Ava Enters the Group Chat
A Closed-Door Sports Romance
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Pub Date Feb 2 2027 | Archive Date Mar 2 2027
Thomas Nelson Fiction | Thomas Nelson
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Description
Wrong number. Right woman. One big secret . . .
After a disastrous rookie season, quarterback Hudson Herring hopes that getting traded to a new team will turn his career around. Things are looking up in Houston with a great coaching staff and solid teammates. And though he wasn’t looking, he meets an intriguing woman who works for the team owner as a giraffe keeper. Despite their instant chemistry, Ava turns him down because of his very public job.
Hudson is distracted from her rejection when his teammates realize that they accidentally added a wrong number to their group chat. When the woman proves more than able to keep up with their back-and-forth banter, they ask her to stay. In order to keep their identities hidden, everyone agrees to a nickname.
Soon, Hudson and the woman they call Imposter begin their own side conversations leading to a tentative friendship … and maybe something more. But Hudson begins to realize a wildly unlikely coincidence: the woman from the chat is actually Ava.
Torn between confessing the truth and wanting to be seen for more than his job in the spotlight, Hudson turns to his teammates for help. Inspired by a viewing of You’ve Got Mail, they encourage him to formulate a grand reveal while winning her over by text in secret and as himself through a series of letters.
With a double life, growing chemistry, and a secret that won't stay hidden forever, Hudson risks losing the one woman who never cared about his fame in the first place.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781400355761 |
| PRICE | $17.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 400 |
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Buy on BN.com Buy on Bookshop.orgAverage rating from 130 members
Featured Reviews
I absolutely devoured this book for so many reasons; it reads like a modern-day Pride & Prejudice, without a brooding Mr, Darcy, but instead a fun love triangle that makes you root for both guys! By using texting and old-fashioned letters, characters in the book really get to know one another the “old fashioned way” in a modern world, and I loved the growth and connections shown through that. Then, add in giraffes, a wealthy female entrepreneur with a giant heart, and a football team filled with witty banter, I was all in. This is a great beach read filled with wit, zero spice, heart, and a reminder that our prejudice or prior notions might all go out the door when we realize love trumps it all! I’m really hoping this becomes a series for all four guys we got to know in this book!
Thank you Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the ARC
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Emma St. Clair has done it again! I absolutely adored Ava Enters the Group Chat from the very first page and couldn’t put it down. Honestly, I adore anything Emma writes, and this one was no exception.
The accidental group chat premise was so much fun and had me smiling the entire time. The banter between the characters was hilarious, witty, and felt so natural. Ava was such a lovable heroine, and Hudson completely stole my heart. Their chemistry was sweet, heartfelt, and had me rooting for them from the beginning.
I loved how this story balanced laugh out-loud moments with genuine emotion. The secret, the slow building romance, and the reminder that there’s more to a person than their public image made this such a feel-good read.
If you’re looking for a charming, closed-door romance with fantastic characters, amazing banter, and all the butterflies, this one is an absolute must read. Another five star winner from Emma St. Clair!
Abookaday A, Reviewer
I absolutely loved this book! I kept giving myself reading time limits so I could get some cleaning done and catch up on the other ARCs waiting on my TBR, but this story had me hooked from the very first chapter. Every time I told myself, “Just one more chapter,” I couldn’t stop until I finished with a huge smile on my face.
As someone whose all-time favorite movie is *You’ve Got Mail*, this book was right up my alley. The cast of characters completely melted my heart—giraffes and all!
Ava is determined to stay out of the spotlight after growing up with two famous parents and spending her childhood in the public eye. She’s happy living a quiet life until she meets Hudson. Once she discovers he’s the star quarterback recently traded to her boss’s team, she refuses to pursue the connection. But when she’s accidentally added to a football team group chat because her phone number is one digit off, she can’t resist the hilarious banter with these larger-than-life players.. She especially connects with one member, “Boss,” through private messages. Watching these tough football players show their funny, genuine sides was one of my favorite parts of the book. As Ava gets to know both Hudson and his alter ego, she realizes some risks are absolutely worth taking .
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the free advanced copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Maren C, Educator
(I received a complimentary advance copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)
Emma St. Clair does it again!
I have fallen in love with each of her books, for a plethora of reasons, and all of them can be found in this book.
1. The Cheese
Yes, the book is cheesy. Yes, it can be silly. Yes, it may not be entirely believable (PA to giraffe keeper is far fetched—turn it into a zoology student who couldn’t find a job out of college so took the PA job to work up to it, and that would have been better! Or some other reason to justify that Ava wanted to work with animals.)
However, the cheese and silliness and playfulness between characters is the charm of St. Clair’s books! Her character relationships are so believable because they tease each other (doing it well, I might add), and you can see the bond they have beneath it. I was giggling and laughing out loud at some of the group texts, and even at the letters and in person interactions. (Tangent, but Hudson’s letters?? Yes please!) So yes, there is cheese. No, it’s not for everyone. Does it help this reader to escape reality and enjoy a cute book? Absolutely! It may not be your cup of hot cocoa, but it sure is mine!
2. Character Relationships
I touched on this briefly already with the cheese, but the banter and the friendships we see throughout the book are so cute. I loved the football players and their camaraderie, but especially how soft and sweet they were with Ava and Hazel. I also loved that Ava connected with Presley, and that she realized that her own hindrances were keeping her back, not that Presley wasn’t interested. I would love to see more of their relationship now that they are spending time together!
Family relationships aren’t always easy, so I loved that St. Clair showed that—with Ava and her dad, Hudson and his dad, Ava and her step-mother, Ava and Presley, etc. Even Hudson and his mom showed growth, and as an added benefit, his mom raised him right! I mean, “Anne of Green Gables”? Priceless. (And on that note, a man that willingly reads “Pride and Prejudice” without being directly asked to??? I died dead.)
3. No Spice
Clean rom coms are my jam! This is a hallmark for St. Clair, which may be controversial, but it is a hill I am willing to die on: you do not need explicit scenes for character growth, relationships, or tension. The sparks between Ava and Hudson leap off the page, without the added scenes. You can still giggle and cry and gasp in all the right places. Enough said.
4. The Romance
Ah, the romance. The heart of the story. That meet cute was something else, for sure! I can honestly say that I’ve never read another book with a fake make-out session in a walk-in fridge that ends up with bloody hands from broken glasses. Believable? …meh. Freaking cute and setting the tone for more banter? Absolutely!
Ava and Hudson are so cute together, and I adore that Hudson was patient with Ava and let her come to her own conclusions instead of trying to force something. He never tried to change her, loved her work uniform and glasses, and took the time to get to know what makes her tick. He is long suffering and shows Ava that not all public relationships are going to end up the same way—he keeps their kisses private, as promised, and knows that she isn’t in it for the fame. Win-win!
Ava takes some time to let down her tower gates, (iykyk), but once she does? She knows what she wants and she doesn’t mess it up. Sold!
On the flip side…
A few thoughts for improvement:
Ava’s backstory and desire to be out of the public eye was totally believable! However, I would have liked to have a bit more information to bolster that character growth. We get bits and pieces throughout, which I love! But maybe a flashback or her dad talking about the accident more would have been helpful. That being said, I loved that we saw how Ava had a complicated relationship with her dad and yet still loved him, persevered, and actually talked to him! Underrated, imo. I also think it would have been cool to see them play together or to co-write a song or something.
I do also wish we got a bit more from the football players. BUT. If the reason behind the lack of Gunny, Polo, and Sherlock content is that this is eventually going to be a series and the rest of them will find love… I will be sat and stop complaining!
Overall!
This is a 5-star read for me because it is the type of book that I personally love. It may not be for everyone, but as a cute, opposites attract rom com? Sign me up! There are a few things that I would consider tweaking, as mentioned, but I would reread this in a heartbeat and I would bet that I would still be giggling and smiling at it just the same as the first time through. I could probably go on and on and elaborate on all the points made, but instead, I’ll just wait for the official release and reread it then!
You've Got Mail is one of my favorite movies but Ava and Hudson are even better! This book took all of my favorite parts from the movie and left behind the cheating elements. These two are so good together. Emma St. Clair has written another beautiful story that makes you laugh and cry and connect with the characters like only she can. This book is an absolute delight and if you love a good rom-com with plenty of banter, hilarious side characters, and wacky animal moments, this is it!
Jessica M, Reviewer
Emma St. Clair is an automatic purchase for me! She is brilliant! This was an absolutely delightful read from start to finish! The plot was well-paced and the characters were charming and witty. This is definitely one I'll read again! Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.
Librarian 320692
Emma St. Clair has done it again! I absolutely adored Ava Enters the Group Chat from the very first page and couldn’t put it down. Honestly, I adore anything Emma writes, and this one was no exception. This great book was a bingeable, fun, closed-door romance. The group chat was the highlight of the book.
Brooke B, Reviewer
I loved this book so much! Emma St Clair always writes the best banter, and some how this book has next level banter! Ava and Hudson are so fun and lovable. The giraffes are adorable. I really hope to see the rest of the guys from the group chat get their own books.
Kisses only, no swearing
Reviewer 1267988
This book immediately sucked me in. Their meet cute may be a new favorite. It was so sweet and I was smiling so big. How can I love two characters so quickly?
Alright, it’s another Emma book win. I mean Ava and Hudson were so wonderful but you know the football guys STOLE the show. (I just needed to be like Marco for a minute.) There were so many laughs and sweet moments. There’s football, there are giraffes, there are (kind of) secret identities, and through it all there is just the loveliest story.
The girl friendships were also so wonderful and I just loved how they thrived throughout.
I’m just going to throw a few of my notes down here that I had while reading!
-Oh my gosh…the four guys. Gold. They are just SO much fun. The group chat is hilarious. The way they all volunteered together.
-I didn’t know a pretend, not actual kiss could be so hot.
-there’s some “you’ve got mail” vibes and obviously I’m a fan of that.
-oh my gosh! The letters!
-the growth of Ava and Presley’s relationship made me so happy!
CW: closed door (make outs only), divorce.
Thank you so much to netgalley, Thomas Nelson fiction and Emma St. Clair for allowing to me to read an early copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Reviewer 1866908
This was my first book by Emma St. Clair, and after reading it, it definitely won’t be my last!
Ava Enters the Group Chat is such a refreshing read and unlike anything I’ve read before. I loved the chemistry between Ava and Hudson, as well as the wonderful side characters and witty banter throughout. The strong support system each main character has from their friends adds so much warmth to the story.
Emma St. Clair really knows how to hook you from page one and keep you turning pages. While a few plot points require a bit of suspended disbelief—like a personal assistant turned giraffe keeper—it was never distracting. The story is so well-written and engaging that it's easy to just roll with it and enjoy the ride.
If you're looking for a closed-door romance with chef's-kiss chemistry and fantastic tension, look no further. Highly recommend!
Oh this was fun, the start / meet cute was perfect, hilarious. I enjoyed every single moment in this book. Emma St Clair books are just something so special. It's always so fun to read one of her books and the characters always leave a lasting impression!
Diane M, Reviewer
Be prepared to laugh!
You will laugh a lot reading when you read Ava Enters the Group Chat because you will be entertained (the best part of a romance) when Ava McDonough is accidently added to some random group chat. But instead of removing herself from the chat she outs herself them leading to some really funny text conversation between everybody without knowing who she was texting.
I never thought that a romance between a giraffe keeper and a professional football quarterback would be on my romance bingo card but I loved how they get to know each other though text conversations before they ever meet in person. So add Ava Enters the Group Chat to your list of books to buy when it is released!
Now I want to read books about Polo, Gunny and Sherlock AKA Hudson’s teammates!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the author and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I love the premise, the setup, the giraffes, the wrestling with tough family relationships, the sweetheart Hudson trying to prove to Ava that he's worth the risk. I love it all! So many laughs, a few tears, and smiling the whole way through. Loved this book so very very much. I read an early version through NetGalley, all thoughts are my own. Check this one out as soon as you can!
First of all, I lost count of the amount of times I caught myself smiling while reading this book! Ava Enters the Group Chat by Emma St. Clair had me giggling, smiling, and swooning for the characters. If you loved the movie You’ve Got Mail, then this is the perfect read for you!
After being accidentally added to a group chat with strangers, Ava is in for quite the adventure as she gets to know the guys (one more than the others). Hudson, the owner of one of the phone numbers, can’t stop thinking about Ava, the Head Giraffe Keeper for his team’s owner, or the girl on his phone screen. He has one (big) problem though - he’s a very well-known QB and Ava has told him she wants nothing to do with the spotlight.
One thing I loved about this book was how easily it hooked me from the beginning! I read this in three sittings, though it would have been one if it weren’t for the fact that I had to work or that I needed to sleep. Ava and Hudson were very likable and genuine main characters! Their storyline kept me engaged and wanting to see them both happy (loved the ending by the way). It was as if I was reading a 90s romcom in that it felt very nostalgic of the perfect romance and a sweet escape.
Overall, I thought this was a cute and funny romance! I’d highly recommend this book if you’re looking for the ideal clean, spring or summer romance!
Thank you to Emma St. Clair, Thomas Nelson Fiction, and NetGalley for an eARC of Ava Enters the Group Chat! I loved it and can’t wait to (hopefully) read more books with this group of friends!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Having read several of Emma St. Clair’s books, I’ve come to expect stories that are heartfelt, clean, and laugh out loud funny — and this one absolutely delivers.
Quarterback Hudson Herring is determined to rebuild his career after a rough rookie year in Tennessee. When he’s traded to Houston, he quickly bonds with his new teammates. A group chat soon forms, and Hudson is added… except his number is entered incorrectly. To everyone’s surprise, the owner of that wrong number starts responding. Once the mistake is fixed, the guys decide to keep the mystery contact, labeling her “Imposter.” It doesn’t take long to discover the imposter is a woman.
Ava has worked for wealthy Maxine Knies for years — first as her personal assistant and now as her senior giraffe keeper. Max collects exotic animals and also happens to own the Houston football team. During a team event on Max’s property, Ava and the new recruit meet under wildly unexpected circumstances. Sparks fly instantly, but Ava has a firm rule: never get involved with anyone famous or publicly recognizable.
Things become even more complicated when the players realize the imposter is Ava — and that Hudson has developed a huge crush on her. His teammates, well-meaning but relentless, bombard him with romantic advice, making the situation even more entertaining.
I laughed my way through this book, and it was impossible not to fall in love with these wonderfully quirky, lovable characters. Emma St. Clair blends humor, heart, and charm in a way that makes this story an absolute delight.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.
I loved this book and anything that Emma writes . I ran so fast to request this when I saw was NetGalley lol
I highly recommend this and anything Emma writes you won’t be disappointed
Thank you NetGalley and publishers for my copy
Welp. Loved this.
Ava is a giraffe keeper for a very rich woman who happens to own a pro football team. Ava meets Hudson at an event (they don’t want to be at) very quickly but an adorable meet cute. She then gets accidentally added to a group chat. She figures out they are men but doesn’t know what they do. They let her stay in even when they figure out they added the wrong number and the banter is perfection.
Hudson wants to pursue Ava but she has a hard rule about not dating celebrities. Yet she can’t get him out of her mind.
Meanwhile she and one of the group chat guys start a private chat. They get along so well even though their identity is a mystery.
This was such a sweet and fun journey to go on. It referenced You’ve Got Mail. It was clean and the football guys reminded me of The Bromance Book Club! I need a sequel with all of their stories! We watch all of their friendships unfold as well as backstories for Hudson & Ava. Everyone was so likeable and charming.
I do wish the text bubbles were bubbles. Maybe because it was an arc it didn’t have the final touches! I almost want to immediately open and read again! I’m going to miss this gang!
Angela B, Reviewer
I loved this book! I laughed out loud so many times while reading it. I haven’t enjoyed a book this much in a long time. The guys in the group chat were awesome. I wanted to be in that chat with them and be part of that friend group. I hope there are more books to come about the other guys because I could not get enough of them.
•𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰•
{𝑨𝒗𝒂 𝑬𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑮𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒑 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒕}
🦒 Release Date: February 2, 2027 🦒
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GAHHH!! This book was so stinkin’ CUTE!! (I may take after Guy #2/Polo with my capitalization—IYKYK 😂) I haven’t read such an entertaining and adorable romcom in a long time. It was exactly the fun read I was looking for to keep me entertained for the short spurts I’m able to read while taking care of my baby ☺️
I’ve become a bit persnickety with the typical romcom tropes, and nicknames are something that are either a big hit or miss for me, but the nicknames in this story were perfect! They fit the characters so perfectly while not making me want to roll my eyes every time they were mentioned—a big win in my book 🤭
Speaking of tropes, the opposites-attract trope was written to perfection in this story! Their meet-cute…absolutely ADORABLE! The fliiiirting!! Swoon 🫠 Ugh, I couldn’t get enough of Hudson & Ava 🫶🏻 They were perfect for each other in every possible way which made for an absolutely scrumptious romcom!
There were so many unique aspects to this story, such as Ava being a giraffe keeper—I don’t think I’ve ever read a story that includes giraffes so casually before. I love that this book didn’t feel like every other romcom out there!
The group chat intruder was also such a fun addition to the plot, making it the entertaining read that it is. I was definitely cheesing through every single text thread 😁 The guys were just as hilarious as they thought they were 🤭 Honestly, all of the characters were highly enjoyable to read about!
If you’re looking for a very entertaining few hours, go read this fantastic book! I can guarantee that you won’t be disappointed 😆
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I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishing. All opinions listed are purely my own.
Maizie B, Reviewer
I have never been disappointed by Emma St. Clair and this book just continues that streak! Ava Enters the Group Chat was such a fun, lighthearted read. The characters were amazing and all of the movie references were right up my alley. Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read an early copy! I highly recommend checking out this book once it comes out.
Sydney M, Reviewer
This book wins ALL of the banter, yearning, and slow burn awards!!! If you want to laugh (and scream a little when you just want the main characters to actually get together), you NEED to read this book!
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I do have to say that I strongly disagree that London Fog ice cream would taste bad. I had Earl Gray lavender ice cream in Universal once and it was AMAZING! Ice cream preferences aside, this book was so much fun! I truly cannot remember the last time I laughed so much reading a book. Emma St. Clair really nailed the group chat dynamics between a bunch of guys, which was hilarious! The main characters are automatically people you want to root for and the side characters are all so amazing you could read books about each and every one of them. You should set your calendar notifications now for February 2nd because you won’t want to miss Ava Enters the Group Chat when it comes out!!
I adored this modern version of the old "You've Got Mail" romance, and it worked so well with text messaging. It started off with a bang, bringing giraffes, fridge incidents, quirky billionaires, and So. Much. Banter. Both Ava and Hudson captured my heart immediately, and I can't wait to follow the other characters through the series...because they really are CHARACTERS.
Tropes include:
- He Falls First
- Hilarious Meet Cute, Trapped Together in a Small Space
- All the Nicknames
- Fame/Athlete Romance
- Secret Identity/Hidden Past
- Very Strange Jobs (giraffes!)
- Billionaire Boss
I loved watching Hudson slowly lower his walls with both Ava and his teammates, after getting burned by the people on his old team. His sweet but determined pursuit of Ava was precious to see, and I was cheering for him from the beginning. The nicknames were adorable, and all of the personalities of the characters coming through over text made me laugh out loud. This was a perfect setup story for the entire series, and I can’t wait for the rest of it!
Thank you NetGalley, Emma St. Clair, Thomas Nelson Fiction for this arc!
One of the most unique You’ve Got Mail retellings I’ve ever read! If you like Meghan Quinn or Catherine Center you will love this author. Plenty of laugh out loud moments while still having serious moments as well. Five stars, highly recommend!
Anne T, Reviewer
I absolutely loved the concept of this book, and the approach was so unique. Hudson really struggled with his decision to keep the truth from Ava, and it was nice seeing both sides of the argument coming from Tyson/Marco and Gunny. And the way Hudson made the decision was mature - he looked at both sides, weighed the importance against the morality, and took his decision like a man. I really liked Gunny's character (does he get a book later?). And the relationship among the men was so fun to watch, with them being so different yet still supporting each other in a realistic way.
Ava was a fun character and it was interesting to see her takeaway from her childhood and how it affected her adulthood. I did notice one minor inconsistency that troubled me throughout the book (though not enough to dock a star). At the very beginning, during the party when she first started receiving the text messages, she suspected that Guy#4 was at the same party as her and also hiding from people. Then when she finally met him, that suspicion completely went out the window and she didn't even entertain the thought that Boss and Hudson could be the same person until it was made blazingly obvious at the end. Obviously the way it worked out did fit, but I felt like she should have suspected something was up much earlier. Or at least a little earlier?
The banter in this book is outstanding and I laughed out loud more than a few times while reading this. I would absolutely recommend this book to others and I will always recommend this author as she is one of my favorites.
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book!
AVA ENTERS THE GROUP CHAT was such a cute read and exactly the kind of romcom goodness I enjoy reading. This story had me smiling from the start, giggling out loud and completely hooked on every text exchange. The banter was fun and the whole setup made it such a fun read.
What I loved most was how the characters came to life through those group chat moments and private conversations. It was such a great way to get to know them and I found myself rooting for Ava and Hudson every step of the way. Their chemistry was sweet, charming and full of that feel good tension that makes a romance so satisfying.
This is the kind of book that just makes you happy. It's playful and heartfelt. AVA ENTERS THE GROUP CHAT is a total romcom win for me. I’m giving it the judy.ann.loves.books stamp of approval, TBR and Enjoy!
Reviewer 1217828
Thanks to NetGalley for this arc! This book was adorable and I was smiling at my kindle during so many different parts of the book. The overall premise has been done before, especially in the 90’s rom com movies, however it had its own unique aspects. The second half of the book was a little bit of a stretch and very unlikely that she wouldn’t realize they were the same person. Parts were also pretty cheesy. But I still loved it and thought it was an adorable clean HEA rom-com!
Robin F, Librarian
This was such a cute, feel-good romance. I really liked the whole wrong-number/group-chat setup, and the fact that Ava had no idea she was chatting with the very man she had already turned down made it even more fun.
Hudson was easy to root for, especially because he genuinely wanted Ava to see him as a person instead of just a famous quarterback. I also really liked Ava and her job as a giraffe keeper. It’s not every day you get a romance with a giraffe keeper, and I thought that was such a fun detail.
The group chat was probably my favorite part. The teammates added a lot of humor, and I loved how invested they became in Hudson’s love life. The whole secret-identity situation definitely created some frustrating moments, but it also kept me reading to see how everything would eventually come out.
There were definitely some cheesy moments, but in the best way. The You’ve Got Mail inspiration was also a fun touch and fit the story perfectly.
Overall, this was a sweet, low-stress romance with plenty of banter, secret messages, sports, and a couple that was easy to root for. Perfect if you’re looking for something light and feel-good.
I really enjoyed reading Ava Enters the Group Chat. It's my first read from Emma St. Clair, and I have to say I found a new favorite author.
This book is no spice closed-door romance with all the hilarious banter and antics from the football team, characters that feel real and are believable.
I loved the characters in this book, not even just Ava and Hudson; his teammates were great characters too. I wish there were more from this universe, and I hope there will be more books to come with these characters, and a series will come from it.
Ava likes her quiet life. Because she grew up with her parents being famous, she has grown to want to go out of her way to be as private as she can be. So when she meets Hudson, her boss's new quarterback, she chooses not to pursue their instant connection. What she didn't account for was being accidentally added to a group chat that just so happens to be with Hudson and his teammates. She doesn't know that the person she has been sharing private messages with is the football player she turned down, the same football player that she is also getting to know as himself and not just his alter ego "boss." She might come to find that maybe some risks are worth taking after all.
It was so fun to see the guys teasing each other and being absolutely funny but also genuine too.
I loved the banter and hilarity in this book. There were so many times I was laughing; it was just so much fun to spend time reading and seeing Hudson and Ava build their relationship up was really wonderful to see.
Thank you, NetGalley, Thomas Nelson Fiction, Thomas Nelson, and Emma St. Clair, for the early copy of this wonderful read. I truly enjoyed it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Closed Door Romcom
- Dual POV
- Quarterback MMC
- Senior Giraffe handler FMC
- found family
- Meddling friends
- Hilarious group messages
- You’ve got mail inspired
✨ a few of my favorite things:
- the group dynamic of the football guys
- 😂 the tower analogy
- Hudson’s pursuit of Ava, the thoughtfulness, the gifts, the letters
- Him calling her to help with his anxiety
- Her first voice note to him
- The casino night scene 😉
- When Ava finally figures it out 👏🏻
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I throughly enjoyed myself while reading Emma St. Clair’s latest masterpiece. I laughed so much at all the crazy conversations and the guys’ wild antics. I really enjoyed the banter between Hudson and Ava. This was a heart warming reading with sweet friends and family relationships who support but also push the MCs when needed. Really really loved the moment Ava had with her dad. That scene felt so very human and relatable.
I also appreciated the depth of character from both MCs. Ava is struggling with how her childhood played out and the implications of who her parents are, while Hudson is navigating complicated grief and a new job. I loved how they comforted and encouraged each other. Just talking to the other brought so much comfort. I was worried how it would all play out and I was on Gunny’s team but the AH-HA moment in the end was so good and the ending is so satisfying.
This is a closed door romance with just kissing and no language.
**Thank you so much to Emma/Kiki and Thomas Nelson for letting me read this gifted ARC via NetGalley. No positive review was required. All thoughts are my own.**
Raquel L, Reviewer
I love all Emma St.Clair books and this was no ditterent. Ava accidently gets added to a group chat of a bunch of football players. She doesn't know who they really are. She meets Hudson and likes him until she realizes he's a famous football player. She has always said she won't date anyone famous because of the life she lives from her parents being in the spotlight being famous. She doesn't realize the guy "Boss' in the texts is the same as Hudson.
The clues are there but she doesn't catch on til the very end. Very cutesy rom com. Thank you emma and netgalley for the arc for my honest review.
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