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taviamorgan's review against another edition
4.0
okay i really loved them together and their friendship. i did think the stuff with his sister was kinda dumb. also it was weird how disconnected this was from all the rest. like none of the past characters were in this which makes sense but idk. overall i rlly love their relationship.
as i read: i’m already into their relationship because they have a preexisting friendship/relationship. ughhh i want them together and he needs to go for her. i kind like the two years later thing tho. okay their friendship and him saying she’s his person is so sweet. i already love how close they are. i love that he calls her babe! okay with how close tanner and tara are it doesn’t make sense that she would invite amelia like that’s just her fucking with their relationship for no reason. sydney leaving makes literally no sense.
as i read: i’m already into their relationship because they have a preexisting friendship/relationship. ughhh i want them together and he needs to go for her. i kind like the two years later thing tho. okay their friendship and him saying she’s his person is so sweet. i already love how close they are. i love that he calls her babe! okay with how close tanner and tara are it doesn’t make sense that she would invite amelia like that’s just her fucking with their relationship for no reason. sydney leaving makes literally no sense.
profromance's review against another edition
5.0
Overall Grade: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2
I have loved Rebecca Jenshak’s Valley University romances. While she seemingly completed it with Nathan’s story, The Fake, thankfully, she came back with a best friends-to-lovers story in her newest book, The Pass. And I’ve never been so relieved to go back to Valley for this story.
What I love most about Jenshak’s brand of romance is its relatability. And The Pass has more of this in the story of Tanner and his best friend, Sydney. We find out early in the story that there is deep chemistry between these two; however, miscues and misunderstandings end with Tanner and Sydney as best friends. Two years later, they find themselves at Tanner’s family’s lake house, and their chemistry becomes undeniable. They can no longer look away from all of the traits that they find so attractive in each other. As the story progresses, they explore this new relationship, and you’ll have to read The Pass to find out their ending (not too shocking...it will be a happy one).
What is lovely about this story is its capacity to make us believe that Tanner and Sydney are “meant to be.” That the former ease of their friendship actually does translate into a relationship because the best romances are grounded in a deep abiding familiarity with each other. I love that Jenshak explores this in The Pass. Now, it isn’t without drama in the form of outside influences, but there is a steadfastness to this story that feels uncomplicated and like a warm blanket just out of the dryer on a cold day. There are definitely fireworks between Tanner and Sydney, and Jenshak carefully builds it to a fever pitch before indulging it. She has carefully plotted their story that compels you further into it. There are simply so many great parts of this book that draw you in and make for a perfect afternoon read.
There is a safety in a Rebecca Jenshak romance, a knowledge that her heroes and heroines will endure anything to find a happy ending with each other. Add to that a sprinkling of sports romance and a veritable feast of chemistry, and you have a story such as The Pass. If you are a sports romance-aholic like myself, then you should definitely read this book.
I have loved Rebecca Jenshak’s Valley University romances. While she seemingly completed it with Nathan’s story, The Fake, thankfully, she came back with a best friends-to-lovers story in her newest book, The Pass. And I’ve never been so relieved to go back to Valley for this story.
What I love most about Jenshak’s brand of romance is its relatability. And The Pass has more of this in the story of Tanner and his best friend, Sydney. We find out early in the story that there is deep chemistry between these two; however, miscues and misunderstandings end with Tanner and Sydney as best friends. Two years later, they find themselves at Tanner’s family’s lake house, and their chemistry becomes undeniable. They can no longer look away from all of the traits that they find so attractive in each other. As the story progresses, they explore this new relationship, and you’ll have to read The Pass to find out their ending (not too shocking...it will be a happy one).
What is lovely about this story is its capacity to make us believe that Tanner and Sydney are “meant to be.” That the former ease of their friendship actually does translate into a relationship because the best romances are grounded in a deep abiding familiarity with each other. I love that Jenshak explores this in The Pass. Now, it isn’t without drama in the form of outside influences, but there is a steadfastness to this story that feels uncomplicated and like a warm blanket just out of the dryer on a cold day. There are definitely fireworks between Tanner and Sydney, and Jenshak carefully builds it to a fever pitch before indulging it. She has carefully plotted their story that compels you further into it. There are simply so many great parts of this book that draw you in and make for a perfect afternoon read.
There is a safety in a Rebecca Jenshak romance, a knowledge that her heroes and heroines will endure anything to find a happy ending with each other. Add to that a sprinkling of sports romance and a veritable feast of chemistry, and you have a story such as The Pass. If you are a sports romance-aholic like myself, then you should definitely read this book.
misthaven's review against another edition
dnd 44% nothing wrong i just miss the og 4 :(
reading_with_2_book_lovers's review against another edition
4.0
This is a friends to lovers book. This story is a great book
kfriend's review against another edition
4.0
OH MY STARS!!!!!!!!!! Friends to lovers PERFECTION! I am so in love with Tanner and Sydney- these two just stole my whole entire heart and filled me with such joy and happiness. I was swooning and sighing and thoroughly charmed. How does RJ just keep getting better and better~ now my new fav in the series- a feel good story that kept me smiling and laughing. This is a story with such optimism and heart, and I could not love this book or these two any more!
Tanner is perhaps the swooniest RJ hero ever. He’s charming, sweet, and even though we met him prior books, HERE he truly shines. He doesn't take stuff too seriously but also so thoughtful and genuine. He's just perfect- fun and loving all at once. And I LOVED how RJ flips the trope on its head- of the two, he’s the vulnerable, he’s the emotionally open one. And I LOVE his big heart. And Sydney is just such a likable heroine- she’s stoic, patient, a bit sassy and sweet. Together they are just SO fun- and heart squeezing adorable.
This is definitely some of RJ’s strongest writing- chemistry and character voice really shine here. Both characters have such a distinct, consistent, and welcoming voice- we really get inside their hearts and minds, which amplifies this friends-to-lovers tension- we FEEL their turmoil. And the chemistry between these two?! Oh my. The banter, the sweet flirting, their eventual honesty. It is perfectly matched for a friends to lovers story- because it feels organic, natural, connected, the "known each other forever" authenticity- because they DO know each other. RJ also brilliantly changes the settings to isolate our characters- really forcing them to confront their shared history and emotional confusion. We really see them open up and explore this dynamic in a new and fresh way for the series, while RJ also keeps the college fun and sports elements central- even though we’re removed from campus and from actual sport.
Rebecca really beautifully captures the friends-to-lovers confusion- the longing paired with fear. There is something special about this dynamic/trope, because we have to believe that they are best friends, that they'd be perfectly happy staying only friends because the relationship is that important and special to them, while also adding in enough romantic tension so that we both FEEL it but also keeping it subtle enough so we can believe them not acting on it yet/not even seeing it fully for what it is. Rebecca knocks this element out of the part -we have so much platonic connection, so we see the magic of their relationship, while she also weaves in subtle clues there is more. Then she finds those magical catalyzing moments, the JOLTS that help them start to see those subtle moments for what they are- clues to their own hearts. It is SO natural here- the fluid shift from platonic moments into a romantic tension is so subtle that it makes their confusion, their tension, their dilemma feel more authentic. And even after they get together, RJ keeps the friendship dynamics central - while weaving in their new romantic dynamic-somehow everything changes between them but nothing does. THAT is what I love about friends to lovers- and that is why I think this is one of the finest.
We have just the right dash of angst, but nothing over the top. For the most part, this story just makes you FEEL good. It is light, swoony, and so sexy. I smiled, laughed, and awwwed- all the butterflies. This is a story that makes you fall in love with love. A story whose themes remind us to not hold back not waiting passively for the "right time" but embracing what is right in front of us. It reminds us how love can be sweet and simple, if you just open up your eyes to it. I could not love this story more- I have all the hopeful, happy tingles.
All the stars!
*Beta read
Tanner is perhaps the swooniest RJ hero ever. He’s charming, sweet, and even though we met him prior books, HERE he truly shines. He doesn't take stuff too seriously but also so thoughtful and genuine. He's just perfect- fun and loving all at once. And I LOVED how RJ flips the trope on its head- of the two, he’s the vulnerable, he’s the emotionally open one. And I LOVE his big heart. And Sydney is just such a likable heroine- she’s stoic, patient, a bit sassy and sweet. Together they are just SO fun- and heart squeezing adorable.
This is definitely some of RJ’s strongest writing- chemistry and character voice really shine here. Both characters have such a distinct, consistent, and welcoming voice- we really get inside their hearts and minds, which amplifies this friends-to-lovers tension- we FEEL their turmoil. And the chemistry between these two?! Oh my. The banter, the sweet flirting, their eventual honesty. It is perfectly matched for a friends to lovers story- because it feels organic, natural, connected, the "known each other forever" authenticity- because they DO know each other. RJ also brilliantly changes the settings to isolate our characters- really forcing them to confront their shared history and emotional confusion. We really see them open up and explore this dynamic in a new and fresh way for the series, while RJ also keeps the college fun and sports elements central- even though we’re removed from campus and from actual sport.
Rebecca really beautifully captures the friends-to-lovers confusion- the longing paired with fear. There is something special about this dynamic/trope, because we have to believe that they are best friends, that they'd be perfectly happy staying only friends because the relationship is that important and special to them, while also adding in enough romantic tension so that we both FEEL it but also keeping it subtle enough so we can believe them not acting on it yet/not even seeing it fully for what it is. Rebecca knocks this element out of the part -we have so much platonic connection, so we see the magic of their relationship, while she also weaves in subtle clues there is more. Then she finds those magical catalyzing moments, the JOLTS that help them start to see those subtle moments for what they are- clues to their own hearts. It is SO natural here- the fluid shift from platonic moments into a romantic tension is so subtle that it makes their confusion, their tension, their dilemma feel more authentic. And even after they get together, RJ keeps the friendship dynamics central - while weaving in their new romantic dynamic-somehow everything changes between them but nothing does. THAT is what I love about friends to lovers- and that is why I think this is one of the finest.
We have just the right dash of angst, but nothing over the top. For the most part, this story just makes you FEEL good. It is light, swoony, and so sexy. I smiled, laughed, and awwwed- all the butterflies. This is a story that makes you fall in love with love. A story whose themes remind us to not hold back not waiting passively for the "right time" but embracing what is right in front of us. It reminds us how love can be sweet and simple, if you just open up your eyes to it. I could not love this story more- I have all the hopeful, happy tingles.
All the stars!
*Beta read
pagesinkedinshadows's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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? It's complicated
4.25
Best friends to lovers, Shaw & Sydney have been best friends for years, but a summer lake vacation brings them together and uncovers their feelings.
I love their friendship and chemistry.
I love their friendship and chemistry.
judeduartesgf's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. This book was so cute Shaw and Sydney were adorable!!!