I'm not gonna lie, I DNFed this book at about 30%

I love a good sports romance, so I was excited for this one. But after starting it... The use of Spanish words in the prologue felt forced, but I could let that go.

Really though - I just did not like this writing. I don't know how to explain it well but the sentences felts choppy. It felt like someone was repeating an event that happened rather than telling me a story that allowed me to immerse myself into the world. I kept hoping at any point I would feel more connected to the story or characters, but it was not happening. The dialogue was mid and that really can make or break a book.

Overall, this book was not for me.

3/5!

First time reading a lacrosse romance for me and what a great start. Sports romance, rivals to lovers AND fake dating what more could you ask for.
I found the focus on female sports a breath of fresh air and loved the diverse representation.
A solid fun book and would love to read more work from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the Arc!

Cross My Heart by Esha Patel had all the ingredients for a fun, engaging sports romance—college lacrosse, a fake dating setup, and a childhood rivals to lovers dynamic. The premise was strong: May, a dedicated college athlete, is forced into a PR stunt with her childhood nemesis, CJ "Colt" Bradley, a pro lacrosse star. I loved the focus on women’s sports and how the fake relationship played into the larger conversation about media attention and funding for female athletes, as well as POC representation.

That said, while I enjoyed the setup, the execution felt a little uneven. May’s stubbornness, while understandable given her situation, sometimes bordered on frustrating, and I wish we’d seen more emotional depth in her character arc. Colt, on the other hand, was charming but could have used more development beyond his "cocky athlete with a soft side" persona. Their banter was fun, but I wanted a bit more tension and chemistry to make their romance feel truly earned.

Overall, Cross My Heart is a solid sports romance with an engaging premise, but it didn’t fully engage or impress me. If you love fake dating, sports settings, and childhood rivals forced to work together, this could still be a fun read—just don’t expect anything groundbreaking.

Thank you to NetGalley, Esha Patel, and Avon for the eARC of this book.