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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.
637 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 3, 2026
14685 people are currently reading
32772 people want to read
About the author
Meghan Quinn
128 books51.8k 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 4,886 reviews
Did Not Finish
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 :)
April 22, 2026
Oh, Meghan. Meghan. MEGHAN.
Queen… what was this??
This book really said “I’ll give you enemies-to-lovers excellence for 50% and then personally ruin your life for the other 50%.”
The first half? A strong 4 stars.
The second half? Babes, we fell off a cliff. 1 star.
So I’m settling at 3 stars because, unfortunately, I did giggle. I did kick my feet. I did have my little hihi-haha moments that Meghan always manages to pull out of me.
And that is why I’m mad. Because this had SO much potential.
A PR relationship between a flamingo zookeeper and a football player???
Excuse me??? That is so absurdly specific that I was immediately sat.
Also, I’m assuming it’s American football because I genuinely had NO idea what sport this man was playing half the time. If there isn’t a round ball being kicked with feet, my European brain simply checks out. Sorry not sorry.
BUT SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME—
WHY.
WAS.
THIS.
BOOK.
SO.
LONG.
Oh wait, I know why.
Because after the 50% mark these two forgot that human beings are capable of doing literally anything else besides jumping each other.
Every chapter.
Every room.
Every surface.
Every possible horizontal and vertical arrangement.
At one point I’m pretty sure if they had found a ceiling, they would have used that too.
While Maple was out here like, “oh baby yes more” I was on the other side of the page like, “PLEASE GOD RELEASE ME FROM THIS SUFFERING.”
And Graydon???
Sir???
The amount of ass slapping this man did should honestly qualify as a repetitive stress injury.
I genuinely do not know how Maple was sitting, walking, or functioning by the end of this book.
Now LET ME BE FAIR. The beginning??? Oh, it was DELICIOUS.
The man was rude.
He was cold.
He was annoyingly attractive and emotionally unavailable.
Exactly the kind of nonsense I eat up every single time. The tension was TENSIONING.
They were getting worse and worse at pretending they disliked each other, and I was absolutely feral waiting for someone to finally snap.
And then they did. AND IT NEVER STOPPED.
Like babes, I love a good smut scene. I really do.
But after the 17th description of licking, sucking, aching, throbbing, vibrating, pulsating, and whatever else was apparently happening every five pages, I was spiritually exhausted.
They were not just horny. They were HORNY horny.
Like teenagers who discovered sex yesterday and decided to make it everyone’s problem.
Graydon, my guy, therapy is calling. Please pick up.
And somehow—SOMEHOW—the best part of this book ended up being the side characters???
Because Bennett and OC???
HELLO??? THE CHEMISTRY??? THE VIBES??? THE CRUMBS???
I was more invested in them than the actual main couple by the end.
That’s the book I want. That’s the romance I’m waiting for. That’s where my stars went.
Meghan, I love you queen, but this one was giving “started iconic, ended in heatstroke.”
___________
pre-read
Alright, everyone, gather ‘round, because THIS is serious. My last two reads? A complete trainwreck. Trauma, really. Let’s just erase those from memory. Poof. Gone.✨💀✨
Now, I am placing all my fragile hopes on the queen herself, Meghan Quinn, to rescue me from this literary despair. Her humor better be ready, because I am counting on it to pull me out of this mess. No pressure, Meghan… okay, maybe a little pressure…
Queen… what was this??
This book really said “I’ll give you enemies-to-lovers excellence for 50% and then personally ruin your life for the other 50%.”
The first half? A strong 4 stars.
The second half? Babes, we fell off a cliff. 1 star.
So I’m settling at 3 stars because, unfortunately, I did giggle. I did kick my feet. I did have my little hihi-haha moments that Meghan always manages to pull out of me.
And that is why I’m mad. Because this had SO much potential.
A PR relationship between a flamingo zookeeper and a football player???
Excuse me??? That is so absurdly specific that I was immediately sat.
Also, I’m assuming it’s American football because I genuinely had NO idea what sport this man was playing half the time. If there isn’t a round ball being kicked with feet, my European brain simply checks out. Sorry not sorry.
BUT SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME—
WHY.
WAS.
THIS.
BOOK.
SO.
LONG.
Oh wait, I know why.
Because after the 50% mark these two forgot that human beings are capable of doing literally anything else besides jumping each other.
Every chapter.
Every room.
Every surface.
Every possible horizontal and vertical arrangement.
At one point I’m pretty sure if they had found a ceiling, they would have used that too.
While Maple was out here like, “oh baby yes more” I was on the other side of the page like, “PLEASE GOD RELEASE ME FROM THIS SUFFERING.”
And Graydon???
Sir???
The amount of ass slapping this man did should honestly qualify as a repetitive stress injury.
I genuinely do not know how Maple was sitting, walking, or functioning by the end of this book.
Now LET ME BE FAIR. The beginning??? Oh, it was DELICIOUS.
The man was rude.
He was cold.
He was annoyingly attractive and emotionally unavailable.
Exactly the kind of nonsense I eat up every single time. The tension was TENSIONING.
They were getting worse and worse at pretending they disliked each other, and I was absolutely feral waiting for someone to finally snap.
And then they did. AND IT NEVER STOPPED.
Like babes, I love a good smut scene. I really do.
But after the 17th description of licking, sucking, aching, throbbing, vibrating, pulsating, and whatever else was apparently happening every five pages, I was spiritually exhausted.
They were not just horny. They were HORNY horny.
Like teenagers who discovered sex yesterday and decided to make it everyone’s problem.
Graydon, my guy, therapy is calling. Please pick up.
And somehow—SOMEHOW—the best part of this book ended up being the side characters???
Because Bennett and OC???
HELLO??? THE CHEMISTRY??? THE VIBES??? THE CRUMBS???
I was more invested in them than the actual main couple by the end.
That’s the book I want. That’s the romance I’m waiting for. That’s where my stars went.
Meghan, I love you queen, but this one was giving “started iconic, ended in heatstroke.”
___________
pre-read
Alright, everyone, gather ‘round, because THIS is serious. My last two reads? A complete trainwreck. Trauma, really. Let’s just erase those from memory. Poof. Gone.✨💀✨
Now, I am placing all my fragile hopes on the queen herself, Meghan Quinn, to rescue me from this literary despair. Her humor better be ready, because I am counting on it to pull me out of this mess. No pressure, Meghan… okay, maybe a little pressure…
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 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!!!📷🩷
April 18, 2026
4.25 stars—another amazing rom com by the Queen of rom coms! I listened to this on audio and the audiobook was so good!
March 12, 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 disbelief 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.
January 26, 2026
Meghan Quinn does it again!! The ultimate grumpy-sunshine!! And the gladdy daddies conversations 😂😂 so funny!
February 9, 2026
Absolutely not. The ML needs therapy, not a girlfriend. I couldn’t even finish this.
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.
April 2, 2026
Meghan Quinn is the queen of putting men in the most absurd situations.
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.
April 25, 2026
Trust MQ to come up with an original plot idea ⚽️ x🦩= 😂
“He’s teaching me football, I’m teaching him flamingos. Come along for the ride.” ⚽️🦩✨
Yes, that’s right, a brand new trope: Football Player x Zookeeper 💘 add in: grumpy/sunshine, PR romance (fake dating), slow burn, and a protective MMC and you have yourself a refreshing take on a sports romance!
They're faking it for the cameras. But what if the sparks are real? 📸💖✨
This was a hell of a rollercoaster ride! I went from laughing out loud to quietly sobbing, never knowing what was coming next, pulling at every single heartstring 😭 While this is a longish rom-com, there is no denying the plot was jam packed full of memorable moments and a lot of emotion. I love how Meghan always combines lighthearted moments with heavier topics, creating a perfect balance between the two. It allows her to delve deep into the characters backgrounds, and the heavy baggage they carry, whilst still keeping the book upbeat and enjoyable.
I had a GREAT time reading Maple and Graydon’s story. The unique setting for their story was absolutely brilliant; a real highlight for me. Furthermore, I love a fake dating story, and Meghan is such a pro at creating a new exciting take on this age old trope. She wastes no time, immediately pulling you into the character’s lives with a dual POV. And, per her usual standard, Quinn portrays loveable, complex characters that you can’t help but root for.
Maple - I absolutely adored her from the beginning. She is definitely one of Quinn’s more relatable and realistic MFCs. I loved the innocence she radiate but there is also a toughness to her, an underlying ability to stand up for herself and the things she cares about. Her determination is so admirable and the way she genuinely cares about the flamingos is so heartwarming 🥰 She is unique and proud to be so 🥲
“She’s sunshine and radiance. She’s joy and strength.” ☀️
Graydon - I REALLY disliked this man. I wanted so badly to like him but I just couldn’t find a good bone in his body. I have read A LOT of MQ books and this is very unusual for me. In my experience, Quinn writes the swoon-worthy MMC. Not this time! Saying that, making him incredibly broody was quite clearly a choice rather than a mistake. And just as I was beginning to doubt Quinn’s Cupid magic - BAM 💥 at around 25% mark, I fell for this man. His world opened up before us and had me crumbling. I was at his feet for the remainder of the book 🙇🏻♀️ He isn’t your typical character. He is grumpy and standoffish, but he is one of the sweetest, most caring, and protective MMC I have come across. He is a mystery that you are constantly trying to solve.
Romance - Sure, there was too much spice for my liking in the second half but having skipped past a few of those chapters I enjoyed it all the same. Moreover, I would happily put up with them fooling around for the amount of genuine vulnerability and deep emotional connection between this pair. Their chemistry was off the charts right from their love/hate banter in the very beginning, to their sweet tender moments, to their undeniable love for one another. They certainly don’t have an easy road…facing family secrets, viral fame, and a PR mishap. It is their fight for love that makes it so special 💘
"I love you, and I will spend every moment I have proving that to you. Proving to you that this is where I want to be. I will not abandon you, I will not leave you. You are who I want to be with, and I don’t care about anything else that comes along with it because the only thing I care about…is you.” 🥹💖✨
Overall, this was another very enjoyable and entertaining read from my romcom queen - MQ. She brought back the MMC group chat which I live for; they are beyond hilarious 🤣 But I also love seeing the men supporting each other through their trials. I also loved how she included links to characters in her other books, it definitely adds a depth when you know their backstories. A great start to a brand new series 🙇🏻♀️
4 🌟🌟🌟🌟
“He’s teaching me football, I’m teaching him flamingos. Come along for the ride.” ⚽️🦩✨
Yes, that’s right, a brand new trope: Football Player x Zookeeper 💘 add in: grumpy/sunshine, PR romance (fake dating), slow burn, and a protective MMC and you have yourself a refreshing take on a sports romance!
They're faking it for the cameras. But what if the sparks are real? 📸💖✨
This was a hell of a rollercoaster ride! I went from laughing out loud to quietly sobbing, never knowing what was coming next, pulling at every single heartstring 😭 While this is a longish rom-com, there is no denying the plot was jam packed full of memorable moments and a lot of emotion. I love how Meghan always combines lighthearted moments with heavier topics, creating a perfect balance between the two. It allows her to delve deep into the characters backgrounds, and the heavy baggage they carry, whilst still keeping the book upbeat and enjoyable.
I had a GREAT time reading Maple and Graydon’s story. The unique setting for their story was absolutely brilliant; a real highlight for me. Furthermore, I love a fake dating story, and Meghan is such a pro at creating a new exciting take on this age old trope. She wastes no time, immediately pulling you into the character’s lives with a dual POV. And, per her usual standard, Quinn portrays loveable, complex characters that you can’t help but root for.
Maple - I absolutely adored her from the beginning. She is definitely one of Quinn’s more relatable and realistic MFCs. I loved the innocence she radiate but there is also a toughness to her, an underlying ability to stand up for herself and the things she cares about. Her determination is so admirable and the way she genuinely cares about the flamingos is so heartwarming 🥰 She is unique and proud to be so 🥲
“She’s sunshine and radiance. She’s joy and strength.” ☀️
Graydon - I REALLY disliked this man. I wanted so badly to like him but I just couldn’t find a good bone in his body. I have read A LOT of MQ books and this is very unusual for me. In my experience, Quinn writes the swoon-worthy MMC. Not this time! Saying that, making him incredibly broody was quite clearly a choice rather than a mistake. And just as I was beginning to doubt Quinn’s Cupid magic - BAM 💥 at around 25% mark, I fell for this man. His world opened up before us and had me crumbling. I was at his feet for the remainder of the book 🙇🏻♀️ He isn’t your typical character. He is grumpy and standoffish, but he is one of the sweetest, most caring, and protective MMC I have come across. He is a mystery that you are constantly trying to solve.
Romance - Sure, there was too much spice for my liking in the second half but having skipped past a few of those chapters I enjoyed it all the same. Moreover, I would happily put up with them fooling around for the amount of genuine vulnerability and deep emotional connection between this pair. Their chemistry was off the charts right from their love/hate banter in the very beginning, to their sweet tender moments, to their undeniable love for one another. They certainly don’t have an easy road…facing family secrets, viral fame, and a PR mishap. It is their fight for love that makes it so special 💘
"I love you, and I will spend every moment I have proving that to you. Proving to you that this is where I want to be. I will not abandon you, I will not leave you. You are who I want to be with, and I don’t care about anything else that comes along with it because the only thing I care about…is you.” 🥹💖✨
Overall, this was another very enjoyable and entertaining read from my romcom queen - MQ. She brought back the MMC group chat which I live for; they are beyond hilarious 🤣 But I also love seeing the men supporting each other through their trials. I also loved how she included links to characters in her other books, it definitely adds a depth when you know their backstories. A great start to a brand new series 🙇🏻♀️
4 🌟🌟🌟🌟
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.
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
March 18, 2026
Just for the Cameras is the first book in the Bay Area Players. Meghan Quinn’s newer releases have been a lot of fun for me, especially via audio and this one was equal parts hilarious, sweet, spicy, and emotional. This is a fake dating (PR romance) between a football player and a zookeeper!
San Francisco’s most sought-after Crisis PR manager is hired to fix a league-wide PR scandal and the first media stunt is for the players to help out at the city zoo! Now for 2 months, broody grumpy defensive end Graydon will be working with flamingos and Maple, the sunshiny zookeeper. Maple decides to amp up her chances of being able to provide for the flamingos, she and Graydon should create a social media account together where she will teach him about flamingos and in exchange he will teach her about football. But things go awry when fans find their account and think they are dating instead! His PR manager for the team decides to go along with the fake dating/PR relationship and the story goes from there with this added layer of a fake relationship!
This book made me realize I haven’t read a truly grumpy hero in quite some time, even books touted as grumpy heroes I feel like don’t deliver on this true vibe of him of being an actual grump like this hero was. He is of course emotionally damaged and broody too for reasons. We see his complex/ relationship with his toxic father, his mother who is in the hospital with care (see CW below), and see how Graydon feels truly alone. So I liked seeing him open up to Maple and her being there for him. Maple and the flamingos were fun at the zoo, I liked Graydon and the other sports guys in their friend chat group (him not wanting to be a part of it but eventually coming around lol), plus the painting of the mural too! This just had a great balance of hilarious moments, sweet tender moments, emotional ones, and spicy too.
The audio in particular was a lot of fun and the way I recommend for this author’s books. It’s a duet narration by Connor Crais and Emma Wilder, with full cast narration appearances by Teddy Hamilton, J.F. Harding, Jason Clarke, Stella Hunter, and Samantha Brentmoor.
CW: his mom had a head injury and now has anterograde amnesia (brain can’t form new memories)
San Francisco’s most sought-after Crisis PR manager is hired to fix a league-wide PR scandal and the first media stunt is for the players to help out at the city zoo! Now for 2 months, broody grumpy defensive end Graydon will be working with flamingos and Maple, the sunshiny zookeeper. Maple decides to amp up her chances of being able to provide for the flamingos, she and Graydon should create a social media account together where she will teach him about flamingos and in exchange he will teach her about football. But things go awry when fans find their account and think they are dating instead! His PR manager for the team decides to go along with the fake dating/PR relationship and the story goes from there with this added layer of a fake relationship!
This book made me realize I haven’t read a truly grumpy hero in quite some time, even books touted as grumpy heroes I feel like don’t deliver on this true vibe of him of being an actual grump like this hero was. He is of course emotionally damaged and broody too for reasons. We see his complex/ relationship with his toxic father, his mother who is in the hospital with care (see CW below), and see how Graydon feels truly alone. So I liked seeing him open up to Maple and her being there for him. Maple and the flamingos were fun at the zoo, I liked Graydon and the other sports guys in their friend chat group (him not wanting to be a part of it but eventually coming around lol), plus the painting of the mural too! This just had a great balance of hilarious moments, sweet tender moments, emotional ones, and spicy too.
The audio in particular was a lot of fun and the way I recommend for this author’s books. It’s a duet narration by Connor Crais and Emma Wilder, with full cast narration appearances by Teddy Hamilton, J.F. Harding, Jason Clarke, Stella Hunter, and Samantha Brentmoor.
CW: his mom had a head injury and now has anterograde amnesia (brain can’t form new memories)
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.
April 22, 2026
4.5⭐️
Meghan Quinn is one of the few authors who consistently makes me laugh out loud while reading, and this book was no exception! It’s so funny, I loved the banter, its enemies to lovers + fake dating + professional athlete x zookeeper and the vibes were immaculate
Meghan Quinn is one of the few authors who consistently makes me laugh out loud while reading, and this book was no exception! It’s so funny, I loved the banter, its enemies to lovers + fake dating + professional athlete x zookeeper and the vibes were immaculate
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 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.
March 16, 2026
Honestly… 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. 💕📖🔥
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.
May 6, 2026
girl, i’m bored, let’s have some self-respect..
absolutely nothing in this book warranted it being almost 600 pages. i am not one to agree that romance books have to be 300 pages because i do enjoy a romance that’s on the longer side, if it’s done well, this was not written or executed good at all. i hate when books make me feel physically violent because reading is meant to be a peaceful and zen experience (right guys?) but i feel absolutely enraged right now.
back to my original point.. hey girl let’s not lust after a man who does nothing but ruin your self esteem and confidence. literally the fmcs words. i love a hate-to-love as much as the next girl but not when it’s one-sided like this. it was constant attack after attack by the mmc, graydon (stupid as fuck name) towards maple. it was violent outburst with no apology at the end of it, sugarcoated with the excuse that the mmc has trauma from his mother falling off a horse. maple took the blows laying down like a doormat instead of standing up for herself and that’s the part i really struggled with. if i wanted to read about this macho-alpha type man the size of a refrigerator asserting his dominance over a weakly portrayed woman with no backbone i would pick up a mafia romance with a shirtless man on the cover.
graydon has to be the worst mmc i’ve read about in a while. his violence and aggression really turned me off straight away. the way he would physically intimidate the fmc by standing up to her, the hurtful things he would say and his possessiveness were atrocious. i’ll say it as it is… he was abusive. and i hated that we’re supposed to believe he wouldn’t be physically abusive too because how are we supposed to know that with the way he acts?
i did check out at the 60% mark when it was clear that graydon was going to get away with his behaviour because of a few apologies and when it became obvious that from that point on all the scenes were going to be poorly written sex scenes. but hey, we knew all the sex was coming when all the mmc thought about when he saw maple was her body and his perverted sexual fantasies were at the forefront of his mind.
a dual pov romance book will never be good when it’s always sex sex sex everytime we get the mans pov. this book was no different and i hope graydon and his mentality from the 1960’s rots in hell.
the last straw for me was when he tells maple that he prefers her without makeup on and nails because he likes his women natural and not like all the previous women he’s been with who ‘threw’ themselves it him. author, i’m bored let’s not set feminism back by 50 years with your shit book. it’s like women who don’t wear makeup are a fucking dying breed. i cannot stand the ‘i’m not like other girls’ fuckery and i don’t understand why authors are still pushing this narrative that being natural makes you superior and/or having physical insecurities is wrong. fuck that. as a female author too, this is crazy.
it’s a tough situation because the story behind the romance was actually a really unique one that i was excited to read about. it makes me laugh how long this book actually is but 80% of it is the romance while the other 20 is vague hints that the backstory is still going on.
anyone who didn’t mentally check out after the half-way point tell me: does maple grow a back-bone or does graydon go to therapy?
absolutely nothing in this book warranted it being almost 600 pages. i am not one to agree that romance books have to be 300 pages because i do enjoy a romance that’s on the longer side, if it’s done well, this was not written or executed good at all. i hate when books make me feel physically violent because reading is meant to be a peaceful and zen experience (right guys?) but i feel absolutely enraged right now.
back to my original point.. hey girl let’s not lust after a man who does nothing but ruin your self esteem and confidence. literally the fmcs words. i love a hate-to-love as much as the next girl but not when it’s one-sided like this. it was constant attack after attack by the mmc, graydon (stupid as fuck name) towards maple. it was violent outburst with no apology at the end of it, sugarcoated with the excuse that the mmc has trauma from his mother falling off a horse. maple took the blows laying down like a doormat instead of standing up for herself and that’s the part i really struggled with. if i wanted to read about this macho-alpha type man the size of a refrigerator asserting his dominance over a weakly portrayed woman with no backbone i would pick up a mafia romance with a shirtless man on the cover.
graydon has to be the worst mmc i’ve read about in a while. his violence and aggression really turned me off straight away. the way he would physically intimidate the fmc by standing up to her, the hurtful things he would say and his possessiveness were atrocious. i’ll say it as it is… he was abusive. and i hated that we’re supposed to believe he wouldn’t be physically abusive too because how are we supposed to know that with the way he acts?
i did check out at the 60% mark when it was clear that graydon was going to get away with his behaviour because of a few apologies and when it became obvious that from that point on all the scenes were going to be poorly written sex scenes. but hey, we knew all the sex was coming when all the mmc thought about when he saw maple was her body and his perverted sexual fantasies were at the forefront of his mind.
a dual pov romance book will never be good when it’s always sex sex sex everytime we get the mans pov. this book was no different and i hope graydon and his mentality from the 1960’s rots in hell.
the last straw for me was when he tells maple that he prefers her without makeup on and nails because he likes his women natural and not like all the previous women he’s been with who ‘threw’ themselves it him. author, i’m bored let’s not set feminism back by 50 years with your shit book. it’s like women who don’t wear makeup are a fucking dying breed. i cannot stand the ‘i’m not like other girls’ fuckery and i don’t understand why authors are still pushing this narrative that being natural makes you superior and/or having physical insecurities is wrong. fuck that. as a female author too, this is crazy.
it’s a tough situation because the story behind the romance was actually a really unique one that i was excited to read about. it makes me laugh how long this book actually is but 80% of it is the romance while the other 20 is vague hints that the backstory is still going on.
anyone who didn’t mentally check out after the half-way point tell me: does maple grow a back-bone or does graydon go to therapy?
February 8, 2026
DNF. I haven’t been able to enjoy any of this author’s books lately. They are just… childish in a way. The characters seem like they’d be teenagers with the way they are written.
April 13, 2026
3.5-3.75… a super fun silly goofy good time, albeit slightly cringy but a full cast audio and I did indeed have fun
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!
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 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: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
March 15, 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.
April 13, 2026
Maple and Grayson ❤️🔥 oh my goodness! This story was so good! I was hooked instantly! ❤️🔥
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