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The Neighbor Playbook: A Sweet Sports RomCom
An NBA star just moved in across the hall.
He hates LA, hates noise, and hates me—probably.
I’m Nicole Farrarah, an entrepreneur whose life is currently held together by optimism and caffeine.
The first time I meet Dominic Neelson, he’s standing in the hallway with a key in his hand, my dog at his feet, and a look that suggests this was not how he imagined his first day in Los Angeles going.
But somewhere between chance encounters, messy afternoons, more dog related disasters, and a few borrowed eggs, things begin to shift.
Glances last a beat too long.
Smiles come easier.
And being near him starts to feel like my favorite part of the day.
But I want to build something in LA, and his career has never stayed in one place.
And I can feel the moment coming when one of us will have to decide.
The Neighbor Playbook is a grumpy sunshine sports romcom full of lots of swoon and no spice. It's the fifth standalone novel in The Love Playbook Series.
Enjoy the other full-length books in The Love Playbook series, which can be read in any
Tackle My Heart by Marion De Ré (Football/Soccer)
Love Catch by Laura Langa (Baseball)
Every Breath You Take by Larissa Hommes (Swimming)
Don't Crosse the Line by Britney M. Mills (Lacrosse)
The Neighbor Playbook by Kristine W. Joy (Basketball)
Try for Love by Dana LeCheminant (Rugby)
First Down, Second Chances by Deb Goodman (American Football)
Faking Fore-Ever by Abby Greyson (Golf)
He hates LA, hates noise, and hates me—probably.
I’m Nicole Farrarah, an entrepreneur whose life is currently held together by optimism and caffeine.
The first time I meet Dominic Neelson, he’s standing in the hallway with a key in his hand, my dog at his feet, and a look that suggests this was not how he imagined his first day in Los Angeles going.
But somewhere between chance encounters, messy afternoons, more dog related disasters, and a few borrowed eggs, things begin to shift.
Glances last a beat too long.
Smiles come easier.
And being near him starts to feel like my favorite part of the day.
But I want to build something in LA, and his career has never stayed in one place.
And I can feel the moment coming when one of us will have to decide.
The Neighbor Playbook is a grumpy sunshine sports romcom full of lots of swoon and no spice. It's the fifth standalone novel in The Love Playbook Series.
Enjoy the other full-length books in The Love Playbook series, which can be read in any
Tackle My Heart by Marion De Ré (Football/Soccer)
Love Catch by Laura Langa (Baseball)
Every Breath You Take by Larissa Hommes (Swimming)
Don't Crosse the Line by Britney M. Mills (Lacrosse)
The Neighbor Playbook by Kristine W. Joy (Basketball)
Try for Love by Dana LeCheminant (Rugby)
First Down, Second Chances by Deb Goodman (American Football)
Faking Fore-Ever by Abby Greyson (Golf)
314 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 6, 2026
30 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
About the author
Kristine W. Joy
19 books375 followersKristine W. Joy is an Amazon Bestselling Author who loves creating sweet and swoony stories full of sizzling chemistry and laugh-out-loud banter. She prefers her coffee iced and her kisses hot. When she's not dreaming up romance novels or writing from a cozy coffee shop in Northern California, she is spending time with her hubby and two young sons. Becoming a published author was a lifelong dream. Becoming a momma was the inspiration to make it a reality.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
March 3, 2026
I was so honored to be an ARC reader for this book!!
I absolutely loved it! It is part of a series, but can be read as a stand alone. Perfectly balanced between the main characters. They complement each other well!
However, what a disastrous way to make a first impression, on so many accounts!! It made the characters lives and situations come to life. Nicole and Dom’s friendship is so incredibly sweet as it develops. I didn’t want the story to end. Thankful for clean romantic comedies that lighten the heart, make you smile, and leave you thinking about it way past the ending.
I received an ARC from Kristine W. Joy in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely loved it! It is part of a series, but can be read as a stand alone. Perfectly balanced between the main characters. They complement each other well!
However, what a disastrous way to make a first impression, on so many accounts!! It made the characters lives and situations come to life. Nicole and Dom’s friendship is so incredibly sweet as it develops. I didn’t want the story to end. Thankful for clean romantic comedies that lighten the heart, make you smile, and leave you thinking about it way past the ending.
I received an ARC from Kristine W. Joy in exchange for an honest review.
March 7, 2026
This story was so fun! At the very beginning, these two clash over a disastrous first meeting. However, you quickly see that Dominic and Nicole are actually both genuinely nice people who are both sometimes a bit awkward when around each other.
I loved the sweet way their friendship developed, the natural way they began to fall for each other, and an accidental meme text was a perfectly romcom situation to help move these two into a deeper relationship!
I appreciated the way both Dominic and Nicole supported each other's best interests. And they were both such adults in the way they were willing to communicate, even when it was a difficult thing they needed to discuss.
This story made me so happy!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
I loved the sweet way their friendship developed, the natural way they began to fall for each other, and an accidental meme text was a perfectly romcom situation to help move these two into a deeper relationship!
I appreciated the way both Dominic and Nicole supported each other's best interests. And they were both such adults in the way they were willing to communicate, even when it was a difficult thing they needed to discuss.
This story made me so happy!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
March 19, 2026
The Neighbor Playbook is the fifth part of a multi-author series called The Love Playbook. Each book features a different sport and a different shelter animal. This book is about basketball and features a cute dog named Cocoa. I was really excited to dive in yet another book by this author, but what will this story bring?
Let’s just start of by saying that Cocoa is an amazing add to the story. He has banter and a mind of his own. I truly loved him and I felt like he really added to the story.
I must admit this is my one of my favorite parts of the Love Playbook series so far. I really loved to see the story come together. From beginning to end, this story will get you hooked and won’t let you go.
Check out my full review on my blog Boekensteeg
Let’s just start of by saying that Cocoa is an amazing add to the story. He has banter and a mind of his own. I truly loved him and I felt like he really added to the story.
I must admit this is my one of my favorite parts of the Love Playbook series so far. I really loved to see the story come together. From beginning to end, this story will get you hooked and won’t let you go.
Check out my full review on my blog Boekensteeg
Review of advance copy received from Author
This story has it all: a grumpy neighbor, a mischievous pup, a gal determined to make it on her own, and of course, basketball! Can't you just imagine Dom showing up to Nicole's door with her little stinker puppy, Cocoa? While it might not have been the welcoming committee he planned on, it is, however, the start of something good.
I love how the series has been featuring all different types of sports romances, but the little animal sidekicks have been a hoot! I've loved how they have been worked in to each couple's HEA. I think the special thing about this story is that it doesn't just focus on Dom's basketball team, but how Dom and Nicole end up functioning as a sweet, little team as they learn to support each other. There could have been reasons not to be together, but I really enjoyed how they worked through their obstacles and they ended up with a really fun chemistry on the page.
This was another enjoyable sweet and clean read from Kristine Joy!
I received a copy from the author for consideration. All thoughts contained here are my own honest opinions.
I love how the series has been featuring all different types of sports romances, but the little animal sidekicks have been a hoot! I've loved how they have been worked in to each couple's HEA. I think the special thing about this story is that it doesn't just focus on Dom's basketball team, but how Dom and Nicole end up functioning as a sweet, little team as they learn to support each other. There could have been reasons not to be together, but I really enjoyed how they worked through their obstacles and they ended up with a really fun chemistry on the page.
This was another enjoyable sweet and clean read from Kristine Joy!
I received a copy from the author for consideration. All thoughts contained here are my own honest opinions.
March 9, 2026
Super cute book. Cocoa (the little dog) is absolutely crazy and he wiggles his way into your heart very fast. He really was the star of the whole book. I love the character growth for Nicole and Dominic. They both learned to be brave and go for what they really wanted. Nicole finds a dream to work towards. Dominic finds a home. I’ve ended up binging the whole series now. This one is still one of my favorites.
Clean sweet romcom, special emphasis on the com. Lots of comedy in this one. Good for all ages.
Clean sweet romcom, special emphasis on the com. Lots of comedy in this one. Good for all ages.
March 6, 2026
This book is absolutely perfect and is now my favourite book by the author.
I loved the flow of the book and how the characters grew through the story. I loved a shy nervous MMC, so Dominic was awesome and I was really really proud of Nicole for proving herself.
I loved the flow of the book and how the characters grew through the story. I loved a shy nervous MMC, so Dominic was awesome and I was really really proud of Nicole for proving herself.
March 6, 2026
5/5
Genre: Closed door/Sweet Romcom
🚨TW: mentions about failed business, being mocked, being labelled as a trust fund baby
🔥 Level: Closed door, hot kisses
Read it if you like:
🏀 Dual POV
🏀 sports (basketball)
🏀 Grumpy X Sunshine
🏀 Strangers to friends to lovers
🏀 Lovable and mischievous dog
🏀 Meet disaster
🏀 Opposite Attract
🏀 Neighbours
🏀 closed door (kissing only)
Favourite Moments
🏀 Their first disaster meet.
🏀 Moments with Cocoa the dog.
🏀 Her making him cookies.
🏀 Him teaching her how to train her dog.
🏀 When she got some ideas from talking to him. (can’t spoil it)
🏀 He caught her dancing and singing in her home. (can’t spoil it0
🏀 They opened up to each other and also there for each other.
🏀 Their dates.
🏀 After the party (can’t spoil it)
🏀 Him encouraging her to go and show her proposal (can’t spoil it)
🏀 His friendship with his teammates.
(lots more)
Swoony Moments
🏀 He is great with dogs.
🏀 He encourages and supports her in whatever she had planned to do.
🏀 He is a hopeless romantic.
🏀 He loves, cares and protects her.
Synopsis:
Nicole
An entrepreneur who is struggling but she is not giving up. She wants to make a name for herself rather than being known as her father’s daughter. She is trying her best to save her skincare brand.
Dominic/Dom
An NBA player who is from Texas who is trying to fit in, in his new life in LA and also getting use to his new team that he is going to work with.
One day, he was about to go out for practice and realised that a dog peed on his basketball shoes. He was in a rush at that time and was not really happy about it and its owner appeared and that how everything started. Will they ever get along? What will happen next? Read The Neighbour Playbook to find out!
Review:
Love these two so much. Hehe… they at first don’t really see eye to eye thanks to her dog, Cocoa who did something that made him not happy but though their meet is a disaster Cocoa is still like a indirect matchmaker.
She baked him cookies to apologize and then ever since then they get to know each other and also I love the part where he caught her dancing and singing in her home. (why is he in her home read to find out and who let him in is the fun part) haha…
Love that they open up to each other and also be there for each other. He is trying to fit in with his teammates while she is trying her best to save her career. While talking to him, ideas start pouring and she writing up proposal though she is afraid that it will fail but Dom encouraged her and tell her she is great and the company will love it. She too went to his games to support him.
Love their dates and also him being a hopeless romantic. Can’t spoil what he did for her but I can let you know his grand gesture kind of went crazy. Haha…
Love that he also helps her in training her dog, Cocoa, the lovable mischievous dog. He is just so cuteee and also the love the forum too I wonder who will adopt the high maintenance pig, Princess. I would love to know seriously.
I was gifted complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own. Thanks @kristinewjoy for the ARC.
This is the 5th standalone novel of The Love Playbook Series. It is a multi-author series which each story is connected to the Adopt Rescue Pets Forum. Can’t wait to read the rest of the books in the series.
You can purchase this book on Amazon and it’s available on KU.
Can’t wait for the next story.
Genre: Closed door/Sweet Romcom
🚨TW: mentions about failed business, being mocked, being labelled as a trust fund baby
🔥 Level: Closed door, hot kisses
Read it if you like:
🏀 Dual POV
🏀 sports (basketball)
🏀 Grumpy X Sunshine
🏀 Strangers to friends to lovers
🏀 Lovable and mischievous dog
🏀 Meet disaster
🏀 Opposite Attract
🏀 Neighbours
🏀 closed door (kissing only)
Favourite Moments
🏀 Their first disaster meet.
🏀 Moments with Cocoa the dog.
🏀 Her making him cookies.
🏀 Him teaching her how to train her dog.
🏀 When she got some ideas from talking to him. (can’t spoil it)
🏀 He caught her dancing and singing in her home. (can’t spoil it0
🏀 They opened up to each other and also there for each other.
🏀 Their dates.
🏀 After the party (can’t spoil it)
🏀 Him encouraging her to go and show her proposal (can’t spoil it)
🏀 His friendship with his teammates.
(lots more)
Swoony Moments
🏀 He is great with dogs.
🏀 He encourages and supports her in whatever she had planned to do.
🏀 He is a hopeless romantic.
🏀 He loves, cares and protects her.
Synopsis:
Nicole
An entrepreneur who is struggling but she is not giving up. She wants to make a name for herself rather than being known as her father’s daughter. She is trying her best to save her skincare brand.
Dominic/Dom
An NBA player who is from Texas who is trying to fit in, in his new life in LA and also getting use to his new team that he is going to work with.
One day, he was about to go out for practice and realised that a dog peed on his basketball shoes. He was in a rush at that time and was not really happy about it and its owner appeared and that how everything started. Will they ever get along? What will happen next? Read The Neighbour Playbook to find out!
Review:
Love these two so much. Hehe… they at first don’t really see eye to eye thanks to her dog, Cocoa who did something that made him not happy but though their meet is a disaster Cocoa is still like a indirect matchmaker.
She baked him cookies to apologize and then ever since then they get to know each other and also I love the part where he caught her dancing and singing in her home. (why is he in her home read to find out and who let him in is the fun part) haha…
Love that they open up to each other and also be there for each other. He is trying to fit in with his teammates while she is trying her best to save her career. While talking to him, ideas start pouring and she writing up proposal though she is afraid that it will fail but Dom encouraged her and tell her she is great and the company will love it. She too went to his games to support him.
Love their dates and also him being a hopeless romantic. Can’t spoil what he did for her but I can let you know his grand gesture kind of went crazy. Haha…
Love that he also helps her in training her dog, Cocoa, the lovable mischievous dog. He is just so cuteee and also the love the forum too I wonder who will adopt the high maintenance pig, Princess. I would love to know seriously.
I was gifted complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own. Thanks @kristinewjoy for the ARC.
This is the 5th standalone novel of The Love Playbook Series. It is a multi-author series which each story is connected to the Adopt Rescue Pets Forum. Can’t wait to read the rest of the books in the series.
You can purchase this book on Amazon and it’s available on KU.
Can’t wait for the next story.
March 11, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️️⭐️/ ️🌶️
As a total basketball girlie, I love reading sport romances featuring basketball players. I wish there were more! So when I hear about a book that has basketball as the focused sport I am for sure going to read it. Kristine W Joy brings my favorite sport to the Love Playbook series, bringing reader book 5 in this collaboration. As always the book flows perfectly, has delicious romance, and the MCs have great chemistry. Every part of the book was a joy to read.
Nicole and Dom may have had an introduction that doesn’t qualify as a meet cute, but it was cute none the less. Thanks to one poorly trained puppy, these neighbors start out not getting along. Nicole is desperate to make a name for herself that isn’t synonymous with her father. Dom is trying to find his place on his new team. Being from Texas he is a fish out of water within the LA world he lives in now. As they find their rhythm as neighbors, they also start to develop feelings.
Their relationship flows organically and is very believable. Their chemistry is insane and was so much fun reading about. Their flirtatious banter had me laughing at moments and swooning at others. Dom supports Nicole in her dreams of being her own person. I mean really, swoon city is where this man lives. In turn, Nicole helps Dom find a home within LA and shows up at his games so he has someone he knows in the stands. And I cannot leave out Cocoa, Nicole’s adorable dog who is the matchmaker to thank in this story. He is mischievous, observant, and beyond smart. Truly the shining start in this story.
Kristine wrote a book that I was truly able to immerse myself in. I really enjoyed being able to understand everything that was going on when the sport was being talked about. I have played this sport since I was 5 and it will always hold my heart. Kristine balanced her book between sports and romance wonderfully, neither one taking a back seat to the other.
As always, review any author notes before reading.
What to Expect:
🏀Neighbors to More
❤️Grumpy x Sunshine
🏀Opposites Attract
❤️Dog Mom FMC
🏀NBA Player MMC
❤️Closed Door Romance
As a total basketball girlie, I love reading sport romances featuring basketball players. I wish there were more! So when I hear about a book that has basketball as the focused sport I am for sure going to read it. Kristine W Joy brings my favorite sport to the Love Playbook series, bringing reader book 5 in this collaboration. As always the book flows perfectly, has delicious romance, and the MCs have great chemistry. Every part of the book was a joy to read.
Nicole and Dom may have had an introduction that doesn’t qualify as a meet cute, but it was cute none the less. Thanks to one poorly trained puppy, these neighbors start out not getting along. Nicole is desperate to make a name for herself that isn’t synonymous with her father. Dom is trying to find his place on his new team. Being from Texas he is a fish out of water within the LA world he lives in now. As they find their rhythm as neighbors, they also start to develop feelings.
Their relationship flows organically and is very believable. Their chemistry is insane and was so much fun reading about. Their flirtatious banter had me laughing at moments and swooning at others. Dom supports Nicole in her dreams of being her own person. I mean really, swoon city is where this man lives. In turn, Nicole helps Dom find a home within LA and shows up at his games so he has someone he knows in the stands. And I cannot leave out Cocoa, Nicole’s adorable dog who is the matchmaker to thank in this story. He is mischievous, observant, and beyond smart. Truly the shining start in this story.
Kristine wrote a book that I was truly able to immerse myself in. I really enjoyed being able to understand everything that was going on when the sport was being talked about. I have played this sport since I was 5 and it will always hold my heart. Kristine balanced her book between sports and romance wonderfully, neither one taking a back seat to the other.
As always, review any author notes before reading.
What to Expect:
🏀Neighbors to More
❤️Grumpy x Sunshine
🏀Opposites Attract
❤️Dog Mom FMC
🏀NBA Player MMC
❤️Closed Door Romance
Review of advance copy received from Author
Anytime I get ready to read a book with this author's name on the front, I am know I am in for a treat and a barrel of laughs. This book was no exception.
Nicole Farrarah just wants to stand on her own two feet. She has a true entrepreneurial spirit. She has a lot of good ideas, but something always goes wrong. The day she meets her neighbor for the first time will be one for the books, quite literally.
NBA star Dominic Neelson (Dom) is a Texas boy, and he is not comfortable in sunny California. But he knows he must make the best of it. His first day of practice is not going to start off very well after he meets his neighbor's fluffy little dog named Cocoa.
Cocoa actually stole the limelight in this story in a lot of scenes. This dog was a holy terror on four legs, but he was absolutely adorable, which was the only thing that saved his little fluffy hide. Between Cocoa's antics and Nicole's clumsiness, the laughs are a mile a minute in this sweet romance.
After their initial disastrous meeting, things settle down and Dom realizes there is more to this beautiful woman than first appears.
There were so many great scenes from Dom squishing down the court in his wet urine-soaked shoes to Nicole being caught in an Swiffer American Idol moment, and Cocoa causing chaos everywhere they go, the laughs just kept coming. This sweet romance was an easy book to read with characters I loved from the first time they appeared on the page, this included the main characters and supporting characters.
I love the game of basketball, so I especially enjoyed the sports romance because I understood everything that was going on.
This is another installment in the multi-author Love Playbook series, and it is a true winner in every category of what I love in a romantic comedy.
Thank you to the author for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Nicole Farrarah just wants to stand on her own two feet. She has a true entrepreneurial spirit. She has a lot of good ideas, but something always goes wrong. The day she meets her neighbor for the first time will be one for the books, quite literally.
NBA star Dominic Neelson (Dom) is a Texas boy, and he is not comfortable in sunny California. But he knows he must make the best of it. His first day of practice is not going to start off very well after he meets his neighbor's fluffy little dog named Cocoa.
Cocoa actually stole the limelight in this story in a lot of scenes. This dog was a holy terror on four legs, but he was absolutely adorable, which was the only thing that saved his little fluffy hide. Between Cocoa's antics and Nicole's clumsiness, the laughs are a mile a minute in this sweet romance.
After their initial disastrous meeting, things settle down and Dom realizes there is more to this beautiful woman than first appears.
There were so many great scenes from Dom squishing down the court in his wet urine-soaked shoes to Nicole being caught in an Swiffer American Idol moment, and Cocoa causing chaos everywhere they go, the laughs just kept coming. This sweet romance was an easy book to read with characters I loved from the first time they appeared on the page, this included the main characters and supporting characters.
I love the game of basketball, so I especially enjoyed the sports romance because I understood everything that was going on.
This is another installment in the multi-author Love Playbook series, and it is a true winner in every category of what I love in a romantic comedy.
Thank you to the author for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 28, 2026
ARC REVIEW:
Special thanks to Kristine W. Joy for the complimentary copy of this book (electronic). This is an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Nicole Farrarah went viral when her beauty start-up failed miserably. No longer wanting to be known as the woman who mass-produced cream that smelled like rotten eggs; she is hold up in her LA apartment until she can concoct a plan. Surviving on caffeine and snuggles from her rescued dog (Cocoa) the only real human interaction she has had (besides family) is with her new neighbor, Dominic Neelson.
Dominic Neelson, a professional NBA player, has just been transferred from Alabama to California. Relocating comes with obstacles, but as a professional shooting guard, he must quickly acclimate to a new team (Comets) and unfamiliar city (Los Angeles). Things get off to a rough start when he has an unfortunate incident with his neighbor and her unruly dog.
Will Nicole be able to overcome her bad reputation, or is her career as an entrepreneur forever tarnished? Will Dominic settle into his new environment, or will he seek refuge in another team/city?
I can always count on Kristine W. Joy to deliver a stellar read!!! She had me hooked from the hilarious meet-cute. The incident served as the perfect catalyst for getting the main characters together.
Thankfully, that was only the beginning. I particularly enjoyed the tender moments when the couple interacted with Cocoa and engaged in vulnerable conversations/ brainstorming sessions.
Read The Neighbor Playbook for:
-Sports Romance (Basketball)
-Grumpy/ Sunshine
-Opposites Attract
-Forced Proximity
-Sizzle/ No Spice
* The Neighbor Playbook is the fifth book in the multi-author series, The Love Playbook. While the books are interconnected (through the Fur-Ever Homes Forum), they are written as standalone novels. This gives readers the flexibility to pick and choose how they are read.
Special thanks to Kristine W. Joy for the complimentary copy of this book (electronic). This is an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Nicole Farrarah went viral when her beauty start-up failed miserably. No longer wanting to be known as the woman who mass-produced cream that smelled like rotten eggs; she is hold up in her LA apartment until she can concoct a plan. Surviving on caffeine and snuggles from her rescued dog (Cocoa) the only real human interaction she has had (besides family) is with her new neighbor, Dominic Neelson.
Dominic Neelson, a professional NBA player, has just been transferred from Alabama to California. Relocating comes with obstacles, but as a professional shooting guard, he must quickly acclimate to a new team (Comets) and unfamiliar city (Los Angeles). Things get off to a rough start when he has an unfortunate incident with his neighbor and her unruly dog.
Will Nicole be able to overcome her bad reputation, or is her career as an entrepreneur forever tarnished? Will Dominic settle into his new environment, or will he seek refuge in another team/city?
I can always count on Kristine W. Joy to deliver a stellar read!!! She had me hooked from the hilarious meet-cute. The incident served as the perfect catalyst for getting the main characters together.
Thankfully, that was only the beginning. I particularly enjoyed the tender moments when the couple interacted with Cocoa and engaged in vulnerable conversations/ brainstorming sessions.
Read The Neighbor Playbook for:
-Sports Romance (Basketball)
-Grumpy/ Sunshine
-Opposites Attract
-Forced Proximity
-Sizzle/ No Spice
* The Neighbor Playbook is the fifth book in the multi-author series, The Love Playbook. While the books are interconnected (through the Fur-Ever Homes Forum), they are written as standalone novels. This gives readers the flexibility to pick and choose how they are read.
March 8, 2026
I love reading books from this author; I always know I’m going to enjoy them and have fun. The Neighbor Playbook is part of a multi-author, closed-door sports romance series, all interconnected by the pet rescue centre Fur-Ever Homes. All books contain a rescue pet from here, but the books can all be read as stand-alones.
This one features basketball star Dominic Neelson. He’s just transferred to the LA Comets, and he’s feeling extremely homesick and lonely. His first day of training gets off to a really bad start when a loose dog pees on his shoes. The dog, Cocoa, belongs to his neighbour, Nicole Farrarah. So Dom is naturally grumpy on their first meeting. However, given they are neighbours, they keep meeting, and he gradually gets to know his cute, bubbly neighbour better, with a little help from the furry menace that is Cocoa.
Nicole was sweet and overly optimistic, yet also extremely hard on herself. Her father is a very successful businessman, and he invested in her start-up company, a skincare line, which had a very bad flaw of smelling of rotten eggs. She is determined to turn the company around, but everywhere she goes, she’s reminded of her failure. I loved how she never wanted to just live off her father's dime; she wanted to make a success in her own name.
I felt for Dominic, it’s hard living away from your family and everything you know. I’m glad he finally got to know some of his teammates as well as Nicole. A new place is much easier when you have people you can talk to and turn to in a crisis.
The dog training was entertaining, but some dogs are not meant to be the obedient kind, more the loose cannon kind, providing the peeing on gym bags is curbed of course.
All in all, this was a stellar read for me.
This one features basketball star Dominic Neelson. He’s just transferred to the LA Comets, and he’s feeling extremely homesick and lonely. His first day of training gets off to a really bad start when a loose dog pees on his shoes. The dog, Cocoa, belongs to his neighbour, Nicole Farrarah. So Dom is naturally grumpy on their first meeting. However, given they are neighbours, they keep meeting, and he gradually gets to know his cute, bubbly neighbour better, with a little help from the furry menace that is Cocoa.
Nicole was sweet and overly optimistic, yet also extremely hard on herself. Her father is a very successful businessman, and he invested in her start-up company, a skincare line, which had a very bad flaw of smelling of rotten eggs. She is determined to turn the company around, but everywhere she goes, she’s reminded of her failure. I loved how she never wanted to just live off her father's dime; she wanted to make a success in her own name.
I felt for Dominic, it’s hard living away from your family and everything you know. I’m glad he finally got to know some of his teammates as well as Nicole. A new place is much easier when you have people you can talk to and turn to in a crisis.
The dog training was entertaining, but some dogs are not meant to be the obedient kind, more the loose cannon kind, providing the peeing on gym bags is curbed of course.
All in all, this was a stellar read for me.
March 10, 2026
The best thing about a Kristine W Joy story is the myriad of emotions she takes you through in a short amount of pages. (Think roller coaster, y’all!!!) And, this one was double time - I laughed (out loud), I cried, I screamed, I cringed, I swooned. What a ride! And her descriptions were so candid I can still picture that single-dimple smirk in infinite detail.
I loved everything about Dom and Nicole (#niconic). They were adorable - had me flip-flopping between swoon and sitting on the edge of my seat - the whole time.
Highlightables:
- Cocoa the terror (Oops!) I meant: terrier.
- The found family between Dom and his teammates.
- The banter (A+++++)
- The beach - those confessions!!!
- THAT FIRST KISS!!!!!!!!! (IYKYK)
- The confidence they both found because of the support of the other
- The way he saw it differently than her and didn’t stop telling her.
- The way she finally believed him!
- The chemistryyyyyyyyyy
- Cocoa’s antics - did I mention the terror/terrier? Esp: the hilarious matchmaking
Notable Quotables:
- I’ve spent most of my life feeling like I have to earn space beside people. With Dom, it feels like he makes room without even noticing he’s doing it.
- “One failure doesn’t define you or your abilities.”
- “I don’t feel very brave most of the time.” “You came to a basketball game wearing my number.” His lips quirk up. “That’s brave.” My heart is hammering so hard I’m sure he can hear it over the waves. “Maybe,” I concede. “Or maybe just reckless.”
Swoosh! Score! Three pointer goes to Kristine W. Joy - because this one was a trifecta: tension, comedy, and all the feels! And did I mention the adorable terrier?
I highly recommend The Neighbor Playbook - don’t miss this delightful story of love, connection, and belonging!
I loved everything about Dom and Nicole (#niconic). They were adorable - had me flip-flopping between swoon and sitting on the edge of my seat - the whole time.
Highlightables:
- Cocoa the terror (Oops!) I meant: terrier.
- The found family between Dom and his teammates.
- The banter (A+++++)
- The beach - those confessions!!!
- THAT FIRST KISS!!!!!!!!! (IYKYK)
- The confidence they both found because of the support of the other
- The way he saw it differently than her and didn’t stop telling her.
- The way she finally believed him!
- The chemistryyyyyyyyyy
- Cocoa’s antics - did I mention the terror/terrier? Esp: the hilarious matchmaking
Notable Quotables:
- I’ve spent most of my life feeling like I have to earn space beside people. With Dom, it feels like he makes room without even noticing he’s doing it.
- “One failure doesn’t define you or your abilities.”
- “I don’t feel very brave most of the time.” “You came to a basketball game wearing my number.” His lips quirk up. “That’s brave.” My heart is hammering so hard I’m sure he can hear it over the waves. “Maybe,” I concede. “Or maybe just reckless.”
Swoosh! Score! Three pointer goes to Kristine W. Joy - because this one was a trifecta: tension, comedy, and all the feels! And did I mention the adorable terrier?
I highly recommend The Neighbor Playbook - don’t miss this delightful story of love, connection, and belonging!
March 8, 2026
Whenever I pick up a book by Kristine W. Joy I know I can expect something lighthearted and entertaining, and this one definitely delivered.
The story kicks off with a hilariously disastrous first meeting between neighbors Dominic Neelson, an NBA player recently traded to Los Angeles, and Nicole Farrarah, a determined entrepreneur trying to build something of her own. Their introduction goes completely off the rails thanks to Nicole’s chaotic little dog, Cocoa, but it ends up being the beginning of a very sweet story.
After that messy start, it quickly becomes clear that Dom and Nicole are both genuinely kind people who just happen to be a little awkward around each other. I really enjoyed watching their friendship develop and slowly turn into something deeper. Their chemistry felt natural, and an accidental meme text created the perfect romcom moment that nudged their relationship forward.
Cocoa almost steals the spotlight with his nonstop antics. Between the puppy chaos, Nicole’s clumsy mishaps, and Dom adjusting to life in California, there were plenty of scenes that had me laughing.
What stood out most to me was how supportive these two were of each other. Even when things were difficult, they handled it with honesty and maturity while cheering each other on along the way.
Overall this was a charming, closed door basketball romance filled with humor, banter, adorable dog moments, and a lot of heart. If you enjoy grumpy neighbor romances with sweet romcom vibes, this one is definitely worth checking out.
The story kicks off with a hilariously disastrous first meeting between neighbors Dominic Neelson, an NBA player recently traded to Los Angeles, and Nicole Farrarah, a determined entrepreneur trying to build something of her own. Their introduction goes completely off the rails thanks to Nicole’s chaotic little dog, Cocoa, but it ends up being the beginning of a very sweet story.
After that messy start, it quickly becomes clear that Dom and Nicole are both genuinely kind people who just happen to be a little awkward around each other. I really enjoyed watching their friendship develop and slowly turn into something deeper. Their chemistry felt natural, and an accidental meme text created the perfect romcom moment that nudged their relationship forward.
Cocoa almost steals the spotlight with his nonstop antics. Between the puppy chaos, Nicole’s clumsy mishaps, and Dom adjusting to life in California, there were plenty of scenes that had me laughing.
What stood out most to me was how supportive these two were of each other. Even when things were difficult, they handled it with honesty and maturity while cheering each other on along the way.
Overall this was a charming, closed door basketball romance filled with humor, banter, adorable dog moments, and a lot of heart. If you enjoy grumpy neighbor romances with sweet romcom vibes, this one is definitely worth checking out.
March 6, 2026
Being myself is enough…
This is a flirty, fun and laugh out loud romcom that has you going right from the start! Very well written! The author does a great job developing characters that are realistic and that you can really relate to. And oh my… the swoon-worthy kisses! 💋💗
Dominic is an NBA player that has just been traded to the LA Comets and is trying to find his place with his new team. He starts out grumpy but that's only because when he first meets Nicole it's right after her dog, Cocoa, has peed on his gym bag. I love that we get to see Dom's shy, introverted side and see him grow and develop as friendship with Nicole evolves.
Nicole is an entrepreneur who is determined to build something for herself without relying on her family. She was quirky, passionate, and chaotic but in the most endearing, real way. You can't help but want the best for her!
Cocoa is a terror but so cute you can't help but love him! 🐶 And I just love how patient Dom is with Cocoa once they get to know each other. Cocoa steals the show with all his chaos and antics.
I loved this book and didn't want to see it end! I highly recommend it! I love these quotes from the book: “You were so … real. Not trying to be anything but yourself.” and “You make me feel like being myself is enough."
This is the fifth book in a multi-author “The Love Playbook” series. It can be read as a stand-alone but you'll want to read the whole series!
I received an ARC of the book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a flirty, fun and laugh out loud romcom that has you going right from the start! Very well written! The author does a great job developing characters that are realistic and that you can really relate to. And oh my… the swoon-worthy kisses! 💋💗
Dominic is an NBA player that has just been traded to the LA Comets and is trying to find his place with his new team. He starts out grumpy but that's only because when he first meets Nicole it's right after her dog, Cocoa, has peed on his gym bag. I love that we get to see Dom's shy, introverted side and see him grow and develop as friendship with Nicole evolves.
Nicole is an entrepreneur who is determined to build something for herself without relying on her family. She was quirky, passionate, and chaotic but in the most endearing, real way. You can't help but want the best for her!
Cocoa is a terror but so cute you can't help but love him! 🐶 And I just love how patient Dom is with Cocoa once they get to know each other. Cocoa steals the show with all his chaos and antics.
I loved this book and didn't want to see it end! I highly recommend it! I love these quotes from the book: “You were so … real. Not trying to be anything but yourself.” and “You make me feel like being myself is enough."
This is the fifth book in a multi-author “The Love Playbook” series. It can be read as a stand-alone but you'll want to read the whole series!
I received an ARC of the book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 4, 2026
The Neighbor Playbook is yet another fun sports romcom in The Love Playbook series. Nicole is pure sunshine whose life is a little chaotic between her puppy, Cocoa, and her entrepreneur ideas. Dominic is an NBA star joining a new team in and new city and he’s a bit on the grumpy side and missing home. Their meet cute is a disaster but had me laughing. They are opposites but their dynamic is perfect. She brings light to his life, and he brings support to hers. My heart aches for both Nicole and Dominic - she is grappling with low self confidence, and he is struggling with finding his place. Admirably they both traverse through their difficulties gracefully and both grow as individuals. The Neighbor Playbook is full of humor, a mischievous dog, tender moments full of heart, and a romance with relatable characters who sweetly support each other and naturally fall in love.
Tropes: sports romcom = grumpy/sunshine = opposites attract = NBA player = neighbors to more = meet cute disaster = loveable & mischievous dog = swoony kisses
Favorite things:
- Cocoa the dog
- The swifter dance party
- The dog training sessions
- The laundry debacle
- The accidental meme
- The beach
- The roses
- His belief in her
Favorite quotes:
"You make me feel like being myself is enough." - Nicole
"You're the first person who's made LA feel like home to me." - Dominic
Happy reading!
Tropes: sports romcom = grumpy/sunshine = opposites attract = NBA player = neighbors to more = meet cute disaster = loveable & mischievous dog = swoony kisses
Favorite things:
- Cocoa the dog
- The swifter dance party
- The dog training sessions
- The laundry debacle
- The accidental meme
- The beach
- The roses
- His belief in her
Favorite quotes:
"You make me feel like being myself is enough." - Nicole
"You're the first person who's made LA feel like home to me." - Dominic
Happy reading!
March 7, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is part of The Love Playbook series. It can be read as a standalone, but best if you read the full series.
I loved this story! Dominic is an NBA star that just moved to LA, and is trying to fit in with his new team. He moves in across the hall from Nicole, an entrepreneur whose life is currently a hot mess as she is trying to find her niche. I loved the meeting between Nicole and Dominic. I laughed out loud at the adorable, lovable, mischievous dog, Cocoa. I couldn't wait to see what other messes and chaos Cocoa was going to cause. Somewhere between chance encounters, messy afternoons, and more dog related disasters, things begin to shift and they start building a friendship. Kristine Joy is a fantastic author and I will definitely be reading more of her books. I couldn't put this book down as I fell in love with all of her characters!
I love the grumpy/sunshine trope in this book. The "Fur-Ever Homes Forum" adds some fun and humorous messages and a great connection between all of the books. I can't wait to read more of this series.
"Animals are easy. They don't pretend to be something they're not."
"You made everything here make sense. Even when it doesn't make any sense at all."
Thank you Kristine Joy for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
This is part of The Love Playbook series. It can be read as a standalone, but best if you read the full series.
I loved this story! Dominic is an NBA star that just moved to LA, and is trying to fit in with his new team. He moves in across the hall from Nicole, an entrepreneur whose life is currently a hot mess as she is trying to find her niche. I loved the meeting between Nicole and Dominic. I laughed out loud at the adorable, lovable, mischievous dog, Cocoa. I couldn't wait to see what other messes and chaos Cocoa was going to cause. Somewhere between chance encounters, messy afternoons, and more dog related disasters, things begin to shift and they start building a friendship. Kristine Joy is a fantastic author and I will definitely be reading more of her books. I couldn't put this book down as I fell in love with all of her characters!
I love the grumpy/sunshine trope in this book. The "Fur-Ever Homes Forum" adds some fun and humorous messages and a great connection between all of the books. I can't wait to read more of this series.
"Animals are easy. They don't pretend to be something they're not."
"You made everything here make sense. Even when it doesn't make any sense at all."
Thank you Kristine Joy for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
March 7, 2026
“Sometimes the right path isn’t the one you planned.”
Be still, my basketball loving beating heart. Dom is new in town and his immediate misfortunate meet-cute with Nicole and Cocoa is a smelly disaster and really showcases this match made in grumpy sunshine neighborhood.
I adore basketball and I couldn’t get enough of the behind-the-scenes of Dom’s trade and watching him learn to fit in with a new team, in a new city, and with a new love interest. He’s such a Southern gentleman and a hard worker, but it’s the charm that shines through the grump that twitterpated me.
Nicole just wants to make it on her own and it was pure joy watching her find herself, but her precocious dog’s antics and her bright, sunny, bumbling personality make her endearing, especially when she is able to laugh at herself and move on, even through the cuts and pain.
These two together? Electric swoony and chemistry. I adored every moment and exchange. The way this story came together made this story one of my very favorites of Kristine W. Joy’s. She created an enchanting winner! LOVED IT and now I’m off to check out the rest of the Love Playbook series, full of all kinds of sports and romcoms.
*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
Be still, my basketball loving beating heart. Dom is new in town and his immediate misfortunate meet-cute with Nicole and Cocoa is a smelly disaster and really showcases this match made in grumpy sunshine neighborhood.
I adore basketball and I couldn’t get enough of the behind-the-scenes of Dom’s trade and watching him learn to fit in with a new team, in a new city, and with a new love interest. He’s such a Southern gentleman and a hard worker, but it’s the charm that shines through the grump that twitterpated me.
Nicole just wants to make it on her own and it was pure joy watching her find herself, but her precocious dog’s antics and her bright, sunny, bumbling personality make her endearing, especially when she is able to laugh at herself and move on, even through the cuts and pain.
These two together? Electric swoony and chemistry. I adored every moment and exchange. The way this story came together made this story one of my very favorites of Kristine W. Joy’s. She created an enchanting winner! LOVED IT and now I’m off to check out the rest of the Love Playbook series, full of all kinds of sports and romcoms.
*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
Review of advance copy received from Author
Talk about a messy way to start a romance! Let's just say these two didn't get off on the right foot with this meet cute that I certainly won't be forgetting anytime soon! Despite their rocky start though, it didn't take long for Dominic and Nicole to warm up to each other. Their story was one that was filled with awkward and embarrassing moments that had me laughing out loud, but it was also really sweet too. I loved how easily he believed in and encouraged her despite her past failures. They've got a lot to figure out and work through, but I enjoyed every moment seeing them figure it out. Basketball is surprisingly a sport we don't see a whole lot of romances about, so I enjoyed seeing that in the mix as well! This is truly such a fun series, and this one was a great addition to it! If you love dog shenanigans and basketball romance, this is one not be missed.
The Neighbor Playbook is a closed-door romance with kisses only and no language. It is part of The Love Playbook series. This is a multi-author series with each book featuring a different athlete and a cute rescue pet. They can all be enjoyed as standalones or in any order.
**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.
The Neighbor Playbook is a closed-door romance with kisses only and no language. It is part of The Love Playbook series. This is a multi-author series with each book featuring a different athlete and a cute rescue pet. They can all be enjoyed as standalones or in any order.
**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was very fun. Nicole was funny, sweet, thoughtful, and driven to be successful on her own terms. Dom was kind, reserved, earnest, and determined to make the best of being traded to a new basketball team in L.A. while missing his loved ones in Texas. The interactions between the main characters were funny, sweet, vulnerable, and relatable. I wanted to give them both a hug multiple times throughout the book as they tried to find their way into what they wanted while people (especially in Nicole’s case) judged them with zero reservation. I appreciated how the author accurately showed that in fields where women and marginalized communities were barred from entering, that there are many today that still try to undermine others to gain a sense of superiority for themselves and many that come together and support others and lift each other up. Cocoa was cute and I appreciated how supportive Dom and Nicole’s siblings were when the main characters were struggling. Overall, if you like cute chaotic dogs, basketball, found family, banter, and sweet grumpy x sunshine / neighbor sports romance with no spice, then I would highly recommend this book. I got a copy beforehand and these opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
🏀 The neighbor play book🏀
Is so stinking cute! Laugh out loud moments!
If you’re looking for a sweet closed door romance. That is full of laughs and a mischievous dog. This book is absolutely for you! What starts out as an awkward meeting between Dom & Nicole turns into the start of a budding relationship.
Nicole and Dom are just trying to both Make it in L.A.
They grow closer and cocoa Nicoles dog is the center of their budding relationship. Forget a meddling grandma. We’re here for cocoas nonsense 🤣.
This unique duo are both away from family so they really start to lean on each other! Dom becomes very protective of Nicole. Dom starts to feel more at home in L.A.. He feels he is fitting in more with his team. He helps Nicole to stop second guessing herself. We can only go up and have to start somewhere. They both have supportive families and it was fun to see how their older siblings could see their feelings before they wanted to admit them!
The bonus Chapter was so good! I appreciated it so I wasn’t left assuming 🤣
While this wasn’t marketed as a Christian book. At one point both characters had mentioned prayer or asked for prayer. It was comforting. The mentioned my Favorite Bible verse at the end of book!
Is so stinking cute! Laugh out loud moments!
If you’re looking for a sweet closed door romance. That is full of laughs and a mischievous dog. This book is absolutely for you! What starts out as an awkward meeting between Dom & Nicole turns into the start of a budding relationship.
Nicole and Dom are just trying to both Make it in L.A.
They grow closer and cocoa Nicoles dog is the center of their budding relationship. Forget a meddling grandma. We’re here for cocoas nonsense 🤣.
This unique duo are both away from family so they really start to lean on each other! Dom becomes very protective of Nicole. Dom starts to feel more at home in L.A.. He feels he is fitting in more with his team. He helps Nicole to stop second guessing herself. We can only go up and have to start somewhere. They both have supportive families and it was fun to see how their older siblings could see their feelings before they wanted to admit them!
The bonus Chapter was so good! I appreciated it so I wasn’t left assuming 🤣
While this wasn’t marketed as a Christian book. At one point both characters had mentioned prayer or asked for prayer. It was comforting. The mentioned my Favorite Bible verse at the end of book!
March 6, 2026
I always love release days, and I am so excited about this new one from Kristine W. Joy. The Neighbor Playbook is the newest in the multi author series, The Love Playbook, each one featuring athletes from all your favorite sports and some rather adorable, if mischievous animal sidekicks.
Dominic and Nicole definitely have a meet disaster, thanks to the adorably smart-and definitely disruptive- Cocoa. Cocoa’s “welcome to the building” greeting definitely sets off a series of rather unfortunate circumstances for our shy, homesick MMC, causing a rather abrupt and grumpy introduction to bubbly, stubborn sunshine, Nicole.
I absolutely adored how both Dom and Nicole had such similarities in how they felt about certain things, yet were so very opposite in how they presented to the world. Watching as their walls came down, again, with a little help from the fluff of destruction, was so sweet. Watching these two show up for one another, encourage and support each other was so sweet!
If you are looking for a sweet, slow burn sports rom com with an adorably feisty animal sidekicks kick, look no further! The Neighbor Playbook is the perfect story to disappear into for the weekend.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thoughts and opinions are my own.
Dominic and Nicole definitely have a meet disaster, thanks to the adorably smart-and definitely disruptive- Cocoa. Cocoa’s “welcome to the building” greeting definitely sets off a series of rather unfortunate circumstances for our shy, homesick MMC, causing a rather abrupt and grumpy introduction to bubbly, stubborn sunshine, Nicole.
I absolutely adored how both Dom and Nicole had such similarities in how they felt about certain things, yet were so very opposite in how they presented to the world. Watching as their walls came down, again, with a little help from the fluff of destruction, was so sweet. Watching these two show up for one another, encourage and support each other was so sweet!
If you are looking for a sweet, slow burn sports rom com with an adorably feisty animal sidekicks kick, look no further! The Neighbor Playbook is the perfect story to disappear into for the weekend.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 7, 2026
The Neighbor Playbook
What a fun read! I’m almost positive this is the first basketball romance I’ve read that was written for adults, and I liked it! The sports jargon was a little unfamiliar, but really easy to pick up.
Nicole is a chaotically fun struggling entrepreneur whose life hasn’t turned out quite how she always hoped. Dominic is a quiet focused NBA player who just wants to really feel like part of his new team. Enter a furry brown matchmaker and a truly unfortunate gym bag incident, and it’s a match made in the City of Angels.
There was slapstick humor that had me laughing out loud so many times. Cocoa and Nicole definitely get into some entertaining situations. I also really enjoyed that there was no “gimmick” or special circumstance. This is truly a story about two people who meet because their neighbors and then fall in love in a totally normal way. Yes, he’s in the NBA, and yes, she’s viral on social media, but their story is simple, sweet, and refreshing.
If you like closed-door romcoms, basketball, mischievously adorable dogs, lovable goofballs, and a lighthearted story with relatable characters, then give The Neighbor Playbook a try.
I was privileged to read an early copy of this book.
What a fun read! I’m almost positive this is the first basketball romance I’ve read that was written for adults, and I liked it! The sports jargon was a little unfamiliar, but really easy to pick up.
Nicole is a chaotically fun struggling entrepreneur whose life hasn’t turned out quite how she always hoped. Dominic is a quiet focused NBA player who just wants to really feel like part of his new team. Enter a furry brown matchmaker and a truly unfortunate gym bag incident, and it’s a match made in the City of Angels.
There was slapstick humor that had me laughing out loud so many times. Cocoa and Nicole definitely get into some entertaining situations. I also really enjoyed that there was no “gimmick” or special circumstance. This is truly a story about two people who meet because their neighbors and then fall in love in a totally normal way. Yes, he’s in the NBA, and yes, she’s viral on social media, but their story is simple, sweet, and refreshing.
If you like closed-door romcoms, basketball, mischievously adorable dogs, lovable goofballs, and a lighthearted story with relatable characters, then give The Neighbor Playbook a try.
I was privileged to read an early copy of this book.
March 7, 2026
This was a really sweet sports romcom! It is another standalone in the Love Playbook series.
Nicole was just doing her best! I really felt for her. She was struggling through failure and felt like she was still searching for her future. Even though she knew that her family supported her, Nicole wanted to find her own place and success. I loved her sister and their relationship! There was such a natural connection, with their calls and texts.
Dominic was a sweetheart! He was also searching for his place in a new world. L.A was a bit of a culture shock for him and the uncertainty was difficult for him. It was really cool to see him find a camaraderie with his team and to get his groove. He also had a great relationship with his brother and I loved the way his family supported him.
Nicole and Dominic were adorable together! Though they did have a bit of a meet-ugly because of Cocoa, they quickly connected. I loved how supportive and encouraging they were with each other. They both pushed the other to be the best version of themselves. Cocoa was also hilarious! I loved seeing his antics and how he brought Nicole and Dominic together. This sports romcom has some passionate kisses.
I received an ARC.
Nicole was just doing her best! I really felt for her. She was struggling through failure and felt like she was still searching for her future. Even though she knew that her family supported her, Nicole wanted to find her own place and success. I loved her sister and their relationship! There was such a natural connection, with their calls and texts.
Dominic was a sweetheart! He was also searching for his place in a new world. L.A was a bit of a culture shock for him and the uncertainty was difficult for him. It was really cool to see him find a camaraderie with his team and to get his groove. He also had a great relationship with his brother and I loved the way his family supported him.
Nicole and Dominic were adorable together! Though they did have a bit of a meet-ugly because of Cocoa, they quickly connected. I loved how supportive and encouraging they were with each other. They both pushed the other to be the best version of themselves. Cocoa was also hilarious! I loved seeing his antics and how he brought Nicole and Dominic together. This sports romcom has some passionate kisses.
I received an ARC.
March 8, 2026
Their Mischievous Four Legged Matchmaker -
The first time Dominic and Nicole met didn’t end well, but for some reason neither one of them seemed to be able to forget the other. The next time Dominic and Nicole met went a lot better, which led to them building a friendship, even though they were attracted to each other. Spending time together allowed Dominic and Nicole to get to know each other better, whilst their bond became stronger and led to them changing the dynamics of their relationship.
Unfortunately, Dominic and Nicole’s budding relationship hit an obstacle that had the potential to break them up, but they managed to resolve the situation by communicating through all the options available to them. Thankfully, Dominic and Nicole realised they wanted a future together and did everything possible to ensure they could get the happily ever after they deserved.
This was an absolutely enjoyable, lighthearted page turner, where the undeniable chemistry and great friendship between the characters made this book a worthy read. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more books from this talented author.
I received an advanced review copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
The first time Dominic and Nicole met didn’t end well, but for some reason neither one of them seemed to be able to forget the other. The next time Dominic and Nicole met went a lot better, which led to them building a friendship, even though they were attracted to each other. Spending time together allowed Dominic and Nicole to get to know each other better, whilst their bond became stronger and led to them changing the dynamics of their relationship.
Unfortunately, Dominic and Nicole’s budding relationship hit an obstacle that had the potential to break them up, but they managed to resolve the situation by communicating through all the options available to them. Thankfully, Dominic and Nicole realised they wanted a future together and did everything possible to ensure they could get the happily ever after they deserved.
This was an absolutely enjoyable, lighthearted page turner, where the undeniable chemistry and great friendship between the characters made this book a worthy read. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more books from this talented author.
I received an advanced review copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 6, 2026
Talk about a first impression!
Nicole and Dominic are new neighbors and don’t exactly hit it off to begin with. This Alabama/Texas boy is so lost in LA, between navigating traffic in his big truck, good-natured hazing by his new NBA teammates, and a loud (but intriguing) new neighbor. Nicole wants to be known for more than her biggest failures and is doing everything she can to prove she can succeed on her own. Throw in a chaos monster in the form of a rescue terrier named Cocoa, and hilarity ensues.
This story has the perfect blend of humor and romance. I loved seeing Dominic encourage and stand up for Nicole even when they still barely knew each other. She has a lot of critics and he is always first to back her up. In turn, she helps him find his place in the big city. Cocoa is just chaos-incarnate and I found myself giggling out loud at his antics. He is definitely a scene stealer!
This grumpy/sunshine, sports (Basketball) romance is the fifth book in The Love Playbook multi-author series. Each features a different sport and a different rescue pet adopted through the Fur-Ever Homes pet rescue.
Nicole and Dominic are new neighbors and don’t exactly hit it off to begin with. This Alabama/Texas boy is so lost in LA, between navigating traffic in his big truck, good-natured hazing by his new NBA teammates, and a loud (but intriguing) new neighbor. Nicole wants to be known for more than her biggest failures and is doing everything she can to prove she can succeed on her own. Throw in a chaos monster in the form of a rescue terrier named Cocoa, and hilarity ensues.
This story has the perfect blend of humor and romance. I loved seeing Dominic encourage and stand up for Nicole even when they still barely knew each other. She has a lot of critics and he is always first to back her up. In turn, she helps him find his place in the big city. Cocoa is just chaos-incarnate and I found myself giggling out loud at his antics. He is definitely a scene stealer!
This grumpy/sunshine, sports (Basketball) romance is the fifth book in The Love Playbook multi-author series. Each features a different sport and a different rescue pet adopted through the Fur-Ever Homes pet rescue.
March 6, 2026
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was a beautiful romance about two people trying to find their place in the world and finding that their place is in the unexpected friendship that they form with each other. They listen, support, and believe in each other at a time when they both really need someone to do just that. They become each other's safe place.
The book starts with a meet cute involving a chaotic dog who "introduces" himself to Dom in a typical puppy way (if you know puppies, you can probably guess what happens). From there, Dom and Nicole start to develop a tentative friendship that slowly blossoms into more through acts of kindness and support.
This book is full of emotional moments that will hit you in the feels, especially as Nicole deals with the nasty comments in real life and online about her failed beauty products. But Dom is there... reminding her that she is more than her failures.
Such a lovely, heartwarming story. Kristine really nailed the beauty of friendship and how it can become your safe place.
The book starts with a meet cute involving a chaotic dog who "introduces" himself to Dom in a typical puppy way (if you know puppies, you can probably guess what happens). From there, Dom and Nicole start to develop a tentative friendship that slowly blossoms into more through acts of kindness and support.
This book is full of emotional moments that will hit you in the feels, especially as Nicole deals with the nasty comments in real life and online about her failed beauty products. But Dom is there... reminding her that she is more than her failures.
Such a lovely, heartwarming story. Kristine really nailed the beauty of friendship and how it can become your safe place.
March 9, 2026
Oh how funny this book begins.. Dominic is a basketball player new to LA Comets. Day 1 starts with his neighbors dog peeing on his bag, and hos new shoes.
Neighbor Nicole apologizes for Cocoa her rescue dog is a bit wild!
Dom and Nicole find themselves becoming friends and Dom helps train Cocoa.
Nicole has had a rough start to a business gone sour...
Throughout the book Nicole shows Dom that LA is a great place to live.
Dom finds he likes the team after giving himself some time to adjust.
Nicole may come from money buyer she has a great idea when Dom shared the struggles of finding housing for players.
Dom is so supportive and finds that Nicole is like no other and even has a soft spot for Cocoa.
When Dom is offered a chance to move to his dream team. he finds that he is happier now then ever in LA and with Nicole.
Nicole has a change to make it big in Miami but she approaches her dad with her idea and it proves successful.
Together these two are going to do great things together along with Cocoa!
Neighbor Nicole apologizes for Cocoa her rescue dog is a bit wild!
Dom and Nicole find themselves becoming friends and Dom helps train Cocoa.
Nicole has had a rough start to a business gone sour...
Throughout the book Nicole shows Dom that LA is a great place to live.
Dom finds he likes the team after giving himself some time to adjust.
Nicole may come from money buyer she has a great idea when Dom shared the struggles of finding housing for players.
Dom is so supportive and finds that Nicole is like no other and even has a soft spot for Cocoa.
When Dom is offered a chance to move to his dream team. he finds that he is happier now then ever in LA and with Nicole.
Nicole has a change to make it big in Miami but she approaches her dad with her idea and it proves successful.
Together these two are going to do great things together along with Cocoa!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book is part of the Love Playbook series and can be read as a standalone, but you'll really want to read the whole series - and I would suggest in the release order.
Their first meeting was a disaster, memorable, but a disaster. But their other interactions are better and they quickly become friends. Nicole is an entrepreneur who is trying to save her business. Dominic is an NBA player that has just been traded and is now in LA and trying to fit in with his new team. As their relationship grows, they both find a bit of the belonging they were searching for.
In this book we get a sunshiny FMC, a rescue dog that likes to get into mischief, strong sibling bonds, characters that are trying to find their fit/place, laugh out moments, 18 dozen roses, and a slow burn romance that will have you smiling long after the story is complete. Kristine Joy has done a masterful job of creating characters that you can relate with and quickly become endeared to. I devoured this story and really didn't want it to end.
Make sure to check out this book/series - you won't want to miss it!
Quotes:
"Animals are easy. They don't pretend to be something they're not."
"But I think at the end of the day, we're all just trying to find our place in the world."
"You make me feel like being myself is enough."
Their first meeting was a disaster, memorable, but a disaster. But their other interactions are better and they quickly become friends. Nicole is an entrepreneur who is trying to save her business. Dominic is an NBA player that has just been traded and is now in LA and trying to fit in with his new team. As their relationship grows, they both find a bit of the belonging they were searching for.
In this book we get a sunshiny FMC, a rescue dog that likes to get into mischief, strong sibling bonds, characters that are trying to find their fit/place, laugh out moments, 18 dozen roses, and a slow burn romance that will have you smiling long after the story is complete. Kristine Joy has done a masterful job of creating characters that you can relate with and quickly become endeared to. I devoured this story and really didn't want it to end.
Make sure to check out this book/series - you won't want to miss it!
Quotes:
"Animals are easy. They don't pretend to be something they're not."
"But I think at the end of the day, we're all just trying to find our place in the world."
"You make me feel like being myself is enough."
Review of advance copy received from Author
Dominick Neelson is rushing out of his apartment for the first day of his new job with the Los Angeles Comets when he has to run back inside for his keys. Leaving his bag in the hall, he returns seconds later to see a small dog relieving himself on Dom's bag, saturating his new shoes. Not how any NBA player wants to start his first day with his new team!
His new neighbor, Nicole Farrarah, is standing there, mortified!
Welcome to LA...?
After some more embarrassing moments and tempered chaos, Dom begins helping Nicole train the dog, getting to know his neighbor, and settling in with his new team. So many things go wrong along the way, but eventually everything begins to settle down. Finally LA starts to feel like home.
Terrific main characters, constant confusion, and friendships blend together making the book an interesting and enjoyable addition to the series.
His new neighbor, Nicole Farrarah, is standing there, mortified!
Welcome to LA...?
After some more embarrassing moments and tempered chaos, Dom begins helping Nicole train the dog, getting to know his neighbor, and settling in with his new team. So many things go wrong along the way, but eventually everything begins to settle down. Finally LA starts to feel like home.
Terrific main characters, constant confusion, and friendships blend together making the book an interesting and enjoyable addition to the series.
March 8, 2026
It took me a minute to get into this book. I was frustrated with Dominic and his grumpy attitude. He has been traded to the Los Angeles professional basketball team and he was not happy about living in LA. Didn’t help when his neighbor’s dog peed on his gym bag and shoes as he was heading out the door for his first team workout. Fortunately, he redeemed himself and I gave him a second chance. Nicole is a trust fund baby, but she has the drive and desire to make something of herself without her daddy‘s help. And even though she has failures, she keeps trying. Then we can’t forget the precious four legged Cocoa. A small but lovable terror. This is another great addition to this entertaining series. Each story is about a different sports player and how they find romance. Each also has an adorable Fur Ever homes rescue animal. We’re still looking for a home for princess the pig.
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