Stuck On First: A Romantic Comedy

by Emily French

When should you tell your best friend you’re in love with them? Before they fall for someone else. That’s when.

Sports agent Rob Steadman has been in love with his friend Hailey Monroe since he first met her in college when he found her crying in the library. He’s wildly attracted to her and they have a lot in common. When they aren’t arguing about who is the greatest pitcher of all time, they’re spending time with Hailey’s dog Sandy at the beach, sharing books, or just hanging out together. Rob thinks he’s found the perfect time to share his feelings with Hailey, but now it may be too late. He’s made the mistake of introducing her to his newest client: up-and-coming baseball star Matt Harper, 6’ 5” of God’s gift to women. And now God’s gift to Hailey.

Twenty-seven-year-old Hailey has had a string of unsuccessful relationships. Most of her dates never even make it to a second. Her childhood left her feeling unloved and she’s tried to make up for that void in all the wrong places. Through it all has been her friend Rob, who's always by her side. She adores him and finds him very attractive but figures they are squarely in the friend zone since Rob has never hinted that he feels anything more. And now he’s introduced her to professional baseball player Matt Harper who sweeps her off her feet. Has she finally found the right guy? Or has the right one been there all along?

Genres: Friends To Lovers

192 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 1, 2023

About the author

I previously worked as a divorce attorney in Silicon Valley. I now write about romance and I love it! I am currently living in North Caroline with my husband and our two little dogs. When I'm not writing I love to read, cook, travel, and watch baseball. Thank you for taking the time to read one of my books!

Reviews

[angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review! Calling all baseball lovers and fans of sports romance. I had the opportunity to read an advance copy of Stuck on First by Emily French and enjoyed this endearing, slow burn, friends to lovers read. I absolutely adored Rob -- he is the epitome of a cinnamon roll hero. And I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Rob and Hailey. They are a perfect match, it just took her a little bit to realize it! Thank you @emilyfrenchbooks for sending me a copy of Stuck on First! This book is available now on Kindle Unlimited!

Q: When should you tell your best friend you’re in love with them? A: Before they fall for someone else.

Sports agent Rob Steadman has been in love with his friend Hailey Monroe since college when he found her crying in the library. He’s wildly attracted to her and they have a lot in common. When they aren’t arguing about who is the greatest pitcher of all time, they’re spending time with Hailey’s dog Sandy, at the beach, sharing books, or just hanging out together. Rob thinks he’s found the perfect time to share his feelings with Hailey, but now it may be too late. He’s made the mistake of introducing her to his newest client: up-and-coming baseball star Matt Harper, 6’ 5” of God’s gift to women. And now God’s gift to Hailey.

Twenty-seven-year-old Hailey has had a string of unsuccessful relationships. Most of her dates never even make it to a second. Her childhood left her feeling unloved and she’s tried to make up for that void in all the wrong places. Through it all has been her friend Rob who's always by her side. She adores him and finds him very attractive but figures they are squarely in the friend zone since Rob has never hinted that he feels anything more. And now he’s introduced her to professional baseball player Matt Harper who sweeps her off her feet. Has she finally found the right guy? Or has the right one been there all along?

[Sharon Mariampillai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Read

Actual Rating: 3.5

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

Thank you Emily French for the opportunity to read your book. This was an enjoyable read about two friends who turn into lovers. The story was great. I thought the characters were great as well. Rob, an avid Dodgers fan and lawyer/agent, has loved his best friend, Hailey from the day they met, but never dared to tell her about his feelings. Hailey, an avid Dodgers fan and an editor for independent authors, has a series of bad relationships and said she will not do relationships anymore. I thought their friendship was cute. It was great to see how their relationship changed from friends to lovers. I thought their chemistry was great. I cannot wait to read more Emily French books. Overall, a great read.

[Rayna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emily French hits it out of the ballpark! ⚾️💙🥰
I love this baseball themed, friends to lovers, romantic comedy! 🥰 Hailey and Rob are the sweetest friends and I loved seeing how their story developed. This is the perfect feel good, Spring time romance, right in time for baseball season. 🥰💙⚾️🥰😍

[Mrs R · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a standalone friends to lovers. It's listed as a romcom, and although there are some funny lines, I don't think there was enough to call it a comedy.

Rob and Hailey have been friends since college and are secretly in love with the other, but neither wants to risk their friendship. They are both firmly stuck in the friend zone.

Baseball is a big part of this story, and although some of the gameplay is described it went straight over my head, but I don't feel like I missed out on any part of the story.

I really liked Rob, he was always there when she needed him. I loved his conversations with his friends Spencer, I think they were the highlight of the book for me. He was determined to tell Hailey about his feelings, but just never seemed to get the chance.

I have mixed feelings with Hailey, I just didn't take to her character, she was a good friend to Rob, but her relationship choices were atrocious. She also repeatedly blamed her childhood for her behaviour, but that childhood wasn't explained until around halfway through the book so it got a bit frustrating when it was mentioned in nearly every single chapter. When it was finally explained, it did make sense to the story, I just think it would have helped if it had been mentioned earlier.


- standalone
- duel pov (mostly from the guy)
- friends to lovers

[NikiReadsRomance · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me happy! Really though, it was charming, sometimes lighthearted, sometimes serious, full of lots of heart and tons of baseball love.

Rob is so adorable! I was rooting for him through the entire book like I was watching the movie version of a rom-com. He’s kind, supportive, and such a good friend to Hailey even when he really just wanted to come clean with her about his feelings. Some of my favorite conversations from Rob’s POV were with his family and friends giving their support for his finally sharing his more-than-friendship feelings with Hailey.

While Hailey definitely has had bad luck in the dating department, she absolutely has a bone-deep love for the sport of baseball and she shares that love with Rob. She also has insecurities (I totally felt for her in those moments!) and the cutest dog by her side that I fell in love with reading about.
I repeat my first sentence, this book made me happy and just in time for the start of baseball season. 😉


⚾Quick Notes⚾
Baseball romance
Friends-to-lovers
Rom-Com vibes
The most adorable dog 😍
Made my heart smile

⚾Rating⚾
💗💗💗💗

😍Swoon worthy moment:
💗“Let me love you Hailey. Please.”

[N Bookstagram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emily French is one of my go-to authors when I need to read something dreamy, steamy and enthralling. I also can guarantee a book boyfriend crush, and I have a huge thing about Rob right now!

Hailey, the leading lady, is just an absolute sweetheart, I adore her. She has a flawed past and struggles at times but this makes her far more interesting as a heroine. She has a heart of gold and I loved reading her story.

Then there’s Rob … bestill my beating heart. The chapters written from his POV were just delicious. A guy with a secret crush that he’s scared to confess to, a man who has fallen in love so deeply … swooning just thinking about him.
Robs relationship with his family was amazing and really warmed my heart, as did Sandy the dog!

I was worried initially that because I don’t understand or have an interest in baseball it might detract from the story, but it didn’t at all. I absolutely loved every chapter, a 5 star from me without a doubt!

Friends to lovers, romantic, steamy and with an amazing side cast of characters - just go read it right now!

[Renee Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely delightful. Whether a fan of baseball, or, not, you will fall madly and deeply in love with Rob and Hailey. Baseball is the backdrop to this friends to lovers, romantic relationship, but in no way interferes with the telling of this lovely tale.

Rob is a sports lawyer who has been in love with Hailey since they first met. Hailey is an editor with history of a difficult childhood and disastrous relationships. She has longed for Rob for many years, too, but, somehow, their wires always seemed to get crossed.

I adored this couple. Strong, loyal, and very family oriented. Simply a perfect Spring read. Emily French is one of my favorite authors and this book is definitely a winner…home run…grand slam…out of the park!

[Kym · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stuck On First by Emily French - I know nothing about Baseball but that is ok! It's a romance novel and you don't need to know Baseball to enjoy this book! Realistic lovable main characters, Rob is the charming best friend of Hailey. Both are in love with each other but they are firmly in the friend zone. Neither has the courage to tell the other how they feel because they don't want to mess up the amazing friendship they have. Real life happens and there is highs and lows and finally Rob gets up the courage and the rest they say is history! Looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

[Cherie Melbourne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know this is supposed to be a Rom Com, yet it only made me smile at times. I really liked Rob, he's a good man, just not very heart smart and Hailey had me shaking my head because she couldn't see what was in front of her. At least the dog had his act together.
A first read of a story by this author for me and I enjoyed it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

[Madeline · Rating 2 out of 5]

Feeling conflicted

I feel like this book was the abridged version of itself. IMHO, while the plot points were straightforward, this book wasn’t long enough for me to care about the characters. I am hopeful for Spencer’s story though.

[Natalie Ortiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun book to read! This is a clever, funny and sweet romcom. I can totally see this as a movie. The author is great at bringing the characters to life. It is so easy to read and I zoomed right through it. I’m going to read another one now, A Christmas In New York.

[GJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

First time reading anything written by this author. Cute! Enjoyable read, believable behavior from characters. Nice summer read. Will definitely read more from this author.