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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
Mary and Leo’s story was truly a once I started reading I couldn’t stop until I had read the very last page. I was hooked and obsessed. Their story line honestly was so different than other sports romances and I loved it.
mary is stronger than me because i would’ve folded the minute he got on his knees
Mary getting mad at Leo for defending her was fucking stupid.
adventurous
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
4/5⭐️ 2/5🌶️
This was such a good book to finish the series off! It was such a bitter sweet feeling coming to the end of the Red Zone Rivals as there were background character that I really wished had their own story too.
How do you act when the boy who broke your heart at 15 years old doesn’t know who you really are and is now your roommate? Honestly I’m not sure, but Mary sure does when she has to act like she’d only recently met Leo and pretend he didn’t crush her. Mary and Leo first met when they were playing video games one summer break. They both developed feelings but when Mary finally built up the courage to tell him exactly who she is, he rejected her. In front of everyone. Now she hates him, and he’s doing everything he can to get her to like him despite not remembering her. What happens when past feelings begin to resurface and secrets can’t always been hidden?
I’ve been ready for Leo’s story since the first book. He’s the cocky, charming football player that we all know we’ll love and boy did he not disappoint! The way this boy grovelled for even an ounce of her attention, even before knowing who she was, was just too good! I also loved Mary equally! She was strong and edgy yet such a girls girl. I really felt her emotions throughout this book, and was so happy when she gave her heart a second chance!
Overall, I’m sad. I’m sad this series has ended. It was an easy, feel good read and it makes me excited to dive into more of Kandi’s books! Petition to receive Braden and Kyle! Also thought this book would make me like Kyle?
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tropes Include:
* Second Chance
* Enemies to Lovers
* Roommates
* Hidden Identity
* Forced Proximity
This was such a good book to finish the series off! It was such a bitter sweet feeling coming to the end of the Red Zone Rivals as there were background character that I really wished had their own story too.
How do you act when the boy who broke your heart at 15 years old doesn’t know who you really are and is now your roommate? Honestly I’m not sure, but Mary sure does when she has to act like she’d only recently met Leo and pretend he didn’t crush her. Mary and Leo first met when they were playing video games one summer break. They both developed feelings but when Mary finally built up the courage to tell him exactly who she is, he rejected her. In front of everyone. Now she hates him, and he’s doing everything he can to get her to like him despite not remembering her. What happens when past feelings begin to resurface and secrets can’t always been hidden?
I’ve been ready for Leo’s story since the first book. He’s the cocky, charming football player that we all know we’ll love and boy did he not disappoint! The way this boy grovelled for even an ounce of her attention, even before knowing who she was, was just too good! I also loved Mary equally! She was strong and edgy yet such a girls girl. I really felt her emotions throughout this book, and was so happy when she gave her heart a second chance!
Overall, I’m sad. I’m sad this series has ended. It was an easy, feel good read and it makes me excited to dive into more of Kandi’s books! Petition to receive Braden and Kyle! Also thought this book would make me like Kyle?
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tropes Include:
* Second Chance
* Enemies to Lovers
* Roommates
* Hidden Identity
* Forced Proximity
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Hail Mary by Kandi Steiner
⭐⭐⭐
Available on Kindle Unlimited
Troupes: contemporary sports romance, college football, forced proximity (roommates), latino hero, plus sized heroine, alternative heroine, highschool flashbacks with popular jock hero and bullied emo heroine, ugly duckling/glow-up heroine, secret identity
The set up of this book is that our heroine Mary has liked Leo since high school when they used to game together. She knew who he was, but he didn't know who she was. When she tried to go up to him, his friends all laughed at her and he didn't defend her, leading to her cutting contact with him. Now, years later, she has to move in with him. She's now a much more confident woman working at a tattoo apprenticeship while he is a college football star.
I wish gaming was a bigger part of the story and not just the backstory. I love anonymous penpals/hidden identity, it's my favourite romance troupe, but the flashbacks are reserved for the first few chapters and honestly didn't feel like it even needed to be there?
Anyways, I respect this book for presenting a confident plus size and alternative female heroine. I also had good intentions with the workplace sexual harassment #MeToo storyline, though I think it could have been written better.
Shout out to this line from when she cut him off in highschool that made me laugh and cringe at the same time:
⭐⭐⭐
Available on Kindle Unlimited
Troupes: contemporary sports romance, college football, forced proximity (roommates), latino hero, plus sized heroine, alternative heroine, highschool flashbacks with popular jock hero and bullied emo heroine, ugly duckling/glow-up heroine, secret identity
The set up of this book is that our heroine Mary has liked Leo since high school when they used to game together. She knew who he was, but he didn't know who she was. When she tried to go up to him, his friends all laughed at her and he didn't defend her, leading to her cutting contact with him. Now, years later, she has to move in with him. She's now a much more confident woman working at a tattoo apprenticeship while he is a college football star.
I wish gaming was a bigger part of the story and not just the backstory. I love anonymous penpals/hidden identity, it's my favourite romance troupe, but the flashbacks are reserved for the first few chapters and honestly didn't feel like it even needed to be there?
Anyways, I respect this book for presenting a confident plus size and alternative female heroine. I also had good intentions with the workplace sexual harassment #MeToo storyline, though I think it could have been written better.
Shout out to this line from when she cut him off in highschool that made me laugh and cringe at the same time:
I unplugged my Xbox and made a plan to take it and all my games to GameStop and exchange it for a PlayStation instead.
emotional
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
I didn't care about the plot or the characters and I was bored
Ugh my hearts so full. I feel like this series may put me in a book slump because it was just SO GOOD.
Usually i avoid reading the full series of books like these because it can be repetitive and i get bored before reading about all couples, but that was not the case with this. I have loved every single one of the books so far! This one and Quarterback Sneak are 100% my fave two tho!!
I resonated so much with Mary, even down to the favourite animal! I fell in love with this story, and how much they loved each other.
And G being pregnant is my fave thing ever. I was surprised that i was so happy to read that, because usually i hate the proposal and pregnancy thing in the epilogues but it was done so well and made my heartstrings PULLLLL.
I also LOVED Mary’s relationship with the other boys in the house, and it made me so excited to read Kyle’s book!! I hope his isn’t the last one because i never want this series to end. But i can’t wait to keep reading about this universe!’
Usually i avoid reading the full series of books like these because it can be repetitive and i get bored before reading about all couples, but that was not the case with this. I have loved every single one of the books so far! This one and Quarterback Sneak are 100% my fave two tho!!
I resonated so much with Mary, even down to the favourite animal! I fell in love with this story, and how much they loved each other.
And G being pregnant is my fave thing ever. I was surprised that i was so happy to read that, because usually i hate the proposal and pregnancy thing in the epilogues but it was done so well and made my heartstrings PULLLLL.
I also LOVED Mary’s relationship with the other boys in the house, and it made me so excited to read Kyle’s book!! I hope his isn’t the last one because i never want this series to end. But i can’t wait to keep reading about this universe!’
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
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
Kandi just know how to write perfect men