Chicago Stars, Book 11
From the publisher:
#1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Elizabeth Phillips is back with the latest novel in her beloved Chicago Stars series, featuring a romance between a star quarterback and one of the country’s most beautiful—and misunderstood—actresses.
After a mortifying—and very public—humiliation, Dancy Flynn is desperate to find sanctuary far from the crowd. But where can a washed-up sex symbol hide? How about making an unannounced appearance at the secluded lake house of the sweet, sensitive high school boyfriend she hasn’t seen in almost twenty years?
But Chicago Stars quarterback Clint Garrett is no longer the kid Dancy remembers. Now he’s a gridiron superhero, still holding a massive grudge against her for breaking his teenage heart. With no room in his life for either complexity or distractions, he banishes Dancy to a refurbished old railroad caboose tucked away in the woods…and out of his sight.
Except Dancy’s not good at staying invisible. Her efforts to rebuild her career clash with Clint’s desperation to regain his focus, all made more challenging by a rescue dog, a local woman in trouble, a meddling mother, an ex with an agenda…and the sizzle of rekindled emotions.
As Dancy attempts to get her life on track and Clint tries to get his groove back, can these two one-time lovers navigate their rocky pasts and complicated present to find themselves…and each other?
Tropes include:
childhood sweethearts
second-chance romance
enemies to lovers
forced proximity“From the insightful characterization to the wit-infused dialogue to the smoking-hot chemistry between the book’s marvelously original protagonists, everything in Phillip’s latest addition to her Chicago Stars series is done with a seemingly effortless ease that belies the true literary skill needed to produce this swoon-worthy masterpiece.”—Booklist, starred review
SEP is the original sports‑romance queen, and two decades later, her books still land exactly where they should. The execution is flawless.
At its core, this is a story about heart, hope, and rebuilding.
Dancy Flynn — a former Hollywood Bond Girl and the ex-wife of a famous action hero — hits rock bottom when her glamorous comeback attempt at a gala ends in public humiliation. The moment is made worse when her ex shows up with his pregnant new girlfriend after insisting for years that he never wanted children. Desperate to escape the spotlight, Dancy flees to the last place anyone would expect to find her: the lake house of her high-school boyfriend, Clint, now an NFL quarterback struggling through his own career slump.
Their shared history is complicated, and Clint wants nothing to do with reopening old wounds. Still, he offers her the refurbished caboose on his property as a temporary refuge. From there, two wounded people slowly begin to piece their lives back together.
Dancy’s story is the emotional heart of the novel. She’s truly at rock bottom — depressed, neglecting herself, numbing the pain with alcohol, and feeling utterly alone. Despite her beauty and fame, she carries deep scars from her divorce, a miscarriage, and years of being dismissed as a blonde bimbo instead of being taken seriously. Watching her slowly reclaim her sense of self — through an unlikely friendship with a kindergarten principal and a stray dog she rescues from the road — is deeply moving. Her mental-health crisis is portrayed with honesty and compassion, and her path forward is rooted in acceptance, self-worth, and learning to choose herself again.
This isn’t just a romance; it’s a story about female empowerment and rediscovering your own strength before opening your heart to someone else.
Clint is equally compelling, though his presence is quieter by design. Controlled, gentlemanly, and outwardly perfect, he’s still carrying the hurt from their teenage breakup while quietly battling his own depression under the pressure of being a star athlete. His characterization is intentionally understated. Clint matters, but he’s not the center of the story — he’s the steady presence who supports Dancy without overshadowing her. This is her story first, and the romance rekindles alongside her recovery rather than driving it.
This story is an exceptional addition to the series. It has everything: palpable tension, emotions that sneak up on you, and moments of joy that linger long after the final page. Dancy and Clint’s journey from heartbreak to healing completely pulled me in — witty banter, forced proximity, sizzling second-chance romance, a rescue dog, and a meddling family all woven together into something impossible to put down.
One of my favorite elements was the emotional maturity of the relationship. Clint communicates like an adult, respects boundaries, and creates a sense of emotional safety without ever feeling boring. These are characters in their thirties navigating real-life transitions with nuance and growth. There’s no manipulation, no contrived misunderstandings, and no cheap miscommunication drama.
I laughed, and I cried. Just a spectacular read.
Trigger warning: The heroine experienced sexual violence at age 17; the story takes place when she is 35.
3/2026 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
AND THE CROWD WENT WILD by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. Avon. (February 10, 2026). ISBN: 978-0063248625. 352p.
Posted by Stacy Alesi 
Stacy Alesi's BookBitch.com™ 