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Chicago Stars #11
And the Crowd Went Wild
Not yet published
Expected 10 Feb 26#1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Elizabeth Phillips is back with the latest novel in her beloved Chicago Stars series, featuring a romance between a star quarterback and one of the country’s most beautiful—and misunderstood—actresses.
After a mortifying—and very public—humiliation, Dancy Flynn is desperate to find sanctuary far from the crowd. But where can a washed-up sex symbol hide? How about making an unannounced appearance at the secluded lake house of the sweet, sensitive high school boyfriend she hasn’t seen in almost twenty years?
But Chicago Stars quarterback Clint Garrett is no longer the kid Dancy remembers. Now he’s a gridiron superhero, still holding a massive grudge against her for breaking his teenage heart. With no room in his life for either complexity or distractions, he banishes Dancy to a refurbished old railroad caboose tucked away in the woods…and out of his sight.
Except Dancy’s not good at staying invisible. Her efforts to rebuild her career clash with Clint’s desperation to regain his focus, all made more challenging by a rescue dog, a local woman in trouble, a meddling mother, an ex with an agenda…and the sizzle of rekindled emotions.
As Dancy attempts to get her life on track and Clint tries to get his groove back, can these two one-time lovers navigate their rocky pasts and complicated present to find themselves…and each other?
Tropes include:
second-chance romance
enemies to lovers
forced proximity
childhood sweethearts
After a mortifying—and very public—humiliation, Dancy Flynn is desperate to find sanctuary far from the crowd. But where can a washed-up sex symbol hide? How about making an unannounced appearance at the secluded lake house of the sweet, sensitive high school boyfriend she hasn’t seen in almost twenty years?
But Chicago Stars quarterback Clint Garrett is no longer the kid Dancy remembers. Now he’s a gridiron superhero, still holding a massive grudge against her for breaking his teenage heart. With no room in his life for either complexity or distractions, he banishes Dancy to a refurbished old railroad caboose tucked away in the woods…and out of his sight.
Except Dancy’s not good at staying invisible. Her efforts to rebuild her career clash with Clint’s desperation to regain his focus, all made more challenging by a rescue dog, a local woman in trouble, a meddling mother, an ex with an agenda…and the sizzle of rekindled emotions.
As Dancy attempts to get her life on track and Clint tries to get his groove back, can these two one-time lovers navigate their rocky pasts and complicated present to find themselves…and each other?
Tropes include:
second-chance romance
enemies to lovers
forced proximity
childhood sweethearts
347 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 10, 2026
37 people are currently reading
9390 people want to read
About the author
Susan Elizabeth Phillips
48 books15.8k followersSUSAN ELIZABETH PHILLIPS
Susan Elizabeth Phillips has been called the “Queen of Romantic Comedy and is the creator of the sports romance, beginning with her 1989 bestseller, FANCY PANTS. An internationally acclaimed author, her books have been published in over 30 languages. She’s the only four-time recipient of the Romance Writers of America’s prestigious Favorite Book of the Year Award, and a recipient of their Lifetime Achievement Award.
Susan's newest book, SIMPLY THE BEST, is coming in hardcover, ebook and audiobook in February 2024. SIMPLY THE BEST is book #10 in the highly acclaimed CHICAGO STARS football series. Susan is also known for the Wynette, Texas book series and many stand-alone women's fiction/romance novels.
In addition to being a New York Times, Publisher’s Weekly, and USA Today bestseller, she is a hiker, lazy gardener, horrible singer, passable cook, passionate reader, wife, mother of two grown sons, and grandmother.
You can visit Susan on Facebook, Instagram or on her website.
https://www.facebook.com/SusanElizabe...
https://www.instagram.com/SEPauthor/
http://susanelizabethphillips.com/
Susan Elizabeth Phillips has been called the “Queen of Romantic Comedy and is the creator of the sports romance, beginning with her 1989 bestseller, FANCY PANTS. An internationally acclaimed author, her books have been published in over 30 languages. She’s the only four-time recipient of the Romance Writers of America’s prestigious Favorite Book of the Year Award, and a recipient of their Lifetime Achievement Award.
Susan's newest book, SIMPLY THE BEST, is coming in hardcover, ebook and audiobook in February 2024. SIMPLY THE BEST is book #10 in the highly acclaimed CHICAGO STARS football series. Susan is also known for the Wynette, Texas book series and many stand-alone women's fiction/romance novels.
In addition to being a New York Times, Publisher’s Weekly, and USA Today bestseller, she is a hiker, lazy gardener, horrible singer, passable cook, passionate reader, wife, mother of two grown sons, and grandmother.
You can visit Susan on Facebook, Instagram or on her website.
https://www.facebook.com/SusanElizabe...
https://www.instagram.com/SEPauthor/
http://susanelizabethphillips.com/
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Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐️ 4.5 ⭐️ Life is so unpredictable, sometimes finding the courage to move on from all the heartache may feel like the hardest thing to do. It’s hard to be all alone in the world when the world wants a piece of you. But here we have a story that will give you a soft hug, promise hope and say that everything will be ok.
Susan Elizabeth Phillips delivered a relatable story full of heart, love and hope. This is a story about Dancy, an ex-Hollywood actress with a broken heart who reconnects with an old high school flame, Clint, who is an NFL quarterback struggling to get his game back. Dancy is struggling to move from the shadow of her ex husband, another famous actor who left her for someone younger & now expecting a child. Dancy’s personal issues run deeper than just a divorce, her world is crashing down on her and on impulse, she decides to hide out at Clint’s home. Surprised and reluctant, Clint is initially resilient to accept her stay. They have history and that history runs deep, something that will slowly be unraveled as the story moves along. While as grumpy as he appears, his soft side eventually comes out and it’s a total swoon.
Dancy’s problems are quite relatable. She’s depressed and let her self go. She forgets to eat, she medicates with alcohol. She doesn’t have anyone to support her through difficult times but she heavily leans on Clint during her stay. However, they have a past and it’s not a pretty one. A lot of hurt and unresolved issues stand in the way, but this unresolved tension is what gives the BEST banter and chemistry in this second chance novel.
I haven’t read any of SEP novels, so this is a first for me with this author. I loved how the author tackles “mature” issues and lays them out for you. These is no ambiguity, no miscommunication, her characters are mature and the issues are relatively relatable. I liked how Dancy’s mental health crisis was portrayed and resolved. I also enjoyed how she weaved it into Dancy’s past and brought up good points about acceptance, moving forward and putting yourself first.
Clint is no boy, this is a man with zero ulterior motives, a man who puts his woman and family first. His character is layered, his reactions are grounded, his personality has a spark on its own. He is someone I can definitely see as a shoulder to lean on. He was everything that Dancy needed—at the right place and time. Their chemistry was that of a slow burn, sizzling with tension and excitement, I loved their relationship, their conversation and their push and pull. It was delicious! This is honestly how I love my second-chances to be written.
Don’t hesitate to pick this one up!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager and the author, Susan Elizabeth Phillips for sending me this eARC!
Publication date: February 10, 2026
Susan Elizabeth Phillips delivered a relatable story full of heart, love and hope. This is a story about Dancy, an ex-Hollywood actress with a broken heart who reconnects with an old high school flame, Clint, who is an NFL quarterback struggling to get his game back. Dancy is struggling to move from the shadow of her ex husband, another famous actor who left her for someone younger & now expecting a child. Dancy’s personal issues run deeper than just a divorce, her world is crashing down on her and on impulse, she decides to hide out at Clint’s home. Surprised and reluctant, Clint is initially resilient to accept her stay. They have history and that history runs deep, something that will slowly be unraveled as the story moves along. While as grumpy as he appears, his soft side eventually comes out and it’s a total swoon.
Dancy’s problems are quite relatable. She’s depressed and let her self go. She forgets to eat, she medicates with alcohol. She doesn’t have anyone to support her through difficult times but she heavily leans on Clint during her stay. However, they have a past and it’s not a pretty one. A lot of hurt and unresolved issues stand in the way, but this unresolved tension is what gives the BEST banter and chemistry in this second chance novel.
I haven’t read any of SEP novels, so this is a first for me with this author. I loved how the author tackles “mature” issues and lays them out for you. These is no ambiguity, no miscommunication, her characters are mature and the issues are relatively relatable. I liked how Dancy’s mental health crisis was portrayed and resolved. I also enjoyed how she weaved it into Dancy’s past and brought up good points about acceptance, moving forward and putting yourself first.
Clint is no boy, this is a man with zero ulterior motives, a man who puts his woman and family first. His character is layered, his reactions are grounded, his personality has a spark on its own. He is someone I can definitely see as a shoulder to lean on. He was everything that Dancy needed—at the right place and time. Their chemistry was that of a slow burn, sizzling with tension and excitement, I loved their relationship, their conversation and their push and pull. It was delicious! This is honestly how I love my second-chances to be written.
Don’t hesitate to pick this one up!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager and the author, Susan Elizabeth Phillips for sending me this eARC!
Publication date: February 10, 2026
August 25, 2025
As the kids these days would say, Susan Elizabeth Phillips is THE MOTHER. Point. Blank. Period.
One of the OGs of the contemporary romance genre, she’s not just beloved in the U.S. but worldwide and as someone outside the U.S., I can tell you her reputation is well-earned.
I’ve read the entire Chicago Stars series, and it’s my ultimate comfort reread. I’ll be honest I haven’t loved every single book, so when I say this one was exceptional, I mean it. This story had everything: the palpable tension, the emotions that sneak up on you, the joy that leaves you smiling long after the last page. It was executed to perfection.
Dancy and Clint’s journey from heartbreak to healing, from enemies to something more, had me completely hooked. The witty banter, the complex characters, the forced proximity, the sizzling second-chance romance… chef’s kiss. Add in the rescue dog, meddling family, and all the feels, and you’ve got a book that’s impossible to put down.
I highly recommend this to everyone, especially if you love romance, sports romance, second chances, or the Chicago Stars series. This book is Susan Elizabeth Phillips at her absolute best.
EXTRA POINTS:
✔️ Green flag hero – Finally, a male lead who communicates like an adult, respects boundaries, and doesn’t rely on brooding or manipulation to be compelling. He’s emotionally safe and swoon-worthy.
✔️ Accurate representation of people in their 30s These characters aren’t stuck in coming-of-age loops or midlife crises. They’re navigating real-life transitions, emotional baggage, and evolving relationships with nuance and maturity.
Trigger warning: The heroine experienced sexual violence at age 17 during high school (the story takes place when she is 35)
🎶“Love on Top” by Beyonce
🎶“We Belong Together” by Mariah Carey
🎶“So Into You” by Tamia
One of the OGs of the contemporary romance genre, she’s not just beloved in the U.S. but worldwide and as someone outside the U.S., I can tell you her reputation is well-earned.
I’ve read the entire Chicago Stars series, and it’s my ultimate comfort reread. I’ll be honest I haven’t loved every single book, so when I say this one was exceptional, I mean it. This story had everything: the palpable tension, the emotions that sneak up on you, the joy that leaves you smiling long after the last page. It was executed to perfection.
Dancy and Clint’s journey from heartbreak to healing, from enemies to something more, had me completely hooked. The witty banter, the complex characters, the forced proximity, the sizzling second-chance romance… chef’s kiss. Add in the rescue dog, meddling family, and all the feels, and you’ve got a book that’s impossible to put down.
I highly recommend this to everyone, especially if you love romance, sports romance, second chances, or the Chicago Stars series. This book is Susan Elizabeth Phillips at her absolute best.
EXTRA POINTS:
✔️ Green flag hero – Finally, a male lead who communicates like an adult, respects boundaries, and doesn’t rely on brooding or manipulation to be compelling. He’s emotionally safe and swoon-worthy.
✔️ Accurate representation of people in their 30s These characters aren’t stuck in coming-of-age loops or midlife crises. They’re navigating real-life transitions, emotional baggage, and evolving relationships with nuance and maturity.
Trigger warning: The heroine experienced sexual violence at age 17 during high school (the story takes place when she is 35)
🎶“Love on Top” by Beyonce
🎶“We Belong Together” by Mariah Carey
🎶“So Into You” by Tamia
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
So much of the Romance genre is of the Contemporary Romance variety. I just can't get into the single POV of some of those books. It's a little better when the characters change the POV every few chapters. But what I really want and long for is a good old-fashioned Romance and Susan Elizabeth Phillips is the best to ever write that genre. I have always believed that the best romance has a mystery/suspense element and that is not just the "will they or won't they get together". It is an outside problem that both main characters need to confront and deal with. "And the Crowd Went Wild" is a lot more serious than a usual SEP romance and the issues here are not normally seen in Contemporary Romance. It took me a while to get over this book not being fluff and fun, but it is a wonderful read with plenty to think about.
Dancy Flynn, former Bond Girl and ex-wife of the leading Hollywood action hero, needs to resurrect her career and it ends up being a complete and utter failure at a Gala event. She runs and hides with her high school boyfriend who is now the leading NFL quarterback for the Chicago Stars. He isn't happy to see her and would really like to send her on her way. Their parting in high school was not on the best of terms. But Clint Garrett is a good guy, so he takes Dancy in, but not willingly and not without a few digs.
Darcy will take whatever she can get, she just needs a place to hide and the caboose that Clint has turned into a guest retreat is just the place where she can, hopefully, get her act together. Part of that is facing the mess she has made of her life and why and figuring out how to move forward.
My thanks to the Publisher, and Author, for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.
Dancy Flynn, former Bond Girl and ex-wife of the leading Hollywood action hero, needs to resurrect her career and it ends up being a complete and utter failure at a Gala event. She runs and hides with her high school boyfriend who is now the leading NFL quarterback for the Chicago Stars. He isn't happy to see her and would really like to send her on her way. Their parting in high school was not on the best of terms. But Clint Garrett is a good guy, so he takes Dancy in, but not willingly and not without a few digs.
Darcy will take whatever she can get, she just needs a place to hide and the caboose that Clint has turned into a guest retreat is just the place where she can, hopefully, get her act together. Part of that is facing the mess she has made of her life and why and figuring out how to move forward.
My thanks to the Publisher, and Author, for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.
Read
October 28, 2025I’ve read every book in this series, and SEP never misses. Honestly, she’s the OG sports romance writer, and here we are 20+ years later, and her books still hit.
The chemistry, the banter, the emotional build-up, it’s all there. SEP just gets how to write romance. Her characters are always layered, funny, a little messy, and somehow totally real. I’m obsessed with how she still brings fresh energy to a story while keeping that classic SEP vibe we all love.
Thank you NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for the advanced copy!
The chemistry, the banter, the emotional build-up, it’s all there. SEP just gets how to write romance. Her characters are always layered, funny, a little messy, and somehow totally real. I’m obsessed with how she still brings fresh energy to a story while keeping that classic SEP vibe we all love.
Thank you NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for the advanced copy!
February 1, 2026
Dancy is an actress/sex symbol who has seen better days. Her marriage has ended and she’s planned a glamorous comeback moment, but instead it ends in public humiliation. Clint is the famous quarterback for a Chicago football team. It’s the offseason and he’s spending it at a private lake house. These two were in love in high school, but Dancy hurt him terribly and he’s never forgiven her.
Clint is shocked when Dancy shows up at his house. She’s a mess and he wants nothing to do with her but she’s desperate to escape the public and has nowhere else to go. He relents but says she can’t be in his house; rather, he has a refurbished old train caboose on his property and she can stay the night there. I fell in love with this caboose and now think I need to look for a caboose Airbnb!
This is part of a series of books centered on players from his team. They can easily be read as stand alone books, though there seems to be some overlap with characters. These two characters are so fun! They are complex, but each really sweet good people at their core, when you can scrape away the facade. There’s also a rescued dog, a woman from town who needs help, Dancy’s ex and his new girlfriend. Each of them are interesting characters who are integral to the story.
To be honest, I wasn’t expecting much from this book. This genre is typically a bit of fluff I read in between other books; sometimes romance tropes work and other times they can fall flat. I read it because it was an ARC audiobook with a fun cover. But I loved this book!! It’s a romance but the characters have depth and it’s really heartwarming and funny. This one will definitely draw me back into the series, and I’d love to see Clint & Dancy make an appearance in future books. I’m giving this 4-1/2 stars for the overall good feels and fun, and it’s rare for me to rate romance genre books so highly. I’m tempted to give it 5 stars, but will round down to a 4. Please Goodreads, give us half stars! 🌟
I want to thank Net Galley for the opportunity to listen to this Advanced Reader Copy. My appreciation also to the author and publisher for providing this early access. My opinions and comments in reviews are always my own. Happy reading!
Clint is shocked when Dancy shows up at his house. She’s a mess and he wants nothing to do with her but she’s desperate to escape the public and has nowhere else to go. He relents but says she can’t be in his house; rather, he has a refurbished old train caboose on his property and she can stay the night there. I fell in love with this caboose and now think I need to look for a caboose Airbnb!
This is part of a series of books centered on players from his team. They can easily be read as stand alone books, though there seems to be some overlap with characters. These two characters are so fun! They are complex, but each really sweet good people at their core, when you can scrape away the facade. There’s also a rescued dog, a woman from town who needs help, Dancy’s ex and his new girlfriend. Each of them are interesting characters who are integral to the story.
To be honest, I wasn’t expecting much from this book. This genre is typically a bit of fluff I read in between other books; sometimes romance tropes work and other times they can fall flat. I read it because it was an ARC audiobook with a fun cover. But I loved this book!! It’s a romance but the characters have depth and it’s really heartwarming and funny. This one will definitely draw me back into the series, and I’d love to see Clint & Dancy make an appearance in future books. I’m giving this 4-1/2 stars for the overall good feels and fun, and it’s rare for me to rate romance genre books so highly. I’m tempted to give it 5 stars, but will round down to a 4. Please Goodreads, give us half stars! 🌟
I want to thank Net Galley for the opportunity to listen to this Advanced Reader Copy. My appreciation also to the author and publisher for providing this early access. My opinions and comments in reviews are always my own. Happy reading!
July 11, 2025
And the Crowd Went Wild showcases Susan Elizabeth Phillips’s adeptness in presenting characters that her readers can relate to…their strengths, their struggles and their weaknesses. Actress Dancy and Clint once were high school sweethearts and when Dancy suffers the ultimate public humiliation the only place she can think of to hide is at Clint’s home. Pro football quarterback, Clint is dealing with his own issues as he prepares for the upcoming season. There’s no way he wants the girl who broke his heart for the first time to get in his life again, but the gentleman in him can’t turn her away. What happens next is told with insight, humor, compassion, honesty and care all under the loving eyes of one of the most adorable canine characters this reader has encountered. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley. Most highly recommend.
July 6, 2025
Susan has done it again, as usual. I expected nothing less from the queen of sports romance herself. I loved Clint and Dancy almost as much as I love Kevin and Molly and Dan and Phoebe, and that’s saying something from me. This book is another hit.
Also, the references to the Boxcar Children were *chefs kiss*. Totally made the book for me!
* I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Also, the references to the Boxcar Children were *chefs kiss*. Totally made the book for me!
* I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 9, 2026
4 1/2 🌟 rounded up
How does SEP do this voodoo magic? She is just so good at writing romance. I guess that’s what makes her the OG for sports romance. She never disappoints, ever. There have been books of hers that I didn’t love but still somehow did love? I know, makes no sense. It’s because SEP always brings her particular brand of characters you can’t stop reading about, the banter, the angst, the humor, always some tragedy. She’s just always so good.
It’s all here again and it’s back to the good old roots of the Chicago Stars series. A bold and brazen bombshell that’s broken inside and the strong and resilient football star who has lost his way. That opening chapter was so well written it was painful to read. She bares her characters tragic humiliations and heartbreaks to the readers in such a raw way.
The main characters, Dancy and Clint, have a LOT of history and a LOT of it is bad. The hate and animosity they have towards each other in the early book is so funny to watch play out. They do not like each other! Here, as always, her characters are layered and complex and SEP takes her time exposing their pain and walking you through their recovery, with many challenges along the way.
I really liked Dancy - a tough little rich girl with a hard exterior but a heart betrayed many times over, leaving her full of self-doubt. Dancy slowly mends herself over the course of the entire book with a struggle that is so believable. She and Clint find the anchor, friendship and trust they both desperately need and save each other. It’s not a new plot line at all but SEP manages to make it new and so enjoyable.
It’s just really good. Just read it. SEP was my very first romance book, I’ve read every one of her books since and will wait patiently for the next one to arrive.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager and Susan Elizabeth Phillips for the opportunity to read an advance copy and provide a review!
How does SEP do this voodoo magic? She is just so good at writing romance. I guess that’s what makes her the OG for sports romance. She never disappoints, ever. There have been books of hers that I didn’t love but still somehow did love? I know, makes no sense. It’s because SEP always brings her particular brand of characters you can’t stop reading about, the banter, the angst, the humor, always some tragedy. She’s just always so good.
It’s all here again and it’s back to the good old roots of the Chicago Stars series. A bold and brazen bombshell that’s broken inside and the strong and resilient football star who has lost his way. That opening chapter was so well written it was painful to read. She bares her characters tragic humiliations and heartbreaks to the readers in such a raw way.
The main characters, Dancy and Clint, have a LOT of history and a LOT of it is bad. The hate and animosity they have towards each other in the early book is so funny to watch play out. They do not like each other! Here, as always, her characters are layered and complex and SEP takes her time exposing their pain and walking you through their recovery, with many challenges along the way.
I really liked Dancy - a tough little rich girl with a hard exterior but a heart betrayed many times over, leaving her full of self-doubt. Dancy slowly mends herself over the course of the entire book with a struggle that is so believable. She and Clint find the anchor, friendship and trust they both desperately need and save each other. It’s not a new plot line at all but SEP manages to make it new and so enjoyable.
It’s just really good. Just read it. SEP was my very first romance book, I’ve read every one of her books since and will wait patiently for the next one to arrive.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager and Susan Elizabeth Phillips for the opportunity to read an advance copy and provide a review!
July 11, 2025
Susan Elizabeth Phillips is one of my favorite romance authors. She's got this magic romance formula mastered and it just works time and again, and I used to be this dewy eyed teenager who ate it all right up.
'And the Crowd Went Wild' is her latest installment in the Chicago Stars Series - it center's on Dancy, a disgraced Hollywood bombshell and Clint, her teenage love, and a charming Chicago Stars' Quarterback. Its a second chance romance with all the best SEP trademarks - sharp banter, quirky characters, and a delicious slow burn chemistry!
Dancy, fresh off a very public, very messy divorce, shows up uninvited at Clint’s lakeside retreat in Wisconsin. What starts off as a tense reunion unravels into something more as they learn to trust each other, and rekindle the love and friendship they once shared.
Clint is basically the dream book boyfriend - tall, dark and handsome on the outside, but super soft and a gentleman underneath all that swagger.
What I enjoy about Phillips' novels is they're more than just romance - there are beautiful friendships, cozy little moments and heartwarming emotions that make her books feel well-rounded and lived in.
Also, the setting in this book? A lakeside retreat with the cutest little caboose for a guest house that I could picture vividly and low-key want to live in.
There's also a nod to Gertrude Chandler's 'Boxcar Children' in the book. It brings in this whimsical, childlike sweetness to the characters and counterbalances their grown up scars and complexities, making the book light-hearted.
That said, I'm giving this book three stars. *cue the dramatic gasp* The tone felt a little too familiar to her older books. Maybe I've changed or maybe her writing hasn't kept up with the times, but parts of it didn't hit quite right. And while there's comfort in a romance novel being predictable, it also left me wanting more.
Still, I was thrilled when my ARC request got approved. Huge thanks to the Publisher and SEP! And even though the book doesn't come close to her older books (Kiss an Angel, This Heart of Mine), its still a solid romance read and I definitely recommend it!
'And the Crowd Went Wild' is her latest installment in the Chicago Stars Series - it center's on Dancy, a disgraced Hollywood bombshell and Clint, her teenage love, and a charming Chicago Stars' Quarterback. Its a second chance romance with all the best SEP trademarks - sharp banter, quirky characters, and a delicious slow burn chemistry!
Dancy, fresh off a very public, very messy divorce, shows up uninvited at Clint’s lakeside retreat in Wisconsin. What starts off as a tense reunion unravels into something more as they learn to trust each other, and rekindle the love and friendship they once shared.
Clint is basically the dream book boyfriend - tall, dark and handsome on the outside, but super soft and a gentleman underneath all that swagger.
What I enjoy about Phillips' novels is they're more than just romance - there are beautiful friendships, cozy little moments and heartwarming emotions that make her books feel well-rounded and lived in.
Also, the setting in this book? A lakeside retreat with the cutest little caboose for a guest house that I could picture vividly and low-key want to live in.
There's also a nod to Gertrude Chandler's 'Boxcar Children' in the book. It brings in this whimsical, childlike sweetness to the characters and counterbalances their grown up scars and complexities, making the book light-hearted.
That said, I'm giving this book three stars. *cue the dramatic gasp* The tone felt a little too familiar to her older books. Maybe I've changed or maybe her writing hasn't kept up with the times, but parts of it didn't hit quite right. And while there's comfort in a romance novel being predictable, it also left me wanting more.
Still, I was thrilled when my ARC request got approved. Huge thanks to the Publisher and SEP! And even though the book doesn't come close to her older books (Kiss an Angel, This Heart of Mine), its still a solid romance read and I definitely recommend it!
August 13, 2025
SEP is my girl. She has lots of angst and a flair for the dramatics. And a dog epilogue, which I honestly could’ve done without, but for SEP I’ll read it and hold back my cringe.
Dancy (weird name) is a divorced actress who has been through a very tough year and is depressed and drinking and after a VERY embarrassing and hard to read and very public fail, she ends up at her high school ex boyfriend’s house.
Clint can’t stand Dancy. Really, they can’t stand each other and I was cracking up at how they still couldn’t stand each other 25% into the book. But Clint starts to see Dancy isn’t the jerk he thought she was, and Dancy very very veeeerrryyy slowly realizes maybe love is worth putting herself out there again after all the hurt.
I enjoyed watching Dancy get her life back in order and the classic SEP flair of dramatics.
I received an ARC from the publisher. Review is my own.
Dancy (weird name) is a divorced actress who has been through a very tough year and is depressed and drinking and after a VERY embarrassing and hard to read and very public fail, she ends up at her high school ex boyfriend’s house.
Clint can’t stand Dancy. Really, they can’t stand each other and I was cracking up at how they still couldn’t stand each other 25% into the book. But Clint starts to see Dancy isn’t the jerk he thought she was, and Dancy very very veeeerrryyy slowly realizes maybe love is worth putting herself out there again after all the hurt.
I enjoyed watching Dancy get her life back in order and the classic SEP flair of dramatics.
I received an ARC from the publisher. Review is my own.
December 17, 2025
Much thanks to Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Avon, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Also thanks to Jen McGuire at William Morrow for emailing the widget.
No huge plot spoilers, but I do mention some minor details, so beware. Also I'm aware of my verbosity and not at all sorry.
No huge plot spoilers, but I do mention some minor details, so beware. Also I'm aware of my verbosity and not at all sorry.
July 14, 2025
ARC REVIEW:
I haven’t read Susan Elizabeth Phillips in over a decade. Back then, her books were my reward for surviving grad school readings on the L train. When I saw this ARC on @netgalley, I had to see if the Chicago Stars still held up. Spoiler: they absolutely do.
I forgot how often SEP makes me work to like her heroines. Dancy was tough at first, but her arc was worth it. She surprised me with her (initially) subtle feminism, and I loved how each character in her orbit shaped her growth. I always knew her “why”—even when she frustrated me.
I did wish for more emotional depth in Clint’s character, and one subplot with a friend’s ex felt unnecessary. Still, the writing was sharp. SEP reminded me how good third person POV can feel like first.
Content warning: discusses miscarriage and themes of fertility.
I haven’t read Susan Elizabeth Phillips in over a decade. Back then, her books were my reward for surviving grad school readings on the L train. When I saw this ARC on @netgalley, I had to see if the Chicago Stars still held up. Spoiler: they absolutely do.
I forgot how often SEP makes me work to like her heroines. Dancy was tough at first, but her arc was worth it. She surprised me with her (initially) subtle feminism, and I loved how each character in her orbit shaped her growth. I always knew her “why”—even when she frustrated me.
I did wish for more emotional depth in Clint’s character, and one subplot with a friend’s ex felt unnecessary. Still, the writing was sharp. SEP reminded me how good third person POV can feel like first.
Content warning: discusses miscarriage and themes of fertility.
July 5, 2025
Somehow Susan Elizabeth Phillips never makes a wrong step. She’s the queen of rom com, while still making you feel all the things. The witty repartee that is her trademark is on full display here, so you’re laughing while she breaks your heart and puts it back together again.
Read
November 27, 2025DNFing now because I already hate Dancy and will not suffer through her bitchy shenanigans
Read
December 9, 2025Dancy Flynn is really going through it. Problem for Dancy is she isn’t a mere mortal who can retreat without an entire country of eyeballs focused on her wound licking process. She’s a B-list celebrity who was married to an A-list actor (A standing for the social status and for A$$hole). When he dumps her for a younger woman, who is now pregnant, Dancy commits a social crime and dares be human in public. Regret sets in and what’s a depressed Cinderella in a ballgown in Chicago to do but run straight to Wisconsin and find a good hide out.
When Chicago Stars series readers last met Clint Garrett, he was the adorable but messy brother of the heroine of the excellent “Simply the Best.” He also had a dead body at his fancy house and super problematic taste in girlfriends. By “And the Crowd Went Wild,” Clint is a very serious man. He’s the Quarterback of the Chicago Stars, he’s going through the ups and downs of being in the public eye too, and he’s also the high school boyfriend of Dancy. In short, their breakup was bad.
Somewhat inexplicably, Dancy decides that the only man she can actually trust is the man who didn’t trust her in any way before. But no matter. She pops up to his off-season hideout in Wisconsin and he pops her into a random caboose train car on his property because he’s still mad.
[Side Note: I grew up in Northern Illinois and we had a Wisconsin cabin. I’d like to agree with anyone who thinks that having a railcar on a vacation property isn’t realistic, but it is. It could have been a plane that doesn’t fly anymore and someone thought “Let’s park that out back in case we need it someday.” Outdoor decor in the upper midwest is quirky.]
Dancy and Clint are still physically attracted to each other, but both have arrested development when it comes to their interactions with the opposite sex. I’m not a big fan of adult characters that allow their high school drama to affect their present lives. In the case of these two, I gave it more of a pass because their misunderstanding is truly awful, to the extent that Dancy’s poor decision making around men later in life makes sense. Clint was an immature cruel jerk and deserved a lot more cold storage than he got, but to be fair, his last serious girlfriend was a grifter that made his life not great.
Everyone in Clint’s world has always seen him as a sweetheart, a real cinnamon roll type. What makes Clint interesting is that he isn’t actually a sweetheart. That’s a part of him, but he’s also resentful, myopic, and spoiled in ways he believes Dancy gave him cause to be. He has a lot more growing to do than anyone but Dancy and Clint himself realize.
It takes a long time for Dancy to stop blaming herself for the ways that men, including Clint, harmed her. It also takes Clint a long time to realize that he needs to stop believing his own PR.
When Dancy’s ex-husband and his new wife invade the quiet of Clint’s retreat, the interlopers will force a set of confrontations of each other and of themselves in ways both subtle and dramatic.
In typical Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ style, the other woman gets a sort of growth moment of her own, and Dancy will see that her enemies are not always the ones that make the most sense. Real people are complex–especially women–and forgiveness can be good therapy.
Also, there’s a cute disaster of a dog as tension maker and breaker.
———
Genre/Subgenre: contemporary romance, sports romance (distant, off-season)
Standalone/Series: #11 in the Chicago Stars series, but 100% can be read standalone
Themes/Tropes: second chance, celebrities under the mean public eye, trauma recovery, arrested development, small down midwest, bad exes, Hollywood is the worst unless you’re a robot, has an HEA
Steam/Spice Level: low level spicy for ’20s-era Contemporary, but open door, on the page love scenes
Setting: Chicago, rural Wisconsin
POV: third person, past tense
Does the Dog/Horse/Cat Die? There is an adorable puppy they decide to raise and the dog makes it to the HEA as well
__________
Thank you to Avon Books for the Advanced Reader Copy. Expected publication date: Feb 10, 2026
When Chicago Stars series readers last met Clint Garrett, he was the adorable but messy brother of the heroine of the excellent “Simply the Best.” He also had a dead body at his fancy house and super problematic taste in girlfriends. By “And the Crowd Went Wild,” Clint is a very serious man. He’s the Quarterback of the Chicago Stars, he’s going through the ups and downs of being in the public eye too, and he’s also the high school boyfriend of Dancy. In short, their breakup was bad.
Somewhat inexplicably, Dancy decides that the only man she can actually trust is the man who didn’t trust her in any way before. But no matter. She pops up to his off-season hideout in Wisconsin and he pops her into a random caboose train car on his property because he’s still mad.
[Side Note: I grew up in Northern Illinois and we had a Wisconsin cabin. I’d like to agree with anyone who thinks that having a railcar on a vacation property isn’t realistic, but it is. It could have been a plane that doesn’t fly anymore and someone thought “Let’s park that out back in case we need it someday.” Outdoor decor in the upper midwest is quirky.]
Dancy and Clint are still physically attracted to each other, but both have arrested development when it comes to their interactions with the opposite sex. I’m not a big fan of adult characters that allow their high school drama to affect their present lives. In the case of these two, I gave it more of a pass because their misunderstanding is truly awful, to the extent that Dancy’s poor decision making around men later in life makes sense. Clint was an immature cruel jerk and deserved a lot more cold storage than he got, but to be fair, his last serious girlfriend was a grifter that made his life not great.
Everyone in Clint’s world has always seen him as a sweetheart, a real cinnamon roll type. What makes Clint interesting is that he isn’t actually a sweetheart. That’s a part of him, but he’s also resentful, myopic, and spoiled in ways he believes Dancy gave him cause to be. He has a lot more growing to do than anyone but Dancy and Clint himself realize.
It takes a long time for Dancy to stop blaming herself for the ways that men, including Clint, harmed her. It also takes Clint a long time to realize that he needs to stop believing his own PR.
When Dancy’s ex-husband and his new wife invade the quiet of Clint’s retreat, the interlopers will force a set of confrontations of each other and of themselves in ways both subtle and dramatic.
In typical Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ style, the other woman gets a sort of growth moment of her own, and Dancy will see that her enemies are not always the ones that make the most sense. Real people are complex–especially women–and forgiveness can be good therapy.
Also, there’s a cute disaster of a dog as tension maker and breaker.
———
Genre/Subgenre: contemporary romance, sports romance (distant, off-season)
Standalone/Series: #11 in the Chicago Stars series, but 100% can be read standalone
Themes/Tropes: second chance, celebrities under the mean public eye, trauma recovery, arrested development, small down midwest, bad exes, Hollywood is the worst unless you’re a robot, has an HEA
Steam/Spice Level: low level spicy for ’20s-era Contemporary, but open door, on the page love scenes
Setting: Chicago, rural Wisconsin
POV: third person, past tense
Does the Dog/Horse/Cat Die? There is an adorable puppy they decide to raise and the dog makes it to the HEA as well
__________
Thank you to Avon Books for the Advanced Reader Copy. Expected publication date: Feb 10, 2026
November 21, 2025
Although this book doesn't come out until February 2026, I received an EARC and moved it ahead of books I need to read sooner, BECAUSE I LOVE THIS SERIES. As I went back and read the synopsis of all the previous 10 books, and inputted dates read because many predates Goodreads, I am now determined to reread them. some will be a 3rd or 4th read.
This is a second chance romance. 17 year old Dancy broke 16 year old Clint's heart in high school. It takes a while to learn what happened, but they haven't seen each other in 20 years
Both Dancy, hiding out after a humiliating breakdown, and Clint a famous football player wracked with uncertainty, meeting again is fraught with emotions.
I loved how this book offers a chance for both characters to think about their posts and overcome deep seated beliefs to become people who finally love themselves so they can love each other.
Clint is one of the best heroes of this series, no, of almost any contemporary romances.
I hope when you read this book (and it can be a standalone) you will love him as much as I did.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the EARC. This is my honest review.
This is a second chance romance. 17 year old Dancy broke 16 year old Clint's heart in high school. It takes a while to learn what happened, but they haven't seen each other in 20 years
Both Dancy, hiding out after a humiliating breakdown, and Clint a famous football player wracked with uncertainty, meeting again is fraught with emotions.
I loved how this book offers a chance for both characters to think about their posts and overcome deep seated beliefs to become people who finally love themselves so they can love each other.
Clint is one of the best heroes of this series, no, of almost any contemporary romances.
I hope when you read this book (and it can be a standalone) you will love him as much as I did.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the EARC. This is my honest review.
October 10, 2025
I received this ARC as part of a Goodreads giveaway, and I was beyond excited to win this book. I have read all her books since the first one. Her books never disappoint and have great stories and wonderful characters. This is Clint's story. We were introduced to him in Simply The Best. This is his story of an old love coming back into his life. Dancy is a mess at the beginning of the story, but as the book progresses, she begins to learn more about herself and find her strengths plus fall in love. It was nice that some past book characters made brief appearances in this book. It's always nice to have them visit and be woven into the story. I highly recommend any of her books, including this one.
July 17, 2025
ARC REVIEW (thanks NETGALLEY!)
I love SEP and the Chicago stars series and this one was no different! But no, literally, it was no different. Every novel in the series seems to have the same kinda thing going on (weird little hideaway next to main house, gross dog, home renovations) But I eat them up every time! SEP is a master of banter! My main gripe with book was that it was more chick-lit than romance with Dancy being the main character and Clint just kinda there. The side plot with Shane and Erin was a waste of words and book could have done without it. Dancy’s whole revival kind of seemed out of left field especially when we learned about her love of sewing and knack for home decorating, I just figured she would have went into something more along those lines.
I love SEP and the Chicago stars series and this one was no different! But no, literally, it was no different. Every novel in the series seems to have the same kinda thing going on (weird little hideaway next to main house, gross dog, home renovations) But I eat them up every time! SEP is a master of banter! My main gripe with book was that it was more chick-lit than romance with Dancy being the main character and Clint just kinda there. The side plot with Shane and Erin was a waste of words and book could have done without it. Dancy’s whole revival kind of seemed out of left field especially when we learned about her love of sewing and knack for home decorating, I just figured she would have went into something more along those lines.
October 19, 2025
This is the next book in the Chicago Stars series. It follows Clint the star quarterback, as his high school girlfriend comes back into his life. Dancy is a Hollywood actress whose husband divorces her for a younger woman and after hitting rock bottom ends up at Clint’s lake house to hide out. Dancy slowly pulls herself together . The banter between her and Clint was funny. In the end they get their HEA.
November 18, 2025
this was a pretty good book. a good story, easy reading and it really kept you wondering what might happen next. loved the end!
thanks Goodreads for choosing me to win this book!
thanks Goodreads for choosing me to win this book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 30, 2026
Their first high school relationship ended in scandal, after her divorce to an actor and trying to get her life together she falls again and retreats back to her old boyfriend’s home. He hates her, because high school scandal but lets her stay for a week because he is not a bad person. They talk and clear the air on their failed relationship and get to know each other as adults. They may think they hate each other but they open up to the other and help each other talk through their issues. Banter was just too good. There are some triggers that may be triggering, review before reading.
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager & NetGalley for an ARC of this book, in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager & NetGalley for an ARC of this book, in exchange for my honest opinion.
Read
September 10, 2025DNF - 46%. I tried to get into this one I really did, but I just could not connect to the MMC and I really did not like the FMC and this far into the book, that’s important. I also think it’s a stretch to call this one in Chicago Stars book. Yes the MMC is their quarterback, but other than being told he’s their quarterback, that’s all we get. And yes, I understand I read half of the book perhaps the second half is full of Chicago Stars football goodness but I was left wanting.
October 1, 2025
I received an advanced copy of this book. It was beautifully written. I loved the unique way this author wrote the story with a Caboose, Watch and Blue Dress as important, quirky, supporting characters. The main characters, however, drew this reader in with relatable, heartbreaking tragedies and unique coping mechanisms. I cried, laughed and even cursed out loud, which had my fur babies completely baffled. Real life can be chaotic mess. Fortunately, my favorite authors, which includes Susan Elizabeth Phillips, can take my mind on a mini get away for a while. 💕
September 18, 2025
I absolutely adore Susan Elizabeth Phillips as I credit her for making me obsessed with sports romance ever since I dived into her Chicago Stars series. She is one of the all-time greats because her romance books are so much more than “boy meet girl and they live happily ever after.”
And the Crowd Went Wild has everything I love about a SEP book (and gave me similar vibes to Dance Away With Me which I absolutely loved as well) – a heroine with some significant life struggles who takes quite a few hits but rises as the strong woman she always was; a hero who overcomes his own struggles while supporting the woman he’s falling for; a quirky cast of characters and a setting that reels you right in.
I absolutely LOVED Dancy and this woman stole the show (as she should since she’s an actress!). SEP opens this book with a bang, with Dancy having one horrible night that made my heart bleed for her. We learn that this woman has had to live through some major life challenges (one is rape as a teen that she recounts and another is a miscarriage so be aware of these trigger warnings). And despite the fallout of these occurrences and her recent humiliation, the woman is a FIGHTER.
The way that she did not hold back her words when it came to Clint, the way that she took in a wounded dog, and the way that she stood up for a complete stranger and then herself made her another SEP heroine that you desperately want to have her happily ever after.
Her snark toward Clint when he wanted her anywhere but on his property was signature SEP and I only wanted their verbal foreplay to continue page after page.
Clint was an interesting character too, as a star quarterback struggling with his game and having his peace and quiet disrupted by the woman who had broken his heart so long ago.
I haven’t read the previous book in the Chicago Stars series (I know I’m circling back now!) and I think some things were alluded to from that book but this can be read as a standalone if you haven’t read any SEP book in this series.
The nod to The Boxcar Children was a great touch, though I have not read that book (gasp!). I felt like I could envision the caboose that Dancy was staying in and fixing up so well and boy do I wish it was a place I could escape to one weekend and read book after book.
If you are after a romance book that provides rich characters, a worthy second chance romance and a strong heroine with a sharp story that is always a cut above the rest then you deserve to read a SEP book, starting with this one.
I cannot wait to see what she writes next!
*I received an advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.
And the Crowd Went Wild has everything I love about a SEP book (and gave me similar vibes to Dance Away With Me which I absolutely loved as well) – a heroine with some significant life struggles who takes quite a few hits but rises as the strong woman she always was; a hero who overcomes his own struggles while supporting the woman he’s falling for; a quirky cast of characters and a setting that reels you right in.
I absolutely LOVED Dancy and this woman stole the show (as she should since she’s an actress!). SEP opens this book with a bang, with Dancy having one horrible night that made my heart bleed for her. We learn that this woman has had to live through some major life challenges (one is rape as a teen that she recounts and another is a miscarriage so be aware of these trigger warnings). And despite the fallout of these occurrences and her recent humiliation, the woman is a FIGHTER.
The way that she did not hold back her words when it came to Clint, the way that she took in a wounded dog, and the way that she stood up for a complete stranger and then herself made her another SEP heroine that you desperately want to have her happily ever after.
Her snark toward Clint when he wanted her anywhere but on his property was signature SEP and I only wanted their verbal foreplay to continue page after page.
Clint was an interesting character too, as a star quarterback struggling with his game and having his peace and quiet disrupted by the woman who had broken his heart so long ago.
I haven’t read the previous book in the Chicago Stars series (I know I’m circling back now!) and I think some things were alluded to from that book but this can be read as a standalone if you haven’t read any SEP book in this series.
The nod to The Boxcar Children was a great touch, though I have not read that book (gasp!). I felt like I could envision the caboose that Dancy was staying in and fixing up so well and boy do I wish it was a place I could escape to one weekend and read book after book.
If you are after a romance book that provides rich characters, a worthy second chance romance and a strong heroine with a sharp story that is always a cut above the rest then you deserve to read a SEP book, starting with this one.
I cannot wait to see what she writes next!
*I received an advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.75/5
Heat Index: 5.5/10
—starlet x quarterback
—high school sweethearts
—forced proximity via railroad caboose
The Basics:
Following a massive scene involving her ex-husband and his pregnant girlfriend, former star Dancy flees the scene and ends up at the country house of Clint Garrett, Chicago Stars quarterback and her high school boyfriend (you know, the one whose heart she broke). Though resistant to helping this mess of a woman, Clint reluctantly gives in—with the requirement that Dancy stays in the refurbished railroad caboose on his property and out of his house. But as Dancy crashes out and Clint marvels at how much he actually does care, a rescue dog, a woman in need, and Dancy's ex come into her orbit... And might just end up being a part of her redemption./
The Review:
At this point, I've read most of Susan Elizabeth Phillips's books. Enough, at least, to know she loves a complicated woman. And Dancy is certainly that. Though not SEP's first celebrity heroine, she feels less ripped from the headlines, but still reminiscent of women we've seen in real life. Once a promising actress, she took to the sideline to support her action star husband, slowly fading into the role of sex symbol and replaced with a younger model as her marriage failed.
And while Dancy went through it throughout her life, the novel doesn't make her a helpless victim. Which is another SEP special. Her heroines hurt, and they're not blamed for being "difficult"... but they aren't let off their hook for their own bad behavior or turned into meek, trembling creatures. Dancy bursts into Clint's life and, while he puts up enough resistance to not be completely walked over, she doesn't take no for an answer. Before you know it, she's wearing his clothes and swimming in the lake like it's nothing... while still privately dealing with her demons. It's up to him to figure out what those demons are—and the fact that he, despite himself, wants to know what they are is your hint that his feelings might not be quite so gone.
Or at least, they're reborn. I wish we'd seen some flashbacks to Dancy and Clint's high school days, especially because SEP takes an interesting approach to the relationship. Clint wasn't the blustering, rising star teenage boy I expected going into this book. Rather, Dancy wanted more from him—she wanted sex, he was resistant because... I mean, the book doesn't super expand on this, but because he was maybe a little too enamored of her? I'm not sure I quite got that. Because he was too serious, maybe, and wanted it to be "special" with her?
The thing about Clint is that he's good. At one point, Dancy calls him a "cinnamon roll" (and I... SEP, I love you, but I'm going to say that zero contemporary romance author should reference romance novels; let us stop) but I don't think that's quite true. He's solid, he's tolerant, but he's not overly sweet. He doesn't push back on Dancy quite as much as I wanted (not because I think she's always wrong, but because I wanted more friction) but he's confident in himself and his own self-worth. This book didn't quite fall into the trap I've seen a lot of contemporaries slip into lately—where the heroine is an absolute mess, and a lot more interesting than the boring hero who's there to calm her inner hurricane. But that's because SEP is frankly a strong enough writer to make it difficult for anything she writes to be boring, and because she gives Clint his POV. It felt like he had less than Dancy, but it's still very much there. And I really appreciated the way his attraction to her naggingly built up until he couldn't stand it anymore. The chemistry between these two is definitely present, simmering until it finally boils over.
Dancy, I would say, is on par with a classic SEP heroine, albeit a little softened for a 2026 audience's sensibilities. Clint is definitely much softer than most of my favorites of her heroes. And while I liked him (he's hot, and I'd for sure be obsessed with him if he was real), I don't know that he quite matched that SEP energy.
This is a romcom in a lot of ways, but with the melancholy sense of that feeling where you're wondering if you wasted your life. Which I think a lot of us can relate to, especially now. (And I want to note: Though neither occurs on the page, this does deal with rape and miscarriage and the trauma surrounding them.) Dancy is finding her new self, reinventing who she is at 35, finding on love on top of it—and I loved that. Honestly? I would've liked it even more if she was 40 instead of 35, but I will say that this would've made Clint's career more of a focal point, as he'd be at an age where quarterbacks need to start thinking about retirement. The sports part of this book is very much a minor subplot, and one that maybe would've added something to his character if it was expanded upon—but maybe she feels like she's treaded that enough in previous novels.
The subplots are a little hit or miss—I actually did love the dog rehabilitation, because it made such sense for Dancy's story. One supporting character was nice but a little underdone, while Bisa (you'll know her when you know her) was the kind of delightful SEP secondary character I'm used to. I just wish we'd had more of her!
A few moments were misfires—the big climactic moment wasn't as centered on the romance as I would've liked, and felt a bit twee. The epilogue was... look, nothing goes wrong, but the narrative device was a choice! Nonetheless, something I think others will find very cute, and it doesn't take away from the story.
The Sex:
SEP sex scenes are usually pretty mild; these were a couple steps above closed door. Quick, nice, but borderline perfunctory. I wanted a bit more, especially since Dancy's unsatisfactory sex life with her ex-husband was something the story touched on beforehand.
The Conclusion:
This isn't the best SEP I've come across, but it was a fun read. And in the hands of a lesser author, I don't think it would've hit as much as it does. She's just a very strong writer, and her heroines reign supreme, even in books that are more "good" than "great".
Thanks to Avon and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Heat Index: 5.5/10
—starlet x quarterback
—high school sweethearts
—forced proximity via railroad caboose
The Basics:
Following a massive scene involving her ex-husband and his pregnant girlfriend, former star Dancy flees the scene and ends up at the country house of Clint Garrett, Chicago Stars quarterback and her high school boyfriend (you know, the one whose heart she broke). Though resistant to helping this mess of a woman, Clint reluctantly gives in—with the requirement that Dancy stays in the refurbished railroad caboose on his property and out of his house. But as Dancy crashes out and Clint marvels at how much he actually does care, a rescue dog, a woman in need, and Dancy's ex come into her orbit... And might just end up being a part of her redemption./
The Review:
At this point, I've read most of Susan Elizabeth Phillips's books. Enough, at least, to know she loves a complicated woman. And Dancy is certainly that. Though not SEP's first celebrity heroine, she feels less ripped from the headlines, but still reminiscent of women we've seen in real life. Once a promising actress, she took to the sideline to support her action star husband, slowly fading into the role of sex symbol and replaced with a younger model as her marriage failed.
And while Dancy went through it throughout her life, the novel doesn't make her a helpless victim. Which is another SEP special. Her heroines hurt, and they're not blamed for being "difficult"... but they aren't let off their hook for their own bad behavior or turned into meek, trembling creatures. Dancy bursts into Clint's life and, while he puts up enough resistance to not be completely walked over, she doesn't take no for an answer. Before you know it, she's wearing his clothes and swimming in the lake like it's nothing... while still privately dealing with her demons. It's up to him to figure out what those demons are—and the fact that he, despite himself, wants to know what they are is your hint that his feelings might not be quite so gone.
Or at least, they're reborn. I wish we'd seen some flashbacks to Dancy and Clint's high school days, especially because SEP takes an interesting approach to the relationship. Clint wasn't the blustering, rising star teenage boy I expected going into this book. Rather, Dancy wanted more from him—she wanted sex, he was resistant because... I mean, the book doesn't super expand on this, but because he was maybe a little too enamored of her? I'm not sure I quite got that. Because he was too serious, maybe, and wanted it to be "special" with her?
The thing about Clint is that he's good. At one point, Dancy calls him a "cinnamon roll" (and I... SEP, I love you, but I'm going to say that zero contemporary romance author should reference romance novels; let us stop) but I don't think that's quite true. He's solid, he's tolerant, but he's not overly sweet. He doesn't push back on Dancy quite as much as I wanted (not because I think she's always wrong, but because I wanted more friction) but he's confident in himself and his own self-worth. This book didn't quite fall into the trap I've seen a lot of contemporaries slip into lately—where the heroine is an absolute mess, and a lot more interesting than the boring hero who's there to calm her inner hurricane. But that's because SEP is frankly a strong enough writer to make it difficult for anything she writes to be boring, and because she gives Clint his POV. It felt like he had less than Dancy, but it's still very much there. And I really appreciated the way his attraction to her naggingly built up until he couldn't stand it anymore. The chemistry between these two is definitely present, simmering until it finally boils over.
Dancy, I would say, is on par with a classic SEP heroine, albeit a little softened for a 2026 audience's sensibilities. Clint is definitely much softer than most of my favorites of her heroes. And while I liked him (he's hot, and I'd for sure be obsessed with him if he was real), I don't know that he quite matched that SEP energy.
This is a romcom in a lot of ways, but with the melancholy sense of that feeling where you're wondering if you wasted your life. Which I think a lot of us can relate to, especially now. (And I want to note: Though neither occurs on the page, this does deal with rape and miscarriage and the trauma surrounding them.) Dancy is finding her new self, reinventing who she is at 35, finding on love on top of it—and I loved that. Honestly? I would've liked it even more if she was 40 instead of 35, but I will say that this would've made Clint's career more of a focal point, as he'd be at an age where quarterbacks need to start thinking about retirement. The sports part of this book is very much a minor subplot, and one that maybe would've added something to his character if it was expanded upon—but maybe she feels like she's treaded that enough in previous novels.
The subplots are a little hit or miss—I actually did love the dog rehabilitation, because it made such sense for Dancy's story. One supporting character was nice but a little underdone, while Bisa (you'll know her when you know her) was the kind of delightful SEP secondary character I'm used to. I just wish we'd had more of her!
A few moments were misfires—the big climactic moment wasn't as centered on the romance as I would've liked, and felt a bit twee. The epilogue was... look, nothing goes wrong, but the narrative device was a choice! Nonetheless, something I think others will find very cute, and it doesn't take away from the story.
The Sex:
SEP sex scenes are usually pretty mild; these were a couple steps above closed door. Quick, nice, but borderline perfunctory. I wanted a bit more, especially since Dancy's unsatisfactory sex life with her ex-husband was something the story touched on beforehand.
The Conclusion:
This isn't the best SEP I've come across, but it was a fun read. And in the hands of a lesser author, I don't think it would've hit as much as it does. She's just a very strong writer, and her heroines reign supreme, even in books that are more "good" than "great".
Thanks to Avon and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 9, 2025
This book was a mixed read for me. Dancy and Clint have a complicated past, and while I appreciated the second-chance romance angle, it was hard to connect with Dancy at first. Her choices and attitude made it tough to root for her, though there is some growth along the way.
There were several subplots—including a stalker storyline—that felt underdeveloped or delayed. It did eventually wrap up but the pacing made it easy to forget. A few moments also stretched believability, like Dancy saying she never wanted to see Clint again, only to ask to stay on his property later.
The tone shifted a lot, and the epilogue told from the dog’s point of view felt out of place after all the emotional tension. It might have worked better if that had been part of the story earlier.
That said, there were still some entertaining and heartfelt scenes, especially with the supporting characters. It just didn’t fully land for me, but I know many readers enjoy Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ blend of humor and heart, and I’ll still check out more of her work.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion
There were several subplots—including a stalker storyline—that felt underdeveloped or delayed. It did eventually wrap up but the pacing made it easy to forget. A few moments also stretched believability, like Dancy saying she never wanted to see Clint again, only to ask to stay on his property later.
The tone shifted a lot, and the epilogue told from the dog’s point of view felt out of place after all the emotional tension. It might have worked better if that had been part of the story earlier.
That said, there were still some entertaining and heartfelt scenes, especially with the supporting characters. It just didn’t fully land for me, but I know many readers enjoy Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ blend of humor and heart, and I’ll still check out more of her work.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion
Want to read
October 2, 2025Atleast now I have something to look forward to!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
And the Crowd Went Wild, the latest Chicago Stars novel by Susan Elizabeth Phillips, is another enchanting entry in this long-running, consistently excellent series. As always, the main characters are interesting, relatable, sympathetic and quite simply, people you’d love to be friends with IRL. Yes, the trappings are fame and fortune, great beauty and athletic prowess, but SEP has a gift for making her protagonists human, flawed, intriguing and absolutely endearing. She also has the great—and too rare—talent to create the snappy dialogue, sexual tension and swoony romance that I treasure.
Dancy Flynn is a stunningly beautiful actress, a blond bombshell typecast as The Bimbo, The Girlfriend, The Gold Digger, even The Bond Girl, but never taken seriously for her talent or intelligence. Swept off her feet by a mega movie star who made sure to put her in his shadow and keep her there, she has seemingly hit rock bottom when we meet her at a glamorous charity event in Chicago. She’s put on a brave face and a killer dress to launch a comeback after being dumped, show she’s more than just a sex symbol, and hopefully kickstart her career. Of course, sometimes rock bottom isn’t the actual bottom, and the humiliation that transpires when her ex and his pregnant girlfriend show up snapped my heart in two.
Chicago Stars quarterback Clint Garrett, the high school boyfriend whose heart Dancy broke half a lifetime ago, is Going Through Some Things, though he won’t admit that to anyone. He just wants peace, quiet and solitude at his beautiful lake house. He needs time to focus, get his mind on track, shake off the burnout, and remember how to love the game that’s been his life. When a hired car shows up at his very private property, with a drunk Dancy needing a place to hide, he absolutely refuses to help, demanding she leave immediately. Too late, the driver has split and she’s passed out on his couch before he can even process what the heII is happening. Okay fine, he’s not a monster. First thing in the morning he’s kicking her out. Heh heh. Good luck with that, Champ.
What follows is a battle of wills, stubborn, begrudging respect, and long-overdue truths, as a couple of thirty-somethings reckon with their messy past and challenging present. They bicker and flirt and move forward in ways that’re flawed, relatable, funny, frustrating and hopeful. Dancy and Clint are refreshingly straight-forward with each other, they aren’t playing games, and there’s no silly miscommunications or lazy cliches. This novel covers a lot of emotional ground, including heartbreak, betrayal, failure, struggle and insecurity. It also beautifully demonstrates how courage, compassion, hard work, honesty and accountability can toss you upside-down, whip you around, and fling you in a totally unexpected, amazing new direction.
Dancy and Clint’s chemistry is sizzling hot. The sass, sarcasm and witty banter between these two is chef’s kiss, platinum quality. Both smart and salty, the dialogue snaps, crackles and pops. It’s everything I love about enemies-to-lovers and SEP excels at it. With more-mature-than-average protagonists, the stakes are higher and it’s deeper than your typical romance. The hard-fought, hard-earned successes here really land and the HEA is more rewarding for it.
There’s also an act of sweet, sweet revenge that’s so smooth, brazen and clever, I actually laughed out loud and had to stop reading just to savor it.
I so recommend this book! Dancy is an absolute badass, a tough, brave and compassionate hero; Clint’s a walking green flag, avenging angel, and swoon worthy Nice Guy; and Watch the Rescue Dog’s a lovable and hilarious scene stealer. This book made me laugh, cry, cringe, gasp, laugh some more and cheer. Put simply, it gave me Joy. Also, honorable mention for the puppy’s kiss epilogue.
My heartfelt thanks to Avon, Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC. This is my honest, unbiased review.
Dancy Flynn is a stunningly beautiful actress, a blond bombshell typecast as The Bimbo, The Girlfriend, The Gold Digger, even The Bond Girl, but never taken seriously for her talent or intelligence. Swept off her feet by a mega movie star who made sure to put her in his shadow and keep her there, she has seemingly hit rock bottom when we meet her at a glamorous charity event in Chicago. She’s put on a brave face and a killer dress to launch a comeback after being dumped, show she’s more than just a sex symbol, and hopefully kickstart her career. Of course, sometimes rock bottom isn’t the actual bottom, and the humiliation that transpires when her ex and his pregnant girlfriend show up snapped my heart in two.
Chicago Stars quarterback Clint Garrett, the high school boyfriend whose heart Dancy broke half a lifetime ago, is Going Through Some Things, though he won’t admit that to anyone. He just wants peace, quiet and solitude at his beautiful lake house. He needs time to focus, get his mind on track, shake off the burnout, and remember how to love the game that’s been his life. When a hired car shows up at his very private property, with a drunk Dancy needing a place to hide, he absolutely refuses to help, demanding she leave immediately. Too late, the driver has split and she’s passed out on his couch before he can even process what the heII is happening. Okay fine, he’s not a monster. First thing in the morning he’s kicking her out. Heh heh. Good luck with that, Champ.
What follows is a battle of wills, stubborn, begrudging respect, and long-overdue truths, as a couple of thirty-somethings reckon with their messy past and challenging present. They bicker and flirt and move forward in ways that’re flawed, relatable, funny, frustrating and hopeful. Dancy and Clint are refreshingly straight-forward with each other, they aren’t playing games, and there’s no silly miscommunications or lazy cliches. This novel covers a lot of emotional ground, including heartbreak, betrayal, failure, struggle and insecurity. It also beautifully demonstrates how courage, compassion, hard work, honesty and accountability can toss you upside-down, whip you around, and fling you in a totally unexpected, amazing new direction.
Dancy and Clint’s chemistry is sizzling hot. The sass, sarcasm and witty banter between these two is chef’s kiss, platinum quality. Both smart and salty, the dialogue snaps, crackles and pops. It’s everything I love about enemies-to-lovers and SEP excels at it. With more-mature-than-average protagonists, the stakes are higher and it’s deeper than your typical romance. The hard-fought, hard-earned successes here really land and the HEA is more rewarding for it.
There’s also an act of sweet, sweet revenge that’s so smooth, brazen and clever, I actually laughed out loud and had to stop reading just to savor it.
I so recommend this book! Dancy is an absolute badass, a tough, brave and compassionate hero; Clint’s a walking green flag, avenging angel, and swoon worthy Nice Guy; and Watch the Rescue Dog’s a lovable and hilarious scene stealer. This book made me laugh, cry, cringe, gasp, laugh some more and cheer. Put simply, it gave me Joy. Also, honorable mention for the puppy’s kiss epilogue.
My heartfelt thanks to Avon, Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC. This is my honest, unbiased review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Book review: *And the Crowd Went Wild by Susan Elizabeth Phillips.
Published by Avon, with sincere thanks to Avon and NetGalley for my gifted ARC.
There is a particular kind of comfort that comes with opening a Chicago Stars novel, and this book reminded me exactly why Susan Elizabeth Phillips has held a permanent spot on my auto-read list for decades. And the Crowd Went Wild feels like coming home to familiar rhythms while still getting a story that has emotional weight, sharp humor, and characters who feel lived-in rather than polished for show.
Dancy Flynn begins this story at her absolute lowest, and Phillips wastes no time letting us feel the humiliation, exhaustion, and quiet panic that come with having your worst moment go viral. Dancy is a former sex symbol, a woman who has been underestimated and misjudged her entire life, and watching her stagger into Clint Garrett’s secluded Wisconsin retreat in a ballgown felt both painfully awkward and oddly brave. She doesn’t arrive looking for romance. She arrives looking for somewhere to breathe.
Clint, now the Chicago Stars quarterback, is no longer the sweet boy Dancy remembers. He’s controlled, guarded, and still deeply wounded by a teenage heartbreak he never truly examined. What I appreciated most about Clint is that he isn’t instantly softened by nostalgia. He’s resentful. He’s rigid. He puts Dancy in a refurbished railroad caboose rather than under his roof, and the symbolism there is not subtle, but it works. Distance feels safer than forgiveness.
The slow burn between these two is one of the book’s biggest strengths. Their chemistry is rooted in shared history, sharp banter, and long-held misunderstandings rather than instant physical pull. Phillips allows them to circle each other cautiously, and the payoff feels earned. This isn’t a glossy second-chance romance. It’s messy, sometimes uncomfortable, and often very funny in that dry, observant SEP way.
What elevates this story is how much space it gives to personal growth. Dancy’s journey isn’t just about reclaiming love. It’s about reclaiming her voice, her ambition, and her sense of self after years of being defined by other people’s expectations. Clint’s arc is quieter but just as meaningful, centered on confronting his own fear of vulnerability and the pressure of being the steady one everyone relies on.
The setting adds so much warmth. The lake, the woods, the cozy caboose, and the small-town energy create a gentle contrast to Hollywood spectacle and professional sports chaos. The rescue dog is the kind of addition that could feel gimmicky in lesser hands, but here it adds heart and grounding, offering moments of levity and unexpected tenderness.
One line that stayed with me long after finishing the book was: “You don’t heal by becoming invisible. You heal by choosing to stay.” That sentiment perfectly captures the emotional core of the story.
And the Crowd Went Wild can absolutely be read as a standalone, but longtime Chicago Stars readers will appreciate the familiarity of the tone and the confidence of Phillips’ storytelling. It balances humor with heavier themes like shame, public scrutiny, and emotional recovery without losing its cozy, romantic feel.
This book made me laugh, sigh, and slow down while reading, which is always my highest compliment. It’s warm, witty, and quietly powerful, a reminder that second chances aren’t about erasing the past, but learning how to live with it honestly.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ out of 5 stars
#AndtheCrowdWentWild #SusanElizabethPhillips #ChicagoStars #RomanceBookReview #SecondChanceRomance #SportsRomance #WomensFiction #NetGalley #AvonBooks
Published by Avon, with sincere thanks to Avon and NetGalley for my gifted ARC.
There is a particular kind of comfort that comes with opening a Chicago Stars novel, and this book reminded me exactly why Susan Elizabeth Phillips has held a permanent spot on my auto-read list for decades. And the Crowd Went Wild feels like coming home to familiar rhythms while still getting a story that has emotional weight, sharp humor, and characters who feel lived-in rather than polished for show.
Dancy Flynn begins this story at her absolute lowest, and Phillips wastes no time letting us feel the humiliation, exhaustion, and quiet panic that come with having your worst moment go viral. Dancy is a former sex symbol, a woman who has been underestimated and misjudged her entire life, and watching her stagger into Clint Garrett’s secluded Wisconsin retreat in a ballgown felt both painfully awkward and oddly brave. She doesn’t arrive looking for romance. She arrives looking for somewhere to breathe.
Clint, now the Chicago Stars quarterback, is no longer the sweet boy Dancy remembers. He’s controlled, guarded, and still deeply wounded by a teenage heartbreak he never truly examined. What I appreciated most about Clint is that he isn’t instantly softened by nostalgia. He’s resentful. He’s rigid. He puts Dancy in a refurbished railroad caboose rather than under his roof, and the symbolism there is not subtle, but it works. Distance feels safer than forgiveness.
The slow burn between these two is one of the book’s biggest strengths. Their chemistry is rooted in shared history, sharp banter, and long-held misunderstandings rather than instant physical pull. Phillips allows them to circle each other cautiously, and the payoff feels earned. This isn’t a glossy second-chance romance. It’s messy, sometimes uncomfortable, and often very funny in that dry, observant SEP way.
What elevates this story is how much space it gives to personal growth. Dancy’s journey isn’t just about reclaiming love. It’s about reclaiming her voice, her ambition, and her sense of self after years of being defined by other people’s expectations. Clint’s arc is quieter but just as meaningful, centered on confronting his own fear of vulnerability and the pressure of being the steady one everyone relies on.
The setting adds so much warmth. The lake, the woods, the cozy caboose, and the small-town energy create a gentle contrast to Hollywood spectacle and professional sports chaos. The rescue dog is the kind of addition that could feel gimmicky in lesser hands, but here it adds heart and grounding, offering moments of levity and unexpected tenderness.
One line that stayed with me long after finishing the book was: “You don’t heal by becoming invisible. You heal by choosing to stay.” That sentiment perfectly captures the emotional core of the story.
And the Crowd Went Wild can absolutely be read as a standalone, but longtime Chicago Stars readers will appreciate the familiarity of the tone and the confidence of Phillips’ storytelling. It balances humor with heavier themes like shame, public scrutiny, and emotional recovery without losing its cozy, romantic feel.
This book made me laugh, sigh, and slow down while reading, which is always my highest compliment. It’s warm, witty, and quietly powerful, a reminder that second chances aren’t about erasing the past, but learning how to live with it honestly.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ out of 5 stars
#AndtheCrowdWentWild #SusanElizabethPhillips #ChicagoStars #RomanceBookReview #SecondChanceRomance #SportsRomance #WomensFiction #NetGalley #AvonBooks
November 13, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for an honest review.
Susan Elizabeth Phillips was one of the first romance authors I ever picked up a book from. I was lounging around my great-grandmother's house in my early teen years, bored out of my mind, when a book with a bright pink spine and a glitzy dress on the cover caught my eye. Glitter Baby was pretty much my introduction to this genre, and I can't be more thankful. Phillips doesn't write just romance, but these deep stories about flawed characters who may seem like they have everything the world could offer, but they never have happiness. She takes these characters on these journeys to find themselves, and they also always end up finding a partner to weather the storm we call life with them. There was something about that that gave me some hope and lightness to combat my general teenage angst. I quickly read her backlog, and she became one of my favorite authors.
Flash forward to me scrolling along absently and seeing that Phillips has a new book coming out, and it's set in the Chicago Stars universe. Obviously, I ran to request an ARC and I am so incredibly happy that I got one.
Dancy's story felt like a love letter to women who have "Everything" but still feel alone. She was rich, famous, married to a star, and still couldn't find happiness. After several more losses, and being ,shot down, she runs to the only person she knows expects nothing from her. Clint Garrett, her high school ex-boyfriend with a reason to hold a grudge but who still has a heart of gold. Clint, who is hiding out at his lakehouse to get his head in the right space to start the football season, who has several problems of his own that he doesn't know how to cope with either, but who's kindness and general care for other people have him offering to let her stay for a week - not a day longer than that though,
Over the course of the week, a stray injured dog, a kindergarten teacher in a sticky situation, an ambitious ex-husband, and much much more bring Dancy and Clint closer together than they both ever planned on being again. Trips down memory lane, tipping kayaks in a freezing cold lake, and a huge thunderstorm all conspire to bring Dancy and Clint right backs to where they should be - together.
Seeing the growth of these two characters, the way they worked things through and talked like adults, their banter and the shenanigans that kept happening made for such a fun read. Dancy's growth and her project at the end of the book made me cry. Clint had me swooning (who wouldn't, for a heart of gold, hot hunky football All Star quarterback). Watch (the dog) was a fun addition too. Overall I loved this book, these characters, and the story.
I also have to mention how much I love the little mystery twists Phillips adds to almost all of her stories. The tension you get from a couple vague chapters, which almost always comes to a head and is the climax for the characters finally coming together for good is such a fun way to bring the story full circle.
For anyone who already knows SEP's books, definitely pick this one up! And for anyone new here, I highly recommend you check out her backlog as well. Both the Chicago Stars universe and Wynette Texas have a special place in my heart.
Susan Elizabeth Phillips was one of the first romance authors I ever picked up a book from. I was lounging around my great-grandmother's house in my early teen years, bored out of my mind, when a book with a bright pink spine and a glitzy dress on the cover caught my eye. Glitter Baby was pretty much my introduction to this genre, and I can't be more thankful. Phillips doesn't write just romance, but these deep stories about flawed characters who may seem like they have everything the world could offer, but they never have happiness. She takes these characters on these journeys to find themselves, and they also always end up finding a partner to weather the storm we call life with them. There was something about that that gave me some hope and lightness to combat my general teenage angst. I quickly read her backlog, and she became one of my favorite authors.
Flash forward to me scrolling along absently and seeing that Phillips has a new book coming out, and it's set in the Chicago Stars universe. Obviously, I ran to request an ARC and I am so incredibly happy that I got one.
Dancy's story felt like a love letter to women who have "Everything" but still feel alone. She was rich, famous, married to a star, and still couldn't find happiness. After several more losses, and being ,shot down, she runs to the only person she knows expects nothing from her. Clint Garrett, her high school ex-boyfriend with a reason to hold a grudge but who still has a heart of gold. Clint, who is hiding out at his lakehouse to get his head in the right space to start the football season, who has several problems of his own that he doesn't know how to cope with either, but who's kindness and general care for other people have him offering to let her stay for a week - not a day longer than that though,
Over the course of the week, a stray injured dog, a kindergarten teacher in a sticky situation, an ambitious ex-husband, and much much more bring Dancy and Clint closer together than they both ever planned on being again. Trips down memory lane, tipping kayaks in a freezing cold lake, and a huge thunderstorm all conspire to bring Dancy and Clint right backs to where they should be - together.
Seeing the growth of these two characters, the way they worked things through and talked like adults, their banter and the shenanigans that kept happening made for such a fun read. Dancy's growth and her project at the end of the book made me cry. Clint had me swooning (who wouldn't, for a heart of gold, hot hunky football All Star quarterback). Watch (the dog) was a fun addition too. Overall I loved this book, these characters, and the story.
I also have to mention how much I love the little mystery twists Phillips adds to almost all of her stories. The tension you get from a couple vague chapters, which almost always comes to a head and is the climax for the characters finally coming together for good is such a fun way to bring the story full circle.
For anyone who already knows SEP's books, definitely pick this one up! And for anyone new here, I highly recommend you check out her backlog as well. Both the Chicago Stars universe and Wynette Texas have a special place in my heart.
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