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the_kara_kara's review against another edition
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
zgreyz's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
cute stuff. love the ace/demi/questioning labels rep. and i love that characters from anita’s other books are still here as side characters too. some parts of this felt awkward to me, and not in the awkward charming way they were meant. specifically the convo at the vets office, it just felt very random and out of nowhere, and situationally awkward elle just kept pushing to talk about relationship stuff while julie’s cat was in surgery. felt like really weird timing and low key taking advantage of julie’s fragile state at the time.
also, i don’t love the asking for consent after you’re already doing the thing that often happened in this book. kinda defeats the purpose of asking consent.
overall a fun read though, even as someone who doesn’t follow sports at all.
also, i don’t love the asking for consent after you’re already doing the thing that often happened in this book. kinda defeats the purpose of asking consent.
overall a fun read though, even as someone who doesn’t follow sports at all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Mental illness
Minor: Abandonment and Addiction
bookcasey's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
I read it all in one day. Another queer delight from Anita Kelly that manages to tackle some tough, meaningful topics while still celebrating queer joy and love and self-discovery.
Could be read as a stand-alone, but contains major spoilers for the previous two books.
Could be read as a stand-alone, but contains major spoilers for the previous two books.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Mental illness and Addiction
thefatpaperback's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I love every story Anita crafts. They do such a good job of making readers feel so viscerally the emotions of the characters. I so, so adored Elle and Julie's story. It was packed full of heartwarming moments that brought me immense comfort.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Abandonment, and Drug abuse
hannahmichele5's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I picked this for a local romance bookclub without having even read it because I trust Anita Kelly with my life and, as always, they delivered! The yearning, self-discovery, found-family, basketball, hot gays, mental health rep, steamy scenes, etc. had me constantly bouncing between giggly and getting teary eyed. Also, if any of you have been wanting to "practice kiss" me against an Italian restaurant, JUST SAY SO!
Thanks to Forever for sending me an advanced copy! Anita, I hope you never stop writing books. <3
Thanks to Forever for sending me an advanced copy! Anita, I hope you never stop writing books. <3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
sarahyjackson's review against another edition
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
“But that when it came to identity, when it came to queerness, the whole point was that there were no tryouts. If you were even thinking about it, you were already on the team. That labels weren't meant to confine, only to bring comfort to those for whom they were useful.
That Julie didn't need to ascribe to any of them if she didn't want to.
Elle wanted to say that, label or no label, hearing Julie just describe relationships and sexuality in sports metaphors was the gayest thing that had ever happened to her. And she had spent half her life dedicated to women's basketball.”
Lemme tell you what I normally like my romance fairly kink/smut forward with enough plot to sort of hold the thing together but this Tennessee set story of two folks navigating care (personal and systemic) and queerness and BASKETBALL done gone and challenged that notion for real.
Lemme tell you what I normally like my romance fairly kink/smut forward with enough plot to sort of hold the thing together but this Tennessee set story of two folks navigating care (personal and systemic) and queerness and BASKETBALL done gone and challenged that notion for real.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Sexual content, Chronic illness, and Mental illness
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Homophobia
deetabz's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Chronic illness, Alcoholism, Addiction, Drug abuse, and Mental illness
Minor: Abandonment, Alcohol, and Transphobia
auteaandtales's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
My first Anita Kelly book and I’ve been missing out! The writing was so warm and engaging, everything felt so real, and I love that the author let us spend some extra time getting to know people and having intimate moments not just with the main characters but with the other characters, as well. This isn’t something I read a lot in romances and I loved that. Everyone was so caring and full of love for each other with empathy and compassion.
There’s stuff like figuring things out later on in life such as your sexuality and a career change, which I love! I hate that we have to know who we are and what we want so early on in life and things don’t realistically work out like that, a lot of the time. I especially loved the asexual rep. I rarely see it in adult romances and it brought so much joy to my heart.
Alongside that, there’s also rep for chronic migraine sufferers, nonbinary people, depression, lesbians and foster parents! With some heavier themes, also, that involve addiction and parental neglect. It was heavy but very well handled.
There was also lots of emphasis on consent, in all contexts, and about how whoever you are is whoever you are and it’s all okay.
All in all, a mostly comforting read that made me feel loved and supported with some heavier topics that were handled with all the respect they should have been handled with. I can’t wait to read more from Anita Kelly!!
There’s stuff like figuring things out later on in life such as your sexuality and a career change, which I love! I hate that we have to know who we are and what we want so early on in life and things don’t realistically work out like that, a lot of the time. I especially loved the asexual rep. I rarely see it in adult romances and it brought so much joy to my heart.
Alongside that, there’s also rep for chronic migraine sufferers, nonbinary people, depression, lesbians and foster parents! With some heavier themes, also, that involve addiction and parental neglect. It was heavy but very well handled.
There was also lots of emphasis on consent, in all contexts, and about how whoever you are is whoever you are and it’s all okay.
All in all, a mostly comforting read that made me feel loved and supported with some heavier topics that were handled with all the respect they should have been handled with. I can’t wait to read more from Anita Kelly!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Abandonment, and Addiction
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Abandonment, Addiction, and Medical content
jippieyay's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I thoroughly loved this book. Where I already enjoyed the first two books in this same universe, this was definitely my favourite. Partly because of the insights into mental health issues/depression from a partner's viewpoint, which was very good to read because, struggling with depression myself, I sometimes find it hard to figure out whar that migjt looj like from the "outside". But also in general, i'd just really love to meet both Elle and Julie and learn basketball from them!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
charleyyyyy's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
🏀I was so excited for this book because of how much I loved the previous books in this series. So while it wasn't my favourite, I still had a great time reading it.
🐘I didn't find myself incredibly invested in the romance. I didn't feel the charicters connection all that strongly, and their feelings for each other felt a bit forced. I thought the whole 'practice relationship' aspect felt a bit....off. I did enjoy the way their romance was written, though, if that makes sense? Like, I enjoyed how it was chill, not overdramatic or over obsessed with each other or anythring. And I love how Kelly writes quiet, vulnerable moments that are full of feeling. I think that's one of the things I love best about Kelly's books.
✏️As well as the way Kelly always puts a large focus on the emotionally difficult things the charicters are going through in their lives. I could really relate and sympathise with the characters in this book because of that. I loved the way it was written. So while I didn't care as much about the romance, I still felt connected to the charicters, and their arcs.
🍴Also, a sapphic book where the characters actually use the word "lesbian"!!!! I also appreciated how Julie had never had sex before but her being a virgin wasn't fetishised or made a big deal of. In fact, the term "virgin" was never even used!
🏀It did feel a bit...old for me. I think it's a better fit for melenials, perhaps. I didn't get the references or the humour.
🐘It was easy to read, quick and entertaining, which was perfect for when I was preparing for my prelims and needed something to relax with.
✏️And I LOVED seeing the characters from the previous books, and what stage their lives and relationships are at now. Some things with them aren't perfect, and I really enjoyed that, it felt comforting. I'm really happy with the parts of them we got to see.
🏀I would recommend if you want an easy sapphic romance with a focus on sport and the charicters emotional struggles.
🐘I didn't find myself incredibly invested in the romance. I didn't feel the charicters connection all that strongly, and their feelings for each other felt a bit forced. I thought the whole 'practice relationship' aspect felt a bit....off. I did enjoy the way their romance was written, though, if that makes sense? Like, I enjoyed how it was chill, not overdramatic or over obsessed with each other or anythring. And I love how Kelly writes quiet, vulnerable moments that are full of feeling. I think that's one of the things I love best about Kelly's books.
✏️As well as the way Kelly always puts a large focus on the emotionally difficult things the charicters are going through in their lives. I could really relate and sympathise with the characters in this book because of that. I loved the way it was written. So while I didn't care as much about the romance, I still felt connected to the charicters, and their arcs.
🍴Also, a sapphic book where the characters actually use the word "lesbian"!!!! I also appreciated how Julie had never had sex before but her being a virgin wasn't fetishised or made a big deal of. In fact, the term "virgin" was never even used!
🏀It did feel a bit...old for me. I think it's a better fit for melenials, perhaps. I didn't get the references or the humour.
🐘It was easy to read, quick and entertaining, which was perfect for when I was preparing for my prelims and needed something to relax with.
✏️And I LOVED seeing the characters from the previous books, and what stage their lives and relationships are at now. Some things with them aren't perfect, and I really enjoyed that, it felt comforting. I'm really happy with the parts of them we got to see.
🏀I would recommend if you want an easy sapphic romance with a focus on sport and the charicters emotional struggles.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Mental illness, Addiction, Blood, and Sexual content