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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
This was just adorable! Cooper and Violet were just such a perfect match. If you want a light, sweet romance, this will definitely work.
Cooper has known Violet since he was a kid. Her brother is his best friend, but he's also close with her as well. At the start of the book, Cooper is being auctioned on a date for charity, and he's super worried about the woman who wants to snag him, so Violet buys him instead. It's obvious that they know each other, so to play it off, they say they've been secretly dating.
Although they don't originally plan to keep the charade going for long, they find there are benefits to their fake relationship - Violet gets more customers at her salon, and Cooper is considered more steady by his coach – so they decide to keep fake dating.
Obviously they eventually realize they have real feeling for each other, and bada boom, bada bing they're a super cute couple in love forever!
There's not a lot of twists and turns here. Very low angst and drama. This is really just a low-key sweet romance. There is definitely a lot of similarities to [b:Big Rock|26252659|Big Rock (Big Rock, #1)|Lauren Blakely|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1441742244l/26252659._SY75_.jpg|46249382] (childhood friends who fake a relationship), but I think this book is definitely the better of the two. All of the things that bugged me in that one, have been fixed in this one. Cooper and Violet's relationship felt much more stable and real, it felt like they did actually have a friendship before the book begins, and Violet felt like a full character despite no real chapter from her POV.
Overall, really happy with this. A super sweet read!
Cooper has known Violet since he was a kid. Her brother is his best friend, but he's also close with her as well. At the start of the book, Cooper is being auctioned on a date for charity, and he's super worried about the woman who wants to snag him, so Violet buys him instead. It's obvious that they know each other, so to play it off, they say they've been secretly dating.
Although they don't originally plan to keep the charade going for long, they find there are benefits to their fake relationship - Violet gets more customers at her salon, and Cooper is considered more steady by his coach – so they decide to keep fake dating.
Obviously they eventually realize they have real feeling for each other, and bada boom, bada bing they're a super cute couple in love forever!
There's not a lot of twists and turns here. Very low angst and drama. This is really just a low-key sweet romance. There is definitely a lot of similarities to [b:Big Rock|26252659|Big Rock (Big Rock, #1)|Lauren Blakely|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1441742244l/26252659._SY75_.jpg|46249382] (childhood friends who fake a relationship), but I think this book is definitely the better of the two. All of the things that bugged me in that one, have been fixed in this one. Cooper and Violet's relationship felt much more stable and real, it felt like they did actually have a friendship before the book begins, and Violet felt like a full character despite no real chapter from her POV.
Overall, really happy with this. A super sweet read!
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book is the perfect mix of sports, swoon, and flirty fun! I can’t stop smiling after finishing Most Valuable Playboy. Cooper and Violet’s story is everything I love about a friends-to-lovers romance with just the right dash of fake-dating goodness.
What I loved:
- Cooper Armstrong: Quarterback. Total dreamboat. Secret softie. Cooper’s determination on and off the field is so swoon-worthy. And let’s not even talk about his dirty-talking game—chef’s kiss!
- Violet Pierson: She’s confident, sassy, and knows how to stand her ground. I love how Violet balances being sweet and strong while keeping Cooper on his toes.
- The fake relationship: What starts as a spur-of-the-moment save turns into sparks flying everywhere. Their chemistry feels so real, and I loved watching them slowly realize they’re perfect for each other.
- The banter: These two crack me up! Their inside jokes and playful flirting make every page so much fun.
- Football vibes: Even if you’re not into sports, this book makes you feel the energy of game day and the camaraderie of Cooper’s team.
Favorite moments:
- That first kiss on stage—fireworks.
- Cooper’s protective side when dealing with the creepy team owner’s sister.
- Violet in his jersey? Perfection.
- The tender, heartfelt moments where Cooper realizes Violet has always been more than a friend to him.
Why this is a 5-star read:
This book is light, flirty, and fun while still packing an emotional punch. It’s got all my favorite tropes—friends-to-lovers, fake dating, and brother’s best friend. Lauren Blakely knows how to write a romance that feels fresh and addictive.
Final thoughts:
If you’re looking for a sports romance with sizzling chemistry, laugh-out-loud moments, and a couple that will make your heart melt, Most Valuable Playboy is a touchdown.
What I loved:
- Cooper Armstrong: Quarterback. Total dreamboat. Secret softie. Cooper’s determination on and off the field is so swoon-worthy. And let’s not even talk about his dirty-talking game—chef’s kiss!
- Violet Pierson: She’s confident, sassy, and knows how to stand her ground. I love how Violet balances being sweet and strong while keeping Cooper on his toes.
- The fake relationship: What starts as a spur-of-the-moment save turns into sparks flying everywhere. Their chemistry feels so real, and I loved watching them slowly realize they’re perfect for each other.
- The banter: These two crack me up! Their inside jokes and playful flirting make every page so much fun.
- Football vibes: Even if you’re not into sports, this book makes you feel the energy of game day and the camaraderie of Cooper’s team.
Favorite moments:
- That first kiss on stage—fireworks.
- Cooper’s protective side when dealing with the creepy team owner’s sister.
- Violet in his jersey? Perfection.
- The tender, heartfelt moments where Cooper realizes Violet has always been more than a friend to him.
Why this is a 5-star read:
This book is light, flirty, and fun while still packing an emotional punch. It’s got all my favorite tropes—friends-to-lovers, fake dating, and brother’s best friend. Lauren Blakely knows how to write a romance that feels fresh and addictive.
Final thoughts:
If you’re looking for a sports romance with sizzling chemistry, laugh-out-loud moments, and a couple that will make your heart melt, Most Valuable Playboy is a touchdown.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Such a sweet football romance! Cooper and Violet are both such genuinely good and nice people, I only wanted the best for them! Plenty of spice, as well. A great read right before the Super Bowl (or anytime, really).
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
I so love a friends to lovers romance, and in a male POV, it is even better. Lauren Blakely is the master of writing these type of books. She has the knack of balancing the banter to flirting to wit and adding in a dash of angst. Most Valuable Playboy is special because of these reasons but also it is set in one of my favourite cities - San Francisco - and with Lauren's descriptions, I felt like I was back there again.
Let me tell you about Coop! Cooper Armstrong is a mans man, who is very career orientated being a quarterback, and committed only to football. He is loyal, dedicated and extremely dependable. He has a small group of friends that he would do anything for, and vice versa. It's funny when you don't know what you're missing, until it is right under your nose. Violet Pierson is not only a close friend, but she is also Coop's best friends little sister. They already have a special bond growing up together, but when having to pretend to be a couple, this brings out Cooper's lovable side. The flirting is so exquisite I couldn't put this one down. Violet has her own business and is a very independent woman, but when she is with Coop, she is putty in his hands. I loved this couple and also enjoyed the banter between the players. Another mentionable component to this novel is the sports aspect. It was so interesting to get a behind the scenes insight to American football.
This is definitely one for all Lauren Blakely fans, but also for all lovers of rom-coms. Highly recommend it.
* I received a copy for an honest review.
Let me tell you about Coop! Cooper Armstrong is a mans man, who is very career orientated being a quarterback, and committed only to football. He is loyal, dedicated and extremely dependable. He has a small group of friends that he would do anything for, and vice versa. It's funny when you don't know what you're missing, until it is right under your nose. Violet Pierson is not only a close friend, but she is also Coop's best friends little sister. They already have a special bond growing up together, but when having to pretend to be a couple, this brings out Cooper's lovable side. The flirting is so exquisite I couldn't put this one down. Violet has her own business and is a very independent woman, but when she is with Coop, she is putty in his hands. I loved this couple and also enjoyed the banter between the players. Another mentionable component to this novel is the sports aspect. It was so interesting to get a behind the scenes insight to American football.
This is definitely one for all Lauren Blakely fans, but also for all lovers of rom-coms. Highly recommend it.
* I received a copy for an honest review.
It was sweet and cute. But wasn’t that into it. Cooper and violet been friends since 2nd grade, fake date to help each other out in their careers- pro quarterback and salon owner. Fall head over heals for each other Fun group of friends. Just nothing jumped out for me. Wished it was both point of views, not just his.
Really loved this book a lot. This book is what got me hooked on Lauren Blakely, and it was only my 2nd book of hers i tried. I love the accuracy and realism of the characters and their reality. This is what REAL Sports professionals have to go through, not all that BS partying all night and sleeping around constantly like majority sports romances do. This one was so well written and a lot of fun.
This is also the first time i've read/listened to a book entirely from the Hero's pov.
5 touchdowns!!
This is also the first time i've read/listened to a book entirely from the Hero's pov.
5 touchdowns!!
You all know Lauren Blakely is my jam! I was SO excited to have the chance to review Most Valuable Playboy. I always look forward to Blakely’s books for a sweet, easy, enjoyable read. I’m not going to say that Blakely’s work is fluff because it’s not…but it’s a book that I know going in will be a little lighter and always lovable. I have come to expect main characters I will fall in love with, lots of great laughs, and a sweet not overly smutty storyline. Most Valuable Playboy was definitely not different from what I have come to expect with Blakely. In fact this might be one of my favorite books from her so far!
Most Valuable Playboy is the story of two friends who start off pretending to date to save each other and end up falling in love. This is a pretty standard trope in romance but I still love it every time! I not only love a fake relationship story, friends to lovers is one of my all time favorite tropes to read… add on top of that Cooper is best friends with her brother and I was in trope heaven! I loved that we got to go on the journey with Cooper and Violet (especially Cooper) as they come to realize their love runs deeper than just friends. This book is written strictly from Cooper’s POV, and while sometimes I don’t enjoy books with just one POV, I always enjoy reading the male specific books we get from Blakely. I don’t know what it is, mostly I think its just that I like getting to see into the male characters head…(I mean come on I already know how women think!!) but I just love it!
This book had everything I could want. I loved the evolution of Cooper ad Violet and their relationship and chemistry. This is most definitely another sexy addition to Lauren Blakely’s list!
Overall Rating: 4/5 stars
Most Valuable Playboy is the story of two friends who start off pretending to date to save each other and end up falling in love. This is a pretty standard trope in romance but I still love it every time! I not only love a fake relationship story, friends to lovers is one of my all time favorite tropes to read… add on top of that Cooper is best friends with her brother and I was in trope heaven! I loved that we got to go on the journey with Cooper and Violet (especially Cooper) as they come to realize their love runs deeper than just friends. This book is written strictly from Cooper’s POV, and while sometimes I don’t enjoy books with just one POV, I always enjoy reading the male specific books we get from Blakely. I don’t know what it is, mostly I think its just that I like getting to see into the male characters head…(I mean come on I already know how women think!!) but I just love it!
This book had everything I could want. I loved the evolution of Cooper ad Violet and their relationship and chemistry. This is most definitely another sexy addition to Lauren Blakely’s list!
Overall Rating: 4/5 stars