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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
(ARC Review) The Strike Out returns us to the world of Brentwood baseball. We met Holt as a friend of Carson, Knox, and Jason in the first few books of the series, and read his short story, but now we get to know him better in this full length novel.
Rich, cocky, charming Holt meets Harmony at the diner where she’s waitressing and barely scraping by. She doesn’t appreciate his rich kid, star athlete vibe but eventually he wears her down through persistence and innuendo and she quickly realizes he’s so much more than his cocky façade.
They have an undeniable connection, and though it’s a bit of a slow burn as he courts her, there is definitely still steam throughout. They deal with issues well beyond the normal college kid problems and work hard to overcome them so they can be together.
It has all the Meghan Quinn humor, heart, and steam you’d expect with a slightly higher stakes. I thoroughly enjoyed falling in love with Holt, even if he was pretty arrogant in the beginning. There’s a fine line between persistent and stalker and I’m not totally sure where he fell, but he won me over in the end. 3.5 stars
Rich, cocky, charming Holt meets Harmony at the diner where she’s waitressing and barely scraping by. She doesn’t appreciate his rich kid, star athlete vibe but eventually he wears her down through persistence and innuendo and she quickly realizes he’s so much more than his cocky façade.
They have an undeniable connection, and though it’s a bit of a slow burn as he courts her, there is definitely still steam throughout. They deal with issues well beyond the normal college kid problems and work hard to overcome them so they can be together.
It has all the Meghan Quinn humor, heart, and steam you’d expect with a slightly higher stakes. I thoroughly enjoyed falling in love with Holt, even if he was pretty arrogant in the beginning. There’s a fine line between persistent and stalker and I’m not totally sure where he fell, but he won me over in the end. 3.5 stars
You need this if you like:
» Sports Romance
» The boys of Brentwood
» Baseball
» Sassy, witty, sexy women who make their men work for it
» Charming, honest baseball players
» Laugh out loud banter
» MEGHAN QUINN’S MAGICAL WRITING
» A steamy good time
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Steam:
» Sports Romance
» The boys of Brentwood
» Baseball
» Sassy, witty, sexy women who make their men work for it
» Charming, honest baseball players
» Laugh out loud banter
» MEGHAN QUINN’S MAGICAL WRITING
» A steamy good time
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Steam:
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Another great book in this universe! It took me a moment to love Holt, but he completely won me over when he called his dad to talk after the first day he spent with Harmony, that was just too sweet!
Steam:🔥🔥🔥
Steam:🔥🔥🔥
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Pregnancy
I debated between a 3.5 or a 4 but in the end I stayed with 4 stars. That extended epilogue made this book so much better. I have also never thought I’d fully support a break up between the two main characters lol. That truly was something they both needed.
I’ve been curious about Holt since the start and how it seems like Knox and Carson got their own books yet he hasn’t until now when these three are literally BFFs. It felt like Holt just disappeared even if he was mentioned (only a few times) in Carson’s book.
I only have two complaints here though:
— I didn’t feel the friendship between the guys much here idk it felt lacking for some reason. And what makes this series (well not really a series) fun and endearing is the wholesome friendship between the guys.
— I HATE THE MESSY TIMELINE OF THESE BOOKS. I know this isn’t a series but the characters exist in the same universe anyway and some events intersect at some point. Yes this is a stand-alone but I wanna see the progress in the timeline just like how it starting from Carson’s book to Maddox’s. I know I don’t make sense because this isn’t really a series-series but going far back time in college? Eh..
I’ve been curious about Holt since the start and how it seems like Knox and Carson got their own books yet he hasn’t until now when these three are literally BFFs. It felt like Holt just disappeared even if he was mentioned (only a few times) in Carson’s book.
I only have two complaints here though:
— I didn’t feel the friendship between the guys much here idk it felt lacking for some reason. And what makes this series (well not really a series) fun and endearing is the wholesome friendship between the guys.
— I HATE THE MESSY TIMELINE OF THESE BOOKS. I know this isn’t a series but the characters exist in the same universe anyway and some events intersect at some point. Yes this is a stand-alone but I wanna see the progress in the timeline just like how it starting from Carson’s book to Maddox’s. I know I don’t make sense because this isn’t really a series-series but going far back time in college? Eh..
Hot guy who isn't what he seems meets a sweet girl with a chip on her shoulder. Can they beat the odds? Plus baseball.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
*Received ARC in exchange for an honest review*
Rating: 4.5 Stars!
https://bookboyfriendsdoitbetter.com/
I fell out of this series on the 4th book I think (and still haven't caught up, I know I know, fake fan here), but after I read an arc from Meghan Quinn just a bit ago, I immediately signed up for this one because I knew that it would get me back into to this series! With that being said, obviously, I might have missed some things since I haven't read past the 4th book and just jumped straight into this one.
I loooved Holt and Harmony! This is my second read of the year and the streak is going strong still! I loved being back with the Brentwood boys and I need more now!!!
The banter, the chemistry, the EVERYTHING, was just *there*. Meghan Quinn always go hard on the banter between the two MCs and i just adore the fact that they always form a type of friendship in the middle of falling in love. I can't get over these two.
I just finished it today so my thoughts are a total mess but all I can say is *chefs kiss*
FRTC.
Rating: 4.5 Stars!
https://bookboyfriendsdoitbetter.com/
I fell out of this series on the 4th book I think (and still haven't caught up, I know I know, fake fan here), but after I read an arc from Meghan Quinn just a bit ago, I immediately signed up for this one because I knew that it would get me back into to this series! With that being said, obviously, I might have missed some things since I haven't read past the 4th book and just jumped straight into this one.
I loooved Holt and Harmony! This is my second read of the year and the streak is going strong still! I loved being back with the Brentwood boys and I need more now!!!
The banter, the chemistry, the EVERYTHING, was just *there*. Meghan Quinn always go hard on the banter between the two MCs and i just adore the fact that they always form a type of friendship in the middle of falling in love. I can't get over these two.
I just finished it today so my thoughts are a total mess but all I can say is *chefs kiss*
FRTC.
medium-paced
I love the #towelbrigade, I really do. After I first read The Locker Room a year and a half ago, I knew this was going to be a solid series. Meghan is witty, she’s funny, and she has the ability to make heroes that are both adorable and quirky but can still be macho and full of raw power and athleticism. They’ve all been pretty solid dudes, and yes, of course I have my favorites, but who doesn’t? (Carson. Always Carson).
With the release of the Team Player 2 anthology in September 2019, we met Holt Green. We got the first few chapters of his book with Harmony and to be quite honest, I have been chomping at the bit for the rest. I knew from the first few pages, Holt was my type of hero: cocky, funny, cheesy, and just absolute fun. When we found out late last year Holt was finally getting his book I SQUEALED because my time was coming!! My hero was finally getting his book!
And then it released and I read it.
I don’t know what happened, but it was probably my least favorite of the series (eh … maybe, I’d have to think on that). Now, before you go chasing me through the streets with pitchforks, I want to make it absolutely clear that I love Holt Green with every fiber of my being. He is an angel that must be protected at all costs, and I am absolutely thrilled his story was told.
I just wish it had been a different story.
The problem for me, with this book, was Harmony, and the inclusion of a trope I absolutely hate and do not care for 99% of the time (message me if you want to know what it is).
But yeah, Harmony. She was kind of the worst? Almost as bad as Indie and her illogical nonsense in The Setup. Harmony was rude, she was self-centered, and for a heroine that was supposed to be a strong, independent woman who worked hard for everything in her life, she was most certainly a quitter. I’m all for stubborn heroines, I mean I am the embodiment of a stubborn brat, but there was something about Harmony that just rubbed me the wrong way. She wasn’t appreciative, she jumped to too many conclusions, and just ...meh. I don’t know, I didn’t like her. And I hated how she treated Holt in a few instances which made me even sadder because, like I said he is an angel that must be protected at all costs.
In terms of the story itself? It started out super great. Like I mentioned, I had read the first few chapters in the antho, and they were just as fun and hilarious when I read them this time around. But what was added for the rest of this novel just didn’t quite click. I don’t know if it’s because it felt rushed, or if it’s because I hated the inclusion of that trope-that-shall-not-be-named, or if it’s because Meghan wrote it in such a way that the only person ever trying to fix things or make things better was Holt and so the relationship felt lopsided, but it just, it didn’t work for me. Also, this is a book with a player of the Brentwood Baseball team! So where was the team?! I wanted so much more of the guys, Knox, Carson, and even Jason, and it was just absolutely lacking. It turned into a type of story where the couple closes in on themselves and their friends get pushed to the wayside and it made me so super sad. I would have loved more of Holt and his friends because the few bits we did get were heartwarming, but also comedic gold, and gave you a glimpse of Holt you didn’t see when he was on his own or with Harmony.
Overall? This book was fine. Wasn’t terrible, but wasn’t great either. I loved Holt and I still love Holt and I will always love Holt, I just wish this book was a better story for him. Honestly, after waiting over 14 months for the rest of his book, it was just kind of a let down. So this is most likely a “me” problem because I wanted more (I’m needy). But that’s fine. It’s not going to be my last Meghan Quinn book, not by a long shot, and I hope if you do choose to read this book that it works for you. There are definitely aspects to this book that people rave about that didn’t work for me, but absolutely give it a shot if you love the rest of the Brentwood boys.
If for no other reason, do it for Holt. Because he deserves all the love.
**Many thanks to Candi Kane PR and Meghan Quinn for the review copy!**
Content Warnings
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders