Verdict: A Primrose Hill Novel

by Brittany Storm

Welcome to Primrose Hill, where the James family isn't just part of the community—they're the heart of it all.

She never believed she'd be chosen and he never believed choosing someone was safe.

Ava James learned a long time ago not to expect too much from people. It was easier to keep relationships casual than risk disappointment. Between her law career and her family, her life is exactly where she wants it to be—controlled and uncomplicated.

At least that's what she tells herself.

Professional baseball player Cohen Jordan has spent years avoiding anything that looks too much like forever. After losing his mother, detachment became second nature. He learned young that the more something matters, the more it has the power to wreck you. It was easier not to risk it.

Unfortunately for both of them, life has other plans.

Cohen has always been Ava’s older brother’s best friend and wildly off-limits—until one impulsive night changes everything.

Now tied together in ways neither of them expected, they find themselves navigating blurred boundaries, undeniable chemistry, and a connection they've spent years pretending doesn't exist.

Wanting each other is one thing, but letting someone in is another.

With more than just their hearts at risk, they'll have to decide if friendship is enough—or if it's finally time to take a chance on the one person who's always seen them.

Genres: Baseball

358 pages, Paperback

Published September 4, 2026

About the author

Brittany Storm lives in the beautiful Texas Hill Country, where horses have been a part of her life for over twenty years. An avid rider and competitor in the hunter/jumper show ring, she’s currently training and competing with a young horse of her own.
When she’s not at the barn or writing, Brittany enjoys life with her husband, two young kids, and her dog. After losing her mom a few years ago to cancer, she found solace in romance novels and loved escaping into their world, so much so that she decided to start writing stories of her own.
Her stories celebrate family, horses, and the kind of love that makes life feel a little sweeter.

Reviews

[Robin ❤️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Brittany Storm for this arc. These are all of my honest thoughts and opinions.

First, totally obsessed with Brittany’s writing. Read her last book, Curveball in one sitting, and I knew I had to get my hands on an arc of Verdict.

The tension between Ava and Cohen was done so well.
Cohen never saw forever with anyone and Ava being so guarded and only wanting something casual.

I loveeee the “it’s always been you” trope and this one was done perfectly.

I love the blend of horses Brittany adds in with her books. I love the small town of Primrose Hill. Brittany brings her side characters to life and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with in her next book.

I’ll come back and add all my highlights once the book comes out. ❤️🫶🏻

5.0/5.0

[Sandy (Sandy.Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

One-night stand. Accidental pregnancy. Brother’s best friend. Honestly, say less because I was immediately invested. 😂

I absolutely loved how much he showed up for her and their daughter. Watching them navigate everything together and slowly become this adorable little family was definitely one of my favorite parts of the book. They were honestly the cutest little family, and I couldn’t get enough of them.

I will admit that I got a little irritated with her at times because she kept pushing him away, but I also understood where she was coming from and why it was so difficult for her to let him in.

Overall, this was such an enjoyable read with tropes I love and a family dynamic that completely stole my heart. Storm continues to give me characters I can’t help but root for!

[Amity Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

I absolutely loved Ava & Cohen’s story!! This one had me sucked in from the start with their chemistry!! This is my first book from the series, but I can tell by the writing that I absolutely need to run back to read the others!

I love a brother’s best friend trope & this one was so dang good. The forbidden aspect & the tension & yearning it gave, just made this one perfect! Ava is our strong & independent FMC who battles with just wanting to feel like she’s someone first choice. Her story and history just tugged at my heart strings!! Cohen! The man he is! Our reformed playboy who has a heavy past & honestly afraid to settled down. Both of these characters keep people at arms length & struggle with letting people in.

Watching these two grow & open up to each other while also fighting their feelings & attraction to one another, just gave so much depth to this story! I loved watching how much they both allowed the other in and just gave a beautiful story!! This one will have you laughing, swooning, and absolutely loving the journey these two are taking together!

Thank you Brittany & team for the opportunity to read this early! I will definitely be diving into more of this series!!

[Ashley Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Thank you to the author Brittany Storm for this gifted ARC in exchange for an honest and authentic review - All opinions are my own.*

Another amazing read by Brittany Storm!! This accidental pregnancy almost also feels like a second chance, and a whole lot of healing internal demons and trauma all wrapped up into one spicy read!

I REALLY enjoyed how Brittany had a time jump between when the characters found out they were pregnant and then skipped the pregnancy to pick up the love story when the little baby is a month old. It allowed for a different style of love story than having it be during the gestation.

I really really loved how Cohen stepped up!! His character was so freaking endearing.

Brittany has a way of writing authentic characters in a way that feels incredibly realistic and also easy to root for even when you want to smack the truth and reality right into them. I vote to became a family member and give them a good shove with the truth.

There were a few moments where I really wanted them to get out of their own way and be together, but by the end it was all done so perfectly that Brittany knew exactly what she was doing and I loved those bits extra hard- like Bentley and his barn- Come on Cohen!

[Tanja Brennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m going to be VERY vague because I truly think Verdict is one of those books you should go into as blind as possible.

But just know…I LOVED it. 🥹

CoJo and Trouble, aka Cohen and Ava. I LOVE THEM!!!

There’s history between these two. Years of tension, want, and attraction, and their chemistry jumps off the pages. But underneath all of that are two people who have a hard time admitting what they feel…and an even harder time believing they get to have something this good.

Certain circumstances tie them together in a way neither of them expected, forcing them to finally confront all the shit they’ve been carrying.

Some people might call parts of their story miscommunication. I saw two people who were hurt, guarding their hearts, and trying to work through their own messes before they could finally realize they were deserving of love. Their journey had plenty of sweet and tender moments, but it was also messy, raw, and ugly at times. And that’s what made it feel so human.

And Cohen. 🥹 I absolutely LOVE this man. The way he cares for Ava, the way he shows up, and the way he just steps in and takes care of things she doesn’t even realize she needs…he got me. He falls first, and he falls HARD.

I hurt for both of them. I was frustrated with both of them at times. And then Brittany would pull out one of those tender moments that absolutely got me.

“Don’t let the fear of losing someone stop you from loving someone.”

That really sums up so much of this story for me. Learning to trust love, to choose it even when it’s terrifying, and to believe you deserve it.

“I’m not walking away from something,” he said quietly. “I’m choosing something.”

🥹 COHEN.

And this one…

“You showed me what love was, that I could trust it, that I could want it.”

I loved Faults. I loved Curveball. But Verdict may be my favorite Primrose Hill book yet.

This one touched me deeply. It was emotional and devastating in parts, then beautiful and hilarious a minute later. The sibling group chat NEVER disappoints. 😂 The spice was on point. Absolute perfection. 🌶️

There was something about Brittany’s writing in Verdict that felt even more confident and refined. The emotion, the character growth, the messy, very human moments…it all just hit. I felt everything with this one.

I just love Primrose Hill and all of these characters so much. 🥹🩷

And that little teaser for book four?! 🔥🔥🔥 I AM READY.

[Emlyn Knerem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Brittany Storm for sending me an arc copy of Verdict via BookFunnel! I was initially drawn in to this series because of the beautiful covers and when I saw there was a chance to sign up for an arc, I had to shoot my shot!

There was a lot I liked about Verdict. I feel like in most accidental pregnancy stories, the entire book revolves around the pregnancy itself. Verdict was unique in that the pregnancy was skipped and we went right to life with the baby. It was a different timeline than I had read before and it was definitely refreshing! It was shown in other ways how Cohen had been present throughout Ava’s pregnancy and then continued to be a great dad for Ellie.

I wish we had been able to see more of ava’s life as a lawyer. She left Primrose Hill to go to college and became a strong female lawyer - but we really didn’t get to see much of her life in that way. We certainly got a glimpse, but it would have been great to see what her career was like before becoming a mother and then how she adapted after Ellie was born.

I identified so much with Ava as someone who has a lot of people around her, but never really feels like someone’s first choice. I think this is a feeling so many people have but it doesn’t get talk about enough. It was so easy to see parts of myself in Ava written on the pages.

One of my biggest issues was the scene at the bar where Cohen and AVa are trying to make each other jealous. I almost had to put my kindle down and walk away after that scene because... Ya’ll are grown adults. That may have been one of the most immature character scenes I have ever read.

I also didn’t love that Cohen just “made” decisions for Ava on where to live and when she was moving. She handled that much better than I would have in real life. It seemed like he was trying to just make decisions for her that were disguised as “romantic” gestures.

Overall, this was a 4-star read for me! If you love a small town romance and you’re a baseball fan like me, check out Verdict on September 4!

[Aliciaalejo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brittany Storm has done it again, The 3rd book of Primrose Hill is an absolute HOME RUN.

Ava and Cohen have the hots for each other but their romance is a littleee forbidden because Ava is Cohens best friend's sister! Despite being forbidden, their attraction gets the best of them and they have an unplanned pregnancy! While navigating coparenting they realize there might be more to their relationship than bottles and diapers.

The relationship was just SO good, banter 10/10, yearning 10/10, chemistry 10/10. Ava and Cohen are just two people meant for each other and their romance just felt so natural. I love how they had interests and plot lines that did not just pertain to their romance, they had so much depth! Yes, they were parents but they also had other things going on for them.

I adore Ava, she really is such a strong FMC. She is driven, hardworking and selfless. I loved that her career was still important to her after becoming a mom.

Cohen is really a MAN, he shows up time and time again for his daughter and Ava. little yearner!

As a fellow woman who had an unplanned pregnancy, this story really resonated with me. Sometimes the unplanned pregnancy really works out for a couple who genuinely love each other (results may vary) and it was such a beautiful story to read. Sometimes things do not happen in a traditional way but that does not make it a negative thing! Brittany Storm also is really good at writing mothers and capturing the complete postpartum experience, which I really appreciate. (Clogged Duct Scene was INSANE - write another!)

I really loved reading this and of course we see all the familiar faces from the previous Primrose Hill books. Small-ish town romance but not too annoying.

While the story is lovely, I can't forget to mention the explicit scenes. SO good. The scenes have are so hot my kindle was burning. Brittany knows how to write scenes that fit her characters so well and aren't cringey to read. All that to say, the spice is 10/10 and honestly, I would get pregnant too Ava!

Thank you to Brittany Storm for this ARC!

[Chelsea Mansell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Verdict by Brittany Storm eARC Review 💛

Oh my gosh, I devoured this book. Even though I wanted to shake Ava and Cohen several times throughout their story it made the ending that much sweeter. I loved their story and how real and raw it is.

This is my first book by Brittany and I absolutely love her writing. From the beginning I was sucked right in and rooting for them. Cohen is a literal dreamboat and I fear that I may love him. 🤭 Ava is a badass and the two of them together have chemistry unlike anything I’ve seen. They both have walls so high that it takes a lot of time, trust and convincing to break them down. But their story is so sweet and real. Relationships aren’t linear and this book is an amazing representation of that.

Brittany, I am a new fan and cannot wait to continue this series!

What to expect:
Friends to lovers
Brother’s best friend
Meddling family & teammates
He falls first
Reformed playboy
Forced proximity
Baseball romance
Lawyer FMC

Thank you so much Brittany for the arc!

[Nikki Eaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is becoming my favourite ever!!!! I love how Brittany writes her stories. The spice is perfect, just the right amount of it and the plot is plotting.!

Cohen Jordan, you are up there for book boyfriends! The reformed playboy who fell for his best friends sister.

Ava is a strong and successful lawyer, and when she finds out she’s pregnant with the man who is sworn not to go near her, her life is thrown a curveball (hehe)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ absolute PERFECTION!!!! This is by far one of my favourite accidental pregnancy stories. @brittanystormauthor

BOOK 3 in the Primrose Hill Series
Book 1 ~ Faults
Book 2 ~ Curveball

If you love:
- Small Towns
- Meddling Family and funny group chats
- Horses
- Baseball
- Banter

I highly recommend reading this series 🩷🫶 I cannot wait to see what’s in for book 4!

[BookishMya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ava & Cohen are the best slow burn. It may have taken them 10 years but they have finally gotten their act together. Fighting years of will they- won’t they, we finally have our answer, they will! And it was beautiful. They may have been a jumbled mess but there is beauty in chaos. I lived for every season that they were on the same page and cringed when they were misguided. The push and pull had me locked in from start to finish. I absolutely adored the way Cohen stepped up for his baby girl, Ellie was his world from the start. The found family core of the team and the James/King families give you all the warm and cozy feelings with laughs and giggles along the way. Brittany Storm writes a palpable longing with fabulous tension and great writing. I am already so invested in this world and can’t wait to see what happens next.

[Ashley’ Chapter · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ 4/5 🌶️

This was a book I picked up and simply couldn’t put down. Au Author Brittany Storm wastes no time jumping into the passion between Ava, a young lawyer who likes to stir up “trouble” and Cohen, a baseball player who is known for “playing the field” in more ways than one.

Can one passionate night stand up against the fact that the girl is your best friend’s sister? Or that she has a big surprise of her own?

This is part of a series but you can read it as a standalone.

[Dini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this couple. Baseball Romance, I do love me a sports romance book. Accidental Pregnancy Trope done well without the instant relationship. They worked for it. Can’t wait to continue reading this series to see the next brother’s love story.

[Breanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good!! These two had been circling each other for years but never crossed the line until 1 night changed everything for them. An accidental pregnancy turned into an amazing co parenting relationship turned into an actual relationship!!!

[Amber R · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely DEVOURED this book!! It was so good!🙌🏼🔥

Ava and Cohen’s relationship had me hooked from the start. He’s her older brother’s best friend, they’re completely off-limits, and one impulsive night changes everything. The chemistry between them was AMAZING, and this brother’s-best-friend trope was done so right!

I felt bad for them, I was nervous for them, I giggled with them, and I definitely swooned over them. I inhaled their story and loved every second of it! 🥹⚾️💕

This is the third book in the Primrose Hill series, but you don’t have to read the others first. However, after reading this one, I’ll absolutely be going back for the rest!

[Alyssa Niehaus · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 out of 5 stars. I definitely had some mixed feelings about this one. There was genuinely so much I enjoyed, but there were set backs for me personally too. This is why I’m having a hard time rating it.
The baseball romance aspect had me hooked, I loved it. Also when things were good, I really liked Ava and Cohen together. There was also the brothers best friend aspect, another trope I usually gravitate to. Despite the challenges, there was never any doubt in my mind that Ava and Cohen cared deeply for each other. However, where the story lost me a bit was the amount of miscommunication or just lack of communication between them. I understood why they were struggling to voice feelings or act, especially with a baby involved. But there were so many moments I wished they would have just had a good conversation to clear things up. That being said, miscommunication isn’t one of my favorite tropes, which with the amount of it in this story is what kept me from absolutely loving every moment. Overall though I did enjoy the story itself. Sooo well written and I loved the characters. Just personal preference affected my own enjoyment and that’s okay. Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Génesis Idaris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was SO excited for this book, so getting the ARC honestly made my day. 🥹 Huge thank you to Brittany Storm for trusting me with an early copy.

Now... let me just say I ATE THIS BOOK UP. 😭 And somehow I'm still hungry because I need more. I can't stop thinking about the main characters or the whole family. This is the kind of story that makes you want to be part of their world, live surrounded by horses and wildflowers, and never leave.

I just love Brittany's writing. She writes characters that feel so real, and this story was filled with chemistry, love and tension.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series. THIS SERIES.

If you have not read Faults and Curveball yet, consider this your sign. Your billboard. Your flashing neon warning. GO READ THE SERIES. Because Verdict is, well…a verdict that proves Brittany Storm came to play—And this one? Another home run. (See what I did there? Ha. I’ll see myself out.)

If you’ve been around for a while, you know I don’t review books by simply giving you a list of the tropes. I won’t bore you with that because, honestly, tropes are tropes and the cover is the cover. And Brittany’s? Top tier. We already know this. For me, it’s always about how I connected with the characters, how the story made me feel, and what stayed with me after I turned the last page.

So, this is how Verdict made me feel.

This accidental pregnancy almost feels like a second chance wrapped up in healing, confronting internal demons and trauma, finding your person, and—because Brittany is Brittany—making it all deliciously spicy. Basically, why have one emotional crisis when you can have twelve and fall in love while doing it? I’m here for it all day every day!

Ava and Cohen. The yearning. The tension. Do they have history? Duh. But the way these two yearned and circled each other had me ready to climb into the book and demand that they just talk to each other already. Their past experiences and personal struggles influence so many of the choices they make, which means their relationship doesn’t get to take the easy, convenient route. But what good relationship does?!

And yes, there were moments when one—or both—of them frustrated the absolute hell out of me. But here’s the thing: I understood why they made those choices. Their mistakes felt human rather than like manufactured drama thrown in solely because the author needed everyone to suffer for 300 pages. And honestly? I appreciate that.

I loved watching them slowly open up to each other and build trust. As someone who also has a hard time opening up, I get it, I understand, and felt. There was something so meaningful about watching them let each other in little by little. You could feel the relationship becoming something deeper. I think watching these two grow, open up, fight their feelings and attraction, and simultaneously try not to completely implode gave this story SO much depth. I loved seeing how much they eventually allowed each other in. It was beautiful, genuine, and somehow still had me laughing and swooning like I wasn’t emotionally spiraling right alongside them.

The chemistry? On Point.

I’m not typically a huge accidental-pregnancy girlie, But I knew Brittany would do it right. So naturally, in Brittany we trust. And by “do it right,” I mean she did something I really appreciated: a time jump. We go from finding out about the pregnancy to picking up the story when that little nugget, Ellie, is a month old. And honestly? No notes. It allowed this to be a completely different kind of love story rather than spending the entire book navigating the pregnancy itself. We still got to see how Cohen had been present throughout Ava’s pregnancy, and then we got to watch him step into being an amazing dad to Ellie.

It worked. It flowed. It gave us the relationship I actually wanted to read.

No notes. It was perfect.

And then there’s Ava.

I identified with her so much. Not because I’m living in the legal world (IYKYK), but because of that feeling of having so many people around you while simultaneously never quite feeling like you’re anyone’s first choice. That feeling of being surrounded but still somehow alone? Doing everything for everyone but crickets? Yeah. That one hit. I think so many people can relate to that feeling, yet it isn’t talked about nearly enough. It was incredibly easy for me to see pieces of myself in Ava and understand why she made some of the choices she did. Brittany put that feeling onto the page in a way that felt painfully real.

And that’s one of my favorite things about Brittany’s writing. She has this ability to create characters who feel authentic. Not perfect. Not conveniently rational. They’re messy. They’re flawed. They make questionable choices. They get in their own way. They frustrate you. And somehow, you still love them and desperately want them to figure their shit out.

At this point, I’m voting to become an honorary family member so I can give them all a good shove in the direction of common sense. Because there were definitely moments when I wanted to punch them simply so they would get out of their own way. But then Brittany basically punches ME in the face and is like, “We all do that sometimes. Shut up and read.”

And, unfortunately for me, she’s right.

Verdict is genuine, emotional, spicy, funny, swoony, and full of characters you can’t help but root for—even when you desperately want to lovingly smack some sense into them.

Brittany Storm, you’ve done it again. Another home run, and another story that reminded me why I love your books so much.

Now go read the series. This is your sign. Seriously. GO.

If you’ve made it this far, Brittany - genuinely thank you. Thank you for entrusting me with an ARC, you already know I’ll be re-reading the entire series before book 4!!!

[Jenna Lundberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

⚾❤️ She Wanted to Be Chosen, He Had to Learn to Choose Love ❤️⚾
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 Stars | 🌶️🌶️ 2 Chili Peppers

I'm going to be VERY careful with this review because Verdict is one of those books I truly think you should experience as blindly as possible.

But CoJo and Trouble?!

I LOVE THEM. 🥹❤️

Cohen and Ava have history. Years of friendship, tension, attraction, and feelings neither of them has been particularly interested in examining too closely.

Cohen is Ava's older brother's best friend.

He's always been wildly off-limits.

And then one impulsive night changes everything.

What follows was messy, emotional, hilarious, frustrating, tender, and so incredibly HUMAN.

Ava James is strong, independent, successful, and surrounded by people who love her. But underneath all of that is a woman who has spent so much of her life feeling like she's never really someone's first choice.

That absolutely got me. 🥹

Ava has learned that keeping relationships casual means keeping expectations low. If you don't ask someone to choose you, you never have to experience the heartbreak of discovering that they won't.

Then there's Cohen.

Oh, COHEN. ❤️

This man completely got me.

Cohen has his own reasons for keeping people at a distance. Losing his mother taught him that loving someone means giving yourself something devastating to lose. So while Ava protects herself by never expecting to be chosen, Cohen protects himself by avoiding the kind of love that would require him to choose someone completely.

Do you see the problem here?! 😭

These two have chemistry for DAYS, but the emotional connection underneath it is what made their story so good.

Cohen falls first.

And he falls HARD.

I loved the way he cares for Ava. He notices things. He steps in. He takes care of things she doesn't even realize she needs. He's not perfect, and there were absolutely moments when I wanted to grab both of these characters by the shoulders and yell:

PLEASE GET OUT OF YOUR OWN WAY.

😂

But that's also why their story worked for me.

Some readers might look at parts of Ava and Cohen's relationship and call it miscommunication.

I saw two hurt people who had become incredibly good at protecting themselves.

Their walls aren't there simply to keep the plot moving. They're built from grief, disappointment, fear, and years of believing certain things about themselves and love.

That doesn't mean they always make good decisions.

Oh, they absolutely DO NOT. 😂

They frustrate each other.

They hurt each other.

They sometimes react instead of communicate.

They make choices that had me wanting to reach through my Kindle and knock some sense into them.

But I understood them.

Relationships and healing aren't perfectly linear, and Brittany Storm allowed Ava and Cohen to be flawed while still making it impossible for me not to root for them.

Certain unexpected circumstances eventually force them to confront everything they've spent years avoiding, and that's ALL I'm saying about that.

Go in blind. Trust me. 👀

What I loved most was watching their relationship gradually become a place where both of them could finally start lowering those walls.

Ava has to believe she deserves to be chosen.

Cohen has to realize that protecting himself from loss also means protecting himself from love.

And underneath all the attraction, banter, and sizzling chemistry is this beautiful question:

Is loving someone worth the risk of someday losing them?

One line sums up so much of this story:

“Don’t let the fear of losing someone stop you from loving someone.”

🥹

YES.

Because Cohen's journey isn't simply about admitting he loves Ava.

It's about choosing love even though loving someone terrifies him.

And Ava's journey isn't about becoming less independent.

It's about trusting that someone can see exactly who she is and still choose her first.

When Cohen says:

“I’m not walking away from something. I’m choosing something.”

COHEN JORDAN.

SIR.

😭❤️

That's what I needed from him.

And then:

“You showed me what love was, that I could trust it, that I could want it.”

DONE.

Absolutely done.

The Primrose Hill family dynamics were another huge highlight. The James family brings so much warmth and personality to these books, and the sibling group chat continues to be GOLD. 😂

One minute this story was emotionally destroying me and the next the family had me laughing.

And the chemistry?

🔥🔥🔥

Cohen and Ava have years of suppressed attraction behind them, and you can FEEL it. Their connection jumps off the page, but I loved that Brittany gave their emotional relationship just as much importance as their physical one.

There were moments when both characters drove me crazy. There were moments when I wanted Cohen to stop trying to handle everything himself and Ava to believe what was right in front of her.

But none of that took away from my five stars.

If anything, their imperfections made me more invested.

These aren't two perfectly healed people falling neatly in love.

They're messy people learning that maybe they don't have to have everything figured out before they're worthy of being loved.

And Brittany Storm's writing felt especially strong in this one. The emotional moments hit harder, the character growth felt layered, and the balance between heartbreak, humor, family, romance, and heat was SO good.

I loved Faults.

I loved Curveball.

But Verdict may officially be my favorite Primrose Hill book yet. 🥹🩷

CoJo and Trouble put me THROUGH IT, and I would happily do it all over again.

And that little teaser for Book Four?!

Brittany.

I AM READY. 🔥😂

Thank you to Brittany Storm for the gifted advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[readingwithfede_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The verdict is in: this is my favorite Primrose Hill book so far.

First, thank you to Brittany Storm for selecting me as an ARC reader and providing me with an advance copy of Verdict. All opinions are my own.

Verdict is the third book in the Primrose Hill series, and this time we follow Ava James and Cohen, her brother’s best friend and a professional baseball player.

This book had pretty much everything that works for me in a romance: brother’s best friend, slow burn, angst, sports romance, small-town atmosphere, found family, and characters with enough emotional baggage to make me simultaneously want to hug them and scream at them.

What stood out to me most was how difficult this book was to put down. I finished it in less than 24 hours because I constantly wanted to know what would happen next. The chapters are relatively short, but a lot happens within them, which gives the story a pace that feels fast without rushing the relationship.

And that relationship is probably one of my favorite aspects of the book.

Ava and Cohen have history. They have their own struggles and past experiences influencing the choices they make, so their relationship isn’t allowed to take the easy route. There were moments when one or both of them frustrated me, but importantly, I understood where those decisions were coming from. Their mistakes felt human rather than manufactured simply to create conflict.

That’s something I particularly appreciated about Verdict: the story has a clear direction, and everything that happens along the way feels purposeful.

There’s no need for random shock value or unbelievable situations to keep the story interesting. The tension comes from the characters, their circumstances, and the things they need to work through. Because of that, the progression of the romance feels earned. It doesn’t jump from one emotional stage to another simply because the plot needs it to.

The characters themselves also have depth. They aren’t perfect, and the book doesn’t try to make them perfect. They make mistakes, get caught up in their emotions, and sometimes make choices you wish they wouldn’t but that’s also what makes them believable.

I also really enjoyed the way Verdict blends genres. Primrose Hill still has everything I want from a small-town romance, the community, friendships, family dynamics, and that feeling of knowing everyone, but Cohen’s professional baseball career brings in the sports-romance element. Neither aspect feels like decoration; they work together naturally.

And I can’t talk about this series without mentioning the James family.

The siblings, friendships, texts, and group chat continue to bring so much humor to the story. The side characters aren’t simply there to fill space around the main couple, they make Primrose Hill feel like an actual community. That growing sense of found family is one of my favorite things about the series, and Verdict only made me more attached to everyone.

There are also enough glimpses of what may be coming next to make me very curious about the final James sibling’s story without taking attention away from Ava and Cohen.

Overall, Verdict gave me exactly what I want from this kind of romance: emotional depth, believable conflict, strong pacing, humor, family, and a relationship I could genuinely become invested in.

I laughed. I got frustrated. I wanted to hug these characters. I spent part of the book giggling and kicking my feet. And most importantly, I couldn’t put it down.

If you’re looking for a small-town romance that also brings professional sports into the mix, with brother’s-best-friend tension, angst, found family, and characters who actually feel human, put Verdict on your radar.

September 4th can’t come quickly enough. ⚾️💗

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ava and Cohen were absolutely infuriating, and I mean that with so much affection. There were multiple points where pulling my own hair out felt like it would be less painful than watching these two convince themselves that being together was somehow the wrong decision.

But underneath all that frustration is what made their story work so well for me: Ava and Cohen are two people whose fears fit together in the worst possible way.

Cohen has spent most of his life convincing himself that control is the same thing as security. Losing his mom taught him that loving someone gives you something to lose, so he keeps relationships casual, avoids forever, and never allows himself to need anyone too much. If he doesn't fully choose someone, then maybe losing them won't destroy him.

Meanwhile, Ava has spent her life feeling like no one ever fully chooses her.

DO YOU SEE THE PROBLEM?!

After one night together results in an unexpected pregnancy, Cohen steps up without hesitation. There isn't some prolonged period of wondering whether he'll be there for Ava or their baby. He is. Completely. He takes care of things Ava doesn't even realize she needs and makes it clear that when it comes to being a father, he's all in.

And once Ellie arrives? That little girl becomes his entire world.

Daddy Cohen was easily one of my favorite parts of this book. I adored their daddy/daughter dates, the way Ellie lights up when he comes home from an away series, and all the little moments that show how completely devoted he is to her. Cohen didn't have the kind of father he deserved growing up, but instead of repeating that cycle, he's determined to give Ellie everything he didn't have.

The problem was never whether Cohen could love his daughter. It was whether he could allow himself to fully love Ava.

And THAT is where these two drove me absolutely freaking crazy.

So much of the messiness happens after Ellie is born, when Ava and Cohen are already connected in a way neither of them can walk away from. They're raising this little girl together, their lives are completely intertwined, their chemistry and feelings are very obviously still there—and yet they're both stubbornly guarding their hearts.

Their journey isn't neat. It's messy, raw, and ugly at times because both of them are trying to work through years of hurt while convincing themselves they're making the right choices. But there are also so many sweet and tender moments woven throughout that show exactly what they could have if they'd just stop letting fear make their decisions.

Ava's journey especially got to me. She's strong, independent, successful, and capable, but underneath all of that is a woman who has spent years believing she won't ever be someone's first choice. She doesn't need Cohen to rescue her. She needs to know that when someone chooses her, they're choosing ALL of her.

And Cohen has to learn that not choosing someone doesn't protect you from losing them. Sometimes it just guarantees you never truly get to have them in the first place.

Thankfully, their friends and family see what is happening LONG before these two stubborn idiots do. I loved the James family and their entire circle—the meddling, support, friendships, and found-family dynamic added so much warmth to the story.

Verdict is ultimately about two people learning that protecting yourself from loss can also mean protecting yourself from love. Cohen has to decide whether loving someone is worth the possibility of losing them, while Ava has to finally believe she's worthy of being fully and unequivocally chosen.

They made me work for that happily ever after, but damn if I wasn't rooting for them to finally choose each other.

[Maddie Ballard-Byers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, so we’re putting two commitment-phobes with abandonment issues together and expecting me to be emotionally normal about it?

Cool. Cool cool cool.

What got me with Ava and Cohen is that neither of them is afraid of wanting someone. They’re afraid of what happens when wanting turns into needing.

And that distinction HURT.

Both of them have built these carefully controlled lives where keeping things casual feels safer than giving another person enough power to disappoint them. So watching those walls slowly crumble was equal parts frustrating, tender, and incredibly satisfying.

Because these two can rationalize their feelings all they want…

Their chemistry is not subtle.
Their attachment is not casual.
And absolutely nobody believes they’re “just fine.” 😂

I especially loved Ava. There is something so relatable about a woman who has convinced herself that independence means never needing anyone, only to discover that being chosen doesn’t make her weaker. And Cohen learning that loving someone isn’t the same thing as waiting for them to leave? MY HEART.

And give me brother’s best friend with years of familiarity every single time. That history makes everything hit harder because this isn’t just attraction. They already know each other. They already matter to each other.

They just have to admit exactly how much.

⚾️ Baseball Romance
👀 Brother’s Best Friend
❤️‍🩹 Commitment Issues x2
🔥 Friends to Lovers
🥹 Emotional Walls Coming DOWN
🤍 He Sees Her
🌶️ Open-Door Spice

Verdict is sexy and sweet, but what made it work for me was the vulnerability underneath it all.

Sometimes falling in love isn’t the scary part.

It’s believing someone might actually stay.

And apparently Brittany Storm decided book three was the perfect time to attack me personally with that one.

Primrose Hill continues to have me seated. ⚾️❤️

Oh, so we’re putting two commitment-phobes with abandonment issues together and expecting me to be emotionally normal about it?

Cool. Cool cool cool.

What got me with Ava and Cohen is that neither of them is afraid of wanting someone. They’re afraid of what happens when wanting turns into needing.

And that distinction HURT.

Both of them have built these carefully controlled lives where keeping things casual feels safer than giving another person enough power to disappoint them. So watching those walls slowly crumble was equal parts frustrating, tender, and incredibly satisfying.

Because these two can rationalize their feelings all they want…

Their chemistry is not subtle.
Their attachment is not casual.
And absolutely nobody believes they’re “just fine.” 😂

I especially loved Ava. There is something so relatable about a woman who has convinced herself that independence means never needing anyone, only to discover that being chosen doesn’t make her weaker. And Cohen learning that loving someone isn’t the same thing as waiting for them to leave? MY HEART.

And give me brother’s best friend with years of familiarity every single time. That history makes everything hit harder because this isn’t just attraction. They already know each other. They already matter to each other.

They just have to admit exactly how much.

⚾️ Baseball Romance
👀 Brother’s Best Friend
❤️‍🩹 Commitment Issues x2
🔥 Friends to Lovers
🥹 Emotional Walls Coming DOWN
🤍 He Sees Her
🌶️ Open-Door Spice

Verdict is sexy and sweet, but what made it work for me was the vulnerability underneath it all.

Sometimes falling in love isn’t the scary part.

It’s believing someone might actually stay.

And apparently Brittany Storm decided book three was the perfect time to attack me personally with that one.

Primrose Hill continues to have me seated. ⚾️❤️

[Nikki Dunlap · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brittany Storm has officially done it again because Verdict completely pulled me in! This story had the perfect combination of romance, emotional baggage, baseball, family, and just enough angst to keep me invested from beginning to end.

Ava and Cohen have so much history between them, and I really enjoyed watching that history evolve into something more. Their connection felt natural, but getting from there to together wasn’t exactly an easy road. They both carried things from their past that made opening themselves up difficult, and watching those walls slowly come down made their relationship that much more rewarding.

And Cohen?! I was absolutely here for him. Watching him step into the role of someone who was willing to show up, care deeply, and put in the work made it impossible not to fall for him. He definitely had me invested. 🥹

One thing I really appreciated was how the story handled the accidental pregnancy. Instead of spending the entire book walking through the pregnancy, the time jump allowed the story to focus on what came afterward and gave Ava and Cohen room to figure out what their relationship could actually look like. It made their journey feel different from the usual pregnancy romance setup.

There were definitely moments when I wanted to grab these two by the shoulders and tell them to PLEASE just talk to each other already! 😂 But their choices never felt random just for the sake of creating drama. Their fears, mistakes, and emotional hang-ups all played into who they were, which made the conflict feel believable.

And then there’s Primrose Hill. ❤️

I love when a series makes the supporting cast feel like more than background characters, and this one absolutely does. The family dynamics, friendships, teasing, texts, and all those little interactions gave the story so much personality. It really feels like these characters have a life outside the romance, and I’m always here for that.

Also, the baseball element was such a fun addition! ⚾️ I loved getting that professional athlete side woven into the small-town setting without taking over the actual love story.

By the time I reached the end, I was completely invested in Ava and Cohen and their little family. There’s plenty of emotion here, but there’s also humor, heart, steam, and those little moments that make you genuinely care about the characters.

Verdict was another winner for me, and Brittany Storm has definitely cemented herself as an author I’ll be watching for. Now I am extremely excited for West and his book!!👀❤️

If you love:
⚾️ Sports romance
💕 Brother’s best friend
🏡 Small-town romance
🔥 Forced proximity
👶 Accidental pregnancy
💫 He falls first
🫶 Found family
😏 A reformed playboy

This one needs to be on your TBR!

Thank you to the author for allowing me to have this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

[Klaudia Muckova]

Rating: 5/5 ⭐️
Series: Primrose Hill
Tropes: Friends to Lovers, Brother's Best Friend, Baseball romance, Reformed Playboy, Forced Proximity
Note: You should absolutely go into this book completely blind, so I’m keeping this review spoiler-free!

Let me just start by saying that this was my first-ever ARC! I hadn’t heard of this author or the Primrose Hill series before, but best believe I will be catching up now. I loved every single bit of this story. Thank you to the author for sending me an early copy—all opinions are my own.


What I Loved:

• The Tropes & Tension: Friends-to-lovers meets brother's best friend! Things escalate quickly, setting up incredible tension, yearning, and restraint. The anticipation towards the end had me pulling my hair out in the best way. The chemistry was delicious! 👌🏻

• The MMC: Cohen, the man you are! He is a breath of fresh air. He shows up, he takes care, and he does the little things that speak volumes. I fell in love with him (and Ava!) within the first few pages.

• The Realness: This might be the most relatable, messy, and real thing I’ve read. Both characters have their walls up high and deny their feelings. Oh do I love a good deny their feelings! Their inner thoughts and the way they read each other's body language felt so incredibly true. I couldn't put it down.

• The Setting: Mainly the story is set in the city but we spend some time on a ranch around horses as well and As a big horse lover, Primrose Hill sounds so dreamy to me—I want to live there!

I also really loved the side characters! Meddling bunch to be sure 😅 but I loved the whole family dynamic Since I haven't read the earlier books yet, I assume past readers already know a lot about them, and it made me so anxious to catch up and get to know them more.
Don't even get me started on the ending, because I literally had tears in my eyes! 🫶🏻 I especially enjoyed the clever setup for the next book right at the end. ❤️

This was an absolute 5-star experience and I can’t wait to get into the rest of this author's world. 🐎

Favourite Quotes:

"Your worth has nothing to do with people's choices, Ava."

"Showing up was easy. Staying present was easy. Letting something matter? That was where people got wrecked. If something was yours, truly yours, it could be taken from you."

“Just… don’t wait too long,” he said quietly. “Some things don’t stay on the table forever.”

“She was unlike any woman I’d ever known… and that was the problem. I couldn’t have her.”

“Careful, CoJo. My big brother might see you.” He dipped his mouth to my ear. “Not if we leave.”

[Chaptersofemx · Rating 4 out of 5]

- verdict, by brittany storm -

its been a while since I sat and read a book in one sitting but verdict was the one! i could not put this down for the life of me...

firstly let me thank Brittany and the team for the ARC of this - unfortunately I'm only just getting round to reading this but fortunately for you that means its already out!!!! WHOOOOOP

cohen from page one was my DREAM I love a cocky reformed playboy who is downbad for the fmc... my favourite type of guy!! ANDDDDD brother's best friend!!! AHHHHHHH

Now Walker has told Cohen from day one to stay away from his sisters, especially Ava and that all goes in up flames the night they win the World Series... from that day there is something tying these two together and they can't stay away from each other...

this then turns into forced proximity but it is better to just stay friends for the sake of their situation, which I loved! Their tension and their undeniable chemistry throughout the whole book just made me love them even more... every time they would snap and break and end up back together just made me want them as a couple more and more...

everyone around them could see they were meant to be together but Cohen and Ava promised to keep their relationship friendly for the sake of their families... both have really high walls - Cohen with a fear of abandonment and Ava feeling like no one ever put her first... throughout the book we see that these start to come down and the more that they are together the more they begin to trust one and other... the balcony scene and the duct scene aaaaaaaaaaa brit you had me on my knees...

there is so much more I want to say but really don't want to ruin the plot for you all but please just go and read!!! I very much enjoyed this one and would love to hear what you all think too!!

Here are some of my fave tropes that are in this book:
- reformed playboy
- brothers best friend
- technically friends to lovers (but not in the typical way!)
- badass FMC - lawyer baddie
- meddling siblings
- brother's best friend
- he falls first (and harder?)
- baseball player (sports romance)
- forced proximity (on multiple layers!!)

Read and Reviewed as part of The Lonely Hearts Club @ Gateshead Waterstones!

[Briana smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 FLIPPIN STARS

Brittany when I say you put crack in this book, baby I mean it. WOW WOW WOW. I started this on vacation and didn't want to stop. It was beautiful, it was addictive, it was hopeful and oh so sweet😭

Ava is a baddie. A girl knows what she wants and can take charge. With a fear of people leaving her and not being picked first, she was always careful. Having a crush on Cohen was DANGEROUS but she couldn't resist the pull to him after 10 years of yearning for him. Only one night to scratch that itch. But that itch turned into the cutest little clone of the two🥹 A surprise pregnancy and a whole new world opened up. Seeing Ava become a mama had my heart exploding. She was the best mama and seeing her blossum over time is just 😚🤌

Cohennnnnn, honestly what a MANNNN. Always scared of the forbidden pull towards Ava he had a hard time accepting his feelings. But one night had this man down bad. He stepped up when he found out about his baby. He is such an amazing daddy and it shows the entire book🥹 One thing i loved was the jump from the beginning of the pregnancy to after having baby. I appreciated the wait and the forced proximity these two had after Ellie was born. The way he was there for his two girls...IM MELTING!!!😭😭😭
From late night fevers, to being there when she needed someone..it showed how much he just cared. The push and pull they had, I was curling my toes. The banter. The flirting. The taunting and the way they made eachother get jealous.....😏 i love when a man growls hehe.

These two had insane chemistry and it shows. The slip ups into immediately "this isn't happen again"...knowing it would🙂‍↕️ Ellies best interest at heart always. But they could not deny the feelings they had for eachother. I saw how much Ava struggled letting someone in fully, afraid of being left and hurt. With the wait on his decision to switch teams showed how terrified she was. But this man chose HER😭😭😭

Just absolutely love. The ending wrecked me, i cried and smiled at the same time. It was so beautiful 💗

Thank you my friend for the earc. These two will forever be stuck with me💜

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could not put this book down!! I finished it in 2 days!! I am a sucker for a baseball romance 😍 especially with dual POV’s. This love story follows Ava & Cohen. This book hooked me from chapter 1. CHAPTER ONE!! 🤩

MMC- Cohen “CoJo” Jordan is a pro baseball player who’s had eyes on his best friend’s sister for years. After winning the World Series, and one fun night with Ava has only added to that WANT. He’s not looking for anything serious, never has, but with Ava everything feels like serious would actually be perfect.

FMC- Ava “Trouble” James had just finished law school, and had plans, she knew had to stay in control in both her career and with her heart. She had always found Cohen very attractive and even with her brother’s warning couldn’t stay away from him. One night of letting go and having fun lead to her whole life changing.

Getting pregnant after one night with each other was not what either Ava or Cohen planned but quickly and pretty easily came together as a team and took on the challenge of parenthood. What WASNT easy is fighting off the attraction they had for one another. Fighting off the FEELINGS they had for each other was even harder! They were such a good team together but he wasn’t looking for anything serious (until now?) and she thought they were better off being friends and coparents since no one ever chooses her first (or would he?).

I’m not going to lie, I fell in love with Cohen SO fast! The flirting, the wanting, the lust, the team work and support for one another was so beautifully written!! There were of course times where you were yelling at the characters to just trust and talk to one another but the build up is what kept me wanting MORE! I LOVED their story SO much!

Thank you SO much to the Author, Brittany Storm for selecting me to be part of your ARC review team for Verdict!!

[Leahspinkpages · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ✨

This was my first book by Brittany and I have to say I have to go read Faults and curveball ! I don’t know why I took so long to read this Seires.

We have Ana who is one of my favorites she truly does know how to keep things in her life simple with no complications at all. She’s a strong , intelligent and independent woman However she has always wanted to be someone’s top choice and only choice. She struggles with the part of do I deserve to be loved and put first and let me tell you every single one of us deserve that and more. Having to be surrounded by so many people around you and trying to feel that you are the choice and the person that they want and need is how I felt Ava wanting and needing that in her life. When Ava and Cohn cross a line that no little sister should with her brothers best friend especially after that one night . When I say their worldn truly do changes it does 🤍

We have Cohen our playboy but now a reformed playboy and the grief and loss he went through with that one person that we all need in our life for guidance and advice really tugged at me. It made me hurt for him and understand him in a Different way. I saw that he wanted to be able to love someone and be loved but how is he able to do that when he can’t even grasp his own feelings that he may be struggling with especially when it comes to allowing anyone in.
But all of that changes when he has two special women to know take care of and let me tell you he does the damn things I loved this book so much and to see how two individuals who deal with different hurts and needs come togther was everything.

Thank you for allowing me to read this early and I can’t wait to read more of your work Brittany !

Tropes :

Baseball romance

Brothers best friend

Reformed playboy

One night stand

Accidental pregnancy

Forbidden romance

Found family

Forced proximity

[Megan Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I officially found my favorite couple in the Primrose Hill Series! Ava and Cohen completely stole my heart, and I absolutely DEVOURED this book. I finished it in a day because once I started, I genuinely could not put it down.

The accidental pregnancy was such a huge part of their story, but what I loved most was watching Ava and Cohen figure out how to come together—not just as parents, but as a true unit. Their relationship felt like so much more than simply becoming parents because of an unexpected pregnancy. I loved watching them navigate everything that came their way, learn each other, and slowly grow into the people and partners they needed to be.

Their growth throughout the book was probably my favorite part. You really get to see them evolve individually and together, and I loved watching their relationship become stronger as they figured out what they wanted and what they meant to each other. There were so many moments where I just found myself completely invested in them and rooting for them to find their way.

And honestly, their chemistry? I was HERE for it. There was just something about Ava and Cohen together that worked so well for me. I loved their dynamic, their connection, and the way they eventually became such a solid team.

This book had me completely hooked from beginning to end. I kept telling myself I would read “just one more chapter,” and suddenly I was finished. I love when a book makes it that easy to get lost in the story and become emotionally invested in the characters.

Ava and Cohen are, without a doubt, my favorite couple in the Primrose Hill Series so far. I loved their story, their journey, and especially watching them grow together throughout the book. They absolutely stole the show for me, and I’m not ready to let them go!

[Kate Marreiros · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my GOSH - I am in love with this series and can't get enough. Finally caught up on all the books in the Primrose Series, this third installment by Brittany Storm is a verdict of AMAZING!

Who doesn't love a sports romance mixed with horses? I'm clearly here for both tropes and if she writes both, I'm going to devour it. This story involves the third of the fourth James siblings, Ava, that I've been following from Faults and Curveball. She's a top notch lawyer and has a successful firm she's working at. But we do have a new heartthrob to focus on: Cohen Jordan or CoJo for short. He's a shortstop for the Austin Aviators and we pick up when they just won the World Series. In true drunken celebratory fashion, Ava is at the bar where Cohen is with this team and her brother Walker when they have a casual fling. Well, SURPRISE! It ends with a pregnancy for Ava (FYI this is another trope I love). Thankfully, both are dead set on having this bundle of joy and figuring it out together even if they aren't officially in a relationship together. The problem is breaking the news to big bro Walker who told Cohen years ago, his sister is and always will be off limits. Not to spoil too much, all the characters are super supportive of their entire situation and baby girl Ellie is loved and cherished by all the baseball players, ranch hands and siblings in Primrose Hill.

Be prepared to be entertained with this one. It has all the workings of two amazingingly strong characters, slow-burning their way to a verdict of will we end up together or not? Brittany is one of my TOP THREE favorite authors and I can't wait for book four. Buckle up cause the jury is IN on this book as GUILTY for being a five star read from me!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

[HolleeJane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Verdict by Brittany Storm

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️ 1.5 chili peppers

Brother’s best friend, professional baseball, and a surprise pregnancy? This book had so many of my favorite things wrapped into one sweet and emotional romance!

Ava has spent years keeping her life controlled and protecting herself from the disappointment of never feeling like someone’s first choice. Cohen is her older brother’s best friend, a professional baseball player, and a man who has always avoided anything resembling commitment. After one impulsive night changes everything, the two must figure out how to become a team while trying to ignore the connection that has been building between them for years.

I really enjoyed watching Cohen step up and fully embrace fatherhood. His relationship with Ava and their baby was incredibly sweet, and underneath that reformed-playboy exterior was such a caring and protective man. Ava was strong and independent, but her fear of opening her heart made her feel vulnerable and relatable. They worked so well together, even when they were determined to convince themselves they were better off as friends and co-parents.

There were a few moments when I wanted to shake them both and tell them to communicate! Their emotional back-and-forth became a little frustrating at times, which kept this from being a five-star read for me. However, the chemistry, emotional growth, family moments, and small-town community made this such an enjoyable story. Verdict was a heartfelt sports romance about allowing yourself to be vulnerable, accepting love, and finally choosing and being chosen by—the person who matters most.

Thank you to Brittany Storm and her team for the opportunity to read this ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.