I'm not normally one for football romances, but gave this one a chance and this book may have changed my mind on sports romances. This book was so good! The characters chemistry to the antics they get into across the story had me wanting more! Such a good read - definitely one you need to add to your summer TBR!

Only Between Us is about the relationship between Brooks who is trying to restart his career with the Rebels football team and Siena. Siena and Brooks meet at the college football stadium where she snuck in to and literally falls into Brooks lap. Brooks agent hatches a plan for them to pretend date to get Brooks notices by the Rebels.

I really enjoyed the first part of this books. The banter between Brooks and Siena was great. This kept me interested the first part of the book. The second half of the book fell short for me. Once they realized they had feelings for each other it seemed like the same old romance story and their characters lost that personality I felt they had in the beginning that kept them interesting to me. I started skimming the last 1/2 of the book because I couldn’t get into it anymore but wanted to finish it. I was glad though that they did have football scene’s in the book. I hate the books that state they are a sports romance but then there is nothing about the sport.

Thank you Atria and NetGalley for the ARC copy for an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley & Atria Books for the E-ARC! Loved more than book 1! The romance was so good & loved all the sports references. Also loved the steam! New fav author.

Fake dating where the lines blur between pretend and real will never get old — I’ll be kicking my feet and giggling every time because it just works. Brooks Attwood was hot, ambitious, and had a filthy mouth in the best way, but he also had these vulnerable, surprisingly tender moments that made me root for him. Watching him finally get where he wanted in life was so satisfying. Siena Pippen was sweet, kind, and the perfect example of someone trying to meet their parents' expectations while still figuring out what makes them happy. She deserves the world. Their chemistry was off the charts, and the slow-burn, push-and-pull dynamic had me equally frustrated and delighted. I’ll admit it took me a bit to get into it — I stalled on the first chapter for two weeks thanks to a distracted brain and an overflowing TBR — but once I got going, I couldn’t stop. I loved this book and I’m so glad I picked it up. Huge thanks to Ellie K. Wilde, Atria Books, and NetGalley for the ARC!

I loved this book so much! Brooks is my favorite Oakwood Bay character. His fake dating relationship with Siena made me laugh, and I loved their chemistry. Thank you NetGalley and Atria for the eARC!

I really enjoyed reading this book. I have read other books by this author so I knew this was going to be good
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I loved the first book in this series so I was so excited for the second. I will forever love the fake dating trope. It’s my fav and this one didn’t disappoint. I loved Brooks in the first book so loved getting his book! This was a slow burn romance with lots of comedy and I just loved it. Highly recommend.

If you’re into fake-dating, celebrity romance, he falls first, enemies to lovers, HE has a praise kink… then this book is a love letter to you. Siena, the FMC, is curvy, confident, and fiercely independent, but also deeply nurturing. Brooks, the MMC, is a dirty talking cinnamon roll with tattoos all up and down his arms and a serious bubble butt. Basically, they’re both practically perfect in every way 😅. And the vulnerability? The trust? The protectiveness?? I’m a goner for this book and these characters. Like, stick a fork in me, I’m done, I’ve found the perfect book boyfriend who doesn’t wield shadows and isn’t a High Lord (or his General or his Shadowsinger). 10/10 would recommend this book AND its predecessor, Only In Your Dreams.

With electric chemistry and intimacy that will make you swoon, this reminded me exactly why I’ve loved Wilde’s writing since the very beginning. These characters are SO GOOD together - opposites at first glance, yet so similar beneath the surface. I loved peeling back the layers and seeing what was beneath all that tension and banter. The vibes are playful and spicy with an edge of angst that dials up the tension. I loved how it put me through my paces emotionally, making me laugh one minute and swoon the next. Our hero is an absolute GEM, the kind of man who is all in once he realizes he’s found his girl. Though his past makes him resistant at first, he melts like a marshmallow somewhere along the way. I also loved the strong and sassy heroine, who gives as good as she gets. She’s a firecracker who keeps him on his toes, and that made for some seriously spicy moments. It’s another complete and total WIN from Wilde - I loved it!

The story follows Brooks, a football player who is hoping to come back from an early retirement. After an injury and rough breakup took him out of the game - both physically and mentally - for two years, Brooks is determined to get signed with a team. Unfortunately, some pictures surface from when he was spiraling that make a comeback unlikely… at least until a photo with a beautiful stranger goes viral. Turns out, the sexy woman Brooks had immediate sparks with is another player’s internet famous ex, and the world is convinced they’re together. Deciding to lean into the viral moment to the benefit of them both, Brooks and Siena agree to fake a relationship until he’s signed with a team. The only problem? Siena has no interest in dating another athlete, and Brooks has made some unflattering assumptions about her intentions.

Wilde instantly became a new favorite of mine when I read her debut a few years ago, because she is so talented at writing banter and sexual tension. Her books are light and fun in the best of ways, but they don’t shy away from digging deeper either. The combination makes for bingeable and wildly entertaining reads that leave an impact, and this series is no different. This will easily read as a standalone, but also has me excited for some of the side characters’ stories. I loved the quirky meet cute and the way sparks flew immediately, which was followed by some enemies-ish tension as Brooks and Siena entered a fake relationship under duress. They get to know each other under unusual circumstances, and watching Brooks fall hard and fast for his girl was immensely satisfying. Siena has black cat vibes because of her past, and I loved that she made Brooks work for it. They were fire together, with some spice that was SPICING, but they also connected on a deeper level that warmed my heart. I loved every minute of it!

4.5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I have to say, this was the hottest “fake dating” book I've ever read. Trying to make a comeback, pro football player Brooks, is only trying to get back in shape, and rehab his reputation when he literally runs into (and tackles) former WAG Siena. What ensues is a plan to reintroduce Brooks as a serious, former playboy in a committed relationship kind of guy, while Siena can cash in on some influencer money to get herself and her mother out of debt.

It's all going to be superficial, no feelings involved, until, spending time together shows them how perfect they can be.

This was a great read, with all the best tropes, a kooky group of secondary characters, and an MMC who is a dream come true. This was the second book in a series, and although I did read the first book, I could have followed the story regardless.

When I received the widget to read Only Between Us, I honestly barely read the synopsis before clicking the link and downloading the novel. Fake dating, football, and non-YA protagonists? Say no more— I’ll give it a shot.

Having just finished the first novel in the series (whose long-suffering in silence romance charmed me for sure), I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Brooks and Siena’s arcs were even more compelling than Zac and Melody’s AND that the supporting characters were properly fleshed out and given their own due (apart from his family and Shy).

The banter between Brooks and Siena was good, but their heart-to-heart conversations were what really elevated the novel a notch above its predecessor. The quandaries posed by the two’s desire to be together, while simultaneously pursuing their own respective lives had me second-guessing everything like Siena. So too was I thrown by the wrench in the plans she had concocted.

Once again, the smut was heavy handed, though the dialogue didn’t come across as cheesy as it did in Only in Your Dreams.

Are Parker and Summer next? One can only hope.

Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the ARC!

This book was overall fine. Nothing really special or new to the romance world. I gave this book two stars because the switch was enemies to lovers was extremely quick. And Brooks’ alpha-male vibes gave me the ick and serious red flags. While there was some really sweet moments in the book, it at times felt like Sienna was just trauma dumping for pages on end. I’m sure this book will find the audience it deserves…it just isn’t me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read an early copy of Only Between Us.

I absolutely loved this story! I love the characters and the plot and everything else! I couldn't find anything that I disliked about this book. Siena and Brooks have a "stars aligned" kind of love. It seems fate wanted them together and pulled a few strings. they both worked through their trauma together and communicated through their feelings. the relationship felt very realistic even with the fake dating trope. I devoured this in TWO days and I can't wait to read more from this series.

After enjoying Only in Your Dreams, I was excited to get an ARC for the sequel Only Between Us, and Ellie K. Wilde did not disappoint. Fake dating at its finest, Brooks and Siena’s love story is sure to delight anyone who likes sports romance and banter.

Brooks is trying to get back into the NFL after a two year retirement following a bad concussion, but his former team isn’t interested due to the 6 month bender he went on after learning his girlfriend cheated on him with his teammate. When he literally runs into Siena at the college he coaches for, she accidentally posts a photo of the two of them together instead of an innocuous photo of the field sparking dating rumors. Siena has been there and done that when it comes to dating pro athletes, and she’s not looking to get into another long distance relationship, but she agrees to fake date Brooks to rehab his image and help him get signed while making a bit of extra cash as an influencer while she’s at it. Naturally, the lines between what’s for show and what’s real start to blur, and the feelings Brooks and Siena fake for the cameras start to become true.

The chemistry between Brooks and Siena is great, and their banter is top notch. I did get somewhat frustrated with Siena for some lack of communication with her family, but, as is so lovely about the romance genre, it all works out.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC!

AHHHHHHH! This book was so so so so so good. I'm literally so obsessed with Ellie's book, and I mean I couldn't put it down! I LOVED this. Brooks and Siena were the perfect couple! I fell in love with Brooks in book one, so getting to read his story now, was EVERYTHING. I am so in love with this book and I need like...ten thousand more.

I really enjoyed the first book in the Oakwood Bay series, so I was eager to read Wilde's newest addition as soon as it was out! I flew through it. Brooks, who played the best friend in Oakwood Bay 1 made a great leading interest, and the story between him and Siena was easy to root for. If you are looking for a nice, lighthearted romance with a happy ending, this is a great series!

I loved this book! When I got the invite to read the second book of the Oakwood Bay series I was so excited since Only in Your Dreams was so good..

Brooks and Siena were the perfect match. After meeting Brooks in the first book I couldn’t wait for his story. The fake dating trope was done so well. Brooks was all in with Siena.
Siena was a great FMC. She was independent and had great confidence and could hold her own.
Siena was so supportive of Brooks and gave him the confidence that he never had before. And Brooks was dependable and loyal to Siena and showed her that he would always be there for her. I really enjoyed their growth.
There is a brief third act break up because Siena is being a bit selfish but it didn’t drag out and it gave Siena the opportunity to have a real conversation with her mom.

I am excited for the next book!

Rating ⭐️: 5/5
Spice 🌶️: 2.5/5

🩷 Fake dating
🏈 Sports romance
🩷 Strangers to enemies to lovers
🏈 He falls first and hard
🩷 Cinnamon roll MMC

Thank you so much to the author, Atria Books and NetGalley for the arc!

This was one of my favorite books of the year. The fake dating trope gets me every time and this was no exception. Sometimes I get the ick from the whole retired player MMC but I loooved Brooks.

Received as an ARC through NetGalley. 5’s for vibes! Liked this one better than the first book in the series. We love a fake dating trope. Spice was good and will be recommending to friends.

This was a really cute read! I loved the banter and both the main characters. I also zoomed through it because I couldn’t put it down!