A review by sarahmcg
Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.0

*Before you start this book, check the trigger/content warnings! I will put more detail regarding these later in my review.

I’m not going to lie - when I saw the cover of this book, I thought it was going to be a light, smutty sports romance (which is what I was in the mood for). I knew it would probably have some depth because I read Kennedy Ryan’s book “Before I Let Go” and that was a mix of serious, humor, character growth and spice. 

However - this book shocked me. I wasn’t expecting the amount of graphic, on-page ⚠️
domestic and sexual abuse, rape, emotional abuse/manipulation, impregnating without consent, blackmailing, and gun violence (not involving the “hero,” August).
I do think Ryan handled these difficult topics very well - she interviewed domestic abuse survivors, social workers, and women’s shelters before writing this book. I think she helped to give the survivor’s perspective of why people often can’t “just leave,” especially when there’s a child involved. 

I could really feel the depths of Iris’s fear, hopelessness, isolation, and despair, and that made her moments of joy even more meaningful when she could find them. I think one of the most disgusting parts of this book (obviously besides Caleb’s actual abuse), were the complicity of those in Caleb’s life who knew what he was doing - the bodyguard Ramone, his cousin Andrew who would come “fix up” Iris each time after Caleb hurt her, and his dad using his money and power to sweep his horrible actions under the rug. It made me so mad that no one else saw through his golden boy act - but we all know this does happen in real life, and that’s heartbreaking. 

Iris & August were open and vulnerable with each other from their very first conversation. It was a little bit *too* insta-love for me, but they truly did have great chemistry and connection, and kept thinking of and coming back to each other. Even without knowing exactly what Iris went through with Caleb (due to that damn NDA), he was patient and respectful with her, as a good partner should be. I didn’t always love the descriptors used during spicy time, but that might just be a personal problem between me and the word *folds.*

One last thing - I loved her relationship with her cousin Lotus (and look forward to her story!) and her time with great grandmother Mimi. I think that was so essential to the start of her healing. 

I think this was a very good book, it just wasn’t what I expected and I’m not sure I was in the right headspace for it! So I wanted to give others a heads up so they could decide whether or not they are!
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