Fumbled Love

by Marina Hill

Raven Barlow

I’m content with my life as a wallflower; it helps me focus on academics, which will then help my future as a diplomat. I average an A-minus in every college class (although I’m loath to include the minus part) except for one: math. No matter how hard I try, math doesn’t click. When I bite the bullet and get a tutor, I don’t expect to see the star quarterback with cracked-open books waiting for me.
 
Zafir Jones is the whole package: compassionate, kind, and has a charming smile. Except there’s one problem: I hate—no, severely dislike (I’m working on being softer)—jocks. They’re pompous, egotistical, and full of toxic masculinity. But Zafir is anything but toxic. Despite his arrogance, he’s smart, always trying to make me blush, and combats my every attempt to write him off as a self-absorbed athlete.
 
With every painted pumpkin, every cuddle with a fluffy corgi, and every silly dance, Zafir breaks down my walls and shows me there’s more to life than staying on the sidelines.


Fumbled Love is the first novella of the Genius in Love series. This is a frenemies college football romance with lots of banter, autumn vibes, and a cute corgi.

Genres: Romance, Sports, Novella, Sports Romance, Forced Proximity, College, College Romance

100 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 20, 2023

About the author

Marina Hill is a multifaceted author of romance and historical fiction. With over a dozen publications of short stories, her work has been hailed as fun comfort reads while managing to discuss important topics. A New Jersey native, Marina spends her days working around books and her nights writing them.

Reviews

[Shawnaci Schroeder · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5
Wow!! I loved this one so much!! Truly was such a fun read and can definitely be read during any season! This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I found myself looking all over to find more of her writing. This story was funny, relatable, and felt like a full story even though it was less than 100 pages!

[Jan Agaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

THIS WAS ADORABLEEE. so quick but somehow still a slow burn & made me nostalgic for my college days hehe

[elyssa ꫂ ၴႅၴ · Rating 4 out of 5]

when he’s a football player tutoring you in math >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

[trinslittlelibrary · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️

an enjoyable quick read that exceeded my expectations! the title of this book is definitely what pulled me in initially, and i will say zafir ALMOST fumbled the ball bro 😂💆🏽‍♀️ but love this little love story, really enjoyed it!

[Mrz. McCane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute, cozy fall novella, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! It was a fast paced, quick read that gave me all the fall vibes, especially with the college setting and football games.

We follow Raven, an A student who just happens to struggle with math. When she needs a tutor, she gets paired with Zafir, the quarterback of the school’s football team. And yes, he’s her tutor.

I really enjoyed their dynamic, but I honestly wish this had been a full length, slow burn romance. I wanted more of the buildup between them and more time to watch their relationship develop instead of everything feeling a little rushed.

Still, this was a fun, lighthearted read that gave me exactly what I needed for a cozy fall vibe.

[Chynna Broxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was cute, quick, and easy to read. The characters were enjoyable and the development of the love story was warming.

[elise | bookingthroughlife · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

a really cute fall college novella where the tutor is the jock, but she's also super smart. it's just that one subject she struggles with. i thought this was such a sweet romantic novella, and i really enjoyed reading it 🤎

[Alana Labadie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid 3.5⭐️

It was a really cute novella, I would have liked a little more depth to the characters a little more about their story - but the author managed to capture the most important theme ‘love at first sight’

[Imari · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really cute quick read

[Samari · Rating 1 out of 5]

Gave it one star for multiple reasons. The writing seemed a bit rushed and immature. They were literally study buddies for a month before they were saying they were in love with each other. Didn’t even go on a date yet at that. Despite them both being in college the book reminded me of a high school love story.

Would have love to hear more of the characters background and them getting to know one another. Also the whole drinking and street racing thing should have been a done deal. I don’t like how Raven’s friend was telling her to talk to man just because he was sad and “desperate”. They literally could have been harmed or even killed. Overall I did not like this book.

[Trinity · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🫑/5

TW - smoking (weed), injury of an elderly person (fall, sc, off page, briefly mentioned), gaslighting (scs), parent in hospital following an injury (construction, mentioned incl possibility of not walking again), alcohol consumption, drunk driving (sc)

Tropes - forced proximity, he tutors her, (light) sports - American football, frenemies to lovers

Representation - Black MCs

This was such a cute novella! I know it’s winter but this is a perfect autumn vibes book for your tbr.

Raven (FMC) is struggling with her algebra class and Zafir (MMC) is her new tutor… and also star quarterback.

While Raven has her preconception about jocks and her own solid plans for the future, the MCs getting to know each other, along with the forced proximity, bring them closer and closer together.

This was a sweet read.

Scale:
⭐️ - would've DNF'ed / continued out of spite
⭐️⭐️ - shit, but whatever
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - meh, could've been better
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - lit 👅
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - loved it, inject this shit into my veins 🤪

🫑 - no smut
🌶 - no point
🌶🌶 - mediocre at best
🌶🌶🌶 - standard smut, hot
🌶🌶🌶🌶 - 🥵 okay, some CW
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 - fuck me 🥵🥵 CWs / filthy with a side of filth - see Poison / Room Twenty-Two: Hide and Seek/ The Naughty List / The Naughtier List

TW/CW not to be repurposed by authors / publishers for website / book / content use without permission

[Devvie C · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

I genuinely liked this story. Raven is driven but at times
she can be a bit rigid and judgmental (but at one point
she was entirely correct and I am with you when you
right!). She assumes that Zafir, is an extremely selfish,
arrogant person, and he turns out to be really cool.
The guy’s a social work major who loves Avril Levine!
He's a source of fun and freedom that she desperately
needs at this point in her life. The dates are cute and
full of fall things like painting pumpkins, bookstores and
baking cookies. Overall, it’s a nice read.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t realize how short this was when I started it, but it packs a cute story into it’s pages! Needing a tutor when she’s used to knowing what she’s doing, Raven doesn’t exactly get on the right foot with her tutor right away but he grows on her for sure.

It was a fun fall read!

[Micahya Costen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was the pacing a little rushed and the
main character’s thought process a little flawed but somewhat justified? Yes… but was the story overall really cute and well-written for a sweet college romance novella?
Also yes!

[Omeirah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this was a cute, easy fall romance right up until that after party scene with his friends. I don’t play around with that, I would never ever forgive him.

Kinda wish there was a TW for it honestly.

[E · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely a quick read!

Its was cute until the third act break up, definitely think he needed to grovel a little bit more! I did love their banter!

[kara loves books · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ very wholesome and cute lol

[Nia Peeps · Rating 4 out of 5]

One hour read — very cute and feel good! Good read after reading something triggering, heavy, or any working on yourself self-help books!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very 🥰 cute

Ahh an adorable read they were so cute together. They say opposite attracts. I love a good college story especially with athletes in it.

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[L. Boogie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a short read bu super cute nontheless. I really feel for both Raven and Zafir. They were such an adorable couple and such a sweet journey.

[Isabooklover · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️
Was this book wholesome and cute? Yes
Could it have been longer so the characters weren’t one dimensional? Yes
Was I giggling and smiling while reading? Yes

Hope that helps.

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute.

This was a short and cute read. These two didn't see each other coming but love finds away. Great read.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was cute and fun and i love a good tutor romance, and he’s an american footballer!!

i loved nina as well so im excited to read her story.

[Amirah Cohen · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was super cute & sweet. I was surprised it was so short but I enjoyed it.

[Zoe · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was wondering why it was so short but turns out it’s a novella

[Aaliyah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cute story I was so invested in this, like I wanted more from them!

[Ebony Ealy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

Such a cute story! I really enjoyed it. Although Zafar messed up, I'm glad he was able to make it up to Raven!

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes you just need to read a fun little novella.

[Nae nae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the push and pull they had