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Girls of Summer #2
Game Time
Training Ground, book one of the Girls of Summer series, introduced Emma Blakeley and Jamie Maxwell, two young athletes with seemingly bright soccer futures. Now, in book two, those futures are upon them.
It's late 2013, and the world's best soccer players are gearing up for the 2015 World Cup. In London, Jamie has just completed her third season with Arsenal Ladies F.C. Only one soccer dream still eludes her: a spot on the US women's national team.
Emma, a national team regular, plays professionally in Seattle with the NWSL, the most recent incarnation of American women's pro soccer. When Jamie is invited to her first national team residency camp, Emma is apprehensive. As professional athletes they have crossed paths a few times before, but they haven't spent this much time together since high school.
Jamie, meanwhile, would do almost anything to earn the chance to play for her country at the highest level. Even, if she had to, share a room with Emma at residency camp. Both women are hoping it doesn't come to that.
Join Jamie and Emma for the latest installment in the ongoing story of their lives, loves, and would-be world championships in Game Time, book two of the bestselling Girls of Summer series.
It's late 2013, and the world's best soccer players are gearing up for the 2015 World Cup. In London, Jamie has just completed her third season with Arsenal Ladies F.C. Only one soccer dream still eludes her: a spot on the US women's national team.
Emma, a national team regular, plays professionally in Seattle with the NWSL, the most recent incarnation of American women's pro soccer. When Jamie is invited to her first national team residency camp, Emma is apprehensive. As professional athletes they have crossed paths a few times before, but they haven't spent this much time together since high school.
Jamie, meanwhile, would do almost anything to earn the chance to play for her country at the highest level. Even, if she had to, share a room with Emma at residency camp. Both women are hoping it doesn't come to that.
Join Jamie and Emma for the latest installment in the ongoing story of their lives, loves, and would-be world championships in Game Time, book two of the bestselling Girls of Summer series.
296 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 30, 2016
28 people are currently reading
387 people want to read
About the author
Kate Christie
37 books249 followersKate Christie, author of In the Company of Women, Gay Pride & Prejudice, and the Girls of Summer series, was born and raised in Kalamazoo, MI. A graduate of Smith College, she lives near Seattle with her wife, their three daughters, and the family dogs.
To join her mailing list and receive email notifications of new releases, giveaways, and other news, visit https://katejchristie.com/mailing-list/.
To join her mailing list and receive email notifications of new releases, giveaways, and other news, visit https://katejchristie.com/mailing-list/.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
May 25, 2025
3.5 stars!
A good book #2 in 'Girls of Summer' ongoing women's sports chronicle. Their (Jamie & Emma) relationship which is leading to a romance is happening really really sloooow but getting there. Good chemistry and very good supporting characters do make the storyline enjoyable.
Recommended book and series!
A good book #2 in 'Girls of Summer' ongoing women's sports chronicle. Their (Jamie & Emma) relationship which is leading to a romance is happening really really sloooow but getting there. Good chemistry and very good supporting characters do make the storyline enjoyable.
Recommended book and series!
April 21, 2019
As soon as I finished the first book I had to pick up this one. This series is addicting to say the least. While the first book is YA, this book skipped 10 years ahead so now both main characters are in their mid to late 20’s. While I think I liked the first book a tiny bit more, I’m enjoying that they are now adults trying to make the World Cup soccer team.
This book does feel a bit like a transition book for the series. Because of that some of the parts felt a little like filler, but really important things happened too. This book was really about two people in love, trying to be just friends, and because of that the chemistry built really nicely as the book went on. And while this book is not as angsty as the first, there was still enough angst to keep the story interesting. It is still a little lighter on the actually playing of the sport than I would like, so I still don’t think you have to be a sports fan to enjoy these.
I really thought I would just read the first two installments and then get back to my ARC reading, but I’m too addicted. I have to read the third book today I just can’t help it. If you are looking for a light sports romance with a good amount of drama and angst, this series is for you. I highly recommend reading these in order.
This book does feel a bit like a transition book for the series. Because of that some of the parts felt a little like filler, but really important things happened too. This book was really about two people in love, trying to be just friends, and because of that the chemistry built really nicely as the book went on. And while this book is not as angsty as the first, there was still enough angst to keep the story interesting. It is still a little lighter on the actually playing of the sport than I would like, so I still don’t think you have to be a sports fan to enjoy these.
I really thought I would just read the first two installments and then get back to my ARC reading, but I’m too addicted. I have to read the third book today I just can’t help it. If you are looking for a light sports romance with a good amount of drama and angst, this series is for you. I highly recommend reading these in order.
June 12, 2021
4 ⚽'s - A story about soccer with a sloooooooow 🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢 burn romance. Like, this is the second book and we have finally had kiss #2.
I, kid, but still it's slow. However, I am learning A LOT about how professional women's soccer works and I find it interesting. I do like both characters and the side characters are interesting too. I will keep listening, but I am going to take a break on the series for a bit.
I, kid, but still it's slow. However, I am learning A LOT about how professional women's soccer works and I find it interesting. I do like both characters and the side characters are interesting too. I will keep listening, but I am going to take a break on the series for a bit.
July 17, 2019
I'm really really enjoying this series
The only reason I'm not giving this book 5 stars is because it seemed a little bit like a transition, than a stand alone in it's own right. Also, I liked the 1st book in the series a bit more, so I couldn't rate this at the same level.
Having said that, I still really enjoyed this book. And while it wasn't as emotional as the 1st one, it was still perfect in the unraveling of this beautiful story.
I can't wait to see where the journey takes these characters next
4.2 stars
The only reason I'm not giving this book 5 stars is because it seemed a little bit like a transition, than a stand alone in it's own right. Also, I liked the 1st book in the series a bit more, so I couldn't rate this at the same level.
Having said that, I still really enjoyed this book. And while it wasn't as emotional as the 1st one, it was still perfect in the unraveling of this beautiful story.
I can't wait to see where the journey takes these characters next
4.2 stars
May 13, 2018
Book two is beginning a decade after the first one ended. Jamie and Emma are both adults now and are competing in professional soccer. Jamie played the last three seasons for the Arsenal Ladies in Europe, while Emma still plays in the USA, now in Seattle.
Fate and their break up had kept them apart for a very long time and they hadn’t talked much. But both are still caring for the other one. What they couldn’t express and understand as very young women, maybe in this book they can act on their attraction. In any case, the chemistry was there.
Jamie still struggles to earn a spot in the national team, her biggest carrier dream. She had to fight with injuries more than once and therefore with setbacks. Also, both were suffering from their break up at the end of book one. Emma also had to fight for her dreams, it wasn’t always easy for her too.
Will they finally find a way to be together?
I really enjoy this series very much and I highly recommend it.
My rating 4.75
Fate and their break up had kept them apart for a very long time and they hadn’t talked much. But both are still caring for the other one. What they couldn’t express and understand as very young women, maybe in this book they can act on their attraction. In any case, the chemistry was there.
Jamie still struggles to earn a spot in the national team, her biggest carrier dream. She had to fight with injuries more than once and therefore with setbacks. Also, both were suffering from their break up at the end of book one. Emma also had to fight for her dreams, it wasn’t always easy for her too.
Will they finally find a way to be together?
I really enjoy this series very much and I highly recommend it.
My rating 4.75
October 20, 2016
When I reviewed the first book in the Girls of Summer series, Training Ground, I stated that you shouldn't read it until the second book came out due to the way the first one ended. Well, if you haven't done so already, it's time to buy and read both books.
I really enjoyed this one, and I'm not a soccer fan, or really even a sports fan. Okay, I like tennis and women's saber fencing (it's a long story), but my general sporting IQ is decidedly low. Fortunately, Christie's work in this series doesn't require a great deal of soccer knowledge--it'd help and be rewarded, but it's not necessary.
The story in the second novel takes place a decade after the events of the first, which, if I'm being honest, bothered me a bit when I first started. Given how sadly the first book ended, I really wanted to see that heartbreak resolved as quickly as possible. A decade of lost years unconsciously pining for one another wasn't really on my lesrom wishlist. And yet, I had a great time.
The author did an excellent job with her settings and research. Taking place in multiple locations, I felt certain upon finishing the book that she, herself, lived in Seattle and spent a great deal of time involved in professional women's soccer in some capacity. And that's saying something, because I lived in Seattle for most of my adult life--which, okay, is only like seven years, but still. My partner and I have had coffee in a shop she mentioned on Broadway and had a Valentine's Day picnic at a Park she described in Queen Anne. It's really gratifying when an author gets the little details right, and Kate Christie did that here.
The lead characters, now in the second halves of their twenties, still seem very much like their teenaged selves. There was personal growth and accumulated life experience, but the characters themselves felt largely the same. Maybe too much, after a decade? I don't know, and, frankly, it doesn't matter. I still liked them both, I liked their friends, I liked their teammates, and I liked the returning supporting characters. Worrying about anything else just feels like quibbling over details, so I'm not going to do it.
On an emotional front, the book had everything I needed. The relationship had time to find itself again and grow, nothing was rushed. More importantly, most of the tension in the book was derived from external sources rather than contrived problems or breakups between the two leads, which I found to be a huge relief. The life of a professional athlete is stressful enough, and that stress kept the pace moving and the outcome uncertain. It gave the story everything it needed without ever delving into melodrama. Thanks for that, Kate.
Kinda-sorta spoiler here: I will say that the romance only officially gets started at the veeeeeery end of the book, so don't expect torrid sex scenes. It takes Jamie and Emma a bit to rekindle their friendship, and quite awhile longer for them to admit they want more than that, but that felt right to me. This was very much a middle book, and it did exactly what it needed to do: it kept me invested and made me look forward to the next one.
4.5 stars, rounded up to 5. A nice read.
I really enjoyed this one, and I'm not a soccer fan, or really even a sports fan. Okay, I like tennis and women's saber fencing (it's a long story), but my general sporting IQ is decidedly low. Fortunately, Christie's work in this series doesn't require a great deal of soccer knowledge--it'd help and be rewarded, but it's not necessary.
The story in the second novel takes place a decade after the events of the first, which, if I'm being honest, bothered me a bit when I first started. Given how sadly the first book ended, I really wanted to see that heartbreak resolved as quickly as possible. A decade of lost years unconsciously pining for one another wasn't really on my lesrom wishlist. And yet, I had a great time.
The author did an excellent job with her settings and research. Taking place in multiple locations, I felt certain upon finishing the book that she, herself, lived in Seattle and spent a great deal of time involved in professional women's soccer in some capacity. And that's saying something, because I lived in Seattle for most of my adult life--which, okay, is only like seven years, but still. My partner and I have had coffee in a shop she mentioned on Broadway and had a Valentine's Day picnic at a Park she described in Queen Anne. It's really gratifying when an author gets the little details right, and Kate Christie did that here.
The lead characters, now in the second halves of their twenties, still seem very much like their teenaged selves. There was personal growth and accumulated life experience, but the characters themselves felt largely the same. Maybe too much, after a decade? I don't know, and, frankly, it doesn't matter. I still liked them both, I liked their friends, I liked their teammates, and I liked the returning supporting characters. Worrying about anything else just feels like quibbling over details, so I'm not going to do it.
On an emotional front, the book had everything I needed. The relationship had time to find itself again and grow, nothing was rushed. More importantly, most of the tension in the book was derived from external sources rather than contrived problems or breakups between the two leads, which I found to be a huge relief. The life of a professional athlete is stressful enough, and that stress kept the pace moving and the outcome uncertain. It gave the story everything it needed without ever delving into melodrama. Thanks for that, Kate.
Kinda-sorta spoiler here: I will say that the romance only officially gets started at the veeeeeery end of the book, so don't expect torrid sex scenes. It takes Jamie and Emma a bit to rekindle their friendship, and quite awhile longer for them to admit they want more than that, but that felt right to me. This was very much a middle book, and it did exactly what it needed to do: it kept me invested and made me look forward to the next one.
4.5 stars, rounded up to 5. A nice read.
October 5, 2016
Important note before anyone dives into this book or this review – this book continues a story begun in Training Ground - it should not be read on its own, nor should its review be examined prior to completion of book one.
This book does not pick up directly from the end of the first book – but it is still directly linked to the first and heavily based on the first. No, instead of beginning an hour, day, week, or even a month later, this book opens ten years later.
The first book focused on two people (and their friends and family) in 2003, Jamie Maxwell, and Emma Blakeley. Book two sees these same people, but ten years later in 2013.
I am somewhat padding my beginning portion so that I do not reveal anything in the tiny snippet that will appear on other people’s feeds. Are we there yet? Maybe.
As noted, it’s ten years later. Emma and Jamie’s lives have continued – separately. Both have graduated from college. Both have pursued careers in soccer – one playing for two different US based professional women’s soccer leagues while also playing for the National team; while the other went directly from college into the pros, then drifted over to Europe to play for an English soccer team when the professional league folded. Both have had lovers, lives, changes – some in the public eye, some not.
When the book opens, Jamie has had some success with soccer, and advancing up the levels, but every time she seems on the cusp of true success, she gets injured (two times so far) – now she’s been invited to her first national team residency camp – over in California. She’s 26 (or reaches that milestone in this book), and hasn’t been ‘frozen’ in time – as in, she has a lovely English girlfriend who she lives with – and has done so for the last 18 months. Both, apparently, love the other. Though the girlfriend is a little . . . worried about this opportunity that Jamie has before her – since it will bring Jamie close to Emma again.
It’s not actually true that they, Emma and Jamie, haven’t talked in ten years, but it’s close to being true. Fate has kept them apart. When Emma was having success on the national team, Jamie hadn’t been advanced enough, yet, to be on the team at the same time; when Jamie advanced for a moment or two, Emma was off recovering from injury. And the few times they have been near each other, prior to this ‘residency camp’ (as in – something like 24 women living in the same location, with roommates, and spending time practicing, exercising, etc.), the two have been near – there was one prior camp, but that time Jamie didn’t’ live ‘on campus’ so they only saw each other, briefly, ‘on the pitch’. Now they might actually have to talk to each other.
So – Jamie is in a long established healthy relationship (though there are ‘signs’), while Emma is currently unentangled.
Its good then, that Jamie is in a relationship, eh, since she doesn’t need the distraction of what might be, what might happen from interacting with her lost love– her mission is to get on the National team – to show what she can do.
But can they interact in these close confines without combusting? Can they become friends again?
I rather enjoyed this book here – I liked seeing the characters at a different stage in their life (and yes, someone at the age of 16, and someone at the age of 26 are at different stages of their lives). And there were some rather neat things along the way. Like for example – “her little moans of contentment making Jamie lean away and Maddie drift closer” – referencing here a woman named Angie eating some pancakes. Angie and Maddie have been eyeballing each other for a little while, but, at that moment, hadn’t reached relationship status – seeing them flirting was neat. They aren’t the main characters, of course and their time on the page is brief.
On one level this book was both more and less satisfying than the prior book in the series. As human beings, both main characters seem healthier now – emotionally I mean; while at the same time the book itself feels slightly less deep than the prior book. Just a vague feeling.
I look forward to the next book in the series. Whenever that might appear.
October 5 2016
This book does not pick up directly from the end of the first book – but it is still directly linked to the first and heavily based on the first. No, instead of beginning an hour, day, week, or even a month later, this book opens ten years later.
The first book focused on two people (and their friends and family) in 2003, Jamie Maxwell, and Emma Blakeley. Book two sees these same people, but ten years later in 2013.
I am somewhat padding my beginning portion so that I do not reveal anything in the tiny snippet that will appear on other people’s feeds. Are we there yet? Maybe.
As noted, it’s ten years later. Emma and Jamie’s lives have continued – separately. Both have graduated from college. Both have pursued careers in soccer – one playing for two different US based professional women’s soccer leagues while also playing for the National team; while the other went directly from college into the pros, then drifted over to Europe to play for an English soccer team when the professional league folded. Both have had lovers, lives, changes – some in the public eye, some not.
When the book opens, Jamie has had some success with soccer, and advancing up the levels, but every time she seems on the cusp of true success, she gets injured (two times so far) – now she’s been invited to her first national team residency camp – over in California. She’s 26 (or reaches that milestone in this book), and hasn’t been ‘frozen’ in time – as in, she has a lovely English girlfriend who she lives with – and has done so for the last 18 months. Both, apparently, love the other. Though the girlfriend is a little . . . worried about this opportunity that Jamie has before her – since it will bring Jamie close to Emma again.
It’s not actually true that they, Emma and Jamie, haven’t talked in ten years, but it’s close to being true. Fate has kept them apart. When Emma was having success on the national team, Jamie hadn’t been advanced enough, yet, to be on the team at the same time; when Jamie advanced for a moment or two, Emma was off recovering from injury. And the few times they have been near each other, prior to this ‘residency camp’ (as in – something like 24 women living in the same location, with roommates, and spending time practicing, exercising, etc.), the two have been near – there was one prior camp, but that time Jamie didn’t’ live ‘on campus’ so they only saw each other, briefly, ‘on the pitch’. Now they might actually have to talk to each other.
So – Jamie is in a long established healthy relationship (though there are ‘signs’), while Emma is currently unentangled.
Its good then, that Jamie is in a relationship, eh, since she doesn’t need the distraction of what might be, what might happen from interacting with her lost love– her mission is to get on the National team – to show what she can do.
But can they interact in these close confines without combusting? Can they become friends again?
I rather enjoyed this book here – I liked seeing the characters at a different stage in their life (and yes, someone at the age of 16, and someone at the age of 26 are at different stages of their lives). And there were some rather neat things along the way. Like for example – “her little moans of contentment making Jamie lean away and Maddie drift closer” – referencing here a woman named Angie eating some pancakes. Angie and Maddie have been eyeballing each other for a little while, but, at that moment, hadn’t reached relationship status – seeing them flirting was neat. They aren’t the main characters, of course and their time on the page is brief.
On one level this book was both more and less satisfying than the prior book in the series. As human beings, both main characters seem healthier now – emotionally I mean; while at the same time the book itself feels slightly less deep than the prior book. Just a vague feeling.
I look forward to the next book in the series. Whenever that might appear.
October 5 2016
October 2, 2016
I'm so so so disapointed with this book.
I read this book because i love the first one. The story of Emma and Jamie was so wonderfull. Two young souls that helped each others when they most needed. Well, everything that the first book have, it lacks in the second one.
The first quarter of the book summarizes what happened in the first book. Something i don't think it was needed, because the previous book was published like 4 monthos ago. And c'mon if you are reading this one, is more than likely that you have read the previous one. But ok. It's something understandable.
Then, the next two quarters of the book are nothing. Stuffing ("relleno") as we say in spanish. Chapters and chapters and more chapters of the characters thinking. But nothing really happens. It's important for the story to know what it's happening in their little heads. But they are all the time thinking in circles. If Jamie this...if Jaime that....If Emma this...If Emma that...
By the time i reached this point i was starting to belive that there was going to be a third book.
And finally, in the last quarter something happened!! Aleluya! It was sweet and well constructed. And oohh so nice. And of course, the book then was over -.-.
The book itself it's ok. Well written and all. But my problem is, that after giving us the first one and put it in us certain expectations, this book did not live to them. The publish date of the third book is still unknown and let's see if i read it or not. Hopefully, by then, i will have forget my disappointment in this one.
I read this book because i love the first one. The story of Emma and Jamie was so wonderfull. Two young souls that helped each others when they most needed. Well, everything that the first book have, it lacks in the second one.
The first quarter of the book summarizes what happened in the first book. Something i don't think it was needed, because the previous book was published like 4 monthos ago. And c'mon if you are reading this one, is more than likely that you have read the previous one. But ok. It's something understandable.
Then, the next two quarters of the book are nothing. Stuffing ("relleno") as we say in spanish. Chapters and chapters and more chapters of the characters thinking. But nothing really happens. It's important for the story to know what it's happening in their little heads. But they are all the time thinking in circles. If Jamie this...if Jaime that....If Emma this...If Emma that...
By the time i reached this point i was starting to belive that there was going to be a third book.
And finally, in the last quarter something happened!! Aleluya! It was sweet and well constructed. And oohh so nice. And of course, the book then was over -.-.
The book itself it's ok. Well written and all. But my problem is, that after giving us the first one and put it in us certain expectations, this book did not live to them. The publish date of the third book is still unknown and let's see if i read it or not. Hopefully, by then, i will have forget my disappointment in this one.
February 28, 2025
I rushed to read this after finishing book 1. Book takes place 10 years after the events of book 1. Jamie and Emma are both living out their dreams of playing soccer professionally, but their paths have taken them different places. Jamie is playing in London and due to incredibly unlucky circumstances, she's yet to make the women's senior national team. Emma, playing professionally in the US, is a USWNT starter and one of the team's veterans, trying to make her 3rd World Cup team. They've spoken only a handful of times in the 10 years, but there's always going to be a connection between them. First loves are like that.
I really liked this book. It's not quite as good as book 1, and I didn't expect it to be, but I'm still excited to continue reading the series and following Jamie and Emma around.
3.5 stars. The truth is anything beyond book 2 is basically fan service, and I'm okay with that. LOL
I really liked this book. It's not quite as good as book 1, and I didn't expect it to be, but I'm still excited to continue reading the series and following Jamie and Emma around.
3.5 stars. The truth is anything beyond book 2 is basically fan service, and I'm okay with that. LOL
June 21, 2017
I really really really wanted to like this book. I thought that book 1 was a huge mass of bad feels and didn't like it. That hopefully all that mess was behind the MC's lives and they could move on. Well I sorta got my wish. Lets just say that a book that revolves around sport had very little of it between the covers. As far as the good feels versus the bad ones, it tips towards the good feels, but the amount of anxiety throughout knocks it down a star. And anyone that's read it knows what happens at the 98% mark. I've gotta say, and without a spoiler tag (cause I suck at those) it's just too long to wait for. So I wanted to like it but it ended up in the meh zone. Assuming things get better if there's a book 3. Cause these chica's can't buy a break even if it was free.
June 3, 2017
I didn't know there was going to be a third book in this series! If I had, I may have held off starting them. I'm glad there's a third one, though. As I got closer and closer to the end of this one, I started getting panicky because I knew there weren't enough pages left to accomplish everything I thought it needed to.
It was a little strange to read about the soccer events from 2011 to 2014 and have them depicted accurately, just with all different names used for players and coaches. I found that distracted me a bit from the story, but not enough for me to be bothered by it.
I really enjoyed the first two books of this series and look forward to the third.
It was a little strange to read about the soccer events from 2011 to 2014 and have them depicted accurately, just with all different names used for players and coaches. I found that distracted me a bit from the story, but not enough for me to be bothered by it.
I really enjoyed the first two books of this series and look forward to the third.
February 9, 2020
All I have to say is...
#Blakewell
#Blakewell
April 30, 2020
I'm out of words so the review for this can be found in Outside The Lines.
June 16, 2019
Such delicious build up! But very PG. Also amped because I happened upon these books as the World Cup is starting!
July 14, 2018
better than the first...and Im moving on to book three
November 29, 2016
This book happens 10 years after training ground. I like this one better. The emotions are just neutral, not too heavy.
Emma is now a successful soccer player. She's living her dream and is playing for the national team. What more can she ask for?
She got everything she ever wanted. Well, maybe not.
Jamie on the other hand is I guess not really close with her "soccer gods". She got injured twice and her dream of playing for the national team is slipping.
She got a good girlfriend although they have issues, played soccer overseas (Arsenal team), got a laid back second job, surrounded by friends but still feels incomplete until she got invited for a soccer camp in the US. Now is she willing to give up everything for the chance to play on national team? Even with Emma present?
4.5
Emma is now a successful soccer player. She's living her dream and is playing for the national team. What more can she ask for?
She got everything she ever wanted. Well, maybe not.
Jamie on the other hand is I guess not really close with her "soccer gods". She got injured twice and her dream of playing for the national team is slipping.
She got a good girlfriend although they have issues, played soccer overseas (Arsenal team), got a laid back second job, surrounded by friends but still feels incomplete until she got invited for a soccer camp in the US. Now is she willing to give up everything for the chance to play on national team? Even with Emma present?
4.5
October 11, 2016
Good news/bad news.. loved the story, liked the ending... so good news is there is a book 3, but that's the bad news too... I want to know what happens now and not have to wait for the next book!
July 6, 2021
3.5 stars but somehow more rewarding than book 1 so rounded up i guess
October 3, 2016
WHERE IS MY FLUFFINESS?
Not that this book is not, or does not contains fluffy, but I was expecting the #Blakewell love story would end here, but it seems we will have another book. What is great, actually because the last book can only be one thing: HAPPY EVER AFTER FULL OF FLUFFINESS UNTIL THE END! My body is totally ready and I will not accept anything different than that.
But, about book #2, it is better than #1 because it has less angst moments, Emma and Jamie are more mature and still have that cuteness from when things were good on book #1. I laughed more on book #2, I got less irritated and I enjoyed it practically all the time - you will probably get the parts I didn't when you read it -, anyway I know these parts are important from continue on #3.
So, BRING IT ON! :)
Not that this book is not, or does not contains fluffy, but I was expecting the #Blakewell love story would end here, but it seems we will have another book. What is great, actually because the last book can only be one thing: HAPPY EVER AFTER FULL OF FLUFFINESS UNTIL THE END! My body is totally ready and I will not accept anything different than that.
But, about book #2, it is better than #1 because it has less angst moments, Emma and Jamie are more mature and still have that cuteness from when things were good on book #1. I laughed more on book #2, I got less irritated and I enjoyed it practically all the time - you will probably get the parts I didn't when you read it -, anyway I know these parts are important from continue on #3.
So, BRING IT ON! :)
May 27, 2020
Jesus this series is addicting. I’ve been so down and unable to focus on a book due to COVID-19 until I read Training Ground. I jammed through this one and am immediately going into Book 3. I need a payoff! Great series thus far.
November 30, 2016
I loved this book
Okay, the other reviews gave the the book four stars because in their estimations the story was lacking in some aspects of the story.
I respectfully disagree. What is viewed as Jaime not being as mature enough as Emma might present very different from what they saw. Most young mid twenty people have different levels of maturity. Considering that Jaime went through a very catastrophic event early on in the previous book that basically mapped out her life early on it's not surprising that she was protected by her family and even Emma in some capacity.
Emma on the other hand matured much faster because also catastrophic circumstances of her own and her life growing up gave her equally hard knocks. One of which was the loss of Jaime at the end of the first book which obviously colored the make up of her most significant relationships.
Professional setbacks are very common in the sports world and the world in general so it is not surprising Jaime could be dealt with (hopefully only one and no more than one)!!!! I have seen it happen in my field of work. I've also seen the growth and development that happens as you mature in life.
Ms. Christie has portrayed these issues very well in her character development for Jaime and Emma. I also happen to like Maddy and Angie very much, not to mention Britt who I hope comes back in the next book.
I look forward to the next book in the series very much.
Well done!
Okay, the other reviews gave the the book four stars because in their estimations the story was lacking in some aspects of the story.
I respectfully disagree. What is viewed as Jaime not being as mature enough as Emma might present very different from what they saw. Most young mid twenty people have different levels of maturity. Considering that Jaime went through a very catastrophic event early on in the previous book that basically mapped out her life early on it's not surprising that she was protected by her family and even Emma in some capacity.
Emma on the other hand matured much faster because also catastrophic circumstances of her own and her life growing up gave her equally hard knocks. One of which was the loss of Jaime at the end of the first book which obviously colored the make up of her most significant relationships.
Professional setbacks are very common in the sports world and the world in general so it is not surprising Jaime could be dealt with (hopefully only one and no more than one)!!!! I have seen it happen in my field of work. I've also seen the growth and development that happens as you mature in life.
Ms. Christie has portrayed these issues very well in her character development for Jaime and Emma. I also happen to like Maddy and Angie very much, not to mention Britt who I hope comes back in the next book.
I look forward to the next book in the series very much.
Well done!
September 1, 2019
I just cannot get enough of Emma and Jamie and I’m so glad there are more books in this series. I feel so invested in them.
This one took me longer to get through than the first - I think it’s because the chapters felt longer and denser, so it was harder to just read a chapter before bed. But overall, it was a wonderful read. And the BEST possible book to read during the World Cup! Super pumped for the next book in the series!
This one took me longer to get through than the first - I think it’s because the chapters felt longer and denser, so it was harder to just read a chapter before bed. But overall, it was a wonderful read. And the BEST possible book to read during the World Cup! Super pumped for the next book in the series!
September 1, 2018
3.75/5
In a way, I feel kind of lucky. When I finished the first book and realized that it was going to be leading into a sequel, I didn't have long to wait. Book #2 was going to be coming out in less than a month's time from when I had finished the first one, and I was grateful for that. I had been totally drawn in to the first book and couldn't wait for more.
I put off starting the book, however, even after it downloaded itself onto my Kindle. Perhaps a part of me was worried that it wouldn't live up to the first one.
In a way, that worry was kind of justified. In other ways, I'm really glad I did read it, and I'm looking forward to the eventual third (and hopefully final) book.
It's not a poorly written book by any means, but it didn't have that same sense of magic that the original one did.
I think a part of the problem is the amount of time between the first book and the second. Ten years have passed, and it's hard to adjust to the idea of so much time passing without a resolution happening after the ending of book one. I had been hoping that the gap would be lesser, and that there would be more of an immediate aftermath of the events there.
Another part of the problem is the supporting cast. I enjoyed the side characters, but I didn't love the, and I didn't have the same sense of connection I had with the side characters of the first one. The families of both of the girls don't really factor too much into the story. I enjoy it when they did show up, but it felt like a rare occurrence. One of the things that really drove the first novel was the relationship between the various family members and how it would effect the friendship/relationship of Emma and Jaime.
In particular, I missed the relationship between Jaime and her sister. It was a really close relationship in the first one, and whenever they interacted it felt like it provided a great sense of insight for both characters. The sister is hardly in this book, and that was a shame. I missed Emma and her friendship with Danni as well, and although Danni is in this book, she's very much a minor character and shows up sparingly.
I think that's where the time gap hurts this book the most. They're ten years older, everyone has moved on and out, and life goes on. But because those relationships were so integral to the first book, have them scattered and presented sparingly this time around made me keenly miss their absence.
There's a lot more emphasis on soccer this time around, with both of the girls trying to compete on a grander scale and find a way to eventually play in the World Cup. It's not a bad thing, but, soccer was never what really drew me in to the first book. Here, it feels like there's a lot of focus on it, when in the first one, it was more of a tool of the narrative. I like the various players that we meet at camp, and the various coaches and relationships, but it gets repetitive at times, with various outings to bars and hangouts in hotel rooms where Jaime and Emma feel drawn to each other.
That repetitiveness isn't limited to just that, either. Jaime and Emma spend at least half the novel circling around the same thoughts of whether or not they should be thinking about the other and their suddenly renewed friendship and relationship. The first book was able to balance this by having the side characters provide a balance and be a driving force in the drama and relationship. Here, with the lack of strong side characters, it felt like the whole thing was floundering and in a waiting pattern until the end of the book.
I'll mark the next bit in spoilers, about the various relationships in the story.
I liked the book, but I did have problems with it. The time gap, the lack of side characters from the first book, and the repetitiveness ultimately hurt the narrative. In the beginning of the story, it felt like different characters entirely. But underneath all of that, the characters were there, and they shone through, particularly as the novel went away from soccer and returned to their family life. The strongest bits of the book involved returning to their homes and interacting with their family members.
I am looking forward to the third book, though I hope it's the last one as well, because this one felt like it was in a holding pattern for 90% of it.
In a way, I feel kind of lucky. When I finished the first book and realized that it was going to be leading into a sequel, I didn't have long to wait. Book #2 was going to be coming out in less than a month's time from when I had finished the first one, and I was grateful for that. I had been totally drawn in to the first book and couldn't wait for more.
I put off starting the book, however, even after it downloaded itself onto my Kindle. Perhaps a part of me was worried that it wouldn't live up to the first one.
In a way, that worry was kind of justified. In other ways, I'm really glad I did read it, and I'm looking forward to the eventual third (and hopefully final) book.
It's not a poorly written book by any means, but it didn't have that same sense of magic that the original one did.
I think a part of the problem is the amount of time between the first book and the second. Ten years have passed, and it's hard to adjust to the idea of so much time passing without a resolution happening after the ending of book one. I had been hoping that the gap would be lesser, and that there would be more of an immediate aftermath of the events there.
Another part of the problem is the supporting cast. I enjoyed the side characters, but I didn't love the, and I didn't have the same sense of connection I had with the side characters of the first one. The families of both of the girls don't really factor too much into the story. I enjoy it when they did show up, but it felt like a rare occurrence. One of the things that really drove the first novel was the relationship between the various family members and how it would effect the friendship/relationship of Emma and Jaime.
In particular, I missed the relationship between Jaime and her sister. It was a really close relationship in the first one, and whenever they interacted it felt like it provided a great sense of insight for both characters. The sister is hardly in this book, and that was a shame. I missed Emma and her friendship with Danni as well, and although Danni is in this book, she's very much a minor character and shows up sparingly.
I think that's where the time gap hurts this book the most. They're ten years older, everyone has moved on and out, and life goes on. But because those relationships were so integral to the first book, have them scattered and presented sparingly this time around made me keenly miss their absence.
There's a lot more emphasis on soccer this time around, with both of the girls trying to compete on a grander scale and find a way to eventually play in the World Cup. It's not a bad thing, but, soccer was never what really drew me in to the first book. Here, it feels like there's a lot of focus on it, when in the first one, it was more of a tool of the narrative. I like the various players that we meet at camp, and the various coaches and relationships, but it gets repetitive at times, with various outings to bars and hangouts in hotel rooms where Jaime and Emma feel drawn to each other.
That repetitiveness isn't limited to just that, either. Jaime and Emma spend at least half the novel circling around the same thoughts of whether or not they should be thinking about the other and their suddenly renewed friendship and relationship. The first book was able to balance this by having the side characters provide a balance and be a driving force in the drama and relationship. Here, with the lack of strong side characters, it felt like the whole thing was floundering and in a waiting pattern until the end of the book.
I'll mark the next bit in spoilers, about the various relationships in the story.
I liked the book, but I did have problems with it. The time gap, the lack of side characters from the first book, and the repetitiveness ultimately hurt the narrative. In the beginning of the story, it felt like different characters entirely. But underneath all of that, the characters were there, and they shone through, particularly as the novel went away from soccer and returned to their family life. The strongest bits of the book involved returning to their homes and interacting with their family members.
I am looking forward to the third book, though I hope it's the last one as well, because this one felt like it was in a holding pattern for 90% of it.
Read
July 17, 2021Game Time was much more to my liking than book # 1. The outcome in the first book left me pretty sad and crying at times The injury Jamie sustained which kept her from not making the roster for The National Soccer Team was quite a disappointment . She felt her ultimate Soccer dreams had probably been stripped away leaving her pretty devastated.
The way you wove Jamie's and Emma's lives together letting them I to find each other again also made me cry. This time my tears were joyful.
I really enjoyed and learned so much by the way you explain the total aspects of soccer. Coaches had to deal with the total person teaching physical skills and techniques , confidence and their emotional/psychological needs and growth. Finally and maybe most importantly how to put their personal differences apart and " bond" as team .mates .with the same Goal !
I was a competitor in a variety of sports. I coached for many years at variety levels even the disabled when the opportunities were there. I totally get it and am enjoying books #3, and looking to #s 4 and 5. My only mistake was reading # 6 first. . Too many things still left unresolved in both their professional and personal lives !
So Kate When is # 7 coming ?
My only mistake was reading book 6 first. I went back and started with book#1
The way you wove Jamie's and Emma's lives together letting them I to find each other again also made me cry. This time my tears were joyful.
I really enjoyed and learned so much by the way you explain the total aspects of soccer. Coaches had to deal with the total person teaching physical skills and techniques , confidence and their emotional/psychological needs and growth. Finally and maybe most importantly how to put their personal differences apart and " bond" as team .mates .with the same Goal !
I was a competitor in a variety of sports. I coached for many years at variety levels even the disabled when the opportunities were there. I totally get it and am enjoying books #3, and looking to #s 4 and 5. My only mistake was reading # 6 first. . Too many things still left unresolved in both their professional and personal lives !
So Kate When is # 7 coming ?
My only mistake was reading book 6 first. I went back and started with book#1
August 14, 2019
Game Time is not as angsty as the first book in the series, which I kind of missed, but I think overall it worked with the theme of this book. After a decade long time jump from the first book, Game Time is about re-connection. Old friends, old dreams, old loves, all coming together in a short period of time.
Most of the book takes place during eight days at a USWNT training camp and I love the realism that Kate Christie writes into the bits about soccer. The ice baths, taping, watching video, making friends with people you are ultimately competing against. The soccer parts are realistic and fun to read since they play off actual USWNT games and events.
The entire book is held together by the deepening and ever complicated love story between Jamie and Emma. I'm excited to see where book 3 finds our girls.
Most of the book takes place during eight days at a USWNT training camp and I love the realism that Kate Christie writes into the bits about soccer. The ice baths, taping, watching video, making friends with people you are ultimately competing against. The soccer parts are realistic and fun to read since they play off actual USWNT games and events.
The entire book is held together by the deepening and ever complicated love story between Jamie and Emma. I'm excited to see where book 3 finds our girls.
March 2, 2022
4 stars. This takes place ten years after the ending of book one. Jamie and Emma are now all grown up and are doing very well in their respective careers. I really enjoyed this book even more than book one. It is a super slow burn romance. Like last page getting together slow burn but it was so worth it. I’m loving the way Christie is telling this story and the way she’s taking her time with the romance. Jamie and Emma had a lot of things they had to work past which was great to see. There’s a bigger emphasis on soccer in this one which was fun and I liked a lot of the side characters as well. The ending was fantastic and wraps everything up so well but I’m glad that there are more books following these two.
August 3, 2021
Not quite as angsty as the first book, but just as awesome. While the plot is interesting, it's the characters, both main and secondary, that make me love this series. Jamie and Emma could be actual people they're so realistically rendered, and their relationship is so complicated and filled with tangled emotions, but nobody could say that they don't love each other. I really liked the ending, but I'm also very glad that there are currently four other already published books in this series with potentially more to come because I definitely don't want to say goodbye to these characters yet.
May 8, 2022
Excellent installment in series! Not a stand alone.
Excellent book 2! I'm excited for book 3 already.
This is a slow burn by every possible definition. If you can't handle the slowest of burns, then you should read this series for the healing journey depicted, not the romance.
Personally, I love a slow burn than spans several books.
I got the audiobook with the kindle, which was jumping the gun because I ended up reading it all on Kindle only, but I'll probably take in at least one of these as an audiobook as well.
Excellent book 2! I'm excited for book 3 already.
This is a slow burn by every possible definition. If you can't handle the slowest of burns, then you should read this series for the healing journey depicted, not the romance.
Personally, I love a slow burn than spans several books.
I got the audiobook with the kindle, which was jumping the gun because I ended up reading it all on Kindle only, but I'll probably take in at least one of these as an audiobook as well.
December 17, 2016
OK, there's a third one coming, right? Right? **checks** OK, phewww.
It was fun seeing Emma and Jamie grown up and on their own but you know what this book was missing? Soccer! There were some small sections about practices but no games.
Anything more I have to say would give away plot points, so just go read it and then we can discuss it.
It was fun seeing Emma and Jamie grown up and on their own but you know what this book was missing? Soccer! There were some small sections about practices but no games.
Anything more I have to say would give away plot points, so just go read it and then we can discuss it.
November 18, 2023
Oh my god FINE I'll go onto book 3! Christie knows what she did (crafted a decades-spanning story that at first seems like a dumb soccer romance but then becomes a reflection on commodification of athletes in the modern capitalist hellscape. And then also the nice girls we like finally kiss at one point).
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