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Review: Cheat Sheet by Sara Adams

Title: Cheat Sheet
Author: Sara Adams
Year published: 2022
Category: Adult fiction (romance)
Pages: 336 pages
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Location: (my 2022 Google Reading map)USA (CA)

SummaryIs it ever too late to leave the friend zone? Discover the heartwarming friends to lovers romance that became a sensation on TikTok—now with a new chapter and a Q&A with the author!

The friend zone is not the end zone for Bree Camden, who is helplessly in love with her longtime best friend and extremely hot NFL legend, Nathan Donelson. The only problem is that she can’t admit her true feelings, because he clearly sees her as a best friend with no romantic potential, and the last thing Bree wants is to ruin their relationship. But those abs . . .

Nope! Nothing but good old-fashioned, no-touching-the-sexiest-man-alive, platonic friendship for Bree. In any case, she has other things to worry about. After a car accident ended her chance at becoming a professional ballerina, Bree changed paths and now owns her own dance studio, with big dreams to expand it. But one more rent increase could mean the end of the studio entirely.

Then, as usual, Nathan comes to the rescue and buys the entire building. A stubborn Bree is not happy about it and decides to rebel with a couple—okay, maybe more than a couple—of tequila shots. Then her plan backfires as she spills her deepest, darkest secret to a TMZ reporter. One viral video later, the world thinks Nathan and Bree are the perfect couple. Before they can really talk about her confession, Nathan’s publicist proposes a big opportunity that could mean financial security for Bree. The catch? They have to pretend to be in love. For three whole weeks.

What will happen when Bree gives in to the feelings she’s been desperately hiding for so long, and could she be imagining that Nathan is actually enjoying it? Sarah Adams scores more than touchdowns in this exciting romantic comedy.

Review: This book was just the right one to start of the month of May and it fit my mood well. Light, fun, funny, and romantic. Is it predictable? Of course. Do I care? Not at all. 

I like both Nathan and Bree, they are fun, good together, silly, romantic, and I believed in them. The supporting characters, especially Nathan's teammates are also fantastic. I love that the author created a group of male professional athletes who are "normal;" they plot out moves for Nathan to make on Bree, they tease each other and support one another. In fact, the author comments in the end how she based their group of friends on the TV show Ted Lasso, a show which I loved.

I also like that Bree has her own business (yes, it's struggling and she needs Nathan's help, but we can't have everything). She has her own identity and won't be relying on Nathan to make her a whole person. I am someone who is very attached to my long-time friends so the fact that these two have been friends since high school suits me very well.

Challenges for which this counts: 
  • Popsugar--features a party


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