This is a very fun romance and perfect for anyone who needs something in the same spirit after watching Heated Rivalry and particularly a binge watch/read of Off Campus. This has very similar vibes and I only wish the next one in this series was out!

I was so excited to read this college sports romance, and it didn't disappoint. I loved Skylar. She was so fun to read about, and i kept cheering for her and Charlie! I highly recommend this fun book.

I was excited to read this one and it did not disappoint! At times it was sad, our FMC really hasn't had it easy but she is stronger than ever. A college romance seems to be the hit these days so it was a fun read. I would gladly read more from this author!

This is Book 1 in the Thorndale Hearts series.

Skylar & Charlie's story is fast paced & lighthearted, with a HEA.

Charlie is a Senior, the Quarterback.... and the son of a billionaire... he's hoping to be drafted to put off having to go work for/with his Dad...

Skylar is working four jobs & on a scholarship... they work together on a PR partnership & their falling in love story is very sweet. I love how Charlie relates to her family & supports her.

Spice level: 3/5

*football romance
*college romance
*he's the QB
*she's on a scholarship & working 4 jobs
*forced proximity
*they work together on a PR partnership

Thank you to the author (DL Croisette), publisher (Victory Editing) & Netgalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Next Play was an enjoyable college sports romance that explored how two people carrying past hurts slowly learn to understand and trust one another.

Charlie and Skylar are both dealing with challenges from their pasts, and when circumstances at college bring them together, Skylar reluctantly agrees for the financial opportunity, despite having no interest in spending time with Charlie. Charlie, however, is happy for the chance to get to know her better. As they spend more time together, they realize that many of their assumptions about each other aren't true, and I enjoyed watching their relationship develop as they learned to trust one another.

One of my favorite parts of the book was Charlie. He's a true cinnamon roll hero—kind, patient, and willing to see beyond the walls Skylar has built around herself. Skylar is fiercely independent and guarded, which made her growth throughout the story rewarding to watch.

I also have to mention Charlie's dad. He drove me absolutely crazy throughout the book, which tells me the author did exactly what she intended with his character. He added conflict, frustration, and emotional depth that made Charlie's journey even more rewarding.

The college football setting added a fun backdrop to the story, and while the romance is open door, the spice isn't overly explicit and never overshadowed the emotional connection between the characters.

Overall, I enjoyed this story and especially appreciated the themes of healing, trust, and looking beyond first impressions. If you enjoy college sports romances, forced proximity, a cinnamon roll MMC, and a hero who falls first, I think you'll enjoy Next Play.

Thank you NetGalley for this early copy of next play by DL Croisette.
first off, OMG!!!!
Second, I’m so glad I read this. it did take me a little to finish only because I was really angry with the main male characters dad. he is an a**whole. Overall I love the characters. I love Charlie and Skyler with my whole heart. I love that Skyler cared a lot about Charlie and Charlie finally sticking up to his dad and telling him that football wasn’t for him that writing is. MADE ME TEAR UP FOR SURE
I would definitely want to read more of this authors backlist and can’t wait for the next book in this series but I’m sad I have to wait.

Thank you to Netgalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Next Play follows Skylar, a photojournalism scholarship student who lost her parents and sister to a house fire at just 12 years old, and Charlie, only child of a billionaire whose entire life is dictated by the desires of his father. After blackmail leads to fake dating and forced proximity, the two start to develop feelings for one another.

This was such an easy, quick read and was exactly what I needed at the moment. I really enjoyed getting to know Skylar and Charlie and seeing them fall for each other. I also loved seeing the friendship between Skylar and her friend/roommate Poppy, Charlie and his teammates/best friends as well as Skylar with the team. I love any good found family moment and it's clear these people are one. Charlie has really good character development and whilst I loved Skylar's character, I feel like there wasn't enough character development for her, especially compared to Charlie.

Charlie's dad was horrible and cruel, living out his dreams of going pro through his son and using his son for content. I actually really liked the choice to have Charlie's dad (in addition to what seems to be his regular job) be some sort of social media influencer/personality, making himself out to be this generous rich guy when he actually is cruel. It's a slight deviation from the usual "asshole rich dad" trope that I felt was refreshing.

My only real gripes were that I wish we had more character development for Skylar and that the writing felt overly poetic. Whilst I understand Charlie to be rather poetic, it doesn't make sense that everyone is overly poetic. It led to the writing feeling off even though it was not bad.

Overall, I enjoyed my time reading this book and I'm excited for the second one. If you love sports romance or are looking to fill the Off Campus shaped hole in your heart, I totally recommend this!

Summary:
Skylar is a hard working woman who has had a very difficult life. Charlie has two lives -the public one where he puts on a show for his abusive billionaire father and the personal one that he shares with no one. Skylar and Charlie meet through her roommate (who is dating Charlie) and she instantly is distrustful of him and his wealth and the persona he puts on. When her roommate Poppy gets sick she fills in for her at a photoshoot with Charlie. The photos are a big hit and the school pairs them together for some promotional work and they are thrust into a sort of fake partnership. Until the feelings start getting real.

Read if you like:
Forced Proximity
Football/college romance
Billionaire MMC
Heavy family trauma
Slow burn

My thoughts:
3.5 rounded up. There were things I liked and things I didn't like as much. Charlie was such a great character and he showed so much growth. The writing style was easy to read. The spice was sort of more emotional spice if that makes sense. I did like Skylar as a character but I would have liked to see more growth from her. I also see this being talked about as fake dating and I didn't really feel it fit that bill. Yes they were doing promotional work together but I don't think a fake relationship was implied from that. This wasn't an issue for me -I just wanted to point it out if you're picking it up as a big fan of fake dating. I also didn't love the Poppy part of the plot. I understand her and Charlie weren't serious but it still seemed odd to me that Skylar started dating her roommate and seemingly only friends ex.

absolutely adored Next Play! D.L. Croisette has crafted a beautiful, deeply emotional New Adult sports romance that completely swept me away. The dynamic between Skylar and Charlie is spectacular. Skylar is incredibly fierce, independent, and protective of her own heart due to her past trauma, while Charlie is the ultimate cinnamon-roll hero—a billionaire golden-boy quarterback dealing with the immense weight of family expectations. The blackmail plot that forces them into a PR partnership provides the perfect foundation for a delicious, slow-burn connection. Their chemistry is undeniable, and I loved how they truly saw and supported each other's secret vulnerabilities. Watching Charlie's hidden passion for writing unfold alongside Skylar’s growth was so moving. This book has the perfect mix of emotional depth, college football charm, and great heat. A brilliant start to the Thorndale Titans series!

Waitttt i actually really loved this !!
I feel like Skylar pissed me off at times but she’s so relatable and i could understand her struggles.

and Charlie omg he is so adorable and his growth is amazing, the way he finally stood up for himself. I love that understood and realized he needed help on his own, i’m so happy he can finally heal.

Their romance felt cozy, cute and real which is everything i was hoping for !
I felt like the writing was really good too, i totally reccomend it !

Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for this eACR read for an honest review.

Next Play gave me major Off Campus vibes, but with more emotional depth and a little less romcom. Set during senior year of college, this sports romance follows a star quarterback who spends his life becoming who everyone else needs him to be and an FMC still navigating how to live her own life after the devastating loss of her family.

What stood out most was the care the author put into both the plot and the characters. Skylar and Charlie feel incredibly real, with thoughtful backstories and meaningful growth which unfolds naturally throughout the story. Watching them circle each other was one of my favorite parts—they were like two cats trying to decide whether to fight or curl up together, constantly letting each other get just within reach before throwing their walls right back up.

This book put me through an emotional rollercoaster. The scenes with Charlie returning home alongside Skylar under heartbreaking circumstances had me in tears. The vulnerability they shared in those moments, only to retreat again, was both frustrating and beautiful in the best way.

If you're looking for a sports romance with strong character development, emotional depth, and a romance worth rooting for, absolutely pick this one up. I fell in love with Skylar and Charlie and couldn't stop cheering for them to find their way to each other.

I am a huge fan of sports romance books, so this novel was right up my alley! I fell in love with the main characters, Charlie and Skylar, right away.

Charlie is a billionaire's son and a star college football quarterback. Skylar is a busy photojournalism student. She works four jobs just to get by on her scholarship. They are total opposites, and their contrasting lives made them a very fun couple. I could not wait for them to get out of their own way and find their Happily Ever After!

I saw another review compare this book to Elle Kennedy’s Off-Campus series. If you love those books, you will see some similarities in the characters and plot. However, Charlie and Skylar are unique enough to make this story feel fresh and new.

I can be a bit picky about plot consistency. A few small things threw me off. I felt like Skylar’s relationship with her roommate Poppy had some gaps. It could have used a little more attention. Also, some descriptive phrases were used too many times. The author mentions the gold in Skylar's eyes and the way she touches her collarbone a bit too much. But that is just my personal preference!

The supporting characters were fantastic. Grant was a standout, and I am so excited for book two! I cannot wait to see him and Poppy get their own love story. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good slow-burn sports romance with a happy ending!

Next Play by DL Croisette is an emotional, addictive college football romance that perfectly balances heartache, humor, chemistry, and personal growth. Set in the backdrop of a forced PR partnership, we are introduced to the FMC Skylar, a young woman who lost her family to a fire and the MMC Charlie, son to a billionaire father and the golden-boy quarterback of his colleges football team. One of the things that really made this novel shine was its emotional depth. Beyond the romance, the story explored grief, identity, family pressure, and the courage it takes to pursue your own dreams. The football backdrop added excitement without overshadowing the characters' personal journeys, creating a well-rounded New Adult romance that felt both heartfelt and engaging. Overall, Next Play was an enjoyable slow-burn sports romance with forced proximity, emotional healing, and a lovable book boyfriend.

I received an ARC copy from Netgalley. Thank you so much for giving me a chance to read and voluntarily review this novel!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for this ARC. This is my first indie author ARC and I appreciate the work that has gone into the book.

Overall I enjoyed this book. Both main characters were quite likeable, despite their difficulties with communication and overall personal struggles. I enjoyed the dual POV and the sports theme of the characters.

Because it was an ARC, I understand that it's not the final edited version. However, there were some inconsistencies that stood out for me, that made me focus in on them rather than the plot, at times. It didn't ruin the story for me, but just took away from the overall storyline. I was thrilled when the author reached out to ARC readers for feedback and with a way to report this type of thing. Unfortunately, I applied for the ARC just before launch day so I was only able to submit them quite recently. However, as someone who has read many other books with inconsistencies, I very much appreciated a way to give this feedback.

I enjoyed the book well enough to want to read the next one, which was set up well in this one.

this book was just so bloomin gorgeous. every now and then you need a romance from this age group to give you a little boost in life. that doesn't mean it doesn't hit issues or themes that might make you cry though! because boy do these younger generation go through it sometimes. and Skylar, my darling woman went through it.
you can totally see why and how our pair are the way they are. and we want to shake them and hold them in equal measure.
that age can feel tricky in many way just on its own. but when you have the happenings and pressures like these two on top of that? ouch indeed.
they both come from different worlds. but what we see is it doesn't afford you a life without troubles even if they are different ones. because sometimes they cause a guard and unsafe or uncertainty that isn't too dissimilar to the other person. ie these two.
i loved spending time with them. their connection felt so solid, grounded and true. their banter was push me pull me brilliant. but their was something so comforting and cosy about it too. these two had pure care written through their hearts and seeing them give to te other and then finally themselves was perfection.
i see this is a part of a series. and ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh do i love when i find a brilliant book and then see there is more to come!wahoo.

3.75⭐️

I’m so torn on this because I genuinely think this could’ve been a much higher rating… but I need a minute.

Can someone please explain why we had to make Charlie Poppy’s ex? 😭 Like yes, I know Poppy gave them the all clear to date, but who willingly dates their best friend’s ex?? There was literally no reason for that plot point to exist. I get that Skylar filling in for Poppy at cheer is what brought them together, but Poppy and Charlie could’ve just been good friends. It would’ve changed absolutely nothing except stopping me from side-eyeing everyone from chapter one.

Knowing Skylar and Charlie were obviously endgame while he was still with Poppy immediately put me in a bad mood and made it so much harder for me to warm up to the characters.

Now… for the sake of being fair, I’m going to pretend that whole situation never happened because Skylar and Charlie actually suited each other really well. I loved that Skylar was one of the only people who truly understood Charlie, and I loved how he’d drop everything the second she needed him. Their connection felt natural, and they really did bring out the best in each other.

I will say that about 90% of the drama could’ve been avoided if these two knew how to communicate. 😭 But they’re college students, and Charlie has probably never seen what healthy communication looks like, so… I’ll let them off (just this once).

Overall, I did enjoy this, but I can’t ignore how much that Poppy storyline affected my reading experience.

Amazing story with great representation of stereotypes and how we let our first impression guide the way we interact with others.
The main characters personalities were on point. I felt a connection with Skylar emotional bagage. Loved the way both characters were able to figure out exactly want they wanted in life and not be afraid to ask for it. I recommend this book to anyone who likes sweet romances.

Next Play is the first book I have read from D.L Croisette and it will definitely not be my last.
I loved the ways that the characters developed over the storyline and were able to grow. This book felt so much more than a romance and the writing really let you feel the emotions of the characters. Even though Charlie and Skylar were from completely opposite sides of the tracks, both were relatable to the reader. At times they were frustrating, but that was all part of them needing to get past their own barriers.
The supportive side characters also made this book and it makes you want to know more about them. So I was excited to find out that there is going to be a second book in the series and I can’t wait to read Grant and Poppy’s story in Second Option.
This book will suit anybody that loves a sports romance with forced proximity and a slow burn.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Adorable romance and great read. However I did feel a lack of chemistry at times between the main couple and felt the friendship more than romance.

This was such an incredible and heartwarming book! The complexity and layers to these characters were so well thought out and executed! I found the storyline perfect and the main characters worked so well together! 10/10 reccomend!