I like sports romances and this one hit the spot! I really recommend this book when you love sports romances!!

If this is how Jamie writes then please write more. I loved this story and got so immersed in it that I finished it in a day. It was so addictive and I couldn't stop reading. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the e-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

Harrow’s debut novel was an extremely well articulated and heartfelt novel. I was engaged from the first page. The characters were well developed, entertaining and had good chemistry. I don’t often read basketball romances but when I do, the MMC is usually a player, so this was a refreshing and interesting take on the genre.

While I enjoyed most aspects of this book, I did feel at times that the actual act of the work itself took the lead and pushed the romance aside. I would have chosen to have more character interactions and bickering/flirting over the work details. In saying that, you can’t win them all, ya know? despite the romance not hitting in the way i wanted, it was still an enjoyable read.

The first thing that enticed me to read One on One was the fact that among all the sports romances about field hockey, an up-and-coming author like Jamie Harrow decided to stand out from the crowd and write a second-chance romance about basketball.

Could it have been this difference that won me over? Maybe. But it certainly wasn't the only motivation. The spontaneous style with which Harrow recounts Annie's feelings and longing wins the reader over little by little, and the way she is able to put the problems of the past behind her and get back on track not only with the basketball team but especially with Ben.

Many thanks to Quercus Publishing Plc for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC copy.

Usually I steer away from books that include the miscommuncation trope because I get annoyed so easy. However, though this book had this trope, I found myself devouring this book so quickly.

Ben may have given me a bully vibe but something switched in him and he became the biggest softy ever. This book gave me One Tree Hill vibes and I am not made about that at all.

The ending was so cute it had me smiling like mad.

Thank you Netgalley and Quercus for allowing me to review this book 🤍

One on One is a stunning debut from Jamie Harrow. We follow Annie Radford, videographer and basketball fanatic, re-entering the world of college basketball after an eight year break at Ardwy, her alma mater. Tasked with creating blood-pumping hype videos for the team, Annie is determined to prove her worth to the staff, despite being hesitant about coming back into this world. And to make matters worse, Ben Fucking Callahan, who used to be a colleague and friend, now seems to have it out for her — for no apparent reason? Yet she cannot deny that he is annoyingly wholesome and distractingly hot. As the season takes a positive turn for the Tigers, the connection between Ben and Annie grows. But she has pockets of her past she doesn’t want to bring to light and isn’t sure how to trust the growing feelings they have…

I absolutely adored this book. Jamie Harrow’s writing style immediately drew me in and I felt as though I’d known Annie deeply for years by the end of the first few chapters. I always applaud romance authors who choose to stick to single POV and Harrow utilizes it so incredibly well, particularly for the enemies to friends to lovers arc. It was believable that Ben and Annie genuinely did not like each other and therefore didn’t have any deeper conversations to get to know each other until later on.

Their relationship progressed so naturally, the pacing is outstanding. I like how we got to see smaller moments and took time in crucial plot points to zoom into finer details, while also being able to move past other time periods more quickly. It didn’t feel stilted, to me at all, instead everything was organic. Ben is my type of book boyfriend. Gentle and kind, he respects and adores Annie wholly. She sets boundaries and he doesn’t question them. They communicate and are honest with one another. There is absolutely nothing toxic about this relationship. It is pure and genuine, and I cannot express how much I adored getting to follow along on their journey.

This is a romance book and a lot of the page time was, of course, dedicated to the growing relationship between Annie and Ben, but I loved how much time Harrow also took to explore the world of college basketball, its positives and negatives, as well as the difficulties of adult life when one has moved around and jumped from job to job. In that, I felt deeply seen.

In addition, each side character felt like a fully fleshed out person. Eric and Cassie were definitely favorites, but Quincy, Donna, Jess & Taylor, and Annie’s family all jumped off the page. Harrow has a true talent in her writing, creating characters that you root for (or, in certain cases, very much against), relationships, both platonic and romantic, that you cheer on, and a story that is easy to follow and absolutely captivating.

A small note also that spice, done this way, is my absolute favorite. The yearning and heat is there without necessarily the most explicit descriptions of what’s going on, which I personally adore.

Lastly, I think Harrow deals with the heavy topic of abuse in sports very well. It is clear to me she was thoughtful and mindful, and did her research. As someone who has loved ones who have experienced this time of behavior (and worse) from coaches I think it is incredibly important to shed more light on this subject that is too often overlooked, but do it in a way that is honest and respectful of those that have these experiences.

All in all, giving this book 5 stars is the easiest decision ever. One on One is perfect for lovers of workplace romances, sports romances, and, of course, the enemies to lovers arc. If you are a fan of Ali Hazelwood and Emily Henry, I can only recommend this one.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Quercus Books for a copy of the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

2.5*

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

This book just missed the mark for me. I enjoyed reading and did like the characters but I just wasn't really invested in the story. I think it was missing something but I can't figure out.

Not bad for a debut novel and I would like to read more for Jamie in the future and see how their writing develops.

This was absolutely amazing. No notes just love, I was honestly a little bit shocked to find out this was a debut book.

Annie returns to her old university for a new job, in the place she fled many years ago and thought she would never come back again. After she just starts, she finds out her new job may be cut at the end of the year, and also Ben, who she was friendly with at uni and now seems to hate her, is her competition for keeping the job. But the more they work together, the closer they get. Ben is still too nice and a little bit charming, and there is only so much they can do against all the obstacles in the present and the shadows in the past.

I loved the writing. There is a softness in it that just had me completely addicted. The story is captivating and unravels slowly, layer after layer. I just didn’t want to put the book down until the very end.

I so wanted to love this book and while I think Jamie Harrow has great potential as an author, and very much look forward to reading whatever book comes next from Jamie, I found it so hard to like Ben's character in this and that meant it was tough to root for Ben and Annie as a couple. I really enjoyed the take on a sports romance, with basketball being the backdrop of the story but neither character being players of the sport. Annie's story was also really interesting, and her POV was well written and her friendships and relationship with her mum and sister were a great addition to the story. Ben I found to be mean and immature, holding a grudge about something someone he was barely friends with 8 years ago did to the extent that he was throwing shade. This book also plays very heavily on bad communication throughout, with a lot of the rivalry being down to misunderstandings. Finally, there's a very serious and traumatic event for Annie and Ben's behaviour is so disappointing and not what you'd want to see from a character looking for a serious, long term relationship. So, unfortunately, the way Ben is portrayed knocked my enjoyment of this book down but I can tell that I'm going to enjoy Jamie Harrow's writing again in the future, but with a different love interest!

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

One on One exceeded my expectations in every way. At first glance, the cover suggests a light romance—pleasant but forgettable. However, from the very first chapter, I was captivated by the engaging writing, well-developed characters, and the underlying tension and emotion woven throughout. While miscommunication is often a trope I dislike, it was handled exceptionally well here. The rivalry, pranks, banter, and romance between Annie and Ben were delightful—heartwarming, sweet, and full of chemistry.

What truly stood out was how the story deepened as it progressed, especially when more serious themes emerged. I also loved the glimpse into the world of college basketball from the staff's perspective. The passion for the game is palpable, drawing you into the team’s journey and making you truly root for their success.

http://thesecretbookreview.co.uk

One on One by Jamie Harrow is one heck of a debut! I absolutely loved it and cannot wait to see what Harrow writes next.

One on One sees Annie returning to work for college basketball, after swearing she’d never go back. Yet 8 years after finishing her degree and fleeing her role at Ardwyn, she’s back as the team videographer and hype women. Her old friend and colleague Ben is still at Ardwyn, and given they always got on she can’t figure out why he’s now trying to ice her out. As they find themselves competing to keep their jobs, tensions rise and old (and new) feelings sizzle to the surface. With everything on the line, including their hearts, can they put their differences aside to work together and save the team? Or will the truth of why Annie left destroy their tentative new relationship . . . ?

One on One was an absolutely brilliant read. It’s a slow burn, former friends turned enemies to lovers, that’s also a forced proximity/workplace romance. Not only this but it’s a sports romance, but what’s so unique here is that both the MCs work for the team but aren’t current players which I really enjoyed.

I’ll admit I don’t know a great deal about basketball and yet that didn’t affect my reading at all. I loved all the insights we got into the game and the players, especially Quincy who Annie’s late father once coached. Even if you’re not a basketball fan you’ll find yourself cheering the Ardwyn Tigers in - I know I did!

This is a great romance, with sizzling chemistry and MCs you can really root for. But it’s also a story about being brave enough to come back to what you love when it was unfairly taken from you. It’s difficult to explain why Annie left basketball without giving the story away, but it’s a serious issue that was handled sensitively and with care by Harrow. This added element added even more depth to the story.

Honestly I really enjoyed this one and would definitely recommend it.

I love reading romance books, the sports element in this was so well done. I found myself not wanting to put it down.

I'm not sure if I read a sport romance before so I was curious and this was a pleasant surprise even if I 'm not sure I understood hockey rules (so it live once so I tried).
It's cute, entertaining and well plotted
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I have been having some trouble getting through books that I have to actually read (rather than listen to), even if I’m enjoying them, cause I am just so tired 🥱 I fall asleep and drop my phone on my face after one chapter. This book didn’t seem to have the same effect and I was up to 2am before I forced myself to put it away. Admittedly I did read for 3+ hours while getting tattooed, and there is no possible way for me to fall asleep while suffering that much 😂

Annie was great and I liked how her family and friends all interacted with her. It made reading easy and fun as they joked around. Ben was a good love interest for her and his strait laced, rule following was a contrast that her character needed. I would have LOVED to get his POV, especially in the beginning.

Thanks to #NetGallery and publisher for a copy of this book.

CN for past sexual harassment and abuse of power.

Genre: Romance
Format: Digital
POV: Single
Tropes: rivals to lovers, collage basketball, past secrets coming to light,
Spice: 🌶️ /5
Age suggestion: 18+

As someone who played basketball throughout high school and college and still follows the sport now, I was really interested in a sports romance centred around it, as I haven’t read a basketball romance before. Although, I do have to say it focuses more on the coaches and the goings on behind the scenes of college basketball than the sport itself.
We meet Annie and Ben who are both working at the college they went to, 8 years ago. Annie is a videographer and Ben works with statistics. The tension between the two at first could be cut with a knife, but as we quickly progress through the story we realise that this book is a second chance romance as Annie and Ben are drawn back to each other.
I think the story line surrounding Annie’s departure from Ardwyn was handled really well and delicately and was so important to the story and we see this secret of hers come to the forefront as the story develops.

Thankyou Netgalley and Quercus Books for this ARC.

I got hooked into this sports romance really quickly. Our heroine Annie has just moved back home after eight years to a videographer’s job for the basketball team at her local college. She is a bit sassy and witty but has a core of loneliness that made me uneasy.
Ben our MMC is still working as the stats guy with the team. He’s also not as happy-go-lucky as he was eight years ago. It reminds me of Kate Clayborn’s or Abby Jimenez’s romances which often have a similar melancholy thread.
This is set in the world of college basketball but it’s about the coaches and the support teams, not the players. The behind-the-scenes stuff is fascinating and such a different approach to the usual trope of player as hero. This is fade to black - I didn’t need to be in the room to feel the emotional connection between these two, it’s a slow burn and in the workplace so they both fight their attraction. The throughline is really about sexual harassment and its long term impact, in this case it was perpetrated when there was a big power imbalance. The situation is complicated with vulnerable people who have missed opportunities in their professional lives - forBen, its loyalty and family obligation holding him back. I loved how consistent the characters were even though Annie’s inability to confide in Ben is so frustrating. It is understandable though and shows how pernicious sexual harassment can be. The aftermath is key and provides the book’s momentum but it doesn’t overtake what is a tender and warm romance.
I loved this gorgeous cover, but it’s not a light hearted breezy read. It’s all in Annie’s POV, and so lovely to see Ben unfolding as he responds to Annie. There’s no insta-love and the action takes place over a basketball season.
I also loved seeing Annie at work - the whole process of making video, from brainstorming through to the buzz at a great final product made me realise how rarely romance novels show people really doing their jobs. The players, work colleagues and friends bounce in and out, along with a light subplot about a dating show, which relieves the tension. While Ben and Annie had worked together years ago this is not a second chance romance. The observation is made several times that Annie is really starving of human contact - the first hug between these two has more impact than doing the deed might have ...

Recommended as a slow burn closed door romance from debut author Jamie Harrow. Thank you Jamie, NetGalley and Quercus for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

Although I love a bit of romance this book just had too much basketball in it for me. Being British (and not liking many sports) I don’t understand the game or the terminology. However the underlying love story between Ben and Annie was great. Cute boy meets girl but with a little historic trauma for the girl thrown in.

The basketball bits literally went over my head and I think that dampened my feelings for the book

This was a rivals-to-lovers romance in the competitive world of basketball.
The relationship between Ben and Annie progressed naturally as rivals slowly into something more which felt authentic, and their interactions were sweet overall. Annie's thought processes are funny and realistic and I liked her as a character. I hadn't anticipated it would be so heavy on the basketball, the political side of sports, and mundane interactions between characters, and Ben was a frustrating male lead at times so I didn't fully enjoy it as much as I could. I think readers who are more interested in the politics/business of sports/basketball and media might enjoy this more than I did.
Note the book contains references to sexual harrassment - it handles this well and sensitively.

I didn’t get off to the best start with this book - the miscommunication trope is one I always struggle with and just find quite annoying however as I read on I found myself enjoying it more and more.

This was such a sweet second chance romance, I loved that these two characters had gone off to live their own lives and when they came back together it was a case of right person at the right time.

I was genuinely invested in the characters and their romance and just found it such an optimistic and hopeful read

I thoroughly enjoyed it

The story centres around why Annie left Ardwyn many years ago. She was there as a student, and worked alongside Ben, but no one knew why she left. The reasons come to light as the story progresses, but that’s after Annie and Ben grow closer. The banter and romance between Annie and Ben was a slow burn, building throughout the story.

It was a light and easy read, even when it broached heavier subject matter, it was all handled very delicately and written well.

Overall I liked the book, but didn’t become overly invested in the romance between the characters. A solid book from a first time author.