Susan Elizabeth Phillips is a powerhouse. She can write a fabulous story and this book delivered. I loved the characters and the plot. I would recommend to others without hesitation.

I don't read many books by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. After reading this one, I plan on reading more. It was really good. It was funny heart warming and romantic. The ending wasn't what I expected, it was better. I'm grateful that netgalley and the publishers let me read this in exchange for an honest review.

Susan Elizabeth Phillips has done it again!! There is a reason she is one of my all time favorites and it's because whenever I pick up one of her books I know I will not be disappointed!

This was a perfect addition to the Chicago Stars series. Not only did we have all the romance of an enemies to lovers, opposites attract, sports romance, but we also get all the drama and suspense of a battle of the sexes, murder mystery too. Needless too say, I ate this up. I loved how independent and strong willed Rory was. When the FMC is in control of herself (not necessarily her crazy life) and takes the lead, that's when I really feel connected to her character. Usually the MMC steals the show and is who I end up liking the most, not this time. Rory is so fun and quirky, smart and loyal, could not get enough of her.

Brett was of course swoon worthy as well. Your typical manly man, commitment-a-phobe (at first) perfectly written. He has no trouble redeeming himself in my heart (because unlike Rory I am a total sucker for a tough guy, man whore)! Rory is a tough one to crack but Brett keeps going and shows her he is way more than most people think.

Opposites attract is one of my favorite tropes and when it is playboy vs over achiever- sign me up every time! As if this book couldn't get any better I LOVED seeing past characters from other books in the series. Heath and Annabella had my lol'ing and it made me love them even more than I already did.

It goes without saying I will never tire of this series and I cannot wait for the next one!!

Susan Elizabeth Phillips is one of my favorite contemporary romance authors, and when I saw she had a new book coming out February 13th, I rushed to get an ARC from Netgalley, so thank you Netgalley.
I loved this book, the 10th in the Chicago stars series, but definitely can be read as a stand alone.
How can a 1 night stand end in such a disaster?
Rory Garret, a hopeful chocolatier who seems to go from disaster to disaster, and Brett Rivers who always perfect and the agent of her football playing brother
Become enmeshed in a murder investigation. Great dialogue as always and fun watching their relationship play out.

Susan Elizabeth Phillips delivers her 10th Chicago Stars romance novel, which pairs the flighty and impulsive half-sister of the quarterback with his driven and ambitious sports agent. Rory Garrett and Brett Rivers (The River) are pretty much total opposites, yet there's a spark of attraction/chemistry that just won't go away. Add in an ongoing mystery and great supporting characters and you definitely have a recipe for success. Highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for the ARC. Susan Elizabeth Phillips has a knack. She writes just enough snark, romance and now mystery to make an enjoyable read. Love the sense of humor. Great characters, side plots "evil step-mother". Funky lovable characters. It's like when you need comfort food...SEP writes comfort books. I believe I have read all SEP's books and she is a no-brain-er...she writes a story...I'm going to read it. If you haven't tried a SEP, you should just grab a couple but bet you can't read just one :)

Simply the Best is exactly it! This was classic SEP with witty banter and kooky characters. I loved watching Rory and The River fall for their complete opposites. The mystery part was great and the side characters added to the great story.

SEP has been a mainstay of romcom for decades. So her reputation is book gets us back into the world of football, with an agent and the sister of a player. They have a one night stand not knowing each other. Her housemate turns up dead and she and her brother are suspects. They decide together to hunt him down and solve the who done it. It fell apart for me when they encounter MAGA militia and end up in a cabin alone. Just not her finest in my opinion.

All the nostalgia reading this book. I hadn’t read this series in years but it was lovley to return. I actually think I skipped three books but it didn’t hamper my understanding of the story as it’s stand-alone as well.

This novel had everything you could want and more! Simply the Best is the perfect combination of the enemies to lovers trope with a laugh out loud romcom, all wrapped up in a who-done-it mystery to create a storyline that I found unputdownable! This gem is the 10th installment in the Chicago Stars series, but can be read as a standalone.

In true, Susan Elizabeth Phillips fashion the characters were well developed and extremely endearing! Between the main characters messy first meeting (a one night stand), and their crazy second meeting (finding a dead person together), I knew this book was going to be a wild ride. Never a dull moment, and because of that fact, I was so invested that I finished this 5 star novel in record time! I love a book that has you forgetting the real world and Simply the Best came through big time! I highly recommend this fantastic novel and wonderful series to everyone!

As always, Phillips delivers a charming, funny romp that blends strong character development with just enough texture (chocolate, insider sports, suspense) to keep the action lively. Well worth the read!

“Simply the Best” Chicago Stars, book 10 by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Romance and gentle Suspense, Oh YES!!
I knew I would love this story, and I did!! Never a dull moment. Yes there is a trace of spice, but not graphic, subtle is the name of the game. And there is the ‘Who done it’ angle, too. I will be adding this story to my ‘Read Again’ queue along with some other SEP stories. I hope you enjoy this story as much as I did! Happy Reading ! !
Note: This review expresses my honest opinion.
I requested and received an ARC of this story from the publishers via NetGalley

I received an ARC from NetGalley.

Susan Elizabeth Phillips is probably one of my favorite authors - I'm pretty sure I've read every single book she's written. This one was a little departure from her earlier stuff, as the focus was equal parts on the mystery AND the budding romance (but not as many saucy scenes as her previous books - in fact, there were a lot of closed door scenes here). I read it in less than 24 hours (thanks to an utter disregard for my responsibilities), and I'm not too upset by that. I'm not a huge fan of amateur detectives trying to solve a case, which is probably why it didn't get a higher rating from me.

I devoured this book like a box of gourmet chocolate bon bons. It’s such a sweet romance! Rory is the older sister of the famous golden boy quarterback Clint Garrett, her life is a mess, and about to get messier when she has a drunken one night stand with a smooth talking sexy stranger at her brother’s birthday party who turns out to be her brothers slick powerhouse sports agent Brett Rivers. Brett is driven and career focused and absolutely cannot get involved with his biggest clients sister no matter how drawn to her smart mouth and wild curls he is. Rory is an unemployed master chocolatier, Brett is workaholic, hotter version of Jerry Maguire (sorry, but I just don’t find Tom Cruise attractive) that team up when Clint goes missing and they find the dead body of Clint’s ex-girlfriend Ashley in Clint’s backyard!

Trying to clear Clint’s name and help the police solve the case, these two opposites pair well together to deliver a delicious romance filled with mystery, comedy, heartfelt family moments and of course chocolate!


Chocolate and Murder Mystery…a perfect October read! Thank you Avon and NetGalley for the advanced copy! I loved it

Brett Rivers has a one-night stand with his biggest client's stepsister. Rory goes to find her brother and finds dead body and her brother missing. keeps you guessing.

Unfortunately this was just OK for me. I felt like there was just a lot going on and it felt a bit haphazard and not in a good way.

I’ve always been a fan of Susan Elizabeth Phillips, so I was super excited to read this one. However, it fell short for me. I didn’t read the synopsis before requesting… I just saw Phillips’ name and immediately clicked request. So I had no idea about the murder storyline, and I just didn’t love it. I also saw where another reviewer said that the MMC was forgettable and I completely agree with that statement. I love Susan Elizabeth Phillips, but this one just wasn’t for me.

This book deserves a resounding five-star rating for its unique blend of elements, much like a diverse lineup of players coming together to form a winning team. It's a touchdown of emotions, passion, and intrigue all in one unforgettable story.

Rory Garrett, a chocolatier with a heart as rich as her confections, stands out as a character as delectable as her creations. Her chocolates become an entity of their own, representing her passion, her struggles, and the layers of her character. It's as if every truffle and bonbon she crafts holds a piece of her soul, making the reader root for her success. The chocolate takes on a character of its own.

The love language between the characters is like a well-executed playbook, filled with witty banter, intense chemistry, and undeniable sparks. Beyond the central romance, the relationship between Rory and her step-mother adds another layer. It's both heartwarming and insightful and gives this complex story even more authenticity.

The writing is beautifully edgy and descriptive. The characters are both likable and frustrating, offering added depth. The story carries a captivating mystery and a compelling 'who-done-it' element that keeps it unputdownable until the very last page.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and to Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this captivating story.

This book started out with a lot of that same SEP energy from the 90s and early 2000s but lost some of that along the way. The heroine is the half sister of a famous football player and the hero is that player’s agent. After a one night stand, the two end up playing detective together when they stumble upon a dead body at football player’s house.

I was very intrigued by this premise but found the heroine unlikable and the hero forgettable. There’s a side story that I wasn’t into that I felt like bogged the story down.

I love SEP’s earlier work so I find that my expectation is so high and makes me extra critical. Which is probably unfair, but SEP can write a freaking incredible book and this one was just okay.

Susan Elizabeth Phillips always starts her books off with a **bang** and Simply The Best Isn't different. Rory and Brett get to know each other quickly after meeting at a party. Fireworks then misconceptions, murder and romance ensue.
This was a typical fun SEP read with a touch of mystery and it was fun catching up with previous Chicago Stars couples. Five stars from me.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #HarperCollins books for the opportunity to early read this book.