REVIEW: And the Crowd Went Wild by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

In And the Crowd Went Wild by Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Actress Dancy Flynn has always been misunderstood by, well, everyone. From her ambition to become a Hollywood star to getting cast as bimbos and ditzy women in every movie. Even her ex-husband didn’t believe in her dream of being a “serious” actress. So, after her divorce and a devastating loss a couple of months ago, Dancy decided now is the time for her comeback. Her one attempt, though, ended in humiliation and the entirety of social media gossiping about her.

Hitting rock bottom, the one person Dancy can imagine sharing space with is her ex-boyfriend from high school, good guy Clint Garrett. He just so happens to have a beautiful house in Lake Isabella, Wisconsin, which sounds like the perfect place to lay low. Certainly, the fact that they haven’t seen each other in nearly two decades won’t be an issue. Right? Well, okay, so Clint doesn’t welcome Dancy with open arms. Seems like the way they left things in their teens still clouds his opinion of her. That’s okay. She’s a work in progress anyway. What’s one more person she needs to win over in the process?

Clint has enough issues of his own. He doesn’t need Dancy bringing her Hollywood drama to his lakeside retreat. But she’s still just as amazing as she was twenty years ago and appears to be on her own journey of change and growth. Clint just isn’t sure he’s the right one to help her. His best option is to steer clear of her as much as possible. Which is why he lets her stay in his guest house–a restored locomotive caboose–while she sorts out her life. As the new Chicago Stars season draws closer, Clint tries to get into the right headspace. But nothing works. As the quarterback, he needs to be on top of his game. Everyone is counting on him. Including Dancy, her new rescue dog, and a local woman with a possessive ex. And Clint is going to do his best to do right by everyone.

It was absolutely wonderful to be back in the Chicago Stars world! Susan Elizabeth Phillips delivered a knockout of a story in AND THE CROWD WENT WILD which was fan favorite Clint Garrett’s time to shine. If you’ve read any of the other books in the series, then you’ve seen our quarterback and know what a great guy he is. And this cemented his decency, dedication to everyone in his orbit, and Clint’s ability to deliver–especially when everything’s on the line.

SEP is a legendary romance author for a reason. Dancy and Clint’s passionate story showed off her ability to combine quick-witted banter, tantalizing tension, and off-the-charts heat while mixing in family drama and a hint of suspense. It was everything I’ve loved about her previous Chicago Stars books all in one place. And the fact that this was a second chance romance was a bonus. It took Clint and Dancy some time to not only get over the bad feelings between them from how things ended in high school, but they were also dealing with some serious personal issues. SEP once again found just the right balance of heaviness and humor as the duo did some soul searching, finally getting the HEA that they both fought for tooth and nail.

Tropes & Themes:

• Second chance romance
• Sports romance
• Enemies to lovers
• Forced proximity
• Multiple POVs

CW: View Spoiler »Over-drinking, miscarriage, grief, depression, cheating, child abandonment (historical), parental death (historical), abandoned & injured dog « Hide Spoiler

Easily read as a standalone or as part of the Chicago Stars series, AND THE CROWD WENT WILD will delight readers and keep them engaged until the final page. This touching reunion romance will warm your heart with the laughter and joy our couple eventually let into their lives. Highly recommended.

QOTD: Given the chance, would you stay in a unique place such as Clint’s refurbished railroad caboose with its lakeside view?

Book Info:

Publication: February 10th, 2026 | Avon | Chicago Stars #11

#1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Elizabeth Phillips is back with the latest novel in her beloved Chicago Stars series, featuring a romance between a star quarterback and one of the country’s most beautiful—and misunderstood—actresses.

After a mortifying—and very public—humiliation, Dancy Flynn is desperate to find sanctuary far from the crowd. But where can a washed-up sex symbol hide? How about making an unannounced appearance at the secluded lake house of the sweet, sensitive high school boyfriend she hasn’t seen in almost twenty years?

But Chicago Stars quarterback Clint Garrett is no longer the kid Dancy remembers. Now he’s a gridiron superhero, still holding a massive grudge against her for breaking his teenage heart. With no room in his life for either complexity or distractions, he banishes Dancy to a refurbished old railroad caboose tucked away in the woods…and out of his sight.

Except Dancy’s not good at staying invisible. Her efforts to rebuild her career clash with Clint’s desperation to regain his focus, all made more challenging by a rescue dog, a local woman in trouble, a meddling mother, an ex with an agenda…and the sizzle of rekindled emotions.

As Dancy attempts to get her life on track and Clint tries to get his groove back, can these two one-time lovers navigate their rocky pasts and complicated present to find themselves…and each other?

Tropes include:

second-chance romance
enemies to lovers
forced proximity
childhood sweethearts