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It Had to Be You

Book 1 in the series:Chicago Stars

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"It Had to Be You" in the Chicago Stars series by Susan Elizabeth Phillips follows Phoebe Somerville, who unexpectedly inherits the Chicago Stars football team and becomes the boss of head coach Dan Calebow. The story revolves around the clash of personalities between Phoebe, an airhead owner, and Dan, a stern coach, leading to a romantic entanglement. The plot includes elements of humor, romance, and drama, with a focus on Phoebe's journey of self-discovery and empowerment amidst challenges and unexpected situations.

The writing style of the book is described as funny, sweet, and romantic, with engaging characters that evoke humor and love. The storyline is praised for its entertainment value, showcasing the dynamics between Phoebe and Dan, their chemistry, and the development of their relationship against the backdrop of managing a football team.

Characters:

The characters are complex, with Phoebe challenging stereotypes and Dan undergoing a journey of growth, reflecting their multifaceted personalities.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is engaging and humorous, filled with rich dialogue and vivid descriptions, typical of a romantic comedy.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative centers around Phoebe Somerville, a woman who inherits her estranged father's football team, leading to conflicts and growth with the team's head coach, Dan Calebow.

Setting:

The setting in Chicago is integral, highlighting the football culture and contrasting Phoebe's glamorous world.

Pacing:

The pacing is fast and engaging, weaving humor with emotional depth and character development.
Phoebe Somerville outraged everyone by bringing a French poodle and a Hungarian lover to her father’s funeral. She sat at the gravesite like a fifties movie queen with the small white poodle perched i...

Notes:

The book features Phoebe Somerville, who unexpectedly inherits a football team from her estranged father.
The story unfolds in the setting of Chicago and portrays a contemporary sports romance.
Phoebe's character is often perceived as a bimbo due to her flamboyant personality and looks, but she has deeper layers.
Dan Calebow, the head coach, is depicted as overbearing and sexist, which creates tension between him and Phoebe.
Phoebe has a traumatic past, including emotional abuse from her father and a past sexual assault, which influences her character development.
The romance develops amidst the challenges of running a football team, showcasing a blend of humor and drama.
Readers noted that some scenes, particularly involving Dan's behavior, felt problematic by modern standards.
The book mixes themes of self-discovery, empowerment, and romantic tension, typical of Phillips' writing style in the Chicago Stars series.
Parts of the book and its characters do not age well, with elements reflecting outdated views on gender and relationships.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

It contains triggers related to sexual assault, emotional abuse, and themes of sexism.

Has Romance?

The romantic elements are central to the story, driving the plot and character development throughout.

From The Publisher:

The Windy City isn't quite ready for Phoebe Somerville - the outrageous, curvaceous New York knockout who has just inherited the Chicago Stars football team. And Phoebe is definitely not prepared for the Stars' head coach Dan Celebow, a sexist jock taskmaster with a one-track mind. Celebow is everything Phoebe abhors. And the sexy new boss is everything Dan despises - a meddling bimbo who doesn't know a pigskin from a pitcher's mound.

So why is he drawn to the shameless sexpot like a heat-seeking missile? And why does the coach's good ol' boy charm leave cosmopolitan Phoebe feeling awkward, tongue-tied....and ready to fight?

The sexy, heartwarming, and hilarious "prequel" to New York Times bestselling author Susan Elizabeth Phillips' This Heart of Mine - her sensational bestsellng blockbuster - It Had To Be You is an enchanting story of two stubborn people who believe in playing for keeps.

Ratings (39)

Incredible (6)
Loved It (14)
Liked It (15)
It Was OK (1)
Did Not Like (2)
Hated It (1)

Reader Stats (61):

Read It (42)
Want To Read (11)
Not Interested (8)

2 comment(s)

Loved It
1 month

Well written plot.

 
Did Not Like
5 months

Read it again a decade later and went from loving it to not liking it. You will like this if you like Contemporary Romance done "Harlequin Romance" with a modern (90s-00s) twist.

 
 
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