Keeper: A Fake Dating Cricket Romance

by Anna P.

The relationship might be fake, but the feelings have always been real.

Cover and full synopsis coming soon!

Book is meant for readers 18+

Genres: Fake Dating

Kindle Edition

Published March 27, 2026

About the author

Since she was a child, Anna has lived in a world of imagination—teaching in a classroom to being an astronaut, she’s done it all.


Anna has a Masters in Creative Writing, and a love for music and writing got her jobs with Rolling Stone India and Sony Music. After a couple of years of selling her soul to advertising, she’s finally following her dream of writing books.


Currently living in South India, she rocks out to Foo Fighters and reads 300 romance novels a year. She works as a copy consultant and book editor, while sipping on copious amounts of black tea.

Reviews

[Readwithtaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is it that time again already? Anna, here we are once again, me publicly declaring my undying love for your books. The arrangement is math simple but perfect: you write, & I read. Period.

Setting Anna’s writing aside because there’s no debate about how phenomenal it is, what gets me every single time is how I completely sink into her stories & how real her characters feel. They aren’t polished or idealized; they’re layered, flawed, & painfully human. You don’t just read about them, you recognize yourself in them. In their insecurities, their buried trauma, the injustice & unfairness life throws their way; there’s always something that hits a little too close to home.
 
This story is tender & intense all at once. It explores love, but also the delicate weight of timing, healing, & learning how to show up for yourself the way you do for others. And yes, we get all the gist of a fake dating arrangement, but there is absolutely nothing fake about the feelings.

Because this man! Varun has always been her safe place. He’s the classic “puts everyone else first” type, major older brother energy, always carrying the weight of others often at the expense of himself. Being inside his head was an experience on its own. The internal monologues? The quiet yearning? The way he’s so deeply, secretly gone for her? Obsessed. Soft, selfless, & completely in love in that unspoken, steady kind of way that just sneaks up on you.

And Kaia? An ironclad exterior protecting a deeply vulnerable soul. Tough because she has to be, soft because it’s who she is. She’s messy, outspoken, resilient, emotional, strong & every bit of that is valid.

Also, HE MADE HER A VIDEO GAME! I’m sorry, what do you even do with that level of devotion??

What I loved most is how balanced they felt. This wasn’t one-sided. They both gave & they both needed. When she broke down, he was there. And in return, she gave him something just as important: no judgment. Just quiet permission to finally choose himself for once.

I can just go on forever & still not run out of things to say!

They say “absence makes the heart grow fonder,” but honestly, waiting for the next book might actually be my villain origin story. But it’s fine. I’m in this for the long haul.

Thank you to the author for an ARC of this book!

[Melanie Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s pub day for KEEPER by one d my favs @annawriteshere 🥳🥳 two of my favs (trouble Rooney aka Varun and Kaia) are officially out in the world and I’m so excited!

I truly adore this book. Anna touches on some tough topics, but does so in such an authentic, real and honest way. Kaia and Varun are perfect for each other, and the way they both help each other overcome things in their pasts and push each other to be who they want and do what they need to do to be happy, it’s so heartwarming! This book also has such a tight knit found family and I adoreee that so so much! Also? These two are HAWTTTT ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥 and the steamy scenes are EXTRA SPICY 🥵 🔥🔥🥵

If you enjoy found family, brothers best friend and a spicyyy yet sweet and funny story, I urge you to pick this one up NOW! It’s available everywhere books are sold (Kobo/Kobo+, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, Apple Books, Smashwords & more)

I have really of Anna’s books, and tbh, they just keep getting better and better! KEEPER is book three in her Love League series. They are interconnected standalone, but I highly recommend starting with book one (Stumped) and then book two (Rebound)! I am so pumped for the next book!

[Keshia B · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC from Anna P. and these are my honest thoughts.

I love everything Anna writes, and she has done it again with Keeper. This fake-dating, best friend's older brother cricket romance set in South India had me in a chokehold from start to finish, and I honestly think it broke me a little (in the best possible way). The third book in the Love League series is absolute perfection and then some.

Let's talk about Varun Thomas, "Roone", because he is everything. Broody yet sunshiney, nerdy video game developer with a fiercely protective heart. Quietly pining for years, never overstepping, just...waiting. He is the kind of MMC that ruins you for other fictional men. He's intelligent, warm, kinky, and so deeply loyal that every scene he was in made my chest ache. Anna wrote him with such precision, he's not broody in a cold or cruel way, he's broody in the I have been holding so much tenderness for you and I don't know what to do with it way. Dream man unlocked.

Kaia Phillips is equally important, she's the "bad girl" of Indian women's cricket, talented, fierce, complicated. She's navigating one of the lowest points of her life as she's stripped of her captaincy, suspended, and watching her life crumble. What I love about Kaia is that her flaws and struggles do not make her unlikable, it makes her human.

The fake dating setup is perfect. The staged public appearances, the friendly flirting that is definitely not just friendly, Anna executed the slow-burn tension so well it physically hurt. Every almost-moment, every loaded glance, every time they got close and then didn't, I was losing my mind. And when the tension finally does explode...whew! The intimacy between these two is passionate and deeply kinky in a way that never feels gratuitous, because underneath it all, you can feel how much they care for each other.

What elevates Keeper beyond a great romance into something genuinely moving is how Anna handles their pasts. Both Varun and Kaia carry trauma that shaped them and made them guard themselves, and those wounds don't just disappear when they fall in love. They come back and threaten everything, but the book's answer to that isn't a lone hero journey; it's community. Leaning on each other and their found family. There is something so beautiful about a romance that says you don't have to heal alone. The found family and friend group in this series are incredible.

If you love your MMC pining hard, your FMC flawed and fearless, your tension slow and your payoff steamy, and emotional honesty that wrecks you (in a good way), Keeper is your book. Anna has done it again, delivering a romance with real heat, real heart, and real stakes. She is an auto-buy author for me and this book is exactly why. Pick it up immediately.

[Camryn Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

۶ৎ 𝙆𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙮 𝘼𝙣𝙣𝙖 𝙋.

#arcreview

ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ★★★★★


Tropes- fake dating, mutual pining, age gap, brother’s bestfriend, found family, slow burn, one bed, she’s a cricketer, set in South Indian, kinky!

—


This is my first Anna book and whewww it did not disappoint, I usually have a hard time with slow burns but this was incredible the pacing was amazing and I was so sucked into the story I didn’t even realize I was about half way done when I finally put my kindle down. Kaia and Varun are such great characters and both deserve the world!

Kaia my sweet girl I love her so much, everyone thinks she’s the “bad girl” of the Indians women cricket but she’s not I swearrr she’s my shayla! She’s such an important character to me, she’s so complex but fierce. Kaia is going through a lot with being suspended from the team and her trying to navigate her life while it’s going down the hill. I would literally do anything for kaia honestly

The slow burn was just what they needed honestly. These two are just so amazing together and their story is just so emotional and beautiful I loved it so much. Kaia and Varun pasts are not pretty so please check TW! I’m definitely going to go back to the beginning of the series cause this book was just amazing and I want more

Varun aka Roone is absolutely my freaking man I love him real bad and he deserves the world after everything he went through. He’s not your typical grump he’s also a really sweet and nice and quiet person plus very intelligent he’s just everything you would want in a mmc!

This book was just amazing I laughed, cried, screamed and definitely was fanning myself cause the spice!? Um yesss pls, had me giggling and twirling my hair. But the love between them is so strong and incredible like no other. I love them real bad both of their stories were so moving it pulled me in. The found family aspect of it was also amazing I can’t wait to read the other stories and for more of the series.




Thank You So Much for giving me this incredible arc !💐🖤

[Shalini Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before I begin, I should mention that I’m not usually into sports romance. So everything I felt while reading this book was very real and unexpected. Okay, let’s begin, shall we?

This was my first book by this author, and despite it being a sports romance, I absolutely loved it.

The moment our MMC, Varun, made his appearance, I was already sold. There isn’t a single thing I can say I didn’t like about him. I loved the way he took care of Kaia, our FMC, even before they were in a relationship. He is such a beautiful person—with beautiful words and even more beautiful actions. The way he did everything to make sure Kaia felt as special as she truly is was heartwarming. He is a walking green flag, and I genuinely don’t think anyone could dislike him. That’s how good he is.

And did I mention Varun’s family? No? Because they deserve their own paragraph. They were a group of people I couldn’t stop smiling while reading about. The way they supported not only Varun but Kaia as well… it felt so wholesome. They loved their children like treasures. They were friendly, funny, and some of the most amazing fictional people I’ve ever read about. I smiled, laughed, and cried while reading this book because it’s so full of emotions, written in the most heartfelt way.

Now let’s talk about Kaia—the woman I cherished the most. Despite having so many haters and difficulties in her life, she always stood up for herself. She was strong, witty, sassy, and also emotional (which is completely normal when facing hardships). But what I admired most was how well she dealt with her struggles. Varun and Vikram (Varun’s brother) supported her beautifully throughout.

One of the most beautiful things about this book is that it doesn’t revolve only around the main couple. It gives us meaningful snippets of the bonds they share with others, and the supporting characters were written incredibly well.

Thank you so much, @annawriteshere, for sending me the eARC!

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some love stories start sweet…

This one starts like a storm waiting to destroy everything.

Keeper: A fake dating cricket romance pulled me straight into a world of scandal, tension, and dangerously addictive chemistry. Kaia Philip is the kind of heroine I live for!! She’s fierce, reckless, and unapologetically messy. She’s the “bad girl” of cricket whose reputation is burning down around her. When her career begins to crumble, she agrees to the one thing that might save her image: a fake relationship.

Enter Varun…Mr hottie tottie 😍

He is quiet , controlled and devastatingly intense 🔥 I immediately had the hots for him!!! It just so happens he’s the one man Kaia absolutely should not want…but absolutely desires because years ago they shared a night neither of them ever forgot!!

What starts as a carefully staged fake romance quickly turns into something far more dangerous. Every stolen glance, every lingering touch, every moment between them feels like it’s about to ignite. The tension between Kaia and Varun is slow, electric, and painfully addictive…Like confess your love already and let down your hair Rapunzel!!!!

This book has everything I crave in a romance:
✨ fake dating that feels way too real🫣
✨ a broody, protective hero 🥵
✨ a fearless, chaotic heroine 👑
✨ emotional wounds that cut deep 😭
✨ and chemistry so intense it practically burns the pages🔥🔥

Beneath the heat and the scandal is a story about redemption, vulnerability, and choosing love even when the world is watching you fall apart.

Anna P. created a romance that feels raw, messy, and intoxicating!! It’s the kind that lingers in your chest long after the last page.
Thank you for allowing me to read your amazing work!! It’s a story I will forever love and characters I’ll forever feel grateful for meeting💜💜

If you love sports romance with slow-burn tension, and dark emotional depth, this one is for you and it will completely consume you.

[Lyssa J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for an arc!

This is the third book in an interconnected series set in South India. I haven’t read the other two currently out, but this book has made me want to go back and see more about these two and the other characters.

This book follows Kaia and Varun who’ve known each other for a long time and have shared fleeting moments and a night together, but Kaia’s best friend is Varun’s brother, so it never went anywhere serious.

Kaia has a harsh reputation as cricket player but she’s really a softy. As we get more into her internal dialogue, it’s clear she’s been misrepresented by media outlets because she speaks her mind, which in this case was clapping back at misogynistic journalists and calling out the discrepancies between how men’s and women’s cricket is received.

Varun is broody, but he’s got a soft spot for those he loves. He’s got a big family that he cares for deeply and is trying to keep true to himself in his career as a game developer while also meeting his boss’s demands.

Kaia and Varun both have full backstories that have led them into being the people they are today and have come back to haunt them as the story goes on. They have both been through abusive situations, so check your triggers.

I really enjoyed this book! Varun and Kaia’s relationship is full of chemistry and longing, but they’re also supportive of each other’s goals and are each other’s safe spaces. I believed in their love for each other.

I also really enjoyed Varun’s family. They were all distinct with different personalities and I loved the dynamics they all had with each other.

This book is spiccyy, but it’s a slower burn. It did drag on for me near the end, but I understand why it was all included.

Read for:
🏏 Sports romance (cricket)
🏏 Fake dating
🏏 Best Friend’s Brother
🏏 Spicy
🏏 Mutual pining
🏏 Found family vibes

Review: https://ihavetosay.blog/2026/03/29/ke...
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lyssa_posts_

[Vee G · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have admired Varun since he first appeared in Stumped. He checked all the boxes, and then some more. I was so excited for his story and, oh GOD! he totally swept me off my feet. Everything about him—the way he does things, what he does, his actions, his words—it’s impossible not to love him. I loved his relationships with his siblings, his parents, his friends, and Kaia. The genuineness and thoughtfulness with which he does everything made my heart so full. There is definitely something maddening about a big, broody man being soft with the people he cares about—especially with babies. Varun with Susannah was EVERYTHING! Kaia’s reaction to it was exactly how I would have reacted too. Rooney made me swoony 🙌🏽

And KAIA… damn, I love her! It was so satisfying to watch her put people in their place, even when it got her into trouble. Her speaking her mind and standing by what she believes in is something I truly admire. Her being a total BADASS and standing up for herself—mad respect. I’m all about women breaking “norms,” and seeing Kaia not let anyone get in the way of what she wants to do was so fun to watch. I’m so glad she found her people and the love she deserves. The found-family aspect of the story was so, so touching. What I wouldn’t give to be a part of it 😮‍💨

Her and Varun’s relationship felt incredibly comforting—the way they were both fighting their own demons and found a safe space in each other 😭 The way they were both hurt in past and were always shielding the other from everything. Those vulnerable moments, those fake dates where not a single moment felt fake, and those raw, real, honest conversations were so special. I LOVE THEM.

I really liked the side characters and I definitely wish to see more of them. and OMG- I got a big spoiler for next book MCs! I am so excited for them. AH! <3

[Jessi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Anna for an ARC of this book!

MEET OUR BROOD AND SAVIOR VARUN ZACHARIAH THOMAS. The softest man to ever exist and I'd like to share a pillow wall with him only to obliterate it and use him as a pillow instead. 🤭 But in all seriousness, he's been through so much and WE MUST PROTECT HIM AT ALL COSTS. The way he looks after his people so instinctively while trying to protect them from his own wounds made me want to grab the man and wrap him in the biggest hug... I'd like to grab him for other things but that's neither nor there. 😆 He did go to therapy tho and I so appreciated seeing this on-page bc it was the one thing he did for himself and damn, what an important thing it was. To watch him work through, struggle, and overcome his trauma was worth every second.

And QUEEN KAIA PHILIP. She was the best thing for him. She's loud, proud, and NO ONE puts her in a corner. Hear that Harish? FAFO, asshole! *deep breaths* Basically, she's a badass who's still soft and fits perfectly with our Varun... or rather he fits in her. Aye-o! High five? No? Okay, moving on. 😂 But I really do mean it when I say I love her. I love that she doesn't shy away from being herself, and that she says what she means and means what she says. And unfortunately, the world is rarely kind to women like her and I so loved seeing her find her people and support bc SHE DESERVES TO BE LIFTED, NOT TORN DOWN. And Varun is always happy to lift her. IYKYK. 😉

These two together make our perfect TroubleRooney. Soft and cute and hot and everything in between and beyond. I LOVE THEM AND IF YOU DON'T, YOU'RE WRONG.

CN: open-door romance, domestic abuse, mention of parental death, anxiety & panic attacks, media bullying & harassment, body image insecurities, feelings of worthlessness, therapy

[Ivyreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love a slow burn that actually burns, this one is going to stay with you.

The Keeper blends some of my favorite tropes—fake dating, best friend’s older brother, and sports romance (with a cricket twist!)—but what really makes it stand out is the emotional depth behind the story.

Kaia is such a refreshing female lead. She’s bold, unapologetic, and refuses to shrink herself to fit what others expect of her. As a cricket player constantly judged by the public, being told to “clean up” her image by fake dating someone adds a layer of tension that feels very real. She’s labeled as the “bad girl,” but there’s so much more to her, and watching her navigate that pressure without losing herself was incredibly empowering. 🫂❤️

And then there’s Varum… honestly, he owns my whole heart. He’s the kind of character who carries everything quietly—always putting others first, always showing up. The fact that he went to therapy and actively works on his mental health? We need more male characters like this. His love for Kaia is so soft and patient—he’s been yearning for her for so long, never crossing a line, never pushing. The detail that he made her a video game? I’m not okay. 🥹🥹🥹

This isn’t just a romance—it’s about identity, pressure, healing, and letting yourself be loved without losing who you are. 💕

If you’re into:
✨ quiet yearning
✨ emotionally mature male leads
✨ strong, “unlikable” (aka real) female characters
✨ slow burn that hurts so good

…you need to pick this up. 🩷
4.5⭐️

Thank you so much Anna P. for sending me this ARC! 💖💖

[Lauren Nesic]

read for work = no public rating

after escaping an abusive home, kaia philip builds a fierce reputation in indian cricket, but scandals and media scrutiny threaten to destroy her career. varun thomas, recovering from his own toxic past, lives a quieter life until kaia’s new agent proposes a fake relationship to repair her public image. chosen as the perfect partner, varun steps into the role despite the unresolved feelings they have carried since a secret night years earlier. as staged appearances turn into something real, old wounds and buried secrets resurface, forcing them to confront their pasts and fight for a future that might finally bring them peace.

varun was thoughtful, gentle with the people he loves, and his softer moments especially with family were some of my favorites. kaia was just as compelling, strong-willed, outspoken, and determined to stand her ground, which made it so satisfying to watch her journey. i really enjoyed their relationship and the comfort they found in each other while working through their own struggles. the found-family elements and side characters added so much depth to the story. while the book did feel a little long at times, i understood why given the depth of their backstories and it still came together as a heartfelt and engaging read.

tropes: sports romance (cricket), fake dating, second chance
triggers: abusive parent, domestic abuse, parental death, anxiety, panic attacks, only bullying, body image issues

[Petty_book_bish · Rating 4 out of 5]

The burn is slow, but once it catches there is no putting that inferno out. I went into this fully blind, with zero knowledge whatsoever of the author, cricket, or the previous stories in the series, and I still had a great time.

Kaia and Varun are the slowest of slow burns (minus that one night) and have been secretly pining for each other for YEARS. They've both been through so much, and are still dealing with the fallout of their painful pasts, but the way they support each other through everything is so beautiful. Varun is the greenest of green flags, and I love how he loves Kaia. Meanwhile Kaia is the badass I aspire to be, but also lets herself be soft and vulnerable with him.

I loved the focus on emotional support, whether it's from a partner, a therapist, or family (both found and inherited). Sometimes I felt like Kaia and Varun were a little inconsistent with how they thought about their relationship at different points, but I was still invested and absolutely dying for it by the time they finally gave in. I also would have liked a little more development with the kink side of things, just because I feel like we see so few soft/pleasure doms in books and it was a nice change. I really enjoyed reading something that felt familiar, being a sports romance, but also featured a female pro athlete and introduced me to so many cultural things I knew nothing about.

I received this as an eARC for free and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

[Birch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is clearly well thought out, from the content warnings, blurb, and to the family map, it helped me gauge if I was in the mood before diving in. The footnotes were lovely little extra tidbits of knowledge.
The author put a lot into her main characters. They underwent a thoughtfully mapped out arc and I was invested in their developement and outcomes.
The prologue hits perfectly and sets the books tone and had me hoo,ed. The exploration of power dynamics, like the misogynist reporter, are compelling. I was so ready to see how this strong woman was going to dismantle the toxic people in her life. The protagonist refuses to bend to others’ expectations. She isn’t meant to fit the mold; what makes her exceptional in her sport is her authenticity, not a façade others want to enforce.
Varun is a supportive counterpoint, the kind of partner who sees her, values her mental health, and encourages her to pursue her goals how she wants to. Varun has been through it himself and thankfully has spent a lot of time working on his own mental health.
This book has it all, sweet moments, challenges, and spice. Varun and Kaia are exceptional with each other.
Reading book 3 as me wanting ti pick up the first two books in this Love League Series.

Mental health
Fake Dating
Best Friend's Brother
Found Family
One Bed
Mutual Pining


And you know your limits, so read the author's content warnings.
I received a copy of this book from Anna P., and this is my honest review.

[Anita D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Advanced reader copy review of Keeper by Anna P.

🌟🌟🌟.5 – I really enjoyed this
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 – explicit, open door scenes (5+) including kinks

Book 3 in The Love League series does not disappoint.
In Keeper, Kaia dumps her old agent after getting dropped from her cricket team, and hires the same agent Elias uses (Elias was in Stumped). Kaia’s new agent recommends a fake dating arrangement to show India and the cricket world that she’s not just a badass. The first person who comes to mind for Kaia is Varun, her crush, one-night-stand, and her best friend’s older brother. When she asks Varun to be her PR boyfriend, he accepts without hesitation.

Kaia and Varun are so sweet together. They both have their own issues that they need to work through. I expect nothing less from Anna P., whose characters always have depth, history, and real issues.

I particularly loved how enamoured Varun was with Kaia, right from the start. He is so sweet and good and caring – not only towards Kaia, but also his family and friends.

I’m so excited to read book 4 and 5 in The Love League series. If you like a sports romance, characters with depth, and steaming hot smut, this book is for you. As at 20 March 2026, you can still preorder for about $1 USD.

Thank you Anna P for the ARC. I was not incentivised to read or review.

You should absolutely check the content warnings for this book: it contains detailed descriptions of domestic violence (female perpetrator).

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOWOWOWOWOWOWOW.

this is one of my favorite reads of the year, and my all time favorite read from Anna. As a DV survivor, the way Varun's pain and trauma was handled was flawlessly. It's not always about what the other person did to someone, it's about how it's gripping them in their present day. It's about how it's hindering them from living their day to day life to the fullest. I loved that Anna didn't give a ton of page to Sindhu and it was about Varun.

This was a lot more emotional of a book than I was anticipating, and I loved it even more for that reason. It took me longer to get through because the content matter was something I related to on a deep level, but it was handled with so much care and written beautifully.

I liked that we got a bit more cricket than we normally do of the sports. I liked seeing the romance, the personalities but also the sports that we hear so much about the MCs playing.

Varun and Kaia's chemistry truly dripped off the page. I believed that they were utterly infatuated with each other, and I was rooting for them from page one. AND THE SPICY SCENES!! ANNNNAAA. You did that!

Just overall, this is another really good read from Anna. I've never been disappointed by a book of hers, and this is no exception. Her writing is bingable, easy to read and has such a good flow to it.

The Vibes:
-Mutual Pining
-Fake Dating
-Cricketer / Game Developer
-Age Gap
-Second Chance Romance
-YEARNING
-Nicknames
-Brother's Best Friend
-Found Family

[Shica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keeper is a deeply emotional slow-burn that weaves together longing, healing, and electric chemistry into something incredibly fulfilling. With a flawlessly done fake-dating setup and a best friend’s older brother dynamic, it balances tension and tenderness effortlessly.

Varun and Kaia are two flawed people learning how to love without losing themselves. His quiet, years long devotion paired with her resilience and vulnerability creates a relationship that feels balanced, intentional, and real. Every moment between them—whether soft or intense—carries weight.

What makes this story stand out is its emotional honesty. It doesn’t rush healing or simplify trauma. Instead, it shows how love, community, and self-growth can coexist. Add in a strong found family element, meaningful character development, and a romance that truly earns its payoff, and you get a story that lingers long after it ends.

If you love pining, slow-burn tension, emotionally complex characters, and a romance that feels both intimate and grounded, Keeper delivers on every level.

[Hailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️!!

I binged this 😍 I was pretty much hooked from chapter 1, where we were introduced to our fiery fmc Kaia! She’s one strong woman and I admired her constantly throughout the book. Loved that she was doing her best to overcome patriarchy and the typical men looking down on women and our capabilities! Yet, she needed someone to ground her and take care of her…and that’s when Varun enters the chat. Dreamy, sexy, and amazing, I loved this man so much!! He is everything and more. The chemistry between him and Kaia were undeniable and beautiful 🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼
I also loved the honesty in this book, and how it tackled topics like mental health and therapy which I think is still less talked about in South Asian communities.
All in all, I really enjoyed it. I love cricket and I do agree that women’s cricket deserves to be a more watched sport!

Thank you so much to the author for providing me with an ARC. I’m leaving my review voluntarily and I’m honoured to have read Keeper 🏏

[Noom Sutaputra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keeper by Anna P. [ARC]
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶🌶
_______________________
Thank you Anna P and team for the ARC of Keeper. I had the best time reading this book. So far every book in this series is absolute bangers to me!
What I loved about this book
• Right off the bat, I freaking love Kaia. I love her! That is my kind of fmc. She takes no shit from anybody!
• Varun is such a vibe. This man is willing to help right away! He is very older brother vibe
• Yearning and longing is on point
• The comedic moment is perfect
• Found family
• Healing from past trauma
• I feel this is the heaviest book so far in this series. Please check trigger warnings
• Varun and Kaia are absolutely made for each other. I was rooting for them the entire time!
• The spice is always on point

Overall, I had the best time reading this book. I cannot wait for the rest of the books to come out. I am simply seated for this series.

[Hollie Feathers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was selected for an arc for this from the author directly!

I would give this a 4.5 stars honestly! I went into this book blind, I hadn't read books one and two of this series and after the way Rooney and trouble had me feeling throughout this I am going to be adding book 1&2 immediately!

This book will get you in your feels, make you open your eyes to things you may find difficult! Check your trigger warnings, as it's portrayed in the book mental health matters! 💚

First of all anyone know who's me that I love an age gap, but add in a pleasure dom on top of the age gap, plus the forbidden brothers best friend and I was hooked from the beginning!

I don't want to post spoilers, but these two went through hell and back to get to one another, and even if fake dating isn't one of my favorite tropes I really took a liking to this one! Thank you for allowing me to be apart your journey and I can't wait to read more of your amazing work!

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first read from Anna P., and it won’t be my last! I found Anna’s writing style easy to read and follow and from the first chapter I was intrigued by Kaia and Varun’s story and wanted to know more.

Kaia is such a relatable FMC. She takes no BS, stands up for what she believes in, and speaks her mind. But deep down she doesn’t let the public see how their rude comments affect her. Varun, our MMC, what a beautiful soul that man is. The way he takes care of everyone in his family and puts everyone ahead of himself, he is truly selfless. I mean he made her a video game based on their relationship!!

There was so much healing in this book, and I am totally here for it! Kaia and Varun both had past trauma that they went through. And together they were able to heal from it and find a path forward. They were each other’s support system and did everything for one another with no questions asked.

Kaia and Varun’s relationship was definitely a slow burn, but they went through so much healing together. Their connection was so much more than just physical it was also emotional. It was so satisfying to watch their relationship develop throughout the book and watch them heal from those past traumas.

Varun’s family is literally the best. The way that they supported Varun and Kaia’s “fake relationship” even though they could all tell that nothing about it was fake. Perfection.

Before this book, I knew absolutely nothing about cricket. But Anna did such a great job of explaining all of the relevant information about the sport throughout this book. I also enjoyed learning about South Indian culture and I appreciate the footnotes Anna placed throughout the book. It made the reading experience much more enjoyable.

Overall I enjoyed reading this book as an ARC and I’m looking forward to reading more of Anna’s books.

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keeper was a meaningful, character-driven romance that explored healing, culture, and emotional connection in a way that felt grounded and real.

Kaia and Varun’s story stood out not just because of their dynamic, but because of the layers behind it. Both characters carried past trauma, and the way the story handled abuse—on both sides—felt respectful and thoughtfully done rather than overly dramatized.

I also appreciated the cultural elements woven throughout the story. It added depth and gave me a glimpse into a world and perspective different from my own, which made the reading experience even more engaging.

What made their relationship work was the understanding between them. Varun’s consistency and presence from the beginning created a sense of stability, while Kaia’s journey felt realistic and relatable.

Overall, this was a strong, emotional read that balanced heavier themes with a meaningful romance.

⭐️ 4.5/5 | 🔥 4/5 | 🌶️ 4/5 | 💧 5/5

[Mimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first read by Anna P., and Keeper absolutely delivered.

Kaia is a fierce, resilient heroine whose life keeps throwing unexpected challenges her way, yet she refuses to stay down. Varun, on the other hand, is quietly battling his own demons while trying to hold himself together.

What truly stands out is how their relationship evolves. Their connection feels authentic, built on trust, vulnerability, and mutual respect. They give each other the space to heal, never shaming one another, and instead choosing to grow together—emotionally and physically.

Their journey is intense, raw, and ultimately hopeful. Watching them support each other through their struggles made this a compelling and satisfying read.

A great story and I’m definitely looking forward to more from Anna P.

[Tash F · Rating 3 out of 5]

To say I was excited to read a fake dating cricket romance where the famous cricketer is the FMC is an understatement. Kaia is a badass females who the cricket world treats differently purely because she has a vagina. To try and save her international cricket career she hires a new manager who recommends a fake relationship to try and change her negative image. Enter Varun, her best friend’s brother…. He is her opposite in every way. Varun is one of the two males she trust. Will this fake relationship fix her career, will they fall for each other or will it ruin their relationship as well as her besties relationship? I loved the plot, the drama, the slow burn, the age gap and spice! Preorder yours!

[Georgie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my god! Officially cemented Anna as an auto-read author for me. This is one of my favourite series ever, and this book was no exception. Kaia is my newest crush, I loved her POVs so much. Varun is the biggest cutie pie and these guys were perfect for each other. Anna is the best at immersive settings, I look forward to her footnotes explaining places, food and things both in the cricket word and South India. The chemistry was amazing as always - some of my favourite spice scenes and just them interacting generally (looking at you, Trouble Quest).
3 word summary - READ THESE BOOKS!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve loved everything I’ve ever loved by Anna and this was no exception. These characters were so genuine and complex that they felt like real people. They had flaws and problems but could work through it. I love that Anna writes realistic people that I can relate to. Varun was everything you could ask for in a MMC. Kaia was relatable and likable. I love that we got a sneak peek into the lives of the characters from the previous books.

I cannot wait for the next installment of this series.

Thank you, Anna, for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Mai | mai.readingnook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Y’all. This book. Strength in vulnerability, the tender heart beneath the tough exterior. Found family. Safe spaces, safe people. An honest portrayal of good (and working to be good) mental health practices.

Best friend’s older brother. Fake dating hence forced proximity. All the sexual tension. Safe exploration of said tension.
It’s hot, it’s sexy, it’s honest, it’s vulnerable. It’s funny, it is most of all heart-warming.

It’s simple, friends. Anna writes, I read and love. Hasn’t failed yet.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read for me. I love how the roles were switched and the FMC was the professional athlete and a bedazz one at that. I really like how Kaia and Varun relationship progressed and matured. I also really like how the author shines a light on emotional and physical pain some men have to endure and/or try to hide when they have suffered from domestic violence. As I feel like those situations get swept under a rug. All in all I feel like this was a good book and I enjoyed reading it.

[Michelle White · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the book. You have Kaia who is a strong-willed woman. She won't let anything bring her down until she gets suspended off the team. You get to see her work her way all the way back to top. Then you have Varun who is going through his own struggles, but he would do anything for Kaia. I loved reading their love story.
I have never read anything from this author or know anything about the game of cricket. I can't wait to read what else she has to write.

[Becz9966 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐

A solid sports romance with well written characters and emotional depth.

Kaia and Varun's story feels authentic and relatable. They really have a beautiful connection. Definitely a slow burn romance with tension and yearning.

I did find it a bit drawn out and repetitive in parts which had me struggling to stay engaged.

The mental health representation is excellent and handled with care. Check the triggers warnings on this one.

[Maddison Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC review

I did enjoy this book. The characters were well built and I really bought into their relationship. It was a bit too long it could’ve had like 10 less chapters especially at the end. I also hated the nickname “toots” I don’t why but it just took me out of the story so I just started skipping over that word. Overall it was pretty cute.