Playing The Field

by Tabitha Webb

PRE-ORDER the brand-new for 2026 laugh-out-loud rom-com now!***

An escape to the country never looked so good…Eliza Fox is down and out in London. 38-years-old with no savings, a boss with a diva complex, and a boyfriend who is shagging his secretary, it is definitely time to call a halt to city life.

So, Eliza straps her sequins and heels into her trusty yellow Citroen, and arrives windswept and exhausted into Farmington. Her to-do-list for her fabulous new life is locate an acceptable flat white outside London, pay off her mounting debts, and absolutely do not fall for any devastatingly handsome farmers.

But when she spots local heartthrob Luke Stanley emerging shirtless from a lake, like some sort of rural Poseidon, Eliza wonders if she might just be in for the ride of her life…

Readers LOVE Tabitha Webb!‘No Regrets is a dazzling first novel' Jilly Cooper

‘This is a must-read’ Amanda Holden

‘A cracking read which I thoroughly recommend’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I raced through it’ Daily Mail

‘A well written Jilly Cooper-esque novel that gave me some desperately needed escapism’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A super-sexy romp’ The Sun

‘I absolutely loved this little gem of a book…Unputdownable…Absolutely would gift it and recommended it to my gal-pals’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Scandalously good fun’ Hello!

‘Loved this deliciously witty and brilliantly written novel' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I devoured it in one sitting whilst sat in the sunshine’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

384 pages, Paperback

First published July 30, 2026

Reviews

[Linda Hill]

Eliza’s relationship has broken down.

Anyone who thinks all the most exciting action takes place in the big city needs to read Playing the Field! Eliza’s relocation to Farmington sees her plunged into a passionate affair, and includes a cast of characters that are a microcosm of the greater world. I loved the fact that there are people of all ages in the gossipy village because it added different perspectives and interest.

Eliza’s life is so complicated that reading Playing the Field is a real roller-coaster. Tabitha Webb intermingles a steamy developing love affair between Eliza and Luke with village life, weddings, puppies and a smattering of celebrity, in a manner that feels fresh and modern to read. Playing the Field has several well written spicy scenes that are occasionally quite explicit but which add to the enveloping sense of attraction between Eliza and Luke.

Luke is a glorious heartthrob, but what sets him apart from stereotype is that, whilst he is physically perfect and does have secrets of his own, he is not the conventional Darcy-esque brooding hero, but rather is an open, generous and reliable individual. This serves as a brilliant contrast to the more mercurial Eliza who runs away from her own problems and refuses to trust her own judgement.

I confess I didn’t initially warm to Eliza. Certainly I was sorry for her that her so-called partner Henry was so unfaithful, but her seeming obsession with rebound sex felt a bit too prevalent. However, as Playing the Field developed, I realised this aspect was part of her own self-deception and an aspect of Eliza becoming more comfortable in her own skin whilst learning what is really important to her. From being unsure about her at the start I found myself urging her onwards and I was desperate for her to recognise Luke’s true worth!

Indeed, whilst Playing the Field can be read as a straightforward sexy romance, if the reader looks more closely they discover a depth and breadth of emotions from love to jealousy, and insecurity to determination. Tabitha Webb explores the difference between lust and love and illustrates how age differences between partners, nationality and romance for those more mature in society are all part of the rich tapestry of love. Other themes explore first love, infidelity, the need to have our own identity beyond marriage and parenthood and, really fabulously, how friendships and communities function. All these elements make the story thoroughly engaging.

Playing the Field is sheer escapism in a fun, sexy romp that is highly entertaining and that has added depth. I raced through it and thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Leanna Coleman]

3.5 ⭐️

Fun and very fast-paced but I can’t get over what she calls the puppy at the end 🫠

[Yorkshire Born and Bookish]

4.5⭐️



I was so excited to be give the opportunity to read Tabitha’s new book ahead of its release date, as I absolutely loved her last novel ‘No Regrets’!

This couldn’t have come at a more perfect time as well, as I was just about to go on holiday, so I knew this would be the perfect read for me as I lay by the pool and I wasn’t wrong!

I loved Eliza as the MFC, an older woman in her late 30’s (perfect for me as I’m in my 40’s so more relatable), who was rethinking her life choices and what direction she wants her life to go after recently being shat on from a great height!

I adored the countryside setting, I ended up wanting to move to Farmington myself, it sounded like such fun, especially the safari supper!

Luke was the perfect MMC, what an absolute sweetheart and the perfect example of how a man should treat a woman! 😉

A great romance (with some steam, so be warned if that’s not your thing), that Tabitha described and wrote about so perfectly, I could literally ‘see’ all the characters and the places in the book!

Would definitely recommend, and think this would be a perfect summer, holiday by the pool read!

[Lisa (Two Bookish Brits)]

What a fantastic read, Eliza was so bloody funny.

I don’t know why so I can’t explain it but the word f@nny will ALWAYS make me laugh, I was just sat there reading this book and that word popped up and I was sat there for 5 minutes actually crying laughing. It’s just such a stupid word, I’m actually laughing now whilst typing this up.

Eliza was such a fun character. She’s been hurt but she doesn’t let that stop her from doing what she wants. I mean sure she holds back a little and is worried about repeats but she still goes for it. She’s strong, beautiful and an absolute hoot. Some of the things she came out with and did had me laughing, she was such a fun character.

Luke was also a great character. I love how kind he was. After all his past hurts he was still welcoming and so damn lovely.

These two together..oh man I loved every second of them. Their chemistry is instantaneous and it’s so freaking hot. These two were actually so perfect for each other and let me just say, the secondary characters were just as brilliant as the first. I sure do hope the author returns to this lovely place and we get more from the residents of Farmington.

I loved the characters and I loved the beautiful countryside settings. Farmington sounds like such a lovely place to stay.

This was my first read from this author and what a brilliant one it was. I laughed, I cried and I had the most fun time whilst reading.

[Joanna HL]

This one took me a little while to get into, but by the end I had such a smile on my face.

What I loved most was Eliza. She's in her late 30s, her partner has cheated on her, she's in debt and she's basically starting again. She doesn't have everything figured out, and honestly... that made her feel so real. Watching her slowly build a new life and not ENTIRELY demolish her life beforehand whilst also accidently putting down roots in this gorgeous little village was such a lovely journey.

The village itself almost steals the show. It's full of gossip, brilliant side characters and a real sense of community. And can we please talk about the dinner safari?! I need someone to organise one near me because it sounds like the best idea ever.

Luke is exactly the kind of MMC I can get behind too. Hard-working, thoughtful and genuinely knows what he wants. Their romance isn't all fireworks and huge drama (not all the time....) It's a slower, more grounded love story with plenty of chemistry (and yes... there's some..or quite abit..of nice spice), but it never feels like that's all the book is about.

This ended up being such a warm, feel-good summer read. Realistic, a little messy, full of heart, and one that I closed with a big smile on my face.

[Angela Mellor]

Playing The Field is a book in a genre I don’t really go to much but I read this in a day.
Eliza when we meet her is in the middle of her job, she’s an event coordinator but whisky in the cellar looking for wine she comes across her boyfriend with his secretary in a compromising position. They were next to be moving to the country to a little cottage in Farmington but Eliza isn’t going to let this stop her she’s going to go alone. The lease is for three months so she’ll let her heart mend and get out in the country air and see where life takes her. She doesn’t expect to see someone like Luke in this little village, could he be the distraction she needs, a little rebound action? Working together to create Luke’s sisters wedding shows they can work together well even if there are a few bumps in the road.
A great little read if your fancying some escapism, I loved all the characters and the setting, the writing style flowed well with a good pace. It does have some saucy scenes but not too many if that bothers you. I just want to go on a safari supper evening it sounds so fun!
I would like to thank NetGalley and HQ for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

[The Little Book Corner]

The Setting is perfect, between the city of London and the countryside idyllic, Farmington, main character Eliza has been cheated on leading to her making some rash decisions about her life and future. Main character Luke is attractive, kind and falls for her as quickly as she does him.
Quickly fitting into Farmington life and with a wedding to organise, Eliza soon realises that country life suits her well and with her relationship with the mysterious Luke growing strong, she has a decision to make.

With some amazing funny warm characters, a great storyline, this book is a perfect summer read to get your heart racing.
It’s a mix of Katie Fforde/Sarah Morgan but with a sprinkle of added spice.

[Jess]

What an utter delight of a book!
I picked this up after seeing an interview with Tabitha Webb and loved her humour and whit for countryside quirks, so I knew it’d be the perfect holiday read.
It blew me away. It’s funny, naughty and properly swoon-worthy - who doesn't love a sexy countryside romance? And Luke… I couldn't put it down, which is very unlike me. If you’re a fan of Jilly Cooper, you will absolutely adore this. A total page-turner that brought a huge smile to my face - highly recommend! More books like this Tabitha please!!

[Helen]

book that will make you smile. Thinking you have life all planned out then you find your boyfriend cheating. Leaving London for the country , in debt, jobless and heartbroken.
Finding friend's, a job and a new love interest. Village life is very different to London life. Secrets, family funds and lot's of sex with a handsome farmer makes for a lot of fun.
Enjoy the bumpy road to hae, I did

[Issle]

Absolutely loved it, a must read. Perfect escapism 💘

[Mr P]

great Holiday read

A hoot , light, funny, sexy and so easy to relate too. Taken on holiday - that’s 24 hours accounted for. A page turner

[Kelci Vickors]

Easy read, very raunchy

[Naimal Azad Kastro]

I was clearly not the target audience for this book. It was a little too happy go lucky and unrealistic for me. Didn’t like the conflict at the end. It was childish and so dumb.

[Harps]

After finding out her boyfriend’s been cheating, Eliza leaves London behind and heads to a small place in Farmington for a fresh start.

At first, it’s pretty daunting, she’s lonely, out of her comfort zone, and still trying to figure out how she’s going to tackle her debt. But as she gets to know her neighbours and some of the locals, she slowly starts to build a circle that makes her feel more at home. That sense of community really grows, especially once Luke comes into the picture.

Eliza’s a really likeable main character, you can feel her uncertainty at the start, and it’s easy to root for her as she finds her feet in a new place. The supporting cast are all warm and engaging too, adding a lot of charm and helping bring the story to life.

Luke and Eliza work well together and have some genuinely sweet moment and a few bumps along the way for them.

Overall it’s an easy, comforting read that I flew through, perfect if you’re after a bit of escapism.

Thanks to NetGalley for the copy.