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The Cocky Kingmans #4
The Anaconda Downstairs
I can get any woman I want... and I do.
So why is the one woman who is completely off-limits knocking on my door?
Someone (my meddling brothers) told her I'm the love guru.
And she wants lessons in falling in love.
Just not with me.
Penelope is curvy, sassy, and my brother's fiancée's best friend. Totally forbidden fruit. But when she asks for dating lessons, I'm suddenly fumbling like a rookie.
I thought love was supposed to hit like a linebacker—fast and hard. Instead, it's a slow burn that's got me breaking all my own rules.
Somehow, I've got to tackle this problem without getting sacked by my overprotective brother.
Oh, and there's an anaconda loose in my house. Because clearly what this situation needs is more complications.
This sports romance features a super-supportive cinnamon roll football player who thought he knew it all when it came to love, a plus-size heroine who will school him while finally learning to love herself, and that Bridgertons-meets-American-Football family that'll have you wishing you were a Kingman... or a Kingman's Queen.
So why is the one woman who is completely off-limits knocking on my door?
Someone (my meddling brothers) told her I'm the love guru.
And she wants lessons in falling in love.
Just not with me.
Penelope is curvy, sassy, and my brother's fiancée's best friend. Totally forbidden fruit. But when she asks for dating lessons, I'm suddenly fumbling like a rookie.
I thought love was supposed to hit like a linebacker—fast and hard. Instead, it's a slow burn that's got me breaking all my own rules.
Somehow, I've got to tackle this problem without getting sacked by my overprotective brother.
Oh, and there's an anaconda loose in my house. Because clearly what this situation needs is more complications.
This sports romance features a super-supportive cinnamon roll football player who thought he knew it all when it came to love, a plus-size heroine who will school him while finally learning to love herself, and that Bridgertons-meets-American-Football family that'll have you wishing you were a Kingman... or a Kingman's Queen.
374 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 19, 2024
1643 people are currently reading
9317 people want to read
About the author
Amy Award
13 books2,770 followersAmy Award is a curvy girl who has a thing for football players, fuzzy-butt pets, and spicy romance novels. She believes that all bodies are beautiful and deserve their own love stories with Happy Ever Afters. Find her at https://www.authoramyaward.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,379 reviews
January 20, 2025
idk why i keep giving this series a chance. i am disappointed everytime.
January 4, 2025
3 Bananaconda Stars ⭐️
Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️/5
Okay, I wanted to love this, but it tried to be a little too “woke,” and I just got irritated because the wokeness never stopped.
𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
This follows Penelope Quinn, who is an assistant to a super-mega-popular singer named Kelsey Best, (basically our version of Taylor Swift). Kelsey is dating a football player, which means Penelope often ends up in situations around Declan and his family and becomes very close friends with Everett Kingman, Declan's younger brother. The issue is Declan sees Penelope as a little sister, and that means she is VERY off-limits for Everett, even though he has secretly been in love with her for ages. Secretly Penelope has the biggest crush on Everett but believes a professional star athlete like him will never look at a bigger girl like her. One day, Penelope needs a date for the Grampys (yes, insert eye-roll emoji here… everything’s a bloody pun in this book), so she enlists Everett, "The Love Guru", to teach her how to date so she can find someone to bring with her. And we all know how dating lessons go when both people are irrevocably in love.
Penelope actually frustrated me. And it wasn't the narration because that was fantastic... but HOW she is written. A lot of her actions happen in Everett's POV so we only see the outcome and not her internal reasoning. I wanted more insight into her thought process but most times when this happened we were in Everett's POV watching him react to how she behaved, which seemed very disconnected.
Penelope is incredibly self-conscious, hard on herself, and fixated on her self-image. Where this would get weird is Pen’s internal dialogue feels shy and apprehensive, so it threw me off when, in Everett’s POV, she would suddenly flip into doing something bold. Luckily Everett felt consistent no matter whose POV I was in as he stayed true to the character.
Everett is such a sweetheart, though he’s hard on himself because of how the world sees him. He believes that the public perception of him being the "love guru" and helping others find love, means he can’t be happy, can’t find love, and can’t be the man Penelope deserves. He has to work through that emotional journey, eventually admitting that she rocks his world.
NOW... what frustrated me is the tongue-in-cheek, satirical, “woke” elements referencing social media and pop culture. I couldn’t take it seriously when they mentioned “the Grampys” and “flip-flop” for real-life equivalents. I would’ve preferred they just use “the Grammys” or “TikTok” or “Instagram,” unless there’s some legal reason they couldn’t. Every time they said “Grampy,” I rolled my eyes because we know they mean the Grammys and I HAVE TOTALLY HEARD OTHER BOOKS CALL IT THE REAL NAMES.
Also, I read books to escape reality, especially as a bigger girl myself with insecurities. I want to be whisked away by a hot NFL player making googly eyes at me, not be reminded over and over about body positivity. A big part of the book is about accepting who you are and what you look like, regardless of shape, form, or weight. It sometimes felt like a self-help message layered into the story, and while I get it’s important, and many people will love that aspect, I felt it was hammered in too heavily. I just wanted the plot to move on... I was READING A ROMANCE... NOT A SELF HELP BOOK!
It did also take me a bit to figure out who was who in the side characters, but that’s on me. This is the first book I’ve read in the series, so I wasn’t familiar with all the side characters who already had their own stories and their role in the universe...
𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ Sports Romance (Football)
▶ Friends to Lovers
▶ Forbidden Romance
▶ Dating Coach
▶ It's Always Been You
▶ Celebrity Romance
▶ Plus Size Rep
▶ Banter
▶ Band of Brothers (Literally)
and 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▷ Nicknames
▷ Dirty Talk
▷ Car Sex
▷ Squirting...
Overall, the voice acting was excellent. If you want a book with these tropes mentioned above maybe you’ll enjoy it more than I did. You might find more joy in the body-positivity angle than I did.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and Amy Award for the gifted copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own
-=-=-=-= -=-=-=-= -=-=-=-=-
The first 5 mins into this and I am thinking.... what a COCKY man... and that is not a comment about the snake in his pants...
Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️/5
Okay, I wanted to love this, but it tried to be a little too “woke,” and I just got irritated because the wokeness never stopped.
𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
This follows Penelope Quinn, who is an assistant to a super-mega-popular singer named Kelsey Best, (basically our version of Taylor Swift). Kelsey is dating a football player, which means Penelope often ends up in situations around Declan and his family and becomes very close friends with Everett Kingman, Declan's younger brother. The issue is Declan sees Penelope as a little sister, and that means she is VERY off-limits for Everett, even though he has secretly been in love with her for ages. Secretly Penelope has the biggest crush on Everett but believes a professional star athlete like him will never look at a bigger girl like her. One day, Penelope needs a date for the Grampys (yes, insert eye-roll emoji here… everything’s a bloody pun in this book), so she enlists Everett, "The Love Guru", to teach her how to date so she can find someone to bring with her. And we all know how dating lessons go when both people are irrevocably in love.
Penelope actually frustrated me. And it wasn't the narration because that was fantastic... but HOW she is written. A lot of her actions happen in Everett's POV so we only see the outcome and not her internal reasoning. I wanted more insight into her thought process but most times when this happened we were in Everett's POV watching him react to how she behaved, which seemed very disconnected.
Penelope is incredibly self-conscious, hard on herself, and fixated on her self-image. Where this would get weird is Pen’s internal dialogue feels shy and apprehensive, so it threw me off when, in Everett’s POV, she would suddenly flip into doing something bold. Luckily Everett felt consistent no matter whose POV I was in as he stayed true to the character.
Everett is such a sweetheart, though he’s hard on himself because of how the world sees him. He believes that the public perception of him being the "love guru" and helping others find love, means he can’t be happy, can’t find love, and can’t be the man Penelope deserves. He has to work through that emotional journey, eventually admitting that she rocks his world.
NOW... what frustrated me is the tongue-in-cheek, satirical, “woke” elements referencing social media and pop culture. I couldn’t take it seriously when they mentioned “the Grampys” and “flip-flop” for real-life equivalents. I would’ve preferred they just use “the Grammys” or “TikTok” or “Instagram,” unless there’s some legal reason they couldn’t. Every time they said “Grampy,” I rolled my eyes because we know they mean the Grammys and I HAVE TOTALLY HEARD OTHER BOOKS CALL IT THE REAL NAMES.
Also, I read books to escape reality, especially as a bigger girl myself with insecurities. I want to be whisked away by a hot NFL player making googly eyes at me, not be reminded over and over about body positivity. A big part of the book is about accepting who you are and what you look like, regardless of shape, form, or weight. It sometimes felt like a self-help message layered into the story, and while I get it’s important, and many people will love that aspect, I felt it was hammered in too heavily. I just wanted the plot to move on... I was READING A ROMANCE... NOT A SELF HELP BOOK!
It did also take me a bit to figure out who was who in the side characters, but that’s on me. This is the first book I’ve read in the series, so I wasn’t familiar with all the side characters who already had their own stories and their role in the universe...
𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ Sports Romance (Football)
▶ Friends to Lovers
▶ Forbidden Romance
▶ Dating Coach
▶ It's Always Been You
▶ Celebrity Romance
▶ Plus Size Rep
▶ Banter
▶ Band of Brothers (Literally)
and 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▷ Nicknames
▷ Dirty Talk
▷ Car Sex
▷ Squirting...
Overall, the voice acting was excellent. If you want a book with these tropes mentioned above maybe you’ll enjoy it more than I did. You might find more joy in the body-positivity angle than I did.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and Amy Award for the gifted copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own
-=-=-=-= -=-=-=-= -=-=-=-=-
The first 5 mins into this and I am thinking.... what a COCKY man... and that is not a comment about the snake in his pants...
September 29, 2024
sidelining the romance for your (well intentioned) propaganda made this an unenjoyable addition to what has previously been a fun silly series
September 29, 2024
2.5 rounded up instead of down only because I love this series and I have so much respect for Amy.
It hurts me to rate this below a 3… this one just was not a fun read. Barely any spice which was a shock cuz this series has been jam packed with such good spice. Lots of body positive propaganda which sounds like it was really personal and important for the author but just didn’t hit right for me. The lingo felt off… like it was doing too much. Too much tell and not enough show.
I’ll be reading the next one of course! Not every book is gonna be a slam dunk and that’s ok. I’m here and invested in Amy’s journey.
It hurts me to rate this below a 3… this one just was not a fun read. Barely any spice which was a shock cuz this series has been jam packed with such good spice. Lots of body positive propaganda which sounds like it was really personal and important for the author but just didn’t hit right for me. The lingo felt off… like it was doing too much. Too much tell and not enough show.
I’ll be reading the next one of course! Not every book is gonna be a slam dunk and that’s ok. I’m here and invested in Amy’s journey.
September 23, 2024
Sigh. Caught multiple typos, and, I just couldn't buy that the thing standing in their way was...Declan? Are the Kingmans bastions of sex positive feminist masculinity, or, cave dwelling "touch my wife's assistant and die"' bros? Either way, the refrain of "I can't" felt like it went beyond beating a dead horse-- it took it to the factory, turned it into horse sausage, made another eye roll inducing dick joke, and then forgot about it in the fridge until it had to be thrown out.
September 19, 2024
Penelope!! I was so happy her story was next when we saw her in book 2. She tries to be as positive as she can be, but she does have moments when she doubts herself and her self-worth. So when she has to find a date to a public event she's scared because she was always the "fat friend" so what better way to learn then the love guru of the kings family Everett we knew he's the "playboy" and has a crush on Penelope but doesn't go after her because she's the best friend of his brothers fiance which honest was a stupid excuse. So he tried to stay away from her and treat her like a "friend" until she asked him for help and he agreed and it came to bite him in the butt.
But Penelope flirting skills are cringy and horrible, so that's a win for both sides, lol. They grow closer and finally take that step. With that, there is drama online because of mean ppls.
So we get a lot of that and body image lots of body positive! Which I love. The animal this time around was a little lighter. The snake was Eve's worst fear. Wonder what's the next pet, lol. I would've rated it higher, but I wasn't a fan of the past talk of Everetts playboy ways.
Safety - Ev talks about his time with a woman he's slept with, and he has to watch Pen flirt with guys because he's teaching her how to flirt so jealous moments from both sides. Nothing else.
Low angst, tiny ow/om drama (dates and flirting), no cheating, Sexy times, no virgins former manwhore (talked about all the woman he scored with)
Recommend-yes
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶.5
Slowburnish
Pinning
self-confidence issues
External fatphobia
Fatphobia
Loss of a parent
Praise kink
No condom
Hea
Epilogue
But Penelope flirting skills are cringy and horrible, so that's a win for both sides, lol. They grow closer and finally take that step. With that, there is drama online because of mean ppls.
So we get a lot of that and body image lots of body positive! Which I love. The animal this time around was a little lighter. The snake was Eve's worst fear. Wonder what's the next pet, lol. I would've rated it higher, but I wasn't a fan of the past talk of Everetts playboy ways.
Safety - Ev talks about his time with a woman he's slept with, and he has to watch Pen flirt with guys because he's teaching her how to flirt so jealous moments from both sides. Nothing else.
Low angst, tiny ow/om drama (dates and flirting), no cheating, Sexy times, no virgins former manwhore (talked about all the woman he scored with)
Recommend-yes
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶.5
Slowburnish
Pinning
self-confidence issues
External fatphobia
Fatphobia
Loss of a parent
Praise kink
No condom
Hea
Epilogue
October 10, 2024
I read this book quickly and though some may not agree, the subject of self worth and the issues many deal with on a daily basis hit home with me. Everett also showed that even men in great shape have their own issues as well.
For the most part kids tend to be very judgmental and picking bullying in today's thing is done a lot by computer I understand thank God I didn't grow up as a child in today's age I would have wanted to actually hurt somebody but there again you have a lot of people out there that need others to be able to have a sounding board with and thank God there's there's some grapes that can help people deal with issues that and talk with others about that they would not be able to talk to just anybody with. So for all you people out there that have had issues be it because you wore braces you had red hair maybe or you just like different loud colors which was me and people are always going to find something wrong with with you or everybody around them because that's what they think is normal and those of us that didn't grow up in a time and age where this was just done other than the occasional bullying we don't understand it and we need people to talk to besides a psychiatrist or a psychologist whichever you happen to have your preference for but even they just want to take notes and then tell you to come back to see them a good friend or even somebody online sometimes can be your best sounding board and you can actually end up being there for one another and when the time is needed.
For the most part kids tend to be very judgmental and picking bullying in today's thing is done a lot by computer I understand thank God I didn't grow up as a child in today's age I would have wanted to actually hurt somebody but there again you have a lot of people out there that need others to be able to have a sounding board with and thank God there's there's some grapes that can help people deal with issues that and talk with others about that they would not be able to talk to just anybody with. So for all you people out there that have had issues be it because you wore braces you had red hair maybe or you just like different loud colors which was me and people are always going to find something wrong with with you or everybody around them because that's what they think is normal and those of us that didn't grow up in a time and age where this was just done other than the occasional bullying we don't understand it and we need people to talk to besides a psychiatrist or a psychologist whichever you happen to have your preference for but even they just want to take notes and then tell you to come back to see them a good friend or even somebody online sometimes can be your best sounding board and you can actually end up being there for one another and when the time is needed.
September 30, 2024
MMC’s a manho and usually I instantly hate books with characters like this but thankfully his manho ways wasn’t in your face type of thing, and it’s just for like a chapter or 2.
I can say that he is a reformed manwhore done right. And Penelope? Gosh I love that woman!
The struggles of body positivity was done right and I love how supportive all the characters were.
I can say that he is a reformed manwhore done right. And Penelope? Gosh I love that woman!
The struggles of body positivity was done right and I love how supportive all the characters were.
October 8, 2024
things i never want to read in a book ever: zaddy, skibidi ohio, lady bananaconda hisstledown.
things i read in this book: zaddy, skibidi ohio, lady bananaconda hisstledown.
overall, the message was nice but i just found myself constantly cringing at almost everything they did. and while i wanted to be done with the book the ending still felt rushed.
things i read in this book: zaddy, skibidi ohio, lady bananaconda hisstledown.
overall, the message was nice but i just found myself constantly cringing at almost everything they did. and while i wanted to be done with the book the ending still felt rushed.
November 25, 2025
Sports Romance
Friends-of-Family to Lovers
Plus Size Heroine
Lessons in Love
Este es el cuarto libro de la serie de los Kingmans, y aquí seguimos con ese encanto que tiene esta familia estilo “Bridgertons versión fútbol americano”, donde siempre están metidos en la vida de los demás… para bien o para caos.
Nuestros protagonistas son:
Penelope, una mujer segura, divertida, curvy y con una actitud que ilumina el cuarto.
Él, un jugador de fútbol americano que se cree el experto en el amor… hasta que Penelope toca su puerta pidiéndole “clases” para enamorar a otro. Obviamente, todo menos él.
La dinámica entre ellos es divertida desde el inicio. Él, que presume que puede conquistar a cualquiera, empieza a ponerse nervioso cada vez que ella entra a la habitación. Y Penelope, con su carácter fuerte y dulce, lo trae de cabeza sin darse cuenta.
La relación va creciendo poco a poco, no con grandes explosiones de drama, sino con momentos tiernos y situaciones que los van acercando. Él está decidido a apoyarla, a escucharla y a hacerla sentir vista, no solo deseada. Esa parte es realmente bonita.
Pero aquí va lo que sentí:
Al principio estaba súper enganchada, la historia fluía muy bien y los personajes me estaban encantando. Peeero como a la mitad decayó un poco.
No hubo tanto drama (que no es malo), pero el que hubo se sintió repetitivo.
Y hubo demasiados momentos centrados en el body positive. Es un tema importante y bonito, pero aquí la insistencia fue tanta que empezó a sentirse pesado y restó ritmo a la historia.
Aun así, la pareja es dulce, él es un sol completamente enamorado sin admitirlo, y la familia Kingman sigue siendo ese tipo de familia que quieres seguir leyendo libro tras libro.
No es mi favorito de la serie, pero sí tiene escenas muy tiernas y un protagonista masculino absolutamente adorable.
Friends-of-Family to Lovers
Plus Size Heroine
Lessons in Love
Este es el cuarto libro de la serie de los Kingmans, y aquí seguimos con ese encanto que tiene esta familia estilo “Bridgertons versión fútbol americano”, donde siempre están metidos en la vida de los demás… para bien o para caos.
Nuestros protagonistas son:
Penelope, una mujer segura, divertida, curvy y con una actitud que ilumina el cuarto.
Él, un jugador de fútbol americano que se cree el experto en el amor… hasta que Penelope toca su puerta pidiéndole “clases” para enamorar a otro. Obviamente, todo menos él.
La dinámica entre ellos es divertida desde el inicio. Él, que presume que puede conquistar a cualquiera, empieza a ponerse nervioso cada vez que ella entra a la habitación. Y Penelope, con su carácter fuerte y dulce, lo trae de cabeza sin darse cuenta.
La relación va creciendo poco a poco, no con grandes explosiones de drama, sino con momentos tiernos y situaciones que los van acercando. Él está decidido a apoyarla, a escucharla y a hacerla sentir vista, no solo deseada. Esa parte es realmente bonita.
Pero aquí va lo que sentí:
Al principio estaba súper enganchada, la historia fluía muy bien y los personajes me estaban encantando. Peeero como a la mitad decayó un poco.
No hubo tanto drama (que no es malo), pero el que hubo se sintió repetitivo.
Y hubo demasiados momentos centrados en el body positive. Es un tema importante y bonito, pero aquí la insistencia fue tanta que empezó a sentirse pesado y restó ritmo a la historia.
Aun así, la pareja es dulce, él es un sol completamente enamorado sin admitirlo, y la familia Kingman sigue siendo ese tipo de familia que quieres seguir leyendo libro tras libro.
No es mi favorito de la serie, pero sí tiene escenas muy tiernas y un protagonista masculino absolutamente adorable.
September 21, 2024
2.75⭐️
Meh. I wish I could’ve given a higher rating, but I was quite disappointed with this book. This series has been hit-or-miss for me. First book was okay, second was actually really good, third one was a bit boring, and this one just really disappointed me.
Between the spelling/grammar mistakes that bothered me, the lack of a plot line, and characters with very little personality, this book did not hold my interest. I probably skimmed the last 30% of the book I was so over it.
I had high hopes for this one because in the previous books Everett and Penelope really interested me, but they just did not live up to my expectations and maybe that was the problem.
I hate to say it, but I think I’m done with this series. I really don’t have a desire to continue on after this one.
Meh. I wish I could’ve given a higher rating, but I was quite disappointed with this book. This series has been hit-or-miss for me. First book was okay, second was actually really good, third one was a bit boring, and this one just really disappointed me.
Between the spelling/grammar mistakes that bothered me, the lack of a plot line, and characters with very little personality, this book did not hold my interest. I probably skimmed the last 30% of the book I was so over it.
I had high hopes for this one because in the previous books Everett and Penelope really interested me, but they just did not live up to my expectations and maybe that was the problem.
I hate to say it, but I think I’m done with this series. I really don’t have a desire to continue on after this one.
September 22, 2024
DNF at 76%. I just couldn’t finish this one. It had all the slang and I couldn’t get past the Grampy Awards. The MCs were boring. I’d like to finish the series but I guess it’s just not for me
November 13, 2024
I honestly can't get enough of the Kingman family!! Each book in this series just gets better and better with more stunning Leni Kauffman covers each time. This dual POV, friends to lovers, dating lessons turned secret dating between Everett (aka the Love Guru of the family and perceived 'himbo') and Penelope, assistant to Swiftie level famous singer/songwriter friend, Kelsey Best) was everything I wanted and more.
This Penelope gives off tons of Penelope Featherington vibes from The Bridgertons, with her own social media advice account but while she tries to be a model of body positivity she still suffers from her own moments of self doubt and insecurities that Everett helps her try to embrace and overcome.
The focus on body positivity in this book, for both men and women and people of all sizes, was TOP NOTCH!! I absolutely loved the song and campaign the family came up with to help fight against fatphobia and body-shaming. Add in an escape artist pet anaconda, panty-melting sweet and steamy moments and great audio narration by Aaron Shedlock and Juniper Young and this book was a total touch down for me!!
Highly recommended for fans of authors like Kayla Grosse and Mary Warren. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review! I can't wait for the next book in the series!!
This Penelope gives off tons of Penelope Featherington vibes from The Bridgertons, with her own social media advice account but while she tries to be a model of body positivity she still suffers from her own moments of self doubt and insecurities that Everett helps her try to embrace and overcome.
The focus on body positivity in this book, for both men and women and people of all sizes, was TOP NOTCH!! I absolutely loved the song and campaign the family came up with to help fight against fatphobia and body-shaming. Add in an escape artist pet anaconda, panty-melting sweet and steamy moments and great audio narration by Aaron Shedlock and Juniper Young and this book was a total touch down for me!!
Highly recommended for fans of authors like Kayla Grosse and Mary Warren. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review! I can't wait for the next book in the series!!
December 10, 2024
Anaconda downstairs
-Amy knows how to write a man cause god damn oufff
-I love Penelope she’s a confident boss and I feel like we’d be besties and I felt so seen as a plus size woman
- I love the dating guru trope gobble gobble
- The way he looks and describes her making me giddy
- Penelope is so me when it comes to being shy and not knowing what to do in the dating department
- The connection between them is chefs kiss
- He’s fightingggg his feeling I’m eating it Uppp
- This book was adorable wow loved it
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-Amy knows how to write a man cause god damn oufff
-I love Penelope she’s a confident boss and I feel like we’d be besties and I felt so seen as a plus size woman
- I love the dating guru trope gobble gobble
- The way he looks and describes her making me giddy
- Penelope is so me when it comes to being shy and not knowing what to do in the dating department
- The connection between them is chefs kiss
- He’s fightingggg his feeling I’m eating it Uppp
- This book was adorable wow loved it
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
November 29, 2024
Thank you, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media, for this cute and incredibly uplifting ALC!
I’ve been following this series for a while, and like so many others, I eagerly awaited Everett’s story. Overall, this book is very sweet, though I have to say the romance itself felt a bit flat at times. I liked the coaching angle, but I was hoping for a touch more jealousy or possessiveness to spice things up a bit.
The real magic of this book—and the entire series—is in its empowering body positivity message. As a curvy girl with an active lifestyle, I related to this so much. I’ve had my share of judgment for being in a happy relationship with a conventionally handsome man, and at times, it’s felt like I’m being told I don’t “fit” with someone like him. It can be disheartening, and this book captures that struggle beautifully.
The author’s message shines through, especially around sports and body confidence. I play tennis, ski, swim, and do yoga, yet sometimes, all people see are the parts of me that don’t match society’s standards. It’s frustrating, and this story reminds us that strength, beauty, and worth come in every size. While real life doesn’t always wrap up as neatly as a book, I love how the author wants girls and women of all shapes and sizes to feel seen and celebrated.
The voice acting was fantastic, too—true to Dreamscape Media’s standard! I listened to it straight through and couldn’t stop. 💖
For more bookish content follow me on instagram at@onetoomanybooks.ac 💫📚
I’ve been following this series for a while, and like so many others, I eagerly awaited Everett’s story. Overall, this book is very sweet, though I have to say the romance itself felt a bit flat at times. I liked the coaching angle, but I was hoping for a touch more jealousy or possessiveness to spice things up a bit.
The real magic of this book—and the entire series—is in its empowering body positivity message. As a curvy girl with an active lifestyle, I related to this so much. I’ve had my share of judgment for being in a happy relationship with a conventionally handsome man, and at times, it’s felt like I’m being told I don’t “fit” with someone like him. It can be disheartening, and this book captures that struggle beautifully.
The author’s message shines through, especially around sports and body confidence. I play tennis, ski, swim, and do yoga, yet sometimes, all people see are the parts of me that don’t match society’s standards. It’s frustrating, and this story reminds us that strength, beauty, and worth come in every size. While real life doesn’t always wrap up as neatly as a book, I love how the author wants girls and women of all shapes and sizes to feel seen and celebrated.
The voice acting was fantastic, too—true to Dreamscape Media’s standard! I listened to it straight through and couldn’t stop. 💖
For more bookish content follow me on instagram at@onetoomanybooks.ac 💫📚
November 28, 2024
I love this series. They're just fun little books with spice and comedy, and sometimes that's all you need.
This one, however, was a lot more heavy on the body-positivity and loving yourself aspect that all the female main characters go through in these books. And even though it was said in the beginning that it might be a little triggering, I was like, sure I can do it, I do think it hindered my ability to love this as much as I could've.
I've always been a heavier girl, and I relate to Penelope so much in the fact that not many guys have liked me (for me, it's exactly zero in nineteen years of life) and usually, it's because of my weight. I've had people tell me that I'd be pretty and popular if I was smaller, and being told that from middle school to college has been hard. However, we found out that I've been heavier my entire life because of a hormonal issue, and getting it fixed has made me lose weight. And the difference in how people treat me...it's startling. Most of Penelope's internal thoughts are all my own, which kinda triggered me, but not necessarily in a bad way, in a way that I was shocked it was on paper for me to relate to.
I do believe that the romance was cute and amazing. I do believe that the message of this book is insanely important for people of all ages and sizes to understand.
And, honestly, I do believe that if I decide to reread this when I'm more emotionally stable, I'll be able to enjoy it more. Hopefully, someday I'll get to that point.
This one, however, was a lot more heavy on the body-positivity and loving yourself aspect that all the female main characters go through in these books. And even though it was said in the beginning that it might be a little triggering, I was like, sure I can do it, I do think it hindered my ability to love this as much as I could've.
I've always been a heavier girl, and I relate to Penelope so much in the fact that not many guys have liked me (for me, it's exactly zero in nineteen years of life) and usually, it's because of my weight. I've had people tell me that I'd be pretty and popular if I was smaller, and being told that from middle school to college has been hard. However, we found out that I've been heavier my entire life because of a hormonal issue, and getting it fixed has made me lose weight. And the difference in how people treat me...it's startling. Most of Penelope's internal thoughts are all my own, which kinda triggered me, but not necessarily in a bad way, in a way that I was shocked it was on paper for me to relate to.
I do believe that the romance was cute and amazing. I do believe that the message of this book is insanely important for people of all ages and sizes to understand.
And, honestly, I do believe that if I decide to reread this when I'm more emotionally stable, I'll be able to enjoy it more. Hopefully, someday I'll get to that point.
December 4, 2024
5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I just can't get enough of this series!
Another great book, couple, side characters, and this one got me right in the feels.
As a plus size woman, I felt so seen in this story and found myself so touched by how this one ended. It was so realistic too and made me just love Amy as an author even more than I already do.
This story will live in my heart for a very long time, also you can't go wrong with a forbidden love/forced proximity.
You get:
• Spicy Rom Com
• Football MMC
• PA FMC
• Body Positivity
• Forbidden Love
• Forced Proximity
• Secret Relationship
Pick this series up! I promise you will love it as much as I do. Available on KU, ebook, paperback, and audiobook.
I just can't get enough of this series!
Another great book, couple, side characters, and this one got me right in the feels.
As a plus size woman, I felt so seen in this story and found myself so touched by how this one ended. It was so realistic too and made me just love Amy as an author even more than I already do.
This story will live in my heart for a very long time, also you can't go wrong with a forbidden love/forced proximity.
You get:
• Spicy Rom Com
• Football MMC
• PA FMC
• Body Positivity
• Forbidden Love
• Forced Proximity
• Secret Relationship
Pick this series up! I promise you will love it as much as I do. Available on KU, ebook, paperback, and audiobook.
October 4, 2024
DNF 57% BORINGG their relationship felt so forced omg.
November 19, 2024
Lectura entretenida y divertida. Me gustó.
September 9, 2024
Social media manager and best friend to pop star Kelsey Best, Penelope is a strong, confident woman in every area except her own personal life. She asks Everett “the love guru” Kingman for help talking to men. When Everett’s on field performance is less than dazzling, Penelope decides she’ll try to find him someone who’d be a good match for him.
Of course both of them develop feelings for each other but are loath to act on it because of their ties both familial and professional.
I’ve been waiting for Pen’s story and I think it may have been alluded to that she’d be tangling with Everett. I liked it a lot but not quite as much as the others in the Cocky Kingman series, and I can’t quite put my finger on why.
Amy Award has created a fun and entertaining family of athletes who gravitate toward voluptuous women; it’s a bright spot in the impossible beauty standard often depicted in other romance books.
I was furnished an advance reader copy from Love Notes PR and the author, and I’m happy to share my honest review.
Of course both of them develop feelings for each other but are loath to act on it because of their ties both familial and professional.
I’ve been waiting for Pen’s story and I think it may have been alluded to that she’d be tangling with Everett. I liked it a lot but not quite as much as the others in the Cocky Kingman series, and I can’t quite put my finger on why.
Amy Award has created a fun and entertaining family of athletes who gravitate toward voluptuous women; it’s a bright spot in the impossible beauty standard often depicted in other romance books.
I was furnished an advance reader copy from Love Notes PR and the author, and I’m happy to share my honest review.
December 5, 2024
k. It was VERY heavy on the body positivity plot which isn’t a problem but when paired with kind of an uninteresting romance it just left the whole thing falling a bit flat for me.
January 30, 2025
It’s like a car crash, I know it’s bad but I have to read jt
March 14, 2025
I’m a masochist apparently.
January 24, 2025
This series is much better in audio. I love the Kingman crew and how all of their stories are interwoven so well.
October 15, 2024
1,5 ⭐️mnie pojebie. chyba to znak żeby się skupić na studiach. boże. ostatni rozdział jest z perspektywy węża, u get it.
August 3, 2025
This was so bad. Oh my god, so bad. Written like an awkward 19 year old. I would be embarrassed to let anyone read this, let alone publish it.
That said, I cannot give it a single star because (a) I went in knowing this series is pretty terribly written and (b) I mostly enjoyed it anyway. Just...be aware that you are not getting quality here, even by the standards of vapid romance novels.
Edit: Wait, no, I just remembered that fully half of the damned book is centred around a cringe-inducing, "and then everyone clapped" type body-positivity plot. Only half of it is actually a poorly written romance. Gets dropped down a star just for that.
That said, I cannot give it a single star because (a) I went in knowing this series is pretty terribly written and (b) I mostly enjoyed it anyway. Just...be aware that you are not getting quality here, even by the standards of vapid romance novels.
Edit: Wait, no, I just remembered that fully half of the damned book is centred around a cringe-inducing, "and then everyone clapped" type body-positivity plot. Only half of it is actually a poorly written romance. Gets dropped down a star just for that.
December 23, 2024
I listened to this audiobook on our 18 hour car ride fully knowing it would be terrible but oh my god it was so much worse than I ever could have imagined. I genuinely don’t understand how books like this are allowed to exist like I’m no book snob but this is truly a disgrace to literature I now understand what they mean when they say “the fast fashion of books”
I don’t ever read smut but damn if you’re gonna write a book this damn shitty at least add in more than 2 sex scenes…something redeeming
I don’t ever read smut but damn if you’re gonna write a book this damn shitty at least add in more than 2 sex scenes…something redeeming
April 22, 2025
this series is just so feel-good. they’re not perfect in the slightest, but the vibes always are. if i’m feeling insecure or even just not completely happy in general, i will always be cheered up by an amy award book.
3.5✨
3.5✨
September 24, 2024
I liked first two books, 3rd and 4th? Not so much. I guess I won't be continuing with this series.
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