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anovelglimpse's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Having read the last three books in the series, I was well aware of Mary's hate for Leo. I was curious to find out what brought on such intense emotions from her. Steiner lays it all out for us in the first chapters of this book, and Mary had every right to hate him. I had a hard time reading these chapters. It made me lose some respect for Leo, but I also understood that fitting in during high school is everything. Teenagers make bad decisions and mistakes. It made me wonder how he would be able to redeem himself to both me and Mary.
I really enjoyed how this book was set up by putting Mary and Leo as roommates in the same house. The way she got to know all the football roommates was fun and I loved seeing them break down her football player hating ways. It was even sweeter when it was Leo making Mary question her dislike of him. I kind of wished she wouldn't have kept why she hated him bottled up for so long, but the explosion made it worth it.
Mary and Leo were fire together. Their chemistry could not be denied, and neither could their emotional connection. These two went deep into their feelings with and for each other. I wasn't a huge fan of the problem that came up for them and some of the resolution felt a little farfetched for this book, but it all worked out in a good way in the end.
Hail Mary turned out to be a great addition to this angsty new adult football series and a strong way to end it. I will miss these couple and characters.
You can find this review and others like it at A Novel Glimpse .
I really enjoyed how this book was set up by putting Mary and Leo as roommates in the same house. The way she got to know all the football roommates was fun and I loved seeing them break down her football player hating ways. It was even sweeter when it was Leo making Mary question her dislike of him. I kind of wished she wouldn't have kept why she hated him bottled up for so long, but the explosion made it worth it.
Mary and Leo were fire together. Their chemistry could not be denied, and neither could their emotional connection. These two went deep into their feelings with and for each other. I wasn't a huge fan of the problem that came up for them and some of the resolution felt a little farfetched for this book, but it all worked out in a good way in the end.
Hail Mary turned out to be a great addition to this angsty new adult football series and a strong way to end it. I will miss these couple and characters.
You can find this review and others like it at A Novel Glimpse .
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Bullying
cordeliadarkles's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
really cute and really hot!
2:50 p.m.
2:50 p.m.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment
Moderate: Bullying
scmp73's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Oof…this one is tough for me. I enjoyed the other books in this series, and I was really looking forward to Leo and Mary’s story. I was interested to see why Mary hated football players so much and why Leo was her #1 enemy. While we do get that backstory, and it makes sense to me why Mary wouldn’t be Leo’s biggest fan, something felt off to me throughout. I did enjoy parts of this one, but I can’t get over certain choices made.
I really wanted Mary to stand up for herself. I wanted her to push back more when Nero made her uncomfortable and crossed so many boundaries. I wanted her to confront Leo EARLY ON about their shared history and what he did. I wanted her to be this tattooed badass, but maybe that was too cliche 🤷♀️. She obviously knew she could take care of herself, to an extent. She was able to make ends meet without relying on her parents’ money and pursued the career of her dreams, despite the lack of support. However, I wanted to see her do some self-work way before she actually took some time to “love herself”.
Leo was a struggle for me too. I liked him in other books and thought he’d be a fun character. However, after I found out the backstory, I wasn’t that impressed with him. I get that he was young and in high school when he met Mary, and that doesn’t mean he hasn’t grown up a bit, but you don’t necessarily see that in previous books. He’s a fun-loving, good time guy, who doesn’t have an issue with the fact he’s portrayed as a player. I liked the glimpses of his relationship with his mom; I wished we saw more of them together throughout, because I think that would have changed some of my feelings toward Leo.
Honestly, if it was me, I don’t think I would give Leo a second chance at all. This is what I kept thinking about while I read and what made me iffy about both Leo and Mary.I find it very hard to believe that Leo had no idea what his friends and the whole school was up to when they were mercilessly bullying Mary. These were teammates and people he spent a lot of time with, but he was apparently so wrapped up in being “ghosted” by Stig that he didn’t realize those around him were making her life a living hell for 3 years?!? Nah, that’s bullshit. He knew but didn’t care enough, because he was too busy feeling sorry for himself. The only part of his story that I really believed was that he didn’t realize who Mary was when she gave him her sketches; he knew his friends were awful and didn’t pay attention to what was in his hands. I also don’t believe him when he says if he did realize she was Stig, he would have gone out with her. He doesn’t even remember what Mary looked like in high school or their encounter.
As for Mary, she seems to forgive the fact he never once stood up for her because he didn’t realize she was his online friend. Like that automatically absolves him of the part he played by turning a blind eye? Even if it wasn’t her, and just other poor helpless girl, what his friends did while he just stood idly by is absolute garbage. Maybe this is a me thing, because I know damn good and well I wouldn’t date or f*ck my high school bully or someone that let the bullying go on. I believe people can change and grow up, but I just don’t think Leo actually apologized for what happened. I felt like he made excuses about how he didn’t remember and was too heartbroken to know what was going on. I also had a huge issue with the advice Mary got from her parents after the third act breakup. They excused the fact that Leo completely went against Mary’s wishes and confronted Nero, despite the fact that put her entire career in jeopardy. That’s not okay. She asked him to respect her enough to let her handle the situation, and he ignored her anyway. Her parents made that seem like some grand gesture and his way of expressing his love. Again, maybe a me thing, but that doesn’t scream love. It screams disrespect.
I really wanted Mary to stand up for herself. I wanted her to push back more when Nero made her uncomfortable and crossed so many boundaries. I wanted her to confront Leo EARLY ON about their shared history and what he did. I wanted her to be this tattooed badass, but maybe that was too cliche 🤷♀️. She obviously knew she could take care of herself, to an extent. She was able to make ends meet without relying on her parents’ money and pursued the career of her dreams, despite the lack of support. However, I wanted to see her do some self-work way before she actually took some time to “love herself”.
Leo was a struggle for me too. I liked him in other books and thought he’d be a fun character. However, after I found out the backstory, I wasn’t that impressed with him. I get that he was young and in high school when he met Mary, and that doesn’t mean he hasn’t grown up a bit, but you don’t necessarily see that in previous books. He’s a fun-loving, good time guy, who doesn’t have an issue with the fact he’s portrayed as a player. I liked the glimpses of his relationship with his mom; I wished we saw more of them together throughout, because I think that would have changed some of my feelings toward Leo.
Honestly, if it was me, I don’t think I would give Leo a second chance at all. This is what I kept thinking about while I read and what made me iffy about both Leo and Mary.
As for Mary, she seems to forgive the fact he never once stood up for her because he didn’t realize she was his online friend. Like that automatically absolves him of the part he played by turning a blind eye? Even if it wasn’t her, and just other poor helpless girl, what his friends did while he just stood idly by is absolute garbage. Maybe this is a me thing, because I know damn good and well I wouldn’t date or f*ck my high school bully or someone that let the bullying go on. I believe people can change and grow up, but I just don’t think Leo actually apologized for what happened. I felt like he made excuses about how he didn’t remember and was too heartbroken to know what was going on. I also had a huge issue with the advice Mary got from her parents after the third act breakup. They excused the fact that Leo completely went against Mary’s wishes and confronted Nero, despite the fact that put her entire career in jeopardy. That’s not okay. She asked him to respect her enough to let her handle the situation, and he ignored her anyway. Her parents made that seem like some grand gesture and his way of expressing his love. Again, maybe a me thing, but that doesn’t scream love. It screams disrespect.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Bullying
caitmitt's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Sexual harassment and Bullying
alittlebitofhann's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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 am so thankful to have received an ARC of the final installment of Kandi Steiner's Red Zone Rivals series. I have been waiting on Leo and Mary's story for so long! They had so much tension and passion, even when Mary hated him.
Leo is a senior in college and the star running back of his college team, with aspirations to reach the NFL. While around campus he's known as a player, he really is still thinking about a girl who ghosted him back in high school who he never met in person. And then, when the girl who clearly doesn't like him has a housing issue, he invites her to live with him and the teammates he lives with. Mary, in her badass tattooed glory intrigues him and he has wanted to get closer to her.
Mary was left heartbroken in high school by Leo and he can't even seem to remember they went to the same school. She hates him and doesn't hide it, but reluctantly takes him up on his offer to move in to his house while her landlord completes some repairs on hers. As they get closer, she wonders if there is any of the boy she originally met in him and starts to fall for him...again.
Together they have to learn to let go of the past and grow together.
I loved this story. Kandi knows how to pull on the heart strings and make you really care about the characters she writes. While I'm sad this series is over, it couldn't have ended any better.
Leo is a senior in college and the star running back of his college team, with aspirations to reach the NFL. While around campus he's known as a player, he really is still thinking about a girl who ghosted him back in high school who he never met in person. And then, when the girl who clearly doesn't like him has a housing issue, he invites her to live with him and the teammates he lives with. Mary, in her badass tattooed glory intrigues him and he has wanted to get closer to her.
Mary was left heartbroken in high school by Leo and he can't even seem to remember they went to the same school. She hates him and doesn't hide it, but reluctantly takes him up on his offer to move in to his house while her landlord completes some repairs on hers. As they get closer, she wonders if there is any of the boy she originally met in him and starts to fall for him...again.
Together they have to learn to let go of the past and grow together.
I loved this story. Kandi knows how to pull on the heart strings and make you really care about the characters she writes. While I'm sad this series is over, it couldn't have ended any better.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Bullying
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