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Bay Area Players #2

Just for the Plot

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From New York Times bestselling author Meghan Quinn comes a spicy sports romance filled with late-night book club confessions, forbidden attraction, and one slow-burn love story that refuses to stay platonic.

They're just friends.
At least, that's what she thinks. Him? He has other plans.

Bennett Brinkman is San Francisco baseball's golden boy-focused, disciplined, and very bad at ignoring the one woman he shouldn't want. Falling for his sister's best friend was inevitable, even though she's known him since he was all gangly elbows, bad haircuts, and teenage awkwardness...and still insists on seeing him that way.

Bower knows exactly why wanting Bennett is a terrible idea. She's fiercely loyal to her best friend and well aware that crossing this particular line could blow everything up. But when she moves into Bennett's apartment building, that "just friends" boundary begins to blur in the most tempting ways.

The banter comes fast.
The sparks come faster.
And pretending it's "no big deal" is getting ridiculous.

As feelings get messier and attraction turns undeniable, Bennett and Bower must decide if risking their family ties is worth chasing the love that's been in front of them all along.

512 pages, Paperback

Published July 28, 2026

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About the author

Meghan Quinn

123 books54.4k followers
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meghanquinn...

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When I was in high school I occasionally read books but was consumed by other teenage things so I didn't take the time to appreciate a good book on a cloudy day, wrapped up in a blanket on the couch. It wasn't until I received a Kindle for Christmas one year that my world completely flipped upside down. When looking for books I came across the Contemporary Romance genre and was sold and I haven't turned back since.

You can either find my head buried in my Kindle, listening to inspiring heart ripping music or typing away on the computer twisting and turning the lives of my characters while driving my readers crazy with anticipation.

​I currently reside in beautiful Colorado Springs where the sun is always shining and there is a trail waiting to be hiked on every corner. I share a lovely and warm home with the love of my life and my five, four-legged children.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,427 reviews
Profile Image for Jackie.
252 reviews1,759 followers
July 30, 2026
I started off thinking this was a potential 5⭐️ I loved how unbelievably down bad this man was & his constant yearning & pining. But, at some point around 100 pages before the ending, I lost interest. It’s just SUCH a long book & probably could’ve been a bit shorter. I don’t think this story was as laugh out loud hilarious as Meghan’s other books - not a bad thing, just something to note. This story had so many amazing qualities & I enjoyed so so much of it. Top tier spice, giggly moments - it had it all. I just wish we had gotten it all wrapped up before I lost interest.
Profile Image for Emma.catherine.
1,110 reviews204 followers
August 4, 2026
Queen Meghan is BACK 🙌🏽

Y’all know I am a MQ super fan and I have been waiting for her to release the second book in the Bay Area Players series: Just For The Plot. It follows along a similar vibe to the first book in this series, and I absolutely LOVED IT 😍 As to be expected from MQ, I laughed (a lot), swooned for both M & F MC’S, rooted for them, and got a little choked up along the way 🥹

This second instalment follows Bower and Bennett in a slow-burning, forbidden romance that has them questioning if risking their family ties is worth chasing the love that's been in front of them all along…

Bennett Brinkman is San Francisco baseball's golden boy, and he has the BIGGEST crush on Bower - his sister's best friend and eight years his senior. But, much to his dismay, they are just friends…all she has ever known him as is a gangly teen. Little does she know his teenage crush has turned into something much deeper and when she moves into Bennett's apartment building, that "just friends" boundary begins to blur more than ever 👀 Banter comes first, support and attraction comes second, sparks grow stronger, and suddenly feelings are undeniable…crossing the line has the potential to blow up EVERYTHING…which side of the loyalty line will Bower land?

Bower is a fellow book lover! Need I say more? She is totally one of us, especially with her passion for romance novels. I love how sure of herself she is, confident without being annoying or full of herself, just unapologetically her true self 🙌🏽 I appreciated how real she was with Bennett, she was direct and clear about her thoughts and feelings throughout the novel.

"Who knows, maybe the right guy is somewhere in the city looking for a slightly bookish type who doesn’t have the best filter. Could be a perfect match.” 📚 👀 💖

Bennett was SUCH a softy! A true golden retriever with a heart of gold 💛 I was totally rooting for him the whole time. He was so easygoing and loveable, yet his character had a surprising amount of depth. His determination, drive, and patience was admirable. AND, a major plus: he is a romance reader convert 😍

"I want to support all your dreams and walk beside you. I want to enjoy reading books with you, pleasuring you when you need it. Let me be the one to spoil you, to worship you. Let me be the one that gets to sleep next to you and wake up next to you in the morning. You’re it for me, Bower. No one will ever own my heart like you do.”

Agh, this romance was equal parts sizzling and incredibly sweet 🥹 OMG where do I begin…the yearning, the patient waiting, the pure love…it was all so beautiful 🥲 Reading about Bennett’s long-standing crush on Bower brought me so much joy. I FELT for him so badly as he waited with desperate longing for the right time to make his move on Bower. I loved watching them spend more and more time together because they just seemed so at ease. He treated her like a queen. He fought for her, cheered her on, cherished her. They laughed and cried together. Their love was pure joy that exuded from every moment they spent together. And, the pacing? Perfectly timed 👌🏽

Overall, this was another smash hit from MQ 👏🏽 It was so much fun to see The Gladdy Daddies back in action with plenty of cameo appearances (for other MQ fans: this book also crosses over nicely with the Almond Bay series!). As usual, the conversations between the guys is absolutely hilarious and the messed up advice is just priceless! I was surprised how much I came to love Bennett and was inspired by Bower’s book business. But moreover, I just felt so much joy radiating from this couple. It was a pleasure to read 😌

4 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Profile Image for Paige (wingsandsmut).
1,098 reviews132 followers
July 16, 2026
This book was exactly what I needed & wanted in a summer rom com and I devoured it so fast! The audio was absolutely fantastic and the casting couldn’t have been more perfect! Samantha Brentmoor & Teddy Hamilton performed our main characters, Bower & Bennett - they are two of my faves and were amazing at bringing these two to life! And the rest of the cast included JF Harding, Connor Crais, Stella Hunter, Emma Wilder, and Jason Clarke. Talk about a dream team to listen to!

Bower and Bennett have known each other for years - she’s his sister’s best friend and has always been there for them. But Bennett was crushing hard from the moment he saw Bower, never thinking he’d ever have a chance with her. But after years of friendship and with her moving to the same city and living in his building…things definitely start to change.

The playful banter between these two is perfection! I love that they have that friendship as a base for their relationship and how comfortable they are with each other. I live for a good slow burn and I was eating this up!

What to expect:
⚾️baseball romance
🧢friends to lovers
⚾️he falls first and HARD
🧢sister’s best friend
⚾️slow burn
🧢age gap
⚾️he falls first
Profile Image for Sandy (Sandy.Reads).
1,077 reviews564 followers
July 27, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5/5)

A hot baseball player who reads romance novels? Meghan Quinn knew exactly what she was doing because Bennett had me hooked from the very beginning.

This was easily one of my favorite age-gap, sister’s best friend romances that I’ve read in a long time. Bennett’s long-time crush on Bower was so incredibly sweet, and watching their relationship grow from a genuine friendship into something so much deeper made every moment feel earned. Their chemistry was effortless, the banter was hilarious, and when the romance finally took off… it absolutely delivered. The spice? Top tier.

I also listened to this on audio, and once again, Meghan Quinn’s audiobooks did not disappoint. The narrators brought these characters to life so well that I found myself smiling, laughing, and completely invested in every chapter.

If you’re looking for a baseball romance with an absolute green-flag book boyfriend, incredible chemistry, laugh-out-loud moments, and a romance that will have you kicking your feet, Just for the Plot needs to be on your TBR.
Profile Image for Caitlin Mcneely.
49 reviews1 follower
July 21, 2026
3.5 stars ⭐️

Went in with high expectations after coming down from the high of reading Rules for the Summer, and this book was not written for me, and that’s alright!

The FMC and MMC quite literally never left their apartment or did anything to build their relationship besides, dare I say it, HAVE SEX. 😂

They talked about sex, they thought about sex, they read about sex, and they had lots of sex.

All my stars go to the Gladdy Daddies text threads and Bennett with his lengthy, swoon worthy declarations of love to Bower since he’s been pining for her since he was 16. It was interesting to be in his POV. I wish I could have gotten some flash back chapters on them growing up together to get a better feel of them prior to being 24 and 32.

Bower? She was very surface level. And even though she was the older one, she was not as mature as Bennett. Which turned me off to enjoying her character.
Profile Image for Amity Bailey.
433 reviews55 followers
July 18, 2026
The way I devoured this book so fast! The audio with Samantha Brentmoor & Teddy Hamilton was fantastic! These two are always a top tier duo & I loved every second!!

Bennett & Bower!! She is so lovable & unapologetically her! Bower is a man down bad & ready to be everything for her! I am obsessed with these two. The tension, the yearning moments, the chemistry, and the absolute heat they brought!! This was so fun, swoony, & full of delicious spice!!! In typical MQ fashion, she had me laughing out loud, giddy, and even brought tears to my eyes.

As always, honorable mention to the Gladdy Daddies, because I love them!!! The friend group & group chats just get me every time! I cannot wait for more from these characters!!

If you’re wanting the perfect summer rom com, look no further… because this one has it all! A fun & absolutely spicy friends to lovers read that will have you falling in love too!!

Thank you MQ & team for the early ARC & ALC opportunity!! ❤️
Profile Image for Christine.
572 reviews8 followers
July 30, 2026
4.25⭐️ Meghan Quinn. Audiobook that’s in duet narration. Reverse age gap romance. I knew this book was gonna knock it out of the park! (see what I did there with the baseball pun?!😉)
Profile Image for Lindsey.
465 reviews36 followers
July 26, 2026
3.5 ⭐️

I love Megan’s writing and storytelling. She makes me laugh and I think she’s genius. Unfortunately I don’t know if it was my mood but I didn’t love this like I loved the others. Bower really bothered me. I felt like she used Bennet for what she wanted and then dumped him just as fast. She was sex focused and lacked greatly. The guys carried this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Magically Miranda.
436 reviews12 followers
July 27, 2026
Thank you to Bloom Books and author Meghan Quinn, for providing me with the eARC and ALC of “Just For The Plot”.

I have read book 1 in this series and that is a must before book 2. The author has explained what characters in past series show up in this one. I have not read them, and I don’t think I missed out on anything. I do plan to get to the books at some point, but there is a lot of them.

💭My Thoughts
When I say this book was a start to finish addiction for me it was an ADDICTION! I cannot imagine having never immersive read this one. Samantha and Teddy in my ears while reading along was chefs kiss. No notes, so freaking good. And come on the bromance was bromancing, Gladdy Daddys forever.

Bower my girl. Please never stop reading and being so open. She is everything I see in myself when it comes to being loud, no real boundaries and being book obsessed. She is so relatable that we were just rooting for her from the start.

And the things Bennett has done... may all us book girls find a man who will read romance and try some scenes out.

⚠️ There are some spoilers below, read with caution. ⚠️

"That's not the sister I grew up with. That's not the sister who raised me. You're better than that, Gabby, and I'm disappointed that you would treat someone you love in such a manner, angry or not. Broken promises and all. She deserved more than that."

And this passage, healed every wrong doing by a man in the fictional world. To be loved so much that Bennett stands up to his only family... Forever in love with him.

❣️Tropes❣️
Baseball Romance
Sisters Best Friend
Friends to Lovers
Book Club for Two
Reverse Age Gap
Slow Burn
He Falls First and Hard
She Wears His Jersey
Bromance

🩵RATING🩵
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️
Length: 525 Pages
Publisher: Bloom Books
Dual POV

🎧Full Cast Narration 13h 28m at 2x
🎙️ Samantha Brentmoor, Teddy Hamilton, J.F. Harding, Connor Crais, Emma Wilder and Stella Hunter
Narration Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publisher: Meghan Quinn
Profile Image for amarachireads.
893 reviews163 followers
August 4, 2026
This was such a fun MQ book, as usual there is that fun aspect with a strong af mmc and fmc. We have the mmc who is the brother of the fmcs best friend. They form a pact to always protect the mmcs sister after something happens when they are younger. The mmc is 8 years younger than the fmc so there was that semi forbidden relationship aspect. I liked the sports aspect element of the story as the mmc is a baseball player and how the fmc was trying to learn more about the sports because of the mmc. I liked that the mmc had a crush on the fmc for years and didn’t act on it until much later. When the fmc moves near the mmc they start to get closer and start relying on each other and I really enjoyed seeing them get closer and all the hijinks as the mmc tried setting her up with other people. The fmc is a romance reader and I enjoyed her getting the mmc into books. The romance is a slow burn with spicy and steamy moments. Overall a cute friends to lovers with a forbidden romance sports romance. If you like audiobooks then you need to check this one out, the narrators did a great job bringing to life the stories and I loved the dual narration. Thanks to the publisher for this arc!
Profile Image for Melissa.
749 reviews81 followers
July 29, 2026
4/5 ⭐️
2/5 🌶️

We love an age gap when she’s older!
Profile Image for Alexia Gauthier.
252 reviews12 followers
July 30, 2026
Plot? Oh, there was one. I was just too busy falling for Bennett.

4.5 ⭐️ | 3.5 🌶️

OH. MY. FUCK. This book had me laughing so hard I cried… and I was one joke away from actually peeing myself.

Meghan Quinn, what the actual hell did you put in this book? Because Just For The Plot is hands down one of the funniest romances I’ve read in a long time. It’s chaotic. It’s wholesome. It’s sexy. It’s toe-curling. It’s packed with so much heart that one minute you’re wheezing with laughter and the next your chest physically hurts.

And honestly? Bennett Brinkman can have whatever the fuck he wants. Our 24-year-old baseball golden boy has carried a torch for one woman since he was sixteen, and if you don’t immediately fold for a man who knows exactly who he wants… I genuinely don’t know what to tell you.

The yearning? DISGUSTING. The devotion? ILLEGAL. The patience? Someone give this man a medal.

Then we have Bower. Thirty-two, fiercely loyal, brilliantly funny, and completely convinced that wanting her best friend’s little brother is the worst idea imaginable. She’s promised to protect him for years… just never imagined she’d have to protect herself from him.

The chemistry between these two? Absolutely feral. Every sarcastic comment. Every lingering look. Every ounce of tension had me internally screaming. And don’t even get me started on the smutty book club… Whoever came up with that concept deserves a raise because I was HOWLING.

The banter in this book deserves its own award. Not just between Bennett and Bower, but the entire cast. Graydon continues to be iconic, but OC? OC walked onto the page, caused absolute chaos, stole every scene he was in, and then left me desperate for his book. I am UNWELL.

What Meghan Quinn does so ridiculously well is make you laugh until your face hurts before casually slipping in an emotional gut punch that leaves you staring at a wall questioning your entire existence.

The humour never overshadows the heart. The spice never overshadows the romance. And the romance? It never feels rushed. It feels earned.

Every stolen moment. Every conversation. Every crack in their emotional armour. Every bit of vulnerability. You don’t just watch these two fall in love, you feel it.

This book reminded me that the loudest love stories aren’t always the most romantic. Sometimes it’s the quiet ones. The ones built on years of longing, unwavering loyalty, stolen glances, ridiculous flirting, and choosing each other over and over again. That’s the kind of romance that absolutely destroys me.

So if you’re looking for:
✨ sister’s best friend
✨ years of pining
✨ age gap
✨ baseball romance
✨ laugh-until-you-snort banter
✨ sexual tension so thick you could bottle it
✨ found family vibes
✨ a hero who is so down bad it’s honestly embarrassing (affectionate)

Congratulations. You’ve just found your next obsession.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be sitting here impatiently waiting for OC’s book because that man has already consumed a suspicious amount of space in my brain.

Meghan Quinn… Respectfully… What the fuck.
Profile Image for Filippa Söderström.
233 reviews321 followers
July 27, 2026
The Gladdy Daddies are back! This time with my boy Bennett! This book was exactly what I needed - a funny, laugh-out-loud romcom with the most perfect slow burn. 🙂‍↕️

Some thoughts: Bower and Bennett might just be my newest obsession!! They’re just such a sweet couple and I mean, reading romance books together, can it be better than that? Their conversations and their connection in general felt so genuine, seeing that they’ve known each other for years. I loved their banter how straight forward and open Bower is, and how that reflected their communication. I feel like this book is like the opposite of the miscommunication trope! 🤝

Apart from relatable characters, it was fun to meet Graydon, Maple and the other characters from book one and that they had a pretty large role in helping Bennett get his girl. As always, I love crossovers so I was thrilled when I realized that Bower’s bestie Gabby is the FMC in The Path to Loving Him, which was one of my five star reads in 2025. We also get other crossovers as well, but I’ll leave those for you to find.


Not only did I get to enjoy the e-arc, but I also got to listen to the e-alc for the ultimate experience. Thank you to the author for the ARC and ALC👌🏼✨

Tropes:
⚾️ Baseball romance
👩🏻 Sister’s best friend
📖 Book club
🩷Friends to lovers
✨Childhood crush
😍 He falls first
🔄 Reverse age gap
💬 Funny group chat
Profile Image for Jennifer.
1,123 reviews21 followers
July 29, 2026
I LOVED THIS ONE!! Oh Bennett, the man that you are!

This is the second book in the Bay Area Players series and I do think it’s my favorite of the series so far. We meet Bennett in the first book and it was a good set up to the golden retriever man he turns out to be in this book. A man willing to read romance and actually ends up loving it and doesn’t have frail masculinity that he continues to do so on his own? Yes please!

Bower and Bennett are each other’s halves and I think it was beautiful to see Bennett be able to make Bower feel comfortable in being vulnerable. This is a friends to lovers kind of romance, with an age gap, and I loved the tension that brought. It was filled with so much “will they won’t they” and it made the spicy moments just that much more 🥵. I rate it 4🌶️ out of 5.

The whole situation with the sister got annoying but it made sense. The ending felt a tiny bit rushed (even though it’s a long book) but honestly, I loved the entirety of it that it felt unfair to ding it for that. This book is funny, sentimental and it made me miss San Francisco even more. I can’t wait for the next book, which I’m assuming is going to be OC and I have theories but we’ll see what Meghan Quinn gives us. 👀

I read along to the audiobook as well and the narrators are AMAZING! It made everything that much more amplified and they bring the characters to life so well. Absolutely obsessed!

Thank you so much Good Girls PR and Meghan Quinn for the eARC and ALC!
Profile Image for pubby.
41 reviews5 followers
Want to Read
March 19, 2026
bennett x bower 💕💕
oh how i love meghan quinn's books (if she writes it im reading it)
can't wait for this book to release!!
14 reviews
August 2, 2026
Bower was absolutely insufferable. Probably one of the most annoying FMCs I’ve read to date. How many times did she need to let us know “she’s not like other girls.” She walked Bennett like a fucking dog—which I’m usually all for— but Bennett was an absolute doormat and it was honestly a little pathetic.
Profile Image for Book.ishJulie.
908 reviews29 followers
July 29, 2026
The second book in Meghan Quinn's Bay Area Players series: Just For The Plot.

Books, baseball and boinking! Start a book club, play the football, and (insert slow burn here) start boinking your best friends brother!

Bennett Brinkman has crushed on his sister's best friend since he was sixteen... and that desire, oh that desire, steams off the pages!

Bower (of no last name) is SO sure of herself; she's unapologetic and direct. She's also a reader who GETS the reason behind reading spicy romance!

The history that these two have! Oh, the years of pining! That eight-year age gap!!! And it's hilarious AF! (Obviously, the Gladdy Daddies take so much credit here! Their hijinks are just next-level!) Somehow, this is also one of the steamiest from Quinn... but like... it's a slow burn... that didn't feel like a slow burn!?

Sigh! The Meghanverse strikes again! This was my tenth from Quinn (I've read them all from How My Neighbour Stole Christmas onwards) and it was SO fun picking up on the character crossover cameos! (And I know there were many more that I missed!)

Samantha Brentmoor and Teddy Hamilton together. in. one. sexy. steamy. hilarious. audiobook!? It's duet, it's got a full cast, it's obviously what my dreams are made of!

P.S. Two-person book clubs forever!

Can't wait to see where this series goes!

Thank you, Team MQ, for the complementary copies to read and review.
Profile Image for Jill (readinginpjs).
786 reviews271 followers
July 30, 2026
Thank you Meghan Quinn + team for the ARC & ALC, all opinions are my own.

here are the 2 notes I took while reading:
- oooohhh mannnn Bennetttttttt - he’s so fucking cute in his yearning 🥹
- oohh some very hot dry humping 😮‍💨

so yeah, basically I ADORED how Bennett had been pining for Bower since his teenage years, and waiting for the right time to get her to see him in a different light 🥹

the tension between them was absolute perfection, the push and pull, little moments to bring them closer but not scare her off - but taking things a little further each time 🔥

🎧 as always, a Meghan Quinn audio is FANTASTIC - duet narration + a full cast!

Samantha Brentmoor brought Bower to life, showing her hesitation & inner turmoil over her feelings SO well.
Teddy Hamilton did a great job as Bennett, with his yearning & spiralling out with his friends.
I also loved all the side characters, played by Stella Hunter, Jason Clarke, Emma Wilder, JF Harding & Connor Crais.

✦ tropes & more:
💫 age gap (she’s 32, he’s 24)
🧢 best friend’s brother
⚾️ pro baseball player mmc
🌟 friends to lovers
🏠 neighbors
💙 he falls first
🥹 pining/yearning - teenage crush
🐢 slow burn
💞 dual 1st person pov

🎧 audio + ebook | ⭐️: 5 | 🌶️: open door |

📖 Just for the Plot by Meghan Quinn
📚 book 2 • Bay Area Players series
💜: contemporary romance (mf)
🎙 narrated by: duet by Samantha Brentmoor & Teddy Hamilton with full cast - Stella Hunter, Jason Clarke, Emma Wilder, JF Harding & Connor Crais

*Connect with Me*
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Profile Image for Sarcasticpageturner.
893 reviews161 followers
July 16, 2026
I have been waiting for Bower to get her own book, and it absolutely delivered! I loved her unfiltered, unapologetic personality, and she truly shined in this story. As a fellow book lover, I loved seeing her passion for books and watching her chase her dreams.

Then there’s Bennett, he was everything and more. Even though he was eight years younger, he was incredibly mature, patient, and completely devoted to Bower. My mom always told me to fall in love with someone who loves you more, and Bennett is the perfect example of that.

I also loved Nolan’s addition to the group. He brought so much humor and was such a fun character. Getting more of OC and Grayden was everything I wanted, and seeing Maggie and Ryland from Almond Bay pop back in made me so happy.

The spice definitely delivered, but the slow-burn tension leading up to it was even better. And if you’ve read it, you already know the cupcake scene and the bedroom mirror scene will be living rent-free in my head forever.

Meghan Quinn never misses, and this was everything I hoped Bower’s story would be.
Profile Image for Jen Altman.
559 reviews68 followers
July 27, 2026
Meghan Quinn completely knocked it out of the park with Just for the Plot! ⚾️ If you’re a bookworm like me who loves a spicy sports romance, consider this your official pitch to move it straight to the top of your TBR.

Bennett is baseball's golden boy and harboring a major crush on his older sister’s best friend, Bower, but she’s determined to keep him permanently benched in the friend zone. But when Bower moves into his apartment building, forced proximity takes over, and all those "just friends" rules are thrown right out the window. Between playful banter and late-night book club confessions, their forbidden, slow-burn attraction quickly turns into a home run romance that refuses to stay platonic!

This book has all the stats for an instant favorite: high-heat spice, laugh-out-loud humor, and genuine heart. Watching Bennett and Bower as they figure out if risking family ties is worth chasing true love kept me turning pages late into the night. It’s safe to say Meghan Quinn wrote a total grand slam here!

🎧 I went full immersive read with both the ebook and audiobook for this one, and trust me, it was absolute magic! The duet narration by Teddy Hamilton and Samantha Brentmoor is perfection! Their chemistry is off the charts. Plus, having a full supporting cast brought every single side character to life in a way that made the story hit totally different. Hearing Teddy voice Bennett’s swoony, protective side while Samantha nailed Bower’s sharp wit had me completely hooked on every chapter.
Profile Image for Laraine.
459 reviews167 followers
July 29, 2026
I don’t think I’ve ever read a Meghan Quinn book I didn’t love. Her books are always so much fun, and this one was no exception! The audiobook was fantastic, with Samantha Brentmoor, Teddy Hamilton, and the full cast absolutely killing it, as per usual. I loved the hilarious side characters, all the group texts, the found family, the humor, and the emotional moments scattered throughout. Add in the friends-to-lovers romance and all the down bad moments of Bennett falling for his sister’s best friend, and I was hooked. Meghan Quinn’s books are always so bingeable, and this one was another winner.
Profile Image for Kate Laycoax .
1,722 reviews28 followers
August 3, 2026
As per usual lately with her books, it just doesn't hit like it used to. I did think it was marginally better than Just for the Cameras, but not by much. I agree with other reviewers who says this is misogynistic because it really is. Females being weak but trying to be "not like the others" while the guy is an alpha male, hear me roar is so played out. Anyway, this was ENTIRELY too long and there was a lot of spice, which I suppose was a highlight for me but it also was a lot and at times, too much and unnecessary. I don't know, but it also becomes immature and cringe, especially with those text messages. Sigh. I want more from her books but I think she is just going to keep the same formula even though it isn't good and doesn't work well.
Profile Image for ~Shawna the crazy coffee reader~.
588 reviews42 followers
July 29, 2026
This book was so good. I did an immersive read/listen and it made it so much better.

Literally love the gladdy daddies. Their convos are freaking hilarious while also being emotionally supportive. The way their friendship developed was so unconventional but it’s made their bond that much better.

Ok so the main characters in this one… Bennet and Bower! I really enjoyed them. Bennet is the ULTIMATE book boyfriend that you hope to find in real life. His devotion and desire for Bower are the stuff of legends. Bower is so cute. As she slowly saw Bennet as a man instead of her friend’s brother 🤌🏼💋 perfection. Also her work was so cool. I enjoyed seeing her transition from personal assistant to her new role!

My ONLY complaint is WHY the heck did we not see it at the end???? That was not nice Meghan! However, I’m a sucker so I’ll be impatiently waiting for the next in series.
Profile Image for Crystal Sellers.
508 reviews9 followers
August 1, 2026
I loved this book.
The book club, the slow burn, the flirtiness.
This is how an age gap is done.
The audio was perfection as always.
Profile Image for Ana Isabel.
74 reviews
August 6, 2026
Listen, I typically like my fictional men to be morally grey and toxic AF. But here I am, swooning over Bennett- the greenest green flag who also knows how to use his words and communicate openly. Ugh, my heart 🥹
Profile Image for Sam.
618 reviews39 followers
July 28, 2026
✨𝐀𝐋𝐂 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰✨

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬: 20, 22, 24, 25, 29, 32, 33, 36, 41 & 42
𝐒𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧: 67%
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬: Sports romance (baseball), best friend’s brother, he falls first, close proximity, reversed age gap
𝐏𝐎𝐕: 1st person, Multi POV
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Duet with a full cast
𝐊𝐔: Yes

I loved this book! Give me a reversed age gap, best friend's brother, and an MMC who has been hopelessly in love with the FMC for years, and I am immediately invested. Meghan Quinn has been on a roll with this sports romance series, and this is my favorite book in the series so far. Bennett completely stole my heart. Watching him finally get his chance with Bower after years of quietly loving her was everything I wanted it to be. Their chemistry, banter, and emotional connection made it impossible to put this one down.

The audiobook was phenomenal, as always. Meghan Quinn consistently has some of the best productions, and this one featured duet narration with a full cast, which made an already fantastic story even better. Teddy Hamilton was the perfect Bennett, and Samantha Brentmoor absolutely nailed Bower. I also continue to love the athlete friend group in this series, they're hilarious. I also loved all the cameos from her previous books. I've been waiting for OC's story since the Vancouver Agitators series, and after finishing this book, I need it immediately!


⚠️𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬:⚠️
Multiple open door scenes with explicit descriptions
Strong language

𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬:
2 reviews
July 30, 2026
couldn’t do it

I am a die hard Meghan Quinn fan, I had a countdown for weeks for this book to come out and I couldn’t even finish it. Bower the female lead was simply awful. She strung Bennett along and was so indecisive and weak and played the victim to such an extreme extent that I was too put off to even finish.
She was out on a date with someone else behind his back after they had been talking/hooking up. But then he comforted her because she was sad about it… wah wah. I stopped there.
Profile Image for Flavia &#x1f319;.
354 reviews159 followers
July 17, 2026
5⭐️ 4🌶️

Thank you Mommy Quinn and Good Girls PR for the ARC/ALC!

This is hands down the funniest Meghan Quinn book I’ve read. When I tell you I just kept laughing outloud every other sentence 😂

I did this one primarily in audio and holy shit!!! What an incredible performance. You’d think by now I’d know all sides of Teddy Hamilton but somehow this man still finds way to surprise me with his voice and talent. And all that combines with my dream girl crush Samantha Brentmoor??? A RECIPE FOR MAXIMUM HORNINESS!!

Seriously, what an incredible freaking performance. Of course I have to also give gib gib kudos to the rest of the cast because they were all absolutely perfect!

Loved this story. Loved the spice… I see you Meghan, I see you 🥵🥵

I’m so happy to have gotten so many of my favorite microtropes in a single book. This one is about readers and for the readers.
Profile Image for Susana.
178 reviews
July 29, 2026
they made the whole thing out to be more of an issue than it actually was🙄 they didn’t rlly do anything to build on their relationship aside from just having sex🫠 the age gap wasn’t that bad but the fmc made it weird by calling herself a grandma or auntie or mommy😑 everything was too surface level and the crush since they met could’ve been developed better. all in all it lacked the laugh out loud trademark that her books usually have😔
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