Farrah Rochon's The Boyfriend Project was one of my best books of 2020. I loved it. I loved The Dating Playbook even more.

Taylor and Jamar are such a wonderful couple. I loved their journey from trainer/client to friends to lovers to lifetime partners. Their relationship is so sweet, sexy, and genuine. I really liked these two and cheered them on from beginning to end. I appreciated the fact that Rochon gave them each complex - and realistic - issues to overcome, and stumbles along the way, before reaching their happy ending. It gave their story a realism that allowed me to view them as people dealing with the anxiety, guilt, fears, and family complexities that so many of us face in life. It made me want to be their friend. I was so proud of Taylor for all that she is and the courage it took to finally face her fears and realize all can be. And Jamar. Wow, what can I say about this guy? Let's go with this: Everyone should have a Jamar in their life. Yes, he is just that special and yes, I adored him. He captured my heart just as securely as he did Taylor's. I'll let you discover why when you read the book. He deserves to be savored, one page at a time. ;-)

One of my favorite aspects of this series is that it not only features romance but also equally important female friendships. The three women - Samiah, Taylor, and London - who meet in book one are the heart and soul of this series. Watching their unlikely friendship (they were all unknowingly dating the same guy when they met) strengthen and grow, alongside each of their romantic relationships, makes my heart so very happy. Kudos to Rochon for continuing to give this very important part of their lives the attention and nurturing it deserves.

Some weighty issues are dealt with in this book yet it is not a heavy or angsty story. Rochon keeps things moving, sprinkling humor (I'm still laughing over the kitchen scene with Jamar and his parents), snappy banter, sizzle, and fun throughout the story without sacrificing the depth of emotion some of those weighty issues demand. It's a balancing act that the author executes with perfection.

Two other facets of this book that I enjoyed are the authentic diversity (a Black author writing Black characters) and the representation (a character with hearing loss, another with learning disabilities), seamlessly woven into the story, not with a blinking "look what I did here" neon sign, but as a natural part of everyday life, as it should be.

For all these reasons and more - football and a love of Disney cannot be overlooked - I not only want to walk in this world and be friends with Farrah Rochon's characters but also with the author herself. I cannot wait to discover what she has planned for London.

The Dating Playbook has my enthusiastic recommendation. The romance is this book stands well on its own but for a full appreciation of the evolving friendship among the three women, I would suggest reading the books in order. Whether you begin with The Boyfriend Project or jump in with The Dating Playbook, you have a great read ahead.

*ARC received for fair and unbiased review

by Farrah Rochon
Publisher: Forever
Pages: 368 pages⁠
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Goodreads Rating: 4.19
My rating: I loved it! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the e-arc! This is out today- 8/17!

SUMMARY:
Taylor is the owner of a personal training / fitness / nutrition business, but recently she's been feeling the stress of running her own company. She is struggling financially, her business in a slump, until she meets Jamar Dixon, a former NFL player looking to get back to the league after a knee injury. Taylor sees this as an opportunity to jump start her company and Jamar wants to shock everyone after they said he couldn't do it. They keep the training a secret, until a reporter sees them and as a cover up, Taylor blurts out that they're dating.

MY THOUGHTS:
🏈 Taylor is the main character! That was super fun.
🏈 I loved THE BOYFRIEND PROJECT (the first in the series) and THE DATING PLAYBOOK reminded me of Jasmine Guillory's books, which I LOVE!! So I think this is another series I'll recommend to friends who want a light and fun romance.
🏈 I love the sports aspect to this book, it was not the focus, but just a neat angle!
🏈 There was a fun level of competition between Taylor and Jamar that I loved!
🏈 I appreciated the inclusivity of a learning disorder as an adult. It made me sad because I think of students that might think the same way as Taylor.
🏈 Overall, a fun, competitive, fake dating trope, romance! I can't wait for London's story!

The Dating Playbook by Farrah Rochon is the second book in The Boyfriend Project. This book follows Taylor Powell, the personal trainer who owns Taylor'd Conditioning. Taylor is in a dire financial situation, so when Jamar Dixon, former football player, wants a personal trainer to get back into the NFL, Taylor is skeptical but desperate. There's just one catch (pun intended), Jamar doesn't want anyone to know he is in training, so when the two are questioned by a reporter, Taylor blurts out they are a couple. Can Taylor and Jamar keep up the fake relationship to hide their training? Or do the lines between fiction and reality get crossed?

I enjoyed the continuation of the friendships between Taylor, Samiah, and London that began in The Boyfriend Project and provide the framework for Taylor's journey. I thought the portrayal of hardcore football fans was entertaining. I look forward to reading London's story as her journey was set up nicely in this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

When The Boyfriend Project ended, Taylor’s fledgling fitness and nutrition business was on an upswing. Now, after several setbacks, Taylor is hustling to keep herself and her business afloat. Working with her new client, a hot, former football player trying to get back into the NFL, has the potential to change the trajectory of her business and solve her immediate money problems. There's one catch -- no one can know about Taylor training Jamar. After the two get outed as a couple and choose to fake date, Taylor and Jamar must figure out what is fake and real.

I'm on Team TayJar! I loved Taylor and Jamar as a couple. Their banter, flirty teasing, and friendly competitions had me smiling and laughing throughout the book. In their exchanges, you see their connection, friendship, and respect for one another. Both Taylor and Jamar nudge each other in the right direction when needed. Sweet and genuinely nice guy Jamar is an excellent match for Taylor. He meets her where she's at and encourages her to achieve her dreams.

One of my favorite things about the first book, The Boyfriend Project, is the strong friendship between Taylor, London, and Samiah. I enjoyed seeing the trio continue to be there for each other in The Dating Playbook. They hold each other accountable and serve as the support system that all three need.

This heartwarming series keeps getting better, and I can't wait to read London's story!

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the advance digital copy to read and enjoy! All opinions are my own.

The Dating Playbook was a cute romantic comedy love story. A bomb fitness trainer and a hot football player? Two things that I adore, fitness and football. I was so excited that this book included my absolute favorite football team, the Texas Longhorns- like major brownie points for this!

Taylor is a struggling fitness entrepreneur and Jamar is trying to work his way back into the NFL. The two had a lot of chemistry and tried so hard to keep things platonic but a few slips resulted in them becoming a, “fake” couple. I think the book has a good balance and romance but there’s some deep topics which include guilt, grief, disabilities, and family dynamics. As a whole the topics play an important role. Both characters were trying to prove something when in reality it wasn’t needed. They poured a lot into one another and I appreciated their respect and willingness to work for their goals. The author did a great job and I loved all of the attention to details and the co-characters. I think the storyline flowed well; it wasn’t cookie cutter- the characters had to work to overcome their obstacles. I really enjoyed this book.

I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

From the very first page, I was in love with this story! This was so entertaining, sweet, and flirty. I had so much fun reading it and ate up all the references that were familiar to me. Farrah Rochon scored a touchdown with The Dating Playbook.

I absolutely adored Taylor. I loved her spirit, tenacity, and her infectious personality. Jamar totally made me melt. He was so charming and I loved what he was trying to accomplish and felt for him. From the moment they met, I loved them together. They had fantastic dialogue with an awesome back and forth wit that was engaging and lively. I liked learning their history and loved how the fake dating aspect and the Dating Playbook came about and watching these two trying to fight their attraction even though they had amazeballs chemistry. It created some seriously awesome sexual tension. I loved them opening up, sharing, and confronting things in their lives and overcoming obstacles they were dealing with.

I loved the relationship that Taylor had with Samiah and London. I liked seeing the bonds they formed and how they're there for each other. I also liked the small updates on Samiah and Daniel and am looking forward to London’s story next. She's got the best dry humor and I cannot wait.

This was an exceptional story that was well written with a lot of depth and detail and I thought it had a great flow. I loved the dual POVs and there was never a time that I wanted to put it down. It was funny and sweet and a bit heartbreaking at times. This story was an absolute delight to read. You could replace the location, towns, and sports teams that were referenced and I would still think that. That being said, I had such a personal connection to this story because of the town where Jamar is from and where he went to high school and it made it that much more exciting to read. There were sports teams mentioned that were so relevant to me and I could not get enough. Every time I read something I was familiar with, it made me giddy! As someone who works out regularly and tries to eat as clean as I can, I loved everything having to do with fitness and healthy eating. I loved how it was presented and how positive it all felt. It was that attention to detail that made it that much more dynamic to me.

This was a delightful and heartfelt story about overcoming pain from the past, healing, finding hope, and moving on. It was an incredibly enjoyable read with low angst and a bit of drama with really great characters and I loved them finding their way together.

The Dating Playbook is a fun fake dating romance story. Although it’s the sequel to The Boyfriend Project, it could definitely be read alone. Taylor seemed pretty realistic and down to earth, which I really liked. She takes on the job of being a trainer for Jamar Dixon, a former NFL player and University of Texas running back. I LOVED all the Austin and UT references. My best friend and two of my nieces are UT alumni and I’ve spent a lot of time in Austin. There’s a scene at Mount Bonnell and I could picture it perfectly. And Amy’s Ice Cream, that is my go-to stop in Austin. (Mexican vanilla with strawberries) 😉 🍨
OK, OK, enough gushing about Austin and back to the book. Taylor and Jamar had some really cute flirting and I enjoyed reading as their relationship progressed. They both also had some personal issues they needed to work through and I thought the topics of anxiety, learning disorders, and grief were written in a very relatable way. I read the author’s note about losing her sister while writing this book and my heart goes out to her. It’s so easy to let guilt and what if’s take over your mind when you lose someone you care about. I’m glad that Taylor and Jamar’s story has a HEA for this cute couple.
Hook Em 🤘🏼
Thank you to @readforeverpub and @netgalley for the digital ARC. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Taylor is a determined, but financially struggling entrepreneur with her own fitness & nutrition business. Jamar is an injured ex-pro football player who needs a fitness trainer. 2+2, right?

Then, for reasons, they find themselves in a fake-dating situation, which of course becomes more ❤

Their journey is sweet, and Jamar is a huge gooey cinnamon roll of a boyfriend! I loved that he supported Taylor when she needed him.

This was more rom than com, and each character had to deal with his/her own personal struggles, but it all shook out alright in the end.

I loved this book.  It is highly entertaining, full of romantic banter and a little steamy.  The characters are well developed and very likeable. The relationship between Taylor and Jamar is one based on mutual respect and admiration: a case of how each of them makes the other better.

The book also includes a good deal of discussion on learning disabilities and how they influence the decisions which we sometimes make. The importance of mental health is interspersed throughout the story.  I appreciated how the conversation on this topic helps to normalize the stigma often attached to discussions on this topic.

This story has a lot more depth than some other romantic comedy novels.  The author excels in providing a more in-depth history of her central characters than what you might otherwise find in this genre.  This in turn provides a greater sense of compassion in the reader as they cheer on this relationship.  All in all, a wonderful read.

Smart, witty, funny, sexy and moving. This rom-com has it all. With the popular trope of fake dating this book has a great story and characters that were easy to fall in love with. The author Farrah Rochon developed the main characters of Taylor and Jamar so well. Taylor is a strong willed, stubborn, smart, sassy female lead. Paired with Jamar, an equally as stubborn, strong willed, more than just a good looking jock makes for some hilarious banter as these two navigate their relationship. Taylor is struggling to keep her fitness business afloat, and Jamar wants to get back into the NFL after a devastating knee injury when he hires her as his personal trainer. Taylor develops this plan to work with him and Jamar agrees. But all that goes down the drain when it’s discovered they are a couple. This could really hurt Taylor’s business, but is there something more developing? I loved how both of the characters went deeper than just the surface level. Both of them were dealing with more than their fair share of pain and heartache. As the story moved forward the reader found out what was really driving the two characters and the roller coaster of emotion behind it all. This book was steamy (🔥), laugh out loud funny, and had a lot of heart. Thank you Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

This is the second book in the Boyfriend Project series and follows personal trainer Taylor and former NFL player Jamar. After a knee injury ended his rookie season, all the sport blogs and commentators said Jamar would never play again. He wants to prove them wrong and Army brat Taylor, with her no-nonsense attitude and drill Sargent training style is just the person he wants to whip him back into shape. Only condition is: no one can know what they're doing. So when they're spotted together by a journalist and questions start flying, Taylor says the first thing that comes to mind: they're dating. I really enjoyed this story and thought Taylor and Jamar were really perfect together. Of course, a personal trainer and NFL player were going to have the physical attraction, but their relationship went deeper than that. They worked through a lot of personal history together and helped each other realize what they actually wanted out of life. I do wish the fake dating part lasted a little longer or had more pull on the plot. My favorite part of fake dating stories is when they are forced into a real life situation that causes them to become a little too close (like dates to a wedding, for example) and I didn't feel like the fake dating had enough emotional consequences in this story for my personal tastes. I thought Taylor and Jamar had really well developed characters and character development (both apart and as a couple) through the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Forever for the ARC in exchange for review.

Expected publication is August 17, 2021

This is the follow-up to the Boyfriend Project, which I loved. The story focus on Taylor, a personal trainer who is hired by former NFL player Jamar (Diesel) Dixon to get in playing shape to hopefully rejoin the league.

This book has fake dating with some forced proximity plus banter and steam. Taylor is a stubborn but determined woman. She's committed to making her business Taylored Conditioning a success. Jamar is a good guy who matches Taylor in determination. It was fun seeing how competitive they were with each other. Both are carrying baggage from their pasts. The path to love is not always easy and I enjoyed watching Taylor and Jamar's journey play out.

I'm looking forward to the final book to see how London finds her own HEA. Thank you to Forever and Netgalley for my e copy of this book.

After reading and reviewing The Boyfriend Project last year, I was lucky enough to be sent an e-ARC copy of the next book in the companion series, The Dating Playbook through NetGalley! At first, I wasn’t sure whether or not to accept the review copy, since I was feeling a bit overwhelmed with ARCs, but as I read more of my upcoming ARCs, I kept getting drawn to the link that would allow me to download my copy of The Dating Playbook. I mean, fake dating is objectively one of the best tropes out there. How could I resist that?

This book follows Taylor Powell, who is having a difficult time trying to grow her fitness and personal training business. So when the opportunity comes to train Jamar Dixon, a former NFL running back whose career ended due to an injury during a game, Taylor jumps at the chance. There’s just one catch. Jamar needs his training to be kept confidential until he’s ready to try out for a team again. That becomes a difficult thing to hide when a reporter sees the two of them together and assumes that Taylor is training Jamar. In response, Taylor blurts out that the two of them are dating in order to keep Jamar’s secret. But as they keep up the façade, real feelings start to get in the way.

I really enjoyed reading this book! One of the things I liked the most was how there was plenty of conflict to keep the story moving along, but there wasn’t a lot of drama. Taylor and Jamar both have things they need to work through, and although they sometimes disagreed about how to handle matters, there was never a point where I felt that there was drama for the sake of drama. The plot progressed smoothly and realistically, and that made it even easier to fall into the story.

Jamar and Taylor communicate beautifully, which made me adore this book even more. There were absolutely no miscommunication plot points because they handled things like adults and discussed matters before they could blow up. Which is not to say that these characters were perfect. Taylor is impulsive and flawed, but she recognizes when she’s wrong and will take the time to reflect on her words and actions and reevaluate. Usually impulsive characters frustrate me, but since Taylor was fleshed out, I really enjoyed her as a character.

I also really liked the side characters in this book! We get more of Samiah and London from The Boyfriend Project, and it was so much fun to see the group interact some more. For some reason, I appreciated the friendship these three had even more in this installment! I’m very excited to read London’s story next year!

Interestingly, one of my favorite aspects of the book was a rather unexpected element. Early on in the book, Taylor realizes that people expect her to have a degree before they’re willing to trust her skills as a personal trainer. However, I appreciated the nuance with which the topic was handled. It wasn’t made out that college is necessary to succeed in ALL cases, but rather than in this specific case it could be useful. Additionally, while Samiah and London thrived in college, Taylor has a tougher time with school. I don’t want to give too much away but the way this book discussed the different ways that school can be difficult for people, and how the best way to overcome that is to get the help and assistance you need was absolutely wonderful. School was not villainized, and Taylor wasn’t portrayed as dumb or a slacker. Instead, she was presented as someone whose needs weren’t matched by the typical educational system and therefore needed other accommodations.

I gave this book 4 stars because of how much I enjoyed my time reading it. For all my waiting to pick it up, this ended up being completely worth the read and I’m so glad I decided to give it a try. If you’re looking for a cute romance with fake dating, football, friendship, and family, look no further. This is definitely the book for you!

If you are looking to for one more perfect beach read to read before Summer ends, The Dating Playbook is a perfect option. This was super cute and such a fun read - I loved the characters!

You will love this book…
…if the fake dating trope is one of your favorites! Taylor is broke and really struggling to make ends meet with her personal training business. Jamar is trying to return to playing professional football after a career-ending knee injury. Jamar hires Taylor to get him back in shape - and if he is successful, it could put Taylor’s business on the map. They find themselves pretending to date in order to hide the fact that Jamar is training for a return to the NFL, potentially jeopardizing his future endorsement of Taylor’s business.

…if you love characters you can root for. I thought Taylor’s character was so strong, and loved her independence and willingness to work hard to overcome her challenges. Jamar was a great love interest, and I liked that the book really address his struggle with his best friend’s death and the impact has had on his life.

…even if you haven’t read the first book in the series. I hadn’t yet read The Boyfriend Project when I picked this up, and I thought it worked really well as a stand-alone novel. It does reference some events from the first book, but the author did a great job summarizing it and I never felt lost or confused. After finishing this I immediately bought an ebook of The Boyfriend Project because I couldn’t wait to read more!

Thank you to Net Galley and Forever for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

✨Read this if you like:
• Fake Relationship Trope
• Representation - Learning Disability, Diverse Characters
• Strong Female Characters/Friendship
• Well done and believable Conflict/Resolution

✨I had not read the first book in the series but that did not stop me from enjoying this one. I’m a sports fanatic and really enjoyed the drive and passion of both Taylor and Jamar. The ladies friendship is serious goals. This was the perfect romance after reading a mountain of thrillers lately! I will definitely be grabbing the first book and can’t wait for London’s book💞 Thank you to @readforeverpub @grandcentralpub & @netgalley for an ARC of this book!

This was a really cute story with a fake dating trope. Taylor is a personal trainer, struggling financially, who Jamar has hired to help him rehab after an injury in his first season in the NFL. This story was sweet and relatable and both main characters deal with more serious topics. I loved the female friendships in this book. I haven't read the first in the series but now I really want to. This is fine as a stand alone but I think I would have enjoyed it even more if I had read the first book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever Publishing for an advanced copy. Opinions are my own!

Oh I loved this book! How can I care so little about actual football but love football (or football-adjacent) romances so darn much?! To be fair, after loving The Boyfriend Project (the first in this series) I knew I'd love this one, and it didn't disappoint.

Taylor Powell (who we met in the last book) is a personal trainer, but things aren't going so hot right now and she's struggling to get her business off the ground and pay her bills. At a pop-up bootcamp session, she meets Jamar Dixon who's trying to work his way back into the NFL after blowing out his knee early in his career. He thinks Taylor is just the trainer to help him, but he wants to keep it all under the radar.

When a nosy reporter starts asking questions about the two of them Taylor blurts out that they're dating, so as not to blow Jamar's plan. Obviously, the more time they spend together the more undeniable their chemistry is. But they both have goals they're working hard for and don't want to jeopardize, plus they each have a healthy amount of issues they need to work through before they can really commit to another person.

I loved both of the main characters so much. They felt like people I've known all my life, and I just wanted to hug the book at the end. Plus, the female friendships in the book are just amazing. It'll make you chuckle, and it will make you cry, and basically feel all the feelings. Farrah Rochon has done it again folks!

The Dating Playbook is the second in The Boyfriend Project series and it’s a steamy one! I really enjoyed Taylor and Jamar’s relationship. There was an underlining reminder of the importance of being in tune with your body and knowing how far you can physically push it. Guilt and forgiveness also played a large role in this story in addition to understanding different perspectives.

Another really important topic of the story touches on the stigma in society but especially in the black community surrounding mental health and learning disabilities. It’s an important reminder to take care of your mental health and wellness in general and to seek help where needed.

I’m looking forward to London’s story! I feel like these books would make for a great book to tv series adaptation. So much drama, romance, and real-life situations filled with troubles and triumphs. It would make for great tv entertainment.

Themes & tropes: fake relationship, mental health, learning disabilities, guilt, blame, forgiveness, education, financial trouble, physical injury, fitness, health & wellness

Recommend for: fans of romance, fans of fake relationship tropes | My Review Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥.5 | Steam Rating: R

I enjoyed The Boyfriend Project last year and am so glad I got to read an advanced copy of The Dating Playbook. Taylor and Jamar’s story is so fun. He’s twenty five and a former NFL player whose career ended early due to injury. He wants to return to the NFL and thinks if he finds the right trainer to work with, he can do it.

That’s where Taylor Powell comes in. She’s a personal trainer who has her own business, Taylor’d Conditioning. She’s in desperate need of money and has maxed out all of her credit cards, so this opportunity to work with him couldn’t have come at a better time.

Jamar and Taylor have great banter and sexual tension, but neither is in the right place to act on it. Also, I enjoyed Taylor’s relationship with Samiah and London so much. Their female bonding and having each other’s backs was wonderful. It was so good to see it displayed in this second book, too. I am looking forward to London’s book next!

Thank you to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Dating Playbook, second in The Boyfriend Project series, is a delightful novel of fake dating between a personal trainer Taylor and her client, a former NFL player Jamar!

Jamar, the former football players wants to get back into NFL and Taylor, is his personal trainer! To keep his training a secret they fake their relationship. This was such a hilarious, oh so swoony read that now I am looking forward to read the first book The Boyfriend Project by Farah Rochon!

Thank you @readforeverpub and @grandcentralpub for the gifted copy of this contemporary sport romance that will be publishing on August 17, 2021