This was a cute story with little angst other than self-sabotage. Loved the flirty parts. A little too much explaining of basketball in the narration in my opinion; I feel that it took away from the flow of the writing and dialogue.

Tip In by Josie Mae is a cozy saphic lesbian romance following Maya, a college student who couldn't care less about sports, and Theo an aspiring professional basketball star. When Maya and Theo bump in to each other at a party it is love at first sight. Despite their differences and challenges they find that fighting for their relationship is worth it. I could not put this book down, it was just so easy to get pulled in to Maya and Theo's world and feel all the warm fuzzies they were feeling too.

4,25 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, 3 🌶️🌶️🌶️
In the honour of pride month this was such a perfect book to read. This felt a little insta lovey at first, but turned out not to be and I was so glad. I liked Maya and Theo a lot as characters and the fact that we got a lot of plot around Theos basketball career was super fun and different since usually romance books barely touch on the sport that the other protagonist is playing. Also the third act conflict wasn't stupid or non-believable at all like sometimes it might fall under that category. Overall I really enjoyed this book, the romance was well-paced and I liked all characters in this book. I wonder if we are getting Iris's love story next?

Thank you to NetGalley, VictoryEditing and the author for the ARC of this book!

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
actually 4.25 ⭐️
I really enjoyed this so much. It was refreshing to read a sport romance with spice and wlw, it is something I was craving and I was highly satisfied with this.
The characters were compelling. I really enjoyed reading the commitment-phobe Maya badly fighting her feelings for cutie Theo.
What really got me with this story was how real and relatable was the development of their relationship, which was a delicious slowburn with lots of tension. Also, I simply love that there's no trope that could be put in or labeled because Maya and Theo are just their own thing.
The reason is not 5 ⭐️ is just that I would have love to read, what i considered, some key scenes that they were skipped over and just mentioned.
I almost forgot to mention that the spice scenes were good and varied, so that was cool too.

DNF at 5%. I was so grateful to the publisher for providing me with an ARC, but between the first person perspective, the way the internal monologue just keeps going into explaining things for the reader, and the unbelievable 180 turn Theo does between standing firm on not being interested in people to being possessive over Maya's attention really turned me off from this.

I wish the author good luck on the release, this one just isn't for me.

This felt like a Caitlin Clark fanfic, and I didn’t hate it at all. That aside, I loved this book so much. It was full of sapphic yearning and real emotions, and it was beautiful. I loved seeing a book focusing on women’s sports and feel like this release is timed super well with the rise in viewership women’s basketball is getting. Overall a super enjoyable read, and I would definitely recommend it!

Only a few minor typos in the e-book but I assume that's just a step in getting to the final copy. Other than that, lovely book!

Review will be posted on Instagram (@bookswith.sk) closer to pub date, and linked here once posted.

Sweet, swoony, and full of heart

I had the privilege of reading Tip In as a NetGalley ARC, and I’m so glad I did!

This book was just… cute. In the best way! From the very beginning, the story pulled me in with its soft tension, relatable characters, and the kind of romance that builds with just the right mix of awkwardness and longing.

Josie Mae captures what it feels like to step into something new—something exciting, a little terrifying, and full of potential. I loved watching the relationship grow naturally, filled with support, encouragement, and moments that made me smile (and sometimes blush 🥵🪭).

What really stood out was the balance between the emotional intimacy and the larger stakes. The book didn’t just focus on the romance—it gave space to meaningful friendships, complicated but loving family dynamics, and a slow build toward a big game that added tension and momentum without overshadowing the heart of the story.

This was a comforting read that still brought the heat and kept me turning pages. If you enjoy slow-build romance, soft-but-steamy vibes, and inclusive stories with heart, Tip In is a total win. Bonus points for being a perfect Pride Month pick—thoughtful, warm, and full of love in many forms.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC!

This was so cute and sweet 😭 I was SWEATING during the third act breakup because it was realistic and relatable, but I absolutely love their HAE 🙌🏻

Theo McCall really is that bitch - she's the MVP basketball player at her university. Maya Healy is the best friend of a nursing student who loves sports and who is strongly considering grad school, which is a big deal because she doesn't do commitment. But when these two meet at a house party - will it be a slam dunk? 🏀

Love. Love, love, LOVE. Such an adorable sapphic basketball romance. It's a perfect way to kick off Pride Month.

Theo is the all-star college women's basketball player, who doesn't have time or the need for an in-depth relationship. Maya is a commitment-phobe who runs at the first hint of feelings. Watching them navigate feelings, a budding relationship, a busy course load, and a hectic basketball season was such a treat. I couldn't put this book down.

Definitely recommend this book for anyone who enjoys sapphic sports romances.

Thank you Josie Mae and Netgalley for the ARC.

Thank you to Josie Mae for the eARC!

One thing about me is I love a good sapphic sports book. This book was no exception.

I loved Maya and Theo trying to overcome their fears of committing to a relationship and watching them fall in love.

This book was extremely well written and had me hooked from the beginning! (I read this book in a day.)

I would absolutely read more from Josie Mae in the future because this book was an absolute sweet and spicy blast.

The characters are so full of depth and heart that Josie Mae made it impossible not to fall in love with each of them as individuals and as a pairing. I was BEGGING them both to stop being daft and fall in love from pretty much their first meeting. I was HOOKED.

I love a book that makes you feel so fully immersed in the world and that is exactly what Tip In did for me. I LOVE a good sapphic sports romance and boy did this deliver!

I will not stop thinking about Maya and Theo for a long time, I just know it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC of Tip In! This was a quick, easy, and enjoyable read. As a basketball fan, I appreciated the accurate basketball knowledge throughout the story, it added an extra layer of authenticity. It’s also the first book I’ve read where I didn't hate the miscommunication trope. I loved all the characters and found myself sad when I was nearing the end of the book. I’ll definitely be picking up more from Josie Mae in the future.

My review will be posted on Goodreads and Instagram. The review for Goodreads is already posted and the Instagram review will be posted tomorrow June 9, 2025.

I absolutely loved this book and could not put it down! I was able to relate to both Maya and Theo. I loved the friendships between Maya and Iris and Theo and GJ. I am looking forward to rereading this book when it is released. I definitely found a new favorite author and cannot wait to read future books by Josie Mae!

This was a great sapphic romance. I’m very excited to see what this author does next. The perfect read for pride month and I can’t wait for more books in this series.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC of Tip In.

This book just didn’t work for me. I found the narrative style of first-person POV tiring at times and that isn’t always the case because I’ve read quite a few books with first-person narration that were totally engaging. This doesn’t happen in this book though because there’s far too much focus on telling rather than showing.

The scenes that would show us what’s going on with the characters are few and far between and, oftentimes, the dialogue contained in these scenes is interrupted by paragraph after paragraph of internal dialogue that isn’t all that interesting or necessary to move the scene along.
Honestly, I didn’t realize Maya and Theo were fake-dating until it was mentioned again toward the end of the book. And I wouldn’t consider what goes on during their time together as fake at all.

The third-act break-up or really Maya’s freak-out about the future was odd. She was willing to throw everything away that she had with Theo because she was scared that things might not work out. During these scenes, Maya continually referred to her relationship with Theo as a “crush,” which it wasn’t. Sure, she was crushing on Theo to begin with, but they’ve been together for months, so it seems weird to keep referring to their relationship and feelings for one another as a “crush.”

Overall, I can’t recommend this because the writing was basic, less-than-engaging, and needed a bit more revision to make the story really flow and get readers engaged.

I really enjoyed this.

I love although set in a college setting how mature the two fmcs were.

Sparks fly the first time Theo and Maya meet.

Theo is such a strong fmc, she is really talented at basketball, organised and has everything figured out. Her POV is so calm and calculated and she's so understanding of Maya.

Maya is booksmart and is trying to figure out what to do after college. She is terrified of commitment from her mothers example. But I also really loved how she was honest with her mom and could call her for advice.

The story was a nice slow pace but it worked and I enjoyed how the relationship wasn't rushed.

There are so many strong female characters in this story. Iris and GJ being the best friends ever!

I am in love. I need more of them because one book isn’t enough!! I love these kind of books and the author wrote it so well !!

The overall premise of this book is that a picture of Maya and Theo starts a rumor that they’re dating, so they agree to fake date and keep up the facade. The problem is, that theme is very weak throughout the book. The romance is very sweet. The miscommunication trope is not annoying. The consent/bedroom communication is perfect. The basketball knowledge is evident. Overall, a very cute romance! The only odd part was how the back of the book implied the picture was more important, and the fake dating would be a bigger factor than it actually was.

CAWPILE score: 64
4.5 stars
Spice: 4 peppers (two “open door” scenes)

Tip In made me feel giddy the whole time.
Maya and Theo are so cute and sweet. It was honestly endearing to see their relationship evolve. They are couple goals.

I loved Theo’s dedication to her career, her drive, as well as her patience and calm demeanor.Maya is wilder. She embodies the struggle one faces when they have a crush, and they try to convince themselves that it is nothing. I enjoyed the way the author tackles Maya’s fears and shows how her mother’s past relationships affected her perception of love and commitment.

Tip In is a sweet, low angst, kind of slow burn sports romance that comes out on July 1

🏀 Tip In by Josie Mae ( @josiemaebooks ) 👭

-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Release Date: 01 July 2025

I am Josie Mae's biggest fan, and if Josie Mae has no fans, it's because I'm dead.

Did someone say new favourite romance???

Thank you SO much to Josie Mae and Tales and Teacups @talesandteacupspr and NetGalley @netgalley for this eArc.

Tip In is a basketball sports romance between Theo Mcall, a soon-to-be basketball pro, and academic WEAPON, Maya. When Theo and Maya meet at a college party, they instantly hit it off, leading Maya to watch Theo's next game.

But when photos of Maya and Theo circulate social media, everyone is obsessed with them. Maya and Theo decide that fake dating could increase publicity for Theo before being drafted. But what if it's not fake? What of they're both secretly hoping the other likes them back?

URGH, THIS WAS SO PERFECT!! AND IM IN LOVE WITH THEO, GIVE ME ALLLLL THE DESCRIPTIONS OF HER ARMS AND ABS 😍😍

Tropes:
🩷 Fake Dating
👭 College
✨️ Sports Romance
💜 Sapphic

Spice Level: 🌶🌶

(And trust me, Theo is a GIVER. The spice is goooddd)