This is such a cute sports romance! I thoroughly enjoyed Match Point so was incredibly excited to pick up Ride The Wave and it did not disappoint. KR writes compelling characters with excellent romance plots and spice, making for a highly enjoyable read

This book is pure sun-drenched longing, wrapped in the salty breeze of forbidden romance. Leo is brooding, untamed, and so effortlessly magnetic that you can feel the weight of his past in every guarded glance. Iris is sharp, determined, and walking the razor’s edge between ambition and the pull of something deeper. Their chemistry is an undertow, slow and inescapable, crashing over them with the force of everything they’re trying to resist. Between the stunning coastal settings and the pulse-pounding tension of the surf world, this story builds like a perfect swell, sweeping you up in the thrill of competition, redemption, and a romance that feels as exhilarating as catching the perfect wave. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and would be recommending too.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

Genre: Sports Romance
Tropes: Forced Proximity, Nickname (London), Small Town Vibes, Forbidden Love

‘You would have the power to devastate me if I stayed here longer’

‘I want to ride this wave with you.’
‘Oh, London,’
‘I’m going to give you the ride of your f✖️king life.’

Iris, a sports journalist, is chosen to write an article on a retired professional surfer. But Leo Silva is not just that, he’s her boss’ son! After much butting of heads as Leo resists taking part & Iris’ persistent unwavering commitment to the piece, they slowly become close. Him helping her overcome her fears & him coming to terms with his past. But the real question is can he win the Bells Beach contest one last time?…

This book is the perfect beach read. It’s a sweet & sexy sports romance with all the best elements. There is no third act conflict, which I know some hate so this one is for you guys! I love Katherine’s writing style, this is my second read by her & they’re just great books. Nice to consume (I read this in a day, unheard for me), well written, funny. It’s just one of those feel good love stories & I’m all here for it.
I also loved how this linked to her previous novel, Match Point.

I don’t know what micro-trope it is where one of them helps the other overcome a fear, but that! I LOVE IT!
I also really enjoyed the age bracket of our main characters, both being over 30, it was very refreshing to read.

And I know some of you might be thinking the journalist angle has been done so many times, yes it has but a character as self-assured as Iris just hits different (and I’m not just talking about her work here 😉).

My only critique, where was the epilogue?? I need one. Hopefully there’s one in the published version because I need an engagement & to hear about Flora & 🍼👶🏻

Thank you Katherine Reilly, Aria & Aries & NetGalley for the review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Ride the Wave was such an enjoyable read—I devoured it in no time! I’ve never read a surfer romance before, but this one really impressed me. It had all the beachy vibes (reading about summer in January is cool lol), and the emotional depth was a nice surprise.

Iris and Leo’s chemistry was fantastic. Iris wasn’t afraid to challenge Leo, and even though he tried to act all grumpy, you could tell he was falling for her. The slow burn between them was so well done, and I loved how they helped each other face their fears. Also, Leo calling her London, such a cute little touch. The surfing part of the story was great. It wasn’t just there for the sake of it, it actually mattered to both Iris and Leo. The competition scenes had me hooooooked.

If I had to pick something to mention, the ending felt a little long, but it wasn’t a big deal. Overall, this was easly a five star read for me! I loved Katherine Reilly’s Match Point and Ride the Wave definitely lived up to my expectations. If you like sports romance with a fresh twist, definitely pick this one up.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Despite what I found to be a bit of a slow start I really enjoyed this book, especially the last 20%! The Bell’s Beach part felt like a well rounded ending to a very cute and easy to read love story between Iris and Leo. Leo’s growth as a character opening up to Iris was a pleasure to read, and him standing up to his mum was perfection! Iris was a character who was easy to love and relate to- she’s feisty and determined but vulnerable and emotional. This was my first surfer romance as well as my first book by this author! A really light and easy read overall and I would recommend this to any sports romance fan.

I enjoyed my time with Leo and Iris, but my favourite parts were the side characters. Iris's mum - an icon. I loved her arc, and would have loved to see her introduction to Leo.

I sometimes find that once a couple gets together I kinda check out and get bored - but I actually really enjoyed the last 10% of this book. The entire Bell's Beach section just felt like the perfect finish to the story.

I haven't read the first book in this series, and while I don't think it's essential - I do think I might have enjoyed the first half of the book a bit better having already met Iris.

5 Stars / 3 Spice

‘Ride the Wave’ written by Katherine Reilly is an addicting standalone romance that was impossible to step away from.

Iris Gray is a sports journalist who seems to specialist in feature pieces about redemption. She is tasked with traveling to Portugal to interview and shadow an Australian surfer who retired twelve years prior and is making a comeback into the surfing world. At his prime, Leo Silva was in the tabloids for all the wrong reasons before disappearing from the competitive surfing industry. It is Iris’ job to unravel who the real Leo Silva is, what has spurred on his comeback and the demons he has been able to keep at bay to possibly succeed once again. Once breaking through Leo’s brick walls and defences, Iris find herself feeling more at ease and attracted to her interviewee then she has ever experienced before. The pull between these two cannot be denied as many factors push against them.

Leo Silva is an incredibly attractive individual. Although guarded and mistrusting at first, he is shown as sweet, easy going, funny and thoughtful once his defences are broken down.

'Go ahead, Leo Silva, put on your game face. I’ve had mine on all along'

Iris as a smart, confident, determined and self-sufficient woman in a male dominated industry. She is a natural charmer who can easily read a room and the people before her. Iris and Leo compliment one another greatly and their chemistry and care for each other is inspiring.

This novel was easily devoured. It was well-written and a charmingly beautiful read. The romance was powerful and the spicy was exceptionally delicious. I was unable to walk away from this book and found myself laughing out loud, swooning over a fictional male and even ended up shedding a few tears. I rode a rollercoaster of emotions, and I am truly grateful I was able to experience Leo and Iris’ story. I cannot wait to explore more of what Katherine Reilly has to offer.

'If you focus too much on what might happen in the future, you miss what the water is telling you at the time, and whatever you do, it will never be as good. You should live in the moment'

What to look forward to:
Forced proximity
Forbidden love
Sports romance (Surfing)
Grumpy x sunshine
Slow burn
Thanks to Aria & Aries and NetGalley for the ARC.

My first book from this author and I really enjoyed it.
This is my new favourite surfer romance. Chemistry and vibes were spot. This will make a fantastic summer beach read.

I loved Match Point so I had to get my hands on Ride the Wave, featuring Flora's best friend Iris. I was definitely NOT disappointed (and I also loved all the Melbourne references).

Sports journalist Iris Gray is offered a freelance assignment in Portugal to interview former surfing champ Leo Silva, whose making a comeback twelve years after his career washed out. There's a lot of pressure for Iris to deliver an immersive profile she's known for, as Leo is also the son of the magazine's big wig owner. Not only that, Iris is afraid of the ocean and Leo is disinterested in being interviewed.

I loved the slow-burn chemistry between Iris and Leo. Iris won't take Leo's diva crap to avoid being interviewed while Leo teaches Iris to literally and figuratively 'ride the wave' and be confident in herself. I love their journey as they open up to each other about their fears and their pasts, so they can help each other reconcile them.

This was another fantastic beachy escapist fiction from Katherine Reilly that had a lot of depth. If I had any complaint, it would be that this could've done with final chapter set a year or so in the future to really complete their arcs. I hope there's more to come.

Thanks to Aria & Aries and NetGalley for the ARC.

This was I first book that I had a pleasure reading from this author. Yes, it is a little bit enemies to lovers, sports romance. And I loves it all. This was just a really refreshing read. I trully enjoyed it w

Ride the Wave was an easy-to-read, lighthearted romance with a beachy vibe that was perfect to read when it was cold and miserable outside! I liked the fact that there wasn’t too much preamble and the plot of the story started straight away so the story felt appropriately paced. I enjoyed the sports reporter and surfer trope - especially when there was a little bit of an ‘enemies to lovers’ feel to it as Leo refused to cooperate.
I really enjoyed getting to know Iris and liked her character development from a highly-strung city girl to a more relaxed and content character. The side characters were also a great addition, particularly Leo’s dad.
The chemistry between Iris and Leo was so good, and the only thing that would have made this better would have been if it was just a tiny bit of a slower burn. I’d have also liked an epilogue.
I thoroughly enjoyed it though and definitely recommend! It was the second book in a series but I didn’t feel out of the loop because I hadn’t read the first one - it is great as a stand alone. I’ll be going back to read the first one!

I think this is my first surfing romance and it was definitely a good first one! I loved the characters and the development they both had! Leo’s nickname of London was cute and didn’t make me cringe like some nicknames do. I thought the pacing was a bit off at the end as would’ve liked more detail such as Iris’ finished article, what happened with Michelle etc. Very cute, and I think I enjoyed it even more than Match Point. Thank you to NetGalley for this arc.

After reading Match Point (which I gave 3⭐️) last year, I decided to give Katherine Reilly another chance with Ride The Wave and I’m glad I did. While it was slow at points, I still really enjoyed it and actually wanted to keep turning the page. I really like a sports romance i’m not used to reading so it was good to read about surfing and loved the connection between Leo and Iris. The romance was *chefs kiss*.
This book is the perfect summer romance.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

Thanks to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.25 stars

"If you focus too much on what might happen in the future, you miss what the water is telling you at the time and, whatever you do, it will never be as good. You should live in the moment."

Ride The Wave is a sports novel in which we follow Leo Silva, a former world surfing champion whose career was known for reckless parties and tabloid scandals. Leo decides to retire early and return to Portugal, where his father is from, but after a few years, Leo Silva decides to return to competition and join the prestigious Australian Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach.

Iris Gray is known for her inspiring interviews with athletes, as she is a sports journalist from London, and is now responsible for interviewing Leo and showing a new side of him to the world.

Sports novels are one of my favourite type of books, especially when I'm feeling a bit down. After two dnfs in a row, I decided that Ride The Wave would be my next read, as sports novels are usually quicker and more fun to read, and it didn't disappoint.

As soon as you start reading Katherine Reilly's book, you immerse yourself in this world and these characters, from Iris and Leo to Marina, Anna, Toni, Flora and Adriano. Their personalities are distinct and you fall in love with all of them because they're fun, friendly and welcoming. Following Iris as she met Burgau in Portugal was such a cool and immersive experience because, as a Portuguese, I could see exactly what the author was describing and what Iris was feeling was accurate, just as what Leo was experiencing was real.

The writing was perfect, I found myself thinking about picking up another book by this author as soon as I finished Ride The Wave, because it's easy to understand what's happening and not get lost between scenes.

It was going to be a 5 star for the most part, but when I started to reflect on my reading, I realised that I missed one thing and felt that two others didn't add much to the story. For a start, the fact that Iris was afraid of the ocean was a quick event and as soon as she was afraid, she stopped being afraid - I wish we could have seen a bit more of that, to feel more realistic, as she got over it too quickly. As for the other two things, I don't think José added anything to the story, at the point where it almost felt like a love triangle and then he stopped appearing, but I understand what he does for a living and how it affected the characters; and the amount of spicy scenes - I was expecting to read about them, but at one point I thought they could be replaced with other scenes, like Iris overcoming her fear.

"Change is never easy, even if it's for the better."

I was swept away by the prologue and didn't look back.

Leo retired from surfing after a fall from grace. Sports journalist, Iris is tasked with writing an article about his attempt at a comeback, whilst she fights her own instincts to stay well away from the water and man whose life is the ocean.

What I loved most about the dynamic between Leo and Iris was that they were both people running away from their fears, forced to find understanding in each other. The chemistry between them was excellent and had great pay off as well.

This story is part of an interconnected series, so readers might want to meet Flora and Kieran from "Match Point" first. However, this can certainly be read as a stand alone.

Thanks to Netgalley and Aria & Aries for the opportunity to read an eARC of "Ride the Wave"

Oh this was a GOOD one! This book absolutely blew me away. I didn't expect such an emotional journey, for the characters and myself! I cried multiple times, a lot of the times just out of happiness. I don't usually come out of a romance novel feeling like this. Usually they're fun to read, and the sparks between the characters are so exciting, but this was just phenomenal. What a heartwarming novel. It played so vividly in my head. The scenes were just perfect, and the plot was fantastic. I can't help but think this book would make a great movie! Especially how tense the competition at the end was. I was so hyped.

Every moment between Iris and Leo was brilliant. They had amazing chemistry, and such a strong emotional connection; it was such a beautiful progression of a relationship.

They were such passionate individuals. Iris was such a strong, awesome character. She was so clever, and I loved experiencing her process behind her job as a journalist. And Leo was just amazing. I was rooting for him so hard. They both had great backstories behind them that added more depth to their characters. They felt so real and natural.

I loved Iris' journey to writing her article, and her and Leo in the process both learning how healing it can be to open up. They both helped each other out of their shells, and were so great for each other. Leo's reassurance towards her was amazing. He was such a kind and genuine person. He was so gentle at breaking down her confident exterior, and encouraging her to be herself. And Iris facing her fears to help Leo feel comfortable opening up was so courageous and emotional to read. They both really cared for each other, and it became so much more than writing an article. They both found themselves trying to help the other.

The spice was also top tier - that elevator scene! - but I didn't expect anything less. The writing was just so good!

And don't get me started on Leo calling Iris 'London'. It gave me butterflies everytime.

Thank you so much NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review this!

*I received this book as an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) for free in exchange for an honest review*

As soon as I read the description for this book I knew it would be something I would like and I was definitely right about that!!

From the get go, the story drew me in and I fell in love with both Iris & Leo. The chemistry between these 2 was amazing and done in a really authentic way. The steamy scenes had just the right amount of spice which added to the story without feeling overpowering.

It was so refreshing to read a sports romance about surfing which isn’t very common and I feel like I learnt so much about the sport too!

The only thing that stopped this from being a complete 5 stars was that the ending felt a little bit drawn out but other than that…LOVED IT!! Highly recommend ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you Aria & Aries and Katherine Reilly for this ARC copy

I LOVED Match Point last year, so I was delighted to see Katherine Reilly had a new book coming! I devoured this one in basically one sitting. From the setting, it certainly gives small town beach vibes, to Iris and her fierce fashion and witty banter, to Leo and his brooding, I was hooked by their slow-burn romance and the high stakes of the surfing competition. I thought Leo and his father were such lovely characters, and he had a real depth to him (actually they both did). The spicy scenes are very steamy indeed!

The perfect summery read (or winter, in my case!). Delivers that perfect blend of sexy and fun.

I’m such a sucker for a sports romance - I think this might be my first surfer romance though? I loved the two main characters, their chemistry was so good!

I liked the premise but I thought some of the pacing felt a bit off (mainly towards the end, there were too many smaller conflicts and they were spaced out a bit weirdly) but overall I really enjoyed this. I’m usually not one for nicknames in books but I was so obsessed with him calling her London 🥹 also - the small town vibes were immaculate and I now desperately want to go to Portugal.

Thank you to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for the gifted advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.