The Snap

by Max Harte

Genres: M M Romance

672 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication October 22, 2026

Reviews

[Chelsea]

ai slop slopped HARD here
So squelchy 💦


And there are receipts. Don’t come for me 🤭💖

[Tiff Reads and Rambles]

PSA: An ARC obligates me to be honest. It does not obligate me to rate this 4 or 5 stars. Please don’t come at me like the last time I left a one star ARC review.

I need to be fully transparent. When Max first brought up the idea of writing a book, I was ecstatic. He had a small following of people that encouraged him to take that leap of faith. I was one of them. Throughout his writing process, I was able to read a few chapters at a time (2 or 3 each week). I have to admit, I enjoyed the read, the few chapters at a time.

Once he finished the book, he made a shit ton of edits and I told him I needed to read the book from start to finish before I could properly review. Because let’s face it, reading something a few chapters at a time over a period of months does not provide the full picture.

That said, I started reading this book on September 21 and I tried every single day to keep reading it until I finally gave up at 20 percent. I seriously could only get thru a half chapter a day. This book is filled with insane prose that took me tf out of the story. Whether an impossible to solve metaphor or a sentence always ending in three things, I was left staring at each page asking myself “what the fuck does that mean?”. (Ps please don’t judge my punctuation…I have no idea if a question mark or period belong in that last sentence so I put both).

Here are some of my favorite quotes that left me scratching my head:

I hate him so much I could build a cathedral out of it and still have enough left to light the candles in hell. (The fuck is this?)

Every sports account in Texas spent the summer treating our shared roster like the opening round of a small war.

It’s torque, noise, and bad decisions wearing headlights.

Anybody passing us would think the night rolled off him clean, but we both know better. (I’m not smart enough for this sentence)

One tiny factual line says everything, because why waste punctuation on disappointment when expectation does the job for free? (I actually have no idea)

I clap and step into the huddle because that’s what I do when my internal life becomes a haunted porn theater with scholarship implications. (Thank you, next)

Assistant offensive-line coach, professional footwork terrorist, firm believer that pad level tells God whether a man deserves dignity. (Hey Google, what does this mean?)

Dexter Boyd lined up across from us like training camp got bored and built a personal vendetta out of muscle, eye black, and bad intentions. (Always the threes)

Listen, I have NO idea what an AI tell is so I won’t make that accusation. I will simply say this book wasn’t for me. I have now read zero books this month and will wallow in my hidey hole for the next 48 hours. Manifesting a brain reboot ASAP.

[Chelsea]

Arc Review

This book just wasn't good. I was so lost in all the verbiage and run on sentences. There were weird metaphors that were super confusing and just didn't make any sense. I'm also convinced it's ai written but obviously I don't have any way to confirm that. Just overall a very long, monotone, and more often than not odd sayings and explanation that didn't make sense and completely pulled me out of the book as a reader.

[Michelle Exploringwithchapters]

This is a 6 star read. This book was outstanding. I absolutely fell in love with these characters, and Max's writing style. They details put into his writing make you feel like you are in the story, it is so vivid and real. So many aspects of Dexter's personality traits and backstory touched me so deeply. I read this book not wanting it to end, and thinking about how I would re read this, and maybe annotate it so I could spend more time in this space. This blended a sports romance with spice and heat that made me feel the commitment between Dexter and Bryce more than I have in any other story. It was so beautiful. The passion, the caretaking, the protectiveness, the vulnerable moments, this book just gave me everything.

I have already purchased this and can't wait to upload my highlights to good reads.

More to come!
"Come on baby, let's go home." I get in because home sounds exactly right.
"I'm thankful I got brought home twice".... I cried all through Thanksgiving.

[Isabelle]

ARC review

This book has a premise that I genuinely think could have worked for me. Unfortunately, I ultimately couldn’t finish it. The writing frequently relies on unusual sentence structures and metaphors that either felt misplaced or simply didn’t make sense to me, and eventually they pulled me out of the story too often to continue.

I also have concerns about some of the visual and creative elements surrounding the book. While I cannot say with certainty that AI was used, and the author has credited an artist for the cover, the cover strongly resembles AI generated imagery to me. I’m completely open to being wrong about that, but I also find it difficult to dismiss the possibility that AI imagery may have been used somewhere in the process, such as for a mockup or reference.

Beyond the cover itself, certain typography choices, formatting within the book, and the layouts used in the author’s marketing materials share characteristics I’ve repeatedly seen from AI content. None of those things individually prove AI involvement, and I don’t want to present suspicion as fact. However, taken together, the similarities were noticeable enough that I couldn’t simply ignore them.

Ultimately, between the writing not working for me and the concerns I had surrounding the creative presentation of the book, I decided not to finish it.

[HappilyEverReader]

5⭐️🏈🔥

I LOVE a good sports romance, and The Snap absolutely DELIVERED. 👏🏼 And the fact that this is a debut novel?! Excuse me?! 🤯Because the writing, the descriptive prose, the football scenes that made me feel like I was ON the football field, the tension, the emotional connection, AND the spice?! This book has everything I want in a romance.

And let's talk about the spice? FIVE. ALARM. HOT. 🥵🔥 But what I loved most was that it was also sweet, tender, and actually served a purpose in Bryce and Dex’s relationship. It never felt like spice just for the sake of spice. And the dirty talk had me BLUSHING. 👀
There were two parts of this book where I absolutely could NOT put my Kindle down: the buildup to Bryce and Dex’s first kiss and their first trip to the lake house. IYKYK. 👀🔥

I LIVE for tension, and the tension between these two was EVERYTHING. Sexual tension. Emotional tension. That delicious are they going to or aren’t they?! tension. The author did such a good job making me feel every bit of it.
And then watching these two actually fall for each other?! 🥹🫠

The rivals-to-lovers trope was SO well done. Bryce and Dex started out with all this competitiveness and friction, but as they got to know each other, they realized they had so much more in common than they thought. I loved how they complemented each other despite their differences and, more importantly, how they genuinely made each other better—both on the football field and off of it.

And Bryce?! I LOVED how self-assured he was about his feelings for Dex. There was no huge identity crisis or storyline about trying to define his sexuality. He realized he loved Dex and was basically like, okay, this is who I love. Period. And I appreciated that SO much.❤️

I also loved how their relationship was handled once other people found out. Eli didn’t out them. He was quietly supportive. And when the rest of the team found out, it wasn’t turned into some dramatic forbidden-love situation. They saw how much Bryce and Dex brought out the best in each other and supported them. YES. Give me supportive teammates and healthy relationships! 🙌🏻

Also, Bryce stealing Dex’s clothes and underwear?! 😂😍 THE CUTEST MICRO-TROPE. And their shared love of cars?! Loved that for them.

And DEX. 🫠

I was not prepared for soft-dom, caretaker Dex. The man was competitive as hell on the field and then turned around and was basically the sweetest, most attentive man ever. I am SWOONING.

I also really appreciated the balance between the spice and the emotional connection. Their relationship never felt purely physical, which is probably one of my favorite things about a romance. The intimate scenes varied enough that they never felt repetitive, and every scene felt authentic and true to these characters. Knowing this was written by an own-voice author made that authenticity even more meaningful to me.

And can we talk about the secondary characters for a second?!
Lila. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

I loved that she wasn't written as the jealous ex who spends the entire book trying to get Bryce back. She genuinely cared about him, supported him when he needed it, and their relationship evolved in such a sweet way. I loved seeing her become part of Bryce’s support system rather than being turned into the villain.

And Bryce’s relationship with his dad was another favorite part for me. Things weren’t perfect between them, but his dad still showed up when it mattered. I loved seeing their relationship slowly evolve, and Thanksgiving with both families together was 🥹❤️.

Even better? The major conflict didn’t lead to a dramatic third-act breakup. Instead, they worked through it and came out stronger on the other side. Give me THAT kind of conflict in my romances.

Overall, The Snap was everything I want from a sports romance: great football, incredible chemistry, delicious tension, emotional depth, character growth, supportive side characters, and spice that will make you sweat AND swoon. 🥵❤️
It is seriously hard to believe this is a debut, and I cannot wait to see what this author does next!
If you love MM rivals-to-lovers + sports romance + slow burn + insane chemistry + soft doms + emotional connection + HOT spice, you need to put The Snap on your TBR. 🏈🔥

Tropes & Things to Expect:
🏈 MM Sports Romance
🔥 Rivals to Lovers
🐌 Slow Burn
❤️ Emotional Connection
🥵 High-Heat Spice
😈 Soft Dom
🗣️ Dirty Talk
👕 Clothes/Underwear Stealing
🚗 Shared Love of Cars
🤝 Teammates
💚 Supportive Friends & Teammates
👨‍👩‍👦 Family Dynamics
🎓 College Romance
✨ Own-Voice Author
💖 HEA

[Melissa]

I feel incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to beta and arc-read this book.  It was AMAZING to watch this book take shape and see the incredible amount of time and effort Max put into this story. I LOOOOVE Bryce and Dex.  Both of these characters are so incredibly well developed that you really get such a clear picture of the feelings and motivations of each character.  I immediately adored Bryce and how well Max illustrated how much pressure Bryce felt to perform and exude perfection at all times and at all costs.  You can truly feel the stress and pressure as you read his inner thoughts.  It was amazing to watch his journey individually, within his family, and especially with Dex.  His slow acceptance of himself and the quiet confidence he builds (especially with regard to his relationship with his dad) were so beautiful to witness.  And good lord sweet Dex.  It’s amazing as the layers of this “Bruiser” were peeled away and you see the sweet, sensitive boy underneath who just desperately wants the love and family support so many take for granted.  Watching him transform seemingly from Bryce’s “nemesis" to his fierce protector and beloved partner was such an incredible journey.  I went into this story convinced Bryce would be my favorite character, but as Max revealed more and more of Dex, my heart didn’t stand a chance against him.  Max made both of these characters men you WANT to root for.  Beyond the beautiful story and character development, the spice in this book is unmatched.  Max gave us beautifully vulnerable moments, but also deliciously(!) FILTHY moments, with some super hot and unique kinks we don’t see nearly enough in MM books.  I love any opportunity to read an own-voice story and Max freaking delivered.  The fact that this is a debut novel absolutely blows my mind. I hope you will give these boys a chance.  You will NOT be disappointed. I CANNOT wait to see what Max does next!

[Vikka's Corner]

There is something incredibly satisfying about finishing a book, looking back at the people you met in the beginning, and realizing just how far they’ve come. That was Bryce and Dex for me.
Bryce Crawford is the golden boy quarterback who looks like he has everything figured out. He’s funny, charming, ridiculously talented but also, carrying the weight of everyone’s expectations on his shoulders. His family name, his future, football, the media, the image he has spent his entire life perfecting. Bryce knows exactly how to walk into a room and become whatever version of Bryce Crawford that room expects.
And then there’s Dex.
Dex begins this book as Bryce’s personal fucking nightmare. 😂 He has spent years studying Bryce from the opposite side of the football field, learning his habits and weaknesses, figuring out exactly which buttons to push and enthusiastically pushing every single one of them.
But somewhere along the way, something changes.
Dex starts seeing Bryce.
Not the quarterback. Not the Crawford name. Not the perfect smile everyone else gets. Bryce.
And I think that might be my favorite thing about this entire love story. These two men have been watching each other for years, but the romance begins when watching finally becomes seeing. Dex learns which smile is real. He recognizes when the humor is covering something else. He discovers the enormous amount of pressure underneath all that confidence. And Bryce, in turn, begins seeing beyond the intimidating, infuriating bruiser he thought he knew and discovers just how much tenderness, grief, loyalty and love Dex carries around inside him.
Neither man fixes the other. They simply create a place where the other one doesn't have to perform quite so hard anymore.

And the football in this book matters. It isn't sports-romance wallpaper. The relationship between a quarterback and his center becomes part of the language of Bryce and Dex's relationship: trust, communication, instinct and eventually knowing someone well enough that sometimes you don't need words at all. Watching that relationship evolve on and off the field was one of my favorite parts of the book.

I also have to give Max Harte enormous credit for the women in this story, particularly Lila. I have read enough MM romance to know how easily a woman can become the villain standing between two men. That doesn't happen here. Lila is strong, ambitious, loving and allowed to choose herself and her own future without being punished for it. What she and Bryce shared isn't suddenly rewritten as meaningless simply because Bryce's life changes. One kind of love doesn't have to be destroyed in order to validate another, and I appreciated that more than I can say.

That same care extends to the families and the supporting cast. These characters don't feel like people waiting around for Bryce and Dex to need them. They have relationships with one another, histories, loyalties and lives outside the central romance. The families especially give this story so much heart. There is love, grief, acceptance, complicated expectations and the beautiful reminder that becoming more fully yourself doesn't have to mean losing your place at the table. And Eli deserves a special mention because I absolutely loved what he brought to this story, not only as a teammate and mentor, but as someone who truly understands what it means to take care of your quarterback.

And now we need to discuss something I don't say very often.
The spice.
I am unapologetically a plot-over-spice girlie. Give me character development, emotional payoff and a story I can sink my teeth into over a sex scene any day of the week.
So nobody is more surprised than I am that I'm about to praise the hell out of the spice in this book. 😂
The intimacy between Bryce and Dex never felt interchangeable or like sex scenes were dropped into the story because that's what romance books are supposed to do. Their physical relationship is part of their character development. Trust, control, vulnerability, strength, surrender, praise, safety, care...things Bryce and Dex struggle to express in other parts of their lives become part of the language they build together physically.
And holy intimacy, Batman.
There are moments that are incredibly explicit, but they're also startlingly tender. Even the kinkier elements feel specific to these two men rather than something that could have been transplanted into another couple's book. I was invested because the sex was telling me something about Bryce and Dex that mattered outside the bedroom.
Basically, Mr. Harte somehow tricked a plot-over-spice woman into believing that the spice was part of the plot, and I'm a little annoyed about it. 😂

But ultimately, The Snap isn't the sex or the football or even the rivalry for me.
It's Bryce and Dex.
It's watching a man who has spent his life being exactly what everyone expects begin figuring out what he wants. It's watching another man who has learned to express love by protecting people discover that loving someone can also mean making him feel safe enough to be happy. It's watching two men who thought they knew everything about one another discover how very little they actually knew.
And it's watching them become something together without either one disappearing inside the other.
By the end of this book, a snap isn't just the movement that starts a football play. It has become its own language, communication, instinct, trust, vulnerability and the absolute certainty that the person on the other side knows you well enough to understand what you're saying.
Bryce and Dex spent years standing on opposite sides of the line.
Turns out, they were always meant to be on the same side of it.
Five stars. No hesitation. I loved them and cannot wait to see what comes next in this series. 🩷

[PipReadsMM Pippa Boyeson]

I was so lucky to be a beta & arc reader for this author.

The tension this author is able to create is incredible, the detail and passion he puts into certain scenes is mind blowing. He really makes you feel every second that of heat these boys go through.

I loved both MMCs so much - the way the obsession and love grows both before the book takes place and within the pages is magical. Then we also get to experience the confusion and angst that comes with falling in love and coming out to the world.

This book has in depth descriptions and scenes paired with smart witty and fast dialogue.

I also loved so many of the side characters and have my fingers crossed for who I want next!!!

[Juniper]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Okay, now. I need everyone to understand that I went into this book thinking I was a relatively unflappable romance reader.

I was wrong. 

Max Harte has apparently decided that I have not been reading enough about feet, scent, and LACE JOCKSTRAPS 🥵, because this book certainly introduced me to some microtropes I didn't even know I needed. And now I am spoiled forever.

The spice in The Snap is ridiculously good. You know, the kind of spice that makes you sweat and feel like everyone within a five-mile radius can read the words on the page with you... But what impressed me just as much is that the detail isn't confined to the spicy scenes. The entire book is immersive. The prose is lush, smooth, witty, and incredibly tactile. Max Harte has gifted us with an experience, not just a story.

And THE TENSION. Good lord. Dexter and Bryce spent their high school years as football rivals, and when they end up on the same college team, four years of buildup, frustration, competitiveness, and fascination become something neither of them can ignore. The football practices were basically foreplay. On that note, I loved that there was *actual football* in this *football* romance. And I say that as someone who is not even remotely a sports person. I found myself genuinely looking forward to their time on the field! We see them practice. We see them play. We see what makes them athletes. Their physicality on the field becomes such a huge part of how they learn to communicate and understand each other. Utter perfection!

Underneath all of the truly delicious heat, though, is a really beautiful story about two men learning what it means to be truly seen. Dex has been watching Bryce closely for years. He sees the polished public version, the quarterback, the son carrying his family's expectations, and he desperately wants to know the person underneath it all. Bryce, meanwhile, has spent his entire life believing love and approval are things he has to earn through perfect performance.

Alternatively, enter Dex's family.

Watching Bryce experience nearly immediate, unconditional affection from people who don't care about his accomplishments, his football career, or his family name, who simply care that he makes Dex happy, completely melted my heart. Unlike with his own family, Bryce gets to be himself with Dex's aunt and uncle. He gets to drop the armor, let his guard down, and finally breathe freely.

This emotional arc, with Bryce learning that he doesn't have to perform for love, and Dex learning how to lower his own walls, trust someone with his heart, and understand that protecting someone isn't the same thing as carrying everything for them, is what made this book so much more than a just a spicy sports romance.

I also really love the way this book handles consent and communication. Wanting something doesn't have to be made prettier before you can say it. Changing your mind doesn't make you difficult. Being cared for doesn't mean giving up your power. Being vulnerable doesn’t make you fragile. Sometimes, the strongest thing you can do is to let yourself be seen.

I also have to give a special thank you for not turning the ex into a villain. Lila, Bryce's ex-girlfriend, is genuinely supportive of both Bryce and Dex, and she goes out of her way more than once to help them. There is no petty jealousy, no unnecessary competition, and no sudden personality transplant just because Bryce falls for someone else. The three of them have a really lovely mutual respect for one another, and I loved that so much. It is entirely possible for people to break up and remain friends, to genuinely want good things for each other, and to show up when it matters. I appreciate the hell out of a romance that remembers that.

Finally, Max Harte, I'd like to lodge a formal complaint:

You have permanently raised my expectations for tension and detail. I am going to be holding every book I read against this one now. And yes, I will absolutely encounter a jockstrap in another book and I will absolutely expect the entire sensory experience. This is all your fault. 

But seriously: The Snap is hot as hell, funny, emotionally rich, beautifully written, and full of characters I genuinely wanted to see happy. I CANNOT wait for the next book in this series!

[Lexica]

⭐️ 4,5/5

One word: HOT. 🔥 This book was GOOD. The tension, the buildup, the banter… everything between Dex and Bryce was just so damn good. I went into this expecting a fun sports romance, but I really loved how much development there actually was in their relationship, especially when it came to their journey from rivals to teammates and eventually lovers.

Bryce and Dexter had been rivals for four years, and I loved how well they actually knew each other because of that. They had spent so much time competing against each other that they knew each other's strengths, weaknesses, and habits almost too well. So when they ended up at the same university and on the same team, that rivalry suddenly turned into something completely different.

And I REALLY loved the sports aspect of this book. Sometimes with sports romance, the sport feels more like a background setting for the romance, but here, I actually felt like football was an important part of their story. They went from competing against each other to having to trust each other on the field, with Bryce as quarterback and Dex as center. Watching them learn to work together and build that trust was such a satisfying part of their relationship development. It wasn't just “we're rivals, now we're attracted to each other.” We actually got to see them become teammates and learn how to rely on each other.

Of course, putting them together all the time definitely didn't help with the tension. 😂 They already knew there was something between them, and being on the same team, sharing a room, and spending even more time together only made it harder to ignore. I loved their banter so much. They were both such sweethearts underneath all that rivalry, and their chemistry was SO good.

I also really liked how confident they both were about their sexuality. There was no unnecessary shame or angst surrounding that part of their relationship, and I loved how comfortable they were with themselves and their attraction to each other. Dex especially already knew he was into Bryce, and you could feel how long he'd been carrying those feelings underneath all the rivalry.

And Dex was honestly so sweet with Bryce. Bryce came from a well-known family and had spent so much of his life carrying the weight of their expectations. He always felt like he had to maintain a certain image and put on this version of himself that everyone expected to see. But Dex saw through all of that. He saw Bryce beyond the family name, the expectations, and the image he showed everyone else. I loved how Dex wanted Bryce to feel like he could just be himself around him, without having to perform or live up to anyone's expectations. There was something really sweet about Bryce having someone who actually saw *him*, not the version of him everyone else expected him to be. 🥹

And the spice… OH MY GOD. 🫣🔥 It was HOT. Like, every spicy scene was hot. The tension and buildup made everything even better because the spice never felt random or like it was just there for the sake of having spicy scenes. It actually felt like an extension of all the attraction and tension that had been building between them. And THAT scene when Dexter was “on the phone” with Jack?? OOF. IYKYK!! 😭🔥 That was shockingly hot.

I also really loved Dex's family, and Lila?? I LOVED her. She was such a refreshing female character because instead of being turned into some unnecessary source of drama, she was actually rooting for Dex and Bryce. Especially with how she and Bryce were presented as this perfect couple in the media, I really appreciated how supportive she was of them instead of becoming the typical jealous love-interest character.

The only reason this wasn't a 5-star read for me was the length. It was a little too long for my liking. And even though I loved that the sports aspect was actually important to the story, there were also A LOT of football scenes, and some of them went on for a bit too long for me.

Still, this was such a great read, and knowing that this is Max Harte's debut makes it even more impressive. Such a great debut! The chemistry, the banter, the tension, the spice, and the development all worked so well for me. I really enjoyed reading Dex and Bryce! 🔥

[Kayleigh insta: mmbooksl_t]

5⭐️
5🌶️
REVIEW: Bryce Crawford and Dexter Boyd have been rivals for 4 years. They know everything about each other, from their movements on the field to how they take their coffee. Dex loves nothing more than to get under Bryce’s skin and it’s gone from quips about his game to how pretty he is just before Dex takes him to the floor. Boyd is gay and Crawford has a situationship with a woman called Lila, she’s more of a PR person than a girlfriend at this point.
Fast forward to University and Boyd and Crawford are both at training camp playing together as teammates instead of rivals. After a freak accident leaves his centre with an ACL injury, Boyd is asked to step up as centre to Crawfords quarterback. Now having to share a room, training schedule and coaching on trusting each other, lines blur, chemistry crackles, kinks are unlocked, and jockstraps are sniffed, sucked and occasionally made of lace.
Their personal relationship moves fast while they work together fluidly on the field. Everything is perfect until one mistake threatens everything.

I can’t remember the last time I read a book that was as immersive as this one. Spicy isn’t the right word, it’s downright erotic. Reading this story is like watching the characters fall in love in real time. It’s as though you’re two tables over from them in a café listening to their conversation, seeing the look on their faces and feeling the chemistry and energy around them. This initially reads like an enemies to lovers story, but they were soulmate’s from the beginning. Now I’ve finished the book, it feels like I’ve said goodbye to friends that I might not see for a while. I can’t wait to read more from this author. The fact that this is the debut blows my mind. Max Harte is going on my auto-read list.

[Katy Thom]

💛💙Releasing October 22nd!!💙💛

Let me start this by saying - wow, my jaw dropped when I realized that this was a DEBUT!!! Seriously, mind blowing storytelling from Max Harte!

The Snap was such an amazing journey right from the start and had me laughing, crying, and sweating 😮‍💨

My reading notes:
- SO funny
- I immediately loved the tone and writing style. The characters’ voices shined right off of the pages and were absolute gold! I couldn’t read this fast enough.
- “Men have gone to war over less charged eye contact, I stand by that” 😂😂 was a quote from the PROLOGUE! The second I read that I knew I was going to eat this story up!
- Absolutely stunning job by Max Harte in creating Bryce and Dex and the universe around them. Their obsession, the hilarious banter between them, the filthy yet tender tension radiated off the pages….all of it was perfection!
- Bay 5 🥹🥹🥹🥹 iykyk
- The author could truly teach a master class on writing slow burn tension because phewwwwww I was dying with each turn of the page 🥵
- I also loved that football didn’t just provide a setting for their lives to take place. We were truly dropped onto a Texas football field and I felt the pressure! I didn’t even know cadence was such an important aspect in football, but boy was I wrong!
- The 32 yard line 🥹🥹
- Loved the HEA ending and can’t wait to hopefully see them again in future books!

5/5 stars to Max Harte for The Snap, the first book in the Jockstrap Boys series. I literally cannot wait for the rest!!

[gab_e_reading]

Okay, I can't hold back any longer—I have to tell you about this amazing book! Wow, what a debut. Did I devour the story—or did it devour me 😅🥰?!

It made me feel everything—it was sexy, gripping, and the chemistry between Dex and Bryce was absolutely explosive. But at the same time, it was also so beautiful, with so many tender and intimate moments ❤️.
I liked that there wasn't a "three-act breakup" and that the two of them felt so comfortable with their sexuality. The spice was top-notch 🔥🥵!

Even though I've read quite a few football romances, I learned so many things that were new to me about the sport! The amount of information was just right—neither too much nor too little 🏈.

I may not always be able to put my enthusiasm into words very well, but this book has definitely made it onto my list of favorites for 2026 🏆📚, and that should say enough. So pre-order this book and look forward to a great reading experience—it’s truly worth it!

[Marie MARIONETTE]

The Snap is an incredible debut novel.
Special mention to the banter!
Those sarcastic guys made me laugh way too much in no appropriate moments.

This book can’t be read in one sitting. It needs to be savored and not rushed.

The prose is unique and makes you feel each emotion the way it’s intended.
The iterative narration emphasizes both Dex & Bryce’s obsession.

It’s a love story between two rivals who become teammates then lovers.

Dex & Bryce’s dynamic went from pushing, pressuring to yearning and pinning. To making sure the other person can finally be themself.

The way they read and know each other in and out the field made their chemistry even more explosive.
Of course they were meant to be since day 1, since the first contact on the field. Since the first 4.

But we shouldn’t minimize the importance of The third main character: American Football 🏈
Because yes dear People we will talk about football. This is a sport romance and the sport part is highlighted as much as the romance.

Can’t wait for people to read this book!
Can’t wait to get to read the next one!


⚠️ ⚠️ ⚠️ SPOILERS ⚠️ ⚠️ ⚠️

⚠️ ⚠️ ⚠️ SPOILERS ⚠️ ⚠️ ⚠️

⚠️ ⚠️ ⚠️ SPOILERS ⚠️ ⚠️ ⚠️

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What I loved:
- The truth and Dare: Tell the truth and then do it.
- Their outfit for the auction
- Dex making sure he gets the date
- How Bryce got him in the recovery room
- How they both spent years learning everything about each others
- The chemistry on the field
- How they love each other
- the Banter and How witty they are
- again the Humor/ the sarcasm

[Mrss_yoshi]

Ok this book, this book is one of the best books I've ever read.
I know absolutely nothing about American football but let me tell you that did not stop me from having an absolutely phenomenal time while reading it, I may have had to rely on Google a few times.

Usually when I read a rivals to lovers (granted I haven't read a huge amount) there will be a time in the story where I really dislike one of the MMCs, be that because of something they've said or done. I can safely say that that did not happen here, I loved both Bryce and Dexter from the beginning.

A story full of Yearning, sexual tension, insane chemistry, football, jockstraps, dimples and a whole lot of love!!

Everything about this story was absolutely perfect, the writing is some of the best I've ever read (and I've read alot), I don't remember any book that has made me smile as much as this did.
I cannot believe this is a debut novel.

Both Bryce and Dexter have it so bad for each other,the way they navigate their feelings, the love they have for each other and the way they cared for each other in their respective times of need was absolutely everything.

I'm not going to summerize the story, you'll have to read it for that but all I will say is this book deserves all the praise, love, tears (there will be some), smiles, laughter and most importantly your time.

I'm so sad it's over, I certainly didn't want it to end but I am also so so excited for what's to come next .

One negative actually 'Lace' how could you tease me with that??

[Jine]

I don’t even know how to write this one! You ever read a book it’s so perfect you don’t have the right words to describe it this is it! It’s not the run of the mill enemies teammates to lovers it’s so much more! First off I feel like the jockstraps in this book deserve their own mention because between the auction jockstraps and the after the game jockstrap good mercy!!
Dex and Bryce start off hating each other well Bryce does anyway and the attraction is there! They have so many intimate moments before they are together which makes it feel not like a slow burn at all I mean their first time and first kiss are exceptional but the through the wall while they both are ya know was so so hot too!
We get so many emotional moments when Dex brings Bryce home to meet his family when dex tells Bryce about his family car accident
When they both break down and cry in each other’s arms so much vulnerability between these boys!
I mean Dex has planned their first date years in advance and bought Bryce his dream car so they can fix it up together!!!
I love that both of them could see underneath their front that they put on for other people! That’s what made them such a good team on and off the field because they could read each other!
This is a big book but take the chance and read it! You will have so many good reactions and you won’t want it to be over!

[nicole]

Sometimes with sport romance, the sport can feel like an afterthought, but that wasn’t the case here. The author kept football right at the center of the story while still giving us all that delicious tension, chemistry, and romance.

The foreplay, DAMN! Dexter and Bryce, gave the definition of foreplay a whole new meaning. I love, love, LOVE, how the tension just kept building. Dexter had a way with words. He knew what he was doing and Bryce loved every second of it. But don’t think Bryce wasn’t giving just as good as he got.

I really enjoy reading Bryce and Dexter story. If you love sport romance with tension off the charts, this is definitely one to pick up.

[Kayla Allen]

Holy cow this book was a fun, emotional, sexy ride! I loved the progression of their relationship and all of the things that happen along the way! This author knocked it out of the park with this debut novel and I am feral to know more about the other characters so I will be reading any books that come after this!

[Dora Hasko]

I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

As a new Bookstagrammer, it meant so much to me that Max Harte trusted me with an ARC of his debut novel. The cover and the blurb immediately caught my attention because if a story has rivals AND sports romance, it’s pretty much made for me.

Bryce and Dex’s story begins back in high school, when they’re still playing for rival teams on opposite sides of the field: Bryce as the quarterback and Dex on defense. And somehow, every encounter between them on the field already feels like more than simple sports rivalry.

Later, they end up on the same college team, turning former rivals into teammates. But as the story unfolds, it becomes increasingly clear that what initially seems like simple sports rivalry might have been something entirely different long before...

Max’s humorous, honest, and unapologetically direct writing style hooked me from the prologue, and he kept that same voice consistently throughout the entire book.

Nothing in this story is sugarcoated. Things are said openly and honestly, and one thing I especially loved was the communication between Bryce and Dex. About everything. These two actually say what needs to be said.

As a European reader, I’m not very familiar with American football, and Max goes into quite a lot of detail about the sport. At first, I was a little worried that I might get lost, but eventually everything started falling into place. I even found myself looking up a few things along the way so I could fully understand what I was reading.

Alongside the sports, I have to highlight both the spice and the emotions. I especially loved how this book manages to be sinfully hot and unapologetically explicit while also being incredibly romantic. I could barely keep up: one moment it was warming my heart, and the next it was setting me completely on fire.

So if anyone ever asks me why I read M/M romance, I can simply tell them:

Read Max Harte’s The Snap. It has everything.

And somehow, even more. 🫢😋

[Amanda Walker]

I have no words for how this book has made me feel, it was absolutely brilliant. American Football is such a foreign concept to me, I am more accustomed to European football but damn has this peaked my interest (thank you internet for explaining terms and how it is played). I fell utterly in love with these two, both were so sweet and likeable in their own way. The more we find out about Dex, the more I felt for him and loved him even more.

There is a rivals to lovers story line but I would say it's short lived, these two can't resist one another and their banter is top notch and I found myself laughing a few times. The names in this made me grin like a loon...'dimples', 'good boy', ahh I was so happy each time I saw this. Can we also take a moment to discuss the spice in this...hot damn, I felt like I needed a fan a few times. It does say it is high heat and trust me it earns that completely. It was so well written and a bossy Dex, yes please.

This is up there amongst some of my top reads for this year, I loved it. It was a perfect blend of romance, sports and heat that built these characters relationship and made them so believable, you can bet that I will be yelling at everyone to be reading this asap. I could have cried when it came to the end, I just wanted it to keep going. Honestly, if Max made this 1000 pages long, I would still complain that I want more of them!

[still.up.reading]

Smother me with this book! I fear The Snap by Max Harte has ruined me for all other books. And I have never said that before.

The Snap is a rivals to lovers story about elite college football players Bryce and Dex who are now teammates after a 4-year obsessive high school rivalry. The cover stopped me in my tracks and I immediately read the prologue. And I. Was. Hooked. There was so much delicious tension in those few pages that I knew this book would be scorching hot. My real-time texts:

🏈 I can’t believe I’m at 45%. 300 pages has never felt so short. These long scenes are deliciously drawing out the tension.
🏈 I’m at 89%. I don’t know how this book just gets better and better but I’m actually going to cry when it’s over.
🏈 Well crap now I’m full-on ugly crying.
🏈 I’ve never been so sad about a book being over.
🏈 Kind of worried I’m going to hate whatever I read next because it won’t be this.
🏈 Not me re-reading the end of the epilogue, chasing the high of reading it the first time.

From the prologue I knew that there would be crackling tension and fiery passion. And oh there was. But what I was not expecting and which made my heart explode was how absolutely swoony and romantic this book was. Bryce and Dex have it SO bad for each other in the most honest, shame-free, “I love everything about you even the parts you want to hide” kind of way.

The on-page detail is unlike anything I’ve ever read. Every breath, movement, and pause is there, and wow does it ratchet up every emotion. I don’t even have words for how much this book made me feel. I was so sucked in that I looked down and couldn’t believe that I had just blownnnnn through 300 pages. And the prologue. I’m still not over it. You will absolutely want to reread it after you finish the book.

There is spice, swoon, and shame-free kink. Lace jocks, armpit pheromones, beautiful feet, “good boy”, “yes sir”, one very cute “Snap Daddy”, and so. much. edging.

The Snap is Book 1 in the Jockstrap Boys series. I’m dying for when Book 2 comes out next year and will be one-clicking the crap out of The Snap when the paperback is for sale.

[chellereadssmut]

ARC review

Well this was an absolute 5 star banger for me.

We meet Dexter and Bryce in high school, where they are “rival” NFL players.
Dex is the angry and aggressive one, Bryce the golden boy quarterback, with the pressures of carrying a family legacy.
They find themselves at the same elite college and football program and it’s from there we see Dex isn’t angry but obsessed and down bad for Bryce.

Bryce on the surface appears to be the perfect polished legacy he is expected to be. He’s struggling to hold his golden boy facade under the pressure his family name places on him, but Dex sees EVERYTHING and slowly peels back those layers, leaving Byce exposed, but wanting more of our boy Dex.

Dex is the small town kid who is freakishly talented, strong and pushes all Bryce’s boundaries like it’s his favourite game. Dex has such a sad backstory and when he opens up to Bryce, we see how much he masks his pain with aggression and how long he has yearned for Bryce.

There’s forced proximity, mutual obsession, some kinks that had me questioning my morals (but we listen and don’t judge around here) and I fell in love with these stupidly obsessed boys.

The way these two fall in love is so sweet, their deep care for each other, and willingness to unburden the mutual weight they both carry was so lovely to read.
As an Aussie, I had no clue what the NFL stuff was all about, but I know tension, and those scenes were just tension and an extreme form of foreplay. Secret shared touches, showers, dorm rooms, it was all a recipe for these two tripping into love.

This is low angst, has found family vibes which will set up the rest of the series perfectly and the spice was sooooo good. So good! I’ll never think of a jockstrap the same again 👀

The Snap comes out Oct 22nd so do yourself a favour and get into this sweet, filthy and fun college sports MM romance

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Jocelyn M]

I don’t know what I was expecting from this book but it was not that! The connection between Bryce and Dexter is the stuff of legends. The banter was super cute. The spicy scenes were oh so spicy but tender. The football was action packed. This is rivals to lovers in the best way because they were kind of never really rivals. Yeah they played for different teams and went head to head against each other but their hearts recognized what they were destined to be from the beginning.

Dexter is one of my favorite MMCs of all time. He’s this gigantic dude who flattens people like it’s a walk in the park. But he’s also a 19 year old who’s been through a lot of hurt and through it all found a way to be his authentic self. He loves Bryce in such an attentive and safe way before Bryce even knew that was what he needed.

This is a pretty long book and I realized I was tensed and waiting for something to come along and ruin this story for me. There’s nothing worse than enjoying a story and some plot twist that feels forced comes along and kills the mood. Max Harte did an excellent job of creating tension without it turning the characters and story into something else entirely. One thing I LOVE is a couple who is all in and faces problems together.

Excellent debut and I can’t wait to see more of this series. I’m looking at you Eli!👀😉

[Tammy Parker]

*** ARC***

This was a truly great book. I recommend you take your time reading it or you will miss something so good. Its like a fine wine, take your time and enjoy it.

Bryce is a quarterback with a family legacy attached to him. A golden boy if you will.

Dex is a defense/center with some history behind him.

They been playing against each other for four years. But in that time they both started feeling things for each other. Then they both go to the same college and it really takes off from there.

I love the banter and innuendos between them. Also the 32 yard line 💞

Cant wait to read more from Max Harte!!

[Kim Merkenhof]

Okay I love this couple. The playfulness and banter? I ate that up, loved that so much.

The spice scenes those are so hot omg I kept blushing. These two boys do some dirty things👀😏.

There is to much football for my liking, especially in the beginning. I almost stopped reading. I am really glad I didn't because the book is really good. But that did make me decide to remove 1star.

[Ivaylo Balabanov]

💙💙💙 ARC Review 💙💙💙

The Snap - Max Harte Coming October 22, 2026

Thank you to the author for this ARC (and all the chats surrounding this book and other topics ;))

4/5 ⭐️
3/5 🌶

The Snap is Max Harte's debut novel and the first book in the Jockstrap Boys series. The cover is to die for - it is an absolute delight. If you judge a book by its cover, this certainly lives up to the hype.
This is the classic rivals to lovers trope where the Dex and Bryce have been playing against each other for years before ending up on the same team. Their relationship develops in interesting ways - from rivals checking each other, to teammates, to forced roommates, to secret lovers, the tension and push and pull they give us is palpable. More than that though, they tease each other, they are there for each other, they explore kinks together. All of it ultimately culminating in a nice ending filled with love. The Thanksgiving chapter is super sweet.
The book is filled with funny banter, acts of care, protectiveness and possessiveness.

Bryce and Dex are hawt together!

Only giving it 4 stars because Football was the third MMC and I am simply not that interested in sports.

Also Max is funny and approachable. Can't wait to see what he does next!!!

[bookish.dude]

Football, legacies, routine, rivals, and a sweaty steamy attraction buried under 4 years of learning each other, hating each other and realizing there was more to that rivalry then either wanted to admit...at first. Bryce and Dexter, high school rival athletes turned college football teammates are easily two of the hottest guys I have read about recently. The banter, the environment, and the explicit scenes pair these two into a chemistry driven hot mashup. While you get a super hot MM romance you also get football for the sports side of the book. Football isn't just decoration or side plot to The Snap. The details and story line follows true to the sport and instead of the characters just being football players, their sport adds to the story and makes it even hotter. This book uses football almost like it's warm up for what they do alone. The story was well paced and mixed the romance with sports perfectly. This is a debut by the author but I feel it belongs among the well loved books already out there. I loved this book so damn much and it is going to be highly recommended by me!

[ash | society of plots]

─── 📖✒️⭐️

Review of Advance Readers Copy

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for The Snap!

This book absolutely deserves a six star rating, and here’s why.

I’m not a football fan, i don’t know the first thing about the sport and while I’ve read other MM romances based on football players, football was always in the background. The Snap keeps football at the forefront, it’s detailed yet not overly complicated and easy to follow which I appreciate.

Bryce is a legacy player following his father and brothers foot steps, he rich and has the world at his feet but there’s no cockiness about him. While Dex is the hulking defender that made Bryce’s life on the field hell as a high schooler. When they end up on the same university team, the chemistry between them ignites. Their love story unravels from there and it is absolutely beautiful, I adored the way Dex always knows what Bryce needs, he reads him like a open book while Bryce gives Dex everything he asks for.

The Snap has everything, exciting sports action, swoony moments, and spicy scenes that include kinks that I haven’t seen much of in the MM genre.

I can not wait for the next book in the series!

[Ariana]

The pure sexual tension in this book felt intoxicating and primal. The back and forth quick witted banter developed into a chemistry that you could feel through the pages, and just overall, added to the foreplay. There are so many detailed intimate moments between Dex and Bry throughout the book that I felt like I was transported into it. These moments really stood out to me because of how emotionally impacting they were to the characters. I also really enjoyed the communication between Dex and Bry. There is rarely any miscommunication which is so nice since I feel like that is sometimes overused in romance books. I honestly didn't know and couldn't believe that this was a debut novel.