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Pop Stars and Playbooks: An opposites-attract, kisses-only, fake friendship-turned-love story between a football star and a pop icon
She's a chart-topper. He's a football player. Together, they're a love story no one saw coming.
Griffin Hayes is football's golden boy--charming, talented, and completely out of his depth when a video of him belting out pop star Aria Wilder's breakup anthem goes viral. Overnight, he's crowned the internet's favorite meme, and Aria's #1 fan. Aria, the reigning queen of heartbreak ballads, sees an opportunity to turn the moment into good PR and invites Griffin to her next concert. When their onstage chemistry sets the internet ablaze, her team suggests the a fake friendship to keep the buzz alive.
Griffin reluctantly agrees, but as they spend more time together--posing for cameras, attending events, and sharing inside jokes--he realizes there's nothing fake about the way Aria makes him feel. For Aria, Griffin is a breath of fresh air in a world that's always demanding more from her. Beneath the viral fame and public scrutiny, their connection feels real.
But when Griffin suffers a career-threatening injury and Aria battles creative burnout, their carefully constructed "performance" starts to crumble. With their worlds pulling them in opposite directions, they'll have to Is this just a PR stunt gone too far--or the kind of love worth risking everything for?
Perfect for fans of fake dating, opposites attract, and swoon-worthy slow burns, Pop Stars and Playbooks is a sparkling romance about finding love in the unlikeliest of places--and learning to trust it when the spotlight fades.
Griffin Hayes is football's golden boy--charming, talented, and completely out of his depth when a video of him belting out pop star Aria Wilder's breakup anthem goes viral. Overnight, he's crowned the internet's favorite meme, and Aria's #1 fan. Aria, the reigning queen of heartbreak ballads, sees an opportunity to turn the moment into good PR and invites Griffin to her next concert. When their onstage chemistry sets the internet ablaze, her team suggests the a fake friendship to keep the buzz alive.
Griffin reluctantly agrees, but as they spend more time together--posing for cameras, attending events, and sharing inside jokes--he realizes there's nothing fake about the way Aria makes him feel. For Aria, Griffin is a breath of fresh air in a world that's always demanding more from her. Beneath the viral fame and public scrutiny, their connection feels real.
But when Griffin suffers a career-threatening injury and Aria battles creative burnout, their carefully constructed "performance" starts to crumble. With their worlds pulling them in opposite directions, they'll have to Is this just a PR stunt gone too far--or the kind of love worth risking everything for?
Perfect for fans of fake dating, opposites attract, and swoon-worthy slow burns, Pop Stars and Playbooks is a sparkling romance about finding love in the unlikeliest of places--and learning to trust it when the spotlight fades.
347 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 26, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 179 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
THANK YOU SO MUCH NETGALLEY AND THE PUBLISHER FOR THIS ARC!!
╔══════════════════════════╗
💖✨ 𝓟𝓸𝓹 𝓢𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓟𝓵𝓪𝔂𝓫𝓸𝓸𝓴𝓼 ✨💖
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📖 𝓐𝓾𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓻: Juliet Rhodes
💫 𝓖𝓮𝓷𝓻𝓮: Romance
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🌟 𝓕𝓲𝓻𝓼𝓽 𝓘𝓶𝓹𝓻𝓮𝓼𝓼𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓼 / 𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭
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> First of all, cover? ADORABLE! Second, the blurb is totally giving Taylor and Travis, and as a HUGE Swiftie, I am so here for it!!! 🌸
╔══════════════════════════╗
💌 𝓟𝓵𝓸𝓽 & 𝓟𝓪𝓬𝓲𝓷𝓰
╚══════════════════════════╝
> The story flowed so fast but in the best way, literally nothing unnecessary was there! However, there were a few plot holes, but nothing major so I was able to look past them. I also feel that the romance was PERFECTLY paced, I absolutely loved it! I do wish there was more yearning after they kissed and agreed to be just friends. I loved the look into the struggles of a singer and a professional football player, and I loved how they actually talked about their feelings with eachother and were able to connect through that. ✨
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🎭 𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼 & 𝓡𝓮𝓵𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓹𝓼
╚══════════════════════════╝
> I love Aria and Griffin SO MUCH!!! And don’t even get me started on Bailey! I literally want to be best friends with all of them, however I did find Elliott a bit bland. Though that is true, I am mostly going off of vibes because I feel like we really don’t know much about them. Physically, the only information we were told is that she has curly blonde hair, he’s 250 pounds, and his height (which was not mentioned as much as the other two so I forgot the number.) As for personality and background, I do feel like the characters were lacking depth because of the fact that their backgrounds were barely even hinted at. Overall, I still found a way to love them so much! 💕
╔══════════════════════════╗
🎨 𝓦𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓢𝓽𝔂𝓵𝓮 & 𝓕𝓸𝓻𝓶𝓪𝓽
╚══════════════════════════╝
> The writing was good, if a bit simplistic. The only thing that really stuck out about it to me was the bit of repetition. Other than that, I had no problem with the writing, and I loved the dual “POV” Even though it was entirely in 3rd person, I loved how the chapters flipped to show Griffin’s and Aria’s thoughts and feelings. 🌙✨
╔══════════════════════════╗
💖 𝓕𝓪𝓿𝓸𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓮 𝓠𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼
╚══════════════════════════╝
> “Nope. This is right where I want to be.” 💌
╔══════════════════════════╗
📌 𝓞𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼
╚══════════════════════════╝
> Overall, this was such an adorable read!! And I’m so relieved to report that you need absolutely no football knowledge to keep up with this book lmao. ✨💖
⭐ 𝓜𝔂 𝓡𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰: 4.25 🌟
📅 𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭 𝓓𝓪𝓽𝓮: [April 1, 2026 – April 1, 2026] 🌙✨💖
╔══════════════════════════╗
💖✨ 𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭 ✨💖
╚══════════════════════════╝
📚 𝓑𝓸𝓸𝓴 𝓣𝓲𝓽𝓵𝓮: Pop Stars and Playbooks
📖 𝓐𝓾𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓻: Juliet Rhodes
💫 𝓖𝓮𝓷𝓻𝓮: Romance
╔══════════════════════════╗
✨ 𝓦𝓱𝔂 𝓘'𝓶 𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰
╚══════════════════════════╝
> Should I be starting another book right now? No. But did I just receive my VERY FIRST ARC??? HELL YEAH! So you bet your ass I'm going to start reading it right this second. 🌷
╔══════════════════════════╗
💭 𝓔𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓼
╚══════════════════════════╝
> First of all, cover? ADORABLE! Second, the blurb is totally giving Taylor and Travis, and as a HUGE Swiftie, I am so here for it!!! ✨
╔══════════════════════════╗
🌸 𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭 𝓜𝓸𝓸𝓭
╚══════════════════════════╝
> DID YOU HEAR ME??? I SAID MY FIRST ARC!!!!!!!! 💖💫
📅 𝓢𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓽 𝓓𝓪𝓽𝓮: [April 1, 2026] ✨🌸💌
╔══════════════════════════╗
💖✨ 𝓟𝓸𝓹 𝓢𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓟𝓵𝓪𝔂𝓫𝓸𝓸𝓴𝓼 ✨💖
╚══════════════════════════╝
📖 𝓐𝓾𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓻: Juliet Rhodes
💫 𝓖𝓮𝓷𝓻𝓮: Romance
╔══════════════════════════╗
🌟 𝓕𝓲𝓻𝓼𝓽 𝓘𝓶𝓹𝓻𝓮𝓼𝓼𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓼 / 𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭
╚══════════════════════════╝
> First of all, cover? ADORABLE! Second, the blurb is totally giving Taylor and Travis, and as a HUGE Swiftie, I am so here for it!!! 🌸
╔══════════════════════════╗
💌 𝓟𝓵𝓸𝓽 & 𝓟𝓪𝓬𝓲𝓷𝓰
╚══════════════════════════╝
> The story flowed so fast but in the best way, literally nothing unnecessary was there! However, there were a few plot holes, but nothing major so I was able to look past them. I also feel that the romance was PERFECTLY paced, I absolutely loved it! I do wish there was more yearning after they kissed and agreed to be just friends. I loved the look into the struggles of a singer and a professional football player, and I loved how they actually talked about their feelings with eachother and were able to connect through that. ✨
╔══════════════════════════╗
🎭 𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼 & 𝓡𝓮𝓵𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓹𝓼
╚══════════════════════════╝
> I love Aria and Griffin SO MUCH!!! And don’t even get me started on Bailey! I literally want to be best friends with all of them, however I did find Elliott a bit bland. Though that is true, I am mostly going off of vibes because I feel like we really don’t know much about them. Physically, the only information we were told is that she has curly blonde hair, he’s 250 pounds, and his height (which was not mentioned as much as the other two so I forgot the number.) As for personality and background, I do feel like the characters were lacking depth because of the fact that their backgrounds were barely even hinted at. Overall, I still found a way to love them so much! 💕
╔══════════════════════════╗
🎨 𝓦𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓢𝓽𝔂𝓵𝓮 & 𝓕𝓸𝓻𝓶𝓪𝓽
╚══════════════════════════╝
> The writing was good, if a bit simplistic. The only thing that really stuck out about it to me was the bit of repetition. Other than that, I had no problem with the writing, and I loved the dual “POV” Even though it was entirely in 3rd person, I loved how the chapters flipped to show Griffin’s and Aria’s thoughts and feelings. 🌙✨
╔══════════════════════════╗
💖 𝓕𝓪𝓿𝓸𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓮 𝓠𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼
╚══════════════════════════╝
> “Nope. This is right where I want to be.” 💌
╔══════════════════════════╗
📌 𝓞𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼
╚══════════════════════════╝
> Overall, this was such an adorable read!! And I’m so relieved to report that you need absolutely no football knowledge to keep up with this book lmao. ✨💖
⭐ 𝓜𝔂 𝓡𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰: 4.25 🌟
📅 𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭 𝓓𝓪𝓽𝓮: [April 1, 2026 – April 1, 2026] 🌙✨💖
╔══════════════════════════╗
💖✨ 𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭 ✨💖
╚══════════════════════════╝
📚 𝓑𝓸𝓸𝓴 𝓣𝓲𝓽𝓵𝓮: Pop Stars and Playbooks
📖 𝓐𝓾𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓻: Juliet Rhodes
💫 𝓖𝓮𝓷𝓻𝓮: Romance
╔══════════════════════════╗
✨ 𝓦𝓱𝔂 𝓘'𝓶 𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰
╚══════════════════════════╝
> Should I be starting another book right now? No. But did I just receive my VERY FIRST ARC??? HELL YEAH! So you bet your ass I'm going to start reading it right this second. 🌷
╔══════════════════════════╗
💭 𝓔𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓼
╚══════════════════════════╝
> First of all, cover? ADORABLE! Second, the blurb is totally giving Taylor and Travis, and as a HUGE Swiftie, I am so here for it!!! ✨
╔══════════════════════════╗
🌸 𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭 𝓜𝓸𝓸𝓭
╚══════════════════════════╝
> DID YOU HEAR ME??? I SAID MY FIRST ARC!!!!!!!! 💖💫
📅 𝓢𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓽 𝓓𝓪𝓽𝓮: [April 1, 2026] ✨🌸💌
June 22, 2026
Clean and very cute, Pop Stars and Playbooks feeds into my love of the friends to lovers trope, with a hint of both sports and music. Griffin gave definite Golden Retriever vibes, his sweetness and innocence was a major draw to his character for me the reader, as well as to pop princess Aria. She’s loved by millions for the character she plays on stage, but she can feel the connection to Griffin as “more” she’s just scared to trust it. I liked we went on several marketing campaigns with them as well as them just hanging out naturally. You were really able to see the loneliness was getting to both of them, highlighting the goos and bad points of being famous. The angst was low, and kissing is the most action you’ll read but the story didn’t suffer for it. I had a good time getting to know these characters and Griffs teammates. I would say for me I’d like a bit more angst for our couple to push through to get their HEA. Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinions, please take them with a grain of salt. I’d definitely recommend to someone if looking for a sweet, clean romance to lift your spirits. A good vacation or beach day read. Fun with flirty notes.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
🤬Language Rating: 1.25/5
🌶️Spicy Rating: 0.25/5
📖Plot Rating: 2/5
⚔️Violence Rating: 0/5
😎Christian Worldview: 1/5
⭐️Final Rating: 2/5
✨this is a spoiler-free review✨
Thank you to NetGallery and Thomas Nelson for a complimentary ARC copy of Pop Stars and Playbooks! Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This book was not exactly what I was expecting. The premise was cute, but the plot really dragged on, the storytelling was repetitive, the chemistry between Aria and Griffin was almost nonexistent, and the writing felt disjointed. I really wanted to love this, but it just wasn’t cutting it for me. I feel like this book could have used another round or two of edits. The premise is good, but it wasn’t executed very well.
One of the biggest issues for me was the 3rd person narrative. I have read some books, like Once Upon a Broken Heart, that pull off 3rd person storytelling very well! But when 3rd person is done poorly, you risk your story and character being impersonal and vague. Unfortunately, that is the effect the 3rd person had for me in this book. Had this been written in the 1st person, I think it would have fixed a lot of the awkward writing and made it a whole lot easier to relate to the characters.
Another issue I had was the repetitive nature of it all. We hear over and over again about how Aria and Griffin have to remain professional, how Aria wants to write more meaningful songs, and how Griffin blushes in the spotlight. It’s endearing but overbearing. This definitely is an easy read, and a quick summer friends to lovers, but the plot is far from engaging. I would compare it to milk chocolate. It’s satisfactory, and enjoyable enough while you eat it, but it’s not anywhere on the same level as dark chocolate, and if you stop and think about it, you’ll wonder why you ever chose to eat milk chocolate over dark chocolate in the first place.
My last big issue would be content. The romance was really clean, which is in large part due to the lack of romantic moments, but there is a whole lot of secular thought lumped in, mostly in Aria’s chapters. She talks about meditation, yoga, energies, celestial beings, and it is implied that she said sh-t twice. I was kind of shocked to find all that in a book published by Thomas Nelson to be honest.
I wouldn’t really recommend this, but if you do decide to read it, I’d say it’s definitely geared towards a younger audience, like 13+. It’s also geared towards Swifties, I believe, and is very reminiscent of her and Kelce’s relationship.
Thank you so much for a free ARC. I am bummed this one didn’t hit the spot, but here’s to hoping that the next one will be better!!
🌶️Spicy Rating: 0.25/5
📖Plot Rating: 2/5
⚔️Violence Rating: 0/5
😎Christian Worldview: 1/5
⭐️Final Rating: 2/5
✨this is a spoiler-free review✨
Thank you to NetGallery and Thomas Nelson for a complimentary ARC copy of Pop Stars and Playbooks! Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This book was not exactly what I was expecting. The premise was cute, but the plot really dragged on, the storytelling was repetitive, the chemistry between Aria and Griffin was almost nonexistent, and the writing felt disjointed. I really wanted to love this, but it just wasn’t cutting it for me. I feel like this book could have used another round or two of edits. The premise is good, but it wasn’t executed very well.
One of the biggest issues for me was the 3rd person narrative. I have read some books, like Once Upon a Broken Heart, that pull off 3rd person storytelling very well! But when 3rd person is done poorly, you risk your story and character being impersonal and vague. Unfortunately, that is the effect the 3rd person had for me in this book. Had this been written in the 1st person, I think it would have fixed a lot of the awkward writing and made it a whole lot easier to relate to the characters.
Another issue I had was the repetitive nature of it all. We hear over and over again about how Aria and Griffin have to remain professional, how Aria wants to write more meaningful songs, and how Griffin blushes in the spotlight. It’s endearing but overbearing. This definitely is an easy read, and a quick summer friends to lovers, but the plot is far from engaging. I would compare it to milk chocolate. It’s satisfactory, and enjoyable enough while you eat it, but it’s not anywhere on the same level as dark chocolate, and if you stop and think about it, you’ll wonder why you ever chose to eat milk chocolate over dark chocolate in the first place.
My last big issue would be content. The romance was really clean, which is in large part due to the lack of romantic moments, but there is a whole lot of secular thought lumped in, mostly in Aria’s chapters. She talks about meditation, yoga, energies, celestial beings, and it is implied that she said sh-t twice. I was kind of shocked to find all that in a book published by Thomas Nelson to be honest.
I wouldn’t really recommend this, but if you do decide to read it, I’d say it’s definitely geared towards a younger audience, like 13+. It’s also geared towards Swifties, I believe, and is very reminiscent of her and Kelce’s relationship.
Thank you so much for a free ARC. I am bummed this one didn’t hit the spot, but here’s to hoping that the next one will be better!!
July 27, 2026
Thank you to @julietrhodesauthor and @thomasnelsonfiction for the #gifted e-book and @librofm for the #gifted audiobook.
This charming romance took me on a delightful journey, reminiscent of a real-life love story between a famous singer and a football star.
The plot centers around a playful, opposites-attract friendship that’s easy to enjoy. I particularly appreciated the supportive bond between Aria and Griffin, although I was hoping their romantic connection would develop a bit earlier. Their romance didn't truly ignite until the very end.
Told through dual POV in third person, I found it a little challenging to deeply connect with the characters' emotions. Most dual POV romances I’ve read use first person, so this choice made the characters feel a bit more distant. I also noticed some repetitive storylines that slightly slowed the story’s momentum. At times, it felt more like a YA novel than adult fiction.
The narrators did an excellent job bringing the characters to life, adding warmth and personality to the story.
Mark your calendars, the release date for this book is July 28, 2026.
This charming romance took me on a delightful journey, reminiscent of a real-life love story between a famous singer and a football star.
The plot centers around a playful, opposites-attract friendship that’s easy to enjoy. I particularly appreciated the supportive bond between Aria and Griffin, although I was hoping their romantic connection would develop a bit earlier. Their romance didn't truly ignite until the very end.
Told through dual POV in third person, I found it a little challenging to deeply connect with the characters' emotions. Most dual POV romances I’ve read use first person, so this choice made the characters feel a bit more distant. I also noticed some repetitive storylines that slightly slowed the story’s momentum. At times, it felt more like a YA novel than adult fiction.
The narrators did an excellent job bringing the characters to life, adding warmth and personality to the story.
Mark your calendars, the release date for this book is July 28, 2026.
August 13, 2026
This is a darling celebrity romance between a pop star and a football player. What starts as a viral video at a concert, turns into a fake friendship that eventually leads to more. With strong Swiftie vibes, I adored listening to this slow-burn story.
It was interesting to think about the behind-the-scenes of life in the spotlight–the loneliness, trying to decipher a person’s true intent in knowing you, and being able to express yourself authentically. With low angst, Aria and Griffin navigate their different worlds of fame and quickly fall into an easy friendship.
Sweet and simple, this one is purely fun for those who love pop culture.
Told in third person, I was engaged enough to feel fully invested, but it would’ve been fun to have it done in first person.
*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given*
It was interesting to think about the behind-the-scenes of life in the spotlight–the loneliness, trying to decipher a person’s true intent in knowing you, and being able to express yourself authentically. With low angst, Aria and Griffin navigate their different worlds of fame and quickly fall into an easy friendship.
Sweet and simple, this one is purely fun for those who love pop culture.
Told in third person, I was engaged enough to feel fully invested, but it would’ve been fun to have it done in first person.
*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given*
June 1, 2026
This was a cute romance read. I loved following Aria and Griffin in this story as their fake friendship turned into something more. I liked their opposites attract dynamic as well as the overall storyline. Overall this was an enjoyable slow burn romance that will have you rooting for the characters throughout the story.
Read this if you like:
📖 Football player MMC
📖 Pop star FMC
📖 Opposites attract
📖 Fake friendship
📖 Sweet romance
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy.
Read this if you like:
📖 Football player MMC
📖 Pop star FMC
📖 Opposites attract
📖 Fake friendship
📖 Sweet romance
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy.
Did Not Finish
April 12, 2026thank you to netgalley and the author for a copy in exchange for an honest review!
dnf’d at 20%, firstly i just want to say that while this book wasn’t my cup of tea, it will definitely be someone else’s! the cover is adorable and i think if you’re a pop star fangirl and/ or a sports romance fan you will really enjoy this!
dnf’d at 20%, firstly i just want to say that while this book wasn’t my cup of tea, it will definitely be someone else’s! the cover is adorable and i think if you’re a pop star fangirl and/ or a sports romance fan you will really enjoy this!
June 27, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance audiobook copy!
This was such a fun, feel-good romance! I had the biggest smile on my face for most of the book. Pop Stars and Playbooks is a lighthearted, sweet story that follows pop superstar Aria Wilder and football player Griffin Hayes after a viral moment leads to a fake friendship that slowly turns into something much more real. As they navigate fame, career pressures, and unexpected feelings, they discover that the best relationships can come from the most unlikely situations.
I absolutely loved these two together. Their chemistry felt effortless, the banter was adorable, and I really enjoyed watching their relationship develop naturally. It was the perfect mix of cute, funny, and heartwarming without feeling overly dramatic.
The audiobook was fantastic as well. The narrators brought both Aria and Griffin to life and made it so easy to get invested in their story. Their performances added so much charm and personality to an already delightful romance.
If you’re looking for a wholesome, closed-door romance with fake friendship vibes, a pop star/football player pairing, and plenty of sweet moments, definitely pick this one up. It was an easy five-star read for me!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance audiobook copy!
This was such a fun, feel-good romance! I had the biggest smile on my face for most of the book. Pop Stars and Playbooks is a lighthearted, sweet story that follows pop superstar Aria Wilder and football player Griffin Hayes after a viral moment leads to a fake friendship that slowly turns into something much more real. As they navigate fame, career pressures, and unexpected feelings, they discover that the best relationships can come from the most unlikely situations.
I absolutely loved these two together. Their chemistry felt effortless, the banter was adorable, and I really enjoyed watching their relationship develop naturally. It was the perfect mix of cute, funny, and heartwarming without feeling overly dramatic.
The audiobook was fantastic as well. The narrators brought both Aria and Griffin to life and made it so easy to get invested in their story. Their performances added so much charm and personality to an already delightful romance.
If you’re looking for a wholesome, closed-door romance with fake friendship vibes, a pop star/football player pairing, and plenty of sweet moments, definitely pick this one up. It was an easy five-star read for me!
July 29, 2026
Pop Stars and Playbooks @julietrhodesauthor @thomasnelsonfiction
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
🫑 Kisses only
No Swearing (2-3 instances of implied without saying)
Calling all swifties! This was such a cute little romance read very reminiscent of Taylor and Travis.
Football star, Griffin, gets labeled Aria's biggest fan after a video of him belting her song goes viral. They decide to capitalize on the hype and fake a friendship for the viral buzz. As they spend more time together they realize they each desperately needed a true friend.. but maybe there is more there than they realized.
If you enjoy sports romance, opposites attract, fake relationships, and dual pov stories this is for you!
This one is officially OUT NOW 🫶🏻
Thank you to @uplitreads @thomasnelsonfiction and @julietrhodesauthor for my gifted copy! #giftedbyuplit
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
🫑 Kisses only
No Swearing (2-3 instances of implied without saying)
Calling all swifties! This was such a cute little romance read very reminiscent of Taylor and Travis.
Football star, Griffin, gets labeled Aria's biggest fan after a video of him belting her song goes viral. They decide to capitalize on the hype and fake a friendship for the viral buzz. As they spend more time together they realize they each desperately needed a true friend.. but maybe there is more there than they realized.
If you enjoy sports romance, opposites attract, fake relationships, and dual pov stories this is for you!
This one is officially OUT NOW 🫶🏻
Thank you to @uplitreads @thomasnelsonfiction and @julietrhodesauthor for my gifted copy! #giftedbyuplit
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Thomas Nelson and netgalley for the ARC!
This was a new genre for me. Not funny like a rom com but lighter than a contemporary romance. I’ve heard it called a cozy romance. Probably similar to a beach read
I liked it fine. The plot moves forward well and it’s a super easy read of a bit repetitive. Very Travis and Taylor which gave me the ick a couple of times.
It’s a fun, light read but not life changing.
It was written in third person present tense which I know is a personal preference but really bothered me! I’m great with first person present or past, or third person past but third person present is not it for me I feel like I’m reading a transcript. I did settle into that style after the first few chapters though and wouldn’t deduct stars for it since it’s a me problem 😅
This was a new genre for me. Not funny like a rom com but lighter than a contemporary romance. I’ve heard it called a cozy romance. Probably similar to a beach read
I liked it fine. The plot moves forward well and it’s a super easy read of a bit repetitive. Very Travis and Taylor which gave me the ick a couple of times.
It’s a fun, light read but not life changing.
It was written in third person present tense which I know is a personal preference but really bothered me! I’m great with first person present or past, or third person past but third person present is not it for me I feel like I’m reading a transcript. I did settle into that style after the first few chapters though and wouldn’t deduct stars for it since it’s a me problem 😅
May 26, 2026
Thank you NetGalley & author for the ARC!
3.5 ⭐️ this was too cute! The cheesy, Hallmark vibes made it an easy read and I love a book with short chapters. If you’re a Taylor & Travis fan and enjoy pop star x football star, friends-to-lovers, and fake dating/friendship vibes, you will like this book. I personally would have enjoyed a little more romance and don’t love third act breakups / communication issues but overall I enjoyed and would read this author again!
3.5 ⭐️ this was too cute! The cheesy, Hallmark vibes made it an easy read and I love a book with short chapters. If you’re a Taylor & Travis fan and enjoy pop star x football star, friends-to-lovers, and fake dating/friendship vibes, you will like this book. I personally would have enjoyed a little more romance and don’t love third act breakups / communication issues but overall I enjoyed and would read this author again!
July 24, 2026
🎧📖 𝒜𝓊𝒹𝒾𝑜𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌📖🎧
Pop Stars and Playbooks by Juliet Rhodes
𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔: 🥀🥀🥀 ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ 𝟻 ᴇɴᴄʜᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ʀᴏsᴇs
𝒮𝓅𝒾𝒸𝑒 𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔: 0 ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ 𝟻
✨ 𝐻𝑜𝑜𝓀✨
A viral video thrusts football star Griffin Hayes into pop sensation Aria Wilder's orbit. What begins as a carefully orchestrated fake friendship for publicity soon blossoms into a heartfelt romance as both navigate fame, career pressures, and the possibility of finding love under the spotlight.
𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌:
ʜᴜɢᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴏᴍᴀs ɴᴇʟsᴏɴ & ᴢᴏɴᴅᴇʀᴠᴀɴ ғɪᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏ ғᴏʀ ɢɪғᴛɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ ᴛʜɪs ᴀᴜᴅɪʙᴏᴏᴋ!
𝒲𝒽𝑒𝓃 𝒶 𝓋𝒾𝓇𝒶𝓁 𝓂𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉 𝓉𝓊𝓇𝓃𝓈 𝒶 𝒻𝑜𝑜𝓉𝒷𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓇 𝒾𝓃𝓉𝑜 𝒶 𝓅𝑜𝓅 𝒾𝒸𝑜𝓃'𝓈 𝒷𝒾𝑔𝑔𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝒻𝒶𝓃, 𝒻𝒶𝓀𝑒 𝒻𝓇𝒾𝑒𝓃𝒹𝓈𝒽𝒾𝓅 𝓂𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉 𝒿𝓊𝓈𝓉 𝒷𝑒𝒸𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓁 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔.
𝒫𝑜𝓅 𝒮𝓉𝒶𝓇𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒫𝓁𝒶𝓎𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀𝓈 was the definition of a comfort listen.
Griffin and Aria are incredibly easy to root for, and I loved watching their relationship evolve from a publicity stunt into a genuine friendship built on trust, laughter, and mutual support. The celebrity and athlete dynamic feels fresh, and the story balances lighthearted rom-com moments with just enough emotional depth to keep you invested.
While this is a kisses-only, closed-door romance, the chemistry never felt lacking. The slow burn, adorable banter, and genuine affection between the characters more than carried the romance, making it an incredibly sweet palate cleanser.
If you're looking for a Hallmark-style romance with lovable characters and plenty of heart, this one absolutely delivers.
🎙️𝒩𝒶𝓇𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃:
Em Eldridge and Charlie Thurston are an absolute delight together. Their performances perfectly capture Aria's warmth and vulnerability alongside Griffin's easygoing charm and sincerity. The banter feels effortless, the emotional moments land beautifully, and their chemistry shines through every interaction. This is one of those romances where the dual narration makes the characters feel even more lovable.
𝒯𝓇𝑜𝓅𝑒𝓈 & 𝒱𝒾𝒷𝑒𝓈:
🎤 pop star romance
🏈 football player MMC
✨ fake friendship
💕 friends to lovers
💛 he falls first
🎬 celebrity romance
🌸 slow burn
💋 kisses only/closed door
🎧 dual narration
😊 feel-good rom-com
𝑅𝑒𝒶𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒾𝒻 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒...
🎤 celebrity romances
🏈 sports romance
💕 wholesome love stories
🌸 slow-burn chemistry
💛 golden retriever heroes
🎬 Hallmark-style rom-coms
🗣️ 𝒲𝑜𝓇𝒹 𝑜𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒮𝓉𝓇𝑒𝑒𝓉:
Early readers have praised the adorable chemistry between Aria and Griffin, the wholesome romance, and the excellent dual narration. Many describe it as a charming, feel-good romance that's perfect for fans of clean contemporary rom-coms and celebrity love stories.
𝐹𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓁 𝓋𝑒𝓇𝒹𝒾𝒸𝓉:
𝒫𝑜𝓅 𝒮𝓉𝒶𝓇𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒫𝓁𝒶𝓎𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀𝓈 is a charming, swoony rom-com filled with sweet moments, lovable characters, and fantastic narration. If you're in the mood for a wholesome celebrity romance with a football hero, a pop star heroine, and a slow-burn relationship that will leave you smiling, this audiobook deserves a spot in your listening queue.
ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ!
𝒜𝓈𝒽𝓁𝑒𝓎
ʙᴏᴏᴋsᴛᴀɢʀᴀᴍ: @ᴛʜᴇᴛᴀᴛᴛᴇʀᴇᴅᴘᴀɢᴇ
Pop Stars and Playbooks by Juliet Rhodes
𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔: 🥀🥀🥀 ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ 𝟻 ᴇɴᴄʜᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ʀᴏsᴇs
𝒮𝓅𝒾𝒸𝑒 𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔: 0 ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ 𝟻
✨ 𝐻𝑜𝑜𝓀✨
A viral video thrusts football star Griffin Hayes into pop sensation Aria Wilder's orbit. What begins as a carefully orchestrated fake friendship for publicity soon blossoms into a heartfelt romance as both navigate fame, career pressures, and the possibility of finding love under the spotlight.
𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌:
ʜᴜɢᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴏᴍᴀs ɴᴇʟsᴏɴ & ᴢᴏɴᴅᴇʀᴠᴀɴ ғɪᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏ ғᴏʀ ɢɪғᴛɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ ᴛʜɪs ᴀᴜᴅɪʙᴏᴏᴋ!
𝒲𝒽𝑒𝓃 𝒶 𝓋𝒾𝓇𝒶𝓁 𝓂𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉 𝓉𝓊𝓇𝓃𝓈 𝒶 𝒻𝑜𝑜𝓉𝒷𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓇 𝒾𝓃𝓉𝑜 𝒶 𝓅𝑜𝓅 𝒾𝒸𝑜𝓃'𝓈 𝒷𝒾𝑔𝑔𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝒻𝒶𝓃, 𝒻𝒶𝓀𝑒 𝒻𝓇𝒾𝑒𝓃𝒹𝓈𝒽𝒾𝓅 𝓂𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉 𝒿𝓊𝓈𝓉 𝒷𝑒𝒸𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓁 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔.
𝒫𝑜𝓅 𝒮𝓉𝒶𝓇𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒫𝓁𝒶𝓎𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀𝓈 was the definition of a comfort listen.
Griffin and Aria are incredibly easy to root for, and I loved watching their relationship evolve from a publicity stunt into a genuine friendship built on trust, laughter, and mutual support. The celebrity and athlete dynamic feels fresh, and the story balances lighthearted rom-com moments with just enough emotional depth to keep you invested.
While this is a kisses-only, closed-door romance, the chemistry never felt lacking. The slow burn, adorable banter, and genuine affection between the characters more than carried the romance, making it an incredibly sweet palate cleanser.
If you're looking for a Hallmark-style romance with lovable characters and plenty of heart, this one absolutely delivers.
🎙️𝒩𝒶𝓇𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃:
Em Eldridge and Charlie Thurston are an absolute delight together. Their performances perfectly capture Aria's warmth and vulnerability alongside Griffin's easygoing charm and sincerity. The banter feels effortless, the emotional moments land beautifully, and their chemistry shines through every interaction. This is one of those romances where the dual narration makes the characters feel even more lovable.
𝒯𝓇𝑜𝓅𝑒𝓈 & 𝒱𝒾𝒷𝑒𝓈:
🎤 pop star romance
🏈 football player MMC
✨ fake friendship
💕 friends to lovers
💛 he falls first
🎬 celebrity romance
🌸 slow burn
💋 kisses only/closed door
🎧 dual narration
😊 feel-good rom-com
𝑅𝑒𝒶𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒾𝒻 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒...
🎤 celebrity romances
🏈 sports romance
💕 wholesome love stories
🌸 slow-burn chemistry
💛 golden retriever heroes
🎬 Hallmark-style rom-coms
🗣️ 𝒲𝑜𝓇𝒹 𝑜𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒮𝓉𝓇𝑒𝑒𝓉:
Early readers have praised the adorable chemistry between Aria and Griffin, the wholesome romance, and the excellent dual narration. Many describe it as a charming, feel-good romance that's perfect for fans of clean contemporary rom-coms and celebrity love stories.
𝐹𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓁 𝓋𝑒𝓇𝒹𝒾𝒸𝓉:
𝒫𝑜𝓅 𝒮𝓉𝒶𝓇𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒫𝓁𝒶𝓎𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀𝓈 is a charming, swoony rom-com filled with sweet moments, lovable characters, and fantastic narration. If you're in the mood for a wholesome celebrity romance with a football hero, a pop star heroine, and a slow-burn relationship that will leave you smiling, this audiobook deserves a spot in your listening queue.
ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ!
𝒜𝓈𝒽𝓁𝑒𝓎
ʙᴏᴏᴋsᴛᴀɢʀᴀᴍ: @ᴛʜᴇᴛᴀᴛᴛᴇʀᴇᴅᴘᴀɢᴇ
August 18, 2026
Book Review⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to the author, @uplitreads and @thomasnelsonfiction for the #gifted book.
When a pop star and a football player collide, you just know sparks are going to fly! 😍
I loved the idea of a pop star and a football player from two completely different worlds crossing paths. And the fact that he is actually a super fan of hers made it even more fun! 😂💕 Watching their relationship unfold through the fake-dating setup was so entertaining, and their chemistry was absolutely adorable.
This one is definitely a slow burn, but in the sweetest way. I loved watching these two opposites slowly get to know each other and realize there might be more between them than either expected. There were plenty of cute moments, lots of chemistry, and thankfully kisses only!
The audiobook was also SO good! 🎧 Em Eldridge and Charlie Thurston did an amazing job with the narration and really brought these characters to life. I genuinely enjoyed listening to this one!
Thank you to the author, @uplitreads and @thomasnelsonfiction for the #gifted book.
When a pop star and a football player collide, you just know sparks are going to fly! 😍
I loved the idea of a pop star and a football player from two completely different worlds crossing paths. And the fact that he is actually a super fan of hers made it even more fun! 😂💕 Watching their relationship unfold through the fake-dating setup was so entertaining, and their chemistry was absolutely adorable.
This one is definitely a slow burn, but in the sweetest way. I loved watching these two opposites slowly get to know each other and realize there might be more between them than either expected. There were plenty of cute moments, lots of chemistry, and thankfully kisses only!
The audiobook was also SO good! 🎧 Em Eldridge and Charlie Thurston did an amazing job with the narration and really brought these characters to life. I genuinely enjoyed listening to this one!
August 21, 2026
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Hewwww boy. You know, I really do think this had potential to be a wholly fun and playful take on how we might picture the dynamic between Tayvis… but instead we got a generic, lukewarm story that could’ve been significantly shorter than it was without losing anything significant. It’s written in such a way that it feels very distant. There’s no real emotion, there’s no depth to the characters, there’s no real plot, honestly. It took me ages to get through this book and I definitely could’ve cut my losses and DNF’d. 2.5 rounded up to 3 for review purposes.
Hewwww boy. You know, I really do think this had potential to be a wholly fun and playful take on how we might picture the dynamic between Tayvis… but instead we got a generic, lukewarm story that could’ve been significantly shorter than it was without losing anything significant. It’s written in such a way that it feels very distant. There’s no real emotion, there’s no depth to the characters, there’s no real plot, honestly. It took me ages to get through this book and I definitely could’ve cut my losses and DNF’d. 2.5 rounded up to 3 for review purposes.
August 9, 2026
3.5 stars
This book was very cute and easy to read. I liked it. However, it took me a while to finish. I'm not sure if it was because I was in a reading slump or because the book was very slow-paced. I felt like nothing really happened throughout the whole book.
It was really cute, and it gave me Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce vibes. I'm sure this book will be someone else's favorite, so I will still recommend it.
Thank you, NetGalley, Thomas Nelson, and the author for the ARC!
This book was very cute and easy to read. I liked it. However, it took me a while to finish. I'm not sure if it was because I was in a reading slump or because the book was very slow-paced. I felt like nothing really happened throughout the whole book.
It was really cute, and it gave me Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce vibes. I'm sure this book will be someone else's favorite, so I will still recommend it.
Thank you, NetGalley, Thomas Nelson, and the author for the ARC!
August 12, 2026
I absolutely loved this story!! I was dying from the very beginning! I loved the characters and their journey of pushing through the hard! Thoroughly enjoyable!
Thanks to NetGalley for this story! All thoughts abs opinions are all my own!
Thanks to NetGalley for this story! All thoughts abs opinions are all my own!
July 1, 2026
I really wanted to like this one because the premise had so much potential, but the “fake friendship” concept completely lost me.
Fake friendship… instead of fake dating? Why? At one point, Aria is at his football game and her sister says it isn’t weird that they’re actually becoming friends anymore, only for Aria to shush her because they’re supposed to have a fake friendship. Later, her sister is shocked that they’re becoming real friends because Aria “isn’t a friendship person.” I just… what? It felt so forced and unnatural. Who would even care if two adults became friends? The whole setup seemed like it was bending over backward to avoid using the fake dating trope, even though fake dating would have made so much more sense.
There were other moments that pulled me out of the story too. Aria tells him he’s not what she expected and starts explaining the reputation of professional athletes… and somehow he doesn’t know that’s how athletes are perceived? That conversation just didn’t ring true.
The frustrating part is that I genuinely think this could have been really cute. If the story had embraced fake dating, or at least given a compelling reason these two couldn’t simply be normal friends, I think I would have enjoyed it much more. Instead, the central premise felt juvenile and unrealistic, which made it difficult to invest in the romance.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC!
Fake friendship… instead of fake dating? Why? At one point, Aria is at his football game and her sister says it isn’t weird that they’re actually becoming friends anymore, only for Aria to shush her because they’re supposed to have a fake friendship. Later, her sister is shocked that they’re becoming real friends because Aria “isn’t a friendship person.” I just… what? It felt so forced and unnatural. Who would even care if two adults became friends? The whole setup seemed like it was bending over backward to avoid using the fake dating trope, even though fake dating would have made so much more sense.
There were other moments that pulled me out of the story too. Aria tells him he’s not what she expected and starts explaining the reputation of professional athletes… and somehow he doesn’t know that’s how athletes are perceived? That conversation just didn’t ring true.
The frustrating part is that I genuinely think this could have been really cute. If the story had embraced fake dating, or at least given a compelling reason these two couldn’t simply be normal friends, I think I would have enjoyed it much more. Instead, the central premise felt juvenile and unrealistic, which made it difficult to invest in the romance.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC!
July 14, 2026
3⭐️ ARC Review: This was a cute and simple book, but beyond that, there wasn’t much to it. Before even reading this, I knew it was going to be reminiscent of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s love story. Pop Star. Football player. I mean come on. But like they even play the same position... It was too same same and it felt like a story I have already read even though I haven’t.
I’m grateful and truly surprised that there weren’t any pop culture references though. Those get on my absolute last nerve.
But do you know what did get me on my last nerve? The 3rd person present tense! I don’t think I have ever read a book in this perspective (because it sucks) and it was rough. It really took me out of the story and it made the romance so one-dimensional. As were the characters.
I liked them well enough. They were actually both really sweet. But with how this book was written, I felt that there was zero chemistry between them. Their conversations were boring and unnatural. The whole relationship was unnatural honestly. I just couldn’t get behind them being together. I skimmed quite a bit and just was ultimately really bored.
I think it could have been a great story if the perspective changed and the writing was a bit peppier. It was just so boring.
*Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author, for the complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read if you enjoy:
- Football/pop star romance
- Dual POV
- Clean romance
- Fake friends to lovers
- Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift
- He falls first
Content 💋:
- Kisses only
- Mild language (1 use of bada**) it was super random. I don’t even know if it’s in the published version or not, but it was in the ARC version.
I’m grateful and truly surprised that there weren’t any pop culture references though. Those get on my absolute last nerve.
But do you know what did get me on my last nerve? The 3rd person present tense! I don’t think I have ever read a book in this perspective (because it sucks) and it was rough. It really took me out of the story and it made the romance so one-dimensional. As were the characters.
I liked them well enough. They were actually both really sweet. But with how this book was written, I felt that there was zero chemistry between them. Their conversations were boring and unnatural. The whole relationship was unnatural honestly. I just couldn’t get behind them being together. I skimmed quite a bit and just was ultimately really bored.
I think it could have been a great story if the perspective changed and the writing was a bit peppier. It was just so boring.
*Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author, for the complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read if you enjoy:
- Football/pop star romance
- Dual POV
- Clean romance
- Fake friends to lovers
- Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift
- He falls first
Content 💋:
- Kisses only
- Mild language (1 use of bada**) it was super random. I don’t even know if it’s in the published version or not, but it was in the ARC version.
July 25, 2026
Such a sweet, well-written, and seriously fun read for any Swiftie out there!
Aria is everyone's favorite popstar, but how does such a public figure find love after so many guys have crushed her heart?
But when footballs Golden boy goes viral for his love of Aria's songs, well, a PR stunt blooms into a friendship neither suspected they were desperate for.
Can friendship lead to more?
Aria is everyone's favorite popstar, but how does such a public figure find love after so many guys have crushed her heart?
But when footballs Golden boy goes viral for his love of Aria's songs, well, a PR stunt blooms into a friendship neither suspected they were desperate for.
Can friendship lead to more?
Review of advance copy received from Author
This "book" is available on Kindle Unlimited. That's where I got my "advance copy."
This "book" is also AI. UNQUESTIONABLY AI. And I am disappointed not only because that's disappointing in and of itself, but because I REALLY wanted to hate it for regular reasons. It's published by Thomas Nelson (hey, Tommy -- it was "written" with AI). It's CHRISTIAN FICTION based on ACTUAL PEOPLE. It's a pathetic attempt to cash in on Taylor Swift. There was so much potential for hate reading! SO MUCH!!!
But it's AI and it's just bad and boring in bizarre ways. And once I realized all those ways added up to this "book" being written by ChatGPT, it wasn't even fun to hate read.
Because I was baffled at how the characters' motivations were so superficial and changing, almost as if the author had no idea what was written before (AI tell). Fake!Travis went from a fan enjoying a concert to someone horrified at the thought of a concert to having an existential crisis over football at a concert to there is more than football! to I AM FOOTBALL! in the span of a few chapters.
Descriptions were written like the author had to explain very familiar human concepts -- because they did, because the author wasn't human. We got a lot of explanations on how this man answers his phone, while entire character interactions that should have built the relationship were glossed over (AI tell).
Grammatical decisions that NO ONE would ever make, that resulted in the book feeling like an elementary school essay... AI tell.
The amount of WORDS used to describe basic things like the writer (ChatGPT) was trying to meet a word count (the way it was done here and in this context, BIG AI tell).
The dialogue being fake and stilted. The lack of emotional reflection of the characters beyond the most generic platitudes (e.g. "fame isn't everything", "football is about more than just winning.") Random trivial information thrown out as if to prove the "author" did research (AI tell).
The inconsistency in voice and writing style, as if the writer had amnesia between chapters. They did. Because it was ChatGPT and can only hold onto so many memories before forgetting what came before.
The random names for side characters, stated as if they were important, but never mentioned again (AI tell).
The ways in which the main characters were made to be identical to Taylor and Travis with only an occasional misstep, which felt less like a red herring and more like an error. Fake!Taylor's description: made it big as a teen (though her fame is never at a consistent, coherent level in this book -- think Fearless era Taylor being treated like post-Eras Tour Taylor). She's described as having blond curls, signature red lipstick, glittery dresses and cowboy boots -- and then in one chapter she's also described as "petite." Sorry, what? But it's because it's AI. Because that's a trope for the female lead that just snuck in. If it was a true way to throw people off and say "see! It's not Taylor Swift! She's short!" it would have been mentioned more than once.
Her concerts are inexplicably similar to Taylor Swift's, except for one misstep where she's said to be singing a song about how "girls run the world." Because AI spat out "generic female pop star" and "girl power" and accidentally mixed in some Beyonce.
Similarly, fake!Travis is physically a match for Travis Kelce, but only in the most generic ways. Dude is 6'4", 250 lbs, plays tight end for a football team whose colors are red and gold... AND while all of that is cringeworthy to an extreme degree, it stops there. There's no description beyond that. Hair color? Eye color? Irrelevant, because that wouldn't be on a football card.
There's also no description of fake!Taylor beyond this generic summary -- we don't learn about any other physical features or interests. It's the highest level description from the most basic, bare bones Googling. Except that she's short. But only once. The supposed height difference between these two, if fake!Taylor actually WERE short, would be a plot point. The actual height difference between real!Taylor and real!Travis is significant, and you're telling me this girl is shorter while he's still 6'4"? The fact that it is NEVER MENTIONED is a GLARING AI tell. But it's because it only exists for one brief moment, the same as every other detail.
The same words get mentioned in regards to this characters too -- the computer has latched onto them. Fake!Taylor is described as "powerful" repeatedly (and very little else). Fake!Travis is described as football. That's it. That's all they are.
They have small internal conflicts and make decisions divorced from any character development or actual history. He's famous, he loves fame, he's shy, he hates fame, he loves concerts, he hates concerts, he has a crush on her, he won't make a move, they're just friends, he's endlessly optimistic, he has diagnosable levels of social anxiety.
She loves music, she hates music, she's never had friends, she's scared of being more than friends, she's texting him XOXOXO before they've ever been able to acknowledge they're more than friends (though they aren't), she loves fame, she hates fame. He "breaks up with her", she texts him to check in like nothing happened. She realizes she loves him.
They kiss a total of three times, always stopping for a breath (y'all aren't simultaneously breathing?) and have two side hugs. One is described as chaste. I'd say it's because it's Thomas Nelson, but it's not. It's because AI was told to keep it G rated for Christian fiction and had to clarify that it was fulfilling the prompt.
But I digress. Let's talk about the "author."
The author isn't Goodreads verified, has no social media presence, and has an endless list of "books" all available on Kindle Unlimited and all somehow published in 2025. These "books" range from romance novels to travel guides to guides on how to spice up your sex life (...maybe with some chaste side hugs, amirite) to how to spice up your sex life for Christians because the more demographics we can hit, the more potential money there is. All of the books appear AI written. All of the summaries on Kindle Unlimited (yes, it's always Kindle Unlimited) are also AI written.
In conclusion, this whole joke of a book is not only a cheap cash grab, it's an AI-written cash grab. And I genuinely wanted to hate this book so, so differently than the way in which I ended up hating it.
This "book" is also AI. UNQUESTIONABLY AI. And I am disappointed not only because that's disappointing in and of itself, but because I REALLY wanted to hate it for regular reasons. It's published by Thomas Nelson (hey, Tommy -- it was "written" with AI). It's CHRISTIAN FICTION based on ACTUAL PEOPLE. It's a pathetic attempt to cash in on Taylor Swift. There was so much potential for hate reading! SO MUCH!!!
But it's AI and it's just bad and boring in bizarre ways. And once I realized all those ways added up to this "book" being written by ChatGPT, it wasn't even fun to hate read.
Because I was baffled at how the characters' motivations were so superficial and changing, almost as if the author had no idea what was written before (AI tell). Fake!Travis went from a fan enjoying a concert to someone horrified at the thought of a concert to having an existential crisis over football at a concert to there is more than football! to I AM FOOTBALL! in the span of a few chapters.
Descriptions were written like the author had to explain very familiar human concepts -- because they did, because the author wasn't human. We got a lot of explanations on how this man answers his phone, while entire character interactions that should have built the relationship were glossed over (AI tell).
Grammatical decisions that NO ONE would ever make, that resulted in the book feeling like an elementary school essay... AI tell.
The amount of WORDS used to describe basic things like the writer (ChatGPT) was trying to meet a word count (the way it was done here and in this context, BIG AI tell).
The dialogue being fake and stilted. The lack of emotional reflection of the characters beyond the most generic platitudes (e.g. "fame isn't everything", "football is about more than just winning.") Random trivial information thrown out as if to prove the "author" did research (AI tell).
The inconsistency in voice and writing style, as if the writer had amnesia between chapters. They did. Because it was ChatGPT and can only hold onto so many memories before forgetting what came before.
The random names for side characters, stated as if they were important, but never mentioned again (AI tell).
The ways in which the main characters were made to be identical to Taylor and Travis with only an occasional misstep, which felt less like a red herring and more like an error. Fake!Taylor's description: made it big as a teen (though her fame is never at a consistent, coherent level in this book -- think Fearless era Taylor being treated like post-Eras Tour Taylor). She's described as having blond curls, signature red lipstick, glittery dresses and cowboy boots -- and then in one chapter she's also described as "petite." Sorry, what? But it's because it's AI. Because that's a trope for the female lead that just snuck in. If it was a true way to throw people off and say "see! It's not Taylor Swift! She's short!" it would have been mentioned more than once.
Her concerts are inexplicably similar to Taylor Swift's, except for one misstep where she's said to be singing a song about how "girls run the world." Because AI spat out "generic female pop star" and "girl power" and accidentally mixed in some Beyonce.
Similarly, fake!Travis is physically a match for Travis Kelce, but only in the most generic ways. Dude is 6'4", 250 lbs, plays tight end for a football team whose colors are red and gold... AND while all of that is cringeworthy to an extreme degree, it stops there. There's no description beyond that. Hair color? Eye color? Irrelevant, because that wouldn't be on a football card.
There's also no description of fake!Taylor beyond this generic summary -- we don't learn about any other physical features or interests. It's the highest level description from the most basic, bare bones Googling. Except that she's short. But only once. The supposed height difference between these two, if fake!Taylor actually WERE short, would be a plot point. The actual height difference between real!Taylor and real!Travis is significant, and you're telling me this girl is shorter while he's still 6'4"? The fact that it is NEVER MENTIONED is a GLARING AI tell. But it's because it only exists for one brief moment, the same as every other detail.
The same words get mentioned in regards to this characters too -- the computer has latched onto them. Fake!Taylor is described as "powerful" repeatedly (and very little else). Fake!Travis is described as football. That's it. That's all they are.
They have small internal conflicts and make decisions divorced from any character development or actual history. He's famous, he loves fame, he's shy, he hates fame, he loves concerts, he hates concerts, he has a crush on her, he won't make a move, they're just friends, he's endlessly optimistic, he has diagnosable levels of social anxiety.
She loves music, she hates music, she's never had friends, she's scared of being more than friends, she's texting him XOXOXO before they've ever been able to acknowledge they're more than friends (though they aren't), she loves fame, she hates fame. He "breaks up with her", she texts him to check in like nothing happened. She realizes she loves him.
They kiss a total of three times, always stopping for a breath (y'all aren't simultaneously breathing?) and have two side hugs. One is described as chaste. I'd say it's because it's Thomas Nelson, but it's not. It's because AI was told to keep it G rated for Christian fiction and had to clarify that it was fulfilling the prompt.
But I digress. Let's talk about the "author."
The author isn't Goodreads verified, has no social media presence, and has an endless list of "books" all available on Kindle Unlimited and all somehow published in 2025. These "books" range from romance novels to travel guides to guides on how to spice up your sex life (...maybe with some chaste side hugs, amirite) to how to spice up your sex life for Christians because the more demographics we can hit, the more potential money there is. All of the books appear AI written. All of the summaries on Kindle Unlimited (yes, it's always Kindle Unlimited) are also AI written.
In conclusion, this whole joke of a book is not only a cheap cash grab, it's an AI-written cash grab. And I genuinely wanted to hate this book so, so differently than the way in which I ended up hating it.
May 8, 2026
This was such a fun and thoroughly enjoyable read! I absolutely love fake dating and friends-to-lovers romances, so this book was pretty much made for me. Griffin and Aria had such sweet chemistry, and I loved watching their “fake” friendship slowly turn into something real.
The celebrity/pop star and football player dynamic made this feel fresh and entertaining, while still giving plenty of heartfelt moments along the way. It was light, swoony, and the perfect feel-good romance to escape into.
If you love opposites attract, fake dating, slow-burn romance, and kisses-only stories, definitely add this one to your TBR!
Thank you to the author for the complementary copy. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
#RegencyfanMichelle #PopStarsAndPlaybooks #JulietRhodes #BookReview #CleanRomance
The celebrity/pop star and football player dynamic made this feel fresh and entertaining, while still giving plenty of heartfelt moments along the way. It was light, swoony, and the perfect feel-good romance to escape into.
If you love opposites attract, fake dating, slow-burn romance, and kisses-only stories, definitely add this one to your TBR!
Thank you to the author for the complementary copy. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
#RegencyfanMichelle #PopStarsAndPlaybooks #JulietRhodes #BookReview #CleanRomance
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Aria's a chart-topper. Griffin's a football player. Together, they're a love story no one saw coming.
Griffin Hayes is football's golden boy--charming, talented, and completely out of his depth when a video of him belting out pop star Aria Wilder's breakup anthem goes viral. Overnight, he's crowned the internet's favourite meme, and Aria's #1 fan. Aria, the reigning queen of heartbreak ballads, sees an opportunity to turn the moment into good PR and invites Griffin to her next concert. When their onstage chemistry sets the internet ablaze, her team suggests a fake friendship to keep the buzz alive.
Griffin reluctantly agrees, but as they spend more time together--posing for cameras, attending events, and sharing inside jokes--he realizes there's nothing fake about the way Aria makes him feel. For Aria, Griffin is a breath of fresh air in a world that's always demanding more from her. Beneath the viral fame and public scrutiny, their connection feels real.
But when Griffin suffers a career-threatening injury and Aria battles creative burnout, their carefully constructed "performance" starts to crumble. With their worlds pulling them in opposite directions, they'll have to decide “Is this just a PR stunt gone too far--or the kind of love worth risking everything for?”
Tropes: Football Player MMC, Pop Star FMC, Opposites Attract, Fake Friendship, Sweet Romance, Hallmark Vibes, Easy Read, Taylor Swift x Travis Kelsey vibes, Football Player x Pop Star, Friends-to-Lovers, Fake Dating/Friendship, Third Act Breakup, Communication Issues, Dual POV, Third Person Present Tense, Low-Stakes, Fluffy, Low Tension (Implied), Slow-Burn, Depth, Conflict, Emotional Connection, MMC/FMC had their own Pressures from Fame -Including Fears/Insecurities, Emotional Depth, Celebrity Romance, Possible Start to a Series, Soft Wholesome Vibes, Clean Romance, Books that Feel Like a Comfort Movie, No Emotional Trauma Afterwards, Sports Romance, Pop Star Romance, Navigating Fame/Friendship/Unexpected Feelings, Emotional Intimacy, Friendship, Personal Growth
Pop Stars and Playbooks by Juliet Arden and Juliet Rhodes. This book is perfect for fans of fake dating, opposites attract, and swoon-worthy slow burns. Pop Stars and Playbooks is a sparkling romance about finding love in the unlikeliest of places--and learning to trust it when the spotlight fades.
“For the girls who are learning the difference between being wanted and being chosen.”
As soon as I read that dedication, I was enthralled; that dedication said it all. And I am well beyond learning the difference between being wanted and being chosen. And that dedication still said it all to me, pulling me into this story and into the characters' mindset.
I honestly found “Pop Stars and Playbooks” to be a really light, easy read with short, engaging chapters. Told from a dual POV, it made it feel like you were getting through this one even quicker. I’m one of those readers who love to read from both the MMC's and the FMC's perspective, and I found that this worked perfectly for this book. The one thing I found a bit jarring was that this book was written in the third-person present tense, which is really uncommon for a romance. I found that this prevented me from fully connecting with the characters, and it wasn’t as immersive as I would have liked.
I loved that the overall vibe of this book was really low-stakes and fluffy, and I highly recommend it if that’s what you're looking for. Personally, I just wanted there to be more conflict. For most of the book, the tension felt implied rather than real, and the central PR-stunt “just friends” setup didn’t feel strong enough against Griffin and Aria’s chemistry. All I really wanted was more meaningful stakes, especially since our MMC and FMC already felt emotionally close.
It was finally around the middle of the book that we got what felt like real conflict, and I was there for it. I didn’t like the third-act breakup, but I loved that Griffin and Aria still communicated well through it.
Our talented authors did a great job with the pacing on this book, and the romance was perfectly paced. I just wish there had been more yearning before and/or after they first kissed and then agreed to just be friends, because their struggles were well played out and their chemistry, attraction, and connection were already right on the spot.
And one thing I found perfect for me was that I didn’t need to know a single thing about football to read this book. (I know zip, zilch, nada about football.)
If you enjoy a great, clean, fun football x pop star romance, Hallmark vibes, fake dating, Taylor Swift x Travis Kelce vibes, and what could very well possibly be the start to a series, I highly recommend you put “Pop Stars and Playbooks” on your TBR ASAP!
My favourite quote from this book was:
“Nope. This is right where I want to be.”
Griffin Hayes is football's golden boy--charming, talented, and completely out of his depth when a video of him belting out pop star Aria Wilder's breakup anthem goes viral. Overnight, he's crowned the internet's favourite meme, and Aria's #1 fan. Aria, the reigning queen of heartbreak ballads, sees an opportunity to turn the moment into good PR and invites Griffin to her next concert. When their onstage chemistry sets the internet ablaze, her team suggests a fake friendship to keep the buzz alive.
Griffin reluctantly agrees, but as they spend more time together--posing for cameras, attending events, and sharing inside jokes--he realizes there's nothing fake about the way Aria makes him feel. For Aria, Griffin is a breath of fresh air in a world that's always demanding more from her. Beneath the viral fame and public scrutiny, their connection feels real.
But when Griffin suffers a career-threatening injury and Aria battles creative burnout, their carefully constructed "performance" starts to crumble. With their worlds pulling them in opposite directions, they'll have to decide “Is this just a PR stunt gone too far--or the kind of love worth risking everything for?”
Tropes: Football Player MMC, Pop Star FMC, Opposites Attract, Fake Friendship, Sweet Romance, Hallmark Vibes, Easy Read, Taylor Swift x Travis Kelsey vibes, Football Player x Pop Star, Friends-to-Lovers, Fake Dating/Friendship, Third Act Breakup, Communication Issues, Dual POV, Third Person Present Tense, Low-Stakes, Fluffy, Low Tension (Implied), Slow-Burn, Depth, Conflict, Emotional Connection, MMC/FMC had their own Pressures from Fame -Including Fears/Insecurities, Emotional Depth, Celebrity Romance, Possible Start to a Series, Soft Wholesome Vibes, Clean Romance, Books that Feel Like a Comfort Movie, No Emotional Trauma Afterwards, Sports Romance, Pop Star Romance, Navigating Fame/Friendship/Unexpected Feelings, Emotional Intimacy, Friendship, Personal Growth
Pop Stars and Playbooks by Juliet Arden and Juliet Rhodes. This book is perfect for fans of fake dating, opposites attract, and swoon-worthy slow burns. Pop Stars and Playbooks is a sparkling romance about finding love in the unlikeliest of places--and learning to trust it when the spotlight fades.
“For the girls who are learning the difference between being wanted and being chosen.”
As soon as I read that dedication, I was enthralled; that dedication said it all. And I am well beyond learning the difference between being wanted and being chosen. And that dedication still said it all to me, pulling me into this story and into the characters' mindset.
I honestly found “Pop Stars and Playbooks” to be a really light, easy read with short, engaging chapters. Told from a dual POV, it made it feel like you were getting through this one even quicker. I’m one of those readers who love to read from both the MMC's and the FMC's perspective, and I found that this worked perfectly for this book. The one thing I found a bit jarring was that this book was written in the third-person present tense, which is really uncommon for a romance. I found that this prevented me from fully connecting with the characters, and it wasn’t as immersive as I would have liked.
I loved that the overall vibe of this book was really low-stakes and fluffy, and I highly recommend it if that’s what you're looking for. Personally, I just wanted there to be more conflict. For most of the book, the tension felt implied rather than real, and the central PR-stunt “just friends” setup didn’t feel strong enough against Griffin and Aria’s chemistry. All I really wanted was more meaningful stakes, especially since our MMC and FMC already felt emotionally close.
It was finally around the middle of the book that we got what felt like real conflict, and I was there for it. I didn’t like the third-act breakup, but I loved that Griffin and Aria still communicated well through it.
Our talented authors did a great job with the pacing on this book, and the romance was perfectly paced. I just wish there had been more yearning before and/or after they first kissed and then agreed to just be friends, because their struggles were well played out and their chemistry, attraction, and connection were already right on the spot.
And one thing I found perfect for me was that I didn’t need to know a single thing about football to read this book. (I know zip, zilch, nada about football.)
If you enjoy a great, clean, fun football x pop star romance, Hallmark vibes, fake dating, Taylor Swift x Travis Kelce vibes, and what could very well possibly be the start to a series, I highly recommend you put “Pop Stars and Playbooks” on your TBR ASAP!
My favourite quote from this book was:
“Nope. This is right where I want to be.”
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Review of Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.
Publication Date: July 28, 2026
No disrespect or hate is intended in this review! Just expressing my honest takeaway :)
2.25 stars…
I was hopeful for this book upon seeing the title’s blurb on NetGalley, but am truly sorry to say it fell flat (personally). The premise was cute! Aria and Griffin had potential to have a really sweet relationship! However the plot felt very repetitive at times and sort of limped along. At times it seemed as though it were a rinse and repeat of the ‘characters are fine, a problem happens, and thus miscommunication ensues’. And the characters missed the mark on their chemistry. They had a cute—albeit a little rushed— friendship, though in the same breath, the story glazed over the friendship aspect through the disconnect of chapters. Overall, the plot as a whole just seemed disjointed.
The POV style was definitely a big issue for me as a reader. It put up a bit of an emotional wall between the readers and the MCs. Now, 3rd person can be a really beautiful POV, and I personally love both 1st and 3rd person, but 3rd person present tense felt… off. Just the little tweak from present to past tense would have made a considerable difference in the positive!
Also, it was a little shocking to see certain content in the story based on the publication company. The story lacked a Christian worldview (no hate intended), with the FMC praying to the ‘universe’, talk of their “luck that the stars were aligned”, and was just generally more secular in thought. Though minimal and infrequent, swearing (or insinuation of swearing) is present, which was surprising. Aria says “sh-t” (it is cut off before she can finish), occurring once or twice. “BS” and “bada**” also occur, both only once.
There is a lot of in the book reminiscent of a certain famous singer/football player couple. If you aren’t super familiar with TS and TK’s story, you might not notice it as much beyond the singer/football player aspect, but it is a bit hard to miss. Example(s): Griffin’s number is 13 and position is as a tight end. And, there’s a red scarf…
Pop Stars and Playbooks by Juliet Arden is a clean read with some kisses, minimal and infrequent swearing, and an overall cute story. I think if you enjoy themes of finding oneself, romance, and friendship, or if you are a Swiftie, want something lighthearted, and like a ‘beach read’ feel, you may find this one great for you!!! Everyone has different preferences when it comes to books (what a beautiful thing that is!), so I don’t necessarily *not* recommend this book! Just because it was not my cup of tea does not mean it won’t be yours 🥰
Happy reading :)
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for providing this ARC in exchange for my free, honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Publication Date: July 28, 2026
No disrespect or hate is intended in this review! Just expressing my honest takeaway :)
2.25 stars…
I was hopeful for this book upon seeing the title’s blurb on NetGalley, but am truly sorry to say it fell flat (personally). The premise was cute! Aria and Griffin had potential to have a really sweet relationship! However the plot felt very repetitive at times and sort of limped along. At times it seemed as though it were a rinse and repeat of the ‘characters are fine, a problem happens, and thus miscommunication ensues’. And the characters missed the mark on their chemistry. They had a cute—albeit a little rushed— friendship, though in the same breath, the story glazed over the friendship aspect through the disconnect of chapters. Overall, the plot as a whole just seemed disjointed.
The POV style was definitely a big issue for me as a reader. It put up a bit of an emotional wall between the readers and the MCs. Now, 3rd person can be a really beautiful POV, and I personally love both 1st and 3rd person, but 3rd person present tense felt… off. Just the little tweak from present to past tense would have made a considerable difference in the positive!
Also, it was a little shocking to see certain content in the story based on the publication company. The story lacked a Christian worldview (no hate intended), with the FMC praying to the ‘universe’, talk of their “luck that the stars were aligned”, and was just generally more secular in thought. Though minimal and infrequent, swearing (or insinuation of swearing) is present, which was surprising. Aria says “sh-t” (it is cut off before she can finish), occurring once or twice. “BS” and “bada**” also occur, both only once.
There is a lot of in the book reminiscent of a certain famous singer/football player couple. If you aren’t super familiar with TS and TK’s story, you might not notice it as much beyond the singer/football player aspect, but it is a bit hard to miss. Example(s): Griffin’s number is 13 and position is as a tight end. And, there’s a red scarf…
Pop Stars and Playbooks by Juliet Arden is a clean read with some kisses, minimal and infrequent swearing, and an overall cute story. I think if you enjoy themes of finding oneself, romance, and friendship, or if you are a Swiftie, want something lighthearted, and like a ‘beach read’ feel, you may find this one great for you!!! Everyone has different preferences when it comes to books (what a beautiful thing that is!), so I don’t necessarily *not* recommend this book! Just because it was not my cup of tea does not mean it won’t be yours 🥰
Happy reading :)
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for providing this ARC in exchange for my free, honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
First and foremost, thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me my first ever ARC in exchange for an honest review. We all have to start somewhere amiright?
*sigh* Sorry, not sorry.
With that out of the way, I must beat the dead elephant in the room or whatever it is they say. I don't like Taylor Swift. I hate her music and the media's obsession with her love life gives me the ick. I actively avoid anything Taylor Swift related and if even I can tell that this is meant so be a parody of her relationship with Travis Kelce then you know that there's absolutely no subtlety. I actually don't think it was meant to be, which makes it worse since the book comes off as an attempt at an easy cash cow. Which, by the way, is pretty ironic since one of the throughlines of the book is about how the FMC doesn't have a single lasting friend or romantic partner because everyone is jealous and/or takes advantage of her fame and success.
Now, you may also be wondering, hey Sarah why would you request this book when you don't like Taylor Swift AND you hate football? Great question. All I have to say is that I've read 4/6 of the Game Changers series and never thought that the characters professions took away from the story like it did here. And I say that because both characters were bland and milquetoast; both were nothing outside of their jobs.
I've seen some reviews accuse this book of being AI, and to my knowledge I've never read an AI generated book so I can't really comment on that, but I will say that the dialogue in particular is incredibly unnatural and robotic. The word choices just do not reflect how people, especially people who like each other romantically, talk to each other.
And to give you an idea of the repetitive nature of the writing in general:
"...he prays his blushing is drowned out by the stage lights. Aria skips up to meet him, her golden curls bouncing in the stage lights. The tassels on her cowgirl boots sparkle in the stage lights."
"...her heart squeezes a little when she considers slotting Griffin into this category. By all practical accounts he's squarely in this category."
"...Aria dismissed it as cute but inconsequential. Even when they started spending PR time together Aria kept is categorized as cute but inconsequential."
"...finally her call goes to voicemail. Aria hadn't considered the possibility of voicemail..."
Most importantly, I take BIG issue with the use of the word 'gimpy'. That word feels incredibly derogatory and demeaning. Just call it an injury! It was right there, why would you pick that insensitive word over an easy choice like injury!
*sigh* Sorry, not sorry.
With that out of the way, I must beat the dead elephant in the room or whatever it is they say. I don't like Taylor Swift. I hate her music and the media's obsession with her love life gives me the ick. I actively avoid anything Taylor Swift related and if even I can tell that this is meant so be a parody of her relationship with Travis Kelce then you know that there's absolutely no subtlety. I actually don't think it was meant to be, which makes it worse since the book comes off as an attempt at an easy cash cow. Which, by the way, is pretty ironic since one of the throughlines of the book is about how the FMC doesn't have a single lasting friend or romantic partner because everyone is jealous and/or takes advantage of her fame and success.
Now, you may also be wondering, hey Sarah why would you request this book when you don't like Taylor Swift AND you hate football? Great question. All I have to say is that I've read 4/6 of the Game Changers series and never thought that the characters professions took away from the story like it did here. And I say that because both characters were bland and milquetoast; both were nothing outside of their jobs.
I've seen some reviews accuse this book of being AI, and to my knowledge I've never read an AI generated book so I can't really comment on that, but I will say that the dialogue in particular is incredibly unnatural and robotic. The word choices just do not reflect how people, especially people who like each other romantically, talk to each other.
And to give you an idea of the repetitive nature of the writing in general:
"...he prays his blushing is drowned out by the stage lights. Aria skips up to meet him, her golden curls bouncing in the stage lights. The tassels on her cowgirl boots sparkle in the stage lights."
"...her heart squeezes a little when she considers slotting Griffin into this category. By all practical accounts he's squarely in this category."
"...Aria dismissed it as cute but inconsequential. Even when they started spending PR time together Aria kept is categorized as cute but inconsequential."
"...finally her call goes to voicemail. Aria hadn't considered the possibility of voicemail..."
Most importantly, I take BIG issue with the use of the word 'gimpy'. That word feels incredibly derogatory and demeaning. Just call it an injury! It was right there, why would you pick that insensitive word over an easy choice like injury!
August 22, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this one!! 🏈 x 🎤
This was very sweet! I loved both Griffin, our golden retriever footballer and the biggest pop icon fan and our Aria, aka the icon he had a crush on since forever and got to fake-friend, and then it turned into a lovely romance!
Honestly, my favourite one was Aria! Seeing how open and sweet she was even though she had been burned before by previous friends, and yet she embraced her friendship with Griffin with all she had even before the idea of a romance was even in the air.
And that is why I am bumping this down a little.... Griffin while he had spent this whole book being a sweetheart and being there for Aria, making her faith in new friendships come back, from the moment he had his accident, he turned on her like so fast. And I would get it if he was like that to everyone, but he was fine with everyone else. There were so many moments when he had been ghosting her, and she found out important things about his life/health from other people? AND THAT CONVO IN THE COFFEE SHOP?! That was brutal. Fuck the romance think. If someone spoke to me like that and we were just friends, I would have cried. Props to Aria for keeping together (also him not knowing how she boxes up her emotions, something they have talked about and just assumed she is okay with it and understands?) Oh, and her being the only one reaching out to him to see if he was okay and to talk? Even his invite was so impersonal, like she was an acquaintance? What couldn't you get an hour out of your day to personally invite her?
That and the scene where she hijacks the fandrasier and sings the song she wrote for him? Giving... Alex Volkov in Twisted Love type of cringe. Desperate paired with the fact that at least Alex had fucked up before, while she was just talking to the void for half the book.
And this was my one note during reading this book! I was very invested while reading, so I didn't take a lot...
85% done with Pop Stars and Playbooks: How can you be a top-energy, golden athletic dude the whole book and then turn around and be THE WORST COMUNICATOR KNOWN TO MAN!
This girl is being open and letting you in when she has been burned by friendships, and you just tell her, "Nope, I think we should cut this friendship". In the coffee shop they hang out the most? Dude fuck the romance part; you shouldn't be doing that to a friend, even. Clean up your act.
This was very sweet! I loved both Griffin, our golden retriever footballer and the biggest pop icon fan and our Aria, aka the icon he had a crush on since forever and got to fake-friend, and then it turned into a lovely romance!
Honestly, my favourite one was Aria! Seeing how open and sweet she was even though she had been burned before by previous friends, and yet she embraced her friendship with Griffin with all she had even before the idea of a romance was even in the air.
And that is why I am bumping this down a little.... Griffin while he had spent this whole book being a sweetheart and being there for Aria, making her faith in new friendships come back, from the moment he had his accident, he turned on her like so fast. And I would get it if he was like that to everyone, but he was fine with everyone else. There were so many moments when he had been ghosting her, and she found out important things about his life/health from other people? AND THAT CONVO IN THE COFFEE SHOP?! That was brutal. Fuck the romance think. If someone spoke to me like that and we were just friends, I would have cried. Props to Aria for keeping together (also him not knowing how she boxes up her emotions, something they have talked about and just assumed she is okay with it and understands?) Oh, and her being the only one reaching out to him to see if he was okay and to talk? Even his invite was so impersonal, like she was an acquaintance? What couldn't you get an hour out of your day to personally invite her?
That and the scene where she hijacks the fandrasier and sings the song she wrote for him? Giving... Alex Volkov in Twisted Love type of cringe. Desperate paired with the fact that at least Alex had fucked up before, while she was just talking to the void for half the book.
And this was my one note during reading this book! I was very invested while reading, so I didn't take a lot...
85% done with Pop Stars and Playbooks: How can you be a top-energy, golden athletic dude the whole book and then turn around and be THE WORST COMUNICATOR KNOWN TO MAN!
This girl is being open and letting you in when she has been burned by friendships, and you just tell her, "Nope, I think we should cut this friendship". In the coffee shop they hang out the most? Dude fuck the romance part; you shouldn't be doing that to a friend, even. Clean up your act.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 15, 2026
Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for this ARC of Pop Stars and Playbooks. The whole point of an ARC is to offer honest feedback, so I have to be honest. I’m so sorry, but I’m DNFing at 15% (first 6 chapters). I gave this one a go, but I just couldn’t do it. I could not handle the third person present tense writing style. It was giving me anxiety. I’m the problem, it’s me. I’m sure some readers will have no issues with this, but I just couldn’t do it. My mind kept trying to fix it into third person past tense, like normal books. It sapped any and all enjoyment out of the story for me. My TBR is a mile long and my reading time is valuable. This is the first ARC I’ve ever DNF’ed and it breaks my heart a little bit to do it, but it’s the right choice.
I’m a bit of a closet Swiftie, so I thought the premise would make for a really cute read. Dear reader, I really had a hard time connecting to these characters. Of course I saw Taylor and Travis in their places. But Griffin and Aria felt so “surface” to me. Maybe it gets better. I also might have been more engaged if they could have struck up a real friendship. Why did the friendship need to be fake? Couldn’t they have met backstage at her show when her people wanted her to invite him- and just have a sweet, honest connection? The bringing him on stage moment just felt so awkward. It wasn’t a meet cute. It wasn’t anything. The whole thing felt so forced. I kept wishing there was anything actually romantic. That’s not how you get this girl.
After I decided to DNF, I came to Goodreads to make sure I wasn’t the only one. I was concerned over some of the points brought up by other reviewers that finished the book. The light cursing. The talk of praying to the “universe.” I did not personally get this far, but if I had, that would have been the last straw. It’s a treacherous path for a Christian Publisher. Do better, Thomas Nelson, please? I dare say most of us Christian readers still want God present in our books. We still want the honest faith threads, even if they’re subtle. At the very least a Christian worldview.
I hope this story finds the right readers. I’m sorry I’m not one of them.
I received a complementary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley. I was not required to provide a review. My opinions are my own.
I’m a bit of a closet Swiftie, so I thought the premise would make for a really cute read. Dear reader, I really had a hard time connecting to these characters. Of course I saw Taylor and Travis in their places. But Griffin and Aria felt so “surface” to me. Maybe it gets better. I also might have been more engaged if they could have struck up a real friendship. Why did the friendship need to be fake? Couldn’t they have met backstage at her show when her people wanted her to invite him- and just have a sweet, honest connection? The bringing him on stage moment just felt so awkward. It wasn’t a meet cute. It wasn’t anything. The whole thing felt so forced. I kept wishing there was anything actually romantic. That’s not how you get this girl.
After I decided to DNF, I came to Goodreads to make sure I wasn’t the only one. I was concerned over some of the points brought up by other reviewers that finished the book. The light cursing. The talk of praying to the “universe.” I did not personally get this far, but if I had, that would have been the last straw. It’s a treacherous path for a Christian Publisher. Do better, Thomas Nelson, please? I dare say most of us Christian readers still want God present in our books. We still want the honest faith threads, even if they’re subtle. At the very least a Christian worldview.
I hope this story finds the right readers. I’m sorry I’m not one of them.
I received a complementary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley. I was not required to provide a review. My opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
“For the girls who are learning the difference between being wanted and being chosen.”
That dedication alone had me immediately hooked.
This is a light, easy read with short chapters and dual POV, which made it quick to get through. I always enjoy having both the hero and heroine’s perspectives, and that worked well here. That said, it is written in third person present tense, which took me some time to adjust to since it is not as common in romance, and at times it made the story feel a little less immersive.
The overall vibe is very low-stakes and fluffy, which can be great if that is what you are looking for. However, I found myself wanting more from the conflict. For a large portion of the book, the tension felt more implied than real. The central obstacle around the PR “just friends” dynamic did not feel strong enough to create meaningful stakes, especially since the characters already felt emotionally close.
Around the middle, there is a shift that hints at more grounded conflict, but it never fully develops in a way that felt impactful. Because of that, I had a hard time fully connecting with both the characters and their relationship.
I also struggled at times with the writing style. It leaned more toward telling rather than showing, and some of the text message exchanges read more like a screenplay than a novel, which pulled me out of the story.
One smaller critique is that I never felt like I had a clear picture of the characters. Even several chapters in, there was very little physical description, which made it harder to fully visualize them.
The romance itself did not fully land for me. It does not really come together until the very end, but it did not feel like a satisfying slow burn. Instead, it left me feeling a bit disconnected and ultimately underwhelmed.
At times, the pop star and athlete dynamic gave strong Taylor and Travis inspired energy, which may work for some readers, but for me it made the story feel a little less unique.
Overall, this is a quick, light read, but I found myself wanting more depth, stronger conflict, and a deeper emotional connection.
“For the girls who are learning the difference between being wanted and being chosen.”
That dedication alone had me immediately hooked.
This is a light, easy read with short chapters and dual POV, which made it quick to get through. I always enjoy having both the hero and heroine’s perspectives, and that worked well here. That said, it is written in third person present tense, which took me some time to adjust to since it is not as common in romance, and at times it made the story feel a little less immersive.
The overall vibe is very low-stakes and fluffy, which can be great if that is what you are looking for. However, I found myself wanting more from the conflict. For a large portion of the book, the tension felt more implied than real. The central obstacle around the PR “just friends” dynamic did not feel strong enough to create meaningful stakes, especially since the characters already felt emotionally close.
Around the middle, there is a shift that hints at more grounded conflict, but it never fully develops in a way that felt impactful. Because of that, I had a hard time fully connecting with both the characters and their relationship.
I also struggled at times with the writing style. It leaned more toward telling rather than showing, and some of the text message exchanges read more like a screenplay than a novel, which pulled me out of the story.
One smaller critique is that I never felt like I had a clear picture of the characters. Even several chapters in, there was very little physical description, which made it harder to fully visualize them.
The romance itself did not fully land for me. It does not really come together until the very end, but it did not feel like a satisfying slow burn. Instead, it left me feeling a bit disconnected and ultimately underwhelmed.
At times, the pop star and athlete dynamic gave strong Taylor and Travis inspired energy, which may work for some readers, but for me it made the story feel a little less unique.
Overall, this is a quick, light read, but I found myself wanting more depth, stronger conflict, and a deeper emotional connection.
June 18, 2026
Pop Stars and Playbooks follows Aria Wilder, a famous pop star who sells out arenas worldwide. When football star Griffin Hayes goes viral for singing along to one of her heartbreaking hits at her concert, their teams turn the moment into a PR opportunity by having them stage a friendship. As they spend more time together through public appearances and events, their connection deepens into something more. But when challenges threaten to pull them apart, Aria and Griffin must decide whether their relationship is worth fighting for.
--
When I requested an ARC of Pop Stars and Playbooks, it didn't immediately register to me that the novel was inspired by real-life figures. That realization only came after a few chapters and actually finding out some articles about the real-life couple from time-to-time. While I'm no stranger to this kind of story thanks to my fanfiction phase as a teenager, I can see why it might not work for readers who don't pick up on the inspiration right away.
That said, there were aspects of the novel that I genuinely enjoyed, particularly Aria and Griffin's dynamic. Despite their staged friendship, their care and respect for each other felt authentic, making their growing connection believable. Their chemistry felt natural from the moment they met.
I also appreciated the glimpses into their struggles behind the scenes. Although they appear to have it all because of their success, their fears, insecurities, and the pressures of fame make them feel relatable and human. Both Aria and Griffin are constantly under the spotlight, and the expectations placed on them often conflict with what they truly want for themselves. These moments added emotional depth to their characters and made it easier to empathize with them.
Overall, Pop Stars and Playbooks is a light and entertaining celebrity romance with likable leads and a sweet friends-to-lovers progression. While the obvious real-world parallels may not appeal to everyone, Aria and Griffin's genuine connection and emotional growth were enough to keep me invested in their story.
Thank you to Juliet Rhodes, Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. Pop Stars and Playbooks will be released on July 28, 2026.
--
When I requested an ARC of Pop Stars and Playbooks, it didn't immediately register to me that the novel was inspired by real-life figures. That realization only came after a few chapters and actually finding out some articles about the real-life couple from time-to-time. While I'm no stranger to this kind of story thanks to my fanfiction phase as a teenager, I can see why it might not work for readers who don't pick up on the inspiration right away.
That said, there were aspects of the novel that I genuinely enjoyed, particularly Aria and Griffin's dynamic. Despite their staged friendship, their care and respect for each other felt authentic, making their growing connection believable. Their chemistry felt natural from the moment they met.
I also appreciated the glimpses into their struggles behind the scenes. Although they appear to have it all because of their success, their fears, insecurities, and the pressures of fame make them feel relatable and human. Both Aria and Griffin are constantly under the spotlight, and the expectations placed on them often conflict with what they truly want for themselves. These moments added emotional depth to their characters and made it easier to empathize with them.
Overall, Pop Stars and Playbooks is a light and entertaining celebrity romance with likable leads and a sweet friends-to-lovers progression. While the obvious real-world parallels may not appeal to everyone, Aria and Griffin's genuine connection and emotional growth were enough to keep me invested in their story.
Thank you to Juliet Rhodes, Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. Pop Stars and Playbooks will be released on July 28, 2026.
August 30, 2026
Pop Stars and Playbooks by Juliet Rhodes is a delightful sports romance that smoothly combines the worlds of professional football and pop music. Griffin Hayes, a football superstar, unexpectedly gains fame after being caught singing a breakup song by pop artist Aria Wilder. What starts as an embarrassing online mistake turns into a strategic publicity move when Aria invites him to her concert. Their undeniable chemistry draws attention, leading them to create a fake friendship for the media. However, the feelings developing between them are real and run deeper than appearances suggest.
I really enjoyed Griffin and Aria's pairing. Their relationship seems playful and natural, making the romance engaging without unnecessary drama. Griffin was especially likable, and I appreciated how both characters were depicted as individuals, not just stereotypes like "the football star" or "the pop star." The story also delves into the more difficult sides of fame, including public scrutiny, career pressures, injuries, burnout, and the struggle to find one's true self when their career success is a key part of their identity.
The development of the fake friendship into romance was charming, although somewhat predictable. Occasionally, I wished the story delved deeper emotionally or allowed conflicts more space to develop. Nevertheless, the lighter tone matched the book's overall feel. It was an easy read with just enough humor, romance, and heartfelt moments to keep me engaged.
I liked that this is a kisses-only romance, which is great for readers wanting chemistry and tension without explicit scenes. The combination of opposites-attract, slow-burn, celebrity, sports romance, and publicity-driven relationships makes it perfect for fans of contemporary rom-coms.
Overall, Pop Stars and Playbooks is a delightful and entertaining romance that combines humor with heartfelt character challenges. I suggest it for fans of sports romances, celebrity stories, fake-relationship plots, and inspiring love stories.
Thanks to Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for the chance to read and review Pop Stars and Playbooks. All opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed Griffin and Aria's pairing. Their relationship seems playful and natural, making the romance engaging without unnecessary drama. Griffin was especially likable, and I appreciated how both characters were depicted as individuals, not just stereotypes like "the football star" or "the pop star." The story also delves into the more difficult sides of fame, including public scrutiny, career pressures, injuries, burnout, and the struggle to find one's true self when their career success is a key part of their identity.
The development of the fake friendship into romance was charming, although somewhat predictable. Occasionally, I wished the story delved deeper emotionally or allowed conflicts more space to develop. Nevertheless, the lighter tone matched the book's overall feel. It was an easy read with just enough humor, romance, and heartfelt moments to keep me engaged.
I liked that this is a kisses-only romance, which is great for readers wanting chemistry and tension without explicit scenes. The combination of opposites-attract, slow-burn, celebrity, sports romance, and publicity-driven relationships makes it perfect for fans of contemporary rom-coms.
Overall, Pop Stars and Playbooks is a delightful and entertaining romance that combines humor with heartfelt character challenges. I suggest it for fans of sports romances, celebrity stories, fake-relationship plots, and inspiring love stories.
Thanks to Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for the chance to read and review Pop Stars and Playbooks. All opinions are my own.
August 16, 2026
When it comes to football Griffin Hayes knows all the ins and outs of the game, but when it comes to singing he's at a total loss. He was just having a little fun belting out the lyrics of Aria Wilder's newest hit, then the video of him singing said song hit the internet and suddenly his life blew up. It was never his intention to become a internet sensation nor catch the attention Aria, but he has and now she wants to meet him...but he has his reservations about that. He doesn't belong in her world, or does he?
Pop Stars and Playbooks is a fun and light-hearted slow burn romance that is destined to leave you smiling. It is your classic story of love finding you when you're not even looking for it. Griffin and Aria both lead very demanding and very public lives and both claim that they don't really have room in there for love... but love found it's place in their lives anyhow. With a little gentle nudging of course.
It all started with one little video and from there a friendship bloomed and the world went wild. They wanted to believe that there could be more, that it could be happily ever after for perfect pairing, but Griffin and Aria weren't really ready to admit that it was anything other than a little PR stunt. Could what they feel for one another be more than just a simple friendship? Or is it all just for the sake of the cameras?
This first time read brought smiles, swoons, lots of hope for this love challenged couple. I wanted to believe they'd eventually find their way so I kept turning the pages and holding out hope... and what I found by the time that last page came was something truly special. Their journey was quite heart warming and also pretty entertaining too! Highly recommend you take a chance on this one...it's pages will keep you captivated and in your feels the whole way through!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, via NetGalley, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbiased opinion.
Pop Stars and Playbooks is a fun and light-hearted slow burn romance that is destined to leave you smiling. It is your classic story of love finding you when you're not even looking for it. Griffin and Aria both lead very demanding and very public lives and both claim that they don't really have room in there for love... but love found it's place in their lives anyhow. With a little gentle nudging of course.
It all started with one little video and from there a friendship bloomed and the world went wild. They wanted to believe that there could be more, that it could be happily ever after for perfect pairing, but Griffin and Aria weren't really ready to admit that it was anything other than a little PR stunt. Could what they feel for one another be more than just a simple friendship? Or is it all just for the sake of the cameras?
This first time read brought smiles, swoons, lots of hope for this love challenged couple. I wanted to believe they'd eventually find their way so I kept turning the pages and holding out hope... and what I found by the time that last page came was something truly special. Their journey was quite heart warming and also pretty entertaining too! Highly recommend you take a chance on this one...it's pages will keep you captivated and in your feels the whole way through!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, via NetGalley, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbiased opinion.
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