Way Off Base is a charming and unexpectedly nuanced and tender romance. The voice memo gone to teh wrong person is such a relateable and cringey opening that really gets you hooked but the vulnerability of the characters keeps you in!

This Adult Audiobook was an entertaining Rom-Com with a little spice! The dual narrators delivered the story so well, keeping me engaged from beginning to end. The pacing was perfect that I was so invested I finished it in just one day!

Book 3 of The North Bay Series connects back to characters from the previous books, but you don’t need to read them first. I jumped into the series with the audiobook and had no trouble following along.

The book opens with her sitting in the gynecologist’s office discussing libido issues and honestly, very relevant! Her doctor explains that her medication could be causing the problem, and offers a cream or there’s the absolutely wild idea of a $6,000 injection to help restore the ability to orgasm. Talk about an expensive solution to a very awkward problem! Wanting a friend's professional opinion she reaches out to her old friend Josephine, hoping she might have an answer expect she accidentally sends the voice memo to Jordan, her brother’s best friend and team mate. So realizing she just sent him a very personal voice memo about her sex life? MORTIFYING.

Jordan and Shelly develop a sweet connection, sneaking behind her brother, and thankfully, he is caring, respectful, honest, and not creepy at all. The story felt realistic as well.
Love always finds the way!

Thank you Netgalley, and Audio ARC provided by Victory Editing for the Audiobook.

This is really well done. It broaches some tough subject’s expertly. I’d not heard of one of the terms. Kind of eye opening. I really enjoyed this. I usually prefer a bit more spice and I think that could have happened. I do realise this is about much more important issues. Issues that should be talked about. I don’t want to give any spoilers. The narration is fantastic, I absolutely loved both the voices used. Definitely recommend.

This brothers best friend story did not need to go as hard as it did but I am ok with that.
Way Off Base took a deep look at an often ignored subject, putting eyes on relationships who’d those who’s hearts and body’s take time and patience to align. Neurodiversity, medications and the spectrum of sexuality is an area where more stories could be told. It’s not a just interesting, it’s real.
While this is the third in an interconnected stand alone series and recommended to be read in order, it truly does stand apart well, and while you don’t want to miss those other stories, you aren’t missing out by listening to this one first.
Dual narration was fantastic and I always enjoy Andi Eloise’s work, so much emotion in all parts of the story. Don’t miss the bloopers at the end from Brendon either
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing this ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed listening to this one. The plot and characters were well developed and kept my attention. The story lines were captivating and handled with care. I didn’t want to put the story down and just kept listening to another chapter. I loved Shelley and Jordan so much. Shelley was so relatable and loved watching her self growth from beginning till the end. The narrators did an excellent job bringing these characters to life. I would definitely recommend this to others and look forward to reading the other books in the series.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with the audiobook ARC.

This was so interesting and real. The FMC Shelly has a problem in the intimacy department and tries to find a medical solution (kudos for that, grown up woman actually goes to the doctor instead of googling it). Desperate, she tries to contact her friend who published a study on the similar topic but instead she sends the message to her brother's best friend Jordan. At first, she is embarrassed but then she realises that Jordan might be the one person, she can discuss her problems with. Although first reluctant (because of "hands off my sister" bro code), Jordan finds out that they can actually help each other as he also has his own issues.

There were so many things that were right about this book: Shelly seeking medical help, both her and Jordan being adults and actually talking, Shelly's ADHD and neurodivergent issues. The relationships in her family. Everything felt so real!

The audiobook narration by Andi Eloise and Brendan Francis was perfect.

I haven't read the previous books from this series but now I definitely will. There were warnings for spoilers if you haven't read book 1 or 2 but the only thing I got is that the couples will end up happy together, so I do not mind. Yes, there was a bit more about the story of the FMC's brother, but I will still read his book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Way Off Base by Stephanie Giese
🎧 Narrated by Brandon Francis & Andi Eloise

This one hit surprisingly close to home for me. The feelings around identity, disability, relationships, and simply not feeling like you belong were incredibly relatable. I especially appreciated how the disability representation explored the relationship side of things—the insecurities, complicated feelings, and questions about where you fit in someone else’s life.

Despite dealing with some pretty heavy topics, Way Off Base never felt overwhelmingly heavy. There were plenty of lighter, comedic moments mixed throughout that had me laughing and gave the story a really nice balance.

Brandon Francis and Andi Eloise did a fantastic job bringing the characters and all of those emotions to life. This was heartfelt, funny, emotional, and at times a little too relatable.

An easy 5 stars from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

(3.75 rounded up)

Way off base is a brother’s best friend sports romance. This story tackles some heavy topics such as anxiety, medication, side effects of medication, possibly neurodiversity, and sexual identity. This story presents these topics in a realistic,,clear: and respectful manner. At times, it can be heavy to read about, but it feels very real and you feel for the characters and what they are going through.

I feel like this story could be very validating and healing for anyone going through something similar.

Narration style (duet) and narrators were wonderful!

Thank you Victory Editing and NetGalley

⭐⭐⭐

This was a good and entertaining audiobook! I really enjoyed the narrators and I think they’re a big reason I enjoyed this as much as I did. They did a great job with the characters and made it really easy to keep listening.

Other than that, I really don’t have a ton to say about this one. It wasn’t bad by any means, it was just a little bland and nothing really stood out to me. I definitely don’t think this is something I would have actually sat down and read, but as an audiobook it was an easy and enjoyable listen.

I’d still recommend the audiobook if the story sounds like something you’d enjoy!

Thank you to Victory Editing, NetGalley, and Stephanie Giese for this ALC!

Stephanie Giese is a new to me author and this is the first book I have read from this series, but it will not be the last! This one starts with an accidental voicemail and then a friendship forms between Shelly and Jordan. I love that this book went into detail about some very real and raw issues that women deal with everyday!

I really enjoyed Andi Eloise and Brandon Francis narrating this one! You could feel the chemistry between the characters and they made these emotional conversations come to life.

If you love a brother’s best friend, found family, and secret relationship romance, this one is most definitely worth the listen!

Way Off Base is the third baseball romance in the North Bay series. Shelly is afraid to ask for help about her lack of desire and when she finally gets the courage she dials the wrong number and leaves a voicemail for her brother’s best friend. Once the awkwardness passes, Shelly and Jordan start to get to know each other better and it’s not long before sparks start to fly. Maybe the dialing the wrong number was the best thing Shelly could have done.

I am a sports romance fan and have read the first romance in this series so knew I needed to check this one out when I saw it. I love brother’s best friend romance tropes and thought this one was well done. Shelly and Jordan were cute together. I really liked the way this book dove into Shelly’s struggles and recognized them. That part of the book was well handled. This was a slow burn romance full of banter and chemistry. I enjoyed this book from the beginning to end and need to check out the second book in the series.

Way Off Base was such a fun, unexpectedly heartfelt listen! ⚾️🩷

This one had me laughing at the sheer awkwardness of some situations, especially the accidental voicemail situation—which is basically the kind of mistake you’d want to crawl into a hole and never come back from. 😂 But underneath all the humor, there’s a really sweet romance and some surprisingly emotional moments.

I loved watching Shelley and Jordan’s relationship develop. Their chemistry felt natural, and I appreciated that their connection wasn’t just about attraction. There’s friendship, vulnerability, communication, and a lot of personal growth mixed in, which gave the story more depth than I expected.

The audiobook narration worked really well for the story. The dual narration helped bring both characters to life, and I enjoyed being able to experience the story from both perspectives. The narrators kept the pacing engaging and made the funny and emotional moments land.

Overall, this was a cute, funny, emotional sports romance with plenty of heart. It had me smiling, cringing, laughing, and rooting for these two. Definitely a fun addition to the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ALC in exchange for my honest review.

The author did a good job introducing a unique challenge for the heroine, who struggles with being able to finish during intimacy. I appreciated the medical perspective and education around this topic, but I felt the story was supposed to be a baseball romance and instead became more of an exploration and education on this issue.

The storyline itself was good, and the hero was tremendously understanding and patient throughout. This is a book that will appeal to a specific type of reader, but it may not be for everyone.

Thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook.

I loved that this book was the opposite of instalove (not that I don’t love that) because these characters had to process and work through real issues to find their HEA. Shelly was very type A, was neurodivergent, and had some past traumas that made her more rigid. Jordan is dealing with the end of his career, processing his own trauma, and trying to figure out his sexual orientation. Together they get to be honest in a way they couldn’t with other people in their lives with an element of the forbidden since she is his best friend’s sister. There is a lot of character development that makes these characters relatable. This is a great story for when you want to lean into the characters and have a great low angst story.
The narrators were perfect for these characters.

Way Off Base was such a fun audiobook! I loved the brother’s best friend trope, the awkward situations and the whole small-town baseball romance vibe. The accidental voicemail situation had me laughing, and I really enjoyed watching their relationship develop.
Andi Eloise and Brandon Francis were fantastic together. The narration really brought the characters and chemistry to life, and it made this such an easy, entertaining listen.

Way Off Base was a fun listen. I liked Shelley and Jordan together and watching their brother’s-best-friend situation turn into something neither of them expected.

I appreciated how the story handled Shelley’s struggles with intimacy and ADHD, and how patient Jordan was with her. There was a nice mix of funny and more serious moments, and I liked how their relationship developed throughout the story.

Thank you to Stephanie Giese and NetGalley for the ALC. This review is based on my own listening experience. 🎧❤️

It has been a hot minute since I've read a brother's best friend romance and this was exactly what I needed to get back into the genre it had spice it had an understanding male lead it didn't have as much miscommunications I was expecting the patients of the male lead was chefs kiss and although I didn't feel a connection with the female lead I could understand her trouble and the connection was unmistakable and 100% are we reading more from this series.

I enjoyed this book a lot! Stephanie Giese is a fantastic author and I will read more! Definitely going to read the first 2 of the series.

I do think this is one of those books that is actually better for me to listen to rather than to read; there were moments straight off the bat where I was like, 'Oh, so we are going down this route. There are hard subjects to deal with which often are spoken about in romance in the way they should be, and I do think this is a really fresh and nice twist on a very popular trope.

Shelley accidentally sending Jordan that voicemail could have easily tipped into cringe territory, but instead it becomes the start of something genuinely tender. What really got me was how patient Jordan is with her, never once making her feel small for struggling with intimacy, just steady and understanding in a way I don't see written often enough. Shelley's ADHD and anxiety were handled with so much care too; you could feel how lived-in that experience was rather than it being a checklist trait.

As always, it's the character development that stayed with me. Watching Shelley slowly let someone in despite everything telling her not to, and Jordan working through his own stuff alongside her, made their connection feel earned rather than convenient. A brother's best friend romance that actually has something to say, it was funny, tender, and properly moving in places.

I really enjoyed this book. It was definitely my favourite of the three books in the series. I felt like it was a really good representation of the anxiety and overthinking that can impact someone with ADHD.

This author does an exceptional job of writing tough themes while making them feel genuine and lived-in. The love story was written extremely well, too. I was rooting for Shelley and Jordan the whole time.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this audio arc.

This book is a delightful sports romance that combines laugh-out-loud moments, heartfelt emotion, and irresistible chemistry. What starts with an embarrassing voicemail mishap quickly turns into a charming brother's-best-friend romance that keeps the pages flying by.
The relationship between the heroine and North Bay's star first baseman is filled with witty banter, awkward encounters, and genuine emotional connection. Giese does an excellent job balancing humor with more vulnerable moments, particularly as the characters navigate insecurities and personal challenges. The dual POV allows readers to fully appreciate both sides of the romance, making their growing feelings feel authentic and earned.
While the storyline follows some familiar romance tropes, the unique premise and engaging characters help it stand out. The baseball backdrop adds fun energy without overshadowing the heart of the story, and the representation of real-life health struggles adds meaningful depth.

I’m sorry, but when did I write an autobiography?! This book is so unbelievably realistic (sans adorable love story) that I could not stop listening! From the paper sticking to your skin at the doctor’s office, to eating a bagel so you only have to wash the knife vs a pan, to feeling so overwhelmed in different situations! I literally cannot get over the fact that this author has literally described my life and apparently my dream relationship!

This adorable romcom book follows Shelly and Jordan through their VERY REAL life experiences in finding each other.

- brother’s best friend
- neurodivergent love
- HEA
- RomCom

📕 4.5/5 ⭐️
🎧 5/5 ⭐️ loved the duet narration and the voices were perfect!
🌶️ 1.5/5

Thank you to NetGalley and the producers for letting me listen to this audiobook to provide honest feedback. These are my personal opinions!

I really enjoyed Way Off Base. It was a different story from what I’m used to, and I really liked that. Shelley and Jordan were so sweet together. 🩷

I have ADHD, so I could relate to some of Shelley’s experiences.

Her struggles with certain aspects of intimacy are something that, sadly, many women deal with because of meds.

Jordan being demisexual was new to me, and hearing how attraction and relationships can work differently for him was really interesting.

I also liked how real both Shelley and Jordan’s insecurities felt. They each had their own things they were struggling with, and it made me feel for both of them even more.

I applaud Stephanie Giese for writing about topics we don’t hear/read enough about, especially in romance books. It made this story feel different from a lot of what I usually listen to, and I really appreciated that.

I love Andi Eloise and Brandon Francis narrating together, so I really enjoyed their narration as Shelley and Jordan. They are always so great!!

I did feel like the last part of the book was a little rushed, but I still loved how it ended. 🩷

For the spice level, I would say it’s about a 🌶️🌶️ 1/2.

Now I feel like I need to go back and listen to the other books in the series. Since the stories are interconnected, I want to hear what actually went down with some of the other characters.

If you’re looking for something a little different from what you normally get in a romance, I would definitely recommend this audiobook.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for a copy of this audiobook! The audio is available on multiple platforms.
Stephanie Giese is a new to me author and I can say I cannot wait to go back read some of her other books! Way Off Base is book 3 in The North Bay series, it is an interconnected standalone and can be read out of order.
The narration is done duet style with Andi Eloise and Brandon Francis was absolutely amazing! They brought Shelly & Jordan to life. These are 2 of the most relatable characters I have listened to in a while!
This book brought to light so many topics we should be discussing more! Neurodiverse FMC, ADHD meds & its often unfortunate side effects on sexual health, & figuring out life in an overstimulated world. Jordan opening up about his own struggles with his sexuality and the patience this man showed Shelly is something I will remember for a long while.
Truly a remarkable and relatable read! Can not wait to dive into the others in this series!

Brother's best friend
Baseball Romance
Small town
FMC Sexual Dysfunction
Found Family
Mental Health
Forced Proximity
Dual POV - 1st person

Duet narration - Andi Eloise & Brandon Francis
Two of my absolute favorite narrators. They did a wonderful job with this book.

Book #3 North Bay series

This book follows Shelley a young woman who is in law school and struggling with her "reaching the finish line" if you catch my drift... in the process of looking for advice and help she ends up confiding in her brother's best friend Jordan who is also dealing with his own kind of issues. These two are adorable together and I enjoyed their story. I loved how supportive Jordan and Shelley are to each other. I found Shelley to be very relatable. I liked that the characters and the issues they faced felt realistic.

Thank you Stephanie Giese, Victory Editing, and NetGalley for this ALC.

Way Off Base had so many great themes portrayed! I love how the two characters came together in the beginning! They grew together and talked through so many issues in their lives. It was a very heartwarming book.

I haven’t read any Stephanie Giese and I’m definitely going to check out more of her books. This author tackled a couple of difficult subjects for woman and men and I thought she did it well. Nothing ever seemed to overwhelming on the subjects and she lightened up with some great comical reactions. The FMC, Shelly, creates a voicemail that was meant for someone else but accidently sends it to Jordan, her brothers best friend. Of course there is the “bro code” of no touching my sister trope, but I loved their connection and the understanding of each others situations. The characters were funny and awkward but loved hearing their love story bloom.. Andi Eloise and Brandon Francis are so great on the narration of this book. Their chemistry and voices are everything. And the spice was just the perfect amount! This is on audible now!! Fun bloopers at the end of the book, so make sure you listen to the very end!!

Way Off Base was surprisingly heartfelt and endearing for a sports romance, and tackled some difficult subjects with unexpected nuance and sensitivity. The neurodivergent FMC Shelley has a slightly embarrassing health issue which she confesses in a voicemail to an old friend, only to find she sent the message to her brother’s best friend, MMC Jordan. After this beautifully cringey meet-cute, their burgeoning friendship then romance is sweet as pie. Both main characters are working through their own issues, and the way they interact as their friendship eventually (finally!) becomes something more is adorable.

The neurodivergent and ACE representation was new to me, and made a fairly conventional brother’s best friend sports romance plot into something really unique and interesting. This is an Own Voices book, and I enjoyed the way the author brings her own lived experience into her writing. I loved Shelley’s inner monologue and the way her thoughts almost tripped over each other. Although this is open door, the spice levels are quite low (as you would expect in a novel where the MMC is working through his sexuality). The romance is through the roof though, once the main characters finally decide what they want.

Andi Eloise is one of my favourite narrators, so I definitely wanted to experience this on audiobook, particularly since it was recorded in duet with Brandon Francis. As expected, the narrators did a great job bringing the story to life.

Thanks to AudioARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

4.5/5 stars

What a delightful read! I absolutely LOVE when authors choose to write characters who aren’t perfect in the bedroom. Shelly seeking help for sexual side effects from her medication is such a relatable situation for so many people, including myself. It’s so discouraging to read book after book where the FMC has multiple Os from the other character essentially breathing in her presence. It’s unrealistic and obnoxious. Jordan was such a dreamy character. His honesty with Shelly about his struggles with his sexual orientation was a vulnerability not often written for MMCs in sports romances. His attentiveness, care and perseverance in helping Shelly enjoy her sexual experiences was top tier. If only everyone was truly like that!

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to review this ALC!

Fun, swoony, spicy, and just a really good time. Stephanie Giese had me hooked.

One accidental text from Shelly to her brother’s best friend, Jordan, becomes the start of a beautiful friendship and love. Shelly is juggling law school, ADHD and intimacy issues. Jordan is the pro baseball player and brother’s best friend. I really liked the characters and the way their relationship developed. There was plenty of chemistry, banter, and drama to keep things interesting without completely taking over the story. I found myself genuinely invested in them and actually caring about how everything was going to work out.

Yes, the spice was there, and I’m not mad about it.

This book handled female intimacy issues in the best way. I could tell that a lot of research went into it.

Andi Eloise and Brandon Francis were fantastic. I could visualize and feel the characters. I especially loved how natural the dialogue felt. The dialogue never felt forced and I got completely lost in the story.

This was the first book of the series that I’ve listened to and it won’t be the last. I loved this book so much, that I’m going back to read the other two books.

The bloopers at the end of the story were a great added bonus!

Thank you NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and Stephanie Giese for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was so good. Such a fun, quick listen.

This book has major neurodiversity representation & it’s handled so sensitively. And the relationship between the FMC and MMC is beautiful.

It’s really funny in places, things like sending the wrong email right at the beginning. And achingly sweet in others, he’s so patient even when she’s not patient with herself.

A lovely quick pallet cleanser.

Way Off Base had me hooked from the first mortifying text message that somehow turns into the start of a wonderful friendship. I loved watching their relationship develop from there, especially because they were so open and honest with each other. The communication between them was such a refreshing part of their story!

I found her incredibly relatable, especially with her ADHD, and I really appreciated how both characters had their own personal struggles they were working through. It made them feel so much more real. Jordan is the perfect patient, sweet, thoughtful man, and I absolutely loved him.

The pacing was excellent and kept me invested the entire way through. Watching their friendship slowly grow into something more was so much fun. This series has been wonderful, and Way Off Base was another great addition!

I received an ALC through NetGalley, and the narrators were fantastic. Both performances fit the characters really well and made the story even more enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

First I just want to say that I think the author handled both the FMC and MMC struggles really well. The depiction of ADHD was really well done and realistic. Also, I really loved how Jordan’s conversations about his sexuality were nuanced. It was so great to see the two main characters have such great support systems that they could turn with their ‘issues’. The voice actors seemed to have a lot of chemistry which made the listen easy, .

This was super cute! The accidental voice memo had me experiencing second hand embarrassment but I love how Jordan handled it. The connection that formed between Jordan and Shelly by the end was so sweet. Also, the sensitive subjects in this book were handled amazingly! The narrators were great and really brought the characters to life. I didn’t read the other books in the series before this one but I definitely plan on going back and reading them.

3.75 stars

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the ALC.

ANDI ELOISE, I LOVE YOU! BRANDON FRANCIS, I AM OBSESSED WITH YOU! 😍⚾❤️
Stephanie Giese, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE?! Because now I have another series I absolutely NEED to binge!
Way Off Base was SO GOOD! The storyline, the plot, the characters, the chemistry?! EVERYTHING! I was completely invested in Andi and Brandon from beginning to end, and I genuinely did not want their story to end.
Andi Eloise has my whole heart, and Brandon Francis?! SIR. I AM OBSESSED! 😮‍💨❤️ Their story had me kicking my feet, smiling, and feeling ALL the emotions.
But what really made this book stand out to me was the real-life struggles our main characters faced. These were issues I had personally never encountered in a romance novel before, and I absolutely loved how Stephanie Giese handled them. They weren't just thrown in for dramatic effect. They added depth, vulnerability, and authenticity to the characters and their relationship. I appreciated how thoughtfully these experiences were portrayed while still allowing the romance to shine.
I love when a romance gives me more than just butterflies. Give me complex characters, meaningful struggles, emotional depth, and a love story that makes me genuinely care about the people involved. THIS BOOK DELIVERED!
And now, naturally, I have a problem. Because apparently reading one Stephanie Giese book wasn't enough, and I NEED to go devour the rest of this series! 😂📚
If you love sports romance with incredible chemistry, lovable characters, emotional depth, and real-life issues handled with care, PLEASE ADD THIS TO YOUR TBR!
Five stars! Andi and Brandon have officially stolen my heart, and I'm not asking for it back! ⚾❤️
⭐ ARC Rating: 5/5
Thank you to NetGalley, Stephanie Giese, and the publisher for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

This is Book 3 of The North Bay Series, as an interconnected standalone. The audiobook is done in a Duet Narration & is very well done & an absolute pleasure to listen to!!

This book has so much fun tropes - brother's best friend, sports romance, & accidentally sharing embarrassing info with an unintended audience & they are all done so well!!

I LOVE the characters - Jordan is so understanding and patient and caring and Shelly is a bit of a hot mess, but also very vulnerable and honest, which is pretty rare and very refreshing.

The book is told in a dual POV.

Spice level: 3/5

*rom com
*sports romance
*he's her brother's best friend & teammate
*she's a law student
*age gap
*he's a professional baseball player
*ADHD rep
*they both struggle with se*ual issues

Thank you to the author (Stephanie Giese), publisher (Victory Editing), narrators, (Andi Eloise & Brandon Francis) and Netgalley for the ALC. All opinions are my own.

This is so cute. I love the narrators. It’s a slow burn for sure but has its moments.
Love the representation the FMC brings to many woman that feel unseen.
It’s the perfect cozy listening for these fall days