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The Kings #2
Single Dad Dilemma
10 hours, 17 minutes
A gruff, divorced NFL coach meets his match in an equally grumpy, commitment-phobic neighbor in this warm-hearted and witty romance about family, second chances, and overcoming the past.
You’d think it was the perfect living next door to the grumpy single dad who needs my help with his troublemaking kids—just until football season is over. Swoony stuff, right?
You know who’s not swooning? Me.
I’m as grumpy as he is, and I’m fairly certain that for NFL Coach Barrett King, it was hate at first sight. It’s nothing I’ll lose sleep over because 1) the feeling is mutual, and 2) I’m not a people person. Just me and my dog, Larry, moving around when the mood strikes, is what I prefer.
Except I start getting attached. First to the kids. Then to their father. I don’t know why. He’s overbearing. His attempts at flirting are just growls and glares. But if I ever see that man smile…well, I might tear all his clothes off.
I don’t do forever. And Barrett—serious, thoughtful, sexier than he has any right to be—doesn’t do short term. We’re headed straight for disaster.
But if we're willing to take a risk, maybe this story won't end in heartbreak. Maybe what started as the perfect setup for two imperfect people just might end in love.
A gruff, divorced NFL coach meets his match in an equally grumpy, commitment-phobic neighbor in this warm-hearted and witty romance about family, second chances, and overcoming the past.
You’d think it was the perfect living next door to the grumpy single dad who needs my help with his troublemaking kids—just until football season is over. Swoony stuff, right?
You know who’s not swooning? Me.
I’m as grumpy as he is, and I’m fairly certain that for NFL Coach Barrett King, it was hate at first sight. It’s nothing I’ll lose sleep over because 1) the feeling is mutual, and 2) I’m not a people person. Just me and my dog, Larry, moving around when the mood strikes, is what I prefer.
Except I start getting attached. First to the kids. Then to their father. I don’t know why. He’s overbearing. His attempts at flirting are just growls and glares. But if I ever see that man smile…well, I might tear all his clothes off.
I don’t do forever. And Barrett—serious, thoughtful, sexier than he has any right to be—doesn’t do short term. We’re headed straight for disaster.
But if we're willing to take a risk, maybe this story won't end in heartbreak. Maybe what started as the perfect setup for two imperfect people just might end in love.
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First published November 18, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 558 reviews
December 14, 2025
Grumpy/Grumpy + slow burn sports romance with no sports = perfect.
I even enjoyed the single dad romance when it’s one of my least favourite tropes, but this dad was truly competent and involved and not portrayed as a useless man.
And as usual Karla gives us the feels so hard I almost squeezed out a tear, my cold black heart grew three sizes.
I even enjoyed the single dad romance when it’s one of my least favourite tropes, but this dad was truly competent and involved and not portrayed as a useless man.
And as usual Karla gives us the feels so hard I almost squeezed out a tear, my cold black heart grew three sizes.
December 8, 2025
3.7 Stars
One Liner: Cute!
Grumpy and divorced NFL Coach Barrett King needs help to handle his troublemaking kids. The woman next door, Lily, and her dog Larry, are a good choice, except that she doesn’t do attachments and is not a people person.
However, sparks fly with the grumpy coach and his kids. Maybe two broken people would find a way to heal and have a future together?
The story comes in Lily and Barrett’s first-person POVs.
My Thoughts:
After enjoying the first book, I knew I had to read this one. The King twins are opposites, but have quite a few similarities too. This one starts a bit after the previous one ends (pre-epilogue) and is set in winter.
The stars of this book are the kids—Maggie and Bryce. They are such a treat and make the story really, really better. The side characters, though with limited space (MMC’s mom and dad), do their bit to add to the cozy vibe. Ditto for Larry the dog.
The winter descriptions are beautiful with snow and cold. Since it doesn’t snow where I live, I enjoy such settings more than other readers. There’s something magical about all that white fluff falling from the sky.
The main characters are easy to like. They are struggling in their own ways and do what they can to keep it together. And both know that the kids are a priority.
The romance is a slow-burn for 70% of the book or more. And then, it goes on a fast track (and with spice, 3.5ish). While it kind of suits the plot with built-up tension and everything, it won’t work for every reader. Especially since the first 50% is very slow (slower than book one).
Still, we get the required HEA and a super-detailed epilogue, which is my favorite kind. That said, the tone switches from showing to telling to include all the information. That’s because the book is already big enough (350+ pages) and spent a lot of time on the first half.
To summarize, Single Dad Dilemma is a cute, sweet, and heartwarming single dad romance. It is a good read if you don’t mind the irregular pacing.
Thank you, NetGalley and Montlake, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #SingleDadDilemma
***
TW:
One Liner: Cute!
Grumpy and divorced NFL Coach Barrett King needs help to handle his troublemaking kids. The woman next door, Lily, and her dog Larry, are a good choice, except that she doesn’t do attachments and is not a people person.
However, sparks fly with the grumpy coach and his kids. Maybe two broken people would find a way to heal and have a future together?
The story comes in Lily and Barrett’s first-person POVs.
My Thoughts:
After enjoying the first book, I knew I had to read this one. The King twins are opposites, but have quite a few similarities too. This one starts a bit after the previous one ends (pre-epilogue) and is set in winter.
The stars of this book are the kids—Maggie and Bryce. They are such a treat and make the story really, really better. The side characters, though with limited space (MMC’s mom and dad), do their bit to add to the cozy vibe. Ditto for Larry the dog.
The winter descriptions are beautiful with snow and cold. Since it doesn’t snow where I live, I enjoy such settings more than other readers. There’s something magical about all that white fluff falling from the sky.
The main characters are easy to like. They are struggling in their own ways and do what they can to keep it together. And both know that the kids are a priority.
The romance is a slow-burn for 70% of the book or more. And then, it goes on a fast track (and with spice, 3.5ish). While it kind of suits the plot with built-up tension and everything, it won’t work for every reader. Especially since the first 50% is very slow (slower than book one).
Still, we get the required HEA and a super-detailed epilogue, which is my favorite kind. That said, the tone switches from showing to telling to include all the information. That’s because the book is already big enough (350+ pages) and spent a lot of time on the first half.
To summarize, Single Dad Dilemma is a cute, sweet, and heartwarming single dad romance. It is a good read if you don’t mind the irregular pacing.
Thank you, NetGalley and Montlake, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #SingleDadDilemma
***
TW:
December 19, 2025
4.5 ⭐
Ngl, I didn't have much hope for this book because the single dad has become one of my least liked tropes. But right now, I'm really in the mood for a slow burn, and I know this author's books usually deliver just that. And I'm so glad I stumbled into this because it was exactly what I needed, and I absolutely loved the story! 🥹
I really loved the kids; Maggie and Bryce were just two of the sweetest little ones I've ever read about in books. The sibling bond they share and their connection with the MCs is just so lovely.
Barrett and Lily were pretty likable too! Even though their relationship started off a bit rocky and took some time to get better, I really enjoyed their scenes and the way they banter with each other. Don't get me started with the chemistry between them, it was definitely something else! They sure as heck try to ignore it, but man, you can feel the tension for sure. 🤭
I really liked Barrett's family and the players he's working with. Even though they didn't show up much in this story, their scenes were heartwarming nonetheless.
Like I said, I love the slow burn, but I just wish the ending hadn't felt so rushed. I’m totally okay with this being a bit longer to see the MCs as a couple, especially after they finally gave in to their attraction. Most of what they did was told in passing and was done off-page. I think it would've been better if their time as a couple had been stretched out more instead of being crammed into the last 10% of the book. I just loved them together and wanted to see them in a relationship, enjoying time with the kids too. But I guess, we can never have it all. Oh well... 🤷♀️
Overall, this book was such a heartwarming read! I definitely shed a few tears, especially when it came to Larry. 😭🥺 I just loved it! It's definitely made its way onto my list of favorite books this year.
Book info:
- Slowburn
- Age gap (??)
- Neighbors to lovers
- Nanny-ish/Babysitting
- Loss of loved ones (off and on page)
- No cheating, OM/OW, separation
- No V (h - said she had flings/ H - celibate since his ex-wife)
- HEA (2 yrs later ??, married and gave birth to twins)
Note:
- Separation. Before they even got in a relationship, Lily had already agreed to house-sit for six months in another state. She told Barrett about this, and thankfully this never led to any breakup or anything. Since she's a person who keeps her word, she still went ahead and did that job. This arrangement resulted in them having LDR, with sporadic meetings whenever Barrett had time to visit her.
Ngl, I didn't have much hope for this book because the single dad has become one of my least liked tropes. But right now, I'm really in the mood for a slow burn, and I know this author's books usually deliver just that. And I'm so glad I stumbled into this because it was exactly what I needed, and I absolutely loved the story! 🥹
I really loved the kids; Maggie and Bryce were just two of the sweetest little ones I've ever read about in books. The sibling bond they share and their connection with the MCs is just so lovely.
Barrett and Lily were pretty likable too! Even though their relationship started off a bit rocky and took some time to get better, I really enjoyed their scenes and the way they banter with each other. Don't get me started with the chemistry between them, it was definitely something else! They sure as heck try to ignore it, but man, you can feel the tension for sure. 🤭
I really liked Barrett's family and the players he's working with. Even though they didn't show up much in this story, their scenes were heartwarming nonetheless.
Like I said, I love the slow burn, but I just wish the ending hadn't felt so rushed. I’m totally okay with this being a bit longer to see the MCs as a couple, especially after they finally gave in to their attraction. Most of what they did was told in passing and was done off-page. I think it would've been better if their time as a couple had been stretched out more instead of being crammed into the last 10% of the book. I just loved them together and wanted to see them in a relationship, enjoying time with the kids too. But I guess, we can never have it all. Oh well... 🤷♀️
Overall, this book was such a heartwarming read! I definitely shed a few tears, especially when it came to Larry. 😭🥺 I just loved it! It's definitely made its way onto my list of favorite books this year.
Book info:
- Slowburn
- Age gap (??)
- Neighbors to lovers
- Nanny-ish/Babysitting
- Loss of loved ones (off and on page)
- No cheating, OM/OW, separation
- No V (h - said she had flings/ H - celibate since his ex-wife)
- HEA (2 yrs later ??, married and gave birth to twins)
Note:
- Separation. Before they even got in a relationship, Lily had already agreed to house-sit for six months in another state. She told Barrett about this, and thankfully this never led to any breakup or anything. Since she's a person who keeps her word, she still went ahead and did that job. This arrangement resulted in them having LDR, with sporadic meetings whenever Barrett had time to visit her.
November 20, 2025
NFL coach X his nanny??? YESS PLEASE ❗️
this book... I fear has ruined me for ANY other football romances. it made me cry, giggle and manifest.. ok?? read this book 💔💔🥺
𝙄 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤: "𝘾𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙢𝙖𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙗𝙮 𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙮" 🛷
TRUST- the christmas vibes were PRESENT! (get it? 🤭🎁)
did i walk into this blind? yes
did i love it? YES
did i know it was the second in a series? uhhh…no..😵💫
am I immediately going back and reading the first one???? YESSSS
𝙢𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙩! ‧₊˚ 🏈 ✩ ₊˚ 🏆 ⊹♡
I was so happily surprised when I found out that this was a CHRISTMAS BOOK???
I loved it!! I never read the descriptions on books (🙏) and I'm glad I didn't!
the kids talked like actual pre teens would which I really appreciate in books! and the tension and longing between the two main characters.. UGH IT WAS SO GOOD! so nicely written and it never felt slow to me!
AHH THE BANTER WAS UNREALLLLL!!
and I loved the interactions between Barret and his kids :( it quite literally gave me cavities because of how sweet this book was!
☃️ 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬~!
AGH 10/10!! these two had so much love and care for each other it was crazy. I loved both of them together and I loved their banter sm! I literally couldn't wait to read either of their chapters!
𝘽𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙩: I fear he was perfect 😔, he loves his kids so much my heart was breaking because of it 💔. he’s a very good dad he just doesn’t have time, but when he does get to be there, he goes above and beyond 😿😿.
"𝘐'𝘷𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶."
𝙇𝙞𝙡𝙮: AHH SHE WAS SO COOL!!! and I loved her and her dogs relationship, (☹️)idk it was just so funny to read 😭. (on christmas eve) when she gave Maggie her gift, i swear i must’ve cried a little it was so sweet.
"𝙎𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙤𝙠𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙡, 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩? 𝙀𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙤𝙩, 𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙯𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙤𝙮𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙘𝙪𝙩𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙤'𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩."
(honorable mention for: 𝙈𝙖𝙜𝙜𝙞𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘽𝙧𝙮𝙘𝙚)
AGH Maggie was seriously so sweet, and so funny. the way she interacted with the football players had me literally giggling because of how adorable it was.
and BRYCE! ugh, he was kind, sweet and he showed so much love to his dad, it was so heartbreaking. 🥲
𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨!“✮🏈”
single dad X nanny-ish! (one of my all time favorite tropes!!)
she's grumpy - he's grumpier
enemies to lovers
snowed in! (forced proximity!!)
𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧.. 🎁 ༘⋆^ྀི
even though I really really dislike the cover art, it was definitely the reason I even asked for this arc so I'm definitely appreciative 😔🌨 (this is one of my top favorites of 2025)
Put this on your TBR, please read it 😭
THE ENDING WAS PERFECT.
"𝘿𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙙𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨."
𝙃𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩, 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙙𝙣'𝙩 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚. "𝘿𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙙𝙤 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩? 𝘿𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪? 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙤𝙣 𝙖 𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚? 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝 𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙗𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙢𝙮 𝙠𝙞𝙙𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚𝙙? 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙪𝙥 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙖 𝙝𝙪𝙜 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙙𝙖𝙮? 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚, 𝙇𝙞𝙡𝙮, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩."
*ੈ🎄✩‧₊
(thank you so much Netgalley, Montlake-the publisher, and finally! Karla Sorensen for supplying me with this e-arc copy in exchange for my honest review!! ☺️ I loved this book so much!)
(5/5)⭐️🍪
this book... I fear has ruined me for ANY other football romances. it made me cry, giggle and manifest.. ok?? read this book 💔💔🥺
𝙄 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤: "𝘾𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙢𝙖𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙗𝙮 𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙮" 🛷
TRUST- the christmas vibes were PRESENT! (get it? 🤭🎁)
did i walk into this blind? yes
did i love it? YES
did i know it was the second in a series? uhhh…no..😵💫
am I immediately going back and reading the first one???? YESSSS
𝙢𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙩! ‧₊˚ 🏈 ✩ ₊˚ 🏆 ⊹♡
I was so happily surprised when I found out that this was a CHRISTMAS BOOK???
I loved it!! I never read the descriptions on books (🙏) and I'm glad I didn't!
the kids talked like actual pre teens would which I really appreciate in books! and the tension and longing between the two main characters.. UGH IT WAS SO GOOD! so nicely written and it never felt slow to me!
AHH THE BANTER WAS UNREALLLLL!!
and I loved the interactions between Barret and his kids :( it quite literally gave me cavities because of how sweet this book was!
☃️ 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬~!
AGH 10/10!! these two had so much love and care for each other it was crazy. I loved both of them together and I loved their banter sm! I literally couldn't wait to read either of their chapters!
𝘽𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙩: I fear he was perfect 😔, he loves his kids so much my heart was breaking because of it 💔. he’s a very good dad he just doesn’t have time, but when he does get to be there, he goes above and beyond 😿😿.
"𝘐'𝘷𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶."
𝙇𝙞𝙡𝙮: AHH SHE WAS SO COOL!!! and I loved her and her dogs relationship, (☹️)idk it was just so funny to read 😭. (on christmas eve) when she gave Maggie her gift, i swear i must’ve cried a little it was so sweet.
"𝙎𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙤𝙠𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙡, 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩? 𝙀𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙤𝙩, 𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙯𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙤𝙮𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙘𝙪𝙩𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙤'𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩."
(honorable mention for: 𝙈𝙖𝙜𝙜𝙞𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘽𝙧𝙮𝙘𝙚)
AGH Maggie was seriously so sweet, and so funny. the way she interacted with the football players had me literally giggling because of how adorable it was.
and BRYCE! ugh, he was kind, sweet and he showed so much love to his dad, it was so heartbreaking. 🥲
𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨!“✮🏈”
single dad X nanny-ish! (one of my all time favorite tropes!!)
she's grumpy - he's grumpier
enemies to lovers
snowed in! (forced proximity!!)
𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧.. 🎁 ༘⋆^ྀི
even though I really really dislike the cover art, it was definitely the reason I even asked for this arc so I'm definitely appreciative 😔🌨 (this is one of my top favorites of 2025)
Put this on your TBR, please read it 😭
THE ENDING WAS PERFECT.
"𝘿𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙙𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨."
𝙃𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩, 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙙𝙣'𝙩 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚. "𝘿𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙙𝙤 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩? 𝘿𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪? 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙤𝙣 𝙖 𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚? 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝 𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙗𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙢𝙮 𝙠𝙞𝙙𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚𝙙? 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙪𝙥 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙖 𝙝𝙪𝙜 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙙𝙖𝙮? 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚, 𝙇𝙞𝙡𝙮, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩."
*ੈ🎄✩‧₊
(thank you so much Netgalley, Montlake-the publisher, and finally! Karla Sorensen for supplying me with this e-arc copy in exchange for my honest review!! ☺️ I loved this book so much!)
(5/5)⭐️🍪
November 6, 2025
4.5 stars
i love Karla Sorensen’s prose, her dexterity in making me laugh one moment and shed uncontrollable tears the next is unmatched. Single Dad Dilemma was no exception.
it follows a single dad, Barrett, who’s been through a lot, NFL coach, serious, reserved, and carrying more than he lets on. he’s also a father of two menaces, especially with their nannies. but when they meet Lily, the woman temporarily surveying their neighbor’s house, something shifts. they instantly have a soft spot for her, and i loved watching that bond grow.
the story beautifully orbits around Lily’s connection with the kids, and eventually, she becomes their nanny. the warmth between them felt so genuine. but the tension with the dad? absolutely palpable.. a veritable page-turner.
in addition, it was deeply emotional. between his past (his ex-wife, his twin brother) and Lily’s history ( the heartbreaking lore behind her dog, her family & nomadic lifestyle) everything felt so layered and human.
im counting this novel on my top 5 Karla Sorensen podium. she writes family, grief, and love with so much tenderness. a perfect mix of humor, heart, and healing for anyone craving a story that’ll make you laugh, cry, and fall in love all at once.
many thanks to the author for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review
”When things are good enough, important enough,” he held my eyes unflinchingly, “when we love them enough, we take the risk, because we damn well know the reward is worth it.”
i love Karla Sorensen’s prose, her dexterity in making me laugh one moment and shed uncontrollable tears the next is unmatched. Single Dad Dilemma was no exception.
it follows a single dad, Barrett, who’s been through a lot, NFL coach, serious, reserved, and carrying more than he lets on. he’s also a father of two menaces, especially with their nannies. but when they meet Lily, the woman temporarily surveying their neighbor’s house, something shifts. they instantly have a soft spot for her, and i loved watching that bond grow.
the story beautifully orbits around Lily’s connection with the kids, and eventually, she becomes their nanny. the warmth between them felt so genuine. but the tension with the dad? absolutely palpable.. a veritable page-turner.
in addition, it was deeply emotional. between his past (his ex-wife, his twin brother) and Lily’s history ( the heartbreaking lore behind her dog, her family & nomadic lifestyle) everything felt so layered and human.
im counting this novel on my top 5 Karla Sorensen podium. she writes family, grief, and love with so much tenderness. a perfect mix of humor, heart, and healing for anyone craving a story that’ll make you laugh, cry, and fall in love all at once.
many thanks to the author for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review
December 2, 2025
I’m reminded once again why it’s a good thing to try new-to-me authors because Single Dad Dilemma was an absolute gem! The blurb snagged me right away and is the reason I gave this a chance. I love the single dad trope. I love the grumpy H trope and to top it off, the heroine is grumpy as well. It sounded like a fun read to me. Imagine my surprise when the heroine’s dog turned out to be grumpy too. It all worked! All the interaction between characters had me riveted. And the kids… I loved the kids. I rooted for this family so hard. Even more so when I started to learn there was something tragic in Lily’s past. This book brought out so many emotions. I laughed. I cried. I felt contentment. I cried some more…a scene almost wrecked me only due to recently going through what Lily went through. I got angry on the kids behalf. Even though you never meet their mom, you want to smack her upside the head for not cherishing what she had in those kids. And most of all, I felt the magic. I needed this book. It reminded me why I love to read and why I keep striving to find more books just like this one.
December 1, 2025
the setup…
What do a gorgeous black-haired woman with blue tips, an old dog, two precocious pre-teens and football have in common? It’s Barrett King, head coach of Buffalo’s NFL team and single father to son Bryce and daughter Maggie. He’s trying to manage it all with his typical stoicism but all is not well. He can’t seem to keep a nanny during the season and with two critical games to go, he needs to focus, especially as his talented but undisciplined star rookie quarterback is out of control. Enter Lily Townsend, the new house sitter next door with an ancient dog named Larry. His kids adore her but she’s grumpier than he is, at least to him. She’s agreed to care for Bryce and Maggie after school but neither of he or Lily want to admit they’ve got chemistry. Go figure.
the heart of the story…
Barrett is grumpy enough but Lily has him beat. Nice turn on the grumpy trope and I loved everything about their “relationship.” She isn’t interested in a romance or setting down roots and he doesn’t do casual. Every interaction was a riot, especially when you add the kids and the dog into this brew.
the narration…
CJ Bloom was typecast as Lily or at least that’s how she sounded. Nailed her! Aiden Snow cannot deliver a bad performance either. This was audio heaven.
the bottom line…
Underneath all the fun are some serious issues, both for Lily and Barrett. There’s a reason why she’s a vagabond and he’s alone. It just added more heft to a wonderful story and romance while delivering lots of joy and fun.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
What do a gorgeous black-haired woman with blue tips, an old dog, two precocious pre-teens and football have in common? It’s Barrett King, head coach of Buffalo’s NFL team and single father to son Bryce and daughter Maggie. He’s trying to manage it all with his typical stoicism but all is not well. He can’t seem to keep a nanny during the season and with two critical games to go, he needs to focus, especially as his talented but undisciplined star rookie quarterback is out of control. Enter Lily Townsend, the new house sitter next door with an ancient dog named Larry. His kids adore her but she’s grumpier than he is, at least to him. She’s agreed to care for Bryce and Maggie after school but neither of he or Lily want to admit they’ve got chemistry. Go figure.
the heart of the story…
Barrett is grumpy enough but Lily has him beat. Nice turn on the grumpy trope and I loved everything about their “relationship.” She isn’t interested in a romance or setting down roots and he doesn’t do casual. Every interaction was a riot, especially when you add the kids and the dog into this brew.
the narration…
CJ Bloom was typecast as Lily or at least that’s how she sounded. Nailed her! Aiden Snow cannot deliver a bad performance either. This was audio heaven.
the bottom line…
Underneath all the fun are some serious issues, both for Lily and Barrett. There’s a reason why she’s a vagabond and he’s alone. It just added more heft to a wonderful story and romance while delivering lots of joy and fun.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
December 14, 2025
Woohoo — this one hit all the marks! I’m a big, big fan of the single-parent trope, so I was already excited, but the moment I realized this was a grumpy/grumpy couple, I was completely sold. I love that dynamic so much, and honestly, I wish there were more books like this out there.
I loved the gruffy hero and the spunky but equally grumpy heroine - their banter, chemistry, and attraction were all spot-on. The slow burn was fantastic: romantic in that yearning, ache-in-your-chest kind of way, with tension woven into so many scenes. Beautifully done by the author.
The kids were absolutely adorable (I could totally see a future book about the daughter — I’d be there cheering her on!). I really enjoyed this story — truly loved it! I might even grab a paperback copy… though the cover desperately needs an upgrade. This book deserves a snowy or even Christmas-themed cover; it would fit the vibe perfectly.
The ending wrapped everything up wonderfully, and now that I’ve met this family, I’ll definitely be going back to read the brother’s book next.
I loved the gruffy hero and the spunky but equally grumpy heroine - their banter, chemistry, and attraction were all spot-on. The slow burn was fantastic: romantic in that yearning, ache-in-your-chest kind of way, with tension woven into so many scenes. Beautifully done by the author.
The kids were absolutely adorable (I could totally see a future book about the daughter — I’d be there cheering her on!). I really enjoyed this story — truly loved it! I might even grab a paperback copy… though the cover desperately needs an upgrade. This book deserves a snowy or even Christmas-themed cover; it would fit the vibe perfectly.
The ending wrapped everything up wonderfully, and now that I’ve met this family, I’ll definitely be going back to read the brother’s book next.
July 29, 2025
A cute single dad romance. I really enjoyed the banter and chemistry between Lily and Barrett. Also his kids Bryce and Maggie were amazing. Their friendship with Lily was so special and pulled on my heart strings.
It was definitely a light romance but with serious undertones when it came to Lily which I liked. Barrett and Lily’s romance is a slow burn but thanks to the great tension it worked.
I will say the last 10% felt rushed and gave off more telling instead of showing which was a shame cause I really needed more wooing and dating from the couple.
Still a really good romance that made me smile.
Thank you Montlake and Netgalley for the ARC. The thoughts are my own.
It was definitely a light romance but with serious undertones when it came to Lily which I liked. Barrett and Lily’s romance is a slow burn but thanks to the great tension it worked.
I will say the last 10% felt rushed and gave off more telling instead of showing which was a shame cause I really needed more wooing and dating from the couple.
Still a really good romance that made me smile.
Thank you Montlake and Netgalley for the ARC. The thoughts are my own.
December 11, 2025
overall, I enjoyed Single Dad Dilemma. it’s a solid single-parent romance, but I would have rated it higher if I’d connected more with Lily and Barrett. their relationship never fully pulled me in, and the romance felt more like a gentle simmer than a full spark. the kids, Maggie and Bryce were the real highlight for me. I have a soft spot for single dads, and Barret is an amazing one. even though a few elements fell short for me, the book still left me interested in picking up more from this author.
June 19, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
This book had me grinning from the very first chapter. The main characters’ banter? Absolutely top-tier. Witty, sharp, and downright addictive—it’s the kind of dialogue that makes you want to highlight every line.
The slow burn here is painfully slow in the best way possible—so much tension, and oh so worth the wait. Karla Sorensen’s writing is engaging, funny, and effortlessly charming. This was my first book by her, but it definitely won’t be my last!
A couple of minor things: After all that glorious build-up, things moved a bit too fast post-burn. And if I read one more lines out a character turning pink from embarrassment, I was about to start blushing on their behalf.
Huge thanks to NetGalley, Karla Sorensen, and Montlake Publishing for the ARC. If you love swoony slow burns, sharp humor, and characters with sparkling chemistry, add this to your TBR immediately
This book had me grinning from the very first chapter. The main characters’ banter? Absolutely top-tier. Witty, sharp, and downright addictive—it’s the kind of dialogue that makes you want to highlight every line.
The slow burn here is painfully slow in the best way possible—so much tension, and oh so worth the wait. Karla Sorensen’s writing is engaging, funny, and effortlessly charming. This was my first book by her, but it definitely won’t be my last!
A couple of minor things: After all that glorious build-up, things moved a bit too fast post-burn. And if I read one more lines out a character turning pink from embarrassment, I was about to start blushing on their behalf.
Huge thanks to NetGalley, Karla Sorensen, and Montlake Publishing for the ARC. If you love swoony slow burns, sharp humor, and characters with sparkling chemistry, add this to your TBR immediately
January 1, 2026
This book was super sweet and really not at all believable, but sweet all the same.
As a heads up, this book is very much a slow burn in terms of the couple actually getting together. It really takes forever. Once they finally do get together, the couple races to the station, buys tickets and boards the express train to COMMITMENT-VILLE in no time flat.
I've never read Sorensen before. If she models her heroes after the one in this story, then I am assuming she writes heroes who are without flaws and are completely in tune with not only their emotions but also the emotions of others. If this is the case, this author should be dually listed as both a fantasy and romance writer. 😜
Anyway, I recommend if you are into books that are low-angst, kinda cheesy and super adorable.
As a heads up, this book is very much a slow burn in terms of the couple actually getting together. It really takes forever. Once they finally do get together, the couple races to the station, buys tickets and boards the express train to COMMITMENT-VILLE in no time flat.
I've never read Sorensen before. If she models her heroes after the one in this story, then I am assuming she writes heroes who are without flaws and are completely in tune with not only their emotions but also the emotions of others. If this is the case, this author should be dually listed as both a fantasy and romance writer. 😜
Anyway, I recommend if you are into books that are low-angst, kinda cheesy and super adorable.
November 18, 2025
I felt all the emotions in this book.
And that’s how you know it’s a good one.
It gave me rom com. Wit and banter.
And it gave me tears. Heartwarming & sad all wrapped together.
And I loved it.
Grumpy x grumpy : love it love it love it
Barrett King & Lily 💕
NFL head coach & single daddy
Commitment phobic FMC
Neighbors / forced proximity
Larry the grumpy old dog
Cute kids
Second chances and overcoming pasts
Very early arc review thanks to netgalley ✨
And that’s how you know it’s a good one.
It gave me rom com. Wit and banter.
And it gave me tears. Heartwarming & sad all wrapped together.
And I loved it.
Grumpy x grumpy : love it love it love it
Barrett King & Lily 💕
NFL head coach & single daddy
Commitment phobic FMC
Neighbors / forced proximity
Larry the grumpy old dog
Cute kids
Second chances and overcoming pasts
Very early arc review thanks to netgalley ✨
December 25, 2025
5 stars + top tier read!
Barrett (the MMC) is a grumpy single dad NFL coach, and Lily is his neighbour’s house sitter who bonds with his two children.
It was a very slow burn, and Lily had a much bigger character arc than Barrett did, but the story got me goooood. I cried during so many parts and then the day after I finished reading, I re-read a few passages to check if I was just in a weird mood and ended up crying all over again. And for that, I’m putting it on my top tier list. 😅
I also loved Lily’s relationship with Barrett’s kids, it felt really well developed.
(Catching up on reviews of December reads, so thoughts will be scattered.)
Barrett (the MMC) is a grumpy single dad NFL coach, and Lily is his neighbour’s house sitter who bonds with his two children.
It was a very slow burn, and Lily had a much bigger character arc than Barrett did, but the story got me goooood. I cried during so many parts and then the day after I finished reading, I re-read a few passages to check if I was just in a weird mood and ended up crying all over again. And for that, I’m putting it on my top tier list. 😅
I also loved Lily’s relationship with Barrett’s kids, it felt really well developed.
(Catching up on reviews of December reads, so thoughts will be scattered.)
November 18, 2025
An absolute top read of 2025! Barrett and Lily seem so different on paper, but were perfect for each other! They both needed a safe haven and a place/person they could be vulnerable with. These were two grumpy people who make each other smile like the sun, and there's nothing better than watching two people find home in each other.
Given the tragedy Lily has been through, it was beautiful watching her open her heart to Barrett and his kids. His kids were hilarious, and their bond with both Lily and Barrett warmed my soul.
Karla's writing continues to be a source of comfort for me. The build-up in chemistry and intimacy between her characters makes you truly feel like you know them intimately by the end of the book. Her books are always top tier, and it's not a shock that this ended up on my top reads list!
What to Expect: grumpy/grumpy, single dad/troublemaker kids, neighbors, NFL coach, enemies to lovers, slow burn
Trigger Warnings: grief, death of loved ones
Given the tragedy Lily has been through, it was beautiful watching her open her heart to Barrett and his kids. His kids were hilarious, and their bond with both Lily and Barrett warmed my soul.
Karla's writing continues to be a source of comfort for me. The build-up in chemistry and intimacy between her characters makes you truly feel like you know them intimately by the end of the book. Her books are always top tier, and it's not a shock that this ended up on my top reads list!
What to Expect: grumpy/grumpy, single dad/troublemaker kids, neighbors, NFL coach, enemies to lovers, slow burn
Trigger Warnings: grief, death of loved ones
June 28, 2025
Thank you to the author and Montlake Publishing for the arc.
pub date around November 2025
Barrett Kings story, the head NFL coach in Buffalo and his new, temporary neighbour Lilly.
Tropes
Grumpy x grumpy
Enemies to Lovers
As always, a cute romance with a very slow burn. Lots of fantastic funny banter, tension and a fair share of angst.
Sorensen's writing is perfect with good plot execution and character depth. And Lilly's story is heartbreaking 💔
The pace is good. Soreness keeps the story moving forward at a good pace. The children of Barrett, especially Maggie, are adorable.
I'd love a book for Maggie's story as a young adult.
if you love slow burn, Enemies to Lovers and grumps, second chances and dealing with past tragedies then this is your book.
Kerry Kennedy Author
pub date around November 2025
Barrett Kings story, the head NFL coach in Buffalo and his new, temporary neighbour Lilly.
Tropes
Grumpy x grumpy
Enemies to Lovers
As always, a cute romance with a very slow burn. Lots of fantastic funny banter, tension and a fair share of angst.
Sorensen's writing is perfect with good plot execution and character depth. And Lilly's story is heartbreaking 💔
The pace is good. Soreness keeps the story moving forward at a good pace. The children of Barrett, especially Maggie, are adorable.
I'd love a book for Maggie's story as a young adult.
if you love slow burn, Enemies to Lovers and grumps, second chances and dealing with past tragedies then this is your book.
Kerry Kennedy Author
November 7, 2025
5 stars of Karla Sorensen perfection.
I just have to say, only Karla would break my heart over a character named LARRY.
Thank you so much to Montlake for the eARC via NetGalley! These are my honest thoughts.
I've been WAITING for Single Dad Dilemma since we got Lessons in Heartbreak. This is the story of a twin brother, named Barrett, who is a NFL head coach in Buffalo, NY, raising his wickedly sweet and smart preteens all by himself. His children are too smart for their good, chasing away nannies and housekeepers left and right, even flying to visit their Uncle Griffin and his girlfriend Ruby in Colorado, without so much as asking for permission.
Lily moves in next door to house sit for a couple who are wintering in the sun. Lily's dog, Larry, is a grumpy ol' dude, and she happens to meet Maggie and Bryce in the backyard. They are instantly smitten with both Larry and Lily, who is a little bit lonely and begrudging-lovingly invites them inside (with permission from the "nanny"/housekeeper).
When their current caretaker quits, Maggie and Bryce put together a slideshow presentation advocating for Lily to be their new person, and that gives Barrett King no choice but to at least ask her.
This tenuous relationship blossoms from the cracks in concrete. This is a struggle of wills, on both sides. The longer they hold out, the more the tension intensifies. This is a SLOW BURN story of self control and letting someone know you deeply, not quickly.
Lily's past is... sad. She's lonely. She's got Larry. FREAKING LARRY. And the belongings in the car she moves from place to place. Never setting down any permanent roots.
Until two kids and a grumpy dad make her want something more than this life she's been on the run from, since before her life absolutely fell into tattered pieces at her feet.
Karla Sorensen writes these raw characters, and then puts them in a sports romance. And I eat it up every single time. But this time, I just wanted them to KISS ALREADY. I also wanted them to hug, and spend Christmas together, and for Barrett to EAT THE DANG COOKIES. I wanted Maggie to know that exactly who is she, it's enough. And for Bryce to know that being shy doesn't mean you aren't strong. Single Dad Dilemma is a story of tender moments that make us who we are, and it perfectly captures the ways in which the choices we make are important to the stepping stones that eventually lead somewhere extraordinary. And sometimes, the choices that give us pause, that make us think, that challenge our boundaries, those are the important choices, the ones that will shift us in a new direction, and even if the road is hard, the journey is worth it.
5 stars. Always 5 stars for the single dad, the sweet children whom he loves with his whole being, and the temporary neighbor next door.
Read if you love:
- Sports romance
- (Sorta) Single dad x nanny
- Forced proximity
- Grumpy/grumpy
- Neighbors to lovers
- Slow burn
- Secret tattoos
- Grumpy old dogs (emphasis on *old*)
- Meddling preteens
AUDIO: Back to add... I was in TEARS listening to this audiobook. The slow burn and all the feelings were so powerful on audio! Aiden Snow as Barrett was FREAKING PERFECTION and CJ Bloom brought the sassy snark of Lily to LIFE. I listened to this so fast, I was hooked from the very beginning. This one should absolutely be on your radar to read OR LISTEN when it comes out on November 18th!
I just have to say, only Karla would break my heart over a character named LARRY.
Thank you so much to Montlake for the eARC via NetGalley! These are my honest thoughts.
I've been WAITING for Single Dad Dilemma since we got Lessons in Heartbreak. This is the story of a twin brother, named Barrett, who is a NFL head coach in Buffalo, NY, raising his wickedly sweet and smart preteens all by himself. His children are too smart for their good, chasing away nannies and housekeepers left and right, even flying to visit their Uncle Griffin and his girlfriend Ruby in Colorado, without so much as asking for permission.
Lily moves in next door to house sit for a couple who are wintering in the sun. Lily's dog, Larry, is a grumpy ol' dude, and she happens to meet Maggie and Bryce in the backyard. They are instantly smitten with both Larry and Lily, who is a little bit lonely and begrudging-lovingly invites them inside (with permission from the "nanny"/housekeeper).
When their current caretaker quits, Maggie and Bryce put together a slideshow presentation advocating for Lily to be their new person, and that gives Barrett King no choice but to at least ask her.
This tenuous relationship blossoms from the cracks in concrete. This is a struggle of wills, on both sides. The longer they hold out, the more the tension intensifies. This is a SLOW BURN story of self control and letting someone know you deeply, not quickly.
Lily's past is... sad. She's lonely. She's got Larry. FREAKING LARRY. And the belongings in the car she moves from place to place. Never setting down any permanent roots.
Until two kids and a grumpy dad make her want something more than this life she's been on the run from, since before her life absolutely fell into tattered pieces at her feet.
Karla Sorensen writes these raw characters, and then puts them in a sports romance. And I eat it up every single time. But this time, I just wanted them to KISS ALREADY. I also wanted them to hug, and spend Christmas together, and for Barrett to EAT THE DANG COOKIES. I wanted Maggie to know that exactly who is she, it's enough. And for Bryce to know that being shy doesn't mean you aren't strong. Single Dad Dilemma is a story of tender moments that make us who we are, and it perfectly captures the ways in which the choices we make are important to the stepping stones that eventually lead somewhere extraordinary. And sometimes, the choices that give us pause, that make us think, that challenge our boundaries, those are the important choices, the ones that will shift us in a new direction, and even if the road is hard, the journey is worth it.
5 stars. Always 5 stars for the single dad, the sweet children whom he loves with his whole being, and the temporary neighbor next door.
Read if you love:
- Sports romance
- (Sorta) Single dad x nanny
- Forced proximity
- Grumpy/grumpy
- Neighbors to lovers
- Slow burn
- Secret tattoos
- Grumpy old dogs (emphasis on *old*)
- Meddling preteens
AUDIO: Back to add... I was in TEARS listening to this audiobook. The slow burn and all the feelings were so powerful on audio! Aiden Snow as Barrett was FREAKING PERFECTION and CJ Bloom brought the sassy snark of Lily to LIFE. I listened to this so fast, I was hooked from the very beginning. This one should absolutely be on your radar to read OR LISTEN when it comes out on November 18th!
November 18, 2025
⭐⭐⭐✨ 3.5 stars
I came for the grumpy single dad with biceps and a golden retriever. I stayed for the tiny chaos gremlin named Maggie. I left feeling... sort of lukewarm about the actual romance.
Barrett and Lily's banter hits different. It's sharp, it's witty, it's the kind of verbal sparring that makes you remember why you liked them in the first place. And the kids, especially Maggie, our tiny chaos gremlin.....they genuinely feel like real humans, not just plot devices. Same with Larry the dog. That grumpy golden retriever has more personality than some protagonists I've read, which is both hilarious and kind of damning.
Lily's character arc is genuinely heartbreaking once you find out why she's been drifting for a decade. The slow reveal of her trauma, piece by tattoo, felt earned. And watching her thaw around the kids? Chef's kiss. That bonding actually made me feel something.
Where it lost me:
But here's the thing....and I hate to be that person...the chemistry between Lily and Barrett never quite sizzles. It's like watching two people who desperately want to combust but keep throwing buckets of water on themselves. The slow burn is fine, I get slow burns, but this felt less like romantic tension and more like I was watching them take forever to admit the obvious while I'm sitting there with my coffee getting cold.
The pacing also feels a bit... stuck? Like the story knows exactly where it's going but keeps hitting the brakes. By the halfway point, I was more invested in Maggie's schemes than in whether they'd actually get together.
If you're absolutely ravenous for grumpy-meets-grumpier found family chaos with a side of sports romance, this is your book. The writing is solid, the emotional beats are there, and there's genuine warmth underneath all the gruffness. It's just... not the powerhouse romance I wanted it to be. It's cozy. It's sweet. It's safe.
And sometimes safe just hits different.
Would I recommend? Yeah, if you're in the mood for something warm and character-driven rather than a page-turner. But if you need spark, you might want to shop around.
Thank you Montlake and Netgalley for the digital arc!!
I came for the grumpy single dad with biceps and a golden retriever. I stayed for the tiny chaos gremlin named Maggie. I left feeling... sort of lukewarm about the actual romance.
Barrett and Lily's banter hits different. It's sharp, it's witty, it's the kind of verbal sparring that makes you remember why you liked them in the first place. And the kids, especially Maggie, our tiny chaos gremlin.....they genuinely feel like real humans, not just plot devices. Same with Larry the dog. That grumpy golden retriever has more personality than some protagonists I've read, which is both hilarious and kind of damning.
Lily's character arc is genuinely heartbreaking once you find out why she's been drifting for a decade. The slow reveal of her trauma, piece by tattoo, felt earned. And watching her thaw around the kids? Chef's kiss. That bonding actually made me feel something.
Where it lost me:
But here's the thing....and I hate to be that person...the chemistry between Lily and Barrett never quite sizzles. It's like watching two people who desperately want to combust but keep throwing buckets of water on themselves. The slow burn is fine, I get slow burns, but this felt less like romantic tension and more like I was watching them take forever to admit the obvious while I'm sitting there with my coffee getting cold.
The pacing also feels a bit... stuck? Like the story knows exactly where it's going but keeps hitting the brakes. By the halfway point, I was more invested in Maggie's schemes than in whether they'd actually get together.
If you're absolutely ravenous for grumpy-meets-grumpier found family chaos with a side of sports romance, this is your book. The writing is solid, the emotional beats are there, and there's genuine warmth underneath all the gruffness. It's just... not the powerhouse romance I wanted it to be. It's cozy. It's sweet. It's safe.
And sometimes safe just hits different.
Would I recommend? Yeah, if you're in the mood for something warm and character-driven rather than a page-turner. But if you need spark, you might want to shop around.
Thank you Montlake and Netgalley for the digital arc!!
December 26, 2025
Audio:
5 stars for Aiden Snow
5 stars for CJ Bloom
Book: 3 stars
Decent read, but there was something about this book that I couldn’t make it more than 3 stars. I loved the kids, and the banter, but the relationship didn’t happen until like 90% and which never happens unless I am reading a Mariana Zapata book haha!
There were a lot of moving parts, but none were fully fleshed out, to me at least. It was still a good read and I enjoyed the audiobook!!
5 stars for Aiden Snow
5 stars for CJ Bloom
Book: 3 stars
Decent read, but there was something about this book that I couldn’t make it more than 3 stars. I loved the kids, and the banter, but the relationship didn’t happen until like 90% and which never happens unless I am reading a Mariana Zapata book haha!
There were a lot of moving parts, but none were fully fleshed out, to me at least. It was still a good read and I enjoyed the audiobook!!
December 1, 2025
Spoilers ahead
Definitely one of my favourites for 2025, and I'm stingy with my 5 stars but this book hit me in the feels ❣️😭
FRTC
Definitely one of my favourites for 2025, and I'm stingy with my 5 stars but this book hit me in the feels ❣️😭
FRTC
December 4, 2025
The burn is SSSSSSLLLLLOOOOOWWWWW, but the tension is THICK in Karla Sorensen's latest sports romance and I couldn't get enough of it!
Single Dad Dilemma is Sorensen's second book in The Kings duet that features twin brothers that both have a part in the NFL, but couldn't be more different. Barrett is a coach of an NFL team and single dad to two pre teens (Bryce and Maggie) that are too smart for their own good. He's pretty closed off, straight forward and what most would just call a grump. Except with his kids. Lily is his temporary neighbor that is house sitting along with her old dog, Larry. She says she doesn't like people and never spends too much time in one place to make any sort of connections. With a traumatic past that she shares with no one, she is a grump in her own right. She doesn't need attachments and doesn't particularly care for the surly neighbor, but Maggie and Bryce are a different story. When they discover she has a dog and can bake a mean batch of cookies, an unlikely relationship between the house sitter and the children forms.
I absolutely loved this story and the cast of characters. From Lily and Barrett to Bryce and Maggie and even to the dog. The banter and the way Lily pushed Barrett's buttons was half the fun. It was like poking a grumpy bear and you couldn't help but love it. With the witty banter came the sexual tension that you could feel, even if they didn't want to. It sizzled ever so slowly over the course of the story, until that tension lead to them opening up to each other. That tension allowed for so much character growth and quietly built a connection between our MCs. But the connection that really warmed my heart? Lily with Bryce and Maggie. Maggie in particular. Lily may have said she didn't like people, but boy did her personality melt for those kids and it brought tears to my eyes. She allowed for those children to be who they were without diminishing their spark and it was so lovely to see.
I laughed. I teared up. And I cheered when two grumps got snowed in together. This story had such a great balance of witty banter, high tension, great character chemistry along with vulnerable moments. And of course, a SLOW BURN that was frustratingly slow, but that was done with such intentional precision. Yes, we had broken characters, but they all found each other and it was heartwarming to see it build into trust and love once they were willing to put themselves out there. And I loved every second of it.
If you have Kindle Unlimited, you have access to the read/listen for free. And the audio is fanfrickingtastic! CJ Bloom balanced the banter along with being a grump and Aiden Snow totally captured the surly NFL coach that is thrown off balance by the neighbor. Highly recommend giving the audio a go.
If you like:
SLOW BURN
Grumpy/Grumpy
Single Dad
Nomad FMC
Witty Banter
Neighbors to Lovers
Snowed In
Kids that are integral to the story
With MCs that have some broken pasts,
Then don't miss out on Karla Sorensen's latest book.
Single Dad Dilemma is Sorensen's second book in The Kings duet that features twin brothers that both have a part in the NFL, but couldn't be more different. Barrett is a coach of an NFL team and single dad to two pre teens (Bryce and Maggie) that are too smart for their own good. He's pretty closed off, straight forward and what most would just call a grump. Except with his kids. Lily is his temporary neighbor that is house sitting along with her old dog, Larry. She says she doesn't like people and never spends too much time in one place to make any sort of connections. With a traumatic past that she shares with no one, she is a grump in her own right. She doesn't need attachments and doesn't particularly care for the surly neighbor, but Maggie and Bryce are a different story. When they discover she has a dog and can bake a mean batch of cookies, an unlikely relationship between the house sitter and the children forms.
I absolutely loved this story and the cast of characters. From Lily and Barrett to Bryce and Maggie and even to the dog. The banter and the way Lily pushed Barrett's buttons was half the fun. It was like poking a grumpy bear and you couldn't help but love it. With the witty banter came the sexual tension that you could feel, even if they didn't want to. It sizzled ever so slowly over the course of the story, until that tension lead to them opening up to each other. That tension allowed for so much character growth and quietly built a connection between our MCs. But the connection that really warmed my heart? Lily with Bryce and Maggie. Maggie in particular. Lily may have said she didn't like people, but boy did her personality melt for those kids and it brought tears to my eyes. She allowed for those children to be who they were without diminishing their spark and it was so lovely to see.
I laughed. I teared up. And I cheered when two grumps got snowed in together. This story had such a great balance of witty banter, high tension, great character chemistry along with vulnerable moments. And of course, a SLOW BURN that was frustratingly slow, but that was done with such intentional precision. Yes, we had broken characters, but they all found each other and it was heartwarming to see it build into trust and love once they were willing to put themselves out there. And I loved every second of it.
If you have Kindle Unlimited, you have access to the read/listen for free. And the audio is fanfrickingtastic! CJ Bloom balanced the banter along with being a grump and Aiden Snow totally captured the surly NFL coach that is thrown off balance by the neighbor. Highly recommend giving the audio a go.
If you like:
SLOW BURN
Grumpy/Grumpy
Single Dad
Nomad FMC
Witty Banter
Neighbors to Lovers
Snowed In
Kids that are integral to the story
With MCs that have some broken pasts,
Then don't miss out on Karla Sorensen's latest book.
November 21, 2025
Kitabı sevdim. Sadece konuyu işleme aşamalarından emin değilim.
Evet tanıştıktan kısa süre sonra etkilenmeler mevcut. Ama hemen birbirlerinin üzerine atlayıp, alev ateş yanmadılar. Hatta o kısımlar çoooook sonra geliyor. Bir an hiç gelmeyecek diye düşündürecek kadar geç. 😂😇
Barret, babalık sorumluluklarının, karşısındaki kişi ile hayata farklı pencerelerden baktığının bilincinde bir profile sahipti. Ve UZUN süre buna bağlı kaldı.
Lily konar göçer bir hayat yaşıyor bir süredir. Şuan ki işi ise bir ev bakıcılığı. Ama bir sonraki adımda kendini çocuk bakıcılığı da yaparken bulur. Lily huysuzluk adı altında kendini yeni insanlara kapatmış birisi. Bu da yine çok güzel yansıtılmıştı. -Sebebinin yazıldığı sahne azıcık ağlattı dostlar.-
Çiftin yavaş yavaş birbiriyle iletişim kurmaları, bu süreçte Lily'nin Maggie ve Bryce ile de etkileşimleri çok tatlıydı.
Sanırım en çok duyguları geçiştirmek yerine, üzerinde durup konuşulmasını sevdim.
Ve Barret harika bir baba 😍
Sevmediğim kısım ise son sahneler.Kötü değildi ama kısa bir sayfaya çok fazla şey sıkıştırılmıştı. Yakınlaşmaları ve ufak pürüz kısmını çok son ana bırakmış yazar. Kitap bitmeye yaklaştıkça bunu nasıl bağlayacak acaba diye sorguladım. Çok tatmin etmedi açıkçası ama kötü de diyemem.
Evet tanıştıktan kısa süre sonra etkilenmeler mevcut. Ama hemen birbirlerinin üzerine atlayıp, alev ateş yanmadılar. Hatta o kısımlar çoooook sonra geliyor. Bir an hiç gelmeyecek diye düşündürecek kadar geç. 😂😇
Barret, babalık sorumluluklarının, karşısındaki kişi ile hayata farklı pencerelerden baktığının bilincinde bir profile sahipti. Ve UZUN süre buna bağlı kaldı.
Lily konar göçer bir hayat yaşıyor bir süredir. Şuan ki işi ise bir ev bakıcılığı. Ama bir sonraki adımda kendini çocuk bakıcılığı da yaparken bulur. Lily huysuzluk adı altında kendini yeni insanlara kapatmış birisi. Bu da yine çok güzel yansıtılmıştı. -Sebebinin yazıldığı sahne azıcık ağlattı dostlar.-
Çiftin yavaş yavaş birbiriyle iletişim kurmaları, bu süreçte Lily'nin Maggie ve Bryce ile de etkileşimleri çok tatlıydı.
Sanırım en çok duyguları geçiştirmek yerine, üzerinde durup konuşulmasını sevdim.
Ve Barret harika bir baba 😍
Sevmediğim kısım ise son sahneler.Kötü değildi ama kısa bir sayfaya çok fazla şey sıkıştırılmıştı. Yakınlaşmaları ve ufak pürüz kısmını çok son ana bırakmış yazar. Kitap bitmeye yaklaştıkça bunu nasıl bağlayacak acaba diye sorguladım. Çok tatmin etmedi açıkçası ama kötü de diyemem.
November 27, 2025
you slow burn grumpy queen, I'll never quit you
June 27, 2025
In the beginning, I loved Lily and Barrett!
Actually, I still love them!
This story just kinda dragged on for me and I found myself skipping whole chapters at a time around the 36% part of the story. It did not keep my interest unfortunately which is why I’m rating it with three stars….
Larry is an awesome grumpy introverted dog who hates the outdoors, but somehow, he gets two sweet kids to love him. And the kids are perfect in this story - I really enjoyed them.
Actually, I still love them!
This story just kinda dragged on for me and I found myself skipping whole chapters at a time around the 36% part of the story. It did not keep my interest unfortunately which is why I’m rating it with three stars….
Larry is an awesome grumpy introverted dog who hates the outdoors, but somehow, he gets two sweet kids to love him. And the kids are perfect in this story - I really enjoyed them.
November 17, 2025
Rating: 5⭐️ | Spice: 2.5🌶️ | Audio: 4.5🎙️
Thank you so much @karla_sorensen and @brilliancepublishing for the gifted ALC!
Mini Review: I have a new favorite trope - it’s called grumpy x grumpy.
“This decent into madness was meant to be savored.”
Review Title & Vibes:
{MY DILEMMA IS NOT BEING ABLE TO READ THIS STORY AGAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME}
I expected greatness, and this book delivered. Barrett and Lily have the best grumpy x grumpy vibes with stubbornness in spades. But with a little grumpy dog magic and two meddling pre-teens - their love story began!
Things I Loved:
-the slow burn - the anticipation nearly killed me - it was delicious. The wait was WORTH IT.
-Maggie and Brice (Barrett’s kids) have my whole heart - always needing an outlet for their (evil) genius tendencies, craving connection, but confident in their father’s love. YOU WILL TEAR UP
-the backstories were paced perfectly - uncovering insecurities and finding healing throughout the timeline.
-Barrett’s consistent thoughtful care of his kids and eventually of Lily. His patience and unwavering support had me swooning.
-Lily’s fierce personality and protectiveness over Maggie and Brice. Her character growth as she learns to let love in - bittersweet.
-Side character perfection - Barrett’s parents, Griffin and Ruby (from book 1), the team dynamics and front office staff (I’m sensing a potential spin off)
Audio Notes:
{dual} Aiden and CJ were wonderful. Barrett’s grumpy stoicism was delivered with precision. Lily’s prickly nature and feisty attitude was on point. I did have a few moments when the volume needed to be adjusted to better understand conversation, but those moments just made me tune in better. I would highly recommend this audiobook.
What to Expect:
Grumpy x Grumpy (+ grumpy dog)
Single Dad
Enemies to Lovers
Commitment Phobic Neighbor
NHL Coach
Snowed-In Holiday Break
Trouble Maker Kids
Recommended to...
All the single… dad lovers who want to see an FMC match his grumpy nature.
Narrated by @aidensnowvoice @carlyrobinsnarrator
Produced by @brilliancepublishing
Published by montlake
Thank you so much @karla_sorensen and @brilliancepublishing for the gifted ALC!
Mini Review: I have a new favorite trope - it’s called grumpy x grumpy.
“This decent into madness was meant to be savored.”
Review Title & Vibes:
{MY DILEMMA IS NOT BEING ABLE TO READ THIS STORY AGAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME}
I expected greatness, and this book delivered. Barrett and Lily have the best grumpy x grumpy vibes with stubbornness in spades. But with a little grumpy dog magic and two meddling pre-teens - their love story began!
Things I Loved:
-the slow burn - the anticipation nearly killed me - it was delicious. The wait was WORTH IT.
-Maggie and Brice (Barrett’s kids) have my whole heart - always needing an outlet for their (evil) genius tendencies, craving connection, but confident in their father’s love. YOU WILL TEAR UP
-the backstories were paced perfectly - uncovering insecurities and finding healing throughout the timeline.
-Barrett’s consistent thoughtful care of his kids and eventually of Lily. His patience and unwavering support had me swooning.
-Lily’s fierce personality and protectiveness over Maggie and Brice. Her character growth as she learns to let love in - bittersweet.
-Side character perfection - Barrett’s parents, Griffin and Ruby (from book 1), the team dynamics and front office staff (I’m sensing a potential spin off)
Audio Notes:
{dual} Aiden and CJ were wonderful. Barrett’s grumpy stoicism was delivered with precision. Lily’s prickly nature and feisty attitude was on point. I did have a few moments when the volume needed to be adjusted to better understand conversation, but those moments just made me tune in better. I would highly recommend this audiobook.
What to Expect:
Grumpy x Grumpy (+ grumpy dog)
Single Dad
Enemies to Lovers
Commitment Phobic Neighbor
NHL Coach
Snowed-In Holiday Break
Trouble Maker Kids
Recommended to...
All the single… dad lovers who want to see an FMC match his grumpy nature.
Narrated by @aidensnowvoice @carlyrobinsnarrator
Produced by @brilliancepublishing
Published by montlake
November 15, 2025
- single dad
- sports romance: NFL coach
- neighbours to lovers
- grumpy x grumpy
- slow burn
- no third-act breakup
- snowed in, forced proximity moment!
- 🌶️.5/5
- dual pov
- dual narration by Aiden Snow and CJ Bloom
Single Dad Dilemma gives me the same warm buzz as my favourite Karla book, The Best Of All. Karla nails that blend of sharp banter, sweet kid moments, a delicious slow burn, and characters who grow in the most satisfying ways.
Lily has spent ten years drifting from place to place with her elderly dog. This winter in Buffalo changes her rhythm. Living next door to Barrett, a busy NFL coach juggling two kids, has her rethinking everything. For the first time, she wonders what it might feel like to stay, to let down her walls, and to face the past she has been dodging for far too long.
Barrett and Lily are similar in all the ways that matter, but also wonderfully different. They are both grumpy and guarded. Barrett is a perfectionist who thrives on routine (his life is literally scheduled in 15-minute increments 😅), while Lily lives in a state of beautiful chaos.
The contrast makes their connection spark in every scene. Their banter is quick and clever, and the emotional moments hit even harder when Lily slowly shares the truth about her past, piece by piece and tattoo by tattoo. If you love a slow burn, this one is irresistible. I inhaled it.
Lily also forms the sweetest relationships with Maggie and Bryce (especially our sassy queen Maggie). With their mother out of the picture and no other woman drama, Lily naturally steps into a steady, nurturing role without even realizing it.
The audio is an absolute treat. Aiden is everything you want in a grumpy single dad voice, and CJ Bloom continues to be unmatched at handling banter, softness, and those vulnerable, heart-wrenching moments. The two of them together are perfection.
I laughed, I teared up, I swooned, and I had the best time listening to Single Dad Dilemma.
Thanks so much to Karla for the early copies 💖.
- sports romance: NFL coach
- neighbours to lovers
- grumpy x grumpy
- slow burn
- no third-act breakup
- snowed in, forced proximity moment!
- 🌶️.5/5
- dual pov
- dual narration by Aiden Snow and CJ Bloom
Single Dad Dilemma gives me the same warm buzz as my favourite Karla book, The Best Of All. Karla nails that blend of sharp banter, sweet kid moments, a delicious slow burn, and characters who grow in the most satisfying ways.
Lily has spent ten years drifting from place to place with her elderly dog. This winter in Buffalo changes her rhythm. Living next door to Barrett, a busy NFL coach juggling two kids, has her rethinking everything. For the first time, she wonders what it might feel like to stay, to let down her walls, and to face the past she has been dodging for far too long.
Barrett and Lily are similar in all the ways that matter, but also wonderfully different. They are both grumpy and guarded. Barrett is a perfectionist who thrives on routine (his life is literally scheduled in 15-minute increments 😅), while Lily lives in a state of beautiful chaos.
The contrast makes their connection spark in every scene. Their banter is quick and clever, and the emotional moments hit even harder when Lily slowly shares the truth about her past, piece by piece and tattoo by tattoo. If you love a slow burn, this one is irresistible. I inhaled it.
Lily also forms the sweetest relationships with Maggie and Bryce (especially our sassy queen Maggie). With their mother out of the picture and no other woman drama, Lily naturally steps into a steady, nurturing role without even realizing it.
The audio is an absolute treat. Aiden is everything you want in a grumpy single dad voice, and CJ Bloom continues to be unmatched at handling banter, softness, and those vulnerable, heart-wrenching moments. The two of them together are perfection.
I laughed, I teared up, I swooned, and I had the best time listening to Single Dad Dilemma.
Thanks so much to Karla for the early copies 💖.
November 15, 2025
Karla Sorensen has crafted something special with Single Dad Dilemma—a romance that refuses to choose between levity and depth, delivering both in equal measure. Her writing possesses a rare quality: the ability to shift seamlessly from moments of genuine humor to scenes that strike straight at the heart.
What makes this story special is its emotional authenticity. MMC Barratt carries complicated baggage from his divorce and a strained relationship with his twin Griffin (the MMC in Lessons in Heartbreak, which I also loved with my whole heart), while FMC Lily brings her own wounds, including a poignant and heartbreaking history connected to her canine companion Larry and grounded in a lonely, rootless existence.
This story is about family bonds, processing loss, and the courage it takes to open yourself to connection again. There's a gentleness in Karla’s approach to these heavier subjects that just speaks directly to my heart. She lets us sit with difficult emotions while still providing moments of lightness that are so needed and appreciated.
This one is a delicious slow burn (like 80% slow) and it’s all the better for it. Nothing was rushed and everything was so so good when things finally popped off and the tension broke.
This story has substance, humor and genuine emotional impact — it delivers on all fronts. It's the kind of story that stays with you, reminding you why we turn to romance in the first place: for the promise of healing, connection, and well-deserved happiness.
🎧The audio performances on this one were compelling and heartfelt and I enjoyed listened to the story so much. Can’t recommend the audio or the book more.
Thanks so much to Karla for this ARC and ALC via NetGalley!
What makes this story special is its emotional authenticity. MMC Barratt carries complicated baggage from his divorce and a strained relationship with his twin Griffin (the MMC in Lessons in Heartbreak, which I also loved with my whole heart), while FMC Lily brings her own wounds, including a poignant and heartbreaking history connected to her canine companion Larry and grounded in a lonely, rootless existence.
This story is about family bonds, processing loss, and the courage it takes to open yourself to connection again. There's a gentleness in Karla’s approach to these heavier subjects that just speaks directly to my heart. She lets us sit with difficult emotions while still providing moments of lightness that are so needed and appreciated.
This one is a delicious slow burn (like 80% slow) and it’s all the better for it. Nothing was rushed and everything was so so good when things finally popped off and the tension broke.
This story has substance, humor and genuine emotional impact — it delivers on all fronts. It's the kind of story that stays with you, reminding you why we turn to romance in the first place: for the promise of healing, connection, and well-deserved happiness.
🎧The audio performances on this one were compelling and heartfelt and I enjoyed listened to the story so much. Can’t recommend the audio or the book more.
Thanks so much to Karla for this ARC and ALC via NetGalley!
December 28, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
4 stars
From the very first page, I knew I was going to like this book.
Chapter one was absolutely hilarious. The FMC was sarcastic, and the MMC… oh my god. I loved it when the FMC ruffled his feathers. She’s also amazing with his kids, which just made me adore her even more. Honestly, I adored all the characters. I related to the FMC so much, and the story hit me emotionally pretty early on.
I was already halfway through the book and loving every second of it. The slow burn was done really well, and this book didn’t even need marketing—it’s that good. I loved the colorful ways the FMC described the MMC, and I can’t remember the last time I was this invested in a romance novel.
That said, I do wish I’d read it faster and without long gaps between reading sessions. I felt the flow slowed down a bit in the second half. I absolutely loved the first half—it was amazing. The chemistry was off the charts, and it was deeply emotional. The book did feel a bit long for my taste, though I understand that the pacing needed that time to land properly. Still, toward the end, the momentum dipped for me.
Lol, I genuinely wish I could highlight every line in this book. I want—no, I need—a friggin physical copy.
Overall, I got attached to the characters, and this book has become one of my favorite reads. So thank you to the author for such a wonderful story.
You’ve got a fan in me.
4 stars
From the very first page, I knew I was going to like this book.
Chapter one was absolutely hilarious. The FMC was sarcastic, and the MMC… oh my god. I loved it when the FMC ruffled his feathers. She’s also amazing with his kids, which just made me adore her even more. Honestly, I adored all the characters. I related to the FMC so much, and the story hit me emotionally pretty early on.
I was already halfway through the book and loving every second of it. The slow burn was done really well, and this book didn’t even need marketing—it’s that good. I loved the colorful ways the FMC described the MMC, and I can’t remember the last time I was this invested in a romance novel.
That said, I do wish I’d read it faster and without long gaps between reading sessions. I felt the flow slowed down a bit in the second half. I absolutely loved the first half—it was amazing. The chemistry was off the charts, and it was deeply emotional. The book did feel a bit long for my taste, though I understand that the pacing needed that time to land properly. Still, toward the end, the momentum dipped for me.
Lol, I genuinely wish I could highlight every line in this book. I want—no, I need—a friggin physical copy.
Overall, I got attached to the characters, and this book has become one of my favorite reads. So thank you to the author for such a wonderful story.
You’ve got a fan in me.
November 18, 2025
safe! no ow/om drama no virgins
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