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CTU Eagles #1
The Late Hit
Self-destruction is her middle name, hiding her traumatic past is her game. Brynn Wilder is a carefree junior at Central Texas University where she’s living a life without consequences — partying and promiscuity. She returns to her hometown, after months away, while there her past trauma is exposed after years of keeping it buried. Her best friend, Quinton Boyd, is there to comfort her. But when he says yes to a crazy dare, their relationship is forced to change. Quinton Boyd is an easy-going, focused, top-athlete on campus where his entire world revolves around his only love — football. He’s forced to constantly weigh his options on entering the NFL Draft early, which has always been his dream. But like with all dreams, they can easily change. One night. One dare. One moment and life as they knew it changed. But are emotions too damaged for them to move forward? The Late Hit is a dual POV emotional college football romance. This friends-to-lovers romance has steam, tension, and adult content.
435 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 9, 2024
59 people are currently reading
778 people want to read
About the author
Alexis Buxton
6 books121 followersAlexis Buxton is an avid reader turned author. A lover of all things love, Alexis enjoys reading all varieties of romance novels – the steamier, the better. Writing has always been a passion of hers and with the encouragement of friends and family, Alexis decided it was time to follow a childhood dream. She enjoys writing romance novels with damaged characters who need a little extra love and leave you feeling all the feels.
Alexis currently resides in a small-town in Ohio with her husband and two small kiddos.
As an avid sports fan, when she doesn’t have a book in her hand, you can find Alexis watching sports. She prides herself on being a Cleveland Browns fan, even on the hardest days (or years). She also enjoys going on camping adventures with her family, visiting breweries to try new craft beers, attending races at her local dirt track, and supporting local businesses and restaurants.
Alexis runs on coffee, craft beers, and chaos, but she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Alexis currently resides in a small-town in Ohio with her husband and two small kiddos.
As an avid sports fan, when she doesn’t have a book in her hand, you can find Alexis watching sports. She prides herself on being a Cleveland Browns fan, even on the hardest days (or years). She also enjoys going on camping adventures with her family, visiting breweries to try new craft beers, attending races at her local dirt track, and supporting local businesses and restaurants.
Alexis runs on coffee, craft beers, and chaos, but she wouldn’t have it any other way.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
August 8, 2023
4.5/5 ⭐️ | Dual POV: Brynn & Quinton
The Late Hit was a fantastic debut novel from Alexis Buxton! This angsty and emotional romance pulls you in right from the start! It instantly draws you in to the world of college football making you never want to leave! 🦅🏈
Brynn and Quinton have been best friends ever since freshmen year. Brynn is a carefree college party girl who is always down for a good time. However, there is so much more to Brynn than meets the eye. She is still grieving the tragic loss of some very important people in her life and is just looking for an escape. Quinton is CTU’s star football player and is destined for the NFL. After a crazy game of truth or dare, they are forced to confront their growing feelings for one another.
The pain, loss and heartbreak that Brynn went through had me so emotional. Her growth and development throughout out the story was incredible and never felt rushed. I loved Brynn and Quinton’s relationship. They were always so supportive of one another. It felt so natural for them to go from friends to something more. I also adored their friendship group! They were a lot of fun! I just loved the found family vibes.
If you’re in the mood for an angsty college football romance with plenty of spice and no third act break up, then this one’s for you!!
What to expect:
❤️Friends to lovers
❤️College Football
❤️Found Family
❤️He Falls First
❤️Emotional
Thank you so much Alexis for the ARC and congratulations on a wonderful debut novel!! I loved it and cannot wait to return to CTU next year!
The Late Hit was a fantastic debut novel from Alexis Buxton! This angsty and emotional romance pulls you in right from the start! It instantly draws you in to the world of college football making you never want to leave! 🦅🏈
Brynn and Quinton have been best friends ever since freshmen year. Brynn is a carefree college party girl who is always down for a good time. However, there is so much more to Brynn than meets the eye. She is still grieving the tragic loss of some very important people in her life and is just looking for an escape. Quinton is CTU’s star football player and is destined for the NFL. After a crazy game of truth or dare, they are forced to confront their growing feelings for one another.
The pain, loss and heartbreak that Brynn went through had me so emotional. Her growth and development throughout out the story was incredible and never felt rushed. I loved Brynn and Quinton’s relationship. They were always so supportive of one another. It felt so natural for them to go from friends to something more. I also adored their friendship group! They were a lot of fun! I just loved the found family vibes.
If you’re in the mood for an angsty college football romance with plenty of spice and no third act break up, then this one’s for you!!
What to expect:
❤️Friends to lovers
❤️College Football
❤️Found Family
❤️He Falls First
❤️Emotional
Thank you so much Alexis for the ARC and congratulations on a wonderful debut novel!! I loved it and cannot wait to return to CTU next year!
August 27, 2023
First I want to say congrats to Alexis on releasing her debut novel!! I really enjoyed this college sports romance. It follows Quinton & Brynn who have been best friends since their freshman year. Quinton is a star football player for CTU & Brynn is a huge party girl, looking for an escape. But their friendship takes a turn after a little game of truth or dare…
Friends to lovers typically isn’t my favorite trope but Quinton & Brynn’s relationship was so beautiful. Brynn went through a lot & was really having a hard time dealing with past trauma but Quinton was a huge support system for her. You could tell their connection was just so natural.
I absolutely adored the friend group in this book. The banter was so good! I can’t wait to continue the series. If you love a good angsty & emotional romance, this is definitely a good book for you!
Tropes:
- College Romance
- Sports Romance
- Interracial Couple
- Friends to Lovers
- Found Family
- He Falls First
3.5/5⭐️
1.5/5🌶️
Friends to lovers typically isn’t my favorite trope but Quinton & Brynn’s relationship was so beautiful. Brynn went through a lot & was really having a hard time dealing with past trauma but Quinton was a huge support system for her. You could tell their connection was just so natural.
I absolutely adored the friend group in this book. The banter was so good! I can’t wait to continue the series. If you love a good angsty & emotional romance, this is definitely a good book for you!
Tropes:
- College Romance
- Sports Romance
- Interracial Couple
- Friends to Lovers
- Found Family
- He Falls First
3.5/5⭐️
1.5/5🌶️
July 23, 2023
Let me just say I had a really fun time reading this. I don’t typically love friends to lovers but in this case it was right up my alley!
Quinton and Brynn have been friends for a while and it seems they understand each other and have a mutual respect for the others space - when to intervene and when to step back. Quinton is on the football team at the university they both attend so we see a lot of run ins with the other team members.
While this was fun to read, it was missing a certain depth for me. I never actually felt like I knew Brynn and why she was the way she was and Quinton seemed to jump straight to “touch her and die” before seeing little moments where he was actually jealous. A lot of the scenes felt very rushed and lacked creativity. There were also so many scenes where Quinton and Brynn weren’t even together. I love to see a couple together in a romance - even when they aren’t actually interacting.
There was a lot of inner dialogue rather than dialogue between the characters that lasted. I just found myself wanting more. I wanted the stakes to feel higher.
I am definitely interested in continuing this series and seeing where the authors takes the other couples.
For a debut novel, I think the plot and pacing was done well - just looking for “more” and a deeper connection in the next book.
Thank you to the author for a ARC of this book 🩷
Quinton and Brynn have been friends for a while and it seems they understand each other and have a mutual respect for the others space - when to intervene and when to step back. Quinton is on the football team at the university they both attend so we see a lot of run ins with the other team members.
While this was fun to read, it was missing a certain depth for me. I never actually felt like I knew Brynn and why she was the way she was and Quinton seemed to jump straight to “touch her and die” before seeing little moments where he was actually jealous. A lot of the scenes felt very rushed and lacked creativity. There were also so many scenes where Quinton and Brynn weren’t even together. I love to see a couple together in a romance - even when they aren’t actually interacting.
There was a lot of inner dialogue rather than dialogue between the characters that lasted. I just found myself wanting more. I wanted the stakes to feel higher.
I am definitely interested in continuing this series and seeing where the authors takes the other couples.
For a debut novel, I think the plot and pacing was done well - just looking for “more” and a deeper connection in the next book.
Thank you to the author for a ARC of this book 🩷
August 9, 2023
I started this book with somewhat high expectations. Did I like it? Yes, it was a good read and it reads fast, but I don't know, I feel like I'm missing something.
The story of Brynn and Quinton begins with them being best friends, he “the football star player” and she “the psychology student”, I liked their stories both individually and together, the subject of addiction, the challenges of a future life, the dilemmas. His family is not cooperative and hers is totally bad and null, but also Brynn realizing that she is not alone, much less carrying all the weight she carries alone, I really liked that part here, I didn't like some of her attitudes, there were some scenes that just didn't fit me and that made me dislike her a bit while I was reading, Quinton on the other hand I liked a lot, I felt him very centered, what a fight for what he wants and I loved to see how he gets his happy ending.
It was a good story, I won't lie to you, for this author's debut book it seemed incredible to me and I was glad to have the opportunity to read it before the release date because the ending and the epilogue were just beautiful.
⚠️ Be sure to check the TW for this one, contains some heavy topics.
Thanks to the author for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review 📚!!
---
Empecé este libro con unas expectativas un poco altas ¿me gustó? si, fue una buena lectura y se lee rápido pero no sé, siento que me falto algo.
La historia de Brynn y Quinton empieza con ellos siendo los mejores amigos, él siendo el jugador de fútbol americano estrella y ella siendo una estudiante de psicología, sus historias tanto individuales y juntos me gustaron, el tema de las adicciones, los retos de una vida futura, los dilemas. La familia de él no siendo cooperativa y la de ella siendo completamente mala y nula, pero también de Brynn dándose cuenta de que no está sola y mucho menos cargar todo el peso que lleva con ella desde que se mudo a la universidad sola y esa parte me gusto mucho, ahora bien algunas actitudes de ella no me gustaron, hubieron unas escenas que simplemente no me terminaron de cuadrar y eso hizo que mientras leía me cayera un poco mal, Quinton por otro lado me gusto muchisimo, lo sentí muy centrato, que pelea por lo que quiere y me encanto ver como obtiene su final feliz.
Fue una buena historia no les voy a mentir, para ser el libro debut de esta autora me pareció increíble y me gusto tener la oportunidad de leerlo antes porque ese final y el epílogo fueron simplemente hermosos.
⚠️ Asegúrense de revisar los TW, ya que contiene algunos temas bastante delicados.
The story of Brynn and Quinton begins with them being best friends, he “the football star player” and she “the psychology student”, I liked their stories both individually and together, the subject of addiction, the challenges of a future life, the dilemmas. His family is not cooperative and hers is totally bad and null, but also Brynn realizing that she is not alone, much less carrying all the weight she carries alone, I really liked that part here, I didn't like some of her attitudes, there were some scenes that just didn't fit me and that made me dislike her a bit while I was reading, Quinton on the other hand I liked a lot, I felt him very centered, what a fight for what he wants and I loved to see how he gets his happy ending.
It was a good story, I won't lie to you, for this author's debut book it seemed incredible to me and I was glad to have the opportunity to read it before the release date because the ending and the epilogue were just beautiful.
⚠️ Be sure to check the TW for this one, contains some heavy topics.
Thanks to the author for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review 📚!!
---
Empecé este libro con unas expectativas un poco altas ¿me gustó? si, fue una buena lectura y se lee rápido pero no sé, siento que me falto algo.
La historia de Brynn y Quinton empieza con ellos siendo los mejores amigos, él siendo el jugador de fútbol americano estrella y ella siendo una estudiante de psicología, sus historias tanto individuales y juntos me gustaron, el tema de las adicciones, los retos de una vida futura, los dilemas. La familia de él no siendo cooperativa y la de ella siendo completamente mala y nula, pero también de Brynn dándose cuenta de que no está sola y mucho menos cargar todo el peso que lleva con ella desde que se mudo a la universidad sola y esa parte me gusto mucho, ahora bien algunas actitudes de ella no me gustaron, hubieron unas escenas que simplemente no me terminaron de cuadrar y eso hizo que mientras leía me cayera un poco mal, Quinton por otro lado me gusto muchisimo, lo sentí muy centrato, que pelea por lo que quiere y me encanto ver como obtiene su final feliz.
Fue una buena historia no les voy a mentir, para ser el libro debut de esta autora me pareció increíble y me gusto tener la oportunidad de leerlo antes porque ese final y el epílogo fueron simplemente hermosos.
⚠️ Asegúrense de revisar los TW, ya que contiene algunos temas bastante delicados.
July 26, 2023
OMG, where to even start with this book?! I absolutely loved Brynn + Quinton’s story from beginning to end! Like, seriously — this emotional football romance was everything I didn’t know I needed!
Brynn is our care-free, wild, and fierce FMC who just so happens to be BFFs with CTU’s hot, studious, star running back, Quinton Boyd. 🦅💙❤️ Their friendship is unlike any other, and after a wild night of truth or dare, they’re forced to confront their evolving feelings for one another.
Between the friends-to-lovers trope, the action-packed football setting, and the STEAMY romance scenes, I couldn’t put this book down! The author did an amazing job of taking us on Q + B’s emotional journey, and I just loved the depth and complexity to each character’s story line, especially Brynn’s.
Buxton’s debut definitely delivered on her promise to hit us in all the feels! 🙌🏻📖🏈
I can’t wait to return to CTU in the spring!
(Thank you to the author for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.)
Brynn is our care-free, wild, and fierce FMC who just so happens to be BFFs with CTU’s hot, studious, star running back, Quinton Boyd. 🦅💙❤️ Their friendship is unlike any other, and after a wild night of truth or dare, they’re forced to confront their evolving feelings for one another.
Between the friends-to-lovers trope, the action-packed football setting, and the STEAMY romance scenes, I couldn’t put this book down! The author did an amazing job of taking us on Q + B’s emotional journey, and I just loved the depth and complexity to each character’s story line, especially Brynn’s.
Buxton’s debut definitely delivered on her promise to hit us in all the feels! 🙌🏻📖🏈
I can’t wait to return to CTU in the spring!
(Thank you to the author for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.)
August 9, 2023
This was a fun debut that’s perfect to get you in the mood for football season! It’s got a little bit of everything to get you in all the feels while reading.
Brynn is the crazy party girl, while Quinton is the focused star running back. Both have their own struggles to sort out. Quinton is open about his, but Brynn? Not so much. I loved seeing her grow throughout the book and the way Quinton was there for her through everything!
Brynn is the crazy party girl, while Quinton is the focused star running back. Both have their own struggles to sort out. Quinton is open about his, but Brynn? Not so much. I loved seeing her grow throughout the book and the way Quinton was there for her through everything!
August 3, 2023
Rating 6/10
Spice: 1.5/5
Tropes: sports romance; friend to lovers; found family; college
Brynn is the college party girl whose always down for a good time and Quinton is the star football player destined for the NFL and together they are best friends and as they have to remind everyone JUST FRIENDS... But Quinton has always had a little thing for Brynn and she's be blissfully unaware until he accompanies her to her home town of Chicago and things DARE to change. She swore off love and he's scare to lose the friendship.
I truly enjoyed the vibe of this book. It left me saying "dang, I wish i would have gone to college" like getting woke up with jello shots on game days? 21 year of Ally woulda loved that. I also loved how fun spirited Brynn was the life of the party and always down to have a fun time. Also watching her fight through her own demons and come out the other side was amazing to read about.
Now, there were a few things that I was meh about... I felt like the book was really long for a college sports friends to lovers romance it just read long with a lot of stuff I could of done without. the first 1/2 of the book felt like it took forever but once i got to the second half i really started to enjoy it a lot more because it was getting into the relationship of them.. Like they don't even really talk about their feelings for each other until what felt like 35% and then wam bam thank you ma'am things just start happening I would of loved some more tension and not really sure I felt it. I also wish i would of got more depth into who they were and all the struggles they were facing it felt very surface and I just wanted more.
But let me tell y'all for Alexis's debut novel she did great and I was so dang honored to read an advanced copy of this. I will 100% be reading more books from her in the future because I know she's just going to get better and better in her write.
ps.... this gave me such college in the south vibes and made my GA heart so happy.
Spice: 1.5/5
Tropes: sports romance; friend to lovers; found family; college
Brynn is the college party girl whose always down for a good time and Quinton is the star football player destined for the NFL and together they are best friends and as they have to remind everyone JUST FRIENDS... But Quinton has always had a little thing for Brynn and she's be blissfully unaware until he accompanies her to her home town of Chicago and things DARE to change. She swore off love and he's scare to lose the friendship.
I truly enjoyed the vibe of this book. It left me saying "dang, I wish i would have gone to college" like getting woke up with jello shots on game days? 21 year of Ally woulda loved that. I also loved how fun spirited Brynn was the life of the party and always down to have a fun time. Also watching her fight through her own demons and come out the other side was amazing to read about.
Now, there were a few things that I was meh about... I felt like the book was really long for a college sports friends to lovers romance it just read long with a lot of stuff I could of done without. the first 1/2 of the book felt like it took forever but once i got to the second half i really started to enjoy it a lot more because it was getting into the relationship of them.. Like they don't even really talk about their feelings for each other until what felt like 35% and then wam bam thank you ma'am things just start happening I would of loved some more tension and not really sure I felt it. I also wish i would of got more depth into who they were and all the struggles they were facing it felt very surface and I just wanted more.
But let me tell y'all for Alexis's debut novel she did great and I was so dang honored to read an advanced copy of this. I will 100% be reading more books from her in the future because I know she's just going to get better and better in her write.
ps.... this gave me such college in the south vibes and made my GA heart so happy.
March 29, 2024
☆ 4/5 & 2/5 spice
“You have a beautiful soul that deserves to thrive. Open yourself up to more, open your heart to love. Because whoever gets the chance to be loved by you, and I mean fully, deeply, loved by you, is going to be the luckiest.”
This debut novel by Alexis was beautifully written filled with so much raw emotions from heartbreaking moments, pain, growth, and resilience. There were many great tropes in this book that includes angsty football romance where the guy falls first, best friends to lovers, and found family.
Brynn Wilder is a wild party girl, who’s care free, and sassy. Despite her fun and carefree side that she shows to her friends, she’s dealing with her own battles and she struggles to open up to people. Brynn is struggling to accept the loss of two of the closest people in her life and she blames herself for what happened to them.
Quinton Boyd is the star running back for CTU. He’s had feelings for his best friend since freshman year, but is afraid that telling her how he feels will ruin their friendship. Quinton was so patient and understanding with Brynn. I really love seeing Quinton being there for Brynn every step of the way and showing her how much he truly cares for her.
After returning to Brynn’s hometown for a gala to honor the two closest people to her, she brings her best friend for moral support. After a night filled with so much tension and emotions, they give into their unresolved feelings for one another and take things a step further in their friendship. That day, later that night, and that one game of truth or dare, completely changed their life.
Also, I love the tradition of the Sunday family dinner and seeing how Brynn and Quinton are so lucky to have such a wonderful supportive friend group.
Tropes:
❥ Football romance
❥ New adult romance
❥ Best friends to lovers
❥ Interracial couple
❥ Found family
❥ Guy falls first
❥ Angsty & emotional
“You have a beautiful soul that deserves to thrive. Open yourself up to more, open your heart to love. Because whoever gets the chance to be loved by you, and I mean fully, deeply, loved by you, is going to be the luckiest.”
This debut novel by Alexis was beautifully written filled with so much raw emotions from heartbreaking moments, pain, growth, and resilience. There were many great tropes in this book that includes angsty football romance where the guy falls first, best friends to lovers, and found family.
Brynn Wilder is a wild party girl, who’s care free, and sassy. Despite her fun and carefree side that she shows to her friends, she’s dealing with her own battles and she struggles to open up to people. Brynn is struggling to accept the loss of two of the closest people in her life and she blames herself for what happened to them.
Quinton Boyd is the star running back for CTU. He’s had feelings for his best friend since freshman year, but is afraid that telling her how he feels will ruin their friendship. Quinton was so patient and understanding with Brynn. I really love seeing Quinton being there for Brynn every step of the way and showing her how much he truly cares for her.
After returning to Brynn’s hometown for a gala to honor the two closest people to her, she brings her best friend for moral support. After a night filled with so much tension and emotions, they give into their unresolved feelings for one another and take things a step further in their friendship. That day, later that night, and that one game of truth or dare, completely changed their life.
Also, I love the tradition of the Sunday family dinner and seeing how Brynn and Quinton are so lucky to have such a wonderful supportive friend group.
Tropes:
❥ Football romance
❥ New adult romance
❥ Best friends to lovers
❥ Interracial couple
❥ Found family
❥ Guy falls first
❥ Angsty & emotional
March 12, 2024
Love all things CTU.
Really enjoyed this from start to finish.
Really enjoyed this from start to finish.
August 9, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Y’all know I go feral for a sports romance. This was so good, y’all! And perfect timing since football season has begun 🤩 I LOVED Brynn & Q - best friends to lovers is just chefs kiss. Q was down bad for my girl AND THE MOUTH ON THE MAN!! This also packed an emotional punch which I was not expecting, I found myself choking up many times. If you love a good sports romance - definitely check this one out!!
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
🏈 New Adult Romance
🦅 Best Friends to Lovers
🏈 College Football
🦅 Interracial Couple
🏈 Found Family
🦅 He Falls First
🏈 Angsty & Emotional
🦅 No 3rd-Act Breakup
🏈 Spice, Spice, Baby
Self-destruction is her middle name, hiding her traumatic past is her game.
Brynn Wilder is a junior at Central Texas University where she’s living a life without consequences. Returning to her hometown, after months away, her past is exposed after years of keeping it buried. Her best friend is there to comfort her. But when he says yes to a crazy dare, their relationship is forced to change.
Quinton Boyd is an easy-going, focused, top-athlete on campus where his entire world revolves around his only love — football. He’s forced to constantly weigh his options on entering the NFL Draft early, which has always been his dream. But like with all dreams, they can easily change.
One night. One dare. One moment and life as they knew it changed. But are emotions too damaged for them to move forward?
Y’all know I go feral for a sports romance. This was so good, y’all! And perfect timing since football season has begun 🤩 I LOVED Brynn & Q - best friends to lovers is just chefs kiss. Q was down bad for my girl AND THE MOUTH ON THE MAN!! This also packed an emotional punch which I was not expecting, I found myself choking up many times. If you love a good sports romance - definitely check this one out!!
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
🏈 New Adult Romance
🦅 Best Friends to Lovers
🏈 College Football
🦅 Interracial Couple
🏈 Found Family
🦅 He Falls First
🏈 Angsty & Emotional
🦅 No 3rd-Act Breakup
🏈 Spice, Spice, Baby
Self-destruction is her middle name, hiding her traumatic past is her game.
Brynn Wilder is a junior at Central Texas University where she’s living a life without consequences. Returning to her hometown, after months away, her past is exposed after years of keeping it buried. Her best friend is there to comfort her. But when he says yes to a crazy dare, their relationship is forced to change.
Quinton Boyd is an easy-going, focused, top-athlete on campus where his entire world revolves around his only love — football. He’s forced to constantly weigh his options on entering the NFL Draft early, which has always been his dream. But like with all dreams, they can easily change.
One night. One dare. One moment and life as they knew it changed. But are emotions too damaged for them to move forward?
August 9, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️.5
✨Football Romance
✨Friends to Lovers
✨Emotional Pasts
✨College
•Dual POV
•Stand-alone
Let me start by saying this is Alexis’s debut book and she scored a touchdown with it! (Pun intended😉) This book was just too good. It brought all the emotions out of me and I absolutely loved it! 🩵
Quinton & Brynn met their freshman year of college and hit it off right away. Quinton is the top running back for the football team and has a good chance to go pro. Brynn is floating through college by partying and having fun. These two have been friends for over 2 years until it changes their junior year. Brynn has to go home to face some horrible things of her past and Q offers to be there for her the whole time. While they are there, they play truth or dare with some friends and they are dared to kiss. That one kiss was all it took to change everything.
I loved both of these MMCs so much! While Brynn was a party girl and didn’t do relationship and just hookups, I actually respected her for it. Because of her past she was running on numb and this was her way to feel. As it was said in the book, girls are allowed to have fun like guys do without being called horrible names. She stood up for herself multiple times in this book and I loved that. Q was the absolute cutest! He fell for Brynn so early on, but didn’t want to risk their relationship. He was there for her at all times and it was so cute to see. When these two got together, the sparks flew! 🔥
I am already anticipating Cody’s story next and I cannot wait! Congrats Alexis on your debut book! It was amazing! 🫶🏻🏈
🌶️🌶️.5
✨Football Romance
✨Friends to Lovers
✨Emotional Pasts
✨College
•Dual POV
•Stand-alone
Let me start by saying this is Alexis’s debut book and she scored a touchdown with it! (Pun intended😉) This book was just too good. It brought all the emotions out of me and I absolutely loved it! 🩵
Quinton & Brynn met their freshman year of college and hit it off right away. Quinton is the top running back for the football team and has a good chance to go pro. Brynn is floating through college by partying and having fun. These two have been friends for over 2 years until it changes their junior year. Brynn has to go home to face some horrible things of her past and Q offers to be there for her the whole time. While they are there, they play truth or dare with some friends and they are dared to kiss. That one kiss was all it took to change everything.
I loved both of these MMCs so much! While Brynn was a party girl and didn’t do relationship and just hookups, I actually respected her for it. Because of her past she was running on numb and this was her way to feel. As it was said in the book, girls are allowed to have fun like guys do without being called horrible names. She stood up for herself multiple times in this book and I loved that. Q was the absolute cutest! He fell for Brynn so early on, but didn’t want to risk their relationship. He was there for her at all times and it was so cute to see. When these two got together, the sparks flew! 🔥
I am already anticipating Cody’s story next and I cannot wait! Congrats Alexis on your debut book! It was amazing! 🫶🏻🏈
November 13, 2023
I want to rate it 4.5 because it was better than a 4 but not quite a 5!!! I think 5s like have to fully consume me and although I really loved this it didn’t fully consume me but was a really easy read.
Central texas university
Brynn Wilder
Quinton Boyd (#31)
Chloe and Macy (her best friends and room mates)
Bar: the eagles nest
Band : Ecstacy
Guy she’s been hooking up with : Will
Baseball player she’s friends with: Cody
Brynn wilder and Quinton Boyd are best friends. When she goes to parties at the football house as long as he doesn’t have a lady friend over she stays the night in his bed. Everyone is always asking when they’re going to cave to their sexual chemistry but brynn won’t sleep with her friends. Same reason she doesn’t sleep with baseball player Cody, even when he’s tried, she doesn’t want to ruin the friendship. She goes to the Eagles nest for drinks and Quinton has them tables reserved. Will her casual hookup is there and dances with her whike the band plays. She’s a regular when it comes to them so when they point and ask if she wants to go out and smoke she’s all over it. She gets introduced to the whole band and shares a joint and then goes home with will that night. The next day he’s bragging about it in the locker room and it has Quinton pissed off. Will doesn’t deserve her. Brynn asks him to come over and he comes bearing a strawberry milkshake and she tells him she’s not mad and asks if he wants to watch a movie and that’s his favorite way to pass time is them cuddled up watching a movie. So now we know Quinton has feelings for her. It’s game day and Brynn Macy and Chloe all get ready together. They celebrate before and then go to the game. The eagles win and Quinton was the winning touchdown! He had asked for Brynn to be brought down to the tunnel and he hears her and one of the Jersey chasers fighting. The Jersey chaser is down there for will and Brynn tells her to enjoy her sloppy seconds. And then Quintons mom lashes out at Brynn and Brynn takes off but Quinton follows her and comforts her and they go to what a burger. At the party he loses sight of Brynn but sees her again dancing with will as he has 2 girls rubbing all over him asking if he wants to go upstairs so he takes the girls upstairs. Tonight I’m going to celebrate with these lovely ladies. Idk why but this really upset me. Like they both like eachother ughhh. Macy is officially dating Gregg. When Brynn heard about quintons threesome she was a little hurt but not sure why. She sees him at the library and while she’s there she gets the email from her mom inviting her home for a ceremony and needing a United front. It’s the 5 year anniversary of her brothers death. We had got hinted at that she had a twin brother Bryce and that he wasn’t here and how she missed him. But now we find out it was from some type of accident and 6 months after his passing her mom lashed out at her and told her she wished it was her instead of him. Safe to say brynn doesn’t have a good relationship with her parents. She goes back to the house and wakes up crying and Quinton holding her. He realizes it’s the 5 years and she tells him what’s going on and he tells her he’s off that week and she doesn’t have to go through it alone and she wonders if quintons body is reacting to her the same way she is to him right now. We get a flashback of her on a couch with Asher who we discover is her bf of 2 years and is Bryce’s childhood best friend. She agrees he can take her ticket and go to the game with Bruce. She wakes up late for class. When she gets there the professor asks what she wants to be and why and she says grief counselor and the reason is personal. And then she snaps and tells him because 5 years ago her twin brother was killed and along with him she lost 2 other people she was close with and no one was there for her. So she wants to be there for someone so they don’t feel so alone. Her and Quinton fly into Chicago and she calls her dad a crooked politician and her mom an unfaithful surgeon in her head. At the football game she sees Asher’s mom Grace first and she wraps her in a hug and she knows they are the 2 people she could have found comfort from but she had pushed them away. Grace tells her she found a good one in Quinton and she tells him he’s just a friend. And when the announcers announce them they announce her as Bryce’s sister and Asher’s girlfriend, and she promises herself she’ll tell Quinton about all her secrets tmrw, he didn’t know about Asher. They watch a movie and wake up cuddling each other when her mom comes in. She tells him she has plans and takes him to her favorite place for brunch and then picks a spot on a bench to tell him the truth. Her cousin Thad had 3 tickets for a game and she was supposed to go but let Asher go in her place and thad stopped at a gas station and took a cocktail of pills and was overdosing when the car went into the median and into oncoming traffic. A semi hit the passenger side. Bryce was in the passenger seat and Asher was in the backseat passenger side. She tells him her and ash were supposed to be endgame that she got a promise ring for her 16th birthday. Both boys were air lifted her brother died a few hours after but Asher showed progress and he woke up and was telling her how much he loved her. And while she was putting her brother in the ground a blood clot traveled to his brain and he died. Within a few days her best friends were gone, just like that. Quinton tries to comfort her but Bryan blames herself. If she would have went she would have been the driver and none of this would have happened. So she never let people get close because she can’t take that pain and she also feels cursed. He watches sports until he falls asleep and the housekeeper Nadia wakes him and tells him it’s time to get ready. While he showers he imagines Bryan on her knees taking his dick in her mouth and it’s the hardest he’s ever came from his hand and he knows he’s truly fucked to be thinking of his best friend like that. They go to the event and she looks amazing. They play truth or dare and her high school enemy Madeline dares her and Quinton to kiss. And they do and it’s fireworks. When they get home she takes off to her room but she comes back and is standing and his doorway and he calls her out. He hauls her into bed and they make out and then he eats her out til she cums and tells her tonight was about her and let’s her stay with him and they cuddle. The next morning they fly back home and when they get out of the Uber she kisses him goodbye. Chloe sees it so she sits her and Macy down and tells them everything. From her brother and Asher to the kiss. And Sunday night is family dinner night so when she’s asking how it went she confesses why they were there and tells all the boys about Asher and Bryce. And now everyone also knows about the truth or dare kiss between Quinton and Brynn. She posts a picture of a tree on Instagram and says “I’m falling for you” in hopes the one boy will see it whose supposed to. They end up at the bar at the same time and he’s with the boys and their waitress is flirting heavy and of course Brynn sees that as she’s leaving. And then she starts to avoid him. He thinks it’s because of him but when he confronts her at the library he realizes it’s anniversary week and she’s just not handling it well. She locks herself in her room on that day and binges the movies. Everyone checks on her. And then she gets a message from Grace. She sends a picture of Asher and Brynn together and tells her he loved you so much sweetheart, we love you so much sweetie. And then she tells her just promise me you won’t give up on finding another love. I saw the way you and Quinton looked at each other. I recognized the look. My soon looked at you the same way😭🥺this text conversation was so sad. Cody ends up showing up with snacks and a joint and tells her they’ll do the Ted tradition together and she falls asleep on him. Quinton had dinner with his family and they turned it into an ambush to talk badly of Brynn and then tell him he needs to switch advisors and join the draft immediately but he wants to finish college and get his degree to be a physical therapist. So he leaves there and goes to brynn and is upset at first to see her sleeping on Cody but then Cody leaves and he takes his place and she snuggles even closer to him and he stays the night with her. The next day at class the hot professor asks to see her. And apologizes for the way he called her out and asks if she wants to be his assistant and she gets weird vibes off of him. And then at lunch she introduces Monica from psych to Cody. She decides to not go out with everyone and instead shows up at the football house and luckily Quinton is there. She tells him she thinks they need to talk and they end up in his room where he fingers her til she cums and she gives him head time he cums in her mouth. And then they both agree they want to give them a shot but they’re exclusive. Quintons agent eliza has told him his top 5 schools are seeking him out he’s having a killer game but he hasn’t told anyone this will be his last season with the team or brynn that he won’t be back next year. They win the game and go back to the house to celebrate. Brynn is care free and dancing with her friends when they break the table and he carries her upstairs to his room. They still haven’t had sex but they’ve explored each others bodies. The next morning she finds him downstairs making pancakes and she’s upset with herself that it’s so hard for her to let her guard down and give him everything and she confesses this to him and he asks her out on a date and she agrees. When she gets home Macy and Chloe tell her they need to talk and they announce that Macy is moving out to move in with Gregg. And she thinks it’s fast but is happy for her but is confused what’s wrong with Chloe and Chloe confesses she has feelings for Cody. Chloe and Macy are fighting about this and Brynn wonders what’s going on but then she realizes how fully in love with Quinton she is in this moment. She gets ready for their date and she knows they need to go or they’ll never leave. He takes her to a fancy restaurant and after he takes her to a bar when Ecstacy is playing and they call her to the front and her and Quinton dance for hours and then they go back to his house and he carries her upstairs. All the men cheer. She sucks him and Ginger’s herself and when she’s close he stops her and says she cums for him and eats her out til she cums and then he goes to enter her and realizes he needs a condom and she tells him she has an IUD and shes never been with someone without one before and he says he hasn’t either and sinks into her raw. He had noticed she got a new arrow tattoo and when she comes back from the bathroom she tells him she got it for him. “I wanted something to remind me to keep moving forward as you do. An arrow may be forced backward but on its release, it shoots forward. My past has a way of dragging my backward but you always bring me back to the present, encouraging me to keep moving forward. And that’s what my future is, moving forward with you.” And he tells her how great it is and then he tells her he’s going into the draft and he’s not coming back next year when all he wants to do is tell her he loves her. She doesn’t react the way he expects instead she’s completely excited and happy for him and they celebrate all night. She goes to Chicago to finally visit her brother and Asher. She sits and tells Bryce about Quinton and college and how she misses him. And talking to Asher is harder at first. She tells him how much she loves him and how she felt wrong to love Quinton too and worried she wouldn’t be able to love him but knew it wasn’t fair for her to not keep living even though they left her. And she left a picture of them and then a picture of her and Quinton on the grave and then her mother is there. She tells her she’s just leaving and puts a picture of her and Quinton on Bryce’s grave as well but her mother stops her and tells her she’s sorry. Brynn isn’t feeling soft and tells her she should be. She told a 17 year old she wished it was her and how does brynn move on from that. She was grieving too. And her mom says she’s seeing a counselor and would like to try to fix their relationship and brynn says it will take time but she misses having a mom and they hug. She came seeking closure for her brother and Asher and left hopefully to maybe someday have a relationship with her mother. It’s the week of their big game and there’s a big pep rally. Quintons dad wants him to meet people and he says no thanks tonight is his night. I also found out his best friend Grant is his couches son, coach Campbell. He’s on his way to brynn when he almost runs into a child who he learns is tanner and how he is Quintons biggest fan. So Quinton offers an autograph but his mom forgot a marker but brynn has one and then when the little boy says his dad was a CTU fan until he died, brynn demands they all get a picture and she’s smitten with how good he was with the boy. Cody has Monica on his arm and Chloe is visibly hurt by it and Quinton can tell that Monican is a Jersey chaser. It’s thanksgiving and they’re going to his parents and when they get in the driveway he slips up and says he loves her and she tells him she loves him too and then his older brother Damien is there knocking on the car. They go inside and grams introduces herself to brynn and they bond quickly. And then Abigail(quintons mother) starts making rude comments and Damien pipes up and asks what happened to her to make her such a bitch and he’s done and he leaves. Quinton follows and goes to help brynn leave and grams says to keep her around she’s a good one. And although the meal turned tense she doesn’t regret getting to meet grams. It’s the big game. This is the last chance Quinton has to win his third conference title, last chance to go to playoffs and last chance to win a national championship. Quinton has an opening and he’s going and then slam he’s taken out. Brynn watches it happen. And they never announce him being okay and Cody tells her they’re taking him to general and he’ll take her and she tells him she just wants to go home. Cody takes her home and they get trashed on tequila and she wakes up to a million messages on her phone but she just goes back to bed. She knows she should have been in the waiting room at the hospital for her bf but she can’t do this again. She can’t sit in a waiting room like this again and go through that. So instead she’s a coward who drank it away. Maybe Abigail was right and she told him she loved him and attracted death to him. Quinton wakes up and hears his parents fighting. His mother is talking badly of brynn for not being there and his father is defending her. He fakes sleep while his mother calls his dad out for cheating. And after waiting a few moments he wakes up. He finds out it’s been 3 days, he has a concussion. But the doctor says his body was just exhausted and let him sleep. His team is all there and fill him in that they’re taking care of brynn the best they can but she’s not doing good. Cody’s picked her up blackout from the bar twice. And she was found in her yard passed out with tequila and a joint. She’s in her yard again when grant picks her up and throws her in a cold shower and tells her Quinton has been awake for almost a day and wants to see her. To sober up and he’ll pick her up the next morning and take her to him. She powers her phone on and sees messages from Quinton telling her he’s okay and he loves her. The next day she goes to see him and he’s not upset with her, all she sees is love. She’s rushing through her college so that she can travel wherever Quinton goes when he’s drafted. They win the nationals!!! She’s with him when he gets drafted for the Colorado colts and she’s so proud of him. And there had been a ring in their hotel room and she’s now his wife. He got drafted and turned his best friend into his wife. He says “she was the late hit I didn’t see coming”. 3 years later Quinton is playing in the super bowl. He had to wait a full year for his wilder to get her degree. And he was miserable but it was all worth it. They win the super bowl! And brynn comes down and his daughter Cleo launches into his arms. And brynn tells him how proud of him they are. All 3 of them as she grabs her stomach and he realizes he’s going to be a daddy again. He thought it couldn’t get better than winning nationals but now his super bowl dreams came true and his family was growing. We also find out he completely cut ties with his parents but brynn has been working on a relationship with her mother. We also know Quinton has gotten closer with his brothers. This book was so good. Im going to a signing where Alexis is at this weekend is why im finally reading this book but it’s been on my tbr since I met her in the line at Sav R millers signing. This book packed a punch. It was a sweet romance book. But it had a lot of feeling. I teared up multiple times. Finding out her secret of how she lost her brother and boyfriend both. The texts wirh Asher’s mom were prolly the worst 🥺but Quinton was so good and supportive of her. I was angry at them both at first for their spontaneous hookups so I am glad they got their heads out of their butts and saw what they were missing. Her friendships with the boys were also so sweet and I lived for it. I am so excited for Cody’s book now!!! Right before the epilogue he refers to her as the late hit he didn’t see coming which is the title of the book. Although he knew he loved brynn from the moment he saw her he never saw her taking over him like this 🥺
Central texas university
Brynn Wilder
Quinton Boyd (#31)
Chloe and Macy (her best friends and room mates)
Bar: the eagles nest
Band : Ecstacy
Guy she’s been hooking up with : Will
Baseball player she’s friends with: Cody
Brynn wilder and Quinton Boyd are best friends. When she goes to parties at the football house as long as he doesn’t have a lady friend over she stays the night in his bed. Everyone is always asking when they’re going to cave to their sexual chemistry but brynn won’t sleep with her friends. Same reason she doesn’t sleep with baseball player Cody, even when he’s tried, she doesn’t want to ruin the friendship. She goes to the Eagles nest for drinks and Quinton has them tables reserved. Will her casual hookup is there and dances with her whike the band plays. She’s a regular when it comes to them so when they point and ask if she wants to go out and smoke she’s all over it. She gets introduced to the whole band and shares a joint and then goes home with will that night. The next day he’s bragging about it in the locker room and it has Quinton pissed off. Will doesn’t deserve her. Brynn asks him to come over and he comes bearing a strawberry milkshake and she tells him she’s not mad and asks if he wants to watch a movie and that’s his favorite way to pass time is them cuddled up watching a movie. So now we know Quinton has feelings for her. It’s game day and Brynn Macy and Chloe all get ready together. They celebrate before and then go to the game. The eagles win and Quinton was the winning touchdown! He had asked for Brynn to be brought down to the tunnel and he hears her and one of the Jersey chasers fighting. The Jersey chaser is down there for will and Brynn tells her to enjoy her sloppy seconds. And then Quintons mom lashes out at Brynn and Brynn takes off but Quinton follows her and comforts her and they go to what a burger. At the party he loses sight of Brynn but sees her again dancing with will as he has 2 girls rubbing all over him asking if he wants to go upstairs so he takes the girls upstairs. Tonight I’m going to celebrate with these lovely ladies. Idk why but this really upset me. Like they both like eachother ughhh. Macy is officially dating Gregg. When Brynn heard about quintons threesome she was a little hurt but not sure why. She sees him at the library and while she’s there she gets the email from her mom inviting her home for a ceremony and needing a United front. It’s the 5 year anniversary of her brothers death. We had got hinted at that she had a twin brother Bryce and that he wasn’t here and how she missed him. But now we find out it was from some type of accident and 6 months after his passing her mom lashed out at her and told her she wished it was her instead of him. Safe to say brynn doesn’t have a good relationship with her parents. She goes back to the house and wakes up crying and Quinton holding her. He realizes it’s the 5 years and she tells him what’s going on and he tells her he’s off that week and she doesn’t have to go through it alone and she wonders if quintons body is reacting to her the same way she is to him right now. We get a flashback of her on a couch with Asher who we discover is her bf of 2 years and is Bryce’s childhood best friend. She agrees he can take her ticket and go to the game with Bruce. She wakes up late for class. When she gets there the professor asks what she wants to be and why and she says grief counselor and the reason is personal. And then she snaps and tells him because 5 years ago her twin brother was killed and along with him she lost 2 other people she was close with and no one was there for her. So she wants to be there for someone so they don’t feel so alone. Her and Quinton fly into Chicago and she calls her dad a crooked politician and her mom an unfaithful surgeon in her head. At the football game she sees Asher’s mom Grace first and she wraps her in a hug and she knows they are the 2 people she could have found comfort from but she had pushed them away. Grace tells her she found a good one in Quinton and she tells him he’s just a friend. And when the announcers announce them they announce her as Bryce’s sister and Asher’s girlfriend, and she promises herself she’ll tell Quinton about all her secrets tmrw, he didn’t know about Asher. They watch a movie and wake up cuddling each other when her mom comes in. She tells him she has plans and takes him to her favorite place for brunch and then picks a spot on a bench to tell him the truth. Her cousin Thad had 3 tickets for a game and she was supposed to go but let Asher go in her place and thad stopped at a gas station and took a cocktail of pills and was overdosing when the car went into the median and into oncoming traffic. A semi hit the passenger side. Bryce was in the passenger seat and Asher was in the backseat passenger side. She tells him her and ash were supposed to be endgame that she got a promise ring for her 16th birthday. Both boys were air lifted her brother died a few hours after but Asher showed progress and he woke up and was telling her how much he loved her. And while she was putting her brother in the ground a blood clot traveled to his brain and he died. Within a few days her best friends were gone, just like that. Quinton tries to comfort her but Bryan blames herself. If she would have went she would have been the driver and none of this would have happened. So she never let people get close because she can’t take that pain and she also feels cursed. He watches sports until he falls asleep and the housekeeper Nadia wakes him and tells him it’s time to get ready. While he showers he imagines Bryan on her knees taking his dick in her mouth and it’s the hardest he’s ever came from his hand and he knows he’s truly fucked to be thinking of his best friend like that. They go to the event and she looks amazing. They play truth or dare and her high school enemy Madeline dares her and Quinton to kiss. And they do and it’s fireworks. When they get home she takes off to her room but she comes back and is standing and his doorway and he calls her out. He hauls her into bed and they make out and then he eats her out til she cums and tells her tonight was about her and let’s her stay with him and they cuddle. The next morning they fly back home and when they get out of the Uber she kisses him goodbye. Chloe sees it so she sits her and Macy down and tells them everything. From her brother and Asher to the kiss. And Sunday night is family dinner night so when she’s asking how it went she confesses why they were there and tells all the boys about Asher and Bryce. And now everyone also knows about the truth or dare kiss between Quinton and Brynn. She posts a picture of a tree on Instagram and says “I’m falling for you” in hopes the one boy will see it whose supposed to. They end up at the bar at the same time and he’s with the boys and their waitress is flirting heavy and of course Brynn sees that as she’s leaving. And then she starts to avoid him. He thinks it’s because of him but when he confronts her at the library he realizes it’s anniversary week and she’s just not handling it well. She locks herself in her room on that day and binges the movies. Everyone checks on her. And then she gets a message from Grace. She sends a picture of Asher and Brynn together and tells her he loved you so much sweetheart, we love you so much sweetie. And then she tells her just promise me you won’t give up on finding another love. I saw the way you and Quinton looked at each other. I recognized the look. My soon looked at you the same way😭🥺this text conversation was so sad. Cody ends up showing up with snacks and a joint and tells her they’ll do the Ted tradition together and she falls asleep on him. Quinton had dinner with his family and they turned it into an ambush to talk badly of Brynn and then tell him he needs to switch advisors and join the draft immediately but he wants to finish college and get his degree to be a physical therapist. So he leaves there and goes to brynn and is upset at first to see her sleeping on Cody but then Cody leaves and he takes his place and she snuggles even closer to him and he stays the night with her. The next day at class the hot professor asks to see her. And apologizes for the way he called her out and asks if she wants to be his assistant and she gets weird vibes off of him. And then at lunch she introduces Monica from psych to Cody. She decides to not go out with everyone and instead shows up at the football house and luckily Quinton is there. She tells him she thinks they need to talk and they end up in his room where he fingers her til she cums and she gives him head time he cums in her mouth. And then they both agree they want to give them a shot but they’re exclusive. Quintons agent eliza has told him his top 5 schools are seeking him out he’s having a killer game but he hasn’t told anyone this will be his last season with the team or brynn that he won’t be back next year. They win the game and go back to the house to celebrate. Brynn is care free and dancing with her friends when they break the table and he carries her upstairs to his room. They still haven’t had sex but they’ve explored each others bodies. The next morning she finds him downstairs making pancakes and she’s upset with herself that it’s so hard for her to let her guard down and give him everything and she confesses this to him and he asks her out on a date and she agrees. When she gets home Macy and Chloe tell her they need to talk and they announce that Macy is moving out to move in with Gregg. And she thinks it’s fast but is happy for her but is confused what’s wrong with Chloe and Chloe confesses she has feelings for Cody. Chloe and Macy are fighting about this and Brynn wonders what’s going on but then she realizes how fully in love with Quinton she is in this moment. She gets ready for their date and she knows they need to go or they’ll never leave. He takes her to a fancy restaurant and after he takes her to a bar when Ecstacy is playing and they call her to the front and her and Quinton dance for hours and then they go back to his house and he carries her upstairs. All the men cheer. She sucks him and Ginger’s herself and when she’s close he stops her and says she cums for him and eats her out til she cums and then he goes to enter her and realizes he needs a condom and she tells him she has an IUD and shes never been with someone without one before and he says he hasn’t either and sinks into her raw. He had noticed she got a new arrow tattoo and when she comes back from the bathroom she tells him she got it for him. “I wanted something to remind me to keep moving forward as you do. An arrow may be forced backward but on its release, it shoots forward. My past has a way of dragging my backward but you always bring me back to the present, encouraging me to keep moving forward. And that’s what my future is, moving forward with you.” And he tells her how great it is and then he tells her he’s going into the draft and he’s not coming back next year when all he wants to do is tell her he loves her. She doesn’t react the way he expects instead she’s completely excited and happy for him and they celebrate all night. She goes to Chicago to finally visit her brother and Asher. She sits and tells Bryce about Quinton and college and how she misses him. And talking to Asher is harder at first. She tells him how much she loves him and how she felt wrong to love Quinton too and worried she wouldn’t be able to love him but knew it wasn’t fair for her to not keep living even though they left her. And she left a picture of them and then a picture of her and Quinton on the grave and then her mother is there. She tells her she’s just leaving and puts a picture of her and Quinton on Bryce’s grave as well but her mother stops her and tells her she’s sorry. Brynn isn’t feeling soft and tells her she should be. She told a 17 year old she wished it was her and how does brynn move on from that. She was grieving too. And her mom says she’s seeing a counselor and would like to try to fix their relationship and brynn says it will take time but she misses having a mom and they hug. She came seeking closure for her brother and Asher and left hopefully to maybe someday have a relationship with her mother. It’s the week of their big game and there’s a big pep rally. Quintons dad wants him to meet people and he says no thanks tonight is his night. I also found out his best friend Grant is his couches son, coach Campbell. He’s on his way to brynn when he almost runs into a child who he learns is tanner and how he is Quintons biggest fan. So Quinton offers an autograph but his mom forgot a marker but brynn has one and then when the little boy says his dad was a CTU fan until he died, brynn demands they all get a picture and she’s smitten with how good he was with the boy. Cody has Monica on his arm and Chloe is visibly hurt by it and Quinton can tell that Monican is a Jersey chaser. It’s thanksgiving and they’re going to his parents and when they get in the driveway he slips up and says he loves her and she tells him she loves him too and then his older brother Damien is there knocking on the car. They go inside and grams introduces herself to brynn and they bond quickly. And then Abigail(quintons mother) starts making rude comments and Damien pipes up and asks what happened to her to make her such a bitch and he’s done and he leaves. Quinton follows and goes to help brynn leave and grams says to keep her around she’s a good one. And although the meal turned tense she doesn’t regret getting to meet grams. It’s the big game. This is the last chance Quinton has to win his third conference title, last chance to go to playoffs and last chance to win a national championship. Quinton has an opening and he’s going and then slam he’s taken out. Brynn watches it happen. And they never announce him being okay and Cody tells her they’re taking him to general and he’ll take her and she tells him she just wants to go home. Cody takes her home and they get trashed on tequila and she wakes up to a million messages on her phone but she just goes back to bed. She knows she should have been in the waiting room at the hospital for her bf but she can’t do this again. She can’t sit in a waiting room like this again and go through that. So instead she’s a coward who drank it away. Maybe Abigail was right and she told him she loved him and attracted death to him. Quinton wakes up and hears his parents fighting. His mother is talking badly of brynn for not being there and his father is defending her. He fakes sleep while his mother calls his dad out for cheating. And after waiting a few moments he wakes up. He finds out it’s been 3 days, he has a concussion. But the doctor says his body was just exhausted and let him sleep. His team is all there and fill him in that they’re taking care of brynn the best they can but she’s not doing good. Cody’s picked her up blackout from the bar twice. And she was found in her yard passed out with tequila and a joint. She’s in her yard again when grant picks her up and throws her in a cold shower and tells her Quinton has been awake for almost a day and wants to see her. To sober up and he’ll pick her up the next morning and take her to him. She powers her phone on and sees messages from Quinton telling her he’s okay and he loves her. The next day she goes to see him and he’s not upset with her, all she sees is love. She’s rushing through her college so that she can travel wherever Quinton goes when he’s drafted. They win the nationals!!! She’s with him when he gets drafted for the Colorado colts and she’s so proud of him. And there had been a ring in their hotel room and she’s now his wife. He got drafted and turned his best friend into his wife. He says “she was the late hit I didn’t see coming”. 3 years later Quinton is playing in the super bowl. He had to wait a full year for his wilder to get her degree. And he was miserable but it was all worth it. They win the super bowl! And brynn comes down and his daughter Cleo launches into his arms. And brynn tells him how proud of him they are. All 3 of them as she grabs her stomach and he realizes he’s going to be a daddy again. He thought it couldn’t get better than winning nationals but now his super bowl dreams came true and his family was growing. We also find out he completely cut ties with his parents but brynn has been working on a relationship with her mother. We also know Quinton has gotten closer with his brothers. This book was so good. Im going to a signing where Alexis is at this weekend is why im finally reading this book but it’s been on my tbr since I met her in the line at Sav R millers signing. This book packed a punch. It was a sweet romance book. But it had a lot of feeling. I teared up multiple times. Finding out her secret of how she lost her brother and boyfriend both. The texts wirh Asher’s mom were prolly the worst 🥺but Quinton was so good and supportive of her. I was angry at them both at first for their spontaneous hookups so I am glad they got their heads out of their butts and saw what they were missing. Her friendships with the boys were also so sweet and I lived for it. I am so excited for Cody’s book now!!! Right before the epilogue he refers to her as the late hit he didn’t see coming which is the title of the book. Although he knew he loved brynn from the moment he saw her he never saw her taking over him like this 🥺
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2023
4.5 stars. I can not get over this being a debut novel. It was so well structured and written! I loved all the characters and can’t wait to see what else Alexis will write in the future!
February 24, 2024
Did I devour this book in one day? Maybe… yes. Yes I did. Quinton is just perfection… and his love for Brynn is just so cute. Not wanting to ruin their friendship… they sideline each other in the friend zone.
It was refreshing at the beginning to see how they were friends… and were hooking up with other people. That one game of truth or dare changed the game for them.
I loved how they both had their own issues that had to work through, but that they did work through them. Together as well as independently. Their friendship first really just helped cement their relationship and made them the cutest couple, or as their friends called them, “mom and dad”.
I can’t wait to read the frenemies to lovers, The Change Up with Cody and Chloe’s story.
It was refreshing at the beginning to see how they were friends… and were hooking up with other people. That one game of truth or dare changed the game for them.
I loved how they both had their own issues that had to work through, but that they did work through them. Together as well as independently. Their friendship first really just helped cement their relationship and made them the cutest couple, or as their friends called them, “mom and dad”.
I can’t wait to read the frenemies to lovers, The Change Up with Cody and Chloe’s story.
September 30, 2023
4.6 ⭐️
“It’s time for you to stop running on survival mode and start living. Live for them. Live for the ones who can no longer live. But most importantly, live for yourself.”
This book had me hooked from the first chapter! I love a good sports romance and love it even more when there is a feisty FMC. Then she threw in a friends to lovers trope where HE fell first and gobbled it all up!
Brynn Wilder and Quinton Boyd have been the best of friends since Freshman year of college. Brynn is a care-free, no strings attached ‘party’ girl on the outside all while struggling with survivors guilt, trauma and grief on the inside. Quinton is easy going, loyal, focused football player who works hard to follow his dream of entering the NFL. One dare changes everything, and we are thrown into a beautiful and sometimes heartbreaking story of love and overcoming past traumas.
What can I say about Q other then this man is a saint. Is he perfect? No, but the way he is patient with Brynn when she is coming undone and trying to sabotage their relationship is truly unmatched. He loves her fiercely and has loved her since the first moment they met, and it shows in his actions. Brynn is so lovable but feels like she doesn’t deserve it so she self-sabotages. Because of her past traumas and grief she feels like the only way to keep her her heart safe is to have meaningless flings. I absolutely loved watching their relationship grow from best friends to lovers. They helped each other overcome so much and it makes you really root for them.
The 🌶️🌶️ was definitely there and for as sweet as Q is his mouth is 🥵. Another thing I enjoyed, which is always hit or miss with me, is the relationships (insinuated hookups and flirting) they had before getting together. I know, I know it sounds weird but I really think it gave tension to the friends to lovers story line that other books sometimes lack. It wasn’t over done and really brought out a good amount of jealousy that didn’t feel forced.
All in all I really loved the story line, characters main and supporting! This book rocked and would absolutely recommend this to my sports loving friends! Alexis killed it with her debut book, and I can’t wait to read more from the CTU Eagles universe 💙♥️
_____
“There’s nothing I love more than this girl. She’s my best friend. She makes me happy, makes me laugh, and drives me absolutely crazy.”
_____
“You don’t get to survive alone. I’m here for you, and you have an entire support system at CTU that is here for you, Wilder,”
_____
Family doesn’t have to come from blood. Family can come from a strong bond and a loving relationship.
“It’s time for you to stop running on survival mode and start living. Live for them. Live for the ones who can no longer live. But most importantly, live for yourself.”
This book had me hooked from the first chapter! I love a good sports romance and love it even more when there is a feisty FMC. Then she threw in a friends to lovers trope where HE fell first and gobbled it all up!
Brynn Wilder and Quinton Boyd have been the best of friends since Freshman year of college. Brynn is a care-free, no strings attached ‘party’ girl on the outside all while struggling with survivors guilt, trauma and grief on the inside. Quinton is easy going, loyal, focused football player who works hard to follow his dream of entering the NFL. One dare changes everything, and we are thrown into a beautiful and sometimes heartbreaking story of love and overcoming past traumas.
What can I say about Q other then this man is a saint. Is he perfect? No, but the way he is patient with Brynn when she is coming undone and trying to sabotage their relationship is truly unmatched. He loves her fiercely and has loved her since the first moment they met, and it shows in his actions. Brynn is so lovable but feels like she doesn’t deserve it so she self-sabotages. Because of her past traumas and grief she feels like the only way to keep her her heart safe is to have meaningless flings. I absolutely loved watching their relationship grow from best friends to lovers. They helped each other overcome so much and it makes you really root for them.
The 🌶️🌶️ was definitely there and for as sweet as Q is his mouth is 🥵. Another thing I enjoyed, which is always hit or miss with me, is the relationships (insinuated hookups and flirting) they had before getting together. I know, I know it sounds weird but I really think it gave tension to the friends to lovers story line that other books sometimes lack. It wasn’t over done and really brought out a good amount of jealousy that didn’t feel forced.
All in all I really loved the story line, characters main and supporting! This book rocked and would absolutely recommend this to my sports loving friends! Alexis killed it with her debut book, and I can’t wait to read more from the CTU Eagles universe 💙♥️
_____
“There’s nothing I love more than this girl. She’s my best friend. She makes me happy, makes me laugh, and drives me absolutely crazy.”
_____
“You don’t get to survive alone. I’m here for you, and you have an entire support system at CTU that is here for you, Wilder,”
_____
Family doesn’t have to come from blood. Family can come from a strong bond and a loving relationship.
August 16, 2023
The Late Hit has been a highly anticipated read for me, and I really enjoyed it. I’m always down for a good sports romance book. 😍
A few things about this book I loved:
- Quinton Boyd! I loved him so much. He was so kind and caring and funny. He took care of those around him, especially Brynn.
- I loved their chemistry. Friends to lovers typically isn’t my favorite trope, be these two’s chemistry you could tell from the start they were destined for more.
- The side characters are great! I especially loved Cody, and how he always took care of Brynn, and Grant and his tough love and friendship with Q. I really hope we get to see their stories in upcoming books! (Cody and Chloe?! 👀🤞🏼)
- Loved Grams! She’s such a little fire cracker and I wish we could have seen her more!
- I loved the way she described the National Championship and Super Bowl. You could feel the anticipation and adrenaline. As a football lover myself, I loved those two chapters and how she described them.
- The epilogue is so cute and a perfect ending to their story.
Now for a few things I didn’t love as much:
- Brynn. I don’t know why, but I really struggled to connect with Brynn and overall it made the story less enjoyable for me. I loved her free spirit attitude and how much she supported her friends. I felt for her with her traumatic past and all the relationships she’s lost. But I also feel like she never worked to overcome them and settled for very toxic behavior that everyone around her almost enables (until Grant which honestly was one of my scenes in the book). I think to a certain degree some of her behavior with her past is to be expected, but if she’s aspiring to be a grief counselor I feel she first needs to learn how to appropriately cope with her own grief before helping others. I get where she’s coming from, but it was just a struggle for me personally, especially with Qs injury and the hospital situation. But don’t let this deter you, Brynn and Q’s chemistry is fantastic.
- I do feel like it lacked a certain degree of depth that left me wanting more.
- I just felt it was a very slow burn in the beginning and then the end was more rushed.
All in all, The Late Hit is a great read and a wonderful debut novel. If you’re a lover of sports romance, friends to lovers with no third act breakup and great banter plus an awesome friends group and lots of family drama - look no further! This one is for you! I cannot wait to keep up with this friends group in future books.
A few things about this book I loved:
- Quinton Boyd! I loved him so much. He was so kind and caring and funny. He took care of those around him, especially Brynn.
- I loved their chemistry. Friends to lovers typically isn’t my favorite trope, be these two’s chemistry you could tell from the start they were destined for more.
- The side characters are great! I especially loved Cody, and how he always took care of Brynn, and Grant and his tough love and friendship with Q. I really hope we get to see their stories in upcoming books! (Cody and Chloe?! 👀🤞🏼)
- Loved Grams! She’s such a little fire cracker and I wish we could have seen her more!
- I loved the way she described the National Championship and Super Bowl. You could feel the anticipation and adrenaline. As a football lover myself, I loved those two chapters and how she described them.
- The epilogue is so cute and a perfect ending to their story.
Now for a few things I didn’t love as much:
- Brynn. I don’t know why, but I really struggled to connect with Brynn and overall it made the story less enjoyable for me. I loved her free spirit attitude and how much she supported her friends. I felt for her with her traumatic past and all the relationships she’s lost. But I also feel like she never worked to overcome them and settled for very toxic behavior that everyone around her almost enables (until Grant which honestly was one of my scenes in the book). I think to a certain degree some of her behavior with her past is to be expected, but if she’s aspiring to be a grief counselor I feel she first needs to learn how to appropriately cope with her own grief before helping others. I get where she’s coming from, but it was just a struggle for me personally, especially with Qs injury and the hospital situation. But don’t let this deter you, Brynn and Q’s chemistry is fantastic.
- I do feel like it lacked a certain degree of depth that left me wanting more.
- I just felt it was a very slow burn in the beginning and then the end was more rushed.
All in all, The Late Hit is a great read and a wonderful debut novel. If you’re a lover of sports romance, friends to lovers with no third act breakup and great banter plus an awesome friends group and lots of family drama - look no further! This one is for you! I cannot wait to keep up with this friends group in future books.
May 1, 2024
I know it’s a debut novel, so I’m trying to be less harsh than I would like to be, but, well… it was messy.
First off - you can easily skip the first 20% of the book and you won’t miss a thing. There’s nothing happening there, it’s just a really long setup with an awful lot of unnecessary details (i.e. a brand of lipstick the mfc chose to put on). And while I understand some setup might be required to better navigate the plot, it would be so much better if it happened through the story, not in a form of long ass descriptions before it actually begins.
Second off - the relationship of the mcs was confusing. They met at the orientation since they’re in the same year, they were almost immediately interested in each other and then decided to… never pursue it? Why? If the guy liked her from the first moment he saw her, why did he not go for it, instead of setting himself firmly in the friend zone right away and having threesomes with random chicks? Make it make sense.
Third off - for someone who wanted to work in counseling, the mfc should have gotten herself counseled first, because the whole hospital fiasco was just… disappointing. And pathetic. Although I’m really not sure about her career taking off anytime soon, which brings me to —
Fourth off - if three years after the HEA wedding (we’ll circle back to that) they had a two year old, it means she was most likely graduating heavily pregnant. So, she got pregnant, while still in college. Really? She was exited about getting her masters and all, not at all interested in almost teenage motherhood, but then she just started popping babies out of the blue? That made no sense for the character arc and was simply annoying.
Fifth off - the pacing of the book was messy. As in, there were those long chapters of absolutely nothing significant happening, just the characters going about their day, but then the big moments like an impromptu wedding were just hinted at. Huh? Why?
Also, there were some misogynistic remarks that made me surprised it was written by a woman. Dismissing friends’ arguments, claiming that „we girls can get easily set off” was just one of the examples and there were more. Not cool.
Overall - it’s an emotional story of two characters who really seem to be perfect for each other, there are some tearjerking moments, but the writing is messy and could use some cleaning up.
Not bad for a debut, but not very good either.
First off - you can easily skip the first 20% of the book and you won’t miss a thing. There’s nothing happening there, it’s just a really long setup with an awful lot of unnecessary details (i.e. a brand of lipstick the mfc chose to put on). And while I understand some setup might be required to better navigate the plot, it would be so much better if it happened through the story, not in a form of long ass descriptions before it actually begins.
Second off - the relationship of the mcs was confusing. They met at the orientation since they’re in the same year, they were almost immediately interested in each other and then decided to… never pursue it? Why? If the guy liked her from the first moment he saw her, why did he not go for it, instead of setting himself firmly in the friend zone right away and having threesomes with random chicks? Make it make sense.
Third off - for someone who wanted to work in counseling, the mfc should have gotten herself counseled first, because the whole hospital fiasco was just… disappointing. And pathetic. Although I’m really not sure about her career taking off anytime soon, which brings me to —
Fourth off - if three years after the HEA wedding (we’ll circle back to that) they had a two year old, it means she was most likely graduating heavily pregnant. So, she got pregnant, while still in college. Really? She was exited about getting her masters and all, not at all interested in almost teenage motherhood, but then she just started popping babies out of the blue? That made no sense for the character arc and was simply annoying.
Fifth off - the pacing of the book was messy. As in, there were those long chapters of absolutely nothing significant happening, just the characters going about their day, but then the big moments like an impromptu wedding were just hinted at. Huh? Why?
Also, there were some misogynistic remarks that made me surprised it was written by a woman. Dismissing friends’ arguments, claiming that „we girls can get easily set off” was just one of the examples and there were more. Not cool.
Overall - it’s an emotional story of two characters who really seem to be perfect for each other, there are some tearjerking moments, but the writing is messy and could use some cleaning up.
Not bad for a debut, but not very good either.
June 8, 2024
The Late Hit follows Brynn and Quinton. They meet as freshmen at CTU and become best friends instantly. The story takes place during their junior year of college. Brynn is a party girl who goes from one hook up to another, masking her past trauma. Quinton is the star football player living in his parents' shadow. They both have estranged relationships with their families and lean heavily on their friend group. When Brynn needs to travel back home for a weekend, Quinton agrees to go along. One night and one game of truth or dare changes their relationship forever. Can these best friends transition into being a couple? When trauma strikes again, can Brynn and their relationship survive it? Will this couple maneuver through all the obstacles placed in front of them?
Pros:
1. The friend group. I absolutely loved this group of friends and how protective the guys were of Brynn. The best friend dynamic and crucial to the plot.
2. Quinton - I loved Q and how he fell first. He was the perfect best friend and transitioned amazingly into the best boyfriend. Especially when she needed him the most, he was there.
3. Quinton's grandma - The Thanksgiving scene was hilarious.
Maybes:
1. The trauma - In some ways, I thought Brynn's trauma was handled well, such as the hospital incident and the 2nd trip to Chicago. However, she came back from Chicago acting like the trauma was just gone when clearly it wasn't. Also, they way she drowned most of her trauma in alcohol and other activities.
Cons:
1. The rudeness - There were times that I cringed with what the characters were saying. For instance, Brynn and the waitress, Brynn and anyone she confronted, and of course Quinton's mom with her shock factor.
2. Brynn - I just couldn't connect with her for most of the book. I felt for her during her trauma exposure, but she was so immature.
3. Pacing - The beginning of the story was drawn out. About 50% before the couple got together. Then, the end fast forwards seemed rushed. The ending was a bit surprising and disappointing also.
* Friends to Lovers
* College Romance
* Sports Romance
* Found Family
* Family Trauma
* Heavy alcohol usage
Pros:
1. The friend group. I absolutely loved this group of friends and how protective the guys were of Brynn. The best friend dynamic and crucial to the plot.
2. Quinton - I loved Q and how he fell first. He was the perfect best friend and transitioned amazingly into the best boyfriend. Especially when she needed him the most, he was there.
3. Quinton's grandma - The Thanksgiving scene was hilarious.
Maybes:
1. The trauma - In some ways, I thought Brynn's trauma was handled well, such as the hospital incident and the 2nd trip to Chicago. However, she came back from Chicago acting like the trauma was just gone when clearly it wasn't. Also, they way she drowned most of her trauma in alcohol and other activities.
Cons:
1. The rudeness - There were times that I cringed with what the characters were saying. For instance, Brynn and the waitress, Brynn and anyone she confronted, and of course Quinton's mom with her shock factor.
2. Brynn - I just couldn't connect with her for most of the book. I felt for her during her trauma exposure, but she was so immature.
3. Pacing - The beginning of the story was drawn out. About 50% before the couple got together. Then, the end fast forwards seemed rushed. The ending was a bit surprising and disappointing also.
* Friends to Lovers
* College Romance
* Sports Romance
* Found Family
* Family Trauma
* Heavy alcohol usage
August 18, 2023
The Late Hit by Alexis Buxton
Rating : 4/5
Whats inside ✨
🏈 friends to lovers
💙 college sports romance : football
🏈 interracial couple
💙touch her and die vibes
🏈 spice & banter
Wow Wow Wow! This is Alexis’s debut novel and she did a great job! This book was a really fun college sports romance to read (specifically a football romance), I haven’t read one in a while so it was nice to jump back into the college sports world 🫶🏻
Quinton & Brynn are best friends, Quinton plays football for the university’s football team and Brynn is a psychology major. These two were so sweet together, I really loved their back stories, as well with their personal dilemmas, they weren’t over the the top which I loved. Brynn was a little bit of a firecracker/ sassy at times, but I think a lot of that had to do with her coping from her past experiences with loss. But can we talk about Quinton for a second because….I LOVED him 😍 I felt like he was overall just a great MMC. Protective, sweet, and I loved how he cared for Brynn and respected her, I think the mutual respect between both characters was really well done. You could definitely tell Quinton was protective of Brynn (which I also loved *touch her and die* vibes). It was really nice how we got a lot of time with the other characters in the story as well! BUT, I wanted more time with Quinton & Brynn together!!! I craved more depth to the story, and more sweet moments. Give me all the butterfly/ jealousy moments Alexis!!!! 😂
But overall I thought the book was amazing! For a debut this is a great start & I can’t wait to continue this series!
This is a faster paced book, and I think if you’re looking for something fun, lighter, that will make you smile 😊 then you should read The Late Hit ♥️
August 9, 2023
In full disclosure I wasn’t sure about this one. The writing was different style than I’m used to.
Im also not much of a fan of both main characters constantly hooking up with other people at the start, but the more into the story I got did I understand the reasoning behind it.
Quinton + Brynn are the quintessential best friends. As you see their attraction for each other come to light, do you also see them struggle with the fear of losing that friendship. Seeing as it plays such an important roll in each their lives.
This book was a beautiful story of found family, learning to forgive one’s self and learning to heal after such a big loss, and leaning on those who love you just as you are.
Brynn we see from the start coping with loss by using drugs, alcohol, and sex to deal. Hiding away and putting on a strong front but not truly dealing with her demons.
As she learns to lean on friends and open up to Q after a dare to kiss, then do we start to see her giving Quinton a chance.
The angst between these two was strong and I was here for it. 🔥🔥
Quinton’s patience with Brynn was what every girl wants. 🫠 He knew she had a lot to deal with and instead of pushing and being forcefully he allowed her to feel and be seen.
The fact that this was Alexis debut novel has me cheering her for writing the book 👏🏼👏🏼 and I love she had so many side characters you feel in love with she can take this series so many different ways!!
𝙰𝚋𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔𝚜 to Alexis for the early copy read opportunity. I’m 𝚑𝚘𝚗𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚍 to be a part of your team. 🩵
Im also not much of a fan of both main characters constantly hooking up with other people at the start, but the more into the story I got did I understand the reasoning behind it.
Quinton + Brynn are the quintessential best friends. As you see their attraction for each other come to light, do you also see them struggle with the fear of losing that friendship. Seeing as it plays such an important roll in each their lives.
This book was a beautiful story of found family, learning to forgive one’s self and learning to heal after such a big loss, and leaning on those who love you just as you are.
Brynn we see from the start coping with loss by using drugs, alcohol, and sex to deal. Hiding away and putting on a strong front but not truly dealing with her demons.
As she learns to lean on friends and open up to Q after a dare to kiss, then do we start to see her giving Quinton a chance.
The angst between these two was strong and I was here for it. 🔥🔥
Quinton’s patience with Brynn was what every girl wants. 🫠 He knew she had a lot to deal with and instead of pushing and being forcefully he allowed her to feel and be seen.
The fact that this was Alexis debut novel has me cheering her for writing the book 👏🏼👏🏼 and I love she had so many side characters you feel in love with she can take this series so many different ways!!
𝙰𝚋𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔𝚜 to Alexis for the early copy read opportunity. I’m 𝚑𝚘𝚗𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚍 to be a part of your team. 🩵
August 9, 2023
“Because that’s the thing about Quinton Boyd. If you have the good fortune to find yourself in his close circle, you’re one of the lucky ones. Quinton doesn’t let a lot of people in. But when you’re in, you’ll be loved hard and cared for.” — Brynn Wilder
“Brynn Wilder is going to be the death of me, and I’m going to enjoy everything she throws my way.” — Quinton Boyd
— The Late Hit by Alexis Buxton
I couldn’t pick just one quote so I had to share one from both Q & B so you can really see what I’m talking about.
My friend wrote the damn thing!!! She wrote a whole book and it’s freaking amazing!! I am soooo proud of you @author_alexisbuxton !!!
I love Brynn and Quinton so much. Both characters on their own are easily lovable but together? Impossible not to fall for. They just compliment each other in the best way and are the perfect friends to lovers duo. I also loved Chloe and Cody and Grant and JP and really just all of the side characters because they are written so well that you can help but want to know more about them!
All do the details and descriptions in this book totally transport you to CTU, especially the football games! I could feel atmosphere and picture the game and plays as I read the scenes and I loved how invested it made me.
This book is so great friends! Like for real!
“Brynn Wilder is going to be the death of me, and I’m going to enjoy everything she throws my way.” — Quinton Boyd
— The Late Hit by Alexis Buxton
I couldn’t pick just one quote so I had to share one from both Q & B so you can really see what I’m talking about.
My friend wrote the damn thing!!! She wrote a whole book and it’s freaking amazing!! I am soooo proud of you @author_alexisbuxton !!!
I love Brynn and Quinton so much. Both characters on their own are easily lovable but together? Impossible not to fall for. They just compliment each other in the best way and are the perfect friends to lovers duo. I also loved Chloe and Cody and Grant and JP and really just all of the side characters because they are written so well that you can help but want to know more about them!
All do the details and descriptions in this book totally transport you to CTU, especially the football games! I could feel atmosphere and picture the game and plays as I read the scenes and I loved how invested it made me.
This book is so great friends! Like for real!
July 17, 2023
Let's just take a moment to revel in the fact that this is a debut novel. I loved the crap of it. It was just so so good. It made me feel ALL of the emotions. I cried, laughed, smiled, biting my nails for being anxious, and everything in between. This story was beautiful and these characters are memorable.
Quinton is an athletic smokeshow with a heart of gold. Brynn is fun, wild, and such a spitfire attitude. I would love to have her as my BFF.
I could not get enough of Quinton and Brynn's friendship. The development into more was EVERYTHING. The dynamic change just felt completely natural from going to friends to a romantic relationship. AND that spice was delicious. The chemistry between these two was simply off the charts.
The friend group was also so fun! I loved the found family vibes, and they were always there for one another no matter what.
The angst, pain, and loss in this book also made me ugly cry. I could feel all of those emotions swirling around, but Alexis put us back together again with the cutest freaking ending. I had happy tears in my eyes.
I am so excited to see what Alexis has coming next! 😍
Read if you like
🏈 College Romance
🏈 Friends to Lovers
🏈 Football Romance
🏈 Spiceee
🏈 Found Family
🏈 He Falls First
Quinton is an athletic smokeshow with a heart of gold. Brynn is fun, wild, and such a spitfire attitude. I would love to have her as my BFF.
I could not get enough of Quinton and Brynn's friendship. The development into more was EVERYTHING. The dynamic change just felt completely natural from going to friends to a romantic relationship. AND that spice was delicious. The chemistry between these two was simply off the charts.
The friend group was also so fun! I loved the found family vibes, and they were always there for one another no matter what.
The angst, pain, and loss in this book also made me ugly cry. I could feel all of those emotions swirling around, but Alexis put us back together again with the cutest freaking ending. I had happy tears in my eyes.
I am so excited to see what Alexis has coming next! 😍
Read if you like
🏈 College Romance
🏈 Friends to Lovers
🏈 Football Romance
🏈 Spiceee
🏈 Found Family
🏈 He Falls First
August 16, 2023
Rating 4/5
Plot 5/5
Writing 4/5
Spice 3/5
Character Development 5/5
[I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book]
“The Late Hit” is Alexis Buxton’s debut novel. This book is a college romance story between Brynn and Quinton. The two have been best friends since freshman year. However, there seems to be more than just a friendship between them. Although Brynn is a carefree party girl, deep down, she’s still grieving the tragic loss of someone important in her life. Quinton is CTU’s star football player and is destined for the NFL. After a wild game of truth or dare, the two are forced to confront their growing feelings for one another.
This book was written really well! Brynn’s character development throughout the novel was beautiful because despite the amount of pain, loss, and heartbreak she dealt with, she still came out on top, and her story gave me hope. I really loved the relationship between Brynn and Quinton, as they were so supportive of one another. This story felt very natural, organic, and real.
If you’re interested in an angsty college football romance with the friends-to-lovers trope, lots of spice, and great world-building, this book is for you.
Plot 5/5
Writing 4/5
Spice 3/5
Character Development 5/5
[I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book]
“The Late Hit” is Alexis Buxton’s debut novel. This book is a college romance story between Brynn and Quinton. The two have been best friends since freshman year. However, there seems to be more than just a friendship between them. Although Brynn is a carefree party girl, deep down, she’s still grieving the tragic loss of someone important in her life. Quinton is CTU’s star football player and is destined for the NFL. After a wild game of truth or dare, the two are forced to confront their growing feelings for one another.
This book was written really well! Brynn’s character development throughout the novel was beautiful because despite the amount of pain, loss, and heartbreak she dealt with, she still came out on top, and her story gave me hope. I really loved the relationship between Brynn and Quinton, as they were so supportive of one another. This story felt very natural, organic, and real.
If you’re interested in an angsty college football romance with the friends-to-lovers trope, lots of spice, and great world-building, this book is for you.
November 11, 2023
This was a great New Adult college sports romance! It was so refreshing to read a romance that wasn’t full of drama and angst. I loved Brynn & Quinton’s journey from friends to lovers. I can’t wait to see more from the CTU squad!
Things I Liked:
- Overall steady paced novel
- No third act breakup
- A perfect HEA with a glimpse into the future in the epilogue
- College setting
- Found family
Things I Think Could Have Been Better:
- Brynn’s Development: it was great that Brynn was imperfect, but I would have loved for that to be explored even more. I loved how she was inspired by her past to pursue her chosen career, but I never really saw any of the passion for that, ya know?
- The Roommates: I’m assuming we’ll get to see more of this in later books, but I want to know so much more about Brynn, Macy, & Chloe! How did they get together? What are all of the roommate dynamics? Why did Macy fall completely off the face of the earth?
Overall a great debut novel for Alexis Buxton! I’m excited to continue to explore the world of CTU!
Things I Liked:
- Overall steady paced novel
- No third act breakup
- A perfect HEA with a glimpse into the future in the epilogue
- College setting
- Found family
Things I Think Could Have Been Better:
- Brynn’s Development: it was great that Brynn was imperfect, but I would have loved for that to be explored even more. I loved how she was inspired by her past to pursue her chosen career, but I never really saw any of the passion for that, ya know?
- The Roommates: I’m assuming we’ll get to see more of this in later books, but I want to know so much more about Brynn, Macy, & Chloe! How did they get together? What are all of the roommate dynamics? Why did Macy fall completely off the face of the earth?
Overall a great debut novel for Alexis Buxton! I’m excited to continue to explore the world of CTU!
August 4, 2023
“Only you, Wilder, only you.”
The Late Hit is a debut novel. So I wasn't sure what to expect. But I was pleasantly surprised. I loved Brynn and Quinton. They are best friends but have never crossed the line into more until now.
I did not expect to feel so many emotions while reading this book. Brynn has had a very rough life. She lost some very important people in a tragic accident. I just lost my Mom so her hurt was real to me. I definitely shed some tears while reading parts of this book.
"I hope Heaven is everything we are told and more. That it’s not just some made-up place for us living to picture." This quote definitely put me in my feels. 😢
“I’ll always bring you back.”
The epilogue was well written and I loved seeing a glimpse of Q and Brynn in the future. I enjoyed all of the side characters and it will be interesting to see who gets the next book in the series.
The Late Hit is a debut novel. So I wasn't sure what to expect. But I was pleasantly surprised. I loved Brynn and Quinton. They are best friends but have never crossed the line into more until now.
I did not expect to feel so many emotions while reading this book. Brynn has had a very rough life. She lost some very important people in a tragic accident. I just lost my Mom so her hurt was real to me. I definitely shed some tears while reading parts of this book.
"I hope Heaven is everything we are told and more. That it’s not just some made-up place for us living to picture." This quote definitely put me in my feels. 😢
“I’ll always bring you back.”
The epilogue was well written and I loved seeing a glimpse of Q and Brynn in the future. I enjoyed all of the side characters and it will be interesting to see who gets the next book in the series.
December 15, 2023
The Late Hit // Alexis Buxton
- College football
- Friends to lovers
- Found family
TW: loss of loved ones, shitty parents, self destructive tendencies
Quintin is the son of an NFL legend, trying to make his own way in the football world, without the influence of his overbearing parents. Q's best friend in college has been wild child Brynn - though they have never forced the boundaries of their friendship. One night of truth or dare and they're finally pushed over the edge and see what they've been missing out on with each other.
Oh my gosh, the way that Alexis just pulls on your heartstrings! The way that she captured Brynn's past trauma and how it still affects her was so well done, I think caving in on yourself is such a common reaction that no one wants to admit to doing. And Q being understanding and supportive instead of getting upset with her?! *Insert Oprah screaming emoji* We love a man who prioritizes his woman's mental health!! 👏🏼
🌶️🌶️
⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
- College football
- Friends to lovers
- Found family
TW: loss of loved ones, shitty parents, self destructive tendencies
Quintin is the son of an NFL legend, trying to make his own way in the football world, without the influence of his overbearing parents. Q's best friend in college has been wild child Brynn - though they have never forced the boundaries of their friendship. One night of truth or dare and they're finally pushed over the edge and see what they've been missing out on with each other.
Oh my gosh, the way that Alexis just pulls on your heartstrings! The way that she captured Brynn's past trauma and how it still affects her was so well done, I think caving in on yourself is such a common reaction that no one wants to admit to doing. And Q being understanding and supportive instead of getting upset with her?! *Insert Oprah screaming emoji* We love a man who prioritizes his woman's mental health!! 👏🏼
🌶️🌶️
⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
April 27, 2024
What a great debut novel for Alexis Burton. The Late Hit is Brin and Quinton’s story. Brin and Quinton become the best of friends freshman year of college. Quinton is the star football player and Brin is the party girl trying to escape her losses. For the last two years they have supported each other no matter what. Quinton goes home with Brin for an expected appearance by her mother. During this weekend a game of truth or dare changes everything.
They both have to confront the growing feelings, but don’t want to lose their best friend. Can this work? Their friendship/ relationship allowed such growth with both of them. Brin deals with grief, loss and heartbreak all with her best friend by her side. Their group of friends was such a great found family too. This had me in my feels and I can’t wait to continue reading more about this group of friends.
If you love sports romance, football star/party girl, found family, friends to lovers, and he falls first this is for you.
They both have to confront the growing feelings, but don’t want to lose their best friend. Can this work? Their friendship/ relationship allowed such growth with both of them. Brin deals with grief, loss and heartbreak all with her best friend by her side. Their group of friends was such a great found family too. This had me in my feels and I can’t wait to continue reading more about this group of friends.
If you love sports romance, football star/party girl, found family, friends to lovers, and he falls first this is for you.
August 5, 2023
I am completely blown away with this being Alexis’ debut novel. This book felt like it was written by a seasoned author because it was just that fantastic! This emotional friends-to-lovers sports romance was such a breath of fresh air, and Brynn and Quinton were definitely characters I didn’t know I needed in my life until I did.
Brynn is the wild, carefree, college party girl who wants to experience everything college has to offer, and she is all for no-strings-attached relationships. Quinton is the star running back for the CTU Eagles, with an absolute heart of gold. He truly cherishes his friendship with Brynn and would do anything to make her happy, even if that means keeping his heart on the line. But one night a simple game of ‘Truth or Dare’ has everything changing in their friendship and the chemistry that ignites has them rethinking their feelings and whether or not they will confront them or keep them bottled up to protect each other’s heart.
Alexis also knows her football! There are so many authors that will write football game scenes but don’t delve deep into the intricacies of the plays. Alexis was purposeful with her descriptions that it felt like I was there in the stands watching the game right along with the fans! I can’t wait to see where Alexis takes on this journey, and I’m excited to read the next book in this series!
Brynn is the wild, carefree, college party girl who wants to experience everything college has to offer, and she is all for no-strings-attached relationships. Quinton is the star running back for the CTU Eagles, with an absolute heart of gold. He truly cherishes his friendship with Brynn and would do anything to make her happy, even if that means keeping his heart on the line. But one night a simple game of ‘Truth or Dare’ has everything changing in their friendship and the chemistry that ignites has them rethinking their feelings and whether or not they will confront them or keep them bottled up to protect each other’s heart.
Alexis also knows her football! There are so many authors that will write football game scenes but don’t delve deep into the intricacies of the plays. Alexis was purposeful with her descriptions that it felt like I was there in the stands watching the game right along with the fans! I can’t wait to see where Alexis takes on this journey, and I’m excited to read the next book in this series!
August 11, 2023
I want to say congratulations to my sweet friend Alexis on her debut novel! I’m so proud of you! This friends to lovers sports romance is good y’all. At first I wasn’t sold on Brynn, she was a little brash to me but once I found out her story I had a different feeling regarding her. Quinton was so sweet and I loved the way he was always there for Brynn. This one definitely had some spice! If you liked The Deal by Elle Kennedy I think you’ll love this book! I can’t wait to see how this series plays out and I’m excited for Cody’s book!
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
🏈 New Adult Romance
🦅 Friends to Lovers
🏈 College Football
🦅 Interracial Couple
🏈 Found Family
🦅 He Falls First
🏈 Angsty & Emotional
🦅 No 3rd-Act Breakup
🏈 Spice, Spice, Baby
Thank you to Alexis for my PR box and copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
🏈 New Adult Romance
🦅 Friends to Lovers
🏈 College Football
🦅 Interracial Couple
🏈 Found Family
🦅 He Falls First
🏈 Angsty & Emotional
🦅 No 3rd-Act Breakup
🏈 Spice, Spice, Baby
Thank you to Alexis for my PR box and copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 20, 2024
After reading The Pass Protection, I knew I had to read the previous books so here I am. Quinton and Brynn were absolute magic.
They started as best friends but everyone around them knew things would eventually progress into more. Quinton was really just biding his time. Brynn was too much of a free spirit for anyone to hold back. Plus, Quinton had a major career decision to make that would change things.
I loved their relationship from start to finish. He may have been on the sidelines at first but he was truly her landing spot. Both of them had very complicated relationships with their families but one lesson they learned was that family doesn’t always mean blood. At an early age, Brynn suffered an unimaginable loss that made her guard her heart. Quinton was incredibly patient with her. This whole book was beautifully written and I’m excited to dive into the next one!
They started as best friends but everyone around them knew things would eventually progress into more. Quinton was really just biding his time. Brynn was too much of a free spirit for anyone to hold back. Plus, Quinton had a major career decision to make that would change things.
I loved their relationship from start to finish. He may have been on the sidelines at first but he was truly her landing spot. Both of them had very complicated relationships with their families but one lesson they learned was that family doesn’t always mean blood. At an early age, Brynn suffered an unimaginable loss that made her guard her heart. Quinton was incredibly patient with her. This whole book was beautifully written and I’m excited to dive into the next one!
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