The Comeback

Houston Pumas #1

by Ranee S. Clark

Eight years ago, he asked me to marry him and I said yes … then I ran.

Ava
Even so, I never dreamed we’d end up here—him hating me for the choices I made to save his career. It’s fine. I’ve moved on.

I’ve had a few bumps in the road with my rising event planning career, but running my best friend’s wedding to her pro-football fiancé will fix all of that. If I pull off the perfect wedding.

There’s one more bump I wasn’t expecting—my ex, Jett McCombs, is a groomsman, and seeing him again makes two things clear.

I still love him.

He still hates me.

Jett
The last thing I need distracting me in the middle of a championship football season is a wedding, especially not some high-profile circus. And I definitely don’t need to face the ghosts of my past and the woman that got away. The woman who gave up on us and shattered my heart.

With her in charge of the over-publicized wedding, there’s no avoiding her or the fact that I’m not as over her as I thought.

One thing I know for sure is that I can’t trust Ava with my heart ever again.

Someone just needs to tell my heart that.

This sweet second chance sports romance is inspired by Jane Austen's Persuasion.

Genres: Sports, Romance, Sports Romance, Second Chance, Contemporary, Clean Romance, Forced Proximity

236 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2024

About the author

During her early years of reading, Ranee` S. Clark devoured fantasy books, which continued into her adulthood—since she often believes that a well-written romance novel is a delightful fantasy. Though raising three boys can sometimes hamper both romance with her own Mr. Charming and her writing, she tries to get a little of both in every day. And most of the time she succeeds.

Reviews

[Gigi · Rating 4 out of 5]

If sweet sports romances with a side of second chances are your thing, The Comeback is calling your name! Ava and Jett, once high school sweethearts, have a magnetic pull that's impossible to miss. As the story jumps to the present, you'll be dying to know what went wrong and cheering for them to get their happy ending. But don’t worry, they reunite in a rather hilarious way, and that old spark? Oh, it’s still there, even if they try (and fail) to fight it.

This book is a fun rollercoaster ride of love, laughs, and a bit of heartache. Watching Ava tackle her fears in event planning while Jett tries to move past his hurt feelings was really satisfying. While I wasn’t a big fan of the political subplot, it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of the story. It’s a slow burn, but the wait is definitely worth it, with plenty of moments that had me smiling all the way through.

Read this if you like:
✨ Second chance
✨ Football romance
✨ Forced proximity
✨ Retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion

[faye ✮ · Rating 5 out of 5]

— 5 stars ✰

As someone who LOVEEESS a good second-chance romance, I was thoroughly impressed by this book and it even surpassed my expectations! There were moments that genuinely brought a tear to my eye lol.

Ava and Jett were once engaged, but Ava had to leave unexpectedly. Initially, her motivations seemed a bit unclear, but as the story unfolded, her choices became more understandable. Ava’s journey to help others while learning to let people in added a meaningful layer to her character.

Jett, who had convinced himself he had moved on after eight years, is still profoundly in love with Ava. His struggle with these lingering feelings added a great deal of emotional depth to the story. Despite his frustrations, Jett continued to care for Ava throughout the book which gave his character added complexity.

I really appreciated Ava’s efforts to respect Jett’s wishes and avoid behaving like a jealous (ex) ?girlfriend when someone else entered the picture. Her drive to prove herself and her attempts to make things easier for Jett were admirable. Oh yeah.. there is a wee bit of owd in the mix, but believe me, the author handled the issue well. The ow was a bit of a bitch, so it was quite satisfying when she disappeared from the picture.

This book beautifully captures the phrase, “If you love someone, let it go; if they are meant for you, they will find their way back to you."

[Evelyn (Ev’s Novel Delights) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet story! Pretty clean too! I loved the whole Jane Austen inspired thing.. this one was like a retelling of Persuasion, I think 🤔 lol

3.5 stars

maybe RTC later

[Suzan · Rating 4 out of 5]

“There is so much of the girl I fell in love with inside this woman in front of me that I want to cry for the shame of it. How is the one person who’s perfect for me the one I wasn’t enough for?”

Loved this story SO much! It’s a sweet sports romance, inspired by Jane Austen‘s “Persuasion,” and it was wonderfully done!

Ava and Jett were high school sweethearts, and during their college years they get engaged. When things get tough financially, Jett’s’s ready to quit football to help support Ava, but she can’t let him lose his dream of playing pro football, so she breaks up with him.

Eight years later, they see each other again. He’s still bitter and angry with her, thinking she left him when things got too hard. In her mind, she left because she wanted to save him. To save his dreams.

When that comes out, he’s still not sure he can trust her to not leave again.

What I loved:
🩵 Second Chance
🩵 Grumpy sunshine
🩵 Forced proximity
🩵 Dual POV
🩵 Supportive friends & family
🩵 She’s the one
🩵 HEA
🩵 Persuasion vibes

“My heart is as much yours as it was seven years ago, when I let you go.”

I loved Ava and Jett! I loved that they were finally able to work things out, and the deep love and commitment they had for each other.

I loved the themes of not letting mistakes and fear hold you back, and not to stop fighting for what’s important to you.

Thanks to the author for a gifted copy!

[Courtney | Bookish Beach Babe · Rating 5 out of 5]

ummm, what did i just read?! WOW! i read this is one sitting and i never get to do that anymore, but i could not put this down from page one. it all feels like a fever dream. 😅

first of all, i love that this was i inspired by persuasion; it’s one of my favorites by austen! i really enjoyed the subtle nods which allowed the comeback to completely stand on its own.

second, if you’re looking for all the yearning and pining — look no further. this book made me absolutely ache. 😩 the slow burn is so excruciatingly sweet. i loved it. there was so much hurt between jett and ava, but i loved the growth they went through as they unpacked it.

lastly, there is an element to this story that may bother some readers. i actually thought it worked really well in this instance and i felt it was necessary for jett’s growth. in addition to the this incredibly swoony romance, there were a lot of fun moments with secondary characters! i absolutely loved miss maggie. there was also a lot of football so i can’t recommend this enough for lovers of second chances and sports romance!

[Susan Z (webreakforbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Comeback is a sweet second chance sports romance. It's also inspired by Persuasion. I've never read Jane Austen 😲 so I didn't make that connection on my own.

Jett and Ava were high-school sweethearts who struggled making long distance work in college. To ease the stress, Ava switched schools to be with Jett but before college ended, so did their relationship.

Seven years later, after no contact, they are back in each other's orbit due to mutual friends.

I really enjoyed this romance. It was in the short side, not quite a novella but all of the characters were so well developed which is impressive given the length.

It was my first by this author and I will definitely read more by her.

[Jordyn Douglas · Rating 2 out of 5]

80% (and I’m not exaggerating at all) of this book was the MMC in a relationship with another woman and then he had one conversation with the FMC and they got back together. Terrible

[Nydia Escobar Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gaadammit. I really liked it, but I feel like I was waiting for things to escalate romantically the entire book.

I'm going with 4 stars because i was still invested in the story and characters and their HEA. Just know that there is ZERO spice. lol

Never read a sports romance without it, so i was just thrown off, but its IS good, so its a safe choice if you're into something more PG with all the angst and humor that is expected in a good sports romance. :)

[Shauna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am ALL over sports romance books and this football one is a keeper for the following reasons:

- it’s a Persuasion retelling!!!!!!!!
- this is a kissing only book
- Jett. Jett. Jett. 🔥 (the cover brings it)
- great friendships
- football players and well hello uniforms
- characters I want to know more about
- believable growth in Ava (classy girl)
- second chances are my jam (see first reason and know my North and South, Pride and Prejudice, and Anne of Green Gables obsession is all about this trope🫶🏼)
- the angst (and ok, drama) of said second chance is addicting

So enjoyable and completely satisfying! Looking forward to more!

[Alicia (aliciasalwaysreading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
GENRE
-sports romance

CONTENT
-🤬: none
-❤️: kisses
-⚠️: allergic reaction on page (EpiPen required)

This was a cute, pretty quick read! Ava and Jett were engaged in college, but when Jett mentioned quitting football to get a job to help with Ava's rent and tuition, she left. She couldn't bear to be the reason he gave up on his dream. Fast forward seven years and they are back in each other's orbits for the first time. Tension is definitely present...but is it hate or desire?

Apparently this is loosely based on Persuasion. I'm gonna be honest with you: I've never read it. I'm not even sure if I've seen the movie. All that to say, I can't really comment on how it aligns with that story. On its own, though, it's cute! I'll definitely be reading the next in the series.

Favorite Quotes:
-“Jett,” she says, and I’m leaning in close to her so her breath puffs against my cheek. I lean back a little so I can see her face, that same so-serious expression from a moment before. “Yeah?” I ask, my eyebrows rising as I wonder what’s coming next. A smile creeps onto my lips too. She drops her voice to a whisper. “Your butt still looks so good in those football pants.”

-Of course I watched it on TV, because even though I walked away, I never really quit him. Not fully.

-“I would have been fine without football. I haven’t been fine without you.”

-“You’ll never be perfect. That’s okay. You’re human. But don’t let mistakes and fear hold you down, okay?”

[Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ava, an event planner, is running her best friend’s high-profile wedding, only to find herself face-to-face with Jett McCombs—the man she left behind eight years ago to protect his promising football career. The twist? He’s a groomsman, and while she’s moved on professionally, her heart hasn’t. Jett, now a successful pro athlete, is battling his own unresolved emotions, torn between the pain of their past and the undeniable feelings that resurface as they work together on their friends' wedding.

I'm a big fan of second-chance romances. I love to see couples work things out and try again, and that's what we see Ava and Jett do. This is a slow-burn romance. As Ave and Jett's story unfolds we learn why she left and see both characters come to terms with their lingering feelings about it. These two never really got over each other. The chemistry between Ava and Jett is undeniable, and their journey towards rekindling their relationship is heartening.

If you're looking for a feel-good romance with a touch of angst, The Comeback is definitely worth checking out. It's also a sports romance and a retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion if that will help convince you to read it.

I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

[Tiffany (Work Kids N Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Ava. He still has feelings for you. No one hangs on to hurt that long without hanging on to the love too.”

This read was a heartfelt sports romance. Being in love with your high school sweetheart, getting engaged, then having them leave is a hard thing to reconcile. Especially when you run into them unexpectedly 8 years later.

The best part about this story is, this is a Persuasion retelling!

The characters are complex and the story keeps you coming back for more. The encouragement and warnings given are spot on. Such a great modern retelling!

Read this book if you like:
🏈 Janette Austen
🏈 Second Chances
🏈 Relentless Best Friends
🏈 Boundaries
🏈 Planning Events
🏈 Beating Rivals
🏈 Dating

I received a complimentary copy; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Kenzie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wish this one had worked out better for me. It definitely had potential, and the writing was done really well! However, for me, the relationship was truly lacking.

For a second chance romance to work for me, it has to be done right. In this one, we didn't get to see a whole lot of relationship building between our main characters... We were mostly in the present, not the past. Because of this, it felt like we we're mainly told of their strong past connection, not shown.

I honestly felt zero chemistry between Jett and Ava. He always thought the worst of her, and was extremely dismissive of her feelings numerous times. He chose to trust a woman he just met over his close friends and ex-fiancee. Ava was a great character, but she had more chemistry with the other guy (who's name I literally can't remember). Actually, most of the book was spent building up Ava's relationship with this guy when it was clear they were never ending up together.

[Joe Lipiec · Rating 2 out of 5]

a writing assignment for some class?

While technically correct writing, there are serious issues with the story telling. Logical inconsistencies plague the story. Why, for example, is it a PR issue if he is photographed with his Ex when he is single? The solution is to date somebody else so if the Ex is seen with him, it will an innocent encounter. A character prays a lot but supports porn in schools

The story is a long one but lacks substance, like the author is trying to get the word count up.

On the other hand, it is not porn pretending to be a romantic trope.

[Avery Christine · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 stars ⭐

This entire book was so dumb and the .5 is only bc the ending was ok (but not really).

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

The main characters were pretty whiny throughout most of the story. Very predictable too.

[lídia · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH HOW I LOVE LOVE 💓 THIS BOOK IS SO FREAKING GOOD!!!!!! AMAZING, INCREDIBLE, PHENOMENAL 😭💘😍
It has been such a long time since a book made me cry, specially a romance so beautiful and pure like this one (It's not sad, I just think this is one of the most beautiful stories I've ever read. And I also wish someday I'll live a love story as half as amazing as this one, preferably without the seven years apart lol). I loved every single page of this. With every chapter, I would get even more invested in this couple. And I also wanted to mention that Persuasion is my favorite Jane Austen's, so my standards to books and media based on it are high.
I couldn't recommend it enough and can't wait to re-read it. Also, miss Ranee S. Clark, you're one of my favorite authors now. I just can't believe how lucky I am that the KU algorithm recommended me this book 💘

[Jesmin Nawaz · Rating 1 out of 5]

Umm, wtf was this book. I always love a good second chance romance but this book did not deliver at all. For over 80% of the book the story does not move forward at all. At one point I was afraid this was a duet and I thought there was a whole other book to dig into their past and come to terms with it. But nothing of that sort happened. Jett is actively dating an influencer who seems so genuine at first but then suddenly is a two faced bitch and unapologetic about basically using Jett to get into his friend circle. This book needed an "other woman" trope label/warning because I would not have read this book. When Ava finally tells him why she left him, it's such a basic reason that it's nearly pointless for having lost that time. They have one conversation and suddenly everything is ok - Jett forgives her and they move on to their HEA. GTFOH!!

The only thing going for this book is some banter here and there. Gabrielle and Ava had more chemistry than Jett and Ava. I feel like I'm reading a different book from all the 5-4 star reviews. This book also needed a "no spice" trop label - maybe that's why the chemistry was lacking between the MMC and FMC.

[Crystal (Books Are Sanity!!!) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love, love, love this second chance sports romance! High school sweethearts gone wrong had me hooked from the very first moment. Clark does an amazing job of pulling the reader in and keeping them there. There was so much emotional baggage in this story and I wasn’t sure how the characters would ever wade through it all. In this modern day version of The Persuasion, readers will fall in love with the characters and be rooting for them throughout the book. The pull between Jett and Ava was palpable and I was going crazy wanting them to get back together. But with all of the hurt and baggage, I wasn’t sure if it was even possible. Romance with all kinds of drama, this is one story you don’t want to miss! Fans of sports romance and second chance romance will love this book! I received a complimentary copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Daniela G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.8 estrellas 🌟

(17/12/25)

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Persuasion so this book being inspired by it definitely checked some boxes for me.

[Lissa Ruck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Jett & Ava's heartachingly beautiful, fiery, second chance, caring, loving,swoony story!!

[Evie!! ౨ৎ˚₊ · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I never want you to ever think I can live a minute without you,” he says. “That anything is more important than what I have with you.” He puts his hand to the back of my neck and leans over me. “I love you, Ava. More than football. More than anything I can think of.”


˗ˏˋ ★ BOOK REVIEW ★ ˎˊ˗
The Comeback by Ranee S. Clark


🍓 ˗ˏˋ MAIN CHARACTERS ˎˊ˗
⌗ Ava Lemmon ✧ Jett McCombs


📚 ˗ˏˋ FEATURES ˎˊ˗
⌗ tropes: second chance romance / lovers to exes to lovers slow burn / found family / forced proximity / football romance / miscommunication trope
⌗ setting: small town
⌗ vibe check: angsty, soft, chaotic.
⌗ favorite thing: banter, quotes, scenes, the whole book.


📝 ˗ˏˋ REVIEW ˎˊ˗
this book had me:
⌗ giggling like i’m in a fanfic
⌗ highlighting every other line like it’s gospel

──❝ Jett & Ava ❞ ─ ˖ ᡣ𐭩 ⊹ ࣪ ౨ৎ˚₊
For those that enjoy a good second-chance romance and want to reflect their mistakes.

How do I say? I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH I WAS SO SAD IT ENDED BRO

This book is everything! the words, the characters, the settings. It got me hooked from the first moment I read it!

How I wish I could've read it again. Such an underrated book that definitely deserves even more readers! Please, give it a go! It's so worth it.


Ava Lemmon She got me HOOKED. She's not like other FMC. She stood her ground and even when she met her ex, she doesn't beg or be a pathetic girl. She accepts everything in silence. How I love her.


Jett McCombs He's so great! He's not like those typical book boyfriends that when they saw their exes again, they crumbled and all. He stood his ground until the end because of how much Ava broke her.


Ava left because she was sacrificing herself for him, and Jett was SOOOOO angry, mad, sad and all. They planned to get married! They were there during the cramped apartments and all.

The reason she came back to Houston after so long is because Gabriella is hiring as the wedding planner and the moment Ava and Jett met isn't exactly nice hehe.

I'm sooo annoyed with Hayden! she's so annoying. But that's the fun OW we got! The way she's written is made for all of us to get mad. I love the author for that.

When Jett was blinded by her, I yelled into my pillow. No joke.

Not only that, we got to see Jealous Jett! He didn't say anything to Ava or being a possessive ex, that's why I like it! He's written very realistically. He just sits silent with his jealousy.

There's also OM here. But, that man is the SWEETEST. In the end, he knows he will never have Ava's heart. He didn't do much, but he's always there when Ava needs him.

ALSO I LOVE GABRIELLA AND COLBY. They're the best wingmen ever!

The scene after Hayden's social media drama and Jett played badly in the game is chefs kiss. Why? because we got to see Ava being worried about him and went up to him and hugged him, he crumbled immediately.

Ava was so right to doubt her and do her research while Jett was with her. They're together because of PR thingy and when he thinks he likes her, deep down Ava is always in his mind.

Afterwards, they made up. But of course, they still can't let go of the pass so they're still not together, duh. I totally get it! They both needed time to heal alone and Jett needs time to know the reason for their break up.

Guess what? They got together at the last two chapters. SOOO SLOW BURN BUT SO REALISTIC. (spoiler alert lol)

I SOBBED WHEN HE GROVELED. Their love supporting signs and when in the ending he said everything to the reporters and immediately realised he needed her.

There's so much more I could talk about, but I want all of you to experience it by yourself!!

Thank you to Kanee for making this gorgeous well-written book! I love you!


quick thoughts:
↳ the allergy scene is probably one of my favourite hehe. oh and also the scene when she's comforting him after bad football game and the pictures went up online and he saved it in his phone to post it later.

↳ the slow burn and them getting together was necessary. they need time to heal from the past and all.

↳ this book is a very well-written Jane Austen's Persuasion retelling and I love it. Well done, Kanee!


💔 ˗ˏˋ ANGSTY THINGS TO NOTE ˎˊ˗
⌗ OW / OM DRAMA: ✅
⌗ CHEATING: ❌
⌗ THIRD-ACT BREAKUP: no (first kiss after seven years yet they didn't get together yet because they still hold onto the mad, then got together after figuring everything out.)
⌗ ENDING: made me sob / soft epilogue pls


🧠 ˗ˏˋ TECHNICAL STUFF ˎˊ˗
⌗ pov: 1st person POV / dual POV
⌗ spice level: 0.5/5🌶 / No-spice romance
⌗ pacing: slow burn / just right
⌗ writing style: witty / casual / well-written


✨ ˗ˏˋ OVERALL VIBES ˎˊ˗
⌗ the book felt like... a rainy sunday warm hug. makes me wants to read it again, made me sobbed in the ending because we didn't get enough scenes of AvaJett because they got together at the very end but overall I love and enjoy every second of it.


🎧 ˗ˏˋ QUOTES ˎˊ˗
౨ৎ˚₊ “I would have been fine without football. I haven’t been fine without you.”

౨ৎ˚₊ I’m not wrong, right? Football can end in a blink—an injury, a bad season—but she was my forever.

౨ৎ˚₊ There’s a link in this text to a celebrity-gossip account. There’re already pictures of Ava hugging me on the field. I click on a picture to save it to my phone, smiling.

౨ৎ˚₊ I’m definitely going to use my power for good though. Maybe I’ll post this picture of me and Ava later tonight and talk about how the support of my family and friends has gotten me through the tough times, football and personal alike. There’s nothing more genuine than the comfort Ava offered me down on the field.

౨ৎ˚₊ “One of my faults is taking on everything. I’ve believed for a long time, since proving myself at Nevada, that to be recognized I have to work hard. That I have to make the plays happen for my team to succeed. And that’s true to a certain extent, but sometimes our strengths, when we don’t balance them, become our weaknesses. We forget to see the other people on the field working just as hard. We don’t see the sacrifices our teammates make for us. Colby saw me slip up last week, and he stepped in.” He’s sitting next to me right now, even though he didn’t have to be. He puts a hand on my shoulder. “That’s happened more than once in my life, on and off the field. Someone stepping up when I’m not seeing clearly. I could have, quite fairly, blamed myself for those mistakes last week and never looked past them. That would have hurt my game. This week, that’s been on my mind a lot. How I’ve hurt myself over the years by focusing on one perspective and not understanding someone else’s. I hope I’m not too late to make up for that. I hope I haven’t pushed away the people who’ve been beside me the whole time, even when I never saw them. I’ve been stubborn and unfair, and I just want to give us a second chance.”

౨ৎ˚₊ Jett: Where are you? Ava: Home. Where are you? Jett: On my way to you.

౨ৎ˚₊ “Did you mean it?” “Every word.” “I didn’t realize it until last week, but I’ve been planning for a life with you. All these years. I came to all that stuff you planned for Gabriella just for you, Ave. My heart is as much yours as it was seven years ago, when I let you go.”

౨ৎ˚₊ “I felt like I was a different guy playing today,” he says, leaning his forehead against mine. “Like you gave me superpowers or something. I always told you I needed you with me in this.” I smile and lean in to kiss him again. “It’s all in your head,” I whisper. “Even if it is, I’m always going to need you.”

౨ৎ˚₊ “I never want you to ever think I can live a minute without you,” he says. “That anything is more important than what I have with you.” He puts his hand to the back of my neck and leans over me. “I love you, Ava. More than football. More than anything I can think of.”

౨ৎ˚₊ “You just bought a house. Just like that?” “Isn’t that what sugar daddies do?”


⭐ ˗ˏˋ RATING ˎˊ˗
★★★★☆ → ★★★★★
↳ 4.5/5 star

[Jerrye Tellmeagreatstorylove · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness but this is a fabulous read!! I’m so very glad Ranee let me read her latest story because it’s not only based in my hometown of Houston but it has vibes from my favorite Jane Austen book “Persuasion” all over it. Second chance romance and all its amazing angst was definitely included with this story and I was HERE. FOR. IT. Jett and Ava are clearly still not over each other, despite their protests to the contrary. And we got to be there as they hashed it all out. Gabriella and Colby were wonderful friends, giving good advice and pointing out the importance of forgiveness and love. There was also a terrible little witch of a person (I won’t spoil the story by saying who), that I happy danced about getting ousted. And there was plenty of snappy banter and some fabulous swoony kisses that made this story a new favorite for me. I don’t know if we’re getting more stories about the Pumas but I’d definitely read them if we were (hint, hint Ranee). If you love modern retellings of JA books too, add this one to your TBR because it’s marvelous!

I received a copy of this book from the author. I am not required by anyone to write a positive review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

[The Flipped Page (Susan K) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet, contemporary, sports romance

Romance, sweet, contemporary, sports, football; series but stand alone read
Ava and Jett’s story is a second chance romance. Their past included a broken engagement hat leaves them both heartbroken and hurting.
Loved the moments where they were together. Obvious magnetism and chemistry, the shared knowledge of each other, cheering each other on, and the care and concern always for their best interest, health, and success. Most of all the eyes, constantly drawn to each other and trying to figure out the past and present, maybe the future if their hearts have anything to say about it. Love written in the heart is a hard thing to lose.
Normally don’t give light romance a 5 star, but this truly was a lovely read. More of a 4.5 for me as a reader, but this deserves it all. Mix of games, football moments, past, present, family, friends, sorrows and joys that made for a fantastic read. True characters that shine for their work ethic, dedication, devotion, and true hearts that shine as they work through hurts to hope for the best and build something together. Lovely, sweet romance.

[Kassandra Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

raneesclark is the author behind two of my top summer reads! I already shared a review for Layla Meets Her Match (scroll down for that review)! Her newest release The Comeback is such a sweet, modern day spin on Jane Austen’s Persuasion! From the first chapter I couldn’t help but root for Ava and Jett to find their way back to each other!

Eight years after a heart-wrenching breakup, these two are thrown back into each other’s lives in the most unexpected way, and it’s clear the old spark never really died. With all the feels of a second chance romance, plus a mix of grumpy/sunshine vibes and forced proximity, the tension between them just jumps off the page!

The emotional rollercoaster of seeing them work through past hurts and rediscover what truly matters is absolutely adorable. Ava’s determination and Jett’s struggle to trust again make for a compelling story that kept me turning pages, hoping for them to find their perfect happily ever after.🩷

If you love sports romances with a side of sweet nostalgia and some serious swoony moments, this book is a must-read!

[Sydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this slow burn, second chance, football themed, Jane Austen Persuasion spin off RomCom. This is a charming story that will have readers giggling and swooning and rooting for Ava and Jett to get back together!!!

Disclosure statement: A complimentary review copy of this book was provided from tour groups, publishers, publicists, authors, and others, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, Or borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR borrowed from Deseret Bookshelf, OR pre-ordered/purchased for review, including Audible. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own.

[Linda Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story, but..

A couple dates for 4 yrs though HS, then split in college because “it might ruin his football career” if she stayed. She was afraid he would quit football to get a job and make the money they desperately needed. Typical self sacrifice trope that results in a split for 8 years!
Maybe it is just me, but I find that ridiculous.
Then, when they meet again, of course they try to deny their continued feelings for each other, even trying to date others when they are still crazy about each other. So dumb.
I liked the general plot, but there was way too much psychoanalyzing and not nearly enough action. No sizzle either.

[Erin Newton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing. I wanted more evidence of Persuasion since it’s the reason I read this book. And the cute cover. This is a second chance sports clean romance. I didn’t really care about these characters and wasn’t invested in their romance

[Laramee · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you enjoy second chance romance you are going to absolutely adore this sweet sports romance!

I received an ARC from the author and all opinions are my own.