An amazing read. I took this one to read on vacation and it was perfect. I loved the dialog, the characters and the plot development. A fantastic author that I'll happily read again and again!

SEP is the queen of sports romance for a reason! A touchdown with this one. The characters felt more serious and the novel covered serious topics. TRIGGER WARNING: rape
I loved the humor and wit of the female lead and her character development through the novel was great to read and be a part of.
Spoiler alert- third act break up but as always HEA

I think this book is one of the biggest surprises. I have only dabbled with Phillips work so I am not so in the know. While this plot was a little confusing at first I powered through for one of my favorite types of heroines. The depth here is something I am always searching for in romance books, love getting the why and not just the action.

SEP is my girl. She has lots of angst and a flair for the dramatics. And a dog epilogue, which I honestly could’ve done without, but for SEP I’ll read it and hold back my cringe.

Dancy (weird name) is a divorced actress who has been through a very tough year and is depressed and drinking and after a VERY embarrassing and hard to read and very public fail, she ends up at her high school ex boyfriend’s house.

Clint can’t stand Dancy. Really, they can’t stand each other and I was cracking up at how they still couldn’t stand each other 25% into the book. But Clint starts to see Dancy isn’t the jerk he thought she was, and Dancy very very veeeerrryyy slowly realizes maybe love is worth putting herself out there again after all the hurt.

I enjoyed watching Dancy get her life back in order and the classic SEP flair of dramatics.

I received an ARC from the publisher. Review is my own.

Wow...so happy to see another book in the Chicago Stars Series!

High School sweethearts, Clint and Dancy had a falling out during high school...of course what high school sweethearts don't? They went their separate ways, with Clint becoming a football star and Dancy becoming a Hollywood actress. When things begin to fall apart for both of them, they reunite but not amicably!

SEP just knows how to put together people who need each other in a particular time. While this is an enemy to lovers/second chance at romance story, there is so much more. Family and friends history, learning how to accept themselves and others, and learning how to let go and move forward.

Another great read!

Susan Elizabeth Phillips is one of my favorite romance writers. So I was thrilled to receive this ARC, the 11th in her Chicago Stars series (my sincere thanks to NetGalley and the publisher). Phillips knows how to take a “down-and-outer” and make their story into one of resilience, hope and feel good moments. And she does just that with Dancy Flynn, who’s reached rock bottom in her career and her life. Creating a scene at the posh Peacock Gala in Chicago she flees to her high school sweetheart, Clint Garrett, star quarterback for the Chicago Stars. From there ensues a sweet second chance romance that has its twists and turns but retains so much charm. I loved it.

Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ long-running Chicago Stars series continues with #AndtheCrowdWentWild, which focuses on Stars’ quarterback, Clint Garrett, and actress Dancy Flynn. Clint was wrongly accused of murdering his former girlfriend in the series’ previous entry #SimplytheBest. This latest book is a second-chance romance between Clint and Dancy who dated during high school.
Both of these high profile individuals are in their mid-thirties and at a crossroads. Dancy is divorced from her actor husband, Roth Hardy, famous for his role in a series of films similar to Mission Impossible. She also has suffered a devastating miscarriage and is trying to resurrect her career, after spending most of her marriage supporting her husband.

Clint is staying at his lakeside retreat in Wisconsin for the summer and finding it difficult to find the focus he needs for training camp, which starts in a couple of weeks. The two have not seen each other since high school when Dancy shows up uninvited in Wisconsin, following a disastrous appearance at a famous gala that was supposed to kickstart her career. She’s looking for a place where she can fly under the radar for a while and lick her wounds while she figures out what to do next.

Even though she broke Clint’s heart in high school, she figures he’s such a good guy that he’ll let her stay temporarily. She’s not interested in starting anything with him; and he feels the same—certain that Dancy is only out for herself. Clint has an old caboose on his property that he is gradually renovating and he agrees to let Dancy stay there.

Dancy rescues a homeless, wounded dog she finds by the side of the road and eventually Dancy and Clint reconnect and start to rediscover their friendship, and then their mutual attraction. Before they can find their personal happiness, each of them has to figure out what they want to do professionally.

There is also a secondary story about Erin, a local school principal, who Dancy befriends after witnessing a scene between Erin and Shane, her abusive boyfriend. This subplot seemed superfluous.

Not the strongest book in the series, but it is an enjoyable read, about two flawed characters who undergo personal growth, as individuals and as a couple.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #ReadAvon for the ARC.

Skittish and distrustful, Clint’s not exactly welcoming Darcy with open arms. And, Darcy’s hit rock bottom.

The author does a wonderful job of unveiling Darcy’s character growth as the plot builds. Random encounters with strangers and some of the four legged variety show the depth of her character. Clint’s reaction to these changes are believable.

Enjoyed the excerpts from a popular children’s story as they paired nicely with the start of each chapter. Humor and suspense were added bonuses fitting nicely into the storyline.

This book was of a series but easily read as a standalone. All in all. an excellent read deserving of the coveted five star rating.

This ARC was provided by the publisher, Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon ,via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

#AndtheCrowdWentWild #NetGalley

What happens when your high school lands on your front lawn Several things all fun. Another fun Chicago Stars book. Sart here or continue on series.

And the Crowd Went Wild by Susan Elizabeth Phillips is an utterly delightful book and a terrific addition to her Chicago Stars series.

Whenever I read a new Chicago Stars book, it's like falling into the adventures of old friends and the latest book is no different.

Dancy gave up her career for the most part to support her husband, superstar actor Roth's career, and while she may it not have been fulfilling she was in love with her husband and thought everything was fine, until he left her for a much younger woman. Trying to make a comeback and a big splash after the scandal goes spectacularly wrong after her ex and his new girlfriend show up unexpectedly and the girlfriend is obviously pregnant. Dancy's evening goes spectacularly wrong and she makes an even worse exit.

Chicago Stars quarterback, Clint, is just trying to enjoy his off-season in Wisconsin at his summer home when a car shows up and dumps a very drunk Dancy at his feet. He hasn't seen his high school girlfriend, since.....well, high school.

Clint gives Dancy a place to stay for a few days and they both have some self discovery and issues to overcome. A stray dog, a magical caboose, and a lot of introspection give these two a chance to find themselves and each other. Can they overcome their past together and what life has thrown at them?

Ms. Phillips always lets us get our happily ever after, but the characters have to work for it through humor, inner strength, and friendships. She doesn't disappoint with this one. I laughed, I cried, and I didn't want it to end. This book is another winner.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the chance to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I devoured this book. Some of my favorite Susan Elizabeth Phillips books start when the heroine is getting ready to do something that you know is a bad idea, and in my head, I am screaming, "Don’t do it!" I laughed, I cried, I LOVED IT.

Dancy was determined to make a comeback as a woman stronger enough to be on her own and not had to be viewed as a power couple, worthy of her role as an actress and not a woman scorned as her extremely successful husband left her for a younger woman. It was the epitome of a Hollywood story. Instead of lighting up.the room at the Peacock Gala, she made a drunken spectacle of herself that negated all hope that she was back. What the crowd didn't know was that more than anything, Dancy wanted a child and when she saw Biba, her sadness enveloped her as Roth never expressed that he wanted a child with her. This spectacle has her running to her old boyfriend, Clint, who is a star in of his own right as a football player with the Chicago Stars. He liked his solitude but as the book evolves, both characters realize that there is a difference between being alone versus lonely, just as Dancy had experienced during the entirety of her childhood. That everyone, including the dog Watch, deserves to be loved and cherished. That being in love means being vulnerable such as when Dancy shared her high school experience with Clint and eventually others, that it makes oneself even stronger than imagined. The happy ending was just perfect because just like the Boxcar Children, Dancy and Clint were each others forever home.

Susan Elizabeth Phillips continues to deliver with her Chicago Stars bestseller series! Ex high-school girlfriend and actress Darcy Flynn gives as good as she gets when she turns up unexpectedly on the Chicago Stars quarterback Clint Garretts’s doorstep. Any ideas of ‘finding himself’ vanished when she arrived. Never a dull moment!

And the Crowd Went Wild is a lively and captivating romance that perfectly blends humor, heart, and sports drama. Susan Elizabeth Phillips crafts memorable characters with great chemistry, making their emotional journey both entertaining and deeply satisfying. The witty banter and dynamic plot kept me hooked from start to finish, while the themes of second chances and personal growth added meaningful layers. It’s a delightful read that’s both fun and heartfelt.

Disgraced Hollywood blonde bombshell escapes public humiliation by crashing with her high school ex-boyfriend who happens to be a Superbowl winning quarterback trying to recharge before the next season. Dancy Flynn appears to be an on-screen bimbo, off-screen alcoholic who her Tom Cruise-esque husband tossed aside for a younger model, but she is actually an woman who has seen a lot of pain seeking a soft place to land. She runs towards Clint Grant, super studly leader of the Chicago Stars SEP's fictional NFL team, who is hiding from any sort of public attention while he tries to fix his burn out at his Wisconsin lake house.

Clint definitely doesn't want Dancy there. She cheated on him when they were teens, but he also can't seem to let her leave. In so shenanigans begin with an abandoned dog, Dancy's ex-husband, and small town drama. At the heart of story are Clint and Dancy fighting to release their pasts and trust in each other again.

This has all the trademarks of Susan Elizabeth Phillips' stories that I love: quirky characters with larger-than-life lives, but with problems that end up being so relatable. The romance is hard-fought, which makes it so satisfying in the end. Even the side characters have a lot of depth, which is always a highlight of Phillips' writing for me.

This one tackles some pretty tough stuff: Dancy's experiences with neglect (though benign) and sexual assault make for some really sad moments, but the banter, especially between her and Clint is a good balance for the serious themes. Watch the dog is a delight, as is Clint's mom. Phillips does a great job giving us a peek inside the (mostly horrifying) world of Hollywood glamour and its seedy, money-hungry population willing to do just about anything to get ahead. I'm always struck by what a good job Phillips does at making these extreme worlds she enjoys writing about feel real.

I haven't enjoyed a novel this much in a long time. I'm grateful for this refreshingly solid read!

5 stars.

*I received a review copy from the publisher/author via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Another fantastic book by Susan Elizabeth Phillips! I have loved reading all her books but my absolute favorite was "This Heart of Mine." The throwbacks/ Easter eggs in this book remind me so much of that book (hello Benny!) My heart was so happy to read this story about Dancy and Clint and I was rooting for them the whole time. Thanks SEP for another great book!

P.S. did the original names for This Heart of Mine come from the Boxcar Children then? This is all so fascinating to me!

Wonderful story. A heroine that everyone can relate to plus a rescued dog. This latest book in the Chicago Stars series is epic. After a very public meltdown Dancy wants to disappear for a while so she heads to the home of her high school sweetheart. There's only one problem, he doesn't want anything to do with her after she broke his heart. Clint is having issues both on and off the field and wants no distractions to getting his life back together. He agrees to let he stay as long as she stays out of his sight. This proves to be impossible as Dancy tries to get her career back on track. Add in the arrival of her cheating ex and a mutaul rekindling of attraction and chaos ensues.

This book was SOOOOO good! I loved all the references to The Boxcar Children throughout the book but more than romance or balancing work or even the difficulty of some family relationships, the overarching theme in this book to me was resilience and harnessing your strength to be willing to go after what you want.

Dancy and Clint were highschool sweethearts who were torn apart after Dancy cheated on him. Years later (and an NFL contract and loads of fame in Hollywood) they are reunited after Dancy makes a fool of herself at a public celebrity gala. She goes to Clints home while he is on a break from the season and persuaded him to let her stay in a boxcar on the property. Over weeks (that turn to months) they rekindle their friendship while she works on what she believes to be her biggest role yet. After her role turns out to be a fake ploy by her ex, Clint helps her recover by pushing her to chate ahead with her own dreams. The banter is awesome. The pull to both of the characters is so good. And the whole time I was rooting for them!

Cant wait to ready this again!

I received this copy as an ARC. A down on her luck actress reunites with an old boyfriend. I thought this story started a bit slow. I was worried at first that it wouldn't have enough dialogue between the characters. I like books with a lot of dialogue. I don't like to read paragraph after paragraph of back story. I was pleasantly surprised after the first couple of chapters of this book. Good back and forth dialogue with the characters. Thank you for the ARC.