The Center of Attention

by Emma Miller

Leah Ashley has always been the center of attention. As the head cheerleader, party girl, coach, and big sister to all the people on her squad, she wouldn't have it any other way. Until she's forced out of the spotlight and into a hard spot that she never thought would take years to get out of. Family now out of the questions, and her whole life ahead of her, none of her choices seem to feel like the right one.

Alexander Marino has never wanted anything but a spot on a national hockey team. That, his friends, his sister, and hopefully one day a family. It's never seemed like a question to him when it comes to caring for the people he loves. Besides being the center on his hockey team, the only attention he wants is from someone who won't give it to him. But after his heart gets broken so his dreams can come true, Xander has to face the hard truth. Is loving someone worth sacrificing yourself?

When Leah and Xander meet after college to help their best friends get married, more than just questions emerge between them. Leah is learning that love can be more than a personal prison. Xander is learning that people can change, even when he didn't think they needed to in the first place. Their second chance has expired, but do third chances exist?

600 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 10, 2026

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Breezy · Rating 5 out of 5]

wowowow those that know me, know how much i love Emma’s writing (so much so, emma’s writing gave me one of my bestest friends). this book gave me that rush and happiness i got when she’d drop chapters of Cherry on wattpad. this book is truly the best thing Emma has ever written and i can’t even begin to express how excited i am for the rest of the series.

now moving into characters i LOOOVED Xander and Leah so so so so much. Leah is a complex character, think Lorelai Gilmore in a way. and Xander is a sweet guy, who really does just wanna be there.
there was a level of expectation for characters having read Emma’s previous books (which no! you don’t need to read first however i do heavily recommend it!) and Xander blew me away even more. the unconditional love between our two main characters, the support, the yearning, it was all jusy beautiful and so much better than i had ever hoped for.

please make sure to read all trigger warnings because there is some darker themes however, those themes are handled so well. it was tasteful and well thought out and i’m so very thankful for her due diligence in that. and a very big nod to adding hotlines and more information for those that may need it.

thank you Emma for the honor of reading this ARC, my life? changed.

[ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

it has been such a privilege to watch emma grow as a writer from cherry, to the spu universe, and now to the first novel in her second published series. i’m honored to have had the privilege of alpha reading the center of attention as it is emma’s greatest work yet. this story is one of raw vulnerability, of healing, and of unconditional love.

having met xander in the rules of you and me, i expected unapologetic, flirty banter. while there’s plenty of that in the center of attention, there’s also some of the most intentional, tender, and intimate moments of unconditional love i have ever read. the support system around leah and xander is the embodiment of found family. both characters from the spu universe and ones new to the playing the part series show their love for leah and xander in the most special ways. these characters are so important to me.

every minute detail of this story is so carefully crafted and strung together. this story is so special. i can’t wait for the world to read it.

🏒💗🥅 february 10th can’t come soon enough 🥅💗🏒

[Bailey · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 46%

The Center of Attention by Emma Miller is a complete mess. I had high hopes for the book and was excited to read it and I really tried to push through this one, but I couldn’t do it.

One of the biggest issues was the writing style. The dialogue tags were incredibly distracting because the characters always said the same few things like asked, admitted, and urged. The nonstop eyebrow furrowing and the crossing the arms over the chest was another thing that once I noticed it, I couldn’t unnotice. There were also just too many grammatical errors and punctuation mistakes and the overuse of — and … that were just not necessary. The writing definitely felt choppy and needs a lot of work with adding descriptive imagery and not just actions of the characters.

The story itself is really repetitive. Thoughts and interactions seemed to circle back again and again without adding any real substance to the plot. The whole first section of the book was not needed for this story to happen. A good author shouldn’t need to provide a backstory that takes ten chapters to get through to get to the main plot.

And adding on to that, the plot from what I read didn’t really make sense to me. It’s marketed as a fake dating hockey sports romance book, but halfway through the book we only see the athlete on the ice one time and we don’t get to read about him actually playing the game, just a paragraph summary of the aftermath. By the time the author established the fake dating thing I assumed we were nearing the climax of the story, but we were still at the beginning.

I think the book could have been better with more polishing. Sadly, this one just wasn’t for me. I know other readers might enjoy the drama and writing style more than I did, but I had to call it.

[Shayla Tejada · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m giving not only this book, but Emma herself five stars for the sheer satisfaction of reading this story.

I was truly honored to be chosen as an ARC reader, especially because I’ve been excited for Xander and Leah’s love story ever since meeting them in The Rules of You and Me. Emma’s attention to detail and her thoughtful handling of sensitive topics make this book such a fulfilling read. As I read, I felt like I knew the characters personally, like I was simply witnessing their story unfold in real time.

Emma has a way of fully immersing you in her characters’ thoughts and emotions, dropping you directly into their world. She does this beautifully in all of her books, but in this one especially, I appreciated how her writing added so much depth to both the characters and the plot. It made it impossible not to understand them, connect with them, and fall in love with them.

I also really appreciated the inclusion of trigger warnings for sensitive topics, as well as the playlist that helps you connect even more deeply with the characters and the story. Such a thoughtful and meaningful touch.

I love books with storytelling so vivid that I can visualize every scene, almost like I’m watching a movie as I read, and this book accomplishes that effortlessly.

Xander and Leah’s story is one of healing and unconditional love, something I deeply related to, which made this an especially personal and meaningful read for me. I can’t wait to see what Emma shares with the world next! I will always be a fan!

[Breelee Satterfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky to be chosen as an ARC reader for this book!

If you enjoy all things pink, golden retriever MMC’s, found families and a sports romance with a deep heartfelt storyline to go with it, this book is the one for you! Leah and Xander are just two of those people you want to root for. Throughout this entire book all I could think about was how deserving of a happy ending these two were. Emma did this couple complete justice and had me so entwined with these characters that when I read along, reality blurred. Emma excelled in not only keeping us interested in this story but also eloquently spoke through real world issues that many of us face day to day. Reading this story I resonated with Leah on so many levels. Watching her story play out and seeing others, and eventually herself, believe that she is capable of receiving and giving love under her hardened exterior hit close to home. I can’t wait to see what else comes from this series! This won’t be a read you regret. As always, check the TW’s before reading

[MaKayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

✩✩✩✩.5

“I swear on us.” pinch me

Emma Miller has done it once again! 👏🏻
I’ve been yearning for Leah & Xander since reading The Rules of You & Me and she absolutely delivered with their story. Besides Boys of Tommen, a book has yet to pull such a mix of emotions out of me: fear, devastation, obsession and utter adoration; until this.
I applaud Emma for how she constructed and handled such traumatizing situations and the strength she graced her characters with. Leah is such an inspirational and moving character and this book will live rent free in my head.
I would definitely recommend reading the trigger warnings, but in the end you will absolutely adore this read. These two characters have so much depth and their love for each other will bring you to your mf knees.
I will keep this short by wrapping it up with: WHEN’S BOOK TWO?

[Kelsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Laughs were had, tears were shed, and more than one moment will make you swoon. Center of Attention was a great read that was truly filled with heart. The characters were beyond relatable, there is not a moment in this book where you won’t be so engrossed by what’s happening that you won’t almost feel every emotion that’s going on in the chapters. Honestly this was just an all around fantastic read that I couldn’t put down.So if you’re looking for a childhood crush, second chance romance, with a black cat FMC who loves a few but loves fiercely, a golden retriever MMC who will definitely be your next book boyfriend, so many amazing side characters, plenty of spice, swoon-worthy romance and so much more then I highly recommend grabbing a copy of The Center of Attention today, but do beware of the trigger warnings.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Very mild spoilers**

My first Emma Miller book and I have already ordered my next!! I was so honored to be chosen as an ARC reader for The Center of Attention and I truly devoured this book! I am a lover of hockey romance and this one did not disappoint. It was the longest sports romance I’ve read so far, but so much happened with these characters that I don’t think it could have been any shorter. And, in all honesty, I was a bit sad when it ended!
I loved the character development, the chosen/ found family element throughout the book, and the raw, real emotion between Xander and Leah. It was a “friends to lovers to enemies to lovers to enemies to fake dating to lovers”marathon!! I mean these two went through it all!! But as one of my favorite quotes from the book states, “No matter how much time passes, no matter how much anger was left between us at that point in our lives…We’re still us.” This love story was incredibly beautiful and I can’t wait to go back and read about the other characters that I met in this book.

[Danika Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forget the typical rom-com tropes—this is a raw, unflinching love story written for those who have survived the shadows of mental and physical abuse.
The narrative dives deep into Leah's isolation, unspooling the thread of her life to reveal why she has shut herself off from the world. Her journey is marked by early instability with unbalanced parents, followed by a trail of heartache that began with her first love and intensified through devastating college breakups.
Enter Xander: a man who learned exactly how not to treat people by watching his own father. He is the steady presence Leah needs to heal. Their path to a Happily Ever After is a long, arduous climb, but for a love this transformative, every step is worth it.

[Hannah Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

One thing I was truly impressed by is her ability to write about a traumatic experience. I really appreciated how she tackled these things that women go through and the comeback from it. It’s messy, emotional, and exhausting. The emotions around it felt authentic and not to out myself but relatable. I liked reading about a character that navigated finding peaceful and healthy love after something like that. Obviously this aspect is not for everyone because it could be triggering. However it left me feeling hopeful and connected to the story! The story plot was good too!!!

[Silliest Goose Gwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌸🌸🌸🌸

-Hockey Romance
-3rd Chance Romance
-Spicy
-Bad Ass Angry FMC

🌸🌸🌸🌸

Here are some of the personal highlights for me:

The characters are strong, with unique personalities and backgrounds. You begin to understand and love each and everyone the more you read.

The third chance romance was executed well, my brain couldn’t fathom how that would work, how it would flow without being super long and drawn out- but it was perfect!

Emma’s writing is more modern, more flowy, It’s super realistic and up to date with current world happenings. It felt like I was hearing this huge elaborate drama filled story from a bestie over FaceTime.

The way Emma spoke about DV, you could tell she put thought into it. It was done tastefully and had immaculate representation. I also love the fact she included hotlines and ect at the end of the book for anyone who could relate.

🌸🌸🌸🌸

‼️Please read trigger warnings, this book talks about sensitive topics that could be upsetting and/or difficult for some to read. Your mental health matters. Put yourself first always.‼️

[amy gay · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ending acknowledgments sealed my Star selection and added to the happy tears. Life can be hard but we can all get to a point where the choices we make are our own. Have faith, don’t be afraid to lean on friends, and don’t run from love. BUT if you do run and the love is real it will always find you.
That is my take away from this book. I loved it very much and it warmed my heart. Thanks Emma!

[Emily W · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m literally obsessed with everything Emma writes and this was no different. I swear each book she puts out just gets better and better. Some parts were definitely tough reads but done with such care. I laughed and cried so many times. Thank you Emma, you are truly an amazing writer!