I really liked the concept of this one, not so much the execution! Halle got on my nerves with her rigidity and lack of faith/trust in others, lol. I wish we saw more of Halle and Quinton as an actual couple. The buildup was good, if a bit slow, but when they became an actual couple, their relationship became so bogged down by external dramas that we didn't really see them together-together.

Quinton's sister is a wheelchair user, but we don't ever learn more about her disability. It would have been nice to have a bit of context. I liked the conversations on accessibility.

I'm still trying to figure out how I feel about the bullying storyline/major twist at the end. Idk, something's rubbing me the wrong way.

I liked the third book more but don't regret reading this one. I'm not a huge fan of Synithia Williams's writing style, but that's just personal preference. Her books are super readable/easy to binge in a day or two, which I appreciate!

Thanks to the publisher for providing an advanced copy of this book!

I was so excited to go back to Peach tree cove! I’m so grateful to Netgalley for this eARC! I enjoyed this book so much!

It’s been a little while since I read Waiting for Friday Night, but I’m still thinking about how much I loved it. It had a slightly different vibe from the author’s other books, and I was thrilled to get a glimpse of the couple from the first book—it felt like catching up with old friends. The characters were all so enjoyable, but that little girl completely stole my heart with her determination and charm.

This story was the perfect mix of heartwarming and romantic, and it left me with such a happy feeling. I can’t wait to see what the author has in store next!

I have never read a book with this story line and it was a fantastic read! The Mom wanting a baby and the coach being the unknown donor and them falling in love! I love that this author was really thinking outside of the box and I can't wait to read more from this author!!

Love is the most powerful. Give me a book with a small town and I am here for it every time and Waiting for Friday Night was it.
The love story was interesting and the characters kept me here. Halle was fine and sometimes I struggle with the main female characters, especially when the main male characters are swoon worthy. But her character development was much appreciated.
My only wish is that we got to see her and Quinton more as a couple.

This book ratcheted up the drama from part 1 in the Pachtree Cove series. The FMC, Halle, and MMC , Quinton, truly has. whirlwind romance. Halle goes from overhearing that Quinton would never date a woman like her (P.S. he finds out she doesn't date sports players) to falling madly in love with this man. But that's not even the half - they have a baby together and never slept together.

Parts of the book were a bit. outlandish, like finding out who the real daddy of Halle's daughter Shania is. Or when Halle swore that she didn't have feelings for Quinton.

In all, Synithia Williams is an amazing writer with a flair for drama. If you like small town drama and lusty romance, this is the series for you. I always have a bit of a visceral reaction reading Synithia's books, but that's not a bad thing.

Waiting for Friday Night by Synithia Williams was a delightful read. I absolutely love this series. Cute second chance romance story filled with interested characters, great character development and the cutest small town (with all the small town drama). I did not want this book to end it gave me Lifetime Movie vibes with a sprinkle of spice. I enjoy books by this author, the writing is so crisp and clean and the storytelling is tight. Lastly, that COVER! It breaks my heart they are not in hardcover but the cover art on this series, even the novellas, are beautiful.

I read this one a bit ago, but It took forever to be able to put into words how much i loved this story. It's slightly different from some of the other books I've read from her, and I loved seeing the update from the couple in the first book. This was such an absolute delight to read. I loved the characters, and that little girl was so determined and truthfully stole the show. This was such a heartwarming and romantic read, and I can't wait for the next book from the author.

Super cute by the end. I’m not sure if it’ll be super memorable in the long run but I did like it cause I like sports anything in books. The grief discussion was appreciated. I kinda went in thinking the characters would be older, maybe due to the vibes of the cover? I loved the small town vibes in this.

"Waiting for Friday Night" by Synithia Williams is an engaging read with an intriguing premise and relatable characters. Halle Parker's journey from single motherhood to facing the revelations about her daughter's biological father is both touching and realistic. The book's exploration of family, identity, and second chances is not just compelling but also instills a sense of hope.

Halle is a well-developed character. Her determination to create a stable life for her daughter, Shania, is admirable. The twist comes when Shania, now fourteen and curious about her roots, discovers her biological father is none other than her football coach, Quinton Evans. This revelation sets off a chain of events that shakes up the lives of everyone involved.

Quinton's character is equally compelling. A former pro football player turned coach, the news takes him aback, but steps up to the plate admirably. His commitment to building a relationship with Shania and navigating the rocky waters with Halle adds depth to his character. The chemistry between Halle and Quinton is palpable, and their interactions are filled with tension and passion.

One of the book's strengths is its setting in the small town of Peachtree Cove. The close-knit community adds more complexity to the story, as secrets are hard to keep, and rumours spread quickly. Halle's struggle to maintain her privacy and protect her family while dealing with the town's gossip is portrayed realistically.

However, there are moments when the plot feels predictable. But don't let that deter you, as the engaging tension between Halle and Quinton follows a somewhat expected path, keeping you hooked. Additionally, some secondary characters could have been fleshed out more to enrich the story further.

Overall, "Waiting for Friday Night" is a solid read with heartfelt moments and well-drawn characters. It's about embracing unexpected changes, love's power, and family's importance. This book is worth picking up if you enjoy contemporary romances with a solid emotional core.

I went into this one blind also knowing that there was a book 1 that I haven’t not read yet. I loved that I did that though. I enjoyed this one a lot. The drama of it, the romance of it, all of it. It’s a small town romance where Shania is a female football player and is being coached by a famous ex football player. While she’s finding her place on the team she’s also looking for her biological father. To her surprise it’s her coach!

I loved how sassy Shania was, but her mother Halle was very much stiff. It took a minute for me to warm up to her. But Quinton, the coach, didn’t take long for me to warm up to. He was a dream! He had the patience of a saint to deal with Halle in the beginning. I loved how he took the baby steps needed to get to know Shania once he finds out the truth. I also loved how he put his meddling parents in their place!!

After reading this one I definitely want to go back and read book 1 before book 3 is released. I’m looking forward to that next installment!

Waiting for Friday Night by Synithia Williams provided a modern day, unconventional family story that is not too far-fetched about family dynamics and connections of today's society. The female main character, Halle, is written as a strong, independent, and educated woman while also taking charge of certain aspects of her life rather than waiting for life to happen. With Halle, I would have liked to know more about her family support and how they helped her growing up. The male main character, Quinton, is successful, thoughtful, and educated while pouring positivity into young students navigating high school. He has made a name for himself as a former professional football player turned high school teacher/coach and is family oriented.

Their love story started pretty early in the book and was predictable, with a few steamy scenes that did not overshadow the story plot (less steam is better in my opinion). All in all, this was a good romance book with realistic challenges and a good example of how family units are what you make them to be.

Thanks goes out to NetGalley and Harlequin for this arc.

Firstly, thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC copy of Waiting for Friday Night.

When I learned that there was another book heading to Peachtree Cove, I just HAD TO get my hand on it! I enjoyed every second of this book – this book had me kicking my legs and blushing at how cute the story was. This story follows Halle, a single mom to the world’s most amazing teen girl football player Shania, and Quinton, the town’s star football coach/ex-NFL player – and without spoilers, the intersection of their lives together. I truly see myself in Halle as someone who is very by the books, and put together, and a little bit of a control freak. Both her and Quinton are so loveable. There’s small town drama, family drama, single parenting drama and A LOT OF subtle, slow burn flirting. I personally love a little bit of witty banter and the push and pull of a budding romance. I love that the characters are older than me (I just turned 30) and are still experiencing love and romance – gives me hope.

The only part that I didn’t like, is that Gregory gave up wayyyyy to quickly for me, and then we never hear about him again. Which is fair, but Peachtree Cove is a tiny tiny town, so he would’ve been bound to pop up again. Just a little bit of extra drama to spice it up, although, Halle and Quinton had enough on their plates. I wish the conflict between Quinton and his family would’ve been explored more or taken longer to resolve, but these are “seasoned” adults, so to me it makes sense that their problems would be resolved quicker.

All in all, a great book! I really loved it and cannot wait to return to Peachtree Cove again for Tracey’s story. Would recommend this book as sort of a palate cleanser, easy peasy read with small town drama and very loveable characters. Highly recommend also reading the first book in this series, The Secret to a Southern Wedding.

I really enjoyed getting to know Halle, Quinton, and Shania. Starting to become a family was unconventional; however, they were trying their best to make it work for them. I loved the laid-back approach and respect Quinton had for Halle. Allowing her time to adjust to their new normal was refreshing. Halle did get on my nerves with how ridged and judgy she was in the beginning, but I grew to like her. It's a super cute story; however, I would love to have a better, more in-depth description of the characters so I could have pictured them. Just saying how fine someone is isn't enough.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.

Heat Factor: It’s not closed door, but it’s not super explicit either

Character Chemistry: We’ve got a bit of “I’m hot for you despite my brain saying no” and then a bit of “I’ve got your back as we navigate this situation”

Plot: Halle and Quinton handle the messiest of messes like mature adults

Overall: I was honestly expecting way more drama given the set up

For the first third or so of this book, I was basically a continuous loop of that Marie Kondo gif:
(Marie Kondo gleefully saying "I love mess")

How delightful! But then Halle and Quinton had to go be all mature about their situation and do things like communicate and set boundaries and support each other every time the mess got messier. So be warned that if you’re picking this book up thinking it’s going to be Jerry Springer, you may be disappointed.

Here’s the situation:

- Halle is a single mom who, despite letting everyone think the dad was a deadbeat, actually has no idea who the father was because she went through a sperm bank. Shania, her daughter, really wants to know who her father is.
- Shania is a high school freshman who plays football. As the only girl on the team, there’s some bullshit to navigate.
- Luckily, Quinton, aka Coach Q, doesn’t stand for anything less than treating his players fairly. That also means that Halle, as the parent of one of his players, is off limits, even if he thinks she’s a hottie. It would just invite people to speculate about unfair treatment.
- Also, Halle is dating someone else—not a jock, but a nice, intellectual English teacher.
- But surprise! Quinton is actually Shania’s dad. And now that he knows, he wants to be involved. Who cares about that unfair treatment stuff anyways?

Plus add in some secondary drama with small-town gossip, a high-profile visit to the town by Quinton’s high school bully, and Quinton’s parents tromping all over Halle’s boundaries in their desperate desire to connect with a grandchild.

Despite all this external drama—it’s a secret baby love triangle book, for crying out loud!—it turns out that this is a fairly calm read. Sure, there’s a bit of angst and a smidge of drama, but mostly it’s Halle and Quinton handling things as they come up like adults. I would say that it’s medium-level gripping, because while there is potential for lots of conflict, it’s all resolved fairly quickly.

The end result is a perfectly nice romance, in the school of “let’s demonstrate a healthy relationship.” And I’m impressed that Halle and Quinton handled everything so well, and happy that it seems like their perfect family is now going to be perfectly happy, even if it didn’t start in the most orthodox way. (In other words, I bought the HEA.)

But I’ll be real here: I might have wanted a bit more Jerry Springer in my reading journey.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book a lot. It was a great book!

Thank you HTP Books for the advanced reading copy. I love a good sports romance and this one is perfect for summer going into fall! It reminded me of Friday Night Lights when I was in high school! I love a good holism love story and this was it with a tinch of spice. I enjoyed this sooo much!

Thank you HTP Books for the advanced reading copy, receipt of which did not impact my review.
If you're over summer already and cannot wait for fall and football season, Waiting for Friday Night is the perfect book to dive into while you're waiting! However, if you're not a huge fan of football, don't fear - there's plenty of romance, found family, and sweet small town stuff to enjoy.
Halle is the newest middle school principal in Peachtree Cove and as a single Mom, seems to have it all together. But her daughter, Shania, is determined to find out who her Dad is, something that Halle has kept secret since her birth. A DNA test leads to shocking results. There's instant chemistry between Halle and football coach, Quinton, though he definitely falls first, as Halle tries to resist. Sweet and heartwarming with a bit of drama and spice, this is a great romance to add to your shelf and enjoy!

Waiting for Friday Night is the second novel in the Peachtree Cove series. You don’t have to have read that story to understand this one.

At the age of twenty-one, Halle Parker felt completely alone. Her parents having died before she graduated college, she had no close relatives and decided to fix that by making a new family for herself. Since she didn’t know anyone she wanted a kid with, she used her inheritance to pay to have artificial insemination at a private clinic. When asked about her baby daddy, she simply told everyone the father had no interest in being part of her or her daughter Shania’s life. But at fourteen, Shania has been pushing hard for details about the man, leaving Halle frustrated as to how best explain the context of her conception.

Quinton Evans had been desperate when he sold his sperm. His parents were facing eviction and as a college footballer hoping to go pro, Quinton had few options for raising money. Concerned about having dozens of kids he would never know about, he made sure the clinic understood his donation was for one-time use only. After a successful career in the NFL, he decided to coach high school ball and is now working in Peachtree Cove. Quinton is quietly fighting a crusade in the sleepy community. His childhood/teen experience with the game included an administration that gave playing time based on parental donations rather than skill. More than once, he had been told he would never amount to anything and shouldn’t be on the field. As a result, he is determined to give everyone an opportunity and judge people only on their merits. Which is why he’s championed Shania Parker against heated objections. Shania is talented and deserves a chance to participate.

But when Shania reveals she’s his daughter, the game totally changes. Now, the other coaches, team parents, and school administrators are expressing concerns about nepotism. The fact that he wants to get to know her (and she wishes to know him) complicates the issue. And the fact that Halle is in a relationship with a guy who hoped to take on the role of stepdad makes things just that much more difficult. It doesn’t help that Halle and Quinton hide their desire for each other under a layer of mild antagonism, something they will have to resolve if there is any hope of their intricate parenting situation working out.

On the positive side, this book does several things well. The characters are consistent and written with detail, although not always with depth. The author captures small-town living quite accurately, showing both the negative and positive aspects of these communities. I especially appreciated the look at gossip and judgmentalism and how the denizens have to keep both in mind as they navigate their lives. This is the second book in the series, and Ms. Williams has done a great job of continuity within the narrative arc.

That said, there are more negatives than positives here. One of the things that makes rooting for anyone difficult is the total lack of respect they have for each other. Shania goes behind her mom’s back and against her explicit, clearly stated wishes to obtain a DNA test through a genealogical website. Shania also gives no thought to how she might implode her biological father’s life and simply confronts Quinton in his office without even bothering to close the door. (Yep, they are overheard.) Quinton attends a private event he is asked not to, where he and Shania make their relationship public knowledge despite Halle’s objections. Halle doesn’t respect Shania’s questions regarding her parentage, something that would have resolved the conflict before it started. When Halle and Quinton work through their problems, they decide to get it on, even though Shania had asked that they never date.

Due to the HEA imperative to romance novels, they are often accused of being fantasies. All of us who have read them know they often tackle difficult issues in meaningful ways, but that doesn’t happen here. Serious complications are glossed over or resolved in simple conversations lasting only a page or two.

I also couldn’t figure out why Halle and Quinton fall in love. It’s not like they have history to build on – they are essentially strangers to each other, starting a relationship from scratch. Their relationship is too hot and too strong too quickly, based on nothing but mutual attraction. I found it especially difficult to believe because Halle is dating someone else, someone she is deeply interested in, for the book’s first quarter. I also just found it too serendipitous that with no prior knowledge of or experience with the town, Quinton chose to work in Peachtree Cove, and conveniently, the one child he fathered through donation just happened to be there. And he just happened to love her mom.

The premise of the story doesn’t ring true. Halle’s alleged loneliness seems odd, given that her cousins and best friends constantly traipse in and out of her house.

I’m not going to get into all the additional drama that happens at the end of the book regarding Quinton’s former high school tormentor and his family. Nor do I want to talk about Tracey, the third member of the Get Fresh Crew (the clique of women the series is about) and her marriage drama. Suffice it to say the story covers enough histrionics for any number of additional volumes.

While this story has some cute aspects, Waiting for Friday Night is not the best example of a football romance. I recommend Alexa Martin’s Playbook series or Farrah Rocchon’s New York Sabers instead.

Waiting for Friday Night is a cute small town love story about a high school football coach and a middle school principal, who also happens to be a single mom. After being introduced to the characters in the first book, Secrets to A Southern Wedding, I was ready to head back to Peach Tree Cove. Halle and Quinton are two well rounded adults, who had secured themselves in their own personal lives but get caught off guard when their story suddenly and unexpectedly get wrapped together. I thought it was a cute story, I loved how there wasn't any trauma love between them. The trope of forgiving a man for indiscretions has become so stereotypical and I'm glad more stories are fo9cusing on love without heartbreak. That is not to say that these two have a walk in the park, the obstacles they do have to overcome, test them and allow them to prove that maybe they can become something. This was a lighthearted and fun read with a few twists thrown in to keep things interesting. I do feel that the book ended rather abruptly and that one of the storylines didn't really add anything to the story.