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Junior Year Abroad #1
Hit or Miss: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 8 Sep 26PRE-ORDER the first novel in the BRAND-NEW spicy, new-adult college romance series. Perfect for fans of Bal Khabra, Ana Huang and Rachel Reid!***
'Irresistibly sexy and sweet…will leave you swooning' CHRISTINA LAUREN***
He's a player. And she's the goal…Ethan Taylor is unbeatable on and off the field. Being the star of the Marshall College soccer team – and hot as hell – has its perks. But when tragedy strikes, Ethan flies straight out of South Carolina and to the intimidating halls of Hemden University, where even his Southern charm can’t melt the stiff British upper lips…
Mia Meyers has never had much luck with people. Having always been a bookish wallflower, junior year abroad could be her one chance to step into the spotlight. So, when Mia realises that she’s not the only student from Marshall across the pond this year, she is determined that no one will get in the way of her new life – not even Ethan Taylor.
But why is it that Ethan’s infuriatingly sexy green eyes can’t stop staring at her, and why doesn’t she want him to look away? They may be far from friends at home, but under the spires of Hemden, could this striker score her heart?
🪞Dual POV
⚽Soccer romance
💘He falls first
🎓College romance
👩❤️👨Forced proximity
🔺Love triangle
'Irresistibly sexy and sweet…will leave you swooning' CHRISTINA LAUREN***
He's a player. And she's the goal…Ethan Taylor is unbeatable on and off the field. Being the star of the Marshall College soccer team – and hot as hell – has its perks. But when tragedy strikes, Ethan flies straight out of South Carolina and to the intimidating halls of Hemden University, where even his Southern charm can’t melt the stiff British upper lips…
Mia Meyers has never had much luck with people. Having always been a bookish wallflower, junior year abroad could be her one chance to step into the spotlight. So, when Mia realises that she’s not the only student from Marshall across the pond this year, she is determined that no one will get in the way of her new life – not even Ethan Taylor.
But why is it that Ethan’s infuriatingly sexy green eyes can’t stop staring at her, and why doesn’t she want him to look away? They may be far from friends at home, but under the spires of Hemden, could this striker score her heart?
🪞Dual POV
⚽Soccer romance
💘He falls first
🎓College romance
👩❤️👨Forced proximity
🔺Love triangle
448 pages, Paperback
Expected publication September 8, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 202 reviews
February 28, 2026
The writing felt way too immature for my taste. If you’re a reader coming straight off wattpad then you’d eat this up but that phase is over for me lol. The starting took way too long to Introduce the MCs to keep me hooked and then when I did eventually get my interest piqued it lost me within the next 10%.
So unfortunate because I was expecting this to be a new fav.
ೃ⁀➷ Thank you NetGalley and HQ for the ARC! ♥︎
So unfortunate because I was expecting this to be a new fav.
ೃ⁀➷ Thank you NetGalley and HQ for the ARC! ♥︎
June 6, 2026
I trust Kelk with my romances.
Do I care about football? Not in the slightest.
What I do care about is a tall, dark, and handsome football player who an actual sweetheart and can’t keep his mind off of our FMC 😩
What Lindsey/Elle does do well is the references and that makes it feel all the more real for me, I love her humorous writing in every book I’ve picked up so far.
Our FMC has come to the UK to attend uni away from her family, who are overbearing and just not very supportive.
She’s actually such a fun character, juggling uni courses, working at an incredibly busy student bar while also deciding whether she wants the hot musician or the football player that she couldn’t care less about at the beginning.
Also really like the therapy inclusion, it’s rare we get to witness a full session on the page.
Our MMC appears to be an arsehole, typical jock. This isn’t the case, he’s lovely! He walks her home, he bakes for her, he goes to town on her 🤷🏻♂️
He also has a secret 🤫
All in all, very happy Kelk’s decided to dip into college romance, this very much scratched that “Off Campus” itch.
My only issue is, when’s the next one?!
Do I care about football? Not in the slightest.
What I do care about is a tall, dark, and handsome football player who an actual sweetheart and can’t keep his mind off of our FMC 😩
What Lindsey/Elle does do well is the references and that makes it feel all the more real for me, I love her humorous writing in every book I’ve picked up so far.
Our FMC has come to the UK to attend uni away from her family, who are overbearing and just not very supportive.
She’s actually such a fun character, juggling uni courses, working at an incredibly busy student bar while also deciding whether she wants the hot musician or the football player that she couldn’t care less about at the beginning.
Also really like the therapy inclusion, it’s rare we get to witness a full session on the page.
Our MMC appears to be an arsehole, typical jock. This isn’t the case, he’s lovely! He walks her home, he bakes for her, he goes to town on her 🤷🏻♂️
He also has a secret 🤫
All in all, very happy Kelk’s decided to dip into college romance, this very much scratched that “Off Campus” itch.
My only issue is, when’s the next one?!
June 9, 2026
this is basically temu off campus but british and without the hockey
June 10, 2026
DNF at 10%
This book was simply not for me. The language that is used is very immature and also very millennial coded while also trying to seem hip in using current lingo. The characters are both uninteresting and annoying. It feels like a wattpad book and unfortunately I'm too old for all of that.
This book was simply not for me. The language that is used is very immature and also very millennial coded while also trying to seem hip in using current lingo. The characters are both uninteresting and annoying. It feels like a wattpad book and unfortunately I'm too old for all of that.
June 10, 2026
It's like going back to 19 year old old me. It's funny, love the Britishness being explained to an American, great friendships and a world being opened up. It's very open talking about anxiety. Loved it.
June 8, 2026
I’ve always enjoyed Lindsey Kelk’s work, and it was fun to see them turn their hand to college romance.
The English college setting felt fresh, as we saw it through Ethan and Mia’s eyes. Their slow burn beautifully simmers with just the right balance of sweet and passionate. I enjoyed the way each character stood on their own, with their own baggage and growth. The supporting cast of characters were superbly entertaining, and I particularly enjoyed Alice and Jenna. I’m hoping we’ll see more of their stories in the next books in the series.
While the book felt a little on the long side, overall it was well paced, and Ethan and Mia’s story kept me glued to the page. Kelk captured all the enjoyable pieces of college sport romance, but brought their own take to it, adding a depth that felt refreshing. I enjoyed the authors note at the end which also gave the story extra context.
I’d recommend for anyone looking for an entertaining college romance, particularly for those looking for their next read after finishing the off campus series.
Thank you to the publisher for an advance copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.
The English college setting felt fresh, as we saw it through Ethan and Mia’s eyes. Their slow burn beautifully simmers with just the right balance of sweet and passionate. I enjoyed the way each character stood on their own, with their own baggage and growth. The supporting cast of characters were superbly entertaining, and I particularly enjoyed Alice and Jenna. I’m hoping we’ll see more of their stories in the next books in the series.
While the book felt a little on the long side, overall it was well paced, and Ethan and Mia’s story kept me glued to the page. Kelk captured all the enjoyable pieces of college sport romance, but brought their own take to it, adding a depth that felt refreshing. I enjoyed the authors note at the end which also gave the story extra context.
I’d recommend for anyone looking for an entertaining college romance, particularly for those looking for their next read after finishing the off campus series.
Thank you to the publisher for an advance copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.
April 29, 2026
Hit or miss is a definite hit for me!!
Dual POV with engaging main characters and a great cast of supporting characters- whom I am sure will appear in the next book… I hope!
I really appreciated the balance of Mia being someone trying to be a new improved version of herself whilst struggling with suppressing who she really is. Her choices reflected accurately someone struggling with anxiety for me and the author truly managed to reflect that struggle whilst not making the book all about anxiety. It was subtle but clear, it was interwoven in the very fibre of who Mia was.
The university life, friendships were all there and really fun (bringing back plenty of memories)!
Ethan was the only character that I felt like I didn’t really get enough of. He seemed like a character that needed a bit more storytelling which probably seems unfair as his story was told certainly I just didn’t feel it as much as Mia’s.maybe I just needed more from his POV.
I received this book as an ARC and provide an honest opinion.
Dual POV with engaging main characters and a great cast of supporting characters- whom I am sure will appear in the next book… I hope!
I really appreciated the balance of Mia being someone trying to be a new improved version of herself whilst struggling with suppressing who she really is. Her choices reflected accurately someone struggling with anxiety for me and the author truly managed to reflect that struggle whilst not making the book all about anxiety. It was subtle but clear, it was interwoven in the very fibre of who Mia was.
The university life, friendships were all there and really fun (bringing back plenty of memories)!
Ethan was the only character that I felt like I didn’t really get enough of. He seemed like a character that needed a bit more storytelling which probably seems unfair as his story was told certainly I just didn’t feel it as much as Mia’s.maybe I just needed more from his POV.
I received this book as an ARC and provide an honest opinion.
May 29, 2026
Such a fun and addictive college sports romance ⚽✨
I loved the university setting and the “he falls first” dynamic between Ethan and Mia. Ethan’s cocky charm mixed with Mia’s quieter, bookish personality worked so well, and their chemistry kept me hooked the whole way through.
Perfect for fans of football romance, forced proximity, and dual POV 💕
I loved the university setting and the “he falls first” dynamic between Ethan and Mia. Ethan’s cocky charm mixed with Mia’s quieter, bookish personality worked so well, and their chemistry kept me hooked the whole way through.
Perfect for fans of football romance, forced proximity, and dual POV 💕
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 7, 2026
Hit or Miss by Elle Kelk
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Hit or Miss was such a fun, addictive romance that completely pulled me in from the start. It has all the charm, humour, and emotional depth I’ve come to expect from Lindsey Kelk, and I loved seeing her bring that magic into a new adult romance under the name Elle Kelk.
The story follows Mia Meyers, a bookish introvert heading to England for her junior year abroad, determined to finally step outside her comfort zone and create a new version of herself. The last thing she wants is Ethan Taylor, the star soccer player from her American college, showing up and disrupting her plans. Ethan was such a great romance hero—confident, charming, and seemingly able to win over everyone around him, but there’s so much more going on beneath the surface. Watching their relationship develop from irritation and tension into something much deeper had me completely invested.
What I loved most was how much this book balanced the romance with the characters’ personal journeys. Mia’s growth throughout the story felt realistic and relatable, and I loved seeing her navigate new friendships, a new country, and all the uncertainty that comes with being far from home. The dual POV worked so well because it gave so much insight into both Mia and Ethan, and Ethan falling first will never not be one of my favourite things.
If you love college romances, study abroad settings, sports romance, forced proximity, and heroes who are completely gone for the girl before she even realises it, I’d definitely recommend adding this one to your TBR.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Hit or Miss was such a fun, addictive romance that completely pulled me in from the start. It has all the charm, humour, and emotional depth I’ve come to expect from Lindsey Kelk, and I loved seeing her bring that magic into a new adult romance under the name Elle Kelk.
The story follows Mia Meyers, a bookish introvert heading to England for her junior year abroad, determined to finally step outside her comfort zone and create a new version of herself. The last thing she wants is Ethan Taylor, the star soccer player from her American college, showing up and disrupting her plans. Ethan was such a great romance hero—confident, charming, and seemingly able to win over everyone around him, but there’s so much more going on beneath the surface. Watching their relationship develop from irritation and tension into something much deeper had me completely invested.
What I loved most was how much this book balanced the romance with the characters’ personal journeys. Mia’s growth throughout the story felt realistic and relatable, and I loved seeing her navigate new friendships, a new country, and all the uncertainty that comes with being far from home. The dual POV worked so well because it gave so much insight into both Mia and Ethan, and Ethan falling first will never not be one of my favourite things.
If you love college romances, study abroad settings, sports romance, forced proximity, and heroes who are completely gone for the girl before she even realises it, I’d definitely recommend adding this one to your TBR.
June 7, 2026
I inhaled this book, so much that I was up until 2am finishing it.
I’ve loved Kelk’s books all the way back to the I Heart series, and although this is a bit of a change in that it is a college romance series, it delivers through its emotional heart, depth, delightful characters and is also such a fun book.
Hit or Miss tells the story of Ethan and Mia, who have both recently started at Hemden (a fictional university based on Oxbridge). They have both travelled to the UK to escape something back home and expect to arrive with a fresh slate where they know no one. So both Mia and Ethan are surprised when they very quickly run into each other (quite literally) having both been at the same school back in the states, Marshall College.
I adored both of these characters, and was willing for Mia to see past Ethan’s jock persona. I mean anyone who learns to bake for you is a keeper, right? 😍
I also loved how Mia’s anxiety was dealt with throughout the book - how she was trying to do so much for everyone to keep the status quo which was often to her own detriment, and the discussions with Alice and her counsellor, I thought, were beautifully done.
This is the start of a new series, and so we met a colourful and engaging array of characters, who I can’t wait to see more of.
I’ve loved Kelk’s books all the way back to the I Heart series, and although this is a bit of a change in that it is a college romance series, it delivers through its emotional heart, depth, delightful characters and is also such a fun book.
Hit or Miss tells the story of Ethan and Mia, who have both recently started at Hemden (a fictional university based on Oxbridge). They have both travelled to the UK to escape something back home and expect to arrive with a fresh slate where they know no one. So both Mia and Ethan are surprised when they very quickly run into each other (quite literally) having both been at the same school back in the states, Marshall College.
I adored both of these characters, and was willing for Mia to see past Ethan’s jock persona. I mean anyone who learns to bake for you is a keeper, right? 😍
I also loved how Mia’s anxiety was dealt with throughout the book - how she was trying to do so much for everyone to keep the status quo which was often to her own detriment, and the discussions with Alice and her counsellor, I thought, were beautifully done.
This is the start of a new series, and so we met a colourful and engaging array of characters, who I can’t wait to see more of.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 3.5/5
Thank you to Rachel Quinn, HQ, and NetGalley for sending me an e-ARC of Hit or Miss in exchange for an honest review.
This was such a sweet, easy-to-devour college sports romance that completely scratched the itch for a fun, low-stakes read.
Set against the backdrop of a study abroad programme in England, Hit or Miss combines all the things I enjoy in a romance: dual POV, forced proximity, an academic setting, and most importantly, a hero who falls first. Ethan and Mia had great chemistry from the beginning, and I really enjoyed watching their relationship develop away from the lives and expectations they'd left behind in America.
Ethan was definitely the highlight for me. Underneath the confident soccer-star exterior was a genuinely sweet guy dealing with grief and trying to find his footing in a completely new environment. His feelings for Mia were obvious from the start, and I'm always a sucker for a hero who is down bad long before the heroine realises it.
Mia was easy to root for as well. Her desire to reinvent herself during her year abroad felt relatable, and I liked seeing her slowly gain confidence and step outside of her comfort zone. The university setting and the fish-out-of-water experience of both characters added a lot of charm to the story.
That said, I wasn't fully sold on every aspect of the romance. The love triangle element didn't always work for me, and there were moments where the pacing dragged slightly in the middle. While I enjoyed the journey, I never quite reached the point of being completely obsessed with the story or characters.
Overall, though, this was a fun and engaging sports romance with plenty of heart, a lovable hero, and a setting that made it stand out from the crowd. If you're looking for a college romance with study abroad vibes, soccer, and a hero who falls first, this one is definitely worth picking up.
Thank you to Rachel Quinn, HQ, and NetGalley for sending me an e-ARC of Hit or Miss in exchange for an honest review.
This was such a sweet, easy-to-devour college sports romance that completely scratched the itch for a fun, low-stakes read.
Set against the backdrop of a study abroad programme in England, Hit or Miss combines all the things I enjoy in a romance: dual POV, forced proximity, an academic setting, and most importantly, a hero who falls first. Ethan and Mia had great chemistry from the beginning, and I really enjoyed watching their relationship develop away from the lives and expectations they'd left behind in America.
Ethan was definitely the highlight for me. Underneath the confident soccer-star exterior was a genuinely sweet guy dealing with grief and trying to find his footing in a completely new environment. His feelings for Mia were obvious from the start, and I'm always a sucker for a hero who is down bad long before the heroine realises it.
Mia was easy to root for as well. Her desire to reinvent herself during her year abroad felt relatable, and I liked seeing her slowly gain confidence and step outside of her comfort zone. The university setting and the fish-out-of-water experience of both characters added a lot of charm to the story.
That said, I wasn't fully sold on every aspect of the romance. The love triangle element didn't always work for me, and there were moments where the pacing dragged slightly in the middle. While I enjoyed the journey, I never quite reached the point of being completely obsessed with the story or characters.
Overall, though, this was a fun and engaging sports romance with plenty of heart, a lovable hero, and a setting that made it stand out from the crowd. If you're looking for a college romance with study abroad vibes, soccer, and a hero who falls first, this one is definitely worth picking up.
April 3, 2026
ARC Review
3.5 ⭐️
Mia and Ethan are both on an exchange program to a university in England, both running away from something back home. Try as they might, their lives in England become intertwined.
I didn’t really vibe with the overall story and the romance, but as a British person I found the setting really fun and a little nostalgic. As much as one of the love interests is the absolute worst, his depiction is SPOT ON for so many uni boys 😂
I did enjoy how Mia learned about herself and how to cope with her demons, it brought some much needed depth to an otherwise very fluffy story (not that there’s anything wrong with that!).
This was a decent palate cleanser read, as other reviewers have said it did feel a little young but I think anyone college aged would love this.
Thanks to HQ and NetGalley for inviting me to review this eARC. all opinions are my own.
3.5 ⭐️
Mia and Ethan are both on an exchange program to a university in England, both running away from something back home. Try as they might, their lives in England become intertwined.
I didn’t really vibe with the overall story and the romance, but as a British person I found the setting really fun and a little nostalgic. As much as one of the love interests is the absolute worst, his depiction is SPOT ON for so many uni boys 😂
I did enjoy how Mia learned about herself and how to cope with her demons, it brought some much needed depth to an otherwise very fluffy story (not that there’s anything wrong with that!).
This was a decent palate cleanser read, as other reviewers have said it did feel a little young but I think anyone college aged would love this.
Thanks to HQ and NetGalley for inviting me to review this eARC. all opinions are my own.
June 7, 2026
I really wanted to love this one because the premise sounded right up my street. An American football star and a bookish wallflower finding themselves at a British university? Sign me up!!!
There were definitely things I enjoyed. I liked the culture clash elements, there were some genuinely funny moments and Ethan was by far my favourite character. His storyline had a lot of heart and I found myself much more invested whenever he was on the page. Unfortunately, I never quite connected with Mia. I understood what the story was trying to do with her character, but I found her a bit frustrating at times, which made it harder for me to fully buy into the romance.
Overall, this was a solid read with some fun moments and a lovely MMC, but it didn’t quite have the spark I was hoping for.
There were definitely things I enjoyed. I liked the culture clash elements, there were some genuinely funny moments and Ethan was by far my favourite character. His storyline had a lot of heart and I found myself much more invested whenever he was on the page. Unfortunately, I never quite connected with Mia. I understood what the story was trying to do with her character, but I found her a bit frustrating at times, which made it harder for me to fully buy into the romance.
Overall, this was a solid read with some fun moments and a lovely MMC, but it didn’t quite have the spark I was hoping for.
June 4, 2026
I really enjoyed this book!
Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
Spice : 🌶️🌶️ (2/5)
POV : Dual
Tropes : football player X Swiftie bookworm • uni romance • he falls first • flatmates • dislike to love
Taylor Swift song : You Belong With Me (but from his POV)
At first glance, Mia and Ethan are such opposites but... they have way more in common than you'd think and are so perfect for each other! I really loved their banter and their friendship. And I don't know what it is about a man who falls first, but it's the sweetest thing in the world 🥹
I'm so happy I never saw that plot twist coming, and I really enjoyed the wholesome friendships between all the characters (girls and boys!). I would say this book is great for people who enjoyed the Off Campus TV show, it was giving me the same type of vibe but with football (soccer for Americans).
[Thank you NetGalley and HQ for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review]
Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
Spice : 🌶️🌶️ (2/5)
POV : Dual
Tropes : football player X Swiftie bookworm • uni romance • he falls first • flatmates • dislike to love
Taylor Swift song : You Belong With Me (but from his POV)
At first glance, Mia and Ethan are such opposites but... they have way more in common than you'd think and are so perfect for each other! I really loved their banter and their friendship. And I don't know what it is about a man who falls first, but it's the sweetest thing in the world 🥹
I'm so happy I never saw that plot twist coming, and I really enjoyed the wholesome friendships between all the characters (girls and boys!). I would say this book is great for people who enjoyed the Off Campus TV show, it was giving me the same type of vibe but with football (soccer for Americans).
[Thank you NetGalley and HQ for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review]
June 5, 2026
I really enjoyed this being set in England and the nod to Percy’s was amazing. I really enjoyed the dual pov and how they were both trying to escape something to be new versions of themselves. The slow burn dislike to lovers tension was great. However I did find the writing more ya than adult and that did take me out of the story at times
June 22, 2026
This had so much potential but found it lacking something to reel me in and it was so painfully slow… had to start skim reading the last few chapters 😭 I think Americans would enjoy it more as there’s a lot of over-explaining British things, yet also it’s majorly embellished. I’ve never heard anyone refer to someone else as a ‘knobber’ 🤣
June 3, 2026
Fun, witty, spicy enemies-to-lovers!
Soccer star Ethan & quiet bookish Mia end up studying abroad in Britain—annoyed by each other… until sparks fly.
Perfect mix of banter, slow-burn tension, heart, and British charm. Smart, swoony, and totally addictive
Perfect for sports & college romance fans!
Soccer star Ethan & quiet bookish Mia end up studying abroad in Britain—annoyed by each other… until sparks fly.
Perfect mix of banter, slow-burn tension, heart, and British charm. Smart, swoony, and totally addictive
Perfect for sports & college romance fans!
June 14, 2026
Thank you HQ and NetGalley for arc
I wasn’t sure if I was going to enjoy it as I haven’t read much of college romance but I fully enjoyed it
What I enjoyed was the romance the characters chemistry between them
It was fun had a bit of good spice it and witty and enjoyed the POV of both characters
Would I recommend and the answer is YES and will be continuing with the serie
I wasn’t sure if I was going to enjoy it as I haven’t read much of college romance but I fully enjoyed it
What I enjoyed was the romance the characters chemistry between them
It was fun had a bit of good spice it and witty and enjoyed the POV of both characters
Would I recommend and the answer is YES and will be continuing with the serie
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Coming off the back of binge-watching the Off Campus series, Hit or Miss was honestly the PERFECT remedy, and I absolutely ate this up. Like… consumed. Devoured. Left no crumbs. I already need the next book in the series immediately, actually.
This had humour and heart in the most perfect ratio, and I just know so many readers are going to fall head over heels for this series and these characters. Elle Kelk (aka Lindsey Kelk, who also gave us The Bell Witches) was genuinely the perfect person to write this because the UK-isms in this book were ELITE. Big Tesco? Percy Pigs? M&S obsessions? Colin the Caterpillar cake references? As a British reader, I was sat there like, "YES, EXACTLY! THIS IS THE CULTURE."
Mia Meyers is our bookish, awkward, trying-desperately-to-reinvent-herself FMC, and I adored her. She’s moved from Marshall College in the US to Hemden University in the UK for her junior year abroad, determined to escape the version of herself everyone back home seemed to have decided she was. She wants a fresh start, new friends, a new life, maybe even a soulmate in the form of mysterious guitar boy Oliver.
And then, on day one, she faceplants.
But this disaster of a first day leads her to Alice, Jenna, Michael, and Bryn, aka the friendship group I now need approximately one million books about. Alice is a complete ride-or-die. Jenna is sarcastic perfection. Michael is HILARIOUS and had me laughing out loud multiple times. And Bryn? I don’t know...I just feel like there’s more coming there, and I am SEATED.
Mia is awkward, funny, deeply relatable, and so incredibly easy to root for. I adored watching her slowly come out of her shell. Not in a dramatic, overnight transformation, but in a messy, real, and, occasionally, mortifying way. She wants to reinvent herself. But what actually makes her so lovable is that she’s never really broken in the first place - she’s just trying to figure out where she belongs.
And then there’s Ethan Taylor.
Soccer star. Southern charm. Ridiculously hot…and, unfortunately for Mia, Ethan is everywhere she turns.
Mia is horrified when she realises Ethan, the golden-boy soccer captain from Marshall, is also at Hemden. His ex-girlfriend used to call her “the librarian”, and Mia is very much trying to soft-launch her new life without anyone from her old one ruining the aesthetic.
But Ethan is not just the arrogant player Mia assumes him to be. He’s also running. From grief, guilt, his family, his old life, and the accident that left his younger brother in a wheelchair. His parents can barely look at him. His brother won’t speak to him. He’s lost his girlfriend, his friends, and the version of himself he used to be. And honestly? You can’t help but feel for him.
The way both Mia and Ethan are trying to become people they’re proud of, while repeatedly clashing in shared kitchens, friendship groups, bars, football pitches, and literally every corner of Hemden? DELICIOUS. Forced proximity was forcing. The tension was tension-ing. The banter was BANTER-ING.
I loved the way Ethan started noticing Mia properly for the first time. The way he keeps showing up. The way he pretends he’s not bothered while being the most bothered man alive. The way he becomes increasingly allergic to Oliver’s entire existence.
Because yes, there is Oliver. Guitar-loving, elusive, apparently soulmate-coded Oliver. At least, that’s what Mia thinks at first. But as the book goes on, it becomes so obvious that what Mia thinks she wants and what actually makes her feel safe, seen, and at home are two very different things.
And Ethan? Ethan bakes her biscuits because she says she misses home food.
Not once.
Not twice.
But THREE attempts.
I fear this would have ended me personally. I would have folded like a garden chair. Sorry to feminism, but if a man secretly practised baking because I missed home, I would need three to five business days to recover....just saying!
And the levels of petty this man reaches over Oliver? Obsessed. Every tiny win against guitar-boy has Ethan acting like he’s won the World Cup.
The romance was genuinely sweet, funny, and swoony. Ethan falls first, and he falls HARD. Like, embarrassingly down bad.
What I loved about Hit or Miss is that this isn’t just a cute college romance; it has proper depth. Mia’s journey isn’t simply about picking the right boy; it’s about her learning to choose herself. And somewhere along the way, she discovers that reinvention doesn’t mean becoming someone wholly new, but, instead, it’s about her giving herself permission to be more than the version of herself that other people reduced her to.
And Ethan’s arc? Ouch. His guilt, his loneliness, the way he thinks he doesn’t deserve good things, the way Mia becomes this unexpected home for him when everything else in his life has fallen apart…I loved it so much.
This book gave me everything I wanted: college romance, forced proximity, football/soccer chaos, he falls first, found family, laugh-out-loud humour, emotional depth, a heroine finding her voice, and a hero who bakes for the girl he loves. What more could I possibly ask for?
I genuinely think Hit or Miss is going to be one of those books people inhale in one sitting and then immediately start harassing everyone they know to read. It’s fun, warm, romantic, emotional, and ridiculously addictive.
I’m already hooked on Hemden, attached to this friendship group, and impatient for the next book.
Absolutely a hit. No miss detected.
Thank you so much to Elle Kelk. HQ and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.
This had humour and heart in the most perfect ratio, and I just know so many readers are going to fall head over heels for this series and these characters. Elle Kelk (aka Lindsey Kelk, who also gave us The Bell Witches) was genuinely the perfect person to write this because the UK-isms in this book were ELITE. Big Tesco? Percy Pigs? M&S obsessions? Colin the Caterpillar cake references? As a British reader, I was sat there like, "YES, EXACTLY! THIS IS THE CULTURE."
“Oh my God, Mia. Very serious question. Have you ever had a Percy Pig?”
“This is a serious violation of your human rights.”
Mia Meyers is our bookish, awkward, trying-desperately-to-reinvent-herself FMC, and I adored her. She’s moved from Marshall College in the US to Hemden University in the UK for her junior year abroad, determined to escape the version of herself everyone back home seemed to have decided she was. She wants a fresh start, new friends, a new life, maybe even a soulmate in the form of mysterious guitar boy Oliver.
And then, on day one, she faceplants.
“I lie still for a moment, wondering if it’s possible to spontaneously combust out of sheer humiliation.
Nope, unfortunately not. Looks like I’m going to have to live through it.”
But this disaster of a first day leads her to Alice, Jenna, Michael, and Bryn, aka the friendship group I now need approximately one million books about. Alice is a complete ride-or-die. Jenna is sarcastic perfection. Michael is HILARIOUS and had me laughing out loud multiple times. And Bryn? I don’t know...I just feel like there’s more coming there, and I am SEATED.
Mia is awkward, funny, deeply relatable, and so incredibly easy to root for. I adored watching her slowly come out of her shell. Not in a dramatic, overnight transformation, but in a messy, real, and, occasionally, mortifying way. She wants to reinvent herself. But what actually makes her so lovable is that she’s never really broken in the first place - she’s just trying to figure out where she belongs.
“I’ve always been someone who feels calmer when everything has a proper place, somewhere it belongs. Even when I don’t. Especially when I don’t.”EXCUSE ME, ELLE? My heart?
And then there’s Ethan Taylor.
Soccer star. Southern charm. Ridiculously hot…and, unfortunately for Mia, Ethan is everywhere she turns.
Mia is horrified when she realises Ethan, the golden-boy soccer captain from Marshall, is also at Hemden. His ex-girlfriend used to call her “the librarian”, and Mia is very much trying to soft-launch her new life without anyone from her old one ruining the aesthetic.
“I’m supposed to be with Alice soft launching my new life, not being patronized by someone who probably had his GPA massaged by every soccer coach since kindergarten.”
But Ethan is not just the arrogant player Mia assumes him to be. He’s also running. From grief, guilt, his family, his old life, and the accident that left his younger brother in a wheelchair. His parents can barely look at him. His brother won’t speak to him. He’s lost his girlfriend, his friends, and the version of himself he used to be. And honestly? You can’t help but feel for him.
The way both Mia and Ethan are trying to become people they’re proud of, while repeatedly clashing in shared kitchens, friendship groups, bars, football pitches, and literally every corner of Hemden? DELICIOUS. Forced proximity was forcing. The tension was tension-ing. The banter was BANTER-ING.
“Not all of us are subscribed to the Ethan Taylor daily newsletter.”
He brightens. “There’s a newsletter?”
I loved the way Ethan started noticing Mia properly for the first time. The way he keeps showing up. The way he pretends he’s not bothered while being the most bothered man alive. The way he becomes increasingly allergic to Oliver’s entire existence.
“This fucking guy.”HAHAHAHA!
Because yes, there is Oliver. Guitar-loving, elusive, apparently soulmate-coded Oliver. At least, that’s what Mia thinks at first. But as the book goes on, it becomes so obvious that what Mia thinks she wants and what actually makes her feel safe, seen, and at home are two very different things.
And Ethan? Ethan bakes her biscuits because she says she misses home food.
Not once.
Not twice.
But THREE attempts.
“You did not! Ethan! You baked biscuits!”
I fear this would have ended me personally. I would have folded like a garden chair. Sorry to feminism, but if a man secretly practised baking because I missed home, I would need three to five business days to recover....just saying!
And the levels of petty this man reaches over Oliver? Obsessed. Every tiny win against guitar-boy has Ethan acting like he’s won the World Cup.
“He wrote her a shitty song. I made her world-class biscuits.”
The romance was genuinely sweet, funny, and swoony. Ethan falls first, and he falls HARD. Like, embarrassingly down bad.
“Being just friends with Mia might be the death of me, but what a way to go.”
“She smiles back and it’s official. I’m even more cooked than the cookies.”And then he hits us with:
“I like you because when I’m with you, I feel like I’m home.”I AM FINE. ABSOLUTELY FINE. No one check on me.
What I loved about Hit or Miss is that this isn’t just a cute college romance; it has proper depth. Mia’s journey isn’t simply about picking the right boy; it’s about her learning to choose herself. And somewhere along the way, she discovers that reinvention doesn’t mean becoming someone wholly new, but, instead, it’s about her giving herself permission to be more than the version of herself that other people reduced her to.
“I’m not choosing him over you. I’m choosing myself, just like you choose yourself every day. I’ve never done it before but I think I like it.”
And Ethan’s arc? Ouch. His guilt, his loneliness, the way he thinks he doesn’t deserve good things, the way Mia becomes this unexpected home for him when everything else in his life has fallen apart…I loved it so much.
“I had a plan. Keep myself to myself, tell no one about the accident and make it through the year without getting into trouble. Then I met you.”SCREAMING. CRYING. THROWING BISCUITS.
“And me being from Marshall was a problem.”
“Nope. Me falling in love with you was a problem.”
This book gave me everything I wanted: college romance, forced proximity, football/soccer chaos, he falls first, found family, laugh-out-loud humour, emotional depth, a heroine finding her voice, and a hero who bakes for the girl he loves. What more could I possibly ask for?
“No one ever wanted anyone the way I want Mia Meyers.”
I genuinely think Hit or Miss is going to be one of those books people inhale in one sitting and then immediately start harassing everyone they know to read. It’s fun, warm, romantic, emotional, and ridiculously addictive.
I’m already hooked on Hemden, attached to this friendship group, and impatient for the next book.
Absolutely a hit. No miss detected.
Thank you so much to Elle Kelk. HQ and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.75
Finally I got my hands on a football (=soccer) romance!
When Mia first arrives at Hemden, she’s ready to be a new version of herself, but instead she falls head over heels for Oliver, the handsome, though blonde (the first red flag tbh), English literature student & musician with a mysterious vibe to him.
In an effort to connect with each other, he loans Mia his iPod with thousands of songs and multiple playlists. Turns out, Oliver has not only a terrible taste in music, but also not one pop song on his iPod and no female artists. If the blonde hair wasn’t a red flag, then this surely is.
The more Oliver appeared in the book, the more grossed out I was by all the s-h-i-t he said.
Ethan, a last minute transfer to Hemden to join their Junior Abroad program, recognizes Mia as someone from his US college, but quickly realizes that she doesn’t really care for him.
Which only makes him fall very quickly for Mia and thus creating a love triangle I wasn’t actually too mad about.
With Ethan being a football player and Hit or Miss being a sports romance, he also joins the Hemden football team as their co-captain. As fun as those moments between Ethan and his teammates and his head coach were, I would have loved more of it! More team bonding, more matches against other (uni) teams, more training.
Much like the ending of the book itself, a lot just felt like it was cut off without a proper or, at least for me, without a satisfying conclusion.
Mia is the middle child with an older and a younger brother. Unless one of them becomes somehow relevant in a future book, I’m not sure why they existed in the first place. There isn’t a relationship between the siblings, at least not between Mia and the guys, and as she said it herself, it’s more of a “out of sight, out of mind” situation. Hit or Miss covers approximately Mia’s first 3.5-4 months at Hemden and during this time, the only time one of her brothers contacted her is to guilt trip and blame her for not calling home.
Every conversation Mia had with her parents, mainly her mother, inevitably brought up the topic that Mia’s year at Hemden is a waste of money, that she shouldn’t have went in the first place, that she isn’t the type of person for this kind of stuff (living alone and abroad) and that it’s best to stay with her parents where she is safe.
While I was annoyed at her parents for saying this stuff in the first place, the guilt tripping regarding the money was the last straw for me. I don’t understand why they agreed to pay for her year abroad, when they didn’t like the idea nor apparently didn’t want her to go and all they could say to Mia was making sure she doesn’t forget about all the money they spent.
The break up scene between Mia & Oliver (was it really a break up? let’s just say the last in-person conversion they had) didn’t feel enough of an ending to their storyline. He tells her some rather questionable information and then leaves her in her room, while she processes everything. This is the last time they talk and given the information he shared, as well as his behavior throughout the book, I expected something bigger to happen here. Where was the drama?
Ethan has barely a relationship with his parents and this stays basically this way throughout the book.
After they drop him off at Hemden, they rush back to the airport and this was also the last time he talks to them during the events of the book.
He has a younger brother, which he eventually calls and has a heart to heart. Ethan’s mother, surprisingly for everyone, comes to visit him at the end of the book. And that’s about it. No explanation, no conversation, just suddenly appears at a football match.
While Mia and Ethan eventually decide to start off with a clean slate, they actually never discuss why Mia didn’t want to have him around her in the first place, which given how much Mia hated her image at her US uni, I don’t really get.
My light at the end of the tunnel were the side characters, namely & mainly Alice and Jenna, who Mia meets on her first day at Hemden and quickly befriends them. They help Mia in every possible way, have her back, support her and even after they had a fight, they have a really nice scene with apologies and some girl talk.
Through some of Mia’s monologues we get to know that friendships aren’t really her strong suit, so seeing her get to experience this with some fabulous characters like these two was a real delight.
Alsoooo there was a break up scene between Mia & Ethan and I don’t know what it was, probably the rain, but it was giving A Cinderella Story with Hilary Duff and I *loved* this!
Overall, this was a fun & enjoyable read!
Book two in the series, Sink or Swim, is already announced with a release date in early 2027 and I’m very excited! Fingers crossed that this will be Alice’s book!
Thank you HQ for providing this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Finally I got my hands on a football (=soccer) romance!
When Mia first arrives at Hemden, she’s ready to be a new version of herself, but instead she falls head over heels for Oliver, the handsome, though blonde (the first red flag tbh), English literature student & musician with a mysterious vibe to him.
In an effort to connect with each other, he loans Mia his iPod with thousands of songs and multiple playlists. Turns out, Oliver has not only a terrible taste in music, but also not one pop song on his iPod and no female artists. If the blonde hair wasn’t a red flag, then this surely is.
The more Oliver appeared in the book, the more grossed out I was by all the s-h-i-t he said.
Ethan, a last minute transfer to Hemden to join their Junior Abroad program, recognizes Mia as someone from his US college, but quickly realizes that she doesn’t really care for him.
Which only makes him fall very quickly for Mia and thus creating a love triangle I wasn’t actually too mad about.
With Ethan being a football player and Hit or Miss being a sports romance, he also joins the Hemden football team as their co-captain. As fun as those moments between Ethan and his teammates and his head coach were, I would have loved more of it! More team bonding, more matches against other (uni) teams, more training.
Much like the ending of the book itself, a lot just felt like it was cut off without a proper or, at least for me, without a satisfying conclusion.
Mia is the middle child with an older and a younger brother. Unless one of them becomes somehow relevant in a future book, I’m not sure why they existed in the first place. There isn’t a relationship between the siblings, at least not between Mia and the guys, and as she said it herself, it’s more of a “out of sight, out of mind” situation. Hit or Miss covers approximately Mia’s first 3.5-4 months at Hemden and during this time, the only time one of her brothers contacted her is to guilt trip and blame her for not calling home.
Every conversation Mia had with her parents, mainly her mother, inevitably brought up the topic that Mia’s year at Hemden is a waste of money, that she shouldn’t have went in the first place, that she isn’t the type of person for this kind of stuff (living alone and abroad) and that it’s best to stay with her parents where she is safe.
While I was annoyed at her parents for saying this stuff in the first place, the guilt tripping regarding the money was the last straw for me. I don’t understand why they agreed to pay for her year abroad, when they didn’t like the idea nor apparently didn’t want her to go and all they could say to Mia was making sure she doesn’t forget about all the money they spent.
The break up scene between Mia & Oliver (was it really a break up? let’s just say the last in-person conversion they had) didn’t feel enough of an ending to their storyline. He tells her some rather questionable information and then leaves her in her room, while she processes everything. This is the last time they talk and given the information he shared, as well as his behavior throughout the book, I expected something bigger to happen here. Where was the drama?
Ethan has barely a relationship with his parents and this stays basically this way throughout the book.
After they drop him off at Hemden, they rush back to the airport and this was also the last time he talks to them during the events of the book.
He has a younger brother, which he eventually calls and has a heart to heart. Ethan’s mother, surprisingly for everyone, comes to visit him at the end of the book. And that’s about it. No explanation, no conversation, just suddenly appears at a football match.
While Mia and Ethan eventually decide to start off with a clean slate, they actually never discuss why Mia didn’t want to have him around her in the first place, which given how much Mia hated her image at her US uni, I don’t really get.
My light at the end of the tunnel were the side characters, namely & mainly Alice and Jenna, who Mia meets on her first day at Hemden and quickly befriends them. They help Mia in every possible way, have her back, support her and even after they had a fight, they have a really nice scene with apologies and some girl talk.
Through some of Mia’s monologues we get to know that friendships aren’t really her strong suit, so seeing her get to experience this with some fabulous characters like these two was a real delight.
Alsoooo there was a break up scene between Mia & Ethan and I don’t know what it was, probably the rain, but it was giving A Cinderella Story with Hilary Duff and I *loved* this!
Overall, this was a fun & enjoyable read!
Book two in the series, Sink or Swim, is already announced with a release date in early 2027 and I’m very excited! Fingers crossed that this will be Alice’s book!
Thank you HQ for providing this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Review of advanced copy received by NetGalley
Hit or Miss is the first instalment in the Junior Year Abroad series by Elle Kelk (the pen name of Lindsay Kelk). Set in England, two American exchange students who are trying to get a fresh start in a new location find themselves sharing a flat and having to navigate a completely new environment whilst unable to escape their past. Mia has her goals of shedding her clumsy and shy persona and making the most of her year abroad and she won’t let anyone stand in her away, especially Ethan, the star of the college soccer team from her home college. Ethan sees his year abroad as a punishment for an accident from summer and his family’s way of exiling him, but soon finds that he is actually thriving when he can just be himself without all the societal pressures and expectations he was facing back home.
There were some elements to the storyline that reminded me of The Deal by Elle Kennedy, probably due to it being recent in my mind and the love triangle between a bookish, underestimated girl, the star athlete and the cocky musician. I loved the little British moments added here and there as I personally stepped foot for the first time in the UK when I moved here to go to university so getting immersed in the British culture was something I experienced as well ! I can confirm Colin cakes are very popular indeed and I was very confused the first time someone referenced a caterpillar cake as a staple 😅
I liked how both Mia and Ethan had such different experiences even though they made the same big life change. I enjoyed their romance developing and was extremely frustrated by Oliver, the frustration growing into rage at some point, and I am glad Mia had a wonderful support system in her friends, same for Ethan with his team. It was a lighter version of found family, the kind you hope to find when you go to uni really. I also wish I had friends and lecturers that were so observant and supportive as mental health struggles are often overlooked, especially in such a busy environment, and I was glad to see this represented in the book in this way.
The ending was a little abrupt, I was so happy for Ethan to have been scouted and to have had his mother visit but it left me with some questions like does his mother know the truth and if so, how is this impacting their relationship? Also given we’re expecting him to continue on the path of a professional football career, where does that leave him and Mia? I think the ending was a little open ended for me, I would have liked to see things a little more settled, maybe in an epilogue, and I wanted to see Mia’s relationship with her parents improve or at least see if her efforts yielded any chances in their attitude towards her.
I had a wonderful time reading this book and I am very excited to read the next book in the series !
✨Forced Proximity
⚽️ He Falls First
🎓 College Romance
🎶 Love Triangle
💗 Mental Health Rep
Thank you NetGalley and HQ for this advanced copy !
Hit or Miss is the first instalment in the Junior Year Abroad series by Elle Kelk (the pen name of Lindsay Kelk). Set in England, two American exchange students who are trying to get a fresh start in a new location find themselves sharing a flat and having to navigate a completely new environment whilst unable to escape their past. Mia has her goals of shedding her clumsy and shy persona and making the most of her year abroad and she won’t let anyone stand in her away, especially Ethan, the star of the college soccer team from her home college. Ethan sees his year abroad as a punishment for an accident from summer and his family’s way of exiling him, but soon finds that he is actually thriving when he can just be himself without all the societal pressures and expectations he was facing back home.
There were some elements to the storyline that reminded me of The Deal by Elle Kennedy, probably due to it being recent in my mind and the love triangle between a bookish, underestimated girl, the star athlete and the cocky musician. I loved the little British moments added here and there as I personally stepped foot for the first time in the UK when I moved here to go to university so getting immersed in the British culture was something I experienced as well ! I can confirm Colin cakes are very popular indeed and I was very confused the first time someone referenced a caterpillar cake as a staple 😅
I liked how both Mia and Ethan had such different experiences even though they made the same big life change. I enjoyed their romance developing and was extremely frustrated by Oliver, the frustration growing into rage at some point, and I am glad Mia had a wonderful support system in her friends, same for Ethan with his team. It was a lighter version of found family, the kind you hope to find when you go to uni really. I also wish I had friends and lecturers that were so observant and supportive as mental health struggles are often overlooked, especially in such a busy environment, and I was glad to see this represented in the book in this way.
The ending was a little abrupt, I was so happy for Ethan to have been scouted and to have had his mother visit but it left me with some questions like does his mother know the truth and if so, how is this impacting their relationship? Also given we’re expecting him to continue on the path of a professional football career, where does that leave him and Mia? I think the ending was a little open ended for me, I would have liked to see things a little more settled, maybe in an epilogue, and I wanted to see Mia’s relationship with her parents improve or at least see if her efforts yielded any chances in their attitude towards her.
I had a wonderful time reading this book and I am very excited to read the next book in the series !
✨Forced Proximity
⚽️ He Falls First
🎓 College Romance
🎶 Love Triangle
💗 Mental Health Rep
Thank you NetGalley and HQ for this advanced copy !
June 11, 2026
Thank you for the Advanced Reader Copy, HQ Stories.
Ah, this was sweet and cozy.
I had a gap to fill after watching Off-Campus, so I picked this one up and I’m glad I did because it definitely helped fill part of that hole.
We have a college romance between Ethan and Mia, with a fresh, almost enemies-to-lovers vibe. I wouldn’t call them full enemies by any means, but there was enough tension there at the start to give that feeling.
The setting is quite small and focused, mainly revolving around the college, the dorms, and a bar. I actually really liked that. It set the scene well without needing to constantly jump from place to place. Everything felt grounded and easy to picture.
I really loved Ethan and Mia together. Their relationship was sweet, comforting, and easy to root for. Sometimes romance books are full of male characters with endless passive-aggressive attitudes and broody behaviour, and honestly, it gets tiring. Ethan was a breath of fresh air. Give me a golden retriever book boyfriend any day of the week.
Overall, I enjoyed it.
It wasn’t my favourite read ever, though.
I found there was much more focus on college life, lessons, coursework, and Mia’s day-to-day experiences than there was on the romance itself. I did enjoy the dual POV, which worked really well. Ethan was simply a guy who wanted to be loved and appreciated, and he was never actually a bad person to begin with, which I adored.
My biggest issue was how quickly everything escalated.
I needed more build-up.
Yes, it’s marketed as a slow burn, and parts of it definitely felt that way. But I wanted more Mia and Ethan. More banter. More tension. More moments where they’re slowly falling for each other without realising it.
Instead, it felt like we went from “hi” to making out, then suddenly they’re sleeping together, and before I knew it they were in love.
That’s where the story lost me a little.
For me, this felt more like a college story with a romance running alongside it rather than a romance-first book. While I wouldn’t class it as insta-love, it felt much closer to that than it did a true slow burn.
Also, can we please lock Oliver in a room somewhere?
The most arrogant, insufferable human being imaginable. Unfortunately, I think we’ve all met an Oliver. Maybe even two or three of them.
Collective eye roll.
The friend group and found family aspect worked brilliantly. The setting worked incredibly well. And I genuinely loved Ethan and Mia both individually and together.
I just felt that once they finally got together, everything moved at lightning speed. From hooking up, to falling in love, to the third-act breakup, to getting back together again, it all happened so quickly. Even the “I love you” felt rushed considering they barely knew each other before college.
It’s a solid 4-star read from me.
I would absolutely recommend it, especially if you’re looking for a sweet college romance with a lovable hero and a great found family dynamic.
I just think the pacing needed a little more balance. It took a while to build, and then suddenly it was over before I was ready for it to end.
Ah, this was sweet and cozy.
I had a gap to fill after watching Off-Campus, so I picked this one up and I’m glad I did because it definitely helped fill part of that hole.
We have a college romance between Ethan and Mia, with a fresh, almost enemies-to-lovers vibe. I wouldn’t call them full enemies by any means, but there was enough tension there at the start to give that feeling.
The setting is quite small and focused, mainly revolving around the college, the dorms, and a bar. I actually really liked that. It set the scene well without needing to constantly jump from place to place. Everything felt grounded and easy to picture.
I really loved Ethan and Mia together. Their relationship was sweet, comforting, and easy to root for. Sometimes romance books are full of male characters with endless passive-aggressive attitudes and broody behaviour, and honestly, it gets tiring. Ethan was a breath of fresh air. Give me a golden retriever book boyfriend any day of the week.
Overall, I enjoyed it.
It wasn’t my favourite read ever, though.
I found there was much more focus on college life, lessons, coursework, and Mia’s day-to-day experiences than there was on the romance itself. I did enjoy the dual POV, which worked really well. Ethan was simply a guy who wanted to be loved and appreciated, and he was never actually a bad person to begin with, which I adored.
My biggest issue was how quickly everything escalated.
I needed more build-up.
Yes, it’s marketed as a slow burn, and parts of it definitely felt that way. But I wanted more Mia and Ethan. More banter. More tension. More moments where they’re slowly falling for each other without realising it.
Instead, it felt like we went from “hi” to making out, then suddenly they’re sleeping together, and before I knew it they were in love.
That’s where the story lost me a little.
For me, this felt more like a college story with a romance running alongside it rather than a romance-first book. While I wouldn’t class it as insta-love, it felt much closer to that than it did a true slow burn.
Also, can we please lock Oliver in a room somewhere?
The most arrogant, insufferable human being imaginable. Unfortunately, I think we’ve all met an Oliver. Maybe even two or three of them.
Collective eye roll.
The friend group and found family aspect worked brilliantly. The setting worked incredibly well. And I genuinely loved Ethan and Mia both individually and together.
I just felt that once they finally got together, everything moved at lightning speed. From hooking up, to falling in love, to the third-act breakup, to getting back together again, it all happened so quickly. Even the “I love you” felt rushed considering they barely knew each other before college.
It’s a solid 4-star read from me.
I would absolutely recommend it, especially if you’re looking for a sweet college romance with a lovable hero and a great found family dynamic.
I just think the pacing needed a little more balance. It took a while to build, and then suddenly it was over before I was ready for it to end.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Lindsey’s books always feel like a warm hug, and this was no exception.
Aside from it taking a minute to wrap my head around the campus mobile phone restrictions, this felt SO nostalgic to my own university days, which admittedly were only 10 years ago.
The student union bar, the sports social gatherings, the attitudes and behaviour of the other students, and the general mindset of feeling mature enough to be away from home but immature enough to truly not know wtf you’re doing…it was all there in the pages of this book in a way I haven’t seen any other write it before.
This definitely has a new adult feel to it, as do all college romance books, but this is extra special with it being set in the UK.
Mia’s experience with anxiety was such a natural transition from ‘oh maybe this is just stress’, to it becoming abundantly clear that it’s something more, and it reminded me so much of myself in the early days of uni. It was present without it overshadowing the rest of the plot.
Character wise, Mia and Ethan clearly both had things they were running from while having their second chance at an identity away from home, and their ages really shone through with the actions they made. Neither are perfect, but they’re willing to admit their faults to work on being better and to be frank, I think that’s more than can be said for a lot of 20 years ago olds.
Ethan was a completely misunderstood guy, but it didn’t come across as cringey as that trope can sometimes be. It was very much a case of he surrounded himself with the wrong people who made him feel important, but dragged down his reputation.
Mia, on the other hand, was so used to being on the outside of everything that she has a hard time coming to terms with being actively involved in social gatherings at her new university. It was quite funny actually seeing her integrate with a new group of friends who live life vastly differently to hers. Lindsey’s previous chicklit era definitely came through in these areas!
There was also such a strong villainous presence in this, so much so I’m already envisioning an unwritten bonus chapter of Jenna breaking into Oliver’s room to person his toothbrush and snap his guitar strings. That boy had my blood boiling from 35% into the book, and I hope his name never comes up in the series again. Talk about an absolute walking ick.
I’m really looking forward to the next book in this series, and lowkey hope we see more of Mia and Ethan moving forward. This book seemed to end so suddenly it almost felt premature? I still have questions about events that happened and the way the story was left quite open-ended.
About the book:
▫️ University romance
▫️ Footballer (UK, remember)
▫️ Found Family
▫️ Forced proximity
▫️ Open door spice (Chapter 12, 27, 32, 41, 42, and 54)
Warnings:
▪️ Drink driving accident (off page but revisited)
▪️ Anxiety representation
Aside from it taking a minute to wrap my head around the campus mobile phone restrictions, this felt SO nostalgic to my own university days, which admittedly were only 10 years ago.
The student union bar, the sports social gatherings, the attitudes and behaviour of the other students, and the general mindset of feeling mature enough to be away from home but immature enough to truly not know wtf you’re doing…it was all there in the pages of this book in a way I haven’t seen any other write it before.
This definitely has a new adult feel to it, as do all college romance books, but this is extra special with it being set in the UK.
Mia’s experience with anxiety was such a natural transition from ‘oh maybe this is just stress’, to it becoming abundantly clear that it’s something more, and it reminded me so much of myself in the early days of uni. It was present without it overshadowing the rest of the plot.
Character wise, Mia and Ethan clearly both had things they were running from while having their second chance at an identity away from home, and their ages really shone through with the actions they made. Neither are perfect, but they’re willing to admit their faults to work on being better and to be frank, I think that’s more than can be said for a lot of 20 years ago olds.
Ethan was a completely misunderstood guy, but it didn’t come across as cringey as that trope can sometimes be. It was very much a case of he surrounded himself with the wrong people who made him feel important, but dragged down his reputation.
Mia, on the other hand, was so used to being on the outside of everything that she has a hard time coming to terms with being actively involved in social gatherings at her new university. It was quite funny actually seeing her integrate with a new group of friends who live life vastly differently to hers. Lindsey’s previous chicklit era definitely came through in these areas!
There was also such a strong villainous presence in this, so much so I’m already envisioning an unwritten bonus chapter of Jenna breaking into Oliver’s room to person his toothbrush and snap his guitar strings. That boy had my blood boiling from 35% into the book, and I hope his name never comes up in the series again. Talk about an absolute walking ick.
I’m really looking forward to the next book in this series, and lowkey hope we see more of Mia and Ethan moving forward. This book seemed to end so suddenly it almost felt premature? I still have questions about events that happened and the way the story was left quite open-ended.
About the book:
▫️ University romance
▫️ Footballer (UK, remember)
▫️ Found Family
▫️ Forced proximity
▫️ Open door spice (Chapter 12, 27, 32, 41, 42, and 54)
Warnings:
▪️ Drink driving accident (off page but revisited)
▪️ Anxiety representation
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Read this book for:
❤️ Enemies to Lovers
🩷 Love Triangle
❤️ Sports Romance
🩷 He Falls First
❤️ Forced Proximity
🩷 College Romance
Synopsis
Ethan Taylor’s life has always revolved around soccer. As Marshall College’s star striker, he’s used to being the center of attention both on and off the field. But when a devastating loss forces him to step away from everything familiar, Ethan finds himself starting over at Hemden University in England.
Far from home and surrounded by centuries-old traditions, Ethan quickly realizes that his reputation means nothing here.
Mia Meyers is hoping Hemden will offer her a fresh start of her own. After years of blending into the background, she’s determined that studying abroad will finally be her chance to become someone confident, someone fearless.
The only complication is Ethan Taylor.
Back at Marshall, they barely existed in the same world. Now, thousands of miles from home, they keep crossing paths beneath Hemden’s historic spires. What starts as irritation soon turns into curiosity, and curiosity into something neither of them expected.
As Ethan learns to rebuild his life and Mia slowly steps out of the shadows, their growing connection begins to change them both. But with the semester ticking away and their old lives waiting back home, they’ll have to decide whether what they’ve found abroad is strong enough to follow them there.
My Thoughts
It gave me major Girl Abroad by Elle Kennedy vibes, but honestly, this book was way better. I absolutely loved Mia and Ethan’s story. They both came from the same college in the US to study abroad in the UK, hoping to reinvent themselves and leave their old lives behind. What I really loved was how the story showed that they never truly needed to change who they were. The real problem was the environment they were in and the people they surrounded themselves with. Once that changed, they finally felt free to be themselves.
I also did not know what to expect from Ethan’s accident storyline or the reason behind his sudden transfer to Hemden, but wow, I definitely did not see that coming. It made his character feel even more real and emotional. And honestly, I was so glad that he got rid of Bre. After learning everything, I genuinely could not understand how she could treat someone that way. She seems much better suited for someone like Oliver anyway.
The side characters were such a fun addition to the story too, especially with all their British one-liners and humor. Jenna, Alice, Michael, Bryn, Assad, and even Clive all added so much charm and personality to the book. They made the world feel lively and cozy, and I loved every scene with them.
The next book, Sink and Swim, is coming out this winter, and I already cannot wait to find out who the main characters will be!
Read this book for:
❤️ Enemies to Lovers
🩷 Love Triangle
❤️ Sports Romance
🩷 He Falls First
❤️ Forced Proximity
🩷 College Romance
Synopsis
Ethan Taylor’s life has always revolved around soccer. As Marshall College’s star striker, he’s used to being the center of attention both on and off the field. But when a devastating loss forces him to step away from everything familiar, Ethan finds himself starting over at Hemden University in England.
Far from home and surrounded by centuries-old traditions, Ethan quickly realizes that his reputation means nothing here.
Mia Meyers is hoping Hemden will offer her a fresh start of her own. After years of blending into the background, she’s determined that studying abroad will finally be her chance to become someone confident, someone fearless.
The only complication is Ethan Taylor.
Back at Marshall, they barely existed in the same world. Now, thousands of miles from home, they keep crossing paths beneath Hemden’s historic spires. What starts as irritation soon turns into curiosity, and curiosity into something neither of them expected.
As Ethan learns to rebuild his life and Mia slowly steps out of the shadows, their growing connection begins to change them both. But with the semester ticking away and their old lives waiting back home, they’ll have to decide whether what they’ve found abroad is strong enough to follow them there.
My Thoughts
It gave me major Girl Abroad by Elle Kennedy vibes, but honestly, this book was way better. I absolutely loved Mia and Ethan’s story. They both came from the same college in the US to study abroad in the UK, hoping to reinvent themselves and leave their old lives behind. What I really loved was how the story showed that they never truly needed to change who they were. The real problem was the environment they were in and the people they surrounded themselves with. Once that changed, they finally felt free to be themselves.
I also did not know what to expect from Ethan’s accident storyline or the reason behind his sudden transfer to Hemden, but wow, I definitely did not see that coming. It made his character feel even more real and emotional. And honestly, I was so glad that he got rid of Bre. After learning everything, I genuinely could not understand how she could treat someone that way. She seems much better suited for someone like Oliver anyway.
The side characters were such a fun addition to the story too, especially with all their British one-liners and humor. Jenna, Alice, Michael, Bryn, Assad, and even Clive all added so much charm and personality to the book. They made the world feel lively and cozy, and I loved every scene with them.
The next book, Sink and Swim, is coming out this winter, and I already cannot wait to find out who the main characters will be!
June 6, 2026
Mia Myers and Ethan Taylor are both are exchange students from Marshall College when they arrive at Hemden University and for Mia, Hemden is an opportunity to shake off her ‘librarian’ reputation, gain some independence from a smothering mother and finally start living a little. Ethan, meanwhile, sees the programme not only as a punishment but also an escape from his family after being involved in an accident that had serious consequences for his younger brother. Unsurprisingly, neither is thrilled when they discover they’re not the only Marshall student on campus.
Hit or Miss follows two Americans studying abroad at a picturesque campus that evokes all the charm of Oxbridge. With its dreaming spires and quintessentially British atmosphere, the setting of Hemden provides a refreshing change from the usual sports-focused American college campuses that dominate so much of the college romance market. Told through dual points of view, this book delivers an engaging blend of romance and personal growth. I particularly enjoyed the UK setting, which helped the story stand out from the countless American campus romances where sports seem to overshadow everything else – yes, technically Ethan is an athlete, but he plays football, the real kid, not rugby with padding! There’s also something amusing about Mia and Ethan having to travel thousands of miles to form a connection when they had spent years attending the same college back home without truly noticing one another. That said, the central romance does lean heavily into the familiar ‘jock falls first for the quiet girl’ trope, making parts of the story feel a bit predictable as Mia takes a little longer than Ethan to realise what or rather who has been right in front of her all along. But there were moments when I wondered if it might have been more interesting if Mia and Ethan had each found romance with local students instead of each other The story does include some emotional weight for them, particularly through Mia’s struggles with anxiety and the fallout from Ethan’s secret, but nothing becomes overly dramatic.
The real highlight, however, is the supporting cast, with the group of friends that welcome Mia into their circle adding warmth, humour, and heart to the story. Their acceptance and support play an important role in helping her grow in confidence and manage her anxiety throughout the year, even if she did hit a bump in the road in the form of the odious Oliver, he did help contribute to Mia’s development. Overall, Hit or Miss is a charming YA college romcom that balances romance with emotional growth and friendship. Readers who enjoy study-abroad stories, strong character development, and a healthy dose of British culture - especially fans of a certain well-known UK retailer and Percy Pigs - are likely to find plenty to enjoy here.
Hit or Miss follows two Americans studying abroad at a picturesque campus that evokes all the charm of Oxbridge. With its dreaming spires and quintessentially British atmosphere, the setting of Hemden provides a refreshing change from the usual sports-focused American college campuses that dominate so much of the college romance market. Told through dual points of view, this book delivers an engaging blend of romance and personal growth. I particularly enjoyed the UK setting, which helped the story stand out from the countless American campus romances where sports seem to overshadow everything else – yes, technically Ethan is an athlete, but he plays football, the real kid, not rugby with padding! There’s also something amusing about Mia and Ethan having to travel thousands of miles to form a connection when they had spent years attending the same college back home without truly noticing one another. That said, the central romance does lean heavily into the familiar ‘jock falls first for the quiet girl’ trope, making parts of the story feel a bit predictable as Mia takes a little longer than Ethan to realise what or rather who has been right in front of her all along. But there were moments when I wondered if it might have been more interesting if Mia and Ethan had each found romance with local students instead of each other The story does include some emotional weight for them, particularly through Mia’s struggles with anxiety and the fallout from Ethan’s secret, but nothing becomes overly dramatic.
The real highlight, however, is the supporting cast, with the group of friends that welcome Mia into their circle adding warmth, humour, and heart to the story. Their acceptance and support play an important role in helping her grow in confidence and manage her anxiety throughout the year, even if she did hit a bump in the road in the form of the odious Oliver, he did help contribute to Mia’s development. Overall, Hit or Miss is a charming YA college romcom that balances romance with emotional growth and friendship. Readers who enjoy study-abroad stories, strong character development, and a healthy dose of British culture - especially fans of a certain well-known UK retailer and Percy Pigs - are likely to find plenty to enjoy here.
February 27, 2026
4.5 rounded up!
Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Ohhhh here we are, a delicious college sports romance! I was so excited to pick this one up, this genre is absolutely catnip for me.
Mia arrives at Hemden University (an Oxbridge stand-in) from Marshall College, South Carolina, ready for a fresh start. She felt like a nobody back at home, no friends to speak of, overbearing parents..she was in a rut. Now she has the freedom to be who she wants to be, if she could just work out who that is.
Coincidentally, football (soccer) phenom Ethan Taylor is also arriving at Hemden University from Marshall College, as a form of punishment following a tragedy back home. Mr Popular recognises Mia, but she is all too familiar with his reputation. Before long they can’t keep their eyes off each other, and it turns out this fresh start is just what they both need.
This was so sweet, and wow was Mia one of the most relatable characters I have ever had the pleasure of reading about. I am her, she is me. This sweet, innocent, anxious little lamb has the weight of the world on her shoulders and it was absolutely lovely to see her come into her own and finally find her people! She was just my perfect little romantic bookish soulmate!
“nothing sets my heart racing like foiled boards and fancy spredges” - same girlie.
“None of my beloved books, not even Shakespeare’s sonnets or love songs, could have prepared me for this moment. This is love at first sight, it has to be. Shit. My most loathed of tropes, slapping me right in the face.”
Ethan’s story was so sad, he was facing a particularly unique brand of eldest sibling trauma and my heart broke for him. He was such a cinnamon roll, and it makes total sense that someone like Mia would be exactly who he needed. And he was everything she didn’t know she needed too, ugh my heart 💕
Oliver gave me the ick IMMEDIATELY. Jenna coming in hot with the truth bomb “Blonds are always evil, we should’ve known.” Preach!!
I did feel personally attacked at one point, when Mia points out that Temple of Doom was released TWENTY YEARS before she was born…insert Jamie Lee Curtis “I’m old” gif here.
You could feel how much of herself the author put into this book, especially with Mia’s character. The dedication set the tone with this immediately:
“For all the bookish girls who thought they would never find their people or their place. You are exactly where you’re meant to be.” 🖤🖤🖤🖤
Please pick this up if you love a college romance, any of the following tropes - forced proximity/friends to lovers/reformed rake/he falls first and harder, want a cute, spicy story filled with hope and great mental health representation!
Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Ohhhh here we are, a delicious college sports romance! I was so excited to pick this one up, this genre is absolutely catnip for me.
Mia arrives at Hemden University (an Oxbridge stand-in) from Marshall College, South Carolina, ready for a fresh start. She felt like a nobody back at home, no friends to speak of, overbearing parents..she was in a rut. Now she has the freedom to be who she wants to be, if she could just work out who that is.
Coincidentally, football (soccer) phenom Ethan Taylor is also arriving at Hemden University from Marshall College, as a form of punishment following a tragedy back home. Mr Popular recognises Mia, but she is all too familiar with his reputation. Before long they can’t keep their eyes off each other, and it turns out this fresh start is just what they both need.
This was so sweet, and wow was Mia one of the most relatable characters I have ever had the pleasure of reading about. I am her, she is me. This sweet, innocent, anxious little lamb has the weight of the world on her shoulders and it was absolutely lovely to see her come into her own and finally find her people! She was just my perfect little romantic bookish soulmate!
“nothing sets my heart racing like foiled boards and fancy spredges” - same girlie.
“None of my beloved books, not even Shakespeare’s sonnets or love songs, could have prepared me for this moment. This is love at first sight, it has to be. Shit. My most loathed of tropes, slapping me right in the face.”
Ethan’s story was so sad, he was facing a particularly unique brand of eldest sibling trauma and my heart broke for him. He was such a cinnamon roll, and it makes total sense that someone like Mia would be exactly who he needed. And he was everything she didn’t know she needed too, ugh my heart 💕
Oliver gave me the ick IMMEDIATELY. Jenna coming in hot with the truth bomb “Blonds are always evil, we should’ve known.” Preach!!
I did feel personally attacked at one point, when Mia points out that Temple of Doom was released TWENTY YEARS before she was born…insert Jamie Lee Curtis “I’m old” gif here.
You could feel how much of herself the author put into this book, especially with Mia’s character. The dedication set the tone with this immediately:
“For all the bookish girls who thought they would never find their people or their place. You are exactly where you’re meant to be.” 🖤🖤🖤🖤
Please pick this up if you love a college romance, any of the following tropes - forced proximity/friends to lovers/reformed rake/he falls first and harder, want a cute, spicy story filled with hope and great mental health representation!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
March 29, 20263.75✨
As a long time fan of Lindsey Kelk’s writing I was really excited to pick up her first college soccer romance under her pen name Elle Kelk.
Hit or Miss follows Ethan (soccer team star) and Mia (book-lover student). After tragedy strikes for Ethan he moves from the US to Hemden University in England. Mia is on her junior year abroad, her one chance to finally step into the spotlight. Mia is determined that no one will get in the way of her new life, not even Ethan..
If you love a dual POV, soccer college romance where he falls first, with forced proximity, plenty of tension, finding yourself, anxiety rep, some cheeky M&S references and a love triangle, then I think you’ll enjoy this one!
Mia’s faced a lot of challenges in her family / school life but she really grew into her own, and it was lovely to see her work through her insecurities and anxiety to manage the pressure she puts on herself.
Ethan!!! What a cutie pie. I really liked his character pretty much from the get go (if we ignore the name forgetting scene!) - he got me down bad when he made the biscuits though! I thoroughly enjoyed his pining!
A moment for Oliver please.. let’s confiscate his recorder, iPod and guitar and smash them into a million pieces and give him a little slap round the face because what an absolute arseeeee 😭 the rest of the friend group side characters were angels though!
The university setting was really cool, I felt like I could picture it so well. The no phones / internet element was wiiiiiild!! I can’t imagine any uni student happily getting on board with that these days, but it was a fun inclusion - it reminded me of the film Wild Child! 😂
I love that Lindsey’s classic humour and banter is still at the forefront of this story, even though there’s plenty of deep and meaningful moments.
I would have loved a little more from the relationship at the end, I felt like the third act conflict came pretty late on and was resolved right at the end of the book, a long with the other family members involvement felt quite rushed. I would have enjoyed a bit more time with their HEA because they’re the cutest 🤭
As a huuuuuge fan of books like the off campus series back in the day, I think I am now starting to grow out of college romance stories - this felt borderline too young for me now (that’s completely a me problem, nothing to do with the brilliant writing!), but it did slightly impact my enjoyment.
Overall this was a really great read. It was so lovely to be back with Lindsey’s writing, there’s something very comforting and unique about her story telling. I can’t wait to see what she does next!
Thank you NetGalley, Elle Kelk and HQ for providing an eARC in exchange for my honest review - Hit or Miss publishes June 4th.
As a long time fan of Lindsey Kelk’s writing I was really excited to pick up her first college soccer romance under her pen name Elle Kelk.
Hit or Miss follows Ethan (soccer team star) and Mia (book-lover student). After tragedy strikes for Ethan he moves from the US to Hemden University in England. Mia is on her junior year abroad, her one chance to finally step into the spotlight. Mia is determined that no one will get in the way of her new life, not even Ethan..
If you love a dual POV, soccer college romance where he falls first, with forced proximity, plenty of tension, finding yourself, anxiety rep, some cheeky M&S references and a love triangle, then I think you’ll enjoy this one!
Mia’s faced a lot of challenges in her family / school life but she really grew into her own, and it was lovely to see her work through her insecurities and anxiety to manage the pressure she puts on herself.
Ethan!!! What a cutie pie. I really liked his character pretty much from the get go (if we ignore the name forgetting scene!) - he got me down bad when he made the biscuits though! I thoroughly enjoyed his pining!
A moment for Oliver please.. let’s confiscate his recorder, iPod and guitar and smash them into a million pieces and give him a little slap round the face because what an absolute arseeeee 😭 the rest of the friend group side characters were angels though!
The university setting was really cool, I felt like I could picture it so well. The no phones / internet element was wiiiiiild!! I can’t imagine any uni student happily getting on board with that these days, but it was a fun inclusion - it reminded me of the film Wild Child! 😂
I love that Lindsey’s classic humour and banter is still at the forefront of this story, even though there’s plenty of deep and meaningful moments.
I would have loved a little more from the relationship at the end, I felt like the third act conflict came pretty late on and was resolved right at the end of the book, a long with the other family members involvement felt quite rushed. I would have enjoyed a bit more time with their HEA because they’re the cutest 🤭
As a huuuuuge fan of books like the off campus series back in the day, I think I am now starting to grow out of college romance stories - this felt borderline too young for me now (that’s completely a me problem, nothing to do with the brilliant writing!), but it did slightly impact my enjoyment.
Overall this was a really great read. It was so lovely to be back with Lindsey’s writing, there’s something very comforting and unique about her story telling. I can’t wait to see what she does next!
Thank you NetGalley, Elle Kelk and HQ for providing an eARC in exchange for my honest review - Hit or Miss publishes June 4th.
May 25, 2026
I absolutely loved every minute of this book. It was so fun and unputdownable. Frankly, I never wanted it to end. Full of nostalgia, many feels and felt like home.
The plot was great. who doesn’t love a girl who flies to the other side of the world to start over just to be faced with a boy from her past; and a boy who’s just there looking for a second chance at life. I loved seeing both Mia and Ethan’s reluctant but inevitable pull towards one another. Plus, even for someone who hates love triangles i even thought Oliver’s presence was a needed necessity in order for Mia to figure out what she truly wants.
Mia’s character was so relatable. From wanting to reinvent herself, the pressure of Uni and family alike, to the realisation that she has anxiety and dealing with that. I will note that i liked how to author dealt with Mia’s experience as it didn’t overshadow the plot, it was subtle but clear which i think was a very important route to take as it allowed the character to come face to face with the anxiety herself. I saw myself in Mia and her experiences.
Whereas Ethan was also running away from home like Mia; he is misunderstood by the people around him. He always seems to be instantly blamed or never given the benefit of the doubt—especially when it came to his parents it seemed. I love how it took him moving across the world to finally feel like he’d found a home and a place where he belonged—the same can be said for Mia, too. Also, can we please take a moment to appreciate this man, because what do you mean he baked biscuits for her birthday? and so many more wholesome little things too. Truly a gentleman.
I enjoyed the side characters, they really made up the found family. It truly was a pleasure to read all of their interactions. On the other hand there were a few side characters i actually began to hate. Both Mia and Ethan’s parents weren’t great—Mia’s mum seemed to want to shame and guilt trip her daughter; Ethan’s parents only wanted to assume the worse in him. And don’t even get me started when it comes to Oliver. What was that pretentious pricks problem?
Overall, loved this book and i will be tuning in to read the next in the series. Though i felt like the ending here was a little rushed; premature? There’s still some topics that needed to be concluded—for example, Mia got to say her piece to her parents but Ethan never got that chance; i would have liked to have gotten the conversation between him and his mum towards the end. Bonus scene, maybe?
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
- New adult
- University/College setting
- Forced proximity
- Found family
- Anxiety representation
The plot was great. who doesn’t love a girl who flies to the other side of the world to start over just to be faced with a boy from her past; and a boy who’s just there looking for a second chance at life. I loved seeing both Mia and Ethan’s reluctant but inevitable pull towards one another. Plus, even for someone who hates love triangles i even thought Oliver’s presence was a needed necessity in order for Mia to figure out what she truly wants.
Mia’s character was so relatable. From wanting to reinvent herself, the pressure of Uni and family alike, to the realisation that she has anxiety and dealing with that. I will note that i liked how to author dealt with Mia’s experience as it didn’t overshadow the plot, it was subtle but clear which i think was a very important route to take as it allowed the character to come face to face with the anxiety herself. I saw myself in Mia and her experiences.
Whereas Ethan was also running away from home like Mia; he is misunderstood by the people around him. He always seems to be instantly blamed or never given the benefit of the doubt—especially when it came to his parents it seemed. I love how it took him moving across the world to finally feel like he’d found a home and a place where he belonged—the same can be said for Mia, too. Also, can we please take a moment to appreciate this man, because what do you mean he baked biscuits for her birthday? and so many more wholesome little things too. Truly a gentleman.
I enjoyed the side characters, they really made up the found family. It truly was a pleasure to read all of their interactions. On the other hand there were a few side characters i actually began to hate. Both Mia and Ethan’s parents weren’t great—Mia’s mum seemed to want to shame and guilt trip her daughter; Ethan’s parents only wanted to assume the worse in him. And don’t even get me started when it comes to Oliver. What was that pretentious pricks problem?
Overall, loved this book and i will be tuning in to read the next in the series. Though i felt like the ending here was a little rushed; premature? There’s still some topics that needed to be concluded—for example, Mia got to say her piece to her parents but Ethan never got that chance; i would have liked to have gotten the conversation between him and his mum towards the end. Bonus scene, maybe?
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
- New adult
- University/College setting
- Forced proximity
- Found family
- Anxiety representation
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Book 1 in the Junior Year Abroad series – so much fun!
Ethan Taylor and Mia Meyers barely knew each other in South Carolina in the US – they are both from Marshall College and set off on an exchange year to the UK with the hope that they could reinvent themselves. They weren’t friends though, and while Ethan was super-popular and a soccer (football) jock, Mia was invisible and known as The Librarian. Sparks fly when these two are staying in the same dormitory at Hemden University. Hit or Miss is packed full of emotional moments as these two navigate their exchange programs as their feelings for each other grow. For most of the book Mia has a crush on local student Oliver and this love triangle layers up the complexity.
The reasons why they each go on exchange unfold slowly, and both are keeping secrets. At first, the tone is light, and the stakes are low: Ethan needs to go to practice on time, study, get the team’s support, make it to meals, and for Mia, she needs to handle her crush, keep up her grades, do her job in the student bar, and make friends. Underneath, Mia has undiagnosed anxiety and super-overprotective parents, while Ethan has escaped a family tragedy and toxic family situation. I felt for these lovely young people who were carrying much heavier burdens than the reader first sees.
I loved how Mia and Ethan had assumptions about each other which were completely wrong. And Ethan, normally a player, falls hard for Mia and doesn’t know how to handle himself. Ethan has a lot of experience with girls, but none with falling in love, so his confusion, and also his kindness with Mia is terrific.
Hemden University is Oxford/Cambridge-coded, but the fictional setting enables some delightful inventions. For example, the University doesn’t allow students to use their phones on campus, and the library is full of books – which they actually borrow 😄 The novel is set in the present, but without the ubiquity of social media – great fun! They study at the Hazelwood Library, not far from the Goldbeck Theatre – such a lovely wink to the romance genre which had me looking everywhere for romance in-jokes.
If you enjoyed Lulu Moore’s Oxbridge series, or love a new adult, ‘fish out of water’ steamy romance, try this! I can't wait for the next in the series.
Thank you so much Elle Kelk and HQ/Harper Collins for the ARC. Opinions are my own.
Ethan Taylor and Mia Meyers barely knew each other in South Carolina in the US – they are both from Marshall College and set off on an exchange year to the UK with the hope that they could reinvent themselves. They weren’t friends though, and while Ethan was super-popular and a soccer (football) jock, Mia was invisible and known as The Librarian. Sparks fly when these two are staying in the same dormitory at Hemden University. Hit or Miss is packed full of emotional moments as these two navigate their exchange programs as their feelings for each other grow. For most of the book Mia has a crush on local student Oliver and this love triangle layers up the complexity.
The reasons why they each go on exchange unfold slowly, and both are keeping secrets. At first, the tone is light, and the stakes are low: Ethan needs to go to practice on time, study, get the team’s support, make it to meals, and for Mia, she needs to handle her crush, keep up her grades, do her job in the student bar, and make friends. Underneath, Mia has undiagnosed anxiety and super-overprotective parents, while Ethan has escaped a family tragedy and toxic family situation. I felt for these lovely young people who were carrying much heavier burdens than the reader first sees.
I loved how Mia and Ethan had assumptions about each other which were completely wrong. And Ethan, normally a player, falls hard for Mia and doesn’t know how to handle himself. Ethan has a lot of experience with girls, but none with falling in love, so his confusion, and also his kindness with Mia is terrific.
Hemden University is Oxford/Cambridge-coded, but the fictional setting enables some delightful inventions. For example, the University doesn’t allow students to use their phones on campus, and the library is full of books – which they actually borrow 😄 The novel is set in the present, but without the ubiquity of social media – great fun! They study at the Hazelwood Library, not far from the Goldbeck Theatre – such a lovely wink to the romance genre which had me looking everywhere for romance in-jokes.
If you enjoyed Lulu Moore’s Oxbridge series, or love a new adult, ‘fish out of water’ steamy romance, try this! I can't wait for the next in the series.
Thank you so much Elle Kelk and HQ/Harper Collins for the ARC. Opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to Netgalley and HQ Press for a review copy of this novel. A very enjoyable novel of attempts at reinvention and anxiety driven misunderstandings and self realisation. The characters are relatable and their struggles shape the story in ways that draw the reader in while also showing the truly joyous and fun moments that exploring something new can present. Mia is the person experiencing the new moments, in the shape of her Junior Year abroad at a prestigious English university, something she’d planned for, at great financial cost but also academic effort for years. It was her opportunity to reinvent herself, to become the sociable and fun loving person who had it all in the form of academic success and a circle of good friends. To get away from her over protective parents who only seemed to fuel her anxiety with their attempts to remind her constantly how little she was able to do without acute distress. When Mia encounters Ethan Taylor, the most popular guy from her university back home, she fears her carefully built identity and circle of friends would all come unravelled because she was convinced he would reveal her dreaded college nickname and with it everyone’s poor opinion of her back home. But Ethan has his own problems that overshadow any thoughts about spreading stories about Mia and his fears that she knows his issues and the events that sent him to England put him in his own spiral of worry.
Having spent my own junior year abroad in England many years ago and where I met my future husband I was so intrigued by the novel and wasn’t disappointed. The depictions are realistic, the characters authentic and even the struggles Mia experienced rang true and to some degree had shared in through my own experience. Kelk captures the real thrills and anxieties a junior year abroad can present. Mia’s own personal struggles are portrayed in a very sensitive and thoughtful manner that doesn’t trivialize her experience or the issues that many others confront which only adds to the depth of the novel separating it out from some romances with similar tropes that only skim the surface of issues and experiences.
A good summer read with a depth of understanding and richness that makes a very absorbing read.
Having spent my own junior year abroad in England many years ago and where I met my future husband I was so intrigued by the novel and wasn’t disappointed. The depictions are realistic, the characters authentic and even the struggles Mia experienced rang true and to some degree had shared in through my own experience. Kelk captures the real thrills and anxieties a junior year abroad can present. Mia’s own personal struggles are portrayed in a very sensitive and thoughtful manner that doesn’t trivialize her experience or the issues that many others confront which only adds to the depth of the novel separating it out from some romances with similar tropes that only skim the surface of issues and experiences.
A good summer read with a depth of understanding and richness that makes a very absorbing read.
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