ARC Review | Tip In

I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Tip In by Josie Mae

Series: Lakeside Green Coyotes #1
Published by Honky Tonk Angels Publishing on July 1, 2025
Genres: Fiction / LGBTQ+ / Gay, Fiction / Romance / General
Format: ARC

In this sapphic romance, a superstar women's college basketball player and a commitment-phobe college student navigate complicated feelings-and busy schedules-after a photo of the two of them goes viral and fans theorize that they're a couple. Maya's goals are simple: keep her grades up so she can go to graduate school, prove to her hometown that she can handle the Colorado cold, and avoid the mess of romantic relationships by keeping things casual with everyone. Theo is on the fast track to becoming the future of women's basketball, and she's been preparing her entire career for it. She just didn't realize that she'd become a celebrity in the process-or that people would care so much about her personal life. When a photo taken of the two of them after a game sparks dating rumors, Maya proposes they lean into it and see how far they can take their inside joke. The arrangement is meant to be easy and no strings attached but secretly, Maya hopes that getting close to Theo means she can get over her crush on her. And Theo hopes that by getting close to Maya, she can win Maya over and make her consider turning their fake fling into something real.

ISBN: 9798992951417

This was a really adorable book! I decided to read it due to the fact that Maya knows nothing about sports, and while I’m completely ignorant of sports, I do like the fact that she’s not super knowledgeable of sports. Sometimes when reading sports romances, I feel lost in the sports parts.

The fake-dating is really just low level social media presence that is friends turned to lovers. It’s not really used outside of social media as all their friends/teammates know they’re not actually dating, although the pining is soooo good!!

Their relationship was really well written and felt real. The fact that Maya is a commitment-phobe due to her mother’s ever-changing relationships makes sense. However, I do love at the end when Maya talks to her mom and her mom’s surprised that Maya felt/thought this way about her mom’s relationships. It’s fascinating how our parents actions may not match their intent. The way the relationship between Maya and Theo plays out and where they end up at the end of the book was adorable.

I’m definitely looking forward to the other books in the series!

Darcy