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Clause and Effect
Not yet published
Expected 10 Feb 26He’s the athlete whisperer. She turns love into clauses.
When the world’s biggest pop star gets engaged to the NFL’s friendliest wrecking ball, Avery Quinn lands the prenup of the decade... and the rival who won’t stop smiling at her across the table.
Avery is New York’s sharpest prenup lawyer: no adjectives, only terms.
Her job is to protect Lark Lyons’s empire—songs, brand, future—from the chaos of love and headlines.
His job? To make sure Miles Kincaid keeps his dignity, his NFL schedule… and his say.
Opposing counsel Daniel Reid is infuriatingly competent and camera-ready, the man the media calls hotly principled. Avery calls him smarmy.
The internet calls them #DangerousLawyers after a jumbotron almost-moment goes viral.
Between crisis leaks, morality clauses, and a stadium packed for Track Five, the negotiation turns into something else: a duel in perfect sentences and a slow burn made of commas and glances.
She builds guardrails. He argues for grace.
And somewhere between the clauses, Avery realizes she might have met her match.
Contracts don’t do romance. But desire has a way of rewriting the fine print.
When the world’s biggest pop star gets engaged to the NFL’s friendliest wrecking ball, Avery Quinn lands the prenup of the decade... and the rival who won’t stop smiling at her across the table.
Avery is New York’s sharpest prenup lawyer: no adjectives, only terms.
Her job is to protect Lark Lyons’s empire—songs, brand, future—from the chaos of love and headlines.
His job? To make sure Miles Kincaid keeps his dignity, his NFL schedule… and his say.
Opposing counsel Daniel Reid is infuriatingly competent and camera-ready, the man the media calls hotly principled. Avery calls him smarmy.
The internet calls them #DangerousLawyers after a jumbotron almost-moment goes viral.
Between crisis leaks, morality clauses, and a stadium packed for Track Five, the negotiation turns into something else: a duel in perfect sentences and a slow burn made of commas and glances.
She builds guardrails. He argues for grace.
And somewhere between the clauses, Avery realizes she might have met her match.
Contracts don’t do romance. But desire has a way of rewriting the fine print.
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Expected publication February 10, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
[ARC REVIEW 📖]
Clause and Effect
Author : Phoebe Sinclair
Miles Kincaid, NFL star & Lark Lyons, multiple Grammy-winning, heartbreak-penning, & world's most famous singer-songwriter, got engaged & are about to setup a prenup for the marriage of the century. The whole world goes wild. Paparazzis everywhere, desperate for the whole scoop.
Rowan Collins of Starlight /Stardust Management, the person in-charge of Lyson, sent 32-year old Avery Quinn, a lawyer responsible for divorce & prenup law, boss of her own law firm (office of Stone, Mercer, and Quinn found in the Chrysler Building) a career-changing email which toppled over her whole life (in a good way!)
This strong-willed & career-driven female protagonist, with her supportive bestfriends Elle & Maya, are a couple of young adults just trying to get on with life, until this bigbreak happened with Avery, plus Mr. Smarmy Man Daniel Reid, a famous athlete lawyer guy, also known as the Athlete Whisperer, representing Kincaid, appeared on the scene, driving her crazy and in the end, causing utmost public chaos due to leaks of the clause bashing in the glass conference room, making it one of the biggest newsworthy hits in history.
Can the brilliant Avery Quinn fix the disorder & set things straight?
First of all, I love the friendship & bond the three women have. Playful, tacky, with a hint of smirks & sarcasms, but in the end, they fully support each other. Such likeable characters from the start, women empowerment at its finest. Oh & not forgetting Jess (Avery's paralegal) just low-key being supportive of her boss looking for "love like footnotes" plus may I just say that she is like a pro secretary on the job with her witty post-its. She is effin' adorable. 🤭
Secondly, can we just talk about how Daniel is such a greatly misunderstood guy? Total green-flag, every woman's dream. Plus a hottie smarty lawyer at that. The complete package. Don't mind if I do. 😋🤭
Lastly, the book trops included would be : close proximity, forced alliance, enemies to lovers, & romance with a little spice in between. The relationship had a rough start, but it was well worth it in the end. ❤️
I was enchanted by the plot. There are minimal typos here & there, & there were a lot of technical legal jargons, but all in all, a great debut novel, definitely worth the read. Looking forward to the next book!
Thank you Miss Sinclair for giving me the opportunity to read your book. 🥹🫶
4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
P.S. Follow me for more book reviews on :
❥ Instagram @bookwormdenz
❥ Threads @denz.kaye
❥ Meta @bookworm.denz
❥ Goodreads @bookwormdenz
Clause and Effect
Author : Phoebe Sinclair
Miles Kincaid, NFL star & Lark Lyons, multiple Grammy-winning, heartbreak-penning, & world's most famous singer-songwriter, got engaged & are about to setup a prenup for the marriage of the century. The whole world goes wild. Paparazzis everywhere, desperate for the whole scoop.
Rowan Collins of Starlight /Stardust Management, the person in-charge of Lyson, sent 32-year old Avery Quinn, a lawyer responsible for divorce & prenup law, boss of her own law firm (office of Stone, Mercer, and Quinn found in the Chrysler Building) a career-changing email which toppled over her whole life (in a good way!)
This strong-willed & career-driven female protagonist, with her supportive bestfriends Elle & Maya, are a couple of young adults just trying to get on with life, until this bigbreak happened with Avery, plus Mr. Smarmy Man Daniel Reid, a famous athlete lawyer guy, also known as the Athlete Whisperer, representing Kincaid, appeared on the scene, driving her crazy and in the end, causing utmost public chaos due to leaks of the clause bashing in the glass conference room, making it one of the biggest newsworthy hits in history.
Can the brilliant Avery Quinn fix the disorder & set things straight?
First of all, I love the friendship & bond the three women have. Playful, tacky, with a hint of smirks & sarcasms, but in the end, they fully support each other. Such likeable characters from the start, women empowerment at its finest. Oh & not forgetting Jess (Avery's paralegal) just low-key being supportive of her boss looking for "love like footnotes" plus may I just say that she is like a pro secretary on the job with her witty post-its. She is effin' adorable. 🤭
Secondly, can we just talk about how Daniel is such a greatly misunderstood guy? Total green-flag, every woman's dream. Plus a hottie smarty lawyer at that. The complete package. Don't mind if I do. 😋🤭
Lastly, the book trops included would be : close proximity, forced alliance, enemies to lovers, & romance with a little spice in between. The relationship had a rough start, but it was well worth it in the end. ❤️
I was enchanted by the plot. There are minimal typos here & there, & there were a lot of technical legal jargons, but all in all, a great debut novel, definitely worth the read. Looking forward to the next book!
Thank you Miss Sinclair for giving me the opportunity to read your book. 🥹🫶
4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
P.S. Follow me for more book reviews on :
❥ Instagram @bookwormdenz
❥ Threads @denz.kaye
❥ Meta @bookworm.denz
❥ Goodreads @bookwormdenz
Review of advance copy received from Author
I got the arc of Clause and Effect in exchange for a genuine review...
“Contracts don’t do romance. But desire has a way of rewriting the fine print.”
This book is what happens when intelligence meets chemistry and turns into something dangerously irresistible. I went in expecting a cute legal rom-com and came out emotionally invested in commas, clauses, and subtle glances. This was slow burn at its finest.
Avery Quinn is everything I adore in an FMC. She is controlled, precise, and emotionally armored. Love to her is a liability, not a luxury. She doesn’t dream in metaphors; she thinks in bullet points and legal safeguards. Watching her navigate a world where emotions threaten her structure was deeply satisfying. She’s not cold—she’s careful. And that made her vulnerability even more beautiful when it finally surfaced.
Daniel Reid, on the other hand, is grace wrapped in confidence. The athlete whisperer, the media darling, the man who believes people deserve more than protection—they deserve understanding. Where Avery sees danger, Daniel sees possibility. Where she drafts guardrails, he drafts hope. Their dynamic isn’t loud or chaotic; it’s controlled tension, thoughtful debate, and attraction that grows in silence.
The way their romance unfolds through legal negotiations was pure brilliance. No dramatic confessions. No rushed feelings. Just stolen glances across a conference table, pauses that last too long, sentences that carry double meaning. Their chemistry lives in what’s unsaid, and that made it incredibly intimate.
The celebrity aspect added the perfect layer of pressure. A pop star. An NFL star. Media frenzy. Viral moments. The #DangerousLawyers tag was iconic and felt so real, like something Bookstagram and Twitter would explode over instantly. But what I loved was how the story never lost its emotional grounding. The fame was a backdrop, not the heart of the story. The heart was always Avery and Daniel.
It’s about realizing that safety doesn’t always come from walls. Sometimes, it comes from choosing someone brave enough to meet you where you are.
This romance is subtle, intelligent, and emotionally rich. It’s for readers who love tension built through conversation, longing built through restraint, and passion built through connection rather than chaos.
A love story written in legal language, rewritten by longing, and sealed with trust.
“Contracts don’t do romance. But desire has a way of rewriting the fine print.”
This book is what happens when intelligence meets chemistry and turns into something dangerously irresistible. I went in expecting a cute legal rom-com and came out emotionally invested in commas, clauses, and subtle glances. This was slow burn at its finest.
Avery Quinn is everything I adore in an FMC. She is controlled, precise, and emotionally armored. Love to her is a liability, not a luxury. She doesn’t dream in metaphors; she thinks in bullet points and legal safeguards. Watching her navigate a world where emotions threaten her structure was deeply satisfying. She’s not cold—she’s careful. And that made her vulnerability even more beautiful when it finally surfaced.
Daniel Reid, on the other hand, is grace wrapped in confidence. The athlete whisperer, the media darling, the man who believes people deserve more than protection—they deserve understanding. Where Avery sees danger, Daniel sees possibility. Where she drafts guardrails, he drafts hope. Their dynamic isn’t loud or chaotic; it’s controlled tension, thoughtful debate, and attraction that grows in silence.
The way their romance unfolds through legal negotiations was pure brilliance. No dramatic confessions. No rushed feelings. Just stolen glances across a conference table, pauses that last too long, sentences that carry double meaning. Their chemistry lives in what’s unsaid, and that made it incredibly intimate.
The celebrity aspect added the perfect layer of pressure. A pop star. An NFL star. Media frenzy. Viral moments. The #DangerousLawyers tag was iconic and felt so real, like something Bookstagram and Twitter would explode over instantly. But what I loved was how the story never lost its emotional grounding. The fame was a backdrop, not the heart of the story. The heart was always Avery and Daniel.
It’s about realizing that safety doesn’t always come from walls. Sometimes, it comes from choosing someone brave enough to meet you where you are.
This romance is subtle, intelligent, and emotionally rich. It’s for readers who love tension built through conversation, longing built through restraint, and passion built through connection rather than chaos.
A love story written in legal language, rewritten by longing, and sealed with trust.
February 8, 2026
I want to thank the author for reaching out to me, it really was appreciated. This book releasing right after the Super Bowl was perfect timing! A Travis and Taylor (Lark & Miles) inspired story but make it their prenup lawyers!
Avery is the FMC who is described as terrifying in a way that feels educational lawyer, she knows law and how to use it. She speaks fluently in legalese and thankfully Daniel speaks her language too! Avery is set in her ways to protect herself from getting hurt, she has a quirky tough exterior.
Daniel is our MMC and he’s more easy going, out in the world celebrating life even when he has a difficult job supporting clients that are athletes who don’t always have the best reputation. Daniel is funny, kind and can dish it right back.
A few complaints I don’t care for the miscommunication or lack of communication when building a relationship. The silence speaks a language that is heart breaking. This book is very wordy, I know it’s a book but every little thing is described and most things are described as a metaphor. Which to me took away from the story. I felt there wasn’t as much to building their relationship as there was describing the street they walked down.
This story had me so excited and had a lot of potential but it was hard to read and be in the mindset of their love story when to me there were a lot of distractions describing the scene and not their feelings and relationship. If you speak legalese, love metaphors and very descriptive books this is an amazing story for you!
Avery is the FMC who is described as terrifying in a way that feels educational lawyer, she knows law and how to use it. She speaks fluently in legalese and thankfully Daniel speaks her language too! Avery is set in her ways to protect herself from getting hurt, she has a quirky tough exterior.
Daniel is our MMC and he’s more easy going, out in the world celebrating life even when he has a difficult job supporting clients that are athletes who don’t always have the best reputation. Daniel is funny, kind and can dish it right back.
A few complaints I don’t care for the miscommunication or lack of communication when building a relationship. The silence speaks a language that is heart breaking. This book is very wordy, I know it’s a book but every little thing is described and most things are described as a metaphor. Which to me took away from the story. I felt there wasn’t as much to building their relationship as there was describing the street they walked down.
This story had me so excited and had a lot of potential but it was hard to read and be in the mindset of their love story when to me there were a lot of distractions describing the scene and not their feelings and relationship. If you speak legalese, love metaphors and very descriptive books this is an amazing story for you!
January 24, 2026
This was cute AF!
Strong independent FMC, Misunderstood MMC a prenup negotiation and more than one love story.
I adored the FMC’s besties, her secretary and the female celeb in the story.
I turn a book in to a movie in to my head and I could absolutely see it all unfolding and happening, sometimes a little too much. The imagery is vivid, but the heavy descriptive focus sometimes distracted from momentum. But that’s a personal preference as I know others love that.
Some of the main character convos felt quite matter of fact, and I would’ve loved more emotion in the way they spoke to each other. Even in softer moments, the conversations sometimes felt a little blunt, I know there could be more vulnerability and real conversation between them to make the connection feel deeper. Or possibly could thrive with some of his POV too.
Honestly, I really did enjoy this book, I was hooked and I would 100% read more from this author, on the essential TBR now. I liked the trope of a workplace, and how independent the characters were, and I was excited to see where it was all going next! ⭐️⭐️⭐️ & 🌶️
Strong independent FMC, Misunderstood MMC a prenup negotiation and more than one love story.
I adored the FMC’s besties, her secretary and the female celeb in the story.
I turn a book in to a movie in to my head and I could absolutely see it all unfolding and happening, sometimes a little too much. The imagery is vivid, but the heavy descriptive focus sometimes distracted from momentum. But that’s a personal preference as I know others love that.
Some of the main character convos felt quite matter of fact, and I would’ve loved more emotion in the way they spoke to each other. Even in softer moments, the conversations sometimes felt a little blunt, I know there could be more vulnerability and real conversation between them to make the connection feel deeper. Or possibly could thrive with some of his POV too.
Honestly, I really did enjoy this book, I was hooked and I would 100% read more from this author, on the essential TBR now. I liked the trope of a workplace, and how independent the characters were, and I was excited to see where it was all going next! ⭐️⭐️⭐️ & 🌶️
Review of advance copy
[ARC review]
The summary plot looked right into my alley, but it turned out not for me. The story starts quite "heavy" with a lot of technical terms - right into the lawyer talks - and stays quite intimidating. However, after a while you get the typical romcom scenarios (e.g. being stuck with each other due to a snowstorm).
The love story develops quite fast, with a minimum base for background / feelings. The switch between love and hate was not super clear to me, beside thinking he was hot, I did not really see why they ended up together. After the first half we get some background but it felt all a bit unhinged to me. Also, they needed to talk more to avoid most of the downs. The side characters are very funny though.
Though it was not my cup of tea, I see the potential of the story and would understand others to love the story. It just can not be a hot for everyone.
The summary plot looked right into my alley, but it turned out not for me. The story starts quite "heavy" with a lot of technical terms - right into the lawyer talks - and stays quite intimidating. However, after a while you get the typical romcom scenarios (e.g. being stuck with each other due to a snowstorm).
The love story develops quite fast, with a minimum base for background / feelings. The switch between love and hate was not super clear to me, beside thinking he was hot, I did not really see why they ended up together. After the first half we get some background but it felt all a bit unhinged to me. Also, they needed to talk more to avoid most of the downs. The side characters are very funny though.
Though it was not my cup of tea, I see the potential of the story and would understand others to love the story. It just can not be a hot for everyone.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2026
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3 stars)
Just finished Clause and Effect by Phoebe Sinclair a fun enemies-to-lovers contemporary romance that had so much personality!
Avery Quinn is New York’s sharpest prenup lawyer, all logic and clauses and when she’s hired for a major celebrity prenup, she finds herself going head-to-head with Daniel Reid, the camera-ready opposing counsel who’s everything she claims not to need. This story blends hot banter, slow burn tension, and big personalities in a high-stakes professional setting. Between crisis negotiations, media chaos, and those stolen glances across the table, it was a fun read with just enough sparkle to keep me turning pages.
If you like witty enemies-to-lovers romances with charm and chemistry, this one’s definitely worth a go!
Just finished Clause and Effect by Phoebe Sinclair a fun enemies-to-lovers contemporary romance that had so much personality!
Avery Quinn is New York’s sharpest prenup lawyer, all logic and clauses and when she’s hired for a major celebrity prenup, she finds herself going head-to-head with Daniel Reid, the camera-ready opposing counsel who’s everything she claims not to need. This story blends hot banter, slow burn tension, and big personalities in a high-stakes professional setting. Between crisis negotiations, media chaos, and those stolen glances across the table, it was a fun read with just enough sparkle to keep me turning pages.
If you like witty enemies-to-lovers romances with charm and chemistry, this one’s definitely worth a go!
Review of advance copy
Title: Clause and Effect
Author: Phoebe Sinclair
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3 stars)
Reviewed by Abbey on behalf of The Plot Thickens Book Club
Thank you to Phoebe Sinclair for the opportunity to read Clause and Effect as an ARC.
This contemporary romance delivers an engaging enemies to lovers setup within a high-stakes legal setting. The dynamic between the two leads is driven by strong personalities, sharp dialogue, and professional tension, which made their interactions enjoyable to follow. The premise was fun and well executed, particularly for readers who enjoy workplace romance with banter and sparks.
Overall, Clause and Effect was a solid, entertaining read with a good balance of romance and plot. Fans of contemporary enemies to lovers stories will appreciate the chemistry and fast pace.
Author: Phoebe Sinclair
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3 stars)
Reviewed by Abbey on behalf of The Plot Thickens Book Club
Thank you to Phoebe Sinclair for the opportunity to read Clause and Effect as an ARC.
This contemporary romance delivers an engaging enemies to lovers setup within a high-stakes legal setting. The dynamic between the two leads is driven by strong personalities, sharp dialogue, and professional tension, which made their interactions enjoyable to follow. The premise was fun and well executed, particularly for readers who enjoy workplace romance with banter and sparks.
Overall, Clause and Effect was a solid, entertaining read with a good balance of romance and plot. Fans of contemporary enemies to lovers stories will appreciate the chemistry and fast pace.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Such a cute and fun workplace rom-com! Phoebe’s writing is extremely descriptive, rich with imagery and metaphor. Conversations unfold into a volley of snappy metaphors. Avery and Daniel trade legalese puns and double entendres for days, which was a delight to read!
MMC falls first, while she’s in denial and afraid to let love in. I especially loved the subplots with Avery’s two BFFs and Jess, the trusty sidekick paralegal.
At times, the plot felt repetitive—quite literally—and there were a few typos. Still, it delivers a heartwarming HEA, because specificity keeps everyone honest. 😉
⭐️⭐️⭐️🌶🌶
Several scenes, open-door and moderately descriptive.
MMC falls first, while she’s in denial and afraid to let love in. I especially loved the subplots with Avery’s two BFFs and Jess, the trusty sidekick paralegal.
At times, the plot felt repetitive—quite literally—and there were a few typos. Still, it delivers a heartwarming HEA, because specificity keeps everyone honest. 😉
⭐️⭐️⭐️🌶🌶
Several scenes, open-door and moderately descriptive.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved the premise of this story! Two lawyers who worked close together to draft a prenup for a famous singer and her football playing finance. Ripped from the headlines! I enjoyed Daniel and Avery’s story. I enjoyed them getting to know each other and how Daniel was able to tear down Avery’s walls bit by bit. But, the missed communication between them drove me a little nuts. They both spent time ghosting each other and refused to talk which led to hurt feelings between the both of them. In the end, they figured each other out and I was so happy for them!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I’m still swooning over this book!! Two lawyers, one prenup for two very famous people. What should be a professional relationship, turns into something more. There’s just one problem… love was never supposed to be in the contract. I devoured this book! I enjoyed each of the characters! They were funny and relatable. It was minimal spice and the scenes were excellently described. I read the ebook first, but I’ll be buying a physical copy as soon as it’s released! This is such a cute love story and I love it!!
January 29, 2026
If you love messy romance books where the guy knows how he feels all along, and the FMC tries to protect her feeling at all costs, until she know longer could avoid it, Clause and Effect is for you! Avery Quinn and Daniel Reid are working to create a prenup for two of the biggest stars possible , and end up finding themselves in a relationship of their own, even when Avery tries to avoid it. If you want a fun read that ends in a happily ever after, and a hint of superstar romance that reminds you of the super star couple of our time (T. Swift and T. Kelce) this book is for you!
February 1, 2026
I loved the idea of this book concept... as a Swiftie, I could not wait to tear into it. The character development was spectacularly detailed. Phoebe pulled in so many "TSwift" details for the pop star character.
I do feel like the story was a little slow paced. Not so much a slow burn... just kinda slow for me. I just needed more at a faster pace.
Over all Phoebe's Idea for this story was good, characters were developed. I look forward to seeing what she writes in the future.
I do feel like the story was a little slow paced. Not so much a slow burn... just kinda slow for me. I just needed more at a faster pace.
Over all Phoebe's Idea for this story was good, characters were developed. I look forward to seeing what she writes in the future.
January 25, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Smarmy meets organised, and honestly: perfect fit from the start. This story is heartfelt, funny and hits close to home for me. Love with intent. Avery and Daniel have a special place in my heart. Boardroom antics, concert sparks and a perfectly timed , Thanksgiving, a must read!
#arc #bookrec #lovestory #clauseandeffect #phoebesinclair #books #bookstagram #fyp
Smarmy meets organised, and honestly: perfect fit from the start. This story is heartfelt, funny and hits close to home for me. Love with intent. Avery and Daniel have a special place in my heart. Boardroom antics, concert sparks and a perfectly timed , Thanksgiving, a must read!
#arc #bookrec #lovestory #clauseandeffect #phoebesinclair #books #bookstagram #fyp
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC REVIEW
will share tomorrow after I've slept on it
will share tomorrow after I've slept on it
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews