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She's a Knockout
Annie Armani's life changed with one knockout punch. She's not a scrappy nobody any longer - she's the Junior MMA Champion, the star of a new documentary, with a high-profile fight on the horizon and the chance of earning the kind of money her broken family desperately needs.
Secretly though, Annie's terrified. The punch was a fluke and she's still reeling from her brother Marc's recent death. Now Annie has to contend with nosy producers, adoring fans and (worst of all) her feelings for her hot new sparring partner, Jake Duff, who has his own reasons for joining her team. With her future and her heart on the line, can Annie prove she's got what it takes to be a knockout sports star?
A punchy romance, perfect for fans of Jenny Han, Lynn Painter, Talia Hibbert and RIVAL DARLING.
Secretly though, Annie's terrified. The punch was a fluke and she's still reeling from her brother Marc's recent death. Now Annie has to contend with nosy producers, adoring fans and (worst of all) her feelings for her hot new sparring partner, Jake Duff, who has his own reasons for joining her team. With her future and her heart on the line, can Annie prove she's got what it takes to be a knockout sports star?
A punchy romance, perfect for fans of Jenny Han, Lynn Painter, Talia Hibbert and RIVAL DARLING.
384 pages, Paperback
Published June 4, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 23, 2026
Criminally underrated.
This book caught be off guard. It was incredible. The book explored grief and loss so well. I will be recommending this book to a lot of people!!!
This book caught be off guard. It was incredible. The book explored grief and loss so well. I will be recommending this book to a lot of people!!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley, Britney Brouwer, and Little Tiger Group for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review. I didn’t expect this to be YA, I thought the characters were college students. Nonetheless it’s a great read. We follow Annie in this book, on her journey of achieving her goals. In a male dominated career as an MMA fighter, she’s constantly in a battle.
I appreciated that the author did not shy away from difficult topics, and it was handled perfectly. Grief especially, it’s such a complex feeling, but one we all have experience with. Annie’s living life and fighting for her dreams but that grief is there with her, it makes her a realistic person. She never gives up, she perseveres and is determined. She deals with insecurity, an issue so many of us deal with, and add in the emotions that come with grief, she displays extreme strength and resilience.
She lost her brother and had the biggest fight of her career at the start of this story, and we know from the start just how many challenges she’s facing. Her home life isn’t great either. She feels a lot of guilt and responsibility in that aspect. Add in being told her new sparring partner is someone her late brother didn’t get along with, adds to the jar of anger in her mind. She meets Jake, and they start to get to know one another. She gives him a chance to work with her, and it’s not long before her assumptions are wrong and truths are revealed. He’s handsome, charming, but most importantly kind.
Authors tackling some of the more difficult topics in life is something that I have great respect for. It makes the characters we love more realistic, we see parts of ourselves in them so it makes sense to see the depth of their story. Mental health especially, it is a topic we can never shy from, there’s always conversations needed. It’s not an easy thing to just do, but it’s nice to see characters tackle this, perhaps giving insight into how we handle situations in our own lives.
- Young Adult
- FMC MMA FIGHTER
- MMC SPARRING Partner
- Discussion of GRIEF
- Mental Health Awareness
- FOUND FAMILY- support system :)
I think a lot of young women, and female presenting people will relate to Annie a lot. Especially the feelings of insecurity. It’s genuinely a tough couple of years in the young female mind.
I also think it’s important to see our people in books who aren’t perfect, because perfection doesn’t exist. We’re human and we make mistakes, but also that we aren’t defined by X, Y, or Z. Yes, Annie is dealing with grief, mental health challenges and self esteem issues but it doesn’t define her. Those experiences are definitely going to shape her life, but she has the support system that she needs and you just know with her strength that she can get through it. Come out stronger in the end, another thing I think would be particularly inspiring to our young adult readers.
I appreciated that the author did not shy away from difficult topics, and it was handled perfectly. Grief especially, it’s such a complex feeling, but one we all have experience with. Annie’s living life and fighting for her dreams but that grief is there with her, it makes her a realistic person. She never gives up, she perseveres and is determined. She deals with insecurity, an issue so many of us deal with, and add in the emotions that come with grief, she displays extreme strength and resilience.
She lost her brother and had the biggest fight of her career at the start of this story, and we know from the start just how many challenges she’s facing. Her home life isn’t great either. She feels a lot of guilt and responsibility in that aspect. Add in being told her new sparring partner is someone her late brother didn’t get along with, adds to the jar of anger in her mind. She meets Jake, and they start to get to know one another. She gives him a chance to work with her, and it’s not long before her assumptions are wrong and truths are revealed. He’s handsome, charming, but most importantly kind.
Authors tackling some of the more difficult topics in life is something that I have great respect for. It makes the characters we love more realistic, we see parts of ourselves in them so it makes sense to see the depth of their story. Mental health especially, it is a topic we can never shy from, there’s always conversations needed. It’s not an easy thing to just do, but it’s nice to see characters tackle this, perhaps giving insight into how we handle situations in our own lives.
- Young Adult
- FMC MMA FIGHTER
- MMC SPARRING Partner
- Discussion of GRIEF
- Mental Health Awareness
- FOUND FAMILY- support system :)
I think a lot of young women, and female presenting people will relate to Annie a lot. Especially the feelings of insecurity. It’s genuinely a tough couple of years in the young female mind.
I also think it’s important to see our people in books who aren’t perfect, because perfection doesn’t exist. We’re human and we make mistakes, but also that we aren’t defined by X, Y, or Z. Yes, Annie is dealing with grief, mental health challenges and self esteem issues but it doesn’t define her. Those experiences are definitely going to shape her life, but she has the support system that she needs and you just know with her strength that she can get through it. Come out stronger in the end, another thing I think would be particularly inspiring to our young adult readers.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I was so lucky and received an advanced copy from the publisher and for that I’m so thankful because this was an amazing YA read!
Reading about a powerful woman who’s fighting for her dreams and goals is always incredible but adding in other important topics such as grief, insecurity and more made it so much more special.
Annie is faced with a lot of challenges. Not only did she lose her brother to whom she was really close to me but suddenly, after her first big win, she’s supposed to train with a rival from her brother? Obviously she’s quite angry and that itself is a battle. But when she meets Jake and gets to know him, some truth is revealed that she didn’t expect.
The book is a whirlwind of emotions because from the beginning on, you just can’t help to root for Annie. Even a little bit for Jake because he does have charm to himself. As a reader you want to keep going with reading the book, especially to get to the fight part and see how it turns out.
Annie handles every challenge that is thrown into her way with so much strength that you just have to admire her. You can feel the pain she’s struggling with but you know she can get through it. She has the right support system around herself even if she can’t see it yet.
In all honesty, this is a wonderful YA book. You get a cute romance while also feeling empowered. And talking about topics such as grief, mental health struggles etc is incredibly important and I’m glad it was highlighted in a book like this!
Reading about a powerful woman who’s fighting for her dreams and goals is always incredible but adding in other important topics such as grief, insecurity and more made it so much more special.
Annie is faced with a lot of challenges. Not only did she lose her brother to whom she was really close to me but suddenly, after her first big win, she’s supposed to train with a rival from her brother? Obviously she’s quite angry and that itself is a battle. But when she meets Jake and gets to know him, some truth is revealed that she didn’t expect.
The book is a whirlwind of emotions because from the beginning on, you just can’t help to root for Annie. Even a little bit for Jake because he does have charm to himself. As a reader you want to keep going with reading the book, especially to get to the fight part and see how it turns out.
Annie handles every challenge that is thrown into her way with so much strength that you just have to admire her. You can feel the pain she’s struggling with but you know she can get through it. She has the right support system around herself even if she can’t see it yet.
In all honesty, this is a wonderful YA book. You get a cute romance while also feeling empowered. And talking about topics such as grief, mental health struggles etc is incredibly important and I’m glad it was highlighted in a book like this!
May 31, 2026
She’s a Knockout centres around MMA fighter Annie, who is thrust into the spotlight after unexpectedly becoming Junior MMA champion after one knockout punch. Annie’s world is turned upside down as a new documentary films her training for her next fight, airing family secrets she would rather stay hidden and making her publicly confront her grief for the recent loss of her brother. Not to mention the fact that her new training partner is her brother’s (hot) sworn enemy.
Here’s some things I loved:
💛The character development for Annie as excellent! The author expertly reveals Annie’s backstory throughout to give us an insight into her ambition, her drive, and her insecurities. I really rooted for her after all she’s been through.
💛The friendships, both at the gym and between Annie and her closest friend. Annie isn’t always the best friend to Julia throughout the book but Julia continues to treat her with kindness and understanding, always having her back. This was lovely to see as so many teen/YA female friendships are filled with drama.
💛The forced proximity with Jake as they trained together added lots of tension. I really enjoyed the will they, won’t they element.
💛While the romance was an important secondary plot point, it didn’t completely take over the plot. The focus remained on Annie working through her grief and her insecurities as she prepared for the fight.
💛The discussion of loss and grief was handled sensitively and realistically.
An excellent character-driven YA read!
Here’s some things I loved:
💛The character development for Annie as excellent! The author expertly reveals Annie’s backstory throughout to give us an insight into her ambition, her drive, and her insecurities. I really rooted for her after all she’s been through.
💛The friendships, both at the gym and between Annie and her closest friend. Annie isn’t always the best friend to Julia throughout the book but Julia continues to treat her with kindness and understanding, always having her back. This was lovely to see as so many teen/YA female friendships are filled with drama.
💛The forced proximity with Jake as they trained together added lots of tension. I really enjoyed the will they, won’t they element.
💛While the romance was an important secondary plot point, it didn’t completely take over the plot. The focus remained on Annie working through her grief and her insecurities as she prepared for the fight.
💛The discussion of loss and grief was handled sensitively and realistically.
An excellent character-driven YA read!
June 15, 2026
🥊💖 4 ⭐ REVIEW • She’s a Knockout by Britney Brouwer 💖🥊
MY TEEN SELF IS SCREAMING, CRYING, KICKING HER FEET AND THROWING CONFETTI RIGHT NOW!!! 😭✨
This was honestly one of the sweetest YA books I’ve read in a long time. From the very first chapters, this story grabbed me by the heart and refused to let go. I cried within the first 25% 😭, laughed throughout the rest 😂, and completely fell in love with these characters along the way.
Annie is the kind of heroine you can’t help but admire. She’s determined, fierce, and fighting for her dreams while carrying a grief that never truly leaves her side. The way this book handled loss and mental health felt so honest and realistic. Grief isn’t something that magically disappears, and seeing Annie navigate life with it made her feel incredibly real. ❤️
And Jake? 🥹 Ugh, I adored him. He was charming, supportive, and such a wonderful balance to Annie. Their chemistry was adorable, their banter made me smile, and I found myself rooting for them every single step of the way.
The story is packed with emotion, heart, and determination. I was desperate to see how Annie’s journey would unfold, especially when it came to the fight scenes and chasing her dreams. Every page made me want to keep reading “just one more chapter”… and we all know how dangerous that is. 🤭📚
✨ What to Expect:
🥊 MMA Fighter FMC
🥊 Sparring Partner MMC
💔 Grief Representation
🧠 Mental Health Awareness
💕 YA Romance
🏆 Following Your Dreams
This book reminded me why I love YA so much. It has heart, hope, healing, and characters you’ll want to cheer for until the very last page. I can’t wait to see what Britney Brouwer writes next! 💖
#ShesAKnockout #Bookstagram #YAReads #BookReview #ReadersOfInstagram 📚🥊💕✨
MY TEEN SELF IS SCREAMING, CRYING, KICKING HER FEET AND THROWING CONFETTI RIGHT NOW!!! 😭✨
This was honestly one of the sweetest YA books I’ve read in a long time. From the very first chapters, this story grabbed me by the heart and refused to let go. I cried within the first 25% 😭, laughed throughout the rest 😂, and completely fell in love with these characters along the way.
Annie is the kind of heroine you can’t help but admire. She’s determined, fierce, and fighting for her dreams while carrying a grief that never truly leaves her side. The way this book handled loss and mental health felt so honest and realistic. Grief isn’t something that magically disappears, and seeing Annie navigate life with it made her feel incredibly real. ❤️
And Jake? 🥹 Ugh, I adored him. He was charming, supportive, and such a wonderful balance to Annie. Their chemistry was adorable, their banter made me smile, and I found myself rooting for them every single step of the way.
The story is packed with emotion, heart, and determination. I was desperate to see how Annie’s journey would unfold, especially when it came to the fight scenes and chasing her dreams. Every page made me want to keep reading “just one more chapter”… and we all know how dangerous that is. 🤭📚
✨ What to Expect:
🥊 MMA Fighter FMC
🥊 Sparring Partner MMC
💔 Grief Representation
🧠 Mental Health Awareness
💕 YA Romance
🏆 Following Your Dreams
This book reminded me why I love YA so much. It has heart, hope, healing, and characters you’ll want to cheer for until the very last page. I can’t wait to see what Britney Brouwer writes next! 💖
#ShesAKnockout #Bookstagram #YAReads #BookReview #ReadersOfInstagram 📚🥊💕✨
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I really enjoyed this story about a female MMA fighter. The main story follows Annie as she is thrust into the limelight after winning a title match. She doesn't believe she deserved to win, and she is still reeling after the death of her brother.
This book is more about her, her inner strength, and her passion. The secondary storyline of the romance was really well done, I liked the fact it didn't take over the rest of the plot and wasn't explicit either.
I will definitely be reading more from this author.
This book is more about her, her inner strength, and her passion. The secondary storyline of the romance was really well done, I liked the fact it didn't take over the rest of the plot and wasn't explicit either.
I will definitely be reading more from this author.
March 6, 2026
4.75 ✨
I really loved this. So cute and such a good meaningful story too. I loved the characters, and the slow blossoming love aswell. Read this in just 2 days and deffo recommend if you’re in the mood for a cute sports romance, with a great storyline. Thankyou to little tiger for sending me a proof copy to read ahead of release! Can’t wait to see what else this author writes 💕🙌🏼
I really loved this. So cute and such a good meaningful story too. I loved the characters, and the slow blossoming love aswell. Read this in just 2 days and deffo recommend if you’re in the mood for a cute sports romance, with a great storyline. Thankyou to little tiger for sending me a proof copy to read ahead of release! Can’t wait to see what else this author writes 💕🙌🏼
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.75 star rounded up
Overall I though the book was cute for what it was and I liked the martial arts elements as well.
Overall I though the book was cute for what it was and I liked the martial arts elements as well.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
For a small book, this definitely packed a punch! 💪🏻 (pun intended)
I loved this story so much, I'm all for girl power and absolutely loved our fmc, Annie! She's such a strong character who won't back down from doing what's right and I loved her personality right from the start.
Shes a knockout is a powerful and emotional story and I couldnt get enough! I think i read this over a day while on holiday and I was gripped right from the first chapter.
Also i think the romance was done very well too and loved seeing feelings develop between Annie & Jake 🥰
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a proof copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
I loved this story so much, I'm all for girl power and absolutely loved our fmc, Annie! She's such a strong character who won't back down from doing what's right and I loved her personality right from the start.
Shes a knockout is a powerful and emotional story and I couldnt get enough! I think i read this over a day while on holiday and I was gripped right from the first chapter.
Also i think the romance was done very well too and loved seeing feelings develop between Annie & Jake 🥰
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a proof copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Loved this. YA with martial arts. could have been written for me
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews