Rating-
1.5/5 stars
(Rounded Down)

Genre-
Contemporary Romance

Tropes-
🏈Fake Dating
🛥️Only One Bed
🏈Hate To Love
🛥️He Falls First And Harder

Thoughts/Would I Recommend This?-
I was honestly really enjoying this book at the beginning, and then I got so, so bored. About 30% into the book I was like it must be over soonish, and then I realized it wasn't, and I realized I have 70% more to go, and I just thought how… I had been reading this for what seemed like forever, and I still have way too much left to go, and was just getting so annoyed at the whole thing for some reason. I just got so bored and was done with it when I had so much left to go and started getting so bored with the plot and everything else to do with the book. I was so tempted to just dnf it and don’t know why I honestly didn’t because this was like pure torture for me to read. I thought it was honestly really cute and everything at the beginning just in my opinion really boring to read after the first 30ish%. I think other people definitely would like this, I just got super bored well reading it and ended up hating it…so all in all did not like this book and would not really recommend.

(Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review)

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read an early copy of Only Between Us!

Ellie K Wilde delivers a sizzling, emotional romance in Only Between Us, crafting a story that’s as heart-wrenching as it is undeniably sexy. With well-drawn characters, deeply felt tension, and a slow-burn connection that ignites the pages, this book is perfect for readers who love their romance packed with longing, angst, and undeniable chemistry.

Wilde masterfully blends vulnerability with passion, making every interaction between the leads feel electric and meaningful. Their connection unfolds with just the right amount of push and pull, keeping readers hooked from start to finish.

One of the book’s greatest strengths is its ability to balance raw, heartfelt emotion with irresistible steam. The characters feel authentic—flawed yet deeply compelling—which makes their journey to love all the more satisfying. The tension is palpable, the dialogue crackles, and the emotions hit hard in the best way possible.

For fans of Mariana Zapata’s slow burns and Elizabeth O’Roark’s emotional depth, Only Between Us is a must-read. Wilde delivers a romance that is both achingly tender and utterly addictive, making this a standout in the genre.

I need Ellie K Wilde to be given all the praise, all the accolades, all the flowers.
I have been looking forward to the release of this book for almost a year, when the indie publishing date was August/September of 2024. I was so disappointed that there was a delay, and also so incredibly happy that Ellie got a trad publishing deal! So imagine my SCREAM when I was given the chance to read an ARC of this book!!!
I devoured this story, and it blew my expectations out of the water. I just feel so captivated by Ellie’s storytelling, how she can tug at your heartstrings, AND write some of the most delicious spice ever?!
I already cannot wait for her next book, this was incredible!

4 stars! 🌟 Huge thanks to Atria Books for inviting me to read this early via NetGalley! 💌

OMG, THIS BOOK HAD ME IN A CHOKEHOLD 😭🏈🔥

Okay, let’s get into it. Only Between Us was SO MUCH BETTER than book 1—like, if you liked the first one, buckle up, because this one delivers everything on steroids.

First of all, Brooks Attwood = new book boyfriend unlocked. 🏆 This man is charming, hilarious, and a total menace, but also secretly soft AF. He’s out here trying to fix his football career after a scandal, but instead, he gets tangled up in a fake dating mess with Siena—who, by the way, is a QUEEN. 👑

Siena is fierce, independent, and so done with NFL drama, yet somehow, she ends up pretending to date a player to save her family business. And what happens? SPARKS. FLY. Like, I was SCREAMING at my phone because the tension?? The slow burn?? IT HURT, but in the best way. These two had no business fake dating that well.

BUT. AND I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH. WHY DID WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT THIRD ACT BREAKUP???? 😭 Girl, be so fr. I wanted to shake Siena for a second, but honestly, I get why she did what she did. Still, the angst nearly took me out.

This book had:
✔ Fake dating supremacy 👏
✔ Banter that gave me life 😂
✔ CHEMISTRY so good, it was criminal 🔥
✔ Football + romance = elite combo 🏈💖
✔ Brooks being an absolute golden retriever menace

Final thoughts? 4 stars because I’m still mad about that breakup lmao. But I ate this book up and will be seated for the next one. 🍽️

If you love sports romance, fake dating, and men who worship their women, YOU NEED THIS BOOK. 🫶🔥

Firstly, thank you NetGalley and Atria for the ARC!

I have been waiting for this book. Ellie K Wilde is an auto buy author for me.

Brooks- a retired football player who is trying to make a comeback after an injury and then spirals with booze and women after his college sweetheart cheats on him with a teammate while recovering

Siera- they have a similar story. She dates the face of the NFL only to find out that he’s cheating on her when he gets traded, and she stays home to take over her late father's store.


Brooks and Siena meet each other by chance when Siena and her best friend break into the Huskies' field, where Brooks is a member of the coaching staff. After a little meet cute involving a football, he confronts Siera about being on the field. She tells him she works for the social media team. He takes her around the stadium, and they end up stuck together. Not believing what she's saying. He tells her to prove that she works for their social media team. She posts a carousel of pics and one that includes them together. The pic goes viral and the team that he’s dying to get back on to loves them together. The Rebels are very strict with their players being wholesome guys with family values and love that Brooks is turning his life around with a stable relationship. Thus, the fake dating begins.

One thing I love about Ellie’s book is how she always writes such well-rounded, relatable and realistic characters. You can feel the chemistry between these two from the first couple of pages. They both enter the relationship with misconceptions about the other based on their baggage.
After some push and pull, they learn to trust and rely on each other. The strength in this relationship is their communication and ability to open up to each other.

Can’t wait for Parker and Summer’s book!

Adorable book, not as innovative as the first in the series but very enjoyable all the same! 4/5stars. Definitely worth reading and not your standard pro sports romance.

Ellie K Wilde has made me into a forever fan. The heart she pours into her books is unmatched. I could cry just from how much I LOVED this book. Only Between Us is a must read for any romance reader.

I fell head over heels for Brooks the second we met him, the complexity of Sienna and their love for eachother was just truly beautiful.

Ellie has done it AGAIN with this book. I will read everything she ever writes, again and again.

Thank you for the e arc of this book, I truly feel changed.

I was given the opportunity to read this book early, much like I was the first in Oakwood Bay series. Before writing this review, I didn't reread my review of Wilde's first in the series as I wanted to write this review without my experience last time influencing. This time, I truly enjoyed the read. The characters were interesting, fully formed, and I was engaged in their story arc. Some of the characters from the first book in the series showed up again, but this time Parker didn't bother me (that is the one thing I really remember writing in my last review).
I fully recommend this book as a lovely escape. I would absolutely read more by this author.
Many thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the early e book.

First of all I was beyond excited to receive an e-ARC of this book so thank you Ellie Wilde and NetGalley! I read Only In Your Dreams before it was traditionally published and loved it so much and have been looking forward to Only Berween Us for so long.

With that being said I did enjoy reading this book but I may have had too high of expectations. It felt a bit rushed in the beginning, I wish we had some flashback scenes of Brooks’s injury or when he first decided to make a comeback, and the timeline of their relationship confused me at times. The spice was great though and I loved the trust and communication. Would definitely recommend.

Hoping for a Summer and Parker book next! 👀

If you love a sports romance with the best book boyfriend- this is for you! It’s spicy, but also with a lot of plot, even for a fake dating trope. Brooks is so sweet, has a praise kink and a nasty ex. Siena is finding herself after a break up and the loss of her father.

This is exactly the follow up book that I wanted in the Oakwood Bay series. I adored ‘Only in Your Dreams’, and couldn’t wait for book 2. I was so excited to receive this ARC.

Pick this one up if you enjoy:
*** Sports Romance
*** Spicy fun
*** Dual POV (which I personally adore)

I really loved both characters’ personalities in this one, and was absolutely rooting for them to get together. The chemistry was off the charts from the beginning.

You should absolutely pick up this series if you love fun, steamy, sports romances.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.

Not going to lie this one for a football rom com was just okay. For some reason football rom coms out of all the sports rom coms are the one's that don't really stand out from each other.

Books have always been my “happy place.” The genre that I can never get enough of is romance. Although my preferred genre is romantic suspense books, at my core I am still a fan of traditional romance. I am starting to really enjoy books set in the sports world. Because of this, I was very excited to get a chance read this book.

I am sometimes hesitant to read books from a new author, because it can sometimes take me a while to get used to their writing style. I didn’t have any problems getting into this book. I liked that it was told in first person, with alternating perspectives. This is starting to become my favorite style.

I can honestly say that this book hooked me from the very beginning. I liked both of the main characters equally, which is not always something that is the case with me. I liked how you could tell that both of the main characters truly wanted the best for the other. I was nervous about reading the second book in a series that I had not yet read the first book of, but, thankfully, I was still able to read it as a “standalone.”

All in all, I really enjoyed this book. I was very satisfied with the ending, and glad that both characters were able to “win”!

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy of this entertaining and steamy sports romance. I love a great fake romantic relationship story.
The book centers on Brooks (a supporting character from Only In Your Dreams) who attempts to return to the NFL after leaving following a serious injury. After a chance meeting with Siena, a family business owner, they agreed to fake-date to help Brooks' image and Siena's finances.
After having bad first impressions of each other, their relationship and feelings slowly turn real, but with a deadline at the end of their deal, they're not sure if their feelings can overcome their obstacles.
The book is relaxing and funny to read. I really enjoyed Siena's independence and humor. Brooks is charming and supportive. The conflict of if they could each have their own dreams and still be together was realistic and added great depth.
This was another entertaining story by Ellie K. Wilde and I'm excited to read more by her.

I haven't read the first in the Oakwood Bay series, so I can't speak to continuity or cameos from the first book, but I loved loved loved Siena and Brooks. Their story was absolutely precious, and I loved the way their relationship grows throughout the course of the book. I especially enjoyed the way that the characters centered each other's priorities and valued what was important to the other, even when it was uncomfortable or difficult for them.

If you're looking for a chili pepper rating, the sex scenes are gooooooood. Some romances feel super unrealistic and like too much, but the chemistry between Brooks and Siena felt real.

Very sweet book! I am a sucker for a fake relationship and when the guy falls first. I really enjoyed the first one in this series, and this was just as good!

Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books, and Ellie K. Wilde for the early access copy of Only Between Us.

Only Between Us is a sequel in the Oakwood Bay series but can be read as a standalone. It follows the story of Brooks and Siena. After being sidelined for the last two seasons after a traumatic brain injury, Brooks is determined to make his comeback as a pro football player for his previous team the Rebels. But, when naughty photos of him are leaked from the post-injury/post-break-up period, the Rebels are cautious about having him back. That's when Siena enters his life in an unexpected way. Siena is not interested in dating anyone from the NFL, not after her break-up, and not after she became the face of the league. But, when a misunderstanding leads to the world thinking they are dating, Brooks chances to join the Rebels skyrocket. The only problem is, Siena and Brooks did not get off on the right foot. Knowing that the publicity could help save Siena's family business, the two reluctantly agree to keep up with the fake dating. But what happens when real emotions get involved?

Only Between us is a sports themed fake dating, where he falls first, spicy romance.

💞ONLY BETWEEN US BY @elliekwildeauthor 💞

Release date: 7/8/25. Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars

OH MY GOSH! I absolutely ADORED this read! AS soon as I met Brooks in the first book, I crossed all my fingers hoping he’d have his own book and this didn’t disappoint.

Brooks was the perfect MMC. He’s selfless, sweet, swoony, and he can make brownies and choc chip cookies 😍 and I loved our FMC Siena, who could hold her own and was a rebel but just as selfless and thoughtful as Brooks. They complimented each other so well and I appreciated the depth but characters had as wel as their growth and the ending was so satisfying 💞✨

What you’ll find in this book:
🏈pro football romance
🏈meet cute gone very wrong
🏈he falls first
🏈loathe to love
🏈fake dating

Thank you so much @atriabooks and @netgalley for sending me this eArc in exchange for an honest review.

Ellie K Wilde has done it again—Only Between Us is another unforgettable read that had me hooked from the very first page! After the heart-pounding romance of Only in Your Dreams (Mel and Zac’s story), I didn’t think Ellie could top it, but she sure did. Brooks Attwood and Siena Pippen’s story will have your jaw dropping, especially with how steamy it gets. Seriously, the chemistry between these two is off the charts!

Brooks Attwood, a pro football player recovering from a devastating injury, is facing a media nightmare. After some embarrassing photos from a post-breakup bender are leaked, his hopes of getting back on the Rebels, the team he truly wants to play for, seem all but dashed. But things take an unexpected turn when a selfie with fiery fan Siena goes viral, leading the tabloids to mistakenly label them as the newest NFL power couple.

Siena Pippen has had her fair share of heartache and is more than ready to distance herself from the toxic football world, especially after her disappointing relationship with the another sports star. But as Brooks and Siena find themselves tangled up in a media circus neither of them asked for, Siena realizes that the buzz around her “fauxmance” with Brooks could be the lifeline her family’s struggling business desperately needs or what she thinks it needs.

What ensues is a slow-burn, fake-relationship-to-lovers romance that is as heartwarming as it is steamy. Brooks and Siena’s chemistry is undeniable, but their journey from fake lovers to real ones is filled with humor, heat, and just enough angst to keep you turning pages long into the night.

Ellie’s writing is captivating, and she knows exactly how to pull readers into her characters’ world. The emotional depth, the banter, and the steam—this book has it all. I was left feeling like I’d lived through Brooks and Siena’s journey right alongside them. Their dynamic was electric, and watching them navigate the complications of fame, family, and love made for an incredibly satisfying read.

And now, after this wild ride, I’m already eagerly anticipating the next book in the series. If I’m right (and I’m feeling pretty confident about this), Only Between Us is setting us up for Parker and Summer’s story. The tension between these two best friends has “friends to lovers” written all over it, and I can’t wait to see how Ellie brings that romance to life.

If you’re a fan of steamy, heartfelt, and addictively fun romances, you’ll want to pick up Only Between Us. Trust me, you won’t be able to put it down!

Good story line, more character building than I expected which was a nice surprise. Spicy scenes were a bit over the top.
Overall a great beach read. I really enjoyed it.