Thank you to NetGalley & Elie K Wilde for this ARC!
Immediately rated this a 5 star.
I'm not sure I could have loved this book more if I tried!
Siena and Brooks were one of the best sports romance couples I have across in a while! Seriously, I try my best to read anything and everything sports romance (it is my absolute favorite genre), and this couple will go down as one of the best in my book.
The witty banter was spot on. The complexity of figuring out not only how to fall in love but love themselves, made this so much more than just your typical easy romance read. Both Siena and Brooks are complex and have traumas that made them people who didn't know how to love themselves. Watching them fall in love with one another and thereby learning to like themselves again, was magic. I enjoyed this plot, I rooted for the characters, and I felt ALL the emotions! If you love sports romance that has the spice but also all the plot and complex characters, this is the book for you! Do yourself a favor and read this book ASAP on release day!

THANK YOU NETGALLEY FOR THE ARC EEEEEEEEEEK

Guys, I've been waiting for this book to come since Oct. 2023. To get an ARC of it was an absolute honor.

I want to start out by saying that even though my rating is a 2.5 (taking into consideration a lot of different factors from this book,) my enjoyment was ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5.

I love Ellie K. Wilde's storytelling. You're right there with the characters in any scene they're in. And she just knooooooows how to write obsessed men. It was a fun time, easy to read romance. VERY SPICY.

I'm assumiiiiiing the third book is going to be about Parker and Summer AND I CAN'T WAAAAAAIT.

I cannot stress how perfectly this book was wrapped up. I read the first in the series and I didn’t think anything could top it until I read this. I love them so much.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“I hate how much I don’t hate kissing him.”

Siena agrees to fake date a former NFL player who’s trying to get back into the league in order to gain enough social media promo work to pay her bills.

Brooks is giving every ounce into training for the NFL in hopes to make a comeback.

What starts out as an arrangement turns into a spicy 🌶️ hot romance with a cinnamon roll MMC and a badass FMC with a soft side for her family.

⛵️ Chartering ships
⚓️ Found family
🦈 Swimming with sharks
🐕 Man’s best friend
🏈 Hopes and dreams
✈️ Long distance

Thanks to @netgalley and @atriabooks for the ARC of this book. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I had been looking forward to reading this as soon as Brooks was introduced in Only In Your Dreams and this book was exactly what I was hoping it would be like. This is perfect for fans of fake dating and sports romances.

💖ARC Review💖
📖: Only Between Us @elliekwildeauthor
Release date: 07.08.25

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

I found Ellie K Wilde and her Sunset Landing series earlier this month and immediately dived into book 1 of the Oakwood Bay series and fell in love with the characters and setting. When I saw book 2 was available for ARC, I jumped at the chance and was lucky to get a copy!

I devoured this book.💕

We met Brooks (MMC) in book 1 of the series and I was so excited to learn more of his story! Siena (our FMC) is a new character and my goodness how much I love them both! 🥰

Brooks has recovered from what he thought was a career ending professional football injury. Siena is an independent business owner in the town over.

Brooks and Siena have an adorable meet/cute that goes south. But due to circumstances, they have to fake date to help Brooks gain a spot back on his team and Siena can help her family business.

I just loved everything about this story! Siena has a backstory that really tugs at your heart and is written so well. Siena’s history makes her less trusting and unsure. Brooks falls first and hard and eventually Brooks and Siena get the HEA they deserve! 🩷

Characters from the first book show up here and I’m curious to see what’s next for this crew! 👀

✨pro football romance
✨meet cute gone wrong
✨fake dating
✨he falls first

Thank you @atriabooks for providing this book via @netgalley. 😊

Just like the first book, it was the perfect palate cleanser. Also like the first one, loved the yearning but sometimes felt a bit too much: Also a love/hate that I can totally tell it’s a woman writing a man’s thoughts since a lot of the chapters from Brook’s perspective felt that way. But on that same side, I looooove women writing for the female gaze so sign me up every-time.
I also had trouble putting it down today and just wanted to sink into it- which is a good sign that I’m into it! Each time Ellie writes a book, I’ll keep reading them!
4/5⭐️
4/5 🌶️ the spice was hot- I’m a fan

I loved this book!! There were kind of a lot of S names (summer, shy, siena), however, it got easier to keep up as I went along! I loveeee Brooks, he was awesome, I wish we had more of Pete. However, this was a great beach day, spicy read! I loved it! It was definitely a fun read, highly recommend!

A classic fake dating sports romance done so right! We have all the ingredients that make up a delicious meal: sexy banter and chemistry, emotional moments that tug on your heartstrings, a tiny dash of angst, tooth rotting sweet moments and and a healthy amount of sex to top it all off!

Sexy sports romances always scratch that itch for me and so when I saw the little snippet Ellie K Wilde posted, I just knew I needed to get my hands on this and boy did this deliver. We have our FMC, Siena Pippen, who is a a fun and fun refreshing character. There were times where she genuinely made me laugh out loud, but then also made me tear up because of her internal struggles regarding her parents. We also have our MMC, Brooks Attwood, who was such a charming but so down bad and sweet character. He treated Siena so well. I'm actually so jealous. I need him.

Ellie K Wilde's writing was so so entertaining and fun, I adored it. Sometimes sports romances can start to feel like they all blend in together, but this totally stood out amongst some others and I cannot see what she does next! (Please be a Summer x Parker book!!!) I will say that although this book is marketed as hate to love, it's definitely more just a misunderstanding that they need to clear up. Overall, I'd definitely recommend this book so do yourself a favour and preorder this beauty. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the gifted copy of this book for review.

As far as fake dating, sports romances go, this was okay! Generally speaking, I liked the main characters. I felt like the pair were good natured and easy to empathize with. For me, the reasons behind the fake dating have to be really solid (ie. it’s coercion with one half holding something over the other half, or the pair both have something the other needs and it’s more of a mutual decision…). I understood Siena’s reasons to say yes to the scheme (she needed money), but I had a hard time believing that Sienna had such an amazing, wholesome social media reputation that the Rebel football team would see her as an such a valuable asset to their social media presence, that dating her would legitimately help Brooks’ chances of making the team. Maybe I am too nitpicky about that, but I just want the stakes/risks/reasons to clearly make sense, ya know?

My main complaint was the abundance of sexual scenes. Again, probably a me thing, but holy moly. I haven’t read this author before so I did not know to expecting repetitive, big time spice. I felt like there was enough tension there between the couple without needing to add so many physical scenes.

Overall, not a bad book. At the core of it, it just lacked a little bit of clarity in some of the plot.

I am so happy to return to Oakwood Bay! If you love fake dating, sports romance, and off the charts chemistry, Only Between Us delivers all of that and more and I think it was so much better than the first book. This sequel to Only in Your Dreams is packed with tension, banter, and just the right amount of drama to keep you hooked.

Brooks Attwood is trying to make a football comeback after a brutal injury, but his plans take a hit when some very unfortunate photos surface. Enter Siena Pippen, who is the ex girlfriend of the NFL’s golden boy and someone who really doesn’t want to be dragged back into that world. When a viral selfie makes it look like they’re dating, Brooks and Siena realize they can use the attention to their advantage. Their solution? A good old fashioned fake relationship. Easy, right? (Spoiler: not at all.)

I loved the push and pull dynamic between Brooks and Siena. Their chemistry is undeniable, but what really sold me was how much they challenged each other. Brooks is determined to win back his spot in the league, while Siena is fiercely independent and guarded after her past relationship. Watching them go from reluctant allies to something very real was so satisfying. Plus, the slow burn? Absolutely perfect.

Beyond the romance, there’s a lot to love about this book—family struggles, career pressures, and the realities of being in the public eye all add depth to the story. But at its heart, it’s an emotional, steamy, and wildly entertaining ride that will have you rooting for Brooks and Siena every step of the way.

If you’re a fan of sports romance with lots of tension and banter, Only Between Us perfect. Ellie K. Wilde nails the fake dating trope in a way that feels fresh, fun, and full of heart.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ellie K. Wilde, and Atria Books for the eARC of this book.

I devoured this book. Like, stayed up way too late to ruin the next day devoured this book. Only Between Us is fake dating done right! It’s got tension, swoon-worthy moments, and just enough emotional damage to keep me hooked.

Siena? I felt for this girl. She was abandoned by her birth parents at 12, welcomed into this amazing, loving family, and still carries this deep-rooted fear of being a burden. Even though she knows her family loves her, there’s that nagging voice telling her she has to earn her place. So, she’s fiercely independent, refuses to rely on anyone, and doesn’t trust easily - especially after the way she was treated in her last relationship with the face of the league.

Then there’s Brooks. He’s a former pro football player trying to get his career back after a brutal injury, and a fake relationship with Siena is supposed to help clean up his image. Brooks got burned in his last relationship, as his ex used him for his NFL player status until his injury. He is very leery of letting people in and trusting them, so both are very cautious to start. The chemistry though? Insane. The way he slowly earns her trust and she lets herself want him? Ugh. So good.

The will they - won't they back and forth was so fun and the payoff was so good. The conflict and resolution was well done and the ending was so satisfying. I loved it.

Thank you Atria books for the advanced review copy.

This is the 2nd book in this series and it doesn’t disappoint. It’s a fake dating trope for a football player and a team fan who literally run into each other at their first meeting. Sparks fly. It’s fun, steamy and all those things you want in a well told story.

4.5 Stars! This book was fantastic! I think I may have actually enjoyed it more then the previous one, and I really liked that one too. I loved seeing more of Brooks. He was such a sweetheart. He may seem tough on the outside but he is actually vulnerable and emotional. I liked how good he was with his feelings, from being skeptical, to telling his fears, and falling in love. Siena was a spitfire. She has been through so much in life. I love how independent and tough she is but how she can also still be soft. There are reasons to why she does the things she does. I felt like her backstory was done very well through out the entire book. I do feel like this book could have been a little shorter, which I said with the previous book too, but I still devoured this book. It was fun, cute, emotional, and spicy! I really hope we get to see Summer and Parker get together in the next book of the series.

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

"Only Between Us" by Ellie K. Wilde was such a fun, feel-good read! If you're a fan of football romance and fake dating tropes, this one wholeheartedly delivers.

The relationship between the characters felt incredibly natural, with great chemistry and just the right amount of slowburn tension. Siena was sharp, witty and easy to root for, and Brooks had total golden retriever energy. He was honestly just so lovable.

While there were a few pacing moments that kept it from being a full five stars for me, I still really enjoyed the story and the heart behind it. It’s the kind of romance that makes you smile without trying too hard. Thank you to Ellie K. Wilde, Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

Welp I didn’t see that one coming. I devoured this masterpiece in 24 hours. Couldn’t get enough. Zero crumbs. This book made my heart feel all warm and gooey. It was so dang sweet & already can’t wait to reread. But don’t be bamboozled by the adorable cover… the spice in this is downright FILTHY.

Definitely add this one to your tbr! You will not regret it.

Thank you Ellie Wilde and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this advanced copy! I am truly grateful.

5 ⭐️ | 2.5 🌶️
🏈 former NFL working on a comeback
⚓️ fake dating
🏈 hate to love
⚓️ he falls first & harder
🏈 meet cute gone terribly wrong
⚓️ hate kissing
🏈 SPICE

Oh I absolutely loved this book. Brooks and Siena were so damn cute. Brooks is the ultimate book boyfriend. I laughed, I cried, honestly such a cute read

**Spice**: 5/5 🌶️
**Story**: 4/6 ⭐️

Ellie K. Wilde’s *Only Between Us* delivers an engaging sports romance with a dash of spice. The plot revolves around Brooks Attwood, a football star trying to regain his career after a knee injury sidelined him two years ago. His attempts to rejoin his old team are complicated by a series of questionable decisions, including his involvement with multiple women, which raises concerns about his character. Enter the “fake dating to love” trope, which forms the basis for much of the story's tension.

Siena Pippen, the female lead, is a breath of fresh air. She’s the owner of a tackle shop she inherited from her adopted father, and she’s built herself up from tough circumstances. She’s no pushover and isn’t fooled by Brooks’ charm, making her an incredibly strong and relatable heroine.

The pacing of the physical and emotional burn between the two characters is well-executed, with enough tension to keep readers engaged. The chemistry between them builds steadily, and the emotional depth adds another layer to the story.

This one’s definitely more suited for 18+ readers due to its explicit content, but for fans of sports romances with strong, independent heroines and a touch of angst, *Only Between Us* is a fun read.

**Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

💥🏈 BOOK REVIEW 🏈💥
Only Between Us by Ellie K. Wilde
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Fake it ‘til you fall HARD.

Brooks Attwood was supposed to be laying low. Rehab his career. Train in peace. Stay out of trouble.
But one viral selfie with the wrong girl—aka the ex of the NFL’s golden boy—and suddenly the world thinks he’s found love off the field.

Siena Pippen wants nothing to do with football, fame, or another man with a hero complex. But with her family business on the verge of collapse, and Brooks’s redemption tour hanging by a thread, a fake relationship is the perfect solution... right?

Except the sparks? 🔥 Yeah, they’re real. The way he looks at her? Also real. The slow-burn tension and mutual pining? Realer than real.
And when “just pretending” starts to feel like everything they’ve both been searching for? Game. Over.

✨ What to expect:
🏈 Fake dating (with lots of not-so-fake feelings)
🧨 Enemies to lovers with sizzling chemistry
👀 Forced proximity + public swooning
💔 Healing, redemption, and found family vibes
🥵 Steam so hot it could melt the turf
🖤 A grumpy/sunshine dynamic that flips in all the best ways

If you loved The Cheat Sheet, The Right Move, or Only in Your Dreams (Brooks’s cameo!), you NEED this one.

This isn’t just a love story—it’s a touchdown dance of heart, heat, and second chances.

#OnlyBetweenUs #EllieKWilde #FakeDatingRomance #SportsRomance #GrumpySunshine #TouchdownLove #EnemiesToLovers #BookstagramRecs #RomanceReaders #NFLLoveStory #AtriaBooks #RomanticHeat #SpicyReads #SlowBurnRomance

Ellie Wilde continues her Oakwood Bay series with Only Between Us. A fake dating trope romance novel for Sienna & Brooks. Brooks is returning to the NFL & needs Sienna to help clean up his image so they begin fake dating. Ups & downs throughout this story with plenty of characters in their friends group, including Zac & Melody, from Only In Your Dreams, the first Oakwood Bay book in the series.
The storyline can be a little difficult to follow in Sienna & Brooks' relationship, but if you're looking for some spice, you'll find plenty of it in this story.
Thank you, #NetGalley & #AtriaBooks. I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book, with all thoughts and opinions being my own. If you're looking for spunky characters, a little drama, plenty of passion, & a bit of swoon, then check out Only Between Us by Ellie Wilde.