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Over the Net
College Sports Romance | Black Romance | Novella
Charli Monroe has spent six years being somebody's girlfriend, until six months ago. Now, days out from the biggest match of her college volleyball career, she's finally learned how to just be Charli.
Trey Daniels has spent six years falling harder for the same girl. With the NFL Draft closing in and one last college championship to chase, all he wants is the love of his life back.
With NCAA titles on the line and professional careers closing in fast, Charli and Trey have a few days to figure out if they've truly cracked the formula to loving each other without losing each other in the process. Over the Net is a sweet, steamy college sports Black romance novella featuring second chances, high school sweethearts turned college athletes, self-discovery, and forced proximity.
Charli Monroe has spent six years being somebody's girlfriend, until six months ago. Now, days out from the biggest match of her college volleyball career, she's finally learned how to just be Charli.
Trey Daniels has spent six years falling harder for the same girl. With the NFL Draft closing in and one last college championship to chase, all he wants is the love of his life back.
With NCAA titles on the line and professional careers closing in fast, Charli and Trey have a few days to figure out if they've truly cracked the formula to loving each other without losing each other in the process. Over the Net is a sweet, steamy college sports Black romance novella featuring second chances, high school sweethearts turned college athletes, self-discovery, and forced proximity.
70 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 28, 2026
About the author
Lauren Lacey
19 books352 followers I’m a small-town romance author and mom of three, always juggling family life and deadlines. I write love stories filled with supportive friend groups, real-life challenges, and happily ever afters that feel earned. I’m based in Atlanta, where Southern sunsets and everyday moments inspire the stories I tell. When I’m not writing, you’ll usually find me watching soccer with my family, driving my daughters to dance, staying up late binge-watching shows, hauling my son to chess club, or rooting for the Georgia Bulldogs.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
September 4, 2026
Over the net was a smashing good time
The idea for this story was super cool. Two athletes competing in different sports who learned to cheer loudest for one another. Yes, they were in a relationship and agreed to be apart...... But we all knew that was not a solid plan. Their chemistry was too great to fight their inevitable plan.
The idea for this story was super cool. Two athletes competing in different sports who learned to cheer loudest for one another. Yes, they were in a relationship and agreed to be apart...... But we all knew that was not a solid plan. Their chemistry was too great to fight their inevitable plan.
August 29, 2026
2 athletes , one college love story
Adding this to my favorite novella reads of the year. This gave me all the feels and reminded me of being in love in your early 20s.
Charlie & Trey are high school sweethearts, both athletes and dominant in their respective sports. Charlie is a volleyball player while Trey is a prospect for the NFL draft. With them always being with each other, Charlie decides they should break up for 6 months to find themselves outside of each other. Can they survive the break?
I love seeing Charlie learn to do things on her own outside of a relationship, but also loved the build up to them seeing each other again. They always say if it’s meant to be it will always come back to you. I could feel their love off the pages and their story felt complete even it being 70 pages. It was the pre game tradition for me loved every minute of it. It’s one of those stories where you want to see where they are in the future. This was a beautiful story of two young people loving each other and choosing each other, even if that means taking time apart.
Adding this to my favorite novella reads of the year. This gave me all the feels and reminded me of being in love in your early 20s.
Charlie & Trey are high school sweethearts, both athletes and dominant in their respective sports. Charlie is a volleyball player while Trey is a prospect for the NFL draft. With them always being with each other, Charlie decides they should break up for 6 months to find themselves outside of each other. Can they survive the break?
I love seeing Charlie learn to do things on her own outside of a relationship, but also loved the build up to them seeing each other again. They always say if it’s meant to be it will always come back to you. I could feel their love off the pages and their story felt complete even it being 70 pages. It was the pre game tradition for me loved every minute of it. It’s one of those stories where you want to see where they are in the future. This was a beautiful story of two young people loving each other and choosing each other, even if that means taking time apart.
August 28, 2026
Who are you, really?
Always love anything written by Lauren Lacey! This novella touched on an important topic that I think a lot of young adults can relate to. Really, anyone. When you’ve spent so much of your life as a partner to someone (in any capacity) so much of who you are is tied to how Y’ALL are as a whole. Charli did what was best for her and gave herself time to be sure she could stand on her own while also still getting to have everything she worked hard for and had invested in. Volleyball and her relationship. Sometimes it’s not one or the other, but finding a healthy balance so that each part of you (and your partner) is fulfilled and whole. Love shouldn’t feel like a sacrifice of yourself or your dreams. I’m glad both Trey and Charli gained clarity taking that time apart that they didn’t necessarily want, but needed.
Always love anything written by Lauren Lacey! This novella touched on an important topic that I think a lot of young adults can relate to. Really, anyone. When you’ve spent so much of your life as a partner to someone (in any capacity) so much of who you are is tied to how Y’ALL are as a whole. Charli did what was best for her and gave herself time to be sure she could stand on her own while also still getting to have everything she worked hard for and had invested in. Volleyball and her relationship. Sometimes it’s not one or the other, but finding a healthy balance so that each part of you (and your partner) is fulfilled and whole. Love shouldn’t feel like a sacrifice of yourself or your dreams. I’m glad both Trey and Charli gained clarity taking that time apart that they didn’t necessarily want, but needed.
September 7, 2026
Love is patient
It’s easy to become so wrapped up in someone when you’re in love. You don’t where you begin and where he ends once you have immersed yourself into the world of the both of you. Charli recognizing she needs to figure out who she is without being aligned to Trey had to be the best self preservation and sacrifice I have read in a romance. While she loved him beyond measure she knew she needed her own identity for their love to remain healthy and flourishing. Trey being a gentleman abided by her request and discovered he needed to take the same path as well. If love is meant to be then it will return when the time is right and that’s exactly what happened with Over the Net.
It’s easy to become so wrapped up in someone when you’re in love. You don’t where you begin and where he ends once you have immersed yourself into the world of the both of you. Charli recognizing she needs to figure out who she is without being aligned to Trey had to be the best self preservation and sacrifice I have read in a romance. While she loved him beyond measure she knew she needed her own identity for their love to remain healthy and flourishing. Trey being a gentleman abided by her request and discovered he needed to take the same path as well. If love is meant to be then it will return when the time is right and that’s exactly what happened with Over the Net.
September 4, 2026
Somewhat of a second chance romance FMC Charli and MMC Trey are high school sweethearts. She is the captian all star volleyball player headed to team USA and he is the captain all star football player headed to the NFL. She decides they need to split so they can start making decisions based off personal preferences rather than the relationship. They o lot last 6 months but learn what they need to learn.
Favorite quote is: “Time apart has helped me realize that the I doesn’t have to disappear just because there’s a we.” And that describes the plot perfectly.
Favorite quote is: “Time apart has helped me realize that the I doesn’t have to disappear just because there’s a we.” And that describes the plot perfectly.
September 7, 2026
I really appreciated that we got to truly know the FMC Charlie and see her character develop before we even heard from the MMC Trey. It made me feel so much more invested in her and her why behind the break.
It was also refreshing to read about a couple taking a break and then reconnecting their way back to each other. It wasn’t just an instant “we’re back together” we actually got to see some of the work and emotions behind it.
And I loved how the ending brought everything full circle and mirrored how they originally got together. Such a cute way to wrap up their story!
It was also refreshing to read about a couple taking a break and then reconnecting their way back to each other. It wasn’t just an instant “we’re back together” we actually got to see some of the work and emotions behind it.
And I loved how the ending brought everything full circle and mirrored how they originally got together. Such a cute way to wrap up their story!
September 4, 2026
A High School Sweetheart’s Dream
Over the Net proves that when the love is real it’ll come back to you tenfold! Trey and Charli are the epitome of the high school sweetheart romance that we all desired. Their bright futures as professional athletes don’t derail the true love that was always meant to be. Time apart and self reflection allows them to earn a new found respect for one another and it shows that there is no true test that they can’t overcome
Over the Net proves that when the love is real it’ll come back to you tenfold! Trey and Charli are the epitome of the high school sweetheart romance that we all desired. Their bright futures as professional athletes don’t derail the true love that was always meant to be. Time apart and self reflection allows them to earn a new found respect for one another and it shows that there is no true test that they can’t overcome
September 8, 2026
Two elite athletes pursuing their dreams and supporting one another. Charli the volleyball champion and Trey the heisman football champion. I was completely invested from Chapter 1. I love that Charli is realizing at such a young age the importance of having her own self identity outside of a relationship with Trey and helping them both to focus on their athletic goals rather than what they want from the relationship. Can they accomplish both?
September 13, 2026
charli & trey 🥰
I fell in love with this story because it showed that loving someone isn’t always enough if you don’t know who you are outside of being a couple.
Charli knew that Trey was the love of her life but somehow she made Trey her life. She wanted to know who she was as individual after operating as a “we” or an “us” for so long.
This book highlights how women can thrive wholly and completely while being in love.
Oh and shout out to the pre game prep 🙃😉
I fell in love with this story because it showed that loving someone isn’t always enough if you don’t know who you are outside of being a couple.
Charli knew that Trey was the love of her life but somehow she made Trey her life. She wanted to know who she was as individual after operating as a “we” or an “us” for so long.
This book highlights how women can thrive wholly and completely while being in love.
Oh and shout out to the pre game prep 🙃😉
September 5, 2026
Charlie and Trey
Sports Romance is my absolute favorite genre. This novella was short, sweet, and all the things to make a perfect sports romance. Charlie and Trey were high school sweethearts, and now, years later, they both still love hard. They both wanted the same thing but also needed to know who they were individually. Overall, a good read.
Sports Romance is my absolute favorite genre. This novella was short, sweet, and all the things to make a perfect sports romance. Charlie and Trey were high school sweethearts, and now, years later, they both still love hard. They both wanted the same thing but also needed to know who they were individually. Overall, a good read.
September 5, 2026
quick and sweet
I love this book focusing on young love and the awareness Charli had in making sure she knew who she was while also loving her soulmate. This book was a great quick read and I would definitely love a follow up!
I love this book focusing on young love and the awareness Charli had in making sure she knew who she was while also loving her soulmate. This book was a great quick read and I would definitely love a follow up!
September 5, 2026
“Find the I in We” This was a beautiful, quick read! Two young people who are successful in their own right have to find the balance. Who are you when you’re not a partner? As short of a read this was, I still was nervous about what would happen. What a nice surprise.
September 6, 2026
I actually was not expecting to like this book but I am so glad to be proven wrong. I’m usually not a second chance kinda girl but this was such a cute story. I love that it shows how difficult it can be being someone’s girlfriend & that becoming your whole personality. But Trey was super supportive and I loved that so much! & they just nasty!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2026
Trey and Charlie never should have broken up!
Trey and Charlie never should have been apart but I do understand why Charlie needed to find herself before the real world hit. The Pre-game Prep *chef’s kiss* but the photo shoot omg soo good!
Trey and Charlie never should have been apart but I do understand why Charlie needed to find herself before the real world hit. The Pre-game Prep *chef’s kiss* but the photo shoot omg soo good!
September 12, 2026
"I’ve learned that loving someone who truly loves me back doesn’t mean becoming less so they can become more. I get to chase my own dreams and cheer for theirs just as loudly."
There was no denying the chemistry between Charli and Trey. I appreciate that Trey (somewhat) respected Charli's rules and boundaries while still finding ways to support what matters to her while she figured out who she was outside of their relationship.
There was no denying the chemistry between Charli and Trey. I appreciate that Trey (somewhat) respected Charli's rules and boundaries while still finding ways to support what matters to her while she figured out who she was outside of their relationship.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2026
MMC that loves hard
4.5 stars. I really enjoyed this book. Trey and charli was so cute! Very quick and *spicy* read!! I might need a longer book.
4.5 stars. I really enjoyed this book. Trey and charli was so cute! Very quick and *spicy* read!! I might need a longer book.
August 28, 2026
This book was short, fun, and surprisingly nasty! ;) Charli and Trey were adorable.
August 30, 2026
It was a short and cute read. I'm breezing through the others in the series right now!
August 30, 2026
Another great one! Though it was short, I really felt like I knew the characters. It gave enough backstory while still moving forward. I also enjoyed the spice!!!!
August 30, 2026
Trey is NASTY! No wonder why Charli was obsessed with her man. Lol. Thoroughy enjoyed!
September 7, 2026
This was cute. It didn’t go how I predicted which was a good thing. I’m glad they got their HEA because they deserved it!
September 12, 2026
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars!
September 13, 2026
"What about us?"
"What about you?"
My favorite part was how supportive Trey was of Charli's need to fine herself. They were so precious.
"What about you?"
My favorite part was how supportive Trey was of Charli's need to fine herself. They were so precious.
September 4, 2026
Over the Net is a sweet and heartfelt sports romance about love and self-discovery. My favorite scene was the photoshoot with Trey...thats all I will say to not spoil it but, their connection felt genuine, loving, and supportive. I especially loved how Charli realized that being in love doesn't mean giving up your own dreams. The story shows that healthy relationships allow both people to grow while cheering each other on. Overall, this was a quick, enjoyable read with a meaningful message about love and individuality.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews