Pineapple Theory: A winter sports novella

by Leah Merrill

Genres: Short Stories, Sports Romance

67 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 8, 2026

Reviews

[Kristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pineapple Theory by Leah Merrill
A Winter Sports Novella

Reagan is keen to meet Luke and as they say don’t meet your heroes. At first meeting Luke is a sleaze who just hits on her. Honestly Luke barely manages to redeem himself by the end of this.

Witty banter between the two. We learn a lot about Reagan and what she is doing to build her career.

Ski Mountain location, Winter Olympic MMC, Influencer FMC, Spice

Thanks to BookSirens and Leah Merrill for the ARC, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Kai (CuriousCompass) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute but kinda a throwback to the 2010/2012 era of romance where sexual assault was flirting if he's hot enough and an author's idea of male POV is just 'swears a lot, is ruled by horniness' which sometimes works and sometimes doesn't. Here it veered back and forth. There were times I genuinely thought she should push Luke off the mountain and be done with it but he did win me over in the end and I liked that the conflict/drama wasn't overly wrought out. The final scenes were the best, with the way Luke made things right in the big third act romantic gesture.

I don't know anything about skiing or snowboarding so I assume the details about it are all correct because how would I even know? The skinny dipping scene was cute and funny, and Reagan was very likable! I'd take an entire novel about her, her tenacity and work ethic were cool.

Mostly I found Pineapple Theory to be silly and a little outdated, but it has a playful, nostalgic, and kinda quaint charm to it, and the setting is so vivid, it all just kind of works more than it should. You know what you're getting into with this kind of story; sports romance, alphahole, banter, that sort of thing, and this one certainly delivers on that package readers are looking for.

That said although I mostly enjoyed this as fluffy, overly horny romance, I gotta say, it also has the most diabolical line I've ever read in a sex scene:

She reaches up with her entire body to kiss me back, wrapping her arms around me like a horny koala. Like....bro.... T.T

Thanks for the author and BookSirens for providing me a review copy!

[Morally_Gray_Nola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh ho-ho, Luke—Such a scamp! Almost didn’t make it to the redeemers table. Super close to being labeled a ‘himbo’. lol

I love Leah Merrill’s mafioso famiglia books. This one is so different, but so freaking good! Luke and Reagan are oil and water at first—and it’s all. Luke’s. fault. Hahaha He has some groveling to do. Some eye-opening. Some listening. Some major making-things-right. Awesome read. *** Recommended ***

MMC:
✨Luke
FMC:
✨Reagan
HEA/Cliffhanger:
✨HEA
Tropes:
👉ski mountain romance
👉cocky Olympic mmc
👉rivalry as foreplay
👉’snow bunny’ has skills
👉he falls first
👉groveling mmc
Triggers:
💥18+
💥sex
💥profanity
Spice Level:
✨🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
✨MF.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[╰⊱♥⊱╮ღ꧁Kathy,Ahmazing Book Faerie꧂ღ╭⊱♥≺ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an ARC read from the author through Book sirens.

This is a superfast read, and if you like real genuine Aholes, then Luke will not fail you!!
I did not like him at all! I supposed he redeemed himself in the end, but boy, what a jerk.
I truly felt for Reagan and the way Luke treated her, all because he thought he was Sh!t hot.
Great wee story, with a MMC youll love to hate on.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow...talk about a total game changer for me! I usually approach novellas with some lower expectations. I normally find myself reviewing short stories and wishing for more depth, feeling like the character connections weren't quite believable due to the length. Pineapple Theory was the complete opposite! If you sign yp for Leah Merrill's newsletter you can get this novella too!

Despite being a quick 64 page winter sports novella, you could feel all the emotions between the characters. I could  feel the mmc Luke’s feelings shifting as the story continued. The attraction between him and the fmc Reagan wasn't just told to the reader it was felt. Of course, I still wished for more pages because I loved these characters even the side character, Theo, caught my interest.
I loved how strong, independent, and determined Reagan is. She knows her worth and takes no crap from any of the guys. In her first meeting with the famous Luke, she didn't want what most girls did, she wanted his advice. Luke of course was the typical famous arrogant jerk at the beginning, but as the story progressed his true nature came out. I loved their back and forth banter.
So much happened in such a short amount of time that it kept me flipping the pages. I highly recommend this one! It’s a quick read with some spice that proves you don't need a massive page count to make it a good  story.

[Malini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Women empowerment by MeemsAngel82

This was set in the skiing world and was interesting and entertaining. The entire cast caught my attention and I appreciated strong woman not giving up on her talents. I give her credit for being strong and keeping her chin up despite the sad hookup mentality our H was interested in at first.

That's what she set out to do woman empowerment, believing that a woman can do anything they set their mind to. However, she did idolize him until he opened his mouth.

She was strong and confident and had gotten some bad experiences because of her gender. He was a typical player and that wasn't ok. He had more glimpses of her and realized just how amazing she was and still didn't learn until he did something careless that would harm her up and coming career. I didn't like him at first but saw that he had potential and did care for her. I didn't care for him hooking up with others during the time he met her and wish we got more of an ending. Also I know nothing about her job, but it is on her bosses her dressing the way she had to? I hope that Theo gets a book, I am guessing, hoping that he is a sweetheart. It sure seems like it and loved how he stood up for her against her own H. Entertaining and smart writing, steamy as well. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Angie McArthur · Rating 5 out of 5]

☝🏼 That 5 ⭐ rating is a huge compliment from me. I rarely give free novella's more than 2.5-3⭐'s. I read them with caution because many of them are a little disappointing. But NOT this one. It captured my attention from the first few pages. The MMC is a walking douche canoe with an inflated athlete celebrity ego who gets knocked down several pegs by the FMC. The FMC knows her self worth and is confident in that. She doesn't provide attention to the MMC in the way he expects or is usually given. He ends up respecting her and as well as her skills on the pipe. Of course, he ends up sabotaging their budding relationship and had to find a way to remedy that problem in a very public display. He did it with grace and not arrogance.

I think what stands out the most for me in this novella is that you feel what the MC's are feeling. That's rare and, I'm sure, it's difficult to do within the few pages of the novella. Well done. I wasn't aware of this author before this novella. I'm definitely going to read more from her going forward.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pineapple Theory by Leah Merrill

I love sports romance and I love novellas combine that with Leah’s writing and I knew I would enjoy this.
Oh man Luke really starts out with a bang on his one liners, with his cocky super star personality being alive and well! This was a super fun and quick story. I loved the girl energy from Reagan and the make it right that Luke gives only after he royally messes up.

If you enjoy any of these and need something fun and light that is under 100 pages. This is for you. Available now on Amazon.

He falls first
Cocky Olympic hero
Snow bunny trope—flipped
Rivalry as foreplay
One very bad margarita idea
Hero screws up spectacularly
She takes the win

[Aleksandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sports romance + novella length + Leah Merrillse? I was in immediately—and this did not disappoint. Luke Branson storms onto the page with peak cocky superstar energy and some truly bold one-liners. He’s the self-absorbed, hot-shot king of the mountain… until Reagan Owens shows up and completely wrecks his assumptions.

Reagan’s confidence and girl-power energy are everything. She gets under Luke’s skin in the best way, and watching her check his ego (repeatedly) is so much fun. Their banter is sharp, their chemistry is fire, and when Luke royally messes up, the grovel and “make it right” moments absolutely deliver.

Short, spicy, and ridiculously entertaining, this under-100-page read is perfect if you want something quick, flirty, and full of winter heat. 4.5 stars!

[Crystal Grimshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an interesting novella. Luke is the cocky, self absorbed, playboy, hot shot on the mountain. I love that he had all the wrong ideas about Reagan despite his friends mentioning how she is his dream girl. She gets under his skin and it is so much fun to watch. I loved Leah’s mafia books and had no idea what to expect with this story. But I was not disappointed. Luke and Reagan are fire together and their banter is incredible. Reagan has no problem checking Luke’s ego which only makes him more desperate for her. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Short, spicy and fun!

[Patricia Monica Provost · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reagan Owens and Luke Branson 🥰

This was so fun to read!!! Anything from Leah Merrill is great!!!

Reagan and Luke story was amazingly entertaining! False conception is the best way to describe their relationship. Luke is a man she is looking for to help her being better as an athlete, he just wants her 😂😂 But as the story goes, Luke will learned that look can be deceiving and when that happens, his views for her changed in a very good way!!!

It was short, sweet and funny!! If you never read anything from Leah, you better start now because her main series The Famiglia is even better!!!
5⭐️

[Johanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Then Luke proves he’s an absolute idiot by hijacking the spotlight that was supposed to be hers.
If he thought winning Olympic gold was hard, just wait until he tries to win Reagan back.'

Groveling? Yes, please!

The characters were very appealing and likeable and complicated and perfectly steamy together. Plot was intriguing and exciting and well paced. World building was excellent and impressive. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.

Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nathalie DeSousa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great short spicy funny romance story and you will love the struggle between the main characters all through the book,

Luke is the big shot of the mountain, cocky, full of himself, a playboy. When Reagan goes for advice from him, he confuses her with a hook up. That turns them into enemies, and be ready for the banter they use to hide their attraction which just settles deeper between them. The groveling is just perfection, the passion consuming, and the love is earned

A great read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun, short read involving a self-absorbed male athlete who turns out to be not so bad when he atones for his immature choice that hurts the FMC. Speaking of the FMC, she is strong and gives the MMC a run for his money. This was exactly what I was looking for in a short story, which included chemistry, miscommunication, sports, and character development.

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

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5
It was okay, very skin deep, could have been better if the Reagan character had been fleshed out and her 'empowering girls' focus was more in play, and some description of the beautiful ski location/mountains would have been nice.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Debbie Benson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. I admire Reagan's dedication to the sport. Admittedly Luke and Reagan's first meetings were not good and neither was how he got back at her. They hook up and truly talk before she finds out. I really liked how Luke made everything up to her so they could be together.

[Ellis Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wonder if the theory is correct?
Great, quick read. It brighten my day.
This story does prove that you should never underestimate a book by its cover.. I speak of the characters. (not the actual cover. I may need to take up skiing)

[Roxi X · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well...

Luke is a tool and Ray should have made him pay for it.

She forgave him too soon the first time, then even faster the second. I get that this is a novella but C'MON. He was a complete AH and she's all, ok because he's hot? SHE IS TOO!

[Sinful Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast past, no big plot to this novella. It’s spicy, and the heat between these two rivals is hot, but at the same time, they want each other. Ray and Luke have a kind of playful teasing that I loved reading.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This funny, sexy sports novella is a very enjoyable, entertaining read. Meeting your idol can be a real disappointment, just ask Reagan. Luke is completely full of himself at the beginning but his mistaken assumptions about Reagan give him a badly needed wakeup call. The chemistry between them is genuine. The ski competition setting, the interesting characters, and great writing really made this story come to life.

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

[Lawwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reagan and Luke blazed from the very start and I loved every moment.
🎿🍍📹
FMC is a hard working total baddie that isn’t willing to compromise her morals to get where she wants to be.