3.42k reviews for:

First Down

Grace Reilly

3.55 AVERAGE


I think my favorite thing about indie romance is you’re going to get the tropey goodness AND you’re going to get fully fleshed out characters who feel real. The kind of characters and love you instantly want to root for. Bex and James are, at face value, an unlikely pairing. The jock who needs to pass a class and the girl he wouldn’t cross paths with if it weren’t for her ability to help him do just that.

This was a quick, easy, and delightfully satisfying read.

Read if you love:

funny lighthearted relaxing slow-paced

svenjar9's review

4.0

4⭐️ Wholesome story:)
emotional funny hopeful relaxing medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Es súper tierno todo. Me encanta la relación de James con sus hermanos y toda la historia de amor con Bex.
funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Overall this was good, very insta lovey but i enjoyed their deal and how they stayed true to themselves.
However everything got wrapped up really quickly especially in the extended epilogue which I felt was unnecessary (but different people different values I guess haha)

aimznah's review

3.0

TECHNICALLY FINISHED THIS 23/02/25 11:56pm — WRITING REVIEW NOW

3.6 ⭐️

[12:00am — 24/02/25] this was such a fun lil read i liked it a lot james and bex kiss kiss love u lot mwah ! also james is DAMN ifywim BUT NEVER LOSE A GAME OVER A GIRL BRO ID BE FUMING AS BEX AND AS A FAN.

I’d be fuming if let’s say Szobo missed a chance to pass the ball to Elliot because idk harv fcked his girl LIKE NO BRO KEEP THE SHI OFF THE PITCH #sigh but then again my liverpool lads have an amazing bond amongst each other Alhumdulilah

nah but on a real note that’s how much I knew he loved her most loving thing u could do really. also i love the way there was a bit of reality on how stability is important too just as much as love is. stuff like that isn’t mentioned enough that’s why i loved the realistic part of this. and yeah richard was a bit fcked the way he said it to bex but still i get richard because richard and (ffs i forgot james’s mum’s name nah) yeah anyways they worked out well. ITS ALL ABOUT COMMUNICATION

also fck darryl go jümp off a cl!ff you pr!ck x

[12:09am — 24/02/25]

Une lecture non prise de tête mais pas non plus mémorable.

Meh. I’d honestly give it a 2.5 star if that was allowed.

There wasn’t much memorable in this book for me. I’m not sure if it’s because I don’t typically do football romance or if it was the story itself.

I’m sure others will quite enjoy this story, but it lacked anything memorable.

(I will also note, I used the audiobook to finish this story, and I was NOT a fan of the male narrator. He definitely seemed like he belongs in thrillers or dark romances not voicing a cinnamon roll-esque football player.)