This was my first Kennedy Ryan book and I loved it.

It's an NBA romance with some heart wrenching and thought provoking parts in places.

The characters were brilliant and Kennedy does a great job of developing them and their relationships.

Highly recommend.

Listen... don't come for me.. but I did not like August. I said it!

Long Shot is a beautifully written story about an up and coming basketball player named August, and Iris the girl he falls in love with. This is a hard to read novel, as it contains explicit descriptions of sexual assault and domestic abuse, so please don't go into this novel without checking the full content warnings.

Honestly, I loved everything about this book.... except August. The writing and storytelling was absolutely beautiful. The author touches on a lot of good topics such as racism, the hardships of being a biracial person, family issues, tries, abuse and a lot more important topics. Iris was a fantastic main character and the whole time I was reading the book from her point of view, I was hooked and it was hard to put the book down.

This book is dual POV, and while I adored Iris' parts, I could not stand August's POV. There were so many red flags from this guy, he is crazy obsessed and jealous of a woman he barely knows. If I saw a guy acting like that towards me I would be running for the hills. It was very insta-lovey and I just did not see that connection between the two characters to make me believe that they were soulmates.

I will be reading the rest of the series because I loved the author's writing. I am hopeful that the other male characters will be much better, or I will be DNFing the rest of the series right away.

Thank you to Author Kennedy Ryan, Netgalley & Bloom Books for providing me with this ARC ahead of its republication. All opinions shared are my own.

I love a well written second chance, one true love style romance and the deep and persevering connection between Iris and August really showcased this. Iris went though hell with her ex, and the Author isn't shy in sharing graphic details of the violence she experienced. I encourage everyone to check the trigger warnings; there were several scenes that turned my stomach and I hadn't quite prepared myself for it ahead of reading.

Overall, an intense but good book and I'm looking forward to moving on to the second book in the series, Block Shot.

I had a hard time putting words on what I had felt after my reading.
I like all Kennedy Ryan's books but this one was particularly poignant. The meeting between August and Iris is so perfect (strangers), and all the events follow one another without us really seeing them happening.
Iris is a little naive but grows up throughout the book to become a strong woman. August is the perfect book boyfriend.
It's not easy to give an opinion without spoiling the story but this book is definitely a must read for me!

This was an easy romance read in the sense that it wasn't overly complicated. At times though the pace felt off and it felt like it dragged. But I definitely didn't see the end coming and that was an interesting twist

If you’re someone who enjoys angsty romance books, this is for you! Beautiful writing but certainly wasn’t a light fluffy read.

Oh my gosh I was NOT ready for this emotional damage, but this book was absolutely fan-freaking-tastic. It tears your heart out and pieces it back together perfectly and I. LOVE. AUGUST!

This book had me hooked from the beginning! However check the trigger warnings before you read this. I Loved this! This is a NBA romance and yes I loved every word of this! I can't wait for the next in this series! Absolute fire!!
I just reviewed Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan. #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

Thanks so much to Source Books/Bloom Books, Kennedy Ryan and NetGalley for the eARC, all opinions expressed are my own.

This book is such a captivating and soul-stirring journey through the complexities of love, timing, and second chances. This first installment had me hooked from the very beginning, and I couldn't put it down.

The story of Iris DuPree and August West is a rollercoaster of emotions that kept me on the edge of my seat. The electric connection they share during their chance encounter in a sports bar is filled with chemistry, and Rthe way their interactions are written makes the tension palpable.

Iris and August are well-developed, multidimensional characters with flaws and strengths that make them feel incredibly real. Ryan's prose is lyrical and evocative, painting vivid pictures of both the characters' inner worlds and the vibrant settings in which the story unfolds. Her ability to tackle tough themes, such as abusive relationships and personal growth, with sensitivity and grace is commendable. The trauma Kennedy Ryan portrays is absolutely heartbreaking and presents a story filled with hurt, perseverance and strength.

The pacing of the story is spot-on, with just the right amount of tension and anticipation to keep you turning the pages. And the way Ryan weaves the past and present together adds depth and richness to the narrative.

While the story is undeniably a romance at its core, it's also a story of resilience, self-discovery, and the enduring power of love. I honestly cannot recommend this book enough (however I highly suggest looking up trigger warnings before proceeding!)

If you're going into this book looking for some cute basketball romance, you're not going to find it. Yes, a part of it is cute and romantic but the main focus is on our female character Iris and everything she had to go through. It was extremely hard to read those scenes at times but absolutely necessary. Because the sad truth is there are so many women out there with the story similar to hers.
Kennedy did an amazing job portraying our characters and her writing was flawless. I loved how kind and understanding August was, and how fierce and strong Iris is.
Only thing I didn't like is that insta love, or insta connection whatever you want to call it.
Overall, a beautifully written story that breaks your heart at first, but mends it after.

Thank you to NetGalley, SOURCEBOOKS Bloom books, and the author for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Kennedy has done it again. She never fails to stun me with the beauty of her storytelling. She writes characters that dig deep into your heart and her plot lines always evoke the deepest emotions. Angsty, heartbreaking, and tender this book covers a story that truly needed to be told from a voice that is far too often silenced. Thank you to Ms. Ryan for handling these topics with care and for sharing this story with the world. It was beyond a beautiful romance novel but the love story was the core and it stood strong and proudly. More than that the character arcs should be enough to hook you into Long Shot and I hope you give this book a chance if you’re in need of a book to make you FEEL. Something Kennedy Ryan does best!

What happens when you meet the right person at the wrong time? This is without a doubt the book that surprised me the most this year. I was expecting a cute sports romance in the atmosphere of the NBA, but this book is anything but cute. The book brings us the story of August, a promising young basketball player, and Iris, the partner of August's sworn rival. From the moment they meet by chance for the first time, everything deteriorates, until the worst is waiting at the door. The book contains physical violence and harsh descriptions, not suitable for everyone but totally worth reading.

I really enjoyed this instalment of the series! I’m not usually a fan of “love triangles” but as this was such a different take on that, I really enjoyed it.

I loved August and although sometimes he seemed a little too good to be true, I was a huge fan and his constant backing for Iris was lovely to see.

I wasn’t a HUGE fan of Iris in the beginning but once you see more of her personal story and journey - I was rooting for her!

This was so much more than a typical sports romance.

Honestly. I like this a lot. I'm not super into basketball but this was really good. Kennedy Ryan definitely has people she wants you to root for.

When August meets Iris at a bar the night before his big March Madness championship game, everything between them seems to click. They have so much in common and have an instant connection, but Iris has a boyfriend who turns out to be a player on the opposite team.

Iris and August's story is beautiful, and heart wrenching. Iris suffers terrible abuse at the hand of her boyfriend, and her story is agonizing to read, but gives so much insight as to how women can get into situations where they don't feel like they can leave their abuser. Definitely make sure to check the trigger warnings for this book because the abuse Iris suffers is at times described in very graphic detail.

This is the kind of story I've come to expect from Kennedy Ryan. She is not afraid to really immerse the reader into the good and the bad of her characters lives. Her fiction is very realistic, and raw. While this one was hard to read at times, it was also an amazing look at the resilience of the human spirit and at the immense strength that women have.

Thank you to Bloom Books for providing me with a copy of this book.

This was first book by this author, and I am impressed. I like to go into books blind as much as possible, but I would advise checking the trigger warnings before reading. Even though there is some very serious and sensitive subjects addressed in this book, it was well done. Iris showed such much strength during this story and August was always understanding. My heart broke I. Some parts and I was filled with joy in others.

I really liked this book. The characters' backstories and motivation were such an integral part of the story. Iris was such a strong character and I appreciated her drive to achieve her goals.

This book was absolutely a beautiful read. It is a stand alone and made made me feel so raw. There were moments I was truly heart broken but began healing through the story. Absolutely loved!

5 stars! Long Shot is a gripping story that explores domestic abuse in a way that helps clarify how it can happen and why getting out of it isn’t as simple as “just leave”. While some scenes are very painful to read, the author also shows the strength of human will in a seemingly hopeless situation.

The real love story involving the pro basketball player who has his own struggles and successes is engaging and The insight into that sports world was enlightening.. good book!

Emotional rollercoaster 100%. This book had some majorly raw situations that just hurt your heart and soul. But in the end everything was all right in the world.