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3.4 AVERAGE
3.4 AVERAGE
The beginning was so slow but then i felt like the story was so rushed. Also i don’t get why the “soulmates” storyline had to be there like the book would’ve been so much better if they were just attracted to each other because honestly i felt like them being soulmates was the same as them being attracted to each other. I really need to stop reading sports romances about sports that i actually follow because at times i just feel so frustrated by the sports storyline
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Didn’t really enjoy this one. I found the writing to be kind of disjointed and the tennis facts were wrong.
Ok, going into this, I didn't realize this had any fantasy-ish/magical elements, so for a minute, that threw me off. But honestly, I was really pleasantly surprised by this book. I had never heard of Katie Chandler before, but had seen the book mentioned on a list of upcoming releases so I just thought I would give it a try. This is a classic rivals to lovers story and I was here for it! Luca and Juliette were pretty nasty to each other in the beginning so it definitely took a minute for them to come around. I really enjoyed the amount of character growth that happened in this story. Juliette especially comes a long way within herself to be a better person her Luca and for herself. It was definitely a bit of a rollercoaster with the push and pull, but it paid off in the end. The idea of a "fated mates" situation, in a mostly contemporary romance was definitely original and I look forward to seeing how she might incorporate those fantasy elements into future books. 4 stars from me! Great story.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I received this books as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I love sapphic romance!!! When I first saw this book on NetGalley, I was so incredibly excited. I’m a sports fan, even for sports I don’t actually know the rules for like tennis, and a lesbian so this was perfect!
If you loved Challengers, but wanted it to be about two lesbians then this is the book for you. It’s competitive and intense and there is quite a bit of the sport aspect actually in this book rather than it just being the romance plot. It also soulmark au inspired, for all you fanfic connoisseurs.
This was a fun read, and I’m glad I snuck it in right at the end of summer because it really is a summer book. The one thing that really stuck with me, negatively, through is the way Juliette treats Luca throughout the book. Granted, it was because of her own fears and it’s her Thing that she has to work through, but I just felt like Luca never really got to be angry about it? Sure, Juliette’s fears are valid, but Luca didn’t deserve the way she was treated and I think she deserved to be angry a bit longer than she was. Especially since Juliette messing with her head, messed with her game. But after that it takes one kinda crappy apology for her to be like “I forgive you 🥺”?? Really??
Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoyed this book! I just wish Luca was able to stand up for herself and had a moment of “You are treating me so shitty every time you freak out and I don’t have to deal with this!” and leaves Nd that’s what snaps Juliette back to reality and she has to grovel with Luca for forgiveness.
I love sapphic romance!!! When I first saw this book on NetGalley, I was so incredibly excited. I’m a sports fan, even for sports I don’t actually know the rules for like tennis, and a lesbian so this was perfect!
If you loved Challengers, but wanted it to be about two lesbians then this is the book for you. It’s competitive and intense and there is quite a bit of the sport aspect actually in this book rather than it just being the romance plot. It also soulmark au inspired, for all you fanfic connoisseurs.
This was a fun read, and I’m glad I snuck it in right at the end of summer because it really is a summer book. The one thing that really stuck with me, negatively, through is the way Juliette treats Luca throughout the book. Granted, it was because of her own fears and it’s her Thing that she has to work through, but I just felt like Luca never really got to be angry about it? Sure, Juliette’s fears are valid, but Luca didn’t deserve the way she was treated and I think she deserved to be angry a bit longer than she was. Especially since Juliette messing with her head, messed with her game. But after that it takes one kinda crappy apology for her to be like “I forgive you 🥺”?? Really??
Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoyed this book! I just wish Luca was able to stand up for herself and had a moment of “You are treating me so shitty every time you freak out and I don’t have to deal with this!” and leaves Nd that’s what snaps Juliette back to reality and she has to grovel with Luca for forgiveness.
Just not for me. I know nothing about tennis and that seemed very vital in this book for my enjoyment.
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm gonna go ahead and start with a disclaimer that no one is thirstier for a sapphic tennis book than I am, so my hopes for this book were SKY high. The hype beast got the better of me, and it's going to affect my review.
Let's talk about the elephant in the room: There's a paranormal aspect that is the lynch pin for the plot and its momentum. It's underveloped and random af in an otherwise contemporary tennis romance. Bascially, some people have soulmates, and their names appear on each others' wrists when they touch for the first time. The soulmate bond is categorized by charged physical attraction and some health benefits for being in proximity with your soulmate.
Maybe that would have been fine if the cover had the characters shaking hands with some magic wavy lines surrounding their wrists or some cute magical aura- literally ANYTHING to indicate that this wasn't a straight (pun not intended) contemporary romance like every other book with wierd cut out barbie looking characters smiling at eachother on the cover. If not contemporary, WHY contemporary shaped!???!?!?!
This was further emphasized by the main characters' attraction to eachother ONLY being propelled through physical contact/the soulmate bond. The characters don't get to know eachother or have deep conversations on the beach. Their body pushes them towards the other, and they're just like "Welp, ain't getting any better," and they start banging. I don't know why they love or are attracted to each other outside of being hot pro tennis players with a magical bond.
The reality is that if this magical soulmate bond didn't exist, this book would have absolutely nothing to stand on. Also, there's like 4 tertiary conflicts that didn't need to exist when the main characters started out as enemies/rivals and had plenty of ground to cover if you needed to fill page space, but I guess it's easier to write a book when you can explain everything away with a paranormal soul bond that makes everyone fall in love at the drop of a hat.
What's even worse is that when you start picking apart the soulmate bond, the less it makes sense. You don't think the soulmate bond wouldn't be capitalized on? That coaches wouldn't specifically make finding their pro athletes' soulmates as part of their training regimen because of all the health benefits? You don't think it would be considered an unfair advantage for people who don't have one or even a controlled substance when sports betting exists??? Are there conventions for people with soulmarks where it's like speed dating, but you just shake hands with everyone in hopes of meeting yours? Some people have two marks; do they get double the benefits?
Anyways, the smut was fine if not a little rushed sometimes. Sapphic smut takes forever in real life, so I'm not sure why we're just glazing (pun intended) over the fact that ya girl is down there for ten minutes. If I wanted rushed smut, I would read smut written for/about men.
Let's talk about the elephant in the room: There's a paranormal aspect that is the lynch pin for the plot and its momentum. It's underveloped and random af in an otherwise contemporary tennis romance. Bascially, some people have soulmates, and their names appear on each others' wrists when they touch for the first time. The soulmate bond is categorized by charged physical attraction and some health benefits for being in proximity with your soulmate.
Maybe that would have been fine if the cover had the characters shaking hands with some magic wavy lines surrounding their wrists or some cute magical aura- literally ANYTHING to indicate that this wasn't a straight (pun not intended) contemporary romance like every other book with wierd cut out barbie looking characters smiling at eachother on the cover. If not contemporary, WHY contemporary shaped!???!?!?!
This was further emphasized by the main characters' attraction to eachother ONLY being propelled through physical contact/the soulmate bond. The characters don't get to know eachother or have deep conversations on the beach. Their body pushes them towards the other, and they're just like "Welp, ain't getting any better," and they start banging. I don't know why they love or are attracted to each other outside of being hot pro tennis players with a magical bond.
The reality is that if this magical soulmate bond didn't exist, this book would have absolutely nothing to stand on. Also, there's like 4 tertiary conflicts that didn't need to exist when the main characters started out as enemies/rivals and had plenty of ground to cover if you needed to fill page space, but I guess it's easier to write a book when you can explain everything away with a paranormal soul bond that makes everyone fall in love at the drop of a hat.
What's even worse is that when you start picking apart the soulmate bond, the less it makes sense. You don't think the soulmate bond wouldn't be capitalized on? That coaches wouldn't specifically make finding their pro athletes' soulmates as part of their training regimen because of all the health benefits? You don't think it would be considered an unfair advantage for people who don't have one or even a controlled substance when sports betting exists??? Are there conventions for people with soulmarks where it's like speed dating, but you just shake hands with everyone in hopes of meeting yours? Some people have two marks; do they get double the benefits?
Anyways, the smut was fine if not a little rushed sometimes. Sapphic smut takes forever in real life, so I'm not sure why we're just glazing (pun intended) over the fact that ya girl is down there for ten minutes. If I wanted rushed smut, I would read smut written for/about men.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
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