nell163's review
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
lindaunconventionalbookworms's review against another edition
4.0
This review was originally posted on (un)Conventional Bookviews
The Baller was a hot story - the sports reporter and the professional football player started off on the wrong foot - but once they got it right, they got it good!
Delilah was my kind of character! In The Baller, she was a sports journalist, and she covered football. She thought she was incapable of loving anyone, because of her past, but Brody made her so mad she knew her emotions worked, at least. The first time Brody and Delilah met, she was all ready to interview him. After a game, in the locker room, and to see what she was made of, he dropped his towel. Right before she went on air.
Brody was the king of one-night-stands, and he didn't want to change. Not now, not ever. He had someone from his past who had turned him off from relationships, and he really didn't want to make himself suffer anymore heartache. The Baller was a quite light-hearted story, even if it dealt with some heavier themes as well. The story is character-driven, and I enjoyed getting to know Delilah and Brody both.
Delilah was a strong woman, and I think she had to be in such a male-dominated world. She knew her football, and apart from her job, she had a great friend... and possibly Brody to keep her feel alive.
Brody was the best player of his team. And he knew it - the cocky man didn't have to do much to have women swarm him. Apart from Delilah, who frowned and turned him away more than once.
Brody and Delilah both got their chapters, and they were narrated by MacKenzie for Delilah, and Sean for Brody. The pace was nice and fluid, and the story was well done.
So many feels! I felt so sad for Delilah and Brody and what they had been through in the past. And there was some drama brought to the present as well, that made me hold my breath wile listening, that's how invested I was in their happiness.
Overall, I really enjoyed the narration, however, in conversations, I found the male narrator to have a horrible voice when he did the female part of the dialogue. I will definitely listen to both narrators again, though.
The Baller was a hot story - the sports reporter and the professional football player started off on the wrong foot - but once they got it right, they got it good!
Story:
Delilah was my kind of character! In The Baller, she was a sports journalist, and she covered football. She thought she was incapable of loving anyone, because of her past, but Brody made her so mad she knew her emotions worked, at least. The first time Brody and Delilah met, she was all ready to interview him. After a game, in the locker room, and to see what she was made of, he dropped his towel. Right before she went on air.
Brody was the king of one-night-stands, and he didn't want to change. Not now, not ever. He had someone from his past who had turned him off from relationships, and he really didn't want to make himself suffer anymore heartache. The Baller was a quite light-hearted story, even if it dealt with some heavier themes as well. The story is character-driven, and I enjoyed getting to know Delilah and Brody both.
Characters:
Delilah was a strong woman, and I think she had to be in such a male-dominated world. She knew her football, and apart from her job, she had a great friend... and possibly Brody to keep her feel alive.
Brody was the best player of his team. And he knew it - the cocky man didn't have to do much to have women swarm him. Apart from Delilah, who frowned and turned him away more than once.
Writing style :
Brody and Delilah both got their chapters, and they were narrated by MacKenzie for Delilah, and Sean for Brody. The pace was nice and fluid, and the story was well done.
Feels :
So many feels! I felt so sad for Delilah and Brody and what they had been through in the past. And there was some drama brought to the present as well, that made me hold my breath wile listening, that's how invested I was in their happiness.
Narration:
Overall, I really enjoyed the narration, however, in conversations, I found the male narrator to have a horrible voice when he did the female part of the dialogue. I will definitely listen to both narrators again, though.
soquental's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
andreeachj's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
geo_ix's review against another edition
4.0
I'm finding this book also really hard to rate, because while I liked the plot, the writing style wasn't my favourite. It felt like it didn't flow compared to how I prefer things. I loved the characters, minus willow, and loved the plot, but I also feel after Willows POV came in, which I really disliked, it started to plateau and then decline. I'm not saying the ending is shit, but it is super fluffy and I don't feel like it really fit the book in my opinion. This book was incredibly sad and more about the characters grief and loss in life because most of it really interferes with their relationship. It was however an extremely realistic type of romance with jealousy, anger and cheeky moments.
andre_e's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 ~ It was cute but I felt something was missing between the couple. I would have liked them to communicate better or delve into the events they still carry from their past rather than just retelling them as they are still affecting them and it is putting strain in their relationship. I also felt that the Willow's POV chapters were not necessary in the plot, even though they made us empathize with her, they didn't add anything to the story or open a dialogue with the readers.
andrec's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 ~ It was cute but I felt something was missing between the couple. I would have liked them to communicate better or delve into the events they still carry from their past rather than just retelling them as they are still affecting them and it is putting strain in their relationship. I also felt that the Willow's POV chapters were not necessary in the plot, even though they made us empathize with her, they didn't add anything to the story or open a dialogue with the readers.