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On Merit Alone
Merit is used to being alone. She made it to the professionals all on her own, made it to the top of her game on her own, and has made it through life—you guessed it, on her own.
So why does the city’s star basketball player suddenly keep showing up everywhere she goes? And more importantly, why doesn’t she ask him to stop, but instead does the worst possible thing—ask him for help?
She knows it’s dangerous to let herself be close to anyone and yet, with Ira King, she can’t help but do it anyway.
On Merit Alone is a completely standalone Sports Romance novel about two athletes find love and home in each other.
So why does the city’s star basketball player suddenly keep showing up everywhere she goes? And more importantly, why doesn’t she ask him to stop, but instead does the worst possible thing—ask him for help?
She knows it’s dangerous to let herself be close to anyone and yet, with Ira King, she can’t help but do it anyway.
On Merit Alone is a completely standalone Sports Romance novel about two athletes find love and home in each other.
530 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 6, 2024
539 people are currently reading
2149 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 248 reviews
May 9, 2025
5/5!!!
- The slow burn!!! The tension!!! Everything about this book was perfect. I can’t believe this book doesn’t have more hype. Really loved how the mmc had to break down her walls for her to fully trust & open herself up to him.
- It was so fun to read about basketball careers in the nba and wnba! It’s so rare that I enjoy a sports romance because sometimes the sport can overtake the actual plot, but this book wasn’t like that at all. It was the perfect balance.
- If you want to read a book that makes you believe in love and where you read about two people that truly feel like soulmates, pick up this book!!
- The slow burn!!! The tension!!! Everything about this book was perfect. I can’t believe this book doesn’t have more hype. Really loved how the mmc had to break down her walls for her to fully trust & open herself up to him.
- It was so fun to read about basketball careers in the nba and wnba! It’s so rare that I enjoy a sports romance because sometimes the sport can overtake the actual plot, but this book wasn’t like that at all. It was the perfect balance.
- If you want to read a book that makes you believe in love and where you read about two people that truly feel like soulmates, pick up this book!!
July 27, 2024
ARC READER REVIEW: Possible Spoilers
I have to say I think this is my favorite book by Adorabol so far!! I actually took my time reading this one instead of speeding through like I usually do and I think that made me enjoy it even more!
She's a thick girl at around 550 pages and I loved it from beginning to end. When I get frustrated with how lead characters process their emotions, a lot of the times I never get back to liking them at the end of the book but this was one of the few where that was not the case. And I think it's because the author did a great job at really making you process their emotions from their point of view but also from someone else. Well I definitely think she could have deep dived a little bit more in the fostering part of our MFC's background, I think the authors almost lack of giving us extremely personal information about people who have passed shows how much the FMC has tried to distance herself from that; so that she doesn't experience the pain that comes with remembering those who are no longer here.
Loved loved our MMC! And his family was extremely wholesome also. I really liked that he had his own background story going on but that it didn't overpower that of the FMC. I sometimes feel like when we have stories that should clearly and are clearly supposed to be about the FMC, they end up becoming extremely centered on the MMC's life, jobs, family, etc. But this was a story of him centering her and her centering herself while including him in her journey.
While it does touch on parental/familial death, Foster system, and sexism, I think overall this was a really nice and feel good book. One I would definitely reread. Also very random but I love our lead was a tall girly!! Obviously this is a basketball romance so that's not surprising but it gets tiring reading the old trope of he's so big and strong and she's so petite and short lol. She showed a strength throughout the book that he was able to latch onto that I sometimes think other books struggle with. And thank you for no third act break up ❣️
I have to say I think this is my favorite book by Adorabol so far!! I actually took my time reading this one instead of speeding through like I usually do and I think that made me enjoy it even more!
She's a thick girl at around 550 pages and I loved it from beginning to end. When I get frustrated with how lead characters process their emotions, a lot of the times I never get back to liking them at the end of the book but this was one of the few where that was not the case. And I think it's because the author did a great job at really making you process their emotions from their point of view but also from someone else. Well I definitely think she could have deep dived a little bit more in the fostering part of our MFC's background, I think the authors almost lack of giving us extremely personal information about people who have passed shows how much the FMC has tried to distance herself from that; so that she doesn't experience the pain that comes with remembering those who are no longer here.
Loved loved our MMC! And his family was extremely wholesome also. I really liked that he had his own background story going on but that it didn't overpower that of the FMC. I sometimes feel like when we have stories that should clearly and are clearly supposed to be about the FMC, they end up becoming extremely centered on the MMC's life, jobs, family, etc. But this was a story of him centering her and her centering herself while including him in her journey.
While it does touch on parental/familial death, Foster system, and sexism, I think overall this was a really nice and feel good book. One I would definitely reread. Also very random but I love our lead was a tall girly!! Obviously this is a basketball romance so that's not surprising but it gets tiring reading the old trope of he's so big and strong and she's so petite and short lol. She showed a strength throughout the book that he was able to latch onto that I sometimes think other books struggle with. And thank you for no third act break up ❣️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2024
I got this book as a ARC read and I am absolutely obsessed. I have always loved sports romance but the way this made my heart sing and now i have to read so many more sports romances 😂
Merit “a certified very bothered individual” Jones is such a well developed character, like i absolutely loved everything about her. I love how she thought about Ira even thought he irritated her it was always as if I could feel the respect. Merit is so sweet and multidimensional like she is everything I want to read in a FMC.
Ira King was giving me gentle, caring, understanding and obviously sexy from the very first chapter and the more i read about him and what merit thought of him. I was in love myself. The way he just hold her down and looks out of her, I just love their relationship. Ira getting jealous was me favorite. The way Ira just knows and takes care of her!!! Ughh SWWOOONNN!!! Omg Ira is the best like wow.
This book was so amazing, like every chapter, every word was so rememberable. I haven’t felt this way about a book in a while and to say i need more of Ira and Merit is putting it nicely. I literally want the second book today😂 right now.
Fave Quote:
“Some things in life you want so bad you’re willing to do almost anything for them. You work hard, you do the right things. You get some small wins and win some you knew you would accomplish. And then there are those times where something amazing happens. You have no idea what will happen, you have no idea what the plan God has laid out for you might be—but you know what you want, and you work like crazy to get it. You let muscle memory take control. You don’t think, you just do. You enter a zone. And then you win”.
Merit “a certified very bothered individual” Jones is such a well developed character, like i absolutely loved everything about her. I love how she thought about Ira even thought he irritated her it was always as if I could feel the respect. Merit is so sweet and multidimensional like she is everything I want to read in a FMC.
Ira King was giving me gentle, caring, understanding and obviously sexy from the very first chapter and the more i read about him and what merit thought of him. I was in love myself. The way he just hold her down and looks out of her, I just love their relationship. Ira getting jealous was me favorite. The way Ira just knows and takes care of her!!! Ughh SWWOOONNN!!! Omg Ira is the best like wow.
This book was so amazing, like every chapter, every word was so rememberable. I haven’t felt this way about a book in a while and to say i need more of Ira and Merit is putting it nicely. I literally want the second book today😂 right now.
Fave Quote:
“Some things in life you want so bad you’re willing to do almost anything for them. You work hard, you do the right things. You get some small wins and win some you knew you would accomplish. And then there are those times where something amazing happens. You have no idea what will happen, you have no idea what the plan God has laid out for you might be—but you know what you want, and you work like crazy to get it. You let muscle memory take control. You don’t think, you just do. You enter a zone. And then you win”.
July 3, 2025
I usually do not leave reviews, but I felt like I had to in this case although I really did love the story the amount of push and pull sometimes in this book was just kind of unbearable and the female character was really very immature and all of the miscommunication that occurred throughout the book it just felt very circular. I wanted to love this one I really did and for the most part I did, but in my opinion this book really could’ve been about 200 pages shorter. It just seems like a whole lot of repetitiveness. Towards the end, it was very hard to finish this book and to be quite honest I really kind of skimmed the last 25 pages or so because I just really wanted it to be over.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 15, 2025
This book was such a cute read . I love Ira and Merit so much . The things he’d say to her had me swooningggfgff 😭 however we got one negative that kinda impacted how I ranked….this book had no business being 500+ pages. Could’ve cut down at least 200 of them and the story would’ve had the same effect. I really started skimming a bit at the 65% mark. I would still recommend this cause it was extremely cutee. Other than that this was what love & basketball should’ve been lol .
December 3, 2024
This so long winded. Could’ve been 200 pages less
April 9, 2025
Absolutely Perfect And Heart Warming 🥺🤍
November 20, 2025
5 ⭐️
Absolute perfection that’s it… that’s the review.
3 words to describe Ira would be tender, understanding, and gentle. He was the ultimate golden retriever and I adored how he treated Merit and her feelings so gently since the first time he met her.
Basketball romance will forever be my favorite. Side note Ira’s basketball game with Merit sitting court side will live rent free in my head forevaaaaaaa. oh side note I was anticipating more smut but none the less I still enjoyed reading this book.
Absolute perfection that’s it… that’s the review.
3 words to describe Ira would be tender, understanding, and gentle. He was the ultimate golden retriever and I adored how he treated Merit and her feelings so gently since the first time he met her.
Basketball romance will forever be my favorite. Side note Ira’s basketball game with Merit sitting court side will live rent free in my head forevaaaaaaa. oh side note I was anticipating more smut but none the less I still enjoyed reading this book.
July 23, 2024
Yet another masterpiece by Adorabol Huckleby-Ordaz. This book tugged on all of my heartstrings in the best ways. Not only in the way Merit and Ira’s love story was so beautifully told, but also through the ways it acknowledged and talked about grief & loss. I related so strongly to Merit’s fears of losing what mattered most to her. But seeing how patient Ira was with her, seeing the journey of him going from just supportive and curious about her to genuinely wanting to know every part of her because he really just cares that much - it brought me so much joy to see her loved in that way. And to add on to it, for it to be a black woman just like me experiencing this soft, unwavering love? I couldn’t ask for anything more. I finished this book over a span of two days and I’m already looking forward to a re-read.
Adorabol Huckleby-Ordaz also used this story to highlight the experiences of black women who aren’t necessarily “palatable” to society - the women who don’t seem ‘happy go lucky’ on the outside, the women who take their crafts or careers seriously, the women who ARE sensitive and soft but only with the people/in the spaces they feel safe in. I related so much to how Merit faced people constantly having an issue with her demeanor. But she had so many reasons for being that way, let alone the fact that that demeanor wasn’t even the entirety of who she was. Seeing the different settings where she felt comfortable and accepted, where she gave and accepted love freely, where she experienced joy and fun just showed how multifaceted we are and I was so glad to see that talked about throughout the story.
Ira, Ira, Ira - a dream man if I’ve ever read about one. The most genuine, thoughtful, attentive, loving man ever - Merit deserved nothing less than the treatment she got from him. Ira was so selfless, in a way that I haven’t seen in many male characters. In the ways he showed up for Merit, the ways he showed up for his family, and so much more. He called himself indecisive in this story but I think he was quite the opposite - he knew what he wanted and proved it time and time again, while simultaneously being mindful of the pace Merit needed to go at.
This was a 5-star read for me, without question - this story brought me so much peace. Also, as a 6’1” girlie and a black woman, I cannot stress how much it meant to read about a female main character who was just like me. Like genuinely, I am so thankful… It means so much. I hope to read so many more books like this in the future, and Adorabol Huckleby-Ordaz continues to hold her spot as one of my all time favorite authors after finishing this beautiful story!
Adorabol Huckleby-Ordaz also used this story to highlight the experiences of black women who aren’t necessarily “palatable” to society - the women who don’t seem ‘happy go lucky’ on the outside, the women who take their crafts or careers seriously, the women who ARE sensitive and soft but only with the people/in the spaces they feel safe in. I related so much to how Merit faced people constantly having an issue with her demeanor. But she had so many reasons for being that way, let alone the fact that that demeanor wasn’t even the entirety of who she was. Seeing the different settings where she felt comfortable and accepted, where she gave and accepted love freely, where she experienced joy and fun just showed how multifaceted we are and I was so glad to see that talked about throughout the story.
Ira, Ira, Ira - a dream man if I’ve ever read about one. The most genuine, thoughtful, attentive, loving man ever - Merit deserved nothing less than the treatment she got from him. Ira was so selfless, in a way that I haven’t seen in many male characters. In the ways he showed up for Merit, the ways he showed up for his family, and so much more. He called himself indecisive in this story but I think he was quite the opposite - he knew what he wanted and proved it time and time again, while simultaneously being mindful of the pace Merit needed to go at.
This was a 5-star read for me, without question - this story brought me so much peace. Also, as a 6’1” girlie and a black woman, I cannot stress how much it meant to read about a female main character who was just like me. Like genuinely, I am so thankful… It means so much. I hope to read so many more books like this in the future, and Adorabol Huckleby-Ordaz continues to hold her spot as one of my all time favorite authors after finishing this beautiful story!
June 12, 2025
simple 5⭐️ read!!
this book is a reminder that true love exists. if someone can put these feelings, tension and connection into words.. it can be true (at least that’s what I believe). especially the trauma, the past, the loss, and the development of the characters.
i love a good romance/love story and it was all that.
may everyone receive the merit & ira kind of love. especially as a black couple in an under-represented environment, i felt truly connected.
my quotes to remember🫶🏾🙂↕️:
One decision can often be the judge of fate.
you have no idea what the plan God has laid out for you might be—but you know what you want,
Lean into it. There’s no reason to be so scared.”
As if my sprouting heart didn’t meet the untimely slice of a blade before it fully bloomed.
So give grace when you fall and if you can’t give yourself grace, come to me and I’ll give it for you.”
“Life is complicated and sometimes confusing,
this person who had appeared in my life out of nowhere and made it a kind of better I didn’t know I needed.
The conversation might be hard, or embarrassing, but you guys are getting to know each other. You’ll grow into how to communicate with each other in every situation.”
will come through for you. I will. And if you’re thinking I’m not falling in love with you… you’re wrong, baby. So fucking wrong, because you’re in my mind, you’re in my heart, and you’re in my soul.
You’re mine, sweetheart. And I’m going to take care of what’s mine. Night.”
“Sometimes it isn’t ‘more’ we’re looking for, it’s just different.”
Someone he could be all of himself with, not just the fun parts.”
There were steps to growth.
You were built for a family, and I’m sorry the circumstances of life took yours away from you.”
It’d been so long since someone had considered me first, if at all. I was no one’s first priority… until Ira.
He swallowed as he looked down, spearing an outright glare at the concrete he was kicking at. “I hate Germany.”
The one who had taken my broken heart and hadn’t tried to glue the pieces back together, but had accepted every broken piece into his own.
-🦓
this book is a reminder that true love exists. if someone can put these feelings, tension and connection into words.. it can be true (at least that’s what I believe). especially the trauma, the past, the loss, and the development of the characters.
i love a good romance/love story and it was all that.
may everyone receive the merit & ira kind of love. especially as a black couple in an under-represented environment, i felt truly connected.
my quotes to remember🫶🏾🙂↕️:
One decision can often be the judge of fate.
you have no idea what the plan God has laid out for you might be—but you know what you want,
Lean into it. There’s no reason to be so scared.”
As if my sprouting heart didn’t meet the untimely slice of a blade before it fully bloomed.
So give grace when you fall and if you can’t give yourself grace, come to me and I’ll give it for you.”
“Life is complicated and sometimes confusing,
this person who had appeared in my life out of nowhere and made it a kind of better I didn’t know I needed.
The conversation might be hard, or embarrassing, but you guys are getting to know each other. You’ll grow into how to communicate with each other in every situation.”
will come through for you. I will. And if you’re thinking I’m not falling in love with you… you’re wrong, baby. So fucking wrong, because you’re in my mind, you’re in my heart, and you’re in my soul.
You’re mine, sweetheart. And I’m going to take care of what’s mine. Night.”
“Sometimes it isn’t ‘more’ we’re looking for, it’s just different.”
Someone he could be all of himself with, not just the fun parts.”
There were steps to growth.
You were built for a family, and I’m sorry the circumstances of life took yours away from you.”
It’d been so long since someone had considered me first, if at all. I was no one’s first priority… until Ira.
He swallowed as he looked down, spearing an outright glare at the concrete he was kicking at. “I hate Germany.”
The one who had taken my broken heart and hadn’t tried to glue the pieces back together, but had accepted every broken piece into his own.
-🦓
June 1, 2025
the premise of this was so good - an WNBA and NBA player falling in love
unfortunately, I don't agree with how Ira didn't encourage Merit to find a community or social circle outside of him and his family and I feel like the book invented miscommunications to keep the book going
unfortunately, I don't agree with how Ira didn't encourage Merit to find a community or social circle outside of him and his family and I feel like the book invented miscommunications to keep the book going
August 30, 2024
Beautiful story and writing! My only complaint is I needed more spice.
May 8, 2025
Merit, a WNBA player has experienced unfathomable loss and understands that she only has herself to depend on. Basketball is her lifeline as it is the one thing that connects her to family, so she holds on to the game for she believes she is nothing without it.
Ira, the star of the men's team loves the game, but feels that there is more to life than ball. As he contemplates his future, he meets Merit, and the world becomes a bit more interesting.
This was an emotional slow burn love story where this author tapped into all of your emotions. A beautiful story of resiliency, patience, dealing with grief and loss, and finding love.
Ira, the star of the men's team loves the game, but feels that there is more to life than ball. As he contemplates his future, he meets Merit, and the world becomes a bit more interesting.
This was an emotional slow burn love story where this author tapped into all of your emotions. A beautiful story of resiliency, patience, dealing with grief and loss, and finding love.
April 9, 2025
3.8/5
This was cute read. I really love how reassuring and loving Ira was to Merit. I did find Merit a little annoying at some points in the book but I could understand why she acted the way she did. Overall the book was enjoyable.
This was cute read. I really love how reassuring and loving Ira was to Merit. I did find Merit a little annoying at some points in the book but I could understand why she acted the way she did. Overall the book was enjoyable.
May 19, 2025
Loved this slow burn Romance story-I’m really getting back in to Basketball and WNBa right now so this book was right on time-Loved their relationship from start to finish :) Feels so good to be reading again I missed it
November 8, 2024
3/5 ⭐️
I liked this books a lot… no suppose I like most books lol. It was an easy read although I was getting mixed up with some side characters but I think that might be my fault. It wasn’t a difficult concept to grasp. I will say that Ira and Merit’s relationship seems ‘big’ like it made up the whole world here which was great but the world itself seemed small. I’m not sure how else to describe this other than, the world felt like it was a big as scenes rather than a world that exists a lot further outside the two main chacters. But to be honest, it’s earth, how much world can you build?
Merit
I liked that Merit in her own way wasn’t a push over, she didn’t just do or behave in a certain way to please people around her. Although I did find her a little bit annoying around the middle of the book, it didn’t take away from understanding her and why she behaves the way she does. I did really like the fact that she was camera shy, I think that it really did a good job of showing that the way you present on camera or in public has no correlation with how good you are at your job. That being said I wish she’d remained ‘camera shy’ not out of a lack of growth but rather because she was being herself and yes coming out of her shell but still herself (not that she didn’t remain herself).
Ira
Ira was an interesting character for me. Usually have an issue with men in romances who carry the world on their shoulders, not expect much/ anything back from their partners in terms of holding them up, like thy do for others. But I did like that Merit held him in the ways he needed and even they she didn’t coddle him she was just there for him how he needed her. Back to Ira, I also appreciated how patient he was…. That’s so underrated in my opinion. Ira, I think was so sure of himself which we love, but I liked how he wasn’t arrogant with it, not trying to force the hands of people around him to ‘catch up’ to his ideas. All be it that some stuff he did would deffo have been creepy if she didn’t feel the same way, but I liked that in situations where he wasn’t sure how she would take it, he backed off a little and let her come to those ideas on her own. Not trying to ‘guide’ her to his ideas. He respected her as a person with her own thought processes.
I liked this books a lot… no suppose I like most books lol. It was an easy read although I was getting mixed up with some side characters but I think that might be my fault. It wasn’t a difficult concept to grasp. I will say that Ira and Merit’s relationship seems ‘big’ like it made up the whole world here which was great but the world itself seemed small. I’m not sure how else to describe this other than, the world felt like it was a big as scenes rather than a world that exists a lot further outside the two main chacters. But to be honest, it’s earth, how much world can you build?
Merit
I liked that Merit in her own way wasn’t a push over, she didn’t just do or behave in a certain way to please people around her. Although I did find her a little bit annoying around the middle of the book, it didn’t take away from understanding her and why she behaves the way she does. I did really like the fact that she was camera shy, I think that it really did a good job of showing that the way you present on camera or in public has no correlation with how good you are at your job. That being said I wish she’d remained ‘camera shy’ not out of a lack of growth but rather because she was being herself and yes coming out of her shell but still herself (not that she didn’t remain herself).
Ira
Ira was an interesting character for me. Usually have an issue with men in romances who carry the world on their shoulders, not expect much/ anything back from their partners in terms of holding them up, like thy do for others. But I did like that Merit held him in the ways he needed and even they she didn’t coddle him she was just there for him how he needed her. Back to Ira, I also appreciated how patient he was…. That’s so underrated in my opinion. Ira, I think was so sure of himself which we love, but I liked how he wasn’t arrogant with it, not trying to force the hands of people around him to ‘catch up’ to his ideas. All be it that some stuff he did would deffo have been creepy if she didn’t feel the same way, but I liked that in situations where he wasn’t sure how she would take it, he backed off a little and let her come to those ideas on her own. Not trying to ‘guide’ her to his ideas. He respected her as a person with her own thought processes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2024
(ARC reader review)
Special books come in our lives at the right time for a reason, and On Merit Alone was one of them for me. Adorabol is just as a special of a writer, delivering unique and unforgettable stories each time. I wholeheartedly believe she's one of the best in her craft, that we're lucky to be alive to be her contemporaries and witness her work.
Personally, I pay a lot of attention to the writing and of course Adorabol never disappoints. At no point did the pacing feel dragged on or rushed; it was exactly perfect for Merit and Ira 🤍
"All I ever felt was unsure. Like some kind of driftwood, just floating around waiting until the next uncontrollable wave came to knock my life upside down again."
For many reasons, having the fmc be written as layered, raw, imperfect, rough around the edges, unconventional etc etc is the ideal, and while Merit checks many of those boxes, selfishly, I loved finding solace in her loneliness and, even more so, hopefulness in her unconfessed longing for a community/family.
"Transitions in life were hard to navigate. Slow to adjust to. Change in ourselves was harder to come to terms with because the feeling of growth was often uncomfortable until after the growing was done."
And that's exactly where Ira comes in. One would hope to have people like him in their life in any way, shape or form -- someone who challenges beliefs, pushes out of comfort zones, inspires growth, and provides a safety net for any mistake.
"I know it was selfish and possessive of me to like seeing myself in all corners of her life, but I was shameless in my need for her. I couldn’t help that I loved being a part of her life. I wouldn’t help it. I’d protect it."
But my most favorite part is, of course, the love story. Merit and Ira met at the right time for the right reasons. Their love exposed vulnerabilities, healed, gathered people, spread so much happiness, was full of patience and understanding... I could read abt their story everyday for the rest of my life and I'd never get bored of it ❤️
Forever grateful to Adorabol for letting me read this special story early on, and having it be a part of a special july.
Special books come in our lives at the right time for a reason, and On Merit Alone was one of them for me. Adorabol is just as a special of a writer, delivering unique and unforgettable stories each time. I wholeheartedly believe she's one of the best in her craft, that we're lucky to be alive to be her contemporaries and witness her work.
Personally, I pay a lot of attention to the writing and of course Adorabol never disappoints. At no point did the pacing feel dragged on or rushed; it was exactly perfect for Merit and Ira 🤍
"All I ever felt was unsure. Like some kind of driftwood, just floating around waiting until the next uncontrollable wave came to knock my life upside down again."
For many reasons, having the fmc be written as layered, raw, imperfect, rough around the edges, unconventional etc etc is the ideal, and while Merit checks many of those boxes, selfishly, I loved finding solace in her loneliness and, even more so, hopefulness in her unconfessed longing for a community/family.
"Transitions in life were hard to navigate. Slow to adjust to. Change in ourselves was harder to come to terms with because the feeling of growth was often uncomfortable until after the growing was done."
And that's exactly where Ira comes in. One would hope to have people like him in their life in any way, shape or form -- someone who challenges beliefs, pushes out of comfort zones, inspires growth, and provides a safety net for any mistake.
"I know it was selfish and possessive of me to like seeing myself in all corners of her life, but I was shameless in my need for her. I couldn’t help that I loved being a part of her life. I wouldn’t help it. I’d protect it."
But my most favorite part is, of course, the love story. Merit and Ira met at the right time for the right reasons. Their love exposed vulnerabilities, healed, gathered people, spread so much happiness, was full of patience and understanding... I could read abt their story everyday for the rest of my life and I'd never get bored of it ❤️
Forever grateful to Adorabol for letting me read this special story early on, and having it be a part of a special july.
April 1, 2025
I finally put down the hockey romance for a basketball one 🤓. If you know me, you know basketball is my favorite sport so an automatic star for that alone. I really like when both the characters are athletes and can help one another in their craft. The MMC was patient and sweet while the FMC was a bit of a harder exterior but with good reason!
January 18, 2025
4 stars.
the rumors are true…my sister is long winded af. 😭
i stand on the fact that romance books shouldn’t be 400 pages, but i blew through this book like it was 100 pages. i enjoyed it a lot and wouldn’t mind if ira and merit had a novella (or a second book).
the rumors are true…my sister is long winded af. 😭
i stand on the fact that romance books shouldn’t be 400 pages, but i blew through this book like it was 100 pages. i enjoyed it a lot and wouldn’t mind if ira and merit had a novella (or a second book).
May 4, 2025
Slow Burn, but tooo slow
The beginning of this book caught me IMMEDIATELY, however, as the book went on, topics became repetitive and the story dragged. I’ll be down to read another book from her, that’s around 300 pages, in the future. Overall, a good read.
The beginning of this book caught me IMMEDIATELY, however, as the book went on, topics became repetitive and the story dragged. I’ll be down to read another book from her, that’s around 300 pages, in the future. Overall, a good read.
March 12, 2025
honestly…. barely a 3 star. like a 2.8 ⭐️. this did NOT need to be 500+ pages.. condensed and around 300 would’ve made this so enjoyable.
May 30, 2025
5+++ starsss
currently screaming, crying, and throwing up after having finished what I believe is now my favorite book of the year.
Ira King has officially topped all book men for me so do with that information what you will folks 😮💨 at this point I’d even read Dori’s grocery list bc after her seaside mergers series and now this—yea, underrated isn’t even the wordddd.
This book was honestly everything I love bound into one: a slow burn (MZ would be proud), poc characters, found family, sports 🏀, SIMP mmc 🙂↕️ (mans was down sooo bad that had he been a women I would’ve told him to stand uppp), yearning (bc we are sooo back), not a green flag bc it’s actually a freaking forest🌳 , age gap (the actual good kind), no other women/men drama, being loved out loud always , character growth 🥹, COMM👏🏽UNI👏🏽CATION, dual pov 😳, banter, ✨TENSION✨, take care of you at your lowest and supporting you at your highest ❤️🩹 (is that even a thing—bc I’m making it one now), jealousy 🫨, seeing each other dolled up, and drunk confession scenes 🥴, reverse grumpy sunshine, fluff—the type that will have u smiling, giggling, and kicking your feet 🤭, and an epilogue 💙.
That’s it. That’s my review folks. So do your self a favor and pick this up so we can obsess over it together.
currently screaming, crying, and throwing up after having finished what I believe is now my favorite book of the year.
Ira King has officially topped all book men for me so do with that information what you will folks 😮💨 at this point I’d even read Dori’s grocery list bc after her seaside mergers series and now this—yea, underrated isn’t even the wordddd.
This book was honestly everything I love bound into one: a slow burn (MZ would be proud), poc characters, found family, sports 🏀, SIMP mmc 🙂↕️ (mans was down sooo bad that had he been a women I would’ve told him to stand uppp), yearning (bc we are sooo back), not a green flag bc it’s actually a freaking forest🌳 , age gap (the actual good kind), no other women/men drama, being loved out loud always , character growth 🥹, COMM👏🏽UNI👏🏽CATION, dual pov 😳, banter, ✨TENSION✨, take care of you at your lowest and supporting you at your highest ❤️🩹 (is that even a thing—bc I’m making it one now), jealousy 🫨, seeing each other dolled up, and drunk confession scenes 🥴, reverse grumpy sunshine, fluff—the type that will have u smiling, giggling, and kicking your feet 🤭, and an epilogue 💙.
That’s it. That’s my review folks. So do your self a favor and pick this up so we can obsess over it together.
November 9, 2024
Sweet 🥰🥰
I love a good slow burn, he falls first, sweet romance and this had the right combination of these things. Ira and Merit were so sweet and I love how he loved on her. It was good to see the male lead pouring so much love, attention, patience and kindness into the female lead.
I love a good slow burn, he falls first, sweet romance and this had the right combination of these things. Ira and Merit were so sweet and I love how he loved on her. It was good to see the male lead pouring so much love, attention, patience and kindness into the female lead.
November 22, 2025
Slow and Steady
This one satisfied me craving for a well written slow burn. Merit and Ira moved at a snails pace but it felt right. I loved how you could feel the emotion in this one and it endeared to these two and their journey to love. Definitely check it out, excited to dive deeper in this authors catalog.
This one satisfied me craving for a well written slow burn. Merit and Ira moved at a snails pace but it felt right. I loved how you could feel the emotion in this one and it endeared to these two and their journey to love. Definitely check it out, excited to dive deeper in this authors catalog.
Read
March 23, 2025I loved it but idk how to rate it 🥲
April 27, 2025
I LOVE THIS STORY. I LOVE THEIR LOVE. Their candor, vulnerability, witty banter and absolute trust in the other (that they worked hard to build up). My first book from this author and I just loved the pacing and language in this story.
May 22, 2025
Read the book. Read it. For real. Lol. This book was paced beautifully. The best slow burn I’ve read in a while. The character development was everything. You really watch them fall for each other in such a healthy fulfilling way. Ira never stopped seeing Merit once he saw her and she needed that so badly. A spectacular love story!
November 12, 2025
Really enjoyed this, I kept seeing it on tiktok. it redeemed love & basketball for me 😭 didn’t think i’d like another athlete x athlete lol.
August 3, 2024
ACR reader review:
This is the second book I have read by Adorabol Huckleby-Ordaz, and I definitely want to read more of her books! From the second I started reading, I was hooked on the story and invested in the characters.
The love between the main characters is slow to burn, but it just makes so much sense, given Merit's (FMC) background. The show-stealer of this book is most definitely the MMC: IRA. What a man—such patience, effort, and understanding toward Merit. Does he exist in real life? If yes, where can we find him?
Apart from the romance, the author has really invested in other parts of the story, such as the bonds between teammates, friends, and family, and making the characters look closely at themselves (Am I good enough? What do I want?)
Before reading this book, I was in a really bad reading slump, but this book definitely got me out of it! So, I fully recommend this book (reading slump or not) as it is an amazing story that is relatable (sports, ethnicity, friends, and family) and makes you feel good in general!
This is the second book I have read by Adorabol Huckleby-Ordaz, and I definitely want to read more of her books! From the second I started reading, I was hooked on the story and invested in the characters.
The love between the main characters is slow to burn, but it just makes so much sense, given Merit's (FMC) background. The show-stealer of this book is most definitely the MMC: IRA. What a man—such patience, effort, and understanding toward Merit. Does he exist in real life? If yes, where can we find him?
Apart from the romance, the author has really invested in other parts of the story, such as the bonds between teammates, friends, and family, and making the characters look closely at themselves (Am I good enough? What do I want?)
Before reading this book, I was in a really bad reading slump, but this book definitely got me out of it! So, I fully recommend this book (reading slump or not) as it is an amazing story that is relatable (sports, ethnicity, friends, and family) and makes you feel good in general!
September 29, 2025
This was a beautiful slow burner love story between two athletes. I love how realistic it was and how it was truly a journey reading these two love grow.
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