Chasing the Ring by Lauren Rowe
Chasing the Ring is a fun, warm-hearted sports romance with great vacation vibes, strong found-family moments, and Lauren Rowe’s signature charm.
Iris is a jilted bride whose wedding-day breakup goes viral, prompting her to take her honeymoon solo to Hawaii. Roman, an NFL quarterback quietly vacationing on the same island, ends up accidentally sharing her bungalow—and the forced proximity sparks a no-strings fling that quickly becomes something deeper. I really enjoyed that Iris doesn’t recognize Roman at first; the anonymity gives them space to connect as people before fame enters the equation.
The first week they spend together was easily my favorite part of the book. Their chemistry felt natural, playful, and emotionally supportive, especially as Roman helps Iris recover from the very public collapse of her engagement. I also appreciated that they eventually go their separate ways for a time—it felt necessary for both characters’ growth rather than relying solely on proximity to sustain the relationship.
One of Lauren Rowe’s biggest strengths is writing family dynamics, and that absolutely shines here. Roman’s relationship with his son was a standout, and I loved seeing a healthy, non-toxic co-parenting situation portrayed thoughtfully. His family as a whole added warmth, humor, and heart, and I found myself hoping several of them get their own books.
That said, while I enjoyed the story overall, the emotional connection between Iris and Roman didn’t always fully land for me. At times, it felt like they were moving through familiar genre beats rather than deepening their bond in a way that felt truly earned. I also noticed a few small inconsistencies in how Roman’s familiarity with Kauai was portrayed, which momentarily pulled me out of the story.
Overall, Chasing the Ring is an entertaining, steamy, and feel-good sports romance that fans of the genre will likely enjoy. While it didn’t quite reach the emotional depth I was hoping for, it was still a fun and satisfying read with likable characters and strong heart.
