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Training Seasons #1
Spring Awakening
Mali spent most of her life thinking her dream job didn’t exist. Now, she’s about to start working on the PR for the local rugby team she’s supported since childhood and wonders if she just got lucky. The Toulshire Titans have had a Hollywood-style rise to fame. Well, just above local-level fame, but that’s still pretty impressive for their small town. Mali knows she can get them further if she keeps her head down.
Then, Mali runs into her favourite player on her first day. He’s a pretty boy that the papers say won’t settle down, and she’s a girl who wants commitment. So, why is he so determined to take over all of her thoughts?
***
Zach has fought his way through hurdles to get to where he is today, and he did it alone. The Titans only made it to the National League because of him. Now, Zach has his sights set on the Premiership, and he’ll do whatever it takes to get there. He doesn’t care what he leaves behind, because Toulshire has never been home.
And then he meets Mali, and everything he wanted before her ceases to exist. Everyone calls him a player, but he’s sure he just met the love of his life, and he can’t figure out how to talk to her.
Then, Mali runs into her favourite player on her first day. He’s a pretty boy that the papers say won’t settle down, and she’s a girl who wants commitment. So, why is he so determined to take over all of her thoughts?
***
Zach has fought his way through hurdles to get to where he is today, and he did it alone. The Titans only made it to the National League because of him. Now, Zach has his sights set on the Premiership, and he’ll do whatever it takes to get there. He doesn’t care what he leaves behind, because Toulshire has never been home.
And then he meets Mali, and everything he wanted before her ceases to exist. Everyone calls him a player, but he’s sure he just met the love of his life, and he can’t figure out how to talk to her.
377 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 2, 2025
139 people are currently reading
1087 people want to read
About the author
J.S. Jasper
11 books120 followersCan we talk about love? I'm dying to talk about love.
Hi!
Thank you for reading my books! No need to wait to post a review, I'm not fussy about reviews before publish date as I will run from GoodReads so fast xxxxx
Hi!
Thank you for reading my books! No need to wait to post a review, I'm not fussy about reviews before publish date as I will run from GoodReads so fast xxxxx
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews
February 5, 2025
4.15/5
and when will a man fall in love with me at first sight??
i saw another author i like post about this book and i downloaded it immediately because i read a lot of sports romance but i’ve yet to pick up a rugby romance. i should’ve been getting here sooner, zach is the man. i adore him! this book is set in the uk so there is quite a bit of uk a slang that i did not vibe with but its fine.
zach and mali are so adorable, im addicted to them and their friendship. this is definitely a slow burn but it was so, so worth it. seeing the way they bonded made me so incredibly happy. like it all felt so real and so pure. they are just two people who came into each other’s lives and made everything better. the pr stuff mali was doing and everything with zach’s contract did not matter to me. every cute moment they had was just perfect, they are perfect together!!!
this is for sure going to be a series and i will be sat for ezra and cam’s book!!!
and when will a man fall in love with me at first sight??
i saw another author i like post about this book and i downloaded it immediately because i read a lot of sports romance but i’ve yet to pick up a rugby romance. i should’ve been getting here sooner, zach is the man. i adore him! this book is set in the uk so there is quite a bit of uk a slang that i did not vibe with but its fine.
zach and mali are so adorable, im addicted to them and their friendship. this is definitely a slow burn but it was so, so worth it. seeing the way they bonded made me so incredibly happy. like it all felt so real and so pure. they are just two people who came into each other’s lives and made everything better. the pr stuff mali was doing and everything with zach’s contract did not matter to me. every cute moment they had was just perfect, they are perfect together!!!
this is for sure going to be a series and i will be sat for ezra and cam’s book!!!
June 15, 2025
rating: 3.75★
love finding a rugby romance and it's bi4bi!
it had a strong start w mali starting a new job w her family's longtime fav rugby team. she immediately has an off run-in w zach, who's dealing w his mother's dementia, a troubled brother, and already pissing off his new team.
mali kind of fell flat for me as a character by the end. she was fun and had her moments, but i wanted something more storywise for her besides the romance. they also got very comfortable quick as roommates turned new friends, giving each other kisses and calling each other babe? like bro y'all are in love obvi.
i also would've liked the sports aspect to be stronger since they worked together, some of the actual PR work or even a game. it would've added some fun.
overall though, it was cute and had some steam. i really liked one particular aspect of the epilogue (spoilers)
if you enjoy contemp sports romance, def give this a try!
love finding a rugby romance and it's bi4bi!
it had a strong start w mali starting a new job w her family's longtime fav rugby team. she immediately has an off run-in w zach, who's dealing w his mother's dementia, a troubled brother, and already pissing off his new team.
mali kind of fell flat for me as a character by the end. she was fun and had her moments, but i wanted something more storywise for her besides the romance. they also got very comfortable quick as roommates turned new friends, giving each other kisses and calling each other babe? like bro y'all are in love obvi.
i also would've liked the sports aspect to be stronger since they worked together, some of the actual PR work or even a game. it would've added some fun.
overall though, it was cute and had some steam. i really liked one particular aspect of the epilogue (spoilers)
if you enjoy contemp sports romance, def give this a try!
January 22, 2025
“And she’s the only thing he needs. It doesn’t matter what his life looks like. It doesn't matter what colour it is, as long as she’s right there, with her hand in his”.
This was such a cute read and yes I need to read more books by J.S asap! I thought this book was so sweet and heartwarming. We have our standout character Buffy the cat who was a great side character and was on the chapter headings lol. So the fmc Mali gets has finally found a job she likes as the pr of rugby team. The mmc is one of the players who is awkward in the cutest way. When she first meets him he doesn’t really talk to a lot of people and interact.
They become friends and I loved watching them become best friends, it was one of my favorite aspects of the book. I love when a slow burn works and it’s shown on page the depth of the friendship. The romance was adorable and there are some steamy scenes. Also the mmc Zach’s mom has a diagnosis similar to Alzheimer’s and watching him interact with her was real. I liked the family moments and overall I enjoyed this read. Thanks to J.S Jasper and Love Notes PR for this arc for an honest review.
4.25/5
This was such a cute read and yes I need to read more books by J.S asap! I thought this book was so sweet and heartwarming. We have our standout character Buffy the cat who was a great side character and was on the chapter headings lol. So the fmc Mali gets has finally found a job she likes as the pr of rugby team. The mmc is one of the players who is awkward in the cutest way. When she first meets him he doesn’t really talk to a lot of people and interact.
They become friends and I loved watching them become best friends, it was one of my favorite aspects of the book. I love when a slow burn works and it’s shown on page the depth of the friendship. The romance was adorable and there are some steamy scenes. Also the mmc Zach’s mom has a diagnosis similar to Alzheimer’s and watching him interact with her was real. I liked the family moments and overall I enjoyed this read. Thanks to J.S Jasper and Love Notes PR for this arc for an honest review.
4.25/5
February 1, 2025
Spring Awakening By J.S. Jasper (ARC)
4.5🌟
Tropes:
🏉Rugby player + PR
🏉Strangers to lovers
🏉Found family
🏉Roommates
🏉Pining
🏉Slowburn
🏉Grumpy + Sunshine
First, I want to congratulate Jess on her new novel, and I'm thankful that you gave me an ARC. Thank you so much for the opportunity! I enjoyed reading about Zach and Mali’s love story and following the other characters throughout the book. I'm excited to read the Ezra and Cam if they are getting one and I loved Kai and Frankie too
Sher’s thoughts:
I was lowkey trying so hard to get into it, I wasn’t feeling reading books but I really wanted to read it and get the arc review out in time. I’m glad I continued reading and I feel in love with Mali and Zach.
From the first interaction between, I was laughing, because Mali clock him when he called her sweetheart and kinda calling him a grandpa😂 and him google shit to say because he wanted to talk to her , like you like the weather😂 and her being sunshine bringing his smile up more because he is mostly grumpy. The cute moments between them, I was feeling single so bad😭 him arguing with his team mate because kept interrupting her, him running to her when she got hurt. I was giggling so bad and wishing I was Mali, like that sound “don’t call me sis, I will fuck your man😂”If this doesn’t give you urge to pick it up, you missing out. I will definitely read the another books by Jess, they have been waiting in my tbr
If you're looking for a spicy, Slowburn and cute story with Diverse characters this book is for you 100%. I highly recommend it!💕
4.5🌟
Tropes:
🏉Rugby player + PR
🏉Strangers to lovers
🏉Found family
🏉Roommates
🏉Pining
🏉Slowburn
🏉Grumpy + Sunshine
First, I want to congratulate Jess on her new novel, and I'm thankful that you gave me an ARC. Thank you so much for the opportunity! I enjoyed reading about Zach and Mali’s love story and following the other characters throughout the book. I'm excited to read the Ezra and Cam if they are getting one and I loved Kai and Frankie too
Sher’s thoughts:
I was lowkey trying so hard to get into it, I wasn’t feeling reading books but I really wanted to read it and get the arc review out in time. I’m glad I continued reading and I feel in love with Mali and Zach.
From the first interaction between, I was laughing, because Mali clock him when he called her sweetheart and kinda calling him a grandpa😂 and him google shit to say because he wanted to talk to her , like you like the weather😂 and her being sunshine bringing his smile up more because he is mostly grumpy. The cute moments between them, I was feeling single so bad😭 him arguing with his team mate because kept interrupting her, him running to her when she got hurt. I was giggling so bad and wishing I was Mali, like that sound “don’t call me sis, I will fuck your man😂”If this doesn’t give you urge to pick it up, you missing out. I will definitely read the another books by Jess, they have been waiting in my tbr
If you're looking for a spicy, Slowburn and cute story with Diverse characters this book is for you 100%. I highly recommend it!💕
February 8, 2025
Spring Awakening was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and unfortunately it wasn't everything I hoped it would be.
I really, really loved Zach. I loved him being queer, his emotional intelligence, his wit, and how he loved, cared, and took care of his mother. I found the storyline with his brother to be contrived and dragged out, and somewhat made to feel more ominous than it ended up being. I also struggled with how someone who made good enough money needed to live with someone else, so even that part of the story fell flat for me. The way he selflessly cared for Mali and did things to make her life easier all the time was so great to read.
I mainly struggled with the pacing here. In addition to Zach and his brother's storyline being dragged out, this was the slowest slow burn to ever spark—and I am a slow burn truther! This was absolutely too slow, to the point that they were giving forehead kisses and calling each other honey and babe but not touching tenders and it just didn't make sense. By the time the steamier scenes came around I was wondering how the rest of the story was going to be resolved in the tiny bit of time left in the book—the answer was way too quickly. I'm not really someone who absolutely has to read books with spice—so this being low spice didn't bother me whatsoever—BUT I felt like at one point the characters were will-they-won't-they-ing for way too long.
I didn't really care for Mali. She was a very solid friend and partner to Zach, but she also was just very flat to me as a character and I struggled to connect with her. I also felt like the supporting characters meddled, which is my least favorite type of side character.
The writing was a little all over the place at times. I got spun around about who was saying what and who was present in which scene more than once. I know this is an indie-published book, but I think it could have done with another round of developmental edits to reign some of those areas in because they made me get lost in the sauce quite a bit. At the time of writing this review, this book has been released so I'm hopeful this has been resolved for people who pick this up in the future! I definitely think the things that bothered me about my experience with the book might not matter much to others, so definitely pick it up and experience Zach :)
Thank you to Love Notes PR and the author for the ARC!
3 ⭐
1 🌶️
I really, really loved Zach. I loved him being queer, his emotional intelligence, his wit, and how he loved, cared, and took care of his mother. I found the storyline with his brother to be contrived and dragged out, and somewhat made to feel more ominous than it ended up being. I also struggled with how someone who made good enough money needed to live with someone else, so even that part of the story fell flat for me. The way he selflessly cared for Mali and did things to make her life easier all the time was so great to read.
I mainly struggled with the pacing here. In addition to Zach and his brother's storyline being dragged out, this was the slowest slow burn to ever spark—and I am a slow burn truther! This was absolutely too slow, to the point that they were giving forehead kisses and calling each other honey and babe but not touching tenders and it just didn't make sense. By the time the steamier scenes came around I was wondering how the rest of the story was going to be resolved in the tiny bit of time left in the book—the answer was way too quickly. I'm not really someone who absolutely has to read books with spice—so this being low spice didn't bother me whatsoever—BUT I felt like at one point the characters were will-they-won't-they-ing for way too long.
I didn't really care for Mali. She was a very solid friend and partner to Zach, but she also was just very flat to me as a character and I struggled to connect with her. I also felt like the supporting characters meddled, which is my least favorite type of side character.
The writing was a little all over the place at times. I got spun around about who was saying what and who was present in which scene more than once. I know this is an indie-published book, but I think it could have done with another round of developmental edits to reign some of those areas in because they made me get lost in the sauce quite a bit. At the time of writing this review, this book has been released so I'm hopeful this has been resolved for people who pick this up in the future! I definitely think the things that bothered me about my experience with the book might not matter much to others, so definitely pick it up and experience Zach :)
Thank you to Love Notes PR and the author for the ARC!
3 ⭐
1 🌶️
May 5, 2025
4.5 stars rounded up!
The first 70% of this was 6 stars, highlighting everything, obsessed. The last 30% kind of lost me, and got a little too mushy, but good for them both.
I loved the endearing idiots who haven't had friendships before and don't know the difference between platonic and romantic relationships.
I love that they get more and more affectionate with each other. I love how Zach's bisexuality is portrayed. Appreciate some demi vibes from Mali. Even love the big family dynamics.
Rugby is questionable. Simps galore. I love them both.
The first 70% of this was 6 stars, highlighting everything, obsessed. The last 30% kind of lost me, and got a little too mushy, but good for them both.
I loved the endearing idiots who haven't had friendships before and don't know the difference between platonic and romantic relationships.
I love that they get more and more affectionate with each other. I love how Zach's bisexuality is portrayed. Appreciate some demi vibes from Mali. Even love the big family dynamics.
Rugby is questionable. Simps galore. I love them both.
February 6, 2025
ARC Review!
This book was so cute!! Such a fun spring read.
I really loved all of the characters in this book! They were all so thought out & I loved getting to see them grow throughout the book. I especially loved getting to see Zach’s confidence grow & accept himself and love from others.
The main issue that I had with this book was the writing. I feel like it was all tell no show (if that makes sense!). There were also a lot of inconsistencies that I found throughout the book and some sentences that just didn’t make sense. I think it just needed another round of edits!
Overall I definitely recommend this book for people who love a good sports romance & character driven stories!
I think my final rating would be a 3.25 ⭐️
Thank you so much to Love Notes PR & the author for the ARC!
This book was so cute!! Such a fun spring read.
I really loved all of the characters in this book! They were all so thought out & I loved getting to see them grow throughout the book. I especially loved getting to see Zach’s confidence grow & accept himself and love from others.
The main issue that I had with this book was the writing. I feel like it was all tell no show (if that makes sense!). There were also a lot of inconsistencies that I found throughout the book and some sentences that just didn’t make sense. I think it just needed another round of edits!
Overall I definitely recommend this book for people who love a good sports romance & character driven stories!
I think my final rating would be a 3.25 ⭐️
Thank you so much to Love Notes PR & the author for the ARC!
February 9, 2025
Thank you to the author and Love Notes PR for allowing me to read an ARC of this book💕
Ok, this was my last book of January and as you can see I read it in record time because it’s such a good story, I just kept on reading! This story will tug at your heartstrings in the best of ways, and it will leave you wishing you had someone like Mali and Zach in your life🫶🏻
📍The story takes place in the fictional city of Toulshire, in the United Kingdom, where the local rugby team is well on its way to become a media sensation.
✍️This book is brilliant because the author’s writing style is basically a treasure. Told in third person, we follow two people who are brought together by rugby, specifically by the Titans rugby team: Mali is their new PR manager, and Zach is their newest star player, and their first meet(cute) is an absolute disaster. Mali wants to keep her job and help the team because she’s a very capable professional (and also a superfan!), but Zach has seen the bitter, dark side of fame and his experience at his last club has turned him into someone who’s not fond of playing nice with his teammates. Mali and Zach will keep meeting and crashing as they walk down a path that you know exactly where is leading, but in reality, this story about two strangers who end up falling in love will teach you that you cannot let life just pass you by, that mistakes and disappointments are lessons to be learned, and that we must enjoy what we have, even when it’s a familiar face whose mind no longer can recognize us.
👥Mali and Zach are the main characters of this story, and they are absolute stars. Mali is a woman who knows her worth and has the best sense of humor ever, she just landed the job of her life and she’s determined to not let anyone ruin it (not even her favorite player). And Zach is a well-known womanizer who’s actually so shy he literally doesn’t know how to talk to a woman he likes, because his hot body has always spoken for him. Until Mali comes along and she drags him into all kinds of conversations, and into a new life in which Buffy the cat will play a key role.
🖇️All in all, I highly recommend this sports romance if you want a quick, entertaining read where British culture (and language!) will keep you coming for more.
Ok, this was my last book of January and as you can see I read it in record time because it’s such a good story, I just kept on reading! This story will tug at your heartstrings in the best of ways, and it will leave you wishing you had someone like Mali and Zach in your life🫶🏻
📍The story takes place in the fictional city of Toulshire, in the United Kingdom, where the local rugby team is well on its way to become a media sensation.
✍️This book is brilliant because the author’s writing style is basically a treasure. Told in third person, we follow two people who are brought together by rugby, specifically by the Titans rugby team: Mali is their new PR manager, and Zach is their newest star player, and their first meet(cute) is an absolute disaster. Mali wants to keep her job and help the team because she’s a very capable professional (and also a superfan!), but Zach has seen the bitter, dark side of fame and his experience at his last club has turned him into someone who’s not fond of playing nice with his teammates. Mali and Zach will keep meeting and crashing as they walk down a path that you know exactly where is leading, but in reality, this story about two strangers who end up falling in love will teach you that you cannot let life just pass you by, that mistakes and disappointments are lessons to be learned, and that we must enjoy what we have, even when it’s a familiar face whose mind no longer can recognize us.
👥Mali and Zach are the main characters of this story, and they are absolute stars. Mali is a woman who knows her worth and has the best sense of humor ever, she just landed the job of her life and she’s determined to not let anyone ruin it (not even her favorite player). And Zach is a well-known womanizer who’s actually so shy he literally doesn’t know how to talk to a woman he likes, because his hot body has always spoken for him. Until Mali comes along and she drags him into all kinds of conversations, and into a new life in which Buffy the cat will play a key role.
🖇️All in all, I highly recommend this sports romance if you want a quick, entertaining read where British culture (and language!) will keep you coming for more.
February 9, 2025
This book was cozy, slow burn, with a spectacular transition from friends to lovers.
The story of Mali and Zach is one of those that grabs you from the first moment, you see they didn't start off on the right foot, but then you see that little transition that came so naturally that I personally loved it, when they become roommates everything scales, but in a good way.
I liked the romance, their relationship was slow (there were some moments where I wanted to grab them to make them realize it) but necessary, plus they were co-workers which brought a little drama around it but that was resolved quickly. Speaking of drama, the one near the end almost gave me a heart attack, but good thing it all worked out.
I loved Mali's personality, seeing the good things, not giving up, it was just spectacular and Zach, not to mention, although I have to admit I didn't like him at first, but then I grew to like him.
It was a very good and cozy story, quick to read because it grabs you and except for two things I could say light.
📌 I received an e-arc, and this is my honest opinion/review of it.
---
Este libro fue cozy, slow burn, con una transición de friends to lovers espectacular.
La historia de Mali y Zach es de esas que te atrapan desde el primer momento, a ver que no empezaron con buen pie pero luego ves esa pequeña transición que surgió tan natural que a mi en lo personal me encanto, cuando se convierten en roommates todo escala pero de buena manera.
El romance me gusto, la relación de estos dos fue lenta (hubo algunos momentos donde quería agarrarlos para que se dieran cuenta) pero necesaria además de que eran compañeros de trabajo, lo cual trajo un pequeño drama en torno a eso pero que se resolvió rápido. Y hablando de dramas, ese casi al final casi me da un infarto pero que bueno que todo se resolvió.
Me encanto mucho la personalidad de Mali, viendo las cosas buenas, no rendirse, fue simplemente espectacular y Zach ni se diga, aunque si tengo que admitir que al principio no me agrado un poco pero ya luego le fui agarrando cariño.
Fue una historia muy linda, que exceptuando dos cosas sería ligera pero también rápida de leer.
The story of Mali and Zach is one of those that grabs you from the first moment, you see they didn't start off on the right foot, but then you see that little transition that came so naturally that I personally loved it, when they become roommates everything scales, but in a good way.
I liked the romance, their relationship was slow (there were some moments where I wanted to grab them to make them realize it) but necessary, plus they were co-workers which brought a little drama around it but that was resolved quickly. Speaking of drama, the one near the end almost gave me a heart attack, but good thing it all worked out.
I loved Mali's personality, seeing the good things, not giving up, it was just spectacular and Zach, not to mention, although I have to admit I didn't like him at first, but then I grew to like him.
It was a very good and cozy story, quick to read because it grabs you and except for two things I could say light.
📌 I received an e-arc, and this is my honest opinion/review of it.
---
Este libro fue cozy, slow burn, con una transición de friends to lovers espectacular.
La historia de Mali y Zach es de esas que te atrapan desde el primer momento, a ver que no empezaron con buen pie pero luego ves esa pequeña transición que surgió tan natural que a mi en lo personal me encanto, cuando se convierten en roommates todo escala pero de buena manera.
El romance me gusto, la relación de estos dos fue lenta (hubo algunos momentos donde quería agarrarlos para que se dieran cuenta) pero necesaria además de que eran compañeros de trabajo, lo cual trajo un pequeño drama en torno a eso pero que se resolvió rápido. Y hablando de dramas, ese casi al final casi me da un infarto pero que bueno que todo se resolvió.
Me encanto mucho la personalidad de Mali, viendo las cosas buenas, no rendirse, fue simplemente espectacular y Zach ni se diga, aunque si tengo que admitir que al principio no me agrado un poco pero ya luego le fui agarrando cariño.
Fue una historia muy linda, que exceptuando dos cosas sería ligera pero también rápida de leer.
January 29, 2025
Arc Review ❤️
Wow . Hold on bc what ? This book was SO FREAKING GOOD . from beginning to end . I loveeee friends to lovers , I love a miscommunication trope idc idc , I'm so excited for the next book . The entire book was just constant anticipation, a very slow burn and I wasn't mad at it. I also loved the banter and the swooning I did?? Yes I teared up lmao
Tropes: Friends to lovers
Slow burn
Rugby player x Team Pr Manager
Secret crush
Secret Pining
Release : Feb 2nd
Wow . Hold on bc what ? This book was SO FREAKING GOOD . from beginning to end . I loveeee friends to lovers , I love a miscommunication trope idc idc , I'm so excited for the next book . The entire book was just constant anticipation, a very slow burn and I wasn't mad at it. I also loved the banter and the swooning I did?? Yes I teared up lmao
Tropes: Friends to lovers
Slow burn
Rugby player x Team Pr Manager
Secret crush
Secret Pining
Release : Feb 2nd
March 31, 2025
The writing felt clunky and there were storylines that never really wrapped up?
The characters were likable and the concept was interesting enough to at least finish the book, but I’m sorry to that say I just didn’t love it.
The characters were likable and the concept was interesting enough to at least finish the book, but I’m sorry to that say I just didn’t love it.
February 6, 2025
ok I am back with a review...
As I mentioned before, this was such a cute read. Low angst romance with extremely likable characters and a wonderful story of friends to lovers. I adored the interactions between Mali and Zach, and I think that even though I love friends to lovers in books, I love it even more when I see the friendship develop in the book, rather than already knowing they are friends from the start. Zach's is such a cutie pie, I wanted to take care of him through out the book, and his interactions with his mother, who had a Alzheimer's type disease, felt real and well researched. Mali was a badass and I would really like to be her best friend IRL.
I do want to point out, that J.S. Jasper in this one felt more, mature? I read Perfectly Candid last year and while I enjoyed the book, you can see growth in her writing! Can't wait to see what comes next.
thanks to the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
PS: Me, a dog mom/lover adoring a cat and wanting one now? Was not in 2025 my bingo card.
As I mentioned before, this was such a cute read. Low angst romance with extremely likable characters and a wonderful story of friends to lovers. I adored the interactions between Mali and Zach, and I think that even though I love friends to lovers in books, I love it even more when I see the friendship develop in the book, rather than already knowing they are friends from the start. Zach's is such a cutie pie, I wanted to take care of him through out the book, and his interactions with his mother, who had a Alzheimer's type disease, felt real and well researched. Mali was a badass and I would really like to be her best friend IRL.
I do want to point out, that J.S. Jasper in this one felt more, mature? I read Perfectly Candid last year and while I enjoyed the book, you can see growth in her writing! Can't wait to see what comes next.
thanks to the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
PS: Me, a dog mom/lover adoring a cat and wanting one now? Was not in 2025 my bingo card.
February 19, 2025
This book was cute. I LOVED Mali and Zach. As characters and together. They were too cute. I also liked the fact that these were black Brits. Rarely have I read a book with black British people. Add on the fact that Zach played Rugby and I was here for it. This was a sports rom com. It was very very cute and funny. I enjoyed this read.
However, what I wasn't too fond of was the lack of spice. To each their own but I love smut and this book barely had it. It was a super slow slow burn. The author dragged the pining, sexual tension and miscommunication out more than she should've imo. She edged the readers to death. Everybody's different but I didn't like it. The characters not doing anything intimate until 80 something percent into the book and not actually having sex until 93% ain't my idea of good buildup frankly. Besides that, this was a good book.
However, what I wasn't too fond of was the lack of spice. To each their own but I love smut and this book barely had it. It was a super slow slow burn. The author dragged the pining, sexual tension and miscommunication out more than she should've imo. She edged the readers to death. Everybody's different but I didn't like it. The characters not doing anything intimate until 80 something percent into the book and not actually having sex until 93% ain't my idea of good buildup frankly. Besides that, this was a good book.
February 2, 2025
this was super fun & enjoyable!
I really enjoyed our MCs! I loved watching their relationship authentically grow from strangers, to friends to lovers. They both had things they were struggling with and the growth in them both was really great to see!
The writing was bingable snd simple, it was an easy read that kept you entertained the entire time.
I really enjoy a rugby romance and this didn’t disappoint in that area… you’ll also find:
🏈 Forced Proximity
🏈 Player X PR
🏈 Grumpy / Sunshine
🏈 Found Family
🏈 Mutual Pining
The only thing I wasn’t super fond of, and this is just personal preference imo, was the spice was a bit cringy for me at times. It wasn’t awful and didn’t take away from the overall book and enjoyment of the characters in the plot, but i just didn’t jive with the spice in some parts of the book.
I would definitely recommend this book to peers and will be reading more by this author!
I really enjoyed our MCs! I loved watching their relationship authentically grow from strangers, to friends to lovers. They both had things they were struggling with and the growth in them both was really great to see!
The writing was bingable snd simple, it was an easy read that kept you entertained the entire time.
I really enjoy a rugby romance and this didn’t disappoint in that area… you’ll also find:
🏈 Forced Proximity
🏈 Player X PR
🏈 Grumpy / Sunshine
🏈 Found Family
🏈 Mutual Pining
The only thing I wasn’t super fond of, and this is just personal preference imo, was the spice was a bit cringy for me at times. It wasn’t awful and didn’t take away from the overall book and enjoyment of the characters in the plot, but i just didn’t jive with the spice in some parts of the book.
I would definitely recommend this book to peers and will be reading more by this author!
April 28, 2025
3.5 - this was fun and cute and what i needed at the moment. could use some editing/polishing but i still had a good time
REP: Black queer woman main character; Black bisexual male main character; lesbian side character
REP: Black queer woman main character; Black bisexual male main character; lesbian side character
February 21, 2025
4.5 stars !! Loved this one 💖
January 25, 2025
ARC Review: ugh this story tells exactly what falling in love should feel like. AND I MEAN COME ON, ALL MEN SHOULD BE LIKE ZACH 😭 but in all seriousness, I loved reading this so much, it literally just got better and better as the story went on and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved it.
This is my first read by this author but it will definitely not be my last!!!
This is my first read by this author but it will definitely not be my last!!!
February 10, 2025
This is a cute romance around a sport I feel like I don't see as often as others, Rugby. In this novel, we meet Zach, a rugby player and Mali, his team's PR. They are both attracted to each other at first sight, but both are socially awkward and unsure of how to proceed with the other. Their romance is very sweet, and their journey is very slowwwwwww burn. I enjoyed being inside the characters head, seeing their inner most dialogues and uncertainty about each other's feelings. I really appreciated Zach's care towards Mali and his mom. He was very patient, attentive, caring, and intentional in his actions. I loved that even though his persona was portrayed as arrogant, his real-life personality was a complete contrast, and he had to Google how to talk to Mali. I loved that Mali was a soft girl and not afraid to cry, even though she was capable of speaking up if she had to. It was interesting seeing how they both expressed themselves and interpreted the meaning of the things they said to each other.
We also got side characters with stories of their own, which I loved as it also helped to bring the story alive.
Thank you, LoveNotes PR and the author for the Arc!
We also got side characters with stories of their own, which I loved as it also helped to bring the story alive.
Thank you, LoveNotes PR and the author for the Arc!
February 9, 2025
This book was like if Ted Lasso was about rugby and the main character was Keeley. I really liked the characters and the premise was a lot of fun! I don’t know much about rugby, so it was interesting to read a sports romance with rugby as the main sport.
The romance is where this book lost me. These two are just SO into one another and SO sweet together, that I didn’t buy it that they weren’t together for most of the book. If you enjoy sweet romances, then I think you’d like this, but it didn’t make total sense to me.
This was my first read by this author and I think it’ll be my last because I didn’t enjoy the writing style, but I definitely think every reader should decide that for themself because my opinion isn’t universal!
Thank you to the author for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
The romance is where this book lost me. These two are just SO into one another and SO sweet together, that I didn’t buy it that they weren’t together for most of the book. If you enjoy sweet romances, then I think you’d like this, but it didn’t make total sense to me.
This was my first read by this author and I think it’ll be my last because I didn’t enjoy the writing style, but I definitely think every reader should decide that for themself because my opinion isn’t universal!
Thank you to the author for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
February 19, 2025
No one is more surprised than me for finishing (and loving!) this book.
The rugby is Bad. Capital B bad. Zach is supposed to be both the highest scoring player but also his position is hooker? In what world. Also people score tries in rugby, not goals. I can gloss over romance book taking liberties when it comes to sport things (like Zach being papped when he plays for a regional team). But at least try to get the basic stuff right. Normally this would make me dnf a book but I just couldn’t cause the romance part? Chefs kiss.
Two bisexual idiots in love, one man completely gone for his woman? Yes please. I highlighted so many quotes. Absolutely ridiculous how cute this book is.
And to the author, I’m available to check your rugby for all future books. Cause I want to keep reading them, but also stop butchering the best sport. Please and thank you
The rugby is Bad. Capital B bad. Zach is supposed to be both the highest scoring player but also his position is hooker? In what world. Also people score tries in rugby, not goals. I can gloss over romance book taking liberties when it comes to sport things (like Zach being papped when he plays for a regional team). But at least try to get the basic stuff right. Normally this would make me dnf a book but I just couldn’t cause the romance part? Chefs kiss.
Two bisexual idiots in love, one man completely gone for his woman? Yes please. I highlighted so many quotes. Absolutely ridiculous how cute this book is.
And to the author, I’m available to check your rugby for all future books. Cause I want to keep reading them, but also stop butchering the best sport. Please and thank you
January 28, 2025
Very cute story line about strangers falling into each other’s lives. The story itself was great, but the writing seemed a little juvenile and made it hard to stay immersed in the story itself.
February 5, 2025
4 or 4,5 ⭐️
If you’re into a (very 🙈)slow-burn, sports romance with a strangers-to-best-friends-to-lovers dynamic, then this book is definitely worth picking up! Mali & Zach’s journey was so wholesome—it had my heart glowing the entire time. 🥹The tension? Perfectly done. The way their friendship builds makes their eventual romance 100x more meaningful.🥰
Zach stole my heart. He doesn’t believe he deserves much love, but he really, really does. He’s such a good man, and watching him slowly realize that? So beautiful.🥹 Also, let’s not forget Buffy the cat, who adds the perfect touch to their little world.😻
There are definitely some difficult obstacles along the way, but that just makes their bond even stronger. Zach’s family situation is far from easy, but seeing how they bring their two families together was also really beautiful to see.
And that bath scene? Still living rent-free in my head. So cute.🤭🫶🏼
The only thing that held me back from a full 5 stars was the third-person POV. Super personal preference, but it made it harder for me to fully immerse myself, and I took longer to get through it. That said, if POV isn’t a dealbreaker for you, this book is 100% worth the read!🤩
Also, I’m very curious about the next book and who it’ll be about—I have a strong suspicion already!🙈
If you’re into a (very 🙈)slow-burn, sports romance with a strangers-to-best-friends-to-lovers dynamic, then this book is definitely worth picking up! Mali & Zach’s journey was so wholesome—it had my heart glowing the entire time. 🥹The tension? Perfectly done. The way their friendship builds makes their eventual romance 100x more meaningful.🥰
Zach stole my heart. He doesn’t believe he deserves much love, but he really, really does. He’s such a good man, and watching him slowly realize that? So beautiful.🥹 Also, let’s not forget Buffy the cat, who adds the perfect touch to their little world.😻
There are definitely some difficult obstacles along the way, but that just makes their bond even stronger. Zach’s family situation is far from easy, but seeing how they bring their two families together was also really beautiful to see.
And that bath scene? Still living rent-free in my head. So cute.🤭🫶🏼
The only thing that held me back from a full 5 stars was the third-person POV. Super personal preference, but it made it harder for me to fully immerse myself, and I took longer to get through it. That said, if POV isn’t a dealbreaker for you, this book is 100% worth the read!🤩
Also, I’m very curious about the next book and who it’ll be about—I have a strong suspicion already!🙈
January 26, 2025
Such a sweet story about friendship turning into an adorable romance!
Mali and Zach are a great couple, from being there for each other from the moment they became friends, to the beautifully developed slow burn love story. Zach had me swooning from the beginning, and the author did an amazing job with his shy but protective character. There's a lot of trauma he carries within himself, but Mali quickly made it all better for him. Reading their interactions immediately put a smile on my face! They're roomates, there's an adorable cat called Buffy that will steal your heart immediately, great and funny side characters, important topics discussed throughout the story, and much, much more! The writing style definitely feels more confident in this book than in the other one I have read by this author last year, Perfectly Candid, and it's obvious Jasper grew into her style and will continue growing with each new book.
Definitely recommend this one if you're searching for a sweet, slow burn romance with a bit of spice and a great story!
A huge thank you to Love Notes PR and the author for sending me an ARC of this book!
Mali and Zach are a great couple, from being there for each other from the moment they became friends, to the beautifully developed slow burn love story. Zach had me swooning from the beginning, and the author did an amazing job with his shy but protective character. There's a lot of trauma he carries within himself, but Mali quickly made it all better for him. Reading their interactions immediately put a smile on my face! They're roomates, there's an adorable cat called Buffy that will steal your heart immediately, great and funny side characters, important topics discussed throughout the story, and much, much more! The writing style definitely feels more confident in this book than in the other one I have read by this author last year, Perfectly Candid, and it's obvious Jasper grew into her style and will continue growing with each new book.
Definitely recommend this one if you're searching for a sweet, slow burn romance with a bit of spice and a great story!
A huge thank you to Love Notes PR and the author for sending me an ARC of this book!
February 4, 2025
🌈 Rainbow Ratings:
Representation: 9
Atmosphere: 8
Intrigue: 9
Narrative: 10
Build-up: 10
Originality: 8
Wow Factor: 9
Jasper is one of my favorite authors for a reason: she brings it all and lays it on the table. There is pining and joy. Their friendship is my favorite part of this story.
Mali lands her dream job as the PR rep for the Toulshire Titans, determined to help the rugby team reach new heights—until she finds herself distracted by Zach, the team’s star player with a notorious reputation. Zach has always put his career first, but from the moment he meets Mali, everything else fades into the background. As their undeniable chemistry grows, they’ll have to decide if love is worth the risk or if their goals will tear them apart.
I found myself utterly captivated by Mali & Zachariah. De is the ultimate villain, and I want to fight, but that is truly the only “bad” thing I can say about this romance. Cannot wait for book two!
THANKS TO LOVE NOTES PR & JS JASPER FOR THE ARC IN EXCHANGE OF AN HONEST REVIEW
Representation: 9
Atmosphere: 8
Intrigue: 9
Narrative: 10
Build-up: 10
Originality: 8
Wow Factor: 9
Jasper is one of my favorite authors for a reason: she brings it all and lays it on the table. There is pining and joy. Their friendship is my favorite part of this story.
Mali lands her dream job as the PR rep for the Toulshire Titans, determined to help the rugby team reach new heights—until she finds herself distracted by Zach, the team’s star player with a notorious reputation. Zach has always put his career first, but from the moment he meets Mali, everything else fades into the background. As their undeniable chemistry grows, they’ll have to decide if love is worth the risk or if their goals will tear them apart.
I found myself utterly captivated by Mali & Zachariah. De is the ultimate villain, and I want to fight, but that is truly the only “bad” thing I can say about this romance. Cannot wait for book two!
THANKS TO LOVE NOTES PR & JS JASPER FOR THE ARC IN EXCHANGE OF AN HONEST REVIEW
February 19, 2025
ARC Review 🏉
✨If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a sunshiney PR pro is forced to wrangle a grumpy, brooding rugby star, Spring Awakening has the answer—and it’s equal parts hilarious, heartwarming, and a little bit steamy. ⭐️Mali lands her dream job handling PR for the Toulshire Titans, only to realize that her biggest challenge isn’t media coverage—it’s Henry, the team’s star player, who has all the charm of a wet sock.😂
Cue the banter, the slow-burn tension, and enough awkward moments to make you want to crawl under a blanket and never come out. I loved how their relationship was built on friendship. 💕Mali and Henry were such fun, sweet, and charming characters! The chemistry between these two is fire, and their banter is top-tier. ❤️🔥Jasper nails the grumpy/sunshine trope, and the chemistry between Mali and Henry is so electric. Their journey was heartwarming and fun to read.🥹
🫶🏽I loved the diversity of the characters. Plus, any book that makes me laugh out loud in public gets extra points—though I now have to explain to strangers why I was giggling at my Kindle like a lunatic. 😂All in all, a solid four-star read that had me swooning, laughing, Highly recommend!🙌🏽
✨If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a sunshiney PR pro is forced to wrangle a grumpy, brooding rugby star, Spring Awakening has the answer—and it’s equal parts hilarious, heartwarming, and a little bit steamy. ⭐️Mali lands her dream job handling PR for the Toulshire Titans, only to realize that her biggest challenge isn’t media coverage—it’s Henry, the team’s star player, who has all the charm of a wet sock.😂
Cue the banter, the slow-burn tension, and enough awkward moments to make you want to crawl under a blanket and never come out. I loved how their relationship was built on friendship. 💕Mali and Henry were such fun, sweet, and charming characters! The chemistry between these two is fire, and their banter is top-tier. ❤️🔥Jasper nails the grumpy/sunshine trope, and the chemistry between Mali and Henry is so electric. Their journey was heartwarming and fun to read.🥹
🫶🏽I loved the diversity of the characters. Plus, any book that makes me laugh out loud in public gets extra points—though I now have to explain to strangers why I was giggling at my Kindle like a lunatic. 😂All in all, a solid four-star read that had me swooning, laughing, Highly recommend!🙌🏽
February 6, 2025
This was really cute. I love the bi bi relationship and how Mali had a different color wig every day. This book was so sweet and cute and made me want to pull my hair out with how they were so obsessed with each other but wouldn't say anything. I am not sure I would call this a friends to lovers, since they were romantically interested from the start but I did really enjoy their platonic moments. Zach is a caretaker for his mother with memory loss and watching Mali & her family become so close with Zach and his mom was so heartwarming.
This was my first time reading J.S. Jasper and i think they did an amazing job of making you love both main characters, but even more than that, EVERY side character was perfect. It makes me super excited for the future books in this series.
This was my first time reading J.S. Jasper and i think they did an amazing job of making you love both main characters, but even more than that, EVERY side character was perfect. It makes me super excited for the future books in this series.
April 26, 2025
I’ve never related to a MMC more than Zach! His inner monologue, awkwardness and loyalty hooked me instantly. Life can weigh on you so much in every aspect you don’t even think it’s possible to get better. Felt like I was looking in a mirror. Mali is added to my list of favorite FMC that aren’t damsels and isn’t scared to speak her mind. The banter was top tier and the drama shook me. I wound give a 4.5 if I could. I’m so excited to keep up with this series and see how things continue!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
* Sports romance (Rugby)
* Forced Proximity
* Stangers to Friends to Lovers
* Roomates Romance
* She has a cat! 🐈
* 🌶️ open door
* His favorite colour is her hair colour 🤭
This is a super quick, cute and easy romance for when you’re feeling it.
I do have some complains about it, such as the writing (sometimes felt like YA) and the end of the book 🫣 (I feel like the last 2 chapters were unnecessary).
Otherwise it was a super nice read! 🌸
* Sports romance (Rugby)
* Forced Proximity
* Stangers to Friends to Lovers
* Roomates Romance
* She has a cat! 🐈
* 🌶️ open door
* His favorite colour is her hair colour 🤭
This is a super quick, cute and easy romance for when you’re feeling it.
I do have some complains about it, such as the writing (sometimes felt like YA) and the end of the book 🫣 (I feel like the last 2 chapters were unnecessary).
Otherwise it was a super nice read! 🌸
January 21, 2025
ARC
4,5/5
I loved it!!! I loved Mali characters, she’s cute, fun and fresh, and Zach was actually lovely. I really liked their relationship, they had great chemistry: it didn’t felt like they knew each other for only 2 months. I liked how it was a slow burn, it gave them the time to learn about each other and be « best friends ».
4,5/5
I loved it!!! I loved Mali characters, she’s cute, fun and fresh, and Zach was actually lovely. I really liked their relationship, they had great chemistry: it didn’t felt like they knew each other for only 2 months. I liked how it was a slow burn, it gave them the time to learn about each other and be « best friends ».
February 12, 2025
I absolutely loved the characters in this book! The plot was fantastic, and the author did a great job with the storytelling! 💜
It was a great opener to the series, I’m hooked now so I wanna read more to find out everyone else’s story!
4/5 stars!
Would highly recommend!
It was a great opener to the series, I’m hooked now so I wanna read more to find out everyone else’s story!
4/5 stars!
Would highly recommend!
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