I was lucky enough to read this as an ARC read through NetGalley
*3/5*

*Basketball Romance
*Friends-to-Enemies-to-Lovers
*Forced Proximity
*Old Friends
*Slow Burn
*Workplace romance


TW
- Sexual content
- Death of a parent
- Sexual Harassment
- Abandonment


This was a debut novel for this author. It’s very well written and this author has real potential to make incredible books. The story is well flushed out and you can feel the romance building throughout the book. I felt part of romance and could feel the secrecy initially, like I’m in the room with them.


There are so many lovable characters within this book. Annie is so protective despite hating Ben initially. She hid things that she knew would hurt herself and him, mainly it seems, to protect Ben and his life. You can feel the characters getting closer and becoming more comfortable with one another. As much as I enjoy spicy novels, and would love if this had more, I did enjoy the focus being on their romance development. The development of the characters was well explained and thought through. I feel like further novels by this author will get better and better, and time will only make the books better.

There should be a warning for readers regarding an ongoing theme of sexual harassment. This is explained throughout with some intense discussions around this topic. As someone who has recently received help for SA, the topic was explained in a way that is both respectful and gets the point across. It feels like the author may have gone through a similar thing as it felt personal, with feelings by Annie that really portray how people feel in these situations.

My only critique is that I wish the ending was further explored. It seemed very sudden and rushed compared to the detail in the rest of the book.


Finally, I very much enjoyed this book and am hoping that Jamie Harrow releases future stories. This author should be very proud of I hope she is happy. I hope she continues to write more.

Thank you to Jamie Harrow and Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

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3.75/5

This book was certainly quite entertaining.

Harrow approaches the novel with a niche yet witty sense of humour. She interlopes this comedy with serious criticisms on college basketball, sexual assault and unhealthy relationships. It doesn't feel forced but it is sincere.

The romance within this book is cute and comfortable. Both characters have their flaws but find solace and comfort within each other - which is so sweet to see.

As soon as I finished this novel, I immediately went to Jamie Harrow's Goodreads and was shocked to find that this was a debut. I'm in awe as it was so well written and disappointed because I can't yet get my hands on another one of her stories.

"Eight years after graduation, Annie Radford is not happy to be back at her alma mater in her old job with the Ardwyn Tigers’ basketball team. Worse, her coworker from back in college, Ben Callahan, is still on the Tigers staff, and he’s annoyingly wholesome, hot, and clinging to a grudge against Annie for abandoning him and the team their senior year."

Firstly, this is being advertised as enemies-to-lovers, which didn't ring very accurate - more likely rivals-to-lovers, and even then only for the first few chapters. Annie's monologue and narration was authentic and funny and I loved reading her thoughts and development. Her family were fantastic. I wish Carrie and Ed had been a bit more in the picture, as I would have enjoyed seeing their characters more.

This was a stunning debut and I'm so excited to see more of Jamie's work in the future.

This was a fun, sexy rivals-to-lovers/co-workers romance. I really enjoyed Annie and Ben's burn from co-workers to reluctant friends with a simmering tension. Please be aware that there is quite a lot of talking around sexual harassment the FMC was subjected to by a former coach they both worked with, who the MMC is still in touch with until he learns about the harassment. It's not talked about spoken about very explicitly until later in the book, but it's easy to deduce what she is eluding to. The rest of the plot is very fun and light-hearted, and it was an enjoyable read.

4 ☆

this story follows annie, who has recently found herself in a dilemma about her job status, she’s bounced around from job to job and it’s now finding it hard to find another job. when a friend offers her a job, she has no choice but to accept becoming videographer for ardwyn university’s basketball team, a job she fled from years ago. she finds herself having to face the last, the emotions this job stirs up for her and the emotions her coworker, and old friend, ben stirs up for her.


『 tropes 』
• rivals-to-lovers
• sport
• second chance
• workplace romance
• opposites attract
•miscommunication
•slow burn



『 plot 』
this book was SO fun to read, i found myself not wanting to put it down. i absolutely loved the rivalry between annie and ben, the plot of this book was so fun, can’t between a workplace rivalry, both competing for their job. the basketball team need some work, they’re not playing great and are in danger of budget cuts. ben works statistics, as well as picking up everyone elses slack and annie is there to help with morale and do hype videos to help get ardwyn’s name out there. as much as the plot was so fun, there was also an important and serious theme that is addressed throughout the book. the push and pull of annie trying to figure out how to deal with her past, when her past is slowing creeping towards her. it was so well written and addressed throughout the book with class and understanding.

『 characters 』
the characters were fun to read and see come alive on the pages. ben and annie’s rivalry, their back and forth, their banter and later the tension and feelings mixed in with it all was so refreshing and nice. i absolutely adored annie, she was a girls girl and even though she had her own issues, she was loyal to a T and always looked out for the ones she loved, she is dedicated, fierce, loyal and just an all round sweetie. ben is also loyal, kind, protective and an actual good guy. i loved annie’s mum and sister, their dynamic with each other was a good mixture of admiration and banter and a loving family. annie’s best friends, eric and cassie were fantastic, great side characters who helped develop the plot of the story together.


『 writing style 』
i liked the writing style, first person is always my favourite, i love actually being inside the characters mind and also not knowing what the other characters are actually thinking. the miscommunication trope in this was done so well through the first person narrative and i really enjoyed reading it.

『 overall 』
i thought it was great, it was fun, cute, sweet, full of tension, full of hard topics and a fun basketball story, all tied up with a little HEA. jamie harrow did a fantastic job with this.

Jamie Harrow’s stunning debut ‘One on One’ skillfully blends a slow-burn romance between two former colleagues against a backdrop of university basketball. This book also sensitively deals with misconduct in sport and how it's overlooked in pursuit of the win and the money.

Eight years after fleeing her alma mater, videographer Annie Radford reluctantly returns broke and desperate for a steady job. What she doesn't expect is a hostile reaction from her former colleague Ben Callahan.

I was utterly hooked from the first sentence. The characters leapt off the page as Harrow captured the early hostility to burgeoning friends to a lot more. I loved the banter and chemistry between Annie and Ben as they slowly opened up to each other. I also loved how it wove in Annie's talent filming all the highs and lows to elevate the team. It really felt like Harrow did her research at what a videographer does, which is always a complaint I have about authors depicting workplaces.

I loved this book so much, it was so well written, exquisitely layered with compelling character arcs plus a divine, slowburn romance. I couldn't stop thinking about it after I finished reading. Warning: this book will give you a major book hangover.

Thanks to Quercus and NetGalley for the ARC.

The transition from friends to enemies to lovers is a highly underrated trope, and when executed well, it’s simply delightful. This book nails it perfectly. The characters are compelling, their development is engaging, and the story kept me hooked from start to finish. Plus, the fact that it’s a sports romance featuring mature characters makes it even more special. This book is a definite winner!

4.5 stars
This sports romance is a really interesting love story. The story has layers upon layers that you peel with each page that you finish reading. Both Annie and Ben are likable and have interesting personalities that click and make this story worth reading.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for Netgalley

Thankyou NetGallery and publishers for allowing me to read and review this book. It was such a lovely romantic enemy to lover read. It was full of emotions and I really could not put this book down!

3.5 stars rounded up 🌟

A great debut romance! This friends to enemies to lovers was such a fun read. The tension and build was great, and there was enough plot for me to buy into the chemistry and story around the MCs. Prior basketball knowledge is not essential 😂

A great one if you like enemies/rivals to lovers, sports romance or just an enjoyable romance for your holidays!

Please note: Trigger warning of SA

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC

Friends to enemies to lovers is actually one of the most underrated tropes. And when it’s done well, well it’s a chef’s kiss. That’s what was done here. I loved the characters, I was invested in the growth and the story, and just didn’t want to put it down. Add fact that it’s a sports romance (especially one not between young adult) and you’ve for a winner in this book.

I absolutely loved One on One. I was expecting a fun college sports romance, but while this is *sort of* that, it's also much more. I'd probably describe it as rivals (rather than enemies) to lovers, and the fact that these were adult protagonists reuniting at their alma mater with a lot of water under the bridge brought so much interest to their relationship (and character development). Annie and Ben's chemistry was great, and I enjoyed the gradual reveal of their past through the lens of the current narrative.

There's an elephant in the room throughout the story: the sexual harrassment Annie was subjected to during her time as a student working with the Ardwyn basketball team by her (and Ben's) erstwhile mentor, the former head coach. While he's since moved to another university, he casts a long shadow, having had a huge impact on the lives of both Annie and Ben. (The #MeToo storyline is dealt with sensitively, and there isn't anything graphic, but since it's a definite undercurrent throughout the book, it's something for readers to be aware of going in.) Their shared history is complicated, and they are both forced to reevaluate previous misconceptions about one another in the light of new discoveries. It's so true that university has the tendency to 'flatten' differences between social status and culture, and college life is such a bubble that you can easily forget that others around you may have come from quite different backgrounds than you might expect. I appreciated that this was explored here in a way that gave insight into Annie's and Ben's respective choices and how they presented themselves.

I knew next to nothing about basketball going in, but really appreciated the insight into college basketball and even college sports in general, a subject the author has clear knowledge of and used here to great effect. The issues surrounding the NCAA generally, with regards to the treatment of student athletes, as well as the more general concerns around performance pressure for young players, the difficulties of becoming an adult with the weight of expectations looming, and sexual harrassment and power imbalance risks inherent in the coaching system: all of it was on display, and treated thoughtfully. The cast of characters was large, having to account for the players, student managers and whole front office support staff - as well as family of the main pair - but every single character was well realised, the dialogue and actions (and motivations) of each person feeling true to their age and personality. The author also did a great job in creating a believable culture within the Ardwyn 'family', with all the complicated loyalties, history and resentments that a workplace-slash-university contains. The banter is also on point throughout, with genuinely laugh-out-loud moments.

One on One is so much more than I was expecting, and I was shocked to find it was the author's debut book. I'd love to read more from her. Whether or not you're into sports romance, there's plenty to enjoy, and I would heartily recommend One on One one to fans of Elle Kennedy and Lucy Score in particular.

This book was incredible!

I was actually surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I requested it because it sounded like something I would enjoy but then was a bit cautious because I know next to nothing about Basketball. Literally, the extent of my basketball knoledge comes from One Tree Hill and Space Jam. So, not much.

I only really have one complaint about this book but it is a BIG one. There is no trigger warning. This is something that I hope will be added in before the book is published, however, it is something that I strongly feel should have been included in the ARC also.

That being said - trigger warning: SA.

Aside from the lack of trigger warning, the way that the discussion around the SA and the way that the FMC dealt with it, is all handled really well. There was a lot of potential for the MMC to be an absolute douche but he is just the best (I will get on to this later). Again, there was no trigger warning and, although it was alluded to, I enjoyed that it was not fully explained until near the end of the story.

Let's talk about Ben. So firstly, we think he is a dick. Then it turns out that he is not so much of a dick as we thought he was. All I wrote about Ben in my notes was "good guy, great guy, best guy". I really loved the relationship between him and Annie and also between him and the other characters.

Annie! I love her! I love the relationships she has with her friends, her family, the players on the team. I love that they call her A-Rad. I basically love everything about her and I want to be her friend. She is probably one of my favourite FMCs this year, if not ever. I was actually really dissapointed after this that I can't watch her hype videos because they sound absolutely amazing.

The supporting cast of players , friends and family was excellent, it touched lightly on elements of race and discrimination. Although it would have been nice for this to have been explored a bit more deeply, I can definitely see that perhaps ths story wasn't right for that.

I would absolutely read this author again and urge everyone to read this book. Please be mindful of the trigger warning that I mentioned previously. Stay safe out there, guys!

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

"Don't be afraid to take up space in the paint."

4.5 stars

I'm not normally the biggest fan of sports romances, but this book has made me change my mind. It's the exception.

There isn't an aspect of this book that I didn't fully enjoy. I know nothing about the world of basketball and the author made it so easy to understand what was going on and the workings of college basketball.

I am a sucker for enemies to lovers, and One on One really didn't disappoint - the tension between Annie and Ben was extraordinary, so much so that I devoured this book in one day! I can't remember the last time I read a romance book this fast.

The characters were so well developed and I loved how the author dealt with some difficult topics without making the narrative too heavy.

I can definitely say this was a wholesome read - thank you so much to NetGalley, Jamie Harrow and Quercus Books for the chance to read this book early.

If you love Sarah Adams, Sally Thorne and Emily Henry, this is a must read!

Cannot believe this is a debut novel.

Friends to Enemies. Such a classic and well loved trope.

I have no idea about the game of basketball, but that did not stop me from enjoying this immersive read. Annie & Ben are both flawed and perfect it the best of ways.

My emotions were in a chaotic twister page after page and I was here for it. Perfectly paced and full of humour.

Annie regresó a trabajar al último lugar donde se sintió feliz, pero que luego se convirtió en su infierno. Se sorprende al encontrar a Ben su a antiguo compañero, él no la recibe de buena manera porque aparentemente ella le hizo algo, pero ella no recuerda porque ese último año se la pasó borracha.

Faltó que Ben tuviera povs para poder simpatizar con él.

Me dolió por lo que pasó Annie en su último año de universidad y me alegre que al final todos supieran como era esa person, aunque me faltó que sufriera y que fuera a la cárcel.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Do I know anything about college basketball? No, I don't.
Do I ever watch any basketball apart from the Olympics? No, I don't.
Did I devour this book? Definitely.
I loved everything about this book: the fact that they started as rivals, the banter, how their relationship developed, the fact that he respected her boundaries, the side characters, how the main characters grew during the story, the way Jamie introduced important issues that affect college basketball (and I would say sport in general), the relationship that Annie has with her family and friends...
I can't believe this is a debut novel and I can't wait to see what Jamie Harrow writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Jamie Harrow for providing an ARC of this book.

One on One by Jamie Harrow
Rating: 4/5
Release Date: 1 October 2024

Annie Radford finds herself in desperate need of employment, leading her back to her Alma Mater where the only available job is as a videographer for the basketball team—a position she fled from years ago. Returning to Ardwyn University is challenging enough, but on her very first day, she discovers that the team faces budget cuts, putting her new job in jeopardy.

To make matters worse, Annie clashes with Ben, a former friend turned arch-nemesis, whose wholesome demeanour and undeniable attractiveness only serve to aggravate her. Ben harbours resentment towards Annie for abruptly leaving his life, and now she fears she may be the cause of him losing his job. It seems their friendship is beyond repair.

Determined to come out on top, both Annie and Ben are willing to do whatever it takes. However, as basketball is a team sport, they find themselves on the same side despite their bitter rivalry. Can they set aside their differences and work together to secure the team's shot at the national championship? Or will Annie's hidden secrets and their tumultuous history keep them at odds?

In "One on One," the romance unfolds naturally as Annie and Ben reconnect after nearly a decade, amidst a backdrop of various other challenges. Their journey is fraught with complexity, and there are valid reasons why their relationship might not succeed.

Annie and Ben, both talented individuals, find themselves grappling with professional uncertainties and job insecurities. Initially, they navigate their rekindled connection with confusion and animosity as rival coworkers. However, as they tentatively build a friendship, their dynamic evolves into a sweet, tender, and hopeful romance. Ben's genuine kindness and honesty shine, making him a standout character, while Annie's growth towards bravery is truly inspiring.

The novel adeptly intertwines a nuanced examination of college sports, workplace dynamics, and power imbalances with an engaging romance. The portrayal of Annie and Ben's relationship is refreshingly genuine, capturing the intricacies and hurdles of love. Despite its complexities, the narrative exudes optimism and the promise of redemption.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Quercus Books, and the author, Jamie Harrow, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Title: One on One by Jamie Harrow

Release Date: October, 1st, 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Stars

They call it March Madness for a reason: anything can happen on the way to a national championship.

Eight years after graduation, Annie Radford finds herself reluctantly back at her alma mater, working with the Ardwyn Tigers' basketball team.

To make matters worse, her annoyingly wholesome and undeniably hot former coworker, Ben Callahan, is still on the Tigers staff. Ben hasn’t forgotten or forgiven Annie for abandoning him and the team during their senior year.

As Ardwyn becomes the season's Cinderella story, sparks fly between Annie and Ben.

Despite the undeniable chemistry, Annie is haunted by the reason she left basketball”the sport she loves most in the first place. To have a chance at a future together, Annie must learn to trust Ben with her deepest secret.


What I Enjoyed:

* Realistic View of College Sports: Harrow dives into the pressures faced by college athletes, challenging sexism in sports, and highlighting the dangers of idolising the "big men on campus.’

* Natural Romance Development: The romance between Annie and Ben unfolds authentically as they reconnect after nearly a decade, navigating their complicated past and present.

* Engaging Ensemble Cast: The supporting characters, including friends and family, add depth and charm to the story.

* Tension and Drama: The book keeps you on the edge of your seat with its mix of romantic tension and the thrilling backdrop of a basketball season.

"One on One" is an incredibly solid debut from Jamie Harrow! The book masterfully balances a critical look at college sports, workplace harassment, and power dynamics with a captivating romance. The romance is messy and complex, reflecting real-life challenges and reasons why things might not work out. Yet, the story is filled with hope and second chances.

Complete with an enchanting ensemble cast and a plot that keeps you turning the pages, "One on One" is an engrossing, captivating read and an absolutely stunning debut.

Highly recommended for anyone who loves a blend of sports drama, realistic romance, and thought-provoking themes.

Thank you to The Publisher Quercus Books | Quercus ,The Author Jamie Harrow & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

Jamie Harrow's debut novel, "One on One," is an impressive addition to the workplace sports-romance genre. Harrow's writing is engaging, with a compelling story, a distinct tone of voice, and well-crafted characters.

"One on One" is an unglamorous look at the college sports industry, addressing serious issues such as racism, sexual harassment, and abuse of power. Harrow skillfully incorporates these themes into the plot, avoiding the usual clichés of the genre.

The characters felt incredibly real. Not just the main characters, Annie and Ben, but also the entire cast of friends, family, coworkers, and students, all added depth and realism to the narrative. And while it has plenty of humor and banter, it never feels superficial or cheesy.

Annie and Ben are both very talented but find themselves in professional funks, threatened by job insecurities. Their relationship evolves from confused animosity as rival coworkers to a tentative friendship, and eventually into a sweet, tender, and hopeful romance. Ben's kindness and honesty make him a standout character, while Annie's journey to becoming braver is inspiring.

I love how this quote captures Annie’s humour and mindset: “Oh, god, my life is going to be a Bruce Springsteen song. I need to try harder.”

This novel is an easy 5-star read, though I wouldn't have minded a bit more pathos to tug at my heartstrings even harder.

I highly recommend “One on One” to readers who enjoy romance writers with more heart and depth, such as Kate Clayborn, Jessica Joyce and Alicia Thompson.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Books for providing me with this ARC.