ARC Review: Feeling Ballsy (Love is Awkward #1) by Beck Erixson
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Series: Love is Awkward #1
Author: Beck Erixson
Published August 1st 2023 by Aegir Haven
Goodreads Synopsis
Elin Axelsson is unmistakably the worst goalie in her women’s indoor soccer league. Yet each week, she laces up her cleats, pumps up her teammates, and gives it her all. At least playing soccer means being able to spend more time with her all-star goalie boyfriend, Nate. And her best friend of fifteen years—who’s a total ladies’ man—Hawk. But when Elin catches Nate cheating, she dumps his ass, and finds herself thrust back into the weird world of online dating. At least she has Hawk to lean on. He has a new woman every week, and is a dating expert. But after a few awkward first dates with other people, Elin starts noticing Hawk in a different light. Except, that can’t happen. She can’t risk losing him, or their fifteen-year friendship if things go sour. That is, until they manage to fall tongue-first into each other’s mouths. The two form a pact to prevent diving hormones-first into more bad relationships. They’ll hook up with each other, and compartmentalize their friendship. But there are Elin sets the pace, no sex with others while the pact is in effect, and if either develop romantic feelings for the other, they must bail out to protect the friendship. It’s the perfect arrangement! Until it isn’t.
Goodreads
Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.
When Elin Axelsson agreed to be the goalie for her local team, she never expected it would take over her life. All of her friends play in the league, including her best friend of 15 years, Hawk, and her boyfriend, Nate, who is soccer mad. However, her relationship has been spiralling for years, and when she discovers that Nate has been cheating, and she embraces singledom, she finds it harder to fight her feelings for Hawk. She would do anything to avoid losing him as a best friend, but kissing him, and more, seems to be too enticing to fight.
This was a strange book, at least for me. I liked it, don't get me wrong, but after every chapter, and definitely after I finished it, I was left wanting more. Hawk and Elin were the perfect couple, who had basically been dating for years, without realising it. Elin and Nate's relationship had been sour for nearly 3 years, but she didn't really want to give up if there was hope. I wish she had a bit more of a backbone when it came to Nate, but she did get better as the book progressed. Hawk was lovely, though her gave off some mixed messages at times. It's clear he's been into Elin for a while, though like her, didn't want to risk their friendship. My one big issue with this book was how brief some of the events were, and then they were skipped over. The email incident was barely spoken about, when I would've expected it to be a lot bigger. And then the angst towards the end of the book was contrived, and then everything was resolved too quickly, and dramatically too. Like I said, I liked it, but I wanted more from the book. Maybe I'll read book 2 when it comes out, and hope that some of the questions I still have are answered.
Dates Read:
August 19-20, 2023
Rating
3 Stars
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