Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an eArc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book overall. I went back and forth about how I felt about Jade’s character and how she behaved towards Franny. I convinced myself there was an underlying reason for her behavior towards Franny. That when people are confused about their feelings or unsure how to act around certain people, they behave poorly. My biggest gripe was just how fast Franny forgave Jade and how quickly they seemed to have fallen in love.
I consider myself someone who falls in love pretty easily, but the way Jade treated Franny was just mean. I think people can have redeeming qualities that make them attractive, but Jade displayed behaviors that I feel like should have taken some time for Franny to trust her.
The spicy scenes were also enjoyable. They were a bit out of my comfort zone, but they were different from most of the other sapphic novels I’ve read, which I enjoyed.
Lastly, one thing I really disliked was Franny referring to Jade as “my girl”. I’m not sure if it was the context in which it was used or the fact they’re both teachers, most likely a combination of these things, but I just didn’t like it.
I was nervous the sports aspect of it was going to be too heavy and make the book less enjoyable, but I thought it was enough that the story would be enjoyable for women who like sports, but not so much for those who don’t. I picked this book up because I was looking for a sapphic book by a new to me author and would read another by this author again.

What a cute sapphic sports romance!

Jade and Francesca navigate both going after the same coach position for the high school football team. Jade has instant beef and does not believe there’s enough room at the top for two female coaches.

I enjoyed the dual POV and the queer, BIPOC representation. I feel like it could have been 80 pages shorter. The ending dragged out a bit after they got together. I was mostly there for all the sapphic tension 🌈✨

I had high hopes for this enemies-to-lovers romance, and while the small-town setting and supporting characters were charming, the central relationship didn't quite resonate with me. Jade's character didn't fully engage me, and I struggled to see the depth of Franny's attraction. While a decent read overall, it didn't entirely deliver on the satisfying redemption arc or compelling character dynamics I hoped for.

I ended up DNFing this book about a quarter of the way in - I just did not like either of the main characters and could not see myself rooting for them or for them to be together.

Didn’t care too much for the story, it was too much sports talk for me. No realistic enough for me honestly. The enemies to lovers story was not my fav

Thank you NetGalley and Jodie Slaughter for the ARC! It read a little weird. Like the main characters who I’m supposed to be rooting for, one of them is an absolute nightmare. I’m honestly surprised that we were supposed to give into the lackluster redemption arc but it wasn’t it. Also the epilogue left the story on a weird note that had little to do with the story. Honestly was hoping to love it, but didn’t. The only thing the book got right was the smug. The club scene is chef’s kiss.

This book had me hooked from the first page—small-town football politics, fierce ambition, and an enemies-to-lovers romance with *serious* sparks? Yes, please. Jade is laser-focused on becoming a head coach, and nothing—not even the infuriatingly gorgeous Francesca—can stand in her way. But when their rivalry turns into something much more complicated, the tension between them is impossible to ignore.

I loved how both Jade and Francesca are so fiercely passionate—not just about football but about carving out the lives they want. Their banter is sharp, their chemistry is off the charts, and their personal struggles add so much depth to their story. Watching them fight their feelings (and sometimes each other) made every moment feel electric.

By the end, I was completely invested in their journey—not just as a romance but as two women fighting for their dreams in a world that isn’t always welcoming. With humor, heart, and just the right amount of spice, *Ready to Score* is a must-read for anyone who loves a high-stakes, high-heat sapphic love story.

Ready to Score was actually a really fun read. I loved the incorporation of football with the story line. It genuinely made it that I was invested in the team’s progression just as much as I was in Jade and Franny’s story. The development of the characters and even the side characters was smooth and wonderful to see. The touch of spice throughout the book was well placed and not too much. Definitely recommend this as a nice palate cleanser.

I didn’t like the main characters much (which is a big problem), and I did not like them as a couple (a major problem in a romance novel). The author insisted they had chemistry, but I never felt it. Their interactions weren’t playful or engaging—they were plain mean to each other. Enemies-to-lovers can be done well, but this book completely fumbled the transition, making their eventual romance feel forced and unconvincing.
Beyond that, so many plot points didn’t make sense. One of the characters is supposedly a successful entrepreneur funding an entire community program, yet they spend a good portion of the book complaining about the lack of resources. That contradiction was never explained, and it didn’t even become relevant.

The characters weren’t likeable, nor were they characters that you love to hate.

Ready to Score is a perfect romantic beach or vacation rivals to lovers read. The vocabulary and structure isn’t taxing, The love scenes are realistically detailed and emotionally involving. Supporting characters are interesting and well described. Best though is that despite knowing where this is headed, you don’t know exactly where it will take that turn or how smooth or bumpy the course will be. Perfectly scored!!

It took me a little bit to get into this book but by the end I found it a very enjoyable read. Classic enemies to lovers story line although I felt like that enemy line dragged out a bit too long. Overall it was a pleasant read.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC 😊

I would like to start out by saying this book was not what I expected in the best way. It’s a small town, almost enemies-to-lovers book with a handful of spice thrown in there. I was absolutely rooting for the FMCs from the very beginning and love how they fell into step so quickly once they finally got together. This is also a good one to read if you want a football romcom!

Hehehe this was so much fun, it was a palette cleanser for me while also blowing me completely out of the water. i ADORED this story and couple and absolutely needed this in my life.

Jodie Slaughter's Ready to Score delivers a compelling sapphic romance set against the backdrop of Southern high school football, intertwining themes of ambition, rivalry, and unexpected love.

Slaughter excels in crafting protagonists with depth and authenticity. Jade's resilience and Francesca's journey of rediscovery are portrayed with nuance, making their individual arcs as engaging as their developing relationship. The chemistry between them is palpable, intensified by their competitive natures and shared passion for football.

However, some readers might find the pacing uneven, particularly in sections where internal monologues revisit established conflicts without advancing the plot. Additionally, the transition from rivalry to romance, while satisfying, could benefit from a more gradual development to enhance believability.

Overall, Ready to Score is a heartfelt exploration of love, ambition, and the courage to pursue one's dreams. Slaughter's engaging prose and well-drawn characters make this novel a rewarding read for fans of contemporary romance.

As someone who's not really into football, I found "Ready to Score" by Jodi Slaughter a surprisingly enjoyable read. The story of two women, Jade and Franny, striving to make their mark as football coaches was both refreshing and empowering. I loved seeing their determination and grit as they faced the challenges of working in a field typically dominated by men. It really opened my eyes to the struggles women might face in such positions.
One thing that stood out to me was the electric chemistry between Jade and Franny. The sexual tension was almost tangible, and when they finally got together, it felt like a well-deserved payoff. I appreciated that their relationship didn't fall into the typical trap of unnecessary drama, allowing their journey to take center stage.
However, I did notice a hiccup in the plot concerning Alonzo, a player on the team. Early in the book, he's grappling with his dad's recent hospitalization, but later, there's mention of his father passing away years ago, which was a bit confusing. I hope this gets ironed out because it did pull me out of the story for a moment.
While the book flows well and is easy to read, I felt it could have been a bit shorter. There were points where it dragged due to some unnecessary filler. Plus, the ending was a tad abrupt for my taste. I would have loved more closure, especially regarding Jade's triumphs as a coach.
Even with these small issues, I really appreciated the authentic representation of queer women in football. It's a perspective that's not often highlighted, and I think the book does a great job of bringing it to life. Despite wishing for a bit more depth in the romantic connection between Jade and Franny, their dynamic kept me engaged.
All in all, "Ready to Score" is a delightful and enlightening read that balances ambition and romance beautifully. I'd give it 4 stars—it's memorable for both its unique setting and the powerful portrayal of women pushing boundaries.

Thank you to NetGalley for getting me this ARC!

I did enjoy this novel, and while I do LOVE sapphic spice, I didn't think the characters were that great of a match. Sometimes that happens, because characters start to have a mind of their own when writing and they become less like the originally intended character. I think that's what happened here. Regardless, I still really enjoyed the spice!

There were a couple of hiccups with continuity, like ages and mentions of a death that hadn't happened yet. Finding a very detail oriented editor will get rid of any of these and make the coming novels even better. Excited to see where Jodie goes with their writing and can't wait to read the next. x

3.5 ★

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of Ready to Score!

Ready to Score has all the components of a romance novel made For Me: rivals to lovers, workplace romance, grumpy, & sports romance (high school football coaches!). Unfortunately, the writing fell short for me overall. Being in your 30s and still committed to miscommunication is exhausting and silly!

I enjoy it when it takes some sweetness to thaw a particularly frosty character, but Jade’s treatment & deliberate embarrassment of Franny in the beginning was almost straight up cruel. Jade’s character development was strong, but I also feel that there was no explanation as to why she is the way she is, besides “being a woman in a male dominated field is hard” & “the art teacher got a smart board and I didn’t boohoo”.

The writing is decent overall and kept me engaged, but there’s gotta be better descriptors than constantly talking about nipples hardening.

Despite my gripes, I still enjoyed Ready to Score and ended up finishing it in a day!

This was my first venture into sports romance, and while I’m not super interested in anything to do with sports or football unless it’s the Kendrick Lamar 2025 Super Bowl half-time show, I did have a fun time reading this book, and would recommend it!

I also fell heavily in love with Francesca Lim. I love her style, I love her confidence and passion. Give me one chance, Franny, I beg!

The author wrote Jade and Franny’s sexual chemistry extremely well, and loved the build-up to their actual relationship.

I do wish that we could have seen a little more development with Franny and Jade’s relationships to the players as coaches, the little bit that we saw was so sweet and I think it would have endeared me more to the characters. However, more time spent on coach/player relationships would leave less time on the page for the Bowling League which I ADORE.

I received a copy of Ready To Score on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to love this one but it never quite hooked me. I do know some people who will absolutely love it though, and I look forward to adding it our library's collection.

I hate DNFing books. I hate giving books poor reviews. On the rare occasion where I find myself in this situation, I usually just… don’t say anything. I quietly drop the book and go about my business. Unfortunately, this one is an ARC sent to me by the publisher, so I feel honor bound to review it. As it is, I will submit my review to NetGalley but probably will not post it to retail sites.

Anywho… I didn’t like the book. And I couldn’t bring myself to slog through it. The protagonists were so incredibly disagreeable. I honestly have no clue what possessed the author to write them as such terrible people. Now, understand, I have no issue with ambition. Or aggressive women who go after what they want. I am not, however, overly fond of petty. Or spiteful. Or entitled. Or immature or hateful or self-centered… you get the picture. And of the two Jade was most definitely the most unlikable. But Fran was not much better. While the latter seemed less spiteful in what I did read of the book, she also seems frivolous and entitled and underhanded. These two definitely have chemistry, but it isn’t in any good sense.

2.5⭐️