This double bi-awakening romance is a gem, and I devoured every page.

The Norwegian prince, Tore, jumps at the chance to escape royal life and spend a year undercover as a college student in the U.S., thrilled to make the school’s soccer team. But team captain, Farron, dislikes him from the start, and no amount of charm can change that until their heated rivalry takes an unexpected turn into a kiss that neither of them saw coming. With both men questioning their feelings and attraction, Tore is falling hard, but there’s one problem: Farron has no idea who he really is. If the truth comes out, Tore risks losing everything in this royally romantic, enemies-to-lovers college romance.

Farron and Tore’s dynamic is full of tension. Tore is endlessly sweet, while Farron can be downright infuriating at times. His treatment of Tore had me fuming, but their emotional struggles were written with such depth that I couldn’t put the book down. The angst was impeccable. The spice was on point.

One of my biggest frustrations in romance is when a character hesitates to be brave, and this book had me screaming at the pages sometimes. But that emotional turmoil only made the journey more gripping. Quick, engaging, and sexy, The Prince and the Player was an excellent read. I can’t wait to see where this series goes next!

I rated this book 4.5 stars (rounded up to 5 for this review). Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this eARC!

Absolutely loved this book so happy I got this as an arc the cover is amazing I loved the banter between the mmc’s I liked how fleshed out the characters are with their stories and personalities it reminded me a lot of red white and royal blue but had its own charm and can’t wait to see what the author puts out In the future 🥰

I am always happy to be able to read and promote any lGBTQIA books when the opportunity arrives as there’s still too few being published in 2025 and there are areas of society that frown on their existence.

The Prince and the Player is a fun MM romance that is exactly what the title implies - a Norwegian prince finds himself drawn to the captain of his football team, despite never having any attraction to men before, It reminded me a little of Red White & Royal Blue in how charming Tore, our prince is to everyone he encounters no matter their background. I confess to being a lover of the enemies to lovers trope and it’s especially delicious when it’s in MM romance and Tore and Farron have a dynamic I was loving from their first encounter = there may well be hate from Farron, and in it’s own way, very understandable but you cannot help but be aware as his best friend does, that if you cannot stop talking about someone at every moment? Then it’s probably not hate after all but curiosity.

Oh how I giggled to myself because I knew something that the grumpy, and fiercely loyal captain couldn't see… that love was going to come a-knocking at his door.

There is so much positivity in this book in regards to acceptance of sexuality that I wish was representative of gay/bi-sexual men in football but sadly this is fiction and we can pretend that the stigma isn’t still there. I was wary initially of how our two now lovers would be accepted and Nora does indeed deliver that joy across not only teammates but the Norwegian royal family of the tale.

This is a perfect book one for the series, and I am so glad I got to curl up and read their story which has everything I think you could ask for - the only thing I would have liked is maybe to see more of Tore’s friends and perhaps a little joy for Farron’s family as the book came to it’s end. No spoilers of course but that would have been the cherry on the top for me.

⚽ Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the early copy!

A secret identity, an enemies-to-lovers slow burn, and a double bi-awakening? The Prince and the Player delivers everything you want in a royally romantic college romance! With grumpy/sunshine energy, sizzling tension, and plenty of heart, this book is a delightful blend of humor, spice, and unexpected vulnerability.

👑 THE STORY:
Being a prince might seem glamorous, but for [Prince’s Name] of Norway, it’s more of a gilded cage. That’s why he jumps at the chance to study undercover at an American college for a year—just a normal student, no royal obligations. Even better? He makes the soccer team (sorry, football team).

The only problem? Team captain Farron hates him on sight.

No matter how hard the prince tries to win him over, Farron isn’t buying the charm offensive. Until their heated rivalry turns into something else entirely—a kiss neither of them expected.

Now, the tension between them isn’t just about soccer. As their fiery clashes turn into something far more complicated, both are left questioning everything—especially when the prince’s secret threatens to change everything.

🔥 TROPES:
✔ Enemies to Lovers – The best kind of tension, with plenty of fireworks.
✔ Grumpy x Sunshine – A brooding, intense team captain vs. an effortlessly charming prince.
✔ Opposites Attract – One is all heart, the other all strategy.
✔ Bi Awakening – A beautifully written journey of self-discovery for both MCs.
✔ Secret Identity – Because nothing raises the stakes like hiding that you're literal royalty.
✔ All the Spice – The slow burn pays off in every way.

✨ WHAT I LOVED:
⚽ The Banter & Chemistry – Every conversation is charged, whether it’s heated arguments or something much more intense.
👑 Emotional Depth – Beyond the romance, this story explores identity, expectations, and the pressure of living up to others' standards.
🔥 The Slow Burn – The tension builds until it explodes, and it's absolutely worth the wait.
💖 Farron’s Journey – Watching this tough, guarded athlete slowly unravel is so satisfying.

💙 FINAL THOUGHTS:
Nora Phoenix masterfully delivers an irresistible romance packed with heart, heat, and humor. If you love enemies-to-lovers, grumpy/sunshine tension, and bi-awakening love stories, The Prince and the Player is a must-read!

The Prince and the Player By Nora Phoenix

4/5 Stars 🌟
2/3 🌶️🌶️

Wow! My first proper smut book! I’m growing up apparently haha

Honestly this book was super good! Tore and Farron were two very polar opposite characters with the same passion for football/soccer and definitely ended up being the enemy to lovers trope.

I loved the fact they both come from very different backgrounds or that rich and poor lifestyle, I’m not a big football fan but honestly this actually made me understand football or should I say Soccer better than anyone else could ever.

I found Farron to be very ‘judging a book by its cover’ at first but definitely throughout tried to open up and see Tore’s life through a different light, while I adored Tore’s approach and respect to Farrons family and very different lifestyle.

The sexy time aspects are good and not too overwhelming! The romance was cute and over all I really suggest reading and seeing what you think for yourselves!

What I liked: The quick pacing of the story, it was the first book this month that I did not want to put down. I loved all the soccer and the team aspect. The tension of the captain of the team and the new guy, hidden identity of the prince, fish out of water vibes. And when they finally start to soften to each other instead of the angry resentment of Farron, I love when enemies get soft for each other.

However. While this book as a fun quick read, I did have some issues with it. My first and biggest issue with this book is the cover. I know this will not bother most people, but Tore, The Norwegian Prince, is described as being BLOND, white blond hair, striking light blue eyes. The soccer player, our Captain, Farron, is described throughout the book as being brunette with brown eyes. On the cover of the book the Prince is brunette with brown eyes and the soccer player is blond hair & blue eyes. This bothers me so much. I know, it's not even that big of a deal.

Another thing was how angry not grumpy, ANGRY, Farron was. He is supposed to be the Captain of the team and that should come with welcoming a new player not hating them on sight just because 1. He's new and 2. He seems rich. I know it all gets explained but this just made Farron come off as mean and difficult to like at the beginning of the book, it took a lot to warm up to him as the reader.

Once again, I still found this a very fun quick read, very binge-able, but not perfect.

I finished this in less than 24 hours! This was such a fun read! I’m really hoping the rest of the princes get books too because I am dying for more! The characters are so fun and I love the tension between them!! I had butterflies at times and laughed out loud at others.

A little Prince & the Pauper trope.
I really wanted to like this but Farron has no redeeming qualities. He hates Tore on sight. Just b/c of the jeans he's wearing and his hair. It continues for a good bit and I think the main issue I have is that Farron is the captain and he lets his animosity carry over to the team. I didn't find him likeable at all. Even with his very thin background on why he doesn't like "rich" people. He seems so self centered and I hated that Tore liked him at all.

The other thing that bugged me is that Tore (Prince) is mentioned as having BLOND hair no less than 100 times, yet the cover has him with dark hair and Farron is mentioned as having DARK hair and the "Player" on the cover is blond. AUTHOR stand up for your self. You know what your characters look like, you wrote them. Have the cover artist change and reflect your work. Or go in and change all your work. Either way, make the change.

The prince and the player was a quick and enjoyable read for me with two fantastic main characters. I thought this was a pretty realistic progression from animosity to love (especially compared to some wild books I’ve read) and I really got caught up in Farron and Tore’s story. There wasn’t much spice, which kind of surprised me, but sometimes it’s just not needed. It’s pretty obvious that Tore’s buddies will get their own books and I’m on board! Four stars!

3.5 ⭐

Before I begin I want to thank Netgally for giving me this ARC.

This basically is a red white and royal blue dupe except for the fact that Farron didn't know that Tore was a prince. It was fun to read and I really liked how the football (I refuse to call it soccer) part was incorporated in the storyline. The funny thing is, I'm Dutch, so when I read certain things, I was like, "Yes, that's so true." For example, the faking after a tackle and then a few minutes later you're totally fine. That happens all the time. And I just knew the moment I read Johan Cruyff that the author had to be Dutch, and I was right.

Also quick sidenote the cover just doesn't make sense to me. Shouldn't it be switched? Tore the prince was the one with blond hair right? So I just don't get why Farron is the one in the formal outfit.

Overall I really enjoyed reading this and I recommend it if you liked Red White and Royal Blue.

This had a slow start for me. It took a bit to get into this one, which ultimately made me remove a star, but once I got into it, I really enjoyed it. It's campy and predictable but still enjoyable. Sometimes, I just want a nice feel-good romance that doesn't have to be a deep read. This is that read. It follows the expected formula and is still a fun read. I do wish more had been done to develop characters. Aside from the main two, I really can't tell you anything about anyone elses personality. I'm a sucker for solid side characters, too, and this just didn't have that at all. It was a fun read but not a love.

This is a delightful, low angst romance between two college soccer teammates, one of whom just so happens to be a prince. The book kicks off with four European princes commiserating on their desire to just be normal for a while and concocting a plan to ask their families to allow them to attend college in the US for a year. The Prince and the Player centers around Tore, the fourth in line prince to the Norwegian throne.

Cut to Tore joining the soccer team at a college in Ohio and a boat load of satisfying tropes with his love interest, Farron - prince in disguise, enemies to lovers to friends/lovers, rivals to lovers, teammate romance, poor hero & rich hero, etc. To be honest, I loved each and every trope as they never overwhelmed the plot and felt right for the characters. The story kept moving as the two main characters eventually became respected teammates who were on their way to the national competition and fell in love.

The only change I would have made was to show Tore and Farron becoming closer friends, not just lovers. They definitely open up to each other emotionally later in the book, but often their physical connection takes precedence over their emotional connection. I would have loved more time seeing them connecting and supporting each other.

All in all, this was a delightful read. Low angst, great heat between the characters, and a satisfying story all around. I will definitely read the next books in the series, sure to follow our remaining three European princes on their adventures to happily ever after.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC!

I really debated my star rating for this book, and settled on 4 for Goodreads but 3.5 in reality. It really went up and down in my head as I read the book, never totally sure how I would settle on the experience.

The bad was mostly the pacing. I could never tell how much time had passed, and it felt like it really rocketed along. I still can’t believe the main plot takes place over six months (if I’m even right about that; I’m not American so I’m not totally sure when Spring Break normally is, as I know it’s different where I’m from). Some of the writing was a bit awkward as well, and a character is referenced as looking at People of Walmart’s social media – which doesn’t exist anymore, and hasn’t in a long time. I assumed this took place in 2024/2025, but the last time anyone looked at People of Walmart was probably 2016.

The good… is kind of also the bad, but I couldn’t stop laughing and joy will always triumph over logic. Once the miscommunications and difficulties hit, the characters make choices that are so outlandishly bizarre I started laughing so hard that someone came to check on me to make sure I was okay. There’s also a Pyramus and Thisbe scene and… well, if you know, you know.

So, while there was definitely some awkward pacing and characters, the plot was so delightfully bonkers that I really enjoyed myself for the entire time I read the book, especially the last 30% or so.

This was a ok read. I thought there would be a bit more going within the story.
Parts of the story was quite enjoyable.
Parts of the story was quite spicy.
I encourage others to give it a go.

Overall I liked this book. The characters were well rounded. Farron and Tore were great and while I wish it would have kept going I enjoyed the ending.

Okay , it was really really sweet romance book. I just enjoyed so much(read it in one sitting). Torn is a prince, who get a chance to live his life as commoner and play football ⚽ (oops, soccer). But he got a serious beef with his team captain,Farron. Farron has rough life and he hates nothing more than rich, untitled, snobbish kida, who gets everything easily. Torn want to please his team captain, so he can see his dedication and determination toward team. And then a heated kiss change everything.
All the fire bwteen them was now blazing. They can't keep each other out of their mind. So in order to get this thing out of system , they started hooking up.

I really like Torn . He is literally a ray of sunshine, kind hearted , and of course his politness and charming. He stood everything , Farron hate.
Farron is a grumpy man. Literally is a dry man .
Their was amazing. Their were fire between them. Both of them was stronghead, passionate and determined person. And really like how Farron ,goes to win Torn heart. They both were insparable.
The plot was simple. There was not so external hurdle comes between their relationship.

Again it was spicy and sweet. And all the cultural and language diiference , done very well. Their were lot of funny moment ,I really enjoyed.
Sometimes I may feel Farron behaviour is too much and their can be more details about Farron's career.
Otherwise It was very enjoyable and lovely.

Okay, so I did find this to be quite enjoyable; however, I do have a lot to say.

FIRST, Nora is an outstanding writer. Not only is it detailed, but it is not unduly drawn out, which made for a refreshing read. The way they frame the settings and communicate the feelings of the characters was excellent. Personally, I found myself relating to and enjoying the writing style that they have.

SECOND, in my view, the narrative seemed somewhat underdeveloped, as the interactions between the two main characters felt insufficient before the romance took center stage. Additionally, the plot seemed to primarily focus on soccer and the sex, which left a significant gap in terms of depth and complexity.

The relationship between Tore and Farron felt somewhat rushed, as their connection seemed to leap straight into kissing anytime they saw each other and left me wanting for a deeper exploration of their bond and more conversation. The story just felt like it was missing something.

Farron's only reason for his animosity towards Tore felt odd, as it was rooted solely in Tore's wealth. While I understand the backstory involving Farron's father's family, the sense of injustice that he harbored felt more like jealousy and immaturity. I understand the aspect that it contributes to the angst and plot development, certainly, but that being his singular reason annoyed me, as Tore was nothing but kind, and in my opinion, it was an exhausted trope within the book.

With all that being said, it was a rather enjoyable read that had me going through many emotions, and I would like to extend my gratitude to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first book by this author and I absolutely adored it!!!! I love a good grumpy sunshine moment and this book did not disappoint.

I really enjoyed Nora Phoenix's writing style and the bi-awakening from both MMC's. I can't wait for the rest of this series. 10/10 recommend.

DNF @ 28%. I was really excited for this one when I saw the comparison to Red, White, & Royal Blue, but unfortunately it fell flat for me. It wasn't a "bad" book, but I wasn't feeling a connection to the characters, and Farron's hatred towards Tore was a little heavy handed.

Also, this might be a minor thing, but in the scene where Farron interrupts the guy who was trying to drag home a drunk girl to SA, I was disappointed that Farron just threatened the guy and then internally was all "I know he won't dare to do something to her now" and let them still leave together! I think that scene would be much more impactful if Farron had also either 1. Gone with them to make sure the girl got home or 2. Taken the girl from the douchebag and taken her home himself. Him just verbally saying something felt like the bare minimum of intervention, especially when that other guy could still totally SA the girl and she's too drunk to even really remember! And it's not like Farron was following up with her the next day to double check sooo?! I think that scene was meant to make us like Farron after he was so unlikable towards Tore, but it missed the mark for me.

2.5 stars.

I usually love both the football/soccer and royal romance tropes, but sadly, my tolerance for eye rolling was at my limit for this book. Think about every romance cliche you can think of. Good. Now think about a story with every one of them in it. That is this book. You've got a character hating the other for no reason, judging them for every little thing. Is it hate or lust? "Tongues battle for dominance." "I suddenly love you through all this sex." 3rd act breakup and characters getting mad at each other for "lying" when it was just not telling your whole life story to someone you are hooking up with. Finally, there is the huge "romantic" gesture at the end to get back together. Even though this is a short book, it took me a while because I was groaning out loud throughout the book. At least the writing was easy to read, and the soccer scenes were pretty good. I think if the characters were more fleshed out and the rivalry wasn't so random and one-sided, I would have enjoyed it more.

Also, why does the cover art men have the wrong hair colors? The prince should be blond and the soccer player brown.