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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Resisting the Runningback is a heartfelt sports romance. It's told in dual pov and the audio is dual narrated. It follows the MCs Miller and Sophie. They have been best friends forever and Miller has always had a secret crush on Sophie. I enjoyed the story and relationship dynamic shift between these two. Miller is bestie and hubby goals. A man willing to drop anything for you and help with whatever and whenever is a dream! Sophie was one lucky lady. If a girl has to be a damsel in distress, pray that you find a Miller. This was a fun, fast paced, and entertaining read. I listened to the audiobook and liked it. If you are looking to try a new sports romance series, give these Nash brothers a try.
Title: Resisting the Running Backđź“š
Author: Lisa Suzanne
Series: The Nash Brothers (book 5)
Narrators: Kelsey Navarro Foster & Tor Thom
Themes & Tropes:
đź’šProfessional Football & Romance Author
🧡BFFs to Lovers
đź’›Secret Pen Name
đź’šFake Relationship
🧡Knight in Shining Armor
đź’›Forced Proximity
đź’šUnrequited Love
🧡He Falls Hard
Overall, liked this read.
Title: Resisting the Running Backđź“š
Author: Lisa Suzanne
Series: The Nash Brothers (book 5)
Narrators: Kelsey Navarro Foster & Tor Thom
Themes & Tropes:
đź’šProfessional Football & Romance Author
🧡BFFs to Lovers
đź’›Secret Pen Name
đź’šFake Relationship
🧡Knight in Shining Armor
đź’›Forced Proximity
đź’šUnrequited Love
🧡He Falls Hard
Overall, liked this read.
adventurous
emotional
funny
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:
No
If you're looking for a sports romance that delivers heart, heat, and high emotional stakes, the Nash (and Banks!) Brothers series finale hits the mark.
Grayson Nash is everything you want in a romance hero: brooding, misunderstood, and smoulderingly attractive. But it’s his vulnerable side, reserved mostly for Ava, that truly makes him stand out. That said, this story belongs just as much to Ava. She’s strong, independent, and so relatable that it was easy to root for her from the very beginning. She made this story shine. I absolutely loved her.
The friends-to-lovers dynamic between Ava and Grayson is handled with refreshing depth. Ava isn’t your typical swooning heroine often found in friends-to-lovers dynamics. She has her own fears and boundaries, especially when it comes to risking a long-standing friendship. Her emotional hesitancy felt incredibly real and grounded, making her growth all the more rewarding. Watching her navigate that inner conflict was one of my favourite parts of the book.
Their chemistry? Off the charts. The tension? Deliciously slow-burning. The “pretending it’s just for show” setup added layers of emotional complexity, making the eventual payoff so much sweeter. What made the romance feel especially authentic was Ava’s strength within the relationship. She challenges Grayson, calls him out, and stands her ground. She is never a passive participant. She is always engaged and actively shaping their story.
The banter between them felt natural, funny, and exactly what you’d expect from longtime friends with real history. I laughed out loud more than once, which added a great balance to the emotional depth. Lisa Suzanne really captured that sense of shared history. It never felt forced or overly scripted.
The pacing was strong overall, though there were moments when I wanted to shout, “Just talk to each other already!” But honestly, that tension made the resolution even more satisfying.
Without spoiling anything, the emotional climax had me in pieces, in the best way.
I’m sad to see the Nash-Banks Brothers series come to an end, but this was a fantastic conclusion to their journey as a family. It has all the steam, emotion, and swoon I look for in a romance. I will absolutely be recommending it to anyone who enjoys a sports romance with high stakes and high heat.
If you’re a fan of slow-burn tension, emotionally rich characters, and a heroine who holds her own, this is a must-read. Lisa Suzanne knows how to craft chemistry you can feel and characters you genuinely want to root for. And that teaser for the next series? Consider me hooked.
Grayson Nash is everything you want in a romance hero: brooding, misunderstood, and smoulderingly attractive. But it’s his vulnerable side, reserved mostly for Ava, that truly makes him stand out. That said, this story belongs just as much to Ava. She’s strong, independent, and so relatable that it was easy to root for her from the very beginning. She made this story shine. I absolutely loved her.
The friends-to-lovers dynamic between Ava and Grayson is handled with refreshing depth. Ava isn’t your typical swooning heroine often found in friends-to-lovers dynamics. She has her own fears and boundaries, especially when it comes to risking a long-standing friendship. Her emotional hesitancy felt incredibly real and grounded, making her growth all the more rewarding. Watching her navigate that inner conflict was one of my favourite parts of the book.
Their chemistry? Off the charts. The tension? Deliciously slow-burning. The “pretending it’s just for show” setup added layers of emotional complexity, making the eventual payoff so much sweeter. What made the romance feel especially authentic was Ava’s strength within the relationship. She challenges Grayson, calls him out, and stands her ground. She is never a passive participant. She is always engaged and actively shaping their story.
The banter between them felt natural, funny, and exactly what you’d expect from longtime friends with real history. I laughed out loud more than once, which added a great balance to the emotional depth. Lisa Suzanne really captured that sense of shared history. It never felt forced or overly scripted.
The pacing was strong overall, though there were moments when I wanted to shout, “Just talk to each other already!” But honestly, that tension made the resolution even more satisfying.
Without spoiling anything, the emotional climax had me in pieces, in the best way.
I’m sad to see the Nash-Banks Brothers series come to an end, but this was a fantastic conclusion to their journey as a family. It has all the steam, emotion, and swoon I look for in a romance. I will absolutely be recommending it to anyone who enjoys a sports romance with high stakes and high heat.
If you’re a fan of slow-burn tension, emotionally rich characters, and a heroine who holds her own, this is a must-read. Lisa Suzanne knows how to craft chemistry you can feel and characters you genuinely want to root for. And that teaser for the next series? Consider me hooked.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
This was such a sweet friends to lovers romance.
I absolutely adore how much Miller loves & adores Sophie.
He has spent years caring for her, being present, quietly loving her.
They have such raw passion, & amazing chemistry, all on top of their friendship. They have fun together, encourage each other, and love each other.
They have to learn to navigate their new dynamic & share their truths and fears.
I can’t believe all of the Nash Brothers have finally found their happiness.
I absolutely adore how much Miller loves & adores Sophie.
He has spent years caring for her, being present, quietly loving her.
They have such raw passion, & amazing chemistry, all on top of their friendship. They have fun together, encourage each other, and love each other.
They have to learn to navigate their new dynamic & share their truths and fears.
I can’t believe all of the Nash Brothers have finally found their happiness.
I’m feeling a mix of emotions after finishing Resisting the Running Back by Lisa Suzanne—the final book in The Nash Brothers series. I’ve grown attached to this family over the course of the series, and saying goodbye isn’t easy. This last book focuses on Miller Banks, the charming running back who’s been in love with his best friend, Sophie Summers, for years—and finally gets the chance to show her.
When Sophie’s ex blows up her career by exposing her secret pen name, Miller drops everything and shows up for her without question. That moment alone set the tone for how much care and loyalty is packed into this book. And then there’s Sophie—trying to hold it together after losing her job, figuring out her next steps, and accidentally turning their friendship into a fake engagement situation because she blurts things when she’s overwhelmed (relatable). Their first kiss isn’t just hot—it’s a shift. From that point on, the tension builds in such a believable way. It’s steamy, yes, but what really worked for me was how emotionally grounded it all felt.
I appreciated that the story never made Sophie feel small for what she was going through. She gets to be messy and uncertain, and Miller doesn’t try to fix it—he just stands next to her while she finds her footing again. That balance between emotional support and romantic tension is what made this book land for me.
This is the final book in the Nash Brothers series, and while Miller and Sophie’s story stands on its own, I’ll definitely miss all the friends we’ve met along the way. This was a strong, heartfelt finish—and honestly, my favorite of the series.
Thank you @authorlisasuzanne and @valentine_pr for the #gifted ebook arc. All opinions expressed are my own.
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
*Resisting the Running Back* by Lisa Suzanne delivers a well-written, steamy friends-to-lovers romance with all the tropes fans of the genre will expect—fake relationship, forced proximity, and sizzling chemistry. The premise is engaging: Sophie Summer’s secret pen name is exposed, and her pro football star best friend, Miller Banks, steps in to help her pick up the pieces. The setup promises plenty of drama and heart, and Lisa Suzanne’s writing style flows smoothly, making it easy to follow the story.
However, despite the solid writing and likable characters, I found myself swimming through the pages, eager to get ahead rather than savoring the journey. The pacing lagged in places, and the plot felt a bit predictable, with many familiar beats that didn’t quite surprise or excite me. While the romance between Sophie and Miller is sweet and believable, the story didn’t fully hook me or keep me invested in their outcome.
Overall, *Resisting the Running Back* is a decent read for fans of sports romance and the best friends-to-lovers trope, but it didn’t quite stand out for me. A good pick if you’re looking for something familiar and comforting, but not one that left a lasting impression.
Tropes:
-sports romance
-friends to lovers
-forced proximity
-FMC is an author
-found family
-marriage of convenience
-he falls first
-slow burn
-fake relationship
I loved Miller and Summer’s story. They were an amazing friends-to-lovers story. Miller has been pining over Summer for years. He has never had a real relationship because he is stuck on her. Lisa Suzanne writes incredible stories with spice and a little bit of drama. I have loved every single one I have read.
I listened to the audiobook. Kelsey Navarro Foster and Tor Thom did a fantastic job bringing these characters to life. I can not recommend this whole series enough. I have loved them all. They are available on KU. I hope you read them and love them, too.
Quotes:
This is all I’ve ever wanted. She is all I ever wanted. And she’s right within my grasp. All I need to do is reach out and cling to her.
Spicy Chapters:
-Chapter 10
-Chapter 13
-Chapter 20
-Chapter 21
-Chapter 22
-Chapter 25
-Chapter 27
-Chapter 28
-Chapter 33
-Chapter 38
-Chapter 41
-Chapter 48
-Chapter 58
IG,TT, & FB: bookkat1214
-sports romance
-friends to lovers
-forced proximity
-FMC is an author
-found family
-marriage of convenience
-he falls first
-slow burn
-fake relationship
I loved Miller and Summer’s story. They were an amazing friends-to-lovers story. Miller has been pining over Summer for years. He has never had a real relationship because he is stuck on her. Lisa Suzanne writes incredible stories with spice and a little bit of drama. I have loved every single one I have read.
I listened to the audiobook. Kelsey Navarro Foster and Tor Thom did a fantastic job bringing these characters to life. I can not recommend this whole series enough. I have loved them all. They are available on KU. I hope you read them and love them, too.
Quotes:
This is all I’ve ever wanted. She is all I ever wanted. And she’s right within my grasp. All I need to do is reach out and cling to her.
Spicy Chapters:
-Chapter 10
-Chapter 13
-Chapter 20
-Chapter 21
-Chapter 22
-Chapter 25
-Chapter 27
-Chapter 28
-Chapter 33
-Chapter 38
-Chapter 41
-Chapter 48
-Chapter 58
IG,TT, & FB: bookkat1214
Sophie and Miller!!!! OMG. I love a good friends to lovers romance. And the fact that Miller’s been in love with Sophie since they were kids only makes it that much better. And watching Sophie’s thinking change was chef’s kiss. Miller is an ideal book boyfriend.
Kelsey and Tor did a fantastic job narrating Sophie and Miller. I couldn’t stop listening!
I’m so sad to see the Nash Brothers (and Miller brothers) series come to an end, but I know Lisa will have something wonderful coming next.
Thank you Valentine PR for my audio copy of this book.
Kelsey and Tor did a fantastic job narrating Sophie and Miller. I couldn’t stop listening!
I’m so sad to see the Nash Brothers (and Miller brothers) series come to an end, but I know Lisa will have something wonderful coming next.
Thank you Valentine PR for my audio copy of this book.