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cathyo_113's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.25
My Rating: 4.25 ⭐️ | 2.5 🌶️
Tropes:
x Single dad
x Age Gap
x Summer Love
x Sports Romance
x Slight Insta-love
My Review:
Lotus and Kenan’s love story is so sweet and strong. Kennedy Ryan does a fantastic job unraveling the attraction and emotion between the characters.
But, I am mad about the last few chapters/ending of the story. Like Long Shot, this book is not a romance. There is no HEA nor a HFN before the epilogue. The majority of the situations that stand between the MCs and an HEA or HFN remain unresolved by the end of the last chapter. The story and drama that unfolds between Lotus and Kenan is told so well and with a lot of care. But there is a MAJOR plot twist(?) in the last three chapters. Wtf? And it isn’t fully resolved before the epilogue. IMHO, the story and all major plot points should be resolved in their entirety before the epilogue. As a reader, I am not owed an epilogue and know it doesn’t come with every romance book. So in my opinion this is contemporary fiction with a love story.
Also - that MAJOR plot twist is not necessary. The author could have had just as a meaningful exchange between Lotus and the people in Kenan’s life in a different setting with just as much emotion. Instead, the reader is forced to read through another tragedy in the last 30 pages of the book before the epilogue.
This whole book, it’s like a love story between two people who have an insta-attraction/love but are mired but a ton of effed up situations that are happening to and around them. Like, please just get them to an HEA before the epilogue. I shouldn’t have to wait for the Epilogue for all major issues/challenges faced by the MCs to find a resolution.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Death, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Violence, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Sexual content, and Infidelity
amarachireadss's review against another edition
4.5
“I have found the one whom my soul loves,” he quotes. More tears rain over my cheeks; a release years overdue. I weep for every time I’ve felt unloved, unwanted, unnecessary, and imperfect. It’s all there in the look he settles on me. To him, I’m more than enough. I’m all that he wants.”
This just may be my favorite book in this series. I really enjoyed the personal journey that both Keenan and Lotus went through and the romance 🥹. Their connection, chemistry, the drama and the friendship made this such a good read. I really really appreciated the healing that Lotus had to go through that stemmed from the trauma she went through.
Something that was really interesting to me in this book was Lotus’s spirituality. The combination of New Orleans voodoo and christianity and how it shaped her relationship with Kennan and also her healing was so unique and different. At first I was like huh but I really liked how it played out especially with the Song of Solomon verses and also the voodoo healing(?). Like always the way Kennedy Ryan writes friendships and healing was really well done and I liked the glimpses of characters from the first 2 books.
Tropes/themes
- Single dad
- Age gap
- Healing
- Slow burn
- Sports romance
4.5⭐️
This just may be my favorite book in this series. I really enjoyed the personal journey that both Keenan and Lotus went through and the romance 🥹. Their connection, chemistry, the drama and the friendship made this such a good read. I really really appreciated the healing that Lotus had to go through that stemmed from the trauma she went through.
Something that was really interesting to me in this book was Lotus’s spirituality. The combination of New Orleans voodoo and christianity and how it shaped her relationship with Kennan and also her healing was so unique and different. At first I was like huh but I really liked how it played out especially with the Song of Solomon verses and also the voodoo healing(?). Like always the way Kennedy Ryan writes friendships and healing was really well done and I liked the glimpses of characters from the first 2 books.
Tropes/themes
- Single dad
- Age gap
- Healing
- Slow burn
- Sports romance
4.5⭐️
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape and Physical abuse
shaipanda's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
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? Yes
5.0
I’m so glad I got back into Kennedy Ryan’s work because I loved Reel but also reading it was so painful at times that I never delved into the rest of her backlist. But I’m seriously so glad I did because this is literally by far one of my favorite couples I’ve read about this year - they go through so much in this book but they combat it all so well and I suprisingly didn’t feel like what they gave throughout the book was too much too quickly. I mean obviously it’s a lot in one book and probably one of the huge crises/hospital trips in this book could have been cut because it was a lot, but also everything served a purpose and was amazing written and discussed
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Abandonment, Suicide attempt, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Car accident, Sexual content, Grief, and Child abuse
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Pregnancy, Infidelity, and Physical abuse
naaytaashreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
5.0
“What if she gave me to you?” I bend to whisper over her lips. “What if I’m your gris gris now?”
Trigger warning: Rape, sexual assault, suicide, grief, divorce, broken families, trauma and PTSD.
I cannot believe I have to an end to this beautifully written series.
Kennedy Ryan literally struck an arrow in my heart and introduced me to her world.
Each series is beautiful on its own and I can't pick a favourite, however Hook Shot definitely was so emotional and tugged the strings of my heart.
We follow Lotus and Kenan who are facing different struggle in their life.
They swear off relationships, and trust is something to be earned.
Reading Hook Shot definitely made me even believe in fate. I believe in fate and how it stumbles into our life.
Sometimes love happens, can be the wrong place and time, but what will always find its way back to each other.
I enjoyed the two POVS and character growth for each of them.
With how their life is individual and how it affects them and their relationship.
The decisions they have to make, sacrifices and patience.
Lotus, our brave, fierce boss, definitely went through so much in her life and following her journey was heartbreaking but hopefully. It's difficult to face trauma but with time and the right people, she found her own happiness not saying the trauma ever goes away, but she found her balance of facing with it.
While following Kenan's journey in balancing his career, relationship and co-parenting.
The idea and plotline of seeing a counselor is such a big eye opener, as it might seem taboo or something is wrong when one seeks help.
Their chemistry was raw, honest, and natural. They are so beautiful individually, but together they create a rainbow in each other's life.
Kennedy Ryan did a phenomenal job with this series.
Not only did she write an amazing sports romance but writing on real-life issues that we avoid having conversations in real life, her story gives people hope and conversation starter on how we can help others and change how society sees them.
“Nothing against fake lashes. I just don’t like it when the woman blinking them is fake, too.”
Trigger warning: Rape, sexual assault, suicide, grief, divorce, broken families, trauma and PTSD.
I cannot believe I have to an end to this beautifully written series.
Kennedy Ryan literally struck an arrow in my heart and introduced me to her world.
Each series is beautiful on its own and I can't pick a favourite, however Hook Shot definitely was so emotional and tugged the strings of my heart.
We follow Lotus and Kenan who are facing different struggle in their life.
They swear off relationships, and trust is something to be earned.
Reading Hook Shot definitely made me even believe in fate. I believe in fate and how it stumbles into our life.
Sometimes love happens, can be the wrong place and time, but what will always find its way back to each other.
I enjoyed the two POVS and character growth for each of them.
With how their life is individual and how it affects them and their relationship.
The decisions they have to make, sacrifices and patience.
Lotus, our brave, fierce boss, definitely went through so much in her life and following her journey was heartbreaking but hopefully. It's difficult to face trauma but with time and the right people, she found her own happiness not saying the trauma ever goes away, but she found her balance of facing with it.
While following Kenan's journey in balancing his career, relationship and co-parenting.
The idea and plotline of seeing a counselor is such a big eye opener, as it might seem taboo or something is wrong when one seeks help.
Their chemistry was raw, honest, and natural. They are so beautiful individually, but together they create a rainbow in each other's life.
Kennedy Ryan did a phenomenal job with this series.
Not only did she write an amazing sports romance but writing on real-life issues that we avoid having conversations in real life, her story gives people hope and conversation starter on how we can help others and change how society sees them.
“Nothing against fake lashes. I just don’t like it when the woman blinking them is fake, too.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Death, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, and Death of parent
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