Dancy is broken and trying to climb her way back from a divorce, loss of acting career and miscarriage. Clint, star quarterback, is trying to get his head back in the game after being accused of murdering his ex-gold digging girlfriend.

As Dancy is trying to rebuild her career, she finds herself at the same awards dinner at her ex-husband, Roth and his pregnant child bride-to-be, Biza. After imbibing too much alcohol, Dancy drunkenly flees the event - all caught on video. With no where to turn, she lands at the doorstep of her high school boyfriend who is livid to see her there.

Dancy who only has a her ballgown for clothes, bikes into town to get some clothes. She finds a stray dog on the side of the road who is wounded and been left to die. Dancy rescues and brings the dog back to health.

Meanwhile, Dancy befriends Erin, a school principal after seeing Erin’s boyfriend ready to assault her.

Clint and Dancy continue to rebuild their relationship. Finally, the truth comes out that Darcy didn’t willingly cheat on Clint. She was raped and has been carrying this shame. They rekindle their relationship but separate because Clint still doesn’t fully trust her.

Dancy returns to LA still unable to restart her career so she decides to create a one woman show. She continues her friendship with Erin and proposes a test run of the show at the local theater. Meanwhile, Clint is failing on the field. Dancy convinces him to open up about his problems to his friends and family who are supportive. On the night of Dancy’s show, Roth shows and threatens her with exposing a homemade sex video because he thinks the show will ruin his reputation. Clint convinces her that the show must go on but Erin’s psycho ex ruins that.

Biza appears on Dancy’s doorstep saying she won’t let Roth hurt her (especially since she knows Dancy is in love with Clint). She goes into labor and Dancy rushes her to the ER.

Clint open his home for her to perform her show reach touches the audience relaunching Dancy’s career. Clint gets the help he needs and it’s reflected on the field. As they navigate their careers, they marry and have children.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. Thank to Ms. Phillips for a truly enjoyable novel.

Susan Elizabeth Phillips, you have done it again. I have been a HUGE Chicago Stars fan from the beginning. No one writes a leading man the way Ms. Phillips does. I will even say that Heath Champion is my favorite fictional character of all times. So I was thrilled to see that NetGalley had the newest book, And the Crowd Went Wild, and that I did not have to wait another 8 months to read it! Thank you NetGalley!!!!!When Hollywood actress Dancy, hits rock bottom, she drunkenly asks her driver to drop her off at her high school ex boyfriend's house. Clint, football star of the Chicago Stars, is less than thrilled to see his cheating ex on his door step. But being the softy that he is, he allows Dancy to stay one week....... in a restored train car in the backyard. Enter all the Boxcar Children references here. Can Dancy and Clint clear the 20 year air between them? This couple is hilarious and has some really fun side characters as well as some former Chicago Stars characters that make an appearance. This steamy romance is a hit!

ARC REVIEW (thanks NETGALLEY!)

I love SEP and the Chicago stars series and this one was no different! But no, literally, it was no different. Every novel in the series seems to have the same kinda thing going on (weird little hideaway next to main house, gross dog, home renovations) But I eat them up every time! SEP is a master of banter! My main gripe with book was that it was more chick-lit than romance with Dancy being the main character and Clint just kinda there. The side plot with Shane and Erin was a waste of words and book could have done without it. Dancy’s whole revival kind of seemed out of left field especially when we learned about her love of sewing and knack for home decorating, I just figured she would have went into something more along those lines

A real callback to earlier Susan Elizabeth Phillips classics. I loved Dancey and grew to love Clint, who seems like a more docile version of both Bobby Tom Denton and Dean. The dog epilogue was a little odd but overall, I really enjoyed this. Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for the ARC.

Thanks so much for the ARC! This was a satisfying return to the beloved Chicago Stars world! While the romance itself was fairly standard and low on spice, I enjoyed the second-chance storyline and classic tropes. The boxcar setting was a nostalgic nod to childhood reads (hello, Boxcar Children!), which I unexpectedly loved. Dancy and Clint’s dynamic worked for me, and the epilogue was the perfect bow on their story. Not groundbreaking, but charming—can’t wait for the next in the series!

If you haven't read the other books in the Chicago Stars series, don't let that stop you from reading this one. It stands alone on it's own. My one pet peeve is the overuse of leaving the nouns off of the sentences - it's ok occasionally but multiple times over a few paragraphs is irritating. Sentence structure is importan!

SEP scores again with the Chicago Stars story paying homage to the childhood favorite The Boxcar Children. Clint Garrett and Dancy Flynn were high school boyfriend/girlfriend until they were not. Years later they reconnect as Dancy makes an escape to what she hopes is a safe refuge after she makes a scene at a charitable dinner. Clint isn't happy to see her and the reconciliation fun kicks off. We get to meet Watch who is a loveable addition.
I'm a long time fan of the Chicago Stars series And the Crowd Went Wild is a great continuation of the team players.
Five Stars from me with thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to early read this book.

SEP has done it again - she just doesn't do it fast enough! If you haven't read a Chicago Stars book, you are missing out! They can always be read as a stand alone, but they are like visiting old friends. Clint and Dancy and of course, Watch, are the BEST characters and I'd airbnb that Caboose any day! Can't wait for the next in this story!

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book was amazing. It had me hooked from the very beginning and kept my attention till the very end.

What I loved about this book:

The characters: The characters were all written so well. The FMC was a strong female that did not change herself for anybody and the MMC also stood his own without changing his personality half way through the book. The side characters were all so well thought out. I honestly loved that the epilogue was from Watch's POV as well. Even the villians were so well thought out.

The setting: Go Pack Go! This book got a huge plus for me when the FMC bought Packers gear (coming from a huge Packers fan). The setting was so cozy and it made me want to visit a place like this.

The storylines: Amazing! Not plot holes and the twists kept coming unexpectedly. I also loved the mental health aspect. Very well done!

What took away from 5 stars:

I wish that the relationship hadn't moved so quickly to the level it did towards the end. It definitely felt like we hit the fast forward button the closer we got to the end of the book.

Overall, a new favorite of mine!

I haven’t read Susan Elizabeth Phillips in over a decade. Back then, her books were my reward for surviving grad school readings on the L train. When I saw this ARC on @netgalley, I had to see if the Chicago Stars still held up. Spoiler: they absolutely do.

I forgot how often SEP makes me work to like her FMCs. Dancy was tough at first, but her arc was worth it. She surprised me with her (initially) subtle feminism, and I loved how each character in her orbit shaped her growth. I always knew her “why”—even when she frustrated me.

I did wish for more emotional depth in Clint’s character, and one subplot with a friend’s ex felt unnecessary. Still, the writing was sharp. SEP reminded me how good third person POV can feel like first.

Susan Elizabeth Phillips has delivered another Touchdown!!!!! I absolutely loved the story of Dancy, a down-and-out (personally and professionally) actress, and Clint, a Chicago Stars quarterback at the top of his game. All he wants is a little peace and quiet at this lake house during his off season when his high school girlfriend shows up on his doorstep and his life is never the same. Phillips is on perfectly on target with this well-written romance that has the perfect characters and setting. I’m in love with Clint’s guesthouse, a renovated train car. I never want this series to end.

Thank you to @NetGalley, @Avonbooks and @HarperVoyagerUS for this fantastic ARC, the opinions are all my own.

'And the Crowd Went Wild' is her latest installment in the Chicago Stars Series - it center's on Dancy, a disgraced Hollywood bombshell and Clint, her teenage love, and a charming Chicago Stars' Quarterback. I love the Chicago Stars series and this book didn’t disappoint. Thanks NetGalley for an arc. Romance, friendship, are the central themes. The main characters are flawed which provides a great story. Thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I loved the last book in this series, Simply the Best, so I couldn’t wait to read this new one, about Clint, the quarterback of the Chicago Stars. Clint has escaped to his beautiful lake home in Wisconsin where he finds comfort as he is struggling with his career as he gets older (and possibly depression).

Dancy is an actress that is known for being a Bond girl a few years back. She is at a charity event, trying to make a comeback after being dumped by her actor husband for a younger woman. Disaster strikes when he shows up at the charity event with his new younger woman and she’s pregnant. Dancy is thirty-five and has been longing for a baby - she is devastated. She tries to make a grand exit but she ends up making a fool of herself. She needs somewhere to go and decides to find Clint, her high school crush, and the one person she can trust to help her.

Dancy shows up at Clint’s home in rough shape, still wearing her ballgown. Things didn’t end well between them in high school and he isn’t thrilled to see her, but he is a really good guy and he lets her stay in his guest house, which happens to be a caboose! (The author pays homage to The Boxcar Children’s books.) Dancy has been through a lot in her life, with parents who were jetsetters and never around, a self-centered ex-husband, sexual assault when she was younger, a stalker and a recent miscarriage. She adopts a rescue pup and then with Clint’s nurturing, she begins to get her groove back. There is plenty of humor and spice and I never knew what Dancy would do next, but Clint was steadfast and loved her. It felt sad in parts and there’s a third act break up that I didn’t love but the way everything turned out in the end made it worth it. I loved the humor and characters so 4 1/2 stars. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. My full review will be at All About Romance closer to the release date.

Thanks to NetGalley and AvonBooks for an early ARC of Susan Elizabeth Phillips newest release. Such a fun book. A quick romance read but definitely an enjoyable one. Dancy and Clint"s story had everything I love: tension. heart, banter, and just right amount of emotional messiness. I laugh, I swooned, I stayed up too late and I regret nothing. I recommend this book and could be read as a standalone.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.

As is often the case, other reviewers have submitted fairly detailed synopses, and I will not try to duplicate their efforts.

Susan Elizabeth Phillips is one of my favorite authors, and I had the opportunity to meet her at an event some years ago. (She's just about as sassy as her fictional heroines.) As her chosen genre is romance, the endings are always predictable. It's how the characters get past the obstacles thrown into their path and arrive at HEA (happily ever after) that can have unpredictable surprises. This book is no exception. I'm treading lightly because I don't want to give away any spoilers... but I was as caught off guard with one situation as was the fictional character. With another situation I was quite sure that story arc wasn't done yet--and I was right.

I remember a talk Susan gave about the six magic words of fiction: KEEP THE READER IN THE STORY. She does follow her own advice very well.... One device to keep the reader in the story is ending each chapter with what might be called a hook, or a mini cliff-hanger. The idea is to make the reader not want to put the book down... "Just one more chapter!" Authors who do this well have kept me up way past my bedtime for most of my life.

This book is part of a long-running series featuring the fictional "Chicago Stars" football team. It's been a long time since I read any of the earlier books in the series, but a reader does not have to read the earlier books in the series in order to "get" this book. (But I do recommend that readers do read and enjoy those earlier books at some point.)

And the Crowd Went Wild by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. The latest book in the Stars series has all the humor, compassion, and romance that are the trademark of SEP's books. One does fall in love with Clint, Darcy and Watch. Another great addition to the series and am looking forward to the next one.
Thank you to the author, Avon and Harper Voyager-Avon and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

Susan Elizabeth Phillips is one of my favorite romance authors. She's got this magic romance formula mastered and it just works time and again, and I used to be this dewy eyed teenager who ate it all right up.

'And the Crowd Went Wild' is her latest installment in the Chicago Stars Series - it center's on Dancy, a disgraced Hollywood bombshell and Clint, her teenage love, and a charming Chicago Stars' Quarterback. Its a second chance romance with all the best SEP trademarks - sharp banter, quirky characters, and a delicious slow burn chemistry!

Dancy, scarred from her messy Hollywood marriage, shows up uninvited to Clint's hideout in Wisconsin. Unexpectedly, they learn to trust each other, and rekindle their love and friendship, but this time, as adults.

Clint is basically the dream book boyfriend - tall, dark and handsome on the outside, but super soft and a gentleman underneath all that swagger.

What I enjoy about Phillips' novels is they're more than just romance - there are beautiful friendships, cozy little moments and heartwarming emotions that make her books well-rounded.

Also, the setting in this book? A lakeside house with the cutest little caboose for a guest house that I could picture vividly and low-key want to live in.

There's also a nod to Gertrude Chandler's 'Boxcar Children' in the book. It brings in this whimsical, childlike sweetness to the characters and counterbalances their grown up scars and complexities, making the book light-hearted.

That said, I'm giving this book three stars. The tone felt a little too familiar to her older books. Maybe I've changed or maybe her writing hasn't kept up with the times, but parts of it didn't hit quite right. And while there's comfort in a romance novel being predictable, it also left me wanting more.

Still, I was thrilled when my ARC request got approved. Huge thanks to the Publisher and SEP! And even though the book doesn't come close to her older books (Kiss an Angel, This Heart of Mine), its still a solid romance read and I definitely recommend it!

And the Crowd Went Wild showcases Susan Elizabeth Phillips’s adeptness in presenting characters that her readers can relate to…their strengths, their struggles and their weaknesses. Actress Dancy and Clint once were high school sweethearts and when Dancy suffers the ultimate public humiliation the only place she can think of to hide is at Clint’s home. Pro football quarterback, Clint is dealing with his own issues as he prepares for the upcoming season. There’s no way he wants the girl who broke his heart for the first time to get in his life again, but the gentleman in him can’t turn her away. What happens next is told with insight, humor, compassion, honesty and care all under the loving eyes of one of the most adorable canine characters this reader has encountered. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley. Most highly recommend.

This book is more than a beautifully written love story. While it delivers all the swoon-worthy romance you’d expect from SEP, it’s also so much more… It’s a powerful exploration of identity, resilience, and the quiet battles people fight behind the scenes—especially those living in the public eye.

Yes, it’s about a Hollywood star and a legendary quarterback, but SEP makes them feel achingly real. She has this incredible gift for humanizing celebrities, women, and athletes in a way that strips away the glamour and shows the heart underneath. You don’t just read about these characters… you see yourself in them. In their flaws, fears, strength, and healing.

The romance itself is (unsurprisingly) beautiful, heartfelt, and deeply emotional. But what makes this book unforgettable is how SEP reminds us that behind every headline or highlight reel is a human being just trying to find their place in the world—and maybe, if they’re lucky, someone to love them as they are.

SEP is my absolute favorite in the world of romance authors, and while this book doesn’t beat “It Had To Be You”, it is the kind of story that lingers long after the final page.

She has done it again! I have loved Susan Elizabeth Phillips books through the years, especially the Chicago Stars series. This latest book, part of the Stars series, delivers all of what we love and expect from SEP. Great story and characters. Now I want to reread previous SEP books! (note; Do not need to read the books in any order, this one can stand alone)

4.5 stars


Thank you to #AvonBooks and #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

@Avonbooks