I always love a Lauren Blakely book, and add her and sports romance and it is just a major win for me. This was fantastic and I hope it makes a huge splash. The characters were super enjoyable and I loved both of them individually as well as together. I can't wait for more from Lauren.

I have never read anything by this author, but I will be looking out for other books they write in the future. I really enjoyed the story as well as the pacing of the story.

2 stars ⭐️

I did not enjoy the main characters or their relationship. It wasn't terrible, but it was a bit boring. It felt like I was reading any other cliche romance novel, especially because the main character's personalities weren't that interesting. I think this book could have greatly improved from adding some sort of depth like an actual conflict.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC.

I have to preface this review by saying I'm a huge Lauren Blakely fan! I typically love her books, and they've always garnered a 4 or even 5-star rating from me, but this book unfortunately missed the mark. It was a cute sports romance, but it had no memorable qualities. Parts of it were very heavy into the football world, so if you're not a fan of the sport you'll probably be lost. I found myself skimming a lot of these sections.

I do think having the entire book from the MMC's perspective was unique - unfortunately I didn't really care for Cooper as a character. He seemed like an immature "bro" kinda guy (like you'd see in a college frat house), not a grown man who makes you swoon.

It was a short, fast read. It read easily, but I don't think I'll read the future books in this series. It's just not for me, and that's okay!

I'd absolutely recommend Lauren Blakely as an author! Her "Love & Hockey" series is one of my fave sports romance series! If you enjoy Meghan Quinn books, definitely check her out and if this book sounds like something you'd enjoy - try it! It could be a 5-star read for you.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca & Lauren Blakely for the opportunity to read this digital ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

This the first time I’ve read a Lauren Blakely book but it will definitely not be my last!

Absolutely Loved It!!!
Definitely a 5 Star Read!!!

Full Review To Follow on Goodreads.

This was my first Lauren Blakely book, and will not be my last. I am obsessed with all sports romances and this book was not an exception to that. I love getting a bit of a football fix, and this one was so fun. There were so many refreshing aspects of this book, including the fact that although Cooper was clearly already a popular player, we are following his journey from being a starter for the first time as he previously was a bench warmer. Typically in sports books the athletes are already established, so I felt that the anxiety of possibly not being re-signed humanized him a bit more and made his actions more intentional.

Another refreshing and unique aspect of the book was the POV. I have not read a book that was purely from the male's pov, and I honestly loved it. There was no second guessing how Cooper felt or what his intentions were. We also learned that he fell so dang hard right from the get go. He cared for Violet so much as a friend and as a lover. I loved their relationship so much.

Violet and Cooper's friendship and relationship is so fun and cute. They clearly are so comfortable with each other and it is a great foundation for a relationship. The fact that they have such a strong friendship from the start also helps with the fake relationship because they can be honest with each other and there is no discomfort.

The spice was amazing and spicy. The tension was off the charts and it was nice getting whole scenes dedicated to just the female pleasure.

Overall, I really enjoyed this books. It was a quick, fun and spicy book that I am dying for more of.

Thank you to the author and publisher for an eARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Honestly, this book was just not for me. I ended up DNF-inch it around 15% because I just couldn’t get into it. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc ebook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

- Steam was excellent. Very well-written, believable chemistry.
- For me, too much cringe. Lots of references to feeling like/looking like a rock star. Violet's outfits. A lot of cringey and cheesy dialogue.
- I feel like we never reached the "All is lost!" third act. The stakes were never that high. I kept expecting Maxine to show up again, whether it be at Violet's spa or at a game. She was made out to big a big bad scary, but she never actually did anything big, bad, or scary. The antagonist was nothing. The stakes were nonexistent.
- I liked that the text exchanges between Violet and Holly were included since the book is written from Cooper's POV, and it gave us a glimpse into what was going on in her head.

This was amazing! I love a good sports romance but this was SO MUCH MORE. It gave me all the feels, made me root for both Violet and Cooper. It was emotional in all the right ways and made me giddy. I had a huge smile after I read it. It's that good.

I enjoyed Cooper’s POV throughout the book, it was fun reading his perspective when normally it is the female only or both. Both Cooper and Violet were well developed characters, they had history as friends and as best friends little sister tropes. Cooper suppressed his attraction to Violet to respect her brother. The plot was light and funny, the way they ended up fake dating i found hilarious.

I LOVED this!! It was such a fun and quick read for me. I could not put it down. I loved the characters and the sports-romance aspects too which are not always my favorite. One of the best reads this year for me for sure! Thank you for the ARC.

4.5 stars ⭐️ 🏈 I loved it! I found it easy to read and enjoyed every minute of it.

- sports romance
- best friend’s sister
- friends to lovers
- fake dating

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Such a cute and fun story! Violet and Cooper were adorable and I love a brother’s best friend/fake dating trope. Quick and light read; highly enjoyable.

*Most Valuable Playboy* by Lauren Blakely is a fun, lighthearted romance with a mix of sports and witty banter. The story follows the protagonist, a charming and successful professional athlete, who meets his match in a strong, independent woman. Their chemistry is undeniable, and the story plays out with plenty of humor, sizzling romance, and heartfelt moments.

Blakely's writing is engaging and full of playful, flirty dialogue that adds to the fun and ease of the story. The characters are likable, with the male lead being the quintessential "bad boy" with a heart of gold, and the female lead providing a perfect balance of strength and vulnerability. The relationship dynamic is enjoyable, filled with tension, chemistry, and moments of vulnerability that make the romance feel authentic.

While the plot isn't overly complex, the book is entertaining with an easy flow that makes it a great read for anyone looking for a feel-good, romantic escape. Some may find it predictable, but the charm of the characters and the playful interactions more than make up for that.

Overall, *Most Valuable Playboy* is a sweet, steamy, and fun romantic comedy that sports romance fans or anyone looking for a quick, enjoyable read will love. Blakely delivers a story that's both entertaining and heartwarming, perfect for a light, feel-good escape.

What's not to like about a gorgeous guy, a childhood friendship turned "fake dating" (that we all know is more serious than they think), and a charity auction that brings feelings to light? Absolutely nothing!

This author has a habit of writing engaging storylines, full of heart and sizzle. I was fully invested in this couple's happy ever after, and I enjoyed losing myself for a bit in these pages. Cooper and Violet are easy to love, and I recommend this read.

Once done here, I recommend selecting another from this talented author's catalog, and enjoying some more unforgettable couples.
I was fortunate to receive an ARC from Netgalley (thank you) and happily leave my review.

I love me some best-friend’s-sister and fake relationships tropes.Oh, and sports ball stories. Most Valuable Playboy provides all. The”MV Playboy” isn’t a playboy at all. In fact, he’s essentially taken a vow of chastity because, as star quarterback, he believes it helps his game. Enter the Most Valuable Playboy Celebrity Date Auction. Cooper has won MVP status several years in a row and wants to again. However he’s being sexually harassed by a sportscaster and he doesn’t want her to ‘win’ him. So he asks his best friend’s sister to bid on him and, well, she wins and they start a wonderful fake relationship.

What a fun book. The dialogue, and the tweets, are fun and clever and the whole relationship is sexy building on sexy. The secondary characters have depth and comedy as well. Each of his friends has their own superstition to aid them in the game!

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a fun best friend's little sister, fake dating football romance, recently revised and rereleased under a traditional publisher. I liked the audio version with duet narration by Jason Clarke and Andi Arndt and would recommend for fans of authors like Piper Lawson. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy of the new edition in exchange for my honest review.

Cute sports romance with actual sports scenes in it. (Not that I care too much but I know it’s a deal breaker for some.)

This might be the first sports romance I actually really liked. I didn’t have a clue what was happening in the sports scenes because I don’t know football but that’s okay. The auction at the beginning was a unique touch. & Without spoilers, I loved the second epilogue and glad the author included it.

Expect a fake relationship, best friends sister, childhood friends, friends to lovers.

This book follows Cooper as he fake-dates his childhood friend, Violet. The whole story is told from Cooper's point of view, which was a nice change of pace and one of the things I genuinely enjoyed. It’s not every day you get only the guy’s perspective in a romance.

The writing is super simple and easy to get through. It’s the kind of book you can breeze through in a day or two, which makes it a good palate cleanser between heavier reads. But that same simplicity also makes it feel a bit hollow and surface-level. The beginning, in particular, was tough to get through because it didn’t really pull me in.

Honestly, not much happens plot-wise. There’s no real conflict or tension, so the story felt a bit boring at times. Without that sense of yearning or buildup, there’s not much satisfaction when Cooper and Violet finally get together. It all felt pretty flat because of that.

That being said, the book does have its funny moments. It’s light and amusing enough to keep you turning the pages. I think I would’ve enjoyed it more if I’d gone in expecting just a fast, easy read.

Overall, this book is great if you’re in the mood for something quick and fun. If you like romances told from the guy’s POV and don’t mind a more low-key, conflict-free story, it’s worth a shot.

Lauren Blakely strikes again! I absolutely love her books, and this one is no exception! Her books are always fun and sexy and Violet and Cooper’s story was no different! I’m a sucker for a friends to lovers story because I love to watch two people come to realize how perfect they are for each other! I also am a sucker for a fake dating romance, so two of my favorite tropes combined was a recipe for a book I would love!