A review by ggbookrecclub
False Start by Kandi Steiner

challenging 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

⭐️ Rating: 4/5

🌶️ Spice: 3/5

Genre: Sports Romance: Football

Tropes:

• Fake Dating
• Single Parent
• Second Chance
• Misunderstanding
• “Who did this to you?”
• No Third Act Breakup

It was so fun to be back with the couples of the Red Zone Rivals series. I forgot how much I enjoyed these books. Getting Kyle’s story post graduation was perfect for his character growth. As the troublemaker of the Pit, False Start gave him some redemption. 

Even though it has (felt like)forever since I had read the Red Zone Rivals series, False Start sucked me right back in with subtle context clues that didn’t feel like they were pounding me over the head with repetitive information. The story between Madelyn and Kyle was incredibly heartfelt. While the misunderstanding trope can be infuriating, this was more of a withholding of information from a trusted source. Aka, Kyle’s parents are awful. 

Without feeling rushed we got to see their initial connection as teenagers, the feuding as they saw each other for the first time nearly a decade later, and their love story grow as adults with complex caveats. 

Also, how fertile is Madelyn? Gees.