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The Greatest Game: A spicy enemies to lovers soccer romance
She's met her match. But will the winner take all or lose everything?Marcee Ackerman's dream job as head soccer coach at Pemberton Prep is turning into a nightmare. Her new boss has given her an ultimatum—win the state championship or she’s fired. To make matters worse, Pemberton's rival school hires hotshot ex-England player Remington Lockley as their new coach. How can she compete against a world-class pro?
To keep her job and her reputation safe, Marcee will do whatever it takes. But one steamy encounter with Remy has thrown her plans off-course. Falling for the enemy may be just what Marcee's boss needs to get rid of her for good, yet she is powerless to resist as she gets to know the real Remy behind the tabloid scandals.
Soccer is life, but love is the greatest game of all. Even Marcee’s competitiveness might not be enough for her to win…
This steamy sports romance is perfect for fans of Meryl Wilsner, Amy Lea and Elena Armas.
To keep her job and her reputation safe, Marcee will do whatever it takes. But one steamy encounter with Remy has thrown her plans off-course. Falling for the enemy may be just what Marcee's boss needs to get rid of her for good, yet she is powerless to resist as she gets to know the real Remy behind the tabloid scandals.
Soccer is life, but love is the greatest game of all. Even Marcee’s competitiveness might not be enough for her to win…
This steamy sports romance is perfect for fans of Meryl Wilsner, Amy Lea and Elena Armas.
347 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 19, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
pre-read:
Huge thank you to netgalley, Tara Sexton and Canelo Romance for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I got this arc and i was extremely intrigued. I grew to like Marcee, but for the majority of the book i disliked her. remmy was a good mmc and i liked his aspect of the book and wish that we got to see his pov more and know more. I did like the soccer aspect of the book and how they were rival coaches. the interview left a sour taste in my mouth. by the time i finished the book it was just on an okay note. i liked the book, but didn't quite love it.
Huge thank you to netgalley, Tara Sexton and Canelo Romance for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I got this arc and i was extremely intrigued. I grew to like Marcee, but for the majority of the book i disliked her. remmy was a good mmc and i liked his aspect of the book and wish that we got to see his pov more and know more. I did like the soccer aspect of the book and how they were rival coaches. the interview left a sour taste in my mouth. by the time i finished the book it was just on an okay note. i liked the book, but didn't quite love it.
October 30, 2025
I was lucky enough to read an early version of this book and it was such a fun read! If you enjoy sports romance, definitely check this one out.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Greatest Game was such a strong debut sports romance that balanced emotional depth, football drama, and slow-burn tension really well. This felt like a story written by someone who genuinely understands and loves the sport, and that made the entire book feel immersive instead of just using football as background decoration.
One of my favorite things about this book was Marcee. She felt incredibly real to me: flawed, guarded, passionate, and carrying years of unresolved hurt that shaped the way she moved through the world. I appreciated that the story allowed her to struggle and make mistakes instead of trying to make her endlessly strong or perfect. Her therapy journey and the way mental health was handled throughout the book added so much emotional weight and authenticity to her character.
I also loved seeing a sports romance where both main characters are coaches instead of the more typical player dynamic. It gave the story a fresh perspective and made the rivalry, tension, and professional boundaries feel even more layered.
Remy was such a solid counterpart to Marcee. He’s patient, supportive, emotionally aware, and clearly fascinated by her from the start without trying to overpower her personality. I really enjoyed their chemistry, especially because the romance was allowed to develop slowly instead of rushing straight into feelings. The slow burn worked really well here.
What honestly surprised me most was how much I loved Marcee’s relationship with her team. Her dedication to her players and the emotional connection she had with them became one of the strongest parts of the story for me. You could feel how much football meant to her beyond just competition.
I also appreciated how thoughtfully the book handled heavier topics like eating disorders, guilt, pressure, misogyny in sports, and mental health. None of it felt thrown in for drama. It felt purposeful and grounded in the characters’ experiences.
The only reason this wasn’t a full five stars for me was because the ending felt slightly rushed compared to the slower pacing of the rest of the story. I wanted just a little more emotional resolution after everything these characters went through.
Still, for a debut novel, this was incredibly impressive and emotionally engaging.
If you love:
⚽ sports romance with actual sports focus
⚽ slow burn forbidden romance
⚽ emotionally layered FMCs
⚽ coach x coach dynamics
⚽ mental health representation
⚽ strong female leads in male-dominated spaces
⚽ tension, rivalry, and emotional healing
…then this is definitely worth adding to your TBR.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Greatest Game was such a strong debut sports romance that balanced emotional depth, football drama, and slow-burn tension really well. This felt like a story written by someone who genuinely understands and loves the sport, and that made the entire book feel immersive instead of just using football as background decoration.
One of my favorite things about this book was Marcee. She felt incredibly real to me: flawed, guarded, passionate, and carrying years of unresolved hurt that shaped the way she moved through the world. I appreciated that the story allowed her to struggle and make mistakes instead of trying to make her endlessly strong or perfect. Her therapy journey and the way mental health was handled throughout the book added so much emotional weight and authenticity to her character.
I also loved seeing a sports romance where both main characters are coaches instead of the more typical player dynamic. It gave the story a fresh perspective and made the rivalry, tension, and professional boundaries feel even more layered.
Remy was such a solid counterpart to Marcee. He’s patient, supportive, emotionally aware, and clearly fascinated by her from the start without trying to overpower her personality. I really enjoyed their chemistry, especially because the romance was allowed to develop slowly instead of rushing straight into feelings. The slow burn worked really well here.
What honestly surprised me most was how much I loved Marcee’s relationship with her team. Her dedication to her players and the emotional connection she had with them became one of the strongest parts of the story for me. You could feel how much football meant to her beyond just competition.
I also appreciated how thoughtfully the book handled heavier topics like eating disorders, guilt, pressure, misogyny in sports, and mental health. None of it felt thrown in for drama. It felt purposeful and grounded in the characters’ experiences.
The only reason this wasn’t a full five stars for me was because the ending felt slightly rushed compared to the slower pacing of the rest of the story. I wanted just a little more emotional resolution after everything these characters went through.
Still, for a debut novel, this was incredibly impressive and emotionally engaging.
If you love:
⚽ sports romance with actual sports focus
⚽ slow burn forbidden romance
⚽ emotionally layered FMCs
⚽ coach x coach dynamics
⚽ mental health representation
⚽ strong female leads in male-dominated spaces
⚽ tension, rivalry, and emotional healing
…then this is definitely worth adding to your TBR.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Offside Has Never Felt So Good ⚽🔥
The Greatest Game -⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
A forbidden slow burn romance between a female football coach and a brooding English footballer? I was in from the very first page. 🏈⚽✨
The Greatest Game follows Marcee, a passionate and fiercely dedicated head coach trying to prove herself in a world where the sexism is impossible to ignore, and Remy, a star footballer who was run out of London carrying secrets he'd rather leave behind. Their attraction is immediate and undeniable, but with the coach and player dynamic between them, acting on it is completely off the table. Which of course just makes everything so much more compelling. 😍
The slow burn in this book is the real deal. Marcee and Remy have incredible chemistry but the story takes its time getting there, and honestly? That patience pays off. Every small stolen moment between them hits so much harder because of it. The enemies to lovers tension is perfectly balanced, enough friction to keep you hooked without ever tipping into overdramatic territory. 💕
Marcee is such a brilliant female lead. Watching her navigate misogyny and harassment in a way that felt real and relatable rather than exaggerated was so refreshing. Her devotion to her team, the guilt she carries from her past, and the eating disorder storyline, all of it handled with genuine care and sensitivity. 🤍🙏
Now I'll be fully transparent, I know absolutely nothing about football. Like, nothing. My best friend who actually plays can barely look at me when the subject comes up. 😂 But even I could tell this author either loves the game deeply or did serious research, because the football never felt like window dressing. It felt like a world these characters truly belonged to. ⚽
A couple of things didn't land quite perfectly, a few plot points resolved a little faster than I would have liked, and the ending left some threads feeling slightly loose. But that last 5%? Completely wild. I did not see it coming.😭
Single POV, slow burn, forbidden romance and authentic football energy, this one really does have it all. If sports romance is your thing, don't sleep on this one. 🏆
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley and Canelo in exchange for an honest review. 💛
The Greatest Game -⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
A forbidden slow burn romance between a female football coach and a brooding English footballer? I was in from the very first page. 🏈⚽✨
The Greatest Game follows Marcee, a passionate and fiercely dedicated head coach trying to prove herself in a world where the sexism is impossible to ignore, and Remy, a star footballer who was run out of London carrying secrets he'd rather leave behind. Their attraction is immediate and undeniable, but with the coach and player dynamic between them, acting on it is completely off the table. Which of course just makes everything so much more compelling. 😍
The slow burn in this book is the real deal. Marcee and Remy have incredible chemistry but the story takes its time getting there, and honestly? That patience pays off. Every small stolen moment between them hits so much harder because of it. The enemies to lovers tension is perfectly balanced, enough friction to keep you hooked without ever tipping into overdramatic territory. 💕
Marcee is such a brilliant female lead. Watching her navigate misogyny and harassment in a way that felt real and relatable rather than exaggerated was so refreshing. Her devotion to her team, the guilt she carries from her past, and the eating disorder storyline, all of it handled with genuine care and sensitivity. 🤍🙏
Now I'll be fully transparent, I know absolutely nothing about football. Like, nothing. My best friend who actually plays can barely look at me when the subject comes up. 😂 But even I could tell this author either loves the game deeply or did serious research, because the football never felt like window dressing. It felt like a world these characters truly belonged to. ⚽
A couple of things didn't land quite perfectly, a few plot points resolved a little faster than I would have liked, and the ending left some threads feeling slightly loose. But that last 5%? Completely wild. I did not see it coming.😭
Single POV, slow burn, forbidden romance and authentic football energy, this one really does have it all. If sports romance is your thing, don't sleep on this one. 🏆
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley and Canelo in exchange for an honest review. 💛
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I loved it!
I've started to expect about 3 star reads for debut books, because most of the time for a first book authors tend to write action focused. Not that that's wrong, it just makes the characters lack depth most of the time. But this book was waaaay better than I expected. It's a solid 4.5 stars.
I loved the characters with their fears and passion. Marcee was a great, complex and lovely character. Even with her prickly exterior at times, she was remarkable. She felt so real to me with her struggles and doubts. The therapy sessions completed her character and challenged her to be better and more vulnerable with those who deserve to be part of her life. I loved that I saw her in some low and some high moments, representing real life so authentically.
Remy was charming and patient with Marcee, and was exactly what she needed. He was a pretty good communicater. He provoked her to express herself even when she didn't want to. He also addressed her doubts and fears, and tried to show her his feelings with actions, even though some of them were really stupid and not carefully considered. I think there wasn't enough information about him in the story, he didn't share a lot on the pages and I think this is the only drawback for me. I just wanted to learn more about him.
The romance was ok. It was turbulent at times, but considering they were rivals, that was expected. I really enjoyed it, but to be honest, I loved Marcee's connection to the team more. It was so emotional and inspiring. It just stole the show and my heart. I loved how strong and passionate she was for her girls, and how ready she was to do anything for them. It was truly heartwarming.
I love how well and thoughtfully the mental health issues were represented. And exactly that was the best surprise of all.
Thank you NetGalley, Tara Sexton and Canelo for the advanced copy.
I've started to expect about 3 star reads for debut books, because most of the time for a first book authors tend to write action focused. Not that that's wrong, it just makes the characters lack depth most of the time. But this book was waaaay better than I expected. It's a solid 4.5 stars.
I loved the characters with their fears and passion. Marcee was a great, complex and lovely character. Even with her prickly exterior at times, she was remarkable. She felt so real to me with her struggles and doubts. The therapy sessions completed her character and challenged her to be better and more vulnerable with those who deserve to be part of her life. I loved that I saw her in some low and some high moments, representing real life so authentically.
Remy was charming and patient with Marcee, and was exactly what she needed. He was a pretty good communicater. He provoked her to express herself even when she didn't want to. He also addressed her doubts and fears, and tried to show her his feelings with actions, even though some of them were really stupid and not carefully considered. I think there wasn't enough information about him in the story, he didn't share a lot on the pages and I think this is the only drawback for me. I just wanted to learn more about him.
The romance was ok. It was turbulent at times, but considering they were rivals, that was expected. I really enjoyed it, but to be honest, I loved Marcee's connection to the team more. It was so emotional and inspiring. It just stole the show and my heart. I loved how strong and passionate she was for her girls, and how ready she was to do anything for them. It was truly heartwarming.
I love how well and thoughtfully the mental health issues were represented. And exactly that was the best surprise of all.
Thank you NetGalley, Tara Sexton and Canelo for the advanced copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.75☆
(+) :
- I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this one. I don’t think I was really expecting anything specifically but the characters just really worked for me.
- I love that they’re both coaches. I love sports romances but so often they’re players or one is a player and one is a coach but having two coaches was not something I realized I was aching for until this book.
- Also *bless* a sports romance that actually focuses on the sport.
- I like this cover. I think Marcie looks fine, but Remy looks incredible and the strong yellow and cool tones just really work for me. Also the tied whistles is genius.
(-) :
- I do think that they are together as a couple for way too much of the story. The stakes basically evaporate even though she has a non-fraternization clause in her contract.
- I wanted a bit more from his trauma. We get a lot from Marcee’s and how it is intrinsically linked to her coaching storyline, but his feels underdeveloped. Like, why can’t he just play in America instead of coaching?
- There was an odd sort of reticence to writing the spice that I found disappointing. They sat in this weird sort of limbo between wanting to commit and not wanting to be super explicit.
- I think there was a stronger title out there somewhere.
(?) :
- ..how old is Remy? She’s supposed to have idolized him in high school but also that could mean he’s like two years older than her or a decade.
WILL I READ THE NEXT ONE? : Yes. I am looking forward to the next pair that was teed up.
(HOW LONG) DO I THINK THEY’LL STAY TOGETHER? : Oh they’re solid.
*Thank you to Canelo Romance & Netgalley for providing this ARC!
SIMILAR BOOKS :
‘Kulti’ by Mariana Zapata
‘Cloud Nine’ by Amanda Sinatra
’Pointe of Pride’ by Chloe Angyal
’The Right Swipe’ by Alisha Rai
(+) :
- I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this one. I don’t think I was really expecting anything specifically but the characters just really worked for me.
- I love that they’re both coaches. I love sports romances but so often they’re players or one is a player and one is a coach but having two coaches was not something I realized I was aching for until this book.
- Also *bless* a sports romance that actually focuses on the sport.
- I like this cover. I think Marcie looks fine, but Remy looks incredible and the strong yellow and cool tones just really work for me. Also the tied whistles is genius.
(-) :
- I do think that they are together as a couple for way too much of the story. The stakes basically evaporate even though she has a non-fraternization clause in her contract.
- I wanted a bit more from his trauma. We get a lot from Marcee’s and how it is intrinsically linked to her coaching storyline, but his feels underdeveloped. Like, why can’t he just play in America instead of coaching?
- There was an odd sort of reticence to writing the spice that I found disappointing. They sat in this weird sort of limbo between wanting to commit and not wanting to be super explicit.
- I think there was a stronger title out there somewhere.
(?) :
- ..how old is Remy? She’s supposed to have idolized him in high school but also that could mean he’s like two years older than her or a decade.
WILL I READ THE NEXT ONE? : Yes. I am looking forward to the next pair that was teed up.
(HOW LONG) DO I THINK THEY’LL STAY TOGETHER? : Oh they’re solid.
*Thank you to Canelo Romance & Netgalley for providing this ARC!
SIMILAR BOOKS :
‘Kulti’ by Mariana Zapata
‘Cloud Nine’ by Amanda Sinatra
’Pointe of Pride’ by Chloe Angyal
’The Right Swipe’ by Alisha Rai
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Review of advanced copy received from NetGalley
Hard to believe that this is the debut novel by this author but here we are. The Greatest Game was a very well written sports romance covering several diverse topics throughout.
This is a slow burn done right. Them being rival coaches adds an interesting dynamic that I haven't read about before. They have great chemistry and banter and compliment each other well.
The book does cover a lot of heavy topics which have shaped our FMC Marcee into who she is today. These topics are handled very well and it is clear that they weren't just added to make the story juicy. They were added intentionally to show us who Marcee really is and given that we only get her POV in this story, this helps us as the reader to be on her side and understand why she is the way she is.
Remy is also a good match for her, no pun intended! He challenges her but isn't insensitive when it comes to her trauma. It would have been good to get his POV given he has a somewhat spicy past but alas!
Despite this being a romance, the strongest and most endearing relationship to me was the one between Marcee and her team. She truly care for them, their wellbeing and their futures. It's definately a stand out relationship in the book.
The author also clearly knows her stuff when it’s come to the world of football. Whether this was through research or simply being a fan I don’t know, but the sports setting was as flushed out as the romance.
Heavy topics aside, this was a very fun and entertaining read! At under 370 pages, this doesn't feel like a slog! Just an enjoyable experience!
Hard to believe that this is the debut novel by this author but here we are. The Greatest Game was a very well written sports romance covering several diverse topics throughout.
This is a slow burn done right. Them being rival coaches adds an interesting dynamic that I haven't read about before. They have great chemistry and banter and compliment each other well.
The book does cover a lot of heavy topics which have shaped our FMC Marcee into who she is today. These topics are handled very well and it is clear that they weren't just added to make the story juicy. They were added intentionally to show us who Marcee really is and given that we only get her POV in this story, this helps us as the reader to be on her side and understand why she is the way she is.
Remy is also a good match for her, no pun intended! He challenges her but isn't insensitive when it comes to her trauma. It would have been good to get his POV given he has a somewhat spicy past but alas!
Despite this being a romance, the strongest and most endearing relationship to me was the one between Marcee and her team. She truly care for them, their wellbeing and their futures. It's definately a stand out relationship in the book.
The author also clearly knows her stuff when it’s come to the world of football. Whether this was through research or simply being a fan I don’t know, but the sports setting was as flushed out as the romance.
Heavy topics aside, this was a very fun and entertaining read! At under 370 pages, this doesn't feel like a slog! Just an enjoyable experience!
March 20, 2026
Thank you to the publishers, author and net galley for an advanced copy of The Greatest Game.
I did really enjoy the majority of this book, I liked reading books about football, and sports romance in general is a really regular genre for me. There were parts I wasn’t so keen on, but overall this was a good book.
Things I liked was the drama, tension, depth of the main character, and plot. I also enjoyed the fact that this was single person POV, rather than dual (personally I’m getting a bit bored of dual POV in romance books). I thought the mental health and ED topics were handled well and with care, and I really loved the bond between coach and player.
Things I thought could have been better…sometimes it felt like we skipped away from major plot points a bit quickly, I also think the resolution (I won’t spoil anything) “resolved” without really being resolved.
Lastly, as someone who is English and watches a lot of premier league football, I could tell the author knows a lot about England and football, or has done a lot of research. I have read many books set in America with English characters and there are regularly slip ups with language and differences. It wasn’t perfect, and at times it did feel like the MMC (and some other English characters) were speaking a bit too prim and posh (almost like regency era dialogue).
Overall an enjoyable read, and definitely recommend if you enjoy football/sports romance.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I am a huge fan of sports romances & this one does a good job finding the balance between soccer/football & the romance plot. There is quite a bit of emphasis on the sport & a lot of time spent on it - I'd say it's pretty much 50/50, not just a romance with one of the characters being a sports player. The two main characters are both coaches & have a long history of playing as well.
Marcee has been running from her demons for a long time... and while she is in therapy, she still hasn't really let go of or dealt with some issues from her past. I appreciated how the story of her & Eli came about throughout the book & how she finally came to terms with what had happened & didn't let it hang over her anymore.
Remy also has some past that is hanging over him. I love his Mom & how welcoming she is to Marcee!
The book covers some hard topics - including eating disorders. Marcee struggled with it in high school, to the point where her heart stopped during a game & she spent a lot of time in the hospital. But now, with therapy & time & hard work, she's at a good place and notices one of the girls on her team struggling with it. It's a hard topic, but handled well in the book. A good representation of a hard thing!
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️
Thank you to the author (Tara Sexton), publisher (Canelo) & Netgalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Marcee has been running from her demons for a long time... and while she is in therapy, she still hasn't really let go of or dealt with some issues from her past. I appreciated how the story of her & Eli came about throughout the book & how she finally came to terms with what had happened & didn't let it hang over her anymore.
Remy also has some past that is hanging over him. I love his Mom & how welcoming she is to Marcee!
The book covers some hard topics - including eating disorders. Marcee struggled with it in high school, to the point where her heart stopped during a game & she spent a lot of time in the hospital. But now, with therapy & time & hard work, she's at a good place and notices one of the girls on her team struggling with it. It's a hard topic, but handled well in the book. A good representation of a hard thing!
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️
Thank you to the author (Tara Sexton), publisher (Canelo) & Netgalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Why was this so goddamn good?!
First of all, check the content warnings!
On the surface, this is an FM romance, an enemies to lovers story done right, with just a touch of miscommunication (enough to hurt, but not enough to carry the entire plot). It’s sweet, sexy, and incredibly engaging.
Marcee is haunted by old memories while trying to prove she deserves to be the head coach at a school where the sexism is hard to miss. She has always had to fend for herself, and six years ago something happened. The guilt still follows her.
Remy is the star footballer (Football, not soccer! Like god intended it to be called!) who was run out of London. The ghosts of his past are catching up with him in the form of a photographer determined to uncover the truth about what happened.
The attraction between them is undeniable, along with their shared stubbornness and the thrill of the game.
But how do you move on from guilt and ghosts? And how do you stop others from making the same mistakes you did?
The last 5% of the book? Wild!
Thank you to Canelo and NetGalley for providing an eARC to review!
First of all, check the content warnings!
On the surface, this is an FM romance, an enemies to lovers story done right, with just a touch of miscommunication (enough to hurt, but not enough to carry the entire plot). It’s sweet, sexy, and incredibly engaging.
Marcee is haunted by old memories while trying to prove she deserves to be the head coach at a school where the sexism is hard to miss. She has always had to fend for herself, and six years ago something happened. The guilt still follows her.
Remy is the star footballer (Football, not soccer! Like god intended it to be called!) who was run out of London. The ghosts of his past are catching up with him in the form of a photographer determined to uncover the truth about what happened.
The attraction between them is undeniable, along with their shared stubbornness and the thrill of the game.
But how do you move on from guilt and ghosts? And how do you stop others from making the same mistakes you did?
The last 5% of the book? Wild!
"You taste like butter" [...]
"And you taste like paradise."
Thank you to Canelo and NetGalley for providing an eARC to review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book just completely missed the mark for me and I'm so bummed.
I am a BIG fan of the enemies to lovers trope but this was not that. Our FMC, Marcee, is the new head coach of an elite prep school and finds out that the MMC, Remington (Remy), former Premier League player, is the new coach of their rival school. The first few chapters leaned in HARD as the rivals butted heads every chance they interacted but it took a sharp turn into lovers WAY too quickly for my taste. There was barely any chance for the build-up, the best part of the trope, and quickly turned into instalove. Also, the author did a lot more tell then show when it came to their relationship so when they made their love confession, I was honestly perplexed that their relationship had gotten to that stage already.
Props to the author for tackling the rampant misogyny in sports and elite academia as well as focusing on the pressure for young female athletes regarding their bodies. This was the best, most well developed portion of the book and I give Tara Sexton credit for leaning into the uncomfortable scenarios that came up due to sexism, etc. because it truly helped the story.
Thanks to #Netgalley & Canelo for the ARC!
I am a BIG fan of the enemies to lovers trope but this was not that. Our FMC, Marcee, is the new head coach of an elite prep school and finds out that the MMC, Remington (Remy), former Premier League player, is the new coach of their rival school. The first few chapters leaned in HARD as the rivals butted heads every chance they interacted but it took a sharp turn into lovers WAY too quickly for my taste. There was barely any chance for the build-up, the best part of the trope, and quickly turned into instalove. Also, the author did a lot more tell then show when it came to their relationship so when they made their love confession, I was honestly perplexed that their relationship had gotten to that stage already.
Props to the author for tackling the rampant misogyny in sports and elite academia as well as focusing on the pressure for young female athletes regarding their bodies. This was the best, most well developed portion of the book and I give Tara Sexton credit for leaning into the uncomfortable scenarios that came up due to sexism, etc. because it truly helped the story.
Thanks to #Netgalley & Canelo for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Let's hear it for the slow burn forbidden romances! Marcee and Remy had fantastic chemistry and I loved that their romance was allowed to develop slowly, even though they had an instant connection. I loved that Marcee was just as passionate and competitive at football/soccer as Remy is, which added to Remy's attraction to her.
Importantly, the sports didn’t feel superfluous for the sake of cashing in on sports romance. The author clearly loves the game herself or did research to make me feel immersed enough to understand how kick arse Marcee was as a coach. She's devoted to the game, has a brilliant rapport with her team. The way Marcee naviated the misogyny and sexual harassment in a way that felt relatable, sometimes women just have to suck it up until we can find better opportunities. I appreciate the care weaving in the storyline about eating disorders and how that played into Marcee's guilt from her past. The only thing not quite explained is why Marcee didn't play professionally, which I would've loved. I also wasn't a fan of Nicole getting angry with Marcee early on thinking Marcee hooked up with Remy.
Fantastic debut.
Importantly, the sports didn’t feel superfluous for the sake of cashing in on sports romance. The author clearly loves the game herself or did research to make me feel immersed enough to understand how kick arse Marcee was as a coach. She's devoted to the game, has a brilliant rapport with her team. The way Marcee naviated the misogyny and sexual harassment in a way that felt relatable, sometimes women just have to suck it up until we can find better opportunities. I appreciate the care weaving in the storyline about eating disorders and how that played into Marcee's guilt from her past. The only thing not quite explained is why Marcee didn't play professionally, which I would've loved. I also wasn't a fan of Nicole getting angry with Marcee early on thinking Marcee hooked up with Remy.
Fantastic debut.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Review of advance reading copy recieved from Netgalley
How sad it is to have to give this book this rating, because it had the perfect combination of ingredients to make me love it.
Although I really enjoyed the humorous tone of the book, our FMC, all the football knowledge, the way the author represented women in male dominantes fields like football coaching, and how well she handled the eating dissorders of one of the players, the romance was not enough for me.
I don't usually like books with fast burn, but in this one everything happens too fast for my liking. The immediate insta love and the conflicts between them are resolved in the blink of an eye, not to mention that we know practically nothing about Remy (I think the chapters with his pov would have greatly benefited the story) or how they fall in love. Because the author, is telling us rather than showing us how their romance develops, and that takes a lot away from the story.
Furthermore, I think it is a story that deserves to be a little longer so that all the elements can be properly developed.
Thank you Netgalley, Canelo publishing and Tara Sexton for the advanced copy!!
How sad it is to have to give this book this rating, because it had the perfect combination of ingredients to make me love it.
Although I really enjoyed the humorous tone of the book, our FMC, all the football knowledge, the way the author represented women in male dominantes fields like football coaching, and how well she handled the eating dissorders of one of the players, the romance was not enough for me.
I don't usually like books with fast burn, but in this one everything happens too fast for my liking. The immediate insta love and the conflicts between them are resolved in the blink of an eye, not to mention that we know practically nothing about Remy (I think the chapters with his pov would have greatly benefited the story) or how they fall in love. Because the author, is telling us rather than showing us how their romance develops, and that takes a lot away from the story.
Furthermore, I think it is a story that deserves to be a little longer so that all the elements can be properly developed.
Thank you Netgalley, Canelo publishing and Tara Sexton for the advanced copy!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Marcee (FMC) has always dreamed of coaching women's soccer. She played through college and got the head coaching job for a girl's high school team at a prep school. The rival school also has a new coach, Remy (MMC) a Premier League super star. They meet, she hates each other, eventually he wears her down.
I'm a big fan of enemies to lovers. And I thought Remy was a pretty good book boyfriend. I wasn't sure why a high school girls team would ever hire a current male soccer player to coach their team, but I tried to accept the premise. Marcee was not super likeable. She is always looking for the worst in people and she gets in her own way a lot. She pushes away everyone in the story.
Macree and Remy's relationship is just one plot in this story. There is sexism at the school, a traumatic childhood she must overcome, and eating disorders on the team. There were a lot of big plot points to cover. Each could have been the focus of the book and I felt they could have used more space in the book. It felt a bit choppy.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC this is my honest review.
I'm a big fan of enemies to lovers. And I thought Remy was a pretty good book boyfriend. I wasn't sure why a high school girls team would ever hire a current male soccer player to coach their team, but I tried to accept the premise. Marcee was not super likeable. She is always looking for the worst in people and she gets in her own way a lot. She pushes away everyone in the story.
Macree and Remy's relationship is just one plot in this story. There is sexism at the school, a traumatic childhood she must overcome, and eating disorders on the team. There were a lot of big plot points to cover. Each could have been the focus of the book and I felt they could have used more space in the book. It felt a bit choppy.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC this is my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC!
The Greatest Game by Tara Sexton was a fun, steamy romance that I really enjoyed overall. The premise hooked me straight away. I love an enemies to lovers trope, and the added thread of female empowerment gave the story an extra layer I appreciated!!
That said, the execution didn’t fully land for me. The shift into enemies felt quite rushed and a bit irrational, which made it harder to buy into the tension. At times, the female main character came across quite harsh because she leaned so heavily into that dynamic, and it made the relationship feel more forced than natural. Because of that, the transition into lust and romance didn’t hit as strongly as it could have.
Still, it’s an entertaining, spicy read with a solid concept at its core, definitely worth picking up if you enjoy enemies to lovers with a bold edge.
The Greatest Game by Tara Sexton was a fun, steamy romance that I really enjoyed overall. The premise hooked me straight away. I love an enemies to lovers trope, and the added thread of female empowerment gave the story an extra layer I appreciated!!
That said, the execution didn’t fully land for me. The shift into enemies felt quite rushed and a bit irrational, which made it harder to buy into the tension. At times, the female main character came across quite harsh because she leaned so heavily into that dynamic, and it made the relationship feel more forced than natural. Because of that, the transition into lust and romance didn’t hit as strongly as it could have.
Still, it’s an entertaining, spicy read with a solid concept at its core, definitely worth picking up if you enjoy enemies to lovers with a bold edge.
April 9, 2026
Last week, I picked up The Greatest Game and ended up flying through it way faster than I expected. I’d have to see it really scored my attention from the start! ⚽️☺️
You’ve got rivalry, pressure, and then… feelings getting in the way at the worst possible time and completely messing up the game plan. Marcee is trying to keep her head in the match, and not in the clouds, while Remy is just there being a very distracting opponent. Not ideal when you’re supposed to be focused on wining…
It’s fast paced, zero timeouts, which I really enjoyed, even if I wish a few moments had a bit more depth or a stronger wrap-up. Still, I had a really good time with it.
Also, as someone who has read quite some MM soccer romances, this felt like a fun switch-up, and if definitely worked for me. The spice is there, yes, but it’s more of a nice assist than the main goal (oh my god, me making soccer jokes? Someone check in on me asap! 😂)
Overall, if you like your sports romances fun and slightly chaotic, this one might keep you hooked!
You’ve got rivalry, pressure, and then… feelings getting in the way at the worst possible time and completely messing up the game plan. Marcee is trying to keep her head in the match, and not in the clouds, while Remy is just there being a very distracting opponent. Not ideal when you’re supposed to be focused on wining…
It’s fast paced, zero timeouts, which I really enjoyed, even if I wish a few moments had a bit more depth or a stronger wrap-up. Still, I had a really good time with it.
Also, as someone who has read quite some MM soccer romances, this felt like a fun switch-up, and if definitely worked for me. The spice is there, yes, but it’s more of a nice assist than the main goal (oh my god, me making soccer jokes? Someone check in on me asap! 😂)
Overall, if you like your sports romances fun and slightly chaotic, this one might keep you hooked!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is the first time I see a sports romance where both the FMC and MMC are in the position of coaches ; and it was BRILLIANT!
I love when the main characters are truly human; making mistakes and not always being brave or having the perfect reactions to their life's troubles. It just truly makes them endearing and gets me so emotionally invested , I love it.
The only reason I did not give it a 5 ☆ is that I felt like the ending was too short and rushed compared to the pacing of the rest of the story.
Definitely an amazing read for any sports romance reader who enjoy seeing strong and talented women give a piece of their mind to society's idiotic barriers while still getting an amazing romance win 🏆
ARC Review thanks to the author and NetGalley.
I love when the main characters are truly human; making mistakes and not always being brave or having the perfect reactions to their life's troubles. It just truly makes them endearing and gets me so emotionally invested , I love it.
The only reason I did not give it a 5 ☆ is that I felt like the ending was too short and rushed compared to the pacing of the rest of the story.
Definitely an amazing read for any sports romance reader who enjoy seeing strong and talented women give a piece of their mind to society's idiotic barriers while still getting an amazing romance win 🏆
ARC Review thanks to the author and NetGalley.
May 19, 2026
Thank you so much NetGalley & DK for the eARC of The Greatest Game by Tara Sexton in exchange of Am
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
This was a fun debut sports romance that had me hooked on the tension right away. I love enemies to lovers so the setup between Marcee and Remy was *chefs kiss* and their chemistry carried the story!!
I really liked Marcee’s drive, It gave the story real stakes beyond just the romance. Remy was charming and layered enough to stay interesting. The banter and tension were highlights for me, but I do think parts of the story felt a bit predictable for me. Overall, though, this was a good read with strong chemistry and a solid plot. It's definitely worth picking up if you like steamy sports romances with rivals to lovers vibe!
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
This was a fun debut sports romance that had me hooked on the tension right away. I love enemies to lovers so the setup between Marcee and Remy was *chefs kiss* and their chemistry carried the story!!
I really liked Marcee’s drive, It gave the story real stakes beyond just the romance. Remy was charming and layered enough to stay interesting. The banter and tension were highlights for me, but I do think parts of the story felt a bit predictable for me. Overall, though, this was a good read with strong chemistry and a solid plot. It's definitely worth picking up if you like steamy sports romances with rivals to lovers vibe!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really enjoyed this sports romance, especially the ending, which was definitely the highlight for me. It was also refreshing to read a story told in a single POV rather than the more common dual POV, and I think that choice worked really well here. I especially appreciated the thoughtful inclusion of mental health and eating disorder representation; it felt handled with care and authenticity. As someone who watches a lot of football, I was also impressed by how realistic those elements felt. Whether it comes from personal knowledge or strong research, the author absolutely pulled it off—bravo.
Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for the E-arc!
Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for the E-arc!
April 4, 2026
I’m normally wary of the enemies to lovers trope but this book is worth it. It’s more of a miscommunication or lack of communication trope but I dig it.
Thank you, #NetGalley for this book.
I love the plot
I love that the characters are just trying to make a shitty situation better
I like the arc the MMC took [but would it not be nice to not have to give grace to misogyny from men?] It’s also our first time here
I love Remy’s unwavering commitment to Marcee and how he doesn’t run at the first sign of trouble
I really, really like Eli
This book is worth it. Read it.
Thank you, #NetGalley for this book.
I love the plot
I love that the characters are just trying to make a shitty situation better
I like the arc the MMC took [but would it not be nice to not have to give grace to misogyny from men?] It’s also our first time here
I love Remy’s unwavering commitment to Marcee and how he doesn’t run at the first sign of trouble
I really, really like Eli
This book is worth it. Read it.
March 30, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for the arc of The Greatest Game.
I really wanted to like this book. I love sports romance, especially enemies to lovers, but just couldn’t get into it. I read about 25% and then read the ending.
I felt like the writing in the third person made it difficult to follow in the beginning. I struggled to figure out who “she” was on some pages. For some reason, I just couldn’t connect/enjoy the book.
I really wanted to like this book. I love sports romance, especially enemies to lovers, but just couldn’t get into it. I read about 25% and then read the ending.
I felt like the writing in the third person made it difficult to follow in the beginning. I struggled to figure out who “she” was on some pages. For some reason, I just couldn’t connect/enjoy the book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Slow burn from enemies to lovers! Forbidden and hidden romance.
Remy and Marcee had good chemistry.
I really enjoy how much of football was mentioned throughout the book. I usually prefer a dual POV but the single POV was very well stablished.
I think the eating disorder was approached very well.
Marcee person dramas was handle throughout the book and show a lot of the character growth.
Thank you to the author, Canelo & Netgalley for the advance copy .
Remy and Marcee had good chemistry.
I really enjoy how much of football was mentioned throughout the book. I usually prefer a dual POV but the single POV was very well stablished.
I think the eating disorder was approached very well.
Marcee person dramas was handle throughout the book and show a lot of the character growth.
Thank you to the author, Canelo & Netgalley for the advance copy .
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC Reader ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Greatest Game was such a fun sports romance! The banter alone had me hooked—witty, playful, and constant in the best way. Pair a professional athlete with a former collegiate athlete and honestly… say less.
This one had all the rom-com vibes: chemistry, humor, and just enough tension to keep things interesting. A cute, easy read that definitely delivered on the feel-good factor.
The Greatest Game was such a fun sports romance! The banter alone had me hooked—witty, playful, and constant in the best way. Pair a professional athlete with a former collegiate athlete and honestly… say less.
This one had all the rom-com vibes: chemistry, humor, and just enough tension to keep things interesting. A cute, easy read that definitely delivered on the feel-good factor.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The greatest game is a sports rivals to lovers romance about two soccer coaches for opposing schools. The story is very fast paced and the banter is fiery. I didn’t personally love the story but this isn’t my favorite trope. I think you would like this book if you love a man begging and a spicy read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I loved this book. There were so many times I was tearing up and then would be giggling at what was happening. I also enjoyed just being in only Marcee’s head and seeing things play out from her perspective because it allowed me to appreciate her growth more. The emotional vulnerability and the sexual tension in this are just elite.
May 1, 2026
I really loved Remy and Marcee’s story! The banter, the enemies to lovers of it all! This was so cute from start to finish!
May 14, 2026
Super fun but with brilliant depth too!
Loved this read, such a fun set up with great spice and some really well explored emotional moments too. Highly recommend!!
Loved this read, such a fun set up with great spice and some really well explored emotional moments too. Highly recommend!!
April 20, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, Canelo publishing, and Tara Sexton for the advanced copy!
Going into this I expected was another surface level sports romance. Though I haven’t read many, I often fear many can be copy paste or come with a sense of Déjà vu due to the repetitive nature of the genre itself. But I was pleasantly surprised by The Greatest Game as it explored deep topics and addresses mental health struggles so beautifully. The characters felt raw and emotionally real as they made mistakes, didn’t always get their way, or just acted like a human. I really appreciated that the book was not framed solely on the relationship between the FMC and MMC and dove into the FMCs dedication to her team and her passions rather than reduce her to a love interest. We got to be invested into her sport and root for her team while also getting to enjoy their love story play out.
Going into this I expected was another surface level sports romance. Though I haven’t read many, I often fear many can be copy paste or come with a sense of Déjà vu due to the repetitive nature of the genre itself. But I was pleasantly surprised by The Greatest Game as it explored deep topics and addresses mental health struggles so beautifully. The characters felt raw and emotionally real as they made mistakes, didn’t always get their way, or just acted like a human. I really appreciated that the book was not framed solely on the relationship between the FMC and MMC and dove into the FMCs dedication to her team and her passions rather than reduce her to a love interest. We got to be invested into her sport and root for her team while also getting to enjoy their love story play out.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️3
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Tara Sexton for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 💕
To start off, I think this book is marketed as an enemies to lovers story, but I personally say it should be described as more of a rivals to lovers story. I still had an enjoyable time reading it; it wasn’t my favorite sports romance, but I would totally recommend it if you enjoy a rivals to lovers story.
Things that really impressed me with how the author handled important teams like sexism in sports and eating disorders. I really liked how they were very realistic and informative. It’s the one part of the book where I feel like it wasn’t rushed or glossed over, and I applied to the author for doing a good job in addressing these topics.
That being said, I kind of feel like the story was rushed in certain areas. Personally, in the epilogue, we should’ve gotten more chapters before it. I feel like having the epilogue immediately after the resolution made the story feel underdeveloped and super rushed because I felt like the epilogue was just tying everything that was going on beforehand without taking more time to explore it.
The book is written in single POV, but I really wish we had gotten some of Remy’s perspective. It felt like we didn’t fully get to know him as a character since we only saw him from the perspective of Marcee. I think the book probably could’ve benefited a lot from having Remy’s perspective.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Tara Sexton for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 💕
To start off, I think this book is marketed as an enemies to lovers story, but I personally say it should be described as more of a rivals to lovers story. I still had an enjoyable time reading it; it wasn’t my favorite sports romance, but I would totally recommend it if you enjoy a rivals to lovers story.
Things that really impressed me with how the author handled important teams like sexism in sports and eating disorders. I really liked how they were very realistic and informative. It’s the one part of the book where I feel like it wasn’t rushed or glossed over, and I applied to the author for doing a good job in addressing these topics.
That being said, I kind of feel like the story was rushed in certain areas. Personally, in the epilogue, we should’ve gotten more chapters before it. I feel like having the epilogue immediately after the resolution made the story feel underdeveloped and super rushed because I felt like the epilogue was just tying everything that was going on beforehand without taking more time to explore it.
The book is written in single POV, but I really wish we had gotten some of Remy’s perspective. It felt like we didn’t fully get to know him as a character since we only saw him from the perspective of Marcee. I think the book probably could’ve benefited a lot from having Remy’s perspective.
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