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Girls of Summer #6
Under the Lights
In book five of the Girls of Summer series, Emma Blakeley and Jamie Maxwell finally realized a lifelong dream at the 2015 World Cup. But in book six, Under the Lights, new drama unfolds.
For Jamie, success on the United States Women's National Team isn't quite what she'd expected. As the punishing pace of club soccer, national team, and new sponsorship obligations carries her into the fall, Jamie can only try to ride the current. Meanwhile, Emma and her fellow national team veterans debate taking a stand against a federation that values the dollars the women's team brings in more than the notions of fairness or equity.
Off the field, Jamie and Emma continue to face the challenges of a long-distance relationship. Soccer brought them together, but now the brutal pace of NWSL playoffs and Victory Tour matches threatens to drive a wedge between them. What they need is time away from soccer, but finding that time after winning a world championship proves harder than Jamie ever would have expected.
To find out how Jamie, Emma, and the rest of their World Cup Champion USWNT squad fare, check out Under the Lights, book six of the bestselling Girls of Summer series.
For Jamie, success on the United States Women's National Team isn't quite what she'd expected. As the punishing pace of club soccer, national team, and new sponsorship obligations carries her into the fall, Jamie can only try to ride the current. Meanwhile, Emma and her fellow national team veterans debate taking a stand against a federation that values the dollars the women's team brings in more than the notions of fairness or equity.
Off the field, Jamie and Emma continue to face the challenges of a long-distance relationship. Soccer brought them together, but now the brutal pace of NWSL playoffs and Victory Tour matches threatens to drive a wedge between them. What they need is time away from soccer, but finding that time after winning a world championship proves harder than Jamie ever would have expected.
To find out how Jamie, Emma, and the rest of their World Cup Champion USWNT squad fare, check out Under the Lights, book six of the bestselling Girls of Summer series.
285 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 15, 2021
22 people are currently reading
105 people want to read
About the author
Kate Christie
37 books250 followersKate Christie, author of In the Company of Women, Gay Pride & Prejudice, and the Girls of Summer series, was born and raised in Kalamazoo, MI. A graduate of Smith College, she lives near Seattle with her wife, their three daughters, and the family dogs.
To join her mailing list and receive email notifications of new releases, giveaways, and other news, visit https://katejchristie.com/mailing-list/.
To join her mailing list and receive email notifications of new releases, giveaways, and other news, visit https://katejchristie.com/mailing-list/.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 9, 2025
4.5 stars!
Another enjoyable and entertaining book #6 of 'Girls of Summer' ongoing sports series.
Recommended book and series!
Another enjoyable and entertaining book #6 of 'Girls of Summer' ongoing sports series.
Recommended book and series!
March 5, 2022
4.5⭐️
I finally took the time to read the sixth book in the Girls of Summer series. I don't know why I waited so long. I love book series in general and when it's a series with female athletes, even more so. The Girls of Summer series follows Jamie and Emma as the main characters, but we also get to know some of their teammates. What I love about the series is that we get to follow the MCs over a long period of time and see them develop as individuals and see their relationships grow.
Under the Lights takes place after the 2015 World Championship in Canada, when Jamie, Emma, and their teammates are back in their clubs and finishing the US championship without having had a break. They also have various friendlies to play with the national team during the Victory Tour. On the one hand, it is still an honor for all of them to be part of the team but, on the other hand, their bodies are at the edge of exhaustion due to such a demanding and long season. Additionally, there's the fight for equal pay for female athletes with the US soccer national team playing a big role (incidentally, equal pay has just finally come to fruition in real life a few days ago, yay).
The soccer game as such and the training sessions are not the focus this time. Jamie and Emma are trying to make the best of their long-distance relationship. They have to find out if they are both willing to invest more in the relationship and what possibilities there are for them to see each other more often. I can understand them, I also had a long-distance relationship for two years, and even though it was only an hour and a half away from each other, I was stressed out during handball season trying to balance the practice of my sport and my relationship.
I loved spending more time with Emma and Jamie next to the soccer field and accompanying them with their families during the holidays and also when they have to stand by their best friend during an incredibly difficult time. I don't want to give anything away here, but it broke my heart. Despite the very difficult and demanding situation, it's always nice to see when in times of need friends stand by someone unconditionally. As I have been following Emma and Jamie for years now, I really like what great women they have become. Ambitious but fair, helpful but also willing to fight and stand up for each other and their common goals. It wasn't and isn't always easy, they had some obstacles to surmount, injuries to deal with, insecurities to overcome, and trust to build.
It was cool to spend some hours with Emma, Jamie, and their teammates again and I hope their journey will go on. I don't know exactly how much of the stories are fiction and how much is reality, but it's definitely entertaining, and not just for sports fans.
I finally took the time to read the sixth book in the Girls of Summer series. I don't know why I waited so long. I love book series in general and when it's a series with female athletes, even more so. The Girls of Summer series follows Jamie and Emma as the main characters, but we also get to know some of their teammates. What I love about the series is that we get to follow the MCs over a long period of time and see them develop as individuals and see their relationships grow.
Under the Lights takes place after the 2015 World Championship in Canada, when Jamie, Emma, and their teammates are back in their clubs and finishing the US championship without having had a break. They also have various friendlies to play with the national team during the Victory Tour. On the one hand, it is still an honor for all of them to be part of the team but, on the other hand, their bodies are at the edge of exhaustion due to such a demanding and long season. Additionally, there's the fight for equal pay for female athletes with the US soccer national team playing a big role (incidentally, equal pay has just finally come to fruition in real life a few days ago, yay).
The soccer game as such and the training sessions are not the focus this time. Jamie and Emma are trying to make the best of their long-distance relationship. They have to find out if they are both willing to invest more in the relationship and what possibilities there are for them to see each other more often. I can understand them, I also had a long-distance relationship for two years, and even though it was only an hour and a half away from each other, I was stressed out during handball season trying to balance the practice of my sport and my relationship.
I loved spending more time with Emma and Jamie next to the soccer field and accompanying them with their families during the holidays and also when they have to stand by their best friend during an incredibly difficult time. I don't want to give anything away here, but it broke my heart. Despite the very difficult and demanding situation, it's always nice to see when in times of need friends stand by someone unconditionally. As I have been following Emma and Jamie for years now, I really like what great women they have become. Ambitious but fair, helpful but also willing to fight and stand up for each other and their common goals. It wasn't and isn't always easy, they had some obstacles to surmount, injuries to deal with, insecurities to overcome, and trust to build.
It was cool to spend some hours with Emma, Jamie, and their teammates again and I hope their journey will go on. I don't know exactly how much of the stories are fiction and how much is reality, but it's definitely entertaining, and not just for sports fans.
June 24, 2021
A bit shorter and less eventful but still entertaining!
March 16, 2025
Kate Christie's USWNT fan fiction continues, and this is probably my least favourite book of the series? It's mostly because Kate Christie is really just writing what happened to the USWNT team after winning the World Cup, including the appearance at the Taylor Swift concert, and it was too much. But I have to know how this all ends, to be honest. And I'm still sick, so comfort reads it is!
Book 6 takes place in the aftermath of the World Cup and the stress that comes with winning it all, and Jamie is not managing it well. Thankfully she's surrounded by a group of veterans who are used to the attention, so despite her foibles, she comes out okay in the end. This final book also gets into the fight with the federation. Thankfully, Jamie and Emma are solid. Otherwise, I wouldn't be reading this series anymore.
1.5 stars.
Book 6 takes place in the aftermath of the World Cup and the stress that comes with winning it all, and Jamie is not managing it well. Thankfully she's surrounded by a group of veterans who are used to the attention, so despite her foibles, she comes out okay in the end. This final book also gets into the fight with the federation. Thankfully, Jamie and Emma are solid. Otherwise, I wouldn't be reading this series anymore.
1.5 stars.
January 12, 2026
3.25⭐️ “Under the Lights” was the least strong of the “Girls of Summer” series for me. However, I still enjoyed escaping into this world, and watching Jamie and Emma’s lives unfold.
August 11, 2022
This one was a sweet one in the series, and seeing as it was the last one (or so i thought) i took my time reading it (the other books i finished them in less than a day each lol) and kept postponing the end. I finally finished it and I’m going to miss Emma and Jamie, but from the end i think we might get more??? The book felt as a set up of several stories, with no real resolution on all the threads it established so fingers crossed we get more! 😄
This had less soccer than the fifth one, and more of their relationship, which was great for me as i felt that book 5 had nothing going on except for a recap of the world cup that i didn’t enjoy that much compared to the previous 4 books.
I loved this series, and I’m so glad i found out about it when all 6 books were out, cause the wait for more would have been horrible.
Thank you Kate Christie for your stories, i can’t wait to read more of the Girls of Summer and take an even deeper journey into the Emma and Jamie relationship. If this is the end, then I’m happy i could experience the series.
This had less soccer than the fifth one, and more of their relationship, which was great for me as i felt that book 5 had nothing going on except for a recap of the world cup that i didn’t enjoy that much compared to the previous 4 books.
I loved this series, and I’m so glad i found out about it when all 6 books were out, cause the wait for more would have been horrible.
Thank you Kate Christie for your stories, i can’t wait to read more of the Girls of Summer and take an even deeper journey into the Emma and Jamie relationship. If this is the end, then I’m happy i could experience the series.
May 16, 2022
Left hanging
I love these books for so many reasons. This one wasn't my favorite though. Not much happened; there was all this set up, then no follow through. It read like an extended epilogue of the previous book.
I'm not sure if this is the end to the series, or if it's a stepping stone for another book, but either way I would have liked to see more than, "they played more soccer, but nothing all that serious, had some feelings they barely processed, and considered moving their relationship forward someday, the end."
If you're this far into the series you can't not read this book, though. I hope there is another because I want some resolution, particularly for Ellie.
I love these books for so many reasons. This one wasn't my favorite though. Not much happened; there was all this set up, then no follow through. It read like an extended epilogue of the previous book.
I'm not sure if this is the end to the series, or if it's a stepping stone for another book, but either way I would have liked to see more than, "they played more soccer, but nothing all that serious, had some feelings they barely processed, and considered moving their relationship forward someday, the end."
If you're this far into the series you can't not read this book, though. I hope there is another because I want some resolution, particularly for Ellie.
August 17, 2021
A worthy series
I have followed this series and I love it. It is refreshing to follow a couple beyond a book or two telling with happily ever after. I look forward to the next book and hope this story continues on just like real life.
I have followed this series and I love it. It is refreshing to follow a couple beyond a book or two telling with happily ever after. I look forward to the next book and hope this story continues on just like real life.
September 25, 2022
Enjoyable read
Story line describes the life of female athletes realistically. The caste of characters share personal and professional victories and challenges. Like reading about what's happening with a group of friends.
Story line describes the life of female athletes realistically. The caste of characters share personal and professional victories and challenges. Like reading about what's happening with a group of friends.
September 6, 2023
Great series
Girls of Summer series was great to read. After watching the World Cup this year it was a fitting 6 books to read. I hope there are additional stories with Jaime and Emma. Thank you for writing.
Girls of Summer series was great to read. After watching the World Cup this year it was a fitting 6 books to read. I hope there are additional stories with Jaime and Emma. Thank you for writing.
June 17, 2021
Great read
Loved the latest addition to The Girls of Summer series. I looking forward to the next installment ( I hope). I love Jamie and Emma!
Loved the latest addition to The Girls of Summer series. I looking forward to the next installment ( I hope). I love Jamie and Emma!
July 12, 2023
3.5 stars
February 5, 2024
Great add
Another great addition to the series. There are still unanswered questions from the series though so is there another book or is the final one?
Another great addition to the series. There are still unanswered questions from the series though so is there another book or is the final one?
March 22, 2024
great series
Can’t wait for more well written a good invite to life a professional athletes and what you come up against being in a relationship with a teammate wa
Can’t wait for more well written a good invite to life a professional athletes and what you come up against being in a relationship with a teammate wa
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews