BREAKING NEWS: The Bad Boy of Baseball, Maddox Paige, is totally and utterly whipped. Okay, that might not be the headlines in the newspaper this morning, but it’s the reality of my current situation. It all started a month ago when I received a call from my best friend, Kinsley. She got a new job in Chicago and needed a place to stay. I’ve known the girl since I was five, what harm would it be … harm would it be to have her stay at my place for a while?
Ha! Total disaster.
Now instead of going out every night with my teammates, I’m couch surfing and sketching endless photos of my best friend . . . but that’s the least of my concerns.
The disaster, you ask? I’m rapidly falling head over cleats in love with my best friend, my roommate, and my number one fan.
And she has no idea . . .
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This book is a fun (and very sexy) read, but I didn’t find it to be as fun -or as funny- as the other books in this “series.” I had a hard time connecting with the characters, especially Kinsley. Yes, her heart is in the right place, she didn’t respect Maddox’s boundaries, made changes in his home without checking with him first, and turned on the waterworks whenever she couldn’t get her way. It might not be intentional, but it’s annoying nevertheless. What’s even more annoying is Maddox for letting her get away with it- until he didn’t, and that’s exactly when he should’ve.
This doesn’t mean, though, that I won’t be reading any more of Meghan Quinn’s books. I’m still a fan and I’m still looking forward to seeing what she comes up with next.
The Change Up is a best friends/roomates-to-lovers contemporary sports romance written in dual first-person POV. It’s a standalone that ends with an HEA. No cliffhanger, no cheating.
I received this book at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review.
Maddox is everything I needed and more! I still haven’t forgiven Miss Quinn for making me cry so much, but this is the best book in this series, this book was funny, emotional, sweet and sexy!! I read it in one sitting.
Friends-to-lovers. A bad boy not so bad. A cute dog. An author you love. Some really hot scenes. A book you can put down. That will make you feel. Everything.
This is one of my favorite series wrote by Meghan and I couldn’t wait to read Maddox story and I have to say the wait was worth it! I loved Maddox and Kinsley together and the journey for their love was a beautiful slow burn. If you haven’t started this series yet, I truly recommend.
Check out this great story!
This book is a bit hard for me to review. See, while I enjoyed the storyline and was crazy about the H Maddox, I couldn’t stand the h Kinsley. They have been friends since they were 5 years old. The friendship never wavered, even after he leaves and is signs a MLB contract. I loved the back story of the friendship. I just didn’t like the kind of person Kinsley was. I have nothing against vegans and people conscious of recycling, but this woman took it way too far. So far that she invaded his lifestyle to her will, after promising she wouldn’t. And while he was frustrated by it, he allowed it because he loved her. It seems like he was always going out of his way for her but she wouldn’t do the same for him. I’m sure the author didn’t intend to write her as selfish and imposing when she decided to make her a mother earth loving, vegan do gooder, but that is how she came across to me. I would have enjoyed this story much more if Kinsley had been written with any other kind of personality. It was a good story and it was well written, but it was hard to read sometimes because of how much I didn’t like Kinsley.I had to take several breaks from it and came close to just giving up.
The bad boy of baseball is whipped!
It all started a month ago when I received a call from my best friend. She got a new job in Chicago and needed a place to stay. I’ve known the girl since I was five, what harm would it be to have her stay at my place for a while?
Can you guess? Total disaster. This is the story of how I fell in love with my best friend.
This book is HOT. I don’t recommend reading it in public because you’ll need to fan yourself from some of these scenes. Maddox and Kinsley are very open about all things and their chemistry is off the charts hot. I loved how quirky Kinsley was and the fact that she was so passionate about her causes. Maddox was the bad boy with a heart of gold, but when he screwed up he really screwed up. Luckily he redeemed himself. I think this might be one of my favorite books Meghan Quinn has written. It was a wonderfully written story and I highly recommend it.
Quinn strikes again with her new sport romance release The Change Up featuring the bad boy of baseball Maddox. This best friends to lovers story is everything you’d expect- angsty, sexual tension and full of Quinn’s glittery personality. It’s a fun, heart thumping read you have to add to your kindle!
5 Stars
This bad boy of baseball has stolen my heart and I don’t want it back.
Man, oh man! Meghan Quinn you got me all up in my feels with this one. Maddox Paige is the ultimate bad boy of baseball. His broodiness and readiness to throw a punch have earned him that title, but deep down this alpha male is a total sweetheart and I wanted to cuddle the sh!t out of him. I absolutely adored Kinsley. She’s a quirky tree hugger that’s not afraid to put this bad boy in place. These two have known each since they were five years old and have been through every up and down together. When the opportunity of her life comes up, the only holdup is finding a place to live. Maddox, being the best friend he is, offers to let her crash at his place. These two were just fantastic together. Total opposites in every way possible, but they just work. He’s a neat freak and she’s a slob. He doesn’t like animals and it’s her life’s mission to save them all. Watching their feelings evolve was a sight to behold.
I just loved everything about this story and it’s by far, my favorite in this series of standalones. Meghan Quinn is a mastermind with her words and her ability to weave magic, humor and love into every story. There’s so many emotions and I felt everything Maddox and Kinsley went through. Their chemistry is off the charts. The Change Up is a super sexy friends to lovers sports romance that will leave you with your heart full and needing to change your panties 😉
Angela – Alphas Do It Better Book Blog
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4.5 stars
As a lifelong baseball and hockey fan, I’ve always enjoyed sports romances but Meghan Quinn makes me break into a happy dance when she releases another Rebels book. Like seventh inning stretch happy dance.
Maddox may be the bad boy pitcher of the Rebels but no one really knows the reasons why he’s so keyed up.. that’s because no one knows him like Kinsley does. Kinsley and Maddox have been best friends since they were five and they’ve ridden through the highs and lows together, and for Maddox there were lots of lows. His “Kinney” was always by his side, loving him through them, making him into the man he is today. When she lands her dream job in Chicago, it’s only natural for him to offer up his place until she finds a place of her own. But neither of them realized how tiny a one bedroom apartment is when you’re sharing it with your super hot, sexy best friend.
Maddox has some demons to fight in this book but I’m so pleased with the way Ms. Quinn made him face them. But don’t worry, there’s still the amazing awkward humor we’ve come to love from her as well. Like laugh out loud OMG, she has zero filter humor. Freaking hysterical. And the animals…be still my heart. So fun to see the rest of the Rebels family back in action too! Can’t wait for more!
AnnMarie – Alphas Do It Better Book Blog
This was such a cute best friends to lovers sports romance! I was excited about Maddox’s story because he is the bad boy of the baseball and I knew there would be more to him. And there so is…
Kinsley is one of my all time favorite female characters – so passionate, smart, strong, loving and caring and sassy and stubborn and I could go on and on about how much I loved her. Her friendship with Maddox was the ultimate female/male friendship goals. I wanna have a friend like that please!
And Maddox (or Maddie as only Kinsley can call him) was so private and awkward at times – it was hilarious to read about it. And the change from friendship to relationship….it was all sorts of hot and steamy! Meghan once again managed to put the characters into hilarious situations that made me laugh out loud.
Great book – five stars!
Damn that was awesome. Since I picked up the first book in this series I have been a huge fan. They just have everything I personally could want in a sports romance. And every single one of them has added to my overall love of the series. Now i know i keep saying series and these are all written as stand alones and aren’t linked as a series but they all interconnect. And even with my goldfish memory each one builds a little more on the overall story and adds extra dimensions to each couple and individual.
In regards to this story and this relationship, it was an emotional read for me. Whenever I’m reading a book and everything is perfect and the couples together and I realise we’re only 50% into the book, the nerves start. And I could see that train off in the distance, heading our way I just wasn’t sure when it was going to connect or how much baggage it was carrying.
Kinsley was an easy character to love. She wore her heart on her sleeve and she was so determined to make the world a better place. Even when I rolled my eyes at her craziness I still giggled and would have gone right along with her. And holy shit 500 years for a toothpaste tube to break down. My whole family is switching toothpaste next time I go shopping.
Maddox was a character whose broken parts I recognize. Which is why I found this story so emotional. But damn did he love Kinsley hard. And once he stopped self sabotaging he gave such a great chase I was immediately back on team Maddox.
The two of them together made the perfect couple. And I really loved that this book was so damn hot. Like seriously read it with a fan on. While also giving me all the feels. I laughed out loud so many times reading this book. The background characters were awesome, I’m madly in love with Lincoln and I’m praying his story is next.
There were a few unresolved issues that I would have loved to see tied off. But they aren’t necessary to the story, just my personal nitpicking. And the men needed to apologise and grovel a little but again that’s just my opinion. Hopefully Meghan is busy writing madly so I can get more of these great couples because I am really loving this series hard.
Throughout Ms. Quinn’s most recent books set in the baseball world, I’ve fallen in love with one delicious hero after another. With this latest book I’m once again left drooling over Maddox Paige and his charming and decadently delightful friends to lovers romance with longtime friend Kinsley. With each turn of the page I discovered a hero vastly different from who the world sees and with his growing connection to a woman who’s opposite to him in many ways shows that they couldn’t be more perfect for each other. Theirs is a romance that pulled at my heartstrings, while putting a smile on my face, and its near-perfection has me waiting impatiently to return to the world inhabited by these boys of baseball.
Maddox Paige is seen as the Bad Boy of Baseball for his ability to not only throw strikes but also throw punches in defense of his teammates. He enjoys the perks of baseball groupies and has no desire for permanent intimacy as he gets just what he needs from a revolving door of one night stands. Considering his painful past his views aren’t surprising, and with his mother’s abandonment and father’s alcoholism, it made for lots of loneliness and doubts of others sticking around for long. He might not want to get close to others, but when it comes to Kinsley he can’t imagine his life without her. She’s been his everything since they were young…his friend, his cheerleader, his coach, and the one person he could always count on. When a recent job change brings her to his doorstep, after he offers her a place to stay, everything starts changing between them. The comfort they’ve always found with each other steadily turns more sensual while close quarters ramps up the sexual tension in a burgeoning romance that grew hotter and hotter. When they hit an emotional speed bump though it will take a lot of groveling, and advice from teammates, for Maddox to set things right with Kinsley as he pulled all of us into his loving embrace.
Kinsley’s an immensely likable heroine, an eclectic one with a big heart that she wears proudly on her sleeve. She’s a vegan who loves animals and truly wants to make the world a better place. Whenever she comes on the scene she becomes the center of attention for her big personality and outgoing nature. Her interactions with Maddox were funny from the start, playful, and showed a strong will in calling him out on his crap. He might not have always agreed with what she had to say but he always wanted her honesty and valued her for who she was and the support she always gave him. Kinsley’s the kind of heroine you want to know in real life, the kind of heroine who ingratiates herself through sweet words and deeds. She and Maddox were crackling together and their journey from friends to lovers had me fully on board from the start. The more time they spent together the more carefree he became, the more open he became to the possibilities of love and commitment and it had me rooting for them every step of the way.
From the first page to the last I found this an utterly delightful romance with a very likable main couple whose interactions endeared them to me and put a permanent smile on my face while making me blush a time or two along the way. Maddox and Kinsley were wonderful as friends but even better as lovers. Early on Maddox was a bit rigid in his ways, always a bit on edge because of anger over the past that he’s never fully dealt with. Slowly but surely Kinsley helps him deal with the past and I loved how natural their connection felt, how unwavering they were in their support, in a feel good romance full of steam. Alongside this wonderful main couple were glimpses of Maddox’s teammates…and what a charming group of tough guys they are! They’re strong and sexy with a family vibe whenever one of their own needs help and I enjoyed their talks about love and relationships. On every level this story charmed me! From the wonderful characters to their crackling connection I was wrapped in a romantic haze that has me greatly anticipating what Ms. Quinn has planned next.
I loved Maddox Paige! He’s the quintessential bad boy with a broken past and some angsty emotions. He’s also the sweet boy who will let his best friend Kinsley stay at his apartment in Chicago when she got a job offer but doesn’t have the money to rent an apartment for herself.
Maddox is enjoying a very successful career as the star pitcher in the Chicago Rebels. His longtime friend Kinny, as he calls her, is staying with him as she starts a new job in an animal rescue non-profit. Kinsley is a vegan, a ferocious recycler, dedicated environmentalist, and extreme animal lover. She has been friends with Maddox since they were five years old and they have supported each other through all their teenage angst. As the story unfolds, several issues where they have helped each other are mentioned, but it also arises that Maddox had a turbulent childhood and Kinsley’s unwavering devotion and love is what sustained him. Therefore, she’s the most important person in his life. However, going from a monthly FaceTime call to living together, woke up some sparkly feelings in both that scared them at first.
This is the kind of friends to lovers story I like, when they are devoted to each other, have been separated for a while, then when reunited find their feelings have changed. My only problem with this book was that I didn’t like the heroine. I found Kinsley was too much. With all her strong convictions, she was also pushy and she pushed her convictions at Maddox. She sort of took over his apartment, changed his detergents to homemade, changed his toothbrush to bamboo, toothpaste to natural products, converted his balcony to a recycling center, and also, she was messy and filled his previously very clean and tidy apartment into a mess of clothes and coffee mugs all over the place. By this time, I was getting annoyed. And don’t let me get started on Clyde, the cot that wouldn’t die!
The final offense (for me) was that his one request was no animals in his apartment. For Maddox, his apartment was his refuge, where he wanted peace, quiet and privacy. Then one day he arrived to find a big dog, dressed in one of his two thousand dollar suits, posing for a photo shoot, held by none other than Kinny. Once she convinced him to keep the dog for a while as a foster, another day he arrived to find she was entertaining visitors when he had already explained that he didn’t want anyone in his private place. This time she got on my last nerve. I would have kicked her out of my house!
There was a subtle shift in dependence in the story; initially, it looked like Maddox was helping Kinsley, then as the story evolved, the power shifts and then it’s Maddox who needs the help.
The story starts very light-hearted, with hilarious scenes, cute doggy moments, some very long sexy times and one very beautiful declaration from Maddox of why Kinny was so important to him. I loved that one paragraph!
From light-hearted it changes to very angsty and this is the part I loved the best. No more environmental crap, but real emotions, dealing with past issues and working towards a better tomorrow. There were heart-wrenching scenes, teammates who pinch in to help, and a maelstrom of intense emotions. In spite of Kinny’s lack of boundaries, her love for Maddox was strong and real, so I forgave her for her meddling and prayed for their HEA.
My favorite baseball boys are back for more laughs, fun times and even some tears. Yes, Meghan Quinn can reduce me to a blubbering mess over these baseball boys and their ladies! It never fails, she always gets me right in the heart with ALL THE FEELS this world dishes out. Regardless of the tears the laughs are what I’m here for! I’m always jumping with excitement when I see that she’s putting out a new one and I count down the days.
Maddox Coulter is the bad boy of the Chicago Rebels; he’s the one not afraid to fight, closed off and keeps a harem of specific ladies rotating for his enjoyment. That is until…his childhood best friend; Kinsley needs a place to crash. The lines of friendship between these two blurs more and more everyday. They are each other’s PERSON, the one person the other can always count on, no matter what, no matter the distance, time zone, what’s going on. They are there for each other. So when they cross that line from friendship into more, it’s not just a random person they are running the risk of losing if it doesn’t work out…but the most important person in their entire lives.
The emotions, love and humor these two bring to each other’s lives are jaw dropping, hilarious and will have you swooning in your seat. I could not get enough of Kinsley and the way that handled her best friend. Throw in a furbaby and I was a complete goner! Such a great book!
This entire set of baseball books is my favorite out there. I’m not a huge romcom reader, but I’m most definitely a Meghan Quinn romcom reader!
Reviewed for A Wanton Book Lover Blog
If you have read any of the books in this series, you might remember the bad-boy of baseball mentioned……Maddox Paige, pitcher for the Rebels. The first one off the mound or out of the dug out to join in a fight on-field. Maddox gets to redeem himself in the lasted book in Meghan Quinn’s series, The Change Up.
Maddox and Kinsley have been best-friends since they were 5 years old. Kinsley was there to support and provide a safe place to stay for Maddox growing up to escape his abusive father. They know everything about each other. Now adults, and busy with their lives, they have a set phone call date each month to catch-up. Kinsley mentions that she has an opportunity for a job in Chicago, which will put her in the same city as Maddox, but doesn’t think she can afford to actually live there. Maddox suggests she move in with him and soon his orderly , “neat” life is turned up-side down. With Kinsley living with him, he finds himself becoming more environmental friendly thanks to Kinsley’s help, the “father” to a three-legged hound, and last finding his feelings for Kinsley have changed from friendly to wanting wanting to be more than friends. He is unsure what she feels and tries to find ways to check out how she reacts.
It was interesting to actually get to know Maddox on a personal level and discover that he has a kind heart and is caring for those he is close too; especially when it came to Kinsley. I really liked Kinsley’s character because she knew Maddox so well, she could call him on his crap when he needed it. She was strong and resilient when she needed to be. She was also a crier, so I could personally relate to that. As an animal lover, I loved that Kinsley’s job was to find homes for animals and how supportive Maddox and his team mates were.Meghan Quinn
This was really good! I’m giving it 4.5 out of 5 stars. This review is for an ARC, and reflects my honest opinion.
Maddox intrigued me from the moment I met him, but in the last book was when he made me start to fall for him. I wasn’t expecting this pairing for his book; however it worked overall. One thing that prevented me from giving this 5 stars was the fact that while Maddox was fleshed out, it also seemed like his character wasn’t consistent. I won’t spoil anything that happened, but it felt like a switch flipped on and then flipped back off with his personality. I might have found it more authentic, or believable, if we saw him working through things. Although I won’t lie and say his vibe didn’t melt me most of the time: the tattoos, intensity, etc.
As for Kinsley, I thought she was a sweetheart. But she was also pretty pushy, and I didn’t like how she ignored boundaries and rules. I looked past those things though since she had a kind soul, genuinely caring for animals and the Earth. Honestly Maddox and Kinsley couldn’t be more different if they tried; the only thing they really had in common was their passion and adventurous side. I loved how they bridged the gap from childhood friends turned to lovers, and how they would do anything for one another.
I enjoyed seeing more of the Rebels, and their ladies. Just a warning, this book was definitely emotional at times, and a bit dark, but it also had some hot/risque scenes. While I expected to love Maddox the most, I think Knox hasn’t been knocked out of my number one spot. If you’re looking for a book featuring a bad boy with a good heart, friends-to-lovers, opposites attract, or sports, I highly recommend you check this out.
“Kinsley, my best friend. The girl next door. My comfort. My home.”
I recently first read Meghan Quinn earlier this year and I am so incredibly glad I did. Her books bring me a certain kind of joy that is rare when I read. Don’t get me wrong, I love to read and I read a lot of great books, but Meghans books are so unique. They’re ridiculously funny, incredible hot, and the characters are so unforgettable.
Maddox and Kinsley are my FAVORITE Meghan Quinn couple to date. Their love is adorable and so cute, but intense and hot. Their back and forth banter is hilarious. I LOVE Kinsley. She is definitely a unique person.. and Maddox is EVERYTHING. He’s so gentle but rough, he’s the bad boy with the kind heart.
This world.. this series.. these characters, I’ll never get enough. The Change Up was UNPUTDOWNABLE.
“Maddox might look like a rebel on the outside, and he might act like one on the baseball field, but in real life, when he’s with me, he’s nothing but loving, protective . . . a broken man looking for someone to love him.”
Quick easy read, this rocking sports romance featured the best friends to lovers story.
Maddox is a confirmed tattooed covered bad boy baseball player. Kingsley is his childhood friend who’s free spirited and the total opposite He also has the kindest sweetest heart, and when he realized his feelings are more than just friends well…
They discover their chemistry is combustible undeniable and how their story evolved was just a great read.
My Review (ARC provided)
Five Stars!!
Ahhhhh where do I start? Ok, so it started out with The Locker Room and I fell in love, then we get Cory F’n Potter, and just when I thought I finally had a favorite we get to know the infamous Maddox. I fell hard for this guy, the notorious bad boy with a heart of gold. He broke my heart. He had this tough guy persona but was such a teddy bear, he fought hard and loved harder, if you were Maddox’s friend you knew he was yours for life. Maddox didn’t have an easy life and he depended on his best friend to bring him up when he was down.
“If people only knew you the way I know you, they’d be shocked that you’re not the rebel bad boy with the tattoos they paint you as, but rather a snuggle cuddly bear who enjoys hot chocolate with thousands of marshmallows and staying at his apartment with a sketchbook in hand.”
Maddox was private and didn’t let very many people in. Kinsley his best friend is basically his polar opposite, they’ve been friends since they were five and she needs his help. As Kinsley makes the move to Chicago to start her new job, Maddox offers his place to her. They quickly realize their long friendship had much deeper feelings, both too afraid to act on it for fear of their friendship. Kinsley pushes every one of Maddox’s boundaries and tries to break him out of his shell. She oversteps everything he says but he loves her so much he lets it all go until it’s too much!
Kinsley is full of energy, she’s open, she’s honest, she’s sexual and she’s not afraid to show it. She also has the biggest heart and is passionate about the earth and animals and she loves Maddox with her whole heart.
“I lost my best friend, and that hurts more than anything because he was the one I would lean on during time like this. He was the person I called when my heart was broken.” This quote continues but I don’t want to divulge too much.
I was on the edge of my seat, bed, wherever I was reading at the time to see what would happen to their relationship. It made me laugh, cry, and holy hotness! I’m done naming my favorite baseball player because she’ll just write another…hint hint, Linc.
Meghan Quinn hit a home run with this one. I loved The Change Up so much!! Maddox and Kinsley are hot AF! I loved this friends to lovers story. Kinsley is beyond quirky, has no filter and a huge heart. Maddox is the bad boy pitcher for the Rebels. Maddox stole my heart and just moved up to the top of my book boyfriend list! Lord, he had me swooning and panting at the same time. This book was the perfect balance of humor and romance. Some rom-com’s can be over the top but Meghan has perfected her craft to perfection. Five stars!!!