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A review by rellimreads
Kickin' It by Rachel Van Dyken
5.0
Audio. 5 stars. At the time of this review, you can borrow both the ebook & Audiobook via Kindle Unlimited. Alternatively, the ebook is $4.99 and you can add the Audible to the purchase for $1.99, so that's less than the cost of a credit.
I'll admit that I'm a huge RVD fan. However, this audiobook may be one of my absolute favorites. I wasn't familiar with either narrator, but I still opted to buy this the day it was released as her books are ones that I'll consistently listen to over & over again. I don't regret it at all.
While this is the second book of the series, it was definitely a stand alone. Slade & MacKenzie from Risky Play make some appearances, but you don't need their story to fully enjoy this one. Parker is a recent college grad seeking out a professional soccer career. Her bestie, Willow is moving to Seattle to live with Willow's older brother, Matt, and brings Parker along. We met Matt in Risky Play as the slightly-paternalistic (despite being 31) agent to several off the rails professional athletes. In Kickin' It, he agrees to be Parker's agent despite her hitting her college coach and a variety of other rumors threatening to sink her career before it even gets off the ground.
Van Dyken tackles some tough issues in this book with an authenticity that led me to tears several times. Matt is incredibly endearing and his relationship with Parker becomes a thing of beauty. As with all RVD, there are definitely some light moments (generally starring Jagger) and I found myself laughing almost as much as crying. The ending was *slightly* over the top for me, but this is fiction and I went with it. The epilogue was was uniquely Matt & Parker and a lovely finish.
I'll admit that I'm a huge RVD fan. However, this audiobook may be one of my absolute favorites. I wasn't familiar with either narrator, but I still opted to buy this the day it was released as her books are ones that I'll consistently listen to over & over again. I don't regret it at all.
While this is the second book of the series, it was definitely a stand alone. Slade & MacKenzie from Risky Play make some appearances, but you don't need their story to fully enjoy this one. Parker is a recent college grad seeking out a professional soccer career. Her bestie, Willow is moving to Seattle to live with Willow's older brother, Matt, and brings Parker along. We met Matt in Risky Play as the slightly-paternalistic (despite being 31) agent to several off the rails professional athletes. In Kickin' It, he agrees to be Parker's agent despite her hitting her college coach and a variety of other rumors threatening to sink her career before it even gets off the ground.
Van Dyken tackles some tough issues in this book with an authenticity that led me to tears several times. Matt is incredibly endearing and his relationship with Parker becomes a thing of beauty. As with all RVD, there are definitely some light moments (generally starring Jagger) and I found myself laughing almost as much as crying. The ending was *slightly* over the top for me, but this is fiction and I went with it. The epilogue was was uniquely Matt & Parker and a lovely finish.