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Just a Guy With a Goal #3
Officially Yours
She’s not a woman. She’s an official.
At least, that’s what Lucca tells himself every time Maggie hands him another yellow card.
Lucca Cruz—Brazilian, Red Tail soccer star, chronic flirt, and all-around menace to referees—has never gotten along with Maggie, the one official immune to his charm and allergic to his attitude.
Until the day he’s forced to mentor her little league soccer team. He quickly realizes he doesn’t dislike Maggie at all. He just doesn’t know her.
And now that he’s starting to–he’s falling fast.
Maggie McCrae, on the other hand, feels absolutely nothing admirable for Lucca. He’s cocky, dramatic, impossible, and easily her least favorite soccer player in the league.
So when Lucca suddenly starts being… nice, she’s suspicious. When she finds herself enjoying his attention? She’s alarmed.
Because this can’t happen.
Maggie is a referee. Lucca is a player. It’s unethical, forbidden, and a career-ending mistake. She already gave up her dream once—walking away from the U.S. Women’s National Team. She won’t do it again.
But Lucca is persistent. And surprisingly sweet. He’s great with her nephew, sentimental over his grandmother, and swears he only wants to be friends.
Which would be fine… if only Maggie believed him.
At least, that’s what Lucca tells himself every time Maggie hands him another yellow card.
Lucca Cruz—Brazilian, Red Tail soccer star, chronic flirt, and all-around menace to referees—has never gotten along with Maggie, the one official immune to his charm and allergic to his attitude.
Until the day he’s forced to mentor her little league soccer team. He quickly realizes he doesn’t dislike Maggie at all. He just doesn’t know her.
And now that he’s starting to–he’s falling fast.
Maggie McCrae, on the other hand, feels absolutely nothing admirable for Lucca. He’s cocky, dramatic, impossible, and easily her least favorite soccer player in the league.
So when Lucca suddenly starts being… nice, she’s suspicious. When she finds herself enjoying his attention? She’s alarmed.
Because this can’t happen.
Maggie is a referee. Lucca is a player. It’s unethical, forbidden, and a career-ending mistake. She already gave up her dream once—walking away from the U.S. Women’s National Team. She won’t do it again.
But Lucca is persistent. And surprisingly sweet. He’s great with her nephew, sentimental over his grandmother, and swears he only wants to be friends.
Which would be fine… if only Maggie believed him.
330 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 3, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
March 21, 2026
and my heart. He's the sweetest 5-6year old you'll ever read. His clumsiness, big heart, and love for banana cream pie will win you over before you can say Nanners ;)
Now, Maggie and Lucca: what a journey they had.
Known somewhat as a playboy, Lucca Cruz has no intentions on settling down.
Maggie follows the rules to a T and has no reason, or want, to ever go against them.
It's not like they can be together anyway. He's not worth risking her career, and he can't stand how she seems to be out to get him every game with bogus calls.
Until something changes.
Watching Lucca open up about his life to Maggie had my eyes misty on more than one occasion.
And getting to watch Maggie as she helps care for her nephew and navigate the season of life she is in was both moving and had me feeling so much respect for her choices.
I really enjoyed getting to watch Lucca mature and find his person he wanted to settle down with.
Tropes:
⚽ He falls first
🥅 Enemies to more
⚽ Forbidden romance
🥅 Sports romance
⚽ Cat daddy
Thank you so much to the author for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. I love getting to be a part of your ARC teams.
Now, Maggie and Lucca: what a journey they had.
Known somewhat as a playboy, Lucca Cruz has no intentions on settling down.
Maggie follows the rules to a T and has no reason, or want, to ever go against them.
It's not like they can be together anyway. He's not worth risking her career, and he can't stand how she seems to be out to get him every game with bogus calls.
Until something changes.
Watching Lucca open up about his life to Maggie had my eyes misty on more than one occasion.
And getting to watch Maggie as she helps care for her nephew and navigate the season of life she is in was both moving and had me feeling so much respect for her choices.
I really enjoyed getting to watch Lucca mature and find his person he wanted to settle down with.
Tropes:
⚽ He falls first
🥅 Enemies to more
⚽ Forbidden romance
🥅 Sports romance
⚽ Cat daddy
Thank you so much to the author for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. I love getting to be a part of your ARC teams.
March 12, 2026
Love Jen Atkinson books, including this one! A true enemies to lovers story with fantastic banter. And the wrist kisses…swoon! Loved everything about this book!
March 22, 2026
Soccer Romance from Jen Atkinson, yes please! This book was so good!
Although Lucca and Maggie start off as enemies, with Lucca being a soccer player and Maggie a referee who always seems to call bad calls on Lucca, that doesn’t last long. Lucca falls fast and hard determined to get Maggie to see him as more. I loved every minute of his pursuit of Maggie from showing up at her nephew's birthday party to enlisting his fellow players' wives help, arranging parties and such to be in the same place as her. He becomes curious about her once he finds out she could have had a professional career as a soccer player and needs to know more about her. I really liked how he saw and acknowledged all the wonderful things Maggie is doing to help raise her nephew and that helped Maggie soften a little towards him. I also really liked how vulnerable Lucca was with Maggie telling her about his upbringing with his grandma. His character had a lot of depth and dimensions.
This story was so much fun and I flew through the book. I laughed so much at their unexpected meeting at the restaurant in the beginning. The teasing banter he had with Maggie was just so great. The story and conversations flowed so easily. Those nicknames Maggie had for Lucca were the best too! The chemistry was spot on and the enemies to lovers trope was done perfectly! I fell in love with this one and I know you will too!
Content awareness: Alcohol abuse in the past.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Although Lucca and Maggie start off as enemies, with Lucca being a soccer player and Maggie a referee who always seems to call bad calls on Lucca, that doesn’t last long. Lucca falls fast and hard determined to get Maggie to see him as more. I loved every minute of his pursuit of Maggie from showing up at her nephew's birthday party to enlisting his fellow players' wives help, arranging parties and such to be in the same place as her. He becomes curious about her once he finds out she could have had a professional career as a soccer player and needs to know more about her. I really liked how he saw and acknowledged all the wonderful things Maggie is doing to help raise her nephew and that helped Maggie soften a little towards him. I also really liked how vulnerable Lucca was with Maggie telling her about his upbringing with his grandma. His character had a lot of depth and dimensions.
This story was so much fun and I flew through the book. I laughed so much at their unexpected meeting at the restaurant in the beginning. The teasing banter he had with Maggie was just so great. The story and conversations flowed so easily. Those nicknames Maggie had for Lucca were the best too! The chemistry was spot on and the enemies to lovers trope was done perfectly! I fell in love with this one and I know you will too!
Content awareness: Alcohol abuse in the past.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 23, 2026
ARC Book Review⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5’s
Thank you to the author @authorjenatkinson for the #gifted e-book.
This series continues to be such a win for me as a lifelong soccer girl—and Officially Yours might be my favorite yet! 🙌
From the first chapter, I was hooked on this fun, flirty, and tension-filled story between a professional soccer referee FMC and a professional player MMC. The enemies-to-lovers + coworkers + forbidden romance combo? Absolute perfection. And the fact that he falls first made it even sweeter 🥹
The chemistry was so good—full of banter, frustration, and undeniable pull—but what really made this one stand out was the heart. The family dynamics added depth, especially seeing people step up when it mattered most. And Wyatt?? Stop. The cutest little nephew ever. I loved the “best aunt” moments so much 💛
And having the FMC as a kids soccer coach? I loved that layer so much—it added warmth, purpose, and gave us even more reasons to root for her. ⚽️
If you’re looking for a clean romance (closed door + zero swearing) that still delivers all the tension, emotion, and fun, this one absolutely scores.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Fun, heartfelt, and full of soccer-loving charm!
Thank you to the author @authorjenatkinson for the #gifted e-book.
This series continues to be such a win for me as a lifelong soccer girl—and Officially Yours might be my favorite yet! 🙌
From the first chapter, I was hooked on this fun, flirty, and tension-filled story between a professional soccer referee FMC and a professional player MMC. The enemies-to-lovers + coworkers + forbidden romance combo? Absolute perfection. And the fact that he falls first made it even sweeter 🥹
The chemistry was so good—full of banter, frustration, and undeniable pull—but what really made this one stand out was the heart. The family dynamics added depth, especially seeing people step up when it mattered most. And Wyatt?? Stop. The cutest little nephew ever. I loved the “best aunt” moments so much 💛
And having the FMC as a kids soccer coach? I loved that layer so much—it added warmth, purpose, and gave us even more reasons to root for her. ⚽️
If you’re looking for a clean romance (closed door + zero swearing) that still delivers all the tension, emotion, and fun, this one absolutely scores.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Fun, heartfelt, and full of soccer-loving charm!
March 15, 2026
This is Book 3 in the Just a Guy with a Goal series by Jen Atkinson and I adored it as much as the others.
Enemies to love can be a fine line and this one is extremely well done. Lucca is a charismatic and cocky soccer player from Brazil and Maggie is an official (ref) for his league. The clashes over flags and calls only fuels their dislike for one another. This is the classic case of “there is more to the story than meets the eye” and Lucca becomes intrigued to the point of intense fascination with Maggie and I was obsessed. Who in their actual right mind could resist this man? Maggie can. 😆The lengths Lucca goes to in order to secure even a second of Maggie’s time had me swooning hard…as well as laughing.
The banter is on point; the layers of chemistry are alluring; the depth of the characters and the levels of their backstories are mesmerizing and heartwarming. I couldn’t get enough of this couple! The way the whole team and their significant others played such a role in their tale squeezed my heart.
Once again, I absolutely loved this contemporary sports romcom and can’t wait for more. Jen Atkinson is so skilled at creating characters to love and situations to bask in.
Content: mild romance
*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
Enemies to love can be a fine line and this one is extremely well done. Lucca is a charismatic and cocky soccer player from Brazil and Maggie is an official (ref) for his league. The clashes over flags and calls only fuels their dislike for one another. This is the classic case of “there is more to the story than meets the eye” and Lucca becomes intrigued to the point of intense fascination with Maggie and I was obsessed. Who in their actual right mind could resist this man? Maggie can. 😆The lengths Lucca goes to in order to secure even a second of Maggie’s time had me swooning hard…as well as laughing.
The banter is on point; the layers of chemistry are alluring; the depth of the characters and the levels of their backstories are mesmerizing and heartwarming. I couldn’t get enough of this couple! The way the whole team and their significant others played such a role in their tale squeezed my heart.
Once again, I absolutely loved this contemporary sports romcom and can’t wait for more. Jen Atkinson is so skilled at creating characters to love and situations to bask in.
Content: mild romance
*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
May 20, 2026
Adored this book
I love the depth that Lucas had. Maggie was awesome and her relationship with her family is so beautifully complicated.
I really love the grown respect between the two and how they fell for each other. Fantastic read.
I love the depth that Lucas had. Maggie was awesome and her relationship with her family is so beautifully complicated.
I really love the grown respect between the two and how they fell for each other. Fantastic read.
Review of advance copy
From the moment I read the title of this book, I knew it was bound to be good, but with Jen Atkinson at the helm, it was fantastic! A player and a ref, what could possibly go wrong, but what could possibly go so right too?!
Lucca Cruz has been a heavy hitting side characters for the series this far and now with the spotlight this man truly shines but in a different way. Lucca seems like your stereotypical attractive athlete with an ego the size of the moon and ever a smooth talker with all the ladies, but he’s so much more than that! He grew up in Brazil with his grandmother and only after working his tail off, pun not intended, did he make the right connections to come to the US. It’s his love for her that allows himself to connect with his FMC on a deeper level (only when she lets him)! I love the closeness he has with his teammates and their women, these friendships are very important to him, and it shows by how much he relies on them off the field.
Maggie McCrae is a tough ref on the field, but off the field she’s a loyal sister, beloved daughter and protective aunt to Wyatt. She has spent the last few years making sacrifices to be there for the ones she loves the most. While not every player or even fan may see eye to eye with her calls, she doesn’t waiver, even if you flirt with her or not. Maggie’s sacrifice doesn’t go unnoticed by her parents and sister, but Wyatt knows nothing but the unfailing love and unrivaled dedication. She’s also obsessed with cats which is rather adorable, although I personally prefer dogs! Despite all the crazy circumstances and challenges that she faces, the woman deserves to be loved by the right person, even if he comes across as an over-the-top flirt (and is Brazilian)!
Loved this story from start to finish. It’s the simplest of moments that I found the most endearing. It’s amazing of how little I knew about soccer before Jen started writing these and now, I feel like I can appreciate the game a little bit more too! Found family is huge in Jen’s books and I’m here for it every time! Job well done in making me grin from ear to ear and adding another beautiful book to my shelves!
Lucca Cruz has been a heavy hitting side characters for the series this far and now with the spotlight this man truly shines but in a different way. Lucca seems like your stereotypical attractive athlete with an ego the size of the moon and ever a smooth talker with all the ladies, but he’s so much more than that! He grew up in Brazil with his grandmother and only after working his tail off, pun not intended, did he make the right connections to come to the US. It’s his love for her that allows himself to connect with his FMC on a deeper level (only when she lets him)! I love the closeness he has with his teammates and their women, these friendships are very important to him, and it shows by how much he relies on them off the field.
Maggie McCrae is a tough ref on the field, but off the field she’s a loyal sister, beloved daughter and protective aunt to Wyatt. She has spent the last few years making sacrifices to be there for the ones she loves the most. While not every player or even fan may see eye to eye with her calls, she doesn’t waiver, even if you flirt with her or not. Maggie’s sacrifice doesn’t go unnoticed by her parents and sister, but Wyatt knows nothing but the unfailing love and unrivaled dedication. She’s also obsessed with cats which is rather adorable, although I personally prefer dogs! Despite all the crazy circumstances and challenges that she faces, the woman deserves to be loved by the right person, even if he comes across as an over-the-top flirt (and is Brazilian)!
Loved this story from start to finish. It’s the simplest of moments that I found the most endearing. It’s amazing of how little I knew about soccer before Jen started writing these and now, I feel like I can appreciate the game a little bit more too! Found family is huge in Jen’s books and I’m here for it every time! Job well done in making me grin from ear to ear and adding another beautiful book to my shelves!
March 19, 2026
another great read in this series
I loved this book just as much as the rest of the books in this series and I love that each book pulls in the past characters as supporting team members or team members significant other so it’s like the story continues on from past books.
I loved this book just as much as the rest of the books in this series and I love that each book pulls in the past characters as supporting team members or team members significant other so it’s like the story continues on from past books.
March 5, 2026
I loved Lucca and Maggie! They are classic enemies to lovers and almost a workplace romance. She can't date him because it would compromise her job.
He falls first and falls hard and for a ladies man like Lucca he had no idea what to do. I love all the advice he gets from his teammates (and their wives). I also loved how her had her family help him out! (kisses only)
This is the third book in a series, but can be read as a standalone.
He falls first and falls hard and for a ladies man like Lucca he had no idea what to do. I love all the advice he gets from his teammates (and their wives). I also loved how her had her family help him out! (kisses only)
This is the third book in a series, but can be read as a standalone.
March 11, 2026
First Callum became my favorite player…then Roman…but who knew that over eager power forward Lucca Cruz was gonna come penalty kick his way into the running?
Let me tell ya, in my family the sport of Soccer is legendary. We have all played it, coached it, and for my sister and her UK hubs, they officiate it. This story hit all the nostalgia notes in all the best ways while not sacrificing any story or character depth.
Absolutely appreciate the deeply important character of an aunt (being one myself) and the sister who has seen traumatic moments and isn’t sure how to let them go entirely…that risk is hard. Allowing someone to prioritize you is harder than it seems.
Beautiful light bringing romance…definitely worth the read.
Let me tell ya, in my family the sport of Soccer is legendary. We have all played it, coached it, and for my sister and her UK hubs, they officiate it. This story hit all the nostalgia notes in all the best ways while not sacrificing any story or character depth.
Absolutely appreciate the deeply important character of an aunt (being one myself) and the sister who has seen traumatic moments and isn’t sure how to let them go entirely…that risk is hard. Allowing someone to prioritize you is harder than it seems.
Beautiful light bringing romance…definitely worth the read.
March 8, 2026
Looking for a swoony enemies to lovers with a splash of forbidden love? Look no further, this is it! I have loved the entire Just a Guy with a Goal series so far, and this one didn't disappoint.
Lucca and Maggie are just so fun together. I've said it before, I always love when a story is truly enemies to lovers, and that is the case with these two. They start off despising each other and it's a blast watching those feelings shift. Lucca is a cocky, flirty, charming ladies man, and Maggie is the feisty, independent woman who is immune to his charms. When life throws them together and they actually get to know each other, everything starts to change. Then, add to the mix that they're being together is against the rules and it gets even messier. Their banter and chemistry are some of the best, and Lucca may just be my favorite Red Tail with his unabashed honesty in his pursuit of Maggie (plus, all his little mistakes in English sayings are so endearing).
I always love getting to spend more time with beloved characters from past stories, so all the scenes with Lucca's teammates and their respective wives and girlfriends were so fun. And Maggie's family is wonderful (especially as they fawn over Lucca, even when Maggie still hates him), but let's be real, Wyatt is the clear star of the show. How can you not love an adorable 5/6-year-old wingman?
Thank you so much, Jen, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I simply love Lucca and Maggie, and their sweet love story, they had me giggling throught the whole story.
Lucca and Maggie are just so fun together. I've said it before, I always love when a story is truly enemies to lovers, and that is the case with these two. They start off despising each other and it's a blast watching those feelings shift. Lucca is a cocky, flirty, charming ladies man, and Maggie is the feisty, independent woman who is immune to his charms. When life throws them together and they actually get to know each other, everything starts to change. Then, add to the mix that they're being together is against the rules and it gets even messier. Their banter and chemistry are some of the best, and Lucca may just be my favorite Red Tail with his unabashed honesty in his pursuit of Maggie (plus, all his little mistakes in English sayings are so endearing).
I always love getting to spend more time with beloved characters from past stories, so all the scenes with Lucca's teammates and their respective wives and girlfriends were so fun. And Maggie's family is wonderful (especially as they fawn over Lucca, even when Maggie still hates him), but let's be real, Wyatt is the clear star of the show. How can you not love an adorable 5/6-year-old wingman?
Thank you so much, Jen, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I simply love Lucca and Maggie, and their sweet love story, they had me giggling throught the whole story.
June 28, 2026
Overview:
Language 🤐: none
Romance ❤️🔥: LV 1- 2 Kisses only (longer lightly descriptive kisses)
Violence ⚔️: None
⚠️Talk of Alcoholism, addiction recovery, this is in the authors note⚠️
Tropes/Micro tropes
- Dual POV
- He Falls First (and hard)
- Enemies to lovers
- She’s an athlete
- Forbidden romance
- My Girl
- Cutest little boy
My Thoughts:
This was such a fun story! Perfect for this World Cup year! I haven’t read the other books in this series and it worked well as a stand alone, I didn’t feel like I was missing much other then knowing a bit more about these side characters who were Lucca’s close friends. After reading this story I am definitely going to be reading the other!
Lucca was the best MMC, I was laughing so much when he fell for Maggie, his crash out and obsession when he fell for her was hilarious! I loved especially the couples party that was thrown 🤣 his text conversation with everyone and over all cluelessness about some things was endearing. He was definitely committed and I loved it!
Maggie! What a wonderful feisty FMC. It was great to see her deep love for her family. It was also great seeing Lucca ruffle her feathers and cause her to grow in a way she really needed.
Shout out to sweet little Wyatt. He was adorable! His obsessing with Banana pies and always bring up avocados cracked me up continually! He definitely added such a fun element to the story!
Such a cute fun sport romance! Definitely a great time to read this with the World Cup going on and even when it’s over it’ll still be a great time to read this book!
Language 🤐: none
Romance ❤️🔥: LV 1- 2 Kisses only (longer lightly descriptive kisses)
Violence ⚔️: None
⚠️Talk of Alcoholism, addiction recovery, this is in the authors note⚠️
Tropes/Micro tropes
- Dual POV
- He Falls First (and hard)
- Enemies to lovers
- She’s an athlete
- Forbidden romance
- My Girl
- Cutest little boy
My Thoughts:
This was such a fun story! Perfect for this World Cup year! I haven’t read the other books in this series and it worked well as a stand alone, I didn’t feel like I was missing much other then knowing a bit more about these side characters who were Lucca’s close friends. After reading this story I am definitely going to be reading the other!
Lucca was the best MMC, I was laughing so much when he fell for Maggie, his crash out and obsession when he fell for her was hilarious! I loved especially the couples party that was thrown 🤣 his text conversation with everyone and over all cluelessness about some things was endearing. He was definitely committed and I loved it!
Maggie! What a wonderful feisty FMC. It was great to see her deep love for her family. It was also great seeing Lucca ruffle her feathers and cause her to grow in a way she really needed.
Shout out to sweet little Wyatt. He was adorable! His obsessing with Banana pies and always bring up avocados cracked me up continually! He definitely added such a fun element to the story!
Such a cute fun sport romance! Definitely a great time to read this with the World Cup going on and even when it’s over it’ll still be a great time to read this book!
August 4, 2026
4.5⭐
I love me a good Rivals to lovers! These two were electric!
Maggie is a female ref and doesn't let anything slide. She is also co-parenting and coaching her nephew Wyatt. Wyatt was such a sweetie and I loved every scene with him. Maggie was trying to be practical, but Lucca and his charm are hard to resist.
Lucca is the star Brazilian soccer player. He is known for his playboy ways and for bringing a new girl (that he doesn't remember the name of) to events. He is a charmer and everyone falls for him.
These two were 🫠🫠 I loved them. I loved the black cat x golden retriever vibes. That is one of my FAVORITE tropes. I love that it took a while to break Maggie down and how persistent Lucca was. How he got to know her family and won them over which helped win her over. I love how independent and strong Maggie was, but how she unwillingly recognized that she needed someone to lean on too. I just had a blast with this one. The narrators are my favorite and did an excellent job!! I really enjoyed the previous characters making an appearance and their friendship, involvement, and support of Lucca.
Black cat x golden retriever
Soccer player MMC
Referee FMC
Persistent MMC
Rivals to lovers
Remarks •
No spice - just kisses
No language
TW - past loss of loved ones, child abandonment, past alcoholism
Favorite things:
He gets a cat because of her
Banana pie
Headset scene
Locker room scene
Bathroom scene
Hammock scene
Friendship group
Coaching/mentoring scene
I love me a good Rivals to lovers! These two were electric!
Maggie is a female ref and doesn't let anything slide. She is also co-parenting and coaching her nephew Wyatt. Wyatt was such a sweetie and I loved every scene with him. Maggie was trying to be practical, but Lucca and his charm are hard to resist.
Lucca is the star Brazilian soccer player. He is known for his playboy ways and for bringing a new girl (that he doesn't remember the name of) to events. He is a charmer and everyone falls for him.
These two were 🫠🫠 I loved them. I loved the black cat x golden retriever vibes. That is one of my FAVORITE tropes. I love that it took a while to break Maggie down and how persistent Lucca was. How he got to know her family and won them over which helped win her over. I love how independent and strong Maggie was, but how she unwillingly recognized that she needed someone to lean on too. I just had a blast with this one. The narrators are my favorite and did an excellent job!! I really enjoyed the previous characters making an appearance and their friendship, involvement, and support of Lucca.
Black cat x golden retriever
Soccer player MMC
Referee FMC
Persistent MMC
Rivals to lovers
Remarks •
No spice - just kisses
No language
TW - past loss of loved ones, child abandonment, past alcoholism
Favorite things:
He gets a cat because of her
Banana pie
Headset scene
Locker room scene
Bathroom scene
Hammock scene
Friendship group
Coaching/mentoring scene
March 4, 2026
When the enemies-to-lovers trope has you smiling from ear to ear throughout because the chemistry is ever present but the banter never stops. Professional soccer player Lucca has had it with the spunky female referee, Maggie. However, many circumstances outside the arena bring them together where they get to know each other more…and suddenly they have to keep their relationship secret so as to not affect their careers. This was a quick, sweet closed-door, slow romance with two characters with strong personalities that just work!
Thanks to the author for the eARC
Thanks to the author for the eARC
July 5, 2026
I wish I had read a few of the books that came before this, but I liked the storyline. Minor league soccer player ladies man falls for the soccer referee. I like that he went for what he wanted, but man, she was tough. I didn’t like her back and forthing and she was pretty mean at times. Cute story overall.
April 11, 2026
This was so fun! A great one for fans of "opposites attract" and "he falls first".
Would recommend if you're looking for a quick, closed door romcom.
Would recommend if you're looking for a quick, closed door romcom.
March 9, 2026
⚽️Content⚽️
🌶️Spice: Kisses Only
🙊Language: None
⚽️Quotes⚽️
My heart pounds harder. My pulse races. I blink—what am I doing? He’s getting me drunk with his lips on my wrist.
“I love you, too, Aunt Maggie. And I’d pick you over banana cream pie. Almost every time.”
“Loving someone doesn’t mean losing yourself.”
⚽️My Thoughts⚽️
I don’t know how Jen Atkinson does it! Her books just keep getting better with each one! This is the third book in the Just A Guy With A Goal series. I do recommend reading them in order, though you don’t have to, but in my opinion that is the best enjoyment of any series.
Oh my gosh this one just had me doing all the things. I was smiling, giggling, kicking my feet, and even tearing up from some happy moments. I laughed and giggled so much in this one even my husband kept looking at me wondering what I was laughing at.
There are too many moments that I loved to tell you them all but I just adore Lucca and Maggie! And Wyatt I could just hear his little boy voice and he was just adorable! Also I didn’t know I would love wrists kisses so much until this book! I thought I loved forehead kisses but I think I might love wrist kisses more after this book.
Overall I think Jen just sprinkled a little bit of extra magic in the pages in this series because it has been sneaking up and becoming my favorite series by her! If you haven’t tried any books by her yet I highly recommend starting this series!
⚽️Thank you so much Jen Atkinson for gifting me an e-arc to read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
🌶️Spice: Kisses Only
🙊Language: None
⚽️Quotes⚽️
My heart pounds harder. My pulse races. I blink—what am I doing? He’s getting me drunk with his lips on my wrist.
“I love you, too, Aunt Maggie. And I’d pick you over banana cream pie. Almost every time.”
“Loving someone doesn’t mean losing yourself.”
⚽️My Thoughts⚽️
I don’t know how Jen Atkinson does it! Her books just keep getting better with each one! This is the third book in the Just A Guy With A Goal series. I do recommend reading them in order, though you don’t have to, but in my opinion that is the best enjoyment of any series.
Oh my gosh this one just had me doing all the things. I was smiling, giggling, kicking my feet, and even tearing up from some happy moments. I laughed and giggled so much in this one even my husband kept looking at me wondering what I was laughing at.
There are too many moments that I loved to tell you them all but I just adore Lucca and Maggie! And Wyatt I could just hear his little boy voice and he was just adorable! Also I didn’t know I would love wrists kisses so much until this book! I thought I loved forehead kisses but I think I might love wrist kisses more after this book.
Overall I think Jen just sprinkled a little bit of extra magic in the pages in this series because it has been sneaking up and becoming my favorite series by her! If you haven’t tried any books by her yet I highly recommend starting this series!
⚽️Thank you so much Jen Atkinson for gifting me an e-arc to read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 29, 2026
Ah! Well I officially adore Officially Yours. This entire series has been so good and I almost want to say this was my favorite one in the series so far because I loved Lucca and Maggie so stinking much! But then I'm torn because I also love the marriage of convenience trope between Roman and Stella from the previous book. Regardless, this series just keeps on being amazing. I've never really been a soccer fan, but this series is adding soccer romances to my guilty pleasures list!
I love Lucca and Maggie. I can't even find the words to explain just what about them I love so much, but trust me. There is just something so satisfying and adorable about the changing of their relationship dynamics. Maggie starts off spicy as she distances herself from Lucca. She thinks he's a ladies man and a a referee, it's best for her to stay away from soccer players anyway. But darn once that man embarks on a mission to change that, how can you deny the chemistry?? It just unfolds as you read it and I love it.
You could definitely read this book as a standalone and enjoy it just for Maggie and Lucca, but I will say if you do read the other books, you get to know and love a lot of the characters you see in Officially Yours. So I definitely encourage adding the whole series to your TBR.
I love Lucca and Maggie. I can't even find the words to explain just what about them I love so much, but trust me. There is just something so satisfying and adorable about the changing of their relationship dynamics. Maggie starts off spicy as she distances herself from Lucca. She thinks he's a ladies man and a a referee, it's best for her to stay away from soccer players anyway. But darn once that man embarks on a mission to change that, how can you deny the chemistry?? It just unfolds as you read it and I love it.
You could definitely read this book as a standalone and enjoy it just for Maggie and Lucca, but I will say if you do read the other books, you get to know and love a lot of the characters you see in Officially Yours. So I definitely encourage adding the whole series to your TBR.
April 8, 2026
The chemistry between these two… off the charts. And I may or may not have asked my husband to kiss the inside of my wrist. Wowzuh.
May 20, 2026
For the most part, I liked the story, but I couldn’t get over the fact that Lucca was so pushy. The part where he pushed her into the bathroom and kissed her bothered me. It was more creepy than romantic. I liked Wyatt. I love child characters who are good and wholesome and loving. Maggie was great. I loved the friend group chat. The chemistry was okay, but not great.
February 28, 2026
I started this series out of order (I read Green Card Christmas first), but jumping into Lucca’s story didn’t ruin a thing for me. I first met him while he was helping Roman navigate his relationship with Stella — something he absolutely does not live down — so it was fun finally getting his full story.
Seeing Lucca’s backstory helped me understand why he is the way he is. What stood out most to me was the found family he’s built with his teammates and their wives and girlfriends. He moves between those groups constantly — for advice, for chaos, for support — because he knows he cannot do life alone. That dynamic added so much heart and humor to the story and really showed how deeply connected they all are.
I also loved the McRae family. Wyatt was such a cute supporting character. I loved all his scenes — how he’s fully a kid but also completely comfortable around adults, casually saying things that make you pause and laugh. Maggie’s parents were great too — her dad especially had some hilarious moments that balanced out heavier themes beautifully.
Maggie carries the weight of being the responsible big sister, and that felt very real. She gives so much of herself to everyone around her, and seeing the support she receives in return was absolutely perfect. I loved that Lucca sees it too and acknowledges the burden she’s been carrying.
Her internal conflict toward the end was so well done. It wasn’t dramatic for the sake of drama — it showed her integrity. The way she wrestles with what’s right versus what she wants made her feel strong and grounded.
She’s also a boss referee, which adds forbidden-romance tension since Lucca is a player. Watching them shift from enemies to more was so fun because Maggie fights it hard, while Lucca is just… yearning. He doesn’t fully understand what’s happening — he just knows he can’t get enough of her.
The little league moment where she surprises him was such a turning point. And I loved the scene where he publicly supports her — not because she couldn’t handle herself, but because he chooses to stand beside her.
This book touches on recovery from drugs and alcohol, and I thought it was handled with so much grace. It’s a hard topic, but it felt honest and reflective of real life without becoming overwhelming.
Her relationship with Lindy could have been complicated, but I loved that it wasn’t. And as an aunt with no kids of my own yet, the way this story acknowledged that an aunt can love a child deeply and show up like a parent really resonated with me.
There were so many moments that made me laugh and others that gave me all the feels (the hammock scene especially). When Maggie said the title, I had to physically stop myself from squealing. So perfect.
Nanners? Adorable.
This book even had me looking up soccer tricks and listening to a Brazilian accent just so I could picture Lucca better — and honestly, it makes me want to watch soccer now.
If you love:
⚽ enemies to more
⚽ sports romance
⚽ found family
⚽ strong heroine + devoted hero
⚽ humor with heart
You’ll want this one.
I received an ARC, but all opinions are my own.
Seeing Lucca’s backstory helped me understand why he is the way he is. What stood out most to me was the found family he’s built with his teammates and their wives and girlfriends. He moves between those groups constantly — for advice, for chaos, for support — because he knows he cannot do life alone. That dynamic added so much heart and humor to the story and really showed how deeply connected they all are.
I also loved the McRae family. Wyatt was such a cute supporting character. I loved all his scenes — how he’s fully a kid but also completely comfortable around adults, casually saying things that make you pause and laugh. Maggie’s parents were great too — her dad especially had some hilarious moments that balanced out heavier themes beautifully.
Maggie carries the weight of being the responsible big sister, and that felt very real. She gives so much of herself to everyone around her, and seeing the support she receives in return was absolutely perfect. I loved that Lucca sees it too and acknowledges the burden she’s been carrying.
Her internal conflict toward the end was so well done. It wasn’t dramatic for the sake of drama — it showed her integrity. The way she wrestles with what’s right versus what she wants made her feel strong and grounded.
She’s also a boss referee, which adds forbidden-romance tension since Lucca is a player. Watching them shift from enemies to more was so fun because Maggie fights it hard, while Lucca is just… yearning. He doesn’t fully understand what’s happening — he just knows he can’t get enough of her.
The little league moment where she surprises him was such a turning point. And I loved the scene where he publicly supports her — not because she couldn’t handle herself, but because he chooses to stand beside her.
This book touches on recovery from drugs and alcohol, and I thought it was handled with so much grace. It’s a hard topic, but it felt honest and reflective of real life without becoming overwhelming.
Her relationship with Lindy could have been complicated, but I loved that it wasn’t. And as an aunt with no kids of my own yet, the way this story acknowledged that an aunt can love a child deeply and show up like a parent really resonated with me.
There were so many moments that made me laugh and others that gave me all the feels (the hammock scene especially). When Maggie said the title, I had to physically stop myself from squealing. So perfect.
Nanners? Adorable.
This book even had me looking up soccer tricks and listening to a Brazilian accent just so I could picture Lucca better — and honestly, it makes me want to watch soccer now.
If you love:
⚽ enemies to more
⚽ sports romance
⚽ found family
⚽ strong heroine + devoted hero
⚽ humor with heart
You’ll want this one.
I received an ARC, but all opinions are my own.
March 17, 2026
Let the games begin. The two main characters in this book were light years apart in every area of their lives. But this is one of those examples of being careful about judging a book by its cover because once you open up the pages, you may discover there is a whole lot more to the story than appears on the pretty cover.
Lucca is from Brazil. He has finally made it to the semi-pros of soccer in the U.S. He is definite eye candy for any female who has ever seen him along with his sweet accent, muscles for miles and jet black hair. However, his ego is the size of Texas. He knows he is a good player, and he knows he looks good. He most assuredly loves himself more than others. How dare an official penalize him. Under that cocky exterior is a little boy who loved his grandmother. Once those shields started coming down, you get a different picture.
Maggie McCrae is not impressed with Lucca or Saint Lucca as she calls him. She does not hold back with her calls on the field. Unlike Lucca, Maggie is fair from self-centered. She is a good daughter, sister and an even better aunt to her nephew, Wyatt. Her family comes first, and she knows how to do her job. Saint Lucca will just have to suck it up because she knows what she is doing.
Things start changing when Lucca ends up mentoring Wyatt's five year old soccer team. Lucca sees a side to Maggie he never imagined. Now suddenly he is being nice to Maggie, and she is not interested. She has no desire to ruin her career, especially with the likes of Lucca.
This story was so much fun to read. The text messaging threads were epic. Maggie's mom's reaction when Lucca shed his jersey to give it to Wyatt was priceless. The kitty cat scenes were also priceless. The banter between Lucca and Maggie was, at times vicious, but you could still feel the undercurrent of chemistry between them, even as Maggie was fighting it tooth and nail.
It was an emotional read as well, but more than anything it was just plain fun. Enemies to lovers is a fun trope to read about, and these two were definitely enemies, at least as far as Lucca was concerned.
I love it when I read a sport romance, even a sport I do not fully understand, and still enjoy the story behind it. The cast of characters is top notch, and it always fun to see and hear from characters I have read about in the other books in this series. This is romantic comedy at its finest.
Thank you to the author for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Lucca is from Brazil. He has finally made it to the semi-pros of soccer in the U.S. He is definite eye candy for any female who has ever seen him along with his sweet accent, muscles for miles and jet black hair. However, his ego is the size of Texas. He knows he is a good player, and he knows he looks good. He most assuredly loves himself more than others. How dare an official penalize him. Under that cocky exterior is a little boy who loved his grandmother. Once those shields started coming down, you get a different picture.
Maggie McCrae is not impressed with Lucca or Saint Lucca as she calls him. She does not hold back with her calls on the field. Unlike Lucca, Maggie is fair from self-centered. She is a good daughter, sister and an even better aunt to her nephew, Wyatt. Her family comes first, and she knows how to do her job. Saint Lucca will just have to suck it up because she knows what she is doing.
Things start changing when Lucca ends up mentoring Wyatt's five year old soccer team. Lucca sees a side to Maggie he never imagined. Now suddenly he is being nice to Maggie, and she is not interested. She has no desire to ruin her career, especially with the likes of Lucca.
This story was so much fun to read. The text messaging threads were epic. Maggie's mom's reaction when Lucca shed his jersey to give it to Wyatt was priceless. The kitty cat scenes were also priceless. The banter between Lucca and Maggie was, at times vicious, but you could still feel the undercurrent of chemistry between them, even as Maggie was fighting it tooth and nail.
It was an emotional read as well, but more than anything it was just plain fun. Enemies to lovers is a fun trope to read about, and these two were definitely enemies, at least as far as Lucca was concerned.
I love it when I read a sport romance, even a sport I do not fully understand, and still enjoy the story behind it. The cast of characters is top notch, and it always fun to see and hear from characters I have read about in the other books in this series. This is romantic comedy at its finest.
Thank you to the author for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 11, 2026
4.5
Another fun story by Jen Atkinson! She knows how to write scenes that make you laugh out loud one minute and swoon the next.
Being a woman in a man's sports world isn't easy, you can show no fear or lack of confidence in a call or your abilities. When the 'star' and local heart throb complains about every call you make- you don't flinch, you stare him down. You also give some creative nick names- Saint Lucca and Pretty Boy Cruz for starters, even your family calls him that.
Being a semi-pro soccer player is something I've worked and sacrificed for my whole life. Sure, I have charm and may flirt a lot, but I take my soccer seriously. I usually get along with everyone- everyone but little miss brunette, the devil in disguise- even with her pretty face, the sideline ref who gets a kick out of carding me. Every game. Whether I deserve it or not.
They are oil and water, cat and mouse, fire and ice. "Next time you see me, pretend you didn't." He thinks she is a control freak, she thinks he is simply a player looking for his next conquest.
Once he sees her with her nephew, learns of her dedication to her sister and family, he's cooked. He is relentless in his pursuit and she resists with everything she's got. Can a soccer loving nephew, a smitten grandma, a swooning mom, and a few teammates wives turn the tide? When he falls first, how can he convince her that there is no game involved, he genuinely wants to be friends? And hopefully more?
"You surprised me, that's all. I judged a book by it's cover and I regret it. So, now I'd like to read it."
"Why does everything this man says sound like it might be coated in butter? No wonder women- who are not me- melt under his gaze."
This story reminds us that things and people are not always what they appear. Where you see tough, you don't understand their why. Where you see overconfident, you don't understand what they've sacrificed to get there.
This is book 3 in the series, but could be enjoyed alone. However, I think you'd enjoy the others as well.
"Things change. Sometimes the change comes with life. And sometimes we create the change because something better comes along."
"A spark? Maggie isn't a spark. She's more like a fire blazing in the hearth."
"Friendship is not what I want with Maggie. She's like sight for the blind. I've seen the light. I can't take that back. I don't want to."
Another fun story by Jen Atkinson! She knows how to write scenes that make you laugh out loud one minute and swoon the next.
Being a woman in a man's sports world isn't easy, you can show no fear or lack of confidence in a call or your abilities. When the 'star' and local heart throb complains about every call you make- you don't flinch, you stare him down. You also give some creative nick names- Saint Lucca and Pretty Boy Cruz for starters, even your family calls him that.
Being a semi-pro soccer player is something I've worked and sacrificed for my whole life. Sure, I have charm and may flirt a lot, but I take my soccer seriously. I usually get along with everyone- everyone but little miss brunette, the devil in disguise- even with her pretty face, the sideline ref who gets a kick out of carding me. Every game. Whether I deserve it or not.
They are oil and water, cat and mouse, fire and ice. "Next time you see me, pretend you didn't." He thinks she is a control freak, she thinks he is simply a player looking for his next conquest.
Once he sees her with her nephew, learns of her dedication to her sister and family, he's cooked. He is relentless in his pursuit and she resists with everything she's got. Can a soccer loving nephew, a smitten grandma, a swooning mom, and a few teammates wives turn the tide? When he falls first, how can he convince her that there is no game involved, he genuinely wants to be friends? And hopefully more?
"You surprised me, that's all. I judged a book by it's cover and I regret it. So, now I'd like to read it."
"Why does everything this man says sound like it might be coated in butter? No wonder women- who are not me- melt under his gaze."
This story reminds us that things and people are not always what they appear. Where you see tough, you don't understand their why. Where you see overconfident, you don't understand what they've sacrificed to get there.
This is book 3 in the series, but could be enjoyed alone. However, I think you'd enjoy the others as well.
"Things change. Sometimes the change comes with life. And sometimes we create the change because something better comes along."
"A spark? Maggie isn't a spark. She's more like a fire blazing in the hearth."
"Friendship is not what I want with Maggie. She's like sight for the blind. I've seen the light. I can't take that back. I don't want to."
August 20, 2026
This is the third book in the Just a Guy With a Goal series. While technically it can be read as a standalone, the characters to crossover and you'll get the best experience if you read the series in order.
This is a great enemies to lovers story between Maggie and Lucca.
Lucca is confident and could be considered a womanizer because he is a serial dater. Maggie is a rule follower and has made career sacrifices for her family. The story starts out with a lot of tension between Maggie and Lucca because they just don't like each other. He is a soccer player and she is an official. He feels that she singles him out and flags him unfairly whenever she is the referee. However, his feelings start to change when he learns a little about her. Intrigued, he wants to know more, but because it's against the rules and she says she doesn't like Lucca, Maggie is completely resistant to becoming friends with him.
One of the things that I really enjoyed about this story was how persistent Lucca was. No matter how many times Maggie turned him down or said they couldn't be friends, Lucca kept shooting his shot. I loved how he was honest with her and started to be vulnerable - telling her parts of his life that he hadn't shared with anyone. He started to breakdown her walls and showed her that they had more in common than she realized.
I also enjoyed that she kept him on his toes. Lucca never really had to work to get the attention of females. I think because it wasn't easy and because of her hesitation and fear of the consequences of going against the rules, that Lucca really had to do some soul searching and figure out why it was important to him not to give up.
Jen Atkinson really is a master at being able to craft a story and characters that instantly catches your attention and has you invested to the end. She is able to create characters that you connect with and wish you could meet in real life.
Quotes:
"You're trouble...I always knew it. But I had no idea how much."
"I'm pretty sure rules were meant to be broken."
"Things change. Sometimes the change comes with life. And sometimes we create the change because something better comes along."
"I still say you're worth the risk."
"Loving someone doesn't mean losing yourself."
This is a great enemies to lovers story between Maggie and Lucca.
Lucca is confident and could be considered a womanizer because he is a serial dater. Maggie is a rule follower and has made career sacrifices for her family. The story starts out with a lot of tension between Maggie and Lucca because they just don't like each other. He is a soccer player and she is an official. He feels that she singles him out and flags him unfairly whenever she is the referee. However, his feelings start to change when he learns a little about her. Intrigued, he wants to know more, but because it's against the rules and she says she doesn't like Lucca, Maggie is completely resistant to becoming friends with him.
One of the things that I really enjoyed about this story was how persistent Lucca was. No matter how many times Maggie turned him down or said they couldn't be friends, Lucca kept shooting his shot. I loved how he was honest with her and started to be vulnerable - telling her parts of his life that he hadn't shared with anyone. He started to breakdown her walls and showed her that they had more in common than she realized.
I also enjoyed that she kept him on his toes. Lucca never really had to work to get the attention of females. I think because it wasn't easy and because of her hesitation and fear of the consequences of going against the rules, that Lucca really had to do some soul searching and figure out why it was important to him not to give up.
Jen Atkinson really is a master at being able to craft a story and characters that instantly catches your attention and has you invested to the end. She is able to create characters that you connect with and wish you could meet in real life.
Quotes:
"You're trouble...I always knew it. But I had no idea how much."
"I'm pretty sure rules were meant to be broken."
"Things change. Sometimes the change comes with life. And sometimes we create the change because something better comes along."
"I still say you're worth the risk."
"Loving someone doesn't mean losing yourself."
March 16, 2026
I love the Just a Guy with a Goal series and Officially Yours did not disappoint! Lucca is a flirty, charming, and confident professional soccer player. Maggie is a selfless, loyal, and kind soccer referee who holds her own, especially when it comes to Lucca. The banter, bickering, and tension between Lucca and Maggie was comical - they know just what buttons to push. I loved watching Lucca’s feelings toward Maggie morph from almost hate, to impressed, to I want to be near her. I loved Maggie’s devotion to her nephew, Wyatt. Maggie has given up so much and fights her attraction to Lucca while he is continually trying to break down her defenses. It was fun for me to watch Lucca and Maggie discover that people aren’t always what they appear to be. Something that kept me smiling the whole way through were all the texts – Lucca with his teammates, Lucca with the wives and girlfriends of his teammates, Lucca with Maggie, Maggie with the girls. Get Officially Yours now if you are looking for a great soccer romcom with a girl who stands her ground, a guy that won’t give up, and a story with depth, lots of banter, laughs, great friends, heart melting moments, and the cutest five-year-old ever!
Tropes: soccer romcom = enemies to more = soccer player MMC = soccer referee FMC = forbidden romance = he falls first = found family = swoony kisses
Favorite things:
- Vovó’s birthday dinner
- Rainbow flicks
- Lucca getting Maggie’s number
- All the texting!
- Their first kiss
- The hammock
- Lucca’s teammates and their women
- Maggie’s family, especially Wyatt
Favorite quotes:
"You surprised me. That's all. I judged a book by its cover. And I regret it. So, now I'd like to read it." - Lucca
"I had no intention of kissing Lucca today. Or ever again So why does this kiss feel like the kiss I’ve been waiting for my entire life?" - Maggie
Happy reading!
Tropes: soccer romcom = enemies to more = soccer player MMC = soccer referee FMC = forbidden romance = he falls first = found family = swoony kisses
Favorite things:
- Vovó’s birthday dinner
- Rainbow flicks
- Lucca getting Maggie’s number
- All the texting!
- Their first kiss
- The hammock
- Lucca’s teammates and their women
- Maggie’s family, especially Wyatt
Favorite quotes:
"You surprised me. That's all. I judged a book by its cover. And I regret it. So, now I'd like to read it." - Lucca
"I had no intention of kissing Lucca today. Or ever again So why does this kiss feel like the kiss I’ve been waiting for my entire life?" - Maggie
Happy reading!
April 13, 2026
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
“I’m inches from the ball when the sideline’s flag goes up. Of course it does. Little Miss brunette with her pennant of power can’t miss her moment to prove she’s in charge.”
Officially Yours by Jen Atkinson was completely unputdownable for me. It’s fun, fast-paced, and absolutely delivers everything you want in a sports rom-com.
Lucca Cruz—Brazilian soccer star, professional flirt, and certified menace to referees—has never gotten along with Maggie McCrae, the one official completely immune to his charm. But when he ends up mentoring her nephew’s little league team, he starts to realize something surprising…he doesn’t actually dislike Maggie at all.
In fact, he might be falling for her.
The only problem?
She’s a referee.
He’s a player.
And that kind of relationship could end both of their careers.
This story has all the tropes I love:
✨ forbidden romance (referee vs athlete)
✨ he falls first (one of the best I’ve read!)
✨ she absolutely refuses to fall for the charming Casanova (prepare yourself for hilarity!)
✨ banter, flirting, and delicious tension
And let me just say—there is no ignoring “Saint Lucca Cruz”. I adored the characters, their backstories tugged at my heartstrings, and the side characters added so much warmth and humor to the story. The romance felt big, heartfelt, and completely satisfying.
If you love sports rom-coms with fantastic banter, swoony moments, and characters you can’t help rooting for, this one deserves a spot on your TBR.
And the best part? It’s available now.
Happy reading📚
Content notes: mention of alcohol and substance abuse (off page, past), pregnancy outside of marriage (off page, past), mention of the passing of a loved one (off page, past), mild innuendo, romance including kisses/makeout scenes.
“I’m inches from the ball when the sideline’s flag goes up. Of course it does. Little Miss brunette with her pennant of power can’t miss her moment to prove she’s in charge.”
Officially Yours by Jen Atkinson was completely unputdownable for me. It’s fun, fast-paced, and absolutely delivers everything you want in a sports rom-com.
Lucca Cruz—Brazilian soccer star, professional flirt, and certified menace to referees—has never gotten along with Maggie McCrae, the one official completely immune to his charm. But when he ends up mentoring her nephew’s little league team, he starts to realize something surprising…he doesn’t actually dislike Maggie at all.
In fact, he might be falling for her.
The only problem?
She’s a referee.
He’s a player.
And that kind of relationship could end both of their careers.
This story has all the tropes I love:
✨ forbidden romance (referee vs athlete)
✨ he falls first (one of the best I’ve read!)
✨ she absolutely refuses to fall for the charming Casanova (prepare yourself for hilarity!)
✨ banter, flirting, and delicious tension
And let me just say—there is no ignoring “Saint Lucca Cruz”. I adored the characters, their backstories tugged at my heartstrings, and the side characters added so much warmth and humor to the story. The romance felt big, heartfelt, and completely satisfying.
If you love sports rom-coms with fantastic banter, swoony moments, and characters you can’t help rooting for, this one deserves a spot on your TBR.
And the best part? It’s available now.
Happy reading📚
Content notes: mention of alcohol and substance abuse (off page, past), pregnancy outside of marriage (off page, past), mention of the passing of a loved one (off page, past), mild innuendo, romance including kisses/makeout scenes.
May 5, 2026
3.5/5
This book just didn't quite hit the mark for me. The story was alright, a standard sports romance. It hit most of the right beats, and I liked how everything was worked out in the end. Plus, the nephew was just adorable.
But. Lucca. Umm... there were parts that were endearing and parts that were just not okay. He continuously pushes Maggie after she says no. Repeatedly. And yes, this is a romance novel. It's fiction. But there's a difference between a pushy guy who still respects boundaries (which I don't mind all that much in romance novels) and some of the things that Lucca did in this book. Now, it wasn't all bad. Some of it was actually really great. But there were a few moments that just made me cringe (like the couples party they all brought dates too). And it's hard to root for a couple when you're cringing at the behavior of one of the parties.
The other thing I struggled with in this book was the building of the relationship itself. It's an enemies to lovers, and we got the enemies. We got the struggle of reframing how the other person is viewed. And, we got the reluctant friends. That all felt fairly natural. But, I felt like I lost the rest of the emotional transition to actual friends and eventually to lovers. The plot points were there, but I remember a lot more of the resistance than the acceptance (this is mainly on Maggie's side, Lucca just decided to be all in and while it did feel a bit abrupt, we at least got all the pieces there). I think a good bit of this was because of the need for conflict in the story, but it just made me feel like Maggie and Lucca didn't really work as a couple by the end of the book.
I did still enjoy reading this book, and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series eventually (I like soccer, and the writing was generally good even if some of the character development was a little off).
This book just didn't quite hit the mark for me. The story was alright, a standard sports romance. It hit most of the right beats, and I liked how everything was worked out in the end. Plus, the nephew was just adorable.
But. Lucca. Umm... there were parts that were endearing and parts that were just not okay. He continuously pushes Maggie after she says no. Repeatedly. And yes, this is a romance novel. It's fiction. But there's a difference between a pushy guy who still respects boundaries (which I don't mind all that much in romance novels) and some of the things that Lucca did in this book. Now, it wasn't all bad. Some of it was actually really great. But there were a few moments that just made me cringe (like the couples party they all brought dates too). And it's hard to root for a couple when you're cringing at the behavior of one of the parties.
The other thing I struggled with in this book was the building of the relationship itself. It's an enemies to lovers, and we got the enemies. We got the struggle of reframing how the other person is viewed. And, we got the reluctant friends. That all felt fairly natural. But, I felt like I lost the rest of the emotional transition to actual friends and eventually to lovers. The plot points were there, but I remember a lot more of the resistance than the acceptance (this is mainly on Maggie's side, Lucca just decided to be all in and while it did feel a bit abrupt, we at least got all the pieces there). I think a good bit of this was because of the need for conflict in the story, but it just made me feel like Maggie and Lucca didn't really work as a couple by the end of the book.
I did still enjoy reading this book, and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series eventually (I like soccer, and the writing was generally good even if some of the character development was a little off).
March 11, 2026
4.5 rounded to 4
I really enjoyed this! I always enjoy Jen's books because they feel like a breath of fresh air in a lot more heavier or more intense reads. Her books always bring a joyous energy. Officially Yours is no exception to that! I was giggling, rolling my eyes and loving all the tension between Maggie and Lucca.
When Lucca was trying to get Maggie to text him back or just want to be friends, it was such sweet interactions. His golden retriever vibes made it so cute and funny at times. I loved his relationship with Wyatt and the way he treated Maggie's parents.
I LOVED seeing the past Just a Guy with a Goal couples making such a big appearance in this book! I loved Lucca's relationship with all of them and his constant reminding that he helped each of their relationships. His character was definitely the 'clown' of the group and had everyone, and me, laughing.
I loved Maggie's unwavering support to her sister and her son, but when she finally decided to put herself and her love for Lucca first at the end it truly was a beautiful thing to see. I was so proud of her.
Jen writes in a way that's super engaging, relatable, emotional and such bingable. Her writing is easy to read in the best way and makes you want to not put the book down.
I wished we got more of Lucca and Maggie together. Most of the book was them just going back and forth on him wanting more and her pushing it away (for good reason), but when they finally put the issues aside and really jumped in we didn't get to see the dates or the togetherness. I would have loved to see that, but I'm hoping (fingers crossed) we'll get more books in this series and get to see their relationship shown in those books!
Another great read by Jen!
I really enjoyed this! I always enjoy Jen's books because they feel like a breath of fresh air in a lot more heavier or more intense reads. Her books always bring a joyous energy. Officially Yours is no exception to that! I was giggling, rolling my eyes and loving all the tension between Maggie and Lucca.
When Lucca was trying to get Maggie to text him back or just want to be friends, it was such sweet interactions. His golden retriever vibes made it so cute and funny at times. I loved his relationship with Wyatt and the way he treated Maggie's parents.
I LOVED seeing the past Just a Guy with a Goal couples making such a big appearance in this book! I loved Lucca's relationship with all of them and his constant reminding that he helped each of their relationships. His character was definitely the 'clown' of the group and had everyone, and me, laughing.
I loved Maggie's unwavering support to her sister and her son, but when she finally decided to put herself and her love for Lucca first at the end it truly was a beautiful thing to see. I was so proud of her.
Jen writes in a way that's super engaging, relatable, emotional and such bingable. Her writing is easy to read in the best way and makes you want to not put the book down.
I wished we got more of Lucca and Maggie together. Most of the book was them just going back and forth on him wanting more and her pushing it away (for good reason), but when they finally put the issues aside and really jumped in we didn't get to see the dates or the togetherness. I would have loved to see that, but I'm hoping (fingers crossed) we'll get more books in this series and get to see their relationship shown in those books!
Another great read by Jen!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Officially Yours
(Just a Guy With a Girl Book 3)
by: Jen Atkinson
@authorjenatkinson
••I give 4.5 stars!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
~She’s not a woman. She’s an official. At least, that’s what Lucca tells himself every time Maggie hands him another yellow card…
-My friends, Officially Yours, is such a delightful enemies to more romcom! It is filled so wonderfully with both humor and heart! In between are layers of emotional depth and dear character growth. I thoroughly enjoyed the endearing characters, the witty back and forth banter, the sparkling chemistry, the sweet found family, and watching characters not only grow but, blossom along the way throughout! But let me tell you, that what I loved most was seeing characters not let the past take over control. I loved seeing characters be able to find themselves, in who they really are, believing that they are enough, that they are worth all the love! This dear story shows that it’s love, is the dear thread that beautifully and powerfully stitches this story together, that molds characters, and opens the door to more possibilities, and has the ability to show dear characters that they are worth it, that they are enough, and that they are worth it all. There is so much more beneath being “just a soccer player,” or “just a tough soccer official.”
…oh so much more! Of course, this is a story worth reading! 💯🙌🏻⚽️📚❤️
•Content: While this book doesn’t contain any scene with an intoxicated person, it does discuss alcoholism
and the effects that it can have on a person and family. No language, no danger; kisses only.
Clean, Closed-Door!
-I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
#officiallyyours
#justaguywirhagirl
#authorjenatkinson
#allaboutthebestreads
(Just a Guy With a Girl Book 3)
by: Jen Atkinson
@authorjenatkinson
••I give 4.5 stars!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
~She’s not a woman. She’s an official. At least, that’s what Lucca tells himself every time Maggie hands him another yellow card…
-My friends, Officially Yours, is such a delightful enemies to more romcom! It is filled so wonderfully with both humor and heart! In between are layers of emotional depth and dear character growth. I thoroughly enjoyed the endearing characters, the witty back and forth banter, the sparkling chemistry, the sweet found family, and watching characters not only grow but, blossom along the way throughout! But let me tell you, that what I loved most was seeing characters not let the past take over control. I loved seeing characters be able to find themselves, in who they really are, believing that they are enough, that they are worth all the love! This dear story shows that it’s love, is the dear thread that beautifully and powerfully stitches this story together, that molds characters, and opens the door to more possibilities, and has the ability to show dear characters that they are worth it, that they are enough, and that they are worth it all. There is so much more beneath being “just a soccer player,” or “just a tough soccer official.”
…oh so much more! Of course, this is a story worth reading! 💯🙌🏻⚽️📚❤️
•Content: While this book doesn’t contain any scene with an intoxicated person, it does discuss alcoholism
and the effects that it can have on a person and family. No language, no danger; kisses only.
Clean, Closed-Door!
-I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
#officiallyyours
#justaguywirhagirl
#authorjenatkinson
#allaboutthebestreads
September 16, 2026
Why is no one taking the heroine’s career seriously??
There’s way too much kid presence, and A LOT of the heroine’s family. It’s like the author went out of her way to make sure the hero and heroine weren’t alone together. I think the author was trying to show they’re so compatible because they’re both deeply family-oriented people, but it was to the detriment of developing the romance between the two of them.
I bought that Lucca is a total playboy — to such a degree that I didn’t buy his total turnaround. He’s determined in his pursuit of the heroine, and in his attempt to prove his sincerity in his newly-found belief in commitment — I just didn’t buy how he got there. He’s deeply immature, and saying the heroine is different from all the other women who came before isn’t enough. She brings a date to a party, he sees green and Hulks out into caveman Lucca who suddenly can’t deny his deep feelings for her. And Maggie melts in his arms because he’s hot, he’s good with her nephew, and he’s got some smooth well-practiced moves — she actually clocks this and nothing more is made of it; she just swallows his playboy past and doesn’t mind that he’s using those moves on her?
Lucca’s enmity towards Maggie dissipates when he: 1) sees she’s actually a very skilled soccer player in her own right and 2) witnesses her motherly relationship with her nephew.
He doesn’t view her as a qualified ref until he sees she actually knows what she’s talking about, and it seems as though he doesn’t respect her as a person until he sees her as a nurturing woman? Lucca felt pretty sexist to me and the author doesn’t unpack any of this.
There’s way too much kid presence, and A LOT of the heroine’s family. It’s like the author went out of her way to make sure the hero and heroine weren’t alone together. I think the author was trying to show they’re so compatible because they’re both deeply family-oriented people, but it was to the detriment of developing the romance between the two of them.
I bought that Lucca is a total playboy — to such a degree that I didn’t buy his total turnaround. He’s determined in his pursuit of the heroine, and in his attempt to prove his sincerity in his newly-found belief in commitment — I just didn’t buy how he got there. He’s deeply immature, and saying the heroine is different from all the other women who came before isn’t enough. She brings a date to a party, he sees green and Hulks out into caveman Lucca who suddenly can’t deny his deep feelings for her. And Maggie melts in his arms because he’s hot, he’s good with her nephew, and he’s got some smooth well-practiced moves — she actually clocks this and nothing more is made of it; she just swallows his playboy past and doesn’t mind that he’s using those moves on her?
Lucca’s enmity towards Maggie dissipates when he: 1) sees she’s actually a very skilled soccer player in her own right and 2) witnesses her motherly relationship with her nephew.
He doesn’t view her as a qualified ref until he sees she actually knows what she’s talking about, and it seems as though he doesn’t respect her as a person until he sees her as a nurturing woman? Lucca felt pretty sexist to me and the author doesn’t unpack any of this.
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