Reviews

After putting this off for a month, Im more interested to read Fair Catch by Kandi Steiner only after two days picking that book up, so im DNF-ing this one for awhile, and will be picking this up only when i have the mood to read it. This book gave me the same feeling like Behind the Net, where the plot is very sex-focused, borderline erotica rather than romance and erotica is not my most preferred subromance genre. Funny, because i'll also be picking Behind the Net back if i'm in the mood to continue it, but for now, both didn't interest me enough, and i just had to dnf them. Overall, the plot and characters are not interesting or new enough to keep me reading, and the grammar's kinda wonky 🥴 the MMC felt icky and idk, maybe i've outgrowned college settings but i can't take him seriously.

P/s: the more seasoned i am in my reading journey, the lesser my interest in slutty manwhore MMCs. I just cannot stand them or find myself wanting to know more about themselves and their backstories. Especially if they're in college or frat houses. Manwhore MMCs too always gave cheap confessions that didnt match their actions, so they ended up being pretty unbelievable to me. Basically, I just hate frats-related thing in anything, and this book (+ The LORDS series, Credence, Off Campus series & Briar U series) gave me frat guys energy, and i cant lie, the moment i realise Lane gave me this frat vibe, he really turns me off from continuing this.

I dont get frat guys energy from Kandi's sport romance MMCs as much, in fact, i love LOVE LOVE the Red Zone Rivals series for how mature and passionate in their crafts, the MMCs and FMCs are (as mature as any college students in their early 20s can be). i love the complexity of her characters there and her writing's generally better too, so these could play some factors to my enjoyment of sport romances. Anyway, i don't think i can take any college sport romances seriously anymore if all they do is play ball, go to parties, fuck all the time, get drunk and never study. But then, these premises are why sport romances are popular and are always on demand in the New Adult category, so maybe i've just really outgrew them.

I do enjoy adult sports romances though, so theres that. Maybe if i was younger, i would've liked Lane and Hallie's story more, but i'm not younger, and i hate frats, so i gotta DNF this at 27%. (maybe if i had listened to the audiobook instead, i wouldn't have DNF-ed this).

Some things i like about this book that made me want to continue:
- Hallie's interest in nerdy things. It's the only thing that kept me reading because i found myself agreeing and paying attention to her sciency conspiracy theories.
- Hallie's relationship with Eli. Theyre both so sweet! I really love their friendship.
- Hallie's character in general, reminds me of Giana from Blind Side by Kandi Steiner, so maybe that's why I like Hallie, because I LOVE Giana!
- basically, if it's not obvious already, i really like Hallie, unfortunately Lane is Lane, and he is no Clay Johnson so i still have to DNF this 🤷‍♀️

harmour's review against another edition

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4.0

Best Friends Brother, Sports Romance

I love a book where the “weird” awkward girl gets the jock!

I also greatly appreciate how Eli did not throw a fit about his best friend and brother wanting to be together.

cathyo_113's review

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? N/A
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Content Warnings

tayloraddison's review against another edition

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4.0

it’s here!?! it’s finally live!!! y’all i was so nervous to read this because i don’t typically read or enjoy baseball romances howeverrr this one was so freaking good. i was kicking me feet the whole time! it is the cutest book ever! i love hallie and lane so freaking much. i felt like i related to hallie in a lot of different ways and really enjoyed reading a book with a fmc that is sorta similar to me. and lane was everything omg. he is just the hottest most caring and patient person ever! i wish i had a lane in my life! he truly was such a great character and i loved him so much like i can’t put into words how much i liked him! i loved the family dynamic vibes i got from the house and from hallie and lanes friends. everyone seemed super supportive but also not afraid to give lane and hallie some needed tough love. i was also very much so not prepared for how spicy this book was either.

if you like…
⚾️ complete standalone
⚾️ college baseball
⚾️ virgin heroine + reformed playboy hero
⚾️ forced proximity
⚾️ best friend's brother
⚾️ "teach me" lessons
⚾️ high spice
⚾️ boy obsessed/he falls first
then you need this asap!!!

thank you so much maren for an arc!!!!