Overall Grade: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
A blurb will get you every. single. time. In the case of Lex Martin’s Tight Ends & Tiaras, I was intrigued immediately. I’m a sucker for a surprise kid/single parent romance. For that matter, I’m a sucker for a sports romance and a fake relationship between friends. Martin’s story has so much to love about it just from its trope selection that you can’t help but fall in love with her characters, Ben and Sienna. In fact, there is more to this story beyond those basic tropes, and you find yourself captivated by their journey. There is a bit of a grump/sunshine trope. Ben’s life has been filled with trauma, and he’s taken most of his first twenty-something years to process it. Through his story and Sienna’s, Martin interrogates and highlights the impact of early familial trauma on people. There is a lot of discussion about mental health and the positive impact of therapy and meditation. Quite honestly, this is a central theme throughout Martin’s Tight Ends & Tiaras.
Additionally, there is quite a bit of delicious story in Martin’s newest book. There is the ongoing attraction between Ben and Sienna, and the “will they/won’t they” saga. Martin writes a steamy, spicy story that ratchets up the heat of this book, but there is no real promise of forever until almost the end. Even more, Sienna’s story features the impact of familial expectations on one’s sense of self. Through these heavy messages, Martin deftly infuses humor, sweetness, and enough spice to keep her readers invested in the story.
I enjoyed my reading experience with Lex Martin’s Tight Ends & Tiaras. If out-of-control baby mamas, cheating boyfriends, and an unexpected couple born out of a fake relationship and friendship is your jam, then don’t miss out on this book.
In love and romance,
Professor A
Professor Romance 