The last of the Alder series is the story of Emma and Lake.

I could not connect to Emma. She was pretty arrogant and immature and even though she's not a bad person I didn't really like her that much. Lake is her rival and love interest, but I did not see where this change that Emma went through started. First there is the attraction which is fine that I can see. But somehow Lake is the person that changes Emma so profoundly she completely changes as a person and what she wants for her future.

I enjoyed the other Alder stories and it was nice to read the conclusions but this is my least favourite one of the bunch.

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

Everything comes easily to Emma Wilson. Women adore her. School is undemanding and she is the point guard for her college basketball team, a position she loves. Now beginning her forth year at Alder College, Emma’s coasting through life slams into a brick wall. The new basketball coach arrives with a talented point guard. Emma starts questioning her career choice and she now has to fight for her point guard position against a woman she feels attracted to in a way she has never felt before.

Hartnett has taken us through four years of college with her wonderfully written Alder College series. Coasting and Crashing is a fitting conclusion with an epilogue that catches us up with the other characters of the series.

Hartnett has a definite feel for writing young adult characters, Emma especially. Emma is hard to like in the beginning but as she matures through her struggles she evolves into someone we might want as a friend.

Although this book is part of a series it can be read as a standalone as can the three other novels.

I received an advance review copy from Bold Strokes Books through NetGalley.  I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The final installment of the Alder series takes us onto the basketball court for an engaging enemies-to-lovers tale. Emma, the protagonist, is a character who may not instantly win everyone over, but she certainly grew on me as the story progressed. Lake, on the other hand, doesn’t make things easy for her, setting up a dynamic that's both challenging and intriguing.

As a fitting conclusion to the series, this book not only wraps up Emma and Lake's story but also gives us a peek into the lives of other characters in the epilogues. It’s well-crafted in a way that even new readers can enjoy it as a standalone, while those who have followed the series will appreciate the closure it provides. This book skillfully combines the thrill of sports with the complexity of evolving relationships, making it a satisfying end to the Alder series. As a big fan of basketball, I especially enjoyed reading about the games.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

Could not access this book to review. I looked into the help section and it looks like it was archived before I was able to download it. Lesson learned

It's senior year at Alder. I have enjoyed all of the books in this series but I think this one may be my favorite. Emma Wilson is my kind of girl, a hot mess with a lot going on outwardly and beneath the surface. She is the star basketball player on the Alder women's team. Being on the court is the only time Emma truly feels like she's in control and she won't let transfer player, Lake Palmer, take her starting spot away from her.
While Emma is icy, Lake is warmth personified. The attraction between the two is as immediate as the animosity. Ana Hartnett's writing is effortless. The more books she writes, the more I come to appreciate just how talented she is. She wrapped up the series perfectly by giving us a glimpse into the lives of the previous couples in the series. While I am sad to see the series come to an end, I can't wait to see what Hartnett gives us next.

An ARC was provided by Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley for an honest review.

4⭐️
Coasting and Crashing is the last book in the Alder series, every book can be read as a standalone.

It’s the book for basketball players Emma Wilson and Lake Palmer in their senior year of college. Emma has been the starting point guard on the Alder Lions team for three years and her professional future is planned, she will go to law school. But what happens when the starting position is suddenly rivaled by a new player? A player to whom she feels more attracted than to any girl before, despite the fight for the position? And what if it's not her wish but her father's that she becomes a lawyer? Emma is facing a chaotic final year.

Lake Palmer transferred to Alder University for her final year, along with her basketball coach. She's the competition for Emma's starting position, and she's good. Her dream is to play in the WNBA. After a stroke of fate, her fear of loss prevents her from really fitting into the team, for fear of having to let everybody go again after a year. And also Emma makes her life difficult, as she tries to defend her starting position with tricks and feints. But there is also a great attraction to Emma that she doesn't understand herself, as she is mostly angry with her. Can the two find a way to connect and lead the team together?

Lake is a young woman whom you quickly fall in love with, especially after you realize what a stroke of fate she and her parents have had to endure. Not only is she a very talented basketball player, but she is also smart, focused, and a fighter. I hoped with all my heart that she would achieve her goal.

Emma didn't make it easy for me to like her with her impossible behavior towards Lake. Told from her POV, however, you quickly realize that she is simply overwhelmed by her situation. The pressure from her father, who wants to force her into a job she doesn't want, but she hasn't yet dared to tell him. Not knowing which direction to take after college. Lake, the beautiful Lake, who wants to catch her position on the team and at the same time sneaks into her heart. Lost and disorientated, she lashes out and hurts the person she wants to love. Fortunately, she has people around her to help her find her way, a coach, a professor, and great friends.

A beautiful New Adult story about searching and finding where you want to go in life. About friendship, accepting help from others, competition, winning and losing, fighting for dreams, and finding the right person to love.

And thank you Ana Hartnett for the short epiloges for all four couples from this series.

Thanks to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for receiving an ARC for an honest review

I have been anxiously awaiting the last book in the Alder Series since it was announced on Ana Hartnett's Twitter/X account. So I'm not gonna lie, my expectations were extremely high as Catching Feelings is one of my all time favorite. Hartnett did not disappoint. Her talent with words in unending. She made me care about Emma's journey as if it was my own. The way Hartnett elevates this beyond just another sports romance bring the series full circle. I adored the epilogue. I haven't been this thoroughly satisfied with a book in a long time. Keleven out of 5. Overwhelmingly recommend!

Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

I loved the story and enjoyed it very much. Sport romances are awesome.
4stars.

Thank you, Bold Strokes Books, and NetGalley.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️
🏀⛹️‍♀️🛖🚌🏳️‍🌈

Coasting and Crashing is the fourth and final book of the Alder Series. It's senior year for our main girl Emma, who we have seen in the second book, Catching Feelings. We see other characters from the previous books too.

I love reading a book where the main character is completely hot mess. Emma Wilson takes 'to get over someone, you have to get under someone' to the next level. Emma, having realizing she has feelings for her best friend Andy, only a few years too late, goes through hoops (pun intended) to get over her. Add the fact that she had pressure from her father to become a lawyer, and there is suddenly a new girl gunning for her spot on the team, who also happens to be freaking gorgeous makes Emma spiral.

At times I found Emma's actions upsetting towards Lake, but I guess it was the fact that she realized what she was doing and corrected herself that redeemed her. I found Lake to be patient and forgiving, and I just loved how they both learned that they were worthy of love.

Coasting and Crashing was a great ending to the series. I loved the round-up at the end. It's bittersweet that this series has ended, as for me the first book, Changing Majors was the first book I read that I felt seen. I loved seeing the characters again, and I'm going to miss them all.

Thanks to Ana, Bold Stroke Books, and Net Galley for a copy of the book. This review is left voluntarily.

I enjoyed the book best out if the series. I liked that the characters were older. It was well written and easy to follow.

would like to thank netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this book

emma wilson is a player.... there isnt a girl she has met that hasnt wanted to sleep with her and why not she is the starting point guard for her basketball team and her life is already mapped out with being a lawyer

until she meets lake palmer who wants her starting position and nothing else from her

also the new coach isnt about to let her slide with her performance so emma has to up her game and that starts without being late to training


its a bumpy road for emma and lake as they compete for the starting point guard and along the way life teaches them a lesson

not a bad read entertaining in parts and serious in others

I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this one. I read the other ones in the series but this one stood out to me. It was probably because the characters were older now too. I loved the angst and drama that was in play. I recommend this book to everyone.

I have enjoyed the other books in the Alder Series by Ana Hartnett so I knew I would love this one just as much, seeing the relationships develop is my favourite aspect.

This is the fourth and final book in the Alder series and it ended it very well with a tie in with all the characters from the previous book.

Emma Wilson is a player and never wants anything more from the multitude of women she sleeps with after getting her heart broken by her best friend, Andy. She is the starting point guard for the lions until a new coach comes in and brings with her a new player that throws everything Emma thought she knew into question.

Lake Palmer is the new girl, transferring for her senior year. She has dreams of making it to the WNBA and nothing will stand in her way, not even Emma. We don't see Lake's POV as the entire book is in Emma's POV.

I enjoyed the back and forth between Emma and Lake. I wished to see Lake's POV, but the author did a pretty good job showing Lake's feelings and etc. The chemistry between them was written well and the writing was engaging. I was hoping for Emma's story and the author fleshed it out well and I enjoyed it immensely. Emma and Lake were well developed characters and I really felt for both of them and was rooting for them to be together by the end. Job well done!

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This concludes the series of stand alone YA/New Adult novels from Ana Harnett. I’ve read the entire series which features a couple and story for each year of college. Alder University is a small Catholic college in the Georgia mountains. Emma Wilson is in her senior year and is starting guard for Alder women’s basketball team. A new basketball coach arrives along with a transfer player named Lake Palmer who plays the same position. Lake has aspirations to play in the WNBA. Emma is the queen of coasting. She is talented but doesn’t like the pressure brought on by her father so often chooses the easier thing. She is a player with women but never in a relationship and she’s done little to be a team builder or leader. Lake is a challenge in every way.

Emma is one of the harder characters to empathize with in this series. It is hard to understand Lake’s interest in her as everything is from Emma’s POV. That being said her character grows and changes during the year thanks to a good coach and a professor who wants the best for her. I did say this can be read as a stand alone but the previous main characters are more a part of this story than they have been in the other books. And Ana Hartnett gets extra praise from me for giving a memorable epilogue for each couple in the Alder series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC and I leaving a voluntary review.

Coasting and Crashing is a new age sports romance focusing on the final year of college. Let me just say the main character Emma is simply put a MESS. While the book is undeniably spicy, I couldn't help but shake my head at the decisions Emma was making. It's a narrative where hurt people hurt people. Despite being a standalone, the book offers a mini epilogue on all the couples in the Alder series. I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The conclusion of the Alder series is bringing us to the basketball court. Emma is an acquired taste, at least it was for me, but Lake certainly makes her jump through hoops. An enemies to lovers if you like, it’s a fitting conclusion to the series. And we get to see what everyone else is up to in the epilogues, although it can be read as a standalone.
Free ARC via NetGalley

DNF. The main character is too much of a mess for me to continue after she has sex with a trainer. I think authors have the right to play with ethical lines but an adult trainer having sex with a player she's caring for... nope.

The last book in the Alder series. You can read them all as a standalone, but it’s great to see familiar characters to hear what they’re up to, if you have read them all. This one is as good as the others!

I received an advance review copy for free from Netgalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Emma Wilson has been the star basketball player of her college team for the last three years. She has a cocky confidence both on and off the field. Her bedposts have a lot of different notches. She is coasting happily. One more year of college to go. When Lake Palmer transfers to Alder along with the new basketball coach, nothing is certain anymore. Emma falls fast and hard for Lake but of course she f’s it up. And with that her world comes crashing down around her. Can she find herself again and this time her true self? Not the one everyone, especially her dominant father, wants her to be?

The story is told from Emma’s point of view and that gives you a first row seat for her crumbling down. It’s like living inside the head of a very real, young woman, who is trying her best to get her life back on track. A different track, because the old one wasn’t working anymore.

Emma’s feelings for Lake start like a lightning bolt lighting an eternal flame inside her that is impossible to extinguish. The relationship they built through trial and error runs so deep it’s admirable. While reading I actually sighed and was annoyed with Emma for all the ways her self-destructiveness makes her take all the wrong turns.

The cast of side characters make this book feel like a group of friends. From the instant relationship with coach Jordan to the teammates and friends that have each others back, always. It’s like living the college experience yourself. I love the epilogues about the characters from the previous Alder stories!

I admire Hartnett’s talent and this series is absolutely awesome. Oh, and did I mention it’s hotttt? Pfiew! Just go out and make friends will all these lovely characters, you’ll gain them for a lifetime!