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: Audiobook, Romance, Sports Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Rom Com

347 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 26, 2026

Reviews

[makenzie ⊹ ₊ (gone atm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

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


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💖✨ 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!!! 🌸

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💌 𝓟𝓵𝓸𝓽 & 𝓟𝓪𝓬𝓲𝓷𝓰
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> 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
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> 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! 💕

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🎨 𝓦𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓢𝓽𝔂𝓵𝓮 & 𝓕𝓸𝓻𝓶𝓪𝓽
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> 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. 🌙✨

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💖 𝓕𝓪𝓿𝓸𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓮 𝓠𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼
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> “Nope. This is right where I want to be.” 💌

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📌 𝓞𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼
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> 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] 🌙✨💖





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💖✨ 𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭 ✨💖
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📚 𝓑𝓸𝓸𝓴 𝓣𝓲𝓽𝓵𝓮: Pop Stars and Playbooks
📖 𝓐𝓾𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓻: Juliet Rhodes
💫 𝓖𝓮𝓷𝓻𝓮: Romance


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✨ 𝓦𝓱𝔂 𝓘'𝓶 𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰
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> 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. 🌷


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💭 𝓔𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓼
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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!!! ✨


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🌸 𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭 𝓜𝓸𝓸𝓭
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> DID YOU HEAR ME??? I SAID MY FIRST ARC!!!!!!!! 💖💫


📅 𝓢𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓽 𝓓𝓪𝓽𝓮: [April 1, 2026] ✨🌸💌

[Amee · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Katelyn (currently writing) · Rating 2 out of 5]

🤬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!!

[Marie Girulat · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Jaimes_Mystical_Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[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!

[Joseandbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 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!

[Haley Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Madi unruh · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 😅

[Ashley Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

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!

[Melanie DirtyLittleSmut_Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

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!

[Sarah Hyatt · Rating 1 out of 5]

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.

[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

[Brita Mackay · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.”

[ryliekate_reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Sarah Mac · Rating 2 out of 5]

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!

[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.

[reese ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[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

[Jamie Gordy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Juliet Rhodes, Thomas Nelson Fiction, and NetGalley for allowing me access to an eARC of this book to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Chicago Warden’s tight end, Griffin Hayes has secret crush on pop star, Aria Wilder. When he is caught on camera singing his heart out at her concert their publicists decide to try to use the situation to benefit the two celebrities. What starts as a publicity stunt becomes something more fairly quickly. Then Griffin gets hurt. Aria is dealing with how to make the changes in her songwriting that her label is against. They both have issues to work through.

I have so many thoughts on this book and most aren’t the best. This story had potential, but it just didn’t hit the mark. The whole idea of a football player and a pop star was a great one, even though it’s a familiar story. As in, it sounds like a story straight out of our current Entertainment News. My first issue with this book was the way it was written. It was written in third person present tense. This made it hard to read. My next problem is why was this book published by Thomas Nelson. I get that Thomas Nelson Fiction can’t really be considered a Christian publisher these days but this book had issues that I think should be considered. Here is another book from this publisher talking about The Universe instead of God. I have a problem with this. I ask have a problem with the fact that there was some curse words in this book- only a couple- but that is a couple too many. I must say it was a squeaky clean with the exception of a few kisses.

If you like clean contemporary books that are mostly fluff, you might like this book. If you want a book that shows deep character development, then this one might not be for you.

#PopstarsandPlaybooks #NetGalley

[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

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Griffin Hayes is a football player, he’s known as the golden boy. He attends one of Aria Wilder’s concerts and a video of him singing along goes viral. Their people get in touch with each other and they decide to do a best friends PR stunt. The more time that they spend together, the more they each let their walls down and slowly feelings start to creep in. Then Griffin gets injured and shuts Aria out. Is this the end of Aria and Griffin? With their worlds and lives pulling them in opposite directions, what becomes of them?

Not thinking anything when I went into reading this book, my immediate thought when I first began the book is that this is inspired by Taylor and Travis. That’s fine, but the book as a whole fell a little flat.

This is a fake friendship, opposites attract book. These tropes don’t bother me at all. I think I was not as invested in this couple as I wanted to be because the book is in third person POV. When I read a romance book, I want to fall in love with the couple as they fall in love with each other. When it’s told in the third person POV, I feel as if there is a block to that connection with the characters. We never really get inside of their heads to understand how they feel, and what they are thinking. I never really felt the chemistry between the two.

The characters both feel one dimensional. They both are all about their careers and only have 1 friend each. For Aria, it’s her sister. For Griffin, it’s his teammate, Elliot. We never even get a really good description of each character to visualize.

The ending was just okay. I don’t know.. I wanted this book to be better.

However, I think young girls who love Taylor and Travis may eat this one up!

[Mary Watson · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Tania · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pop Stars and Playbooks is a sweet, slow-burn sports romance that follows global pop sensation Aria Wilder and professional football player Griffin Hayes as they navigate fame, friendship, and unexpected feelings. While the story felt a little slow for me during the first half, the pace picked up considerably later on, making the second half much more engaging.

The premise immediately reminded me of a certain real-life singer and football player power couple, which added a fun layer to the reading experience. Of the two main characters, Griffin stood out to me the most. His character had greater depth, particularly as he grappled with the aftermath of a career-threatening injury and the uncertainty of what comes next. His journey of resilience, self-discovery, and learning to redefine his identity beyond football was one of the strongest aspects of the novel.

Aria, while likable, felt a bit too bubbly and idealized at times for someone living under the intense scrutiny of global celebrity. Still, her optimism and kindness complemented Griffin’s struggles well, creating a relationship dynamic that was easy to root for.

Fans of pretend-friends-to-romance stories will enjoy watching their connection gradually develop. This is a true slow burn with zero spice, focusing instead on emotional intimacy, friendship, and personal growth.

Overall, I enjoyed the story and especially appreciated its exploration of recovery, reinvention, and finding purpose after life’s plans unexpectedly change. While the pacing kept it from being a higher-rated read for me, it was still an enjoyable romance with a heartfelt message.

Thank you to the author for the ARC!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 bumped up to a 4.

The tl;dr version: a quick, sweet, clean romance for those who love celebrity couples, the fake dating and friends to lovers tropes, and/or Taylor Swift.

Even though I’m not a Swiftie, I couldn’t help but see the similarities between Aria and Griffin and Taylor and Travis Kelce.

But even after seeing all those similarities, I didn’t think much about the real life counterparts as the stories progressed. Aria and Griffin are more than just fictional facsimiles of real life people. They came to life for me when they showed a part of celebrity life that is a lot more humane and less glamorous than we’re used to seeing on social media. We see their struggles and how they affect their working and personal lives. We see the sacrifices, the well-intentioned mistakes that are made, and how they cope with new challenges. And, at the end of the book, it feels like we’ve just watched two good people grow and evolve.

I sometimes had to be reminded that the two protagonists were in their early 30s and not their 20s because of how clean and pure the friendship and love story was. There was no swearing, no innuendos, nothing that we often see in contemporary romances but that’s what I most appreciated about it. We have so much heaviness and spice in media and books, it’s easy to forget that (while it seems too unrealistic to most), there are people over 25 or even 30 who do experience such friendships and romances — ones that put the good of the other and who want the best for each other without gaining anything in return or focusing on the superficial.

Thank you, NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction, for the advanced reader copy.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
.5 🌶️ (maybe 4 mentions of kissing, sweet, clean, closed door, non descriptive kissing).

If you are looking for a sweet, cozy, clean romance story, then Pop Stars and Playbooks is the perfect book for you! This story is an excellent blend of personal self discovery, friendship into romance, and learning how to find balance between “work” and life. Our FMC and MMC first come together through a PR arrangement after the MMC is seen singing the FMC’s song at one of her local concerts. Their agents set up a contract for them to appear together at a few events, but it quickly develops into a true friendship. Then plot twist, the MMC gets injured and hits a low point. Without giving away too much of the story, just know that the MMC has some self discovery to do. Meanwhile the FMC is going through some of her own personal growth both professionally with her music and in what she wants for her life personally. I was gifted an ALC of Pop Stars and Playbooks and thought the narrators were a perfect balance to each other for this particular book. The male narrator excellently portrayed the golden retriever vibes, while also capturing those moments where the MMC was emotionally struggling. The female narrator nicely depicted a strong FMC who is used to being on her own and not have people close to her (other than her sister). The female narrator did well to capture the moments of vulnerability and compassion vibes of the FMC. Thank you to author Juliet Rhodes, NetGalley, and
Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for allowing me to be a part of the ALC team.
#PopStarsandPlaybooks #NetGalley #Romancebooks #ContemporaryRomance

[Ayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pop Stars and Playbooks by Juliet Rhodes

Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction, Thomas Nelson, Netgalley, and the author for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A fake dating, opposites attract, slow burn romance, Pop Stars and Playbooks is a wonderful story about finding and embracing love. A fun, fast-paced read with characters that are well-written, strong chemistry, and fantastic pacing.

Griffin Hayes, a star football player, has a video of him singing pop star Aria Wilder's song go viral. Aria sees an opportunity for good PR and invites him to her next concert. When their chemistry gets the internet talking, her team says that a fake relationship would be great for them both. Griffin reluctantly agrees, but soon realizes there's nothing fake about the way he feels. For Aria, Griffin offers a refreshing change amidst the chaos. When Griffin gets injured and Aria feels burnt out, their fake relationship starts to fall apart. They’ll have to decide whether it’s truly fake or if it’s actually love worth going after.

Pop Stars and Playbooks is an entertaining and lighthearted romance that’s super cute and sweet! Aria and Griffin’s chemistry is truly great and the banter is delightful. Their relationship is formed on friendship, trust, and truly knowing each another, which makes it feel genuine and meaningful. All of the moments involving concerts, football games, and everything else that they have to do make the story feel fresh and unique while giving readers a fun behind-the-scenes look at their worlds.

Overall, Pop Stars and Playbooks is provides the perfect combination of romance and heart! An all-around fantastic read!

[vlm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Popstars and Playbooks is a fun, swoony celebrity romance that perfectly blends fake dating energy, sports romance charm, and the pressures of living life in the public eye. I went into this expecting a light rom-com, but I ended up really appreciating the emotional depth woven throughout Griffin and Aria’s story.

Griffin Hayes is impossible not to love. Beneath the viral meme fame and football star image, he is sweet, grounded, and refreshingly genuine. Aria Wilder also shines as a heroine trying to balance fame, expectations, and creative burnout while still searching for something real in an industry built on performance. Their chemistry felt natural from the beginning, and I loved watching their “fake” friendship slowly turn into something much more meaningful.

The celebrity culture and PR relationship aspects were especially entertaining, but the story also does a great job exploring vulnerability, pressure, and identity. Griffin’s injury storyline and Aria’s struggles with burnout added emotional stakes that kept the romance from feeling too surface level. The balance between humor, tenderness, and emotional growth worked really well for me.

The pacing occasionally felt a little rushed in places, particularly toward the end, but the charm of the characters easily carried me through. Fans of sports romances, celebrity romances, and fake dating tropes will definitely want to pick this one up.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy. All opinions are my own.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pop Stars And Playbooks by Juliet Rhodes and Juliet Arden is a sweet and clean opposites attract romance. After reading the summary I knew it was going to be a Taylor Swift kind of read and I was down for all of it I love her and him but now let’s get to the book aria is on the top of her game and she loves her fans as much as they love her so when ball player 6 foot four 330 pound Griffin gets videotaped singing and dancing along to one of her songs the public becomes obsessed with them meeting each other something they gladly do for their fans Griffin is nervous because he actually IRL has a massive crush on aria before long they’re hanging out together without someone telling them to do so in the more they do the more they like each other but this is when Griffin learns words can bring you closer just like they can stop you in your tracks in one little hesitation has aria rethinking what she thought she knew. while Griffin spent his time dissecting the every encounter. Will this dynamic duo ever get together a will their second guesses and fears of being vulnerable keep them apart. In the beginning of the book I really didn’t feel like there was any real chemistry there despite the great well worded story but eventually we did get there and they did come a time while I was just rooting for these two telling them you’re so dumb just got back to him but I think her way was way better. This really was a great Book especially if you’re a fan of Taylor Swift because it’s exactly how you would imagine it to have happened. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,

[Read_with_Beans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio or the ALC of Pop Stars and Playbooks by Juliet Rhodes, narrated by Em Eldridge and Charlie Thurston.

This is the most Taylor Swift coded book I have ever read and I absolutely loved it. From the MMC being a tight-end for a pro football team to the FMC being an incredibly talented songwriter and performer, and there’s even a character named Kelsey. I love that the third act breakup wasn’t about miscommunication, rather something that felt wholly genuine and realistic.

I love that the audiobook featured dual narration. Both of the narrators were extremely talented and full of life. Of course, Juliet Rhodes is the mastermind behind the story, but the narrators brought it to life in a way that only an audiobook can. I could picture both characters and felt their emotions because the narrators were able to convey the story with such talent.

Em Eldridge portrayed Taylor, I mean Aria (hehe) beautifully. Her character was believable and the friendship to relationship with Travis, I mean Griffin felt real. The characters faced problems that real friends would face. I absolutely loved this story and felt the narration of the audiobook added to my enjoyment. The fact that this book not only felt real but was kisses only… these types of books are so hard to find and I am incredibly grateful I found this one. This is definitely a new favorite. And can we talk about this cover. Beautiful.

I would highly recommend this book and the audiobook narrators as well.