REVIEW: Out of Her League by Ava Rani

In Out of Her League by Ava Rani, Dr. Isabelle Mercado is on the verge of achieving everything she has worked for—until she realizes her ex, the one who got away, will be attending a lavish Paris wedding with his seemingly perfect fiancée. Determined to save face and maybe spark a little jealousy, Isa convinces Austin Cade, a global soccer superstar in need of some positive publicity, to be her fake date. It seems like the perfect arrangement, but between champagne-fueled celebrations, macaron-making classes, and late-night moments beneath the Paris sky, their carefully constructed plan begins to feel dangerously real.

OUT OF HER LEAGUE delivered exactly the kind of romance I can never resist—sparkling banter, fake dating, and a glamorous Paris setting.

Isabelle was the kind of heroine I rooted for immediately—driven, ambitious, and so focused on her career that love had never been part of the plan. Austin was exactly the kind of hero I can never resist—confident, charming, and far more thoughtful than his celebrity status initially suggested. The chemistry between him and Isa was playful and undeniably hot, but it was the quieter moments, the growing trust, and the way he saw beyond her carefully controlled exterior that made their connection feel real. By the end, they felt less like two people pretending to be in love and more like two people who had found someone worth taking a chance on.

Tropes
💞 Fake dating
⚽ Sports romance
🗼 Destination wedding
🛏️ Only one bed
💬 Banter-filled romance
💕 Unexpected connection
🇫🇷 Romance in Paris

OUT OF HER LEAGUE was a fun, flirty romance that swept me away from the very first page. Between the fake dating tension, the champagne-soaked Paris wedding, and a soccer hero who was every bit as charming as he was thoughtful, this was the kind of story that delivered sparkling chemistry, emotional vulnerability, and all the swoony escapism I could have asked for.

If you love fake dating, glamorous destination weddings, and romances packed with banter and undeniable chemistry, OUT OF HER LEAGUE by Ava Rani is one to add to your TBR.

Book Info:

Publication: Published: May 12, 2026 | Avon

Dr. Isabelle Mercado is this close to having it all. Top of her class at the country’s most competitive orthopedic surgery residency, a dream career within reach, and a golden ticket to the wedding of the year in Paris.

There’s just one problem: her ex—the one who got away—is going to be there… with his perfect new fiancée.

Desperate to save face (and maybe spark a little jealousy), Isa enlists soccer legend and global heartthrob Austin Cade to be her fake date. It’s the perfect match: after an injury and some unfortunate encounters with the press, he needs good PR and the kind of elite connections this wedding will attract. Plus, her ex just so happens to be his #1 fan. Win-win.

But between champagne toasts, macaron baking classes, and stolen glances under the Parisian stars, pretending starts to feel a lot like the real thing. Isa’s always been all-in on her career—love was never the goal.

But maybe, just maybe… this time, the heart has its own agenda.