This isn’t going to be a fantastic review, but it wasn’t a fantastic book. I had to DNF. I found that it had terrible pacing. Everything was on hyperdrive. There’s cringey sexual content that felt purely for the shock value but didn’t add to the story in any meaningful way. There’s little to no tension. It’s simply not the book for me.

This book made me live out my fantasy of having my own meet cute at an airport! A cute quick read! Perfect for a long flight 😉

This was a quick one and a half sitting read, and in the end, just felt a little too much like a fanfiction for me. While the characters did have chemistry, the insta-love trope has never been one to suck me in.
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Thanks to NetGalley and Wattpad Books for this ARC, in exchange for my honest review.

This was a really quick and easy read. I enjoyed this book. I would highly recommend this if you’re looking for a smutty book over plot! I had the opportunity to read an advanced reader’s e-proof of Out of His League by Caroline Richardson via NetGalley. All opinions above are my own.

I thought overall this was a really fun read with a great balance of sweet and spicy. I did like Gretchen and Josh as characters, and found the way that they interacted with each other to be really fun to read about. I will say that my only real complaint is with the subplot and some of the side characters. I know that romance and stories need conflict to be interesting, but I just really did not care for Sharla as a character. I will say that I loved Carolines ability to call on her clear love of the sport of baseball while also making the story more than just a hot baseball player fell in love with a fan. Overall I thought that this was a fun read and I will definitely be reading more from this author!

Out of His League by Caroline Richardson is a captivating sports romance that will have readers cheering for the underdog and swooning over the undeniable chemistry between the main characters. With its mix of steamy romance, sports drama, and heartfelt moments, this book is a perfect choice for fans of the genre.

The story follows Emma, a talented and ambitious sports journalist, who finds herself falling for the star quarterback, Ethan, despite their apparent differences. As they navigate the challenges of their respective careers and the pressures of fame, their connection deepens, leading to a rollercoaster of emotions and unexpected revelations.

Richardson's writing style is engaging and addictive, effortlessly drawing readers into the world of professional sports and the complexities of forbidden love. The author's attention to detail in capturing the dynamics of the sports industry adds depth and authenticity to the story. The passionate romance between Emma and Ethan is beautifully portrayed, filled with tension, vulnerability, and undeniable sparks that leap off the pages.

The character development in Out of His League is well-executed, with Emma and Ethan undergoing personal growth as they confront their fears and confront the obstacles standing in their way. The supporting cast of friends and teammates adds additional layers to the story, creating a sense of camaraderie and a rich backdrop against which the romance unfolds.

Sports enthusiasts will appreciate the accurate depiction of the athletic world, as well as the thrilling game sequences that bring the story to life. Richardson's knowledge of the sports industry shines through, immersing readers in the excitement and intensity of the game.

While the romance and sports elements are undoubtedly strong, some readers may find certain plot twists and conflicts to be somewhat predictable. However, the overall execution and the chemistry between the characters make up for any minor predictability, ensuring an enjoyable and satisfying reading experience.

In conclusion, Out of His League is a compelling and passionate sports romance that will leave readers hooked until the final page. Caroline Richardson's skillful storytelling, well-developed characters, and sizzling romance make this book a standout in the genre. If you're looking for a captivating love story set against the backdrop of professional sports, don't miss out on Out of His League.

Disclosure: I received an ARC of Out of His League from the author for an honest review.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Out of His League introduces you to Gretchen and Joshua. She is living my dream of being a sommelier, trying and then potentially buying wines for other people - like restaurants and such. She's also a huge baseball fan ever since she watched Josh play. So, when she spots him at the airport it kind of seems like fate. Sure, she needs to calm down her inner fan and act cool on the outside so she does the only thing she can do - she buys him a cup of coffee.

Now for Josh, I get why he didn't seem concerned about a stranger buying him coffee. He has a lot on his mind, and plate, for that matter since he's back down in the minor league. Not the best time to get the news but he knows he's getting a bit older and maybe the major leagues just aren't it for him anymore. Either way, I just know that I would be freaked out if someone I didn't know shove a cup of coffee into my face and it ended up being one, I actually liked.

Maybe I'm just overly suspicious.

As for their little coffee exchange, things definitely take off pretty quickly. Definitely got insta-everything vibes the entire time. So, it wasn't a complete shock when the other shoe eventually dropped, and he found out how much of a fan she actually was. Sure, he completely overreacted and didn't let anyone else get a word in to explain it all. BUT DETAILS PEOPLE. I came for the love and stayed for it all.

Then there's the other drama. Yes, other than relationship drama we have manager drama. Which also wasn't a big surprise with how his manager acted at one point either. It was just high time for Josh to open his eyes and see it all for the first time. He became a big boy at the end of this book and eventually found true love (or whatever).

In the end, I'm happy that I got the chance to jump into this and watch these two fall instantly in love with one another. It was easy to read within one sitting. No complaints on my end.

Steamy one night stand turns into lovers for life. Perfect book for someone who likes baseball and a bit of steam with their romance reads. I enjoyed this book, got a bit sick of Gretchen crying all of the time. Seemed like she was weeping for half of the book. Would like to know more about Sharla and the Lord in possibly the next one.

This book just didn't do it for me this time, it was a bit average and didn't hold my interest for long periods of time.

When Gretchen uncharacteristically goes on a whim and buys a coffee for former pro baseball player Joshua, it pays off. BIG TIME. The couple quickly realizes they have undeniable chemistry. Is this connection too strong for a one-night stand or will it be more?

What this book may lack in substance it makes up for in steam! A great read for someone looking for something high on smut and less demanding on the story.

I am a sucker for sports romance's and that’s what really sold me on this book. I didn’t love the insta-love trope, as it’s not my favorite and some parts of the plot fell flat for me.
It was a very quick and easy read. If you enjoy books that read like fan fiction I’d say you’d really enjoy this.

I really wanted to love this one, but it felt wayyyy too much like a fanfiction for me. The romance was insta-love at its most instant, and the formatting issues drove me crazy.

luckily this wasn’t too long which could also have been the downfall of this book because the insta love (more like lust to be fair) is a big no no for me. it was fun, but nothing original and could we please have characters that communicate?!?

BOOK REVIEW

BOOK: Out of His League
AUTHOR: Caroline Richardson
FORMAT: eBook
RATING: DNF (did not finish)

MY THOUGHTS

I started this book and found that I had a lot of difficulty connecting to the story. I did not finish it, not for lack of quality of the book but more so that I felt it was a “right book wrong time” situation where I wasn’t in the right mindset for this one at this time! Hopefully will be picking it back up in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read this book. All thoughts/reviews are my own.

Out of His League is such a fun sports romance. It reads pretty much like fan fiction but for a fictional celebrity baseball player rather than a character or human that already exists. I definitely loved it for that because it felt like I was reading back in my Wattpad roots which is appropriate since Wattpad published this book.

I've always loved baseball growing up and can definitely identify with Gretchen in that it was something my father and I bond over. Growing up I used to joke about how I would one day marry a baseball player too, so overall I related a lot to Gretchen and enjoyed the general plot lines of the story.

I also REALLY appreciated the drama in the book beyond just the romance. I think all the conflicts balanced really well throughout the story. We had racial injustices, heavy grief over cancer, long distance, retiring/giving up on big career goals, and much more! However, I never felt like the conflict was too much. It all felt very realistic.

The last part about the book I really enjoyed was the friendship between Sharla and Gretchen. I loved showing the long distance friendship and the aspects of Gretchen choosing to not sacrifice an important relationship just because she was heart broken. She chose to rise above which doesn't feel like it happens often in books. Most of the time it feels like the females are pitted against each other. For that reason this is one of my favorite friendships I've read about in a book!

Overall a really great story, I hope we get a companion book and/or sequel about Sharla and his lordship as well. Loved this book!

Insta-love, sports romance

I dont read many sports romance and really should read more because this one was hot!
The chemistry between gretchen and Joshua was off the charts, I was very invested in their relationship and cheering them on from the bench. I loved the baseball and wine content, it made for a great background to the story. I read this in one afternoon and will be reading more from Richardson in the future.

Whoa this book is a perfectly sweet and spicy contemporary sports romance. Gretchen a Canadian sommelier with a passion for baseball, especially her home town team the Toronto Sixers. So when she is sitting in a crowded airport and sees the Sixers left fielder, her favourite player, Josh Melvern walking towards her gate she isn’t sure how best to handle the situation. Eventually she decides you only live once and she may never get the chance to speak to him again, so she buys him a coffee which sets off a heated Las Vegas weekend romance … which leaves her wanting more.

The chemistry between Gretchen and Josh is off the charts, their passion and shared attraction makes for some sizzling spicy scenes. I really liked both main characters and wanted to love this book. The characters are both well rounded and serious about their professional lives – wine and baseball, two of my favourite things. Together they were magnetic but their immediate attraction didn’t seem realistic.

That said I really did enjoy this book, it was a quick and enjoyable read but a tad too insta-love for this readers taste. I would have loved a bit more back story on Gretchen especially. Her love of baseball obviously stems from her relationship with her father but I’m wondering what made her continue to be so interested in the game after her father left? I think that would have added a much needed layer to her character as she does come off as a bit of a super-fan, the exact type of person professional athletes would steer clear of. I also found it odd Josh wouldn’t question her motives and have a more serious conversation once “the list” is brought up. It obviously caused a rift between them, as it should have but I would have found it more believable if it would have served as more of a wakeup call but all reservation was erased by a kiss? It made it hard to believe their connection was more than physical. Baseball has a soft spot in my heart and being from the Toronto area it was fun to recognize some of the places mentioned in the book. The author clearly has a passion for the game and I thought it was mostly very accurately but I was slightly bothered by the home team batting first when Texas played Toronto.

A sports romance that could have been better. The premise is promising, but it could have been developed more. It sadly disappoints.

The insta-love was not what made me dislike the story overall… that was to be expected based on the plot synopsis and the trope thoughts. What got me was the smut talk was almost essentially embarrassing to read and I love me some smut! It was over-the-top and just too much, and the scenes were hot but almost not bothered! The characters fell right into bed without even really discussing anything at all, which I mean, go for it! But not something I’m overly excited for in a story.

I loved the premise of baseball being the topic of discussion, but it was just not it. Thanks for the opportunity to read!

Predictable, lack of chemistry, and a simple storyline. I was a little disappointed it didn’t live up to the potential this story could have had!