One on One by Jamie Harrow is a compelling sports romance that explores workplace dynamics and personal growth. With great chemistry between the leads, it tackles themes of sexism in sports while delivering a heartfelt and engaging story.

I really enjoyed this novel and the intertwining of the college basketball culture and Annie’s relationship with Ben as well as her history was done really well. I did struggle sometimes to find Annie relatable, due to her decision making however I found the other characters feelings towards her almost infectious. The relationship between her and Quincy was extremely sweet.
I do think certain areas/themes could have been explored more but I don’t know if that actually would have made the book drag.
I cannot say I wanted to urgently get through this book until the last 30% when I truly felt like I was truly rooting for them at that point

A fun spin on the sports romance genre, this one focuses on two people working in college basketball behind-the-scenes. Annie winds up back working at her college campus and comes face to face with her former friend - now enemy? - Ben Callahan. It was great fun watching these two get to the bottom of their misunderstandings and work together as a team. And watching Annie working through the traumas of her past when they collide with her present-day situation made for a genuinely moving, satisfying ending. A great rec for readers who love campus sports romances but are looking for something with a little more emotional maturity. Mariana Zapata fans will enjoy this one too.

This is a nice romance book, a quick read and helped me when I just needed a different change of genre, there was nothing that particularly stood out for me with this book.

This was a great sports romance filled with heart and depth. Relatable characters and an engaging story.

I loved this book! Annie and Ben were both great characters and I think they really complimented each other well once they started getting along.

Annie left the university 8yrs previously after an incident with the head coach and in doing so, left Ben without saying goodbye. This upset Ben as he thought they were friends and he couldn't understand why she would just leave one day without even mentioning anything. Now she's back and Ben's not sure how to react, not only did she hurt him when she left, he knows the school budget is low - meaning one of them will be losing their jobs at the end of the season.

After a few weeks of being petty towards each other, Annie finally confronts Ben on why he's behaving this way towards her, he explodes and tells her everything. Annie realises that things haven't been easy for him either, and she's pretty understanding about everything and this allows the two of them to move forward in a friendship before moving on to more.

Annie is a little broken from a previous relationship and is convinced if she tells Ben the truth about why she left, he'll walk away from her too because she thinks things are only this good while they're in their little bubble, but once the basketball season ends, the bubble will burst and suddenly Ben will see that being with Annie isn't what he thought it was.

Ben really isn't that fickle though, he's not impulsive and he thinks things through before making any decisions so when he starts falling for Annie, it's the real thing. He'll do whatever he can to give their relationship a go, even following Annie's rules about not talking about feelings or the future until the season is over.

I think Annie is really brave for standing up and telling her story after what she went through and I think the topic of abuse within college sports was really well covered. It's something that happens a lot and needs to be addressed, students need to be better protected and their well-being needs to come before that of the adult staff that hold all the power.

Thanks to NetGalley & Quercus for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

This was just fine, nothing special though.

I found Annie very annoying to start with, she was blaming Ben for being difficult but I'd argue that she was the paranoid and rude one.

Enemies to lovers rarely works in contemporary romance for me, because the reason behind this dynamic is incredibly weak, and that was also the case here. Even describing Annie and Ben as rivals is pushing it.

I'm not sure I enjoyed the romantic aspects here either; I suppose the first kiss was nice, but the smut was just too vague and flowery - the book is being marketed towards people who loved Hannah Grace's Icebreaker, and just doesn't deliver on that aspect.

I did love the exploration of mysogyny, sexism and harassment in the world of college sport.

Also, this book is not for people who don't know anything about basketball or American sports in general. I feel like it didn't give enough background info for those who have no previous knowledge of the sport.

This was a good and heartwarming book, it really kept engage from the beginning till the end.
Can't wait to read more about this author.

Thank you Netgalley and Quercus for the arc

Great romance book by a great author. Loved the story and plot line. The cover is beautiful and will definitely read from this author again

Read from November 5th, 2024 to November 7th, 2024. Written on November 10th, 2024.

~4.5~

Slowburn: Check.
Rivalry: Check.
Misunderstanding: Check.
Spice: Check.
Amazing ending: Check. Check. Check.

The romance is incredible, the time it takes the characters to act on their feelings is so appropriate and savoury and the basketball plot (which is a major part of the book) doesn't feel overbearing nor too technical, so even if the sport isn't up your alley, you can still enjoy the book (I believe).

It's sweet and it's funny but when it comes to it, the book is serious and careful with how it deals with one of the main plots, sexual assault. Personally, I think the author did a good job with dealing with such a sensitive subject. It may be triggering so be careful when reading.

I don't know what else I can say, the writing is good, the characters are interesting to meet and get to know and, above all, it's a great book to spend the time and maybe even gain a new passion for basketball.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this ARC, I loved it!

(Free ARC from NetGalley and Quercus Books | Quercus that I chose to review after reading - Cross-posted on Goodreads on November 10th, 2024)

I liked this book. I found the characterisation to be strong and I particularly liked Annie and Ben's relationship and the way it progressed as the narrative continued. I liked the sports element to the story, and how the basketball theme was actually part of the story rather than merely a setting for the narrative to take place.

Overall, it was an enjoyable book. Unfortunately, it just didn't captivate me the way I was hoping it would, hence the rating of three stars. It was an easy romance read, with likeable characters and good banter between them, but that is where it stopped for me. This does not mean I didn't enjoy the book - I did! I just wish I could've fallen in love with it even more.

JAMIE HARROW - ONE ON ONE

𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖:

This book achieved something lately few romance stories do: it surprised me regarding how attached I would become to the characters.
The start, first maybe 50 pages were a bit drawn out, nothing really happened that grabbed my attention. Usually that means I will abandon the book and start a new one, and maybe return to try to finish instead of DNFing. However, I was interested in how the conflict between the main characters would pan out. What would be the catalyst which torpedoes them into romantic relations instead o
f slightly hostile ones?
Fortunately for me, there was underlying tension that propelled me into the story. It wasn't fast paced and flashy in any shape or form, but Annie and Ben made me feel real warm & fuzzy feelings. The romance was sweet with some, but not too much spice. Ben was the perfect-perfect gentleman and book boyfriend. His love language, acts of service gelled nicely with Annie's more snarky and pessimistic views.
I loved how the storyline adapted the relationship from being former friends, to adversaries and then romantic interests.
I really appreciated the deep-dive into collegial sports in America. How fascinating and corrupt the system is at the same time, what masses and money goes through it, and how unfair and life-like the treatment of women is.
I did not expect the story to be such a punch in the gut as well as how sweet and fluffy the romance side was. I'm really happy I got to read this debut novel. Thank you @netgalley & the author for the copy!

Annie never expected to be back at her old alma mater 8 years after graduating and leaving in a hurry. Those memories still linger, but she needs a job, and is hoping to find some sort of inspiration. Ben, her old colleague, still works for the basketball team too but he's holding a grudge against her for leaving early after graduating and abandoning the team. Annie's now working to find a bit of joy in a place that holds a lot of emotions for her, confront feelings since her fathers passing, and hopefully have a job in the end. And maybe win over Ben in the process.

This was such a cute twist on a sports romance. I really enjoyed the coaching staff aspect, while still enjoying the dynamics of a team. I love an enemies to lovers trope, and the miscommunication trope was barely noticeable and very palatable. Highlighting the issue of people in power taking advantage of their inferiors, especially in sports was written very well and was a really great way to shed some light on an important topic.

If you like sports romances with a bit of enemies to lovers/second chance romance, this book is for you.

Thank you NetGalley, Jamie Harrow and Quercus books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book so much, it is so fun and cleverly written, and I loved how their relationship developed naturally. It tackles the misogyny and how men are oblivious to it really well, and I loved seeing them grow together. But it wasn't too serious, and I laughed a lot despite the occasional heavy topics.

The college basketball setting but then not as students but as staff is a refreshing take on the college sports. The sense of family in the team and staff was well done. Their Beach House Mondays felt really cosy and inviting. I really liked Ben and Annie’s playfulness and their banter. The inside jokes cracked me up a couple of times. I could feel the weight of Annie’s secret through the pages. The tension was written really well.

4.5 ⭐

I really enjoyed this book, the storyline was great and I was so invested in all the major and minor plotlines, I really enjoyed the writing and thought the pacing was great (fast paced but not too rushed)

- sports adjacent romance (they both work for a college basketball team)
- friends to strangers to lovers
- co-workers

This is a great debut novel and I can't wait to read more from the author

Thank you to Quercus and NetGalley for the eARC - all opinions are my own

Annie left basketball in somewhat suspicious circumstances and as a last resort she is coming back. Annie and Ben used to be the mum and dad of the team but now things are awkward. The journey of Annie and Ben unfolds in a heartwarming tale that beautifully blends romance and basketball. The story kicks off with a series of bittersweet misunderstandings that create just the right amount of tension, setting the stage for their romance.

As the plot progresses, the chemistry between Annie and Ben becomes palpable, drawing readers into their evolving relationship. The author captures the nuances of their emotions, making each moment feel genuine and relatable. You can predict where the plot is going but it just makes the tension tighter.

I absolutely loved this book! It’s a delightful mix of sports and romance! The warmth of the story, combined with its tender moments, makes it a must-read for anyone who enjoys a heartfelt romance.

I deeply thank Quercus Fiction for sending me a free copy of this book, and also to Jamie Harrow for creating an amazing story I didn't want to end.

I've never read a sport romance about basketball before and I'm not a fan of this sport, but I was totally hooked anyway , probably hyped by Annie's love for this sport and her amazing videos. I obviously couldn't see them concretely, but believe me when I say that I could easily imagine them and get involved in the Ardwyn Tigers' team as everyone who watched them.
In this novel the game itself isn't the focus, because neither of the main characters is a basketball player, but it was interesting to see different jobs related to it, that could affect its results (videos, interviews, analytics, etc.). At the same time I loved the fact that basketball was the way Annie and her dad interacted and bonded, and how his presence in the team and in Annie's thoughts was vivid during the entire story even if he passed away years ago. It was a very delicate and respectful way to represent grief, together with the message that it's ok if a person we loved wasn't perfect and made mistakes toward us. We can remember not only the good things, but bad ones too, because this doesn't mean we love or miss someone less.
And then there's Ben. What I think I appreciate the most is the fact that for multiple aspects Ben isn't a stereotype MC. He's kind and an adorable cinnamon roll, that's for sure, but at the same time he didn't worship her or did whatever she wants without prior thinking about what he thinks about it. Moreover, he wasn't afraid to express his feelings and his thoughts, and even when, at the beginning, he was disappointed by Annie abrupt leaving them years ago and wasn't happy to see her again, he showed it with politeness (nope, no drama reaction or snarky comments). Plus, he was always ready to express his ideas and believes in a simple but steady way, because he wasn't afraid to do it - and he could be, due to his family background, another interesting aspect I would have wanted to explore even more.
Anyway, I liked also how he and Annie bonded again, without rush. I think their is the perfect example of an healthy relationship I would personally love to have and live too. And the chemistry? The tension...? Jaime Harrow has absolutely raised the expectation bar, and that's a real problem.
Last but not least: the work/school harassment theme. I appreciated (and hated, for Annie to have experienced it) how this was handled, in a sort of indirect way where you gradually unveil what happened in the past. And even if it wasn't an "on page event", I could feel Annie's emotions clear as water and I empathized with her immediately. When this happens it only means one thing: the writing was really good.

So, can we ask Jamie to write another novel with this character? Because I'm sure you're gonna love it.
Maybe with Ben's sister as MC...?

Really enjoyed reading this book, so thank you very much for this arc! The main characters really spoke to me and I loved their interaction with each other. In usually not that into sports romance, but this wasn't the usual college basketball romance, which made me enjoy it nonetheless!

Everything here was very good! 👌 Cute, cozy, some topics are painful. I really had nothing to cling to. And I liked that if basketball is one of the topics, then we got a lot of it here 🤩 and I'm very happy that the author did not take the easy way and didn’t chose to make the main character a basketball player! All in all, the story is very fun and cute! I really recommend it🫶