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A review by weelasswithabook
The Striker by Ana Huang
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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
5.0
Cw: chronic pain, car accident, medical content , graphic sexual content, knife violence, murder
🌟 Sports Romance
🌟 Forbidden romance
Ana Huang could write a recipe for buttered toast and I'd savour every word.
I went into this with a little trepidation. Most romance novels are around 300-400 pages. Normally when it's 500+ you're heading towards more fantasy romance territory where you need world building etc to establish the story. So I was thinking, at 600 pages, a contemporary sports romance, I really hope this isn't going to be a ton of filler or drag out the story. But it's Ana, so I trusted the process.
Blissfully, every page was needed. I loooooooved this book. I'm gonna be honest, I was disappointed when I was nearing the end because I could've read these two for forever.
Back to the actual substance of the story. Forbidden romances are always pure gold, there's that little undercurrent of anxiety that I always feel just waiting for that moment they get caught. This didn't disappoint on that front.
It also didn't disappoint on the romance front, Asher was just utterly besotted with Scarlett and I majorly swooned MANY times.
On a more serious front, I really appreciated the representation of chronic pain and how it impacts not only people's daily lives, but mentally as well. It wasn't relied upon as something to feel sorry for, it was just an accurate portrayal of life with chronic pain and the ups and downs that come with it. I also loved that Scarlett allowed Asher in and allowed him to take care of her. She didn't put her pride in front of her comfort (been there, regretted that), and he was so attuned to her and attentive to her pain and limitations. It was so sweet I could throw up.
As for the third act breakup, which AH is so fond of 🤣 The betrayal was disappointing but I KNEW that scenario would happen. Not specifically, but related to his "hobby" and I was screaming NOOOOOOO at the book and ready to throw it across the room when it arose. What I adore the most about Ana's heroines is they don't just shrug off betrayal, lies, or whatever causes the conflict, they take their space and make the H work for it.
You should read this if you think Ted Lasso could've really been doing with a spicy storyline. I was getting Jamie Tartt vibes from Asher. And if you love a forbidden romance (specifically brothers enemy/rival), this is so far up your street it's outside your door.
🌟 Sports Romance
🌟 Forbidden romance
Ana Huang could write a recipe for buttered toast and I'd savour every word.
I went into this with a little trepidation. Most romance novels are around 300-400 pages. Normally when it's 500+ you're heading towards more fantasy romance territory where you need world building etc to establish the story. So I was thinking, at 600 pages, a contemporary sports romance, I really hope this isn't going to be a ton of filler or drag out the story. But it's Ana, so I trusted the process.
Blissfully, every page was needed. I loooooooved this book. I'm gonna be honest, I was disappointed when I was nearing the end because I could've read these two for forever.
Back to the actual substance of the story. Forbidden romances are always pure gold, there's that little undercurrent of anxiety that I always feel just waiting for that moment they get caught. This didn't disappoint on that front.
It also didn't disappoint on the romance front, Asher was just utterly besotted with Scarlett and I majorly swooned MANY times.
On a more serious front, I really appreciated the representation of chronic pain and how it impacts not only people's daily lives, but mentally as well. It wasn't relied upon as something to feel sorry for, it was just an accurate portrayal of life with chronic pain and the ups and downs that come with it. I also loved that Scarlett allowed Asher in and allowed him to take care of her. She didn't put her pride in front of her comfort (been there, regretted that), and he was so attuned to her and attentive to her pain and limitations. It was so sweet I could throw up.
As for the third act breakup, which AH is so fond of 🤣 The betrayal was disappointing but I KNEW that scenario would happen. Not specifically, but related to his "hobby" and I was screaming NOOOOOOO at the book and ready to throw it across the room when it arose. What I adore the most about Ana's heroines is they don't just shrug off betrayal, lies, or whatever causes the conflict, they take their space and make the H work for it.
You should read this if you think Ted Lasso could've really been doing with a spicy storyline. I was getting Jamie Tartt vibes from Asher. And if you love a forbidden romance (specifically brothers enemy/rival), this is so far up your street it's outside your door.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, and Car accident
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail