Review: It Happened on a Sunday by Tracy Wolff
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5/5)

It Happened on a Sunday is a fun, Travis Kelce–Taylor Swift–inspired romance that blends celebrity culture with emotional depth. I enjoyed the dynamic between Mateo “Sly” Sylvester, the NFL’s golden boy quarterback, and Sloane, the enigmatic pop star known as “The Black Widow” after the tragic loss of two partners.

As an introvert, I found Sloane’s journey toward vulnerability especially relatable. Her struggle to reveal her true self in a world that constantly demanded a curated persona was both honest and heartfelt. Sly’s steady presence encouraged her to embrace authenticity—and in turn, he confronted his own past and emotional wounds.

Overall, it was a sweet and satisfying read with moments of genuine connection. Thank you, Entangled Publishing, for the e-ARC!

I love when a book gets me all up in the feels- happy, angry, horrified, sad, etc.... so many emotions felt in this book.

Yes, it will remind you of Taylor and Travis but honestly, it wasn't on my mind for the whole book.

Sloane, a famous singer, has the most unfair reputation in the media (well that she DOES lean into) as a Black Widow. She leans into it, rightly so, to protect her heart.
Marcos "Sly" is a quarterback at the top of his game. He finds Sloane when he takes his abuela to get damn and gets to meet her backstage. Then because of a friend, Sloane and Sly start hanging out more.

Sloane isn't the type to give her trust easily after all the pain she went through with previous relationships. I love the moment she starts to feel safe with Sly. He protects her, he's there for her so much... especially when a very scary situation arises and how it is dealt with. There are scenes near the end where I was feeling so tense! My favorites are when Sly and Sloane are just so open with each other.

If you are a fan of rock star romances or football romances, this is for you!

This is why I don’t read romances. They are too beautiful and too real and I love them too much.

I loved everything about this book. From the broken and battered characters to the slight mystery to the love. Everything was perfect.

I’ve never read a football/pop star romance before but I can confidently say I need more.

Please read this one. And make sure your tissues are near when you do.

This is the first Tracy Wolff book I have read. Thank you to Entangled Publishing and the author for the Earc.

This slow burn romance and me staying up way too late because I couldn't put it down.

Sloan Walke (Pop star AkA Blackwidow) meets Gloden boy quarterback Mateo Sylvester (AKA Sly). After one of her concerts, Sly took his grandmother to.
Sloan packs a lot of baggage from past dead exes, and Sly, even though he is the good boy, has a few of his own demons to battle.
This was such a heart-felt, emotional, suspenseful story with some playful banter and a twist I didn't expect. I really enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more from this author.

A cute, feel good, easy read. Minimal spice level. The book is written in dual POV, which helps the reader get to know (and love) the main characters. It is easy to root for them as a couple and to understand their inner workings. There is a bit of a mystery to the plot as well which adds a level of engagement. I couldn't give it five stars, however, because I couldn't stop imagining Travis and Taylor as the characters. It took away from some of the uniqueness of the book and kind of felt like reading fan fiction (although the characters are described very differently than the real life couple). I wish the who-done-it plot twist was a little more developed. All in all, a solid, fun book to read.

A beautiful story about two broken souls overcoming their hurt together. When pop star Sloane Walker meets NFL quarterback Mateo Sylvester (Syl) backstage at one of her concerts, their immediate connection is undeniable. He sees right through her tough exterior, past the front she's been forced to uphold. Despite their teams rooting against them, they decide to give themselves a real shot. Along the way, Sloane starts getting threats and Syl adjusts to a new spotlight.

Football player x pop star
Bad girl x good boy
Hurt/comfort
Romantic suspense
Found family
He falls first
They're both a little tortured
Insta-love (kinda)

This was my first Tracy Wolff book and I really enjoyed it! I loved her writing style. She has some really beautiful moments of prose. The dialogue was realistic and the side characters were distinct and likable. Syl's abuela is a Sloane super fan, so that was adorable. I appreciated how each main character's support crew lovingly shepherded them along, challenging their beliefs, looking after them, etc. The grand gestures and "wooing" were cute too. I want peonies and a mammoth sundae delivered to my door.

I wasn't expecting the book to have a twinge of darkness and suspense to it, but it served the story well. The villain was a little obvious -- I would have liked more tension in that regard.

TW: domestic violence (described in detail on page, not happening in the present), drug abuse (mentioned, not on page)
If I had known about the triggers before applying for the ARC, I probably wouldn't have requested it. But it was, for me at least, surprisingly cathartic to experience justice and read about someone actively working through and processing their trauma alongside a supportive partner. The recounts existed only to move the story forward, and were conveyed with care and intention.

A note I need to include for the publisher because I'm a copyeditor and I can't not say this: I'm not sure what style guide was used, but it should really be "Abuela Ximena," not "abuela Ximena." Please fix this, I beg of you. It bothered me the whole book. 😂

Thank you to Entangled Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I’ll be completely honest, the first few chapters took some time to get through. She was building the characters up, but also just jumped right into Sly and Sloane. Once I got a few chapters in, I was hooked.

Sly is GOAT for the Twister’s football team. His abuela is Sloane’s top fan. I mean she has a notebook just about her! Sloane doesn’t seem Sly coming. It’s like he’s playing quarterback to her life the way he swoops in and saves this pop star! It’s a fun read, Taylor and Travis kinda vibes, where it will steal your heart and want to know what happens next. It happened on a Sunday, on a Sunday, on a Sunday. It Happened on a Sunday is fun, twisting, and sexy as hell. This is a book you’ll want to finish.


SPOILERS****

You start off reading about how Sly takes his Abuela to Sloane’s concert, pays to take her back to meet her favorite pop star. All the while, Sloane is having a hard time with fans, death of boyfriends that happened years ago. She’s emotional, wears her Black Widow face at all times, and no longer wants to wear her heart on her sleeve. She’s been burned, and burned bad. Sly sees right through her! The whole world is behind them, egging on their relationship. All the fans want this. Sly has been through some trauma too, and feels like he has to protect everyone he loves. His best friend becomes the catalyst for their first date. #Sloaney is what the fans want, and #Sloaney is what the fans get.

It Happened On A Sunday is a heart-wrenching, emotional rollercoaster that will restore your faith in the resilience of the human spirit and the redemptive power of love. At its center is Sloane—the enigmatic pop icon dubbed “The Black Widow” by the media, infamous for the tragic deaths of two former boyfriends. She's seen as toxic by the world, but inside, she’s a wounded soul cloaked in emotional armor so thick, lowering it could break her entirely.

Then comes Mateo Sylvester, the NFL’s golden boy quarterback, who sees through her facade and dares to reach the real Sloane—the woman the headlines forgot. But after being shattered by betrayal, can she risk love again?

I felt Sloane’s pain so deeply. She was terrified to reveal her true self, yet Sly made her want to try—to be vulnerable, to choose happiness, even when the public wanted a different version of her. Watching her blossom and reclaim her strength was powerful. She was fierce, bold, and brave, and Sly only made her shine brighter.

Sly, too, carried invisible wounds, projecting confidence while hiding his own hurt. His love for Sloane was instant and intense—he saw her break on stage and fell for her completely. His loyalty, protectiveness, and gentle spirit made him the perfect counterbalance. He knew when to push, when to pause, and his heart was exactly what Sloane needed. Together, they didn’t just fall in love—they healed.

This story is breathtaking. The angst, the emotion, the slow burn of healing—it’s all beautifully captured. The author makes you feel every moment, every tear, every triumph. And that ending? Pure magic. I closed the book with tears in my eyes and the widest smile on my face. It Happened On A Sunday isn’t just a love story—it’s a bold declaration that healing and happiness are worth fighting for, even when the whole world is watching.

It Happened on a Sunday is my first Tracy Wolff novel, and what a powerful ride it was. I stayed up late, way past my bedtime, with this one. I’ve read my fair share of celebrity rockstar romances, each uniquely different. With It Happened on a Sunday, both characters deal with trauma differently. We follow Solane as she struggles with the rockstar persona that her fans built, and see her challenges with Sly, falling in love again.

The romance is a slow burn, and as Sloane and Sly got to know each other, I almost felt like I was, too. I was learning tidbits of their past, piecing things together. As both learn to trust each other, they reveal what haunts them. However, dating someone famous who is known for a series of unfortunate circumstances for which she was blamed is challenging. And she’s fearful that something may happen to Sly. It doesn’t help that the public feeds into that as well.

I enjoyed how the story built up with Sly and Sloane’s romance. As they fell for each other, I fell for them, too. When the drama hit, it hit me, too. There’s a bit of a who-done-it, suspense piece that I liked a lot with a twist that I didn’t anticipate.

It Happened on a Sunday was filled with angst and a hero who would do anything to protect his woman. I was rooting for Sly and Sloane all the way!

Yeeeees!!! So much Yes!! 🤩
4.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐🏈
Captivated from the first chapter 🤘

First, I would like to extend a Huge Thank You to Entangled Publishing for the eARC. Honestly, I don’t think I would have ever gotten around to picking this one up otherwise. But I am So Very glad I did. I LOVED this story!

A pop star (Slaone Walker aka Black Widow) with a bad girl rep and America’s golden boy quarterback (Mateo Sylvester aka Sly).
They meet by pure happenstance. His grandmother (abuela) is a HUGE Black Widow fan, and he takes her to a concert. After the show, he gets her a meet-and-greet where Sloane and Sly lock eyes for the first time. This photo op is the catalyst to a series of life-altering events for both celebs.

This was such an emotional rollercoaster ride. 🎢 I was so completely invested in these characters. The heartfelt introspection and playful banter felt genuine and immersive. And the feelings were THERE! 🥰

Sloane’s got some serious baggage collected from two disastrous (and dead) exes. Not to mention the almost career-destroying lies posted via the media and gossipers on social media. Hince the Black Widow moniker and persona she has adopted. 🕷️🕸️
Sly is a do-no-wrong good boy with a crystal clean background. However, he does have some demons in his closet.
She’s constantly trying to push him away while he’s desperately trying to pull her in. They both have a lot to learn from each other and many obstacles to overcome.

There is SO much more good meat in the romance sandwich, but I don’t want to spoil anything.
Whether you read a lot of romance or not, I truly believe you will thoroughly enjoy this book. 💯

I will say, there is one big aspect that kept me from giving this 5 stars. Sly.
While I loved 99% of him and his character (book boyfriend high standards), I did NOT like how whiny he was about blaming himself for things. 😩 I understand that was his character. This is nothing necessarily against the author, but it was a real turn off for me. BUT, he does finally get served a come-to-Jesus moment and is able to move past it (last 5% of the book).

This was an absolute WIN for me, and I will definitely be adding the beautiful paperback edition to my shelf! 💚


⚠️ Talks and descriptions of domestic abuse


#HeFallsFirst #TraumaBonding #SportsRomance