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Manchester Bees Football Club #1
Text Me Maybe
One wrong number. Two stubborn hearts. And a whole lot of texts in between.
Scarlett Simmons apologizes for everything. For existing, for speaking up, for accidentally dousing grumpy British football managers in scalding coffee. Her therapist says it's a problem. Her ex said she was "too much." So when she lands in Manchester to resurrect England's worst football club from PR hell, she's determined to be less . . . herself.
Except she can't seem to stop clashing with Theo Ross, the club's infuriatingly proper manager who wears ties like armor and treats her American optimism like a personal offense. He's all cool professionalism and withering glances. She's all big ideas and nervous necklace-fiddling. They're a disaster.
But then there's the mystery man she's been texting since she landed. A wrong number that turned into late-night conversations, random questions about eye color and neckties, and a connection so easy it makes her forget to apologize. With him, she's not too much. She's exactly enough.
As the football season heats up and the stakes get higher, Scarlett finds herself caught between the job that could make her career and the feelings that could break her heart. Because sometimes the most complicated plays happen off the field.
Scarlett Simmons apologizes for everything. For existing, for speaking up, for accidentally dousing grumpy British football managers in scalding coffee. Her therapist says it's a problem. Her ex said she was "too much." So when she lands in Manchester to resurrect England's worst football club from PR hell, she's determined to be less . . . herself.
Except she can't seem to stop clashing with Theo Ross, the club's infuriatingly proper manager who wears ties like armor and treats her American optimism like a personal offense. He's all cool professionalism and withering glances. She's all big ideas and nervous necklace-fiddling. They're a disaster.
But then there's the mystery man she's been texting since she landed. A wrong number that turned into late-night conversations, random questions about eye color and neckties, and a connection so easy it makes her forget to apologize. With him, she's not too much. She's exactly enough.
As the football season heats up and the stakes get higher, Scarlett finds herself caught between the job that could make her career and the feelings that could break her heart. Because sometimes the most complicated plays happen off the field.
Audible Audio
Published March 31, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
April 20, 2026
3.5⭐
Genre ~ sports romance
Series ~ Manchester Bees Football Club #1
Setting ~ England
Publication date ~ March 31, 2026
Publisher ~ Dreamscape Media
Est Page Count ~ 277 (19 chapters)
Audio length ~ 7 hours 47 minutes
Narrator ~ Avery May
POV ~ single 3rd
Featuring ~ grumpy/sunshine, PR rep, team manager, workplace romance, very minimal steamage
Scarlett leaves the states to take on a PR job for the Manchester Bees Football Club, for both the men's and women's teams. When she lands at the airport she texts her driver to pick her up. Turns out, though, that it's the wrong person, but that doesn't stop them from texting back and forth for weeks. Could Mr. Wrong Number actually turn out to be the Right Man?
Theo is the manager and a right grump. And he hates American's, so he and Scarlett don't get off on the right foot.
There's some sexism going on with the men's team being favored even though the women's team is outperforming them. Didn't care too much for that.
Overall, I enjoyed it. A little bit of lack of communication, but it wasn't too bad. The ending, while satisfying for now, was a little abrupt. I wonder if we'll some updates on them as the series continues on.
Cover gripe ~ he's described as having dirty blonde hair. Cover dude looks more like a brunette to me.
Narration notes:
She did fine, and since it was single 3rd I suppose it's fine we only had the one narrator. She did pretty good British and Scottish accents. A little iffy for the men at times, but still overall I didn't hate it.
Genre ~ sports romance
Series ~ Manchester Bees Football Club #1
Setting ~ England
Publication date ~ March 31, 2026
Publisher ~ Dreamscape Media
Est Page Count ~ 277 (19 chapters)
Audio length ~ 7 hours 47 minutes
Narrator ~ Avery May
POV ~ single 3rd
Featuring ~ grumpy/sunshine, PR rep, team manager, workplace romance, very minimal steamage
Scarlett leaves the states to take on a PR job for the Manchester Bees Football Club, for both the men's and women's teams. When she lands at the airport she texts her driver to pick her up. Turns out, though, that it's the wrong person, but that doesn't stop them from texting back and forth for weeks. Could Mr. Wrong Number actually turn out to be the Right Man?
Theo is the manager and a right grump. And he hates American's, so he and Scarlett don't get off on the right foot.
There's some sexism going on with the men's team being favored even though the women's team is outperforming them. Didn't care too much for that.
Overall, I enjoyed it. A little bit of lack of communication, but it wasn't too bad. The ending, while satisfying for now, was a little abrupt. I wonder if we'll some updates on them as the series continues on.
Cover gripe ~ he's described as having dirty blonde hair. Cover dude looks more like a brunette to me.
Narration notes:
She did fine, and since it was single 3rd I suppose it's fine we only had the one narrator. She did pretty good British and Scottish accents. A little iffy for the men at times, but still overall I didn't hate it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
☀️ Sunshine/grumpy romance
⚽ Sports romance / football club setting
🇬🇧 American woman in the UK
💬 Texting as a plot device
🔥 Explicit / higher heat than expected
🏟️ Women's sports subplot
📚 Shelf Placement: Frosted Cake and Off to Bed
If you've watched Ted Lasso and thought "I want this but as romance beachy read," Text Me Maybe is going to scratch that itch pretty effectively. American PR professional Scarlett lands in Manchester to rescue England's worst football club from itself, immediately dumps coffee on the grumpy Scottish manager, and the rest is exactly what you'd expect.
Comfortably, enjoyably so.
This is Matilda Madison's first contemporary after a run of historical romances, and she pulls it off. Scarlett and grumpy boss, Theo, work. They're familiar archetypes but likable ones, and the tension grows without overstaying its welcome. The subplot of the male v female football teams rubbed me the wrong way, especially the ending, but didn't ruin the experience.
If you're reading this purely for the romance, you'll finish it happy.
🌈 Representation
Black women hold named roles including Scarlett's colleague/roommate and the manager of the women's team. The club owners read as possibly South Asian or Middle Eastern, though the text doesn't specify. The honest caveat is that secondary characters are pretty flat across the board, so the diversity is present but not particularly deep. No mention of queer representation that I caught.
🔍 Tropes and Power Lens
The book sets you up with nods towards a feminist subplot. There's a pointed reference to women's football being actively banned in England when women's matches started outselling the men's. Scarlett arrives with a prepared speech for whenever someone tells her she doesn't belong because she's a woman — because apparently she's given it enough times to have one ready. The women's team's second-class treatment within the organization gets named directly, not just implied. All seemed hopeful and didn't develop.
Without spoiling it I can't say much but I will say the subplot resolution left me colder than the book intended and highlighted benevolent sexism rather than unpacking anything significant or making the reader feel that real progress had been made.
The central romance is cleaner but not free of misogynistic tropes. The main male character is grumpy and veers into controlling/possessive. That said it read more as though we were getting his genuine feelings and reactions versus the author trying to imply men's jealousy-turned-controlling behaviors represents love (which so many authors seem to believe and just does not do it for me).
⚠️ Content Warnings
Content warnings are non-exhaustive and reflect what stood out to me as a reader.
Explicit sexual content, drunk driving, car accident, mention of past emotional unavailability in a relationship.
⭐ Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
⭐ 1 star: Did not work for me
⭐⭐ 2 stars: Had real problems
⭐⭐⭐ 3 stars: Decent but didn't quite land
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 stars: Solid and enjoyable, some reservations
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 stars: Loved it, highly recommend
BookShrink ratings reflect my personal reading experience and apply to books read from 2025 onward.
Thank you to Honey Blossom Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
⚽ Sports romance / football club setting
🇬🇧 American woman in the UK
💬 Texting as a plot device
🔥 Explicit / higher heat than expected
🏟️ Women's sports subplot
📚 Shelf Placement: Frosted Cake and Off to Bed
If you've watched Ted Lasso and thought "I want this but as romance beachy read," Text Me Maybe is going to scratch that itch pretty effectively. American PR professional Scarlett lands in Manchester to rescue England's worst football club from itself, immediately dumps coffee on the grumpy Scottish manager, and the rest is exactly what you'd expect.
Comfortably, enjoyably so.
This is Matilda Madison's first contemporary after a run of historical romances, and she pulls it off. Scarlett and grumpy boss, Theo, work. They're familiar archetypes but likable ones, and the tension grows without overstaying its welcome. The subplot of the male v female football teams rubbed me the wrong way, especially the ending, but didn't ruin the experience.
If you're reading this purely for the romance, you'll finish it happy.
🌈 Representation
Black women hold named roles including Scarlett's colleague/roommate and the manager of the women's team. The club owners read as possibly South Asian or Middle Eastern, though the text doesn't specify. The honest caveat is that secondary characters are pretty flat across the board, so the diversity is present but not particularly deep. No mention of queer representation that I caught.
🔍 Tropes and Power Lens
The book sets you up with nods towards a feminist subplot. There's a pointed reference to women's football being actively banned in England when women's matches started outselling the men's. Scarlett arrives with a prepared speech for whenever someone tells her she doesn't belong because she's a woman — because apparently she's given it enough times to have one ready. The women's team's second-class treatment within the organization gets named directly, not just implied. All seemed hopeful and didn't develop.
Without spoiling it I can't say much but I will say the subplot resolution left me colder than the book intended and highlighted benevolent sexism rather than unpacking anything significant or making the reader feel that real progress had been made.
The central romance is cleaner but not free of misogynistic tropes. The main male character is grumpy and veers into controlling/possessive. That said it read more as though we were getting his genuine feelings and reactions versus the author trying to imply men's jealousy-turned-controlling behaviors represents love (which so many authors seem to believe and just does not do it for me).
⚠️ Content Warnings
Content warnings are non-exhaustive and reflect what stood out to me as a reader.
Explicit sexual content, drunk driving, car accident, mention of past emotional unavailability in a relationship.
⭐ Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
⭐ 1 star: Did not work for me
⭐⭐ 2 stars: Had real problems
⭐⭐⭐ 3 stars: Decent but didn't quite land
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 stars: Solid and enjoyable, some reservations
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 stars: Loved it, highly recommend
BookShrink ratings reflect my personal reading experience and apply to books read from 2025 onward.
Thank you to Honey Blossom Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
April 6, 2026
2.75⭐️This one started off really well but then it kinda lost me.
I loved the plot line for the story and I like the women in sports representation. I thought the main characters in the story were diverse and interesting to read about. I'm a big lover of written flirting so when the text messages came into the picture I was loving it.
Just for me the writing felt too direct and in my face. I prefer to have hints and use my critical thinking than having it being spelled out at every turn what is going on. I felt like the author didn't leave any room for us as the readers to put 2 and 2 together.
I also can't help but think that the author is not British? I only say this because a few things didn't make sense for a British storyline. Firstly when she's trying to ring a number for a taxi - it's not a British area code being used. Another thing is she kept referring to football boots as cleats.
I also couldn't get my head around how much the two main characters fell out but then a bit of heated eye contact and they were putty in each other's hands. There just didn't seem to be much development for Theo and Scarlett.
Also one minute there's a mention of a working relationship ban and the next minute this is completely ignored. And you cannot tell me after all those in the face clues that she didn't not figure it out sooner. The storyline seemed to be full of contradictions in my opinion.
I loved the plot line for the story and I like the women in sports representation. I thought the main characters in the story were diverse and interesting to read about. I'm a big lover of written flirting so when the text messages came into the picture I was loving it.
Just for me the writing felt too direct and in my face. I prefer to have hints and use my critical thinking than having it being spelled out at every turn what is going on. I felt like the author didn't leave any room for us as the readers to put 2 and 2 together.
I also can't help but think that the author is not British? I only say this because a few things didn't make sense for a British storyline. Firstly when she's trying to ring a number for a taxi - it's not a British area code being used. Another thing is she kept referring to football boots as cleats.
I also couldn't get my head around how much the two main characters fell out but then a bit of heated eye contact and they were putty in each other's hands. There just didn't seem to be much development for Theo and Scarlett.
Also one minute there's a mention of a working relationship ban and the next minute this is completely ignored. And you cannot tell me after all those in the face clues that she didn't not figure it out sooner. The storyline seemed to be full of contradictions in my opinion.
April 13, 2026
I rated this book 3.5 stars
This was a quick, enjoyable listen for me. The texting setup is cute, the pacing stays smooth, and the whole story has this light, feel‑good energy. And honestly? The title had me singing “Call Me Maybe” the entire time, which felt hilariously on‑theme.
Even though it’s told entirely from Scarlett’s first‑person POV, the reader knows the twist way before she does. I actually liked that choice — it adds a playful kind of tension while you wait for the characters to catch up.
Avery May narrates the entire audiobook, and I thought she did a great job. She keeps the tone warm and friendly, and she handles the different character voices well — including the British accents, which were a fun surprise and added a nice layer to the performance.
The romance itself is gentle and sweet. It didn’t hit the deeper emotional notes I usually look for, but it was still entertaining and easy to sink into.
Overall, it’s a fun, light read with a charming premise and a smooth, easy flow.
A huge thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Matilda Madison for this ALC.
This was a quick, enjoyable listen for me. The texting setup is cute, the pacing stays smooth, and the whole story has this light, feel‑good energy. And honestly? The title had me singing “Call Me Maybe” the entire time, which felt hilariously on‑theme.
Even though it’s told entirely from Scarlett’s first‑person POV, the reader knows the twist way before she does. I actually liked that choice — it adds a playful kind of tension while you wait for the characters to catch up.
Avery May narrates the entire audiobook, and I thought she did a great job. She keeps the tone warm and friendly, and she handles the different character voices well — including the British accents, which were a fun surprise and added a nice layer to the performance.
The romance itself is gentle and sweet. It didn’t hit the deeper emotional notes I usually look for, but it was still entertaining and easy to sink into.
Overall, it’s a fun, light read with a charming premise and a smooth, easy flow.
A huge thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Matilda Madison for this ALC.
March 18, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
3.5. This was a cute and fun read with a really strong premise! I loved the idea behind the story, and I especially liked the focus on the women’s team getting the spotlight instead of being pushed aside. The girl-power moments were definitely my favorite part, and I enjoyed the overall vibe of the book.
That said, the miscommunication trope lasted almost the entire story, which started to get overly frustrating, and the big reveal happening right at the end felt a little dragged out and unrewarding. The big team scandal also felt overly extreme but somehow was handled in a way that didn’t feel as serious as it should have. I also wish we had gotten more depth from both Scarlett and Theo, especially when it came to their past as soccer players, because it felt like there was more there that never fully got explored.
Overall, I liked this, but it didn’t quite hit as hard as I wanted it to. Fun premise, enjoyable read, just missing a little depth.
3.5. This was a cute and fun read with a really strong premise! I loved the idea behind the story, and I especially liked the focus on the women’s team getting the spotlight instead of being pushed aside. The girl-power moments were definitely my favorite part, and I enjoyed the overall vibe of the book.
That said, the miscommunication trope lasted almost the entire story, which started to get overly frustrating, and the big reveal happening right at the end felt a little dragged out and unrewarding. The big team scandal also felt overly extreme but somehow was handled in a way that didn’t feel as serious as it should have. I also wish we had gotten more depth from both Scarlett and Theo, especially when it came to their past as soccer players, because it felt like there was more there that never fully got explored.
Overall, I liked this, but it didn’t quite hit as hard as I wanted it to. Fun premise, enjoyable read, just missing a little depth.
April 9, 2026
I listened to the audiobook version of this book and I really enjoyed it. the narrator was great and the book was really fun. the plot was predictable but still cute and fun. the characters had good chemistry. a good quick romance read.
March 14, 2026
This was a quick and easy read.
I met my partner online so I found the story slightly relatable, though I knew his name and appearance. I think it’s different meeting someone in real life, to learning about them over text, because the conversations tend to have more depth and substance and you fall for not just their appearance, but their soul - who they are as a person.
I’ve never read a story where the characters fall for each other over text, and I really enjoyed seeing that play out (tho I realise the fmc chose the real life version in the end, there were times where she felt that bond with her mystery mr wrong number, and I liked that)
I met my partner online so I found the story slightly relatable, though I knew his name and appearance. I think it’s different meeting someone in real life, to learning about them over text, because the conversations tend to have more depth and substance and you fall for not just their appearance, but their soul - who they are as a person.
I’ve never read a story where the characters fall for each other over text, and I really enjoyed seeing that play out (tho I realise the fmc chose the real life version in the end, there were times where she felt that bond with her mystery mr wrong number, and I liked that)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Honey Blossom Press for granting me access to an e-ARC of “Text Me Maybe” by Matilda Madison in exchange for an honest review. The below review contains spoilers.
This book was soooo good!! One could say it was almost unBEElievable how much I enjoyed it! Then again, it was as sweet as honey and filled me with a buzz from start to end, so I really shouldn’t be surprised. 🐝
Before I picked up this book, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. I was hoping for something fun, short, humorous, and swoonworthy—and boy did this hit all of that! From the description, I knew it was going to be a sports romance, but there were plenty of other and unexpected tropes that I enjoyed, including:
🐝 Meet ugly
🐝 Sunshine/grumpy
🐝 Workplace romance
🐝 Refers to each other by their last names, except for when things get soft and intimate
🐝 Enemies/rivals to lovers
🐝 Secret identity
🐝 Forced proximity
🐝 Long distance situationship (assuming that never meeting your secret texting situationship prior to flirting counts as long distance!)
🐝 Love triangle (that ended up being more of a direct love line from Character A to Character B)
The mystery of this book was so fun, even though it never for a second felt like a mystery. I anticipated the third act plot twist—that Mr. Wrong Number is actually Scarlett’s coworker… i.e. her mystery texting situationship is also her workplace situationship!— from simply reading the summary of the book. I encourage you to accept this as a “bomb under table” situation, where the plot twist is more about suspense than surprise. Was I AT ALL surprised when Mr. Wrong Number was revealed to be Theo? No. But was the build-up and suspense worth it? Yes! Knowing this plot twist before the characters did actually added to my enjoyment of the book, because I could see all the almost-reveals, almost-crosses of paths, almost-discoveries. Take this as it is, and you’ll enjoy the build, just as I did. If you expect to be surprised and shocked by this plot twist, you’ll be sorely disappointed, as you’ll likely see it coming from a mile away.
The amount I enjoyed Scarlett and Theo’s AND Airport Hen-Mr. Wrong Number’s situationships-turned-relationships was completely unexpected. Both romance plots in the book were satisfying to read, and brought different enjoyable aspects to this book. Scarlett and Theo brought the will-they-won’t-they, the forbidden workplace feels, the electricity. Airport Hen and Mr. Wrong Number brought softness, and personal connection, and the red string of fate. I met my partner online without seeing their face or hearing their voice, so there was something extra compelling to me about Airport Hen and Mr. Wrong Number. It's beautiful reading how two strangers can meet and fall in love with so much stripped away. Plus, I got to watch these two characters fall in love twice (once with their texting personas, once with their real life personas), which made my soulmate believing heart absolutely swoon.
Usually, I find myself liking love interests enough, but there was something to Theo that just made me love him. He was everything—broody yet a secret softie, gentle and protective, doting and caring at times cold and distant during others. The layers were so fun to peel back, all while seeing his true heart shine through via text as Mr. Wrong Number.
In terms of other characters, I did also really enjoy the cast of side characters. While we didn’t spend a ton of time with them, Marrero and Gary shone through for me. And with their complex relationship being the secondary romance in this book—a joy!! There were moments where I simply had to put the book down and yell about Gary because he gave me so many feels. That’s rare coming from me about a side character.
If you’re looking for a quick read that will give you all the feels, this book is for you! I thoroughly enjoyed every page and am so glad I picked this for a quick weekend boost! Highly recommend for a fun time.
This book was soooo good!! One could say it was almost unBEElievable how much I enjoyed it! Then again, it was as sweet as honey and filled me with a buzz from start to end, so I really shouldn’t be surprised. 🐝
Before I picked up this book, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. I was hoping for something fun, short, humorous, and swoonworthy—and boy did this hit all of that! From the description, I knew it was going to be a sports romance, but there were plenty of other and unexpected tropes that I enjoyed, including:
🐝 Meet ugly
🐝 Sunshine/grumpy
🐝 Workplace romance
🐝 Refers to each other by their last names, except for when things get soft and intimate
🐝 Enemies/rivals to lovers
🐝 Secret identity
🐝 Forced proximity
🐝 Long distance situationship (assuming that never meeting your secret texting situationship prior to flirting counts as long distance!)
🐝 Love triangle (that ended up being more of a direct love line from Character A to Character B)
The mystery of this book was so fun, even though it never for a second felt like a mystery. I anticipated the third act plot twist—that Mr. Wrong Number is actually Scarlett’s coworker… i.e. her mystery texting situationship is also her workplace situationship!— from simply reading the summary of the book. I encourage you to accept this as a “bomb under table” situation, where the plot twist is more about suspense than surprise. Was I AT ALL surprised when Mr. Wrong Number was revealed to be Theo? No. But was the build-up and suspense worth it? Yes! Knowing this plot twist before the characters did actually added to my enjoyment of the book, because I could see all the almost-reveals, almost-crosses of paths, almost-discoveries. Take this as it is, and you’ll enjoy the build, just as I did. If you expect to be surprised and shocked by this plot twist, you’ll be sorely disappointed, as you’ll likely see it coming from a mile away.
The amount I enjoyed Scarlett and Theo’s AND Airport Hen-Mr. Wrong Number’s situationships-turned-relationships was completely unexpected. Both romance plots in the book were satisfying to read, and brought different enjoyable aspects to this book. Scarlett and Theo brought the will-they-won’t-they, the forbidden workplace feels, the electricity. Airport Hen and Mr. Wrong Number brought softness, and personal connection, and the red string of fate. I met my partner online without seeing their face or hearing their voice, so there was something extra compelling to me about Airport Hen and Mr. Wrong Number. It's beautiful reading how two strangers can meet and fall in love with so much stripped away. Plus, I got to watch these two characters fall in love twice (once with their texting personas, once with their real life personas), which made my soulmate believing heart absolutely swoon.
Usually, I find myself liking love interests enough, but there was something to Theo that just made me love him. He was everything—broody yet a secret softie, gentle and protective, doting and caring at times cold and distant during others. The layers were so fun to peel back, all while seeing his true heart shine through via text as Mr. Wrong Number.
In terms of other characters, I did also really enjoy the cast of side characters. While we didn’t spend a ton of time with them, Marrero and Gary shone through for me. And with their complex relationship being the secondary romance in this book—a joy!! There were moments where I simply had to put the book down and yell about Gary because he gave me so many feels. That’s rare coming from me about a side character.
If you’re looking for a quick read that will give you all the feels, this book is for you! I thoroughly enjoyed every page and am so glad I picked this for a quick weekend boost! Highly recommend for a fun time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 12, 2026
Such a great start to a series
This is book one of the Manchester Bees Football Club which I really enjoyed.
It follows a gorgeous, grumpy Scotsman Theo, the mens manager of the Bees and American Scarlett, the new public relations coordinator, over from New York to improve the clubs imagine and promote the women’s team.
Theo has baggage and seems to take it out on Scarlett just because she’s American.
Scarlett however gives as good as she gets and won’t stand for it.
They begrudgingly put up with each other but both secretly are interested in each other too.
Scarlett is also texting some unknown person that she messaged by mistake on the first day she entered the country and they are also building something.
Even though they have not met they have gotten quite close and very personal with each other.
What develops with both men is fun, witty banter and a friendship that becomes more.
Will Scarlett stay in the country or will she head back to New York?
Also, who will she pick?
A rather entertaining story that I really liked.
I listened to the audiobook which was narrated by Avery May and loved her performance.
She did a wonderful job in bringing the characters to life.
Thank you Matilda Madison, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.
4.5 Stars ⭐️
This is book one of the Manchester Bees Football Club which I really enjoyed.
It follows a gorgeous, grumpy Scotsman Theo, the mens manager of the Bees and American Scarlett, the new public relations coordinator, over from New York to improve the clubs imagine and promote the women’s team.
Theo has baggage and seems to take it out on Scarlett just because she’s American.
Scarlett however gives as good as she gets and won’t stand for it.
They begrudgingly put up with each other but both secretly are interested in each other too.
Scarlett is also texting some unknown person that she messaged by mistake on the first day she entered the country and they are also building something.
Even though they have not met they have gotten quite close and very personal with each other.
What develops with both men is fun, witty banter and a friendship that becomes more.
Will Scarlett stay in the country or will she head back to New York?
Also, who will she pick?
A rather entertaining story that I really liked.
I listened to the audiobook which was narrated by Avery May and loved her performance.
She did a wonderful job in bringing the characters to life.
Thank you Matilda Madison, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.
4.5 Stars ⭐️
April 13, 2026
This was cute, but I can't stand when a book does the "I have a huge news to tell you and you're standing right in front of me and I could totally say it, but someone else just said something and now I'm not able to speak."
Just friggin spit it out and come up with a clever way to create a climax in the story without the "oh no, I can't speak and tell you the thing that would solve all of our problems" trope. Can't stand that.
Overall, the story was good. I liked the characters and how things unraveled with Mr. Wrong Number and the FMC.
I wish there would have been more sports aspect to it since it is a sports romance book, but that didn't hinder my rating too much.
The friend was fun, and the team was entertaining. Nothing in the story really stood out for me as a "wow" moment, but again - it was a good story.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.
Just friggin spit it out and come up with a clever way to create a climax in the story without the "oh no, I can't speak and tell you the thing that would solve all of our problems" trope. Can't stand that.
Overall, the story was good. I liked the characters and how things unraveled with Mr. Wrong Number and the FMC.
I wish there would have been more sports aspect to it since it is a sports romance book, but that didn't hinder my rating too much.
The friend was fun, and the team was entertaining. Nothing in the story really stood out for me as a "wow" moment, but again - it was a good story.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.
April 8, 2026
3.5
Thank you to Matilda Madison and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
This was a really sweet sports romance with a cute HEA.
I'm wondering if maybe this one just wasn't for me, but that doesn't mean it won't be someone else's cup of tea (get it?? bc UK?!). I struggle with miscommunication trope in general and there were several times that I felt like the book was a little drawn out unnecessarily by the two main characters' lack of communication and not in a major plot- needed way.
But this was definitely a perfect springy read!
For fans of You've Got Mail but make it soccer (okay football, sorry) ⚽️
Thank you to Matilda Madison and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
This was a really sweet sports romance with a cute HEA.
I'm wondering if maybe this one just wasn't for me, but that doesn't mean it won't be someone else's cup of tea (get it?? bc UK?!). I struggle with miscommunication trope in general and there were several times that I felt like the book was a little drawn out unnecessarily by the two main characters' lack of communication and not in a major plot- needed way.
But this was definitely a perfect springy read!
For fans of You've Got Mail but make it soccer (okay football, sorry) ⚽️
April 26, 2026
I received this audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions.
I will start off by saying this book is definitely predictable- but in my opinion it doesn’t make it bad. The FMC, Scarlett, arrives in the UK to start her new job with a Football (soccer for us Americans) team. Her new roommate has sent her a phone number to text for a ride, only it turns out she has been given the wrong number! There is tension between Scarlett and the head coach of the football team, Theo, from the moment they meet. He has distrust and hatred for Americans so there is no hope for he and Scarlett to work well together ever- or is there? There were so many times I was screaming “okay I KNOW Theo is Mr. Wrong Number, why can’t you figure it out?!” The contrast between the way Theo and Mr. Wrong Number talked to and treated Scarlett was so night and day and she still was falling for Theo and wondering if she should even meet Mr. Wrong Number. I would most definitely read this book again and even suggest it to friends that are looking for a cutesy romance book, as long as they like the miscommunication trope.
I will start off by saying this book is definitely predictable- but in my opinion it doesn’t make it bad. The FMC, Scarlett, arrives in the UK to start her new job with a Football (soccer for us Americans) team. Her new roommate has sent her a phone number to text for a ride, only it turns out she has been given the wrong number! There is tension between Scarlett and the head coach of the football team, Theo, from the moment they meet. He has distrust and hatred for Americans so there is no hope for he and Scarlett to work well together ever- or is there? There were so many times I was screaming “okay I KNOW Theo is Mr. Wrong Number, why can’t you figure it out?!” The contrast between the way Theo and Mr. Wrong Number talked to and treated Scarlett was so night and day and she still was falling for Theo and wondering if she should even meet Mr. Wrong Number. I would most definitely read this book again and even suggest it to friends that are looking for a cutesy romance book, as long as they like the miscommunication trope.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 16, 2026
This book was a really cute romance novel. It was a fun read. The plot was a little predictable but that didn't really take away from the flow of the book. The characters were all great. The idea of a wrong number text becoming more was such a great story. Overall this was a quick fun little story that kept me interested from start to finish.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
April 26, 2026
*ARC received in exchange for honest review*
This was a cute read. Scarlett is the new PR manager for the Manchester Bees. Theo is the manager for the team. Unbeknownst to them, they have been texting each other since she arrived to the UK. Overall, it was a cute read. It was more on the slow burned side. They didn't find out who each other was until the end of the novel. I did wished that they found out who each other were earlier, it felt kind of rushed at the end. Overall, I'm not mad at it and did enjoyed the book.
Thank you to net galley and the publisher for the ARC.
This was a cute read. Scarlett is the new PR manager for the Manchester Bees. Theo is the manager for the team. Unbeknownst to them, they have been texting each other since she arrived to the UK. Overall, it was a cute read. It was more on the slow burned side. They didn't find out who each other was until the end of the novel. I did wished that they found out who each other were earlier, it felt kind of rushed at the end. Overall, I'm not mad at it and did enjoyed the book.
Thank you to net galley and the publisher for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Loved, loved, loved this book! A sweet romance centered around the life of Scarlett, a Soccer public relations manager. A text to a wrong number gets a reply from an anonymous person. But instead of it ending there, it only just begins. Texts are sent back and forth between Mr Wrong Number and her, and they begin to truly know each other. Except they don't. Things get a little steamy in the texts while real-life becomes more and more complicated while Scarlett has daily face-offs with Theo, the Manager of the soccer team she works for. He's surly, short tempered... and oh, so handsome. As their work relationship becomes more of a situationship, Scarlett begins to question who she needs to be true to. This book has likeable characters, great friendships, romance that keeps you invested. Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC review
3rd person FMC POV
🌶️
I thought this was a quick and fun pallet cleanser in between heavier/lengthier reads. I knocked it out in a little over a day. Of course we know who the mystery man is the whole time which adds an extra element of intrigue to the romantic development they experience in person and that mystery goes right up until the end.
It’s not deep or long, but you can pick it up, get into it quickly and finish it without a lot of thought energy which is just what I needed for this read. For what it is 5 stars.
3rd person FMC POV
🌶️
I thought this was a quick and fun pallet cleanser in between heavier/lengthier reads. I knocked it out in a little over a day. Of course we know who the mystery man is the whole time which adds an extra element of intrigue to the romantic development they experience in person and that mystery goes right up until the end.
It’s not deep or long, but you can pick it up, get into it quickly and finish it without a lot of thought energy which is just what I needed for this read. For what it is 5 stars.
April 4, 2026
This a great mix of Ted Lasso meets the Pina Colada Song. I think it is a great example of the anonymous messages trope as well as grumpy x sunshine. However, it is also able to go past the romcom genre and is able to critique treatment based on gender in sports. I was so entranced by it that I would have read it in one sitting, except for when I had to put it down. I really recommend and will definitely be interested in more from this author.
April 8, 2026
I need you to picture this with me because I have not recovered. You move to a new country, you’re jet-lagged, emotionally fragile, trying to reinvent yourself into a chill, low-maintenance version of you… and within hours you’ve assaulted your new boss with boiling coffee and accidentally started a flirtation with a stranger who immediately gets you on a soul-deep level.
That’s not a meet-cute. That’s a cry for help.
Text Me Maybe fully commits to the bit of “what if your worst enemy at work was also the man emotionally supporting you via text,” and I spent the entire book oscillating between giggling, stress-eating, and wanting to grab Scarlett by the shoulders and gently scream, “BABE. BABE. CONNECT THE DOTS.”
Scarlett is out here apologizing like it’s her full-time job, and listen, as someone who has said “sorry” to furniture I walked into, I felt seen in a way that was frankly invasive. She’s trying so hard to be less “too much,” which immediately made me want to fight everyone in her life who made her feel that way. Meanwhile, she’s thrown into this chaotic football club where the vibes are bad, the sexism is worse, and Theo Ross is standing there like a human storm cloud in a tailored suit.
Theo… Theo is a problem. Not in a red flag way. In a “this man has never processed a single emotion in his life and now it’s leaking out as passive-aggressive eye contact” way. He is buttoned-up, grumpy, deeply suspicious of joy, and yet somehow every time Scarlett pushes back, you can feel him short-circuiting internally. It’s like watching a man realize feelings are real in real time and absolutely hate that for himself.
And then there’s the texting. The TEXTING. This is where the book fully got me, because the dynamic between Scarlett and Mr. Wrong Number is so easy, so open, so weirdly intimate that it almost makes the in-person romance feel like a side quest. She’s funny, she’s unfiltered, she’s not apologizing every three seconds, and you can literally feel her relaxing into herself. It’s giving “you’re falling in love with who you are when you’re with them,” and I’m unwell about it.
But also… we all know. Immediately. Instantly. There is not a single person on this planet who doesn’t clock what’s happening here by page ten. And instead of that being a quick reveal so we can enjoy the fallout, the book stretches it out like it’s trying to win an Olympic medal in miscommunication.
And here’s where I had my crisis. Because on one hand, the dramatic irony is delicious. Every almost-reveal had me leaning forward like I was watching reality TV, fully invested, whispering “oh no… oh NO…” On the other hand, by the time we get to the actual reveal, I felt like I’d been edging emotionally for 300 pages and then the book just… ends. Where is my aftermath? Where is my chaos? Where is my “we need to unpack the fact that you hated me in person but emotionally imprinted on me via text��?
I needed at least one full chapter of them being messy about it. Minimum.
The football club stuff is doing interesting things in the background too. There’s this whole thread about the women’s team being undervalued and sidelined, and Scarlett is clearly passionate about fixing that. You can feel the book wanting to say something meaningful there, and sometimes it does, but it never quite digs its claws in. It’s like it brings up a serious conversation and then goes, “anyway… back to yearning.” Which, to be fair, I am also here for.
Now let’s talk audiobook, because Avery May is in a one-woman show trying to give us Americans, Brits, Scottish brooding men, and general football chaos, and she does a solid job in terms of clarity and flow. It’s an easy listen, very bingeable, but I did keep wishing for a second narrator. Theo especially feels like a character who would benefit from having his own voice, because his internal vibe is so different from how he presents, and that contrast could’ve hit harder. Also, some of the accents… we’re doing our best. And I respect that.
The pacing is a little chaotic, not in a fun gremlin way, more in a “why are we spending this much time here when I need emotional payoff over THERE” way. There are moments that feel stretched and others that feel rushed, especially toward the end, which just kind of sprints past the part I cared about most.
But despite all of that… I was entertained. Fully. I laughed, I cringed (affectionately), I got invested in the texting like it was my own situationship. This is the kind of story you devour while side-eyeing the characters and still rooting for them like your life depends on it.
It’s messy. It’s predictable. It’s weirdly charming. It’s a 3.5 star experience that had me yelling, “THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A 5 IF YOU JUST LET THEM TALK AFTER THE REVEAL.” And I mean that with love.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the ALC, you absolutely knew I’d spiral over this and you were correct.
That’s not a meet-cute. That’s a cry for help.
Text Me Maybe fully commits to the bit of “what if your worst enemy at work was also the man emotionally supporting you via text,” and I spent the entire book oscillating between giggling, stress-eating, and wanting to grab Scarlett by the shoulders and gently scream, “BABE. BABE. CONNECT THE DOTS.”
Scarlett is out here apologizing like it’s her full-time job, and listen, as someone who has said “sorry” to furniture I walked into, I felt seen in a way that was frankly invasive. She’s trying so hard to be less “too much,” which immediately made me want to fight everyone in her life who made her feel that way. Meanwhile, she’s thrown into this chaotic football club where the vibes are bad, the sexism is worse, and Theo Ross is standing there like a human storm cloud in a tailored suit.
Theo… Theo is a problem. Not in a red flag way. In a “this man has never processed a single emotion in his life and now it’s leaking out as passive-aggressive eye contact” way. He is buttoned-up, grumpy, deeply suspicious of joy, and yet somehow every time Scarlett pushes back, you can feel him short-circuiting internally. It’s like watching a man realize feelings are real in real time and absolutely hate that for himself.
And then there’s the texting. The TEXTING. This is where the book fully got me, because the dynamic between Scarlett and Mr. Wrong Number is so easy, so open, so weirdly intimate that it almost makes the in-person romance feel like a side quest. She’s funny, she’s unfiltered, she’s not apologizing every three seconds, and you can literally feel her relaxing into herself. It’s giving “you’re falling in love with who you are when you’re with them,” and I’m unwell about it.
But also… we all know. Immediately. Instantly. There is not a single person on this planet who doesn’t clock what’s happening here by page ten. And instead of that being a quick reveal so we can enjoy the fallout, the book stretches it out like it’s trying to win an Olympic medal in miscommunication.
And here’s where I had my crisis. Because on one hand, the dramatic irony is delicious. Every almost-reveal had me leaning forward like I was watching reality TV, fully invested, whispering “oh no… oh NO…” On the other hand, by the time we get to the actual reveal, I felt like I’d been edging emotionally for 300 pages and then the book just… ends. Where is my aftermath? Where is my chaos? Where is my “we need to unpack the fact that you hated me in person but emotionally imprinted on me via text��?
I needed at least one full chapter of them being messy about it. Minimum.
The football club stuff is doing interesting things in the background too. There’s this whole thread about the women’s team being undervalued and sidelined, and Scarlett is clearly passionate about fixing that. You can feel the book wanting to say something meaningful there, and sometimes it does, but it never quite digs its claws in. It’s like it brings up a serious conversation and then goes, “anyway… back to yearning.” Which, to be fair, I am also here for.
Now let’s talk audiobook, because Avery May is in a one-woman show trying to give us Americans, Brits, Scottish brooding men, and general football chaos, and she does a solid job in terms of clarity and flow. It’s an easy listen, very bingeable, but I did keep wishing for a second narrator. Theo especially feels like a character who would benefit from having his own voice, because his internal vibe is so different from how he presents, and that contrast could’ve hit harder. Also, some of the accents… we’re doing our best. And I respect that.
The pacing is a little chaotic, not in a fun gremlin way, more in a “why are we spending this much time here when I need emotional payoff over THERE” way. There are moments that feel stretched and others that feel rushed, especially toward the end, which just kind of sprints past the part I cared about most.
But despite all of that… I was entertained. Fully. I laughed, I cringed (affectionately), I got invested in the texting like it was my own situationship. This is the kind of story you devour while side-eyeing the characters and still rooting for them like your life depends on it.
It’s messy. It’s predictable. It’s weirdly charming. It’s a 3.5 star experience that had me yelling, “THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A 5 IF YOU JUST LET THEM TALK AFTER THE REVEAL.” And I mean that with love.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the ALC, you absolutely knew I’d spiral over this and you were correct.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book gave such Ted Lasso vibes. The sports stuff was just enough to give us a setting without boring those who don't follow sports. Theo Ross is tense and gruff and of course very good looking. Scarlett Simmons, the American woman come to do PR for the Manchester Bees, doesn't know how good looking she is. Sparks fly immediately.
Like in Ted Lasso this team is at the bottom and in danger of being sold off, when a perky American comes along and changes everything. In this case, Scarlett is a former soccer player who suffered a career ending injury during the Women's World Cup series and pivots to PR to stay in the world of the sport she loves. The author makes this former athlete unnecessarily clumsy, having her bump into the mmc not once, not twice, but THREE times, spilling scalding hot coffee or tea on him each time.
Theo Ross the team Manager (what we'd call coach) is a former player who is in his second year of a two year contract to turn the Bees around and was dealing with a ton of owner interference and an irrational dislike of Americans because of a broken heart. In mere days Scarlett has pinpointed exactly what needs to be done to get the team to improve.
There is also a Women's Bees team, who are winning right off the bat even though they are treated as second class citizens at every turn, from lower pay, to only night time practices to constantly being under threat of being cut to save money. Scarlett is made to instantly befriend the team Captain and immediately has several wildly inappropriate personal conversations with what is essentially a coworker that she has know only for a few days.
The book begins with Scarlett trying to reach a car service to take her from the airport to her new home in Manchester. She quickly realizes that she has the wrong number but the person on the other end seems content to text back and forth a bit. They end up having funny flirty exchanges and he agrees to be her unofficial guide to getting along in Manchester as a newbie, for example pointing out that the black cabs will price gouge and that the green trainline will be more practical for her daily commute. The reader will put two and two together much, much faster than she will, regarding his identity.
Very quickly, these text exchanges become the highlight of her day, so much so that her friends and roommate notice her fixation on her phone, and her refusal to go out, so she can text. Much to her consternation, she starts to imagine that Mr Wrong Number resembles Theo even though Theo is not at all her type with his light curly hair and silvery eyes. She attributes this to her unfortunate attraction to men who are mean to her. Meanwhile at work, the Bees start improving and moral is up all around. She even seems to be making headway with Theo, who is starting to be less rude.
There is a weird side thing about Theo being a pilot and spending his weekends flying which seems to exist simply for him to scare her while practicing stalls and then is not really mentioned again.
After the Bees win a big match, both teams and all the staff go celebrate and Theo and Scarlett go back to his place. The penny drops for Scarlett the next morning but before she can say anything there is a public scandal involving a player from both the men's and women's teams.
The predictable happens, the guy gets a slap on the wrist, and because of her part in the scandal, the entire women's team is to be disbanded, even though she was arguably less the cause of the accident. What's less predictable, though very Ted Lasso, is that the men all agree to give up a third of their salaries to fund the women's team for another year.
A final meet up between Mr Wrong Number and Ms Airport Hen give Scarlet and Theo their happy ending.
One more note, while the pull quotes and early paragraphs of the book mention that Scarlett says I'm sorry too much, she actually rarely does throughout the book. She is instead very forthright and direct spoken. It felt like the author "needed" some flaws for fmc to explain why she could possibly be available for the mmc, like her hair that goes from being self-described as mousy brown to later being referred to as chocolate brown.
I gave this three stars because of the cliches of having a bright talented woman be soo clumsy, and so inappropriate at work with all of the texting, but since I stayed up all night reading it I'll bump this up to 3.5 stars.
Like in Ted Lasso this team is at the bottom and in danger of being sold off, when a perky American comes along and changes everything. In this case, Scarlett is a former soccer player who suffered a career ending injury during the Women's World Cup series and pivots to PR to stay in the world of the sport she loves. The author makes this former athlete unnecessarily clumsy, having her bump into the mmc not once, not twice, but THREE times, spilling scalding hot coffee or tea on him each time.
Theo Ross the team Manager (what we'd call coach) is a former player who is in his second year of a two year contract to turn the Bees around and was dealing with a ton of owner interference and an irrational dislike of Americans because of a broken heart. In mere days Scarlett has pinpointed exactly what needs to be done to get the team to improve.
There is also a Women's Bees team, who are winning right off the bat even though they are treated as second class citizens at every turn, from lower pay, to only night time practices to constantly being under threat of being cut to save money. Scarlett is made to instantly befriend the team Captain and immediately has several wildly inappropriate personal conversations with what is essentially a coworker that she has know only for a few days.
The book begins with Scarlett trying to reach a car service to take her from the airport to her new home in Manchester. She quickly realizes that she has the wrong number but the person on the other end seems content to text back and forth a bit. They end up having funny flirty exchanges and he agrees to be her unofficial guide to getting along in Manchester as a newbie, for example pointing out that the black cabs will price gouge and that the green trainline will be more practical for her daily commute. The reader will put two and two together much, much faster than she will, regarding his identity.
Very quickly, these text exchanges become the highlight of her day, so much so that her friends and roommate notice her fixation on her phone, and her refusal to go out, so she can text. Much to her consternation, she starts to imagine that Mr Wrong Number resembles Theo even though Theo is not at all her type with his light curly hair and silvery eyes. She attributes this to her unfortunate attraction to men who are mean to her. Meanwhile at work, the Bees start improving and moral is up all around. She even seems to be making headway with Theo, who is starting to be less rude.
There is a weird side thing about Theo being a pilot and spending his weekends flying which seems to exist simply for him to scare her while practicing stalls and then is not really mentioned again.
After the Bees win a big match, both teams and all the staff go celebrate and Theo and Scarlett go back to his place. The penny drops for Scarlett the next morning but before she can say anything there is a public scandal involving a player from both the men's and women's teams.
The predictable happens, the guy gets a slap on the wrist, and because of her part in the scandal, the entire women's team is to be disbanded, even though she was arguably less the cause of the accident. What's less predictable, though very Ted Lasso, is that the men all agree to give up a third of their salaries to fund the women's team for another year.
A final meet up between Mr Wrong Number and Ms Airport Hen give Scarlet and Theo their happy ending.
One more note, while the pull quotes and early paragraphs of the book mention that Scarlett says I'm sorry too much, she actually rarely does throughout the book. She is instead very forthright and direct spoken. It felt like the author "needed" some flaws for fmc to explain why she could possibly be available for the mmc, like her hair that goes from being self-described as mousy brown to later being referred to as chocolate brown.
I gave this three stars because of the cliches of having a bright talented woman be soo clumsy, and so inappropriate at work with all of the texting, but since I stayed up all night reading it I'll bump this up to 3.5 stars.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
If I'm not mistaken, this is Matilda Madison's 19th book in her career and yet she’s "unlocked" three new levels with it, or better said three firsts. This is her first contemporary romance, her first sports romance, and her first rom-com. According to Madison herself this book is a mix between Nora Ephron's "You've got Mail" and the TV phenomenon "Tel Lasso" which is about an American coach trying to navigate the world of soccer/football in England.
Never having watched the series myself, I cannot compare the book with it. I can say however that the rendition to Nora Ephron's movie is so well done and respectful, without making me see Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks in the book… it made me happy. But, for me, there was a bit bigger homage yet in the book. Madison manages to create a romantic comedy that could very well be a Richard Curtis movie. Richard Curtis is a director that made British rom-coms acclaimed as the best of the world. So to summarize all of this paragraph, Matilda Madison is an American writer doing British rom-com.
I confess I ve never been much of a "footie fan" myself. Nevertheless I was born and wised in Europe and in one of the most “football-ish" countries at it, Spain. In my country/continent football/ soccer is like religion; it is ingrained in you since you are born and it's part of you whether you like it or not, and regardless of your gender. Given these circumstances, I've always. tried to read soccer novels by American. writers with my mind open and understanding, overlooking the mistakes and especially the many "stereotypes" that usually abound these novels. Imagine my surprise when I found none of that in this novel. I never, not once, raised an eyebrow reading "Text me Maybe". Everything is correct, the terms, the inner works of a team… If there was any mistake I didn't see it.
I had a lot of fun reading and also trying to figure out the couples for the next books. "Text me Maybe” is about Scarlett, a former football player who moves to Manchester in England to work as a PR Manager for the Manchester Bees F.C. now that they've got a female team as well as male. On landing she is supposed to call a car company but she gets the number wrong and the text is answered by a mysterious man who lives in the city. That is the first of many messages between them which will soon develop into a virtual romantic relationship while at the same time Scarlett isn't immune to the grumpy charms of the male team’s coach. Theo Ross. The reader obviously suspects the identity of the Wrong Number Man but its so much fun going with the flow in this slow burn comedy until the masks fall.
If I'm not mistaken, this is Matilda Madison's 19th book in her career and yet she’s "unlocked" three new levels with it, or better said three firsts. This is her first contemporary romance, her first sports romance, and her first rom-com. According to Madison herself this book is a mix between Nora Ephron's "You've got Mail" and the TV phenomenon "Tel Lasso" which is about an American coach trying to navigate the world of soccer/football in England.
Never having watched the series myself, I cannot compare the book with it. I can say however that the rendition to Nora Ephron's movie is so well done and respectful, without making me see Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks in the book… it made me happy. But, for me, there was a bit bigger homage yet in the book. Madison manages to create a romantic comedy that could very well be a Richard Curtis movie. Richard Curtis is a director that made British rom-coms acclaimed as the best of the world. So to summarize all of this paragraph, Matilda Madison is an American writer doing British rom-com.
I confess I ve never been much of a "footie fan" myself. Nevertheless I was born and wised in Europe and in one of the most “football-ish" countries at it, Spain. In my country/continent football/ soccer is like religion; it is ingrained in you since you are born and it's part of you whether you like it or not, and regardless of your gender. Given these circumstances, I've always. tried to read soccer novels by American. writers with my mind open and understanding, overlooking the mistakes and especially the many "stereotypes" that usually abound these novels. Imagine my surprise when I found none of that in this novel. I never, not once, raised an eyebrow reading "Text me Maybe". Everything is correct, the terms, the inner works of a team… If there was any mistake I didn't see it.
I had a lot of fun reading and also trying to figure out the couples for the next books. "Text me Maybe” is about Scarlett, a former football player who moves to Manchester in England to work as a PR Manager for the Manchester Bees F.C. now that they've got a female team as well as male. On landing she is supposed to call a car company but she gets the number wrong and the text is answered by a mysterious man who lives in the city. That is the first of many messages between them which will soon develop into a virtual romantic relationship while at the same time Scarlett isn't immune to the grumpy charms of the male team’s coach. Theo Ross. The reader obviously suspects the identity of the Wrong Number Man but its so much fun going with the flow in this slow burn comedy until the masks fall.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
One wrong-number text leads to banter, sparks, and a classic grumpy-meets-sunshine romance.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Scarlett never expected that landing in the UK for a new job would lead to a text conversation with a mystery number, but that's exactly where the story begins in Text Me Maybe. And honestly? There can be something undeniably fun about texting a wrong number. The mystery, the banter, the "who is this person?" energy- pure entertainment. (given the right circumstances, of course.) Pair that with a grumpy-meets-sunshine dynamic and hook, line, and sinker!
One of the highlights of this story was definitely the banter between Scarlett and Theo. Loved every second of it. Their dynamic carried their charm, and the secondary characters added personality and warmth to the story. All of the characters were just fun in general, even in their messier moments.
I also enjoyed seeing Scarlett's passion for her career and how determined she was to put things right. I'm super into marketing, so the PR angle was so intriguing as an addition to the plot. It wasn't just ghosted over.
All that being said, a few elements didn't quite land as strongly for me. The sports aspects didn't fully click for me personally. I love watching sports, but I'm not sure I enjoy reading about them as much. Hard to say. The ending did wrap up quicker than I thought it would. We had this momentum just building, building, building and then BAM. Things are suddenly brought full circle with not entirely enough payoff. But it was nice seeing things wrapped up. Sometimes, it did feel a bit wordy, too.
Overall, this was a light and enjoyable rom-com with a fun premise, charming banter, and a strong grumpy-meets-sunshine dynamic. While it didn't completely sweep me away, there were plenty of moments that made me smile. Readers who enjoy wrong-number romances and tropey contemporary rom-coms with a sports backdrop will likely have a good time with this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Scarlett never expected that landing in the UK for a new job would lead to a text conversation with a mystery number, but that's exactly where the story begins in Text Me Maybe. And honestly? There can be something undeniably fun about texting a wrong number. The mystery, the banter, the "who is this person?" energy- pure entertainment. (given the right circumstances, of course.) Pair that with a grumpy-meets-sunshine dynamic and hook, line, and sinker!
One of the highlights of this story was definitely the banter between Scarlett and Theo. Loved every second of it. Their dynamic carried their charm, and the secondary characters added personality and warmth to the story. All of the characters were just fun in general, even in their messier moments.
I also enjoyed seeing Scarlett's passion for her career and how determined she was to put things right. I'm super into marketing, so the PR angle was so intriguing as an addition to the plot. It wasn't just ghosted over.
All that being said, a few elements didn't quite land as strongly for me. The sports aspects didn't fully click for me personally. I love watching sports, but I'm not sure I enjoy reading about them as much. Hard to say. The ending did wrap up quicker than I thought it would. We had this momentum just building, building, building and then BAM. Things are suddenly brought full circle with not entirely enough payoff. But it was nice seeing things wrapped up. Sometimes, it did feel a bit wordy, too.
Overall, this was a light and enjoyable rom-com with a fun premise, charming banter, and a strong grumpy-meets-sunshine dynamic. While it didn't completely sweep me away, there were plenty of moments that made me smile. Readers who enjoy wrong-number romances and tropey contemporary rom-coms with a sports backdrop will likely have a good time with this one.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I'm sorry, this really wasn't for me at all. DNF-ed at ~30%, but still flipped a bit and read the ending. 2/5.
I've always really liked the whole texting plot, so I was pretty excited going in. However, I wasn't a fan of the way it was done in this book. I don't like sexting as is, but the way our MCs did it in this book genuinely made me cringe. I had to put the phone down and step away from it.
The writing wasn't bad per se, but it was so... wordy. And yeah, I know, it's a book, it's supposed to have words. But there were so many descriptions for EVERYTHING, and frankly, it read like a junior high student trying to meet a word count. So much of it was filler, I felt as if I was getting clubbed over the head with words. Maybe it would've been more enjoyable if the author deleted literally just 5% of all the descriptions. I understand some authors will do this to help immerse the reader better or whatever, but my gosh. There's a limit, and we've far surpassed it.
Wasn't a fan of the MCs either. Scarlett was judgy and rude, the MMC, whose name I cannot remember right now, nor care to look up, was just a dick. There were so many side characters, too, and really, I didn't care about them either.
I did read the ending, and honestly, it was so abrupt??? It was like a Netflix series that should've had a season 2, but, as Netflix does, they canceled it, so we're left being all "??? That's it???" Wish we could've gotten an epilogue or just SOMETHING.
Overall, yeah... didn't work for me. I did like that the author seemed to have put in a lot of soccer research (even though I know nothing about it, so everything could actually be wrong). Give the author some kudos for that.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
I've always really liked the whole texting plot, so I was pretty excited going in. However, I wasn't a fan of the way it was done in this book. I don't like sexting as is, but the way our MCs did it in this book genuinely made me cringe. I had to put the phone down and step away from it.
The writing wasn't bad per se, but it was so... wordy. And yeah, I know, it's a book, it's supposed to have words. But there were so many descriptions for EVERYTHING, and frankly, it read like a junior high student trying to meet a word count. So much of it was filler, I felt as if I was getting clubbed over the head with words. Maybe it would've been more enjoyable if the author deleted literally just 5% of all the descriptions. I understand some authors will do this to help immerse the reader better or whatever, but my gosh. There's a limit, and we've far surpassed it.
Wasn't a fan of the MCs either. Scarlett was judgy and rude, the MMC, whose name I cannot remember right now, nor care to look up, was just a dick. There were so many side characters, too, and really, I didn't care about them either.
I did read the ending, and honestly, it was so abrupt??? It was like a Netflix series that should've had a season 2, but, as Netflix does, they canceled it, so we're left being all "??? That's it???" Wish we could've gotten an epilogue or just SOMETHING.
Overall, yeah... didn't work for me. I did like that the author seemed to have put in a lot of soccer research (even though I know nothing about it, so everything could actually be wrong). Give the author some kudos for that.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Honey Blossom Press & Matilda Madison for the ARC.
One wrong number. One grumpy football manager. And a lot of texts that maybe should not feel this real.
📚 Text Me Maybe by Matilda Madison
Genre: Contemporary romance
Vibes: wrong number texting, grumpy versus sunshine, football club chaos, workplace tension, British banter
Scarlett Simmons is trying very hard to be less… herself. Less apologizing. Less overthinking. Less “too much.”
Then she spills scalding coffee on the manager of the football club she was hired to save.
Not ideal.
What makes this so charming:
📱 Wrong number texting that slowly becomes emotional comfort
⚽ A chaotic football club in desperate need of PR redemption
🌤️ Sunshine heroine determined to prove herself
🖤 A growly, tie wearing manager with a hidden sense of humor
💬 Banter filled tension that builds with every interaction
Scarlett and Theo are classic opposites in the best way. She is enthusiastic, anxious, and full of big ideas. He is controlled, intimidating, and allergic to optimism. Watching them clash is half the fun.
But the texting storyline adds a sweet layer. There is something freeing about talking honestly with someone who does not know you in real life. Scarlett gets to be herself without apology, and that connection grows naturally.
Theo’s grumpy exterior hides a surprisingly playful side, and every time Scarlett challenges him, you can see the cracks forming in his carefully controlled facade.
If you enjoy Ted Lasso energy but want it wrapped in a romantic comedy with wrong number texting and workplace sparks, this is a fun and cozy read.
💬 Do you love the moment when a grumpy hero finally admits he has a soft spot?
#MatildaMadison #TextMeMaybe #RomComReads #GrumpySunshine #SportsRomance
One wrong number. One grumpy football manager. And a lot of texts that maybe should not feel this real.
📚 Text Me Maybe by Matilda Madison
Genre: Contemporary romance
Vibes: wrong number texting, grumpy versus sunshine, football club chaos, workplace tension, British banter
Scarlett Simmons is trying very hard to be less… herself. Less apologizing. Less overthinking. Less “too much.”
Then she spills scalding coffee on the manager of the football club she was hired to save.
Not ideal.
What makes this so charming:
📱 Wrong number texting that slowly becomes emotional comfort
⚽ A chaotic football club in desperate need of PR redemption
🌤️ Sunshine heroine determined to prove herself
🖤 A growly, tie wearing manager with a hidden sense of humor
💬 Banter filled tension that builds with every interaction
Scarlett and Theo are classic opposites in the best way. She is enthusiastic, anxious, and full of big ideas. He is controlled, intimidating, and allergic to optimism. Watching them clash is half the fun.
But the texting storyline adds a sweet layer. There is something freeing about talking honestly with someone who does not know you in real life. Scarlett gets to be herself without apology, and that connection grows naturally.
Theo’s grumpy exterior hides a surprisingly playful side, and every time Scarlett challenges him, you can see the cracks forming in his carefully controlled facade.
If you enjoy Ted Lasso energy but want it wrapped in a romantic comedy with wrong number texting and workplace sparks, this is a fun and cozy read.
💬 Do you love the moment when a grumpy hero finally admits he has a soft spot?
#MatildaMadison #TextMeMaybe #RomComReads #GrumpySunshine #SportsRomance
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
(3.5 Stars) This is a modern, texting, variation of The Shop Around the Corner or You Got Mail. It takes place in the world of British Football. Scarlett Simmons has come to Manchester from the USA to be the public relations coordinator for The Bee’s Football (soccer for Americans) team. They also have a new woman’s team that Scarlett is to work with as well for branding and improving image. Through a miss-dial at the airport Scarlett begins a texting friendship. As she settles into her new job she crosses paths with grumpy Theo Ross, the team manager.
I liked Scarlett. The texts are easy and safe exchanges that help her adjust to a new city with some cultural differences. I winced the first time it went into a potential sexting as I didn’t feel they were there yet. Theo was harder to know, especially as everything is told through Scarlett’s POV. He was big and handsome and with failed relationship baggage. I honestly didn’t get her interest in him. There were scenes that should have shown chemistry between them, the one on one, and flying, but it didn’t give me the warm fuzzies.
I do love the football setting and there are a lot of side characters that got some of the focus of the story. Since this is listed as the first book in a series I am already speculating about who may get future romances. On a surface level this is a cute, if a little predictable, quick read. I read it in one sitting of a few hours. This is my first time reading this author, who has several books, so I’m not sure if style of writing is typical. I was hoping for a bit more swoony MMC. I did like that it is open door to the token spice scene. I would be interested in more as the series continues.
Thank you to NetGalley and Honey Blossom Press for the eARC and I am leaving an honest review.
I liked Scarlett. The texts are easy and safe exchanges that help her adjust to a new city with some cultural differences. I winced the first time it went into a potential sexting as I didn’t feel they were there yet. Theo was harder to know, especially as everything is told through Scarlett’s POV. He was big and handsome and with failed relationship baggage. I honestly didn’t get her interest in him. There were scenes that should have shown chemistry between them, the one on one, and flying, but it didn’t give me the warm fuzzies.
I do love the football setting and there are a lot of side characters that got some of the focus of the story. Since this is listed as the first book in a series I am already speculating about who may get future romances. On a surface level this is a cute, if a little predictable, quick read. I read it in one sitting of a few hours. This is my first time reading this author, who has several books, so I’m not sure if style of writing is typical. I was hoping for a bit more swoony MMC. I did like that it is open door to the token spice scene. I would be interested in more as the series continues.
Thank you to NetGalley and Honey Blossom Press for the eARC and I am leaving an honest review.
March 25, 2026
✨Text Me Maybe by Matilda Madison✨
4✨
First of all, thank you Honey Blossom Press, Matilda Madison, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early in exchange of an honest review!
I recommend this book if you:
🔹enjoy sports romances that give a behind the scenes look into professional sports. The FMC is a retired soccer player who now works in public relations and helps teams rehabilitate their image.
🔹enjoyed the film You’ve Got Mail or enjoy the wrong number trope. When I was gushing about this book to my sister-in-law, she said it definitely gives Ted Lasso vibes too.
🔹enjoy grumpy sunshine stories where the banter is top tier.
I thought this book was adorable! I essentially binge read it over the course of two evenings, but if I had my choice I would have read it in one night! I didn’t want to put it down! I adore grumpy x sunshine books and I was intrigued by the idea of a grumpy soccer team manager! I also wanted to make the point that I don’t know anything about soccer and I really enjoyed reading this. So, I wouldn’t let that hinder you from reading!
I really liked Scarlett and I related to her so much, as someone who also apologizes for everything. The idea of leaving America after a break up and being suddenly surrounded by a semi-professional soccer team in UK and their franchise sounds heavenly.
The romance in this is wonderful in my opinion! I loved the flirty banter between Scarlett and Mr. Unknown Number as well as with Theo Ross. There is a bit of a twist on a love triangle too, but I recommend reading to see about that. I adored so many of the romantic scenes and banter, but my favorite has to be the 1v1 soccer match. It was elite banter and chemistry!
4✨
First of all, thank you Honey Blossom Press, Matilda Madison, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early in exchange of an honest review!
I recommend this book if you:
🔹enjoy sports romances that give a behind the scenes look into professional sports. The FMC is a retired soccer player who now works in public relations and helps teams rehabilitate their image.
🔹enjoyed the film You’ve Got Mail or enjoy the wrong number trope. When I was gushing about this book to my sister-in-law, she said it definitely gives Ted Lasso vibes too.
🔹enjoy grumpy sunshine stories where the banter is top tier.
I thought this book was adorable! I essentially binge read it over the course of two evenings, but if I had my choice I would have read it in one night! I didn’t want to put it down! I adore grumpy x sunshine books and I was intrigued by the idea of a grumpy soccer team manager! I also wanted to make the point that I don’t know anything about soccer and I really enjoyed reading this. So, I wouldn’t let that hinder you from reading!
I really liked Scarlett and I related to her so much, as someone who also apologizes for everything. The idea of leaving America after a break up and being suddenly surrounded by a semi-professional soccer team in UK and their franchise sounds heavenly.
The romance in this is wonderful in my opinion! I loved the flirty banter between Scarlett and Mr. Unknown Number as well as with Theo Ross. There is a bit of a twist on a love triangle too, but I recommend reading to see about that. I adored so many of the romantic scenes and banter, but my favorite has to be the 1v1 soccer match. It was elite banter and chemistry!
April 13, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️|🌶️
Read if you 💛
⚽️sports romances
🐝wrong numbers
⚽️forced proximity
🐝curmudgeon MMCs
⚽️sassy FMCs
🐝horribly first impressions
⚽️enemies to lovers
🐝regularly spilled hot beverages
This book is written entirely from the perspective of the FMC, and is in third person which….isn’t great in my honest opinion. I wish there was some way to know that prior to reading, and with my copy being an audiobook, it did make following along with the names and characters a bit confusing at first, but it was far more straightforward than most. That might be a personal problem though.
The concept of this plot-line was absolutely wonderful - new town, new job, new country, plus a snarky coworker and a kind stranger who just might end up being the same person. But the actual execution, lacked, for lack of better term. The duality of our FMC’ professional to not so professional with the MMC, plus her budding online relationships with Mr. Wrong Number was so fun and chaotic in the best way possible. But it just got way too drawn out.
Oh and the spice? Pretty much nonexistent.
The ending felt very rushed, and the “big reveal” payoff fell extremely flat. We either needed different pacing, different order of events, more chapters, or hell, even an epilogue would’ve helped. The ending was just way too abrupt. A lot felt unresolved as well.
I am hopeful we might see a 2nd book in this series exploring a different couple, and will hopefully also feature Scarlet and Theo as well.
All in all, I really loved the concept and the characters and their personalities and flaws. It just needed to be structured differently and it would’ve been a knockout.
I received an advanced audiobook copy from Dreamscape Media via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Read if you 💛
⚽️sports romances
🐝wrong numbers
⚽️forced proximity
🐝curmudgeon MMCs
⚽️sassy FMCs
🐝horribly first impressions
⚽️enemies to lovers
🐝regularly spilled hot beverages
This book is written entirely from the perspective of the FMC, and is in third person which….isn’t great in my honest opinion. I wish there was some way to know that prior to reading, and with my copy being an audiobook, it did make following along with the names and characters a bit confusing at first, but it was far more straightforward than most. That might be a personal problem though.
The concept of this plot-line was absolutely wonderful - new town, new job, new country, plus a snarky coworker and a kind stranger who just might end up being the same person. But the actual execution, lacked, for lack of better term. The duality of our FMC’ professional to not so professional with the MMC, plus her budding online relationships with Mr. Wrong Number was so fun and chaotic in the best way possible. But it just got way too drawn out.
Oh and the spice? Pretty much nonexistent.
The ending felt very rushed, and the “big reveal” payoff fell extremely flat. We either needed different pacing, different order of events, more chapters, or hell, even an epilogue would’ve helped. The ending was just way too abrupt. A lot felt unresolved as well.
I am hopeful we might see a 2nd book in this series exploring a different couple, and will hopefully also feature Scarlet and Theo as well.
All in all, I really loved the concept and the characters and their personalities and flaws. It just needed to be structured differently and it would’ve been a knockout.
I received an advanced audiobook copy from Dreamscape Media via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 16, 2026
Text Me Maybe is a simply marvelous retelling of one of my all-time favorite movies—The Shop Around the Corner (remade as You’ve Got Mail and retold in musical form as She Loves Me). It’s that idea of two people who hate each other at work not realizing that they’re corresponding incognito.
Madison moves this into the 21st century by having Scarlett send a text message to the wrong number—leading to a correspondence with a mystery man that neither she nor he can resist keeping going. Scarlett is the new publicist for a very down-and-out rugby team, and she’s American to boot. So she doesn’t know much about Manchester, and “Mr. Wrong Number” becomes her guide and sounding board. He’s much nicer than Theo, the coach of the men’s rugby team. But both he and she have an interesting discovery headed their way….
Madison does such a wonderful job portraying the back end of a rugby team. The focus here isn’t on the players but on the leadership and support staff, and I was fascinated by every bit of that. She also weaves in the challenges women’s teams face versus men’s teams, the influence of owners, the benefits and dangers of publicity, and the potential consequences of a very physical sport on its players. Add to it the mystery of Theo and Scarlett’s burgeoning interest in one another (aside from that mysterious person they keep messaging), and you’ve got one brilliant read on your hands.
Madison also incorporates many of the beats from the original story (the bit that ties an injury into the sickbed scenes from the original movie and musical brought a huge smile to my face), but she also perfectly modernizes it. The result is an utter delight—one you should say much more than “maybe” to!
Madison moves this into the 21st century by having Scarlett send a text message to the wrong number—leading to a correspondence with a mystery man that neither she nor he can resist keeping going. Scarlett is the new publicist for a very down-and-out rugby team, and she’s American to boot. So she doesn’t know much about Manchester, and “Mr. Wrong Number” becomes her guide and sounding board. He’s much nicer than Theo, the coach of the men’s rugby team. But both he and she have an interesting discovery headed their way….
Madison does such a wonderful job portraying the back end of a rugby team. The focus here isn’t on the players but on the leadership and support staff, and I was fascinated by every bit of that. She also weaves in the challenges women’s teams face versus men’s teams, the influence of owners, the benefits and dangers of publicity, and the potential consequences of a very physical sport on its players. Add to it the mystery of Theo and Scarlett’s burgeoning interest in one another (aside from that mysterious person they keep messaging), and you’ve got one brilliant read on your hands.
Madison also incorporates many of the beats from the original story (the bit that ties an injury into the sickbed scenes from the original movie and musical brought a huge smile to my face), but she also perfectly modernizes it. The result is an utter delight—one you should say much more than “maybe” to!
March 31, 2026
Text Me Maybe by Matilda Madison was an absolute delight—I had so much fun with this one!
Matilda Madison took what could be considered a “non-issue” and turned it into the central source of tension and chaos within the group, and honestly? I ate it up. I can see how that might not work for everyone, but for me, it made the story even more addictive. The drama, the misunderstandings, the anticipation—it all just worked.
And let’s talk about that trope: the anonymous texting/emailing dynamic where they don’t realize they already know (and dislike!) each other in real life? I will never get tired of it. Watching them fall for each other virtually while butting heads in person—and then slowly start catching feelings IRL too—was everything I wanted. That delicious tension of “who will they choose?” once feelings develop on both sides? YES. Give me more books like this immediately.
On top of that, we get a perfectly executed grumpy/sunshine pairing (one of my all-time favorites), plus a sports romance angle featuring a woman absolutely thriving in a male-dominated space. Watching her hold her own and kick ass? So satisfying. Truly, this book delivered on ALL the tropes, and I loved every second of it.
The writing itself was engaging and smooth, making it such an easy book to fly through. I was completely invested—so much so that I kept wanting to yell at the characters to just tell each other who they were already! It felt obvious in the best way, adding to the anticipation and fun instead of taking away from it.
If you’re looking for something quick, fun, trope-filled, and completely entertaining, this is it. Definitely pick this one up!
#arc #netgalley #textmemaybe
Matilda Madison took what could be considered a “non-issue” and turned it into the central source of tension and chaos within the group, and honestly? I ate it up. I can see how that might not work for everyone, but for me, it made the story even more addictive. The drama, the misunderstandings, the anticipation—it all just worked.
And let’s talk about that trope: the anonymous texting/emailing dynamic where they don’t realize they already know (and dislike!) each other in real life? I will never get tired of it. Watching them fall for each other virtually while butting heads in person—and then slowly start catching feelings IRL too—was everything I wanted. That delicious tension of “who will they choose?” once feelings develop on both sides? YES. Give me more books like this immediately.
On top of that, we get a perfectly executed grumpy/sunshine pairing (one of my all-time favorites), plus a sports romance angle featuring a woman absolutely thriving in a male-dominated space. Watching her hold her own and kick ass? So satisfying. Truly, this book delivered on ALL the tropes, and I loved every second of it.
The writing itself was engaging and smooth, making it such an easy book to fly through. I was completely invested—so much so that I kept wanting to yell at the characters to just tell each other who they were already! It felt obvious in the best way, adding to the anticipation and fun instead of taking away from it.
If you’re looking for something quick, fun, trope-filled, and completely entertaining, this is it. Definitely pick this one up!
#arc #netgalley #textmemaybe
April 3, 2026
This ended up being a solid 3⭐ audiobook for me—one that definitely took its time winning me over.
I’ll be honest, the beginning was a bit of a struggle. It didn’t fully pull me in right away, and I wasn’t sure if I was going to connect with the story or the characters. But I stuck with it, and I’m really glad I did because it grew on me the more I listened.
Scarlett was such an interesting main character. Her constant apologizing and trying to shrink herself down felt very real, even if it was a little frustrating at times. Watching her slowly come into her own and start embracing who she is was one of the stronger parts of the story.
The dynamic between Scarlett and Theo had that classic grumpy/sunshine energy, and while it started off a little stiff for me, it developed nicely as the story went on. Theo’s whole buttoned-up, emotionally-guarded personality paired well with Scarlett’s chaotic optimism.
And I really liked the mystery texting storyline. That added a fun layer to the romance and gave the story something extra to keep me interested. It was probably one of my favorite parts, especially seeing how it tied into everything.
That said, the pacing still felt a bit uneven at times, and there were moments where the story dragged or had more filler than necessary. It also leaned a little predictable in places.
The narration was decent and easy to listen to, but like the story itself, it didn’t fully stand out in a memorable way.
Overall, this is one of those audiobooks that gets better as it goes. It’s not perfect, but if you can push through the slower start, it turns into a pretty enjoyable rom-com with heart, growth, and a bit of charm.
I’ll be honest, the beginning was a bit of a struggle. It didn’t fully pull me in right away, and I wasn’t sure if I was going to connect with the story or the characters. But I stuck with it, and I’m really glad I did because it grew on me the more I listened.
Scarlett was such an interesting main character. Her constant apologizing and trying to shrink herself down felt very real, even if it was a little frustrating at times. Watching her slowly come into her own and start embracing who she is was one of the stronger parts of the story.
The dynamic between Scarlett and Theo had that classic grumpy/sunshine energy, and while it started off a little stiff for me, it developed nicely as the story went on. Theo’s whole buttoned-up, emotionally-guarded personality paired well with Scarlett’s chaotic optimism.
And I really liked the mystery texting storyline. That added a fun layer to the romance and gave the story something extra to keep me interested. It was probably one of my favorite parts, especially seeing how it tied into everything.
That said, the pacing still felt a bit uneven at times, and there were moments where the story dragged or had more filler than necessary. It also leaned a little predictable in places.
The narration was decent and easy to listen to, but like the story itself, it didn’t fully stand out in a memorable way.
Overall, this is one of those audiobooks that gets better as it goes. It’s not perfect, but if you can push through the slower start, it turns into a pretty enjoyable rom-com with heart, growth, and a bit of charm.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!
I wanted something light and fun to read, and I got exactly that out of Text Me Maybe. The plot is fairly standard and a little predictable, but the character dynamics are so good that it becomes incredibly entertaining. The two main characters, Theo and Scarlett have such good banter that really captivates the reader and forces you to want to complete the story, in fact I read it all in one sitting.
That being said, looking at the book with a sharper eye, I felt like it lacked depth. If you just want a quick fun romance, then this is it, but beyond that there is not much for actual plot or depth in the characters. I think that the plot has a good foundation and that there are some points, that if expanded on, could explore some topics such as anxiety, priorities regarding work lives and personal, soccer, and the gender gap in work and sports. All of these are touched on a little bit, but I feel like they could have been explored more. The characters, same as the plot just lack a layer of depth that I wish they had. They were all interesting sure, but it seemed like their desire for romance drove the plot rather than their work in the soccer world, which I almost wish it had.
I had a 10/10 enjoyment of this book, so I highly recommend if you're looking for a quick, cute romance with a little spice. It just sits at a three star because as much as I loved reading it, I feel like I was left wanting more out of the plot and characters to really make it stand out.
I wanted something light and fun to read, and I got exactly that out of Text Me Maybe. The plot is fairly standard and a little predictable, but the character dynamics are so good that it becomes incredibly entertaining. The two main characters, Theo and Scarlett have such good banter that really captivates the reader and forces you to want to complete the story, in fact I read it all in one sitting.
That being said, looking at the book with a sharper eye, I felt like it lacked depth. If you just want a quick fun romance, then this is it, but beyond that there is not much for actual plot or depth in the characters. I think that the plot has a good foundation and that there are some points, that if expanded on, could explore some topics such as anxiety, priorities regarding work lives and personal, soccer, and the gender gap in work and sports. All of these are touched on a little bit, but I feel like they could have been explored more. The characters, same as the plot just lack a layer of depth that I wish they had. They were all interesting sure, but it seemed like their desire for romance drove the plot rather than their work in the soccer world, which I almost wish it had.
I had a 10/10 enjoyment of this book, so I highly recommend if you're looking for a quick, cute romance with a little spice. It just sits at a three star because as much as I loved reading it, I feel like I was left wanting more out of the plot and characters to really make it stand out.
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