Thank you to NetGalley for giving me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I've read the other books in this series and have enjoyed them. I'm sad to say this was a little boring in comparison to the others in the series, especially when it comes to the spicy scenes. I feel like the spicy scenes were frequent and fun in the first three books in this series. This book felt more focused on the messaging/discourse around body positivity for all genders and while that's important, it's not genre romance that I turn to for that kind of story.

I enjoyed listening to this when I first got access and did most of the audio book in one sitting. However, full disclosure, I'm DNFing this at 84% -- After putting this down, I just don't care to see the HEA happen. This relationship between Penelope and Everett just didn't capture my heart and I have no desire to spend the remaining 53 minutes with Ev and Pen to have them end up together (because they will end up together, we all know this, so why spend a precious 53 minutes on an ending for characters I'm not invested in?).

I will definitely pick up the 5th book! Not every book in a series works for every reader and I'm sure there will be folks who enjoy the spice being turned down in this one and the focus on the body positivity discussion.

The fourth book in the Cocky Kingman's series finally gives us a happy ending for Poppy with the playboy Kingman himself, Everett! When the "love guru" finds himself playing teacher to the girl he's starting to crush on, his tactics get a little dirty trying to focus her attention on him instead of other possible suitors.

This was a fun friends to lovers with some of our favorite repeat characters. After this story being teased in book three, I was excited to see how the hinted at scenes played out.

Another fabulous and spicy, body positive book! I devoured this book in 48 hours! I love the overlapping storylines with the other books and the progression of the “found family”! Pen and Everett are so cute and I appreciated that their story was filled with honesty, vulnerability and NO miscommunication! Def recommend!

Amy Award can do no wrong when it comes to writing romance! We are obsessed and love the Cocky Kingman's series! We can not wait to carry these books in our store! We loved the development of Everett and Penelope relationship! Everett has been a favorite of ours in the series and we are so happy he found love! Aaron Shedlock and Juniper Young are magical together! This series is an auto-buy for our team and the audio is something we all adore to listen to! Thank you for the opportunity for this ARC!

This books follows “The Love Guru”, Everett at being Penelope’s dating coach. Penelope is a disaster when meeting guys, but is her natural wonderful self while being around all the Kingmans.

Footballer/plus deluded heroine

This is one of my favorite books and I thoroughly enjoyed the narrators chosen for the audio version.

I wasn't too impressed by this story. I appreciated the plus-size rep and message of body positivity, but it did fall flat at times. The dialogue was also very cringey at moments which made it hard to get through, especially as an audiobook. I also didn't really understand Ev's reasoning for not making a move on Penelope, which is that she's his brother's fiancee's best friend and his brother sees Penelope as a sister that he needs to protect. That reasoning feels very weak and honestly just seemed like a way to force the characters to have to meet up in secret and not tell anyone about their feelings.

Also, the two of them getting engaged at the end of the story was way too soon and definitely rushed. I understand doing that in an epilogue where we flash forward a couple of months or years, but they had barely been dating before he proposed and I would've liked for them to have more moments to solidify them as a couple before jumping to that point.

I am interested to go back and read the other books in this series as some of the side characters did interest me. However, this one fell flat for me.

Story Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (0-5)
Narration: 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧 (0-5)
Overall: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (0-5)
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥 (0-5)

What I’m Starry-Eyed Over:
🤩 The way Amy Award writes Penny (Penelope) Quinn combined with Juniper Young’s amazing narration—wow, they bring all the emotions, cute sass, and schmexy hotness! 🥵😮‍💨
🤩 Everett “love guru” Kingman is total book boyfriend material, especially when we truly get to know him—he loves deeply. And in Aaron Shedlock’s scrumptious, panty melting performance, he’s swoony. ❤️‍🔥🫠
🤩 I already loved him, but when Everett interacts with Billy, the neighbor kid and snake owner, I’m one hundred percent smitten with him.
🤩 Amy’s cocky Kingman books feel like perfection to me because of her perfect timing of emotional and laugh-out-loud moments.
🤩 Neighbors-to-lovers and childhood crush.
🤩 I enjoy the texting and social media posts so much.
🤩 Sports romance—family full of football players.
🤩 Forbidden dating lessons & practice, yes please!
🤩 Forbidden because he’s her brother’s ex-best friend.
🤩 Secret pining and possessiveness.
🤩 The advertisement plans made me cry. It happens to me in commercials but kind of surprised me in a book.
🤩 The Everett Kingman campaigning about body positivity made me bawl.
🤩 Zaddy Kingman and this whole wonderful family!

What I’m Wishing/Dizzy About:
💫 More Kingmans! More big body representation! It’s so good!

I have been following along with this series for a while, and I am enjoying the character growth throughout each book. I love how the couples from previous books all play into this big family dynamic. The body positivity in these books is unlike anything I have read before, and I really appreciate it as a big girl myself. These books are all fluff and cheesiness, so if you are looking for something more in-depth, these may not be it. But if you don't mind, then these are nice fluffy palate cleansers.

Innuendo and Lessons

Lighthearted with emotional intrigue, this story was fun and enjoyable to listen to. Aaron Shedlock and Juniper Young have a way of performing this narration with nuances that were appropriate at the right moments. For instance, it was humorous and made me smile at the beginning when Everett "saves" Penelope. The chemistry between them sparked from the beginning and their arrangement was entertaining as everything unfolded with interest and tension.

5/5⭐️
3.75/5🌶

Book four of the cocky Kingman series is extremely swoon-worthy to say the very least.
Penelope and Everett have such a fiery chemistry you think you're smelling smoke. The only problem with their undeniable attraction is they try to hide it from not only each other but themselves and the entire Kingman Clan.
Everett the family Love Guru is having a hard time coming to terms with his feelings for Penelope. He's in denial so bad it's hilarious and sad all the same time.
Penelope is an absolute doll, she's so adorable every time you're in her POV you just can't help but smile. Her nervousness and self-doubt make you want to just wrap her up in your arms and give her a big old hug. And when she is told that she has to go to the awards with her bestie in her nerves start to show and her insecurities it breaks your heart. When Kelsey tells her they're going to find her a date she flips out even more because she is so socially awkward it'll even make you nervous. What better way to get over that insecurity and awkwardness but to get the guidance of The Love Guru Everett Kingman. Which would not be a hardship in any other situation except this one.
Penelope has the biggest crush on Everett so not only does that make her nervous but just her insecurities and self-doubt make her nervous. Everett in the beginning is completely against the fake dating, love lessons. The reason is it what it seems though, his reasoning is because the feelings that he has been ignoring are coming in full force. It should have shown everyone the truth of his feelings for her from the moment the man that is most terrified of snakes Dives in to rescue Miss Penelope from snakes in the most comical scene I think in the entire book. Because if someone that's terrified of something dives head first to save you from said thing they are terrified of yeah, you know it's more than just friendship on their end....
This entire story is even better when you hear the narrators bring this spicy, fun, fake dating, cinnamon roll hero, football contemporary rom-com to life.
Narrators Aaron Shedlock, & Juniper Young really bring Everett and Penelope to life. Their voices fit the part of these two characters spot on. The passion the emotion that they put in to these characters is pure perfection.

Amy award hip pure gold writing this installment of the cocky Kingman series. The narrator she chose for these two characters could not have been a better fit. I absolutely devoured this audiobook. I didn't want to turn it off. I wanted to just shun my adult responsibilities just so I could continue listening to this book.

This was a cute book! I enjoyed reading it and loved the tropes and both Everett and Pen. I definitely cringed at part but overall had a good time.

I was so excited for Penelope’s book! have loved the Kingsman series and I couldn’t wait to see Penelope and “Love guru” Everett together. This book is funny and emotional and so relatable!

I thought the audio version of this book was really good! I absolutely loved how Aaron played Everett. I was laughing from chapter one as we find out he is scared of snakes. Juniper did a great job with Penelope! We really feel how fun and sassy and confident she is and we also still see her struggle with feelings of self worth.

If you have ever felt judged for your appearance I think you are really going to connect with Penelope. I really liked the themes of body positivity and how it was woven into the story.

I really love the found family trope in this entire series - the side characters are great and I love how supportive everyone is.

✨What to Expect:
🏈Football Romance
❤️‍🔥Dating/Love Lessons
🚫Forbidden Romance
💋Plus Sized FMC
🍭Cinnamon Roll MMC
💖Found Family
🩵Dual POV
🐍Snakes????

✨️💚✨️Audio Book Review✨️💚✨️

Book: The Anaconda Downstairs
Author: Amy Award
Rating: 5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I just can't get enough of this series!

Another great book, couple, side characters, and this one got me right in the feels.

As a plus size woman, I felt so seen in this story and found myself so touched by how this one ended. It was so realistic too and made me just love Amy as an author even more than I already do.

This story will live in my heart for a very long time, also you can't go wrong with a forbidden love/forced proximity.

You get:
• Spicy Rom Com
• Football MMC
• PA FMC
• Body Positivity
• Forbidden Love
• Forced Proximity
• Secret Relationship

Pick this series up! I promise you will love it as much as I do. Available on KU, ebook, paperback, and audiobook.

This series is 10/10. These are more "fluff" than anything but they always are a great read/listen for me. I am obsessed with this family and keep coming back for more. Only thing I did not like was how much of a Sl*t the MMC was and having to hear about it.

Slowish Burn
Pinning
self-confidence issues
Fatphobia
Loss of a parent
Praise kink
No condom
HEA
Epilogue
Found Family

The series continues with this adorable 'dating lessons' romance that obviously turns to real dating. It has lots of great moments, it's funny, it's body positive and perfectly smutty. I love the humour and the real moments with the Kingman brothers, they are the perfect sports romances. This isn't my favourite Kingman brother but he is still adorable delightful. The narrators did well and represented the characters feel and mesh well with each other. The narration was don't at a good speed and I didn't feel rushed or that it was lagging. Just a perfect balance between the two.

It was a great experience for me as a first-time ALC reader/listener and as a first-time reader/listener to something from Amy. I knew how body-positive this book and other books from this series are, but as a plus-size-body woman, I was surprised (in a great way) about how much of a positive vibe it was. The way not only Everett treated Penelope, but also how other Kingman brothers were treating their girls, and of course how all the girls were supportive of each other. I like spicy books, but I was surprisingly glad about the spice level and how much it was in this book. The found family and love between all the characters did hit in the right place, and not only that but also as I mentioned about body-positivity, it made me a bit emotional, since body-positivity is important to me too.

For lovers of large families and romance.

📚 insta love
📚 friends to lovers
📚 dating coach
📚 secret romance
📚 football player x influencer
📚 body positive
📚 found family
📚 dual POV/ narration

🌶️🌶️🌶️

“So I had a crush on Penelope. She wasn’t the one. I’d have known…”

|Thoughts|
Enjoyed this for the light hearted romance that it is. However, found parts a little too immature and some of the messaging a little too on the nose for my taste.

“Everyone knows the Kingman boys play better when they’re in love”

Enjoyed the friends to lovers aspect of this romance. Glad it wasn’t too much of a slow burn either. There were times though where decisions made by Penelope just seemed a bit too far fetched, suppose that added to some of the conflict in the story at least.

‘I was on a roll now. Words tubbling out of me like a broken dam. “Speaking of tall things, did you know giraffes have the same number of vertebras as humans…is this a foot long. I don’t think I can fit a foot long in my mouth”

This is book 4 in the Cocky Kingsman series. I haven’t read the previous books in the series and was generally able to follow along. May have benefited from a family tree at the beginning to assist with getting your head around all the siblings (or just read in order).

Listened to the audiobook and found the narration enjoyable to listen to.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5* - Rounded up to 5...

I loved Penelope when we first met her, and I truly loved her and Everett's story... Poor Everett couldn't even go to the Love Guru! lol... Until he realised that all he really needed was his family... I really enjoyed Penelope and Everett's story, and loved how they came together. I love the dating coach trope, and this one did not disappoint in any way... I love the Kingman family, and how they bring people into the fold, and truly accept them for who they are, and celebrate them.

Oh gosh, and I LOVED Lady Bananaconda Hisstledown, and her affiliation for Everett's apartment. This made for SO many laugh out loud moments...

Aaron Shedlock voiced Everett perfectly! And Juniper Young also did a fabulous job as Penelope... They truly brought the characters to life, and made the book really enjoyable.

There were a couple of difficult topics covered in this story, part of which was also a continuation of body positivity pulling forward from the previous books in this series. I loved how Amy Award makes the point that everyone should be able to feel positive and happy in their bodies.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Amazingly sweet a contemporary version of Bridgerton favorite Colin and Penelope! it’s Penelope as a social media guru and Everett as a football hunk! Absolutely loved every minute of the narrators and story! 10/10 is not enough

I listened to the audiobook version of this novel, narrated by Aaron Shedlock and Juniper Young. Their voice acting capabilities brought all the emotion, drama, and humor up close, as if I was a fly on the wall watching and listening in person. So well done!

And Ms. Award gave them a great story to work with. Having an animal "theme" to the book is so entertaining, and I enjoyed how the anaconda of the title was a source of jokes, a cause for fear, and also in on the action. Dogs and cats get plenty of attention in fiction, and it's interesting to see a different pet creature join the crowd. This story was both a lot of fun and at the same time emotionally gripping. Main characters Everett and Penelope both have some major emotional baggage concerning relationships, and find themselves in a mentor/student situation as Penelope tries to get past her dating issues. Plenty of sparkly, sassy banter ensues between these two characters, as well as with the ensemble cast of Kingman family members and Penelope's colleagues and friends. The story carries a modern body positive vibe, and there is plenty of spice as well. I am definitely looking forward to future installments in this amusing, charming, honest series!

I was given an ALC of this novel and volunteered to provide a review. Thank you, Netgalley.