The One She Needs

by Marissa J. Gramoll

Before they were Suncastle Knights, they were Willardson High Wildcats.


Bobby wants what he can’t have.

Cody’s got what he doesn’t deserve.

Lexie’s not sure what to do with either one of them.

Is their friendship strong enough to withstand this love triangle?


Cody Jones is known for standing up his girlfriend. But prom will be different, right?


When Bobby saves the day–yet again–Cody does the unthinkable.

Will Lexie still love him after that display?

Find out in this heartwarming, emotionally gripping short story.


*This is a stand alone with some of the characters featured in A Game Like Ours. It can be read before or after A Game Like Ours.

115 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 30, 2021

About the author

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BIO:
Lover of stories since before they could walk, Marissa has always had a passion for creating characters and worlds. Learning to read was a challenge, so they learned words by writing them–taking their notebook everywhere and asking total strangers how to spell. Since then, a laptop has replaced their trusty notebook and their stories have evolved into novels.

Marissa lives with their partner, two children, an adorable puppy and an endless collection of David Bowie hats. They enjoy reading in the sunshine, with a bottle of chocolate milk and music playing in the background.

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Reviews

[Hollianne Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woah! This short prequel really packed a punch🖤 A Game Like Ours is one of my favorite sports romances and I am so happy that this book was released. The One She Needs was essential to truly understand the relationships between Bobby, Cody and Lexie.

The longing Bobby felt.
the push and pull to be everything everyone needs from Cody.
My heart broke for poor Lexie.. all she wanted was love and stability and for Cody to just show up and be present.


5/5 would recommend.

[Jgramoll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't let the fact that this is a short story fool you. There is some great depth to this book. I loved getting more story about the characters from Marissa Gramoll's other novel A Game Like Ours. Thankfully I was able to finish it in one day, because you won't be able to put it down until you do.

[Georgina Power · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The past ain’t gonna change. But if you try just right, the future can”

The One She Needs is a short novella in the Suncastle Knights series and is set before A Game Like Ours (but don’t worry it holds no spoilers and you can read this before you read AGLO) I loved this novella, I needed more of Bobby and Lexie and I was so happy to have it, plus it was really lovely and insightful to read from Cody’s perspective also, the books flow was fantastic and I really could not put the book down!

The character building is great, and I really was able to feel the emotions of the three MCs, there were a number of scenes that broke me, as well as others that really made me chuckle. You can really feel the chemistry and tension between particular characters. The characters are so well written, and are major cinnamon rolls, but there were times that I just wanted to shake them as their behaviours really bothered me, especially Cody!

This book has all the emotion necessary to pack a punch, and honestly, I wanted the book to be
longer as I needed more! The world building was great, and the book felt so realistic especially with the parking lot dance scene and the baseball game. There are some trigger warnings for child abuse, toxic parents, and violence, but I feel these were approached very delicately and helped provide an understanding of why characters behaved the way they did.

I feel the author did a great job to not throw any spoilers in this book as there are a number of major shock moments in AGLO – this is a must read! I actually re-read it after. I was so excited to find out that there is going to be another book in the series too “A Risky Play” I need that in my life asap!

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a prequel novella to A Game Like Ours. I knew that going in. I knew I’d be meeting Cody for the first time. I knew I’d be seeing those characters from a whole new perspective. But I still wasn’t ready for the depth it brought to these characters I already loved. Marissa knocks it out of the park when she writes emotion. Why? Because it’s always multidimensional. I loved this book for a lot of different reasons, but especially because I didn’t know how much I needed to meet Cody and take a glimpse into his life.

*Even if you haven’t read A Game Like Ours this novella will pull you in and leave you wanting more...and lucky for you, there IS more*

[Taylor Wilson-West · Rating 5 out of 5]

This prequel is everything you didn't know you needed. If you've read A Game Like Ours you get glimpses of our precious Cody. In The One She Needs you get inside his head. How he processes things, we get the opportunity to really get to know Cody and why he does some of the things that lead up to events in AGLO.

I loved the background for Bobby and Lexie too. We get to see Lexie and Cody's relationship through all three pairs of eyes. The good, bad, and ugly. It's a perfect little build up for AGLO or a revisit if you love these characters from AGLO.

Thank you Marissa Gramoll for allowing me to be a part of this amazing series! This review is being left voluntarily, all opinions are my own.

[Micki_1989 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book its the prequel to a game like ours great book

[Krystal - nerdy_book_lover_1987 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved getting inside of Cody's head more and seeing what life really is like for him. It's sad that he's had to grow up so fast in order to help make ends meet for his mom and sisters. I love that Lex and Bobby are there for him and want to help him as much as they can! Such a great little backstory! Can't wait to read more in this series.

[Leann]

Marissa J Gramoll’s A Game Like Ours was one of my favorite books I have read this year. When Marissa announced she was writing a prequel that focuses on Cody’s story, I was in.

This was a short novella with multiple points of view, bouncing between Cody, Lexie and Bobby, and definitely feeds right into A Game Like Ours.

I once again fell in love with Bobby and Lexie, but I didn’t feel the same connection to Cody. I wanted to fall in love with Cody the same way I did with Bobby and Lexie but I couldn’t understand Lexie’s connection to him. That said, I did feel for Cody’s family situation.

This was a lovely, short read that I really enjoyed. If you haven’t already read A Game Like Ours, this is the perfect opportunity to start reading the Suncastle Knights series!

[Marissa Gramoll]

Come with me to the Suncastle Universe, full of misfits with big hearts who haven't figured it all out yet.
What to expect with The One She Needs:
💜 Emotional Rollercoaster (do I write anything else? Let's be real 😅)
💋 Saucy Steamy Angst
💙 Friendship Worth Fighting For
😥 Make You Cry Moments
💚 Laugh Out Loud Lines
😔 Cody's POV
💛 Love Triangle (sorta)
🥵 An "infamous Bobby Hookup"
🧡 Bi & Enby Rep
🌈 Characters you love from A Game Like Ours

As I get ready for this release, I wanna share some of my author-y thoughts with you:

I'm not sure how, but every story burrows itself deep within my heart. Every scene plays through my mind over and over with new thoughts of ways it can be enhanced and changed. This is the beauty of writing.
I'll always remember the moment Cody Jones was truly formed. The moment when I really got to know him. The moment when he reached through the creative void to talk with me.
I was 19 years old and sitting on a cluttered yellow carpet at my childhood home. I'd just lost my friend to cancer and couldn't go to his funeral across the country. A scene of Lexie and Cody picking out silverware for a wedding registry in a very fancy boutique in South Carolina vividly came into my mind and the words poured out of my soul.
A blond haired, blue eyed boy held her hand up and down streets and shops.
I'd been writing about Bobby for years but it wasn't until that moment that Cody really came to life as Lexie suffocated in memories of him. Cody kept me company in the grief where I felt so alone, like an angel from the other side looking out for me.
Now, 11 years later, I get to share a piece of him with all of you.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great prequel for A Game Like Ours. It’s so interesting to go back and see all of these characters at a different time in their lives. I loved all the back story and the real bond between all these characters.

It really showed that despite all the all feelings between them, they are true friends first. Everyone was putting everyone else’s feelings first, and I loved that. While this is short story, you really get the depth of emotion between these three.

Great story!

[CJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have such a soft spot in my heart for Cody and loved getting to spend time in his head, as painful as it was.

[Brittany (happy.ending.always) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What A Prequel

This prequel really sets you up to wanting so much more from Marissa J. Gramoll and her amazing characters. I need to know more, I have so many questions. I really really love Bobby. I find him intriguing. He really cares deeply for the people he loves. Then there is Cody who I love too. This poor guy carries the weight of the world on his shoulders!!!

I really loved Marissa’s writing. It grabs you from the very first sentence you read. You become invested in the characters and want to learn and know all about them. I can’t wait to read so much more about them and see where life has taken them next!

Merged review:

This prequel really sets you up to wanting so much more from Marissa J. Gramoll and her amazing characters. I need to know more, I have so many questions. I really really love Bobby. I find him intriguing. He really cares deeply for the people he loves.

Then there is Cody who I love too. This poor guy carries the weight of the world on his shoulders!!! He needs some relief or answers to his troubles soon! These two have so much history between them.

I really loved Marissa’s writing. It grabs you from the very first sentence you read. You become invested in the characters and want to learn and know all about them. I can’t wait to read so much more about them and see where life has taken them next!