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Wrestling Girls #3
Sucker Punch: Out of the Blue: A Spicy Frenemies to Lovers Sapphic Romance
Aura "Rue" Bellamy, 26, left London to pursue her wrestling career all around Europe. And also to run away from feelings that would never have a future.
Now, three years later, she's back in town, fresh out of a painful breakup with a girlfriend she loved with every fiber of her being, and she's determined to find a ditraction, which, in her vocabulary, means two work and women.
A fortunate encounter with a charming woman who calls herself the Queen Devil leads her to the Beatcave, a popular high-end wrestling club where she hopes she can find a gig and some fun. But there's something else the Beatcave has in store for a face from her past, someone Rue wasn't expecting to see again, least of all in a place like this. Someone who isn't the same person she remembers.
Trying to come to terms with the ghosts from her past, Rue ends up juggling her time in London between wrestling, playing barista in Soho, and steamy relationships that might become more than she bargained for.
Now, three years later, she's back in town, fresh out of a painful breakup with a girlfriend she loved with every fiber of her being, and she's determined to find a ditraction, which, in her vocabulary, means two work and women.
A fortunate encounter with a charming woman who calls herself the Queen Devil leads her to the Beatcave, a popular high-end wrestling club where she hopes she can find a gig and some fun. But there's something else the Beatcave has in store for a face from her past, someone Rue wasn't expecting to see again, least of all in a place like this. Someone who isn't the same person she remembers.
Trying to come to terms with the ghosts from her past, Rue ends up juggling her time in London between wrestling, playing barista in Soho, and steamy relationships that might become more than she bargained for.
493 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 17, 2024
6 people are currently reading
120 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
May 26, 2024
10/10 - no notes. That Epilogue has me spinning.
June 8, 2024
Kayla has written an exceptional book. It is remarkable in every aspect, from the vivid descriptions of the wrestling matches to the evocative portrayal of the places visited in London. The blossoming relationships depicted within the book are simply enchanting. I thoroughly enjoyed the "Frenemies with Benefits to Lovers" story. It is a beautifully written tale about finding love in unexpected places, and I absolutely loved it.
I genuinely admire Rue and have a profound fondness for her. She has endured many hardships in her past and possesses an abundance of love to offer. If she were to overcome her emotional barriers and embrace new opportunities, particularly in London and at the 'Beatcave', she might discover the fulfilment she truly seeks.
This book, unlike the previous books in the series, contains explicit and well-placed spicy scenes that keep the reader engaged and wanting more.
I thoroughly enjoyed the supporting characters in this book, including Arnes (of course 🥵), Mandy, and Dani at the 'Queer Elizabeth,' Rue's dear friend from Ireland, Bear. And you can't forget the entire Beatcave family. If they were real people, I would be delighted to meet and get to know them because they are such a wonderful group of individuals.
I highly recommend this book. Although it can be read as a standalone, I would strongly suggest reading the first two books in the series to familiarize yourself with the characters and their relationships. It is a phenomenal read, and while I was reluctant for it to end, the conclusion for Rue is truly amazing. After that epilogue, I am eagerly awaiting the release of the fourth book, as I am very interested in knowing what happens next!
⚠️ PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THIS SECTION OF MY REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS. PROCEED WITH CAUTION ⚠️
This book is truly exceptional and an absolute rollercoaster of emotions. It profoundly affected me and evoked a wide range of feelings. The development of the relationships within the book left me yearning for more. I particularly admired the character development of Rue, who embodies the kind of person I instinctively want to hug and reassure her that everything will be alright.
The book commences from where the second book concluded. Rue and Agnes are getting a little heated 🥵, However, Agnes was an escape from reality for Rue, but what an escape that was - H.O.T! Rue arrives in London after a painful breakup, unsure of what she will find there. This book, unlike its predecessor, is spicy, and the spicy scenes were perfect in every way, with their placement within the book and their disruption being particularly noteworthy.
Now, let's get to the important part. When Blair caught Rue's attention, she was unaware that she had finally encountered the one person who could treat her in the manner she deserved. As Rue assists Blair in comprehending the true essence of a healthy 'relationship', where one is treated with respect and dignity, in contrast to Jackson's (Jerkson's) disrespectful behaviour towards her.
The development of the relationship between the two characters is a beautifully crafted narrative, and I loved it. However, I must admit that the epilogue had a profound impact on me, and it took me a considerable amount of time to process the events that unfolded. Kayla, your exceptional writing skills are truly awe-inspiring, and I hold immense admiration for your talent.
Star rating. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice rating. 🔥🔥🔥🔥
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I genuinely admire Rue and have a profound fondness for her. She has endured many hardships in her past and possesses an abundance of love to offer. If she were to overcome her emotional barriers and embrace new opportunities, particularly in London and at the 'Beatcave', she might discover the fulfilment she truly seeks.
This book, unlike the previous books in the series, contains explicit and well-placed spicy scenes that keep the reader engaged and wanting more.
I thoroughly enjoyed the supporting characters in this book, including Arnes (of course 🥵), Mandy, and Dani at the 'Queer Elizabeth,' Rue's dear friend from Ireland, Bear. And you can't forget the entire Beatcave family. If they were real people, I would be delighted to meet and get to know them because they are such a wonderful group of individuals.
I highly recommend this book. Although it can be read as a standalone, I would strongly suggest reading the first two books in the series to familiarize yourself with the characters and their relationships. It is a phenomenal read, and while I was reluctant for it to end, the conclusion for Rue is truly amazing. After that epilogue, I am eagerly awaiting the release of the fourth book, as I am very interested in knowing what happens next!
⚠️ PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THIS SECTION OF MY REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS. PROCEED WITH CAUTION ⚠️
This book is truly exceptional and an absolute rollercoaster of emotions. It profoundly affected me and evoked a wide range of feelings. The development of the relationships within the book left me yearning for more. I particularly admired the character development of Rue, who embodies the kind of person I instinctively want to hug and reassure her that everything will be alright.
The book commences from where the second book concluded. Rue and Agnes are getting a little heated 🥵, However, Agnes was an escape from reality for Rue, but what an escape that was - H.O.T! Rue arrives in London after a painful breakup, unsure of what she will find there. This book, unlike its predecessor, is spicy, and the spicy scenes were perfect in every way, with their placement within the book and their disruption being particularly noteworthy.
Now, let's get to the important part. When Blair caught Rue's attention, she was unaware that she had finally encountered the one person who could treat her in the manner she deserved. As Rue assists Blair in comprehending the true essence of a healthy 'relationship', where one is treated with respect and dignity, in contrast to Jackson's (Jerkson's) disrespectful behaviour towards her.
The development of the relationship between the two characters is a beautifully crafted narrative, and I loved it. However, I must admit that the epilogue had a profound impact on me, and it took me a considerable amount of time to process the events that unfolded. Kayla, your exceptional writing skills are truly awe-inspiring, and I hold immense admiration for your talent.
Star rating. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice rating. 🔥🔥🔥🔥
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 26, 2024
This isn't going to be in my normal format because I had quite a few issues with this book to be honest. I would have rated it fewer stars if I hadn't absolutely loved Blair's story and her growth as a character. We get to see her go from this grumpy, prickly, antagonistic woman to someone who is capable of being vulnerable and loving. I LOVED her journey. (Did not in a million years think her day job is what it is, though I love it.)
That being said, I did have a few problems with the rest of the book. This series started with zero spicy scenes...the first book is fade to black. The second book had one, maybe two spicy scenes. This book had so many spicy scenes it felt like every other chapter at times. I love spicy scenes. What I don't love is spicy scenes that involve someone other than the love interest. Can the MC have sex with other people, especially before they meet? Of course, but I don't need an explicit scene of it. Those could have been fade to black.
I preface this by saying that I am in no way anti-unconventional relationships whether open, poly, or something else. As long as no one is hurt and everyone is aware and consenting I'm happy. What I don't like is retconning previous MCs in the series as suddenly poly. If Pam and Lea were going to develop a poly relationship that should have happened in their book, not the way it was sprung on the reader here. Also, honestly a polycule that involves cousins gives me an ick. It's borderline incestuous at the very least. Pam and Sean already kind of gave off a slightly incestuous vibe to begin with and this just makes me uncomfortable as heck. What I also don't like is when the main romance never moves through the are we exclusive or not stage. Rue is sleeping with someone the entire time she's seeing Blair. Everyone involved is aware of what is going on. But you can tell that Blair wants something else by how possessive and grumpy she gets in certain situations. I get Rue is commitment phobic at the time, but it's not too hard to make them exclusive before the end of the book or have them acknowledge that it's an open relationship and talk about boundaries and communication.
There isn't really a third act breakup, though they do keep the drama and suspense going up until the very end. The MCs are never really in a relationship until the final chapters of the book.
That being said, I did have a few problems with the rest of the book. This series started with zero spicy scenes...the first book is fade to black. The second book had one, maybe two spicy scenes. This book had so many spicy scenes it felt like every other chapter at times. I love spicy scenes. What I don't love is spicy scenes that involve someone other than the love interest. Can the MC have sex with other people, especially before they meet? Of course, but I don't need an explicit scene of it. Those could have been fade to black.
I preface this by saying that I am in no way anti-unconventional relationships whether open, poly, or something else. As long as no one is hurt and everyone is aware and consenting I'm happy. What I don't like is retconning previous MCs in the series as suddenly poly. If Pam and Lea were going to develop a poly relationship that should have happened in their book, not the way it was sprung on the reader here. Also, honestly a polycule that involves cousins gives me an ick. It's borderline incestuous at the very least. Pam and Sean already kind of gave off a slightly incestuous vibe to begin with and this just makes me uncomfortable as heck. What I also don't like is when the main romance never moves through the are we exclusive or not stage. Rue is sleeping with someone the entire time she's seeing Blair. Everyone involved is aware of what is going on. But you can tell that Blair wants something else by how possessive and grumpy she gets in certain situations. I get Rue is commitment phobic at the time, but it's not too hard to make them exclusive before the end of the book or have them acknowledge that it's an open relationship and talk about boundaries and communication.
There isn't really a third act breakup, though they do keep the drama and suspense going up until the very end. The MCs are never really in a relationship until the final chapters of the book.
June 2, 2024
An explosive story of 2 people searching for healing. The third book in the Wrestling Girls series blew me away. It’s nice to see what the characters from the other volumes are up to while meeting new ones. And even gaining a better understanding of characters I thought I knew! Rue is intense and a great addition to the Beatcave fam and she forms deep bonds with the characters she connects with, you can almost feel it. To see her reconnect with an old friend was one of my favorite parts. And it has to be said- that epilogue! Highly recommend this book as well as the other 2 in this series.
June 18, 2024
It was so nice and refreshing to get to visit with the fam again, they had been missed. I felt like I was snuggled up with them as I read the story of a new member. Getting to know Rue was more of a joy than I had even expected. She is fierce. She is protective. She is charming and sexy. She is human. She is finding herself and her strength.
Blair has had a magnificent character arc since being introduced in Pretty Devils. So many of us were rooting for her by the end of Pretty Devils, she was part of the fam after all. Seeing her be the brave badass bitch she is, especially at the club in the end, had me jumping up and fist bumping the air! ;)
The spice and development between these two was explosive in a phenomenal way! This author is an amazing writer! I am not into sports. It takes a good writer for me to not just skim by the sport stuff in a book to get to the romance. I read Pretty Devils first and loved every aspect of it. Followed up with book 1 (and the short story the author has a well) and couldn’t wait for more! Now after being immersed again with this (my) beatcave fam, I not only want more, I want to watch and go to a show! I am fascinated and intrigued. Kayla Faber is not just a good author. She is extraordinary. Highly, highly recommend this book and this series!!!!
Blair has had a magnificent character arc since being introduced in Pretty Devils. So many of us were rooting for her by the end of Pretty Devils, she was part of the fam after all. Seeing her be the brave badass bitch she is, especially at the club in the end, had me jumping up and fist bumping the air! ;)
The spice and development between these two was explosive in a phenomenal way! This author is an amazing writer! I am not into sports. It takes a good writer for me to not just skim by the sport stuff in a book to get to the romance. I read Pretty Devils first and loved every aspect of it. Followed up with book 1 (and the short story the author has a well) and couldn’t wait for more! Now after being immersed again with this (my) beatcave fam, I not only want more, I want to watch and go to a show! I am fascinated and intrigued. Kayla Faber is not just a good author. She is extraordinary. Highly, highly recommend this book and this series!!!!
June 8, 2024
(I received an ARC of this from the author, but this review is entirely of my own volition)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
this is the best one yet! Let me draw you into it:
FRENEMIES WITH BENEFITS!!!! INTERRACIAL COUPLING, QUEER (literally there’s like maybe 2 straight people in the entire series)!!!
This one was spicier than the others but still so gut wrenching and at points heartwarming! Rue and Blair are bitches with soft gooey hearts despite trying not to be. I like to say they’re soft with a thorny exterior to protect themselves from getting hurt!
Rue is broken and messy because of being at one point in love with Liv and having recently gotten out of a relationship with [redacted]. She moves from Dublin to London to literally run away from her feelings and emotions!
Blair is stuck in an abusive relationship with Jack(JERK)son until rue comes in like a knight in shining leather to show her that, that isn’t how someone who loves you should make you feel!
The way we get to see their relationship blossom and the visible change in Blair’s demeanour after being rid of jerkson is so nice, even when it literally rips your heart from your chest!!
Whilst this is definitely spicier than the other two in the series, and the characters it’s surrounding are bitchy rather than softies! That being said if you enjoyed the last two I think you’ll be in for a ride with this one, but still adore it! Like the found family aspect is just *chefs kiss*
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
this is the best one yet! Let me draw you into it:
FRENEMIES WITH BENEFITS!!!! INTERRACIAL COUPLING, QUEER (literally there’s like maybe 2 straight people in the entire series)!!!
This one was spicier than the others but still so gut wrenching and at points heartwarming! Rue and Blair are bitches with soft gooey hearts despite trying not to be. I like to say they’re soft with a thorny exterior to protect themselves from getting hurt!
Rue is broken and messy because of being at one point in love with Liv and having recently gotten out of a relationship with [redacted]. She moves from Dublin to London to literally run away from her feelings and emotions!
Blair is stuck in an abusive relationship with Jack(JERK)son until rue comes in like a knight in shining leather to show her that, that isn’t how someone who loves you should make you feel!
The way we get to see their relationship blossom and the visible change in Blair’s demeanour after being rid of jerkson is so nice, even when it literally rips your heart from your chest!!
Whilst this is definitely spicier than the other two in the series, and the characters it’s surrounding are bitchy rather than softies! That being said if you enjoyed the last two I think you’ll be in for a ride with this one, but still adore it! Like the found family aspect is just *chefs kiss*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2024
It took longer than expected not because it is a dread (cause it is not) but because life happened, but to be honest it was better this was cause it was amazing to just savor the story.
Lemme tell ya it is well worth it, the whole thing... I was rooting for someone else but along the way the author makes you fall in love with the MCs and their love story, so go ahead and read the third installment of this amazing, queer, wrestlers' stories, you are not going to be disappointed and the banger will be at the end! Can't wait to read the next one!
Thanks to Kayla Faber for this ARC opportunity!
Lemme tell ya it is well worth it, the whole thing... I was rooting for someone else but along the way the author makes you fall in love with the MCs and their love story, so go ahead and read the third installment of this amazing, queer, wrestlers' stories, you are not going to be disappointed and the banger will be at the end! Can't wait to read the next one!
Thanks to Kayla Faber for this ARC opportunity!
December 28, 2024
This series really envelopes you like a warm hug full of queer adorableness. The way that Kayla writes her characters with such incredible depth really immerses you into the story like no book I’ve ever read before. Even though the romances always focus around our FMCs there is so much intention and so many layers to the way that Kayla writes her side characters that you can’t help but adore them just as much as the main cast of characters.
All of the stories in this series thus far focus on badass sapphic wrestlers working at a London based wrestling club. This story in particular tells the story of Rue, the best friend of Liv, from the last book who abandoned Liv in London to travel Europe anf pursue a wrestling career. In this book, we get to see Rue’s side of the story as she returns after a painful breakup and reunites with Liv. While working at the Beatcave and learning to face her feeling.
We also get to learn a lot about Blair and Agnes who were two really interesting characters who have been in the series before but have not gotten their own spotlight the way that they do in the book. Agnes is a totally badass lesbian leader of the Street Devils who likes to engage in non-traditional relationships with beautiful women while Blair is an uptight and prickly straight woman who keeps most of her life a mystery to the members of her group.
Agnes was such an intimidating and sexy character in the last book and though she still is in this book through her situation with Rue we get to see a softer and more intimate side of Agnes and learn a bit about her romantic past with Fiona which was briefly touched on In the last books.Through Agnes we also get to know Mandy and Dani who I can’t wait for more of!
I was really intrigued by Blair’s character in the last book so I’m really glad that Kayla used this book to give us a bit more insight into her character. We got to see a glimpse of the abusive and toxic relationship that Blair was in in the last book but in this book we get to see a more full picture of how bad the situation actually is. I really liked how Rue makes it her mission to show Blair that she deserves better than her shitty boyfriend even if she is a little grumpy. I love romances where a woman gets away from a toxic situation and finds someone who treats her right and it really is executed perfectly in this book!
I love the focus on healing in this book because too often it is brushed over in media that the healing process especially in cases like this one where it’s a non linear process. I like how even though it is hard to read Kayla shows how even after Blair is shown she deserves better she has a really hard time letting go of her boyfriend and the life she knows. I also appreciate getting to see how frustrating it is for Rue to watch Blair go through this as she’s developing feelings for her and is trying to be supportive because it is just so real.
Blair going through a sexuality crisis in this book was not something I expected but it just felt so natural for her to fall for Rue and it’s so refreshing to see a story about coming out and coming to terms with you sexuality that isn’t about someone in their teens or early twenties because I have rarely seen that represented.
Kayla creates a queer found family in the book that avoids feeling forced or disingenuous us which is an issue that I have with a lot of queer friend groups in media. Somehow she manages to incorporate multiple different sexualities, genders, and relationship styles without it feeling like she is doing it simply to fill a quota. The group at the Beatcave is so cute and supportive that you can’t help but wish you were there with them.
Kayla’s writing is definitely something I want to quickly touch on before I wrap things up. Kayla’s writing in her first book was really great but I feel like we just see exponential growth every time she puts out something new. I think that a lot of the time writers stagnate and feel like they’ve reached the best they can be but you can clearly see that Kayla is working to become better at what she does with each book she puts out.
All of the stories in this series thus far focus on badass sapphic wrestlers working at a London based wrestling club. This story in particular tells the story of Rue, the best friend of Liv, from the last book who abandoned Liv in London to travel Europe anf pursue a wrestling career. In this book, we get to see Rue’s side of the story as she returns after a painful breakup and reunites with Liv. While working at the Beatcave and learning to face her feeling.
We also get to learn a lot about Blair and Agnes who were two really interesting characters who have been in the series before but have not gotten their own spotlight the way that they do in the book. Agnes is a totally badass lesbian leader of the Street Devils who likes to engage in non-traditional relationships with beautiful women while Blair is an uptight and prickly straight woman who keeps most of her life a mystery to the members of her group.
Agnes was such an intimidating and sexy character in the last book and though she still is in this book through her situation with Rue we get to see a softer and more intimate side of Agnes and learn a bit about her romantic past with Fiona which was briefly touched on In the last books.Through Agnes we also get to know Mandy and Dani who I can’t wait for more of!
I was really intrigued by Blair’s character in the last book so I’m really glad that Kayla used this book to give us a bit more insight into her character. We got to see a glimpse of the abusive and toxic relationship that Blair was in in the last book but in this book we get to see a more full picture of how bad the situation actually is. I really liked how Rue makes it her mission to show Blair that she deserves better than her shitty boyfriend even if she is a little grumpy. I love romances where a woman gets away from a toxic situation and finds someone who treats her right and it really is executed perfectly in this book!
I love the focus on healing in this book because too often it is brushed over in media that the healing process especially in cases like this one where it’s a non linear process. I like how even though it is hard to read Kayla shows how even after Blair is shown she deserves better she has a really hard time letting go of her boyfriend and the life she knows. I also appreciate getting to see how frustrating it is for Rue to watch Blair go through this as she’s developing feelings for her and is trying to be supportive because it is just so real.
Blair going through a sexuality crisis in this book was not something I expected but it just felt so natural for her to fall for Rue and it’s so refreshing to see a story about coming out and coming to terms with you sexuality that isn’t about someone in their teens or early twenties because I have rarely seen that represented.
Kayla creates a queer found family in the book that avoids feeling forced or disingenuous us which is an issue that I have with a lot of queer friend groups in media. Somehow she manages to incorporate multiple different sexualities, genders, and relationship styles without it feeling like she is doing it simply to fill a quota. The group at the Beatcave is so cute and supportive that you can’t help but wish you were there with them.
Kayla’s writing is definitely something I want to quickly touch on before I wrap things up. Kayla’s writing in her first book was really great but I feel like we just see exponential growth every time she puts out something new. I think that a lot of the time writers stagnate and feel like they’ve reached the best they can be but you can clearly see that Kayla is working to become better at what she does with each book she puts out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2024
I didn't really liked Rue all that much. I think Blu deserves better, especially that cliffhanger at the epilogue. Blue deserves happiness after all she've been through.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2024
I finished reading this book for the first time a few days ago (I'm at my third reread now) and I still haven't fully been able to process my feelings.
Kayla Faber was an unexpected discovery for me. I hardly ever like a book, let alone love it and Sucker Punch Vol. 1 blew me away with how well-written (and the author is Italian!) and heartfelt it was. Then Pretty Devils (Vol. 2) came out and I thought "Damn, this author knows what she's doing!" and I was pretty sure at this point Kayla's skills had peaked.
I was wrong.
I had high expectations for Out of the Blue. I'll be honest: I was both curious and worried about the addition of spice in this one, because spice often takes away from the romance, degrading the book to mere filth without feelings. I knew, of course, that Kayla is the master of feelings, so I couldn't wait to see her take on steamy scenes.
I didn't know what "blown away" actually meant before I read this book.
We start with a bang (quite literally): Rue is immediately presented as a rough, raw character, which is a big change from the adorable protagonists we've been until now. She lives and enjoys her sexuality freely and unapologetically, a proud lesbian who has an easy way with ladies despite not being "particularly pretty".
She's also very close friends with her older mentor, Bear, who basically acts as her Jiminy Cricket: he curbs her impulsiveness and injects some sense in her irrational decisions... or tries to, I guess.
It was just the beginning of the book and something odd was happening to me: I was falling in love with a man. I love Bear. I love him. Love him like I've rarely loved any fictional character in my thirty years as an avid reader. Bear is the man every woman deserves at her side, whether as a friend or a lover: he's intelligent, a bit on the rough side (and charmingly so), unafraid to speak his mind and call people out on their bullshit (I'm looking at you, Rue). The relationship between him and Rue is one of the most marvellously done I've seen out there: they're more than bestiest, they're soulmates. And the more you read, the more you'll appreciate Bear's characters and his gruff, golden heart. (I really, really adore this guy.)
So Rue heads from Dublin to London to try to get over her ex, who she still loves.
As soon as she sets foot in London, Rue meets one of my favorite characters in this series, Agnes Sinclair aka the Queen Devil, with whom she has an explosive sexual chemistry right out of the gate. Agnes was still a kind of unexplored character until now, her potential is immense, and in this book we finally get to know her a little better and let me tell you: the more I read about Agnes, the more I feel like one day she's going to give us a banger of a book of her own. As the story progresses, Rue and Agnes will develop a deep, unique bond (to some probably controversial) which I'm sure will have a lot of people wrinkle their nose. I find their relationship beautiful and refreshing, I really enjoyed watching them go from strangers to friends with benefits to... I don't even know what to call it, but it's beautiful.
Rue's arrival at the Beatcave is, as we saw in the epilogue on Pretty Devils, a shocker: Liv, the "straight" friend Rue was hopelessly in love with when she left London, is there and, surprise: she's not straight anymore. She has a girlfriend and it's a strikingly gorgeous one.
Note on this side plot: the friction between Rue and Raisa (the girl who stole Liv) is absolutely brilliant. It's easy to go down two specific paths in cases like this:
1) "the other girl" is an absolute bitch and treats our protagonist like s*it;
2) "the other girl" is an absolute sweetheart and instantly becomes friends with our protagonist;
Kayla didn't go down either of these routes and handled the understandable tension between Rue and Raisa flawlessly, making it human and believable and, eventually, even heart-warming. (Bonus points for Rue's grudging attraction to our beautiful Raisa. I mean, same, girl.)
And, speaking of heart-warming relationships, we have Rue and Liv next. Liv is the girl Rue was in love with for years, but Rue never told her because Liv was straight and this impossible love ultimately forced Rue to leave London to try to get over it. (Spoiler alert: she didn't.) But Rue had lived with guilt since then, because Liv was always very dependent on her (she's autistic, even know nobody knew at the time) and after Rue left her life became exponentially harder, to the point Liv even tried to unalive herself, and whe Rue finds out she can't forgive herself for abandoning her. (Which is also why Raisa hates Rue so much and why the Beatcave people were slightly wary of her at the beginning.) Rue and Liv's friendship hasn't weakened over time, though, and even though it takes time for Rue to gather the courage to come clean with Liv, it was amazing to watch her heal and slowly accept that, in order to fully let go, she needed acceptance first. (That scene with Raisa at the birthday party? A masterpiece on introspection and psychological growth for both characters!)
And then we get the very heart of the book. Spoilers ahead!
Last, but definitely not least: the ever growing found family of the Beatcave.
My followers on IG know how much I despise the recent, appalling trend of stuffing queer/diverse books with token queer/BIPOC rep that is just thrown there to check a letter in the BIPOC LGBTQIA+ acronym. I've read so many books that claim to have a wide range of queer/diverse rep just because they forcibly name "a proud black lesbian" or "they were a brilliant nonbinary Chinese person", characters without a role, without a meaning, just put there to pander to those foolish enough to think this is actual "representation". IT'S NOT.
Real representation is when you have fully developed characters with their own story and their own personality, actual people who mean more than a pawn in the bigger picture made entirely of gay/lesbian/bi white people.
Want genuine, heartfelt representation? Check this:
Pam (Sucker Punch 1): Latina, pansexual
Sean (Sucker Punch 1): Latino, pansexual
Lea (Sucker Punch 1): Black, bisexual
Tayn: Pacific Islander MOC, straight ally
Liv: sapphic who's still figuring her sexuality out, autistic
Agnes: Middle Eastern WOC, lesbian
Blair: Black, now officially bisexual
Dani: Middle Eastern WOC, trans lesbian
Mandy: ace lesbian, autistic
There's more, but it's spoilers for book 3! And there are 4 more books to come.
This is the found family every queer deserves: a bunch of loving, supportive people with healthy communication, boundaries, and mutual acceptance, always ready to welcome new members and help them grow and thrive.
Do yourself a favor: READ. THIS. SERIES.
And get ready to fall in love.
Kayla Faber was an unexpected discovery for me. I hardly ever like a book, let alone love it and Sucker Punch Vol. 1 blew me away with how well-written (and the author is Italian!) and heartfelt it was. Then Pretty Devils (Vol. 2) came out and I thought "Damn, this author knows what she's doing!" and I was pretty sure at this point Kayla's skills had peaked.
I was wrong.
I had high expectations for Out of the Blue. I'll be honest: I was both curious and worried about the addition of spice in this one, because spice often takes away from the romance, degrading the book to mere filth without feelings. I knew, of course, that Kayla is the master of feelings, so I couldn't wait to see her take on steamy scenes.
I didn't know what "blown away" actually meant before I read this book.
We start with a bang (quite literally): Rue is immediately presented as a rough, raw character, which is a big change from the adorable protagonists we've been until now. She lives and enjoys her sexuality freely and unapologetically, a proud lesbian who has an easy way with ladies despite not being "particularly pretty".
She's also very close friends with her older mentor, Bear, who basically acts as her Jiminy Cricket: he curbs her impulsiveness and injects some sense in her irrational decisions... or tries to, I guess.
It was just the beginning of the book and something odd was happening to me: I was falling in love with a man. I love Bear. I love him. Love him like I've rarely loved any fictional character in my thirty years as an avid reader. Bear is the man every woman deserves at her side, whether as a friend or a lover: he's intelligent, a bit on the rough side (and charmingly so), unafraid to speak his mind and call people out on their bullshit (I'm looking at you, Rue). The relationship between him and Rue is one of the most marvellously done I've seen out there: they're more than bestiest, they're soulmates. And the more you read, the more you'll appreciate Bear's characters and his gruff, golden heart. (I really, really adore this guy.)
So Rue heads from Dublin to London to try to get over her ex, who she still loves.
As soon as she sets foot in London, Rue meets one of my favorite characters in this series, Agnes Sinclair aka the Queen Devil, with whom she has an explosive sexual chemistry right out of the gate. Agnes was still a kind of unexplored character until now, her potential is immense, and in this book we finally get to know her a little better and let me tell you: the more I read about Agnes, the more I feel like one day she's going to give us a banger of a book of her own. As the story progresses, Rue and Agnes will develop a deep, unique bond (to some probably controversial) which I'm sure will have a lot of people wrinkle their nose. I find their relationship beautiful and refreshing, I really enjoyed watching them go from strangers to friends with benefits to... I don't even know what to call it, but it's beautiful.
Rue's arrival at the Beatcave is, as we saw in the epilogue on Pretty Devils, a shocker: Liv, the "straight" friend Rue was hopelessly in love with when she left London, is there and, surprise: she's not straight anymore. She has a girlfriend and it's a strikingly gorgeous one.
Note on this side plot: the friction between Rue and Raisa (the girl who stole Liv) is absolutely brilliant. It's easy to go down two specific paths in cases like this:
1) "the other girl" is an absolute bitch and treats our protagonist like s*it;
2) "the other girl" is an absolute sweetheart and instantly becomes friends with our protagonist;
Kayla didn't go down either of these routes and handled the understandable tension between Rue and Raisa flawlessly, making it human and believable and, eventually, even heart-warming. (Bonus points for Rue's grudging attraction to our beautiful Raisa. I mean, same, girl.)
And, speaking of heart-warming relationships, we have Rue and Liv next. Liv is the girl Rue was in love with for years, but Rue never told her because Liv was straight and this impossible love ultimately forced Rue to leave London to try to get over it. (Spoiler alert: she didn't.) But Rue had lived with guilt since then, because Liv was always very dependent on her (she's autistic, even know nobody knew at the time) and after Rue left her life became exponentially harder, to the point Liv even tried to unalive herself, and whe Rue finds out she can't forgive herself for abandoning her. (Which is also why Raisa hates Rue so much and why the Beatcave people were slightly wary of her at the beginning.) Rue and Liv's friendship hasn't weakened over time, though, and even though it takes time for Rue to gather the courage to come clean with Liv, it was amazing to watch her heal and slowly accept that, in order to fully let go, she needed acceptance first. (That scene with Raisa at the birthday party? A masterpiece on introspection and psychological growth for both characters!)
And then we get the very heart of the book. Spoilers ahead!
Last, but definitely not least: the ever growing found family of the Beatcave.
My followers on IG know how much I despise the recent, appalling trend of stuffing queer/diverse books with token queer/BIPOC rep that is just thrown there to check a letter in the BIPOC LGBTQIA+ acronym. I've read so many books that claim to have a wide range of queer/diverse rep just because they forcibly name "a proud black lesbian" or "they were a brilliant nonbinary Chinese person", characters without a role, without a meaning, just put there to pander to those foolish enough to think this is actual "representation". IT'S NOT.
Real representation is when you have fully developed characters with their own story and their own personality, actual people who mean more than a pawn in the bigger picture made entirely of gay/lesbian/bi white people.
Want genuine, heartfelt representation? Check this:
Pam (Sucker Punch 1): Latina, pansexual
Sean (Sucker Punch 1): Latino, pansexual
Lea (Sucker Punch 1): Black, bisexual
Tayn: Pacific Islander MOC, straight ally
Liv: sapphic who's still figuring her sexuality out, autistic
Agnes: Middle Eastern WOC, lesbian
Blair: Black, now officially bisexual
Dani: Middle Eastern WOC, trans lesbian
Mandy: ace lesbian, autistic
There's more, but it's spoilers for book 3! And there are 4 more books to come.
This is the found family every queer deserves: a bunch of loving, supportive people with healthy communication, boundaries, and mutual acceptance, always ready to welcome new members and help them grow and thrive.
Do yourself a favor: READ. THIS. SERIES.
And get ready to fall in love.
June 11, 2024
I received (more like begged for) an ARC in exchange for an honest review and it took me a while to gather my thoughts and feelings about this book, because it was such a heart-wrenching emiotional journey I still haven't fully recovered a whole week after wrapping it up.
I didn't know if I could like Rue because of how she acted with Liv in the past (I'm fiercely protective of that sweet ray of sunshine), but right out of the gate Rue blew me away with her strong, coarse personality. She's a cynical, bitter young woman who's had enough of love and hurting because of it and the introspection we get from her is so real and painful I couldn't help but fall in love with her spiky attitude.
All the relationships in this book are special and wonderfully developed (the Rue/Raisa friction? A thing of beauty!) and I deeply appreciate that the author didn't use jealousy as aplot device for extra drama, turning it into a slow, healthy healing process instead. My favorite dynamics: Rue/Bear and Rue/Ness (this one is such a unique, special bond, it was so heartwarming!).
Of course, the best part was the plot twist in the romance!
A gorgeous prose, tangible emotions, a breath-taking hate/love story that will steal your heart and probably make you spill a few tears (I certainly did!).
And, above all: the best queer found family I've ever had the pleasure to encounter!
I didn't know if I could like Rue because of how she acted with Liv in the past (I'm fiercely protective of that sweet ray of sunshine), but right out of the gate Rue blew me away with her strong, coarse personality. She's a cynical, bitter young woman who's had enough of love and hurting because of it and the introspection we get from her is so real and painful I couldn't help but fall in love with her spiky attitude.
All the relationships in this book are special and wonderfully developed (the Rue/Raisa friction? A thing of beauty!) and I deeply appreciate that the author didn't use jealousy as aplot device for extra drama, turning it into a slow, healthy healing process instead. My favorite dynamics: Rue/Bear and Rue/Ness (this one is such a unique, special bond, it was so heartwarming!).
Of course, the best part was the plot twist in the romance!
A gorgeous prose, tangible emotions, a breath-taking hate/love story that will steal your heart and probably make you spill a few tears (I certainly did!).
And, above all: the best queer found family I've ever had the pleasure to encounter!
February 28, 2025
5/5
(Reread #3)
Book 3 in the Wrestling Girls series is easily one of my top 5 sapphic novels of all time!
I absolutely adored Rue and Blair. Their dynamic was magnetic from the start, and their journey together was nothing short of beautiful. The plot in this book is by far the best in the series, with Rue supporting Blair as she works through leaving her abusive boyfriend. Watching Blair realize she was in an abusive relationship and finally take the steps to move on and focus on herself was such a powerful and emotional journey. The progression of their relationship felt incredibly natural, with the subtle character changes as they grew closer adding so much depth to the story.
The chemistry between Rue and Blair was intoxicating, and the slow-burn moments kept me completely hooked. Every single moment felt earned, and their growth both as individuals and as a couple was so rewarding to witness. I genuinely couldn’t fault this book—everything about it just felt right.
This book also marks Kayla Faber’s first time including spicy scenes, and let me tell you, it was wonderfully executed! The intimacy between Rue and Blair was steamy yet respectful, adding another layer to their already deep connection.
Also I previously reviewed this book and I believe Kayla Faber included it on her Instagram (Thank you infinitely) but I have since lost access to that account so I figured I may as well rewrite a proper review this time.
(Reread #3)
Book 3 in the Wrestling Girls series is easily one of my top 5 sapphic novels of all time!
I absolutely adored Rue and Blair. Their dynamic was magnetic from the start, and their journey together was nothing short of beautiful. The plot in this book is by far the best in the series, with Rue supporting Blair as she works through leaving her abusive boyfriend. Watching Blair realize she was in an abusive relationship and finally take the steps to move on and focus on herself was such a powerful and emotional journey. The progression of their relationship felt incredibly natural, with the subtle character changes as they grew closer adding so much depth to the story.
The chemistry between Rue and Blair was intoxicating, and the slow-burn moments kept me completely hooked. Every single moment felt earned, and their growth both as individuals and as a couple was so rewarding to witness. I genuinely couldn’t fault this book—everything about it just felt right.
This book also marks Kayla Faber’s first time including spicy scenes, and let me tell you, it was wonderfully executed! The intimacy between Rue and Blair was steamy yet respectful, adding another layer to their already deep connection.
Also I previously reviewed this book and I believe Kayla Faber included it on her Instagram (Thank you infinitely) but I have since lost access to that account so I figured I may as well rewrite a proper review this time.
September 4, 2024
I really enjoyed this book! All the books in the Sucker Punch series are well-written and have sweet found family vibes, and this book was no exception.
In terms of writing style, this book contains unique and beautiful diction and word choices. Kayla Faber is an incredibly talented author.
Watching the relationship between Blair and Rue grow from “frenemies with benefits” (an amazing term I discovered when reading @lez.be.readin.ya.89’s review of this book) to eventually becoming partners was so wonderful and heartwarming.
The book still manages to be cozy and heartwarming despite difficult subject matter related to Blair leaving an abusive relationship.
As with the other books in the series, I loved the side characters! I loved seeing the characters from earlier books being happy and in love. We also get explicit poly representation from side characters, after it was hinted at in earlier books. I would definitely read an entire book about the relationship between Freddie, Sean, Pam and Lea. I enjoyed learning more about Agnes and I hope we get a book all about Agnes in the future.
For maximum enjoyment, I think it is worth it to read the other books in the series before reading this one. All the books in the series are great!
Overall, an amazing book that I highly recommend! And I am super excited to read the next book in this series!
Thank you for the author for the ARC! (And I apologize for this review being so late.)
Highlights:
- found family
- leaving an abusive relationship
- bi awakening
- cozy sports romance
- antagonists to lovers
In terms of writing style, this book contains unique and beautiful diction and word choices. Kayla Faber is an incredibly talented author.
Watching the relationship between Blair and Rue grow from “frenemies with benefits” (an amazing term I discovered when reading @lez.be.readin.ya.89’s review of this book) to eventually becoming partners was so wonderful and heartwarming.
The book still manages to be cozy and heartwarming despite difficult subject matter related to Blair leaving an abusive relationship.
As with the other books in the series, I loved the side characters! I loved seeing the characters from earlier books being happy and in love. We also get explicit poly representation from side characters, after it was hinted at in earlier books. I would definitely read an entire book about the relationship between Freddie, Sean, Pam and Lea. I enjoyed learning more about Agnes and I hope we get a book all about Agnes in the future.
For maximum enjoyment, I think it is worth it to read the other books in the series before reading this one. All the books in the series are great!
Overall, an amazing book that I highly recommend! And I am super excited to read the next book in this series!
Thank you for the author for the ARC! (And I apologize for this review being so late.)
Highlights:
- found family
- leaving an abusive relationship
- bi awakening
- cozy sports romance
- antagonists to lovers
June 15, 2024
A copy of the book was provided to Sapphic Book Club in exchange for an honest review.
This book picks up a few days before the last one, Pretty Devils, ended. We meet Rue, an indie wrestler by the name of Stella Royce, who decides to travel to London and try the wrestling scene. There she quickly meets Angus, the queen of the Street Devils, which leads her right to her old best friend Liv, current tag team favorite at the Beatcave. On top of that, Rue finds herself becoming part of her own tag team while working at the Beatcave.
I've really enjoyed the Wrestling Girls series, with Pretty Devils being my favorite of the series. I enjoyed this book, meeting Rue and seeing her journey and its interconnections with Liv, was a pleasure. Also, getting to know Blu, Blair, more was the true gem of this story. Blair was a side character, a foil for Liv and Raisa in the previous book, and seeing her get a spotlight, just made my day. And Faber did not disappointment with her story. I do wish we got the story from Blairs point of view but maybe next book.
It was wonderful to be back at the Beatcave with the close knit family of characters. I am excited for more stories with these characters. This is best read in order of the series, which is totally worth reading.
This book picks up a few days before the last one, Pretty Devils, ended. We meet Rue, an indie wrestler by the name of Stella Royce, who decides to travel to London and try the wrestling scene. There she quickly meets Angus, the queen of the Street Devils, which leads her right to her old best friend Liv, current tag team favorite at the Beatcave. On top of that, Rue finds herself becoming part of her own tag team while working at the Beatcave.
I've really enjoyed the Wrestling Girls series, with Pretty Devils being my favorite of the series. I enjoyed this book, meeting Rue and seeing her journey and its interconnections with Liv, was a pleasure. Also, getting to know Blu, Blair, more was the true gem of this story. Blair was a side character, a foil for Liv and Raisa in the previous book, and seeing her get a spotlight, just made my day. And Faber did not disappointment with her story. I do wish we got the story from Blairs point of view but maybe next book.
It was wonderful to be back at the Beatcave with the close knit family of characters. I am excited for more stories with these characters. This is best read in order of the series, which is totally worth reading.
June 10, 2024
Sucker Punch Out of the Blue by Kayla Faber is an absolute MASTERPIECE that grabs you from the first page and doesn't let go even after finishing the book. If you've read the first two books of the Sucker Punch series you already know how brilliant Kayla Faber is, but in the third book she really outdoes herself. The characters, as in all her books, are incredibly complex and well-developed, each beautifully flawed and deeply human. I was rooting for the two FMCs so hard and my heart ached for them with every twist and turn in their journey. I was so invested in their story that it actually moved me to tears at some point, which says a lot about the emotional depth of this book.
The character development is off the charts and the chemistry between the two FMCs is phenomenal. And the spice? 🔥 It's super sexy (without being too much, if you are worried about that), and perfectly placed.
This story is a rollercoaster of emotions that grips you and never lets go. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves flawed, complex characters, the frenemies-to-lovers trope, and a touch of spice. "Sucker Punch Out of the Blue" is a bittersweet, emotional ride you won't want to miss. Trust me!
Sucker Punch Vol. IV? Bring it on, Kayla! 🤓
The character development is off the charts and the chemistry between the two FMCs is phenomenal. And the spice? 🔥 It's super sexy (without being too much, if you are worried about that), and perfectly placed.
This story is a rollercoaster of emotions that grips you and never lets go. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves flawed, complex characters, the frenemies-to-lovers trope, and a touch of spice. "Sucker Punch Out of the Blue" is a bittersweet, emotional ride you won't want to miss. Trust me!
Sucker Punch Vol. IV? Bring it on, Kayla! 🤓
August 28, 2024
I don't even know where to start!!!! Blu wasn't everyone's favorite character in the last book, but her journey is BEAUTIFUL and I won't accept any Blu slander!!!!!!!
Rue is also a very complex character. I loved her relationship with Agnes. I saw some comments that were a bit confused about them, but I personally think the author did an amazing job with them. Rue loves Agnes and Blu on very different levels and ways, she even hints at this. I feel like Agnes is more of a friend than anything else. Rue's relationship with Bear was also really well done! AND HER AND LIV, OH MY GOD! The character development was just perfection!
Blu also had major development. We get to find out a lot about her and get to know her on a deeper level. I loved that by the end she was sure of herself and sure of what she wanted in her life. I also adored her job, so cute!
I'm still not sure if Blu and Rue are gonna kick out Raisa and Liv from my "Favorite Couple" podium, but I think they're really close!
Again, the found family elements in this book were amazing. I love feeling like I'm actually with the beatcave crew.
Rue is also a very complex character. I loved her relationship with Agnes. I saw some comments that were a bit confused about them, but I personally think the author did an amazing job with them. Rue loves Agnes and Blu on very different levels and ways, she even hints at this. I feel like Agnes is more of a friend than anything else. Rue's relationship with Bear was also really well done! AND HER AND LIV, OH MY GOD! The character development was just perfection!
Blu also had major development. We get to find out a lot about her and get to know her on a deeper level. I loved that by the end she was sure of herself and sure of what she wanted in her life. I also adored her job, so cute!
I'm still not sure if Blu and Rue are gonna kick out Raisa and Liv from my "Favorite Couple" podium, but I think they're really close!
Again, the found family elements in this book were amazing. I love feeling like I'm actually with the beatcave crew.
September 2, 2024
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
I’ll admit that this one was spicier than I generally like. Angrier, too. But that being said, I was hooked on Rue as a character from the start and I love the characters in this world so much that I ended up enjoying it a lot!
Blair was the wildcard for me. I couldn’t imagine warming to her but her redemption arc in this book was top tier. Seeing her break free from an abusive relationship, learn how to acknowledge when she’s wrong and apologise for it, seeing her go to therapy, seeing ber start to realise her worth outside of wrestling, was all just so beautiful and wholesome and lovely.
I love the Beatcave fam so much that I think I’d read anything about them at this point. Who needs plot when you have such a gorgeous cast of characters?
These books all do have great plots and beautiful romances though, too, and I can’t recommend them enough.
I’ll admit that this one was spicier than I generally like. Angrier, too. But that being said, I was hooked on Rue as a character from the start and I love the characters in this world so much that I ended up enjoying it a lot!
Blair was the wildcard for me. I couldn’t imagine warming to her but her redemption arc in this book was top tier. Seeing her break free from an abusive relationship, learn how to acknowledge when she’s wrong and apologise for it, seeing her go to therapy, seeing ber start to realise her worth outside of wrestling, was all just so beautiful and wholesome and lovely.
I love the Beatcave fam so much that I think I’d read anything about them at this point. Who needs plot when you have such a gorgeous cast of characters?
These books all do have great plots and beautiful romances though, too, and I can’t recommend them enough.
June 17, 2024
I absolutely loved these volumes of sucker punch wrestling girls 1, 2, and 3. Different characters different stories, stories that drew you in. To start a new or running from the past. This one had drama, was heartwarming and streamy scenes.
June 21, 2024
Another amazing book!!!
I’ve loved this series since Book 1, and this one did NOT disappoint! SO MANY FEELS!! Can’t wait for the next one!! Loved that Epilogue seen! OMG 😳 😆 Keep it up! 💜
I’ve loved this series since Book 1, and this one did NOT disappoint! SO MANY FEELS!! Can’t wait for the next one!! Loved that Epilogue seen! OMG 😳 😆 Keep it up! 💜
July 7, 2025
This whole series had me in a choke hold. Such great character development, chemistry and filled with side characters you love from the first books.
June 1, 2025
This is just one of those books that's so gripping and all-consuming. I couldn't put it down, and while reading, it was constantly on my mind.
Another cliff hanger like that is illegal 😭
5 🌟 +++++
Another cliff hanger like that is illegal 😭
5 🌟 +++++
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