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Sidelined
From the author of the whip smart and charming Trouble Brewing comes a fast-paced story about a female football coach that will have you laughing out loud and cheering for the home team as you wait for the final whistle of the game.
When Connor McGuire loses out on his dream job of being the head coach of the local high school football team, he thinks life can’t get any worse. Then he discovers just who got the coveted position—it was a handout to the kid of a well-known, successful college coach. Connor’s sure this is just a publicity stunt, but the kid turns out to be not only a sharp strategist, but a driven and sexy young woman, too. Frustrated in more ways than one, Connor realizes that he might have to step up his game or risk losing altogether.
Coach Charlotte “Charlie” Gibb calls a flag on the play when she finds out that her very male, very attractive, but definitely-rooting-for-her-to-lose assistant coach resents her for taking what he considers to be his rightful position. But never one to back down from a little healthy competition, Charlie is determined to prove her worth—both on and off the field.
Baltsar’s “sweet, funny, witty, addictive writing,” ( New York Times bestselling author Samantha Young) is not to be missed!
When Connor McGuire loses out on his dream job of being the head coach of the local high school football team, he thinks life can’t get any worse. Then he discovers just who got the coveted position—it was a handout to the kid of a well-known, successful college coach. Connor’s sure this is just a publicity stunt, but the kid turns out to be not only a sharp strategist, but a driven and sexy young woman, too. Frustrated in more ways than one, Connor realizes that he might have to step up his game or risk losing altogether.
Coach Charlotte “Charlie” Gibb calls a flag on the play when she finds out that her very male, very attractive, but definitely-rooting-for-her-to-lose assistant coach resents her for taking what he considers to be his rightful position. But never one to back down from a little healthy competition, Charlie is determined to prove her worth—both on and off the field.
Baltsar’s “sweet, funny, witty, addictive writing,” ( New York Times bestselling author Samantha Young) is not to be missed!
320 pages, Paperback
First published August 27, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 190 reviews
August 25, 2022
This is a Sport Romance. This is about Charlie a woman that becomes a head high school football coach, but Conner the asst. coach felt he should have become the head coach. He felt that they did not need to bring in anyone, so of course he did not like Charlie at first. Before to long he went for hating Charlie to loving Charlie. I love this book so much. I found this book to be a fun read with great characters. I love books with strong head woman as a main character. I did win an advance readers copy of this book from a goodreads giveaway, but this review is 100% my opinion.
August 15, 2019
I had heard some great things about this book and I love that cover, so I was pretty eager to get into it.
I really liked Charlie. She’s smart and knows that she’s good and doesn’t try to diminish that. Connor was okay. He’s pretty stand-off-ish and spent the majority of the book that way. I was in complete agreement with Charlie about his whiplash. The only way we knew he had feelings was because his inner monologue said so. I did enjoy the friend group, yet at times it felt like I should have known their stories and background already.
Plot wise, it was okay, bordering on a bit slow. My main complaint is that I just never warmed up to Charlie and Connor as a couple. I didn’t see the chemistry and their arguing came across as arguing, not banter. I didn’t catch the jump from lust to like to love.
Overall, it was a quick read. I loved the plot about her being a woman coach and reading about all aspects of that. Sadly, the romance part left me wanting.
**Huge thanks to Gallery for providing the arc free of charge**
I really liked Charlie. She’s smart and knows that she’s good and doesn’t try to diminish that. Connor was okay. He’s pretty stand-off-ish and spent the majority of the book that way. I was in complete agreement with Charlie about his whiplash. The only way we knew he had feelings was because his inner monologue said so. I did enjoy the friend group, yet at times it felt like I should have known their stories and background already.
Plot wise, it was okay, bordering on a bit slow. My main complaint is that I just never warmed up to Charlie and Connor as a couple. I didn’t see the chemistry and their arguing came across as arguing, not banter. I didn’t catch the jump from lust to like to love.
Overall, it was a quick read. I loved the plot about her being a woman coach and reading about all aspects of that. Sadly, the romance part left me wanting.
**Huge thanks to Gallery for providing the arc free of charge**
October 12, 2019
I won this in a Goodreads giveaway. More of a 3.5 stars as I didn’t really like the main love interest but a nice easy to read book.
August 26, 2019
3.5/5
I love an enemies to lovers storyline and even though I’m not a football fan whatsoever, the premise of this just sounded too cute to pass up. Initially, I wasn’t too sure about this one because it seemed pretty in your face with its message of female empowerment. That sounds awful, don’t get me wrong, I love a strong female character more than just about anything, but it was kind of in your face right from the start. Thankfully things settled down a little pretty quickly and I wound up really enjoying this one in the end. It was fast and flirty and there was lots of pretty cute, playful banter between Connor and Charlie, which is basically the most important thing to me in any romance. Overall a breezy summer read, if you like super strong female leads, you’ll enjoy this one!
I love an enemies to lovers storyline and even though I’m not a football fan whatsoever, the premise of this just sounded too cute to pass up. Initially, I wasn’t too sure about this one because it seemed pretty in your face with its message of female empowerment. That sounds awful, don’t get me wrong, I love a strong female character more than just about anything, but it was kind of in your face right from the start. Thankfully things settled down a little pretty quickly and I wound up really enjoying this one in the end. It was fast and flirty and there was lots of pretty cute, playful banter between Connor and Charlie, which is basically the most important thing to me in any romance. Overall a breezy summer read, if you like super strong female leads, you’ll enjoy this one!
August 27, 2019
Enemies to lovers? Sports romance? Big burly man who plays dad to a younger sibling with a secret heart of gold? SIGN ME UP.
When Charlie Gibbs takes the role of head coach on a high school football, she (yes, she) knows there are going to be challenges from the rest of the coaching staff - especially the man who was passed over in place of Charlie, Connor. While trying to work together to coach the team, Charlie and Connor are at each others throats - and in a romance, we all know what that means! HELLO SPARKS!
I absolutely loved the banter between Charlie and Connor (Connor is totally a swoonworthy book crush), the softer, more vulnerable sides we saw of each of them and of course the romance. Baltsar also threw in her two characters Blake and Piper from Trouble Brewing which was a nice nod to fans of hers that have read that one - and who doesn't want to check on how past couples are doing? Having read Baltsar's last book, I saw tremendous growth from her first book to her second and really enjoyed myself reading Sidelined. I know I will definitely be reading more from this new voice in the future.
Thank you to Gallery books for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
When Charlie Gibbs takes the role of head coach on a high school football, she (yes, she) knows there are going to be challenges from the rest of the coaching staff - especially the man who was passed over in place of Charlie, Connor. While trying to work together to coach the team, Charlie and Connor are at each others throats - and in a romance, we all know what that means! HELLO SPARKS!
I absolutely loved the banter between Charlie and Connor (Connor is totally a swoonworthy book crush), the softer, more vulnerable sides we saw of each of them and of course the romance. Baltsar also threw in her two characters Blake and Piper from Trouble Brewing which was a nice nod to fans of hers that have read that one - and who doesn't want to check on how past couples are doing? Having read Baltsar's last book, I saw tremendous growth from her first book to her second and really enjoyed myself reading Sidelined. I know I will definitely be reading more from this new voice in the future.
Thank you to Gallery books for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
August 31, 2019
Find this review and more at kimberlyfaye reads.
I found Sidelined intriguing since I first read the blurb. A female head football coach in an antagonistic enemies to lovers romance with the man she beat out for the job? Come on, that has my name written all over it. It gave me a nice mix of football, feminism and feels.
Sidelined was a quiet romance. It wasn’t exactly a slow burn, but things between Charlie and Connor built slowly. There wasn’t a lot of on the page heat, but what it lacked in sexy times it made up for in character development. I have to say, though, I didn’t always love Charlie or Connor. It was difficult to get a read on each of them at times and I had a tough time understanding their motivations. But something about them together just seemed right though, even if they were better at pushing each other’s buttons than opening up to each other and confronting their feelings. As frustrating as I found the way they danced around each other at times, I couldn’t help but root for them. Thankfully they got it together before it was all said and done and I got the swoony feels I needed from their story.
I particularly appreciated the take on traditional gender roles and the strength of Charlie’s character. It takes a strong woman to put up with the misogyny she did and not roll over. I think it’s something that a lot of readers will find relatable, even if what they deal with doesn’t occur on a football field. I know I sure did. I’m all for female empowerment – in and out of the bedroom – in my books, so I really connected with that storyline. Sidelined was my first Suzanne Baltsar book, but it won’t be my last. I can’t wait to see what she gives us next, but in the meantime I’m going to check out her backlist.
I received a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Favorite Quotes:
“I’ve already heard all the whispered rumors and passive-aggressive insults, so if you have an issue with the fact that I wear a bra instead of a jockstrap, you can come to me directly. I have no tolerance for bullshit.”
“We coach. We fight. We coach. We fight. We’ve got a good routine going.”
Romantic adult relationships should come with a warning—nobody talked about the hazards of those the way they did about smoking.
Mediocre men were celebrated. Highly skilled women were doubted.
November 8, 2018
Hacking it in a man’s world of competitive sports is tough, but as the head coach of a high-school football team with disgruntled men with the boys’ club mentality, Charlie Gibb starts off with everything against her.
I commiserated immediately. ‘Sidelined’ was a book I wanted to read because I needed to see a woman succeed in a position that typically garners misogynistic comments, barely-veiled sexual barbs and plain old discrimination because of her gender. To this extent, Suzanne Baltsar tells a pretty decent New Adult story of what it probably takes to make it—and stay standing—in an all boys’ club.
It was primarily characterisation of the unlikeable protagonists that I had a problem with—and a pairing that I simply couldn’t get behind. I found neither Connor Mcguire nor Charlie Gibb blameless in all their self-made conflicts, stubborn and defensive as they were of their own behaviour without wanting to give each other an inch for most of the book. The shift from enemies-to-lovers came too abruptly (I didn’t feel much chemistry there) and I just couldn’t quite get the frenzied push-pull that was somehow called heated foreplay when all I saw was hostile sniping and unkind insults.
To begin with, Charlie wasn’t easy to like, abrasive and pushy (and sometimes lacking total control of her emotions) as she was after her years of fighting male opposition and public scrutiny. In fact, she was one of the most callously insensitive ‘heroines’ I’ve ever come across; making light of Connor’s history in comparison to the way she’d tried to overcome her own insecurities and her constantly eagerness to push the blame onto Connor for their relationship problems made her bloody intolerable.
Yet frankly, I'm also well aware that she might be a protagonist I can see some readers liking for standing her ground as stubbornly as possible while shooting her mouth out at everything that her sensibilities are offended by.
On the other hand, throw in Connor’s emotional shutdowns, the constant blowing hot and cold? I was tired of them by the time I finished the book.
I wish I liked ‘Sidelined’ a lot better—I did come in expecting a rom-com-type story, but was left feeling by the end of it as though I was stuck with a pairing that would easily fall apart when the next big obstacle was thrown their way.
*ARC by the publisher via Netgalley
I commiserated immediately. ‘Sidelined’ was a book I wanted to read because I needed to see a woman succeed in a position that typically garners misogynistic comments, barely-veiled sexual barbs and plain old discrimination because of her gender. To this extent, Suzanne Baltsar tells a pretty decent New Adult story of what it probably takes to make it—and stay standing—in an all boys’ club.
It was primarily characterisation of the unlikeable protagonists that I had a problem with—and a pairing that I simply couldn’t get behind. I found neither Connor Mcguire nor Charlie Gibb blameless in all their self-made conflicts, stubborn and defensive as they were of their own behaviour without wanting to give each other an inch for most of the book. The shift from enemies-to-lovers came too abruptly (I didn’t feel much chemistry there) and I just couldn’t quite get the frenzied push-pull that was somehow called heated foreplay when all I saw was hostile sniping and unkind insults.
To begin with, Charlie wasn’t easy to like, abrasive and pushy (and sometimes lacking total control of her emotions) as she was after her years of fighting male opposition and public scrutiny. In fact, she was one of the most callously insensitive ‘heroines’ I’ve ever come across; making light of Connor’s history in comparison to the way she’d tried to overcome her own insecurities and her constantly eagerness to push the blame onto Connor for their relationship problems made her bloody intolerable.
Yet frankly, I'm also well aware that she might be a protagonist I can see some readers liking for standing her ground as stubbornly as possible while shooting her mouth out at everything that her sensibilities are offended by.
On the other hand, throw in Connor’s emotional shutdowns, the constant blowing hot and cold? I was tired of them by the time I finished the book.
I wish I liked ‘Sidelined’ a lot better—I did come in expecting a rom-com-type story, but was left feeling by the end of it as though I was stuck with a pairing that would easily fall apart when the next big obstacle was thrown their way.
*ARC by the publisher via Netgalley
November 28, 2019
"Chick-lit Delight"
A Romantic Comedy filled with Frenemies and miscommunications!
This debut romantic comedy was a filled with vignettes of misunderstanding and fraught with love and lust aplenty.
Charlie leaves behind a world of college football, where her coaching talent is overlooked primarily because she is a woman. She learns that her new job, while very fulfilling is also challenged by her fellow coach and some parents and students that don't think a woman is competent to fulfill her new roll at a large high school. Charlie's talent is evident but can she win the respect, she so desires? To add to this mix, she is confused by her desire for the coach, who applied for her job and also is her assistant! What is a woman to do?
I loved the obvious and not so obvious message the author incorporates. Charlie is faced with finding balance in her life. She has always been career focused. This has left her with a deficit of friends and an opportunity to express her needs and desires. She is challenged to change and never realized how much she craved connection with others. Additionally, she now understands how she lacked affirmation as she grew up, her dad being remote and emotionless, after the death of her mom at a very young age.
The author also subtly addresses the need for woman and men to focus on the importance of connection with others, not just career. It is a big concern today though so many seem oblivious to the importance of focusing not just achieving career success but social needs.
Ms. Baltsar also affirms women in their attempt to compete with men on all "playing fields". To maintain their true self while pursuing their dreams.
There are many steamy scenes between the covers. Personally, I don't care for such gratuitous activities (I think it detracts from the story) but I know most would heartily disagree.
Ms. Baltsar has talent and I would consider reading more by her.
A Romantic Comedy filled with Frenemies and miscommunications!
This debut romantic comedy was a filled with vignettes of misunderstanding and fraught with love and lust aplenty.
Charlie leaves behind a world of college football, where her coaching talent is overlooked primarily because she is a woman. She learns that her new job, while very fulfilling is also challenged by her fellow coach and some parents and students that don't think a woman is competent to fulfill her new roll at a large high school. Charlie's talent is evident but can she win the respect, she so desires? To add to this mix, she is confused by her desire for the coach, who applied for her job and also is her assistant! What is a woman to do?
I loved the obvious and not so obvious message the author incorporates. Charlie is faced with finding balance in her life. She has always been career focused. This has left her with a deficit of friends and an opportunity to express her needs and desires. She is challenged to change and never realized how much she craved connection with others. Additionally, she now understands how she lacked affirmation as she grew up, her dad being remote and emotionless, after the death of her mom at a very young age.
The author also subtly addresses the need for woman and men to focus on the importance of connection with others, not just career. It is a big concern today though so many seem oblivious to the importance of focusing not just achieving career success but social needs.
Ms. Baltsar also affirms women in their attempt to compete with men on all "playing fields". To maintain their true self while pursuing their dreams.
There are many steamy scenes between the covers. Personally, I don't care for such gratuitous activities (I think it detracts from the story) but I know most would heartily disagree.
Ms. Baltsar has talent and I would consider reading more by her.
November 3, 2019
I picked this book because I love books about strong, independent women -unfortunately, the synopsis didn't make it clear to me that this was going to be a typical romance, with a lot of sexy thoughts, furtive glances and panting of breath as well as the inevitable.
I did love the idea of the book -the new high-school football coach is a woman who took away the job from a 'deserving' man. And all of the problems with other coaches, students, and parents. Unfortunately, I felt that the resolution to this whole book was wishy-washy and could/should have been handled stronger.
I did not find the main character, Charlie to be aggressive or annoying -she was exactly what she needed to be to make it in a man's world of football, something that most women no longer have to do because of those of us who fought for women's rights in the '70s and '80s.
All in all, I really liked this book except for the lame romance/sex and I especially liked knowing that there really is an IWFL.
*ARC supplied by the publisher.
I did love the idea of the book -the new high-school football coach is a woman who took away the job from a 'deserving' man. And all of the problems with other coaches, students, and parents. Unfortunately, I felt that the resolution to this whole book was wishy-washy and could/should have been handled stronger.
I did not find the main character, Charlie to be aggressive or annoying -she was exactly what she needed to be to make it in a man's world of football, something that most women no longer have to do because of those of us who fought for women's rights in the '70s and '80s.
All in all, I really liked this book except for the lame romance/sex and I especially liked knowing that there really is an IWFL.
*ARC supplied by the publisher.
September 1, 2024
This is a simplistic but fun sports romance about a female high school football coach and the (male) Offensive Coordinator who resents her. Charlie, the daughter of a well-known college coach, wants to be known for her coaching skills on her own terms, so she seeks a job as a high school football coach. This angers the town and the team, and their OC, Connor McGuire, who was sure the head coach spot was his.
There's a lot of "oh my gosh she's a woman, look at her curves and body but really I'm not mad she got the job because she's a woman, just because I deserved it more" whining in the beginning, but we eventually push past this for a fairly charming and quick read.
Charlie is a fun protagonist--she knows her stuff as a football coach; it's the rest of life (female friendships, dating) where she struggles. Once Connor gets his head out of his rear, he's likable enough; he's dealing with recovering from an old ex and needing to open up. The story gets progressively better as we get to know our couple, along with their shared group of friends.
The writing isn't always the crispest, but the story illustrates the inequality women face when battling men in the same fields and the struggles women like Charlie face in a male-dominated field: even when they are better than the men around them. I always love a book with a good sports backdrop, and high school football is fun, especially as Charlie's team tries to win states.
There's some witty banter between Charlie and Connor and a bit of sexual tension, but this is a very PG romance. We see both Charlie and Connor grow a bit as people, root for the local team, and get to enjoy our feisty couple.
There's a lot of "oh my gosh she's a woman, look at her curves and body but really I'm not mad she got the job because she's a woman, just because I deserved it more" whining in the beginning, but we eventually push past this for a fairly charming and quick read.
Charlie is a fun protagonist--she knows her stuff as a football coach; it's the rest of life (female friendships, dating) where she struggles. Once Connor gets his head out of his rear, he's likable enough; he's dealing with recovering from an old ex and needing to open up. The story gets progressively better as we get to know our couple, along with their shared group of friends.
The writing isn't always the crispest, but the story illustrates the inequality women face when battling men in the same fields and the struggles women like Charlie face in a male-dominated field: even when they are better than the men around them. I always love a book with a good sports backdrop, and high school football is fun, especially as Charlie's team tries to win states.
There's some witty banter between Charlie and Connor and a bit of sexual tension, but this is a very PG romance. We see both Charlie and Connor grow a bit as people, root for the local team, and get to enjoy our feisty couple.
September 29, 2019
3.5 stars
September 27, 2019
Spirited, spicy, and sexy.
Sidelined is an enemies-to-more, female empowerment novel with enough chemistry, playful banter, and storyline to make it engaging and swoony.
Sidelined is an enemies-to-more, female empowerment novel with enough chemistry, playful banter, and storyline to make it engaging and swoony.
August 7, 2021
So, I have to be honest and say I think I like the idea of a "battle of the sexes" romance more than an actual romance with this trope. On a positive note, I did like Charlie's fire about her job, her passion for football, and the fact that she doesn't let anyone reduce her worth just because she's a woman. There's also a lot of great scenes with the side characters and I like the emphasis on Charlie's growing friendship with Sonja and Piper. But that's about all I liked in SIDELINED and by the end, I actually disliked both Charlie and Connor
These two have some of the worst communication skills I've ever read in a romance, especially Connor, who's locked down tighter than Fort Knox. They constantly make assumptions about each other, jump to conclusions, run hot and cold every time they're together, and blurt out deeply personal things and then say nothing real for several chapters. They gave me so much whiplash and as the reader this just wasn't fun to read.
The most frustrating thing is that there were these moments where the story would shine, like the side characters, or Charlie and Connor would start to get along and their chemistry would come through, but then it would go down the drain with one misinterpreted statement. While Connor makes a lot of the mistakes in their relationship, Charlie is not blameless for their problems and in particular she does something that I hate in romance novels. Charlie keeps trying to get Connor to open up and be more present in their relationship (that's all fine) but she expects Connor to figure it all out on his own and then gets mad when he can't read her mind and figure out what she wants him to do (not fine). She gives so many mixed signals while Connor barely gives any. Can you see my frustration?! When it comes down to it, I never grew to like Connor and my enjoyment of Charlie lessened as the book went on. Sadly, this was a fail for me.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a honest review
These two have some of the worst communication skills I've ever read in a romance, especially Connor, who's locked down tighter than Fort Knox. They constantly make assumptions about each other, jump to conclusions, run hot and cold every time they're together, and blurt out deeply personal things and then say nothing real for several chapters. They gave me so much whiplash and as the reader this just wasn't fun to read.
The most frustrating thing is that there were these moments where the story would shine, like the side characters, or Charlie and Connor would start to get along and their chemistry would come through, but then it would go down the drain with one misinterpreted statement. While Connor makes a lot of the mistakes in their relationship, Charlie is not blameless for their problems and in particular she does something that I hate in romance novels. Charlie keeps trying to get Connor to open up and be more present in their relationship (that's all fine) but she expects Connor to figure it all out on his own and then gets mad when he can't read her mind and figure out what she wants him to do (not fine). She gives so many mixed signals while Connor barely gives any. Can you see my frustration?! When it comes down to it, I never grew to like Connor and my enjoyment of Charlie lessened as the book went on. Sadly, this was a fail for me.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a honest review
August 29, 2019
There are times when I feel like the timing is perfect for particular books...this was the case for Sidelined.
.
Fall is approaching. Of course down here it’s a little further out...but nonetheless it’s heading this way. For me, Fall is football. Enter Sidelined. I really enjoyed Charlie and the fun spin of a female football coach. Watching the characters grow was a lovely experience. Let’s talk about the cast of characters. Charlie was my favorite with the new BFF’s coming in a close second. Loved the focus on creating female friendships.
.
All in all I ended with a 4 🌟 read. Conner got on my nerves with his constant back and forth 🤷🏻♀️....but I gave him a pass. Overall. Fun fade out romance.
.
Fall is approaching. Of course down here it’s a little further out...but nonetheless it’s heading this way. For me, Fall is football. Enter Sidelined. I really enjoyed Charlie and the fun spin of a female football coach. Watching the characters grow was a lovely experience. Let’s talk about the cast of characters. Charlie was my favorite with the new BFF’s coming in a close second. Loved the focus on creating female friendships.
.
All in all I ended with a 4 🌟 read. Conner got on my nerves with his constant back and forth 🤷🏻♀️....but I gave him a pass. Overall. Fun fade out romance.
February 5, 2020
Three stars: I enjoyed the parts of the book centered around a female breaking into the male dominated world of football, but the romance lacked chemistry.
Charlie has spent her entire life living and breathing football. She is excited when she finally lands a job as a high school football coach. On her first day, Charlie encounters male pushback and hostility. She has a lot to prove, and in order to do it she must win the trust of her colleagues and her players. To make matters worse, there are plenty who don’t think she can do the job, and it doesn’t help that she makes an enemy of her assistant coach, Connor, before she even gets to school. What follows is a season of ups and downs as Charlie learns the ropes, but will she succeed?
What I Liked:
*I was excited to read a book featuring a female football coach. I enjoyed watching Charlie push to succeed in a male dominated world. She had a tough task ahead of her to turn around a losing football team around, but to also do it and prove that a female can coach football is a tall task. It was fun to see Charlie have successes and failures in her first season as a football coach.
*I thought the author did a great job of incorporating football into the story. Whether you are a fan of football or not, I think you can appreciate this book. There isn’t so much football that it will confuse a non football fan, while enough to make the football angle believable.
*Charlie is a strong female protagonist. I admired her tenacity and her determination. She has more to prove than any man in her role, and she tackles everything with ferocity. She is stubborn and doesn’t let anything or anyone stand in her way. She also has a softer side, and I liked seeing her let her guard down here and there.
*Another aspect that I enjoyed was the strong formation of female friendships. Before moving to Minnesota, Charlie never had any real female friends. Luckily, she quickly makes some new friends. I liked that she was willing to let her guard down and let the women in. I am always a fan of stories that feature strong, supportive female friendships.
*I loved Connor’s family. It was a joy to see how devoted Connor was to his mother and sisters, and especially to his brother with special needs. I thought Connor’s relationship with Sean was one of the highlights of the book.
*The book ends with a nice happy ending. All the loose ends are tied up, and things move forward in a positive direction.
And The Not So Much:
*I was not a fan of the romance. Things start off rocky between Connor and Charlie. There is plenty of friction and lots of antagonistic banter. I thought I was going to be in for a fun treat, but it never happened. The romance suddenly goes from bickering to lust. I didn’t think the author took enough time to establish a strong friendship and develop the chemistry. The whole thing felt hurried. I never got behind the relationship. It was a fizzle.
*I got irritated time and time again the way the romance was on again off again. I personally thought Charlie was annoying, especially when she acted insecure and pushed Connor away with her snide remarks. I thought she was irritating.
*The book builds to a dramatic climatic point, and then suddenly the big conflict is solved quickly. It felt like a rushed, patented happily ever after ending. I wasn’t a fan of how easily things turned around.
Sidelined is a book that I wanted to love, but I never got behind the rushed romance. I wanted more antagonistic banter and the establishment of a strong friendship with chemistry. I enjoyed the football aspects, and I appreciated seeing Charlie work to prove herself in a male dominated field. However the lackluster romance and the ready made happy ending made this a miss for me. Plenty of other readers are liking this one so do some research and see if it is for you.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
Charlie has spent her entire life living and breathing football. She is excited when she finally lands a job as a high school football coach. On her first day, Charlie encounters male pushback and hostility. She has a lot to prove, and in order to do it she must win the trust of her colleagues and her players. To make matters worse, there are plenty who don’t think she can do the job, and it doesn’t help that she makes an enemy of her assistant coach, Connor, before she even gets to school. What follows is a season of ups and downs as Charlie learns the ropes, but will she succeed?
What I Liked:
*I was excited to read a book featuring a female football coach. I enjoyed watching Charlie push to succeed in a male dominated world. She had a tough task ahead of her to turn around a losing football team around, but to also do it and prove that a female can coach football is a tall task. It was fun to see Charlie have successes and failures in her first season as a football coach.
*I thought the author did a great job of incorporating football into the story. Whether you are a fan of football or not, I think you can appreciate this book. There isn’t so much football that it will confuse a non football fan, while enough to make the football angle believable.
*Charlie is a strong female protagonist. I admired her tenacity and her determination. She has more to prove than any man in her role, and she tackles everything with ferocity. She is stubborn and doesn’t let anything or anyone stand in her way. She also has a softer side, and I liked seeing her let her guard down here and there.
*Another aspect that I enjoyed was the strong formation of female friendships. Before moving to Minnesota, Charlie never had any real female friends. Luckily, she quickly makes some new friends. I liked that she was willing to let her guard down and let the women in. I am always a fan of stories that feature strong, supportive female friendships.
*I loved Connor’s family. It was a joy to see how devoted Connor was to his mother and sisters, and especially to his brother with special needs. I thought Connor’s relationship with Sean was one of the highlights of the book.
*The book ends with a nice happy ending. All the loose ends are tied up, and things move forward in a positive direction.
And The Not So Much:
*I was not a fan of the romance. Things start off rocky between Connor and Charlie. There is plenty of friction and lots of antagonistic banter. I thought I was going to be in for a fun treat, but it never happened. The romance suddenly goes from bickering to lust. I didn’t think the author took enough time to establish a strong friendship and develop the chemistry. The whole thing felt hurried. I never got behind the relationship. It was a fizzle.
*I got irritated time and time again the way the romance was on again off again. I personally thought Charlie was annoying, especially when she acted insecure and pushed Connor away with her snide remarks. I thought she was irritating.
*The book builds to a dramatic climatic point, and then suddenly the big conflict is solved quickly. It felt like a rushed, patented happily ever after ending. I wasn’t a fan of how easily things turned around.
Sidelined is a book that I wanted to love, but I never got behind the rushed romance. I wanted more antagonistic banter and the establishment of a strong friendship with chemistry. I enjoyed the football aspects, and I appreciated seeing Charlie work to prove herself in a male dominated field. However the lackluster romance and the ready made happy ending made this a miss for me. Plenty of other readers are liking this one so do some research and see if it is for you.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
August 21, 2019
*I received a free copy of Sidelines from Gallery Books via Edelweiss. This has in no way influenced my review which is honest and unbiased.*
3.5 stars
Sidelined was a solid romance, with a strong heroine, and a hero was both an antagonist and a protagonist at the same time.
I enjoyed that the gender roles were different in the story, because having a high school football coach who's a woman isn't all that common. And Charlie had to struggle and fight a lot to get the respect she deserved.
There was especially a big problem with one player and his dad - and they are the reason why I didn't round up to more than 3.5 stars. Their part of the plot wasn't truly resolved in my opinion. Even if other characters who acted badly because Charlie was a woman got their comeuppance, it wasn't fully satisfactory to me.
The banter between Charlie and Connor was really well done - they enjoyed fighting at least as much as they enjoyed making up. And with Charlie having the job Connor had wanted, it was clear from the beginning that they would have a difficult road in front of them.
The novel is well written, and the main characters, as well as their friends and family were well fleshed out.
Most of Sidelined is from Charlie's perspective, but there are chapters from Connor's point of view as well.
3.5 stars
Sidelined was a solid romance, with a strong heroine, and a hero was both an antagonist and a protagonist at the same time.
I enjoyed that the gender roles were different in the story, because having a high school football coach who's a woman isn't all that common. And Charlie had to struggle and fight a lot to get the respect she deserved.
There was especially a big problem with one player and his dad - and they are the reason why I didn't round up to more than 3.5 stars. Their part of the plot wasn't truly resolved in my opinion. Even if other characters who acted badly because Charlie was a woman got their comeuppance, it wasn't fully satisfactory to me.
The banter between Charlie and Connor was really well done - they enjoyed fighting at least as much as they enjoyed making up. And with Charlie having the job Connor had wanted, it was clear from the beginning that they would have a difficult road in front of them.
The novel is well written, and the main characters, as well as their friends and family were well fleshed out.
Most of Sidelined is from Charlie's perspective, but there are chapters from Connor's point of view as well.
March 28, 2019
I love the idea of this book. A female football coach who is faced with a whole lot of men that feel like she isn’t capable of this job even though her qualifications outranks them all. Typical. It was great and highlights something that really isn’t talked about a lot. It’s so hard for women who want to make a career in sports or any job that’s stereotypically “male.” I loved when Charlie would say what was on her mind and stand up for herself instead of pretending she didn’t hear the snide comments. The romance was cute, but honestly the football storyline was my favorite part bc Friday Night Lights vibes and yes women empowerment.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 30, 2019
4.5 stars
What an enjoyable story Sidelined was. Suzanne Beltsar wrote a smart and sassy story that was funny in places, serious in others but a very pleasant surprise from a new-to-me author. Charlie had to have a chip on her shoulder being a woman in a man’s world. She’s made a name for herself in spite of who her father is. But, she is seriously afraid that hiring her was a publicity stunt. No one is behind her except for the athletic director and the principal so she has her work cut out for her bringing the Otters from the worst team in the league to a play-off team. Now, to see where she fits in Minneapolis. She was never any good at making friends so doesn’t expect Sonja and Piper coming at her like a train.
Connor couldn’t believe that he didn’t get the Head Coach position and now he has to put up with a woman telling him how to do his job. On top of it all, she’s infiltrated, not only the locker room but his circle of friends. He can’t seem to get away from her. But, there is a part of him that respects her and she is very easy on the eyes. She is not what he expected … she knows her stuff … she’s sexy as hell and he can’t get enough of her or her attitude.
The banter between Charlie and Connor was unbelievable. They were funny on and off the field. They knew how to push the other’s buttons. They couldn’t help but fall in love since they were so much alike. I loved how Connor called her his pain in the ass but said it with so much love that you couldn’t help but smile.
Suzanne Beltsar really wrote some wonderful characters. Not only were Connor and Charlie a pleasure to read but the supporting characters were wonderful as well. I loved the female empowerment that all her female characters exuded. They were strong, independent women who knew what they wanted in life and went after it with guns blasting. I loved her writing style, her knowledge of football and the way she built the plot. You knew the ending would be explosive and she didn’t disappoint me in the least.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
What an enjoyable story Sidelined was. Suzanne Beltsar wrote a smart and sassy story that was funny in places, serious in others but a very pleasant surprise from a new-to-me author. Charlie had to have a chip on her shoulder being a woman in a man’s world. She’s made a name for herself in spite of who her father is. But, she is seriously afraid that hiring her was a publicity stunt. No one is behind her except for the athletic director and the principal so she has her work cut out for her bringing the Otters from the worst team in the league to a play-off team. Now, to see where she fits in Minneapolis. She was never any good at making friends so doesn’t expect Sonja and Piper coming at her like a train.
Connor couldn’t believe that he didn’t get the Head Coach position and now he has to put up with a woman telling him how to do his job. On top of it all, she’s infiltrated, not only the locker room but his circle of friends. He can’t seem to get away from her. But, there is a part of him that respects her and she is very easy on the eyes. She is not what he expected … she knows her stuff … she’s sexy as hell and he can’t get enough of her or her attitude.
The banter between Charlie and Connor was unbelievable. They were funny on and off the field. They knew how to push the other’s buttons. They couldn’t help but fall in love since they were so much alike. I loved how Connor called her his pain in the ass but said it with so much love that you couldn’t help but smile.
Suzanne Beltsar really wrote some wonderful characters. Not only were Connor and Charlie a pleasure to read but the supporting characters were wonderful as well. I loved the female empowerment that all her female characters exuded. They were strong, independent women who knew what they wanted in life and went after it with guns blasting. I loved her writing style, her knowledge of football and the way she built the plot. You knew the ending would be explosive and she didn’t disappoint me in the least.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
August 19, 2019
3.5 rounding up to 4 stars. A follow up to the first novel in the series, Trouble Brewing, Sidelined follows a different friendship/romantic relationship this time around. This novel focuses on the new head coach for a High School football team, the first female coach they have had. Obviously, this book focuses a lot on female empowerment and equality in what would typically be considered a male dominated occupation. This head coach inevitably falls for an assistant coach, scratch that, they fall in love with each other.
While a predictable romance, this novel does not fail to entertain. I love how it grows the friendships surrounding the main characters even further, using the first novel as a jumping off point. I also enjoyed that the theme of feminism and equality was well addressed and expressed without shoving it down the throat of the reader. It brings up important issues but allows the reader to digest them in an entertaining format. Overall, I also give credit that the majority of the book was very realistic. Most light romance novels tend to overdramatize situations but this one kept it pretty neutral the whole way through.
This novel makes me cross my fingers for a third installment in the series. The author writes entertaining books that address issues in ways not a lot of Women's Fiction can accomplish. Looking forward to what she comes up with next!
While a predictable romance, this novel does not fail to entertain. I love how it grows the friendships surrounding the main characters even further, using the first novel as a jumping off point. I also enjoyed that the theme of feminism and equality was well addressed and expressed without shoving it down the throat of the reader. It brings up important issues but allows the reader to digest them in an entertaining format. Overall, I also give credit that the majority of the book was very realistic. Most light romance novels tend to overdramatize situations but this one kept it pretty neutral the whole way through.
This novel makes me cross my fingers for a third installment in the series. The author writes entertaining books that address issues in ways not a lot of Women's Fiction can accomplish. Looking forward to what she comes up with next!
August 9, 2019
Charlie Gibbs has landed a dream job. The head coach of a high schools football team. She can show how amazing she is at her job. But she isn’t met with open arms by the other coaches, especially Conner McGuire. He thought he was going to get the position. Let me tell you, these two do like each other from the start, but there is some chemistry between them even though neither one want to admit, so they are set either going to stay at each other’s throat or be set on a collision course into each other arms.
Charlie is one tough cookie. She stands up for herself no matter what, and she has to being a female in a predominantly male field. Not only that, but her father is a well known coach so she has a lot to live up to. Having someone question everything you do has to be hard and at times she did come across a little abrasive. But I think I would be too if I had to deal with that all the time. I found her changing a little as the story progressed and I ended up really liking her.
Conner is a gruff but handsome lady’s man. He was vying for the position of head coach so of course he was a little upset when he got passed over. Who could blame him? And he did kinda come across as an ass sometimes (well alot.. at first..) with Charlie but he did come around when he saw how good she was at her job. And of course he has the hots for her, so there was that…
There are a few of the characters that were in Trouble Brewing and I was really happy to see how they were doing, but no worries, you don’t have to read it necessarily to follow along with the other people in the story. However, it is a good one so I would certainly recommend it. Anyway… As someone who doesn’t know all that much about football it was kinda fun to go through the emotions of game times and the coaching that doesn’t always go according to plan. Obnoxious and overbearing parents of players and all.
There was no shortage of sparks between Charlie and Conner. But it was no easy feat either. There was plenty of questioning one another and banter/flirting and some steaminess between them. They had me laughing at times and frustrated with them at others. It was two steps forward and three steps back. I honestly didn’t know whether or not they would end up together but I so wanted them to. And it was fantastic journey with them to find out.
Sidelined was a witty enemies to lovers trope and it was a fun ride with these two. I am curious to see where Baltsar will take us next.
Charlie is one tough cookie. She stands up for herself no matter what, and she has to being a female in a predominantly male field. Not only that, but her father is a well known coach so she has a lot to live up to. Having someone question everything you do has to be hard and at times she did come across a little abrasive. But I think I would be too if I had to deal with that all the time. I found her changing a little as the story progressed and I ended up really liking her.
Conner is a gruff but handsome lady’s man. He was vying for the position of head coach so of course he was a little upset when he got passed over. Who could blame him? And he did kinda come across as an ass sometimes (well alot.. at first..) with Charlie but he did come around when he saw how good she was at her job. And of course he has the hots for her, so there was that…
There are a few of the characters that were in Trouble Brewing and I was really happy to see how they were doing, but no worries, you don’t have to read it necessarily to follow along with the other people in the story. However, it is a good one so I would certainly recommend it. Anyway… As someone who doesn’t know all that much about football it was kinda fun to go through the emotions of game times and the coaching that doesn’t always go according to plan. Obnoxious and overbearing parents of players and all.
There was no shortage of sparks between Charlie and Conner. But it was no easy feat either. There was plenty of questioning one another and banter/flirting and some steaminess between them. They had me laughing at times and frustrated with them at others. It was two steps forward and three steps back. I honestly didn’t know whether or not they would end up together but I so wanted them to. And it was fantastic journey with them to find out.
Sidelined was a witty enemies to lovers trope and it was a fun ride with these two. I am curious to see where Baltsar will take us next.
November 6, 2019
It’s amazing that in 2019, it would still be a big deal that a woman was head coach of a football team. This seems to be the theme with this writer. (ie. women working in “male oriented” fields)
This makes the usual romance story a bit more topical & relevant which I liked.
Good characters& story.
Overall, an easy,quick read.
This makes the usual romance story a bit more topical & relevant which I liked.
Good characters& story.
Overall, an easy,quick read.
January 21, 2019
Connor was in line to become the head football coach, when his dream job is handed to a GIRL. The chemistry and rivalry between Connor and Charlie is unreal from the very beginning, and Baltsar creates characters so 3-dimensional it feels like I know them. When what feels inevitable plays out, it doesn’t feel contrived because of the depth she has given to her characters and their stories. My only complaint was that I wanted to get to know the side characters better, but to my surprise I finished Sidelined only to realize that Baltsar has already written a novel about Piper and Blake! I can’t wait to read it and stay in this world for a little while longer..
November 30, 2018
I absolutely loved this book. It is full of incredibly strong, kind successful women who love and support each other. The male characters are just as engaging. I appreciated the straightforward, no nonsense dialogue, and realistic situations. Charlie is not the kind of woman to cajole or wheedle to get her way, and I loved her frank approach to her job and her life. I also loved her southern background meets Midwestern nice. That made for some fun moments in the story. Another positive to this story was that although the women were strong, the men were not made out to be the villains all the time. Charlie was capable of taking care of herself, and Connor was a kind, quick study as he learned to lover her well. All these elements plus football made this an ideal read! Kudos to Suzanne Balstar for delivering a smart, complex, and truly entertaining read.
August 15, 2019
This book grabbed hold of me and never let go. From the very first page, I was fully invested in Charlie's "new beginning".
Charlie's whole life had been built around football, and after realizing she would never be able to break that glass ceiling at the college level, she pursued, and was hired, for a head coaching position at a Minnesota high school. As expected, she was met with scorn and resistance.
Some of her resistance came in the form of Connor, an assistant coach, who thought he would get the head coaching position. Though he was skeptical, he played along, and eventually realized that Charlie had earned her position. He also began to realize how attracted he was to her and how much he enjoyed her company, but Connor was carrying around a lot of baggage, which was keeping their attraction blossoming into more.
So much to love!
• Charlie being a female in a male dominated profession played a big part in this story, and I liked the way Baltsar explored the issue, but I also liked that it didn't dominate the story. Yes, it was important to the story, but it was just part of Charlie's tale, and the author did a great job keeping that balance in check.
• I love heroines like Charlie. She was such an incredible combination of hard and soft, and I so badly wanted her to succeed, not only in her professional life, but in her personal life as well. Seeing her making and embracing new friends and letting people in was wonderful, and I was really happy with all the progress she made on and off the field.
• There was so much to love about Connor too. I thought he was going to be Mr. Macho, but then he I discovered his family side, and what a wonderful brother, son, and friend he was. He was charming, but he was also tender and was not afraid to show how much he cared.
• The friend group in this book was one I would love to be a part of. Piper, Blake, Bear, and Sonja were all sort of incredible on their own, but the group dynamic was something I couldn't get enough of.
• Charlie + Connor = something really special. It was amazing how well they meshed. They had great chemistry, and I could have listened to them banter all day. I especially liked the way they pushed each other and dug deeper to find the whole person beneath the surface, and my happiness grew with each step they took towards a full fledged relationship.
This book hit all the right notes for me. It was sweet, sexy, funny, charming, witty, and heartwarming, and I greatly enjoyed every moment I spent with Charlie and Connor.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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Charlie's whole life had been built around football, and after realizing she would never be able to break that glass ceiling at the college level, she pursued, and was hired, for a head coaching position at a Minnesota high school. As expected, she was met with scorn and resistance.
Some of her resistance came in the form of Connor, an assistant coach, who thought he would get the head coaching position. Though he was skeptical, he played along, and eventually realized that Charlie had earned her position. He also began to realize how attracted he was to her and how much he enjoyed her company, but Connor was carrying around a lot of baggage, which was keeping their attraction blossoming into more.
So much to love!
• Charlie being a female in a male dominated profession played a big part in this story, and I liked the way Baltsar explored the issue, but I also liked that it didn't dominate the story. Yes, it was important to the story, but it was just part of Charlie's tale, and the author did a great job keeping that balance in check.
• I love heroines like Charlie. She was such an incredible combination of hard and soft, and I so badly wanted her to succeed, not only in her professional life, but in her personal life as well. Seeing her making and embracing new friends and letting people in was wonderful, and I was really happy with all the progress she made on and off the field.
• There was so much to love about Connor too. I thought he was going to be Mr. Macho, but then he I discovered his family side, and what a wonderful brother, son, and friend he was. He was charming, but he was also tender and was not afraid to show how much he cared.
• The friend group in this book was one I would love to be a part of. Piper, Blake, Bear, and Sonja were all sort of incredible on their own, but the group dynamic was something I couldn't get enough of.
• Charlie + Connor = something really special. It was amazing how well they meshed. They had great chemistry, and I could have listened to them banter all day. I especially liked the way they pushed each other and dug deeper to find the whole person beneath the surface, and my happiness grew with each step they took towards a full fledged relationship.
This book hit all the right notes for me. It was sweet, sexy, funny, charming, witty, and heartwarming, and I greatly enjoyed every moment I spent with Charlie and Connor.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
December 27, 2018
Even after not having read the first book in this series, I still enjoyed Connor and Charlie’s story and never felt lost about any of the players, or their individual and collective roles...the backstory was minimal but sufficient. This was not a story just about gender inequality, it also contained an underlying message about a women’s struggles in what is considered a man’s world, the sports backdrop made the story that much more emotion evoking. Overall, an excellent page turner.
This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.
This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.
December 24, 2018
I wish I could properly express how much I loved this book. It had great friendships and a wonderful romance. However, that is not the only thing that I extremely enjoyed about this book. This book expertly handled how a woman navigates roles and jobs than society has deemed only for men. It felt very realistic and the issues that came up were handled so well. I honestly don't know how this could be better. My favorite line from this book was "Mediocre men were celebrated. Highly skilled women were doubted." This just GOT to me and is so so true. If you are a sports fan, you will enjoy this book. If you aren't a sports fan, you will enjoy this book because there is so much depth to this book. I can't wait to go back and read this author's other book!
March 19, 2019
Firstly, thank you so much to Gallery Books and Netgalley for providing my review copy in exchange for review. This book follows a female football coach as she heads into a new job that is dominated by the male gender. I was hoping for love story that also tackled some great topics on gender and discrimination against women in a tactful way. Instead, I was met with a story filled with tropes, an enemies to lovers romance with the chemistry of oil and water, and an ending that had me wanting to throw my kindle through a brick wall. Needless to say, I was very disappointed in this one, unfortunately.
September 19, 2019
This is the 2nd book I've read by this author and it did not disappoint. It was exactly what I thought it would be -- a great, fun, light read with lots of laugh-out-loud moments. Definitely recommend!
Thank you #netgalley and #Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books for the eARC,
Thank you #netgalley and #Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books for the eARC,
August 19, 2019
4.5 Stars!
I’m generally not a fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope, but Sidelined was great fun to read! Probably because it stuck to an actual plot with real-life issues, instead of being all filled with “I hate his guts but he’s so hawt” and “I hate her guts but I want her in my bed” baloney…
Charlotte Gibb is excited to become the first female high school football coach in the state of Minnesota. Having spent her whole life dealing with men who don’t think she’s capable of doing her job because she’s a woman, she’s prepared for all the usual crap that comes with working “in a man’s world.” What she wasn’t prepared for was Connor McGuire.
Connor McGuire hates Charlie Gibb on principle. Not because she’s a woman, but because she took the job he’d been waiting to have for eight years. They start off on the wrong foot, and immediately begin a combative, argumentative relationship. And it was hilarious.
“I’m not big on sweets,” he said.
“Ah. That’s why you’re the way you are. No sugar.”
A slow grin spread across his face. “Hasn’t helped you much either.”
When Charlie and Connor end up having mutual friends, they start spending time together off the field. Before either of them realizes what has happened, they go from “I hate your guts” to realizing the other is the key to fitting all the puzzle pieces of their lives together.
But their love life is a game fraught with false starts and penalties. Charlie realizes she may be playing a position that’s more of what she thinks she should be playing, instead of what she actually wants. Even though football is her life, she still has very womanly desires - to be a wife and have a family - and knows it will take a unique man to let her be who she truly is. Connor is still dealing with a lingering injury to his heart. And instead of treating the injury, he pretends it doesn’t exist and tells himself he’s happy with the life he has of casual flings. Watching Charlie and Connor figure things out was heartwarming and touching, but also a lot of fun.
I’m at the stage in my reading life where there’s not a lot of “new” for me to read. So it’s a treat to enjoy a book that is so unique with its characters and plot. It was great to read a book about a heroine who was so bad ass...but still also had a soft, feminine side. It was great to read a hero who was good to the core, messed up a bunch, but was so earnest in his desire to right his wrongs. Both the hero and heroine were realistic and relatable, and those are the best kinds of characters. I love when the struggles they face are realistic and relatable, and a story isn’t filled with silly drama for the sake of having drama.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I’m a sucker for witty dialogue, and Sidelined has it in spades. There was just enough football in it to make it a sports romance, but not enough to bog down the story for those of us who aren’t huge football fans. I plowed through this charming story in less than 24 hours, which isn’t something I find myself doing much these days since so few books are drawing me in and holding my interest. In short, Sidelined is enemies-to-lovers done right, and this story definitely scored a touchdown!
* thank you to NetGalley and Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review
I’m generally not a fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope, but Sidelined was great fun to read! Probably because it stuck to an actual plot with real-life issues, instead of being all filled with “I hate his guts but he’s so hawt” and “I hate her guts but I want her in my bed” baloney…
Charlotte Gibb is excited to become the first female high school football coach in the state of Minnesota. Having spent her whole life dealing with men who don’t think she’s capable of doing her job because she’s a woman, she’s prepared for all the usual crap that comes with working “in a man’s world.” What she wasn’t prepared for was Connor McGuire.
Connor McGuire hates Charlie Gibb on principle. Not because she’s a woman, but because she took the job he’d been waiting to have for eight years. They start off on the wrong foot, and immediately begin a combative, argumentative relationship. And it was hilarious.
“I’m not big on sweets,” he said.
“Ah. That’s why you’re the way you are. No sugar.”
A slow grin spread across his face. “Hasn’t helped you much either.”
When Charlie and Connor end up having mutual friends, they start spending time together off the field. Before either of them realizes what has happened, they go from “I hate your guts” to realizing the other is the key to fitting all the puzzle pieces of their lives together.
But their love life is a game fraught with false starts and penalties. Charlie realizes she may be playing a position that’s more of what she thinks she should be playing, instead of what she actually wants. Even though football is her life, she still has very womanly desires - to be a wife and have a family - and knows it will take a unique man to let her be who she truly is. Connor is still dealing with a lingering injury to his heart. And instead of treating the injury, he pretends it doesn’t exist and tells himself he’s happy with the life he has of casual flings. Watching Charlie and Connor figure things out was heartwarming and touching, but also a lot of fun.
I’m at the stage in my reading life where there’s not a lot of “new” for me to read. So it’s a treat to enjoy a book that is so unique with its characters and plot. It was great to read a book about a heroine who was so bad ass...but still also had a soft, feminine side. It was great to read a hero who was good to the core, messed up a bunch, but was so earnest in his desire to right his wrongs. Both the hero and heroine were realistic and relatable, and those are the best kinds of characters. I love when the struggles they face are realistic and relatable, and a story isn’t filled with silly drama for the sake of having drama.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I’m a sucker for witty dialogue, and Sidelined has it in spades. There was just enough football in it to make it a sports romance, but not enough to bog down the story for those of us who aren’t huge football fans. I plowed through this charming story in less than 24 hours, which isn’t something I find myself doing much these days since so few books are drawing me in and holding my interest. In short, Sidelined is enemies-to-lovers done right, and this story definitely scored a touchdown!
* thank you to NetGalley and Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review
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