I am definitely in the crew of readers that desires more Black sapphic fiction in traditional publishing. Having read some of Karmen Lee's indie work, I was excited to see she got a publishing deal. The concept and cover art are fun and I was ready to dig into this small town romance. There was one big problem; that's all it dug into.

This is one of those low/no plot romances where it focuses almost primarily on the two characters and their relationship at the expense of everything else. There are other characters like coworkers and siblings, even the group of girls they are mentoring in bowling, but almost everyone is only there to serve the main plot which is to get Ava and Grace to fall in love. While I don’t hate it, I didn’t love it either. I needed more to buffer the story because to be honest, their romance was a super slow burn and I really hated the reason they had a falling out (it made no sense to me). Hate the miscommunication trope but I especially have a hard time when the reason doesn’t even fully make sense (I won’t spoil that).

I also can’t say I completely felt the chemistry between them. This might be because they had crushes on each other as teens and we are supposed to believe that continued ten years later but I never felt that supposed passion. Perhaps if we had more time of them getting to know each other as adults instead of Ava holding a grudge, it would have made sense. There were also some actions by other characters that felt as if they came out of left field towards the end of the book and I feel like this was just thrown in for drama. Felt very tacked on.

Overall, I liked the characters and the premise, plus it was well written, but the story never quite took off for me.

Ava Williams is surprised when the new AP science teacher at her small town Georgia high school is Grace Jones. They grew up as friends until their senior year in HS when Grace transferred to a private school. It’s been 10 years and now they are both teaching at the school they once attended. This is a nice sapphic romance, with a cute cover and I appreciate that the leads are POC. But the storyline is rather simple. They once shared a kiss, senior year they ended up on competing school bowling teams and now they end up co-coaching the new bowling team together.

I think what is missing for me is there wasn't a big heartbreak or angst they must overcome. Grace genuinely didn’t know why Ava wouldn’t communicate with her. The bowling scene starts some sizzle between the pair and leads to a date and more but I didn’t feel much about their reconnecting. It is a cute story, easy to read, but wont stay in my brain for long.

Unfortunately, I really wanted to love this one, but I just didn't. There were aspects that I really enjoyed. I loved the bowling backdrop to the story and I really did enjoy the overall story between these two. My biggest issues with the book, though, were that it just felt so LONG. But at the same time, I felt like it needed more to it. I felt like a lot of the big plot points of this book were just skimmed over. There were a lot of conversations that we should have seen happening and they were just passed by and later said that the conversation happened and made a huge difference in relationships. I just wish that some parts were delved deeper into.

I was excited about the storyline when I came across this book. While the premise was cute and the characters were likeable, this didn't give what I wanted it to give.

The story was super slow paced and the lack of action was a drawback for me. I prefer romance novels with a central plot, subplots, engaging conversations, and memorable moments, which were somewhat lacking here. A lot of important conversations were glossed over on page and it took a way from the overall story.

Additionally, I didn't feel a strong chemistry between the characters despite their thoughts indicating otherwise. Lastly, this felt more YA romance than adult romance.

Ok first I love the premise and just the sapphic concept of this book. What I didn't like is that it kind of gave me more YA vibes that i was expecting. That being said I love a good romance and this delivered. I liked the fact that they were on a bowling team and correct me if im wrong but this is a second chance romance and a enemies to lovers and I love all that. I just couldnt get past the YA feeling but its a quick cute read and I would read it again.

3.5 stars
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
When announcements were trickling in about the authors releasing books with the Afterglow imprint, Karmen Lee was the one I was most excited for, as I’ve read a few of her indie titles, and enjoyed them. Also, I’ll never stop being excited for Black sapphic representation! And in the sea of relatively “same-y” sports romances, focused on hockey or football, I loved that this one was about bowling, something I know a bit more about, albeit not on the competitive level.
The characters absolutely are the standout here, along with their developing relationship. Ava and Grace have a history as best friends and friendly rivals until they fell apart due to them not being able to reckon with the feelings between them. I enjoyed watching them being thrown back together and being forced to reckon with all the baggage and unresolved tension between them.
But as much as I really liked the romance, I felt like it wasn’t strong enough to fully carry the overall story. Yes, there was also the bowling competition aspect, but the book still felt oddly paced, with long stretches of not much happening.
But the story is sweet overall, and I’m excited that there’s more to come following supporting characters from this world. I recommend this book to readers looking for a Black sapphic romance, I’d recommend checking this out!

When I was in college, I took a bowling class. I thought this will fulfill my physical education requirement and be an easy A; I was wrong. The cover of The 7-10 Split by Karmen Lee transported me back to Crenshaw Lanes. The friendship between Grace and Ava is a complicated one that can simple be solved with a conversation. At times, it seems that Ava is hellbent on being mad at Grace for things beyond her control. That is annoying and very unattractive. Grace spends more time than I think is necessary apologizing and Ava doesn't apologize...enough. For an English teacher, she is horrible with words.
This was an okay story, I honestly was more interested in the drama of the bowling team than the romance between Grace and Ava. I do feel like there were a lot of additional characters added for dramatic effect that were not needed because when wrapping them up it felt rushed. Yes, all these characters centered around the bowling. I would certainly read more from Karmen Lee because this story at least made me pull out my old bowling shoes.

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TL;DR: This was just fun. Don't get in expecting a super deep or involved novel, but it was fun and unique with a focus on bowling.
Source: NetGalley, thank you to Harlequin for the eARC!

Plot: Old high school rivals become co-coaches for the teams bowling team and the lanes get hot!
Characters: I liked them, though I wish we'd gotten clearly motivations on a lot of what happens to them and their families.
Setting: A small town, with small town vibes. It was integrated well but not explained in depth.
Romance: I did really like the relationship between the two even if I feel like we didn't get all the details on what happened to them before? I was happy with where they ended up.

Thoughts:

The 7-10 Split is what I would call a super fun and light romance. It follows two women, one who has recently moved back home to become a teacher as they come together to co-coach a bowling team. The two once had an intense rivalry/friendship that ended poorly before high school graduation and bad feelings still linger. So they have to figure that out in order to save the team and of course they catch feelings in the process.

Overall my only big complaint about this story is that I felt like it was maybe too light on it’s touch? It was fun, and engaging and the chemistry was there on page! But any time we started to get just a hint of something deeper or more involved we were swiftly shown a different part of the story and the conflict/feelings where shared and solved off page with a little bit of throwaway mention.

So if you’re wanting something super easy and light - this is going to be the book. If you want something with a bit more meat, maybe not? I will definitely be continuing to read Karmen Lee in the future.

4 out of 5 bowling balls

This was a sweet, sapphic, second chance, sports romance (bowling! 🎳). I was so into the concept, and I really did love our main two characters, Ava and Grace! They were both lovely characters, and there were a few fun side characters, too.

However, I felt like parts of this story felt a little out of place or unnecessary. The conflict was kind of confusing and felt a bit juvenile considering the characters were supposed to be in their mid/late twenties. This is relatively low spice (maybe 2🌶️), which is totally fine, but there just wasn’t enough chemistry between them for me.

Overall, I would say this was a cute, quick read, but it could use a stronger reason for the initial falling out of the two main characters. This was a 3 star read for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book early.

General Description: Ava Williams has been petitioning for a bowling club at the high school she teaches at for the past four years. However, it's always shot down. Until, local bowling legend Grace Jones, returns to town as a teacher and suggests the club to the principal, who readily agrees. Ava is conflicted, especially because she is told she must coach alongside Grace, her high school nemesis. The women will have to face their past if they want to move forward with a bowling team, but will they be able to do it? What will their relationship develop into? Will the bowling team triumph? You'll have to read to find out!

The goods:
- The banter between Ava and Grace for me is top tier.
- The side characters were meddling in both of the women's lives and I was here for it.
- You do handle heavier topics such as moving, death, and discovering yourself as a person which I felt added depth to the book.
- The high school kids' commentary was hilarious

The loss of a star:
- A half start off is because of the lack of bowling information in this book. And this is because I am being nit-picky as a current high school bowling coach and someone who was on a high school bowling team for four years. It is called the 7-10 split but I had a lot of bowling logistical questions that weren't answered in the book.
- It ended way too quickly. I feel like the final resolution could have been quite a bit longer, which made the pacing of the book feel off for me.

Overall: If you're looking for a contemporary romance book, this would be a great next pick for you!

This book was honestly just a lot of fun. A sapphic second chance romance…um yes please

This was more of a cozy contemporary romance because there isn’t any underlying plot other than the romance plot line.

Ava and Grace were best friends for years and were on the high school bowling team together. That is until Grace moved and was suddenly competing for another team. A kiss between these two friends before the championship tournament was the last time they would speak to each other for 10 years. Now Grace is back in their hometown and recently got a teaching job at the high school where Ava also works. Both women have now come into their sexuality and can’t help but feel the tension connecting them, but can old friends become a new relationship while navigating re-starting up the girls bowling team at their high school.

This book was a quick read, low stakes second chance romance that I read in a single sitting. I giggled multiple times and not only did I love the two main characters, I loved this amazing cast of side characters.

My only issue with this book was the pacing. It was slow paced, and my personal preference is a medium to fast paced storyline. If you like cozy, slower paced books then I highly recommend this one!

I LOVED this book! Everything about it was amazing. The friendly rivals to not-so-friendly-rivals to co-workers/coaches and FINALLY to lovers. This was a bit of a slow burn but the scenes that were in it were steamy as all get out. I also loved how both Ava and Grace grew and realized that they had let too many people influence their relationship in the past and resolved to not let that happen again. Plus it had bowling?!?! YES PLEASE. This was my first book by this author but it will not be my last and I can't wait for Vini's story.

Thank you to netgalley and Harlequin - Romance | Afterglow Books by Harlequin for allowing me access to this book. I enjoyed this book so much it was hard to put down.

THE 7-10 SPLIT is a sapphic friends to rivals to lovers story about ava and grace, two estranged high school friends. after ten years of not seeing each other, they end up teaching at the same school and coaching the bowling team together, and along the way, some old feelings start to resurface. i absolutely loved their dynamic and i felt like the build up of their relationship was very well done, which can sometimes be tricky with rivals/enemies to lovers. along with that, i really enjoyed the cast of side characters and was very excited to find out vini's story is coming out next!! if you enjoy sapphic romances, rivals to lovers, and/or bowling, you should definitely read this book. thanks to netgalley and harlequin for the advanced copy! THE 7-10 SPLIT comes out may 21st!

This was fun and lighthearted! It’s not very deep, but it’s cute for what it is - you get bowling, second chance, teachers, and a bit of even enemies to lovers. The plot isn’t super deep, and you don’t get way into some of the back story, but I think that’s to be expected by a book this size.

4.25 ⭐️
🌶🌶
I love a good Sapphic second chance romance, and this did not disappoint.

Ava has been trying to revive the school bowling team for as long as she's been working there. In waltzes Grace, Ava's former best friend, as the new teacher who stumbles into getting the team brought back. Now Ava and Grace have to sort out their past if they're going to coach together and explore some leftover feelings.

Just when I was wanting more bowling, it came up. This is kind of a slow burn, but I enjoyed the pacing. The writing style focuses a lot on "had" which gets hard to stay immersed in, but I really enjoyed how Grace and Ava's relationship rebuilt. This was a first by this author for me but will definitely not be the last.

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

A sweet and sporty second chance romance about ex-childhood best friends who end up teaching at the same hometown high school and are forced to coach a bowling team together. The stakes are enjoyably low, and bowling is my kind of sport (indoors with A/C). There's family and work drama as well.

Listen 😂 I tried out for the bowling team back in junior high, trust me it’s not that easy 😩! Eva really was holding on to a ten year old grudge 🤔 Like girl grow up 😂 Grace done moved on and came out the closet . The beef between the two was unnecessary 🫠 they could have spent more time catching up or making up 😈! This was a cute second chance story ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ I really like the bowling 🎳 aspect !

Loved the unique setting for a sports romance (bowling) as well as the enemies-to-lovers romance between rivaling high school coaches.

Sapphic romance with bowling?! Yes please!

This was a cute romance with second chance romance, rivals to lovers, small town, teachers/coaches and bowling!

Ava is trying to start a bowling league at the high school she teaches at and when she gets it approved it comes with a co-coach! Her childhood rival Grace is back in town and teaching too. Will they be able to coach together and leave all the childhood drama behind them?

This was cute. I like a second chance romance. I feel like where I struggled was the pacing-felt a tad slow at the beginning with a lot crammed in at the end but I would absolutely continue with this series!

Thanks to netgalley and harlequin for an eARC.