✍️ One Sentence Synopsis: When money is tight and a sexy strapping (yet very respectful) opportunity just seems to fall in your lap.

💭 Overall Thoughts:
I really loved the Boyfriend Project and this one was an awesome second book in the series. The book is well paced and the characters are incredibly likable. Even though this is a “dating a celebrity” trope it is done in a (mostly) realistic way which I appreciated.

One thing I love about this series is the strong female protagonists. I love how they bonded together over sticking it to “the man” or at least “a man” together. Their witty banter but also ride or die friendship bond is an amazing part of this series that reminds me a bit of the sisterly bond from the Brown Sisters (who I also love).

The chemistry between Taylor and Jamar is adorable, and my only pet peeve is the fake dating that obviously should have been real dating all along. They are a great match that keep each other in line while pushing each other to accomplish their goals and dreams.

What I Liked:
👍 The three badass protagonists of this series!
👍 Audio narration was engaging and well done
👍 Taylor and Jamar have some adorable chemistry!

What I Didn’t Like:
👎 Fake dating where they should have just been real dating all along. It’s a pet peeve!


💞Read this if you liked: The Boyfriend Project, The Brown Sisters

Thank you to Hachette Audio and Netgalley for the opportunity to listen with request for review!

After absolutely loving and devouring The Boyfriend Project, I wasn’t sure what to expect with The Dating Playbook. That being said, even though this story was as focused on the female friendship aspect that was front and center in The Boyfriend Project, I loved every minute of Taylor’s story!

This story follows Taylor Powell, the kick-butt fitness trainer who expected to become a fitness influencer following the infamous catfish video that featured her alongside two other ladies (Samiah and London) who found out they were all dating the same man at the same time. While this gave her an initial boost, her business has yet to take off and the bills are coming in quickly. Taylor has to change her strategy, and that opportunity just happens to be in the shape of Jamar Dixon…an ex-NFL player looking to join the league (and is easy on the eyes).

Okay, so I am going to try to just keep this short and not scream about everything that I loved about this book because then y’all will have nothing left to discover for yourselves.

First off, I love that Rochon gave us Taylor who comes from a family of high achievers, has friends are also high achievers, but she’s still trying to figure out what works for her while balancing out the demands of being an independent, Black woman. We see this vulnerability with Taylor that made me really feel seen on page. Not everyone has their life together at 28, and I’m glad that we see that with Taylor and experience her journey with her.

The mental health and disability representation in this book! Okay, so Taylor has a learning disorder that has gone undiagnosed until adulthood, and I think this is so important to experience on page. I won’t go more into details with that, but it’s important. Conversely, with Jamar, we’ve got survivor’s guilt coupled with a physical injury that does a number on his mental health. I love the way that Jamar and Taylor ultimately work through this together.

Now back to Taylor and Jamar’s chemistry. MY GOD. The banter is unmatched. I swear I was constantly cracking up with the quick wit and one liners between these two. They were just so much fun to be around even though they still tackled some really tough life situations. And of course…the steam. It was everything that I wanted with these two.

Overall, this was a fantastic follow up to The Boyfriend Project, and I can’t wait for London’s story!

Quick Notes:
Wonderfully explored and fleshed out main characters. The backstories and modern day struggles were equally distributed between Taylor and Jamar, which I love! The chemistry was good and the idea behind their obstacle to love was sound, but I don’t think it was executed very well. At a certain point it felt forced and arbitrary. A few missteps but, overall, the characters are so strong that I didn’t care much.

And the audiobook narrator did a great job of giving life and attitude to the characters! I definitely recommend it.

Taylor Powell has dreams of being successful when it comes getting her fitness consulting business on the map. How can she work on getting her name out there, especially since she had a previous bad experience that slowed her down? Meanwhile, she is running short on funds and tall on bills and other expenses. Her two friends, Samiah and London are in her corner, but sadly that isn't enough.

When she is approached to Jamar Dixon to be his personal trainer Taylor definitely sees dollar signs. He is a professional football player working to get back into the NFL, but needs help as he had a bad injury which required surgery. He needs to get into top shape. Jamar is practically a household name, so having him as a client would definitely get Taylor's name and business known. However, there is one issue and that is a major issue. Jamar wants to keep his training with Taylor on the down-low.

Since Jamar is adament about keeping this private, how better for the two to spend long hours together than acting as if they are dating? Okay, Taylor goes for it. There is a problem that makes itself known almost before the two even gets started. They are attracted to one another, something Taylor refuses to act on. In fact, both Taylor and Jamar walk into this with baggage. Will they be able to climb over their past hurts and turn their fake dating into something real? Something permanent?

I really loved this second book in the Boyfriend Project series. Both Taylor and Jamar were solid characters. Factor in the continuity with Samaih and London's characters, and this proved to be a relatable read, enjoyable from start to finish.

Many thanks to Forever and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

I liked Taylor better in the first book but I did enjoy a cute romance. It was spicy and kept me wanting more every step of the way

Thank you Netgalley and Hachette Audio for the advanced audio copy in exchange for my honest review!!
If you’re looking for something fun and flirty and you’re a fan of Jasmine Guillory, The Dating Playbook is for you! 3.5 stars!
The Dating Playbook is the 2nd book in The Boyfriend Project series! Although it is part of a series, The Dating Playbook can totally be read and enjoyed as a stand alone book!
Synopsis: Broke fitness trainer, Taylor, scores big when former professional player Jamar Nixon wants her to train him for his return to the NFL after a knee injury for a large amount of money. There's one condition - their training must be kept a secret! When they are accidentally outed as being a couple, they must now fake date to keep the training under wraps and hence the creation of The Dating Playbook! Can Taylor and Jamar keep it professional or will their fake relationship become more real?
Overall this was a fun and quick listen! The narrator was perfect and I really enjoyed it! I recommend! I'm looking forward to reading more books by Farrah Rochon!

I enjoyed The Dating Playbook, by Farrah Rochon, a contemporary 'fake dating' romance.

The premise: Healthy living through fitness and nutrition is Taylor's passion, but she's stumbled a few times in making it her career. It seems her monetary problems are solved when Jamar Dixon, a former NFL player attempting a comeback, hires her as his personal fitness coach. But things get really complicated when a reporter sees them together and Taylor blurts out that they’re dating.

This is the perfect combination of witty banter, steamy romance, and deeper issues regarding Taylor's family, Jamar's past, and both Taylor and Jamar finding their career paths amid challenges. As the second book featuring three women united by unusual circumstances, it's not necessary to read The Boyfriend Project before Playbook, even though key characters from the first book appear in book two. I enjoyed them both and hope London is featured in the author's next novel.

The audiobook was great fun with Rebecca Lee's narration - plus a bonus chapter was provided to better understand Taylor's financial situation. Thank you to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the review copy of the audiobook.

Loved the narrator & this book was great! This is a great series - loved the chemistry and overall dynamic between the 2 characters. As a former fitness professional, this one felt a little inauthentic in terms of her job & "fitness lingo" but it wasn't a huge deal. Looking forward to the 3rd book in the series.

This was a fun and fluffy book that I found to be an easy and breezy read. I loved to see Taylor working hard to build her career and fight for what she was passionate about. Her friendship with London and Samiah is something that she can fall back on and the trust she has with these girls is a strong female friendship that I love to see in books. Whilst the chemistry between the lead pair is sweet and cute, I found that they did not focus much on getting to know each other. There was a lot of attention given to the sexual tension between the pair and whilst some people wouldn't mind this, I wished there was more layers to the pairing. This is the perfect fun read that you can knock down on a rainy day with a mug of hot chocolate.

Meet Taylor Powell, a kick ass personal trainer who is struggling with debt. Although she is great at her job she doesn’t have an official degree which is making stepping up her career game rather challenging. With the bills and debt becoming overwhelming she needs a miracle and she needs it fast.

Enter Jamar Dixon, former footballer who wants to break back into the NRL after suffering a tragic knee injury at the beginning of his career. Jamar tracks down Taylor in the hopes of securing her as his personal trainer, but there is a catch. No one can know Jamar is looking to get back into the NRL so no one can know he is Taylor client. Cue the always satisfying fake dating trope!

Well it is safe to say that I am definitely becoming a romance fan! I thoroughly enjoyed this one! I am a sucker for a fake dating trope and this one was no different! I really enjoyed listening to this story unfold and watching Taylor and Jamar characters grow while they tackled life's obstacles. It was great to see such a strong lead female character!

The audio narration of this one was absolutely fantastic. Rebecca Lee did such a wonderful job and her voice just matched Taylor so perfectly. I love when this happens! I am so glad I chose to listen to this one.

When I requested this one I didn’t realise it was the second book in The Boyfriend Project series, although that doesn’t matter as they are two separate stories from what I understand. I believe the first one follows her friend Samiah who appears occasionally throughout this one during girls night. I will definitely be heading to check out the first book very soon!

If you enjoyed The Boyfriend Project like I did, this is a must read!

After falling in love with the bad ass ladies that are Samiah, Taylor and London who became best friends after confronting their mutual cheating boyfriend, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Taylor’s story.

Taylor is having a hard time staying afloat running her fitness company and is struggling to find a way out of the debt and despair she is in. She wants to finish her degree but is terrified she will be unable to do the work and wondering if she may have a learning disability. When Jamar comes into her life and asks her to train him to get back into the NFL but in secret, she is suspicious of his motives but needs the money so agrees.

Enter in some fake dating plus instalust and you can guess what happens next. My favorite part of these books is the unlikely friendship between the three women. I cannot wait to get London’s story next!!

The audio really brings this story to light. Highly recommend!!

This is my first book by this author and it definitely won’t be my last. While this is the second book in the Boyfriend Project series, the storyline was completely comprehensible without having read the previous book. However I would recommend reading The Boyfriend Project for some backstory on the female friendships in this book. Taylor and Jamar ‘s story was so cute. Their chemistry was evident from the very first meeting. Beyond the romance aspect I love how Taylor’s financial struggles were handled. I think lots of readers, including myself will be able to relate to her character. Rochon’s writing was witty and timely. I found myself laughing along with Taylor every other page. I’d highly recommend this to anyone looking to diversify their romance shelf!

I love romance series that focus on the bonds of female friendship. When I read Farrah Rochon's The Boyfriend Project last year, I was hooked by the connection between the three women at its center and couldn't wait to read the rest of their stories. I eagerly dove into the audiobook of book two, The Dating Playbook and this fake dating sports romance did not disappoint.

Personal trainer Taylor Powell is struggling to get her business off the ground and make ends meet. When former NFL player Jamar Dixon offers her a check she can't refuse in exchange for private training, she agrees. But things take a turn when they have to pretend to be dating to hide his true plans for trying to get back into the league.

I love when romances feature the main characters working together towards a common goal, and that was amplified here by the fact that Taylor and Jamar were each pursuing something they were deeply passionate about. Rochon did a great job of making their motivations so multi-layered, and I loved the thoughtful explorations of grief, anxiety, ADHD, and learning disabilities as they both worked to overcome the hurdles standing between them and what they wanted and needed.

The audiobook was narrated by Rebecca Lee, who did a fantastic job. Readers who enjoy sports and athleticism in romance will find so much to love here.

Y’all I loved The Boyfriend Project so much that I had to read The Dating Playbook ASAP! Taylor Powell is a personal trainer with some serious debt. So when former NFL player and Longhorn Jamar Dixon asks her to train him, she is all in. Add a little fake dating and that’s when the magic happens.

Y’all I love that this book is set in my hometown of Austin Texas. Not too mention my Alma Mater The University of Texas at Austin! This sweet and steamy love story is out now. I hope you check it out.

Thanks to Hachette audio and NetGalley for the gifted ALC!

This book is second in a series, but I would say it can easily be read as a standalone.

This book is quite heavy on the sport, and as someone who doesn't know a whole lot about American football it was a little difficult to understand some terms. But that didn't take away all of my enjoyment.

There's some phenomenal representation in this book, and I also loved the strong female friendship depicted here. The audiobook narrator is also fantastic, and was the perfect choice for this book.

I can't wait to read London's book when it's released.

> Diversity Representation: Black main characters, learning disability
> Content Warnings: death of a friend, grief, injury, hospital scenes, car accident, anxiety



*Cute, sweet, fun, fluffy, light, steamy, quick, engaging*

Quick Summary: Taylor has dug herself into a big hole of debt, and she's doing everything she can to pay it off. When Jamar Dixon, a former NFL player, comes into her life and asks her for secret training, this might be the perfect situation for both Taylor and Jamar. Unfortunately, that means they'll be spending time together, **so a fake relationship might be the only way they can explain to the public how much time their closeness...**

The Dating Playbook is the definition of a fun and fluffy book. It was a nice, light romance read that I breezed through in a single day. It was funny, sweet, cute, and everything you expect from a contemporary romance. I love the fake dating trope, it's always so cheesy in the best way, and this one definitely fits the bill in that! Overall, this book was a great contemporary romance, but I did find the relationship felt a little heavy on sexual tension rather than knowing each other. Other than that, which definitely is not a negative for some people, this book was a perfect fluffy read!

My favorite part about this book was how hard Taylor was working to make a name for herself and stay afloat. She didn't do it in the overly stubborn way that is often seen in books, where the main character just refuses help because they have "respect" or "honor" or something. Taylor was just fighting with everything she had, but she has strong friends that she knows she can trust and fall back on if she needs. It was a really nice balance! I don't know how much I'm in love with how severe her money situations were overall, but I did really enjoy the growth Taylor had to work toward fixing it.

For a living, Taylor Powell teaches people how to kick some serious butt and get into shape. However, life has recently been kicking *her* butt. She's in some serious debt, very single, and her lack of a college degree is hindering her from fully achieving her dreams. At least she's got her girls, Samiah and London--all victims of the same catfishing, triple-timing loser, now the best of friends. Taylor needs something good to happen to keep her afloat as the bills start piling up. And then this cutie happens to come to one of her pop-up fitness classes...

Jamar Dixon once had it all: hometown football star, who not only ascended into stardom for the Longhorns, but also achieved the ultimate goal of playing NFL... until a knee injury his first year in the pros sidelined him. But Jamar isn't ready to throw in the towel; he wants back in the game for a number of reasons. Mostly, to honor the legacy of his best friend by living out their shared dream. But he needs to get in shape, and fast, and his home gym isn't cutting it. He's had his eye on Taylor'd Conditioning for a while, and not just because Taylor is gorgeous. She's got the intensity and know-how to get him back on track.

There's just one thing: Jamar doesn't want anyone to know he's going to try out for the team again. Not his fans, not his agents, no one. Taylor doesn't object, especially because Jamar pays well and he promises to give her a huge endorsement when it all pays off. But when they're seen out together, a moment of panic leads to Taylor blurting out a teeny, tiny, fib: that Taylor and Jamar are dating.

It ends up being the perfect cover story. It allows for them to train in public, and is free advertising for Taylor's business. What could possibly go wrong? It's not like they're attracted to each other or anything...

First of all, since I am reviewing the audio version, let me just say that I adore Rebecca Lee's narration; it's absolutely perfect, and got me very much out of an audiobook slump. She pours so much liveliness and passion and theatrics into her performance, I just cannot rave enough about Lee's skills here.

Second, I really loved "The Boyfriend Project" and the biggest question I've had for the past year is "How the heck did Taylor get herself arrested?" All is answered within, and we get a greater look into the head of Taylor, who is one of my favorite characters. Taylor's fun, but she's also a #GirlBoss and yeah it looks different than Samiah and London being #GirlBosses, and that's 100% okay! Taylor's still figuring herself out, and going through a couple of stages of denial and frustrated because of the bumps on the road to success she's on.

And Jamar. Oh, sweet cinnamon roll of a teddy bear Jamar... He's got the weight of the world on his shoulders... because he put it there, overwhelmed with grief and guilt. He's got his own journey to go on, and is not quite sure what he really wants to do with his life because he's got tunnel vision on what he thinks he needs to do with his life. Just... Jamar is so good and sweet, I love him.

Phenomenal book, with a spectacular narrator, and I can't wait to get London's story!

Loved it with my whole heart! This was the perfect fake dating story between an NFL star and a personal trainer. If you're looking for a great romcom to end your summer, this is the one you want.

Taylor has debt coming out of her ears, so when Jamal offers her an insane amount of money and the opportunity to get her business off the ground, in order to get him back into shape, she can't say no.

Taylor is such a fierce and lovable character that a lot of us can relate to. I also enjoyed the flirty banter between the two, and felt the story had the perfect blend of humor, romance and realism. These two are one of my new favorite couples, and I can't wait for more in this series!

I was lucky enough to listen to the audiobook thanks to an advanced copy from Hachette Audio, and it brings the characters to life perfectly.

I heard a lot of great things about this author before listening to the audiobook and I was not disappointed. Jamar and Taylor are well thought out and likeable characters that really complement each other. Often with sports romance I get annoyed about the guy's huge ego and the fame that comes with being a big time player, but both of those are mercifully absent from this book. Jamar is overall a great guy, that listens to Taylor not just on personal but also professional issues (the bar is so low lol). He respects her for her skill and her confidence even before they start dating. Both him and Taylor still grow throughout the book and it's fun to watch them become even better people. The narrator was also well chosen and rounded out the storyline perfectly.
The only thing I was missing a little is the chemistry between Taylor and Jamar. They definitely fit together and are great couple, but I think there could have been a bit more of a spark. This is more of a personal issue I have with the book and doesn't really reflect its quality so overall I definitely still recommend it.

I received this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

✨ Who here is a sucker for the fake dating trope? I know I am 🙋🏽‍♀️ ✨

If you are looking for a low-key, low-angst sports romance with the fake dating trope, this is a great option.

Summary:
In order to save her struggling personal fitness business, Taylor agrees to train former NFL player Jamar to prepare himself to go back on the field. When Taylor accidentally blurts, to protect Jamar’s image and reputation, that they are dating when caught in public with him, both find themselves in a fake relationship that may not be fake for too long. . .

Tropes:
😏 Fake dating
👫🏿Friends to lovers
🏈Sports romance
🧠Intellectual equals
🍆“Let’s fuck to get it out of our system”
🥺Hero who cries in front of the heroine
🗣Excellent banter
🔥Close proximity
💕Strong female friendships

Sometimes you are in the mood for a romance book with the tropes you love but is super easy to read and digest. I have been in a horrible slump for the past few weeks, and this book pulled me out. This book has all these amazing tropes jam packed into one and I love it 🙌🏼

It was the light and easy read that needed. Maybe if I read this at some other time I may not have enjoyed it, who knows? But this book was just what I needed right now. Normally I love angst in my romance novels. I just love feeling that pain you know. But I didn't understand the beauty of low-angst romance until I read this one. It was simple and straight to the point. I loved it. Perfect for when you are in a slump.

One thing I will warn you about, don't go in expecting this to be sports heavy. I kind of came in expecting those cute scenes in sports romances where one character cheers the others from the bleachers or gives a dramatic hug after a game. That does not happen in this book. The sports honestly isn't a huge part of the story as much it is just background on Jamar and his motivations.

The story was wonderfully layered and deep while still have an easy, readability. I loved watching both develop and come to terms with their struggles. Both character’s personal struggles were written wonderfully, and I am shocked at how Rochon was able to fit it all in while still making it easy to read 😍

The banter was off the charts. You guys know I am a whore for intellectual chemistry. Both being in the fitness industry allowed both of them to wordlessly understand and push each other and I was melting over that 🥴It was written in a way that I understood what they were talking about without getting lost. I was feeling that connection between them. I will say I wanted more chemistry and genuine connection from the two overall though. I felt the physcial chemistry, however, I was just not feeling the emotional and romantic chemistry. I just felt like they were a good fling. I also didn't get that natural progression and realization to love. They were doing their thing and then suddenly they were in love. I like a more natural and realistic development.

My issues with the book mainly stem from how both of them dealt with the other’s struggles. Jamar was kind and supportive of Taylor but had the tendency to be dismissive or unhelpful some times. I also didn’t like how Taylor exploded at Jamar around the end. I felt like he was not that helpful when it came to the issues Taylor was facing. He was kind about it and he provided her words of support and understanding every now and then, but in general I felt like he was pretty absent. He was trying to come to terms with his issues on his own timeline, and he is allowed to do that. He had a lot at stake and issues that he was struggling with for years, he couldn't just turn it off like a switch. I do understand why she was mad, it was out of concern, but I think the way she behaved was not rational. I think calm, communication could have solved their issue. I will note that Taylor, in general, was super supportive of Jamar. I am really, really tired of unnecessary conflicts in the third act and I wasn't a big fan of this one either.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this to someone looking for a light, easy read or palette cleanser.

P.S. if you can read this on audiobook I 1000% recommend it. I loved the narrator. They increased my enjoyment ten fold, a huge reason why I ended up enjoying the book so much despite my qualms with the story. Her voice suits the book and the characters wonderfully and she elevated the whole experience.

Recommend? Yes!
⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5 stars | 🌶🌶/ 5 steam

Thank you to NetGalley, Read Forever Pub, Hachette Audio, and Farrah Rochon for an eARC and audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion ❤️