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Let It Be Me: A Friends to Lovers Sports Romance
There’s just one problem with having a hot football player for a best friend…falling for him.
To everyone else on campus, Lorenzo Rossi is the football star with the promising future. To me, he's the other half of my heart. My source of strength since childhood. Oh yeah, and the only man I've ever loved.
But he doesn't need to know that.
Because Lorenzo isn’t just perfection, he’s unattainable for a walking disaster like me. Best friends is the best we can do—until the day Lorenzo goes into surgery and comes out saying the words I’ve spent a lifetime longing to hear…
‘Just friends’ just went out the window.
Suddenly I have everything I've ever wanted and one long, steamy summer to enjoy it—warm days under the sun with Lorenzo, hot nights in his bed, and scorching games of truth or dare.
We both know summer can’t last forever, but can we?
Or will I lose my best friend…
And lose everything that matters?
Let It Be Me is a full-length standalone novel and can be enjoyed even if you haven't read the other books in the Shafer U Series.
To everyone else on campus, Lorenzo Rossi is the football star with the promising future. To me, he's the other half of my heart. My source of strength since childhood. Oh yeah, and the only man I've ever loved.
But he doesn't need to know that.
Because Lorenzo isn’t just perfection, he’s unattainable for a walking disaster like me. Best friends is the best we can do—until the day Lorenzo goes into surgery and comes out saying the words I’ve spent a lifetime longing to hear…
‘Just friends’ just went out the window.
Suddenly I have everything I've ever wanted and one long, steamy summer to enjoy it—warm days under the sun with Lorenzo, hot nights in his bed, and scorching games of truth or dare.
We both know summer can’t last forever, but can we?
Or will I lose my best friend…
And lose everything that matters?
Let It Be Me is a full-length standalone novel and can be enjoyed even if you haven't read the other books in the Shafer U Series.
406 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 30, 2025
176 people are currently reading
294 people want to read
About the author
Kristen Vail
4 books43 followersWelcome!
I write spicy romances with realistic characters and plenty of delicious tension.
I live in the Midwest with my husband, kids and rescue pup.
When I'm not writing, you can find me in the garden (give me all the dahlias
and peonies!), cooking (pasta for the win) or planning my next hike.
Instagram: @kristenvailbooks
TikTok: @kristenvailbooks
I write spicy romances with realistic characters and plenty of delicious tension.
I live in the Midwest with my husband, kids and rescue pup.
When I'm not writing, you can find me in the garden (give me all the dahlias
and peonies!), cooking (pasta for the win) or planning my next hike.
Instagram: @kristenvailbooks
TikTok: @kristenvailbooks
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
June 20, 2025
Not a bad second book but I was put off by some things here and there that didn’t make me appreciate Ruby and Lorenzo’s story in full.
I like the base plot where Ruby and Lorenzo, best friends since forever and secretely in love with one another, finally manage to declare their love and give it a try.
What left with a sour taste was the reason for the third act break up, which honestly makes not sense at all. Also, the twist is not necessary it doesn’t add up much to the story. If it’s because Lorenzo needed to realise something, it could have been done another way. Especially since he didn’t spend too much time thinking about this epiphany of his.
I like the base plot where Ruby and Lorenzo, best friends since forever and secretely in love with one another, finally manage to declare their love and give it a try.
What left with a sour taste was the reason for the third act break up, which honestly makes not sense at all. Also, the twist is not necessary it doesn’t add up much to the story. If it’s because Lorenzo needed to realise something, it could have been done another way. Especially since he didn’t spend too much time thinking about this epiphany of his.
June 20, 2025
ARC Review
I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
What a cute story of best friends to lovers. Lorenzo and Ruby have been best friends nearly all their lives and finally decide to go for it. What I loved most about their story is how they always had each other's back and stepped up to be that person whenever they needed. And I love how that continued even when they struggled with their new romance.
I love a good sports romance, and while yes Lorenzo is a college football player it didnt have a sport romance vibe I was looking for, likely because we were going through his injury for most of the story. That doesn't mean I didnt enjoy this though!
If you're looking for a cute, steamy and angsty read, this is one to check out.
I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
What a cute story of best friends to lovers. Lorenzo and Ruby have been best friends nearly all their lives and finally decide to go for it. What I loved most about their story is how they always had each other's back and stepped up to be that person whenever they needed. And I love how that continued even when they struggled with their new romance.
I love a good sports romance, and while yes Lorenzo is a college football player it didnt have a sport romance vibe I was looking for, likely because we were going through his injury for most of the story. That doesn't mean I didnt enjoy this though!
If you're looking for a cute, steamy and angsty read, this is one to check out.
June 24, 2025
Ruby and Lorenzo are best friend but immediately you can tell they are crazy about each other and who better to be in a relationship with than your best friend?! They know everything about each other and take care of each other so well and that before they even give into their attraction.
Lorenzo is a football star at Shaffer University. He has a dream of playing for the nfl. He has been in love with his childhood best friend since they’ve known each other.
Ruby is wild and impulsive and just flies by the seed of her pants most of the time but Lorenzo can’t help but love her.
The yearning and and tension leading up to them getting together was so good!
Lorenzo is a football star at Shaffer University. He has a dream of playing for the nfl. He has been in love with his childhood best friend since they’ve known each other.
Ruby is wild and impulsive and just flies by the seed of her pants most of the time but Lorenzo can’t help but love her.
The yearning and and tension leading up to them getting together was so good!
June 20, 2025
What an incredible love story about best friends who secretly are head over heels in love with each other, and finally take the leap and show each other just how much that love is… when one of them needs the other after a medical procedure and some hardcore meds 😂.
Loved this dearly 🩷
Loved this dearly 🩷
November 23, 2025
I didn’t love this one the chemistry wasn’t there Ruby was annoying an unreliable and it felt like nothing was ever resolved with them and don’t get me started on the last tattoo
June 30, 2025
Best friends since early childhood. She stood up for him and he always had her back even against her parents. They made it through challenges, self discovery and knowing their next step. This is a cute romance novel that will test them and push them to their limits with one another.
July 3, 2025
This was my first ever ARC and let me just say.
Lorenzo fucking Rossi. The man that you are. Kind, protective, caring, driven, with a passion for making his girl happy. Lorenzo is the perfect book boyfriend, and watching the love that is so obviously between him and ruby bloom into something that even they can’t deny was so so special. This book quickly shot to be the top of my favorite romance reads for this year and the ending had tears in my eyes and made me side eye my husband for not being Lorenzo Rossi (sorry hunny). 10/10 read!!
Lorenzo fucking Rossi. The man that you are. Kind, protective, caring, driven, with a passion for making his girl happy. Lorenzo is the perfect book boyfriend, and watching the love that is so obviously between him and ruby bloom into something that even they can’t deny was so so special. This book quickly shot to be the top of my favorite romance reads for this year and the ending had tears in my eyes and made me side eye my husband for not being Lorenzo Rossi (sorry hunny). 10/10 read!!
June 29, 2025
I was very lucky to be an ARC reader for this book and I have to say it was very cute. It’s a friends (from childhood) to lovers and in my opinion wasn’t a lot of conflict. Do I think that each character had their own flaws and they were self aware? Yes. Do I also think it was kind of endearing to see the MMC have self doubts? Also yes. I really liked the conflict part about Ant (his cousin) actually being his brother. I kind of wished we had seen more about that throughout the book. I just feel like I really liked Ant even though there wasn’t a lot of him. Over all I gave this 4 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 1, 2025
"I already drove myself wild comparing every girl I dated to you."
If you're like me and you live for a good friends-to-lovers romance, then buckle up because Kristen Vail's latest release, Let It Be Me, is about to sweep you off your feet! Cue the happy squeals! This one gave me all the warm, slow-burn fuzzies I crave in a romance.
Set against the backdrop of college life, this story follows Ruby and Lorenzo, two best friends who've unknowingly been orbiting each other forever. From the very first chapter, you can feel the tension simmering between them. Vail does a fantastic job of capturing that almost painful yearning, the kind where you know they're meant to be, but life, timing, and their stubbornness keep getting in the way.
"Just for once, try opening your eyes and seeing who she is. Maybe you'd love her as much as I do."
Ruby is the heart of this story, messy, dreamy, a little scattered, but so full of life. She's still figuring out who she is and what she wants, especially when it comes to her career path. I loved how relatable Ruby felt. She's the kind of character that makes you feel like it's okay not to have it all together, to chase what sets your soul on fire even if you don't have a clear roadmap.
On the other hand, Lorenzo is the guy who has a plan. He's steady, loyal, and fiercely protective, not in an overbearing way, but in that swoon-worthy, "I see you and I'll always choose you" way. His quiet pining for Ruby just melted me. There's something incredibly tender about the way he holds space for her in his life, even when she doesn't realize how much.
"I knew you would ruin me for every other woman."
The slow-burn pacing is done very well! For readers who love a story that takes its time to build the connection, this is a treat. The chemistry is undeniable, but it's not rushed. You feel every lingering glance, every inside joke. Every missed opportunity, and yes...there were moments where I wanted to reach into the book, shake them both, and yell, "Just tell each other how you feel already!"
One of the highlights for me was the banter. Ruby and Lorenzo's back-and-forth felt natural and authentic, like conversations you've overheard between real-life best friends who are just a little bit too in sync to not be in love.
There were a few parts where I wished one of them had made a move sooner, but honestly, that sweet, torturous buildup is part of what made the payoff so satisfying. I had the biggest smile on my face!
If you're searching for a feel-good, college-set romance with characters you'll root for, Let It Be Me deserves a spot on your ever-growing TBR pile. It's heartfelt, funny, and filled with those delicious "finally!" moments that make the friends-to-lovers trope so addictive. Five stars from me!
If you're like me and you live for a good friends-to-lovers romance, then buckle up because Kristen Vail's latest release, Let It Be Me, is about to sweep you off your feet! Cue the happy squeals! This one gave me all the warm, slow-burn fuzzies I crave in a romance.
Set against the backdrop of college life, this story follows Ruby and Lorenzo, two best friends who've unknowingly been orbiting each other forever. From the very first chapter, you can feel the tension simmering between them. Vail does a fantastic job of capturing that almost painful yearning, the kind where you know they're meant to be, but life, timing, and their stubbornness keep getting in the way.
"Just for once, try opening your eyes and seeing who she is. Maybe you'd love her as much as I do."
Ruby is the heart of this story, messy, dreamy, a little scattered, but so full of life. She's still figuring out who she is and what she wants, especially when it comes to her career path. I loved how relatable Ruby felt. She's the kind of character that makes you feel like it's okay not to have it all together, to chase what sets your soul on fire even if you don't have a clear roadmap.
On the other hand, Lorenzo is the guy who has a plan. He's steady, loyal, and fiercely protective, not in an overbearing way, but in that swoon-worthy, "I see you and I'll always choose you" way. His quiet pining for Ruby just melted me. There's something incredibly tender about the way he holds space for her in his life, even when she doesn't realize how much.
"I knew you would ruin me for every other woman."
The slow-burn pacing is done very well! For readers who love a story that takes its time to build the connection, this is a treat. The chemistry is undeniable, but it's not rushed. You feel every lingering glance, every inside joke. Every missed opportunity, and yes...there were moments where I wanted to reach into the book, shake them both, and yell, "Just tell each other how you feel already!"
One of the highlights for me was the banter. Ruby and Lorenzo's back-and-forth felt natural and authentic, like conversations you've overheard between real-life best friends who are just a little bit too in sync to not be in love.
There were a few parts where I wished one of them had made a move sooner, but honestly, that sweet, torturous buildup is part of what made the payoff so satisfying. I had the biggest smile on my face!
If you're searching for a feel-good, college-set romance with characters you'll root for, Let It Be Me deserves a spot on your ever-growing TBR pile. It's heartfelt, funny, and filled with those delicious "finally!" moments that make the friends-to-lovers trope so addictive. Five stars from me!
June 17, 2025
🏈 Best Friends to Lovers
💔 Hidden Feelings
💉 Medical Drama
🔥 Summer Romance
🤫 Secret Keeping
💋 Steamy Romance
💔 Emotional Conflict
👩❤️👨 Slow Burn
🌞 Sun-kissed Moments
Star: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Kristen Vail’s Let It Be Me continues her Shafer U series with a heartfelt and steamy friends-to-lovers romance that dives into the complex territory of hidden feelings, emotional risk, and deep-seated vulnerability. The story follows MCs Ruby and Lorenzo—childhood best friends whose relationship walks the fine line between platonic closeness and a love unspoken.
From the outset, readers are drawn into Ruby’s internal struggle. Lorenzo Rossi, campus football star and Ruby’s unwavering rock, is not just her best friend—he's her quiet, constant love. The novel excels at portraying the tension of that emotional paradox: being someone’s safe place while hiding the depth of your feelings. Ruby’s voice is tender and self-aware, laced with a mixture of longing and resignation that makes her instantly relatable.
What sets Let It Be Me apart from your typical college romance is the emotional intimacy. When Lorenzo’s medical scare becomes a catalyst for confession, the story pivots from yearning to passionate reality. Their transition from friends to lovers is portrayed with sizzling chemistry but also with emotional sincerity. The summer romance that follows is dreamy, sun-soaked, and laced with both heat and heart.
Yet, true to genre form, there's a shadow hanging over their bliss. The reveal that Lorenzo is hiding something injects tension into the narrative, forcing readers to wonder whether love built on decades of friendship can withstand a revelation capable of shaking that foundation. This central conflict feels authentic and poignant, rather than manufactured for drama’s sake.
Kristen Vail’s prose is evocative, her character work grounded, and her pacing brisk but thoughtful. She lets the romance simmer before igniting, allowing readers to feel the stakes. Supporting characters and campus culture flesh out the world without distracting from the central romance.
Let It Be Me is a compelling, emotional ride for fans of slow burn, best-friend romances. With a blend of summer heat and heartfelt honesty, it delivers not just romantic payoff, but an exploration of how deep love is often built on a lifetime of quiet moments. Perfect for readers who want more than just spice—they want a story that stays with them.
💔 Hidden Feelings
💉 Medical Drama
🔥 Summer Romance
🤫 Secret Keeping
💋 Steamy Romance
💔 Emotional Conflict
👩❤️👨 Slow Burn
🌞 Sun-kissed Moments
Star: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Kristen Vail’s Let It Be Me continues her Shafer U series with a heartfelt and steamy friends-to-lovers romance that dives into the complex territory of hidden feelings, emotional risk, and deep-seated vulnerability. The story follows MCs Ruby and Lorenzo—childhood best friends whose relationship walks the fine line between platonic closeness and a love unspoken.
From the outset, readers are drawn into Ruby’s internal struggle. Lorenzo Rossi, campus football star and Ruby’s unwavering rock, is not just her best friend—he's her quiet, constant love. The novel excels at portraying the tension of that emotional paradox: being someone’s safe place while hiding the depth of your feelings. Ruby’s voice is tender and self-aware, laced with a mixture of longing and resignation that makes her instantly relatable.
What sets Let It Be Me apart from your typical college romance is the emotional intimacy. When Lorenzo’s medical scare becomes a catalyst for confession, the story pivots from yearning to passionate reality. Their transition from friends to lovers is portrayed with sizzling chemistry but also with emotional sincerity. The summer romance that follows is dreamy, sun-soaked, and laced with both heat and heart.
Yet, true to genre form, there's a shadow hanging over their bliss. The reveal that Lorenzo is hiding something injects tension into the narrative, forcing readers to wonder whether love built on decades of friendship can withstand a revelation capable of shaking that foundation. This central conflict feels authentic and poignant, rather than manufactured for drama’s sake.
Kristen Vail’s prose is evocative, her character work grounded, and her pacing brisk but thoughtful. She lets the romance simmer before igniting, allowing readers to feel the stakes. Supporting characters and campus culture flesh out the world without distracting from the central romance.
Let It Be Me is a compelling, emotional ride for fans of slow burn, best-friend romances. With a blend of summer heat and heartfelt honesty, it delivers not just romantic payoff, but an exploration of how deep love is often built on a lifetime of quiet moments. Perfect for readers who want more than just spice—they want a story that stays with them.
June 30, 2025
"Let It Be Me" by Kristen Vail just did ALL THE THINGS and then some! If you've ever picked up a series that just sucked you right in in ways you never expected, where you fell head-over-heels for every single character and found yourself completely immersed in the world? Yeah, that's the Shafer U Series, and "Let It Be Me" is easily one of the best. This book has the power to make you feel so many different emotions you never saw coming – from smiling and laughing out loud, to crying like a baby, to actually being speechless, and even screaming outta pure frustration! It's like being on the craziest ride at the amusement park, that excited-nervous anticipation of what's next, but in book form!
Something about Ruby and Lorenzo just spoke to my soul. I honestly can't put it into words, but their connection is just so incredibly strong. This is a best friends to lovers romance done to absolute perfection, easily one of the best I've read in a really long time. Ruby, our self-aware and relatable heroine, has been secretly pining for her best friend, Lorenzo, her "unwavering rock," for years. And Lorenzo? He's been pining right back since he was eight years old! Their journey from childhood best friends to forever is a beautiful, emotional rollercoaster. The tension of their unspoken love, the way they're each other's biggest cheerleaders, and the sheer emotional intimacy is just chef's kiss.
When Lorenzo's medical scare becomes the catalyst for confession, their story pivots from yearning to passionate reality, and their transition from friends to lovers is portrayed with sizzling chemistry and heartfelt honesty. You'll swoon over their tender moments and feel every single one of their ups and downs. Even with a shadow hanging over their bliss (because, you know, drama!), their love built on decades of quiet moments feels so authentic and powerful. Kristen Vail's writing is pure magic – evocative, grounded, and she lets the romance simmer before igniting, making you feel every single stake. This book is a compelling, emotional ride that will stay with you long after you turn the final page. If you're a sucker for a great best friends to lovers story with all the feels, you
Something about Ruby and Lorenzo just spoke to my soul. I honestly can't put it into words, but their connection is just so incredibly strong. This is a best friends to lovers romance done to absolute perfection, easily one of the best I've read in a really long time. Ruby, our self-aware and relatable heroine, has been secretly pining for her best friend, Lorenzo, her "unwavering rock," for years. And Lorenzo? He's been pining right back since he was eight years old! Their journey from childhood best friends to forever is a beautiful, emotional rollercoaster. The tension of their unspoken love, the way they're each other's biggest cheerleaders, and the sheer emotional intimacy is just chef's kiss.
When Lorenzo's medical scare becomes the catalyst for confession, their story pivots from yearning to passionate reality, and their transition from friends to lovers is portrayed with sizzling chemistry and heartfelt honesty. You'll swoon over their tender moments and feel every single one of their ups and downs. Even with a shadow hanging over their bliss (because, you know, drama!), their love built on decades of quiet moments feels so authentic and powerful. Kristen Vail's writing is pure magic – evocative, grounded, and she lets the romance simmer before igniting, making you feel every single stake. This book is a compelling, emotional ride that will stay with you long after you turn the final page. If you're a sucker for a great best friends to lovers story with all the feels, you
July 5, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ Read
Let It Be Me is book 2 in the Shafter U series and is a slow burn, friends to lovers romance.
Lorenzo and Ruby have been best friends since childhood but they’ve never taken it further even though they have both been secretly pinning for each other for years. That all changes the day Lorenzo comes out from surgery confessing he wants them to be so much more and lines soon start to blur.
Ruby is pretty impulsive, not knowing what she really wants in life, forever starting something new but never sticking with it and is a disappointment to her parents. Lorenzo on the other hand knows exactly what he wants, a career in the NFL and he works as hard as he can to try and get there.
I loved Lorenzo and Ruby’s friendship, they are complete opposites but the connection between them is so strong and they always have each others backs. Neither one of them tried to change the other and I really liked how the acceptance of their differences is what makes their friendship so much stronger.
I was so pleased when they decided to give in to their feelings for each other, their journey to something more than friendship wasn’t rushed but was filled with an undeniable chemistry and tension that neither one of them could avoid. There were definitely a few times I wished they would hurry up and take that step past friendship but the way their relationship developed felt natural and showed the respect they both had for each other.
I wasn’t a fan of the third act breakup in this story, It irritated me that Ruby decided to focus on something Lorenzo failed to tell her years ago but wasn’t willing to except his reasons for that, especially when he had made his feelings for her very clear, I just felt like she gave up on them far too easily.
I was definitely rooting for them though and was so happy that they eventually worked out their issues and got the HEA they deserved in the end!
Let It Be Me is book 2 in the Shafter U series and is a slow burn, friends to lovers romance.
Lorenzo and Ruby have been best friends since childhood but they’ve never taken it further even though they have both been secretly pinning for each other for years. That all changes the day Lorenzo comes out from surgery confessing he wants them to be so much more and lines soon start to blur.
Ruby is pretty impulsive, not knowing what she really wants in life, forever starting something new but never sticking with it and is a disappointment to her parents. Lorenzo on the other hand knows exactly what he wants, a career in the NFL and he works as hard as he can to try and get there.
I loved Lorenzo and Ruby’s friendship, they are complete opposites but the connection between them is so strong and they always have each others backs. Neither one of them tried to change the other and I really liked how the acceptance of their differences is what makes their friendship so much stronger.
I was so pleased when they decided to give in to their feelings for each other, their journey to something more than friendship wasn’t rushed but was filled with an undeniable chemistry and tension that neither one of them could avoid. There were definitely a few times I wished they would hurry up and take that step past friendship but the way their relationship developed felt natural and showed the respect they both had for each other.
I wasn’t a fan of the third act breakup in this story, It irritated me that Ruby decided to focus on something Lorenzo failed to tell her years ago but wasn’t willing to except his reasons for that, especially when he had made his feelings for her very clear, I just felt like she gave up on them far too easily.
I was definitely rooting for them though and was so happy that they eventually worked out their issues and got the HEA they deserved in the end!
July 1, 2025
A remarkable story of affection between best friends who, despite their hidden feelings for one another, ultimately choose to express how deeply they care. They tackled challenges, uncovered their identities, and understood their next steps. The story revolves around Ruby and Lorenzo, childhood best friends whose connection balances on the delicate boundary between unarticulated love and platonic closeness.
Readers are quickly engaged in Ruby's personal struggle. Lorenzo Rossi, Ruby's unwavering rock and campus football star, is not just her closest friend but also her secret, everlasting love. The tension of that emotional contradiction—serving as a refuge for someone while hiding the depth of your emotions—is skillfully depicted in the novel. Ruby is instantly endearing because of her gentle and introspective tone, which carries a blend of remorse and desire.
Ruby and Lorenzo made a pact about a boundary they would not cross, yet their timing was always off. Until Lorenzo has shoulder surgery and comes out with a declaration to Ruby that irrevocably changes the course of their friendship. After a brief lingering touch or glance exchanged, they will ultimately make the most impulsive decision ever, as neither can hold back the attraction they've been concealing within any longer. Can they overcome their fears and transform into lovers rather than merely remaining best friends? You won't be disappointed if you read!
What I cherished the most was the careful and sensitive way they moved from friendship to a deeper relationship. It wasn't overly intense or rushed. It was genuine and straightforward, especially after Lorenzo's surgery proved to be a crucial turning point that neither of them expected. How's the chemistry? Off the charts.
This book contains all the desire and determination you could wish for in a best-friends love story—it's sincere, poignant, and charged. It's tasty, messy, and exceptionally satisfying.
Readers are quickly engaged in Ruby's personal struggle. Lorenzo Rossi, Ruby's unwavering rock and campus football star, is not just her closest friend but also her secret, everlasting love. The tension of that emotional contradiction—serving as a refuge for someone while hiding the depth of your emotions—is skillfully depicted in the novel. Ruby is instantly endearing because of her gentle and introspective tone, which carries a blend of remorse and desire.
Ruby and Lorenzo made a pact about a boundary they would not cross, yet their timing was always off. Until Lorenzo has shoulder surgery and comes out with a declaration to Ruby that irrevocably changes the course of their friendship. After a brief lingering touch or glance exchanged, they will ultimately make the most impulsive decision ever, as neither can hold back the attraction they've been concealing within any longer. Can they overcome their fears and transform into lovers rather than merely remaining best friends? You won't be disappointed if you read!
What I cherished the most was the careful and sensitive way they moved from friendship to a deeper relationship. It wasn't overly intense or rushed. It was genuine and straightforward, especially after Lorenzo's surgery proved to be a crucial turning point that neither of them expected. How's the chemistry? Off the charts.
This book contains all the desire and determination you could wish for in a best-friends love story—it's sincere, poignant, and charged. It's tasty, messy, and exceptionally satisfying.
June 17, 2025
Book two in the Shafer U series is Let It Be Me with summer time vibes, games of truth or dare, college football, best friends to lovers, and it's always been you tropes. This is Lorenzo & Ruby's slow burn story that is an emotional besties to lovers that everyone but them knew they would end up together. Toeing the line and finding out secrets could make or break them.
TW: Pregnancy loss, (mentioned in passing, not described in detail) Substance abuse, graphic sexual content, controlling and degrading parents.
I would sincerely like to Thank @kristenvailbooks and @theauthor.agency for my early digital copy and in return I voluntarily promise an honest review.
Lorenzo Rossi is a superstar football player that has a goal of playing in the NFL and his best friend since they were children, Ruby Hayes, is the only woman he's ever loved. But he can't cross that line with her until he knows that he can support her in every way.
Ruby Hayes is a wild mess and her only support of strength has come from her childhood best friend, Lorenzo. She has only ever loved him but he doesn't know it. Best friends are all they will be until Lorenzo comes out of shoulder surgery, all doped up, asking for them to be more.
Suddenly neither of them look at each other the same way, think of each other in a non platonic way and are jealous of other interested individuals. The summer gives them more lake times, dinner times and favorite night time games of truth or dare.
But when a secret is exposed, something that makes her feel like a loser, it breaks her heart and she just can't move past it.
TW: Pregnancy loss, (mentioned in passing, not described in detail) Substance abuse, graphic sexual content, controlling and degrading parents.
I would sincerely like to Thank @kristenvailbooks and @theauthor.agency for my early digital copy and in return I voluntarily promise an honest review.
Lorenzo Rossi is a superstar football player that has a goal of playing in the NFL and his best friend since they were children, Ruby Hayes, is the only woman he's ever loved. But he can't cross that line with her until he knows that he can support her in every way.
Ruby Hayes is a wild mess and her only support of strength has come from her childhood best friend, Lorenzo. She has only ever loved him but he doesn't know it. Best friends are all they will be until Lorenzo comes out of shoulder surgery, all doped up, asking for them to be more.
Suddenly neither of them look at each other the same way, think of each other in a non platonic way and are jealous of other interested individuals. The summer gives them more lake times, dinner times and favorite night time games of truth or dare.
But when a secret is exposed, something that makes her feel like a loser, it breaks her heart and she just can't move past it.
July 25, 2025
4.5/5⭐️
🌶️🌶️
I really enjoyed the childhood friends-to-lovers trope in this story. I love when authors give us the details on how their relationship starts and their backstory as friends before they turn to lovers. Watching them come to terms with the fact that the relationship is changing and what that might mean for them. I really thought that Kristen did this really well.
From the beginning the tension between these two friends is off the charts and it only grows from there. I think the fact that they know each other so well but have been dancing around this for so long adds to it.
Ruby, this FMC is a hot mess. She is chaos and excitement and has this larger-than-life personality. Through all this chaos she is still trying to figure out where her place is in the world, and her d-bag parents are, well, d-bags! (Does anyone else get Emily and Richard Gilmore Girl vibes?). There were some parts where I could have been her.
Lorenzo is the complete opposite. He is organized and loyal and steadfast. I mean, the guys on the team call him gramps. Lorenzo is dealing with some guilt from an event that happened when he was a kid and now he has become more cautious. He is Ruby's protector and sounding board and he is there for her in a way that no one else in her life has been and he loves that he gets to play that role.
While this was a slooooow burn, when the spice does hit, oh, boy! it hits! Also the best thing about childhood friends to lovers is the banter between the MCs. They have years worth of ammunition to use against each other and I am here for all of that.
This was a fun second book and hit all the spots!
Thank You Kristen Vail and The Author Agency for the AR in return for an honest review.
🌶️🌶️
I really enjoyed the childhood friends-to-lovers trope in this story. I love when authors give us the details on how their relationship starts and their backstory as friends before they turn to lovers. Watching them come to terms with the fact that the relationship is changing and what that might mean for them. I really thought that Kristen did this really well.
From the beginning the tension between these two friends is off the charts and it only grows from there. I think the fact that they know each other so well but have been dancing around this for so long adds to it.
Ruby, this FMC is a hot mess. She is chaos and excitement and has this larger-than-life personality. Through all this chaos she is still trying to figure out where her place is in the world, and her d-bag parents are, well, d-bags! (Does anyone else get Emily and Richard Gilmore Girl vibes?). There were some parts where I could have been her.
Lorenzo is the complete opposite. He is organized and loyal and steadfast. I mean, the guys on the team call him gramps. Lorenzo is dealing with some guilt from an event that happened when he was a kid and now he has become more cautious. He is Ruby's protector and sounding board and he is there for her in a way that no one else in her life has been and he loves that he gets to play that role.
While this was a slooooow burn, when the spice does hit, oh, boy! it hits! Also the best thing about childhood friends to lovers is the banter between the MCs. They have years worth of ammunition to use against each other and I am here for all of that.
This was a fun second book and hit all the spots!
Thank You Kristen Vail and The Author Agency for the AR in return for an honest review.
June 30, 2025
ARC Review
🩵 Let It Be Me ☀️
Book 2 of the Shafer U Series
Written By: @kristenvailbooks
Overall: 5/5
Overall plot: 5/5
Character development: 5/5
Pace: 5/5
World building: 5/5
Spice 🌶️: 2/5
Thank you, Kristen, for allowing me to be a part of your ARC team and read Let It Be Me ahead of its release date.
Kristen’s done it again! There’s so much heart and depth to her characters and stories.
Ruby Hayes is the wild child and changes her mind as fast as some guys switch girlfriends while Lorenzo Rossi is her rock, always reliable and gets her out of trouble. As best friends since 8 years old, Ruby and Lorenzo know each other like the back of their hands and know all of their secrets… except the best kept secret they keep is that they’re both pining for each other.
And OMG, DO THEY PINE!? Timing was never right between Ruby and Lorenzo and they had an agreement that there was a line they never crossed… until Lorenzo goes under for a shoulder surgery and comes out of it saying something to Ruby that forever changes the course of their friendship. A little lingering touch or look here and there until neither of them can withstand the attraction they’ve been burying deep down anymore and make the best impulsive decision ever. Can they overcome their insecurities and transition from best friends to lovers? Read and you won’t be disappointed!
If you love an angsty, it’s always been you, BEST friends to lovers, this book is for you.
Tropes:
🔥best friends to lovers
🏈sports romance
🔥summer vibes
🏈college football
🔥tattooed MMC
🏈it was always you
🔥secret tattoos
🏈truth or dare
🔥dual POV
🏈found family
🔥new adult
🏈spicy scenes
🔥interconnected standalone
🩵 Let It Be Me ☀️
Book 2 of the Shafer U Series
Written By: @kristenvailbooks
Overall: 5/5
Overall plot: 5/5
Character development: 5/5
Pace: 5/5
World building: 5/5
Spice 🌶️: 2/5
Thank you, Kristen, for allowing me to be a part of your ARC team and read Let It Be Me ahead of its release date.
Kristen’s done it again! There’s so much heart and depth to her characters and stories.
Ruby Hayes is the wild child and changes her mind as fast as some guys switch girlfriends while Lorenzo Rossi is her rock, always reliable and gets her out of trouble. As best friends since 8 years old, Ruby and Lorenzo know each other like the back of their hands and know all of their secrets… except the best kept secret they keep is that they’re both pining for each other.
And OMG, DO THEY PINE!? Timing was never right between Ruby and Lorenzo and they had an agreement that there was a line they never crossed… until Lorenzo goes under for a shoulder surgery and comes out of it saying something to Ruby that forever changes the course of their friendship. A little lingering touch or look here and there until neither of them can withstand the attraction they’ve been burying deep down anymore and make the best impulsive decision ever. Can they overcome their insecurities and transition from best friends to lovers? Read and you won’t be disappointed!
If you love an angsty, it’s always been you, BEST friends to lovers, this book is for you.
Tropes:
🔥best friends to lovers
🏈sports romance
🔥summer vibes
🏈college football
🔥tattooed MMC
🏈it was always you
🔥secret tattoos
🏈truth or dare
🔥dual POV
🏈found family
🔥new adult
🏈spicy scenes
🔥interconnected standalone
June 30, 2025
“Those girls would always come up short against you, Ruby.”
☀️College Football
🩵Friends to Lovers
☀️Dual POV
🩵It Was Always You
☀️Summer Vibes
🩵Angst
☀️Protective MMC
🩵Spicy Slow Burn
☀️Family Secrets
🩵 Mutual Pining
☀️Secret Tattoos
Ruby is a college student who is a bit lost trying to find her purpose and what she wants to be in life. She can't seem to commit to anything. Lorenzo is the exact opposite. He knows exactly he wants. He has big dreams of playing in the NFL and won't let his shoulder injury derail him.
Ruby and Lorenzo have been best friends since childhood. With unwavering loyalty, they are always there for each other. They are each others 'person' and wouldn't have it any other way. From playing video games, reading liner notes on cds or watching The Simpsons, they always have the best time together.
I really enjoyed the pace at which their relationship blossomed into a full blown romance. It was done with such thoughtfulness and care, especially, with Lorenzo. He really showed such respect for Ruby and their friendship, checking in with her and making sure she was ok with the pace they were moving.
Kristen really captured everything Ruby & Lorenzo were feeling so beautifully. If you love a friends to lovers romance with angsty, summer vibes you need to check this one out!
I definitely am looking forward to the next book Kristen writes.
*Thank you to Kristen Vail & The Author Agency for the arc.
☀️College Football
🩵Friends to Lovers
☀️Dual POV
🩵It Was Always You
☀️Summer Vibes
🩵Angst
☀️Protective MMC
🩵Spicy Slow Burn
☀️Family Secrets
🩵 Mutual Pining
☀️Secret Tattoos
Ruby is a college student who is a bit lost trying to find her purpose and what she wants to be in life. She can't seem to commit to anything. Lorenzo is the exact opposite. He knows exactly he wants. He has big dreams of playing in the NFL and won't let his shoulder injury derail him.
Ruby and Lorenzo have been best friends since childhood. With unwavering loyalty, they are always there for each other. They are each others 'person' and wouldn't have it any other way. From playing video games, reading liner notes on cds or watching The Simpsons, they always have the best time together.
I really enjoyed the pace at which their relationship blossomed into a full blown romance. It was done with such thoughtfulness and care, especially, with Lorenzo. He really showed such respect for Ruby and their friendship, checking in with her and making sure she was ok with the pace they were moving.
Kristen really captured everything Ruby & Lorenzo were feeling so beautifully. If you love a friends to lovers romance with angsty, summer vibes you need to check this one out!
I definitely am looking forward to the next book Kristen writes.
*Thank you to Kristen Vail & The Author Agency for the arc.
July 2, 2025
Book Review:
•
Let It Be Me by Kristen Vail
•
Thank you @kristenvailbooks for this opportunity in reading your ARC of book number two of Shafer U! As soon as I read the friends to lovers trope, I knew I couldn’t go back. I’m a sports girlie so this storyline intrigued me. The longing best friends with unspoken feelings for each other is my absolute jam. I loved the constant genuine support for each other, but especially that emotionally mature heart of Lorenzo’s. Kristen has a way with expressing the realness of emotions and how hard and messy they can be.
•
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
•
•
There’s just one problem with having a hot football player for a best friend…
To everyone else on campus, Lorenzo Rossi is the football star with the promising future. To me, he’s the other half of my heart. My source of strength since childhood. Oh yeah, and the only man I’ve ever loved.
But he doesn’t need to know that.
Because Lorenzo isn’t just perfection, he’s unattainable for a girl like me. Best friends is the best we can do.
Until the day Lorenzo goes into surgery and comes out saying the words I’ve spent a lifetime longing to hear…and ‘just friends’ goes out the window.
Suddenly I have everything I’ve ever wanted and one long, steamy summer to enjoy it—warm days under the sun with Lorenzo, hot nights in his bed, and scorching games of truth or dare.
There’s only one problem…Lorenzo knows something I don’t. And it might just break my heart.
•
Let It Be Me by Kristen Vail
•
Thank you @kristenvailbooks for this opportunity in reading your ARC of book number two of Shafer U! As soon as I read the friends to lovers trope, I knew I couldn’t go back. I’m a sports girlie so this storyline intrigued me. The longing best friends with unspoken feelings for each other is my absolute jam. I loved the constant genuine support for each other, but especially that emotionally mature heart of Lorenzo’s. Kristen has a way with expressing the realness of emotions and how hard and messy they can be.
•
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
•
•
There’s just one problem with having a hot football player for a best friend…
To everyone else on campus, Lorenzo Rossi is the football star with the promising future. To me, he’s the other half of my heart. My source of strength since childhood. Oh yeah, and the only man I’ve ever loved.
But he doesn’t need to know that.
Because Lorenzo isn’t just perfection, he’s unattainable for a girl like me. Best friends is the best we can do.
Until the day Lorenzo goes into surgery and comes out saying the words I’ve spent a lifetime longing to hear…and ‘just friends’ goes out the window.
Suddenly I have everything I’ve ever wanted and one long, steamy summer to enjoy it—warm days under the sun with Lorenzo, hot nights in his bed, and scorching games of truth or dare.
There’s only one problem…Lorenzo knows something I don’t. And it might just break my heart.
June 28, 2025
Have you ever picked up a series that just sucked you right in , in ways you never would have expected ? That had you falling in love with each and every character / couple from the very first book and where you found yourself completely immersed in the world the author has created ? That had the ability to make you feel so many different emotions you never saw coming? Everything from smiling and laughing out loud , to crying like a baby to actually being speechless at times and screaming outta pure frustration during others . That had you cheering so freaking hard from start to finish, Kinda like being on the craziest ride at the amusement park !!! you know that feeling you get in your stomach from being excited and nervous at the same time - the anticipation of whats to come next ? Well Let it be me has just done all of the above in spades ♠️. And for that matter I really am equally in love and obsessed with Kristen’s Shafer U Series so far . Something about Ruby and Lorenzo just spoke to me . I cannot really put it into words, I honestly just felt such a strong connection. On top of that the struggles they endured and the way they loved and supported one another was truly so beautiful . I’m such a sucker for a great best friends to lovers romance and Let it be me - was and is easily one of the best I’ve read in a really long time.
July 1, 2025
I am completely and utterly in love with Ruby and Lorenzo’s story. Let It Be Me was everything I want in a best friends to lovers romance — emotional, steamy, tender, and so full of heart, I felt like I was inside every moment with them.
Ruby and Lorenzo’s connection is something special — you feel the history between them in every look, every inside joke, every time they know exactly what the other needs without speaking. They've been each other’s anchor for so long that when that line between friendship and love finally starts to blur, it feels inevitable — and electric.
What I appreciated most was the care and vulnerability in their shift from friends to something more. It wasn’t rushed or overly dramatic. It was raw and honest, especially after Lorenzo’s surgery became a turning point neither of them saw coming. The chemistry? Off the charts.
Ruby is chaotic, impulsive, and emotionally layered in a way that makes her feel real. Lorenzo? Literal perfection — patient, protective, respectful, and the kind of fictional man who ruins you for others. Their bond has always been unshakable, but watching them finally admit their feelings and face the risk of more was so rewarding. I was cheering them on through every flirty moment, every vulnerable conversation, every late-night truth or dare. I devoured this in one sitting and loved every page of it.
Ruby and Lorenzo’s connection is something special — you feel the history between them in every look, every inside joke, every time they know exactly what the other needs without speaking. They've been each other’s anchor for so long that when that line between friendship and love finally starts to blur, it feels inevitable — and electric.
What I appreciated most was the care and vulnerability in their shift from friends to something more. It wasn’t rushed or overly dramatic. It was raw and honest, especially after Lorenzo’s surgery became a turning point neither of them saw coming. The chemistry? Off the charts.
Ruby is chaotic, impulsive, and emotionally layered in a way that makes her feel real. Lorenzo? Literal perfection — patient, protective, respectful, and the kind of fictional man who ruins you for others. Their bond has always been unshakable, but watching them finally admit their feelings and face the risk of more was so rewarding. I was cheering them on through every flirty moment, every vulnerable conversation, every late-night truth or dare. I devoured this in one sitting and loved every page of it.
July 18, 2025
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
🌶️ 🌶️
Let It Be Me is an angsty, steamy, slow-burn friends-to-lovers romance that delivers all the feels. Ruby agrees to spend her summer helping Lorenzo—her childhood best friend and secret lifelong crush—rehab a potentially career-ending football injury. What follows is a story full of longing, vulnerability, and that delicious kind of tension that builds when two people are clearly meant to be... but can’t quite admit it yet.
Ruby and Lorenzo have been each other's constants since they were kids. While Lorenzo has the swagger of a star athlete and a playboy reputation, Ruby sees the real him—and he sees her in a way no one else ever has. To the outside world, Ruby might seem impulsive or unsure of her path, but Lorenzo sees her huge heart and stands beside her through her family struggles, always believing in her—just like she’s always believed in him.
What I Loved:
☀️ Summer at the lake Vibes
💬 Banter that actually banters
💖 Childhood best friends to lovers
🏈 Football romance
🥹 Secret love and all the yearning and pining
🌶️ 🌶️
“If ‘love’ can have a hundred different meanings, I’ve loved Lorenzo since the day we met.”
Let It Be Me is an angsty, steamy, slow-burn friends-to-lovers romance that delivers all the feels. Ruby agrees to spend her summer helping Lorenzo—her childhood best friend and secret lifelong crush—rehab a potentially career-ending football injury. What follows is a story full of longing, vulnerability, and that delicious kind of tension that builds when two people are clearly meant to be... but can’t quite admit it yet.
“Ruby can make you believe whatever you want to believe about yourself”
Ruby and Lorenzo have been each other's constants since they were kids. While Lorenzo has the swagger of a star athlete and a playboy reputation, Ruby sees the real him—and he sees her in a way no one else ever has. To the outside world, Ruby might seem impulsive or unsure of her path, but Lorenzo sees her huge heart and stands beside her through her family struggles, always believing in her—just like she’s always believed in him.
“Lorenzo was always so sure of his choices. He was sure of me.”
What I Loved:
☀️ Summer at the lake Vibes
💬 Banter that actually banters
💖 Childhood best friends to lovers
🏈 Football romance
🥹 Secret love and all the yearning and pining
June 29, 2025
When they say friends to lovers this book is exactly what it means to have a friends to lovers trope.
Lorenzo and Ruby are truly best of friends. Their friendship leaps off the pages of this book. It’s perfect and their love for each other is evident from the very beginning.
The underlying feelings they both have builds the slow burn of this story and the inevitability of them falling into the lovers part of the trope.
Ruby though is a ball of conflict. She’s self-destructs in many instances throughout her college life and she struggles with allowing herself to think she can succeed at life.
Lorenzo is built for success and is on the cusp of making it into the NFL. But it’s his relationship with Ruby that takes center stage.
I truly loved their friendship and that natural transition into love was so well written. I particularly loved when they were trying to find their footing between being friends and being lovers. There is that tug of angst to this story but I see how Ruby is her own biggest enemy as she finds way to walk away from her ambitions time and time again. This was a sweet friends to lovers story. So different than the first book on this series but equally entertaining!
Lorenzo and Ruby are truly best of friends. Their friendship leaps off the pages of this book. It’s perfect and their love for each other is evident from the very beginning.
The underlying feelings they both have builds the slow burn of this story and the inevitability of them falling into the lovers part of the trope.
Ruby though is a ball of conflict. She’s self-destructs in many instances throughout her college life and she struggles with allowing herself to think she can succeed at life.
Lorenzo is built for success and is on the cusp of making it into the NFL. But it’s his relationship with Ruby that takes center stage.
I truly loved their friendship and that natural transition into love was so well written. I particularly loved when they were trying to find their footing between being friends and being lovers. There is that tug of angst to this story but I see how Ruby is her own biggest enemy as she finds way to walk away from her ambitions time and time again. This was a sweet friends to lovers story. So different than the first book on this series but equally entertaining!
July 1, 2025
This story is about Lorenzo and Ruby who have known each other since they were 8 years old. Lorenzo is a football player who gets injured right before his senior year in college and is forced to get surgery which could compromise being ready before the Combine. Ruby is his best friend and also on her last year at Shafer U. Her biggest issue is that she doesn’t know what she wants out of life. She can’t keep a job, is doing the minimum work for her classes and is not sure which career to pursue.
After years of being best friends, her and Lorenzo couldn’t deny anymore their romantic feelings and start a relationship. However, Ruby’s insecurities began and started pushing him away. It doesn’t help that Ruby comes from a family whom have never supported her and has always put her down.
What I enjoyed about this book was the friendship between Lorenzo and Ruby and how they have always been there for each other no matter what and how supportive he has always been of her.
Why I took one star away from the book, I had a hard time connecting with Ruby and understanding why she was the way she was and didn’t want anybody’s help. Also, the book felt rushed at the end.
Regardless of all this, I can’t wait for the next book in the series
After years of being best friends, her and Lorenzo couldn’t deny anymore their romantic feelings and start a relationship. However, Ruby’s insecurities began and started pushing him away. It doesn’t help that Ruby comes from a family whom have never supported her and has always put her down.
What I enjoyed about this book was the friendship between Lorenzo and Ruby and how they have always been there for each other no matter what and how supportive he has always been of her.
Why I took one star away from the book, I had a hard time connecting with Ruby and understanding why she was the way she was and didn’t want anybody’s help. Also, the book felt rushed at the end.
Regardless of all this, I can’t wait for the next book in the series
August 19, 2025
“Let It Be Me” is the second book in the “Shafer U Series.” There’s just one problem with having a hot football player for a best friend… Lorenzo and Ruby have been best friends forever - they are always there for each other. Gradually their feelings for each other develop into more…..will they give a romantic relationship a chance?
He’s the smoking-hot football star.
I’m the nerd just trying to graduate.
So why does he keep staring at me?
There is never a dull moment! I’m very happily hooked - I did not want it to end! Once I started reading, I could not put this book down! At times you will laugh, you will cry, get angry and frustrated - most of all, you will love the twists!
“You always were my girl.” He presses his lips to the back of my neck and kisses the words. “Just took me a little while to let you in on the secret.”
This book will charm “the pants off you” and leave you going back for more. I thoroughly enjoyed this beautiful love story. This is a lovely book that will keep you hooked! It has fun, laughs, intrigue, twists that you do not expect, and physical attraction. From page to page, chapter to chapter, from cover to cover - you will enjoy this beautiful story! This book will not disappoint! Highly recommended 😊
He’s the smoking-hot football star.
I’m the nerd just trying to graduate.
So why does he keep staring at me?
There is never a dull moment! I’m very happily hooked - I did not want it to end! Once I started reading, I could not put this book down! At times you will laugh, you will cry, get angry and frustrated - most of all, you will love the twists!
“You always were my girl.” He presses his lips to the back of my neck and kisses the words. “Just took me a little while to let you in on the secret.”
This book will charm “the pants off you” and leave you going back for more. I thoroughly enjoyed this beautiful love story. This is a lovely book that will keep you hooked! It has fun, laughs, intrigue, twists that you do not expect, and physical attraction. From page to page, chapter to chapter, from cover to cover - you will enjoy this beautiful story! This book will not disappoint! Highly recommended 😊
July 1, 2025
⭐️ 3.5 stars | Slow burn sports romance | Best friends to lovers
📚 Book 2 in an interconnected series
While this wasn’t my favorite of the series, it’s still a solid entry for lovers of slow-burn tension, found-family vibes, and emotionally layered sports romance.
Ruby is chaotic in the most relatable way—her hyperfixations, indecision, and general quarter-life messiness made me laugh (and occasionally want to shake her).
Lorenzo is her childhood best friend and an injured NFL hopeful—sweet, swoony, and so obviously in love with her from the beginning.
Their chemistry builds foreverrrr, but when it finally ignites? Worth. The. Wait. 🔥
It’s friends-to-lovers with a lot of heart, some angst, a twist I didn’t see coming, and a summer full of longing glances, unsaid feelings, and very steamy moments.
⚠️ That said, Ruby’s waffling in the final third did test my patience a bit—but I appreciated the emotional payoff.
Read if you like:
• Friends-to-lovers with tension so thick you can cut it
• Slow burn that delivers
• College football romances
• Slightly messy heroines & cinnamon roll heroes
• Truth or dare scenes that turn 🔥
📚 Book 2 in an interconnected series
While this wasn’t my favorite of the series, it’s still a solid entry for lovers of slow-burn tension, found-family vibes, and emotionally layered sports romance.
Ruby is chaotic in the most relatable way—her hyperfixations, indecision, and general quarter-life messiness made me laugh (and occasionally want to shake her).
Lorenzo is her childhood best friend and an injured NFL hopeful—sweet, swoony, and so obviously in love with her from the beginning.
Their chemistry builds foreverrrr, but when it finally ignites? Worth. The. Wait. 🔥
It’s friends-to-lovers with a lot of heart, some angst, a twist I didn’t see coming, and a summer full of longing glances, unsaid feelings, and very steamy moments.
⚠️ That said, Ruby’s waffling in the final third did test my patience a bit—but I appreciated the emotional payoff.
Read if you like:
• Friends-to-lovers with tension so thick you can cut it
• Slow burn that delivers
• College football romances
• Slightly messy heroines & cinnamon roll heroes
• Truth or dare scenes that turn 🔥
June 19, 2025
🏈sports romance
🩵friends to lovers
🏈pinning
🩵 it’s always been you
This is the second book in the Shaffer U series and it’s a friends to lovers angsty sweet romance . Lorenzo and Ruby have been friends since childhood and have always been each others special person. When Lorenzo comes out of a surgery to help himself fully recover and be able to chase his NFL dreams his drugged up self confessed how much he only wants Ruby to have eye for him and so their summer romance blossoms. This story is sweet and it’s about a 2/5 on the spicy 🌶️ scale. It was a nice turn in casters from reading Cam and Leni from book one. This time both characters are genuinely amazing and no one comes off as arrogant and belittling of the others feelings or friendships. Rubys confidence in herself was hard to read at times especially watching her interactions with her “parents” and how they make her feel small but Lorenzo the sweet green flag man that he is always was there waiting for her on the steps of her home or at the table ready to go to bat for her and that was truly amazing.
🩵friends to lovers
🏈pinning
🩵 it’s always been you
This is the second book in the Shaffer U series and it’s a friends to lovers angsty sweet romance . Lorenzo and Ruby have been friends since childhood and have always been each others special person. When Lorenzo comes out of a surgery to help himself fully recover and be able to chase his NFL dreams his drugged up self confessed how much he only wants Ruby to have eye for him and so their summer romance blossoms. This story is sweet and it’s about a 2/5 on the spicy 🌶️ scale. It was a nice turn in casters from reading Cam and Leni from book one. This time both characters are genuinely amazing and no one comes off as arrogant and belittling of the others feelings or friendships. Rubys confidence in herself was hard to read at times especially watching her interactions with her “parents” and how they make her feel small but Lorenzo the sweet green flag man that he is always was there waiting for her on the steps of her home or at the table ready to go to bat for her and that was truly amazing.
July 5, 2025
Lorenzo and Ruby
This is a childhood best friends to lovers story. I enjoyed the overall premise of it. Ruby and Lorenzo are friends and fiercely protective of each other but they never cross that line despite both harbouring feelings for each other.
I’m gonna be honest this one while a good read missed the mark for me a little. There’s no real explanation as to why they don’t cross that line and Lorenzo’s character wasn’t consistent for me. At times during the book there’s the “it’s always been her” vibe and at others it’s “I’m not even sure if she’s the right girl for me” or “if we will ever be together” he was too wishy washy and it was a little off putting for me as it didn’t feel like he was all in. Ruby’s character even calls him out in the book on this exact point that he basically settled for her once he realised he’d been round the block with dozens of others (Ruby even got a front row seat to some of these) and I wasn’t convinced he was as all in as she was in the end sadly!
This is a childhood best friends to lovers story. I enjoyed the overall premise of it. Ruby and Lorenzo are friends and fiercely protective of each other but they never cross that line despite both harbouring feelings for each other.
I’m gonna be honest this one while a good read missed the mark for me a little. There’s no real explanation as to why they don’t cross that line and Lorenzo’s character wasn’t consistent for me. At times during the book there’s the “it’s always been her” vibe and at others it’s “I’m not even sure if she’s the right girl for me” or “if we will ever be together” he was too wishy washy and it was a little off putting for me as it didn’t feel like he was all in. Ruby’s character even calls him out in the book on this exact point that he basically settled for her once he realised he’d been round the block with dozens of others (Ruby even got a front row seat to some of these) and I wasn’t convinced he was as all in as she was in the end sadly!
Read
June 19, 2025Lorenzo, the guy who gets everything he wants. He is on track to be drafted to the NFL. Ruby, is the best friend who protected him at 8 years old and they have been stuck like glue ever since. But she is also the friend who does not know where she wants to go in life. They attend school together through college.
Ruby starts and quits on many things when she reaches resistance, but Lorenzo is always there to encourage her to do whatever it is that she wants to pursue. They have never willing given into the thought of more in their friendship. But when drunk they tend to tell the other little things. When the time finally comes, will their friendship be the the foundation that hold them together or will it all come crumbling down.
It took a bit for me to really get into the story, but once I was in it sucked me right under. The angst that drug out and the love that they each held close to their hearts. I hope that their will be more to the series.
Ruby starts and quits on many things when she reaches resistance, but Lorenzo is always there to encourage her to do whatever it is that she wants to pursue. They have never willing given into the thought of more in their friendship. But when drunk they tend to tell the other little things. When the time finally comes, will their friendship be the the foundation that hold them together or will it all come crumbling down.
It took a bit for me to really get into the story, but once I was in it sucked me right under. The angst that drug out and the love that they each held close to their hearts. I hope that their will be more to the series.
June 30, 2025
There’s only one downside to having a ridiculously hot football star as your best friend… Everyone else sees Lorenzo Rossi as the golden boy of the college football team—talented, driven, and destined for greatness. But to me, he’s so much more. He’s been my rock since we were kids. My safe place. My secret heartbreak. Because while he’s the only man I’ve ever loved, he can never know.
To him, we’re just best friends. And that’s all we’ll ever be… or so I thought.
Everything changes after Lorenzo goes in for surgery—and wakes up saying the words I’ve dreamed of hearing for years. Suddenly, we’re not just friends. Suddenly, I have everything I’ve ever wanted: long, lazy days tangled up in him, endless nights wrapped in heat and whispered promises, and the kind of dares that blur every line we swore we wouldn’t cross.
But beneath the bliss, something’s not right.
Because Lorenzo is keeping a secret.
And when it comes out, it might just shatter everything. Including my heart.
To him, we’re just best friends. And that’s all we’ll ever be… or so I thought.
Everything changes after Lorenzo goes in for surgery—and wakes up saying the words I’ve dreamed of hearing for years. Suddenly, we’re not just friends. Suddenly, I have everything I’ve ever wanted: long, lazy days tangled up in him, endless nights wrapped in heat and whispered promises, and the kind of dares that blur every line we swore we wouldn’t cross.
But beneath the bliss, something’s not right.
Because Lorenzo is keeping a secret.
And when it comes out, it might just shatter everything. Including my heart.
June 30, 2025
🏈Friends to lovers
🏈Football Romance
🏈Family Secrets
If you’re a fan of slow-burn, best friends-to-lovers romances, this Shaver U story is one you won’t want to miss. Lorenzo, the charming football star, and Ruby, the fearless wild child, have been inseparable for years. But everything changes after Lorenzo’s surgery—when a vulnerable love confession cracks the surface of their friendship and forces them to question what they really mean to each other.
The chemistry simmers from the start, building slowly with every moment they try to stay “just friends.” When a long-held secret finally comes to light, it flips their world upside down and makes them face the feelings they’ve both been afraid to admit.
Heartfelt, emotional, and full of tension, this book delivers all the longing and payoff you want from a best friends romance. It’s messy, sweet, and oh-so-satisfying.
Thank you to Kristen Vail for the chance to be apart of the ARC Team for this release!
🏈Football Romance
🏈Family Secrets
If you’re a fan of slow-burn, best friends-to-lovers romances, this Shaver U story is one you won’t want to miss. Lorenzo, the charming football star, and Ruby, the fearless wild child, have been inseparable for years. But everything changes after Lorenzo’s surgery—when a vulnerable love confession cracks the surface of their friendship and forces them to question what they really mean to each other.
The chemistry simmers from the start, building slowly with every moment they try to stay “just friends.” When a long-held secret finally comes to light, it flips their world upside down and makes them face the feelings they’ve both been afraid to admit.
Heartfelt, emotional, and full of tension, this book delivers all the longing and payoff you want from a best friends romance. It’s messy, sweet, and oh-so-satisfying.
Thank you to Kristen Vail for the chance to be apart of the ARC Team for this release!
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