A great addition to the Chicago Stars series and it delivers a delightful blend of romance, humor and mystery.
It is a must read for Rom Com lovers.
Many thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Simply The Best by Susan Elizabeth Phillips is a sports romance

Rory is the older sister of Clint, an NFL football player, and a failing owner of a food truck that serves specialty chocolate. When she goes to a party she has a one night stand with a man at the party, discovering he left money on the end table thinking she’s a paid escort. When she comes downstairs she discovers her mystery man happens to be Brett, her brother’s manager.
Brett normally doesn’t hook up with escorts, but this one is super hot. When he discovers he really messed up, he fears Rory will spill the beans.
When Rory’s neighbor turns up dead at Clint’s home, Clint becomes suspect number one. Why is she there? Because Ashley was looking for a rich husband, and when she decides she wants him back, she runs to his house, which costs her the ultimate price, her life.
Not believing her brother could do such a horrible crime, Rory starts to investigate on her own.

What I disliked was the generalizations and assumptions about the group of people at the junkyard they run into on the way to the cabin. Rory goes on a tangent calling them names and degrading them for their looks and intelligence. Then later she brings chocolate to hope to bribe these uneducated rednecks into helping them remove the tree blocking the driveway. I hate the way authors stereotype people, making one group out to be a dangerous monster while breezing over the negative and destructive comments that are made. About them.

While I liked the story I felt that more actual police work should have been implemented in the search for Ashley’s killer. The police chose a suspect and didn’t bother to investigate anyone else.

Their relationship was a very slow burn, often not seeing any heat at all. The romance was ok. I preferred the as a couple during the last 15% of the book. I also liked the way Rory and Kristen makeup.

This was a great enemies-to-lovers romance with some family drama thrown in. There was also a murder mystery that felt a little forced, but overall this was a good read.

Susan Elizabeth Philips is one of my favorites, and Simply the Best was so much fun. I think it's been a decade since i've read one of her books, but I was completely sucked in within the first chapter!

Sarah Elizabeth Phillips and her Chicago Stars series has always been one of my favorite contemporary romance series. Each book is a standalone but with guest appearances in other books.

This book was for Rory, a down-on-her luck chocolatier and Brett, a sports agent to Rory’s NFL brother, Clint. After a one night stand, Rory and Brett start a messy friendship to help clear Clint’s name in a murder. Brett finds himself falling for Rory, who is stubborn and judgmental. I didn’t see their chemistry until about halfway into the book.

I expected to like this as much as the other Stars’ books but it felt flatter than the others. I wanted to read more of the family dynamic between Rory and Clint. I enjoyed the character arc of Rory after she got over herself. But it’s SEP and I look forward to another of her books.

Thanks to NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for this eARC. Simply the Best is out now.

This story follows a not-so-successful chocolatier and a sports agent who stumble into a world where there’s a possibility a football player killed a woman. I have read the previous book in this series but I have to say that I was a but disappointed with this book. I love sports romance so I was excited to see how this story plays out but there’s not much sport-related content. The storyline concept was great but I wasn’t promised that the way I was expecting. The story was chaotic and too many things were happening at the same time. This book was a mix of so many genres that it was a bit too much that it didn’t make sense. This book was told from multiple povs but sometimes I was confused about who’s pov I was at with the way the story was written and sometimes I was confused why that person’s pov showed up.

Rory is the FMC of this book who’s not doing so well with her career and her brother could have possibly killed a woman. Then there is Brett who is an agent and had a one-night stand with Rory. At first, I was enjoying their character but then their chemistry started to burn out a bit. There stories disappeared and it was like the book became a mystery instead of a contemporary romance. There were side characters in this book but I didn’t care for them and didn’t enjoy their pov when it in the story. The romance is enemies to lovers and slow burn but I couldn’t feel the chemistry between the characters anymore.

The ending was okay but I didn’t truly care for it anymore. It was just that the story died once I stopped comprehending what was happening with the book. I had high expectations of this one, especially after reading the previous book which I enjoyed very much. This one just wasn’t it for me but I know some will enjoy it.

*this book was sent to me by the publisher to give an honest review in return*

What a great book! My first read by #1 New York Times Best Seller ,SEP ( Susan Elizabeth Phillips) and it fully entertained me. Mystery, love, football sports agent, and chocolate, it had it ALL! The next book in the Chicago Stars series but I read it as a stand alone and it was great!

Quirky Rory Garrett who fit the part of the once failed chocolatier led this novel with her zany dress, passion for chocolate, disastrous complex but yet would always speak her mind! Football star half-brother, Clint and his intense sports agent, Brett, play two major different rolls in Simply the Best but find their way into Rory’s heart. Brett, a mistake, a one nighter on accident has him balancing between client manager privilege and loyalty. A dead body, mysterious behaviors and Rory’s determined mindset take this novel to the next level. Mixed with family, new relationships and the transformation of them adds closure to this otherwise open ended flirty read!

Easy to read
Engaging
Character driven
Creative
Original

An enjoyable read I would recommend to anyone who likes contemporary fiction, a fun, vivid and immersive novel.
Thanks to Avon, Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review

Rory and Brett have a one night stand not realizing that Rory is the sister of Brett’s client, Clint. Rory and Brett both end up at Clint’s house looking for him for different reasons, and while there they find Clint’s ex girlfriend, Ashley, murdered. Rory and Brett work together to find out what happened and clear Clint’s name and start to fall for each other in the process.
I really enjoyed the romance slash mystery combo of this story. I would say that it was a romance first and mystery second. The push and pull between Rory and Brett was fun to read and the side story dealing with Rory’s stepmom’s love life was a sweet addition. I also really enjoyed the family dynamics between Rory, Clint and Kristin and how each of their relationships developed as they opened up to one another and shared more about their lives. The ‘who dunnit’ aspect of the story kept the plot moving forward and the twist was a total surprise. And of course like any good romance it had a perfectly tied together HEA.

Hands down the best romance comdey writer. You will laugh. You will cry. I look forward to Phillips books.

Rory attends a party with her football star brother and ends up having a one night stand with his sports agent. Clint, the brother is accused of murder and Rory his agent work together to try and find out who actually committed the murder. Rory is also working through her issues with her stepmother. His book was funny in spots and had interesting characters. I really enjoyed this book.

4.5 Stars. I didn't realize until a little ways into this book that it was a continuation of the Chicago Stars series by Phillips. I did think it had a little bit of a different vibe to it than the others because of the murder and the mystery surrounding it.

Rory and Brett were such wonderful characters. Rory is the stepsister of a famous football player, but is determined to make it on her own. Brett is a sports manager and very together as opposed to Brett's style of living. Her style is pretty eclectic and Brett is in loafers. This is a case of everyone "refusing to fall in love." The romance was hard fought and hard won.

Rory also has issues with her stepmother which was actually a very charming part of the story. Their issues go way back and seem to stem from misconceptions. I truly did love their relationship in the end. The murder mystery part added another dimension to the story.

I loved this story as I have loved all the others by Susan Elizabeth Phillips.

Thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

The h’s brother is a professional football player who is on the outs with his sister and his agent. She unknowingly sleeps with his agent? Who thinks she is an escort. When the h goes to her brother’s house, she finds his former girlfriend dead and her brother no where to be found. The H finds her over the dead body The brother is considered the main suspect.

Rory is one of the best characters I've read in a long time. Quirky, funny, with a beautiful fashion sense, I love how Susan Elizabeth Phillips writes amazingly relateable characters that still have flaws, that seem so human. It was quite fun to read while both stubborn mules - Rory and Brett, gravitate towards each other and admit their feelings. I loved the relationship between Rory and Kristen and how Kristen was so put upon and long suffering, but still clearly cared. Also, I need to say coming back to a Chicago stars book feels like coming home! So cozy, and I love love love the slices of life of previous characters, like Heath and Annabelle. This book is just another shining example of why SEP is a master of her craft and why she will always be a one click author for me.

Simply the Best is the highly anticipated new book in Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ Chicago Stars series and it is a winner. Rory Meadows Garrett is the half-sister to Stars quarterback Clint Garrett and has a huge inferiority complex. She wants to be a chocolatier and do it on her terms but can’t seem to make it happen. Brett Rivers is Clint’s sports agent and made the mistake of bad-mouthing Clint’s now ex-girlfriend. Now he is trying to get back into Clint’s good graces, but spending a drunken one-night stand with Rory isn’t the best way to go about it. Unfortunately, Clint’s girlfriend is found dead in his home and Clint is nowhere to be found. Rory takes it upon herself to try and clear Clint’s name and Brett unwillingly helps her. This is when their adventure begins.

The author has written an easy to read enemies-to-lover story in which there is witty banter, a slow burn of attraction with flawed but likeable characters. Rory has spent most of her life in the shadow of her younger brother since he was the golden child to their father and her step-mother. Brett helped her see that she was the only one standing in her own way. Once she talked to Clint she saw his life wasn’t so perfect and he didn’t have it as good as she thought. Brett worked hard for his lifestyle but didn’t realize that he really didn’t have a life or friends. Rory saw right through him and showed him how shallow his life really was. They may be opposites in so many ways but you can see that they were perfect for one another. Rory can bring life to his life, and Brett gives her the confidence she needs to start her business.

I adore this author’s stories and writing style and she is an auto-buy each and every time. Parts of the story didn’t feel cohesive to the storyline and I wondered why they were included. However, it may not have been a slam dunk of a perfect book but it was a pretty close, and I did enjoy it.

You know that feeling of getting cozy with a book on your couch with a fuzzy blanket and a cup of coffee? An SEP book is an equivalent of that for me. A cozy comforting blanket of an experience. My love for some of the og romance tropes and archetypes started from this author’s books (enemies to lovers, sports, small town, banter, etc), and I will always go back when I need the equivalent of a literary hug.

STB is the latest in the Chicago stars series, and what a timely release, on the heels of the most romantic Super Bowl experience of all time. It’s like this year’s SH was written by SEP. This one’s not a jock-celebrity romance though. This is a slick big shot agent falls for (in-spite of himself) down on her luck quirky chocolatier romance. He’s a cunning and ambitious Slytherin, chasing money and success and the next big thing, she’s the sweet, kind, and yes foodie Hufflepuff, with a strong moral core.

Obviously there’s friction, sparks fly, and they’re drawn together like opposites do, even as they pretend to dislike each other. Dislike to banter to reluctant alliance to friendship turns to more, all while they try to solve a redrum mystery and their own respective issues. The author not only gives us sparkling humor sizzling romance, but also throws in a bonus romance (few can do that with aplomb anymore), and a beautiful arc of familial relationships which I loved almost as much as the romance.

I love the Chicago Stars series, and Simply The Best has been one of my favorites! Brett is the put together highly regarded sports agent to the stars. Rory is a chocolatier who has had a run of bad luck. When the two of them have a one night stand and then learn that Brett is Rory's brother's agent, things get weird.

This book has Susan Elizabeth Phillips characteristic banter, and also a murder mystery which is a bit of a departure for her (but one that I really enjoyed). The situations are funny, the romance is spicy, and the banter is cutting. A really fun sports adjacent romance!

Thanks to Avon publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book.

Anyway, on to my review which basically boils down to, loved it. I’ve been reading this series since the very first one and Phillips always creates a heroine who can speak to your soul. Her leading men are equal parts lovable and frustrating and grow into a man you would be happy to have in your life. Rory is one of my favorite main characters that she has written and I was rooting for her the whole time. I also always love seeing characters from past books pop up so this series is definitely more immersive if read in order.

Wonderful story for everyone to enjoy. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy reading!

This one had me from the first page, what a great way to start a novel!

Clint and Rory had chemistry from page one, and I loved watching their story evolve. And this one from SEP had an original twist that haven't been in her earlier stories, a mystery. Rory takes it upon herself to help solve it and clear her baby brother's name. Doing so helps her strengthen her relationship with him, and with her step-mother Kristin. Kristin was kind of a sleeper character for me, and I really loved watching her story as well.

This one was great from start to finish!

This opposites attract, enemies to more, modern day cinderalla romance is humor filled fun. There is also a mystery element but it's the amazing, colorful characters and their chemistry, hilarious banter and dialog that keeps the pages turning. As always, struggles are involved but the happy ending arrives. The book was fantastic from start to finish and put a smile on my face. 100% recommend!