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Let the Games Begin
Set against a sizzling-hot Greek summer filled with sunshine and souvlaki, Rufaro Faith Mazarura’s Let the Games Begin is a page-turning debut rom-com about two strangers at the top of their game.
Athens, 2024. Olivia Nkomo has always been ambitious, smart, and an overall go-getter. Now that she’s graduated from university, she’s willing to do whatever it takes to land her dream job at the Summer Games. The first step? Securing her new internship, which will put her in the center of all the action, where she hopes to run into some of her favorite athletes.
Ezekiel “Zeke” Moyo, the heartthrob star runner of Team Great Britain, is more than ready to claim his title as the fastest man in the world, following in the footsteps of the greatest athletes of all time. His future to the finish line is looking bright―despite his recent breakup with celebrated gymnast Valentina Ross-Rodriguez constantly making headlines.
When Olivia and Zeke collide―literally―on the first day of training, sparks fly. As the games grow closer, so do Olivia and Zeke. But the competition starts stirring up uncomfortable memories from Zeke’s past . . . and Olivia’s internship doesn’t turn out to be what she expected. Will they be able to overcome these hurdles and achieve their dreams? Or will it come at the cost of their budding romance?
Athens, 2024. Olivia Nkomo has always been ambitious, smart, and an overall go-getter. Now that she’s graduated from university, she’s willing to do whatever it takes to land her dream job at the Summer Games. The first step? Securing her new internship, which will put her in the center of all the action, where she hopes to run into some of her favorite athletes.
Ezekiel “Zeke” Moyo, the heartthrob star runner of Team Great Britain, is more than ready to claim his title as the fastest man in the world, following in the footsteps of the greatest athletes of all time. His future to the finish line is looking bright―despite his recent breakup with celebrated gymnast Valentina Ross-Rodriguez constantly making headlines.
When Olivia and Zeke collide―literally―on the first day of training, sparks fly. As the games grow closer, so do Olivia and Zeke. But the competition starts stirring up uncomfortable memories from Zeke’s past . . . and Olivia’s internship doesn’t turn out to be what she expected. Will they be able to overcome these hurdles and achieve their dreams? Or will it come at the cost of their budding romance?
352 pages, Paperback
First published July 9, 2024
137 people are currently reading
10238 people want to read
About the author
Rufaro Faith Mazarura
2 books114 followersRufaro Faith Mazarura is a British Zimbabwean writer who grew up in Birmingham and studied English and Creative Writing at the University of Surrey. She now lives in London and works as a podcast producer, bringing stories to life through audio, and has written and produced podcasts for the BBC, iHeartRadio and Seven Stories, The National Centre for Children’s Books. Let The Games Begin is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 572 reviews
July 26, 2024
black romances 🔛🔝
February 10, 2025
3/5
- Such a wholesome story! Felt more like YA than an adult romance, but was really cutesy nonetheless!
- If you love the Olympics, this will be a really fun book to read. I really loved how this book just gave me all the happy feels while reading it.
- Very fluffy, very cutesy, very fun!
- Such a wholesome story! Felt more like YA than an adult romance, but was really cutesy nonetheless!
- If you love the Olympics, this will be a really fun book to read. I really loved how this book just gave me all the happy feels while reading it.
- Very fluffy, very cutesy, very fun!
September 25, 2024
Let the Games Begin has been one of my most anticipated reads this year, and it definitely didn't disappoint.
It made me cry in chapter 1, and it was so easy to relate to the characters, especially Zeke who, like me, also lost his dad at 14 (though mine was exactly 24 days before my 14th birthday but who's counting?). I knew I'd love it then.
The romance was adorable, I loved the Olympics setting, the writing was engaging, all the characters were interesting, the audiobook was lovely, there were quite a few funny moments in the book and I had such a good time listening to it. If you pick it up, I know you'll have a fun time with it too.
It made me cry in chapter 1, and it was so easy to relate to the characters, especially Zeke who, like me, also lost his dad at 14 (though mine was exactly 24 days before my 14th birthday but who's counting?). I knew I'd love it then.
The romance was adorable, I loved the Olympics setting, the writing was engaging, all the characters were interesting, the audiobook was lovely, there were quite a few funny moments in the book and I had such a good time listening to it. If you pick it up, I know you'll have a fun time with it too.
December 17, 2024
Sexy, sweet, full of sports! Relatable characters, compelling plot. Enjoyed this one quite a bit! Also, fantastic anxiety rep!
dnf
August 22, 2024dnf @ 9%
I wouldn’t say this was bad, just not for me. Felt very YA and a lot of telling what they did or talked about rather than me just experiencing it as a reader? Weirdly I felt like I was reading a piece of writing that probably would’ve gotten a good grade in a high school English class but wasn’t actually like a proper novel.
I think a lot of people will enjoy this but it’s just not my cup of tea.
I wouldn’t say this was bad, just not for me. Felt very YA and a lot of telling what they did or talked about rather than me just experiencing it as a reader? Weirdly I felt like I was reading a piece of writing that probably would’ve gotten a good grade in a high school English class but wasn’t actually like a proper novel.
I think a lot of people will enjoy this but it’s just not my cup of tea.
July 31, 2024
Looking for a book to read while you keep up with the Olympic Games this summer? Let The Games Begin is the perfect Olympic companion!! During a fictionalized 2024 Olympics set in Greece, Olivia, determined to still make the most of her summer after being robbed of her dream Olympic internship, and Zeke, record breaking sprinter, meet and then continue running into each other. This rom com had me giggling out loud at work 😅🥰 but it also made me cry!!! Automatic five stars. There’s a lighthearted air to this one but the main characters are also going through a lot as the children of immigrants. They both have huge goals to reach and mighty determination to make their dreams come true. Olivia is struggling to find a balance between not wanting to be seen as an angry black girl and knowing that she deserves to take up space. Zeke is struggling with the grief of losing his father and not knowing how to talk about big feelings while training for the most important run of his life thus far. They end up coming together to be a safe space for each other to be their full unapologetic selves which was so freaking sweet to see. I also loved their best friends, their support and fierce love for one another. The narrator was also amazing! Sometimes I hate when a dual narrative only has one narrator but I didn’t even notice in this one because Shaniqua Okwok knocked it out of the park! I’ll definitely look for more books narrated by her and absolutely will await and support more releases by Rufaro Faith Mazarura in the future!
October 1, 2024
ladies if he’s not running after you maybe it’s not because he doesn’t want to, but maybe it’s because he’s trying to keep a work/life balance and this ken’s job is run.
July 26, 2024
With a sweet romance, high personal stakes and a charming cast of characters, this was a joy to read and has quickly become one of my favourite sports romances.
I adored the Olympics backdrop and the proximity and intensity it bought to the story. It was so much fun to have this constant building pressure to both Zeke’s final race and the end of the games. Both Zeke and Olivia were such endearing characters to follow. Their POV’s were witty, honest and complex and a delight to read. The side characters were also wonderfully developed (a special shout out to my guy Haruki)
I especially adored the discussions surrounding Zeke’s mental health. It was a breath of fresh air to see a MMC (even more so a Black MMC) seeking help and support for his anxiety and panic attacks. The topic of grief was explored with grace and care, as was the pressure to be perfect.
All in all, I adored my time with this fun and romantic read and can’t wait to see what Rufaro Faith Mazarura writes next.
I adored the Olympics backdrop and the proximity and intensity it bought to the story. It was so much fun to have this constant building pressure to both Zeke’s final race and the end of the games. Both Zeke and Olivia were such endearing characters to follow. Their POV’s were witty, honest and complex and a delight to read. The side characters were also wonderfully developed (a special shout out to my guy Haruki)
I especially adored the discussions surrounding Zeke’s mental health. It was a breath of fresh air to see a MMC (even more so a Black MMC) seeking help and support for his anxiety and panic attacks. The topic of grief was explored with grace and care, as was the pressure to be perfect.
All in all, I adored my time with this fun and romantic read and can’t wait to see what Rufaro Faith Mazarura writes next.
August 8, 2024
in my olympic era we love to see it, I had a great time reading this while watching the olympics at the same time 🥇
so cute and overall very good and all the vibes for the season. love both main characters but especially the fmc, such a powerhouse. so cool. and I really liked the ending
so cute and overall very good and all the vibes for the season. love both main characters but especially the fmc, such a powerhouse. so cool. and I really liked the ending
July 26, 2024
3.5-4⭐️
July 16, 2024
I’m going to rate this as if it was YA novel. Because it really didn’t feel like an adult book, but I think it could make a cute, sweet YA romance.
I love the Olympics and specifically the track events so this book really caught my attention! Unfortunately it just didn’t deliver. Books like this are why I thought I didn’t like the romance genre😅 The two main characters thought they were falling in love after having literally two conversations with each other and not deep conversations either. It just felt like a high school or college romance that would last a couple weeks and nothing past that. I wanted so much more depth of the characters. Nothing “bad” about this book just wasn’t for me.
I am curious if the author talked to any Olympians about what the Olympic Village and behind-the-scenes is really like! As far as spice level, I would call this low spice/closed door.
Thank you Macmillan Audio for the ALC!!🩷
I love the Olympics and specifically the track events so this book really caught my attention! Unfortunately it just didn’t deliver. Books like this are why I thought I didn’t like the romance genre😅 The two main characters thought they were falling in love after having literally two conversations with each other and not deep conversations either. It just felt like a high school or college romance that would last a couple weeks and nothing past that. I wanted so much more depth of the characters. Nothing “bad” about this book just wasn’t for me.
I am curious if the author talked to any Olympians about what the Olympic Village and behind-the-scenes is really like! As far as spice level, I would call this low spice/closed door.
Thank you Macmillan Audio for the ALC!!🩷
August 27, 2024
Wo soll ich anfangen, meine Lieben? Mit dem wunderschönen Cover, das genau meine Farben hat und mit dem hellen, strahlenden gelb/ pink und mit den hübschen Illustrationen perfekt meinen Geschmack trifft? Ja, vermutlich damit, da ich mich daher sehr auf das Buch und eine locker, flockige, lustige Rom-Com für Erwachsene gefreut habe.
Bekommen habe ich gefühlt eher eine eher durchschnittliche YA-Lovestory, die weniger Love in sich hatte, als erwünscht. Sicher stehen die zwei - Zeke und Olivia -im Fokus, aber nicht auch ihre Liebe, sondern ihre jeweiligen Probleme, bzw ihre Ziele, die sie hartnäckig verlogen. Zeke als Sportler bei den Olympischen Spielen und Olivia als Volunteerin, die eigentlich einen anderen Job hätte bekommen sollen und sehr akribisch, ehrgeizig ihrem Erfolg hinterrennt, es aber als schwarze, junge Frau in England nicht so leicht wie andere hat.
Ansich hätte mich es auch gar nicht gestört, wenn weniger Liebe vorkommt und es sich um die jeweilge Entwicklung der beiden gedreht hätte, aber das Problem war - dass erstens alles eher sehr oberflächlich gehandhabt wurde. Teilweise wirkte es daher wie ein YA-Buch. Und auch, dass es sehr distanziert geschrieben war. Gefühle kamen leider überhaupt nicht rüber und das Konzept "Show, don't Tell" wurde hier übheraupt nicht beherzigt.
Viele Gespräche, Erlebnis, Eindrücke wurden nicht 'live' geschildert, sondern im Nachhinein mehr so beiläufig erwähnt wie zb. :" danach haben wir über dieses oder jenes geredet und es fühlte sich so gut an..."
ähm, nein, für mich fühlte es sich nicht so gut an, weil ich ja nicht dabei war und die Schilderungen danach fielen eher dürftig aus. Daher trotz eigentlich gutem Einfall und neuem Setting bei den Olympischen Spielen hat man hier leider sehr viel Potential verschenkt. Daher nur, obwohl es mir selbst wehtut, nur 2,5 Punkte. Sorry :/
Bekommen habe ich gefühlt eher eine eher durchschnittliche YA-Lovestory, die weniger Love in sich hatte, als erwünscht. Sicher stehen die zwei - Zeke und Olivia -im Fokus, aber nicht auch ihre Liebe, sondern ihre jeweiligen Probleme, bzw ihre Ziele, die sie hartnäckig verlogen. Zeke als Sportler bei den Olympischen Spielen und Olivia als Volunteerin, die eigentlich einen anderen Job hätte bekommen sollen und sehr akribisch, ehrgeizig ihrem Erfolg hinterrennt, es aber als schwarze, junge Frau in England nicht so leicht wie andere hat.
Ansich hätte mich es auch gar nicht gestört, wenn weniger Liebe vorkommt und es sich um die jeweilge Entwicklung der beiden gedreht hätte, aber das Problem war - dass erstens alles eher sehr oberflächlich gehandhabt wurde. Teilweise wirkte es daher wie ein YA-Buch. Und auch, dass es sehr distanziert geschrieben war. Gefühle kamen leider überhaupt nicht rüber und das Konzept "Show, don't Tell" wurde hier übheraupt nicht beherzigt.
Viele Gespräche, Erlebnis, Eindrücke wurden nicht 'live' geschildert, sondern im Nachhinein mehr so beiläufig erwähnt wie zb. :" danach haben wir über dieses oder jenes geredet und es fühlte sich so gut an..."
ähm, nein, für mich fühlte es sich nicht so gut an, weil ich ja nicht dabei war und die Schilderungen danach fielen eher dürftig aus. Daher trotz eigentlich gutem Einfall und neuem Setting bei den Olympischen Spielen hat man hier leider sehr viel Potential verschenkt. Daher nur, obwohl es mir selbst wehtut, nur 2,5 Punkte. Sorry :/
August 5, 2024
the PERFECT book to read right now with the @olympics! 💙🖤❤️💛💚
i loved this one — a fun and fascinating story more of self-development than just romance, taking place at a fictional athens 2024 olympic games (mostly in the village! which was so cool to “peek into”!), with a volunteer and the fastest man in the world.
it tackles some deeper themes — loss of a parent, grief and anxiety, parental expectations and pressure, figuring out who you are and what you want, etc! and the romance fades to black while still having great chemistry and fun flirtatiousness.
as i watched the games open yesterday, i kept talking about this book and how many cool little things i learned or picked up from it, and i’m loving thinking about how all the olympians are spending their time when not training and competing.
highly recommend reading this one this summer!
i loved this one — a fun and fascinating story more of self-development than just romance, taking place at a fictional athens 2024 olympic games (mostly in the village! which was so cool to “peek into”!), with a volunteer and the fastest man in the world.
it tackles some deeper themes — loss of a parent, grief and anxiety, parental expectations and pressure, figuring out who you are and what you want, etc! and the romance fades to black while still having great chemistry and fun flirtatiousness.
as i watched the games open yesterday, i kept talking about this book and how many cool little things i learned or picked up from it, and i’m loving thinking about how all the olympians are spending their time when not training and competing.
highly recommend reading this one this summer!
October 31, 2024
Wat een heerlijk boek was dit. Ik heb hem grotendeels geluisterd. Het was echt cute en grappig. En ik vond de hele Olympische Spelen setting heel leuk. En echt top dat er ook serieuze onderwerpen in voorkwamen, zoals paniekaanvallen, faalangst, rouw, therapie etc. Echt een aanrader!
May 12, 2024
This charming contemporary romance, Rufaro Faith Mazarura's debut, is set at a fictional Olympic Games at Athens in 2024. Our two Zimbabwean protagonists are both aiming high: Zeke wants to win gold for Great Britain in the 100m sprint, while Olivia is starting her dream internship for the Olympic Committee. But as soon as they arrive at Athens, both are knocked off course. Olivia's internship is not what she expected, while Zeke is battling with panic attacks as he trains. When they first bump into each other, they don't get off to a good start, but in the relatively small confines of the Olympic Village, they're bound to meet again. What will happen when they do? Let the Games Begin is just full of positive, fun energy, and I loved how Mazarura just DEMOLISHES one of my least favourite tropes, the idea that if you want to find happiness you have to give up on ambition. Who said protagonists can't get what they need and what they want? It's deliberately tropey and silly, but so joyful, and although Mazarura is a bit too keen to spell out the lessons her protagonists have learnt, hey, this isn't litfic. And I adore both the UK and US covers (though interestingly, as you can see from the look of them, this seems to have been marketed as YA in the US and adult over here - the protagonists are in their early twenties, it felt adult to me). A nice surprise in a genre that I rarely read.
I received a free proof copy of this novel from the publisher for review.
I received a free proof copy of this novel from the publisher for review.
October 22, 2024
3.75/5
why are the girlies not writing more olympic romances??
this book popped up on my feed over the summer because i entered a giveaway for it and i was pleasantly surprised to see this book on kindle unlimited. the cover is just so beautiful and i was really excited by the premise of this story. its my fault for not discovering this earlier because this would've been the perfect book to read while watching the olympics, its more of a summer read for sure.
zeke and olivia are very likable and relatable characters, they're dealing with anxiety and familial pressures and job pressures. this are things we all struggle with and the way those things were dealt with was just so well done. their romance felt like it progressed naturally, even if i'm not convinced an olympic athlete would have this much free time. my only faults with the story is that it pretty much takes place in like two weeks. more time spent with this couple would've been good for believing that this couple will last, especially since the both of them have such busy jobs that take them around the world.
for a debut novel the writing was so good, everything flowed so well and i loved all the side characters and the family aspect of this book. can't wait to see what she follows this up with!!
why are the girlies not writing more olympic romances??
this book popped up on my feed over the summer because i entered a giveaway for it and i was pleasantly surprised to see this book on kindle unlimited. the cover is just so beautiful and i was really excited by the premise of this story. its my fault for not discovering this earlier because this would've been the perfect book to read while watching the olympics, its more of a summer read for sure.
zeke and olivia are very likable and relatable characters, they're dealing with anxiety and familial pressures and job pressures. this are things we all struggle with and the way those things were dealt with was just so well done. their romance felt like it progressed naturally, even if i'm not convinced an olympic athlete would have this much free time. my only faults with the story is that it pretty much takes place in like two weeks. more time spent with this couple would've been good for believing that this couple will last, especially since the both of them have such busy jobs that take them around the world.
for a debut novel the writing was so good, everything flowed so well and i loved all the side characters and the family aspect of this book. can't wait to see what she follows this up with!!
August 9, 2024
This book was SO CUTE! I think reading it during the Olympics made it hit so much harder! Both our MCs were great + honestly I loved so many of the side characters as well! Definitely recommend!
December 20, 2024
Leuk om te lezen, maar ik had er meer van verwacht..
August 25, 2024
3,5. Met de Olympische Spelen die bezig zijn, is dit natuurlijk het ideale boek om te lezen. In deze romance vinden de Spelen plaats in Athene. Olivia heeft werk op de Spelen, maar bij aankomst blijkt er iets fouts gegaan te zijn. In plaats van een belangrijke functie, is ze nu vrijwilliger. En dat zorgt voor teleurstelling. Zeke is een van de snelste athleten en wil natuurlijk winnen. Maar hij maakt zich zorgen over zijn sport toekomst. Uiteraard lopen de twee elkaar tegen het lijf… En eigenlijk begint het tussen de twee niet al te goed. Blijft dat zo?
Ik begon in dit boek toen de Spelen van dit jaar ook begonnen. Het was zeer leuk om tegelijk naar de openingsceremonie te kijken, als erover te lezen. Daardoor zat ik al helemaal in de sportvibes. Om heel eerlijk te zijn, ik heb er niet echt iets mee tenzij er Belgen meedoen, haha. Dus ik wist ook niet of dit iets voor mij ging zijn.
Dit boek las wel als een sprint op de 800 meter. Fijne schrijfstijl en het verhaal heeft een fijn tempo. Niet te snel, niet te traag, een goede dosering dus. Olivia en Zeke zijn allebei heel prestatie gerichte mensen die er alles aan zouden doen om hun doel te behalen. Dat ligt mij dan iets minder, ik miste soms een beetje een tegenreactie daarop van de twee naar elkaar toe. Daardoor was het wat moeilijker om een connectie te maken met het verhaal. De opbouw van hun romance vond ik wel leuk.
Let the games begin is dus een romance ideaal voor de sportliefhebber. En zeker voor de lezers die houden van sport romances. Dit soort romance boeken zijn iets minder mijn ding omdat ik niet echt iets heb met sport. Ik bedoel, ik sport wel, maar daar stopt mijn interesse dan ook wel een beetje. Toch raad ik dit aan als het jouw ding is! Van mij krijgt deze romance 3,5 sterren.
Ik begon in dit boek toen de Spelen van dit jaar ook begonnen. Het was zeer leuk om tegelijk naar de openingsceremonie te kijken, als erover te lezen. Daardoor zat ik al helemaal in de sportvibes. Om heel eerlijk te zijn, ik heb er niet echt iets mee tenzij er Belgen meedoen, haha. Dus ik wist ook niet of dit iets voor mij ging zijn.
Dit boek las wel als een sprint op de 800 meter. Fijne schrijfstijl en het verhaal heeft een fijn tempo. Niet te snel, niet te traag, een goede dosering dus. Olivia en Zeke zijn allebei heel prestatie gerichte mensen die er alles aan zouden doen om hun doel te behalen. Dat ligt mij dan iets minder, ik miste soms een beetje een tegenreactie daarop van de twee naar elkaar toe. Daardoor was het wat moeilijker om een connectie te maken met het verhaal. De opbouw van hun romance vond ik wel leuk.
Let the games begin is dus een romance ideaal voor de sportliefhebber. En zeker voor de lezers die houden van sport romances. Dit soort romance boeken zijn iets minder mijn ding omdat ik niet echt iets heb met sport. Ik bedoel, ik sport wel, maar daar stopt mijn interesse dan ook wel een beetje. Toch raad ik dit aan als het jouw ding is! Van mij krijgt deze romance 3,5 sterren.
July 7, 2024
Special thanks to the author, @macmillan.audio #MacAudio2024 for my advanced listening copy & @flatiron_books for my gifted copy‼️
We’re given a dual perspective from Zeke Moyo a young athlete competing in the Olympics and Olivia Nkomo a young woman whose dream to intern at the Olympics finally comes true. While Zeke’s goal is to win a gold medal this year and Olivia is hoping her internship will be everything she’s been dreaming it will be. Nothing turns out quite like the two expected when they arrive in Athens.
When the two cross paths for the first time there’s a little heated tension and Olivia already has her perception of who she thinks Zeke is. Then being forced to live within the same space of the Olympic Village eventually they’re lead back to each other.
I think both Olivia and Zeke were great characters and given their backstories it adds a layer of depth to the story which brought both characters to life for me. The writing in the book was really vivid a little overly descriptive at times but it makes you wonder what type of things really go on during the Olympics. I can’t say there was any real chemistry between Olivia and Zeke because they fell in love so quickly but I liked them together. They were both there for each other when the pressure to be perfect kicked in. So, I think the connection between them grew stronger because they were both in a vulnerable state.
Overall, many readers may find this one to be highly entertaining. Exploring themes of self-reflection, coping with loss, expectations of family, friendship dynamics, and finding happiness. It was my first time ever reading a sports romance novel and while I wasn’t completely blown away I wasn’t disappointed after reading it either. It’s also releasing just in time for the Olympics so many might find it enjoyable for that reason alone.
Rating: 3.5/5⭐️
We’re given a dual perspective from Zeke Moyo a young athlete competing in the Olympics and Olivia Nkomo a young woman whose dream to intern at the Olympics finally comes true. While Zeke’s goal is to win a gold medal this year and Olivia is hoping her internship will be everything she’s been dreaming it will be. Nothing turns out quite like the two expected when they arrive in Athens.
When the two cross paths for the first time there’s a little heated tension and Olivia already has her perception of who she thinks Zeke is. Then being forced to live within the same space of the Olympic Village eventually they’re lead back to each other.
I think both Olivia and Zeke were great characters and given their backstories it adds a layer of depth to the story which brought both characters to life for me. The writing in the book was really vivid a little overly descriptive at times but it makes you wonder what type of things really go on during the Olympics. I can’t say there was any real chemistry between Olivia and Zeke because they fell in love so quickly but I liked them together. They were both there for each other when the pressure to be perfect kicked in. So, I think the connection between them grew stronger because they were both in a vulnerable state.
Overall, many readers may find this one to be highly entertaining. Exploring themes of self-reflection, coping with loss, expectations of family, friendship dynamics, and finding happiness. It was my first time ever reading a sports romance novel and while I wasn’t completely blown away I wasn’t disappointed after reading it either. It’s also releasing just in time for the Olympics so many might find it enjoyable for that reason alone.
Rating: 3.5/5⭐️
September 8, 2024
4⭐️
🎥 the olympics choose how many pages I read
may or may not reread, but fun book. i saw myself in the main character, Olivia, and she's zimbabwean!
PLOT Olivia has her whole career planned out (like me! 🙃) which includes running the olympics in the future. However, her plans are derailed when her lofty-stepping-stone of an internship falls through at the last minute and she becomes the help. falling in love is not in the 5-year plan, but unexpected things happen...as they say, what happens in olympic village, stays in olympic village.. or does it? 😝
favorite scene: any time Olivia let's loose and one of the opening scenes where Olivia and Zeke collide.
also! it's dual pov and the reader knows stuff about the characters that the characters don't know 🙊
🎥 the olympics choose how many pages I read
may or may not reread, but fun book. i saw myself in the main character, Olivia, and she's zimbabwean!
PLOT Olivia has her whole career planned out (like me! 🙃) which includes running the olympics in the future. However, her plans are derailed when her lofty-stepping-stone of an internship falls through at the last minute and she becomes the help. falling in love is not in the 5-year plan, but unexpected things happen...as they say, what happens in olympic village, stays in olympic village.. or does it? 😝
favorite scene: any time Olivia let's loose and one of the opening scenes where Olivia and Zeke collide.
also! it's dual pov and the reader knows stuff about the characters that the characters don't know 🙊
August 1, 2024
as with most sports romances, there were a lot of sports inaccuracies that really frustrated me (team gb athletes well paid????? 100m sprint heats on day 3 of the olympics???? 5 days between the semi final and final????? *eye roll*). aside from that, i had a lot of fun and it was a great summer read!
August 16, 2025
3.25 stars ⭐️
Normally I only give out half stars, but with this book I really couldn’t decide. I think I just got other expectations from this book than it actually was. It absolutely isn’t a bad book but I expected other things.
I thought it would be more about the sports and the Olympic Games himself, but in the book was about a romance with the setting of the Olympic Games. I also thought that the female main character also competed in the games which wasn’t the case.
In the end I liked the characters and the setting it was in, but my expectations were just wrong. It did really entertain me and I enjoyed the book, so if you like the Olympic Games and romances, then you would like this book. ❤️
Normally I only give out half stars, but with this book I really couldn’t decide. I think I just got other expectations from this book than it actually was. It absolutely isn’t a bad book but I expected other things.
I thought it would be more about the sports and the Olympic Games himself, but in the book was about a romance with the setting of the Olympic Games. I also thought that the female main character also competed in the games which wasn’t the case.
In the end I liked the characters and the setting it was in, but my expectations were just wrong. It did really entertain me and I enjoyed the book, so if you like the Olympic Games and romances, then you would like this book. ❤️
August 12, 2024
Twijfel tussen 2 en 2,5.
March 30, 2025
Good quick read. Read as YA. Solid book + sports.
August 30, 2024
Het verhaal greep me niet echt, het ging voor mijn gevoel allemaal nogal snel en overhaast. Jammer, had er wel echt zin in, vooral met de Olympische Spelen op tv.
July 28, 2024
— 4 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"The thing with magnets was that as much as they tried to resist each other, hold back their power, face opposite directions and try to stay apart, the force of attraction would always win."
📖 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 384 pages
👤 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: Rufaro Faith Mazarura
🏢 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: Penguin UK
📅 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: 28 July 2024
What you can expect:
— Contemporary Sports Romance
— Third Person X Dual POV
— Closed Door Romance
— Friends-To-Lovers
— Opposites Attract
— Anxiety & Grief Rep
— Forced Proximity
— Slow Burn Romance
— Mutual Attraction & Pining
— Flirtatious Banter
𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬:
Let the Games Begin is a Contemporary Sports Romance by debut author Rufaro Faith Mazarura. It’s the Athens 2024 Olympics and Zeke and Olivia are there to win Zeke Moyo is the star athlete of Team GB. He’s in Athens to claim the title of fastest man in the world. Olivia Nkomo has landed a career-making internship, finally earning her seat at the table. Then Zeke and Olivia collide – literally – on the first day of the games, and something unexpected begins. But the competition is stirring up uncomfortable memories from Zeke’s past. And Olivia’s dream job is turning into a nightmare. Will love become a hurdle? Or could running beside the right person change the whole game?
𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲:
Let the Games Begin is a wonderfully written story about two people striving for greatness and the struggles that they face along the way. The style of writing felt reminiscent to my time as a child being told bedtime stories as my experience was that of an outsider 'looking in.' It took some adapting to within the first few chapters, however I quickly settled and found myself immediately submersed into the story being narrated. The slow-burn was written to perfection as we are granted ample time to learn about our main characters which is something I greatly appreciated and enjoyed. Better knowing and understanding both interests helps me better engage with their interactions and find their journey to love all the more believable. This book only spans over a matter of weeks, and yet you know those TikTok videos where people rate the believability of a couple and their likelihood to make it as a couple? I truly believe that Olivia and Zeke can confidently demand their spot in that 'happy old married couple' category. The story itself was well-paced and written with a lot of heart, so it's safe to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Something I will note is that despite being marketed as a romance, I did find the romance itself to be a late addition to the story as the book heavily focused on the personal growth and healing journeys for our main character. The romance felt more of a sub-plot rather than the focus, however I personally loved the story for what it was and didn't mind that the romance itself wasn't the sole focus.
𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭:
As somebody that's isn't particularly knowledgeable about the Olympics and sports as a whole... I'm glad that despite being centred around a fictional Olympic event, the story wasn't drowning in sports knowledge that would've otherwise left me confused. The setting of the story and the environment we find ourselves in is hypnotic and engaging. I could truly feel the sense of pride that came with competing on behalf of your country and I had a lot of fun learning the little snippets that was dropped into the dialogue which served to enable us to better know our characters and their passions. I found the plot to feel well-balanced as we follow our characters on their respective journeys where they (literally) collide and provide the reader with many banter-filled interactions. This romantic tale is also filled with the very present reality of grief and how detrimental that can be on a person's entire existence. I feel that this was handled with the utmost care and enabled me to better understand and connect with Zeke's character, and overall I was left with a sense of happiness and content with the conclusion.
𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬:
Zeke Moyo is the perfect epitome of a boyish 'golden retriever' character whom I utterly adored and found myself enamoured with. His commitment and loyalty to his loved ones is admirable and I adored that this is something we see continually present within his character. A lack of communication leads to a misunderstanding and conflict with one of Zeke's closest friends, and admittedly how he handled that situation felt very unlike the character that I had gotten to know. However I really appreciate that despite how well-meaning a person can be, nobody is perfect and mistakes are made. Zeke is flawed and it made him feel like a relatable and well-rounded character. He often prioritises the feelings of others above his own which can often come at his own expense, so I was thrilled to see Zeke's gradual journey towards embracing therapy and better learning to also prioritise himself. Grief and anxiety are at the forefront of Zeke's character and whilst it can be difficult to see even within a fictional setting, I'm glad to see that this is something that was focused on. This is something that Zeke has battled for many years and to see him receive so much love and support was everything I needed to see and hoped for. I loved being in his POV and in the end I felt immense pride over his character development and commitment towards making the decisions that he would like to make.
Olivia Nkomo is my favourite type of main character. Feisty and fierce. Unafraid to go after what she wants and entirely unapologetic in her approach. Olivia's ambition and determination are at the root of who her character is and I was constantly rooting for her success in an environment that was determined to see her fail. As a woman Olivia has had to work harder than most to gain every inch of success that she has demanded and worked towards. As a black woman, Olivia has had to work even harder. I was mentally high-fiving Olivia for the iconic queen that she is and never giving up, as she continued to strive towards doing everything that she could to be and feel heard. However as a result, Olivia has long lost the ability to maintain the healthy work and life balance that her best friend is desperately trying to encourage. Her ambition has controlled the majority of her adult life as failure is her greatest fear. I really enjoyed following Olivia on her journey as she quickly embraced the Summer that went awry and learned how to to enjoy feeling more 'in the moment' along the way. Not only does Olivia gain more life skills that add to an already impressive CV, but she arguably most importantly rediscovers who she is and what she's working towards. Seeing Olivia make new friends as she opened herself up to the possibility of vulnerable moments and potential heartbreak cemented her as my favourite character within the story, and I had the best time cheering her on from beginning to end.
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭:
The relationship development between Olivia and Zeke was filled with a lot of heart and fun. My favourite aspect of the pair was that they encouraged the very best of each other in an environment that could quickly turn competitive and toxic. Whilst the romance is slow to burn, the attraction between our colliding pair is instantaneous and electric. They dominated every interaction and scene that they were in and you truly can't help but root for them. At times I wished for a more outright conversation about their feelings as this would've helped ease some of the conflict and uncertainty that we find present throughout the story. However in the end I was left grinning ear-to-ear with their romantic and banter-filled interactions, so at least in the end we're granted a fulfilling happily ever after.
𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
This was such a lovely read which contained heavier topics than I had been anticipating. The ever-present theme of grief and on-page panic attacks was something I hadn't been anticipating, and yet it felt healing and fulfilling to see that grief so openly acknowledged. This was a wonderful story and well-written debut, and I look forward to reading future works by the author.
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"The thing with magnets was that as much as they tried to resist each other, hold back their power, face opposite directions and try to stay apart, the force of attraction would always win."
📖 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 384 pages
👤 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: Rufaro Faith Mazarura
🏢 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: Penguin UK
📅 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: 28 July 2024
What you can expect:
— Contemporary Sports Romance
— Third Person X Dual POV
— Closed Door Romance
— Friends-To-Lovers
— Opposites Attract
— Anxiety & Grief Rep
— Forced Proximity
— Slow Burn Romance
— Mutual Attraction & Pining
— Flirtatious Banter
𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬:
Let the Games Begin is a Contemporary Sports Romance by debut author Rufaro Faith Mazarura. It’s the Athens 2024 Olympics and Zeke and Olivia are there to win Zeke Moyo is the star athlete of Team GB. He’s in Athens to claim the title of fastest man in the world. Olivia Nkomo has landed a career-making internship, finally earning her seat at the table. Then Zeke and Olivia collide – literally – on the first day of the games, and something unexpected begins. But the competition is stirring up uncomfortable memories from Zeke’s past. And Olivia’s dream job is turning into a nightmare. Will love become a hurdle? Or could running beside the right person change the whole game?
𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲:
Let the Games Begin is a wonderfully written story about two people striving for greatness and the struggles that they face along the way. The style of writing felt reminiscent to my time as a child being told bedtime stories as my experience was that of an outsider 'looking in.' It took some adapting to within the first few chapters, however I quickly settled and found myself immediately submersed into the story being narrated. The slow-burn was written to perfection as we are granted ample time to learn about our main characters which is something I greatly appreciated and enjoyed. Better knowing and understanding both interests helps me better engage with their interactions and find their journey to love all the more believable. This book only spans over a matter of weeks, and yet you know those TikTok videos where people rate the believability of a couple and their likelihood to make it as a couple? I truly believe that Olivia and Zeke can confidently demand their spot in that 'happy old married couple' category. The story itself was well-paced and written with a lot of heart, so it's safe to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Something I will note is that despite being marketed as a romance, I did find the romance itself to be a late addition to the story as the book heavily focused on the personal growth and healing journeys for our main character. The romance felt more of a sub-plot rather than the focus, however I personally loved the story for what it was and didn't mind that the romance itself wasn't the sole focus.
𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭:
As somebody that's isn't particularly knowledgeable about the Olympics and sports as a whole... I'm glad that despite being centred around a fictional Olympic event, the story wasn't drowning in sports knowledge that would've otherwise left me confused. The setting of the story and the environment we find ourselves in is hypnotic and engaging. I could truly feel the sense of pride that came with competing on behalf of your country and I had a lot of fun learning the little snippets that was dropped into the dialogue which served to enable us to better know our characters and their passions. I found the plot to feel well-balanced as we follow our characters on their respective journeys where they (literally) collide and provide the reader with many banter-filled interactions. This romantic tale is also filled with the very present reality of grief and how detrimental that can be on a person's entire existence. I feel that this was handled with the utmost care and enabled me to better understand and connect with Zeke's character, and overall I was left with a sense of happiness and content with the conclusion.
𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬:
Zeke Moyo is the perfect epitome of a boyish 'golden retriever' character whom I utterly adored and found myself enamoured with. His commitment and loyalty to his loved ones is admirable and I adored that this is something we see continually present within his character. A lack of communication leads to a misunderstanding and conflict with one of Zeke's closest friends, and admittedly how he handled that situation felt very unlike the character that I had gotten to know. However I really appreciate that despite how well-meaning a person can be, nobody is perfect and mistakes are made. Zeke is flawed and it made him feel like a relatable and well-rounded character. He often prioritises the feelings of others above his own which can often come at his own expense, so I was thrilled to see Zeke's gradual journey towards embracing therapy and better learning to also prioritise himself. Grief and anxiety are at the forefront of Zeke's character and whilst it can be difficult to see even within a fictional setting, I'm glad to see that this is something that was focused on. This is something that Zeke has battled for many years and to see him receive so much love and support was everything I needed to see and hoped for. I loved being in his POV and in the end I felt immense pride over his character development and commitment towards making the decisions that he would like to make.
Olivia Nkomo is my favourite type of main character. Feisty and fierce. Unafraid to go after what she wants and entirely unapologetic in her approach. Olivia's ambition and determination are at the root of who her character is and I was constantly rooting for her success in an environment that was determined to see her fail. As a woman Olivia has had to work harder than most to gain every inch of success that she has demanded and worked towards. As a black woman, Olivia has had to work even harder. I was mentally high-fiving Olivia for the iconic queen that she is and never giving up, as she continued to strive towards doing everything that she could to be and feel heard. However as a result, Olivia has long lost the ability to maintain the healthy work and life balance that her best friend is desperately trying to encourage. Her ambition has controlled the majority of her adult life as failure is her greatest fear. I really enjoyed following Olivia on her journey as she quickly embraced the Summer that went awry and learned how to to enjoy feeling more 'in the moment' along the way. Not only does Olivia gain more life skills that add to an already impressive CV, but she arguably most importantly rediscovers who she is and what she's working towards. Seeing Olivia make new friends as she opened herself up to the possibility of vulnerable moments and potential heartbreak cemented her as my favourite character within the story, and I had the best time cheering her on from beginning to end.
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭:
The relationship development between Olivia and Zeke was filled with a lot of heart and fun. My favourite aspect of the pair was that they encouraged the very best of each other in an environment that could quickly turn competitive and toxic. Whilst the romance is slow to burn, the attraction between our colliding pair is instantaneous and electric. They dominated every interaction and scene that they were in and you truly can't help but root for them. At times I wished for a more outright conversation about their feelings as this would've helped ease some of the conflict and uncertainty that we find present throughout the story. However in the end I was left grinning ear-to-ear with their romantic and banter-filled interactions, so at least in the end we're granted a fulfilling happily ever after.
𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
This was such a lovely read which contained heavier topics than I had been anticipating. The ever-present theme of grief and on-page panic attacks was something I hadn't been anticipating, and yet it felt healing and fulfilling to see that grief so openly acknowledged. This was a wonderful story and well-written debut, and I look forward to reading future works by the author.
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰.
April 23, 2024
A cute summer YA romance following an Olympic athlete, Zeke, and an aspiring Olympic lawyer, Olivia. From the beginning the reader is given the impression that these two characters are fated to be together, following their story through the Olympic games is fun to read about.
The story doesn't prioritize romance, it has sub plots that focus on grief, anxiety, and finding the best versions of ourselves.
Alongside Zeke and Olivia are side characters that are loveable, endearing and really help pull the story along.
The only minor issue I had was the timespan of the Olympics is two weeks, it felt as though Zeke and Olivia 'fell in love' very quickly, but it didn't feel completely unrealistic and the story still flourished.
Overall, it's a joyful read perfect for the summer, and I'm looking forward to seeing what Mazarura comes up with next.
Thank you Netgalley and Penguin for the ARC.
The story doesn't prioritize romance, it has sub plots that focus on grief, anxiety, and finding the best versions of ourselves.
Alongside Zeke and Olivia are side characters that are loveable, endearing and really help pull the story along.
The only minor issue I had was the timespan of the Olympics is two weeks, it felt as though Zeke and Olivia 'fell in love' very quickly, but it didn't feel completely unrealistic and the story still flourished.
Overall, it's a joyful read perfect for the summer, and I'm looking forward to seeing what Mazarura comes up with next.
Thank you Netgalley and Penguin for the ARC.
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