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Bay Area Players #1
Just for the Cameras
From New York Times bestselling author Meghan Quinn comes a sizzling sports romance full of flamingo feathers, slow-burn heat, and one grump-meets-sunshine love story that's anything but fake.
They're faking it for the cameras. But what if the sparks are real?
Graydon St. John doesn't do drama―or public appearances. The brooding defensive end for the San Francisco Foghorns prefers silence, solitude, and avoiding headlines. But when a league-wide PR scandal forces him into a media stunt at the city zoo, he's suddenly face-to-face with squawking birds, nosy fans, and the zookeeper who seems to hate his guts on sight.
Maple Baker loves her flamingos. Loud, pink, messy? Sure. But they're hers. And the last thing she needs is a grumpy football player stomping into her sanctuary with a bad attitude and a bigger ego. Unfortunately, they've been paired for the zoo's new public outreach program, and the cameras are already rolling.
The banter is sharp. The tension is electric. And the more they pretend to play nice for the press, the more their fake flirtation starts to feel like something dangerously real.
But when family secrets, viral fame, and a PR romance gone off-script threaten everything Maple's worked for, Graydon must decide if he's willing to fight for love―or let it slip away to protect her.
They're faking it for the cameras. But what if the sparks are real?
Graydon St. John doesn't do drama―or public appearances. The brooding defensive end for the San Francisco Foghorns prefers silence, solitude, and avoiding headlines. But when a league-wide PR scandal forces him into a media stunt at the city zoo, he's suddenly face-to-face with squawking birds, nosy fans, and the zookeeper who seems to hate his guts on sight.
Maple Baker loves her flamingos. Loud, pink, messy? Sure. But they're hers. And the last thing she needs is a grumpy football player stomping into her sanctuary with a bad attitude and a bigger ego. Unfortunately, they've been paired for the zoo's new public outreach program, and the cameras are already rolling.
The banter is sharp. The tension is electric. And the more they pretend to play nice for the press, the more their fake flirtation starts to feel like something dangerously real.
But when family secrets, viral fame, and a PR romance gone off-script threaten everything Maple's worked for, Graydon must decide if he's willing to fight for love―or let it slip away to protect her.
576 pages, Paperback
First published February 3, 2026
12185 people are currently reading
25531 people want to read
About the author
Meghan Quinn
126 books50.3k followersLike me on FB: https://www.facebook.com/meghanquinna...
When I was in high school I occasionally read books but was consumed by other teenage things so I didn't take the time to appreciate a good book on a cloudy day, wrapped up in a blanket on the couch. It wasn't until I received a Kindle for Christmas one year that my world completely flipped upside down. When looking for books I came across the Contemporary Romance genre and was sold and I haven't turned back since.
You can either find my head buried in my Kindle, listening to inspiring heart ripping music or typing away on the computer twisting and turning the lives of my characters while driving my readers crazy with anticipation.
I currently reside in beautiful Colorado Springs where the sun is always shining and there is a trail waiting to be hiked on every corner. I share a lovely and warm home with the love of my life and my five, four-legged children.
When I was in high school I occasionally read books but was consumed by other teenage things so I didn't take the time to appreciate a good book on a cloudy day, wrapped up in a blanket on the couch. It wasn't until I received a Kindle for Christmas one year that my world completely flipped upside down. When looking for books I came across the Contemporary Romance genre and was sold and I haven't turned back since.
You can either find my head buried in my Kindle, listening to inspiring heart ripping music or typing away on the computer twisting and turning the lives of my characters while driving my readers crazy with anticipation.
I currently reside in beautiful Colorado Springs where the sun is always shining and there is a trail waiting to be hiked on every corner. I share a lovely and warm home with the love of my life and my five, four-legged children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,978 reviews
dnf
February 9, 2026DNF at 24% :( Usually I absolutely ADORE Meghan Quinn's books, but I couldn't get into this one. I loved the fake dating, PR relationship concept, as well as the FMC's profession as a flamingo zookeeper. Though the MMC was SO mean. There's a clear difference between playful and teasing banter and/or the type of grumpy that equates to shy and introverted...versus just being rude. To me, he didn't have any redeeming qualities. Why was I 140 pages in and he made her cry multiple times. I also think the exposition was way too long. Don't get me wrong, I love a slow burn, but the plot's pace felt way drawn out.
Thank you so much to Bloom Books for sending me an ARC of Just for the Cameras. As always, my reviews are one hundred percent voluntary and all opinions are my own :)
Thank you so much to Bloom Books for sending me an ARC of Just for the Cameras. As always, my reviews are one hundred percent voluntary and all opinions are my own :)
January 28, 2026
4💫
this was so fun! i loved watching the relationship between graydon, a football player, and maple, a flamingo keeper, unfold. it was so sweet to watch graydon go from closed-off, grumpy man to full on lover boy for maple!! meghan quinns books always make me laugh and this was no exception! i giggled so much during this book!!!
i really enjoyed this one because i think it balanced an emotional and physical relationship very well. i definitely value a book with a strong emotional connection over a physical connection, but meghan balanced the two so well in this one and was able to demonstrate a strong emotional connection before going into the physical, which i really loved!!
thank you meghan quinn & hambright pr for the arc!!!📷🩷
this was so fun! i loved watching the relationship between graydon, a football player, and maple, a flamingo keeper, unfold. it was so sweet to watch graydon go from closed-off, grumpy man to full on lover boy for maple!! meghan quinns books always make me laugh and this was no exception! i giggled so much during this book!!!
i really enjoyed this one because i think it balanced an emotional and physical relationship very well. i definitely value a book with a strong emotional connection over a physical connection, but meghan balanced the two so well in this one and was able to demonstrate a strong emotional connection before going into the physical, which i really loved!!
thank you meghan quinn & hambright pr for the arc!!!📷🩷
January 26, 2026
Why was this so long…592 pages should have been max 300!!! There was a lot of unnecessary content in the book and it felt disjointed. I didn’t love the main characters and just overall felt the story dragged. Had it been shorter and less unnecessary drama and angst I probably would have enjoyed it more but I was just looking to finish it already at like 75%
January 26, 2026
Meghan Quinn does it again!! The ultimate grumpy-sunshine!! And the gladdy daddies conversations 😂😂 so funny!
February 24, 2026
Rating: ★★★★☆
ARC Review: Yes
*I received an advance copy of this book from Bloom via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date: February 3, 2026
Standalone or Series: Book 1 in a series of interconnected standalones (Bay Area Players)
POV: 1st Person / Dual POV
Genre: Sports Romance
Vibe: Slow-burn, highly entertaining
Pacing: medium
Third-Act Breakup: Yes
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Cliffhanger: No
Reread-worthy: Maybe
Tropes:
✵ Grumpy/Sunshine
✵ Fake Dating
✵ Football Player x Zookeeper
✵ Protective MMC
Synopsis: Just for the Cameras is a laugh out loud, swoon-worthy romance that is sure to have you flying through the pages! When the San Francisco Foghorns face a PR crisis, they decide to send their star player to a zoo to help boost community morale. The team hasn’t won many games, and the last thing that Graydon St. John wants to do is waste his time at the zoo when he could be training for the next season. Especially not when he is paired with the flamingo keeper Maple Baker. Maple loves her job, and more than anything, she needs funding to improve the flamingo enclosure. So, when she is presented with a PR opportunity to fake date the star football player in exchange for a large donation, she jumps at the opportunity. As the two spend more time together, they realize that they may have misunderstood each other a little too harshly. Sparks fly as the two work to navigate their new reality, and when outside forces try to cut in, they realize that things are tougher than they seem.
My thoughts: Meghan Quinn does no wrong in my eyes! This was another fabulous read that had me hooked from the very beginning. I love a fake dating story, and Meghan is such a pro at immediately pulling you into the lives of the characters. Graydon was a strong, reserved MMC and Maple was a loud and outgoing FMC that you couldn’t help but love. I loved seeing their trade-off with the deal they made for each other. I won’t mention any spoilers, but the scenes of Maple training had me laughing out loud. Their chemistry was off the charts, and I was constantly begging for them to cross the line. When they finally did, it was like fireworks! The zoo setting was also such a fun and unique touch, and I loved getting to learn more about the flamingos.
My only complaint is that the book was a bit too long; it felt like it could have been cut down 100 pages. I also struggled at times with Graydon’s internal monologue compared to his real life actions. I didn’t love how he seemed to constantly think of Maple positively in his head but then turn around and do something that made it seem like he didn’t care about her at all. I wish he would have spoken up sooner about how he felt instead of belittling her one too many times.
Overall this was a great read and I recommend it!
Follow me on Instagram and TikTok.
ARC Review: Yes
*I received an advance copy of this book from Bloom via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date: February 3, 2026
Standalone or Series: Book 1 in a series of interconnected standalones (Bay Area Players)
POV: 1st Person / Dual POV
Genre: Sports Romance
Vibe: Slow-burn, highly entertaining
Pacing: medium
Third-Act Breakup: Yes
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Cliffhanger: No
Reread-worthy: Maybe
Tropes:
✵ Grumpy/Sunshine
✵ Fake Dating
✵ Football Player x Zookeeper
✵ Protective MMC
Synopsis: Just for the Cameras is a laugh out loud, swoon-worthy romance that is sure to have you flying through the pages! When the San Francisco Foghorns face a PR crisis, they decide to send their star player to a zoo to help boost community morale. The team hasn’t won many games, and the last thing that Graydon St. John wants to do is waste his time at the zoo when he could be training for the next season. Especially not when he is paired with the flamingo keeper Maple Baker. Maple loves her job, and more than anything, she needs funding to improve the flamingo enclosure. So, when she is presented with a PR opportunity to fake date the star football player in exchange for a large donation, she jumps at the opportunity. As the two spend more time together, they realize that they may have misunderstood each other a little too harshly. Sparks fly as the two work to navigate their new reality, and when outside forces try to cut in, they realize that things are tougher than they seem.
My thoughts: Meghan Quinn does no wrong in my eyes! This was another fabulous read that had me hooked from the very beginning. I love a fake dating story, and Meghan is such a pro at immediately pulling you into the lives of the characters. Graydon was a strong, reserved MMC and Maple was a loud and outgoing FMC that you couldn’t help but love. I loved seeing their trade-off with the deal they made for each other. I won’t mention any spoilers, but the scenes of Maple training had me laughing out loud. Their chemistry was off the charts, and I was constantly begging for them to cross the line. When they finally did, it was like fireworks! The zoo setting was also such a fun and unique touch, and I loved getting to learn more about the flamingos.
My only complaint is that the book was a bit too long; it felt like it could have been cut down 100 pages. I also struggled at times with Graydon’s internal monologue compared to his real life actions. I didn’t love how he seemed to constantly think of Maple positively in his head but then turn around and do something that made it seem like he didn’t care about her at all. I wish he would have spoken up sooner about how he felt instead of belittling her one too many times.
Overall this was a great read and I recommend it!
Follow me on Instagram and TikTok.
February 7, 2026
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
🎧: AUDIOBOOK REVIEW
This was a delight! I just know this series is going to be one of my favorites from Meghan Quinn. Because book one made me fall in love with Graydon St John and the entire Gladdy Daddy Group chat.
First off I love a broken boy MMC and Graydon, poor baby is grumpy and closed off as can be. Like I’m so glad he got his act together so I could love him because this man was a mess.
An endearing mess, but still he absolutely needed someone like Maple in his life. And she was the best little ray of sunshine to totally disarm his grumpy personality.
And making them fake date… genius
✨ Football Romance
✨ Grumpy x Sunshine
✨ Enemies to Lovers
✨ Fake Dating
✨ Forced Proximity
✨ Hilarious Group Chat
I loved practically everything about this, but the Gladdy Daddy’s stole the entire book. Their group chat is priceless and I love that Graydon was bullied into an unwilling friendship. He needed them.
Meghan just can’t miss but some books are just special and this was one of them. I loved it so much. The spice was perfect. Graydon turned into this clingy simp which I loved, and Maple was just so easy to like.
Also another book, another bird obsession. I’m here for it.
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
🎧: AUDIOBOOK REVIEW
This was a delight! I just know this series is going to be one of my favorites from Meghan Quinn. Because book one made me fall in love with Graydon St John and the entire Gladdy Daddy Group chat.
First off I love a broken boy MMC and Graydon, poor baby is grumpy and closed off as can be. Like I’m so glad he got his act together so I could love him because this man was a mess.
An endearing mess, but still he absolutely needed someone like Maple in his life. And she was the best little ray of sunshine to totally disarm his grumpy personality.
And making them fake date… genius
✨ Football Romance
✨ Grumpy x Sunshine
✨ Enemies to Lovers
✨ Fake Dating
✨ Forced Proximity
✨ Hilarious Group Chat
I loved practically everything about this, but the Gladdy Daddy’s stole the entire book. Their group chat is priceless and I love that Graydon was bullied into an unwilling friendship. He needed them.
Meghan just can’t miss but some books are just special and this was one of them. I loved it so much. The spice was perfect. Graydon turned into this clingy simp which I loved, and Maple was just so easy to like.
Also another book, another bird obsession. I’m here for it.
February 4, 2026
I wanted to love this because it is a Meghan Quinn book and those are usually amazing, but this was... something else. I liked the premise and thought it was a really cool idea to have Maple be a flamingo caretaker (zookeeper?) and I loved this aspect, but so much more bothered me. First, what kind of names are Maple and Graydon? But okay, I can suspend belief for the sake of this fictitious romance novel. But Graydon himself? What a walking red flag. He would get pissed and then resort to literal violence which... I do not know about you, but I do not like my MMCs as violent types when it is supposed to be a rom com. He is truly just cruel and mean and I think there is a difference between a brooding man and just a plain asshole who does not deserve the FMC. Graydon was that type and Maple deserved better. He made her cry multiple times and he was just a straight up dick. Just because he has trauma and has had things happen in life does not excuse this behavior. Also, this book was WAY too long. It could have cut out 200 pages because so much of it was unnecessary.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
2.4
It wouldn't have been so exhausting were it not at least 30% longer than necessary, but the bigger problem is this huge, dramatically possessive, violently inclined man who makes decisions for everyone around him regardless of his inability to think his way out of a paper bag. Also? Are there adjectives other than beautiful and perfect? I've forgotten, as I've been stuck in the bottom end of this quagmire for waaaay too long.
It wouldn't have been so exhausting were it not at least 30% longer than necessary, but the bigger problem is this huge, dramatically possessive, violently inclined man who makes decisions for everyone around him regardless of his inability to think his way out of a paper bag. Also? Are there adjectives other than beautiful and perfect? I've forgotten, as I've been stuck in the bottom end of this quagmire for waaaay too long.
Review of advance copy
Thank you to Hambright PR for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Actual rating 4.25 ⭐️
Read this if you enjoy:
• PR romance
• fake dating turned real
• flamingo advocate and zoo keeper × football player
• protective MMC
• Grumpy × Sunshine
• slow burn
• incredible spice
• she wears his number
• a very funny group chat
This was my first book from Meghan Quinn and I was sooo excited to get this as an ARC. I've been wanting for a long time to read one of her books, but it actually scared me how popular they are.
I loved this sooo much! It was incredibly funny (sometimes almost too funny if that is even a thing), but it also had some hard topics... I adore how Meghan wrote about them and this just made me love this book so much more.
Graydon and Maple were such a cute couple and sooo funny. He was very grumpy and even mean at the beginning, I literally couldn't really like him for the first 20% of the book, but after getting to know him better I just love that man so much.
I am someone who enjoys spice in books so much and with this one I was actually panicking a little because it's definitely a slow burn and this book is very big. The spice does start at about 56% and it's freaking hot!!!
Sometimes it was a little childish with the jokes, but overall I loved it and enjoyed reading so much.
I am really hoping she will make a whole series with these characters because I want sooo much more!
Actual rating 4.25 ⭐️
Read this if you enjoy:
• PR romance
• fake dating turned real
• flamingo advocate and zoo keeper × football player
• protective MMC
• Grumpy × Sunshine
• slow burn
• incredible spice
• she wears his number
• a very funny group chat
This was my first book from Meghan Quinn and I was sooo excited to get this as an ARC. I've been wanting for a long time to read one of her books, but it actually scared me how popular they are.
I loved this sooo much! It was incredibly funny (sometimes almost too funny if that is even a thing), but it also had some hard topics... I adore how Meghan wrote about them and this just made me love this book so much more.
Graydon and Maple were such a cute couple and sooo funny. He was very grumpy and even mean at the beginning, I literally couldn't really like him for the first 20% of the book, but after getting to know him better I just love that man so much.
I am someone who enjoys spice in books so much and with this one I was actually panicking a little because it's definitely a slow burn and this book is very big. The spice does start at about 56% and it's freaking hot!!!
Sometimes it was a little childish with the jokes, but overall I loved it and enjoyed reading so much.
I am really hoping she will make a whole series with these characters because I want sooo much more!
February 9, 2026
Absolutely not. The ML needs therapy, not a girlfriend. I couldn’t even finish this.
February 6, 2026
Book Title: Just for the Cameras (Bay Area Players #1)
Author: Meghan Quinn
Publishers: Bloom Books & Meghan Quinn (audiobook)
Pub Date: February 3, 2026
Dates Read/Listened: February 2, 2026 – February 3, 2026
🗣️ 𝚀𝚞𝚒𝚌𝚔 𝚃𝚊𝚔𝚎: How is it possible that this is my first time reading Meghan Quinn?!?!?! This is one of THE best romance books I have read in a long time, and I quite literally loved every minute and everything about it. The banter couldn’t be better, and it was so freaking hilarious that someone actually asked me what I was laughing at while I was listening to it. The romance between Graydon and Maple is so heartfelt and spicy that I just couldn’t get enough of it. And the flamingos! Now that’s something I haven’t seen focused on in a romance before and it was amazing. I dare say I even learned a thing or two. I love the fake relationship trope, and it was the star of the show here. But also, Quinn managed to bring me to tears multiple times. I felt all the emotions, and I can’t believe the thing is almost 600 pages because it didn’t feel like that at all. All the stars for this one!! (And make sure you get that sprayed-edged paperback – the artwork is to die for).
🎧 𝘈𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘕𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: This is also one of the best full cast narrations I have had the pleasure to listen to, and I adored Emma Wilder and Connor Crais as the voices of Maple and Graydon respectively. I will say there were times when some of the cast popped in that was a little quiet and I had to turn it up, but that wasn’t a big issue and the narrators (hello Teddy Hamilton!) were all fantastic. While I still recommend buying the beautiful book (and I mean this is the first book of a series after all), you MUST listen to the audiobook.
T͏h͏i͏s͏ B͏o͏o͏k͏ i͏n͏ 5͏ E͏m͏o͏j͏i͏’s͏ o͏r͏ L͏e͏s͏s͏: 🦩🏈🤳🏼🐎
𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝙼𝚢 𝚂𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
I received a complimentary copy of this book as well as an advanced listening copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Author: Meghan Quinn
Publishers: Bloom Books & Meghan Quinn (audiobook)
Pub Date: February 3, 2026
Dates Read/Listened: February 2, 2026 – February 3, 2026
🗣️ 𝚀𝚞𝚒𝚌𝚔 𝚃𝚊𝚔𝚎: How is it possible that this is my first time reading Meghan Quinn?!?!?! This is one of THE best romance books I have read in a long time, and I quite literally loved every minute and everything about it. The banter couldn’t be better, and it was so freaking hilarious that someone actually asked me what I was laughing at while I was listening to it. The romance between Graydon and Maple is so heartfelt and spicy that I just couldn’t get enough of it. And the flamingos! Now that’s something I haven’t seen focused on in a romance before and it was amazing. I dare say I even learned a thing or two. I love the fake relationship trope, and it was the star of the show here. But also, Quinn managed to bring me to tears multiple times. I felt all the emotions, and I can’t believe the thing is almost 600 pages because it didn’t feel like that at all. All the stars for this one!! (And make sure you get that sprayed-edged paperback – the artwork is to die for).
🎧 𝘈𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘕𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: This is also one of the best full cast narrations I have had the pleasure to listen to, and I adored Emma Wilder and Connor Crais as the voices of Maple and Graydon respectively. I will say there were times when some of the cast popped in that was a little quiet and I had to turn it up, but that wasn’t a big issue and the narrators (hello Teddy Hamilton!) were all fantastic. While I still recommend buying the beautiful book (and I mean this is the first book of a series after all), you MUST listen to the audiobook.
T͏h͏i͏s͏ B͏o͏o͏k͏ i͏n͏ 5͏ E͏m͏o͏j͏i͏’s͏ o͏r͏ L͏e͏s͏s͏: 🦩🏈🤳🏼🐎
𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝙼𝚢 𝚂𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
I received a complimentary copy of this book as well as an advanced listening copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
January 28, 2026
I have this 4.25/5. This was so cute! We have Graydon a pro football player and a zookeeper Maple in a PR relationship by accident! They CAN NOT stand each other but are very attracted to each other. They are forced to work together for good PR. For him it’s good PR for his football team, which is not that popular, for her it’s for the flamingo 🦩 exhibit at the zoo. The banter in this book was so good and funny and cute. Highly recommend ❤️
February 4, 2026
an engaging grumpy/sunshine romance that is unfortunately 200+ pages too long. much of the drama felt unnecessary, which weakened my interest in grayson and maple’s love story, until it finally got back on track, delivering what i came here for in the first place.
January 28, 2026
I’m sorry I really did not enjoy this book. Which is unfortunate because I started off loving it until halfway. It follows Maple and Grayden who are forced into a PR relationship. He’s helping her at the zoo while doing PR for his failing football team.
I really enjoyed the build up between these two, but as soon as they got together this book lost me. The problem? It was way too long. This book is 600 pages and it could’ve been a really great book had it been 400. There was a ton of spice and the plot completely lost me after halfway. It grew into resentment when it was so much filler. The conflict at the end also really didn’t do it for me. The FMC does something that really didn’t sit right for me.
I either really love or really dislike Meghan Quinn books and this one was just a miss to me because it was too long and drawn out. I will say, the audiobook was incredibly narrated! Thank you for the ALC. I wish I had enjoyed it more.
I really enjoyed the build up between these two, but as soon as they got together this book lost me. The problem? It was way too long. This book is 600 pages and it could’ve been a really great book had it been 400. There was a ton of spice and the plot completely lost me after halfway. It grew into resentment when it was so much filler. The conflict at the end also really didn’t do it for me. The FMC does something that really didn’t sit right for me.
I either really love or really dislike Meghan Quinn books and this one was just a miss to me because it was too long and drawn out. I will say, the audiobook was incredibly narrated! Thank you for the ALC. I wish I had enjoyed it more.
February 15, 2026
Just for the cameras by Meghan Quinn
-love that we’re staring with the drama and tea, puts you right in the story LOVEEE
-I find it funny he has to go to zoo to fix the image but I love it lol
-the banter / bickering 🔥
-I would love to volunteer at a zoo
-love the bonding between the teammates at the zoo
-their back and forth insults gives beautiful tension
-Loveee fake dating 👀🤪
-he acts like a grumpy bear but inside he’s a care bear I love him 🥺🥰
-his mom 😭, his past
-ahh I love them so much they had me giggling, heart pounding and horny all in one loveeee 🫶🏾
-the gladly daddies 🤣🫶🏾
-THE SPICE OUFFF THAT MAN IS FINEEE
-I ate this book up Meghan has done it again with this one 😩💘
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-love that we’re staring with the drama and tea, puts you right in the story LOVEEE
-I find it funny he has to go to zoo to fix the image but I love it lol
-the banter / bickering 🔥
-I would love to volunteer at a zoo
-love the bonding between the teammates at the zoo
-their back and forth insults gives beautiful tension
-Loveee fake dating 👀🤪
-he acts like a grumpy bear but inside he’s a care bear I love him 🥺🥰
-his mom 😭, his past
-ahh I love them so much they had me giggling, heart pounding and horny all in one loveeee 🫶🏾
-the gladly daddies 🤣🫶🏾
-THE SPICE OUFFF THAT MAN IS FINEEE
-I ate this book up Meghan has done it again with this one 😩💘
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
February 9, 2026
I’ve been a fan of Meghan Quinn's’ books for years and she has never let me down! Whenever I need a good laugh, I always know I can pick up one of her novels and I’ll swoon, giggle, and fall in love. Just for the Cameras gave me all of that and more! I loved Graydon and Maple. These two don’t seem like they’d fit together on paper. After all, she’s the sunshine who takes her job seriously and he’s the grumpy football player that has a bad attitude. How could they work together let alone fall in love? Leave it to Meghan to make magic with these two! I adored their story. There’s emotional depth on top of the giggle inducing moments. The banter (as always) is fantastic and the tension between these two is incredible. I appreciated the heartfelt moments that went along with the funny ones too as it made the whole story feel well rounded. Overall, it’s just pure perfection and everything I want in a romance novel. I highly recommend it! I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
February 7, 2026
Wow wow wow!! This was incredible. Top of the line romance that is just so heartfelt & had me swooning, crying, laughing out loud, & just totally invested.
MQ is one of my favorite romance authors. I love that her universe is so interconnected but she seriously only gets better each time.
This was so much fun to read & get immersed in. I loved that it was 600+ pages bc I miss a chunky romance. I loved that it was enemies to lovers & fake dating. Just such a fun time & I can’t wait to read it again in the future!!!
MQ is one of my favorite romance authors. I love that her universe is so interconnected but she seriously only gets better each time.
This was so much fun to read & get immersed in. I loved that it was 600+ pages bc I miss a chunky romance. I loved that it was enemies to lovers & fake dating. Just such a fun time & I can’t wait to read it again in the future!!!
February 4, 2026
This book had a lot of fun and humor along with real topics that were explored with the mmc. If you love fake dating with over the top rom com goodness you need to pick this up. The fmc is a zookeeper that has been paired with the mmc who is a grumpy star football player, for a pr relationship. The romance in this book is a classic opposites attract with a fmc that loves flamingos,and is a little over the top. The silly and fun banter is one of the things like about MQ books and there was a lot of this in this book. As they start the pr relationship we get to see more of both characters and the mmc is very broody and grumpy but we start to see why he is the way he is which was deep and touched some trauma that he and his family went through. The romance is a slow burn but in MQ fashion when they finally get together it was spicy spicy. I liked how the MCs grew in their relationship and celebrated some firsts with each other. At times especially in the beginning I felt like the mmc was a little too broody and that the humor was over the top but overall a fun romance. Thanks to MQ team for this arc for an honest review. I listened to the audiobook arc and I thought the production was excellent, it’s a duet narration and both narrators did a good job bringing to life the characters. I think audio is my favorite way to read MQ books now.
Read for:
- Fake dating
- Zookeeper fmc and football player mmc
- Grumpy x sunshine
- Slow burn
Read for:
- Fake dating
- Zookeeper fmc and football player mmc
- Grumpy x sunshine
- Slow burn
February 18, 2026
“I toe the seaweed wraps toward Bennett. “You can get those out of my fucking sight.”
“They’re really good.”
He goes to open it, but I say, “Don’t even think about it. Put those back in your bag. I don’t want that smell in here.”
god i thought we were past this type of shit. this is a thirty year old man mind you. its safe to say this is going to be my first and last book by meghan quinn. the female character in here is such a doormat, all she does is cry and then cry some more. and the guy is an asshole to literally everyone idk why the people in his team even want to be friends with him. he is just a horrible human who happens to be hot and tall and has daddy issues. i didn’t really care that this man had irreparable trauma because his dad tried to flirt with every women he was dating in fact i think the girl should have fucked his dad so i could see him spiral
p.s meghan quinn’s publisher forgot to hire editors
“They’re really good.”
He goes to open it, but I say, “Don’t even think about it. Put those back in your bag. I don’t want that smell in here.”
god i thought we were past this type of shit. this is a thirty year old man mind you. its safe to say this is going to be my first and last book by meghan quinn. the female character in here is such a doormat, all she does is cry and then cry some more. and the guy is an asshole to literally everyone idk why the people in his team even want to be friends with him. he is just a horrible human who happens to be hot and tall and has daddy issues. i didn’t really care that this man had irreparable trauma because his dad tried to flirt with every women he was dating in fact i think the girl should have fucked his dad so i could see him spiral
p.s meghan quinn’s publisher forgot to hire editors
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January 26, 2026Honestly… Meghan Quinn just gets it. Every single time. This book was an instant favorite for me, and I devoured it way too fast. You know that feeling when you’re forced to put a book down, and you’re low-key annoyed at real life for interrupting? That was me the entire time reading this.
This one delivers everything I love about a Meghan Quinn romance: sharp, laugh-out-loud banter, slow-burn tension that hurts so good, and chemistry that feels effortless and real. The grumpy-meets-sunshine dynamic? Perfection. The fake-dating-for-PR trope? Executed so well I was kicking my feet and smiling like a crazy person.
Graydon is peak broody MMC energy, and Maple is pure sunshine with depth... funny, passionate, and impossible not to root for. Watching their fake interactions slowly blur into something real was addictive, and the way the story balances humor with heartfelt moments made it impossible to stop reading.
This book was engaging from the very first chapter and kept me wanting more long after I turned the last page. If you love sports romance, fake dating, sizzling tension, and characters that feel like real people, add this to your TBR immediately. 💕📖🔥
This one delivers everything I love about a Meghan Quinn romance: sharp, laugh-out-loud banter, slow-burn tension that hurts so good, and chemistry that feels effortless and real. The grumpy-meets-sunshine dynamic? Perfection. The fake-dating-for-PR trope? Executed so well I was kicking my feet and smiling like a crazy person.
Graydon is peak broody MMC energy, and Maple is pure sunshine with depth... funny, passionate, and impossible not to root for. Watching their fake interactions slowly blur into something real was addictive, and the way the story balances humor with heartfelt moments made it impossible to stop reading.
This book was engaging from the very first chapter and kept me wanting more long after I turned the last page. If you love sports romance, fake dating, sizzling tension, and characters that feel like real people, add this to your TBR immediately. 💕📖🔥
February 12, 2026
It takes a lot for me to dnf a book because I’m a committed hater but dnf at 40%.
I’ve been trying to get out of a slump and the best thing to do that for me is romance but by god was this incredibly bad. How is the mmc supposed to be redeemable? Almost halfway through and he is the meanest, rudest, most toxic person I have ever read? He made her cry 6times!!! I counted them.
Why anyone would intentionally try to be his friend is beyond me. He filled me with insane amounts of rage, omg, he is such an asshole, it’s almost unbelievable.
As for the fmc, the quirky passive rambler who moved from peru to take care of flamingo pissed me off just as much? Does she have a personality beyond the pink birds? Also I am side-eyeing her moving back from peru and realizing that the people there showed her that you just don’t need all this american over-consumption. What in the white saviour « they have so little but give so much » bs is this?
He says the meanest stuff to her and her inner monologue is just « uhm …well… I’m gonna tell him he’s a JERK!!! That will show him » girl get up, it’s 2026. This is NOT romantic!!!?!!!!!
This legit sent me back into a slump. I’m so frustrated.
I don’t care to know about his anger issues. Seek therapy. Idc.
I’ve been trying to get out of a slump and the best thing to do that for me is romance but by god was this incredibly bad. How is the mmc supposed to be redeemable? Almost halfway through and he is the meanest, rudest, most toxic person I have ever read? He made her cry 6times!!! I counted them.
Why anyone would intentionally try to be his friend is beyond me. He filled me with insane amounts of rage, omg, he is such an asshole, it’s almost unbelievable.
As for the fmc, the quirky passive rambler who moved from peru to take care of flamingo pissed me off just as much? Does she have a personality beyond the pink birds? Also I am side-eyeing her moving back from peru and realizing that the people there showed her that you just don’t need all this american over-consumption. What in the white saviour « they have so little but give so much » bs is this?
He says the meanest stuff to her and her inner monologue is just « uhm …well… I’m gonna tell him he’s a JERK!!! That will show him » girl get up, it’s 2026. This is NOT romantic!!!?!!!!!
This legit sent me back into a slump. I’m so frustrated.
I don’t care to know about his anger issues. Seek therapy. Idc.
February 3, 2026
Favorite book so far of 2026! 5⭐️
I laughed. I cried. Meghan Quinn has outdone herself! This book delivers everything I love about a MQ romance: unique characters, laugh-out-loud banter, slow-burn tension that keeps you hooked, and chemistry that radiates off the page.
The grumpy x sunshine dynamic here is absolute perfection! Graydon exudes so much broody male energy. This defensive end would rather be anywhere but a zoo. At first I was like, "WOW, he is taking grump to a new level!" I wasn't sure he'd ever grow on me, but oh he did. This stoic ice king has a heart of gold hidden under all his layers. Meanwhile Maple is pure, flamingo-loving sunshine with a spirit that’s impossible to dim. Watching their fake-dating-for-PR arrangement slowly blur into something real was completely addictive. I found myself giggling and kicking my feet like crazy as Graydon’s gruff exterior finally began to crack for the woman determined to save her exhibit.
This story balances humor and spice with genuine heart. The steam is fresh, the payoff is worth every second of the wait, and the character growth is top tier. If you love a sports romance with sizzling tension and characters who feel like real people, add this to your TBR immediately! You'll thank me later!
I laughed. I cried. Meghan Quinn has outdone herself! This book delivers everything I love about a MQ romance: unique characters, laugh-out-loud banter, slow-burn tension that keeps you hooked, and chemistry that radiates off the page.
The grumpy x sunshine dynamic here is absolute perfection! Graydon exudes so much broody male energy. This defensive end would rather be anywhere but a zoo. At first I was like, "WOW, he is taking grump to a new level!" I wasn't sure he'd ever grow on me, but oh he did. This stoic ice king has a heart of gold hidden under all his layers. Meanwhile Maple is pure, flamingo-loving sunshine with a spirit that’s impossible to dim. Watching their fake-dating-for-PR arrangement slowly blur into something real was completely addictive. I found myself giggling and kicking my feet like crazy as Graydon’s gruff exterior finally began to crack for the woman determined to save her exhibit.
This story balances humor and spice with genuine heart. The steam is fresh, the payoff is worth every second of the wait, and the character growth is top tier. If you love a sports romance with sizzling tension and characters who feel like real people, add this to your TBR immediately! You'll thank me later!
January 27, 2026
Flamingo zookeeper meets professional football player in this adorable PR stunt that turned into real feelings (everyone is shocked 🤭).
The chemistry is on point. Graydon’s inner monologue is 70% infatuation with Maple’s butt, 20% grumpiness that he has to do something unrelated to football, and 10% hyperfixation on his abandonment issues. It’s a fun place to be.
Despite his perpetual grumpiness, Maple can appreciate other things about Graydon…“I don’t think I’ve ever seen such…such athleticism encompassed in one singular body. Are those muscles real?”
This isn’t my all-time favorite MQ book - it felt a little drawn out at times - but I’m excited for the other two books in the series, focused on OC (annoying but cute hockey player who forces his friendship on you) and Bennett (quiet and introspective baseball player who has a long term crush on his sister’s bestie).
Finally, I absolutely LOVE the crossovers in this book: Every and Hardy, JP (his love for birds ever expands). The MQ universe is my happy place, and the super short JP cameo was honestly one of my favorite scenes in the book.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (3/5)
The chemistry is on point. Graydon’s inner monologue is 70% infatuation with Maple’s butt, 20% grumpiness that he has to do something unrelated to football, and 10% hyperfixation on his abandonment issues. It’s a fun place to be.
Despite his perpetual grumpiness, Maple can appreciate other things about Graydon…“I don’t think I’ve ever seen such…such athleticism encompassed in one singular body. Are those muscles real?”
This isn’t my all-time favorite MQ book - it felt a little drawn out at times - but I’m excited for the other two books in the series, focused on OC (annoying but cute hockey player who forces his friendship on you) and Bennett (quiet and introspective baseball player who has a long term crush on his sister’s bestie).
Finally, I absolutely LOVE the crossovers in this book: Every and Hardy, JP (his love for birds ever expands). The MQ universe is my happy place, and the super short JP cameo was honestly one of my favorite scenes in the book.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (3/5)
February 11, 2026
DNFing at chapter 10. This is not grumpy/sunshine. Graydon is not just grumpy, he is mean and cruel, a real asshole and he is making this book unreadable. This is my first Meghan Quinn book and also my last.
February 9, 2026
dnfed at 36% im sorry but this does not need to be 630 pages
March 5, 2026
This was such a fun read and exactly what I needed!!
I loved Graydon and Maple so much! Graydon is a peak grumpy MMC, but the more you learn about him, the more his attitude makes sense, and my heart honestly went out to him. Maple was the perfect sunshine balance to his grumpiness. She’s dorky, passionate about her flamingos, and doesn’t let Graydon steamroll her
Their chemistry was fantastic from the start. The banter was hilarious, the slow build of their connection felt really natural, and the whole social media/PR setup was such a cute and unique premise. Watching Graydon reluctantly get pulled into Maple’s world (and the flamingos) was honestly adorable :p
The side characters were great too, which Meghan Quinn always does well, and the group dynamic added a lot of humor to the story
There is a brief third-act breakup, which normally isn’t my favorite trope, but it actually worked here. It didn’t feel overly dramatic or ridiculous, and the emotional payoff and resolution were really sweet!
Also… the spice? Verrrrrrrry good. Meghan always knows how to balance rom-com humor with genuinely spicy moments and she definitely delivered here 🔥
Overall, this was just a really enjoyable read with great banter, lovable characters, and a grumpy/sunshine dynamic that was spot on!!
I loved Graydon and Maple so much! Graydon is a peak grumpy MMC, but the more you learn about him, the more his attitude makes sense, and my heart honestly went out to him. Maple was the perfect sunshine balance to his grumpiness. She’s dorky, passionate about her flamingos, and doesn’t let Graydon steamroll her
Their chemistry was fantastic from the start. The banter was hilarious, the slow build of their connection felt really natural, and the whole social media/PR setup was such a cute and unique premise. Watching Graydon reluctantly get pulled into Maple’s world (and the flamingos) was honestly adorable :p
The side characters were great too, which Meghan Quinn always does well, and the group dynamic added a lot of humor to the story
There is a brief third-act breakup, which normally isn’t my favorite trope, but it actually worked here. It didn’t feel overly dramatic or ridiculous, and the emotional payoff and resolution were really sweet!
Also… the spice? Verrrrrrrry good. Meghan always knows how to balance rom-com humor with genuinely spicy moments and she definitely delivered here 🔥
Overall, this was just a really enjoyable read with great banter, lovable characters, and a grumpy/sunshine dynamic that was spot on!!
March 2, 2026
Ummm yeah, no. In absolutely no universe does a romance book ever need to be over 500 pages.
This book had some really cute parts, but they were buried under cringey dialogue, way too many sex scenes, and a bunch of scenes that added nothing to the book.
The setup didn’t really make a whole lot of sense to me, I didn’t really understand why these pro athletes were being forced to volunteer at a zoo of all places?
I absolutely hated the MMC for the first third of the book, he went way past grumpy and was just mean. Around the halfway point I started to like him but then he just kept acting like a psycho and it made me hate him again 🤣 after the halfway point the whole book just stopped making sense to me, I felt like the author was just throwing random scenes on the page and not connecting them to the broader plot and they added nothing to the book? I started skimming for the last third of the book bc I just didn’t care anymore.
This book had some really cute parts, but they were buried under cringey dialogue, way too many sex scenes, and a bunch of scenes that added nothing to the book.
The setup didn’t really make a whole lot of sense to me, I didn’t really understand why these pro athletes were being forced to volunteer at a zoo of all places?
I absolutely hated the MMC for the first third of the book, he went way past grumpy and was just mean. Around the halfway point I started to like him but then he just kept acting like a psycho and it made me hate him again 🤣 after the halfway point the whole book just stopped making sense to me, I felt like the author was just throwing random scenes on the page and not connecting them to the broader plot and they added nothing to the book? I started skimming for the last third of the book bc I just didn’t care anymore.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Typical MQ RomCom vibes with some real raw feelings too.
Grayson is a complicated grumpy/ broody hockey player who has been tasked, along with two other pro-athletes, to help improve their team’s images.
Maple is a zoo keeper & flamingo advocate that is tasked with Grayson. The two have a strong dislike for each other, which grows into banter that will have you in stitches.
The two end up in a PR relationship- and you know that just eventually leads to a real relationship; flaws, hiccups and all!
More to come… for now here are my unhinged notes:
The cross - series references
PR relationship
The grumpy brooding
Gets her pink wrap when hurt
Redoes apartment
The “Gladdy Daddy” group chat
She wears his number
He’s totally spewing flamingo facts & getting those funds raised at
Grayson is a complicated grumpy/ broody hockey player who has been tasked, along with two other pro-athletes, to help improve their team’s images.
Maple is a zoo keeper & flamingo advocate that is tasked with Grayson. The two have a strong dislike for each other, which grows into banter that will have you in stitches.
The two end up in a PR relationship- and you know that just eventually leads to a real relationship; flaws, hiccups and all!
More to come… for now here are my unhinged notes:
The cross - series references
PR relationship
The grumpy brooding
Gets her pink wrap when hurt
Redoes apartment
The “Gladdy Daddy” group chat
She wears his number
He’s totally spewing flamingo facts & getting those funds raised at
March 5, 2026
Classic Meghan Quinn banter and humor baked into every page!
MQ never fails to make me smile and regardless of the plot or storyline, the characters are sure to have strong personalities that make them feel like your friends or real people.
Unfortunately, this one was a bit on the cheesy side and was a much more lengthy than her usual books, but definitely a fun and fresh read! Could have easily been 200 pages shorter and a little less dramatic tbh…
MQ never fails to make me smile and regardless of the plot or storyline, the characters are sure to have strong personalities that make them feel like your friends or real people.
Unfortunately, this one was a bit on the cheesy side and was a much more lengthy than her usual books, but definitely a fun and fresh read! Could have easily been 200 pages shorter and a little less dramatic tbh…
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