Give me all the queer books forever. You can never go wrong with a queer book and this is another one that everyone needs to add to thier list.

This isn’t my usual go to for books but I did enjoy this.

This story is really well done having both povs to see how the relationship grows… this is the perfect book for lovers of Royal Romances and Sports Romances.

Big thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC!

Thank you to Nora Pheonix, Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Firstly, how adorable was this? I absolutely loved the relationships in this book, specifically between Tore, the Norwegian Prince and other members of his royal family. The close knit and supportive group dynamic was wonderful and I enjoyed all of their encounters.

There was quite a bit of tension between Tore and the American team captain, Farron. Farrow clearly had a chip on his shoulder regarding people that come from a place of wealth and privilege and as the story unwinds, we discover exactly why and I began to empathise with him. The grumpy/sunshine dynamic was definitely strong between Tores constant enthusiasm and Farrons disgruntledness and I enjoyed watching Farrons bias thaw the more he interacted with Tore.

I personally would have preferred a little more tension. Both characters believe they are straight and there has been no previous thoughts or questions about their sexuality, so it felt like their attraction was a little quick and unexplained. I feel like if at least one of them had at least acknowledged their confusing feelings (in more depth) then the romantic transition would've been more authentic. However, I did completely enjoy their romance once it started and how hard both fell for each other. There was a sweet, nervous and innocent energy about both Tore and Farron and having them explore that together was one of my favourite aspects about the story.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a sweet, bi-awakening story that will leave you smiling and kicking your feet.

Thank you to Netgalley and the UK publishers for an Advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This gave everything I was hoping it would. It was cute, spicy at times, and had such a good feel to it.

The characters had motivations, which could have been explored more, and the dialogue was funny at times and believable. The story is fairly predictable but that gives it a cosy feel.

2.5 Stars

I saw the name and title and that it was similar to Red, White, and Royal Blue and immediately wanted to read it. Even better it’s about a soccer player and my bf plays soccer hehe. I was surprised to find out that Nora Phoenix already has many books published! They also primarily write MM gay romance.

Unfortunately, though the book wasn’t horrible but I wouldn’t say it was good. The only similarity it has with Red White and Royal Blue is that one MMC is American and the other MMC is a Royal. That’s where the similarities stop…he’s not a crazy important royal.

The big dilemma in this book isn’t even that he’s a royal or that the public will care or their teammates but that the American hates rich ppl. In fact, the American is soooo mad at the Royals privilege and his life experiences that it gets too repetitive and frankly annoying.

I genuinely don’t know why the main guys liked each other. They both claim to eb straight and barely talk then boom the American basically tries to fight him over cologne and then grabs him to kiss him. Once again over and over again money comes up. blah blah blah

The amount of dialogue bothered me. I swear every sentence in this book has quotation marks. This book could be vastly improved by adding 100 pages.

Lets get to the spicy stuff. Sorry if you are my family reading this review.

I laughed at the detail that one is not circumcised. Not because that’s a big deal but because the way the author wrote it in was awkward. Like the other guy touches his dick and they discuss not being circumcised and one of them runs away and stops the spicy time. Just very awkward over all. Made it seem like it was a problem then its never brought up again.

THEY MOVE FAST. It just goes straight to everything.

I’ve also never read a book where they constantly reiterate that they are straight and are in such denial.

Honestly, I recommend reading Rachel Reid instead. This book will do well on kindle unlimited since it is short so it can be a quick read. Will it see success to the levels of Red, White, and Royal Blue in print? I don’t think so. It would need to be longer and have more in terms of a story where its believable that they like each other for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

The premise is fantastic, but the writing feels really, really amateurish. I've read other Nora Phoenix books and not had that feeling, so not sure what it is with this one, but the writing and in particular the dialogue does not hold up the story well, there's a lot of filler content, Tore's oddly formal way of speaking just doesn't feel real at all, nor do his interactions with his friend group of royal kids, the story essentially vacilates between soccer and sex, they are allegedly at a university but there is zero mention of Tore actually, you know, going to school..... Sweet idea - love the 'royal undercover' trope, but poor execution. Sorry, this one just didn't work well.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

How best to describe this book? Think The Prince & Me meets Red, White & Royal Blue. This book is on point with the enemies-to-lovers trope, and the banter between our MMCs is fantastic. Too often, the banter and/or the angst takes too long to build without a payout, but I didn’t feel that way with The Prince and the Player as the pace of the story was quick. My only criticism of the MMCs is that while the banter was good, Farron skipped straight past brooding and was just aggressively angry the entire story, and there was no real development of a relationship other than going from enemies right to lovers. Most enemies-to-lovers tropes have a period where a relationship starts to form before the eventual realization that there are feelings involved.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it. It was also my first introduction to Nora Phoenix, and I look forward to reading more from the author.

This double bi-awakening romance is a gem, and I devoured every page.

The Norwegian prince, Tore, jumps at the chance to escape royal life and spend a year undercover as a college student in the U.S., thrilled to make the school’s soccer team. But team captain, Farron, dislikes him from the start, and no amount of charm can change that until their heated rivalry takes an unexpected turn into a kiss that neither of them saw coming. With both men questioning their feelings and attraction, Tore is falling hard, but there’s one problem: Farron has no idea who he really is. If the truth comes out, Tore risks losing everything in this royally romantic, enemies-to-lovers college romance.

Farron and Tore’s dynamic is full of tension. Tore is endlessly sweet, while Farron can be downright infuriating at times. His treatment of Tore had me fuming, but their emotional struggles were written with such depth that I couldn’t put the book down. The angst was impeccable. The spice was on point.

One of my biggest frustrations in romance is when a character hesitates to be brave, and this book had me screaming at the pages sometimes. But that emotional turmoil only made the journey more gripping. Quick, engaging, and sexy, The Prince and the Player was an excellent read. I can’t wait to see where this series goes next!

I rated this book 4.5 stars (rounded up to 5 for this review). Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this eARC!

Absolutely loved this book so happy I got this as an arc the cover is amazing I loved the banter between the mmc’s I liked how fleshed out the characters are with their stories and personalities it reminded me a lot of red white and royal blue but had its own charm and can’t wait to see what the author puts out In the future 🥰

I am always happy to be able to read and promote any lGBTQIA books when the opportunity arrives as there’s still too few being published in 2025 and there are areas of society that frown on their existence.

The Prince and the Player is a fun MM romance that is exactly what the title implies - a Norwegian prince finds himself drawn to the captain of his football team, despite never having any attraction to men before, It reminded me a little of Red White & Royal Blue in how charming Tore, our prince is to everyone he encounters no matter their background. I confess to being a lover of the enemies to lovers trope and it’s especially delicious when it’s in MM romance and Tore and Farron have a dynamic I was loving from their first encounter = there may well be hate from Farron, and in it’s own way, very understandable but you cannot help but be aware as his best friend does, that if you cannot stop talking about someone at every moment? Then it’s probably not hate after all but curiosity.

Oh how I giggled to myself because I knew something that the grumpy, and fiercely loyal captain couldn't see… that love was going to come a-knocking at his door.

There is so much positivity in this book in regards to acceptance of sexuality that I wish was representative of gay/bi-sexual men in football but sadly this is fiction and we can pretend that the stigma isn’t still there. I was wary initially of how our two now lovers would be accepted and Nora does indeed deliver that joy across not only teammates but the Norwegian royal family of the tale.

This is a perfect book one for the series, and I am so glad I got to curl up and read their story which has everything I think you could ask for - the only thing I would have liked is maybe to see more of Tore’s friends and perhaps a little joy for Farron’s family as the book came to it’s end. No spoilers of course but that would have been the cherry on the top for me.

⚽ Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the early copy!

A secret identity, an enemies-to-lovers slow burn, and a double bi-awakening? The Prince and the Player delivers everything you want in a royally romantic college romance! With grumpy/sunshine energy, sizzling tension, and plenty of heart, this book is a delightful blend of humor, spice, and unexpected vulnerability.

👑 THE STORY:
Being a prince might seem glamorous, but for [Prince’s Name] of Norway, it’s more of a gilded cage. That’s why he jumps at the chance to study undercover at an American college for a year—just a normal student, no royal obligations. Even better? He makes the soccer team (sorry, football team).

The only problem? Team captain Farron hates him on sight.

No matter how hard the prince tries to win him over, Farron isn’t buying the charm offensive. Until their heated rivalry turns into something else entirely—a kiss neither of them expected.

Now, the tension between them isn’t just about soccer. As their fiery clashes turn into something far more complicated, both are left questioning everything—especially when the prince’s secret threatens to change everything.

🔥 TROPES:
✔ Enemies to Lovers – The best kind of tension, with plenty of fireworks.
✔ Grumpy x Sunshine – A brooding, intense team captain vs. an effortlessly charming prince.
✔ Opposites Attract – One is all heart, the other all strategy.
✔ Bi Awakening – A beautifully written journey of self-discovery for both MCs.
✔ Secret Identity – Because nothing raises the stakes like hiding that you're literal royalty.
✔ All the Spice – The slow burn pays off in every way.

✨ WHAT I LOVED:
⚽ The Banter & Chemistry – Every conversation is charged, whether it’s heated arguments or something much more intense.
👑 Emotional Depth – Beyond the romance, this story explores identity, expectations, and the pressure of living up to others' standards.
🔥 The Slow Burn – The tension builds until it explodes, and it's absolutely worth the wait.
💖 Farron’s Journey – Watching this tough, guarded athlete slowly unravel is so satisfying.

💙 FINAL THOUGHTS:
Nora Phoenix masterfully delivers an irresistible romance packed with heart, heat, and humor. If you love enemies-to-lovers, grumpy/sunshine tension, and bi-awakening love stories, The Prince and the Player is a must-read!

The Prince and the Player By Nora Phoenix

4/5 Stars 🌟
2/3 🌶️🌶️

Wow! My first proper smut book! I’m growing up apparently haha

Honestly this book was super good! Tore and Farron were two very polar opposite characters with the same passion for football/soccer and definitely ended up being the enemy to lovers trope.

I loved the fact they both come from very different backgrounds or that rich and poor lifestyle, I’m not a big football fan but honestly this actually made me understand football or should I say Soccer better than anyone else could ever.

I found Farron to be very ‘judging a book by its cover’ at first but definitely throughout tried to open up and see Tore’s life through a different light, while I adored Tore’s approach and respect to Farrons family and very different lifestyle.

The sexy time aspects are good and not too overwhelming! The romance was cute and over all I really suggest reading and seeing what you think for yourselves!

What I liked: The quick pacing of the story, it was the first book this month that I did not want to put down. I loved all the soccer and the team aspect. The tension of the captain of the team and the new guy, hidden identity of the prince, fish out of water vibes. And when they finally start to soften to each other instead of the angry resentment of Farron, I love when enemies get soft for each other.

However. While this book as a fun quick read, I did have some issues with it. My first and biggest issue with this book is the cover. I know this will not bother most people, but Tore, The Norwegian Prince, is described as being BLOND, white blond hair, striking light blue eyes. The soccer player, our Captain, Farron, is described throughout the book as being brunette with brown eyes. On the cover of the book the Prince is brunette with brown eyes and the soccer player is blond hair & blue eyes. This bothers me so much. I know, it's not even that big of a deal.

Another thing was how angry not grumpy, ANGRY, Farron was. He is supposed to be the Captain of the team and that should come with welcoming a new player not hating them on sight just because 1. He's new and 2. He seems rich. I know it all gets explained but this just made Farron come off as mean and difficult to like at the beginning of the book, it took a lot to warm up to him as the reader.

Once again, I still found this a very fun quick read, very binge-able, but not perfect.

I finished this in less than 24 hours! This was such a fun read! I’m really hoping the rest of the princes get books too because I am dying for more! The characters are so fun and I love the tension between them!! I had butterflies at times and laughed out loud at others.

A little Prince & the Pauper trope.
I really wanted to like this but Farron has no redeeming qualities. He hates Tore on sight. Just b/c of the jeans he's wearing and his hair. It continues for a good bit and I think the main issue I have is that Farron is the captain and he lets his animosity carry over to the team. I didn't find him likeable at all. Even with his very thin background on why he doesn't like "rich" people. He seems so self centered and I hated that Tore liked him at all.

The other thing that bugged me is that Tore (Prince) is mentioned as having BLOND hair no less than 100 times, yet the cover has him with dark hair and Farron is mentioned as having DARK hair and the "Player" on the cover is blond. AUTHOR stand up for your self. You know what your characters look like, you wrote them. Have the cover artist change and reflect your work. Or go in and change all your work. Either way, make the change.

The prince and the player was a quick and enjoyable read for me with two fantastic main characters. I thought this was a pretty realistic progression from animosity to love (especially compared to some wild books I’ve read) and I really got caught up in Farron and Tore’s story. There wasn’t much spice, which kind of surprised me, but sometimes it’s just not needed. It’s pretty obvious that Tore’s buddies will get their own books and I’m on board! Four stars!

3.5 ⭐

Before I begin I want to thank Netgally for giving me this ARC.

This basically is a red white and royal blue dupe except for the fact that Farron didn't know that Tore was a prince. It was fun to read and I really liked how the football (I refuse to call it soccer) part was incorporated in the storyline. The funny thing is, I'm Dutch, so when I read certain things, I was like, "Yes, that's so true." For example, the faking after a tackle and then a few minutes later you're totally fine. That happens all the time. And I just knew the moment I read Johan Cruyff that the author had to be Dutch, and I was right.

Also quick sidenote the cover just doesn't make sense to me. Shouldn't it be switched? Tore the prince was the one with blond hair right? So I just don't get why Farron is the one in the formal outfit.

Overall I really enjoyed reading this and I recommend it if you liked Red White and Royal Blue.

This had a slow start for me. It took a bit to get into this one, which ultimately made me remove a star, but once I got into it, I really enjoyed it. It's campy and predictable but still enjoyable. Sometimes, I just want a nice feel-good romance that doesn't have to be a deep read. This is that read. It follows the expected formula and is still a fun read. I do wish more had been done to develop characters. Aside from the main two, I really can't tell you anything about anyone elses personality. I'm a sucker for solid side characters, too, and this just didn't have that at all. It was a fun read but not a love.

This is a delightful, low angst romance between two college soccer teammates, one of whom just so happens to be a prince. The book kicks off with four European princes commiserating on their desire to just be normal for a while and concocting a plan to ask their families to allow them to attend college in the US for a year. The Prince and the Player centers around Tore, the fourth in line prince to the Norwegian throne.

Cut to Tore joining the soccer team at a college in Ohio and a boat load of satisfying tropes with his love interest, Farron - prince in disguise, enemies to lovers to friends/lovers, rivals to lovers, teammate romance, poor hero & rich hero, etc. To be honest, I loved each and every trope as they never overwhelmed the plot and felt right for the characters. The story kept moving as the two main characters eventually became respected teammates who were on their way to the national competition and fell in love.

The only change I would have made was to show Tore and Farron becoming closer friends, not just lovers. They definitely open up to each other emotionally later in the book, but often their physical connection takes precedence over their emotional connection. I would have loved more time seeing them connecting and supporting each other.

All in all, this was a delightful read. Low angst, great heat between the characters, and a satisfying story all around. I will definitely read the next books in the series, sure to follow our remaining three European princes on their adventures to happily ever after.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC!

I really debated my star rating for this book, and settled on 4 for Goodreads but 3.5 in reality. It really went up and down in my head as I read the book, never totally sure how I would settle on the experience.

The bad was mostly the pacing. I could never tell how much time had passed, and it felt like it really rocketed along. I still can’t believe the main plot takes place over six months (if I’m even right about that; I’m not American so I’m not totally sure when Spring Break normally is, as I know it’s different where I’m from). Some of the writing was a bit awkward as well, and a character is referenced as looking at People of Walmart’s social media – which doesn’t exist anymore, and hasn’t in a long time. I assumed this took place in 2024/2025, but the last time anyone looked at People of Walmart was probably 2016.

The good… is kind of also the bad, but I couldn’t stop laughing and joy will always triumph over logic. Once the miscommunications and difficulties hit, the characters make choices that are so outlandishly bizarre I started laughing so hard that someone came to check on me to make sure I was okay. There’s also a Pyramus and Thisbe scene and… well, if you know, you know.

So, while there was definitely some awkward pacing and characters, the plot was so delightfully bonkers that I really enjoyed myself for the entire time I read the book, especially the last 30% or so.