i read this book when it was on wattpad and i loved it, so when i saw it was turned into a published book i was thrilled! i reread this and loved it just the same. it was adorable and romantic and steamy and i was obsessed. can't wait to eventually get a physical copy!

I SWOONED SO HARD. Really. This book played out every fantasy I've had about finding a man in a library. God, Kendall and Vincent are amazing and their chemistry is through the damn roof. I cannot stop thinking about this book, it has consumed every romantic fibre of my body. I NEED MORE.

This is a book about two fundamentally nice people who meet each other, immediately get along, immediately find each other attractive and immediately act on that attraction.

I guess you can see the problem.

There was no reason the book couldn't end on page 30, so the entire plot was increasingly contrived, the conflict resting on the fragile foundation of the protagonist being so obsessed with romance novels she can't distinguish them from real life and so assumes that her love interest must be plotting something nefarious behind her back despite there being zero evidence for this.

The book lampshades and pokes fun at annoying romance novel tropes, but telling me that the author realizes that the (badly done) miscommunication trope is bad doesn't make it ok to use it in the book, it just shows that the author should have known better.

I'm rating this two stars instead of one because I like what the author was going in terms of deconstructing the standard NA tropes (the "not-like-other-girls" shy bookworm who doesn't look down on other women and is just doing her own thing, the brooding sports star who is actually just shy and is a really nice person...), but the execution really left something to be desired.

I absolutely adored this book.
Yes, it was written in a more wattpad style but I think that really brought me back to my youth of reading Wattpad books!
The story follows an english major who works the friday night shift and a star basketball player who is currently out on an arm injury. They meet in the library while Kendall is working because Vincent needs English poetry for his class. But when they get to the stacks, Vincent dares her to kiss him and it truly changes her.
But with classic miscommmunication, Vincent and Kendall are unsure where they really stand. With the help of some pushing from their friends, they may be able to put it all aside and make this relationship work!

It was very cute and mildly spicy. Some parts felt rushed. but overall the pacing was pretty good. The book could have been shorter in concept than it was in length but it was very enjoyable nonetheless.


TAGS: College sports, miscommunication, virgin, basketball player, college basketball, library, college romance

book review 🧸🩷🪩✨🧁

Night Shift (arc) by Annie Crown | 09.14.23 - pub date

🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀/ 5

5 ✰

· bookworm x basketball captain · strangers to lovers · slow burn · library meet cute · she tutors him · book tropes
· girl gang ·grand gestures· love languages ·college sports romance

"Then for the sake of being direct,” he says, “I can’t stop being thinking about you, Kendall. And I’ve read every goddamned poem Elizabeth Barrett Browning ever wrote. In three weeks. For fun.”

"You’re not grand gesturing me, Holiday. Not on my watch.”

This checked all the boxes in every way. First off the bookworm vibes and book talk was everything I needed and Kendall was such a relatable character. I felt like my thoughts lined up with hers perfectly. Vincent freaking Knight! He was a top tier book boyfriend and I couldn’t ask for anyone better. He validated Kendall’s feelings and he could see right through her. Like he is everything I need and want in a man. Also Kendall’s friends Nina and Harper — I seriously wanted to be friends with them! They have a bond like no other and they had their moments but them making up made my heart melt. The ending was absolutely perfect and I will always hold it close to my heart

Thank you netgalley & Annie Crown for the arc! One of my new favorites!

4.5/5 stars.
Such a good book. I didn’t want to put it down. I did think the constant mention of books and book tropes got a bit cringy at times. But definitely not enough to take away the quality of the book.
I think it would’ve been a 5/5 if it had been a dual POV.

This book was really cute & adorable, with a dash of spice.

Vincent met Kendall on her Friday night shift at the library. One thing led to another, and they are kissing in the stacks.

There was definitely some instant attraction/love happening between the two. I liked their banter and the way they interacted, but their miscommunication was definitely frustrating. Kendall liked to assume, and she was rarely right, which was annoying but also endearing.

While I loved the overall story and the characters, they basically saw each other four times throughout the book. That just isn't enough. Call me greedy, but I want more. I don't understand why the story didn't stretch out and give the couple more time together.

I could also have done without all the romance book references. I am a book lover, and I don't reference aspects of books, like tropes, character flaws, etc., when comparing it to my real life. I think this is a personal pet peeve of mine when authors overplay the FMC being a book lover.

Overall it was a quick read full of banter, tension, and also really sweet. I enjoyed the book and read it in one sitting.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the chance to read Night Shift! This was a totally adorable book! It was so easy to relate to Kendall for me, quiet nights at home and books are my hobby. I’m not a fan of characters falling in love so early but it totally worked and Kendall’s friends are so funny! Vincent came across as grumpy and rude in the beginning but by the end of the book was giving off book boyfriend vibes. Quick and easy read and would definitely recommend!

"Night Shift" by Annie Crown is an enchanting and steamy romance that combines the charm of a quiet library with the allure of an unexpected encounter.

Kendall Holiday is a relatable bookworm who finds solace in the quiet corners of a college library during her Friday night shift. Her love for romance novels is palpable, and her desire for a peaceful escape from the noisy weekend sets the stage for this engaging story. Readers who appreciate the comfort of books and the enchantment of libraries will instantly connect with Kendall's character.

Vincent Knight, the star basketball player, introduces an exciting twist to Kendall's serene library shift. Vincent's character, though popular and confident on the basketball court, is adorably out of his element in the library. The chemistry between Kendall and Vincent is electric, and their encounter quickly transforms from an accidental meeting to a passionate exploration.

Annie Crown expertly weaves a tale of opposites attracting and explores the challenge of translating a passionate connection into a meaningful relationship. The emotions run deep, and the sensuality of their interactions is beautifully portrayed.

The writing in "Night Shift" is captivating, drawing readers into the whirlwind romance that unfolds in the library stacks. The story is filled with longing, desire, and the excitement of discovering unexpected love. It successfully blends the magic of literature with the intensity of an intimate encounter.

"Night Shift" is a heartwarming and steamy romance that reminds us of the enchanting possibilities that can arise in the most ordinary of places. It's a story that will leave you with a smile on your face and a belief in the power of love's unpredictability.

Kendall isn’t exactly a recluse, she just enjoys spending her Friday nights reading smut while working the overnight shift at her University’s library! So when the star of the basketball team shows up one Friday, interrupts her mafia romance, and reads her a little poetry, life begins to imitate art and things steam up in the stacks! Except, bookworm Kendall can’t quite get her head OUT of the romance narrative and begins to question everything and get in her own way over and over.

This is a book for the Booktok girlies, but not in an overtly obvious way like some of these meta-romances. It was a definite good time read and I started it at 9 one evening and read until it was done. I don’t love the “virgin who needs to be taught things” trope, but since Kendal was s*x positive it wasn’t too overplayed.

Overall, enjoyable read with a touch of spice.

⭐⭐⭐.5
🌶️🌶️

Not my favorite just compared to other sports/ contemporary romances. I did enjoy the characters, but it felt very quick and not much of a plot.

Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for providing me an E-ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.
A shy college who spends her nights working at the library instead of partying meets the hunky star basketball player and they have a very memorable encounter; what more could you want?
Night Shift is full of fun banter, miscommunication, mutual attraction and lots of spice!
I really enjoyed the story, I just felt like it needed something more.....lots of spice, but I think I wanted a little more "getting to know you" stage. The attraction was a little quick for me, I like a slow burn!

Kendall's an introvert who spends her Friday nights working at the campus library, while Vincent is the star of the basketball team. When an injury and a poetry assignment lands Vincent in the library during one of Kendall's shifts, suddenly they find themselves making out amongst the British literature. Both Kendall and Vincent struggle to adapt to each others' lives, and have to decide if they really want to put in the work to be together.

I'll be honest and say I didn't have high hopes for this book after seeing it pop up on BookTok. However, I was sucked in immediately, and read it all in one sitting. Kendall was a girl after my romance-reader heart and Vincent was a unicorn of a good guy. Their scenes got surprisingly spicy, but it never detracted from the story, and I am definitely putting Annie Crown on my favorite authors list.

Night Shift by Annie Crown

Synopsis: Opposites might attract in romance novels, but it takes a lot more truth than tropes to make it work in real life.

This book was pretty disappointing. It screams typical wattpad book where the main character is "not like other girls" and was written immaturely. The formatting was poor and I wanted to DNF it pretty early but pushed through because I hate to DNF. Honestly the relationship between Kendall and Vincent was bland from the start and Kendall was simply way too immature, which I get due to her being a virgin but I felt it was unnecessarily emphasized as part of her personality.

🌟🌟🌟/5

➻❥ overall it was a super fun read- but i felt like there wasn’t much plot which was such a shame because it could have been so much more!

the writing overall was so fun to read and it kept me interested!! especially all the banter / jokes that went on !

the characters were very cute together but their constant miscommunication was a bit tiering towards the end - GIRL YOURE A READER HAVE THE CONVERSATION !

but overall super fun and i enjoyed it!!

3.75 stars

Thank you to Netgally for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

this book is exactly what I needed. I was in such a bad reading slump and I think it is safe to say that it pulled me right out of it. if you are looking for something cute but also spicy, I would 100% recommend this to you. was this a literary masterpiece? no. but man did I have a fun time with it.

also, round of applause for their communication and banter. the miscommunication made sense and when they talked about their worries, it all worked out. plus, NO THIRD ACT BREAKUP THANK GOODNESS. the premise it just so cute and very me-coded (I too would love to find a boyfriend in the library who is obsessed with me).

something, however, I did not enjoy as much were the names. now before you come for me, yes I know that is extremely petty but I couldn’t care less. there was actually something else I didn’t like about this book but I cannot remember what it was for the life of me. but just know that there was something else…

anyways, this book was honestly just a fun and quick time, so if that is what you are looking for, read this book!

Cringey in the worst way possible. I really really struggled to finish this one, like it took me nearly a month to push through. I somehow felt like it was written by a middle schooler and a 60 year old woman that googled “what do teens like” and tried throwing every single hot topic word in the book at once. There was also absolutely zero build up whatsoever to the characters being in love. The nerdy librarian girl and hot shot basketball player going at it in like the 3rd (and very short) chapter after learning zero about either of them… cringe.

thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad Books for the eARC.

this is Wattpad excellence, im afraid!!! it was so so fun!

Night Shift is a new-adult college romance between Kendall (a huge reader & an introvert) and Vincent (a popular, tall, dark-haired basketball player).

he comes to her for POETRY tutoring 😭 and their attraction is undeniable from the beginning. definitely insta-lust which doesn’t always work for me, but I enjoyed it here. PLUS he falls first… AND he falls harder. which im always a sucker for. 🫠

it has the best aspects of your favorite Wattpad stories: super short chapters, steamy scenes, a fast-paced plot, etc… but none of the typical Wattpad negatives like bad writing or toxic male love interests.

i don’t normally enjoy the “virgin FMC” trope but i actually think that the author handled it very well here! the spice overall was very enjoyable imo.

if you like college romances, then i’d highly recommend checking this out once it’s published !!

Did I enjoy this book? Absolutely! Will it become a must-read recommendation for everyone I know? Probably not. It's an easy-to-read B.R.A.D. that occasionally leans into a YA vibe, but it's cheesy in the best way - especially the meet-cute. However, be aware: this book features the dreaded miscommunication trope.

Kendall, an avid bookworm, finds her Friday night library shift taking an unexpected turn when she crosses paths with Vincent, the school's basketball star, leading to an encounter that challenges all the romance novel tropes she adores. Can she start living outside the pages of her favorite books? Read now and find out!

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and Annie Crown for granting me access to this book. All opinions are my own.

This was a cute and quick read. The plot wasn’t really there but if you enjoy a quick read with you might enjoy this except for all the miscommunications.
2.5/5

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this early arc!