The Transfer

by Lauren Andrew

Riggs
All I've ever wanted is to play basketball. It's been my entire life, until my world is upended. Starting my senior year at a new school and a new team is not what I had in mind, but nothing has been going to plan. Especially when I meet her. Reagan Mills is the only girl that has ever made me look twice. My new teammate's twin sister is the distraction I don't need, not to mention she is completely off-limits.

Reagan
It's been four years since I got my heart broken and swore off basketball players. It's my senior year at Carolina Tech and I'm not getting caught up. At least that's what I tell myself when I meet him. Riggs Hart is gorgeous, and I constantly remind myself not to go there with another athlete. But the more I'm around him, the more I start to change my mind. Until the boy from my past comes back as the man who wants me.

282 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 11, 2025

Reviews

[Addie]

This was a fun book to read. I met the author at an outdoor book fair of local authors and I couldn't get her book out of my head, so I went back and bought it. I'm so glad I did! The book begins with a small list of possible triggers that warn the reader of content that takes place in the book & could potentially be disregulating to stumble upon without advance notice. I really appreciate that.

The next pages contain a playlist of songs that were essential to the author's writing of this book! I LOVE it when authors do this! So of course I had music playing almost every time I read it. (Lauren Andrew has great taste in music!)

And then there's the story line itself. It had characters that grew and learned in various ways throughout the book. Their growth helped move the story along and pull the characters closer together. And even though I'm not a huge sports fan, Andrew wrote about basketball in a way that made me excited about the events occurring in the story. So kudos to her for helping me highly enjoy reading about something that typically isn't my favorite subject. I knew that going into reading this book but I chose to read it anyway because the storyline was so appealing to me. Also because the author said she has a love for: psychology, closed-door romance with spice, growth and healing, and of course sports.

There are two other books that follow this one, which I am interested in reading when I get my hands on those ones too.

[Tara]

This was a fun book with two of my favorite things, romance and basketball. I really enjoyed following Riggs and Reagan’s love story with the ex making an appearance and causing chaos.

[Cherilyn (Cherwhatyouread)]

Riggs just wants to play basketball and live near his parents as his dad is on hospice. He never planned on Reagan coming into his life and changing the game. Reagan has sworn off athletes but there is something about Riggs. An old love interest shows up and allows her to see just how good Riggs is for her.

Favorite parts:
-the team group chat
-Riggs relationship with his parents
-the P-I-G game
-their first movie night

Favorite Quotes!
Right here on the court, all my fears and worries disappear. I can lose myself in the bounce of the ball, the squeak of the shoes on the floor, and the rhythm of the game. I have never found that kind of peace anywhere else, until Reagan Mills walked into my life.

He’s starting to feel a lot like home. I don’t know if that should scare me or if I should be thrilled. I’m going with the latter.

[Bianca Valiente]

This was such a refreshing read!

I would definitely recommend this as a pallet cleanser if you're looking for a closed-door, slow-burn, friends to lovers, college setting, brother's best friend romance.

This book follows Riggs-who transfers to CTU to play basketball and Reagan who helps said basketball team at times/ she also dances on the dance team and loves to organize events. With these two you can see a click and like feel the tension between them slowing burn--with a chance of a little love triangle vibe with Mr. Drew Cole (who we no like)... But as feelings are told and character development grows and feeling many emotions throughout this book, above all it was very good!!

This is also like a YA/New Adult romance and I also enjoyed the basketball group chats!! Oh those were so fun to read through!!! I'm looking forward to the second book in this series!!

4/5⭐

Tropes:
-Friends to Lovers
-Closed-Door Romance
-Brother's Best Friend
-Sports Romance
-Slow Burn
-College Romance

[Always Sunny The Little Bookmobile]

I didn't realize when I read this that it was written for a younger audience ( around 16-18 yr old), so I spent a good chunck of the book wondering why there wasn't any spice or mature themes. Once I figured that out, it made a lot more sense!

This one was also a little weird for me personally because the main character has the same name (and nicknames) as my 14 yr old daughter - it definitely made reading some parts feel odd.

The writing style wasn't my thing either. There were a lot of short, simple sentences that made it hard for me to stay engaged - the rhythm just felt kind of flat at times. But I did enjoy the dual POV; I always like to know what the guy is thinking in books, and it gave this story a nice balance and helped me connect with both characters.

Overall, it's a cute read that I think its inteded age group would really enjoy, but it didn't completely hold my attention as an adult reader.

[Lindzanne1_bookworm]

How was your day?
Cloudy.
Why?
I didn’t see my sunshine today.

What a bingeworthy sports romance. It has so many fun tropes and as soon as I started reading I was hooked! With the dual POV you really get to know Riggs and Reagan and all their intimate thoughts and feelings. Their interactions are at times complicated, but so playful and flirty too! There are difficulty topics included and I think the author did a great job of handling them delicately and with care. And can I just say I think Sunshine is such a sweet nickname? Riggs has such golden retriever energy and I adored him!

Thank you so much Lauren for the gifted copy!

[Noelle]

Absolutely adored this book and stayed up entirely TOO late reading it! The main characters are college age so this book could definitely geared towards younger adults but I still enjoyed it even as a 30 something year old. The banter between the team was TOP NOTCH and I found myself laughing or with a big smile on my face multiple times. The grief rep was very real and pulled on my heartstrings as someone who has experienced the loss of a parent. I really enjoyed both main characters and cannot wait to read the next book in the series!

[Brittney P!]

The only reason I'm rating it this high is because of Joel.

I met the author in my town and the book sounded up my alley except for close doored. In my opinion, it was so close door that I didn't even know there was romance happening between the main characters... It has so much potential, but it felt so fast and quick. They would have a moment together and then all of a sudden it's a week later and we got nothing of their relationship building. Joel is perfect and the only character I need. The boys basketball group chat can also stay. Everything else...🤷‍♀️

[Shelby]

Lauren’s first novel, The Transfer, is one of my favorite romance novels to date! The chemistry between the characters is unmatched! Being from North Carolina, it is so refreshing to see a Basketball Romance set in, arguably, the state with the best basketball. The boy banter is amazing and hilarious! The love story is tender, witty, and will leave you teary-eyed for sure. I cannot wait for the next one to come out! Go Titans!!!

[Mimi]

I have been wanting more basketball romance books, and Lauren certainly delivered! I knew I was going to be a Riggs girl from the get go! I swoon over him! His flirting got me! It also gives you all the fun banter between Riggs and his teammates which I adore. I am also a sucker for the more forbidden romances. This was such a cute, quick read that you could devour in a day!

I would def recommend this book to all my closed door romance girlies!

[Kay’sReads]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I love sports romance and enjoy that this was well written but didn’t have the spice. Although I’ve seen some call this YA, I’d disagree and call it more new adult.

The pacing was quick, which I appreciated. But it still had significant emotional depth. I think I would have preferred a longer ending? But regardless, it was a great read. Reagan and Riggs have quite the story and I enjoyed getting to experience it.

[Mandy]

be prepared to cry

This book had me in tears at multiple points but dang was it good. I love so many things about this story from the FMC having a twin to the found family thread to the almost enemies to lovers but really was it just honestly love at first sight to a sports centered romance, to good solid friendships, to raw emotions, to dealing with grief, to dreams coming true…

[Sweetpea4me]

I initially read this because a character had my name (different spelling) and ended up liking it. Riggs is new to the team. Reagan was born into a basketball family, and her brother is Riggs teammate. Their connection was almost immediate, but they do go through it. Story is told by both their pov and also bits of the team chat group. The tbr Convo and letter from Riggs dad was such a sweet touch. I really liked that there was actual basketball talk.

[Kayleen Andrew]

exceptional book by an exceptional author

If you love sports and romance, this is a book for you! It’s funny, clean and all around a great book! It kept my attention to the end! You gotta read it, to believe it.

[Kimmie]

Oo a Basketball romance? Sign me up.

This story was really interesting, I like the depth of Riggs character development, his struggles, and how Lauren Andrew treated situations in the storyline.

Great pacing and lead up to the second book with all the hints interwoven.

[Brenna Dorman]

Cute, but definitely the author’s first book. A little cheesy a little cringy, and I’m not sure the author ever played basketball. The third act breakup before even getting together was a little ridiculous. Honestly, a cute, fun book, but very hallmark channel style plot wise.

[Sierra Ransom]

😬

[Tiffany Byram]

Okay this book had me kicking my feet one second & wiping my tears the next. Lauren wrote such a beautiful story between Riggs & Reagan that I seriously couldn’t put down. You could feel the attraction from the second they met but I loved reading the journey they went on together. They encountered many obstacles but the story was absolutely incredible. Lauren did such an amazing job writing the side characters in this story that I truly cannot decide whose story I’m more excited for next. An easy 5 star for this debut novel.

[Marlee Tibbitts]

Riggs and Reagan are ones you’ll be thinking about for the rest of your life. Their chemistry, their nick names for one another, their highs and lows, they’re just pure magic. I loved the twist of the ex boyfriend coming into view and not knowing what was going to happen there. You can just feel the torn emotion as you go through this book as if you were living it.

One thing I love about a good sports book is the boy banter and Lauren Andrew nailed it! The boys in this book are chefs kiss!! You’ve got the grumpy one, the smart a** one, the funny one, the all you could ever want and need one all in one book. By far my most favorite boy banter book yet.