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Kickoff
Hearts break. Sparks fly. If only love was as straightforward as the game, right?
Star quarterback. Straight-A swimmer. Two lives bound by a secret that could destroy them both.
I’m on top of the world—the king of the field, the guy everyone wants. Except Melinda Shepard. She’s brilliant, distant, and refuses to be dazzled by my fame or my reputation. Years ago, we almost became something—but it all went up in flames before it even started.
When a night takes a dark turn and she’s left fighting for her life, I’m the only one there to save her. Suddenly, I’m trapped back in the friendship zone, right where I never wanted to be. But the fire between us hasn’t died—it’s raging, and my heart is hers, no question. Melinda is holding back, hiding a secret so dark it could ruin us both. As truths unravel and emotions crash, every unsaid word cuts deeper. Our friendship might be the only thing left—if it can survive the storm.
Falling for the girl who could break you? Who knew it would be the hardest and cruelest play of my life.
🏈 opposites attract
🏈 high school quarterback
🏈 athlete FMC (swimming)
🏈 touch her and d!e
🏈 he falls first
🏈 childhood friends to enemies to it's complicated
🏈 mental health rep
Star quarterback. Straight-A swimmer. Two lives bound by a secret that could destroy them both.
I’m on top of the world—the king of the field, the guy everyone wants. Except Melinda Shepard. She’s brilliant, distant, and refuses to be dazzled by my fame or my reputation. Years ago, we almost became something—but it all went up in flames before it even started.
When a night takes a dark turn and she’s left fighting for her life, I’m the only one there to save her. Suddenly, I’m trapped back in the friendship zone, right where I never wanted to be. But the fire between us hasn’t died—it’s raging, and my heart is hers, no question. Melinda is holding back, hiding a secret so dark it could ruin us both. As truths unravel and emotions crash, every unsaid word cuts deeper. Our friendship might be the only thing left—if it can survive the storm.
Falling for the girl who could break you? Who knew it would be the hardest and cruelest play of my life.
🏈 opposites attract
🏈 high school quarterback
🏈 athlete FMC (swimming)
🏈 touch her and d!e
🏈 he falls first
🏈 childhood friends to enemies to it's complicated
🏈 mental health rep
494 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 29, 2025
1 person is currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
Emmanuelle Snow
29 books203 followersSoulfully Beautiful Love Stories
Busy writing your next book boyfriend!
USA Today Bestselling author Emmanuelle Snow is a contemporary author of mature YA and New Adult love stories, who likes to give life to strong characters who’ll fight with all they have to reach their life goals and find their own happiness.
Emmanuelle is in love with love. Especially those complicated, deep, and passionate feelings that make a relationship extraordinary and complex, all at the same time.
She likes her characters to be believable and relatable! And her stories laced with raw emotions.
Grab a tissue box (or two)!
♥Join her ARC team, The Snowmates:
https://emmanuellesnow.com/pages/snow...
♥Visit her bookstore:
http://emmanuellesnow.com
Book series
Carter Hills Band Universe
Busy writing your next book boyfriend!
USA Today Bestselling author Emmanuelle Snow is a contemporary author of mature YA and New Adult love stories, who likes to give life to strong characters who’ll fight with all they have to reach their life goals and find their own happiness.
Emmanuelle is in love with love. Especially those complicated, deep, and passionate feelings that make a relationship extraordinary and complex, all at the same time.
She likes her characters to be believable and relatable! And her stories laced with raw emotions.
Grab a tissue box (or two)!
♥Join her ARC team, The Snowmates:
https://emmanuellesnow.com/pages/snow...
♥Visit her bookstore:
http://emmanuellesnow.com
Book series
Carter Hills Band Universe
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
May 25, 2025
Kickoff by Emmanuelle Snow
3/5 stars
Kickoff is a new book in a new series by Emmanuelle Snow. I am a huge Emmanuelle fan and was super excited to read her new book.
This book is about Mason who loves to play football. He is an extremely gifted athlete. And ever since he was a young boy he loved Melinda Shepard. Melinda moved in next door and they instantly hit it off. But when young Mason mentions he wants her to be his girlfriend she instantly sets clear boundaries that that is not an option whatsoever.
Melinda is a gifted athlete as well and trains to be a competitive swimmer. And she does absolutely anything to beat her biggest rival from another school.
Their entire lives they sort of gravitate towards each other. But there is always something that keeps them apart. At times Mel seems aloof. While Mase is utterly and completely in love with her. His eyes always follow her. He always thinks about her, yearns for her, his entire life is lasered towards Mel. And when he saves her from a guy who tries to force himself upon her, they finally become friends again. And their bond starts to grow. As friends. And slowly they both start to feel some lust towards each other.
And while I really like the story, I did enjoy reading it. This book is vastly different from Emmanuelle's other books. She tried a new approach and for me personally it didn't completely work and/or I didn't enjoy it as much.
There is a repetitive cadence in this story. They like each other, something happens, they drift apart. They talk, someone mentions something, they drift apart. One gets scared, or one hurts the other one, distance happens and then they find each other again. If a girl wants to claim Mason (which he never allows), Mel instantly runs and pushes him away. Resulting in him trying to explain and gaining her trust back. All these things happen again and again and again. And because this is a fairly long book for a duet it felt like it was on repeat with not much difference between each time it happens.
I was also constantly thinking about Carter's book which Emmanuelle wrote in The Carter's Hills Band series. That book was a standalone at first. And then she rewrote it into a duet. And that duet was utterly, utterly perfect. It was brilliant and so much better than the standalone. And while I was reading this series, I was constantly thinking nothing happens apart from that repetitive sequence. I was constantly thinking the pace needs to pick up and I constantly wished for this duet to be a standalone so that the pacing would be better.
Like halfway through the book Mason's inner monologue, that were the same thoughts on repeat, started to annoy me a little bit. They are stuck so long in that repetitive sequence. It doesn't push the story forwards at all. In the last few chapters a lot changes and finally the story picks up and it gets pushed forwards. I predicted the reveal, the secret, quite early on in the story and that was a bit of shame.
In the last chapter or epilogue there are finally some scenes through Mel's eyes. And I really missed her personal views throughout this entire book. I think chapters through her eyes would have added so much more depth and a different cadence to the story. It would have broken up the repetitiveness that stalled the story immensely. Now it was just the same thing that happened again and again. I really missed the variety, depth and vital things to push the story forwards.
I hope I explained myself respectfully and kindly. And I did enjoy the book, I just didn't fall in love with it. It was really hard to fall in love with either Mason or Melinda. I missed that all consuming chemistry between them. I missed the chemistry that is between all the other couples Emmanuelle ever created. A part of me really hopes this duet will get rewritten so that the pacing will get better and so that the story is going somewhere more solidly. And that Mel will get chapters of her own. Because those three small chapters, through her eyes, were my favorite of the entire book.
So I am giving this book 3 very solid and deserved stars. I just hope one day, if it gets rewritten, I can give it 4 or 5 stars. Because the potential is really there. I am curious to read the second half of this duet and see how it connects to the first. And I am dying to know what the pacing of the second half is. And to see if I really want them to be combined to get a more exciting story about Mel and Mase.
So 3 stars overall from me!
3/5 stars
Kickoff is a new book in a new series by Emmanuelle Snow. I am a huge Emmanuelle fan and was super excited to read her new book.
This book is about Mason who loves to play football. He is an extremely gifted athlete. And ever since he was a young boy he loved Melinda Shepard. Melinda moved in next door and they instantly hit it off. But when young Mason mentions he wants her to be his girlfriend she instantly sets clear boundaries that that is not an option whatsoever.
Melinda is a gifted athlete as well and trains to be a competitive swimmer. And she does absolutely anything to beat her biggest rival from another school.
Their entire lives they sort of gravitate towards each other. But there is always something that keeps them apart. At times Mel seems aloof. While Mase is utterly and completely in love with her. His eyes always follow her. He always thinks about her, yearns for her, his entire life is lasered towards Mel. And when he saves her from a guy who tries to force himself upon her, they finally become friends again. And their bond starts to grow. As friends. And slowly they both start to feel some lust towards each other.
And while I really like the story, I did enjoy reading it. This book is vastly different from Emmanuelle's other books. She tried a new approach and for me personally it didn't completely work and/or I didn't enjoy it as much.
There is a repetitive cadence in this story. They like each other, something happens, they drift apart. They talk, someone mentions something, they drift apart. One gets scared, or one hurts the other one, distance happens and then they find each other again. If a girl wants to claim Mason (which he never allows), Mel instantly runs and pushes him away. Resulting in him trying to explain and gaining her trust back. All these things happen again and again and again. And because this is a fairly long book for a duet it felt like it was on repeat with not much difference between each time it happens.
I was also constantly thinking about Carter's book which Emmanuelle wrote in The Carter's Hills Band series. That book was a standalone at first. And then she rewrote it into a duet. And that duet was utterly, utterly perfect. It was brilliant and so much better than the standalone. And while I was reading this series, I was constantly thinking nothing happens apart from that repetitive sequence. I was constantly thinking the pace needs to pick up and I constantly wished for this duet to be a standalone so that the pacing would be better.
Like halfway through the book Mason's inner monologue, that were the same thoughts on repeat, started to annoy me a little bit. They are stuck so long in that repetitive sequence. It doesn't push the story forwards at all. In the last few chapters a lot changes and finally the story picks up and it gets pushed forwards. I predicted the reveal, the secret, quite early on in the story and that was a bit of shame.
In the last chapter or epilogue there are finally some scenes through Mel's eyes. And I really missed her personal views throughout this entire book. I think chapters through her eyes would have added so much more depth and a different cadence to the story. It would have broken up the repetitiveness that stalled the story immensely. Now it was just the same thing that happened again and again. I really missed the variety, depth and vital things to push the story forwards.
I hope I explained myself respectfully and kindly. And I did enjoy the book, I just didn't fall in love with it. It was really hard to fall in love with either Mason or Melinda. I missed that all consuming chemistry between them. I missed the chemistry that is between all the other couples Emmanuelle ever created. A part of me really hopes this duet will get rewritten so that the pacing will get better and so that the story is going somewhere more solidly. And that Mel will get chapters of her own. Because those three small chapters, through her eyes, were my favorite of the entire book.
So I am giving this book 3 very solid and deserved stars. I just hope one day, if it gets rewritten, I can give it 4 or 5 stars. Because the potential is really there. I am curious to read the second half of this duet and see how it connects to the first. And I am dying to know what the pacing of the second half is. And to see if I really want them to be combined to get a more exciting story about Mel and Mase.
So 3 stars overall from me!
June 12, 2025
i thoroughly enjoyed this book it’s cute but it does touch on a heavy topic especially toward the end with melinda but it’s definitely a must read if you have time for it
May 25, 2025
Finally got an ARC copy! I absolutely loved this book. Mason is just such an interesting character and I love his dynamic with his brother Craig and Craig’s girlfriend Paige. Also, yes. I do fudging HATE Nathan F-ing Bellevue. Mason is such a complex character and I love seeing how he tries to improve himself for the person he has been in love with for so long. It’s not like those other characters that change themselves to try and please the other person, he just makes an effort to mature while staying true to himself. I really hope that Mason and Melinda get the happy ending that they deserve. Can’t wait for the next one! ❤️
May 26, 2025
This is book one in The Touch Down series and it is Melinda and Mason’s story and omg what a great start to this series and definitely a must read. Melinda and Mason meet when she moved in next door to him and he felt a instant connection to her and wanted them to become friends and maybe in time more especially as they were also going to be at the same school but then everything fell apart and they really didn’t connect until years later. Mason is the star quarterback for Elk River High Bears Team and also a bit of a playboy due to his popularity and then you have Melinda who a straight a student and also the star swimmer with the team and even though he has been in love with her right from the start she also had her reasons for keeping him at arm’s length because of his playboy ways and her own secrets but they are both very complicated people especially as her best friend Paige is the girlfriend of Mason’s brother Craig. Mason had never stopped wanting and loving Melinda and what could have been if he hadn’t made a mess of everything so now he needed to change his reputation if he ever wanted a chance to show her that he is a good person and not what others see and he was prepared to do anything to be with Melinda in any way possible even though he knew it wouldn’t be easy. Melinda and Mason had so many ups and downs and things between them was definitely not plain sailing and even though they are perfect together and for each other they will both need to be vulnerable and communicate while saying how they feel before it is all taken away from them and just when you think things between them start to progress something happens that completely tears everything apart leaving devastation, heartbreak and a cliffhanger ending leaving you with so many emotions. Wow this book will take you on the biggest rollercoaster ride of emotions with everything that Melinda and Mason had been through and I loved this book so much that I read it in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down. The storyline will pull you in and have you turning the pages while keeping your attention throughout because it was so engaging and addictive. I definitely recommend you read this book but just remember that it is not a standalone story and you will need to read the next book but you will not be disappointed.
June 5, 2025
I've had to take my time with this one. It will definitely bring back high school memories and make you feel nostalgic if you've been out of school as long as I have. I did like the book, but YA is hard for me.
Mason is a phenomenal football player as is his brother. Together they're a force to be reckoned with on the field. They have each other's backs regardless of the situation and never hesitate to call out the other for BS. I love their sibling relationship.
Melinda is an amazing swimmer and is a powerhouse in the water. I wish we could have got more insight into her brother and parents.
Mason and Melinda meet while in middle school and he's instantly smitten, but is in that awkward phase of life where he doesn't understand his feelings and all the hormones, therefore, scares Mel away.
Flash forward to high school where he's your typical football player with a reputation with the girls. It comes back to bite him when he finally wants to try to get Mel's attention. I will say though, once he realized how he felt for her he was very sweet, caring, and attentive to her. It always felt two steps forward and 10 steps backward with them though. There was so much back and forth that I got an emotional whiplash, much like the teen love experience will give you. It did feel repetitive at times and I think it could have been shortened by about 50 pages or so without losing the heart of the story.
Thank you, Emmanuelle Snow for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Mason is a phenomenal football player as is his brother. Together they're a force to be reckoned with on the field. They have each other's backs regardless of the situation and never hesitate to call out the other for BS. I love their sibling relationship.
Melinda is an amazing swimmer and is a powerhouse in the water. I wish we could have got more insight into her brother and parents.
Mason and Melinda meet while in middle school and he's instantly smitten, but is in that awkward phase of life where he doesn't understand his feelings and all the hormones, therefore, scares Mel away.
Flash forward to high school where he's your typical football player with a reputation with the girls. It comes back to bite him when he finally wants to try to get Mel's attention. I will say though, once he realized how he felt for her he was very sweet, caring, and attentive to her. It always felt two steps forward and 10 steps backward with them though. There was so much back and forth that I got an emotional whiplash, much like the teen love experience will give you. It did feel repetitive at times and I think it could have been shortened by about 50 pages or so without losing the heart of the story.
Thank you, Emmanuelle Snow for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 29, 2025
You tear us apart with each book - but the problem with splitting your books into multi-part series… now we have to wait forever to be put whole again!
My goodness! I though I’d be OK since we got near the end and I hadn’t been emotionally destroyed yet, like Emmanuelle has done in every single other one of her books, except she’s gone and given us a cliffhanger and left a hole in our hearts! Now we don’t know what’s happening in Melinda’s mind, or if Mason is going to be all right, just as they are graduating and heading off to the same college.
Melinda finally gave Mason a chance after 5 years, and while recovering from an eating disorder she destroys his (and in turn, our) heart … along with her best friend’s. I need the next book, asap, to find out if anything in their newly built relationship can be salvaged!
Emmanuelle Snow is a brilliant storyteller, building up the drama and emotions right from page one, and getting you hooked so you don’t want to put the book down. I finished this nearly 450 pager in only 2 days (had to work or it’d be a single sitting!), since I had to find out what these high school seniors would do next - would they or wouldn’t they finally get together?!?! He fell for her from the day she moved in next door when they were 12 and they played basketball, and she beat him in a swimming race!
Mostly told from Mason’s point of view, I truly enjoyed every single word.
Thank you to Emmanuelle Snow for the advance copy. This is my honest review.
My goodness! I though I’d be OK since we got near the end and I hadn’t been emotionally destroyed yet, like Emmanuelle has done in every single other one of her books, except she’s gone and given us a cliffhanger and left a hole in our hearts! Now we don’t know what’s happening in Melinda’s mind, or if Mason is going to be all right, just as they are graduating and heading off to the same college.
Melinda finally gave Mason a chance after 5 years, and while recovering from an eating disorder she destroys his (and in turn, our) heart … along with her best friend’s. I need the next book, asap, to find out if anything in their newly built relationship can be salvaged!
Emmanuelle Snow is a brilliant storyteller, building up the drama and emotions right from page one, and getting you hooked so you don’t want to put the book down. I finished this nearly 450 pager in only 2 days (had to work or it’d be a single sitting!), since I had to find out what these high school seniors would do next - would they or wouldn’t they finally get together?!?! He fell for her from the day she moved in next door when they were 12 and they played basketball, and she beat him in a swimming race!
Mostly told from Mason’s point of view, I truly enjoyed every single word.
Thank you to Emmanuelle Snow for the advance copy. This is my honest review.
May 24, 2025
Well guys Emmanuelle Snow did it again! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Kickoff is a gem of a book.
Mason Pierce is the star quarterback for the Elk River High’s Bears and he’s popular and a bit of a womanizer at first and he can date any girl he wants.
But he’s in love with the only person that he can’t have, his neighbour Melinda Shepard. She a star on the swimming team and doesn’t care about Mason even though her best friend Paige is dating Craig, Mason’s brother.
Mason and Melinda are important characters in Emmanuelle Snow’s Wrecked series and I was so happy to get the story of how they met and fell in love when they were teens.
The main tropes are
- childhood friends to enemies to lovers
- Small town
- Opposite attracts
- He falls first
- Mental health awareness
Kickoff will make you laugh,cry,and want to throw your book at the wall but in a good way. The banter is fantastic, the tension between the two MC will keep you on the edge of your seat. The book is quite big but it’s easy to read in one sitting. Who needs sleep anyway?
Can’t wait to read more of Emmanuelle’s magic worlds she creates and continue this series. I have so many questions I need answers to like right now.
This is a must-read book if you like emotions, angst, love, and someone who moves
the world for the person he loves.
Mason Pierce is definitely my new Johnny Kavanagh Sorry Johnny!
Kickoff is a gem of a book.
Mason Pierce is the star quarterback for the Elk River High’s Bears and he’s popular and a bit of a womanizer at first and he can date any girl he wants.
But he’s in love with the only person that he can’t have, his neighbour Melinda Shepard. She a star on the swimming team and doesn’t care about Mason even though her best friend Paige is dating Craig, Mason’s brother.
Mason and Melinda are important characters in Emmanuelle Snow’s Wrecked series and I was so happy to get the story of how they met and fell in love when they were teens.
The main tropes are
- childhood friends to enemies to lovers
- Small town
- Opposite attracts
- He falls first
- Mental health awareness
Kickoff will make you laugh,cry,and want to throw your book at the wall but in a good way. The banter is fantastic, the tension between the two MC will keep you on the edge of your seat. The book is quite big but it’s easy to read in one sitting. Who needs sleep anyway?
Can’t wait to read more of Emmanuelle’s magic worlds she creates and continue this series. I have so many questions I need answers to like right now.
This is a must-read book if you like emotions, angst, love, and someone who moves
the world for the person he loves.
Mason Pierce is definitely my new Johnny Kavanagh Sorry Johnny!
June 11, 2025
Mel and Mason have known each other since before high school. When they first met, they had a great tie together and thought they would have a great friendship. But Mason wanted to make sure everyone knew that Mel was his and he went a little overboard with the possessiveness. Mel didn't want that kind of relationship, so she spent years staying away from Mason. But right before Senior year, they started hanging out more and Mason was determined to win her heart for good.
Mel is so driven that she finds herself relapsing after an emergency appendectomy. Her eating disorder is back and she is beyond angry at her best friend Paige and Mason for not having her back and outing her to her parents. She can't see that they only want her to get the help she needs to get better. Trust is so hard for Mel, but Mason is determined to show her that love will prevail.
Kickoff is a great story about young love and finding a way to trust. Emmanuelle Snow brings out all your feels as usual. Don't stray too far from the tissues while reading this one!
Mel is so driven that she finds herself relapsing after an emergency appendectomy. Her eating disorder is back and she is beyond angry at her best friend Paige and Mason for not having her back and outing her to her parents. She can't see that they only want her to get the help she needs to get better. Trust is so hard for Mel, but Mason is determined to show her that love will prevail.
Kickoff is a great story about young love and finding a way to trust. Emmanuelle Snow brings out all your feels as usual. Don't stray too far from the tissues while reading this one!
May 28, 2025
Boy oh boy. This book took me on quite the emotional rollercoaster. I was up, down, and sideways with Melinda and Mason's story.
The way that as soon as Mason met Melinda, he knew that she was "The One" for him was so endearing. Even at a young age. Melinda took longer to share the same feelings. In fact, these two never cross the border into boyfriend/girlfriend territory. They are stuck in the "friend zone".
Melinda has so many reasons why she can't be Mason's girlfriend. Mason is more than willing to change and prove to Melinda just how much she means to him. While there are times that it does m=feel like Mason puts a lot of pressure on Melinda to be his girlfriend, the way that he truly cares for her and talks to her is so endearing.
By the end of this story by heart has shattered. I need the follow up book to Mason and Melinda's story ASAP! This book is one you don't want to miss. Melinda and Mason will stick with you.
The way that as soon as Mason met Melinda, he knew that she was "The One" for him was so endearing. Even at a young age. Melinda took longer to share the same feelings. In fact, these two never cross the border into boyfriend/girlfriend territory. They are stuck in the "friend zone".
Melinda has so many reasons why she can't be Mason's girlfriend. Mason is more than willing to change and prove to Melinda just how much she means to him. While there are times that it does m=feel like Mason puts a lot of pressure on Melinda to be his girlfriend, the way that he truly cares for her and talks to her is so endearing.
By the end of this story by heart has shattered. I need the follow up book to Mason and Melinda's story ASAP! This book is one you don't want to miss. Melinda and Mason will stick with you.
May 29, 2025
This is book one in the Touchdown series. It is a spinoff of the author’s Wrecked series. This is a YA, opposites attract, football romance. There is so much passion and heartbreak in this story that you will be left with a book hangover after you read this. This was a sweet read with all the feels that check all the boxes. Well-developed characters that you will fall in love with and root for their happy ending. I really liked how the author built up the relationship between the two main characters. The chemistry between the two main characters is steamy and intense. I found the story to be well written, easy to read and highly engaging. It pulled me in from beginning to end and held my attention. I received an ARC copy of this book, and I am providing an honest review.
June 1, 2025
Wow!!! What a powerful story. Mason and Melinda have been neighbours for many years. Mason has always loved the girl next door but he can’t figure out how to get her to notice him.
He uses his boyish charm, ego and football skills to get him what he needs but is this persona enough for him?
After saving Melinda one day, she gives him a chance and he works hard to earn her trust. Sadly, Melinda has a secret that she wants to remain hidden. When the secret comes to light, is it enough to keep Mason around or will it scare him away?
I read this book as an ARC reader and as usual Emmanuelle Snow never disappoints. I haven’t ugly cried like this in a while. Thank you Emmanuelle for writing such a special story.
Trigger warning:
Eating disorders (anorexia)
Mental health awareness
He uses his boyish charm, ego and football skills to get him what he needs but is this persona enough for him?
After saving Melinda one day, she gives him a chance and he works hard to earn her trust. Sadly, Melinda has a secret that she wants to remain hidden. When the secret comes to light, is it enough to keep Mason around or will it scare him away?
I read this book as an ARC reader and as usual Emmanuelle Snow never disappoints. I haven’t ugly cried like this in a while. Thank you Emmanuelle for writing such a special story.
Trigger warning:
Eating disorders (anorexia)
Mental health awareness
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 29, 2025
This young adult novel brought back all the nostalgia of being in high school. The pressure of senior year, figuring out who you are and who you want to be is there. It has the whacky friendships, the sports teams, and, of course, dating. Especially the kind of dating in which you want to move out of the friend zone. It was incredibly relatable.
Mason and Melinda are so raw and real. Vulnerable. Unsure. But also brave. Their experiences rocked me to my core. This book is so emotionally charged with Mason trying to prove he’s a changed guy and how he worships the ground Melinda walks on. And the emotional tidal wave at the end still has me trying to figure out which way is up.
Mason and Melinda are so raw and real. Vulnerable. Unsure. But also brave. Their experiences rocked me to my core. This book is so emotionally charged with Mason trying to prove he’s a changed guy and how he worships the ground Melinda walks on. And the emotional tidal wave at the end still has me trying to figure out which way is up.
May 29, 2025
A heart wrenching start to a new series. Mason is just a perfect MMC, he’s good at sports, popular and totally in love with Melinda. Their pulling and pushing keeps you reading, your emotions all over the place and the cliffhanger makes you desperate for book 2. The MCs are young so their problems and how they deal with them are just what you would expect them to be. Likeable characters and I’m rooting for them. Great start so thank you Ms Snow for giving me the chance to give YA a chance as it’s not usually my trope.
May 23, 2025
I am a big fan of Emmanuelle Snow's books, and this one did not disappoint. Great to read Melinda and Mason's story. I found Mason a very irresistible character. I had a lot of emotions for Melinda, such a sad character. I hope they get their happily ever after. This does end in a cliffhanger, and I can't wait to read the rest of this series. I hope the next book comes out soon.
May 29, 2025
This book was so good. It definitely covers some major topics and will bring you to tears in some parts of the story. Mental health definitely plays a big part in Melinda and Masons story. You will get hooked quickly and definitely will want the second part of their story as soon as you finish reading this one.
May 26, 2025
This Author really knows how to make me feel everything! So many emotions in Mason and Melinda’s story….. I just love Mason and feel so extremely sad for Melinda. Then I have some many questions floating in my head with Mason’s brother… oh my, my, my, I don’t know how I’m going to wait for the next book! Seriously I’m edge, looking forward to see what happens when they are in college.
May 30, 2025
I absolutely loved this book! The beginning of Mason and Melinda's story is beautiful and heartbreaking all at the same time. Be prepared for an emotional roller-coaster.
July 14, 2025
This was a good read for me. Mason and Melinda are full of the ups and downs of teenage love. My emotions were all over the board and didn't know how I should feel at times. I did enjoy the book.
June 8, 2025
"Kickoff" by Emmanuelle Snow, the first book in the Touchdown series, is a heartfelt YA romance you won't want to miss. This captivating story features a dynamic childhood friends-to-enemies-to-lovers trope between the high school football quarterback and his swimming star neighbor. It also thoughtfully explores teen mental health and emotions, adding depth to their journey. You'll be on the edge of your seat wondering: will they get their happy ending?
June 30, 2025
This was a heart wrenching book that pulled on every emotion I had and then some. Mason has been in love with Melinda since they were kids and she has always been distant keeping him at arm’s length. They are both highly competitive with ambitions that are high, but Melinda carries pain and a secret that is heartbreaking. When Mason finally gets his shot with Melinda all seems to go fairly well until it doesn’t and everything spirals and crumbles. While I loved this story and can relate to Melinda’s struggle because I too went through some of those things, the ending crushed my soul and, in some ways, I understood her pushing Mason away again and yet I couldn’t understand. What I couldn’t understand was she letting Mason go and saying it was for his own good (her words) and because she didn't feel like she deserved him (her words), yet she was jumping into another relationship with his enemy? I’m sorry but if you want to heal, truly maybe try it without a relationship, to me that would make more sense of why she pushes Mason away but this seemed to be almost a vengeful thing or a I don't want to be lonely but I can't have the one I want thing even if it wasn’t and I guess that’s because I felt so hard for Mason. All he ever has done was love her, deeply devoted to her and she kept pushing him away because of her insecurities, yet she’s with another guy or says she is. Honestly, if I didn’t love Mason so much, I’d be so mad at Mel and want him to find someone else, so I’m hoping in book two things make a turn. I know people handle difficult situations and trauma in different ways and I get that, so I kept reminding myself these are highschoolers, relax. The story was a beautiful one and I did enjoy the emotional take it had on me, which this author knows how to pull those out of her readers, and the ending will crush you but I hope the next one comes soon.
July 19, 2025
This did for me in the most glorious of ways. Touchdown Kickoff was mighty fine ,in fact it’s a divine storyline . Will you be mine angst dance and then a glimpse at romance . It’s the play of his life to keep her safe and warm in his arms but first the disarms ,the charm offensive but it ends up defensive and even pensive heat. It’s a bit of a seesaw ride that’s for sure . A push and they’re friends once more then not agin ,she does refrain and he tries agin but it’s a great story and the characters are sweet a real treat. I’m keeping schtum as I don’t want to give nothing away . I do wish we’d had more of Melissa’s pov though as well as Mason who is a strong MMC but just left to hold up the story at times. I still had a good time ,I don’t mind telling and it was compelling bis storytelling .
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