I received an advance reader copy of Only Between Us by Ellie K. Wilde from NetGalley and Atria Books in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Step aside everybody, because I’ve got a new favorite Golden Retriever boyfriend. Only Between Us is a cute football romance where Brooks, an NFL wide receiver who’s recovering from a bad concussion and training for his comeback, finds himself fake dating Siena, a wild spirit who agrees to the scheme to make ends meet.
I loved this book. The banter between the main characters hit every single romcom note I itch to scratch, and it introduced me to my favorite Golden Retriever boyfriend of the year. Only Between Us has made it to one of my few 5-star reads this year.
Read my full ARC review in this post.
Only Between Us
Description
The highly anticipated sequel to the “achingly tender and deliciously sexy” (Jillian Meadows, author of Give Me Butterflies) Only in Your Dreams is a steamy, whip-smart sports romance about a former pro football star who agrees to fake date the fan-favorite ex of another high-profile NFL player so they can both save what’s most dear to them while fighting their growing feelings for each other.
After a death-defying injury sidelined him for two seasons, Brooks Attwood’s pro football comeback has hit a major snag. Naughty photos from a post-break-up bender have leaked, and they’re killing his chances with the Rebels—his old team, and the only one he wants to play on.
As he trains with the hope of being signed before the first kickoff of the season, Brooks’s plans to keep a low profile are suddenly upended when his selfie with a fiery fan goes viral, and tabloids mistake them as the football world’s newest It couple.
Turns out, Siena Pippen is the ex-girlfriend of the “face” of the League. And she wants nothing more to do with that world after being with her nightmare ex. While she and Brooks are busy blaming each other for the media circus surrounding them, NFL teams are suddenly scrambling to sign a housebroken Brooks. Meanwhile, Siena realizes that all this buzz could be the Hail Mary her family’s struggling business needs.
Together, Brooks and Siena hatch a ignore the will to kill each other and pretend to be madly in love—at least, until Brooks signs with a team. But the longer they pretend, the less fake their fauxmance begins to feel…and Brooks becomes as determined to convince Siena they’re truly meant to be as he is to land a spot on the Rebels’ roster.
Tropes
- Fake dating
- Football Romance
- Sunshine x more sunshine
- Golden Retriever boyfriend
- Friends to lovers
Review
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On average, how many books do you read each month?
Overall Impressions 😊
This was my first football romance and to be frank I expected a different version of hockey romances, which I adore. And that’s what I got. No complaints here. However, I did not expect this to exceed my expectations so thoroughly. I was thinking after seeing so many meet-cute ➝ attraction ➝ third act break up ➝ HEA cycles, I didn’t think I could get surprised. Apparently, the magic is in the details, and that’s what’s special about this book.
I was giggling the entire time. The attraction between these two was so palpable that I couldn’t stop reading or creating time to read it. It was addictive to watch them fall in love, and the spice was just so 🥵.
The chemistry between the characters is uncharted, the banter is adorable, the side characters offer comedic relief, and it’s just a good romcom.
Perfect For Fans Of… 🌟
If you’re into sports romances with a very confident and talented boyfriend, this one will be your cup of tea. Think Off Campus or Briar U by Elle Kennedy, or Maple Hills by Hannah Grace. If you’re into those, you’ll feel right at home with this one.
With its lighthearted humor and extra spice, it hits all the marks. I would also say the fake dating was done really well in this book, so if you’re into that trope, this one should definitely be on your TBR.
Characters 👥
I hate to say it, but when reading romcoms, it’s all about the MMC. And Brooks delivers. He’s cute. He’s talented. He’s loyal. Devoted. Extremely jealous. His love language is unmatched. He is good with kids, very vocal about his feelings, confident in what he wants, and aware of his insecurities. It’s very attractive in an MMC.
Siena isn’t so bad either. She’s a free spirit, although her background does give a bit of It Ends With Us, and her actions are a bit “pick me.” I had to roll my eyes a bit every time she had an “I’m not like the other girls” trait. She wears overalls, rides a bike, and sneaks into football fields in secret. But I loved her passion for her family, her devotion to her friends, and her inability to stay away from Brooks.
I liked both of their support systems. Parker and Summer were top-notch friends to Brooks. And although I haven’t read the first book in the series (this one practically reads as a standalone), I would pick up a book about Parker and Summer so fast you don’t even know it.
Plot 🗺️
As always, the plot is the secondary concern in a romcom, but we also don’t want straight romance either. I love watching a couple meeting and folding into each other’s life, and that part shines, so I love love loved this book. It honestly felt like what fake dating with an NFL athlete while slowly turning into an influencer would look like.
I liked how it handled a serious theme like an injured athlete, especially within a contact sport.
However, I have a strong preference for contemporary romance to be a bit shorter — around 350 pages or so (this one’s just shy of 400), and occasionally the B plot with friends and family felt too verbose or unnecessary. I appreciate the depth it offered to the characters, but sometimes I could’ve done without it. Although that might just be because I basically didn’t want to read a single page without Brooks in it. And that might just be that.
Writing Style and Narration ✍️
This book was like candy to read. It was written light, effortless, and just an easy read to absolutely devour.
I am an absolute sucker for dual POVs, especially the MMC’s chapters where he pines and yearns for the FMC, and this book did such a good job with that. Brooks’s inner monologue is chef’s kiss, and I loved his chapters so much.
Then there’s the witty banter and giggly romance. It fit the romcom vibes so well that I enjoyed every second of it.
Closing Thoughts 🧃
I cannot sing the praises of this book enough. It gave me my new favorite Golden Retriever boyfriend. I love a confident, happy, and funny lead so very much, and Brooks tops the list in that category this year.
I also really enjoyed Ellie K. Wilde’s writing. This was my first book of hers, and I’d love to read more. I’m already making my way to the first book in the series, and I’m curious to see what the experience will feel like in backwards order!
Please go meet my new favorite Golden Retriever boyfriend.
There you have it! This post is basically a rave about Golden Retriever boyfriends, so I’d love to hear any recs you might have for other Golden Retriever boyfriend books that are like this. Let me know in the comments, my TBR can always use more books!
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