Becoming Selfish

The Selfish #1

by Liz Tomforde

College hockey star Eli James Maddison can be described in one word: Selfish. He has a dream of playing in the NHL and no one is going to get in the way of that. He has a vision for his future that no one can change, but when his brother's best friend moves to town he begins to think about someone other than himself. With his eyes on the new girl will he lose his focus, and ultimately his dream?

Twenty-two-year-old Logan Leo has never lived a life for herself. She's had to take care of others for as long as she can remember, but now that she has no longer has the responsibility of anyone else can she learn to care about herself first?

She's moving across the county to live closer to her best friend in hopes that she can learn to become a bit more selfish and begin to build the life that SHE wants to have. That is until she meets her best friend's brother, Eli.

Genres: Romance, Sports Romance, Sports, Hockey, Hockey Romance, College, Contemporary

591 pages, Paperback

First published August 26, 2021

About the author

Liz Tomforde is a New York Times bestselling author of sports romance novels that depict realistic and healthy relationships. Her books offer a mix of witty banter, undeniable chemistry, a healthy dash of spice, and swoon-worthy men who look good in a uniform.

Born and raised in Northern California, Liz is the youngest of five children. She loves all things romance, traveling, dogs, and hockey. When she's not traveling or writing, Liz can be found relaxing at home or listening to a good audiobook while on a walk with her Golden Retriever, Luke.

For more information, please visit Liz’s website and subscribe to her newsletter at liztomforde.com. You can connect also with Liz on Instagram @liztomforde.author.

Reviews

[D💜 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cool people read Liz Tomforde.

[rita · Rating 2 out of 5]

After reading Mile High I was very excited to read about Eli and Logan but it was so clear Liz's writing evolved a lot since these books came out!

[✧ poppy ✧ · Rating 2 out of 5]

This started off as 4 stars potential, then went to 3 when he said her being a virgin and that he gets to be the first is such a “turn on” 🤮🤮

Then I realised there are 300 pages out of the 600 where nothing interesting or important happens and its just filler, so 2 stars it is.

I wasn’t surprised this when i found out this was originally a wattpad book, and that doesn’t mean all wattpad books are bad, there are plenty that are decent, some good, and few extremely good (i.e darlacassic books) but in this case this one falls in the cliche, boring and long category.

Im not going bother to read the second book because its kind of easy to predict what is going to happen in it.

[antri౨ৎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

rr:
my people my people my people


ftr:
i think i just heard my heart break.
running to start the second book

[Melluvsbooks]

DNF @ 36% - the h is meh. The H is meh. He’s supposed to be a cocky confident manwhore hockey player but in his head he’s a sniveling neurotic weak-willed moron. Both of these characters are supposed to be 22, but they act like 17 yr olds. She’s supposed to be in grad school for her MBA, but she’s inexplicably taking an undergrad Creative Writing class. And he’s inexplicably not finished with his undergrad. Not sure what the point of making her a grad student is… she’s living in the dorms…. There’s a communal coed bathroom???? 🤔😵‍💫🙄 what little story there is here is too drawn out. The characters actions don’t make sense.

[Solara! · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4.5/5) life isnt fair if i dont get my own eli. LIKE I DONT GET IT. its so unfair cuz this man is everything and logan?! i love her more than i love my life. literally the cutest couple ever. i dont think i’ll ever get over them

[My Little Book Place · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS BOOK IS EVRYTHING!!!!
OMG I love this book so much! I couldn't put it down once I started reading it! I first found this book on Wattpad when I was binge reading hockey romance books. When I started it I could tell right away that it was going to be a lot different from the typical sports romance books, and when I found out it was being published I knew that I was going to buy a copy, which I did and it was the best thing I've ever done!
What sets this book apart from other sports romances is how relatable the author made the characters. The characters Logan and Eli have both gone through so much, but more so Logan. The mental health, grief, loss and internal growth Logan went through was written in a way that I found myself relating to it. That is one thing I have to have with a book, relatability because it makes it more real. This book had me laughing until I was out of breath and tears were streaming down my face( so not a pretty sight), and then crying until it felt like my heart was splitting in half. It definitely gets in your feels
Eli is just perfect! He has a "I hate everyone but you" vibe which is one of my favorite tropes, so I absolutely adored his character! The way he loves Logan and pushes her to be "Selfish" for herself is what every boyfriend needs to be like. His support for the ones he loves is what made me love him even more and by the end of the book I established that Logan and Eli are the best fictional couple anyone could read about! This book is the best and I highly recommend that everyone READ IT!!

[torydarius supremacy · Rating 1 out of 5]

No one warned me that this was insta-love.
The girl mc is lame and everyone is like “ohh she is so special, nothing like the other girls” I’m sorry to break it to you she is not, just because she acts right doesn’t make her different. Anyways the love interest was bad too, and sometimes WAYYYY TOO corny.

[mareadz · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s pretty evident that this prequel is a rough one in comparison to the Windy City Series as there are errors and lots of unnecessary fillers (the book is just over 600 pages). I can see why Liz wants to redo it if that’s her plan but I loved learning about Eli and Logan’s story and their individual background. Not going to lie, their love story fits their ages as they are in their early twenties and there’s a little bit of relationship/emotional immaturity that you get from your very first relationship. Im hoping Staying Selfless is a better one as the ending of this one is so dramatic.

[Munsaka]

DNF @49%
I hate insta love

[brutallyhonestbookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

i read this, this year. the problem is…i don’t know when 🤔

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wattpad book. That’s it, that’s all 🤷🏻‍♀️

I saw someone else’s review saying 2 stars for published book and 3 stars for wattpad book and I couldn’t agree more

[пустунка · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5/5

схоже, що я в дуже хорошому настрої, раз поставила таку високу оцінку цій книжці.

спочатку це було захоплююче, бо я обожнюю такі милі, ванільні історії, з дозою незручних моментів, з героями, які ніяковіють. Логан переїхала і намагається будувати нове життя, в цьому їй допомагають друзі. я просто танула під час читання, коли вона познайомилася з Ілаєм! наче я це переживаю наяву. я не могла визначитися, що відчувати. з однієї сторони вони такі милі і солодкі, мені хочеться порадіти з ними за знайдене щастя, але з іншої.. мені хотілося разів 15 встряхнуть Ілая, бо він лажав ледь не на кожному кроці, ще й з сміховинної причини. і постійно виправдовував, що це перші стосунки 🤦🏼‍♀. він дуже імпульсивний, не люблю таке. але було приємно дивитися, як він всіма силами намагався виправитися. попри всі мінуси цієї книжки, я не можу бути надто суровою, бо вони булочки з корицею. ну, що ж поробиш.

так як це дилогія, то я навіть не певна чи читатиму наступну книжку (завершення тут логічно немає). так, я та людина, яка спокійно може не читати продовження або читати через роки. ще не визначилась чи варто, бо обсяг тут непоганий такий (він мене лякає). та й книжка не дуже зачепила.

[Sarah Ahmed · Rating 5 out of 5]

5Stars⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I LOVED IT . OMG I can’t wait to read the second book . 💗💗💗💗💗💗

[Maliha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compelling tale that combines realistic characters with healthy relationships—a refreshing departure from clichés.

Eli James Maddison, the college hockey star, is a man singularly focused on his dream of playing in the NHL. His determination borders on selfishness, but it’s hard not to root for him. When Logan Leo enters the scene, Eli’s unwavering resolve faces an unexpected challenge. Logan, too, is on a journey of self-discovery, having spent her life caring for others. Now, she’s determined to prioritize her own desires.

The chemistry between Eli and Logan crackles off the pages. Their witty banter and vulnerabilities make them relatable and endearing. Tomforde masterfully balances passion and tenderness, creating a rollercoaster of emotions that kept me engaged throughout.

While the pacing occasionally lags during the 300 pages of filler, the overall narrative remains captivating. The book’s transformation from its Wattpad origins is evident.

“Becoming Selfish” is a promising start to The Selfish series. I eagerly anticipate diving into the sequel, “Staying Selfless,” to see how Eli and Logan’s journey unfolds.

[Chris ˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

♾️⭐️ I DO NOT ☝️ want to hear ONE single negative thing about this book! Not one thing!
I respect the opinions of those who didn’t enjoy it, but I will never agree with them! NEVER! 😏😂

I am unapologetically, unconditionally and irrevocably in love with Eli (mmc) & Logan (fmc) and I am pretty sure this duet will be my most favorite read of the year. And I haven’t even started the second book yet, but I have a feeling I will love it!

The longing between them, the stolen glances, the innocent touches, the kisses on the forehead, the late night conversations, the beautiful trip to the pond where they stayed embraced for hours while simply enjoying each other’s company, their desperation for each other, the way he took her to a basketball court to ask her to be his girlfriend because he knew that it had a special place in her heart after her parents death, their heartwarming family gatherings, their slow and sensual love scenes, the way they were each other’s support system…these are only some of the things that made this book so special and unforgettable to me!
It was…I don’t know what other word to use..it was…beautiful! They were beautiful together.


Look, I will not even try to convince you to read this book. Just read some of the scenes 👇 that made my heart ache with happiness as well as with sadness and perhaps you will understand why I loved them so much!

_______________________________________

Eli pulls away from me, keeping his face only a few inches above mine, close enough that I can look into his eyes. They’re soft and a bit glossed over. He continues to stroke my cheek as he keeps his beautiful brown eyes locked and searching mine.
“I...like you so much, Logan,” he says as if he’s trying to hold himself back.  He places his forehead gently against mine, my heart racing from his words and embrace. 
“I like you so much, too.” I lean up and gently kiss his perfect lips, needing them on mine.

_______________________________________

Leaning down, I gently kiss her tattooed collarbone, realizing that I’m an idiot. I’ve loved this girl ever since she told me about her past, the same night she told me about this tattoo. I remember when she told me that the ‘I love you’ script was from the only two people she had ever truly loved and wanting to be the third. Every time I placed my lips on it, I was silently telling her that I was already there.

_______________________________________

“Eli, what is going on?” Logan asks, confused, as her eyes land on the rack filled with brand new basketballs. 
“Well...” I walk up to her and drape my arms over her shoulders. “You said that playing basketball made you think of your dad.” I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “You got to meet my dad yesterday, so I was hoping you could introduce me to yours.”


“I know I couldn’t meet him, but he did a really good job raising you.” Logan melts into my body, tightening her grip. “And I know I’m not able to ask his permission to date his daughter.” I pull her face away from my chest so that I can look into her green eyes. “But I’m hoping this was enough that I can ask if you’d be my girlfriend?” 

_______________________________________

Suddenly, he grabs ahold of my arm that’s draped across his chest and laces his fingers between mine. As he leans his forehead against our intertwined hands, his cries turn to sobs. His body shakes in mine as I hold him close to me. 
I squeeze my eyes shut as the noise he makes pains my ears. I grip him tighter, trying anything I can to make him feel better. Hopefully, he mistakes the tears falling from my eyes onto his back as water from the shower because I’m trying to be strong right now, but I can’t. It’s breaking my heart to see him this way.
His body continues to heave in my arms. “Please don’t leave me,” he begs between sobs.

_______________________________________

“Let me help you,” I beg of her. She shakes her head against me.
“I don’t want this for you. I’m broken, and I don’t know if I’m ever going to get fixed.”
My eyes screw shut at her tone as my heart breaks a little more. “You’re not broken, Logan. Far from it. You’re the strongest person I know. Let me be here for you.”
She climbs off my lap, creating distance between us, both figuratively and literally. 
“I have to do this alone,” she plainly states as she stubbornly crosses her arms in front of her chest.
“But you’re not alone, anymore. You have me. You have Marc.”
“I am alone!” she shouts with wild and sad eyes. “I’m always alone! Everyone always leaves me. You’re going to leave me,” she cries. 

_______________________________________

Do I really need to say more? I don’t think so!

Yes, this book is long, same as the next one will be, but I loved that about this duet. The author took her time developing their beautiful love story and she couldn’t have done that in a 300 page book.

So yeah..would I recommend it! Obviously! Do I think it’s for everyone? Not necessarily! At least, it’s not for readers who dislike long romance books with a slower pace. But personally, I adored every second of it!

Ps: English is not my first language, so I apologize for my grammatical errors ✌️

[nix · Rating 2 out of 5]

For wattpad standards this 3.5 stars, but for published book standard it was a 2 stars.
They DON'T have chemistry, and it was so so so fast-paced. Had me dnf at about 40%.

[Sher✩･*˚⁺‧͙ · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a cliché college Romance but I still loved it

[MaHaha (McMurder) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just an FYI I love Logan more than the other girls <3

(The review under is from 2023 when I first read this. The author removed these books cuz her writing style changed OBVV…but I love Eli Logan sm esp in MH)

This does not feel like it’s written by the same author as M.H and TRM which is why I think the author took the books off…?

Anyway here’s the review. I expected Eli to be the sweet gentle man typa guy and I was hoping for Logan to be the DFWM kinda girl cuz they both were so diff in M.H

Eli kept messing up w her and it annoyed me sm. He kept treating her shitty cuz of something he’d be going thru and then he’d be apologizing and Logan kept forgiving him so easily.

Insta love a lil too much. Love at first sight and crap. Like Bollywood who?

Imma read the second book and then imma read Mile High again cuz these two in MH are way better

[Julianna Ribecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the series that got me into reading! I know others may say that the abrupt ending was almost annoying but I really loved it. It gave me some time to reflect and think about all that Logan went through and why her feelings are so valid. Even if you can’t to relate to Logan or Eli’s problems it’s so easy to empathize and try to understand all of the pain they have gone through. For this being Liz’s first book she’s ever written I was absolutely blown away and can’t wait to read many, many more!!!

[nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ughhhh I love this book sm😍
Have already started rereading this gem and I can't wait to own a copy of this!!!💕
A def must read <3

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love Eli and Logan’s story and wish it had been part of the Windy City series 🥹 the only thing I didn’t love was the length, it’s about 200 pages longer than it needed to be!

[Olga &#x1f33a; · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this book has been recommended by a dear GR friend and it’s my first Liz Tomforde book.

My first impression was, this book definitely sounds like a debut one. Apart from some editing mistakes, the author is a bit repetitive in trying to relay characteristics and details. (And that is the only reason I gave it a 4 star rating instead of 5)

But moving on from that, I love a long love story. Romance authors tend to make their books too short, they rush through events in their haste to give us a happily ever after.

Liz tomforde has broken all of these rules.

First ☝🏻, it is not an insta love and definitely not an insta sex story. Even though it’s an insta infatuation which blossoms into the most beautiful love story.

Second ✌🏻, the MCs take their time in manoeuvring around what they’re feeling and whether they want this feeling or not.
Even though, Logan sees Eli as her dream guy but she doesn’t become a doormat for him, on the contrary she makes him grovel, chase and beg her to be the kind of man that she needs.
Eli on the other hand is this cocky selfish asshole that gets everything he wants. Not Logan though, na ah. He learns the hard way that women are not only an easy hookup, they’re strong individuals who go through a shit ton of issues under all that beautiful facade. But once that is realised, he becomes this loving passionate and patient man especially when in understanding that she’s not comfortable losing her v-card just because “she needs to, as society equivocally pressures” but rather she needs to have feelings and a connection with the person she willingly gives it to.

Third 3️⃣, we divulge in this book more into the day to day shenanigans of a loving couple. Every small gesture matters, every grand gesture matters. I can never get enough of them both. How they handle small problems. How they deal with the important ones. What makes them a power couple.

Fourth 4️⃣, even though it’s a 600+ pages but never once have I felt bored or distracted. I devoured everything that the author gave us.

And then the found family. In this case Eli’s family, how they embraced, supported and loved her. It was so heartwarming .

This is a beautiful book and I cannot wait to start Book 2.

Bravo Liz Tomforde 👏🏻 your debut book is a total success.

[nandini · Rating 5 out of 5]

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE CHECK THE TRIGGER WARNINGS BEFORE READING!

This book! OMG. I remember reading it four years ago, but I wasn't writing reviews at that time. I remember being on my hockey romance kick, and then I found this on Wattpad, and OH MY GOD. Even at that time, I wondered why this book wasn't published because it was so incredible. I was gatekeeping Logan and Eli for the longest time 😭.

The story follows Eli Maddison, the playboy hockey player, and Logan Leo, Eli's brother Marc's best friend who is a graduate student at the same university. Eli had been hearing about his brother's best friend for a whole year when he was studying in Spain, but then at a party, he bumps into a girl who turns out to be the said best friend. I love myself a good best friends' brother.

At times, I feel like authors have a difficult time connecting the readers with the characters, but Liz does it so beautifully. Both of these characters have had tough lives and are struggling with a lot of mental issues which makes them pretty realistic characters, and this helps the readers feel less alone! This is what sets apart most of the author's books. The mental health, the grief, the loss, and the personal growth that Logan went through were written so beautifully that at times I was able to relate to it. I have always found Logan to be such a strong and relatable character.

Eli has the best family and literally worships the ground that Logan walks on. He often pushed Logan to be selfish and think of herself before others and prioritize herself. He was an amazing cheerleader in her life. As I mentioned, they both were dealing with some really heavy issues, and they both helped each other through them! The end of this book genuinely broke my heart, but I had full faith in both of them.

This is one of my top sports romance books, and I would recommend it till the day I die.

[Cristinareads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved everything about this book. The character development of both characters is amazing to watch. I also love that the mmc at the beginning made mistakes because it’s the reality of never having been in a relationship and adjusting to it. The way the mmc love language is physical touch and he always wants to have her close is super sweet. Their communication is amazing and you can just feel their love through the papers. If I could I’d give it 6 stars.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite books ever. I adore Liz writing style and the way the characters love each other. Definitely recommend if you like best friend brother, hockey romance!

[ayesha · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 no one talk to me.

[nat. ❦ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nunca puse reseña? Comenzaré diciendo que odio el insta-love -creo que todos- y hay algo parecido aquí PERO sorprendentemente funciona, no es como si se declararan sus sentimientos desde el inicio ni nada, de hecho lo hacen hasta casi el final y creo que es por eso que funciona, cuando se conocen todo es un poco al estilo wattpad pero luego desarrollan una conexión tan tan fuerte (por traumas y comprensión) que hace todo creíble para que al momento donde se dicen “te amo” les crees, sabes que sus sentimientos son reales. Verdaderas almas gemelas aquí chicas. Eli es mi tipo de interés amoroso favorito, no tiene miedo de expresar su amor por ella y conscientemente quiere que ella se sienta amada, él da un giro total a su persona cuando la conoce, ella sacó la mejor versión de él y él le trajo esta felicidad a la vida de Logan después de perder a sus padres y quedarse SOLA en el mundo.
El found family es una de mis cosas favoritas para leer y ver como los Maddison adoptaban prácticamente a Logan y apoyaban su relación fue muy lindo, la amistad que tienen Logan y Marc me encanta, se aman demasiado y se protegen como hermanos 😢… Eli y Marc tienen estas conversaciones donde dicen cosas como que Logan tiene ahora una familia con ellos dos ahhh <3
Siguiendo con eso, el trope de “hermano de mi mejor amigo” fue tratado diferente y mucho mejor que si crearan una relación secreta, no hubo un “no puedes estar con ella/él bla bla bla” sino “ambos son adultos, no necesitan mi permiso y mientras sepan lo que hacen entonces está bien, los quiero felices” lo cual fue refrescante, hubo muchas cosas que pensé que irían a algún estupido drama innecesario pero gracias a Dios no fue así y se trataron de distinta manera.
Este es un libro cursi, así que si estás en ese mood te va a gustar mucho, eso era lo que yo buscaba así que me funciono, tiene obvio sus momentos de angustia para que nada sea aburrido y mucho es sobre la pérdida que ha pasado Logan (esta parte se va a tratar aún más en el segundo libro y también le haré reseña a ese libro). Así que sí, es seguro decir que amo a estos dos, su relación y amo a Liz Tomforde.🫶

“𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒂𝒔𝒌𝒆𝒕𝒃𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒅𝒂𝒅.” 𝑰 𝒕𝒖𝒄𝒌 𝒂 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒂𝒊𝒓 𝒃𝒆𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒆𝒂𝒓. “𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒈𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒆𝒆𝒕 𝒎𝒚 𝒅𝒂𝒅 𝒚𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒅𝒂𝒚, 𝒔𝒐 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒉𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔.”


—-
Lo que no me gustó fue que la escritura a veces se sentía un poco repetitiva con algunos términos pero lo entiendo por ser sus primeros libros y compensa como la vimos mejorar con The Right Move, igual supongo que cuando (esperemos🤞) los vuelva a publicar le hará ediciones, porque si no sabías Liz Tomforde tiene problemas con los derechos de estos libros (por eso no les da promoción) así que si consigue arreglar todo seré de las primeras en comprar esas ediciones 💘💘

[candace mai | candacereads · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

Okay this was a journey.. a long one lol.

Logan decides to drop everything and head to Spain for a semester abroad after her mom dies where she meets Marc. They form a friendship immediately. Marc convinces Logan to head to Minnesota to start fresh for her grad program… ENTER ELI…. The star college hockey player just doing what he needs to do to get to the NHL as soon as possible… oh and did I mention Marc’s stepbrother.

Logan and Eli had an instant connection when they meet before they realize who they are to Marc.

We got hockey/sports romance, best friends brother, instant connection, and cinnamon roll/golden retriever boy.

There was a lot I liked about this book… how Eli&Logan met, how much of a cinnamon roll Eli became, how quickly they would work through some issues, how obsessed Eli was, Logan’s relationship with Marc and Ali, the many many emotional layers to both of them and how they opened up to eachother.

I found that it was really long… like a lot a lot happened within a two months. I felt like there was a lot that didn’t add to the plot or character development.

I did love how fast and short most of the chapters were so it allowed me to zoom on through!

ALSO I screamed everytime I saw Evan Zander’s name… HIIIIIII🥵🫠😮‍💨

This one ended on a cliff hanger so I am excited to see where they go from here.

[angelica ༅:*ﾟ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars!

This review is dedicated to schai for getting me to read this amazing duet !! Thank you for introducing logan and eli to me, they’re such a strong couple and I aspire to have a love like them some day. I’m in love with this book and I can’t wait to read the last book in the duet and see how it all connects with the windy city series <3