Review by natashaleighton_ - The Striker

natashaleighton_ 's review for:

The Striker by Ana Huang

4.0

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective 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: Yes

My sister has been singing the praises of Ana Huang for ages, but it’s only recently that I finally had the chance to read one of her books. And I’m soo glad I did because The Striker was incredible!

We follow football legend, Asher and former prima ballerina, Scarlett (the sister of Asher’s biggest rival) who find themselves working together during the summer at the dance academy where she works.

And boy do the sparks fly!

It definitely served all the feels and gave me a less backstabby (and less romantically toxic) Footballer’s Wives- style story (does anyone remember that show?) with an impressively realistic look into football culture in the UK (especially where the press and public are concerned.)

It’s also a pretty chunky book at 577-ish pages, but the banter, chemistry and depth we explore in Asher and Scarlett (as they overcome the grief and trauma of their pasts) totally made every page worthwhile.

Plus seeing them both slowly grow and emotionally heal, despite the press intrusions, public scrutiny and their individual personal issues, was as satisfying as it was heartfelt.

I don’t want to say too much for fear of spoilers. But if you love scorchingly addictive (and slow-burn) sports romances with compelling characters. Then you’ll definitely want to consider checking this (and upcoming sequel, The Defender) out.

Content Warnings