This is an okay story, but I found it dragged a bit. I didn't love the female lead and I struggled with the way the story is laid out. However, I did enjoy the main characters when they where together. I think I would have enjoyed this story a lot more if it focused on the couple as a couple more and less on their individual journeys which became a bit repetitive. The sort of love triangle situation with his best friend was uncomfortable for me and seemed an unnecessary addition to a book which already had plenty of other plots to add interest.

3.5 stars rounded down

This was a harder listen for me, the pacing felt slow but did pick up eventually! I didn't connect to the characters as much, but loved the Olympics setting, especially during this summer! :)

Great debut novel by this author. Highlighting non-majority main characters is wonderful. Representation matters!!

This was the most perfect book to read during the Olympics and Paralympic Games this summer!

It’s was fun and flirty and I absolutely loved Olivia and Zeke! I laughed out loud, I teared up and was smitten!

The supporting characters/besties were also perfection!

Read this one if you love:
🏅 sports romances
🏅dual POV - the narration was fantastic!
🏅flirtatious banter

I enjoyed both narrators very much! A fun and unique plot, but I found much of the writing to be more *tell* than show, and I wanted more layered character development.

I absolutely adored this book! It was perfect to read right before the Olympics, and if anyone is missing the Olympics and Paralympics as much as me, this book would be perfect to fill the void.

Shaniqua Okwok could read me my car's owners manual and I'd be happy. She was such a delight to listen to and really brought the story to life.

I loved Olivia and Zeke, but all of the characters complimented each other so well and were so fun to get to know. And as someone who has always wanted to visit Greece, Mazarura's descriptions of Athens made me want to go even more.

5/5 stars, absolutely loved this.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy!

This was a cute romance that came out at the perfect time. I liked the characters and enjoyed the story and the narration was good.

I wanted to love this book. but i just couldn't get into it. I wound up DNF'ing it. i use audiobooks to help me stay focused. i keep them in my ears. but this one annoyed me more than anything.

Loved it. It's that simple.

I was given access to Let the Games Begin by Macmillan Audio and I flew through it. I actually waited to listen to this during the Olympics, because I was that obsessed with watching the Opening Ceremony and so many of the events. Reading Rufaro Faith Mazarura's book in tandem to watching the actual Olympics was kind of perfect. Although set in Greece instead of Paris, the European vibes were all there. Olivia's Type A personality and grumpy disposition worked for me. I could relate. I also could relate to the pervasive theme of men having privilege in most fields, being given opportunities women don't receive, and having opportunities taken by male counterparts with less experience. Don't worry, If you were hoping for romance, it's in here! I just really enjoyed Olivia's fight against the patriarchy as she went after her dreams. Zeke on the other hand is beautifully complex and working through his own struggles as he compete for GB, but feeling ill at ease not competing for his motherland. There is so much awareness raised with the pages of this romance. It's a book that will make readers feel seen through the characters and the plot.

While you’re watching the Paris 2024 Games, alternate with this romance set against the backdrop of a Summer Olympics. With the dual POV, you can imagine you’re having a fling with an athlete while you’re working your dream summer internship, or you can be the world-class sprinter falling in love with his dream girl while he defends his medal. (Recommendation was sent at the beginning of the Olympics to email subscribers of WordSmarts.com)

Let The Games Begin by Rufaro Faith Mazarura is a delightful and uplifting summer romance set against the vibrant backdrop of the Olympic Games. This novel introduces readers to Zeke, a British track star grappling with unresolved grief, and Olivia, an ambitious aspiring intern whose Olympic dreams are upended when her position is taken by someone else. Both characters share a Zimbabwean heritage, which adds depth to the story as they navigate their personal and cultural pressures to succeed.

Zeke and Olivia's meet-not-so-cute encounters evolve into a heartwarming connection that helps them both face their internal struggles. The Olympic setting adds excitement, highlighting the behind-the-scenes challenges that athletes face as they strive for greatness, while the spirit of the Games infuses the story with optimism.

The writing is engaging, and the supporting characters—especially Zeke’s Olympic friends and Olivia’s best friend Didi—add warmth and charm. Olivia’s determination to reclaim her path is especially inspiring, making her a standout character who refuses to let setbacks define her.

The audiobook is a fun, feel-good read perfect for the summer months. With its positive vibes, endearing romance, and unique Olympic setting, Let The Games Begin is a refreshing escape from heavier themes and a story that will leave readers cheering for more.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and netgalley for an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars. If you enjoyed the Olympic games this summer and didn't want them to end, this might be the romance novel for you. Zeke is a track star for Team GB, but he's not sure his life is playing out in a way that would make his late father proud. Meanwhile, Olivia has her life all figured out -- an intern for the Olympic Organizing Committee. But as they both arrive in Olympic Village, the summer goes in a direction that neither was expecting with them finding true love in each other.

This was such a fun romance! And this was the absolute perfect week for me to listen to this book since the 2024 Paris Olympics just ended 2 days ago! This was the perfect book to nurse my Olympics hangover. I desperately need more romances set at the Olympics now! I'll be keeping an eye out to see what Rufaro writes next!

The perfect book to read during the Olympics. I loved seeing the behind-the-scenes POV of someone volunteering at the games.
I hated how the two MCs weren't up front about their feelings to their friends. It was rough.
This also felt more YA than adult.
Cute, but nothing too special.

This was such a cute and wholesome new adult romance story. This story takes place during during the Olympics, and we get to see the behind the scenes story of an athlete and a volunteer during the competitions while they fall in love. Both thr FMC , Olivia, and the MMC Zeke won my heart over. I loved that Olivia knew who she was and refused to shrink herself to make others feel comfortable with her level of greatness. I loved that she went after her goals and believed that they could be achieved regardless of the obstacles thrown her way. I particularly loved Zeke's vulnerability and seeing him come into his whole self despite his fears.
I absolutely recommend this to anyone who loves sports romances, especially now with the Olympics happening in real life at this very moment.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the Advanced Listening copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was SO CUTE! I think reading it during the Olympics made it so fun to read! I loved both our main characters + so many of the side characters! This story touches on grief + anxiety in a very real way! I thoroughly enjoyed it!

3.5-4 stars.

This romance is the perfect July-August Olympic season read, about the meet-not-so-cute between a track star and would-be IOC Summer Games intern. Zeke and Olivia are both British, though both parents are immigrants from Zimbabwe, similar to our author. Their backgrounds attribute to the story as both MCs feel pressure to succeed, though their parents obviously just want them to be happy and love them. While Zeke’s summer plans are on track, he has history and grief that he needs to reckon with. Olivia’s plans have been entirely derailed, and now she is forced to look at herself and what she wants and how she will get it. The side characters are great and I’d love more on Zeke’s two Olympic friends, and Olivia’s bff Didi.

If you are looking for a summer romance read, without the sadness that so many seem to feature (heartbreak, loss, etc.), this is perfect. The Olympic Games offer a great backdrop for the story, and everyone is in high spirits as they celebrate the Games and athletes competing.

I listened to the audio and the narrator was excellent. I recommend physical or audiobook.

Olivia heads to the Olympics for her dream apprenticeship. When she arrives she finds out there has been a mistake. She does not have an internship that will introduce her to influential people. Instead she takes a positon as a gopher doing odd jobs around the village. When she accidentally literally runs into Zeke, sparks fly.

LET THE GAMES BEGIN is a fun and refreshing romcom, starring the most ambitious girl you’ve ever met and an Olympic track star, both British-Zimbabwean and head-over-heels for each other. Filled with a blast of a supporting cast and movie-worthy humor, this is the perfect summer read for Olympics-fueled energy.

Looking for a book to read while you keep up with the Olympic Games this summer? Let The Games Begin is the perfect Olympic companion!! During a fictionalized 2024 Olympics set in Greece, Olivia, determined to still make the most of her summer after being robbed of her dream Olympic internship, and Zeke, record breaking sprinter, meet and then continue running into each other. This rom com had me giggling out loud at work 😅🥰 but it also made me cry!!! Automatic five stars. There’s a lighthearted air to this one but the main characters are also going through a lot as the children of immigrants. They both have huge goals to reach and mighty determination to make their dreams come true. Olivia is struggling to find a balance between not wanting to be seen as an angry black girl and knowing that she deserves to take up space. Zeke is struggling with the grief of losing his father and not knowing how to talk about big feelings while training for the most important run of his life thus far. They end up coming together to be a safe space for each other to be their full unapologetic selves which was so freaking sweet to see. I also loved their best friends, their support and fierce love for one another. The narrator was also amazing! Sometimes I hate when a dual narrative only has one narrator but I didn’t even notice in this one because Shaniqua Okwok knocked it out of the park! I’ll definitely look for more books narrated by her and absolutely will await and support more releases by Rufaro Faith Mazarura in the future!