Andi Arndt? Absolutely YES. Every time YES.

So that's how I ended up listening to the audio version of Score to Settle. I'm so happy too because it was so freaking good.

Harper is chosen to write an article on Jake. THE Jake, the jake that she had a MAJOR crush on in high school but who was two years older than her and was not interested at all. Maybe he won't remember her. HAHAHAHAHA

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture Audio, and the author for the opportunity to listen to and review this book.

Harper get's a surprise assignment to profile NFL superstar Jake Sullivan. There are only two problems. First, that she doesn't know a touchdown from a touchback. And second, that she holds a grudge against Jake for sharing the article she wrote about him in high school that she'd left anonymously in his locker with the entire student body so they could laugh at it. Harper thinks this is her chance to expose the real Jake Sullivan, but she's about to discover she was all wrong about him.

Read if you like:
-High School Crush turned Lover
-Sports Romance
-Off Limits/Secret Relationship
-Grudges
-Flawed Impressions
-She Crushed First Then, He Fell First Now

Score to Settle was such a fun book. I think most of us have something that happened in high school that we would want a chance to do over. I know I do. And Harper got that chance for all of us. She also got the chance to stand up to her ex and alter her relationship with her dad. Okay, so maybe things between Harper and her dad still have a ways to go, but he's starting to change. I loved watching both Jake and Harper letting their walls down as the book progressed. But perhaps the most satisfying part of the book was Jake and his brother finally talking about what happened last season.

I read both the ebook and audio and loved having that dual experience. The audiobook narrators really brought out the emotions for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this audiobook.

First of all, it’s duet narration, so that’s amazing. Like it says, if you are loving the Taylor and Travis story, you will probably like this one. No, she’s not a singer. But they’re both past college adults vs high school or college age.

If I’m going to be picky (and I will because this is my review), I actually felt his voice was too deep for the character.

Overall, really enjoyed it and would recommend to all my football loving ladies.

I received this book as an ALC (audiobook) from NetGalley.

Harper had a crush on the older Jake in High School. To him, she didn't exist...or did she?

They reconnect years later...and their story really begins. If you like Sport Romance, you will likely enjoy this series.

The audiobook was a Duet Narration, by well known narrators, and they did not disappoint.
I would recommend this audiobook/book.

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.5 if it were an option)
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

*Review posted on Goodreads and in FB Groups*

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5/5)

Okay, so Score to Settle was a fun little rollercoaster. Bella North’s writing has that cheeky, tongue-in-cheek vibe that makes even the more chaotic bits entertaining.

The banter? Loved it. The romance? Slow-burn-y with just enough sass to keep me grinning. The pacing, though… sometimes it zoomed ahead and other times it slowed a little like it was on a Sunday stroll. Hence the 3.5 stars.

One thing I really have to shout out though: the narrators. They were brilliant and brought the characters to life, nailed the sass, and made the fun bits even funnier. Definitely bumped up my enjoyment.

Overall, it’s not flawless, but it’s fun, quirky, and definitely worth a read if you like your sports rom-coms with a dash of drama and a heroine who doesn’t always play by the rules.

🌶️🌶️

Thank you NetGalley & Bookouture Audio for letting me read this in exchange for an honest review.

Light and easy story where the characters were easy to root for. Features funny interactions, sweet moments and low drama. AUDIOBOOK ALERT!! Duet narration, I repeat, FANTASTIC duet narration. I loved it.

This fun sports romance about enemies-to-lovers set against the backdrop of the NFL. This book, the first in the Oakwood Ranch series, is a charming and quick read. I would definitely recommend this read.

​The plot is engaging with the development of its two main characters. While the initial reason for the female lead's animosity towards the male lead felt immature, this premise actually allows both characters to show growth throughout the story. Watching them navigate their giid and bad feelings for each other is a satisfying. I appreciated the bit of diversity with the family and friends in the story.

​I was looking for make-up romance scene at the end as that is what you typically expect in a romance. Additionally, I could have done without the Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce references, especially with the female lead wearing red lipstick to the games and sitting in the box with the male lead's mom.

​Despite these minor critiques, Score to Settle is an excellent choice for a cozy night in. I initially picked it up intending to read just a few chapters, but I was so invested that I ended up finishing the entire book in one sitting. I’m already looking forward to the next books in the Oakwood Ranch series.

Score to Settle by Bella North

It is a romance between a football star MMC who has ‘Rhys from ACOTA’ looks (Im sold from here) and sport magazine reporter FMC. They went to the same high school and the their conflict starts from there.

I listened to the audiobook, and from the very beginning I found myself wondering, who is this male narrator? His voice was incredible! Deep, emotional, and completely fitting for the story.
The plot was somewhat expected, but in a good way. It gave me exactly the kind of enjoyable, comforting romance I was looking for.

The chemistry builds gradually, leading to a spicy element later on, but it never felt overwhelming. Overall, it was a fun and engaging listen.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the ALC copy. This is my honest review.

Harper & Jake are forced into 5 weeks together on his family ranch so she can write an article on the “Real Jake”. His reputation is in need of a rehab, and her job security is on the line.
It’s a slow burn but worth it to see their friendship develop first. Harper has to thaw and Jake needs to let his walls down. I loved seeing their preconceived notions crumble as they spent more and more time together.

Also Mama is a gem. She gives me Donna Kelce vibes!

There is a 3rd act breakup and I won’t lie… it made me roll my eyes. The way Jake and Harper never face things head on and lash out at each other got old. I’m choosing to believe they eventually get over doing this in their HEA 😅 the only redemption is it got everything out in the open, including Jake to finally resolve things with his brother.

Overall it was a very cute book and I look forward to more stories from Bella North!

Sean Masters and Andi Arndt narrate this in duet style. Andi is a seasoned pro and was a great Harper. Sean is a new to me voice and his deep timbre fit Jake perfectly. The only critique I have is I wish he would annunciate a little more. Some of the words sounded slurred but it definitely didn’t detract from the story. I listened at 1.25x so maybe it was user error too.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bella North, and Bookouture Audio for the early copy. All thoughts are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for this audio ARC. This was quite painful because of the characters. Harper held on to a long time grudge. It was so childish that I found myself dreaming of this ending. Not for me.

4.5⭐️😍 Thank you Bookouture for this ALC!

I love a duet narration anyway but the narrators for this were both really good!!!!

I loved this story it was fab! Perfect fix for those who love sports romance for fans of things such as the windy city series but with American football!

I loved the characters, the plot, the spice 😍
Jake is the perfect book boyfriend!!

Will 100% be recommending this to my booktok friends!!!
🏈🩷

TROPES I LOVED:
🌶️ Enemies-to-lovers
🌶️ Forced proximity
🌶️ Sports romance
🌶️ Grumpy sunshine
🌶️ Slow burn
🌶️ Workplace romance (sports star 🏈 vs journalist 🖋️)
🌶️ Found family
Review:
Bella North nailed it with this one. I adored this story—it gave me total Never Been Kissed vibes with the newspaper/journalist angle, and I was hooked from the start.
The audiobook was a standout! The dual narration was beautifully done, and honestly? Hearing Jake's voice in my ears was a full-on experience. The narrators brought so much emotion and chemistry—it made the story hit even harder.
Now let’s talk characters:
Jake is so much more than a star football player. He’s compassionate, grounded, and deeply invested in helping others, especially kids dealing with loss. That man has a massive heart, and it showed in all the best ways.
Harper stole my heart too. I loved her resilience, her passion, and her slow journey back to love. That said, I do wish she’d stood up for herself sooner—especially when it came to her dad. Her insecurities were understandable but tough to watch at times.
Overall, this was a sweet, heartfelt, and totally swoony romance. If you’re into sports romances with substance and chemistry, definitely give this one a shot.
And the audiobook? Absolute 🔥🔥🔥. Highly recommend!

Sadly, this one didn’t quite work for me. I had two main struggles: the premise and the audiobook narration.

On the story side, I had a hard time suspending disbelief—how could someone be best friends with a person in high school, yet none of that friend’s family recognize her later on? It started the book off on a shaky note, and the writing didn’t quite pull me back in, especially with the reliance on miscommunication and a third-act breakup. An author recently mentioned to me that publishers are becoming less likely to accept romances that hinge on miscommunication without real weight or resolution, since readers are less tolerant of it—and I definitely felt that here.

As for the audiobook, the narration by Andi Arndt and Sean Masters didn’t fit the characters for me. Their voices sounded much older than the ages of the characters, and the production itself felt less polished than what I usually expect from this publisher.

That said, if you’re a fan of sports romances and you’re simply looking for something light, fun, and a little “popcorn-y,” this could still be a good fit—especially with its September 10 release, just in time for football season.

I was fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC from Bookouture via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.

How I Rate
Because I mostly read ARCs, I focus on how I think fellow readers with similar tastes will respond. I sometimes round up or down based on pacing, prose, or overall impact, and I try to keep my personal preferences from weighing too heavily.

⭐️ 1 Star – Finished, but not for me; I never DNF ARCs.
⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars – Struggled due to writing, content, or editing issues.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars – Decent read with untapped potential; recommend with some reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars – Really enjoyed it and would recommend for several reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – Exceptional; lingers in my mind well after reading. A story I’d gladly revisit.

Thank you Net gallery for this ARC
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Score to Settle, a romance book,
where Harper,a journalist trying to keep her job, is sent on a mission for 5 weeks to try and find out the truth about the famous football player, Jake, who is known about only two things : football and woman. But there is only one problem, Harper kneaw Jake before the fame since High school and she wants her revenge.

I think the narrators and the story/characters really fit together. I could really imagine the character sounding that way and you can really feel the story while listening to it. For me the pacing was really good and I Love how It's a dual narrated audiobook.Jake and Harper really fit together and I wish there was more of there highschool flashback. I find that in the ending that the both characters find peace and understanding to themselves really impotent. I really liked the side character and can't wait for the second book that is coming out in January.(And maybe we get a book about James mama and dad).

Enemies to lovers
Small town
Forced proximity
Football player MMC
Journalist FMC

Duet Narration- Sean Masters & Andy Arndt
Fantastic narration. Loved them together.

Jake is a star football player that had a reputation that doesn’t paint him in the best light. Sports magazine assigns a journalist to do a piece on him and he isn’t thrilled. It could be good for his image tho…

Harper is a junior journalist on probation period at the magazine that she fudged her resume to get. She gets the assignment for the article on Jake. She is not happy about it, why? Because she hates him. Back in high school he was a jerk and unknowingly broke her heart.

Spending 5 weeks living with and interviewing you ex crush who is known as a playboy and who broke your heart in high school? Sure why not. What could go wrong?

This is an addicting book. I loved these characters so much

I loved every moment of listening to this book. The story is swoon worthy, the characters are relatable and the spice is *chefs kiss*.
The narrator’s were brilliant, I love a good duet narration and this one fully hit the mark.
I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Thank you for letting have the chance to read this amazing ARC book and I loved every single about this book!!! It was beautiful written sports enemies to lovers!!!

Score To Settel was everything I needed it to be.

Harper is a sports reporter at a new job. While in a probationary period. She gets a chance to write a piece on the Playboy football tight end. What she does not tell her editor... She was in love with him in high school, but he broke her heart.

Jake is a tight end in the NFL. He has a playboy reputation. That reputation could cost him his career. He has 5 weeks to get it together, since Harper will shadow him for her

As someone who loves football, it was a great story.

Harper's character is so relatable, and Jake is HOT!

-Slow Burn

- forced proximity

enemies to lovers

-found family

📖 5 🌟
🎧 4.5🌟
📆 Release date September 10th, 2025
Audiobook review:
Duet Narration: Andi Arndt & Sean Masters
Good voice differentiation. The only ones that didn't have very much differentiation were Mama and Harper. Overall the narrators brought great personality and emotion to all of the characters.
I personally found the pacing to be just a little slow. I increased it to 1.25x on my player and found it to be just right for myself.
Each chapter and section is noted making the flow of the book easy to follow and kept the story moving forward quickly.
🏈 Journalist x Football star
🏈 Grumpy x Sunshine
🏈 Forced proximity
🏈 Second chance
🏈 Found Family
🏈 Spicy 🔥
I would definitely recommend this book as an audiobook! ❤️
I definitely look forward to reading/buying future books by Bella North.
Thank You to NetGalley, Bookouture, and Bella North for an ARC of this audiobook. 📖🎧❤️

Wow.
I honestly loved this book, the character development from start to finish was incredible. It was a slow burn which at first I wasn’t sure about but once I was hooked that was it, I was invested. I could feel the tension through the screen between the characters and the spice!! Had me kicking my feet. Obsessed. While I loved everything about the story I would’ve loved to see abit more into the relationship further in the future aswell as exploring some of the relationships with the side characters. Overall- A really nice, spicy and easy read.