Craved by the Quarterback

Off-Limits #1

by Jenny Pineapple

Getting dumped at a packed birthday weekend is the last thing I expected. My best friend’s older brother witnessing it is worse...
He’s a professional quarterback I haven’t seen in years. Quiet, controlled, impossible to read. The house is full, there are no spare rooms, and somehow I’m stuck sharing with him.
Which would be fine… if that night years ago hadn’t happened.
I don’t even know if he remembers.
I do.
And now we’re sleeping a few feet apart, and I can’t stop thinking about it.
This weekend suddenly feels a lot longer than I planned. And I never expected how it would end.

THEMES / TROPES:
🔥 Best friend’s brother
🔥 Double bi-awakening
🔥 Only one bed
🔥 NFL star x college student
🔥 Opposites attract
Length: ~27,000 words

This book is part of a series, but can be read as a standalone.

Genres: M M Romance, Novella, Forced Proximity, Sports, Romance, Friends To Lovers, LGBT

122 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 20, 2026

Reviews

[Brittany (Brit.tea.reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Elizabeth, I knew Jenny Pineapple dropped a new book ☺️

💚Bennett & Reid 💚

I really enjoyed this one; it wasn’t as spicy, but I didn’t mind it. It was still a really quick, sweet read.

Can’t wait to see what Jenny writes next!

𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏’𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒕𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒖𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆, 𝑰 𝒎𝒖𝒓𝒎𝒖𝒓 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒕. 𝑯𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒔 𝒕𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒆. 𝑰’𝒎 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒈𝒐 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏, 𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒔 𝒂 𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒎 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒊𝒓. 𝑵𝒐𝒕 𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰’𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

His eyes drop to my mouth, then back up. “It’s not a good idea, Bunny,” he whispers.

This one is far less smutty than Jenny Pineapple's books usually are. It was a surprisingly sweet story about two men finding their HEA after a bit of a wait. The plot is still a little thin overall, but it's surprisingly heavy on the romance. Well worth a read if you like best friend's brother romances.

I’ve never been attracted to another man before. Not that there’s anything wrong with it. It’s just not me. But there’s something about you that’s driving me fucking crazy.”

[Ninni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet and hot novella

Reread. Changing my rating to 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Love this series

When you and your girlfriend is supposed to celebrating your best friend's birthday over a weekend. But she breaks up with you when you arrives. So you have to share a room with your best friend's brother. Who you had a crush on for years. 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Kati *☆･ﾟ · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

4.5**** stars
Reid & Bennet

😮‍💨

best friend’s older brother is such a hot trope. i love it. Jenny Pineapple did really good with this little story.

His jaw tightens. His eyes drop to my mouth, then back up. “It’s not a good idea, Bunny,” he whispers.

a birthday party weekend with friends. the guy who tenderly rejected your drunk ass three years ago and a really delicious reunion amongst a good amount of dramalama. 🙂‍↕️

this time the starring manipulative (ex-) girlfriend really brought in on herself. no screaming justice for her.


really excited for the rest of the series now!

************
Off-Limits Series

Book 1 - Craved by the Quarterback - 4.5 stars
Book 2 - Claimed by the Linebacker - 4.25 stars
Book 3 - Praised by the Cornerback - tbr

[Cath · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 ⭐️

BEST FRIEND’S BROTHER + “ONLY ONE BED” = ABSOLUTE FUCKING YES FROM ME 🥵🥵🥵

And written by JP???? Oh my FUCKING GOD. LORD HELP ME.

This was SO good. Like… SO so good??? The story, the buildup, the characters, the sex... EVERYTHING????

Reid is such a dream guy. He takes care of Ben, makes sure he’s okay, pays attention to his body language, and he actually listens. But MOST IMPORTANTLY, HE YEARNSSSS 👏👏👏

This was basically me the entire time:


I have never clicked so fast in my LIFE when I saw JP dropped a new story. McQueen has NOTHING on me.

It’s so much easier for me to write hate reviews because when I love something this much I just sit here like… WHAT am I even supposed to say??????

Anyway. I had a fucking blast, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[moonlight ☾ [semi-hiatus] · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was such a fun read!! i loved Reid and i wanted to hug Bennett. 😭 it might be my favorite Jenny Pineapple novella so far, but i also really loved Emmett and Kade from Just for Practice (i looked through the author’s backlist and i think i have about seven more novellas that caught my interest so i’m excited).

also idk if this is a tease for a future pairing (bc i don’t think they have their own book rn?), but THIS–

But for the first time, I allow myself to acknowledge what I’ve been avoiding all season: whatever is happening between Barrett and Dalton isn’t resolved. Their relationship is complicated, intense, volatile, and full of a tension that spills over both on and off the field. They’re either going to kill each other or become the most unstoppable duo in the league. I’m still not sure which.

I NEED THEIR BOOK ASAP. the way their dynamic is described sounds so good and up my alley. 👀🤭

[Whitney · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Bennett + Reid 🖤
Best friends brother | Double awakening | Consent kings

BUNNY. He calls him bunny.

Regular Jenny brand of crack.
Just wish we got an epilogue with a view of their future.



⚠️ potential spoilers below in detailed tropes, content and warning lists






Tropes/content:
Best friends brother
Haven't seen each other in 3 years
Double awakening
First time with a man for both
Only one bed
Consent kings
Calls him bunny
Tells him he's beautiful
Marking
Pining
Bennett bottoms during the one anal scene we see but I get the feeling they may eventually be vers if we ever caught a glimpse of their future
Brother/best friend finds out and doesnt care. Seems to be excited for them but we dont get much detail.
HFN


Warnings/icks:
Bullying of MC by side character
During their first time it comes up that he knows what he's doing because he's been with girls that were into anal. Lead to jealousy in other MC. And as a reader, gross. Dont want to hear that either.

[ʟᴀᴜʀᴀ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick, easy read with plenty of drama. Reid and Bennett were so hot for each other I felt like I was intruding 👀 Definitely enjoyed Reid’s possessive side a little too much.

The group dynamics had me raising an eyebrow, but for the sake of the plot I’ll let it slide.

[Lola · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

God wtf how does Jenny Pineapple do this? Like, this story takes place over one single weekend and the page count is not high so we are not working with a ton of timeline here and yet, somehow, this feels like a completely believable romance to me! She always manages to set up just enough backstory so that there's a foundation and not simply instalove, and she always ends things on a super solid HFN that feels like a guaranteed HEA. It's fucking magic, I swear!

This is probably my favorite of hers so far. What's wild is that it's also probably the least spicy one I've read, and I feel like the scene that sticks out the most for me isn't even the penetrative sex scene but the hot as fuck make out scene. So intimate and sexy - whew!

I really liked the setup and pacing to this birthday weekend getaway gone awkward. I loved all the little moments leading up to our boys figuring themselves out. And I loved that, while this was a true double QFY situation, there wasn't angst or weirdness around it - they were both just like... idk this one man just does something to me. Bennett 100% needs to go out and get some better quality friends though, cuz wtf. Whatevs, he can leave them in the dust when he makes his new NFL partner's friends.

Jenny Pineapple supremacy continues!

Pet names: Bunny - how fucking crazy is it that I read two books in short succession with this pet name? And you know what, I FUCKING LOVE IT. There, I said it.

He steps closer, and the bathroom suddenly feels impossibly small. I can smell his skin, the chlorine from the pool mingling with his musk. “I’m not letting it go,” he says quietly. “Talk to me, Bennett.” When I don’t answer, he leans in, his breath warm against my ear. “Tell me what it is, so I can fix it, Bunny.”

“I thought three years would be enough,” I continue, unable to stop now that I’ve started. “I thought whatever this was would fade. But it didn’t.

“I wanted you so much,” he admits, one hand stroking my thigh. “It killed me not to be with you. Not to touch you, taste you.” He pushes a little deeper, watching my face for any sign of pain. “Not to be inside you, like this.”

It’s strange how right this feels. I’ve spent three years with an ache in my chest I couldn’t name, and now it’s gone, replaced by a fullness that threatens to spill over. I want to tell him, but the words feel inadequate.

*
*
*
*
*


Safety (may contain spoilers)

SA/rape: None

Other person drama: The very start of the book is Bennett being dumped by his girlfriend but they had been pretty much done for months at that point and he doesn't really feel hurt about it. She's a huge bitch but there's no drama from her in a romantic sense.

[Ren || The Reader Identity · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔📚: 90/150
☆☆☆☆☆

💘 Reid + Ben

WTF, I NEED MOOOOORE.

Another JP release and I'm on it like flies on shit because HOT DAMN, I love this author. How they can write an ENTIRE plot and romance in 100 pages is insanity...and pure talent. Like, y'all, the WRITING IS SO GOOD.

God, Reid was AMAZING. He paid so much attention to Ben and made sure he picked him and focused on HIM. And watching Ben blossom under his attention? The passion and ease between those two? Obsessed.

The friend group is drama. So much drama. But that ending. GAH! I need like 100 pages more of these two.

Underated author right here that NEEDS to go viral. Because JP is a beast at storytelling.

🅃🅁🄾🄿🄴🅂
💋 mm contemporary romance
🏈 best friend's brother
💋 forced proximity
🏈 double gay-for-you
▪︎
▪︎
▪︎

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. Probably one of my favorites!! Loved both of the characters. Hated all the secondary characters except for Lily, she was a gem. I liked the chemistry between the two MCs. I wish it was longer!!

The only thing that frustrated me was Bennett not sticking up for himself, like for the entire book. It was so annoying. I wanted to punch everyone for him!!

No others or op drama. No break up. Double bi awakening. Best friend’s older brother. HFN (no I love yous)

[Kate Russo ❦ (Rina Kent’s Version) · Rating 4 out of 5]

OMGOMGOMGOMG I fucking loved this holy shit!!! My poor baby Bennett I just wanted to hug him the way he didn’t stand up for himself when that bitch was lying bc he didn’t wanna ruin his best friend’s birthday weekend are you kidding me??? Reid always having his back ughhh I’m obsessed with them!!! Reid calling him bunny STFU!!! I didn’t like Derek was his name idek hated that bitch and he definitely cheated on his poor gf Kelsey 100% especially with the way him and Chasey were moving let’s be so fr. I just know Tim and Lily are their biggest shippers!!!

[Moraa · Rating 4 out of 5]

RTC

[Renée · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first time reading this author, and I’ll try another book. There were some things that were unrealistic, but I liked the style and flow overall.

[Vocky · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
Rly good and I couldn’t put it down. But the retribution for the villain characters wasn’t good enough, things that were dropped weren’t fleshed out, and with all those other plot elements the romance was left sad and lonely :(

Like it was good fs but it just needed to be longer. Either be super porny and don’t have 10 side characters and middle school drama (super stupid btw and it’s not like it doesn’t happen, but soooo shitty and lame) or have all that and flesh it outtttt make it worth it!

The fact that Derek is totally forgiven out of nowhere threw me off and pmo so bad like??? I’m sorry did Kelsey peg and dom him into oblivion and forgive him or..??? Bc I can’t imagine talking it out and having sex w the guy who was openly flirting and being territorial over another girl all weekend AND endangering lives and being violent in the process. He’d need to be taught a lesson and I’m not letting him inside me FUCK no. And then Chasey is shunned from the group for that whole thing and NOT hurting and manipulating everyone to vilify the mc???? Like, right action wrong reason. The fact that she was punished for the flirting but Derek wasn’t pmo. I’m glad he apologized but that’s not enough. If MC had hit something being pushed off the boat or had smn happen bc it was nighttime on a lake, would a sorry have cut it? It was a shitty apology too. Decent if it was just being shitty with words but he needed to be genuinely remorseful about the danger he brought and physical harm he caused. Not cool.

Anyway so that ^^^^ whole thing rly took up space I wanted to spend on the brother finding out! (He just was like “knew it!” After suspecting only that very morning it seems and was happy….. no sorry I don’t think so??? Unrealistic reaction fr) like if we’re gonna have middle school drama can it at least be about the mc and his relationship and not stupid bullshit??????????

[Betty Loves Books Galore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a bother’s best friend more romance novella, featuring Bennett and Reid, and is book one in the Off-Limits series.

Bennett’s weekend goes wrong when he’s dumped and forced to share a room with Reid, his best friend’s older brother. Old memories and unexpected attraction resurface as they’re stuck together.

I loved this one and didn’t want it to end. Reid and Bennett are hot together and I loved they were both crushing hard on each other.

Things to expect in this book are:
Book 1 in series
Novella
MM romance
Best friend’s brother
NFL quarterback x college student
Forced proximity
Only one bed
Mutual crush
Slow burn
Double bi-awakening
Spicy times
First times
Coming out
HFN

[Kyla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick and fun! I love the best friend's brother trope🙈

I know it's a short book, but I wouldn't have minded less focus on the birthday party and the ex, and more on their past and how their relationship developed.

I also wouldn't have minded a bit more of them together at the end but hopefully they'll show up in the rest of the series🤞

[Tiffany Grounds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just wanted more…

I really enjoyed this story but I wanted a little more. I wanted to see their romance unfold more and watch them grow as a couple, even for just a bit. And as petty as it sounds, I was really hoping someone put Chasey in her place. What a lying sleaze bag. But other than that, I’m super happy Bennet and Reid finally got what they wanted after so many years. Hopefully their relationship is seen more in the series.

[Em · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this more than I did. The birthday weekend, lake cabin rental, one bed and the hot best friend’s brother crush was totally on my radar for a Sunday afternoon read.

Reid and Bennett were sweet together, there were those 1.5 spicy scenes that kept the romance element of the story going, but can’t stand a sleazy (ex)-girlfriend mucking’ up my MM spicy shorts! And forget about wanting to punch Derek in his face, his character had me so frustrated I couldn’t understand why he was even there. Alas, I suppose it was probably the unanticipated drama that I just wasn’t ready to spend my Sunday caught up in.

[Janette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick, easy read that was surprisingly complex & layered for the length. I enjoyed the author’s voice and the overall premise of the story, as well as how she builds some tension and suspense even if it’s fairly short lived. Where this was a little disappointing for me was the payoff; the set up is solid and substantiated, so when the story advanced too quickly and the characters jumped ahead emotionally, it felt too easy. I can understand how the length again may have necessitated less depth and more progress, but it didn’t make it any less noticeable.

[Kitchen Sink Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

A many-layered story that is captivating, clever and steamy. It's also very funny, very honest and incredibly heartfelt. Once again it is Jenny Pineapple doing what she does best, giving us characters and situations which are crafted perfectly, which could be parts of any of our everyday lives and yet at the same time giving us a story we can lose ourselves in.

Did I like all the characters? Absolutely not. Did I love the principal characters? Oh yes. And that is how is should be. This story uses the best-friend's brother trope perfectly.

Bennet (Ben) is joining his best friend, and a group of their additional friends, along with partners, for a birthday celebration. It's Ben's best friend, Tim's birthday. The weekend hasn't gotten off to the best start since Ben's girlfriend has used it as a chance to break up with him, place the blame on him, leave him with no option but to share a different room and then try to flirt with another of the group. Luckily for us it all backfires on her, deliciously!

Tim's brother, star Quarterback, has upgraded the lodge for the weekend so they are staying in style - big rooms with big beds. Once Ben realises he is going to have to share with Ried that becomes both a joy and a disaster. How is Ben going to hide the feelings he's been harbouring for Reid, the only man he has ever felt anything for, especially when he's more than certain they aren't reciprocated?

Is it possible to be completely wrong about another person and be incredibly happy with the results? Find out for yourself in this wonderful novella!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jenny Pineapple always delivers a fun, quick read, and Craved by the Quarterback was no exception.

This is a best friend's brother romance with forced proximity, only one bed, and plenty of unresolved tension from a shared history that neither character has fully forgotten. I really enjoyed the chemistry between these two and how much anticipation there was once they were forced into close quarters for the weekend.

I will say this wasn't quite as spicy as I've come to expect from Jenny's books, which surprised me a little. If you're going in expecting nonstop steam, you may find this one a bit lighter than some of her other releases. That said, the connection between the characters was still enjoyable, and the story flowed well from beginning to end.

Overall, this was a sweet, entertaining, low-angst romance that was easy to finish in one sitting. If you enjoy best friend's brother, NFL player romances, forced proximity, and only one bed, this one is definitely worth picking up.

Thank you to Jenny Pineapple and BookSprout for providing me with an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 📚💕

[Alix · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an easy 5 stars all the way! While I have been enjoying Jenny's novellas since the very beginning, this is definitely one that sparkles just a bit more and lands at least in my top 3 by her. She is so skilled at creating this entire *moment* with just a few pages! This is a BFF's little brother/brother's BFF with some forced proximity, ONLY ONE BED, and a bit of "it's always been you" thrown in. Reid is such a green flag and gave us so many swoony moments with Ben! While this isn't the spiciest of Jenny's books, I could read 100s of pages more with these boys exactly as they are! I absolutely adored this. There's a bit of OW drama with Ben's ex (she's total slime though) during this celebration event with the entire friend group, but Ben and Reid rise above it all and we just know they're going to ride off into the sunset together, forever. Love!!!

What to Expect:
🔥 Best friend’s younger brother
🔥 Double bi-awakening
🔥 Only one bed
🔥 NFL star x college student
🔥 Opposites attract

[TJ]

5*

This is a short read M/M from Jenny Pineapple that hits the mark again.
Set at a lakeside Lodge we meet Bennett who gets dumped by his ice cold girlfriend on arrival with the humiliation being witnessed by NFL star Reid.
Circumstances then force B and R into close proximity and we get a blossoming romance. There is just the right amount of romance and action in the book with a couple of side characters adding the drama that keeps the pace flowing.

Due to it being a short I was worried the ex was going to get away with how she treated Bennet so it was great to see how this situation was resolved! (Being vague to avoid spoilers!!)

Overall another great little short from Jenny that's well written and enjoyable.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Craved by the Quarterback is about Bennett and Reid, Reid is Bennett's best friends, Timothy's, brother. Few years ago they shared a moment, they haven't see each other after that, but now they both are invited to Timothy's birthday weekend. That weekend doesn't start too well to Bennett.

This was a really good story. I liked how Reid was there to help Bennett, when he needed help. And the ending was a perfect.

-------------------------------------
I received a copy of this book, and this is my honest review

[Jenifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun story! I really enjoyed watching Reid and Bennett dance around their mutual attraction to one another and when the opportunity arose for them to be roommates for the weekend, you just knew that things were going to get spicy. And the author doesn't disappoint in this department. I also loved watching Chasey and her plans that fell spectacularly flat and how she gets a taste of her own medicine in the end. A steamy MM bi-awakening served up with a small side of revenge - chef's kiss!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Shan( Shans_Shelves) 💜 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes you want a no-angst novella about a guy who was recently dumped by his asshole of a GF, getting his HE with his best friend’s older brother. This was so sweet and the chemistry was *chefs kiss*. Also love that the fact Reid was a famous quarterback wasn’t that big of a deal to Bennet because he just knows him as his BFFs intimidating older brother.

Dropping a star solely for the fact that Derek should have been murdered. Like Kelsey my love you totally deserved better… should have put laxatives in his coffee!!

[Spicy Book Lover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read from Jenny Pineapple!

Jenny’s an immediate buy for me. Her books never disappoint. Delicious tension, lots of spice and characters I’m invested in from the beginning. This book was no different. Bennett was such a sweetie, and Reid such a golden retriever- my fav kind of MMC. I love a “it’s always been you” story so my heart just loved these two getting together! 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Katsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4/5 ⭐
Spice: 3/5 🌶️

This one was definitely hot! I loved the setting and the shared history between Bennett and Reid—it gave their relationship a strong foundation. Once they both realized their feelings were mutual, everything fell into place so naturally. There wasn't any unnecessary drama, which made this a refreshing, easy read. If you're looking for a steamy romance with a lovable couple and a satisfying happily-ever-after, this is a great pick.

[Jennifer]

Exactly what I needed as I was slowly approaching a reading slump. Short, easy, sweet and spicy and bingeable. Despite the short number of pages it still packed a punch and I still got attached to our MCs. I would happily read loads more of Reid and Bennet, but I was also satisfied with what I got. 🔥🔥