This was just perfect! Anytime Rebecca writes a new book I’m here for it! This one did not disappoint!
✨Tropes ✨
#StrangersToFriendsToLovers
#SecretRomance
#SportsRomance
#Soccer
#HeFallsFirst
#HighSchool

I enjoyed the beginning of this book, especially how the main characters were introduced and how their relationship developed. However, halfway through the plot felt unfocused and I started to lose interest. While it leaned on clichés, some parts were enjoyable for me.

⭐️4.5


This was such a cute coming of age story with young love. I loved the growth of the characters throughout and remembering how I was at that age.

Austin and his family moved to a new school in order for him to play soccer at more competitive level. Claire and Austin had quite the meet cute that earned him a nickname from his new soccer team. While Austin tries his hardest to get Claire to notice him, she remains hesitant for a little bit. When they start spending time together everything changes.

Their relationship progression was my favorite because it showed how teenagers really act and the struggles that they have with growing up. I can’t wait for more of Rebecca Jenshak’s venture into YA because this book is beautiful.

I loved this book so much! It was such a fun, cute high school romance. Austin and Claire are perfect together! I loved that they had such a fun and strong friendship before they gave into their feelings for each other. The banter and chemistry between them was my absolute favourite thing.

Thank you so much to Rebecca and Valentine Pr for allowing me to read this arc!

💫 arc review!

rebecca jenshak is already one of my favorite sports romance authors, and this story did not disappoint! this was so sweet & i ate it up!! pretty sure this was also my first soccer romance, and safe to say i'm hooked.

i'm a sucker for a meet cute, and rebecca delivered with this one! austin is new to town and he meets claire when he runs into her (literally) and he gets covered in glitter. as they get to know each other more, they have a connection that they can’t ignore, no matter how hard they try. at a party, austin gets dared to kiss claire.. BUT of course, there's a bump along the road: claire’s ex-boyfriend, who also happens to be the captain of the soccer team austin just joined.

this book made me feel all the FEELS. it took me right back to the high school days with truth or date, getting ready for dances, and hoping your crush notices you. it was seriously so sweet & for it being a YA romance, i thought austin and claire's relationship was swoony.

“I dare you to kiss me.” - my favorite quote from the entire book OMG!!!

overall, i just really loved this one! if you like sports romance, ya romance, and swoony mmcs, then this is the book for you!!

thank you to rebecca, valentine pr, & net galley for the arc of this book!!🫶🏼

Rebecca in her YA era is a new favorite of mine. This audio felt like I flied through it and was just so enjoyable. I always enjoy her writing, and this was no exception.

It’s a soccer star and a former figure skater who happens to be his teammates ex-girlfriend (hello trouble). It’s a high school setting and also a secret relationship. Though this is a YA romance set in high school, I felt like there was a maturity to the characters.

Narrated by Abigail Reno and Max Meyers in dual format.

Wow! I absolutely loved this book. Amazing characters and wonderful plot. Very beautifully written and easy to read.

A few months ago, Claire Crawford received a career-ending injury. Then her boyfriend broke up with her. She was only sixteen, but her life was thrown on its axis already. She loved figure skating more than anything and it hurt to not be able to compete anymore.

The day before school starts, Claire had a run in with a new guy at school, Austin Keller. After that, at a get together with their classmates and Austin’s new football team, he got dared to kiss her. Her ex-boyfriend/football team captain, saw them and was upset.

Austin tried to keep his feeling down and only be Claire’s friend, but it was harder than he thought. I loved their relationship and what he did to hel Claire find a new purpose and hobby. It was very sweet. Little Wyatt was the delight of this book.

Overall I loved this book very much. If you’re looking for a young adult, high school, football, forbidden, teammate’s ex-girlfriend romance then you’re going to love it.

I haven't read YA in a while and definitely not from Rebecca Jenshak so Stealing for Keeps was a really refreshing read. What I loved most is the author's focus on the different facets of teenage love. There isn't a lot of drama related to usual mean girls or boys who sounds far mature than their age. You get a set of very real characters. Young romantic hearts with the complications and the angst and the swoon. The students trying to find a place and a direction. The thrill and intricacies of a successful high school sports team. Claire and Austin are so perfect together..they made me laugh and swoon and smile. Since it's YA, don't expect spice but the author still managed to portray their chemistry beautifully.

Austin transferred to the new school across the country to play under the most successful soccer coach in the country. His family had to made a lot of adjustments for it. Soccer is his everything. And he jeopardized it in the first school party by kissing his team captain's ex girlfriend on a dare because the captain is definitely still hung up. But Claire is pretty clear about it. They try to stay away but they have art projects together and they slowly start falling for each other. Will Austin's future with the team be at danger when the truth comes out? Will Claire find a new dream after shattering her figure skating one after an injury?


Austin is just brilliant. There is nothing about him that I didn't love. He is hard working and kind and charming and witty. He didn't back down just because Vaughn ( the ex and the team captain) tried to ice him out. He carved a place for himself in the team with his dedication and talent. But that doesn't mean he put Claire at the second. Claire is at a very vulnerable state. She is lost and depressed after her ankle injury because she doesn't know what she is without her figure skating career. Claire so strong and sweet and a bit sassy. Austin in the one who slowly pulled her out of her funk. He constantly encouraged her and supported her and did sweet and important things to make her feel special. They had to keep it secret because none of them wanted to upset Vaughn and the forbidden part added to the beauty of their connection. We get to see their struggles with their family..Austin's disgruntled sister, his parents being overworked due to the move, Claire's almost toxic mother, her sh1t head of an ex ( who is trying to redeem himself by the end) etc. But through it all, their friendship and later, relationship stayed strong and became stronger. There were moments of heartache and angst when the truth came out and they broke each other's heart but it all worked out at the end. I love the secondary characters and would love to see their stories too.

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
YA

Look, Rebecca Jenshak could write out her grocery list and I would read it. This books is a fabulous transition to the YA space, proving that she can capture your attention easily in any genre. Plus we need more YA sorts romance and I will never quit saying this.

Especially Soccer. It’s so underrated.

Austin and Claire made me giddy with how adorable they were together and this book gave me first love butterflies all over again. Really it was adorable

🩷 Soccer Star x former figure skater
🩷 Teammates ex- girlfriend
🩷 Friends to Lovers
🩷 High school setting
🩷 Secret Relationship

I really loved this book because even though the characters were young, they didn’t feel immature. I loved how they dealt with real problems and how they leaned on each other when they needed to really figure out what they wanted and how they could each grow- Claire with a new passion and Austin fitting in with a new team.

Plus I loved the supporting characters as well! I can’t wait for more!

I have to say that this book was off the chain! I loved the push and pull of Claire and Austin. I also loved it because I love Soccer.

Austin moves to town to be on The prestigious Frost Lake Soccer team. He is ready to start this year off with a bang. On the first day of practice he is late and mad at himself because he wanted to be on time because the coach is his idol. The practice goes okay but he is nervous to be on a new team. It doesn't help that he is being hazed because he is the new guy.

Then he is invited to a party and he decides to go. It is there that one of his teammates dares him to kiss Claire and he says okay. So before the night is done he must kiss her. Only when he does kiss her he finds out that the captain of the soccer team is Claires ex and he gets on his bad side. Vaughn tells Austin to stay away from Claire only Austin can't stop thinking about that kiss.

What will Austin do? Will he stay away from Claire or will he put caution to the wind and go for Claire.

Rebecca Jenshak has made me fall in love with young adult fiction again! Effortlessly combining the first love magic with the angsty of growing up, Stealing for Keeps is a sweet and endearing story that captured my whole heart. This felt nostalgic and fresh all at once- and reminded me just how special emotional chemistry can be as the driving force of a story. I can't wait for more from Frost Lake High!

First crushes, pressure from parents, the significance of who you sit with at lunch, sneaky parties, sport events and dances! Oh and the games LOL. Gah, I felt so nostalgic for how I felt at 16 where your friends are your entire world, everything feels bigger and more scary/exciting, and the thirst to find somewhere/someone where you "fit" with. These characters definitely felt young in a good way- like still emotionally developing and growing up- but not in that frustrating "idiot" kids way. They still are thoughtful and complex...but without aging them beyond their high schoolness.

I loved loved love the chemistry between our two main characters. It was sweet and subtle and EASY, but also magnetic and consuming. It was clear they clicked and couldn't stay away from each other, but it was also not just "he/she is hot." It felt really emotionally grounded. Their early banter and push-pull was loads of fun and kept the pages turning, but I loved most how you evolved them as friends. Sure, there was an attraction and that forbidden flair, but it's clear that they genuinely like each other as humans and enjoy being around each other, even early on. I loved watching them work on their project and get to know each other/open up. Finding a hesitant but beautiful, and affirming, friendship, and as they dug deeper they found a shared connection over the conflict they have with their dreams. Both of them have a new "weight" as the result of the sports they love. Claire's in this weird place where she's lost her dream and having an identity crisis because it was her whole world...and Austin's finding a new pressure with the sport he loves because of the sacrifices his family made for his dream. Both of their passions have a pressure/weight that is tainting it for them, and I loved how they could open up to each other on this. The romance part is so authentic and natural- it just grows organically out of a friendship and attraction that are really meaningful.

The spice may be off page/low in this one, but the SWOON is aplenty. I almost melted with how sweet it was. The sketchbook gestures, him getting her parents to come to her cheerleading, him taking care of her while she's sick and when she was drunk, OMG it was just SOOOOOO adorable I could not get over it. Austin is just so sweet and thoughtful and kind, and he owned me. Where was he when I was 16!!?!?!?!? Not only was it a great way to juxtapose him to Vaughn (how emphatically he prioritized her, how he chose her and saw her and was willing to give her what she needed), but it was also just so endearing and special to see him love her in a way that no one really did. And I loved that Clarie did sweet things for him too.

The character may be young, but Jenshak doesn't hold back on the character growth. I really loved Claire's arc so much. Seeing her lose the thing that she thought made her HER and realizing that that love a) didn't go away even though her options have and b) skating isn't what makes her HER. Having Austin meet her after that was so smart because it also helps accentuate for her Claire that she's still special, she's still important. Even though she doesn't feel that way and she's lost. I think we all feel a little lost at 16- trying to figure out who we are, where we fit in, and her skating journey really amplified those feelings. Austin is a little lost too- not in the same way, though. He's finding his place on a new team/new home, and that need for "team" and fitting in all play out with him too. It stagnates them both but it also helps them find comfort and solidarity in each other.

I'm hoping for more from this world- I have my theories about who will be paired up next, and those I'm most rooting for- and I can't wait!

This one fell flat for me and I think it was mostly that the characters very mature. I know, it's a High School romance but Austin and Claire still felt kind of immature at times. I still think the romance was lovely and seeing Claire being treated how she wanted to from an ex was so so beautiful and it's what every young girl deserves. I think a younger reader could read Stealing for Keeps and get a sense of hope that if someone doesn't treat them how they want, someone else down the line will and I think that is wonderful. A lot of girls in High School get into a relationship and get treated less than what they want because they feel like that's it for them (speaking from experience, unfortunately) and I think this could be a romance to make them realize that... Maybe there is someone or something else out there. That was my takeaway from it!

I devoured this book! When I saw that this was a sports YA romance I immediately gravitated towards it. The tension was everything and the book was fast paced. I had an amazing experience.

Filled with drama and angst that will have you falling in love with YA romance! Rebecca Jenshak has captivated her readers with a new series.

Stealing For Keeps by Rebecca Jenshak, published by Sourcebooks Bloom, is book one in her new Frost Lake High Series. This is a stand alone, so no cliffie.
Claire and Austin's story is beautifully written and beautifully told with some twists and turns, literally unputdownable once I started reading.
I recommend the book, 5 stars.

What a cute, fast read! Austin is a highly-skilled soccer player whose whole family moves to Minnesota from Arizona, so he can play with the Frost High Soccer team, who are two-time state champions. On his first day to practice he literally smacks into Claire, who is decorating for back to school and accidentally dumps a whole jar of glitter on him, making him late and earning him the nickname "Disco." On a dare from his teammates at a party that night, he ends up kissing Claire, and their friends to lovers, forbidden relationship starts from there.

Claire is reeling from a career-ending ankle injury that has dashed her competitive iceskating dreams and the breakup from Vaughn, head soccer star, who dumped her at the beginning of summer to focus on soccer. Now that they are back in school, Vaughn wants her back and ices new guy Austin out after he kissed Claire & gets other teammates to help haze him. But Claire & Austin wind up in art class together, and a project puts them together in more ways than one! While the two try to just be friends, the chemistry is too much, and they decide to hide their relationship from Vaughn and the others until it all blows up.

I really enjoyed the dual perspectives of both Claire & Austin, as you get to know both characters, and I don't often see that style in YA Sports romances. I also liked that while the spice & chemistry is there, it's pretty closed door, making this a title appropriate for older high school students (there's parties & alcohol, too). But what I really loved was the focus on family issues and growing up, as Austin's sister resents him for uprooting his life, and Claire's divorced parents aren't there for her during her recovery & trying to figure out her future when her life's plan has been shattered. Austin pushing Claire to try new clubs & activities to fill her life and them communicating to one another through their art were just nice touches that rounded out this high school romance. The side characters like Claire's best friend, cheerleader & AP student Lacey, and Rowan--the popular, always there for everyone guy whose parents aren't ever around--were well-rounded and felt very realistic through their dialogue & character development. I would love to see a Rowan book in this series, as he intrigued me the most!

Thank you to Netgalley & Bloom Books for the e-ARC. This one came out Dec.31st and is available everywhere now.

Claire and Vaughn were high school sweethearts, with her being a figure skater and him a popular soccer star, till he broke up with her two months ago. Fast forward to the present, Claire is now a junior and she meets Austin, who has recently transferred to Frost Lake high school to join the prestigious soccer team.

Austin is attracted to Claire but due to her ties to Vaughn, he chooses to remain friends with her instead of taking their relationship one step further. But… their attraction is undeniable and soon their friendship turns into more.

I loved those moments which they spent together completing their art project. It was also amazing how Austin helped her to discover new hobbies in his special way. Above and beyond the romance, I enjoyed seeing how Claire moves beyond her shattered dreams to embrace the possibility of a new future.

This was a cute read that pulled me in and kept my attention from the start. I've read quite a few of Rebecca Jenshak's books, but this is the first closed-door romance of hers I've encountered - and it's giving the open-door ones a run for their money! Of course, the setting is very different - high school vs. college - so keeping doors closed is the right thing to do here! I enjoyed the characters, I enjoyed the friendships and relationships, and I enjoyed the setting (and the shout out to Valley from Jenshak's other books!). This one was worth my time!

I have to add though: it was touch and go for a moment with a third act break-up and some miscommunication, both tropes I do not care for at all, but it was handled well and it didn't go on for too long. I suffered through, and it was worth it. (I do think these are risky moves for authors though, as I have permanently put down books that have had these precise things happening before.)


Considering I'm still working my way through this author's other works, I may very well continue this series when the next book comes out!

“You’re my favorite everything”


Austin & Claire were the sweetest thing I’ve ever read!!

Claire has a career ending injury that kept her from being able to continue to skate anymore.. Unsure of who she is without skating, Claire embarks on some things to figure out who she is. And Austin happens to be able helper along the way!

Austin found himself in a new place, ie Frost Lake High, for one things and one thing only, soccer. Finally getting his dream of playing for a specific coach and a state champion team. But when a dare has Austin kissing his new captains ex girlfriend, also known as Claire, Austin finds himself thinking about this new girl in this new place.

I absolutely loved book one and I’m so very excited for more!

This one was so cute. I've read all of Rebecca Jenshak's adult romances, which are more my speed, but if she writes it, I'm reading it. The characters really were messy trying to figure it all out with all the outside forces coming into play and impacting the two of them. I felt like it was perfectly accurate of how teenagers don't really know how to handle situations that come up, but it was nice to see them get that happiness in the end. I definitely was rooting for them to figure it out, because they seemed much happier together. I think this series is going to be a fun one!