Kennedy Ryan

A FORBIDDEN LOVE SET IN THE EXPLOSIVE WORLD OF THE NBA... Think you know what it's like being a baller's girl? You don't. My fairy tale is upside down. A happily never after. I kissed the prince and he turned into a fraud. I was a fool, and his love - fool's gold. Now there's a new player in the game, August West. One of the NBA's brightest stars. Fine. Forbidden. He wants me. I want him. But my past, my fraudulent prince, just won't let me go.

Hoops #1

Long Shot

This book is 80% SA and abuse… I wasn’t ready for this

Jess🌻

Amina 

I should have said that I’d play you at the five.”

“Going to Houston is my best shot at winning a ring. But staying here, Staying is my best shot at winning you.”

Amy Brain

abby

if a book can hurt, this one did it. I thought it was something cute about sport romance, turned out it was different. I took few days to finish because it frankly overhwhelmed me (even today), the pain, the sorrow, the rage, everything built when I read Long Shot. but, I will not hesitate to give this 5 stars because it deserves it.

the story in Long Shot is rather exhaustive and intimate. the moral of story that is given is powerful and hit the mark. the moments that served were intense and the more you go the more how vexatious and left you speechless and hyperventilating.

I wish Iris and August would meet sooner, so we could see the love story of both souls. however, time is really shit and drown you down. the single pieces that you absorb is brutal and give you an absolute wound, though.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow wow just wow! Be aware this book does talk about domestic violence & it gets really deep. I absolutely loveeeee how Kennedy told Iris' story & many other women out there like her. It was thoughtful & well done. Chile I'm ready for my August ok!!! I couldn't put it down I had to know what was next, It made me furious but it also showed the truth about how its just not easy to "leave" in a domestic situation. I loved it!!! On to Block shot now! But this one so far is My fav of the series

Kyra

rhegan🧋

one of my favorite reads of the year 😭. wasn’t expecting the heavy stuff in here but still enjoyed it. AUGUST WE LOVE YOUU

Yasmin Dunnewind

A book that deals with many issues. I loved the storyline, the growth and the yearning. It was written very lovely. Be aware of the tws <3

This book is so good. It’s beautiful, heartbreaking and full of survival and hope. 

I don’t think the blurb does the story justice, I think there is both too much and not enough info to understand what the story is like. 

August is perfect, we all need an August. But Iris’ story is so real and authentic and I felt so many emotions as she went through the different transitions in her life. The author does such a great job of dealing with these heavy topics (domestic abuse/ violence, race, parental issues, economic/ social inequality) with grace and integrity. 

I love this story, even though I was crying sporadically throughout the entire thing. Lo and MiMi were also great characters and I loved interactions with them. 

Overall, so many emotions, well written, good characters and a powerful love story. 

Megan BV

This book is so good. It’s beautiful, heartbreaking and full of survival and hope. 

I don’t think the blurb does the story justice, I think there is both too much and not enough info to understand what the story is like. 

August is perfect, we all need an August. But Iris’ story is so real and authentic and I felt so many emotions as she went through the different transitions in her life. The author does such a great job of dealing with these heavy topics (domestic abuse/ violence, race, parental issues, economic/ social inequality) with grace and integrity. 

I love this story, even though I was crying sporadically throughout the entire thing. Lo and MiMi were also great characters and I loved interactions with them. 

Overall, so many emotions, well written, good characters and a powerful love story. 

Some covers don't do their books justice and some don't prepare you at all for what's inside them. As always I started 

 with the bare minimum of information about it and without reading the synopsis so I thought I'd find a sweet, light sports romance maybe in a college setting. Boy, I was wrong. 

This story is so much more than a romance novel; it tackles real-life issues with grace, sensitivity, and thoughtfulness. Miss Ryan fearlessly explores themes of social justice, racial inequality, domestic abuse and personal growth, weaving them into a beautiful and touching love story. 

Iris and August are some of the most well-developed characters I've come across in a long time. They're flawed, real, and oh-so-relatable. I found myself completely invested in their journeys, rooting for them to overcome the obstacles in their path. Their connection is electrifying, and the chemistry between them leaps off the pages. Their love story is not only passionate but also authentic and raw. Miss Ryan expertly balances the steamy and intimate moments with deep emotional exploration.

Kennedy Ryan has solidified herself as one of my favorite authors, and I look forward to reading more of her work. Long Shot deserves all the praise it receives and more.

Souhaila

Some covers don't do their books justice and some don't prepare you at all for what's inside them. As always I started Long Shot with the bare minimum of information about it and without reading the synopsis so I thought I'd find a sweet, light sports romance maybe in a college setting. Boy, I was wrong. 

This story is so much more than a romance novel; it tackles real-life issues with grace, sensitivity, and thoughtfulness. Miss Ryan fearlessly explores themes of social justice, racial inequality, domestic abuse and personal growth, weaving them into a beautiful and touching love story. 

Iris and August are some of the most well-developed characters I've come across in a long time. They're flawed, real, and oh-so-relatable. I found myself completely invested in their journeys, rooting for them to overcome the obstacles in their path. Their connection is electrifying, and the chemistry between them leaps off the pages. Their love story is not only passionate but also authentic and raw. Miss Ryan expertly balances the steamy and intimate moments with deep emotional exploration.

Kennedy Ryan has solidified herself as one of my favorite authors, and I look forward to reading more of her work. Long Shot deserves all the praise it receives and more.

Michaella 

This book made me feel so many emotions. I was furious at Caleb, sympathetic for Iris and I wish I had an August of my own. This is my first book from Kennedy Ryan so I didn't have any expectations, but consider my expectations raised very high. I will recommend this book to anyone who likes a heart wrenching story with the perfect balance of sweet and smut.

Samantha Huster

This book spoke to me in ways I don't think I can explain. Beautifully written and heart-wrenching. 

Please take the CW at the beginning of the book seriously (also, can we normalize CW/TW at the beginning of books?!)

menna

trigger warnings: very graphic rape, domestic violence and abuse.

this book is honestly so heavy and can be hard to read. I had to put it down multiple times, so if you think you might be interested in it please be careful going into it.

mercy

[3.5] iris strongest girl ever i love her

Sajdah Medina 

This was a gut-wrenching read. Iris’ story was so important and empowering but also hard-to-read and disturbing. I really struggled reading some of the tougher chapters, especially because i didn’t expect it to have such a dark theme(Caleb can rot in hell btw). The way this writer was so convincing with how she wrote this book is admirable. I had to put the book down at times because the anger and sadness got too much and had remind myself it isn’t real because this book truly feels so real, probably because it is real for so many women and this boo helped me realise that. I also think that this was such an important and moving book and one you should definitely read. 

On to the happy stuff !!! I LOVE August West he’s so caring, loving and he really respects women (especially Sarai and Iris). The chemistry between him and Iris was beautifully written. 

I also loved the sisterhood in this book between Lo and Iris, it was so special. I also lived Mimi and i cried like a bath when she died. 

All in all it was a disturbing and difficult-to-read but beautiful in how Iris got to heal and realise her worth. ❤️

Mae Morton

This was a gut-wrenching read. Iris’ story was so important and empowering but also hard-to-read and disturbing. I really struggled reading some of the tougher chapters, especially because i didn’t expect it to have such a dark theme(Caleb can rot in hell btw). The way this writer was so convincing with how she wrote this book is admirable. I had to put the book down at times because the anger and sadness got too much and had remind myself it isn’t real because this book truly feels so real, probably because it is real for so many women and this boo helped me realise that. I also think that this was such an important and moving book and one you should definitely read. 

On to the happy stuff !!! I LOVE August West he’s so caring, loving and he really respects women (especially Sarai and Iris). The chemistry between him and Iris was beautifully written. 

I also loved the sisterhood in this book between Lo and Iris, it was so special. I also lived Mimi and i cried like a bath when she died. 

All in all it was a disturbing and difficult-to-read but beautiful in how Iris got to heal and realise her worth. ❤️

caitlin buckley 

OH. MY. GOD. words cant put this book to justice, i wasn’t expecting it to be quite such a heavy read but i did have to take a break halfway bc i couldnt see through the tears. but im so glad i finished it. i was overwhelmed with so many emotions for iris. caleb can rot in hell for all i care. i love mimi with my whole heart, may she rest in peace the beautiful woman. 
August west is an angel in the form of a man i swear to you. he remembered the pizzas and everything 😔😔

Neda gamaty

** spoiler alert **
           I think the book represented the struggles of domestic violence and the feeling of being trapped in and abusive relationship well. It also showed that you never know the true intentions and nature of someone even if they’re rich and famous. On the other hand, I think that although Caleb is a horrible person, august himself sometimes said things that made you pause and think, although these things are nothing compared to Caleb’s behaviour. I think they both over sexualised iris and I also think that iris and Augusts first meeting was a tad unrealistic as they basically poured their hearts out to a person they had met less than five minutes ago. But again the book itself was decent and took you on an emotional roller coaster

Sarah Kessler

I don't know that I necessarily liked this - and it won't be on my reread shelf - because so much of it was so hard to read, physically-flinching-hard to read. But the story is so magnetic and well-written that I couldn't put it down either. And I know I'll be coming back for the rest of the series, even if it's first-person, present-tense, NA: Kennedy Ryan, you have me hooked.

Serious content TW: rape, domestic violence

This book has heavy triggers for abuse, SA, and domestic violence. Please advise the FMC is in a violent abusive relationship for most of the book with heavy detail on the SA and has very minimal contact with the MMC. I think they meet 4 times? It’s instalove and slow burn all in one. It was…. A lot. 

I’m giving it 3 stars instead of 2 bc I loved the relationship with her cousin & great grandmother. The female and familial relationships held so much more weight than the romantic relationship. 

This book has heavy triggers for abuse, SA, and domestic violence. Please advise the FMC is in a violent abusive relationship for most of the book with heavy detail on the SA and has very minimal contact with the MMC. I think they meet 4 times? It’s instalove and slow burn all in one. It was…. A lot. 

I’m giving it 3 stars instead of 2 bc I loved the relationship with her cousin & great grandmother. The female and familial relationships held so much more weight than the romantic relationship. 

This is my first book but this author and I'm really impressed. If you're looking for a easy cute sport romance then this might not be it. This book is filled with trauma and pain. Check out the trigger warning before reading! I feel like the ending could've leaned differently but it was still good. My girl Iris is so so strong and August is a total green flag ♡ 

Taniareads 

Um livro muito duro, algo que já esperava pelos TW mas não nesta dimensão! Caramba, custou bastante ler algumas (bastantes) partes, a protagonista sofre violência física, emocional e psicológica mais de metade do livro! O romance? Esse chega lá para os últimos capítulos até lá levamos com extrema violência muito descritivas (atenção!)

Tengo que admitir que estaba muy consciente de lo que me esperaba en cuanto a este lectura. Creo que por eso la postergaba una y otra vez, porque sabía que esas vibes a iewu no eran en vano, y no me equivoqué.

No le pondré ninguna estrella todavía, porque (poniendo un poco de distancia entre mis emociones y este libro) siento que fue una buena historia, que la autora hizo un trabajo increíble para transmitir todo a través de su protagonista, y la resolución de todo me dio mil años de vida; todavía estoy intentando procesar esta historia y no creo que pueda medir el impacto que tuvo en mí con estrellas.

Toménse en serio los trigger warnings al pie de la letra. Parece algo absurdo de decir, pero hay personas (yo) que creen que los tw en algunas historias son una total exageración, y que muchas veces las personas son extremadamente delicadas. Este libro no es uno de casos. No sean como esas personas (yo), y leánse antes los twigger warnings si tienen pensado leer este libro en algún momento. Lo digo en serio.

Megan Lowe

Oh. Wow. This book is intense and powerful and just wow.
It's really trigger-y so if you're vulnerable to stuff like that, I wouldn't even consider reading this book, because it is incredibly intense.
Iris is incredible. She's strong and she's powerful.
August is just a beautiful soul.
I really think the message in this book needs to be heard, so I'd more than recommend people read it, unless you do have triggers.
If you don't, read it now!

Anastasia 

She really doesn't disappoint does she ??

I am over the moon with how well she articulated everything wrong with the justice system when it comes to domestic violence...I live in a country that doesn't even acknowledge it exists even if you have all the proof in the world ...my heart goes out to women who have had to struggle in their marriages like Iris did with caleb or relationships if they're not wed ...I hope you find courage, strength to overcome the pain and the shame ...God be with you 

Back to this impressive piece of literature ...her writing is like silk as always, the side characters do really well to elevate the story , I enjoyed the occasional banter between the characters everything ties up well in the end ...its a really good book ...thank you for this 5 🌟

sydney

this book was so much heavier than i expected but it was so good.

ingrid

this was so good, i loved it! even though i knew this was gonna be heavy i was still kinda surprised bc it was way heavier than i thought, but a great story still!

Long Shot Hoops #1

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