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The Academy #1
Game On
The Academy is an International Sports Mecca for teen athletes of all sports. There are only two ways in. Deep pockets or enough talent to score a scholarship.
Young tennis star Maya's dreams have finally come true when she earns a scholarship to The Academy. Plucked from her small town, Maya moves to the sports training facility/boarding school to (hopefully) start the beginning of her pro career. But Maya's fantasy of The Academy doesn't quite match the reality. Because where there are hot, talented teens, there's a lot of drama. Meet the
Maya's rebel/punk roommate who is nearing the top of the golf world.
The gorgeous swimmer with enough money to buy her way into The Academy.
A tennis star who feels threatened by Maya (but she'd never admit it).
The son of The Academy owner--perfectly groomed to be the next NFL star.
Travis' younger brother--the bad boy to his brother's good.
Young tennis star Maya's dreams have finally come true when she earns a scholarship to The Academy. Plucked from her small town, Maya moves to the sports training facility/boarding school to (hopefully) start the beginning of her pro career. But Maya's fantasy of The Academy doesn't quite match the reality. Because where there are hot, talented teens, there's a lot of drama. Meet the
Maya's rebel/punk roommate who is nearing the top of the golf world.
The gorgeous swimmer with enough money to buy her way into The Academy.
A tennis star who feels threatened by Maya (but she'd never admit it).
The son of The Academy owner--perfectly groomed to be the next NFL star.
Travis' younger brother--the bad boy to his brother's good.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2013
25 people are currently reading
1144 people want to read
About the author
Monica Seles
8 books47 followersMonica Seles is a former Yugoslav world No. 1 professional tennis player and a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
She was born and raised in Novi Sad, Serbia. She holds dual Hungarian and United States citizenship as of 2007.
She won nine Grand Slam singles titles, winning eight of them while a citizen of Yugoslavia and one while a citizen of the United States.
She was born and raised in Novi Sad, Serbia. She holds dual Hungarian and United States citizenship as of 2007.
She won nine Grand Slam singles titles, winning eight of them while a citizen of Yugoslavia and one while a citizen of the United States.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
June 18, 2013
Maya who is a really good tennis player, or so we hear, but there is no way to know for sure since she rarely plays, gets a scholarship to The Academy, which I assume is the name of the school, since that’s all the author calls it. At first she’s really excited and meets some new friends and really practices. Then she gets in with a girl named Renee and eventually moves in and starts hanging out with her and her roommate, Nicole who is one of the best tennis players in the world, (or so we hear once again). Then eventually she gets too wrapped up in the celebrity like lifestyle that comes with it and forgetting who she is. I really wanted to like this book but I just couldn’t! First of all, the relationships go so fast that they make no sense: One minute Nicole hates her and the next they are like best friends, one minute she meets Travis, who is the Academy owner’s son and the next she’s sort of dating him, they were together all of five seconds before he takes her to Brazil, seriously what girl goes to another country with some guy she barely knows? Also at first Maya hates Jake in fact throughout most of the book she does but then he gets in trouble and show some weakness and all of a certain she’s making out with him and is “in love” with him. Then Travis goes from nice guy to egotistical jerk at the drop of a hat then most of the characters seem to switch personalities once again! Sorry but all of that makes no sense to me at all! Yes, there are some unrealistic parts but I can get past that though. After all this isn’t a contemporary YA novel.
I’ve read some good books by famous people in fact Hillary Duff’s Elixir series is one of the best in its genre and some are pretty bad and it saddens me to say that Monica Seles book wasn’t that great at all. In fact the writing style reminded me of the ones in the earlier Sweet Valley High novels which made me wonder if that was the last time Monica picked up a YA novel. I really wanted to like this book since I do love books about girls who are into sports but this was so disappointing. I don’t know if I want to even bother with the next one unless it’s simply sitting in Barnes and Noble reading the whole thing. I don’t see myself investing any money in anymore of these books since I had to make myself finish this one. The only reason I gave this two stars is because the Jake character kind of reminds me of Chuck Bass from Gossip Girl.
I’ve read some good books by famous people in fact Hillary Duff’s Elixir series is one of the best in its genre and some are pretty bad and it saddens me to say that Monica Seles book wasn’t that great at all. In fact the writing style reminded me of the ones in the earlier Sweet Valley High novels which made me wonder if that was the last time Monica picked up a YA novel. I really wanted to like this book since I do love books about girls who are into sports but this was so disappointing. I don’t know if I want to even bother with the next one unless it’s simply sitting in Barnes and Noble reading the whole thing. I don’t see myself investing any money in anymore of these books since I had to make myself finish this one. The only reason I gave this two stars is because the Jake character kind of reminds me of Chuck Bass from Gossip Girl.
May 28, 2013
Sadly, this book was not what I was expecting. Being a follower of tennis, this was the aspect I was most looking forward to but it barely played any part in the story. The sports academy in the book is just a cardboard setting, and the plot of humble girl getting taken in by the backstabbing rich kid and swooning over poorly developed love interests could honestly have taken place at any kind of school.
With former player Monica Seles being the author, I thought I would be reading about court rivalries and young players chasing their dreams of becoming pros, but most of the focus was on teenage drama off the court. This is a quick, light read if that's what you're looking for, but I think tennis as a sport can teach a lot of good values and character and this book had the potential to be a whole lot better if it had included more of that.
I received this book through a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.
With former player Monica Seles being the author, I thought I would be reading about court rivalries and young players chasing their dreams of becoming pros, but most of the focus was on teenage drama off the court. This is a quick, light read if that's what you're looking for, but I think tennis as a sport can teach a lot of good values and character and this book had the potential to be a whole lot better if it had included more of that.
I received this book through a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.
April 17, 2013
DNF
I don't even know where to start with the Academy, so I'll just start with the most obvious things: It reads and feels fake. And, save for maybe Renee (who isn't around nearly enough, but we'll back to that later), it has no likable, endearing, engaging or worth-rooting-for-characters, not even the "villains".
The Academy is supposed to be this super awesome place part boarding school, part high performance sports training facility. Everyone who goes there is supposed to be the next big thing to happen in their respective sport, or they have enough money to buy their way in, which is kind of ridiculous on the face of it since in the world of the Academy everyone who is talented is also super rich, except for the poor little scholarship students, but not even they take it seriously enough even though they say they do.
Maya is the new scholarship student and from the start she's awestruck by the Academy - which sounds more like a spa than any school I've ever heard of - where none of these supposedly super competitive athletes ever do any training other than run a few laps every once in a while.
This includes Maya who is supposed to be on a trial period at school but who spends most of her time hearing her roommate Cleo bitch about something or other, worshiping the obviously fake and mean Nicole King (who almost gets her expelled from the Academy in her second day) and alternatively drooling over brothers Travis and Jake without ever being clear why she likes them other than because they are hot and rich and popular (and that is the extent of their personalities.).
In fact all the characters are just as bland and have zero motivations or traits other than being the good hot guy, the bad hot guy, the bitchy unpopular girl, the bitchy scheming and popular girl and the ingenue, just because that's who we are told they are.
The one exception, somewhat is Renee - the resident dumb, rich girl that Maya befriends early on and then proceeds to take advantage of and ignore when its convenient. I know more about Renee's background from her first interaction with Maya than about any of the other characters by the point I stopped reading the book around page 100. A lot of it is exposition - Renee basically says "I'm a poor little rich girl, and my parents don't love me" and yes it is cliched, but at least Renee was likable.
No one else was.
There was also slut shamming in this book, courtesy of Cleo who has an opinion about everyone she doesn't like and often criticizes them even though she doesn't know them, like, at all.
Anyway, I made it to page 100 before I gave up, not because they book was any good - I stopped caring around page 50 when the first overt slut shamming happens - but because I kept playing a game of "Oh, this sounds like that bit of Mean Girls/Insert Teenage Movie Here" with myself.
I don't think The Academy even gets the sports side of it right (or at least it doesn't sound like it) and it should because it was written by Monica Freaking Seles whom, in case you are too young to remember, is a legendary tenis player, often considered one of the best in history.
To close, The Academy was a mess of overly-broad, archetypal and bland characters, slow as hell pacing and a plot based on worship of the rich. And it's boring to boot.
---
** This book was provided by the publisher via Net Galley in exchange of an honest review.
I don't even know where to start with the Academy, so I'll just start with the most obvious things: It reads and feels fake. And, save for maybe Renee (who isn't around nearly enough, but we'll back to that later), it has no likable, endearing, engaging or worth-rooting-for-characters, not even the "villains".
The Academy is supposed to be this super awesome place part boarding school, part high performance sports training facility. Everyone who goes there is supposed to be the next big thing to happen in their respective sport, or they have enough money to buy their way in, which is kind of ridiculous on the face of it since in the world of the Academy everyone who is talented is also super rich, except for the poor little scholarship students, but not even they take it seriously enough even though they say they do.
Maya is the new scholarship student and from the start she's awestruck by the Academy - which sounds more like a spa than any school I've ever heard of - where none of these supposedly super competitive athletes ever do any training other than run a few laps every once in a while.
This includes Maya who is supposed to be on a trial period at school but who spends most of her time hearing her roommate Cleo bitch about something or other, worshiping the obviously fake and mean Nicole King (who almost gets her expelled from the Academy in her second day) and alternatively drooling over brothers Travis and Jake without ever being clear why she likes them other than because they are hot and rich and popular (and that is the extent of their personalities.).
In fact all the characters are just as bland and have zero motivations or traits other than being the good hot guy, the bad hot guy, the bitchy unpopular girl, the bitchy scheming and popular girl and the ingenue, just because that's who we are told they are.
The one exception, somewhat is Renee - the resident dumb, rich girl that Maya befriends early on and then proceeds to take advantage of and ignore when its convenient. I know more about Renee's background from her first interaction with Maya than about any of the other characters by the point I stopped reading the book around page 100. A lot of it is exposition - Renee basically says "I'm a poor little rich girl, and my parents don't love me" and yes it is cliched, but at least Renee was likable.
No one else was.
There was also slut shamming in this book, courtesy of Cleo who has an opinion about everyone she doesn't like and often criticizes them even though she doesn't know them, like, at all.
Anyway, I made it to page 100 before I gave up, not because they book was any good - I stopped caring around page 50 when the first overt slut shamming happens - but because I kept playing a game of "Oh, this sounds like that bit of Mean Girls/Insert Teenage Movie Here" with myself.
I don't think The Academy even gets the sports side of it right (or at least it doesn't sound like it) and it should because it was written by Monica Freaking Seles whom, in case you are too young to remember, is a legendary tenis player, often considered one of the best in history.
To close, The Academy was a mess of overly-broad, archetypal and bland characters, slow as hell pacing and a plot based on worship of the rich. And it's boring to boot.
---
** This book was provided by the publisher via Net Galley in exchange of an honest review.
August 17, 2013
Unfortunately, the main draw - the tennis-player author - turns out to be the main let-down, because there's hardly any tennis here. Instead, it's soap opera drama, with the added appeal of being about a supposedly down to earth, hard working girl who has a conscience. Then again, perhaps that's not such a rare soap opera theme. Maya is suddenly thrown into the high life, and she adapts pretty well. Though she later repents of her rapid assimilation into the image/partying/no time for friends corruption of the Academy, she doesn't seem to think it all bad, and merely wants to get the better of it by the end.
There are overdone catastrophes that (incredibly) melt into overdone emotional reunions, which are then torn apart by more overdone catastrophes. Relationships go hard in one direction but rebound in double time, and before you can blink it's taken up again in a new direction, before rebounding again, etc, etc... For details: The changes are made for remotely credible reasons, but everybody seems to forgive and forget and become embroiled in new intense relationships far too easily. Conveniently, Maya ends up resisting everyone at the end, which leaves a suitably clean slate for the romantic entanglements of book 2.
For all the good intentions (which I may have forgot to mention: Maya tries to be a good friend, wants a relationship that means something and works hard at her sport), it's really a novel for teens to imagine they're living the life of the gorgeous, talented, rich and famous (not a particularly edifying style of life), for as long as it takes them to devour it.
There are overdone catastrophes that (incredibly) melt into overdone emotional reunions, which are then torn apart by more overdone catastrophes. Relationships go hard in one direction but rebound in double time, and before you can blink it's taken up again in a new direction, before rebounding again, etc, etc... For details: The changes are made for remotely credible reasons, but everybody seems to forgive and forget and become embroiled in new intense relationships far too easily. Conveniently, Maya ends up resisting everyone at the end, which leaves a suitably clean slate for the romantic entanglements of book 2.
For all the good intentions (which I may have forgot to mention: Maya tries to be a good friend, wants a relationship that means something and works hard at her sport), it's really a novel for teens to imagine they're living the life of the gorgeous, talented, rich and famous (not a particularly edifying style of life), for as long as it takes them to devour it.
August 14, 2021
I would definitely say this is a book for a tween. I still enjoyed it though. It's full of romance and drama. I started reading the book and was hooked from the first page, the character was just so real and the tone of the character was very good from the start.
This book does contain romance and drama. It also does talk about sports tennis the most.
I would recommend the book but only to those who like romance. Unfortunately its not one of those books where you fall in love with even if its your least preferred genre. It was a very short novel. I finished it in a day. Can't wait to read the second book!!
This book does contain romance and drama. It also does talk about sports tennis the most.
I would recommend the book but only to those who like romance. Unfortunately its not one of those books where you fall in love with even if its your least preferred genre. It was a very short novel. I finished it in a day. Can't wait to read the second book!!
April 18, 2013
See more of my reviews at Me You and My Shelf
The tagline for this book might as well be:
In a tennis academy, screw tennis. Yay for teen drama!!
This book is apparently for fans of the Gallagher Girls. Well, thanks for the lie.
This book was pathetic. Everything about it like characterisation, plot, tennis content, and common sense fails. I felt like clawing my eyes out after a few paragraphs.
The Academy: Game On is about a top notch sporting school. It offers many sports. Our main character, Maya has earned a scholarship to come and train with the best. On the way, she meets heaps of bitches, and two awesome friends. Together, they try to navigate The Academy.
I actually like tennis. Not nearly as much as horse riding, but it's a great sport. I was looking forward to this sport, because I was hoping to learn more about tennis, and how the professional world actually works. According to this book, professional tennis is all about who you date, and what $30000 dress you wear to the hottest club. Seriously! The only tennis terminology used was "tweener" and "restrung racquet." 95% of the book focuses on pathetic teen drama.
Here are the general things featured in a sporty boarding school book (which I have read plenty of): Heaps of training, struggling to stay at the top of their sport, a tiny bit of teen drama, real dedication to their sport, and a big competition with high stakes.
The Academy: Game On featured a buttload of teen drama, and a teeny bit of training.
The training was very mundane. The actual details and Maya's strengths and weaknesses of the game were glossed over. Does she have trouble with serving? Is everyone else better than her? Is she struggling? Any important competitions coming up? After reading the book, I have no idea. A tennis academy should be about TENNIS, not teen drama. This was an unrealistic portrayal of the professional tennis world. You get good at tennis by training hard, not partying hard. At first, I thought that maybe the tennis details were glossed over because the author did not know much about tennis and had done inadequate research. Then, I discovered that the author is a champion tennis player. Seriously? Monica LaSelles has no excuse for this.
Another problem I had with this book was the name of the school. "The Academy?" Just "The Academy?" The academy of what? The Academy of Awesome Sports? The Andre Agassi Academy? At least give your school a proper name! It feels like the author couldn't be bothered to think up of one.
On arrival, Maya actually points out the Versace and Prada stores IN THE SCHOOL. What kind of idiot school has a PRADA STORE? Exclusive boarding schools are usually very strict. Expensive uniform and lots of rules are the norm. But you know what? Why study or train when you can go shopping? This is so unrealistic. I cannot think of a single reason why a HIGH SCHOOL would have a Versace store in it.
At Maya's first training session, the teacher offers $500 to the person who can hit down the cone first. WTF? What kind of school gives money away to their students like that?
If feels like this book can't seem to decide what it is. It can't decide between being realistic or unrealistic. At first I thought that the book was middle grade because of the immaturity of every single thing the characters say and do. But nope. It's too inappropriate for middle grade, so it's actually a young adult book. It can't decide wether it wants to be about tennis or about a bunch of bitchy rich kids. It confuses readers when the author is so indecisive about what direction they want their book to go in.
The characters were pathetic. Maya is a pathetic excuse for a human being. She lets everyone walk all over her. She pathetically fangirls over Nicole King, even after she treats Maya like dirt. It's common sense not to admire someone who treats you like dirt. Jake was your typical idiot who would have sex with anyone with some kind of hole. Travis was boring. Nicole was a typical shallow bitchy rich character.
The only interesting character was Cleo. She actually had some interesting backstory, she was totally kickass, and she was Chinese! Being Chinese myself, I feel that there isn't enough Asian people in the young adult world. Cleo was great, but unfortunately, Maya ditches her as soon as she can for Nicole.
For Nicole. The bitch who almost got you expelled. The bitch who treated you like dirt.
Maya is an idiot.
None of the characters except Cleo had any depth. They were cardboard cutouts, simply there to drive the story along.
The romance was really, really bad. Upon seeing Travis, Maya melted into a pathetic puddle of crap. After swooning over how hot Travis and Jake are, she starts toying with both of them. Well, when you can't decide between which super-sexy-rich-sporty guy to choose, why not choose them both!
No, Maya.
She spent way too much time mooning over those two people.
Even the plot was bad. It hardly moved at all. There was stagnant teen and boy drama. It does have some movement, but it's certainly not interesting or related to tennis.
I swear, Maya must have an IQ of 5.
I hated this book. It's way too immature for young adult, but way too inappropriate for middle grade. It would work a lot better if the author cut out the inappropriate bits and marketed this book as middle grade. No one above the age of 10 would enjoy this book.
However, that cover is awesome!
Filled with unrealistic themes, crappy characters, shallow romance, sleeping around, rich girl drama, stupidity, and NO tennis, I would not recommend this book to anyone.
An ARC of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The tagline for this book might as well be:
In a tennis academy, screw tennis. Yay for teen drama!!
This book is apparently for fans of the Gallagher Girls. Well, thanks for the lie.
This book was pathetic. Everything about it like characterisation, plot, tennis content, and common sense fails. I felt like clawing my eyes out after a few paragraphs.
The Academy: Game On is about a top notch sporting school. It offers many sports. Our main character, Maya has earned a scholarship to come and train with the best. On the way, she meets heaps of bitches, and two awesome friends. Together, they try to navigate The Academy.
I actually like tennis. Not nearly as much as horse riding, but it's a great sport. I was looking forward to this sport, because I was hoping to learn more about tennis, and how the professional world actually works. According to this book, professional tennis is all about who you date, and what $30000 dress you wear to the hottest club. Seriously! The only tennis terminology used was "tweener" and "restrung racquet." 95% of the book focuses on pathetic teen drama.
Here are the general things featured in a sporty boarding school book (which I have read plenty of): Heaps of training, struggling to stay at the top of their sport, a tiny bit of teen drama, real dedication to their sport, and a big competition with high stakes.
The Academy: Game On featured a buttload of teen drama, and a teeny bit of training.
The training was very mundane. The actual details and Maya's strengths and weaknesses of the game were glossed over. Does she have trouble with serving? Is everyone else better than her? Is she struggling? Any important competitions coming up? After reading the book, I have no idea. A tennis academy should be about TENNIS, not teen drama. This was an unrealistic portrayal of the professional tennis world. You get good at tennis by training hard, not partying hard. At first, I thought that maybe the tennis details were glossed over because the author did not know much about tennis and had done inadequate research. Then, I discovered that the author is a champion tennis player. Seriously? Monica LaSelles has no excuse for this.
Another problem I had with this book was the name of the school. "The Academy?" Just "The Academy?" The academy of what? The Academy of Awesome Sports? The Andre Agassi Academy? At least give your school a proper name! It feels like the author couldn't be bothered to think up of one.
On arrival, Maya actually points out the Versace and Prada stores IN THE SCHOOL. What kind of idiot school has a PRADA STORE? Exclusive boarding schools are usually very strict. Expensive uniform and lots of rules are the norm. But you know what? Why study or train when you can go shopping? This is so unrealistic. I cannot think of a single reason why a HIGH SCHOOL would have a Versace store in it.
At Maya's first training session, the teacher offers $500 to the person who can hit down the cone first. WTF? What kind of school gives money away to their students like that?
If feels like this book can't seem to decide what it is. It can't decide between being realistic or unrealistic. At first I thought that the book was middle grade because of the immaturity of every single thing the characters say and do. But nope. It's too inappropriate for middle grade, so it's actually a young adult book. It can't decide wether it wants to be about tennis or about a bunch of bitchy rich kids. It confuses readers when the author is so indecisive about what direction they want their book to go in.
The characters were pathetic. Maya is a pathetic excuse for a human being. She lets everyone walk all over her. She pathetically fangirls over Nicole King, even after she treats Maya like dirt. It's common sense not to admire someone who treats you like dirt. Jake was your typical idiot who would have sex with anyone with some kind of hole. Travis was boring. Nicole was a typical shallow bitchy rich character.
The only interesting character was Cleo. She actually had some interesting backstory, she was totally kickass, and she was Chinese! Being Chinese myself, I feel that there isn't enough Asian people in the young adult world. Cleo was great, but unfortunately, Maya ditches her as soon as she can for Nicole.
For Nicole. The bitch who almost got you expelled. The bitch who treated you like dirt.
Maya is an idiot.
None of the characters except Cleo had any depth. They were cardboard cutouts, simply there to drive the story along.
The romance was really, really bad. Upon seeing Travis, Maya melted into a pathetic puddle of crap. After swooning over how hot Travis and Jake are, she starts toying with both of them. Well, when you can't decide between which super-sexy-rich-sporty guy to choose, why not choose them both!
No, Maya.
She spent way too much time mooning over those two people.
Even the plot was bad. It hardly moved at all. There was stagnant teen and boy drama. It does have some movement, but it's certainly not interesting or related to tennis.
I swear, Maya must have an IQ of 5.
I hated this book. It's way too immature for young adult, but way too inappropriate for middle grade. It would work a lot better if the author cut out the inappropriate bits and marketed this book as middle grade. No one above the age of 10 would enjoy this book.
However, that cover is awesome!
Filled with unrealistic themes, crappy characters, shallow romance, sleeping around, rich girl drama, stupidity, and NO tennis, I would not recommend this book to anyone.
An ARC of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
January 28, 2015
Yes! Game On makes me smile. It is a clean, refreshing, and endearing story about a 16-year-old girl, Maya Hart, who moves from her small town in New York to The Academy. The Academy is the #1 place for the elite athletes around the world. This is where the best of the best are molded into superstars.
Maya is talented, tall, blond, blue eyed, gorgeous...and insecure? Yep. It's tough when everybody is just as good, or better, than you are. She learns who her real friends are, what it takes to succeed, and - most of all - she decides what kind of person she is. Her ups and downs are typical of any teenager, athlete or non athlete. There are times I liked her and other moments, I didn't. She's a typical 16-year-old girl, learning as she goes - sometimes the hard way. Will she succeed? Will she even stay...or let her insecurity overtake her talent? Does she get the right boy or not?
The secondary characters are just as memorable. Nicole King is the reigning, American, women's tennis star. Travis and Jake Reed are funny in that they're typical teenagers, with money. They're the sons of the owner, who's a former NFL MVP, football players and...both interested in Maya? Travis is the good son, Jake the bad boy and they're both relatable. Which will Maya choose?
Love the character development, especially Maya's. Love the struggles of teenagers.
However, I want a bit more tennis talk. That's it. :)
Recommended for everybody 12-up.
Maya is talented, tall, blond, blue eyed, gorgeous...and insecure? Yep. It's tough when everybody is just as good, or better, than you are. She learns who her real friends are, what it takes to succeed, and - most of all - she decides what kind of person she is. Her ups and downs are typical of any teenager, athlete or non athlete. There are times I liked her and other moments, I didn't. She's a typical 16-year-old girl, learning as she goes - sometimes the hard way. Will she succeed? Will she even stay...or let her insecurity overtake her talent? Does she get the right boy or not?
The secondary characters are just as memorable. Nicole King is the reigning, American, women's tennis star. Travis and Jake Reed are funny in that they're typical teenagers, with money. They're the sons of the owner, who's a former NFL MVP, football players and...both interested in Maya? Travis is the good son, Jake the bad boy and they're both relatable. Which will Maya choose?
Love the character development, especially Maya's. Love the struggles of teenagers.
However, I want a bit more tennis talk. That's it. :)
Recommended for everybody 12-up.
May 28, 2013
This book was given to me from a goodreads first reads giveaway.
I read this book in one sitting within one day, it was a nice simple, read and one that I would have loved when I was young. It is totally the kind of book I would have read.
Maya gets into The Academy on a special scholarship after 4 years trying. It is a sports academy where you get in by having rich parents, or a scholarship, which is very hard to get. She was given 6 months to prove herself or she is out. Mia meets a few friends, meets a boy called Travis that she likes and a few others and finds herself having a few problems during her stay at The Academy.
I have to say, I did like the book, but it was very predictable to me, I wasn't surprised by anything that happened at all. It is a great book for anybody who likes to read young adult novels or just want a quick read.
I read this book in one sitting within one day, it was a nice simple, read and one that I would have loved when I was young. It is totally the kind of book I would have read.
Maya gets into The Academy on a special scholarship after 4 years trying. It is a sports academy where you get in by having rich parents, or a scholarship, which is very hard to get. She was given 6 months to prove herself or she is out. Mia meets a few friends, meets a boy called Travis that she likes and a few others and finds herself having a few problems during her stay at The Academy.
I have to say, I did like the book, but it was very predictable to me, I wasn't surprised by anything that happened at all. It is a great book for anybody who likes to read young adult novels or just want a quick read.
December 23, 2021
Loved it. Didn't know my hate for men could increase more. Can't wait to spend hours trying to find the next book in a charity shop. Wish me luck. Sarted this when I woke up and finished it an hour ago. Says a lot about the book. So that good
Ps. Can we sue Goodreads for the horrible covers it puts with the books. Like my cover is nothing like that it's bright highlighter pink. So love that
Ps. Can we sue Goodreads for the horrible covers it puts with the books. Like my cover is nothing like that it's bright highlighter pink. So love that
July 7, 2024
DNF 52%
Where is the tennis? This is absolutely cringe.
I’ve been trying to go through my long ago tbr for books that have been there for years.
Most of these have let me down so far.
Firstly, this follows Maya who is a poor girl who gets a scholarship to a fancy rich people sports academy.
You wouldn’t know it since pretty much no sports happens.
In fact, immediately Maya gets on the wrong side of the hot popular mean girl, meets the sexy son of an nfl player who runs the school, and gets on the wrong foot with the other son who keeps trying to sleep with her.
She makes friends with her Chinese sidekick (sorry, best friend), because god forbid poc people are anything other than the supporting characters who are also holding up the only queer rep at the same time. She’s also poor too. As well as being quirky: dying her hair and hating everyone.
The other girl she befriends is a South African-French girl who is a millionaire. Unclear if she was meant to be poc as well.
Regardless the only characters Maya truly cares about are the brothers who are both vying for her affection for some reason. Maya is super hot and doesn’t know it as well as being great at tennis. 🎾 apparently.
It’s obvious where this is going and frankly it was embarrassing. I love sports movies and anime etc. I’m not into romances with set dressing where the actual sport is never used. I’m not into lame love triangles and shaming other girls constantly for being easy etc.
This book is an embarrassment and everything that was wrong with 2013 ya books.
Where is the tennis? This is absolutely cringe.
I’ve been trying to go through my long ago tbr for books that have been there for years.
Most of these have let me down so far.
Firstly, this follows Maya who is a poor girl who gets a scholarship to a fancy rich people sports academy.
You wouldn’t know it since pretty much no sports happens.
In fact, immediately Maya gets on the wrong side of the hot popular mean girl, meets the sexy son of an nfl player who runs the school, and gets on the wrong foot with the other son who keeps trying to sleep with her.
She makes friends with her Chinese sidekick (sorry, best friend), because god forbid poc people are anything other than the supporting characters who are also holding up the only queer rep at the same time. She’s also poor too. As well as being quirky: dying her hair and hating everyone.
The other girl she befriends is a South African-French girl who is a millionaire. Unclear if she was meant to be poc as well.
Regardless the only characters Maya truly cares about are the brothers who are both vying for her affection for some reason. Maya is super hot and doesn’t know it as well as being great at tennis. 🎾 apparently.
It’s obvious where this is going and frankly it was embarrassing. I love sports movies and anime etc. I’m not into romances with set dressing where the actual sport is never used. I’m not into lame love triangles and shaming other girls constantly for being easy etc.
This book is an embarrassment and everything that was wrong with 2013 ya books.
February 6, 2019
Ken je van die boeken waarvan je van te voren weet dat het een 3 ster zal zijn, maar een 3 ster waar je intens van hebt genoten? Dat is dit boek.
Is het goed? Absoluut niet.
Zou ik het iedereen aanraden? Never in a million years.
Maar was dit exact wat ik nodig had? Wow je hebt echt geen idee.
Ik heb ook deel twee dus misschien ga ik die meteen hierna lezen. Dit is voor het eerst in een lange tijd dat ik weer zin heb in lezen, en het maakt me zo blij!
Is het goed? Absoluut niet.
Zou ik het iedereen aanraden? Never in a million years.
Maar was dit exact wat ik nodig had? Wow je hebt echt geen idee.
Ik heb ook deel twee dus misschien ga ik die meteen hierna lezen. Dit is voor het eerst in een lange tijd dat ik weer zin heb in lezen, en het maakt me zo blij!
December 17, 2013
If you are interested in reading this book because the main character is a tennis player and because it is written by a famous tennis player then DO NOT read this novel. There is VERY little tennis in it. There are only two short scenes in the entire novel that involve Maya practicing tennis. I am actually surprised that Maya is supposedly so good at tennis because she never practices or plays until near the end of the novel. She doesn't seem particularly dedicated to her sport, never discussing her passion for it or training hard. I've played competitive sports before and it required hours of training per day outside of my regular scheduled practices and games. I don't understand how Maya can remain in 'the best sports program in the world' when she parties, sneaks around with boys, never eats (it is just never mentioned; I think she is in a restaurant in two scenes and the school cafeteria in one scene though her eating is not mentioned), stays up late but most of all, never trains or practices. I am also quite shocked that she never plays tennis against any of her peers (minus the two times that she helps the so-called world tennis champion practice shots on her) and does not train with the coach more.
As you might be able to tell, I wasn't thrilled by the main character. I found her to be dull and slightly boring. She's not particularly intelligent, hard working (though the novel keeps repeating that she is, I see no evidence of this) or funny. She's typical - she's awkward, naive, supposedly gorgeous but doesn't know it and she's 'nice'.
This novel is essentially Mean Girls but taking place at a boarding school - a pretty, naive, innocent girl begins going to a new school, she becomes friends with less popular people (her foreign-born, vibrant working class roommate and a rich girl who everyone thinks is athletic and snooty), she becomes preoccupied with being popular and famous, she gets hurt and betrayed, and must beg her old friends for forgiveness.
This novel was a gossip girl type novel, which is fine, but it fell short for me. It lacked the intrigue and thrill of other YA guilty pleasure reads like Pretty Little Liars. There was so much more that the author could have done with her knowledge and experiences related to tennis and the sports boarding school setting. I will likely read the second novel if I come across it at the library but I won't go out of my way to read the sequel.
As you might be able to tell, I wasn't thrilled by the main character. I found her to be dull and slightly boring. She's not particularly intelligent, hard working (though the novel keeps repeating that she is, I see no evidence of this) or funny. She's typical - she's awkward, naive, supposedly gorgeous but doesn't know it and she's 'nice'.
This novel is essentially Mean Girls but taking place at a boarding school - a pretty, naive, innocent girl begins going to a new school, she becomes friends with less popular people (her foreign-born, vibrant working class roommate and a rich girl who everyone thinks is athletic and snooty), she becomes preoccupied with being popular and famous, she gets hurt and betrayed, and must beg her old friends for forgiveness.
This novel was a gossip girl type novel, which is fine, but it fell short for me. It lacked the intrigue and thrill of other YA guilty pleasure reads like Pretty Little Liars. There was so much more that the author could have done with her knowledge and experiences related to tennis and the sports boarding school setting. I will likely read the second novel if I come across it at the library but I won't go out of my way to read the sequel.
July 1, 2024
This is one book where I loved the cover and could not wait to get started as I had requested this from Netgalley. I had the cartoon like cover and in this instance prefer it over the real life models cover. I will give pre-warning to people who see the "If you love Gallagher Girls, you will enjoy this" by saying that this is in no way a Spy School novel. In fact I would have to say more if you enjoyed Mythos Academy or Oh My Gods by Tera Lynn Childs minus the Gods part then you will enjoy The Academy series. The Academy series takes us into the world of Sport and in this novel we meet Maya , a scholarship student who plays Tennis. At the Academy unless you win a rare scholarship, the only way you can get in is by having lots and lots of money . Enter Nicole - she is the current reigning Tennis star , when Maya comes along - will her spot be threatened ? Also of course, what would the novel be without boys and hunky ones as we meet brothers and football stars Jake and Travis Reed - both want a piece of Maya but which one will she fall for ? Bad boy Jake or Good guy Travis ?
The Academy is one of those nice relaxing and easy to read books that doesn't use much of your brain energy. Good if you are wanting something fun and light.
I cannot wait to read the next installments - that is if Monica Seles continues the books and develops The Academy into a series.
The Academy is one of those nice relaxing and easy to read books that doesn't use much of your brain energy. Good if you are wanting something fun and light.
I cannot wait to read the next installments - that is if Monica Seles continues the books and develops The Academy into a series.
August 2, 2013
Former tennis star Monica Seles has penned the first story in what looks to be a series based on a boarding Sports Academy for teens. The main character in GAME ON is Maya Hart, a scholarship student that majors in tennis. She's one of the "have nots" and strives hard to fit in on both sides of the fence. She has a love interest who is the son of the owner of the school. He's a wealthy football start and the rival for his affections is a mean super attractive rich girl that is an already established teen tennis star.
I'll be blunt, THE ACADEMY: GAME ON is a silly story but it has potential if a skilled author can be found to do a drastic makeover adding some authenticity to the story. Some YA readers will probably to like this story because of the glitz and glamour and a downtrodden heroine to root for. I found it just plain old annoying.
I'll be blunt, THE ACADEMY: GAME ON is a silly story but it has potential if a skilled author can be found to do a drastic makeover adding some authenticity to the story. Some YA readers will probably to like this story because of the glitz and glamour and a downtrodden heroine to root for. I found it just plain old annoying.
May 18, 2015
You can find reviews like this and more at my blog The Bookaholic
Let’s get this out of the way first before I start my review:
I completely fan-girled when I saw who the author was. Most of you know by now that I’m a tennis junkie (if you didn’t know that, well now you do). Monica Seles is a well-known name among the sport and fans. She was THE superstar. Former world number one. In the International Hall of Fame. Won nine Grand Slam Titles. Youngest ever to win the French Open (at age 16). Sadly, in 1993, a fan attacked her on court during a break at a match and stabbed her in her back. She took a leave from tennis for a few years, returned, but played her last pro match in 2003. Yes. I really know these facts in my head, people. I didn’t have to Google at all. O_O
So, anyway, I fan-girled because it’s THE Monica Seles authoring this series. I made complete grabby hands for the book. I had to have it. Not only because it was hers, but because well it’s a book based around a sports academy and a character that plays tennis. This had to be my dream book in every way possible.
Unfortunately, I was disappointed.
It wasn’t terrible. But it wasn’t what I expected either. I’m actually quite torn on writing this review because for me it was one of those reads where you’re just left feeling quite meh by the end. While I enjoyed it for the most part for an entertainment value due to it being a fast and mostly fun read, I also had several qualms with it at the same time that left me feeling dissatisfied.
Despite her tennis ambitions, Maya was not a character I could get attached to. In fact, the majority of the characters left me feeling under whelmed. If you’re going into this book hoping for action when it comes to their sports lifestyle, their training, or details and drama surrounding their competition events, you won’t get it. There was little to no action. This was genuinely a teen drama romance with a sports academy setting and that was it. Did that make it bad? Not really. It just gave me something I didn’t quite expect from the beginning and I was a bit let down by this. I was hoping for more.
The dreaded love triangle is prevalent. Along with the eye-rolling insta-love romance. This was perhaps my biggest annoyance. And where I found myself face-palming and cringing the most. So, it’s easy to say I just couldn’t get into the romance at all. I wasn’t the least bit interested in either guy. I didn’t care what happened between the characters by the middle of the book because I found it incredibly cheesy. The only character I may have cared about at all was Cleo. Everyone else.... Well, I sure hope they get more oomph in the next installment. Even the "mean girl."
But here’s the kicker. I sound like I didn’t like it, I know. But I’m on the fence here. Or net. Let’s use net. ;) Because at the same time, I did. I really did find myself enjoying it because I sped right through the pages. There’s entertainment to it. An un-put-down-able sense to the book because of the drama, and it’s a fast read. It could be an easy guilty pleasure. I just wanted more action personally--especially since I was looking for the tennis aspect in this. In a way, it reminds me of something that could easily be on television right now. A bit Gossip Girl-esque (though I’ve never sat and watched a full episode of Gossip Girl, so don’t take comparison to heart).
I’m going to continue this series and see where it goes from here.
<3
Pixie
Let’s get this out of the way first before I start my review:
I completely fan-girled when I saw who the author was. Most of you know by now that I’m a tennis junkie (if you didn’t know that, well now you do). Monica Seles is a well-known name among the sport and fans. She was THE superstar. Former world number one. In the International Hall of Fame. Won nine Grand Slam Titles. Youngest ever to win the French Open (at age 16). Sadly, in 1993, a fan attacked her on court during a break at a match and stabbed her in her back. She took a leave from tennis for a few years, returned, but played her last pro match in 2003. Yes. I really know these facts in my head, people. I didn’t have to Google at all. O_O
So, anyway, I fan-girled because it’s THE Monica Seles authoring this series. I made complete grabby hands for the book. I had to have it. Not only because it was hers, but because well it’s a book based around a sports academy and a character that plays tennis. This had to be my dream book in every way possible.
Unfortunately, I was disappointed.
It wasn’t terrible. But it wasn’t what I expected either. I’m actually quite torn on writing this review because for me it was one of those reads where you’re just left feeling quite meh by the end. While I enjoyed it for the most part for an entertainment value due to it being a fast and mostly fun read, I also had several qualms with it at the same time that left me feeling dissatisfied.
Despite her tennis ambitions, Maya was not a character I could get attached to. In fact, the majority of the characters left me feeling under whelmed. If you’re going into this book hoping for action when it comes to their sports lifestyle, their training, or details and drama surrounding their competition events, you won’t get it. There was little to no action. This was genuinely a teen drama romance with a sports academy setting and that was it. Did that make it bad? Not really. It just gave me something I didn’t quite expect from the beginning and I was a bit let down by this. I was hoping for more.
The dreaded love triangle is prevalent. Along with the eye-rolling insta-love romance. This was perhaps my biggest annoyance. And where I found myself face-palming and cringing the most. So, it’s easy to say I just couldn’t get into the romance at all. I wasn’t the least bit interested in either guy. I didn’t care what happened between the characters by the middle of the book because I found it incredibly cheesy. The only character I may have cared about at all was Cleo. Everyone else.... Well, I sure hope they get more oomph in the next installment. Even the "mean girl."
But here’s the kicker. I sound like I didn’t like it, I know. But I’m on the fence here. Or net. Let’s use net. ;) Because at the same time, I did. I really did find myself enjoying it because I sped right through the pages. There’s entertainment to it. An un-put-down-able sense to the book because of the drama, and it’s a fast read. It could be an easy guilty pleasure. I just wanted more action personally--especially since I was looking for the tennis aspect in this. In a way, it reminds me of something that could easily be on television right now. A bit Gossip Girl-esque (though I’ve never sat and watched a full episode of Gossip Girl, so don’t take comparison to heart).
I’m going to continue this series and see where it goes from here.
<3
Pixie
July 24, 2017
this was awful and i read it when i was a fetus
May 5, 2013
Monica Seles has more than just athletic talent and she has proven it to me with her novel, The Academy: Game On! Set in an ultra luxurious academy for rising athletic stars with either the hard-won scholarship or the rich family, young tennis hopeful Maya is part of the former group and with one look around, knows she is out of her league, socially, for sure! Star struck and naïve, Maya is like a goldfish in a shark tank and the sharks are hungry! Overwhelmed by the different lifestyles of the rich and famous, she is way out of her middle class league and feeling insecure. The talent around her is amazing, but here, she feels she can at least hold her own, even if she isn’t the best. After all, sports legends walk these halls, including tennis prima donna Nicole, who just may see Maya’s fresh face and strong talent as a threat. Attempting to “fit in” with the others, Maya starts to lose herself to the glamor of Academy living. Oh! Let’s not forget, what would a novel be without the romantic triangle? Enter Travis and Jake Reed, sons of the sports legend who runs the academy. Travis is the “good” boy, the rising star, while Jake is the troublemaker, the rebel, a disappointment to his father. Which one will Maya fall for and why? For that matter, which “Maya” are the boys falling for? What if Maya’s new dream reality becomes a nightmare? Will the real Maya survive or will she be eaten up by the sharks?
Using a familiar arena, Monica Seles has written a wonderful coming of age story about a teen struggling to survive alone in a strange place, so far removed from what she knows, overpowered by all she sees, and wanting to experience it all. She has given Maya the right amount of confusion, angst and courage, as well as strength of character to believe in herself and to make her believable to me. The supporting characters were sometimes sweet, sometimes quirky, but definitely came across as real live teens, not quite adults, but expected to act and react as such. I’m impressed with Monica Seles style and hope to see more from her in the future!
An ARC edition was provided by NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA Children's Books in exchange for my honest review. Publication Date: May 7, 2013.
Using a familiar arena, Monica Seles has written a wonderful coming of age story about a teen struggling to survive alone in a strange place, so far removed from what she knows, overpowered by all she sees, and wanting to experience it all. She has given Maya the right amount of confusion, angst and courage, as well as strength of character to believe in herself and to make her believable to me. The supporting characters were sometimes sweet, sometimes quirky, but definitely came across as real live teens, not quite adults, but expected to act and react as such. I’m impressed with Monica Seles style and hope to see more from her in the future!
An ARC edition was provided by NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA Children's Books in exchange for my honest review. Publication Date: May 7, 2013.
July 28, 2013
Tennis. One of my early loves.
This cover is SO pink! It burns my eyes, it's like highlighter/neon pink all over. Can't avoid it. What I DO like about the UK cover over the US one is that it appears to focus more on the sport aspect of the book, though I'm sure there is a good deal of romance. And of course this cover allows you to imagine the characters for yourself. But it's just so pink! XD
Release date: July 2013
Source: Publisher (Bloomsbury)
Planning to read? Pretty soon, actually. I'm in the mood for something more light-hearted. Also, I like when authors write what they know, or base their story on their own experiences (*ahem* Sophie Flack). I'm hoping there's some actual tennis in this book, and not just drama. I mean, a Gallagher Girls comparison is on the cover--that must count for something, right?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2-2.5/5
Was actually quite fun until half-way through when I just wanted to throw the book out of the window.
Review to come.
This cover is SO pink! It burns my eyes, it's like highlighter/neon pink all over. Can't avoid it. What I DO like about the UK cover over the US one is that it appears to focus more on the sport aspect of the book, though I'm sure there is a good deal of romance. And of course this cover allows you to imagine the characters for yourself. But it's just so pink! XD
Release date: July 2013
Source: Publisher (Bloomsbury)
Planning to read? Pretty soon, actually. I'm in the mood for something more light-hearted. Also, I like when authors write what they know, or base their story on their own experiences (*ahem* Sophie Flack). I'm hoping there's some actual tennis in this book, and not just drama. I mean, a Gallagher Girls comparison is on the cover--that must count for something, right?
He held the rear door of the Admissions building open. Sunlight flooded in. If Maya's mind wasn't blown before, it was definitely blown now. Like Dorothy Gale from Kansas, she stepped out from black and white into color. She was in Oz.
And by the looks of it, Oz didn't come cheap. (5)
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2-2.5/5
Was actually quite fun until half-way through when I just wanted to throw the book out of the window.
Review to come.
Read
August 29, 2016The Academy by Monica Seles.
Why did you decide to read this book ?
I decided to read this book because I saw that it was about some sort of sporting academy and because I'm in an Academy I wanted to find out more. I guess the pink on the border of the book made the book stand out.
Character Description or Setting.
The main Character's name is Maya. She got selected into the top sporting school called Academy. There's two ways to get into the Academy, one way in is if you're very talented you get offered a scholarship which is how Maya got in. The other way in is to be rotten rich. Maya works very hard to get her spot in this fancy Academy school so once she got there she trainings hard, but after meeting a girl named Renee she starts to change her ways and that's where the book goes from about sport to drama.
Something new I learnt or thought more deeply/differently about after reading this book.
That if you get offered an opportunity you should use it to its best ability and not take advantage of it. To always train hard and keep pushing to get your goals and a better outcome.
Why did you decide to read this book ?
I decided to read this book because I saw that it was about some sort of sporting academy and because I'm in an Academy I wanted to find out more. I guess the pink on the border of the book made the book stand out.
Character Description or Setting.
The main Character's name is Maya. She got selected into the top sporting school called Academy. There's two ways to get into the Academy, one way in is if you're very talented you get offered a scholarship which is how Maya got in. The other way in is to be rotten rich. Maya works very hard to get her spot in this fancy Academy school so once she got there she trainings hard, but after meeting a girl named Renee she starts to change her ways and that's where the book goes from about sport to drama.
Something new I learnt or thought more deeply/differently about after reading this book.
That if you get offered an opportunity you should use it to its best ability and not take advantage of it. To always train hard and keep pushing to get your goals and a better outcome.
May 18, 2013
Won a free copy on Goodreads first reads.
The Academy:Game On is a good fast paced book more suited to younger readers and but is still a good read for older people. I enjoyed this book and know a couple of young girls who would love this and will be buying them copies when the book is released.
Highly recommended to young girls (and older ones) whether they like sports or not.
Thank you for the win.
The Academy:Game On is a good fast paced book more suited to younger readers and but is still a good read for older people. I enjoyed this book and know a couple of young girls who would love this and will be buying them copies when the book is released.
Highly recommended to young girls (and older ones) whether they like sports or not.
Thank you for the win.
August 1, 2014
the books plot is a bit over used, with the love triangle, 'queen bee' and the two best friends. It was a story that I would've probably read when I was eleven or twelve, but it was sort of fun to read something so cheesy.
March 29, 2013
Tad overdramatic, little weird, simple (middle-grade) language, good idea, an overall OK from me :P Review to come.
November 24, 2018
Former tennis player Seles writes, or co-writes, or has her name on the cover of a book about future tennis star, who is attending a sports academy - book has way too much time on a love triangle and deceptive practices by nefarious peoples, and way little time on other more interesting matters.
It did have a good conclusion however, with Maya taking control and leading to what will be a second book in the series.
Average but with some promise, less boring teen romance junk and more about the inside story of athletics, and education would be better.
It did have a good conclusion however, with Maya taking control and leading to what will be a second book in the series.
Average but with some promise, less boring teen romance junk and more about the inside story of athletics, and education would be better.
July 8, 2021
This book definitely wasn't as good as the 2nd one. It's a shame we didn't get to see more of Maya's tennis skills and just got a lot of romance etc. Why did The Academy give her that scholarship? How is she so good at tennis?
Love Match was much better than Game On, without a doubt. The book should've focused on sports a bit more. The Academy is a sports academy, after all. And Maya is a tennis player.
Love Match was much better than Game On, without a doubt. The book should've focused on sports a bit more. The Academy is a sports academy, after all. And Maya is a tennis player.
January 18, 2023
It was pretty cliché in the first half, then it got good. And then at the end practically all character development was erased. Shit ending, she could have just forgiven him because he didn't even do anything, they were both tricked.
But when it was good, I genuinely thought it was good, the friendships were good, the Reed family dynamic was quite interesting.
But when it was good, I genuinely thought it was good, the friendships were good, the Reed family dynamic was quite interesting.
July 3, 2013
Review originally posted on Studio Reads
So...this isn't my usual read, and because of it I wouldn't necessarily have bought The Academy: Game On, which is a shame, but luckily I won a copy.
It was a quick, light read that I started in-between books and honestly even though I wasn't in love with this book, it was hard to put down. Alright, it was really cheesy in some places, mainly with Travis, but I could deal with that.
Onto the characters, we have;
Maya- The main character, on scholarship, away from home, in a completely different world to her own, who also needed to grow a backbone for the first half of the book. Okay, I get it, it’s a new experience but her brain really needed to be connected to her mouth. The Maya we got when it came to Travis, I’ll gloss over that, especially since Also, the whole changing-when-someone-takes-notice-and-drops-friends routine grated on me. Don’t get me wrong, I liked Maya, though mainly the Maya we got towards the end who decided, yes, she did have a spine and grew a pair.
Travis- Maya’s first interest and also the oldest son of the Academy’s owner. For me Travis was a carbon copy in the making of his father, and that isn’t a good thing. I liked him in the beginning, he was sweet, once he suddenly took notice of Maya, and hey, I’ll even forgive him for this lovely quote
"Your hair," He said. "And your eyes. Were they always this blue?"“
Apart from being over the top with Maya, and trying to impress his father so hard he needed to loosen up, he was likeable, or so he seemed likeable, but the Travis towards the end was a self-absorbed image holder who I guess didn’t really care if he was in love with Maya or not, she was good for his image, and he was good for hers, it was all that mattered to him, and he became a right sly little slime ball, and mainly just because he didn’t get what he wanted.
Jake- Maya’s second love interest and the younger brother of Travis. Hmm, Jake. I’m not sure what to say about Jake. He’s the typical bad boy who’s in and out of other peoples beds. The first scene where he met Maya, (who was in towel locked out of her room), he’s sweet and goes and breaks the window to let her in, which is sweet, in a way, but then he goes and proposition’s Maya as a thanks for breaking her back in? No, no, no Jake. I liked Jake and his funny quips and remarks, and we get a little hidden depth in scenes with his father, but the romance with Maya was too quick for me. Though I will say he was entertaining and a little bit of a jackass, but a sweet jackass. Until the end.
Nicole- The “It” girl who has everything, the clothes, the hair, the makeup, the personality of your textbook bitch, and also Maya’s “idol”. She’s also an overzealous jealous paper doll, and by paper doll I mean, that’s all she was, on paper. There wasn’t much going on there until it was convenient for her to be there. And I didn’t really get why she did what she did. Okay, I mean somebody else was getting attention other than her for a change and she goes I mean, really? For someone who’s supposed to be as confident, egotistical, and famous and was written that way, competition shouldn’t be her weakness. She was true to her role though, as the frenemy, and played it well.
Cleo- The roommate, who is also on scholarship, and pretty much the only character that saved this book. I was just sad we didn’t get more of Cleo, she was funny, and witty, and though she was dealing with her own stuff, she was there for Maya.
And lastly,
Renee; The rich-enough-to-be-in-the-academy-without-any-actual-talent, Maya’s friend. I didn’t know what to think of her at first, from what we were told she was the schools friendly [slutty] character; I thought she’d be in league with Nicole, as her roommate. But she wasn’t, she was friendly, and nice, the underestimated character, who wanted to prove herself to her friends, and her never there parents who sent her to the Academy because they didn’t know what to do with her. She was a bit blank to be at times, a flyaway character that wasn’t really needed, just a bridge gap to fill to get to Nicole, so I hope there’s more of her in the second book.
Overall, even though it’s not usual my usual read, and the characters need to grow a bit more, but I enjoyed it enough that I can’t wait to see where the next book takes us.
The only problem I had with this book was that since the main character won a scholarship for tennis…there wasn’t much tennis going on.
May 19, 2017
This book is not particularly well written but I love the characters and it's light and fluffy but makes you read on.
October 12, 2018
It wasn’t good and then sevenge pics came into it, I checked out. Sorry book.
August 4, 2021
I dont usually read romance novels, but this one sounded good. It was a really good sports romance, with lots of drama. The ending was great, and cant wait to read the next book.
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