This was just okay for me. I really liked the first in the Hoop series but this one fell a bit short for me.

I felt like both characters were a bit insufferable. I cringed so many times at things that were said, how they reacted to certain events, their inner monologue etc. I love a plus-sized FMC, but Banner was obsessed with her calorie-intake, how she looked, her waistline, counting her points....I could go on and on. I just got tired of hearing about it. I wanted her to be kinder to herself and stop obsessing over every little thing.

The MMC got on my last nerve. I think he was supposed to come off as confident, sure of what he wants, etc but he just came off as rude and entitled and cocky to me. Some of the things he said, I was like WOW. How he reacted to Zo's illness was beyond me.

I'll still recommend this series because I think I might be an outlier here and I do love KR's writing (Before I Let Go was one of my favorites from last year) so hopefully I enjoy the third in the series more!

Jared and Banner are rival sports agents, each having signed some of the top talent in the industry and each forever working to make their name just that much bigger in the world. Outshining his desire to sign the best though, is Banner herself, the girl who he let get away. Ten years after the events that drove them apart, they're forced, or rather arranged, to work together. It's not as simple as pushing it aside to do the work, the chemistry from the past still burns bright between them and they're fighting for the biggest deal.

Each Hoops book has an event that tears the characters apart and Block Shot's events nearly made me close the book. It's full of cocky arrogance, miscommunication, and comments about weight that, as a curvy girl who has wondered often if the feeling is sincere, felt all too real. Of course, I trust my girl Kennedy Ryan, so I kept reading and she redeemed it and then some. Jared is a difficult one for me to like, he has to be a cocky salesman, but Banner fights him back with charm, sass, and knowledge that knocks him down several pegs. It's fun to reach and even better when that same energy sizzles between them romantically. It isn't that easy though and the real test comes when Banner shows that she's known as the best for a reason, because she takes care of her own, at all costs. I loved her even more as we got deeper into the story and the character growth it forces Jared to go through redeems him ten fold.

Block Shot is an excellent second novel in a series, one that made me want to dive into the third almost as soon as I finished the final words.

• 𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 •

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: ☆☆☆ 3.5/5

I am so conflicted about this story. This might be a spoiler, but I know it can be a trigger so I'm going to say how it is. This story does involve cheating and that's why I'm also conflicted. I did like how the author included interesting and important topics. I liked the characters, but didn't love them, they were definitely flawed. It had some unexpected twist which I liked. There also is enough spice to keep you entertained. It's a gripping and entertaining story.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘷𝘪𝘢 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘣𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸, 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.

A lot of my reviews are also available with photo at my Bookstagram: @justmyfantasyworld

4 stars for a novel that contains a trope I loathe. I'd give it 5 stars, but not in comparison to the first book. First and foremost...banner morales. I should hate her, but I can't. At the start of the novel, I felt a strong connection to her character. I'm not sure how to justify how I feel because I have a feeling my viewpoint is unpopular...When I say my heart kept breaking, I mean it. That shit she went through was real and unexpected. I felt a wide range of emotions for each and every character. Kennedy Ryan added a stereotype that I despise into the plot...Almost perfectly, in my opinion. Jerry Foster...This dude is hilarious. We adore a man who is tenacious. After ten years, too? and the fact that he has a mouth on him. He's such a jerk, yet he practically admits it. So I really can't complain. Everyone except Banner thinks he's a jerk. "The banner is entirely mine and entirely hers." That's something I admire about her. Throughout the book, Banner struggles with her weight which was relatable as hell. I absolutely loved this book!!

This is the second book in the Hoops series. I have read a few of her other books but I'm really enjoying how she write sports themed romance. There are moments where I was a little mad over all the drama and other situations but in the end she came through and it was so enjoyable. I definitely recommend this book and her others!!


Thank you NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books, Bloom Books for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 4.25⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: Contemporary romance📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
Such a beautiful and inspiring love story

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Sports romance
Powerful love stories
Enemies to lovers
Second chance romance
Character driven stories
Strong FMCs
Great banter
Spicy reads

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
It was so much deeper than your average romance novel, its emotional and touches on relatable themes

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
Felt a little long at times

𝙵𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚀𝚞𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚜:
★ “And even in the dark, I know we see each other.”
★ “She is day and I am night. When day and night are absolutely equal, it’s equinox. Banner is my equinox. My equal.”

This book was a great read that I devoured. I loved the characters and the storyline. I wish I had more to read!

The story had a captivating start that had me hooked, making me breeze through the initial 25%. I especially enjoyed the flashback sequences.

However, as I ventured further into the book, I found myself grappling with a few issues. The plot seemed to stall at times with filler chapters and an excessive focus on Banner's body, which grew repetitive and somewhat tiresome. While I appreciated Banner's character and her struggle with body image, Jared's relentless fixation on her physique became grating after a while.

On the positive side, Kennedy Ryan's ability to convey emotions and delve into internal thoughts remained a highlight throughout the book. Her knack for creating relatable characters and exploring their emotional journeys is undeniable.

One aspect that weighed down the overall experience was the frequency of explicit sex scenes, which, in my opinion, became excessive and distracted from the story's core themes.

In summary, Kennedy Ryan's work has its merits, particularly in her portrayal of emotions and character development. However, the book's pacing issues, repetitive elements, and excessive sexual content may not appeal to all readers. If you're a fan of the author's writing style and can overlook these aspects, you might find the story more enjoyable.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.

This was my first Kennedy Ryan book and it was fantastic. I loved reading the love story between Jared and Banner. I really connected with Banner’s struggles in her college days. Jared was sweet but let her slip away after the incident. It set the story up so well for a great second chance romance. Loved seeing Banner succeed as a sports agent and her relationship with a certain ball player was pretty great too. And Jared letting his jealous and possessive side show was delicious. Really great steam. The right amount of angst. And overall, an amazing love story.

This book took me for a ride. Initially I hated Jared and how much of a jerk he seemed to be. As the story went on I started to fall in love with their relationship. I loved the bits of Spanish in there so much and I loved how the author perfectly captured the shame of the Hispanic mom.

Oof this book ended up being much more emotional than I anticipated. But I should expect that now from Kennedy Ryan's books!

Banner and Jared meet in college. She's crushing on him, the hottest guy on campus, while he's dreaming of the shy, book-smart girl. One night Jared finally makes his move, but the night quickly ends in disaster and they part on terrible terms. Fast-forward, and they are both highly successful sports agents working for rival agencies. They cross paths here and there with Jared desperate to explain himself, but Banner will never again give him a chance. Of course, when two people have such intense chemistry, she can only avoid him for so long.

Banner is an incredibly written female character. She is such a girl boss from the beginning. And so relatable as she works through her insecurities. Honestly reading about the "event" that drove these two apart initially was heartbreaking. I could see myself in her as I read her story. Jared is a definite "alpha-hole" as they say. Sometimes he came on a bit too strong, but overall his love for Banner was so clear. Their chemistry and banter was so entertaining. The spicy scenes were some of the best I've read!

There is a trope in here not everyone is going to love: cheating. I think it's handled well in this book and the guilt, worry, etc. is an integral part of the storyline. It definitely added to the messiness/angst, but not enough to change my mind about the trope. I took one star off for this.

3 ⭐️

This book is the second in a series set in the world of sports, but it's nothing like the typical sports romance you might imagine. Kennedy Ryan excels in blending a romance that must overcome numerous obstacles with burning societal issues. Jared and Banner will have to overcome so many hurdles before they can be together. Sometimes it's due to their mistakes, and other times, it's the result of life or bad timing.

I became attached to Banner, the heroine who has struggled with her weight since childhood, leading to a sometimes unhealthy relationship with her body. I really enjoyed this story that tackles themes like self-confidence, first love, and emotional wounds with great sensitivity and skill. The only downside was that I found there were some slow parts in the middle of the book.

The new cover for the rerelease of Block Shot with Bloom Books is so beautiful! Definitely need to buy the physical book to see it on my bookshelf! The story is a good read. I don't love the cheating trope, but it definitely makes the book more emotional and angsty. After reading Long Shot I was looking forward to seeing Jared's story!

Thank you Bloom Books, Netgalley and Kennedy Ryan for the ARC for an honest review.

Man, I love Banner! She's the woman everyone hates but also wants to be. This was another great read from KR.

This was a fantastic story. I loved how realistic the author made the characters feel. There’s no OTT behaviour from anyone, just people who are definitely flawed and make plenty of mistakes.

Banner and Jared are complicated and their love story isn’t an easy one but I definitely fell for them both and loved the ending.

NB: this story does contain cheating so if that’s not for you then maybe skip it.

This was an okay read for me. Why? Well quite honestly the cheating trope. Yup I'm not a fan. Wasn't bad but it wasn't great 3⭐

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Bloom Books for the E-ARC

All thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.

Banner Morales is a woman with a plan and the drive to make it happen. When she meets Jared in college, she is immediately smitten but she doesn't think he sees her as anything more than a friend and a study buddy. Jared Foster just wants to spend time with Banner and get to know. He doesn't fully understand his attraction, but he knows she's special. A cruel trick rips them apart and they end up spending 10 years building their separate lives. Once they end up in each other's orbits again, there is no denying that they belong together but there are a lot of obstacles in their way. Can they find lasting love or will they end up losing each other all over again?

Part of this story is about two college students finding each other but neither one of them is mature enough to know what to do about it. There is also a story about Banner being too prideful and headstrong to give Jared a second chance. For Jared's part, he pretty much stays the same throughout. The big difference is that Banner realizes that the cold and ruthless man he shows the world is not the kind and caring man who loves her. Banner was kind of a dud in my opinion. She is smart, strong, compassionate, beautiful, total girl boss material and she stays in that lane throughout. I had trouble believing that perfect Banner would do some of the things she did but they had to be in the story in order to cause tension and angst. Jared is forced to peel back his layers and learn to show his other side. He is also put in a situation where he has to conform to her and her family. There is a side story that is a major catalyst for their love story. I am not going to go into the details but I thought the author was smart to include that in the story so the reader can see things from a third perspective.

The author does the thing where an author repeats a concept from the story over and over again. It is meant to reinforce but I find it very distracting when it is employed liberally in the story. Once I understood that Jared liked Banner's seven freckles and her lips that are the same size top and bottom, I only needed it to be repeated when it would add to the story. It felt like it was being repeated because there was nothing else to round out the character description.

At the end of the day this story is about two full grown adults who are cheaters. That is always a tough one for me to enjoy because that is a terrible way to start a relationship. I am giving this 4 stars instead of 3 because this book delivers a lot of emotion. I will read more from this author in the future.

Thank you to Author Kennedy Ryan and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC ahead of this books re-publication. All opinions shared are my own.

From that night of connection in the laundromat during college, to their current day positions as rival sports management agents, Banner and Jarred's chemistry was incredible 🔥 Their duality of light (Banner) and darkness (Jarred), alongside the fact that both are highly intelligent, driven and talented people, made for a mutual push and pull I couldn't look away from.

Although both work with athletes, this story doesn't focus around a specific sports team as book 1 did (although as Jarred is August's step-brother, we're still very much in the same bubble). I enjoyed this change of pace as I feel it allowed us to deep dive into the main characters a little more and enjoy the various twists as they arose.

I've really enjoyed the first 2 books in the series and can't wait to jump straight into book 3, Hook Shot, and finally get the love story of Lotus and Kenan that we've seen hinted at 😍

DNF

Block Shot by Kennedy Ryan is an opposites attract romance that centers on sports agent Jared Foster and Banner Morales.

When the book was set in the past, I was really getting into it, but after it moved to the present, things started to go downhill. Also, it was simpler for me to dnf when I found that (SPOILERS) there was cheating and a love triangle.

Having said that, I will say that I adored Banner in the start of the book because she was such a badass and didn't take crap from anyone.

Overall, I thought this book had a lot of potential, especially since I adore the author's writing, but I wasn't the right reader for it.

*Thank you to Bloom Books and to the author, Kennedy Ryan, for providing me with this e-copy in exchange for an honest review.*

Thank you to Netgalley and Bloom Books for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I liked the first book better than this one. <spoiler>I am getting tired of the cheating tropes being in Kennedy Ryans books. It seems that she puts it in all of her books. Or at least the ones I've read.</spoiler>