Pop Stars and Playbooks
Release Date: July 28, 2026
Genre: Romance/Romantic Comedy/Clean & Wholesome Romance
“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.
Juliet Arden/Juliet Rhodes
Juliet Rhodes is a hopeless romantic with a soft spot for slow-burn love stories and swoon-worthy heroes who fall first. When she’s not writing, you can find her binge-watching rom-coms, obsessing over celebrity gossip, or cheering on her favorite teams (while secretly imagining the players in love triangles). She lives in a cozy apartment with her two rescue cats, Hemingway and Zelda.
Learn more about this author here.
When it comes to football Griffin Hayes knows all the ins and outs of the game, but when it comes to singing he's at a total loss. He was just having a little fun belting out the lyrics of Aria Wilder's newest hit, then the video of him singing said song hit the internet and suddenly his life blew up. It was never his intention to become a internet sensation nor catch the attention Aria, but he has and now she wants to meet him...but he has his reservations about that. He doesn't belong in her world, or does he?
Pop Stars and Playbooks is a fun and light-hearted slow burn romance that is destined to leave you smiling. It is your classic story of love finding you when you're not even looking for it. Griffin and Aria both lead very demanding and very public lives and both claim that they don't really have room in there for love... but love found it's place in their lives anyhow. With a little gentle nudging of course.
It all started with one little video and from there a friendship bloomed and the world went wild. They wanted to believe that there could be more, that it could be happily ever after for perfect pairing, but Griffin and Aria weren't really ready to admit that it was anything other than a little PR stunt. Could what they feel for one another be more than just a simple friendship? Or is it all just for the sake of the cameras?
This first time read brought smiles, swoons, lots of hope for this love challenged couple. I wanted to believe they'd eventually find their way so I kept turning the pages and holding out hope... and what I found by the time that last page came was something truly special. Their journey was quite heart warming and also pretty entertaining too! Highly recommend you take a chance on this one...it's pages will keep you captivated and in your feels the whole way through!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, via NetGalley, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbiased opinion.
The publisher, via NetGalley request
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