Slightly confusing at first that the past narrative worked backwards and the present one of course works forward. But it does make sense the more you get into the story, which is very engaging. There aren’t any surprises as it’s very easy to work out what the plot is from very early on, but I didn’t mind that as I liked all the characters. It’s always irksome for a Brit to read the word football when it’s American football, but I put my US hat on and ignored the irritation. It’s an adult book, but there’s a teenage romance lurking in here too. Overall rather sweet.

I adore Kris Bryant's books, and this one is no exception. A time or two, I've said I wish she would write a book from both POVs but in this instance, the single POV worked well. I adored Sutton - cool name - and all the sports stuff despite not knowing a thing about the NFL.

For most of the book, I was wondering how Bryant was going to turn the ship around and give the leads the happily ever after they deserved, but she managed, and I loved the direction it went in. Unique comes to mind. I'm also grateful we didn't have the unnecessary breakup at the 80% mark. A trope I'm a little tired of.

The flashbacks put some of this story into the New Adult category, and again, despite not being s fan of NA, I soaked every bit of their pasts we were given.

My one critique, if you could call it that, is the cover. To me, it screams erotica, and this story is far from it.

That aside, this gets all the stars from me.

While I generally enjoy Bryant’s writing I had a hard time connecting with this book.

In this second chance sports romance we follow the story of Sutton and Parker for Sutton’s first person POV. We have two storylines in this book, past and present. These storylines are delivered in alternating chapters and the past storyline is also in reverse order. I think this is where the disconnect is for me. Usually I don’t enjoy a flashback, unless it serves a purpose, in this story, particularly in how the pastis told, I see no added value in the flashbacks.the current storyline is a lot more interesting and in my opinion doesn’t get all the attention it deserves and quite possibly needs for it to deliver all the feelings.
Sutton has an exciting, glass ceiling shattering job, but instead of us hearing about that, we get just bits and pieces and her everlasting infatuation with Parker. As the star quarterback in high school Sutton secretly dated closeted Parker. In the present Parker is married to the quarterback that Sutton coaches. He also happens to be her great rival. There is a lot of unresolved feelings, a lot of things are left undiscussed and I think it’s because there needed o be space for the flashback chapters. And I really didn’t care about those. They pulled my interest from the story and didn’t give any deeper insight into any of the characters.

This book sounded pretty awesome to me, but in the end it didn’t quite deliver what I was hoping for.

I'm always up for reading a second chance romance and I know Kris Bryant delivers. I was not disappointed.

Sutton and Parker had a fling back in high school and now their world is about to collide again. Cue the intrigue. I liked that we got to see both the stories unfold (past and present) for then and it was in reverse order. Kept me on my toes.

I know nothing about football but the sports part about the story did not overwhelm me so it didn't make me feel lost over those details.

There were quite few side characters which enriched the story. I really liked Haley. We all need a BFF like that.

An ARC was provided to me via Netgalley in return of an honest review.

3.25 stars. A sports-themed second chance romance. With this book you get two stories in one, a YA high school first romance, which is told in flashbacks, and a second chance romance in the present (15y later). The past story is told in chronologically reversed order and each chapter alternates between the past and present. Had I known this book had alternating flashback chapters I might not have selected it, since this is one of my peeves and I’m sorry to say that it indeed had a major effect on my reading experience. The writing was good though and Bryant has done a lot of research on the challenges for women in the male dominated sports world, which was well portrayed.

The book is written in first person from the POV of Sutton who’s the first offensive coordinator of a NFL team. In the past storyline she is the quarterback of a high school football team when she meets Parker, the new cheerleader at their high school. Parker is Sutton’s first love but Parker dumps her under pressure of her extremely religious parents. Parker starts dating the quarterback of another team and ends up marrying the guy. In the present storyline, Parker’s husband is recruited for Sutton’s NFL team and Sutton and Parker meet again.

I really enjoy first person books, they can take you to an emotional level and connection that is higher than third person, but I think this book could have had more impact on me if it was written in third person with an added POV of Parker. She remained somewhat of a mystery to me and especially in the present storyline I would have liked to get a better insight in what she was going through (which was actually a lot, but I never really got to see it).
Despite the flashbacks, I flew through the first half of the book and enjoyed it, but during the second half the balance seemed off. Due to the reverse order of the flashbacks, they were now in the phase before their romance starts and with all the knowledge on what happens after I found it couldn’t keep my attention anymore. I was far more interested what happened in the present, which actually felt too easy on the romance part and even felt rushed near the end, the twist in the storyline was also somewhat predictable. We’re talking about a married woman here, so for those who want to know, there is no cheating involved. I can’t go into too much detail without spoilers, but near then end some decisions are made with major ramifications that they are all very anxious about. However, what actually happens after these decisions (like Parkers relationship with her homophobic parents), is mainly skipped to go straight to the happy ever after.

All in all, the romance in this book was up and down for me, especially in the second part of the book I wanted more depth. That said, I enjoyed Bryant’s writing which flows nicely and I liked the sports elements, how to get a team to perform best and how women have to walk a thin line in order to be respected and still be able to be themselves in the sports world.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a story about Sutton McCoy who was the quarterback of her high school football team. Parker O’Neal is the new girl in school starting their junior year in high school. Sutton and Parker begin dating secretly due to her parents being very strict and homophobic. And decide to move to a new city and hour away to break up their relationship.

The story is told in flashbacks alternating high school with present day in each chapter.

Sutton in her 30s becomes an NFL offensive coordinator of newly formed football team. The team recruits Grayson Moats as its quarterback. Sutton played against Grayson in high school and he is now married to Parker. Sutton has to find a way to remain professional with both Grayson and Parker.

I liked the football background in this story and enjoyed Sutton’s storyline. I felt really bad for her to have to endure Parker’s parents hatred. Parker was a mystery to me on why she was so strongly influenced by her parents Her parents influence was a big part of the beginning of the book and in the end it seemed to be ignored. I would have liked to see more of Parkers emotional growth in becoming a more self assured person.

I’ve enjoyed Bryant’s other books and this was an enjoyable read too.

ARC received from Net Galley for an honest band voluntary review.

Really good second chance at romance book. Sutton and Parker were secret girlfriends in high school, but when Parker's parents do d out about them they take Parker away and it's fifteen years before they connect again. I thought this was a sweet low angst story with a few dramatic moments thrown in, but nothing that bogged the story down. I loved that Sutton was the quarterback of her high school football team and that her dad totally supported her in whatever she wanted to do. Parker's parents were the total opposite, at times kind of over the top fanatical. The football references and game day commentary were so spot on, I am a huge NFL fan. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends and family and I look forward to what's next from this author.

Catch by Kris Bryant was a fun read, however it fell a bit short for me. I had a hard time believing/feeling the deep connection between the MCs that stayed with them through the years. The flashbacks were well done, but I guess I just needed more in terms of their connection. I really enjoyed how the backstory was told, it felt refreshing, i just didn’t get the feeling that they were “the ones”.

The story is engaging and the sport narrative is well done, I just needed a bit more sparks! I still completely recommend this read if you are a fan or sports and second chances.

I quite enjoyed this novel by Kris Bryant. I really enjoy the sports storyline - which is new for me, but one I would return to now. I've never been disappointed with one of this author's books and she certainly has not disappointed with this one. And the cover - eye-catching.

Bryant is an author I can always trust to deliver a great story. Knowing this is a (sort of) sports romance involving football and having a sizzling cover it drew my attention. The author delivers a past and present story alternating the chapters between the two time periods. The past focuses on Sutton McCoy as a female high school quarterback and her unexpected closeted girlfriend Parker O’Neal. Parker’s parents are ultra conservative and religious. They relocate their family to get Parker away from Sutton’s influence and insist on her attending a religious college. In the present Sutton is the first female offensive coach in the NFL for a new expansion team. When their quarterback injures himself they quickly recruit Grayson who is experienced but now a back up on another team. He brings along his wife Payton and their two daughters. They all haven’t seen each other in 15 years.

The past present format is similar to Melissa Brayden’s The Forever Factor (Nov 2022). In hers I was drawn to the younger storyline as it contained more of the drama and emotion. The opposite is true in this book. In the present period of Catch, Sutton has to balance her boundaries she has professionally. She needs Grayson as her quarterback to be successful for her career in the NFL to flourish. Parker’s connection to her is real but conflicting. I guessed correctly Grayson’s issue and how things would eventually work out.

Overall I enjoyed this second chance romance but somehow it didn’t resinate much emotionally for me. The past storyline is told almost going chronologically backwards. Ending with the first meeting is sweet but isn’t a crescendo. The present day was more interesting but I never felt there was angst or risk. I like sweet Payton but her character gets the least attention. How did she feel in her situation? What were these fifteen years for her? I get that until the present she never feels she could be her authentic self but it’s hard to connect to her personally. She’s only ever is what others expect her to be. (3.5 Stars)

Thank you to NetGalley, Bold Strokes Books and the author for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

An enjoyable second chance romance with likeable, fleshed out characters. A big part of the book is about American football but it didn't feel overwhelming even to someone who knows very little about the game.
What I didn't really enjoy so much was the constant back and forth between past and present. And in particular the reverse chronological order of the past chapters. I lost interest in them pretty quickly after I read the first ones and found out what happened to Sutton and Parker's relationship. The rest of the flashbacks were pretty uneventful.

I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

Sutton and Parker were each other first love but Parker had to end it because of her parents who are very religious and she starts to date Grayson who was a rival to Sutton on the field in high school. Years later Sutton gets her dream job she lives for football is now working with the new NFL team the Connecticut Cheetahs. When they did need a new quarterback Grayson name comes up and she thrust back into the past. This was a good read I like that it’s wasn’t cheating I also think that the past didn’t really intertwined with the present it’s just felt out of place even though I like the characters of Sutton and Parker I just didn’t felt that they long for each other for all theses years.

hmmmmmm, I love Kris Bryant's many books, but as I finished this book, I thought this book wasn't for me.

Where do I start?
First, I have a really hard time getting into the story. The first few chapters were intriguing, but as the switch between the present and past chapters began, it just didn't work for me. Especially since the past chapters are often irrelevant to the present chapters, I feel like it messed up the story's pacing.

Secondly, Sutton seems like a self-centered person to me. From what we learned from the past chapters, Sutton's lack of empathy for Parker's situation with her very religious, very homophobia parents, and she think Parker shouldn't be hanging out with her mean friends and should make friend with some other just makes me think she's no better than Grayson. But hey, she was just a teenager, right? But when they met 15 years later, Parker congratulated her for making it big for her career in a public charity. Her first inner thoughts were, "After 15 years, that's what she said to me?" I mean...what else do you expect?

The last is that the whole brake-up scene was revealed too early, I haven't even warmed up with Sutton and Parker, so it didn't feel like a very heart-wrenching moment nor it did not feel like a romance that would let people long for 15 years.

I also wish we could have POV from Parker. Parker is the character I love the most, she's the kind of character that you just going to love them. Overall, the concept of the book is brilliant. I was so excited about this book but can't stop but feel a little disappointed.

Thank you, NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Not too keen on books that jump from past to present as they go along. The odd flashback is ok but personally I’d rather a prologue or some chapters about the MCs first meeting and romance then go to the present day situation and take it from there.. I found the story readable and not too much about the football side of it.

I love football. Like Kris Bryant, I am a diehard Chiefs fan, as one should be. To say I was excited about this book, would be an understatement and I was not disappointed. Sutton McCoy is a woman who busts through the glass ceiling to become the first offensive coordinator for the expansion team, Connecticut Cheetahs. She lives and breathes football and has since her days as the quarterback on her high school team. Her joy at the new frontier she has conquered is short-lived when the team picks up Grayson Moats, a veteran quarterback and the guy who stole Sutton's girlfriend Parker fifteen years ago. Despite the years, the thought of seeing Parker again brings back memories she has worked years to suppress.
The chapters in the book alternate between the present and the past. The past chapters are told in reverse, which is something I hadn't read before. It was a fascinating way to bring us the story. I don't always love the past/present but in this case, I think it added a lot to the story. It helped not only give us a sense of Sutton and Parker's relationship but also the wonderful relationship Sutton had with her father. His support was in direct opposition to what Parker experienced in her family life.
Parker and Sutton are both incredibly likable characters, and I felt a lot of empathy for them and the situations they found themselves, both in the past and presently. Sutton is the point of view character, and I couldn't adore her more. The love she has for football along with her drive to succeed in the male dominated world of the NFL make her such a strong character. She handles herself at all times with class, even when faced with the person who broke her heart. While Sutton drives the story, Parker pulls at the heartstrings for a different reason. I felt for the way she was raised and how that impacted the rest of her life.
Catch is a phenomenal read, but I would expect nothing less from Kris Bryant. It is refreshing to read a book set in the world of football, which has been a love of mine since childhood. I hope this starts a trend of more sapphic writers bringing us stories set in the world of football.

An ARC was received from Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley for an honest review.

Sutton McCoy is the offensive coach for the newest NFL team, the Connecticut Cheetahs. When she unexpectedly needs to recruit a new quarterback she is left with few options, one being Grayson Moats. Grayson tormented her in high school when she was the first female QB for her school and married her first love, Parker O'Neal. Grayson ends up joining the team but they will all three have to learn to get along to make it work.
I liked this newest book from Kris Bryant a lot. I loved the sports twist, it made for a unique plotline on a familiar second chance trope. The book has alternating chapters in the present and in their past in high school. The past is in reverse chronological order and at first it was a bit distracting but at the end I kind of liked how we ended back at the beginning. I really liked Sutton's best friend Haley, she added a lot of fun to the story. I felt like the MCs had a great connection and it was interesting to see how it developed in the past chapters. I always enjoy Bryant's books and I think this one is no exception and definitely worth a read.

3.5 stars
This was an interesting young adult romance, and second chance romance mixed with homophobia and football. What a mix. I found the opening pages very interesting, full of action and grabbed my interest immediately. I liked all the football part of the story even though I don't know that much about football.
I was not comfortable with flipping from present to past, present to past, every other chapter. It broke the thread too much and I didn't think some of the past chapters were relevant plus they seemed to be in reverse chronological?
I must say I had no idea how this second chance romance was going to resolve. I liked the husband and didn't want him to become the bad guy or die or anything negative. So I was surprised and pleased with the ending.
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review

While some relationships run its course, others are anything but straightforward. Sutton McCoy knows, as the first player she recruits for her new job is Grayson Moat, the man whom she lost Parker O’Neal to. Sutton might have landed her dream job, but with the reemergence of Parker, she struggles to contain long hidden feelings, and she might not be alone.

The back and forth between the past and present provided context for their relationship and it’s sad how it had to end. As the story developed, it was easy to get invested in Sutton and can’t help but feel sorry for her. This is a second chance romance and while a HEA is what I root for, I wish there was more insight into Parker’s point of view due to the complexity of their relationship. The book will be a treat for football fans, especially one where a female takes on a key role and excels in it.

I just reviewed Catch by Kris Bryant. Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC.

𝕋ℍ𝔼𝕄𝔼𝕊: 𝕊𝔸ℙℙℍ𝕀ℂ. ℂ𝕆ℕ𝕋𝔼𝕄ℙ𝕆ℝ𝔸ℝ𝕐. ℝ𝕆𝕄𝔸ℕℂ𝔼. 𝔽ℝ𝕀𝔼ℕ𝔻𝕊 𝕋𝕆 𝕃𝕆𝕍𝔼ℝ𝕊. 𝕊𝔼ℂ𝕆ℕ𝔻 ℂℍ𝔸ℕℂ𝔼. 𝕊ℙ𝕆ℝ𝕋𝕊🏈

𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘:
Since the synopsis mentioned how Parker felt, I actually thought the book was going to be two POVs. And since the book is second chance, I usually like to hear both sides. I am not a believer in the second chance romance and I wasn't really sold with this one either. I almost wanted to sympathise with Sutton but there was something about her that didn't make me emotional enough to feel for her.
Now sports, I am a fan of female sports and I usually follow the Swedish Female National Team games so this sports theme was something I liked very much. So I admit, I enjoyed the past stories more than the present. Now, I know nothing about the American "football" but those cute moments between Parker and Sutton were adorable.

While I was reading, I wish for this to end to like Ali Vali's #Calumet" because sometimes, second chances are a sickness waiting to take you and just have to say, "no darling, not today."

🏈 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞: The book is simple and well-written, little angst and HEA. Cute children and both awful and awesome parents. And sports.


𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣 𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙫𝙞𝙖 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙜𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙫𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬.

This has been a sports romance, specifically football, in which one of the protagonists, Sutton, was the quarterback of the high school team. Oddly enough, she was the only woman on a team of men. And today, fifteen years later, she has become the first woman to reach an offensive coaching position with a professional NFL team.

At the institute, there was also Parker, the daughter of a conservative and religious family, who had a secret relationship with Sutton, but who ended up giving in to pressure and leaving Sutton for the male quarterback of a neighboring high school team.

Now the paths of Sutton and Parker will have to meet again since Parker's husband, Sutton's rival in high school times, is going to be signed by the team that Sutton now coaches.

Unfinished business and explanations must be given, painfully sometimes, necessary in any case. Because there were some facts that justified behavior at that time and others that will allow decisions to be made now.

The book is written a bit differently from those that deal with past and current mixed, because the past in high school between Sutton and Parker is counted from the end of their relationship to the beginning of how they met, that has been interesting for me.

In any case, an interesting and well paced story.