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soniajoy98's review against another edition
emotional
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Car accident, Alcohol, Sexual content, Cursing, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Ableism
Minor: Miscarriage and Drug use
shaykay's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
5.0
Although Fair Catch wasn't really on my radar before I picked it up randomly, I have seen other books from The Red Zone Rivals series floating around. Especially Blind Side because it came out when I started reading KU very heavily. I just never got around to picking it before. The biggest push for me to pick up Fair Catch was the fact that I'm trying to read at least one book from every author going to Sweetgrass next year and buying the books I really want to get signed before I go so that I'm not spending all of that money at one time. Anyways Fair Catch was a super fun football book. I loved seeing these two come together. I loved the backstory, and it was just a chaotic fun time. I really loved the fact that Riley is also a football player. It was the first time I'd read a book where both main characters were playing for the same team. I also loved how much angst was between these two. Avery had a lot of reasons to be mad at the world, and unfortunately, she blamed Zeke for it. I hate that he just took it instead of telling her what really happened that night, but at the same time, I get why he wanted to protect her. It just makes everything she does to Zeke so much worse because he never deserved it. There is a third act break up in this one, and honestly, it's not bad. I'm just burnt out on the third-act breakup. Just like I was burnt out on college romances, there will always be some books that take those things and do them so well that it doesn't matter. I wish we got to spend a little bit more time with Gavin, Riley's brother, since he is so important to Zeke and Riley, and he even goes to the same college as they do!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical trauma
Minor: Sexism, Alcohol, and Ableism
moonlitreading_'s review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Car accident, and Sexual content
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
readers_sea's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
5.0
Zeke & Riley were everything!!
The tension from the beginning had me screaming! This book really benefitted from dual pov because getting to see how Zeke really felt about Riley, while she was so focused on hating him was so well done. The overall banter between the characters had me cracking up! Not only between the main two but also with the side characters like Riley's brother Gavin and the rest of the football team.
The overall connection between Zeke and Riley was so raw and real! They both had dealt with a lot in their pasts, and are still learning to overcome them, but Riley specifically really needed to relearn how to trust people, especially Zeke. After her brother, Gavin's, accident Riley closed herself off a lot. I loved seeing how she truly felt comfortable with Zeke and had that connection despite how much she wanted to deny it. Zeke really had me swooning throughout the book, but overall their relationship brought out all the feelings!
I loved that this book included the invisible disability of dyslexia and how much the character struggled with that in silence. I also loved the inclusion of a female (Riley) being in a predominately male sport of football! She needed to deal a lot with side comments and overall how people viewed her on the team, but she was very strong-willed and never cared about what others were saying because she knew why she was there and she had a passion for the sport just as much as the guys did.
In my opinion, the characters read & act a lot older than they are (18). While reading the book I forgot about their ages until it was brought up, so I do wish they were just originally written as an older age but it didn't bother me much.
LOVEDDD this book and definitely want to continue with the series and follow the other football players! Is there a book out there for Gavin?! I sure hope so, or at least in the works!
The tension from the beginning had me screaming! This book really benefitted from dual pov because getting to see how Zeke really felt about Riley, while she was so focused on hating him was so well done. The overall banter between the characters had me cracking up! Not only between the main two but also with the side characters like Riley's brother Gavin and the rest of the football team.
The overall connection between Zeke and Riley was so raw and real! They both had dealt with a lot in their pasts, and are still learning to overcome them, but Riley specifically really needed to relearn how to trust people, especially Zeke. After her brother, Gavin's, accident Riley closed herself off a lot. I loved seeing how she truly felt comfortable with Zeke and had that connection despite how much she wanted to deny it. Zeke really had me swooning throughout the book, but overall their relationship brought out all the feelings!
I loved that this book included the invisible disability of dyslexia and how much the character struggled with that in silence. I also loved the inclusion of a female (Riley) being in a predominately male sport of football! She needed to deal a lot with side comments and overall how people viewed her on the team, but she was very strong-willed and never cared about what others were saying because she knew why she was there and she had a passion for the sport just as much as the guys did.
In my opinion, the characters read & act a lot older than they are (18). While reading the book I forgot about their ages until it was brought up, so I do wish they were just originally written as an older age but it didn't bother me much.
LOVEDDD this book and definitely want to continue with the series and follow the other football players! Is there a book out there for Gavin?! I sure hope so, or at least in the works!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol and Sexism
rickireadss's review against another edition
3.5
i had a good time reading this, and honestly kinda liked the couple. but the whole on-going conflict of why she hated him just rubbed me so wrong. and the more i think about it, i just can’t get over it. i like seeing riley and zeke in later books but couldn’t really connect or fall in love with them in their own book sadly.
⚠️: car accident, injury/injury detail, ableism, sexism, emotional abuse
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Car accident
Moderate: Ableism, Sexism, and Emotional abuse
lilyemmaaa's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
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
3.75
This story was a quick read that had some underlined trauma, in my opinion. I was kicking my feet in the air at one point and wanting to throw my phone at another.
The chemistry between Riley and Zeke was so interesting. From her hating him from her brothers accident and him secretly pining over her without even fully realizing, was a new one for me. The boy obsessed, brothers bestfriend, one hates the other tropes were top tier.
I enjoyed the premise and plot of the story too. Seeing woman in male dominated sports is something that will forever be powerful. Seeing Riley put Luke in his place when she no longer could put up with his shit was such a badass move. And the way she did it made it even more powerful. From the way she was written, it is very obvious how good Riley is at what she does.
I also really liked Zeke. He’s possessive, kind, understanding. But seeing the amount of pressure he placed on himself, and the blame he continually took for the biggest mistakes in his life, and seeing the way he spoke of himself broke my heart. The dyslexic representation was well done in my honest opinion. His mistake that resulted in Gavin being paralyzed was heartbreaking, especially when the full story came out and was told.
The one thing I did not like was the third act breakup. I get that authors have to do it, but I HATE IT when it is not necessary. It was thrown in, and the amount of blame she placed on Zeke was just icky. He shouldn’t have done what he did, but with everything considered and her teasing him in the moment that he plagiarized both should have taken the blame.
Overall it was a good read and I enjoyed the premise of the story as well as the characters. It just could’ve done without the third act breakup.
The chemistry between Riley and Zeke was so interesting. From her hating him from her brothers accident and him secretly pining over her without even fully realizing, was a new one for me. The boy obsessed, brothers bestfriend, one hates the other tropes were top tier.
I enjoyed the premise and plot of the story too. Seeing woman in male dominated sports is something that will forever be powerful. Seeing Riley put Luke in his place when she no longer could put up with his shit was such a badass move. And the way she did it made it even more powerful. From the way she was written, it is very obvious how good Riley is at what she does.
I also really liked Zeke. He’s possessive, kind, understanding. But seeing the amount of pressure he placed on himself, and the blame he continually took for the biggest mistakes in his life, and seeing the way he spoke of himself broke my heart. The dyslexic representation was well done in my honest opinion. His mistake that resulted in Gavin being paralyzed was heartbreaking, especially when the full story came out and was told.
The one thing I did not like was the third act breakup. I get that authors have to do it, but I HATE IT when it is not necessary. It was thrown in, and the amount of blame she placed on Zeke was just icky. He shouldn’t have done what he did, but with everything considered and her teasing him in the moment that he plagiarized both should have taken the blame.
Overall it was a good read and I enjoyed the premise of the story as well as the characters. It just could’ve done without the third act breakup.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Alcohol, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content
solacelight's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Well written but doesn't adequately address FMC's borderline abusive behavior.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Cursing, Alcohol, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse
sdupont's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
4.0
This book is a solid college football romance. I found the take on brother’s best friend to be refreshing. I loved the forced proximity of being teammates and roommates I think that really helped build up the tension between Riley and Zeke. I enjoyed seeing the progression of their relationship. I’m looking forward to seeing how the next book unfolds. Would recommend this read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism and Sexism
gelslitreviews's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Car accident, and Sexual content
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