What do you think?
Rate this book
Rival
The last time I saw Grant Sullivan, I told him to leave Winter Harbor and never return.
And now he's back.
For good? I doubt that. Doesn't matter if he's the new coach of a rival football team. Doesn't matter if looking at him makes my blood heat, my pulse throb in longing. He's dead to me.
Grant Sullivan is the first man I ever fell in love with.
The man who stomped my heart into pieces.
A beautiful liar.
Grant Sullivan is, and always will be, my enemy.
Rival is a standalone, enemies-to-lovers M/M romance with a HEA.
And now he's back.
For good? I doubt that. Doesn't matter if he's the new coach of a rival football team. Doesn't matter if looking at him makes my blood heat, my pulse throb in longing. He's dead to me.
Grant Sullivan is the first man I ever fell in love with.
The man who stomped my heart into pieces.
A beautiful liar.
Grant Sullivan is, and always will be, my enemy.
Rival is a standalone, enemies-to-lovers M/M romance with a HEA.
310 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 12, 2020
83 people are currently reading
125 people want to read
About the author
M.A. Gray
9 books36 followersM.A. Gray writes M/M new adult and contemporary romance. She writes men with holes in their hearts and patches on their souls.
Instagram: @authormagray
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gWVf_1
Instagram: @authormagray
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gWVf_1
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
May 26, 2020
"I am a man, and so I am greed and hate and all the vices that go along with it. I am envy, and I am truth, and my truth is this: I want Parker more than I want a pure untainted heart."
I enjoyed this story at a certain extent. I just wished there was more romance to it. The acceptable kind of romance and not stalker and cross the boundaries kind of romance. There was a moment wherein one of the characters invaded the private space of the other and its a big no for me. Also, it was full of tension and angst between the main characters, Parker and Grant. There were those times I wanted to smack them both together. Overall, I was quite disappointed with this one. After reading The Keeper by the same author and loved it, I thought this was good too. I just didn't vibed with most of the things happened. My heart didn't flutter. No butterflies in my stomach.
I enjoyed this story at a certain extent. I just wished there was more romance to it. The acceptable kind of romance and not stalker and cross the boundaries kind of romance. There was a moment wherein one of the characters invaded the private space of the other and its a big no for me. Also, it was full of tension and angst between the main characters, Parker and Grant. There were those times I wanted to smack them both together. Overall, I was quite disappointed with this one. After reading The Keeper by the same author and loved it, I thought this was good too. I just didn't vibed with most of the things happened. My heart didn't flutter. No butterflies in my stomach.
![Profile Image for Megan [At The Cottage].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1634561405i%2F25103878._UY200_CR50%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
November 10, 2021
MM Romance
Enemies To Lovers/Second Chance Sports Romance
3.5 stars rounded up
This book is about two best friends who are both into each other and the night that tears them apart. This book takes place mostly in the present but there are flashbacks to their high school days, 10 years ago. The flashbacks were done really well because they were placed in the right spots to make them relevant to the present and some really made an emotional impact.
In the present, Grant is an injured quarterback that has been playing in the NFL for the LA Rams and appears to have it all but is living a deceitful life. His agent sends him back home for the first time in 10 years to heal and coach a hs football team. Parker never left their hometown and is now the football coach of the other high school’s rival team. This pits these two against each other but they have more issues than just football.
This book had really good moments like the hot AF tryst these two had at a private sex club, the small town dynamics including the secondary characters and Grant’s transformation from liar to the real deal. It even had parts that moved me to tears because of love between them even if they both felt all hope was lost. However, there were things I hated too. There was a separation near the end of the book with a woman who had no business even being there. I knew there would be a separation based on the storyline but this one was ridiculous. Parts of this book were so corny I felt like rolling my eyes especially the last 5% of the book. But despite everything I liked this book and would like to read more by this author.
Enemies To Lovers/Second Chance Sports Romance
3.5 stars rounded up
This book is about two best friends who are both into each other and the night that tears them apart. This book takes place mostly in the present but there are flashbacks to their high school days, 10 years ago. The flashbacks were done really well because they were placed in the right spots to make them relevant to the present and some really made an emotional impact.
In the present, Grant is an injured quarterback that has been playing in the NFL for the LA Rams and appears to have it all but is living a deceitful life. His agent sends him back home for the first time in 10 years to heal and coach a hs football team. Parker never left their hometown and is now the football coach of the other high school’s rival team. This pits these two against each other but they have more issues than just football.
This book had really good moments like the hot AF tryst these two had at a private sex club, the small town dynamics including the secondary characters and Grant’s transformation from liar to the real deal. It even had parts that moved me to tears because of love between them even if they both felt all hope was lost. However, there were things I hated too. There was a separation near the end of the book with a woman who had no business even being there. I knew there would be a separation based on the storyline but this one was ridiculous. Parts of this book were so corny I felt like rolling my eyes especially the last 5% of the book. But despite everything I liked this book and would like to read more by this author.
September 12, 2022
Wow, what a book 😭
I wanted to hate Grant so so much. There were sooo many things that he did that made me think “why would someone ever want to be with a guy like that?” But his character development was perfection.
I also adored Keon’s part in the story; I disliked his character (naturally) in the beginning but absolutely adored him by the end.
My heart clenched tight at the thought of Grant leaving and the hurt that Parker felt. I felt every emotion and when a book makes me feel that intensely, I consider it a 5 star.
I love love loved this book! It was short and sweet but was able to encapsulate a pretty intense friends-to-strangers-to-enemies-to-lovers as well as a rise up and down fall all in 265 pages.
Also, the smutt was the perfect amount - not too much where the characters just seemed like horny teenagers and not too little where there was no spark or spice.
I really enjoy this author.
I wanted to hate Grant so so much. There were sooo many things that he did that made me think “why would someone ever want to be with a guy like that?” But his character development was perfection.
I also adored Keon’s part in the story; I disliked his character (naturally) in the beginning but absolutely adored him by the end.
My heart clenched tight at the thought of Grant leaving and the hurt that Parker felt. I felt every emotion and when a book makes me feel that intensely, I consider it a 5 star.
I love love loved this book! It was short and sweet but was able to encapsulate a pretty intense friends-to-strangers-to-enemies-to-lovers as well as a rise up and down fall all in 265 pages.
Also, the smutt was the perfect amount - not too much where the characters just seemed like horny teenagers and not too little where there was no spark or spice.
I really enjoy this author.
September 6, 2020
4.5. The ending was a bit abrupt. Rival, has got to be one the best enemies-to-lovers themed books I’ve read. I loved to hate Grant, what a wonderful jerk. And I really appreciated that Parker was not a complete pushover. Although this is a “romance” it has some grit to it.
April 10, 2020
Rtc tomorrow. I have a lot of feelings about this one.
April 29, 2020
Amazon
Grant tore Parker's heart to shreds when he denied their feelings after a hot encounter between the at the time best friends. Since then, Parker has moved on, still living in their small hometown, coaching the local football team. Then Grant strolls back into town with a coaching job for the rival team and wanting to hash over old times between the two. Parker's response? An emphatic hell no, a rejection Grant more than deserves and Grant knows it even as he wants a reunion desperately with the only man he's ever had feelings for. The question is, will Park give him that second chance?
I wanted to love this story. Football? One of my favorite past times. Second chance? One of my favorite tropes. Second chance between two former best friends? Even better than regular second chance. Hot, steamy between the sheets time? Hell yeah! And yet, this story really did not work for me. Why? I didn't like either character really, especially Grant. He was a self-important, entitled, spoiled, selfish douchebag who had no sense of boundaries, and never put anyone ahead of himself until the very freakin' end! Honestly he didn't deserve a second chance, and Parker would have been better off either single or even with his ride or die friend, Claire. But you know what? I didn't particularly care for Parker either. He wasn't very likable, although more palatable than Grant's asshole personality. Really the only reason I'm not 2 starring this is because I loved Keon (one of Parker and Grant's football playing students) and Claire. Everything else just didn't work for me and it's a shame because it has potential and the writing is decent.
ARC via Gay Romance Reviews for an honest review.
Review: Live Through Books Blog.
Blog | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
April 22, 2020
Warning: this might get a bit spoiler-y!
Conflicted. That's how I feel about Rival. On the surface, it should be an easy 5 stars for me: small town romance, enemies to lovers and sports! There's even an underdogs subplot...
My problem is that I wanted to throttle both main characters for most of the book. Grant is the player jock turned NFL star who is so deeply in the closet his whole life is a lie. Parker is the boy he wronged shortly before leaving for college, now grown into a man who still carries a lot of emotional baggage and is the football coach at the local high school in the town they grew up in. When Grant returns to Winter Harbor as the coach on the rival school's football team the two are thrown into each other's orbit after ten years of separation. So, the crux of my problem with these two is that Grant is a mean, selfish, childish bully who consistently let's everyone down and won't take no for an answer. This is also a bit of problem for me as there is borderline dubious consent in parts of the book - Grant interrupts Parker in the shower after a game and, despite Parker saying no more than once, he forces a sexual encounter. This is also an example of my issue with Parker, however, who DOES say he doesn't want Grant initially but then just gives himself up knowing he's going to be left high and dry again. He needs to grow a pair much earlier in the book. That said, when he does finally get a backbone, his reaction is more realistic. Grant does eventually pull his head from out of his @ss, though. He does a complete 180 and his epiphany leads him to make a great grand gesture to win Parker back. Actually, the star of this show is Keon; the tearaway on Grant's team who is the most grounded character in the book.
So, back to my conflict. Despite all of the above, Rival is actually a reasonable read so I'm giving it 3 stars.
An ARC was provided by GRR in exchange for an honest review.
Conflicted. That's how I feel about Rival. On the surface, it should be an easy 5 stars for me: small town romance, enemies to lovers and sports! There's even an underdogs subplot...
My problem is that I wanted to throttle both main characters for most of the book. Grant is the player jock turned NFL star who is so deeply in the closet his whole life is a lie. Parker is the boy he wronged shortly before leaving for college, now grown into a man who still carries a lot of emotional baggage and is the football coach at the local high school in the town they grew up in. When Grant returns to Winter Harbor as the coach on the rival school's football team the two are thrown into each other's orbit after ten years of separation. So, the crux of my problem with these two is that Grant is a mean, selfish, childish bully who consistently let's everyone down and won't take no for an answer. This is also a bit of problem for me as there is borderline dubious consent in parts of the book - Grant interrupts Parker in the shower after a game and, despite Parker saying no more than once, he forces a sexual encounter. This is also an example of my issue with Parker, however, who DOES say he doesn't want Grant initially but then just gives himself up knowing he's going to be left high and dry again. He needs to grow a pair much earlier in the book. That said, when he does finally get a backbone, his reaction is more realistic. Grant does eventually pull his head from out of his @ss, though. He does a complete 180 and his epiphany leads him to make a great grand gesture to win Parker back. Actually, the star of this show is Keon; the tearaway on Grant's team who is the most grounded character in the book.
So, back to my conflict. Despite all of the above, Rival is actually a reasonable read so I'm giving it 3 stars.
An ARC was provided by GRR in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 15, 2020
[1.25 star] not really a fan of this book. one hero feels slightly doormat-ish, the other hero feels like an entitled asshole just because he is a famous athlete.
September 29, 2024
Cute.
Like the characters. Second standalone from this author. Ending was decent.
Like the characters. Second standalone from this author. Ending was decent.
June 11, 2020
For the most part I really enjoyed this book. It had a cute ending and was complex with how they felt for one another but with the complications of their history/careers. However, there were some serious flaws that prevented a higher rating.
First off, I hate the cover. The man's eyes are so obscured that it doesn't look like he has pupils at a glance so it's creepy to me. And the title is pretty misleading; they weren't really rivals even as coaches for rival teams. The rivalry trope was only present for one game. It just didn't fit.
There were a lot of plot points that were brought up but never expanded on with the relationship/romance between Grant and Parker taking over the whole book, which kind of got annoying with the push and pull (I actually almost DNF halfway):
- We're introduced to Grant's difficult team and him knowing he needs to earn their respect and stuff but are only briefly told that they got better after losing their first game. Then the practice scenes disappeared and thus all team bonding/development.
- Additionally, we are told Grant has not visited his mother in five years and I think she only visited him once and we STILL got no bonding moments with them.
- We are told that he started being more comfortable in the town and talking more to people but we got no such scenes. All we got was him sitting at home or stalking Parker and nothing with him getting to know the townspeople, so I wasn't sold that he missed the town (as well as Parker, duh) when he returned to Cali.
- Park's best friend, Claire, is deduced to a prop. She is MIA until she is needed to make Grant jealous or help Parker realize Grant has feelings for him.
- Olivia is introduced but then just disappears.
- All these kids are mentioned but we only see the progress of one.
- We are told that Grant has never received or given penetrative sex so when Parker penetrates him it is a behind-the-door scene that was very briefly mentioned. You would think that was a very significant moment in his life yet we got no emotion or opinion.
If these weren't introduced at all or in a way that implied character/plot development then it wouldn't have been a problem and the book would have been okay focusing on the romance development but I was looking forward to Grant's growth with his mom, the kids, and townspeople.
There were also a few inconsistencies and grammatical errors.
First off, I hate the cover. The man's eyes are so obscured that it doesn't look like he has pupils at a glance so it's creepy to me. And the title is pretty misleading; they weren't really rivals even as coaches for rival teams. The rivalry trope was only present for one game. It just didn't fit.
There were a lot of plot points that were brought up but never expanded on with the relationship/romance between Grant and Parker taking over the whole book, which kind of got annoying with the push and pull (I actually almost DNF halfway):
- We're introduced to Grant's difficult team and him knowing he needs to earn their respect and stuff but are only briefly told that they got better after losing their first game. Then the practice scenes disappeared and thus all team bonding/development.
- Additionally, we are told Grant has not visited his mother in five years and I think she only visited him once and we STILL got no bonding moments with them.
- We are told that he started being more comfortable in the town and talking more to people but we got no such scenes. All we got was him sitting at home or stalking Parker and nothing with him getting to know the townspeople, so I wasn't sold that he missed the town (as well as Parker, duh) when he returned to Cali.
- Park's best friend, Claire, is deduced to a prop. She is MIA until she is needed to make Grant jealous or help Parker realize Grant has feelings for him.
- Olivia is introduced but then just disappears.
- All these kids are mentioned but we only see the progress of one.
- We are told that Grant has never received or given penetrative sex so when Parker penetrates him it is a behind-the-door scene that was very briefly mentioned. You would think that was a very significant moment in his life yet we got no emotion or opinion.
If these weren't introduced at all or in a way that implied character/plot development then it wouldn't have been a problem and the book would have been okay focusing on the romance development but I was looking forward to Grant's growth with his mom, the kids, and townspeople.
There were also a few inconsistencies and grammatical errors.
December 4, 2021
This book was so frustrating. I absolutely hated the main character (Grant). He was entitled and self-centered, and it just kept getting worse and worse. The relationship with him and Parker was beyond toxic - ignoring boundaries, playing stupid jealousy games, toying with Parker over and over again, literally stalking him, manipulating him into sexual behavior on multiple occasions, SO many lies... By the end of the book there was absolutely no way for Grant to be redeemed in my eyes. He was still doing NEW bad things 81% into the book! I kept thinking he couldn't get worse... but he did.
And his "breakthrough" moment doesn't come until 90%... Like... I just don't see a world where he could redeem himself of all of these terrible things in the last 10% of the book, I was just not buying it AT ALL. One grand gesture does not make up for all of his manipulation and lies. Maybe he could have been redeemed over a much longer time in a book 2 or something but I didn't buy it here.
I did like Keon and the team scenes, and it was well written and all, but there were a lot of other problematic things that just really ruined this one for me. Like - Grant lying about where his parents come from was just stupid, as a public figure it would be so easy for someone to look into his history and find that out - wouldn't they know where he played football in high school?? When Grant goes into Parker's house because it's the safest town ever and nothing bad ever happens so nobody ever locks their doors... yet on the other side of town you have and drugs addicts, and gang violence... I think I would lock my door.
Grant as a coach was a TRAIN WRECK,
I felt like this book had a lot of promise in the beginning, and I really liked early Parker, before Grant showed up to town. I enjoyed the way he interacted with his players and his friends, but once Grant showed up, he kind of lost his personality and became strangely submissive and just let Grant steamroll over him. I wanted to be like RUN PARKER RUN. Get out of this toxic mess!
Honestly kind of impressed with how mad this book made me, I haven't been this angry at a book in a long time.
And his "breakthrough" moment doesn't come until 90%... Like... I just don't see a world where he could redeem himself of all of these terrible things in the last 10% of the book, I was just not buying it AT ALL. One grand gesture does not make up for all of his manipulation and lies. Maybe he could have been redeemed over a much longer time in a book 2 or something but I didn't buy it here.
I did like Keon and the team scenes, and it was well written and all, but there were a lot of other problematic things that just really ruined this one for me. Like - Grant lying about where his parents come from was just stupid, as a public figure it would be so easy for someone to look into his history and find that out - wouldn't they know where he played football in high school?? When Grant goes into Parker's house because it's the safest town ever and nothing bad ever happens so nobody ever locks their doors... yet on the other side of town you have and drugs addicts, and gang violence... I think I would lock my door.
Grant as a coach was a TRAIN WRECK,
I felt like this book had a lot of promise in the beginning, and I really liked early Parker, before Grant showed up to town. I enjoyed the way he interacted with his players and his friends, but once Grant showed up, he kind of lost his personality and became strangely submissive and just let Grant steamroll over him. I wanted to be like RUN PARKER RUN. Get out of this toxic mess!
Honestly kind of impressed with how mad this book made me, I haven't been this angry at a book in a long time.
April 22, 2020
I have super mixed feelings on this book. The bones to a really good story are here. There are points in the book that are so powerful your chest hurts. There is great drama, character redemptions, poignancy. And unfortunately, that’s what makes this review so hard because there is also a whole lot of hot mess.
Parker and Grant played HS football together and were best friends. They shared one night of intimacy and then Grant crushed Parker’s heart, left town and ended up playing in the NFL. Now Grant is back in town for the first time in ten years after suffering a major injury, his career hanging in the balance and having to deal with so many things he has never dealt with, including his feelings for Parker, who, by the way, hates him.
OK, so enemies to lovers trope, whatever…we can deal with some of the willing suspension of disbelief. But this plot asks us to take that to a completely ridiculous level. Additionally, there is so much wrong here. Either the author did absolutely no research or they are unbelievably lazy. Not only are there factual errors, timeline errors, football errors (unforgiveable in a sports story) but the lack of editing and proofreading is heinous. The author clearly doesn’t understand how college athletics work. A college freshman cannot have an agent “from day one at UCLA”…there would be no day two because he’d be ineligible. The way the school year and football season is portrayed is completely ludicrous. The way the timeline is structured here the football season must have lasted the entire school year! The portrayal of how HS athletics works, how coaches are hired, etc. is insulting. Portrayal of scholarships? Rules of football? Understanding of the difference between offense and defense? Interrupting a game in the middle of the fourth quarter for drama? An NFL QB who is injured disappearing during the season and his team not knowing where he is or what he’s doing? The lies told by said player and no one (particularly the media) being able to finding out what would be the simple truth? It’s all just beyond, like way, way beyond, dramatic license. It’s insulting. Were there no editors? No beta readers? No one with a rudimentary knowledge of schools and sports to provide guidance?
I spent so much time screaming at the negatives that it unfortunately overwhelmed the positives. And as I mentioned at the start of the review, there is a lot of positive. The basic premise is intriguing and the characters are intriguing. Grant is a complete jerk for most of the book and that was a bit too much to take but the ultimate redemption, while pretty unrealistic is at an acceptable level of fiction for this trope. Parker is a saint who is way, way to patient but ah, the heart wants what the heart wants. The dramatic ending is swoony.
I think this book could have been saved and turned into a much better piece with the help of a really good editor and proofreader and some beta readers with some knowledge. If you are a reader who is good with complete suspension of disbelief, and not as picky as I am, then none of this may bother you. Or, if you yourself don’t notice the errors because it’s not something in your wheelhouse you may have no issues at all. In that case, you will no doubt enjoy the book. I, however, can’t enjoy a book if you take my head out of the game.
**I voluntarily read an ARC and this is my objective review.**
Parker and Grant played HS football together and were best friends. They shared one night of intimacy and then Grant crushed Parker’s heart, left town and ended up playing in the NFL. Now Grant is back in town for the first time in ten years after suffering a major injury, his career hanging in the balance and having to deal with so many things he has never dealt with, including his feelings for Parker, who, by the way, hates him.
OK, so enemies to lovers trope, whatever…we can deal with some of the willing suspension of disbelief. But this plot asks us to take that to a completely ridiculous level. Additionally, there is so much wrong here. Either the author did absolutely no research or they are unbelievably lazy. Not only are there factual errors, timeline errors, football errors (unforgiveable in a sports story) but the lack of editing and proofreading is heinous. The author clearly doesn’t understand how college athletics work. A college freshman cannot have an agent “from day one at UCLA”…there would be no day two because he’d be ineligible. The way the school year and football season is portrayed is completely ludicrous. The way the timeline is structured here the football season must have lasted the entire school year! The portrayal of how HS athletics works, how coaches are hired, etc. is insulting. Portrayal of scholarships? Rules of football? Understanding of the difference between offense and defense? Interrupting a game in the middle of the fourth quarter for drama? An NFL QB who is injured disappearing during the season and his team not knowing where he is or what he’s doing? The lies told by said player and no one (particularly the media) being able to finding out what would be the simple truth? It’s all just beyond, like way, way beyond, dramatic license. It’s insulting. Were there no editors? No beta readers? No one with a rudimentary knowledge of schools and sports to provide guidance?
I spent so much time screaming at the negatives that it unfortunately overwhelmed the positives. And as I mentioned at the start of the review, there is a lot of positive. The basic premise is intriguing and the characters are intriguing. Grant is a complete jerk for most of the book and that was a bit too much to take but the ultimate redemption, while pretty unrealistic is at an acceptable level of fiction for this trope. Parker is a saint who is way, way to patient but ah, the heart wants what the heart wants. The dramatic ending is swoony.
I think this book could have been saved and turned into a much better piece with the help of a really good editor and proofreader and some beta readers with some knowledge. If you are a reader who is good with complete suspension of disbelief, and not as picky as I am, then none of this may bother you. Or, if you yourself don’t notice the errors because it’s not something in your wheelhouse you may have no issues at all. In that case, you will no doubt enjoy the book. I, however, can’t enjoy a book if you take my head out of the game.
**I voluntarily read an ARC and this is my objective review.**
April 22, 2020
MA Gray's Rival is a fabulous read. From the start, I love the voice and tone of this second chance, small town romance.
Parker and Grant are two former best friends who have a slew of unresolved feelings between them. Not only do they have to deal with their personal issues, they are faced with coaching rival high school football teams.
Parker's a teacher and coach, who's stunned to discover that his former friend is back. He's closeted, and still hurt by the past. Grant is back in town after ten long years, a pro athlete recovering from an injury.
These two are dealing with so damn much pain and suffering, all of which I could feel jumping off the pages. The animosity and hatred is intense. Of course, hate and love go hand in hand, and this is no exception.
I love the sports , love the characters, and the aspect of past versus present.
This story explores the aspect of a closeted NFL player who continues to hurt those he cares about, as he caves into the pressure of what's expected of a pro athlete. We all know this type of story, and if you love this issue like I do, you'll find this one thrilling.
This quote just needs to be re-stated. "Life is not a single thread, It's many, many threads stretching between people, between places, between events." So true. And so beautifully stated.
And, oh my, the side story with Keon. Tears, so many tears. Happily, there's also hope and inspiration. I love this addition to the story.
This is a story of going after what one really wants, of allowing dreams to change, of making different choices the second time around. It's about the struggles of facing what one truly wants while having the power to hurt others.
It's a story of hatred and animosity, regrets and confusion. It also includes a threesome gone wrong, that is fascinating in it's complexity.
The writing's great, with a tone that drew me in immediately. Written in alternating first person pov, both characters are fully brought to life.
I easily fell into Ma Gray's Rival and am still immersed in it. It will take me a while to get over this one. It's beautiful, tender, painful, and completely riveting. I can't recommend it enough.
Parker and Grant are two former best friends who have a slew of unresolved feelings between them. Not only do they have to deal with their personal issues, they are faced with coaching rival high school football teams.
Parker's a teacher and coach, who's stunned to discover that his former friend is back. He's closeted, and still hurt by the past. Grant is back in town after ten long years, a pro athlete recovering from an injury.
These two are dealing with so damn much pain and suffering, all of which I could feel jumping off the pages. The animosity and hatred is intense. Of course, hate and love go hand in hand, and this is no exception.
I love the sports , love the characters, and the aspect of past versus present.
This story explores the aspect of a closeted NFL player who continues to hurt those he cares about, as he caves into the pressure of what's expected of a pro athlete. We all know this type of story, and if you love this issue like I do, you'll find this one thrilling.
This quote just needs to be re-stated. "Life is not a single thread, It's many, many threads stretching between people, between places, between events." So true. And so beautifully stated.
And, oh my, the side story with Keon. Tears, so many tears. Happily, there's also hope and inspiration. I love this addition to the story.
This is a story of going after what one really wants, of allowing dreams to change, of making different choices the second time around. It's about the struggles of facing what one truly wants while having the power to hurt others.
It's a story of hatred and animosity, regrets and confusion. It also includes a threesome gone wrong, that is fascinating in it's complexity.
The writing's great, with a tone that drew me in immediately. Written in alternating first person pov, both characters are fully brought to life.
I easily fell into Ma Gray's Rival and am still immersed in it. It will take me a while to get over this one. It's beautiful, tender, painful, and completely riveting. I can't recommend it enough.
April 11, 2020
Parker and Grant are two best friends who had a falling out in High School after a threesome. Grant refused to come out as bisexual and he put his career goal of entering the NFL over his friendship and a potential relationship with Parker. However, he gets the chance to maybe redo his past mistakes as an injury sidelines him and he is forced to return home.
This book really drew me in, I couldn't put it down! I loved the flashback scenes of how Parker and Grant's fight started, how the reader gets to see the threesome and how/who instigated it and the aftermath.
The author did a great job with the character development throughout this novel. I feel like the reader likes and hates Grant at all the right times, and honestly I hated him sometimes. But, I think that's the point because unless a character truly falls I don't think they can actually grow. Grant is a liar, a cheat and frankly not a good friend. However, he's more then that, he has all these complexities to his persona because he is also vulnerable, scared and a coward; and what Grant portrays on the outside - this cocky jerk attitude- is hiding all of the feelings he has suppressed and hidden away on the inside. This kind of character development makes stories interesting, it makes characters feel real and honest because like human beings they too have their flaws. I don't condone everything that Grant did in this novel, sometimes he went a little too far but I applaud the author for crafting his character as complex as him because I was so moved and pulled in by his story.
I also want to give a shout out to the other characters in the novel Parker, who is literally the sweetest soul. He has such a nurturing heart and my heart broke for him everytime he was in pain. Also, I really appreciated Keon. I liked that for someone that seemed to be a rather minor character in the beginning, he plays a significant role in ultimately guiding both Parker and Grant to become better men.
You should definitely read this book!
This book really drew me in, I couldn't put it down! I loved the flashback scenes of how Parker and Grant's fight started, how the reader gets to see the threesome and how/who instigated it and the aftermath.
The author did a great job with the character development throughout this novel. I feel like the reader likes and hates Grant at all the right times, and honestly I hated him sometimes. But, I think that's the point because unless a character truly falls I don't think they can actually grow. Grant is a liar, a cheat and frankly not a good friend. However, he's more then that, he has all these complexities to his persona because he is also vulnerable, scared and a coward; and what Grant portrays on the outside - this cocky jerk attitude- is hiding all of the feelings he has suppressed and hidden away on the inside. This kind of character development makes stories interesting, it makes characters feel real and honest because like human beings they too have their flaws. I don't condone everything that Grant did in this novel, sometimes he went a little too far but I applaud the author for crafting his character as complex as him because I was so moved and pulled in by his story.
I also want to give a shout out to the other characters in the novel Parker, who is literally the sweetest soul. He has such a nurturing heart and my heart broke for him everytime he was in pain. Also, I really appreciated Keon. I liked that for someone that seemed to be a rather minor character in the beginning, he plays a significant role in ultimately guiding both Parker and Grant to become better men.
You should definitely read this book!
April 10, 2020
Such an amazing book. My first from M A Gray but definitely not my last.
“I regret a lot of things,” he whispers, warm breath wafting against my neck, “and every single one of them involves me not bringing you to your knees with my touch. Owning you the way I know you’re desperate for.”
Five freaking stars ⭐️ for this enemies to lovers #mmromance
Grant & Parker were hot from the starting gate. Just enough intrigue to pull you in through the first few chapters. Their bitter hatred, albeit somewhat one sided, is a physical force the more you read.
The theme of denial, the passionate angst, the unwanted desire burns the pages.
I could not put this book down. I wanted to scream at Grant in frustration for everything he did. I wanted to shake Parker for his idiocy. I wanted to hug Keon every time he appeared, he broke my heart.
This is one book you don’t want to miss.
And as always from my reviews, my top quotes of the book:
“ Grant Sullivan is the first man I ever fell in love with. The man who stomped my heart into pieces. A beautiful liar. Grant Sullivan is, and always will be, my enemy.”
“ They say hate is the closest emotion to love. The way it rips you apart. The way it consumes. Hated is never no. It’s always yes, yes, yes.”
“ This is the lie: Parker means nothing to me This is the truth: he’s everything.”
“ I am envy, and I am truth, and my truth is this: I want Parker more than I want a pure, untainted heart. I want Parker more than I want the consequences of my actions. I want Parker. Simple.”
“I regret a lot of things,” he whispers, warm breath wafting against my neck, “and every single one of them involves me not bringing you to your knees with my touch. Owning you the way I know you’re desperate for.”
Five freaking stars ⭐️ for this enemies to lovers #mmromance
Grant & Parker were hot from the starting gate. Just enough intrigue to pull you in through the first few chapters. Their bitter hatred, albeit somewhat one sided, is a physical force the more you read.
The theme of denial, the passionate angst, the unwanted desire burns the pages.
I could not put this book down. I wanted to scream at Grant in frustration for everything he did. I wanted to shake Parker for his idiocy. I wanted to hug Keon every time he appeared, he broke my heart.
This is one book you don’t want to miss.
And as always from my reviews, my top quotes of the book:
“ Grant Sullivan is the first man I ever fell in love with. The man who stomped my heart into pieces. A beautiful liar. Grant Sullivan is, and always will be, my enemy.”
“ They say hate is the closest emotion to love. The way it rips you apart. The way it consumes. Hated is never no. It’s always yes, yes, yes.”
“ This is the lie: Parker means nothing to me This is the truth: he’s everything.”
“ I am envy, and I am truth, and my truth is this: I want Parker more than I want a pure, untainted heart. I want Parker more than I want the consequences of my actions. I want Parker. Simple.”
May 6, 2020
Rival is an excellent Enemies to lovers. Until the last pages, the characters hate each other and make themselves suffer as much as they like. This is especially true for Parker. We know it from the first pages, he loved and loves Grant. And even though the latter trampled on his heart in their adolescence, he cannot resist him and prevent himself from loving him again. Throughout history, he will navigate the very fine line between love and hate. He will internalize it, externalize it, fight against Grant and his feelings without being able to extinguish the flames of passion and the embers of his feelings which do not want to die out, even after a decade.
On Grant’s side, he’s mostly been his enemy in history. At no point does he see Parker as his rival. During all the pages of this novel, we will witness this man's struggle with his demons, his lies.
This very strong relationship will also offer us very strong moments between the two men.
I found that the author had done a nice job in terms of the characters, both from the point of view of their respective characters and their past which is told in flashback chapters that allow us to understand the situation present.
I liked this title. Certainly it has some weaknesses, but overall, I enjoyed my reading because I find that the author has managed to get me into his story and make me feel the essence of the emotions that come out.
On Grant’s side, he’s mostly been his enemy in history. At no point does he see Parker as his rival. During all the pages of this novel, we will witness this man's struggle with his demons, his lies.
This very strong relationship will also offer us very strong moments between the two men.
I found that the author had done a nice job in terms of the characters, both from the point of view of their respective characters and their past which is told in flashback chapters that allow us to understand the situation present.
I liked this title. Certainly it has some weaknesses, but overall, I enjoyed my reading because I find that the author has managed to get me into his story and make me feel the essence of the emotions that come out.
April 21, 2020
OUTSTANDING READ SO MUCH HEART ACHE SO MUCH LOVE SO MANY LIES SO MANY SECRETS
Grant is returning home after he get injured. He is a big time NFL player. It was always his dream to play football and he did that at a massive cost. His best friend. Parker had always been there for his best friend and secretly been in love with him but because Grant was straight he never thought it could amount to anything. But one night changed all that before Grant went off to College. (not telling what happened) But what Parker did do was tell him to never come back to Winter Harbor again.
But now he is home and when they first see each other again it doesn't end nicely. They are rival school football coach's this cant end well.
THIS IS A FIRST RATE BOOK!!! I COUDNT PUT IT DOWN IT WAS SUPER ADDICTIVE. A REAL PAGE TURNER.THIS IS THE FIRST BOOK IVE READ BY M.A.GRAY BUT IT WONT BE THE LAST. I AM SUPER EXCITED FOR THE NEXT BOOK. WOOOOOHOOOO
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Grant is returning home after he get injured. He is a big time NFL player. It was always his dream to play football and he did that at a massive cost. His best friend. Parker had always been there for his best friend and secretly been in love with him but because Grant was straight he never thought it could amount to anything. But one night changed all that before Grant went off to College. (not telling what happened) But what Parker did do was tell him to never come back to Winter Harbor again.
But now he is home and when they first see each other again it doesn't end nicely. They are rival school football coach's this cant end well.
THIS IS A FIRST RATE BOOK!!! I COUDNT PUT IT DOWN IT WAS SUPER ADDICTIVE. A REAL PAGE TURNER.THIS IS THE FIRST BOOK IVE READ BY M.A.GRAY BUT IT WONT BE THE LAST. I AM SUPER EXCITED FOR THE NEXT BOOK. WOOOOOHOOOO
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 16, 2020
Thank you for the ARC read, I voluntarily give this book an honest review. When hearing the news of Grant being back on the little island after running away from everything even his friendship with Parker. The big shot big headed man that returns was still to much, Parker. With a chip on his shoulder for having to return to his home town Grant is in for a even more rude awakening from not just his ego busting childhood friend now assumed enemy but the kids he has to coach also. Working to wear down Parker's control just may make him the villain in this attraction they have but Can Grant turn over a new leaf or is it to late for Parker to see the real need deep inside him? What happens once he is healed will he break everything again just to see the spotlight again? Parker the poor thing is just trying to keep his heart from getting broken by his take all best friend or greatest weakness enemy only to have it shattered again.
April 19, 2020
Idiots Come In All Sizes....
by and1515
Here he was returning after a decade to the last place he ever wanted to be unfortunately he'd been injured and his career was more than likely over
But his agent came up with this brilliant plan coaching while he recovers.
Parker hadn't heard his name in years nor did he want to hear it now.
Grant knew he hated him just by the way he was watching him. To say Parker wasn't pleased come face to face with enemy number one would be the understatement of the year the contempt
for his ex-best friend just pushed him more.
Every time it seems there getting close to working on there issues between them someone takes two steps back and the other takes ten steps back one can't grasp the concept that where ever you go their you are and the other clings to his anger and tons of resentments like a precious security blanket.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
by and1515
Here he was returning after a decade to the last place he ever wanted to be unfortunately he'd been injured and his career was more than likely over
But his agent came up with this brilliant plan coaching while he recovers.
Parker hadn't heard his name in years nor did he want to hear it now.
Grant knew he hated him just by the way he was watching him. To say Parker wasn't pleased come face to face with enemy number one would be the understatement of the year the contempt
for his ex-best friend just pushed him more.
Every time it seems there getting close to working on there issues between them someone takes two steps back and the other takes ten steps back one can't grasp the concept that where ever you go their you are and the other clings to his anger and tons of resentments like a precious security blanket.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 22, 2020
My first book by this author and I was delighted by the angst. If you're walking in Parker's shoes while reading this story, they're gonna be filled with blood by the end of it. So beware. Knocking off a star cause
I loved the writing and will be checking out the other books. :)
- EDIT -
I went on to read Keeper and it's got the same-ish premise with one scene that could be almost re-cycled for this book. Basically, that feels like the tamer version of this book. I don't know how I feel about that. Reading the books so close together doesn't seem like a good idea.
I loved the writing and will be checking out the other books. :)
- EDIT -
I went on to read Keeper and it's got the same-ish premise with one scene that could be almost re-cycled for this book. Basically, that feels like the tamer version of this book. I don't know how I feel about that. Reading the books so close together doesn't seem like a good idea.
April 23, 2020
It was a ok
This book was a little bit of a struggle for me. It started really strong and amazing and I thought it’s will definitely get a 5 star, but the characters didn’t live up to my expectations. These MC were worst than a bickering teenage girls. Very immature for 28. They both kiss random girls to get each other jealous. They bicker about their private problems in public for everyone to see (how didn’t anyone know that they have something going on). Even when they eventually got together they had to do it publicly. That’s just no. Somethings are meant to be said in private. Parker was the one that pissed me off the most. Whenever they are having a fight, he sounds like a girl. As we know guys are usually straightforward and direct in everything. For some reason. Parker alway beat about the bush. While Grant is just a selfish, entitled, spoilt dude.
This book was a little bit of a struggle for me. It started really strong and amazing and I thought it’s will definitely get a 5 star, but the characters didn’t live up to my expectations. These MC were worst than a bickering teenage girls. Very immature for 28. They both kiss random girls to get each other jealous. They bicker about their private problems in public for everyone to see (how didn’t anyone know that they have something going on). Even when they eventually got together they had to do it publicly. That’s just no. Somethings are meant to be said in private. Parker was the one that pissed me off the most. Whenever they are having a fight, he sounds like a girl. As we know guys are usually straightforward and direct in everything. For some reason. Parker alway beat about the bush. While Grant is just a selfish, entitled, spoilt dude.
April 20, 2020
I love a good football story, and this is one. Parker and Grant were high school teammates, both set to go off to college and play division 1 football until Parker's mom was diagnosed with cancer and he decided to stay close to home. Grant was the ultimate straight jock, fearful of even his friendship with out, gay Parker being public knowledge. Ten years of not even speaking is a long time, and suddenly they are back to living across the street from one another in their small coastal Virginia town, coaching rival high schools. I loved the flashbacks to their senior year, the emotions both then and now written in a way it just feels so real. There was laughter and tears for me reading this. I hope Keon thrives. I look forward to reading more from M.A. Gray
April 27, 2020
Best friends/enemies to lovers
It's hard to leave when you want better for yourself, especially when it's at the expense of your best friend.
The boy you secretly loved but could never admit to for fear if reprisals and the loss of your dreams.
Well, Grant is back home after ten years in the limelight due to an injury in a harebrained scheme to recoup his career.
Parker really wants nothing to do with his ex best friend who thinks he can just stroll back into town like nothing ever happened.
These men had some serious issues to work through.
There were plenty of secrets, lies, pain, hurt and recriminations on both sides.
I really enjoyed the journey these men took together towards healing.
It's hard to leave when you want better for yourself, especially when it's at the expense of your best friend.
The boy you secretly loved but could never admit to for fear if reprisals and the loss of your dreams.
Well, Grant is back home after ten years in the limelight due to an injury in a harebrained scheme to recoup his career.
Parker really wants nothing to do with his ex best friend who thinks he can just stroll back into town like nothing ever happened.
These men had some serious issues to work through.
There were plenty of secrets, lies, pain, hurt and recriminations on both sides.
I really enjoyed the journey these men took together towards healing.
April 16, 2020
Sure it wasn't the best book I've ever read but it was enjoyable.
I mean the characters were created to flustrate readers. Sometimes in the same page they would contradic themselves and that drove me insane.
For the most part Grant was a very interesting carácter even though I just wanted to murdered him over and over.
Parker... I'm not sure I liked him very much. He claimed to have a backbone when he clearly was a maleable as jell-O. For real at times I just wanted to shake him into reality a Little bit.
It was a book book given that I was looking for something to change the pace of what I been Reading and this was a nice different sports romance which I like.
I mean the characters were created to flustrate readers. Sometimes in the same page they would contradic themselves and that drove me insane.
For the most part Grant was a very interesting carácter even though I just wanted to murdered him over and over.
Parker... I'm not sure I liked him very much. He claimed to have a backbone when he clearly was a maleable as jell-O. For real at times I just wanted to shake him into reality a Little bit.
It was a book book given that I was looking for something to change the pace of what I been Reading and this was a nice different sports romance which I like.
April 23, 2020
Best friends, then enemies to lovers. So many roller coaster of emotions, I’d get so frustrated with Grant I wanted to hit him, even Parker, you will need tissues this was an awesome storyline. You had loveable characters including family and some of the boys who played football for their school, especially Keon no spoilers will need to read to find out.
I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book for my honest opinions of which I’m under no obligation to do so. I absolutely recommend this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book for my honest opinions of which I’m under no obligation to do so. I absolutely recommend this book.
September 20, 2022
This book is not perfect. Too much pushing and pulling makes it repetitive, the pacing is slow at times and it could have worked with several less chapters.
But against all odds I really enjoyed this book a lot and I think it's because of the main characters and their great chemistry. Even though Grant is a big jerk I couldn't hate him and I really wanted to see him happy with Parker.
I couldn't help but think that this book could work very well as a rom-com movie very much in the 90's Notting Hill type style and a mix with the early 2000's movies. 😂
But against all odds I really enjoyed this book a lot and I think it's because of the main characters and their great chemistry. Even though Grant is a big jerk I couldn't hate him and I really wanted to see him happy with Parker.
I couldn't help but think that this book could work very well as a rom-com movie very much in the 90's Notting Hill type style and a mix with the early 2000's movies. 😂
April 22, 2020
Great Book
I’m new to this author and stumbled upon this book on Amazon. After reading the description, I was intrigued. I’m so glad a read this book. I was drawn in from page one and read it in one sitting. So emotional; I cried several time.
I loved the characters, the storyline, and the passion between all the characters. The ending was so good. I was swooning.
Great read. Highly recommended.
I’m new to this author and stumbled upon this book on Amazon. After reading the description, I was intrigued. I’m so glad a read this book. I was drawn in from page one and read it in one sitting. So emotional; I cried several time.
I loved the characters, the storyline, and the passion between all the characters. The ending was so good. I was swooning.
Great read. Highly recommended.
April 22, 2020
I have to say this book unexpectedly blew me away. I loved the story, these men have a vet damaged past and at times it looked like that past wouldn’t allow a future. Too many hurt feels and unwillingness to forgive. Past mistakes becoming present. Lies on top of lies that seem to never stop. But I think in the end the characters found redemption, love and their happy ending.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 25, 2020
Coach Greene had a fallout with his best friend in their last year together. Famous and with an injury Grant Sullivan comes back to his hometown. There is a lot of angst in the story, lots of moments when Grant was a total jerk but also some tender moments. Sullivan is not all there, his character needs to learn honesty and love can sometimes make you an honest man. I like reading his journey to do just that. Good book!
April 26, 2020
Rival is about two best friends that had a misunderstanding. Grant is bisexual, a pro footballer and never came out of the closet. Parker is the guy he left behind and never admitted that he wanted. Grant and Parker ends as rival coaches of high school football after Grant is hurt. The characters are likeable and I loved how these two are able to overcome differences to help Keon. The book is sweet, romantic, some funny moments, some angst and these two get their happily ever after.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews