Keeping Score

by Harper Rae James

She’s been his best friend for years. He’s been in love with her since the moment they met.

Everyone in Mango Nation knows Rikki and Mila. They’re two fearless catchers, master dugout banter, and during spring training are partnered in everything that makes Mango Ball unlike anything else baseball is known for. From dancing between innings, games, and unforgettable nights, they’re always side by side.

What Mils doesn’t know is that Rikki has been in love with her since high school.

He convinced himself she only had eyes for someone else, so he settled for being the best friend she deserved instead of the man he wanted to be for her.

But when a preseason surprise filled with nonstop chaos, viral moments, and the unforgettable Mango Nation at Sea cruise start to blurring the lines between friendship and something much more, Rikki begins to wonder if he’s been wrong about her feelings all along.

Because the lingering touches feel different. The stolen glances last a little longer. And the chemistry they’ve spent years leaving on the field becomes impossible to ignore.

Welcome back to a new side of Mango Bay.

Genres: Baseball, Sports Romance

256 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 22, 2026

About the author

I write spicy, emotion-forward romance for readers who crave longing, second chances, and love that refuses to stay buried.

My stories live in the quiet space between almost and always, where feelings simmer, restraint fractures, and intimacy is earned. Expect mutual pining, he-falls-first energy, and heat that hits harder becasue it means something.

If you love slow burns with real payoff, characters who ache before they heal, and stories that linger long after the last page, you're in the right place.

New here?

Start with This Can’t Be The End— the book readers fall into first.

Readeing Order: This Can't Be the End-- This Time Around--This Christmas-- This Secret Between Us

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from Author

Rating~ 3.5 rounded up

I was here for the tension between Rikki and Mila! You could just tell that man had deep feelings for her. The fact that they were childhood friends made things feel a little complicated. I could definitely see how the whole “right person, wrong time” situation played a part here.

When they found themselves working for the same team and going on a work cruise together, I was ready to see the energy amp up! But omg, when she was kissing another man in the parking lot?! Wait, what?! Who is this?

Her having a man was so unexpected! I was so invested in how they were going to navigate that while also dealing with the increasing tension between them. And that cruise trip?! At times, the tension was palpable! I definitely felt like Mila needed to handle her business before even thinking about entertaining Rikki.

I really liked Rikki’s character. You could tell he was struggling, but he was still respectful of Mila and her choices. He’s alright in my book!

[Sim-fully Ever After · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25🌟 | 3🌶️

Secret pining between longtime friends is such a weakness for me, and Rikki had been carrying those feelings for years.

I liked how natural their friendship felt, with the teasing, competitiveness, and comfort that comes from already knowing someone so well. Once they were thrown back together on that cruise, all that history made the tension between them so much more fun to watch.

Rikki was definitely my favorite of the two. He was clearly struggling with his feelings, but he never made Mila feel pressured and genuinely respected her choices. I also liked seeing Mila work through what she actually wanted for herself. Their chemistry had a nice build to it, and once those feelings finally started coming out in the open, I was fully invested.

The baseball setting and the whole Mango Bay crew added another layer of fun without taking away from the romance. I especially liked that their relationship had a real friendship underneath all the attraction, because it made their shift into something more feel earned.

Between the banter, tension, and swoony moments, this was a really enjoyable addition to the series.

~~~~

A sincere thank you to Harper Rae James and Good Girls PR for the ARC! 🥰📚

I’m so grateful for the early read. As always, all thoughts and opinions are completely my own. ✨

[Amity Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun one!! I loved this book. The friends to lovers, the tension, banter, and characters are so fun! This might be my fave so far!! Rikki ! The golden retriever MMC we love to see!! Mila is so lovable and just added so much to this story. This one was definitely cute and swoony!! Such a well done book & one I definitely recommend!

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 STARS

Keeping Score by Harper Rae James ⚾️🥭💕

I absolutely loved this one! Give me a friends-to-lovers romance where one person has secretly been in love forever and I’m already invested. 😂❤️

Rikki and Mila had such a fun dynamic. They already had that comfortable best-friend relationship where they could joke around, talk trash, and just be themselves with each other. But knowing Rikki had been secretly in love with Mila since high school made every little moment between them so much better.

I loved watching their friendship slowly start to shift into something more. The lingering touches, stolen looks, and that feeling of “wait… is there actually something here?” had me waiting for them to finally figure it out. The chemistry between them was definitely there, but I especially loved that their relationship had such a strong foundation because they genuinely knew and cared about each other.

And the whole Mango Nation world was so much fun! The baseball, the dugout banter, the dancing, the chaos, and especially the cruise made this feel like such a fun escape. 🥭⚾️ There was so much personality throughout the story, and I loved the energy of all the characters.

Rikki was definitely my favorite. Watching him go from convincing himself that Mila only saw him as a friend to realizing that maybe he had been wrong all along was SO satisfying. 🥹

This was fun, flirty, sweet, and romantic, with plenty of moments that had me smiling. I loved the friendship at the center of the story just as much as the romance.

If you love friends-to-lovers, secret pining, sports romance, childhood/high school crushes, banter, and a fun group of characters, definitely add this one to your TBR! ❤️📚

💬 Would you rather fall for your best friend after years of friendship, or meet someone completely new?

#KeepingScore #HarperRaeJames #SportsRomance #FriendsToLovers #BookReview

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

📚 ARC Note: I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of this book. The book was free, but my opinions are definitely my own! This is my honest review, shared voluntarily.

Rikki and Mila…LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. this one!

Okay, I gotta be honest, though…Early on, I was NOT a fan of Mila. Ugh.

I don't love when I get that way about a character because I want to like them, but sometimes a character just gets on your last nerve. And Mila? Yeah…she was testing me.

BUT...and this is important...she redeemed herself.

Once I got over my issues with Mila, I absolutely loved this story. There was just something about Rikki and Mila's story that pulled me in, and apparently pulled me in HARD because I literally devoured this book in about four hours. I know. I know.

Full transparency: I received this book as an ARC, and I decided I needed to go back and read the first two books in the Mango Bay series before jumping into this one.

And I'm really glad I did.

While Keeping Score can be read as a standalone, the first two books lay the groundwork for Mango Bay and the characters, and I think they add so much to the experience of this book. So if you're thinking about jumping straight into Book 3…I'd personally go back and start at the beginning. They're worth the read!

And now that I've officially made my way through all three Mango Bay books, I'm invested in this little baseball-loving corner of the world.

Would I Recommend It?
Absolutely! And yes, I recommend starting with Books 1 and 2. Keeping Score stands on its own, but knowing the characters and having the foundation from the first two books made this one even more enjoyable for me.

📖 Closing the Book:
I started this book side-eyeing Mila and finished it completely invested in her story.

Four hours later, here I am…wishing my time in Mango Bay wasn't over.

[The Calm Chapter Mandi Wiencek · Rating 4 out of 5]

🥭 Keeping Score 🥭
(( Spoiler-Free ARC Review ))

Title- Keeping Score
Author- Harper Rae James
Genre- Sports Romance
Series- Mango Bay Book 3

Trope City-
⚾️ Best Friends to Lovers
⚾️ Pro Baseball Player MCs
⚾️ It’s Always Been Her
⚾️ Competitive FMC
⚾️ Forced Proximity

I love the Mango Bay Series! Harper Rae James has created the sweeter little entertainment baseball community. Rikki(MMC) is a confident, loyal member of Mango Nation! He’s informed that his high school best friend Mila (FMC) is being brought on as a player for Mango Nation as well. Rikki has been harboring feelings for Mila since he first laid eyes on her. No question he’s in love. But is she? They were pretty solidified in the friend zone when they both went off and played college ball on opposing teams. The distance had been painful for Rikki so he put even more between them. They haven’t been close in year upon Mila’s arrival. Rikki gets a devastating shock when he sees her dropped off by her current boyfriend- their high school baseball coach 🤢. The players are to set off on a cruise with fans before spring training. These two have rooms across from each other. What could possibly go wrong? The interaction and forced proximity works the way we love it to. These two are sparking left and right. Rikki won’t kiss her until she’s his, but with her current relationship status, will that ever be the case?

I’m addicted to Mango Bay, Fam! Thank you Good Girls PR for sharing this series with me! ⚾️🥭

[Megan Meyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, so I was an alpha reader for this book… but did I reread it as an ARC? HECK YES I DID. 😂

I loved Rikki and Mila’s story so much the first time around, and somehow rereading it made me love them even more. Their chemistry, their relationship, the banter… I was completely invested all over again.

Harper Rae James just knows how to give me characters I get way too attached to, and Rikki and Mila absolutely had me in my feelings. I laughed, I swooned, I got frustrated, and I definitely didn’t want to put this one down.

Even knowing what was coming, I still couldn’t stop reading. If you love a good romance with amazing chemistry and characters you can’t help but root for, definitely add Keeping Score to your TBR!

Thank you, Harper, for the opportunity to not only read this as an alpha reader but to receive it as an ARC as well. It was just as good the second time around, and I loved getting to experience Rikki and Mila’s story all over again!

[Jennifer Lowry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Harper Rae James and Good Girls PR for this ARC! This was one of the best baseball romances I have ever read. I absolutely loved Mila and Rikki. Rikki just knew that he and Mila were meant to be. He was so patient and sweet with her. I also loved the found family in this book. This is such a cute series and I am officially obsessed with Mango Ball!

[Canadiansweety_85 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! 📕 friends to lovers it took mila and Rikki many years but they got there - and they realized they were it for each other. It was such a cute meet cute moment when they first met at the park when they were young - and they just completely got each other
Would. Totally recommend this book

[Aura C · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

Rikki Voss has been in love with his best friend for ten years, and apparently I have a weakness for men who suffer in silence.

Because this man is DOWN BAD.

Keeping Score is a friends-to-lovers sports romance about Rikki and Mila, two people who have spent years building the kind of friendship where the other person is simply woven into their life. And that's what made this work for me. Their relationship doesn't start when the romance starts. It has history. Inside jokes. Loyalty. Jealousy nobody wants to admit is jealousy. Years of showing up for one another while somehow missing—or avoiding—the giant flashing sign saying YOU TWO ARE IN LOVE.

Rikki, especially, got me.

He has loved Mila for years, and what I appreciated most was that his love isn't just possessiveness disguised as devotion. He genuinely wants her to be happy, even when he thinks that happiness might not include him. There is something particularly painful about a man silently comparing every relationship to the woman he believes he can't have.

Sir. Please stand up.

Actually, don't. I like you exactly like this.

The flashbacks really helped sell their relationship for me. Instead of simply being told these two have been best friends forever, we get to see pieces of the friendship that created the adults they are now. It makes every little shift in the present feel bigger because you understand just how much they have to lose if they get this wrong.

And Mila isn't just Rikki's dream girl.

She's competitive, ambitious, stubborn, and serious about baseball. I loved that her career mattered. She's a catcher. She's an athlete. She has goals that exist completely outside of this relationship, and the book doesn't suddenly ask her to shrink them because she finally found love.

THANK YOU.

The baseball setting was also genuinely fun. The Mango Ball world has enough personality—teams, mascots, fan events, rivalries, spring training, and all the ridiculousness that comes with it—that baseball feels like part of the story instead of a decorative jersey somebody threw onto a romance novel.

And yes.

The chemistry.

Once Rikki and Mila finally stop pretending that what is happening between them is completely platonic, things get very spicy very quickly. But what saved it from becoming spice for spice's sake is that the emotional intimacy was already there. These two know each other. They trust each other. They've already been emotionally intertwined for years.

The physical relationship is just the final idiot finally turning on the lights.

My biggest issue was the Eli situation. Mila begins the story in another relationship while her feelings for Rikki are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore, and there were moments where that emotional gray area made me uncomfortable. I wanted that relationship resolved sooner instead of watching everyone hover around a boundary that was getting blurrier by the chapter.

I did, however, really appreciate Mila refusing to let herself become something one man could simply hand over to another. Her choices are hers. Her career is hers. Her future is hers.

That distinction mattered.

I also think some of the flashbacks could have been trimmed once the present-day romance really started moving. I understood why they were there, and several of them added enormously to the emotional payoff, but occasionally I wanted to yell, NO, TAKE ME BACK TO WHAT WAS JUST HAPPENING.

But where Keeping Score really won me over was in understanding that getting together isn't the finish line.

Careers happen. Distance happens. Life doesn't magically reorganize itself because two people finally admit they're in love. Mila and Rikki have to figure out how this relationship fits into two lives that were already moving forward.

And underneath everything is this ridiculously romantic realization:

They weren't searching for some extraordinary new person.

They had already found their person years ago.

They just hadn't figured out what to call it yet.

4.5 stars. Funny, spicy, emotional, and full of the kind of friends-to-lovers yearning that makes you want to grab two fictional people by the shoulders and scream, PLEASE LOOK DIRECTLY AT EACH OTHER.

Rikki Voss, your decade of suffering has been noted.

And appreciated.

ARC provided for review. All opinions are my own.

[Kayla Simonson · Rating 4 out of 5]

“‘I don’t think I ever fell in love with you all at once. I think I just kept seeing the pieces of your heart as you shared them with me in a thousand small moments until one day I had them all.’”

**I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review**

“I’m dreading having her so close, and so fucking far out of reach. But that’s always been Mila. Right there and not mine.”

This book was so much fun! I loved how it was an original idea, I have not read any other books similar to this one! But still had a lot of great common tropes like forced proximity, childhood best friends to lovers, he falls first-HARD, competition and banter, small town vibes, baseball - Savanah Bananas style, and more! There is some “cheating” adjacent behaviors depending your views on cheating.

“‘Oh, you like me again?’ he jokes. ‘I always like you,’ I insist. ‘Even when you’re hangry? Because that chick is feral.’ He laughs. ‘I’m sorry for how I act when I need food,’ I say with a smile, and he leans in and kisses me. This time his kiss is quick and soft. Like a habit, and it makes my heart leap out of my chest. ‘Don’t be.’ He pops a plantain in his mouth and pauses while he swallows, ‘I like it.’”

There has not been too many FMCs that I have enjoyed, but Mila is a fairly strong FMC, even though she’s oblivious as hell regarding Rikki. She seems to find herself again when getting stuck on the cruise ship with Rikki after losing herself a bit being with Eli. After breaking up with Eli, she starts to stand up for herself, and appears more comfortable in her own skin. And doesn’t let her relationship with Rikki get in the way of her goals or her new friendship with her teammate Sammy. Oh and she’s also a BASEBALL PLAYER!

“‘I will earn that shit on my own and you will fight me for it like we always have. Just because you sleep with me doesn’t mean you get to be my boyfriend on the field. Got it?’”

And Rikki? Ooof, this man had my heart breaking from the beginning, especially since he caused his heartbreak by being a stupid boy and not communicating (well neither one of them communicated their feelings originally)! But damn, where can I find one of him?!

“‘I quickly slipped into your friend zone, and I’ve hated every second here, but I’ll live here if it means you’re happy. I love you Mila Ashford, and I always have, but I don’t like seeing you hurt and doubting yourself. So, if your friend is all I ever get to be, I’ll be the best damn friend there ever was, ok?’”

That last chapter was the perfect ending and was such a fun and Mila/Rikki thing to do! The epilogue didn’t quite stand up to the last chapter though! Still a fun ending for a fun story though! And that’s all I’ll say so I don’t spoil anything!

My only complaint I really had was the spicy scenes. They often gave the vibes that the author wasn’t quite sure if she wanted to go all in or do more closed door. They seemed to only give a very small snippet of the scene before disappearing. Which fell flat a bit for me, not that the spice is end all be all in a book, but I feel like if we got a bit more than just the initial interactions it would increase our insight into their relationship. Or reducing the spicy scenes in general.

“Baseball has always been one of the most important things in my life. Milly is the only person who has ever made me question whether it deserves the top spot. And if I’m being honest, I’m not sure it’s winning anymore.”

[My Used Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Mango Bay series by Harper Rae James just keeps getting better and better! Keeping Score is the third book in the series, and it was a 4.75-star read for me and my favorite so far.

This book follows Rikki and Mila, who were best friends in high school. When Rikki developed feelings for Mila, he pulled away because he didn’t think his feelings would be reciprocated. Now they’re forced to be around each other on a cruise ship, making those old feelings pretty hard to hide. The only problem? Mila isn’t single.

The best-friends-to-lovers trope is one I don’t feel like I read enough, and I honestly don’t know why! I absolutely loved this book and could not put it down. One of my favorite things about Rikki was that once he finally got over himself and told Mila how he felt, he stayed true to his feelings without crossing any boundaries. He respected the fact that she was in a relationship and gave her the space to figure out what she wanted.

Honestly, I swooned when he told her the ball was in her court and that he was willing to just be friends if that was what she wanted. 🥹 There was something so attractive about him putting the choice completely in her hands instead of pressuring her.

If you’ve read the other books in the series, you already know the teammates are always fun to see again. If you haven’t read the first two books, I definitely recommend starting there because they are amazing as well!

Sammy, Mila’s teammate and new roommate, is introduced in this book, and I am already dying for more of her story. Will she and Anderson be the next couple?! 👀

Thank you to Harper Rae James and Good Girls PR for the opportunity to read an ARC. I honestly cannot wait to see if there is another book in this series!

[Ivy Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW ✨
Keeping Score — Harper Rae James

Thank you for the ARC copy! 🫶🏻

It’s a cute and quick read featuring friends-to-lovers with a little bit of sports romance!

I feel like the love between these two comes very fast once they’re reunited. It’s like the love has actually been there from the beginning, but they couldn’t be together because of their circumstances. And now that the timing and forced proximity are finally there, their love blossoms very quickly. After that, they’re both completely obsessed with each other! 🥹

Actually, I adored Rikki a lot because he knows BOUNDARIES. Even though he yearns for Mila, he still keeps his distance. And when he finally confesses, he’s very clear about his feelings and even asks for her answer so he can move on if she doesn’t feel the same.

THAT’S WHAT A PROPER MAN DOES! 👏🏻

The only reason I couldn’t give this 5 stars is… Mila. 😭 I was a little confused by some of her behavior. Like, how was it so easy for her to say “I love you” to Rikki when she still had a boyfriend?! I honestly didn’t get her. 🥲

And I HATED her ex. But at the same time, I think their relationship showed how a relationship with a weak foundation can continue for a long time even when the love isn’t really there anymore. Although… I’m still wondering how they managed to last that long because HOW?! 😂

Ah! And the spice in this book is YUUUUM toooo! 🌶️ Major plus point! Haha! :D

[teacup_thoughts · Rating 4 out of 5]

(ARC Disclosure ) Thank you to the author Harper Rae James /publisher for providing me with an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

(Rating)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Keeping Score was a really cute friends-to-lovers romance!

( Review )
I really enjoyed the relationship between Rikki and Mila. They’ve been best friends for years, and you can feel that history in their banter and the way they interact with each other. Rikki having been in love with her since high school added that little bit of longtime pining that I always enjoy, and I loved watching their friendship begin to blur into something more.

The chemistry and friendship were definitely my favorite parts of the story. There were some really sweet moments between them, and I enjoyed seeing two characters who already know each other so well start looking at their relationship differently.

I’m personally not a huge sports romance reader, so some of the more baseball-focused elements weren’t as much my thing. That’s entirely a preference thing rather than something I think is wrong with the book. If you love sports romances, especially baseball romances, you may end up loving those aspects much more than I did.

Overall, I had a really good time with this one. It was sweet, fun, and full of friendship, pining, banter, and romance. Definitely one I’d recommend checking out if you love friends-to-lovers and sports romance. 💗⚾️

[Swiftiequeen420 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love being an ARC reader for Harper her books never fail to be amazing! 🥺😍 This book was fantastic! This story follows our couple Rikki and Mila and they have been best friends since high school. I love the fun rivalry between the two of them because they are both baseball catchers! I also loved the return of the whole Mango Bay family and seeing them all interact together was so much fun! 🥺😍Rikki has loved Mila since high school but he never thought Mila felt the same way so he stayed "just friends" with her. When fate steps in and Mila is coming to Mango Bay with her new team for spring training they both get a huge surprise when the first Mango Bay fan cruise is sprung on them and they end up being ship neighbors! The tension between these two was palpable like all the time and it just grew and grew until it snapped! And once it snaps?! 🥵🥵🥵 I just LOVED how sweet and caring and thoughtful Rikki was towards her. Rikki is the very definition of a green flag man!! 🥺🥺😍😍😍 Eli is Mila's current boyfriend and a major complication! But don't worry there is NO cheating scandals here. The spice in this book was great! I loved the toys, the car scene, the video chats. So many good ones! If you are looking for tension and the biggest green flag man read this book!! 😍😍😍👏👏👏👏

[Soft and Sinister · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Harper Rae James book and I did enjoy this book a lot. This is the third book in the series but can definitely be read as a stand-alone.
What stuck with me:
The easy friendship and banter that Rikki and Mila had. It was a cute friends to lovers read and I really enjoyed the side characters as well.
What surprised me:
How quickly I finished this book - I love an easy read and this book is really such a quick and easy read!
What wasn't for me:
The chemistry between the mc's felt a bit forced and I didn't like the MMC's name Rikki... not sure why but I would've preferred Voss
What I couldn't stop thinking about:
Tbh this was a lighthearted read for me so there wasn't really something that stayed with me.
What I would actually tell another reader:
If you're in your sports romance era then you will enjoy this book, it is spicy and also a bit of a slow-burn. We get some glimpses from their past which was quite nice as well. Overall a 3.5 star read, rounded to 4
Thank you Harper Rae James for gifting me this e-arc in return for an honest review.
Follow for more reviews

[whatmrsdobbsreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who doesn’t love a friends-to-lovers romance?! And this isn’t your average sports romance either… HELL TO THE YES! 🙌🏻🔥

Rikki has always thought Mila was in love with someone else, until the Mango Nation Sea Cruise changes everything. Suddenly, those friendship lines start getting VERY blurry, and Rikki realises he may have been wrong all along. 👀

Then one night on the ship ends in lockdown, one bed, wet clothes and temptation literally within reach… 😏 And when they finally give in… SHEESH. THAT SPICE! 🔥🌶️

I absolutely loved the dual POV, the banter between these characters was an absolute treat, and watching this friendship slowly turn into something more had me grinning like an idiot. 🥹❤️

And can we talk about that mate who will forever hold your keepsakes?! 🥹😭 My heart!

This was such an easy, fun read that I could genuinely have devoured in one sitting. If you're looking for a romance that isn't all about the sport, but instead focuses on two best friends finally realising what everyone else probably already knew… this one is for you! 💕

And Rikki…
Congratulations, you've officially been added to the book boyfriend list. 😏📚❤️

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first book by Harper Ray James, and I went into it without having read the first two books in the Mango Bay series. I didn't feel completely lost, so I would say this can probably be read on its own.

I was especially interested in this one because it’s a Banana Ball romance, and if you’ve ever been to a Savannah Bananas game, you know just how much fun and chaos comes with Banana Ball. That part of the story definitely caught my attention, and there were moments where the book really captured some of that fun atmosphere.

Unfortunately, the romance itself didn't quite work for me.

Rikki and Mila have been best friends for years, and Rikki has been secretly in love with Mila, so I was expecting that friends-to-lovers tension to really pull me in. Instead, there were quite a few moments where I found myself wondering, why are these two even trying to be together?

They would argue or stop talking to each other, and then seemingly the next day they were completely fine and friendly again. I kept waiting for the relationship to really develop and for their issues to feel resolved, but some of their back-and-forth left me more confused than invested.

There were definitely parts I enjoyed, and I liked the Banana Ball setting, but overall I just didn't connect with Rikki and Mila the way I wanted to. The story had its moments, but I found myself questioning the relationship more than rooting for it.

In the end, this was an okay read for me. I'm glad I gave it a try, especially because the Banana Ball aspect was something different and fun, but unfortunately it didn't quite hit the mark for me.

[Kristie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute, quick friends-to-lovers romance with a baseball twist! Rikki and Mila have been best friends since they were 16, and Rikki has been secretly in love with her pretty much the entire time. Throw them together at Mango Ball training camp with all that forced proximity, and of course those feelings finally start coming to the surface.

I loved their banter, competitiveness, and how much they genuinely cared about each other. Rikki was definitely my favorite, he was respectful, honest, and actually knowing how to communicate and respect boundaries. Mila had me questioning some of her choices, especially the whole boyfriend situation, but I still really enjoyed watching these two figure things out.

This was my first Harper Rae James book, and even though it’s book 3, it worked perfectly as a standalone. It was spicy, lighthearted, and such an easy read that I flew through it. Now I need to pick up book 1 and 2 to get caught up.

Thank you Goodgirls PR and Harper Rae James for this amazing read!

[Nikki Dunlap · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rikki and Mila completely pulled me into their story, and I was NOT prepared for how much I would end up loving these two. ❤️‍🔥

This one had all the things I want in a romance…chemistry, playful banter, tension, friendship turning into something more, and plenty of swoony moments. Rikki was an absolute standout for me, and that golden retriever energy? 🥹💕

Mika was a little ugghhh at first and I didn’t really care for her but she turned it around and I began to love her lol.

Mila and Rikki together were 💯 his golden retriever self really added so much charm and chemistry.

I also loved getting more of the Mango Bay world and seeing familiar characters pop back up. While this can be enjoyed on its own, I think reading the previous books gives you a much better feel for the town, the friendships, and all the little connections woven throughout the series.

The first two books are amazing and I have completely felled for this series!!

Thank you to the author for this ARC and these are my honest opinions.

[Lauren Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rikki is the definition of a slow burn obsession, and I was HERE FOR IT. 🫠 He’s been in love with Mila since the day they met, quietly loving her from the sidelines while being the most thoughtful, devoted, and ridiculously respectful best friend. Then Mila gets drafted to the Flamingos 🦩, they’re thrown into spring training together, and suddenly all those years of friendship start feeling like something much more. After an almost kiss and Mila’s breakup with Eli, they decide to take things slow…which would be easier if the chemistry between them wasn’t absolutely 🔥 and Rikki refusing to kiss her until she was actually his?! Sir. PLEASE. 😂 The choreographed proposal at the game was pure cinema, and the cruise wedding a year later was the perfect chaotic, romantic payoff. Sweet, feral, swoony, and utterly satisfying! Fingers crossed for a book 4! 🥭⚾️🧡

[Charie Mae · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m such a sucker for friends to lovers and the fact that Rikki has been secretly in love with his best friend for TEN YEARS? Oh yeah that’s my stuff right there. I also love the dual timeline.

Rikki was definitely a fave. I loved how much he cared about Mila while still respecting her and the choices she made even when you could tell how hard it was for him.

I also loved seeing Mila figure out what she actually wanted for herself and her future. The whole situation with Eli was def my least favorite part and I definitely wanted it resolved sooner but I did like how everything eventually came together.

The years of pining, tension, banter, and their friendship made this a fun sports romance. A great read for a new to me author!

Thank you so much to Harper Rae James and Good Girls PR for the ARC 🫶🏽

[Daan Jansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rikki and Mila have been best friends since high school, always side by side both on and off the field. While Mila has no idea, Rikki has been quietly in love with her for years, but when spring training brings them even closer, the line between friendship and something more starts fading and getting harder to ignore.

This is one of those books I said yes to and then completely forgot about, so when it arrived, it was a total surprise… and honestly, I wish I had enjoyed it a little more than I did. I liked the friends-to-lovers aspect, but I felt like I was missing quite a few things along the way. Maybe that’s because I haven’t read the other books in the series, or maybe it just didn’t hit the right spot for me ✨

It was perfectly okay… an enjoyable little read to spend some time with, but ultimately that’s about it for me. I don’t think I’ll continue with the series myself, but if you’re looking for an easy, uncomplicated friends-to-lovers romance, this could definitely be your thing. It’s the kind of book you’ll fly through before you even realise it.

And yes, yet another sports romance. If you’re anything like me and apparently cannot resist those, keep an eye out for more hehehe!!

A special thanks to the author, Harper Rae James, and Good Girls PR for granting me the opportunity to read and review ‘Keeping Score’ ahead of its official release on September 22nd (tomorrow)! All opinions expressed are, of course, entirely my own! 💛

[Anah Grindrod · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc review

Rating: 4.5 stars

A cute, quick friends-to-lovers romance with a sporty twist! 📖🏒💕

Rikki and Mila’s feelings ignite fast once they reunite, but it’s clear the love was always there—circumstances just kept them apart. Add forced proximity, and they’re soon completely obsessed with each other. 🥹❤️‍🔥

Rikki was the standout: respectful, honest, and a man who understands boundaries. His confession was clear and mature—THAT’S how it’s done! 👏🏻✨

Mila, however, stopped this from being five stars. Her choices—especially saying “I love you” while still having a boyfriend—left me baffled. 😭🥲 And her awful ex? Their relationship perfectly showed how something can drag on long after the love is gone… but seriously, HOW did they last that long?! 😂📚

Thank you Harper Rae James and Good Girls PR for the ARC

[V G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great installment in the Mango Ball universe! This one is my favorite so far, love Rikki and Mila’s second chance romance story. The dual point of view and dual timeline really made me fall in love with their love.

I was so excited to see female ball players make a debut in this series. The enclosed storyline also was a huge shift from the previous books and I really enjoyed the forced proximity. Rikki really earned my respect with his patience with Mila and I was so happy to see their happily ever after.

If you’re looking for a fun summer romance, look no further! This can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend the other books in the series as well.

Thank you to the author and Good Girls PR for this gifted eARC, all thoughts are my own.

[Whitney Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am thoroughly enjoying this series of standalones that are based loosely on Savannah Banana ball, which makes the sport romance trope different in such a fun way. What I really loved about this book was how the FMC and MMC were the absolute best friends in high school and then finally got their chance years later while they were pursuing their dreams.

This book is perfect for anyone that loves a sports romance, a quick read with spice, an absolutely smitten MMC, and all the angst and yearning. Mila and Rikki were perfect for each other and I loved seeing them get their chance after they thought it had passed. I adore all of the Mango ball characters and enjoyed getting to know some new ones.

🌶️🌶️

𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀:
⚾Small Town
💙Sports Romance
⚾Friends to Lovers
💙Yearning and Angst
⚾He Falls First
💙Forced Proximity

Thank you to the author and to Good Girls PR for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Books and Blooms NH · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved how much fun this book was. I feel like this book brought back more of the joy and games found in Banana Ball while balancing romance and plot.

Rikki is equal parts sweet and spicey and totally in love with his best friend since high-school.

He takes care of her when she's sick, keeps his boundaries when she has a boyfriend, gives her time to process change, feeds her when she's hangry, and loves her like no one else could.

The banter between these competitive friends turned lovers is perfection. As was the performance on the field during their first game against each other!

While this can be read as a stand alone, I recommend reading books 1 and 2 first to get the whole picture!

[Cheryl Huber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4 stars 🌟

Thank you to Harper Rae James and Good Girls PR for the ARC of this book!

Rikki is such a cutie, he is the sweetest and most caring guy. You can tell how much his family and friends mean to him and that he is extremely loyal to them. I was so glad to see Mila finally stand up for herself and realize she deserves better in a relationship but man is that girl oblivious. I guess that’s why her and Rikki are perfect for each other because he is also oblivious lol

This is a super cute best friends to lovers romance, with the added Mango Ball fun, the cruise was definitely a great addition to the series, all of the different activities they did sounded so fun and I felt like it brought some extra laughs to the story! Check out the latest book in the Mango Bay series now!

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

⚾️ Sports Romance
👫 Childhood Friends To Lovers
🔥 Slow Burn
😍 He's Always Loved Her
🏘 Small Town
⚾️ Savanna Banana Type Ball
🙅🏽‍♀️ She's In A Relationship (no cheating)
🚢 Cruise Ship Forced Proximity
👨‍👩‍👦‍👦 Found Family
🍀 He's A Walking Green Flag
🌶 Open Door Spice

❤️ Lines:
I love you Milly. I have since the day I first saw you, I just want to make sure you're ready to be mine, because once you are, that's it for me. I'm not letting go.

I didn't realize then that I was already building my life around the idea of her. I just knew that every time she laughed, it made the rest of the world feel less important. Now I know better. Now I know that never really went away.

[StephanieMichelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book by Harper Rae James and it was so much fun. I wouldn't suggest doing what I did and starting with Keeling Score because it is the 3rd book in her Mango Bay series and I think it would have been so much more fun reading this series in order. But either way, this was a good time. This was a baseball romance but with teams that were a little more light hearted (think the Savannah Bananas) and just seemed to have fun the entire time. Love triangles and childhood crushes/second chance are not my favorite tropes, but the love triangle was handled very respectfully and the childhood crushes added some good tension and slow burn.