Block Shot is the story of two agents who meet in college as kids and become friends.
Jared is exceptionally good-looking and fit and is trying to get into the pride. The pride is a secret society that will set him up for life. But, the leader just gave him his last task to complete for admission, sleep with the "fat girl," Banner. Jared quits and tells him off. Then he goes to his friend and the girl he secretly wants more than anything, Banner. They sleep together, but then the pride shows up.
The book takes place over a ten year span and includes cheating and a questionable at times hero. I do not like cheating, but I liked this book. I liked how it dealt with the issue. This book is very real. They aren't cookie-cutter characters. They feel like real people with real flaws. I absolutely would recommend this book!

I loved Long Shot, so I was excited to read the continuation of this story. I was so glad, for Jared to get his own story. I loved Jared's drive and Banners determination. Their sorry was am so glad to see their growth of self acceptance and understanding.



SPOILER
With that said, I do not like an infidelity trope. I find it disrespectful on all parti s. I know Banner showed remorse, but Jared lack of care was a turn off.

Block Shot is book 2 in the Hoops series by Kennedy Ryan. While Block Shot is book 2, it can be read as a standalone. Jared is first introduced in the first book, but you won't miss out on anything if you skip book 1. This is a second chance, enemies to lovers, sports romance. What I love about Kennedy Ryan is that she writes believable realistically flawed characters with great relationship redemption stories.

First off, warnings for cheating and fat phobia. If you have issues with body image, food, etc, this book is probably not for you. (That said, I think you can safely read the rest of the series without missing this too much.)

If you can get past the cheating (I know for some readers this is a huge no-no), and the body image issues, this is a well-written book. I enjoy Kennedy Ryan's writing and her stories, and I mostly enjoyed this one, too.

As someone who has struggled with my weight my whole life, this part of the story line bothered me. I think, as a society, we push the idea of a perfect body image on people (mostly on girls and women, but the guys aren't immune to this). This causes SO MANY mental health and self esteem issues for so many people, I really feel like we need to just accept people the way they are. This is a sore subject for me - not because of my own issues, but because I have teenage daughters. I'm going to stop my rant now before I go off the rails. 😂

So I guess I would say if these two issues don't bother you, you will like this, but readers, please be kind to yourself! But I do enjoy this author, and I will definitely be back for more of her books!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

Block Shot has it all it, it’s raw, it’s gritty and will draw you in and at times spit you out, it will make tear you apart and put you back together again. This is a must read and please don’t be put off by it being book 2 because it certainly can be read as a stand-alone.
This is Jared and Banner’s story who both happen to be top sports agents but that’s not all they have in common because they have a history they have a past that actually shaped then into who they have become but most importantly they are soulmates. A Misunderstanding in college lead the best friends to part on bad terms and it’s only 10 years later when they reunite they realise the feelings have never gone away but Banner’s love life has moved on and she is living with her best friend a man she thought would be her forever well that was before Jared came back into her life......
What can I say about these characters apart from this author made them feel real to me we got to see the good the bad and at times the ugly. Banner is such a strong woman with a heart of gold and her strength is that she cares and her kindness drives her through some situations none of us would want to find ourselves in. Jared is honest and Banner is the love of his life she is the woman he needs to breath and she makes him feel alive and he will do what is needed to make her his again. Block Shot is a book that will stay me long after I read the last line, it’s a book I will read again and again, it’s not just a love story it’s a journey with characters that I love, it’s deals with heartache, vulnerability, sickness and people at their lowest but it’s written beautifully and with compassion. This author has shown us just how talented she is with this brilliant read, great job Kennedy Ryan.

I was so excited to get this book from Netgalley and Bloombooks after reading the first in the series, Long Shot. This follow-up follows August West’s step brother, Jared, who we met in the first book.
The first in the series was very heavy with abuse, so much so that it was quite difficult to read. Thankfully this did not follow suit, but did have cheating within the premise which I strongly dislike as a trope.
Despite Kennedy Ryan’s fantastic storytelling, I just did not care for these characters and thought Jared was not redeeming.

Thank you for the ARC of Block Shot!

There is a lot of triggers around body image/weight, cheating, and terminal illness. There is also some miscommunication at the beginning that sets up the premise for this entire story.

Throughout the book, I felt like although the author portrayed Banner as being “more comfortable” in her skin as she got older, this was also due to her being in Weightwatchers, on a strict diet, and on a strict exercise routine. None of those things are bad, but it didn’t really promote body positivity at all. Being healthy is important, but so is loving and accepting yourself. I feel like despite being a badass professionally, personally Banner doesn’t love herself. She is unhappy with her appearance, constantly doubts that others would want her, and makes a lot of self sacrificing decisions. I can’t say that I would be any better than her, which is part of the draw to Banner’s character - she’s so real. Despite all that, I love Banner. She was confident in herself professionally, she is fierce and successful in a male dominant field. I loved the career side of her.

The cheating trope didn’t ruin this for me, but it was irritating. I appreciated that the author at least made Banner feel guilty and that she came clean immediately. But she had a 10 year almost familial relationship with Zo, and I get where she was coming from in terms of her feelings for Jared, she completely disrespected Zo and everything they had.

At first, I didn’t mind Jared and how pushy he was. He knew what he wanted. But as Zo struggled with his health, and Banner, literally the only family he had, was there to help, his lack of support for Banner bothered me. He let her help Zo because he had no choice basically. At least Jared never pretended to be a good person for anyone other than Banner. It’s hard not to like Jared just because of how he loves Banner.

Overall, this was good. I think it’s worth reading! It’s an angst, spicy, second chance romance with some really sweet moments!! I really like Ryan’s writing, and will be reading more from her!

The first book was major tw around domestic and sexual abuse. This book had none of that, but did have cheating themes and terminal illness. I really struggled with some of the vulgar pieces because Jared and Banner’s “love” seemed more sexual than anything to me. I didn’t appreciate the cheating and how it was portrayed - almost have cheaters a platform where it’s acceptable. I think Jared is a pig , I said what I said. I don’t honestly see any redeeming qualities. It was an okay book in the end but the main characters weren’t ones I loved.

I always and I mean always love Kendall Ryan however man this o0ne was deep and if you have any kind of disorder r struggle with your relationship Please dont read! This one was a little to close to comfort for me .

This is my first book by Kennedy Ryan and it wont be my last. This is a second chance romance with a little enemies to lovers. Our MCs, Banner and Jared, started out as friends their final year of college and have a fallen out during a tragic campus laundromat scene is all I will say with some miscommunication caused from it. Their paths have crossed a little during the past ten years but once both of them are in LA offices they can't seem to not see each other.

I love Banner!! She is kind and caring and such a girl boss. She is working in a male dominated sports field and does not let anything or anyone get in the way of her success. She does have some body image issues that she works through and love how it is represented and told throughout the book.

Jared is Jared and I love that about him. He is your alpha a**hole, he knows it and lets people know it as well. He knows what he wants and goes right for the win. Banner is what he wants and he does not care that she has a bf.

This would have been a 5 star read for me and I did think about rating it as a 3.5 but the bonus epilogue moved it to a 4 star. There is cheating in this book. It did bother me some. I can disassociate from certain things like this because it is fiction and as humans we do f*ck up at times. I also felt that the author portrayed it well. I felt how everyone was feeling. Banner has a lot of guilt from it and she owns it through the whole book. This is the only time I get annoyed with Jared. I feel like he could have pursued her without taking it that far.

Again, I can not wait to read more by Kennedy Ryan and want to thank her, Netgalley and Bloombooks for the arc.

What a roller coaster of emotions. I could not put this book down at all. Kennedy Ryan will rip your heart out but magically put it back together just perfectly.

love love love it.

Another winner from Kennedy! Her characters are so raw and loving and they just feel real! I couldn’t put this book down even if I tried.

Jesus Christ. please don't read this book if you have an eating disorder or struggle with your relationship to food and/or your body. This book is full of triggering content, fatphobia, internalised fatphobia and the message within the book is that you'll be happier if you're skinny.

spoilers below !

Eating disorder/ fatphobia stuff:

FMC Banner starts this book as a "fat girl" who doesn't really seem to be that upset about it, other than being self conscious, she knows that her weight doesn't change who she is. (yay. I loved this I was READY for a book with a fat FMC who didn't care too much but no...)

She is then used as part of a fraternity/ secret society pledge - fuck a fat girl. disgusting.

We jump in time by 10 years and she is down 50lbs+, on weightwatchers and on a strict workout schedule (ok yay we love healthy choices). However, she clearly exhibits eating disorder traits like looking in the mirror naked once per day practically praying she cannot see any fat, emotional eating and general restriction/ guilt about eating. She's terrified of becoming the "fat girl" again.

I'll give it to MMC Jared though, he never cared about her weight. "you were incredible then, and you're magnificent now".

Feminism

These characters, my god.

Okay, Jared is a player and for the most part only really interacts with women when he wants to fuck them. Fine. That's who his character is.

Banner, however, is a women on the top of her game in a male dominated field. She is an inspiration to other women in her field. (Wonderful, we love a strong woman) She presents at a conference in which she tells her woman only audience a multitude of feminine ideas, empowers them and generally comes across as a good person.

What I find weird and contradictory is the fact that she calls stereotypically pretty women "Cindy's" akin to incels calling attractive men chads. Why Cindy I hear you ask... well Cindy is the ex-girlfriend of Jared. He was dating her during college whilst Banner was crushing on him. …ok.

The characters in this book really pissed me off, especially Banner. She has a client who's girlfriend cheated on him - a "whore" apparently. A gold-digging, money hungry whore. However, she then cheats on her boyfriend/best friend. They've been best friends for 10 years, he has become a part of her family (since his died) and she only really dates him because she's lonely? Her whole relationship with Jared is built on broken promises, lies and cheating. She cares for maybe 24 hours and in small bursts after but as long as she's with Jared it's whatever?

DNF at ~51% I was so sick of it.

You know how sometimes a book hurts because it's a little too close to you? That's this one. The romance is messy, the characters are flawed, the world is an unforgiving place, and even the best people can do the wrong things for or against their own self-interest.

Jared and Banner connect in college, share a night that's spectacularly ruined by privileged jerks, and for the next ten years they hold fairly reasonable grudges against each other. They both enter their careers as sports agents and compete for clients. When they both end up in LA, they start running in the same circles again, and Jared is done waiting for Banner to realize what they have is no longer something he's going to allow her to deny.

Banner professionally is fierce, and it's my favorite thing about her. She's an amazing, skilled, clever sports agent and forms loyal bonds with her clients. Banner will fight and scrape but she won't become a shark. She won't be cruel or terrible like so many of the people in her male-dominated field, and her difference is what makes her powerful. It's amazing. I loved seeing so much of her career in this story, and how it shaped it's resolution as well.

Jared is not a good person, and that never changes. It's not that he's soft for Banner, he's not, but he's a good person when it comes to her. To everyone else, he could give a crap. Once he decides he's getting her, nothing is getting in the way, including her relationship with another person. While he does his best to do what she asks, Jared is ruthless. His deep feelings for her are ultimately redeeming though, and it's hard not to fall for how he loves her.

Kennedy Ryan manages to tell stories that feel very true to life, sometimes to the point that it rubs you raw - Banner's personal life is hard to swallow because of this approach. She actively makes decisions against her own wants and needs, sucks at communication, and gives up herself and her happiness for others - a lot of whom don't deserve it, or have manipulated her into that position. No one gets the reckoning they deserve. I can't say I'd make different decisions in Banner's position, but it was a harsh reminder of the way women put themselves into places of service where sometimes they should be selfish.

Overall, ABSOLUTELY WORTH READING. Emotional, angsty, gave me intense anxiety, but also had me crying and smiling at the end. I loved who Jared and Banner were together - the true mix of ugly and beautiful that lives inside all of us, without fear of judgment because they are loved by the other person for both their dark and light.

Kennedy Ryan's Block Shot delivers an emotionally charged narrative centered around Banner Morales and Jared Foster, navigating second chances and personal growth in the world of sports management. Ryan skillfully crafts their voices and chemistry, while Banner's journey from self-doubt to empowerment and Jared's pursuit of redemption add depth. The prose flows seamlessly, drawing readers into their journey, and the exploration of love and transformation resonates.

Though some character actions may raise questions, the book's authenticity and emotional impact shine through, solidifying Ryan's reputation as a skilled storyteller. Block Shot is a must-read for romance enthusiasts, showcasing Ryan's ability to address sensitive themes with grace and crafting a tale that lingers long after the final page.

Thank you to Kennedy Ryan and NetGalley for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review!

Rating: 2/5 Stars

This book was definitely well written, just not my favorite out of the series. Just not a fan of a cheating trope!

Block Shot by Kennedy Ryan is a full length, standalone novel in her Hoops Series. Every book in this series, while connected, can totally be read as standalones. The previous book is Long Shot, Gus and Iris´ story.
Block Shot tells Banner and Jared´s story.
Banner Morales and Jared Foster are both very successful businesspeople in a fast paced and competitive business. They´re sharks in their field - while one of them is goal only at any costs oriented , the other one treathens his clients as friends and family.
To top it of they share a past.

Banner is my kind of heroine, she isn´t flawless and she knows it, but she´s content and build a good life with friends and family. She´s a " double digit girl in a single digit world ". She´s a strong woman in a mans world, she proves she´s better than most of her co-workers.

Jared Foster is Gus´ brother and businesspartner. He´s ruthless, cunning and dtermined. He knows what he wants and he knows how to het it. When he sets his eyes on a goal he goes long ways to reach it. And now his goal is to win Banner back for himself, wants to own her at any price.
Both couldn´t be more different, she has a heavy conscience , is caring; and he totally lacks it.
But they have this crazy over the top, through the roof high chemistry and they can´t stay away from each other.

I started reading and was captivated from page one. I knew it would be a great read before I started the book, but I didn´t know it would be such a epic read with a story that gutted me to the core. Reading Block Shot didn´t only hurt, it Hurt and I had more than one ugly cry. You´ll need tissues, consider you warned. Now that I finished Block Shot, I´m sitting here with a major book hangover and really, really can´t wait to get ma grabby hands on Hook Shot, the next book.

Block Shot is a fast paced, raw and gritty read with charaters that had me in knots. They´re not flawless and noble. They have flaws and they bleed when cut. And they get cut deep - and I was with them from the start ´til the last word. It´s not only their actions , it´s the power of words that manipulate their minds so easily. I highly, highly recommend Block Shot and wish I could give 6 stars.

Kennedy Ryan yet again delivers a powerful, insightful and hard-earned happily ever after in Block Shot.

If you're heading into Block Shot with the expectations of Long Shot, I would ask you to reconsider. Jared Foster is ruthless, principled and driven. It is one of the reasons he's at the top of being a sports agent and being so successful with Elevation with August as a silent partner. His path crosses with studious, loyal and determined Banner Morales. A sizzling night soon becomes a disaster, with the protagonists crossing paths ten years later. Banner has worked hard to leave a mark as a "ruthless with a heart" sports agent. But her heart never forgot the betrayal of Jared, the scars of exes concerning her body and her journey to keep herself healthy.

Kennedy Ryan digs deep with these characters who, at the heart, are flawed individuals but are each other's equinoxes. The decisions of both characters make will certainly make the readers question their morals but it also opens the door to the perceptions Banner and Jared have about themselves and each other. The rough road ahead is full of angst, patience and faith. The author successfully sheds light on the expectations placed on women, particularly on their weight and appearances, the power of words and the challenges women face with male dominated rules. The chemistry is absolutely sizzling with in-depth, primal scenes which perfectly suit the characters. I can't wait to read the next book of the series!

Thank you very much to NetGalley, SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books, for an ARC. This honest review is left voluntarily.

Thank you to net galley for providing me with the arc book!

This book is based on a second chance love and while I love this trope this book missed the mark for me. The title itself doesn’t even really flow with the book. It’s supposed to be about two sports agents with a history from college who reconnect.

The main character is so consumed with her physical appearance and “weight” throughout the book but then it likes falls to the side for part of the story line. She wasn’t “empowering” which is what I would have expected for a female in a male dominated career.

This book did have a LOT of xxx scenes but it was to much and the actual story of the main characters got a little lost….

#dualpov #spicybook #blockshot #kennedyryanauthor #netgalley

such a good book!

I absolutely loved reading about Banner + Jared and how they came together in the end. I did not love how she did Zo, but I do like that that she tried her best to make it better towards the end. I love the theme of loving someone as they are & realizing that if you asked them to change, then they wouldn’t be who you love/who you fell in love with.

Excited to read Lotus + Kenan’s story next!