I feel like the narrative camera is floating around the room like a ghost that hasn’t decided which character it wants to haunt?
If this had simply been dual POV. Boom. Fixed. Problem solved. Let them narrate their own lives. Freedom for the characters.
But no. Instead we’re hovering.
And God, the writing style, because this is where things started getting… chaotic for me.
This book is very firmly in the telling camp. And I mean telling. We are told things constantly. The narrator is extremely eager to inform us about everything: what someone looks like, how someone stands, the exact geometry of someone’s face, the emotional significance of someone breathing slightly differently.
And look, description is great. Love description. Big fan of a well-timed he was devastatingly handsome. Perfect. Excellent. Moving on.
But what kept happening here was that we would be in the middle of a scene, like, actual dialogue is happening, the story is moving, people are interacting, and suddenly everything screeches to a halt so we can enter a full National Geographic documentary about this man’s bone structure.
It felt like:
Character: says something.
Narrator: WAIT. STOP. FREEZE FRAME. Before we continue, we must discuss this man’s jaw for approximately three paragraphs.
And I’m sitting there like… okay but the scene??? The conversation??? The momentum???
We’re just pausing the entire narrative so the narrator can wax poetic about cheekbones like we’re composing a love sonnet dedicated to this man’s face.
And it wasn’t just once. This happened multiple times. Scenes would literally stop so we could get a detailed glamour-shot description of someone’s appearance, like the author suddenly remembered oh wait the readers must understand this man is attractive.
Yes. I believe you. The man has a jaw. We can proceed.
The descriptions also felt a bit unnatural in the flow of the scene. Instead of blending into the moment, it felt like someone hitting pause on reality so we could insert a slow-motion photoshoot in the middle of a workplace conversation.
And speaking of workplace conversations… can we talk about the first interaction situation.
Because this is where I emotionally started packing my bags.
One of the first times the FMC interacts with the MMC, she immediately goes off on him about bringing his child to the workplace. And when I say goes off, I mean the energy is very much:
“Excuse me sir how dare you have a child in my general vicinity.”
And I just sat there like… ma’am. Please relax. We are on page ten. Maybe lower the judgment level from eleven to like… a four.
It felt extremely high-horse energy right out of the gate. Like we skipped the entire phase where characters behave like normal humans and went straight to workplace moral policing.
And I get that characters can start off prickly. But this felt less like playful tension and more like someone immediately deciding they are the official Child Presence Enforcement Officer.
Which made it really hard for me to warm up to her, because my first impression was basically:
“Why are you yelling.”
And that’s not exactly the emotional starting point that makes me root for a character.
Because when characters are introduced, I usually want at least something to latch onto. A personality quirk. A charm point. A moment that makes me curious about them.
Instead my brain was mostly thinking: wow that escalated quickly.
Between that and the constant descriptive detours, I started to feel really disconnected from the characters themselves. Which is… not ideal in a romance, where the entire point is that you care about these two people and want to watch their relationship develop.
But because the narrative voice kept hovering above everything, occasionally swooping in to narrate someone’s bone structure again, I never fully settled into their perspectives.
It felt like the story kept stepping between me and the characters going “hold on, let me explain his jawline one more time.”
And at some point I was like… okay but do they have personalities.
To be clear, this is very much a me problem in terms of reading preferences. I know some readers enjoy a more descriptive, narrator-driven style.
But for me personally it made the pacing feel really strange.
Scenes would start, momentum would build, and then suddenly we’re in a paragraph about how the light reflects off someone’s hair like a shampoo commercial directed by Shakespeare.
Again, I respect the enthusiasm. But my brain kept going: can we please continue the conversation.
All that said, I’m not completely writing it off forever.
I might actually come back to this once the audiobook comes out. Narration can genuinely change the entire experience of a story. Sometimes books that don’t work for me on the page end up working much better in audio.
So who knows. Maybe audiobook-me will have a completely different experience.
But current reading-with-my-eyeballs me spent a lot of time flipping back a page, trying to figure out whose thoughts I was in, and being unexpectedly forced to contemplate the poetic majesty of a man’s jawline.
Which, respectfully, was not the journey I expected to go on.
So yeah. For me personally, this one just wasn’t it.
But if you love very descriptive third-person narration, enjoy a narrator who is extremely invested in physical descriptions, and don’t mind a little POV floatiness, you might have a better time with it than I did.
As for me, I will be patiently waiting to see if the audiobook version can rescue me from the jawline chronicles.
February 4, 2026
I didn't know what to expect really when I downloaded this ARC from NetGalley. A friend/fellow educator actually co-wrote this book with one of her friends. I've read some work from other friends and while their books were okay, they also seemed a bit amateur. That's not what I experienced when I read this book.
Lily has fled to Chicago, leaving behind an abusive ex and looking forward to getting lost in the city's busyness. She wants to learn to live again - to find herself and happiness. She lands a job as a content creator at South Side MMA Gym. She decided "flight" was the best option.
Kieran was going to be the next UFC fighting prospect, but life happened. He has dealt with his own trauma and domestic violence and is now raising his teenage brother, who is full of angst and frustration. The last thing he needs is the hot new employee at South Side distracting him. He's gone with the "fight" option, sparring in the Octagon.
This is a spicy, action-packed, fast-paced romance that I loved. I loved both the main characters and the side characters. I loved the names picked out for characters in this book as well. While some are classic names, like Lily and Carter, there are other names that you've heard of, but are not overused, like Kieran and Saoirse.
The ending had me crying, yet feeling completely satisfied. I think it ended perfectly, foreshadowing the next chapters that you can finish with your own imagination.
Favorite quotes form the book:
"You're one life crisis away from a, "Live, Laugh, Love" tattoo."
"A good hoe phase can fix anything."
"What a fucking douche canoe."
Publication Date: March 31, 2026 - be sure to check it out
Pages 288
Content Warnings: abandonment, domestic violence
Lily has fled to Chicago, leaving behind an abusive ex and looking forward to getting lost in the city's busyness. She wants to learn to live again - to find herself and happiness. She lands a job as a content creator at South Side MMA Gym. She decided "flight" was the best option.
Kieran was going to be the next UFC fighting prospect, but life happened. He has dealt with his own trauma and domestic violence and is now raising his teenage brother, who is full of angst and frustration. The last thing he needs is the hot new employee at South Side distracting him. He's gone with the "fight" option, sparring in the Octagon.
This is a spicy, action-packed, fast-paced romance that I loved. I loved both the main characters and the side characters. I loved the names picked out for characters in this book as well. While some are classic names, like Lily and Carter, there are other names that you've heard of, but are not overused, like Kieran and Saoirse.
The ending had me crying, yet feeling completely satisfied. I think it ended perfectly, foreshadowing the next chapters that you can finish with your own imagination.
Favorite quotes form the book:
"You're one life crisis away from a, "Live, Laugh, Love" tattoo."
"A good hoe phase can fix anything."
"What a fucking douche canoe."
Publication Date: March 31, 2026 - be sure to check it out
Pages 288
Content Warnings: abandonment, domestic violence
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I requested this book a few weeks ago and I figured it was archived/ arc no longer available but I got approved yesterday! I was SO happy to read it.
An MMA sports romance is something different to usual like hockey romances. I couldn’t put my kindle down once I started reading, it took me a few hours. I was in love with Lily and Kieran. They had chemistry from the get go, you could feel the tension between them. Lily is like a social media influencer but you really don’t think it like she doesn’t come across the way typical influencers do. And she’s an influencer who talks about the real in life. Kieran is a retired semi pro MMA fighter working in a gym. The gym is in need of a revamp. Lily comes onboard with her social media skills and neither of them expect to fall in love in the process.
Kieran did take me a little while to get into, once we get some of his backstory things start to make sense. He kind of wrote her off before and acted like a dick. He thinks that she’ll leave anyway and can’t possibly be helpful to the MMA gym. They didn’t have a great first impression together because of Kieran’s attitude and made assumptions about each other but they soon realised that they were both wrong and both willing to learn more about each other. The forced proximity at work really helped them to get to know each other. Especially getting to see the side of one another that shows their vulnerability.
We know straight away that Lily has been through a really difficult time and number of years, but Kieran spotted this and he instantly became someone who wanted to protect her. The instinct came over him.
He knew the signs and he knew someone hurt her, he didn’t realise how badly she had been hurt and treated by the people who were supposed to love her. It definitely sparked something in him, his love starts here for Lily.
As they kept working on content, realised that they had things in common, two adults who had difficult childhood/ upbringings. They learned how to be the person they wanted to be and learning what love should look like. They healed little broken parts of one another. Lily trusted him, they had a FWB situation but it was never going to be just that. They both knew they wanted more and between them in denial themselves and afraid to tell the other their true feelings.
These characters we really get deep with them, it’s heavy. This book deals with some topics that may be triggering to readers, please check this and protect yourself. Some moments were difficult to read, and they always will be difficult things but I respect this author tackling these topics and it was written very well. I truly appreciate realistic real stories in romance. We are shaped by our experiences in life. Nothing is ever roses and chocolates. It’s not always easy and showing realistic elements is an instant read for me.
I didn’t like the way that there wasn’t really a dual POV in the way it usually would be. I didn’t like this style of writing but that’s just a personal preference. A lot of third person kinda writing in a romance book is not my thing. It was a little short, and I really did enjoy this one. I just felt as a reader I’d have wanted a flash forward to the future and see them grown together in their relationship. The ending was very sudden, I think we should’ve got to see more of them together after the happily ever after ending and an epilogue. See where they are even to when Danny would graduate, just to see Lily and Kieran as a family. Maybe they are expecting a baby themselves. Maybe even they had a child and we see Danny as a big brother.
Thank you so much to Erin Rose, Mills and Boon, and NetGalley for providing an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.
LINK TO PURCHASE: https://amzn.eu/d/0iwYhnXO
TW: Domestic violence, child neglect and abandonment. Mention of almost SA.
An MMA sports romance is something different to usual like hockey romances. I couldn’t put my kindle down once I started reading, it took me a few hours. I was in love with Lily and Kieran. They had chemistry from the get go, you could feel the tension between them. Lily is like a social media influencer but you really don’t think it like she doesn’t come across the way typical influencers do. And she’s an influencer who talks about the real in life. Kieran is a retired semi pro MMA fighter working in a gym. The gym is in need of a revamp. Lily comes onboard with her social media skills and neither of them expect to fall in love in the process.
Kieran did take me a little while to get into, once we get some of his backstory things start to make sense. He kind of wrote her off before and acted like a dick. He thinks that she’ll leave anyway and can’t possibly be helpful to the MMA gym. They didn’t have a great first impression together because of Kieran’s attitude and made assumptions about each other but they soon realised that they were both wrong and both willing to learn more about each other. The forced proximity at work really helped them to get to know each other. Especially getting to see the side of one another that shows their vulnerability.
We know straight away that Lily has been through a really difficult time and number of years, but Kieran spotted this and he instantly became someone who wanted to protect her. The instinct came over him.
He knew the signs and he knew someone hurt her, he didn’t realise how badly she had been hurt and treated by the people who were supposed to love her. It definitely sparked something in him, his love starts here for Lily.
As they kept working on content, realised that they had things in common, two adults who had difficult childhood/ upbringings. They learned how to be the person they wanted to be and learning what love should look like. They healed little broken parts of one another. Lily trusted him, they had a FWB situation but it was never going to be just that. They both knew they wanted more and between them in denial themselves and afraid to tell the other their true feelings.
These characters we really get deep with them, it’s heavy. This book deals with some topics that may be triggering to readers, please check this and protect yourself. Some moments were difficult to read, and they always will be difficult things but I respect this author tackling these topics and it was written very well. I truly appreciate realistic real stories in romance. We are shaped by our experiences in life. Nothing is ever roses and chocolates. It’s not always easy and showing realistic elements is an instant read for me.
I didn’t like the way that there wasn’t really a dual POV in the way it usually would be. I didn’t like this style of writing but that’s just a personal preference. A lot of third person kinda writing in a romance book is not my thing. It was a little short, and I really did enjoy this one. I just felt as a reader I’d have wanted a flash forward to the future and see them grown together in their relationship. The ending was very sudden, I think we should’ve got to see more of them together after the happily ever after ending and an epilogue. See where they are even to when Danny would graduate, just to see Lily and Kieran as a family. Maybe they are expecting a baby themselves. Maybe even they had a child and we see Danny as a big brother.
Thank you so much to Erin Rose, Mills and Boon, and NetGalley for providing an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.
LINK TO PURCHASE: https://amzn.eu/d/0iwYhnXO
TW: Domestic violence, child neglect and abandonment. Mention of almost SA.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I went into Sparring Partners by Erin Rose after reading so many enthusiastic reviews, and I can honestly say I understand the hype!!! I loved it!
From the very first page Lily and Kieran feel deeply human because they are perfectly written. They are both shaped by painful pasts. Lily comes from a complicated family history followed by a toxic and violent romantic relationship. Kieran grew up in a home marked by violence, with a father who caused harm and a mother who failed to protect him.
What I really loved is that the book doesn’t define them by their trauma alone. Both have fought hard to rebuild their lives: Kieran through MMA and the guidance of a good man who became the father figure he never had 🥊, and Lily through the support of sincere friendships that helped her find her way back to herself. Now they are both fiercely protective of the fragile peace they’ve created: Lily by working on herself and preserving her emotional and financial independence, and Kieran by doing everything he can to protect his siblings, especially Danny, his teenage brother, from anything that might hurt them ❤️
Their relationship starts with tension and constant emotional sparring, but it slowly and naturally evolves into something deeper and more meaningful. This is a true emotional slow burn, even though the physical chemistry between Lily and Kieran is immediate (and yes, very spicy 👀🔥).
What really worked for me was how grounded their connection feels: it’s built on trust, shared moments, honest conversations, and emotional vulnerability, rather than dramatic declarations or over-the-top gestures.
The character arcs are, without a doubt, one of the strongest parts of the novel. Watching Lily and Kieran face their fears and gradually allow themselves to be truly seen was incredibly rewarding. Even the third-act breakup—something I usually don’t love—completely worked for me here. It felt realistic, emotionally coherent, and beautifully written, adding depth to the story rather than frustration.
I was also deeply touched by the portrayal of the older brother–younger brother dynamic, especially the difficulty and tenderness involved in building trust between Kieran and Danny. The care with which this bond is explored adds an important layer to the narrative and significantly increases its emotional impact. For me, it was one of the elements that truly gave the story its heart 💔❤️
If I have one small reservation, it’s about the ending. While it’s undeniably sweet and comforting, I found it just a bit too sugary and not entirely in line with Kieran’s more restrained personality. From the very beginning, I saw Kieran as a man who shows his love and total devotion through actions rather than words. It didn’t ruin the book for me, but it did feel slightly out of step with how carefully his character had been built up until that point.
I also really loved the cover bc it perfectly captures the chemistry and tension between the two MCs and feels like a true reflection of the emotionally driven romance inside the pages ✨
Content warnings are important to mention: although Lily and Kieran’s trauma lies in the past, the book includes on-page discussion of teenage sexual abuse, domestic abuse, and addiction. There is also on-page consensual sex, as well as a brief abusive altercation between Lily and her ex-fiancé.
Overall, Sparring Partners is a heartfelt, emotionally rich romance that I genuinely enjoyed and would happily recommend to readers who love character-driven stories with depth, intensity, and emotional growth 💕 A big thank you to NetGalley, the authors, and Harlequin – Romance for allowing me to read and review the eARC.
From the very first page Lily and Kieran feel deeply human because they are perfectly written. They are both shaped by painful pasts. Lily comes from a complicated family history followed by a toxic and violent romantic relationship. Kieran grew up in a home marked by violence, with a father who caused harm and a mother who failed to protect him.
What I really loved is that the book doesn’t define them by their trauma alone. Both have fought hard to rebuild their lives: Kieran through MMA and the guidance of a good man who became the father figure he never had 🥊, and Lily through the support of sincere friendships that helped her find her way back to herself. Now they are both fiercely protective of the fragile peace they’ve created: Lily by working on herself and preserving her emotional and financial independence, and Kieran by doing everything he can to protect his siblings, especially Danny, his teenage brother, from anything that might hurt them ❤️
Their relationship starts with tension and constant emotional sparring, but it slowly and naturally evolves into something deeper and more meaningful. This is a true emotional slow burn, even though the physical chemistry between Lily and Kieran is immediate (and yes, very spicy 👀🔥).
What really worked for me was how grounded their connection feels: it’s built on trust, shared moments, honest conversations, and emotional vulnerability, rather than dramatic declarations or over-the-top gestures.
The character arcs are, without a doubt, one of the strongest parts of the novel. Watching Lily and Kieran face their fears and gradually allow themselves to be truly seen was incredibly rewarding. Even the third-act breakup—something I usually don’t love—completely worked for me here. It felt realistic, emotionally coherent, and beautifully written, adding depth to the story rather than frustration.
I was also deeply touched by the portrayal of the older brother–younger brother dynamic, especially the difficulty and tenderness involved in building trust between Kieran and Danny. The care with which this bond is explored adds an important layer to the narrative and significantly increases its emotional impact. For me, it was one of the elements that truly gave the story its heart 💔❤️
If I have one small reservation, it’s about the ending. While it’s undeniably sweet and comforting, I found it just a bit too sugary and not entirely in line with Kieran’s more restrained personality. From the very beginning, I saw Kieran as a man who shows his love and total devotion through actions rather than words. It didn’t ruin the book for me, but it did feel slightly out of step with how carefully his character had been built up until that point.
I also really loved the cover bc it perfectly captures the chemistry and tension between the two MCs and feels like a true reflection of the emotionally driven romance inside the pages ✨
Content warnings are important to mention: although Lily and Kieran’s trauma lies in the past, the book includes on-page discussion of teenage sexual abuse, domestic abuse, and addiction. There is also on-page consensual sex, as well as a brief abusive altercation between Lily and her ex-fiancé.
Overall, Sparring Partners is a heartfelt, emotionally rich romance that I genuinely enjoyed and would happily recommend to readers who love character-driven stories with depth, intensity, and emotional growth 💕 A big thank you to NetGalley, the authors, and Harlequin – Romance for allowing me to read and review the eARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.25
Thank you Netgalley, Harlequin and Shameless Romantics for this ARC!
I was pleasantly suprised! Sparring Partners is a fun, emotional and short rom-com that will get you in your feels! I finished it in one day and thought it was a really fun time!
What I loved most was the family dynamics and side characters. Both our main characters, Kieran and Lily have dark pasts they must work through and I thought it was done really well. I loved Danny and his development as well as the appearances of Kieran's other siblings such as Maeve and his niece Saoirse (who was the cutest). I also really liked Lily's friends and her relationship with them; it felt realistic.
Writing-wise, I liked it! I thought it was nicely written, not too flowery, but at the same time not too cold. It always takes me a bit to get used to a third-person romance, but I liked it! They each had a voice, though it was sometimes a bit confusing (chapters could have had the name of the speaker, for clarity). I thought the spice was good! (I think the spice aspect of their relationship could have been explored a bit more too)
Character-wise, I needed a bit more from Kerian and Lily both individually and together. Indivudally, I liked them even though there could have been more exploration of their character, but I felt like their relationship was a bit superificial. I would have needed to see them more together and have it be a bit more slow-burn.
My biggest issue was the pace. It went SO FAST!! They start off as rivals (for no particular reason), become friends with benefits in two seconds because Kerian got jealous over the girl he supposedly doesn't like (they speak of that agreement and sleep together an HOUR later) and then they catch feelings really quick and then the book is over very abruptly. With the amount of emotional depth the author delved into, the novel could have been longer in order to properly explore and tie off any loose ends. The end felt very abrupt and did not give me the closure I really needed. After the third-act break up, she forgives him so easily without questions and we don't even SEE the MMA fight the book kept promising us. The scenes flashed one right after the other and I think we could have used a breather and more depth.
Overall, I liked this book and thought it was a fun time; I'm sure it will please a lot of readers!
Thank you Netgalley, Harlequin and Shameless Romantics for this ARC!
I was pleasantly suprised! Sparring Partners is a fun, emotional and short rom-com that will get you in your feels! I finished it in one day and thought it was a really fun time!
What I loved most was the family dynamics and side characters. Both our main characters, Kieran and Lily have dark pasts they must work through and I thought it was done really well. I loved Danny and his development as well as the appearances of Kieran's other siblings such as Maeve and his niece Saoirse (who was the cutest). I also really liked Lily's friends and her relationship with them; it felt realistic.
Writing-wise, I liked it! I thought it was nicely written, not too flowery, but at the same time not too cold. It always takes me a bit to get used to a third-person romance, but I liked it! They each had a voice, though it was sometimes a bit confusing (chapters could have had the name of the speaker, for clarity). I thought the spice was good! (I think the spice aspect of their relationship could have been explored a bit more too)
Character-wise, I needed a bit more from Kerian and Lily both individually and together. Indivudally, I liked them even though there could have been more exploration of their character, but I felt like their relationship was a bit superificial. I would have needed to see them more together and have it be a bit more slow-burn.
My biggest issue was the pace. It went SO FAST!! They start off as rivals (for no particular reason), become friends with benefits in two seconds because Kerian got jealous over the girl he supposedly doesn't like (they speak of that agreement and sleep together an HOUR later) and then they catch feelings really quick and then the book is over very abruptly. With the amount of emotional depth the author delved into, the novel could have been longer in order to properly explore and tie off any loose ends. The end felt very abrupt and did not give me the closure I really needed. After the third-act break up, she forgives him so easily without questions and we don't even SEE the MMA fight the book kept promising us. The scenes flashed one right after the other and I think we could have used a breather and more depth.
Overall, I liked this book and thought it was a fun time; I'm sure it will please a lot of readers!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC Review: Sparing Partners by Erin Rose 🥊🔥
Gloves off. Walls down. Hearts on the line.
Sparing Partners is the kind of fast-paced, tension-filled sports romance that you devour in one sitting and then immediately want to reread just for the banter.
Lily Parker is pure Gen Z sunshine with hustle. She’s rebuilding her life in Chicago, stepping into a gritty South Side MMA gym as their new content creator, determined to help grow the brand and empower women through self-defense. I loved that she wasn’t just there for vibes — she had purpose. She wanted to save something that mattered.
Enter: Kieran Sullivan. 🥵
Broody. Scarred. Tatted. Emotionally locked down. A man who solves problems with his fists and definitely does not want a bubbly camera girl disrupting his gym.
Their dynamic? ELECTRIC.
From the first clash, you can feel that enemies-to-lovers tension simmering under every interaction. The forced proximity after their video goes viral? Absolute perfection. Watching them fake nice for the cameras while privately sparring (verbally and emotionally) had me grinning the whole time.
And the chemistry?
Scorching. Like, “the internet is not the only one obsessed” levels of scorching. 🔥
But what really stood out was the emotional layer beneath the spice. Kieran isn’t just broody for aesthetic reasons — his scars, both physical and emotional, shape who he is. And Lily’s “flight” instinct balancing his “fight” mentality made their connection feel earned.
Tropes you’ll love:
🥊 Enemies to lovers
📹 Forced proximity
🔥 Viral chemistry
💪 Strong heroine with purpose
🖤 Scarred, protective hero
🌶️ Spicy but still emotional
It’s spicy, yes. It’s fun, yes. But it also has heart. The kind where you realize love and hate are sometimes just two sides of unresolved tension.
If you love sports romance with bite and banter — think high heat, high tension, and high emotional payoff — this one belongs on your TBR.
Gloves off. Walls down. Hearts on the line.
Sparing Partners is the kind of fast-paced, tension-filled sports romance that you devour in one sitting and then immediately want to reread just for the banter.
Lily Parker is pure Gen Z sunshine with hustle. She’s rebuilding her life in Chicago, stepping into a gritty South Side MMA gym as their new content creator, determined to help grow the brand and empower women through self-defense. I loved that she wasn’t just there for vibes — she had purpose. She wanted to save something that mattered.
Enter: Kieran Sullivan. 🥵
Broody. Scarred. Tatted. Emotionally locked down. A man who solves problems with his fists and definitely does not want a bubbly camera girl disrupting his gym.
Their dynamic? ELECTRIC.
From the first clash, you can feel that enemies-to-lovers tension simmering under every interaction. The forced proximity after their video goes viral? Absolute perfection. Watching them fake nice for the cameras while privately sparring (verbally and emotionally) had me grinning the whole time.
And the chemistry?
Scorching. Like, “the internet is not the only one obsessed” levels of scorching. 🔥
But what really stood out was the emotional layer beneath the spice. Kieran isn’t just broody for aesthetic reasons — his scars, both physical and emotional, shape who he is. And Lily’s “flight” instinct balancing his “fight” mentality made their connection feel earned.
Tropes you’ll love:
🥊 Enemies to lovers
📹 Forced proximity
🔥 Viral chemistry
💪 Strong heroine with purpose
🖤 Scarred, protective hero
🌶️ Spicy but still emotional
It’s spicy, yes. It’s fun, yes. But it also has heart. The kind where you realize love and hate are sometimes just two sides of unresolved tension.
If you love sports romance with bite and banter — think high heat, high tension, and high emotional payoff — this one belongs on your TBR.
November 10, 2025
*I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
This was a cute, spicy and romantic read filled with playful moments, a deep connection and the feeling of finally being caught when falling for so long.
However, I just felt like some of the topics were dealt with too easily, and I didn't even know some of the themes (such as past abuse, abandonment and mental health) would be in this book due to lack of trigger warnings, so please be aware. Lily's past with an abusive ex wasn't covered too much, nor was he ever brought back into the story after a scary scene of him tracking her down, it felt pointless/ wasted.
The main characters Lily and Kieran had a lot of chemistry, I enjoyed the workplace romance, the gym setting, and the softer, found family vibes. I enjoyed seeing them grow from disliking each other to then bonding over their troubled pasts and shared coping mechanisms, but personally I couldn't connect with either character, so I guess I didn't feel as much as other readers might.
The mix of euphemisms for social media platforms but then throwing in brand names threw me off a little, and the plot felt comfortably cliché. The spice was well written, and the character interactions were really sweet too.
I found the ending to be fairly abrupt, I completely understood the reasoning for the third act breakup, but afterwards we don't get much reunion or closure before the book ends swiftly. There's so many questions left unanswered, so personally it felt like a door was closed in my face.
Overall, this is definitely worth a read if you're looking for a shorter, spicier read with low-stakes and some cuter familial moments.
3/5 🌟
This was a cute, spicy and romantic read filled with playful moments, a deep connection and the feeling of finally being caught when falling for so long.
However, I just felt like some of the topics were dealt with too easily, and I didn't even know some of the themes (such as past abuse, abandonment and mental health) would be in this book due to lack of trigger warnings, so please be aware. Lily's past with an abusive ex wasn't covered too much, nor was he ever brought back into the story after a scary scene of him tracking her down, it felt pointless/ wasted.
The main characters Lily and Kieran had a lot of chemistry, I enjoyed the workplace romance, the gym setting, and the softer, found family vibes. I enjoyed seeing them grow from disliking each other to then bonding over their troubled pasts and shared coping mechanisms, but personally I couldn't connect with either character, so I guess I didn't feel as much as other readers might.
The mix of euphemisms for social media platforms but then throwing in brand names threw me off a little, and the plot felt comfortably cliché. The spice was well written, and the character interactions were really sweet too.
I found the ending to be fairly abrupt, I completely understood the reasoning for the third act breakup, but afterwards we don't get much reunion or closure before the book ends swiftly. There's so many questions left unanswered, so personally it felt like a door was closed in my face.
Overall, this is definitely worth a read if you're looking for a shorter, spicier read with low-stakes and some cuter familial moments.
3/5 🌟
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received an ARC of from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This is a good quick read, it's a nice new sporting setting which I really enjoyed having read far too many hockey romances. So this was a nice change of pace, it took me a while to get into but once I did it was speedy.
There is significant childhood / adolescent trauma for both the main character and the love interest - the acknowledgement of this trauma adds dimension to the story but it does need trigger warnings added to accompany this trauma as the trauma is described in detail.
Lily is an influencer which was admittedly a bit jarring at times with the parrodies of certain modern platforms, and to be honest I found her a bit irritating at times but I did really like Kieran as a character. His devotion to his family is admirable and his developing relationship with Danny was sweet to read. But there was a lot of drama for 220 pages and honestly too much smut for me but maybe I'm getting old.
The ending like others have said is a bit abrupt but I like the way it does tie up more or less - though I would've liked to have seen Kieran begin to become the manager of the gym as that would've tied things even nicer.
One other point like others have mentioned, is the ex. Vov is a douche and he deserves what he got but in saying that... He comes in, via the comments section, throws his weight around and gets kicked to the curb (thank you Seb) and then we never really see anything else. I feel like it would've been good to go to the police or something - same with the dad that feels like a last minute addition.
Overall it's a good quick read but there are quite a few lose ends left open that a sequel (wink wink) would fix.
This is a good quick read, it's a nice new sporting setting which I really enjoyed having read far too many hockey romances. So this was a nice change of pace, it took me a while to get into but once I did it was speedy.
There is significant childhood / adolescent trauma for both the main character and the love interest - the acknowledgement of this trauma adds dimension to the story but it does need trigger warnings added to accompany this trauma as the trauma is described in detail.
Lily is an influencer which was admittedly a bit jarring at times with the parrodies of certain modern platforms, and to be honest I found her a bit irritating at times but I did really like Kieran as a character. His devotion to his family is admirable and his developing relationship with Danny was sweet to read. But there was a lot of drama for 220 pages and honestly too much smut for me but maybe I'm getting old.
The ending like others have said is a bit abrupt but I like the way it does tie up more or less - though I would've liked to have seen Kieran begin to become the manager of the gym as that would've tied things even nicer.
One other point like others have mentioned, is the ex. Vov is a douche and he deserves what he got but in saying that... He comes in, via the comments section, throws his weight around and gets kicked to the curb (thank you Seb) and then we never really see anything else. I feel like it would've been good to go to the police or something - same with the dad that feels like a last minute addition.
Overall it's a good quick read but there are quite a few lose ends left open that a sequel (wink wink) would fix.
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