Pop Stars and Playbooks: An opposites-attract, kisses-only, fake friendship-turned-love story between a football star and a pop icon

by Juliet Rhodes

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.

Genres: Romance

Kindle Edition

Expected publication May 26, 2026

Reviews

[makenzie ⊹ ₊ · Rating 4 out of 5]

THANK YOU SO MUCH NETGALLEY AND THE PUBLISHER FOR THIS ARC!!


╔══════════════════════════╗
💖✨ 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] ✨🌸💌

[gabrielle aka homewithmybooks]

thank 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!

[Johneice · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-ARC! I went into this hoping that it wasn’t going to be like a Taylor Swift fanfic…and that’s exactly what this was. The writing was pretty good, don’t get me wrong. But, I wasn’t a fan of this. I feel that if you can get the Taylor Swift connection out of your head, you might enjoy this.

[Kortnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aria is a superstar popstar - Griff is a tight end for athe Chicago football team (sound familiar) Griff is a huge fan of Aria's and plays third wheel with his best friend and his girlfriend at one of Aria's concerts where he is caught singing to his heart's content, one of her songs, and it makes its way to the internet, where it becomes a sensation then everybody thinks it's adorable. So between her people and his people, they want to keep the attention going. So they proposition both Griff and Aria, to maintain a fake friendship so to speak, some appearances, few social media posts, a commercial- to keep people interested. They both agree and start to hang out starting with a shelter event (love when authors include rescue animals) . They do a talk show together, have aome coffee, hangout one on one and the fans are living it! - what they didn't think was gonna happen was that they genuinely enjoy spending time together and get along very well - Aria is struggling with not wanting to be that same cookie cutter, bubble gum pop princess that she's been all her life and Griff is wondering what happens after football, what will become of him (hes 32 ) - then, something happens to Griff, that has him questioning everything. and shutting out the world while Aria is trying to deal with her record label. Trying to habe them understand that the changes she wants to make to her music while being contractually obligated to be the pop princess still,- she doesn't understand why Griff won't talk to her even though she tries her hardest So she gives it one last attempt to get his attention.but will it work, goodbook, I liked it. I had a very good secondary cast of characters. Also I could see this becoming a series, especially with Griff's teammates.

Thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review

[Jessica Minton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay listen… this book was CUTE.
Like aggressively Hallmark coded in the best way possible. Pop star + football player?? friends to lovers?? soft wholesome vibes?? Obviously I ate that up immediately.

And if you love Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce vibes???
oh this one is ABSOLUTELY for you.

But unfortunately my toxic little drama-loving brain wanted just a tiny bit MORE chaos.

Aria and Griffin were genuinely adorable together and Griffin especially was such a sweetheart. Like this man was out here down BAD and honestly? Respect. The way he loved her was soft, supportive and just genuinely wholesome which made me kick my feet a little bit.

And I actually really liked that the book focused on growth, self worth and finding comfort in someone who understands the pressure you’re under. It had a really cosy vibe that felt easy to read and comforting.
BUT.

I do think the romance developed a little too quickly for me. I wanted more tension. More pining. More “oh my god just kiss already before I combust.” It felt like it skipped over some emotional build up that would’ve made me completely obsessed.

Also if you’re going into this expecting full chaotic Tayvis energy… it’s definitely more “inspired by” than copy and paste, which honestly I appreciated.
Overall this was a sweet easy read that got me out of my slump for a bit, even if it didn’t emotionally destroy me the way my feral little heart usually prefers.

⭐⭐⭐
For fans of:
-friends to lovers
-pop star romance
-football player MMCs
-Taylor Swift x Travis Kelce vibes
-soft wholesome vibes
-clean romance
-books that feel like a comfort movie
-reading with your feet kicking and no emotional trauma afterwards for once


Thanks netgalley for the arc in exchange for a review

[Booked & Dreaming · Rating 3 out of 5]

A big thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction and Netgalley for giving me the chance to read an early version of Pop Stars and Playbooks. When I first encountered it, I thought the premise sounded fun and easy, just what I needed right now, and it definitely delivered on that front. My only miss was not realizing right away which characters were inspired by real people. Once Aria appeared, it became pretty clear, and I say this as someone who isn’t a Taylor Swift fan or a football enthusiast, the inspirations are quite obvious.
But that’s okay! Not everyone might see it as a problem. If you enjoy stories that imagine real public figures, this might be right up your alley. For me, it's just not my favourite style, and that realization kept pulling me out of the story every time I started to settle in. The parts where I forgot about those details were genuinely the most enjoyable moments.
And there are some really charming parts. I loved how Aria and Griffin worked on building a friendship first, without rushing into anything. That gentle start gives their relationship a warmth that feels quite genuine. It's a light, easy read that’s perfect when you’re looking for something not too demanding.
What didn’t quite work for me was the conflict and how things wrapped up. Neither felt quite earned or satisfying, and by the end, I was a little underwhelmed. Still, for a debut, it's a promising start. There’s enough charm here to suggest Rhodes has a lot of potential to grow.

[Manuella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3.5/5

If you love cliches and sweet, cozy romances, this one is for you. Pop Stars and Playbooks tells the story of two worlds colliding when pop sensation Aria Wilder and tight end Griffin Hayes meet after he attends one of her concerts. If the story rings a bell, trust me – it wasn't just you. I am not going to lie, I did levitate towards this book because of the Tayvis parallels in my head. Which, in all honesty, did not work out so well for me the last time but I decided to trust the process – and I am really glad I did.

Juliet Rhodes' book does a great job of showcasing how people who are so different, and yet so similar, can find comfort in each other and find new parts of themselves worth loving and appreciating. Griffin was a gentleman and his crush on Aria was adorable, and as someone who has had a favorite pop singer for as long as she has been born (albeit the position has been shared among a few names), it was great to read about their world from their POV. And to watch these two characters find love? Especially amidst that third act conflict and their own personal growth? It was great and I really enjoyed it.

I do feel as though the switch from friends to more flipped a bit fast, especially after Griffin's injury, but it was still enjoyable and nice to see. Way to go Aria for grabbing the mic of your life!

Thank you NetGalley, Juliet Rhodes and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the opportunity of reading this lovely book!

[Colorado · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet spin on the Taylor Swift / Travis Kelce romance. Griffin is a professional football powerhouse and Aria is a pop music star. He literally sings his way into her heart when a video of him belting out a song at her concert goes viral. The PR teams agree that it makes sense for the pair to collaborate on some events. Of course, Griffin really is Aria's number 1 fan.

Griffin and Aria develop a true friendship as they volunteer for a humane society, share cookies and special places, and confide in each other about their vulnerabilities and fears. She's struggling to find her path musically and he's worried about the next step after football. Both have experienced fame and wild success and they can be themselves around each other. There's a lot of chemistry but each is fearful about taking a chance on a relationship.

This is a very slow burn (closed door romance). Griffin and Aria are both contending with professional setbacks and challenges. They need to learn to take risks on themselves and to find the courage to share their feelings with each other. Both are likable characters and readers will root for a happy ending.

I read an advance copy from NetGalley. This is an honest review.

[Princess Autumn (I'm SO Ready for Summer!) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for providing me with an ARC! All thoughts are my own.

Now playing: Talk of the Town- Jenna Raine


This was so cute and EXACTLY what I needed right now. Was it perfect? No, but no debut novel is. It came to me when I needed it most: when I was in a bad mood and nearing a reading slump. I finished it in two days.

Now, based on the cover, I obviously thought that this was going to be heavily inspired by Taylor Swift and Travis Kelsey, so I prepared myself for that. I'm not a huge Taylor fan, but I'm a casual enjoyer, so I figured I could handle some not-so-loose inspiration. To my delight, this book feels completely original! Aside from the initial concept, you could take this and not even know about Taylor and Travis inspiring it.

The slow burn? Ugh, I was screaming at my Kindle the whole time! Ladies and gentlemen, take notes, this is how you write friends-to-lovers!

The characters were perfect, the plot was adorable, and best of all? It was entirely clean! No closed door spice, questionable innuendo, or cursing! Just cute fluff and kisses!

Do I recommend? Absolutely, and I will read anything Juliet Rhodes writes from now on!

[Anne Wolters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Right from the first chapter, I was completely charmed when football star Griffin Hayes is caught on video singing and swaying along to one of Aria Wilder’s newest hits. By the end of the concert, the clip has gone viral, and Griffin is suddenly labeled Aria’s number one fan. Their PR teams quickly step in, arranging joint public appearances, and the internet can’t get enough. A fake friendship is born—at least at first.
As Griffin and Aria spend more time together, their staged connection begins to feel surprisingly real, both to their fans and to the two of them. But everything shifts when Griffin suffers a serious knee injury that threatens his football career, and Aria finds herself burned out and struggling to create the kind of music everyone expects from her.
This is an engaging, uplifting story filled with lovable characters who are learning to step away from others’ expectations and rediscover what truly matters to them. Their journeys—both individually and together—make this a heartfelt, satisfying read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.

[Lina Woods · Rating 3 out of 5]

Football star meets pop star… does that sound familiar? Yes, this book is definitely one for Taylor Swift fans or anyone who loves sports romances.

Griffin is our golden boy of football (he’s a Tight End 😊) and he has a bit of a crush on the world-famous pop star Aria Wilder. Visiting her concert, he accidentally creates a viral moment, and PR jumps in on the chance to make Griffin and Aria “friends.” They start appearing at events together, get to know each other better, and slowly… romance develops. 💛

The book is written in dual POV but written in third person, which felt a bit unusual to me. Most dual POV romances I read are first person, and I think that’s part of why I didn’t feel as deeply connected to the characters. It’s not a bad writing style at all, but I did miss some of the emotional depth and, yes, the feelings.

Still, this is an easy read that’s perfect for relaxing hours. The chapters are short, the story moves quickly, and it keeps you turning pages. Plus, it’s a debut novel, and I always think new authors deserve a chance. I’m sure Juliet Rhodes will find her fans with this book.

The only thing that slightly distracted me while reading was the formatting. I’m not sure if it was my ARC version or just the book itself, but some chapters start in the middle of a page, line spacing is inconsistent, etc. Nothing major, and it’s easy to fix before the publishing date.

Overall, a fun, fast, and cute romance with sports vibes, pop star glamour, and a hint of slow-burn love. 🏈🎤💖

[maya jayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

thank you so much to netgalley and thomas nelson fiction for this e-arc.

this was such a fun read for me. as a swiftie, the taylor and travis vibes were everywhere, and I loved that aspect so much. the whole pop star and football player dynamic immediately pulled me in and made this such an enjoyable experience.

it’s a really light, easy romance that you can just settle into. the story flows nicely, the characters are likeable, and overall it has a very sweet, feel good tone. I especially liked seeing how their two very different worlds came together because it added a fun layer to the romance.

that said, I did find myself wishing there was a bit more tension and build up. I wanted more longing and anticipation before things fully came together, and at times it felt a little too smooth. because of that, some of the emotional impact did not hit as strongly as I hoped.

overall, though, this was still a really cute and enjoyable read. perfect if you are looking for something soft, romantic, and easy to get through.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️

A golden boy football player and sweet no drama pop star…. Griffin was a fan of Aria’s and a video of him at a concert went viral which led to a “fake” friendship for PR. The friendship never felt fake. They hit it off from the get go both developing feelings for one another but too scared to admit it. But Aria, in all her song writing glory, took the plunge and they lived happily ever after.

This was a fluffy low/no stakes feel good read. I think what the book lacked was tension/ drama. They both had a big change. Aria changing her music to something more mature. Griffin a football ending injury. But the tension was still missing. It felt low stakes.

Griffin is the poster boy golden boy that you’d proudly take home to mom and raise a family with. So sweet. Thoughtful. Dependable. No growling possessiveness in sight. Aria- also sweet and confident. So they’re sweet. lol.

Personally I love a possessive MMC and a mountain of obstacles to overcome, but it’s always good to have options in your reading.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC copy*

[Mai · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay, hear me out. I nearly stopped reading this book multiple times. I put it away a third of the way through and at halfway I was ready to tell Netgalley that I couldn't finish or review the book. But I picked it back up and finished it. Let me explain. The author writes well. She had a good idea for a story - if very reminiscent of the Taylor Swift/Travis Kelce saga. My first issue - and this is a personal thing - she wrote in present tense. I have found very few books written in present tense to work for me. The exceptions tend to be real standouts. Secondly, a goodly part of the book was written more like a recap of the story, telling us what had happened in the story rather than telling us the story. The parts of the book where she had more dialogue and things happening, rather than just being recapped in a character's head, were quite good and showed real promise. While I wouldn't really recommend thais book I think that, with a little polishing, future books could really be something.

I received a copy of the book from Netgalley and this is my honest review.

[Frances S Wren · Rating 5 out of 5]

A football player gets caught on video singing his heart out to a pop star's breakup anthem and the internet loses its mind. What follows is a PR-arranged fake friendship that stops being fake pretty quickly, for both of them, even if neither one is ready to say it out loud.

The obvious inspiration is not lost on anyone and I don't think it was meant to be. But once I settled into Griffin and Aria as their own people the story found its footing. Two people at the top of their worlds quietly falling apart inside it. Aria burning out on being the version of herself her label needs her to be. Griffin staring down an injury that might take the only identity he's ever known. They find each other in that in-between space and what they build there feels genuinely warm.

This is a clean, easy, low-stakes read and it doesn't pretend to be anything else. Sometimes that's the exact right book for the exact right moment. The friendship comes first and it earns the rest. That's all I needed from it.

[Elle]

I picked this up with the naive hope it wouldn’t be too much like Taylor Swift fanfiction (after all, Taylor isn’t the first or last pop star to date a football player)… but not only was it too much like Taylor Swift fanfiction, it might as well have been a biography. The MMC plays the exact same position as her boyfriend. Our FMC also is a blonde country girl. She’s also the biggest pop star in the world. She’s also his celebrity crush. I can’t do it… I hate real person fanfiction.

But it’s really good!!! If you’re a swiftie or can cut out the Taylor swift connection in your mind, you’ll probably love this one. The writing is pretty good too!

4 stars, because it’s doing what it needs to do. Even if what it needs to do isn’t for me.

Thanks to NG, the author, and the publisher for the arc.

[Randi Sampson · Rating 4 out of 5]

If the story of a pop star and an NFL tight end sounds like it might be a bit of a spin on the real-life romance between Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce... well, you're not wrong. This book definitely had some of those vibes... but there was more to Griffin and Aria's story that kept it unique to itself as well. Fake dating turns into a real friendship turns into love in this sweet romance that kept me smiling right through to the end. I enjoyed the chemistry between these two and how they supported and understood one another in ways that many others didn't. It was a lighthearted and fun read, feeling like a nice escape. If you enjoy football and/or celebrity romance, this is one worth checking out.

Pop Stars and Playbooks is a closed-door romance with kisses only and no language.

**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Carissa Veltri · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, first of all, thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this e-ARC! I am very grateful for it! Now, onto the review. I thought this was a really sweet and light-hearted book. Overall the story was very cute! I really liked Griffin and Aria! I will say that the character descriptions need to be a bit more detailed. I like books to be more descriptive so I can get a better picture of the characters and scenes. It was a nice slow burn, friends to lovers scenario. It was a very light and easy read and perfect for if you don't want something too high stakes. It did start a little slow but the pace picks up towards the middle of the book. If you like music or sports romance books then you should give this book a read!

[Regency_Fan_ Michelle RegencyFanMichelleAndMore · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are looking for a Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce fiction story, then you would probably love this. I, on the other hand, was hoping for something a bit different - but I could not get the two of them out of my head. So many similarities, and the middle really drug on. I found myself skimming paragraphs because a lot of the details were just not interesting to me - and I LOVE sports! Overall, I thought the writing was alright, but the plot line just wasn’t much for me.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[bookishWife · Rating 1 out of 5]

The author’s writing is solid, but the story’s strong resemblance to a certain high-profile pop star and her relationship with a famous tight end makes it feel more like thinly veiled fanfiction than a truly original novel.

Because the parallels are so obvious, they end up detracting from the book as a whole. At times, the prose also feels repetitive, which adds to a sense of staleness. Overall, this one didn’t quite work for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Bethany Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for this Arc.
I loved this book but I also hated it at some points.
The bits I loved?
The writing, the characters, the story line.
The bits I hated?
The Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce references to the characters throughout the book.
It was thoroughly a good book but if it didn't have those references I'd have enjoyed it more.
I am a big Swifty but I don't like reading fanfictions based on celebrities.
This books will be great for those who love romances with the twist of having a fanfiction as the main characters.

[Krista Duarte · Rating 2 out of 5]

This started out really strong and then fell flat towards the end. I also am not huge Swifty fan so the references were a little much for me. I struggled with the third person writing and would have preferred first person. It tripped me up, but I think that’s just a personal preference for reading. This is closed door romance, slow burn, no spice. So if you want a cozy read and you’re a Swifty fan this might be for you. Overall, it was a quick read. I liked the characters, but also felt it was a little cheesy at times. Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Blessing Okwuofu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Football star Griffin is caught singing along with emotion to popstar Aria's song, leading to an arranged friendship which blossoms to a real friendship and then to romance. This is a sweet opposites-attract clean romance and I loved the characters, both lovely people. The book got a little slow in the middle but it was a good read overall.
I got the ARC from Thomas Nelson Fiction | Thomas Nelson via Netgalley. This is my honest review

[Natasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review

This reads like an alternate universe of a Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce love story where Taylor Swift is written like she's combined with Sabrina Carpenter.

It was a cute story. A bit long. Lots of 'will they, wont they'. Has a happy ending. Not my favorite story, but something worth trying if you love a good clean romance story.

[RStanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 out of 5 stars
Closed Door Romance
If you love pop music and sports romance, this book is a mix of book. I will say it reminded me a lot of Taylor and Travis but I didn't mind it. Once I got to know the characters I was able to separate them from Taylor and Travis but it was hard at first. I liked the duel pov because it gave me the best of both worlds with music and sports.

[Chibby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Juliet Rhodes for this ARC!

I ended up DNF'ing this book @55%. I really did try to get through it but didn't find myself hooked as much as I would have liked. I also thought that it was a bit drawn out. This story definitely gives off Taylor Swift and Travis vibes, mixed in with a sprinkle of Sabrina Carpenter.

[Petra ☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

copy from netgalley


It was a easy read and i like it. the chapters was not so long , it was readable.

[Tiana Spata · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of digital advanced copy from NetGallery.

This was a super easy read with dual POV and third person—which isn’t usually my thing, but the dual perspectives helped me stick with it.

The romance didn’t quite sell me either. It wasn’t a slow burn so much as a “wait, we’re here already?” moment. And if you’re hoping for spice… this is the literary equivalent of sparkling water that’s lost its fizz.

Also, I could not for the life of me picture these characters. I was chapters in still mentally casting faceless blobs and hoping for the best.

The overall vibe? Completely stress-free. Like… no anxiety, no emotional damage, not even a raised heartbeat. I kept waiting for some tension to walk in and shake things up, but it never got the memo.

It also reads very young—this feels like it would land best with a YA or teenage audience rather than readers looking for something with more depth or intensity or spice.

Thank you Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for providing this advance copy for an honest review.