Swing and a Kiss: A Novel

by Jaqueline Snowe

Cassidy Calloway never expected to go viral for grieving, but in the face of loss, little makes sense, especially when faced with a hit-it-out-of-the-park, over-the-fence, world-series kind of love.

This tropetastic fake dating sports romance is perfect for fans of Alicia Thompson and Tessa Bailey.

When her boyfriend dumps her at her father’s funeral, Cassidy Calloway does what she does best—turns her heartbreak into content. To honor her baseball-loving father, and if she’s being honest, to piss off her ex, she launches and season-long social media experiment to attend nine games with nine dates in honor of her father’s favorite player, number nine, Nate O’Brien. 

The Gila Monster’s star pitcher is on the verge of his biggest season yet, and he’s not about to let some influencer-turned-ballpark-spectacle throw him off his game. But when the team starts losing, and fans start blaming Cassidy, Nate has bigger problems than his ERA—because the front office wants them to fix the narrative by pretending to date. 

With his career on the line and her reputation at stake, Cassidy and Nate must turn their luck around. But the more time they spend together, the harder it gets to pretend they aren’t falling for each other. 

And that’s the problem with fake dating. At some point, it starts to feel real.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Baseball, Sports Romance, Sports

336 pages, Paperback

Expected publication September 29, 2026

About the author

Jaqueline Snowe lives in Arizona where the "dry heat" really isn't that bad. She prefers drinking coffee all hours of the day and snacking on anything that has peanut butter or chocolate. She is the mother to two dogs who don’t realize they aren’t humans and a = mom to the sweetest boy. She is an avid reader and writer of romances and tends to write about athletes. Her husband works for an MLB team (not a player, lol) so she knows more about baseball than any human ever should.


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Reviews

[mackenzie]

dnf because i was BORED and literally just did not care even the tiniest bit i'm so sorry. i wouldn't not recommend this, it just didn't click with my brain :((

+ thank you to netgalley & the publisher for an arc! all opinions are my own <3

[Sarah Edwards]

Cassidy is a content creator and we meet her right after her father has passed. She is at her father’s graveside ceremony when her boyfriend dumps her. At the same gravesite, she meets two members of the local baseball team, of which her father was a huge fan.

In efforts to feel closer to her dad, Cassidy immerses herself into the baseball team by going to games and unexpectedly getting caught up with the broody pitcher Nate O’Brien. Nate is older and feels he has to prove he’s still got it. The team’s PR person proposes Nate & Cassidy fake date, even though they can’t stand each other.

Now, I usually love a fake dating trope. And thrown in sports and I love that too. But I just didn’t love this book. It wasn’t bad but I found Cassidy to be whiny and annoying and Nate to be a jerk. They got less annoying as the novel went on and of course they fell in love, but I didn’t fall in love with it.

Thank you Net Galley, Jaqueline Snowe, & Alcove Press for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Victoria]

Thank you Negalley for the Advance Reader Copy of this book, in exchange I’ll give my honest review.

This book is one of the truest sports romances I’ve ever read. I loved the fact that the sport wasn’t just a background factor. It mattered. The season, the team, the score.
Big social media influencer and baseball player fake date? I’m in!
Oh and another one of my favorite tropes, age gap!!
This couple had amazing banter and chemistry!
Also, I love love loved the grief representation in this book.
I LOVED this book and definitely plan on reading more by this author.

[Simone | simonesbookshelf]

⭐ Rating: 3.5 Stars

✨ The Vibe
A fun, trope-filled baseball romance with fake dating, sunshine x grumpy energy, plenty of laughs, and a heartfelt look at grief, healing, and finding joy again.

📚 What the Book Is About (No Spoilers)
After being dumped at her father's funeral, Cassidy Calloway channels her heartbreak into something her baseball-loving dad would've appreciated: attending nine baseball games with nine different dates in honor of his favorite player, number nine.

When the experiment unexpectedly goes viral, it catches the attention of Nate O'Brien—the very pitcher whose number inspired the challenge. After the team's losing streak starts getting blamed on Cassidy's growing online presence, the front office comes up with the perfect PR solution: fake dating.

As the lines between pretending and reality begin to blur, Cassidy and Nate discover that maybe the hardest part of fake dating is convincing themselves their feelings aren't real.

🖤 My Reading Experience
This book was such a fun read. It combines several of my favorite romance tropes—fake dating, sports romance, sunshine x grumpy, and just enough enemies-to-lovers energy to keep the banter entertaining.

It's the kind of story that's easy to binge because there's always something happening, whether it's a funny interaction, a baseball game, or another moment that slowly brings Cassidy and Nate closer together.

I really liked both main characters. Cassidy was easy to root for, and while Nate definitely wasn't winning any awards for first impressions, he grew on me throughout the story. Once his walls started coming down, I loved seeing the caring side of him emerge.

One thing I especially appreciated was how the book balanced its lighter moments with a more emotional storyline about grief. Despite all the humor and romance, it never forgets that Cassidy is mourning her father. It shows how grief doesn't simply disappear when life moves forward—it lingers, quietly showing up even during moments of happiness. I thought that aspect of the story was handled with a lot of care.

As someone who creates content online full-time myself, I also really connected with Cassidy's experiences as an influencer. The assumptions people make, the judgment, and the tendency to dismiss content creation as "not a real job" all felt very recognizable. That added an extra layer to the story that I personally appreciated.

💭 What Didn't Fully Work for Me
While I enjoyed the romance, I do think it developed a little too quickly. Nate spends the beginning of the book insisting that Cassidy represents everything he dislikes, yet after only a handful of interactions, he suddenly becomes incredibly protective and completely invested in her.

I absolutely love a caring MMC, but I would've liked to see more resistance before we got there. Since the book leans into enemies-to-lovers vibes, I wanted a little more lingering annoyance, more tension, and more gradual emotional progression before Nate made that switch.

I also wasn't completely convinced by the conflict surrounding Nate potentially being traded to another team. The story treats it as though it would make a relationship nearly impossible, but I kept thinking... long-distance relationships exist. If these two cared about each other that much, surely they could've made it work for a season—or even half a season. Because of that, the whole "I'm letting you go because I love you" conflict didn't fully land for me.

The side characters also felt fairly underdeveloped. Amanda (Nate's sister) was probably my favorite supporting character, but beyond her, most of Nate's teammates blended together. They fulfilled their role in the story, but I never became particularly invested in them as individuals.

Overall, I think the story could've benefited from a little more depth, both in the romance and in some of its supporting relationships.

🔥 Tropes & Elements
- Fake dating
- Sports romance
- Baseball romance
- Sunshine x grumpy
- Enemies-to-lovers vibes
- Forced proximity
- Grief and healing

💔 Emotional Impact
Laughs: 7/10 ⚾😂. Grief: 10/10 💔.

Baseball knowledge gained: slightly more than before. 😂

🫶 Final Thoughts
Swing and a Kiss was exactly what I hoped it would be: a light, entertaining sports romance filled with lovable tropes, funny moments, and plenty of heart.

While I would've loved a slower romantic build-up, stronger side characters, and a conflict that felt a little more convincing, none of that stopped me from genuinely enjoying my time with this book.

It's sweet, easy to read, and does a lovely job balancing romance with a thoughtful exploration of grief and learning how to move forward after loss.

If you're looking for a baseball romance packed with fake dating, sunshine x grumpy chemistry, and a story that's equal parts fun and heartfelt, this is definitely worth picking up.

📢 Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an ARC. As always, all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

[Demi Snell]

5 ⭐️
Tropes: dual POV, fake dating, sports romance, found family, age gap romance, grumpy x sunshine, healing after grief

“Maybe we were meant to meet each other. I hate why it happened, but I have a feeling you were supposed to be in my life.”

This book completely stole my heart. It was so much more than a fake dating sports romance—it was a beautiful story about learning how to live with grief, finding yourself again, and discovering that love can show up when you least expect it.

Cassidy is left heartbroken after losing her dad AND being dumped at his funeral, but through the one thing she and her dad always shared—baseball—she slowly begins to find herself again. What made it even more special was that Nate played for her dad’s favorite team and had been his favorite player, making their connection feel like so much more than coincidence. I ADORED that he was able to share stories about her dad that she had never heard before, giving her another piece of him to hold onto. He didn’t replace her dad or her grief—he helped her stay connected to him while also helping her build a future. Watching her heal while honoring her dad was such an emotional journey, and I loved seeing something born from so much pain become the reason she found a second chance at life… and Nate.

The enemies-to-lovers tension between Cassidy and Nate was EVERYTHING. They couldn’t stand each other at first, but a fake dating PR stunt forces them together, and watching their relationship slowly evolve from annoyance and attraction into something so genuine had me completely hooked. I ate up EVERY single second of it.

Nate was absolutely obsessed in the best way. I loved how patient he was with Cassidy, how protective and possessive he became, and most importantly, how safe he made her feel. He never tried to fix her grief—he just stayed. He let her feel everything while reminding her she didn’t have to carry it alone, and that honestly made me fall in love with him 🥹

“I can handle everything about you, Cassidy. You can give me all your attitude and fears, but never say I can’t handle you. I absolutely can.”

I also loved that Nate had his own journey. He wasn’t just the one helping Cassidy heal—he had spent years convincing himself he didn’t need anyone, avoiding relationships, and keeping people at a distance. Watching Cassidy slowly break down those walls made their relationship feel even more special. She completely snuck past every defense he’d built, and seeing him go from wanting nothing to do with her to not being able to imagine life without her was everything.

“I was pulled to her despite all the reasons I shouldn’t be.”

“one look at her and the noise quieted. She anchored me without even trying.”

Cassidy is seriously such a fun character. I loved how she constantly challenged Nate, gave him a run for his money, and refused to let him have the last word, like literally EVERY single time! 😂 Their banter was TOP TIER and had me smiling so much!

“Watching this man slowly unravel because of me was my new favorite pastime.”

Once they finally started letting each other in, the emotional depth of their relationship was incredible.

“He made me feel safe and seen and desired, a combination I hadn’t felt … ever.”

“this man had healed my soul and helped me rebuild myself.”

And don’t even get me started on Nate when he realized he was completely gone for her 😍🫠

“I grinned, slow and dark, because I knew without a doubt this girl was about to ruin me.”

“I had no idea when it had happened, but one thing was for sure—this whole fake-dating thing with her was starting to not feel fake at all.”

“I had no idea what the hell we were to each other, or if this realistically could be anything, but I knew one thing: Cassidy Calloway had burrowed her way into my life.”

The romance was swoony, emotional, incredibly heartfelt, and hilarious. There were so many laugh out loud moments, plenty that had me kicking my feet, and even a few that made me tear up. Add in Nate’s deliciously dirty mouth, incredible chemistry, and all the fake dating tension, and I was completely sold!

“Weird how the worst day of my life had led me to the best person in my life. Or maybe that was how it was supposed to be.”

This was the perfect balance of humor, romance, and healing, and it reminded me that even after unimaginable loss, happiness can find you again. I loved every single page. This was also my first read by this author and I absolutely adored her writing and her characters! Mark your calendars for September 29, 2026! 🩵

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Billie Ariel]

(3.5 estrellas)
Gracias a NetGalley, Alcove Press, y por supuesto a la autora, Jaqueline Snow, por permitirme leer la copia avanzada digital de este libro.

Siendo esta mi primera experiencia con un sports romance tenía dos necesidades en mente: Una, que me guste la pareja principal, y dos que el deporte sea importante para el conflicto, y me complace anunciar que este libro cumple ambas expectativas.

Simplemente disfruté mucho la interacción entre Nate y Cassidy; sus momentos íntimos son preciosos y me tenían pateando las sábanas, y también los amé individualmente. Como se trata el age-gap (una diferencia de edad de 10 años, siendo Nate el mayor), igual necesito que sea relevante al conflicto, y el hecho de que la edad de Nate ya le juegue en contra como jugador de béisbol mientras que Cassidy es la influencer joven y energética con el mundo a sus pies crea un conflicto entretenido separado del romance.

El fake-dating estuvo bien, a secas, pero honestamente fue tan poco memorable que ni recuerdo qué saca cada uno del arreglo, y por lo tanto quizás ni era tan necesario siendo que hay sub-tramas a las que se pudieron sacar más provecho. Por ejemplo, los momentos repentinos en que el duelo por su padre le pega a Cassidy están excepcionalmente bien escritos, incluso diría que es de la mejor narrativa que he leído.

Habiendo dicho todo esto, y por más que disfruté el romance y a nuestros protagonistas como individuos, sí me pareció que sus primeras interacciones son repetitivas; misma fórmula, mismas líneas para molestarse entre ellos, mismos pensamientos sobre lo mucho que quieren tocar el cuerpo del otro. Definitivamente el romance agarra vuelo hacia la mitad de la historia y es cuando se empieza a apreciar más. En mi opinión, las escenas "spicy" son buena recompensa por terminar el libro, si es que es algo que le interese a otros lectores; al menos en mi caso, los momentos eróticos me tenían pegada a mi kindle.

En cuanto a los personajes secundarios, que para mí son tan importantes como los protagonistas, lamentablemente me parecen unidimensionales. La hermana de Nate, Amanda, es divertidísima, pero los compañeros de equipo como que simplemente existen. Claro que cumplen con su rol como aliados o para mantener a Cassidy relevante en la mente de Nate cuando está intentando no pensar en ella, pero más allá, no me importaron.

La gran pregunta, ¿a quién se lo recomiendo? A quién ya lea romance habitualmente. Aunque lo disfruté como mi primer sports romance, sí creo que lo que me ayudó a terminar el libro es que ya estoy familiarizada con el género y sé qué puntos de trama anticipar y en dónde. Por ahora, planeo aventurarme a leer más obras de la autora ya que parece tener un catálogo impresionante de otros romances deportivos.

A los y las interesadas, Swing and a Kiss se publica el 29 de septiembre del 2026.

[Maria]

A beautiful exploration of all kinds of emotions.

Honestly, I didn't expect this book to seamlessly evoke so many feelings. It mixes being sweet, beautiful, heart-breakingly sad, and simply fun. It's vulnerable and tender, but also spicy with a bratty flare and comedic breaks.

The characterization was thorough and well-done. Within the first couple chapters, I was especially impressed with how well the FMC was established - she's feisty but kind, and always thinks about a social media angle because that's the thing that occupies most of her time, whether it's convenient or not.

The initial confict is perfection to me, because both sides are equally in the right and wrong at once. I was annoyed with both, but at the same time understood where they were coming from and couldn't wait for that moment when they would start seeing more than just the surface.

A good romance obviously has tension and - preferably - good banter, and this delivered. As a bonus, both things evolved and gained a different flavor once they started learning more about each other, getting more personal. Their chemistry turned into a soft exploration and development of feelings - the kind that you don't really notice until they pierce through your heart and leave you shattered. And, oh my god, the way the heartbreak of quietly letting go was written is pure gold.

I also found the portrayal of grief versus a very public, time-consuming career to be deeply touching. How much are you allowed to show? Can you even break if your brand is being happy? Are you allowed to grieve outside of the spotlight? It's a good reminder that we should all take a step back from work sometimes and actually spend time with our loved ones, because we never know when someone is going to be gone forever. How well do you know the person who you claim is your favorite human?

Simply speaking, this is just an example of good writing, because if I cry at a sports scene and I barely understand the sport, you convinced me to care, and that's the goal.

Oh, and I enjoyed the age jokes. I'm a simple person. They were funny.

I think the only thing I don't like is not even about the book itself but the fact that I had to do some digging to find out who made the cover, because the artist is not publicly acknowledged on social media. She should be, it's georgous.

I'd recommend this to sports romance fans who enjoy bratty FMCs and very possessive MMCs.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for letting me read the ARC!

[mel ❀⋆.ೃ࿔]

A fun, flirty, and heartfelt sports romance that covers deeper topics of grief and finding oneself through it all.

After Cassidy Calloway gets dumped by her boyfriend at her father's funeral—she's inspired to turn her heartbreak into honest content for those going through the same grief she is experiencing after her father's passing. She honors her baseball-loving father with a social media experiment where she attends nine games with nine dates for her father's favorite player, Nate O'Brian, number nine. Nate is the Gila Monsters' star pitcher. He is having his best season yet and isn't planning on letting the beauty that is Cassidy become a distraction. That is until the team starts to lose and fans start blaming Cassidy. The front office plans on fixing this narrative with an all time classic—Cassidy and Nate becoming a couple—well, fake dating. With both his career on the line and her reputation at stake, they have to flip the narrative and bring a positive spin to their situation. But as they spend more time together and start to find themselves and each other—their hearts are no longer as safe as they were before. The funny thing about fake dating is that it never ends how it starts—the lines between fake and real blur, and everyone's hearts are on the line.

This was fun, sweet, and swoon-worthy! One of my favorite parts from this story was its way of portraying grief. Cassidy is a strong and incredibly intelligent woman, we see her strength even in her heartbreaking moments. This story shows the raw and real ways that grief can take over ones life. Grief does not look a specific way and can sneak up on you in the most unexpected moments. Cassidy and Nate were so cute together and I loved seeing them find themselves as people and each other as a couple. The side characters were also just as fun and I can just imagine the future books that can come from them!

Swing and a Kiss in tropes:
⚾️Age-Gap
♥️Grumpy x Sunshine
📱Social Media Influencer
⚾️Fake Dating
♥️Enemies to Lovers
📱Sports Romance

Thank you to NetGalley, Alcove Press, and Jaqueline Snowe for this ARC of Swing and a Kiss in exchange for an honest review!

Release Date: September 29, 2026♥️

[Bells]

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me the opportunity to read this book, especially before its release day. It’s an honor to have opportunities like this!

I liked this, but didn’t love it.

I liked the characters and the storyline. It was a light read with plenty of comic relief, while also approaching a difficult topic such as grief and the way it follows you around. The characters are funny, and there were many lighthearted moments where you could simply enjoy their different personalities and how nicely they bounced off each other. At the same time, we see how grief claws at you even during happy moments, how missing someone who has passed away stays with you every single day.

As for the main characters, I liked seeing them together and watching them navigate their relationship. It went from them being annoyed with each other at first to not being able to stay away from one another. The author managed to show how an influencer and a baseball player can actually have quite a lot in common, even if it seems unlikely at first. They were both very ambitious in their careers and genuinely wanted to give back to their communities. They admired each other first, which I liked, and then it slowly turned into something more. Lust first, and then love.

What I didn’t like was the fact that the possibility of him moving to a different team became such a big problem. Like... long-distance relationships are a thing, and if they liked each other that much, I’m sure they could have made it work for a season-or even half a season. It wouldn’t have been the end of the world. I also didn’t like the whole “I’m letting you go because I love you and this is your dream” thing... He could have both, like?? But okay.

I think this story has potential as the beginning of a series centered around these players. The writing is good, and the heavier subjects were handled well. I liked it, but I didn’t connect with the characters as much as I wish I had. Overall, I enjoyed it, but it wasn’t a favorite.

[SJ]

Set in Phoenix, Arizona, influencer Cassidy Calloway is struggling through grief after the loss of her only parent. As she buries her father, her boyfriend decides that's the best time to break up with her. Now single and alone, Cassidy decides to honor her father through a series on her channel: attend nine baseball games with nine dates in honor of her father's favorite player's number. Nate O'Brien is #9, the Gila Monster's star pitcher, and has been working hard to get a renewed contract with his team. But he can't help but blame Cassidy when her dates start to affect his pitching. When the front office wants them to fix the narrative by fake dating, he begrudgingly agrees. Yet as they spend time together, he sees her in a new light, especially around her relationship with her father. But will fake dating turn into real feelings? And with their careers in focus, how can they balance it all?

I loved the inside look into a baseball team! Combined with Cassidy's grief, this baseball romance has depth. Nate's 14 year younger sister Amanda also adds balance to his character (he comes across pretty harsh at the beginning). I really liked her and hope she gets her own story! And Cassidy's career is treated with respect and care, which was really good to see!

For me, Nate was a turn off at the beginning. It just felt a little too quick to go from that to him being all in for Cassidy. Yet I loved to see that version, so maybe I just didn't pick up on the nuances earlier for him. The central conflict at the end gets resolved well, though it felt like they just forgot that could be an option? Finally, the "old man" jokes just didn't land for me.

This romance features:
💕 Baseball romance
💕 Influencer FMC x star pitcher MMC
💕 Fake dating
💕 Age gap (12 years: she is 24 and he is 36)
💕 Sunshine x grumpy
💕 Grief and loss

Open door / spicy

3.5 / 5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this eARC!

[Parvathy I]

⭐⭐⭐💫 3.25 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC of Swing and a Kiss in exchange for my honest review. 💙

This was a fun and easy sports romance with a grumpy-sunshine pairing, fake dating, and an interesting look into the life of a social media influencer. ⚾💕📱

One of the things I appreciated most was Cassidy's career as a content creator. I don't think I've read a romance where the FMC is a full-time social media influencer, so it felt fresh to me. At the beginning of the book, there was a scene where Cassidy had to create and schedule content on the day of her father's funeral. Honestly, it made me really upset at first. I couldn't understand how anyone could think about work during such a heartbreaking moment.

But while I was reading this book, I happened to watch a reel from a content creator explaining how unforgiving social media algorithms can be. Missing uploads can seriously affect your reach and income, especially when it's your full-time job. That completely changed my perspective. It reminded me that being a content creator is a real career with pressures that many of us don't see. I really liked that Jacqueline Snowe gave readers a glimpse into that world instead of treating it as something superficial. 📱✨

As for the romance, it was enjoyable but also very familiar. The fake dating trope is one I've seen quite a lot in sports romances, so there weren't many surprises. Even so, Cassidy and her love interest had good chemistry, and I enjoyed watching their relationship develop. ❤️

This isn't a book that reinvents the genre, but it doesn't need to. It's a light, entertaining romance with likable characters, plenty of sweet moments, and an interesting behind-the-scenes look at influencer life.

Overall, I had a good time with this one. If you're looking for a cozy sports romance with fake dating, grumpy-sunshine vibes, and a heroine with a unique career, Swing and a Kiss is worth checking out. ⚾💛

[Mercurio]

I had such a great time reading Cassidy and Nate’s story!

After Cassidy is dumped by her boyfriend at her father’s funeral, she turns her heartbreak into content and comes up with a season-long social media experiment: nine games, nine dates, all in honor of her father’s favorite player, number nine, Nate O’Brien. What she doesn’t expect is for her little experiment to become a problem for Nate, the Gila Monsters’ star pitcher, who is heading into the most important season of his career. When the team starts losing and fans begin blaming Cassidy for distracting him, the front office comes up with a solution: fake dating.

The premise immediately drew me in. Cassidy is a woman working in a field that many people still don’t recognize as a “real” job, while dealing with grief and trying to make her dreams come true on her own. Nate, on the other hand, is at a crucial point in his career, and the last thing he needs is a distraction.

The book gives us the perfect combination of fake dating and enemies to lovers, and the banter between them is constant and absolutely adorable!

Watching Nate, who is hot, older, grumpy, serious, and deeply focused, look past Cassidy’s flirty, easygoing facade was everything. While everyone else seems to love her, Nate is the one person who doesn’t fall for her charm at first. And yet, he’s the one who truly sees her and discovers the empathetic, loyal, and smart woman underneath, someone who is simply trying to build the life she wants while navigating it on her own.

I also loved the dynamic between his bossy side and her bratty side. The tension between them is always on point!

Tropes:
⚾️ fake dating
⚾️ age gap
⚾️ baseball romance
⚾️ enemies to lovers
⚾️ grumpy x sunshine

Special thanks to NetGalley and @jaquelinesnowe for the ARC

📆 09.29.2026

#swingandakiss #romancebooks #sportromance

[lena ☆]

Nate is a grumpy baseball player, and Cassidy is his complete opposite: fun, flirty, sunshine personified. After losing her dad (and getting broken up with at his funeral), who used to work for Nate’s team as security, she makes it her mission to keep his memory alive. She wants to feel as close to him as possible, and she does it by becoming an avid fan of the club. There’s one thing, though: they despise each other. So when the team’s PR department notices that fans are obsessed with their dynamic, a fake dating scheme is born.

If you like: grumpy x sunshine, enemies to lovers, YEARNING, fake dating and sports romance.. this one is FOR YOU!!!!!!

4.5! I literally know nothing about baseball. Got no clue what an inning is, but this book just made me want to get merch and watch every single game from now on. What an incredible, quick, fun read! The story keeps you hooked from moment one. I was incredibly invested in their relationship and I loved watching their character development.

It’s funny because when I started it, I was not a fan of Cassidy. But as we got to know her, she grew on me and became one of my favorites. I absolutely love how the author managed to give us that perspective by her inner monologue and the way Nate saw her and how it all gradually changed until everything made sense.

The writing is GREAT. I like how visual it is and how it flows, I felt like I was able to get through this book a little quicker than usual. Overall, a great book and I’m excited to read more books by this author in the future!

[LibraryNinja_Beritk]

This is my first foray into Jacqueline Snowe's work but I'm already winning. Give me baseball and a few tropes like he falls first, grumpy-sunshine and of course, happily ever after.
Cassidy Calloway is an influencer who is trying to build a brand and name for herself. Her father LOVES the Gila Monsters Baseball team and is always wanting Cass to attend with him. When Cass finds herself grieving suddenly after her father's abrupt death and her boyfriend dumps her graveside, Cass is lost. In a moment of rare honesty, Cass records her grief and accidentally posts it to content- not realizing that it will go viral. She then chooses to attend 9 games in honor of her father and chooses his favorite player, #9 Nate OBrien, jersey to wear.

Nate is an older, experienced pitcher who is in his golden years with the team. The last thing he needs is publicity stunts from "some influencer". Baseball is a game of superstitions, so when the Gila Monsters start losing- the publicity team wants them to "fake date". What Nate sees as a shallow woman has way more layers and what Cass sees as an uptight, grumpy man has a real dream to win a World Series. They must work together to help one another- and as usual, fake dating never works out right. Steamy scenes, longing and baseball metaphors everywhere- this book is perfection if you're a Bull Durham lover.

Thank you to Jacqueline Snowe and Alcove press for trusting me with this ARC freely in exchange for an honest review.
#jacquelinesnowe #alcovepress #libraryninja📚

[Katy]

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for this ARC!

This is the typical grumpy/sunshine steamy sports romance we all love to devour.

The story follows Cassidy, a vibrant outgoing influencer with a massive following who gets dumped by her boyfriend at her father's funeral. Her dad's life passion was baseball so to deal with her grief and feel close to him, she decides to go on 9 dates at 9 games to honor his favorite player, #9 Nate O'Brien.

Nate is a grumpy, brooding pitcher towards the end of his career feeling tremendous pressure to perform. His season was going ok until Cass came along and became a distraction. She represents everything he hates about social media which has burned him in the past. After some delicious banter between the two of them, the team's PR rep decides they need to fake date to fill seats and well...we all know how that goes :)

This was my first baseball romance and I loved it. I loved how in depth it went into the game itself, I loved the characters getting to know each other and realizing they were more than each other thought. This story beautifully weaves in Cassidy's grief in a way that's so real-it comes up unexpectedly out of nowhere, all the time, without warning. I truly enjoyed all of the side characters as well and the humor and found family they brought to the story.

All in all, a quick cute read with emotional depth and all the banter and chemistry we love in a sports romance.

[Eclectic Review]

The author sent me the book as part of LibraryThing's Early Reviewers List, and I also have a great admiration for Ms. Snowe.

I have read many sports romances, and what I liked about this book was that the sport wasn't just present in the background but was instead an important part of both the plot and the characters, something which I don't usually come across in stories of this type.

The enemies-to-lovers tension between Cassidy, a well-known social media influencer, and Nate, a mature baseball player trying not to get traded from the team that he loved, was captivating. I was on the edge of my seat from the moment they couldn’t stand each other to when they were thrown into a fake dating PR stunt that forced them together. Watching their relationship evolve from annoyance and attraction to something so genuine had me completely hooked. There’s just something about that dynamic that brings so much depth to the relationship.

Another aspect that really stood out to me was how the author depicted grief. This sensitive topic was handled so well, being genuine and heartfelt. It added another layer to the characters’ development, and I liked how real and authentic their struggles felt.

If you're a fan of heartfelt romances with believable characters and great baseball vibes, including Yogi Berra quotes in every chapter, you need to check this one out.

Thank you to Ms. Snowe for giving me the opportunity to read the book with no expectation of a positive review.

For more of my reviews, visit The Eclectic Review.

[Lauren Gavlin]

What happens when you’re grieving in the public eye and realize you may have been too busy building a life to actually live it with the people you love?

This book explores grief, love, and the painful reminder that sometimes we’re so focused on building our futures that we forget to slow down and spend time with the people who matter. And sometimes, by the time we realize it, it’s too late.

Cassie is dumped at her father’s funeral, and in an attempt to honor his love of baseball, she decides to attend nine baseball games with nine different dates for her social media channel nine games for the number worn by her dad’s favorite player. Enter Nate O’Brien, number 9 the grumpy baseball player who becomes a much bigger part of her journey than either of them expected.

I loved the banter between Cassie and Nate, and their interactions were definitely a highlight for me. That said, I would have preferred their relationship to be more slow burn. And for someone described as grumpy, Nate honestly didn’t feel grumpy enough for me!

I really enjoyed the baseball setting and how it was woven into Cassie’s emotional journey through grief. There was something really sweet about watching her find a way to honor her dad while also figuring out how she wants to move forward.

Overall, this was a sweet sports romance with an emotional heart.

Ty to alcove for a physical copy. 3.75 star rating

[Deanna]

Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Swing and a Kiss was an entertaining read from start to finish. I had a hard time putting this book down because of how much fun I had while reading it. The characters and their relationship were complex. Cassidy was a grieving daughter who was realizing all she had missed out on with her dad to grow her social media career. Add that to her boyfriend dumping her, and she was a ball of emotions trying to find the right next step. That next step drew her into the world of her dad's favorite baseball team and player, Nate. Nate was NOT a fan of Cassidy's. He did everything he could to stay out of her orbit while being forced to engage with her. The way they went from being frustrated with and not liking each other to falling in love was a ton of fun to experience. I loved how in the end they became each other's greatest supporters.

I'm really hoping this is the first book in a new series for Snowe. It's one of her best books yet, and the supporting characters deserve books, too! This book wouldn't have been what it was without the supporting cast. All of Nate's teammates were so much fun and I loved how they egged him on. They were so supportive of him and of Cass. I want more of them. I also want a Nate's sister to get a book. She needs a happy ending.

[Courtney Brown]

As a current reader of Jaqueline Snowe, I know all about her and what her books have and there's not a book of hers that I haven't loved!

Swing and a Kiss has to be by far one of my favorites that she has written. From the very first introduction all the way to the ending I was left on the edge of my seat just wondering how both Cassidy and Nate's amazing story was going to end after everything fell into place for them. From the very beginning I felt so much for our poor girl Cassidy. Despite losing her dad and also getting dumped by her ex on the day of his funeral she tried to push through it all trying to put on a brave face by being upbeat and an all-around good person.

Nate at first made me a little mad at times just by the things he would say to her and by bringing her down and just assuming everything about her instead of really getting to know her.

I loved the whole grumpy/sunshine storyline I felt it really fell into place not to mention it was a good way to start out their whole relationship. I enjoyed the moments where Cassidy got to know how loved and special her dad was to the whole Gila Monsters's team especially to Nate. I felt the ending really cleared things up and was just overall a great ending for both Cassidy and Nate and I just knew their love was strong enough :)

[Haveabookwilltravel Em]

eARC¬
Swing and Kiss by Jaqueline Snowe

Maybe if I was a baseball aficionado I would enjoy Swing and a Kiss better? As a sports romance, it ticks the boxes. A grumpy x sunshine, pro athlete x influencer, fake dating (until it's real), an age gap, and a 3rd Act breakup you could see coming a mile off. What you get as well is a love letter to the sport of baseball and the passion its players, staff and supporters hold for it.

Swing and A Kiss also explores the impact of grief on a person. The little things you can't get back, the time you won't have a do-over and the wafts of grief that catch you unaware.

however, I am concerned about the MMC Nate. The man needs some myofacial release - I actually used the search function on my Kindle and the poor man, clenches, locks, flexes, ticc's or has a tightened jaw more than 70 times.

I did enjoy the "pulling back the curtain" on Cassidy being an influencer and the work that goes into maintaining a facade to a public that expect a particular product.
The found family and support network are cute to boot and I can see there are more baseball players who might get their own book in the future.

With thanks to Netgalley, Alcove Press and the author for the opportunity to read the eARC ahead of publication.

Swing and A Kiss is due for publication 29th September, 2026

[Whittleton. Adventures]

Chilli rating - 🌶️🌶️
Plot - 4
Rating- 4⭐

Expect
📖 Sports romance
📖 Fake dating
📖 Age gap
📖 Grumpy X sunshine
📖 He falls first

"Cassidy Calloway never expected to go viral for grieving, but in the face of loss, little makes sense, especially when faced with a hit-it-out-of-the-park, over-the-fence, World Series kind of love."

My thoughts of the book 💭

Thank you to Jacqueline snowe, Alcove press publishers and netgalley for this copy of swing and a kiss.

This was actually a sweet novel.
The FMC Cassidy is a social media star, who just lost her dad, so coming to terms with that...
She is bubbly and sweet, full of emotions, but a menace to the Mmc Nate. Like full on menace and I'm here for it.

He is this grumpy baseball player, who has been burnt in the past, and presumed Cassidy is a certain way..

Oh boy, I love their chemistry, it's fun and sweet at the same time...but bossy Nate 🥵 his dirty mouth.... Yes please ate that up.

I loved how it talked about grief and how people deal with it, but not shoved down your throat.

This was an enjoyable book, it was full of banter, hot bossy Nate and a menace of a FMC,

My favourite moments 🗨️


"Like a legend," pavin said, finally sliding off me. "A very old, grumpy, still-hot legend."

"You should know, Cassidy," he said, his voice deep now, "if I kiss you, it's just for me, not everyone else "

[Jen Lindsey]

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the arc of Swing and a Kiss in exchange for an honest review. This was the perfect time for me to read a sweet summer baseball romance and the title is stellar!

Cassidy is an influencer and we are introduced to her while getting dumped by her boyfriend at her father's funeral. She is sunshine and uses her heartache and grief to launch her career. She has learned that her father was much more invested in the major league baseball team than she ever knew, so she creates a trend to honor him and his favorite player. Nate is the all star pitcher who has hit a slump and hates any social media and initially, Cassidy. Their banter is fun and witty, until they start to open up to each other and discovering what is really behind the persona they project.

What started as enemies soon turns into Nate wanting more with Cassidy. The heat and chemistry between these two is fire! With Nate's future on the team hanging by a thread, a fake dating scheme has turned into real connection, and now forcing Nate to decide what is most important in life. Through healing, great supporting teammates and sister, and some soul searching, Cassidy and Nate find their HEA.

I'm anticipating more books coming in this world and I can't wait.

[Nicole (NicoleIsBooked)]

Cassidy and Nate start out as enemies, but it turns into fake dating, which leads to real feelings. Cassidy is an influencer, and her dad has recently passed away. Her dad worked for his favorite baseball team, and Nate is a pitcher for the team. Nate thinks that Cassidy is just another influencer, who only cares about follows, likes, and clout, but she is not like that at all.

Cassidy comes up with a plan to bring nine dates to baseball games, in honor of her dad's favorite player, Nate's, number. As she does this, it starts to annoy Nate, and it distracts him from his games. They decide to abandon this idea, and instead, she starts to fake date Nate. The fake dating never feels fake though, and all of their feelings felt very real.

Things I loved:
- Age gap- he’s 36, she’s 24
- Nate's relationship with his sister, Amanda- she's 22, single and pregnant (I'd love to see a book for her!)
- He takes care of her when she gets hurt in a charity softball game,
- She likes to flirt with his teammates to make him jealous
- Spicy hookup in the pool
- Nate and Cassidy's banter

This was a really fun story, and I would like to see more books with these characters. I enjoyed the rest of the players on the team, and I could see them finding their own love stories.

[kenzreads]

I was in need of a palate cleanser, and this did the trick. The story was sweet and definitely helped with the slump I was in.

Overall, I had a good time reading this book and thought the premise of a tribute to her late father was very touching.

I did have a few issues with the book. Occasionally, there were continuity issues in the writing. At one point, a character had "appeared at my other side and said...", then a few paragraphs later in, that same character "had been quietly stretching [and] suddenly spoke." This, along with other logical inconsistencies got confusing and took me out of the story. The pacing of the relationship was a little odd to me. The MMC seemed to absolutely LOATHE the FMC in the beginning for seemingly mild reasons and then flipped the script fairly abruptly. In my opinion, it would have made it a more reasonable story if he just simply disliked her first.

There was also some cringey lines that I just don't love in a book such as mentioning BookTok or book tropes but that's just a personal thing I don't like in newer contemporary romance novels.

Like I said, this was a good change of pace from my usual genre and I did enjoy it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this eARC!

[Dawn]

A sweet and funny baseball romance. I am a sucker for the hot grumpy / sunshine combo, and these two did not disappoint. Enemies to lovers, and a fake dating trope - it’s like they had no idea what was coming.

Cassidy is a ray of masked sunshine while trying to cope with the sudden death of her father. Her father who loved baseball almost as much as he loved her. Cassidy and Nate’s meet cute is actually graveside at her father’s funeral when she is dumped by her current boyfriend and finds out her dad was working security for his favorite baseball team. Nate (pitcher for said baseball team) grew close to her dad over the years and was there to pay respects. Attraction, awkwardness, assumptions, and aggravation….

These characters are so fun and so sweet. Cassidy helps Nathan open up and Nathan is the unyielding force that helps her feel seen and heal. The teammates were such an entertaining part of the book. Ribbing, teasing, but also pushing and supporting. ❤️

I absolutely loved how each chapter started with a Yogi Berra quote. He was so so funny!!

⚰️🪦⚾️🏟️🧢💚9️⃣🤳📱🏜️❤️‍🔥
📖ebook - Advanced Read Copy from NetGalley

[Natalie Intihar]

If you know anything about me, you know that fake dating x sports romance is totally my niche. Swing and a Kiss knocked this out of the park- baseball pun FULLY intended! I loved Cassidy and Nate’s love story and simply can’t get enough!

These two are so opposites attract coded from the very start. They each had misconceptions about the other, and it was so fun to see them learn the truer parts of their partner. The fake dating in Swing and a Kiss really allowed Cassidy and Nate to connect without any pressure, and that only served to heighten their connection.

I loved both the baseball arc of Nate’s career choices as well as the arc of Cassidy figuring out her future as an influencer. Their shared love of Cassidy’s late father was meaningful and touching, and it added an extra level of depth to their relationship. This book truly had it all- the spice, the sweet moments, and of course, all the love.

Thank you to Alcove Press for the opportunity to read and review this book! I received a free advance copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Kayla Thorn]

Cassidy is a social media influencer known for finding humour in every situation life throws at her. Hard to find humour in her boyfriend dumping her during her father’s funeral though. In an effort to bounce back she decides to have 9 dates at the baseball field her father loved dearly. Nate, who pitches for the team, was close to her father and can’t stand social media so he finds the whole thing (and Cassidy) completely insufferable. But Cassidy is selling seats and the fans are drawn to her chemistry with Nate. Soon the enemies find themselves fake dating for PR reasons. Can they navigate their fake relationship without their feelings turning into something more?

Read if you like:
-baseball romance
-age gap
-he falls first and hardest
-navigating grief and loss
-grumpy x sunshine
-fake dating
-enemies to lovers

My thoughts:
I liked this! So many of my favorite tropes and for the most part all done so well. My only real gripe is that the enemies to lovers didn’t feel as gradual as I typically like. It felt more like a switch and it was fairly early on. I liked the side characters and really enjoyed Nate’s relationship with his sister. The writing style was really easy to read. It was dual POV which I love in a romance book. Nate and Cassidy had good banter and their relationship felt fun but deep at the same time. Really enjoyable read for me. Thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for the advanced e-copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

[Laura]

3.5 Stars

I liked this one. This is my first book by this author, and it's always a fun risk when it works out well enough that I will be interested in reading other titles.

Do I believe someone would actually break up with someone at a funeral? Sort of? But I believed it enough that I was instantly sympathetic to the heroine. And, I could also see the frustration of the hero as an influencer invades his world.

I liked Cassidy a lot. I think you can't help but feel for her, and the idea that the hits (to sort of use a baseball term) just keep coming on top of losing her father and learning that there was a lot about him that she didn't know.

Nate, for a large portion of the story was kind of a jerk. Better than the ex, but as he dumped Cassidy at a funeral, that wasn't too difficult. I do think the author did a good job of showing who he was and why he was acting as he did, but I would have liked to see a little more time spent on their connection when he wasn't being a jerk.

All that said, I enjoyed this one. I definitely had a few moments where I laughed, and I was engaged to the end.

Disclaimer: I was provided a review copy by the publisher

[Kasey Blake]

If I never read another grumpy sunshine book again it will be too soon. Jaqueline you are lucky I love baseball. The nostalgic baseball family vibes were very present which was appreciated I did enjoy the sandlot yogi Berra references maybe overkill but it was fun for me. I enjoyed Amanda and Lauren but wish Cassidy had some more established friendships, I really hate when they don’t have anyone to confide in besides the love interest. This girl really needed some friends. And now maybe I am just a grumpy sunshine hater but it was really too much, I mean I understood what the intention was without him calling her sunshine or Nate being referred to as a grump on every other page. Being grumpy is not an endearing personality trait, neither is being insanely jealous. Jesus man, every time he went into a jealous rage I was so annoyed, god forbid a girl is a little flirty. A man being angry is literally never hot even if it’s from jealousy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for this advanced copy

[Books.For.Sunny]

4/5 estrellas

Primeramente le quiero dar gracias a NetGalley y Jaqueline Snowe por dejarme leer este ARC a cambio de una reseña honesta.

Swing and kiss fue una lectura rápida, adictiva y atrapante. Soy muy fan del trope del sport romance, por lo que este libro fue definitivamente para mi. Cassidy fue un personaje que me sorprendió en gran manera, su fortaleza en momentos de duelo me llego al corazón, ella realmente adoraba a su padre y trato de honrar su imagen de la mayor manera que pudo. Un gran punto a favor que tuvo esta historia, fue mostrar lo que hay detrás de las celebridades de internet, lo que hay detrás de una imagen que para muchos puede parecer "perfecta".
Debo admitir que al principio la diferencia de edad entre la pareja principal me choco un poco, pero con el pasar de las paginas me fue mas fácil encariñarme con ellos ya que el nivel de madurez de ambos es alto y Nate en ningún momento usa su edad para algo incorrecto. Él es la pareja que su papá hubiera querido para ella.
Quedo bastante conforme con esta historia y sin duda sera recomendada!!