Pop Stars and Playbooks: An opposites-attract, kisses-only, fake friendship-turned-love story between a football star and a pop icon

Perfect for fans of fake dating, opposites attract, and swoon-worthy slow burns!

"Okay listen . . . this book was CUTE. Like aggressively Hallmark coded in the best way possible." --Netgalley early reviewer

She's a chart-topper. He's a football player. Together, they're a love story no one saw coming.

Griffin Hayes is football's golden boy--charming, talented, and completely out of his depth when a video of him belting out pop star Aria Wilder's breakup anthem goes viral. Overnight, he's crowned the internet's favorite meme, and Aria's #1 fan. Aria, the reigning queen of heartbreak ballads, sees an opportunity to turn the moment into good PR and invites Griffin to her next concert. When their onstage chemistry sets the internet ablaze, her team suggests the unthinkable: a fake friendship to keep the buzz alive.

Griffin reluctantly agrees, but as they spend more time together--posing for cameras, attending events, and sharing inside jokes--he realizes there's nothing fake about the way Aria makes him feel. For Aria, Griffin is a breath of fresh air in a world that's always demanding more from her. Beneath the viral fame and public scrutiny, their connection feels real.

But when Griffin suffers a career-threatening injury and Aria battles creative burnout, their carefully constructed "performance" starts to crumble. With their worlds pulling them in opposite directions, they'll have to decide: Is this just a PR stunt gone too far--or the kind of love worth risking everything for?

Perfect for fans of fake dating, opposites attract, and swoon-worthy slow burns, Pop Stars and Playbooks is a sparkling romance about finding love in the unlikeliest of places--and learning to trust it when the spotlight fades.

Netgalley Early Reviews:

"Very swoony from start to finish."

"This was such an adorable read!!"

"It's really good!!!"

"Because of this book sports romance is my new favorite genre!"

"Right from the first chapter, I was completely charmed."

"5 out of 5 stars."

"A story taken right from the headlines."

"This is a fun read! . . . Highly recommend if you like clean rom-coms."

"Such a fun read."

• Publication date: 24 September 2026
• Page count: 352
• Dimensions: Height 138 mm; Width 211 mm; Thickness 24 mm
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson Publishers
• Format: Paperback
• ISBN-13: 9781400359394