The fake dating trope will always be one of my favorites. Siena was extremely relatable as a female main character. I think we all can relate to being a woman who doesn't want to disappoint their parents. Brooks was the perfect man, hot, filthy, ambitious and vulnerable. The chemistry between them was off the charts. There was a little bit of a slow burn which I loved.

Fake dating? Sign me up!! Slow burn? Sign me up!! Football player, small town and he falls first literally perfect

LOVED this book so much!! I loved the way the relationship started out as fake dating between Brooks and Siena. I loved Siena's backstory with her parents. I loved the spice and tension between the two. Such a great book, would highly recommend. I can't wait to go back and read Ellie K Wilde's other books. Thank you for the opportunity to read this early.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.25 stars, rounded down)
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Brooks and Siena’s story is absolutely adorable. I don’t know how such a short book managed to pack in so much depth—while also being so spicy! I wish I could bottle the mix of joy and heartache I felt while reading it.

It’s a little cheesy at times, but honestly, that just added to the charm. This book was a great time from start to finish, and held up as a “stand alone” even though it is #2 in the series.

3.5 Stars

Only Between Us by Ellie Wilde was an easy, entertaining read that flowed effortlessly. I especially enjoyed the slow burn — watching the relationship grow from fake to real felt charming and satisfying. The banter and chemistry kept me engaged, and it made for a perfect “just one more chapter” kind of book.

That said, I felt it lacked the depth that would have elevated it to a higher rating. While the romance was sweet, I wanted more emotional layers and complexity to the characters and their journey. Still, it was a light, enjoyable escape and a great choice for when you want something fun and low-stress to read.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced digital copy - all thoughts and opinions are my own!

I absolutely loved this one! The meet cute was so unique and the dynamic constantly changing had me eating this one up!

I always love a fake dating situation and I thought it was funny how there was a constant call back to the last time that Brooks was fake dating. I loved all the heart in this one. It felt like a warm hug the entire time!

Just as amazing as the first one!!
By the first fifth of the story, I knew I’d found something special.
Their bond is magnetic—burning so bright it spills right out of the pages and into your heart

What you’re in for:

- Fake dating… all for the sake of good PR
- She swears she doesn’t date athletes (in real life, at least)
- He’s a shameless flirt
- Drives her to work every single day
- Drops the “my girl” casually (and you melt every time)
- Covered in tattoos
- Gets very jealous when her ex shows up
- The ultimate “wear my jersey” moment

Thank you NetGalley, Atria and Ellie K Wilde for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved book #1 and was so excited for this book. There isn’t a ton of crossover so this could be read as standalone.

Siena and Brooks run into each other (literally) and while the chemistry is instantaneous doubt, assumptions and resentment bubble up as soon as a picture of them goes viral.

Fake dating (especially between two bold characters with tons of chemistry) doesn’t get old and Ellie did it right.

The backstories and hurt each of them have to overcome and grow from was appealing and a nice contrast to the tension and spice.

Cannot wait to read book #3!

While book one was supported with the strong character backstory, this one needed a bit more development. A switch flipped pretty early on that made it Instalove without really developing it fully. That said, I’m always down for a he falls first.

This is a cute and steamy romance and the book exceeded my expectations. I would read more books by this author!

I loved only in your dreams, and couldn't wait to see the rest of the friend group find their special someones and was so excited for Brooks' story!

His and Siena's meet cute turned almost immediate enemies and oh wait what's that a little fake dating? [Which of course turns into the best of friends with a side of verrrrrrry real feelings].

This was such a fun one sitting read. I loved seeing intentionality on both sides, even when they were pretending they still hated each other. The chemistry and banter between the two was so fun to watch, the trials were handled realistically and I loved that this was an enemies to lovers that didn't feel childish and the spots where both MCs needed healing were handled appropriately for the tone of the book.

I'm now very anxiously awaiting Summer and Parker's story. Friends to lovers is one of my favs! (And the glimpses in this book didn't hurt!)


Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for my review!

So happy to have now read both books of this series! This one turned the spice way up and I had such a good time with these two. Loved their banter and the burn was burning. Ellie Wilde is such a great addition to my auto buys I really can't wait to see what else she has in store! Thank you so much for this ARC copy!

I absolutely loved this!! The chemistry between Brooks and Siena was so intense and it left me wanting more!!

Well, hello, Brooks Atwood. The tattooed, hunky, former bad boy football player has entered the chat. He’s not sure what’s harder—rehabbing an injury or salvaging his reputation—but he needs to do both if he has any chance of reviving his playing career.

Siena Pippen has been burned badly and publicly humiliated by her former boyfriend, a wildly popular pro-athlete, so she has no desire to step back into that world. Until circumstances conspire for them to be photographed together and everyone believes them to be a couple.

This could be exactly what Brooks needs and it’s the last thing Siena wants. Holy Fake Dating Perfection! He falls first and he falls hard. She is a brick wall; blocking him at every turn. Slowly, oh, so slowly, those walls begin to crumble and the result is sweet and spicy and utterly delicious.

I loved this. A few scenes had me fanning myself, so be warned. The steam level is maximum sauna 🔥🔥🔥, but it’s fun and flirty and full of surprises.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

Summary:
Former NFL star Brooks Attwood is on the brink of a comeback—if he can convince the Rebels to take him back after scandalous photos tank his reputation. A viral selfie with Siena Pippen, the ex-girlfriend of the League’s golden boy, sends the media into a frenzy, and soon they’re faking a relationship to fix their image problems. But the longer they fake it, the more real their feelings become—and the harder it is to separate business from pleasure.

Short and Sweet Opinion:
Sexy, emotional, and packed with heart, this fake-dating sports romance brings all the heat and feels with characters you can’t help but root for.

In-Depth Opinion:
I don’t usually gravitate toward football romances, but after loving Only in Your Dreams, I was all in for this sequel—and Ellie K. Wilde did not disappoint. Brooks is absolutely the star of the show: the perfect mix of sweet, spicy, and emotionally bruised. His charm, humor, and filthy mouth brought so much life to the story. Siena held her own as a heroine, with a compelling backstory and strength that balanced well against Brooks’s fire.

While I did get a little frustrated with how long Siena clung to her holdups, it made sense for her character arc and added believable emotional stakes. The fake dating setup was executed perfectly, with strong chemistry, great banter, and just enough chaos to keep things interesting. The spice level was exactly what I wanted, and the emotional payoff made it even better. This was a solid, steamy, and satisfying addition to the Oakwood Bay series.

I LOVE THIS BOOK! I LOVE THIS SERIES! I LOVE BROOKS ATTWOOD! You've got a "grumpy" MMC that you believe is this rock hard man with no feelings but in this book you get his whole life story and what makes him him. Which is actually a teddy bear. The dynamic between the FMC and MMC was perfect it was beautiful. The spice, I mean the SPICY. this book scratched the good itch.... It has been awhile since a book left me sad once it was done and over. I truly did not want this book to end. I'm so invested in this series now. What I would give just to be a fan of this football team. Ellie K. Wilde has just become one of my automatic reads for authors. I will buy everything she writes. 5/5 spice ugh I'm going to reread it just for the spice and banter alone.

I absolutely loved the first book in this series by Ellie K. Wilde (Only in Your Dreams) so I knew I had to read the next one immediately when it came out. This book (Only Between Us) was adorable and sweet. It took me a little bit to get into it with the new characters, but once I got past the beginning I just couldn’t put it down.

This is perfect for lovers of:
🏈Fake Dating
🏈Forced Proximity
🏈Creative Steam/Spice (they decide that won’t sleep together while fake dating)
🏈Banter
This is a great summer read! While it is part two in a series, I don’t feel like I would have been too lost not reading the first book first. I think you really can start either way since the FMC and MMC are two new characters (although mentioned in the last book).
Great story, timing, subplots, and character depth. A definite 5 star recommendation from me!

A very special Thank You to NetGalley, Atria, and the author for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Loved Charlie and Brooks' story! They're very sweet together while still having mad chemistry. I appreciated the way they cared for their friends and family, who all added depth to the story.

I absolutely LOVED this book. The fake dating trope will forever have me in a chokehold. Throw in the football storyline combined with the romance and I could not put this book down. The banter throughout the book was so good and the chemistry had me absolutely swooning. I need more of this!

ellie k wilde does it again! thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! I knew this was gonna be the couple from the first book and I was not at all disappointed! cute charming and witty banter with fun chemistry I think Ellie k Wilde is going to be an auto buy author for me!