As a Black femme lesbian, when I saw this premise come across my Twitter feed I was HYPED! Why might you wonder? Let's take a look at queer romances that have been traditionally published. Is it common for you to see two feminine Black women on the covers? I won't wait for your answer, because the answer is no. Right now, the only one coming to mind is Songs of Irie.

Needless to say, I was super excited to finally see that representation. To make a very long story short, this book fell short for me. I truly do feel like the friends to rivalries, to lovers could have been executed in a better way. There's no hiding the fact that I absolutely loathe a slow burn romance. But my dislike for this goes deeper than that.

The lack of communication irritated me, the attraction didn't seem authentic to me, almost so, if Grace didn't blurt out her feelings would Ava had the balls to say anything? And then the principals relationship with Ava pissed me off. It gave very much, you're an opinionated Black woman so I am going to put you in your place. I'm unsure if the structure of this book was the authors doing or if it was edited to be digestible for the masses.

This book was so adorable!! My first sports romance!

The 7-10 Split follows Ava and Grace, who were childhood best friends turned enemies. The book begins when Grace comes back to their hometown and ends up working at the same school they once attended.... teaching across the hall from Ava. The two propose a bowling team and focus on balancing the success of the team and the budding romance between them, all while dealing with a principal who does everything but his job.

I really did enjoy this read. 4.5 ⭐️ Can't wait to read the next thing from the author in 2025!

Thanks Net Galley for sending me this digital arc!

This was a super charming and sweet small-town, second chance romance between two teachers and former high school best friends-turned-rivals, after a surprising kiss that neither character could forget. It features a small but well-crafted cast of family, friends, and colleagues that round out the small-town setting and gives warmth to the characters' lives.

Our main characters are Ava, a longtime English teacher at her hometown's high school, who has spent years trying and failing to convince her principal to green light a bowling team, and Grace, Ava's ex-best friend from high school, former bowling teammate and rival, and the other half of a kiss that neither woman has forgotten, over a decade later. Ava is tenacious, stubborn, loyal, and passionate. She cares deeply about her job, her students, and her family, but she can be hard-headed and hold a grudge. Grace is smart, accomplished, and warm, ready to jump into her new life in Peach Blossom and excited to rekindle her friendship with Ava.

The story begins when Grace returns to their small town as a high school science teacher after years in New York as an academic and university instructor (and professional bowler!). Grace seemingly had it all, but after a breakup, she jumps at the opportunity to put her roots back down in the town that has always felt like home. When she learns that Ava has been trying to get a bowling team off the ground, she goes to the principal, who immediately agrees—but puts Grace in charge as head coach.

This rocky start to their new relationship as co-workers forces Ava and Grace to finally face their complicated feelings from their teenage years as they relearn how to work together as co-coaches of the new bowling team. As Grace settles into her new job and life in Peach Blossom, both women start developing feelings for one another that push them to open up, heal old wounds, and discover what they really want in life.

The 7-10 Split was my first bowling romance—and somehow it actually makes me want to learn to bowl! This was a solid 4 stars—maybe not a strike but still a winner in my eyes.

Bowling may not bring in the money, like football, basketball, or soccer, but for Ava Williams, it’s a sport she feels passionate about and that joy is something she wants to share with her students. Ava’s worked everything out — how much it would cost, how many students are interested, and the fact that the school used to have a winning team — and has been trying for over a year to get the principal of her school to agree, but Richard is all platitudes and fake smiles.

Until Grace Jones comes into town. Grace is the new Chemistry teacher and a champion bowler. All she has to do is smile at Richard and he’s handing over the bowling team to Grace, along with the head coach job. Ava knows it’s not Grace’s fault, but it’s still galling to be named as the ‘assistant’ coach. Grace, though, sees right through Richard and, with a smile, agrees to co-captain the team with Ava.

After all, the two of them have always been so good together. They both grew up in this small town, living in each other’s pockets as kids… until the year Grace kissed Ava, right before leaving town and entering into a private school without an apology or explanation. Now, reunited after over a decade, neither Ava nor Grace quite know what to say to one another, but something has to be said.

It’s just a question of who will say it first.

This is a warm sweater of a story. It’s got romance, communication, sass, a deep friendship, strong family elements, and even a little bit of bowling. If you just need a feel good book with a touch of spice, but a focus on the sweet, I cannot recommend this book enough. It’s also the first book in the Peach Blossom series, which means there will be more of this world and these characters yet to come!

Ava is warm and affectionate, without ever being cloying or clingy. She’s not afraid to stick up for herself, be it against the principal, her sisters, or even Grace, for all that Grace often leaves her feeling flustered. She knows her emotions are heightened around Grace, but she’s afraid to put a name to it. Ava knows it’s a lingering mix of the hurt about Grace leaving her, the burgeoning romance they almost could have had, and the attraction she feels to the woman in front of her. But it’s also the fact that Grace, the Grace standing right there, is a stranger. She’s someone who went on and lived a life separate from Ava, and who Ava wants to get to know.

Grace has come back to her home town from New York after parting from her ex due to a lack of shared goals. Her ex wanted marriage and kids, and Grace wasn’t ready for them. I would have liked to have seen more of that in her character. It’s never stated how long it’s been since her breakup, but it’s implied to be fairly recent. However, Grace quickly moves on from her ex to going through a rainbow of feelings when she sees Ava again. The ex is only brought up when Ava asks if Grace never wants to get married, and Grace says she’s only interested in marrying the right person, while staring pointedly at Ava.

It’s a cute story and I very much liked the romance, but it did feel like Grace was intended to already be in love from the first page, rather than allowed to fall in love over the course of the story. But that’s a very personal nitpick in an otherwise charming book. One of my favorite moments was one of Ava, her sisters, and father just sitting around the breakfast table talking about Ava’s mother, who died some years earlier of cancer. The obvious love and affection they had for each other, as well as their mother, the love the girls have for their father, all of it just made me smile.

This is a perfect read for Spring, I think. Light and quick and as fluffy as a bunny. If you’re interested in happy endings, happy middles, and couples who communicate, this should be something to consider. I very much recommend it.

A cute story with mediocre editing. I enjoyed it enough to finish but it had several pacing issues and repetitive moments. I'll still be tempted to pick up the second in the series.

If I remember correctly, someone reached out to me about reading this book and I downloaded it from Net Galley. It hadn’t been on my radar so I’m glad someone put it there.

Ava and Grace were best friends growing up before they grew apart when Grace’s mom had her transfer high schools. They hadn’t parted on good terms. Now Grace is the new teacher across the hall from Ava.

They get off to a bumpy second start and end up as co-coaches of the girl’s bowling team. There is a lot of tension between them. Even their students pick up on it and are cheering for them to get together.

I enjoyed this book. It was very cute.

4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

A cute slow burn and friends to enemies turned friends to lovers.

I enjoyed the story but wasn't too drawn into the relationship between Ava and Grace. The ending felt slightly rushed, as most of the book deals with the fallout of Grace and Ava, overcoming past insecurities, and finding themselves drawn to each other after everything they went through. I think the bowling aspect took a backseat in the story, and I kind of wish the author had done more with it, as I was excited to see how it played out.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳, 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯 𝘦-𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺.

I really loved this book. It’s funny and deep and entertaining. I loved the school setting and the rivalry. Oh my God, the rivalry. The tension, the chemistry… The miscommunication. I loved how much Ava and Grace pushed each other, how better they become because of the other.
This story was everything I needed.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

This was ADORABLE. I'm only a recreational, occasional bowler at best, but I love the way that Lee used the sport, and the protagonists' bowling team, as a way to frame out their love story. It begin in the lanes, and so of course that's how they found each other again! And I was really grateful for the warning in the begining about the book dealing with the death of a parent, as that is one of those topics that sometimes I can handle and sometimes I can't. So it was fantastic to have the opportunity to decide, up front, if that was a subject I was able to interact with at that moment, rather than being side-swiped by it down the road.

One Word: BOWLING... I utterly love this book for finally giving me the sports romance I truly wanted. I had the most wonderful time reading this fun and endearing romance. Karmen Lee is a new fav!

Thank you to Harlequin - Romance | Afterglow Books by Harlequin and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

I liked this but I wish there was an epilogue. I want to know what happens after she actually doesn't work at the school anymore. The two of them were good but I just wanted more of them actually together.

I received an arc through netgalley.

When I discovered that Karmen was penning a sapphic bowling sports romance, the book immediately became one of my anticipated reads for 2024. Yet, it pains me to confess that the book fell short of my expectations. While I found Ava and Grace to be compelling characters, I remain uncertain about their romance and suitability as a couple. The chemistry between them felt lacking, failing to evoke the intended romantic spark. Although I typically stray from slow burn narratives, I can appreciate them with strong pacing and engaging elements, both of which were lacking in this instance. Unresolved issues and unanswered questions further detracted from my enjoyment, and the rushed ending left much to be desired. Despite my admiration for the author, this particular work didn't resonate with me as much. Nonetheless, I eagerly await her next book.

Ava Williams likes teaching at her small-town high school but misses the thrill of competitive bowling and knows her students would love a school team. Unfortunately, she’s almost given up on that dream since the principal has repeatedly shot it down without a second thought. However, he announces this year the school will have a bowling team, only, instead of her, the head coach will be the school’s new chemistry teacher and Ava’s childhood rival, Grace Jones. They haven’t spoken since they kissed all those years ago and her stealing the head coach spot from Ava has relit their competitive fire. But when Grace wants to forgive and forget can Ava let go of everything that happened between them to co-coach these girls? Or will old grudges and unsaid words keep Ava from her second chance at love?

Grace Jones had it all, a stunning girlfriend, a steady academic career, and a nationally ranked bowling status but she gave it up to return to her hometown, Peach Blossom. She can’t explain why she signed a two-year contract teaching high school chemistry but she knows something is missing in her life. So when she realizes her ex-best friend Ava also teaches at the school, she tries to make amends by boosting her bowling team idea. But when the principal names Grace head coach, she has to try even harder to get back on Ava’s good side. Can Grace find a way to make it up to Ava before they lose the bowling team for good? Or will Grace leave Peach Blossom again with no answers? Rivalries and small towns have met their match in, The 7-10 Split.

I enjoyed this book. A second chance romance filled with bowling and back-to-school blues. The quaint southern town was the perfect setting for Ava and Grace’s reunion. The cast of characters is small and meaningful, which I appreciate. And the humor is spot on. Karmen Lee is a new author for me and I was pleasantly surprised with how charming and cozy this romance felt. If you enjoy laid-back former friends turned rivals and small-town drama, you’re in for a treat.

Ava is such an interesting character. She’s stubborn and dedicated to her students, yet her head isn’t all there. She wants more and I like how Grace is the one to draw that out of her. Not in a weird “I can’t live without you” kind of way but it shows how complimentary their relationship is and how they enhance each other’s lives. I enjoyed Ava’s fashion style as well, it gave a good depth to her character. I could picture her in her brightly colored outfits while planning lessons or pretending not to flirt with Grace. Also, I loved that she still lives with her sisters, it shows how family-oriented she is and where her priorities lie, although it is holding her back a bit.

Grace is my favorite character for sure. She is smart, accomplished, and caring. I think she has a good head on her shoulders and doesn’t easily hold grudges, which I admire. She is humble and when the principal makes her out to be cunning against Ava she is quick to put out the fire. This is refreshing in romances as so many rely heavily on miscommunication. And Grace’s commitment issues didn’t cause as much of a problem as I thought they would, which was nice.

This was a shorter romance but I don’t think that is a con. I wish we had seen more of the bowling team, especially Grace and Ava’s coaching. For such a central part of the book, it didn’t feel like it was on the page a lot. However, I did like the plot overall and thought it was great and low-stakes. Nobody's business is on the line, nobody's livelihood is at stake, and even the principal’s ultimatum didn’t seem too grandiose. It was predictable in the way that romances are, in the best of ways. You know exactly what you’re getting into and it delivers.

All in all, this heartwarming and second-chance romance is a must-read. From the bowling tension to the small-town gossip, you’ll be rooting for Ava and Grace the whole way. Not to mention wishing you could vacation in Peach Blossom. If you like cozy romances with childhood rivalry turned soulmate vibes then you are in the right place. Happy reading!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for sending this eARC for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

For more sapphic reviews follow @the.lebian.library on Instagram, Goodreads, and Tiktok

A romance about rivals in sports!! Sign me up! This was a cute read, I love to read growth in love and character growth as well. There were times the book went in circles, and it’s a slow burn…. Which is not a fave thing for me…. But I know a ton of other readers who would love this book, it’s a sweet read nonetheless.

The 7-10 Split by Karmen Lee is a cute sapphic romance novel!
I enjoyed reading Karmen Lee’s writing. This is one of those book where you continue reading because you want to know what will happen next. Lee’s characters are well written, relatable, and fun to read.

Thank You NetGalley and Publisher for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Second chance isn't my usual jam but I really enjoyed this one. Enjoyed the banter and though Brad could get a little annoying he's a cute little golden retriever. I do think that some of the conflict was not well resolved or unfolded and it felt rushed as some of it was left towards the end or entirely off page. This was a galley though so these may be issues that got fixed. If you're looking for a feel good second chance romance with friendly rivalry and good banter however, look no further!

Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin books for the e-ARC!

The 7-10 Split is a quirky and fun sapphic romance that will wax your bowling alley. Grace was the last person Ava expected to become her neighboring teacher, assuming that Grace had abandoned their hometown with no intention of ever coming back. All Grace wants to do is rekindle her friendship with Ava, but finds her ex-bestie and bowling rival is prone to hold grudges. Though as they are forced to spend time together coaching the bowling team, their chemistry can't be denied. I really enjoyed this book but found certain aspects lacking. I feel like the exposition into the past didn't help me to understand the characters choices today. The book also had intense emotional declarations, but never fully addressed them due to the lighthearted tone of the book. The pacing at the end of the book felt rushed.
All in all this was a unique romance and I look forward to the next story in the series!

This was sounded like such a cute sapphic romance! I enjoyed the rivals to lovers aspect. Unfortunately it was just too slow for me to enjoy personally. It felt like nothing was happening other than them thinking about each other and I lost interest. It felt very one note and frankly pretty juvenile.

If you're looking for a slow burn with a lot of feel good moments this might be the book for you. Karmen Lee did a lot of character work before we got to the romance whether it was intentional or not I think it helped combat the stereotype that lesbians move fast. Hehe. But I think in order for these two to really give their relationship a second chance it made sense. Family, community, and grief were themes throughout the book and we are left with unresolved matters. Aka things were not tied up neatly but still satisfying.

Karmen Lee gives a smooth and easy romance with The 7-10 Split.

I can’t imagine going back to high school, but going back and facing my rival who just happens to have been a former friend and someone I used to crush on?! Ummm…yeah no, you could not pay me. (chuckle). I have to give Grace credit for being willing to return to her hometown after leaving and “moving on to better things”.

The secondary characters add depth and flavor to this charming tale. There is lots of humor and yes there is steam. The author adds in some family drama which does what it is supposed to do in romances.

The 7-10 Split reads like a Harlequin. I have been reading this brand for a few decades now and there is a comfort in knowing what you’re getting when you buy this publisher. The best thing now is that I get my sapphic romance (where my heart belongs) from them now too.