emcroll 's review for:

The Strike Zone by Lulu Moore

4.5

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

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The Strike Zone was everything I wanted and more—especially after getting little glimpses of Scout and Parker in the earlier books. Parker is just the best kind of pining, patient golden retriever hero, and watching him play the long game to win over Scout was equal parts heart-melting and hilarious. He’s had terrible timing for literally a year, but now that she’s single again, he’s all in… just at the exact moment she’s focusing on her career. The “friends first” plan? Painfully adorable. The GIFs, the casual shirtless workouts, the quiet support—it all made me want to scream into a pillow in the best way. 

The slow burn here really pays off, and once things heat up, it’s so satisfying. But what I loved most was how layered their story felt—full of missed chances, quiet yearning, and that bittersweet “right person, wrong time” tension. And when workplace drama and HR complications throw a wrench in their plans? The angst kicks in just right. Parker’s determination to show up, even when he stumbles, made me root for them hard. This book gave me all the soft, swoony feels while still making me laugh and cheer them on.