Two college athletes on the swim team together connect on a spicy, complicated, emotional level.

Challenge Me: Breaking by Victoria Maurer is - unashamed and unapologetically - smut. And this reviewer loved it.

The story unfolds when freshman in college, Elizabeth, moves from home for the first time into her college dorm. She is a collegiate level athlete for her school's swim team. (A big appeal for this reviewer, as I was also a swimmer throughout my childhood and teenage years. I appreciated the swim references and it brought up a lot of fond memories!) There, Elizabeth is hoping to focus on her grades and her sport, but ends up meeting Jason.

Jason is the stubborn, beautiful, and challenging sophomore on the swim team. He is mysterious and commanding. Obviously Elizabeth can't resist. What unfolds is a love story between two swimmers that is steamy, steamy, steamy.

I personally read this book really quickly. I was just drawn in so fast, and the way Maurer wrote the explicit scenes felt a lot more realistic than other romance novels. I did find myself eager to read the sequel, so whenever that is released, I'm going to need it ASAP.

The only thing I disliked about this book is that the communication between Elizabeth and Jason was so bad. I'm noticing this is a common trope in romance - it helps create tension and conflict, so I understand it. But gosh, it really bugs me. I don't hold it against the author, but that part was a struggle to me. All of the issues experienced in their relationship could have easily been solved with communication and honest discussion.

This book is a great read for those who love erotic romance novels where no details are held back. I highly suggest it for the melodrama, the blush inducing scenes, and the love story.

See the full review: https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/challenge-me-breaking-victoria-maurer