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The Center of Attention
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?
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?
514 pages, Paperback
Published February 10, 2026
About the author
Emma Miller
68 books21 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
May 11, 2026
I really don’t even know where to start in this review. I even put off writing it for a few days because my heart is so sad I finished the book because it was that good. Let me start with that it takes a lot for a romance book to make me truly cry not just “omg imma cry” but full on sobbing tears running down my face, my husband placing a hand on my arm and asking if I’m okay. That’s what this book did for me.
Leah Ashley is one of those complex characters that you hate in other books but realize when they get their own you hated them because they were hiding who they truly are and who they truly are is a lot like yourself. That’s who Leah Ashley is. She’s strong, she’s brave, she’s beautiful, and she has walls up so strong they’re hard to break. But above all else she’s a fighter.
Alexander Marino is a protector. He’s a strong hockey player but he has emotions and feelings. He loves big and loves loud. When he sets his mind towards a goal he won’t stop. He’s loyal, he’s honest, and he’s the ultimate friend.
Xander and Leah have one of those relationships that you don’t often see in books because it’s so real. Reading about their friendship a throughout the book made me feel so deeply because of how real it felt. It didn’t feel like a “book relationship” it felt like a true life one. And that’s what Emma Miller has done with this book. She brought fictional characters to life. So much so you feel like they are your best friends. You keep flipping through each page wanting the best for you friend. Hoping something happens to make it better for them. Hoping they pull through whatever situation they are in.
Emma in this book also handles the difficult topic of DV so well in this book. She handles it with care. She handles it so well it makes you think about how DV is real and is happening to too many people in this world. She does give TW against this and also resources as well.
Also, if you have read Emma’s other series, The Checklist Romance Series, you will occasionally see other characters pop up and it’s like seeing old friends all over again. And if you haven’t read the other series, what’s wrong with you. No, I’m joking. But you won’t be confused! You’ll feel like they’re your friends all the same!
Again, I can’t keep saying to much because I can’t spoil how amazing this book is! But Emma - fantastic job. If I could give them 10/5 stars I would and I’m not exaggerating. Emma, thank you for letting me have the privilege of beta reading for you again. I will forever be thankful for the words you have given me through your books!
Leah Ashley is one of those complex characters that you hate in other books but realize when they get their own you hated them because they were hiding who they truly are and who they truly are is a lot like yourself. That’s who Leah Ashley is. She’s strong, she’s brave, she’s beautiful, and she has walls up so strong they’re hard to break. But above all else she’s a fighter.
Alexander Marino is a protector. He’s a strong hockey player but he has emotions and feelings. He loves big and loves loud. When he sets his mind towards a goal he won’t stop. He’s loyal, he’s honest, and he’s the ultimate friend.
Xander and Leah have one of those relationships that you don’t often see in books because it’s so real. Reading about their friendship a throughout the book made me feel so deeply because of how real it felt. It didn’t feel like a “book relationship” it felt like a true life one. And that’s what Emma Miller has done with this book. She brought fictional characters to life. So much so you feel like they are your best friends. You keep flipping through each page wanting the best for you friend. Hoping something happens to make it better for them. Hoping they pull through whatever situation they are in.
Emma in this book also handles the difficult topic of DV so well in this book. She handles it with care. She handles it so well it makes you think about how DV is real and is happening to too many people in this world. She does give TW against this and also resources as well.
Also, if you have read Emma’s other series, The Checklist Romance Series, you will occasionally see other characters pop up and it’s like seeing old friends all over again. And if you haven’t read the other series, what’s wrong with you. No, I’m joking. But you won’t be confused! You’ll feel like they’re your friends all the same!
Again, I can’t keep saying to much because I can’t spoil how amazing this book is! But Emma - fantastic job. If I could give them 10/5 stars I would and I’m not exaggerating. Emma, thank you for letting me have the privilege of beta reading for you again. I will forever be thankful for the words you have given me through your books!
February 3, 2026
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.
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.
December 16, 2025
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 🥅💗🏒
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 🥅💗🏒
February 10, 2026
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
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
August 13, 2026
this is the first book of the playing the part series, which is a college hockey sports romance series. although it is a new series, it is set in the same world as the checklist romance series with the same characters and continuing storylines, which i just read right before this since i am trying to read a few books by this author and another who are both being featured at an author event i am going to next month. it has childhood friends to love, second chance romance (and third chance), and fake dating tropes, all of which i usually enjoy.
this book is about leah and xander, two characters we met in the prior series. a lot of their history is told through flashbacks to get to the now storyline. they were childhood friends for years who both really liked each other and one night everything changed. then xander's parents got divorced and he moved away, so things ended and got screwed up between them right after that happened.
they are reunited in college, both at seattle pike university, which was the setting of the prior series. since they were part of different social circles they never really ran into each other until xander started socializing with parker, his football player roommate. leah had previously dated bellamy and hung out with football players since she was a cheerleader. aside from them being the whole stereotype of her being the cheer captain and him the quarterback i do not understand how they dated because they were so different. though she came across as a mean girl and cold-hearted, in reality she was just guarded after being hurt by too many people who were supposed to love her. she became a close friend and like big sister to brianne. xander was still a star hockey player and as he and parker started to hang out, he and leah finally run into each other at a party and started talking. she spent a lot of time avoiding him and he spent a lot of time trying to convince her to give them another chance, because there were clearly unresolved feelings between them and it seemed like things were headed in that direction until xander's father interfered again, and even tried to bribe her to not stand in his way of pursuing his NHL career regardless of where. unfortunately after xander told her he would sacrifice doing just that if it meant being together, leah felt that not interfering was what was best for him, so although she did not want to do it, she ended things again instead of telling xander the truth, knowing he was about to be drafted. of course it was not to a local team, so he left for san jose while she finished up grad school in seattle. it was horrible how his father interfered with them, and i get why she let him go, but it caused both of them so much pain for absolutely no reason.
and third time is a charm, right? now at the current storyline, with xander as a professional hockey player in the NHL and leah as a physcial therapist and popular influencer. they are reunited again because both are asked to be in brianne and parker's wedding party. they meet up one day and start talking about the wedding plans and xander learns leah is dating and living with another professional hockey player who had a mean reputation both on and off the ice. her boyfriend was way too aggressive, physically and mentally abusive, and treated her like crap so it was hard to read some of their interactions, especially when he demeaned her with SA to control her because he didnt like something she said/ did/ wore/ etc. i felt so bad for both her and xander as she revealed everything to him and watching his reaction was also painful to read. when they agreed to be in a fake relationship to help their public images, as they started to spend a lot of time together and fell back into a lot of old patterns, it was so obvious how much both still cared for each other. xander was always clearly in love with leah, but since leah ended things last time, he did not think she actually loved him. and leah did love xander, but he hurt her when he left, she had a very rough relationship prior to them reuniting, and she always thought he deserved more. so of course both were afraid to admit to the other how they felt, and although they had gotten to a point where they crossed a lot of lines past friendship and fake dating, there was also a lot of time where things were tame after leah had another encounter with her ex bf that caused her to withdraw again. eventually she stared to come back out of her shell and got a physical therapy job working with his hockey team and when xander got injured badly by her ex bf during a game she realizes her feelings. thankfully since she is a physical therapist she is able to help him recover and they still spend a lot of time together because of that and the wedding. but then right before the wedding xander begins to realize it hurt too much to keep pretending and leaves the pre-wedding festivities because he did not want to spoil the evening with his unhappy mood, which upsets leah and she runs after him, and as they talk she finally admitted that she loved him and that everything between them was very real. yayyyyy for them FINALLY getting together! i am so glad that they finally got their HEA after so much time pining for each other. despite this book having a lot of heavy moments that were tough to read at times, it was definitely a good story with a happy ending.
this book is about leah and xander, two characters we met in the prior series. a lot of their history is told through flashbacks to get to the now storyline. they were childhood friends for years who both really liked each other and one night everything changed. then xander's parents got divorced and he moved away, so things ended and got screwed up between them right after that happened.
they are reunited in college, both at seattle pike university, which was the setting of the prior series. since they were part of different social circles they never really ran into each other until xander started socializing with parker, his football player roommate. leah had previously dated bellamy and hung out with football players since she was a cheerleader. aside from them being the whole stereotype of her being the cheer captain and him the quarterback i do not understand how they dated because they were so different. though she came across as a mean girl and cold-hearted, in reality she was just guarded after being hurt by too many people who were supposed to love her. she became a close friend and like big sister to brianne. xander was still a star hockey player and as he and parker started to hang out, he and leah finally run into each other at a party and started talking. she spent a lot of time avoiding him and he spent a lot of time trying to convince her to give them another chance, because there were clearly unresolved feelings between them and it seemed like things were headed in that direction until xander's father interfered again, and even tried to bribe her to not stand in his way of pursuing his NHL career regardless of where. unfortunately after xander told her he would sacrifice doing just that if it meant being together, leah felt that not interfering was what was best for him, so although she did not want to do it, she ended things again instead of telling xander the truth, knowing he was about to be drafted. of course it was not to a local team, so he left for san jose while she finished up grad school in seattle. it was horrible how his father interfered with them, and i get why she let him go, but it caused both of them so much pain for absolutely no reason.
and third time is a charm, right? now at the current storyline, with xander as a professional hockey player in the NHL and leah as a physcial therapist and popular influencer. they are reunited again because both are asked to be in brianne and parker's wedding party. they meet up one day and start talking about the wedding plans and xander learns leah is dating and living with another professional hockey player who had a mean reputation both on and off the ice. her boyfriend was way too aggressive, physically and mentally abusive, and treated her like crap so it was hard to read some of their interactions, especially when he demeaned her with SA to control her because he didnt like something she said/ did/ wore/ etc. i felt so bad for both her and xander as she revealed everything to him and watching his reaction was also painful to read. when they agreed to be in a fake relationship to help their public images, as they started to spend a lot of time together and fell back into a lot of old patterns, it was so obvious how much both still cared for each other. xander was always clearly in love with leah, but since leah ended things last time, he did not think she actually loved him. and leah did love xander, but he hurt her when he left, she had a very rough relationship prior to them reuniting, and she always thought he deserved more. so of course both were afraid to admit to the other how they felt, and although they had gotten to a point where they crossed a lot of lines past friendship and fake dating, there was also a lot of time where things were tame after leah had another encounter with her ex bf that caused her to withdraw again. eventually she stared to come back out of her shell and got a physical therapy job working with his hockey team and when xander got injured badly by her ex bf during a game she realizes her feelings. thankfully since she is a physical therapist she is able to help him recover and they still spend a lot of time together because of that and the wedding. but then right before the wedding xander begins to realize it hurt too much to keep pretending and leaves the pre-wedding festivities because he did not want to spoil the evening with his unhappy mood, which upsets leah and she runs after him, and as they talk she finally admitted that she loved him and that everything between them was very real. yayyyyy for them FINALLY getting together! i am so glad that they finally got their HEA after so much time pining for each other. despite this book having a lot of heavy moments that were tough to read at times, it was definitely a good story with a happy ending.
Review of advance copy received from Author
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!
March 6, 2026
I’ve been such a huge fan of Emma ever since Cherry.
When I saw arcs opened I RAN!!
This book stole my heart just like Xander did!
Emma’s writing not only gave me life but also took me out of my reading slump.
I fell in love with both Leah and Xander.
Leah gave me black cat energy but when it came to the people around her she cared soo much even when it came to Xander.
Now Xander, oh boy!
This man was such a golden retriever.
I loved how much Leah made Xander suffer a bit after what happened when they were younger.
The connection, chemistry, flirty banter and yearning between them stole my heart and my sense of being able to breathe.
But one thing that stayed with me (and made me cry) was watching Leah grow through the pages.
Learning that she was capable of being loved and being taken cared of.
I cannot wait for book 2!!
(please read trigger warnings beforehand)
Also a huge thank you to Emma for giving me this special opportunity to read the first book to this amazing series.
If you love…
🏒 childhood friends
🏒 third chance
🏒 black cat FMC
🏒 tattooed golden retriever
🏒 professional hockey
🏒 consent king
🏒 found family
this book is for YOU!!
When I saw arcs opened I RAN!!
This book stole my heart just like Xander did!
Emma’s writing not only gave me life but also took me out of my reading slump.
I fell in love with both Leah and Xander.
Leah gave me black cat energy but when it came to the people around her she cared soo much even when it came to Xander.
Now Xander, oh boy!
This man was such a golden retriever.
I loved how much Leah made Xander suffer a bit after what happened when they were younger.
The connection, chemistry, flirty banter and yearning between them stole my heart and my sense of being able to breathe.
But one thing that stayed with me (and made me cry) was watching Leah grow through the pages.
Learning that she was capable of being loved and being taken cared of.
I cannot wait for book 2!!
(please read trigger warnings beforehand)
Also a huge thank you to Emma for giving me this special opportunity to read the first book to this amazing series.
If you love…
🏒 childhood friends
🏒 third chance
🏒 black cat FMC
🏒 tattooed golden retriever
🏒 professional hockey
🏒 consent king
🏒 found family
this book is for YOU!!
January 26, 2026
✩✩✩✩.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?
“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?
February 6, 2026
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.
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.
February 10, 2026
**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.
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.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
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.
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.
February 10, 2026
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!!!
February 1, 2026
🌸🌸🌸🌸
-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.‼️
-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.‼️
February 9, 2026
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!
That is my take away from this book. I loved it very much and it warmed my heart. Thanks Emma!
February 9, 2026
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!
March 13, 2026
This book would have gotten 4 stars from me, but the grammar was SO BAD.
I thought there were beta readers and editors on this? If this was her first book, I'd understand, but your FOURTH published book. There's no excuse for it.
Be prepared for misspelled words, multiple ...., sentence fragments and multiple "they whipped their head" or "their head snapped."
The story overall was good, and I was excited to continue the story from Seattle Pike, but this was not executed well.
The flashback ended abruptly and the "fake dating" aspect was just meh. There was barely any hockey in it. Even the spice felt rushed.
Check trigger warnings first though.
I thought there were beta readers and editors on this? If this was her first book, I'd understand, but your FOURTH published book. There's no excuse for it.
Be prepared for misspelled words, multiple ...., sentence fragments and multiple "they whipped their head" or "their head snapped."
The story overall was good, and I was excited to continue the story from Seattle Pike, but this was not executed well.
The flashback ended abruptly and the "fake dating" aspect was just meh. There was barely any hockey in it. Even the spice felt rushed.
Check trigger warnings first though.
February 15, 2026
Absolutely loved it
I'm a little biased because I already love Emma's other books and hockey is my favorite kind of romance, but this was so good!! I simply loved it!
I'm a little biased because I already love Emma's other books and hockey is my favorite kind of romance, but this was so good!! I simply loved it!
May 21, 2026
The center of attention by @Author Emma Miller📚 . There were ups and downs and the love was felt. So happy to see that both Ash & Xander had their most deserving ending 🫶🏼
February 14, 2026
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.
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.
March 21, 2026
I was fortunate enough to have received an ARC last month for The Center of Attention which released on February 10th!
I’ll start by saying that this was my first read by Emma and definitely put a new spin on hockey romance for me. Emma’s writing really captivated me from the start as the story not only felt fresh and wholesome, but it was layered with grit and packed with emotion. The way she writes puts you right in the characters’ headspace and feels like you’re in the thick of the chaos with them.
Since the book takes place over many years, she was really able to explore each characters’ depth as well as their connection, with big emphasis on how important it is to show up for one another in whatever capacity we’re capable of.
The FMC Leah has been through the wringer and the author takes us on such a beautiful journey of reflection and exploration. I also want to mention the MMC Xander is not only wonderful, but a total consent king which is just one of the many reasons why I loved him!!!!
Second chances are not typically my jam, but turns out the third time really is the charm 😉 I definitely can’t wait to continue reading this series and more from the author!📚
Tropes:
🏒 Third chance romance
💖 Found family
🏒 Mental health representation
💖 Childhood best friends to enemies-ish to lovers
🏒 Hockey romance
Fave quote:
“I don't give a fück about your baggage. I don't care how much you have or what it is, I want you. To talk to you, to be here, with you.”
I’ll start by saying that this was my first read by Emma and definitely put a new spin on hockey romance for me. Emma’s writing really captivated me from the start as the story not only felt fresh and wholesome, but it was layered with grit and packed with emotion. The way she writes puts you right in the characters’ headspace and feels like you’re in the thick of the chaos with them.
Since the book takes place over many years, she was really able to explore each characters’ depth as well as their connection, with big emphasis on how important it is to show up for one another in whatever capacity we’re capable of.
The FMC Leah has been through the wringer and the author takes us on such a beautiful journey of reflection and exploration. I also want to mention the MMC Xander is not only wonderful, but a total consent king which is just one of the many reasons why I loved him!!!!
Second chances are not typically my jam, but turns out the third time really is the charm 😉 I definitely can’t wait to continue reading this series and more from the author!📚
Tropes:
🏒 Third chance romance
💖 Found family
🏒 Mental health representation
💖 Childhood best friends to enemies-ish to lovers
🏒 Hockey romance
Fave quote:
“I don't give a fück about your baggage. I don't care how much you have or what it is, I want you. To talk to you, to be here, with you.”
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