Break Point

Cordon University #1

by Ginger Scott

USA Today bestselling author Ginger Scott serves up a swoony college sports romance about fierce rivals who fake-date their way to viral fame—and a real match.

Tennis is my life. Work hard. Win clean. Trust no one but yourself. That’s how you become number one.

Too bad Cordon University only worships Bryson Moss—the golden boy quarterback I’ve despised since our train wreck of a first meeting three years ago.

Now he wants a favor I can’t afford to refuse. His sister’s dating app needs a power couple for launch, and I need the cash to stay in school.

The contract is fake the romance, fool the internet, cash the checks.

Except our chemistry isn’t fake. The banter, the tension, the way he looks at me when no one’s watching—it’s all devastatingly real. When we go viral, the pressure intensifies. And when my body betrays me on the court, threatening everything I’ve worked for, Bryson won’t let me quit.

I’ve always believed champions stand alone.

But what if falling for my enemy is the bravest thing I’ve ever done?

Genres: Sports, Romance, Football, Audiobook, Sports Romance, College, Contemporary

264 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 8, 2026

About the author

Ginger Scott is a USA Today, Wall Street Journal and Amazon-bestselling author from Peoria, Arizona. She was also nominated for both the Goodreads Choice and Rita Awards. She is the author of several young and new adult romances, including bestsellers The Moon and Back, The Varsity Series, The Hard Count, This Is Falling and Wild Reckless.

A sucker for a good romance, Ginger's other passion is sports, and she often blends the two in her stories. She has been writing and editing for newspapers, magazines and blogs for a hella long time. She has told the stories of Olympians, politicians, actors, scientists, cowboys, criminals and towns. For more on her and her work, visit her website at http://gingerscottbooks.com.

When she's not writing, the odds are high that she's somewhere near a baseball diamond, either watching her son field pop flies like Bryce Harper or cheering on her favorite baseball team, the Arizona Diamondbacks. Ginger lives in Arizona and is married to her college sweetheart whom she met at ASU (fork 'em, Devils).

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Reviews

[Candi]

When I see Teddy Hamilton’s name on an audiobook, I don’t even read the blurb. I know I’ll love it, and I always do! So I went in blind and soon found myself in the midst of this lovely story, rooting for our couple from the sidelines.

"Sometimes your person isn't who you expect."

Jaden is fierce and at the top of her game, playing tennis in college. Unfortunately, she doesn’t have financial help and is struggling to pay her tuition. She takes a job as one half of the face of a dating app, only to discover the other half is Bryson - golden boy quarterback who she sees as the enemy.

I really enjoyed the dynamic between Jaden and Bryson. One of my favorite tropes is fake dating, because at least one person already knows they like the other. And I always love how the truth unravels. Jaden is strong-willed, but layer by layer, we get to her heart. And Bryson may look like he’s got the silver spoon, but he is burdened by family expectations and a desire for something more.

I knew something was going on with Jaden, but I really wasn’t expecting the turn this took. But I love how her family and friends rallied and supported her. And of course, Bryson was right there, being the green flag that he is. While the story was fast
-paced, I was rooting for them together - as well as separately!

The audio: Frankie Corzo and Teddy Hamilton brought Jaden and Bryson to life - they were easy to follow, and I loved their dual narration.

This is a fun college sports novel that also explores some tough subjects. The sports are realistic, the stakes are there, and the romance is organic.

Thank you Brilliance Publishing
for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley - All opinions are my own.

[Rose]

Adorable, super sweet, college sports read. It’s been so long, like years, since I picked up a Ginger Scott book. I don’t really know why but I saw this and it’s been a while since I’ve read a sports romance so I was immediately excited for it. I’m glad I did too. Bryson was such a great boyfriend—protective, affectionate, charming. I loved that he anticipated her needs and moods and did his best to always support her. I loved how open and honest he was with her too. I struggled a bit more with the FMC. She has always had one goal and that’s to be the number one college tennis player in the US. She’s very driven and focused but it can sometimes read as rude and indifferent. This book has black cat h and golden retriever H vibes—not really my thing. I prefer it the other way around. I did still enjoy this especially from about 50% on. We got good angst with the hs self confidence issues and what’s going on with her body. I would have liked some more relationship drama but that’s just me being toxic, lol. He is a super solid H from basically the get-go. I will say the beginning was kind of weird and I didn’t like either character’s reactions. I’m glad I continued though.

Overall: 3.5

[Maven [The Smut Files]]

RTC

[Daisy Delfin]

This is a cute Romance, which starts off with a Tennis Player and a Quarterback getting on the wrong side of each other. But then they are thrown together three years later.

It was a quick and good read.

[Heather Miller]

Book Tropes: sports romances, tennis/football romances, he falls first

Jaden is on the tennis team. She wants to be #1 in the country. She works very hard to earn and keep her spot on the tennis team. She doesn't have any NIL deals, or endorsements. She does get jealous of the football team getting a lot of 'free' deals and making their life more easy. Jaden is at the end of her rope though for college tuition her senior year. She has maxed out the credit cards, her parents have a double mortgage on their hamburger resturaunt back in Arizona. She needs money to help pay for college. She says yes to a athlete dating app that she will be apart of. But, of course she is paired up with Bryson, her enemy since freshman year. Jaden doesn't know when she signed up for the app that his sister is behind it, the owner/creator of the app.

Bryson is the star quarterback on the college football team. He had to sit out their freshman year due to a shoulder injury. He does have a NIL Deal, he does get endorsements, his family is very wealthy. He doesn't have to scrap by for tuition or for food. Bryson has liked Jaden and her determination on and off the field. He knows he gets more endorsements and deals being a football player, he doesn't need them all. But, he doesn't like asking his father for handouts either.

I did receive a free ARC Book Copy of this book from NetGalley & the Author Ginger Scott. I am freely leaving a honest book reivew.

[Only.ever.books]

Review:
🎾Break Point🎾
Cordon University #1

By Ginger Scott

🎾 Tennis Romance
🎾 Fake Dating
🎾 College Romance

⭐ 5/5

Jaden and Bryson

This first book in a new series follows Jaden and Bryson.
Jaden who plays tennis and Bryson, the quarterback from the university's team and the boy everyone loves.
But Jaden doesn't like Bryson, due to their first meeting three years ago.
Because of some issues, Jaden becomes the half of a couple which presents a dating app, something she doesn't like but she needs the money.
And now guess who is the other half? Yes, Bryson. Because it is his sister’s dating app, both are helping to launch.
So fake dating it is, and as always some time along the way, despise turns into something else.
Bryson seems to have it all, but what he has too, are expectations that weigh him down. and the want for more.
Jaden has a supporting family but she needs money for tuition. even if her parents do everything they can.
She has her issues with the football team because they get it all, but sometimes you have to look a little closer and behind the player to see that not everything or everyone seems the way it looks.

[Lori]

I first wanted to read this book because there was tennis on the cover and I have had a love for tennis since 4th grade. And let me tell you, this book did not disappoint! I loved following the story between two Cordon athletes, Jaden and Bryson. There was a rivalry between the two from the beginning that was so entertaining. The bantering they shared is what made them each come alive. This was a true rivals to lovers romance. They came from different worlds and seemed to not really understand one another…until they did. I didn’t want to put this one down. The sports elements added to the story nicely as well. I can’t wait to read more from Ginger.
Thank you to NetGalley and Skyscrape for the opportunity to read this ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Jessica Alcazar]

ARC REVIEW

I read this story a few weeks ago and I really liked it but now I have the audio ALC so standby for more details :)

[Aimee Crant-oksa]

Break Point is a dual athlete story, but it is is so much more than a typical sports romance. Jaden is a tennis player at Cordon University and wants to be the number one tennis player. Bryson is a quarterback and star of the team. Jaden doesn’t like Bryson, but Bryson doesn’t feel the same. Bryson’s sister hires them to be the faces of her new dating app. These two have amazing banter and chemistry. They have family issues they are both dealing with. Bryson comes from a wealthy family with a controlling dad. Jaden’s family is loving but struggling financially.
The two grow closer and their fake dating becomes real. When Jaden has some serious issues arise, Bryson is there for her in every way. I just loved the real Bryson and how sweet he was to Jaden as you got to know the real Bryson.
One aspect of the story that I really loved was dealing with pressure to succeed, pressure to achieve your dreams and pressure to deal with defeat.
The story felt very realistic with the challenges the characters faced and dealing with adversity and struggles while navigating college as an athlete.
I enjoyed the story, the characters and the flow. Although there was a slow burn aspect to it, it fit the story.

[Court]

Fantastic sports romance!

Talk about enemies to lovers. Bryson and Jaden are the definition of it, and yet end up fake dating. The journey they take us on is emotional, funny, swoony, and steamy. I loved this book and the characters.

[Sam]

Actual Enemies, Fake Dating, and a Third Act That Doesn’t Get Dumb

Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for providing advance listening and reading copies.

⭐️ Overall: 4/5
🎧 Audio: 4/5
🌶️ Spice: 1/5

Break Point was a solid, satisfying college sports romance that did a lot of things right without ever needing to become wildly dramatic to hold my attention.

One of my favorite things was that Jaden and Bryson are actually enemies at the beginning.

Their resentment isn’t just flirty bickering mislabeled for trope purposes. The book gives their history enough context that both of their perspectives make sense once the full story comes out. Jaden saw something genuinely alarming through the lens of her father’s addiction history; Bryson experienced her as judging him without understanding what had happened. Neither interpretation was completely right, but neither came from nowhere.

That gave the enemies-to-lovers progression real footing.

The fake-dating setup also worked because it had an actual reason to exist. Bryson needs the publicity for his sister’s dating-app launch, and Jaden needs the money to stay in school. From there, the relationship develops naturally rather than jumping from resentment to insta-love because the trope demands it.

I also really appreciated the neurodivergent and health representation. Bryson has ADHD, while Jaden has to navigate unexpected health concerns that become particularly significant because she’s a competitive athlete whose identity and future depend on being able to trust her body.

Jaden’s health storyline felt integrated into her character and athletic journey rather than inserted as a convenient crisis to make Bryson rescue her. What she experiences genuinely disrupts the way she understands her body, independence, and future. The book gives her room to struggle with that uncertainty while still allowing her to remain ambitious and capable.

More importantly, the romance doesn’t require her to give up the ambition that defines her.

Jaden does eventually try to push Bryson away, but the third-act conflict remains grounded in who she is rather than turning into an avoidable misunderstanding. The book lets her struggle with accepting support without suggesting that love means surrendering autonomy.

And she still gets to accomplish her dream.

Blessedly, I never once had to stop and ask, “WHY are you doing this?” 😂

My one lingering question at the end was Bryson’s football goal. Jaden’s athletic payoff was clear, but I don’t remember getting equally explicit confirmation about whether Bryson achieved his national-championship goal. It’s possible I missed a brief reference, but it stood out once I thought back over both character arcs.

The audiobook is a solid four stars. Frankie Corzo and Teddy Hamilton both worked well for the story. It is dual narration rather than duet, and this is one of those romances where duet would have been especially fun because there’s so much banter, fake dating, and direct interaction. That’s a production preference rather than a problem with the performances themselves.

The spice level is relatively low for an experienced romance reader—about one pepper—but the book does include on-page sexual content. Given the college setting and broader relationship themes, I’d personally think of this more naturally as New Adult or mature YA-adjacent sports romance than something I’d broadly market simply as “Teen.”

Who Should Listen?

Readers who like college sports romance, genuine enemies-to-lovers progression, fake dating with an actual reason behind it, two ambitious athletes, ADHD and thoughtfully handled health representation, and relationship conflict that stays grounded in characterization rather than manufactured chaos.

I’d especially recommend it to readers who appreciate health and neurodivergent representation that exists alongside the romance rather than replacing the characters’ other identities. Jaden remains an athlete with enormous ambitions while navigating changes in her relationship with her body, and Bryson’s ADHD is part of his characterization without becoming his entire character.

If you’re tired of third acts that make you yell at everyone involved, this one also behaves itself. 😂

[Alison]

If you read the blurb, you'll be expecting a slow burn enemies to lovers sports romance with fake dating, and you won't be disappointed. But this is so much more than that. It's a compelling story about fighting through pressure, even the kind we put on ourselves, overcoming challenges and failures, chasing dreams, and maybe finding a love we never expected along the way.

Jaden Johnson and Bryson Moss absolutely delivered in this perfectly bingeable story. Add in the Cordon University setting, and this was just the whole package for me. Great characters, an engaging plot, and a college atmosphere that felt truly authentic. Ginger Scott always seems to make her sports worlds feel like places you could actually visit, and Cordon University was no exception.

Jaden is a tennis phenom who is confident, determined, and works incredibly hard for everything she's earned. She definitely has a chip on her shoulder and, honestly, most of the time it's completely justified. Even when she gets in her own way (which happens a lot 😉), it's impossible not to root for her to earn that number one spot.

Bryson may be the privileged golden boy quarterback on the surface, but he's also living under his father's thumb in ways that helped me understand him. More than anything, though, he's just a heckuva good dude. There's no quit in him. He shows up for the people he loves, owns his mistakes, and genuinely wants to make things right after his rocky start with Jaden. He's the kind of leader you can't help but cheer for.

Speaking of that rocky start, their meet cute was definitely more meet and less cute, which set up the enemies to lovers dynamic perfectly. At first, all the sparks came from their verbal sparring instead of the romantic kind, and I had so much fun watching those sparks fly. This is definitely a slow burn, but watching that line blur from pretend to real was absolute perfection. Ginger Scott played that match beautifully.

One thing I always appreciate about Ginger Scott's sports romances is that the sports actually matter. The tennis and football feel realistic, the competition is believable, and the athletic side of the story never takes a back seat. She also shines a light on the disparity between men's and women's sports, and even the differences between certain men's sports, in a way that feels thoughtful rather than preachy. It added another layer to an already strong story.

The supporting cast also deserves some love because they helped flesh out the story without ever stealing the spotlight. And Taryn? She is exactly the kind of supportive friend everyone deserves. Also, can we talk about Pop Rocks being the cure all for everything? I might need to keep a stash on hand myself.

What I loved most is that this story doesn't shy away from the messiness of life or the overwhelming emotions and fallout that come with it. These characters stumble, make mistakes, and have moments where everything feels shaky. But I sincerely appreciated that while there were plenty of obstacles to overcome, there wasn't a third act breakup waiting to undo all their forward progress.

There is a little spice if you're wondering, but the relationship always keeps its focus on the emotional connection, which is exactly what I prefer.

By the time I reached the final point, I realized I wasn't just cheering for Jaden and Bryson in their respective sports. I was cheering for them as people and as a couple. Break Point is another reminder that Ginger Scott just knows how to bring a story together and give us characters worth rooting for from that not cute meet cute and first serve all the way to the goal line.

⭐ 4 stars.

[Diamond]

Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Narration: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Narration style: Dual

I absolutely loved this book! I wasn't expecting much really. I thought it would just be another sports romance. An enemies to lovers type of book and because Teddy Hamilton was narrating it, I was instantly intrigued, but didn't have high hopes, but man, was I wrong. This book is told in dual narration between Teddy Hamilton and Frankie Corzo, and they both did a fantastic job. I just gained another female narrator to add to my list of "absolutely will listen to".

This book is about 2 college athletes; Bryson, who is a football quarterback and Jaden, who is an up-and-coming tennis pro. It starts off where they meet 3 years prior at their first encounter with each other which didn't go pleasantly.
3 years later, Jaden is suffering with financial issues and decides to sign up to be one of the ambassadors for an up and coming app called Strike, who coincidentally, is the sister of Bryson. They become the star couple for the app to promote it, and Bryson, is doing everything in his power to make up for the initial run in they had together 3 years ago. Over the course of the promotion, he's slowly chipping away at Jaden's icy exterior.

I loved each of their characters and both had representations that aren't often shown in many books. Bryson has ADHD and it definitely shows, and Jaden is suffering from an illness that she hasn't been diagnosed with yet. I loved reading about her trying to come to terms and navigate what's happening to her. Bryson is your average cinnamon roll MMC and he is just adorable. He also has some struggles with his family which tends to cause anxiety. Jaden is very blunt and has major black cat energy but she's extremely determined to make her goals a reality. I admire the things that she did to make her dreams come true. It's not easy making your dreams come true when everything is against you.

This book definitely made me laugh a few times because of some of the predicaments, or the things that Bryson would say. You never knew what was gonna come out of his mouth, and I think that Jaden and Bryson were the perfect pairing, because they were truly exact opposites. Watching their relationship from the first meeting grow slowly to what it became had me giggling and kicking my feet. It wasn't an insta love situation. There may have been a spark at the beginning but they started learning each other and growing that closeness.

Jaden's best friend was everything. She is very much a go with the flow kind of girl. Ashton, however, I felt like he was just kind of there. So I didn't really build a connection with him. I also couldn't connect with Emelia either. She just felt very two dimensional. I'm pretty sure it's just because she was a side character, so I don't want to put too much into it.

I enjoyed how they highlighted what tends happens to females in the limelight. Where the intention was to show Bryson and Jaden as a couple but what ended up happening was a lot of hate directed at Jaden that was unwarranted. I applaud how Bryson handled that particular issue.

I loved it from the beginning to end. This book had representation, great MCs, and brought to light certain issues within our society, such as the role of social media towards women vs men. Plus it made me laugh, so that's always a bonus.

All in all, I don't really have much complaint about this book, and if you're into cutesy sports romance books with a highly competitive edge then, I highly recommend this book!

I received an ALC in exchange for an honest review. Thanks Netgalley!

[AJ]

3.5 stars

A heartfelt, emotional, and swoony enemies-to-lovers, fake-dating, college sports romance. I really enjoyed this one.

Jaden is a star tennis player who is driven, focused, and determined to be #1. She fights hard for everything in her life and has little time for people who don’t. Bryson is the college quarterback with a privileged upbringing, and he is an absolute sweetheart with a heart of gold. Their first meeting does not go well, and for three years, Jaden has written Bryson off as a spoiled golden boy who gets everything handed to him.

They are forced to work together when they are both paired up as the faces of a new dating app for college athletes. Jaden is in it for the money, which will keep her in school, whereas Bryson is helping out his sister who developed the app. The two of them are put front and center, and with the launch of the app they quickly gain a cult following as Cordon University’s hottest couple.

Of course, with all the time they need to spend together, they start to really get to know each other, and everything changes. The chemistry that was there from their first meeting becomes impossible to ignore. With plenty of banter and playfulness, heartfelt conversations, and Bryson’s sweet gestures, Jaden can’t help but fall for him. It’s clear that Bryson has already fallen, and watching these two come together is just so sweet.

“I feel like you need to be mad right now, so I’m the person you’re mad at. And you know what? That’s okay. I like you so much that I want to be your punching bag when you need one. I’ll take the job.”

Their fake relationship soon becomes very real, and we follow Jaden and Bryson as they are there for each other through the ups and downs of their sports, their family challenges, and the hurdles they have to overcome as they chase their dreams. It’s a heartfelt journey with some great twists that bring added intensity to the story and prove just how amazing these two are together.

“Okay.” I give her a blessing to make the wrong choice, and I do it because I know it’s the only word she wants to hear. She needs to hear no, but all that will do is make her dig in her heels and push herself harder. So, I choose standing behind her, because at least if I’m there, I can break her fall.

“What is it? For real. What’s in your way, because I’ll move it. However heavy it is, I’ll move it to get you there.”

I admit that while I enjoyed this book, it didn’t immediately suck me in. But by the time Jaden and Bryson got together, I was fully invested and loved how much they supported and cared for each other. The romance is sweet, steamy, and emotional, and I felt so much for these two as they faced some challenging situations and fought their way through them together.

There are some great characters backing them up along the way, and I’m hoping for a story for Jaden’s roommate, Taryn, who is fantastic. She also has something going on with her brother’s best friend, and I need to know more about that!

This was an enjoyable read, and a strong start to the Cordon University series.

3.5 stars.

An Advanced Reader Copy was generously provided by the author for an honest review.

[MJLovestoRead]

I'm a big fan of Ginger Scott's work and her love of sports is always obvious in the books she writes. I was happy to see she was broadening her horizons so to speak when it came to what sport she would write about next. So when I saw that Break Point was about tennis, I was anxious to give it a go.

However, this one just didn't do it for me. I don't know but the story seemed to be lacking in a stronger connection between tennis ace, Jaden Johnson and star football quarterback, Bryson Moss. Sure, their meet-cute was sweet as they literally bump into one another at the very beginning of their college careers. But then we suddenly jump 3 years later to them as seniors and I think I would have preferred seeing a bit of their awkward interactions during that time instead of being told about them. Lacking funds as her parents' dream restaurant begins to fail, the idea of Jaden and Bryson being the faces of a dating app was clever. And the fact that Jaden didn't particularly care for the charming Bryson only added to the angst and intensity between them. But they make it work and of course, are soon falling for each other for real.

And this is where things really started to unravel for me. They seemed to jump into each other's arms and beds almost too fast and the fact that Jaden didn't date at all but didn't hesitate to get physical with Bryson just didn't make sense to me. And don't get me started on her bestie/roommate Taryn who as a fellow tennis player was a true slacker who smoked too much weed and force-fed Jaden way too much sugar. As premier athletes, you'd think Jaden, in particular, would have known better. Again, this just didn't make a whole ton of sense to me.

Then there's the huge detour in Jaden getting her number 1 ranking back which seemed to come out of left field and had me scratching my head as to why the author decided to throw this at us and at Jaden so late in the book. I will admit, however, that this part of the story gave me a new burst of interest and was hopeful things would ultimately turn out ok for her and for Bryson.

I also think that Jaden was a bit too snarky and too bitchy to be as lovable as Bryson thought. He was so hellbent on getting her to like him, but why she was his one just never felt right. The extra tangent of him having an out-of-touch father also seemed a bit cliche and honestly didn't add much.

All that being said, I did like Bryson, loved his sister and even Taryn grew on me. I think my issue primarily is with Jaden and her mediocre personality. I was glad to be honest, that she realized not everything is as it seems when it came to her initial collision with Bryson and sadly, she had to come to that conclusion when her own health was suddenly in jeopardy.

I will continue to read this author since I do enjoy her work. Break Point simply missed the mark for me and I just can't give it a higher rating than 3 stars.

[Kristy aka Brooksie]

Jayden had only one thing that mattered. Tennis. Going pro was the goal, and nothing was standing in her way. Except for college tuition that she was struggling to pay.  A job opportunity too good to pass came along, and although being one of the faces of a new dating app isn't glamorous, it kept her in school. The downside to the great pay? She had to pose with the one man on campus that she never wanted to run into again, Bryson, the perfect pretty boy quarterback for the college football team. Everyone's hero, except for hers. Literally, the first time they met, she collided into him, and since then he gave her the nickname of Crash... She has to suck it up and work with Bryson. She can't afford not to. 

Bryson's plan worked like a charm. When he saw his sister's stack of college model candidates to help launch her new dating app, he convinced her to pair him up with Jayden. They got off on a rocky start, and all he wanted was to get her to stop hating him. She is all he's thought about since they collided freshman year, and she's made it pretty clear she wants nothing to do with him. Maybe a bit of forced proximity and his natural charm will get her to change her mind about him. He wasn't a bad guy. He didn't know what he did to make her hate him so much, other than possibly seeing what flew out of his bag freshman year. But that was 3 years ago. So much has changed. He is desperate to make her see who he really is. 

The contract is signed: she makes money, pretends the romance is real to make the app look good, pays her tuition, saves a bit on the side, and keeps her #1 spot on the tennis team so she can go pro. They didn't expect the app to go viral so fast. Or the negative attention Jayden would get, or the fake flirting banter would start to feel real, or her tennis career would be on the line when she unexpectedly starts to not feel 100%, and it affects her game. 

Expectations

College Setting
Quarterback x Tennis Player
He Fell First
Misunderstanding
Trust Fund x Small Town Girl
Forced Proximity
Fake Dating
Face of New Dating App
Unexpected illness
Fiery FMC
Online bullying
Unmistakable Chemistry

I enjoyed this sports romance and the voice actors. The story mentioned some things and then kind of dropped them, which would have been better left out or given more context to support the storyline. For example, Jayden's father's past would have helped Bryson understand why she may have felt negative toward him for so long. Other than that, it was a quick, easy read. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the ALC of this in exchange for an honest review. 

[Jules The Book Junkie Reviews]

From the meet-cute to the last page, Break Point is an excellent college sports romance. Ginger Scott has always done an exceptional job of portraying college life and athletics, as well as the emotional changes and personal growth that happen as teenagers transition into adulthood.

Break Point features Jaden, a tennis player on the Cordon University women’s team. She’s smart, talented, and more than a little feisty. Let’s face it: women’s sports often take a back seat at most colleges, and tennis—both men’s and women’s—is arguably “off, off Broadway.” Jaden’s determination and feistiness are undoubtedly shaped by having to work twice as hard as a female athlete to earn recognition and maintain her scholarship. And while tennis may technically be a team sport, the individual nature of the game means every player is ultimately competing for that top spot.

Despite that built-in competition, Jaden forms a friendship with Taryn, her teammate and roommate. Taryn is essentially Jaden’s opposite, but she has a good heart and unwavering loyalty, making her a wonderful addition to the story.

Bryson, Cordon University’s star football player, is every bit as motivated as Jaden, but for very different reasons. While Jaden counts pennies and struggles to make ends meet, Bryson comes from money. He’ll accept his father’s financial support, but he’s working hard to eventually be independent of both his dad and his money. Bryson initially seems like the stereotypical college football star, but there’s much more to him. At his core, he has a good heart, good intentions, and a genuinely positive outlook on life.

Jaden and Bryson’s chemistry wasn’t explosive for me, but it definitely felt organic and realistic. When Bryson’s sister, Amelia, approaches both student-athletes about becoming the “faces” of her new dating app, the gloves come off and the catalyst for their romance is set in motion. From that point on, they face their individual trials and tribulations both separately and together. That journey is what makes the development of their affection and, ultimately, their respect for one another feel authentic.

I enjoyed the banter and personal growth between Jaden and Bryson, and I loved everything about Amelia. I’m also looking forward to the next installment in the Cordon University series.

I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. For more reading recommendations, visit Book Junkie Reviews at www.abookjunkiereviews.wordpress.com

[charmette.books]

Break Point is a college sports romance about Bryson, a star quarterback, and Jaden, a tennis player. They literally run into each other and clash on one of their first days on campus as freshmen. Fast forward three years later, when they are paired up to market a dating app for college students. I usually love the angst and drama of a teen/young adult romance, but this book fell flat for me.

I had a hard time with the lack of chemistry between Jaden and Bryson. For most of the book, it feels like Jaden dislikes and is extremely resentful of Bryson’s success, and the support and funding of the football program at their university. She seems to find him annoying, even as he tries to be kind and charming. All of a sudden, she changes her mind, they kiss, and boom! Suddenly they are intimate, decide they are boyfriend/girlfriend, and declare their love one week later. It just didn’t feel like the flow of the book was leading to this love story, and it also seemed odd that Jaden would rush into a serious relationship and sleep with someone immediately when she was inexperienced. At their age, after six months of dating, their commitment in the epilogue seemed kind of insane, to be honest.

I like the grumpy x sunshine trope, and I appreciated Bryson’s golden retriever personality, especially as a popular star athlete. I loved Jaden’s drive and ambition, but her single-minded focus on being number one on her team grew tiring. It was literally all she cared about. Even when she and Bryson were together, when she had a bad day, she only wanted to hear bad things that happened to him during his game. She couldn’t see past her own experience to hear about how Bryson’s game went. She gave him so little, it was perplexing why he was so crazy about her.

Finally, Jaden has a serious health diagnosis in this book, and it was treated like a mindset issue. She pushed herself to get back to her top-ranked status after her diagnosis, which didn’t sound realistic with this health issue, and the physical effects that she suffered.

I wanted to like this book, and I’ve heard great things about Ginger Scott, but Break Point didn’t work for me. I will definitely check out some of her other books. Thank you to Skyscape Publishing and NetGalley for an advance reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Dorianne]

I’d recommend this book to readers who enjoy fast-paced and dual POV college sports romances with some depth as well as sweet moments.

Bryson, a football player with ADHD, and Jaden, a tennis player who strives to be the best, are both competitive and have clear goals. They become the faces of a dating app that Bryson’s sister created. Even though their first meeting didn’t bode well, they end up being a great match. It was sweet how encouraging and all in Bryson is. He admires Jaden and believes in her abilities. I felt like Jaden was a little hard on him sometimes. It was nice, though, to see how they supported and showed up for each other. There were some cute moments that made me smile.

Three remarks:
- I would’ve liked to see more of their interactions to get how they go from pretending for the app to feeling like what’s happening between them is real. The romance developed a bit too quickly for my liking.
- It didn’t feel like an enemies-to-lovers or rivals-to-lovers story even though it is promoted as one.
- After one of the characters receives a medical diagnosis, it is framed primarily like a mindset and mental health issue that must be overcome. This narrative of having to be willing to fight for your dreams and all will be well bothered me as someone with a chronic illness, because sometimes you can’t fight for something you really want to keep doing, simply because your body won’t let you. That is separate from mindset. Nonetheless, it was great to see how her family and friends have her back.

I liked the sports scenes, which demonstrated how important their sports are to them. I also appreciated that the story has serious plotlines alongside the lighter moments. That variation made for a fast-paced story. Overall, this was an enjoyable sports romance.

Some of my favorite quotes:
- “I’m letting myself down, and that’s the worst disappointment of all.”
- “Sometimes your person isn’t who you expect.”
- “I plan on telling you all the ways you’re beautiful. So be prepared.”

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this eARC!

[Rebecca]

Break Point by Ginger Scott is a swoony, compelling college sports romance brought brilliantly to life through the stellar narration of Frankie Corzo and Teddy Hamilton.

Set at Cordon University, the story follows Jaden Johnson, a confident, fiercely determined tennis phenom who works hard for every single thing she has earned. Coming from a tight financial background with maxed-out credit cards and parents struggling back home in Arizona, Jaden is at the end of her rope when it comes to paying for her senior-year tuition. Desperate for cash, she agrees to become part of a new dating app launch organized by the quarterback's sister—only to discover that her mandatory "power couple" partner is Bryson Moss, the privileged golden boy quarterback and her nemesis since their disastrous first meeting three years ago.

While Bryson appears to have it all as the star quarterback with wealth and NIL deals, he is secretly living under the heavy thumb of a demanding father. What begins as a fake-dating arrangement to fool the internet and secure their checks quickly blurs the line between pretend and real. The narrative shines through its authentic college atmosphere and the way it treats sports with genuine realism, exploring the disparities between men's and women's athletics without ever sacrificing the heart of the story.

Delivering a slow-burn, mild enemies-to-lovers dynamic packed with sharp banter, verbal sparring, high-stakes pressure, and a wonderful supporting cast—including loyal friends and memorable moments—the novel focuses heavily on emotional connection alongside mild, perfectly balanced spice. Ultimately, this engaging page-turner proves to be an uplifting story about pushing through self-imposed pressure, overcoming failure, and discovering that falling for your enemy might just be the bravest thing you can do.

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

[Emily]

This is Book 1 of the Cordon University series!

I was lucky enough to receive as an ARC 🥰

Jaden and Bryson had me hooked from the very beginning. They’ve been fierce rivals for years, and Jaden has absolutely no interest in the golden-boy quarterback who has been driving her crazy since their disastrous first meeting. So naturally, when Bryson needs a favour and Jaden needs money to stay in school, a fake-dating contract seems like the perfect solution. 😂

The rules are simple: fake the romance, fool the internet, collect the money.
Except… nothing about their chemistry feels fake. 👀🔥

I LOVED watching Jaden and Bryson go from rivals who can barely stand each other to a fake couple who suddenly have everyone watching them. The banter, tension, stolen looks, and undeniable chemistry had me absolutely swooning. And once they start going viral, keeping their feelings separate from the fake relationship becomes practically impossible. 🫠💕

Jaden was such a fantastic heroine. She’s fiercely independent, determined, and has built her entire life around tennis and becoming the best. She’s used to relying on herself and doesn't exactly make trusting people easy. But when her body starts betraying her on the court and everything she has worked for is threatened, Bryson refuses to let her give up. 🥹

And BRYSON. 😭💙 The golden-boy quarterback who somehow manages to see straight through Jaden's walls?! I loved the way he supports her and pushes her when she needs it most. Their relationship becomes about so much more than a dating-app campaign, and watching Jaden realise that letting someone in doesn't make her any less strong was beautiful.

This was such a swoony, addictive, feel-good sports romance with plenty of banter, chemistry, emotional growth, and that delicious “we hate each other… wait, why do I want to kiss you?” energy. 😮‍💨🔥

TROPES:
✨ College Sports Romance
✨ Fake Dating
✨ Enemies to Lovers
✨ Forced Proximity

[✿¸.• Reading Is My Jam •.¸✿]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Break Point was cute and enjoyable. Who doesn't love a college sports romance? Yet, I found myself wishing for just a little more depth between the characters.

Jaden and Bryson literally collide freshman year when she bumps into him and goes sprawling, and their first interaction does not exactly leave her with a great impression of him. He's a jerk, she wants nothing to do with him, and they spend the next few years largely existing in separate worlds. Then senior year throws them back into each other's orbit.

I really liked Bryson. For a star quarterback and one of the most popular athletes on campus, he's surprisingly sweet, charming, and genuinely kind. Jaden is much more intense. She's driven, competitive, and completely focused on tennis and earning the number-one spot on her team. I appreciated her ambition, although there were times when her single-mindedness made it difficult for her to see much beyond what was happening in her own world.

Where the story lost a little something for me was the romance itself. I liked Jaden and Bryson together, but I wanted more time for their relationship to develop. There was so much resistance from Jaden early on that when her feelings began to change, the transition felt quicker than I expected. I wanted more of that heart pounding middle ground where irritation starts becoming attraction and neither one quite knows what to do about it. It just felt like the relationship moved at warp speed. I'd have loved to have seen more of the fake dating aspect. It's one of my favorite tropes.

Overall, Break Point a fun, easy read.. I enjoyed the characters and had a good time with them. I just wanted a little more emotional depth and a little more time with Jaden and Bryson falling for each other to level it up from a really good read into one I absolutely loved.

Four stars. ❤️

[Nicole]

Jaden and Bryson's rivalry began Freshman year and they've mostly avoided each other since. Now entering Senior year, the duo is suddenly thrust together when they both sign-on as brand-ambassadors for a new dating app for college athletes. Viral videos launch their fake-relationship....and lines blur.

Individually, Jaden and Bryson are good characters. I liked that she was a tennis player and he was a football player. They were well-developed with interesting back-stories and the book is written well. I liked the dual POV storytelling.

It felt like the author was trying to jam pack the plot with several tropes, story arcs, characters, and backstories and each left me hanging just a bit. I never felt fully invested or hooked. I think the story would have benefited from some editing and finding a focus.

The two main tropes are enemies to lovers and fake dating. They turned from "enemies" to lovers very quickly and their fake dating stopped being fake early on. Choosing one of these and developing them out more, could've been interesting. Personally, I liked the fake dating part way more. Jaden and Bryson pretend to date in order to promote a brand-new dating app. And they end up going viral, so they have to fake-out the entire internet! Not just people in their immediate orbit. Clever. And way more interesting than how they became "enemies" Freshman year.

This book is a bit of a ride, but it has a lot of heart and you really root for them as a couple and individuals. If you like sports romances and fake dating, give this one a spin.

Thank you to Skyscape and NetGalley for the early reader copy. All opinions are my own.

[Diane Heffner]

It’s been a while since I picked up a Ginger Scott book, but I’m so glad I chose this one. A football player and a tennis girl — who would’ve thought that pairing would work so perfectly? This is very much an enemies‑to‑lovers story, and their meet‑cute at the beginning hooked me immediately.

She’s headstrong, fiercely independent, and determined to make her own way even when she’s struggling. He’s the golden child — the guy who seems to have it all. Naturally, they clash hard at first. But the journey that follows? Wow. This story was a total touchdown, pun absolutely intended.I loved her independence, and I loved the moment she finally let her vulnerability show. Her fears felt real, and his support was beautiful. He was head over heels for her, and together they made each other better. Their growth as individuals and as a couple was one of my favorite parts of the entire listen.

The narrators were phenomenal. Teddy Hamilton is always a sure thing — at this point I’m convinced he can do no wrong. He’s a true actor, and he brings depth to every role he touches. But I especially want to highlight Frankie Corzo. This was my first time hearing her, and she blew me away. She embodied her character so completely that I felt every emotion right along with her. She was captivating, believable, and absolutely outstanding. I’ll happily listen to anything she narrates in the future.

If you enjoy sports romance — football players, tennis players, opposites‑to‑lovers, emotional growth, and fantastic narration — this is a great listen and a wonderful story from Ginger Scott. Highly recommend.

[✨Zoraida✨]

ARC Review
Book: Break Point
Author: Ginger Scott
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This was such a great read; I couldn't put it down. I enjoyed every single page of it.

Jaden Johnson is on the Cordon University Tennis team, and since she's a freshman, she wants to be number one in the country. She has worked really hard to keep her spot on the team. She does not have any endorsements or NIL deals, as the football team does. She is very upset because they have a lot of deals and have their life made easier for them.

Now a Senior, she needs money to pay for her tuition, that's when she agrees to be the face of the new athlete dating app. The only problem, she's been paired up with Bryson Moss, her nemesis since freshman year. However, she has no idea that the creator of the app is Bryson's sister.

Bryson Moss is the star quarterback of Cordon University Football team. During his freshman year, he had to sit out due to a shoulder injury. He does have endorsement and NIL deals, even though he doesn't need them, since he comes from a wealthy family. However, he does not want anything to do with his father's money.

He's liked Jaden since he met her freshman year, but they got on the wrong foot and never spoke until now. He wants a second chance with her.

Will Jaden get to be number one on her college tennis team and number one in the country? Will Bryson get the second chance that he is looking for with Jaden?

If you love college sports, enemies-to-lovers, and fake dating romance, this book is for you.

Thank you, Ginger Scott and NetGalley, for this amazing ARC.

[Carmen Rae]

Sometimes my stupidity even surprises myself. Like when I pick up a book by an author I love for making me feel all the feels then I'm surprised the story put me through the wringer. I read the blurb forever ago and was like “yes, I have to read this” then I left it. Then here I am looking at books to read and decide the new adult sports romance should be a fun read. Umm really? Wtf was I thinking when I was surprised by my tears.

This book was so real. And as a character Jaden felt like I could reach through my kindle and wrap her up in a hug. Watching her struggle through so many different things. Some of them minor and some of them so damn major I couldn't even help but feel like I was right there with her, watching her figure it out made me love her more.

Bryson, I really didn't expect to fall for as hard as I did. Our first introduction to him wasn't great. And it was through some seriously clouded glasses of Jaden, which we don't fully understand until later. But geez that boy stood up and he just kept standing. There were moments when I could have excused him folding a little with his own family dynamics in the mix but he just stood taller.

Honestly as a couple these two were beautiful. And as individuals they were even more amazing. Like I said, I don't know why I expected this to be a light fluffy new adult romance but what I got was so much more. And despite all the feels I went through I came out with a huge smile on my face and a slightly giddy feeling.


4.5 stars

[Kate Laycoax]

Not going to lie, I requested this ARC because Ginger Scott is from Arizona (the West Valley like me!), and I've seen her books at my local Barnes & Noble so many times but had never actually read one yet. I'm so glad I finally did because this was really good!

I'll be honest, college romances aren't usually my go to, but the tennis aspect immediately caught my attention because I've apparently become obsessed with tennis romances lately. 😂 Add in the fake dating for the launch of his sister's dating app, and I was sold because I felt it was such a unique premise, and I thought it worked really well. The chemistry between Bryson and Jaden was palpable from the very beginning, and all of their banter and tension was very intriguing and was a highlight for me.

I also really appreciated that this book had more depth than just the romance. There were some heavier topics woven into the story that gave the characters a lot of growth, and there were even a few surprises that caught me completely off guard, which is always a high point for me because I like when the authors keep things interesting and it isn't just basic or predictable or formulaic.

I'm already hoping this becomes a full series because I'd love books for some of the side characters too. I'll definitely be checking out more of Ginger Scott's backlist after this one!

Thank you to NetGalley, Ginger Scott, and Skyscape for the eARC of this book.

[Chris]

This e-arc was received in exchange for my honest review!

This is an author I will definitely be coming back to. Her dialogue and character development was so excellent. While there are some aspects to the pacing/plot that felt a bit slow, the chemistry of her characters made this book super enjoyable to read (even if I read it a little slower).

Jaden and Bryson just have such a believable chemistry and balance, from start to finish I loved watching them grow together. Their relationship had a surprising amount of depth, nuance, and mutual respect that I don’t see a lot of in college romances.

There were a few things I didn’t love about the book, my biggest issue being the pacing. It definitely felt slow at parts, and i think I struggled with Jaden’s POVs for a while. (I loved Bryson from the start, he was incredible.) Some aspects of the plot felt a little weak, slightly juvenile? But maybe I’ve also just outgrown the college romance genre.

Personally, I find myself being so particular about nicknames lately. I feel like every romance book has a unique nickname IMMEDIATELY given to the FMC, and I really didn’t love the nickname in this one. I got a bit more used to it by the end, but still! I wouldn’t be mad to see this trend go…

But all in all, enjoyed this! The tennis world was interesting to enter into, there was great humour, depth to each character, believable tension, and a fantastic MMC.

3.5 stars, bumping to 4.

[m_apparentlyreads]

*ARC

A slow burn, mild enemies-to-lover, contemporary, sports romance that follows tennis player, Jaden Johnson and star QB, Bryson Moss.

Jaden comes from a not-so-well-off family. She has to work hard both on the court and financially to support her dreams. To do so, she becomes the face of a new dating app, which pays very generously.

To Jaden, Bryson is just the typical golden boy from a wealthy family. What she soon realizes is theres more to him than just that. After a dinner with Bryson's father, she sees his struggles.

I really liked this book and the characters. It was nice seeing both of them have a support system, whether through each other, family, or friends. Jaden was so savage (and her eye rolls). I love the part where Bryson meets her mom and realizes where see gets that from. The book is so very hillarious and I had a blast reading. Bryson was very supportive, both on helping Jaden find back her spark and the joy of her game and defending his sister, Amelia and her app.

However, the book was a bit too fast-paced for me. It felt a tiny bit rushed. I think it would be great if we could have a bit more day-to-day interactions between the characters. Everything was just pretty straightforward. But, overall, it is still a great read and I still enjoyed it!

Thank you to NetGalley, Ginger Scott, and the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for a honest review.

[Darcy DecantingBooks]

What a fun college romance!

FMC Jaden is a super intense tennis player and college student at one of the top tennis schools in the U.S. She doesn’t care about making friends or dating or much of anything besides becoming the best at tennis. She’s had to scrape her way here, barely making ends meet but persevering.

MMC Bryson is the All-American quarterback, from an uber-wealthy family and a domineering (awful) father. Jaden sees him as the enemy: a spoiled rich kid who got here based on connections and privilege.

Fast-forward a couple years. Jaden gets an NIL deal to be the face of a dating app centered on college athletes. And much to her surprise, Bryson is the other lead and her fake boyfriend….

I don’t read a ton of college romance, maybe I’m just too old. But what fun to go back and re-live those college sports days through a modern lens. I love Jaden’s feistiness, drive, and her heart even though she buries it under a tough exterior. Bryson is such a good guy, struggling with his dad’s expectations and always showing up for the people who matter to him. They both put tons of pressure on themselves and try to ease it for each other.

Love them together, how they go from enemies/rivals to fake dating to the real thing, how they become each other’s rocks. And there were some fantastic side characters, especially Taryn, and Jaden’s brother def provides some comic relief.

Thank you to NetGalley for my advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are mine.