Received an arc from netgalley for an honest opinion.

Wow! I just really love her books and I love this series in particular. This was a really good addition to the series, and I might try to read a few more of the others because I haven't read them all.

I love the Chicago Stars series, especially my favorite romance novel, Match Me While You Can, so I was anxious to read When Stars Collide. It’s a good addition with believable characters, much romance and even some danger. Perfect for fans of this series

I will always be a SEPPIE for life and I have my favorites from both the Chicago Stars (Mollie! Dr. Jane! Gracie Snow!), Wynette (Lucy!) Texas and the stand-alones (Daisy and Sugar Beth) and I eagerly await her books to add to my collection. This newest entry to the Chicago Stars series left me meh and I will hand-sell her backlist titles (see the ladies names above) but I would have a hard time recommending this book.
I was not invested in these characters or storyline. I found the plot to be a bit confusing and the characters had so many misunderstandings and continual putting themselves in danger that I ended up skimming through many pages which has not been typical of this fan. I think Ms. Phillips has done a wonderful job over the years with developing strong female characters with flaws and building beautiful stories with the growth but this one wasn't one. Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins/William Morrow for the opportunity to read this eARC.

A Chicago Stars book is always a treat and When Stars Collide is now one of my favorites of the series. In this story the couple meet through representing a family owned watch company on a marketing tour. As Thad and Olivia are stopping at various cities they grow closer through so many good scenes.. Even though initially there was some dislike, they discover they have more things in common than not. I would love to describe some of the scenes but don't want to spoil your fun. Add to this the layer of suspense of an unknown stalker and you have the prefect recipe for an instant classic. SEP strikes a perfect balance of romance and suspense throughout the novel. Enjoy this!! It is really wonderful.

It has been a long time since I read other books in the Chicago Stars series so this felt like a stand-alone for me --- and it held up very well. A professional football player and a opera star are thrown together to go on an advertising tour to sell expensive watches. It was a enemies to lovers, opposites attract, all's well in the end romance but done well by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. The main characters were fairly well developed and as the story progressed, their relationship progressed in a believable way. There was even a bit of mystery and danger thrown in so the tough football player could save the damsel in distress. I particularly enjoyed the well researched look into the world of opera. This was an enjoyable read with a fairly predictable ending but getting there was very entertaining.

“You’re adorable when you’re insane.”
— When Stars Collide, Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️/5

Olivia Shore is a world renowned opera singer at the height of her career. But she’s got a secret, one that could run the whole thing off the rails. Thad Owens is a football golden boy, but an issue keeps him sidelined while a young hotshot gets all the glory. Both sign on to be the faces of Marchand Watches, and included in their contracts is a month traveling across the country together doing appearances and promoting the brand. What starts out as a potentially toxic relationship and a long four weeks quickly blooms into a genuine friendship...and maybe more.

This just catapulted to my top five favorite SEP books, and with a catalog of 20+ novels, every single one of which I’ve read, that’s saying A LOT. Olivia and Thad are just such lovable characters. Olivia is neurotic about her career as an opera singer and is just looking for someone to help her relax a little, even if she doesn’t know it. Thad is not your typical jock, being that he is incredibly intelligent both on and off the football field. I also loved SO much getting to see Coop and Piper, and even The Python again!

This book was laugh out loud funny. And the mystery element in this one was particularly enjoyable to try to unravel, and just furthered the relationship between Olivia and Thad. This is one book I know I’m going to be re-reading over and over when I need a pick me up, and even just for fun.

I enjoyed this contemporary romance of two strong-willed people, both highly successful in their careers and at first glance, seemingly opposites. But the more the reader gets to know Thad, a Chicago Stars pro football back-up quarterback, and Olivia, a world-renowned opera diva, it is easy to see that they are more alike than they wish to admit. Although part of a long-running series, this can easily be read as a stand alone. While not my favorite of the series, a new Susan Elizabeth Phillips novel is always pleasurable and a treat to read. Recommended.

I have enjoyed the Chicago Stars series but I struggled with this one. I liked the characters but there was too much unnecessary complications and subplots. So many conflicts and drama (included gratuitous accusations of date rape) that cluttered the story and took away from the enjoyment.

Opera star Olivia and pro quarterback Thad seem like complete opposites, when they're both chosen as the faces of a luxury watch campaign. Neither is thrilled about spending the next month traveling together. But as they get to know each other, they may have more in common than they thought (not just their star-sized egos), including an inconvenient mutual attraction.

The Chicago Stars were one of the first contemporary romance series I ever read, and they have a fond place in my heart. But this newest entry has some of the same--now glaringly obvious--issues as the earlier books. Phillips's heroes are loving but overprotective, and her heroines are brilliant and well-meaning but have a tendency to stubbornly put themselves in danger for no good reason. Thad and Olivia fit right into these categories, as she continues to haplessly deny that her life is in danger. Meanwhile, he keeps vowing never to give up on her, while simultaneously issuing her so many ultimatums. I was very frustrated with both of them.

Also, the plot is needlessly byzantine, as there are multiple misunderstandings and denouements and reveals. It's just too much. I'm sorry to say, I think I'm done with this series. Phillips has written some other lovely books, and I hope she'll continue her exploration into women's fiction and away from these increasingly stereotyped romance characters.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

Fun book. The chemistry between the characters was great and the intermingling of new and old worked well. You don’t have to be familiar with the people from earlier in the series as this book works equally well as a stand alone as the latest in the series.

Hi all you Seppies, she’s back with a new Chicago Stars book. Susan Elizabeth Phillips has penned a new fabulous story with cameos from her Chicago Stars series. I am a huge fan of both this author and series and was so excited to get my hands on WHEN STARS COLLIDE. You could easily title this The Diva and The Quarterback. And their stars definitely collide in this heartwarming tale of opposites attract.
Those that are familiar with the Chicago Stars series know that couples come in all descriptions and that females are strong, intelligent and independent. Men love and respect their women. That is why WHEN STARS COLLIDE fits with this series. Two amazing characters that have their futures all mapped out and then the unimaginable happens, their lives connect in a very innocent way.
It makes sense. Rising opera star Olivia Shore and revered Chicago Stars quarterback Thaddeus Walker Bowman Owens are coupled for an extensive publicity tour for a luxury watch line. Both in the top echelon of their crafts. It starts off rocky which puzzles Thad since he is well known as one of the good guys and yet Olivia despises him on introduction. Thad realizes that Olivia is definitely high maintenance sort of woman but his role in this job is to pose with the opera singer. That’s it. That’s all he signed on for.
Thad really gets under Olivia’s skin, rather quickly. He is so laid back which she mistakenly thinks of as lazy. After all his entire career is now based on his ability to help the rising quarterback star which must really grate on his nerves. No one likes being replaced, even opera stars. And here’s where we get a glimpse into how these two characters have things in common. Both work tirelessly on their careers and in the back of their minds contemplate being replaced.
But the more they are different, the more Liv and Thad are very much alike. Thad is outgoing, friendly and protective of those he cares about. The more time spent with Liv Thad starts to see something hidden behind the shield of brittleness. Liv is being chased by ghosts. In particular the ghost of her ex fiancé that committed suicide. She feels culpable. And now someone is targeting Olivia with hate mail and threats. A voice from the grave. Not likely, then who.
Thad is beginning to see himself as her protector, definitely not welcome. But without Thad, Olivia is flying solo and some of the threats are dangerous.
So in WHEN STARS COLLIDE we see two worlds and two very different individuals join forces to expose the bad guy or guys. But more than that we witness a cooperative effort of folks that on the surface have nothing in common. And yet it all makes sense. Susan Elizabeth Phillips sees the possibilities and we are rewarded with a wondrous story of love conquering all odds, beyond all expectations. WHEN STARS COLLIDE is a divine additions to an already first rate series by one of the best authors, Susan Elizabeth Phillips.

The sizzling romance between complex protagonists was made even more enjoyable with fun scenery, delicious food descriptions, and entertaining secondary characters.

This is SEP at her best! It was wonderful to visit with the Chicago Stars again. This time, a bit of mystery was added, taking this book to another level from past titles. It was just as enjoyable, the characters became my favorites, and I can't wait for another addition to the Stars lineup.!

The highlight of my pandemic was reading When Stars Collide from SEP. Fans are taken back into her Chicago Stars world and SEP does NOT disappoint. Run, do not walk to pick up Thad and Olivia's story. You are also going to want to re-read the entire series. Thank you, SEP for giving me exactly what I needed this week!

***Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
Susan Elizabeth Phillips has mastered the art of creating characters that are witty and flawed, but completely loveable. I could not put this book down!

Returning us to the world of the Chicago Stars Susan Elizabeth Phillips introduces Thad, a Stars quarterback and financial manager and Olivia, a world famous opera star. And it is a brilliant ride. The characters are engaging and real to us. Thad is dreamy and suave while Olivia is luscious and delightful. They are multidimensional and their vulnerability and emotion add depth to and propel the plot. Of course the plot has many other twists and turns including a sinister plan against Olivia. In all this is an absorbing, amusing, and steamy, example of the Susan Elizabeth Phillips we love and love to fall into.

I really really wanted to love this. Phillips's earlier books are some of my favorites. Like her most recent Chicago Stars novel, this was a really big let down. Their meeting with the attempted rape story was weird and unnecessary. Then for there to be 3 different things going on with the guilt and things sent to the main character was too much. I'm not sure if Phillips is trying to move towards a more thriller type of story like other romance novelists have done, but it didn't work. And it's not what I want from Phillips.

At the start of Phillips' new entry in the Chicago Stars series, Olivia and Thad seem diametrically opposed: a flashily-dressed quarterback and a straight-laced opera diva. In addition, neither of them seem to be very likeable. It doesn't take long before they both emerge with complex personalities that make the reader root for them to resolve their differences. Before this came happen, they have to solve the gaslighting and attempted murder of Olivia. A page-turner even when one knows that love will win out.

I've been a fan of Susan Elizabeth Phillips, generally, and the Chicago Stars series, specifically, for years. It Had to be You (1994) and Dream a Little Dream (1998) are in my list of favorite books ever and I credit them with changing my mindset about romance as a "guilty pleasure" and recognizing the genre as worthy of great respect (it always was, I'm just saying it was those novels that opened my eyes).

All that said, it pains me to give When Stars Collide a poor review, but I must. The big misunderstanding (Olivia thinks Thad attempted to rape her former roommate, but finds out that was a lie) at the beginning of the book feels unnecessary and tired at best, and downright triggering and harmful at worst. And then it is never mentioned again.

I find that there's a lot of "telling not showing" throughout. The reader is told that Thad and Olivia are attracted to one another, but it's mostly through checking out each others' butts. Not much sexual tension makes it to the page, and the characters are so in control of themselves that they can plan a time in the future to begin their sexual affair. The main perils in the book (the attacks on Olivia and the nasty letters) are just like, things that happen. There's no foreshadowing to the denouement, it's just "event, event, event, here's who did it." No buildup, no sense of peril getting closer, no sense of anybody trying to figure out a mystery.

Side characters are hit or miss. Olivia visits Thad's parents, who had not been mentioned previously, and were not mentioned again, and the fact that it was a 12 hour round trip drive (that resulted in no great insight into the man's character--in fact, it discouraged the heroine more) was glossed over. Thad's exasperated yet loving relationship with his mentee, the current Stars' charming, callow QB, is the most fully formed, but is well-trod territory that any reader of the series will recognize immediately.

The nature of Thad's side-gig is never revealed until kind of an "oh, by the way" at the end. The fact that he has a side-gig is hinted at in a perfunctory way throughout--he's on the computer a lot, and closes it as soon as someone else walks in the room.

The near-final scene where Thad makes his big declaration defies all suspension of disbelief, from the coincidence of his meeting the ONE person out of hundreds he would have to meet, to the manner of his making his entry.

All that said, I think there is an excellent book to be made from the bones of this story--the characters are interesting and forced proximity is a favorite plot line for me., but this ARC felt like an early draft, to be honest.

I have loved this series, even when there are things not to love so much (consent in This Heart of Mine, for example). I'm sad to say that When Stars Collide falls woefully short of its predecessors.

I really enjoyed this story of opposites, Olivia, a famous opera singer, and Thad, a well-known quarterback. They're on a world PR tour promoting a luxury brand watch and their interactions are laugh out loud funny at times. However, the are both professionals in their fields, who find they have more in common than they thought. When it seems like Olivia might have a deranged stalker, Thad feels the need to protect her whether she wants his help or not. When the mystery is solved, they realize that they are perfect for each other. Mystery, suspense, humor and romance make this a recommended read.