From Homecoming to Forever: Poet & Kasai

by Skynova

My father once told me love and hate carry the same heartbeat, just under different skin. The passion is the same. The sting is the same. That pressure that builds in your chest? Same. But I don’t believe in that. I don’t trust the idea of love. I’m no princess waiting on a happy ending. I’m a realist, and the thought of me and Kasai Stone alone makes my stomach twist. He’s breaking barriers as the number-one ranked Black college hockey player in the country, but he could never break my ice-barricaded heart. He’s arrogant, cocky, and fake. Kasai Stone moves like the world was built just to watch him skate across it. We’ve been enemies since the fifth grade, from playground fights that traveled to high school. I thought I left him behind when we graduated. But I was wrong.

136 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 3, 2025

Reviews

[perfectlyamberb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enemies to lovers!

This was such a cute surprise. I randomly seen a post from Skynova of FB promoting this book and thought the character artwork was interesting so I decided to pick this one up and I’m so glad I did. I really enjoyed Kasai and Poet. The enemies to lovers vibe is on point and totally believable. They were so annoyed and antagonistic with each other until they weren’t. Everyone around them could tell that there was some secret lust/feelings for each other and when they gave into the feelings it was really cute. My only criticism for this book is that it should have been longer. We barely get to sit with them as a couple before the book ends and I would have liked some more insight into that.

[NubianJoí · Rating 5 out of 5]

Free

Oh wow, what a great read🤩‼️The antithesis of DEI: diversity, equity & inclusion at fictitious HBCU Alniqa University. More so, I appreciated Mr. Monroe’s validation & encouragement of Poet to live free. By publicly defending his daughter’s personality & idiosyncrasies rather than manipulate & or discourage her individuality‼️ Brilliant‼️“From Homecoming To Forever: Kasai & Poet” was the best book of this series 😍‼️

[The Bourbon-Sipping Bibliophile · Rating 3 out of 5]

🥃 ARC Review by The Bourbon Sipping Bibliophile
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.75/5)
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (Slow-burn warmth with a respectable kick)
Genre: Contemporary Romance • Emotional Growth • Second Chances
Pour Style: Honest, Warm, Smooth on the front end with a lingering finish

🥃 The Pour: A Warm, Comforting Sip with Just Enough Bite
This ARC tasted like a romance that knows exactly what it wants to be: heartfelt, character-driven, and rooted in the kind of emotional honesty that sneaks up on you. From page one, you’re dropped into a story shaped by vulnerability—two people trying to find connection, healing, or maybe just a little peace in each other.

The writing is smooth, the pacing mostly steady, and the chemistry blooms with the slow confidence of a bourbon that doesn’t need to prove anything. It’s not a loud, flashy pour—it’s a quiet, soothing one, built from small moments that accumulate into something tender.

💕 What Hit the Palate Nicely
✔ Strong emotional arcs
Both leads are flawed in human ways—missteps, insecurities, coping mechanisms, and all. Their internal growth is the backbone of the book.

✔ Authentic chemistry
The chemistry builds naturally. Nothing insta-love here. Just shared space, shared tension, shared vulnerability.

✔ Dialogue that feels lived-in
Conversations sound real—messy, funny, awkward, and warm. Not overwritten.

✔ A world that feels comforting
Even minor characters bring personality, making the setting feel like a small community you wouldn’t mind visiting again.

🥃 Where the Pour Lost a Little Proof
– Some pacing dips
A few mid-book scenes linger too long, slowing momentum.

– Emotional beats could’ve hit harder
The set-up was strong; the payoff felt just a touch too quick in places.

– A little more spice would’ve been welcome
The tension was there—but the fade-outs or light descriptions left me wanting a bit more for a romance with this much emotional intimacy.

🌶️ Spice Notes
Medium heat, rooted in emotional closeness.
Expect:

Soft teasing
Descriptive kisses
A couple of scenes with steam but not full erotica
More sensuality than explicit detail

⚠️ Content Warnings
Emotional trauma
Family conflict
Past relationship wounds
Mental health themes
On-page sexual content

🥃 Final Sip
A tender, heartfelt romance with grounded characters, believable chemistry, and a slow-burn warmth that sticks with you. While not perfect, it’s the kind of ARC that reminds you why you love romance: emotional honesty, soft intimacy, and the comfort of watching two people choose each other—intentionally, imperfectly, beautifully.

Final Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.75/5)
A solid, satisfying pour—smooth, comforting, and worth recommending.

🥃 Drink Pairing: A Spiced Pear Sidecar
This drink is sharp (the lemon), surprisingly sweet (the pear), and strong (the Cognac), reflecting the complex, sometimes painful history of Poet and Kasai, and the intense, sophisticated setting.

Spiced Pear Sidecar - The Volatile Rivalry Edition
Ingredients
2 oz Cognac (for the dark academia setting and the richness of their history)
0.75 oz Lemon Juice (for the sharp, cutting rivalry)
0.75 oz Spiced Pear Liqueur (for the unexpected sweetness of their devotion)
Rimmed with sugar/cinnamon (for the initial temptation).

Tasting Notes
🍹 Aroma: Warm spice and bright citrus.
🍸 Palate: Sharp on the front end, quickly dissolving into a complex, warm, and sophisticated sweetness—reflecting the journey from rivals to lovers.
✨ Finish: Strong, smooth, and unforgettable.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Bree · Rating 5 out of 5]

from homecoming to forever Poet & Kasai had me hooked from the first chapter. this story hit deep in ways i didn’t expect. kasai and poet were always at each other’s throats but somehow it still felt like fate kept pulling them back together. their energy was fire and tension mixed with something real that neither of them wanted to admit.

i loved the father representation in this story. kasai’s relationship with his dad was strong and full of love. it showed how much a solid father figure can shape a man without breaking his spirit. when kasai told the coach you don’t know how to handle me because you can’t be a father to me, i felt that in my chest. that line showed his pride and how much respect he had for the man who raised him right.

poet’s father was just as impactful in her life. he saw her for who she really was. socially different and misunderstood by most people but never by him. he accepted her without trying to change her and that hit home for me. seeing a black father love his daughter exactly as she is was so beautiful.

and the library scene? Chef’s Kiss. And her expressing how her villain became her hero 🥹😍

This enemies to lovers story was so cute but alot of finding yourself gems 💎 was included

[Cheonica Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

From Homecoming to Forever: Poet & Kasai had me cheesin’ from start to finish because enemies to lovers. Yeah, that’s absolutely my THANG. Poet and Kasai been beefing since the FIFTH grade like, imagine hating somebody from playground scrapes all the way to junior year in college just to end up kissing the same mouth you used to argue with. I lived for it.

These two had the perfect balance of bite and tension. Poet swore she was ice cold, heart locked up, mind made up. Kasai swore the world was his rink and he was skating over everybody, including her. But underneath all that barking, all that ego, all that “I can’t stand you”… the chemistry was undeniable.

Kasai’s dad told the truth straight up they are both outcasts in their own way. Two people who never quite fit, never felt fully understood, but somehow make perfect sense when they’re together. Around each other, the masks come off. The armor drops. The real versions of Poet and Kasai finally get to breathe.

This novella gave me tension, attitude, softness and a love story rooted in rivalry but blooming in authenticity.
I’m loving this whole HBCU Homecoming world, but Poet & Kasai Yeah… they might be my favorite.

[Danielle Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alt Love

Book 5 of 5: From Homecoming to Forever series.

They saved the best for last with Poet & Kasai HBCU story. Poet is a rebel without a cause. Her emo aesthetic doesn’t fit the environment she is and she’s never one to back down from a fight. Poet decides to serve notice on her roommate’s man regarding his fuck boy ways which leads to a run in with her enemy Kasai.

Kasai is the star hockey player at AU and the next big NHL draft pick. Handsome and talented, he is every girls’ dreams except one, Poet Monroe. Kasai has been Poet’s antagonist since elementary school. The hate between them is real.

Forced to serve community service together, close proximity changes hard feelings to something more.

Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Enemies to lovers
Hilarious banter
Opposites attract

[Gemini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cease Fire

I liked that this focused on students that didn’t fit the HBCU stereotypes. Poet was an antisocial goth girl. Kasai was an elite hockey player trying to make it to the NHL. They were sworn enemies since childhood. It was fun to watch the hate morph into love. It was sweet that Kasai was so protective of Poet. Their story was a bit more edgy than the others in the collection. I really enjoyed the change of pace.

[_dulcekk · Rating 4 out of 5]

more of Kasai & Poet pleaseeee

This was a cute enemies to lovers: childhood friends who are mean to one another instead of leaning into those hidden feelings. I enjoyed the banter between Kasai and Poet. Once they admitted their feelings, it was sweet to see how Kasai more than ever now didn’t play about her. This read had some drama and some characters that had high audacity!

[chantel · Rating 5 out of 5]

First Time reader


First story from this author and love every moment of it, I liked reading about how Kasai made poet feel things and bring it out in her, this book made me laugh and smile, can't wait to find more stories from this author