Inside the Paint: A Sapphic Sports Romance

by Sasha Brennan

Genres: Contemporary, Lesbian

316 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 14, 2026

About the author

Sasha Brennan loves cats, coffee, and creativity (and alliteration, apparently). Never far from her keyboard, she loves writing down to earth sapphic romances that feel like eating a box of chocolates next to a warm fire; it's just that, sometimes, that fire might get a little out of control. Sasha is proudly queer and neurodivergent, and this is reflected in her writing. To find out more, visit her website www.sashabrennan.com or connect with her on social media @sashabrennanauthor

Reviews

[Fran Sappharc · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got in to it immediately. Yes it seemed obvious to me that the other main was possibly autistic (authors phrase) but due to more autistic representation in books these days, I was aware (which is great and a knowledge portable to real life life, so thanks to all authors out there that have helped me walk in someone else’s shoes). It seemed slightly strange that the main main didn’t pick up on it. Not strange off putting, just notable. I can be slightly oblivious….. so if I noticed…… Also notable is how drawn I am to this couple.
The scene just after chemistry is felt is well done. I often lose patience when both mains are thinking “this can’t possibly be reciprocated”. Here I understand both mains concerns. There isn’t really a huge barrier yet, although one is from a different continent and I like the writers subtle reminders that this is a temporary move.
I am not autistic so can make no judgement on the authenticity of one main however the characterisation matches what I have observed second hand both in real and book life. There is a part of me thinking, actually it is very refreshing with little or no pretence. It is the ego of the non autistic folk that cannot take the honesty…. Be kind or be true, intention versus result….. I love a book that makes me consider!
I internally cheered when finally they took a chance. The path is not smooth as barriers will barrier but the loose ends are tied up. I am very happy all worked out.
This is not a heavy book, despite my review wandering in to other topics. It is an enjoyable romance with “real” people at its heart.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Sonia, former WNBA player, moves to Wales to join her best friend, Keira, and the basketball team. After retiring from the WNBA, she feels lost. 

Asha, our resident artist, is feeling threatened by Sonia's addition to the team. She struggles with change, and she feels insecure. 

When the first meeting goes awry, Sonia is determined to get to know Asha. Moving in across the hall is just the cherry on top, giving Sonia plenty of opportunities. 

Watching Sonia and Asha both dance around their feelings and the looming end of Sonia's contract was a ride. Both women feel for the other, but they're too stubborn to admit it. 

Once they finally do, everything changes. Sonia starts to feel like she belongs somewhere after floating along most of her life. Asha opens up in a way she hasn't for a really long time. 

The autism rep was handled with such care in this book. You really can understand Asha and her hesitance easily. With change comes anxiety, and Brennan handled it beautifully.

It was a joy to read this book, and if you enjoy sapphic sports romance with fun characters and interesting side characters, check out both books in the Blizzards universe.

[Xiaoqing · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love this women's basketball series! Sonia the retired WNBA star went to UK to play for the Blizzards for one season and fell madly in love with her fellow teammate Asha, who is a brilliant artist with autism. Sonia is the ideal girlfriend, supportive, openminded, with the heart of gold! Asha is shy and sensitive, talented but with a low self esteem. This slow burn, sports romance is sweet and cozy with unforgettable characters that are decent role models!

[Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many thanks to Sasha Brennan for this ARC opportunity! I am very happy to leave my honest review.

I was very excited to continue Sasha Brennan’s Courting Blizzards series and was not disappointed. I enjoyed revisiting the Blizzards and getting back on the court for another emotionally rewarding sapphic sports romance. I am a basketball fan and feel like with this second installment in the Courting Blizzards series I've become a bigger fan of sapphic romance with a sports theme. Inside the Paint is a sweet, slow burn sapphic romance that was so much fun to read. I felt the story had so much to love from the action of competition on the court and the tender love story, I was happily entertained from beginning to end.

I found this story to be rather cozy and emotionally resonant with a sweet and believable journey toward real love. Sonia used to play for the WNBA who is approaching the end of her professional career and joins the semi pro team the Blizzards for what she believes is her final season. Her entire life has revolved around basketball for as long as she can remember and she’s not sure who she is or what she’ll do without it. Asha plays for the Blizzards and is to play the same position on the team that Sonai does…she feels that she won’t be able to measure up. Asha is hardworking and so talented but she really struggles with self doubt. She has autism and is often overwhelmed with social dynamics. Sonia feels terrible about taking Asha’s starring role and their initial interactions are strained and tense. However, when the two become neighbors things begin to change. Sonia and Asha begin to warm to each other and spend more and more time together on and off of the court. Sonia quickly learns that Asha is very talented and has the moves to prove it. She is struck by Asha in more ways than one and with time she begins to help Asha see in herself what Sonia sees in her. The build up is gradual and Sonai and Asha share pivotal parts of their lives and themselves with each other. Asha shares her art which is arguably a larger part of who she is than basketball. Though I felt like there was some attraction early on, especially from Sonia, the emotions developed as they got to know each other. I loved this because it made the whole love story so believable and realistic. They develop a real friendship and it takes time for them to cross the romantic threshold. It wasn't until their Amsterdam trip, which was so full of beauty and romance, that their friendship developed into so much more. I loved them together and felt like they really added so much to each other's life. They are so sweet together and I was overjoyed when they finally got together.

Being a part of a team offers a unique sort of camaraderie and sense of belonging that you can't really find anywhere else. The Blizzards offer unity, support and a lovely found family element that I really appreciated. I loved seeing Keira and Amelia again. I loved their story and their reappearance in this book felt like visiting with old friends! I really enjoyed Brennan's writing style and I feel the dual point of view allowed me to better understand both Sonia and Asha. The writing is clear, fluid and contemplative. I really like Brennan's use of humor and levity while not shying away from deeper and more emotional topics. Her voice shines through and it made reading this book quite enjoyable. The pacing is one point and we watch Sonia and Asha form a bond that turns into a deeper connection over time. I was rooting for them all along and was so happy for them when they found a mature and realistic way to keep their love moving forward. A happy ending with real life considerations spoke to me and made me appreciate the story even more.

Overall, I found Inside the Paint to be a great story that was a lot of fun to read. The story features strong and multilayered characters. Brennan does an excellent job in representing an autistic character realistically and with a sense of pride and respect that I appreciated. Both Sonia and Asha made a huge impression on me and nestled their way into my heart. I found their love story to be vulnerable and emotionally satisfying while still being lighthearted and fun. I recommend this book for any lovers of sweet and emotionally rich sports sapphic romance with loveable characters and a sweet love story!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tropes: Friends to Lovers, teammates, slow burn. Our main love interests don’t get together until 75% into the book and even then they haven’t defined their relationship.

Sonia is a former WNBA player and the best friend of Keira featured in the book Full Court Crush. While they used to play on a team together in the past, Keira now plays basketball for the UK team the Blizzards and is happy to welcome Sonia to her new team. While meeting all the players on the team Sonia feels drawn to Asha but also thinks maybe she got off on the wrong foot with her. This leads Sonia to ask Asha out with the premise of just getting to know the players better on an individual basis.

Asha divides her time between playing basketball and pursuing her artistic ambitions. There is wonderful autistic rep with Asha. Being neurodivergent sometimes leads people to get the wrong impression of her. She struggles with making eye contact and crowds and sounds can make her anxious. She sometimes wears noise canceling earbuds which is what led to the initial miscommunication with Sonia.

Sonia is only meant to be a temporary member of the Blizzards while Evie is on maternity leave, so she is hesitant to find a place to rent, choosing to stay in a hotel at first. It turns out Asha has a place to rent in the converted church she bought and offers to rent it to Sonia. Being just across the hall from each other and carpooling to games and practice means they get to spend a lot of time together. The attraction is definitely there but they are hesitant to act on it because Sonia plans to move back to Canada after the end of the season.

I loved the autistic rep in Inside the Paint with Asha’s character. I didn’t enjoy the super slow burn as much because they didn’t get together until the last quarter of the book. The ending felt a bit unresolved for me but I’m hoping we get to see more of these characters in the next book or at least an advancement of their relationship and life goals. I liked how this book did feature an exciting development with Keira and Amelia’s relationship.

I’m really looking forward to reading the next book in this series Rebound Play featuring Asha’s best friend and fellow Blizzards teammate Lucy.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inside the Paint is the second installment in the interconnected Courting Blizzards series by Sasha Brennan. The books are best read in chronological order to avoid spoilers.
This novel focuses on Keira's best friend, Sonia, joining the team for the season and her relationship with Asha. One of my favorite things about this one is getting to know Asha. The insight into her personality, her talent, and her autistic perspective was really nice. I got a bit attached to her, and I love Sonia's calming presence. Asha sees the world differently, and painting helps her make sense of it. It is a beautiful way to process while also adding to the beauty in the world. Her cute dog also serves as a reliable constant in her life.
The complication for these two is that Sonia is filling in for Evie while she is on maternity leave, so there is a time limit.
Forced proximity, growing attraction, and an expiration date make for a low-angst sweet and spicy slow burn.
I enjoyed being back in Cardiff with the Blizzards. The camaraderie and their journey to climb the ranks during their second season as a semi-pro team make a great backdrop for the blossoming relationship.
Asha is struggling to make a go of her art as a viable career, while Sonia is uncertain how to approach this next stage of her life.
Once again, Brennan creates an immersive experience through vivid imagery, making it easy to stay engaged throughout, particularly with the environment, the on-court scenes, and Asha's paintings.
The relationship between Asha and Sonia develops organically at a glacial pace, with a rewarding payoff.
Kudos for the interracial relationship and neurodivergent/autism rep.
Some plot points were predictable, but this is one of those stories that benefit from the comforting low-angst journey. I enjoyed the relaxed pace and lovely ending. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
#cutedog #forcedproximity #slowburn #spicy #interracial #neurodivergent #autistic #painter #artist #basketball #Canada #Wales #Cardiff #UK #oppositesattract #vegan #winter #holiday #foundfamily #HEA #epilogue
I received a review copy from the author. This is my honest opinion.

[Finding Sky Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

At least, for now, she had somewhere she belonged.

I am utterly in love with Asha and Sonja! They stole my heart so quickly, and this book had me squealing with delight.

Firstly, I loved the representation in this book, and I found so much of it incredibly relatable. Asha is our autistic demisexual MC, and it just felt like it was written so well. I found myself just nodding constantly and relating so heavily to Asha and how she experiences the world. If I didn't directly relate, it immediately reminded me of my partner. So I was literally delighted continuously. I loved that she was also an artist and how authentic she felt in general.

Sonja was amazing; I found her to be extremely lovable too, and again, I related a lot to her in a different way. She's someone who feels a little lost in her path, and I loved the journey she went on throughout this book to figure out the right choices for her to be happy and finally feel like she belonged.

Together they were 🥹 just everything. They complemented each other so beautifully, even if they were in the middle of the slowest burn. It was so worth it!

While this is a sports romance (and you guessed it, I know nothing of this sport), I found it super easy to read and actually enjoyed all of those aspects too. I even felt myself cheering for the Blizzards.

A special shout-out to the star of the book, Iolo, who's just the cutest pupper ever. I also loved getting updates on the couple from the first book.

Overall, this book blew me away; it made me so happy to read, and I just loved every aspect of it. I simply adore Asha and Sonja!


Things I loved:
Sapphic slooooow burn
Cutest doggo ever
Autism and demisexual rep (super relatable)
Found family
Vegan MC
Artist / former WNBA player

✨

[The Wild Weary Cow Reads Sapphic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc Review

I absolutely loved book one in this series, and we now get Asha & Sonia’s story

Asha is an established player on the Blizzards team and although she has her struggles being neurodivergent and finding certain situation difficult, she doesn’t let that stop her love of the game.

When Sonia, best friend to Keira - book one, joins the team in Wales after her time with WNBA comes to an end, Asha worries she’s her to replace her?

Sonia has her own worries; she feels lost and unsure of where her life will end up? She doesn’t really have a home any more after all the traveling she’s done during her career.

She knows she can’t keep playing forever! But like a lot of us has no clue what she wants to do.
Also, has she’s done something to upset Asha who’s always so quiet around her?

Things change when Asha offers Sonia, who’s been staying in a hotel since she arrived, the spare flat in her converted church!

Now they’re right across the hall from each other, both women start to open up and become close and spending more time together

Asha even lets Sonia into her private space, her art studio.

We get a lovey “Ghost” moment when Asha shows Sonia how to create her own art
Sonia quickly becomes Intune with Asha needs and able to read her when others can’t.

I loved that both characters are gentle and have a calming nature especially with each other

This is a slow burn, longing, patiently sweet story that’s a perfect addition to the series.

Thank you for the Arc read!

[Samantha Holder-Venter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The pacing felt just right and I completely fell in love with the characters. I’m always a sucker for a sports romance, and this one even came with the added bonus of a very cute little dog.

Asha was probably my favourite character. I really appreciated the autism representation and how it never became her entire personality. It was simply part of who she is. I loved the quiet, thoughtful moments we get from her and the way she experiences the world so deeply. I also have a permanent soft spot for artists, and an artist who also happens to be an athlete is basically guaranteed to win me over.

Sonia’s character has a lot of complexity too. On one hand she’s this larger-than-life, extremely well known athlete, but underneath that she’s just a woman trying to figure out what comes next in her life. I really liked going on that journey of discovery with her, and I actually loved that the question of what comes after isn’t neatly wrapped up by the end of the story.

The longing between Asha and Sonia was incredibly sweet and I loved watching their relationship slowly unfold. The slow burn really worked for me, and when the spicy scenes finally arrived they felt well worth the wait.

This was such a fantastic read. I’m really looking forward to the next one.

[Kasley.K · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I finished reading Full Court Crush, I was excited to get into Sonia and Asha’s story. Asha was such a quiet yet interesting character that I was curious to learn more.

To see the world through Asha’s eyes was such a great experience. I really appreciated how the descriptions did a great job at helping me visualize what the art pieces might look like, but also what the settings and landscapes look like. Asha’s autism also brings the focus on sensory details like noises, textures, and I very much enjoyed seeing them depicted.

I loved Sonia for how she kept trying to make Asha comfortable, and how patient and attentive she is. She is in a tough spot, and it was nice to see her navigating this complicated moment in her career.

I love getting updates on previous characters, and in this case, on our lovely Blizzards and our lovely couple, Amelia and Kiera. Iolo was also a cute addition.

I’m so excited to read Rebound Play, especially since I’m sensing an enemies-to-lovers vibe. I can’t wait!

[Dulaine Roode · Rating 5 out of 5]

Asha is autistic, so social situations are hard on her. Sonia was a player in the WNBA, which recently changed, and she then signed onto the Blizzards team in the UK. We met Sonia in book 1 when Amelia called in Sonia to help with Kierra when things were a little difficult. While she was there Coach Grant obviously got the wheels in motion on signing her on. At first things were difficult between Asha and Sonia, but that is only because they actually play the same position on the team. Sonia is only a temp player though until Evie comes back, and that makes things more difficult between Asha and Sonia, especially when they start feeling things for each other.

In the end they do make the leap from enemies-to-friends-to-lovers, and then we get the good news that Sonia's position on the team is going to become permanent. All because of the value she brings to the team and their game play.

I can't wait to see what the next book brings.

[MS J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoying the Blizzards series.
Book 2 tells the story of Asha and Sonia.
Good to read a story with a neurodivergent main character
Asha is a complex character who has dreams of making her Art pay, but she has been burnt by an ex and needs to protect herself going forward. Asha is also worried about her team place with the Blizzards with the arrival of Sonia who has been signed for the season straight from the WNBA.
Sonia has just arrived from America, she feels that nowhere feels like home, even Canada, her homeland.
She meets some of the team as soon as she arrives and can't believe she has already upset someone, Asha.
What unfolds is a lovely story about Asha and Sonia getting to know one another, with some basketball thrown in.

[Amy Ehret · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is only my second sapphic sports romance but I’ve really taken to them. The characters are well thought out, from a variety of different backgrounds & any reader could find something of themselves in one of them along the way. For a segment of the population that sometimes struggles with feeling like they belong, or finding a place to call home, I found this story sweet without being corny. The progression of the relationship is all too common with similar issues cropping up for all of us. The Blizzard universe has provided an endearing family that I hope continues for many more books.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Sonia and Asha! I really felt their connection and how they were able to fit together. I appreciated both of their openness around autism, stimming and awareness. The care and kindness shined through along with the chemistry. Iolo was absolutely adorable and I honestly could have read more about him especially bonding with Sonia.

I hope to read more about Sonia and how she may help others as was mentioned as something she wants to do and how Asha is enhancing the art world in the next book ;). So happy to get some time with Amelia and Kiera in this book! <3

Recommend!!

[JW · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this enemies to friends, sports romance. I also enjoyed learning more about autistic individuals and how they see the world. I thought this was a fun and sweet romance! This was the second book I have read in this Blizzard universe, and I can't wait to see what the next book brings.

[Christine Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow phenomenal, I have an autistic daughter and the way you described Asha was perfection while also keeping her journey through the process of what life can throw at you it was exquisite and Sonia was the light at the end of a tunnel understanding the dynamic of both main characters to find their love was worth it a must-read congratulations

[Brandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book.Slow burn and a sports romance? Count me in.

This book is a total gem. You definitely need to add it to your list!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily