On the outset, Wild Cards seems like it’d be right up my alley—high school football, a strong female character, HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL.

And the fact that it was pitched as the fictionalized YA version of (the book/movie/TV series) Friday Night Lights did not hurt one bit.

I was excited to tear into this one.

But then, it just didn’t really work for me. There are plot points in this that felt very disjointed—almost as if these were two entirely different books that were shoved together and deemed to be good enough. And there are some really interesting character and family dynamics presented in this that weren’t as fully explored and developed as I’d hoped at the outset.

However, there are some really great things and idea going on in this book. I loved Ashtyn—she’s a girl who plays football. She’s feminine and strong and popular and has really great female friends, and Elkeles never shies away from the topic of how weird it is to be the only girl on the football team, and how that influences her relationships with literally everyone in her life. Having a female protagonist like Ashtyn is a ballsy move and I loved reading her.

But unfortunately, she was really the only thing I loved about this. Overall, the story and character relationships felt too messy and, at times, too convenient. The pacing to the end of the book was very rush and when I finished the book it was with my brow furrowed and lips quirked to one side. Wild Cards is a valiant attempt at a book that I would love to read, but not quite the story I hoped it would be

I have a soft spot for Simone Elkeles’ books. When I saw she was writing a new series, I jumped up and down with glee. I had hoped that with this one Simone might try for something a little different, and it certainly seemed that way. But what I got was more of the same tried and true Simone Elkeles, but not in the best way.


Step 1 of the Simone Elkeles formula is a “bad boy” who’s really a sweetie underneath. That’s Derek. In the beginning, he’s a hot and annoying guy with a sense of entitlement getting kicked out of his fancy prep school. But, of course, there’s more to him than that: his mom is dead, his dad is in the Navy and his dad’s new wife is closer to Derek’s age with a kid of her own. Step 2 is the driven, tougher than she seems female. That’s Ashtyn. Her family life is crap, but she is dating the star quarterback while being the team’s star kicker. She’s even voted captain of the team.

But then, of course, things go south. Derek is forced to move in with his step-mom’s family, including his “step-aunt” Ashtyn. Ashtyn’s boyfriend leaves the team for the rival high school, leaving her team hopeless and her heartbroken. What are two depressed teens to do?

Honestly, I’m fully aware when I start out in a Simone Elkeles book that a realistic love story isn’t always going to be the case. That’s not why I’m here. It has more to do with the fact that even Simone is tired of the same story that she keeps writing over and over again.

For example, there is no preamble when the two meet each other. They start right into the “I act annoyed but I’m so into you” dialogue while admitting to the reader that they are both totally into the other person. Then there is the obligatory “saving the girl from her terrible, awful boyfriend” that gets the two of them to go on a “non-date” with each other. They end up making out, but then totally pulling back because “they aren’t right for each other.” Then there’s the obligatory “road trip that pulls them together.” (No, this isn’t spoilery. There is a bunch of other stuff that happens that I’m not mentioning because it would be.)

It all happens so ridiculously fast. I mean, this is really a norm now–love stories that go too fast to be real–but this is the first time in a long time it’s actually made me upset. I know that Simone can make one book love stories feel acceptable, but this one just stopped trying. I really, really wish that this had been at least two books, because I really enjoyed the characters. They might have been her stereotypical cast, but I still enjoy them very much. it’s just like the book was zooming right along to the reader, just trying to make the journey to the inevitable end as swoon worthy and steamy as possible.

Don’t get me wrong, this is NOT a bad book. If you are a fan of Simone’s other work, you’ll probably love this one just as much. I just wanted to see her do something a little bit different after the Perfect Chemistry trilogy, which was basically three books with the same story line. Simone does swoon worthy, steamy and adorable fantastically well. Again, this one is no different. But that was just my problem. It’s no different.

Requested and downloaded this book back in 2013 with every intention of reading it but then it expired on my device before I had the chance. Have felt bad about that and as a result haven't wanted to leave a review but with more and more publishers relying on Feedback ratings I need to clear out some of these older titles in my queue.

Snappy dialogue, a sassy football-playing heroine, and a damaged, smart-ass love interest. Elkeles continues to impress with her very real, highly entertaining and even moving characters.

This one just didn't work for me. I didn't find myself connecting with the story.

Thank you for the chance to read it early.