Gosh I really hate rating a book below a 3 ⭐️, and I don’t want to write a bad review but this FF book was not done well.. This book was not done around the main characters but more around a NFL football player and a famous singer with the two Main characters being there publicists who didn’t even have there own chapters and I am pretty sure it was done in the third person..


Thank you Net Galley for the ARC and my honest review.

4.5!! Let it be known that Alexandria Bellefleur 100% made it onto my favorite authors list! I already loved truly, madly, deeply by her and getting the arc for Playing for keeps was a dream come true! Biggest thanks to netgalley and the publisher!
All of the characters in this were just so good! I loved Poppys & Cashs friendship, Cash is hilarious!! The way Poppy always doubts herself and everything she does and how Rosaline stepped up and be there for her was soooo so good, I loved them together. I loved the way both of them acted together and individually. Love the writing style and the added text messages and articles. Also the little 9-1-1 easter eggs?? I bow to you Alexandria!
This story also made me cry! Fuck Ai!!!
If you‘re looking for a fast paced story full of friendship, love!!, the perfect amount of depth and so much fun please please im begging you to read this!

I really loved this sapphic romance! It kinda have some Travis and Taylor vibes but also it was unique of it’s own. There was alot of good chemistry in this book. It was steamy and sexy and I loved the characters. I did feel like Lyric and Cash had more to say in this book in the drama conflict portion than the actual characters FMC’s this book was supposed to be about, I wish we had more in depth with them than what we got and that Lyric and Cash should have gotten their own book but that’s just me. But this story was a really good one. It was funny and sweet and it really made me love them. And I hope theres more in the future.

Playing For Keeps by Alexandra Bellefleur

What makes me the most angry about this book is that she predicted so many things about Taylor Swift and Travis’ relationship but because of the release date people will think she was just quick to the punch.

I had SUCH a fun time with this book. This book follows Poppy and Rosaline the publicists of the biggest sports star and biggest pop star in the world. When poppy’s best friend and client shoots his shot the four of them become in the spotlight.

This book is funny, sapphic, queer friendly, full of pop culture, and fits the moment. It’s a fun time and I read it quick and enjoyed it. I wish there was a bit more relationship building because I feel like the other side relationship took up space from the main characters - it could have been a bit longer. That being said I ate this up. I have been telling everyone I know about this book. I’m so excited for its moment to shine.

Playing for Keeps, Alexandria Bellafleur’s latest novel, is the story of Poppy, publicist for star quarterback (and her best friend) Cash Curran. Cash, in a move very similar to the story of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, hits on pop star Lyric Adair on social media, which bring Poppy into the circle of Rosaline Sinclair, Lyric’s experienced publicist.

It’s not a new story (I think I’ve seen a few versions of this on cable), but both Poppy and are Rosaline are interesting characters, and the subplot with Cash/Lyric is interesting enough without overtaking the story. It’s not all wine and roses, as there is an ex in the mix, and that’s really the only flaw in the story–the character has absolutely no dimension). This is a fast, fun read. I look forward to the next book.

I really enjoyed the story and the PR dynamics that was original and gave good « behind the scenes moments » and drama, plus the characters were really interesting. Poppy was really cute, had a young fresh and naive energy but still feisty, whereas Rosaline was this hot badass that seems unattainable. The single POV worked so well as we learn more about Rosaline alongside Poppy, and discover who she is behind her armour. I loved how their relationship built up, how much they respected each other and their careers, and how easily they made it happen.

I hadn’t read a book from this author before, but I really enjoyed the writing and had a couple of her other books on my TBR which I will definitely read as well.

I only wish the story hadn’t been popstar X NFL clients, but any other sort of celebrity, just so that there wouldn’t be such a parallel to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce.

I’ve never read a book by Alexandria Bellefleur, but this one did not disappoint, so she definitely has a new fan! I would say this is a mix between Red, White, and Royal Blue (queer, the two handlers falling in love, the letters and emails mixed throughout) and Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s recent romance, but make it sapphic.

The story follows Poppy, best friend and publicist to NFL star Cash Curran, who suddenly finds herself doing damage control when Cash publicly flirts with pop superstar Lyric Adair. To manage the chaos, Poppy teams up with Lyric’s publicist, Rosaline, and while their clients’ whirlwind romance heats up, so does the spark between the two women.

This book was such a fun read. The cover is gorgeous, and I really enjoyed Poppy’s personal growth, especially her journey to finding confidence in her career. Rosaline was such a supportive person, and I loved seeing their relationship slowly unfold. It seemed as though they really were made for each other and vibed well with each other. One of the highlights of the book was the tweets, articles, and mixed media pieces sprinkled throughout. I think it provided a unique touch that made the story feel lively and modern.

That said, I did wish Poppy and Rosaline’s romance was at the forefront more than it was. At times, I felt Lyric and Cash’s storyline was the main focus rather than theirs, and I found myself more invested in the side couple than the main one. Still, Poppy and Rosaline had great chemistry, and their relationship was easy to root for. It is definitely a sapphic romance that I would recommend despite this.

Overall, this is a cute, queer romance filled with drama, banter, and characters you’ll fall for quickly. Alexandria Bellefleur brings charm and heart to this book, and has made me want to check out more.

Thank you to NetGalley, Alexandria Bellefleur, and Avon for the eARC of this book.

I have been a long time fan of Alexandria Bellefleur’s books and know that I can always expect a fun, queer romance. Playing for Keeps was no different.

Poppy is the longtime best friend, and now publicist, of one of the NFL’s hottest players, Cash Curran. When Cash shoots his shot to Lyric Adair, mega pop star, through social media, Poppy quickly jumps in to start damage control. But Lyric is surprisingly interested, and her publicist, Rosaline, reaches out to help bring the two together. As Cash and Lyric begin their whirlwind romance, Poppy and Rosaline find themselves working together more often than not. And as their client’s relationship heats up, so do the sparks of their own.

This book was a fun read! First, the cover is so swoon worthy and probably my favorite of all Alexandria’s books! Second, Poppy’s character growth, particularly when it came to her career confidence, was so wonderful to watch. Rosaline’s support was so sweet and had me rooting for them from the beginning. The artifacts sprinkled throughout the chapters were also exciting to read and added a unique touch to the story.

For me, I wanted more from Poppy and Rosaline’s relationship. I think their relationship arc was overshadowed by Lyric and Cash’s relationship arc in the story. There were times where I found myself more invested in Cash and Lyric’s relationship than the one that was most important to the story (Poppy and Rosaline). That being said, I still very much enjoyed this book and would recommend for anyone looking for a cute queer romance with high drama and characters you will quickly fall in love with.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC!

Thank you for giving em the opportunity to read this as an arc. This book was so good! Hard to put down and had me on the edge of my seat. I love the banter between the main characters and would def recommend this book to friends!

3.5 stars

Written in the Stars was my first sapphic romance book and it will always have a special place in my heart. I've read most of her other books and was really looking forward to this one. I am a big Swiftie so the side romance drew me in as well. I read it after during the time of the New Heights Podcast featuring Taylor Swift and the announcement of her new album, "the Life of a Showgirl" (out 10/3) & that felt like perfect timing. & then after the engagement announcement 🤗. Just perfect. At first I didn't know what to expect because it did feel like a fanfic or Taylor & Travis love life, but the more I read it was just a fun read! I love getting a glimpse into the lives of celebrities and also seeing behind the scenes - so that was interesting. I did love the mixed media throughout - tweets, news articles etc (sometimes it was a bit too much but fun nonetheless). I loved that the main character, Poppy was best friends with Cash - I liked their friendship. I also appreciated that Cash was Bi because i don't think there is enough male Bi rep in books and how he felt it was important to support the LGBT+ community. I'd say the main sapphic romance was didn't shine as much as the side couple but I also liked that we got two romances in one. I did like Poppy and Rosaline's romance (their steamy times were sooo good 👌🏻) - I loved how sweet Rosaline was with Poppy. Overall, this was an entertaining read with multiple romances and are definitely for fans of Taylor Swift so I do recommend it when it comes out Jan 6.

Read if you like:
- Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce's romance
- Celebrity /workplace romance
- Football games
- Mixed media in books
- Hurt/comfort
- Multiple romances
- Steamy sapphic times
- similar books to Stars Collide & Cover Story by Rachel Lacey, How You Get the Girl by Anita Kelly, & Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner

*Thank you to Netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review*

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for sending me an ARC of Playing for Keeps in exchange for an honest review.

Playing for Keeps is transparently based on the idea “what if Taylor Swift’s and Travis Kelce’s publicists began a relationship at the same time their clients did.” I’ve really enjoyed Ms. Bellefleur’s previous novels, so I went into this one with high expectations. Unfortunately, I have to admit I was a bit disappointed.

For a book about Poppy and Rosaline, Playing for Keeps revolves too much around Lyric (Taylor) and Cash (Travis). Sure, they are the reason Poppy and Rosaline meet, and why they have to start regularly interacting. But so much time was spent on those two secondary characters that Poppy and Rosaline didn’t get the depth I think Ms. Bellefleur usually gives her characters. The third act drama was much more about Lyric and Cash than Poppy and Rosaline (it was also completely absurd; there’s no way these people in 2025 would not have immediately suspected exactly what was actually happening). Finally, I didn’t love how the whole relationship seems to happen to Poppy, like she’s a bystander, with Rosaline making every move. It was a strange choice given the story is told from Poppy’s perspective.

Playing for Keeps isn’t a bad book. I liked Poppy and Rosaline as characters. The story was funny and sweet and steamy in places. I would just say it’s not up to high standards set by Ms. Bellefleur’s previous novels.

I honestly love anything Alexandria Bellefleur writes. The writing, the story, the vibe, all of this book was perfect for what I needed

3.5/5


Alexandria Bellefleur consistently delivers engaging romances, and this novel was no exception in terms of entertainment and character development. The writing was enjoyable, and the cast of characters was well-crafted.

That said, while I have thoroughly enjoyed most of Bellefleur’s previous works, this particular story didn’t resonate with me as strongly. Although the plot was addictive and kept me turning the pages, it lacked some of the charm that I have come to associate with her writing. Certain scenes felt disjointed, and the third-act breakup, in particular, seemed abrupt and out of place.

On the positive side, Poppy and Rosaline were compelling and endearing protagonists whose story kept me invested, and I also found Cash and Lyric’s subplot engaging and well-executed.

Overall, this was a solid and enjoyable read, though it fell slightly short of the high standard set by Bellefleur’s earlier novels.

With the news of Taylor and Travis being engaged, I could not have read this book at a better time! It was a quick fun sapphic read. Full of insta love.

I have enjoyed every book I've read by Alexandria Bellefleur, and this was no exception. I think fans of Taylor Swift will enjoy it even more than I did. The story was very sweet and fun, and I really liked the main character.

The main characters Poppy and Rosaline were super cutie, I was giggling and kicking my feet with their scenes. The romance between them was everything I wanted and more! It was spicy, sweet, and super adorable! The plot was well thought out and written tastefully. I loved the LGBTQIA+ representation and think the characters were written with love and understanding from the author! It's always so beautiful to see Bi characters and means so much to me!
However, the two side characters felt like a copy and paste of the Taylor/Travis love story, and for that I give the book three stars. While being a die hard Swiftie I personally just felt that Cash and Lyric's side story was too similar to feel good about. I wish their own love story was written differently because if so this would have been a five star read for me.

Will for sure be on the lookout for more books from Bellefleur though!

thank you netgalley and avon for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

from the hints of what was to come from other reviews, i was anxious i wouldn't love this. shame on y'all for putting doubt in my heart! alexandria bellefleur slaps again! i disliked 'the devil she knows' so i was nervous for that reason as well, but my girl came back swinging. this was so gay and so hot and had all kinds of butterflies going wild in my tummy. posaline forever <3

when i saw that the conflict had to do with AI and people were disliking it, i was concerned, but to simply say it's AI is misleading. the conflict pertains to the dangers of AI, but i'll let everyone see what i mean for themselves. i thought it was apt, so i didn't mind it. i thought alexandria was doing what every author before her has done; giving a sign of the times.

Playing for Keeps tells the story of two publicists (Rosaline and Poppy) brought together when their clients begin a romantic relationship with strong echoes of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce.

Bellefleur has such a fun writing style. IT’s playful and funny with a lot of winks to her readers. Many chapters open with gossip site articles or tweets and I think this works well for a main character who is a publicist—her days driven by the actions of her client.

The first two acts of this book were so good—really strong chemistry between Poppy and Rosaline if a little insta-love. And the sex is so sexy—especially the dialogue during these scenes. AB is so good at writing sexy banter in her books and it really shines in Playing for Keeps.

The third act didn’t work well for me but overall I still had a great time reading this book.

Netgalley Review — my rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

“Playing for Keeps” by Alexandria Bellefleur is a fun and fast sapphic read! Meet Rosaline and Poppy, both publicists for celebs, Lyric and Cash. I don’t want to give too much away but it’s very Taylor/Travis coded.

It was such a cute read (with a little spice that was so nice 🤭) and it comes out January 6, 2026! So keep an eye out!

#netgalley #playingforkeeps #alexandriabellefleur @netgalley #arc

This book was so fun! What if Taylor and Travis’s publicists fall in love? You can find out in this book! Poppy and Rosaline have insane chemistry. I also honestly loved seeing Lyric and Cash’s journey too. They are so cute!