The Lion in the Library

by Amy Award

She’s spent her whole career being looked at. He’s spent his whole career being watched. Neither of them had ever truly been seen—until a lost stuffed lion brought them together in a Los Angeles library.

I came to Los Angeles to finish my book and consider a career-changing offer to join their football, umm….I mean soccer team. I am not looking for a woman. Especially not one with two kids, two ex-husbands, and a dialect coach who keeps telling her to sound less like herself.

Then she walks into the library like a golden age movie star, carrying two children and somehow still looking like she owns the place. She doesn’t recognize me. I don’t recognize her. For the first time in fifteen years, I’m just a man. Not The Lion. Not the famous footballer. Just Leo.

Turns out she’s only the most famous telenovela star in all of Mexico.

And I’m only the most famous soccer player in the world.

And we’re both starting over in L.A.

But when the paparazzi come knocking and jealous exes start making trouble, I realize that for the first time in my career, I’m genuinely terrified of losing. Not a match. Not a trophy. Just one woman who licks her ice cream cone like it’s the role of a lifetime and still doesn’t even know my jersey number.

I’m completely done for.

Before Tempest gets her story in The Jackass in Class, meet the grandparents who showed her that real love means being seen for exactly who you are—in this swoony, sexy prequel to the Cocky Kingmans series, featuring a confident plus-size heroine who knows her worth, a hero who can’t believe his luck, and a telenovela love story you’ll wish you could watch on the big screen.

Genres: Audiobook, Romance, Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance

138 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication August 25, 2026

About the author

Amy Award is a curvy girl who has a thing for football players, fuzzy-butt pets, and spicy romance novels. She believes that all bodies are beautiful and deserve their own love stories with Happy Ever Afters. Find her at AuthorAmyAward.com

Amy also writes curvy girl paranormal romances with dragons, wolves, demons, and vampires, as Aidy Award. If that’s your jam, check those books out at AidyAward.com

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Get to know the love story between Tempest’s grandparents in this lovely prequel to The Jackass in Class. The love story of a telenovela star with two small children and a famous footballer meeting in a library was adorable. The characters felt honest and well adjusted despite their fame. I was rooting for this couple the whole time and it was great to see their life so many years into the future.

Single Mom finds new love
So many green flags
Low angst

Thank you Amy Award and Dreamscape Media for providing this ALC. Comments and opinions above are my own.

#TheLionInTheLibrary #NetGalley

[Cozy Puppy Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

A meet-cute at a library (and a short story)? Say less! This one had me hooked from the very beginning, and I'm so glad I picked up this sweet novella! Honestly, I initially grabbed The Lion in the Library by Amy Award because I fell in love with the cover art and saw the two credited narrators. I’ve listened to tons of romance books narrated by Vanessa Vasquez and adore her style, and please don't get me started with Oscar Reyes as Danny Garcia for Please Don't Go by E. Salvador. He's one of my all-time favorites. 😍❤️ Getting both of them together in one book? An absolute dream pairing, and they did not disappoint!

This story was such a charming, heartwarming romance. I loved every second of it, starting right from their adorable library meet-cute. The FMC is an actress, balancing working in Hollywood and being a single mom, and the MMC is an iconic football player. As the FMC is working with a dialect coach, the story dives into some surprisingly deep themes about identity and authenticity. I loved how the author explored what it means to stay true to who you are and your culture, rather than changing yourself to be more palatable or to conform to the standards of Hollywood casting.

Both characters are creatives at heart, and I loved how that connected them. With our MMC being a talented athlete, the book also beautifully tackles the "what's next" phase of life. It digs into what happens when you've devoted your entire life to a sport, achieved milestones, and suddenly wonder about finding a new path. I loved as he navigated that transition and the theme of finding love in unexpected places. I love other books with this type of theme too, when an accomplished athlete is trying to figure out their next steps in life, like Kai in Caught Up by Liz Tomforde, Zaid in Crash Into You by Simone Soltani, and Alejandra in Above Water by Elena Locatelli.

As for the audiobook itself? Flawless. I loved it! Vanessa and Oscar did an amazing job capturing the characters' emotional highs and lows. I love when narrators subtly shift their voices for supporting characters (like Vanessa's tone for the FMC's mom, or Oscar's distinct female dialogue) because it keeps the performance from feeling flat or robotic. It was so dynamic! Even sped up to 1.75x, their pacing, intonations, and emotions came through perfectly clear. While I would have loved a duet-style narration for their back-and-forth dialogue, their alternating dual POV chapters still completely swept me away.

Honestly, my only complaint is that I wanted more. I could have easily read a full-length novel in this world because the characters and their love story were just that good.

And the epilogue? Cue the happy warm fuzzies. It was literally so heartwarming. Sometimes novella epilogues just jump a few months or a year ahead, but Amy Award took it even further in a really creative way that perfectly tied together her themes of legacy, love, and loyalty.

If you are looking for a short, cozy romance with a massive amount of heart, bookish themes, and a beautiful message about representation and staying true to yourself, please put this on your TBR immediately. I can’t wait to read more from this author!

Perfect if you love:
❤️ BIPOC Lead Characters (FMC and MMC)
📚 Library meet-cute (swoon!)
❤️ Single mom FMC
⚽️ Football athlete MMC
✨️ Celebrity athlete/actress romance
🥰 Found family
❤️ Themes of Identity & Cultural authenticity
💛 Finding your next chapter in life
🎧 Dual POV & Dual Narration

Sports Romance Books like:
⚾️ Caught Up by Liz Tomforde
🏁 Crash Into You by Simone Soltani
🌊 Above Water by Elena Locatelli

Thank you to the author, Amy Award, and Dreamscape Media for an advanced listener copy of this audiobook via NetGalley for review consideration. I am writing this review voluntarily. These are my honest opinions.

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

The Lion In The Library by Amy award, I listen to the audiobook with some of the best narration from the suite dolsit tones of Vanessa Vazquez, two Oscar Reyes who’s sultry tones will have you swunning. So what is more perfect to read when you have such talented narrators is to have them perform a suite and clean romance perfect for stories about finding the one who really really sees you. Estrayia just made a big move to LA from Mexico where she was a famous actress and here she’s just trying to make herself known while doing that she’s also trying to give her children a new stability and routine by going to the library while she does her language classes and this is where they meet Leo. He’s a gorgeous man from Spain but what Estrayia and her kids doesn’t know is he’s one of the most famous soccer players in the world initially they both just believe they ran into some hot people but when Leo sees the little girl Lucy left her lion behind he takes it with them so he could give it back to her and secretly hoping he’ll get to speak to the mom just one more time. Thanks to the interference of six-year-old Lucy and four year-old Pedro the couple will see each other again and it soon turns into something even the public knows about. This is when despite not contacting her or their children since moving to America Estraya‘s two ex-husbands what she’s doing letting their kids be with strangers one threatens to take custody of the little boy he doesn’t even know in the other just came thinking he was going to intimidate his ex-wife not knowing there’s a new sheriff in town and that sheriffs name is Leo or according to the children he loves “our Leo!“ everything about being with Leo is different from him stepping in to help with children without being ex and despite they’re not his to when he’s not training or being Leo he’s at home with his ready-made family and she can tell he couldn’t be happier to be there. Reading the list of this authors pass books made me lol because you wouldn’t think with that list of titles such a perfect sweet romance flourish but as my Uncle Ace used to say every hoe really wants to be a housewife and secretly every housewife wants to be a hoe. no let me just say that isn’t based on any fact or scientific study just something a southern man raised on Paps Blue Ribbon used to always say and I thought of it while reading her other titles. in any event this is a five star read those absolutely no flaws in this book there’s not a sex scene but with hot narration like we have in this book who needs sex scenes this was just a sultry but respectful good time. I love the kids personalities I loved the end of the book when you get to see them 30 years later this is just an absolute home run I love it she should do couples for many different countries or some sort of series because I would definitely be reading that not so much other titles such as “wieners wieners everywhere“ although I’m sure there’s readers for that as well this world is a big place. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter · Rating 2 out of 5]

I knew my time with the Cocky Kingmans series was probably coming to an end after Book 6, which is why I passed on Book 7. However, when this novella popped up on NetGalley for review (thanks to Dreamscape), my curiosity got the better of me. I wanted to see how Amy Award would pivot now that she’d run out of Kingman brothers while still maintaining the heart of the series.

On the positive side, this story didn’t feel nearly as repetitive as some of the other books, which was ultimately why I chose not to continue with the main series. It stands on its own and is quite different from the previous installments.

Unfortunately, this is also where my issues began.

Award appears to be making a deliberate effort to incorporate more diversity, but in doing so, the focus seems to shift away from the central love story that has traditionally been the strength of her books. The romance feels secondary rather than driving the narrative.

The audiobook production further highlighted this problem. While I appreciated that Mexican American narrators were cast, it often sounded as though they were performing accents that weren’t natural to their everyday speech. This was especially noticeable with Vanessa Vasquez, whose accent felt inconsistent throughout the recording. Oscar Reyes was somewhat more consistent, but at times his delivery bordered on caricature.

As someone who is not Latina, I’m not going to comment on the authenticity of the cultural representation itself. What I can say is that for stories centered on Latinx experiences, I would rather seek out works written by Latinx authors. Diversity within a fictional world is important, but it felt unusual to see a white author suddenly centering stories around identities she has not previously explored in her work. Between Clover in Book 7 and this novella, it comes across as though diversity is being added for its own sake rather than growing organically from the story, and that approach rarely produces strong results.

As for the story itself, it simply fell flat for me. I understand that a novella won’t have the same depth as a full-length novel, but where Honkers for the Holidays succeeded in feeling complete and emotionally satisfying despite its shorter length, this novella did the opposite. The chemistry between the characters never fully developed, and I never felt invested in their romance. Instead, it read more like a collection of scenes or outtakes from a larger work that had been stitched together.

In the end, this experience confirmed that it’s time for me to move on from the series. I’ll keep the fond memories of the earlier books and leave it there rather than letting curiosity pull me back again.

[mood_reading_maya · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Dreamscape Media for the ALC.

I'll be honest: I requested this title specifically because it looked like it featured two Latine main characters written by a white author. Frankly, I was curious how it would be handled.

The time period here is unclear. There are references that stand out because they no longer exist, for example, things like pay phones. But other than that, there's nothing else to indicate whether this is taking place in present day (ie. post 2010s) or a prior decade. From what I can tell from other reviewers of The Lion in the Library, this novella is related and a spin off prequel to The Jack*** in Class. For a novella, the scenes and dialogue become repetitive, making it drag on. The chemistry between Estrella and Leo is very much insta-love and never quite moves beyond that to something deeper. The epilogue that fast forwards to the couple 30 years in the future, while signaling to the reader that this couple achieved their HEA, just didn't quite land for me.

Let's get into the representation. First off, this is a Mexican FMC and a Spanish MMC. Leo is European! From Madrid! He is not Latine. Outside of the central theme of English as a second language, other cultural references are minimal. Estrella is an telenovela actress trying to break into Hollywood. Leo is a footballer trying to write a memoir and deciding whether or not his playing days are over. Neither of them make any reference to their respective cultures, whether that be in the form of family values, traditions, or other distinguishing norms. Common Spanish phrases are sprinkled here and there for that "Latin pizazz," but it feels shallow. In truth, there's not much depth to these characters. Which begs the question, why write Mexican and Spanish MCs if they're mostly going to be whitewashed? Sure, writers have the freedom and autonomy to write what they want, but as a Mexican-American reader I will always ask - IS THIS YOUR STORY TO TELL?

Estrella is also a single mother, twice divorced, to two young children. Both of the child characters fall into a common fiction trap: they're written as far older than their actual ages.

The narrators are two of my favorite Latine voice actors. To their credit, they do a good job with the material being what it is. Reyes' performance as Leo is a touch rough though, as he puts on a more forced Spanish inflected accent.

[Gabby Fitzgibbon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook Review 🎧:
So I listened to the audiobook version of this book. The narration was honestly chef’s kiss 🤌🏼 Vanessa Vasquez and Oscar Reyes were absolutely perfect for these characters. Since the characters themselves are Hispanic, having narrators who could bring that cultural authenticity through their accents made such a difference. Their accents really helped portray the story the way I feel it was meant to be experienced, and it made the characters feel that much more real. Their narration was just so good!
Now, funny enough, I usually listen to audiobooks anywhere from 1.25x to 2x speed. But this one? Nope. I had to keep it at normal speed because between the accents and the faster pacing, I sometimes struggled to comprehend what they were saying when I sped it up. But honestly…that’s a good problem to have, not a bad one! The fact that I wanted to slow down and actually take in every word because the narration was so well done says a lot. Vanessa and Oscar absolutely nailed their performances.
As for the story itself, I thought it was good. My biggest issue was that it was SO short. It felt more like a novella. And because there was so little page time, I felt like a lot of details were either skipped over or glossed over that I think were pretty important to the storyline. I wanted more! And then we get to that ending… THIRTY YEARS LATER?! I don’t think I’ve ever read a book with such a massive time jump. We went from them getting engaged to suddenly being 30 years into the future, and I was sitting there like…wait, WHAT?! There was so much life in between that I wanted to see!
Overall, though, I really enjoyed the audiobook experience. Vanessa Vasquez and Oscar Reyes were phenomenal, and their performances genuinely elevated the story for me. I just wish the story itself had been longer so we could have gotten more of the details and moments that felt like they were missing.
Definitely worth listening to for the narration alone!

So for me, the ratings are a little split:
🎧 Narration: 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Story: 3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

* I received a free ALC of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Baelfire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished 7/10/2026, Audiobook - tropes and spice info below

CW/TW: third party cheating, divorce, child custody, racism

Plus sized Actress Single Mom FMC. Pro Football (soccer) MMC who wears glasses. Both MCs are Latine. This was short and sweet but so good! Their falling for each other and relationship trajectory was cute. His relationship with the kids was so sweet. His comfort and praise for her was great too. Has some latine cultural nods too!

Originally apart of To L.A. With Love anthology with novellas from multiple author and standalones to each other. But this is interconnected to Author's other series Cocky Kingmans:
-The Jack*ss in Class (The Cocky Kingmans #5) - Estrella and Leo are FMC Tempest's Grandparents
-Hunter De la Reine is related to April De la Reine (Kingman kids' mom).
Very familiar with this author and listened to all the Cocky Kingmans books!

Audiobook narrators: Vanessa Vasquez, Oscar Reyes
Dual POV, First Person
Tropes: Famous/Celebrity MCs, Actress FMC x Athlete MMC, Sports -Soccer, Single Mom
Notable Microtropes: MMC wears glasses, He falls first, Meet cute, dances together, no third act breakup
Spice: 0/5 (Personal Scale) - Closed door/Fade to black insinuation/No open door scenes. No explicit or sexual language used.

Listened at 1.5x speed.
Very familiar and I looove Vanessa Vasquez so much!
First time listening to Oscar Reyes, I enjoyed him so much and he had a gruff deep voice. Both narrators had great side character voices including the kid's voices or opposite genders. They had super expressive deliveries and both are very enjoyable to listen to!

Thanks to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley and for providing an ALC.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to @netgalley and @dreamscape_media for a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Lion in the Library follows Leo, the world's most famous soccer player, and a beloved telenovela actress who are both trying to escape the spotlight while starting fresh in Los Angeles. Their paths cross in the most unexpected way, thanks to a lost stuffed lion in a library. What begins as a chance meeting quickly grows into a heartfelt romance as they discover that, beneath the fame, they're both longing to be truly seen for who they are.

Amy Award has such a talent for writing characters with incredible chemistry, and Leo and Valentina had it from the very beginning. Their connection felt genuine, the banter was charming, and I loved watching two larger-than-life people find comfort in someone who saw beyond the celebrity. The quieter moments in the library were just as memorable as the swoony romance.

The audiobook was a wonderful listen. The dual narration brought so much warmth and personality to both characters, making their emotional moments and playful exchanges feel effortless. I found myself smiling through so much of it, and it was the perfect length for a quick, satisfying escape.

If you enjoy celebrity romance, instant chemistry, found family, and a story that reminds you that everyone just wants to be loved for who they really are, The Lion in the Library is an easy recommendation. It didn't quite hit five stars for me, but it was sweet, heartfelt, and left me with a big smile.

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #dreamscapemedia #thelioninthelibrary #amyaward

[Mama Needs to Read Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This story is sure to warm your heart. It has trademark Amy Award wit and found family feels. It's the perfect read for an afternoon in which you want to get lost in a story about people learning to be their authentic selves, discovering how to trust, and what's truly important.

Estrella and Leo are both from Mexico, aspiring for better things in Los Angeles. A chance encounter in a library begins the relationship between Leo, Estrella, and her two young children. We're treated to cooking, quiet nights at home, and even a beach trip, as hearts are healed, protection is offered, and love is found. This was fade to black, which felt absolutely appropriate given the subject matter and brief length of the story. I appreciated how Award honored the characters' heritage while highlighting some of the struggles that immigrants can face in another country. The epilogue was absolute perfection. The last lines gave me goosebumps.

The story lacked tension, which made it hard to maintain my attention. The chemistry of the couple took a back seat to the found family aspect, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, especially for those who enjoy or even prefer wholesome family fiction. I preferred Vanessa Vasquez's narration to Oscar Reyes', but this dual narration audiobook was really well done. This novella is part of the Cocky Kingsman series, and I'm excited to see exactly how it fits into the series!

Content Warnings: biological father threatening custody (brief), stress about acceptance due to one's accent

I'd like to thank Dreamscape Media and Netgalley for the ALC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Shananana · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lion in the Library is a clean romance about a single, Mexican mother starting anew in LA with her 2 young children. While she was a star in Mexico, she's starting from the bottom in in LA, whose tastes favor fewer curves and no Spanish accent. She takes her children to the library, where she meets a man who's struggling with his own fresh start as a writer. However, he's a star footballer in Europe, looking to perhaps play his veteran years in LA. Both are hiding from their fame, looking to redefine themselves as just people in a simple, wholesome family dynamic. As for chemistry and spice, this was more about found family. We had a couple of kisses, and a fade to black scene.
I had some issues with timeline in the story. During the first "date" Estrella invites Leo to walk them home from the library, then the next day it's a big deal that he finds out where she lives and shows up. Estrella invites Leo to the beach, but later they make it sound like the kids did. The kids draw a touching "family picture" and include Leo, and it's been up on the fridge and he's been there for what sounds like almost every day, but then there's a big reveal where they show it to him like it's new. Also, I thought this took place in today's times, but no one seems to have cel phones and she's using pay phones... why are we suddenly in the 90's, and if not, do those even exist anymore? Despite my issues with timeline, it didn't detract much from the story.
I thought the narrators did a good job, although the strength of their Mexican accents did vary throughout the story. In the end this was a cute, short story with family feels. I'd rate this 3.5 stars.
Thank you Dreamscape Media and #NetGalley for gifting me the #TheLionintheLibrary ALC for my honest review.

[Eizzymar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honest review for ALC, all opinions are my own.

The Lion in the Library by Amy Ward
Narrated by Vanessa Vasquez & Oscar Reyes

4 🎧 Truly wished this was in DUET, wasn't a fan on Oscar's female voice
4/5 📖 Insta-Love
.50/5🌶  Mention of Kissing, Nothing like Amy's other books 📚


I have read Amy Award's The Cocky Kingmans Series, alot of her books are for fun and spicy reads. She mentions it and with that being said go into this read with an open mind. It is an Interconnected Novella to Book 5 The Jack*ass in Class where we meet this couple. Book 5 follows this couple's granddaughter's story.

This novella is Estrella and Leo's insta love story before any grandkids. Estrella is a single mother of 2, Divorced twice to 2 different cheating men. She is Telenovela Actress who has left Mexico to start over in Hollywood. Think Sofia Vergara they both are criticized by most due to their accents.

Leo is a professional futbol player in Spain, Madrid originally from Oaxaca. Leo is in the US working on a memoir that he is struggling to write but happy to be out of the celebrity spot light. Leo ends up writing a different type of book and makes a big change in his career.

The two meet in a library, we get their struggles with the media. They find acceptance and love with eachother. We get a 30 year epilogue with a mention of young temptest. Which again i highly recommend at least reading book 5 first, if you only go into this book you won't fully grasp how much this novella is appreciated.

Trope: Insta-Love, Made Family

Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape for the opportunity to listen and review this ALC 😊

[Ciara Hartman · Rating 3 out of 5]

🎧 Audio Review: I thought the dual accented narration was beautiful. That being said, it is hard for me to understand people with thick accents sometimes and in this narration, I occasionally found it difficult to understand the MMC as he would speak lowly and that combined with the accent made it sound like he was mumbling at different times. But I do feel the accented narration was an authentic vibe for this story!

📝 Story Review: While I absolutely love the Cocky Kingsman Series, this Prequel novella wasn’t my fave. Not that there was anything wrong with it, but I just didn’t vibe with the MC’s all that much. Her kids however, were so freaking adorable!

I understand a novella will usually move at a quick pace since you’re stuffing a story into a short version, but I was still aggravated at how quickly she allowed him inside her home and into her kids lives. In real life, that would’ve been way too fast. But reminding myself that it’s fiction, I guess it’s fine. This is perfect if you want a quick romance with warm, loving vibes and potential drama that’s quickly snuffed out.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5
Spice Level: 🌶️ 1/5

Tropes 👇

- Football Star x Actress
- Single Mom
- Insta-attraction
- Careers in flux
- BIPOC rep

CW’s 👇

- A bit of drama with ex-husbands
- Mild prejudice vibes (having to do with heavy accent)

Audio Release Date: August 25, 2026
Audio Run Time: 3 hrs, 16 mins
Narrated By: Vanessa Vasquez & Oscar Reyes
Series: Prequel Novella to the Cocky Kingsman Series
Genre: Romance
POV: First Person; Dual

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this ALC in return for my honest

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ALC.

This was a warm, cozy romance with a lovable cast of characters and a heavy emphasis on family. The story follows a single mom and a soccer player whose relationship develops exactly as you’d expect. It was sweet, comforting, and predictable in a way many romance readers will enjoy.

My favorite part of the book wasn’t actually the romance—it was watching the FMC as a mother. She truly saw her children as individuals and worked hard to protect them from the burdens she carried. Those quieter family moments were the emotional heart of the story for me and were written with genuine care.

Where the book lost me a bit was the prose. The writing leaned very flowery, and I often felt like the same emotional beats were being emphasized repeatedly. There were several moments where descriptions were highly contrasted (“the room fell silent,” “the children grew quiet,” “I saw him writing and it felt like home”), and after a while that style became distracting for me. The dual narration was solid overall, although the MMC’s narrator had a very thick accent while the FMC’s narrator didn’t mirror that accent in his dialogue, which made the character voices feel a little inconsistent.

Who should read/listen?
* Readers who already enjoy Amy Award’s writing style.
* Fans of warm, family-centered romances.
* Readers looking for a very low-spice, closed-door romance with a predictable happily-ever-after

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lion in the Library by Amy Award
Related to The Cocky Kingmans series. Novella. Takes place approximately thirty years in the past.
Estrella was a famous telenovela star in Mexico before she moved with her children to California. She hoping to restart her career and is taking dialect lessons to help.
Leo is a famous soccer player from Madrid. He’s in Los Angeles to potentially play for a new team, and working on his contracted novel.
Estrella and Leo meet at the library when she’s there with her children. There’s an instant attraction but she’s already had two husbands and doesn’t want a new one. He’s not looking for a ready-made family.
But walking away is harder than either expects.

🎧 I listened to an audiobook narrated in a dual alternating format for their POV, by Vanessa Vasquez and Oscar Reyes. Both had what sounded to me like native language accents of their home countries and were able to create multiple character voices for the two main characters, and the children. Emotions were clear such as stress, worry, joy and more as their lives change. I enjoyed listening to this story.

A glimpse back to Abuela’s career and life changes when she moved from Mexico to California.

Touched my heart. I worried about the twice married backstory, but it was easily explained. Loved the time jump in the epilogue so much.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media.

[abbiealwaysreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a person who admittedly doesn’t look too closely at the description when I see a book by an author I like. So when I saw this audiobook and title, I assumed it was another story in the Kingman family… needless to say it isn’t. But what it is, is a very fun novella about a single mom and a pro footballer.

Vanessa Vasquez brings Estrella to life. While she’s a mega telenovela star jn Mexico, Estrella is working hard to make it in Hollywood after her second marriage fails. Between single motherhood, auditions, and working on fitting in to a more Americanized acting status, she’s busy in every way. But when she goes to the library and meets charming Leo, she is surprised to find a man who is interested in all aspects of her life.

Leo isn’t looking for a relationship. As a professional footballer in the European sphere looking at moving to LA for the end of his career, he gets more attention than he wants. But then she walks in; a mom with her two kids who happens to be the most interesting person in the room. The two hit it off instantly as they start talking. Narrated by Oscar Reyes, readers will swoon over his accent as he charms not only Estrella by us too!

This story is a quick but fun one featuring a charming family of three and the soccer star who steals their hearts. Far less spicy than I’ve come to expect from Amy Award, but equally as cute! If you’re looking for a romance to listen to that just sits cute and easy, this is a good one!

[Monica (The Accidental Romance Blogger) Barbosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks, @dreamscapemedia for the ALC. 

Leo has come to Los Angeles to join the Aztecs to play football (erm, 'soccer') and write his memoir. One day he decides to write in the library. That's where he meets Estrella, a twice-divorced single mother of two adorable little kids, Luz and Pedro. He's drawn to them and they chat and when they leave, he sees that Luz has left her stuffed lion. He will keep it but will they ever see each other again?

Estrella has left Mexico and a successful career as a telenovela star to be away from the mess back home. Now, she's dealing with being an unknown, having an agent who keeps telling her to 'lose the accent' and raising two kids all on her own. She doesn't recognize The Lion. He doesn't recognize The Star. They get a chance of a fresh start. Until paparazzis and ex-husbands enter the chat...

The audiobook is narrated dual style by two of my favorite narrators: Vanessa Vasquez and Oscar Reyes, which gives authenticity to the performances. Estrella is a determined actress and mama bear. Leo is the sweetest footballer ever, going completely against the stereotype of cocky athletes in that sport. They both narrate with an accent as the two are transplants from Mexico and do a great job.

It's a sweet novella, a little instalove-y but satisfying, especially because the epilogue takes us 30 years into the future.

Though in the Kingsmans universe, this can be considered a standalone.

Representation: Latine MCs, plus size heroine

Content notes (including but not limited to): bigotry against accents, brief situation including child custody battle

[Nicole Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lion in the Library was a sweet, charming romance with a refreshing setup and two main characters I really enjoyed getting to know. I loved the idea of two incredibly famous people meeting without recognizing each other and getting the rare opportunity to connect as simply Leo and Elena before the rest of the world gets involved.
Their chemistry was warm and natural, and I especially enjoyed the family aspect of the story. Leo’s relationship with Elena’s children added so much heart to the romance and made their connection feel like it was about more than just attraction. I also appreciated seeing two people at turning points in their careers trying to figure out what they wanted their lives to look like beyond public expectations.
The audiobook narration by Vanessa Vasquez and Oscar Reyes made this an especially enjoyable listen. Their performances brought plenty of personality and warmth to the characters, and I thought the dual narration worked really well for the story. The romance was fun, the family moments were sweet, and the complications of fame, paparazzi, and messy exes added just enough drama.
Overall, this was a heartfelt and entertaining celebrity sports romance with great chemistry, lovable family dynamics, and two people learning what it feels like to truly be seen. A very enjoyable audiobook experience

[Jessie The Great · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know her and love her as AbuelaNovela from The Jack*ss In Class, now you get her love story with Leo (the Lion). This cute story has a meet cute at a library where Estrella had her ESL classes to help her lose her accent for her American Acting career. She was a big star in Mexico and was looking to start fresh in LA. I love the reintroduction to characters we had already met through Tempest and Flynn's story. She seemed so whimsical in the Jack*ss in class - which is to be expected due to her nick name. This was that origin story. She was a more jaded version of herself.

Since this was a novella, it wasn't very long, but it made impact. I enjoy the whimsy that Amy brings to her stories, but there is enough serious content that it doesn't feel like a waste. The narrators for this were so soothing as well. I enjoyed the musicality of Estrella's voice and Leo's was also nice to listen to. I think this was a worthy listen and fun for the extended Kingman universe. You know I love my Kingman's. There was maybe one spicy-ish scene, but it wasn't really about that life.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🫑

I received a ALC from NetGalley. The opinions I have about it are my own.

[Beatriz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 36 of 2026 - ✅! Thank you to NetGalley, Amy Award and Dreamscape Media for an ALC of The Lion in the Library by Amy Award, narrated by Vanessa Vasquez & Oscar Reyes in exchange for my honest review.

The Lion in the Library centers around Mexican Telenovela star, Estrella and Spanish Soccer player Leo, the two meet at the LA Public Library, where Leo is working on a novel and Estrella is taking ESL classes. There’s clearly a spark between the two from their first meeting, and once Leo asks Estrella out for coffee, the two start to learn how much they both have a common, which leads to a sweet, long-lasting romance.

Award’s own-voices novella is sweet and clean. This book is 4.5 The Cocky Kingmans series. It should be noted that while I haven’t read any of the other books in the series, I found it very easy to follow along. This story has so much going for it - love in a library Vasquez & Reyes’ narration is beautifully done. I don’t think I’ve heard either of them narrate before, but I’m certainly looking forward to listening to more of their work.

4/5 ⭐️ and 0/5 🌶️’s. If you’re looking for a quick, easy rom-com, add The Lion in the Library to your list! I plan on reading more of Amy Awards work in the future. The audiobook will be released on 8/25/26, and the novella is scheduled to be released on 7/28/26. 📚🎭⚽️ #NetGalley #TheLionintheLibrary

[Cat Lady Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolutely adorable novella. It wasn't perfect but it made me happy to read it, so it gets 4.5 stars rounded to 5 from me.

I don't have kids nor do I want them, so I was delightfully surprised at how much I enjoyed this single mother romance! Estrella is a telenovela star from Mexico, but she's starting over in Hollywood in an attempt to flee the gossip over her cheating ex. Leo is a soccer player from Madrid (originally from Mexico) living in Los Angeles while writing his memoir and trying to figure out what comes next in his career. They meet at the library, and Leo quickly falls for not only Stella, but her kids too. And they all really like him back.

This was a cute and cozy story, without a ton of angst. I really enjoyed the Cocky Kingsmen series and this is a great transition away from that series without too much of a departure from the vibes of those books.

It is a clean romance, no spice except behind closed doors (1.5/5 spice). If you want a cozy comfy feel good romance, check this one out!

I listened to the audiobook and I love that they used native speaker. As a Hispanic woman, representation really does matter! Oscar Reyes's fake Hispanic accent needs some work, though his narration has improved a ton over the years though! Both narrators were great, especially the female narrator.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the ALC I received in exchange for my honest review.

[Laura R · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank the publisher for sending me an audio-arc in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley.

Estrayia has left Mexico to move to LA with her two children where she intends on being an actress – especially after her successful career in Mexico – following a terrible divorce. But hearing that she needs to hide her accent more, she decides to head to the local library to attend classes to help her with hiding her accent… which is where she meets Leo: aspiring author and former professional soccer player. As the two of them are drawn to one another, they realize that love can happen at any time, but especially when you least expect it.

This was a prequel novella for one of the characters in the Cocky Kingsman series (Tempest’s grandparents) and I loved it! Was it spicy? No. Was it a fun and sweet romance? Yes. I loved seeing Leo fit into Estrayia and her children’s lives so easily, and watching as they both fell head over heels for one another was beautiful and sweet. I loved the way that their story was told, and seeing young Tempest at the end was even better. This was a HEA that we knew we were going to get (since she does talk about them in her book), but seeing how things unfolded, I can see why she thought their romance was the best. I love the Cocky Kingsman series so much and would definitely recommend these books (and audiobooks).

[Awilda Mercedes · Rating 5 out of 5]

estrella and leo have my whole heart 😭📚
before tempest, there was HER GRANDPARENTS — and this cocky kingmans prequel just proved real love means being seen exactly as you are 🥹💕 READ BOOK 5 FIRST. i’m begging. this one hits so much harder with that context, don’t rob yourself of the full experience.
estrella just made the move to LA from mexico (former famous actress!!), trying to build a name for herself while giving her kids stability + routine through library trips during her language classes. enter leo — professional futbol player from oaxaca playing in madrid, hiding from the spotlight while struggling his way through a memoir he can’t seem to finish ⚽️😩
two people exhausted from being watched their whole lives, finally exhaling around someone who isn’t looking to take anything from them. we get their whole messy, beautiful journey through media chaos to acceptance + love, AND a 30 year epilogue with baby tempest mentioned 🥺
i laughed. i cried. i needed MORE the second i closed this book. 📖✨
🎧 huge shoutout to narrators vanessa vasquez & oscar reyes for bringing estrella + leo to life in audio!!

Things to know
Dual narration, dual pov, plus size fmc, he falls first, single mom, soccer player x telenovela star, BIPOC Lead Characters (FMC and MMC), guarded hearts, cheating not between mcs, divorce, instalove, novella

[Eli · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Lion and The Star” sheer perfection.

Single mom
Telenovela actress x soccer player/aspiring writer
Strong and confident plus size FMC
Cinnamon roll MMC
2 strong willed & witty kids
1 stuffed lion that started it all

Loved this prequel to The Jacka** in Class. This short and sweet story follows Tempest's grandparents. At a little over 3 hours, it is easy to get consumed by this love story.

Let me start off by saying that the narrators were EVERYTHING! Vanessa Vasquez and Oscar Reyes absolutely k*lled this! Dreamscape Media definitely brought this story to life and exceeded any expectations. Love the authenticity of everything. Being a Latina myself, it is always nice to see the representation and feel welcomed. I truly felt that I was sitting at that kitchen table listening to my family speak.

Now, for the story itself. LOVED. Loved. Loved. It was so nice to get a glimpse into the past after reading Tempest’s book. The grandparents' love story is what telenovela dramas are made of. Seeing Estrella navigate her life and raise her children was so heartwarming. Seeing her and Leo meet and flourish was swoon worthy. This story is just so full of love it flows out of the book leaking into your heart.

Perfect little bit that you didn’t know you needed!

[Many Shades Of Romance · Rating 2 out of 5]

Before anyone reads this review I want to let it be known that I am a HUGE fan of the Kingman series. So imagine my surprise when I couldn't get fully invested in this story. I really wanted to enjoy this story but this one just wasn't it for me.

The premise was cute, and I could see the chemistry developing between the main characters as they built a friendship and eventually explored a romantic relationship. Unfortunately, I never found myself emotionally invested in their journey.

My biggest issue was the pacing. Somehow, the story felt rushed while also dragging at the same time. I kept waiting for the plot to really take off or for an emotional moment that would make me believe these two truly belonged together, but that moment never came for me.

The audiobook narration didn't quite feel right either but i don't believe it was the narrator. I believe the story just simply didn't resonate with me. While the romance was sweet and wholesome, I finished the book feeling underwhelmed rather than emotionally fulfilled.

This may still be a good fit for readers who enjoy light, closed-door romances with minimal spice, but unfortunately, it just wasn't a match for my reading tastes.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️3

Thank you to NetGalley, and Dreamscape Media for providing me with an ALC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 🧡

I have to talk about the audiobook, it truly elevated my reading experience. Both narrators did an amazing job bringing these characters to life. They did an excellent job with Estrella and Leo’s accents. I would absolutely recommend listening to this one.

For such a short story, I honestly wasn’t sure how much character development would be able to fit in this story. From the very beginning, I thoroughly enjoyed following Estrella’s journey starting over in a completely new place with her two children. Estrella was such an easy character to root for. As for Leo, I also really liked him, he was so supportive, and I loved how he was with Estrella and her children.

The ending of this story, which was my favorite part of the book was so wholesome. I really appreciated that we got to see Estrella and Leo years later instead of just 1 or 2 years later. It was so beautiful to see how their lives had unfolded.

Overall, I had the best time with this book, and I have been wanting to read books by Amy Award for a while now, and I am so glad I did. I will definitely pick up more books by her.

[Tori stay_gold_stori_books (IG) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I may have had too high of expectations, considering how much I have enjoyed the Cocky Kingsmans series thus far and how much I have enjoyed narration from Vanessa Vasquez and Oscar Reyes’s as well.

This story was not very captivating to me and lacked the humor and fluff that author has always used in previous reads. While I could appreciate the story of each of the leads finding their footing in an unfamiliar country and an unfamiliar occupation, there was a disconnect that I just can’t describe.

As for the narration, this is a story that I think would have been done well by solo narration by either Vanessa or Oscar. This is dual narration with two Latino narrators voicing characters that are both Latino. Vanessa voices Estrella with a mild Mexican accent (contrary to how think it is said to be within the novella) but lacks any accent for Leo (who is said to have come from Oaxaca but grew up in Spain) so that was jarring for him to have no accent. Oscar’s narration for both characters was more preferable for me personally. The narrators definitely gave it their best to bring this story to life, but the source material just wasn’t my favorite.

Thank you to Dreamscape media for the ALC via NetGalley.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Estrella was a huge star in a telenovela in Mexico before moving to LA and trying to make it there. She is in the process of taking dialect lessons and being a single mom in a new city when she meets Leo, a professional footballer. They instantly connect and the fact that they are both from Mexico and now living in LA with and hint of fame surrounding them makes their connection even deeper. Together they could be so much better, but will they be willing to give this potential relationship a chance?

I am a fan of everything I’ve ready by Amy Award so far and this was no different. This romance was a short novella and very easy to get through. The chemistry between Estrella and Leo was great and led to a good romance. The story was fast paced and lacked any real conflicts, but it was a fun and easy to read novella. I loved Estrella’s kids and how they fit into the story. Leo was the perfect guy for Estrella and her family. I listened to the audiobook version of this book and I really enjoyed it. The narration was great and this book was so easy to listen to. If you are looking for a quick romance read with a good storyline this is worth checking out.

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sweet prequel novella in the Cocky Kingmans series. It can be read as a standalone, but may be enjoyed paired with book five, The Jackass in Class.

Thirty-plus years ago in Los Angeles, FMC Estrella is a telenovela star who has recently moved to Hollywood with her two children for a fresh start. At the library conversation club, she meets MMC Leo, an international football (soccer) star, and they immediately connect.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a very sweet closed-door romance, and I even teared up several times. I liked that both characters were trying to discover who they were outside of their respective celebrity and their complicated lives in the public eye. I listened to the audiobook and liked the narrators a lot. They both had thick accents, but that was an important part of the story, so it seemed to fit the characters well.

I haven't read any of the other Cocky Kingmans books, but this definitely made me want to check out more, especially Tempest's book, The Jackass in Class.

Spice: 2/5
Plot: 4.5/5
Writing: 4/5
Narration: 4.5/5
My Enjoyment: 4.5/5

*** I received an ALC and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story: 4⭐
Spice: None Just some kissing and fade to black.
Narration: 4⭐

This was narrated in a dual narration style with 2 povs. It was performed by Vanessa Vasquez and Oscar Reyes. Both have beautiful accents and it was a joy to listen too.

This just gives you all the cutesy vibes. It will make you smile and kicks your feet. This is 4.5 in the Cocky Kingman series. I've only read 2 books in the series and I'm not sure where these characters originated from.

My favorite trope in the whole book is "he swoons first". Like you know when the girl gets kissed for the first time and she closes the door and falls back on it, type of swoon. JUST. LIKE. THAT.

You have a single mom of 2 kids, she is a famous is telenovela star that moved to the states to start over fresh and become an actress in Hollywood and a Spanish soccer player who is trying to "find himself" again. They meet at library and the rest is history. He's pretty much every green flag you can possibly imagine.

It's very short and sweet. The only reason I dropped it down a star was because there were some repetitive sentences.

[Janne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This can be seen as a short but sweet story about two (sort of?) famous people that don't know each other yet have quite a connection and hit it off in the library. The "curse" of short stories is that you need a really clear idea of what you want to tell for it to work. A lot of these stories want to tell too much, add too much plots and things they want to tell. Sadly, this also felt the case for me in this book. There is so much the author wants to tell about the lives of these people (their careers, the way they have to settle in a different country, the kids, the fathers of the kids, the paparazzi, and I still think I'm forgetting something). It's so much that the whole book feels rushed, nothing comepletely gets focus and that makes it quite easily forgettable. Which doesn't have to be a problem, if the goal of this story is to entertain for a short while, then it's jobs certainly succeeded. I was entertained, I liked the story, but a little less than two days later and I don't quite remember what happened. Some bits and pieces, but because of the topic overload, only the very general bits stay with me.
I listened to the audiobook, which was a fun way of consuming the story. The tempo was nice, always love it when two people narrate two POV's, so that's a plus!

Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for providing the audiobook!