If You’ve Ever Fallen for a Fictional Dad... This One’s For You

Okay ladies, let me put you on to A Whole New Play by Britt McKenna because it’s giving nanny/single dad romance, it’s giving slow-burn with tension so thick you could cut it with a butter knife, and it’s giving raw, emotional, messy love that feels real.

I picked it up expecting cute baseball dad fluff and got feelings, steam, trauma, redemption, and a love story that actually earns its happy ending.

Yes, ma’am. This one delivers.

You know the trope. You’ve seen it. You think you know what’s coming. But Britt McKenna said, let me raise the stakes.

What makes this one different? History. Chemistry. Secret heartbreak. Valerie and Carter aren’t strangers—there’s a past. They met on a holiday, had this beautiful, intense connection, and then—poof. Gone. So when Valerie shows up for her first day as a live-in nanny (yes, live-in), and finds out her new boss is that guy? Instant tension. Instant “oh no.” Instant "what the actual hell."

And you know what that means? We get that unspoken longing, the charged glances, the did-that-just-happen hand brushes, the pretending we don’t remember how good that kiss was in Cabo two years ago… You feel that slow burn in your bones, babe.

Let’s talk about the heat, because YES this book brings it. Carter is that brooding, emotionally guarded, single dad baseball player with just enough soft under all that hard. Valerie is strong, bright, and not afraid to challenge him—but she’s also got some serious wounds of her own. So when they collide? It’s not just physical. It’s everything.

The spice isn’t gratuitous—it’s earned. It’s tension relief. It’s breaking points. It’s "I’ve wanted you since the moment I saw you, and now I finally can." And it will make you blush, in the best way.

But here’s the thing: this book hurts, too. Britt McKenna doesn’t shy away from grief, loss, and what it really means to put your heart on the line when you’ve already lost so much. Carter’s grief isn’t just mentioned in passing—it's a huge part of who he is. He’s not healed. He’s surviving. And watching him slowly open his heart again? Gut-wrenching. But also so, so beautiful.

This isn’t one of those “the kids are just cute plot props” situations. Carter’s kids are central. They’re dealing with real pain, especially the oldest, who is trying to be the man of the house way too young. It’s heartbreaking to watch—and Valerie sees him. She connects. She earns their trust. So when things go sideways between her and Carter (and they do, because drama), it’s not just about heartbreak between two adults. It’s about a family getting ripped apart.

And that? Raises the stakes. You feel the consequences. You root for more than just a kiss—you root for healing, for connection, for all of them to find peace.

She writes with heart. And edge. And an honesty that makes you feel everything. One minute you’re grinning at some flirty banter in the kitchen, the next you’re holding your breath because everything is falling apart. But the pacing? Spot on. The emotional beats? Nailed. The payoff? Satisfying as hell.

You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll absolutely fan yourself once or twice. And you’ll not be okay when the third-act breakdown hits like a truck.

If you love a nanny/single dad romance with real emotional depth and enough heat to keep your Kindle fogged up, A Whole New Play is your next obsession.

• The chemistry is insane.

• The grief is real.

• The kids matter.

• The love story is earned.

• And yes, the steam is so worth it.

It’s sexy. It’s emotional. It’s messy in all the right ways. And it will leave you absolutely feral for more from Britt McKenna.

And good news? It’s a standalone (no cliff-hanger stress!), but it’s part of her Whole New Game series—which means if you fall in love with her writing style (and let’s be real, you will), there’s more waiting for you. You’re welcome.

Rating 4/5