London Calling

by Shannon Carse

Addison Scott is done playing by anyone else’s rules—especially a man’s. After finally breaking free from her controlling boyfriend, a manipulative sports journalist who always made her feel small, she trades New York City chaos for a fresh start in North London. With her newly launched PR firm and a strict no-strings-attached approach to work and love, Addison’s latest assignment—revamping the image of rising soccer club Rockford FC—should be just another job. One year, in and out. Easy.

Then she meets Oliver Bradshaw. The team’s captain is private, guarded, and resistant to her every move. Despite their clash, the chemistry between them is undeniable. A secret, season-long fling feels safe enough—until Oliver begins to break through Addison’s carefully constructed walls. In him, she sees a man shaped by grief and loyalty, and the connection they swore wouldn’t mean anything starts to feel like everything.

But as the team barrels toward glory, the past comes crashing back. Addison’s ex, Matt, is assigned to cover the team’s journey for a documentary, forcing her to confront the man who once broke her spirit—and the pain she thought she’d left behind.

With everything on the line, Addison must decide: keep running, or finally stay and fight for something real. Because sometimes, love doesn’t follow the rules. And sometimes, London calls you home.

445 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication July 17, 2026

Reviews

[litwithmarlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

Tropes:
* Sports romance
* Workplace romance
* Secret relationship
* “Just for the season”
* Grief and healing

Favorite quotes:
“He can’t take away what’s mine.”

“She’s fiery, opinionated, and so far out of his league that I’d run out of gas if I had to drive there with a full tank.”

“People can act cold, or like they don’t care, when they’re actually afraid of caring too much. Maybe there’s some pain behind that purpose.”

“…because once you’ve been burned, everything feels like fire.”

“Don’t let him have any power over you. You’re Addison fucking Scott.”

My thoughts:
I loved how this book showed Addison that people can and will show up for her. Her fear was paralyzing for her and I was screaming at her to speak up!! But, it was truly apart of the process and ended beautifully. Best secondary character- Alan!! Protect him at all costs. That man is a true gem of a boss and a human being. Shannon writes in a way that draws me into the story and not want to stop. She is so talented at illustrating the setting and making me feel like I’m there.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a fun soccer romance coming out just on the heels of most of the 2026 World Cup. Perfect timing! Addison takes a PR job in London after she’s left an abusive relationship in the US. The ⚽️ team she works for is thrilled to have her. Everyone except the prickly team captain, Oliver. Both of them are hiding behind walls — Addison’s is made of rules, and Oliver’s is made of grief.

This gave Ted Lasso vibes in the best way. When Oliver teaches Addie about football, he was so patient, and that patience was a through-line in the rest of their relationship. Both characters were dealing with difficult pasts, and everyone around them reminds them they don’t have to suffer alone.

I loved the supporting characters, from Luke, who is like Addie’s brother, down to the grumpy assistant coach who is wiser than he acts. The soccer/football atmosphere made me want to be right in the middle of it!

Thanks so much to the author for an advance copy of this book!

[B Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 stars

I received an early copy of this from the author.

This book follows Addison and Oliver. Addison is starting her life over after leaving an abusive relationship. An old friend offers her a job working as the PR manager for a soccer/football club in London that he works for. Oliver is the captain of the team and leads a private life after suffering a loss as a teenager.

I adore this book. I saw a lot of myself in Addison and to see her find herself was so empowering. They both met each other where they were at and never asked the other to change or do anything different. Just absolute acceptance, never feeling like too much or not enough. I enjoyed the writing of this book as well, it felt comfortable and nothing was forced. Since the story took place over the course of the football season there was good pacing as well.

I would recommend this book for people who are looking for a modern day sports romance, low to medium spice, set in London, and found families.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun, summer read with Ted Lasso vibes! This is coming just in time for World Cup fever and I think readers will really enjoy that aspect of this sports romance.

An American PR specialist moves to London for a fresh start and to help a local football club be promoted up to the Premiere League. In my head, Oliver was Roy Kent. I heard Roy Kent while reading his dialogue.

Where I struggled a little bit was that some aspects of Addison’s internal struggle felt repetitive. I lost patience with her rules pretty early in the book. When Pippa says “f*ck your rules” near the end, in my brain it was, “Finally! Someone said it!” But still too late in the book for me.

Overall, football/soccer fans (or sports romance fans in general), should find this an entertaining read.

Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this book prior to publication.

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Addison is ready to play by her own rules after breaking up with her manipulative and controlling ex. With the launch of her new PR firm, she has the chance to start fresh with a move from New York to London to represent a football team.

Oliver is the guarded, private, and reserved team captain. Him and Addison are like fire and ice, but their chemistry is undeniable. A short, simple fling is perfect, right? Oliver starts to break down Addison's walls and the two soon discover they are developing true feelings for each other.

Then, Addison's ex shows up. Can she face her past and confront the man who caused her so much pain? Is she ready to move on and move forward by choosing herself and opening up to the kind of love she deserves?

I felt the connection between Addison and Oliver, and was rooting for them.
London Calling is a sweet, steamy, redeeming love story. Shannon Carse is a talented writer with a knack for blending deep emotions with rich descriptions amd vivid scenery. I am always fully immersed in her novels, and would certainly recommend them all to romance fans!

[Emily Langan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky to receive an ARC of London Calling by Shannon Carse.

Sports Romance (soccer ⚽). Story is about Addison and Oliver.

Addison leaves an emotionally abusive relationship. She takes a PR job in London at Rockford FC to start a new chapter. Leaving New York and her ex behind.

Everyone at her new job is welcoming except the closed off team Captain Oliver, who doesn't trust easily.... until they open up to each other.

I couldn't put this book down! Loved these two coming together. Both characters were working through grief and healing. However it was a feel-good book for me. London and the football atmosphere was captured brilliantly!

⚽Sports Romance (soccer)
🤫Secret Relationship
♥️He Falls First
♥️Found family
🫶Grief/Healing

[Elora Maxwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Sometimes, the most powerful ending isn't revenge. It's freedom."

I really enjoyed this novel! While slow moving at times, it never felt boring or out of place. I loved watching Oliver and Addison fall in love and loved watching their individual arcs of growth and healing even more.

I would highly recommend this novel if you're coming down off of the World Cup high, are looking for a character journey of healing and finding real love, or are a Ted Lasso fan. As a retired soccer player myself. I loved the elements of the sport that were woven throughout and would love to read about some of the other players on the team.

Thank you to the author and BookFunnel for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Priya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from Author!

I loved Addison and Oliver so much and the comfort they saw in each other and I loved the setting of London and the found family of the team in Rockford and how they supported Addison and I loved how Oliver's grief about his brother was also portrayed!! I also loved Oliver's mum and how funny she was but also how supportive she was of Addison and Oliver and how she was able to comfort Oliver and I loved Oliver's quiet comfort to Addison after her idiotic, stupid manchild of an ex! I hated Matt truly and I think that this story was so brave and I just loved them!!!!

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hesitate to call this a romance novel. It is more accurately described as a love story. One where a woman learns to love not only herself again, but love her life.

Left broken after ending her emotionally/psychologically abusive relationship, Addison moves from NYC to London where she takes on being the PR person for an up and coming football club. Oliver is the team captain who has his own traumas. While this book does focus on their resentment towards each other morphing into friendship and then more, I would say the true focus of this book is their healing journeys.

4.5 ⭐️

[★*☆ Cheryl ★*☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, to the author, for sending me an ARC of the book.

This is my first book I've read by Shannon Carse, so I didn't know what to expect. This was a nice, feel-good, enjoyable read.

I loved Addison and Oliver so much. They're so very relatable and have such a sweet story, focusing on taking a second chance trusting someone.

Matt can rot in hell, with his fake smile and perfect white teeth.

[Michelle White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book you have Addison moving overseas for a job after dumping her controlling ex. This book shows how she was able to pick herself up and feel better about herself. Then you have Oliver who in on the football team that Addison is working PR for. Oliver is doing his best to try and be there for everyone. He is also still living in the past of losing his brother. Addison helps him be himself for only him. The way this couple came up through hard times was such a good read.

[Shannon Carse · Rating 5 out of 5]

addison and oliver, my babies forever. this book is a love letter to the version of me who walked away, chose herself, and rebuilt her life. thank you, past me, for being brave to fight for the life we have now. addison’s journey mirrored so much of my own past that writing this story felt deeply personal in ways i still can’t fully explain. i will love these two forever and ever.

[Nicole McRoberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so fun, I could not put it down! There was such a good genuine connection you could feel between the two MC's and it really made you want to root for them! This gave me those same good Ted Lasso Vibes and I couldn't get enough.

[Rhi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely could not put this book down.

I loved watching Addison and Oliver’s relationship build from closed off, to banter, to friendship, to protective and completely all in. The little moments between the bigger events were so sweet, and they all built beautifully toward the ending.

Honestly, no notes — I loved it!

Thank you so much to Shannon Carse for trusting me with an ARC.

[Aly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review to come.

[Jennifer Tate · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the time of watching the World Cup on tv, this was a great educational tool lol.
Have me Ted Lasso vibes in the best way!
great story of growth and redemption!

[Ashiiya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is so sweet. Such a fun romance. There is grief but there is also joy. The characters show up for each other and heal each other. Highly recommend.