From the publisher:
Is it ever too late to leave the friend zone? Discover the heartwarming friends to lovers romance that became a sensation on TikTok—now with a new chapter and a Q&A with the author!
The friend zone is not the end zone for Bree Camden, who is helplessly in love with her longtime best friend and extremely hot NFL legend, Nathan Donelson. The only problem is that she can’t admit her true feelings, because he clearly sees her as a best friend with no romantic potential, and the last thing Bree wants is to ruin their relationship. But those abs . . .
Nope! Nothing but good old-fashioned, no-touching-the-sexiest-man-alive, platonic friendship for Bree. In any case, she has other things to worry about. After a car accident ended her chance at becoming a professional ballerina, Bree changed paths and now owns her own dance studio, with big dreams to expand it. But one more rent increase could mean the end of the studio entirely.
Then, as usual, Nathan comes to the rescue and buys the entire building. A stubborn Bree is not happy about it and decides to rebel with a couple—okay, maybe more than a couple—of tequila shots. Then her plan backfires as she spills her deepest, darkest secret to a TMZ reporter. One viral video later, the world thinks Nathan and Bree are the perfect couple. Before they can really talk about her confession, Nathan’s publicist proposes a big opportunity that could mean financial security for Bree. The catch? They have to pretend to be in love. For three whole weeks.
What will happen when Bree gives in to the feelings she’s been desperately hiding for so long, and could she be imagining that Nathan is actually enjoying it? Sarah Adams scores more than touchdowns in this exciting romantic comedy.
https://amzn.to/3UYHYAM
After reading The Rule Book, I went back and searched out Sarah Adams’ books that I missed and found this one. It is more of a sweet romance without any sex to speak of, and it features friends-to-lovers and fake dating tropes. It is told from both points of view, his and hers, so we know more than they do.
Bree and Nathan meet on the track in high school. Her shoe is untied, and instead of telling her, he just pops a squat and ties it for her. They become the best of friends. Nathan is a football star, and Bree is on her way to becoming a professional ballerina. He goes off to college on a football scholarship, and she gets into a car accident, ending her ballet dreams. Eventually, she opens her own dance school but is on precarious financial footing.
Meanwhile, Nathan is now an NFL football star and is living his dream. Bree had cut off contact with Nathan while she was recovering from her accident, but they are now thick as thieves again. Except there is one tiny little problem; they are in love with one another, but neither will admit to it in hopes of saving their friendship. This stretches throughout the book, almost to the breaking point.
Bree gets drunk at a club one night and pours her heart out to a woman in the ladies’ room. It turns out that the woman is a reporter who takes a picture and posts the story, which goes viral. Mortified, Bree will agree to anything to get Nathan out of trouble. Turns out his agent is cashing in on it – she finds a sponsor willing to put them in a Superbowl commercial if they will fake date in public for the few weeks leading up to it. And you know where this goes…
This was a very enjoyable romcom, but also frustrating at times. We, the reader, know that they are both in love with each other, but are also afraid of killing their friendship. A professional NFL player has to beat women off with a stick, and Nathan is no different, but his heart remains true to Bree. Eventually, they figure it all out and get their happy ending. These books do not have to be read in order; I read The Rule Book first and didn’t even realize it was related to another book.
5/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
THE CHEAT SHEET by Sarah Adams. Dell; Special Edition (April 26, 2022). ISBN: 978-0593500767. 336p.
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