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PCU Storm #4
End Game
Sloane-
My dad’s cancer is back and I keep trying to outrun the inevitable with practice, routines, and lists—anything to keep my hands busy so my heart doesn’t break.
Logan Brooks, my brother’s best friend, moving back in with us was the changeup I didn’t see coming.
I want to hate him, but he’s the only person who seems to quiet the panic in my chest.
And I hate even more that loving him feels like setting myself up for another goodbye.
Logan-
The NFL was always my plan, until an injury landed me back in my best friend’s house– the only place that’s ever felt like home.
And Sloane Rhodes, the only person I’m not allowed to want, is looking at me like I’m the only thing holding her together… or her next loss.
Now I’m stuck between two futures—one that has my name on a jersey… and one that has her in my arms.
My dad’s cancer is back and I keep trying to outrun the inevitable with practice, routines, and lists—anything to keep my hands busy so my heart doesn’t break.
Logan Brooks, my brother’s best friend, moving back in with us was the changeup I didn’t see coming.
I want to hate him, but he’s the only person who seems to quiet the panic in my chest.
And I hate even more that loving him feels like setting myself up for another goodbye.
Logan-
The NFL was always my plan, until an injury landed me back in my best friend’s house– the only place that’s ever felt like home.
And Sloane Rhodes, the only person I’m not allowed to want, is looking at me like I’m the only thing holding her together… or her next loss.
Now I’m stuck between two futures—one that has my name on a jersey… and one that has her in my arms.
470 pages, Paperback
Published February 9, 2026
450 people are currently reading
2162 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 228 reviews
February 22, 2026
End Game is the final book in the PCU Storm series, and man did Riley Paige hit me in all my sentimental and tender bits. Author writes a bit before the book starts about the very personal connection writing this book has, and I just knew I’d be taken in with this story in all the best and worst feeling ways. I was lucky enough to be blessed with two wonderful fathers in my lifetime, and unfortunately have lost both. The authenticity of the emotions our mc’s feel as Sloane’s father fights his Cancer diagnosis is gut wrenching, coupled with her anxieties to control the uncontrollable, it makes for a tough read. Tough emotions wise, but I was not about to put it down wanting to get to their inevitable conclusion. Not the way I’d have expected this series to end, but I’m so glad author showed her chops in writing such emotions. It paid off with a 5* read for me and a definite fan.
February 2, 2026
This is not a cute college romance this one is pure raw emotion from the first chapter. End Game is all about the grief, acceptance of a loved one being diagnosed with a terminal illness and with an athlete dealing with healing after a serious injury. This definitely leaves you feeling all the emotions. Sloane is a college basketball player and her brother’s best friend Logan is a senior football player. Logan also grew up in Sloane’s family home. I’m sad to see this is the end of the PCU Storm series however the ending was pure perfection. The whole series is definitely worth a read as every book is beautifully written leaving you feeling every emotion possible. Highly recommend but please check the trigger warnings before reading.
I received a complementary copy from the author.
I received a complementary copy from the author.
February 18, 2026
4.25 ★
Now this one was sad guys… And if you know anything about me, you know that is the key to my heart.
I cried more than once while reading it, and it’s been over a year since a romance novel has made me cry, so I really wasn’t expecting that 😭
⚠️Check the TW’s before reading, one of the major plotlines is a death of a parent, very well-written and devastating, so keep that in mind!!
・❥・ The Plot
This is a sports romance done exactly right. You have everything you’d want here: an obsessed boyfriend, a strong fmc and the brother’s best friend trope, which slaps every. single. time.
I devoured this within 48 hours. There are no unnecessary plotlines, everything flows well together. And there is no dramatic ass 3rd act break up, just a beautifully talked out miscommunication 👏🏻
Aside from the romance, the most important plotline is the death of our FMC’s dad, her coming to terms with it, her grief and learning to move on after losing her biggest supporter. I think the subject was handled spectacularly by the author. I hate when a death is thrown into a book just to give one of the characters a tragic backstory, and handled as a side plot, as it is not one of the most life-changing things that can happen to someone. So I loved how big of a part grief played in this book, I loved that it wasn’t ignored, and that it felt just as important as the romance itself. Anything else would feel wrong.
・❥・ Sloane
I related to her more than I care to admit. Her coping mechanism, annoying or not, I understood so well.
“I notice every single detail and pretend it doesn’t mean anything. Because if it means something, I have to feel it. And if I feel it, I won’t be able to stop.”
That quote right here? I literally felt called out.
That being said, of course I didn’t agree with every choice she made, but I loved that as well because characters filled with grief should not be perfect. Grief can be ugly, it can take over your life, and her being perfect through it would feel disrespectful to the process.
I loved how strong-willed and ambitious she was. And how basketball was her escape from everything else. How her go-to response to any bad news was to try to make a plan, and solve the issue step by step.
・❥・ Logan
Oh, I loved him too. This man? Green flag if I’ve ever seen one. Mind you, he was obsessed with her since before the book even started. We got to see a jealous breakdown in retrospect, cause he was already whipped years ago.
Throughout the book he was going through his own life-changing issues, he was also losing a man who’d been a father figure to him for years, and yet, he always put Sloane first. Like that’s the MMC’s I want to see more of, come on!!
Loved the way he supported Sloane throughout her grief. The little things he did, the way he noticed every single detail about her and gave her exactly what she needed.
・❥・ The Writing
The writing was easy to read and perfect for that kind of a romance novel. The easy plotlines felt fun and simple, but when writing about serious issues the author did just as good of a job.
・❥・Everything about this was great. If you’re ever looking for an easy to read romance novel, that at the same time, is very heartfelt and emotional - this is the perfect choice.
𝓜𝔂 𝓯𝓪𝓿𝓸𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓮 𝓺𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼:
*this one made me sob uncontrollably* ⬇️
““I’m staying as long as I can,” he whispers. “But you have to live after me.”
“I don’t care what happens. I don’t care where football takes me. You’re my priority. You’re my person. You’re my end game.”
Huge thanks to Hambright PR and Riley Paige for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for my review!!
Now this one was sad guys… And if you know anything about me, you know that is the key to my heart.
I cried more than once while reading it, and it’s been over a year since a romance novel has made me cry, so I really wasn’t expecting that 😭
⚠️Check the TW’s before reading, one of the major plotlines is a death of a parent, very well-written and devastating, so keep that in mind!!
・❥・ The Plot
This is a sports romance done exactly right. You have everything you’d want here: an obsessed boyfriend, a strong fmc and the brother’s best friend trope, which slaps every. single. time.
I devoured this within 48 hours. There are no unnecessary plotlines, everything flows well together. And there is no dramatic ass 3rd act break up, just a beautifully talked out miscommunication 👏🏻
Aside from the romance, the most important plotline is the death of our FMC’s dad, her coming to terms with it, her grief and learning to move on after losing her biggest supporter. I think the subject was handled spectacularly by the author. I hate when a death is thrown into a book just to give one of the characters a tragic backstory, and handled as a side plot, as it is not one of the most life-changing things that can happen to someone. So I loved how big of a part grief played in this book, I loved that it wasn’t ignored, and that it felt just as important as the romance itself. Anything else would feel wrong.
・❥・ Sloane
I related to her more than I care to admit. Her coping mechanism, annoying or not, I understood so well.
“I notice every single detail and pretend it doesn’t mean anything. Because if it means something, I have to feel it. And if I feel it, I won’t be able to stop.”
That quote right here? I literally felt called out.
That being said, of course I didn’t agree with every choice she made, but I loved that as well because characters filled with grief should not be perfect. Grief can be ugly, it can take over your life, and her being perfect through it would feel disrespectful to the process.
I loved how strong-willed and ambitious she was. And how basketball was her escape from everything else. How her go-to response to any bad news was to try to make a plan, and solve the issue step by step.
・❥・ Logan
Oh, I loved him too. This man? Green flag if I’ve ever seen one. Mind you, he was obsessed with her since before the book even started. We got to see a jealous breakdown in retrospect, cause he was already whipped years ago.
Throughout the book he was going through his own life-changing issues, he was also losing a man who’d been a father figure to him for years, and yet, he always put Sloane first. Like that’s the MMC’s I want to see more of, come on!!
Loved the way he supported Sloane throughout her grief. The little things he did, the way he noticed every single detail about her and gave her exactly what she needed.
・❥・ The Writing
The writing was easy to read and perfect for that kind of a romance novel. The easy plotlines felt fun and simple, but when writing about serious issues the author did just as good of a job.
・❥・Everything about this was great. If you’re ever looking for an easy to read romance novel, that at the same time, is very heartfelt and emotional - this is the perfect choice.
𝓜𝔂 𝓯𝓪𝓿𝓸𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓮 𝓺𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼:
*this one made me sob uncontrollably* ⬇️
““I’m staying as long as I can,” he whispers. “But you have to live after me.”
“I don’t care what happens. I don’t care where football takes me. You’re my priority. You’re my person. You’re my end game.”
Huge thanks to Hambright PR and Riley Paige for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for my review!!
February 26, 2026
#Review: *End Game* - Riley Paige - ARC [18+]
4.9/5✨
3/5
[It has a heavy emotional impact!]
Sloane Rhodes and Logan Brooks had a love-hate connection. When Logan suffered a brutal injury during one of his games, he ended up staying at his best friend's house, Cameron, but that meant that he would constantly be in close proximity to Sloane and their ill dad, Cameron being her brother. Sloane was split between anger and sadness, because of her father's cancer, and hate and lust, because of the forbidden attraction she felt towards Logan. They both had that pull towards each other for a really long time, but they tried to ignore it as well as they could. But what happens when they just fall into temptation? Will they be able to fight for what they felt, when everything around them was falling apart?
Ohhh, how many heartbreaking moments this story had🥺. I can say from the start that you need to brace yourself when you begin reading this book. The main plot was the journey Sloane's dad was facing with that cancer battle and the details were pretty rough. It broke my heart to see all that, but I had prepared myself for anything after I read the author's note from the beginning of the book. I liked that the secret romance between Sloane and Logan offered me a little break from all that hurt, but this relationship was still very much affected by the tragic event. That connection between them was so strong, vulnerable and filled with so much yearning, loving them so much together🥹, even if all that has started with so much bickering🤭.
I felt each emotion from this story, being hard to not be affected by everything that was happening to these characters. The triggers cannot be ignored, because the impact is pretty heavy and you must be prepared for anything, when you decide to dive into this book.
Thank you so much Riley and Hambright Pr for accepting me for this beautiful e-ARC.🥹
✨Tropes
▫️Secret Romance
▫️Brother's Best Friend
▫️Enemies To Lovers
▫️Ilness
▫️Loss/Grief
▫️Forced Proximity
▫️Sports Romance
▫️Football/Basketball
4.9/5✨
3/5
[It has a heavy emotional impact!]
Sloane Rhodes and Logan Brooks had a love-hate connection. When Logan suffered a brutal injury during one of his games, he ended up staying at his best friend's house, Cameron, but that meant that he would constantly be in close proximity to Sloane and their ill dad, Cameron being her brother. Sloane was split between anger and sadness, because of her father's cancer, and hate and lust, because of the forbidden attraction she felt towards Logan. They both had that pull towards each other for a really long time, but they tried to ignore it as well as they could. But what happens when they just fall into temptation? Will they be able to fight for what they felt, when everything around them was falling apart?
Ohhh, how many heartbreaking moments this story had🥺. I can say from the start that you need to brace yourself when you begin reading this book. The main plot was the journey Sloane's dad was facing with that cancer battle and the details were pretty rough. It broke my heart to see all that, but I had prepared myself for anything after I read the author's note from the beginning of the book. I liked that the secret romance between Sloane and Logan offered me a little break from all that hurt, but this relationship was still very much affected by the tragic event. That connection between them was so strong, vulnerable and filled with so much yearning, loving them so much together🥹, even if all that has started with so much bickering🤭.
I felt each emotion from this story, being hard to not be affected by everything that was happening to these characters. The triggers cannot be ignored, because the impact is pretty heavy and you must be prepared for anything, when you decide to dive into this book.
Thank you so much Riley and Hambright Pr for accepting me for this beautiful e-ARC.🥹
✨Tropes
▫️Secret Romance
▫️Brother's Best Friend
▫️Enemies To Lovers
▫️Ilness
▫️Loss/Grief
▫️Forced Proximity
▫️Sports Romance
▫️Football/Basketball
February 7, 2026
6 ⭐️ ALL 👏🏻 THE 👏🏻 STARS 👏🏻
This was absolutely incredible and I fear it’s about to become my entire personality.
Even though this is a romance I feel like it had a completely different approach. There was no emphasis on the MMC being 6ftwhatever and absolutely gorgeous. No emphasis on looks whatsoever and I found that so refreshing. You just assume they’re amazing because their characters were done so well and their development spoke volumes. Letting character do the heavy lifting instead of abs is brave and frankly superior. When you assume they’re attractive because of who they are? That’s grown-up romance. That’s emotional foreplay.
At the forefront of this book was loss and grief. A lot of pain. A lot of anguish and it is deeply felt on every page. Sometimes you need to stop and walk away because it’s so raw and real and you can feel it in your marrow. The grief is so palpable, it’s an entire being on its own. BUT there’s also so much healing. Learning to survive. To keep going and to build a new life after… after the life that ended.
I was so invested in this story right from the very first sentence. This author has an incredible talent for storytelling and I will ONE THOUSAND PERCENT read every book she writes, starting with every one in this series. These characters have stolen my heart and I don’t ever want to move on from them. This book didn’t just hit me. It moved in, unpacked, and is now paying rent in my ribcage.
This was absolutely incredible and I fear it’s about to become my entire personality.
Even though this is a romance I feel like it had a completely different approach. There was no emphasis on the MMC being 6ftwhatever and absolutely gorgeous. No emphasis on looks whatsoever and I found that so refreshing. You just assume they’re amazing because their characters were done so well and their development spoke volumes. Letting character do the heavy lifting instead of abs is brave and frankly superior. When you assume they’re attractive because of who they are? That’s grown-up romance. That’s emotional foreplay.
At the forefront of this book was loss and grief. A lot of pain. A lot of anguish and it is deeply felt on every page. Sometimes you need to stop and walk away because it’s so raw and real and you can feel it in your marrow. The grief is so palpable, it’s an entire being on its own. BUT there’s also so much healing. Learning to survive. To keep going and to build a new life after… after the life that ended.
I was so invested in this story right from the very first sentence. This author has an incredible talent for storytelling and I will ONE THOUSAND PERCENT read every book she writes, starting with every one in this series. These characters have stolen my heart and I don’t ever want to move on from them. This book didn’t just hit me. It moved in, unpacked, and is now paying rent in my ribcage.
February 19, 2026
Thanks to Hambright and Riley Paige for the complimentary ARC of End Game.
Logan Brooks has spent his life with one goal in mind: get to the NFL. But in one of his last games as a senior at PCU, he takes a devastating hit and ruptures three ligaments in his right knee, effectively ending his season and throwing his future into limbo. After his surgery, he returns to the only real home he's ever had while he rehabs: the Rhodes family home. Coach Rhodes took Logan in when he was a kid after he realized that his son's best friend didn't have a safe home to go to. The one issue with returning home now is that Logan has to be in close proximity to Sloane, his best friend's little sister and the girl he's been in love with since he was 17. Logan said something stupid to Sloan at a party two years earlier and has been avoiding her at all costs, but now they have to live together. And with Sloane's dad's cancer back, she's at a breaking point and will need Logan's help to keep moving, even if she doesn't want it.
This is my third Riley Paige book (I skipped the last one in the series because it was fake dating, and I don't read that trope), so I feel like I have a grasp on her voice as an author at this point. My biggest criticism of her novels to this point is that they were too long. While this book is still very long for a typical contemporary romance, I think this was her strongest book from an editorial perspective. The beats in the plot were clear, the pace was consistent, and I felt like she did a great job balancing the mundanity of caregiving and death with the emotional beats of the romance and grief. I do think it was still too long, but a deeper edit would have required more developmental shaping, and I am very sympathetic to the costs indie authors bear for that kind of work.
This is a heavy novel. Riley is clear in the author's note and the CWs that you need to be sure you can handle this content before diving into End Game. Take her seriously—do not read this if you are not prepared for everything she lays out in those warnings.
We're often told to write what we know. Riley has lost one grandparent (her primary caregiver as a child) to cancer and is in the process of losing the second. She clearly understands the material concerns around hospice and death from cancer in a way only someone who has gone through it can show. The specificity of Sloane's experience with her father's treatment and now end-of-life care made the struggle she experiences on the page universal. I've never lost an immediate family member to cancer, but my brother did die a little over five years ago, and no one tells you the sheer amount of paperwork that accompanies death. I was particularly struck by how Sloane's dad insisted on handling the details he knew his kids couldn't, on his own terms, and then how Sloane gritted her teeth to get through the daily deluge of details involved in caring for a terminal parent.
The romance writing is so deeply woven into the story of grief and loss that it's hard to talk about them as two separate entities. Logan and Sloane have both had feelings for each other for years, but the forced proximity and heightened emotional circumstances of this moment are what push them together. And you see that they both struggle with the conflict between the joy they feel at being together and the grief of the situation.
Overall, this was a really strong outing from Riley Paige. She's grown a lot as an author over the four books of the PCU Storm series, and I am excited to see what she does next.
Logan Brooks has spent his life with one goal in mind: get to the NFL. But in one of his last games as a senior at PCU, he takes a devastating hit and ruptures three ligaments in his right knee, effectively ending his season and throwing his future into limbo. After his surgery, he returns to the only real home he's ever had while he rehabs: the Rhodes family home. Coach Rhodes took Logan in when he was a kid after he realized that his son's best friend didn't have a safe home to go to. The one issue with returning home now is that Logan has to be in close proximity to Sloane, his best friend's little sister and the girl he's been in love with since he was 17. Logan said something stupid to Sloan at a party two years earlier and has been avoiding her at all costs, but now they have to live together. And with Sloane's dad's cancer back, she's at a breaking point and will need Logan's help to keep moving, even if she doesn't want it.
This is my third Riley Paige book (I skipped the last one in the series because it was fake dating, and I don't read that trope), so I feel like I have a grasp on her voice as an author at this point. My biggest criticism of her novels to this point is that they were too long. While this book is still very long for a typical contemporary romance, I think this was her strongest book from an editorial perspective. The beats in the plot were clear, the pace was consistent, and I felt like she did a great job balancing the mundanity of caregiving and death with the emotional beats of the romance and grief. I do think it was still too long, but a deeper edit would have required more developmental shaping, and I am very sympathetic to the costs indie authors bear for that kind of work.
This is a heavy novel. Riley is clear in the author's note and the CWs that you need to be sure you can handle this content before diving into End Game. Take her seriously—do not read this if you are not prepared for everything she lays out in those warnings.
We're often told to write what we know. Riley has lost one grandparent (her primary caregiver as a child) to cancer and is in the process of losing the second. She clearly understands the material concerns around hospice and death from cancer in a way only someone who has gone through it can show. The specificity of Sloane's experience with her father's treatment and now end-of-life care made the struggle she experiences on the page universal. I've never lost an immediate family member to cancer, but my brother did die a little over five years ago, and no one tells you the sheer amount of paperwork that accompanies death. I was particularly struck by how Sloane's dad insisted on handling the details he knew his kids couldn't, on his own terms, and then how Sloane gritted her teeth to get through the daily deluge of details involved in caring for a terminal parent.
The romance writing is so deeply woven into the story of grief and loss that it's hard to talk about them as two separate entities. Logan and Sloane have both had feelings for each other for years, but the forced proximity and heightened emotional circumstances of this moment are what push them together. And you see that they both struggle with the conflict between the joy they feel at being together and the grief of the situation.
Overall, this was a really strong outing from Riley Paige. She's grown a lot as an author over the four books of the PCU Storm series, and I am excited to see what she does next.
February 12, 2026
This is a heavy book, so definitely check the trigger warnings!
End Game follows Logan and Sloane, two people standing at the most painful crossroads of their lives. Logan is an injured football star forced to face a future without the game he loves. Sloane is slowly losing her father to terminal cancer while trying to hold herself together.
Their grief felt real. Their healing felt earned.
Logan is the kind of man who shows love through showing up—through patience, consistency, and simply staying. He is exactly what Sloane needs during this heartbreaking time in her life. Sloane’s pain is written with so much empathy and compassion, and her journey through loss and survival will live rent-free in my mind for a long time.
The way their love grows alongside their grief is beautifully written.
While this may be a sports romance, End Game is truly a story about surviving the worst days… and still believing in a future.
End Game follows Logan and Sloane, two people standing at the most painful crossroads of their lives. Logan is an injured football star forced to face a future without the game he loves. Sloane is slowly losing her father to terminal cancer while trying to hold herself together.
Their grief felt real. Their healing felt earned.
Logan is the kind of man who shows love through showing up—through patience, consistency, and simply staying. He is exactly what Sloane needs during this heartbreaking time in her life. Sloane’s pain is written with so much empathy and compassion, and her journey through loss and survival will live rent-free in my mind for a long time.
The way their love grows alongside their grief is beautifully written.
While this may be a sports romance, End Game is truly a story about surviving the worst days… and still believing in a future.
February 12, 2026
Going into this knowing that it would break my heart, to then reading the author’s note…
This was heartbreakingly beautiful
This was heartbreakingly beautiful
Read
February 2, 2026- college romance
- sports romance (football x basketball)
- brother's best friend
- he falls first
- forced proximity (he's living with them)
- check TWs (terminally ill parent)
- no third-act breakup
- 🌶️🌶️/5
- dual pov
When Riley says you'll need tissues, she means it. Pops is such an unforgettable character, so saying goodbye to him hurts. But the way Logan takes care of Sloane will have you swooning. Don't even get me started on him putting her first! Logan has come a long way since Broken Play, and while it's heartbreaking, it's also heartwarming to see him finally get his HEA 💙.
- sports romance (football x basketball)
- brother's best friend
- he falls first
- forced proximity (he's living with them)
- check TWs (terminally ill parent)
- no third-act breakup
- 🌶️🌶️/5
- dual pov
When Riley says you'll need tissues, she means it. Pops is such an unforgettable character, so saying goodbye to him hurts. But the way Logan takes care of Sloane will have you swooning. Don't even get me started on him putting her first! Logan has come a long way since Broken Play, and while it's heartbreaking, it's also heartwarming to see him finally get his HEA 💙.
February 12, 2026
END GAME by Riley Paige is book 4 in the PCU Storm football romance series. It can be read as a standalone (as I did) or read as the final installment following the PCU teammates.
In END GAME, Logan takes a massive hit to his NFL dreams when an ACL injury takes him out at the end of his senior season. As he is recovering from surgery and facing rehab, his best friend, Cameron Rhodes, brings him home to the house he has shared with the Rhodes family for half of his life, including Cameron's sister, the prickly Sloane. The two clearly have history and a somewhat forbidden attraction to one another.
Sloane is also a student athlete but for rival college CSU. In the midst of her junior season for basketball, Sloane has to contend with Logan moving in, all while she tries to hold it together while Pops is showing signs that his brain cancer is back. Sloane copes by managing his care, controlling everything she can, holding herself together and not letting anyone see her fall apart - except Logan sees right through her.
This book has a romantic subplot, but the overwhelming theme is grief and loss. Loss of dreams, actively grieving an impending loss of life, and then the actual aftermath of losing a loved one. Logan is there for Sloane through it all, despite his own hardships and losses, his rehab & his own feelings for Pops - the father figure that took him in in childhood. What starts as an antagonistic stand off between Sloane and Logan turns into the love that has been brewing for years.
The author herself is very clear about the content warnings for this book. This is a heavy one. And despite that, I couldn't put it down. I really can appreciate that the author wrote this from the perspective of the caretaker as she has been in those shoes with her own grandparents. It is heartbreaking. I appreciated the honesty and the way she shows HOW to be there for someone in their grief. It looks like Logan's quiet and steady support, Jade and Blakely's firm friendship and presence, and coach's open door to do whatever she needed. I hope this book finds the people who need it - so they feel seen or know how to show up for someone in their own life who is grieving.
For me this was a 3.5 star book. I really appreciated the rehab and athlete perspective for both main characters (Sloane is a basketball player). It made me want to get into the END GAME by Riley Paige is book 4 in the PCU Storm football romance series. It can be read as a standalone (as I did) or read as the final installment following the PCU teammates.
Some more attentive editing would have probably caught the repetitive phrasing and minor inconsistencies that had me a little confused at times. I am curious about the other stories in this series and the upcoming PCU hockey series Paige has coming out this spring. END GAME is available now on Kindle Unlimited. Thank you to the author and Hambright PR for the opportunity to read and review an ARC.
In END GAME, Logan takes a massive hit to his NFL dreams when an ACL injury takes him out at the end of his senior season. As he is recovering from surgery and facing rehab, his best friend, Cameron Rhodes, brings him home to the house he has shared with the Rhodes family for half of his life, including Cameron's sister, the prickly Sloane. The two clearly have history and a somewhat forbidden attraction to one another.
Sloane is also a student athlete but for rival college CSU. In the midst of her junior season for basketball, Sloane has to contend with Logan moving in, all while she tries to hold it together while Pops is showing signs that his brain cancer is back. Sloane copes by managing his care, controlling everything she can, holding herself together and not letting anyone see her fall apart - except Logan sees right through her.
This book has a romantic subplot, but the overwhelming theme is grief and loss. Loss of dreams, actively grieving an impending loss of life, and then the actual aftermath of losing a loved one. Logan is there for Sloane through it all, despite his own hardships and losses, his rehab & his own feelings for Pops - the father figure that took him in in childhood. What starts as an antagonistic stand off between Sloane and Logan turns into the love that has been brewing for years.
The author herself is very clear about the content warnings for this book. This is a heavy one. And despite that, I couldn't put it down. I really can appreciate that the author wrote this from the perspective of the caretaker as she has been in those shoes with her own grandparents. It is heartbreaking. I appreciated the honesty and the way she shows HOW to be there for someone in their grief. It looks like Logan's quiet and steady support, Jade and Blakely's firm friendship and presence, and coach's open door to do whatever she needed. I hope this book finds the people who need it - so they feel seen or know how to show up for someone in their own life who is grieving.
For me this was a 3.5 star book. I really appreciated the rehab and athlete perspective for both main characters (Sloane is a basketball player). It made me want to get into the END GAME by Riley Paige is book 4 in the PCU Storm football romance series. It can be read as a standalone (as I did) or read as the final installment following the PCU teammates.
Some more attentive editing would have probably caught the repetitive phrasing and minor inconsistencies that had me a little confused at times. I am curious about the other stories in this series and the upcoming PCU hockey series Paige has coming out this spring. END GAME is available now on Kindle Unlimited. Thank you to the author and Hambright PR for the opportunity to read and review an ARC.
February 22, 2026
Now playing:
“Iris — Goo Goo Dolls”
🌶️ spice: spicy chapters are 28, 37, 52
↳ this book absolutely wrecked me in the most beautiful way. i laughed, i cried, and i didn’t put it down until i physically couldn’t keep my eyes open anymore.
↳ logan and sloane felt so real to me. their relationship isn’t written like some perfect fairytale — it’s messy, complicated, fragile, and deeply human. they love each other, but they also struggle… and that honesty made everything hit so much harder.
↳ the way grief is written in this story is honestly one of the most powerful things i’ve read. it’s not rushed or glossed over — it lingers. you feel how heavy it is, how it changes people, how it seeps into every conversation, every choice, every moment of love. the author shows that grief doesn’t just disappear… it reshapes you, and sometimes it reshapes your relationships too.
↳ what really got me is how the book shows that love isn’t always soft or easy. sometimes it’s frustrating. sometimes it hurts. sometimes people don’t know how to communicate or how to carry their pain without hurting the person they care about. and that doesn’t mean the love isn’t real — it just means they’re human.
↳ logan and sloane go through ups and downs that feel painfully authentic. the misunderstandings, the emotional distance, the moments where they try and fail and try again… it all felt so raw and honest. their story shows that relationships aren’t just built in the happy moments — they’re tested and shaped in the hard ones.
↳ this book doesn’t pretend life is pretty all the time. it shows the heavy parts — loss, fear, emotional walls, healing that isn’t linear — and somehow still finds tenderness and hope inside all of it.
↳ i felt connected to every single character, but especially to the emotional journey they all went through. their pain felt real, their love felt earned, and their growth felt meaningful.
↳ when i finished, i just sat there in silence because it genuinely stayed with me. this story made me feel everything.
this was an easy five stars. emotional, honest, and unforgettable✨
“Iris — Goo Goo Dolls”
🌶️ spice: spicy chapters are 28, 37, 52
↳ this book absolutely wrecked me in the most beautiful way. i laughed, i cried, and i didn’t put it down until i physically couldn’t keep my eyes open anymore.
↳ logan and sloane felt so real to me. their relationship isn’t written like some perfect fairytale — it’s messy, complicated, fragile, and deeply human. they love each other, but they also struggle… and that honesty made everything hit so much harder.
↳ the way grief is written in this story is honestly one of the most powerful things i’ve read. it’s not rushed or glossed over — it lingers. you feel how heavy it is, how it changes people, how it seeps into every conversation, every choice, every moment of love. the author shows that grief doesn’t just disappear… it reshapes you, and sometimes it reshapes your relationships too.
↳ what really got me is how the book shows that love isn’t always soft or easy. sometimes it’s frustrating. sometimes it hurts. sometimes people don’t know how to communicate or how to carry their pain without hurting the person they care about. and that doesn’t mean the love isn’t real — it just means they’re human.
↳ logan and sloane go through ups and downs that feel painfully authentic. the misunderstandings, the emotional distance, the moments where they try and fail and try again… it all felt so raw and honest. their story shows that relationships aren’t just built in the happy moments — they’re tested and shaped in the hard ones.
↳ this book doesn’t pretend life is pretty all the time. it shows the heavy parts — loss, fear, emotional walls, healing that isn’t linear — and somehow still finds tenderness and hope inside all of it.
↳ i felt connected to every single character, but especially to the emotional journey they all went through. their pain felt real, their love felt earned, and their growth felt meaningful.
↳ when i finished, i just sat there in silence because it genuinely stayed with me. this story made me feel everything.
this was an easy five stars. emotional, honest, and unforgettable✨
February 17, 2026
** ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5 **
✨️ Thanks to @authorrileypaige and @hambright_pr for the ARC
💕 "The man who inspired me… his story ended. But ours? Ours is just beginning."
💕 “Look at you. So strong. So perfect. So mine”
💕 “I don’t care what happens. I don’t care where football takes me. You’re my priority. You’re my person. You’re my end game.”
💔 "Grief doesn’t turn off. Grief just waits until you’re alone and then tries to drown you quietly."
Sloane Rhodes is reeling after receiving the news of her father's terminal cancer diagnosis. Her affinity for strict routines is the only control she has over her life at the moment. Logan Brooks has his eyes set on the NFL but when an injury sidelines his plans, he ends up at the only home he has ever felt safe at. Sloane and Logan have a history but will their loyalty to family and grief prevent them from a future together?
Please heed the author's content warning and be prepared for an emotional journey. It is quite evident the author has experience in this topic and I truly appreciated the very real emotions these characters experienced - between the death of a parent and a life changing event. The romance aspect of this book definitely takes a back seat (as it should) and it had a very real, slow burn progression considering the circumstances. This is the last installment in this series but the first I've read and I am looking forward to going back to the previous books. This story was quite long and took me a while to get through due to the heavy topic but it was a beautifully heartbreaking representation of grief and moving forward from a loss.
👩👧 Brother's Best Friend
🧑⚕️ Caretaking
🤏🏼 Forced Proximity
🏈 Sports Romance
❤️ He Falls First
😔 Grief
✨️ Thanks to @authorrileypaige and @hambright_pr for the ARC
💕 "The man who inspired me… his story ended. But ours? Ours is just beginning."
💕 “Look at you. So strong. So perfect. So mine”
💕 “I don’t care what happens. I don’t care where football takes me. You’re my priority. You’re my person. You’re my end game.”
💔 "Grief doesn’t turn off. Grief just waits until you’re alone and then tries to drown you quietly."
Sloane Rhodes is reeling after receiving the news of her father's terminal cancer diagnosis. Her affinity for strict routines is the only control she has over her life at the moment. Logan Brooks has his eyes set on the NFL but when an injury sidelines his plans, he ends up at the only home he has ever felt safe at. Sloane and Logan have a history but will their loyalty to family and grief prevent them from a future together?
Please heed the author's content warning and be prepared for an emotional journey. It is quite evident the author has experience in this topic and I truly appreciated the very real emotions these characters experienced - between the death of a parent and a life changing event. The romance aspect of this book definitely takes a back seat (as it should) and it had a very real, slow burn progression considering the circumstances. This is the last installment in this series but the first I've read and I am looking forward to going back to the previous books. This story was quite long and took me a while to get through due to the heavy topic but it was a beautifully heartbreaking representation of grief and moving forward from a loss.
👩👧 Brother's Best Friend
🧑⚕️ Caretaking
🤏🏼 Forced Proximity
🏈 Sports Romance
❤️ He Falls First
😔 Grief
February 19, 2026
this one took a lot out of me, which is why it took awhile.
this was such a raw, gut wrenching, emotional but beautiful read. a book full of grief, love and building yourself back up even after the darkest times.
grief isn’t just something that happens and then leaves. it stays and lingers for periods of times and comes and goes. this boon portrayed it so well. like it couldn’t hav been done better.
sloane rhodes is the strongest person. to hold herself together through the darkest time of her life but also slowly let her walls down and let her be taken care of. let herself feel all these emotions that don’t make sense but consume her senses.
seeing her emotional progression throughout the book..the way her grief was shown. was so raw and so relatable to anyone who has lost anyone close to them.
logan is such a green flag. the way he treated, talked to and cared for sloane was just so heart warming. he also has a lot of troubles and to see into his mind just added this extra layer of the story. his connection and relationship with pops was just so loving.
seeing these two come together was just chefs kiss. the way their relationship progressed and was shown was a real thing. the patience. the care. the love. they’re each others person. each other rock. i love them whole heartedly.
this was such a raw, gut wrenching, emotional but beautiful read. a book full of grief, love and building yourself back up even after the darkest times.
grief isn’t just something that happens and then leaves. it stays and lingers for periods of times and comes and goes. this boon portrayed it so well. like it couldn’t hav been done better.
sloane rhodes is the strongest person. to hold herself together through the darkest time of her life but also slowly let her walls down and let her be taken care of. let herself feel all these emotions that don’t make sense but consume her senses.
seeing her emotional progression throughout the book..the way her grief was shown. was so raw and so relatable to anyone who has lost anyone close to them.
logan is such a green flag. the way he treated, talked to and cared for sloane was just so heart warming. he also has a lot of troubles and to see into his mind just added this extra layer of the story. his connection and relationship with pops was just so loving.
seeing these two come together was just chefs kiss. the way their relationship progressed and was shown was a real thing. the patience. the care. the love. they’re each others person. each other rock. i love them whole heartedly.
February 7, 2026
First, thank you to Riley Paige for the ARC! I love a college sports romance and this one did not disappoint. I highly recommend checking the trigger warnings before going in, as this was an emotionally heavy read at times.
This one has Sloane trying to outrun the reality of her father’s cancer returning by clinging to routines, practice, and anything that keeps her busy. When Logan, her brother’s best friend and a once NFL bound athlete gets injured, he ends up moving back into her home. Loving each other feels risky when both are staring down uncertain futures and the possibility of yet another goodbye.
I will say the brother’s best friend trope paired with forced proximity and caretaking made Sloane and Logan’s connection incredibly emotional and heartfelt. They were both experiencing grief in similar but different ways, and while their timing wasn’t ideal, the way their relationship unfolded felt exactly right for them. I loved their banter and how Logan was always nearby, steady and present, just in case he was needed.
Sloane and Pops were true fighters through it all and Logan was the perfect support for the family during this tough time. Pops’ wisdom, thoughtfulness, and love he gave Sloane, her brother, and Logan was beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time, those moments really stuck with me. I also enjoyed getting a glimpse of how things played out for them in the end; it felt right and was the perfect conclusion for their story.
This one has Sloane trying to outrun the reality of her father’s cancer returning by clinging to routines, practice, and anything that keeps her busy. When Logan, her brother’s best friend and a once NFL bound athlete gets injured, he ends up moving back into her home. Loving each other feels risky when both are staring down uncertain futures and the possibility of yet another goodbye.
I will say the brother’s best friend trope paired with forced proximity and caretaking made Sloane and Logan’s connection incredibly emotional and heartfelt. They were both experiencing grief in similar but different ways, and while their timing wasn’t ideal, the way their relationship unfolded felt exactly right for them. I loved their banter and how Logan was always nearby, steady and present, just in case he was needed.
Sloane and Pops were true fighters through it all and Logan was the perfect support for the family during this tough time. Pops’ wisdom, thoughtfulness, and love he gave Sloane, her brother, and Logan was beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time, those moments really stuck with me. I also enjoyed getting a glimpse of how things played out for them in the end; it felt right and was the perfect conclusion for their story.
February 11, 2026
Logan made a mistake 2 years ago and said something to Sloane that he can’t take back. Even after saying what he did he still wants her. Sloane has always had a thing for Logan but is still mad at him after what he said 2 years ago. Sloane is going to lose her father to cancer but will Logan be there for her or run?
I do love when Logan finally called Sloane “Baby”. Their banter is top tier. I think it’s wonderful that Sloane’s dad let Logan stay. What breaks my heart is Logan thinking he’s a burden when Sloane’s brother and dad love him. The way Logan looked out for Sloane in subtle ways is so sweet. That first kiss was perfect. I absolutely love Pops. I also love how Pops knew Logan liked Sloane for years but didn’t bring it up until it was needed. That ending was exactly what I needed.
Riley Paige has dominated my life. I���ve never given 6 stars to a debut author before and she was the first. Broken Play was my first 6 star read of 2025. Riley’s also the first author that I’ve ever given a whole series either 6 or 5 stars to for every book! Thank you for writing the perfect world!
I do love when Logan finally called Sloane “Baby”. Their banter is top tier. I think it’s wonderful that Sloane’s dad let Logan stay. What breaks my heart is Logan thinking he’s a burden when Sloane’s brother and dad love him. The way Logan looked out for Sloane in subtle ways is so sweet. That first kiss was perfect. I absolutely love Pops. I also love how Pops knew Logan liked Sloane for years but didn’t bring it up until it was needed. That ending was exactly what I needed.
Riley Paige has dominated my life. I���ve never given 6 stars to a debut author before and she was the first. Broken Play was my first 6 star read of 2025. Riley’s also the first author that I’ve ever given a whole series either 6 or 5 stars to for every book! Thank you for writing the perfect world!
February 12, 2026
This story is raw, real, and a reality for many. Grief is extremely hard and also isolating at times. It’s a process that has no time limit.
End Game was beautifully written evoking deep emotion while our character’s traversed through dealing with a terminal illness. When Sloane learns her dad’s cancer has returned and that all options have been exhausted she journeys on a path of navigating how to grapple the news.
Determined to keep a strong front, Logan knows that inside Sloane is barely holding it together.
Logan has been a staple at the Rhodes’ home since he was young. They accepted him and gave him a safe place to stay. When he’s injured during his senior year in a football game, his dreams of being in the NFL dim.
Sloane and Logan have their differences but watching how Logan comforts and takes care of Sloane was beautiful.
TROPES ✨
👩👧 Brother's Best Friend
🧑⚕️ Caretaking
🤏🏼 Forced Proximity
🏈 Sports Romance
❤️ He Falls First
😔 Grief
💔 Loss of Parent
This story is not your typical romance and deals heavily with grief so please pay attention to the trigger warnings.
Thank you Hambright PR and Riley Paige for the ARC.
End Game was beautifully written evoking deep emotion while our character’s traversed through dealing with a terminal illness. When Sloane learns her dad’s cancer has returned and that all options have been exhausted she journeys on a path of navigating how to grapple the news.
Determined to keep a strong front, Logan knows that inside Sloane is barely holding it together.
Logan has been a staple at the Rhodes’ home since he was young. They accepted him and gave him a safe place to stay. When he’s injured during his senior year in a football game, his dreams of being in the NFL dim.
Sloane and Logan have their differences but watching how Logan comforts and takes care of Sloane was beautiful.
TROPES ✨
👩👧 Brother's Best Friend
🧑⚕️ Caretaking
🤏🏼 Forced Proximity
🏈 Sports Romance
❤️ He Falls First
😔 Grief
💔 Loss of Parent
This story is not your typical romance and deals heavily with grief so please pay attention to the trigger warnings.
Thank you Hambright PR and Riley Paige for the ARC.
February 23, 2026
ARC Review:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (Infinite 6+)
Spice: 🌶🌶 (2/5)
End Game deserves every star, every ounce of praise, and every five-star review it gets.
This is a beautifully tragic love story. It’s about grief, caretaking, cancer treatments, athletic rehab, fear of losing a career, fear of not being enough, and the loss of a father figure. But more than that, it’s about love in the middle of all of it. It’s about who you surround yourself with when life gets hard. It’s about vulnerability. It’s about admitting when you’re not okay. And it’s about finding your end game.
The tension between Logan and Sloane? Unreal. They claim they can’t stand each other, but the banter, the so-called “toxic banter”, has always been their truth. The push and pull. The history. The way they see each other even when they pretend not to. I lived for it.
There are moments in this book that will absolutely wreck you. And then there are quiet, tender moments that will stitch you back together.
This is a book that will make you feel everything. A book that needs waterproof pages. A book where you absolutely must read the author’s note and content warnings beforehand.
Logan and Sloane deserved this love. Their happily ever after is perfection.
Thank you again, Riley for this story, for this experience, and for giving me a permanent spot on my “6-star shelf.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (Infinite 6+)
Spice: 🌶🌶 (2/5)
End Game deserves every star, every ounce of praise, and every five-star review it gets.
This is a beautifully tragic love story. It’s about grief, caretaking, cancer treatments, athletic rehab, fear of losing a career, fear of not being enough, and the loss of a father figure. But more than that, it’s about love in the middle of all of it. It’s about who you surround yourself with when life gets hard. It’s about vulnerability. It’s about admitting when you’re not okay. And it’s about finding your end game.
The tension between Logan and Sloane? Unreal. They claim they can’t stand each other, but the banter, the so-called “toxic banter”, has always been their truth. The push and pull. The history. The way they see each other even when they pretend not to. I lived for it.
There are moments in this book that will absolutely wreck you. And then there are quiet, tender moments that will stitch you back together.
This is a book that will make you feel everything. A book that needs waterproof pages. A book where you absolutely must read the author’s note and content warnings beforehand.
Logan and Sloane deserved this love. Their happily ever after is perfection.
Thank you again, Riley for this story, for this experience, and for giving me a permanent spot on my “6-star shelf.”
February 11, 2026
EMOTIONAL DAMAGE! 😅❤️ thank you so much to #HambrightPR and #RileyPaige for the ARC!
This wrecked me, had me balling my eyes out with a constant need for tissues.
Grief is so strange especially when you’re living with it before a loved one goes, I’ve been there, I’ve felt it.
So this hit home in so many ways.
Sloane was like looking in a mirror and I feel like so many of us are like that these days, just biting back every emotion because control is easier than just simply feeling.
Logan was the literal perfect book boyfriend, that man can do literally no wrong.
Plus he is bossy in the bedroom! 🥵😉
Riley, just know your writing spoke to the broken parts of me and I felt everything you were trying to get across, so thank you!
P.S I will be reading every other book in this series!
❤️❤️❤️
This wrecked me, had me balling my eyes out with a constant need for tissues.
Grief is so strange especially when you’re living with it before a loved one goes, I’ve been there, I’ve felt it.
So this hit home in so many ways.
Sloane was like looking in a mirror and I feel like so many of us are like that these days, just biting back every emotion because control is easier than just simply feeling.
Logan was the literal perfect book boyfriend, that man can do literally no wrong.
Plus he is bossy in the bedroom! 🥵😉
Riley, just know your writing spoke to the broken parts of me and I felt everything you were trying to get across, so thank you!
P.S I will be reading every other book in this series!
❤️❤️❤️
February 18, 2026
Thank you Hambright PR for this E- ARC!
I loved this story.
This might look like a cutesy sports romance, but it is so much more.
Riley Paige knows exactly how to balance a sports romance while giving the story heart and depth.
Her characters have so much detail and development. The only thing I can say about her stories is that they feel real.
This story is about trusting yourself enough to let others love you and take some of the weight off of your shoulders. Sloane faces crushing grief when her father passes away. The author introduces us to Pops and makes his end-of-life story raw, but tender.
This book isn't about all the big moments; it's about all the little ones. It isn't flashy and it isn't grand. It's as simple as getting someone a glass of water after they cry until there are no more tears.
It's a beautiful and heartfelt story about love, loss, and life.
I loved this story.
This might look like a cutesy sports romance, but it is so much more.
Riley Paige knows exactly how to balance a sports romance while giving the story heart and depth.
Her characters have so much detail and development. The only thing I can say about her stories is that they feel real.
This story is about trusting yourself enough to let others love you and take some of the weight off of your shoulders. Sloane faces crushing grief when her father passes away. The author introduces us to Pops and makes his end-of-life story raw, but tender.
This book isn't about all the big moments; it's about all the little ones. It isn't flashy and it isn't grand. It's as simple as getting someone a glass of water after they cry until there are no more tears.
It's a beautiful and heartfelt story about love, loss, and life.
February 12, 2026
Logan loses his NFL future to an injury and heads home feeling completely lost only to fall for Sloane, his best friend’s sister, the girl he was never meant to want and the tension was tensioning
I was obsessed with them so bad
While she’s facing her dad’s cancer battle, he becomes her steady support… and somewhere in the middle of the hard days, feelings turn into something real.
Soft, emotional, and full of “you’re my person” energy ❤️
Tropes: best friend’s sister • injured athlete • small town • healing love
I was obsessed with them so bad
While she’s facing her dad’s cancer battle, he becomes her steady support… and somewhere in the middle of the hard days, feelings turn into something real.
Soft, emotional, and full of “you’re my person” energy ❤️
Tropes: best friend’s sister • injured athlete • small town • healing love
February 16, 2026
This book absolutely ruined me...in such a good way!
This book hit close to home because my dad is a cancer survivor. I felt the same kind of worry and unknowns that Sloane felt.
Logan was the support system Cameron and Sloane needed even though he was working through his own issues. A man who is strong enough to hold all of that is something I want in my life.
Riley did such an amazing job writing about such sensitive subjects like cancer, grief, and loss. It would have been easy to go of the rails or be too traumatic, but she balanced that line well.
This book hit close to home because my dad is a cancer survivor. I felt the same kind of worry and unknowns that Sloane felt.
Logan was the support system Cameron and Sloane needed even though he was working through his own issues. A man who is strong enough to hold all of that is something I want in my life.
Riley did such an amazing job writing about such sensitive subjects like cancer, grief, and loss. It would have been easy to go of the rails or be too traumatic, but she balanced that line well.
February 1, 2026
ARC REVIEW
Firstly I need to say before anyone decides to read this, please read the trigger warnings as there are some hard topics involved.
This book absolutely wrecked me. From the first few chapters I was balling my eyes out. It was so beautifully written, the way Riley has written about grief and the heartbreak that comes from it.
This book hits close to home, as someone whose dad is also going through cancer, the never ending question of when always hangs in the air.
Sloane and Logan, her brothers best friend and the one guy she never thought she could have. When his life was turned upside down due to an injury, he turned to the only place he could call home, his best friends house. Only moving back in meant having to see the one person who has always had his attention and he could never have.
After watching Sloane dad decline and loose his battle to terminal cancer, she shuts her self off to the world and looses herself slowly day by day whilst Logan faces the toughest decision of his life, playing in the nfl and loosing her or loosing his dream.
This book takes you through a roller coaster of emotions as they learn to live and move on with the grief whilst navigating life
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
Thankyou Riley for the early arc of this book
Firstly I need to say before anyone decides to read this, please read the trigger warnings as there are some hard topics involved.
This book absolutely wrecked me. From the first few chapters I was balling my eyes out. It was so beautifully written, the way Riley has written about grief and the heartbreak that comes from it.
This book hits close to home, as someone whose dad is also going through cancer, the never ending question of when always hangs in the air.
Sloane and Logan, her brothers best friend and the one guy she never thought she could have. When his life was turned upside down due to an injury, he turned to the only place he could call home, his best friends house. Only moving back in meant having to see the one person who has always had his attention and he could never have.
After watching Sloane dad decline and loose his battle to terminal cancer, she shuts her self off to the world and looses herself slowly day by day whilst Logan faces the toughest decision of his life, playing in the nfl and loosing her or loosing his dream.
This book takes you through a roller coaster of emotions as they learn to live and move on with the grief whilst navigating life
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
Thankyou Riley for the early arc of this book
Review of advance copy received from Author
Raw, Emotional, Healing & Real.
Book 4 didn't promise sunshine, daisies & rainbows. It promised, heartache, emotions, grit, heart & realness. Logan dealing with his injury from book 3 while he, his best friend & the girl he can't get out of his head (nor heart) deal with the weight of the impending loss of the man who raised them. I've been in Sloane's position myself, many times but nothing hit as hard as my mother. Trying to hold yourself together, to control everything, extensive notes & only feeling true control in the place you work (or in her case sport), that was the the closest description of real life I've come across in a book. It was as if I were Sloane. Having injured a knee (not as extensive as Logan) I've known the therapy needed put in to heal & everything felt real & raw. I'm so happy to have seen the growth from Logan this book. I wanted to throw a punch since book one & seeing the change made my heart happy. While the tears were hard, this series couldn't have ended any other way.
Thank you, Riley & team for the ARC of this book. Can't wait to return to PCU for hockey.
Book 4 didn't promise sunshine, daisies & rainbows. It promised, heartache, emotions, grit, heart & realness. Logan dealing with his injury from book 3 while he, his best friend & the girl he can't get out of his head (nor heart) deal with the weight of the impending loss of the man who raised them. I've been in Sloane's position myself, many times but nothing hit as hard as my mother. Trying to hold yourself together, to control everything, extensive notes & only feeling true control in the place you work (or in her case sport), that was the the closest description of real life I've come across in a book. It was as if I were Sloane. Having injured a knee (not as extensive as Logan) I've known the therapy needed put in to heal & everything felt real & raw. I'm so happy to have seen the growth from Logan this book. I wanted to throw a punch since book one & seeing the change made my heart happy. While the tears were hard, this series couldn't have ended any other way.
Thank you, Riley & team for the ARC of this book. Can't wait to return to PCU for hockey.
February 4, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25 is my true rating. This book is heartbreakingly poignant in tackling the devastating feelings of grief. I love how the MMC supports the FMC in subtle ways that allow her to get what she needs without really knowing it. It’s kind of hard to describe the nuance of the relationship from his perspective. The FMC can be difficult to relate to at times because she uses anger and distance to “cope”, but grief is different for everyone. This is a tough read and the reader should definitely check the trigger warning, but it is very relatable and was well written. There were a few repetitive moments, but I really enjoyed the story.
I received and ARC copy, but am giving my free and honest review.
I received and ARC copy, but am giving my free and honest review.
February 15, 2026
why did i actually cry
i-have-questions
February 19, 2026Per previous books, Logan is, at the least, a huge flirt. At the worst, a huge manwhore. I'm not sure which.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wow, "End Game" by Riley Paige was so beautifully written. The way she describes grief and loss and all of the emotions I felt with my whole chest. Logan and Sloane are everything. I love how Pop's made sure Logan wasn't going to disappear after he was gone because he knew Cameron and Sloane would need him. 😭 This book is raw and real in the best way. Riley is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. ❤️
Logan Brooks is the person the Rhodes family leans on in this tough time. Especially Sloane Rhodes. She won't admit it at first, but Logan is exactly who she needs to help her navigate her grief and loss. He's not trying to fix her, he's just there. Simple gestures such as leaving her a glass of water on her nightstand. He is her constant.
"If I keep moving, nothing can catch me. That's the rule and I'm not going to break it now". Logan
Read it you Love:
-Brother's Best Friend
-Caretaking
-Grief
-He Falls First
-Sports Romance
-Terminal Cancer & Loss of a Parent
*Check Riley's Trigger warnings before reading❤️
Logan Brooks is the person the Rhodes family leans on in this tough time. Especially Sloane Rhodes. She won't admit it at first, but Logan is exactly who she needs to help her navigate her grief and loss. He's not trying to fix her, he's just there. Simple gestures such as leaving her a glass of water on her nightstand. He is her constant.
"If I keep moving, nothing can catch me. That's the rule and I'm not going to break it now". Logan
Read it you Love:
-Brother's Best Friend
-Caretaking
-Grief
-He Falls First
-Sports Romance
-Terminal Cancer & Loss of a Parent
*Check Riley's Trigger warnings before reading❤️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 4, 2026
This was an incredible book of grief after losing a parent to terminal cancer. Both the characters in this book were so likable and understanding of each other. I sobbed the whole time.
February 22, 2026
Be warned: this is not a light sports romance filled with playful banter, sizzling tension, and an enemies-to-lovers arc. This is a story about terminal illness, grief, and the long, painful process of navigating loss. Please read the trigger warnings carefully before going in.
If this type of story is one you resonate with, please read it because Riley writes about grief in such a raw, emotional way and I would rate it higher than I have.
However, based on the blurb, I expected a sports romance with terminal cancer as a subplot and thats why I have rated 3 stars. Instead, the cancer storyline makes up around 80% of the book. At its core, this is a story about Sloane coping with her dad’s terminal brain cancer diagnosis and how she navigates each day.
Playing basketball and controlling everything about her dads care, becomes her coping mechanism, a way to control something when everything else feels like it’s falling apart. She insists she’s fine, hides her emotions, and lashes out at the people closest to her.
The story is told in dual POV (Sloane and Logan). Logan is also dealing with his own struggles — a serious sports injury and the pressure of his future in football. He moves in with Sloane and Cameron (his best friend and Sloane’s brother), and much of the book centers around their shared living situation during this devastating time.
While there is a romance element between Sloane and Logan, it very much felt like a subplot. For me, it lacked depth and emotional payoff. Most of their conversations were short, tense exchanges — often just one or two words — with Sloane snapping at Logan repeatedly.
Example:
Logan - "You okay"
Sloane - "Fine" she snapped.
Sloane only knows how to 'snap' and the word was overused. It became repetitive and made their dynamic feel awkward.
I struggled to connect with Sloane as a character. Grief affects everyone differently, and I understand that anger and withdrawal are valid responses. However, her treatment of Logan felt relentless. Even after they had moved past a hurtful comment he made years earlier, she continued to push him away. I found it difficult to understand what Logan saw in her, especially when his own emotional needs were rarely acknowledged. So many times I just wanted her to pull herself together, seek counselling or therapy, anything at all. I will caveat this by saying my father had cancer 3 years ago which thankfully wasn't terminal and im so grateful that he is still here today so I partly understand the grief in the diagnosis.
Logan’s backstory, particularly his parents not wanting him and how Sloane’s father essentially took him in — had so much potential for emotional depth. Yet his grief over losing a man who had been like a father to him felt largely ignored. The narrative focused heavily on Sloane’s pain, while Logan’s seemed secondary, even though he was sacrificing immensely for her.
One of the most frustrating aspects for me was Logan turning down an NFL opportunity because he didn’t want to leave Sloane during her grief. He worked his entire life toward that dream, and instead of encouraging him to pursue it, Sloane simply allowed him to stay. There was little discussion about what Logan wanted or needed. It made the relationship feel one-sided.
I also found myself wishing Sloane had made more intentional memories with her dad after his diagnosis — taking photos, spending meaningful time together. Grief looks different for everyone, but it felt like those opportunities were missed both in the story and emotionally on the page.
The book is long, and at times the writing felt repetitive, particularly Logan constantly checking on Sloane and doing things for her, while receiving very little in return. Its very stop/start, lots of short sentences which detracted me from the story however I understand this was for effect.
Overall, this is a heavy, grief-centered story rather than a romance. If you go in expecting an emotional exploration of terminal illness and loss, you may appreciate it more than I did.
Unfortunately, the imbalance in the relationship dynamics and not being able to gel with Sloane, made it a difficult read for me.
Thank you Hambright PR for this ARC.
If this type of story is one you resonate with, please read it because Riley writes about grief in such a raw, emotional way and I would rate it higher than I have.
However, based on the blurb, I expected a sports romance with terminal cancer as a subplot and thats why I have rated 3 stars. Instead, the cancer storyline makes up around 80% of the book. At its core, this is a story about Sloane coping with her dad’s terminal brain cancer diagnosis and how she navigates each day.
Playing basketball and controlling everything about her dads care, becomes her coping mechanism, a way to control something when everything else feels like it’s falling apart. She insists she’s fine, hides her emotions, and lashes out at the people closest to her.
The story is told in dual POV (Sloane and Logan). Logan is also dealing with his own struggles — a serious sports injury and the pressure of his future in football. He moves in with Sloane and Cameron (his best friend and Sloane’s brother), and much of the book centers around their shared living situation during this devastating time.
While there is a romance element between Sloane and Logan, it very much felt like a subplot. For me, it lacked depth and emotional payoff. Most of their conversations were short, tense exchanges — often just one or two words — with Sloane snapping at Logan repeatedly.
Example:
Logan - "You okay"
Sloane - "Fine" she snapped.
Sloane only knows how to 'snap' and the word was overused. It became repetitive and made their dynamic feel awkward.
I struggled to connect with Sloane as a character. Grief affects everyone differently, and I understand that anger and withdrawal are valid responses. However, her treatment of Logan felt relentless. Even after they had moved past a hurtful comment he made years earlier, she continued to push him away. I found it difficult to understand what Logan saw in her, especially when his own emotional needs were rarely acknowledged. So many times I just wanted her to pull herself together, seek counselling or therapy, anything at all. I will caveat this by saying my father had cancer 3 years ago which thankfully wasn't terminal and im so grateful that he is still here today so I partly understand the grief in the diagnosis.
Logan’s backstory, particularly his parents not wanting him and how Sloane’s father essentially took him in — had so much potential for emotional depth. Yet his grief over losing a man who had been like a father to him felt largely ignored. The narrative focused heavily on Sloane’s pain, while Logan’s seemed secondary, even though he was sacrificing immensely for her.
One of the most frustrating aspects for me was Logan turning down an NFL opportunity because he didn’t want to leave Sloane during her grief. He worked his entire life toward that dream, and instead of encouraging him to pursue it, Sloane simply allowed him to stay. There was little discussion about what Logan wanted or needed. It made the relationship feel one-sided.
I also found myself wishing Sloane had made more intentional memories with her dad after his diagnosis — taking photos, spending meaningful time together. Grief looks different for everyone, but it felt like those opportunities were missed both in the story and emotionally on the page.
The book is long, and at times the writing felt repetitive, particularly Logan constantly checking on Sloane and doing things for her, while receiving very little in return. Its very stop/start, lots of short sentences which detracted me from the story however I understand this was for effect.
Overall, this is a heavy, grief-centered story rather than a romance. If you go in expecting an emotional exploration of terminal illness and loss, you may appreciate it more than I did.
Unfortunately, the imbalance in the relationship dynamics and not being able to gel with Sloane, made it a difficult read for me.
Thank you Hambright PR for this ARC.
February 19, 2026
When love feels like another goodbye
5 ⭐️ | 3 🌶️
I don’t even know how to start this review without tearing up all over again.
End Game, the fourth instalment in the PCU Storm series, was my very first book by Riley Paige and OH. MY. GOD. I was not emotionally prepared. Not even close. I cried like a baby; the ugly, gasping, put-the-book-down-and-stare-at-the-wall kind of cry.
This story wrecked me in the quietest, most devastating way.
Logan Brooks had his whole future mapped out: NFL dreams, scholarship, the plan. Until one brutal accident on the field rips it all away. Suddenly he’s back in the only place that’s ever felt like home: his best friend’s house. The same house where Sloane Rhodes lives. The girl he’s loved in silence for years. The girl he absolutely cannot have.
And Sloane? She’s barely holding it together. Her dad’s cancer is back. Aggressive. Unforgiving. She copes the only way she knows how: routines, practice, lists, control. Anything to outrun the inevitable. Anything to avoid feeling the grief creeping in before the loss has even happened.
And then Logan moves back in.
Brother’s best friend.
Forced proximity.
Caretaking.
He falls first.
Sports romance wrapped in anticipatory grief.
But this book? It’s so much more than tropes.
It’s about loving someone while bracing yourself to lose them. It’s about what happens after the dream dies. It’s about how grief doesn’t wait for funerals: it starts the moment you realize something is slipping through your fingers.
Logan is everything. Soft but strong. Steady but scared. Watching him balance his own shattered future while trying to be Sloane’s anchor absolutely broke me. The way he loves her (quietly, patiently, fiercely) is devastating in the best way.
And Sloane… she is raw. She is messy. She is spiraling and surviving at the same time. Her grief feels real. Heavy. Suffocating. The kind that sits on your chest and refuses to move.
Their chemistry? Undeniable. There’s tension that simmers for chapters. The spice is there and it’s good; intimate, emotional, meaningful but honestly? That’s not what makes this book unforgettable. It’s the emotional intimacy. The way they cling to each other like lifelines in a storm.
This is a thick book, and it took me over four days to finish because:
1. She’s hefty.
2. My heart needed recovery breaks.
It’s raw. It’s deep. It’s soul-crushing. It’s about life after loss, love after loss, and choosing to stay when walking away might hurt less. I closed this book feeling hollowed out but hopeful.
Thank you to Hambright PR for the e-ARC, and congratulations to Riley Paige on this incredible February 12th release. If this was my first Riley Paige book, it absolutely will not be my last.
If you’re ready for something that will hurt you and heal you in the same breath: this is it.
5 ⭐️ | 3 🌶️
I don’t even know how to start this review without tearing up all over again.
End Game, the fourth instalment in the PCU Storm series, was my very first book by Riley Paige and OH. MY. GOD. I was not emotionally prepared. Not even close. I cried like a baby; the ugly, gasping, put-the-book-down-and-stare-at-the-wall kind of cry.
This story wrecked me in the quietest, most devastating way.
Logan Brooks had his whole future mapped out: NFL dreams, scholarship, the plan. Until one brutal accident on the field rips it all away. Suddenly he’s back in the only place that’s ever felt like home: his best friend’s house. The same house where Sloane Rhodes lives. The girl he’s loved in silence for years. The girl he absolutely cannot have.
And Sloane? She’s barely holding it together. Her dad’s cancer is back. Aggressive. Unforgiving. She copes the only way she knows how: routines, practice, lists, control. Anything to outrun the inevitable. Anything to avoid feeling the grief creeping in before the loss has even happened.
And then Logan moves back in.
Brother’s best friend.
Forced proximity.
Caretaking.
He falls first.
Sports romance wrapped in anticipatory grief.
But this book? It’s so much more than tropes.
It’s about loving someone while bracing yourself to lose them. It’s about what happens after the dream dies. It’s about how grief doesn’t wait for funerals: it starts the moment you realize something is slipping through your fingers.
Logan is everything. Soft but strong. Steady but scared. Watching him balance his own shattered future while trying to be Sloane’s anchor absolutely broke me. The way he loves her (quietly, patiently, fiercely) is devastating in the best way.
And Sloane… she is raw. She is messy. She is spiraling and surviving at the same time. Her grief feels real. Heavy. Suffocating. The kind that sits on your chest and refuses to move.
Their chemistry? Undeniable. There’s tension that simmers for chapters. The spice is there and it’s good; intimate, emotional, meaningful but honestly? That’s not what makes this book unforgettable. It’s the emotional intimacy. The way they cling to each other like lifelines in a storm.
This is a thick book, and it took me over four days to finish because:
1. She’s hefty.
2. My heart needed recovery breaks.
It’s raw. It’s deep. It’s soul-crushing. It’s about life after loss, love after loss, and choosing to stay when walking away might hurt less. I closed this book feeling hollowed out but hopeful.
Thank you to Hambright PR for the e-ARC, and congratulations to Riley Paige on this incredible February 12th release. If this was my first Riley Paige book, it absolutely will not be my last.
If you’re ready for something that will hurt you and heal you in the same breath: this is it.
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