Ellie K. Wilde hit is out of the park with the second book in the Oakwood Bay series! I didn’t think I would love Brooks and Siena as much as I did, but I found myself staying up way too late to read their story. It was perfection!

Siena is drowning in guilt AND drowning in debt. After getting out of her long term relationship to a very high profile NFL player, the last thing she needs is to jump right back into that scene.

Enter Brooks. After an early retirement from an injury, Brooks has decided to make another go of the NFL. He’s got the speed, size, and determination. But the problem? His image is a little…. Slutty. And the team he wants to sign with? Big family values. So Brooks and Siena decide to fool everyone with a fake relationship. What could go wrong, right?

Brooks was the perfect golden retriever boyfriend, and Siena was hilarious. Her insecurities and third act break up were very real problems they needed to overcome.

Thank you Ellie Wilde, Atria Books, and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this novel -out July 8th!

This books was soooooo good. I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this book since I did not like the first one but wow am I glad I gave this author another chance.

The story was perfect, the characters were perfect, the banter was amazing and the spice was HOT!

I loved Siena and Brooks so much I know I will be thinking about them a lot. I loved every interaction they had, the flirty banter was everything and 👏 they 👏 communicated 👏 like 👏 grown 👏 adults! The fake dating trope was done so well and I fell more in love with our main characters with every page.

If you're looking for a funny and spicy sports romance that's also very sweet and has depth to it, THIS IS THE BOOK!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for this E-ARC!

I am in love. In love with this book, these characters, and Ellie K Wilde. I started reading this book and was thinking wow, I enjoy this writing, it reminds me of another book. Said other book was the first book in this serious. Equally as good. I gobbled this 400+ page book in less than 24 hours. I absolutely adore this friend group. I adore these books! They are so good. Funny, cute, adorable, slightly spicy. There was a scene in this book that I had to clutch my pearls for a second. Then I reread that scene a few times! Go read this book right now.

Brooks got an injury while playing football for the NFL and had his whole life turned upside down. He’s been working hard to get back into the game but made some questionable choices during his downward spiral. He needs to redo his image to be able to get drafted by his one and only team.
When a picture is posted of him and fan favorite good girl Siena Pippen, it starts to look good for Brooks. Now if he could only convince her to fake date him until he gets drafted.

Fake dating is one of my absolute favorite tropes! It’s delicious. I loved this book and the first one and will absolutely be continuing this series and I will be reading all of Ellie’s books.

This was a very good sequel to “Only in Your Dreams.” Put a sports romance with the fake dating trope and you have my attention. Both of the main characters have recently come out of problematic relationships. This causes quite a bit of trust issues and the need for good communication. This got quite spicy through the middle and end, but I think it was done well. If you pair a golden retriever MMC with an actual pet dog I’m going to swoon every time. Pick this one up!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free ARC!

✨️ Sports Romance - Football
✨️ Dual POV
✨️ Fake Dating
✨️ Only One Bed
✨️ Enimies to lovers
✨️ Protective MMC
✨️ He Falls First
✨️ High Spice

I've never read this author before, but the synopsis of a fake dating, sports romance with a little enemies to lovers drew me in. I loved the main characters, Siena and Brooks. The challenges they faced personally and in their relationship were realistic and understandable. Communication played a key role in their relationship. I love when it is used to strengthen and propel a relationship forward rather than poor communication being used as a plot device. I also enjoyed the surrounding cast of characters and how open and honest they were with each other. I loved the setup for a Summer and Parker book and will be eagerly waiting for it!

I took off a star for two reasons. First, I felt the first two spicy scenes were too much, too fast. I would've rather seen them toned down to drag out the tension longer. The second reason was the writing style. I felt the short thought-like sentence style was overused to the point that it just started feeling choppy.

I would still absolutely recommend this book and look forward to reading more from this author!

I love sports romance and this was fully in line with my all of my faves! Fake relationships are always fun tropes for the characters to navigate. Brooks is an adorable love interest for Siena, their developing relationship is fun to watch. Super fun tension and spice and you root for these two from the very beginning. Siena's foster child background is unique and it's lovely to see Brooks fall for her.

Special thanks to Atria and NetGalley for the ARC.

I received an advance reader copy of Only Between Us by Ellie K. Wilde from NetGalley and Atria Books in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Step aside everybody, because I've got a new favorite Golden Retriever boyfriend. Only Between Us is a cute football romance where Brookes, an NFL wide receiver who's recovering from a bad concussion and training for his comeback, finds himself fake dating Siena, a wild spirit who agrees to the scheme to make ends meet.

I loved this book. The banter between the main characters hit every single romcom note I itch to scratch, and it introduced me to my favorite Golden Retriever boyfriend of the year. Only Between Us has made it to one of my few 5-star reads this year.

--

Overall Impressions 😊

This was my first football romance and to be frank I expected a different version of hockey romances, which I adore. And that's what I got. No complaints here. However, I did not expect this to exceed my expectations so thoroughly. I was thinking after seeing so many meet-cute ➝ attraction ➝ third act break up ➝ HEA cycles, I didn't think I could get surprised. Apparently, the magic is in the details, and that's what's special about this book.

I was giggling the entire time. The attraction between these two was so palpable that I couldn't stop reading or creating time to read it. It was addictive to watch them fall in love, and the spice was just so 🥵.

The chemistry between the characters is uncharted, the banter is adorable, the side characters offer comedic relief, and it's just a good romcom.

Perfect For Fans Of… 🌟

If you're into sports romances with a very confident and talented boyfriend, this one will be your cup of tea. Think Off Campus or Briar U by Elle Kennedy, or Maple Hills by Hannah Grace. If you're into those, you'll feel right at home with this one.

With its lighthearted humor and extra spice, it hits all the marks. I would also say the fake dating was done really well in this book, so if you're into that trope, this one should definitely be on your TBR.

Characters 👥

I hate to say it, but when reading romcoms, it's all about the MMC. And Brooks delivers. He's cute. He's talented. He's loyal. Devoted. Extremely jealous. His love language is unmatched. He is good with kids, very vocal about his feelings, confident in what he wants, and aware of his insecurities. It's very attractive in an MMC.

Siena isn't so bad either. She's a free spirit, although her background does give a bit of It Ends With Us, and her actions are a bit "pick me." I had to roll my eyes a bit every time she had an "I'm not like the other girls" trait. She wears overalls, rides a bike, and sneaks into football fields in secret. But I loved her passion for her family, her devotion to her friends, and her inability to stay away from Brooks.

I liked both of their support systems. Parker and Summer were top-notch friends to Brooks. And although I haven't read the first book in the series (this one practically reads as a standalone), I would pick up a book about Parker and Summer so fast you don't even know it.

Plot 🗺️

As always, the plot is the secondary concern in a romcom, but we also don't want straight romance either. I love watching a couple meeting and folding into each other's life, and that part shines, so I love love loved this book. It honestly felt like what fake dating with an NFL athlete while slowly turning into an influencer would look like.

I liked how it handled a serious theme like an injured athlete, especially within a contact sport.

However, I have a strong preference for contemporary romance to be a bit shorter — around 350 pages or so (this one’s just shy of 400), and occasionally the B plot with friends and family felt too verbose or unnecessary. I appreciate the depth it offered to the characters, but sometimes I could've done without it. Although that might just be because I basically didn't want to read a single page without Brooks in it. And that might just be that.

Writing Style and Narration ✍️

This book was like candy to read. It was written light, effortless, and just an easy read to absolutely devour.

I am an absolute sucker for dual POVs, especially the MMC’s chapters where he pines and yearns for the FMC, and this book did such a good job with that. Brooks’s inner monologue is chef's kiss, and I loved his chapters so much.

Then there's the witty banter and giggly romance. It fit the romcom vibes so well that I enjoyed every second of it.

Closing Thoughts 🧃

I cannot sing the praises of this book enough. It gave me my new favorite Golden Retriever boyfriend. I love a confident, happy, and funny lead so very much, and Brooks tops the list in that category this year.

I also really enjoyed Ellie K. Wilde's writing. This was my first book of hers, and I’d love to read more. I'm already making my way to the first book in the series, and I'm curious to see what the experience will feel like in backwards order!

Please note that publisher's email requests the review to be posted on or as close to the publish date as possible. I have not posted on Goodreads and blog post yet, but it will be posted on the day of the release on July 8th but the publisher can reach out to us and have us publish it sooner shouldl they prefer!

🤍🔐 Book Review: Only Between Us by Ellie K Wilde 🔐🤍

A quietly beautiful romance about trust, healing, and the fragile power of vulnerability. Ellie K Wilde crafts a slow-burning story where every secret shared draws two souls closer, making Only Between Us an intimate journey of love and self-discovery.

What it’s about:
Two wounded hearts find solace in each other, building a connection that thrives in the spaces of honesty and guarded secrets. As they navigate their pasts and fears, they learn that some things are meant to stay just between them.

Tropes You’ll Love:
💞 Slow burn romance
🔒 Secrets & trust
🌿 Emotional healing
🤫 Intimate connection

If you crave romance that’s tender, honest, and deeply emotional, this one will stay with you long after the last page.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#OnlyBetweenUs #EllieKWilde #SlowBurnRomance #EmotionalReads #IntimateRomance #Bookstagram #RomanceCommunity #BookReview

DNF. I am not the biggest fan of this authors writing. It just falls flat, I don’t feel immersed in the story, and it’s like the story is being told to me instead of feeling like I am in the story. I am very thankful to have been sent this book to read, but it is sadly not for me

This book was everything sweet and spicy I needed during my brewing reading slump. Siena and Brooks are both hurt by their past relationships. But when an actual bumping into each other creates prospect of a future that would benefit them both, Brooks tries to convince her to fake date. I loved how they took their sweet time to connect with each other and how they fell in love. Brooks gift giving as a love language had my heart and I just loved it.

The friendships around were so adorable.

I was soooooooo excited for this book after LOVING Only in Your Dreams and it did not disappoint! It was super cute, super fun, I loved every second of it. I really enjoyed seeing Siena & Brook's relationship grow and thrive. I also enjoyed hearing their backstories and seeing them individually grow from their past as well. I just loved every page of this, I could not put it down! Their banter, their chemistry, their connection, it just all made sense, they're soo meant to be!!! I LOVED IT

Also, the hinting towards the next couple, potentially the next book...... I NEED IT NOW 👀👀

Only Between Us: ★★★★☆ (4)

Pub date: July 8 - preorder now!

Thank you Atria Books & netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Only Between Us by Ellie K. Wilde Arc Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 ; 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Tropes: reformed playboy; fake dating; sports romance; black cat FMC; mine; he falls first; dog dad

PSA: Brooks Atwood and Sienna Pippen may be my favorite couple of the year. If you asked me what fictional world I’d want to be in, it’s theirs. Plain and simple.

Just went Sienna has sworn of dating athletes, she sneaks onto the college closed practice field and gets quite literally knocked over by the handsome Brooks. Although he falls with her…. It’s kismet.

Brooks needs to win over the LA Rebels’ management into believing he’s settled down if he ever wants to earn a spot back on their roster post injury. Maybe a fake girlfriend will prove to the world he isn’t taking girls in back alleys to hook up anymore?

It only helps if she really attractive too, right? Even if they both hate each other?

This book!!! Omg I read it in 2 days. I was obsessed. Brooks is HOLY HELL- the king of pining for his fake girlfriend despite being determined to not fall for another cleat chaser.
And Sienna is badass, jaded perfection. The banter and playful back and forth + the build up + the spice + the journey of personal growth amongst both of the MCs to overcome their previous heartache and abandonment issues….. it was so good. This was amazing.

I can’t recommend enough. Oakwood Bay has my heart. 🖤 💗

I have been anxiously waiting for this sequel and I am only more obsessed with Brooks. Brooks has his eyes set on his comeback to pro football with his hometown team. The only obstacles in his way are some risqué photos from a bender after his retirement from football and heart break. In comes, Sienna, who is also trying to bounce back from a devastating heartbreak. She seems to be the only solution to his problem and his shot at returning to the Rebels. I love the push and pull between these two as they learn more and more about each other. They both held their cards close to the chest, but eventually found respite in one another. This was fun with all the fake dating shenanigans. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the gifted eARC and physical ARC. All opinions are my own.

I was lucky enough to read the first book in this series and was so excited to get to read this one! I had absolutely loved Brooks in the first book so I knew I’d only love him more and I may now be borderline obsessed with him! He has raised the bar because I’m not sure if I’ll ever find a man who goes above and beyond simply because he’s not sure how I take my caffeine. Watching Brooks and Siena remind each other everyday how much they were wanted and loved was beautiful! Also the banter was *chef’s kiss*

While I recommend reading the first book because of character cameos you don’t need to!

This one was a total delight, flirty, heartfelt, and exactly the kind of low-drama romance I was in the mood for. Siena’s juggling running her dad’s business and moving on from the ex who asked for a trade to LA and basically built a life without her. She’s not pining, she’s done with long distance and determined to never let herself come second again. Brooks? He’s back in Oakwood Bay and ready to give his football career one last shot, with the goal of playing for his old team in LA.

They meet by accident, strike a deal to fake date for the cameras, and instantly fall into that slow-burn, charged dynamic that I eat up every time. Brooks is golden retriever energy to his core, sweet, flirty, supportive, and absolutely gone for Siena. The problem? Their fake relationship has an expiration date. Siena made it clear she won’t do long distance again, but Brooks? Oh, he’s not having it. From the moment they start, he’s on a mission to make her fall for him, and he’s not subtle about it.

Their chemistry is off the charts, the emotional beats hit just right, and the tension between what they want and what they think they can have? Delicious. And Siena’s late-book conversation with her mom? Had me in tears. Quiet, beautiful, and the emotional payoff this story deserved.

If you’re into:
✨ Fake dating with an expiration date that doesn’t stand a chance
✨ Retired athletes chasing second chances (on and off the field)
✨ Determined golden retriever heroes who won’t back down
✨ Small-town charm with big heart

Then Only Between Us is exactly the kind of cozy, swoony romance you’re looking for. 4 stars from me, emotional, sweet, and such a strong second entry in the Oakwood Bay series. Bring on book three.

Thank you Ellie and Atria for this ARC - it was a gem!

I would like to start off by thanking NetGalley, Atria publishing and Ellie K. Wilde for providing me with an ARC of Only Between Us. After finishing Only In Your Dreams I could not wait to read more by this author.

I absolutely adored this book!! I am a complete sucker for fake dating and Ellie delivered on this one. I was interested from the beginning and couldn’t wait to see how this relationship unfolded. This book had me kicking my feet laughing at times, and flushed at others. The spice was to die for and Brooks is a complete cinnamon roll of a book boyfriend. His touch her and die attitude is chefs kiss! Can we also talk about how much he loves his dog?I can not wait to read more from Wilde and hope she continues in this world I’ve grown to love!

Patiently awaiting for July 8th so I can pick up my book trophy!

A solid 4.5 ⭐️ and 4 🌶️.

⭐️I enjoyed the writing style and also found the dialogue to narrating balance perfect for my personal preference.
⭐️ I liked the timing of the first spicy scene (I think it’s around 30% if I remember correctly).
⭐️I was able to relate to Siena in many ways. Her struggle to ask for & accept help and being part of #deaddadclub. I really really loved how the memories of her dad, her thoughts about him, etc. were written. It had emotion and it was written in a way that made me feel “happy” (like, remember the good times). Sometimes in books with a parent who has passed, it’s so sad and it makes it hard for me to read. Reading about Siena’s dad made me remember mine in all of the good ways.
⭐️ The banter between characters ranged from funny, spicy, sweet, cheesy, and again, relatable. I loved Siena’s banter with her parents & family friends, it felt very realistic. I love Siena and Brooks’ banter with each other. It was occasionally cheesy but it was never too much cheese lol.
⭐️ I think the spicy scenes were well written. I enjoyed them and think the timing of them was great. (Also, Brooks sure has a way with words 👀🌶️)
⭐️ I like that Siena is a strong woman who CAN do things herself- but with Brooks, she doesn’t have to.
⭐️ I liked all of the characters and their traits. I think they were well written and developed.

All in all, I seriously enjoyed this story. If I had to find one complaint, I could say it’s slightly lengthy but honestly I’m unbothered by that. I would absolutely recommend this to any sports romance lover.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this!

I received an advanced copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own.

This book is absolutely in my top reads for the year! While I was reading, someone commented, "whatever you're reading must be good because you're smiling so much." I'm a stoic reader (I can read some seriously questionable fanfic with zero reaction, but this book had me laughing and smiling and tearing up.

I am by no means a football girlie, but after I read the first book in the Oakwood Bay series, I knew I had to read this one too. Brooks was such a sweetheart (agreeing to fake date the FMC in book 1) and I couldn't wait to read his story. Brooks is absolutely a golden retriever but the MOUTH on him. Oof.

Anyway. Siena needs money to keep her family business afloat, and Brooks needs a girlfriend to make his NFL comeback. It seems mutually beneficial, but they both have scars from their pasts that keep getting in the way when they start catching real feelings.

These characters feel so REAL. They make mistakes and feel their feelings and find their way together. Brooks and Siena's relationship is so, so CUTE and sweet and I adored every second of it!

I love this series and can't wait for the next installment. (I hope it's Parker and Summer!!)

I would recommend this for anyone who enjoys spicy (there are some well written spicy scenes) contemporary romance with a lot of banter and humor and feelings. If you're hesitant because of the football player on the cover, don't be! It's not very sporty.

Thanks to Atria books for the ARC!

Former NFL pro Brooks Atwood is ready to make the comeback of the year—that is, if he can convince his old team that he’s family-friendly and ready to settle down. Siena Pippen is just trying to keep her family’s struggling business is afloat. So, when a picture of their accidental meeting generates some serious buzz, the two stage a faux-mance for the decades, convinced it will get them both what they need. However, the one thing they actually need most? Each other.

I don’t think I’ve ever met a fake-dating romance I didn’t like. And this was no exception. Brooks is the charming, sculpted, larger-than-life hero you want in a good romance read, and Siena is sharp and quick-witted, easily holding her own on the page. Brooks’ desire for a comeback is explored thoughtfully and carefully—he wants it for reasons beyond the fame and fortune, which makes him both interesting as a character and more relatable. Siena’s unique upbringing highlights how sometimes our families are the ones we choose, and her history truly shapes the way she thinks and behaves in a way that makes her come off the page. Their relationship progresses at a pace that feels just right, constantly toeing the invisible line of “Is this real, or is it only part of show?” The dual point of view allows the reader to get a better understanding of each of the main characters, an author Ellie K. Wilde successfully establishes distinct voices for them, making it so that a Brooks chapter reads differently from a Siena chapter, which I appreciated. She also tackles the challenges distance can pose in a relationship, addressing Siena’s hesitance to go long-distance from a multitude of angles beyond just the simple “it’s too hard!” While this is definitely a book that might make you blush to read it public, it’s the perfect breezy beach read for a lazy summer day.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for granting me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.75

Fake dating reigns supreme as the best dating trope you can’t change my mind. If you love sports romance, fake dating, and the MMC engaging in some hardcore yearning, this one is for you. Overall it was a lot of fun and enjoyable to read. I liked that there wasn’t really any of the miscommunication troupe which can sometimes happen in fake dating, and the characters helped each other navigate through their own problems. I loved sienna as a character, I enjoyed how her history of being a foster child helped her to develop into an optimistic and confident person. It was a smidge long for a romance novel, but lots of fun!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review