Keeping Score

by Brittany Kelley

Love is on the line, and this goalie is playing for keeps, in this steamy soccer romance from Brittany Kelley, author of Relationship Goals.

Michelle Oxford lives and breathes soccer. After an injury that ended her dreams of going pro, she snagged the next best thing: a position as the director of operations for the LA Aces. And even if it’s not quite what she imagined it would be, it’s still better than cutting out soccer altogether.

The only problem? Carefree, wonder boy goalie, Tristan Gold.

Tristan has wanted more than just friendship with Michelle since the moment he laid eyes on her, but nothing would kill her career faster. When she loses a bet, the team gleefully insists she has to take lessons on “being chill” from Tristan himself.

They couldn’t be more different, but Tristan’s always met her perfectionist tendencies with good-natured goofiness, so she reluctantly agrees. The more time she spends with him, the more she likes what she sees . . . and Michelle starts to think that with him by her side, she could do just about anything—even saying goodbye to the future she thought she always wanted.

Genres: Romance, Sports Romance, Rom Com

336 pages, Paperback

Published August 25, 2026

Reviews

[Mai H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

FIFA World Cup 2026 #2

This was the perfect book to read during the height of World Cup fever. Did I imagine myself working long hours at LAFC while a seemingly single French goalie took interest? Maybe.

Michelle loves soccer. She used to play, but an old injury haunts her. Tristan is the star of the LA Aces. And has a wild crush on Michelle. If we still say the word crush. My millennial is coming out.

From interviews (who can trust those), Tristan sounds a bit like a womanizing fuckboi. But he's really into Michelle. And she's obviously into him. And then they start something casual. Which ends up not being casual. Shocking? No. New? Also no. But it amused for this season in my life.

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley

[Danielle Pulliam]

**𝔄ℜℭ ℜ𝔢𝔳𝔦𝔢𝔴** 𝔎𝔢𝔢𝔭𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔖𝔠𝔬𝔯𝔢 𝔟𝔶 𝔅𝔯𝔦𝔱𝔱𝔞𝔫𝔶 𝔎𝔢𝔩𝔩𝔢𝔶

Release Day: August 25, 2026

3.5⭐️3.5🌶

This is a sweet little workplace/sports romance, with a heavy side of he-falls-first. Recommend if you're looking for a fun fast read.

Minor Spoilers Ahead:

Michelle Oxford is the Director of Operations for the LA Aces (a soccer team). She's been working in the executive offices for several years, and when the team was bought by a douche last year she decided to stay on. Despite the fact that she's killing herself with stress and over-working herself to try and make him happy.

Tristan Gold is the star goalie and Captain of the LA Aces. He's been pining for Michelle from afar since he met her. But his narcissistic mother taught him that he's worthless and all he's good for is sometimes playing soccer well and making money at it. So, he stays away from her, because he doesn't think he's good enough.

Until Tristan decides to teach Michelle how to destress and turns it into a "team-building-exercise". Michell and Tristan quickly figure out that they can't keep these de-stress exercises "professional", and Tristan never really wanted them to be. Only if she wanted them to be.

This was such a cute and sweet little rom com with a lot of real life elements and drama. Recommend it for fans of Emily Henry books.

Themes/Tropes:
🍁Grumpy vs. Sunshine
🍁Workplace Romance
🍁Opposites Attract
🍁Lessons in Love
🍁Reinventing Yourself
🍁Letting Go of Control
🍁Team Camaraderie and Found Family

TW:
✨Career-Ending Sports Injury
✨Work-Related Stress and Anxiety
✨Explicit Sexual Content

Thank you to @netgalley for this ARC read!

[Chelsea Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for an ARC of this for review. Thoughts and opinions are my own.

While I enjoyed this, the beginning felt a lot like you were missing information/needed to be "in the know". Not sure if it's supposed to be a sequel or not, but there were a lot of references/callbacks to Abby and Luke (from Relationship Goals ), but I feel like things would have been a little easier for me to pick up/understand if I'd read that first. So that's just my opinion, feel free to take from that what you will!

Aside from the connections to Relationship Goals, I did like the relationship between Michelle and Tristan. It was clear Tristan has been crushing on her for a while, but was dealing with maybe a few insecurities and also trying to gauge if she was even interested. I liked the relationship he had with his sisters, even if his relationship with his mom was rocky at best. I also liked how well he'd keyed into Michelle and was able to tailor some of their dates.

Michelle had potential to be really frustrating but she thankfully didn't come across that way. She was dealing with a crappy situation that wasn't her fault but she was getting the fallout anyway and doing her best to handle it. Yes, she was tough and stayed in her office more often than not, but at least when someone called her on it, she didn't get her back up too often. I liked her attempts to make friends, and how she enjoyed her time with Tristan.

This was my first book by Brittany Kelley, but I'm interested in at least checking out Relationship Goals!

Book releases August 25th, 2026

[Jess (lucky.bookclub) Hilbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flirty, swoony, and just a little too short for my liking. 💛⚽️

Michelle and Tristan were so easy to root for. I loved Michelle’s journey of figuring out what actually feels good and right for her, and Tristan had that quietly swoony, “I’ve been into you all along” energy that just works. The way he shows up for her is so good. 🥹

I also really appreciated that this works well as a standalone, even though it’s clearly part of a series. It made me curious about the other characters without ever making me feel lost.

My only real complaint is that I wanted more, especially when it came to the team dynamics and found-family elements on both sides. It felt a little quick, and I would have loved to spend more time in that world.

Still, such an easy, swoony read that left me smiling. 💫

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Nat’s Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5⭐️

This novel was so cute!! I absolutely love the FMC. Michelle is such a badass. She’s independent, strong, and I loved her growth. I adored Tristan so much. I appreciate how he helped Michelle see her worth. The way they faced obstacles together was refreshing. I also enjoyed the side characters as they were given such amazing personalities that it made me want to read even more!

I would highly recommend this to those who love workplace sports romance, novels where the FMC truly finds herself, and the friends to lovers trope.

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group, and the author for letting me be part of this ARC. Please note all reviews are my honest and unbiased opinion.

[Suzanne (The Bookish Libra) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks for the free book @berkleyromance #BerkleyPartner #Berkley

⚽️ Review - KEEPING SCORE ⚽️

Authors - Brittany Kelley

Pub Date - 8/25/2026

When injuries end Michelle’s dream of playing soccer professionally, she decides that working for a professional soccer team is the next best thing. Her job as Director of Operations for the scandal-ridden L.A. Aces is super stressful though, so much so that she often sleeps in her office rather than go home and rest. When the guys on the team decide that Michelle is way too uptight and needs to learn how to relax, it is Tristan Gold, the team’s goalie, who offers to show her the way. Tristan has been pining after Michelle for ages, so this is the perfect opportunity for him to really show her how much he likes her, that is, if she’ll let him.

I love a good black cat/golden retriever romance and this one is just so good! Even though she tries so hard to resist Tristan’s charms, Michelle can’t help but be attracted to him because he’s just a walking green flag in pretty much every way. He’s sweet, flirty, supportive, and I just adored everything about him. He teases her about being so uptight, but he truly does worry about the stressful situation she is in and wants to be there for her. The two of them share incredible chemistry and engage in some of the most hilarious banter, but it’s those scenes where he takes care of her that really made me swoon. I mean, he even bakes her cookies!

Aside from the excellent spicy romance, there’s also a tremendous amount of growth as Michelle figures out what she really wants for herself, both personally and professionally. I really liked her and was rooting for her to find a healthier professional path for herself.

Another thing this book does really well is found family within the soccer team. Ted Lasso is one of my favorite shows, and the team dynamic here was giving major Ted Lasso vibes, so I was loving it!

Highly recommend Keeping Score for fans of:

Black Cat/Golden Retriever
Spicy Romance
Opposites Attract
Workplace Romance
Found Family

[Aislinn Strohecker · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars Keeping Score was fun and full of banter! My only problem with it? It was too short because I could've read hundreds more pages of Tristan and Michelle 😅

These two were so easy to root for. From the start, Michelle had me feeling so bad for how stuck she felt in her job and how lonely she'd become as a result. And Tristan was swoony from the very beginning, clearly down so bad for Michelle. Their easy chemistry and laugh-out-loud banter made for an easy read. Plus the found family dynamics of the secondary characters, including her friend group and his team, were adorable. Overall, my favorite part was reading about Michelle finding herself again. Yes, her relationship with Tristan helped push her, but ultimately, she made changes for herself and not him. Such a charming, feel-good romance!

Thank you Brittany Kelley and Berkley for the ARC! Keeping Score is out August 25th.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute story that feels a bit like a missing puzzle piece.

I have mixed feelings about this one. While it is marketed as a standalone, the beginning made me feel like I had walked into a movie twenty minutes late. Because it’s part of a series, I felt like I completely missed the foundational "spark" and the early stages of the relationship between Tristan and Michelle. If I had known I needed to read the previous book to fully grasp their history, I would have, but jumping in here left me feeling a bit disconnected at first.

What worked for me:

The Characters: I genuinely liked the leads. Tristan was a standout character and very enjoyable to follow.

Michelle's Arc: It was rewarding to watch Michelle break away from her rigid routine, rediscover her sense of fun, and finally make her way back onto the field.

What fell short:

Once I settled into the story, it was an "okay" read, but it lacked significant depth. The character development felt thin, and the overall storyline felt rushed and underdeveloped. I suspect I might have cared more about the cast if I had the context from book one, but as a standalone experience, it didn't quite hit the mark for me.

Final Thoughts:

It’s a cute, lighthearted sports romance, but it lacks the weight needed to make it truly memorable. If you're going to read it, you might want to check the first book so you don't feel as lost as I did!


This book was recieved through Netgalley. Thank you to Berkley Publishing and Brittant Kelley for a chance to read this ARC and leave an honest review.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michelle Oxford knows soccer. She used to play in college. She loved it. Her knee disagreed. Now she can’t play anymore, but she is working as the director of operations for L.A.’s Aces, where she is having to do damage control. The previous owners had to leave under a hood of scandal, and now she’s having to restore the team’s image for the new owner.

Tristan Gold is the team goalkeeper and caption. He’s been around for a while. He knows the damage that the scandal caused, and he’s all for getting the team involved in brightening their reputation. When Michelle comes up with the idea of the players getting out into the community to serve the public, he’s all on board and encourages the rest of the team to do the same. The truth is, Tristan is all in on any idea Michelle comes up with. And he’s got some ideas for her on his own. He’s been crushing on her since she started.

When Tristan finds out that Michelle is basically neglecting herself in order to do her job, he knows he needs to step in. He hates to see that she’s sleeping in her office, so he steps in and makes a wager with her. He talked her into going to the bar with the team and the front office for a drink. And he’s convinced her to play shuffleboard. So he makes a bet. If she wins the game, he’ll get the team to go along with whatever she needs them to for good publicity. But if he wins, then she has to learn to chill out. The lessons will come from Tristan himself, with a debrief for the entire team afterwards, with doughnuts.

Michelle is too competitive to back down, so she agrees. And she loses. She has to go along with whatever he comes up, starting with a Rage Room. As she takes apart an office copier with a sledgehammer, she does start to feel better. She feels herself relaxing. And she feels her attraction to Tristan grow. He is gorgeous, and he is kind, and he enjoys being around him. But she’s heard enough interviews where he has insisted he doesn’t want a serious relationship to know that her attraction can’t get very far. Still, it’s tempting.

Tristan knows that a classy, educated woman wouldn’t be interested in a jock like him. Even if he also bakes. But that’s not going to stop him from flirting, or from baking her fresh snickerdoodles. Or for offering her a very specific way to chill out, if she decided that’s what she wants from him. He’d be thrilled to take her up on that. But it’s temporary, obviously, no matter how much he wants more.

Michelle enjoys learning to relax, and she realizes that she’s also been neglecting her friendships. As she reconnects with her old teammates and makes new friends, she realizes she needs to make some other changes in her life to be happy. She loves spending time with Tristan, but is there any way she can fit the time spent with Tristan into her new life? Or is there a whistle coming up to end the game Michelle’s been playing with the goalkeeper?

Keeping Score is a new soccer rom com from Brittany Kelley, and it’s been worth the wait. Fans of Ted Lasso and any sports romance will enjoy this playful, spicy romance set in a California soccer team’s offices. There is a lot of flirting, some good banter, and lots of warm friendships (some warmer than others).

I am a soccer nerd. I love the European leagues, I love the MLS, I love the books and the shows about soccer, so I was all in on this one. Add in that Tristan is a big fan of The Great British Bake Off, and I could find no problems with this book. I had a great time from the first whistle through stoppage time, and it’s one of those books I would read all over again if I can find the time between soccer games. Loved it all!

Egalleys for Keeping Score were provided by Berkley through NetGalley, with many thanks, but the opinions are mine.

[Delaney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of Advanced Reader’s Copy received from NetGalley

Thank you to Brittany Kelley, Berkley, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I was thrilled for the opportunity to review this book. Soccer romance is truly my favorite sports romance. Unfortunately, this book fell short for me. I tried to give this book every chance I could, but there was a lot that was off putting about this book.

I loved the black cat, golden retriever vibe Michelle and Tristan give off. Michelle’s journey to relaxation captures perfectly the life of a hardworking overachiever, which is not a bad thing. However, it was easy to sympathize with Michelle because for all the work she put in, it wasn’t enough. You can really feel her exhaustion on the page. Tristan is a really delightful character. He is funny and light, which is what Michelle really needed.

The first real issue I took with the book was the character development. Both Michelle and Tristan both experienced parental problems that would deeply impact a person, but these problems were flat out told to the reader, which is not a problem, but it felt like these problems remain very surface level and were not truly explored in a way that made sense for character development.

Along the same vein, a lot about this story was telling, not showing. The entire story felt very surface level because things didn’t get explored in depth. Each roadblock was faced much in the same way. When the problems emerged Michelle or Tristan would express their feelings about the problem, yet rarely would take steps to explore the problem and what they could do to fix it. Again, this was a disappointment because I felt like Kelley gave herself a lot to work with to explore these characters emotionally, but everything ultimately came off feeling surface level. There was rarely true conflict and when there was it was resolved quickly.

Michelle and Tristan’s love story also felt very much like insta-love. Indeed, the main story spans a few weeks and the epilogue is a mere 3 months later. Perhaps I missed how deeply these two characters interacted because I did not read the first book, but in a couple’s own book, I didn’t enjoy feeling like I was reading their story at all distance. I think this bleeds into the quickly resolving conflicts, there was a lot the author set up to resolve personally and between Michelle and Tristan, but at any sign of adversity the problem was resolved with relative ease. Although there is a fine line between torturing characters and helping them grow together, this book lacked the growth aspect making the relationship feel a bit unrealistic.

Finally, I was a bit distracted by the author’s presentation of soccer. As someone who grew up playing soccer, there were scenes I read that I had to stop and think if that was how the game was played. For example, in the shoot out scene, the opposing team takes all five of their shots, and then, the Aces take all of theirs. However, it’s been my experience in a shoot out the teams alternate between shooters. I know the rules can vary between countries and levels of sports, so my experience may be clouding my opinion, but I found the sports aspect to muddle my experience.

[Brodiebert · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Keeping Score started off pretty cute, but the more I read, the more I felt like I was constantly playing catch-up.

It is marketed as a standalone, but the way characters like Abigail and Luke are dropped in without any context made me feel like I had walked into the middle of a movie.

The lack of backstory makes the emotional stakes feel surface level. Michelle and Tristan seem into each other from page one, so we miss the entire build-up, and I never really understood why they were falling for each other.

The whole pretext for their relationship felt forced, starting with a shuffleboard bet at a bar that led to these "relaxation lessons." It just felt like a hit to get the plot moving rather than a natural progression. While they have a few hot scenes and go to a rage room, there is no real depth to their connection. She tells him her dad was an alcoholic, but they never actually dive into how that shaped her or why she is the way she is. Without those deeper conversations, the "I love him" realization just felt unearned.

The plot itself felt heavily manufactured to hit specific tropes. The one bed scene and the sleepover when he was not even drunk felt forced just to check a box. There was also some annoying miscommunication for the sake of conflict. Michelle says she does not do casual, then immediately agrees to it, and Tristan just leaves her feeling vulnerable instead of actually talking to her.

I also struggled with the realism of the professional setting. Michelle is supposedly a high-level director who is so overrun she sleeps in her office, yet she suddenly has all the time in the world for relaxation lessons and last-minute barbecues the second she needs a character arc.

There were definitely bright spots. The writing style is engaging, the jokes made me smile, and the chaos of the locker room scenes was written really well. As an injured athlete myself, I was really looking forward to seeing how she navigated her injury, but that part of the story felt very surface level and was a bit of a let down. Her realization about pushing her friends away after her injury did hit home for me, though. That was the one part that felt truly grounded and real.

Some of the dialogue felt a bit off, like when she calls Tristan a "dummy" while he is being vulnerable about his insecurities, but the chemistry was there. I am actually interested in reading Lauren and the coach’s story next, mostly because I have already read the beginning of it in this book, which makes it feel like it may be more of a complete narrative than the main couple's story did. It is a fast, fun read if you can ignore the logic gaps, but the plot shortcuts kept it from being a favorite for me.

I received an advanced review copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
You don't see a lot of soccer romances. I was excited for this one. And a goalie? YES PLEASE!
I didn't realize this was second in a series. I do wish I would have read the first book to have some background from regarding the supporting characters. I think it would have been very helpful as I didn't understand the dynamics quite as much as I know I would if I had read that first. As a series reader, I like to read books in order. Even if they are only interconnected. But this one definitely seemed like you needed to understand what happened in the past to see why it was important in this story. I would recommend anyone wanting to read this, read that one first.
This one was definitely fun. I loved the push and pull between the MMC and the FMC. There's a good amount of chemistry, though, again, I feel like I would have understood that more had I read the first book. I can see they were introduced in that book and that perhaps there was some of that tension introduced there, as well. I would have liked a bit more depth to their relationship, though. It felt a little surface level. I would have especially liked to see the FMC's background with having been a soccer player and how they really affected her. The reader is told over and over again how upset she is that she didn't get to go professional but it's not really shown how this it important to the story. More exploration in this area would have made the story more engaging.
I would have liked a bit more soccer in the book. By 50% all I had was practices. I wanted to see the sport and how it was important to the MMC and even the relationship he had with the FMC. When you are a professional footballer (or professional in any sport, really), that sport dominates your life. It's lived 24/7, especially during the season. But that didn't seem to be the case with this book. I almost felt like the soccer aspect took a bit of a back seat. I didn't feel like the author did much exploration of the sport or research into how it actually works. I've been a soccer fan (and coach) for many years, so this part bothered me a bit.
The side characters were fun. I wanted to know more about them. Especially Abigail and Luke, who I see were the main characters in the first book.
I will say if you are a Ted Lasso fan, this book gives those vibes for sure. It was a fun, light, cute romance with banter and chemistry that kept the book moving forward. The characters were well developed and had their own personalities and self-doubt they needed to work through. Kelley did a nice job with them.
Overall this was a fun story and I enjoyed Kelley's writing. If you're looking for a fast, cute romance without a third act break up, and some sports trickled in, give this a try!

[The Blushing Bookshelf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC of Keeping Score.

Review may contain minor spoilers.

Overall Rating: 3.5 Stars

Spice Level: 2.5

Perspective: Dual POV, First Person

Tropes:
• Black Cat Golden Retriever
• Obsessed MMC

Michelle is an overworked in her job as director of operations for the LA Aces. After a mismanagement scandal by the previous owners left the teams public image in shambles, she has been working extra hard to repair the damage. So much so she has been sleeping in the couch in her office. Everyone has noticed how uptight she has become, especially Tristan, the team’s goalie. After losing a bet, Michelle has to take chill out lessons from Tristain himself. The more she learns to let her hair down, the more she discovers how much of life she has been missing, and how much she has come to like spending time with the goofy goalie.

Tristan has wanted Michelle since the first time he saw her. So far, she has rejected every one of his offers for more than friendship. When he gets the opportunity to spend more time with her, he sees it as his opportunity to show her that he is more than a goofy goalie, he is the perfect partner for her.

I loved these two together. He is the perfect sunshine golden-retriever go-with-the-flow to her black cat everything-by-the-rules energy. He was super supportive and obsessed with her. He even brings her fresh from the oven snickerdoodles that he baked himself. He really helps her come out of her shell and be more chill and in return she helps him realize is so much more than just the good-time guy that he portrays to everyone.

Supporting cast was great. Both MCs have a great support system of friends. Both MCs don’t have great biological families, and they have done a great job cultivating their found families. These friends are supportive and funny throughout the book. They are the perfect mix of unwavering support and call-you-on-your-shit tough love.

This was definitely a sweet romance. There were the occasional spicy scenes, but it was very hallmark movie. There was minimal drama and no third-act angst. The book was a little too sweet for my taste. In the middle of the book, the MCs have a heart-to-heart about their feelings and intentions and then go on to have overly consensual sex. I’m all for consent but I feel like getting consent for every little thing you are doing every thirty seconds is not very realistic. It pulled me out of the story.

Enjoyable read if not exactly my taste. I feel like this author’s style is perfect as a palette cleanser book. A great choice if you have read too many dark or suspense romances in row and need something a lot lighter to reset.

[Tamisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

Thank you to Berkley for providing me with an eARC of this book via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions shared are 100% mine.

Despite the premise, Keeping Score is more of a workplace romance than it is a sports romance (most of the book takes place in the offseason before their league starts).

I enjoyed seeing Michelle's growth throughout the book. She starts off being set up as the ice cold, career focused woman with no time for work or love. Over time, and with Tristan's insistence, we see her begin to step out of her comfort zone and "learn to relax" as they say in the book. I am not a fan of when characters feel like they have to change because of a specific person but the author did a good job of making sure that Michelle made these decisions because she wanted to. I also enjoyed it being a dual POV romance because we got to see Tristan pining after Michelle and further cementing the "he fell first" dynamic.

However, despite them being friends before they got together, their relationship still felt quite surface level. There were scenes where they spoke a little about their upbringing, their fears, and one scene where Michelle is upset with Tristan's drinking because it reminds her of her alcoholic father. But beyond that, their relationship didn't seem to carry much weight. I wasn't particularly connected to either of them and I was actually more intrigued by the subplots with Lauren/West and Maddie/Logan. The book also makes a big deal of Michelle playing football (soccer) before she got injured but, again, we don't see much about how it was when she played, what she missed most, and how she and Tristan could connect on both being athletes.

That being said, I was happy there was no third act breakup - just Michelle finally making a decision for herself and not what she thought she should be doing. Side note: this is marketed as a standalone but there is a prior book by the same author (Relationship Goals) and there are some callbacks/references that might have been clearer if I'd read that first.

Overall: If you like workplace romance, a down bad athlete, and the "all I've ever wanted is you" dynamic, I think you might enjoy this.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michelle Oxford loves soccer. She once played herself but then got injured and her soccer career ended. Now she is the director of operations for the LA Aces, a men’s soccer team. She figured working for a soccer team was better than nothing. Except, that team came with goalie, Tristan Gold. Tristan has wanted to be more than friends with Michelle for a long time. So when the team suggests she needs to take lessons on how to chill out, Tristan is the one that is to give her those lessons. The more time they spend together, the more something grows between them, and the more her eyes are opened as to what she wants for herself. That could mean though, leaving the Aces.

OMG, I want a Tristan. Author Brittany Kelley really wrote the perfect he falls first and hard romance. I think somewhere along reading, I may have actually thought that Tristan was real.

There was oh so much banter in this book, and it was gooooood banter. There was also a lot of angst and tension, but not over the top. I loved reading these two really fall for each other. But I think what I loved about Tristan the most, was how supportive and caring he was of Michelle. Whether it was making sure she was getting enough rest, loosening up, having things she wants, and more, he was just always there for her. And when I thought there was going to be a conflict about a discussion in the elevator towards the end of the book, there wasn’t. Because these two were adults.

This is technically the second book in this series, but they are interconnected standalones, so you can read it without having to read the first book, I did. However I plan on going back and reading the first book because I absolutely love this author’s writing style! It’s engaging and like I said before, I felt the characters were real.

There are some spicy scenes, but Tristan is also amazing in those too. IFYKYK. Romance readers, this comes out soon, so get your hands on a copy!

[Lexi Takata · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to netgalley for a copy of this sweet romcom! 3.75 stars, 3.5 chili peppers!

Overall, this book gave me everything I want from a romcom, and it gets bonus points for no third act breakup!

I loved the authentic depiction of people in their 30s, and focus on main characters who are through their 20s, established in their careers, but still finding their way in life. It felt real, aided by believable conflicts. As a third-act-breakup-hater, I also enjoyed that there weren't arguments just for the sake of drama (in fact, I don't think they ever really argued?) Instead, the characters were kind and supportive, helping each other navigate family and career questions.

While I loved the MMC, I do wish we had the space to go a bit deeper on his character development beyond the golden retriever boyfriend. Even when he was sad, he was dimpled and joking two pages later. I love a sunshine book boyfriend as much as the next girl, but it felt like there was more depth just out of reach. I love the FMC, no notes.

Something I appreciate in a sports romance is positive depictions of masculinity - no one needs depictions of toxic sports culture with their romcom. I enjoy that although there is conflict in the story, it stems from outside forces instead of the Aces organization. It's giving Ted Lasso and that kind of optimism is much needed today. It feels true to the author-reader contract for romance novels, the promise of a happily ever after.

Spicy scenes, while infrequent, were open door and very well done.

One thing that threw me off was going into this not knowing it was part of an interconnected series. I didn't see that anywhere in preparing to read, and felt like I was missing things when mentions of the main characters previous interactions came up. I'm a completionist, and would have preferred that context. That being said, I would love to read the Lauren/Coach or Maddie/Logan books!

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am in such a soccer mood after the World Cup! I was so excited to start this book and while I did have fun, I think that this book is really lacking in some aspects.

We start with our FMC, Michelle. She works in the corporate office for a professional soccer team. She's been asked out numerous times by the star goalkeeper Tristan. She's always turned him down because she felt like it would be inappropriate and more importantly, she thinks Tristan isn't looking for something long term.

I think this heavily skewers towards insta-love, the whole book takes place over a few weeks and it felt like they moved very quickly from friends to love. I also felt like for a couple that heavily communicated at times, they also were SO bad at it. They would start a topic and then nothing was resolved. Both Michelle and Tristan have issues with their parents but it felt like an afterthought, something that would add tension to their lives. We didn't really see either of their histories have a huge impact on them.

I did really enjoy Tristan teaching Michelle how to chill out, now I want to try a rage room! This is perfect if you want something low stakes and easy to read.

Honestly, my biggest issue with this book was the soccer! I am a huge soccer fan, like grew up playing, I watch it every weekend during the season. And I'm not 100% sure this author has watched a soccer game, or maybe she just took liberties with some rules. A regular season game ended with penalty kicks (which is totally unnecessary) and one team took all 5 shots before the other team had a turn. Also, there were so many misses? It's hard to believe there were THAT many missed shots. The goal is big!

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for this e-ARC!

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Berkley Publishing Group for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

https://jenninsf.wordpress.com/2026/0...

Michelle Oxford is trying to do too many jobs at once, running the front office of the LA Aces soccer team, managing the team’s new owner (and her boss), and maybe have a life? Enter Tristan Gold, the team’s star goalie (and team captain) with the personality of a golden retriever. Michelle loses a bet on a night out with the team and has to submit to “chill out” lessons from Tristan, reporting weekly to the rest of the team to keep her accountable.

This was a fun and fast read and a nice follow up to “Relationship Goals,” taking place after Luke and Abigail have left LA. (But don’t worry, they come back to visit multiple times, so we can check in on them!) The dual POV from Michelle and Tristan gives nice insight on where they are (both smitten, but trying to be professional of course). Michelle is overworked, lonely, and probably needs a new job. Tristan is trying to fill Luke’s Captain shoes and dealing with some childhood trauma from having a emotionally abusive mom growing up. The LA Aces himbos are still there, making dumb jokes and fighting each other for the last donut.

There’s no real conflict, no third-act break up, no drama with their jobs, with the team, with his family – everyone is good with everything all the time, so congrats to them. I definitely expected *something* given the new owner, the PR push that seems necessary to Michelle, some of Tristan’s family stuff, and even Michelle’s college soccer team, but I guess sometimes it just all works out. Good for them!

[Abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, one of my biggest pet peeves about this book is that it doesn’t say that it’s part of a series…but it is. The book starts by referencing people and events from previous books by Brittany Kelley, and it was incredibly confusing. It felt like I was supposed to have read all of those books and already understand what was going on, but I didn’t because, if you’re like me, the book doesn’t say it’s part of a series, so you assumed it wasn’t part of a series. Crazy how that works.

Maybe this seems like a small thing, but I genuinely think I would have enjoyed the book more if I had the background information I was apparently supposed to have. Michelle and Tristan’s relationship had clearly been building throughout the previous books, so this book just jumps right into them. As a reader, I had no idea how they met, what their relationship had been like before, or even what their history was. I felt like I was missing a huge chunk of their story, and it made it really difficult for me to become invested in their relationship.

I also wasn’t really a fan of Tristan. He was described as a golden retriever guy, which I can absolutely get behind, but he also came across as kind of a big oaf. And I feel a little bad saying that because the entire book has him trying to combat that exact narrative. But it wasn’t even because he’s an athlete that I thought that, it was his actions.

There were so many moments where I just found myself cringing at him, especially when he was trying to get Michelle to come out of her shell. He’s literally a big jock who acts like a big jock, and it was giving me the ick. At one point, he jumps onto the karaoke stage, puts his arms up in a V, and the entire team hoots and hollers for him. Because he jumped on the stage. And made a whole show of it. I don’t know why that bothered me so much because it’s such a small thing, but there were several other moments where he acted childish in a similar way, and it just really wasn’t for me.

Overall, this book just didn’t wow me. There wasn’t anything that I absolutely loved, and there were definitely some things that I didn’t love, but it was fine enough. I think I would have had a better experience if I had known it was part of a series and had the background information going in, but unfortunately, I didn’t. And after this one, I don’t think I’m particularly interested in going back and reading the other books that are technically part of the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Katelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3 🌟

This is a cute rom-com that grabbed me immediately from the first chapter. I LOVED that from the very first MMC POV he is absolutely in love with her, I was swooning. There are lots of jokes referencing pop culture, which I don't pay attention to so I couldn't appreciate it. I feel like if I understood the references it would've been even funnier. That being said I had a fun silly goofy time, this is such a vibes read. I was literally reading this with a smile on my face the entire time. Also, I was halfway through the book before I realized there was a book before this one. I didn't need that knowledge though, this can totally be read on its own. I really hope this book takes off as I had a good time reading it. Also, the fact that this is SOCCER was a breath of fresh air, there's no 3rd act break up. The team was hilarious! The chapters are short!

All of that being said I found the "trauma Tristan experienced to be strange. I found myself thinking he was a crybaby, but maybe that's the dark romance reader in me. Also the confrontation with his mom was cringe and anticlimactic but I loved that Michelle stuck up for him.

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Usual quotes to follow after book is published.

[E.A. Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC of Keeping Score.

This was my first soccer romance, and as a soccer fan I was excited to pick this one up. The story blends humor, friendship, and slow-burn romance in a way that makes it an easy and enjoyable read. I especially loved the Frozen references by Tristian. They added a fun and unexpected layer of humor.

Tristan and Michelle’s dynamic was one of my favorite parts of the book. Watching Tristan help Michelle step out of her shell while their friendship slowly grows into something more felt natural and realistic. The humor throughout the story was very relatable, and I found myself laughing out loud several times. Also, I felt like we had the same exact humor 😂

The only element I wished had been explored more was their earlier history. Their past connection is mentioned throughout the book, and I would have loved to see more of those early moments to extend the slow-burn tension even further.

Overall, Keeping Score is a cozy, feel-good romance that will especially appeal to readers who enjoy sports romances with humor and a strong friendship-to-romance arc.



⚽️ Sports romance
⚽️ Workplace romance
⚽️ Opposites attract
⚽️ Golden retriever MMC
⚽️ Protective MMC
⚽️ Friends to lovers
⚽️ He falls first

[kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley, Berkley Publishing Group and the author for this eARC.

2.75/5

This book was very cute but there just some minor issues with it in general.



This book is labeled as a standalone however after about chapter 5 you are shown two characters who are treated as if I should already know them. As someone who has never a book from this author before I would’ve appreciated a little bit of context as to who Abigail and Luke were.



There are a few things I believe would help the story flow better and help the audience get a general understanding: I believe that within the first few chapters we should be told about Michelle’s backstory revolving soccer rather than getting it over a quarter of the way into book.



I feel like this book lacks some emotional depth to it. Michelle tells Tristan that her dad was an alcoholic which makes her uncomfortable in situations surrounding alcohol however we never discussed it again nor mentioned how that shaped her as a person. She has no problems drinking at the beginning of the book when first making the bet with Tristan, but suddenly halfway through the book it becomes an issue for her.



This book is very enjoyable! I enjoyed the different people and relationships we explored in both platonic and romantic ways. Unfortunately for me there were just a few too many inconsistencies for me to enjoy it to its fullest potential.

[Daisy.readsromance · Rating 4 out of 5]

🅐🅡🅒 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪
ᗯᕼᗩT TO ᗴ᙭ᑭᗴᑕT:
⚽️𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀
⚽️𝗙𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲
⚽️𝗚𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗺𝗰
⚽️𝗙𝗠𝗖 𝘄/ 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗖𝗮𝘁 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆

💭𝗧𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻 𝗚𝗼𝗹𝗱, star goalie of the LA Aces, is head over heels for Michelle, the director of operations for his team. However, she believes he isn't interested in relationships. Let me tell you, I was absolutely charmed by Tristan's sunny personality and his devotion to Michelle. He's so in love with her that he's willing to settle for just being friends, and as a good friend, he is determined to help our workaholic Michelle relax a bit. But as they spend more time together, it becomes clear that they are a perfect match.

𝗧𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻 helps Michelle see her worth, and their love story embodies everything you love in romance novels. I found their dynamic adorable, and I couldn't help but fall for Tristan myself. He's the ideal book boyfriend. If you enjoy friends-to-lovers storylines, this is a must-read.

Although the sports element is present, the story is a bit short, and I wish we could have learned more about the side characters. However, I'm excited for the next book in the series that will surely provide more context into the team dynamics.

A big thank you to 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗸𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 and 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆 for this read.

𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆: 𝟰.𝟮𝟱⭐️ |𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹: 𝟯/𝟱🌶️

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Michelle used to play soccer, but an injury crushed her dreams of playing pro. Now, she works as the director of operations for a professional soccer team in LA, where their star goalie, Tristan, has always had a crush on her.

This was a fun sports/workplace romance with some he falls first and only one bed tropes! Through a series of events, Michelle and Tristan end up making a deal where he shows her how to relax via fun dates. They quickly realize that they have fun together and may be developing feelings for each other, but both have their own hang-ups! The banter was entertaining, the side characters added a lot of charm and the overall vibe was cute and fun! I was hoping for a little more depth from the story. The characters’ development felt a little thin and it seemed like the plot felt slightly underdeveloped and hinged on tropes to check boxes. However, this really filled in the soccer shape gap left after the FIFA World Cup ended and I really enjoyed being in the soccer world again!
This is a cute, lighthearted sports romance perfect for readers who want a fun romance that hits all the best tropes with a pro soccer team setting!

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you know me, you know I love a man that yearns, and hoo boy does Tristan yearn. This 6’6 golden goalie has been into Michelle for years, which we learn fairly early on in the story. There’s a healthy heaping of team camaraderie and girl gang support interspersed throughout the romance aspect of it all and while in another book that might take me out of the story, in this one it works really well! You learn who Michelle and Tristan are as individuals as well as who they have the potential to be together, which makes them feel well-rounded as characters.

Michelle was giving alllll eldest daughter vibes even though she’s an only child, while Tristan was 100% the middle child in every way. Both stubborn to a fault, and by 50% I was screaming at them to just get it together already (namely Michelle. sorry, girl.)

My favorite part of the story was that T just didn’t give up. Years of rejection and a prickly pear of a crush didn’t slow him down, rather M’s professional demeanor only encouraged him to tear down her sky-high walls.

Overall it I would say Keeping Score was a good read and I’m excited for the next book in the series!

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 Stars

Overall I liked the book. The writing style was perfect and I will read the next book in the series. However the book was marked as a standalone and I was so confused on several things in the first few chapters of the book that I paused to go read the first book of the series. I am glad I did since there were several scenes and characters that I would have been completely lost on if I didn't read the first book.

I did love the relationship between the FMC and the MMC. I loved how Michelle found peace with her injury from when she played soccer in College. I am so glad Tristan was able to help her way back to that part of her life instead of continuing to bury herself in a job that was not the right fit.

I do think that there could have been a little more background from Tristan, especially with his mom. I am able to relate a lot to parts of his background and I really wish there was more there.

[Andrea Britton · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many feels in this book!! Ahhh..I didn’t want to put this book down. Keeping Score by Brittany Kelley is a must read sports romance that will have you laughing and swooning.

Tristan Gold, star goalie for the Aces, has a big crush on Michelle Oxford, the one that is keeping this operation running. He can tell when she’s stressed, and he cares for her deeply. But she doesn’t see it quite yet.

After making a bet about learning to chill, Tristan and Michelle start hanging out and that’s when things start to change. These two end up with big feelings. And they will have to learn to navigate them if these two want their happily ever after.

I love when the team is together, they each want the best for one another and are each others biggest fans. The closeness of the team really shines through. They were so entertaining. I laughed so much during their interactions. This book was the whole package. A must read for any romance lover.

Thank you to the author and the publisher for my advanced readers copy.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Keeping the Score” might be one of my new favorite books of the year! Brittany Kelley did an amazing job with the story and character development. The chemistry between the FMC and the MMC was 🔥. I had the best time with Michelle and Tristan’s story and couldn’t put it down!

Michelle Oxford is a woman working in the soccer industry and is a badass. LA Aces. Michelle loses a bet with the team and Tristan Gold gets to teach her how to loosen up. I love the tension between these two already!

Tristan is the soccer goalie and Michelle keeps telling herself he needs to stay a friend because she has no time for romance. She is an uptight work aholic and he is a laid back, go with the flow guy. They couldn’t be more different. But you know what they say, opposites attract and their chemistry is undeniable!

The Golden Girls (and Tristan) Group chat had me LOL-ing. 🤣

Tropes:

-Workplace
-Opposites attract
-Friends to Lovers
-Rom Com


Thank you Berkley Romance l, Netgalley and Brittany Kelley for my ARC!❤️

[Rhianon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled to stay focused on the book. There was nothing inherently wrong with it, it just didn't bring anything new to the table. Both characters were kind and hard working. I enjoyed the banter with the teammates.

I didn't really feel a lot of chemistry between Michelle and Tristan. They were friendly co-workers. I think more could have been done to build their relationship and how they each handled their personal hang ups on why they struggled to ever be in a relationship with anyone.

Looking back it's a relief that there was very little technical discussion of soccer because as someone who played for 12 years and watches professional soccer (mainly men's & women's international, and the NWSL), the description of a penalty shoot out had me wanting to throw my kindle across the room. Not to mention you don't have penalty shoot outs during the regular season. Soccer can have ties during a regular season game.

And I wish we got to see more interactions with Tristan's sisters. They seem feisty and it would have been nice to see the 4 siblings support each other knowing how they've grown up.

My favorite parts were the rage room and Lauren yelling about pelvic floors.

Thank you Net Galley for this ARC.

[Lacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 🌟

"God, I could bottle up that smile and live on it for the rest of my life."

It was a very cute romance, perfect for a palette cleanser or when I want something comforting. There was nothing that had me thinking "omg I can't put this down", but I didn't dislike it either. It's a solid middle of the scale book for me. Since Michelle had an injury in college that derailed any dreams of player professional soccer, she seems to have closed herself off to anything unrelated to work and has made her world very small. I love that Tristan pulled Michelle out of her bubble and got her to loosen up and learn to enjoy life a little more. I think that was the most relatable thing for me in the book, because I know that is the kind of person I would need in my life. I get too tunnel-visioned with work and responsibilities and forget sometimes that there is life to be lived in addition to the obligations.

I didn't realize this was technically a second book. It seems the books can be read as standalones but there's a book before this that has another couple's story in it that are also in this one. I didn't feel very connected to any of the characters in this book and I wonder if maybe I would have felt differently if I read the other one first.

If you want an easy read that will make you smile, this is the book for you.