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Varsity Girlfriends #1
Courtside Crush
So much for senior year being the best part of high school.
It all started when I caught my boyfriend cheating on me.
I did what any girl would do — I got revenge. Of course, it didn’t stop there. Thanks to a condemning video, I also got eight weeks of community service and athletic probation right before basketball season is supposed to start. (There goes my spot as captain!)
Thankfully, there’s a guy at Marlowe Junction’s Helping Hands who makes passing the time more enjoyable. He’s gorgeous, funny, and a huge basketball fan.
Too bad he’s also my brother’s biggest enemy…
Courtside Crush is a modern-day retelling of Romeo and Juliet, perfect for anyone who likes their sweet romance with a dash of drama. It is the first book in the Varsity Girlfriends series.
It all started when I caught my boyfriend cheating on me.
I did what any girl would do — I got revenge. Of course, it didn’t stop there. Thanks to a condemning video, I also got eight weeks of community service and athletic probation right before basketball season is supposed to start. (There goes my spot as captain!)
Thankfully, there’s a guy at Marlowe Junction’s Helping Hands who makes passing the time more enjoyable. He’s gorgeous, funny, and a huge basketball fan.
Too bad he’s also my brother’s biggest enemy…
Courtside Crush is a modern-day retelling of Romeo and Juliet, perfect for anyone who likes their sweet romance with a dash of drama. It is the first book in the Varsity Girlfriends series.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 12, 2019
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509 people want to read
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February 7, 2021
“Who could have predicted that when I accidentally bumped into his car after lunch with my keys in hand, that the words ‘cheating scumbag’ would somehow become etched into the side of his door?”
July 13, 2019
*Review can be found at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/ *
Ok I will admit now that I did not realize this was a modern day Romeo and Juliet retelling until I just saw the synopsis now. But it totally makes sense with the forbidden love at the two opposing schools, made worse by the feud between the boys. The book even used "Romeo" as a code name for the male love interest and random references were made throughout the book. I can easily say though that I liked Courtside Crush much better than I ever liked Romeo and Juliet and I highly recommend this as an audiobook since the narrator did a great job portraying Charlie's spunk as well as giving the side character's their own voices.
I will admit that I hate the fact that Charlie would not tell anyone the truth- instead she is willing to doing something terrible and debasing and hurt the feelings of a really nice person. I wanted to shake her and possibly throw an intervention because I knew how it was going to play out and nobody was going to win. I know that Charlie is a 17 year old girl but at times she seemed so immature with how she reacted to stress and drama. She was impulsive and a little reckless, acting on her instincts regardless of what she should actually do. I did like that she finally seemed to understand herself better near the end and that her action became more mature as she really took the time to think out her problems.
The side characters were really well developed as well, like her family dynamic, helping to make a well rounded story. Hands down, Jackson (aka the love interest aka Romeo) was my favorite character in the book overall. He was just a really great guy, so excepting and patient, willing to work around whatever crazy situation Charlie kept throwing out at him and defending her regardless of the crazy. Also Daria is the best friend a girl could ever ask for, helpful and forgiving- and full of rational advice that Charlie usually chooses not to listen too.
This was a cute, clean YA standalone romance that I would easily recommend to those who like retellings, headstrong female main characters and a sweet HEA- for now.
Ok I will admit now that I did not realize this was a modern day Romeo and Juliet retelling until I just saw the synopsis now. But it totally makes sense with the forbidden love at the two opposing schools, made worse by the feud between the boys. The book even used "Romeo" as a code name for the male love interest and random references were made throughout the book. I can easily say though that I liked Courtside Crush much better than I ever liked Romeo and Juliet and I highly recommend this as an audiobook since the narrator did a great job portraying Charlie's spunk as well as giving the side character's their own voices.
I will admit that I hate the fact that Charlie would not tell anyone the truth- instead she is willing to doing something terrible and debasing and hurt the feelings of a really nice person. I wanted to shake her and possibly throw an intervention because I knew how it was going to play out and nobody was going to win. I know that Charlie is a 17 year old girl but at times she seemed so immature with how she reacted to stress and drama. She was impulsive and a little reckless, acting on her instincts regardless of what she should actually do. I did like that she finally seemed to understand herself better near the end and that her action became more mature as she really took the time to think out her problems.
The side characters were really well developed as well, like her family dynamic, helping to make a well rounded story. Hands down, Jackson (aka the love interest aka Romeo) was my favorite character in the book overall. He was just a really great guy, so excepting and patient, willing to work around whatever crazy situation Charlie kept throwing out at him and defending her regardless of the crazy. Also Daria is the best friend a girl could ever ask for, helpful and forgiving- and full of rational advice that Charlie usually chooses not to listen too.
This was a cute, clean YA standalone romance that I would easily recommend to those who like retellings, headstrong female main characters and a sweet HEA- for now.
February 5, 2019
Thank you so much to Kayla Tirrell for providing me with an ARC. I really enjoyed Courtside Crush! Such an interesting take on a Romeo and Juliet story. Basketball can tend to be a boring topic for me, but I absolutely loved this story and didn't mind the basketball at all.
Full review to come!
Full review to come!
August 24, 2019
Really really cute book.
I listened to the audio and the narrator did a super job. Her side character voices (especially Jackson’s) were amazing!
I listened to the audio and the narrator did a super job. Her side character voices (especially Jackson’s) were amazing!
February 11, 2019
Kayla Tirrell has become a go to author for me when it comes to wanting a good contemporary story! So far all of her books have sucked me right in and were fast and fun reads, Courtside Crush did the exact same thing. I read it in two sittings (would've been one if I didn't have to go and be social, haha).
Charlie isn't your typical girl next door, she's not perfect and definitely admits that. She may have gone a bit too far this time. Even though her ex was a jerk (I can't blame her for what she did), a video of her act lands her 8 weeks of community service.
Jackson is my favorite when it comes to all of the amazing characters this author has written. Jackson isn't a bad boy, he helps his Aunt out with community service (looks good on college applications) and loves basketball just like Charlie. The only problem? Jackson is her brother's number one enemy!
I loved the connection Charlie and Jackson had from the start. It felt like fireworks. The added modern day Romeo and Juliet made this love story a lot of fun (luckily it doesn't end as tragic). Even though it was kind of a forbidden romance, I loved how sweet Jackson was. He really cares and isn't your typical jock. I mean, buying Charlie a corsage for a Halloween maze is adorable!
Courtside Crush has all the elements I love in a contemporary: fun characters, fun family moments, swoon worthy romantic moments and great best friends! At times I felt bad for Charlie though and wish she fought more for herself, so she didn't have to hide from her ex. I mean, he was very awful! The only complaint I have is I would've loved to have had more Jackson, maybe even his POV! He was just so sweet, I needed more!
All in all, another wonderful contemporary with a great twist on Romeo and Juliet. I loved the little details throughout the story! I can't wait for the next book, because there are many characters who I would love to read about!
Charlie isn't your typical girl next door, she's not perfect and definitely admits that. She may have gone a bit too far this time. Even though her ex was a jerk (I can't blame her for what she did), a video of her act lands her 8 weeks of community service.
Jackson is my favorite when it comes to all of the amazing characters this author has written. Jackson isn't a bad boy, he helps his Aunt out with community service (looks good on college applications) and loves basketball just like Charlie. The only problem? Jackson is her brother's number one enemy!
I loved the connection Charlie and Jackson had from the start. It felt like fireworks. The added modern day Romeo and Juliet made this love story a lot of fun (luckily it doesn't end as tragic). Even though it was kind of a forbidden romance, I loved how sweet Jackson was. He really cares and isn't your typical jock. I mean, buying Charlie a corsage for a Halloween maze is adorable!
Courtside Crush has all the elements I love in a contemporary: fun characters, fun family moments, swoon worthy romantic moments and great best friends! At times I felt bad for Charlie though and wish she fought more for herself, so she didn't have to hide from her ex. I mean, he was very awful! The only complaint I have is I would've loved to have had more Jackson, maybe even his POV! He was just so sweet, I needed more!
All in all, another wonderful contemporary with a great twist on Romeo and Juliet. I loved the little details throughout the story! I can't wait for the next book, because there are many characters who I would love to read about!
July 14, 2025
Ahh! I just finished reading this book for the second time and somehow it was even better than the first! The amount of tabs and underlining in my copy is a lot hehe. It was just so good!! Jackson is literally my absolute favorite. He's so amazing and everything a girl would want in a guy. I also love how sarcastic and funny Charlie is.
To be completely honest this book had me sighing and squealing in some parts, and raging mad in others. If you read the book, you know what I'm talking about. I'm just glad everything worked out, cuz otherwise I would've marched back to Mrs Kayla's house and asked for a rewrite lol.
This book was so amazing and so fun to read! I loved it all the way through, and was totally engrossed both times.
10/10 would recommend if you want a fun read that's a lot like a good chick flick😂
To be completely honest this book had me sighing and squealing in some parts, and raging mad in others. If you read the book, you know what I'm talking about. I'm just glad everything worked out, cuz otherwise I would've marched back to Mrs Kayla's house and asked for a rewrite lol.
This book was so amazing and so fun to read! I loved it all the way through, and was totally engrossed both times.
10/10 would recommend if you want a fun read that's a lot like a good chick flick😂
March 10, 2019
3,5 STARS
YOU CAN ALSO FIND THIS REVIEW ON MY BLOG https://antonellasbookworld.blogspot....
Courtside Crush was a quick, fun and sweet read and I finished it in less than three hours! I'm not a fan of Romeo and Juliet, however, I did like how the story was somewhat inspired to the tragedy, even though at the end it wasn't a tragedy at all, which made this read even better.
The story features Charlie, a high school girl who loves playing basketball. She catches her boyfriend making out with a cheerleader and she decides to key his car as a revenge. The action isn't overlooked at and she ends up doing community service.
And here she meets Jackson, a boy from the other high school in town. Long story short, Jackson turns out to be Brooks, the biggest enemy of Charlie's brother, Preston, from the rival Pembrooks basketball team.
And here comes the Romeo and Juliet tragedy. How Charlie and Jackson can stay together with her brother's animosity toward Jackson?
The story was fast-paced and a light read. It was fun and sweet, however I felt like this story could have been something more. Everything seemed rushed. I felt like it was just touched the surface. Charlie is described as the best in her girl basketball team, but there is barely something about it. I love sport, especially basketball, and I felt that on this point the story was really weak. Basketball should have been the central point, but it was anything but. Romeo and Juliet was the other central point and it was strong in this point, but everything seemed superficial and it could have been fixed from the start if Charlie wouldn't have been so dumb.
I liked the way Jackson's and Charlie's story developed. They meet while she was doing community service and he was likable from the start. I was interesting on how Charlie would have dealt with the fact that he was her brother's rival. However, I felt disappointed when she turned out to be dumb in that part. She could have been straightforward about her story with Jackson with her brother from the start. It didn't seem like a big deal, but she made everything bigger than it really was.
Anyway, except for this, it was a good, short romantic story that made me swoon and smile. I enjoyed it and I would recommend it for whoever wants to have a light read.
*Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
YOU CAN ALSO FIND THIS REVIEW ON MY BLOG https://antonellasbookworld.blogspot....
Courtside Crush was a quick, fun and sweet read and I finished it in less than three hours! I'm not a fan of Romeo and Juliet, however, I did like how the story was somewhat inspired to the tragedy, even though at the end it wasn't a tragedy at all, which made this read even better.
The story features Charlie, a high school girl who loves playing basketball. She catches her boyfriend making out with a cheerleader and she decides to key his car as a revenge. The action isn't overlooked at and she ends up doing community service.
And here she meets Jackson, a boy from the other high school in town. Long story short, Jackson turns out to be Brooks, the biggest enemy of Charlie's brother, Preston, from the rival Pembrooks basketball team.
And here comes the Romeo and Juliet tragedy. How Charlie and Jackson can stay together with her brother's animosity toward Jackson?
The story was fast-paced and a light read. It was fun and sweet, however I felt like this story could have been something more. Everything seemed rushed. I felt like it was just touched the surface. Charlie is described as the best in her girl basketball team, but there is barely something about it. I love sport, especially basketball, and I felt that on this point the story was really weak. Basketball should have been the central point, but it was anything but. Romeo and Juliet was the other central point and it was strong in this point, but everything seemed superficial and it could have been fixed from the start if Charlie wouldn't have been so dumb.
I liked the way Jackson's and Charlie's story developed. They meet while she was doing community service and he was likable from the start. I was interesting on how Charlie would have dealt with the fact that he was her brother's rival. However, I felt disappointed when she turned out to be dumb in that part. She could have been straightforward about her story with Jackson with her brother from the start. It didn't seem like a big deal, but she made everything bigger than it really was.
Anyway, except for this, it was a good, short romantic story that made me swoon and smile. I enjoyed it and I would recommend it for whoever wants to have a light read.
*Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
February 18, 2019
Thank you to Kayla Tirrell for providing me with a copy of Courtside Crush, in exchange for an honest review!
Once upon a time, I wrote this review for Kayla Tirrell’s first release, All The Things We Lost — which, amazingly enough, she found the review to be fun & wanted to send me a copy of her newest release, Courtside Crush! I was honestly so excited that she was providing me with a chance to see the growth she made as a writer; so again, thank you, Kayla!
Courtside Crush is pitched as Romeo & Juliet meets basketball & that concept right there truly sold me when Kayla e-mailed me. I am an actual sucker for the forbidden love & star-crossed lovers trope. & what makes it even better in this read is that the main characters, Charlie & Jackson, acknowledge their Romeo & Juliet-esque romance multiple times.
Courtside Crush takes off with Charlie, apparently taking notes from Carrie Underwood, as she keys ‘cheater' into her ex-boyfriend’s car. She then is forced onto athletic probation and multiple months of volunteer work — which is where she meets the new love interest Jackson. Things seem great, until she realizes Jackson is the same person her brother has an opposing basketball team rivalry with.
As with All The Things We Lost, I did find there to be a lot of predictability in Courtside Crush — but, hey, it’s YA Romance & as with All The Things We Lost, I didn’t expect to be shocked.
There’s really nothing that I didn’t like about Courtside Crush, besides Anderson, Charlie’s ex-boyfriend & that’s because, wow, total douche alert. But, hey, we all need someone to hate, amiright?
I absolutely love all of the relationships that Charlie has — from her brother, Preston to her best friend, Daria & of course, Jackson. There was so much softness & fluff in Courtside Crush & a nice dash of angst to even out the entire thing.
Really, ghouls, Courtside Crush is a fast read & definitely worth the couple of hours it’ll take to read it. & as a person who did review Kayla Tirrell’s first book — I’d like to say that you could really see her growth has a writer!
Once upon a time, I wrote this review for Kayla Tirrell’s first release, All The Things We Lost — which, amazingly enough, she found the review to be fun & wanted to send me a copy of her newest release, Courtside Crush! I was honestly so excited that she was providing me with a chance to see the growth she made as a writer; so again, thank you, Kayla!
Courtside Crush is pitched as Romeo & Juliet meets basketball & that concept right there truly sold me when Kayla e-mailed me. I am an actual sucker for the forbidden love & star-crossed lovers trope. & what makes it even better in this read is that the main characters, Charlie & Jackson, acknowledge their Romeo & Juliet-esque romance multiple times.
Courtside Crush takes off with Charlie, apparently taking notes from Carrie Underwood, as she keys ‘cheater' into her ex-boyfriend’s car. She then is forced onto athletic probation and multiple months of volunteer work — which is where she meets the new love interest Jackson. Things seem great, until she realizes Jackson is the same person her brother has an opposing basketball team rivalry with.
As with All The Things We Lost, I did find there to be a lot of predictability in Courtside Crush — but, hey, it’s YA Romance & as with All The Things We Lost, I didn’t expect to be shocked.
There’s really nothing that I didn’t like about Courtside Crush, besides Anderson, Charlie’s ex-boyfriend & that’s because, wow, total douche alert. But, hey, we all need someone to hate, amiright?
I absolutely love all of the relationships that Charlie has — from her brother, Preston to her best friend, Daria & of course, Jackson. There was so much softness & fluff in Courtside Crush & a nice dash of angst to even out the entire thing.
Really, ghouls, Courtside Crush is a fast read & definitely worth the couple of hours it’ll take to read it. & as a person who did review Kayla Tirrell’s first book — I’d like to say that you could really see her growth has a writer!
February 7, 2019
This was a cute quick read from a new to me author. I did enjoy the characters and the way the story flowed. Charlie was likable and Jackson was downright sweet. I adored Charlie’s family dynamic and her relationship with her brother.
The reason my rating dropped was because I felt so much was left unsolved. We have the drama with her ex that I would have liked to see an actual ending for. Also, I wasn’t satisfied with how it ended with her and Jackson. An epilogue would have been great to see them together and happy.
All in all, I just wanted a bit more from this one. I am looking forward to the author’s next release and maybe that one will work a bit better for me.
I received an ARC for an honest review.
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The reason my rating dropped was because I felt so much was left unsolved. We have the drama with her ex that I would have liked to see an actual ending for. Also, I wasn’t satisfied with how it ended with her and Jackson. An epilogue would have been great to see them together and happy.
All in all, I just wanted a bit more from this one. I am looking forward to the author’s next release and maybe that one will work a bit better for me.
I received an ARC for an honest review.
Blog | Instagram | Twitter
August 2, 2019
Lovely amusing romance story!
(Listened to the audiobook)
The narrator is great and the story is great. I kept on listening to this fun, sweet little retelling of Romeo & Juliet. I love Charlie and Jackson, they’re great people and cute together. This is my first book of this author but I love her worldbuilding and dialogues so I’d love to read or listen more from her. This also is my first time reading a series made up by different authors so I’m curious to the (to me unknown) authors of book 2 & 3. Glad to see that this author will return to this series with book 4, can’t wait for that one!
(Listened to the audiobook)
The narrator is great and the story is great. I kept on listening to this fun, sweet little retelling of Romeo & Juliet. I love Charlie and Jackson, they’re great people and cute together. This is my first book of this author but I love her worldbuilding and dialogues so I’d love to read or listen more from her. This also is my first time reading a series made up by different authors so I’m curious to the (to me unknown) authors of book 2 & 3. Glad to see that this author will return to this series with book 4, can’t wait for that one!
October 2, 2019
I like the idea of the story but the character development was lacking, the consequences for blackmail and bullying were never addressed which was disappointing. The only thing addressed was Charlie's behavior but no one else seemed to care. but very entertaining book, easy read.
January 8, 2019
Courtside Crush is so much fun. I loved Charlie and Jackson. I swear I could feel their connection, it was palpable. I love that Charlie wasn’t your typical goodie goodie or bargirl. She was the perfect combination of good and bad, I mean aren’t we all a little of both? I think this made her super relatable which made me love this book even more. If I had a complaint it would be there wasn’t enough Jackson, because SWOON! Seriously Kayla you could write this story from his perspective and I would gobble it up! Such a great start to what I’m sure will be an amazing series’
September 23, 2022
2.75 Stars
I have to say, when I decided I wanted to read this book I knew full well what kind of book I will read, and I expected to give it this rating so it was a nice read overall
The story is about Charlie who gets community service after she trashed her cheating ex boyfriends car, and there she meets Jackson and their chemistry is undeniable .. until she discovers that he is her brother's worst enemy
it's kind of a star crossed lovers story ( but not nearly as dramatic ) it's a zero drama book very suitable for a sick person who wants to waste some time ( like me now ), nothing worth mentioning but its an old school high school book
I have to say, when I decided I wanted to read this book I knew full well what kind of book I will read, and I expected to give it this rating so it was a nice read overall
The story is about Charlie who gets community service after she trashed her cheating ex boyfriends car, and there she meets Jackson and their chemistry is undeniable .. until she discovers that he is her brother's worst enemy
it's kind of a star crossed lovers story ( but not nearly as dramatic ) it's a zero drama book very suitable for a sick person who wants to waste some time ( like me now ), nothing worth mentioning but its an old school high school book
February 5, 2019
Well, that was absolutely adorable! This is my first read from this author and will not be my last! I didn’t anticipate how much I would enjoy this one. I couldn’t put the book down. This is the first book in a new series. It’s a young adult story centered around high school basketball, with both main characters playing the sport.
The writing was great. The pacing was perfect. The characters were all well developed. Jackson was so sweet and I adored him. Charlie was a completely unexpected character. She was not bad but not quite good either. While she came off with a really strong personality in the beginning, she definitely got weaker over the course of the novel, and I was pretty unimpressed at her decisions in regards to the ex-boyfriend. I won’t spoil anything, but you’ll know what scene I’m talking about when you read it. I did enjoy all the Romeo and Juliet references. I liked the final scene but wish there was just a tiny bit more of a conclusion for Charlie and Jackson.
Overall, I really liked this one, and am looking forward to the next book in the series.
* ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
The writing was great. The pacing was perfect. The characters were all well developed. Jackson was so sweet and I adored him. Charlie was a completely unexpected character. She was not bad but not quite good either. While she came off with a really strong personality in the beginning, she definitely got weaker over the course of the novel, and I was pretty unimpressed at her decisions in regards to the ex-boyfriend. I won’t spoil anything, but you’ll know what scene I’m talking about when you read it. I did enjoy all the Romeo and Juliet references. I liked the final scene but wish there was just a tiny bit more of a conclusion for Charlie and Jackson.
Overall, I really liked this one, and am looking forward to the next book in the series.
* ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
May 15, 2019
Courtside Crush is the first book in the Varsity Girlfriends serie and this book is written by Kayla Tirrell. This was my second book by her and I really loved it. Courside Crush is a modern day retelling of Romeo and Juliet and I loved Charlie and Jackson. This book was so sweet and funny!
April 18, 2019
Varsity Girlfriends #Book1
https://ladiikeiii.wordpress.com/2019...
••••Not that many spoilers but there are some•***
So okay, I understand when you have rivals, it was the same way with my old school Brunswick vs. Greensville... but her (Charlie) brother Preston took it too far; I don’t even think that Jackson also cares too much about that rivalry at all. Plus; it only got too serious once evil pinhead Anderson did what he did to Charlie which was horrible. I wanted someone to literally beat Anderson up for what he did to Charlie not once but three times. What crazy was Preston was so stuck on the rivalry with Jackson that he didn’t even go after his sister. I was glad when she told both Jackson and Preston off during that game that they both ruin for themselves. Because it was ridiculous, but in the end, I was glad that her best friend Daria was there for her because everybody else including her brother was horrible to that girl. It was so much girl could take, but only people did was laugh at her and stuff that was bullying her... but glad in the end, I was glad her and Preston back talking, and she and Jackson got back together.
https://ladiikeiii.wordpress.com/2019...
••••Not that many spoilers but there are some•***
So okay, I understand when you have rivals, it was the same way with my old school Brunswick vs. Greensville... but her (Charlie) brother Preston took it too far; I don’t even think that Jackson also cares too much about that rivalry at all. Plus; it only got too serious once evil pinhead Anderson did what he did to Charlie which was horrible. I wanted someone to literally beat Anderson up for what he did to Charlie not once but three times. What crazy was Preston was so stuck on the rivalry with Jackson that he didn’t even go after his sister. I was glad when she told both Jackson and Preston off during that game that they both ruin for themselves. Because it was ridiculous, but in the end, I was glad that her best friend Daria was there for her because everybody else including her brother was horrible to that girl. It was so much girl could take, but only people did was laugh at her and stuff that was bullying her... but glad in the end, I was glad her and Preston back talking, and she and Jackson got back together.
February 5, 2019
Courtside Crush was a quick, fun read and I finished it in less than a day! The romance was cute and I had so much fun reading it.
It was fast-paced and it was over before I knew it. I barely had the time to catch my breath, and the drama just kept coming in waves!
The characters are very lovable! I love how loving and supportive the main character's brother is, and how the people around her rock their roles. Even the villain of the story is actually villain-material, not some sappy "I'm misunderstood, please forgive my mistakes" guy.
Here's a non-spoiler trivia fact: A lot of the boy's names end with "on" LOL. Preston, Anderson, Jackson, Greyson. What the heck???
The worldbuilding is okay, it's giving me the high school vibes and just makes me want to make the most out of my HS days. Marlowe Junction is the perfect sort of place for a modern Romeo and Juliet.
The plot has everything when it comes to high school drama: crushes and romantic relationships, supportive best friends, secrets (why can't they just tell their secrets and get over it already?!), and the iconic this-is-gonna-change-everything fight.
I love how Romeo and I Juliet is inserted into this story. As I read on, I discover little details that makes it feel A LOT like a modern day retelling of the famous Shakesperean play.
The only problems I could find with this book are 1) how come the main character does not know the physical appearance of her brother's worst enemy? Like, even her best friend knows how he looks like. It's nothing major but it's a plot hole that's bugged me while I kept on reading the book. And 2) the MC is so self-destructive, she tells herself "I will be good from now on" and then, 5 minutes later, she's doing ignorant stuff. I just think that with all the punishments threatening her, shouldn't she at least before thoughtful and careful, and definitely more disciplined? Especially when she refuses to be recognized as a delinquent?
In general, Courtside Crush is a quick, romantic read that will make you fall in love with everything about it's existence. This gorgoue book made me laugh, cry, giggle, and swoon (over Jackson). I highly recommend this book to everyone, PLEASE READ!!!
It was fast-paced and it was over before I knew it. I barely had the time to catch my breath, and the drama just kept coming in waves!
The characters are very lovable! I love how loving and supportive the main character's brother is, and how the people around her rock their roles. Even the villain of the story is actually villain-material, not some sappy "I'm misunderstood, please forgive my mistakes" guy.
Here's a non-spoiler trivia fact: A lot of the boy's names end with "on" LOL. Preston, Anderson, Jackson, Greyson. What the heck???
The worldbuilding is okay, it's giving me the high school vibes and just makes me want to make the most out of my HS days. Marlowe Junction is the perfect sort of place for a modern Romeo and Juliet.
The plot has everything when it comes to high school drama: crushes and romantic relationships, supportive best friends, secrets (why can't they just tell their secrets and get over it already?!), and the iconic this-is-gonna-change-everything fight.
I love how Romeo and I Juliet is inserted into this story. As I read on, I discover little details that makes it feel A LOT like a modern day retelling of the famous Shakesperean play.
The only problems I could find with this book are 1) how come the main character does not know the physical appearance of her brother's worst enemy? Like, even her best friend knows how he looks like. It's nothing major but it's a plot hole that's bugged me while I kept on reading the book. And 2) the MC is so self-destructive, she tells herself "I will be good from now on" and then, 5 minutes later, she's doing ignorant stuff. I just think that with all the punishments threatening her, shouldn't she at least before thoughtful and careful, and definitely more disciplined? Especially when she refuses to be recognized as a delinquent?
In general, Courtside Crush is a quick, romantic read that will make you fall in love with everything about it's existence. This gorgoue book made me laugh, cry, giggle, and swoon (over Jackson). I highly recommend this book to everyone, PLEASE READ!!!
January 27, 2019
I devoured this book as quick as I could, even with work and life getting in the way I managed to get it finished in 2 sittings. It was amazing. I love the Romeo and Juliet take on the book and even how it is worked within the pages. You will have to read it to find out how it ends though :)
I couldn't help loving Jackson from the start. Even when all the drama comes out I stood by his side as I flipped through each page. I found myself wanting to yell at Charlie but I understand it's hard when there are other factors involved that can really upset someone that is really close to you. The budding romance was so adorable I found myself smiling to the point my cheeks hurt. Also the banter between them was enough to make me literally laugh out loud and get weird looks from my other half.
This book is set in a mainly a high school but you also get some outside settings of houses and community service locations. I loved getting to follow Charlie around to get more wonderful pictures of her and Jackson into my head.
This is a clean romance but it will still leave you with the warm fuzzies as you read through each page. It was so sweet I couldn't help but devour it and love each and every chapter I went through. I found my emotions on a rollercoaster ride needing to know what happens next and I know you all will too!
I couldn't help loving Jackson from the start. Even when all the drama comes out I stood by his side as I flipped through each page. I found myself wanting to yell at Charlie but I understand it's hard when there are other factors involved that can really upset someone that is really close to you. The budding romance was so adorable I found myself smiling to the point my cheeks hurt. Also the banter between them was enough to make me literally laugh out loud and get weird looks from my other half.
This book is set in a mainly a high school but you also get some outside settings of houses and community service locations. I loved getting to follow Charlie around to get more wonderful pictures of her and Jackson into my head.
This is a clean romance but it will still leave you with the warm fuzzies as you read through each page. It was so sweet I couldn't help but devour it and love each and every chapter I went through. I found my emotions on a rollercoaster ride needing to know what happens next and I know you all will too!
June 4, 2019
I really liked this! It was not what I expected.
I really liked that it didn't follow a stereotypical storyline. It sort of combined a few tropes, but in a different way. It was a refreshing take.
I did think the ending was a bit rushed. All of a sudden, problems/conflicts were resolved and it was the end. I would have liked an epilogue or something to see how things were a few weeks/months later. But maybe that's just what I am accustomed to with most YA romance stories.
I have conflicting feelings about Charlie. At first, I really disliked her. She was very childish and selfish. She was whiny and at times entitled. After the first few chapters, some of this went away, but I almost put the book down because I could not stand her at first.
Jackson was a fun character. I wish we got to see a little bit more of him. I think he was good for Charlie. I wish we got to see/hear some of his thoughts on the basketball game.
I liked Preston as well. He seemed like a great older brother. He clearly cares a lot about Charlie and wants the best for her.
The entire Anders0n part was extremely annoying. At first, I didn't think he deserved what Charlie did to him, but as the story went along and we saw more of him, I started to really hate him. He was a bully, in every sense of the word. The repeated taunting and blackmailing was horrible. I also think the teachers/principals would catch on to what he was doing, especially the video. High schoolers aren't as sneaky as they think.
Adding to that idea, the basketball team was super annoying. The idea that they would ostracize Charlie for the video/Anders0n debacle, is a little extreme/crazy. I REALLY hope they would support their teammate rather than shun her.
The parents were great. They clearly cleared for their children, even those that weren't biologically theirs.
I hope we get to see more of Charlie and Jackson in the later books.
I really liked that it didn't follow a stereotypical storyline. It sort of combined a few tropes, but in a different way. It was a refreshing take.
I did think the ending was a bit rushed. All of a sudden, problems/conflicts were resolved and it was the end. I would have liked an epilogue or something to see how things were a few weeks/months later. But maybe that's just what I am accustomed to with most YA romance stories.
I have conflicting feelings about Charlie. At first, I really disliked her. She was very childish and selfish. She was whiny and at times entitled. After the first few chapters, some of this went away, but I almost put the book down because I could not stand her at first.
Jackson was a fun character. I wish we got to see a little bit more of him. I think he was good for Charlie. I wish we got to see/hear some of his thoughts on the basketball game.
I liked Preston as well. He seemed like a great older brother. He clearly cares a lot about Charlie and wants the best for her.
The entire Anders0n part was extremely annoying. At first, I didn't think he deserved what Charlie did to him, but as the story went along and we saw more of him, I started to really hate him. He was a bully, in every sense of the word. The repeated taunting and blackmailing was horrible. I also think the teachers/principals would catch on to what he was doing, especially the video. High schoolers aren't as sneaky as they think.
Adding to that idea, the basketball team was super annoying. The idea that they would ostracize Charlie for the video/Anders0n debacle, is a little extreme/crazy. I REALLY hope they would support their teammate rather than shun her.
The parents were great. They clearly cleared for their children, even those that weren't biologically theirs.
I hope we get to see more of Charlie and Jackson in the later books.
February 17, 2019
I enjoyed reading this book. Charlie might be a little too much sometimes - but let's all blame it to hormones, after all, teenage kids sometimes have problems on controlling their emotions - we have been there, we know the drill. Charlie can be relatable most of the times, she'd remind you of your high school days, and all the dramas that surrounds her. She's brave - I'd give it to her, with all the things she did to her cheating boyfriend. She might not be rational at times, but then again *teenage-hormones waving*.
I like her relationship with Pres and her best friend, now if she could have told the truth and save everyone the trouble. But, she tries to save everyone from heartache, which eventually fell back on her. And Jackson, he's such a charming boy who likes her too much. He'd do anything for her.
It's a good thing they had it all figured out, but it was quite a bumpy road for Charlie. She came out strong though, as well as her relationship not just with Jackson, but with her friends and family as well.
This book stresses out the importance of honesty in all kinds of relationships. If you want a clean, cute YA romance, this one is for you!
I like her relationship with Pres and her best friend, now if she could have told the truth and save everyone the trouble. But, she tries to save everyone from heartache, which eventually fell back on her. And Jackson, he's such a charming boy who likes her too much. He'd do anything for her.
It's a good thing they had it all figured out, but it was quite a bumpy road for Charlie. She came out strong though, as well as her relationship not just with Jackson, but with her friends and family as well.
This book stresses out the importance of honesty in all kinds of relationships. If you want a clean, cute YA romance, this one is for you!
June 19, 2019
A Terrific YA Story Enjoyable for Any Age! 4.5 Stars🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Courtside Crush
Varsity Girlfriends, Book 1
By: Kayla Tirrell
Narrated by: Megan Meyer
This is a terrific story, it is well written, well told and I enjoyed it from start to end. It is not a typical young adult romance, it is so much more. Kayla Tirrell’s storylines are interesting and realistic. She captures teenage living, the challenges they face and the struggles they go through. The characters are well developed, I really liked Charlie, how she started to grow as a person and see the error of her ways. I also liked her best friend Daria, who always had her back. No comment on Anderson, but Jackson, I really liked him, he seemed more mature than others his age, I would love to hear more from him and what makes him tick. I loved the Romeo and Juliette theme in this story using the love of basketball and rival teams, well played! I highly recommend this story, it is entertaining and fast paced, there is never a dull moment, has plenty of drama, angst and some sweet romance. Kayla Tirrell thank you for another great story!
I listened to the Audible edition, Megan Meyer did a great job narrating the story and performing the voices of all the characters, giving each their own unique sound and easy to follow the conversation and dialogue. Thank you for the great listen🎧
Courtside Crush
Varsity Girlfriends, Book 1
By: Kayla Tirrell
Narrated by: Megan Meyer
This is a terrific story, it is well written, well told and I enjoyed it from start to end. It is not a typical young adult romance, it is so much more. Kayla Tirrell’s storylines are interesting and realistic. She captures teenage living, the challenges they face and the struggles they go through. The characters are well developed, I really liked Charlie, how she started to grow as a person and see the error of her ways. I also liked her best friend Daria, who always had her back. No comment on Anderson, but Jackson, I really liked him, he seemed more mature than others his age, I would love to hear more from him and what makes him tick. I loved the Romeo and Juliette theme in this story using the love of basketball and rival teams, well played! I highly recommend this story, it is entertaining and fast paced, there is never a dull moment, has plenty of drama, angst and some sweet romance. Kayla Tirrell thank you for another great story!
I listened to the Audible edition, Megan Meyer did a great job narrating the story and performing the voices of all the characters, giving each their own unique sound and easy to follow the conversation and dialogue. Thank you for the great listen🎧
August 24, 2019
(4.5 stars) - Great YA story - with a parental caveat
I'm one of those who totally disliked Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" (and this is coming from a geek who actually loved his comedies), but I figured there was no way a YA romance would end so stupidly, so liking the description otherwise, I decided to give it a try.
Frankly, I was expecting this to be the usual fluffy YA story, but it got surprisingly intense toward the end. It was hard watching Charlie do something that I knew would be a terrible mistake, but I've seen adults trust where they should know better, so it's not that incredible for a 17 year old to do it..
Jacob seems pretty awesome, though I wish we had gotten a little more insight into his character. I love that he tried to keep Charlie from feeling like she had to choose between him and her brother.
I love the happy yet realistic way that the story ends. I have 6 siblings & can vouch that the family part is true to life. :-)
I'm looking forward to the rest of the series (and I hope a certain character gets reformed or gets his somewhere along the way)!
The narrator read well & was a good choice for depicting youthful voices!
*Clean romance level: sweet kisses
*Parents, of younger teens especially, may want to discuss Charlie's situation & how she handled it versus better ways that she could have done so.
I'm one of those who totally disliked Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" (and this is coming from a geek who actually loved his comedies), but I figured there was no way a YA romance would end so stupidly, so liking the description otherwise, I decided to give it a try.
Frankly, I was expecting this to be the usual fluffy YA story, but it got surprisingly intense toward the end. It was hard watching Charlie do something that I knew would be a terrible mistake, but I've seen adults trust where they should know better, so it's not that incredible for a 17 year old to do it..
Jacob seems pretty awesome, though I wish we had gotten a little more insight into his character. I love that he tried to keep Charlie from feeling like she had to choose between him and her brother.
I love the happy yet realistic way that the story ends. I have 6 siblings & can vouch that the family part is true to life. :-)
I'm looking forward to the rest of the series (and I hope a certain character gets reformed or gets his somewhere along the way)!
The narrator read well & was a good choice for depicting youthful voices!
*Clean romance level: sweet kisses
*Parents, of younger teens especially, may want to discuss Charlie's situation & how she handled it versus better ways that she could have done so.
January 10, 2019
I honestly have no idea where to begin!! I've been super fortunate enough to read several other stories by Kayla and I've LOVED LOVED LOVED them all; this one was no exception. I was enraptured by the characters of Charlie and Jackson immediately from the 1st page and I flew through this book in less than 2 hours. I found myself feeling every emotion of Charlie and Jackson's relationship and everything in between. I didnt want the story to end and I certainly hope we'll get more of these 2 Chatacters in a future book. I do have to state, if above anything else, I'd really love to see Anderson get his comeuppance; so please Kayla, feed my greed and just give me MORE MORE MORE!!!! Side note, Kayla is an awesome author and if you haven't read anything else by her yet, do yourself and her a favor and go buy her other books; you wont be disappointed! I can't wait to read what she writes next! ❤❤❤❤❤❤
February 4, 2019
Courtside Crush was such a light and sweet romance read. I absolutely loved Jackson! Charlotte (Charlie) was also a wonderful character although she frustrated me at times. I thought she made things harder on herself by the choices she made. I even enjoyed the side characters. There was a little drama, betrayal and blackmailing but when you have a group of high school teens something is bound to happen. However, there were also sweet and heartfelt moments. I loved the relationship Charlie had with her brother Preston and her best friend Daria. I enjoyed this story a lot and I look forward to reading Varsity Girlfriends which is the next book in this series. This book leaves me wanting to check out previous books from this author. I will definitely be recommending this book to family and friends looking for a great romance read and it's also a book I think my daughter would enjoy. This is also a story that can be enjoyed more than once.
January 10, 2019
Courtside Crush is such an adorable read! Charlie has gotten in trouble from time to time and then she finds out her boyfriend cheats on her and she does something I wish I would have done when that happen to me 😂 side note DO NOT do that you will get in trouble. But anyways she gets assigned for helping hands for 8 weeks. During that time she meets the swoon worthy Jackson! He’s sweet and kind and the kind of guy you want to meet. Little does she know it’s her brothers rival. And that’s when things start to stir the pot. But I’m not going to go any further because I’ll give things away. But I’ll say this you should get your hands on this book ASAP! It is so good and I read it in one sitting! So if your looking for a good book to make you smile and laugh then this is the one for you! My friend Kayla is a wonderful writer and I’m so glad she let me read an ARC of this book ❤️
February 12, 2019
I enjoyed every single page of this book- thank you Kayla for the eARC!
Courtside Crush brought back all kinds of memories and emotions from high school- the good, the bad, and the ugly. This sweet YA is so well-written that I could feel what Charlie was experiencing- the stress of team tryouts, guilt from keeping secrets from her bff, and butterflies from stolen glances with her forbidden Romeo. I especially love how multi-dimensional the Charlie character is. She’s neither a goody goody nor a troublemaker, but instead, a passionate teenager who sometimes acts on emotion before thinking it through.
This sweet romance is a really fun, clean read that might make you nostalgic about your own high school days!
Courtside Crush brought back all kinds of memories and emotions from high school- the good, the bad, and the ugly. This sweet YA is so well-written that I could feel what Charlie was experiencing- the stress of team tryouts, guilt from keeping secrets from her bff, and butterflies from stolen glances with her forbidden Romeo. I especially love how multi-dimensional the Charlie character is. She’s neither a goody goody nor a troublemaker, but instead, a passionate teenager who sometimes acts on emotion before thinking it through.
This sweet romance is a really fun, clean read that might make you nostalgic about your own high school days!
March 1, 2019
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Charlie caught her boyfriend cheating on her and keyed his car for revenge. Except she got caught and now has to do community service if she wants to stay at her school. And she wants to. So she starts it and it might not be as bad as she thought it would be thanks to the very good looking guy she gets to hang out with. What's even better is that he knows his basketball just as well as she does. Except he turns out to be her brother's enemy.
I read this while travelling and it was the perfect travel read. Short, light and pretty fun. But it lacked depth and it was a bit too short for me to connect with the characters. Also, most of the plot revolved about a very simple problem. I had trouble connecting with the main characters, she was just making bad decisions after bad decisions. Still, if you're looking for a light, fun, YA romance, this is your book...
Charlie caught her boyfriend cheating on her and keyed his car for revenge. Except she got caught and now has to do community service if she wants to stay at her school. And she wants to. So she starts it and it might not be as bad as she thought it would be thanks to the very good looking guy she gets to hang out with. What's even better is that he knows his basketball just as well as she does. Except he turns out to be her brother's enemy.
I read this while travelling and it was the perfect travel read. Short, light and pretty fun. But it lacked depth and it was a bit too short for me to connect with the characters. Also, most of the plot revolved about a very simple problem. I had trouble connecting with the main characters, she was just making bad decisions after bad decisions. Still, if you're looking for a light, fun, YA romance, this is your book...
February 26, 2019
Cute YA Romeo and Juliet story with some minor niggles.
Charlie and Jackson are likeable main characters, though Jackson - while I appreciate that he's one of the good guys - stays a bit too bland and passive for my taste.
The sibling drama seems a bit blown out of proportion, and we don't get real closure on the storyline with the ex.
That being said, I liked that Charlie had a friend like Daria in her corner, and that even somewhat-nemesis Sammi turned out to be a decent human being.
Looking forward to reading more books in the series (and by this author in general)!
Charlie and Jackson are likeable main characters, though Jackson - while I appreciate that he's one of the good guys - stays a bit too bland and passive for my taste.
The sibling drama seems a bit blown out of proportion, and we don't get real closure on the storyline with the ex.
That being said, I liked that Charlie had a friend like Daria in her corner, and that even somewhat-nemesis Sammi turned out to be a decent human being.
Looking forward to reading more books in the series (and by this author in general)!
September 5, 2019
A wonderful well written rival school forbidden romance story. This engaging storyline stressed the importance of honesty, shows effects of lying, had drama, supportive families and friends, thru a rollercoaster of emotions that had me on the edge page after page for outcome. A really fun, enjoyable YA romance that was cute, funny, and endearing thru the trials of high school. The characters were well developed with laugh out loud banter and great supporting casts of family and friends. The narration was a great job of giving all characters their own voices along with portraying the emotions and spunk of each. Really made me feel as I voluntarily listened and reviewed this amazing story adding extra layer of enjoyment.
February 12, 2019
Courtside Crush had me hooked from the first page until the end and left me wanting more. I instantly fell in love with Jackson, and would love to read his side of things ;). Thank you, Kayla, for an eARC. I highly recommend this sports romance to everyone. This is my favorite book by Kayla so far!!!
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