Books like 'The Playbook'
Readers who enjoyed The Playbook by Erin MacKenzie also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary grumpy sunshine forced proximity single-father siblings-bff friends to lovers football sports
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Fumble. Pass. Repeat. by T'Lyn
Rated: 4.62 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsKyce Jefferson understood change. His life had been a continuous reminder that nothing last for ever. However, his one constant had always been football. Women come and go but the Chicago Bears was his team, his home and his life. Being traded was the last thing he expected or wanted.Iyoni Nixon lived and breathed for her son. He was her reason... -
![Moms of Mayhem by Aimee Vance]()
Moms of Mayhem by Aimee Vance
Rated: 4.62 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsStarting over was never part of the playbook.Fresh off a failed marriage and years of putting everyone else first, Emmy Hudson returns to her small hometown determined to rebuild a life for her and her teenage son, Jace. With her brother close by and Jace joining the once-elite Mayhem Hockey Club, it seems like the perfect second chance... -
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![Roman by Samantha Whiskey]()
Roman by Samantha Whiskey
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsI’m one of the fastest running backs in the NFL, but I can’t outrun my feelings for my best friend.I’ve wanted Teagan Hall for over a decade, but I’ve never been willing to risk our friendship.Then she shows up at my doorstep, fleeing her abusive ex, and everything changes.Now she’s not just my best friend—she’s my roommate.She's also the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.Every innocent touch crackles... -
![One Night Valentine by Hope Ford]()
One Night Valentine by Hope Ford
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIt’s not a question of IF this football star can resist the curvy florist but rather WHEN he’ll give in…Cruz It is said that you only want what you cannot have. I hate to be a cliche, but that statement rings true for me.In my case it’s not what I want, but rather who. Tara Brooks. Sweet, funny, and my little sister’s best friend... -
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![Tight Laced by Lisa Suzanne]()
Tight Laced by Lisa Suzanne
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsOne of us will have to give up the future we’ve dreamed of if we’re going to make this work. It’s not going to be me. We can’t both have that same thought if we want to stay together when our contract ends.But the more I see him struggle against the things his mother does to him, the harder I fall. The more his ex tries to get in his way, the more I want to stand up for him...Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers forced proximity siblings-bff age difference contemporary length-short m-f -
![All This Time by Harlow James]()
All This Time by Harlow James
Fletcher Adams is not just the man that stole my heart at fifteen and never gave it back.He’s also my brother’s best friend, and now one of the most famous players in the NFL.But now he’s back in Blossom Peak for our mutual friend’s wedding, and guess who are the maid of honor and best man?That would be us... -
![Writing the Rules by Mariah Dietz]()
Writing the Rules by Mariah Dietz
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsPoppy Anderson was nailing her sophomore year at Brighton University. She liked her classes, had the greatest best friend, and was finally ready to start dating again. Or she was … until her ex, Mike, transferred to Brighton and started exchanging long stares and inside jokes that Poppy thought he’d forgotten.Paxton Lawson was long ago labeled ‘The Golden Boy...Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers siblings-bff football contemporary new adult college length-long -
![Are We There Yet? by Savannah Scott]()
Are We There Yet? by Savannah Scott
A vintage VW van. Four friends. A cross-country road trip.It will be the best adventure of my life, if only I can shake the feelings I have for Cameron .Cameron Reeves is as gorgeous as his name makes him sound.He’s about six feet tall, which is the height I always wrote in my ideal man list in my journal. Yes. I have a list of qualities I want in a man...Categorized as:
forced proximity grumpy sunshine friends to lovers contemporary humor dual-pov m-f glimpses-kisses -
![Puck the Holidays: A Vipers Sin Bin Novel by K.D. Miller]()
Puck the Holidays: A Vipers Sin Bin Novel by K.D. Miller
A holiday hockey romance that will make you laugh, swoon, clutch your pearls, and believe in holiday magic.Hattie McNamara, a southern girl born and bred, has never seen a hockey game in her life, but when the offer to become the Seattle Vipers’ new Assistant Director of Media and Marketing lands in her lap, she can’t possibly say no... -
![Forcing You Away by Kennedy Fox]()
Forcing You Away by Kennedy Fox
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAs I search for a fresh start, a friend convinces me to move to his small town. Considering I don’t have a place to live, his little sister offers me her spare room.She’s every man’s dream—witty, down to earth, and gorgeous as hell—too bad she’s off-limits. Unspoken words and stolen glances have me eager to please her in all the forbidden ways...Categorized as:
friends to lovers forced proximity siblings-bff contemporary new adult angst length-short audiobook -
![Caught from Behind by Elise Faber]()
Caught from Behind by Elise Faber
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsIt's always the quiet ones you have to watch out for. I’ve had a crush on my brother’s teammate and friend for a long time… Long enough to know that my interest isn’t reciprocated. I’m destined to be his teammate’s little sister—untouchable and completely off-limits no matter how hard I try to convince him otherwise. But then…everything changes...Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers siblings-bff grumpy sunshine hockey sassy heroine angst found-family -
![Tight Fit by Lisa Suzanne]()
Tight Fit by Lisa Suzanne
Rated: 4.41 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsIt’s okay to admit I’m scared.Outside forces are working hard to tear us apart, but we’ve teamed up against them. It’s the internal struggles we’re battling that could spell the ultimate end.When Ben makes a public show to prove how committed we are, I’m left confused as I struggle to figure out whether his feelings for me are real or if they’re part of the act...Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers forced proximity age difference contemporary length-short m-f audiobook -
![Catch a Wave by Savannah Scott]()
Catch a Wave by Savannah Scott
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsDid you ever see a guy and just know you had to meet him?That was me and Bodhi Merrick. I couldn't take my eyes off him as he donned his wetsuit at the famous big-wave surf spot, Mavericks. I'll never forget that day. Or every time our paths crossed after that. Big wave surfing is a small world. And, as it happens, Bodhi felt the same tug---this irresistible attraction that drew us to one another...Categorized as:
sports siblings-bff forced proximity multicultural humor contemporary m-f length-medium -
![Tell Me a Story by Kaylee Ryan, Lacey Black]()
Tell Me a Story by Kaylee Ryan, Lacey Black
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 22 ratingsJoey I don’t want to be someone’s dirty little secret. I know all too well what that feels like. Guarding my heart means staying out of pro football player Brock Williams’s bed and out of the spotlight. But after all these years, he’s exactly like I remember, charming, determined, and used to getting what he wants. And what he wants now is me. The chemistry between us is undeniable... -
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![Falling into Forever by Avery Maxwell]()
Falling into Forever by Avery Maxwell
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsWhat’s a brokenhearted romance novelist to do when an interview accidentally turns her into the villain? I’ll tell you one thing—the plan definitely wasn’t to turn to the man who taught me that happily ever afters exist only on the page...Categorized as:
friends to lovers grumpy sunshine forced proximity contemporary from hate to love m-f -
![If It's Only Love by Lexi Ryan]()
If It's Only Love by Lexi Ryan
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 19 ratingsFrom New York Times bestseller Lexi Ryan comes a sexy new standalone romance in the bestselling Boys of Jackson Harbor series. Meet single dad Easton Connor as he leaves the NFL and returns to Jackson Harbor to fight for another chance with the love of his life. *** I don’t regret much. Not my decision to enter the NFL draft before finishing college...Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers single-father siblings-bff contemporary new adult length-medium audiobook -
![The Sneak Peak by Victoria Wilder]()
The Sneak Peak by Victoria Wilder
My Best Friend. Young. Tempting . She bid on me at my company’s charity auction and won. Back then, she was too young, with hearts in her eyes and her whole life ahead of her. That’s how we started, and after all this time, she’s become my best friend. Being a single dad of twins and running Colorado's most successful summer sports company requires control and focus... -
![Off Limits by Chelle Sloan]()
Off Limits by Chelle Sloan
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsProfessional football has an actual rulebook, but it’s the unwritten rules that come with the harshest consequences.The biggest one of all: don’t date your teammate’s sister. And if you do, don’t you dare fall in love with her.I never meant to fall, but when it comes to Brenna Donald, I never stood a chance. She’s everything I’m not--a light-hearted wild child who shines brighter than the sun...Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers siblings-bff forbidden love contemporary humor athletes length-medium -
![Burn by Ginger Scott]()
Burn by Ginger Scott
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratings**Burn is the third and final book in the brother’s-best-friend, friends-to-lovers Fuel Series by Ginger Scott. This second-chance romance completes this angsty, steamy, new adult trilogy.Dustin Bridge’s world is about speed. About the edge. His life has been carved by cutting corners and making moves, following impulsive decisions while weighing the facts at hand... -
![Kind of a Sexy Jerk by Lili Valente]()
Kind of a Sexy Jerk by Lili Valente
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsSo let me get this straight... For the next few days I’ve got myself a grumpy fake husband who’s also kind of my...bodyguard?I guess that’s a better way to spend the weekend than binge-watching reality television, especially since it’s kind of my fault we’re on the run from the mob and I need a protector.Oops...Categorized as:
forced proximity grumpy sunshine friends to lovers contemporary humor length-medium audiobook -
![With a Hitch by R.C. Boldt]()
With a Hitch by R.C. Boldt
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsRC Boldt brings us a smart, sexy new standalone about a matchmaker/dating coach who's faced with the challenge of finding Mrs. Right for the city's beloved NFL wide receiver... She’s playing it safe. He’s playing for keeps. DARCY Growing up in the foster system, I learned the hard way that lasting love doesn't always come easy... -
![Behind the Pages: A sultry romcom of the unexpected by K. Iwancio]()
Behind the Pages: A sultry romcom of the unexpected by K. Iwancio
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsTwo authors, an intertwined plot, and one heck of an alluring ending to their highly-anticipated bestselling books... With her fantasy series, Bridget Paige is the newest member of the New York Times Bestseller list. Except no one knows who she is. To the world, she's Bridget. To those behind the scenes, she's introverted Paige Booker... -
![The Atelier Assignment by Annie Dyer]()
The Atelier Assignment by Annie Dyer
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHer assignment is to not fall in love with him…Zeke Brooksbank is in need of a wake-up call. One that shakes him out of the grump he’s permanently in and turns him into a reasonable human being.I’m not staying at his country residence to tame the beast. I’m meant to be cataloguing his art collection, not fangirling over his own paintings, or becoming attached to his little daughter... -
![The Scientist by Kristen B. Cole, Margo Lipschultz]()
The Scientist by Kristen B. Cole, Margo Lipschultz
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsWhen an outgoing musical maven meets the enigmatic neuroscientist next door, will their worlds clash in a dramatic showdown of art versus science, or will they discover that love is the ultimate experiment worth conducting?When celebrated Broadway composer Hadley Olivier’s best friend receives a life-threatening diagnosis, Hadley says goodbye to her beloved home in NYC and sets off to the West...Categorized as:
grumpy sunshine friends to lovers forced proximity contemporary humor menage length-long -
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![Dating For December by Lyndsey Gallagher]()
Dating For December by Lyndsey Gallagher
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsHe's an expert at breakups... but this Christmas, can he master a love that lasts?⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Lyndsey Gallagher is THE QUEEN page turners!"My perpetually single status hardly serves as a shining advertisement for HeartSync, the dating agency I own. Nor is it likely to convince my incredibly successful movie star brother, Nate, to invest in my business... -
![At First Flight by Renee Harless]()
At First Flight by Renee Harless
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsLila Wright never expected to flee her dress fitting covered in a cloud of lace—let alone land in a first-class seat next to the most gorgeous man she’s ever seen. With mascara-streaked cheeks, a shattered heart, and no plan beyond “anywhere but here,” she spills her secrets to the stranger with the sharp jawline and stormy eyes. She expects a little sympathy... -
![Searching for Sunshine by Hollie Luckie]()
Searching for Sunshine by Hollie Luckie
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsYou know what they say— when everything’s falling apart, move to the beach and marry the grumpy boat captain you haven’t seen in over a decade. After losing both my teaching job in the city and my grandmother, I feel like I have no idea what to do with my life... -
![It's Always Us by Stacy Williams]()
It's Always Us by Stacy Williams
Rated: 4.26 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsWhat if you give your whole heart away? Do you ever really get it back? Lex has just been going through the motions for years, trying to let go of the one man she can’t seem to forget. When she finds herself getting ready to take on a life she’s never wanted, she realizes she’s stuck in the same place she was at sixteen—heart stolen and fully belonging to another...Categorized as:
sports football friends to lovers contemporary pregnancy second chances dual-pov length-medium -
![Play With Me by Claire Wilder]()
Play With Me by Claire Wilder
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsA shy librarian and a charming ex-tennis pro single dad come together in this steamy friends-to-lovers romance from USA Today bestseller Claire Wilder. With banter, steam, and a guaranteed Happily Ever After.I’ve been in love with my best friend Jude Kelly—and his dark-haired mini-me son Cap—since the moment they walked into my library... -
![Checking It Twice by Claire Hastings]()
Checking It Twice by Claire Hastings
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsShe's made a list of her own, and he's just the man to help...Haven Taylor is tired of being called a Goody Two-shoes, and her brother's best friend might be the key to fixing that.DB Elliot is seriously sexy and without a doubt someone she can trust for a no-strings-attached secret fling. After all, she's known him her entire life...Categorized as:
friends to lovers sports siblings-bff christmas alpha male contemporary humor length-novella -
![Single Dad Center by Latisha Sexton]()
Single Dad Center by Latisha Sexton
The Denver Dragon’s captain’s perfect life was ripped to shreds when his wife suddenly passed away two years ago, leaving him a single father to their toddler girl. Since then, Archer Sullivan has taken his grief and anger out on the puck. When he’s not shredding it on the ice, he’s playing princess and having tea parties with his four-year-old daughter, Indigo...Categorized as:
single-father sports friends to lovers grumpy sunshine contemporary christian hockey length-medium -
![Undeniable Love by Samantha Chase]()
Undeniable Love by Samantha Chase
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsA Small Town, Enemies to Lovers, Sports Romance from New York Times bestselling author, Samantha Chase She’s a small town girl looking to escape her monotonous life. He’s the NFL superstar looking to return to his roots. Twelve years ago, he nearly destroyed her family. Now they’re working together and the attraction she feels is…completely undeniable. Lucy Dawson dreamed of leaving South Creek... -
![Perfect Pairing by Amanda Chaperon]()
Perfect Pairing by Amanda Chaperon
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsLife has been good for Ezra Wendt and his son, Hansen, since he accepted the head chef position at the Chateau Delatou winery. Well, mostly good—except for that time he pushed away Brie, the girl of his dreams, in a moment of cowardice.Bakery owner Brie Delatou has everything a girl could an amazing family, a thriving business, and the perfect small town to call home... -
![Silver Linings by Violet Page]()
Silver Linings by Violet Page
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsSilver James has perfected the art of keeping everything at a distance—her career, her friends, and most definitely romance. Her motto is simple: keep life carefree and fun. The more she avoids the unexpected, the less likely she is to get hurt... -
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![Game Changer: A Wynn Hockey Novel by Kelly Jamieson]()
Game Changer: A Wynn Hockey Novel by Kelly Jamieson
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsJackson Wynn I don’t want anything to do with my crazy family’s drama, which I’ve been watching unfold from a distance over the last year, but now my grandfather has Alzheimer’s and I feel I need to at least make a quick visit to see him. My hockey season’s over, all I have to do is get through my teammate Steve’s wedding, and then I’m on a plane to Los Angeles to do my family duty...Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers siblings-bff contemporary m-f hockey length-medium audiobook -
![The Fastball by Emily Childs]()
The Fastball by Emily Childs
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsShe's the coach's aggravating daughter. He's the shy guy on first base. And they have no idea they're keeping the same secret. After a devastating accident that leaves his throwing hand in shambles, MLB first baseman, Dax Sage, finds out the woman handling the PR for his recovery is none other than the gorgeous, frigid daughter of his head coach... -
![Stout of My League by Sylvie Stewart]()
Stout of My League by Sylvie Stewart
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsLynn Brooks is officially over it.With four overprotective brothers, the youngest Brooks sibling has had enough with bossy alphas. So, when professional baseball star Joey Martel makes a play for her, she's determined to steer clear of him and his toxic circle of jocks. Being the latest conquest for another overbearing caveman? No thanks...Categorized as:
friends to lovers sports grumpy sunshine contemporary age difference athletes humor length-medium -
![Faked and Fumbled by Gina Azzi]()
Faked and Fumbled by Gina Azzi
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsKnoxville Coyotes football heartthrob Cohen Campbell is my brother’s best friend. Now, he’s the man posing as my fake boyfriend. Simple, right? Wrong.I thought my luck couldn’t get worse than when my long-term boyfriend publicly dumped me. Wrong again. Now, my ex is dating my cousin, and our friend group is embarking on an annual ski trip.Desperate to save face, I beg Cohen to pretend to like me...Categorized as:
sports football friends to lovers siblings-bff forced proximity humor contemporary athletes -
![It Happened on a Sunday by Tracy Wolff]()
It Happened on a Sunday by Tracy Wolff
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsFrom #1 New York Times bestselling author Tracy Wolff comes a fierce, emotional romance about surviving the spotlight, outrunning your past, and choosing love when everything says you shouldn’t.They call her the Black Widow. A pop star. A tabloid tragedy. A girl who set the world on fire—and got burned in return.But Sloane Walker doesn’t care what they say. Not anymore...Categorized as:
football friends to lovers sports found-family contemporary humor length-long audiobook -
![Two for Roughing by Lasairiona E. McMaster]()
Two for Roughing by Lasairiona E. McMaster
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIt’s a simple rule: don’t bang your teammates’ siblings.Finn O’Brien didn’t just break the rule, he annihilated it. Falling in love with his best friend’s younger sister when they were teens was an accident. He fought it for years, hiding behind a list of one-night stands a mile long, anything to convince himself Molly Morrison wasn’t the woman for him...Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers siblings-bff new adult humor contemporary hockey length-medium -
![Crying Shame by Rebel Shaw]()
Crying Shame by Rebel Shaw
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAddysonLife just threw me a curveball. I have to find a new place to live, but it must be in-district, because my son has his heart set on riding the bus to his first day of kindergarten.When my brother’s sexy best friend suggests we move in with him, I have to remind myself the offer was for his spare bedrooms… not his bed... -
![Suddenly Entwined by Kelsey Woods]()
Suddenly Entwined by Kelsey Woods
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsCarolinaAfter making the dumbest mistake of my life, I need a safe place to figure out what comes next. When my older brother’s best friend offers me free room and board in exchange for caring for his daughters, it feels like coming home. These two little girls become more than a job– and their handsome dad so much more than a boss... -
![The Joy of Us by Kennedy Fox]()
The Joy of Us by Kennedy Fox
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsWhat happens when your rental cabin ends up being a scam and you’re forced to stay with a sexy lumberjack? You try to avoid him and his annoying Christmas spirit because the last thing you have time for is love. The Joy of Us is a reverse grumpy/sunshine, close proximity romance... -
![Kissing the Quarterback by Jacob Chance]()
Kissing the Quarterback by Jacob Chance
Rated: 4.26 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAs the quarterback for the Charleston Pirates, the current Super Bowl champs, I lead a blessed life. Between my salary and endorsements, I have more money than I could ever spend.But when the sale of my old home doesn’t line up with the closing on my new one, I’m forced to take up residency in a friend’s empty house.Except, it’s not empty... -
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![Reckless Impulse by L.A. Shaw]()
Reckless Impulse by L.A. Shaw
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAs kids, we had an unexplainable bond. One I don’t think we even understood back then.Over time, the pull between us developed into something we could no longer ignore.We were reckless, we were impulsive, we were… everything.Until it all came shattering down... -
![Someone You Love by Kristen Granata]()
Someone You Love by Kristen Granata
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsA touching forced proximity summer romance about healing and taking chances.Charly Johnson created a bucket list when cancer left her mother with less than a year to live. They didn’t make it all the way through the list before she died, but she made Charly promise to finish it and live her life to the fullest.Spending the summer in a coastal mountain city in Maine is next on her list...Categorized as:
sports forced proximity grumpy sunshine football new adult contemporary christian length-medium -
![Grumpy Player by R.C. Stephens]()
Grumpy Player by R.C. Stephens
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsMarrying the nanny wasn’t my biggest mistake… falling for her was. Being injured on the ice doesn’t just make me a grumpy goalie, it makes me a frustrated single dad unable to care for my daughter… or myself.Ellie is the perfect candidate— kind, patient, beautiful, and looking for a place to call home after a falling out with her family...Categorized as:
sports single-father grumpy sunshine forced proximity hockey contemporary alpha male length-medium -
![Blindsided by Shey Stahl]()
Blindsided by Shey Stahl
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsLandon Slade. Highest paid quarterback in the NFL. Demi-god. Certifiable ladies’ man. It’s no secret my ego is boosted. Being light on my feet and good with my hands, I control the plays and my stamina is legendary. And on and off the field, I make the decisions, the rules. Do I do complicated? Hell, no. I take what I want, tackle life my way. But then there’s her... -
![THE RULE BREAKER by Crystal Kaswell]()
THE RULE BREAKER by Crystal Kaswell
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsRule #1 Hands off my kid sister’s best friendRule #2 See rule number oneRule #3 Seriously, don’t even think about touching LunaLuna is my new room mate. My very off limits room mate. My gorgeous, feisty, painfully tempting room mate.I try to keep my distance. To ignore her soft laugh, her intense eyes, her sweet smile... -
![Nanny for the Doctor by Emma Blake]()
Nanny for the Doctor by Emma Blake
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsAs an ER doctor, I'm used to surprises, but my best friend’s little sister—and now my son's nanny—is the one emergency I never saw coming. She’s supposed to be tending to scrapes and telling bedtime stories, not sending my pulse racing with every smile. I've got my hands full with ER shifts and single fatherhood; I don't have time for wild nights with the nanny...
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