The Thing About My Rival

by Nicky Redford

Cover, blurb, and tropes to be revealed!

434 pages, Paperback

Published February 21, 2025

About the author

Nicky Redford writes bladder-threateningly funny rom-coms with all the steam and all the feels.

She loves heroes who think they know what they want (they’re wrong, obviously), the feisty, independent, heroines who don’t take their crap, and the sparky banter that inevitably ensues.

Her idol is Nora Ephron, and if anyone tries to say When Harry Met Sally is not the greatest film ever made they’ll be treated to a very detailed explanation as to why they are wrong.

Nicky aims to bring you page-turning raunchy rom-coms that brighten your day, put a smile on your face, and make you need to sit on an ice pack.

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Reviews

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Nicky knows how to write a great story!

Normally I am not a big fan of enemies to lovers but I loved this one. Why? Because the story was that good. It was believable, not just a story that leaves the reader thinking, yeah right.

A second chance in more ways than one, hunky British hero, a strong woman doing a traditional man's profession, romcom, friends like family, and a revisit of a Dashwood!

Drew and Hugo have met their match in this book and it's fun to see it play out.

The beginning of a new series and I'm looking forward to seeing where this one goes ...

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

[Liz-Mari Theron · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

Well this was Quite the Novel to be Honest.
TTAMR was written with a certifiable Number of Moments that made Me laugh out loud, Melt on the Inside and some that drove Me crazy. Hugo Powers and Drew Wilcox are a Power Couple and we Love them for it. They're both SO determined to get the Head Coaching job that they drive Each other up a wall (Literally - HINT Kinesthetic Tape). The Character Growth is astounding and Yeah, Hugo is still the Cocky Soccer Player and sometimes a A$$ but I LOVED watching Him grow into the Person that Worshipped Drew and be Exactly what She Needs.

In Every NR Novel there is something that I Loved about the Book and this one is No different; The Tender, Possessively Raw and Caring Moments when both Characters realize they're Head over Cleats... *swoon* That was My Favorite part from the Novel.
The Spice was Dirty and Something Different from the Author's other Books and Honestly? I Liked it a Lot.
I Recommend this Novel to Anyone that Enjoys the Following Tropes:
Rivals to Lovers
Work Romance
Sports Romance
Romantic Comedy
Forced Proximity (They Share an Office)
Grumpy vs Sunshine
He Falls First

[Minnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC review

5⭐|3🌶|8%🌶frequency

Where to start? Every time I "have" a new book by Nicky Redford to read, I know it will be a perfect book. Nicky will never disappoint me, and so it was. I loved this book so much 😍

Hugo is a m!sogyn!stic arrogant pr!ck. God 🤬 He is a woman!zer and an a$$hole, too. OK, maybe that's just the first impression 🙈 at least the first two.
He's definitely possible to be different. If he wants 😉 Then he can be very sensitive (with birds). Yes, birds. Unfortunately, the pun we have in German isn't translatable in English 😑 The German word for birds is the same word as the German word for fukk 😎 So maybe you can guess...

Nicky loves to include older people in her books. Sometimes it's a woman who lives in this small town or it's an aunt...
This time it's not just one woman. No, it's not two women either. It's two women and a man 😁 "The Oldies". And I loved these three. They are so funny 🤣

Fun, that's always at the top of all of Nicky's books. So much banter... It never stopped between Hugo and Drew. They hated each other so much. It's perfect. Drew is a very strong woman and knows how to 🔫 back 😁

It's difficult to say more, without saying too much... The surprises are just what keeps you hooked from the first page to the last. The anticipation of what will happen next between these two. There wasn't a single second I got bored. There was too much to laugh, be angry, or cry. Oh yes, I cried so much at the end. I was sad but I was also so in love 🩷

It's an absolutely perfect start to this new series and I can't wait to read the next book. So excited about going back to... (No, not saying 🤐).
Oh, and I loved seeing Tom again 🤩 You don't know who Tom is? Then you need to read "That Reunited Feeling", or better all of Nicky's books.


Follow me on IG for more
https://www.instagram.com/minnie.love...

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow..do you like Pippa Grant or Lauren Landish? If yrs, you will love Nicky! This is my first book of hers but I can tell you it won't be my last! The humor, tension and feels are so well written! I look forward to the bext in series and plan to go grab some previous books since it seems the series' overlap similar to Pippa's work.

[Cdoc's Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

This had tension, heat, heart, and of course the typical Nicky Redford banter and charm. I ate this one up in no time, and I loved reading Drew and Hugo's story!

⚽ Sports Romance
🍀 Rivals/Enemies to Lovers
⚽ Found Family
🍀 Feisty Seniors
⚽ Banter & Bickering
🚪A Parisian Closet Mystery!

I love a grumpy sports man with a soft gooey center, and Hugo Powers was the perfect example of this. He was brash, competitive, and just your typical jock at the beginning of this. But boy oh boy did Drew bring out the soft side of that man 🥹. The journey of growth that he has in this due to Drew was so satisfying to read. A man who can actually change for the better?? THE HOTTEST THING IF YOU ASK ME 🫠

Speaking of Drew, she was the epitome of the woman I want to be honestly. A woman with authority, compassion, and the ability to stand up to an angry man baby with calm and composure (couldn't be me! 😅).

Being a co-head coach of a professional male soccer team is not any easy task. Add on the fact that she's a woman, and obviously things become a lot more complicated. She works hard to gain the teams respect. The way that she gets these big burly men to open up though, was so sweet and I loved seeing it.

And while we're on the subject of burly soccer men, we need to talk side characters. One of the things I love about Nicky's writing is her ability to create a community of characters all vibrant in their own ways. From the Commoner's team, to the “Fab Four” (aka the owners of the team), and to “The Oldies”(Drew's three fiesty senior BFF's), there were so many characters to love!

Now Nicky if your reading this I know you already have plans for the next book (very excited for THAT 🤭), but I BEG YOU to give Ramon and Bakari some love in future books!! 🙏🏼 I LOVE THOSE BOYS SO MUCH.

And lastly, the way this book turned into a mystery was honestly the funniest part of the whole thing. For half this book I was screaming, “WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PARSIAN CLOSET?!” 😅. When it all came to light in what will go down as the infamous “bar scene” where we got all the details was well worth the wait and then some... AND THATS ALL I'M GONNA SAY 🤭

Obviously I had such a fun time with this one. It got me out of my dark and dreary's, and that alone makes it a win in my book. I can't wait to read more from this series on the future!

Thank you Nicky for the ARC, in exchange for my honest review 🫶🏼

[Aleksandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Nicky Redford for sending me this ARC!

The Thing About My Rival is the newest Romantic Comedy from Nicky and it’s also a Sport Romance which I really loved, I had so much fun reading this book!

Due to a mistake, Drew and Hugo are both hired as the head coaches to a football team, but because the owners can’t accord to keep both of them and will have to choose one in a few months, Drew and Hugo start competing for the job they both desperately want for different reasons. But despite them butting heads at every turn, they can’t ignore the attraction that grows more between them with every day and soon they need to decide what to do about their rivalry when all they want is to give in to their feelings.

I love the rivals to lovers trope and it was written perfectly here, Drew and Hugo definitely didn’t see eye to eye about pretty much everything and being forced to work together despite being rivals led to a lot of arguing but also amazing banter and many funny scenes and I loved all of it. Hugo was a real asshole in the beginning but he grew so much in this book and I came to really like him, he and Drew made an amazing couple and I loved all their scenes together and how much they both started to support each other even while being rivals. All the team made a beautiful found family with both Drew and Hugo playing a big part of it and I loved seeing all of them becoming closer and open with each other. And it was so nice to see Tom again, I missed him! It was funny to see him as the voice of reason to Hugo after everything that happened in his book.

The Thing About My Rival is a great sports rom-com that I really enjoyed and recommend to everyone who likes this genre. I already can’t wait for Nicky’s next book!

[Giulia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve always hated when reviews or blurbs say, “Perfect for fans of blah blah blah” —because let’s be real, they usually miss the mark and just feel like clickbait. So forgive me for doing exactly that, but this book had me laughing and kicking my legs like The Hating Game (both book and movie), and trust me, that’s high praise.

You get it all—rivals to lovers, forced proximity, and a sizzling sports romance.

Drew has given up everything to become the new coach for the Commoners, so when he finds out he has to share the job with Hugo freaking Power, he’s not about to back down. Now, they have to work together, share an office, and somehow resist the urge to strangle each other. Too bad a piece of scotch tape isn’t enough to contain the tension between them… and we all know the line between love and hate is just one kiss away.
Now, throw in a team that needs whipping into shape, and let me just say, as a woman working in a male-dominated field, I adored Drew and her determination. She never changed who she was to be taken seriously—she kept her so-called "woo woo shit" and ended up with not just skilled players, but happy players.

So yeah, I can confidently say I loved her with my whole heart.

P.S. Let’s not forget the banter, the tension, and the spicy scenes (wink wink). And trust when I tell you you'll love the epilogue..

[Diana Grosskopf · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by Nicky Redford and it did not disappoint. When Hugo and Drew find themselves in a pretty uncommon predicament of having to co-coach the soccer team, The Boston Commoners, not only were they blindsided by having the same job but also their counterpart happens to be a former fling. This was a fantastically funny but also frustrating RomCom. For the main characters, not myself. I found myself rooting for one over the other and ultimately ended up falling in love with both of them and cheering on this relationship from the sidelines. Ok puns aside, I am not a soccer fan or know much about the sport, but I was happy that the sport aspect was sprinkled in enough for me to understand and want the team to do well. All of the side characters added so much to the story, and I really felt for Drew and Hugo. She's worked so hard for her career and wants nothing more than to be a part of this coaching staff if not more. He's trying to get redemption and find purpose in his life. Several times I was trying to guess where the story would go and sense the drama about to unfold on the page, but I was pleasantly surprised that this book kept me guessing and on my toes. What also kept me on my toes was the amount of spice in this book which... (fans self) whew, and I am here for it. I can't wait to read another of her books.

[SherrecePQ Tanner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drew and Hugo, and all the Nicky humorous, banter and goodness has made for the perfect kick off to this new series. You simply cannot pick up this book, not laugh out loud, smile and generally enjoy the perfect mix of banter, angst and all the good things in between.

Drew and Hugo have met before, but Hugo doesn't quite remember. But, when they meet in the Boston Commoners Office, with the new owners, and realise that despite them thinking they were the coach alone, imagine the horror of having to co coach, together! Both have alot to prove, so neither is going to budge. Hugo, with his win at all costs mentality, and Drew with her focus on not just the win, but also the importance of players mental health, and that as a woman, she can do it.

There is alot of banter and rivalry between these two, but also the spark that started in that janitors closet, is set to ignite once again, and even though their ideas around coaching have been on a fast track collision course, they also both see that there is more than what they think they know about each other.

There is a delicious amount of spice, and I enjoyed everything Nicky has encapsulated between these two "rivals". 4.5/5 stars.

[Taylor Fearn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now I have to say, I really did not like Hugo at the start of this book at all, but boy did he redeem himself❤️!

This book had so much tension, banter and heat just like all of Nicky’s books! And I eat it up every single time.

I loved how strong of an FMC Drew was, so I loveeee that she gave Hugo a run for his money for the job and just for her in general!

Loved seeing cameos of Tom, makes me want to reread the Dashwoods Billionaires series!

Also loves the ‘oldies’ group it reminded me a little bit of Aunt Jen from ‘That Fake Feeling’!

I cannot wait for Miller’s book, and to hear about the Donkeys🤣😳!

Read this if you love:

- Sports romance
- Rivals/Enemies to Lovers
- Grumpy/Sunshine
- ‘Second chance’ (kind of)
- He falls first
- Found family

I received this book as an ARC, but I am voluntarily leaving a review 😀

[Curvy Girl Book Nerd (Jen S) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Thing About My Rival is Book 1 in the Boston Commoners series. It's a hilarious, steamy, enemies-to-lovers, sports rom-com. Drew is a sweet, somewhat hippie soccer coach excited to have landed her dream job as a head coach. Hugo is a hunky, rude, playboy, and former player who was also, in error, hired as the head coach. Further, he and Drew had a one night stand years ago. Now they are competing for the same job and hilarity and steam ensues as they each try to prove they are best for the job. I really hated Hugo at first, but he grew and grew on me. I loved Drew. I snort laughed a few times, too, as Nicky just draws it out of you. We also see some Dashwood friends. This was a great read with hot chemistry, lots of laughs, and a very happy ending!! I loved it.

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

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can always count on Nicky to make you swoon and giggle when reading her books 🥰
I adored Drew so much. She is such a girl boss and I loved how determined she was to excel in a male dominated career 👏🏼😍 She stood up to Hugo at every opportunity and I love that she didn’t give him an easy ride 🤭

I wasn’t sure how Hugo was going to redeem himself but man did he succeed 😍 He had me melting by the end of the book.

I absolutely loved the cameos from Tom Dashwood 🥰

Tropes include:
⚽️rivals/ enemies to lovers
⚽️grumpy x sunshine
⚽️lots of banter
⚽️he falls first
⚽️found family

*I received an arc in exchange of an honest review*

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 1 in Redford's new series the Boston Commoners and a wonderful start to a new series. Redford delivers a wonderfully captivating story that flows smoothly and hooks the reader in from the very beginning. This second chance romance features main characters Hugo and Drew who find themselves rivals co-coaching the soccer team the Commoners. The humor and banter is perfect and is what has me always excited for a Redford read and this book delivered that and so, so much more. I loved it and can't wait for more!

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

[Floraljoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful:
What a fun enemies to lovers rom-com. I loved that there was just the right amount of dialogue, drama and angst.
Hugo and Drew made a wonderful couple and it was entertaining watching these two clash and battle it out. I also really liked the ending and how the story didn’t just stop with Hugo's grand gesture at the awards ceremony. I now can't wait for the rest of the books in the series as I am dying to get to know the Fab Four better.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

[KristieReadsBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will have you laughing, swooning and falling in love with these amazing characters. So many amazing tropes in this delightful romcom- enemies to lovers, workplace, hockey, found family and many more.

Drew and Hugo are such a treat. Their banter, tension, chemistry and overall interactions are fantastic! The competition between the two is fabulous and will have you laughing out loud. The chemistry will have your kindle melting and fanning your face.

This is a fantastic start to the new series and I am so excited for the other books!

[Loraine Barkley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was wrongly posted as 3 stars when it should have been 5(blame the backside sitting on the phone).
Characters were strong and believable. Ballsy in control heroine and a hero that didn’t really know what he wanted. Both of them competing for same job and each with their own strengths. Over time they work together but only after the hilarious splitting the office into two!
Loved the happy ever after and the hints of improvement in their family relationships as well. Looking forward to Fab Four books

[Sarah Freilinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happened in Paris? That is the question that weaves through the book. Hugo is the hotshot soccer player from England that is seeking redemption. Drew is the woman's soccer player that strives to bring her hometown team back from the brink of failure. Together they are the coaching staff of the Commanders.
This is a long book. Not one to pick up and finish in one sitting unless you plan on staying up late.

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

[Tegan · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘You can’t always control the timing of your life. Sometimes you have to just go with it.’ Loved the idea of forcing these two rivals to work with one another and have them discover how right they are together. It was super cringe to see the female soccer player/coach sidelined to the “touchy-feely” aspects of the game and completely disregarded for her insight into tactics and training. I know that was the misogynistic point, but it rankled all the same.

[Bianca Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. Enemies to Lovers is one of my favorite Tropes to read about and of course Nicky didn't disappoint. Hugo & Drew had such a cute love story from janitor closet to a cute soccer field ending ever. I can't wait until Miles Malone takes us back to Warm Springs in the next book, The Thing About My Secret Billionare!

[Narelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

British Hugo has been brought in by the new team owners as coach. Drew was also appointed as coach, so who is the new coach, why not both?? From enemies to lovers, this is a steamy romcom sports read with plenty of banter and a found family.

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

[Kathleen Swartz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved!!

Another fantastic book by Nicky Redford! Can't wait to read the next one! Very happy that we got to see Tom in this book too, I really enjoy how interconnected all the books are.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Admittedly, I tend to avoid soccer themed sports romances because I know NOTHING about soccer. I went to exactly one FC game and left halfway through because I didn't understand anything that was going on. But after reading this one, I don't think I'll be avoiding soccer romances any more. Maybe it'll go the same route hockey romances did and everything I know I will have learned from a book. Who knows - maybe I'll get a sudden urge to support our local club.

This book was adorable and sweet and spicy and delicious.

Qualified Girl gets job as head coach of a failing soccer team. Mostly unqualified Boy who happens to be an injured former player also gets job as head coach of the same team. Oops. Owners decide to let them finish out the season as co-coaches to basically compete for who gets to keep the job for the next year.

Obvious tension. There's a fine line between hate and love and whooooo buddy do they toe that line. Enemies to lovers. Family drama. Growing as humans. Compromise. Spice. Heat. Betrayal. Redemption. And a BEAUTIFUL HEA.

I'm excited for this new series from Nicky! I can't wait to see where she takes us next!

[PollyAnna Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hugo and Drew have been co-head coaches, but they each need the job like they need life. Interestingly, they fall for one another. Their interactions are hilarious! The plant. The line Hugo tapes in their office! Going toe-to-toe! Everything in their interactions screams attraction for one another, but they fight it tooth and nail. That is, they fight it until Hugo humbles himself to ask Drew to tell him exactly what happened in Paris. It must be horrible to remember only bits and pieces of a hot exchange with someone you're insanely attracted to. I would not have like the Hugo of Paris fame, but I absotively posolutely ADORE the Hugo of our story! I love that by the time he comes face-to-face with Drew again, he's pulled himself together and is a man who is working to make himself a better man. Because of his attraction to Drew, he slowly gives up even more of the negative aspects of his personality and allows himself to become the man he was always capable of being. Together, he and Drew are unstoppable and when Roman, the rest of the team, and Hugo make a stand at their last football game of the season because of what Drew has taught them, be sure you're prepared with a box of tissues!!!.

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

[The Cajun Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Nicky Redford for an eARC copy of The Thing About My Rival! Here is my honest review!

Hugo Powers is disgraced from British futbol. The former midfielder has had a downward spiral and is intent on making a huge comeback. How so? By coaching the Boston Commoners, a team at the bottom of the barrel, to the championships.

Drew, whose dad is the former owner of the Commoners, shows up expecting that the coaching position was hers. She's worked so hard to move up in the ranks of coaching and has the commoners in her blood.

The new owners of the Commoners decide to let the two coach together and at the end of the season choose one coach to keep on.

Sparks and heat fly between the two as they try to each make their past not interfere with their futures as well as prove that they're the best candidate for the job. Such a complicated mess.

Hugo really ticked me off so much in the beginning but by the end I was so thankful he had Drew to smooth him out. Drew was such a great FMC!

Can't wait to read more from this series!

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE NICKY REDFORD! Oh gosh... She is phenomenal with banter. I loved Drew and Hugo, and so many of the other side characters. I loved their opposing views, and how they worked through butting heads, to finding a way to really work together, and grow as characters, and eventually as a couple.

And with quotes like this, you just know it's a brilliant book:

I, however, have continued to…yeah, let’s call it worry about it.
I’ve worried about it in bed. In the shower. And one time I had a very urgent worry in the restroom farthest from our office after we’d ordered in lunch and I discovered the way she eats pickles turns Mr. Happy into Mr. About To Fucking Burst.

And then there's Drew POV for the above quote as well! Absolutely BRILLIANT!

So do yourself a favour, and buy this book, and enjoy it, multiple times!

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

[Kasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a forever fan of Nicky Redford, so I was so excited to start her new series. I met Hugo — the disgraced football (yes football, the actual football) star — in That Reunited Feeling, and instantly got the Ted Lasso vibe. Hugo is a perfect Roy in that soft-on-the-inside-asshole-on-the-outside way. And Drew, or, excuse me, Wilcox, may not exactly be Keeley, but she is a badass boss just like her, and a compassionate coach all on her own.

Loved the story, loved the humour, loved the complexity of parental relationship represented, and super loved the spicier spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️ Nicky seems to be climbing a new level of steam in her novels and I am so on board 🥵 more of that please.