This was such a fun read! It was romantic, steamy, and gave me all the feels! I couldn’t put it down! Who would wanted to be coached in life and love by a gorgeous rugby player? That’s our MC dilemma and it leads to the most interesting read!

Fake a Chance on Me is a very sweet sports romance between a shy schoolteacher and a notorious rugby player in a small-town setting, loaded with sex-positive dialogue and disability representation. Overall, a three star read for me because while it was faithful to the fake dating/sports romance trope with a few two dimensional villains to further the plot, as the story progressed I was taken by the centering of Gabi's medical condition and focus for her to redefine how it would shape her life. This is why I love Romance novels, because they are almost sneaky in bringing you representation you may never have uncovered in "general fiction" when you thought you were just escaping to a world of Rugby players learning to love. Yes to this novel because Rebecca Chase wanted to write about a woman finding her pleasure with a thick-thighed hero that lit her up so gently, where others had failed her. Yes to the questions Gabi asked herself in realizing her syndrome and finding strength to pivot her life.

Although I hadn't read the first two Bulls Rugby books, it was easy to drop into this world because the rom com tropes were established (not so innocent virgin meets not so guilty playboy) but primarily because a voice note for Lucas is played early on to add exposition about his history and the stakes at hand. I wish I'd had a gentler introduction via dialogue or setting, but the novel progressed into a much stronger second half, an almost cozy read as Gabi learned to trust the people that showed love and acceptance for her, backlit by the characters that would continue to support her past the epilogue. I would definitely go back and read the first two books to learn more about the team and the first two love stories, because I want to see what other layers Rebecca Chase adds to their development, and I really liked the small town setting. Extra points that this novel didn't have much miscommunication, and the fake dating was just a few PR arranged events, because the couple quickly decided to really understand each other and make the dates about trust and open communication, becoming very real.

Thank you Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest review.