Farrah Rochon does it again with The Dating Playbook!

I think I enjoyed The Boyfriend Project a little more than this one (because tech nerds speak to my soul, whereas fitness and sports is harder for me to get excited about). That's just me, and the plot of the story is still so strong independent of the sports plotline. I adore Taylor and really enjoyed learning more about her past and what drives her. The fake dating and forced proximity are always a fun time, and Taylor and Jamar's chemistry is fantastic and so sweet. I definitely recommend this series and this book, and am excited for London's story!

*The Author's Note at the end is so heartbreaking and sweet. Definitely read that and send love to Farrah!

Thank you SO much Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the advanced read in exchange for my honest review, and for bringing more Black Joy to our bookshelves.

After reading The Boyfriend Project earlier this year, I was excited for book two and Taylor's story in The Dating Playbook. Then when I found out it featured a love interest that used to play professional football, I was sold.

CW: car crash and death of a friend (off-page), learning disability, financial struggles

I loved the scenes with Taylor, Samiah, and London and wished that there had been more. They are a friend group that bonded after finding out they were all dating the same guy and going viral. As Taylor deals with financial issues and learns that she might have a learning disability, the support that her girl gang showed her was what all friend groups should strive for.

Taylor was a relatable character, from her anxiety over her finances to her self-doubt. If I could find a personal trainer like her, I think I would enjoy working out. Jamar was perfect for Taylor. I loved that he embraced her approach to personal training and I never felt like he pushed her. Jamar was patient and wanted to make sure that Taylor was interested in him. I don't always love fake dating but it worked for me here. It allowed for both Taylor and Jamar to grow as individuals and together. The chemistry between the two of them felt real. I loved that their story was more than just romance, they had relatable internal struggles.

I can't wait for London's story where I hope we get more of Taylor and Samiah as well!

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever Publishing for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved The Boyfriend Project, so I was extremely excited to read the next book in the series. The Dating Playbook focuses on Taylor's love story. I would say it can be read as a standalone/out of order, because we only see Samiah from book 1 on their girls' nights.

Taylor is such a good MC. She's an amazing personal trainer and is determined to get her business off the ground, but keeps hitting roadblocks. Namely, her lack of a college degree. Until a famous runningback shows up to one of her pop-up classes and hires her as his full-time trainer.

The fake dating trope is one of my favorites, although it didn't take long for Taylor and Jamar to realize they weren't faking it. They made the perfect couple. Can you think of a more perfect match than a personal trainer and a football player? Their banter was top-notch (including Jamar's corny jokes), and I enjoyed how competitive they both were in their workouts.

I loved the learning disability representation and how Taylor overcame the stigma to get the accommodations she needed to be able to go back to school. The message here is that you can still be successful even if you don't excel at school, and that everyone's path to success looks different.

This series is about three friends: Samiah, London, and Taylor. This is Taylor’s book. Taylor meets Jamar at one of her pop up fitness classes. Taylor is a self-educated fitness instructor who is dealing with an undiagnosed case of ADHD and also anxiety. This is preventing her from getting the certifications she needs to grow her business.

Jamar sees her potential and, as an aspiring professional athlete, takes a chance on her. He hires her as both fitness instructor and nutritionist. She happens to be excellent at both, Jamar is dealing with the guilt of the death of a friend in an auto accident that is motivating him, after knee surgery, to get back to the NFL.

Right from the start, they have exceptional chemistry and the author does a great job developing the characters so that you empathize with their struggles. These characters are human beings and not stock figures in a romance novel. They have rich internal lives and grow separately as they deal with their own struggles but also as a couple.

Both help each other face their fears but not in a fairytale way but in fits and starts and even arguments. Their relationship is human and romantic and one of friendship and also realistic.

The pacing was excellent and I have already talked about the wonderful character development. Once again, for me, the friendship between the three women was the highlight. They support each other and there are no cat fights or competitions. It’s beautiful to witness in each book.

Another five star read in this series for me. I received this book thanks to the publishers and NetGalley. My opinions are my own,

Another amazing book by Farrah. This series is about strong, independent women and highlight their friendship. Farrah was able to write this sweet, funny, and lovable romcom, while also including heavier topics like learning disabilities, and survivors guilt.

What I loved:
- this has the cutest, perfect meet cute for these characters
- dual POV
- the competition between the two characters, but also respect and thoughtfulness
- the dates were unique and fun

What I didn't like:
- it wrapped up a little fast, and I wanted like 5 more chapters! But really I just didn't want this to end

I'm so excited for the next book in the series! Thank you NetGalley and Forever for my early copy!

This was a great follow up to The Boyfriend Project!

On a personal reading note, this book was the perfect read to get me out of a reading slump. Never going to look at veggie shopping the same way.

Jamar and Taylor had great chemistry, and were absolutely hilarious! I laughed out loud so many times. Their faking dating journey really helped them grow, not only together, but their personal growth was excellent.

The writing was fabulous, and I’m really looking forward to the last book in the series.

Taylor Powell is a force to be reckoned with. She's fierce, independent and strong - she does run her own personal training program Talyor'd Conditioning. Problem is, bills are piling up and Taylor isn't getting as many clients as she needs. When a famous pro football player - Jamar Dixon- ends up taking her class he loves her enthusiasm and drive and wants to hire her.

Taylor is weary of men. Especially after the disaster where she ended up meeting her best friends (they were all dating a serial dater at the same time). She doesn't trust Jamar, but he sounds too good to be true. So at the urging of her friends, Taylor takes on the job of getting Jamar back into shape enough so he can try out to play pro football again. Only problem - Jamar doesn't want it known that Taylor is training him and Taylor has no problem keeping it that way. Except they're accidentally outed as a couple and both go along with the ruse.

What starts off as a fake relationship for the reporters slowly starts turning real, will Jamar and Taylor be able to keep their relationship strictly platonic and a few stolen glances and kisses just for the camera?

Okay first of all, I LOVED the banter between Jamar and Taylor in The Dating Playbook. I was constantly cackling out loud at how funny these two were with one another. Their banter and relationship always felt easy - right from the beginning. Taylor had so many rules for their fake relationship and I loved watching the lines blur between what was real and what was fake.

The relationship between Taylor, Samiah and London that I loved so much in The Boyfriend Project was back again with The Dating Playbook! The girl bonds between these two were so lovely. I love that their relationship was still strong in the second book of this series.

The Dating Playbook was a sweet fake dating romance interwoven with the lovely bonds of friendship. I am looking forward to London's story next!

What pulls me into a book is exceptional writing and this author has a style that is fluid and easy to get into. The characters jump out of the pages and the story consumes you. You can easily visualize and feel the story unraveling as you read. The characters are multidimensional and relatable. Their struggles have a universal theme that can translate to everyone. The way the author writes, you have no choice but to sympathize, and deeply relate to Jamar and Taylor through the words on the pages. The author perfectly captures the thin line between fake and real. The tension between Taylor and Jamar made my heart race and their playful banter made for an enjoyable read.

While I love the cast of strong willed, motivated, and determined characters, the story seemed less enjoyable than its predecessor. Though there were moments that left me laughing and the beginning of the story pulled me in, once I got to the heart of the book, it felt more cliche and predictable. Parts of the book felt daunting to read because of the repetitive theme. I would feel the story progressing forward, but then the same things kept happening which made the story feel as if it took two steps back.

Overall this book had its enjoyable moments intertwined with moments that I felt were lackluster that unfortunately outweighed my overall enjoyment of the book. Though out of the two books I enjoyed the first one more, I am very much excited for the third installment of this series and to see where this group of friends ends up. Thank you NetGalley and Forever Pub for this ARC.

My favorite things in a romance novel is witty banter, a plot outside of the romance, character development, and ofcourse some spice. The Dating Playbook had all of those things!

Taylor is a fitness instructor that has made a pact with friends to focus on her goals. Jamar is a NFL player whose career was cut short and is focused on making his way back. The two connect when Jamar asks Taylor to become his fitness coach- the type of career opportunity that Taylor has been wishing for. To keep the prospect of getting back into the NFL a secret, Taylor agrees to fake date Jamar so their time together is not viewed as suspicious.

The Dating Playbook not only gives a witty romance, but also a novel exploring the challenges in academic spaces and the difficulties of being taken seriously without a "formal" background. I love that through Taylor, we are able to see a different career path and talk about challenges people experience in academic spaces. Through Jamar the book touches on carrying guilt and the weight that takes on how we are able to live our lives.

This second in the Boyfriend Project series made me happy because one thing I thought was missing from the first was more time with the friends together. They were seen together pretty often in this book! Taylor is a personal trainer who agrees to work with Jamar, a former football player. Because she doesn't want to be seen as having gotten the job because they are dating, their attraction becomes a forbidden relationship. They also have to fake date because he doesn't want anyone to know he's training to reenter football! So we have two of my favorite tropes. There are themes in this book of loss and grief, money struggles, family relationships, and learning disorders. It is slightly steamy and features Black characters.

4.5 ⭐️

Taylor secures a former NFL star Jamar Dixon as a client for her fitness and nutrition consulting business, Taylor’d Conditioning. In a struggle to make ends meet, she feels as if this would save everything she’s worked hard for. After a devastating, knee-busting injury that put Jamar out of the game, he wants nothing more but to get back in. Of course, the Playbook gets a bit complicated when the two put up a dating front for the media.

Rochon does it again, guys! Taylor’s story, much like Samiah’s, was about empowered and empowering women, and debilitating internal conflicts, such as learning disabilities, grief, guilt, atonement, and self-deprecation. The laugh-out-loud humor, banter, and chemistry, the football elements, fitness and nutrition details all culminated into a rather flawless development of the romance. So much encouragement, support between the main characters, as well as Taylor’s family and the girls, rounded everything up nicely, too.

Farrah Rochon is an excellent writer. This book reads easy, I got through it in one day. Jordan is a down on her luck aspiring fitness and nutrition consultant. Jamar is an injured ex NFL player trying to get back to the top. Friends to lover? Athletic romance? Fake dating trope? This book has it ALL. Jordan and Jamar have instant chemistry but it’s slow burn romance. Rochon masterfully writes real character and emotional development. This book isn’t all steam, with no sizzle. There a few open door romantic scenes. Take a chance on this book, you won’t regret it. Can’t wait for London’s love story in 2022!

I LOVED this book!

Personal trainer Taylor Powell agrees to get injured NFL player Jamar Dixon back in football-ready shape. To keep his intentions of getting back on the field a secret, they start "fake dating" while developing some real feelings!

I think what really sold me on this book is the fact that Taylor & Jamar both felt so real to me, which means even more since I find fake dating the least realistic romance troupe. But their chemistry, their struggles and their relationship with family and friends were really well developed by author Farrah Rochon. I teared up at the non-romantic character arcs for Taylor & Jamar, so this was more than a love story to me--there's a mix of heavy topics Rochon isn't afraid to tackle (pun intended) but she does so in a really thoughtful and engaging way.

I know this is the 2nd book in The Boyfriend Project series and while I did not read the first, I absolutely will be! You can certainly read them out of order, and I can not wait for London's story next summer!

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for an advanced copy of this and the opportunity to share my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed Farrah Rochon’s first novel in this series and found myself so excited to read more from her! As much as I liked The Boyfriend Project, I thought The Dating Playbook was even better! This was such a fun take on the fake relationship trope. This gets a solid four stars from me. Looking so forward to the next in the series! Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Taylor Powell is looking to invigorate her personal training business after a small bump in business last year following a viral video of her and two friends kicking the ass of a guy who two-timed them. When Taylor holds a last minute pop-up class for some unexpected expenses it turns out to be the best thing for her, in more ways than one. In attendance is Jamar Dixon, a former NFL player. When the class is done Jamar talks to Taylor about a life changing opportunity, he wants her to work with him as his trainer. No other clients but him as he trains under the radar to get back into the NFL after a knee injury last year. Taylor sees it as the perfect opportunity to help her career. If Jamar is able to succeed it could mean even more high profile athletes as clients. When Jamar and Taylor are found out together by a journalist, Taylor quickly covers to say they're dating to hide the fact Jamar is trying to get back into the game. Jamar goes along with it although if he was honest he's been attracted to Jamar from the moment they met. How hard can a fake romance be?

Farrah Rochon is back with the second book in the Boyfriend Project trilogy. This book offers lots of steamy moments and I'm here for it. The chemistry between Taylor and Jamar is undecidable from the beginning. One thing I absolutely loved about this book is that they actually communicated with each other. Their relationship isn't tested because a communication problem, as it is in many romances, but because one of them is more stubborn than the other to listen to them. Both characters make each other better throughout the novel. I haven't read The Boyfriend Project yet but I loved the friendship from the three women at the center of that novel that transcends to this one. One nice thing about books within a series like this is you can easily pick up one and then go back to the others, which I'll be doing very shortly. I already can't wait for London's book to come out, which will finish the trilogy.

This book has a lot of football references but if you don't like football it's okay. It won't deter your reading but I think if you do enjoy the sport it could enhance your reading.

TW: Death of a friend, car accident, learning disability diagnosis, sports injury

Thank you to Forever and Netgalley for a copy of The Dating Playbook in exchange for my honest review.

Really enjoyed Taylor and Jamar's story. Their fake dating is fabulous. The chemistry is great. What I really enjoyed was their conversations with each other. (Planting the seed about the learning disability, taking about Silas)

As much as this is about the romance that is developing between the two, I really want to shout out the friendship between Samiah, Taylor, and London. It started from unusual circumstances, and though their friendship is now developed, Farrah Rochon did not let it take a backseat to the romance. When Taylor needed the others, they were there either with their physical presence or by phone. During that fourth act break up, Samiah, and London dropped everything, and were there for Taylor.

As a reader that will always hope to revisit characters, hoping that Andrea (Drea) will get a novel/novella in the future.

Excited for London's book next year.

CW: death of friend (off page, in the past), injury (ankle sprain)
Rep: learning disabilities

Thank you Forever Publishing for a copy of the eARC in exchange for a review.

I really don't need to add much because I read the preview (first 4 ) of this book and I knew I was all in. Taylor and J are so daggone charming and the banter is so real. I love that they are just seriously grounded, real people. This wasn't some fairytale. It was about a sister who was about hard work to get what she wants and a man who respected what she did.

I dont even want to give spoilers. Just go read this awesome follow up. I cannot wait for Londons book!

In the Dating Playbook, Farrah Rochon takes on some big issues in addition to serving up a sweet and sexy fake dating romance. It's an absolute joy to be back with Samiah, London, and Taylor. The friendship is stronger than ever, even as Taylor struggles with being the broke friend in the group as she's trying to get real traction for her fitness consulting business. And Jamar, our other MC, well, his NFL career might have been brief, but he's a big ol' cinnamon roll in a running back-sized package.

As the relationship develops (fake until it's not), the two open up to each other, revealing survivors guilt, bumpy family dynamics, and a suspected, but undiagnosed learning disability. It all gives Taylor and Jamar's story emotional heft and complexity that adds up to a really satisfying read.

If you liked The Boyfriend Project, I'm betting you'll LOVE The Dating Playbook.

Farrah Rochon did it again! This book is one of my favorites that I’ve read so far this summer. The strong female friendships between Taylor, London and Samiah is one of the highlights of this series. Seeing strong women stand up for each other, raise each other up, highlight each other’s strengths and just there for each other when it’s needed the most, no questions asked. Jamar and Taylor meet after he attends one of her boot camp sessions and offers her the chance to help her out of debt – train him, in secret, to prepare him to reenter the NFL on his terms. He doesn’t want anyone to know he’s working to head back to the NFL, so when a reporter sees them together … fake dating. I really enjoyed this book, it was sexy, funny and emotional. I’m now anticipating London’s story.

The Dating Playbook by Farrah Rochon
Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️
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Taylor is a starving fitness instructor looking to make a name for herself.
Jamar is a former Football player looking for a way to rehabilitate himself after an injury he suffered his rookie year with the Bears. Out to prove all the nay sayers wrong, Jamar secretly hires Taylor as his trainer to get himself back on the team for the next two months. Together, they were the perfect fit until they learned that their attraction for each other was undeniable. Can they both get through the two months without blurring the lines?

A great romantic story with a fun premise. This novel was such a great read, it was hard to put down. It surpassed any and all expectations I had going into it.
Taylor and Jamar are the kind of couple you could read on and on about. Jamar’s attraction for Taylor was so raw and real, at parts, I felt I was Taylor. The entire book was the perfect balance of the everything good. I hope they make this into a movie. Recommend you put your preorder in and thank me later.
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Special thanks to NetGallery, @farrahrochon and @readforeverpub for sharing the ARC with me. Publication is August 17, 2021