It Had to Be You

So much better than I could have hoped for! From the opening line, "Phoebe Somerville outraged everyone by bringing a French poodle and a Hungarian lover to her father's funeral" I knew this was going to be a good one, but I did not expect how deep this book would go, how much pain and darkness it held, and how much it contrasted to the typical popular and predictable m/f mold nowadays
With a strong, brilliant, and funny female lead, her good-hearted hero, multiple (and brief) points of view that let us get into a few secondary characters' heads, and a lovable team on and off the field, this book kept me in from start to finish, made me smile and laugh and grow warm, and I highly recommend this gem!

First off, I have to say that I hate this cover. There. I said it and I know I'm not the first, but I just had to do it. On to the review...

After the first chapter or two, I wasn't sure if I wanted to keep reading this book. Phoebe's past was heartbreaking and her way of dealing with the trauma of her past seemed really sad. Of course it didn't help that her own father was emotionally abusive, or that he didn't believe her when she told him she had been raped. The crime went unreported and she suffered alone, holding all that pain inside for years.

As the book progressed and we learn more about her years as an adult, I became more interested in the book, i.e., the football team, the players, Dan's coaching and how Phoebe was handling show more her new position as owner of the team. It turned out to be a pretty good read. I even softened toward's Dan after he stopped being so hard on Phoebe. It was sweet to watch the transformation of both Dan and Phoebe as they lowered their defenses and began to trust each other. It wasn't easy for them. Believe it or not, a sports romance actually brought a tear to my eye.

This is a pretty special couple and there is a ton of laugh out loud humor blended into the story. It's a book worth reading, but to get to the good stuff, you have to get through the tough times....kind of like life. show less

Oh. My. God. My first read by this author and - I loved it! Phoebe Somerville is the new owner of the Chicago Stars NFL team that she inherited from her father. She knows nothing about football and could care less about the team. But Dan Calebow, the team's demanding head coach is not about to let his team fall apart because it's deceased owner gave it to his (seemingly) bimbo, nitwit, bombshell daughter. Admittedly, I am no football fan, but this book has given me a new appreciation for it! This book was so much fun to read, the chemistry between Dan and Phoebe sizzles off the pages. I laughed, I had tears in my eyes at one point, it was exciting at the end, this book ran the gamut of emotions and had it all! I can't wait to see what show more the rest of the series is like! Fabulous! show less

I loved this book!!!! I was a fan of Susan Elizabeth Phillips from the first book of hers I read and I have loved everyone of them, this being no exception. In "It Had To Be You" Phoebe Sommerville is a knock out socialite who inherits the Chicago Stars football team from her father who wishes to control her even in death. Phoebe, who knows nothing of football (she doesn't even like the sport) instnatly clashes with Stars head coach, Dan Calebow. This is a story of Phoebe breakng out of the chains that she has set herself in after a tramatic incident when she was young and Dan learning how to listen to his true feelings without the filter of a not so hot childhood. Oh, and it's about football!! There is love, lust, romance, laughter, show more and even some suspense. I will never tire of Susan Elizabeth Phillips's hilarious yet touching love stories. I am happy to have this book in particular join those that I would read over and over again. That is whenever I haven't loaned the book to friends!! show less

Not your everyday beach read. Why? Because the author managed to give me a fantastic main character in Phoebe. Loved her story, her strengths and her weaknesses. Even liked Dan, but until later, once he got his head out of his ass.

So glad I stumbled onto this author and look forward to read more of her books.

This was a bit more chick-lit-y than I generally prefer, but I liked it overall. There some really great angst built around the facade Phoebe had created to help cope with being raped. The resolution of that Big Misunderstanding was a bit anticlimactic and not nearly as angsty as I had hoped, but there was a great bit of protectiveness from Dan that I really appreciated. Overall I liked it. I'd read other books from this author if they cater to my preferred tropes.

This is the first novel from Susan Elizabeth Phillips that I've ever read.

I really don't know why I avoided her books so long, I guess that this whole time I had the wrong image about her and her writing.
The story was just fine - I was shocked when I found out about Phoebe's struggles from the past, and how she tried to fight against her own demons in her own way, presenting something that helped her mask the whole insecurity all those years before she met Dan.

But, don't get fooled by her 'blonde bimbo' look - Phoebe is far from those kinds of women.
I am amazed by how charming, simple and honest Phoebe was. Such an adorable girl.
And the bond that SEP created between her and her half-sister - awwww!
Dan was my least favorite show more character, I'm definitely not fond of him but I have to admit that they were a very cute couple.

All in all, it was great to read something like this for a change.
3.8/5 show less