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kingrosereads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Without question this is a solid 4 star smutty college football romance. It has fake dating and miscommunication, which is always a fun combination.
For someone who hates football, I sure read an awful lot of football romances. Like this has to be the fifth or sixth one at this point. And no signs of stopping.
This is part of an interconnected series, something I suspected halfway through when it felt like I missed a story and it seemed like there was a set up for another one. Turns out this is the second book of three. They’re all standalones, but Fair Catch (about Zeke and Riley) is before this one and the Quarterback Sneak (about Holden and Julep) comes out October 2022. Since they are standalones, you don’t have to read them all or in any order, but I prefer to read them in order to avoid even a hint of what happens in the other stories.
Clay is a star football player for some New England college team, and Giana is a PR assistant tasked to make the team look good. She organizes all the media stuff and interviews and despite being short, quiet, and shy, she’s able to wrangle football players two to three times her size. Clay’s long-time high school sweetheart has broken up with him and he comes up with a plan with Giana to win her back. The plan is to fake date. Clay will get back his ex and Giana will not only win her crush’s affections, Clay will also teach her the ways of the bedroom (*wink wink*). What could possibly go wrong?
There’s instant attraction that slowly builds into feelings as they both try to make their respective persons jealous. Then the fake dating turns into real dating. There’s conflict and miscommunication. Then there’s the grand gesture and the HEA (kind of). We’ve seen it a million times, but it doesn’t cease to captivate.
Let me just say, even though there was basically instalove, the build up to the spice was done soooo nicely. Just each scene was done so well. It’s hot y’all. Trust.
However, this gets points off for the use of “kitten” as a nickname for a woman, especially during sex, and also for the use of “crown” for the head of a penis. I know I shouldn’t because it’s not something that’s technically wrong or poorly written, one person’s ick is another person’s yum (the worst saying ever) or whatever, but it’s just too cringe not to lose some points for it. Also, the grand gesture gave me soooo much secondhand embarrassment that I almost covered my eyes and wanted to scream. Just no, it was in no way cute or endearing. The declaration of love was the only thing that even remotely saved it. So, sorry, but points are gone for that.
Also, the whole “I owe my mom for sticking around to raise me” thing was just soooo toxic and it hurt my soul. I get at 19 how one could think this, hell, I thought it, but it’s just so toxic and bad. Especially, since his mom guilts him on the regular and is an addict that guilts money from her only child. He forgave her (and his toxic, manipulative ex) too quickly for my liking. And I’m so over the trope of the FMC not having any friends and/or the only friends she makes are the love interest’s friends. Can we kill this trope please? Let women be their own person?
Overall, a very good smutty read. I just might have to buy this one! Can’t wait to read the other two in the series!
For someone who hates football, I sure read an awful lot of football romances. Like this has to be the fifth or sixth one at this point. And no signs of stopping.
This is part of an interconnected series, something I suspected halfway through when it felt like I missed a story and it seemed like there was a set up for another one. Turns out this is the second book of three. They’re all standalones, but Fair Catch (about Zeke and Riley) is before this one and the Quarterback Sneak (about Holden and Julep) comes out October 2022. Since they are standalones, you don’t have to read them all or in any order, but I prefer to read them in order to avoid even a hint of what happens in the other stories.
Clay is a star football player for some New England college team, and Giana is a PR assistant tasked to make the team look good. She organizes all the media stuff and interviews and despite being short, quiet, and shy, she’s able to wrangle football players two to three times her size. Clay’s long-time high school sweetheart has broken up with him and he comes up with a plan with Giana to win her back. The plan is to fake date. Clay will get back his ex and Giana will not only win her crush’s affections, Clay will also teach her the ways of the bedroom (*wink wink*). What could possibly go wrong?
There’s instant attraction that slowly builds into feelings as they both try to make their respective persons jealous. Then the fake dating turns into real dating. There’s conflict and miscommunication. Then there’s the grand gesture and the HEA (kind of). We’ve seen it a million times, but it doesn’t cease to captivate.
Let me just say, even though there was basically instalove, the build up to the spice was done soooo nicely. Just each scene was done so well. It’s hot y’all. Trust.
However, this gets points off for the use of “kitten” as a nickname for a woman, especially during sex, and also for the use of “crown” for the head of a penis. I know I shouldn’t because it’s not something that’s technically wrong or poorly written, one person’s ick is another person’s yum (the worst saying ever) or whatever, but it’s just too cringe not to lose some points for it. Also, the grand gesture gave me soooo much secondhand embarrassment that I almost covered my eyes and wanted to scream. Just no, it was in no way cute or endearing. The declaration of love was the only thing that even remotely saved it. So, sorry, but points are gone for that.
Also, the whole “I owe my mom for sticking around to raise me” thing was just soooo toxic and it hurt my soul. I get at 19 how one could think this, hell, I thought it, but it’s just so toxic and bad. Especially, since his mom guilts him on the regular and is an addict that guilts money from her only child. He forgave her (and his toxic, manipulative ex) too quickly for my liking. And I’m so over the trope of the FMC not having any friends and/or the only friends she makes are the love interest’s friends. Can we kill this trope please? Let women be their own person?
Overall, a very good smutty read. I just might have to buy this one! Can’t wait to read the other two in the series!
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug abuse, and Toxic relationship