angieinbooks's review against another edition
3.0
This is shockingly my first soccer-centric romance outside of fan fiction. It’s also my first M. Ullrich novel. It revolves around national team star Sutton Flores, the captain of the New Jersey Hurricanes and perpetual breaker of hearts, and Kenzie Shaw, a rookie with big-star potential who fangirled over and crushed on Sutton for years before becoming her teammate with the Hurricanes. They meet. They get close. They click. And things really go from there.
I really liked the characters in this novel and there are moments of really well done and funny dialogue (except for Sutton’s captain speeches, which were always terrible), but something always felt incomplete in this story. The sexual harassment storyline, Sutton’s background/reputation, the politics of the national team, the fact that Rhea completely disappears from the narrative... While I wanted a more complete picture, none of this made the story unreadable. I was super invested in what happened and had just the right amount of angst to keep me a little bit on edge.
Conclusion: I am hoping to read more soccer-centric romances and more M. Ullrich stories.
I really liked the characters in this novel and there are moments of really well done and funny dialogue (except for Sutton’s captain speeches, which were always terrible), but something always felt incomplete in this story. The sexual harassment storyline, Sutton’s background/reputation, the politics of the national team, the fact that Rhea completely disappears from the narrative... While I wanted a more complete picture, none of this made the story unreadable. I was super invested in what happened and had just the right amount of angst to keep me a little bit on edge.
Conclusion: I am hoping to read more soccer-centric romances and more M. Ullrich stories.
hhushaw's review against another edition
4.0
An honest review thanks to NetGalley. I was very excited to read this book as any sports romance is always amazing to read. This book did not disappoint and was a fantastic read. The only issue that I found with this book, which is why it is not getting five stars is the lack of clarity with the sexual assault piece. They said an official report was being done and he was fired but I wanted to know if the men who covered this up were apart of this report and what happened to the team as a whole afterward. I did really love the epilogue and am so glad the author included it as well as showing us their future.
823sisi's review against another edition
4.0
This is a Netgalley ARC review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
Top of Her Game by M. Ullrich is a sweet sports rom com. Sutton and Kenzie are women I’d be friends with. Their intimate dynamic was intense. Their friendships with their teammates was fun. I especially enjoyed the banter between Taylor and Sutton. At first I thought they were frenemies. I thought the jabs at lesbian relationship stereotypes was quite funny. Chapter 20 was by far my favorite.
I feel like this book also touches on multiple important social issues in a sensitive yet approachable manner.
Top of Her Game by M. Ullrich is a sweet sports rom com. Sutton and Kenzie are women I’d be friends with. Their intimate dynamic was intense. Their friendships with their teammates was fun. I especially enjoyed the banter between Taylor and Sutton. At first I thought they were frenemies. I thought the jabs at lesbian relationship stereotypes was quite funny. Chapter 20 was by far my favorite.
I feel like this book also touches on multiple important social issues in a sensitive yet approachable manner.
aluhealz's review against another edition
4.0
I was pleasantly surprised by this one. I am not a big sports fan personally, but the author does a good job of keeping my attention during the parts that actually involve soccer. The real content of this story comes more from the characters getting over obstacles present to them after being a couple than them actually getting together. There was a decent amount of non-relatoonship drama and the story took turns I hadn't anticipated. I really liked that it was not predictable to me.
My only complaint really just comes from what one of the main characters classifies as "waiting to have sex." It wasn't a deal breaker, but I couldn't help but feel like it crossed the line a bit of what is or isn't have sex.
My only complaint really just comes from what one of the main characters classifies as "waiting to have sex." It wasn't a deal breaker, but I couldn't help but feel like it crossed the line a bit of what is or isn't have sex.
judeinthestars's review against another edition
4.0
Soccer player Kenzie Shaw is drafted by the New Jersey Hurricanes, where one of her new teammates is her all-time idol Sutton Flores. Already convinced Sutton is the best player ever, Kenzie falls under the team captain’s charm as a person too. Sutton already has a girlfriend, a player from another team, in a relationship that’s more convenient than loving. Neither Sutton nor Kenzie can deny what they feel for the other but Kenzie won’t get involved with Sutton if she’s not single.
I was worried, reading this so soon after Kate Christie’s The Road to Canada
, that I wouldn’t be able to appreciate it the way it should. I shouldn’t have been. The soccer game scenes were excellent, and there was just enough of them to build tension but not so many that the romance falls in the background. I really liked the fact that while the national team played a part, most of the story takes place while the players are with their major league team.
I loved Kenzie from the start, her awkwardness is so adorable I was laughing right from the first scene. Not because she’s ridiculous but because she’s so cute. Sutton is an interesting character too, with flaws she’s aware of and the desire to do better. The chemistry between Kenzie and Sutton is obvious, and I liked how the author makes sure pretty soon that we know it’s not only about Kenzie being a fan girl (even though she is) or Sutton having the reputation to fall for rookies (even though she does). The characters believe what’s between them is different, and I believed it with them.
One thing that keeps coming back in reviews is how the sexual harassment part was dealt with, both by the author and the team. It does feel unresolved, obviously something happened between the last chapter and the epilogue that we don’t know about, and it makes the ending feel rushed. But the way the team fails to address the problem doesn’t surprise me. I’m aware more and more women have spoken up and keep speaking up against sexual harassment, including in professional sports, but the journey to making things right isn’t a straight line and I can completely see a manager reacting the way the Hurricanes’ manager does, even in a post #MeToo world. Whether his threats would have held if the players had called his bluff doesn’t matter, all that matters is that they believe they would have. However famous or talented they are, he holds the power. It’s still very often true today.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
I was worried, reading this so soon after Kate Christie’s The Road to Canada
, that I wouldn’t be able to appreciate it the way it should. I shouldn’t have been. The soccer game scenes were excellent, and there was just enough of them to build tension but not so many that the romance falls in the background. I really liked the fact that while the national team played a part, most of the story takes place while the players are with their major league team.
I loved Kenzie from the start, her awkwardness is so adorable I was laughing right from the first scene. Not because she’s ridiculous but because she’s so cute. Sutton is an interesting character too, with flaws she’s aware of and the desire to do better. The chemistry between Kenzie and Sutton is obvious, and I liked how the author makes sure pretty soon that we know it’s not only about Kenzie being a fan girl (even though she is) or Sutton having the reputation to fall for rookies (even though she does). The characters believe what’s between them is different, and I believed it with them.
One thing that keeps coming back in reviews is how the sexual harassment part was dealt with, both by the author and the team. It does feel unresolved, obviously something happened between the last chapter and the epilogue that we don’t know about, and it makes the ending feel rushed. But the way the team fails to address the problem doesn’t surprise me. I’m aware more and more women have spoken up and keep speaking up against sexual harassment, including in professional sports, but the journey to making things right isn’t a straight line and I can completely see a manager reacting the way the Hurricanes’ manager does, even in a post #MeToo world. Whether his threats would have held if the players had called his bluff doesn’t matter, all that matters is that they believe they would have. However famous or talented they are, he holds the power. It’s still very often true today.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
alzpetez's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book. It had quite a few random time jumps and ended up having a plot line i wasn’t expected but overall a good read.
mjsam's review against another edition
4.0
ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a nice sports romance from Ullrich. I’m not a huge soccer fan since it’s not a major sport where I live, but I still enjoyed the soccer background and didn’t think there was too much emphasis on the soccer scenes.
This features MC Kenzie, a rookie about to play her first season in a women’s soccer league and Sutton, a long time player who is also Kenzie’s idol and crush. The two have instant sparks, but Sutton has a girlfriend (who plays for a different team in the league). I liked that even though it was obvious that the two had developed feelings for each other, nothing happened until Sutton broke it off (I also give kudos for how she did this).
The romance from here on is pretty standard and sweet, with plenty of nice chemistry between the two. I also liked that they didn’t just fall into bed with each other after this, another rarity in lesfic. So, up until around the 75% mark, things were going swimmingly, but then a sexual harassment storyline pops up. This involves one of the MCs and was just.... kinda unbelievable. In the current political landscape I didn’t buy for a minute that the issue would have been handled the way it was, and even if it was, all the MCs had to do was go to the press and the whole thing would have swung their way. I also didn’t buy how Sutton handled this, and thought the breakup was too contrived. I’ve knocked a star off for those two reasons.
That said, I did enjoy the romance and that there’s an epilogue that provides some closure (some idea of what happened to the harasser would have been good). It’s a solid romance, and sports fans are sure to enjoy. 4 stars.
This is a nice sports romance from Ullrich. I’m not a huge soccer fan since it’s not a major sport where I live, but I still enjoyed the soccer background and didn’t think there was too much emphasis on the soccer scenes.
This features MC Kenzie, a rookie about to play her first season in a women’s soccer league and Sutton, a long time player who is also Kenzie’s idol and crush. The two have instant sparks, but Sutton has a girlfriend (who plays for a different team in the league). I liked that even though it was obvious that the two had developed feelings for each other, nothing happened until Sutton broke it off (I also give kudos for how she did this).
The romance from here on is pretty standard and sweet, with plenty of nice chemistry between the two. I also liked that they didn’t just fall into bed with each other after this, another rarity in lesfic. So, up until around the 75% mark, things were going swimmingly, but then a sexual harassment storyline pops up. This involves one of the MCs and was just.... kinda unbelievable. In the current political landscape I didn’t buy for a minute that the issue would have been handled the way it was, and even if it was, all the MCs had to do was go to the press and the whole thing would have swung their way. I also didn’t buy how Sutton handled this, and thought the breakup was too contrived. I’ve knocked a star off for those two reasons.
That said, I did enjoy the romance and that there’s an epilogue that provides some closure (some idea of what happened to the harasser would have been good). It’s a solid romance, and sports fans are sure to enjoy. 4 stars.
usedcrock's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
The relationship felt odd to me from the very start. Lots of hero worship and there's attempts to show that Kenzie's isn't putting Sutton on a pedestal but I don't think it really succeeded. Though it is clear they care for each other a lot it was still odd to me.
The ending felt a little rushed and the big fight between the main characters felt very out of character, rushed and unnecessary.
The ending felt a little rushed and the big fight between the main characters felt very out of character, rushed and unnecessary.
night_owl_84's review against another edition
4.0
Wow! What a sweet story. There were some ups and downs but the romance, chemistry and main characters made it worth going through the rough patches. I absolutely loved the epilogue. Overall my heart is full and so happy! I’m looking forward to checking out other books by M. Ullrich!