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Even the Score #2
Out of Bounds
Insulting the team captain was completely justified, I just didn't think it'd lead to a fake relationship.
Ryan Cross, golden boy of my university, isn't just destined for the NFL. He's also the cocky a-hole who crashed the contest where yours truly was supposed to meet her future boss. Yeah, Ryan and I weren't exactly civil. Good thing I never have to see him again.
Until his PR team gets involved.
Turns out a teeny, tiny picture of us went mega viral online. Suddenly, I'm thrown into a fake relationship with the six-foot-five definition of 'work hard, play never' - all for a chance to work a dream internship.
I know what you're thinking. Sure, Ryan's gorgeous. Sure, he's got a jawline that's probably insured by our university. And, sure, there was that little incident between Ryan and I in the dressing room. But, he's the most aggravating man in existence and I'm the distraction he never asked for. For this publicity stunt to work, we both have to follow the rulebook.
There's just one little problem with that.
What happens when he wants us to break the rules together?
Out of Bounds is a contemporary sports romance with plenty of banter, a guaranteed happily ever after, and a football player that'd do absolutely anything for his art girl.
Ryan Cross, golden boy of my university, isn't just destined for the NFL. He's also the cocky a-hole who crashed the contest where yours truly was supposed to meet her future boss. Yeah, Ryan and I weren't exactly civil. Good thing I never have to see him again.
Until his PR team gets involved.
Turns out a teeny, tiny picture of us went mega viral online. Suddenly, I'm thrown into a fake relationship with the six-foot-five definition of 'work hard, play never' - all for a chance to work a dream internship.
I know what you're thinking. Sure, Ryan's gorgeous. Sure, he's got a jawline that's probably insured by our university. And, sure, there was that little incident between Ryan and I in the dressing room. But, he's the most aggravating man in existence and I'm the distraction he never asked for. For this publicity stunt to work, we both have to follow the rulebook.
There's just one little problem with that.
What happens when he wants us to break the rules together?
Out of Bounds is a contemporary sports romance with plenty of banter, a guaranteed happily ever after, and a football player that'd do absolutely anything for his art girl.
477 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 18, 2023
About the author
Bree Hayden
10 books382 followersA lover of romances, it’s not unusual to find Bree Hayden curled up with a book, sobbing her eyes out. On the off chance she’s doing real-life things, she resides in Washington, tries to get birds to whistle along with her, and enjoys baking ancient recipes in the hopes one actually tastes good.
Check out Bree’s newsletter for playlists (they’re pretty good), upcoming character art (that’s way better), chances to read her books before anybody else (!!!), and free extra stories about the characters in her novels (the best!!!)
Check out Bree’s newsletter for playlists (they’re pretty good), upcoming character art (that’s way better), chances to read her books before anybody else (!!!), and free extra stories about the characters in her novels (the best!!!)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
November 29, 2024
Uf! Aún no sé cómo describir este libro, siento que la idea era buena, pero el fondo fue lamentable, fue un libro demasiado largo como para que no se justifique un gran desarrollo en el personaje de Kassie, absolutamente todo el libro se centró en el personaje de Ryan y un personaje tan fuerte como la protagonista fue totalmente desperdiciado, empezó su relación falsa y desapareció toda la sustancia que la caracterizaba, una lástima porque Kassie fue la que me atrapó en las primeras páginas de este libro.
September 16, 2023
1.4 stars
I want to begin by saying that this is an ARC I picked up and in exchange for not having to pay for it (AKA free), I would leave an honest review of it. So here it is. I won’t lie I struggled getting through this novel, but I did slightly enjoy it.
Let me talk about the parts I didn’t enjoy first and before I begin I just want you to know that this rating and review can be the way it is because I’m just THAT kind of person where it seems I’m a little hard to please. Because you could enjoy this book too so don’t let my experience get in the way of liking your’s.
- I didn’t quite understand both the plot and the timeline of the story. It’s hard to believe that all of this happened within the beginning of the semester and christmas; and I’m not talking about chemistry because that stuff can be created in a few months. I’m failing to catch when the feelings were caught when they were being caught. I would have enjoyed perhaps knowing whenever everything happened time-wise and not have Cleo shout what the next event was. Somehow it just became the end of the semester and there was no timeline.
- The inter-relationships in this novel; King seems like a solid dude and Adam sounds like the spitfire playboy of the group however their relationship with Ryan didn’t seem quite cohesive. It’s not like other books where you can tell that there’s a hint of a solid ground and history for friendship. You don’t need time to showcase this but I think it needs to be solidified there’s a reason and reprieve for having these kids (I’m mostly talking about Adam) in your life. Simply put, it felt like I was dropped into witnessing how they act with one another without seeing how their friendships have substance.
- Building from these previous points but is somewhat separate, I do think the transitions between should be more established. Sometimes we just moved to the next part of the plot and I’m like okay how or when or why did this happen? The progression in relationships felt like jumps more than it was supposed to feel natural. I wished I would have seen the little study dates in between or the little dorm get-togethers they would attend together. Things that aren’t part of the deal that they made but also built their relationship. While I enjoyed that they enjoyed each other during their deal, I would’ve truly enjoyed what their relationship is like off the schedule Cleo had for them.
- Working off of Ryan’s schedule more than seeing more into Kassie’s life. All the events were football related and none were about Kassie’s life. They really made Kassie a WAG in this novel and while I’m happy she did what she did at the time she did (for those of you that have read this novel, I hope you know what I’m talking about), I’m not happy with how they resolved the situation. It’s lowkey giving The Bromance Book Club.
- I’m still failing to understand why fake dating was a good move for the both of them. More tells than shows in my opinion. I would have also enjoyed seeing the little awkward bits where they had to figure out what was okay for them to do intimately in public. There’s no way they had that much “hate” for each other in the first meeting but then they immediately went to being cooperative that nicely. Show them and me a reason to believe they warrant good behaviour towards one another.
While I’m happy things were resolved, I’m failing to see the security and solidarity these two have with one another. I think if I saw all of these (the things I would have appreciated seeing), I would have enjoyed reading this story a lot more.
Here’s what I DID enjoy about Out of Bounds:
- the spice was good. Ladies we have an inkling of praise in here and I’m not just talking “Good Girl”, I’m talking a bit of read in between the lines worship.
- how obsessed and completely head over heels Ryan is for Kassie (despite me not seeing why, I can see that he was)
- how uncomplicated of a character Ryan is. Don’t get me wrong, he’s done some stupid stuff but it’s one of those things where you can’t be too mad about it because that’s how he is and he’s learning to be aware of it. I loved that for him.
- I also liked how he immediately knew he screwed up the moment things weren’t going well. I’ve never seen a dude really scramble to make things right before (and now that I’m remembering that this is fictitious, looks like I’m still never going to see a man scramble to make things right).
- The lowkey possessive pride he has over going out with Kassie. And the way he loves her being in his clothes.
- I said this in the beginning but I’ll say this again, the spice was really good. I lowkey wish there was more. I also wish I had the spicy bits in Kassie’s pov as well (which is a view I don’t generally want, but I love seeing how it is on the other side).
Overall, I do say it was a somewhat good read. It’s not top tier for me and I’d say it’s more mid leaning to low. Frankly this wasn’t my cup of tea but again, just because others don’t enjoy it doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy it. It’s fairly cute and light hearted. I think I just read this at the wrong time and after the wrong book.
I want to begin by saying that this is an ARC I picked up and in exchange for not having to pay for it (AKA free), I would leave an honest review of it. So here it is. I won’t lie I struggled getting through this novel, but I did slightly enjoy it.
Let me talk about the parts I didn’t enjoy first and before I begin I just want you to know that this rating and review can be the way it is because I’m just THAT kind of person where it seems I’m a little hard to please. Because you could enjoy this book too so don’t let my experience get in the way of liking your’s.
- I didn’t quite understand both the plot and the timeline of the story. It’s hard to believe that all of this happened within the beginning of the semester and christmas; and I’m not talking about chemistry because that stuff can be created in a few months. I’m failing to catch when the feelings were caught when they were being caught. I would have enjoyed perhaps knowing whenever everything happened time-wise and not have Cleo shout what the next event was. Somehow it just became the end of the semester and there was no timeline.
- The inter-relationships in this novel; King seems like a solid dude and Adam sounds like the spitfire playboy of the group however their relationship with Ryan didn’t seem quite cohesive. It’s not like other books where you can tell that there’s a hint of a solid ground and history for friendship. You don’t need time to showcase this but I think it needs to be solidified there’s a reason and reprieve for having these kids (I’m mostly talking about Adam) in your life. Simply put, it felt like I was dropped into witnessing how they act with one another without seeing how their friendships have substance.
- Building from these previous points but is somewhat separate, I do think the transitions between should be more established. Sometimes we just moved to the next part of the plot and I’m like okay how or when or why did this happen? The progression in relationships felt like jumps more than it was supposed to feel natural. I wished I would have seen the little study dates in between or the little dorm get-togethers they would attend together. Things that aren’t part of the deal that they made but also built their relationship. While I enjoyed that they enjoyed each other during their deal, I would’ve truly enjoyed what their relationship is like off the schedule Cleo had for them.
- Working off of Ryan’s schedule more than seeing more into Kassie’s life. All the events were football related and none were about Kassie’s life. They really made Kassie a WAG in this novel and while I’m happy she did what she did at the time she did (for those of you that have read this novel, I hope you know what I’m talking about), I’m not happy with how they resolved the situation. It’s lowkey giving The Bromance Book Club.
- I’m still failing to understand why fake dating was a good move for the both of them. More tells than shows in my opinion. I would have also enjoyed seeing the little awkward bits where they had to figure out what was okay for them to do intimately in public. There’s no way they had that much “hate” for each other in the first meeting but then they immediately went to being cooperative that nicely. Show them and me a reason to believe they warrant good behaviour towards one another.
While I’m happy things were resolved, I’m failing to see the security and solidarity these two have with one another. I think if I saw all of these (the things I would have appreciated seeing), I would have enjoyed reading this story a lot more.
Here’s what I DID enjoy about Out of Bounds:
- the spice was good. Ladies we have an inkling of praise in here and I’m not just talking “Good Girl”, I’m talking a bit of read in between the lines worship.
- how obsessed and completely head over heels Ryan is for Kassie (despite me not seeing why, I can see that he was)
- how uncomplicated of a character Ryan is. Don’t get me wrong, he’s done some stupid stuff but it’s one of those things where you can’t be too mad about it because that’s how he is and he’s learning to be aware of it. I loved that for him.
- I also liked how he immediately knew he screwed up the moment things weren’t going well. I’ve never seen a dude really scramble to make things right before (and now that I’m remembering that this is fictitious, looks like I’m still never going to see a man scramble to make things right).
- The lowkey possessive pride he has over going out with Kassie. And the way he loves her being in his clothes.
- I said this in the beginning but I’ll say this again, the spice was really good. I lowkey wish there was more. I also wish I had the spicy bits in Kassie’s pov as well (which is a view I don’t generally want, but I love seeing how it is on the other side).
Overall, I do say it was a somewhat good read. It’s not top tier for me and I’d say it’s more mid leaning to low. Frankly this wasn’t my cup of tea but again, just because others don’t enjoy it doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy it. It’s fairly cute and light hearted. I think I just read this at the wrong time and after the wrong book.
July 22, 2024
Kassie, an animation art student, and Ryan, the captain of one of the nation’s best college football teams - two people who couldn’t be more different - get paired together in an unlikely professional fake-relationship meant to benefit both of them. Kassie needs the money and Ryan needs to be seen as approachable. The issue? They can’t stand each other right out of the gates. So it shouldn’t be a problem that the #1 rule of their fake dating contract is that they can’t fall in love. But sometimes, rules are meant to be broken.
This book was a solid sports romance that hit a lot of sweet spots - slow burn, he falls first, enemies to lovers, touch him/her and he/she will hunt you down, forbidden romance, fake dating... it’s like a treasure trove of romance tropes. I enjoyed the banter between all the characters, and I loved the roles that the side characters played. And this book is S P I C Y - like, it will make you sweat!
This was an ARC read, and I believe Bree Hayden’s first full-length novel, so I could look past the typos and spelling/grammatical errors and enjoy the plot! I do wish we had seen a little more of Kassie doing her art stuff and being present in HER world rather than just the football side of it, but I loved the scenes we did have on that end, like the guys modeling in the animation suits for her and all her sketches. I also struggled with the thing that caused the 3rd act breakup, since it seemed so minor compared to other stuff that had happened and that had been overlooked, but it all managed to smooth itself out and I enjoyed it overall!
This book was a solid sports romance that hit a lot of sweet spots - slow burn, he falls first, enemies to lovers, touch him/her and he/she will hunt you down, forbidden romance, fake dating... it’s like a treasure trove of romance tropes. I enjoyed the banter between all the characters, and I loved the roles that the side characters played. And this book is S P I C Y - like, it will make you sweat!
This was an ARC read, and I believe Bree Hayden’s first full-length novel, so I could look past the typos and spelling/grammatical errors and enjoy the plot! I do wish we had seen a little more of Kassie doing her art stuff and being present in HER world rather than just the football side of it, but I loved the scenes we did have on that end, like the guys modeling in the animation suits for her and all her sketches. I also struggled with the thing that caused the 3rd act breakup, since it seemed so minor compared to other stuff that had happened and that had been overlooked, but it all managed to smooth itself out and I enjoyed it overall!
Read
March 1, 2025DNF. I was a bit confused. It felt like paragraphs with important dialogue were being skipped.
December 4, 2024
This was such a wild ride. I’m here for it!! Don’t be scared of it being 600+ pages. It really never felt like filler. I was hooked the whole time! Can’t wait to read her other books!!!
July 22, 2024
This was CUTE! I love sports romances so much! And truly I love nothing more than fake dating especially when they start off in the wrong foot!! It’s not quite enjoyed to lovers but more like…Kassie is constantly annoyed with Ryan while he’s totally obsessed with her but also a dingbat then they develop all the FEELINGS!! They were so much fun!
I also love an over protective man!! And Ryan was that and more! He cared so much for Kassie straight away, and she didn’t quite know way to do with it. And while I found them both frustrating at times in the beginning once they really leaned into the fake relationship, and then their FEELINGS they were so so so so SOFT for each other!
And I FULLY support books being long! And the chapters were short so it kept everything moving pretty quickly, but there were times I was lost because it was just so long…
And I’ll be honest the rules don’t make sense to me. It’s a college football romance. But everything is treated like it’s the pros? The PR, the money they’re just handing out to Kassie?? The dorm situation was confusing?? How can a college dorm be rented month to month? And I don’t feel like the guys were really good friends?? Like they WERE but they were always at odds? Which is real life don’t get me wrong but also Adam is SURE they won’t be friends after college…that was odd and I’m sure that’ll change in his book!
All in all the vibes were there! Otherwise I wouldn’t have finished it. It was funny and Ryan and Kassie were sweet and SPICY! I really enjoyed the writing. And I’m going to immediately start reading Playing For Keeps!
Thanks to Bree Hayden for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
3.5/3.75 🌟
I also love an over protective man!! And Ryan was that and more! He cared so much for Kassie straight away, and she didn’t quite know way to do with it. And while I found them both frustrating at times in the beginning once they really leaned into the fake relationship, and then their FEELINGS they were so so so so SOFT for each other!
And I FULLY support books being long! And the chapters were short so it kept everything moving pretty quickly, but there were times I was lost because it was just so long…
And I’ll be honest the rules don’t make sense to me. It’s a college football romance. But everything is treated like it’s the pros? The PR, the money they’re just handing out to Kassie?? The dorm situation was confusing?? How can a college dorm be rented month to month? And I don’t feel like the guys were really good friends?? Like they WERE but they were always at odds? Which is real life don’t get me wrong but also Adam is SURE they won’t be friends after college…that was odd and I’m sure that’ll change in his book!
All in all the vibes were there! Otherwise I wouldn’t have finished it. It was funny and Ryan and Kassie were sweet and SPICY! I really enjoyed the writing. And I’m going to immediately start reading Playing For Keeps!
Thanks to Bree Hayden for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
3.5/3.75 🌟
August 20, 2025
3.75 ⭐️
"I'm obsessed with you," he admitted against my skin. I stroked his jaw. "You're my person."
I AM OBSESSED WITH KASSIE AND RYAN!
I absolutely love strong headed women, and, as Adam would say, p*ssy whipped men. How fortunate for me, both Kassie and Ryan fit the bill!
The banter between those two was topnotch and when they finally get together *for real*?? Amazing!
The plot felt a bit rushed with no clear timeline but nonetheless I devoured this book so fast. The last couple of chapters had me nearly sobbing because I could just feel the pain.
So excited to start the next book in this series! 🥰
"I'm obsessed with you," he admitted against my skin. I stroked his jaw. "You're my person."
I AM OBSESSED WITH KASSIE AND RYAN!
I absolutely love strong headed women, and, as Adam would say, p*ssy whipped men. How fortunate for me, both Kassie and Ryan fit the bill!
The banter between those two was topnotch and when they finally get together *for real*?? Amazing!
The plot felt a bit rushed with no clear timeline but nonetheless I devoured this book so fast. The last couple of chapters had me nearly sobbing because I could just feel the pain.
So excited to start the next book in this series! 🥰
July 22, 2024
Loved the friendship group with all the banter but felt this was just a touch too long. I adored the returning characters which we meet in Change the Play. Overall it was a great read.
August 20, 2023
I thought this was such a fun book to read. Ryan is pretty enamored with Kassie from the start. Kassie thinks Ryan is attractive but is set on her goals and doesn’t have time for anything else. When it turns out that Kassie can help Ryan as his fake girlfriend, the sparks really flew, and these two couldn’t get enough of each other. I found this story was well written and entertaining, and liked the characters were not perfect as it made the story a bit more real.
I received a free advance reader copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my fair and hoenst review.
I received a free advance reader copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my fair and hoenst review.
August 14, 2024
Thank you for sending me an eARC! I really appreciate it! 💖 Sorry for not getting a review out before the release date!
Ryan is the Captain of the Romans Football team for Marrs University. He knows nothing about technology and lives and breathes football.
Kassie is an art student at Marrs who has always had to get by on her own, she works hard for everything she does.
These two find themselves having to be in a fake relationship for the Romans PR after having a not so good initial meeting. The catch is they can’t actually fall for each other and as far as they’re both concerned that won’t be a problem. But the more time Kassie and Ryan spend together, the more a problem their no feeling rule becomes.
Overall, I did enjoy this book. I was investing in Ryan and Kassie falling for each other when they initially didn’t want anything to do with the each other.
I did however find myself a bit lost at times, like I was meant to know something but I wasn’t sure what that was and I couldn’t figure out what I was missing either. I found it felt a bit dragging at times, like it didn’t match the pacing of the rest of the book. I also found there to be some spicy scenes that felt a bit unnecessary to the rest of the story or plot, they’re just thrown in to be there almost. Like I wanted more story but was just getting spice that didn’t quite fit. I think some could’ve been left out. This also applies to other non spicy scenes where it messed a bit with pacing, as we had focus on moments I felt could’ve been left out and we had glazed over on other areas I wanted to know more about or felt should’ve been explored a bit more. This occurred more frequently the farther into the story I got, which made me struggle to get through the rest.
I also found this to be very Ryan focused. We got glimpses at Kassie’s life outside of Ryan, but most of it pertained to Ryan and their relationship and football. Not much on Kassie’s life with Art unless it was Ryan and football related.
There is an HEA, but I found it to be a bit underwhelming. I felt like I was missing information and wasn’t quite able to fully piece together what was going on. Yet it felt a bit out of place, like how things happened didn’t seem to fit with Kassie’s personality.
While I did enjoy this book, I felt like where I got lost and the amount of times I got lost did hinder that enjoyment of it a bit, especially towards the end.
Out of curiosity, I went to Goodreads to see what others thought and I found a review that articulates most of my thoughts better than I could. What didn’t work for them mostly didn’t work for me. After reading their review, I agree with what wasn’t working with this story. Some points weren’t as much of a problem to me as others that I mentioned.
You can check out the review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
3⭐️
Ryan is the Captain of the Romans Football team for Marrs University. He knows nothing about technology and lives and breathes football.
Kassie is an art student at Marrs who has always had to get by on her own, she works hard for everything she does.
These two find themselves having to be in a fake relationship for the Romans PR after having a not so good initial meeting. The catch is they can’t actually fall for each other and as far as they’re both concerned that won’t be a problem. But the more time Kassie and Ryan spend together, the more a problem their no feeling rule becomes.
Overall, I did enjoy this book. I was investing in Ryan and Kassie falling for each other when they initially didn’t want anything to do with the each other.
I did however find myself a bit lost at times, like I was meant to know something but I wasn’t sure what that was and I couldn’t figure out what I was missing either. I found it felt a bit dragging at times, like it didn’t match the pacing of the rest of the book. I also found there to be some spicy scenes that felt a bit unnecessary to the rest of the story or plot, they’re just thrown in to be there almost. Like I wanted more story but was just getting spice that didn’t quite fit. I think some could’ve been left out. This also applies to other non spicy scenes where it messed a bit with pacing, as we had focus on moments I felt could’ve been left out and we had glazed over on other areas I wanted to know more about or felt should’ve been explored a bit more. This occurred more frequently the farther into the story I got, which made me struggle to get through the rest.
I also found this to be very Ryan focused. We got glimpses at Kassie’s life outside of Ryan, but most of it pertained to Ryan and their relationship and football. Not much on Kassie’s life with Art unless it was Ryan and football related.
There is an HEA, but I found it to be a bit underwhelming. I felt like I was missing information and wasn’t quite able to fully piece together what was going on. Yet it felt a bit out of place, like how things happened didn’t seem to fit with Kassie’s personality.
While I did enjoy this book, I felt like where I got lost and the amount of times I got lost did hinder that enjoyment of it a bit, especially towards the end.
Out of curiosity, I went to Goodreads to see what others thought and I found a review that articulates most of my thoughts better than I could. What didn’t work for them mostly didn’t work for me. After reading their review, I agree with what wasn’t working with this story. Some points weren’t as much of a problem to me as others that I mentioned.
You can check out the review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
3⭐️
February 24, 2026
🌟🌟🌟.5
3.5/5 stars — flirty, fast-paced, and packed with just enough angst to keep it interesting.
⚠️ Spoilers ahead — relationship tropes, emotional backstories, and key romantic developments discussed! ⚠️
Out of Bounds delivers exactly what you expect from a sports romance sequel — heat, banter, locker room tension — but adds just enough emotional depth to give the story weight.
This installment leans into the classic athlete-meets-strong-willed-heroine dynamic, and the chemistry is immediate. He’s confident, a little cocky, and used to being in control on the field. She’s independent, sharp-tongued, and absolutely not impressed by his reputation. Their push-and-pull dynamic fuels the first half of the book and keeps the pacing snappy.
The relationship builds quickly — maybe a little too quickly at times — but the physical tension is undeniable. Hayden doesn’t shy away from the heat, and the intimate scenes are bold without feeling gratuitous. The attraction feels natural, even when the emotional development occasionally lags behind the physical connection.
Where the book really finds its footing is in the vulnerability. Beneath the athlete persona is someone carrying pressure — expectations, image management, the fear of failing publicly. And the heroine’s guarded edges aren’t random either; they’re protective. When the walls start coming down on both sides, the story gets stronger.
The conflict lands solidly, though it’s somewhat predictable. Miscommunication and pride drive much of the late-game tension, and while it fits the characters, it doesn’t fully surprise. Still, the emotional payoff feels satisfying enough to make the ride worthwhile.
As part of the Even The Score series, this book expands the team dynamic nicely. Side characters add energy without overshadowing the central romance, and it sets up future storylines in a way that feels intentional.
🔥 Spice Rating: 3/5
Definitely steamier than your average sports romance — confident, playful, and frequent.
📌 Content Warnings: sports injuries, public scrutiny, mild emotional manipulation, family pressure
Final Thoughts:
Out of Bounds is a solid, steamy addition to the series. It may not reinvent the sports romance playbook, but it executes the tropes well and delivers satisfying chemistry.
A fun, bingeable 3.5/5 — perfect for when you want tension, heat, and a guaranteed happily-ever-after. 🏈🔥✨
3.5/5 stars — flirty, fast-paced, and packed with just enough angst to keep it interesting.
⚠️ Spoilers ahead — relationship tropes, emotional backstories, and key romantic developments discussed! ⚠️
Out of Bounds delivers exactly what you expect from a sports romance sequel — heat, banter, locker room tension — but adds just enough emotional depth to give the story weight.
This installment leans into the classic athlete-meets-strong-willed-heroine dynamic, and the chemistry is immediate. He’s confident, a little cocky, and used to being in control on the field. She’s independent, sharp-tongued, and absolutely not impressed by his reputation. Their push-and-pull dynamic fuels the first half of the book and keeps the pacing snappy.
The relationship builds quickly — maybe a little too quickly at times — but the physical tension is undeniable. Hayden doesn’t shy away from the heat, and the intimate scenes are bold without feeling gratuitous. The attraction feels natural, even when the emotional development occasionally lags behind the physical connection.
Where the book really finds its footing is in the vulnerability. Beneath the athlete persona is someone carrying pressure — expectations, image management, the fear of failing publicly. And the heroine’s guarded edges aren’t random either; they’re protective. When the walls start coming down on both sides, the story gets stronger.
The conflict lands solidly, though it’s somewhat predictable. Miscommunication and pride drive much of the late-game tension, and while it fits the characters, it doesn’t fully surprise. Still, the emotional payoff feels satisfying enough to make the ride worthwhile.
As part of the Even The Score series, this book expands the team dynamic nicely. Side characters add energy without overshadowing the central romance, and it sets up future storylines in a way that feels intentional.
🔥 Spice Rating: 3/5
Definitely steamier than your average sports romance — confident, playful, and frequent.
📌 Content Warnings: sports injuries, public scrutiny, mild emotional manipulation, family pressure
Final Thoughts:
Out of Bounds is a solid, steamy addition to the series. It may not reinvent the sports romance playbook, but it executes the tropes well and delivers satisfying chemistry.
A fun, bingeable 3.5/5 — perfect for when you want tension, heat, and a guaranteed happily-ever-after. 🏈🔥✨
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 11, 2025
I did not expect this book. Oh my god I want to melt it down and shoot it up like it’s heroine. I loved this book.
This book was fantastic. The wit, the plot, the romance, the found family - it was all golden. I cannot stop giggling over this book.
The romance in this book was prefect. The MMC was down bad the entire time and he did not care. In fact he made it known how down bad he was for her. The FMC had a tough exterior and didn’t like to show emotion but when she did she was almost as bad as he was. This was a “he fell first and he fell harder” situation and I didn’t know I needed
The fmc of this novel aspires to be a cartoon artists but a cluster fuck of a meeting and instead of meeting her hero she meets one of the captains of her football team. And they immediately fight. Can I just say I love the mouth in this FMC. I loved it so much. She is witty and mean and hateful to everyone but the MMC and to the MMC she is witty and flirty and downright filthy with him.
Now, I don’t think we learned a lot about the FMC, in retrospect I don’t think we learned a lot about almost any of the characters at all ( I don’t think I knew the MMC had sibling until the epilogue) but I loved everything about the character
The MMC was adorable and sweet and loving and kind and perfect and handsome and so so so so into his girl it made my teeth ache. I am nothing if not a sucker for men who are in love. Imma be so honest with you. If a man killed someone all they’d have to say is “I did it for love” and I’d call them innocent and that is exactly the vibe the MMC brings.
In love with the FMC.
And honestly, that’s all they need to bring. I found myself giggling and kicking my feet more times than I can count because of the adorable shit that was being said.
And the SPICE. Bruh.
Lemme tell you.
Sometimes spice is vanilla, it’s vanilla sex. But soMETIMES. THE VANILLA SEX MAKES U BLUSH.
NONE OF THE SEX IN HERE WAS CRAZY BUT EVERY SEX SCENE HAD ME BLUSHING. EVERY ONE. AND I A SEASONED SMUT READER ( I started on wattpad bro. I’m not new to this) AND ALL THE SEX HAD ME BLUSHING.
I just wanted to let u know that even thought the sex is vanilla ( the kinkiest thing they do is some rough grabbing of certain areas) it is HOT. HOT HOT HOT.
god 10/10 I need to buy this in physical format now.
This book was fantastic. The wit, the plot, the romance, the found family - it was all golden. I cannot stop giggling over this book.
The romance in this book was prefect. The MMC was down bad the entire time and he did not care. In fact he made it known how down bad he was for her. The FMC had a tough exterior and didn’t like to show emotion but when she did she was almost as bad as he was. This was a “he fell first and he fell harder” situation and I didn’t know I needed
The fmc of this novel aspires to be a cartoon artists but a cluster fuck of a meeting and instead of meeting her hero she meets one of the captains of her football team. And they immediately fight. Can I just say I love the mouth in this FMC. I loved it so much. She is witty and mean and hateful to everyone but the MMC and to the MMC she is witty and flirty and downright filthy with him.
Now, I don’t think we learned a lot about the FMC, in retrospect I don’t think we learned a lot about almost any of the characters at all ( I don’t think I knew the MMC had sibling until the epilogue) but I loved everything about the character
The MMC was adorable and sweet and loving and kind and perfect and handsome and so so so so into his girl it made my teeth ache. I am nothing if not a sucker for men who are in love. Imma be so honest with you. If a man killed someone all they’d have to say is “I did it for love” and I’d call them innocent and that is exactly the vibe the MMC brings.
In love with the FMC.
And honestly, that’s all they need to bring. I found myself giggling and kicking my feet more times than I can count because of the adorable shit that was being said.
And the SPICE. Bruh.
Lemme tell you.
Sometimes spice is vanilla, it’s vanilla sex. But soMETIMES. THE VANILLA SEX MAKES U BLUSH.
NONE OF THE SEX IN HERE WAS CRAZY BUT EVERY SEX SCENE HAD ME BLUSHING. EVERY ONE. AND I A SEASONED SMUT READER ( I started on wattpad bro. I’m not new to this) AND ALL THE SEX HAD ME BLUSHING.
I just wanted to let u know that even thought the sex is vanilla ( the kinkiest thing they do is some rough grabbing of certain areas) it is HOT. HOT HOT HOT.
god 10/10 I need to buy this in physical format now.
October 21, 2024
Out of Bounds is a delightful romance that stands out with its charming characters, witty dialogue, and an engaging blend of humor and heartfelt moments. The novel follows Kassie, an animation student, who unexpectedly finds herself in a fake relationship with Ryan, the captain of the college football team. But what begins as a seemingly straightforward arrangement soon evolves into something deeper.
Kassie is a strong, creative woman with a sharp sense of humor, and her interactions with Ryan are filled with clever banter. Ryan, while being a football star, is portrayed as more than just a typical athlete. His struggles with technology and his occasional cluelessness add a layer of vulnerability and make him feel approachable despite his status. Ryan is the boyfriend we all secretly want, the tough exterior with a heart of gold. We all need that guy who fixes the holes in your dorm's wall and takes you dress shopping, not because he has to, but because he wants to. The fake relationship trope is handled well here, offering plenty of entertaining scenarios as the two characters navigate their feelings. As they spend more time together, the lines between pretense and reality blur, leading to a genuine emotional connection and chemistry that is electric.
Bree does an excellent job of creating a fun and lighthearted story while also delving into deeper themes of self-discovery, vulnerability, and breaking down stereotypes. The secondary characters add to the richness of the college atmosphere, supporting the central romance without overshadowing it.
Overall, Out of Bounds is a delightful read filled with humor, heart, and a satisfying slow-burn romance. Fans of college romance and the fake relationship trope will find this story thoroughly enjoyable.
🌹Thank you to the author @breehaydenauthor for the gifted copy.
Kassie is a strong, creative woman with a sharp sense of humor, and her interactions with Ryan are filled with clever banter. Ryan, while being a football star, is portrayed as more than just a typical athlete. His struggles with technology and his occasional cluelessness add a layer of vulnerability and make him feel approachable despite his status. Ryan is the boyfriend we all secretly want, the tough exterior with a heart of gold. We all need that guy who fixes the holes in your dorm's wall and takes you dress shopping, not because he has to, but because he wants to. The fake relationship trope is handled well here, offering plenty of entertaining scenarios as the two characters navigate their feelings. As they spend more time together, the lines between pretense and reality blur, leading to a genuine emotional connection and chemistry that is electric.
Bree does an excellent job of creating a fun and lighthearted story while also delving into deeper themes of self-discovery, vulnerability, and breaking down stereotypes. The secondary characters add to the richness of the college atmosphere, supporting the central romance without overshadowing it.
Overall, Out of Bounds is a delightful read filled with humor, heart, and a satisfying slow-burn romance. Fans of college romance and the fake relationship trope will find this story thoroughly enjoyable.
🌹Thank you to the author @breehaydenauthor for the gifted copy.
February 15, 2026
If you love fake dating, he falls first, and a football player who is completely gone for his girl, Out of Bounds delivers everything you want in a sports romance.
This book hit so many of my favorite tropes—fake relationship, opposites attract, protective hero energy, and a guaranteed happily ever after. Ryan falling first (and everyone noticing it before Kassie does) was one of my favorite parts. His actions made it obvious he was all-in, and watching him show up for her again and again was so good.
I loved the dynamic between Kassie and Ryan’s friend group. The way she adopted them as “my boys” added such a fun found-family element, and the “off-limits” protection Ryan put around her ended up benefiting the whole group.
The banter and humor made their relationship feel natural, and I really appreciated that Kassie never questioned whether she was good enough for Ryan. She was confident in herself and just as protective of him, especially when it came to dealing with reporters and fans.
Ryan was the perfect mix of swoony and endearing—between his little technology mishaps and the 53 reasons he’d be a loyal boyfriend, he completely won me over. Their chemistry is strong, their connection feels genuine, and once their fake relationship starts blurring into something real, it’s hard not to root for them.
With a chaotic playboy best friend, protective moments, great friend-group dynamics, and Kassie going from knowing nothing about football to fully understanding his world, this was such a fun and satisfying read.
If you’re looking for:
🏈Fake dating
💋He falls first
🏈Protective football hero
💋Found family vibes
🏈Great banter and strong chemistry
💋Guaranteed HEA
This one is definitely worth picking up.
This book hit so many of my favorite tropes—fake relationship, opposites attract, protective hero energy, and a guaranteed happily ever after. Ryan falling first (and everyone noticing it before Kassie does) was one of my favorite parts. His actions made it obvious he was all-in, and watching him show up for her again and again was so good.
I loved the dynamic between Kassie and Ryan’s friend group. The way she adopted them as “my boys” added such a fun found-family element, and the “off-limits” protection Ryan put around her ended up benefiting the whole group.
The banter and humor made their relationship feel natural, and I really appreciated that Kassie never questioned whether she was good enough for Ryan. She was confident in herself and just as protective of him, especially when it came to dealing with reporters and fans.
Ryan was the perfect mix of swoony and endearing—between his little technology mishaps and the 53 reasons he’d be a loyal boyfriend, he completely won me over. Their chemistry is strong, their connection feels genuine, and once their fake relationship starts blurring into something real, it’s hard not to root for them.
With a chaotic playboy best friend, protective moments, great friend-group dynamics, and Kassie going from knowing nothing about football to fully understanding his world, this was such a fun and satisfying read.
If you’re looking for:
🏈Fake dating
💋He falls first
🏈Protective football hero
💋Found family vibes
🏈Great banter and strong chemistry
💋Guaranteed HEA
This one is definitely worth picking up.
August 4, 2024
I received this as a ARC.
First; Thank you so so much to Bree for letting me read this. I'm feeling so honored !
second;
I really liked this story and I really liked the main characters, Ryan and Kassie.
Ryan was a hard shell to get to know but when he finally started to open up and start to relax a little bit then he was so amazing! I liked how he wanted to protect Kassie and how their relationship completed each others.
Kassie is badass and I loooved how she stood up for hershelf and didn't take any crap from others. It was cute how she wanted to protect Ryan and defend him. We like a strong woman!!
The banter between the two characters was funny and it got a few laughs out of me.
The story was a bit long but I honestly didn't mind it. I can't really think of a scenario that could get cut out. The writing was so well done. The spice is also just the right amount!! 🥵 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
This book is a perfect fake relationship story.
quote: ''Kassandra Ragar, why the fuck would I say no? ''
''The- the contract?''
''Fuck the contract,'' he snapped.
(the way i squeal when this happened.. iiiiiiih!!!!)
quote:''there's no way it's that big,'' I whimpered. ''what the fuck?''
''I'll get you ready for it''
IT WAS SOOOOO DAM GOOD!!! Definitely a must read if you like fake relationships, sports romance, uptight MMC, funny artsy FMC, great amount of spice and some great side characters!
First; Thank you so so much to Bree for letting me read this. I'm feeling so honored !
second;
I really liked this story and I really liked the main characters, Ryan and Kassie.
Ryan was a hard shell to get to know but when he finally started to open up and start to relax a little bit then he was so amazing! I liked how he wanted to protect Kassie and how their relationship completed each others.
Kassie is badass and I loooved how she stood up for hershelf and didn't take any crap from others. It was cute how she wanted to protect Ryan and defend him. We like a strong woman!!
The banter between the two characters was funny and it got a few laughs out of me.
The story was a bit long but I honestly didn't mind it. I can't really think of a scenario that could get cut out. The writing was so well done. The spice is also just the right amount!! 🥵 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
This book is a perfect fake relationship story.
quote: ''Kassandra Ragar, why the fuck would I say no? ''
''The- the contract?''
''Fuck the contract,'' he snapped.
(the way i squeal when this happened.. iiiiiiih!!!!)
quote:''there's no way it's that big,'' I whimpered. ''what the fuck?''
''I'll get you ready for it''
IT WAS SOOOOO DAM GOOD!!! Definitely a must read if you like fake relationships, sports romance, uptight MMC, funny artsy FMC, great amount of spice and some great side characters!
September 25, 2024
I review based on vibes and the vibes were VIBING. I love the universe of Marrs University, and the trio of King, Adam, and Ryan. I definitely read this out of order (I did an ARC read for Adam's and then went out and got this one), but I was kind of fun because it didn't impact the story line and I know what Adam has coming to him (all good things 😉).
The dual POVs were great, and I am SUCH a huge fan of fake dating and how surprised couples are every time when they catch feelings.
Kassie is so cute, I loved getting to see her as an FMC.
Ryan is just a nugget. After reading Playing for Keeps first, he really didn't seem to have a personality, so I was pleasantly surprised to see he was actually quite vocal and introspective. I think it says a lot about Bree's writing about how these characters view just their world and how there is more to their friends. (For example, believe it or not, Adam has feelings, you just don't get to see it until his story)
Bree likes her 3rd act breakups, and this one is no different, but I'll just say.....this one surprised me and it wasn't something I was ready for!
The chemistry between these two was amazing. You could feel it through the pages.
And oh, the BANTER! I had so many giggle and cackle out loud moments, I'm not sure I've ever laughed so hard at some banter. Top notch. For sure.
I'm going to need Bree to hurry up and finish King's story because now more than ever, I need his POV.
The dual POVs were great, and I am SUCH a huge fan of fake dating and how surprised couples are every time when they catch feelings.
Kassie is so cute, I loved getting to see her as an FMC.
Ryan is just a nugget. After reading Playing for Keeps first, he really didn't seem to have a personality, so I was pleasantly surprised to see he was actually quite vocal and introspective. I think it says a lot about Bree's writing about how these characters view just their world and how there is more to their friends. (For example, believe it or not, Adam has feelings, you just don't get to see it until his story)
Bree likes her 3rd act breakups, and this one is no different, but I'll just say.....this one surprised me and it wasn't something I was ready for!
The chemistry between these two was amazing. You could feel it through the pages.
And oh, the BANTER! I had so many giggle and cackle out loud moments, I'm not sure I've ever laughed so hard at some banter. Top notch. For sure.
I'm going to need Bree to hurry up and finish King's story because now more than ever, I need his POV.
January 18, 2025
📚: ebook avalible on KU
📚: College Sport Romance
📚: sport romance, forced proximity, fake dating, Quarterback x art student (Kassie x Ryan), he falls first, dislike to lovers, jealous and possessive, Grumpy x Sunshine (both MC display both tropes)
⭐️: 5
🌶: 2
Thoughts:
🏈 I usually don't like the fake dating trope, but Bree did it in such a fantastic way that I loved it... also Kassie is a fiesty, loveable, relatable FMC and some of there situations hit close to home but Bree's writing did this justice ...
🏈 If you have seen my good reads (link in bio) progress updates or review, you know that I mention there is a small miscommunication trope. And while i know this can be a deal breaker for some people, the way that Bree incorporates in her writing, is fantastic that I didn't hate it being there. Because I know if I was the FMC in this book, that's how I would relate to those certain situations...
🏈 As well, seeing the character development from Ryan and how he falls first while battling with his feelings (and acceptance of them) and all the things he does for Kassie while saying it's "just for appearances"
🏈 I also might have a new book boyfriend 👀
🏈 It's an amazing cross of sports x romance 😍
🏈 Page 202 & 214 had me in tears 😢
🏈 The plot twists had me on my toes
🏈 Pages 379 & 380 had me giggling like a little school girl
🏈 Pages 404 & 405 had me cackling
🏈Chapter 74 broke my heart
🏈Page 476
📚: College Sport Romance
📚: sport romance, forced proximity, fake dating, Quarterback x art student (Kassie x Ryan), he falls first, dislike to lovers, jealous and possessive, Grumpy x Sunshine (both MC display both tropes)
⭐️: 5
🌶: 2
Thoughts:
🏈 I usually don't like the fake dating trope, but Bree did it in such a fantastic way that I loved it... also Kassie is a fiesty, loveable, relatable FMC and some of there situations hit close to home but Bree's writing did this justice ...
🏈 If you have seen my good reads (link in bio) progress updates or review, you know that I mention there is a small miscommunication trope. And while i know this can be a deal breaker for some people, the way that Bree incorporates in her writing, is fantastic that I didn't hate it being there. Because I know if I was the FMC in this book, that's how I would relate to those certain situations...
🏈 As well, seeing the character development from Ryan and how he falls first while battling with his feelings (and acceptance of them) and all the things he does for Kassie while saying it's "just for appearances"
🏈 I also might have a new book boyfriend 👀
🏈 It's an amazing cross of sports x romance 😍
🏈 Page 202 & 214 had me in tears 😢
🏈 The plot twists had me on my toes
🏈 Pages 379 & 380 had me giggling like a little school girl
🏈 Pages 404 & 405 had me cackling
🏈Chapter 74 broke my heart
🏈Page 476
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2024
“And the kind of hands I would have loved to draw in a sketch class. Prominent lines and long fingers.”
Thank you so much for sending me the arc of this, I loved it!
Okay I was not expecting to love Ryan as much as I did. I loved the technophobic football player so much.
He was a man obsessed with his girl, I loved all the little things he would do, like keeping all her little drawings no matter how pointless. As an art girl myself I understand why Kassie got so choked up over it.
Kassie loved all the little, sometimes unhinged, things Ryan would do for her too. Like an off limits tag, most people wouldn’t be too happy, but she just rolled with it and enjoyed it all the more.
I loved watching Ryan going for a grumpy, stern team captain into such a sweet puppy dog. (The moment she says she likes him, literally puppy mode is activated, it’s adorable)
I loved their friendship group, and that’s we got to see a little bit more of Cleo and Miles, I’m really looking forward to Adam’s book now and hoping king gets one soon too.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
“I’d like to submit an official request to be your boyfriend. Your real boyfriend.”
Thank you so much for sending me the arc of this, I loved it!
Okay I was not expecting to love Ryan as much as I did. I loved the technophobic football player so much.
He was a man obsessed with his girl, I loved all the little things he would do, like keeping all her little drawings no matter how pointless. As an art girl myself I understand why Kassie got so choked up over it.
Kassie loved all the little, sometimes unhinged, things Ryan would do for her too. Like an off limits tag, most people wouldn’t be too happy, but she just rolled with it and enjoyed it all the more.
I loved watching Ryan going for a grumpy, stern team captain into such a sweet puppy dog. (The moment she says she likes him, literally puppy mode is activated, it’s adorable)
I loved their friendship group, and that’s we got to see a little bit more of Cleo and Miles, I’m really looking forward to Adam’s book now and hoping king gets one soon too.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
“I’d like to submit an official request to be your boyfriend. Your real boyfriend.”
July 25, 2024
Out of Bounds
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
Fake Dating
He Falls First
College Football Romance
Who Did This To You
Touch Her and 😱 Vibes
Out of Bounds by Bree Hayden is such a fun, fast paced read that I couldn’t put down.
The book follows Kassie and Ryan in a dual POV college romance story that has all the spice. The main characters attraction and sexual tension is so palpable right off the bat that it leaves you desperate to continue reading.
When I say I loved this book, I mean I LOVED this book. It was so fun and lighthearted but had a good mix of serious drama and character development that made it so worthwhile.
Though this book is technically a stand alone, it does reference characters from the other Men Are From Marrs books, but you don’t need to read the others to understand Kassie and Ryan’s story.
If you love fake dating college romance books with nobody touches her but me vibes, this is THE book for you. Add it to the TBR and enjoy the fantastic read that you’re about to completely immerse yourself in.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
Fake Dating
He Falls First
College Football Romance
Who Did This To You
Touch Her and 😱 Vibes
Out of Bounds by Bree Hayden is such a fun, fast paced read that I couldn’t put down.
The book follows Kassie and Ryan in a dual POV college romance story that has all the spice. The main characters attraction and sexual tension is so palpable right off the bat that it leaves you desperate to continue reading.
When I say I loved this book, I mean I LOVED this book. It was so fun and lighthearted but had a good mix of serious drama and character development that made it so worthwhile.
Though this book is technically a stand alone, it does reference characters from the other Men Are From Marrs books, but you don’t need to read the others to understand Kassie and Ryan’s story.
If you love fake dating college romance books with nobody touches her but me vibes, this is THE book for you. Add it to the TBR and enjoy the fantastic read that you’re about to completely immerse yourself in.
September 26, 2025
WOW WOW WOW
I randomly chose this book since it popped up in KU as a suggested read and I needed a palate cleanse AND OHHH BOY. I didn’t expect to land on a 6 star read. I couldn’t put this book down, I swear I finished this in less than 24 hours and I wished it was longer. I laughed sooo hard and all the side characters were soooo good but didn’t take away from the the MC. The pacing, the mood, vibes (FOOTBALL SEASON BABY 🤘🏽), the plot, the third act break up, the off limits tag, THE MMC AND FMC I swear i did not skip one word from this book. It was sooooo good. I never laughed so hard from a book, the banter, the spiceeeee (oh she wasssss SPICYYYYY) I don’t have any intellectual thing to say cuz this book is purely for vibes and a good romcom 🤭🤭🤭 I love a man that knows exactly what he wants 😜
I randomly chose this book since it popped up in KU as a suggested read and I needed a palate cleanse AND OHHH BOY. I didn’t expect to land on a 6 star read. I couldn’t put this book down, I swear I finished this in less than 24 hours and I wished it was longer. I laughed sooo hard and all the side characters were soooo good but didn’t take away from the the MC. The pacing, the mood, vibes (FOOTBALL SEASON BABY 🤘🏽), the plot, the third act break up, the off limits tag, THE MMC AND FMC I swear i did not skip one word from this book. It was sooooo good. I never laughed so hard from a book, the banter, the spiceeeee (oh she wasssss SPICYYYYY) I don’t have any intellectual thing to say cuz this book is purely for vibes and a good romcom 🤭🤭🤭 I love a man that knows exactly what he wants 😜
October 10, 2025
☆ ☆ ☆.75
it is absolutely criminal how long it took me to return to marrs university after first reading ‘playing for keeps’ last year! hopefully it doesn’t take me as long to come back and finish this journey with king’s book before i turn to the hockey crowd 🤭
i loved getting to read all about kassie and ryan’s relationship in this book and how it started after seeing them so in love during ‘playing for keeps’! they have such a good love story.
i did find this book a bit hard to get into at first, but i was so excited for the enemies to forced lovers/ fake dating element to pick up and this kept me engaged. and sure enough, the more i read, the more invested i became! i got sucked right in and caught up in all the emotions. it felt so good to be back at marrs!
i loved how jealous and possessive ryan was over kassie, however at times it was just a tad too much. i also loved how possessive kassie was over ryan without even realising it! it was so much fun to watch the two of them skirt around the fact that they were so in love with one another, but ultimately come crashing together. we even had a ‘who did this to you?’ moment which i LIVED for!
while i found myself giggling and thoroughly caught up on all of the emotions, i did want some more action and to know more things about kassie and ryan’s lives!
despite this book feeling a bit slow at times and the fact that it took me way too long to finish reading, i had a great time with our main characters and their group of friends, getting swept up in the football way of life at college. i definitely recommend this series!
it is absolutely criminal how long it took me to return to marrs university after first reading ‘playing for keeps’ last year! hopefully it doesn’t take me as long to come back and finish this journey with king’s book before i turn to the hockey crowd 🤭
i loved getting to read all about kassie and ryan’s relationship in this book and how it started after seeing them so in love during ‘playing for keeps’! they have such a good love story.
i did find this book a bit hard to get into at first, but i was so excited for the enemies to forced lovers/ fake dating element to pick up and this kept me engaged. and sure enough, the more i read, the more invested i became! i got sucked right in and caught up in all the emotions. it felt so good to be back at marrs!
i loved how jealous and possessive ryan was over kassie, however at times it was just a tad too much. i also loved how possessive kassie was over ryan without even realising it! it was so much fun to watch the two of them skirt around the fact that they were so in love with one another, but ultimately come crashing together. we even had a ‘who did this to you?’ moment which i LIVED for!
while i found myself giggling and thoroughly caught up on all of the emotions, i did want some more action and to know more things about kassie and ryan’s lives!
despite this book feeling a bit slow at times and the fact that it took me way too long to finish reading, i had a great time with our main characters and their group of friends, getting swept up in the football way of life at college. i definitely recommend this series!
January 16, 2026
This book was honestly all over the place. There were parts I really enjoyed about Kassie and Ryan's relationship but they are both so messy and not in a good way. They honestly kind of bring the worst out in each other and there is no way they would actually make it long term. Another issue I had is that the author clearly did next to no research about college football. The entire premise of Ryan being good enough to be drafted but needing a PR girlfriend to make him approachable made absolutely zero sense. The NFL literally does not care about that if you are actually as good as they make Ryan out to be. Also, a university is not going to turn his PR around by hiring him a fake girlfriend. Also what little there was of actual football made no sense to anyone who's has even a bit of knowledge about the sport. I really really wanted to love this book but it needs a lot of work.
August 8, 2024
Sweet Story but Updates Needed
I would give this book 3 1/2 stars. The characters are really likable, and the story line is good. Lots of fun humor and spicy scenes. The only problem is the writing is a bit frenetic - references that don’t make sense, scenes skipping around that are confusing, many grammatical errors and missing words. There are even times where the paragraph is about something the male character is saying and right in the middle the tense changes from him to her and vice versa. I think with some significant professional editing and proofreading it would be much improved. I think this author has a lot of potential because it is a fun read, it’s just a bit frustrating with all the errors.
I would give this book 3 1/2 stars. The characters are really likable, and the story line is good. Lots of fun humor and spicy scenes. The only problem is the writing is a bit frenetic - references that don’t make sense, scenes skipping around that are confusing, many grammatical errors and missing words. There are even times where the paragraph is about something the male character is saying and right in the middle the tense changes from him to her and vice versa. I think with some significant professional editing and proofreading it would be much improved. I think this author has a lot of potential because it is a fun read, it’s just a bit frustrating with all the errors.
July 25, 2024
This book was amazing, I loved reading playing keeps first then reading this book to see how much it took for them to get to where they were in the second book. I was thankful enough to get an ARC copy of the new edition of out of bounds and it was such an amazing read.
The fake dating and he falls first really made me swoon, everything about this book was so cute. I definitely was a part of the hating Ryan in the beginning to loving him and wanting to protect him alongside Kassie. They were the most adorable couple and everyone saw and wanted to protect them.
I loved this book with everything in my heart and i can’t wait to read more from Bree!!
The fake dating and he falls first really made me swoon, everything about this book was so cute. I definitely was a part of the hating Ryan in the beginning to loving him and wanting to protect him alongside Kassie. They were the most adorable couple and everyone saw and wanted to protect them.
I loved this book with everything in my heart and i can’t wait to read more from Bree!!
April 23, 2025
It was okay. A little bit nonsensical(?) and I felt I had to suspend disbelief in some instances. But I’m not really hard to please.
It felt like certain transition between paragraphs were being skipped over and suddenly u went from being in the hall to being in someone’s room apropos of nothing. It was jarring and took me out of the reading experience. And the editing…or lack thereof. I got my version from Amazon so I assumed it would’ve been official but it felt like the book needed another round or 2 of edits to get rid of all the errors. It was bad enough to distract me.
Wasn’t the worst, wasn’t the best. I envisioned it as a wattpad story so my expectations could lower lol
It felt like certain transition between paragraphs were being skipped over and suddenly u went from being in the hall to being in someone’s room apropos of nothing. It was jarring and took me out of the reading experience. And the editing…or lack thereof. I got my version from Amazon so I assumed it would’ve been official but it felt like the book needed another round or 2 of edits to get rid of all the errors. It was bad enough to distract me.
Wasn’t the worst, wasn’t the best. I envisioned it as a wattpad story so my expectations could lower lol
March 21, 2026
It was a slow read because I had eye surgery but this book was good I needed to read it when I wasn’t feel like I wanted to die lol. Adam and Kass were so sassy and cute. In the beginning I thought Adam was going to have a different personality than he did throughout the book. I swear I thought he was going to be another jock but no here is this amazing, responsible, and old man(when it comes to anything technology)like man and I loved him. King was also a shock to and I enjoyed reading about him. Kass’s bestie Z was my favorite like my spirit animal for real. I need money to buy all the books in this series. I loved it so much! The ending was perfection and cute as well.
July 15, 2026
3.5⭐️
I can’t say this enough, I’m a simple girl. I love the fake dating, opposites attract, sports romance of it all. I love when a guy falls first AND falls harder. I like the establishment of the side characters and how they’re not just forgotten throughout the story, but a constant in the main characters lives.
I wish there was a bit more story to balance out the spice, but it was overall enjoyable. It was just a bit of a rushed timeline because I wasn’t too sure where we were in the semester at each part of the story. The only time I felt we had an establish time was for Christmas at the end of the story.
But nonetheless, a fun, lighthearted read.
I can’t say this enough, I’m a simple girl. I love the fake dating, opposites attract, sports romance of it all. I love when a guy falls first AND falls harder. I like the establishment of the side characters and how they’re not just forgotten throughout the story, but a constant in the main characters lives.
I wish there was a bit more story to balance out the spice, but it was overall enjoyable. It was just a bit of a rushed timeline because I wasn’t too sure where we were in the semester at each part of the story. The only time I felt we had an establish time was for Christmas at the end of the story.
But nonetheless, a fun, lighthearted read.
August 19, 2023
This was my first book by Bree and it took me by surprise. It took me a while to get into the story, at the beginning some conversations with Cleo were hard to follow and discouraged me a bit. But once Kassie and Ryan started their fake relationship it only got better and I was hooked, rooting for them all the way. There were some funny moments, mostly with Adam and Elijah. If they ever get their own story, it will be hilarious by times. But I’m very curious to know King’s story, so bring it on.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 24, 2023
I discovered this book thanks to TikTok and it didn't disappoint. The story was a little hard to get into in the beginning but even from Ryan and Kassie's first interaction, I knew that they were gonna have an interesting story! I loved how the both fell for each other especially Ryan considering he fell for her first and I love how he encourages her passion and stands up for her, and I loved how she attempts to understand football and helps see that he is more than a prop. They had such a cute love story!
August 3, 2024
Overall thoughts:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️.5
‘Apparently, fake relationships weren’t spicy make out sessions in the locker rooms - they were corporate paperwork.’
‘F✖️ck the contract’
Tropes: College Romance, Sports Romance, Dual POV, Fake Dating, Protective MMC, He Falls First, Miscommunication, Nickname, Touch Her You 💀
After a chance pairing on a dinner date, Kassie finds herself being offered a fake dating contract with football captain of Marr’s University Ryan Cross.. what could go wrong? It’s only a contract.. 😉
What a fun time this was!! I had such a great time reading this book, it was cute, funny & spicy. The writing style is casual and full of banter, which makes for a fun read.
I really enjoyed the characters & the setting.
Ryan aka Mr Intense, so accurate.. and I love him for it 😅
I would have rated a 5⭐️ based on how much I enjoyed the book but it does need an editor to look through it. There were a few errors needing amendments.
I also would have loved an epilogue.
Thank you to Bree Hayden for the review copy in exchange for an honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️.5
‘Apparently, fake relationships weren’t spicy make out sessions in the locker rooms - they were corporate paperwork.’
‘F✖️ck the contract’
Tropes: College Romance, Sports Romance, Dual POV, Fake Dating, Protective MMC, He Falls First, Miscommunication, Nickname, Touch Her You 💀
After a chance pairing on a dinner date, Kassie finds herself being offered a fake dating contract with football captain of Marr’s University Ryan Cross.. what could go wrong? It’s only a contract.. 😉
What a fun time this was!! I had such a great time reading this book, it was cute, funny & spicy. The writing style is casual and full of banter, which makes for a fun read.
I really enjoyed the characters & the setting.
Ryan aka Mr Intense, so accurate.. and I love him for it 😅
I would have rated a 5⭐️ based on how much I enjoyed the book but it does need an editor to look through it. There were a few errors needing amendments.
I also would have loved an epilogue.
Thank you to Bree Hayden for the review copy in exchange for an honest review.
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