What do You think about It Had To Be You (2002)?
WOW! What an amazing read, and although I don't often read sports-romance books (especially football..hey I'm Canadian if anything, I'd read a romance with hockey..Eh?..LOL) this was really good!This happened a lot while reading this story I really, really, really liked Dan. I loved his complexity, strength, loyalty, gentleness, and his own desire for a HEA.He is not what I'm used to in a 'hero', but he was written beautifully! He just seemed SO real, with many layers.I was wonderful to read how frustrated, and angry Dan would get when trying to talk to, or even relate to Phoebe .. and Phoebe, you were AMAZING! Your upbringing and what happened to you broke my heart, but GIRRRL.. YOU. ARE. A. SURVIVOR! You did what you had to do in order to survive and what amazed me about your character was that you did not become cold and bitter, but if anything you were insecure (but never let it show), and yet still so strong and able to adapt to any and all situations brilliantly! All you ever wanted was to be accepted and loved. LOVED THIS STORY! Definitely one of my favorites!
—Lady Heather
I can’t say I really liked this book because it’s too chick-litty for me and I really dislike chick-lit so maybe for the chick-lit reader this is a good book. I didn’t like the the hero or the heroine. The hero said too many mean and downright cruel things to the heroine that I don’t think could be taken back let alone forgiven. He also flew off the handle like some psycho for no reason. The heroine had too many issues and her whole switch in persona at the end was just too unbelievable. There is way too much football filler in this novel too. I like a good sports romance but sometimes this went overboard. I guess you could say that it added to the story but it did nothing for the romance, apart from take time away from it (!) There is the odd bit of banter between Dan and Phoebe but there wasn’t enough to make me like their relationship. I enjoy a good love/hate romance, here however the heroine was emotionally hurt one time too many so I found it hard to believe that she could love Dan who should have been told to go and **bleep bleep** himself from the get-go :) The novel also has a very dated 90s feel to it –lots of references to AIDS, homophobia and having gay friends which just sounded too preachy to me. As for the other characters they were pretty good. The side story about the deranged father was very typical so that was a headache to read and I ended up skimming most of it.The last chapter was the nicest of the whole story and somewhat moving/funny but the epilogue was that gooey schmaltzy kind of drivel that I hate. Like I said, if you like chick-lit/romance then you may like this book. The writing is good overall (way too much narration in some parts though). It’s a toss-up between 2.5 - 3 stars for me. It’s just not my kind of read –-and a good thing to what with the number of books in this series (lol!)
—Eastofoz
Isn’t it nice when a book you read could not just make you laugh at some lines, but can make you smile almost all throughout the book (exemption are the pages where either or both major protagonists are in distress of course) and just as you are about to close it? But then, it just hits you that it’s over and then you’re wistfully happy?It Had To Be You just has to be that book. Phoebe Somerville, blonde hottie, has just inherited a football team. And she doesn’t even know the its in football. It sounds like a complete joke, but it isn’t. If her team, the Chicago Stars doesn’t win the championship, the team goes to her evil cousin. The team really doesn’t matter to her, since she wants her father to spite her father and make him roll in his grave. But then Coach Dan Calebow, hot muscled god, decides to step in and set things straight with Phoebe. If she doesn’t, all of the team’s hard work goes down the drain. At first, for Phoebe, handling the team, was a burden. But as the days passed by, the team became more of a family and helping them win became a necessity and not an obligation. So in order to make her father go ballistics in heaven or hell or wherever he is, Phoebe decides to do what her father never expected her to do. To win and keep the team, for life. The book is great, but for me came short just a little. I honestly have no idea how American football goes, and I know a bit of soccer, but they’re two different things. So I had trouble imagining the sports parts, but I could feel the testosterone in the air as I was reading.
—Jasmin
