A fun addition to a long-standing series. I like what SEP did differently with her heroine in this one, as well as the mystery subplot, and am excited to see the next installation!

I really enjoyed this book. Rory gets a chance to correct old hurts in her family, fall in love with a wonderful man, and investigate a murder -- all at once! I loved Rory's sass and honesty and willingness to do hard things. Her relationship with Brett is incredibly complicated and not something either of them want to continue, but they are both invested in helping her brother, Clint, stay out of jail. Their journey to do that is hilarious and eye-opening. They slowly fall in love, but the stakes just get higher. There is no way a relationship between them will ever work. But then everything gets even more complicated. What a ride!

I will forever be a Chicago Stars and SEP fan! I was beyond excited to see that there was a new book in this much beloved series. Football and Foodtrucks?? Yes please! As expected this was another hit from a very fav author. Heart, humor and emotional depth, SEP can do no wrong in my opinion. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review. Long time fans and new ones are sure to be delighted with this one!

I enjoyed this enemies-to-lovers, family drama, with a murder mystery. Has snarky humor and a great cast of characters. My first book by this author and will check out the previous books in the series. Good read.

This is a perplexing book. It started out slow for me and didn’t grab my attention right away. Somewhere in the middle I realized I was fully invested in the story and I don’t regret sticking it out.

Simply the Best isn’t perfect, but it’s highly entertaining. The relationships - yes, there are two - seemed a bit rushed, but then I decided to embrace the ridiculousness of instant love and enjoy the fun that ensued. Susan Elizabeth Phillips also gives us a murder mystery and some simmering family drama. Why not? The more the merrier, right.

Overall, this is a book that doesn’t take itself too seriously and that’s just fine.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

Simply the Best has just blown me away. I have read many of Susan’s books and they just seem to get better! I love the chemistry between Rory and Brett and it feels so great when they finally get it right. Highly recommended!

SEP was one of the first authors I found when I began reading contemporary romance, and I blazed my way through her back catalog. I loved everything I read, but especially the Chicago Stars series, one of the first sports romance books I ever read. Needless to say, I love her work. She blazed a trail for many, many authors, both traditionally published and independent.

Sadly, this is not the SEP I’ve come to know and love. This one had glimmers of familiarity with some humor and a touching moment or two, but it seemed like it was all over the place. Maybe it was the murder and the ways gone about to solve it or maybe it was the side romance for Rory’s stepmother, someone who I thought was truly awful and didn’t deserve the page time.

I enjoyed the characters and liked the romance well enough, but there was more going on than there needed to be for this to be a satisfying read. I liked that there were opportunities for healing and for reframing the way family dynamics were viewed, but I suggest starting with other books in the Chicago Stars series before taking on this one.

In ‘Simply the Best,’ Susan Elizabeth Phillips revisits her long-running and mostly delightful Chicago Stars series. Unfortunately, this edition isn’t another trophy for the case.

‘Simply the Best’ throws together Rory, the feisty, down-on-her-luck sister of the Stars’ star QB, and Brett, the QB’s workaholic agent. After an anonymous one-night stand, they swear to keep their distance, but when QB Brother disappears after his ex-girlfriend turns up murdered, they have to join forces to find him and clear his name.

The book was best when we could sink into passages about Rory’s quest to become a world-class chocolatier, and when Brett is clearly so down for her and supportive of that dream. But their chemistry seems to happen suddenly and because it needed to rather than the organic and comedic build of some of SEP’s other outings. That paired with the seriousness of the crime driving the plot (especially with the unaddressed context of the domestic violence issues within the NFL) made this one a so-so read for me. While SEP can’t help but shine in some sections, I’ll be rereading some of the other Stars novels when I want a romance that truly sparkles.

Many thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the eARC.

Simply the Best by Susan Elizabeth Phillips is a triage of romance, mystery, and family dynamics. The characters are relatable and engaging.

What a fun book! This is the latest entry in the Chicago Stars series and if you’re a fan it’s a book you shouldn’t miss! I read the first book in the series long ago and had no problems jumping right back into the series. It work just fine as a standalone novel. Now with all of that out of the way, let me say this was a fun and engaging book. I really enjoyed the mystery aspect along with the romance. And I am an absolute chocoholic so all the descriptions of the chocolates made me want to lick my kindle. All in all an engaging read.

Thank you to Avon Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book was fantastic! I the the Chicago Stars series and this is a great addition to it. I am a big fan of the rivals to lovers/opposites attract trope and with an added murder mystery into the storyline it makes the story so engaging and fun!

The FMC Rory is a failing chocolatier that struggles with adulting, while watching her NFL brother win at everything. His agent, Brett, is right by his side trying to help him navigate relationship issues and everything in-between. When tragedy strikes, everyone has to navigate through the clues to figure out the "who did it" and have their lives get turned upside down until the culprit is found. I loved seeing a cameo from Heath and Annabelle from "Match Me If You Can." Rory and Brett were great together! I thoroughly enjoyed their story and look forward to other additions to the series.

What to say about Brett and Rory? Simply the best. This was a fast paced story that i read in one day. The suspense elements were perfectly weaved into the romance that was brewing between them.

If you are looking for equal parts heart and humor in a story you can’t go wrong with a Susan Elizabeth Phillips book. This author does not take herself too seriously and refuses to allow her characters to do so either. Don’t get me wrong, she writes about life which can be seriously serious but she makes it fun to read. She has done so again with Simply the Best, her newest Chicago Stars book.

While it looks to be an opposite attraction story it is so much more. It is one of overcoming inferior complexes, putting yourself in someone else’s shoes and finding that the love you find is just the right love for you. The pink and purple food truck, the murder mystery and the mouth-watering chocolates all add to make Roy and Brett’s romance an incredible love story.

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Susan Elizabeth Phillips has another offering in her Chicago Stars series and this time murder is involved. Brett Rivers is a focused sports agent who has no time for a personal life until he meets Rory Garrett, the sister of one of his biggest clients. While he's trying to figure out a way to tell his client that he became involved with her a dead body is found on his client's property. His client has vanished and might be the biggest suspect in the case. Rory enlists Brett to help her prove that her brother didn't do it if they can find him. This story has a few different angles like a purple food truck that's never ready to sell food and a not-so-evil stepmother who tries to have a relationship with her stepdaughter while searching for her son. Rory and Brett's relationship felt cliche and seemed to drag along at a slow pace. The murder angle needed a lot more development. I've liked the previous titles in this series, but this one was not my favorite.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this title in advance.

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager, Avon. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Romance, Romcom, Mystery, Romance Mystery
Spice Level: High
Crude Factor: There is definitely some crude moments

I love it when I have a mystery served up with my romcoms. Sadly, I just didn't get into this book as much as I wanted to. The dialogue is snappy. The characters, at least Rory, was interesting and quirky. And I adore having a quirky FMC—it's just so relatable. But Brett was too machismo for my taste, and he rubbed me the wrong way from the opening scene where he met Rory.

Rory making chocolates, helping the homeless, and being an overall good egg was fun since it was at odds with her snark. And the way her stepmom treated her was awful. Didn't love the scene with the hicks and guns either.

It's a pretty light and breezy read. I think a lot of people are going to love this one even though it wasn't my flavor of artisan chocolate.

Happy reading!

I devoured this book in the same way someone might enjoy Rory's chocolates; trying to savor it but in the end consuming it all too quickly. The story was interesting and well-paced and I didn't want it to end. I loved the fun and snarky banter between Rory and Brett and their obvious connection. I also enjoyed the evolution of Rory's relationships with her brother and stepmother. One of the best books I've read in the last year.

Simply The Best by Susan Elizabeth Phillips ⭐⭐⭐⭐

What an action filled novel..... Murder, mystery, humor, Iove and romance definitely can't go wrong for a fun filled night of adventure. Truth me you won't want to put it down till the end.

Can you guess who done it before the end? Will the ending surprise you?

Pre-order your copy today, it releases Feb 13th.

Murder, mystery, who done it, romance, suspense, opposites attract, family issues, sports, and so much more! This book was a romp across genres and just a fun story to read!

I love how everything was melded together. We got to see some of the Chicago Stars that we know and love pop up in this story, understand how familial relationships can change, see how it's so easy to drop down into workaholic mode and give up relationships for money.

I think the biggest takeaway for me was, life is so much more nuanced than any of the characters of this book realized at the beginning. You have to be willing to open up to people and be honest with them for attitudes to change.

Rory has lived in her brother’s shadow for most of her life. Whe. He is accused of killing his former girlfriend, she pairs up with is agent to find the truth. ARC from NetGalley.

This was a good story. To me it was a bit slow getting started but after I got into it, I enjoyed it. Phillips always adds humor and she didn’t disappoint in this story either.
When Rory’s brother Clint, a Chicago Stars player is arrested for murder, Rory will do what she has to do to clear his name. Add in Clint’s sports agent and it’s a game changer.