This was such a cute and fun read! I loved Rochon’s last book and this one didn’t let me down either. Her writing flows so well and has great pacing.

The Dating Playbook is a pitch-perfect fake dating romance that will make readers swoon. Farrah Rochon's characters are so multi-faceted and it's such a joy to see them slowly unveil their layers. Taylor and Jamar have instant chemistry on page and the reader can't help but immediately root for them to be together. Both characters struggle with something from their past that holds them back. Jamar feels responsible for the death of his best friend and it weighs so heavily on him. Taylor feels ashamed of her struggles in school and she feels that she can't move forward in her career. It was so lovely to see these characters open up to each other about their struggles and find support and love in their new relationship.

I’m so glad I discovered this author because her second book is just as good if not better then the first. I loved it so much that I bought the audio versions as well. So much fun and I loved getting to know more about the characters as the book progressed. If you haven’t checked out this author before please do so now.

I liked this one! The fake dating trope is one of my favorites. Taylor is strong, outgoing, and determined. She is willing do to almost anything to make her dreams of being a trainer come true. When Jamar approaches her about helping him train and get back int the NFL, she is second guessing everything. What she doesn't know is that Jamar wants her to do more than just train him.

This is a fun story with attitude, heat, and of course football. I cannot wait for London's story next!!

The follow-up to The Boyfriend Project did not disappoint!! If you haven’t had the pleasure of reading Farrah Rochon’s first book in this series, then I definitely recommend going to grab that one first!! When I read the synopsis for this one, I knew I had to read it at the mention of former football player and romance!! I think Taylor is my favorite character so far from this series and I really enjoyed diving into her story more!! Jamar did not disappoint either!! His background was very touching!! I loved that London and Samiah made many appearances in this one & I loved it!! Jamar and Taylor’s chemistry was great and I really loved the steam level of this one!! Nice and hot!! The inclusion of learning disorders and test anxiety in this one was really great too!!
If you enjoy a good fake dating trope read, then definitely check this one out!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫

I was so excited to read this book so was thrilled to get this ARC! Faking dating? YES PLEASE! I loved how the author developed these characters and her writing style is tight- she tackles tough issues while making them relatable and realistic. Lots of steam in this one too! Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed Samiarah, Taylor, and London's friendship in The Boyfriend Project so I was happy to continue the series. I love how Farrah Rochon gives her characters their own lives independent of the relationship; we get to see Taylor dealing with financial struggles and Jamar trying to prove he's still got what it takes to play in the NFL. However, I just never felt the chemistry between the MCs so this was a miss for me.

Thanks to Forever and Netgalley for my copy to review.

I had already read the first in this series thanks to my Book of the Month Sub, so when I saw this one come out I was thrilled and excited to read what happened next to these wonderful ladies from The Boyfriend Project. I thought this one had great character development and just enough spice to make it interesting!

My favorite part of the Boyfriend Project was the relationship between the three women. I didn’t feel like we got as much of that in this novel and I missed it. That being said, I was all in for Taylor to find her own HEA (and not just the boyfriend related one). Rochon hinted at something that I hope will resurface in London’s book. This is must read for anyone that has ever felt just a little bit out of their depth.
4.5 stars

The Dating Playbook walks the line between women's fiction and romance and does it well. Farrah Rochon has created a beautiful story of personal growth woven into heartfelt and steamy romance. Taylor Powell's journey as a trainer and understanding her own learning disabilities unfolds beautifully in this book. I loved following her journey of up and downs. And Jamar Dixon is a perfect foil and partner for this journey. I love how he supports her along the way. Jamar, of course, has own story to tell. As he trains to return back to the NFL. I love how their individual stories and their romance come together at the end of this book. And I definitely shed more than a few tears. And of course it was great returning back to Taylor and her friends, that we first met in The Boyfriend Project. I cannot wait for book three and London's story!

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of The Boyfriend Project last year and I adored it, so I was thrilled when I saw The Dating Playbook come through my feed. As much as I loved the romance, I have to say my favorite part of the book was when Taylor, Samiah, and London were together, love the strong female friendships and women helping women! Also can't wait for London's story!! Taylor and Jamar were both super likeable characters with their own problems and motivations, they both were very hard on themselves for different reasons and it was great getting to see them grow together!

Just finished reading THE DATING PLAYBOOK by Farrah Rochon. Thank you to my friends at @readforeverpub for my finished copy.

A fast paced romance that you can finish in 2 sittings, with some build-up that will leave you wanting more. No need to read the first in this series, but you'll definitely want to check it out after.

Taylor Powell is a personal trainer struggling to make ends meet. Jamar Dixon is a former pro football player struggling to make a comeback.

When Jamar attends one of Taylor's pop-up fitness classes (to make a quick buck), he realizes Taylor has got some serious skill and she could be the one to help him make a comeback. However he doesn't want anyone to know incase he doesn't make it with his busted knee. So Taylor has to pretend to fake date her client...something she swore she would never do. But how can she tell what is pretend when it starts to feel real...for both of them?

A cute light romance with some steamy 🔥 scenes, and real life stuggles. I am curious to check out more by this author.
(⭐⭐⭐💫/5)

I featured this book as a Book of the Day spotlight and included it in my weekly roundup and monthly post of new releases on my Black Fiction Addiction platforms.

The Dating Playbook is the second book in The Boyfriend Project series. It can be read as a standalone but I think its good to read the The Boyfriend Project first, to get the backstory on the relationship between friends: Taylor, Samiah and London. I enjoyed reading about the strong female friendships and how they supported each other.

This story centers around Taylor who is struggling to make ends meet. She lost out on a great opportunity because she doesn't have a college degree. The writer does a great job showing her struggles but also her tenacity in working through them.

Taylor's love interest is Jamar, a former football player. They were great for each other and pushed each other to overcome their fears/obstacles to achieve their dreams. I would've loved to see a bit more spark between the two. In addition to love and friendship, the story included themes of loss and grief as well as familial relationships.

Thanks to NetGalley and Forever publishing for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!

The Dating Playbook by Farrah Rochon is a contemporary romance. When it comes to personal training, Taylor Powell kicks serious butt. Unfortunately, her bills are piling up, rent is due, and the money situation is dire. Taylor needs more than the support of her new best friends, Samiah and London. She needs a miracle. And Jamar Dixon might just be it. The oh-so-fine former footballer wants back into the NFL, and he wants Taylor to train him. There's just one catch -- no one can know what they're doing. But when they're accidentally outed as a couple, Taylor's game plan is turned completely upside down. Is Jamar just playing to win or is he playing for keeps?

I absolutely adored the last book I read from Rochon, so I have no idea why it took me so long to read The Dating Playbook. It is another great book, and I look forward to giving it a second read. I love the set up for the series, and the friendlies and support between Taylor, Samiah, and London always makes me happy. Taylor is at the end of her rope and doing the best she can to stay afloat. Jamar is desperate to save his football career, and working with Taylor seems like his best shot. I really enjoyed the honesty between the pair about their attraction between them, and why it is not a good idea to go from fake dating to real dating. The conflicts and stumbling blocks felt every real, and I could empathize and relate to many aspects and could understand where they stood even when I could not relate. I thought the internal battles they each needed to face were realistic and I enjoyed their banter and they way they worked toward a better future, even when things were hard and they thought they would be alone. They each grew as people, and were not only better because of the relationship. I really love when a romance takes every character on a growth journey rather than attaching all good things to the state of the couple. I cannot wait for more from Rochon.

The Dating Playbook is a fantastic read on several levels. This author is now on my must read list, and I am eager to see what they do next.

I am so happy!

I have been waiting for Farrah Rochon’s second book of this series and IT WAS WORTH THE WAIT! I loved this and it was fantastic. I loved seeing the growth between Taylor and Jamar and especially between each other. It just felt like such a real life love story and that’s what I love so strongly about this series. Also the women support women small parts throughout the story.

Lots of diet talk and bad food vs good food in this and it was not my favorite thing. Even aside from that, I just didn’t connect with Taylor or Jamar and I literally just kind of ‘meh-ed’ my way through this. It was disappointing because I enjoyed The Boyfriend Project, but I still look forward to reading London's story. This one just wasn't it for me.

Farrah Rochon is just the best when it comes to romance. This was so fun and made the perfect transition between Summer and Fall. I had the best time reading it!

I finished The Dating Playbook, the follow up to Farrah Rochon’s The Boyfriend Project. And while I enjoyed book 1, I did struggle with this one a bit.

Taylor is a personal trainer who is hired by former NFL player Jamar, in hopes of getting him back in shape after an injury. Jamar is sweet, funny, and very dedicated to his friends and family, but he’s carrying a lot of guilt after the death of his childhood best friend. Taylor is a bit of a mess after trying to get her training business off the ground and taking on a lot of debt. Training Jamar is finally a chance for Taylor to makes some money and get an endorsement from a real athlete. That is if she can avoid falling for him.

While I enjoyed the story and all the steamy parts, there is a lot of diet talk throughout the book that was a big turn off. I guess I should’ve expected it with Taylor being a personal trainer, but there’s so much specific talk about “bad foods” and putting a lot of personal value on what you eat. I think this could be really hard for anyone in recovery to read. It would’ve been nice to see Taylor reject traditional diet culture and show that there are trainers out in the world that don’t only care about weight loss.

I still plan on reading London’s story whenever the next book comes out, but I’m definitely sad this one didn’t quite meet my expectations after the first book.

The Dating Playbook is a fun fake dating romance trope between Taylor, a personal trainer, and her client, Jamar, a former NFL player hoping to return to the game. I’m a sucker for a fake dating trope but throw an athlete into the mix, and I’m all about it. I did to a hybrid read/listen. The narrator was so fantastic and added an extra element giving voices to these characters. I enjoyed the chemistry between Taylor and Jamar, and it felt natural. I honestly did not want this story to end!

Thank you, Forever, for this complimentary copy for my honest review.