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Match Point #2
Wildcard
Not yet published
Expected 9 Jun 26She’s at the top of her game…can she risk falling for him? A tennis star takes a big swing on a secret romance in this juicy sports rom com filled with friendship, rivalries, and drama.
Indiana Gaffney’s first love has always been tennis, and after snagging a slot at the elite Outer Banks Tennis Club, she’s climbing the ranks quicker than one of her own speeding serves. But Indy wants more than top billing at the club—she’s set her sights on a wildcard invitation to Wimbledon and she’s going to do anything it takes to make sure that spot is hers.
But while her eyes are on the competition, Indy's heart is somewhere Sports agent Jack Harrison. Tall, handsome, a powerhouse in the tennis world and the older brother of Indy’s new friend and the sport’s biggest star, Penny Harrison.
Indy knows that tennis stardom and relationships rarely mix, so she’s sneaking hookup sessions between practice drills, keeping Jack a secret from everyone in her life—even Penny. Instead, Indy throws herself into training with her one‑time rival Jasmine Randazzo, who is still mending her own broken heart.
But with the days ticking down to Wimbledon, Indy's off-the-court romance with Jack is heating up and for the first time in her life, Indy will have to How much will she do for the love of the game—and how much will she do for love?
This heart-pounding sports romance is told through the eyes of three tennis stars as they balance relationships, high stakes tournaments, and friendship, from the author of Finding Her Edge (coming to Netflix), perfect for fans of Sarah Adams and Chloe Walsh.
Indiana Gaffney’s first love has always been tennis, and after snagging a slot at the elite Outer Banks Tennis Club, she’s climbing the ranks quicker than one of her own speeding serves. But Indy wants more than top billing at the club—she’s set her sights on a wildcard invitation to Wimbledon and she’s going to do anything it takes to make sure that spot is hers.
But while her eyes are on the competition, Indy's heart is somewhere Sports agent Jack Harrison. Tall, handsome, a powerhouse in the tennis world and the older brother of Indy’s new friend and the sport’s biggest star, Penny Harrison.
Indy knows that tennis stardom and relationships rarely mix, so she’s sneaking hookup sessions between practice drills, keeping Jack a secret from everyone in her life—even Penny. Instead, Indy throws herself into training with her one‑time rival Jasmine Randazzo, who is still mending her own broken heart.
But with the days ticking down to Wimbledon, Indy's off-the-court romance with Jack is heating up and for the first time in her life, Indy will have to How much will she do for the love of the game—and how much will she do for love?
This heart-pounding sports romance is told through the eyes of three tennis stars as they balance relationships, high stakes tournaments, and friendship, from the author of Finding Her Edge (coming to Netflix), perfect for fans of Sarah Adams and Chloe Walsh.
Kindle Edition
First published February 24, 2015
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About the author
Jennifer Iacopelli
5 books555 followersJennifer Iacopelli writes about ambitious young women with big dreams and the guys who love them for it. Her novels include Game, Set., Match, Finding Her Edge and Break the Fall, along with a co-edited anthology, Out of Our League. Throughout her career her books have been published in over a dozen languages and Finding Her Edge has been adapted for television by Netflix. She lives in New York and invites you to follow her everywhere @jennifercarolyn or visit her website at jenniferiacopelli.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
February 25, 2015
Penny, Jasmine, and Indy are back in all their wonderful glory! Losing at Love is the sequel to Game Set Match which I completely loved when I read it 2 years ago. And even though so much time has past since, I was easily taken back into the world of tennis and competitions and romance and drama. This novel is more character than plot driven - the later doesn't progress all that much, but the friendships and personal goals do, which are just as important for the story to move forward.
All in all, this novel is a character driven drama about these girls' complicated lives as Tennis pros. Don't let this scare you off, however, I know squat about that sport, and I was completely captivated by the matches. It's all due to the atmosphere that's so wonderfully painted throughout. It's a sport with a lot of pressure, a lot of uncertainty, and just as much about the physical skills than the mental - this intensity is very well captured by Jennifer's writing style. I easily found myself rooting for these girls both on and off the court. It's not all about Tennis, though, the story is full of friendship and romance to give it a great balance overall.
My favorite aspect of this story is definitely the friendships that we have between the girls. There are 3 main characters with alternating perspectives, so we get to experience everyone's fears and insecurities, and how these look from the outside, as well. I'm especially a fan of Indy and Penny's friendship. They're forming a bond that's closer than ever which I love, though with some bumps in the road, naturally. All 3 girls also have obstacles to overcome that range from a confidence issue to a serious injury. They make it easy to understand their determination to push through no matter what, though, making their story bittersweet at times.
The romance is again a welcome part of this story. We get just the right amount of romantic subplots with some drama, but not overwhelmingly so. I'm most happy about how Jasmine doesn't drop everything for her first crush. Someone who's actually moving on, guys! So refreshing! With 3 perspectives who are all in relationships, not to mention have families and friends, the cast of characters is quite large, but not once did I lose track of who was who. Each voice is distinct, each personality is unique; the characterization is overall incredibly genuine.
Like I mentioned, this book is very character focused, while there's no significant plot developments, we get to see the girls make sacrifices and big decisions. The ending, although very happy-feely… kinda feels like a bad omen - the calm before the storm, maybe? I was left with a bad vibe towards Indy, especially. Book 3 is bound to give us nothing but greatness! And probably heartbreak. I feel it coming, guys! *clutches heart* >.<
--
An advance copy was provided by the author for review.
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads
All in all, this novel is a character driven drama about these girls' complicated lives as Tennis pros. Don't let this scare you off, however, I know squat about that sport, and I was completely captivated by the matches. It's all due to the atmosphere that's so wonderfully painted throughout. It's a sport with a lot of pressure, a lot of uncertainty, and just as much about the physical skills than the mental - this intensity is very well captured by Jennifer's writing style. I easily found myself rooting for these girls both on and off the court. It's not all about Tennis, though, the story is full of friendship and romance to give it a great balance overall.
My favorite aspect of this story is definitely the friendships that we have between the girls. There are 3 main characters with alternating perspectives, so we get to experience everyone's fears and insecurities, and how these look from the outside, as well. I'm especially a fan of Indy and Penny's friendship. They're forming a bond that's closer than ever which I love, though with some bumps in the road, naturally. All 3 girls also have obstacles to overcome that range from a confidence issue to a serious injury. They make it easy to understand their determination to push through no matter what, though, making their story bittersweet at times.
The romance is again a welcome part of this story. We get just the right amount of romantic subplots with some drama, but not overwhelmingly so. I'm most happy about how Jasmine doesn't drop everything for her first crush. Someone who's actually moving on, guys! So refreshing! With 3 perspectives who are all in relationships, not to mention have families and friends, the cast of characters is quite large, but not once did I lose track of who was who. Each voice is distinct, each personality is unique; the characterization is overall incredibly genuine.
Like I mentioned, this book is very character focused, while there's no significant plot developments, we get to see the girls make sacrifices and big decisions. The ending, although very happy-feely… kinda feels like a bad omen - the calm before the storm, maybe? I was left with a bad vibe towards Indy, especially. Book 3 is bound to give us nothing but greatness! And probably heartbreak. I feel it coming, guys! *clutches heart* >.<
--
An advance copy was provided by the author for review.
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads
May 23, 2022
One would think that if someone read the previous book back in 2017 that they would dive back into that before reading the sequel. Well, I did think about doing that but decided to just jump into Losing at Love. I didn't really care about the possible confusion that might happen, which yes - it did.
In this, you are still following the same people from the previous book. I only truly know this because I looked at my review. Plus, the synopsis kind of helped me realize that as well. Since I didn't really remember much of what happened beforehand, it's safe to say that it took me a while to start liking this one. Don't get me wrong, the characters were okay, but I just wasn't completely invested.
Then the ending came and I'm not sure what to feel or say. The "big" tennis match was interesting but over quickly in my eyes. I'm also not sure if I'm supposed to think there's going to be another book or not. Since I don't see another book within this series on Goodreads, I'm going to have to say one isn't coming.
In this, you are still following the same people from the previous book. I only truly know this because I looked at my review. Plus, the synopsis kind of helped me realize that as well. Since I didn't really remember much of what happened beforehand, it's safe to say that it took me a while to start liking this one. Don't get me wrong, the characters were okay, but I just wasn't completely invested.
Then the ending came and I'm not sure what to feel or say. The "big" tennis match was interesting but over quickly in my eyes. I'm also not sure if I'm supposed to think there's going to be another book or not. Since I don't see another book within this series on Goodreads, I'm going to have to say one isn't coming.
January 31, 2016
I kept wanting the book to be better than it actually was. I liked it, but then it never got from "pretty good" to "really good". Just like the first book, the end was totally anti-climactic.
I think the problem was that yes, there was an epic tennis match at the end. But it never felt more epic than any of the other tennis matches throughout the book. So when the book ended, I was kind of like, "That's it?" I didn't feel satisfied.
I think the problem was that yes, there was an epic tennis match at the end. But it never felt more epic than any of the other tennis matches throughout the book. So when the book ended, I was kind of like, "That's it?" I didn't feel satisfied.
March 16, 2015
My only problem with these books is that there isn't a true ending. The "end" leads into the next book, which isn't really a problem unless the next book isn't out yet! Boo!! :)
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February 20, 2020🎁 Books 1 & 2 in the series are FREE on Amazon today (2/20/2020)! 🎁
March 10, 2015
3.5 stars.
Review originally posted at Mostly YA Lit
I had so much fun reading Game. Set. Match, and Losing at Love was no different. This is a quick new adult read with steamy scenes and lots of action. There's a ton going on, and while Losing at Love could probably be read as a standalone, I think it's a lot better when you've read the first book.
Check out my review of GSM!
This time around, tennis hopefuls Penny Harrison, Indiana Gaffney, and Jasmine Randazzo are prepping for Wimbledon, having just come from the French Open. Penny sprained her ankle in the last match of the French Open, and while she won, she's not happy taking it easy in London while her boyfriend Alex Russell gets to practice.
Meanwhile, back at the Outer Banks Tennis Academy, Indiana and Jasmine are training for women's doubles together, having made a truce at the French Open. Indy also won the junior French Open title so she's gunning for another at Wimbledon. She's finally broken through to Jack Harrison, Penny's older brother and agent, who is just as attracted to her as she is to him, but was too much of a gentleman to do anything with a girl so young.
Jasmine is fielding offers from college scouts who want her even though she wants to turn pro, despite the wishes of her parents and coach. And of course, she's still trying to navigate her relationship with Teddy Harrison, Penny's younger playboy brother, who seems too scared to ever return her long-time love.
Indy is just as cool, sharp, and independent as the last time around, but she's got some major troubles in this book, and I loved how she handled things. Some of it was a little over-dramatic, put there to "test" her, but honestly? She proved her maturity in this book and proved that she deserved Jack as her boyfriend.
Speaking of which, Indy and Jack are much sexier in this book than the last time around. There was some serious fanning going on during their scenes together, and I felt like Jack really came into his own as a romantic hero this time.
Penny was just as stubborn and strong as in the first book, wanting to practice as soon as her ankle felt better, but possibly endangering herself in the process. That storyline felt a little cliche, but it definitely advanced her character. In the first book, I was very much Team Penny, wanting her to win and just give in to Alex Russell. This time, Penny and Alex's relationship goes deeper, with them admitting their love and trying to navigate being in love. I don't want to give anything away, but I loved Penny in London!
The thing that made a big difference to me this time was getting to know Jasmine, the "mean girl" of the group much better. I expected that I would like her more because I had tweeted with Jennifer Iacopelli and she had mentioned that we'd get a lot more of Jasmine in this book. But I didn't expect to love her so much.
Jasmine is arguably the strongest of the female characters because for most of her life, she's had to live in the shadow of her famous parents, and with people all around her telling her she's not good enough to go pro. She's always been overlooked, by her coach, by her parents, even by Teddy, her first love. I loved her arc throughout the book and how much stronger and more confident she got. She is the definition of girl power!
If I have qualms, they are that some of the situations seemed a little overdramatic, and that there were occasional moments of pronoun confusion (sometimes I couldn't figure out which "she" the author was referring to). Overall, though, this was such a light, fast, fun read - perfect for sports fans who like steamy romance!
Bonuses:
Source: Daily Mail
House Envy: The characters all end up staying at Alex Russell's London abode, which is a gorgeous white townhouse with a wrought iron fence in Chelsea. Which, by the way, is one of the most expensive places in London. I mean, c'mon. I SO WANTED THIS HOUSE and every description had me crazy jealous of Alex. I was supremely jealous that they not only got to stay there, but they got to do so with each other. I WANT TO LIVE THERE.
You Win Some You Lose Some: Not everyone wins in this book - I mean, everyone didn't win in the last book, but I appreciated how honest this book was about the stakes involved at Wimbledon.
The Final Word:
What I loved most about this book is how much it focuses on the characters and their development - I'm a total character person and the more I found out about Indy, Penny, Jasmine, and their guys, the more I loved them. I can't wait for book 3!
Recommended for: fans of Julie Cross' Whatever Life Throws at You and other sports YA/NA, people looking for a fun girl power read.
Review originally posted at Mostly YA Lit
I had so much fun reading Game. Set. Match, and Losing at Love was no different. This is a quick new adult read with steamy scenes and lots of action. There's a ton going on, and while Losing at Love could probably be read as a standalone, I think it's a lot better when you've read the first book.
Check out my review of GSM!
This time around, tennis hopefuls Penny Harrison, Indiana Gaffney, and Jasmine Randazzo are prepping for Wimbledon, having just come from the French Open. Penny sprained her ankle in the last match of the French Open, and while she won, she's not happy taking it easy in London while her boyfriend Alex Russell gets to practice.
Meanwhile, back at the Outer Banks Tennis Academy, Indiana and Jasmine are training for women's doubles together, having made a truce at the French Open. Indy also won the junior French Open title so she's gunning for another at Wimbledon. She's finally broken through to Jack Harrison, Penny's older brother and agent, who is just as attracted to her as she is to him, but was too much of a gentleman to do anything with a girl so young.
Jasmine is fielding offers from college scouts who want her even though she wants to turn pro, despite the wishes of her parents and coach. And of course, she's still trying to navigate her relationship with Teddy Harrison, Penny's younger playboy brother, who seems too scared to ever return her long-time love.
Indy is just as cool, sharp, and independent as the last time around, but she's got some major troubles in this book, and I loved how she handled things. Some of it was a little over-dramatic, put there to "test" her, but honestly? She proved her maturity in this book and proved that she deserved Jack as her boyfriend.
Speaking of which, Indy and Jack are much sexier in this book than the last time around. There was some serious fanning going on during their scenes together, and I felt like Jack really came into his own as a romantic hero this time.
Penny was just as stubborn and strong as in the first book, wanting to practice as soon as her ankle felt better, but possibly endangering herself in the process. That storyline felt a little cliche, but it definitely advanced her character. In the first book, I was very much Team Penny, wanting her to win and just give in to Alex Russell. This time, Penny and Alex's relationship goes deeper, with them admitting their love and trying to navigate being in love. I don't want to give anything away, but I loved Penny in London!
The thing that made a big difference to me this time was getting to know Jasmine, the "mean girl" of the group much better. I expected that I would like her more because I had tweeted with Jennifer Iacopelli and she had mentioned that we'd get a lot more of Jasmine in this book. But I didn't expect to love her so much.
Jasmine is arguably the strongest of the female characters because for most of her life, she's had to live in the shadow of her famous parents, and with people all around her telling her she's not good enough to go pro. She's always been overlooked, by her coach, by her parents, even by Teddy, her first love. I loved her arc throughout the book and how much stronger and more confident she got. She is the definition of girl power!
If I have qualms, they are that some of the situations seemed a little overdramatic, and that there were occasional moments of pronoun confusion (sometimes I couldn't figure out which "she" the author was referring to). Overall, though, this was such a light, fast, fun read - perfect for sports fans who like steamy romance!
Bonuses:
Source: Daily Mail
House Envy: The characters all end up staying at Alex Russell's London abode, which is a gorgeous white townhouse with a wrought iron fence in Chelsea. Which, by the way, is one of the most expensive places in London. I mean, c'mon. I SO WANTED THIS HOUSE and every description had me crazy jealous of Alex. I was supremely jealous that they not only got to stay there, but they got to do so with each other. I WANT TO LIVE THERE.
You Win Some You Lose Some: Not everyone wins in this book - I mean, everyone didn't win in the last book, but I appreciated how honest this book was about the stakes involved at Wimbledon.
The Final Word:
What I loved most about this book is how much it focuses on the characters and their development - I'm a total character person and the more I found out about Indy, Penny, Jasmine, and their guys, the more I loved them. I can't wait for book 3!
Recommended for: fans of Julie Cross' Whatever Life Throws at You and other sports YA/NA, people looking for a fun girl power read.
April 16, 2015
WHAT IS THIS LIFE?
If you've read the few reviews I've made you know how much I love and recommend this series, not only for tennis lovers, for everyone.
AHHHHH. CAN'T WAIT.
If you've read the few reviews I've made you know how much I love and recommend this series, not only for tennis lovers, for everyone.
AHHHHH. CAN'T WAIT.
September 19, 2021
I feel like I got the good time I came for. I liked seeing the new situations these three women faced as they had to make big decisions for their careers. I think I liked Jasmine's storyline the best. This was her slow rise back up from all the negative things that had be plaguing her. She felt left behind, and in this book, she found some success, both off and on the court. This duet didn't end with a bang, but it did leave me wondering what was next for this trio.
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February 26, 2015
Losing At Love by Jennifer Iacopelli is book 2 in the Outer Banks Tennis Academy Series. Losing At Love follows the dreams of tennis stars Indiana Gaffney, Penny Harrison and Jasmine Randazzo as they head to London to participate in Wimbelton, a tennis match that could make each one of their dreams, although extremely different dreams, come true. This book was a 3.5 star read for me and I would recommend it to others.
Penny Harrison is nursing an ankle injury that she worries will prevent her from doing her best and winning Wimbelton. Although she is taking some time off after the French Open and staying with her hot shot pro boyfriend in London prior to the match, she refuses to heed to the advice of her doctor and her coach to rest her ankle before she does damage to it that she will regret for the rest of her life. While practicing in her quest to be the best, Penny injures her ankle even further forcing her to make a choice that goes against every competitive bone in her body.
Indiana Gaffney is up and coming in the tennis world and hopes that after a win in the doubles tournament at the French open with partner Jasmine Randazzo, that she can show the world that she is an elite player; and the only way to do that is to get the wild card spot at Wimbelton. With high hopes and practice before they leave for London Indy is feeling confident about there abilities. Until she is faced with a decision that may give her a chance at the notarity that she wants that comes at the cost of her friendship. With her secret boyfriend, Penny's brother and tennis sports agent Jack by her side, Indy makes one of the most difficult decisions for her career.
Jasmine Randazzo has been told that she has talent, but not enough talent to go pro which is the only things that she has ever wanted. Forced with deciding whether or not she should accept recruitment into a tier 1 tennis university or if she should go against all the advice that she has been given from her tennis star parents and go pro without their support; Jasmine is at a crossroads when she arrives in London. Wondering what she should do and leaning toward what will make everyone else happy but her, all it takes is a little encouragement from a certain Italian tennis player to show her that her way can be the right way to go.
Each of the girls in Losing At Love is faced with a different decision that can effect everything that they have worked toward in the tennis world their entire lives in one way or another. It is through the friendships that they have forged together, even when they are often competitors that helps to guide them to make the right ones.
Penny Harrison is nursing an ankle injury that she worries will prevent her from doing her best and winning Wimbelton. Although she is taking some time off after the French Open and staying with her hot shot pro boyfriend in London prior to the match, she refuses to heed to the advice of her doctor and her coach to rest her ankle before she does damage to it that she will regret for the rest of her life. While practicing in her quest to be the best, Penny injures her ankle even further forcing her to make a choice that goes against every competitive bone in her body.
Indiana Gaffney is up and coming in the tennis world and hopes that after a win in the doubles tournament at the French open with partner Jasmine Randazzo, that she can show the world that she is an elite player; and the only way to do that is to get the wild card spot at Wimbelton. With high hopes and practice before they leave for London Indy is feeling confident about there abilities. Until she is faced with a decision that may give her a chance at the notarity that she wants that comes at the cost of her friendship. With her secret boyfriend, Penny's brother and tennis sports agent Jack by her side, Indy makes one of the most difficult decisions for her career.
Jasmine Randazzo has been told that she has talent, but not enough talent to go pro which is the only things that she has ever wanted. Forced with deciding whether or not she should accept recruitment into a tier 1 tennis university or if she should go against all the advice that she has been given from her tennis star parents and go pro without their support; Jasmine is at a crossroads when she arrives in London. Wondering what she should do and leaning toward what will make everyone else happy but her, all it takes is a little encouragement from a certain Italian tennis player to show her that her way can be the right way to go.
Each of the girls in Losing At Love is faced with a different decision that can effect everything that they have worked toward in the tennis world their entire lives in one way or another. It is through the friendships that they have forged together, even when they are often competitors that helps to guide them to make the right ones.
March 5, 2015
This is the second book in a series. It can be read as a standalone.
This is a fast-paced sports romance featuring three MC's all of whom are rising women's juniors-level tennis stars. Penny Harrison, Indiana "Indy" Gaffney and Jasmine Randazzo are all linked by years of training at the Outer Banks Tennis Academy. They share coaches and living space, but they don't always share secrets.
For example, Indy--who is a month shy of 18--is secretly dating Penny's (adult) older brother Jack. Penny and Indy are both pro, but Jasmine is still deciding her future. She wants to go pro, but her coach and parents want her to go to college. Jas feels as if no one truly believes in her, and often she feels unwanted in comparison to her more highly-regarded friends. Her best friend, Penny's twin brother Teddy, is someone Jasmine wants to date, but he continually pushes her off. Well, at least until she becomes the object of another man's interest.
Penny, for her part, is coming off an ankle injury at the French Open, and is determined to play singles at Wimbledon. Doing so, however is a real challenge, and not only because she has to eliminate a friend first-round. She has the constant support of Alex, her boyfriend, who is mopping up in the Men's singles--back in action after a knee injury. It seems as if Penny and Alex have found the right balance between love and tennis, by the end.
After winning the French Open (junior division) Indy starts out strong, but recognizes her few connections in the tennis world are more fragile than even she expected. Plus, keeping her (inappropriate) relationship with Jack on the down-low is a challenge she is not able to meet. And people she should be able to trust only prove themselves more and more untrustworthy. I was glad to see Indy take the high road, more than once, and really carve out her niche in this high-stakes game, even if the tennis isn't going so spectacularly by the fortnight's end.
As for putting this book into the New Adult genre, I'm gong to disagree. The MC's are barely 18, if that old. It's close to innocent, smexytimes-wise. There are some heavy make-outs but the scene always fades-to-black before the sex hits the page. In fact, only one of these relationships breaches the point of penetration, (again, off the page) and that's just fine. There is plenty of drama between these girls, their opponents, their men, and their parents to fill the pages. It's a gritty, realistic look into the politics of tennis and passion of a three elite athletes and their drive to the top. I'd say it's squarely in the mature YA category and suitable for any reader 14+.
This is a fast-paced sports romance featuring three MC's all of whom are rising women's juniors-level tennis stars. Penny Harrison, Indiana "Indy" Gaffney and Jasmine Randazzo are all linked by years of training at the Outer Banks Tennis Academy. They share coaches and living space, but they don't always share secrets.
For example, Indy--who is a month shy of 18--is secretly dating Penny's (adult) older brother Jack. Penny and Indy are both pro, but Jasmine is still deciding her future. She wants to go pro, but her coach and parents want her to go to college. Jas feels as if no one truly believes in her, and often she feels unwanted in comparison to her more highly-regarded friends. Her best friend, Penny's twin brother Teddy, is someone Jasmine wants to date, but he continually pushes her off. Well, at least until she becomes the object of another man's interest.
Penny, for her part, is coming off an ankle injury at the French Open, and is determined to play singles at Wimbledon. Doing so, however is a real challenge, and not only because she has to eliminate a friend first-round. She has the constant support of Alex, her boyfriend, who is mopping up in the Men's singles--back in action after a knee injury. It seems as if Penny and Alex have found the right balance between love and tennis, by the end.
After winning the French Open (junior division) Indy starts out strong, but recognizes her few connections in the tennis world are more fragile than even she expected. Plus, keeping her (inappropriate) relationship with Jack on the down-low is a challenge she is not able to meet. And people she should be able to trust only prove themselves more and more untrustworthy. I was glad to see Indy take the high road, more than once, and really carve out her niche in this high-stakes game, even if the tennis isn't going so spectacularly by the fortnight's end.
As for putting this book into the New Adult genre, I'm gong to disagree. The MC's are barely 18, if that old. It's close to innocent, smexytimes-wise. There are some heavy make-outs but the scene always fades-to-black before the sex hits the page. In fact, only one of these relationships breaches the point of penetration, (again, off the page) and that's just fine. There is plenty of drama between these girls, their opponents, their men, and their parents to fill the pages. It's a gritty, realistic look into the politics of tennis and passion of a three elite athletes and their drive to the top. I'd say it's squarely in the mature YA category and suitable for any reader 14+.
March 25, 2015
I really didn't love this one. *awkward silence* While I can see how others may enjoy this read, I really struggled with the constantly switching POVs. I wish that the author put the names of the POV at the beginning of each chapter so that I could start with a better sense of which story I was in. On that note, there were so many intertwining storylines and so many people, I felt that the connection to the characters was lost. By the time I started to get invested in a story it switched to another POV and the story lost momentum for me. Overall I felt that it was fairly anticlimactic and the ending resolved nothing for me...it felt like it just stopped. It wasn't really a cliffhanger and I know there are other books in the series, but it was more like the story ended mid-thought. At least for me, it felt that way.
Finally, Indy being 17 and making out with an older twenty-something Jack really freaking bothered me. LIKE REALLY BOTHERED ME. I know the age difference isn't that big of a deal and they didn't do anything inappropriate, but they almost did, and I just really didn't like it. Couldn't she have turned 18 like a couple of chapters in? That would have solved everything for me with that issue.
I hate that I didn't like it. :/
[I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review]
Finally, Indy being 17 and making out with an older twenty-something Jack really freaking bothered me. LIKE REALLY BOTHERED ME. I know the age difference isn't that big of a deal and they didn't do anything inappropriate, but they almost did, and I just really didn't like it. Couldn't she have turned 18 like a couple of chapters in? That would have solved everything for me with that issue.
I hate that I didn't like it. :/
[I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review]
February 24, 2015
What an enjoyable read! I wanted a book with tennis and romance, and I found that and much more! The dynamic, interwoven stories between the players is a definite page-turner. I loved how the romance and chemistry was sexy but clean PG-13. Such a refreshing change. The tension in friendships and romances makes you keep reading to find out what will happen on and off the court. It is reminiscent of the movies Love Actually, Valentine's Day, New Year's Eve, and all those delightful romantic comedies that make you smile. Plus it takes place in North Carolina and London! Beautiful, vibrant backdrops for a novel. I am able to show-off my newfound tennis knowledge to my tennis-playing husband :) I haven't read the first book in this series, Game. Set. Match., but I had no trouble following the story. Now to go back and read Book 1!
June 4, 2015
It finally exists! <3
August 29, 2017
This book was so good, I didn't want to put it down. It has everything from action to steamy romance. It's a beautiful combination of both that left me wanting more. The characters were so great I connected with them so well. Their problems were realistic which were great. This series was so good, I'll definitely add this to a list that's worth re-reading!!!
February 15, 2015
I received this ARC for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Just a heads up: Losing at Love is to be read after Game. Set. Match. Now, having just finished Losing at Love, my thoughts are everywhere. I thought Indy, Penny and Jasmine were competitive before. Now? The girls have reached a whole new level of competitiveness.
Indy’s flying high after her win at the French Open junior tournament. Everyone’s vying for her attention, but what she wants at the moment is to figure things out with Jack and a wild card to Wimbledon. Not surprisingly, she gets both. Jack is everything Indy thought he’d be, but he’s still a little hesitant to move things further. Plus, making things official for the whole word to know could make things difficult for their careers. After all, business and pleasure don’t necessarily mix well. Nevertheless, Indy is more than determined to figure it out—especially as she could use his support at Wimbledon. With that invitation, Indy is playing against the real deal, and how she does with the pros could either set her apart or show she’s not ready for the big leagues.
Penny is more in love than ever before with Alex. He’s rapidly become her rock and that’s something she’s holding on to while her ankle gets better. Still, she’s desperate to get back on the court. However, Penny’s determination and stubbornness could cost her more than she even knows. I always thought of Penny as an okay character, but I’m more than a little annoyed at her in this book. What she needs at the moment is for her ankle to heal completely, and she’s not doing a very good job of letting that happen. Thankfully, she realizes her mistake before any irreparable damage to her ankle can be done.
This time around, the underdog is Jasmine. Everyone believes Jasmine doesn’t have what it takes to go pro, and she’s more than determined to prove them wrong. One of the things that had bothered me a little was the unresolved issues between Jasmine and Teddy, and let me tell you now: it’s still unresolved. *sigh* We see some signs of jealousy coming from Teddy, but no real confrontation. I really don’t know where that is going, to be honest. However, there is a new sexy, Italian love interest! Yet while Paolo is a nice little distraction, Jasmine’s storyline never wavers from her goal of going pro. And even better, with Paolo’s help, Jasmine’s able to take her game to another level.
Things are definitely different this time around, and there’s even a bit more tension between Indy, Penny, and Jasmine. I’m disappointed that Indy’s game takes a hit on this book, but I’m still rooting for her, as well as for Jasmine and Penny. Moreover, I’m curious to see where the girls will go from here in the next book. Losing at Love is definitely a fitting title that just goes to show, we can’t always win, especially in life—and that’s what makes this series all the more interesting and captivating.
For more reviews, visit my blog at Bittersweet Reads.
Just a heads up: Losing at Love is to be read after Game. Set. Match. Now, having just finished Losing at Love, my thoughts are everywhere. I thought Indy, Penny and Jasmine were competitive before. Now? The girls have reached a whole new level of competitiveness.
Indy’s flying high after her win at the French Open junior tournament. Everyone’s vying for her attention, but what she wants at the moment is to figure things out with Jack and a wild card to Wimbledon. Not surprisingly, she gets both. Jack is everything Indy thought he’d be, but he’s still a little hesitant to move things further. Plus, making things official for the whole word to know could make things difficult for their careers. After all, business and pleasure don’t necessarily mix well. Nevertheless, Indy is more than determined to figure it out—especially as she could use his support at Wimbledon. With that invitation, Indy is playing against the real deal, and how she does with the pros could either set her apart or show she’s not ready for the big leagues.
Penny is more in love than ever before with Alex. He’s rapidly become her rock and that’s something she’s holding on to while her ankle gets better. Still, she’s desperate to get back on the court. However, Penny’s determination and stubbornness could cost her more than she even knows. I always thought of Penny as an okay character, but I’m more than a little annoyed at her in this book. What she needs at the moment is for her ankle to heal completely, and she’s not doing a very good job of letting that happen. Thankfully, she realizes her mistake before any irreparable damage to her ankle can be done.
This time around, the underdog is Jasmine. Everyone believes Jasmine doesn’t have what it takes to go pro, and she’s more than determined to prove them wrong. One of the things that had bothered me a little was the unresolved issues between Jasmine and Teddy, and let me tell you now: it’s still unresolved. *sigh* We see some signs of jealousy coming from Teddy, but no real confrontation. I really don’t know where that is going, to be honest. However, there is a new sexy, Italian love interest! Yet while Paolo is a nice little distraction, Jasmine’s storyline never wavers from her goal of going pro. And even better, with Paolo’s help, Jasmine’s able to take her game to another level.
Things are definitely different this time around, and there’s even a bit more tension between Indy, Penny, and Jasmine. I’m disappointed that Indy’s game takes a hit on this book, but I’m still rooting for her, as well as for Jasmine and Penny. Moreover, I’m curious to see where the girls will go from here in the next book. Losing at Love is definitely a fitting title that just goes to show, we can’t always win, especially in life—and that’s what makes this series all the more interesting and captivating.
For more reviews, visit my blog at Bittersweet Reads.
February 26, 2015
I friggin' love this series! There's so much I love about it, but just to name a few:
1. It's tennis with a side of romance- I love that the focal point of this series remains the tennis. These girls have dreams and they're not overshadowed by their romances. I love the fact that Indy, Penny and Jasmine are strong all on their own without the boys.
2. The flawed and unique characters - Each character has a unique personality and a distinguishable POV. Penny is stubborn; Jasmine is snarky, and Indy always speaks what's on her mind, even when she shouldn't. These girls are flawed, which makes them so relateable. They are sometimes selfish, too prideful, too outspoken and let their emotions get the best of them. They're not perfect and that's what makes them so real. The same goes for the males in the series (Teddy, I'm talking about you).
3. The multiple female POVs- One of my pet peeves about new adult books is that I miss reading multiple POVs. Sure a lot of new adult books have alternating male-female POVs, but it's not the same thing. So I just love this aspect!
Losing at Love is the second book in the Outer Banks Tennis series. We pick up soon after the first novel with each character battling their own challenges. Penny is recovering from her injury and with Wimbledon coming up she is feeling the pressure to stay at the top of her game. Indy is thriving from her recent win, but is struggling to keep a balance of her professional and personal life, especially with the interference of Caroline. Jasmine has everyone doubting her ability after a defeat at the juniors French Open. With Wimbledon coming up, each girl has something to prove and the competitiveness between them is taken to a whole new level.
The relationships in Losing at Love grow and face setbacks. Penny and Alex's and Indy and Jack's relationships steam up. And my favorite, the most flawed and misunderstood of the girls (which is the reason why I love her), Jasmine has a new love interest, Paolo, and I just love Teddy's reaction to this. .
My one criticism is that I wish there was more interaction between some of the characters. It would have been interesting to see more of the Harrison sibling dynamic, more interactions between the main characters and more group scenes.
Losing at Love has drama within the relationships and some on court tennis drama, which makes it a highly entertaining read. Jennifer Iacopelli excels at making the tennis matches feel as if you are sitting court side
watching all the action. I am already missing the Outer Banks Tennis world and cannot wait for the next book!
1. It's tennis with a side of romance- I love that the focal point of this series remains the tennis. These girls have dreams and they're not overshadowed by their romances. I love the fact that Indy, Penny and Jasmine are strong all on their own without the boys.
2. The flawed and unique characters - Each character has a unique personality and a distinguishable POV. Penny is stubborn; Jasmine is snarky, and Indy always speaks what's on her mind, even when she shouldn't. These girls are flawed, which makes them so relateable. They are sometimes selfish, too prideful, too outspoken and let their emotions get the best of them. They're not perfect and that's what makes them so real. The same goes for the males in the series (Teddy, I'm talking about you).
3. The multiple female POVs- One of my pet peeves about new adult books is that I miss reading multiple POVs. Sure a lot of new adult books have alternating male-female POVs, but it's not the same thing. So I just love this aspect!
Losing at Love is the second book in the Outer Banks Tennis series. We pick up soon after the first novel with each character battling their own challenges. Penny is recovering from her injury and with Wimbledon coming up she is feeling the pressure to stay at the top of her game. Indy is thriving from her recent win, but is struggling to keep a balance of her professional and personal life, especially with the interference of Caroline. Jasmine has everyone doubting her ability after a defeat at the juniors French Open. With Wimbledon coming up, each girl has something to prove and the competitiveness between them is taken to a whole new level.
The relationships in Losing at Love grow and face setbacks. Penny and Alex's and Indy and Jack's relationships steam up. And my favorite, the most flawed and misunderstood of the girls (which is the reason why I love her), Jasmine has a new love interest, Paolo, and I just love Teddy's reaction to this. .
My one criticism is that I wish there was more interaction between some of the characters. It would have been interesting to see more of the Harrison sibling dynamic, more interactions between the main characters and more group scenes.
Losing at Love has drama within the relationships and some on court tennis drama, which makes it a highly entertaining read. Jennifer Iacopelli excels at making the tennis matches feel as if you are sitting court side
watching all the action. I am already missing the Outer Banks Tennis world and cannot wait for the next book!
March 6, 2015
One summer back in high school, I signed up for tennis lessons with my siblings. On the first session, I almost blacked out while warming up with laps around the court. Needless to say, I quickly learned that tennis was not my thing. And so I contented myself with reading about it instead...which is where books like Jennifer Iacopelli's Outer Banks Tennis Academy series comes in.
Losing at Love is the second installment in this series, and it picks up where Game. Set. Match. left off. Unlike other sports-themed romances that I've read, the love story takes a backseat to the sport, proving just how serious the characters are about tennis. Another thing that sets this series apart is how it equally focuses on three girls. While each of them has their own love interests, their story arcs are driven mostly by their careers. They do have their individual problems as well as shared friendly dramas, but as a whole, they're a lot less angsty than most NA novels, which makes these books a fresh addition to the genre.
In Losing at Love, Penny, Indy, and Jasmine are all working toward Wimbledon. Penny's chomping at the bit as her ankle injury keeps her from training, Indy's high on her win and her hidden relationship with Penny's brother, and Jasmine's fighting her insecurities as her parents urge her to apply for college. As the games draw nearer, tensions rise and the bonds between the friends—and in some cases, their men—start to fray.
Author Jennifer Iacopelli did an excellent job raising the stakes in this second novel. It was impossible not to be drawn into the stress and pressure of the girls' chosen career and not to feel somehow invested in their turbulent relationships. I admire how she gave each of her characters a specific voice and personality and how she bounced from one to the next without it seeming disjointed. There are no perfect characters here—they have their own flaws and strengths, and since readers get to experience all three girls' POV, it's easy to find at least one to relate to—and yes, one to dislike, as well. I found myself identifying most with Jasmine and being frustrated with Penny and her stubbornness.
It was also refreshing to see how Jennifer went against the NA trend of having graphic, drawn-out sex scenes. Alex and Jack, Penny's and Indy's boyfriends, do play a part in this book, but they mostly take on supporting roles. As for Jasmine, she's still struggling to find a man of her own.
Overall, Losing at Love is a well-written novel that gives readers a peek into the world of competitive sport and the physical, mental, and emotional challenges involved in it. I highly recommend it to tennis fans and to those looking for more action in their NA reads. 3.5 stars.
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
**Review originally posted on www.WillReadForFeels.com
Losing at Love is the second installment in this series, and it picks up where Game. Set. Match. left off. Unlike other sports-themed romances that I've read, the love story takes a backseat to the sport, proving just how serious the characters are about tennis. Another thing that sets this series apart is how it equally focuses on three girls. While each of them has their own love interests, their story arcs are driven mostly by their careers. They do have their individual problems as well as shared friendly dramas, but as a whole, they're a lot less angsty than most NA novels, which makes these books a fresh addition to the genre.
In Losing at Love, Penny, Indy, and Jasmine are all working toward Wimbledon. Penny's chomping at the bit as her ankle injury keeps her from training, Indy's high on her win and her hidden relationship with Penny's brother, and Jasmine's fighting her insecurities as her parents urge her to apply for college. As the games draw nearer, tensions rise and the bonds between the friends—and in some cases, their men—start to fray.
Author Jennifer Iacopelli did an excellent job raising the stakes in this second novel. It was impossible not to be drawn into the stress and pressure of the girls' chosen career and not to feel somehow invested in their turbulent relationships. I admire how she gave each of her characters a specific voice and personality and how she bounced from one to the next without it seeming disjointed. There are no perfect characters here—they have their own flaws and strengths, and since readers get to experience all three girls' POV, it's easy to find at least one to relate to—and yes, one to dislike, as well. I found myself identifying most with Jasmine and being frustrated with Penny and her stubbornness.
It was also refreshing to see how Jennifer went against the NA trend of having graphic, drawn-out sex scenes. Alex and Jack, Penny's and Indy's boyfriends, do play a part in this book, but they mostly take on supporting roles. As for Jasmine, she's still struggling to find a man of her own.
Overall, Losing at Love is a well-written novel that gives readers a peek into the world of competitive sport and the physical, mental, and emotional challenges involved in it. I highly recommend it to tennis fans and to those looking for more action in their NA reads. 3.5 stars.
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
**Review originally posted on www.WillReadForFeels.com
February 17, 2015
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I have been waiting for this book for a long time (like a lot of people, I expect). When I got the chance to read an ARC, I jumped on it, and I'm SO GLAD I did. This book immediately sucked me in, to the point where I was cursing being employed and having family obligations that kept me from reading it straight through.
Losing At Love is the second book in the Outer Banks Tennis Academy series. It picks up fairly soon after Game. Set. Match. ended, and you definitely need to read the first book before the second.
What I loved about this book is that everything felt more intense, it felt like the stakes were higher in every aspect of the girls lives; tennis, love, everything.
I don't want to give away spoilers, so I'm just going to give broad strokes. Like I said, everything felt more intense in this book. I felt like I was watching real tennis when I read the girls' matches. I'm no tennis expert (though I did play as a kid, so I know enough to get by) but Iacopelli has a way of writing each match that makes the reader feel like an expert. She also does a fabulous job adding just enough detail to paint the picture, but not so much detail that it feels technical.
The girls. One of my favorite things about the first book in the series was how distinct Penny, Indy, and Jasmine are. They have this similar dream, but they all have their own personalities, their own strengths and weaknesses, their own desires. To me that means each reader is going to have one character that's "theirs," the one girl they root for above the other two. For me, that girl is Penny. She's not perfect, by any means, but flaws and all she is my FAVORITE. I spent a lot of the first book hating Indy, but she grew on me this time around. Jasmine still makes me want to roll my eyes. But I know other people who feel the exact opposite. And that, to me, is the mark of a great writer.
The supporting characters. They don't take up nearly as much page time, but the supporting characters are just as fleshed out as the girls. With a cast as big as the one Iacopelli is working with, that's really hard to do. But each one stands out.
The boys. OMG the boys. Again, each boy is different, but they are all so sexy. Alex is my book boyfriend for life.
The events in this book were full of twists and turns, but they never felt over the top. It all felt like a natural progression in the course of the girls' lives. There were times when I was cheering in happiness and times I wanted to throw the book across the room because I was so frustrated. The book kept me completely engaged.
Overall, I loved this book and I'm already waiting on pins and needles for book 3. Do yourself a favor and read it!
I have been waiting for this book for a long time (like a lot of people, I expect). When I got the chance to read an ARC, I jumped on it, and I'm SO GLAD I did. This book immediately sucked me in, to the point where I was cursing being employed and having family obligations that kept me from reading it straight through.
Losing At Love is the second book in the Outer Banks Tennis Academy series. It picks up fairly soon after Game. Set. Match. ended, and you definitely need to read the first book before the second.
What I loved about this book is that everything felt more intense, it felt like the stakes were higher in every aspect of the girls lives; tennis, love, everything.
I don't want to give away spoilers, so I'm just going to give broad strokes. Like I said, everything felt more intense in this book. I felt like I was watching real tennis when I read the girls' matches. I'm no tennis expert (though I did play as a kid, so I know enough to get by) but Iacopelli has a way of writing each match that makes the reader feel like an expert. She also does a fabulous job adding just enough detail to paint the picture, but not so much detail that it feels technical.
The girls. One of my favorite things about the first book in the series was how distinct Penny, Indy, and Jasmine are. They have this similar dream, but they all have their own personalities, their own strengths and weaknesses, their own desires. To me that means each reader is going to have one character that's "theirs," the one girl they root for above the other two. For me, that girl is Penny. She's not perfect, by any means, but flaws and all she is my FAVORITE. I spent a lot of the first book hating Indy, but she grew on me this time around. Jasmine still makes me want to roll my eyes. But I know other people who feel the exact opposite. And that, to me, is the mark of a great writer.
The supporting characters. They don't take up nearly as much page time, but the supporting characters are just as fleshed out as the girls. With a cast as big as the one Iacopelli is working with, that's really hard to do. But each one stands out.
The boys. OMG the boys. Again, each boy is different, but they are all so sexy. Alex is my book boyfriend for life.
The events in this book were full of twists and turns, but they never felt over the top. It all felt like a natural progression in the course of the girls' lives. There were times when I was cheering in happiness and times I wanted to throw the book across the room because I was so frustrated. The book kept me completely engaged.
Overall, I loved this book and I'm already waiting on pins and needles for book 3. Do yourself a favor and read it!
April 21, 2015
As seen on my blog:
Now this is a story all about how my day got twist turned upside down, and I'd like to take a minute just sitting right here to tell you how this book took all my plans and volleyed them far beyond my ability to care.
Huh. Well, that was slightly unexpected. Moving on.
It is true, though. I ordered Losing At Love, it arrived in the mail, and then all of my other plans for the day ceased to exist. I didn't mean it to be that way. I figured I'd split up my day into reading time, bouncing on trampoline time (my Lenten thing), and other stuff time. I started reading and the pages just flew right by, and I said to myself, "Alex, you will get to page 150 and put book down for a bit, do some bouncing, eat, perhaps read from the library book that's due back in a few days, and then maybe pick it up again before you go to bed."
Well, I got to page 150, and not long after that I was well into the 200s. And then it was dinner time. And then it was bedtime. And then I finished the book.
I WAS SO ABSORBED IN THESE CHARACTERS! Seriously, there better be another book because MORE! Want more!
neeeeeed
It was so easy to fall into step with Indy, Penny, and Jas again. They are such down-to-earth, real, fun characters. Personally, I tend to find it more difficult to feel invested in contemporary characters, as opposed to those in fantasy (hence my proclivity for fantasy), but I DO feel invested in these girls! I love their drive and ambition; their dreams and their realities.
Most of all, I love how this series doesn't have everyone win in the end, and yet it maintains a steady flow of hope to fuel their drive to keep pushing forward no matter the obstacles. It's inspiring!
And then there is the romance. I love the romance arcs in Game.Set.Match, but ohmygaaaawd Losing At Love takes these girls and their beaus to another level. Alex and Jack in particular...
I strongly encourage reading this series. It's so much fun, you won't be disappointed!
Now this is a story all about how my day got twist turned upside down, and I'd like to take a minute just sitting right here to tell you how this book took all my plans and volleyed them far beyond my ability to care.
Huh. Well, that was slightly unexpected. Moving on.
It is true, though. I ordered Losing At Love, it arrived in the mail, and then all of my other plans for the day ceased to exist. I didn't mean it to be that way. I figured I'd split up my day into reading time, bouncing on trampoline time (my Lenten thing), and other stuff time. I started reading and the pages just flew right by, and I said to myself, "Alex, you will get to page 150 and put book down for a bit, do some bouncing, eat, perhaps read from the library book that's due back in a few days, and then maybe pick it up again before you go to bed."
Well, I got to page 150, and not long after that I was well into the 200s. And then it was dinner time. And then it was bedtime. And then I finished the book.
I WAS SO ABSORBED IN THESE CHARACTERS! Seriously, there better be another book because MORE! Want more!
neeeeeed
It was so easy to fall into step with Indy, Penny, and Jas again. They are such down-to-earth, real, fun characters. Personally, I tend to find it more difficult to feel invested in contemporary characters, as opposed to those in fantasy (hence my proclivity for fantasy), but I DO feel invested in these girls! I love their drive and ambition; their dreams and their realities.
Most of all, I love how this series doesn't have everyone win in the end, and yet it maintains a steady flow of hope to fuel their drive to keep pushing forward no matter the obstacles. It's inspiring!
And then there is the romance. I love the romance arcs in Game.Set.Match, but ohmygaaaawd Losing At Love takes these girls and their beaus to another level. Alex and Jack in particular...
I strongly encourage reading this series. It's so much fun, you won't be disappointed!
March 2, 2015
Find this and other reviews at Ramblings of a Daydreamer.
4.5
I read and loved Game. Set. Match. two years ago and have been waiting (im)patiently ever since for Losing at Love. In my review of the first book, I said that I went into it not expecting to love it. I have no interest in tennis, plus I often find it hard to keep multiple POVs straight, especially when a lot is going on. I was pleasantly surprised, and ended up loving not only the tennis stuff, but also the three main characters, Indy, Penny, and Jasmine. Iacopelli succeeded in capturing my attention from the very beginning, and she did that again in Losing at Love.
It was so great reconnecting with these characters. It felt like meeting up with old friends, and I was eager to see what they were up to. I love that Indy, Penny, and Jasmine have stuff in common beyond tennis - they’re all strong, independent, smart girls - but they also have their own distinct personalities, interests, and goals. Throughout the book, the boundaries of their friendships (and other relationships) were tested, and it was nice to see them go through real life stuff even though their lives are far from most peoples’ idea of normal. I also appreciated that the relationship stuff wasn't always easy. I love the boys in this book as much as I love the girls. There were some steamy, sexy moments that were great, and they were mixed in nicely with the emotional stuff and some cute, funny moments.
I’d love to see this series as a TV series. I can picture it clearly, and I think it would make a great teen drama. It has all the elements of a hit TV show - friendships, romance, humour, sexytimes, competitive characters, action. It’s not often that I can picture a book translated to the TV or movie screen, but I’d watch a TV show about the OBX girls in a heartbeat.
I’m completely hooked on this series. I didn’t want the story to end, because I want to know what will happen next for Indy, Penny, Jasmine, and their sexy love interests. I just hope we don’t have to wait another two years for the next book! ;-)
4.5
I read and loved Game. Set. Match. two years ago and have been waiting (im)patiently ever since for Losing at Love. In my review of the first book, I said that I went into it not expecting to love it. I have no interest in tennis, plus I often find it hard to keep multiple POVs straight, especially when a lot is going on. I was pleasantly surprised, and ended up loving not only the tennis stuff, but also the three main characters, Indy, Penny, and Jasmine. Iacopelli succeeded in capturing my attention from the very beginning, and she did that again in Losing at Love.
It was so great reconnecting with these characters. It felt like meeting up with old friends, and I was eager to see what they were up to. I love that Indy, Penny, and Jasmine have stuff in common beyond tennis - they’re all strong, independent, smart girls - but they also have their own distinct personalities, interests, and goals. Throughout the book, the boundaries of their friendships (and other relationships) were tested, and it was nice to see them go through real life stuff even though their lives are far from most peoples’ idea of normal. I also appreciated that the relationship stuff wasn't always easy. I love the boys in this book as much as I love the girls. There were some steamy, sexy moments that were great, and they were mixed in nicely with the emotional stuff and some cute, funny moments.
I’d love to see this series as a TV series. I can picture it clearly, and I think it would make a great teen drama. It has all the elements of a hit TV show - friendships, romance, humour, sexytimes, competitive characters, action. It’s not often that I can picture a book translated to the TV or movie screen, but I’d watch a TV show about the OBX girls in a heartbeat.
I’m completely hooked on this series. I didn’t want the story to end, because I want to know what will happen next for Indy, Penny, Jasmine, and their sexy love interests. I just hope we don’t have to wait another two years for the next book! ;-)
March 2, 2015
This was quite good. Me like!
Review on tour stop Feb 26th!
_______________________________
As seen on Gaga Over Books on tour stop...
I haven't read that many sporty books to really compare my experience. But with reading Jennifer Iacopelli's books I have to say it has been a good one.
I loved how this book had a perfect balance between all aspects such as sports, friendship and romance. I didn't feel like I didn't know Tennis, I am not that big of a fan. I cant for the love of me carry on a good game of badminton (even though I kind of love it xP). So, you don't have to worry about the fact that it's about tennis and not being able to understand. It will be easy to get those scenes. Those scenes were one of my favorite ones. ;)
Now this book had three narrators, Indy, Jasmine and Penny (just like book 1)-- I can't decide who my favorite girl is but I am leaning more towards Indy as some of her habits are similar to mine :p
This book was 2x everything book 1 was. I love how quick of a read this was. Never a dull moment. And I loved how real it was when there was a fallout between (I won't reveal them, you should read it to find out xP)
I liked book 1 but book 2 was definitely better and upped my interest for the series.
Teaser:
_______________________________
As seen on Gaga Over Books on tour stop...
I haven't read that many sporty books to really compare my experience. But with reading Jennifer Iacopelli's books I have to say it has been a good one.
I loved how this book had a perfect balance between all aspects such as sports, friendship and romance. I didn't feel like I didn't know Tennis, I am not that big of a fan. I cant for the love of me carry on a good game of badminton (even though I kind of love it xP). So, you don't have to worry about the fact that it's about tennis and not being able to understand. It will be easy to get those scenes. Those scenes were one of my favorite ones. ;)
Now this book had three narrators, Indy, Jasmine and Penny (just like book 1)-- I can't decide who my favorite girl is but I am leaning more towards Indy as some of her habits are similar to mine :p
This book was 2x everything book 1 was. I love how quick of a read this was. Never a dull moment. And I loved how real it was when there was a fallout between (I won't reveal them, you should read it to find out xP)
I liked book 1 but book 2 was definitely better and upped my interest for the series.
Teaser:
February 28, 2015
Fantastic follow up that stands on its own
Losing at Love is a wonderful continuation of Game. Set. Match. but in all honestly you can pick up this book and dive right in without GSM tho I can’t imagine why you’d want to. Losing at Love sets up the greatest of the Grand Slam tournaments (in my opinion) Wimbledon and does it expertly. The pageantry, stress, and history of such an important tournament is not lost on these characters, your heart races as you live it with them. Jennifer Iacopelli is the master of making a book about Tennis in which Tennis becomes another character that you both loathe and love at the same time. Much like Game. Set. Match Tennis fans will enjoy this book but non tennis fans who stumble upon it will love it as well. In case you aren’t aware, the series focuses on an elite group of tennis players at the Outer Banks Tennis Academy and their lives on and off the court and especially how those two worlds collide more than they would like. Like Game. Set. Match focused on the French Open, Losing at Love focused on Wimbledon. I can only hope that means Jennifer has at least two more in her, but frankly I’m greedy and want her to continue cranking them out cause Indy, Penny, Jasmine, Jack, Alex and the rest are just getting warmed up.
Losing at Love is a wonderful continuation of Game. Set. Match. but in all honestly you can pick up this book and dive right in without GSM tho I can’t imagine why you’d want to. Losing at Love sets up the greatest of the Grand Slam tournaments (in my opinion) Wimbledon and does it expertly. The pageantry, stress, and history of such an important tournament is not lost on these characters, your heart races as you live it with them. Jennifer Iacopelli is the master of making a book about Tennis in which Tennis becomes another character that you both loathe and love at the same time. Much like Game. Set. Match Tennis fans will enjoy this book but non tennis fans who stumble upon it will love it as well. In case you aren’t aware, the series focuses on an elite group of tennis players at the Outer Banks Tennis Academy and their lives on and off the court and especially how those two worlds collide more than they would like. Like Game. Set. Match focused on the French Open, Losing at Love focused on Wimbledon. I can only hope that means Jennifer has at least two more in her, but frankly I’m greedy and want her to continue cranking them out cause Indy, Penny, Jasmine, Jack, Alex and the rest are just getting warmed up.
February 23, 2015
Losing At Love is book 2 in the Game. Set. Match series. I had to go back and read book 1($.99 now) to get a complete understanding of Losing At Love. I liked this book, it was different than most of the books I read considering there was no smut. That's right folks...No. Smut.
But that doesn't mean it was lacking in romance. The books center around 3 tennis champs who are battling to keep at the top of their craft. I don't know much about tennis but felt like Serena Williams after reading this. The grueling training, matches and competitions whew I didn't know tennis was such and intense game. I love the way the author wrote each girl. They each had their own identity and it made for good reading I couldn't decide which girl I liked more they were all so different. The way they handled love, tennis and the intensity of their individual situations was admirable. I would totally recommend this series to young girls I'd say 16+. The friendships, romance and dedication to their chosen sport is so well written that any girl 16 and older could/should appreciate and mimic this. 4.5 out of 5 stars for this one guys.
For more spoiler free reviews visit www.textteaser.wordpress.com
But that doesn't mean it was lacking in romance. The books center around 3 tennis champs who are battling to keep at the top of their craft. I don't know much about tennis but felt like Serena Williams after reading this. The grueling training, matches and competitions whew I didn't know tennis was such and intense game. I love the way the author wrote each girl. They each had their own identity and it made for good reading I couldn't decide which girl I liked more they were all so different. The way they handled love, tennis and the intensity of their individual situations was admirable. I would totally recommend this series to young girls I'd say 16+. The friendships, romance and dedication to their chosen sport is so well written that any girl 16 and older could/should appreciate and mimic this. 4.5 out of 5 stars for this one guys.
For more spoiler free reviews visit www.textteaser.wordpress.com
March 1, 2015
Oh my God!!!
This is an Oh my God novel!!
I have to tell you that I haven’t read the first book, but I was immediately drawn to the characters and the story!
I loved every second of it, every page of it!!
Everything about is amazing!!
There are many characters and we get to know each and every one of them (the main ones, at least)!! It was absolutely mesmerizing!!
I don’t usually like multiple POVs, because one, the authors don’t usually make it work and second, I am getting confused. But, this one..Oh this one IS THE EXEMPTION!!
It is perfect!! It is excellent!!
The writing isn’t confusing. It’s interesting and exciting!
The characters aren’t boring. They are special and intriguing and adorable! Even if they are mean, they are perfectly developed!
I reward this amazing novel with An Infinity of Stars, because it is a true and unique masterpiece. There is no other like this one.
Breathtaking.
One of a kind.
Losing At Love will challenge you and excite you.
Jennifer, I want to give you so many Congratulations that will make your head spin!
Losing at Love receives More than 5 Stars!!
This is an Oh my God novel!!
I have to tell you that I haven’t read the first book, but I was immediately drawn to the characters and the story!
I loved every second of it, every page of it!!
Everything about is amazing!!
There are many characters and we get to know each and every one of them (the main ones, at least)!! It was absolutely mesmerizing!!
I don’t usually like multiple POVs, because one, the authors don’t usually make it work and second, I am getting confused. But, this one..Oh this one IS THE EXEMPTION!!
It is perfect!! It is excellent!!
The writing isn’t confusing. It’s interesting and exciting!
The characters aren’t boring. They are special and intriguing and adorable! Even if they are mean, they are perfectly developed!
I reward this amazing novel with An Infinity of Stars, because it is a true and unique masterpiece. There is no other like this one.
Breathtaking.
One of a kind.
Losing At Love will challenge you and excite you.
Jennifer, I want to give you so many Congratulations that will make your head spin!
Losing at Love receives More than 5 Stars!!
February 22, 2015
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review, but these opinions are all mine.
I've been a huge fan of Jennifer Iacopelli's writing for some time, and after falling head over heels for everyone at OBX in the first book in this series (which, by the way, I also highly recommend!) I found myself on the edge of my seat waiting for more. This absolutely did not disappoint. The writing is clever and witty, the characters are real, relatable, flawed and distinct and the dialogue is quick and sassy. I've learnt more about tennis through reading these books than I ever have watching Wimbledon, and I didn't even realise it.
Losing at Love is everything I could ever hope for in a book. I laughed, I cried, I fell in love again, I threw things across the room and I regret absolutely nothing. In short: this book was well worth the wait, and I'd wait all over again for a third glimpse into life at OBX and beyond.
(But really, I'd kind of like it to happen now. I'm not sure I could cope without OBX in my life!)
I've been a huge fan of Jennifer Iacopelli's writing for some time, and after falling head over heels for everyone at OBX in the first book in this series (which, by the way, I also highly recommend!) I found myself on the edge of my seat waiting for more. This absolutely did not disappoint. The writing is clever and witty, the characters are real, relatable, flawed and distinct and the dialogue is quick and sassy. I've learnt more about tennis through reading these books than I ever have watching Wimbledon, and I didn't even realise it.
Losing at Love is everything I could ever hope for in a book. I laughed, I cried, I fell in love again, I threw things across the room and I regret absolutely nothing. In short: this book was well worth the wait, and I'd wait all over again for a third glimpse into life at OBX and beyond.
(But really, I'd kind of like it to happen now. I'm not sure I could cope without OBX in my life!)
August 20, 2015
Did I enjoy this book: I really enjoyed the first book in the Outer Banks Tennis Academy series, Game. Set. Match. (See my review here.) And Losing at Love is a great addition to the series.
I have to say I’m not much of a tennis fan–watching the matches, learning how to play–BUT I love reading about it in this series. I found myself getting caught up in the matches and practices. I felt bad for Penny when she was injured. I rooted for Indy and Jasmine. I love Jack, Alex, and Paolo. I can’t believe Dom. And I can’t stand Caroline. I even learned more about the game in general. I may have to watch a few matches now.
Would I recommend it: Yes, I would. And I can’t wait to read the next book in the Outer Banks Tennis Academy series.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
http://everyfreechance.com/2015/03/bl...
I have to say I’m not much of a tennis fan–watching the matches, learning how to play–BUT I love reading about it in this series. I found myself getting caught up in the matches and practices. I felt bad for Penny when she was injured. I rooted for Indy and Jasmine. I love Jack, Alex, and Paolo. I can’t believe Dom. And I can’t stand Caroline. I even learned more about the game in general. I may have to watch a few matches now.
Would I recommend it: Yes, I would. And I can’t wait to read the next book in the Outer Banks Tennis Academy series.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
http://everyfreechance.com/2015/03/bl...
February 24, 2015
Firstly, I want to thank the author because I had the chance to have an ARC of this book!
I have been waiting for this book for a while, so when the release date was announced I was very excited! This was such an amazing book. I am in love with all the characters and I'm very happy that this book is about one of my favourite sports <3. I was glad to see all the characters developing into their relationships while also going further with their careers. I can't wait to know more about the OBXers. Thanks Jennifer for such a great book!!!
I have been waiting for this book for a while, so when the release date was announced I was very excited! This was such an amazing book. I am in love with all the characters and I'm very happy that this book is about one of my favourite sports <3. I was glad to see all the characters developing into their relationships while also going further with their careers. I can't wait to know more about the OBXers. Thanks Jennifer for such a great book!!!
July 7, 2019
I said this before and I'll say it again: the matches Jennifer writes are impecable. As someone who doesn't care about tennis (I'm more of a soccer and baseball fan myself), she made me care, cheer and feel all the tension and relief the characters were also feeling.
I also said before that the dinamic between Jaz and Indy remind me of Dance Academy and, honestly, this book confirms it. The ending is PEAK Tara Webster. I absolutely love it.
That's it, this book is really great and I can't wait for more.
I also said before that the dinamic between Jaz and Indy remind me of Dance Academy and, honestly, this book confirms it. The ending is PEAK Tara Webster. I absolutely love it.
That's it, this book is really great and I can't wait for more.
March 6, 2015
Losing at Love is a great getaway filled with tennis and characters to remember. I enjoyed this story of three friends and their experiences while living the tennis life.
Iacopelli provides wonderful descriptions that will have the reader feeling at home courtside of a tennis match. She delivers on well developed characters that have you wanting to know more about their lives. Losing at Love was my first of her books but I've already picked up Game Set Match to read next.
Iacopelli provides wonderful descriptions that will have the reader feeling at home courtside of a tennis match. She delivers on well developed characters that have you wanting to know more about their lives. Losing at Love was my first of her books but I've already picked up Game Set Match to read next.
February 27, 2015
Losing at Love is another wonderful piece of work by Iacopelli.
It takes you in an holds you captive. You compulsively turn each page, unable to wait to find out what is going to happen next.
The characters are built so well that you feel very attached them, much like they were your best friends, you feel for them with every step they take.
This is well worth purchasing!
It takes you in an holds you captive. You compulsively turn each page, unable to wait to find out what is going to happen next.
The characters are built so well that you feel very attached them, much like they were your best friends, you feel for them with every step they take.
This is well worth purchasing!
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