Vibe Summary: GO TEAM!!!!!

Final Count: 3 (guys help the slump is DEEP)

Comeback (3.5 stars)

format: audiobook

I had never heard of this series before, but I saw the description for this one and was so intrigued that despite it being third in the series I read it as a standalone. Archer is deaf and ASL is a key form of communication throughout the story. I have long held a deep interest and appreciation for deaf culture and ASL, possibly because I was pronounced deaf at birth (was not true) or because nonverbal communication helps me as well in daily life due to my autism. I felt like, while definitely not perfect, the discussions and portrayal around deafness and chronic illness were pretty accurate and added to the story rather than feeling like a prop or diversity point. The romance itself was swoony and soft and had me rooting for them HARD. While football was in the book... it was minimal so like take that how you will.

Rooting Interest (5 stars)

format: paperback

Me love this book. Me want more. Me want Hollywood Stars merch from 831. Me think this is the best women's basketball I've read yet, especially in terms of representation of the actual sport, the W, and the OTHER WOMEN/ROLES THAT SURROUND THE PLAYERS. The main character is a sports journalist, and it shone through in the voice that the novel was written in, feeling like the authentic voice of a journalist chronicling her life. Fucking adored it. I also think that her initially being an NFL writer and being a total novice with basketball gives an excellent entry point for new fans or readers without that background. While the book is super realistic in its sport rep, it manages to explain things without feeling on the nose. If you didn't read this for our book club, READ IT NOW and come message me about it ;)

Love Overboard (4 stars)

format: audiobook

TEAAAAAAAAA this book feels exactly the Bravo show it reminds you of- except I enjoyed this so much more. Not only was this a WILD drama ride from start to finish, but it gave great commentary on how much we can trust reality shows to represent the people on it, the events, and how they shape the heroes and villains of a season. I love a book where no one is fully a villain, just varying levels of fucked up humans all living from their own perspective and this delivered that. Kandi is super talented, but this might be the best one yet. While the others are clearly sports related, this felt super team oriented in the greater forced proximity of uhhhh boat. We all stuck in this boat, together, and if the billionaire guest hates us then we all go down together, even if you did steal my ex boyfriend :( I love an ensemble :)

hey so I finished the book and haven't thought of anything else since??? About to buy the official Hollywood Lights merch from 831. I did also buy the matching "Sports Romance" hat from them at BookCon heheheheheh

The reading warp up for this month kinda... shows how the month went. I'm so grateful to my bookish community, who showed up for me so much in how rough March was for me. Thank you for your patience, please feel free to flood my inbox, comments, and the rec requests with anything you'd like to see :) <3 Looking at these rankings, I feel like my rough month impacted by enjoyment so take it with a grain of salt(y mood)

Vibe Summary: Serotonin Farming New Releases from Old Series

Final Count: 3

Quiet Ones (3.25 stars)

format: audiobook

I was anxiously awaiting Quinn's story... and it didn't quite give me what I wanted. It felt like she was SO oblivious and just outside her cousin's little group enough that she wasn't really involved in any of the real drama happening with them, or with the larger mystery. The push and pull and the taboo of her romance was super fun and compelling, but she felt a little more damsel-y than the women of PenDouglas tend to give. I did enjoy it, just... not as much as the others in the series.

In Her Own League (4 stars)

format: audiobook

I'M SO HAPPY TO BE BACK IN CHICAGO (i've never been to Chicago) Returning to Liz Tomforde's Windy City had me buzzingggggg I was so excited for Reese and Monty's story ever since Play Along, and unlike Quiet Ones, this delivered. Reese girl bossed in ways I didn't even consider girl-bossing. Despite the energy of this series being a bit silly, she felt like a genuine woman in power in the sports industry, and not some flowery GirlPower!TM version (does that make any sense please say yes). Getting to know Monty more was so much fun, and of course I live and breathe for a cameo. I think this book was really written for fans of her previous series, but I don't know how much it holds its own weight as a standalone read.

The Long Game (4.25 stars)

format: physical

The finale! The big one! This book is like 80% pain and misery, unfortunately, but I do hope it's setting us up for an infinitely amazing ACTUAL finale in Unrivaled (the book not the women's basketball). This was masterfully written in how Ilya's depression still feels like the undercurrent, even in lighter more romantic moments, because that is how depression manifests in high functioning individuals. It felt so REAL and I hated it because it was great. I missed Shane and Ilya, and getting to see what they were up to while all the other ay boys were figuring out their shit was super fun. Go watch the reading vlogs to see live reactions!!