the setup man – GoodeyReads

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Sports Romance
Length: 366 pages
Author: Kate Watson
Publisher: Little Blks Creative
Release Date: April 16th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She’s fake dating the wrong guy. Enter Mr. Right.

Scottie

I’ve spent my whole life cleaning up after Jake Rodgers—the bad boy of Major League Baseball. So when his latest PR disaster threatens to send him to the minors, agreeing to fake date him feels noble. Temporary. Manageable.

Then hot young pitcher Lucas Fischer shows up—with coffee I didn’t ask for and a smile that doesn’t quit—and suddenly none of it feels manageable anymore. Especially when I’m assigned to be his handler.

Now I’m pretending to be in love with the guy I’ve never wanted while trying not to fall for the one I can’t have.

Lucas

I’ve been bringing Scottie Quinn coffee for ten months. I’ve never once guessed her order wrong–no small feat, considering the woman orders coffee based on vibes.

I’ve also never once told her that I know she’s fake dating Jake Rodgers, that she deserves better, or that I’m in love with her. I’m a patient guy. I can wait. What I can’t do is watch her disappear to make everyone else comfortable.

But Jake and I are on the same team now, and our GM has one ironclad rule: no clubhouse drama.

Easy enough. All I have to do is keep showing up until she stops pretending… without blowing up both our careers.

Yeah. Maybe I’m not that patient after all.

OKAY THE YEARNING?

I do consider this a soft five stars, but it did make me tear up in the last few chapters and that pretty much signals that I loved the book so here we are!! Easily my favorite book from Kate Watson. I honestly wasn’t sure this plot set up was going to work for me but I loved the way it was handled and the right kind of lines were kept so I’m a happy little soul soaking in this baseball romance.

The way my man Lucas YEARNED. And learned. He was tender hearted and flirty and genuine all while realizing he could be more firm in his decisions and taking the next step forward with strength rather than letting things happen to him. I loved watching his relationship with Scottie but I also loved watching his dynamic with Logan and Coop too.

Scottie was someone I could easily see myself in and that made her story frustrating to read, but also entirely relatable. I love a fierce sports girlie and Scottie is a pro. I could have jumped for joy when she started making decisions for herself and holding to what she wanted out of life and her relationships. And how everyone showed up for her??? CUE THE EMOTIONS.

It was just all around a great baseball romance. I ate this one right up and you must get on it to reading it too.

Overall audience notes: