I really enjoyed this book! The setting and the stakes were set so well in the first few pages, which really hooked me in to follow the story and learn more about the characters. The story is also well-paced, with each chapter in digestible chunks to read at bit at a time, but with tension and suspense at the end of each that makes you want to keep reading. I really enjoy the contemporary references to pop culture and movies; it makes it seem realistic especially when paired with the rich history of Cambridge and Oxford.

The dual first-person POVs are a great way to tell the story. They read sometimes like a diary entry, other times like you’re just listening in on someone’s thoughts, and other times like the characters are almost talking directly to the reader. Because of this variation, the storytelling method doesn’t get old.

The story is also pretty accurate to the sport of rowing; as a former coxswain everything made sense to me. But it’s not so technical that non-rowers can’t understand it.

The humor is right up my alley, too. There were several times I chuckled or giggled to myself and a few times I literally laughed out loud. My favorite line: “He’s making me eat three different kinds of cheeses in a certain order!”

Overall this is a fun MM romance with a compelling story driven driven by more than just spicy scenes, giving readers many different ways to enjoy the narrative!

See You at the Finish Line is humorous enemies-to-lovers rom com set at Cambridge University. It opens with the main characters, Lucas and George, competing in an annual rowing race against Oxford University. Although they are on the same team, they don’t get along and this causes them to lose the race. The book follows the rest of the year as they prepare for the next annual race.

George is a sterotypical jock who has been getting by on his good looks and charm and not necessarily by studying or putting in any actual effort. Lucas is an excellent student but is very shy and awkward when it comes to dating. The two make a deal for Lucas to help George study for his final exams in exchange for George helping Lucas to get a boyfriend. As they spend more time together, they start to get closer, in spite of their very different personalities.

I thought the book was both funny and sweet and I appreciated getting to see Lucas and George change over the year, even though they made mistakes along the way. I’m not a huge fan of sports romances, but I feel like the rowing aspect didn’t overshadow the other parts of the story.

I’d recommend this book to fans of Legally Blonde because George definitely has some Elle Woods energy (he’s an outsider at a prestigious university who’s smarter than he seems on the surface and he has interpersonal skills that are just as valuable as academic knowledge).

This was a super fun enemies to lovers book that morphs into a tutor, slow burn-y romance, George is a rowing god who's at risk of failing his final year at Cambridge, and strikes a deal with Lucas who's going to help make sure he gets through his dissertation and finals in exchange for lessons on how to approach Amir, Lucas's long-time crush.

Of course along the way lots of shenanigans happen, and while some of the academic plot is a little over the top (I mean, would there really be a conspiracy/professors turning a complete blind eye to allow George to never attend lectures and pass him over multiple years? A little silly but it didn't bother me that much), I found it extremely enjoyable to spend that time with the two characters who were so different from each other but brought out the best in each other.

The setting was also a bit of fresh air compared to the typical university-set sports romance. Really fun read that didn't take itself too seriously and pokes fun at a lot of topics, but also dealt in very real big feelings.

Oh my, what a cute enemy’s to lovers romance story between two Cambridge rowing teammates.  George was the fast rower and model while Lucas was the Cambridge cox. Lucas disliked George because he got special academic treatment due to being an amazing rower. They strike a deal when it was brought out in the open that George got special privileges from Cambridge and now had to take the exams on his own merit. Lucas would help him study for the final exams, and George would help Lucas seduce his long-time crush, Amir. What I loved was George. George was great from the beginning. He was sincere, kind, honest, and sweet to everyone. I actually felt bad for Amir. He was so kind to Lucas. And no clue why Lucas had a crush on him. Lucas was a bit of a pain early on. He had many misconceptions of George. He did redeem himself along the way. Together they formed a special friendship that lend to love. The slow burn of their love story was really good. I absolutely loved it. They were incredible together as a couple. The ending was amazing. Overall, it was a great and lovely debut from the author. Looking forward to their next book. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for my review.