Bestselling romance novelist Tessa Bailey (Unfortunately Yours; Hook, Line, and Sinker; It Happened One Summer) is back with the launch of another hot and charming duology, Fangirl Down, this one set in the world of sports. Josephine Doyle has long been the biggest fan of professional golfer and bad boy Wells Whitaker, but she's about to take a break. For one thing, Wells has made it very clear that he doesn't want anyone believing in him anymore; for another, her family pro shop is nearly underwater after a storm hits her Floridian hometown. But when Wells shows up to offer Josephine a chance to save her shop if she caddies for him in a comeback tournament, she can't say no. As Josephine coaches Wells into believing in himself again, Wells is determined to show her that she's worth cheering for, too.
Like all of Bailey's rom-coms, Fangirl Down has its fair share of spicy scenes that will satisfy romance readers. But Bailey's wit is what's really on display here. The banter between Josephine and Wells doesn't just feel effortless; it surprises with laugh-out-loud moments that capture their slightly silly, always-teasing sense of humor. Whether talking about Josephine's terrible taste in muffins or Wells's stubborn inability to answer any question, the dialogue avoids ever getting too corny by being wonderfully specific and charming. And with a more-than-average awareness of how the romantic relationship at the center of the book can be more egalitarian, Fangirl Down proves to be as thoughtful about the premise's inherent power dynamics as it is funny. --Alice Martin, freelance writer and editor