As you may know if you've ever met me, I'm not a sports person. The funniest part about that is that I love sports movies and sports novels, because they are always about more than what their respective athletic contest happens to be. I like storylines and context. I mention that because this book is such a delight.

I love Liv and her family. They're a tight-knit group (Liv's close with her parents and with her siblings) and it's a complete joy to read. 

Everything about this book is just delightful. It's deeper than you may expect from a book where the synopsis says that readers will swoon, but it's just a fun, fun read.

Though her reasoning was solid, Liv should not have thrown that punch, or as she liked to call it, "the punch heard round the world." She acted impulsively, and now, she might have lost everything. But, she had a plan. She was going to prove, that she could be a leader, a teammate, and someone who could be relied on. With the help of the current QB and support from some likely and unlikely sources, Liv was ready to set her plan in motion.

This was pretty much love at first page for me. Henning immediately immersed me in Liv's world and her head, giving me keen insight into who this young woman was. I knew right then and there, that I was TeamLiv. Throughout the story, I saw how dedicated Liv was to so many things. She sacrificed for her team and family, and she constantly pushed herself to her physical and mental limits. Drive and determination are things I admire about many elite level athletes, and Liv had a seemingly limitless supply of both.

Aside from Liv, there were many other things I loved about this story, but three stood out: sports, family and friends, and romance.

I have a unending love for sports books. Oddly enough, as a non-sporty-sport, I get frustrated, when the book features no actual sports play. That was not a problem with Throw Like a Girl. Not only did I get to attend some championship softball games, I also got to monitor Liv's progress via her grueling workouts, and catch some of her football games. I read Henning's bio, and was not surprised to discover, that she was a sportswriter, because she did an incredible job bringing me into the action and excitement of a game, the pain and suffering of injury, and the agony of defeat.

However, I am not sure Liv would have survived her season as QB without the love and support of her family, friends, and community. Liv really did have a wonderful family, and though they were dealing with a LOT and maybe didn't have as much as they needed in terms of material things, they had so much love, and this was evident throughout the story. Sharing moments with Liv and her brother, as well as with her whole family, brought me so much joy. These were some very special moments, and I am glad Henning gave them to me. Liv also had a stellar best friend, and the support of her teammates. I was glad Henning didn't go the sexist route, and have the team resist her as QB. It was actually refreshing to see a female in a male dominated sport being respected for her skill, instead of opposed because of her biological sex.

And, the romance. Grey was a great and swoon-worthy love interest for Liv. They were such a power couple, and I really enjoyed watching their friendship blossom. I wouldn't say I was a fan of some of the drama encountered by these two, but I did like them together, and watching them grow and change together was fantastic for me.

Overall: This was the feel-good story I was looking for. I wholeheartedly rooted for Liv, as she fought for the the people and things she loved, while also finding her way back to herself. Henning delivered the perfect balance of drama, romance, and sports, which left me feeling like I, myself, had won a championship.

Olivia aka Liv aka O-Rod was on her way to a softball scholarship until a wrong move protecting her family caused her to lose not only her place on the softball team but also her scholarship at the elite private school academy she attended as without her softball she is no longer eligible for an athletic scholarship. Olivia now has to head to the local public school Northland where her ex-boyfriend Jake attends. When Olivia arrives, she is hoping to hop onto the softball team but unfortunately, the Coach isn't as forgiving and she witnessed Olivia's meltdown and has given Olivia a challenge - she must join a team sport and show she can work as a teammate and then the next semester she may be able to try out for the softball team. Olivia has plans to join the cross-country, that was until she is given an opportunity to try out for the football team as the current Quarterback Gray Worthington needs back-up and someone with a good spiral arm and after watching Olivia - he knows she is the girl for the job. This is a bit unorthodox though as there has never been a girl on their football team, but being a public school - there aren't any rules against it. However, Olivia knows her father won't let her play football - so she swears her younger brother Ryan to secrecy and she plays a few games and finds herself starting to love the team and the sport, but what will happen when her parent's find out the truth about what she has been up to this past semester? Will they make her quit or will they realize she has found something else she is good at? Find out in this fun YA romance read that was in the same tune to the TV show Friday Night Lights and the movie She's the Man.

This was a fun book. Look I know there are some obvious plot holes (like the lack of misogyny very un realistic sadly. The picking up a foot ball and being amazing at it. Ummm sure) but maybe the author just wanted to create an ideal world and not a realistic one. I enjoyed this one darn it so it gets four stars.

Sarah Henning is an author that I really enjoy reading her writing. This book was no different! Except for the content: it was great to see her write a contemporary novel that was out of the ordinary for what I’ve read from her so far.

Liv was a likable main character. I thought she was relatable and while it felt on the younger side of high school, it did conquer some feelings for the older crowd. I thought it was really awesome to see her play football and focus on that rather than her relationship, which came secondary.

Grey was so swoonworthy! I liked him so much. He was supportive to Liv and while there was a conflict between the two of them, it resolved with a sweet ending that felt satisfying.

The story generally was enjoyable to read and I was able to get through it fairly fast. I appreciated the Andrew McMahon and the wilderness reference!!! All in all, this was a sports story that I would suggest to lovers of sports books. It wasn’t completely my topic of interest but the writing was up to par with what I expect from Sarah!

3.5 stars

First, I have to give this book high praise for the fact that it's a contemporary sports romance within the Young Adult genre. Maybe it's just me, but I typically have difficulty finding a sports romance in YA. I am able to find stories that include sports to some degree but the involvement of the sport in the story is usually minimal.

Another unique aspect within this particular novel is that the main female character plays a sport. This was very refreshing and different for me because for many sports romances that I read, it's solely the male that is involved in a sport. Add on the fact that the female main character starts playing a male dominated sport and I was on board and here for it from the beginning.

Accompanying a good story and plot, it's obvious that the writer 'knew her stuff' when it came to the sports--whether it be from experience or research. This was evident through the language and examples that the author used when detailing different plays or strategies. As well, I liked how the involvement of concussions was integrated into the story because it continues to be a very serious issue within contact sports that needs to be brought to light more instead of being kept hidden.

This was a fun yet uniquely important story that is extremely positive for teenagers (or adults). It was honestly truly empowering and was an example on how one should do what they want and not follow the gender constructs that society can sometimes place on individuals.

***Thank you to the publisher for supplying me with an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

Throw Like a Girl, written by Sarah Henning, is a swooning young adult romance published by Little, Brown Company. This is officially my third review for this author, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading each one of her books. Sea Witch and Sea Witch Rising were both young adult fantasy novels, so I was curious about this switch to a contemporary romance.

The author did not let me down.

This is the story of softball star Liv Rodinski. After a hateful comment from a rival team, Liv loses control at the most important game of the season. She punches the girl who made the comment and then loses her scholarship. Liv is forced to start the year in a new school, which also happens to be the school against which she had played that game.

Liv is determined to do everything she can to join the softball team, even after the punch, which gave her more enemies than she can count. The new coach asks her to prove that she can be a team player again, so when Grey, quarterback of the football team, asks Liv to replace him during the time he is on the bench, she accepts. Grey helps her navigate through the tough times, but as she gets close to him, she finds out that not everything is as it appears.

I read this book in one sitting because it was everything I’d hoped and more. Liv is a very driven character, and though I’m not as competitive as she is, I found myself rooting for her. She also has a wonderful support system, which is fundamental to her character. It was nice to read about her family and her friends. I also loved her connection to Grey and how brave she is when obstacles keep arising.

Liv’s character was inspiring. I could tell that the author is a former sports journalist because half of the technical terms flew over my head, but this made the story credible. The author perfectly depicts the mindset of an athlete. Throw Like a Girl is a powerful story, both swooning and inspiring. This page-turner was a five-star read for me.

I didn't plan on reading Throw Like a Girl in one day, but I couldn't stop reading. The story is gripping and not in an anxiety provoking way, but in a, "these characters are precious I need to know what happens" way. Throw Like a Girl is heart warming. Henning is able to maintain a fabulous balance between topics of homophobia, college dreams, and romantic tension. It's about wanting to protect the ones we love from all the things swirling in the air that can hurt them. At the same time, Throw Like a Girl is a story about loyalty, truth, and protection.

In a blink of an eye, a decision can make a splash that sends ripples out to all we touch. Liv's fight changes her life. Used to being a star, Liv relocates to a new school where even her chances of playing softball, and going to college, are in jeopardy. Enter Grey and his plan to have Liv join the football team, just until he's recovered. And so begins a story with chemistry and fabulous characters. They were what kept me reading. Whether it was Liv's relationship with her brother or her best friend Addie, I loved every one of the side characters.

This was an adorable YA contemporary romance! This story is focused on a softball player who finds herself starting her new year at a new school where her ex boyfriend attends. Her chances for joining the team are low based on her losing her scholarship at her private school due to a fight. Things get exciting when she is recruited to the football team as a back up quarterback by the injured quarterback. Full of sports talk, romance and family drama, this was a fun read that kept my interest the entire time. Good characters that are realistic and believable. I will continue to read books by Sarah Henning. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Throw Like A Girl is the contemporary debut for author Sarah Henning. With two books already on her roster, Sea Witch and its exciting sequel Sea Witch Rising, this new novel is a dramatic change of pace for readers. Henning’s previous works fall squarely in the fantasy pool, but this entertaining story introduces the reader to the world of elite high school sports.

It is the story of champion softball player Liv Rodinsky and the consequences she faces after, understandably, losing her cool and starting a mid-game fight on the field with a girl from local public school, Northland. As a result of the fight, Liv loses her boyfriend, but more importantly she loses her scholarship to the private school she attends and her place on their team. To her horror, she finds herself enrolled at Northland without a place on the softball team. With college scouts on the horizon, Liv sets out to prove to Northland’s softball coach, Coach Kitt, that she would be an asset on the team and she gains an unlikely ally.

Then there's injured Northland star quarterback, Grey, who sees her throwing a football and convinces Liv to join the football team as a temporary second replacement quarterback until he is cleared to play. In return he will put in a good word with Coach Kitt, his mother. Without many other choices and a school of people against her, Liv agrees and what begins her journey for acceptance and discovers along the way that not everything or everyone is as it seems.

Throw Like A Girl is a delightful YA contemporary sports novel with a very swoon-worthy love story. Despite this story having a genuine romance, it is not simply a story about two teens falling in love. It explores an elite athlete's trials and tribulations of self discovery and transition through life while providing actual sports play. This accuracy comes from Henning’s background as a sports journalist and it is what makes this stand apart from others in the genre. I am not a sports fan in any way, but I enjoyed learning about the game of football as it was presented in an easy to read way without oversimplifying any of the technical terminology. The story is authentic and provides a perfect balance between fluffy YA romance and accurate sports that is easy to follow and draws you into the game play and leaves you cheering on to the very end.

The characters are well-written, complex, and representative of the world we live in today and the real life issues we face in society. Liv’s sister is the unwitting recipient of a homophobic slur and her mother is dealing with the effects of aggressive terminal cancer. Instead of shying away from these uncomfortable topics, Henning provides the reader with real emotions and heartfelt interactions, which creates something deeper than the traditional high school drama. There is a cast of people that surround the main character that support and guide her, but are still realistic. The role of supportive best friend goes to Addie, a fellow softball player, who despite her new love interest, has Liv’s back 100%. It is common in books that the author makes characters choose between their friends and their love interests, but Henning allows the protagonist to exist independently of these forces and this is something we need more of in our fiction and our world.

Sarah Henning has me completely converted to not only the YA contemporary genre, but also the sports fiction genre. Throw Like A Girl is fun, compelling, exciting, and most importantly, a real story which describes the world of elite high school sports combined with a friends to lovers romance. It was a genuine and refreshing story that was a perfect introduction to the world of contemporary... I couldn’t put it down!

I received a copy of this arc from NetGalley for an honest review. I've read a lo0t of books with girls on high school football teams and this is by far the best one I have read. Great plot and a twist that I did not see coming and excellent characters. A winner read for sure.

I loved this one! When I first requested it, it reminded me of Catching Jordan which I loved and Throw Like A Girl was just as good! The writing was fast paced, the sports aspect was enjoyable and I loved the relationship between Liv and Grey.

Loved this book . . . there's more to it than a girl on football team. There's forgiveness and concussions and family and standing up for yourself. And standing up for your family. It's fun but poignant.

This is a great story of perseverance and dedication. Live is devastated because she loses her scholarship to play softball at an all girls private school. Because of her hotheadedness, she beats a girl up and the new coach at the public school doesn’t want anything to do with her. She is practicing football with her brother when she is spotted by the captain of the football team. He recruits the spirited third baseman to fill in for him, while he is recovering from a collarbone injury. With romance budding and a new sports career things are looking up. Until the girl who ruined everything stops in for a visit.

I really wanted to like this book, and to me it fell a little bit flat. The writing was good I just couldn't connect to the characters as much as I wanted to!

I loved this book! Everything a YA romance should be- strong friendships, supportive families, and sincere relationships. Then she added football!

Pure young adult at its best. This is an amazing read. I am sure this book will circulate my library often. Softball is her life. Her coach is her sister, who just happens to be married to another woman. A rival player taunts her in a manner she can't oblige and she looses her temper and does something irrevocable. Will she ever be able to play softball again? Olive can do anything she wants to do and she is out to show the boys who is boss on the football field. Will she be able to hang with the guys and be a decent quarterback? Read to find out.