ARC Review: Catch Her If You Can (Big Shots #5) by Tessa Bailey

This special paperback features gorgeous sprayed edges with stenciled artwork.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey is back with an all-new marriage of convenience, friends-to-lovers sports romance about a baseball catcher and the burlesque club owner he can’t get out of his head.

Madden Donahue, the newest catcher for the Yankees, has been in love with Eve Mitchell since high school, but for some mysterious reason, the burlesque club owner always turns him down. That never stopped him from being her self-appointed protector. Case in point, now that Eve’s sister has left Eve with her two children indefinitely, Madden steps in with a proposition—marry him for the much needed health benefits.

Eve has secretly harbored feelings for Madden all along, but there’s one problem—her best friend Skylar called dibs on him when they were fourteen. Eve has always put their friendship above all else, and she’s not willing to risk losing Skylar over a man. Raised by the local strip club owner, Eve is woefully short on friends and treasures the ones she has. But with Skylar happily paired off, Eve finds herself accepting Madden’s proposal—on the condition that their marriage remains strictly private. She’s not about to let her unique profession and maligned reputation destroy Madden’s shiny new career.

Madden won’t let Eve get away that easily, though. What starts as a marriage of convenience soon ignites into something much hotter, and now it’s up to Madden to convince Eve that their connection is far more than 

Title: Catch Her If You Can (Big Shots #5)

Author: Tessa Bailey

Publisher: Avon Harper Voyager

Expected Publication Date: Janaury 20, 2026

Review:

Thank you to Avon Harper Voyager and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I really enjoy the stories Tessa Bailey puts out. Every time I read her, I'm immersed and don't want to put the book down. I was very excited to get Madden's story. He was a bit of a mystery in Pitcher Perfect. I loved the glimpses we got of him. How he was shy and reserved and grumpy. I needed to know more about him and Bailey made that happen.

Eve and Madden have known each other since they were teens and Madden moved from Ireland to America. They have both harbored feelings for all that time but have not been able to act on it (she because of her best friend Skylar's crush and him because of his preoccupation with their age gap). When Madden finds out Eve needs help, he jumps in with a proposal, literally. Marry him for the benefits, just for six months, so she can get back on her feet. A marriage of convenience, though his plan is anything but. Of course they cannot help their feelings getting in the way of their arrangement.

I will say the vibe of this book was unlike the first four. There are much more serious topics in this book. Much more trauma the character have endured from physical to emotional and mental abuse. Madden escaped by moving far away from his abuser. But Even is still stuck in the same town where her father's legacy has followed her and the bullying towns people all her life. 

Madden, oh Madden. Gah, I just love him. He's grumpy and totally possessive. But his heart is so very big. Considering his background, and the trauma he seems to have endured during his childhood, it's surprising he is so well adjusted. One thing I really need more of from him was his background. We get it from him, he tells a bit of his story, but not as much as I would have liked. I really would have liked to see more of what he endured so I can understand how he was able to come out on the other side with such a positive attitude. Then again, we endure trauma and it often makes us stronger and we figure out ways for that trauma not to enter into our lives again.

I liked Eve but not as much as bailey's other FMCs. She nice enough. I love her connection with her niece and nephew. I love the fact that she is selfless enough to take on their care when it's needed and her act of selflessness towards Madden (I will not get into it since it's kind of a spoiler though I figured it out right away).  I just wish she would have been stronger in her conviction of who she is and what she stands for. We do get this a bit at the end of the book. But mostly she keeps her head down and kind of lets others abuse her with their snark and gross comments. Most of the time she just walks away. Ok, we are taught to walk away from the bullies, I get it. But I needed her to really start to stand up for herself and who she was deep down. To show everyone how selfless and loving she could be.

The spice is absolutely spicing in this one. I love the exploration of the voyeur kink. It wasn't unexpected given the background of the character, to be honest. I actually thought it was a little too on point and kind of wished it was a different kink that was explored.

This one was a fast read. I started and finished in less than 24 hours. The flashbacks at the beginning were a nice addition, giving us a good background for Eve and Madden's romance. Their chemistry was definitely off the charts. Bailey made that attraction very palpable throughout the book. Bailey throws in the virgin card for one of the characters, which could have been such a better plot line if explored a bit. It just kind of comes up and then it's like it wasn't that big of a deal when I feel like it kind of should have been. Especially given the reasoning for it. And while it was fast paced and for the most part I enjoyed the story, there were some plot holes that I had a hard time getting over which lowered my rating.

I will forever pick up Bailey's books as I really do love the stories she tells. She always keeps me entertained, even if I've read the tropes a million times in other stories. I love the journey she takes and how she brings her characters together with such great connections. Fingers crossed she continues because I need Elton's story! I was totally shipping him and Veda in this book!

Autor:

New York Times Bestselling author Tessa Bailey can solve all problems except for her own, so she focuses those efforts on stubborn, fictional blue collar men and loyal, lovable heroines. She lives on Long Island avoiding the sun and social interactions, then wonders why no one has called. Dubbed the “Michelangelo of dirty talk,” by Entertainment Weekly, Tessa writes with spice, spirit, swoon and a guaranteed happily ever after. Catch her on TikTok at @authortessabailey or check out tessabailey.com for a complete list of books.

 

ARC Review: The E.M.M.A. Effect by Lia Riley

 

Jane Austen meets Ali Hazelwood in this steamy, friends-to-lovers, STEM rom-com! He’s her best friend’s little brother and NHL forward. She’s a computer scientist used to being in control. The E.M.M.A., her elite AI training program, claims optimizing his performance requires one thing: the perfect match. According to its calculations, that’s her… Will Harriet discover that The E.M.M.A. knows best?

Harriet Smythe’s AI was supposed to create sports legends—not encourage her crush on her best friend’s totally off-limits, hot younger brother. But when funding runs dry, she has no choice but to enlist Gale Knight as her test subject. The same Gale she’s been secretly crushing on for years. The player who follows her every instruction with a knowing smirk that threatens to short-circuit her carefully maintained system.

Everything changes when The E.M.M.A. determines that finding Gale’s perfect match is essential to his peak performance. Even worse? According to its data, that match is Harriet.

Determined to keep things professional, she makes it search for new candidates. But as Gale dutifully endures awkward outings with pop stars and athletes, the chemistry between them only intensifies. And his willing cooperation during their sessions definitely isn’t helping her stay focused.

With her deadline approaching and The E.M.M.A. still playing cupid, Harriet must choose: trust in pure logic, or admit that sometimes taking control means letting go.

Maybe The E.M.M.A. knows something they don’t—even if they’re not ready to compute it yet.

Title: The E.M.M.A. Effect

Author: Lia Riley

Publisher:

Expected Publication Date: December 2, 2025

Review:

Thank you Avon Harper Voyager and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I will admit, the concept of this book drew me in immediately. I love STEM and especially women in STEM. And with the AI in our world becoming some prominent in so much of our lives, I was excited to see how it was used in this book. Plus it's a Jane Austen inspired story and likened to Ali Hazelwood. So I had to give it a try. I actually did not realize this book was connected to Puck and Prejudice. While you see some characters from that book, this one could definitely be read as a stand alone. Riley has been hit or miss with me in the books I've read from her. Since I enjoyed the first book in this series, I figured I'd give this one a try.

Harriet Smythe has created E.M.M.A., an AI program to help athletes the best they can be. When Harriet employs her best friend's baby brother, Gale Knight, to be one of her test subjects, she's expecting it to boost his waning career. She's not expecting the AI to evolve into a program that evolves to include more personal things in its assessment, like how it decides the best way to get Gale's game back in line is to pair him with Harriet.

From the start I enjoyed Harriet's character. She was fun and  just a bit on the quirky side with how intelligent she was. Of course she's been attracted to Gale for as long as she can remember. But she never thought it was a good idea to act on it since he's her best friend's brother. She never imagined he'd be her perfect match. Of course Gale has always been in love with Harriet but he never thought she'd have those same feelings for him. So it was fun to watch them realize they wanted to be with each other. 

I was really into this story until about half way through the book. Then it just started to have some plot holes I could not get over. LIke the fact that E.M.M.A. needed Gale to wear a device so she could track him but she easily sussed out Harriet's moods without her having any device. It didn't make sense.  And the chemistry between the characters started to feel off. I understood there was some miscommunication between them but it didn't seem to make sense to me. I hated that Harriet was keeping secrets from Gale. And I wasn't a huge fan of how the plot centered around a relationship being able to fix everyone's problems.

Finally, the submissive/dominant relationship between the characters didn't seem real. It seemed forced into the story to try and make it more interesting to the reader. Another plot line that didn't seem as organic as it could have. And I am in no way against reading this type of spice, but it just didn't work with the characters in this story. Had there been a bit more background, maybe some flashbacks to show these characters traits, I would have found them more believable.

While I enjoyed this one enough, I felt like it was too forced towards the end. I needed the characters to grow organically and it just didn't happen.

Overall it was fun and if you enjoy women in STEM, best friend's brother, friends to lovers, and a little kink exploration, give this one a try!

Author:

Lia Riley is a contemporary romance author. USA Today describes her as "refreshing" and RT Book Reviews calls her books "sizzling and heartfelt." She loves the beach, fresh flowers, foggy redwood forests and a perfect pour over coffee. She is 25% sarcastic, 54% optimistic, and 122% bad at math (good thing she writes happy endings for a living). She and her family live mostly in Northern California.

Visit her at www.liariley.com to learn more.

ARC Review: A Scar In the Bone by Sophie Jordan

 

MAGIC AWAKENS.

DARKNESS SWELLS.

AND A HERO RISES.

It’s been a year since Tamsyn transformed from the enemy in Fell’s bed to the wife he sacrificed himself to save. From an ordinary girl to Penterra’s best hope to keep magic from disappearing forever.

With Fell torn from her side in the dangerous swirling mists of the Crags, Tamsyn is alone among the dragon pride. An outsider learning to survive in her new home, she trains until her muscles burn and her blood spills. And slowly, a warrior emerges.

But is Fell truly beyond Tamsyn’s reach? Their bond pulls at her, as does the fierce drive to protect both humans and dragonkind from a relentless enemy determined to destroy her – and all magic.

Magic stirs in the darkness, strengthening all who believe in it. But will it be enough to save the pride, the kingdom, and a love fated to endure for centuries?

In this explosive sequel to the Sunday Times bestselling A Fire in the Sky, the fate of magic rests on one warrior’s shoulders – but it could cost her everything …

🔥Fated mates

🔥Magic, dragons, and witches

🔥Spice

Title: A Scar In the Bone (A Fire in The Sky #2)

Author: Sophie Jordan

Publisher:

Expected Publication Date: October 14, 2025

Review:

Thank you to Avon Harper Voyager, HarperAudio Adult, and NetGalley for providing me with this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I was excited for the second installment of this book. I enjoyed A Fire In the Sky (and have enjoyed many of Sophie Jordan's other books). I was anticipating this would go to great places. Unfortunately, this book suffered from what I like to call second book syndrome. This at times happens in a series of books where the second book needs to lead you to a certain place but takes a painstakingly slow time to get there. This book suffered from that and more.

Let me comment on the narrators. I did enjoy them. I do not think I've listened to anything narrated by Karen Cass orFiona Hardingham before and I'm not sure which of them did what parts since the one narrator was just a chapter at the end. But their voices were nice and easy to understand. I do believe I've heard Joe Jameson before and was happy with how he portrayed the male character.

I'll also mention how beautiful the cover of this book is. I would definitely be accused of judging a book by it's cover with this one.

This book starts out a year after the previous book, which ended on a bit of a cliffhanger. So I was expecting it to start with a boom and go from there. But it did not. Tamsyn is living with the Pride and Fell is gone. Like what happened in that year? We're just supposed to accept all that time has passed and not even get flashbacks to show us what happened? It made no sense. I honestly thought I had forgotten the ending of the first book so I went back to read the last few chapters again and realized I didn't forget anything. We were just plopped into the story at a totally different time. The first 25% of the book is Tamsyn still adjusting and being outcast by members of the Pride. Then she leaves and goes off on what I'm assuming is supposed to be an adventure to get her to where she needs to go but just turns out to be a trek that was slow paced and really didn't add anything to the story for me. I was completely bored and struggled to push through. I was glad to have the audio for the last 25% as it was easier to listen to the book rather than read it on my Kindle.

Not to mention the romance. There's a scene that happens and it makes zero sense. There's not chemistry between Tamsyn and Vetr and we're just supposed to accept there is. That she is suddenly attracted to her husband's twin brother and that's not weird? I really disliked that this was even part of the story. And the whole breeding thing, that's all the female dragons are good for? Nope. I thought this book would take Fell and Tamsyn's love story further and show it expand and grow. But since he's absent for most of the book (I totally predicted he was not actually dead because that really would have ruined the entire story) it's hard to route for them.

There were so many times I wanted to DNF this book. But I really thought if I pushed through it would start become better. That I would fall back in love with the characters I loved in the first book. But it didn't happen. This book felt like a completely different story from the first book with the huge time jump, missing the main character who made book 1 something exciting, and the long trek disguised as a quest to find something important. 

Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be continuing on with this series. I just cannot see myself enjoying anything further in this world.

Author:

Sophie Jordan took her adolescent daydreaming one step further and penned her first historical romance in the back of her high school Spanish class. This passion led her to pursue a degree in English and History.

A brief stint in law school taught her that case law was not nearly as interesting as literature - teaching English seemed the natural recourse. After several years teaching high school students to love Antigone, Sophie resigned with the birth of her first child and decided it was time to pursue the long-held dream of writing.

In less than three years, her first book, Once Upon A Wedding Night, a 2006 Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Nominee for Best First Historical, hit book shelves. Her second novel, Too Wicked To Tame, released in March 2007 with a bang, landing on the USA Today Bestseller's List.

ARC Review: He Sees You When You're Sleeping by Alta Hensley

 

Why choose between naughty or nice in this steamy, suspenseful Christmas-themed stalker romance that’s perfect for dark romance readers seeking a spicy, festive read. 

It’s the night before Christmas and I’m alone in the house…

Popular jewelry influencer Chloe Hallman is steeling herself to spend another holiday on her own. Instead, she finds herself drawn to two different guys… a smoldering hot fan of her secret, seductive online persona, and a sexy fireman named Jack who looks out for her in their NYC neighborhood.

She has no idea that I know her better than she knows herself. Her deepest secrets, her darkest desires—she's careful, but I’ve been watching, never leaving footprints in the snow outside her home.

Jack was the first responder to the accident that stole a beautiful young woman's family two Christmases ago, and he's been quietly guarding her ever since. When Jack uncovers Chloe’s secret account, his obsession only grows. Both he and Chloe are drawn to the darkness that mirrors their own.

She’s my Christmas wish come true. And I'm hers. She just doesn’t know it yet.

Will Chloe’s Christmas be a tale of fiery passion...or a dangerous game with a man whose love knows no bounds?

He Sees You When You're Sleeping is a dark romance with a morally grey male lead. Some themes may be disturbing to readers. Please check the content warnings at the beginning of the book.

Tropes: Stalker romance, Acquainted in real life, Christmas romance, Fireman romance, Morally grey MMC, He falls first, Kink friendly

Title: He Sees You When You're Sleeping

Author: Alta Hensley

Publisher: Avon Harper Voyager

Expected Publication Date: September 16, 2025

Review:

Thank you to Avon Harper Voyager and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

There's something about stalker romance that just makes me giggle. It's not really my kink but it's always fun to watch it unfold. Through in some snow and Christmas cheer and you've got a enjoyably silly story, with lots and lots of spice.

Chloe is a jewelry influencer with a nice exterior and a totally naughty interior. What she does in private does not match her cutesy public persona. And she needs to keep it that way if she wants to keep her job. I liked her, though I'm not sure if I truly believe in her naughty kinky side. But it was fun to watch her explore herself and see how far she could take things.

Jack is a sexy fireman who is obsessed with Chloe ever. He watched her to make sure she's safe, even though he knows his actions are wrong. I liked Jack and how much he struggled with the decisions he made. 

The spice level was pretty high in this book. I felt like it took up a good bit of what happened. And I get it, the book was about exploring some kinks, .But I didn't feel like it was especially organic. I needed more of a connection between Jack and Chloe to truly believe they were meant for each other. And I felt like it was lacking in plot for the most part.

I was expecting this to be a bit darker, but it wasn't. The cover reminded me of another dark romance I recently read, which is what drew me to request this one in the first place,

Overall this was a fun read but nothing special. If you're into exploring your kinkier side, voyeurism, and stalking, pick this one up and give it a try.

Author:

Alta Hensley is a USA Today bestselling author of dark romance where the villain always gets the happily ever after.

Twisted, clever, and occasionally unhinged, her books deliver morally gray anti-heroes, sharp-tongued heroines, and happily ever afters that taste even sweeter after a little ruin. With a signature blend of grit, wit, and heat, Alta’s stories prove one thing: Villains deserve love too.

Alta lives on the foggy coast of Oregon with her husband, two daughters, and a pair of dogs who think they’re in charge. When she’s not writing redemption for the irredeemable, she’s walking the coastline or sipping craft beer in eccentric little bars that feel like they belong in her books.

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ARC Review: Pitcher Perfect (Big Shots #4) by Tessa Bailey

#1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey is back with an all-new enemies-to-lovers, fake-dating sports romance about a playboy hockey rookie and the disciplined softball pitcher completely immune to his charms.

Boston Bearcats rookie Robbie Corrigan is living the dream. He’s made it to the NHL, his best friend/teammate and fellow “orgasm donor” is his roomie—and the women of Boston love them both. Life is sweet. That is, until he meets Skylar Paige, division 1 softball pitcher, girl least likely to take anyone’s bull…and the one member of the opposite sex immune to his charms. Robbie might be dazzled by the badass pitcher, but Skylar pegs him as a filthy player and wants nothing to do with him.

When he discovers she’s carrying a serious torch for her brother’s best friend, Robbie knows he should just go back to clubbing and whipped cream bikini parties, but he can’t seem to leave Skylar to flounder on her romantic quest to land another man. Nor can he miss out on the opportunity to spend time with her and hopefully redeem himself. Before Robbie knows it, he’s agreed to be Skylar’s fake boyfriend/love coach at an upcoming family wilderness competition where her crush will be in attendance. What could go wrong?

Through a series of contests that require them to trust each other, Robbie and Skylar grow closer and closer until their fake relationship starts to feel like the realest thing they’ve ever known and the sizzling lessons in sensuality burn out of control.

But it’s all just pretend…right?

Title: Pitcher Perfect (Big Shots #4)

Author: Tessa Bailey

Publisher: Avon Harper Voyager

Expected Publication Date: September 9, 2025

REVIEW:

Thank you to Avon Harper Voyager and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

This series has been so much fun to read. I love all the different sports and all the connections Bailey is making with the characters. I was truly excited to read Robbie and Skylar's story. And Bailey did not disappoint with their plot and love story!

Robbie Corrigan is such a great character. I wasn't sure how I would feel about him given his status in the other books where he's the "orgasm donor" and all. While he's pegged as a player, you can see deep down it's not truly who he is. He's actually quite the golden retriever in this story. I just want to squish him now that I know him so much better. He's definitely one of those characters whose depth is misunderstood from the quick meetings we've had with him in the past. He's a big teddy bear and just wants to love and be loved but has been so focused on hockey he hasn't given himself the chance to become who he truly is. Skylar rips him right open and reveals his good boy nature. And his nickname for her, ROCKET, I totally love it.

Skylar Paige is one tough cookie. She's focused and knows what she wants. And she wants her brother's best friend, Madden. But in order to make him see her as more than the little sister, she needs someone to show him who she is. And that someone comes in the form of Robbie Corrigan. Her organize everything brain comes up with a plan for lessons on how to win the guy she wants over. So she makes a list of spice lessons and employees Robbie to help her achieve her goals. She hasn't seen Robbie as anything but a player since she met him, but the more time she spends with him, the more she sees the real him and the real him is very tempting. I love how she slowly warms to him and peels back not only his layers, but her own as well. 

The fake dating trope is always fun for me. This one came with a bit of the enemies to lovers trope, as well. Bailey infuses a great build of chemistry between Skylar and Robbie. Their relationship is very believable as are the feelings they begin to show for each other. I will say the lead up is very short. So while I do believe in them, I'm not sure their short time together would really build to them being the loves of each other's lives. But that didn't detract from me loving their connection. And the banter! Bailey has a lock on making me laugh, usually out loud.

The plot is typical of a rom-com, nothing new, but still satisfying to read because the journey to get to the HEA was fun. And the pacing is on point. I was definitely invested on seeing where the story went and tore through this in a short time.

Overall I really liked this story. It's not my favorite from this series, that remains Fangirl Down because *SWOON*, but I still was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked Robbie and Skyler together. And Bailey definitely alluded to another story with Madden. I need to see him have his HEA!

Author:

New York Times Bestselling author Tessa Bailey can solve all problems except for her own, so she focuses those efforts on stubborn, fictional blue collar men and loyal, lovable heroines. She lives on Long Island avoiding the sun and social interactions, then wonders why no one has called. Dubbed the “Michelangelo of dirty talk,” by Entertainment Weekly, Tessa writes with spice, spirit, swoon and a guaranteed happily ever after. Catch her on TikTok at @authortessabailey or check out tessabailey.com for a complete list of books.

 

ARC Review: The Battle of the Bookshops by Poppy Alexander

 

A charming literary-themed novel about a young woman determined to save her great-aunt’s beloved bookshop from extinction by the shiny new competition—which also happens to be run by the handsome son of her family’s rivals.

The cute, seaside town of Portneath has been the home of Capelthorne’s Books for nearly a hundred years…

The shop, in the heart of a high street that stretches crookedly down the hill from the castle to the sea, may be a tad run-down these days, but to Jules Capelthorne, the wonky, dusty world of literary treasures is full of precious childhood memories. When her great-aunt Florence gets too frail to run it alone, Jules ditches her junior publishing job in London and comes home to make the bookshop’s hundredth birthday a celebration to remember.

Jules quickly discovers things are worse than she ever imagined: The bookshop is close to bankruptcy, unlikely to make it to its own centenary celebration, and the lease on the building is up for renewal. With a six-figure sum needed, the future looks bleak.

To make matters worse, the owner of the property is the insufferable Roman Montbeau, from the posh, local family who owns half of Portneath. The Montbeaus and Capelthornes have feuded for years, and Roman has clearly not improved since he tormented Jules as a child. Fresh from a high-flying career in New York, he is on a mission to shake things up, and—unforgivably—proves his point about Capelthorne’s being a relic of the past by opening a new bookshop directly opposite—a shiny, plate-glass-windowed emporium of books.

Jules may not be able to splash the cash on promotions and marketing like the Montbeaus, but she’s got some ideas of her own, plus she has a tenacity that may just win the hardest of hearts and the most hopeless of conflicts.

Let the battle of the bookshops commence…

Title: The Battle of the Bookshops

Author: Poppy Alexander

Publisher: Avon Harper Voyager

Expected Publication Date: August 19, 2025

Review:

Thank you to Avon Harper Voyager and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I was really excited about this book. Mostly because I read another book about a battle between two bookshops and I wanted to see where this author would take such a story. This was my first book by Poppy Alexander. I loved the cover and had high expectations. Books about books always make my heart happy. This one, unfortunately, just did not hit the mark for me.

What I liked: the idea of this book. Two bookstores across the street from each other competing for sales. One is a smaller store that's been around for one hundred years, while the other is a large store, comparable to the big box stores we know now, offering many things above and beyond books. This particular theme really hit the mark for me. I love small independent book shops and try to visit them and give them my business whenever I can. But I also understand the ease of getting books from a larger shop. One that can offer not only a large variety but also discounts depending on how you purchase.

I also enjoyed the relationship between Jules and her great aunt. It was more of a grandmotherly/motherly bond. Aunt Flo (this name made me wince every time I read it) was definitely spry for her age and I loved her wit and humor. And the Romeo and Juliette theme of the book was also fun. I thought it would grow into something big that I could really sink my teeth into.

Beyond these two things I was just bored with this book. by 50% in, not much had happened. The Romeo and Juliette theme had barely played out by halfway through the book. I was waiting on the chemistry between Jules and Roman but it just was not there. Plus, their meetings were not fraught with the tension I truly thought I would see. And the names were way to close to the original.

The plot just kind of chugged along, with long passages describing daily chores, daily things that really didn't need to be so intricately described. I felt like the author just wanted to fill the story with words but none that would move it anywhere. Many of the scenes failed to move the book over. And the long passages of telling rather than showing really slowed the pace. And I was confused as to why the author chose to make this dual POV. In the first 50% you barely get Roman at all. It's all Jules being drama and the text is overly imbued with her drama. I could not relate to her nor could I find it in myself to even like her.

When I find myself forced to pick up a book because I feel like I have to finish it, then I know it's not for me. It just felt flat and didn't pull me in as I really wanted. Others who like a slower pace with a romance book that isn't really focused on the romance may like this one. I do not like to put aside review books but I ended up DNFing this one at 50%.

Author:

Poppy's first published book - the bestselling 25 Days 'Til Christmas - has been translated into several languages and optioned for TV.

Poppy Alexander wrote her first book when she was five. There was a long gap in her writing career while she was at school, and after studying classical music at university, she decided the world of music was better off without her and returned to writing instead. She takes an anthropological interest in family, friends and life in her West Sussex village (think, The Archers crossed with Twin Peaks) where she lives with her husband, children and various other pets.

She is generally lurking on social media as @PoppyAlexanderBooks on Instagram and Facebook.

Poppy also writes as Rosie Howard.

 

ARC Review: Last Night Was Fun by Holly MIchelle

You’ve Got Mail meets The Hating Game! Vying for a promotion against a bitter rival as the only female data analyst for a professional baseball team, Emmy finds solace in the text-flirting relationship that started as a wrong number exchange—unaware that the man she’s texting is the one she’s fighting for the promotion.

Emmy Jameson lives by three no dating, no sharing personal news at work, and baseball above everything. As the only female data analyst for a professional baseball team, Emmy is constantly trying to prove herself.

Especially when she’s put up for a senior analyst position against her arrogant, infuriating coworker Gabe Olson. Sure, he’s gorgeous and smart and he was a baseball star in college who knows the sport inside and out, but so does Emmy. She is not going to lose to him again. There will be no distractions this summer. Not even her sister’s pending destination wedding in Mexico for which she needs to find a plus one.

But then she receives a text from an unknown number with a simple  “Last night was fun.” When she strikes up a conversation with the mystery texter, they realize that he was given a fake phone number after a bad date that just so happened to be Emmy’s. Despite her rules, Emmy can’t deny the instant connection she feels and soon finds herself falling for the stranger on the other side of the screen…and inviting him to her sister’s wedding.

Emmy’s world turns upside down when her mystery man turns out to be none other than Gabe Olson. They are left having to travel to the wedding together while trying to sort out which version of their relationship is their in-person rivalry or the deep connection they found in their messages.

Title: Last Night Was Fun

Author: Holly Michelle

Publisher: Avon

Expected Publication Date: June 10, 2025

Review:

Thank you to Avon Harper Voyager and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinion expressed here are my own.

You had me at You've Got Mail. One of my favorite movies. I just love a mistaken identity trope!

Emmy Jameson has rules: no dating, no personal interactions at work, and baseball above all else. At work, she's competing or a promotion against her nemesis, Gabe Olsen. They are like oil and vinegar and she's determined to beat him for the title.. When she receives a random text and strikes up communication with the sender, she finds herself opening up about things she never thought she would. Little does she know the sender is none other than her nemesis.

Emmy is a great character. But boy does she have some unsolved trauma. She definitely works through a lot throughout the book. And a woman in a man's world made her life even harder. She had to fight for everything to show she was worthy of her job. I hated that for her but it wasn't unrelatable. I enjoyed her development and her relationships with her coworkers, best friend, and parents.

Gabe is a tight lipped character. His outside facade is not what he feels inside at all. He presents himself as what he thinks everyone wants to see him while he's secretly so not the way that everyone sees him. I loved his connection to Emmy. I was routing for him the whole time.

The pacing of the book was good. While it took a turn about 50% through, that didn't stop me from wanting to continue to read to see where the story was going. I really enjoyed the slow build romance. Plus there was so much banter I found myself laughing more often than not. And then there's the swoon the author makes you go through. The build up is tense and the culmination worth the wait.

This book was a lot of fun. I was enamored with the text exchanges between Emmy and Gabe. There was some serious flirting and moments of raw honesty that were refreshing. There is a ton of baggage for both characters which of course forces them to look deeply at themselves and how they view relationships. My only complaint with this book was the drop off in that connection at about halfway through the book. While I understand why it happened, it changed the feel of the relationship and tone of the book very quickly and I found myself missing it. 

Overall this one was fun. It's my first book by this author, who I understand has more than one pen name. I would love to read  more from her in the future. A solid swoon worthy beach read!

Author:

Holly James (Holly Michelle) is the author of adult romance and commercial fiction. She holds a PhD in psychology and has worked in both academia and the tech industry. When she’s not reading or writing a book, she can be found on the beach or hiking in the woods. Born and raised in Northern California, she currently lives at the southern end of the state with her husband and their dog. Find her at hollyjamesbooks.com and on Instagram at @hellohollyjames.