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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
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:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
If it weren't for the sudden shortening of deadlines at work and some serious family stuff, this book would have been a one-sitting read for me. But work and life happened, so it was a two-sitting read. 😉😁
The Backup Plan is a fun and engaging sports romance. It follows Thad, a former baseball player turned reluctant sports agent, and Kelley, a talented baseball player battling intense anxiety. Their relationship starts with serious tension, but as they spend more time together, both drop their defences, turning that initial animosity into genuine connection.
Their relationship is a bit of a slow burn, partly because both have packed schedules and partly because they're cautious about mixing work and romance. But this pace works in the book’s favour, because it’s giving us time to really see Thad and Kelley’s personal and career growth alongside their budding romance over several months. Watching each character learn to be vulnerable while building each other up is one of the most satisfying aspects of the story for me.
Also, their chemistry is undeniable and it’s full of tension and heat. Despite both the professional and emotional obstacles, the two can’t resist their growing bond, and that makes for some pretty electric moments. Eventually, a particularly messy revelation shakes things up and pushes them to make tough choices about how they want to move forward, both individually and as a couple, adding the drama to the story. Luckily it resolves quickly.
The Backup Plan has a lot going for itself. It has well-drawn characters, humour, a bit of angst, and a realistic portrayal of mental health struggles. It is both sweet and spicy, and Thad and Kelley’s journey feels genuine and hard-earned.
Of course, anyone familiar with the “Sadenverse” will be thrilled to see Damon and Brady pop up throughout the book. Especially Damon who acts as a mentor figure for Thad.
This was a lovely read and I'm definitely looking forward to the next book and next couple.
I received a copy of this book from the author via Foreward PR, and this is my unbiased review.
The Backup Plan is a fun and engaging sports romance. It follows Thad, a former baseball player turned reluctant sports agent, and Kelley, a talented baseball player battling intense anxiety. Their relationship starts with serious tension, but as they spend more time together, both drop their defences, turning that initial animosity into genuine connection.
Their relationship is a bit of a slow burn, partly because both have packed schedules and partly because they're cautious about mixing work and romance. But this pace works in the book’s favour, because it’s giving us time to really see Thad and Kelley’s personal and career growth alongside their budding romance over several months. Watching each character learn to be vulnerable while building each other up is one of the most satisfying aspects of the story for me.
Also, their chemistry is undeniable and it’s full of tension and heat. Despite both the professional and emotional obstacles, the two can’t resist their growing bond, and that makes for some pretty electric moments. Eventually, a particularly messy revelation shakes things up and pushes them to make tough choices about how they want to move forward, both individually and as a couple, adding the drama to the story. Luckily it resolves quickly.
The Backup Plan has a lot going for itself. It has well-drawn characters, humour, a bit of angst, and a realistic portrayal of mental health struggles. It is both sweet and spicy, and Thad and Kelley’s journey feels genuine and hard-earned.
Of course, anyone familiar with the “Sadenverse” will be thrilled to see Damon and Brady pop up throughout the book. Especially Damon who acts as a mentor figure for Thad.
This was a lovely read and I'm definitely looking forward to the next book and next couple.
I received a copy of this book from the author via Foreward PR, and this is my unbiased review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Homophobia
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I really enjoy Eden Finley's stories usually but I couldn't wait for this to be over. I'll spoiler my biggest gripes but, overall, this story was just uninspired. I liked the characters as one-dimensional people
1. Damon allowing two interns to take Kelley away and not checking on them once?
2. No condoms during a hate-sex hookup??? Gross
3. Instalove vibes from Kelley after Thad had been nothing but an asshole to him
4. Damon overlooking Thad phoning it in FOR SIX MONTHS on the off-chance he'd swallow his bitter pride?
5. Wylder never is heard from again??? Only to show up in a few books with a backstory and sports agent love story to keep these 'interconnected'
6. Kelley had no family stories or support network outside of Thad? No college friends coming to his games or extended family visiting?
7. No repercussions for Cooper's admittedly off-screen homophobia except for...
8. A no-hitter? Please
9. We get implications that Kelley is a minority but it's a blink-and-you-miss-it reference to what happens to 'people that look like him'. I would have like this explored further or seen the impact across his day-to-day life
2. No condoms during a hate-sex hookup??? Gross
3. Instalove vibes from Kelley after Thad had been nothing but an asshole to him
4. Damon overlooking Thad phoning it in FOR SIX MONTHS on the off-chance he'd swallow his bitter pride?
5. Wylder never is heard from again??? Only to show up in a few books with a backstory and sports agent love story to keep these 'interconnected'
6. Kelley had no family stories or support network outside of Thad? No college friends coming to his games or extended family visiting?
7. No repercussions for Cooper's admittedly off-screen homophobia except for...
8. A no-hitter? Please
9. We get implications that Kelley is a minority but it's a blink-and-you-miss-it reference to what happens to 'people that look like him'. I would have like this explored further or seen the impact across his day-to-day life
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
King Sports #1
Agent/Player
Forced Proximity
𝕋𝕙𝕒𝕕 𝕚𝕤 𝕒 𝕝𝕚𝕥𝕥𝕝𝕖 𝕓𝕚𝕥 𝕓𝕚𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕨𝕙𝕠𝕝𝕖 𝕝𝕠𝕥 𝕝𝕠𝕤𝕥.
H͟e͟ s͟p͟e͟n͟t͟ m͟o͟s͟t͟ o͟f͟ h͟i͟s͟ l͟i͟f͟e͟ b͟e͟l͟i͟e͟v͟i͟n͟g͟ t͟h͟e͟r͟e͟ w͟a͟s͟ o͟n͟l͟y͟ o͟n͟e͟ f͟u͟t͟u͟r͟e͟ f͟o͟r͟ h͟i͟m͟, t͟o͟ p͟l͟a͟y͟ p͟r͟o͟f͟e͟s͟s͟i͟o͟n͟a͟l͟ b͟a͟s͟e͟b͟a͟l͟l͟. H͟o͟w͟e͟v͟e͟r͟, t͟h͟e͟ f͟u͟r͟t͟h͟e͟r͟ a͟l͟o͟n͟g͟ i͟n͟ h͟i͟s͟ c͟a͟r͟e͟e͟r͟ h͟e͟ g͟o͟t͟, t͟h͟e͟ m͟o͟r͟e͟ h͟e͟ r͟e͟a͟l͟i͟z͟e͟d͟ h͟e͟ w͟a͟s͟n͟’t͟ q͟u͟i͟t͟e͟ g͟o͟o͟d͟ e͟n͟o͟u͟g͟h͟. H͟i͟s͟ r͟e͟a͟l͟i͟t͟y͟ w͟a͟s͟ a͟l͟t͟e͟r͟e͟d͟ & h͟e͟ h͟a͟s͟n͟’t͟ q͟u͟i͟t͟e͟ g͟o͟t͟t͟e͟n͟ o͟v͟e͟r͟ i͟t͟ o͟r͟ h͟i͟m͟s͟e͟l͟f͟.
K͟e͟l͟l͟e͟y͟ c͟a͟m͟e͟ o͟u͟t͟ p͟u͟b͟l͟i͟c͟l͟y͟ a͟t͟ t͟h͟e͟ e͟n͟d͟ o͟f͟ t͟h͟i͟s͟ s͟e͟a͟s͟o͟n͟. K͟e͟l͟l͟e͟y͟ i͟s͟ d͟e͟a͟l͟i͟n͟g͟ w͟i͟t͟h͟ t͟h͟e͟ t͟r͟o͟l͟l͟s͟, c͟h͟a͟t͟t͟e͟r͟ & o͟t͟h͟e͟r͟ p͟e͟o͟p͟l͟e͟'s͟ o͟p͟i͟n͟i͟o͟n͟s͟. K͟e͟l͟l͟e͟y͟ i͟s͟ l͟i͟v͟i͟n͟g͟ T͟h͟a͟d͟’s͟ d͟r͟e͟a͟m͟ & i͟n͟ T͟h͟a͟d͟’s͟ o͟p͟i͟n͟i͟o͟n͟ K͟e͟l͟l͟e͟y͟ i͟s͟ t͟a͟k͟i͟n͟g͟ i͟t͟ f͟o͟r͟ g͟r͟a͟n͟t͟e͟d͟. H͟e͟’s͟ l͟i͟v͟i͟n͟g͟ T͟H͟E͟ d͟r͟e͟a͟m͟.
T͟h͟a͟d͟ i͟s͟ d͟e͟a͟l͟i͟n͟g͟ w͟i͟t͟h͟ h͟a͟v͟i͟n͟g͟ t͟o͟ r͟e͟d͟e͟f͟i͟n͟e͟ h͟i͟s͟ w͟o͟r͟t͟h͟, & K͟e͟l͟l͟e͟y͟ i͟s͟ s͟t͟r͟u͟g͟g͟l͟i͟n͟g͟ t͟o͟ b͟e͟l͟i͟e͟v͟e͟ i͟n͟ h͟i͟s͟. This is their j͟o͟u͟r͟n͟e͟y͟ t͟o͟w͟a͟r͟d͟ h͟e͟l͟p͟i͟n͟g͟ e͟a͟c͟h͟ o͟t͟h͟e͟r͟ s͟e͟e͟ b͟e͟y͟o͟n͟d͟ w͟h͟a͟t͟ t͟h͟e͟y͟ t͟h͟i͟n͟k͟ t͟h͟e͟r͟e͟ i͟s in order to see what is really there.
Thad was a complete surprise.
D͟a͟m͟o͟n͟ K͟i͟n͟g͟ i͟s͟ t͟h͟e͟ m͟a͟t͟c͟h͟m͟a͟k͟e͟r͟ o͟f͟ t͟h͟e͟ S͟a͟d͟e͟n͟v͟e͟r͟s͟e͟. H͟e͟ c͟a͟n͟’t͟ s͟e͟e͟m͟ t͟o͟ h͟e͟l͟p͟ h͟i͟m͟s͟e͟l͟f͟
I'm not sure about this book. I re-read Sadenverse books at least once a year but I won't be including this one unfortunately.
I didn't feel the connection between Thad and Kelley, just yes but one moving to be with the other felt like a stretch. The money thing was icky for, the author should have found another way to handle that. The brother thing also felt odd, either there needed to be more to it or a different reason for the financial struggle.
I liked Kelley, he was a sweetheart but I struggled with Thad. He was immature to begin with, throwing a hissy fit and being openly awful to a client. Why did Damon even hire him? And then to reward him with the move when he finally put some effort in? Damon is clearly smarter than this so it felt forced.
I didn't feel the connection between Thad and Kelley, just yes but one moving to be with the other felt like a stretch. The money thing was icky for, the author should have found another way to handle that. The brother thing also felt odd, either there needed to be more to it or a different reason for the financial struggle.
I liked Kelley, he was a sweetheart but I struggled with Thad. He was immature to begin with, throwing a hissy fit and being openly awful to a client. Why did Damon even hire him? And then to reward him with the move when he finally put some effort in? Damon is clearly smarter than this so it felt forced.
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A