🏀 Tip In by Josie Mae ( @josiemaebooks ) 👭

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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)

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)

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!

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.

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? 🏀

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!

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.

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 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.