Hail Mary

Kandi Steiner — 2023

Leo F*cking Hernandez. North Boston University’s star running back, notorious bachelor, and number one on my people I would murder if I could get away with it list. And now? He’s my new roommate. I used to think I loved him. But that was before I hated him. He doesn’t remember who I am, or how he made my life miserable for years. And before I unknowingly moved across the street from him, I couldn’t have cared less. I was living my life despite him and what happened that summer, chasing my dream of becoming a tattoo artist. “The Pit,” as the university so gracefully nicknamed the house he lives in with three other football players, has served as nothing more than a pain in my ass and a constant reminder of the boy who broke my heart. Watching him parade his one-night-stands in and out of it never helped, either. But with rent this cheap and so close to the tattoo shop, I’ve learned to ignore him — no matter how he’s tried to get under my skin. At least, until this summer. Because when a water and mold disaster leaves me with no choice but to vacate my house, I have nowhere to go. And Leo Hernandez offers me a deal I can’t refuse. Live at The Pit with him and the guys, free of charge, until my landlord fixes this mess. Ignoring him was easy when I lived across the street, but in the same house, with him shirtless half the time and watching me with his cocky grin and searing gaze? It’s impossible. Still, I have to try. I have to push him away, even when he makes it infuriatingly difficult to do so. He’s broken my heart once. I won’t let him do it again.

Reviews

Ilham@xaaam_o

Jun 8, 2024

“I had everything I’d ever wanted. All because I begged my parents to buy me Halo. The End” Cute cute cute

sam@sammiev

Feb 27, 2024

my heart feel so full rn ☹️

"gold rush" and "fearless" by taylor swift

Sarah @sarahfathim1787

May 20, 2023

i feel like i would have enjoyed this book more had i been in the mood for a sports romance.

i can't quite place my finger on what didn't work for me, but i didn't have a connection with the characters which could be it.

Danyella Barajas@danyella

May 9, 2023

WOWWWWWW WHAT A BOOK. ppl love to hate on the second chance romance trope but it’s so elite ARGUE WITH THE WALL!!! this gave me the feels that i felt reading blind side. from the energy to the chemistry to the romance. it was just so well written. a big step up from the quarterback sneak in my opinion. LEO WHAT A MAN AHHH I NEED HIM. from the first chapter, i was giggling and kicking my feet it was that good. like this man bought her candles and remembered the scents she liked??? THE LETTERMAN JACKET SCENE AH! their banter with each other from when they were just roommates was so funny but also so tension filled bc their chemistry was building up. DONT EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THE SPICY SCENES BC OH MY WORD DUDE. the conflict made me a little upset at first, but i understood where both of them were coming from. it’s bittersweet seeing all the couples together and moving on from college :,)

Carla Vargas @lita2892

Mar 30, 2023

I'm in love with Leo Hernandez, he was the perfect combo of sweet and hot. And Mary was a badass, loved her and their chemistry ❤️

Cardtak@cardtak

Mar 30, 2023

Leo Hernandez ♡

Abigail@abigailb

Mar 19, 2023

This was such a perfect sports romance with some enemies to lovers, forced proximity, second chance tropes sprinkled in. Also, love to see a pothead main character, especially as the heroine- that seems so underrepresented to me now?! Only issue I had was that the third act breakup/conflict seemed a little out of left field to me (oops making a baseball reference in a football romance review, forgive me) but overall loved every bit of this and ate it right up. Excited to read the other character’s stories in the series, they seem super fun.

Priscilla Stanfield@priscillas01

Mar 8, 2023

This is honestly sad doing this review because that means I have finished the Red Zone Rivals Series. This has honestly been one of my favorite football romances that I have read and I have fallen in love with almost all of the characters along the way. Leo and Mary I think will have a special place in my heart though. I love their story and getting to know their past and their story in the present. It was so good that I couldn’t put it down. The found family in this book was the best in the entire series if you ask me. It rounded it all out so well and we will not talk about how much I cried while reading the epilogue. I think there was a small piece in all of these characters I relate to and that just makes it all the more special reading about them! I’m so sad that it’s over but I’m so excited I was along for the ride!!

Corey’s Books@coreysbooks

Feb 20, 2023

Hail Mary by Kandi Steiner

This book is 5 Stars.

Mary and Leo can be described in a lot of words. Second Chance Romance plus Sports Romance, plus a tatted curvy baddie for a FMC, and then add in a cocky playboy MMC I knew I was sold. Now I loved the Red Zone Rivals franchise, but this is TOP TIER KANDI right here. Mary and Leo met at 15 over Xbox video games. Thanks to a situation the duo don’t speak again for 7 years. Our FMC hates him, and our MMC had no idea it was her his whole time. DELICIOUS.

- Sports romance 🏈

- Second Chance

- Roomates/Forced Proximity

- Groveling

- Strong Female Friendships