Fangirl Down 🏌

By Tessa Bailey.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“I just…have this pretty intense need to make sure everyone knows you’re very fucking important. Okay? Could you kindly just go along with it?”

Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey is a funny, heartfelt, and wonderfully addictive sports romance that completely surprised me in the best possible way.

The story follows Wells Whitaker, once golf’s brightest rising star, who now seems better known for his temper and disastrous performances than for winning tournaments. His career is hanging by a thread, his confidence is gone, and the only constant in his life seems to be one loyal supporter always cheering from the sidelines.

That supporter is Josephine Doyle. No matter how badly Wells plays, Josephine is always there encouraging him. While he’s scowling and smashing clubs, she is smiling and believing in him. But when Wells storms away from the sport and quits in spectacular fashion, Josephine finally gives up and goes home.

That moment quickly becomes the biggest mistake of Wells’s life.

Determined to turn things around, Wells shows up at Josephine’s door with an unusual proposal. He wants her to become his caddy and help him rebuild his career, promising to split any prize money if she helps him get back to winning form. With Josephine’s own life and finances in turmoil, the offer is hard to refuse.

What follows is an entertaining journey across golf courses and hotel rooms as the two travel together, slowly building trust and discovering there is much more beneath each other’s surface. Wells might be grumpy and rough around the edges, but Josephine’s warmth, humour, and optimism balance him perfectly.

One of the most enjoyable elements of the book is their dynamic. The grumpy sunshine pairing works brilliantly here, and their banter is sharp, playful, and full of chemistry.

Wells’s gruff personality hides a surprisingly thoughtful and caring side, while Josephine’s loyalty and kindness make her impossible not to root for.

I went into this book slightly hesitant because, if I am honest, golf is not exactly the most exciting sport to me. But somehow this story manages to make it genuinely fun and engaging. The tournaments, travel, and competitive tension add great energy to the plot while keeping the romance front and centre.

Another aspect I really appreciated was Josephine’s diabetes being included in the story in a respectful and thoughtful way. It felt like a natural part of her character rather than a plot device, and it added another layer of realism to her life and experiences.

The character development for both Wells and Josephine is fantastic. Watching Wells slowly rebuild his confidence while learning to open up emotionally makes his journey incredibly satisfying. At the same time, Josephine grows stronger and more confident in her own life and choices.

It is rare for me to finish a book and struggle to think of any negatives, but that was genuinely the case here. This book is funny, romantic, emotional, and thoroughly entertaining from start to finish.

If you enjoy sports romance, grumpy-sunshine dynamics, great banter, and characters you cannot help but fall in love with, Fangirl Down is an absolute must read!

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