The Wide Receiver and his Best Friend's Little Sister

The Ballerina Academy #3

by Anne-Marie Meyer, Maggie Dallen

His job was to protect her.
Feelings weren't supposed to get involved.

Eve
I've been in love with my brother's best friend for as long as I can remember. Once upon a time he was my knight in shining armor, but now? He acts like I’m his worst enemy.

I don't know why Cooper Jenkins insists on keeping me at arm's length—which is hard to do when he’s my partner at the Academy—or why he insists on shielding me from every other boy at school. I don’t want to be at Oakwood high anymore than he seems to want me there, so why won’t he leave me alone?

Cooper

When my best friend enlisted I made one promise: protect his little sister. And I'll do that, even if it means pissing her off and making her hate me.

Besides, I’d rather she hate me than know how I truly feel.

If I give into temptation and make her mine, I'll be breaking my vow in every way possible. But there’s something about her. Something in her gaze that is drawing me in and terrifying me at the same time.

And the more I’m around her, the more I begin to fear that perhaps, the only person who can truly hurt Eve? Is me.

Genres: Romance, Sports, Young Adult, Sports Romance, Clean Romance, High School, Young Adult Romance

184 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 21, 2020

About the author

Anne-Marie Meyer is a USA Today Bestselling author who lives south of the Twin Cities in MN. She spends her days with her knight in shining armor, four princes, and a baby princess.

When she's not running after her kids, she's dreaming up romantic stories. She loves to take her favorite moments in the books and movies she loves and tries to figure out a way to make them new and fresh.

Join her newsletter at anne-mariemeyer.com

Reviews

[୨୧ carissa ୨୧ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️ this book was goodd i just wish all the books were longer bc they’re so short that i feel like i’m missing stuff or there could be more


~favorite quotes~

“”Life is too short to be away from those you care about.”” {207}

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cooper is a big, misunderstood football player. Eve is a ballerina that no longer has a scholarship to attend the ballet school. She is forced to attend the public high school. Cooper is 'tasked' with protecting Eve by Eve's big brother and Cooper's best friend, Trenton, who is away at boot camp. The problem is Cooper and Eve, unbeknowst to each other, have had a crush on each other for quite awhile. How will they each deal with all the tension? This is a sweet romance, YA book.

[Amaka · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars
Cooper promised his best friend that he would take care of his bf's naive younger sister, Eve while he was away. What he didn't bargain for was that he would fall in love with her.
This book is a short, cute, fluffy, eye-rolling worthy, yet sweet read.

[Rayane · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5

[☠︎︎༒︎✞︎ ѕℓιм ☠︎︎༒︎✞︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

Spoilers..thrown here and there...

https://ladiikeiii.wordpress.com/2020...

Not much that I can say about this book.

I will say this though I was curious about this book and what will happen next. But I felt like Cooper did have excuses to not be with Eve. Due to the fact that he kept bringing up her brother Trenton and his brother Conner and his dad into the relationship and why he couldn’t date her.

I was glad when his mom had a talk with him about how he wasn’t like his father and brother. She was right about how everyone in the said family has anger issues. That’s just reality. It took his friends Ryan and Ethan and his mom to talk some sense into him.

& for Trenton to talk to Eve for her to fix things with ... no well to accept Cooper's apology about breaking up with her just because Trenton was mad. I felt that Trenton was going to get over it and he did. I was glad that he came around too.

I can’t wait until the next book to come out about Cora and Dylan. For me I cannot remember who Dylan is I’m over here like is he at the Academy 💀😐😂 with the other guys I just remember Ethan, Conner, Alex, and Ryan. Lol, I can’t wait to get to know Dylan and even Cora.

But I’m waiting on a book with Tilly. She needs a book too since all the other girls got one...

[Julie Carpenter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eve was such a sweet character. Although she tries to hide it a little bit as she's had to leave the Ballerina Academy and start attending public school. Her insecurities and sadness at not being with her friends and doing what she loves (dancing), keeps her true self from emerging.

Cooper has a complicated family situation. He feels like he's always trying to measure up but never will. He hides himself behind football and his friends. When Eve starts attending public school and certain people try to befriend her, he steps up to keep the promise he made to her brother to protect her.

The more he is around her the more he tries to guard his heart because, you know, she's his best friend's little sister, aka, off limits!!! Big time off limits! But how can you resist someone as sweet as Eve when she's what your heart has been filled with for years.

I really liked Eve and Cooper. They were two characters who were struggling. Struggling with trying to hold onto their dreams and struggling to find their place in their family and friends. They finally have to face each other and decide if they are going to trust each other or keep holding in everything and hiding their true selves from everyone around them.

Content: This is a YA series and can be read as stand alones but I think readers would enjoy it best if reading in order. There are some scenes where the teenagers go to a party that has alcohol and students get drunk. There are some kissing scenes that felt a little more intense for a YA novel. But there was nothing more than kisses.

I received a copy from the author. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

[Jamie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars!

[margarida · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it but it had few pages so the ending was a little rushed
😋😋😋

[Mimia The Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid 4-stars read. What you want to read in a YA book (at least, what I want to read in a YA book).
It was such a fun, cute, fell-good-after-some-drama read!
I think I need to find a way of reading all the other ones in the series... for when university is making me feel a little miserable (oh! Why do you have to start so early? Why?) because they’ll definitely help making me feel better.

I read an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I mean, I’ve liked every single Maggie Dallen’s book I’ve read so it’s not that difficult to believe.

[S B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alright

I was looking forward to Eve and Cooper. But there wasn't much substance or depth. There was a ton of repetitive inner monologues between the two of them, I guess as a way to make up for the lack of depth.

We learn a little bit about Cooper and his hang ups. But its surface level. Eve comes off as an air head because she's constantly zoning out.

They have a history together, but they never actually talk to each other. Lots of assumptions because of their history. I would have liked to at least seen them talking about his graduation and enlistment. Or a preview of their lives like we did with Colette and Ethan.

I enjoyed the ballet academy series so far. I'm not sure I'll continue though. I have no clue who the new couple is.

[ضحى الحداد · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 stars
So yeah, I kind of expected that because I never liked the " Brother Best Friend " trope, it always end up in a mindless drama and the conclusion is never satisfying
So in this book We follow Eve and Cooper, both of them were friends when they were young but Cooper is best friend with Eve's brother .. so automatically she is "forbidden" so to speak .. but of course they like each other, how will they overcome that ?
to me this is my least favorite book in the series but it was nice enough I guess

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cooper is Eve's older brother's best friend and they've known each other forever, but neither of them has ever told the other people in the Oakwood High School football team's ballet class - even though they've been paired together as dance partners. But when Eve's parents can no longer afford to send her to the Academy, she's forced back into the public school system and specifically Oakwood High. Cooper promised Eve's brother Trenton that he'd look out for her and he's determined to do so even if it kills him to bury the feelings he's developed for her. After all, Trenton wouldn't like it if Cooper dated his little sister, would he?

Eve has had a crush on Cooper for as long as she can remember, but since her brother graduated and went into the military, Cooper will barely talk to her and he acts like the very idea of touching her to dance is a fate worse than death. When she has to go back to public school, her parents just assume that Cooper is going to show her the ropes, but what do they know? All he's done lately is make her life miserable in dance class. Clearly, he doesn't care about her at all now that her brother isn't around. Imagine her surprise when Cooper takes it upon himself to be her self-appointed protector and school tour guide. But when he crosses the line from protective to overbearing, she's had enough. It's time to show him that she doesn't need a keeper - she needs a dance partner who respects her.

I enjoy the best friend's little sister/brother's best friend trope, so I was very excited for this book - the third in The Ballerina Academy series. As I noted in my reviews of the first two books, I'm not really the target market for this book, so I rounded up from 3.5 stars to 4. If I had read it at a young age, I would definitely have rated it 4 stars.

Book club style musings:
1. There is a party in this book that the two leads attend and a lot of the background characters are either drinking or drunk. Like I said in my review of Ryan and Bianca's book, underage drinking is a fact of life, so I think it is a good thing that the authors include it without glamorizing it.
2. I thought that Trenton's reaction was pretty accurate when he finds out about their relationship in the way he does and I liked that both Eve and Cooper have to deal with him and the fallout. None of the three handle the situation well initially, but they figure it out in the end. That seems realistic to me.
3. Cooper's home life, much like Ryan's, is painful. I'm so glad when he and his mother finally talk.
4. The residents at the assisted living facility were fun. I liked it that they had Cooper keep visiting his grandmother's friends.

[LALA · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was so cringe, and bad, and stupid...I was so disappointed, because they had a chance to make this book good, and more than just...whatever the hell this was.

I think what I mainly hated about it is how they can't seem to get enough of each other, like whatsoever, in a weird Bella x Edward way. I understand that when you love someone, you love them, but you also need to learn space, and distance, which seemed very hard for Cooper, who was so confusing, as he never wanted to leave her side, but also felt like he had to.

Cooper I forgot his last name, but I do not like this character, he's so annoying, I understand you have insecurities and all, but that would be his whole chapter, just him being insecure, which is understandable, but I'm insecure but that's not what I'm always doing, and thinking about, it's just such a drag to your mental heath and self worth, which I was Cooper had a little more of (self worth)

I liked Eve, she was ok, but like any other character I couldn't handle her at times, she could never just spit out what she should say, because when Cooper was being insecure, she would just give him doll eyes and say, "Cooper" but saying his name isn't DOING ANYTHING FOR EITHER OF YOU! Eve needs to tell him stuff like "your amazing, yada, yada, blah, bleh," but she didn't! She should have, especially as she loved him to bits! When you love someone you need to actually put effort, which at the end, Copper did, but Eve didn't, she needs to show that she loves him, she needs to say it, saying "i love you" means nothing if you can't explain how much you love the person!

But, yeah, 1 stars.

[Vibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The physical language of the body...

... is so much more powerful than words" ~Bill Irwin

Cooper & Eve are engaged in a dance of wills being imposed on them from inside & out. They've known each other for years because Cooper & Eve's big brother, Trenton, are best friends.

But when Cooper is paired up with Eve in the dance class the football coach is making his players take, he's confronted with the fact that Eve isn't the snot-nosed kid sister anymore, & he's freaking out over being attracted to her after promising Trenton he would protect her from unworthy guys.

Yep, Cooper knows he's one of those unworthy guys because his jailed dad & brother are - and his mom has intimated as much.

Cooper & Eve are likeable, sympathetic characters, and their story is well told, though it did feel overly redundant & angsty at times. The nursing home angle is a nice touch and makes for a great ending setting.

The epilogue is not one but is actually a sneak peek at the next book in the series

*Romance level: sweet kisses, nothing graphic

[Lori R · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute, fun story about having to switch schools for Eve's junior year. She had to leave the Ballerina Academy and attend Oakwood High as the new girl. It was fun watching Cooper, her older brother's best friend try to protect her from the guys at the high school. It was also interesting to watch them both pretend they did not like each other until it was not fun to watch. Thank goodness for the ladies at the nursing home where Eve worked and Cooper came to visit.

This book is full of sweet moments and teenage angst as Cooper realizes he can be the perfect guy for Eve. It also did not hurt to finally get her brother's approval. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.

[Raquel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eve happens to be Cooper’s best friends little sister but he also has feeling for her but because of his family/past he feels he isn’t good enough for her and fights his attraction for her. While trying to protect her Cooper comes off as a little controlling in his full body guard mood but he just doesn’t know how to protect and keep his word to his best friend without giving his feelings away. I loved how Eve put herself out there but made Cooper aware of her worth when he was being hard headed. My favorite part was Coopers big plan to win Eve special, it was sad to read how hard on himself he was but all works out in the end! Voluntarily read and reviewed an arc of this book.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Story

This was a great story about a girl who has had a crush on her older brother’s best friend since they were small kids, and a boy who is finally seeing that little sister of his best friend as more than a little girl. Eve’s family has been struggling financially and she is unable to make the tuition payment to remain in the Ballet Academy. Instead, she has to be the new girl at the public high school the football team is from. This means more time to see Cooper. Great “slow burn” type of a sweet romance book. This was a fun YA read.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed feelings about this

I know that cooper fell for her hard but why did he have to run away everytime it was getting good? I don't really understand. But overall it was really cute and that grand gesture at the end was really thoughtful. I liked how they both fell hard for eachother even though cooper was tryna be a bad boy. And omg it was hot when he got jealous and punched Alex. Whatever happened to him anyway? I'd love to see Trenton's story by the way but I don't know who the next books are for. Anyway Stan Colette and Olivia for being such supportive friends.

[Alexx Burch · Rating 3 out of 5]

I adored Eve and cooper. This was the book I was looking forward to since the first book and it didn’t disappoint. I loved the character growth and once again cooper Jenkins stole my heart, I was just annoyed with how he kept doubting himself why couldn’t he talk to Eve or his bestfriend once the pictures leaked why did he instantly have to shut down? It made me so mad, but his grand gesture to win her back was adorable and made up for everything. I did feel like it was a little rushed but other than that I was happy with the book.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cooper was just supposed to look out for Eve not give into his feelings for her. She does not want or think she needs a bodyguard or protector especially not Cooper. She just wants him to fall for her the way she has fallen for him. Loved how jealous he would get when any guy would try to get near Eve but tried so hard to fight it. Their inner dialogue about each other was so funny. Loved the grand gesture and the ending.

[Yames Bond · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is really cool and the authors that wrote it are theee best!

These really cute books are just what everyone needs for a quick sweet reading.
Eve and her “crush on my brother’s best friend” is really nice and the guy is algo amazing.

I also feel that it’s very realistic the way they describe the teen mind and the conflict it has when in love, friendship and social situations in general.

The next story promise also to be a great one!

[papalbina · Rating 3 out of 5]

aquí estoy leyendo el tercero de una saga sin leer el resto, pero solo me interesaba la historia de la hermana del mejor amigo 🤷🏻‍♀️

por un momento me interesó el cuarto... pero después de leer la sinopsis, mejor paso. he tenido suficientes clichés con este libro...

qué pesadilla esta de la gente tomando decisiones por ti como si fueras idiota o la del sobreproteccionismo como si la prota fuese de porcelana y se fuese a romper 🙄

[The Mysterious Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh tangled hearts, promises vs passion, and young love at its best. Maggie Dallen and Anne-Marie Meyer are back in fine form and The Wide Receiver and His Best Friend's Little Sister is yet further proof that this talented duo have true mastery of the genre. Totally well written and totally superb fun.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet, cute YA read. Eve's a shy ballerina and when she has to leave her Ballerina Academy and attend pubic school, her brother's best friend Cooper takes her under his wing. Little do they know, that they have crushes on one another. Great read to see how they how their crushes and feeling towards each other. I highly recommend for all YA!

[Ruth Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

I loved the story, characters and the ending. Sometimes we can be our own worst enemies, lack of confidence can also have a huge impact.I would definitely recommend this book.

[Teresa Bertolio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous YA clean romance

Best friend to an older brother? The brother code of protecting his little sister. Can these two ever cross the friend zone? Forgiveness? Second chances? Come along this fabulous ride where great things might just be around the bend:) Happy Reading!

[Julie Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!!

I love Cooper and Eve’s story! I am a big fan of big brother’s best friend love stories! I love that the plot was original and the chemistry between Cooper and Eve was electric! It had me all in my feelings!

[Amanda Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brothers Best Friend

This definitely meets the theme of brothers best friend. Guy wants the girl but knows he can’t have her because of the friendship with the brother. A cute story.

[Annalise Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

What was written was good, it just felt like part of a book. We needed more of them together either when they were younger, once they were a couple later or both. We hardly saw them together and we needed to see more of Cooper's change.

[Sherri · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good sweet YA romance; I would recommend it.