4⭐️ | 3.5🌶
this was so good. heavy, but good. There was a lot of drama and while I wanted to pull my out at some points, it just added to the intrigue of the story. King and Willow. They were it for each other. In spite of the challenges, they were it.
Willow's parents, brothers and Jazz and Lorelai were all so sweet. I loved Jazz. Wanted to hug and protect her and Lorelai. I was iffy on Dan and Joyce, iykyk. But that's them. This was long but it was beautifully written and I loved the friendship between Willow, King, Piper and everyone else. Did not care for Elijah one bit though. What he did was messed up. Anyway, thank you to Netgalley and Bree for the arc.

Against The Rules by Bree Hayden is the fourth book in her series Even The Score and features Willow and King. Willow and King have the ultimate cute meet, she is at a gig where she serenades King and then needs a ride because her friend has imbibed too much to get Willow home safely. King steps in and saves her from a rowdy fan AND gets her home. For King it is totally love at first sight while Willow is intrigued and interested. However, King is immediately breaking one of Willow’s rules for dating: he is a college athlete, who coincidently is being trained by her step-father! Both characters have family drama and emotional baggage; the weight they carry hampers their ability to navigate love’s pitfalls but with true connection the heart will find a path! Ms. Bree gives readers a lengthy story with sweet banter, star-crossed love, and two engagingly quirky main characters. Using the tropes of sport/college romance, slow burn romance, insta-love, and fake dating (other people😊), I feel that the author included a little something for everyone. It was also great catching up with the characters from the other stories in the series.

Thank you to Bree Hayden & NetGalley for the review copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really loved the story, it was an incredibly slow burn. Like super slow, like the book was unusually long for a romance novel. Both characters are dealing separately with some trauma and meet by happenstance one night. She’s a nerdy studious type with a Hannah Montana type alter ego that creates and performs music and he’s a 6’3” football player who’s all tattooed and broody. Typical can’t date the coaches daughter trope, but surprise! They can’t fight it. There’s some cute banter in here.

King and Willow are an adorable couple and overall a fulfilling story. I just wish it had a little more brevity to it, I feel like I could have liked the story just as much if it were shorter as some of the story in the middle there could be whittled down to get the story rolling better, it kinda drags on for about the middle third of the book. And the FMC mentions her hair a weirdly large amount, more than any person I’ve ever known to mention their hair. But damn, King is great and I wish a guy would fill my home with flowers.

It’s possibly I’d have liked the book better had it was the previous ones in the series, but I was new to the series as well as the author and her style. In the end it’s worth a read, just mentally prepare for a very long book for a romance novel and that has slow pacing.

What a book! I’m a sucker for a college sports romance, so between that and the cover, I was instantly hooked. But I thought I’d be getting more fluff than anything, so I was honestly shocked at how deep this story went.

It’s about the star football coach’s stepdaughter, who’s basically off-limits, falling for the team’s star player—who has a dark past, to say the least. I’m a lover girl for a good, long love story, so I was all in for the highs and lows of their relationship and how, in the end, they were really just running from themselves.

This book has it all—close friendships, family bonds, self-discovery, love, expectations, and real-life struggles. But what really stood out was how the author tackled vaginismus and diabetes in such a raw but healthy way, showing the process of learning to live with and overcome them. Such a great read!

Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

"You glow. In the sun. I don’t know if you’ve ever noticed but you do. It’s really distracting during practice. It’s like playing a video game, when they’re trying to tell you this important thing is right here, with arrows and lights and stuff but it’s just you, standing there, with no idea you’re shining so bright, it’s wrong to look away.”

Overall: ⭐⭐⭐.75 / 5 (rounded up)
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ / 5

There’s a lot to love in this upbeat, contemporary college romance. It’s my first time reading this author, and I commend Bree for weaving an endearing story with relatable characters while meaningfully shining a light on mental and physical health. Both of our leads feel broken in their own way, and their journey to finding confidence, peace, and their HEA is a good time.

King is a man obsessed from the very beginning. Willow is an easy character to love and root for. They’re both flawed human beings who make missteps along the way, but this is one of those romance novels that somehow makes all the drama feel…possible. It’s believable to a significant degree, even in the side story lines, which really helps the characters come to life.

Speaking of side characters, there are a ton of wonderful ones here that give depth to the leads and their history/relationships, bring moments of levity, and tug on your heartstrings. I’ll definitely be diving back into this world to read the stories that came before!

This is a loooong book, and I think it could’ve been shorter. The last half is the best, with great banter and personality we only get glimpses of in the beginning. There were also a couple of moments, after one of the main points of conflict late in the story, where King’s friends reacted to something in a way that felt off to me (but this is where lacking context from earlier in the series might play a factor).

Overall, a fun, entertaining, and heartfelt story that I absolutely recommend for fans of Max Monroe, Meagan Brandy, Lauren Blakely, and similar.

📚Fast facts📚
✨ College sports romance
✨ Grumpy/stoic to everyone but her
✨ Forbidden (coach’s daughter)
✨ Secret relationship
✨ Insta-love
✨ A man obsessed
✨ Diverse lead
✨ Pelvic floor health rep
✨ Fourth in a series (standalones)
✨ Contemporary MF
✨ Dual POV, first person, past tense

I am grateful to Bree Hayden and NetGalley to have received an ARC of this story! This is my honest and unbiased review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️

📚: Series
📆: 25th February 2025
📖: 604 pages - kindle

Genre: Sports Romance
Tropes: Sports, College, POC FMC, Forbidden Romance, Banter, Forced Proximity, Dual POV, Golden Retriever MMC, Nickname (Angel), Protective MMC, One Bed, Found Family

‘I like you in this position King, Can’t f✖️ck me over if you’re on your knees.’

We are back at Marrs University & this semester Willow has transferred in! Due to her parents divorce & her mother’s new marriage to the football coach at Marr’s, Willow reluctantly finds herself starting over. For the football team there is one rule: Coach’s stepdaughter is off limits! Forbidden romance, with a ‘Hannah Montana’ type subplot, it’s time to grab your jersey & return to Marrs U!

Firstly, it was great to be back at Marrs U! I read Bree’s earlier entries to this series last year & I highly recommend reading them in order. That way you get to enjoy the pre-established cast of characters we have! Also in regard to Bree’s previous books it’s great to follow her writing journey & see how much her writing style has improved & refined.

The banter in this book was great, as well as the back & forth between Willow & King. We also got some new wonderful additions like King’s little sister Jasmine. I don’t know what micro-trope the little sister befriending the love interest is, but I love it!

Another thing I loved was how Willow & King’s relationship is at the start of the book, I haven’t read a book with that set up before so it was interesting.

Thank you to Bree Hayden & NetGalley for the review copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book surprised me. I was thinking I was getting a lighthearted sports romance, but it ended up being deeper than that. Both MC's have issues to deal with and what I liked about this book was that the issues were dealt with head on.
The banter that King and Willow had was unmatched and had me laughing out loud at times. While I am not a typical fan of insta-love, this book made up for it by the unique story and all of the challenges they had to overcome.
King was DOWN BAD, and I was obsessed, and the found family was amazing!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Author for an ARC of this book!

Who doesn’t love a sports college romance! This was my first football sports romance that I’ve read and the first book I’ve ever read by Bree Hayden as an author and I haven’t to say…I’ll definitely be reading her other books and more football romance for that matter!

The book starts off with our FMC Willow and MMC King meeting at one of Willows shows. King and Willow instantly hit it off and proceed to hit it off. They get to know each other virtually and this part I really enjoyed. As a reader, knowing that Willow can’t stand football players because of her step dad being head coach and King being a football player who is coached by her step dad had me reading in suspense as to when Willow will find out. You then get to watch their relationship grow and take twists and turns which are unexpected but also predictable in places.

There were parts which had me giggling and kicking my feet. I found several parts incredibly comical and thoroughly enjoyed which made the book go up in my estimations. The spice was brilliant! I love love love how it was written and found it incredibly descriptive!

This book is LONG! I’m used to sports romance books ranging from 300 to 450 pages maximum but this book is 605 pages…now that is long! I did feel as though this book did drag on. There was lots of tension building and scene setting which did drag in places and the tension building and then dissipating between Willow and King gave me whiplash in some places. One minute she hates him and the next she can’t get enough.

A review of 3 stars is earnt and well deserved. I enjoyed the story and the writing style. Short chapters are a win for me especially in a larger book. What makes this book miss out on the extra stars is that it is INCREDIBLY long. There’s no need for this book to be 600+ pages as the story could’ve been written well and still sold the main point within the usual 400 page mark. The were parts where it did drag and I wanted to put the book down but I’m glad I persevered and finished it. The characters were loveable in their own way which made you fall for them and want to continue reading on.

I recommend to anyone who wants an easy read who loves their sports and college romance!

Against the Rules Releases August 25, 2025 (tomorrow).

I’m a sucker for a good college romances especially football romances. Against the Rules is a long book, but it’s worth it. It’s the 4th book in “Even Score Series” by @breehaydenauthor and is the first book I’ve read by this author. I believe this book could be read standalone but I’ll definitely check out the rest of the series.

This is a forbidden romance where Willow is the Coaches step daughter and King is one of his football players. Willow is against dating athletes due to her estranged relationship with her mother and stepfather. Willow meets King at bar she sings at and hopes to lose her virginity to tattoo bad boy King. King lies about being a football player cause her really likes Willow. King ends of being tattooed, scarred, possessive, obsessed, and bad boy who turns golden retriever. Although I found their relationship developed fast they are a cute relatable couple. Also thought these characters were well developed and were emotionally in depth. They deal with a lot personal struggles including divorced parents, and medical conditions (Diabetes and Vaginismus). They both face their fears and desires together. I enjoyed the banter and spice between these too.

I appreciate authors like Bree Hayden that bring medical conditions like Vaginismus in their stories because people with these conditions deserve representation.

Overall I would recommend this book. Rate it 4.5 ⭐️’s.

Thank you @victoryeditingngc (Victory Editing NetGalley) and @netgalley for the Arc. Thank you Bree for the story!!!!

I did nit finished this book, i stopped 40% in.
I felt like the relationship between thecharacters at the beginning was too fast then it stopped in a way that felt weird and then the trope of them fake dating different people was weird as well. I also could not care nor like the characters.
It's not a book for me.

A college sports romance with a twist on coach's daughter, hidden identity, forced proximity, virgin FMC, reformed badboy MMC, forbidden romance, deep devotion all wrapped up with a bow of lots of spice.

I was completely speechless and dumbfounded when I finished this book. It is a genuine piece of literary art. It is so beautifully written and full of emotion. I feel this book deep in my bones. I was through all emotions reading this, and it has taken me daaays to be able to put this into words. I have never experienced this with a book before.

I think I might be as obsessed with King as he is with Willow. He is truly my dream book boyfriend, there is no competition. The way he went out of his comfort zone to get his dream girl has me enamoured. I think a lot in music, and I could make a complete mixtape of songs that are so King-coded.

Willow, in many ways, reminds me of myself. A young woman experiencing many changes while also feeling very inexperienced. She is such a fierce character, her bluntness and care for the people in life is endearing and so well written. You can feel her through the words.

I normally am not completely hooked on the instalove trope, but the sparks that fly in this book have changed my mind.

I have quite a list of favorite quotes from this book, but if I had to choose one, that should get you to read it, it would be:
"I want to cook you dinner and drive to your shows and see you in my jersey and get tattoos for you and call you before bed and fly you out to my games. I’ve never felt like this about anyone, not even close, and I know you feel the same—"
And to quote another part of the book: Swoon.

I have already ordered every single book in the series so far, and I look forward to getting to know everyone even better.

Thank you for this beautiful book, Bree.
Also thank you to Netgalley for the ARC. It has honestly been a joy.

I really wanted to like this book but it just wasn’t for me! I persevered for about 100 pages but I found myself just wanting to skip ahead.

I loved the concept behind the book and feel like I can see the appeal for a lot of people but it just didn’t click for me!

This book was so good! It's a football player x coach's (step) daughter romance. King and Willow's love story was absolutely adorable and I wish there was more for me to read. The book has me stressed but also laughing so much!

First, thank you to Bree Hayden for allowing me the privilege of being an ARC reader for this book via NetGalley.

King and Willow’s journey was so cute, I found myself smiling, giggling, swooning, and just wanting to give them a hug multiple times throughout the book. And who doesn’t love a HEA! It was such a heartwarming story with real, relatable issues.

Brooding football player with a painful backstory but falls first and falls hard for the special lady…sign me up! The banter, friendships, passion, spice…it was all there!!

This was a cute, easy read that I very much enjoyed! Definitely recommend!

This book captivated me from the very first chapter. The characters are vibrant, authentic, and relatable. The FMC’s medical condition was a key element that drew me in, and the MMC’s care and obsession with it highlighted the depth of his affection. Their evolving relationship felt so real, like being a fly on the wall as they connected and understood each other’s needs. Their bond was strengthened by his meticulous attention to detail and her desire to be close to him. The emotional moments when they were apart were heartbreaking. I was invested in King’s journey—from wanting what he thought he couldn’t have to marrying her and starting a family. The story’s pacing was perfect, and I didn’t even realize it was over 600 pages until I finished. Well done, Bree!

Quick Summary: A NA romance that addressed some pretty heavy issues

My Review: Against the Rules by Bree Hayden is book #4 in the Even the Score series. It is scheduled for release on 2/25/25.

About the Book: "Tattooed, scarred, so gorgeous, King was who I wanted to take my v-card until I saw the jersey on his back."

In My Own Words: A guy with a troubled past meets a girl with a broken spirit, and they have the courage to find a forever love, as well as the hope of a better future.

About the Characters:

King - > Strong, scarred (emotional/physical), driven, good, just, loyal, sensitive, loving, kind, patient, sweet, passionate; a warrior

Willow - > Layered, colorful, bold (but also timid), loyal, family-oriented, faithful, broken, compassionate, open, loving, ambivert; a fighter

The Romans - > Solid, diverse, family

About the Conflict: There were multiple conflicts that drove this story. What I appreciated was the fact that there were both internal and external struggles. They involved the lead individuals, the couple, the friend group, the family, and the social groups. It was very much on point for what NAs deal with, especially when considering the jump from high school to college to adulthood.

Reasons I enjoyed this book:

Easy-to-read
Entertaining
Happily Ever After
Page-turner
Romantic
Steamy
Wonderfully textured characters
Nod to importance of mental health
Found and blended family angles

My Final Say: This new adult novel was actually quite good. It was light, but it was also deep. At a surface level, it had the elements that involved a close knit group of friends, a found family, a blended family, college transitioning, dating, and the challenges of coming into adulthood. Beneath the surface, it dealt with emotional adjustments associated with parental and partner relationships, mental health and recovery intervention, moving beyond past mistakes, serious health issues, caring for loved ones who are in a crisis, and dealing with the expectations of others.

I loved that the author addressed Willow's issue so head on. Not only was it presented in a realistic way, but it was also presented in a contemporary fashion, which might be easy for similar aged adults to relate to. I really liked how King showed his support, despite his initial demonstration. (There was more to his response than it seemed. Still, the actions revealed a lot about his thinking.)

I also really liked the way King's issues were discussed. What a sobering matter! I loved how Willow showed up for him. (This was huge for him and for her. It showed the depth of heart that was a part of their story.)

Other: If readers are willing to go past the surface level of this novel, I think that they will see something remarkable and real and beautiful.

Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: NA
Re-read: Yes
Status/Level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op), and to NetGalley. Thank you for granting access to a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest critique. It was a pleasure to review. I am grateful for the opportunity.

This is the first time I've read a book with disability representation in it, and let me tell you—I was not disappointed! I was hooked on King's and Willow's story from page one. The author's portrayal of Willow's disability was nothing short of amazing—thoughtful, authentic, and deeply moving. It never felt forced or like an afterthought; instead, it was seamlessly woven into the narrative, making Willow feel like a fully realized character rather than just a symbol of representation.

Beyond that, the character development was incredibly strong. Both King and Willow had distinct personalities, struggles, and growth throughout the book, making their journey all the more compelling. Their relationship felt raw and real, filled with moments of vulnerability, strength, and understanding. It was refreshing to see a story that didn’t just acknowledge disability but embraced it as an integral part of the character’s life without reducing them to it.

This book not only captivated me with its storytelling but also opened my eyes to the importance of well-written disability representation in fiction. I’ll definitely be seeking out more books like this in the future!" #AgainsttheRules #NetGalley

This book had some ups, some downs, and some mehs, but I want to be general in case anyone is looking at this before it's release in 3 days. I'm going to go from the bads to the positives. I like ending on a good note.

I feel like parts of this book were unnecessary. It was a pretty long read for a college sports romance with many conflicts that felt like they were resolved way too easily or not resolved at all. The constant "Im sorrys" every few chapters before a steamy moment that would inevitably end the same as the last steamy moment did not build the way I think it was intended to, for me at least. It became a very repetitive cycle and for me as a reader that was frustrating. I can also say, the ending is not what I wanted for characters like King and Willow.

The parts that were meh and kept me invested were the friendships. The circle of friends within the novel were adorable. The girl gang was my absolute favorite. They felt so innocent, kind, caring. They're the ideal friendships and they had me invested which ultimately leads to my goods.

This can be read as a standalone. I appreciated that a lot. I had just started the other parts of the series, but when I was approved for this eARC I wanted to prioritize getting it done. The almost reintroductions were so helpful. I did not feel like I was reading a part to a series. I felt like, had it not ended the way it did, I was reading a beginning. I also LOVED King and Willow. Individually and together.

King is so deeply complex. He felt like he was a calm in a storm and his character sucked me in. His selflessness, his protectiveness, his devotion. King was beautifully written and very clearly meant to be the type of book boyfriend those of us are actively seeking fanart for.

Willow was real. Willow felt like she was personally carved to every gorgeous detail. She feels like the best example of a self insert, in the best way, and I adored her. Her sass, her creativity, her boldness. Willow was impeccable. She truly made me forget about my negatives in this book. I totally see why King worships her. She's fantastic.

I think the romance between these two was deeply personal to Bree Hayden. The way the read, the different little quirks about them. I can tell this was the couple Hayden has been itching and waiting to write. That dedication to them is why I am giving this 3 stars (3.5 on storygraph). I love the touch of personal in this little novel. To me it makes everything in this book worth it. I can tell these two mean a lot to her.

I do want you all to know my biggest meh is the ending. Some of you are going to eat it right up, though. I do recommend this to those of you who love sports romance with a mix of miscommunication and modern forbidden romance. You'll love it.

I want to thank NetGalley and Bree for allowing me to receive Against the Rules as an ARC.

Unfortunately this book was not for me. The writing style was rough. The instant love was just TOO instant. How many times it was mentioned within 5% of the book that she was a virgin was wild. The way the FMC (willow) was so incessant about sex and wanting a man she’s known for literally 30 minutes to take her virginity was almost enough to have me DNF.

I liked the premise of the book, but for me personally, it wasn’t executed well. There were things I enjoyed, such as the MMC (King) being so obsessed with her, the way their relationship evolved, and their more romantic moments (which I wish there was more of).

For this being such a long (500 page) contemporary romance, I wish it would’ve been a little slower paced so we could’ve gotten more character and relationship development rather than instant lust.

Thank you Net Galley for the early arc! Wow I was so surprised by this book. First off the cover drew me in immediately because it's actually the cutest thing l've ever seen but also the romance between our two main characters absolutely blew me away. This story follows willow and king and from the very moment they meet they are heavily attracted to each other but each time the go to hookup something happens and prevents them from meeting up so they from this relationship through FaceTime and texts and it's just so cute. When they do finally get time together they have to keep it a secret so what they do when no one is watching had me PANTING!!! Yall king is absolutely filthy and willow is down to learn. Besides the spice I just fell in love with this love story and definitely will be reading the rest of these books.