nixbix_reads's review
2.0
I really enjoyed the first book in this series, Beauty and the Baller, so I was looking forward to this even though I’m not a fan of the surprise pregnancy trope. There’s been a few authors that have done this well, so I had hope! However, there was also so much miscommunication, or just no or inconsistent communication, between the main characters that it ruined any chances for me to enjoy their story. I did enjoy the found family that Francesca & Tuck surrounded themselves with, especially Mr Darden. I enjoyed their interactions with Francesca & Tuck rather than the interactions between Francesca & Tuck.
Thanks to Montlake & NetGalley for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Montlake & NetGalley for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.
romancebookaffair's review
4.0
Francesca and Tuck’s story did not unfold how I expected it to but Ilsa Madden-Mills made it all work.
They have enough baggage to fill a freight train wagon each; their childhoods and their past relationships have left scars that haven’t healed. With so much going on for them individually it has a major impact on their relationship and their ability, or not, to be in a long term commitment. I struggled with some of the decisions Francesca made and how she went about certain parts of her relationship with Tuck, though I could empathise with her and the reasons for those decisions. My heart hurt for the difficulties they went through to get to their happily ever after because often it was 2 steps forward, one step back but I was so happy when they got there together. Through it all though, they both had the most amazing, adorable, eclectic found families that supported them during their journey.
They have enough baggage to fill a freight train wagon each; their childhoods and their past relationships have left scars that haven’t healed. With so much going on for them individually it has a major impact on their relationship and their ability, or not, to be in a long term commitment. I struggled with some of the decisions Francesca made and how she went about certain parts of her relationship with Tuck, though I could empathise with her and the reasons for those decisions. My heart hurt for the difficulties they went through to get to their happily ever after because often it was 2 steps forward, one step back but I was so happy when they got there together. Through it all though, they both had the most amazing, adorable, eclectic found families that supported them during their journey.
julzangold's review
2.0
Okay, okay, my fault for not reading the end of the book description when I got the audiobook on sale. I’m not a pregnancy trope hater, but surprise pregnancy always tickles me the wrong way. Through a condom AND an IUD… really? But even looking past that, forcing someone into fatherhood who doesn’t want to have kids, and then him magically changing when the burden is put upon him just gives me the ick. I get it was both of their faults for having sex, but they used multiple forms of protection. Sheesh.
An artist meets her fated match at an upscale sex club. Turns out he’s aging star wide-receiver for New York City’s fictional football team. They agree - no strings attached. Until she runs into him again and later that day realizes she’s pregnant. Unfortunately for them both, he doesn’t want kids.
Regardless of my beef with the surprise pregnancy trope, I really was trying to enjoy the story. I’ve been reading a lot of heavy dark romance recently and wanted a lighter sport romance. Well, there was no playing of said sport, not really. I liked the two main characters at the start, besides the fact it wasn’t necessarily what I was expecting.
Unfortunately, the author decided to dump a ton of other tropes that just did not work for how short the novel was. Lost family. Found family. Returning exes. Hidden identity. MISCOMMUNICATION TROPE. And not really just miscommunication, straight up lying for months. Francesca hides the fact she’s pregnant from Tuck for so long, and then has the audacity to act shocked when he’s upset and doesn’t trust her. This really, really turned me off. How can you start a “fated” relationship lying? Sure, surprise pregnancy, whatever. But making it an elongated surprise for the father who doesn’t want kids, was careful about protection, and has a history of stalkers and liars trying to trap him? Girl…
The entire plot revolved around the surprise pregnancy and lying to Tuck. There were some pieces thrown in about found family that fell flat for me, and so many loose ends. The exes were rarely discussed or shown even though they seemed to be important to earlier, not shown character development. I really just didn’t like it at all. The only redeeming qualities were the grumpy man nextdoor, a few fun spicy scenes, and the author’s writing style lent itself to a quick and smooth read.
An artist meets her fated match at an upscale sex club. Turns out he’s aging star wide-receiver for New York City’s fictional football team. They agree - no strings attached. Until she runs into him again and later that day realizes she’s pregnant. Unfortunately for them both, he doesn’t want kids.
Regardless of my beef with the surprise pregnancy trope, I really was trying to enjoy the story. I’ve been reading a lot of heavy dark romance recently and wanted a lighter sport romance. Well, there was no playing of said sport, not really. I liked the two main characters at the start, besides the fact it wasn’t necessarily what I was expecting.
Unfortunately, the author decided to dump a ton of other tropes that just did not work for how short the novel was. Lost family. Found family. Returning exes. Hidden identity. MISCOMMUNICATION TROPE. And not really just miscommunication, straight up lying for months. Francesca hides the fact she’s pregnant from Tuck for so long, and then has the audacity to act shocked when he’s upset and doesn’t trust her. This really, really turned me off. How can you start a “fated” relationship lying? Sure, surprise pregnancy, whatever. But making it an elongated surprise for the father who doesn’t want kids, was careful about protection, and has a history of stalkers and liars trying to trap him? Girl…
The entire plot revolved around the surprise pregnancy and lying to Tuck. There were some pieces thrown in about found family that fell flat for me, and so many loose ends. The exes were rarely discussed or shown even though they seemed to be important to earlier, not shown character development. I really just didn’t like it at all. The only redeeming qualities were the grumpy man nextdoor, a few fun spicy scenes, and the author’s writing style lent itself to a quick and smooth read.
mpoldson's review
funny
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
magnoliapigeonbookblurbs's review
4.0
Princess and the Player is second in the Strangers in Love series and just as fun as the first installment! I was so excited for this release because I loved Beauty and the Baller and it did not disappoint! Check out this lighthearted and quick read on KU!
allingoodtime's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
While this story didn’t hold up to the first book in the series, it was still very good. Part of my issue with this tale could possibly be something that won’t bother other readers. It’s the secret pregnancy. I know, I know, it says right in the blurb that there’s a pregnancy. It gave me pause, but I enjoyed the first book so much I wanted to read more.
Like I said, Francesca keeping her pregnancy a secret from Tuck bothered me. Usually in such a story, it would bother me the longer the secret was kept. Oddly enough, as much as I wanted Francesca to tell Tuck, it bothered me less the longer it went on. I think that’s because she actually tried at one point and he very quickly shot down any talk of commitment and family. I totally understood her reticence, yet it was also ridiculous how long she put off the truth. I guess you could say I was kind of okay with the secret in the middle of the book, but the very beginning and the end were problematic for me.
The way Tuck and Francesca meet…and then meet again is great. I especially enjoyed their second meeting and how Francesca, sick and downtrodden by recent events in her life, didn’t let anyone walk all over her. She spoke up for herself and attempted to keep a bright outlook.
The flow of the story is spot on. Since this is only my second book by this author I’m not sure if it’s something she always does well, but her side characters in the story are amazing. I loved them even more than the peripheral characters in the first book. They are witty and warm and supportive.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Rape, Gaslighting, Mental illness, and Suicide
Minor: Abandonment
norawithouttheh's review
1.0
About to dnf at 65% because I’m effing raging about the fact she still hasn’t told him about the pregnancy. Not the way to go, no, nope!