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Out of Her League
To make her ex jealous, an ambitious young surgeon recruits a charming star soccer player to be her date to a lavish Parisian wedding—but love might have a game plan of its own, in this stand-alone romance from the USA Today bestselling author of the Biotech Billionaires series.
Dr. Isabelle Mercado is this close to having it all. Top of her class at the country’s most competitive orthopedic surgery residency, a dream career within reach, and a golden ticket to the Paris wedding of the year.
There’s just one her ex—the one who got away—is going to be there… with his perfect new fiancée.
Desperate to save face (and maybe spark a little jealousy), Isa enlists soccer legend and global heartthrob Austin Cade to be her fake date. It’s the perfect after an injury and some unfortunate encounters with the press, he needs good PR and the kind of elite connections this wedding will attract. Plus, her ex just so happens to be his #1 fan. Win-win.
But between champagne toasts and stolen glances under Parisian stars, pretending starts to feel a lot like the real thing. Isa’s always been all-in on her career—love was never the goal.
But maybe, just maybe… this time, the heart has its own agenda.
TROPES YOU'LL
Fake datingFancy Paris weddingSo. much. banter!Billionaires and rich people shenanigansOnly one bedReputation rehabAthlete with a chip on his shoulder
Dr. Isabelle Mercado is this close to having it all. Top of her class at the country’s most competitive orthopedic surgery residency, a dream career within reach, and a golden ticket to the Paris wedding of the year.
There’s just one her ex—the one who got away—is going to be there… with his perfect new fiancée.
Desperate to save face (and maybe spark a little jealousy), Isa enlists soccer legend and global heartthrob Austin Cade to be her fake date. It’s the perfect after an injury and some unfortunate encounters with the press, he needs good PR and the kind of elite connections this wedding will attract. Plus, her ex just so happens to be his #1 fan. Win-win.
But between champagne toasts and stolen glances under Parisian stars, pretending starts to feel a lot like the real thing. Isa’s always been all-in on her career—love was never the goal.
But maybe, just maybe… this time, the heart has its own agenda.
TROPES YOU'LL
Fake datingFancy Paris weddingSo. much. banter!Billionaires and rich people shenanigansOnly one bedReputation rehabAthlete with a chip on his shoulder
368 pages, Paperback
First published May 12, 2026
About the author
Ava Rani
5 books409 followersAva is a USA Today Bestselling author and a desi-girl chasing HEAs
The daughter of two immigrants, her Indian-American roots peek out in different ways in her novels.
She writes diverse escapism. Flawed characters with real problems in an idealized world. Fall in love with the hero and the heroine. But also, fall in love with their friend group. Fall in love with their chosen families and the people who support them.
When she's not writing, she's living her best 'Charlotte Pickles' life and taking over the corporate world while being a wife and mom to an adorable kiddo and labradoodle. With hobbies from gardening to studying to being a sommelier, she's always looking for her next delicious treat.
The daughter of two immigrants, her Indian-American roots peek out in different ways in her novels.
She writes diverse escapism. Flawed characters with real problems in an idealized world. Fall in love with the hero and the heroine. But also, fall in love with their friend group. Fall in love with their chosen families and the people who support them.
When she's not writing, she's living her best 'Charlotte Pickles' life and taking over the corporate world while being a wife and mom to an adorable kiddo and labradoodle. With hobbies from gardening to studying to being a sommelier, she's always looking for her next delicious treat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 809 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
— Rating: 3 ★ .ᐟ
˚ 𝜗𝜚 ₊ 🩺 . “I’m competing with the life you’re
building for yourself. Because unless I can add to it,
I don’t deserve to be part of it.” ‧₊˚
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 ᢉ𐭩
౨ৎ fake dating
౨ৎ one bed
౨ৎ surgeon x footballer
‧˚꒰ 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 ⋮ ୭
I really wanted to like this book, but I just couldn’t get into it. The overall story was decent, I loved the depth of the FMC, but the lack of chemistry between the main characters in a romance book was too hard to ignore. There was a scarce amount of tension, a distant narrative, and no compelling spark in the characters relationship.
The concept of the plot sounded great but I feel it wasn’t executed to its full potential. This book was extremely slow paced, especially in the beginning. It felt like nothing was happening, no progressive change in the characters or their dynamic, then all of a sudden a crucial moment was being thrown into the writing with no build up. I was constantly getting distracted as the plot often times bored me and I wasn’t capable of fully immersing myself into the writing. The story line was still interesting, I really liked the ‘make her ex jealous’ via fake dating scenario, but truthfully it wasn’t the most entertaining. It only really started to slightly entrance me near the end of the book where the pacing started to pick up.
I think Isabelle and Austin spent too much time apart during the start of the story which contributed to the lackluster dynamic between the two. It also felt very insta-lovey. Despite knowing each other before this book took place, they only really got to learn about the other for two-ish weeks before gaining feelings. I must say they had tons of banter albeit being repetitive and awkward at times. One of the better aspects in their dynamic was the tension. When it did make appearances, which was unfortunately not often, I found it to be decently engrossing. In all, the character’s chemistry felt fairly forced with few rememberable interactions where I could feel a true meaningful connection.
The descriptions though? Absolutely wondrous. Ava Rani illustrated the ethereal setting so well it astonished me, it frankly may have been some of the most descriptive writing I’ve read thus far. Her vocabulary was especially unique. While we’re on the topic of unique, it was fascinating to see characters with the occupations the ones in this book had. A surgeon and soccer play? Absolutely loved it. Unfortunately aside from the fabulous use of figurative language, the writing felt rather clunky and sort of lacked a smooth flow between sentences which made the overall story feel distant.
Sadly there was also a lack of true emotional complexity specifically in Austin’s character. Don’t get me wrong, Isabelle’s fears were delved into really well, however I feel that the author focused too much on Isabelle’s traumas that Austin’s were somewhat dismissed. The effects of his best-friend’s death on him weren’t really mentioned after the beginning chapters in addition to his foster home and education struggles not being particularly looked into. I do think he got some depth but I wish we had seen more intricacy in his character.
‧˚꒰ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 ⋮ ୭
౨ৎ Isabelle Mercado.
I absolutely loved her character! She was so ambitious and didn’t let anything get in the way of her goals. This ambition at times did become unhealthy to the point she often overlooked her personal life and non-work related relationships, but she had great character development throughout the book. It was fascinating to see Isabelle become a committed surgeon capable of balancing life and work in the epilogue despite the very different introduction of her outlook. I will say, she did annoy me from time to time. The lack of communication on her end and how she dealt with her ex was a tad iffy.
I do wish we had gotten to see more of the effects of being a colored woman in the medical field. It was mentioned a few times but never really got fully delved into which was disappointing. Isabelle undoubtedly had intriguing individuality but her inner monologue started to become repetitive as the book went on and I was disappointed that we hadn’t learned more about her interests aside from being a surgeon. Nonetheless I loved reading about her and the growth she had despite the sometimes boring scenes she contributed to.
౨ৎ Austin Cade.
Unfortunately did not giggle and kick my feet for this man but he had had some good qualities. Albeit fairly boring, he was so caring and kind to everyone he interacted with which I have to appreciate. The struggles he had with deciding what his future would look like were delved into really well but aside from that his other traumas/insecurities were rather overlooked.
Truthfully he didn’t really stick out to me and more often than not he was uninteresting. Alike to Isabelle, we didn’t learn much about Austin’s hobbies or interests aside from soccer. In the first few chapters his dialogue was sort of awkward and inauthentic yet he did make the banter somewhat amusing so props to that.
‧˚꒰ 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥 ⋮ ୭
It wasn’t a bad book per say, but Out of her League just wasn’t for me personally. I couldn’t really connect with the storyline due to the distant writing and the chemistry between the main characters being almost completely absent. The descriptive illustrations and emotional complexity of the FMC at the least did intrigue me while reading but in all it was rather boring due to the slow-pace with a lack of any suspension. I considered DNF’ing half way but I pushed through and unfortunately the character’s dynamic, the plot, the dialogue, none of it became truly entertaining. This was my first read from Ava Rani and I truthfully do not see myself reading her other books, but maybe? Still, if you’re looking for a simple yet spicy read with a fake dating trope and main characters with fascinating occupations I’d recommend trying this book!
⋆˚࿔ read: march 19 - march 31 ; 2026
Thank you to Netgalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for this arc in an exchange for an honest review
── ・ ── 𝜗𝜚 ── ・ ──
₊˚ ౿ ⚽️ pre-read !!
First ever ARC and I’m so excited 🥹. I’ve seen mixed-ish reviews on the pacing of the book but overall it seems interesting!! (Also love seeing a FMC with a medical career)
˚ 𝜗𝜚 ₊ 🩺 . “I’m competing with the life you’re
building for yourself. Because unless I can add to it,
I don’t deserve to be part of it.” ‧₊˚
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 ᢉ𐭩
౨ৎ fake dating
౨ৎ one bed
౨ৎ surgeon x footballer
‧˚꒰ 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 ⋮ ୭
I really wanted to like this book, but I just couldn’t get into it. The overall story was decent, I loved the depth of the FMC, but the lack of chemistry between the main characters in a romance book was too hard to ignore. There was a scarce amount of tension, a distant narrative, and no compelling spark in the characters relationship.
The concept of the plot sounded great but I feel it wasn’t executed to its full potential. This book was extremely slow paced, especially in the beginning. It felt like nothing was happening, no progressive change in the characters or their dynamic, then all of a sudden a crucial moment was being thrown into the writing with no build up. I was constantly getting distracted as the plot often times bored me and I wasn’t capable of fully immersing myself into the writing. The story line was still interesting, I really liked the ‘make her ex jealous’ via fake dating scenario, but truthfully it wasn’t the most entertaining. It only really started to slightly entrance me near the end of the book where the pacing started to pick up.
I think Isabelle and Austin spent too much time apart during the start of the story which contributed to the lackluster dynamic between the two. It also felt very insta-lovey. Despite knowing each other before this book took place, they only really got to learn about the other for two-ish weeks before gaining feelings. I must say they had tons of banter albeit being repetitive and awkward at times. One of the better aspects in their dynamic was the tension. When it did make appearances, which was unfortunately not often, I found it to be decently engrossing. In all, the character’s chemistry felt fairly forced with few rememberable interactions where I could feel a true meaningful connection.
The descriptions though? Absolutely wondrous. Ava Rani illustrated the ethereal setting so well it astonished me, it frankly may have been some of the most descriptive writing I’ve read thus far. Her vocabulary was especially unique. While we’re on the topic of unique, it was fascinating to see characters with the occupations the ones in this book had. A surgeon and soccer play? Absolutely loved it. Unfortunately aside from the fabulous use of figurative language, the writing felt rather clunky and sort of lacked a smooth flow between sentences which made the overall story feel distant.
Sadly there was also a lack of true emotional complexity specifically in Austin’s character. Don’t get me wrong, Isabelle’s fears were delved into really well, however I feel that the author focused too much on Isabelle’s traumas that Austin’s were somewhat dismissed. The effects of his best-friend’s death on him weren’t really mentioned after the beginning chapters in addition to his foster home and education struggles not being particularly looked into. I do think he got some depth but I wish we had seen more intricacy in his character.
‧˚꒰ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 ⋮ ୭
౨ৎ Isabelle Mercado.
I absolutely loved her character! She was so ambitious and didn’t let anything get in the way of her goals. This ambition at times did become unhealthy to the point she often overlooked her personal life and non-work related relationships, but she had great character development throughout the book. It was fascinating to see Isabelle become a committed surgeon capable of balancing life and work in the epilogue despite the very different introduction of her outlook. I will say, she did annoy me from time to time. The lack of communication on her end and how she dealt with her ex was a tad iffy.
I do wish we had gotten to see more of the effects of being a colored woman in the medical field. It was mentioned a few times but never really got fully delved into which was disappointing. Isabelle undoubtedly had intriguing individuality but her inner monologue started to become repetitive as the book went on and I was disappointed that we hadn’t learned more about her interests aside from being a surgeon. Nonetheless I loved reading about her and the growth she had despite the sometimes boring scenes she contributed to.
౨ৎ Austin Cade.
Unfortunately did not giggle and kick my feet for this man but he had had some good qualities. Albeit fairly boring, he was so caring and kind to everyone he interacted with which I have to appreciate. The struggles he had with deciding what his future would look like were delved into really well but aside from that his other traumas/insecurities were rather overlooked.
Truthfully he didn’t really stick out to me and more often than not he was uninteresting. Alike to Isabelle, we didn’t learn much about Austin’s hobbies or interests aside from soccer. In the first few chapters his dialogue was sort of awkward and inauthentic yet he did make the banter somewhat amusing so props to that.
‧˚꒰ 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥 ⋮ ୭
It wasn’t a bad book per say, but Out of her League just wasn’t for me personally. I couldn’t really connect with the storyline due to the distant writing and the chemistry between the main characters being almost completely absent. The descriptive illustrations and emotional complexity of the FMC at the least did intrigue me while reading but in all it was rather boring due to the slow-pace with a lack of any suspension. I considered DNF’ing half way but I pushed through and unfortunately the character’s dynamic, the plot, the dialogue, none of it became truly entertaining. This was my first read from Ava Rani and I truthfully do not see myself reading her other books, but maybe? Still, if you’re looking for a simple yet spicy read with a fake dating trope and main characters with fascinating occupations I’d recommend trying this book!
⋆˚࿔ read: march 19 - march 31 ; 2026
Thank you to Netgalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for this arc in an exchange for an honest review
── ・ ── 𝜗𝜚 ── ・ ──
₊˚ ౿ ⚽️ pre-read !!
First ever ARC and I’m so excited 🥹. I’ve seen mixed-ish reviews on the pacing of the book but overall it seems interesting!! (Also love seeing a FMC with a medical career)
Currently Reading
May 21, 2026𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ ── pre-read
i ADORE ava rani!!! after seeing so many edits & reviews for this, i had to start!! pls read more south asian authors esp if ur looking for south asian rep <3
+ latina rep
as someone who's a BIG fan of women in stem in romance, i am truly soso excited! i heard isabelle is mentioned in her billionaire romance series so i'll be reading that very soon as well!!
the cover?! 😋
✧˖°💘 ⋆｡˚꩜ tropes & things to expect
⤷ she's a surgeon
⤷ fake dating her ex's fav athlete
⤷ 'no hands'
⤷ one bed
⤷ banter
⤷ famous soccer player
⤷ childless by choice
⤷ jealousy
out may 12!!
thank you avon for the for the digital advanced copy & ALC!
i ADORE ava rani!!! after seeing so many edits & reviews for this, i had to start!! pls read more south asian authors esp if ur looking for south asian rep <3
+ latina rep
as someone who's a BIG fan of women in stem in romance, i am truly soso excited! i heard isabelle is mentioned in her billionaire romance series so i'll be reading that very soon as well!!
the cover?! 😋
✧˖°💘 ⋆｡˚꩜ tropes & things to expect
⤷ she's a surgeon
⤷ fake dating her ex's fav athlete
⤷ 'no hands'
⤷ one bed
⤷ banter
⤷ famous soccer player
⤷ childless by choice
⤷ jealousy
out may 12!!
thank you avon for the for the digital advanced copy & ALC!
May 11, 2026
3.5💫
this was fun! i enjoyed the fake wedding date plot to make an ex jealous. the banter was great between our two main characters, and our fmc, isa, was so iconic. i love to see a strong, independent, stem woman!!! i sometimes felt that she belittled our fmc, austin, when talking about certain things, but not too bad where it made me dislike her. she had so much growth in this book, and I am glad she was able to realize that happiness was more important than impressing her parents!
i do wish there were a little more jealousy scenes since it was the whole point of the fake dating, but i enjoyed what we were given!! i also think there should have been some more focus on the wedding and wedding trip since it was also the plot of the book- im pretty sure we skipped the entire actual wedding.
thank you so much avon and ava rani for the arc!!!!
this was fun! i enjoyed the fake wedding date plot to make an ex jealous. the banter was great between our two main characters, and our fmc, isa, was so iconic. i love to see a strong, independent, stem woman!!! i sometimes felt that she belittled our fmc, austin, when talking about certain things, but not too bad where it made me dislike her. she had so much growth in this book, and I am glad she was able to realize that happiness was more important than impressing her parents!
i do wish there were a little more jealousy scenes since it was the whole point of the fake dating, but i enjoyed what we were given!! i also think there should have been some more focus on the wedding and wedding trip since it was also the plot of the book- im pretty sure we skipped the entire actual wedding.
thank you so much avon and ava rani for the arc!!!!
May 13, 2026
4.25 ★— Surprisingly, the most unrealistic part of this romance is the fact that it features an MMC who led the US team into the semi-final of the World Cup. I'm sorry, America would never make it that far in the World Cup.
But anyway, how fun this was!
I do love a perfectionist heroine, and I feel like we get this in Isabelle, a doctor who, as the daughter of two doctor parents, has always tried to fit into what she thinks her parents expect of her.
In contrast, Austin is a football player who’s achieved it all and is now trying to find a new direction for his post-player life. These two different life stages were really interesting to see them contend with, and I loved how the dual POV chapters developed both of their stories so believably.
The romance between Isabelle and Austin moves at a solid pace, and I liked that their attraction to each other is something they actually admit quite quickly and that their fake-dating schtick naturally evolves into more, as the book gives us plenty of spicy scenes to support this!
The author managed to end this book in a realistic and satisfying way that I felt really worked for both characters. Isabelle and Austin actually went through personal development that made sense for how their dynamic ended up.
Overall, this was such an easy, cute romance to follow, especially as someone that doesn’t usually read sports romances!
🎧 Audiobook Notes
🎙️ Narration Style: Dual
⭐ Listener Rating: 5/5
The audiobook was fantastic! The male narrator did an amazing job at voicing the FMC during his chapters, and I was kind of wowed by how good he was at it. Love, love, love!
_______
Thank you to Avon for the ARC and to HarperAudio for the ALC.
But anyway, how fun this was!
I do love a perfectionist heroine, and I feel like we get this in Isabelle, a doctor who, as the daughter of two doctor parents, has always tried to fit into what she thinks her parents expect of her.
In contrast, Austin is a football player who’s achieved it all and is now trying to find a new direction for his post-player life. These two different life stages were really interesting to see them contend with, and I loved how the dual POV chapters developed both of their stories so believably.
The romance between Isabelle and Austin moves at a solid pace, and I liked that their attraction to each other is something they actually admit quite quickly and that their fake-dating schtick naturally evolves into more, as the book gives us plenty of spicy scenes to support this!
The author managed to end this book in a realistic and satisfying way that I felt really worked for both characters. Isabelle and Austin actually went through personal development that made sense for how their dynamic ended up.
Overall, this was such an easy, cute romance to follow, especially as someone that doesn’t usually read sports romances!
🎧 Audiobook Notes
🎙️ Narration Style: Dual
⭐ Listener Rating: 5/5
The audiobook was fantastic! The male narrator did an amazing job at voicing the FMC during his chapters, and I was kind of wowed by how good he was at it. Love, love, love!
_______
Thank you to Avon for the ARC and to HarperAudio for the ALC.
Read
January 1, 2026An immersive, addicting, and feel-good romance that isn't afraid to dig deep. Out of Her League is a must-read, and Ava Rani paints a world I want to live in forever.
Do yourself a favor and add this one to your TBR!
Do yourself a favor and add this one to your TBR!
May 22, 2026
⋆˙⟡ — 4.5 stars
⤷⊹ started: may 19th, finished: may 21st
𐙚 spoiler-free review ♡
୨ৎ read this with my best friend!! thank you so much for reading this with me because yapping with you made this experience even better 🥹 i love youuu 🤭💗
♡ ⋆｡˚ thoughts
guys this book was SUCH a fun read 😩 fake dating romances are already amazing, but adding paris, soccer, and all the wedding drama made this even more entertaining 🤭 the tension between isa and austin was honestly everything to me. every conversation between them had me giggling and kicking my feet because their banter was just THAT good 😌💗 one thing i really loved was how much depth both characters had outside of the romance. isa was struggling so much with trying to balance her career and personal life, and you could really feel how exhausting everything became for her ☹️ meanwhile austin was dealing with his own grief and pressure after his injury, and i loved seeing how these two slowly became safe places for each other 🥹
♡ ⋆｡˚ characters
♡ ⋆｡˚ isabelle mercado
i loved isa so much 🥹 she’s ambitious, hardworking, and so determined to succeed in a career where she constantly feels like she has to prove herself. i really admired how no matter what happened, she never gave up on her dream of becoming a surgeon 😌 there were so many moments where i felt bad for her because she put SO much pressure on herself all the time ☹️ i think that’s what made her feel so real to me though. underneath all her confidence and ambition, she was still someone trying to figure out how to balance everything without completely losing herself. i seriously need more fmcs like isa in books with characters in the medical field 🤭
♡ ⋆｡˚ austin cade
oh this man 😩 austin was genuinely such a green flag. i loved how supportive he was of isa from the very beginning and how he never made her feel like her career was something she needed to sacrifice for love 🥹 he was also just so thoughtful in the little things he did for her, and i swear every time he showed up for isa my heart melted a little more 🤭 i love me a man who takes care of his girl whenever she’s sick and even tries to cook her something she wants 🥹 i also really loved seeing his more vulnerable side throughout the story because it made him feel so much deeper than just the “famous athlete” stereotype.
♡ ⋆｡˚ isabelle + austin
these two had INSANE chemistry 😩 from the fake dating to the emotional moments, everything about them just worked for me. i loved how naturally they fit into each other’s lives even though they came from completely different worlds 🥹 what made me love them the most was how supportive they were of each other. austin never wanted isa to make herself smaller, and isa always saw the person behind austin’s fame and public image ☹️ they genuinely made each other stronger, and watching them slowly fall for each other had me smiling nonstop 🤭 the romance definitely made this book even better 😌
♡ ⋆｡˚ final thoughts
this was seriously such a fun read, and i’m so glad that i got to experience it 😩 i already miss reading about these two because genuinely everything about them was just EVERYTHING to me 😭
₊˚ ‿︵‿︵‿︵୨୧ · · ♡ · · ୨୧‿︵‿︵‿︵ ˚₊
— ⋆˙⟡ pre-read 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹
i have so many arcs that i need to read, but for some reason i keep avoiding them… so now i’m forcing myself to finally knock them out 😌 i’ve been seeing really good things about this book, so i’m really excited 🤭 and i’m reading this with my bsf har!! i love you sooo much cutie! 🫂💗
thank you so much avon and harper voyager, harper audio, and ava rani for the arc!!
⤷⊹ started: may 19th, finished: may 21st
𐙚 spoiler-free review ♡
୨ৎ read this with my best friend!! thank you so much for reading this with me because yapping with you made this experience even better 🥹 i love youuu 🤭💗
thank you so much avon and harper voyager, harper audio, and ava rani for the arc!!
♡ ⋆｡˚ thoughts
guys this book was SUCH a fun read 😩 fake dating romances are already amazing, but adding paris, soccer, and all the wedding drama made this even more entertaining 🤭 the tension between isa and austin was honestly everything to me. every conversation between them had me giggling and kicking my feet because their banter was just THAT good 😌💗 one thing i really loved was how much depth both characters had outside of the romance. isa was struggling so much with trying to balance her career and personal life, and you could really feel how exhausting everything became for her ☹️ meanwhile austin was dealing with his own grief and pressure after his injury, and i loved seeing how these two slowly became safe places for each other 🥹
♡ ⋆｡˚ characters
♡ ⋆｡˚ isabelle mercado
i loved isa so much 🥹 she’s ambitious, hardworking, and so determined to succeed in a career where she constantly feels like she has to prove herself. i really admired how no matter what happened, she never gave up on her dream of becoming a surgeon 😌 there were so many moments where i felt bad for her because she put SO much pressure on herself all the time ☹️ i think that’s what made her feel so real to me though. underneath all her confidence and ambition, she was still someone trying to figure out how to balance everything without completely losing herself. i seriously need more fmcs like isa in books with characters in the medical field 🤭
♡ ⋆｡˚ austin cade
oh this man 😩 austin was genuinely such a green flag. i loved how supportive he was of isa from the very beginning and how he never made her feel like her career was something she needed to sacrifice for love 🥹 he was also just so thoughtful in the little things he did for her, and i swear every time he showed up for isa my heart melted a little more 🤭 i love me a man who takes care of his girl whenever she’s sick and even tries to cook her something she wants 🥹 i also really loved seeing his more vulnerable side throughout the story because it made him feel so much deeper than just the “famous athlete” stereotype.
♡ ⋆｡˚ isabelle + austin
these two had INSANE chemistry 😩 from the fake dating to the emotional moments, everything about them just worked for me. i loved how naturally they fit into each other’s lives even though they came from completely different worlds 🥹 what made me love them the most was how supportive they were of each other. austin never wanted isa to make herself smaller, and isa always saw the person behind austin’s fame and public image ☹️ they genuinely made each other stronger, and watching them slowly fall for each other had me smiling nonstop 🤭 the romance definitely made this book even better 😌
♡ ⋆｡˚ final thoughts
this was seriously such a fun read, and i’m so glad that i got to experience it 😩 i already miss reading about these two because genuinely everything about them was just EVERYTHING to me 😭
₊˚ ‿︵‿︵‿︵୨୧ · · ♡ · · ୨୧‿︵‿︵‿︵ ˚₊
— ⋆˙⟡ pre-read 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹
i have so many arcs that i need to read, but for some reason i keep avoiding them… so now i’m forcing myself to finally knock them out 😌 i’ve been seeing really good things about this book, so i’m really excited 🤭 and i’m reading this with my bsf har!! i love you sooo much cutie! 🫂💗
thank you so much avon and harper voyager, harper audio, and ava rani for the arc!!
May 13, 2026
3.75/5 stars
thank you to Netgalley, Avon and Harper Voyager and HarperAudio Adult for providing me with a copy of this book and it's audiobook!
i had the opportunity to immersive read this book and can honestly said i had such a great time! that being said, i could definitely see myself still enjoying it even if i only had the audio or ebook instead of both
i really am on a real thread of books that are reflecting my own life right back at me atm and MAN its scary lmao... our FMC Isabelle is an insane surgeon trying to secure her place in the medical/surgical field for years to come - this means sometimes putting her job above all which unfortunately meant her and her last boyfriend broke up... Fast forward to her best friends wedding - her ex is going to be there with his new beautiful fiancé so Isabelle does what anyone would do... Get said ex-boyfriends athletic idol to be her fake date to the wedding!
Isabelle and Austin had this insane chemistry from the very start that genuinely just had you begging for them to say fuck it and give in to each other and what they both want and i genuinely cant get enough of them! Both have hugeee decisions to make and we see them both traverse this in very different ways and i loved seeing that!
Generally i did really enjoy both narrators - their expressions of emotion through this book made everything really believable and they were really easy to follow along to! I will say (this is definitely personal preference) I kinda didnt like the way the male narrator voice the spicy scenes and it kinda took me out of the moment but other than that I loved them both!
Id love to check out more of their work in the future <3
thank you to Netgalley, Avon and Harper Voyager and HarperAudio Adult for providing me with a copy of this book and it's audiobook!
i had the opportunity to immersive read this book and can honestly said i had such a great time! that being said, i could definitely see myself still enjoying it even if i only had the audio or ebook instead of both
i really am on a real thread of books that are reflecting my own life right back at me atm and MAN its scary lmao... our FMC Isabelle is an insane surgeon trying to secure her place in the medical/surgical field for years to come - this means sometimes putting her job above all which unfortunately meant her and her last boyfriend broke up... Fast forward to her best friends wedding - her ex is going to be there with his new beautiful fiancé so Isabelle does what anyone would do... Get said ex-boyfriends athletic idol to be her fake date to the wedding!
Isabelle and Austin had this insane chemistry from the very start that genuinely just had you begging for them to say fuck it and give in to each other and what they both want and i genuinely cant get enough of them! Both have hugeee decisions to make and we see them both traverse this in very different ways and i loved seeing that!
Generally i did really enjoy both narrators - their expressions of emotion through this book made everything really believable and they were really easy to follow along to! I will say (this is definitely personal preference) I kinda didnt like the way the male narrator voice the spicy scenes and it kinda took me out of the moment but other than that I loved them both!
Id love to check out more of their work in the future <3
May 22, 2026
┆ ⤿ 🩺 ⌗ started: may 19, finished: may 21
4.5 stars 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹
⤿ arc review with no spoilers.
𑣲⋆ arc no.3 of the summer!
⋆.˚ ★— buddy read this with my best friend! 💌 i loved reading this together as usual hehe i love youuuu 🤭💗
tropes: ⋆˚࿔
.ᐟ surgeon x soccer player
.ᐟ fake dating
.ᐟ wedding date plus one
.ᐟ women in stem
.ᐟ child free FMC
.ᐟ banter
ⓘ thank you avon & harper voyager, harperaudio adult, ava rani, & netgalley for an e-arc and alc in exchange for a honest review
thoughts: ⋆˚࿔
out of her league follows isa, an orthopedic surgery resident who has spent her entire life chasing perfection, and austin, a world-famous soccer player trying to repair his image after an injury and media backlash. when isa finds out her ex will be attending a glamorous paris wedding with his new fiancée, she impulsively asks austin to be her fake date. what starts as a mutually beneficial arrangement slowly turns into something much softer and more real as they navigate paris, complicated feelings, career pressures, and the vulnerability neither of them expected.
this was honestly such a fun and bingeable read. the fake dating trope mixed with the paris setting and celebrity romance vibes made it feel very cinematic and easy to get swept up in. isa and austin had really sweet chemistry, and i loved how supportive austin was of isa’s ambitions instead of trying to dim her shine. the romance felt comforting and light while still having emotional moments underneath it.
i also really appreciated seeing a heroine in such an intense medical career because you could truly feel how hard isa worked for everything she achieved. her struggles with balancing success, expectations, and relationships felt relatable and grounded. and austin? very much book boyfriend material.
──★ ˙🩺 !! characters
isabelle mercado: ⋆˚࿔
isa felt so real to me. as someone in a male-dominated field, i understood her constant need to prove herself, to work harder than everyone else, and to feel like one mistake could undo everything she worked for. there was this pressure she carried throughout the book that made her character feel incredibly relatable and human.
at times, i honestly just wanted her to pause for a second and breathe. to realize that her worth wasn’t tied only to achievements or how much she could endure. you could really see how badly she wanted to succeed while also carrying the fear of not being “enough,” and i think that’s something a lot of people will connect with. i loved that beneath all her ambition and determination, she still had moments of vulnerability. it made her feel layered instead of just being the “strong career woman” stereotype. watching her slowly allow herself to lean on someone else emotionally was probably one of my favorite parts of the story.
austin cade: ⋆˚࿔
austin cade might genuinely be one of my new favorite book boyfriends because he loved isa in such a quiet, intentional way. it wasn’t just grand gestures, it was the little things he noticed and remembered that made him so special to me. he constantly showed up for her, even when it pushed him out of his comfort zone. travelling despite hating flights, taking care of her when she was sick, attempting to cook something she had wanted for so long, all of those moments felt so thoughtful and full of care. but what i loved most was how emotionally aware he was with her. he always seemed to know exactly when isa needed comfort, reassurance, or simply space to breathe.
in a story where isa spent so much of her life feeling like she had to carry everything alone, austin became someone steady and safe for her. he never made her feel like she was “too much” for being ambitious or overwhelmed. instead, he kept reminding her that she didn’t have to do everything alone and that he wasn’t going anywhere.
their relationship worked so well for me because austin never tried to fix isa, he just supported her, understood her, and loved her in the ways she needed most. honestly, the standard has been raised.
isabelle + austin: ⋆˚࿔
isa and austin fit into each other’s lives so naturally that their relationship never felt forced to me. despite coming from completely different worlds, they balanced each other in the best way possible. isa was always rushing, overworking, and carrying the weight of everything on her shoulders, while austin became this calm, steady presence that reminded her she didn’t have to do life alone.
what made them work so well was that neither of them asked the other person to become smaller. austin never made isa feel like her career was “too much,” and isa saw past the fame and image everyone expected from him. they understood each other beyond the surface, and you could really feel the trust and comfort slowly building between them.
i think that’s why their relationship was so satisfying to read. they didn’t just have chemistry, they genuinely made each other’s lives better. together, they felt soft, safe, and effortless in a way that made it impossible not to root for them.
4.5 stars 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹
⤿ arc review with no spoilers.
𑣲⋆ arc no.3 of the summer!
“i feel her so keenly that the only explanation was we fit together perfectly. the shoreline at the beach. every single piece fit exactly like it was made to."
⋆.˚ ★— buddy read this with my best friend! 💌 i loved reading this together as usual hehe i love youuuu 🤭💗
tropes: ⋆˚࿔
.ᐟ surgeon x soccer player
.ᐟ fake dating
.ᐟ wedding date plus one
.ᐟ women in stem
.ᐟ child free FMC
.ᐟ banter
ⓘ thank you avon & harper voyager, harperaudio adult, ava rani, & netgalley for an e-arc and alc in exchange for a honest review
thoughts: ⋆˚࿔
out of her league follows isa, an orthopedic surgery resident who has spent her entire life chasing perfection, and austin, a world-famous soccer player trying to repair his image after an injury and media backlash. when isa finds out her ex will be attending a glamorous paris wedding with his new fiancée, she impulsively asks austin to be her fake date. what starts as a mutually beneficial arrangement slowly turns into something much softer and more real as they navigate paris, complicated feelings, career pressures, and the vulnerability neither of them expected.
this was honestly such a fun and bingeable read. the fake dating trope mixed with the paris setting and celebrity romance vibes made it feel very cinematic and easy to get swept up in. isa and austin had really sweet chemistry, and i loved how supportive austin was of isa’s ambitions instead of trying to dim her shine. the romance felt comforting and light while still having emotional moments underneath it.
i also really appreciated seeing a heroine in such an intense medical career because you could truly feel how hard isa worked for everything she achieved. her struggles with balancing success, expectations, and relationships felt relatable and grounded. and austin? very much book boyfriend material.
──★ ˙🩺 !! characters
isabelle mercado: ⋆˚࿔
isa felt so real to me. as someone in a male-dominated field, i understood her constant need to prove herself, to work harder than everyone else, and to feel like one mistake could undo everything she worked for. there was this pressure she carried throughout the book that made her character feel incredibly relatable and human.
at times, i honestly just wanted her to pause for a second and breathe. to realize that her worth wasn’t tied only to achievements or how much she could endure. you could really see how badly she wanted to succeed while also carrying the fear of not being “enough,” and i think that’s something a lot of people will connect with. i loved that beneath all her ambition and determination, she still had moments of vulnerability. it made her feel layered instead of just being the “strong career woman” stereotype. watching her slowly allow herself to lean on someone else emotionally was probably one of my favorite parts of the story.
austin cade: ⋆˚࿔
austin cade might genuinely be one of my new favorite book boyfriends because he loved isa in such a quiet, intentional way. it wasn’t just grand gestures, it was the little things he noticed and remembered that made him so special to me. he constantly showed up for her, even when it pushed him out of his comfort zone. travelling despite hating flights, taking care of her when she was sick, attempting to cook something she had wanted for so long, all of those moments felt so thoughtful and full of care. but what i loved most was how emotionally aware he was with her. he always seemed to know exactly when isa needed comfort, reassurance, or simply space to breathe.
in a story where isa spent so much of her life feeling like she had to carry everything alone, austin became someone steady and safe for her. he never made her feel like she was “too much” for being ambitious or overwhelmed. instead, he kept reminding her that she didn’t have to do everything alone and that he wasn’t going anywhere.
their relationship worked so well for me because austin never tried to fix isa, he just supported her, understood her, and loved her in the ways she needed most. honestly, the standard has been raised.
isabelle + austin: ⋆˚࿔
isa and austin fit into each other’s lives so naturally that their relationship never felt forced to me. despite coming from completely different worlds, they balanced each other in the best way possible. isa was always rushing, overworking, and carrying the weight of everything on her shoulders, while austin became this calm, steady presence that reminded her she didn’t have to do life alone.
what made them work so well was that neither of them asked the other person to become smaller. austin never made isa feel like her career was “too much,” and isa saw past the fame and image everyone expected from him. they understood each other beyond the surface, and you could really feel the trust and comfort slowly building between them.
i think that’s why their relationship was so satisfying to read. they didn’t just have chemistry, they genuinely made each other’s lives better. together, they felt soft, safe, and effortless in a way that made it impossible not to root for them.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The SCREECH i let out during the auction! 10/10.
The TENSION in this is top tier.
This has emotional depth for days, sexy af tension and spice, and some truly spectacular banter.
What to love…
- STEM FMC
- eldest daughter vibes (she’s actually an only child but, ya know.. Overachiever, plagued by parental expectations, putting others desires and expectations above her own)
- he’s down very very bad and I loved it.
- great side characters and emotional development outside of the romance
- but the romance is also 10/10
Audio Narration: 4/5
Narrators: Vikas Adam & Vanessa Vasquez
Style: DUAL
Length: 9 hrs 31 mins
Thoughts: This was good but not great. Vanessa’s performance was pretty fantastic, no real issues there. For the male narrator, the pausing was excessive, which is one of my biggest audiobook pet peeves. It makes finding a comfortable listening speed so hard. Overall the pacing was slightly inconsistent between the two narrators. Not enough for me to change speeds every time they switched but enough that I noticed and occasionally needed to adjust the speed.
4.25⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you Avon for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
The TENSION in this is top tier.
This has emotional depth for days, sexy af tension and spice, and some truly spectacular banter.
What to love…
- STEM FMC
- eldest daughter vibes (she’s actually an only child but, ya know.. Overachiever, plagued by parental expectations, putting others desires and expectations above her own)
- he’s down very very bad and I loved it.
- great side characters and emotional development outside of the romance
- but the romance is also 10/10
Audio Narration: 4/5
Narrators: Vikas Adam & Vanessa Vasquez
Style: DUAL
Length: 9 hrs 31 mins
Thoughts: This was good but not great. Vanessa’s performance was pretty fantastic, no real issues there. For the male narrator, the pausing was excessive, which is one of my biggest audiobook pet peeves. It makes finding a comfortable listening speed so hard. Overall the pacing was slightly inconsistent between the two narrators. Not enough for me to change speeds every time they switched but enough that I noticed and occasionally needed to adjust the speed.
4.25⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you Avon for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Since I'm in the medical field myself, I initially was envious of Isa for not being a first-generation student (like me 🫣), but it turns out that having a famous doctor as a parent can be challenging too. This felt relatable because, truly, medical school makes people miss a lot of important moments in life; it makes you lose friends and completely alters your priorities. I liked that Isa could escape this vicious cycle and be happy with someone who truly cares about her and appreciates her for who she is 🥹
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕮𝖑𝖔𝖘𝖊𝖉 𝕯𝖔𝖔𝖗 𝕸𝖔𝖉𝖎𝖋𝖎𝖈𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
SKIP CHAPTERS: 22, 27, 34
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
I have read every single Ava Rani book, and I have a feeling this one will be relatable. Thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and HarperAudio Adult for the eARC and ALC 🩵🩷
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕮𝖑𝖔𝖘𝖊𝖉 𝕯𝖔𝖔𝖗 𝕸𝖔𝖉𝖎𝖋𝖎𝖈𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
SKIP CHAPTERS: 22, 27, 34
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
I have read every single Ava Rani book, and I have a feeling this one will be relatable. Thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and HarperAudio Adult for the eARC and ALC 🩵🩷
April 29, 2026
4.25 This one completely snuck up on me! What I expected to be just a "cute romance" turned into an engaging read that kept drawing me in. As a female physician, I especially appreciated the authentic attention to the challenges and prejudices women face in the world of medicine. It’s a wonderful balance of a sweet love story and a meaningful look at professional hurdles. A great listen!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
First book from Ava Rani and I had such a good time. It's so easy to read and the fake dating trope is always a favorite of mine. The chemistry between these two felt sooo real from the start and I loved how their relationship developed.
Read this if you love:
• fake dating
• orthopedic surgeon and soccer star
• he falls first
• yearning
First book from Ava Rani and I had such a good time. It's so easy to read and the fake dating trope is always a favorite of mine. The chemistry between these two felt sooo real from the start and I loved how their relationship developed.
Read this if you love:
• fake dating
• orthopedic surgeon and soccer star
• he falls first
• yearning
May 2, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley & HarperAudio Adult for the ALC!
4 ⭐️ 3🌶️
Yep. This book did what I needed it to. FMC Isabelle is a confident, badass surgeon, and MMC Austin is a soccer legend and actual decent guy. He becomes her fake date to her best friend’s Parisian wedding to make her ex jealous. I enjoyed their banter and how he made her feel safe enough to relax and let go (“It was nice to have someone else take control”). I like how their relationship grew organically (none of that insta-love 🤢), and that there was space for her to grieve and process her past relationship ❤️🩹.
My only critiques are that I wish we had more time in Paris (such a romantic city) and that the addition of some more fun side characters would have made the story a little lighter. Oh, and that DUET NARRATION would have made the listening experience much more fun. The narrators were fine, but coming off of several multi-cast/duet romance audiobooks, it really takes me out of the story when the narrators are doing all the voices. Just a personal preference. The story was fun though. This will be a great beach read. This is my first book by Ava, and I’ll definitely read more 👍🏽!
4 ⭐️ 3🌶️
Yep. This book did what I needed it to. FMC Isabelle is a confident, badass surgeon, and MMC Austin is a soccer legend and actual decent guy. He becomes her fake date to her best friend’s Parisian wedding to make her ex jealous. I enjoyed their banter and how he made her feel safe enough to relax and let go (“It was nice to have someone else take control”). I like how their relationship grew organically (none of that insta-love 🤢), and that there was space for her to grieve and process her past relationship ❤️🩹.
My only critiques are that I wish we had more time in Paris (such a romantic city) and that the addition of some more fun side characters would have made the story a little lighter. Oh, and that DUET NARRATION would have made the listening experience much more fun. The narrators were fine, but coming off of several multi-cast/duet romance audiobooks, it really takes me out of the story when the narrators are doing all the voices. Just a personal preference. The story was fun though. This will be a great beach read. This is my first book by Ava, and I’ll definitely read more 👍🏽!
May 13, 2026
I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher through NetGalley. My review is honest.
I feel like the main characters lack any sort of mutual interest. He makes jokes about her being attracted to him, but even when she notices him, she brushes it off like it's nothing. Even the first kiss was pretty lackluster. The writing seems to try to induce visions of passion sparking, but it just doesn't hit the mark.
I felt the overall plot was uninteresting. FMC always seemed too distant (which being in medical makes SOME sense) and the MMC never seemed that interested.
It had all the right ingredients, but just didn't land for me. I'm sure many others will enjoy it.
I feel like the main characters lack any sort of mutual interest. He makes jokes about her being attracted to him, but even when she notices him, she brushes it off like it's nothing. Even the first kiss was pretty lackluster. The writing seems to try to induce visions of passion sparking, but it just doesn't hit the mark.
I felt the overall plot was uninteresting. FMC always seemed too distant (which being in medical makes SOME sense) and the MMC never seemed that interested.
It had all the right ingredients, but just didn't land for me. I'm sure many others will enjoy it.
May 13, 2026
My first read from Ava Rani and this book just made me a permanent resident of her fan club.
Isa is the daughter of two famous doctors, and is constantly trying to live up to their expectations. The feelings Isa had about wanting to be the best at what she does and then struggling when she realizes that what she wants vs what is expected of her are different.
But what brought that feeling of change? GASP...a MAN!
Austin is a pro soccer player who made it big in Europe, but returned home to the states to help his best friend who was sick. He's 8 years older than Isa and considering retiring from his sport, but doesn't know what his next move should be. Is it the thing he's being told is best? Is it to keep playing? Or is it a secret third option that ends up feeling just right?
Without saying toooooo much and spoiling anything, these two end up fake dating for a wedding abroad and of courrrrrrse end up becoming close. The way their friendship blossomed and grew, along with their trust in each other, made rooting for them so easy and fun. They support one another and help each other realize what they truly want.
I was fearing a third act breakup, but these two really stuck it out and communicated so so well after a slight cool off period to get their heads on straight.
Adults doing adult shit while falling in love. SWOOOOON
Thank you NetGalley & Avon for an e-ARC to read early!
Isa is the daughter of two famous doctors, and is constantly trying to live up to their expectations. The feelings Isa had about wanting to be the best at what she does and then struggling when she realizes that what she wants vs what is expected of her are different.
But what brought that feeling of change? GASP...a MAN!
Austin is a pro soccer player who made it big in Europe, but returned home to the states to help his best friend who was sick. He's 8 years older than Isa and considering retiring from his sport, but doesn't know what his next move should be. Is it the thing he's being told is best? Is it to keep playing? Or is it a secret third option that ends up feeling just right?
Without saying toooooo much and spoiling anything, these two end up fake dating for a wedding abroad and of courrrrrrse end up becoming close. The way their friendship blossomed and grew, along with their trust in each other, made rooting for them so easy and fun. They support one another and help each other realize what they truly want.
I was fearing a third act breakup, but these two really stuck it out and communicated so so well after a slight cool off period to get their heads on straight.
Adults doing adult shit while falling in love. SWOOOOON
Thank you NetGalley & Avon for an e-ARC to read early!
February 12, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
This was a fun and quick read. I love a fake dating romance, especially when it is to make an ex jealous. There is just something so satisfying about watching a plan that is meant to be temporary and strategic slowly unravel into something real and authentic.
Isa and Austin are such an unlikely match on paper, but that contrast (almost opposites attract) is exactly what makes them work. Isa is career driven, focused, and determined surgeon. Austin, on the other hand, is nearing the end of his professional football career and quietly grappling with what comes next.
Despite them agreeing to fake date, their connection never felt forced or overly performative. The chemistry developed naturally, and the shift from pretend to real felt seamless. I appreciated that their relationship was built on genuine conversations and mutual respect rather than just their physical attraction.
If I am being honest, I would have loved a bit more depth when it came to their individual struggles, especially Austin’s transition out of sports and Isa’s internal conflict between love and ambition. There were hints at deeper emotional stakes that could have been explored further. Overall, it was an enjoyable, light romance with heart, charm, and a couple you can easily root for.
This was a fun and quick read. I love a fake dating romance, especially when it is to make an ex jealous. There is just something so satisfying about watching a plan that is meant to be temporary and strategic slowly unravel into something real and authentic.
Isa and Austin are such an unlikely match on paper, but that contrast (almost opposites attract) is exactly what makes them work. Isa is career driven, focused, and determined surgeon. Austin, on the other hand, is nearing the end of his professional football career and quietly grappling with what comes next.
Despite them agreeing to fake date, their connection never felt forced or overly performative. The chemistry developed naturally, and the shift from pretend to real felt seamless. I appreciated that their relationship was built on genuine conversations and mutual respect rather than just their physical attraction.
If I am being honest, I would have loved a bit more depth when it came to their individual struggles, especially Austin’s transition out of sports and Isa’s internal conflict between love and ambition. There were hints at deeper emotional stakes that could have been explored further. Overall, it was an enjoyable, light romance with heart, charm, and a couple you can easily root for.
May 7, 2026
Out of Her League was such a fun, charming read! The banter and chemistry kept me invested, and it had that easy rom-com feel that makes the pages fly by.
I did wish for a little more emotional depth and stronger development in certain moments, but overall this was a cute, entertaining romance that left me satisfied by the end.
I did wish for a little more emotional depth and stronger development in certain moments, but overall this was a cute, entertaining romance that left me satisfied by the end.
May 15, 2026
Overall, I'd give this book 4 stars. I'm not usually a fan of the fake dating trope, but this one worked for me. The relationship between Isa and Austin was really sweet and I loved how supportive they were with one another. Yes, this is a romance book, but it was also about how much women have to give up in order to be successful or accomplished. I loved getting to experience the dilemmas and struggles through Isa and Austin's POVs.
*Fake dating
*Dual POV
*Forced proximity
*Girl power
Thank you NetGalley, Ava Rani, and Harper Audio for the ALC!
*Fake dating
*Dual POV
*Forced proximity
*Girl power
Thank you NetGalley, Ava Rani, and Harper Audio for the ALC!
2026
February 2, 2026ANHPI TBR
Valentine's Day TBR
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Avon
Valentine's Day TBR
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Avon
May 6, 2026
Out of her league follows the story of Isabelle, whose only dream has been to follow on his father's footsteps and become the best surgeon; and Austin, a legendary soccer player. Austin agrees to be Isabelle's plus one to her best friend's extravagant wedding as Austin will be able to connect with powerful and rich people who can fund his foundation, and Isabelle's will be able to make her ex jealous by taking her ex's idol and favorite soccer player to the wedding.
The book had the right amount of spice, but I had a difficult time falling in love with the main characters; Isabelle's ambition overpowered the entire story and it got annoying by the end of it. As much as I loved the ending of the story, unfortunately, it did not make up for the rest of the story. The narrators did an amazing job with the audiobook.
Thank you HarperAudio Adult | Avon for providing this audiobook for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
The book had the right amount of spice, but I had a difficult time falling in love with the main characters; Isabelle's ambition overpowered the entire story and it got annoying by the end of it. As much as I loved the ending of the story, unfortunately, it did not make up for the rest of the story. The narrators did an amazing job with the audiobook.
Thank you HarperAudio Adult | Avon for providing this audiobook for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
April 18, 2026
I’m always going to eat up and Ava Rani book and this was no different. I just always enjoy the plot and characters so much. I think this is her first sports romance and I was obsessed with the fmc who is a surgeon. I love that her fmc are always strong, smart hardworking career women. The mmc at one point in his career was one of the best soccer players but after his injury is looking to see where to take his career. This is a fake dating plot where the fmc asks the mmc to fake date her because of her ex. I really liked how the fmcs career was explored especially because of her dad and her mom’s respect careers. The romance was cute, I liked how the MCs got o know each other and continued to develop the relationship. There’s chemistry, spice and a smidge of conflict throughout the book. I thought it was realistic with how the FMCS grappled with balances both the relationship and her career that she had been working for so many years. Overall this is a good sports romance with diverse fmc. Thanks to Avon for this arc for an honest review.
Read for:
- Fmc in STEM
- Soccer player mmc
- Fake dating plot where
- Forced proximity
Read for:
- Fmc in STEM
- Soccer player mmc
- Fake dating plot where
- Forced proximity
April 23, 2026
Out of Her League by Ava Rani 🩺
I really, really enjoyed this! Ava Rani is becoming a favorite and auto buy author for me. Give me all the strong, independent women in romance books.
Isa is the top of her class at her orthopedic surgery residency and close to having the career she has been focused on reaching. Her best friend is about to get married and she's finally taking some time off after all that hard work. Except she finds out that her ex will be at the wedding and needs to find a date, even if it's fake, to show she has moved on too. That's where Austin comes in. They've spoken to each other in passing as she does some work for the professional soccer team that he plays for but end up striking a deal for Austin to be Isa's fake date to the wedding. She proves to her ex that she has moved on and he gets to try and raise some funding for his charity by schmoozing a bunch of rich people at the wedding. It's a win win situation, until Isa and Austin realize there's real chemistry between them and they both are unsure about acting on it.
I really liked Isa. She knows what she wants and has not let anything get in the way of what she has set out to achieve for herself despite whatever is thrown her way. Then Austin was a sweetie who had reached a point in his life that he isn't sure what his next step is and needs a bit of a push to make the decision of what he really wants. I liked seeing them both get to know each other in a close proximity setting of Isa's friends wedding. A fake dating moment always accelerates the timeline for two characters to learn about each other and realize there's chemistry, and I will eat it up every time.
I loved the conversations had between Isa and Austin. Isa remains focused on her career throughout the book and Austin each time reassures her fears that even if they pursue the relationship, he'd never do anything to make her lose what she has been working so hard for.
🤍 age gap (8 years, he’s older)
🩺 she’s a doctor
⚽️ he’s a professional soccer player
💕 fake dating
🫶🏼 childfree by choice
🤒 he takes care of her when she’s sick
dual POV
4.5/5 stars ⭐️
2/5 spice level 🌶️
I really, really enjoyed this! Ava Rani is becoming a favorite and auto buy author for me. Give me all the strong, independent women in romance books.
Isa is the top of her class at her orthopedic surgery residency and close to having the career she has been focused on reaching. Her best friend is about to get married and she's finally taking some time off after all that hard work. Except she finds out that her ex will be at the wedding and needs to find a date, even if it's fake, to show she has moved on too. That's where Austin comes in. They've spoken to each other in passing as she does some work for the professional soccer team that he plays for but end up striking a deal for Austin to be Isa's fake date to the wedding. She proves to her ex that she has moved on and he gets to try and raise some funding for his charity by schmoozing a bunch of rich people at the wedding. It's a win win situation, until Isa and Austin realize there's real chemistry between them and they both are unsure about acting on it.
I really liked Isa. She knows what she wants and has not let anything get in the way of what she has set out to achieve for herself despite whatever is thrown her way. Then Austin was a sweetie who had reached a point in his life that he isn't sure what his next step is and needs a bit of a push to make the decision of what he really wants. I liked seeing them both get to know each other in a close proximity setting of Isa's friends wedding. A fake dating moment always accelerates the timeline for two characters to learn about each other and realize there's chemistry, and I will eat it up every time.
I loved the conversations had between Isa and Austin. Isa remains focused on her career throughout the book and Austin each time reassures her fears that even if they pursue the relationship, he'd never do anything to make her lose what she has been working so hard for.
🤍 age gap (8 years, he’s older)
🩺 she’s a doctor
⚽️ he’s a professional soccer player
💕 fake dating
🫶🏼 childfree by choice
🤒 he takes care of her when she’s sick
dual POV
4.5/5 stars ⭐️
2/5 spice level 🌶️
May 19, 2026
3.75/4.25
Thank you NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, HarperAudio Adult, and Ava Rani for allowing me to read and listen to this book. All opinions are my own.
I read Out of Her League both in ebook and audiobook format, and honestly I think the combination made the experience even more enjoyable.
Book review:
When NetGalley dropped Out of Her League in the “Read Now” section, I immediately requested it because I kept seeing such positive reviews everywhere, and I also wanted to read more interracial romances and support more Asian authors. Even though romances set in the medical field are not usually my go-to (I normally prefer watching them in TV shows/films), something about Isabelle’s career as an orthopedic surgery resident really caught my attention.
The plot starts with Dr. Isabelle (Isa) Mercado, an ambitious orthopedic surgery resident who has spent her entire life trying to prove she can have it all: a perfect career, success, and stability, even if that means sacrificing parts of herself along the way. When she finds out that her ex is attending her best friend’s lavish Paris wedding with his new fiancée, she decides the best way to survive the weekend is by fake dating his favorite soccer player, Austin Cade, who also happens to be recovering under the surgeon she’s training with. Convenient? Absolutely. Entertaining? Also yes.
What surprised me most was that while the romance itself was cute and entertaining, the emotional core of the story actually came from Isa and Austin individually. Beneath the fake dating, Parisian glamour, billionaire chaos, and the “only one bed” trope, there’s a deeper conversation about identity, ambition, pressure, and learning what happiness really means for yourself rather than for other people. In some way, both Isabelle and Austin end up becoming the missing puzzle piece the other needed: helping each other face their uncertain futures and see possibilities they had been too afraid, or too lost, to imagine for themselves. That aspect of the story was probably my favorite part, and it made me absolutely devour every single interaction between them.
Isabelle was such a badass woman in STEM, and I appreciated how relatable her internal struggles felt. The book really explores the pressure many women feel to excel in every area of life while somehow still maintaining perfect relationships and emotional balance. Isa had basically been taught that anything less than being #1 meant failure, so finding someone who genuinely supported her ambitions without asking her to shrink herself felt almost impossible to her. As much as she had worked tirelessly to build her future, life eventually reaches a turning point where you have to understand what truly matters and how you want to move forward. That’s why I was really happy that she found Austin, and had a best friend like Selena, who helped her realize that she could still achieve her dreams without completely losing herself in the process.
Austin balanced her personality really well. He was patient, supportive, and steady, the one for Isabelle. At the same time, Isabelle was the push Austin needed to reach a turning point in his life, while also helping him find a sense of peace within himself through their connection. What I really liked is that he accepted Isabelle from the very beginning and never tried to change her in order to make their potential relationship work. I loved that their relationship wasn’t instant attraction from page one, because it made their connection feel much more natural as it slowly developed, and it really highlighted how well Austin’s personality balances Isabelle’s. Their banter was cute, funny, and easy to follow.
I also really enjoyed his friendship with Zoya, the wife of his best friend, because together they had to navigate the grief of losing someone they both cared about deeply, while also learning how to move forward and support each other in the process. In a way, Zoya also plays a key role in Austin’s moment of realization: without her, I honestly don’t think these two would have ended up together, or at least not for a long time. It really shows how important friendship can be in shaping the direction of your life.
That being said, I do think some tropes worked better than others. The fake dating setup occasionally felt a little hard to fully buy into emotionally because Isa’s attachment to her ex sometimes felt stronger. Even Austin seemed confused at times about whether she still had lingering feelings for him, but as the story progressed, those initial feelings slowly faded and something new began to develop between her and Austin. I also wish we had gotten a little more emotional depth in certain areas, especially regarding Isa’s father, who often felt more like a marginal character that only appeared during the story’s more dramatic moments rather than a fully explored character. The same goes for Isa’s personal growth, which happened a little too quickly for me. But despite those small issues, the story remained incredibly bingeable, light, and entertaining.
What this novel definitely focuses on, and what it ultimately leaves you with, is the personal growth of both protagonists rather than their romantic relationship. In a way, it works as a low-stakes story that still feels meaningful: life is already difficult enough as it is, so sometimes you don’t need additional tragic events to make a story impactful. That balance actually worked for me, because it allowed the characters’ internal journeys to take center stage.
Now I’m really curious to see if there will be a sequel, and if Zoya will also get her own happy ending.
Audio review:
Dual narration
The audiobook experience was really enjoyable. Both narrators did a fantastic job capturing the personalities of the characters and giving them their own distinct voices and emotions. The male narrator especially stood out during the more emotional and spicy scenes — let’s just say he sounded very dedicated during those parts. The female narrator was probably my favorite of the two though; she brought Isa to life and even handled the male voices really well.
I also appreciated how naturally both narrators brought Isa and Austin’s dynamic to life, making their chemistry feel even more believable and engaging. It was always easy to tell when other characters entered a scene, which made the dual narration flow really smoothly.
I listened to the audiobook at 1.25x speed, and one small thing I noticed was that the male narration tended to feel slightly slower compared to the female narrator. Aside from that minor detail, though, the audiobook was such a great experience. Listening while reading alongside it made the story feel even more immersive and enjoyable.
Thank you NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, HarperAudio Adult, and Ava Rani for allowing me to read and listen to this book. All opinions are my own.
I read Out of Her League both in ebook and audiobook format, and honestly I think the combination made the experience even more enjoyable.
Book review:
When NetGalley dropped Out of Her League in the “Read Now” section, I immediately requested it because I kept seeing such positive reviews everywhere, and I also wanted to read more interracial romances and support more Asian authors. Even though romances set in the medical field are not usually my go-to (I normally prefer watching them in TV shows/films), something about Isabelle’s career as an orthopedic surgery resident really caught my attention.
The plot starts with Dr. Isabelle (Isa) Mercado, an ambitious orthopedic surgery resident who has spent her entire life trying to prove she can have it all: a perfect career, success, and stability, even if that means sacrificing parts of herself along the way. When she finds out that her ex is attending her best friend’s lavish Paris wedding with his new fiancée, she decides the best way to survive the weekend is by fake dating his favorite soccer player, Austin Cade, who also happens to be recovering under the surgeon she’s training with. Convenient? Absolutely. Entertaining? Also yes.
What surprised me most was that while the romance itself was cute and entertaining, the emotional core of the story actually came from Isa and Austin individually. Beneath the fake dating, Parisian glamour, billionaire chaos, and the “only one bed” trope, there’s a deeper conversation about identity, ambition, pressure, and learning what happiness really means for yourself rather than for other people. In some way, both Isabelle and Austin end up becoming the missing puzzle piece the other needed: helping each other face their uncertain futures and see possibilities they had been too afraid, or too lost, to imagine for themselves. That aspect of the story was probably my favorite part, and it made me absolutely devour every single interaction between them.
Isabelle was such a badass woman in STEM, and I appreciated how relatable her internal struggles felt. The book really explores the pressure many women feel to excel in every area of life while somehow still maintaining perfect relationships and emotional balance. Isa had basically been taught that anything less than being #1 meant failure, so finding someone who genuinely supported her ambitions without asking her to shrink herself felt almost impossible to her. As much as she had worked tirelessly to build her future, life eventually reaches a turning point where you have to understand what truly matters and how you want to move forward. That’s why I was really happy that she found Austin, and had a best friend like Selena, who helped her realize that she could still achieve her dreams without completely losing herself in the process.
Austin balanced her personality really well. He was patient, supportive, and steady, the one for Isabelle. At the same time, Isabelle was the push Austin needed to reach a turning point in his life, while also helping him find a sense of peace within himself through their connection. What I really liked is that he accepted Isabelle from the very beginning and never tried to change her in order to make their potential relationship work. I loved that their relationship wasn’t instant attraction from page one, because it made their connection feel much more natural as it slowly developed, and it really highlighted how well Austin’s personality balances Isabelle’s. Their banter was cute, funny, and easy to follow.
I also really enjoyed his friendship with Zoya, the wife of his best friend, because together they had to navigate the grief of losing someone they both cared about deeply, while also learning how to move forward and support each other in the process. In a way, Zoya also plays a key role in Austin’s moment of realization: without her, I honestly don’t think these two would have ended up together, or at least not for a long time. It really shows how important friendship can be in shaping the direction of your life.
That being said, I do think some tropes worked better than others. The fake dating setup occasionally felt a little hard to fully buy into emotionally because Isa’s attachment to her ex sometimes felt stronger. Even Austin seemed confused at times about whether she still had lingering feelings for him, but as the story progressed, those initial feelings slowly faded and something new began to develop between her and Austin. I also wish we had gotten a little more emotional depth in certain areas, especially regarding Isa’s father, who often felt more like a marginal character that only appeared during the story’s more dramatic moments rather than a fully explored character. The same goes for Isa’s personal growth, which happened a little too quickly for me. But despite those small issues, the story remained incredibly bingeable, light, and entertaining.
What this novel definitely focuses on, and what it ultimately leaves you with, is the personal growth of both protagonists rather than their romantic relationship. In a way, it works as a low-stakes story that still feels meaningful: life is already difficult enough as it is, so sometimes you don’t need additional tragic events to make a story impactful. That balance actually worked for me, because it allowed the characters’ internal journeys to take center stage.
Now I’m really curious to see if there will be a sequel, and if Zoya will also get her own happy ending.
Audio review:
Dual narration
The audiobook experience was really enjoyable. Both narrators did a fantastic job capturing the personalities of the characters and giving them their own distinct voices and emotions. The male narrator especially stood out during the more emotional and spicy scenes — let’s just say he sounded very dedicated during those parts. The female narrator was probably my favorite of the two though; she brought Isa to life and even handled the male voices really well.
I also appreciated how naturally both narrators brought Isa and Austin’s dynamic to life, making their chemistry feel even more believable and engaging. It was always easy to tell when other characters entered a scene, which made the dual narration flow really smoothly.
I listened to the audiobook at 1.25x speed, and one small thing I noticed was that the male narration tended to feel slightly slower compared to the female narrator. Aside from that minor detail, though, the audiobook was such a great experience. Listening while reading alongside it made the story feel even more immersive and enjoyable.
May 8, 2026
Out of Her League owns my whole heart! And it earned it because my heart went through all the feels! It laughed along with the good humor and striking banter. It swooned a billion times over with the gorgeous, slow burn romance. It deliciously anguished over the heart-aching angst. And it flew with inspiration at the lesson at the center of this work: choose happiness without ever losing your true self. This is a spectacular read that will sit on that top tier shelf of my book loving heart.
Isabelle is set to be the maid of honor at her best friend’s wedding, but when she finds out the ex that broke her heart will be attending (and with a surprise fiancée to boot!), she locks in former soccer superstar Austin to be her fake date at the wedding. She’ll help him find investors for his foundation and he’ll make her ex green with envy. A solid exchange, but neither expects their hearts to be on the line. Those aforementioned swoons? Yeah, start ‘em now! Because wheww, does this romance bring it!
But first, let’s discuss my favorite character. Beautiful, strong Isabelle. I adored Isa so much. She is fierce, resilient, and intelligent. But she has so much on her plate and at times so little of herself. She strives to overcome the shadow of her father, who is also in medicine; and, in equal measure, she strives to ensure she doesn't make the same presumed mistakes of her mother. Isa perceives her mom regretting having and raising her, as it derailed her own medical career. And so, Isa has a specific career goal in mind and nevermind if it's not actually what her heart desires. She simply looks to obtain the best to prove the best. Not out of arrogance or pride, but out of the need to create her own legacy and escape the pitfalls she fears lie before her. But in striving for this legacy, she stands in the way of her own happiness. She sees love and compromise in a way that is limiting and hindering, fearing the only way to make room for it is to set aside her own goals, because both can’t exist in the same space. And part of her journey is learning that isn’t the case. Her past relationship with her ex reveals not only his missteps but her own as well. Specifically in thinking she can’t choose every part of her happiness, that she can’t find someone who will match her stride rather than slow her.
Enter Austin.
I love how Austin never dims the light of Isa. He nurtures her if anything, he wants to see her always bloom. He’ll match her stride with glee, he’ll give her space if she needs it, he’ll put her first and never make her choose or compromise in a way that dims that brilliance she exudes. He is seriously a green flag man but in a way that feels truly real, tangible, and genuine. And that in itself scares Isa, that someone can be so forthright and open as he. But gosh I love how Isa learns to brave that fear to give him a chance, because he’s exactly what she deserves. And she’s what Austin deserves in turn. Isa may not read her own heart well at times, but she reads Austin’s well, and helps to direct him towards his true heart’s desire. I love the way these two challenge one another and support each other, both in such positive ways.
Like Isa, Austin is navigating his own path. Like Isa, he may not be choosing the one of true happiness, rather the one of expectations. He believes his path is to coach soccer (or football, depending on your preference hehe), but he also desires to see the foundation he began with best friend take flight. He could hand the control over to others, or take up the reins himself. Both he and Isa believe they know the ‘right’ paths but so much of their paralleling journey is seeing perhaps the right path isn’t the one full of expectations, but the one that invigorates personal drive and happiness. Isa and Austin positively challenge each other over the course of this narrative, and they do so in the way that pushes themselves towards their heart’s desire. By believing in one another and supporting one another, their respective perspective changes, broadening in a positive way. And I ate it up! I simply ate it up. Their chemistry is electric on every level, but I think what called to me most is the emotional bonding that occurs between them.
Also, as a quick sidenote, I really appreciated the way the narrative approaches the topic of having children. Specifically how it’s left open-ended. It’s not a yes or a no, it’s a “we’ll see,” for Isa. Maybe one day she’ll have kids, but maybe she won’t, and she’s okay with whatever happens, as is Austin who fully supports her. I’m used to this situation always being defined by book’s end, that it is quite nice to see a narrative leave it open for our leads to decide after we leave their beautiful story behind.
I loved this book so much. I admired our leads, I fell for their love story, and I rooted for them so hard. Both in terms of their personal journeys and of course their romance. You want to see them win in the way they deserve. That’s the best way for me to describe how it felt reading this one.
This book is forever memorable and always going to be loved by me. A top tier favorite, right here!
Thank you kindly to Avon and NetGalley for this complimentary eARC, I leave this honest review voluntarily.
Isabelle is set to be the maid of honor at her best friend’s wedding, but when she finds out the ex that broke her heart will be attending (and with a surprise fiancée to boot!), she locks in former soccer superstar Austin to be her fake date at the wedding. She’ll help him find investors for his foundation and he’ll make her ex green with envy. A solid exchange, but neither expects their hearts to be on the line. Those aforementioned swoons? Yeah, start ‘em now! Because wheww, does this romance bring it!
But first, let’s discuss my favorite character. Beautiful, strong Isabelle. I adored Isa so much. She is fierce, resilient, and intelligent. But she has so much on her plate and at times so little of herself. She strives to overcome the shadow of her father, who is also in medicine; and, in equal measure, she strives to ensure she doesn't make the same presumed mistakes of her mother. Isa perceives her mom regretting having and raising her, as it derailed her own medical career. And so, Isa has a specific career goal in mind and nevermind if it's not actually what her heart desires. She simply looks to obtain the best to prove the best. Not out of arrogance or pride, but out of the need to create her own legacy and escape the pitfalls she fears lie before her. But in striving for this legacy, she stands in the way of her own happiness. She sees love and compromise in a way that is limiting and hindering, fearing the only way to make room for it is to set aside her own goals, because both can’t exist in the same space. And part of her journey is learning that isn’t the case. Her past relationship with her ex reveals not only his missteps but her own as well. Specifically in thinking she can’t choose every part of her happiness, that she can’t find someone who will match her stride rather than slow her.
Enter Austin.
I love how Austin never dims the light of Isa. He nurtures her if anything, he wants to see her always bloom. He’ll match her stride with glee, he’ll give her space if she needs it, he’ll put her first and never make her choose or compromise in a way that dims that brilliance she exudes. He is seriously a green flag man but in a way that feels truly real, tangible, and genuine. And that in itself scares Isa, that someone can be so forthright and open as he. But gosh I love how Isa learns to brave that fear to give him a chance, because he’s exactly what she deserves. And she’s what Austin deserves in turn. Isa may not read her own heart well at times, but she reads Austin’s well, and helps to direct him towards his true heart’s desire. I love the way these two challenge one another and support each other, both in such positive ways.
Like Isa, Austin is navigating his own path. Like Isa, he may not be choosing the one of true happiness, rather the one of expectations. He believes his path is to coach soccer (or football, depending on your preference hehe), but he also desires to see the foundation he began with best friend take flight. He could hand the control over to others, or take up the reins himself. Both he and Isa believe they know the ‘right’ paths but so much of their paralleling journey is seeing perhaps the right path isn’t the one full of expectations, but the one that invigorates personal drive and happiness. Isa and Austin positively challenge each other over the course of this narrative, and they do so in the way that pushes themselves towards their heart’s desire. By believing in one another and supporting one another, their respective perspective changes, broadening in a positive way. And I ate it up! I simply ate it up. Their chemistry is electric on every level, but I think what called to me most is the emotional bonding that occurs between them.
Also, as a quick sidenote, I really appreciated the way the narrative approaches the topic of having children. Specifically how it’s left open-ended. It’s not a yes or a no, it’s a “we’ll see,” for Isa. Maybe one day she’ll have kids, but maybe she won’t, and she’s okay with whatever happens, as is Austin who fully supports her. I’m used to this situation always being defined by book’s end, that it is quite nice to see a narrative leave it open for our leads to decide after we leave their beautiful story behind.
I loved this book so much. I admired our leads, I fell for their love story, and I rooted for them so hard. Both in terms of their personal journeys and of course their romance. You want to see them win in the way they deserve. That’s the best way for me to describe how it felt reading this one.
This book is forever memorable and always going to be loved by me. A top tier favorite, right here!
Thank you kindly to Avon and NetGalley for this complimentary eARC, I leave this honest review voluntarily.
May 12, 2026
Out of Her League by Ava Rani was such a fun, flirty fake dating romance with the perfect mix of swoon, humor, ambition, and emotional depth. From the moment Isa recruits famous soccer star Austin to pose as her date at her ex’s wedding in Paris, I was completely hooked. The setup alone is incredible—fake dating your ex boyfriend’s favorite athlete is objectively hilarious—and the story leans into that tension and comedy in the best way. Between the glamorous Paris backdrop, champagne fueled wedding events, and nonstop chemistry, this book delivered exactly the kind of escapist romance I love sinking into.
What really made this one stand out for me, though, was Isa herself. She’s ambitious, intelligent, career driven, and deeply committed to becoming an orthopedic surgeon, and I loved that the romance never tried to diminish those parts of her. Austin never seemed intimidated by her passion or her success, instead, he genuinely admired her for it, which made their relationship feel incredibly supportive and refreshing. Their banter was sharp and playful, but there was also a believable emotional progression underneath all the flirting. The chemistry was strong from the start, yet the relationship still developed at a pace that felt natural and earned.
Beyond the romance, I also appreciated how the story explored the pressure Isa feels from her parents’ expectations and the constant struggle to balance career goals with personal happiness. That emotional weight added a lot of depth to her character arc and made her growth throughout the book feel meaningful. Combined with the charming Paris setting, sexy tension, and entertaining fake dating chaos, this ended up being such a satisfying contemporary romance. Cute, smart, romantic, and genuinely fun to read.
May 4, 2026
This book was hard to put down from the minute I started. I love that everything started with fake dating 🤭 and then the tension between the characters became too much!
Following the journey of these two characters as they found themselves and then each other was inspiring. I love that they pushed each other to achieve their best.
Our FMC learns what it feels like to not have to settle and still be able to live out her dreams. While also sharing that with her person and being able to have everything she wanted. The MMC learns that the future he wanted could be more than he was settling for as well. Together they gave each other the support they needed and the love was pure. Plus the banter was top tier in this one as well.
My first book by Ava and I loved every second of it! I will definitely be reading more if I can. 😍
Following the journey of these two characters as they found themselves and then each other was inspiring. I love that they pushed each other to achieve their best.
Our FMC learns what it feels like to not have to settle and still be able to live out her dreams. While also sharing that with her person and being able to have everything she wanted. The MMC learns that the future he wanted could be more than he was settling for as well. Together they gave each other the support they needed and the love was pure. Plus the banter was top tier in this one as well.
My first book by Ava and I loved every second of it! I will definitely be reading more if I can. 😍
April 11, 2026
4.5
I loved this book! It was so sweet and the characters were very well done! I’m such a huge advocate for not compromising your dreams for anyone and I’m glad Isa stood on business especially as her dreams evolved! Austin was a sweetie and I loved their relationship so much!
Isa is an ambitious surgeon who recruits a grumpy soccer star to be her date to her friend’s wedding where her ex boyfriend will be attending. Through the events of the wedding the fake dating lines blur and Isa is forced to choose what she wants.
I loved the characters in this! They felt so fleshed out! I love Isa so so much! I love how she followed her dream even when it wasn’t easy and that she gave herself grace as her dream evolved. Austin was such a sweetheart I love that he never made Isa feel like her dreams were a problem. The spice was also spicing! Spicy scenes didn’t feel clunky at all and the chemistry was on point! 🫶🩷
I absolutely recommend picking this up if you’re a fan of fake dating, banter, and women in medicine!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!
I loved this book! It was so sweet and the characters were very well done! I’m such a huge advocate for not compromising your dreams for anyone and I’m glad Isa stood on business especially as her dreams evolved! Austin was a sweetie and I loved their relationship so much!
Isa is an ambitious surgeon who recruits a grumpy soccer star to be her date to her friend’s wedding where her ex boyfriend will be attending. Through the events of the wedding the fake dating lines blur and Isa is forced to choose what she wants.
I loved the characters in this! They felt so fleshed out! I love Isa so so much! I love how she followed her dream even when it wasn’t easy and that she gave herself grace as her dream evolved. Austin was such a sweetheart I love that he never made Isa feel like her dreams were a problem. The spice was also spicing! Spicy scenes didn’t feel clunky at all and the chemistry was on point! 🫶🩷
I absolutely recommend picking this up if you’re a fan of fake dating, banter, and women in medicine!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!
May 12, 2026
This was my second book I’ve read by Ava Rani and I find her writing style fast paced and engaging. A few characters from her Biotech Billionaire series appear in this book, and that is how we find out that Isa’s best friend is Selena, who is the FMC from the Heir. Selena is getting married in Paris and when Isa find outs her ex and his fiancee will be at the wedding, she decides she doesn’t want to attend the wedding alone.
I love how Ava portrays her FMCs as highly ambitious, driven and excelling in male dominated fields. Isa is a talented orthopaedic surgeon who is looking to get admitted to a prestigious fellow ship. She’s been struggling with the pressure she has been putting on herself and by her parents. Despite thriving in her career, she feels like she’s lacking the work life balance. Austin is a former professional soccer player and after sustaining an inquiry, is contemplating the next phase in his career.
What started with Isa asking Austin to fake-date her at her best friend’s wedding to make her ex jealous slowly grows into a genuine friendship built on mutual respect. Their relationship evolved with an easy, natural chemistry. I loved Isa’s self-discovery journey as she navigated the pressure to “have it all” and learned what she truly wanted versus what was expected of her. Austin was a supportive MMC who wasn’t threatened by her ambition and success.
Overall, it’s a fun and bingeable read featuring a fake dating trope at a destination wedding!
Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
I love how Ava portrays her FMCs as highly ambitious, driven and excelling in male dominated fields. Isa is a talented orthopaedic surgeon who is looking to get admitted to a prestigious fellow ship. She’s been struggling with the pressure she has been putting on herself and by her parents. Despite thriving in her career, she feels like she’s lacking the work life balance. Austin is a former professional soccer player and after sustaining an inquiry, is contemplating the next phase in his career.
What started with Isa asking Austin to fake-date her at her best friend’s wedding to make her ex jealous slowly grows into a genuine friendship built on mutual respect. Their relationship evolved with an easy, natural chemistry. I loved Isa’s self-discovery journey as she navigated the pressure to “have it all” and learned what she truly wanted versus what was expected of her. Austin was a supportive MMC who wasn’t threatened by her ambition and success.
Overall, it’s a fun and bingeable read featuring a fake dating trope at a destination wedding!
Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
March 22, 2026
NetGalley ARC Review 🫶 Honestly, who doesn’t love a fake dating trope? If you had the chance to make your ex jealous by showing up with their favourite soccer player on your arm, and you’d take it, then you would like this romance.
I loved that Isa was so career focused, it’s rare to see an FMC stick to their ambitions and not “give it all up” to show their love. I also love how they showed how uncertain the MMC Austin was about his future after his career requires a shift. It’s nice to see people who are imperfect, know they need to work on things, and do it. It’s rare you see character growth sometimes in these romance novels, but you did here!
If you enjoyed the Windy City series or Twisted love series, you should give this a try!
I loved that Isa was so career focused, it’s rare to see an FMC stick to their ambitions and not “give it all up” to show their love. I also love how they showed how uncertain the MMC Austin was about his future after his career requires a shift. It’s nice to see people who are imperfect, know they need to work on things, and do it. It’s rare you see character growth sometimes in these romance novels, but you did here!
If you enjoyed the Windy City series or Twisted love series, you should give this a try!
May 9, 2026
There were so many tropes and plot points in this book that are my absolute favorite - I ate this book up! Some billionaire romance mixed in (but not a main part of the story), a female surgeon & a famous soccer player - this was a true opposites attract situation.
When Isa's "some day of a situationship/ex" suddenly turns up engaged, she is so thrown for a loop and determined to make sure she does not show up dateless to her best frineds upconing overseas wedding. Luckily, her bestie comes in clutch, and when an opportunity to outbid the ex's fiance Francesca at a charity auction comes along, she buys some time with the famous American soccer player. Isa and Austin immediately hit it off with their chemistry, but decide to use this situaton as business arrangement. Austin will be Isa's date to the upcoming wedding for a little fake dating, and Isa will use her skill and charm to help network & increase foot traffic to the foundation Austin runs that is so near and dear to his heart. In typical romance fashion (at the risk of giving away some obvious spoilers that will obviously give them their HEA), their fake dating turned real comes with some of the spiciest chemistry between the two of them. He definitely falls first in this one, and though his insecurities constantly push him to believe he is not worthy, Austin is convinced to make their relationship more than the 2 weeks of this wedding trip.
This book consists of a MMC dealing with the loss of his best friend Theo, but while overcoming his own grief, he continues to work effortlessly on the foundation of Theo's dreams, and constantly showing up for Theo's wife and daughter. Isa has her own battles, working so hard to outshine her parents shadow (her dad mainly) & make sure every accomplishment she has is "worthy" of her mother, who gave up her own dreams to be a mom. She suffers her own inner demons because of parents that honestly just kind of suck but make her strive to be better in probabky a super unhealthy way.
What I loved about this book is that the ex tried to put all the blame on their ended situatonship on her for prioritzing herself and her career, but when they have it out, she lets him have it right back to be sure he knows she is not the villain for chasing her dreams and goals, and he never even considered his own sacrifices. A strong FMC is becoming more and more popular these days and I will read every single one of them that crosses my desk. When they become confident with themselves alone and THEN find an MMC who can support and cheer for them the loudest, that is the book I want to read. That is the circumstance I hope everyone strives for - to have the confidence to know your worth, keep fighting for your goals, and eventually find a partner who wants only the best for you.
This was such a great read, and I truly hope it is set up for more in the series Thank you Avon for the gifted copy & Netgalley for the gifted digital and audio. The narrators for this book were new to me, but I can NOT wait to hear more from them. They delivered the story perfectly, bringing a clear concise sound and providing so much entertainment with their voices. Each to follow ad easy to binge.
When Isa's "some day of a situationship/ex" suddenly turns up engaged, she is so thrown for a loop and determined to make sure she does not show up dateless to her best frineds upconing overseas wedding. Luckily, her bestie comes in clutch, and when an opportunity to outbid the ex's fiance Francesca at a charity auction comes along, she buys some time with the famous American soccer player. Isa and Austin immediately hit it off with their chemistry, but decide to use this situaton as business arrangement. Austin will be Isa's date to the upcoming wedding for a little fake dating, and Isa will use her skill and charm to help network & increase foot traffic to the foundation Austin runs that is so near and dear to his heart. In typical romance fashion (at the risk of giving away some obvious spoilers that will obviously give them their HEA), their fake dating turned real comes with some of the spiciest chemistry between the two of them. He definitely falls first in this one, and though his insecurities constantly push him to believe he is not worthy, Austin is convinced to make their relationship more than the 2 weeks of this wedding trip.
This book consists of a MMC dealing with the loss of his best friend Theo, but while overcoming his own grief, he continues to work effortlessly on the foundation of Theo's dreams, and constantly showing up for Theo's wife and daughter. Isa has her own battles, working so hard to outshine her parents shadow (her dad mainly) & make sure every accomplishment she has is "worthy" of her mother, who gave up her own dreams to be a mom. She suffers her own inner demons because of parents that honestly just kind of suck but make her strive to be better in probabky a super unhealthy way.
What I loved about this book is that the ex tried to put all the blame on their ended situatonship on her for prioritzing herself and her career, but when they have it out, she lets him have it right back to be sure he knows she is not the villain for chasing her dreams and goals, and he never even considered his own sacrifices. A strong FMC is becoming more and more popular these days and I will read every single one of them that crosses my desk. When they become confident with themselves alone and THEN find an MMC who can support and cheer for them the loudest, that is the book I want to read. That is the circumstance I hope everyone strives for - to have the confidence to know your worth, keep fighting for your goals, and eventually find a partner who wants only the best for you.
This was such a great read, and I truly hope it is set up for more in the series Thank you Avon for the gifted copy & Netgalley for the gifted digital and audio. The narrators for this book were new to me, but I can NOT wait to hear more from them. They delivered the story perfectly, bringing a clear concise sound and providing so much entertainment with their voices. Each to follow ad easy to binge.
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