shn808's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
lighthearted
tense
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
4.5
teesbookjourney's review against another edition
5.0
It was the cover for me! I love a sport romance and fortunely this one didn't disappoint. I have to give Kennedy Ryan props for being able to write authentically while being sensitive with the content.
I appreciate the depth and life she was able to breath into the main and supporting characters. I will gladly continue this series! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I appreciate the depth and life she was able to breath into the main and supporting characters. I will gladly continue this series! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
booklybrittany's review against another edition
4.0
Please, please check trigger warnings before reading!
This was incredible. I knew going into this that it was going to be a difficult read in terms of the content in this story. However, I wanted to read it anyways and I am really glad I did. Although this is a story involving romance, I didn't really read this for the romance between August and Iris. To me, this was a story about survival and I cared more about Iris's journey than anything else.
It was heartbreaking reading about Iris's struggles and I don't say this lightly. The scenes in this book get very graphic and at times I found it hard to breathe while reading. This is not a book to take lightly, but I think it was incredibly rewarding to read about Iris and how she fought to survive.
Overall, I would highly highly recommend, but at your own discretion after checking the trigger warnings and understanding that this is graphic in every sense of the word.
This was incredible. I knew going into this that it was going to be a difficult read in terms of the content in this story. However, I wanted to read it anyways and I am really glad I did. Although this is a story involving romance, I didn't really read this for the romance between August and Iris. To me, this was a story about survival and I cared more about Iris's journey than anything else.
It was heartbreaking reading about Iris's struggles and I don't say this lightly. The scenes in this book get very graphic and at times I found it hard to breathe while reading. This is not a book to take lightly, but I think it was incredibly rewarding to read about Iris and how she fought to survive.
Overall, I would highly highly recommend, but at your own discretion after checking the trigger warnings and understanding that this is graphic in every sense of the word.
elysia_laila19's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
keli680's review against another edition
5.0
omg
This is an amazing read.. Has some trigger warnings but an amazing story. Kennedy Ryan did a fantastic job and now I can’t wait to read the rest of the series
This is an amazing read.. Has some trigger warnings but an amazing story. Kennedy Ryan did a fantastic job and now I can’t wait to read the rest of the series
kappareads's review against another edition
3.0
tw: domestic/physical/emotional/sexual abuse, rape
I'm not really sure what to think of this book. It was a lot of firsts for me; first forbidden romance in an Adult Romance, first sports romance, etc. It was also an odd combination of slow burn, as the romance takes place over two years, and fast burn, as Iris and August meet in one night and are instantly on board with dating each other if it wasn't forbidden.
I think not having August's POV would've helped. It was a case of dramatic irony that just wasn't fun to read about or was outright annoying as August would be thinking "oh why can't Iris just dump her jerk bf and date meeeee? we had one good night together!" and then you cut to Iris and she's being abused. It just wasn't cute and made me less endeared to August.
I don't think I'll continue this series, but I will try another Kennedy Ryan book in the future.
I'm not really sure what to think of this book. It was a lot of firsts for me; first forbidden romance in an Adult Romance, first sports romance, etc. It was also an odd combination of slow burn, as the romance takes place over two years, and fast burn, as Iris and August meet in one night and are instantly on board with dating each other if it wasn't forbidden.
I think not having August's POV would've helped. It was a case of dramatic irony that just wasn't fun to read about or was outright annoying as August would be thinking "oh why can't Iris just dump her jerk bf and date meeeee? we had one good night together!" and then you cut to Iris and she's being abused. It just wasn't cute and made me less endeared to August.
I don't think I'll continue this series, but I will try another Kennedy Ryan book in the future.
graycie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
kerasalwaysreading's review against another edition
5.0
There was much more to this book than I thought there would be. It was recommended to me and I just assumed it was a forbidden lovers book. Nope!
August is a college basketball star and the night before his championship game, he meets overhears a girl yelling a basketball game on tv in a bar. His intrigue turns to downright fascination when he meets Iris. They spend the whole evening talking and while BOTH of them feel the connection, she ends the night by telling him she has a boyfriend.
The next day, at the championship game, he learns that Iris’s fella is none other than a rival basketball player, “the golden boy” on the opposing team.
What follows over the span of a few years, is a story of two people who have an undeniable connection, but can’t be together. What I had no idea about when I went into this book, was the depth of pain Iris endures in her life.
If you are looking for a book about women’s empowerment and overcoming abuse, especially paired with a man as unbelievably sweet as August, who refuses to give up on the love of his life, this book is for you.
Also, I have to say that with some of these sports-themed books, the game isn’t as prominently displayed as it is in this. The series is HOOPS and she isn’t lying. It was based a lot around the game of basketball. I love this book. It made me laugh and CRY. Can’t wait to read Jared’s story.
August is a college basketball star and the night before his championship game, he meets overhears a girl yelling a basketball game on tv in a bar. His intrigue turns to downright fascination when he meets Iris. They spend the whole evening talking and while BOTH of them feel the connection, she ends the night by telling him she has a boyfriend.
The next day, at the championship game, he learns that Iris’s fella is none other than a rival basketball player, “the golden boy” on the opposing team.
What follows over the span of a few years, is a story of two people who have an undeniable connection, but can’t be together. What I had no idea about when I went into this book, was the depth of pain Iris endures in her life.
If you are looking for a book about women’s empowerment and overcoming abuse, especially paired with a man as unbelievably sweet as August, who refuses to give up on the love of his life, this book is for you.
Also, I have to say that with some of these sports-themed books, the game isn’t as prominently displayed as it is in this. The series is HOOPS and she isn’t lying. It was based a lot around the game of basketball. I love this book. It made me laugh and CRY. Can’t wait to read Jared’s story.
adeebasworldd's review against another edition
4.0
TW: Graphic descriptions of rape, abuse, domestic violence and verbal abuse.
THIS IS NOT A CUTE SPORTS ROMANCE
That’s honestly what the book should be displayed as first. Even though I already knew that there was rape, abuse, and domestic violence in this I was not told how graphic and how often it happens.
This is an important story of a women dealing and surviving horrific things and coming out stronger. This is not easy to read. I think the romance should’ve be more thought out and developed and I mean don’t get me wrong I totally believe that the H loved the h at the end but I think h journey overshadows the romance — especially at the end. I definitely wouldn’t recommend this a romance book or as a fun little read though.
Overall this wasn’t bad. I really liked Kennedy Ryan’s writing. I am not sure how to feel that this is the first book of hers that I read. I will still give her other books a chance, but I definitely will be more conscious of what’s gonna be there and what it’s about.
THIS IS NOT A CUTE SPORTS ROMANCE
That’s honestly what the book should be displayed as first. Even though I already knew that there was rape, abuse, and domestic violence in this I was not told how graphic and how often it happens.
This is an important story of a women dealing and surviving horrific things and coming out stronger. This is not easy to read. I think the romance should’ve be more thought out and developed and I mean don’t get me wrong I totally believe that the H loved the h at the end but I think h journey overshadows the romance — especially at the end. I definitely wouldn’t recommend this a romance book or as a fun little read though.
Overall this wasn’t bad. I really liked Kennedy Ryan’s writing. I am not sure how to feel that this is the first book of hers that I read. I will still give her other books a chance, but I definitely will be more conscious of what’s gonna be there and what it’s about.