Trick Play

by B. Cooperstone

She’s done with golden boys.

He’s sworn off distractions.

But the heart has its own playbook.

When Rose Aldrich-St. James transfers to rival Montgomery University to escape her abusive golden-boy ex, the last thing she wants is to catch the eye of another campus heartthrob—especially her new captain’s brother.

Kirin Callaghan, star tight end with NFL dreams, has sworn off distractions for his senior season. But when Kirin is paired with Rose for a class project, a fake-dating scheme might just be the key to both their she gets social credit, he stays distraction-free.

It’s foolproof... until it isn’t.

When her past catches up and lines blur, they learn love might be the boldest trick play of all.

Genres: Contemporary

376 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 22, 2026

Reviews

[Amee · Rating 4 out of 5]

**ARC review. Thanks to BookSirens for Trick Play, book one in The Playbook series, debut release from author. I’m always excited to start a new sports romance series and the blurb for Trick Play was right up my alley. Told in alternating chapters, our MMC, Kirin is a senior at Montgomery university, a football player and school playboy. Never known to settle down with just one girl, he’s happy with his player status. That is until new transfer student Rose becomes his partner on their class project. Rose is running from her abusive ex, who plays football for Montgomery’s rival school. As our mc’s get closer through a fake dating project plan, tied to social media and people’s perceptions, real feelings develop and the truth comes out. I loved the sense of safety Rose found with Kirin. An important thing for abuse survivors is to find in someone they feel safe with, and Kirin instinctively knew what she needed so he could be that for her. Her PTSD evident and One negative for me was all the text conversations throughout. I don’t mind a few fast and sweet back and forths, but these conversations were sometimes lengthy “getting to know you” ones and the format wasn’t a fav of mine. Even so it didn’t take away from my enjoyment overall, just something I noted as reading. The side characters were entertaining and should make for some fun stories going forward in series. I’ll definitely be here for them. Trigger warning… there is violence on page that is jarring, but sadly realistic. My opinions as always are mine so take them with a grain of salt, a definite recommendation and new author to follow.

[Veronica]

ARC REVIEW





The HALLWAY SCENE at the game had me YELLING at my Kindle. 😭

I was literally sitting there like, “KIRIN. ANYONE. PLEASE COME AROUND THE CORNER.” And if I could have jumped through the screen, I would have. I needed to help Rose SO BAD. The anxiety of that whole scene had me holding my breath and completely forgetting I was reading a book. 😩

I really loved Rose and Kirin together. Rose is coming into this new chapter of her life trying to escape an abusive ex and all the baggage that comes with him, so I loved seeing her slowly start to find her confidence again. She’s understandably guarded, and I appreciated that her past wasn’t just brushed aside because she met a new guy.

And then there’s Kirin. 👀

He’s supposed to be focused on football, his senior season, and his NFL dreams. No distractions. No relationships. Definitely no falling for his class-project partner. Obviously, we all know how THAT is going to go. 😂

The fake-dating setup was so much fun, especially watching the lines between what was supposed to be pretend and what was very obviously becoming real. The chemistry between them was GOOD, and I loved watching Kirin go from “this is just part of the plan” to basically being completely gone for Rose.

But what really worked for me was that this wasn't just a fluffy college football romance. Rose's past adds some heavier emotional moments, and I loved seeing the people around her become part of her support system. There were definitely moments where I wanted to reach through the screen and shake people, but it also made me root that much harder for Rose to get her happy ending.

And again… THAT HALLWAY SCENE. 😭
My Kindle was not safe. My blood pressure was not safe. ROSE WAS NOT SAFE. 😂

If you love college sports romance, fake dating, forced proximity, a protective hero, football players with NFL dreams, and a heroine who deserves to finally feel safe and loved, put Trick Play on your TBR. 🏈❤️

Thanks @booksirens and @bcooperstone for the opportunity to be an advanced reader.

[rochelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rose and Kirin stole my heart. From the moment Kirin meets Rose, he is intrigued, and when they end up partnered on a project, their story quickly becomes impossible to put down.

What unfolds is so much more than the partners-to-lovers and fake dating tropes suggested by the blurb. While Rose and Kirin's interactions immediately capture your attention, the challenges Rose faces with her soccer teammates, along with a connection to Kirin, adds a powerful layer to the story. As Rose's past resurfaces and impacts her present life, the effect on both her and Kirin is compelling and emotionally engaging.

The author builds the story beautifully, handling difficult topics with empathy and care. The emotional moments never feel overplayed, yet they are powerful enough to draw readers deeply into the characters' journeys. Each plot element is carefully balanced, contributing to Rose and Kirin's difficult but ultimately rewarding path to their well-earned happy ending.

This is an emotional and captivating story, intense in its subject matter while still allowing space for lighter moments. At its heart is a beautiful relationship journey that feels authentic, meaningful, and destined to be.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[De Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am honestly a feral little gremlin for a sports romance and this one checked every box I had. Plus it had fake dating too. Massive plus in my book. I was really excited to start reading it and I was not disappointed. I totally locked in from the very start. Kirin and Rose were honestly perfect together. I couldn’t get over how invested I got in them so quickly. Kirin went from playboy to her boy real fast. And I freaking loved it. My heart hurt for Rose and the things she went through. But oh man did it swell with happiness when she found a place with Kirin. He made her feel safe and that was more meaningful than anything else. And their chemistry definitely didn’t disparage things. It was palpable from their first interaction. But it was the genuine connection and care and support that made me swoon hard for them together. This book gave me some minor anxiety issues at times (you’ll know what instances I am referring to when you read them) and it made the story that much more captivating. These two are so endearing and I couldn’t stop myself from cheering for them both to find happiness and peace. Overall this book felt all too real and touched my heart. I’m so glad I got to read it.

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Playbook: Kirin and Rose

A slow-burn college romance with fake dating, plenty of emotional depth, and a hero who quietly became everything she needed.

After transferring schools to escape her abusive ex, watching Kirin slowly become Rose’s safe place was easily my favourite part of the story.

Their relationship developed naturally from strangers to friends (while ‘fake-dating’) before becoming something more, and I loved that Kirin was a genuinely protective, reformed playboy who never tried to push Rose before she was ready.

The fake relationship, combined with the tension of her being his sister’s nemesis', kept things interesting without overshadowing the emotional journey.

Some heavy triggers, and I really felt for Rose through the entire story. I just wanted her to catch a break, and it looks like she finally got it when she met Kirin.

Rose's back story with an abusive, predatory stalking ex made this much more than a typical sports romance. It was an emotional minefield at times, but Kirin's unwavering support made their romance all the more rewarding.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Nathalie DeSousa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a debut novel, and truly a great start for this series.

Kirin and Rose will keep you hooked to their story as you see them navigate the highs and lows of a relationship that starts as an experiment but ends with a complete understanding and caring for each other.

Kirin is the playboy football player who is going afraid of commitment and just reaping the benefits of attraction thanks to his popular status. When a project pairs him with Rose, he is about to learn how to see the world from a different perspective.

Rose has had a tough life, an abusive ex (who is also a football player), a nemesis (who happens to be Kirin's sister) and a need to feel cherished. In hopes to just survive, Kirin proposes a fake relationship which turns them into friends, confidants, and the realization that they had never truly known love until they found each other. The emotional growth is massive in this story.

The side characters also help to bring this story together, plus sets a few faces of upcoming stories

A great read!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trick Play by B. Cooperstone was a fun and engaging read from beginning to end. I really enjoyed the chemistry between the characters and the way their relationship developed throughout the story. There was plenty of tension, emotion, and those little moments that kept me wanting to turn the page. I especially liked that the characters weren’t perfect. Their struggles, mistakes, and complicated feelings made them feel realistic and easy to connect with. The story had a good balance of romance, humor, and emotional moments without feeling overly heavy. As the first book in The Playbook series, Trick Play did a great job introducing the characters and setting the stage for what’s to come. The ending definitely left me curious about the rest of the series. Overall, Trick Play was an enjoyable romance with great chemistry and engaging characters.

I received an ARC copy from BookSirens. Thank you for giving me the chance to read this novel and share my honest review of the novel

[Gudrun Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book and I am so happy that when I read the blurb and thought “I might enjoy this” I listened to that thought

This is not the first book where I have read where there is an abusive ex involved and I can tell you that in each book I’ve hated that ex partner more than I did in the previous book

Kirin and Rose are my Shayla’s and loveeeee those two so so much! Just reading about how Kirin was with Rose through thick and thin made my eyes tear up a little bit. He is the definition of a yerner and I love that for him

I really enjoyed the side characters as well and just seeing how well they adapted into the book and how they had their impact on the story


Thank you so much to BookSirens for this ARC and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Rachelclune88 · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love college sports romance, fake dating, and two people who absolutely refuse to admit they’re falling for each other this one is for you.

Rose Aldrich-St. James arrives at Montgomery University determined to leave her abusive ex and her old life behind. She’s not looking for romance especially not with another campus golden boy. Then there’s Kirin Callaghan a talented tight end with NFL dreams who has decided that nothing not even romance is going to distract him during his senior season.

Of course, fate has other plans. Hehe

The fake-dating setup between Rose and Kirin begins as a convenient arrangement. But quickly becomes complicated as their chemistry grows and the lines between pretending and reality start to disappear.