Running Massen: A small town brother's best friend sports romance.

by Fidda Kabir

Previously published as "Running Massen" by Fidda Kabir

What happens when you fall in love with your brother’s best friend who also happens to be your coach? Yes! Forbidden at its best.

Running Massen was everybody’s label for her, but no one knew that she would soon rise to become an unstoppable force!

Growing up in a small town, Massen had been told her entire life that she wasn’t good enough, that she was a loser, and that she always gave up on everything. But one person always believed in her, the grumpy and moody Elijah. Little did Massen know that she would soon discover her hidden talent - Running. With Elijah as her coach, Massen found the courage to prove everyone wrong. But the closer she got to her dream, she realized that she was slowly falling in love with Elijah, the forbidden heart-stealer coach. But forbidden love was only one of the obstacles she must overcome.

All she wants is to win at life and to win at love. But she needs to give up one for the other. Or will she lose both? Find out in this electrifying romance that will leave you breathless.

Author’s It is a story about how Massen fights her way to her dreams when everyone is ready to pull her down. And it is indeed a romance novel where the hero is obsessed with the heroine.

Genres: Sports Romance, Small Town Romance

488 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 14, 2024

About the author

Fidda Kabir is an author who finds joy in writing romance. She loves writing novels and poems. She also loves to travel around the world. Besides writing, she loves to read and is obsessed with the rain.

Reviews

[Worshipbook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished Running Massen by Fiddakabir (the rising series) and OMG girlies… I’m OBSESSED 😩
Massen + Elijah gave me all the angst, butterflies, and spice Brother’s best friend + sports romance + grumpy x sunshine = PERFECTION I highly recommend it, girlies — you have to read this book, it’s so good!

[Rowena · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an arc read and leaving an honest review.

Forbidden love, small town, coach, slow burn, brothers best friend, age gap there is so much to this that plenty of people can enjoy

This was a slow burn romance but Elijah had always loved Massen ever since she was a baby, she became his "angel". The forbidden love of being the student and her running coach on top of being her brothers best friend.

This was a different within where Massen had huge self esteem issues stemming not just from bullying from her school peers but also her own family. She felt like she wouldnt be good enough to do anything and always gave up on herself and that is an issue that many people and also teenagers go through so people can definitely connect with that.

They have a slow burn and finally give in to each other, but that ending i really hope isn't true, and i'd like to know more of what comes of their relationship

[Alexandria Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love forbidden romance, slow burns, and a whirlwind of emotions, Running Massen will have you sprinting straight into your feels!

This book serves up all the tropes you didn’t know you needed:
✨ Brother’s best friend? Check.
✨ Grumpy-but-obsessed coach? Double check.
✨ Age gap, small-town drama, and an underdog heroine? Oh, you better believe it!

Massen Miller isn’t just running laps; she’s running straight into her power, and boy, does it hit hard. Dubbed “Running Massen” because she’s always felt like a quitter, this small-town girl’s journey is as heart-wrenching as it is empowering. Years of bullying (from peers and her own family—seriously, her dad deserves a timeout) have left her doubting her worth.

But Elijah? Oh, Elijah is the guy. Her brother’s best friend, her coach, and low-key her #1 fan. His grumpy exterior hides a heart full of love for the girl he calls his "angel." 🖤

The slow-burn between these two? Torturous.
Forbidden? Absolutely.
Worth it? A thousand times yes.

From secret glances to stolen moments, their chemistry is off-the-charts. But just when you think things are heading for a happy ending, BAM—an ending so jaw-dropping you’ll want to throw your running shoes across the room. Seriously, what just happened?! I need book two like Massen needs a win.

Massen’s growth throughout the story is everything. Watching her rise above the toxicity, find her strength, and lean on her ride-or-die friends was chef’s kiss. And don’t get me started on Elijah—his protective streak, the mystery notes, and the tension between them are perfection.

This book is a rollercoaster of angst, love, and small-town chaos that will leave you breathless.
Grab it for:
🔥Forbidden love
🔥Coach vibes
🔥Slow burn 
🔥Mystery notes
🔥Emotional growth
🔥A cliffhanger that’ll destroy you

I’m still reeling, still rooting for Massen, and still waiting for book two like my life depends on it. Fidda Kabir, you owe me a sequel, stat!🏃‍♀️💔✨

[Terry Lister · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. However, the forbidden love aspect kept me on the edge of my chair, waiting for the young lovers to meet with disaster. However, when it came, it did not come in the form l was expecting. This complete shock demands the author get busy writing the next in the series because anyone who reads this book and likes it just a little bit will be dying to get the next book in their hands.
The author gave us a real small town mix of characters and attitudes, which sadly impacted the central figure, Massen, to a huge degree. I found myself wishing l could get inside the pages for a chapter or so to sort some people out. If you are a young person from a small town, you will quickly recognize the characters and probably start comparing them to your own town!
I would give the book more than 5*if I could. Buy this book for a really well written entertaining story.

[Kimberly Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have a lot to say about this book. I wanted to like it and I did at first but then I just kept having issue after issue with it.
I will say I think it has potential if some things were changed a bit. Especially the ending. But here are my thoughts and the reason for the 2 star rating…

So I was really enjoying the story at first but I was noticing that it was jumping from scene to scene very quickly. And I will confirm that it’s like that throughout the entire book.It was just very all over the place and too fast paced.

Certain words and sentences were very repetitive. A lot of repeating. And the wording or sentence structure would make me confused at times. I couldn’t tell if the characters were mad or happy. The emotions weren’t explained well.

The relationship between the FMC and MMC was very strange. It started out with her not knowing she liked him at all but he was obsessed with her. And that’s fine. But it went from him being her coach to him making his move on her very quickly. Before they even talked about liking each other, he was sleeping in her tent with her and him calling her baby and Angel. And it just happened too fast.

The whole time his intentions were obvious but the FMC was still clueless somehow.

There were moments she was very jealous and accusing him of not being trustworthy and like every other guy, when he did nothing wrong. And then they would make up within the next page or 2.

She even calls him a creep at one point because she barely turned 18 and still in high school and he’s 26. But she also has feelings for him.

The last 75-80% of the book is them having a lot of sex. And not much else happening. And then suddenly at the end he goes missing as well as another student. And apparently the student was underage and pregnant with his child. Making him a pedophile.

So you have to read book 2 to find out if he’s a pedophile or not. And to be frank I’m not interested in reading about that at all. It’s just very weird in my opinion.

I feel like both characters are red flags. She’s clueless most of the time and jealous for no reason. And he’s giving off pedo vibes and even controlling and mean at times.

The morning wood scene was cringy. And the kissing/sex scenes were also repetitive.

I just didn’t connect with the characters. I didn’t like them at all.

I wanted to like this book, since the Author did send it to me. Which I’m still very thankful for! She’s very kind.

But I just can’t get past the whole pedophile situation. I thought it was going to be more of a cute romance story. And we didn’t get that at all.

I think with a different plot and working on structuring and slowing everything down, the author can make it a lot better.

[Tommie G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Running Massen - Fidda Kabir
A small town brother's best friend sports romance.
(The Rising Series Book 1)

Thank you @fidda_kabir and @crownsandchaos_pr for this gifted ebook.

My Review:
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Pages: 497
Genre: Romance
Published: August 14, 2024
Tropes:

🚫Forbidden Romance
🏠Small Town
🧍‍♂️Brothers Best Friend
⚔️Bullying
💘He Falls First
🌶️Slow Burn
🏃🏻‍♂️‍➡️Coach
👟Neighbor
#️⃣Age Gap
🦸‍♂️Obsessed Hero
🧑‍🧑‍🧒Found Family

This is Elijah and Massen’s story. Elijah is her brothers best friend and 8 years older than Massen. The families are next door neighbors.

Massen doesn’t excel at school the way her older brother and sister did. It’s a struggle for her. She’s been constantly bullied since a young age. Her own father and grandmother are the worst.

At school she is nicknamed Running Massen because she always runs away when unsure of herself. She has absolutely no self esteem.

Her senior year of high school Elijah forces her to sign up for track. He’s back in town taking care of his dying father and accepted a track coach position. He has watched Massen and knows she is an extremely fast runner.

Against his better judgement he acts on feelings he has always had for her. He has been one of the only people she can count on in her life.

Then there’s the twist! After graduation things are revealed that rocks Massen’s already shaky world. This twist destroys everything she has come to count on. One heck of a cliffhanger.

I’m anxiously awaiting Massen, Daughter Of The Wind that will be released September 3, 2025!

I highly recommend this book and series.

#runningmassen #fiddakabir #crownsandchaos_pr #romance #forbiddenromance #agegap #smalltown #brothersbestfriend #hefallsfirst #booktok #bookstagram

[PlotTwistQueen · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Contains Spoilers*






This book started off strong but one scene in particular dropped this from a 3.75 stars to a 2.75. The FMC is too absorbed in her failures and invested in her growing attraction to the MMC to not notice her two best friends who put themselves in danger for her and to make her feel better was quickly forgotten and brushed aside. The FMC had actually forgotten about them as soon as she’d saved herself and saw how hot the MMC was who’d come to rescue her. I’m sorry but this screams self-absorbed and selfish. But overall this book was well written, unfortunately the FMC became instantly unlikable in this particular scene.

Update: I pushed this to a 3 star because it was well-written. I would read further work from the author. My main point of contention here is that to my understanding the FMC is 18 years old but she’s written like she’s 12. The one scene where she was cuddling with MMC and felt an erection pressing against her, she never knew what it was. In this time and age , and it is contemporary romance, which 18 year old doesn’t know basic male functions? It seemed unbelievable and far-fetched from reality. I believe the setting is in USA, and sex education is thought young before puberty hits from what I know.

The sudden change in Melody’s character towards Massen was jarring. There was no explanation for why she’d stopped being mean. It was a flip being switched, with no further explanations as to why she’d now chosen to support her sister instead of bringing her down like she’d always done.

Pros: is definitely the Elijah’s friendship with Massen. I loved their dynamic and found it sweet. I really liked Massen’s mother.

I really want to know what happens with Marcus and June.

[Mehtap · Rating 4 out of 5]

The words use and overall review shouldn’t reflect personally on the author or any other of her series and books.

3.5 stars

Our female lead had a rough sad life but a blessing in form of a hottie and his family blessed her life.
She has been in love with him looking from afar, admiring him secretly. This I loved, heroine pinning.
She joins the team that he is coaching and that’s when we feel a bit more of that angst! Even though I didn’t like or enjoy the misunderstandings. Was there some character growth? at least to me I felt it on unexpected places, like her sister. I found the leads a bit immature. But they also shine in other ways. If I have to pick who is my favorite it will be our H.

Things I enjoyed
That the physical stuff didn’t happen right away.
The slow burn and angst
Age gap
Taboo/forbidden

Things I didn’t
Cliffhanger (I didn’t know I thought it was a standalone)
Even tho part of her story is the bullying from her family is like that was all she was, it consumed her. she wasn’t Massen she was the girl who her family didn’t love.

Let’s see what happens on the next book!

[Louise ᥫ᭡܀⊹✿ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Running Massen by Fidda Kabir is a heartfelt mix of angst, forbidden romance, and self-discovery that hooked me from the start. Massen is a beautifully flawed heroine—tired of being labeled a failure yet determined to rise above it. While Elijah, her grumpy but secretly devoted coach and brother’s best friend adds that perfect blend of tension and tenderness.

The slow-burn spice simmers beneath stolen glances and unspoken feelings, making every interaction feel electric, while the family drama and small-town judgment fueled the emotional weight of her journey.

What stood out most was the raw vulnerability. Massen battling self-doubt, strained family ties, and the pressure to prove herself. It’s angsty, emotional, and deeply satisfying, and that cliffhanger ending left me breathless and desperate for the sequel.

I'm still currently reading the second one and honestly I can't put the book down at all (giggling, hurting, and swooning all over again)

Highly recommend this to everyone who needs a cozy and angsty with the right amount of spice and well-rounded characters with a compelling plot to read. Then this book is for you lovely 🖤

[Chasity7474📚❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an age gap, brothers best friend and forbidden love all in one.

Elijah had lived Massen since she was born. They have always been close. He is 8 years older and her brothers best friend.

Massen has been bullied her whole life by almost everyone in her life including most of her family.

The story unfolds as Elijah becomes the track coach and Massen joins the team. At the same time she has her first date. She has also been receiving letters in her locker from someone obsessed with her.

What I liked - Massen’s mom & friends. Sam and Elijah’s love for Massen and their ability to take care of her when her family fails her.

What I didn’t- The miscommunications between the MMC & FMC were a lot. Massen went from being naive to not being naive super fast.

The book ends in a cliffhanger. I didn’t expect that and in no way believe the lies. They have to be lies or my heart will break!

[Marni Ortiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Small town , forbidden, brothers best friend/ sports romance and all the feels . Have you ever come across a romance that just sucked you right in from the very first page and made you feel so many different emotions you never saw coming? Everything from being speechless to screaming outta pure frustration to smiling and laughing out loud then actually crying like a baby and rooting so freaking hard . Well Running Massen did jr all in spades . I really could not get enough of Elijah and Massen , I can’t really put into words what it was but the love they shared was just so beautiful and so emotional. They definitely had their obstacles to overcome and their story was anything but easy . Massen having issues with self esteem from getting bullied in school my heart really went out to her . And the way Elijah loved her pretty much his whole life , the whole forbidden aspect , I absolutely adored every single moment

[Nay · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars but hang in there and give it a shot! Good story and characters.

I’ll start with the positives. The story itself and the characters are 4 stars. I was hanging on the edge of my seat to see what was going to happen next. I think the author did a good job at giving each character their own personality. I believe this is the authors first book and I see potential.

It ends with a cliff hanger and I believe I will give the next book a try to see how the story goes.

Now my struggles. There were a lot of quick jumps between scenes which was confusing at first but once I realized it, I figured out how to follow along. It could also use some editing. I wasn’t sure if I was going to finish it but the other readers reviews kept me going and I’m glad I did.

I encourage you to see past the jumps and editing needed to give it a read! Great story and characters.

[Effy · Rating 4 out of 5]

🩷Forbidden love
🩷Small town
🩷Coach
🩷Slow burn
🩷Brothers best friend
🩷Age gap

This book delivers a captivating slow-burn romance between Massen and Elijah, whose connection is deep yet complicated by their student-coach dynamic and Elijah’s close bond with Massen’s brother. Their forbidden love adds a fragile tension that keeps readers on edge.

Massen’s journey is both relatable and heartfelt, especially as she struggles with self-esteem due to bullying and family criticism. This makes her character incredibly real, and her growth throughout the story is engaging. The author vividly brings small-town life to life, with characters and attitudes that feel authentic and relatable, especially for anyone familiar with small-town dynamics.

The unexpected twist near the end left me eager for the next book. Overall, it’s a beautifully written, memorable read that’s hard to put down!

[Claire Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Running Massen has all the makings of a compelling romance: a determined heroine out to prove herself, a grumpy coach who just happens to be her brother’s best friend, and the tension of a forbidden love that burns hotter with every page. Massen’s journey from small-town rejection to finding her talent in running—and her heart in Elijah—offers a story of grit, resilience, and passion.

That said, while the premise and emotional core shine through, the book would have benefitted from tighter editing and polishing. The abundance of small errors occasionally disrupted the flow, making it harder for me to fully sink into the story. With a careful round of proofreading, this novel could truly become the powerful and breathless romance it promises to be.

Verdict: A heartfelt story with great potential, but one that needs refinement to let its best qualities really soar.

[Ishani Chowdhury · Rating 4 out of 5]

Massen has been made to believe that she's good for nothing, except running away. Bullied both at school and at home, her only solace is the peaceful orchard next door, where she collects peaches and spends time with Uncle Sam and—of course—his son, Elijah. Their playful banter has always been a small source of joy in her otherwise difficult world.

But things shift when Massen finds out that Elijah is now training at her school—and he’s quickly become the center of attention, especially among the girls. It leaves her unsettled in ways she didn’t expect.

It’s Elijah who eventually nudges her into joining the school’s track team. What was once her way of escaping the world—running—suddenly becomes her greatest strength. And from that moment on, there’s no stopping her.

[Ashley Anesin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very Honest review, with no spoilers:

Although this book started out a little slow, it was hard for me to connect with the character at first, it definitely ended with a shock. 1/2 way though the book I definitely was invested in these characters. Small town girl finds solace in the one person she shouldn’t, but you root for them anyways. The age gap is definitely straddling the line but you could put yourself in her shoes and understand the whirlwind she got caught up in. I can not wait till the next book to unravel the ending that left me speechless. Well told story with the perfect amount of spice.

[Shyanne Blankenship · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a whirlwind of emotions. I had to process everything that happened and then that ending?? I’m scratching at the bars of my cage waiting for the next part to come

First of all, sweet girl Massen. I want to hug you so damn much. Your whole family sucks and you deserve better. Like Elijah and Sam🤪

I adore Sam and am not ready for him to go anywhere. He needs more time🥺

Although I do wish there was more of a balance in chapters between Massen and Elijah’s point of views

This book had such a great buildup. And I feel so much pride for Massen and all she accomplished. But seriously.. I can’t get over the ending

[Lisa Kirtley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good age gap story but I struggled to really get on board with this one. I had a weird vibe from Elijah the whole time and depending on where that cliff hanger goes 😬 will determine if my gut feeling was correct or not. The writing felt disconnected in places and like there were important parts that could have been talked about. I found myself going back a few times to make sure I didn’t skip pages because the connections just weren’t there. I understand that Massen has been bullied for years and years but the way it was portrayed seemed very forced to me. Overall, I’m invested enough that I can’t wait to read the next book in the story!

[Stephanie Skiffington · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! I devoured it in a day. It's a small town, age gap romance (not that big of an age gap though). Massen has always been bullied in school, being dubbed "running Massen", because she runs away from any problem. Her brother's best friend Elijah, sees that she has potential with being a really amazing runner, so she joins the track team. Things start heating up between them and it's a hot/cold relationship. I loved the relationship between them, there is just so much passion and he really cares about her. That cliffhanger destroyed me though!! I can't wait for the next one.

[Shelly Stradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Running Massen is an age gap, forbidden love, brother’s best friend slow burn romance. The story is about Massen a girl who has been bullied and put down her whole life including by her own family. Massen has struggled academically, socially, and definitely in the area of romance. That’s true at least until her brother’s bff Elijah professes his love to Massen. This relationship is complicated by the fact that not only is Elijah her brother’s bff but he is also her track coach! This is a beautiful story to watch unfold but hold on tight when you get to the end! You get pushed directly off that cliff! Can’t wait for the sequel!

[PrettyLadyMaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story well written the end has me hanging off my bed

I wish I could give you the biggest warmest 🫂 I am sorry you grew up with verbal abuse that is not easy to deal with as an adult so I couldn’t imagine how you handle it as a child I am sure both are traumatizing.
I love the character art. I am the black sheep of my family as well my mother was my best friend she understood we were one and the same.
Massen best friend June and William are true friends. I can’t believe what happened at the end I’m thankful book 2 is already out so I can find out what happened to Elijah.

[Erin Stapel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forbidden love romance with a slight twist. Things don't always happen like you think it would or should in this book. The author did an amazing job keeping you locked in this the romance between Massen and Elijah. Massen and her family interactions captured my emotions really relating to her. This story has a little bit of everything small town feel, amazing characters, a story line that keeps you reading. Fidda doesn't stop there though she gives you a romance you are routing for, but doesn't come without issues, emotions, some spicy, and overall, an amazing read.

[Simone Haeseler · Rating 4 out of 5]

It started really depressing, a sister who is pretty mean, a dad not a bit better. Masson had to find herself in this story first, because she always doubted herself. Elijah was a great character, I liked him from the beginning. Massen was very insecure, that was her worst flaw, overcome her inner demons. I was glad when her sister changed a bit and was nicer. At times it was a bit strange how they behaved, very juvenile for a 18 year old. Two third of the book it was pretty much PJ13, the last third it heated up a bit. Also at the end it was a bit much with the Angel thing, kind of creepy if I didn’t liked Elijah so much. All in all it was a nice little story, but I don’t like a cliffhanger, I prefer a clean cut, even if there is another book.

[Heather Mulvihill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Running Massen: a review

Running Massen, a black sheep of the family, She was expected to be a bit but turned out to be a girl. Her family sees her as a disappointment and a loser except her mother & brother Marcus
Massen and her bestie, June both passed their exams. Massen got her nickname because she ran out on her preschool exams Elijah, Marcus’s best friend . . is the crush of June, Massen’s best friend but Elijah finds her annoying.
I loved all the twists and turns. I can't wait to read book 2

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is an insightful book, it deal with Massen, who is an 18 year old that has dealt with bullying all her life.
The story is about how she tries to overcome her fear of failure.
The book is very YA and told from Massen's POV until about halfway through.  There is a bit of spice after this but not too much, and it's not very detailed.
The 2nd half of the book has Massen and Elijah's POV.

A good read overall does end with a cliffhanger, so be aware.
There are a few trigger warnings, so please be aware of them.

[PrettyLadyMaine Writes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I could give you the biggest warmest 🫂 I am sorry you grew up with verbal abuse that is not easy to deal with as an adult so I couldn’t imagine how you handle it as a child I am sure both are traumatizing.
I love the character art. I am the black sheep of my family as well my mother was my best friend she understood we were one and the same.
Massen best friend June and William are true friends. I can’t believe what happened at the end I’m thankful book 2 is already out so I can find out what happened to Elijah.

[Sara Persman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I took this book on whim and was really surprised that I enjoyed it. There were moments where the immaturity and self-esteem issues of the FMC bugged me, but this did not discourage me from continuing. I am really interested to see where Marcus and June go in this book and the cliffhanger at the end with Massen and Elijah left me on edge. This was a good slow burn with an age gap romance and I do look forward to the next book.

[Taylah Box · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every bit of it, couldn't put it down. Made feel like I was being drawn to Elijah as he is my dream boyfriend I suppose you could say

I do want to know what happens next but I have to wait for that unfortunately but that's ok

I do rate this book 5 stars

I just wished maybe he should of have waited till Massen finished highschool to date her but glad she found someone decent but at the same time he should of have told her the truth especially about Oliver

[Dian Kinsman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was good. Massen's father and his side of the family really pissed me off. Her sister grows on you and I love her bother and Mom. I hope she can stop listening and believing her bullies and get out if her own head. I like how the author has subtly put in the fact that her brother and sister, although seemingly have it made, are not as happy as they are made out to be. Also, the ended came out of nowhere, and I hope the second book comes soon.

[JM G · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading Running Massen. A great age gap romance that I didn't want to put down. The characters (Massen and Elijah) are wonderful and the storyline hooked me from the start. The twists throughout the book were very enjoyable. I am looking forward to reading the second book! I recommend reading this book. It is very good!