The Prince and the Player by Nora Phoenix is a steamy, heartfelt romance brimming with tension, tenderness, and just the right amount of royal intrigue. With irresistible chemistry and emotional stakes, this love story scores big—both on and off the field.

this was such a cute book! i loved the sports aspect of this book and how tensions got high and ended with tore and farron exploring each other and their sexuality. i had such a good time with this book and these characters and i’m invested with the rest of the stories that’ll come from this!!

Whilst The Prince and the Player might have been extremely predictable, it was an easy and enjoyable read that I flew through in 2 days. Containing all my favourite tropes such as enemies to lovers and forced proximity, this is a fun book that has you rooting for both male leads quite quickly.

Thanks NetGalley for an advanced copy.

I found the voice of both characters in this book incredibly difficult to read and I think that colored my whole opinion of the book. The story is a great premise, but I couldn't get past the writing to actually enjoy the story. The prince is super sweet, but Farron is a jerk and nothing could convince me that he deserves someone as good at Tore.

Cute in theory but not in practice. This was a VERY quick progression in a romance between two people who have their sexualities suddenly questioned.

I LOVED THIS. I wasn’t expecting to love it quite as much, as I have no interest in soccer/football, but I found it worked really well in this book and I loved the characters enough that it worked anyway! Tore was my favourite character and I loved reading about his dynamic as a Norwegian royal, especially as he was trying to settle into a college setting. The romance was sweet and spicy (but started off spicy to begin with, with the characters hating each other!!) and was amazing to read about. I didn’t want it to end, and can’t wait for the author’s next book!

Sports romance, rivals to lovers, undercover royal, and a bi-awakening - The Prince and the Player is packed full of romance tropes.

The romance itself felt a rushed with Farron and Tore going from rivals/enemies to lovers so quickly. Wish the tension had been drawn out a bit more though the ending was satisfying.

Nora Phoenix’s The Prince and the Player delivers a fun, heartfelt, and steamy start to the Prince Pact series, with an irresistible premise: a sunshiney undercover prince, a grumpy soccer team captain, and a spark-filled enemies-to-lovers romance that turns into a journey of self-discovery for both.

Tore is instantly likable as the sheltered but eager Norwegian royal desperate for a taste of normal life—and love. His earnestness, humor, and vulnerability make him easy to root for, especially as he tries to crack through Farron’s tough exterior. The double bi-awakening is a standout element, handled with a mix of confusion, tenderness, and heat that feels authentic and compelling.

However, while the romance delivers some swoon-worthy and emotionally charged moments, Farron’s character can be frustrating. His hostility toward Tore often borders on unfair, driven mainly by class resentment that doesn’t evolve much, even as their relationship deepens. It’s tough to watch Tore continuously forgive behavior that feels dismissive or patronizing—he deserved more emotional reciprocity.

Another point that detracts from the story is a problematic scene involving a forced outing, which is brushed past without any real exploration of the emotional weight or consequences. For a book that handles identity and vulnerability so well in other areas, this moment deserved more thoughtful treatment.

Despite these flaws, The Prince and the Player still shines with its charm, banter, and emotional growth. It’s a fun read for fans of opposites-attract romances, but it could have benefitted from a little more accountability and nuance in how certain conflicts were resolved.

This royally fun, enemies-to-lovers novel had me grinning throughout most of the book. Nora Phoenix’s humor is as sharp as ever, and the chemistry between our undercover prince and soccer captain is irresistible. My only complaint is that it felt a little short and a bit simple. Still, it’s a sweet, satisfying read with all the charm I’ve come to expect from Phoenix.

Many thanks to Boldwood Books for a complimentary eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Prince Tore of Norway, third in line to the Norwegian throne, finds himself bored of the royal life so when the opportunity to spend some time studying in America presents itself, he takes the opportunity to go undercover and enjoy a less examined life. When he meets Farron, captain of the college soccer team, they don't exactly hit it off and tensions rise until the pair admit their undeniable attraction for one another. Will the pair find victory on the soccer field and in love? How will they come to terms with the depths of their feelings for each other? And how will Tore ever confess his royal lineage to Farron who despises privilege and wealth?

This is a classic romance novel with all the tropes we've come to love. Rivals to lovers? Check! Grumpy and sunshine? Check! Opposites attract? Check! This novel doesn't try to reinvent or subvert these tropes in any appreciable way but leans into them: Tore might come across as a bland, good-natured golden retriever but he is all the more likable for being kind, thoughtful, and cheerful. Farron might brood a little and he might have that somewhat expected (yet we're supposed to believe is unepected) soft side, but it's still nice to see when he warms up to Tore and starts realising how deep his affections run. Nora's writing keeps things light and quick so we are willing to follow where the story goes without needing to pause for too long to wonder about details.

All the elements of this genre are here: spice, sports-related competitions, and misunderstandings. If you liked Red, White, and Royal Blue, this novel offers the same dopamine rush as the main characters explore their sexualities and as they navigate new territories together. The spicy scenes are written tastefully, without too much squeamishness but also with a mild steaminess.

There is no real antagonist in the novel other than the boys coming to terms of what it means to love another guy so if you were hoping for some kind of love triangle or villain, you won't find it here. Still, overcoming societal expectations and sports rivals fills that conflict somewhat.

This is a great fluffy, light read featuring some of the tropes in romance that are most well-worn at this point (and for good reason!). Sometimes a light-hearted romance where the stakes aren't high is exactly what one needs and The Prince and the Player fills that niche perfectly.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

This was such a really good, fun read. It was cute, it was simple and easy to read which was must more enjoyable after some really heavy hitters! The pacing was the only thing that felt off to me - it was really fast at times, and then at other times it just felt really slow and drawn out. I also don't see the "player" part of the story - he was overly smitten from the getgo and personally, I loved that!

I really love these stories with the love/hate relationships - it's not real "enemies" to lovers as the hate is very fleeting, and is really more of a cover for true feelings in my opinion! I loved all of the cute and silly moments full of love and excitement - the beginnings of a new relationship. I loved the yearning and the exploration and acceptance of their sexuality - those were some big feelings and big situations and I felt that they were handled so well and with so much grace.

I really loved this M/M romance overall and will be recommending it to everyone - I'm eager to see this story series and how it continues!

⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

First, I want to thank Netgalley and Boldwood Books for allowing me to read this novel ahead of its release.

I don‘t really know how to explain it, but there is a very fine line to walk when writing books where the couple starts out as „casual“ or friends with benefits. You have to find that perfect way of combining the intimacy of sex with building an actual emotional relationship, which I sadly think this book failed to do. I feel like the main characters didn‘t actually connect on an emotional level, which is really sad because the book started out great! I guess I just expected there to be more time for the characters to fall in love with each other.

I would still recommend this book if you’re looking for a sweet, easy to read and lighthearted romance.

Tore wants to spend one year as if he isn’t royal. That’s how he ends up in Ohio at Hawley College on the soccer team. He is fairly confident he will never ascend to the throne so he wants to begin developing outside of his royal duties. But he wants to keep his identity a secret. Farron is a senior at Hawley College. He hopes to make it into professional soccer after graduation because he needs the money. Soccer brings them together but secrets might pull them apart.
Tore starts out as a hapless royal wanting to get away from the pressures of royal life. I am glad the author made him a serious student and soccer player. The fact he is studying political science makes a lot of sense. I felt like he didn’t have a huge growth curve as much as he had to realize that he is royal and that fact changes the world around him ( I won’t say how the author shows that because it’s a huge spoiler). Right from the beginning the characters talk about privilege which I found nerve wracking after a while. I feel like the author established that well and the repetition added nothing. Farron has a chip on his shoulder. He is a senior and captain of the soccer team. He is focused on getting on a professional soccer team. I like that the author placed Tore in his way to help him see his future more clearly. His family is struggling financially so he works at Walmart to make a little money. He is complicated and is forced to confront his biases and grow as a person.
This story takes place primarily at Hawley College in Ohio. This is a gay for you, first time gay romance. I wasn’t sure at first how I felt about this story. In the end, I like how Tore and Farron grew together. I will definitely read the next book in the series to find out what happens to the rest of Tore’s friends.

The idea behind the book was interesting, a prince goes undercover to attend a US school, the idea being that if nobody knows that he is a prince then they won’t give him special treatment. The prince happens to be really good at football so quickly finds himself on the school team, much to the disgust of the team captain, who has taken an instant dislike to the prince, and when I say instant he decided he didn’t like him as soon as he walked into the locker room.
This wanted to be Red, White and Royal Blue, and I really wanted the author to pull it off but the relationship between the two main characters doesn’t work.

ARC Review
The Prince & The Player by Nora Phoenix
The Prince Pact Book One

This book follows two opposites that happen to be teammates. We have a sunshiney royal in hiding and a jaded soccer captain who have explosive chemistry. It was a relatively predictable read but enjoyable. It was nice and spicy.

Pick this one up if you enjoy:
* MM Romance
* Grumpy/sunshine
* Bi-awakening
* College soccer
* Mistaken identity

MORE BISEXUAL LOVE STORIES PLS AND THANK YOU.

The Prince and the Player is exactly what you'd get if you threw a sunshiney himbo prince, a grumpy soccer captain, and a whole lot of unresolved tension into a blender—and hit purée.

This book is hilarious, sweet, and just the right amount of chaotic. Our undercover Norwegian prince is all charm, wide-eyed wonder, and "Wait, it's *called* soccer?" energy. He’s determined to win over his perpetually annoyed teammate Farron, who has the emotional availability of a brick wall and the patience of a cat stuck in traffic.

Their chemistry? Off the charts. What starts as aggressive banter and cold shoulders quickly turns into surprise kisses and mutual "Wait... am I into this?" panic. Cue the awkward glances, flustered locker room encounters, and late-night soul-searching. And somehow, it’s all both heartwarming and laugh-out-loud funny.

The prince’s identity secret adds a fun layer of tension that had me yelling “TELL HIM!” at my Kindle like I was watching an F1 race. And Farron’s slow defrosting into a soft, swoon-worthy love interest? Chef’s kiss.

If you love opposites attract, hate-to-love, bi-awakenings, or just enjoy watching emotionally constipated athletes fall for royalty, this book delivers. It’s charming, ridiculous, and unexpectedly tender. 10/10 would fake date a prince again.

This ARC was the perfect beach weekend read! A slow-burn rivals to lovers (a favorite trope of mine!) college sports romance, The Prince and The Player was a lot of fun from start to finish. I would recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a grumpy/sunshine dynamic and swoon-worthy romance.

Really enjoyed this one! It was lighthearted and fun just the way I like my romcoms. For fans of Red, White & Royal Blue (which I am) this was a perfect read! It looks like it's the first in a new series 'Prince Pact' and I can say I'll happily read more when they come out!

The premise had me hooked right from the start—four royal friends (who are also princes of different regions) making a pact to live abroad for a year, completely incognito, stripped of their titles, and just... be normal. That setup? 🫶🫶 Chef’s kiss. And this particular line? “I’m determined to win over the one guy who hates me…but I never expected to fall for him.” SOLD 🙌✨.
The Prince And The Player follows Tore, the Prince of Norway, as he settles into an American college campus in Ohio. He dives headfirst into the normal student life: partying (little bit), playing soccer, making friends—and unexpectedly falling for Farron, the grumpy guy with a secretly soft heart. Cue the swoons MUAH 😍🥰.
UGH, this book was so cute, so sweet, and so full of heart. The chemistry between Tore and Farron was delicious—hate to love, grumpy x sunshine, opposites attract, bi-awakening and fiery sparks all rolled into one. I loved watching their story unfold through soccer games, meeting each other’s families, and yes... some very spicy scenes and secret hook ups🔥🥵. It had such a comforting, feel-good vibe that I genuinely devoured every bit of it 💏💫. Also that Epilogue I LOVEDDDDDD IT 🤩.
3.5 stars 🌟
That said, it wasn’t perfect :
The writing didn’t quite sit well with me—maybe because it was my first time reading this author—but at times it felt a bit cringy.
The characters had so much potential, but I found myself wishing they were developed just a little bit more.
And while the story was fun, it was very predictable. Nothing too complex or messy, which can be a good thing, but it made the whole journey feel a bit too easy.
Still, I had a great time reading it, and I’m definitely looking forward to picking up the other books in this series 📚 and what other guys are up to during there normalcy period. There’s just something about royalty trying to be normal that makes my heart happy 😌💙.
💏👑⚽💖
thanks to BOLDWOOD BOOKS and NETGALLEY for the ARC!
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"𝙸'𝚖 𝚒𝚗 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚑𝚒𝚖," 𝙸 𝚜𝚊𝚒𝚍 𝚊𝚕𝚘𝚞𝚍, 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚜 𝚝𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚒𝚐𝚗 𝚘𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚝𝚘𝚗𝚐𝚞𝚎. "𝙸'𝚖 𝚒𝚗 𝚏𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚃𝚘𝚛𝚎."
💏👑⚽💖
𝙰𝚜 𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚜 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝙵𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚘𝚗 𝚋𝚢 𝚖𝚢 𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎, 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝙸 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚖𝚢 𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚒𝚕𝚢 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛.

This was super cute!! I liked that both Farron and Tore had some good personal growth during the book and that their reactions/growth felt authentic. I look forward to reading the other princes' stories!