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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
Kennedy Ryan delivers an emotional powerhouse with Long Shot. This story isn’t just about love it’s about survival, resilience, and finding the strength to break free. Iris’s journey was heartbreaking yet inspiring, and August was the kind of love she truly deserved. The writing was raw, gripping, and deeply moving, making it impossible to put this book down. This isn’t just a romance it’s a story that stays with you long after the last page.
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Holy bananas, I felt this book down to my bones, 5 stars. Once in a while, I come across a book that totally captivates me and makes me feel instead of just read words on a page and this book was it. Kennedy Ryan did a great job building Iris as a character and an even more amazing job capturing Iris's pain, fear, doubts, emotions, love, hate, and every feeling in-between. This book is not for the faint of heart, I've read other books that cover domestic violence, but none made me feel as much as this. I almost wish that this wasn't a romance story between Iris and August, but I guess that it took meeting August to realize how wrong things were with Caleb. Can I just say, thank goodness Iris has Lo in her life. To have a bond that deep with another human being is one of the most precious things in life.
**Please read the trigger warnings before starting this book. This book is categorized as a sports/contemporary romance but don't go into book thinking it's a light read. Romance takes a backseat to Iris's domestic violence story.
Format: audiobook
**Please read the trigger warnings before starting this book. This book is categorized as a sports/contemporary romance but don't go into book thinking it's a light read. Romance takes a backseat to Iris's domestic violence story.
Format: audiobook
dark
emotional
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:
Complicated
First read: May 20th, 2024
Loved loved loved the MMC, the FMC kept making such sad and frustrating choices, would not read again.
Loved loved loved the MMC, the FMC kept making such sad and frustrating choices, would not read again.
5 ⭐️
(spotify playlist: link on my profile)
!! potential spoilers ahead. you've been warned x !!
before i start the review, if you're thinking about picking this book up, PLEASE CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS. this is not a light & fluffy kinda book, there are deep and potentially triggering topics discussed in detail.
onto the review...
after reading this book, kennedy ryan has quickly become one of my new favourite authors. this book broke my heart and then put it all back together again. i went into this book blind, thinking it would be just another sports romance, but boy i was so wrong! touching on some really deep topics, this book was so confronting yet powerful. (forced pregnancy, domestic/sexual abuse, rape, etc.)
august + iris - where do i even start!? honestly, right from the first chapter, i was HOOKED. everything about the two characters was just perfect. let's start with mr. 'i'd play you at the five' august. he is my new book boyfriend, i am not even joking. i loved how he just loved her and was willing to do whatever it took to be with her; he just knew that she was his soulmate. and then we have iris, who has also quickly become one of my new favourite fmc's of all time. her strength is inspiring, and it was an eye-opener at how real and raw her experiences are, especially in this day and age. their love story is honestly so heart-wrenching but with a beautiful ending. i mean, the tension, the pining for each other - it's just *chef's kiss*.
after reading this book, i can definitely say that i am a new member of kennedy ryan's fanclub. picking up this series has been a great way to end 2022, and i can't wait to get into block shot and hook shot.
i recommend this book to everyone, just make sure you check tw's before you do!! xo
-- FAVOURITE QUOTES FROM THIS BOOK --
"You can be on my team."
"Oh, and what position will I play on your team?"
"At the five-spot."
The five-spot? His position is the point guard, or the one-spot. Shooting guard is the two. The three is small forward, and the four is power forward. The five is...
"Center," he says, linking our fingers and toying with the hair hanging on my shoulder. "If you were mine, Iris, there would be no doubt what position you'd hold in my life. You'd be center. I'd play you at the five."
- I know ALL THE BASKETBALL GIRLIES can feel me on this, but OMG OMG OMG! I am so in love with this whole scene in the book, August really is the blueprint! Definitely the best quote in this whole book, literally.
"You think my game is that weak?"
"We talking on the court or off?"
- The way the first chapter had me HOOKED. Iris really is THAT GIRL frfr. Loved her right from the jump bro, the way she humbled August multiple times in this whole chapter LOL
“Perfect timing, huh?” I ask the empty garage. “Looks like the game is coming to me, Dad. We’ll see if I get to take the shot.”
“You don’t guard in HORSE,” he reminds me with a one-sided grin that has my heart double-dutching in my chest. “There’s no defense.”
“No defense, huh?” I ask. “No wonder you’re so good at it.”
“Ohhhh.” He sticks an imaginary dagger in his heart. “Still busting my balls about playing D. I’ve gotten better. At least gimme that.”
- Iris and August are the reason I believe in soulmates, seriously. This is SO CUTE!!
I’ll see her again.
That thread that connects us, glowing neon, it’s still there. I may not be able to see it, but I feel it. It’s still wrapped around me.
Wherever Iris is, I hope it’s wrapped around her, too.
"I got a call last week... From Iris."
"My Iris?"
"Well... That's up for debate."
"This is not the time to play games with me."
- I love August and Jared's bond sm <3
“August, you know this is a long shot, right?” he reasons one last time, though the resignation in his eyes tells me he understands it’s futile to try to dissuade me from this course.
“A long shot?” I ask, pausing at the door to give him a cocky grin. “Last I heard, I’m pretty good at those.”
"Your dreams and ambitions got swallowed up when you had to follow Caleb,” I say, holding her eyes with mine. “I want you to know there’s someone who will follow you.”
She blinks several times, and I can only hope my words are sinking in.
“But you can’t . . . I’m not . . .” She falters and tries again. “August, Houston is your best shot at winning a ring.”
“You’re right.” I loosen my fingers from hers so I can hold her face between both hands. "Going to Houston is my best shot at winning a ring.”
“Then why would you—”
“But staying here,” I cut in, caressing the fullness of her bottom lip with my thumb. “Staying is my best shot at winning you.”
- OH MY HEART!!!!!! August West is the whole package. THIS MAN turned down 45 MILLION DOLLARS to stay in the city for a girl he's interacted with LESS THAN 10 TIMES?!? Where's my August West frfr!
“On the way to his early morning workouts, he delivers [a Louisiana iris] himself. He even leaves handwritten notes.”
“What do the notes say?”
“Simple things like I hope you have a good day.” I giggle and feel my cheeks heat up. “Or you’re the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen.”
Are we still going slow?
I’d play you at the five.
I can’t wait for our next kiss. Remember our first?
“What are you doing?” she asks with a breathy laugh.
“Eskimo kisses,” I whisper, spreading my fingers to span her waist. “I’m scared to do the real thing. To kiss you.”
“Why are you scared to kiss me?” she asks.
“Because the last time I kissed you, ...you disappeared.”
“Are you saying . . . You’re growing your hair out because I said I liked it longer? For me?”
He flips his body so that he’s facing the couch, still sitting on the floor, angling a grin up at me. “Let me get this straight,” he says. “You were completely unimpressed when I turned down forty-five million dollars to live in the same city as you, but you’re kinda blown away that I’m growing my hair out?”
There’s a newness when our eyes meet—wonder in the laughter we share while I hold her. We don’t speak, but there’s eloquence in our fingertips, in our hands as we touch and explore.
Our bodies commune, confess.
I don’t have to say the words.
She knows I’m hers.
“You said I own your heart outright... I’m sorry I didn’t . . .” She swallows and looks up at me, an apology in her eyes. “Well, that I didn’t respond or say anything back.”
“You don’t have to say anything. I get it.”
“No, you don’t get it.” She shakes her head, an impish smile curving her lips. “I should have said that I’d play you at the five.”
My blood is fizzing, like someone dropped an Alka Seltzer in my veins. Little pops and tiny explosions occur under my skin while I wait for her to continue. Iris and I have had too few moments alone together over the years, and that day in the gym playing HORSE was one of my favorites. Second, of course, to that kiss in the closet. I know what I meant when I said that. My heart goes loud and hard like a bass drum in my chest to think she might mean the same.
My prince.
He sees me. He knows me. He loves me, and I thank God for a second chance.
“I told Deck I needed to take a day, and he agreed. I’m skipping the game.”
“To be . . . to be here with me?”
“I told you if you were ever mine, I’d play you at the five.” The sound of a smile breaks through his voice. “You’re the center, Iris.”
Iris is my constellation. She took the darkness as her cue to shine. It only made her brighter, stronger, and tonight, her hard-won glimmer lights up the sky.
“I love that you trust me with that, that you’re so unguarded.”
“That’s because when I’m with you, I’m not unguarded.” I kiss the back of his hand, blinking at tears. “You guard me. I know you’ll always protect me.”
“What I’m saying is this, August.” I tip up on my toes and smile against his ear. “Take the shot.”
(spotify playlist: link on my profile)
'if you were mine, iris, there would be no doubt what position you'd hold in my life. you'd be center. i'd play you at the five.'
!! potential spoilers ahead. you've been warned x !!
before i start the review, if you're thinking about picking this book up, PLEASE CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS. this is not a light & fluffy kinda book, there are deep and potentially triggering topics discussed in detail.
onto the review...
after reading this book, kennedy ryan has quickly become one of my new favourite authors. this book broke my heart and then put it all back together again. i went into this book blind, thinking it would be just another sports romance, but boy i was so wrong! touching on some really deep topics, this book was so confronting yet powerful. (forced pregnancy, domestic/sexual abuse, rape, etc.)
august + iris - where do i even start!? honestly, right from the first chapter, i was HOOKED. everything about the two characters was just perfect. let's start with mr. 'i'd play you at the five' august. he is my new book boyfriend, i am not even joking. i loved how he just loved her and was willing to do whatever it took to be with her; he just knew that she was his soulmate. and then we have iris, who has also quickly become one of my new favourite fmc's of all time. her strength is inspiring, and it was an eye-opener at how real and raw her experiences are, especially in this day and age. their love story is honestly so heart-wrenching but with a beautiful ending. i mean, the tension, the pining for each other - it's just *chef's kiss*.
after reading this book, i can definitely say that i am a new member of kennedy ryan's fanclub. picking up this series has been a great way to end 2022, and i can't wait to get into block shot and hook shot.
i recommend this book to everyone, just make sure you check tw's before you do!! xo
-- FAVOURITE QUOTES FROM THIS BOOK --
"You can be on my team."
"Oh, and what position will I play on your team?"
"At the five-spot."
The five-spot? His position is the point guard, or the one-spot. Shooting guard is the two. The three is small forward, and the four is power forward. The five is...
"Center," he says, linking our fingers and toying with the hair hanging on my shoulder. "If you were mine, Iris, there would be no doubt what position you'd hold in my life. You'd be center. I'd play you at the five."
- I know ALL THE BASKETBALL GIRLIES can feel me on this, but OMG OMG OMG! I am so in love with this whole scene in the book, August really is the blueprint! Definitely the best quote in this whole book, literally.
"You think my game is that weak?"
"We talking on the court or off?"
- The way the first chapter had me HOOKED. Iris really is THAT GIRL frfr. Loved her right from the jump bro, the way she humbled August multiple times in this whole chapter LOL
“Perfect timing, huh?” I ask the empty garage. “Looks like the game is coming to me, Dad. We’ll see if I get to take the shot.”
“You don’t guard in HORSE,” he reminds me with a one-sided grin that has my heart double-dutching in my chest. “There’s no defense.”
“No defense, huh?” I ask. “No wonder you’re so good at it.”
“Ohhhh.” He sticks an imaginary dagger in his heart. “Still busting my balls about playing D. I’ve gotten better. At least gimme that.”
- Iris and August are the reason I believe in soulmates, seriously. This is SO CUTE!!
I’ll see her again.
That thread that connects us, glowing neon, it’s still there. I may not be able to see it, but I feel it. It’s still wrapped around me.
Wherever Iris is, I hope it’s wrapped around her, too.
"I got a call last week... From Iris."
"My Iris?"
"Well... That's up for debate."
"This is not the time to play games with me."
- I love August and Jared's bond sm <3
“August, you know this is a long shot, right?” he reasons one last time, though the resignation in his eyes tells me he understands it’s futile to try to dissuade me from this course.
“A long shot?” I ask, pausing at the door to give him a cocky grin. “Last I heard, I’m pretty good at those.”
"Your dreams and ambitions got swallowed up when you had to follow Caleb,” I say, holding her eyes with mine. “I want you to know there’s someone who will follow you.”
She blinks several times, and I can only hope my words are sinking in.
“But you can’t . . . I’m not . . .” She falters and tries again. “August, Houston is your best shot at winning a ring.”
“You’re right.” I loosen my fingers from hers so I can hold her face between both hands. "Going to Houston is my best shot at winning a ring.”
“Then why would you—”
“But staying here,” I cut in, caressing the fullness of her bottom lip with my thumb. “Staying is my best shot at winning you.”
- OH MY HEART!!!!!! August West is the whole package. THIS MAN turned down 45 MILLION DOLLARS to stay in the city for a girl he's interacted with LESS THAN 10 TIMES?!? Where's my August West frfr!
“On the way to his early morning workouts, he delivers [a Louisiana iris] himself. He even leaves handwritten notes.”
“What do the notes say?”
“Simple things like I hope you have a good day.” I giggle and feel my cheeks heat up. “Or you’re the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen.”
Are we still going slow?
I’d play you at the five.
I can’t wait for our next kiss. Remember our first?
“What are you doing?” she asks with a breathy laugh.
“Eskimo kisses,” I whisper, spreading my fingers to span her waist. “I’m scared to do the real thing. To kiss you.”
“Why are you scared to kiss me?” she asks.
“Because the last time I kissed you, ...you disappeared.”
“Are you saying . . . You’re growing your hair out because I said I liked it longer? For me?”
He flips his body so that he’s facing the couch, still sitting on the floor, angling a grin up at me. “Let me get this straight,” he says. “You were completely unimpressed when I turned down forty-five million dollars to live in the same city as you, but you’re kinda blown away that I’m growing my hair out?”
There’s a newness when our eyes meet—wonder in the laughter we share while I hold her. We don’t speak, but there’s eloquence in our fingertips, in our hands as we touch and explore.
Our bodies commune, confess.
I don’t have to say the words.
She knows I’m hers.
“You said I own your heart outright... I’m sorry I didn’t . . .” She swallows and looks up at me, an apology in her eyes. “Well, that I didn’t respond or say anything back.”
“You don’t have to say anything. I get it.”
“No, you don’t get it.” She shakes her head, an impish smile curving her lips. “I should have said that I’d play you at the five.”
My blood is fizzing, like someone dropped an Alka Seltzer in my veins. Little pops and tiny explosions occur under my skin while I wait for her to continue. Iris and I have had too few moments alone together over the years, and that day in the gym playing HORSE was one of my favorites. Second, of course, to that kiss in the closet. I know what I meant when I said that. My heart goes loud and hard like a bass drum in my chest to think she might mean the same.
My prince.
He sees me. He knows me. He loves me, and I thank God for a second chance.
“I told Deck I needed to take a day, and he agreed. I’m skipping the game.”
“To be . . . to be here with me?”
“I told you if you were ever mine, I’d play you at the five.” The sound of a smile breaks through his voice. “You’re the center, Iris.”
Iris is my constellation. She took the darkness as her cue to shine. It only made her brighter, stronger, and tonight, her hard-won glimmer lights up the sky.
“I love that you trust me with that, that you’re so unguarded.”
“That’s because when I’m with you, I’m not unguarded.” I kiss the back of his hand, blinking at tears. “You guard me. I know you’ll always protect me.”
“What I’m saying is this, August.” I tip up on my toes and smile against his ear. “Take the shot.”
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced