Rylan Keller is dreading the start of spring semester. After choosing a college across the country and spending the past fall abroad, she’ll be a Holt University student. Worse than starting over at a new school? Starting over at a new school where your dad is the head coach of the men’s hockey team. And reluctantly agreeing to tutor a player, then coming face-to-face with the guy you thought you’d never see again.
Aidan Phillips has a reputation on campus. One he’s carefully curated to include limited reliability or responsibility. Outside of hockey, he spends his free time drinking, partying, and flirting. Often all three.
He’s a player off the ice as well as on it. Gorgeous, carefree, reckless. His one goal is to finally win Holt a championship, which he can only do if he keeps up his end of the tutoring arrangement. Hooking up with his tutor would be stupider than failing in the first place, even if the tutor in question wasn’t his coach’s daughter.
Rylan is determined to excel at Holt and make her fresh start a success. To finally have some fun, and not with a hockey player. Except, the more time they spend together, the easier it is for Rylan to look past Aidan’s facade. The harder it is to hold back.
But no matter how tempting giving in might be…the odds are stacked against them.
C.W. Farnsworth is the author of numerous adult and young adult romance novels featuring sports, strong female leads, and happy endings.
Charlotte lives in Rhode Island and when she isn’t writing spends her free time reading, at the beach, or snuggling with her Australian Shepherd.
Find her on Facebook (@cwfarnsworth), Twitter (@cw_farnsworth), Instagram (@authorcwfarnsworth) and check out her website www.authorcwfarnsworth.com for news about upcoming releases!
the started as a one night stand. it was apparently the best sex of the manwhore H’s life but he made no moves to chase our heroine.
months later they reunite bc she’s tutoring him and she’s the coach’s daughter. she asks him how many girls he has been with after their one night stand and he said six. 6. SIX. 6️⃣ girls!!!!!!!!!
Okay, I feel as if it is moot to comment on the romance since there was a content issue that appeared throughout the book, that really needs addressing. So, I won't talk about romance or anything else but this one thing. C.W. Farnsworth? I genuinely hope you see this (not in a mean way, but a constructive way):
The University of Oxford is in Oxford. Not in London. Just like how Cambridge University is in Cambridge. University College London (UCL) *is* in London. Do we see the trend here?
Also, just since the Irish have historically been treated to some pretty intense ignorance by North Americans and were brutalized for about 800 years under British colonial rule (resulting in a very bloody, very recent revolution resulting in independence) .... let's just do some basic geography of Ireland, which is—just because I am a little doubtful at this point of your understanding of geopolitics and basic geography—NOT a part of the United Kingdom (although the country that is Northern Ireland is, this is important). It’s kind of ideal NOT to present the UK and the Republic of Ireland together as if they were related. Okay? Now, Galway (the place) is not "just outside" Dublin, it is in fact on the literal other side of the island. These are two completely different cities, and in two completely different counties (loosely, the equivalent of a state in the USA, LOOSELY).
My dear, Americans already have a very infamous reputation for being ignorant about the outside world—whether it is fair/true or not. You are not helping with that here. It's honestly the least you can do to represent foreign countries moderately accurately. Please try and fix this (since you are a self-publishing author and can) and do better next time.
I really wanted to like this, i feel like i might cry. I’ve been looking for good books since my iron flame hungover in NOVEMBER and i’ve come frustratingly short. I thought i was gonna like this one since i loved the first book SO much but i don’t know what it was exactly that didn’t do it for me. I think it was the MCs, i was expecting more especially from Rylan, the almost virgin fmc with the playboy mmc is not cool anymore. I’m disappointed buuut I will still read the next one, first because it’s Hunter’s book and second, i mean this is the author of fake empire and famous last words that pretty much sums it up.
First thing first. The FMC mentions throughout the book that she studied for a Semester at Oxford… in London!!!!! I’m sorry? Where? Oxford is not in London! One would think that the author would do a basic google search, just to be sure, what she writes about is true. No extended research required. A quick facts check and you’re good to go. It drove me crazy whenever I read it 🤦♀️ Should I’ve DNF’d because of this? Yes, I think I should have.
One thing a reader could find in CW. Farnsworth’s previous books were original ideas. This book unfortunately had none of that. It was full of clichés and repetitions. Like we get it! The H has slept with (almost) all the hot women on campus. Stop saying it over and over again. Also, how many times a word hookup can be used in a book? Asking for a friend. It got beyond tiring. I feel like the number one app an author should open when sitting down to write, is any kind of thesaurus. Just in case they’re tempted to build their book around the word hookup…
Another thing that got tiring fast was the h whining about not going to Holt since her freshmen year. It goes on until the end of the book. Did she make a mistake? Should she not have chosen Boston? Please! It was 2 years of your life! You tried something else. You didn’t like it. It was an experience. Own it and move the heck on!!!!! You’re only 21 years old! Plus you placed Oxford in London! No one else has ever done that before!! So, you know, be proud? Or maybe research more before your next move? I don’t know, but please stop whining! No, she does not stop! What she does do is freak out. So uncertain about her future. But worry not damsel in destress, here comes your big and strong hockey player providing words of wisdom. He says “You don’t need to worry about the future my lady, you have options”. And that’s it! That’s all it takes!! You can see it now!! Yes, you do have options!!!
I chew on the inside of my cheek. “You’re right. I’m being silly. It’ll all be fine.” “You’re not being silly. That’s not what I’m saying. I get freaking out about the future, a little too well. I’m just trying to give you some perspective. You have amazing grades and you’ve had experiences people will see as impressive, not flighty. If you end up in a job you hate, then you find a new one. Go to grad school and study something that’s not math. There will always be other options, Rye.” I exhale. Nod. “Yeah. You’re right.”
At this point the book should have automatically deleted itself from my kindle….
There were so many similarities to Famous Last Words, that it felt like I was reading its worse version of it. Hunter will give the same advices, Stacy will hit on any current MMC, Thomas will be the object of jealousy. Justified or not, it doesn’t matter. He is there so… How else will the author create this universe and convince their readers these characters belong there. Now I kind of need a book where all the girls are chasing Thomas…
I don’t even want to mention the relationship the MMC had with his rich family or his ex Parker! You can read so many other romance books and get the same story. So yes, if you think I’ll use the word “predictable” to describe it, your guess is correct!! Same word applies to this book as a whole!
The repetition and lack of original plot in this book has me convinced that it was, at least, partially written by an AI…
What’s left now is to wait for Hunter’s book and see if he will, in fact, follow his own advices.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
though i didn’t dislike this one unfortunately it just wasn’t as captivating as FWL. the relationship between ry and aidan felt extremely surface level the entire time and i just didn’t really feel the chemistry between them when they weren’t having sex 🥲
i really enjoyed all the cameos from other characters in this series, i thought the narrators were great but unfortunately this book fell flat for me
Imagine having a one night stand with a boy in a hot tub and thinking you will never see him again....until you find out that he is one of the hockey players on your dad's hockey team at the University that you just transferred to. Aiden Phillips is failing a class in college so he is told by his coach that he is going to be tutored or he will be benched. Little does Aiden know that his tutor is Rylan. The girl from the hot tub AND the coach's daughter. This was such a fun, spicy read. There was a little miscommunication with the two of them but once it gets figured out it's smooth sailing the rest of the way. These two have great chemistry and the story of Against All Odds will bring a smile to your face for sure... (especially because of the library scene AND he takes care of her when she is sick)
Tropes -coach's daughter -tutor x hockey player -spicy scenes -forbidden romance -he takes care of her when she is sick
I’m pretty sure that anyone who follows me and my reviews in any way knows I am not the reader that jumps into any series without starting at the beginning. Soooooo, of course I found Famous Last Words via Everand when the opportunity came up for an ALC of this book, as one does. :) lol It was a party in my ears for almost 20 hours and I have less than zero regrets!
I really do not have any ”however” plot points (IYKYK) to mention because the story was genuinely just awesome LOL I mean sure, there were some circumstances happening that I didn’t really see the point to, but honestly, not enough of them to even dampen the high of my listening experience. I found the story to be fun and entertaining with a whole lot of substance. That is to say that it was more than just a romance journey between Aidan & Rylan. There was a growth path that both Aidan and Rylan underwent both as individuals and as a couple towards a future. Not gonna lie, Aidan’s growth stands out more and I think that’s because him seeing what he has to offer in life, he saw because Rylan was by his side to help him see it. Feel me?
I can’t say I’m a huge fan of the family plot-point(s) in the story on Aidan’s side because they really felt underdeveloped. I’m not sure if I was riding the high of my listening experience so well that I missed something but Aidan’s relationship with not just his brother but also his parents was very underwhelming in the end even though it was a major focus of his insecurities. I dunno, it just felt like it should have been more but at the same time, as I mentioned at the beginning, this story is overwhelmingly a *happy sigh* story so in the gran scheme of things … *shrug*
I cannot rave more enthusiastically for the narration team of Erin Mallon and Connor Crais. HUGE round of applause for both their flawless capture of the characters, and the story. Absolutely magnificent! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Sidenote: You know what I love the best about reading reviews in general? I love the complete head explosion someone might have over an author in a fictional world they have created, placing a University not in the exact city it might be in the real world we all live in. Lawd, thank goodness the author didn’t place Oxford in the United Sates in Atlanta, Georgia. *GASP* the horror!!! *looks around* Yeah, I’m looking at you #twitchy LOLOLOL
ALC kindly provided by Valentine PR for an honest review.
I tried reading this book twice before and everytime put it down. Super happy that I reconcidered, because third time is a charm! 🔥❤️✨🙌🏼 And NO 3rd act break up! 🥵🥵🥵
This author can really do no wrong when it comes to realistic depiction of swoon-worthy HS/college sports romances 🤭
Miscommunication goes crazy in this one but if you put your blinders on like I do this one is a good treat!! The way they meet is absolutely psychotic <3 (who wants to sneak around ski resort chalets w me)
Oh.. This one was a lot worse than the last. I felt like there was no meaningful substance or chemistry to the couple besides sex. The characters fell flat to me, both of them, though the mmc was hilarious both in this book and the previous. I enjoyed the side characters more. There were some good scenes but then they would start having sex again and it took away from the romance. I genuinely felt like they had sex more than they had a lasting conversation. Sure there were some good moments but those didn't really save this from my overall dislike of this book. Epilogue was kinda cute tho.
This is the third book I’ve read by this author and I’m starting another after as I’m enjoying them.
One of them was really subpar, but the rest have all been 4 stars.
Over all she’s a good writer, my only issue is she adds so much unnecessary internal monologue. Like you could cut 100 pages off each book with the stuff you don’t need.
I finished it in one day, cute lighthearted romance that was an easy read. I feel like myself again since I’ve been in a slump for so long 😭😭 I also love that it was dual pov 🤭
I loved Famous Last Words but this one? Ugh SO SO GOOD. From start to finish, I loved Rylan and Aidan so much. Rylan’s character was perfect. I love how confident she is and the way she keeps Aidan on his toes. She meets his every move and he loves her for it. Their chemistry was so so good and I loved the way they first met. So hot and steamy and I loved the all around development and relationship that develops over time. As insta lust as their initial encounter is, I love the slow burn that ends up happening between them. I loved Aidan’s character development. Reformed playboy will always do something for me and I loved how down bad he was for Rylan. Even when it came to Aidan’s hockey development made me so happy.
I’m SO happy there wasn’t a third act breakup. The slow burn was done so well and a breakup for sure would’ve ruined it for me. So I was super happy about that! I all around adored this book and I can’t wait to read more by this author. Definitely recommend this book/series!
**Audio Review** Holt Hockey for the win! Against All Odds by C.W. Farnsworth was a sweet and swoony college hockey romance that left the biggest grin on my face. Rylan and Aidan’s love story had the perfect amount of challenges, heartfelt conversations, and heat. I loved everything about how these two supported and loved each other to find their happiness together.
Erin Mallon and Connor Crais perform this audiobook in dual narration. An Erin/ Connor pairing in a new adult romance is always a win! Erin’s lively vibrant tone matched Rylan’s feisty and bold persona as she started fresh at Holt University and gave into her desire for Aidan. Connor’s warm enticing voice portrayed Aidan’s confident and vulnerable demeanor that made him simply irresistible once his layers were peeled back. Plus, the chemistry between these two was instant and both narrators created that longing and connection in their performances.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. If you are a fan of a college hockey romance with a hot cocky hockey player, a sassy sophisticated coach’s daughter, hot tub spice, tutor sessions, intense hockey games, library spice, lucky charm bracelets, painful past, back massages, championship games, secret dates, sexy reviews, found family, and a HEA that will beat the odds, then you will love Rylan and Aidan’s story. I look forward to more from C.W. Farnsworth
🏒 college hockey romance 🏒 player & coach's daughter 🏒 dual POV 🏒 multiple open door scense 🏒 no 3rd act break-up
This was just a fun college hockey romance! After a one-night hook up over winter break, both Aidan (our MMC) and Rylan (our FMC) find themselves thrust together when she transfers to the school her dad coach's at and ends up tutoring Aidan! These two had great chemistry and it was a slow build to a full relationship, which I enjoyed. I also just really enjoyed that there was no 3rd act break-up!
Thank you to Valentine PR for an ALC of this audiobook - all opinions are my own!
Oh brother, you thought just because I was embarrassed I wasn’t gonna read the next one? Come on! I read it. Didn’t really love it. Am I gonna read the next one when it comes out? Of course I am. BFFR.
I was worried this wouldn’t live up to the hype of the first book in this series but I shouldn’t have worried for a second. I love sports romances, that doesn’t always mean they’re the most well written or engaging, but they take you away for a moment and engage you in something better. This book however, exceeded all expectations I had for sport romance and has set a new bar. The characters had so much depth to them and the character growth was just phenomenal!
Aidan Phillips is the most unexpected book boyfriend of 2024 and I think I will secretly be comparing all others to him for the foreseeable future.
Spice level - 🌶️🌶️
(This is literally the first 5⭐️ review I’ve given to a sports romance book - I enjoyed it too much not to!)
Thank you to the author and valentine_pr for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
ARC review🏒— 3.75⭐️ I enjoyed this book!! It was a fun, easy read! It follows Rylan and Aidan (dual POV), Aidan is on the college hockey team and Rylan is the coaches daughter who just transferred and has to tutor Aidan.
I loved the banter between Rylan and Aidan! It was so good and added to the tension. They both brought out the best qualities in each other. I didn’t love Aidan at first but he really evolved throughout the book and I grew to love him. He was so down bad for Rylan I loved it lol. His family brought a ton of drama and you got to understand him more. I loved the found family & side characters in this story as well!
While I did end up enjoying this book, it was a slow start for me and just a little repetitive at times. I also wish we got to see a little more of Rylan & Aidan’s deeper convos (not that I didn’t enjoy the spice tho🥵) bc they had great chemistry. Overall if you’re looking for a fun hockey romance I would recommend this!
Thank you to the author & Valentine PR for the ARC!
I really liked Aidan - I like his golden retriever energy. I think he underestimates himself a lot throughout this book, under the guise of being bored but really he doesn’t want to disappoint himself or anyone else and I think that stems from him clearly going through it with his family. I really enjoyed how Rylan boosted Aidan to be better, not because she wanted him to change but because he wanted to better himself. I enjoyed the tutor and jock aspect of it - a classic trope if I’m being honest, what I thought was more interesting was that Aidan is smart and he really didn’t need the tutor, just the motivation to do better. The book is well written and the storyline is great. Aidan’s family made my heart physically hurt for him - I could never imagine a family as distant and callous as his. Rylan’s sassy attitude with Aidan was cute and how they kept being so awkward with each other made me giggle. I loved getting more of Harlow and Conor as well as Hunter but I appreciate that this book focused more on just the couple it was about.
Aiden Phillips is now the poster child for reformed playboys. That man fell so hard for Rylan, and showed her every chance he got even when Rylan was pushing him away. I loved the tension and angst.
When he laid it all out on the table for her I have never been so proud 😂🫶🏽 I loved this book but I don’t think I’ll ever love it as much as I loved Famous Last Words. Conor Hart will always be one of my favorite MMCs that she has written.