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Love & Baseball
She needed a boyfriend. AI came to her rescue. But then her fake boyfriend showed up at school.
Brielle has never wanted a boyfriend. She's happy with her book boyfriends--purely fictional, right? Easy to maintain. She's also not a huge fan of sports, except baseball. Not playing it. No. Again, books and cozy afternoons are her thing. But Brielle can get into baseball with the best of them when it comes to watching, repeating stats, and wearing her favorite jerseys. But apparently, that's not enough in life. At least according to her four nosy aunts, who all think she needs a boyfriend, people at school who are convinced Brielle is a closet serial killer because she's happier with her books, and yeah. Valentine’s Day is on the calendar.
There is a purpose for AI, and Brielle decides the genius thing to do is make a fake boyfriend. Complete with deepfake photos, Brielle creates the perfect boyfriend, and no one needs to know he's entirely fictional. They just need to believe she met him over summer vacation, and he lives somewhere in North Carolina. Only he doesn't. When baseball catcher, Brooks Mason shows up at high school, a lookalike to Brielle's AI boyfriend, her entire world becomes a dog-eared, bent pages book nightmare.
Brooks is getting sick of all the girls at school wanting to date him. He wants to play ball and hang out. So, yeah. It makes sense to help Brielle out. Fake date? Why not? But once together, dating for show becomes an act that both Brielle and Brooks aren't quite prepared for, and dealing with unexpected attraction, complicated situations, and interfering aunts and bffs?
It's a grand slam of problems just waiting to happen, plus a game-changing shot at a championship homerun at love.
** CLEAN YA Rom-Com Fiction you can read without skipping a page **
Brielle has never wanted a boyfriend. She's happy with her book boyfriends--purely fictional, right? Easy to maintain. She's also not a huge fan of sports, except baseball. Not playing it. No. Again, books and cozy afternoons are her thing. But Brielle can get into baseball with the best of them when it comes to watching, repeating stats, and wearing her favorite jerseys. But apparently, that's not enough in life. At least according to her four nosy aunts, who all think she needs a boyfriend, people at school who are convinced Brielle is a closet serial killer because she's happier with her books, and yeah. Valentine’s Day is on the calendar.
There is a purpose for AI, and Brielle decides the genius thing to do is make a fake boyfriend. Complete with deepfake photos, Brielle creates the perfect boyfriend, and no one needs to know he's entirely fictional. They just need to believe she met him over summer vacation, and he lives somewhere in North Carolina. Only he doesn't. When baseball catcher, Brooks Mason shows up at high school, a lookalike to Brielle's AI boyfriend, her entire world becomes a dog-eared, bent pages book nightmare.
Brooks is getting sick of all the girls at school wanting to date him. He wants to play ball and hang out. So, yeah. It makes sense to help Brielle out. Fake date? Why not? But once together, dating for show becomes an act that both Brielle and Brooks aren't quite prepared for, and dealing with unexpected attraction, complicated situations, and interfering aunts and bffs?
It's a grand slam of problems just waiting to happen, plus a game-changing shot at a championship homerun at love.
** CLEAN YA Rom-Com Fiction you can read without skipping a page **
214 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 10, 2026
About the author
Jaime Jo Wright
36 books2,647 followersDaphne du Maurier and Christy Award-Winning author, Jaime Jo Wright resides in the hills of Wisconsin writing suspenseful, mysteries stained with history's secrets. Jaime lives in dreamland, exists in reality, and invites you to join her adventures at jaimewrightbooks.com!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
August 12, 2026
3.5 stars, personally ⭐️ Clean/Christian Fiction - YA Rom-Com
About this book:
“She needed a boyfriend. AI came to her rescue. But then her fake boyfriend showed up at school.
Brielle has never wanted a boyfriend. She's happy with her book boyfriends--purely fictional, right? Easy to maintain. She's also not a huge fan of sports, except baseball. Not playing it. No. Again, books and cozy afternoons are her thing. But Brielle can get into baseball with the best of them when it comes to watching, repeating stats, and wearing her favorite jerseys. But apparently, that's not enough in life. At least according to her four nosy aunts, who all think she needs a boyfriend, people at school who are convinced Brielle is a closet serial killer because she's happier with her books, and yeah. Valentine’s Day is on the calendar.
There is a purpose for AI, and Brielle decides the genius thing to do is make a fake boyfriend. Complete with deepfake photos, Brielle creates the perfect boyfriend, and no one needs to know he's entirely fictional. They just need to believe she met him over summer vacation, and he lives somewhere in North Carolina. Only he doesn't. When baseball catcher, Brooks Mason shows up at high school, a lookalike to Brielle's AI boyfriend, her entire world becomes a dog-eared, bent pages book nightmare.
Brooks is getting sick of all the girls at school wanting to date him. He wants to play ball and hang out. So, yeah. It makes sense to help Brielle out. Fake date? Why not? But once together, dating for show becomes an act that both Brielle and Brooks aren't quite prepared for, and dealing with unexpected attraction, complicated situations, and interfering aunts and bffs?”
Series: A sequel is planned to come out later this year (2026).
Spiritual Content- A Scripture is remembered; Prayers (including Brielle “whining to God” because she doesn’t think He would mind); Brielle believes that God takes a special interest in her, but thinks He might be rolling His eyes at her for lying (then says that she doesn’t think He would actually do that); Brielle felts guilt over lying about her “boyfriend” due to the Ten Commandments, but thinks that “a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do”; A couple talks about God and Him caring about us; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Mentions of God; Mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of churches, church going, a pastor, Sunday School classes, & youth group; A couple mentions of a Bible & a Bible study; A couple mentions of the Ten Commandments; A couple mentions of confessing sins;
*Note: A girl comments that Brielle “practically worships” Brooks; A couple mentions of luck; A mention of a teacher believing in evolution (which Brielle disagrees with); A mention of manifesting.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘geesh’, a ‘holy cow’, a ‘stinkin’’, a ‘what the what’, two ‘freaking’s, two ‘good grief’s, two forms of ‘kick butt’, two ‘shut up’s, two unfinished ‘what the—‘s, three ‘crud’s, three ‘darn’s, three ‘shoot’s, three forms of ‘ticked off’, three forms of ‘what the heck’, four ‘idiot’s, four ‘screwed’s, five forms of ‘dang’, five ‘duh’s, five ‘heck’s, six forms of ‘suck’, eight ‘gosh’s, nine ‘crap’s (including a ‘holy crap’), thirteen ‘stupid’s, sixteen forms of ‘oh my gosh’, and seventeen forms of ‘dumb’; Eye rolling & Sarcasm; Brielle lies to others about her “boyfriend” (including to her parents) and feels guilt over it at times, but refers to it as a necessity (Later she realizes that she’s made herself into a liar; Brielle knows that if her parents found out she was dating and didn’t know about it or the boy, she would be in a lot of trouble and grounded (she calls this the worst-case scenario unless they learned about her deception; *Spoilers* ); Brooks believes his parents are one step away from splitting up and argue about him (which he tries not think is his fault, but still feels like it is at times); To avoid a reporter, Brielle’s brother makes her and Brooks play hooky and skip school for part of a day (Brooks’ father fibs to the school that Brooks had a dentist appointment); Later, Brielle skips school again (when her emotions are distraught); Pain, Injuries, & Blood/Bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of injuries, pain, & blood/bleeding (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of throwing up/puking; Mentions of a possible divorce & Brooks’ parents having problems (including his mother leaving for a couple weeks to her parents); Mentions of lies, lying, liars, & deception (including to parents); Mentions of gossip & rumors; Mentions of eavesdropping; A couple mentions of terrorists & felons; A couple mentions of curses/bad words; A mention of wars; A mention of not smoking, drinking, or doing drugs;
*Note: Brielle used AI to create deepfake photos of her dream guy and tells others that he is her boyfriend (to get her aunts and friends to leave her alone about not having a boyfriend; She calls this a “necessity”); In an interview, there is a reference to teens developing romantic relationships with AI and then doing “awful things”; Brielle harshly tells her mom to leave her room when stressed, but tries to soften her words when she sees it hurt her mother (noting that while her mom is cool, she’s her mom and “all moms get in the way at times”); Brooks feels like he is a disappointment to his dad (due to not having anything in common); Mentions of celebrities & musicians (Tom Cruise, One Direction, NSYNC, Justin Timberlake, Backstreet Boys, & Niall Horan); Mentions of sports teams & athletes (Babe Ruth & Christian Yelich); Mentions of social media platforms & websites (Pinterest, TikTok, YouTube, & Amazon); Mention of brand names & items (Pantone, Converse shoes, Uno, Euchre, Fruit Loops, Hershey’s chocolate, Barbie, Nerf, & Mountain Dew); Mentions of books, authors, & fictional characters (‘Anne of Green Gables’, ‘Lord of the Rings’, ‘The Hunger Games’, ‘Twilight’, ‘The Princess Bride’, ‘Pride and Prejudice’, ‘The Inheritance Games’, ‘Green Eggs and Ham’, ‘The Odyssey’, ‘Ivanhoe’, ‘Alice in Wonderland’, ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’, ‘Powerless’ by Lauren Roberts, Pepper Basham, Jane Austen, Dr. Seuss, Batman, Romeo and Juliet, & Disney Princesses); A few mention of movies & fictional characters (Tangled & John Wick); A couple mentions of National Geographic; A couple mentions of a therapist and medication for anxiety; A mention of zombies; A mention of R-rated movies.
Sexual Content- Two head/forehead kisses, two almost kisses (up to semi-detailed), and a semi-detailed kiss; Remembering almost kisses (barely-above-not-detailed); Staring at lips (barely-above-not-detailed); Touches, Embraces, Hand holding, Warmth, Tingles, Flutters, Nearness, & Smelling (up to semi-detailed); Remembering touches, embraces, & nearness (up to semi-detailed); Blushes, Winks, & Flirting; Noticing & Staring (border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed); Brooks and Brielle go into a janitor’s closet to talk (twice) and know it could raise questions if someone saw them (in one of the times: they almost kiss, but are interrupted by an adult); Brielle’s father tells Brooks that they aren’t allowed to be in her room or watch a movie alone downstairs (but, *Spoilers* ); Towards the end, *Major Spoilers* ; Brielle notes that she’s not going to do anything that her “future husband might be jealous of”; Others think that Brooks is “longing” for Brielle when seeing him interact with her; Two ‘babe’s and six ‘hot’s; All about & many mentions of boyfriends/girlfriends, dates, dating, fake dating, break-ups, & crushes; Mentions of kisses, first kisses, kissing, & making out (including one of Brielle’s aunts asking if her boyfriend has kissed her yet); Mentions of romance books, book boyfriends, Brielle and her best friend swooning over fictional guys, & Brielle’s father saying that romance books give girls “unrealistic perceptions of how relationships work”; Mentions of crushes, flirting, & girls turning into “goo” when around a boy they like; A few mentions of players; A couple mentions of spicy romance books (which neither Brielle or her best friend read); A couple mentions of jealousy; A mention of a married couple kissing; A mention of boy-crazy girls; Love, falling in love, & the emotions.
-Brielle Walters, age 16
-Brooks Mason
1st person P.O.V. switches between them
210 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
My personal Rating- Three Stars (and a half)
I’ve seen a lot of buzz about this book since it released and because I love both YA Contemporary books and baseball, it’s been one I’ve been very curious about.
I believe this book has been marketed more as a Clean Fiction YA book, but because there were elements of Christianity and co-authored by a popular Christian Fiction author, I thought I would do this review on 'Books for Christian Girls' as well as Goodreads.
I will say that this book felt a little too fangirl/wattpad in the writing style and the Gen Z slang felt a little cringy to me (I lost count of the amount of times the characters went “bruh”), but hey, I’m getting old so that’s probably why. If I had read this book at around age 12/13, I probably would have enjoyed it more. 😂 Now at over double that age, I just wanted to “big sister” Brielle and Brooks and try to get them to see their worth wasn’t based on relationships or interests.
The plot might have been a little far-fetched, but it was clean and overall pretty cute—though I read most of the book through my fingers because the second hand embarrassment scale was super high with these two ninny-maries and their lack of talking. I felt bad for Brielle that she let everyone’s comments about her needing a boyfriend get to her and wished she could have felt like she was enough despite what others may think because of her value in God’s eyes, not a boy. Obviously this book is a romance book, though, so that’s the main point—the couple getting together. I enjoyed the baseball parts (despite Brielle’s negative comments about my Cubs!) and found myself interested to see what would happen next. There were a few typos that caught my attention while reading, but I think it was overall a cute YA romance book.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
About this book:
“She needed a boyfriend. AI came to her rescue. But then her fake boyfriend showed up at school.
Brielle has never wanted a boyfriend. She's happy with her book boyfriends--purely fictional, right? Easy to maintain. She's also not a huge fan of sports, except baseball. Not playing it. No. Again, books and cozy afternoons are her thing. But Brielle can get into baseball with the best of them when it comes to watching, repeating stats, and wearing her favorite jerseys. But apparently, that's not enough in life. At least according to her four nosy aunts, who all think she needs a boyfriend, people at school who are convinced Brielle is a closet serial killer because she's happier with her books, and yeah. Valentine’s Day is on the calendar.
There is a purpose for AI, and Brielle decides the genius thing to do is make a fake boyfriend. Complete with deepfake photos, Brielle creates the perfect boyfriend, and no one needs to know he's entirely fictional. They just need to believe she met him over summer vacation, and he lives somewhere in North Carolina. Only he doesn't. When baseball catcher, Brooks Mason shows up at high school, a lookalike to Brielle's AI boyfriend, her entire world becomes a dog-eared, bent pages book nightmare.
Brooks is getting sick of all the girls at school wanting to date him. He wants to play ball and hang out. So, yeah. It makes sense to help Brielle out. Fake date? Why not? But once together, dating for show becomes an act that both Brielle and Brooks aren't quite prepared for, and dealing with unexpected attraction, complicated situations, and interfering aunts and bffs?”
Series: A sequel is planned to come out later this year (2026).
Spiritual Content- A Scripture is remembered; Prayers (including Brielle “whining to God” because she doesn’t think He would mind); Brielle believes that God takes a special interest in her, but thinks He might be rolling His eyes at her for lying (then says that she doesn’t think He would actually do that); Brielle felts guilt over lying about her “boyfriend” due to the Ten Commandments, but thinks that “a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do”; A couple talks about God and Him caring about us; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Mentions of God; Mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of churches, church going, a pastor, Sunday School classes, & youth group; A couple mentions of a Bible & a Bible study; A couple mentions of the Ten Commandments; A couple mentions of confessing sins;
*Note: A girl comments that Brielle “practically worships” Brooks; A couple mentions of luck; A mention of a teacher believing in evolution (which Brielle disagrees with); A mention of manifesting.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘geesh’, a ‘holy cow’, a ‘stinkin’’, a ‘what the what’, two ‘freaking’s, two ‘good grief’s, two forms of ‘kick butt’, two ‘shut up’s, two unfinished ‘what the—‘s, three ‘crud’s, three ‘darn’s, three ‘shoot’s, three forms of ‘ticked off’, three forms of ‘what the heck’, four ‘idiot’s, four ‘screwed’s, five forms of ‘dang’, five ‘duh’s, five ‘heck’s, six forms of ‘suck’, eight ‘gosh’s, nine ‘crap’s (including a ‘holy crap’), thirteen ‘stupid’s, sixteen forms of ‘oh my gosh’, and seventeen forms of ‘dumb’; Eye rolling & Sarcasm; Brielle lies to others about her “boyfriend” (including to her parents) and feels guilt over it at times, but refers to it as a necessity (Later she realizes that she’s made herself into a liar; Brielle knows that if her parents found out she was dating and didn’t know about it or the boy, she would be in a lot of trouble and grounded (she calls this the worst-case scenario unless they learned about her deception; *Spoilers* ); Brooks believes his parents are one step away from splitting up and argue about him (which he tries not think is his fault, but still feels like it is at times); To avoid a reporter, Brielle’s brother makes her and Brooks play hooky and skip school for part of a day (Brooks’ father fibs to the school that Brooks had a dentist appointment); Later, Brielle skips school again (when her emotions are distraught); Pain, Injuries, & Blood/Bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of injuries, pain, & blood/bleeding (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of throwing up/puking; Mentions of a possible divorce & Brooks’ parents having problems (including his mother leaving for a couple weeks to her parents); Mentions of lies, lying, liars, & deception (including to parents); Mentions of gossip & rumors; Mentions of eavesdropping; A couple mentions of terrorists & felons; A couple mentions of curses/bad words; A mention of wars; A mention of not smoking, drinking, or doing drugs;
*Note: Brielle used AI to create deepfake photos of her dream guy and tells others that he is her boyfriend (to get her aunts and friends to leave her alone about not having a boyfriend; She calls this a “necessity”); In an interview, there is a reference to teens developing romantic relationships with AI and then doing “awful things”; Brielle harshly tells her mom to leave her room when stressed, but tries to soften her words when she sees it hurt her mother (noting that while her mom is cool, she’s her mom and “all moms get in the way at times”); Brooks feels like he is a disappointment to his dad (due to not having anything in common); Mentions of celebrities & musicians (Tom Cruise, One Direction, NSYNC, Justin Timberlake, Backstreet Boys, & Niall Horan); Mentions of sports teams & athletes (Babe Ruth & Christian Yelich); Mentions of social media platforms & websites (Pinterest, TikTok, YouTube, & Amazon); Mention of brand names & items (Pantone, Converse shoes, Uno, Euchre, Fruit Loops, Hershey’s chocolate, Barbie, Nerf, & Mountain Dew); Mentions of books, authors, & fictional characters (‘Anne of Green Gables’, ‘Lord of the Rings’, ‘The Hunger Games’, ‘Twilight’, ‘The Princess Bride’, ‘Pride and Prejudice’, ‘The Inheritance Games’, ‘Green Eggs and Ham’, ‘The Odyssey’, ‘Ivanhoe’, ‘Alice in Wonderland’, ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’, ‘Powerless’ by Lauren Roberts, Pepper Basham, Jane Austen, Dr. Seuss, Batman, Romeo and Juliet, & Disney Princesses); A few mention of movies & fictional characters (Tangled & John Wick); A couple mentions of National Geographic; A couple mentions of a therapist and medication for anxiety; A mention of zombies; A mention of R-rated movies.
Sexual Content- Two head/forehead kisses, two almost kisses (up to semi-detailed), and a semi-detailed kiss; Remembering almost kisses (barely-above-not-detailed); Staring at lips (barely-above-not-detailed); Touches, Embraces, Hand holding, Warmth, Tingles, Flutters, Nearness, & Smelling (up to semi-detailed); Remembering touches, embraces, & nearness (up to semi-detailed); Blushes, Winks, & Flirting; Noticing & Staring (border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed); Brooks and Brielle go into a janitor’s closet to talk (twice) and know it could raise questions if someone saw them (in one of the times: they almost kiss, but are interrupted by an adult); Brielle’s father tells Brooks that they aren’t allowed to be in her room or watch a movie alone downstairs (but, *Spoilers* ); Towards the end, *Major Spoilers* ; Brielle notes that she’s not going to do anything that her “future husband might be jealous of”; Others think that Brooks is “longing” for Brielle when seeing him interact with her; Two ‘babe’s and six ‘hot’s; All about & many mentions of boyfriends/girlfriends, dates, dating, fake dating, break-ups, & crushes; Mentions of kisses, first kisses, kissing, & making out (including one of Brielle’s aunts asking if her boyfriend has kissed her yet); Mentions of romance books, book boyfriends, Brielle and her best friend swooning over fictional guys, & Brielle’s father saying that romance books give girls “unrealistic perceptions of how relationships work”; Mentions of crushes, flirting, & girls turning into “goo” when around a boy they like; A few mentions of players; A couple mentions of spicy romance books (which neither Brielle or her best friend read); A couple mentions of jealousy; A mention of a married couple kissing; A mention of boy-crazy girls; Love, falling in love, & the emotions.
-Brielle Walters, age 16
-Brooks Mason
1st person P.O.V. switches between them
210 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
My personal Rating- Three Stars (and a half)
I’ve seen a lot of buzz about this book since it released and because I love both YA Contemporary books and baseball, it’s been one I’ve been very curious about.
I believe this book has been marketed more as a Clean Fiction YA book, but because there were elements of Christianity and co-authored by a popular Christian Fiction author, I thought I would do this review on 'Books for Christian Girls' as well as Goodreads.
I will say that this book felt a little too fangirl/wattpad in the writing style and the Gen Z slang felt a little cringy to me (I lost count of the amount of times the characters went “bruh”), but hey, I’m getting old so that’s probably why. If I had read this book at around age 12/13, I probably would have enjoyed it more. 😂 Now at over double that age, I just wanted to “big sister” Brielle and Brooks and try to get them to see their worth wasn’t based on relationships or interests.
The plot might have been a little far-fetched, but it was clean and overall pretty cute—though I read most of the book through my fingers because the second hand embarrassment scale was super high with these two ninny-maries and their lack of talking. I felt bad for Brielle that she let everyone’s comments about her needing a boyfriend get to her and wished she could have felt like she was enough despite what others may think because of her value in God’s eyes, not a boy. Obviously this book is a romance book, though, so that’s the main point—the couple getting together. I enjoyed the baseball parts (despite Brielle’s negative comments about my Cubs!) and found myself interested to see what would happen next. There were a few typos that caught my attention while reading, but I think it was overall a cute YA romance book.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
February 10, 2026
“She needed a boyfriend. AI came to her rescue. But then her fake boyfriend showed up at school.”
I’m going to venture to say that this is the best YA rom-com I’ve ever read!
This stage of life is stuffed with big decisions and blossoming faith and there doesn’t seem to be many books available for this audience that align with Christian values. As a teacher, I hear about how many young girls struggle with feeling alone, insecure and unseen. Jaime Jo Wright’s story offers young adults clarity, encouragement and a gentle reminder that God is with them as they navigate friendships, forge their identity and discover their purpose.
There’s no doubt that this book, told in such an authentic voice and centered around online safety and first romances, will help young adults feel seen and supported and offer hope for the confusing situations they find themselves in.
I thoroughly enjoyed this rom-com; my heart went out to Brielle Walters when she realized that her situation had grown out of control and when I met Brooks Mason on the page, I hoped that my niece would one day meet someone as thoughtful and centered as him. This book is a great starting point for discussions around social media, dating, and fitting in.
I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
I’m going to venture to say that this is the best YA rom-com I’ve ever read!
This stage of life is stuffed with big decisions and blossoming faith and there doesn’t seem to be many books available for this audience that align with Christian values. As a teacher, I hear about how many young girls struggle with feeling alone, insecure and unseen. Jaime Jo Wright’s story offers young adults clarity, encouragement and a gentle reminder that God is with them as they navigate friendships, forge their identity and discover their purpose.
There’s no doubt that this book, told in such an authentic voice and centered around online safety and first romances, will help young adults feel seen and supported and offer hope for the confusing situations they find themselves in.
I thoroughly enjoyed this rom-com; my heart went out to Brielle Walters when she realized that her situation had grown out of control and when I met Brooks Mason on the page, I hoped that my niece would one day meet someone as thoughtful and centered as him. This book is a great starting point for discussions around social media, dating, and fitting in.
I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
February 21, 2026
OVERALL STAR RATING: 5/5
CLEAN RATING: 5/5
And THIS my friends, is how you write an appropriate novel for young adults! I picked this one up out of curiosity because what’s happening to YA fiction these days is heartbreaking. I wound up binging it in a single evening, finding myself completely engrossed in the plot, humor and beautiful message it had to bring. I’m so happy to have a work of YA fiction that I can feel GOOD about recommending to friends with tweens and teens. Zero language and zero spice. 100% fun, laughter and relatability. I really tried to put myself in the mind frame of a teenager while reading this and I think our youth are going to appreciate the parental relationships represented in this story as well as the real-life pressures that teens deal with, especially with social media today.
Brielle has no interest in having a boyfriend. Right now, she’s happily involved with her relationship with books and baseball, but why is everyone in high school so obsessed with the fact that she doesn’t’ have a boyfriend at age 16? Not only her peers, but even her aunts lay it on thick whenever she sees them. It’s exhausting and Brielle decides to create a fake boyfriend with the help of AI to get everyone off her back. When Brooks, her fictitious baseball playing boyfriend creation somehow shows up as the new student at her school, things…get…WILD! HOW in the world did this happen!? Brooks also has zero interest in worrying about a relationship at this age – baseball is his life and he dreams of making it into the minor leagues. Their school is all a buzz now and the last thing Brielle wants to do is get caught lying about her long-distance relationship. Cue the fake dating scenario!
Yes, these two teens are spinning truths, but I assure you the matter is held in a proper manner while representing a message of grace and forgiveness. Nothing about this book is encouraging teens to lie – quite the opposite. This book is incredibly sweet and heartwarming and I without a doubt recommend it for anyone looking for CLEAN YA.
Crossing my fingers that this will turn into a series.
*For more reviews and bookish content, be sure to follow me on Instagram @aliciasbooksanctuary
CLEAN RATING: 5/5
And THIS my friends, is how you write an appropriate novel for young adults! I picked this one up out of curiosity because what’s happening to YA fiction these days is heartbreaking. I wound up binging it in a single evening, finding myself completely engrossed in the plot, humor and beautiful message it had to bring. I’m so happy to have a work of YA fiction that I can feel GOOD about recommending to friends with tweens and teens. Zero language and zero spice. 100% fun, laughter and relatability. I really tried to put myself in the mind frame of a teenager while reading this and I think our youth are going to appreciate the parental relationships represented in this story as well as the real-life pressures that teens deal with, especially with social media today.
Brielle has no interest in having a boyfriend. Right now, she’s happily involved with her relationship with books and baseball, but why is everyone in high school so obsessed with the fact that she doesn’t’ have a boyfriend at age 16? Not only her peers, but even her aunts lay it on thick whenever she sees them. It’s exhausting and Brielle decides to create a fake boyfriend with the help of AI to get everyone off her back. When Brooks, her fictitious baseball playing boyfriend creation somehow shows up as the new student at her school, things…get…WILD! HOW in the world did this happen!? Brooks also has zero interest in worrying about a relationship at this age – baseball is his life and he dreams of making it into the minor leagues. Their school is all a buzz now and the last thing Brielle wants to do is get caught lying about her long-distance relationship. Cue the fake dating scenario!
Yes, these two teens are spinning truths, but I assure you the matter is held in a proper manner while representing a message of grace and forgiveness. Nothing about this book is encouraging teens to lie – quite the opposite. This book is incredibly sweet and heartwarming and I without a doubt recommend it for anyone looking for CLEAN YA.
Crossing my fingers that this will turn into a series.
*For more reviews and bookish content, be sure to follow me on Instagram @aliciasbooksanctuary
March 3, 2026
I had never read a Jaime Jo Wright story before but I really enjoyed LOVE & BASEBALL. Brielle doesnt want a boyfriend but according to her four very lovable but nosy aunts, she needs one. So, she creates A fake boyfriend and thinks her life will be less stressful after that! Ha! Boy is she wrong! Brielle feels like she is winning against her aunts until her fake boyfriend shows up at her school! With the same name and everything! How is this possible? LOVE & BASEBALL is one of the best YA Rom-com stories I have ever read and I found myself cheering for Brielle the whole time!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from JustRead. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from JustRead. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.
June 3, 2026
AHHHHHHH IM OFFICIALLY OBSESSEDDDDDDD
Okay can we just say how brilliant this plot is?!! Like I don’t know how they thought of it but mixing AI and fake dating super cool! I loved how lying was such a big discussion in this book. Usually lying is kind of overlooked even in Christian fiction but this book made sure to discuss it which I liked. There were so many good lessons in this book and I loved how it felt so authentically gen z/alpha and never cringe. I liked it so much!!!
I love all the characters and the bookish references. Brooks though far from perfect was such a sweet boy and I was rooting for him and Brielle too! Reece was hilarious and I’m happy he got that talk with his dad at the end for being in people’s business lolololol. Lia was so much fun too, as someone who’s met so many people online I thought this aspect was so cool. And Brooks reading Pride and Prejudice….OH MY GOSHHHH icing on the cake 🤣
I feel like I could write this review all day but suffice to say I loved it. I don’t want it to end though so I’m going to head over and make a Spotify playlist for this. Byeeeeeee ✌🏽
Okay can we just say how brilliant this plot is?!! Like I don’t know how they thought of it but mixing AI and fake dating super cool! I loved how lying was such a big discussion in this book. Usually lying is kind of overlooked even in Christian fiction but this book made sure to discuss it which I liked. There were so many good lessons in this book and I loved how it felt so authentically gen z/alpha and never cringe. I liked it so much!!!
I love all the characters and the bookish references. Brooks though far from perfect was such a sweet boy and I was rooting for him and Brielle too! Reece was hilarious and I’m happy he got that talk with his dad at the end for being in people’s business lolololol. Lia was so much fun too, as someone who’s met so many people online I thought this aspect was so cool. And Brooks reading Pride and Prejudice….OH MY GOSHHHH icing on the cake 🤣
I feel like I could write this review all day but suffice to say I loved it. I don’t want it to end though so I’m going to head over and make a Spotify playlist for this. Byeeeeeee ✌🏽
February 23, 2026
This is such a cute YA romance that I would have no qualms with my age 12 and older kids reading. It would be perfectly safe for my younger kids too; I just don't want to "awaken love until the time is right." (Song of Solomon)
March 8, 2026
Love & Baseball is a cute young adult romance book that is very modern, using AI to generate a fake boyfriend that suddenly becomes real! Perfect for your romance loving high school student.
I loved how Brielles parents handled dating.
The hardest part, especially since it is marketed for teens is the fact that it had a lot of lying. It does have a fake dating trope so there is some lying that has to occur. All ends well but mainly just mentioning this as a warning for other Mamas.
All in all it was absolutely cute & I am excited to read book two soon!
I received a copy for review. All thoughts & opinions are my own. I was not required to leave a positive review.
I loved how Brielles parents handled dating.
The hardest part, especially since it is marketed for teens is the fact that it had a lot of lying. It does have a fake dating trope so there is some lying that has to occur. All ends well but mainly just mentioning this as a warning for other Mamas.
All in all it was absolutely cute & I am excited to read book two soon!
I received a copy for review. All thoughts & opinions are my own. I was not required to leave a positive review.
February 12, 2026
Love & Baseball
This book was such a delightful surprise. Love & Baseball is a clean YA romcom that perfectly balances humor, heart, and just the right amount of teen awkwardness.
Brielle is completely relatable. A book-loving introvert who would rather analyze baseball stats than socialize, she’s content with fictional boyfriends and cozy afternoons. Unfortunately, the world around her has other ideas. Between nosy relatives, school rumors, and Valentine’s Day looming, her decision to create an AI-generated fake boyfriend spirals into a situation she never could have imagined.
Enter Brooks Mason, the new catcher who just happens to look exactly like her digital creation.
What follows is classic fake-dating fun, filled with laugh-out-loud moments, swoony tension, and genuine emotional growth. I loved how the story explored identity, insecurity, and the pressure teens feel to fit into expectations. Beneath the humor is a sweet reminder that you don’t have to reinvent yourself to be worthy of love or friendship.
The romance stays clean and age-appropriate, making this a perfect read for ages 12–18. It’s wholesome, charming, and full of baseball energy and bookish charm.
If you enjoy fake dating tropes, strong teen voices, and sweet romance with heart, this one is a home run. ⚾📚
This book was such a delightful surprise. Love & Baseball is a clean YA romcom that perfectly balances humor, heart, and just the right amount of teen awkwardness.
Brielle is completely relatable. A book-loving introvert who would rather analyze baseball stats than socialize, she’s content with fictional boyfriends and cozy afternoons. Unfortunately, the world around her has other ideas. Between nosy relatives, school rumors, and Valentine’s Day looming, her decision to create an AI-generated fake boyfriend spirals into a situation she never could have imagined.
Enter Brooks Mason, the new catcher who just happens to look exactly like her digital creation.
What follows is classic fake-dating fun, filled with laugh-out-loud moments, swoony tension, and genuine emotional growth. I loved how the story explored identity, insecurity, and the pressure teens feel to fit into expectations. Beneath the humor is a sweet reminder that you don’t have to reinvent yourself to be worthy of love or friendship.
The romance stays clean and age-appropriate, making this a perfect read for ages 12–18. It’s wholesome, charming, and full of baseball energy and bookish charm.
If you enjoy fake dating tropes, strong teen voices, and sweet romance with heart, this one is a home run. ⚾📚
February 24, 2026
Kudos to this mother-daughter team for a book with a fun and relevant premise and the perfect YA execution. Brielle's over-the-top first person voice was very high school, cute, and hysterical. I loved her tight bond with her brother and her love and respect for both of her parents, even through her tantrums. Brooks was a great hero, albeit a high school boy who was clueless at how to handle relationships (even a fake one). He had a tender heart that hurt every time his parents argued and had a driven dedication to baseball that was nice to see in a teenager. I loved learning more about high school baseball and its culture through Brooks and Brielle's older brother Reece.
It's a quick read that will have you doubling over in laughter and rooting for Brielle and Brooks to make their relationship status real. There was a nice faith thread woven into the story and Brielle's dad was an awesome role model (even if a little scary).
I received a complimentary copy courtesy of JustRead Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.
It's a quick read that will have you doubling over in laughter and rooting for Brielle and Brooks to make their relationship status real. There was a nice faith thread woven into the story and Brielle's dad was an awesome role model (even if a little scary).
I received a complimentary copy courtesy of JustRead Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.
March 7, 2026
This is a laugh-out-loud funny story! The main teen characters are so sweet and mature; they care for others and truly enjoy their friends and family. They have their passions (baseball and reading), and they're confident, not looking for approval from others. At least they try not to. There's definitely some teenage angst and high school drama, which is what drives the MFC to create a fake boyfriend!
I like how family and faith are an important part of these teens' lives. I suppose for a teen, this story might be considered swoony, but I am too old to judge that ha! It's a wonderful, clean, no spice, YA novel! I highly recommend Love and Baseball to all the tween and teen girls! And there's a second book on the way, so we will revisit some of the characters!
I like how family and faith are an important part of these teens' lives. I suppose for a teen, this story might be considered swoony, but I am too old to judge that ha! It's a wonderful, clean, no spice, YA novel! I highly recommend Love and Baseball to all the tween and teen girls! And there's a second book on the way, so we will revisit some of the characters!
June 3, 2026
What a cute ya romance. Sweet and fun. Fake dating? Check. Meet cute? Check?
I wasn't sure what I was expecting going into this from the queen of creepy mysteries, but I loved it! No doubt Chloe left a great impression on the storyline. 4.5⭐
I wasn't sure what I was expecting going into this from the queen of creepy mysteries, but I loved it! No doubt Chloe left a great impression on the storyline. 4.5⭐
March 3, 2026
A cute, clean, teen rom-com with a modern twist on the fake-dating trope.
Brielle finds herself caught up in a relationship inspired by AI, but when her made up boyfriend turns out to be real. Brooks Mason is new to town, just moved from Minnesota, hoping to snag a starting spot on the school baseball team, and definitely not looking for love.
A fun, upbeat read, with a engaging plot, hilarious situations, and a cute fake-dating trope. I really liked how Brielle has a caring father, who deeply cares about her safety. She is also close with her brother, and her best friend Lia. I liked how we see them bonding as friends, and how we get to see Brooks and get to see what his home life is, and his hopes and dreams.
A quick read, with great interaction, relationship building, and threads of faith. Heartwarming, cute, and hard to put down. Definitely one that will bring a smile to your face.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Brielle finds herself caught up in a relationship inspired by AI, but when her made up boyfriend turns out to be real. Brooks Mason is new to town, just moved from Minnesota, hoping to snag a starting spot on the school baseball team, and definitely not looking for love.
A fun, upbeat read, with a engaging plot, hilarious situations, and a cute fake-dating trope. I really liked how Brielle has a caring father, who deeply cares about her safety. She is also close with her brother, and her best friend Lia. I liked how we see them bonding as friends, and how we get to see Brooks and get to see what his home life is, and his hopes and dreams.
A quick read, with great interaction, relationship building, and threads of faith. Heartwarming, cute, and hard to put down. Definitely one that will bring a smile to your face.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
March 2, 2026
As a longtime reader of Jaime Jo’s stories, when I heard about this project, I was immediately intrigued. She cowrote this with her teenage daughter and it’s about a baseball loving FMC. As a major baseball fan myself, I was all in for this story. It’s super cute and a great read for younger readers. I really liked the lessons writtten in to the storyline and I think Jaime and Chloe handled the issues Brielle and Brooks are dealing with really well. Being a teenager is hard and this story felt very natural and spot on for teenagers in today’s world. I loved that its a completely clean read and one young people can read, enjoy and identify with. I pre-ordered my own e-book copy and I am so glad I did!
I received a copy of this book from JustRead Tours and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
I received a copy of this book from JustRead Tours and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
February 4, 2026
Love and Baseball by Jaime Jo Wright
A Christian Young Adult Rom-Com
Release date: February 10th
My review:
This was such a fun story with some awesome themes surrounding integrity and character during the high school years. This is not Jaime Jo Wright’s typical story, but still has all the elements of her amazing writing and strong Christian themes. I appreciated the realistic portrayal of the teen characters conflicts, while also being able to show a lot of biblical values without being overly critical/preachy. I think a lot of teens will appreciate this style of storytelling! Another thing I loved was the witty dialogue and comedic moments! And the Pride and Prejudice references! If your teen enjoys lighthearted romantic comedies, this is the perfect story. If your teen enjoys something more suspenseful and gothic, check out Wright’s other titles!!🤪
Violence: none
Language: none, (but, a few mentions of “oh gosh”)
💕Romance: focuses on friendship and what the foundation of a relationship should look like, one non-descriptive kiss at the end. It’s very sweet and totally appropriate for YA.
My age rating: 14+
The main characters are 16, so girls at that age may enjoy it more.
How well this book fits my YA book guidelines(listed on my website, SydneySchmiedbooks.com)
10/10
I received an early copy from the author to read and review.
A Christian Young Adult Rom-Com
Release date: February 10th
My review:
This was such a fun story with some awesome themes surrounding integrity and character during the high school years. This is not Jaime Jo Wright’s typical story, but still has all the elements of her amazing writing and strong Christian themes. I appreciated the realistic portrayal of the teen characters conflicts, while also being able to show a lot of biblical values without being overly critical/preachy. I think a lot of teens will appreciate this style of storytelling! Another thing I loved was the witty dialogue and comedic moments! And the Pride and Prejudice references! If your teen enjoys lighthearted romantic comedies, this is the perfect story. If your teen enjoys something more suspenseful and gothic, check out Wright’s other titles!!🤪
Violence: none
Language: none, (but, a few mentions of “oh gosh”)
💕Romance: focuses on friendship and what the foundation of a relationship should look like, one non-descriptive kiss at the end. It’s very sweet and totally appropriate for YA.
My age rating: 14+
The main characters are 16, so girls at that age may enjoy it more.
How well this book fits my YA book guidelines(listed on my website, SydneySchmiedbooks.com)
10/10
I received an early copy from the author to read and review.
February 8, 2026
Love and Baseball is such a good read. It was funny and had me smiling and giggling from the very beginning.
At the same time, this story tugged at my heart. It takes you back to your teenage years—the pressure to meet expectations, the struggle of feeling misunderstood, and the pain of wanting to feel truly seen and loved by your parents. Those moments felt very real and relatable.
What I loved most was how Jaime wove faith into the story. God is present in a way that feels natural and meaningful, especially for Christian teens. The message is encouraging without being overwhelming, making it a beautiful and accessible faith-filled read.
I received an ARC copy from the author and was not required to leave a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
At the same time, this story tugged at my heart. It takes you back to your teenage years—the pressure to meet expectations, the struggle of feeling misunderstood, and the pain of wanting to feel truly seen and loved by your parents. Those moments felt very real and relatable.
What I loved most was how Jaime wove faith into the story. God is present in a way that feels natural and meaningful, especially for Christian teens. The message is encouraging without being overwhelming, making it a beautiful and accessible faith-filled read.
I received an ARC copy from the author and was not required to leave a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 7, 2026
An AI boyfriend.
What could possibly go wrong? A lot according to this writing duo!
Brielle has a good head on her shoulders and knows herself very well. But she is so
tired of being told she needs a boyfriend.
Inspiration strikes and voila—she creates her ideal match, photos and all! As an added bonus, he’s a catcher for his high school baseball team.
The only sport bookish Brielle understands or enjoys. Her friends are convinced. Her crazy aunts (whom I LOVE!) are sold on it. Life is good.
Brooks is having a bummer of a year. His mom doesn’t like the weather in Minnesota ❄️ so his dad takes a job in the warm, sunny climate of—wait for it—Wisconsin.
His position of starting catcher and his dream of playing in the minor league is hanging on by a thread. But when he befriends the star player and captain of the baseball team there’s a chance.
Unfortunately, his new bruh is Brielle’s brother. Brielle, the girl with the AI guy…who’s named Brooks, who is a catcher like Brooks, and who looks just like Brooks.
Let the hilarity ensue! By the end of the book you’ll be asking for more YA romcoms like this one. A treat for lovers of clean romance with a twist for sure!
I received an advance copy from the publisher. I’m under no obligation and my review has not been solicited. Recommend!
What could possibly go wrong? A lot according to this writing duo!
Brielle has a good head on her shoulders and knows herself very well. But she is so
tired of being told she needs a boyfriend.
Inspiration strikes and voila—she creates her ideal match, photos and all! As an added bonus, he’s a catcher for his high school baseball team.
The only sport bookish Brielle understands or enjoys. Her friends are convinced. Her crazy aunts (whom I LOVE!) are sold on it. Life is good.
Brooks is having a bummer of a year. His mom doesn’t like the weather in Minnesota ❄️ so his dad takes a job in the warm, sunny climate of—wait for it—Wisconsin.
His position of starting catcher and his dream of playing in the minor league is hanging on by a thread. But when he befriends the star player and captain of the baseball team there’s a chance.
Unfortunately, his new bruh is Brielle’s brother. Brielle, the girl with the AI guy…who’s named Brooks, who is a catcher like Brooks, and who looks just like Brooks.
Let the hilarity ensue! By the end of the book you’ll be asking for more YA romcoms like this one. A treat for lovers of clean romance with a twist for sure!
I received an advance copy from the publisher. I’m under no obligation and my review has not been solicited. Recommend!
Read
February 19, 2026If you're looking for a sweet and clean YA romance for a teen, this is a good offering! But if you're a Jaime Jo Wright fan looking for her writing in a different genre, particularly if you're not a teen, this may not be for you. This book feels it's written very much in the headspace of a modern teen, and while it does have some decent character development, I personally would have liked to have seen it go through another couple rounds of edits for further sharpened prose and even more story development. But if you have a teen reader who goes through books faster than you skim them and you want to hand them something without fear of content, this is one you can trust in that regard!
February 10, 2026
My 12 yo’s thoughts:
It was amazing! Brooks was my favorite character because he was so chill and not over dramatic. I liked Brooks’ nicknames for Brielle. I really liked that they had something in common, liking baseball so much. And I liked that Brielle made Brooks read a book. I also really liked Lia and that she was always there in Brielle’s pocket. I recommend this book for anyone who likes baseball or books.
My thoughts:
Firstly, every time my daughter returned my kindle to me after reading this book she had a HUGE smile on her face.
“You’d better be telling me the truth, Shortstop,” he muttered. “I can honestly say, I’m being one-hundred percent honest,” I breathed.
What a fantastic clean YA appropriate fake-dating story! I loved that there was a focus on integrity even when in high school. I enjoyed the Christian faith and emphasis on biblical standards without being preachy. I appreciated the focus of friendship and it being the foundation of a relationship.
Brielle loves romance books and baseball. What a combo! She is quirky and fun. I loved all her comments about Pride & Prejudice. Brooks lives and breathes baseball. He is kind and truly cares. He gives Brielle a nickname and forehead kisses, y’all! It was so sweet.
Brielle and Brooks were realistic characters that faced real teen challenges and personal struggles. I enjoyed their witty dialogue and a few moments had me snickering. This is a fantastic book for teens/YA looking for a clean, lighthearted, romantic comedy, highly recommend.
A few more quotes:
“It’s like a fairy tale come true. And that video from last night? It makes you look like—like Flynn Ryder from Tangled. Cute, considerate, playful, and all mine.” “I’m not all yours,” I said quickly. “I know. Hence our problem.” Brielle mashed her lips together and glared at me. “Everyone thinks we are a walking romance novel come to life.”
“Approach ball like you approach life. You go at it straight, confident, and honest. God will take you the rest of the way, and where you end up, well, that’s His decision. You just do your best.”
This ARC was provided by the author. I was not required to give a positive review, rating and opinions are my own.
It was amazing! Brooks was my favorite character because he was so chill and not over dramatic. I liked Brooks’ nicknames for Brielle. I really liked that they had something in common, liking baseball so much. And I liked that Brielle made Brooks read a book. I also really liked Lia and that she was always there in Brielle’s pocket. I recommend this book for anyone who likes baseball or books.
My thoughts:
Firstly, every time my daughter returned my kindle to me after reading this book she had a HUGE smile on her face.
“You’d better be telling me the truth, Shortstop,” he muttered. “I can honestly say, I’m being one-hundred percent honest,” I breathed.
What a fantastic clean YA appropriate fake-dating story! I loved that there was a focus on integrity even when in high school. I enjoyed the Christian faith and emphasis on biblical standards without being preachy. I appreciated the focus of friendship and it being the foundation of a relationship.
Brielle loves romance books and baseball. What a combo! She is quirky and fun. I loved all her comments about Pride & Prejudice. Brooks lives and breathes baseball. He is kind and truly cares. He gives Brielle a nickname and forehead kisses, y’all! It was so sweet.
Brielle and Brooks were realistic characters that faced real teen challenges and personal struggles. I enjoyed their witty dialogue and a few moments had me snickering. This is a fantastic book for teens/YA looking for a clean, lighthearted, romantic comedy, highly recommend.
A few more quotes:
“It’s like a fairy tale come true. And that video from last night? It makes you look like—like Flynn Ryder from Tangled. Cute, considerate, playful, and all mine.” “I’m not all yours,” I said quickly. “I know. Hence our problem.” Brielle mashed her lips together and glared at me. “Everyone thinks we are a walking romance novel come to life.”
“Approach ball like you approach life. You go at it straight, confident, and honest. God will take you the rest of the way, and where you end up, well, that’s His decision. You just do your best.”
This ARC was provided by the author. I was not required to give a positive review, rating and opinions are my own.
March 21, 2026
Such a cute rom com. I would definitely recommend for an adult palette cleanser and to teens for a cute romance! 🥰
February 26, 2026
Super fun YA novel that is simultaneously cute and deep! Handles topics like honesty, integrity, dating, and peer pressure in a current environment + has a bookish heroine & baseball star hero. No spice or language, an all-clear novel for a teen to enjoy!
March 7, 2026
This YA romcom is a grand slam home run! I loved the premise of the book. Brielle is tired of her friends and aunts hounding her about having a boyfriend! So she has AI create one and then bam! One day, a new student shows up, with the same name and the same looks as her AI boyfriend! I loved the entire story! From the frantic decision making to more and more lies…would Brielle and Brooks ever figure out how they actually felt and do the right thing?
Wright does a great job navigating a teen’s mind and emotions all while gently weaving in Christian themes. I loved every single second of this story!!! The pace was spot on and everything flowed just right. This is a must read for YA fans, sports romance fans, or Christian fiction fans! I received a copy of this book for free; all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Wright does a great job navigating a teen’s mind and emotions all while gently weaving in Christian themes. I loved every single second of this story!!! The pace was spot on and everything flowed just right. This is a must read for YA fans, sports romance fans, or Christian fiction fans! I received a copy of this book for free; all thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 28, 2026
“Love and Baseball” is a fun baseball YA romance book. I thought the author did a good job of emphasizing small pearls of wisdom and things that we can all learn from. I thought the book was going to be more predictable but I was wrong and was surprised by some of the turns it took. I enjoyed this book and storyline. It is crazy to think how AI really can do so much now days. Brielle and Brooks made a cute couple. There were some moments I was annoyed with how much Brielle was constantly on her phone and some comments she made. I thought there was some valuable lessons that she learned. Overall, a sweet book for all to read.
“I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.”
“I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.”
May 4, 2026
1.5⭐️, I think it was entertaining to read at some points but also painful since I can’t handle romance and was cringing a lot, not dissing on the author I just don’t like this genre. Brielle is also a very stereotypical romance fmc.
March 4, 2026
What a great YA Romance! This book is a refreshing choice for teenage readers. It is clean, faith-filled, and just plain fun. It is a smart rom-com that I enjoyed from start to finish as a 50 year old reader. I laughed out loud so many times my family thought I’d lost it. Hey, I still remember high school!! I highly recommend it and I hope Jaime Jo Write and Chloe JoAnne continue this venture if clean, Christian, YA books.
February 16, 2026
a sweet story with lots of heart!
This is a sweet high school, first-love kind of story. An excellent example of the importance of being honest, not only with yourself, but with others. A perfect story to share with the young teenagers in your life! I purchased a copy for my nieces.
This is a sweet high school, first-love kind of story. An excellent example of the importance of being honest, not only with yourself, but with others. A perfect story to share with the young teenagers in your life! I purchased a copy for my nieces.
February 11, 2026
Baseball MMC
Bookish FMC
Teen romance
Character growth
Faith elements
This is a cute young adult romance. Brooks and Brielle’s story is filled with character growth, teen angst, and age appropriate romance, making it the perfect pick for readers looking for a clean YA love story. It’s a sweet, feel good read that captures first love in a way that feels genuine, tender, and easy to root for from start to finish.
I didn’t love all of the parenting decisions, but I appreciated the closeness of Brielle’s family. I look forward to recommending this book to my daughter one day!
Content Warnings:
-1 kiss near the end
-no language
*Thank you to the authors for a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
Bookish FMC
Teen romance
Character growth
Faith elements
This is a cute young adult romance. Brooks and Brielle’s story is filled with character growth, teen angst, and age appropriate romance, making it the perfect pick for readers looking for a clean YA love story. It’s a sweet, feel good read that captures first love in a way that feels genuine, tender, and easy to root for from start to finish.
I didn’t love all of the parenting decisions, but I appreciated the closeness of Brielle’s family. I look forward to recommending this book to my daughter one day!
Content Warnings:
-1 kiss near the end
-no language
*Thank you to the authors for a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
February 10, 2026
Not the normal Jaime Jo Wright novel but a must read for romance fans. This is an amazing sweet teen Rom-Com full of AI boyfriends, fake dating, the annoyance of social media and the problems it can cause, best friends, family, and clean romance. This YA book, with its lesson about honesty, is one teens, or adults, can read without the fear of coming across something they don't want to read. No bad language and only a sweet first kiss. I highly recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
February 7, 2026
Love & baseball was so good! It was beautifully written and so unique. I’m so honored that I got the chance to read it early. The characters were awesome I loved how Brielle talked about God and her faith. It was fun seeing Brooks relationship with Brielles family and their love for pizza and games! And obviously I loved seeing Brooks and Brielles relationship when they were pretending to date and when they were pretending not to like each other. It’s a cute clean baseball Romcom with no cussing and I highly recommend this to every romcom lover and who knows maybe you’ll have a friend who’s in your back pocket to buddy read it with because every one needs a best friend like Lia!
April 1, 2026
As a former middle school librarian, I got burnt out on cheap and trashy YA books years ago. Where are the good books that actually promoted values and healthy relationships? Where are the books for teens that are populated with normal characters and situations? What happened to storytelling being more important than checking all the political activism and cultural trend boxes?
Hallelujah, there’s a glimmer of hope!
Jaime Jo Wright and her teenage daughter Chloe JoAnne have teamed up to write a wholesome and hilarious high school rom com about baseball, AI, and complicated relationships. If there were more YA books out there like this, I wouldn’t have quit reading that genre!
Brielle is sick and tired of her family and friends pressuring her to get a boyfriend. She’s perfectly content with her books and baseball obsession. In a desperate attempt for some peace and quiet, she uses AI to create some fake pictures of a “boyfriend” she met on vacation named Brooks Mason. Her family and friends buy her story, but her genius plan goes awry when baseball athlete Brooks Mason transfers to her high school - and he is the spitting image of her AI boyfriend.
Pros: I was surprised at how much I liked this book. I was laughing out loud for page after page and ended up binge reading most of it. Aside from the rom-com humor, the thing I appreciated the most about this book was how healthy it was. The book subtly addressed authenticity, healthy relationships, and different family dynamics. There was no smut, language, or disrespect of authority. It was a book you could safely give to kids while knowing they would walk away, not just entertained, but with a model of healthy teen living.
Cons: I’m still not going to read YA books, but if Jaime Jo and Chloe JoAnne write another book, I’ll read it.
The Bottom Line: At last, an authentic and healthy YA rom-com!
Hallelujah, there’s a glimmer of hope!
Jaime Jo Wright and her teenage daughter Chloe JoAnne have teamed up to write a wholesome and hilarious high school rom com about baseball, AI, and complicated relationships. If there were more YA books out there like this, I wouldn’t have quit reading that genre!
Brielle is sick and tired of her family and friends pressuring her to get a boyfriend. She’s perfectly content with her books and baseball obsession. In a desperate attempt for some peace and quiet, she uses AI to create some fake pictures of a “boyfriend” she met on vacation named Brooks Mason. Her family and friends buy her story, but her genius plan goes awry when baseball athlete Brooks Mason transfers to her high school - and he is the spitting image of her AI boyfriend.
Pros: I was surprised at how much I liked this book. I was laughing out loud for page after page and ended up binge reading most of it. Aside from the rom-com humor, the thing I appreciated the most about this book was how healthy it was. The book subtly addressed authenticity, healthy relationships, and different family dynamics. There was no smut, language, or disrespect of authority. It was a book you could safely give to kids while knowing they would walk away, not just entertained, but with a model of healthy teen living.
Cons: I’m still not going to read YA books, but if Jaime Jo and Chloe JoAnne write another book, I’ll read it.
The Bottom Line: At last, an authentic and healthy YA rom-com!
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May 11, 2026Overall an enjoyable book! As a teenager who loves fun clean romcoms this was definitely entertaining. The characters were funny and engaging.
Brookes was a very sweet steady guy which I liked and Brielle was really funny. I thought Brielle and lias friendship was super sweet and funny especially as someone who has long distance best friends.
The main thing that bothered me was that there were allot of side plots that didn’t always feel realistic or completely necessary. The main plot was exciting enough that it didn’t need all the extra things to make it interesting.
Something else that bothered me a little bit was that allot more seemed to happen in the characters heads then actually on the page. We hear about all of there feelings and emotions about things without seeing it there actions. This made the story feel sorta distant. But with that said I still really enjoyed! Reading this while sitting on a pool float on a hot day was so relaxing. Definitely recommend this book to young romance readers!
Brookes was a very sweet steady guy which I liked and Brielle was really funny. I thought Brielle and lias friendship was super sweet and funny especially as someone who has long distance best friends.
The main thing that bothered me was that there were allot of side plots that didn’t always feel realistic or completely necessary. The main plot was exciting enough that it didn’t need all the extra things to make it interesting.
Something else that bothered me a little bit was that allot more seemed to happen in the characters heads then actually on the page. We hear about all of there feelings and emotions about things without seeing it there actions. This made the story feel sorta distant. But with that said I still really enjoyed! Reading this while sitting on a pool float on a hot day was so relaxing. Definitely recommend this book to young romance readers!
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