The Dating Playbook

Rochon follows The Boyfriend Project with a nuanced rom-com that sees Taylor Powell working to launch her career as a fitness consultant. Taylor is broke, struggling to get her business off the ground and fearfully considering the possibility that her only way forward is to go back to school. The solution to her problems comes in the form of former NFL star Jamar “Diesel” Dixon, who hires her as his personal trainer after attending her pop-up workout session. Jamar hopes to return to the field after an injury and offers Taylor a hefty fee to get him back into shape. But he has one condition: to avoid feeding into fan speculation about his career, no one can know they’re working together. Taylor agrees, and to cover the true nature of their relationship when pressed by reporters, she blurts out that they’re lovers. With both of their careers on the line, the pair create a “Dating Playbook” to guide their fake relationship—but the game plan changes when their chemistry becomes too powerful to ignore. There’s no shortage of sexual tension, and Rochon’s emphasis on boundaries and healthy communication creates a strong central pairing. Exploring themes of self-doubt and recovery, this emotional romance is sure to win hearts. [em]Agent: Evan Marshall, Evan Marshall Agency. (July) [/em]