What do you think?
Rate this book
Chicago Stars #11
And the Crowd Went Wild
Not yet published
Expected 10 Feb 26#1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Elizabeth Phillips is back with the latest novel in her beloved Chicago Stars series, featuring a romance between a star quarterback and one of the country’s most beautiful—and misunderstood—actresses.
After a mortifying—and very public—humiliation, Dancy Flynn is desperate to find sanctuary far from the crowd. But where can a washed-up sex symbol hide? How about making an unannounced appearance at the secluded lake house of the sweet, sensitive high school boyfriend she hasn’t seen in almost twenty years?
But Chicago Stars quarterback Clint Garrett is no longer the kid Dancy remembers. Now he’s a gridiron superhero, still holding a massive grudge against her for breaking his teenage heart. With no room in his life for either complexity or distractions, he banishes Dancy to a refurbished old railroad caboose tucked away in the woods…and out of his sight.
Except Dancy’s not good at staying invisible. Her efforts to rebuild her career clash with Clint’s desperation to regain his focus, all made more challenging by a rescue dog, a local woman in trouble, a meddling mother, an ex with an agenda…and the sizzle of rekindled emotions.
As Dancy attempts to get her life on track and Clint tries to get his groove back, can these two one-time lovers navigate their rocky pasts and complicated present to find themselves…and each other?
Tropes
second-chance romanceenemies to loversforced proximitychildhood sweethearts
After a mortifying—and very public—humiliation, Dancy Flynn is desperate to find sanctuary far from the crowd. But where can a washed-up sex symbol hide? How about making an unannounced appearance at the secluded lake house of the sweet, sensitive high school boyfriend she hasn’t seen in almost twenty years?
But Chicago Stars quarterback Clint Garrett is no longer the kid Dancy remembers. Now he’s a gridiron superhero, still holding a massive grudge against her for breaking his teenage heart. With no room in his life for either complexity or distractions, he banishes Dancy to a refurbished old railroad caboose tucked away in the woods…and out of his sight.
Except Dancy’s not good at staying invisible. Her efforts to rebuild her career clash with Clint’s desperation to regain his focus, all made more challenging by a rescue dog, a local woman in trouble, a meddling mother, an ex with an agenda…and the sizzle of rekindled emotions.
As Dancy attempts to get her life on track and Clint tries to get his groove back, can these two one-time lovers navigate their rocky pasts and complicated present to find themselves…and each other?
Tropes
second-chance romanceenemies to loversforced proximitychildhood sweethearts
352 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication February 10, 2026
20 people are currently reading
7702 people want to read
About the author
Susan Elizabeth Phillips
48 books15.8k followersSUSAN ELIZABETH PHILLIPS
Susan Elizabeth Phillips has been called the “Queen of Romantic Comedy and is the creator of the sports romance, beginning with her 1989 bestseller, FANCY PANTS. An internationally acclaimed author, her books have been published in over 30 languages. She’s the only four-time recipient of the Romance Writers of America’s prestigious Favorite Book of the Year Award, and a recipient of their Lifetime Achievement Award.
Susan's newest book, SIMPLY THE BEST, is coming in hardcover, ebook and audiobook in February 2024. SIMPLY THE BEST is book #10 in the highly acclaimed CHICAGO STARS football series. Susan is also known for the Wynette, Texas book series and many stand-alone women's fiction/romance novels.
In addition to being a New York Times, Publisher’s Weekly, and USA Today bestseller, she is a hiker, lazy gardener, horrible singer, passable cook, passionate reader, wife, mother of two grown sons, and grandmother.
You can visit Susan on Facebook, Instagram or on her website.
https://www.facebook.com/SusanElizabe...
https://www.instagram.com/SEPauthor/
http://susanelizabethphillips.com/
Susan Elizabeth Phillips has been called the “Queen of Romantic Comedy and is the creator of the sports romance, beginning with her 1989 bestseller, FANCY PANTS. An internationally acclaimed author, her books have been published in over 30 languages. She’s the only four-time recipient of the Romance Writers of America’s prestigious Favorite Book of the Year Award, and a recipient of their Lifetime Achievement Award.
Susan's newest book, SIMPLY THE BEST, is coming in hardcover, ebook and audiobook in February 2024. SIMPLY THE BEST is book #10 in the highly acclaimed CHICAGO STARS football series. Susan is also known for the Wynette, Texas book series and many stand-alone women's fiction/romance novels.
In addition to being a New York Times, Publisher’s Weekly, and USA Today bestseller, she is a hiker, lazy gardener, horrible singer, passable cook, passionate reader, wife, mother of two grown sons, and grandmother.
You can visit Susan on Facebook, Instagram or on her website.
https://www.facebook.com/SusanElizabe...
https://www.instagram.com/SEPauthor/
http://susanelizabethphillips.com/
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐️ 4.5 ⭐️ Life is so unpredictable, sometimes finding the courage to move on from all the heartache may feel like the hardest thing to do. It’s hard to be all alone in the world when the world wants a piece of you. But here we have a story that will give you a soft hug, promise hope and say that everything will be ok.
Susan Elizabeth Phillips delivered a relatable story full of heart, love and hope. This is a story about Dancy, an ex-Hollywood actress with a broken heart who reconnects with an old high school flame, Clint, who is an NFL quarterback struggling to get his game back. Dancy is struggling to move from the shadow of her ex husband, another famous actor who left her for someone younger & now expecting a child. Dancy’s personal issues run deeper than just a divorce, her world is crashing down on her and on impulse, she decides to hide out at Clint’s home. Surprised and reluctant, Clint is initially resilient to accept her stay. They have history and that history runs deep, something that will slowly be unraveled as the story moves along. While as grumpy as he appears, his soft side eventually comes out and it’s a total swoon.
Dancy’s problems are quite relatable. She’s depressed and let her self go. She forgets to eat, she medicates with alcohol. She doesn’t have anyone to support her through difficult times but she heavily leans on Clint during her stay. However, they have a past and it’s not a pretty one. A lot of hurt and unresolved issues stand in the way, but this unresolved tension is what gives the BEST banter and chemistry in this second chance novel.
I haven’t read any of SEP novels, so this is a first for me with this author. I loved how the author tackles “mature” issues and lays them out for you. These is no ambiguity, no miscommunication, her characters are mature and the issues are relatively relatable. I liked how Dancy’s mental health crisis was portrayed and resolved. I also enjoyed how she weaved it into Dancy’s past and brought up good points about acceptance, moving forward and putting yourself first.
Clint is no boy, this is a man with zero ulterior motives, a man who puts his woman and family first. His character is layered, his reactions are grounded, his personality has a spark on its own. He is someone I can definitely see as a shoulder to lean on. He was everything that Dancy needed—at the right place and time. Their chemistry was that of a slow burn, sizzling with tension and excitement, I loved their relationship, their conversation and their push and pull. It was delicious! This is honestly how I love my second-chances to be written.
Don’t hesitate to pick this one up!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager and the author, Susan Elizabeth Phillips for sending me this eARC!
Publication date: February 10, 2026
Susan Elizabeth Phillips delivered a relatable story full of heart, love and hope. This is a story about Dancy, an ex-Hollywood actress with a broken heart who reconnects with an old high school flame, Clint, who is an NFL quarterback struggling to get his game back. Dancy is struggling to move from the shadow of her ex husband, another famous actor who left her for someone younger & now expecting a child. Dancy’s personal issues run deeper than just a divorce, her world is crashing down on her and on impulse, she decides to hide out at Clint’s home. Surprised and reluctant, Clint is initially resilient to accept her stay. They have history and that history runs deep, something that will slowly be unraveled as the story moves along. While as grumpy as he appears, his soft side eventually comes out and it’s a total swoon.
Dancy’s problems are quite relatable. She’s depressed and let her self go. She forgets to eat, she medicates with alcohol. She doesn’t have anyone to support her through difficult times but she heavily leans on Clint during her stay. However, they have a past and it’s not a pretty one. A lot of hurt and unresolved issues stand in the way, but this unresolved tension is what gives the BEST banter and chemistry in this second chance novel.
I haven’t read any of SEP novels, so this is a first for me with this author. I loved how the author tackles “mature” issues and lays them out for you. These is no ambiguity, no miscommunication, her characters are mature and the issues are relatively relatable. I liked how Dancy’s mental health crisis was portrayed and resolved. I also enjoyed how she weaved it into Dancy’s past and brought up good points about acceptance, moving forward and putting yourself first.
Clint is no boy, this is a man with zero ulterior motives, a man who puts his woman and family first. His character is layered, his reactions are grounded, his personality has a spark on its own. He is someone I can definitely see as a shoulder to lean on. He was everything that Dancy needed—at the right place and time. Their chemistry was that of a slow burn, sizzling with tension and excitement, I loved their relationship, their conversation and their push and pull. It was delicious! This is honestly how I love my second-chances to be written.
Don’t hesitate to pick this one up!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager and the author, Susan Elizabeth Phillips for sending me this eARC!
Publication date: February 10, 2026
August 25, 2025
As the kids these days would say, Susan Elizabeth Phillips is THE MOTHER. Point. Blank. Period.
One of the OGs of the contemporary romance genre, she’s not just beloved in the U.S. but worldwide and as someone outside the U.S., I can tell you her reputation is well-earned.
I’ve read the entire Chicago Stars series, and it’s my ultimate comfort reread. I’ll be honest I haven’t loved every single book, so when I say this one was exceptional, I mean it. This story had everything: the palpable tension, the emotions that sneak up on you, the joy that leaves you smiling long after the last page. It was executed to perfection.
Dancy and Clint’s journey from heartbreak to healing, from enemies to something more, had me completely hooked. The witty banter, the complex characters, the forced proximity, the sizzling second-chance romance… chef’s kiss. Add in the rescue dog, meddling family, and all the feels, and you’ve got a book that’s impossible to put down.
I highly recommend this to everyone, especially if you love romance, sports romance, second chances, or the Chicago Stars series. This book is Susan Elizabeth Phillips at her absolute best.
EXTRA POINTS:
✔️ Green flag hero – Finally, a male lead who communicates like an adult, respects boundaries, and doesn’t rely on brooding or manipulation to be compelling. He’s emotionally safe and swoon-worthy.
✔️ Accurate representation of people in their 30s These characters aren’t stuck in coming-of-age loops or midlife crises. They’re navigating real-life transitions, emotional baggage, and evolving relationships with nuance and maturity.
Trigger warning: The heroine experienced sexual violence at age 17 during high school (the story takes place when she is 35)
🎶“Love on Top” by Beyonce
🎶“We Belong Together” by Mariah Carey
🎶“So Into You” by Tamia
One of the OGs of the contemporary romance genre, she’s not just beloved in the U.S. but worldwide and as someone outside the U.S., I can tell you her reputation is well-earned.
I’ve read the entire Chicago Stars series, and it’s my ultimate comfort reread. I’ll be honest I haven’t loved every single book, so when I say this one was exceptional, I mean it. This story had everything: the palpable tension, the emotions that sneak up on you, the joy that leaves you smiling long after the last page. It was executed to perfection.
Dancy and Clint’s journey from heartbreak to healing, from enemies to something more, had me completely hooked. The witty banter, the complex characters, the forced proximity, the sizzling second-chance romance… chef’s kiss. Add in the rescue dog, meddling family, and all the feels, and you’ve got a book that’s impossible to put down.
I highly recommend this to everyone, especially if you love romance, sports romance, second chances, or the Chicago Stars series. This book is Susan Elizabeth Phillips at her absolute best.
EXTRA POINTS:
✔️ Green flag hero – Finally, a male lead who communicates like an adult, respects boundaries, and doesn’t rely on brooding or manipulation to be compelling. He’s emotionally safe and swoon-worthy.
✔️ Accurate representation of people in their 30s These characters aren’t stuck in coming-of-age loops or midlife crises. They’re navigating real-life transitions, emotional baggage, and evolving relationships with nuance and maturity.
Trigger warning: The heroine experienced sexual violence at age 17 during high school (the story takes place when she is 35)
🎶“Love on Top” by Beyonce
🎶“We Belong Together” by Mariah Carey
🎶“So Into You” by Tamia
Read
October 28, 2025I’ve read every book in this series, and SEP never misses. Honestly, she’s the OG sports romance writer, and here we are 20+ years later, and her books still hit.
The chemistry, the banter, the emotional build-up, it’s all there. SEP just gets how to write romance. Her characters are always layered, funny, a little messy, and somehow totally real. I’m obsessed with how she still brings fresh energy to a story while keeping that classic SEP vibe we all love.
Thank you NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for the advanced copy!
The chemistry, the banter, the emotional build-up, it’s all there. SEP just gets how to write romance. Her characters are always layered, funny, a little messy, and somehow totally real. I’m obsessed with how she still brings fresh energy to a story while keeping that classic SEP vibe we all love.
Thank you NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for the advanced copy!
July 11, 2025
And the Crowd Went Wild showcases Susan Elizabeth Phillips’s adeptness in presenting characters that her readers can relate to…their strengths, their struggles and their weaknesses. Actress Dancy and Clint once were high school sweethearts and when Dancy suffers the ultimate public humiliation the only place she can think of to hide is at Clint’s home. Pro football quarterback, Clint is dealing with his own issues as he prepares for the upcoming season. There’s no way he wants the girl who broke his heart for the first time to get in his life again, but the gentleman in him can’t turn her away. What happens next is told with insight, humor, compassion, honesty and care all under the loving eyes of one of the most adorable canine characters this reader has encountered. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley. Most highly recommend.
July 11, 2025
Susan Elizabeth Phillips is one of my favorite romance authors. She's got this magic romance formula mastered and it just works time and again, and I used to be this dewy eyed teenager who ate it all right up.
'And the Crowd Went Wild' is her latest installment in the Chicago Stars Series - it center's on Dancy, a disgraced Hollywood bombshell and Clint, her teenage love, and a charming Chicago Stars' Quarterback. Its a second chance romance with all the best SEP trademarks - sharp banter, quirky characters, and a delicious slow burn chemistry!
Dancy, fresh off a very public, very messy divorce, shows up uninvited at Clint’s lakeside retreat in Wisconsin. What starts off as a tense reunion unravels into something more as they learn to trust each other, and rekindle the love and friendship they once shared.
Clint is basically the dream book boyfriend - tall, dark and handsome on the outside, but super soft and a gentleman underneath all that swagger.
What I enjoy about Phillips' novels is they're more than just romance - there are beautiful friendships, cozy little moments and heartwarming emotions that make her books feel well-rounded and lived in.
Also, the setting in this book? A lakeside retreat with the cutest little caboose for a guest house that I could picture vividly and low-key want to live in.
There's also a nod to Gertrude Chandler's 'Boxcar Children' in the book. It brings in this whimsical, childlike sweetness to the characters and counterbalances their grown up scars and complexities, making the book light-hearted.
That said, I'm giving this book three stars. *cue the dramatic gasp* The tone felt a little too familiar to her older books. Maybe I've changed or maybe her writing hasn't kept up with the times, but parts of it didn't hit quite right. And while there's comfort in a romance novel being predictable, it also left me wanting more.
Still, I was thrilled when my ARC request got approved. Huge thanks to the Publisher and SEP! And even though the book doesn't come close to her older books (Kiss an Angel, This Heart of Mine), its still a solid romance read and I definitely recommend it!
'And the Crowd Went Wild' is her latest installment in the Chicago Stars Series - it center's on Dancy, a disgraced Hollywood bombshell and Clint, her teenage love, and a charming Chicago Stars' Quarterback. Its a second chance romance with all the best SEP trademarks - sharp banter, quirky characters, and a delicious slow burn chemistry!
Dancy, fresh off a very public, very messy divorce, shows up uninvited at Clint’s lakeside retreat in Wisconsin. What starts off as a tense reunion unravels into something more as they learn to trust each other, and rekindle the love and friendship they once shared.
Clint is basically the dream book boyfriend - tall, dark and handsome on the outside, but super soft and a gentleman underneath all that swagger.
What I enjoy about Phillips' novels is they're more than just romance - there are beautiful friendships, cozy little moments and heartwarming emotions that make her books feel well-rounded and lived in.
Also, the setting in this book? A lakeside retreat with the cutest little caboose for a guest house that I could picture vividly and low-key want to live in.
There's also a nod to Gertrude Chandler's 'Boxcar Children' in the book. It brings in this whimsical, childlike sweetness to the characters and counterbalances their grown up scars and complexities, making the book light-hearted.
That said, I'm giving this book three stars. *cue the dramatic gasp* The tone felt a little too familiar to her older books. Maybe I've changed or maybe her writing hasn't kept up with the times, but parts of it didn't hit quite right. And while there's comfort in a romance novel being predictable, it also left me wanting more.
Still, I was thrilled when my ARC request got approved. Huge thanks to the Publisher and SEP! And even though the book doesn't come close to her older books (Kiss an Angel, This Heart of Mine), its still a solid romance read and I definitely recommend it!
July 6, 2025
Susan has done it again, as usual. I expected nothing less from the queen of sports romance herself. I loved Clint and Dancy almost as much as I love Kevin and Molly and Dan and Phoebe, and that’s saying something from me. This book is another hit.
Also, the references to the Boxcar Children were *chefs kiss*. Totally made the book for me!
* I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Also, the references to the Boxcar Children were *chefs kiss*. Totally made the book for me!
* I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 13, 2025
SEP is my girl. She has lots of angst and a flair for the dramatics. And a dog epilogue, which I honestly could’ve done without, but for SEP I’ll read it and hold back my cringe.
Dancy (weird name) is a divorced actress who has been through a very tough year and is depressed and drinking and after a VERY embarrassing and hard to read and very public fail, she ends up at her high school ex boyfriend’s house.
Clint can’t stand Dancy. Really, they can’t stand each other and I was cracking up at how they still couldn’t stand each other 25% into the book. But Clint starts to see Dancy isn’t the jerk he thought she was, and Dancy very very veeeerrryyy slowly realizes maybe love is worth putting herself out there again after all the hurt.
I enjoyed watching Dancy get her life back in order and the classic SEP flair of dramatics.
I received an ARC from the publisher. Review is my own.
Dancy (weird name) is a divorced actress who has been through a very tough year and is depressed and drinking and after a VERY embarrassing and hard to read and very public fail, she ends up at her high school ex boyfriend’s house.
Clint can’t stand Dancy. Really, they can’t stand each other and I was cracking up at how they still couldn’t stand each other 25% into the book. But Clint starts to see Dancy isn’t the jerk he thought she was, and Dancy very very veeeerrryyy slowly realizes maybe love is worth putting herself out there again after all the hurt.
I enjoyed watching Dancy get her life back in order and the classic SEP flair of dramatics.
I received an ARC from the publisher. Review is my own.
December 17, 2025
Much thanks to Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Avon, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Also thanks to Jen McGuire at William Morrow for emailing the widget.
No huge plot spoilers, but I do mention some minor details, so beware. Also I'm aware of my verbosity and not at all sorry.
No huge plot spoilers, but I do mention some minor details, so beware. Also I'm aware of my verbosity and not at all sorry.
July 14, 2025
ARC REVIEW:
I haven’t read Susan Elizabeth Phillips in over a decade. Back then, her books were my reward for surviving grad school readings on the L train. When I saw this ARC on @netgalley, I had to see if the Chicago Stars still held up. Spoiler: they absolutely do.
I forgot how often SEP makes me work to like her heroines. Dancy was tough at first, but her arc was worth it. She surprised me with her (initially) subtle feminism, and I loved how each character in her orbit shaped her growth. I always knew her “why”—even when she frustrated me.
I did wish for more emotional depth in Clint’s character, and one subplot with a friend’s ex felt unnecessary. Still, the writing was sharp. SEP reminded me how good third person POV can feel like first.
Content warning: discusses miscarriage and themes of fertility.
I haven’t read Susan Elizabeth Phillips in over a decade. Back then, her books were my reward for surviving grad school readings on the L train. When I saw this ARC on @netgalley, I had to see if the Chicago Stars still held up. Spoiler: they absolutely do.
I forgot how often SEP makes me work to like her heroines. Dancy was tough at first, but her arc was worth it. She surprised me with her (initially) subtle feminism, and I loved how each character in her orbit shaped her growth. I always knew her “why”—even when she frustrated me.
I did wish for more emotional depth in Clint’s character, and one subplot with a friend’s ex felt unnecessary. Still, the writing was sharp. SEP reminded me how good third person POV can feel like first.
Content warning: discusses miscarriage and themes of fertility.
July 5, 2025
Somehow Susan Elizabeth Phillips never makes a wrong step. She’s the queen of rom com, while still making you feel all the things. The witty repartee that is her trademark is on full display here, so you’re laughing while she breaks your heart and puts it back together again.
Read
November 27, 2025DNFing now because I already hate Dancy and will not suffer through her bitchy shenanigans
Read
December 9, 2025Dancy Flynn is really going through it. Problem for Dancy is she isn’t a mere mortal who can retreat without an entire country of eyeballs focused on her wound licking process. She’s a B-list celebrity who was married to an A-list actor (A standing for the social status and for A$$hole). When he dumps her for a younger woman, who is now pregnant, Dancy commits a social crime and dares be human in public. Regret sets in and what’s a depressed Cinderella in a ballgown in Chicago to do but run straight to Wisconsin and find a good hide out.
When Chicago Stars series readers last met Clint Garrett, he was the adorable but messy brother of the heroine of the excellent “Simply the Best.” He also had a dead body at his fancy house and super problematic taste in girlfriends. By “And the Crowd Went Wild,” Clint is a very serious man. He’s the Quarterback of the Chicago Stars, he’s going through the ups and downs of being in the public eye too, and he’s also the high school boyfriend of Dancy. In short, their breakup was bad.
Somewhat inexplicably, Dancy decides that the only man she can actually trust is the man who didn’t trust her in any way before. But no matter. She pops up to his off-season hideout in Wisconsin and he pops her into a random caboose train car on his property because he’s still mad.
[Side Note: I grew up in Northern Illinois and we had a Wisconsin cabin. I’d like to agree with anyone who thinks that having a railcar on a vacation property isn’t realistic, but it is. It could have been a plane that doesn’t fly anymore and someone thought “Let’s park that out back in case we need it someday.” Outdoor decor in the upper midwest is quirky.]
Dancy and Clint are still physically attracted to each other, but both have arrested development when it comes to their interactions with the opposite sex. I’m not a big fan of adult characters that allow their high school drama to affect their present lives. In the case of these two, I gave it more of a pass because their misunderstanding is truly awful, to the extent that Dancy’s poor decision making around men later in life makes sense. Clint was an immature cruel jerk and deserved a lot more cold storage than he got, but to be fair, his last serious girlfriend was a grifter that made his life not great.
Everyone in Clint’s world has always seen him as a sweetheart, a real cinnamon roll type. What makes Clint interesting is that he isn’t actually a sweetheart. That’s a part of him, but he’s also resentful, myopic, and spoiled in ways he believes Dancy gave him cause to be. He has a lot more growing to do than anyone but Dancy and Clint himself realize.
It takes a long time for Dancy to stop blaming herself for the ways that men, including Clint, harmed her. It also takes Clint a long time to realize that he needs to stop believing his own PR.
When Dancy’s ex-husband and his new wife invade the quiet of Clint’s retreat, the interlopers will force a set of confrontations of each other and of themselves in ways both subtle and dramatic.
In typical Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ style, the other woman gets a sort of growth moment of her own, and Dancy will see that her enemies are not always the ones that make the most sense. Real people are complex–especially women–and forgiveness can be good therapy.
Also, there’s a cute disaster of a dog as tension maker and breaker.
———
Genre/Subgenre: contemporary romance, sports romance (distant, off-season)
Standalone/Series: #11 in the Chicago Stars series, but 100% can be read standalone
Themes/Tropes: second chance, celebrities under the mean public eye, trauma recovery, arrested development, small down midwest, bad exes, Hollywood is the worst unless you’re a robot, has an HEA
Steam/Spice Level: low level spicy for ’20s-era Contemporary, but open door, on the page love scenes
Setting: Chicago, rural Wisconsin
POV: third person, past tense
Does the Dog/Horse/Cat Die? There is an adorable puppy they decide to raise and the dog makes it to the HEA as well
__________
Thank you to Avon Books for the Advanced Reader Copy. Expected publication date: Feb 10, 2026
When Chicago Stars series readers last met Clint Garrett, he was the adorable but messy brother of the heroine of the excellent “Simply the Best.” He also had a dead body at his fancy house and super problematic taste in girlfriends. By “And the Crowd Went Wild,” Clint is a very serious man. He’s the Quarterback of the Chicago Stars, he’s going through the ups and downs of being in the public eye too, and he’s also the high school boyfriend of Dancy. In short, their breakup was bad.
Somewhat inexplicably, Dancy decides that the only man she can actually trust is the man who didn’t trust her in any way before. But no matter. She pops up to his off-season hideout in Wisconsin and he pops her into a random caboose train car on his property because he’s still mad.
[Side Note: I grew up in Northern Illinois and we had a Wisconsin cabin. I’d like to agree with anyone who thinks that having a railcar on a vacation property isn’t realistic, but it is. It could have been a plane that doesn’t fly anymore and someone thought “Let’s park that out back in case we need it someday.” Outdoor decor in the upper midwest is quirky.]
Dancy and Clint are still physically attracted to each other, but both have arrested development when it comes to their interactions with the opposite sex. I’m not a big fan of adult characters that allow their high school drama to affect their present lives. In the case of these two, I gave it more of a pass because their misunderstanding is truly awful, to the extent that Dancy’s poor decision making around men later in life makes sense. Clint was an immature cruel jerk and deserved a lot more cold storage than he got, but to be fair, his last serious girlfriend was a grifter that made his life not great.
Everyone in Clint’s world has always seen him as a sweetheart, a real cinnamon roll type. What makes Clint interesting is that he isn’t actually a sweetheart. That’s a part of him, but he’s also resentful, myopic, and spoiled in ways he believes Dancy gave him cause to be. He has a lot more growing to do than anyone but Dancy and Clint himself realize.
It takes a long time for Dancy to stop blaming herself for the ways that men, including Clint, harmed her. It also takes Clint a long time to realize that he needs to stop believing his own PR.
When Dancy’s ex-husband and his new wife invade the quiet of Clint’s retreat, the interlopers will force a set of confrontations of each other and of themselves in ways both subtle and dramatic.
In typical Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ style, the other woman gets a sort of growth moment of her own, and Dancy will see that her enemies are not always the ones that make the most sense. Real people are complex–especially women–and forgiveness can be good therapy.
Also, there’s a cute disaster of a dog as tension maker and breaker.
———
Genre/Subgenre: contemporary romance, sports romance (distant, off-season)
Standalone/Series: #11 in the Chicago Stars series, but 100% can be read standalone
Themes/Tropes: second chance, celebrities under the mean public eye, trauma recovery, arrested development, small down midwest, bad exes, Hollywood is the worst unless you’re a robot, has an HEA
Steam/Spice Level: low level spicy for ’20s-era Contemporary, but open door, on the page love scenes
Setting: Chicago, rural Wisconsin
POV: third person, past tense
Does the Dog/Horse/Cat Die? There is an adorable puppy they decide to raise and the dog makes it to the HEA as well
__________
Thank you to Avon Books for the Advanced Reader Copy. Expected publication date: Feb 10, 2026
July 17, 2025
ARC REVIEW (thanks NETGALLEY!)
I love SEP and the Chicago stars series and this one was no different! But no, literally, it was no different. Every novel in the series seems to have the same kinda thing going on (weird little hideaway next to main house, gross dog, home renovations) But I eat them up every time! SEP is a master of banter! My main gripe with book was that it was more chick-lit than romance with Dancy being the main character and Clint just kinda there. The side plot with Shane and Erin was a waste of words and book could have done without it. Dancy’s whole revival kind of seemed out of left field especially when we learned about her love of sewing and knack for home decorating, I just figured she would have went into something more along those lines.
I love SEP and the Chicago stars series and this one was no different! But no, literally, it was no different. Every novel in the series seems to have the same kinda thing going on (weird little hideaway next to main house, gross dog, home renovations) But I eat them up every time! SEP is a master of banter! My main gripe with book was that it was more chick-lit than romance with Dancy being the main character and Clint just kinda there. The side plot with Shane and Erin was a waste of words and book could have done without it. Dancy’s whole revival kind of seemed out of left field especially when we learned about her love of sewing and knack for home decorating, I just figured she would have went into something more along those lines.
October 19, 2025
This is the next book in the Chicago Stars series. It follows Clint the star quarterback, as his high school girlfriend comes back into his life. Dancy is a Hollywood actress whose husband divorces her for a younger woman and after hitting rock bottom ends up at Clint’s lake house to hide out. Dancy slowly pulls herself together . The banter between her and Clint was funny. In the end they get their HEA.
October 10, 2025
I received this ARC as part of a Goodreads giveaway, and I was beyond excited to win this book. I have read all her books since the first one. Her books never disappoint and have great stories and wonderful characters. This is Clint's story. We were introduced to him in Simply The Best. This is his story of an old love coming back into his life. Dancy is a mess at the beginning of the story, but as the book progresses, she begins to learn more about herself and find her strengths plus fall in love. It was nice that some past book characters made brief appearances in this book. It's always nice to have them visit and be woven into the story. I highly recommend any of her books, including this one.
November 18, 2025
this was a pretty good book. a good story, easy reading and it really kept you wondering what might happen next. loved the end!
thanks Goodreads for choosing me to win this book!
thanks Goodreads for choosing me to win this book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
September 10, 2025DNF - 46%. I tried to get into this one I really did, but I just could not connect to the MMC and I really did not like the FMC and this far into the book, that’s important. I also think it’s a stretch to call this one in Chicago Stars book. Yes the MMC is their quarterback, but other than being told he’s their quarterback, that’s all we get. And yes, I understand I read half of the book perhaps the second half is full of Chicago Stars football goodness but I was left wanting.
October 1, 2025
I received an advanced copy of this book. It was beautifully written. I loved the unique way this author wrote the story with a Caboose, Watch and Blue Dress as important, quirky, supporting characters. The main characters, however, drew this reader in with relatable, heartbreaking tragedies and unique coping mechanisms. I cried, laughed and even cursed out loud, which had my fur babies completely baffled. Real life can be chaotic mess. Fortunately, my favorite authors, which includes Susan Elizabeth Phillips, can take my mind on a mini get away for a while. 💕
November 21, 2025
Although this book doesn't come out until February 2026, I received an EARC and moved it ahead of books I need to read sooner, BECAUSE I LOVE THIS SERIES. As I went back and read the synopsis of all the previous 10 books, and inputted dates read because many predates Goodreads, I am now determined to reread them. some will be a 3rd or 4th read.
This is a second chance romance. 17 year old Dancy broke 16 year old Clint's heart in high school. It takes a while to learn what happened, but they haven't seen each other in 20 years
Both Dancy, hiding out after a humiliating breakdown, and Clint a famous football player wracked with uncertainty, meeting again is fraught with emotions.
I loved how this book offers a chance for both characters to think about their posts and overcome deep seated beliefs to become people who finally love themselves so they can love each other.
Clint is one of the best heroes of this series, no, of almost any contemporary romances.
I hope when you read this book (and it can be a standalone) you will love him as much as I did.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the EARC. This is my honest review.
This is a second chance romance. 17 year old Dancy broke 16 year old Clint's heart in high school. It takes a while to learn what happened, but they haven't seen each other in 20 years
Both Dancy, hiding out after a humiliating breakdown, and Clint a famous football player wracked with uncertainty, meeting again is fraught with emotions.
I loved how this book offers a chance for both characters to think about their posts and overcome deep seated beliefs to become people who finally love themselves so they can love each other.
Clint is one of the best heroes of this series, no, of almost any contemporary romances.
I hope when you read this book (and it can be a standalone) you will love him as much as I did.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the EARC. This is my honest review.
Want to read
September 16, 2025So much of the Romance genre is of the Contemporary Romance variety. I just can't get into the single POV of some of those books. It's a little better when the characters change the POV every few chapters. But what I really want and long for is a good old-fashioned Romance and Susan Elezabeth Phillips is the best to ever write that genre.
My thanks to the Publisher, and Author, for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.
My thanks to the Publisher, and Author, for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Book review: *And the Crowd Went Wild by Susan Elizabeth Phillips.
Published by Avon, with sincere thanks to Avon and NetGalley for my gifted ARC.
There is a particular kind of comfort that comes with opening a Chicago Stars novel, and this book reminded me exactly why Susan Elizabeth Phillips has held a permanent spot on my auto-read list for decades. And the Crowd Went Wild feels like coming home to familiar rhythms while still getting a story that has emotional weight, sharp humor, and characters who feel lived-in rather than polished for show.
Dancy Flynn begins this story at her absolute lowest, and Phillips wastes no time letting us feel the humiliation, exhaustion, and quiet panic that come with having your worst moment go viral. Dancy is a former sex symbol, a woman who has been underestimated and misjudged her entire life, and watching her stagger into Clint Garrett’s secluded Wisconsin retreat in a ballgown felt both painfully awkward and oddly brave. She doesn’t arrive looking for romance. She arrives looking for somewhere to breathe.
Clint, now the Chicago Stars quarterback, is no longer the sweet boy Dancy remembers. He’s controlled, guarded, and still deeply wounded by a teenage heartbreak he never truly examined. What I appreciated most about Clint is that he isn’t instantly softened by nostalgia. He’s resentful. He’s rigid. He puts Dancy in a refurbished railroad caboose rather than under his roof, and the symbolism there is not subtle, but it works. Distance feels safer than forgiveness.
The slow burn between these two is one of the book’s biggest strengths. Their chemistry is rooted in shared history, sharp banter, and long-held misunderstandings rather than instant physical pull. Phillips allows them to circle each other cautiously, and the payoff feels earned. This isn’t a glossy second-chance romance. It’s messy, sometimes uncomfortable, and often very funny in that dry, observant SEP way.
What elevates this story is how much space it gives to personal growth. Dancy’s journey isn’t just about reclaiming love. It’s about reclaiming her voice, her ambition, and her sense of self after years of being defined by other people’s expectations. Clint’s arc is quieter but just as meaningful, centered on confronting his own fear of vulnerability and the pressure of being the steady one everyone relies on.
The setting adds so much warmth. The lake, the woods, the cozy caboose, and the small-town energy create a gentle contrast to Hollywood spectacle and professional sports chaos. The rescue dog is the kind of addition that could feel gimmicky in lesser hands, but here it adds heart and grounding, offering moments of levity and unexpected tenderness.
One line that stayed with me long after finishing the book was: “You don’t heal by becoming invisible. You heal by choosing to stay.” That sentiment perfectly captures the emotional core of the story.
And the Crowd Went Wild can absolutely be read as a standalone, but longtime Chicago Stars readers will appreciate the familiarity of the tone and the confidence of Phillips’ storytelling. It balances humor with heavier themes like shame, public scrutiny, and emotional recovery without losing its cozy, romantic feel.
This book made me laugh, sigh, and slow down while reading, which is always my highest compliment. It’s warm, witty, and quietly powerful, a reminder that second chances aren’t about erasing the past, but learning how to live with it honestly.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ out of 5 stars
#AndtheCrowdWentWild #SusanElizabethPhillips #ChicagoStars #RomanceBookReview #SecondChanceRomance #SportsRomance #WomensFiction #NetGalley #AvonBooks
Published by Avon, with sincere thanks to Avon and NetGalley for my gifted ARC.
There is a particular kind of comfort that comes with opening a Chicago Stars novel, and this book reminded me exactly why Susan Elizabeth Phillips has held a permanent spot on my auto-read list for decades. And the Crowd Went Wild feels like coming home to familiar rhythms while still getting a story that has emotional weight, sharp humor, and characters who feel lived-in rather than polished for show.
Dancy Flynn begins this story at her absolute lowest, and Phillips wastes no time letting us feel the humiliation, exhaustion, and quiet panic that come with having your worst moment go viral. Dancy is a former sex symbol, a woman who has been underestimated and misjudged her entire life, and watching her stagger into Clint Garrett’s secluded Wisconsin retreat in a ballgown felt both painfully awkward and oddly brave. She doesn’t arrive looking for romance. She arrives looking for somewhere to breathe.
Clint, now the Chicago Stars quarterback, is no longer the sweet boy Dancy remembers. He’s controlled, guarded, and still deeply wounded by a teenage heartbreak he never truly examined. What I appreciated most about Clint is that he isn’t instantly softened by nostalgia. He’s resentful. He’s rigid. He puts Dancy in a refurbished railroad caboose rather than under his roof, and the symbolism there is not subtle, but it works. Distance feels safer than forgiveness.
The slow burn between these two is one of the book’s biggest strengths. Their chemistry is rooted in shared history, sharp banter, and long-held misunderstandings rather than instant physical pull. Phillips allows them to circle each other cautiously, and the payoff feels earned. This isn’t a glossy second-chance romance. It’s messy, sometimes uncomfortable, and often very funny in that dry, observant SEP way.
What elevates this story is how much space it gives to personal growth. Dancy’s journey isn’t just about reclaiming love. It’s about reclaiming her voice, her ambition, and her sense of self after years of being defined by other people’s expectations. Clint’s arc is quieter but just as meaningful, centered on confronting his own fear of vulnerability and the pressure of being the steady one everyone relies on.
The setting adds so much warmth. The lake, the woods, the cozy caboose, and the small-town energy create a gentle contrast to Hollywood spectacle and professional sports chaos. The rescue dog is the kind of addition that could feel gimmicky in lesser hands, but here it adds heart and grounding, offering moments of levity and unexpected tenderness.
One line that stayed with me long after finishing the book was: “You don’t heal by becoming invisible. You heal by choosing to stay.” That sentiment perfectly captures the emotional core of the story.
And the Crowd Went Wild can absolutely be read as a standalone, but longtime Chicago Stars readers will appreciate the familiarity of the tone and the confidence of Phillips’ storytelling. It balances humor with heavier themes like shame, public scrutiny, and emotional recovery without losing its cozy, romantic feel.
This book made me laugh, sigh, and slow down while reading, which is always my highest compliment. It’s warm, witty, and quietly powerful, a reminder that second chances aren’t about erasing the past, but learning how to live with it honestly.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ out of 5 stars
#AndtheCrowdWentWild #SusanElizabethPhillips #ChicagoStars #RomanceBookReview #SecondChanceRomance #SportsRomance #WomensFiction #NetGalley #AvonBooks
November 13, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for an honest review.
Susan Elizabeth Phillips was one of the first romance authors I ever picked up a book from. I was lounging around my great-grandmother's house in my early teen years, bored out of my mind, when a book with a bright pink spine and a glitzy dress on the cover caught my eye. Glitter Baby was pretty much my introduction to this genre, and I can't be more thankful. Phillips doesn't write just romance, but these deep stories about flawed characters who may seem like they have everything the world could offer, but they never have happiness. She takes these characters on these journeys to find themselves, and they also always end up finding a partner to weather the storm we call life with them. There was something about that that gave me some hope and lightness to combat my general teenage angst. I quickly read her backlog, and she became one of my favorite authors.
Flash forward to me scrolling along absently and seeing that Phillips has a new book coming out, and it's set in the Chicago Stars universe. Obviously, I ran to request an ARC and I am so incredibly happy that I got one.
Dancy's story felt like a love letter to women who have "Everything" but still feel alone. She was rich, famous, married to a star, and still couldn't find happiness. After several more losses, and being ,shot down, she runs to the only person she knows expects nothing from her. Clint Garrett, her high school ex-boyfriend with a reason to hold a grudge but who still has a heart of gold. Clint, who is hiding out at his lakehouse to get his head in the right space to start the football season, who has several problems of his own that he doesn't know how to cope with either, but who's kindness and general care for other people have him offering to let her stay for a week - not a day longer than that though,
Over the course of the week, a stray injured dog, a kindergarten teacher in a sticky situation, an ambitious ex-husband, and much much more bring Dancy and Clint closer together than they both ever planned on being again. Trips down memory lane, tipping kayaks in a freezing cold lake, and a huge thunderstorm all conspire to bring Dancy and Clint right backs to where they should be - together.
Seeing the growth of these two characters, the way they worked things through and talked like adults, their banter and the shenanigans that kept happening made for such a fun read. Dancy's growth and her project at the end of the book made me cry. Clint had me swooning (who wouldn't, for a heart of gold, hot hunky football All Star quarterback). Watch (the dog) was a fun addition too. Overall I loved this book, these characters, and the story.
I also have to mention how much I love the little mystery twists Phillips adds to almost all of her stories. The tension you get from a couple vague chapters, which almost always comes to a head and is the climax for the characters finally coming together for good is such a fun way to bring the story full circle.
For anyone who already knows SEP's books, definitely pick this one up! And for anyone new here, I highly recommend you check out her backlog as well. Both the Chicago Stars universe and Wynette Texas have a special place in my heart.
Susan Elizabeth Phillips was one of the first romance authors I ever picked up a book from. I was lounging around my great-grandmother's house in my early teen years, bored out of my mind, when a book with a bright pink spine and a glitzy dress on the cover caught my eye. Glitter Baby was pretty much my introduction to this genre, and I can't be more thankful. Phillips doesn't write just romance, but these deep stories about flawed characters who may seem like they have everything the world could offer, but they never have happiness. She takes these characters on these journeys to find themselves, and they also always end up finding a partner to weather the storm we call life with them. There was something about that that gave me some hope and lightness to combat my general teenage angst. I quickly read her backlog, and she became one of my favorite authors.
Flash forward to me scrolling along absently and seeing that Phillips has a new book coming out, and it's set in the Chicago Stars universe. Obviously, I ran to request an ARC and I am so incredibly happy that I got one.
Dancy's story felt like a love letter to women who have "Everything" but still feel alone. She was rich, famous, married to a star, and still couldn't find happiness. After several more losses, and being ,shot down, she runs to the only person she knows expects nothing from her. Clint Garrett, her high school ex-boyfriend with a reason to hold a grudge but who still has a heart of gold. Clint, who is hiding out at his lakehouse to get his head in the right space to start the football season, who has several problems of his own that he doesn't know how to cope with either, but who's kindness and general care for other people have him offering to let her stay for a week - not a day longer than that though,
Over the course of the week, a stray injured dog, a kindergarten teacher in a sticky situation, an ambitious ex-husband, and much much more bring Dancy and Clint closer together than they both ever planned on being again. Trips down memory lane, tipping kayaks in a freezing cold lake, and a huge thunderstorm all conspire to bring Dancy and Clint right backs to where they should be - together.
Seeing the growth of these two characters, the way they worked things through and talked like adults, their banter and the shenanigans that kept happening made for such a fun read. Dancy's growth and her project at the end of the book made me cry. Clint had me swooning (who wouldn't, for a heart of gold, hot hunky football All Star quarterback). Watch (the dog) was a fun addition too. Overall I loved this book, these characters, and the story.
I also have to mention how much I love the little mystery twists Phillips adds to almost all of her stories. The tension you get from a couple vague chapters, which almost always comes to a head and is the climax for the characters finally coming together for good is such a fun way to bring the story full circle.
For anyone who already knows SEP's books, definitely pick this one up! And for anyone new here, I highly recommend you check out her backlog as well. Both the Chicago Stars universe and Wynette Texas have a special place in my heart.
December 6, 2025
Dancy Flynn thought she has her act back together after the divorce of her top Hollywood actor husband and wants to make a great appearance to get her former acting career back on track.
Unfortunately the evening doesn´t turn out as she hoped for as her ex husband with his new, young and very visible pregnant new girlfriend shows up. Again Dancy´s world is collapsing as it was her husband who didn´t want children and even so not intended she is embarrassing herself and fleeing the event.
The only person she can think of to go to when she is drunk is her high school boyfriend Clint Garrett, who is now the Stars quarterback. Clint doesn´t want his former girlfriend who lied and cheated on him around. Especially now that he needs to get his act together so close before the new season starts. On the other hand he doesn´t want to kick her out as clearly something is very wrong with her he offers that she can stay in an old railroad caboose tucked in the woods and out of sight of his house which is off limits for her.
When Dancy finds an injured, abandoned dog which lost all hope, is accepting its fate to die she can´t ignore it. Clint recognizes that the woman in front of him changed quite a lot to the teenager she once lost his heart to.
So bit for bit they get to know each other again.
I really enjoyed reading the newest book of the author.
I like that we have serious topics, sad moments but also the fun parts in it. This combination is well done for me.
Dancy is a great character. Her parents never took care of her. They had money, were more interested in travelling and left their child behind so employees can take care of her. Still Dancy learned and soon followed her dream and went to Hollywood. She was working hard to be an actress and when she met her husband gave up her ambition to take care of him and his career. To read what she went through in her past, how she is used today but not willing to accept this any longer is for me well written. Especially the scene when she hears the dog, finds it and recognizes the moment it lost all hope and accepted to die was very well written.
Clint is a wonderful character and the type of men a woman wishes to meet. On the one hand it seems like he has all with the fame and the position as quarterback for the Chicago Stars, money and a good family. He lost his heart to the wrong woman and when she was murdered and he accused of it this left a bruise with him. He is struggling with the pressure and all the expectations on him.
I really liked how Dancy and Clint got to know each other again and that Dancy finally reveals a secret she kept all these year. How Clint reacts to it, showing her that it was not her fault and she is not responsible for what once happened to her is good written.
How both struggle with their life and how they really see each other, understand the other, are perfect for the other is well written.
The idea with the dog which brings easy and funny moments is good worked into their story.
This is not an easy love story, a story where both fall high over heels in love. No the characters have some baggage, struggle with their lives but open up to each other, get to know how they are nowadays and so bit by bit accept the feelings they have for each other.
Unfortunately the evening doesn´t turn out as she hoped for as her ex husband with his new, young and very visible pregnant new girlfriend shows up. Again Dancy´s world is collapsing as it was her husband who didn´t want children and even so not intended she is embarrassing herself and fleeing the event.
The only person she can think of to go to when she is drunk is her high school boyfriend Clint Garrett, who is now the Stars quarterback. Clint doesn´t want his former girlfriend who lied and cheated on him around. Especially now that he needs to get his act together so close before the new season starts. On the other hand he doesn´t want to kick her out as clearly something is very wrong with her he offers that she can stay in an old railroad caboose tucked in the woods and out of sight of his house which is off limits for her.
When Dancy finds an injured, abandoned dog which lost all hope, is accepting its fate to die she can´t ignore it. Clint recognizes that the woman in front of him changed quite a lot to the teenager she once lost his heart to.
So bit for bit they get to know each other again.
I really enjoyed reading the newest book of the author.
I like that we have serious topics, sad moments but also the fun parts in it. This combination is well done for me.
Dancy is a great character. Her parents never took care of her. They had money, were more interested in travelling and left their child behind so employees can take care of her. Still Dancy learned and soon followed her dream and went to Hollywood. She was working hard to be an actress and when she met her husband gave up her ambition to take care of him and his career. To read what she went through in her past, how she is used today but not willing to accept this any longer is for me well written. Especially the scene when she hears the dog, finds it and recognizes the moment it lost all hope and accepted to die was very well written.
Clint is a wonderful character and the type of men a woman wishes to meet. On the one hand it seems like he has all with the fame and the position as quarterback for the Chicago Stars, money and a good family. He lost his heart to the wrong woman and when she was murdered and he accused of it this left a bruise with him. He is struggling with the pressure and all the expectations on him.
I really liked how Dancy and Clint got to know each other again and that Dancy finally reveals a secret she kept all these year. How Clint reacts to it, showing her that it was not her fault and she is not responsible for what once happened to her is good written.
How both struggle with their life and how they really see each other, understand the other, are perfect for the other is well written.
The idea with the dog which brings easy and funny moments is good worked into their story.
This is not an easy love story, a story where both fall high over heels in love. No the characters have some baggage, struggle with their lives but open up to each other, get to know how they are nowadays and so bit by bit accept the feelings they have for each other.
November 13, 2025
I received a copy of this book for free in a Goodreads giveaway.
Romance story between a high-profile actress and a star quarterback that sounds like it would be cute in concept, and it sometimes is, but the tone is all over the place, and a lot of the characters feel underdeveloped. And the ending ties things up way too neatly and feels completely unrealistic.
Dancy Flynn is an actress who suffers a very public, drunken humiliation at the beginning of the book. She makes her way to the lake house of Clint Garrett, her boyfriend from high school who's now a star quarterback. Clint is not enthusiastic about her presence, since she cheated on him in high school and doesn't want any of her mess, and he sticks her in an old caboose that he for some reason keeps in his backyard. They both obviously have their own baggage, but they of course start connecting and getting reacquainted with each other as adults, and the very predictable romance develops.
The romance is occasionally cute, especially when the rescue dog is involved. But the tone of the book is all over the place. There's the romance part that takes up the majority of the book, complete with its ups and downs and personal baggage and so forth, but then there's a weird stalker subplot that you'd expect from some kind of thriller or police procedural, and the epilogue is weirdly told from the perspective of the dog, which seems so jarring and silly in comparison after there's talk in the main part of the story about Dancy's past trauma as well as some mental health issues. There's also a bunch of side characters thrown in that are really underdeveloped, like Dancy's instant friend she magically saves from a parking lot altercation, and Clint's family members that seem to just show up to either conveniently solve a plot problem or to become a one-dimensional problem, only to of course end up all good by the end.
The ending is also far too neat and tidy. Dancy basically has one climactic scene where she gives it her all, and then everything just kind of magically falls into place, in an overly happy ending that feels completely unrealistic. Where the couple ends up seems so far from where they are right before the epilogue, and then the epilogue just sums up years and years of magical bliss in a few pages. It seems like it would have taken some really hard work and introspection to get to where they are, but there's not really any of that.
On the plus side, there's some decently hot sex scenes, but they come very late in the story, and there's not that many of them, nor do they last long. And more sex would not make up for the very standard enemies-to-lovers plot (I suppose it's more accurately lovers to enemies and then back to lovers), the underdeveloped characters, the weirdly out of place stalker subplot and dog epilogue, and the ridiculously unrealistic happy ending.
Romance story between a high-profile actress and a star quarterback that sounds like it would be cute in concept, and it sometimes is, but the tone is all over the place, and a lot of the characters feel underdeveloped. And the ending ties things up way too neatly and feels completely unrealistic.
Dancy Flynn is an actress who suffers a very public, drunken humiliation at the beginning of the book. She makes her way to the lake house of Clint Garrett, her boyfriend from high school who's now a star quarterback. Clint is not enthusiastic about her presence, since she cheated on him in high school and doesn't want any of her mess, and he sticks her in an old caboose that he for some reason keeps in his backyard. They both obviously have their own baggage, but they of course start connecting and getting reacquainted with each other as adults, and the very predictable romance develops.
The romance is occasionally cute, especially when the rescue dog is involved. But the tone of the book is all over the place. There's the romance part that takes up the majority of the book, complete with its ups and downs and personal baggage and so forth, but then there's a weird stalker subplot that you'd expect from some kind of thriller or police procedural, and the epilogue is weirdly told from the perspective of the dog, which seems so jarring and silly in comparison after there's talk in the main part of the story about Dancy's past trauma as well as some mental health issues. There's also a bunch of side characters thrown in that are really underdeveloped, like Dancy's instant friend she magically saves from a parking lot altercation, and Clint's family members that seem to just show up to either conveniently solve a plot problem or to become a one-dimensional problem, only to of course end up all good by the end.
The ending is also far too neat and tidy. Dancy basically has one climactic scene where she gives it her all, and then everything just kind of magically falls into place, in an overly happy ending that feels completely unrealistic. Where the couple ends up seems so far from where they are right before the epilogue, and then the epilogue just sums up years and years of magical bliss in a few pages. It seems like it would have taken some really hard work and introspection to get to where they are, but there's not really any of that.
On the plus side, there's some decently hot sex scenes, but they come very late in the story, and there's not that many of them, nor do they last long. And more sex would not make up for the very standard enemies-to-lovers plot (I suppose it's more accurately lovers to enemies and then back to lovers), the underdeveloped characters, the weirdly out of place stalker subplot and dog epilogue, and the ridiculously unrealistic happy ending.
November 7, 2025
5+ Stars!! Wow! Susan Elizabeth Phillips (SEP) (the original creator of sports romance) always draws me in, grabs hold and doesn’t let go until the very end. I said I would just read a couple chapters… and then finished it in ONE day!
I do not know how SEP does it, but she has a magic formula: deeply flawed characters, realistic emotional (sometimes triggering) themes, crisp nostalgic settings, addicting can’t-put-down romantic plot and heartwarming side characters/pets and circumstances. SEP writes romance like a thriller author writes suspense. You just must keep turning the page to see these characters emote, mess up and fall in love.
This is another book in the Chicago Stars series but can be read as a standalone. This is about an off-season somewhat “depressed” NFL star quarterback (Clint) and a humiliated former Hollywood actress (Dancy) dumped/divorced by her heartthrob “good guy” Hollywood actor husband. She escapes a public embarrassing circumstance to get away from the limelight, “falling” onto the doorstep of her former high school boyfriend’s vacation home. The HS boyfriend who was betrayed by her and wants nothing to do with her. Dancy speaks her mind, can be rude, sarcastic and has a tough exterior acting like nothing can phase her. Clint is the cinnamon roll MMC who “hates” her or at the very least has written her out of his life, never wanting to see her again, but still has a heart of gold. He tries to get rid of Dancy but ends up letting her stay in his refurbished old railcar Caboose of a guest house and not letting her into the main house.
Now SEPs magic happens- Shenanigans ensue. You get to fall in love with the misunderstood heroine while her past is divulged, her thoughts, her vulnerabilities, and the main reason she is really running which still makes me tear up just thinking about it. Then you cheer for the tortured, depressed cinnamon roll hero learning his thoughts, feelings and what makes him who he is. The characters are written like real people who I was crying for, rooting for and falling in love with. The tie-in with the Boxcar children book, the rescued dog, the townspeople, the ex-husband all add to this delightful, deep, addictive story with lol moments. Dancy is the first character to remind me a bit of Phoebe Somerville from “it had to be you” who is one of my favorites.
Highly recommend you read this (and her backlist)—I can list the tropes of second chance, childhood sweethearts, enemies to lovers, small town, Hollywood, forced proximity but tropes today can sometimes be so surface level and this dives deeper; the tropes are secondary to amazing character development and deeper themes.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager/ Avon for the pleasure of reading this ARC
I do not know how SEP does it, but she has a magic formula: deeply flawed characters, realistic emotional (sometimes triggering) themes, crisp nostalgic settings, addicting can’t-put-down romantic plot and heartwarming side characters/pets and circumstances. SEP writes romance like a thriller author writes suspense. You just must keep turning the page to see these characters emote, mess up and fall in love.
This is another book in the Chicago Stars series but can be read as a standalone. This is about an off-season somewhat “depressed” NFL star quarterback (Clint) and a humiliated former Hollywood actress (Dancy) dumped/divorced by her heartthrob “good guy” Hollywood actor husband. She escapes a public embarrassing circumstance to get away from the limelight, “falling” onto the doorstep of her former high school boyfriend’s vacation home. The HS boyfriend who was betrayed by her and wants nothing to do with her. Dancy speaks her mind, can be rude, sarcastic and has a tough exterior acting like nothing can phase her. Clint is the cinnamon roll MMC who “hates” her or at the very least has written her out of his life, never wanting to see her again, but still has a heart of gold. He tries to get rid of Dancy but ends up letting her stay in his refurbished old railcar Caboose of a guest house and not letting her into the main house.
Now SEPs magic happens- Shenanigans ensue. You get to fall in love with the misunderstood heroine while her past is divulged, her thoughts, her vulnerabilities, and the main reason she is really running which still makes me tear up just thinking about it. Then you cheer for the tortured, depressed cinnamon roll hero learning his thoughts, feelings and what makes him who he is. The characters are written like real people who I was crying for, rooting for and falling in love with. The tie-in with the Boxcar children book, the rescued dog, the townspeople, the ex-husband all add to this delightful, deep, addictive story with lol moments. Dancy is the first character to remind me a bit of Phoebe Somerville from “it had to be you” who is one of my favorites.
Highly recommend you read this (and her backlist)—I can list the tropes of second chance, childhood sweethearts, enemies to lovers, small town, Hollywood, forced proximity but tropes today can sometimes be so surface level and this dives deeper; the tropes are secondary to amazing character development and deeper themes.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager/ Avon for the pleasure of reading this ARC
October 8, 2025
TW: miscarriage, parental abandonment, mentions of murder, alcohol used as coping mechanism
Susan Elizabeth Phillips is one of those comfort authors I can't help but want to absorb every single word they write. Susan's Chicago Stars series has been going strong for over 30 years now and though I haven't read every single book of the series the ones I have read just don't miss. Susan loves to pull the emotion out of me and make this stone cold heart beat again and I love her for it.
And the Crowd Went Wild is a second chance romance between humiliated and washed up Hollywood star, Dancy and Chicago Stars quarterback, Clint. They were once highschool sweethearts but due to youths being idiots they went their separate ways but Clint still held onto the hurt that Dancy caused and held nothing but hate for her. After Dancy's divorce, miscarriage and humiliation in front of her ex and his new baby mama, she flees to the only man that she ever trusted.
Throughout the book Dancy and Clint's relationship grows leaps and bounds and each time there's a breakthrough for them I just got so excited and happy. These two really deserved a better life. Dancy is really a hot mess to begin with and she's just so used to people using and abusing her and thinking she deserves it...she had my heart from the start. Clint gives clueless man on first impression but he knows how to handle Dancy and how to encourage her and help her grow. When he does reveal his mental health struggles it made more sense to me why he was just going through the motions of football and why he seems so glum all the time outside of his interactions with Dancy. There's so much in this story, the banter and snark is superb, the lovable and water-loving dog, and an adorable caboose house that takes inspiration from The Boxcar Children (hello childhood!). There is LOADS of talk about the miscarriage that Dancy deals with and it is super emotional and sad so please take care of yourself if you are sensitive to this trigger. I mean even though I consider myself pretty strong and not overtly emotional, I cried silent tears as I held my book light to the pages at 2am. Freakin' Susan Elizabeth Phillips y'all!
Overall such a good book and nothing less than stellar from this author. I definitely recommend reading at least a few of the installments of this series beforehand because there are some mentions of characters from previous books but you really don't HAVE to do that in order to understand who everyone is (but why wouldn't you though, they are great!). I can't wait to see what's next for Susan and the Chicago Stars, I'll definitely be reading whatever it is. And last but not least many thanks to Avon and HarperVoyager for gifting me this ARC!
Susan Elizabeth Phillips is one of those comfort authors I can't help but want to absorb every single word they write. Susan's Chicago Stars series has been going strong for over 30 years now and though I haven't read every single book of the series the ones I have read just don't miss. Susan loves to pull the emotion out of me and make this stone cold heart beat again and I love her for it.
And the Crowd Went Wild is a second chance romance between humiliated and washed up Hollywood star, Dancy and Chicago Stars quarterback, Clint. They were once highschool sweethearts but due to youths being idiots they went their separate ways but Clint still held onto the hurt that Dancy caused and held nothing but hate for her. After Dancy's divorce, miscarriage and humiliation in front of her ex and his new baby mama, she flees to the only man that she ever trusted.
Throughout the book Dancy and Clint's relationship grows leaps and bounds and each time there's a breakthrough for them I just got so excited and happy. These two really deserved a better life. Dancy is really a hot mess to begin with and she's just so used to people using and abusing her and thinking she deserves it...she had my heart from the start. Clint gives clueless man on first impression but he knows how to handle Dancy and how to encourage her and help her grow. When he does reveal his mental health struggles it made more sense to me why he was just going through the motions of football and why he seems so glum all the time outside of his interactions with Dancy. There's so much in this story, the banter and snark is superb, the lovable and water-loving dog, and an adorable caboose house that takes inspiration from The Boxcar Children (hello childhood!). There is LOADS of talk about the miscarriage that Dancy deals with and it is super emotional and sad so please take care of yourself if you are sensitive to this trigger. I mean even though I consider myself pretty strong and not overtly emotional, I cried silent tears as I held my book light to the pages at 2am. Freakin' Susan Elizabeth Phillips y'all!
Overall such a good book and nothing less than stellar from this author. I definitely recommend reading at least a few of the installments of this series beforehand because there are some mentions of characters from previous books but you really don't HAVE to do that in order to understand who everyone is (but why wouldn't you though, they are great!). I can't wait to see what's next for Susan and the Chicago Stars, I'll definitely be reading whatever it is. And last but not least many thanks to Avon and HarperVoyager for gifting me this ARC!
August 12, 2025
Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ long-running Chicago Stars series continues with #AndtheCrowdWentWild, which focuses on Stars’ quarterback, Clint Garrett, and actress Dancy Flynn. Clint was wrongly accused of murdering his former girlfriend in the series’ previous entry #SimplytheBest. This latest book is a second-chance romance between Clint and Dancy who dated during high school.
Both of these high profile individuals are in their mid-thirties and at a crossroads. Dancy is divorced from her actor husband, Roth Hardy, famous for his role in a series of films similar to Mission Impossible. She also has suffered a devastating miscarriage and is trying to resurrect her career, after spending most of her marriage supporting her husband.
Clint is staying at his lakeside retreat in Wisconsin for the summer and finding it difficult to find the focus he needs for training camp, which starts in a couple of weeks. The two have not seen each other since high school when Dancy shows up uninvited in Wisconsin, following a disastrous appearance at a famous gala that was supposed to kickstart her career. She’s looking for a place where she can fly under the radar for a while and lick her wounds while she figures out what to do next.
Even though she broke Clint’s heart in high school, she figures he’s such a good guy that he’ll let her stay temporarily. She’s not interested in starting anything with him; and he feels the same—certain that Dancy is only out for herself. Clint has an old caboose on his property that he is gradually renovating and he agrees to let Dancy stay there.
Dancy rescues a homeless, wounded dog she finds by the side of the road and eventually Dancy and Clint reconnect and start to rediscover their friendship, and then their mutual attraction. Before they can find their personal happiness, each of them has to figure out what they want to do professionally.
There is also a secondary story about Erin, a local school principal, who Dancy befriends after witnessing a scene between Erin and Shane, her abusive boyfriend. This subplot seemed superfluous.
Although it's not the strongest book in the series, it is an enjoyable read, about two flawed characters who undergo personal growth, as individuals and as a couple.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #ReadAvon for the ARC.
Both of these high profile individuals are in their mid-thirties and at a crossroads. Dancy is divorced from her actor husband, Roth Hardy, famous for his role in a series of films similar to Mission Impossible. She also has suffered a devastating miscarriage and is trying to resurrect her career, after spending most of her marriage supporting her husband.
Clint is staying at his lakeside retreat in Wisconsin for the summer and finding it difficult to find the focus he needs for training camp, which starts in a couple of weeks. The two have not seen each other since high school when Dancy shows up uninvited in Wisconsin, following a disastrous appearance at a famous gala that was supposed to kickstart her career. She’s looking for a place where she can fly under the radar for a while and lick her wounds while she figures out what to do next.
Even though she broke Clint’s heart in high school, she figures he’s such a good guy that he’ll let her stay temporarily. She’s not interested in starting anything with him; and he feels the same—certain that Dancy is only out for herself. Clint has an old caboose on his property that he is gradually renovating and he agrees to let Dancy stay there.
Dancy rescues a homeless, wounded dog she finds by the side of the road and eventually Dancy and Clint reconnect and start to rediscover their friendship, and then their mutual attraction. Before they can find their personal happiness, each of them has to figure out what they want to do professionally.
There is also a secondary story about Erin, a local school principal, who Dancy befriends after witnessing a scene between Erin and Shane, her abusive boyfriend. This subplot seemed superfluous.
Although it's not the strongest book in the series, it is an enjoyable read, about two flawed characters who undergo personal growth, as individuals and as a couple.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #ReadAvon for the ARC.
November 26, 2025
✨ARC BOOK REVIEW✨- And the Crowd Went Wild by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Rating: 🔉🔉🔉🔉🔉
I’ve been reading Susan Elizabeth Phillips books for almost 20yrs and they never disappoint. I laugh, I cry, I want to commit violence, and I swoon. This one continued that tradition. Dancy and Clint’s banter was top notch. The slow burn slow burned and kept me engaged.
If you’re not already sold on reading this one there’s an adorable dog that loves to swim. 🤣
This is book 11 in the series. While this is a standalone, I would recommend reading the other books first. I mean ya got time lol. And the whole series is awesome.
TW/CW: Heavy topics are discussed please check the trigger/content warnings or DM me.
BOOK DESCRIPTION
After a mortifying—and very public—humiliation, Dancy Flynn is desperate to find sanctuary far from the crowd. But where can a washed-up sex symbol hide? How about making an unannounced appearance at the secluded lake house of the sweet, sensitive high school boyfriend she hasn’t seen in almost twenty years?
But Chicago Stars quarterback Clint Garrett is no longer the kid Dancy remembers. Now he’s a gridiron superhero, still holding a massive grudge against her for breaking his teenage heart. With no room in his life for either complexity or distractions, he banishes Dancy to a refurbished old railroad caboose tucked away in the woods…and out of his sight.
Except Dancy’s not good at staying invisible. Her efforts to rebuild her career clash with Clint’s desperation to regain his focus, all made more challenging by a rescue dog, a local woman in trouble, a meddling mother, an ex with an agenda…and the sizzle of rekindled emotions.
As Dancy attempts to get her life on track and Clint tries to get his groove back, can these two one-time lovers navigate their rocky pasts and complicated present to find themselves…and each other?
Release Date: February 10, 2026
Thank you @netgalley for this ARC.
✨My Rating System✨
🔉🔉🔉🔉 🔉- Hit all the vibes
🔉🔉🔉🔉 - Hit some good vibes
🔉🔉🔉 - I vibed
🔉🔉 - The vibes were meh
🔉 - Barely found a vibe
DNF - Zero vibes
My rating system does not equate to the quality of the books, therefore, you’re still on your own. It’s legit just about how I vibed with the book at the time.
Rating: 🔉🔉🔉🔉🔉
I’ve been reading Susan Elizabeth Phillips books for almost 20yrs and they never disappoint. I laugh, I cry, I want to commit violence, and I swoon. This one continued that tradition. Dancy and Clint’s banter was top notch. The slow burn slow burned and kept me engaged.
If you’re not already sold on reading this one there’s an adorable dog that loves to swim. 🤣
This is book 11 in the series. While this is a standalone, I would recommend reading the other books first. I mean ya got time lol. And the whole series is awesome.
TW/CW: Heavy topics are discussed please check the trigger/content warnings or DM me.
BOOK DESCRIPTION
After a mortifying—and very public—humiliation, Dancy Flynn is desperate to find sanctuary far from the crowd. But where can a washed-up sex symbol hide? How about making an unannounced appearance at the secluded lake house of the sweet, sensitive high school boyfriend she hasn’t seen in almost twenty years?
But Chicago Stars quarterback Clint Garrett is no longer the kid Dancy remembers. Now he’s a gridiron superhero, still holding a massive grudge against her for breaking his teenage heart. With no room in his life for either complexity or distractions, he banishes Dancy to a refurbished old railroad caboose tucked away in the woods…and out of his sight.
Except Dancy’s not good at staying invisible. Her efforts to rebuild her career clash with Clint’s desperation to regain his focus, all made more challenging by a rescue dog, a local woman in trouble, a meddling mother, an ex with an agenda…and the sizzle of rekindled emotions.
As Dancy attempts to get her life on track and Clint tries to get his groove back, can these two one-time lovers navigate their rocky pasts and complicated present to find themselves…and each other?
Release Date: February 10, 2026
Thank you @netgalley for this ARC.
✨My Rating System✨
🔉🔉🔉🔉 🔉- Hit all the vibes
🔉🔉🔉🔉 - Hit some good vibes
🔉🔉🔉 - I vibed
🔉🔉 - The vibes were meh
🔉 - Barely found a vibe
DNF - Zero vibes
My rating system does not equate to the quality of the books, therefore, you’re still on your own. It’s legit just about how I vibed with the book at the time.
January 2, 2026
Comes out in February, thanks to the publisher for the arc to review. I’m a big fan of Susan Elizabeth Philips and looked forward to coming back to the Chicago Stars world. Quick summary: it made me cry and root for the heroine. The set up is a little bit of a stretch but it gets these two on page together to fight, banter, and get to know each other her as adults.
CW: heroine was raped as a teen and is recovering from a miscarriage.
Like the last few books, this is more adjacent to the team, even though Clint is the Stars quarterback, we only see him training in the off season and hear about his games. Any scenes in his POV are with Dancy, the heroine. Dancy is an actress, known more for her looks and famous ex-husband than her own career. The book opens with Dancy pulling herself together after her divorce and realizing she gave up too much for her Ex. When the Ex shows up at the same event with his new girlfriend, and the girlfriend is very pregnant, its devastating to Dancy, who wanted a baby and recently went through a miscarriage. She run, in an epic way.
Dancy turns up at Clint’s off-season cottage, but he definitely NEVER invited Dancy to the cottage and he really doesn’t want her there. They dated in high school, she cheated on him, then left town. It was a high school romance, but obviously both have a little bit of baggage over it. Clint lets her sleep off her hangover, but insists she leaves the next day. So a couple weeks later… she’s still here.
In SEP fashion, Dancy saves an injured dog, is living in a train caboose on Clint’s property and makes friends with the local HS principal. She also wears a lot of Green Bay Packers gear. Dancy and Clint both insist in their own heads that they are absolutely NOT attracted to the other, expect for maybe Clint’s abs and butt, and Dancy’s amazing legs and chest. But no, no, they are just friends, for sure.
I enjoyed reading Dancy deciding to take control of her life and career. She gets a little revenge on her shitty ex and loves her dog. Clint does have is own story arc and has to figure out some of his own issues, but Dancy is the lead of the book.
The epilogue from the dog’s pov was a little silly, but cute.
CW: heroine was raped as a teen and is recovering from a miscarriage.
Like the last few books, this is more adjacent to the team, even though Clint is the Stars quarterback, we only see him training in the off season and hear about his games. Any scenes in his POV are with Dancy, the heroine. Dancy is an actress, known more for her looks and famous ex-husband than her own career. The book opens with Dancy pulling herself together after her divorce and realizing she gave up too much for her Ex. When the Ex shows up at the same event with his new girlfriend, and the girlfriend is very pregnant, its devastating to Dancy, who wanted a baby and recently went through a miscarriage. She run, in an epic way.
Dancy turns up at Clint’s off-season cottage, but he definitely NEVER invited Dancy to the cottage and he really doesn’t want her there. They dated in high school, she cheated on him, then left town. It was a high school romance, but obviously both have a little bit of baggage over it. Clint lets her sleep off her hangover, but insists she leaves the next day. So a couple weeks later… she’s still here.
In SEP fashion, Dancy saves an injured dog, is living in a train caboose on Clint’s property and makes friends with the local HS principal. She also wears a lot of Green Bay Packers gear. Dancy and Clint both insist in their own heads that they are absolutely NOT attracted to the other, expect for maybe Clint’s abs and butt, and Dancy’s amazing legs and chest. But no, no, they are just friends, for sure.
I enjoyed reading Dancy deciding to take control of her life and career. She gets a little revenge on her shitty ex and loves her dog. Clint does have is own story arc and has to figure out some of his own issues, but Dancy is the lead of the book.
The epilogue from the dog’s pov was a little silly, but cute.
September 18, 2025
I absolutely adore Susan Elizabeth Phillips as I credit her for making me obsessed with sports romance ever since I dived into her Chicago Stars series. She is one of the all-time greats because her romance books are so much more than “boy meet girl and they live happily ever after.”
And the Crowd Went Wild has everything I love about a SEP book (and gave me similar vibes to Dance Away With Me which I absolutely loved as well) – a heroine with some significant life struggles who takes quite a few hits but rises as the strong woman she always was; a hero who overcomes his own struggles while supporting the woman he’s falling for; a quirky cast of characters and a setting that reels you right in.
I absolutely LOVED Dancy and this woman stole the show (as she should since she’s an actress!). SEP opens this book with a bang, with Dancy having one horrible night that made my heart bleed for her. We learn that this woman has had to live through some major life challenges (one is rape as a teen that she recounts and another is a miscarriage so be aware of these trigger warnings). And despite the fallout of these occurrences and her recent humiliation, the woman is a FIGHTER.
The way that she did not hold back her words when it came to Clint, the way that she took in a wounded dog, and the way that she stood up for a complete stranger and then herself made her another SEP heroine that you desperately want to have her happily ever after.
Her snark toward Clint when he wanted her anywhere but on his property was signature SEP and I only wanted their verbal foreplay to continue page after page.
Clint was an interesting character too, as a star quarterback struggling with his game and having his peace and quiet disrupted by the woman who had broken his heart so long ago.
I haven’t read the previous book in the Chicago Stars series (I know I’m circling back now!) and I think some things were alluded to from that book but this can be read as a standalone if you haven’t read any SEP book in this series.
The nod to The Boxcar Children was a great touch, though I have not read that book (gasp!). I felt like I could envision the caboose that Dancy was staying in and fixing up so well and boy do I wish it was a place I could escape to one weekend and read book after book.
If you are after a romance book that provides rich characters, a worthy second chance romance and a strong heroine with a sharp story that is always a cut above the rest then you deserve to read a SEP book, starting with this one.
I cannot wait to see what she writes next!
*I received an advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.
And the Crowd Went Wild has everything I love about a SEP book (and gave me similar vibes to Dance Away With Me which I absolutely loved as well) – a heroine with some significant life struggles who takes quite a few hits but rises as the strong woman she always was; a hero who overcomes his own struggles while supporting the woman he’s falling for; a quirky cast of characters and a setting that reels you right in.
I absolutely LOVED Dancy and this woman stole the show (as she should since she’s an actress!). SEP opens this book with a bang, with Dancy having one horrible night that made my heart bleed for her. We learn that this woman has had to live through some major life challenges (one is rape as a teen that she recounts and another is a miscarriage so be aware of these trigger warnings). And despite the fallout of these occurrences and her recent humiliation, the woman is a FIGHTER.
The way that she did not hold back her words when it came to Clint, the way that she took in a wounded dog, and the way that she stood up for a complete stranger and then herself made her another SEP heroine that you desperately want to have her happily ever after.
Her snark toward Clint when he wanted her anywhere but on his property was signature SEP and I only wanted their verbal foreplay to continue page after page.
Clint was an interesting character too, as a star quarterback struggling with his game and having his peace and quiet disrupted by the woman who had broken his heart so long ago.
I haven’t read the previous book in the Chicago Stars series (I know I’m circling back now!) and I think some things were alluded to from that book but this can be read as a standalone if you haven’t read any SEP book in this series.
The nod to The Boxcar Children was a great touch, though I have not read that book (gasp!). I felt like I could envision the caboose that Dancy was staying in and fixing up so well and boy do I wish it was a place I could escape to one weekend and read book after book.
If you are after a romance book that provides rich characters, a worthy second chance romance and a strong heroine with a sharp story that is always a cut above the rest then you deserve to read a SEP book, starting with this one.
I cannot wait to see what she writes next!
*I received an advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews