Book Review: Beauty and the Baller

I got Beauty and the Baller by Ilsa Madden-Mills months ago, if not last year, when I saw it was free on Kindle one day. It’s taken me this long to read it and I loved it. It was so entertaining and I was hooked!

The novel is a dual POV and follows Ronan Smith and Nova Morgan. Ronan was a star NFL quarterback until a tragic accident leaves him with a career ending leg injury. His injury doesn’t effect his every day life, but ruins his professional sports career. The accident also took his fiancée from him. Reeling from the accident and how his life has been turned upside down even a year later, Ronan meets Nova at a party. They’re instantly drawn to one another and end up spending the night together. But Ronan is still a mess and what started as an amazing night for Nova doesn’t end that great and she slips out before he wakes up.

Now 2 years later, Nova has moved back home to Blue Belle, Texas after her mom passes so she can take care of her teenage sister. Little does she know that her neighbor and the high school football coach is Ronan Smith. All the young women in town want to date him and all the older women want to set him up so that he doesn’t leave town and continues coaching the football team. Meanwhile, Nova needs to find a job and is trying to avoid her ex-boyfriend who broke her heart years ago in college. Then, Ronan proposes a plan – they can fake date which will keep the matchmakers off his back and Nova’s ex will stay away. Nova can also fill the open position of Ronan’s personal assistant at the school.

Over time, Ronan and Nova grow closer and understand each other and the loss they have both endured. Will Nova forgive Ronan for how their night ended 2 years ago in New York? And can they keep their dating fake?

This was such a fun romcom and I couldn’t put it down! I really liked all the characters like their friends/co-workers and Sabine, Nova’s little sister. I loved the tension between Ronan and Nova. There were funny parts and also parts that were a little emotional given what the characters have been through, but it was just such a good read. This is my first book by Ilsa Madden-Mills so I will definitely have to check out more of her books including her book Princess and the Player which is about Ronan’s best friend, Tuck.

Read this if you want a spicy romcom with the fake dating and second chance romance tropes.