These side characters make me want to throw my phone at something. Too frat-boy-y for my taste.
This one is just not working out for me.
ARC through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

First off, I love Tuck and Francesca! Their story is not your typical boy-meets-girl scenario. They meet during a masquerade party at a sex club and immediately hit it off. What they each thought was an anonymous evening turns into so much more when they realize they live in the same building. Francesca can't keep her mind off of Tuck and he feels the same way. There's one little problem - their one night stand resulted in a pregnancy and Francesca doesn't want Tuck to feel like she trapped him because of his celebrity status and fat wallet. Inevitably, this is something that can't be hidden forever.

Despite coming from very different backgrounds, Tuck and Francesca fit so well together and I loved their chemistry. The spicy scenes were on point! This book has a little of everything - accidental pregnancy, (somewhat) forced proximity, sports romance, billionaire hero, secrets - this list goes on!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ilsa Madden-Mills for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

this book was alright! some parts i enjoyed and the other parts i didn’t. let’s just say i wanna throw a damn rock at his head. she shouldn’t have forgiven him as fast as she did. homeboy did nothing to earn her forgiveness. getting a tattoo isn’t enough in my opinion 😳

I. Am. Obsessed. With. This. Book.

When Beauty and the Baller came out, I feel in love with the story. Then Princess and the Player came along and blew that story out of the water. I devoured this book in one setting, completely unable to put it down.

Francesca and Tuck have a relationship full of ups and downs, but fate continues to bring them together, giving each a gentle nudge when they most need it.

With lots of spice, a fantastic cast of supporting characters, and a one night stand that brings the main characters together, Princess and the Player tackles two complex characters while bringing them together through the greatest force of love.

*Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review*

First thing I need to mention before anything else is that I was drawn to this story and read it in full, nonstop. I loved the backstory about their families and how it all came together. However, the ending felt a bit rushed to me. The entire first half was amazing, then I hit the 77% mark and felt like I was being rushed through the story. This could also be the result of me reading until 3 am.
Another thing was the development of the characters. I feel like they were aware to their flaws and did nothing to fix them. The character development didn’t kick in until the 85% mark. I really loved the characters, I just wish I had more development from them earlier on in the story. Overall, Princess and the Player is a 3.8/5 for me. I really enjoyed the beginning, just the ending felt fast for all the information being presented.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘈𝘙𝘊.

When Francesca Lane is betrayed by her now ex-fiance, she decides to put on her wedding gown and goes to a masquerade ball, in a sex club. There she meets NFL star Tuck Avery, dressed as a prince, and they inulge in a hot, steamy incognito affair. One night, no strings, no names, and the masks stay on. That was the deal between Prince Player Tuck and Princess Bride Francesca. One day, Francesca is surprised to learn that her masked prince turns out to be not only her neighbor but also a famous athlete, both on the field and in the tabloids. She vows to keep her identity a secret, but fate has other plans.

Overall this was a fun, quick, and enjoyable read for me! I thought the chemistry between Tuck and Francesca was great. 🔥 I also really liked all the side characters; what a special group of friends! I was pleasantly surprised with how much depth this story had. Yes, there was one aspect that sort of frustrated me but I think it worked itself out in the story quite well.

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩:
🥵 One night stand
🤰 Accidental pregnancy
😍 Dual POV
🥺 Found family

This book started hot but fizzled out before the end. Accidental pregnancy is not one of my preferred tropes but decided to give it a shot based on the rest of the plot. The beginning 40% was great — filled with lots of banter and fun and interesting developments for both Tuck & Francesca. But the inevitable conflict was far too delayed and left the ending feeling rushed. This was a quick and fun read but was just good when it could have been great.

A solid 3.5 read and definitely want to go back to read the first book in the series (but both can be read as stand-alones!)

I loved how this story started - I was immediately hooked, and couldn't stop reading. Up until 40-50% I thought this was going to be a new 5 star read, but then story started to become weird and by the end I was disappointed.
It's still a solid contemporary romance, I love Ilsa Madden-Mills and I'm always entertained by her books, but there are quite a few details I think should've been left out or come sooner in the story, making it a much better one overall:

1.) Tuck discovering pregnancy on his own at around 75%

I'm still not completely sure how did Francesca think she'll be able to hide her pregnancy from Tuck and why she thought that would be a good idea. I get her reluctance to tell him at first, but I still believe her realization how messed up her hiding it from him really was came way too late in the story. It messed up the pacing, leaving too little time for a proper growth of the characters and their relationship.
I definitely think that she should've been the one to tell him, him realizing it on his own was underwhelming and not good for the romance of the story. There were too many flaws in that plot and it made the story weaker than it could've been.

2.) Too many exs

There just so many exs one story can handle before it becomes too much, and this one definitely crossed that line. I understand that there was purpose for Edward being in the story - his cheating on Francesca creates opportunity for the MC's to meet and for the story to set off. But there was really no purpose for that other guy (I can't even remember his name), and that whole plot took too many pages from the main plot and relationship development between MCs.
And the whole awkward scene in the third act, with the creepy artist ex and the hero in art gallery, it was unnecessary and ridiculous. It made the hero seem immature, I guess it was supposed to be funny, but for me it just showed the flaws in the writing and a need for more editing.
I'm generally not a fan of the characters whose sole purpose is to make other MC jealous, so I hated Courtney. The scene when Jesper goes off on her after she tried to make Francesca think she and Tuck are hooking up was written confusingly and I hope it gets more editing, it's not clear at all what's going on.


3.) Weird comments on art (history) and pop culture - this is definitely a minor complaint, and if I weren's so angry with the path the story took, I would probably overlook it.

Tuck is 35 year old millenial who's never seen Titanic?! Please, that movie was huge in the 90's, it's arguably one of the most iconic movies of the decade, and it's relegated to a chic-flick and not-for-men movie by the hero?
And the art talk between the hero and the heroine, when they are supposed to seem like true connoisseurs, is super-weird. I mean, the speech Tuck gives on Van Gogh sounds like he's reading it from Wikipedia, and Francesca admiring his knowledge on freaking Van Gogh, one of the world's most recognizable and well-known artists, is just laughable. This people are supposed to be an artist and a long-time art collector/admirer. I know that I, as an art historian, may be biased on what's a common knowledge, but knowing fun facts about people like Dante or Van Gogh should not be something extraordinary, especially for someone with an art degree or history degree for that matter.

4.) Inconsistences in characters

Somewhere in the middle of the story, both Francesca and Tuck start acting way different from what their characters are set up as. Tuck we met in the previous book, where he's described as a party animal, drinking, easy-going, enjoying women and life type of guy. I know it's pretty usual in romances to have a character who is described as such act differently in his own book, but i felt like there were inconsistences and changes in the character within this book, that happened without enough explanation or reason behind those changes. I feel like if we were shown more of his relationship with his mother, and not only told about it, it would be easier to understand him as a character.
The same goes for Francesca, there's so much happening with her - pregnancy, past trauma, all the exs, discovering long lost relatives. It's too much for one story, especially with everything else that's happening, and it showed in Francesca's character by the end. She started out as strong, independent, creative and interesting character, but honestly, by the end, she was just annoying and flat character.


I mentioned most of the stuff that bugged me while reading, but there were some stuff I love of course!

1.) the steam - most of the intimate scenes are great, I enjoyed them a lot!

2.) small moments between MCs when they are getting to know each other - I loved their walks, and how interested Tuck was in Francesca. I also loved what a good guy Tuck is, genuinly caring for others.

3.) I think this is the first book I read where the heroine was a tattoo artist! I loved that, and I wish we got more of Francesca working in that field. I generally enjoy the artsy characters, so this was a big plus and the thing that got me hooked at the beginning.

4.) descriptions of New York and of winter atmosphere - the descriptions in this book really made me think of coziness of winter/Christmas reads, and the release date being in November, I can totaly imagine this novel being great Christmas romance. At one point I even thought it's going to play out as something like that, which I would've loved

4 ⭐️’s

Tropes;
One Night Stand
Sports Romance
Accidental Pregnancy

I absolutely adored Beauty And The Baller and was so excited that we were getting Tuck’s book. Especially with it being accidental pregnancy trope (one of my favs urgh)!!

In The Princess And The Player we follow Francesca Lane and Tuck Avery. Their worlds collide when they have a anonymous one-night stand at an exclusive club. However, this one-night stand doesn’t stay anonymous as Francesca discovers that the mystery man is no other then her NFL neighbour, knowing his history of being a player she decides to try and avoid giving away her identity. These plans are slightly skewed when Francesca is met with an unexpected plus sign.

I don’t want to give to much away but this was overall a super enjoyable, fun, quick read. Both characters have complicated pasts which helps flesh out their characters and give them enough depth to get attached and interested by them. Their chemistry is also off the charts and this book wasn’t lacking at all in the steam department. I loved reading about these two and this was a rollercoaster of a story. And as always this book made me laugh so much as does most of Ilsa books, she never fails to balance the humour, heavier moments and plot in her books.

If you are looking for a quick, fun sports romance then this is the book for you!

I was so dang entertained by Beauty and the Baller that I couldn’t pass up getting my hands on an ARC of Princess and the Player, book two of Ilsa Madden-Mills’ Strangers in Love series.

Princess and the Player was just as fun of a read as Beauty and the Baller but a little more emotional. Tuck and Francesca both have their own trauma that they carry with them from relationship to relationship. Despite fate continuously pushing them together, that baggage keeps getting in the way of their happiness - that and a big secret that Francesca is keeping after their one-night stand.

Aside from the moments that had me reaching for tissues, there was plenty of witty banter and steamy sexy time - my favorite combo! I fell in love with the side characters, all of whom have big personalities and even bigger mouths. I can’t tell whose book I want more, Jasper or Brogan!

If I had to offer any criticism, it would be that Francesca kept her secret for way too long and I think she should have done more groveling than Tuck did - nevertheless, I’m hoping this series continues on and that I get to see more of Jasper, Brogan, and Cece!

Ilsa Madden-Mills NEVER MISSES.
Such a good book. Unique characters, cliche tropes but in the absolute BEST WAY!!!!!! The tropes in this one gave me butterflies.
I felt for Francesca so deeply. She was outwardly a badass who can deal with anything, but deep down she was vulnerable and hurting. She wants so badly not to care and will do anything to avoid it.
I also really like Tuck. He was extremely likable even when he was borderline being a paranoid a hole, you really felt like you could understand and approve of why he acted the way he does.
Two beautiful characters with tragic backstories come together and make MAGIC.

Ilsa Madden-Mills did an amazing job with Princess and the Player. This book had heart, raw emotions and relatable characters from the start.. As always, Ilsa Madden-Mills scored major points with her stunning prose as she allowed readers to see and feel this tangible connection of Tuck and Francesca. So if you are looking for a story with tropes one night stand leads to accidental pregnancy then this book is definitely for you.

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

One night. No real names. No exchanging of numbers. That’s what NFL player Tuck and jilted bride and artist Francesca agree to when they meet by chance at an exclusive nightclub where anything goes. Imagine Francesca’s surprise when she realizes that her masked one-night stand lives in her building. Francesca vows to keep her identity hidden, but fate (and Tuck) have other plans for their relationship. As Francesca and Tuck begin to explore the possibility of enjoying each other more permanently, they will each have to confront their own pasts and insecurities and decide if they are ready and willing to take the leap. This book offered a unique meet cute with two characters you can’t help but fall for. While I don’t normally enjoy an unplanned pregnancy plot, this book delivered it in a way that was genuine to the characters and had me racing towards the end. At certain times it felt as if there were so many different things happening that it was hard to focus on one central plot, but overall it was an enjoyable read.

I absolutely loved this story from start to finish and read it practically in one sitting. It's heartfelt, hilarious, and honest - a great compliment to the first book in the Strangers in Love series. Ilsa Madden-Mills writes amazing contemporary sports romance stories with fresh perspective, charming characters and great, engaging storytelling and structure. These two main characters truly charmed me. Their story is interesting and endearing and you will easily fall in love right along with them. The themes of fate and coincidence are a huge part of the story which gave it an interesting whimsical feel making it all the more romantic. And it's just incredibly funny. From the two mains extending to the secondary cast, I laughed so much. They are a motley crew who are wonderfully quirky and anecdotal and can banter with the best of anyone. The family Madden-Mills created in this book leaves you feeling hopeful as does the wonderful romance. I can't wait for more out of this wonderful, new realm this author is creating.

I always love anything Isla writes. One night stand that leads to accidental pregnancy, is one of my favorite tropes. The story jumped around a bit, but I reminded myself this is an ARC, and her stories are usually a smooth read. I'll definitely keep an eye out for more books in the series! (I'm hoping Jasper's story is next!)

This was a fun read with a predictable ending.
I don't know that I like the writer's style, but this is a good beach read.

I was hoping for Tuck book since I read about him in Ronan book. This book gives you everything you ask for. This book is filled with so much of passion, fun, happiness and bit of sad. FrancescaTuck spend night with each other without revealing their faces. Their one night has resulted in Francesca Preganancy.

I loved both FrancescaTuck Individually and together. They both are strong despite facing so much in their childhood. No child should go through what Tuck had went in their childhood. I just wanted to jump into the book and protect Tuck. Francesca is such a strong badass girl for building a life despite not having her parents. They deserve every happiness in this world and I am not even kidding.

This book is a must read if you want to enjoy a one night stand, surprise pregnancy, found family book.

I didn't connect really with either of these characters. Francesca is a lonely artist with a troubled past. Tuck is a player with wealth and fame. I didn't buy into their masquerade meet-up and that leading to an actual connection. I read the book but was underwhelmed.

I want to say going in that I loved Beauty and the Baller.

I was so excited to be lucky enough to get an ARC of this book. I dropped everything that I was reading to grab it up. I started reading it and enjoyed this opening scenes, but then it got confusing once they meet up in the building. I kept reading and it was still a little odd, along with it really bugged me that Francessa didn't tell Tuck about being pregnant for so long once it was clear he wanted to court her. It's a one night steamy hot stand that turns into a surprise baby.

I will be giving the next book a chance to see what is in store for this series.

Thank you to Netgalley and Montlake for the ARC.

🌟🌟🌟🌟 4/5 stars

I absolutely loved Beauty and the Baller and couldn’t wait for Tuck’s story. While I didn’t love it quite as much as BATB, Princess and the Player was another steamy romance with all the chemistry and banter.

Francesca and Tuck meet at an exclusive lifestyle club while wearing masquerade masks. They immediately hit it off and have a very memorable night together (while never taking off the masks). When Francesca realizes that the mystery man is her neighbor and an NFL star, she doesn’t believe their lives could ever fit together. However, when she takes a pregnancy test, everything changes.

This was a very cute story and a lot more emotional than I was expecting. I loved Tuck and Francesca and their “fated” love story. I flew through this one and it was a fun romance to get lost in.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Full review to be posted closer to release date.