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Sugarlake #2
Beneath the Stands
Becca
I hated before I loved.
I loved and then I lost.
And the only man I’ve ever wanted is the one out of reach.
Temptation is the Devil’s candy, but I lost my faith in God years ago.
He’s forbidden.
Off-limits.
My biggest secret.
One I’m determined to take to my grave.
I’ve learned to live in the ghost of his memory. Craving his touch, but relieved he never comes home.
Until one day, he does. And everything comes crashing down.
After all, nothing secret stays hidden for long.
Eli
I lost before I left.
I left and then I loved.
And the only woman I’ve ever seen is the one that I resent.
There’s a thin line between love and hate, but I stopped playing in-bounds years ago.
She’s forbidden.
Off-limits.
My sister’s best friend.
The one who blazes like the sun.
I’ve learned to live in the shade.
Forgetting the heat and embracing the cold.
Until finally, I’m home. And everything goes up in flames.
After all, she’s the one who lights my fire, and I always chase the match.
I hated before I loved.
I loved and then I lost.
And the only man I’ve ever wanted is the one out of reach.
Temptation is the Devil’s candy, but I lost my faith in God years ago.
He’s forbidden.
Off-limits.
My biggest secret.
One I’m determined to take to my grave.
I’ve learned to live in the ghost of his memory. Craving his touch, but relieved he never comes home.
Until one day, he does. And everything comes crashing down.
After all, nothing secret stays hidden for long.
Eli
I lost before I left.
I left and then I loved.
And the only woman I’ve ever seen is the one that I resent.
There’s a thin line between love and hate, but I stopped playing in-bounds years ago.
She’s forbidden.
Off-limits.
My sister’s best friend.
The one who blazes like the sun.
I’ve learned to live in the shade.
Forgetting the heat and embracing the cold.
Until finally, I’m home. And everything goes up in flames.
After all, she’s the one who lights my fire, and I always chase the match.
388 pages, Paperback
First published December 20, 2020
2167 people are currently reading
18196 people want to read
About the author
Emily McIntire
24 books28k followersEmily McIntire is a #1 New York Times and #1 Sunday Times bestselling author whose stories serve steam, slow burns, and seriously questionable morals. Her books have been translated in over a dozen languages, and span across several sub-genres within romance.
A stage IV breast cancer thriver, you can find Emily enjoying free time with her family, getting lost in a good book, or redecorating her house depending on her mood.
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A stage IV breast cancer thriver, you can find Emily enjoying free time with her family, getting lost in a good book, or redecorating her house depending on her mood.
Sign up to Emily's VIP List and never miss a New Release! -> https://mailchi.mp/emilymcintire/sms-...
Upcoming Release
Burning Daylight
Latest Release:
Hexed
Find Emily!
Newsletter sign up -> https://mailchi.mp/emilymcintire/sms-...
Reader Group -> https://www.facebook.com/groups/mcincult
Instagram -> https://www.instagram.com/itsemilymci...
TikTok -> https://www.tiktok.com/@authoremilymc...
X -> https://www.x.com/authoremilym
Website -> https://www.emilymcintire.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,183 reviews
May 7, 2025
2⭐️
This book...was a wild ride and half. In good conscience, I could not give this book more than a 2 star even though I found it wildly entertaining, and I'll explain why.
Let's start off with the characters, shall we?
First off, the beginning of the book was great! I really enjoyed Becca's attitude and personality. She was very sure of herself and she wouldn't let anyone walk over her and I LOVED that about her. That lasted about 100 pages...and then all of a sudden, her personality completely flips. I mean we're talking a complete 180: telling off her manipulative parents, going after everything she wants, never taking shit from anybody. And it was like I just got hit by a truck and all of a sudden she turns into someone so...people pleasing-like and let's everyone walk all over her. It gave me whiplash honestly.
Eli's character though? I really enjoyed him! I found him very likable and easy to understand and get attached to. His love for his family was so genuine, even when there were ups and downs through their relationships. He was such a down-to-earth character that you couldn't help but fall in love with as the story went on (even if he was a complete asshole in the beginning of the book).
Where my problems lie with these characters is the "love" or relationship between Eli and Becca. When first starting the book, we understand that they hate each other. However, this wasn't fleshed out AT ALL. Then, we dive straight into insta-lust as if they never even had this conflict. Ya'll...not even 100 pages in and they were going at it like rabbits. This book is 400+ pages and it was so. Freakin. Heavy. On the physical aspect of their relationship. It felt like that's all it was and that was so disappointing cause their chemistry was amazing. It had so much potential!!
And then the actual plot itself?
This book was chaotic and messy and toxic and had so many problems. This book is like 60% sports romance related and like 40% spice. The whole plot was described as a second-chance sports romance where Eli is an ex-basketball player who now coaches, but this gets lost SO FAST and in replace of that is physical intimacy. I am well-aware that this is a sports romance, but I could not stand that this was so much spice and the good, juicy parts of the actual plot got lost in translation. The potential was so high, but the execution was so low.
I will say, however, that the end of the book I thought was great. It wrapped up nicely and I liked how we got to continue the little easter eggs from the first book. I think by the end of the book Eli and Becca became such healthier individuals. But I literally have no idea what the hell was going on between the beginning and end.
Overall, I wanted to like this, but you know when a book is just so unbelievably disappointing and bad you can't help but just laugh? I cannot tell you how many times I put my book down and screaming into my pillow because the plot was so disjointed and the story progression was so poor. I will, however, be giving the third book a shot since I loved the first one and then didn't care for this one. I'll leave it there to see whether I then want to continue the series any further.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
➼𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭:
I have so many books I want to read this spring/summer and this has been on that list since I finished the first one and LOVED it! I hope this one turns out to be just as good 🩵
This book...was a wild ride and half. In good conscience, I could not give this book more than a 2 star even though I found it wildly entertaining, and I'll explain why.
Let's start off with the characters, shall we?
First off, the beginning of the book was great! I really enjoyed Becca's attitude and personality. She was very sure of herself and she wouldn't let anyone walk over her and I LOVED that about her. That lasted about 100 pages...and then all of a sudden, her personality completely flips. I mean we're talking a complete 180: telling off her manipulative parents, going after everything she wants, never taking shit from anybody. And it was like I just got hit by a truck and all of a sudden she turns into someone so...people pleasing-like and let's everyone walk all over her. It gave me whiplash honestly.
Eli's character though? I really enjoyed him! I found him very likable and easy to understand and get attached to. His love for his family was so genuine, even when there were ups and downs through their relationships. He was such a down-to-earth character that you couldn't help but fall in love with as the story went on (even if he was a complete asshole in the beginning of the book).
Where my problems lie with these characters is the "love" or relationship between Eli and Becca. When first starting the book, we understand that they hate each other. However, this wasn't fleshed out AT ALL. Then, we dive straight into insta-lust as if they never even had this conflict. Ya'll...not even 100 pages in and they were going at it like rabbits. This book is 400+ pages and it was so. Freakin. Heavy. On the physical aspect of their relationship. It felt like that's all it was and that was so disappointing cause their chemistry was amazing. It had so much potential!!
And then the actual plot itself?
This book was chaotic and messy and toxic and had so many problems. This book is like 60% sports romance related and like 40% spice. The whole plot was described as a second-chance sports romance where Eli is an ex-basketball player who now coaches, but this gets lost SO FAST and in replace of that is physical intimacy. I am well-aware that this is a sports romance, but I could not stand that this was so much spice and the good, juicy parts of the actual plot got lost in translation. The potential was so high, but the execution was so low.
I will say, however, that the end of the book I thought was great. It wrapped up nicely and I liked how we got to continue the little easter eggs from the first book. I think by the end of the book Eli and Becca became such healthier individuals. But I literally have no idea what the hell was going on between the beginning and end.
Overall, I wanted to like this, but you know when a book is just so unbelievably disappointing and bad you can't help but just laugh? I cannot tell you how many times I put my book down and screaming into my pillow because the plot was so disjointed and the story progression was so poor. I will, however, be giving the third book a shot since I loved the first one and then didn't care for this one. I'll leave it there to see whether I then want to continue the series any further.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
➼𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭:
I have so many books I want to read this spring/summer and this has been on that list since I finished the first one and LOVED it! I hope this one turns out to be just as good 🩵
December 1, 2020
Beneath the Stands. I don’t even know where to start with this one.
Kidding! Eli. I’m starting with Eli. Because Eli is All. Of. The. Things! But my favorite, of course, is his domineering and dirty side.🔥🔥🔥 I mean, the things he says!!
“Does it feel this way with him? ...Like I’ll die if I can’t touch you?’”
“I tighten my grip and step into her, pushing her body against the door with my torso. ‘You think it hasn’t killed me to stand in your presence and remember the feel of having you in my arms? To realize that even after all these years...’ My voice cracks and I grit my teeth, fighting the burn behind my eyes. ‘After all the pain you’ve inflicted, you still light my goddamn body on fire?’”
This entire book is a steamy, sexy, ball of fire. And it veers away from the dark and devastating beauty of Beneath the Stars, offering a lighter, butterflies in your stomach kind of read. Though, don’t get me wrong, it’s still perfectly on point with Emily’s brand of Painful, Messy, Beautiful Romance.
Trust the process, she says. And that I do.
Because when Becca...
And then Eli didn’t...
But then he...
Gah!!
Trust. 👏 The. 👏 Process!!
I LOVED their story. Through all the highs and lows. And I cannot wait for the next book in this series!! I have been looking forward to these two since the very first mention of them in Beneath the Stars. ✨
Thank you, Emily, for the opportunity to Beta and ARC read this beautiful story!! It was an honor.
“I’ll lay down in her waves as they break on the shore and drown in her undertow.”
Gah!! 😍
Kidding! Eli. I’m starting with Eli. Because Eli is All. Of. The. Things! But my favorite, of course, is his domineering and dirty side.🔥🔥🔥 I mean, the things he says!!
“Does it feel this way with him? ...Like I’ll die if I can’t touch you?’”
“I tighten my grip and step into her, pushing her body against the door with my torso. ‘You think it hasn’t killed me to stand in your presence and remember the feel of having you in my arms? To realize that even after all these years...’ My voice cracks and I grit my teeth, fighting the burn behind my eyes. ‘After all the pain you’ve inflicted, you still light my goddamn body on fire?’”
This entire book is a steamy, sexy, ball of fire. And it veers away from the dark and devastating beauty of Beneath the Stars, offering a lighter, butterflies in your stomach kind of read. Though, don’t get me wrong, it’s still perfectly on point with Emily’s brand of Painful, Messy, Beautiful Romance.
Trust the process, she says. And that I do.
Because when Becca...
And then Eli didn’t...
But then he...
Gah!!
Trust. 👏 The. 👏 Process!!
I LOVED their story. Through all the highs and lows. And I cannot wait for the next book in this series!! I have been looking forward to these two since the very first mention of them in Beneath the Stars. ✨
Thank you, Emily, for the opportunity to Beta and ARC read this beautiful story!! It was an honor.
“I’ll lay down in her waves as they break on the shore and drown in her undertow.”
Gah!! 😍
January 2, 2021
Tik Tok made me do it. I saw a review from a creator, downloaded the book, and dove right in. I am torn between 3.5 stars and four stars, to be honest. I liked the book, and it was a good story, just a few things I can’t ignore. I will add I didn’t know until I read the forward the books are interconnected, and it is recommended you read book one first to get a better reader’s experience. I like to break the rule and skipped book one. I don’t feel it took away from the story, but there were a few times in the book; I did wish I read book one with Becca’s best friend.
Let’s start with the good; Becca is a senior in college and is expected to come home after graduation to run the church with her overbearing religious parents. Becca tells them she is not coming home and is cut off. She needs a job and quick, so she becomes one of the managers for the men’s basketball team (knows nothing about the sport) and literally runs into the new assistant coach Eli, her best friend's brother. Let’s say the reaction did have me laughing. Becca has one smart mouth and has the best comebacks. I just love this heroine. Take note. This type of heroine is always my favorite. Eli gives as good as he gets, and he doesn’t want anyone with Becca. At times I wonder who would break first or if they would kill each other.
Eli and Becca both have their demons, and I just wanted to smack them at times, So frustrating. For the most part, this book is well written, and some steamy sex scenes, and I felt many emotions.
Here is what I didn’t like
Her Friend Jeremy confronts Becca about her relationship with Eli. Jeremy is on the basketball team. He tells her about how he saw Becca sneak in his room at away games and a few other details. I don’t remember reading about her at away games, We read about the sneaking around, but not much of it, I feel like she could have gone into more detail about that.
Then the why, the plot twist. I was kind of disappointed in a way, to be honest. I expected more. I mean, I do get it and the back story. I guess I wanted something with more drama.
Overall, I liked the book, and I will read the first one and the third one when it comes out.
Let’s start with the good; Becca is a senior in college and is expected to come home after graduation to run the church with her overbearing religious parents. Becca tells them she is not coming home and is cut off. She needs a job and quick, so she becomes one of the managers for the men’s basketball team (knows nothing about the sport) and literally runs into the new assistant coach Eli, her best friend's brother. Let’s say the reaction did have me laughing. Becca has one smart mouth and has the best comebacks. I just love this heroine. Take note. This type of heroine is always my favorite. Eli gives as good as he gets, and he doesn’t want anyone with Becca. At times I wonder who would break first or if they would kill each other.
Eli and Becca both have their demons, and I just wanted to smack them at times, So frustrating. For the most part, this book is well written, and some steamy sex scenes, and I felt many emotions.
Here is what I didn’t like
Her Friend Jeremy confronts Becca about her relationship with Eli. Jeremy is on the basketball team. He tells her about how he saw Becca sneak in his room at away games and a few other details. I don’t remember reading about her at away games, We read about the sneaking around, but not much of it, I feel like she could have gone into more detail about that.
Then the why, the plot twist. I was kind of disappointed in a way, to be honest. I expected more. I mean, I do get it and the back story. I guess I wanted something with more drama.
Overall, I liked the book, and I will read the first one and the third one when it comes out.
June 7, 2021
2.5⭐
(Long review but whatever I HAD to rant. So bare with me lmao)
JUST for the drama this book gave me istg I could have just got a bag of popcorn and read this
Okay so
I have SO MANY issues with this book
Slow burn? My ass.
The book is RUSHED
Elliot is Rebecca's best friend's big brother (✨which I do like✨)
Okay so yeah whatever Becca gets into an argument with her father and he basically threatened her that if she doesn't come back home for holidays he'll stop paying her bills. Annnd she is broke.Who helped her? Her two bestfriends. Sabrina and Jeremy (oh my god I love jer so much y'all have no idea. He is the only one in this book who made sense. Becca initially wanted to have a fling with him but ...he turns out to be gay but still they kept it locked in because he was a basketball player on a scholarship and things would fuck up if the fact that he's gay comes out).
So yeah she went for a job at FCU and gets it (even though she knew NOTHING about basketball?!? Make it make sense)
So yeah she gets the job and who also gets a job at the FCU ?(also someone who will teach her the game) *drumroll pls* ELLIOT CARSON. And she meets him by crashing into his chest and she goes whoosh you look mighty familiar sir
Elliot Carson.
The man. The myth. The legend.
But to me… he’s just the asshole who got too big for his britches and abandoned my best friend.
Okay so yeah they're surprised to find each other there and stuff. Fast-forward to a party. Becca is at the party for the sole purpose of getting fucked. And a really nice hot guy approaches the lady and sweet talks her. He said he was waiting for his wingman. And that wingman ladies and gents is . Elliot. So yeah Elliot says very clearly that his friend should not be having sex with her. To which she says....
“Excuse me?” I push past Connor and step into Eli’s space. He straightens, and I have to crane my neck to maintain eye contact. “He’ll fuck me six ways from Sunday if I want him to, and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it. God, when did you turn into such a prick?”
Eli’s perfect jaw tics. “I’d imagine it was around the time you turned into a raging bitch.”
I can promise you all that his pov for her was not very different either
Becca was always a little too loud and a little too bratty, but I don’t remember her being this obnoxious
And even though she was such a bitch to him he still was lusting shits over her.
Baby sister’s best friend is a definite no-go. So is her being a student. And if all those things weren’t enough to stamp a giant red x on that tight little body then that belligerent mouth of hers definitely is. No matter how much my dick disagrees.
She goes to her "job" and meets him and just pisses the fuck out of him
Fuck her.
I lean in close. I want to grip her feisty little throat. Feel her heartbeat quicken under my fingers while I lay out how this will go. My fists clench to quell the urge. “Let’s get one thing straight. Every single thing that happens when it comes to you and this court? I control it. You can run that fuckin’ mouth of yours all day long. It’ll only make your submission that much sweeter.” My voice drops. “You want this job, Becca? You better learn to play my way, baby girl.”
This was the first meeting *sighs*
“I ain’t your baby.”
“No?” I smirk. “That’s fine. I’ll settle for you being my bitch.”
THE FIRST MEETING. Where's my slow burn you promised?
I can’t entertain thoughts of him for so many reasons. One, he’s technically my boss. Pretty sure we’d both get in heaps of trouble if I let him dive into my honey pot. Two, and most importantly, I can’t stand his stupid ass. Which leads me to believe my body is only reacting because I’ve never had a hate fuck before. Plus, it’s going on three weeks since my last orgasm, which is a goddamn tragedy, so I’m a ball of pent-up hormones
Okay so cutting it short they kiss in like a couple of meetings (which are NOT mentioned) . The next time they meet (in actual scenes of them together) and right after they kiss they go mistakes *gasp*
“I want you to fuck me hard and make me come.” She hesitates. “And then I don’t want it to ever happen again.”
Second party of the book and Becca is all good dancing with jer and grinding on him and because Elliot doesn't know about jer being gay. His first emotion is getting JEALOUS. So yeah she goes to the bathroom and Elli follows and guess what slow burn?. They fuck. And AGAIN they swear in the fucking bible that it would never happen again and they'll be fRiEnDs.
Give it a few pages and he asks her out for dinner(friendly dinner. With someone you've fucked and swore would never do again) They get some takeout and drives to his place. Slow burn? Guess what people....
My heart races, my arms trembling against his fingers. “What do you want?”
The heat of his body flickers against my back, and his hands grip my shoulders like he’s afraid I’ll run from his words.
I can’t be sure I won’t.
“I want you. Riding me against the backdrop of the sky until your body becomes my horizon. On my face, so I can revel in your taste. In my bed, so I can bury myself deep inside you instead of settling for my dreams.”
Let me show you how good I treat my belongings.”
“Whose pussy is this?” I growl.
“Yours,” she gasps.
Just gonna leave this right there.
Okay so yeah they keep everything undercovers. The first game of the season comes up and she watches him win on the telly. She also see him hugging Sarah. A girl Elli is comfortable with and someone he works with and also someone Connor (his bestf) hooked him up with.AND THERE COMES THE PHONE SEX PEOPLE
“I want you to imagine it’s me workin’ you through the fabric… teasin’ you until you beg me to give you what you need.”
I picture her next to me, her fingers rubbing against me as she tortures me with her words. My abs tighten.
“Are you touching my pussy, baby girl?” I rasp, stroking myself.
Not tf she's not touching YOUR pussy bitch. She's touching HERS.
Okay she's pissed off af. And somewhere between this Elli falls for her. And she does too but her mum always planted these roots in her head that all men are liars and they cheat. So she's scared.And she's just fucking with the guy who loves her and ghosting. Jer talks to her about all shit she's been hiding and bless him. He talks sense
“But I’ll tell you this, Becca. That feeling? The one where someone holds themselves back, even though you’re giving them everything you are? That feeling fucking sucks. It’s a disease. It sneaks in undetected and attaches to your cells, siphoning all the joy, and all the love, until you’re a worthless shell.” He smacks his chest. “Until you start to hate yourself, because how could you love someone who doesn’t want to love you back? Don’t be the reason that man loses his heart. Not unless you plan to keep it safe.You hear me, Becca? You’re better than that. Either be all in or let him go.”
Another problem I personally have is Elli fucking every issue out. She gets into an argument with her parents and he fucks her. She's pissed off. He fucks her. She's sad about something...guess what mister is fucking her. she tells him how she doesn't want to go home and... “Damn.” He chuckles. Facing me, he props his head in his hand, a carefree smile lighting up his face. “Move in with me.” it iz what it iz people. He also confesses his feelings that he loves her. And taking the sense jer gave her and getting scared of it all. She leaves him. YEP. And she goes where? To her parents. YEP YEP.
fuck her for leaving. Doesn’t she know she’s taking a piece of me with her? Doesn’t she care that she’s ruining my fucking soul?
Black rage surges through my gut, blasting a hole in my chest and mixing into my bloodstream.
Okay literally the NEXT CHAPTER Elliot's little sister aka Becca's bestf opens the fact that Elli is coming back and HE'S GETTING MARRIED to who? Okay y'all memory run to the past.... remember Sarah? Yeah Sarah.
Sarah’s love is a constant warmth. It slides on top of my skin and blankets me in her comfort, sheltering me from the icy, frozen tundra of the cold, cruel world. Being with her is as easy as breathing. And maybe that’s what love is supposed to feel like. Effortless. Steady. Calm.
But she doesn’t consume me.
Thank fucking God.
Y'all.... *Sighs*
This was the man that was dropping all shit and ready to move in with Becca. I know people move on and stuff but I would have want to see a little between in the breakup ..or whatever you call it. So yeah he returns to his hometown and goes out for coffee and bumps into the one and only. Brushes her off and walks forward. Sarah personally wants the wedding here and Elli wants to just get it over with. She wants to get married in the church. The church that works under Becca's father. Becca's father gives HER the responsibility to arrange all his wedding preps. So yeah they go one bickering and shit. Elli asks Becca for closure in front of his soon-to-be wife (can you be THAT dumb?) Okay so yeah Sarah asks him about what is going on and he fills in with the details
I rub my hands down my face, groaning. “I don’t want to lie to you, okay? It was a long time ago, and things didn’t end well.” I cup her cheek in my hand. “I asked you to marry me. I’m here for you.”
“Did you love her?”
“No.” My soul rages against the lie, clawing at my body, etching truths into my skin.
I ignore it, leaning in to kiss her lips, sliding my tongue into her mouth.
Stripping her clothes off slowly, I pull her on top of me, needing to sink into her warmth.
Desperate for her to dull the pain.
This man has a thing for sad sex.
While this is happening Becca calls jer and my man comes in again with the FACTS
“You do, Becca. Take a second and listen to what you’re saying. That man didn’t break your heart. You broke his. You have no right to him. You aren’t owed anything from Elliot Carson.” He shrugs. “Be mad at me all you want. Someone’s gotta say it. Listen, calm down a bit and think about what I said. Call me back once you realize I’m right, so I can say I told you so.” He winks. “I love you, sweet cheeks. Even when it doesn’t feel like it.””
Okay so yeah after a few pages Elli tells Sarah all of what he feels. And that he loves her. But he's not IN love with her. They decide to part.(mmhhmmm drama I told you)
They meet again at a retirement party
And he corners her
“Why did you leave, Rebecca?”
Silence.
Years of repressed anger rupture inside my chest and I twist, slamming the door closed. “God dammit! Stop bein’ a selfish bitch and just tell me.”
“I loved you, alright? I still love you.!!"
Okay so now we talkin people and after this INTENSE EMO talk guess what....
And then I give in to the pull.
Fireworks burst in my chest when our lips collide. She moans, her hands gripping my shirt, dragging me into her. My cock jumps, straining against my zipper, desperate to dip into her after going so long without.
They didn't even figure shit out and they're fucking. And while they're at it in comes Lee.
Becca isn’t meant to be mine. I think she’s meant to be a lesson.
I’ve learned we don’t always get what we want—what we think we need. We just survive, trying like hell to be better than we were the day before, hoping to ignore the darkness that looms in our heart.
Believe me they fucked before this chp. And she told him how she loves him.
“Because it doesn’t matter if she’s the woman I deserve, when you’re the only one I see.”
She pants out a breath and I catch it with my lips, groaning at the explosion of her taste on my tongue.
Becca starts going to therapy and working on herself so she could be the "woman he deserves"
Elliot takes a job at his the place he used to play before he went off. And surprise surprise he finds her co-worker to be Becca. AGAIN.
“And then... I’m gonna fuck you, right here, beneath the stands. Bathe my cock in your juices, while that tight cunt milks me and has me filling you up with my cum.”
Just Leaving it right here again.
And again let me tell you they haven't STILL worked out with their.... situation.
So yeah fast-forward a little and Lee starts shipping her brother and her bestf
She tells Becca to put some flowers down at her mother's stone where she knew Elli would be. And the book finishes with him asking her out for food and her saying yes because it was something that they did when they first met but they didn't still say the words to each other IN THE BOOK
“Hey,” I yell.
She turns, her eyebrow quirking.
“You hungry?”
A smile spreads across her face, highlighting the rosy hue that dusts across her cheeks.
She nods.
My heart leaps.
I follow
Okay yk the book itself is ...okayish with the drama portion but still there was nothing that made sense with them bickering and fucking the next second and all the rush.
The only thing that made sense in this book start to finish was Jeremy. There. I said it. There was always something new happening in every page.
(Long review but whatever I HAD to rant. So bare with me lmao)
JUST for the drama this book gave me istg I could have just got a bag of popcorn and read this
Okay so
I have SO MANY issues with this book
Slow burn? My ass.
The book is RUSHED
Elliot is Rebecca's best friend's big brother (✨which I do like✨)
Okay so yeah whatever Becca gets into an argument with her father and he basically threatened her that if she doesn't come back home for holidays he'll stop paying her bills. Annnd she is broke.Who helped her? Her two bestfriends. Sabrina and Jeremy (oh my god I love jer so much y'all have no idea. He is the only one in this book who made sense. Becca initially wanted to have a fling with him but ...he turns out to be gay but still they kept it locked in because he was a basketball player on a scholarship and things would fuck up if the fact that he's gay comes out).
So yeah she went for a job at FCU and gets it (even though she knew NOTHING about basketball?!? Make it make sense)
So yeah she gets the job and who also gets a job at the FCU ?(also someone who will teach her the game) *drumroll pls* ELLIOT CARSON. And she meets him by crashing into his chest and she goes whoosh you look mighty familiar sir
Elliot Carson.
The man. The myth. The legend.
But to me… he’s just the asshole who got too big for his britches and abandoned my best friend.
Okay so yeah they're surprised to find each other there and stuff. Fast-forward to a party. Becca is at the party for the sole purpose of getting fucked. And a really nice hot guy approaches the lady and sweet talks her. He said he was waiting for his wingman. And that wingman ladies and gents is . Elliot. So yeah Elliot says very clearly that his friend should not be having sex with her. To which she says....
“Excuse me?” I push past Connor and step into Eli’s space. He straightens, and I have to crane my neck to maintain eye contact. “He’ll fuck me six ways from Sunday if I want him to, and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it. God, when did you turn into such a prick?”
Eli’s perfect jaw tics. “I’d imagine it was around the time you turned into a raging bitch.”
I can promise you all that his pov for her was not very different either
Becca was always a little too loud and a little too bratty, but I don’t remember her being this obnoxious
And even though she was such a bitch to him he still was lusting shits over her.
Baby sister’s best friend is a definite no-go. So is her being a student. And if all those things weren’t enough to stamp a giant red x on that tight little body then that belligerent mouth of hers definitely is. No matter how much my dick disagrees.
She goes to her "job" and meets him and just pisses the fuck out of him
Fuck her.
I lean in close. I want to grip her feisty little throat. Feel her heartbeat quicken under my fingers while I lay out how this will go. My fists clench to quell the urge. “Let’s get one thing straight. Every single thing that happens when it comes to you and this court? I control it. You can run that fuckin’ mouth of yours all day long. It’ll only make your submission that much sweeter.” My voice drops. “You want this job, Becca? You better learn to play my way, baby girl.”
This was the first meeting *sighs*
“I ain’t your baby.”
“No?” I smirk. “That’s fine. I’ll settle for you being my bitch.”
THE FIRST MEETING. Where's my slow burn you promised?
I can’t entertain thoughts of him for so many reasons. One, he’s technically my boss. Pretty sure we’d both get in heaps of trouble if I let him dive into my honey pot. Two, and most importantly, I can’t stand his stupid ass. Which leads me to believe my body is only reacting because I’ve never had a hate fuck before. Plus, it’s going on three weeks since my last orgasm, which is a goddamn tragedy, so I’m a ball of pent-up hormones
Okay so cutting it short they kiss in like a couple of meetings (which are NOT mentioned) . The next time they meet (in actual scenes of them together) and right after they kiss they go mistakes *gasp*
“I want you to fuck me hard and make me come.” She hesitates. “And then I don’t want it to ever happen again.”
Second party of the book and Becca is all good dancing with jer and grinding on him and because Elliot doesn't know about jer being gay. His first emotion is getting JEALOUS. So yeah she goes to the bathroom and Elli follows and guess what slow burn?. They fuck. And AGAIN they swear in the fucking bible that it would never happen again and they'll be fRiEnDs.
Give it a few pages and he asks her out for dinner(friendly dinner. With someone you've fucked and swore would never do again) They get some takeout and drives to his place. Slow burn? Guess what people....
My heart races, my arms trembling against his fingers. “What do you want?”
The heat of his body flickers against my back, and his hands grip my shoulders like he’s afraid I’ll run from his words.
I can’t be sure I won’t.
“I want you. Riding me against the backdrop of the sky until your body becomes my horizon. On my face, so I can revel in your taste. In my bed, so I can bury myself deep inside you instead of settling for my dreams.”
Let me show you how good I treat my belongings.”
“Whose pussy is this?” I growl.
“Yours,” she gasps.
Just gonna leave this right there.
Okay so yeah they keep everything undercovers. The first game of the season comes up and she watches him win on the telly. She also see him hugging Sarah. A girl Elli is comfortable with and someone he works with and also someone Connor (his bestf) hooked him up with.AND THERE COMES THE PHONE SEX PEOPLE
“I want you to imagine it’s me workin’ you through the fabric… teasin’ you until you beg me to give you what you need.”
I picture her next to me, her fingers rubbing against me as she tortures me with her words. My abs tighten.
“Are you touching my pussy, baby girl?” I rasp, stroking myself.
Not tf she's not touching YOUR pussy bitch. She's touching HERS.
Okay she's pissed off af. And somewhere between this Elli falls for her. And she does too but her mum always planted these roots in her head that all men are liars and they cheat. So she's scared.And she's just fucking with the guy who loves her and ghosting. Jer talks to her about all shit she's been hiding and bless him. He talks sense
“But I’ll tell you this, Becca. That feeling? The one where someone holds themselves back, even though you’re giving them everything you are? That feeling fucking sucks. It’s a disease. It sneaks in undetected and attaches to your cells, siphoning all the joy, and all the love, until you’re a worthless shell.” He smacks his chest. “Until you start to hate yourself, because how could you love someone who doesn’t want to love you back? Don’t be the reason that man loses his heart. Not unless you plan to keep it safe.You hear me, Becca? You’re better than that. Either be all in or let him go.”
Another problem I personally have is Elli fucking every issue out. She gets into an argument with her parents and he fucks her. She's pissed off. He fucks her. She's sad about something...guess what mister is fucking her. she tells him how she doesn't want to go home and... “Damn.” He chuckles. Facing me, he props his head in his hand, a carefree smile lighting up his face. “Move in with me.” it iz what it iz people. He also confesses his feelings that he loves her. And taking the sense jer gave her and getting scared of it all. She leaves him. YEP. And she goes where? To her parents. YEP YEP.
fuck her for leaving. Doesn’t she know she’s taking a piece of me with her? Doesn’t she care that she’s ruining my fucking soul?
Black rage surges through my gut, blasting a hole in my chest and mixing into my bloodstream.
Okay literally the NEXT CHAPTER Elliot's little sister aka Becca's bestf opens the fact that Elli is coming back and HE'S GETTING MARRIED to who? Okay y'all memory run to the past.... remember Sarah? Yeah Sarah.
Sarah’s love is a constant warmth. It slides on top of my skin and blankets me in her comfort, sheltering me from the icy, frozen tundra of the cold, cruel world. Being with her is as easy as breathing. And maybe that’s what love is supposed to feel like. Effortless. Steady. Calm.
But she doesn’t consume me.
Thank fucking God.
Y'all.... *Sighs*
This was the man that was dropping all shit and ready to move in with Becca. I know people move on and stuff but I would have want to see a little between in the breakup ..or whatever you call it. So yeah he returns to his hometown and goes out for coffee and bumps into the one and only. Brushes her off and walks forward. Sarah personally wants the wedding here and Elli wants to just get it over with. She wants to get married in the church. The church that works under Becca's father. Becca's father gives HER the responsibility to arrange all his wedding preps. So yeah they go one bickering and shit. Elli asks Becca for closure in front of his soon-to-be wife (can you be THAT dumb?) Okay so yeah Sarah asks him about what is going on and he fills in with the details
I rub my hands down my face, groaning. “I don’t want to lie to you, okay? It was a long time ago, and things didn’t end well.” I cup her cheek in my hand. “I asked you to marry me. I’m here for you.”
“Did you love her?”
“No.” My soul rages against the lie, clawing at my body, etching truths into my skin.
I ignore it, leaning in to kiss her lips, sliding my tongue into her mouth.
Stripping her clothes off slowly, I pull her on top of me, needing to sink into her warmth.
Desperate for her to dull the pain.
This man has a thing for sad sex.
While this is happening Becca calls jer and my man comes in again with the FACTS
“You do, Becca. Take a second and listen to what you’re saying. That man didn’t break your heart. You broke his. You have no right to him. You aren’t owed anything from Elliot Carson.” He shrugs. “Be mad at me all you want. Someone’s gotta say it. Listen, calm down a bit and think about what I said. Call me back once you realize I’m right, so I can say I told you so.” He winks. “I love you, sweet cheeks. Even when it doesn’t feel like it.””
Okay so yeah after a few pages Elli tells Sarah all of what he feels. And that he loves her. But he's not IN love with her. They decide to part.(mmhhmmm drama I told you)
They meet again at a retirement party
And he corners her
“Why did you leave, Rebecca?”
Silence.
Years of repressed anger rupture inside my chest and I twist, slamming the door closed. “God dammit! Stop bein’ a selfish bitch and just tell me.”
“I loved you, alright? I still love you.!!"
Okay so now we talkin people and after this INTENSE EMO talk guess what....
And then I give in to the pull.
Fireworks burst in my chest when our lips collide. She moans, her hands gripping my shirt, dragging me into her. My cock jumps, straining against my zipper, desperate to dip into her after going so long without.
They didn't even figure shit out and they're fucking. And while they're at it in comes Lee.
Becca isn’t meant to be mine. I think she’s meant to be a lesson.
I’ve learned we don’t always get what we want—what we think we need. We just survive, trying like hell to be better than we were the day before, hoping to ignore the darkness that looms in our heart.
Believe me they fucked before this chp. And she told him how she loves him.
“Because it doesn’t matter if she’s the woman I deserve, when you’re the only one I see.”
She pants out a breath and I catch it with my lips, groaning at the explosion of her taste on my tongue.
Becca starts going to therapy and working on herself so she could be the "woman he deserves"
Elliot takes a job at his the place he used to play before he went off. And surprise surprise he finds her co-worker to be Becca. AGAIN.
“And then... I’m gonna fuck you, right here, beneath the stands. Bathe my cock in your juices, while that tight cunt milks me and has me filling you up with my cum.”
Just Leaving it right here again.
And again let me tell you they haven't STILL worked out with their.... situation.
So yeah fast-forward a little and Lee starts shipping her brother and her bestf
She tells Becca to put some flowers down at her mother's stone where she knew Elli would be. And the book finishes with him asking her out for food and her saying yes because it was something that they did when they first met but they didn't still say the words to each other IN THE BOOK
“Hey,” I yell.
She turns, her eyebrow quirking.
“You hungry?”
A smile spreads across her face, highlighting the rosy hue that dusts across her cheeks.
She nods.
My heart leaps.
I follow
Okay yk the book itself is ...okayish with the drama portion but still there was nothing that made sense with them bickering and fucking the next second and all the rush.
The only thing that made sense in this book start to finish was Jeremy. There. I said it. There was always something new happening in every page.
November 29, 2020
I was blown away by BENEATH THE STARS, I couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that it was a debut. It quite possibly could be my number one read of 2020, but now we have a contender with BENEATH THE STANDS. When I was reading book one, I messaged Emily, because I knew there was something going on with these two, and I needed to know that there was going to be a book about them. I was waiting on pins and needles for the ARC to drop. The day it arrived on my Kindle, there was no hesitation in reading it.
Becca and Eli progressed fast, their relationship went from ZERO to SIXTY in just a matter of a few chapters, and I absolutely loved it. In doing it that way, it made for a lot of steamy scenes! Now, because this is part of an interconnected series, I can’t delve to far in the storyline, because if you haven’t read the first book, it will spoil some things, and also it would obviously spoil things in this book two. What I love most about this, you get your questions from book one answered, and you get further insight on book three. Also, I am soooo ready for Jax!
Emily, has a beautiful writing style, this book is full of so many quotes and lines, that I went Highlight crazy while reading. She makes me want to sell my house in the city and move into a small town, and live that life. I want to live in Sugar Lake.
I love snark, I love sarcasm, and I love a leading lady that has both of those qualities. I love that Emily went there with Becca, and didn’t make her the cookie cutter female character. And yea, Eli is a vulgar man, and I loved it. I love that Emily went there with the Preachers Daughter story line, and I loved how VILE she made both of Becca’s parents, I loved to hate them. Read this series, trust me on this. Even if you are for some reason Anti Indie Authors, these books will change your mind
Becca and Eli progressed fast, their relationship went from ZERO to SIXTY in just a matter of a few chapters, and I absolutely loved it. In doing it that way, it made for a lot of steamy scenes! Now, because this is part of an interconnected series, I can’t delve to far in the storyline, because if you haven’t read the first book, it will spoil some things, and also it would obviously spoil things in this book two. What I love most about this, you get your questions from book one answered, and you get further insight on book three. Also, I am soooo ready for Jax!
Emily, has a beautiful writing style, this book is full of so many quotes and lines, that I went Highlight crazy while reading. She makes me want to sell my house in the city and move into a small town, and live that life. I want to live in Sugar Lake.
I love snark, I love sarcasm, and I love a leading lady that has both of those qualities. I love that Emily went there with Becca, and didn’t make her the cookie cutter female character. And yea, Eli is a vulgar man, and I loved it. I love that Emily went there with the Preachers Daughter story line, and I loved how VILE she made both of Becca’s parents, I loved to hate them. Read this series, trust me on this. Even if you are for some reason Anti Indie Authors, these books will change your mind
December 21, 2022
Loved the first half, hated the second half. It got annoyingly messy after the first breakup, and I don't like reading about heroes who are so in denial about their feelings that they try to move on and hurt both the heroine and the woman he moves on with.
June 4, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️¼
Returning to Sugarlake felt like coming home, and Beneath the Stands delivered the emotional intensity I’ve come to love from this series. Emily McIntire has such a gift for creating complex, layered characters, and I adored getting to know Becca and Eli.
Becca’s journey really stood out. Watching her work through the trauma of growing up in a household ruled by strict, hypocritical parents (a pastor father who cheats, no less) was both heartbreaking and empowering. Eli, on the other hand, is still grieving the loss of his mother and trying to find his place in a family that has been emotionally shut down for years.
When these two come together, it’s explosive. Their chemistry is undeniable, but what really makes their connection shine is how deeply they see each other. They’re both struggling, broken in different ways, and for a time, they’re exactly what the other needs.
With tropes like second chance romance, best friend’s brother, and a cozy small town backdrop, this book hit all the right emotional beats. While it wasn’t a perfect read, the emotional depth, raw vulnerability, and character development easily earned it a solid 4.25 stars. I can’t wait to dive into the next book in the series.
Returning to Sugarlake felt like coming home, and Beneath the Stands delivered the emotional intensity I’ve come to love from this series. Emily McIntire has such a gift for creating complex, layered characters, and I adored getting to know Becca and Eli.
Becca’s journey really stood out. Watching her work through the trauma of growing up in a household ruled by strict, hypocritical parents (a pastor father who cheats, no less) was both heartbreaking and empowering. Eli, on the other hand, is still grieving the loss of his mother and trying to find his place in a family that has been emotionally shut down for years.
When these two come together, it’s explosive. Their chemistry is undeniable, but what really makes their connection shine is how deeply they see each other. They’re both struggling, broken in different ways, and for a time, they’re exactly what the other needs.
With tropes like second chance romance, best friend’s brother, and a cozy small town backdrop, this book hit all the right emotional beats. While it wasn’t a perfect read, the emotional depth, raw vulnerability, and character development easily earned it a solid 4.25 stars. I can’t wait to dive into the next book in the series.
November 27, 2020
It’s hard to put into words how epic this authors writing style is portrayed in this follow-up (stand alone) novel to Beneath the Stars. I thought I loved Alina and Chase’s story, but the fire and consumption of Becca and Eli’s story was overwhelming.
I love how Emily associates fire, flames, infernos, and all things that have to do with them in regards to B & E’s relationship. The ash, the burn, the singe. All of it. They’re the perfect way to describe what this story will do to your emotions.
I can’t wait for the final book in this series and ALL of her future books. Her writing is A+++ and the storylines are AMAZING.
The characters and their flaws are executed with such precision, it’s hard to put into words. I love them. I want to smack them. I’m happy when they’re happy and sad when they’re sad. Like I said. Perfectly. Executed.
I love how Emily associates fire, flames, infernos, and all things that have to do with them in regards to B & E’s relationship. The ash, the burn, the singe. All of it. They’re the perfect way to describe what this story will do to your emotions.
I can’t wait for the final book in this series and ALL of her future books. Her writing is A+++ and the storylines are AMAZING.
The characters and their flaws are executed with such precision, it’s hard to put into words. I love them. I want to smack them. I’m happy when they’re happy and sad when they’re sad. Like I said. Perfectly. Executed.
November 27, 2020
Oh, Becca and Eli, you beautiful stubborn pair!
Beneath the Stands is the second in the Sugarlake series and is an interconnected standalone. If you haven't read the first in the series I would definitely recommend it, it's not only amazing, but will give you a little look at these characters before you dive into their story.
.
Becca and Eli have known each other since childhood, via Becca's best friend and Eli's younger sister Alina. So after years away from each other, when fate throws them into each other's orbit unexpectedly, it is fraught with tension and misguided resentment. On top of that, there are layers of the forbidden getting in the way of their sizzling attraction and chemistry.
.
"𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝. 𝚂𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎𝚜, 𝚗𝚘 𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚋𝚊𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚒𝚝...𝚒𝚝'𝚜 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚖𝚎𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎."
.
But as we all know, sometimes the forbidden fruit has the sweetest taste, and these two can't resist for long. When they submit to the tension and acknowledge to themselves that maybe there is more to this person than their pre-conceptions, they allow themselves to enter into this fun, passionate, happy relationship despite keeping having to keep it secret.
.
I definitely had an idea of who Eli was based on the first book, and it wasn't the best first impression! But what this second book showcases is that we have only seen one side to him, and the new perspective adds a lot more depth to the world of these characters, changing who Eli is in my eyes.
.
Becca is snarky and rebellious, but as we learn about her family dynamic it's clear to see why she wears this armour around herself pushing away anyone that dares to get too close. But will it be this armour that makes her everything she doesn't want to be?
.
In some ways this book is so different to other romances and I loved noticing the subtle differences. I don't want to give away too much of the plot so I don't want to put here what one of those differences is! But the second difference is the timeline of these books. Often in interconnected standalones they still follow along from each other chronologically, but what Emily has done is allowed us to see some scenes from Beneath the Stars through Eli's eyes because of how the timelines overlap and giving us this new perspective of events and emotions in the scene and I freaking loved those! 😍
.
It almost goes without saying, but there is lots of steamy scenes in this book. Like the can't help yourself, not sure how that happened kind of passion 🥵
.
But ultimately, for me at least, the true message of Becca and Eli is that you have to find yourself, to love and accept who you are, before you can truely love someone else in a way you both deserve ❤
.
"𝙸'𝚖 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚗 𝚒𝚝, 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑. 𝙾𝚗 𝚖𝚎. ... 𝙻𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗' 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚘 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚕𝚎𝚝 𝚖𝚢 𝚏𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚞𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚙𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛 𝚖𝚢 𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚠."
.
The ending leaves me wanting more and I'm looking forward to seeing more of these two while further exploring the Sugarlake world 🥰
.
𝑰 𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘𝒆𝒅 𝒂 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒑𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌.
Beneath the Stands is the second in the Sugarlake series and is an interconnected standalone. If you haven't read the first in the series I would definitely recommend it, it's not only amazing, but will give you a little look at these characters before you dive into their story.
.
Becca and Eli have known each other since childhood, via Becca's best friend and Eli's younger sister Alina. So after years away from each other, when fate throws them into each other's orbit unexpectedly, it is fraught with tension and misguided resentment. On top of that, there are layers of the forbidden getting in the way of their sizzling attraction and chemistry.
.
"𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝. 𝚂𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎𝚜, 𝚗𝚘 𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚋𝚊𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚒𝚝...𝚒𝚝'𝚜 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚖𝚎𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎."
.
But as we all know, sometimes the forbidden fruit has the sweetest taste, and these two can't resist for long. When they submit to the tension and acknowledge to themselves that maybe there is more to this person than their pre-conceptions, they allow themselves to enter into this fun, passionate, happy relationship despite keeping having to keep it secret.
.
I definitely had an idea of who Eli was based on the first book, and it wasn't the best first impression! But what this second book showcases is that we have only seen one side to him, and the new perspective adds a lot more depth to the world of these characters, changing who Eli is in my eyes.
.
Becca is snarky and rebellious, but as we learn about her family dynamic it's clear to see why she wears this armour around herself pushing away anyone that dares to get too close. But will it be this armour that makes her everything she doesn't want to be?
.
In some ways this book is so different to other romances and I loved noticing the subtle differences. I don't want to give away too much of the plot so I don't want to put here what one of those differences is! But the second difference is the timeline of these books. Often in interconnected standalones they still follow along from each other chronologically, but what Emily has done is allowed us to see some scenes from Beneath the Stars through Eli's eyes because of how the timelines overlap and giving us this new perspective of events and emotions in the scene and I freaking loved those! 😍
.
It almost goes without saying, but there is lots of steamy scenes in this book. Like the can't help yourself, not sure how that happened kind of passion 🥵
.
But ultimately, for me at least, the true message of Becca and Eli is that you have to find yourself, to love and accept who you are, before you can truely love someone else in a way you both deserve ❤
.
"𝙸'𝚖 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚗 𝚒𝚝, 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑. 𝙾𝚗 𝚖𝚎. ... 𝙻𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗' 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚘 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚕𝚎𝚝 𝚖𝚢 𝚏𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚞𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚙𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛 𝚖𝚢 𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚠."
.
The ending leaves me wanting more and I'm looking forward to seeing more of these two while further exploring the Sugarlake world 🥰
.
𝑰 𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘𝒆𝒅 𝒂 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒑𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌.
January 3, 2023
4.5⭐️
I loved every second if this book and you will too !!!
also for fans of emily, im just gonna say this (you’ll get it if you read hooked
I loved every second if this book and you will too !!!
also for fans of emily, im just gonna say this (you’ll get it if you read hooked
September 12, 2022
4 🌟 - 3 🌶
A good continuation of this series, and I am so excited to read the last two books of this series!
If you liked ‘Twisted Hate by Ana Huang’, I think you will like this book, as they have a lot of the same vibes throughout both stories! I love the enemies to FWB to Lovers trope, and this book didn’t miss it! It kept me wanting to keep reading and find out what would happen next!
A good continuation of this series, and I am so excited to read the last two books of this series!
If you liked ‘Twisted Hate by Ana Huang’, I think you will like this book, as they have a lot of the same vibes throughout both stories! I love the enemies to FWB to Lovers trope, and this book didn’t miss it! It kept me wanting to keep reading and find out what would happen next!
September 10, 2022
4.75⭐️ it was basically a 5 but homie needed to cool it on the baby girl 🥴
anywayyyyyy i am in love with this series!!!! i loved becca & eli so so so much i loved their tension i loved their banter i loved the constant push & pull of their relationship. it was everything.
i love how messed up all these characters are lol. idk it makes them feel so real and i just love all the drama and conflict 😗
this one even made me cry…. multiple times
anywayyyyyy i am in love with this series!!!! i loved becca & eli so so so much i loved their tension i loved their banter i loved the constant push & pull of their relationship. it was everything.
i love how messed up all these characters are lol. idk it makes them feel so real and i just love all the drama and conflict 😗
this one even made me cry…. multiple times
August 23, 2022
Sometimes the fear of disappointing the people in your life takes over your soul to the point you forget that you are not happy with what you are doing with yourself and with your life and you are just trying to please others.
I loved eli and im proud that he told lee everything because communication was always they key to their peace and to love each other to understand each other
And becca !! Being manipulated by your own mom your whole life..ouch that hurts, im glad she went to therapy and finding her own voice.
I wish we get more scenes of them together after the makeup but thats okay. It was a good read with so much feeling.
I enjoyed it ^_^
I loved eli and im proud that he told lee everything because communication was always they key to their peace and to love each other to understand each other
And becca !! Being manipulated by your own mom your whole life..ouch that hurts, im glad she went to therapy and finding her own voice.
I wish we get more scenes of them together after the makeup but thats okay. It was a good read with so much feeling.
I enjoyed it ^_^
August 27, 2025
This is a sweet and emotional best friend’s older brother book. The emotional ride for Becca is something that tugged at my heart strings.
November 16, 2020
There are so many amazing things I could say about this book. If it's possible, Emily's prose gets even more poetic than it was in her debut, the emotions she wrings from the reader like a wet rag double in intensity and angst, and the steam. Holy hell, y'all, this book is HOT. If you know me, you know steam is something I take extremely seriously, and Becca and Eli BRING. IT.
"Damn, you're pretty when you beg."
Eli is domineering and filthy - that dirty mouth of his should come with a warning label. And Becca gives as good as she gets. She's the perfect match for him, challenging and fiery. Their chemistry is off the damn charts. Seriously. Do not read this book without a fire extinguisher handy.
Eli and Becca are also incredibly broken and lost. Their personal struggles aren't touched on much, if at all, in Beneath the Stars, which makes Beneath the Stands hit the reader in an incredibly, gut-wrenching way when you dive into this book. It's realistic, frustrating, chaotic, and raw. These two are driven by passion, heartache, loyalty, and mistakes, and their journey to each other, as well as their personal arcs, are some of the best things I've ever read.
If you're looking for an easy, safe romance, this ain't it. These characters are annoyingly human, full of bad decisions and internalize the hell out of their problems. But if you want something real, a love worth reading about, this is the book for you.
"A smile spreads across her face, highlighting the rosy hue that dusts across her cheeks. She nods. My heart leaps. I follow.
*ARC in exchange for honest review*
"Damn, you're pretty when you beg."
Eli is domineering and filthy - that dirty mouth of his should come with a warning label. And Becca gives as good as she gets. She's the perfect match for him, challenging and fiery. Their chemistry is off the damn charts. Seriously. Do not read this book without a fire extinguisher handy.
Eli and Becca are also incredibly broken and lost. Their personal struggles aren't touched on much, if at all, in Beneath the Stars, which makes Beneath the Stands hit the reader in an incredibly, gut-wrenching way when you dive into this book. It's realistic, frustrating, chaotic, and raw. These two are driven by passion, heartache, loyalty, and mistakes, and their journey to each other, as well as their personal arcs, are some of the best things I've ever read.
If you're looking for an easy, safe romance, this ain't it. These characters are annoyingly human, full of bad decisions and internalize the hell out of their problems. But if you want something real, a love worth reading about, this is the book for you.
"A smile spreads across her face, highlighting the rosy hue that dusts across her cheeks. She nods. My heart leaps. I follow.
*ARC in exchange for honest review*
Read
December 1, 2020It’s here!!
Beneath the Stands is LIVE, y’all, and I can't wait for you to dive into Becca + Eli's story.
Here's what you NEED to know:
🖤 Enemies to Lovers
💜 Best Friend’s Brother
💔Angsty
💨 Steamy
💚 Forbidden
*If you like safe, easy reads this isn't for you. These characters are real. Raw. Flawed. They will piss you off and break your heart. They'll also love so hard it hurts. As always... trust the process.*
Beneath the Stands is Free to read on Kindle Unlimited and has a special release day price of $2.99 for the rest of today --> Read Free in Kindle Unlimited
Here's an excerpt just for you!
*****
“Hey, man. Sorry I’m late.” A hand grips Connor’s shoulder and my heart stalls in my chest.
If God exists, he hates me.
Connor smiles, turning to Eli, his teeth gleaming under the lights of the bar. “Hey, I was just talking about you.”
Sharp blue eyes lock onto mine, widening a fraction as they glide up and down my body. “Becca.”
“Fuckface.” I raise my shot, tilting it toward him before slamming it back, the burn distracting me from the heat of his gaze.
“You two know each other?” Connor points between us.
I roll my eyes, wiping the corner of my mouth and standing up. “I’m tired of answerin’ this question.” I point to Eli. “This your wingman?”
Connor’s brow quirks. “That depends. Do I still need one?”
“I doubt he’d help your chances.”
Eli is leaning against the bar, eyes volleying between us. “I definitely would not help your chances, Connor. You’re not fucking Rebecca.”
“Dude,” Connor groans, turning toward him.
“Excuse me?” I push past Connor and step into Eli’s space. He straightens, and I have to crane my neck to maintain eye contact. “He’ll fuck me six ways from Sunday if I want him to, and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it. God, when did you turn into such a prick?”
Eli’s perfect jaw tics. “I’d imagine it was around the time you turned into a raging bitch.”
“Dude,” Connor hisses again.
Anger bubbles in my veins as I huff out a laugh. “Oh, that’s rich. I only see one bitch here, Eli, and it ain’t me.”
Eli straightens, his chest pressing into me, clean laundry and cinnamon assaulting my senses. “You wanna try me, Becca? Keep fuckin’ pushin’.”
There’s that accent.
My heart bangs against my chest so hard it vibrates my entire body.
It’s only when Connor grips my shoulders, pulling me back that I realize how close Eli and I were standing—how harsh my breaths are coming.
Keep Reading Here
__________
Beneath the Stands is LIVE, y’all, and I can't wait for you to dive into Becca + Eli's story.
Here's what you NEED to know:
🖤 Enemies to Lovers
💜 Best Friend’s Brother
💔Angsty
💨 Steamy
💚 Forbidden
*If you like safe, easy reads this isn't for you. These characters are real. Raw. Flawed. They will piss you off and break your heart. They'll also love so hard it hurts. As always... trust the process.*
Beneath the Stands is Free to read on Kindle Unlimited and has a special release day price of $2.99 for the rest of today --> Read Free in Kindle Unlimited
Here's an excerpt just for you!
*****
“Hey, man. Sorry I’m late.” A hand grips Connor’s shoulder and my heart stalls in my chest.
If God exists, he hates me.
Connor smiles, turning to Eli, his teeth gleaming under the lights of the bar. “Hey, I was just talking about you.”
Sharp blue eyes lock onto mine, widening a fraction as they glide up and down my body. “Becca.”
“Fuckface.” I raise my shot, tilting it toward him before slamming it back, the burn distracting me from the heat of his gaze.
“You two know each other?” Connor points between us.
I roll my eyes, wiping the corner of my mouth and standing up. “I’m tired of answerin’ this question.” I point to Eli. “This your wingman?”
Connor’s brow quirks. “That depends. Do I still need one?”
“I doubt he’d help your chances.”
Eli is leaning against the bar, eyes volleying between us. “I definitely would not help your chances, Connor. You’re not fucking Rebecca.”
“Dude,” Connor groans, turning toward him.
“Excuse me?” I push past Connor and step into Eli’s space. He straightens, and I have to crane my neck to maintain eye contact. “He’ll fuck me six ways from Sunday if I want him to, and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it. God, when did you turn into such a prick?”
Eli’s perfect jaw tics. “I’d imagine it was around the time you turned into a raging bitch.”
“Dude,” Connor hisses again.
Anger bubbles in my veins as I huff out a laugh. “Oh, that’s rich. I only see one bitch here, Eli, and it ain’t me.”
Eli straightens, his chest pressing into me, clean laundry and cinnamon assaulting my senses. “You wanna try me, Becca? Keep fuckin’ pushin’.”
There’s that accent.
My heart bangs against my chest so hard it vibrates my entire body.
It’s only when Connor grips my shoulders, pulling me back that I realize how close Eli and I were standing—how harsh my breaths are coming.
Keep Reading Here
__________
July 18, 2021
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
When I first read “ Beneath the Stars”, I was so surprised and thrilled it was the first book written by Emily McIntire. It is written superbly well and everything flows with heart and passion.
Beneath the Stands surpassed my expectations for Emily's writing. This second book was sooo good, if not better, than the first, and I honestly LOVED Beneath the Stars.
Eli & Becca's love story consumed me since Book One. I could tell there was something going on when Eli came back with a fiancé in Beneath the Stars, but Beneath the Stands put it all into context.
Wow, what a joy to read their love story and be immersed once again in Emily’s writing. I loved everything about this second book.
Emily McIntire is my new favorite author.
When I first read “ Beneath the Stars”, I was so surprised and thrilled it was the first book written by Emily McIntire. It is written superbly well and everything flows with heart and passion.
Beneath the Stands surpassed my expectations for Emily's writing. This second book was sooo good, if not better, than the first, and I honestly LOVED Beneath the Stars.
Eli & Becca's love story consumed me since Book One. I could tell there was something going on when Eli came back with a fiancé in Beneath the Stars, but Beneath the Stands put it all into context.
Wow, what a joy to read their love story and be immersed once again in Emily’s writing. I loved everything about this second book.
Emily McIntire is my new favorite author.
April 1, 2025
Whoaaaaa, that was an abrupt ending. On the trigger warning page, Emily warns us that the story is so raw and close to reality, and it sure is. Eli and Becca have their own flaws but they complete each other. The spice tho is too much for me. Please, please, please check the trigger warning before reading. And please let's normalize that we make the narration in Duet if the male narrator can't do female voices he sounds like he's choking on a grain of rice
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕮𝖑𝖔𝖘𝖊𝖉 𝕯𝖔𝖔𝖗 𝕸𝖔𝖉𝖎𝖋𝖎𝖈𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
SKIP CHAPTER: 14, 19, 24, 25, 29, 44, epilogue
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕮𝖑𝖔𝖘𝖊𝖉 𝕯𝖔𝖔𝖗 𝕸𝖔𝖉𝖎𝖋𝖎𝖈𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
SKIP CHAPTER: 14, 19, 24, 25, 29, 44, epilogue
November 30, 2020
4.5 Stars
"Baby girl, if you stay with me during the holidays, I'll get you the world."
Take a deep breath and trust the process- that is what I had to repeat to myself several times through the course of reading this book, but I am so glad that I did because Eli and Becca were worth any pain that I suffered along the way. Beneath the Stands is the second book in the Sugarlake series and it is full of love, humor and angst. The first half of the book absolutely consumed me as I could not get enough of Eli and Becca falling for each other. Eli was just the most amazing book boyfriend (and what a joy to get his POV after only getting glimpses of his character in the first book) and he absolutely captured me heart. And Becca was just the perfect balance for him with her feistiness and strength. But Becca has some pretty significant insecurities based on her awful family life and it results in some serious heartbreak for these two. There were definitely moments where I wanted to throw my kindle down in frustration but I knew I needed to believe in the HEA. The second half of the book really focuses on healing and acceptance and has such a strong small town feel as we interweave with characters from the first book. I loved this book and I would have loved a more extended epilogue because I needed more of the happy moments with this couple. Definitely recommend for a small town romance with a strong heart!
"Baby girl, if you stay with me during the holidays, I'll get you the world."
Take a deep breath and trust the process- that is what I had to repeat to myself several times through the course of reading this book, but I am so glad that I did because Eli and Becca were worth any pain that I suffered along the way. Beneath the Stands is the second book in the Sugarlake series and it is full of love, humor and angst. The first half of the book absolutely consumed me as I could not get enough of Eli and Becca falling for each other. Eli was just the most amazing book boyfriend (and what a joy to get his POV after only getting glimpses of his character in the first book) and he absolutely captured me heart. And Becca was just the perfect balance for him with her feistiness and strength. But Becca has some pretty significant insecurities based on her awful family life and it results in some serious heartbreak for these two. There were definitely moments where I wanted to throw my kindle down in frustration but I knew I needed to believe in the HEA. The second half of the book really focuses on healing and acceptance and has such a strong small town feel as we interweave with characters from the first book. I loved this book and I would have loved a more extended epilogue because I needed more of the happy moments with this couple. Definitely recommend for a small town romance with a strong heart!
September 24, 2025
A beautifully done second chance romance that throws you into their love first, breaks your heart, and then puts you back together. I love this style of second chance. You get so much more from the characters. The enemies to lovers was done well also!
January 26, 2024
SO GOOD OMFG😭😭
May 1, 2025
This is turning out to be one of my favorite small town romance series. I’m eating it UP
November 27, 2020
It’s been a few days since I finished Beneath the Stands and I’m still in my feels thinking about Becca and Eli. It’s the second book in the Sugarlake series and a second chance, forbidden romance. I highly suggest you read the first book Beneath the Stars before reading this one to get a better understanding of Eli’s background.
Becca was everything I love in a heroine. She was sassy, quick witted and despite the cards she was dealt being the preachers daughter—coming from a small town where everyone’s judgey eyes were on her, she didn’t feel sorry for herself. Her growth throughout the book was what really stood out to me. I felt torn in my feelings for Eli because I’d read the first book in the series and I knew what he’d lost. But I also felt like some of his actions were a little selfish and unwarranted.
Both Becca and Eli had their individual flaws and made some choices I didn’t necessarily agree with but that’s what I love so much about Emily’s writing. She takes us through all the emotions before giving us that happily ever after.
The only thing that held me back on giving five stars was I really, really, wanted more of an epilogue. I wanted to see more of the good times between Eli and Becca rather than the back and forth. Saying that I am so eager for the next book in the series and I am still totally in awe of Emily’s writing.
-arc exchanged for honest review-
Becca was everything I love in a heroine. She was sassy, quick witted and despite the cards she was dealt being the preachers daughter—coming from a small town where everyone’s judgey eyes were on her, she didn’t feel sorry for herself. Her growth throughout the book was what really stood out to me. I felt torn in my feelings for Eli because I’d read the first book in the series and I knew what he’d lost. But I also felt like some of his actions were a little selfish and unwarranted.
Both Becca and Eli had their individual flaws and made some choices I didn’t necessarily agree with but that’s what I love so much about Emily’s writing. She takes us through all the emotions before giving us that happily ever after.
The only thing that held me back on giving five stars was I really, really, wanted more of an epilogue. I wanted to see more of the good times between Eli and Becca rather than the back and forth. Saying that I am so eager for the next book in the series and I am still totally in awe of Emily’s writing.
-arc exchanged for honest review-
November 28, 2020
4.5 stars
I read this pretty close to the first book, and I while I really liked Chase and Alina's story in book one, I loved Eli and Becca's story! I was surprised by how much I was enjoying it since I know I had my doubts about them while I was reading the first book. (especially Eli) Their backstory wasn't really touched on much in the first book, so when reading it here, it was like a sucker punch to the gut.
Becca is the town of Sugarlake's preacher's daughter, She's also has quite the reputation. To get away from that and her parents, she goes away to Florida for college. That's where she meets up with Eli again. Eli is her best friend's older brother--the town of Sugarlake's golden boy. He was destined for greatness in basketball until an injury cut his career short. Now, he is an assistant coach at her college.
Together, they are like oil and water. They don't mix.
But they do. An they are HOT together. This is much steamier of a read than book one.
In the beginning, their romance was forbidden (she was a student), but it was also tender, raw and real. She has issues with her parents and the values they raised her with. He has his own issues with the death of his mother and going home to Sugarlake. It was a long journey for the two of them. In the process, our hearts were ripped out and, in the end, put back together.
I would definitely read the first book (Beneath the Stars) before reading this story to get the maximum enjoyment.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
I read this pretty close to the first book, and I while I really liked Chase and Alina's story in book one, I loved Eli and Becca's story! I was surprised by how much I was enjoying it since I know I had my doubts about them while I was reading the first book. (especially Eli) Their backstory wasn't really touched on much in the first book, so when reading it here, it was like a sucker punch to the gut.
Becca is the town of Sugarlake's preacher's daughter, She's also has quite the reputation. To get away from that and her parents, she goes away to Florida for college. That's where she meets up with Eli again. Eli is her best friend's older brother--the town of Sugarlake's golden boy. He was destined for greatness in basketball until an injury cut his career short. Now, he is an assistant coach at her college.
Together, they are like oil and water. They don't mix.
But they do. An they are HOT together. This is much steamier of a read than book one.
In the beginning, their romance was forbidden (she was a student), but it was also tender, raw and real. She has issues with her parents and the values they raised her with. He has his own issues with the death of his mother and going home to Sugarlake. It was a long journey for the two of them. In the process, our hearts were ripped out and, in the end, put back together.
I would definitely read the first book (Beneath the Stars) before reading this story to get the maximum enjoyment.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
March 29, 2022
I loved Eli and Becca and their story. I feel like the author did a better job at building the backstory and creating some serious angst in this story as compared to the first book. So I think I liked this one slightly better than the first. As with the first, the book tackles some serious issues and there's a lot of growth that happens with these characters. I love how the author tackles addiction and mental illness and how the characters embrace that they need help to get better. And the audiobook narrated duet style is also pretty fantastic. My only beef is that I would've loved a better epilogue. I'm definitely invested in these characters and can't wait to dive into Jax's book!
Want to read
March 30, 2025DNF @ 20% 😾 maybe I’ll pick this up again in the future but for now I just can’t do it!!
November 19, 2025
The second book in the Sugarlake Series. Best friend’s brother, foes to lovers. Secret feelings & strong heartbreaks. His/her POVs. Second chance romance. Love the found family!
April 7, 2021
4.5 stars!
Beneath the Stands is Emily’s second book, and I still can’t believe this author is so early into her writing career, from her stories and characters you would not know it at all. She brings out every emotion of each character so perfectly, that you experience them too. Having seen snippets and hints of Becca and Eli’s story in Beneath the Stars, I was expecting a tumultuous and heart wrenching story, but nothing could’ve prepared me for the rollercoaster these two put me on, but I loved every dip, twist and swerve in their journey to a happily ever after.
Becca is at college in Florida, having escaped the small town of Sugarlake ,Tennessee, and her controlling, preacher father and meek mother, who would stop at nothing to keep her under their thumb. She decides to strike out on her own, and in need of a job applies to be a manager of the college basketball team. Eli has just been hired as the assistant coach of the team, having retired from the NBA after a career ending injury, and can’t believe it when his younger sister’s best friend Becca is put under his wing. Becca can’t believe it either, the absent older brother of her best friend Lee is now her mentor, and they both have an instant strong dislike for the other. But the more time they spend together, the more they realise that they have both judged the other way too early, and their relationship quickly blossoms into more, although they keep it a secret from everyone they know, including Lee. But then tragedy strikes, and they are torn apart, with Becca going home and Eli staying in Florida. Five years later, Eli returns to town, ready to start his future, but the minute he sees Becca, it’s clear there are unresolved feelings. Being back in the same small town proves to be too much, but can they ignore their feelings and move on like they both claim to have done, or is there unfinished business between the two?
Becca and Eli had such a strong bond, they just got each other. They could see the real version of the other person so clearly, their connection was so strong, which was ultimately their downfall. Becca was stubborn, strong and desperate for independence, to not be the controlled woman in a relationship like her mother. Eager to escape that possibility, she did everything she could to avoid it, including running from her one chance at love, even if it tore her heart out. With Eli she could be herself, she could be real with him, and that scared her. Although she was sure that she had missed her chance through her own decisions, she was still mature and accepting of what she had done, which broke my heart. But the minute she knew that there could be a chance, she did whatever she could to win Eli back, even if it meant for her to self-reflect and become a better version of herself.
Eli was lost, having become basically estranged from his family, and was just desperate to find someone to love and who loved him. He needed the support of another person, who saw him for him and calmed the loneliness he felt, and that person was Becca. She pushed him, didn’t let him walk all over her and taught him how to feel, to get rid of the numbness which had been there for so long. My heart ached for him, because he did nothing wrong, I wanted to just give him a massive hug. Eli went through so much on his own, it was so interesting to see the events of Beneath the Stars from his point of view, having disliked him for his absence throughout most of that book. But with this side of the story, it fills in the gaps, and so much more makes sense. It is clear that both Lee and Eli made mistakes, and I loved how this book began to build the bridge between them.
These characters were in no ways perfect, they were flawed, and this is the story of them learning about those flaws and how to accept them. It’s proof that even if you find your perfect person, you may not be the perfect version of yourself. But that’s okay, because you can learn and evolve together, and that is the sign of a mature and realistic relationship. I took a few days to reflect on this book because the ending left me feeling almost bereft, but having thought about it, I can now see exactly why Emily wrote Eli and Becca’s ending that way, it was needed for them to grow as a couple. She writes this story in such a real way, I feel like these characters could jump out of the pages, which is the mark of a brilliant author. And once again, after that bombshell ending, I need Jackson’s book as soon as possible!
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*
Beneath the Stands is Emily’s second book, and I still can’t believe this author is so early into her writing career, from her stories and characters you would not know it at all. She brings out every emotion of each character so perfectly, that you experience them too. Having seen snippets and hints of Becca and Eli’s story in Beneath the Stars, I was expecting a tumultuous and heart wrenching story, but nothing could’ve prepared me for the rollercoaster these two put me on, but I loved every dip, twist and swerve in their journey to a happily ever after.
Becca is at college in Florida, having escaped the small town of Sugarlake ,Tennessee, and her controlling, preacher father and meek mother, who would stop at nothing to keep her under their thumb. She decides to strike out on her own, and in need of a job applies to be a manager of the college basketball team. Eli has just been hired as the assistant coach of the team, having retired from the NBA after a career ending injury, and can’t believe it when his younger sister’s best friend Becca is put under his wing. Becca can’t believe it either, the absent older brother of her best friend Lee is now her mentor, and they both have an instant strong dislike for the other. But the more time they spend together, the more they realise that they have both judged the other way too early, and their relationship quickly blossoms into more, although they keep it a secret from everyone they know, including Lee. But then tragedy strikes, and they are torn apart, with Becca going home and Eli staying in Florida. Five years later, Eli returns to town, ready to start his future, but the minute he sees Becca, it’s clear there are unresolved feelings. Being back in the same small town proves to be too much, but can they ignore their feelings and move on like they both claim to have done, or is there unfinished business between the two?
Becca and Eli had such a strong bond, they just got each other. They could see the real version of the other person so clearly, their connection was so strong, which was ultimately their downfall. Becca was stubborn, strong and desperate for independence, to not be the controlled woman in a relationship like her mother. Eager to escape that possibility, she did everything she could to avoid it, including running from her one chance at love, even if it tore her heart out. With Eli she could be herself, she could be real with him, and that scared her. Although she was sure that she had missed her chance through her own decisions, she was still mature and accepting of what she had done, which broke my heart. But the minute she knew that there could be a chance, she did whatever she could to win Eli back, even if it meant for her to self-reflect and become a better version of herself.
Eli was lost, having become basically estranged from his family, and was just desperate to find someone to love and who loved him. He needed the support of another person, who saw him for him and calmed the loneliness he felt, and that person was Becca. She pushed him, didn’t let him walk all over her and taught him how to feel, to get rid of the numbness which had been there for so long. My heart ached for him, because he did nothing wrong, I wanted to just give him a massive hug. Eli went through so much on his own, it was so interesting to see the events of Beneath the Stars from his point of view, having disliked him for his absence throughout most of that book. But with this side of the story, it fills in the gaps, and so much more makes sense. It is clear that both Lee and Eli made mistakes, and I loved how this book began to build the bridge between them.
These characters were in no ways perfect, they were flawed, and this is the story of them learning about those flaws and how to accept them. It’s proof that even if you find your perfect person, you may not be the perfect version of yourself. But that’s okay, because you can learn and evolve together, and that is the sign of a mature and realistic relationship. I took a few days to reflect on this book because the ending left me feeling almost bereft, but having thought about it, I can now see exactly why Emily wrote Eli and Becca’s ending that way, it was needed for them to grow as a couple. She writes this story in such a real way, I feel like these characters could jump out of the pages, which is the mark of a brilliant author. And once again, after that bombshell ending, I need Jackson’s book as soon as possible!
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*
November 16, 2020
I would definitely not reading Becca and Eli story in public because you'll get looks. Now the reason why, I was talking/yelling to my reader quite often. I yelled and pleaded with them because this story pulled me in like I was getting the keys to the kingdom.
Emily gave these characters depth, believability, the ability to emotionally connect to the reader and for the reader to see these characters are more than words on a screen or a page. They pop and sparkle plus stay with you long after the story ends.
Eli and Emily are each masking their hurts and pains while we get to travel the crazy road of love, life and lessons with them. I received an ARC for an honest and voluntarily review.
Emily gave these characters depth, believability, the ability to emotionally connect to the reader and for the reader to see these characters are more than words on a screen or a page. They pop and sparkle plus stay with you long after the story ends.
Eli and Emily are each masking their hurts and pains while we get to travel the crazy road of love, life and lessons with them. I received an ARC for an honest and voluntarily review.
November 22, 2020
Whatever Emily writes I know I’ll always read because the way she pulls me into her stories, I get completely caught up in all the emotion/angst/hope and love.
Both stories in this series have been emotional rollercoaster rides I’ll always be down for!
Becca is the QUEEN of comebacks and boy does she give it hard to Eli!!
But he gives it just as hard back, exactly the way she loves it 😏😏😏
Everything about these two screams sexual tension and I cannot get enough of it. And more than that, they truly see each other beyond the perceptions and opinions of others. Their connection is sewn so deeply into each others souls that even after heartbreak they can’t stay away.
Everytime I read this story, it stays on my mind for ages!
I too judged Eli harshly when I read the first book however when I learnt why he was so distant towards his family, I completely changed my opinion of him. Eli is seriously amazing! He went through so much and by understanding him more I think he might even be my favourite now.
I have fallen in love with this series and am now desperate for Jax’s story 😍😍😍
Both stories in this series have been emotional rollercoaster rides I’ll always be down for!
Becca is the QUEEN of comebacks and boy does she give it hard to Eli!!
But he gives it just as hard back, exactly the way she loves it 😏😏😏
Everything about these two screams sexual tension and I cannot get enough of it. And more than that, they truly see each other beyond the perceptions and opinions of others. Their connection is sewn so deeply into each others souls that even after heartbreak they can’t stay away.
Everytime I read this story, it stays on my mind for ages!
I too judged Eli harshly when I read the first book however when I learnt why he was so distant towards his family, I completely changed my opinion of him. Eli is seriously amazing! He went through so much and by understanding him more I think he might even be my favourite now.
I have fallen in love with this series and am now desperate for Jax’s story 😍😍😍
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