Ready to Score by Jodie Slaughter is a steamy, slow-burn romance with plenty of tension, ambition, and witty banter, set against the backdrop of small-town Southern football culture. Slaughter’s signature blend of humor and heart is on full display here, but while the premise is promising and the chemistry undeniable, the character flaws occasionally overshadow the romance, making it hard to fully root for the couple.

Jade Dunn is a refreshing and fierce protagonist who has worked hard to break into the male-dominated world of high school football coaching. Her ambition is admirable, but her single-minded determination often manifests as defensiveness and prickliness, which sometimes makes her feel more combative than complex. Her frustrations with systemic inequality are valid and relatable, but the way she shuts people out—including Francesca—can feel repetitive. However, when Jade’s softer side peeks through, it adds much-needed nuance to her character.

Francesca Lim, on the other hand, is charming and emotionally layered, grappling with the fallout from a past relationship that derailed her coaching dreams. Her journey back to reclaiming her purpose is compelling, and her passion for coaching football, despite her current role as an art teacher, creates a fascinating contrast to Jade’s approach. Francesca’s warmth makes her a strong foil to Jade’s hard edges, but her tendency to overthink situations sometimes muddies her motivations.

The dynamic between Jade and Francesca is packed with simmering tension and sharp-tongued exchanges that make their slow-burn romance entertaining. Their poker game encounters and school-related run-ins are charged with attraction, and Slaughter does an excellent job of writing physical chemistry that feels authentic rather than forced. However, their constant push-pull—while realistic given their circumstances—feels slightly overdrawn at times, delaying emotional growth for the sake of prolonging the angst.

Where the novel excels is in its depiction of the sports world and small-town culture. Slaughter captures the high-stakes nature of Southern football with a deft hand, from the political maneuvering behind coaching promotions to the community’s obsession with the game. This setting creates an additional layer of pressure on both Jade and Francesca as they navigate their professional aspirations and personal vulnerabilities.

However, some side characters, particularly the "good ol' boys" who run the local football scene, come across as flat archetypes rather than fully fleshed-out antagonists. Their presence serves as an important commentary on systemic biases, but they don’t feel as nuanced as the central characters. Additionally, while the pacing is generally steady, the middle sections can feel bogged down by internal monologues that rehash familiar conflicts without moving the plot forward.

Despite these flaws, Ready to Score succeeds in exploring themes of ambition, resilience, and the struggle for self-acceptance. The story underscores how hard it is to let someone in when you’ve spent years guarding yourself against disappointment and failure. When Jade and Francesca finally confront their feelings head-on, the payoff is satisfying, though a bit rushed after such a prolonged build-up.

For readers who love slow-burn romances set in competitive spaces, this novel offers plenty to enjoy. Though not without its missteps, Ready to Score delivers a compelling look at how love and ambition can coexist—if you’re willing to play your cards right.

There was alot to enjoy in this book, but there was some stuff lacking in this too and cuz of that I left it feeling really indifferent about the book as a whole.

First - I really loved the plot line and the representation of queer women in football settings. I imagine that how the struggles were depicted for these two is probably very real issues that women in this male dominated field have to deal with. I liked the different take on the high school football plot line.

I liked the overall writing style. It felt very flowy and was super easy to read. The characters felt relatable and the sexual tension between the MCs was thick so when they finally got together I was rooting for them.

I also loved that there was no unnecessary relationship conflicts between the two of them.

Now - I wasn’t super fond of the chemistry / MCs in a romantic relationship. While I do feel like there was sexual tension, I feel like there was no romantic chemistry between them. They were over the top, stupid mean to each other at the beginning of the novel and they just felt like work acquaintances that wanted to bang for most of the novel.

The only other issue I had was I felt the novel could have been about 50-60 pages shorter. It felt there was a lot of filler that was unnecessary for the plot and just made certain aspects of the book drag.

overall, I didn’t have it but didn’t love it either. It was fine. I liked the basis of the plot, but i think the characters will not be something to remember.

I did not publicly review this book because I did not finish it. I had a terrible time rooting for the Jade. She was actually mean at times. To each their own, and maybe she makes up for her actions. I just didn't care enough to see it.

This is a new to me author and I’m so happy to be able to read it! I learned so much about football lol. Either the author did a ton of research or is passionate about football because it shines through.

We get a rivals to lovers sapphic romance with a fun supporting cast. I feel like Jade had bigger character growth through recognizing her true feelings and owning up to faults. Franny did have growth as well and they were able to come together through openness, forgiveness and palpable chemistry.

I was given a copy and all opinions are my own.

First off; turns out I do not care about high school football, and in the United States they care A LOT about high school football. I knew this, but I don’t think I reeeeally knew this. I have read books revolving around sports before and it wasn’t an issue as usually it’s a driver of the plot but not ultimately too important; for some various reasons this book was different. I think your enjoyment may be impacted by your interest in high school sports teams. This was also an interesting cultural aspect to consider, because there were a lot of elements that I simply couldn’t relate to and I never cared about the stakes all that much.

This one is hard for me to review. There was good and there was bad (for me).

Good: The writing itself was good. The characters felt like real people with their own motivations. There was a great exploration of the challenges faced by visible minorities fighting for space in a field typically dominated by white men. Overall, there were a lot of positive elements to this novel.

Bad: PROBABLY SPOILERS TO FOLLOW:I didn’t like the main protagonists that much (big problem) and I absolutely didn’t like them as a couple (major problem for a romance novel). I didn’t see the chemistry between them, regardless of how much the author told me that it was there. They were unnecessarily cruel to each other and not in a fun way; romances can absolutely start out antagonistically except this one did it in a way that I simply didn’t like and then failed to pull off the transition. I have a lot of little things I could mention, but overall, I simply didn’t like the characters and that essentially ruined the story for me. There were also plot points that didn’t make sense. For example, one of the characters is rich(ish) and privately funding the school, yet complains that they can’t get funding for their program? Simply doesn’t make sense, and those details were also pointless and didn’t go anywhere.
I said it before and ill say it again; I don’t understand this world of high school football and the novel didn’t do a good job of explaining it. At one point there is a major plot point where one of the coaches goes to an opposing team’s game and that’s…… apparently not allowed? I can’t understand why considering they are open to the public and the stands are packed with people, but I assume that’s a thing. There were a lot of little details like this throughout the book, and often regarding major plot points.

Anyways, despite the fact that I didn’t connect with this novel I can objectively see that I think there are other people that would. Its not a bad novel so I’m not giving it a bad rating.

My Rating: “C”
GoodReads: 3-stars

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ARC. This honest review was left voluntarily.

Engaging love story that followed the typical formula for a romcom. I liked both leads and the writing was very good. The plot did seem to slow down in some areas but the HEA made up for it.

Jade Dunn has spent years trying to climb her way to the top of the southern high school football food chain. Now, the only thing standing between her and that future head coach spot is years of small-town good ‘ol boy politics. When she scores an invite to a highly coveted monthly poker game perfect for networking, she jumps at the chance for a seat at the table. Only to find the one person with the ability to shake her there. An infuriatingly sexy art teacher who plays her cards like she’s gunning for Jade’s deserved spot.

Francesca Lim never thought she’d be happy in a small town, not after living and breathing hardcore Texas football her whole life. But two years ago, the promise of forever love had her leaving behind a burgeoning coaching career for a new life - only for it to burst into flames. Now, she has a chance to gain back a piece of her life she thought she’d left in Houston. The only one standing in the way? The prickly assistant coach that Francesca can’t keep her mind or hands off of.

I loved this book! I'm not a super football fan, but no matter. Even though their relationship developed more "normally" that most book romances, these two women have such hot chemistry! 🌶️🌶️ And when they finally get together, call the fire department! 😀 I love the little nods to their cultural backgrounds. I loved both characters. If you enjoy sapphic sport romances, you'll love this one!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy. This is my honest opinion of the book.

This was good, but perhaps it was a touch too angsty for me. I love the representation and growth between the characters but a lot of drama felt manufactured.

This was such a cute book!

I wanted to throw something at Jade sometimes, but I liked that she was realistic. Her character showed us how we can act if we feel threatened or uncertain of ourselves. Her character growth was perfect.

I loved Franny so much. Franny riling Jade up for attention was so funny to me. Anything to get a reaction 😂

I also loved some of our side characters! Omg the queer bowling crew? My favs. Miri?? Obsessed with her.

Overall, I loved this book and would highly recommend to anyone looking for a cute romance. 💕

i’ve been telling myself i’m going to read jodie slaughter for years and then proceed to not do so, so when i saw this gorgeous cover and SAPPHICS and JODIE SLAUGHTER i knew i had to jump at the opportunity. sapphic sports romance is the only sports romance that ever works for me, and this is no exception. this is a tight, heartfelt, and just plain fun page turner. jade and francesca leap of the page both as individual characters and with their chemistry.

The passion in this book...Hot Damn! Jodie Slaughter's twist on the workplace, sportsball romance was so damn entertaining. The FMCs felt completely fleshed out. The dual POV allowed the reader to fully engaged in the story. Overwhlmingly enjoyed!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

I can’t say this book was for me but it could very well be for someone else.

While I was not fully in love with the characters I just wished I had felt a more vibrant connection from the characters. While I enjoyed the dynamic or these beautiful head strong women wanting to make their way not only as a woman in sports but transitioning into sports leadership was a great journey to read and experience. I was just hoping the connection would have had a different build up.

🏈✨ Cleat Cute meets Friday Night Lights? Yes, please! Jodie Slaughter delivers a sapphic romance that’s equal parts fiery, heartfelt, and brimming with representation. This is the book you’ll want to devour in one sitting.

Jade Dunn is a badass assistant coach trying to smash through small-town football politics and snag her dream job. But just as she’s strategizing her way to the top, Francesca Lim—a sexy, sharp-witted art teacher with a Texas football past—shows up to challenge everything.

✨ Highlights that scored a touchdown:

Sapphic Sparks: The chemistry between Jade and Francesca is undeniable, with a perfect mix of slow-burn tension and spicy, high-stakes moments.
Authentic Representation: This book doesn’t just include representation—it embraces it. The cultural nuances and the dynamics of being queer in a football-obsessed small town feel deeply resonant.
Strong Female Leads: Jade is fiercely ambitious and unapologetically driven, while Francesca’s blend of resilience and vulnerability makes her impossible not to love.
Enemies-to-Lovers Goodness: Their biting banter and fiery disagreements make the eventual romantic payoff SO satisfying.

📖 Favorite tropes:

Enemies to Lovers
Small-Town Secrets & Scandals
Strong, Independent Women with Big Dreams

Beyond the spice and banter, Ready to Score hits you right in the feels, exploring themes of second chances, personal ambition, and finding love in unexpected places. If you’re looking for a sapphic romance with heart and heat, Jodie Slaughter just dropped a must-read.

🏆 Verdict: This book doesn’t just score—it’s a championship win. Grab it and get ready to cheer for Jade and Francesca! 🎉

Thank you to NetGalley, Jodie Slaughter, and St. Martin's Press for the eARC of this book.

Wow! This book was so cute! I absolutely loved the fun connections and the plot had me feeling ALL the feels! It was such a truly cute read, and we love a good romance that isn't over done, or too out there. This was fresh, entertaining and truly left me wanting SO much more of these two cuties.
5/5 would absolutely recommend this to everyone! Do NOT miss out on this one!

the enemies to lovers trope was so well executed and i really loved every second of it, at first it just seems like jade and franny really just don't get along for a variety of reasons but as the story and their relationship progresses, it all makes sense. i really loved jade's character a lot, she just had so much depth and her struggles felt so real and relatable. i felt like franny's character wasn't developed as much as jade's was and she sort of faded into the background a lot- i do like her as well, but she just felt a bit lackluster at times.

i loved the bits of cultural insight between both characters, franny with her asian heritage and jade with her black heritage. not to mention the added layer of southern culture on top of it all- chefs kiss. maybe it wouldn't have much impact if i wasn't a new england girlie who's never gone anywhere near the south, but i did think it was cool to see it all come together.

the spice in this was also well done. it was never over-the-top like a lot of books tend to have nowadays, it all unfolded in ways that made sense and it was never like 15 pages of pure sex. it definitely was the right balance of romance, other plot stuff, and spice.

one of my only real critiques is that there were some repeating phrases within a few pages of each other a lot; for example, "she smiled wolfishly" was added a couple times in one chapter. it's definitely not a huge deal but it's just something that bugs me a lot.

In Ready to Score we followed Jade a black female assistant football coach who is trying to prove herself worthy of taking the job of the head coach when he retires and her arch nemesis Franny, who is a beloved new teacher at the school who also wants an opportunity and chance to coach the football team. The two Engage in an unlikely enemies to lovers romance.

I was immediately hooked into the story and into the characters however, I believe that the way the romance bloomed was very unlikely due to how hateful Jade was towards Franny. The romance felt very one-sided. It seemed like Franny was falling for Jade. Well, Jade focused on her hate for Franny and viewed their whole dynamic as a competition for the job. It seemed like Jade just wanted to relieve herself of sexual tension when it came to Franny, but not engaged in a romance until the very end. at one point Franny was talking to her brother about feeling a connection with Jade and said that Jade was not wishy-washy however is that the entirety of the book except for the end?

I also believe that Jade was a very unlikable character and that she was very negative about everything and very hard on herself and hard on everyone around her and made the romance part feel very lackluster being that it was one-sided. She also makes a decision that could poorly affect the results of her getting the promotion that she wants. To shift the blame on her being a woman and having standards be too high for her because of her being a woman. However, the mistake that she made would put anyone regardless of gender or sexuality in jeopardy of losing their job.

The plot was still enjoyable. The book was still enjoyable, even though I didn’t really like Jade as a character. I did really enjoy Franny‘s POV..

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

A teacher/assistant high school football coach, Jade Dunn, is vying for the head coach position when her boss announces he’s retiring. Unfortunately her least favorite person, the art teacher Ms. Francesca (Fanny) Lim, also wants to throw her hat in the ring and get involved with coaching the football team. The story follows the two teachers as they connect with each other as well as the small town cast of characters around them.

I really enjoyed this book. It is told in a dual POV which is my favorite way to read romance stories. I appreciated how they showed both MCs bonding with student athletes and focused on their love of coaching. Most of all I loved the romance between the two characters, I was screaming at them to just get together already!!

The two things I really wished for while reading this book was a little more backstory on Jade. I feel as though I learned a lot about Fanny and her background but I just wanted a little more about Jade. Other than that I only wish I had longer with the characters!

Releasing June 3rd, 2025

I normally don't read sport romances because I don't know anything about football but I'm so glad I picked this novel up. This is a sapphic, small town romance that's more rivals to lovers than enemies. The main characters Jade and Francesca have a lot of chemistry between them and their love story is so well done. I liked them individually and together which makes the stakes of their budding relationship going public all the more heartbreaking and interesting. This was a quick read, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a sweet romance with likable characters and a happy ending. The only complaint that I have with this book is some pacing issues towards the middle of this book but the ending wrapped up nicely.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this book!

I love a good sapphic book! This one was a win for me. I enjoyed it a lot!! I finished it pretty fast. I enjoyed the main characters and the supporting characters. They all had great chemistry. I enjoyed the writing style!