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Better Than Revenge
Not yet published
Expected 25 Aug 26Daniela Williams is furious.
A nasty break up after being cheated on is a crappy way to start the year.
What's worse? Her ex and his new girlfriend are on Daniela's swim team.
If she wasn't so against showing she cares about anything, she'd drown him in the pool. This is what she gets for dating teammates.
But Daniela never admits defeat in anything - both in and out of the pool.
Enter Heath Belfort; a captivating and stupidly handsome local surfer. . . and her ex's biggest swimming rival. Heath smiles through her ex's jabs and beats him in every race. So, what better way to get revenge than to fake date the one person her ex hates most?
Heath's up for the challenge . . . on one Daniela agrees to tutor him so he can pass his history class.
Private lessons and staged kisses are just fine with her, but can anyone make it out of a fake relationship unscathed?
Kindle Edition
Expected publication August 25, 2026
About the author
E.J. Blaise
6 books552 followersEJ Blaise is an Irish author of all things romance. When she's not creating unrealistically perfect men, she can be found travelling, reading, and dreaming of running a bookstore café.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 14, 2026
As fake-dating books go, this one was the most un-fake of them all,
and I absolutely adored it. There were no kissing rules, no touching rules, no rules whatsoever, basically. They were just dating, and she thought it was fake 🤭
I’m giving this book five stars because of all the feels, the butterflies, and the overall perfection that was Heath.
I loved every smile, every witty comeback he delivered, and every moment he “malfunctioned” and “hallucinated.” He was the most adorable cinnamon roll ever.
Dani had issues. Lots of them. Most of them caused by the fact that life hadn’t treated her well. She was prickly, slightly antisocial, and maybe a little on the spectrum. Even though that part wasn’t spelled out, it’s just my suspicion.
I always love the grumpy-sunshine dynamic. I love when the grumpy one starts to smile a little, relax a little, and realize that life doesn’t have to be all about hardship. That’s what I loved most about this book: Heath’s energy was so positive it practically radiated off the pages and made me smile too. Cinnamon roll men make the best heroes, and I’ll die on this hill.
So this book would have been perfect if it weren’t for the very unnecessary and very annoying third-act breakup… I’m so tired of unnecessary fights ruining amazing books…
However, I’ll definitely read more from this author. If there are more men like Heath hiding in her other books, I want to find them 👀
Thanks to NetGalley and Headline for the ARC, all opinions are my own.
Expected 25 Aug 26
and I absolutely adored it. There were no kissing rules, no touching rules, no rules whatsoever, basically. They were just dating, and she thought it was fake 🤭
I’m giving this book five stars because of all the feels, the butterflies, and the overall perfection that was Heath.
I loved every smile, every witty comeback he delivered, and every moment he “malfunctioned” and “hallucinated.” He was the most adorable cinnamon roll ever.
Dani had issues. Lots of them. Most of them caused by the fact that life hadn’t treated her well. She was prickly, slightly antisocial, and maybe a little on the spectrum. Even though that part wasn’t spelled out, it’s just my suspicion.
I always love the grumpy-sunshine dynamic. I love when the grumpy one starts to smile a little, relax a little, and realize that life doesn’t have to be all about hardship. That’s what I loved most about this book: Heath’s energy was so positive it practically radiated off the pages and made me smile too. Cinnamon roll men make the best heroes, and I’ll die on this hill.
So this book would have been perfect if it weren’t for the very unnecessary and very annoying third-act breakup… I’m so tired of unnecessary fights ruining amazing books…
However, I’ll definitely read more from this author. If there are more men like Heath hiding in her other books, I want to find them 👀
Thanks to NetGalley and Headline for the ARC, all opinions are my own.
Expected 25 Aug 26
May 2, 2026
3.75⭐️ was this predictable? yes. did i still eat it up? absolutely. this was textbook black cat x golden retriever energy and was done SO well. heath is such an acts of service man, actually he is pretty much perfect at every love language. this was a fun and addictive read, i couldn’t put it down!!!
there was a solid plot, strong relationship between the fmc and mmc but sometimes i felt like other aspects were undeveloped. we were given insights into heaths friendship group but it didn’t feel fully fledged at times and was just there for plot purposes. i wish we knew more about imani and brendan, there was a few unanswered questions. there was a lot of minor characters introduced who could’ve been given more attention to, but that is just my preference in found families and side characters.
all in all this made me smile, laugh and tear up at times. dani is such a relatable fmc and made me think about what i even want from life, what am i actually doing for myself and not others? i’m glad we got to see her soften up towards the end but i wanted morrreeeeeeee!!
oh and that pool scene 🤭🤭🤭🤭 i was BLUSHING
thank you for the e-arc e.j braise and headline xxx
there was a solid plot, strong relationship between the fmc and mmc but sometimes i felt like other aspects were undeveloped. we were given insights into heaths friendship group but it didn’t feel fully fledged at times and was just there for plot purposes. i wish we knew more about imani and brendan, there was a few unanswered questions. there was a lot of minor characters introduced who could’ve been given more attention to, but that is just my preference in found families and side characters.
all in all this made me smile, laugh and tear up at times. dani is such a relatable fmc and made me think about what i even want from life, what am i actually doing for myself and not others? i’m glad we got to see her soften up towards the end but i wanted morrreeeeeeee!!
oh and that pool scene 🤭🤭🤭🤭 i was BLUSHING
thank you for the e-arc e.j braise and headline xxx
May 6, 2026
First of all thank you to the author and the publisher for ARC copy I am so grateful to be able to read an review this book earlier.
This is a first by the author for me but I love that’s she’s our own local 🇮🇪 Irish author and had to get her books on my list! And I can easily say I’ll be reading many more books to come!
The story here is a college romance so most characters are 20-21. There is a black cat x sunshine dynamic going on, swimming is a vital part of the story and competing. I loved the college setting, the slow burn and the fake dating aspect
I think so many people will absolutely love this sports romance. There are a lot of real life moments that added to the character development, cute and sweet romance scenes that made my heart happy 🥹 The spicy scenes were tasteful and this is a slower burn, there is a lot of attraction and “foreplay” that happens through the book that I really enjoyed.
One thing I have to have say even by the end, the book did not make me like the FMC. She was still an ahole lol I get why she is the way she is but I was hoping for more growth, more development from her. I actually think she doesn’t deserve the mc. He’s too good for her. I also just couldn’t get over how the ex kept acting I found him so cringe near the end.
But perhaps this is more to do with the fact im in my 30s now and character this young I struggle to connect with. Which is why I know may people will love this book regardless of my own little dislikes.
This is 100% a great sports romance to try especially if it’s your first book by the author.
This is a first by the author for me but I love that’s she’s our own local 🇮🇪 Irish author and had to get her books on my list! And I can easily say I’ll be reading many more books to come!
The story here is a college romance so most characters are 20-21. There is a black cat x sunshine dynamic going on, swimming is a vital part of the story and competing. I loved the college setting, the slow burn and the fake dating aspect
I think so many people will absolutely love this sports romance. There are a lot of real life moments that added to the character development, cute and sweet romance scenes that made my heart happy 🥹 The spicy scenes were tasteful and this is a slower burn, there is a lot of attraction and “foreplay” that happens through the book that I really enjoyed.
One thing I have to have say even by the end, the book did not make me like the FMC. She was still an ahole lol I get why she is the way she is but I was hoping for more growth, more development from her. I actually think she doesn’t deserve the mc. He’s too good for her. I also just couldn’t get over how the ex kept acting I found him so cringe near the end.
But perhaps this is more to do with the fact im in my 30s now and character this young I struggle to connect with. Which is why I know may people will love this book regardless of my own little dislikes.
This is 100% a great sports romance to try especially if it’s your first book by the author.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Better Than Revenge was such an enjoyable read. like I picked it up and just didn’t put it back down.
this is black cat x golden retriever and it is done so well. Dani is going THROUGH it - grieving her mom, dealing with a cheating ex who got with her teammate, and then her entire swim team backing him?? yeah I’d be done with everyone too.
and then there’s Heath. rival school swimmer, goldenest of golden retrievers, and just so gone for her it’s not even subtle. he is adorable. this man is all acts of service, all the time. not scared of her walls, not put off by her avoidant tendencies, just steady and there and showing up. if he wanted to he would!
the fake dating setup is there but honestly they’re barely pretending. they start out like “yeah this is for revenge” and then immediately just start acting like a couple and catching feelings in front of everyone. when they finally realize?? i ate. it. up.
it’s super bingeable and I loved it. thank you so much Headline Eternal for the ARC!! all thoughts are my own.
this is black cat x golden retriever and it is done so well. Dani is going THROUGH it - grieving her mom, dealing with a cheating ex who got with her teammate, and then her entire swim team backing him?? yeah I’d be done with everyone too.
and then there’s Heath. rival school swimmer, goldenest of golden retrievers, and just so gone for her it’s not even subtle. he is adorable. this man is all acts of service, all the time. not scared of her walls, not put off by her avoidant tendencies, just steady and there and showing up. if he wanted to he would!
the fake dating setup is there but honestly they’re barely pretending. they start out like “yeah this is for revenge” and then immediately just start acting like a couple and catching feelings in front of everyone. when they finally realize?? i ate. it. up.
it’s super bingeable and I loved it. thank you so much Headline Eternal for the ARC!! all thoughts are my own.
May 5, 2026
4,25 ⭐️ When I first started the book, I thought it was going to average (a 3 star), something to keep me enterterned, but as I kept reading, I became incredibly invested. I couldn’t put it down.
I loved that since the very first moment you know Heath is down bad. The yearning!!!!!!!! It got me giggling everytime I noticed no one was watching them interact, but he kept calling her pet names. I knew it was just a matter of time Daniela caught up with it.
I have really enjoyed every this author has writtten, so good to see that I still do!!!!
Wished we had known more about the group of friends tho!
(thank you netgalley for the ARC, I loved this!!)
I loved that since the very first moment you know Heath is down bad. The yearning!!!!!!!! It got me giggling everytime I noticed no one was watching them interact, but he kept calling her pet names. I knew it was just a matter of time Daniela caught up with it.
I have really enjoyed every this author has writtten, so good to see that I still do!!!!
Wished we had known more about the group of friends tho!
(thank you netgalley for the ARC, I loved this!!)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 stars, and a formal request for Kiki’s book that I will be submitting in writing)
How I Got Here
I had my eye on this from the announcement. Never read E J Blaise before but the pitch was exactly my kind of situation and I was not waiting around about it. Huge thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the ARC because waiting for the release date was not going to be an option for me personally.
The Case For Swimming
Can we talk about the fact that there are not enough swimming sport romances? Because there aren’t. We have an entire genre built around hockey and football and baseball and yet the pool is sitting there, completely underutilised, full of narrative potential and excellent shoulder-to-waist ratios, and almost nobody is doing anything about it. E J Blaise is doing something about it. I respect this decision enormously.
Both main characters are athletes, which in my opinion is not a preference but a requirement for a sports romance that actually works. Check. Slow burn. Check. He falls first — and hard, which is the only acceptable direction for that to go. Check. Fake dating. Check. We are off to an excellent start.
What This Book Did Well
The found family element landed. The emotional journey the FMC goes through is genuinely tough, heartbreaking in places, and yet you are rooting for her through all of it, even when things get complicated, even when she makes it difficult. That’s hard to pull off and this book pulls it off.
The MMC is a top tier golden retriever and I mean that as the highest possible compliment. Enthusiastic. Devoted. Falls completely and somewhat helplessly. Exactly what we needed in this specific story against this specific emotional backdrop. The spice is present and calibrated correctly, enough to keep things warm without tipping into territory that starts to feel like a different book entirely.
The Honest Bit
Towards the end things escalate in a direction that I have to be real about. I loved the FMC, I understood her pain completely, I was with her the whole way. And yet. Some of what she says and does in those later chapters pushed past what I could fully excuse, even accounting for everything she’d been through.
Here’s my test for this and I apply it consistently: if the MMC had done those same things to her, we would be telling her to leave immediately and not look back. That double standard is worth naming. It didn’t ruin the book for me but it sat with me in a way I couldn’t entirely shake and you deserve to know that going in.
The Kiki Situation
If you enjoy Hannah Grace’s Maple Hill series this is a must read and I will not be taking questions about that recommendation.
This book needs to be the first in a series because I need Kiki’s story with an urgency I cannot fully explain but feel very deeply. Someone make this happen. I am asking nicely. For now.
Final Verdict
Four stars, genuinely meant. I will be rereading this, soon, and with a trophy copy because this one earned it. E J Blaise’s backlist has been added to my list and I’ll be getting to it with reasonable haste.
If sports romance and slow burn are your thing, this is your next read and I’m confident saying so without caveats.
— Tanya Jayne, formally petitioning for Kiki’s book, adding another author’s entire backlist to the pile, blaming nobody but herself for the current state of her TBR
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 ⭐️ no, i don’t think you understand… i’m obsessed.
better than revenge follows daniela williams, a fiercely competitive swimmer reeling after a breakup with her cheating ex — who’s not only on her swim team, but now dating the girl he cheated on her with (also a teammate). forced to see them every day and relive the humiliation, daniela is determined to get even. enter heath belfort — a laid-back surfer and her ex’s biggest rival — who she enlists as her fake boyfriend. what starts as a plan for revenge quickly spirals out of control as real feelings blur the line between pretend and reality.
everything about this just worked for me — i was hooked from start to finish. the plot was so much fun!! i was absolutely eating up all the college drama, the she’s the man vibes, and the small coastal beach town setting. the pacing was strong overall, though the ending — and, as a result, some of the character growth — felt just a lil bit rushed. i wanted a little more time and space for the story and character arcs to fully land in a way that felt completely believable and earned. i also would’ve loved to see dani in therapy (idec, it’s canon in my head — she’s healthy, happy, and healing, and i refuse to accept any other outcome for her!).
i love these characters so much!! dani?? my strong, resilient girl. i’d wage battles on your behalf (and win). and heath belfort 🤭🤭 mi amorcito <3 he’s kind, patient, attentive, funny, smart, & just so damn cute. he also worships the ground dani walks on (as he should!!). i can’t even think about him for too long bc it’s a depressing reminder that men like him don’t exist irl 🫠 their chemistry was insane! the banter? the teasing? top tier. also the angst ?? the tension??? the yearning (i swear heath has a degree in yearning) ???? i can’t. pls everyone take notes bc this is how you successfully execute black cat x golden retriever (and fake dating for that matter).
i also adored the friend group dynamics & found family element!! i really hope we get each of their stories bc there were definitely hints at more to come. either way, i cannot wait to read more from this author.
such a witty, sharp, and emotional read that i could’ve easily devoured a few hundred more pages of — and one i’ll be thinking about for a while.
thank you so much to netgalley and headline for providing me with this arc!
better than revenge follows daniela williams, a fiercely competitive swimmer reeling after a breakup with her cheating ex — who’s not only on her swim team, but now dating the girl he cheated on her with (also a teammate). forced to see them every day and relive the humiliation, daniela is determined to get even. enter heath belfort — a laid-back surfer and her ex’s biggest rival — who she enlists as her fake boyfriend. what starts as a plan for revenge quickly spirals out of control as real feelings blur the line between pretend and reality.
everything about this just worked for me — i was hooked from start to finish. the plot was so much fun!! i was absolutely eating up all the college drama, the she’s the man vibes, and the small coastal beach town setting. the pacing was strong overall, though the ending — and, as a result, some of the character growth — felt just a lil bit rushed. i wanted a little more time and space for the story and character arcs to fully land in a way that felt completely believable and earned. i also would’ve loved to see dani in therapy (idec, it’s canon in my head — she’s healthy, happy, and healing, and i refuse to accept any other outcome for her!).
i love these characters so much!! dani?? my strong, resilient girl. i’d wage battles on your behalf (and win). and heath belfort 🤭🤭 mi amorcito <3 he’s kind, patient, attentive, funny, smart, & just so damn cute. he also worships the ground dani walks on (as he should!!). i can’t even think about him for too long bc it’s a depressing reminder that men like him don’t exist irl 🫠 their chemistry was insane! the banter? the teasing? top tier. also the angst ?? the tension??? the yearning (i swear heath has a degree in yearning) ???? i can’t. pls everyone take notes bc this is how you successfully execute black cat x golden retriever (and fake dating for that matter).
i also adored the friend group dynamics & found family element!! i really hope we get each of their stories bc there were definitely hints at more to come. either way, i cannot wait to read more from this author.
such a witty, sharp, and emotional read that i could’ve easily devoured a few hundred more pages of — and one i’ll be thinking about for a while.
thank you so much to netgalley and headline for providing me with this arc!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Better Than Revenge is a fun, emotional college sports romance. It follows Dani, a competitive swimmer reeling after her cheating ex starts dating her teammate. Heath Belfort - rival swimmer, surfer boy and the ultimate golden retriever MMC - agrees to fake date her for revenge. The line between pretending and real feelings disappears almost immediately, in the best way. The chemistry, banter, tension, and yearning are all top tier.
Dani’s journey is so well done! Under all her prickly walls and hyper-independence is a girl carrying so much grief and hurt. Watching her slowly realize she deserves love and respect outside of her achievements was really emotional for me. I was crying at points and kicking my feet at others.
And Heath?? Swoon! He's patient, funny, attentive and obsessed with Dani in the most lovable way. He's constantly showing up for her through acts of service while still pushing her out of her comfort zone when she needs it most. It made me melt. Their chemistry was perfect - the teasing, the angst, the fake dating that barely felt fake, the tension when they started catching feelings in front of everyone… I ate it up. The side characters and found family moments made the story feel even richer, and I would love to read more books about this friend group. This book is sharp, witty, emotional, and ridiculously addictive and I would have happily read another 300 pages.
💙 Fake dating
💙 Black cat x golden retriever
💙 Grumpy × sunshine
💙 College sports romance
💙 Found family
💙 Revenge romance
💙 Coastal small-town vibes
💙 He falls first
💙 Emotionally unavailable FMC
💙 First person single POV
Thank you EJ Blaise, Headline Eternal and NetGalley for a copy of "Better Than Revenge" in exchange for my honest review.
Dani’s journey is so well done! Under all her prickly walls and hyper-independence is a girl carrying so much grief and hurt. Watching her slowly realize she deserves love and respect outside of her achievements was really emotional for me. I was crying at points and kicking my feet at others.
And Heath?? Swoon! He's patient, funny, attentive and obsessed with Dani in the most lovable way. He's constantly showing up for her through acts of service while still pushing her out of her comfort zone when she needs it most. It made me melt. Their chemistry was perfect - the teasing, the angst, the fake dating that barely felt fake, the tension when they started catching feelings in front of everyone… I ate it up. The side characters and found family moments made the story feel even richer, and I would love to read more books about this friend group. This book is sharp, witty, emotional, and ridiculously addictive and I would have happily read another 300 pages.
💙 Fake dating
💙 Black cat x golden retriever
💙 Grumpy × sunshine
💙 College sports romance
💙 Found family
💙 Revenge romance
💙 Coastal small-town vibes
💙 He falls first
💙 Emotionally unavailable FMC
💙 First person single POV
Thank you EJ Blaise, Headline Eternal and NetGalley for a copy of "Better Than Revenge" in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I liked this book, and I like the premises of it. It was the first book from EJ Blaise and I loved her writing!
The storyline (fake dating as revenge) was good - this is the sort of trope that I LOOOOVE so it was the perfect romance book for me, in that regards. I also love “a secretly already in love character” so that was the cherry on top for me.
The biggest positive thing in this book for me was Heath - god he is a good MMC. Patient, cute, attentive, soooo sweet. He deserves the absolute world and I’m so glad he gets his HEA.
Sadly the negative thing for me was Dani - or more, the characterisation of her. I found her slightly annoying throughout the whole book and in my opinion, she didn’t really get that much better (except in the epilogue, which is a shame because I would have LOOOOVED to see her growing and evolving into a nicer/more loving character). Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely understand her character and not feeling like you’re loved etc, and having a lot of insecurities/barriers because of it; but this was a little bit over the top for me and I almost found her cruel with Heath at some point. I think if she got her “redemption” arc within the book and we slowly saw her change, that would have been a 5 stars for me.
Overall I liked this book a lot and would recommend for Heath alone!
The storyline (fake dating as revenge) was good - this is the sort of trope that I LOOOOVE so it was the perfect romance book for me, in that regards. I also love “a secretly already in love character” so that was the cherry on top for me.
The biggest positive thing in this book for me was Heath - god he is a good MMC. Patient, cute, attentive, soooo sweet. He deserves the absolute world and I’m so glad he gets his HEA.
Sadly the negative thing for me was Dani - or more, the characterisation of her. I found her slightly annoying throughout the whole book and in my opinion, she didn’t really get that much better (except in the epilogue, which is a shame because I would have LOOOOVED to see her growing and evolving into a nicer/more loving character). Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely understand her character and not feeling like you’re loved etc, and having a lot of insecurities/barriers because of it; but this was a little bit over the top for me and I almost found her cruel with Heath at some point. I think if she got her “redemption” arc within the book and we slowly saw her change, that would have been a 5 stars for me.
Overall I liked this book a lot and would recommend for Heath alone!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I went into Better Than Revenge really excited because the setup had so much potential — rival swim teams, ex’s rival, and fake dating is honestly such a fun combination. The book started off really strong for me and I was quickly pulled into the story.
Daniela is quite reserved and keeps to herself for most of the book, especially within her swim team dynamics, while Heath — who swims for the rival team — brought a much lighter energy. Heath was definitely my favourite character throughout. He had major golden retriever vibes and was genuinely charming, supportive, and easy to root for.
Unfortunately, Daniela became a frustrating character for me as the story went on. There were several moments where she would get angry at Heath for things she was also doing herself, and at times it felt like she was unnecessarily mean to him. That imbalance made it harder for me to fully enjoy the romance because Heath deserved better communication than he was getting.
That said, this was still an easy and entertaining read overall, especially if you enjoy fake dating and rival romance tropes. While the character dynamics didn’t fully work for me by the end, I can definitely see this appealing to readers looking for a light sports romance with plenty of tension and banter.
Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Daniela is quite reserved and keeps to herself for most of the book, especially within her swim team dynamics, while Heath — who swims for the rival team — brought a much lighter energy. Heath was definitely my favourite character throughout. He had major golden retriever vibes and was genuinely charming, supportive, and easy to root for.
Unfortunately, Daniela became a frustrating character for me as the story went on. There were several moments where she would get angry at Heath for things she was also doing herself, and at times it felt like she was unnecessarily mean to him. That imbalance made it harder for me to fully enjoy the romance because Heath deserved better communication than he was getting.
That said, this was still an easy and entertaining read overall, especially if you enjoy fake dating and rival romance tropes. While the character dynamics didn’t fully work for me by the end, I can definitely see this appealing to readers looking for a light sports romance with plenty of tension and banter.
Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Better Than Revenge was such a fun and addictive college romance. The fake dating trope immediately pulled me in, but what really made this book work for me was the chemistry between Daniela and Heath.
Daniela’s character felt really believable after everything with her ex, and I liked that she wasn’t instantly ready to trust or open up again. Heath balanced her personality perfectly — he’s charming, supportive, and persistent without being overbearing, and their dynamic had a really natural progression throughout the story.
The fake dating and tutoring setup created so many good moments between them, and I thought the balance between humor, tension, and emotional vulnerability was done really well. Their relationship developed in a way that felt genuine instead of rushed, which made it easy to get invested in them as a couple.
I also really enjoyed the swim team setting and the found family aspect of the story. The side characters added a lot without taking attention away from the main romance.
Overall, this was a sweet, entertaining romance with great banter, strong chemistry, and just the right amount of angst. If you enjoy college romances with fake dating, grumpy/sunshine dynamics, and a lovable golden retriever MMC, this is definitely worth picking up.
Daniela’s character felt really believable after everything with her ex, and I liked that she wasn’t instantly ready to trust or open up again. Heath balanced her personality perfectly — he’s charming, supportive, and persistent without being overbearing, and their dynamic had a really natural progression throughout the story.
The fake dating and tutoring setup created so many good moments between them, and I thought the balance between humor, tension, and emotional vulnerability was done really well. Their relationship developed in a way that felt genuine instead of rushed, which made it easy to get invested in them as a couple.
I also really enjoyed the swim team setting and the found family aspect of the story. The side characters added a lot without taking attention away from the main romance.
Overall, this was a sweet, entertaining romance with great banter, strong chemistry, and just the right amount of angst. If you enjoy college romances with fake dating, grumpy/sunshine dynamics, and a lovable golden retriever MMC, this is definitely worth picking up.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
GUYSSSSSSS!!! I WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH E.J BLAISE’S GAME BUT DAMMNNN.
I was literally SQUEALING! wanting to throw my kindle because I’m down bad, only to lock in, kicking my feet and devoured this book in 48 hours. Would have been less but a girl has to work.
Dani… GIRLIE! STAND ON MY NECK! Do it! Do it! On a serious note, I love her. Prickly with a soft centre, angry because she’s got a good reason to be. Enter the softest, hottest and most loveable Heath with tattoos and a buzz cut downbad and on a mission .
The back and forth between Dani and Heath! GAVE ME LIFE. Fast, witty, dry banter and it was SEAMLESS. Their chemistry? Off the charts.
5 stars no doubt. I’m in love. Let me deep dive into her other books because this was EVERYTHING!
Full review coming but it’s a must read guys!!!!
I was literally SQUEALING! wanting to throw my kindle because I’m down bad, only to lock in, kicking my feet and devoured this book in 48 hours. Would have been less but a girl has to work.
Dani… GIRLIE! STAND ON MY NECK! Do it! Do it! On a serious note, I love her. Prickly with a soft centre, angry because she’s got a good reason to be. Enter the softest, hottest and most loveable Heath with tattoos and a buzz cut downbad and on a mission .
The back and forth between Dani and Heath! GAVE ME LIFE. Fast, witty, dry banter and it was SEAMLESS. Their chemistry? Off the charts.
5 stars no doubt. I’m in love. Let me deep dive into her other books because this was EVERYTHING!
Full review coming but it’s a must read guys!!!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
D aniela no es precisamente la persona favorita de nadie. Tiene fama de fría, de difícil y de no necesitar a nadie, pero todo eso se vuelve en su contra cuando su relación con Ben explota y ella termina siendo la señalada, como si fuera la culpable de todo. Mientras él sigue su vida como si nada, ella se queda con la molestia, el orgullo herido y una necesidad muy clara de no quedarse así.
Heath Belfort es todo lo contrario a ella, relajado, encantador y peligrosamente fácil de querer. Además es el último chico con el que Daniela debería involucrarse, justo por eso parece la opción perfecta para darle la vuelta a las cosas. Lo que comienza como un acuerdo que parece sencillo pronto se llena de miradas, roces y momentos que no estaban en el plan.
Heath Belfort es todo lo contrario a ella, relajado, encantador y peligrosamente fácil de querer. Además es el último chico con el que Daniela debería involucrarse, justo por eso parece la opción perfecta para darle la vuelta a las cosas. Lo que comienza como un acuerdo que parece sencillo pronto se llena de miradas, roces y momentos que no estaban en el plan.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Erin has done it again!!
Prickly girl and guy who loves every facet of her ✔️
Making me sob ✔️
Full cast of gorgeous side characters ✔️
Excellent wit throughout ✔️
I loved seeing Dani’s journey through this book and her learning that she deserves love and respect no matter how good she is at swimming or school was emotional but beautifully written. Heath is THAT GUY!!!! He is funny and sweet and he is understandably OBSESSED with her – he is patient when he knows she needs time but also pushes her from her comfort zone when she absolutely needs it to start living her life for herself and her own happiness.
Hoping for more from this friends group (hint hint Headline)
Glorious book, absolutely recommend. Long live Death.
Prickly girl and guy who loves every facet of her ✔️
Making me sob ✔️
Full cast of gorgeous side characters ✔️
Excellent wit throughout ✔️
I loved seeing Dani’s journey through this book and her learning that she deserves love and respect no matter how good she is at swimming or school was emotional but beautifully written. Heath is THAT GUY!!!! He is funny and sweet and he is understandably OBSESSED with her – he is patient when he knows she needs time but also pushes her from her comfort zone when she absolutely needs it to start living her life for herself and her own happiness.
Hoping for more from this friends group (hint hint Headline)
Glorious book, absolutely recommend. Long live Death.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I loved this!! One of my first college sports romances and it did not disappoint!!
I am meant to be locking in on deadline but I started this and couldn't put it down...BUZZY AS HELL! we are SOOO back!!
I am meant to be locking in on deadline but I started this and couldn't put it down...BUZZY AS HELL! we are SOOO back!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ughh i don’t want it to be over😩 i know this is going to be my favourite book i read all year and it isn’t even half over yet!!
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May 2, 2026RTC
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