Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book
Rate this book
Fake dating my ex-fiancée’s sister? What could possibly go wrong?

Quinn Sullivan is the one I’ve always wanted but could only have behind closed doors—and she’s definitely the last person I should be tangled up with now. She’s off limits, untouchable...and also happens to be my coach’s niece.

After one steamy night and a very bad idea, we’re suddenly fake dating. For appearances, we say. Totally under control.

Except nothing about Quinn has ever been under control. Not when she looks at me like that. Not when she kisses me like we’ve never ended. Not when pretending starts to feel a whole lot like the real thing.

This was supposed to be fake. No strings. No feelings.

But for once, I'm betting it all. Because this fake relationship? It's the realest thing l've ever felt.

300 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 2025

58 people are currently reading
385 people want to read

About the author

Lexi James

9 books214 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
146 (38%)
4 stars
161 (42%)
3 stars
59 (15%)
2 stars
11 (2%)
1 star
2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews
Profile Image for Ashley S..
70 reviews7 followers
May 17, 2025
ARC review.
Levi and Quinn always had a thing for each other but obstacles got in their way for years. Friends with benefits turn into fake dating turns into …. HEA
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Profile Image for Liz | Bookslizreads90 .
446 reviews120 followers
May 13, 2025
💋"𝕃𝕒𝕕𝕚𝕖𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕘𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕝𝕖𝕞𝕖𝕟, 𝕃𝕖𝕧𝕚 𝕚𝕤 𝔾𝕠𝕕’𝕤 𝕘𝕚𝕗𝕥 𝕥𝕠 𝕨𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕟. 𝔹𝕦𝕥 𝕟𝕠𝕥 𝕒𝕝𝕝 𝕨𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕟. 𝕁𝕦𝕤𝕥 𝕞𝕖."

Tropes-
Friends with benefits
Workplace romance
Forbidden
Sister's Ex
Fake dating
"It's always been you"
Found family

✨️ Thank you to Lexi and Luna Literary for this ARC for my honest review!
This was a fun, flirty, and drama filled ride. I love the drama that comes with a forbidden romance. This one, being her sister’s ex and the fact that they all worked together, added to all the juiciness. From the first chapter, I loved the banter between Levi and Quinn. Their spicy scenes were chef's kiss 💋. I loved the character growth of not only Quinn and Levi but also Ally. I hated her from the get-go and ended up loving how things were mended. Some of my favorite scenes were also with Levi's grandma. I loved her relationship with Quinn. They were so cute. This was overall a good time to read, and I definitely recommend it for anyone who loves a forbidden, spicy hockey romance! It was also under 300 pages, so it could easily be read in under a day!
Profile Image for Isabella Grace.
520 reviews37 followers
May 17, 2025
“𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐛𝐲 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤, 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬…𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐞.”

What a way to start a series!!! I am slightly terrified and excited to see the next MC’s that pop up because LEVI??? 😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨 That man right now is at the TOP OF THE LIST when it comes to Lexi James’ men.

This story had a little bit of everything and a whole lot of tension mixed with angst and a lot more spice. Sisters ex fiancé ? ✔️ former best friend turned FWB? ✔️ coach’s niece ? ✔️ forbidden ? ✔️ fake dating? ✔️ a lying c you next Tuesday that you want to drop kick? ✔️ oh! AND it’s a hockey romance ??? ✔️✔️✔️✔️ See…a little of everything 🤭🤭

Quinn is the ultimate FMC…sweet…caring…but also kind of a push over when it comes to her family. Who by the way sucks. It’s more of a , they manipulate her and she’s too nice to say no type thing. She’s always had a thing for her best friend , Levi….but when he gets engaged to her older sister, all thoughts of him in that way go out the window. Quinn’s sister is literally the worst human on the planet. I’d like to send her somewhere far away, never to return. The engagement doesn’t last because Ally is a trash bin of a human and cheats on Levi. But her lying and manipulation ruin his reputation with her family and break the friendship between Quinn and Levi.

Levi…this man is everything. He has loved Quinn since they were little…but, she was always the one he never thought he had a chance with. As far as he was concerned she was out of his league. So best friends it was. Until his engagement with Ally puts a wedge between them. After a while they find themselves in a FWB situation anytime their paths cross while traveling with the teams. But…now Levi is back in his hometown , playing for the same team Quinn is an Athletic trainer for. Make things better? Quinn’s uncle is Levi’s new coach. And he wants nothing more than Levi OFF his team and away from his nieces.

Quinn is not about to let that happen, especially when she knows Levi’s main goal for staying is to care for his ailing grandmother. So…she suggests they fake date to get her uncle to keep him around. But the minute they enter into the agreement, things are FAR from fake. Levi has been down bad for Quinn since they were kids. And since they started casually hooking up? He’s had no one and wanted no one BUT HER. The sneaking around, the tension…it’s HOT! These two know each other and the others bodies better than anyone. And before you know it, real feelings come to the surface again and this time Levi has no intentions of letting his girl go.

Ally comes in to try and ruin things because she sucks. But eventually things get squared away. I WISH…we could have set her on fire??? 👀👀 Quinn was WAYYYYY TO FORGIVING of the bs that Ally put her and Levi through. I needed more grovelling. More apology. One would never be enough. Actually I don’t know that anything Ally did or said could be enough. But I would have respected her more if I saw her try.

Regardless of that dumpster fire, this book was amazing. I love Levi. I love Levi and Quinn together. I can’t wait to see what the rest of this series holds. 💙

🏒Hockey Romance
🩼Friends with Benefits
🏒Workplace Romance
🩼Forbidden
🏒Sisters Ex Fiancé
🩼Fake Dating
🏒”It’s Always Been You”
🩼Found Family
🏒Hockey Player x Athletic Trainer
🩼Toxic Family
🏒SPICE
🩼Dual POV
🏒HEA
Profile Image for Gracie.
68 reviews9 followers
May 8, 2025
ARC Review 🏒

•Friends with Benefits
•Hockey Player x Athletic Trainer
•Sister's Ex Fiancé
•Fake Dating
•”It was always you"
•Found Family
•Forbidden Romance

•BLURB•
Fake dating my ex-fiancé’s sister? What could possibly go wrong? Quinn Sullivan is the one I’ve always wanted but could only have behind closed doors— and definitely the last person I should be tangled up with now. She’s off-limits, untouchable... and also happens to be my coach’s niece. After one steamy night and a very bad idea, we’re suddenly fake dating. For appearances, we say. Totally under control. Except nothing about Quinn has ever been under control. Not when she looks at me like that. Not when she kisses me like we’ve never ended. Not when pretending starts to feel a whole lot like the real thing.
This was supposed to be fake. No strings. No feelings.

But for once, I'm betting it all. Because this fake thing? It's the realest I've ever felt.

Quinn and Levi discuss fake-dating as a win-win situation after eavesdropping on a private conversation her boss/his coach. Levi is also used to be engaged to Quinn’s sister Ally, who is a real piece of work/ultimate mean girl. I enjoyed reading the mindset changes on both ends when it went from fake dating to the thoughts of real feelings and emotions. I loved how Quinn was there for Levi’s nana during a time of distress. Warmed my soul!

There was a little miscommunication/naivety with the FMC but it did not take away from my overall feeling of the book. The banter and compatibility between the two is unmatched! The possibility of getting caught hot & heavy on more than one occasion added to the spice hype! I would definitely recommend this book 🤍

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 🌶️🌶️

Thank you Lexi & lunaliterarymanagement for the opportunity to read this as an ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Profile Image for Lindsay (LindsayTurnsThePage).
183 reviews6 followers
May 21, 2025
What starts as a no-strings-attached, mutually beneficial setup between Levi and Quinn quickly spirals into an emotionally charged, chemistry-filled rollercoaster—with just the right amount of spice 🌶️ and heart. This is a swoony, slow-burn hockey romance filled with family drama, irresistible banter, and a supporting cast of teammates I’m already dying to see more of in future books.

Levi and Quinn aren’t just two people thrown together—they have history, and that adds so much depth to their connection. Watching their fake dating arrangement blur the lines into something very real was deliciously satisfying. From teasing moments on the ice to heart-to-hearts that tugged at my emotions, you can feel how meant to be they are. It’s not just chemistry—it’s compatibility, trust, and that undeniable “it was always you” energy 🥰

One thing that stood out was the perfect balance of romance and emotional stakes. Quinn’s connection to Levi isn’t just romantic—there’s family tension, personal growth, and a found-family dynamic that added richness to the story. And Levi? Total book boyfriend material. Broody but kind, strong but vulnerable. The way he sees Quinn? Ugh, my heart 💓

This was my first Lexi James book, and I can say it won’t be my last. Her writing is heartfelt and funny, and she totally nailed the balance between the emotion tension and spicy scenes.

Read if you love:
👩🏼‍🤝‍👨🏻 Friends with Benefits that turn real
🏒 Hockey Player x Athletic Trainer dynamics
❣️ Second chances with a twist: Sister’s Ex Fiancé 👀
📚 Fake Dating that spirals into “forever”
🥰 The swoon-worthy “It was always you” moment
🏡 Found family and strong team camaraderie

If you're looking for a new hockey team of book boyfriends that will steal your heart, the Nashville Firebirds are off to a great start. 🏒💘 Thank you so much to Lexi James and Luna Literary PR for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Bree.
496 reviews5 followers
May 22, 2025
Lexi James brings the heat with Levi & Quinn. The two have so much history & chemistry. I loved how much Levi loved his grandma and how much he did for her - her struggles with Alzheimer's broke my heart. Quinn is a badass, she worked her butt off for her degree despite her sister and uncle not treating her fairly. I loved how Levi & Quinn would pretend that they weren't going to get together, the two of them giving each other attitude before falling into bed together - it was fun to read. I liked how comfortable they were with each other in bed and how they were able to give each other exactly what the other needed.

My biggest issue with this was how insufferable Quinn's sister is. I am all for bad sibling relationships, but she was the WORST like no one would actually put up with that much shit from someone just because they are related. It also made no sense that Levi let people think he cheated on Quinn's sister instead of just being honest that he was cheated on. I think the book would have been more fun if it had leaned into the forbidden aspect of sleeping with your sisters ex, instead it is so easy to be cool with it due to how much the sister sucked. I also thought they forgave her & the uncle way too easily at the end.
Profile Image for Likebeyondbooks .
83 reviews26 followers
June 1, 2025
Falling hard

I liked the fact that they always had a thing for each other and the surprise of where they stood with each other from the beginning. As always you know I love and over protective MMC!
Profile Image for Ashley.
315 reviews90 followers
May 19, 2025
Tropes:
Pro Hockey
Hockey Player X Athletic trainer
Forbidden
Ex fiance's Sister
Coach's daughter
Fake Dating
'its always been you'
Forced Proximity

4⭐
2.5🌶️

First book in Lexi's newest series the Nashville Firebirds....and Lexi's books never disappoint.

Quinn & Levi were everything and I truly loved their banter so much. The forbidden aspect was amazing with the coach's daughter, trainer, and ex fiance's sister was everything. I love the first of a new series & I am so excited to start digging into these new characters we've met throughout this read.

Thank you Luna & Lexi for the eARC in exchange for an honest review
Profile Image for Brooke.
1,014 reviews50 followers
June 10, 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶���🌶️.75

🏒 Coach's Daughter
💙 Ex-Fiance's Sister
🏒 Hockey Player x Athletic Trainer
💖 It's Always Been You
💙 Fake Dating
🏒 Forbidden
💙 Pro Hockey Romance
🏒 Forced Proximity


Lexi James has done it again folks! I fell in love with Lexi and her writing from Delayed Penalty. Levi really gave me all the leg kicking and squealing from excitement 🥰 that I didn’t know I needed. Lexi has such great talent and I will gladly EAT UP anything she feeds me 😁.

Levi was has charm, he's witty and really brings that banter all the way home! Not only does that make me love him even more but also his compassion ans the love he holds for Quinn! He legit gave me all the feels and I was over here wishing I had me a Levi. (Sorry Husband, Hockey Hunks are some of my faves 🥰. Have you seen them stretch on the ice? C'mon how could you not love a limber man?)

Levi was such a lover boy who constantly showed his affection for Quinn. He wanted to make sure she knew how much he loved her and missed her when he was away. This man is GOALS! Men you better be taking notes 📝!!

Quinn was such a golden light wherever she went. She was the beautiful that you don't see as much anymore. I'm not talking about her beauty (although she was) I'm talking about that aura she has around her at all times. She was the light everywhere she went. People tend to flock to her because she is such a beautiful person inside and out. She had such a loving touching nature about her but also her confidence was mind blowing!

Even though Quinn had her dark moments, she always found a way to get some courage from Levi while he stood beside her. He showed his never ending love for her and it really showed through his actions and words!


🔥 Let's Talk About Sex Baby 🥵:
🌶️🌶️.75 /5

Thank you so much to Lexi James for the free copy 🫶🏻. All opinions are my own, honest and voluntary.
Profile Image for Natalyastyles.
139 reviews3 followers
May 17, 2025
Thank you so much Author Lexi James for giving me another amazing opportunity to read an ARC of your new upcoming Sports Romance Novel💙🏒💋🔥✨
“Levi”
The first Installment In The-
“Nashville Firebirds Book Series”
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️READ!!!!
AHHH screaming!!!💙🤩🤩✨My all time favorite Author Lexi James, has done it again wining my heart with this book!! & it quickly becoming a favorite read with her two main characters the way they held & gripped my full attention with their endearing interactions, undeniable hot chemistry, and the way their relationship continues to blossom throughout every page and chapter that was put in!!! Lexi James ability to write such amazing hockey/romance tales! & masterfully do it every-time will forever have me coming back for more and wishing it never ended🥹🤩✨

“Levi,” takes you on a trip of love & feet kicking back & forth moments with the two lovely main characters-
(💙🏒Levi Crosby & Quinn Sullivan🏒💙)
Who both go a wild experienced a of
Fake dating✨Secret forbidden love, friends with perks👀💋✨Hockey player x Athletic trainer🏒Found family!! And my absolute favorite “My heart's always belonged to you.” 🥹✨All together each and every trope has my heart completely truly making it a read you can’t forget and Lexi Jame doesn’t just write an excellent plot in her books but she does for her two beautiful main characters🥹✨

Levi Crosby💙✨my favorite hockey player!! He has such a special combination of compassion and charm and hot witty words!! that grabs your attention and makes you fall for him instantly💋✨and even more the way his heart aches for his lover when she's isn’t near and always pouring out his love and affection demonstrating his unwavering lovingsupport and beautiful care for her🥹💙✨

Quinn Sullivan💅✨my girlie her beautiful presence is illuminated by a golden light, instantly catching the eyes of those around her with an unmistakable confidence and loving touching nature! And all while continuously loving her lover boy Levi💋✨with endless love and adoration, and also while facing her darkest moments she always finds a way to draws courage from her beautiful lover who will forever stand beside her in every moment🥹💙✨
Profile Image for Ashley.
404 reviews26 followers
October 28, 2025
Spice: 3

Tropes:
sister's ex-fiance
friends with benefits
fake dating
family drama
dom/sub kink
workplace romance
forced proximity
hockey romance
Dual POV

I've decided I love hockey romances. It's true. There's something about the men in these books that are always aggressive in the sexiest way. Maybe because it's a sport they're actually allowed to fight in? I don't even care what the answer is, I just know I love them lol. Levi was a good hockey read for me! It was hooked from the beginning when FMC Quinn called her sister names in the first sentence lol.

Quinn has liked Levi since they were teens... until he started dating her heffer of a sister instead. A break up and years later, Quinn and Levi have found themselves in a "friends with benefits" situation. Only it could be possible the each like the other more than they're letting on. However, things are more complicated than just a sister in the way. They work together- Quinn is head trainer for the Firebirds NHL team and Levi is a player...... AND Quinn's uncle is head coach. Yeah it's messy, but honestly, I love a good mess.

I really enjoyed the banter in this book. Quinn and Levi both know how to get under the other's skin and it was sexy. There's also a lot to unpack with sibling relationships and family drama in this one. I think the story between the sisters was good too. You hate Ally but also, kinda hoping they reconcile too. I love how Levi wasn't afraid of his teammates knowing the truth of his relationship with Quinn and I never felt like he was trying to hide her. Also, Levi's relationship with his Nana was beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. I didn't expect that. Overall, I loved this group of hockey players and can't wait to read Cooper next!
Profile Image for dee.readssss.
184 reviews3 followers
May 13, 2025
Quinn is such a trip, and gave us so many absolutely relatable inner thoughts LOL My heart broke for her at the way she was treated by her own family. Don't get me started on her freaking sister because I have never wanted to reach into the pages of a book and throat punch someone as bad as I wanted to with her sister. Through almost the entire book I just kept thinking how I wished Quinn would punch her already, but I digress 😆

Levi; sweet, sweet Levi who just loved his Nana...and his woman. These two went on a journey from friends to almost in-laws, to secret frenemies to lovers and what a journey it was. They were spicy and sweet, and the bed of the truck scene...phew was that a good one!

Things got a little heavy (not in a bad way) with Nana and her Alzheimer's diagnosis, but I think it was handled beautifully. As someone who watched her own grandma battle the disease I watched her slowly fade away and it was so heartwarming to me how Levi stepped up for her. She was his number one fan, and he was hers and I absolutely adored their relationship and how Quinn came in and became someone he could lean on and trust.

I don't want to leave any spoilers so I will say that my one gripe is that I feel like certain things at the end were smoothed over way too easily and I felt like Quinn deserved way more for the way she had been treated for so long, but all in all I really enjoyed their story!

The teammates/friends were top tier, and I can't wait for the next one!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🤍 friends with benefits
🏒 hockey player x athletic trainer
🤍 sister’s ex fiancé
🏒 fake dating
🤍 it was always you
🏒 found family
🤍 forbidden
🏒 workplace romance
Profile Image for Chelsea Mansell.
295 reviews23 followers
May 8, 2025
Levi by Lexi James eARC Review 🏒💙

Alright, Lexi came to play with this first book in her new series. I straight up devoured this book, literally couldn’t put it down.

I am completely in love with Levi and the spice in this book…. My god 😮‍💨😮‍💨 there are a few scenes that will definitely live rent free in my head. Levi, I LOVE him and his filthy mouth is everything 😮‍💨

Lexi’s writing is seriously such a good time. The banter between Levi and Quinn is so good. Once I started the book I absolutely could not put it down. It catches your attention right away and I was completely sucked in. I adored the back and forth between Levi & Quinn and their hate/love relationship.

Highly recommend adding this one to your TBR and I cannot wait for the rest of this series!

What to expect:

🤍 friends with benefits
🏒 hockey player x athletic trainer
🤍 sister’s ex fiancé
🏒 fake dating
🤍 it was always you
🏒 found family
🤍 forbidden

Thank you so much Lexi and Luna Literary for the opportunity to read and review this as an ARC for my honest opinion and review!

#hockeyromance #hockeybooks #lexijames #nashvillefirebirds #hockeybookrecommendations #friendswithbenefits #fakedating #bookswithspice #romancereaders #foundfamily #itwasalwaysyou #forbiddenromance
Profile Image for Dominique.
481 reviews38 followers
May 18, 2025
I have been so excited for this book and this new series!
Once I read the blurb of this book I knew I had to read it.
I loved Levi. Him and Quinn’s relationship was great!
I would have loved to see flashbacks of when and how they first got together! Since they were hook up buddies for a few years I wish I saw that part of their relationship ship.
Levi and Quinn both being so kinky was great, the spicy scenes were spot on.
Levi was so sweet to his grandma.
I am so happy that they got their HEA.

A couple of things didn’t work for me. One was Ally. I couldn’t get over how quickly Quinn forgave her? Like all of the things Ally did to her, for years!! Honestly Quinn is a better person than me because I would never speak to Ally again. I also hated that Levi even proposed to her. It just didn’t make sense to me especially if he loved Quinn as much as he did. Also I was confused on the timing of Ally and Levi’s relationship, to me it seemed like they were together for years, and were they their first and only relationship? I don’t know. Ally doesn’t really interest me but I think the next book is about her so we’ll see!

Rating ⭐️: 4/5
Spice 🌶️: 3/5
Dual POV

🏒 Sports romance
🩵 Friends with benefits
🏒 Workplace romance
🩵 Fake dating
🏒 “It’s always been you”
🩵 Found family
🏒 Sisters ex

Thank you so much to Lexi and Luna Literary for the arc!
Profile Image for Briana.
150 reviews6 followers
September 18, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
3 🌶️

First off, this was such a good, quick read. Levi and Quinn were fantastic together—and wow, they were so filthy. I loved that they were both completely clueless about how much they loved each other from the start. The added kinks in their relationship were a fun touch that really worked.

Fake dating can be hit or miss for me, but it was written really well here. And I have to mention Levi’s nana—she was such a perfect addition and added a heartwarming layer to the story.

On the other hand, Quinn’s sister and uncle had me frustrated for most of the book. I didn’t expect their issues to be resolved so neatly, but I was glad they eventually came to their senses.

And the best part? We get a sneak peek into the next book—her sister becomes the nanny for goalie and single dad Cooper. I can already tell it’s going to be a fun ride!

Overall, this was a great start to the series, and I’m excited to see what’s next.

🔥 Spicy chapters
7
14
17
19
22
28
30
Profile Image for Sarina Vega.
235 reviews15 followers
May 20, 2025
“Quinn laughed at my boundaries and broke them down. Brick by brick, she tore down my walls, the beautiful destruction massing around her as she claimed her throne.”

Lexi welcomed us to Nashville with open arms and embraced us with a warm, comforting hug , the kind that makes you want to stay. Levi is now my top read by Lexi James!

Levi and Quinn have had a mutual pining since they were young. They were best friends, and somewhere along the way, he stood in the friend-zone. So instead, Levi got engaged to Quinn’s sister. Lies caused the engagement to be called off. Their mutual pining turned into a secret friends-with-benefits hookup. That is, until Quinn offered him a fake relationship proposal to save Levi from being traded. No strings or feelings attached is what they agreed to. Well, that didn’t seem to happen.

Lexi totally outdid herself with this book! If she writes it, I’m reading it!
Once you start this story, you won’t be able to stop. Levi was always uplifting and supporting Quinn. They just got each other in a way no one else was able to. I seriously can’t get enough of them. Levi is the perfect book boyfriend, and he’s hot AF. The chemistry between them was scorching. You seriously need to read this. If Lexi kicked the series off like this. Damnnn… I can’t wait for the rest.

Tropes: hockey, workplace, athletic trainer, fake dating, forbidden, friends with benefits, found family, It Was Always You.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, LEXI & LUNA LIT FOR THE ARC
Profile Image for Paige (wingsandsmut).
939 reviews90 followers
May 7, 2025
Is anyone surprised that I ate up yet another hockey romance?!! LOL But honestly I loved finally getting Levi’s story after we met him and Quinn in Penalty Kill! I want my very own Levi for how much he truly believes in Quinn and isn’t afraid to stand up and defend her honor! Instant swoon!! And then the tension between them…so freaking thick and I love their chemistry! Also I cannot wait to see where this series takes us and I am excited!

What to expect:
🤍 friends with benefits
🏒 hockey player x athletic trainer
🤍 sister’s ex fiancé
🏒 fake dating
🤍 it was always you
🏒 found family
🤍 forbidden

Thank you so much to Lexi James and Luna Literary Management for letting me read/review an ARC of this book!
Profile Image for Raquel Alves.
41 reviews3 followers
May 22, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

MMC - Levi Crosby
FMC - Quinn Sullivan

Levi is the first book of Lexi James’s new series, The Nashville Firebirds.
Quinn is Levi’s ex-fiancé younger sister, the niece of the team’s coach and the team’s head athletic trainer for the team.
Levi is the hockey player that does not want to be traded to be close to his nana.
Levi and Quinn have known each other for years and to help each other with the team’s coach, Quinn proposes a fake relationship.
Levi was one of most awaited books for me this year and Lexi, as always, you did not disappoint. Levi went above and beyond all my expectations. What a wholesome and inspiring book.
And let me tell you, the banter and spice between these two … WWWOOOWWW!!!!! 😏🥵
So ready for the continuation of this series
Profile Image for Maggie.
347 reviews11 followers
May 10, 2025
officially my favorite lexi book!! maybe i’m delusional but her writing felt different (better imo) in this than it did in the empire state series and i really liked it!

i liked that we originally got to meet quinn & levi in penalty kill; i felt more invested in & excited for their story! i really enjoyed their dynamic and banter!! levi was truly an angel and was there/stood up for quinn when she felt like she didn’t have anyone in her corner. they made a great couple and i’m so glad they got their hea <3

i always love a new series and i’m excited to see how the rest of it plays out!

thank you luna literary for the arc!!
Profile Image for Taylor the.bookish.doodles.
286 reviews25 followers
May 16, 2025
This book was a wonderful way to start off a new series. There’s just something about Levi and Quinn’s story that captures your heart. There are so many reasons why they shouldn’t be together but it didn’t stop them. I love a good fake dating book and Lexi DELIVERED. The tension between these two was *chefs kiss*. Also, the spice in this one was incredible and I loved every single second of it.

Thank you so much to Lexi James and Luna Literary for the ARC.
Profile Image for Katey (currentbookstack) Baiocco.
321 reviews13 followers
May 18, 2025
Lexi James writes such fun hockey, every book will have you kicking your feet and finishing in one seating. Levi is book one of the Nashville Firebirds series and I already can tell I’m going to be obsessed. We got a quick (incredibly hot) intro to Levi and Quinn in Penalty Kill, and I think I speak for all of us when I say we’ve been foaming at the mouth since. Quinn has spent her life holding herself to a standard she thinks will make her family proud. Her biggest streak of rebellion? Keeping in touch with her sisters ex. When her uncle moves them back to Nashville and puts Levis position on the team in jeopardy Quinn tells the only lie she thinks will save him, that they’re dating. These two and this new group of friends have me so excited for what’s to come. I loved the found family Lexi created in the Empire Hockey series and I’m shocked to say this has potential to compete with them!
Profile Image for DG ✨.
10 reviews6 followers
May 21, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
Overall I enjoyed this book. It is a spicy hockey romance with a HEA. The first half of this book had me obsessed, the characters were likable and Levi’s relationship with his Grandma is so cute. The second half had a little more miscommunication/misunderstands than I would prefer but it ended really well. It was a great first book of a series, I look forward to the next one!
Profile Image for Amber Grube.
326 reviews4 followers
May 29, 2025
I don't think I'll ever get sick of hockey romances or dual POV. I enjoyed Levi and Quinn from the beginning. This was a quick easy read that I finished in a day. I can see the set up for future books in this series and I can't wait.

Thank you Lexi for an ARC!
Profile Image for madmanreads.
457 reviews115 followers
May 19, 2025
5 ⭐️ | 2.5 🌶️

Hockey player who plays bingo with his nana? ✅
Thinks of thoughtful dates? ✅
💦 in his 👖 because his girl is so hot? ✅

I absolutely loved this first book in the Nashville Firebirds, and I’m so excited to see where the rest of the series will take us 😍.

💙 Hockey Player X Athletic Trainer
🏒 Forbidden
💙 Sister’s Ex Fiancée
🏒 Coach’s niece
💙 “it’s always been you”
🏒 Fake Dating
💙 Friends with benefits

I absolutely ATE THIS BOOK UP! From the banter between Levi and Quinn, to the emotional connection he has with his nana, and the struggles Quinn had within her family dynamic.

This book did such a good job of setting up for the series and introducing the setting and possible MMCs/FMCs and I am so excited to continue with the series.

And the SPICE??? Was SPICIN! Obviously there’s an iconic 💦 in the 👖 moment, some truck bed spice, and a couple times where they may or may not get caught 🫣.

If you love hockey romance, good banter and found family vibes, I highly recommend Levi!

Thank you so much to Lexi, for the opportunity to Beta & ARC read Levi! It has been such an honor and a fun ride. I love you dearly 🥹🫶🏻.
Profile Image for Angela.
79 reviews1 follower
May 14, 2025
We first met Levi and Quinn in Penalty Kill the last book in the Empire State Hockey Series when Miles and Stella were in Nashville setting up her second bakery. They helped Miles and Stella stop fighting their feelings for each other. I loved that series and recommend reading it!

The Nashville Firebirds is the newest series and the first book doesn't disappoint. Levi and Quinn were the perfect couple to start the series. They have a complicated history made worse by lies and deceit from someone they both loved and trusted. They both have complex family dynamics and are flawed making them more relatable. Main characters that seem perfect are a turn-off for me and Lexi's characters always suck me into their lives.

Levi is a hotshot Hockey player determined to stay in Nashville to look after his ailing grandmother who raised him after his parents abandoned him. His career was going great but it was threatened by a new head coach who hated him because of his ex-fiancèe's deceit. His need to stay in Nashville led him to accepting a fake relationship with his previous best friend and the woman he secretly loved for years. This woman also happened to be his bed buddy when they were in the same location for the past few years.

Quinn has been infatuated and in love with Levi since she met him but due to her sister's jealousy and betrayal she was forced to watch them become engaged. The engagement didn't last because of her sister's cheating but the damage to Levi and Quinn's friendship had lasting effects. Quinn's sister, Ally, did everything in her power to destroy Quinn's personal and professional lives through her lies and her ability to make people believe them. When Ally's lies threatened Levi's ability to stay in Nashville, Quinn knew she had to protect the man she still loved and put herself in the line of fire even more choosing Levi over her family.

When Levi and Quinn were together they were explosive and they knew each other’s kinks and they were extremely compatible in bed. After they agreed to a fake relationship and living together they originally decided to keep things platonic to avoid more mess especially since they would be working together. As time went by the relationship started to feel less fake and their need for each other grew until they gave in. They began choosing each other and protecting each other more and more making those around them question things they previously thought true. Their friends could see the love before they admitted it to each other.

After an intense argument with their boss, the head coach who also happened to be Quinn's uncle, Quinn knew she could no longer live with her uncle believing the lies her sister had spewed over the years and put her own needs and her love for Levi first. This also resulted in her quitting her dream job, the one she worked so hard to get her degree for and worked to gain the respect of the players under her care. Faced with the risk of losing his niece, her Uncle finally confronted Ally and demanded the truth. It was a bitter pill to swallow learning how his actions hurt both Levi and Quinn and how her was so easily manipulated by a compulsive liar. Both the coach and Ally were determined to make amends but in doing so Ally made even more of a mess for Quinn because of the lack of trust and previous hurts.

In the end amends were made and Levi and Quinn found their happiness together and Ally had to pay her dues to make things right with the team and her family.

This book has the drama, the laughs, and the spiciness to keep you riveted from the first page until the last. I loved it and cannot wait to read the next installment.

I had the pleasure of meeting Lexi James at the Sports Romance Con 2025 and I am so grateful to have been chosen for an ARC. I am voluntarily giving my review. Thank you so much Lexi and Luna Literary for the opportunity!
Profile Image for Sarah.
226 reviews2 followers
May 15, 2025
ARC REVIEW:

The Nashville Firebirds is the newest series by Lexi James and it spins off from Empire State Hockey and I love interconnected series. Levi is friends with Miles and Stella from Penalty Kill.

First things first, this book is spicy and I definitely wasn't expecting Levi and Quinn to have started off as friends turned to forbidden friends with benefits, so that was surprising. I liked the pacing of this book, and we got into the plot pretty quickly.

Quinn is the athletic trainer for the Nashville Firebirds and she is known to be a self-sufficient hard worker. She has had a thing for Levi since they were young and was manipulated by her jealous older sister Ally to think that Levi didn't like her—leading her sister up to be engaged to Levi. Levi's relationship with his Nana hit closer to home that I realized and I thought about my own grandparents a lot while reading this book.

Levi is a hockey player for the Nashville Firebirds and he refuses to play anywhere else because he is the caretaker to his Nana who is suffering from Alzheimer's. Levi has ALSO had a thing for Quinn, but Ally got in the way... No surprise here. Ally ended up cheating on Levi, put painted him to be the bad guy so that he would be on the bad side of her and Quinn's Uncle, Ronnie (who is also Levi's coach).

Quinn finds out that her uncle would LOVE to trade Levi to another team so she devises a plan to fake date him so that her uncle won't trade him out of love for her. This is considered the taboo part because Levi is her sister's ex-fiance that she's been hooking up with for the past couple years. Of course, Quinn and Levi have sexual chemistry and they are both secretly hoping that this fake dating turns into real dating.

Quinn's sister Ally was really a thorn in everyone's side—including mine. I like to say that it's good when the author can create a character so hatable, but I personally don't think Ally could be redeemed with how horrible she was to Quinn. If that was my sister—we'd be estranged. I also hate the way her Uncle Ronnie treated her and babied Ally. Yes, there was a sob story, but I still couldn't stand her.

I didn't hate the book, but I didn't completely love it either. I enjoyed that the pacing of the book moved quickly and that all conflicts (besides Ally) were resolved fairly quickly. There was something about the writing that threw me off—it seemed a little juvenile and a little cheesy this time around compared to what I've read in the my last ARC from this author. It won't deter me from any of Lexi's books because I definitely still need to read Empire State Hockey, and I'm interested to see how Ally changes as she is going to be the FMC in the next book, Cooper.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Lailah.
67 reviews3 followers
May 26, 2025
This will have been the third book I’ve arc read for Lexi and while I loved the previous two chances, the fact that I’m getting to start arc reading a brand new series from her is so exciting!
We meet Levi and Quinn within Penalty Kill (book 6 of the Empire State Hockey series). Levi is actually friends with Miles so seeing the Lexi James universe expand and develop is so fun and fascinating.

Levi is a hockey player on the Nashville Firebirds hockey team, his only family left is his Grandmother and his ex just so happens to be his best friend Quinn’s older sister. The history between Levi and Quinn is one of complications, a jealous sister and minor miscommunication. Levi has always liked Quinn but her sister convinced him she didn’t like him that way, so after she has done this she makes it her plan to date him, they went as far as getting engaged. But that didn’t last because Ally(Quinn’s sister) had cheated on him. Now a few years down the road Levi and Quinn end up finding out they are very compatible in bed and become fwb.

Levi (the mmc) has problems losing people because of his parents and with his grandmother having Alzheimer’s disease that fear is understandable. Although he has that fear and a need of control; Hockey is his life, it helps him to be able to support his grandmother and the sport is something he loves so being able to play alongside people that have become his friends is important to him. He’s fighting these feelings for Quinn because he just would rather have her in his life than risk the possibility of losing her, and thinking because he was engaged to her sister means Quinn is suddenly off limits. Quinn also has always had feelings toward Levi, but she believed he wouldn’t see her that way because she was nothing like her sister and was happy just getting something from him even if it was just fwb.

Quinn (the fmc) has some family troubles too, parents that aren’t around much at all, a sister who is hellbent on making her miserable and an uncle who treats her so differently to her sister because of lies her sister told him. All she has worked for up until this point of her life is for the job she is finally in. Quinn is determined, strong, emotional yet empathetic and caring.

Levi and Quinn decide to fake date, it would benefit both by showing that Quinn can commit to something (due to lies from her sister to her uncle) and would stop Levi getting traded because their uncle is the new coach and dislikes him because Ally (Quinn’s sister) said that he cheated on her. While fake dating Quinn suggests stopping their fwb arrangement to avoid things getting messy when really she believes it will feel too real for something she can never have. I felt so upset that the miscommunication between Levi and Quinn was because of an outside party.

Getting to see how protective he is when it comes to Quinn and her family was just adorable and I loved that she got that because she deserved it.
Profile Image for Gina Blades.
258 reviews10 followers
May 23, 2025
Holy hotness hockey romance

4⭐️ 3-3.5🌶️ This is book 1 in the new Nashville Firebirds hockey 🏒 romance series. Lexi did not mess around (pun intended) with this new series. The spice in this book…my god.

Levi and Quinn were best friends (along with Quinn’s sister, Ally) until Quinn was in love with Levi but before she could tell him, Ally got jealous and told Levi that Quinn wasn’t interested. Fast forward a few years and Levi has since been engaged (but not anymore) to Ally, and now Levi & Quinn have a friends with benefits arrangement. Quinn thinks/assumes Levi has girls in every city he plays in but he finally admits it’s just her that he calls. They agree to fake date/live together for the season to prove to her uncle (his coach and her boss) that she is committed to her job. Meanwhile, none of their feelings are fake. He’s always been gone for her, and she thought she wasn’t enough/good enough & he’d never love her, so they both have taken what they could get. He calls her ‘Angel’. He remembers the way she likes her bacon. He stands up for her to her family when they are disrespectful to her. ❤️

Their chemistry is off the charts, and Levi’s filthy mouth is Quinn’s krytonite (mine, too). She likes to submit, and he likes to be in charge, so they are perfect for each other. We get praise. ✔️ We get degradation. ✔️ We get hand necklace. ✔️ We get trust and a safe word. ✔️ 😮‍💨

‘I may be his "girlfriend," but I'll never have his heart, and that's hard for me to swallow. Not when all I've ever wanted was a chance to be his.’

‘Even just hanging out, the touches have become more common-casual touches here and there, little kisses on my forehead or in my hair. It's all made me feel so close to him that if this is fake, I don't want to know.’

‘My Quinn. My girl. My love. Mine.’

‘This woman. The one who's been forbidden to me for years; the same woman I thought never wanted me.’

“Q, you're going to destroy me.”
"Maybe I'm not destroying you. Maybe I'm just shining the light on you like you've deserved your entire life."

‘I've tried to shove my feelings down, tried to dull them as much as I could, but I can't anymore.’

Read this if you like:
*Hockey romance
*Pro hockey player X athletic trainer
*Fake dating
*Friends with benefits
*Forbidden romance
*Banter
*Friends to lovers
*Hate to love
*’It was always you’
*Sister’s ex fiancé
*Found family
*Alzheimer’s rep

I’m excited to read Cooper & Ally’s story in book 2 this Fall.
Profile Image for Kristina Andrews.
152 reviews12 followers
May 7, 2025
Welcome to Nashville babbyyy! I have been dying for Levi and Quinn since we last saw them in Miles and Stella’s book! I have been obsessed with Levi since then and let me tell youuu he was absolute perfection!! Ahhh I love them so dang hard!

Levi. My sweet sweet boy. This man has been pining for Quinn since they were kids. They were friends first and he got “friend-zoned” then he started dating her sister the engaged to said sister. This man has had it rough. But when Quinn proposes a way to get him not traded by fake dating he takes the opportunity to become more than friends with her. Levi and Quinn always had a friends with benefits but dang when these two confess their love my heart melted for them!

Quinn. My confident badass! This girl has been in love with Levi since they were preteens. Just for her evil twin sister to swoop in and steal Levi just because she could. (Did I mention that I hate the twin sister and hope she steps on a lego barefoot) Quinn did it all went to school got the career she wanted but not the boy. But when she learns her uncle is coaching Levi’s team she has to make a way he isn’t traded. Which leads them to fake date and of course confess their feelings and fall in love! Omg I love them so much!

Levi and Quinn have some kink and man oh man did I love every second of it! Hand necklaces..check. Degradation..check. Praise..check! Lexi did such a good job of talking about safe words being oh so important. I loved it. I will say there is a scene with the athletic tape being used on the athletic trainer and that’s all I will say 🤭🤭 but dang these two are so yummy! 😋

I will say I completely loved the plot of this one and all the family drama! I couldn’t put it down! I literally couldn’t wait until they realized they’ve been pining for each other since middle school! Ahh I loved it!

I am so dang excited for Cooper and Ally’s book! Single Dad x Nanny!? Sign me up babbyyyy! 😍

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

🏒 Pro Hockey Player x Athletic Trainer
💙 Fake Dating
🏒 Sister’s Ex Fiancé
💙 Forbidden Relationship
🏒 Friends with Benefits
💙 Found Family
🏒 It Was Always You
💙 Praise K!nk

Thank you so dang much to Lexi and Luna PR for this opportunity to arc read!! I can’t wait for the next one! 🫶🏼
Profile Image for Aimee Collier.
24 reviews
May 15, 2025
POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD
RATING ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you Luna Literary and Lexi James for selecting me for this Arc review. I am writing this review completely unbiased. This was a really fun and flirty read I really enjoyed seeing Quinn and Levi's relationship develop throughout the book. You could just tell from the start that they were never meant to be just be a booty call. The banter alone between the pair was just spot on and you could tell they were on their own level.

I really felt for Quinn the amount of emotional abuse she was suffering from her family and to still find passion in her job and wanting to find ways to help her get through the criticism she faced. I feel Levi was Quinn's saving grace although she stood up for herself in the end and mustered that energy I think she needed to see someone aka our heart throb Levi in her corner ❤️.

That chemistry between them was electric and hard to ignore and that spice certainly hit when it hit 🌶️! I loved that before they even had started their arrangement that they had a lot of trust in eachother. The fact they both felt safe to explore their desires together with no judgement and the perfect give and take. The miscommunications were damn right infuriating but we knew we would get the happy ever after in the end 👩‍❤️‍👨.

Overall I throughly enjoyed this fake dating but are they really fake couple. I love a bit of hockey romance so it's always a yes read for me. But feel as though the end was a little bit fast paced for me. I personally needed to see more responsibility taken by Ally and her
Uncle the grovelling did not quite hit for me compared to the years of abuse Quinn suffered. However I can see that possibly in Ally and Coopers book more light will be shed on Ally and hopefully she makes it up to Quinn and Levi. Also can we take a minute to appreciate Nanna and her sass although there were sensitive themes with her character I hope she keeps showing people who's boss😎. This was a very easy going read one I couldn't put down and can easily be read in a day if your a speed reader. I highly recommend for Anyone who loves the will they won't they trope.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.