Ready to Score
A Novel
by Jodie Slaughter
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Pub Date Jun 03 2025 | Archive Date Jun 17 2025
St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin
Description
Cleat Cute meets Friday Night Lights in this funny, spicy, emotional new sapphic romance from Jodie Slaughter.
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.
Not wanting to risk losing out on a dream job, Jade and Francesca can’t afford to give in to the iron hot attraction that simmers beneath their biting interactions, so they try desperately to ignore it. Too bad their hearts don’t seem to be as on board with the game plan.
Jodie Slaughter’s Ready to Score shows how sometimes you have to go big or go home to get the life - and love - you deserve.
Available Editions
EDITION | Other Format |
ISBN | 9781250821867 |
PRICE | $19.00 (USD) |
PAGES | 320 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews

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.

Jodie Slaughter’s *Ready to Score* is a delightful and sizzling romance set against the backdrop of a charming small southern town. The story follows Jade Dunn, an ambitious assistant coach who’s determined to break through the layers of old-fashioned small-town politics to secure a coveted head coach position. When she joins a monthly poker game to network, she never expects to find Francesca Lim, an infuriatingly attractive art teacher who seems to be eyeing her career spot. The sparks between the two women fly as they clash, both professionally and personally, but they can’t help the undeniable chemistry that brews beneath their rivalry.
What makes *Ready to Score* so enjoyable is the strength and depth of its main characters. Jade and Francesca are both fiercely driven yet vulnerable, making their interactions captivating and relatable. Their dynamic is a perfect mix of tension, banter, and romance, and readers will find themselves rooting for them to navigate their personal and professional challenges. Slaughter’s portrayal of the small-town setting adds a quaint, almost nostalgic charm to the story, making it feel like an escape into a community where everyone knows everyone else’s business. The blend of passionate romance with real-world ambition creates a story that’s both heartwarming and exciting, making *Ready to Score* a must-read for fans of contemporary romance.

High school teacher Jade has worked as assistant coach for the school football team for many years. When her mentor and long time head coach announces his retirement and his intention to name his successor, her dream to lead the team is tantalizingly within reach. Jade feels beyond ready to take the role, but soon learns she has competition.
Francesca, the newish art teacher, eager to put down roots and with experience coaching, sets her on sights on the head coach position. Now its no holds barred as the two rivals aggressively face off with increasing fervor that slowly builds up to an electric passion and deep connection.
Set in the same delightful location as her previous books Bet on It and Play to Win, Greenbelt South Carolina, this ridiculously romantic and utterly sexy enemies to lovers novel features the compelling cut-throat world of competitive football.
Told from a dual point of view and set in a small town, this novel will appeal to fans of sports romances that center diverse characters and LGBTQIA+ communities.

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.

Jodie Slaughter’s Ready to Score is a funny, fiery sapphic romance that perfectly blends sports, small-town drama, and irresistible chemistry. Jade Dunn, a determined assistant football coach, has her sights set on a dream job. Francesca Lim, a former coach turned art teacher, has her own ambitions - and a heated rivalry with Jade.
Their snarky banter and undeniable attraction make it impossible to ignore each other, despite their best efforts to stay professional. With sharp dialogue, emotional depth, and plenty of spice, Ready to Score is a captivating romance about taking risks, on and off the field. A must-read for fans of witty, slow-burn love stories.