Casual Now

by Meghan French

I’ve always worn my heart on my sleeve, determined to find love and have fun along the way. My last breakup, though, left my heart in shambles and I decided it’s not worth it to get heartbroken again. So I’ll approach my future relationships with a casual outlook. If I keep things light, I can’t get hurt, right? I plan on guarding my anxious heart moving forward. That is, until I meet Jackson “JJ” Jeffers, the gorgeous starting shortstop for the Chicago Foxes and my new neighbor. He might try to sweep me off my feet, but I can resist his charms, because deep down, who really wants more than casual now anyway?



The moment I laid eyes on Amy Stone, I was impressed, and after my last relationship–my disaster of an engagement–I’m not used to being the one doing the chasing. Amy is giving me a run for my money, though, and I’m enjoying every moment of it. Once she finally decides to take the leap, though, my family–specifically in the form of my estranged mother–interrupts our progress. My mother’s desperation to get her own way threatens not only my relationship with the most perfect woman for me, but my entire livelihood.

Can we walk the tightrope to ensure we survive with our integrity, jobs, and lives intact?



Fans of spicy interconnected standalone romances will be hooked on this first installment of the Chicago Foxes series, featuring found family, dirty-talking baseball players, and strong women.

Recommended for fans of The Windy City Series, Playing for Keeps series, and Vancouver Storm series.

432 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 7, 2025

About the author

Meghan French is a romance author who loves writing about strong female characters and the swoonworthy, dirty-talking men who love them. A self-professed foodie and yogini, she lives in Arizona with her husband and dog. When she’s not in a writing cave, she spends her time as a school psychologist, hiking, and reading all the romance novels she can get her hands on.

Reviews

[Nataliesimmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Casual Now is a home run of a debut for the Chicago Foxes series, effortlessly blending spicy romance with emotional weight, character-driven storytelling, and the addictive charm of found family.

Amy Stone is the kind of protagonist you root for from page one: smart, driven, refreshingly self-aware. She’s built her life around control and independence, until JJ storms in with his easy charm, dirty mouth, and hidden depths. He’s more than just a baseball-playing heartthrob. He’s a man running from a past he can’t quite outrun, and it's that collision of vulnerability and confidence that makes their chemistry crackle.

Set against the backdrop of Chicago's pro baseball scene, the story never leans too heavily on the sports trope. Instead, it uses it as a launchpad to explore themes of trust, emotional baggage, and what it means to let someone in. Some moments sizzle (yes, the spice is real), but also quieter ones that make you ache.

[AzGirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

A New Favorite

I just finished Casual Now by Meghan French and honestly, I’m still thinking about it. It’s a great read if you like stories about a professional athlete and a girl who is determined to keep things "casual" even when the chemistry is obvious. It’s got a good mix of funny moments, some really sexy scenes, and some heavier emotional stuff that makes the relationship feel way more real than your typical romance novel. There are moments that will have you needing a cold shower. 🤭

If you’re looking for a quick, solid smutty book with a lead character who feels like someone you’d actually want to be friends with, you should definitely give this one a shot.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felt like a summer getaway to Chi-town, to snuggle up with this book during the August in Arizona. Fun, easy read kept me turning the page to see what was next. It was well balanced between steamy scenes, baseball and real life struggles. You can’t help but to love the 3rd key character in this love triangle Bruno, the big goofy dog . Can’t wait to dive into the next book in the series.

[Meghan Sutherland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spicy and Heartfelt!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

The perfect combination of spicy scenes and a realistic, heartfelt story. I loved the accurate portrayal of an anxiety disorder in the FMC. JJ Jeffers is my new book boyfriend! I’m ready for book 2 already!

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book from start to finish

Great new author, I loved this story and the realness of the characters. I can't wait for the next in the series!

[Ana Reyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. My. God. I cannot stop smiling. I just put the book down and I’m already missing these characters. JJ is the sweetest dirty-talker I’ve ever read, and Amy is my new favorite heroine