Kennedy Ryan delivers a powerful and emotionally charged conclusion to her Hoops series with Hook Shot. This standalone romance intertwines the worlds of professional basketball and high fashion, offering readers a compelling narrative of healing, trust, and love.

Kenan Ross, a seasoned NBA player grappling with the aftermath of a public divorce and the challenges of co-parenting his teenage daughter, is a man of few words but deep emotions. His journey is one of resilience and vulnerability, making him a compelling hero. Lotus DuPree, a rising star in New York's fashion scene, carries her own burdens from a traumatic past. Her strength and growth throughout the story are both inspiring and heart-wrenching.

The chemistry between Kenan and Lotus is palpable, with their slow-burn romance unfolding naturally and tenderly. Ryan's writing captures the nuances of their relationship, highlighting the importance of patience, understanding, and mutual respect. Their connection is not just physical but deeply emotional, as they support each other in confronting their pasts and building a future together.

I loved everything about their relationship and banter and the age gap just so realistic to everyday life too along with relationships issues and whether the relationship is something they both want to pursue.

Thank you to the author, publisher and @netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Kennedy Ryan can WRITE A DAMN RELATIONSHIP. Gah, I love her books. They are just real people. Well, real good looking people in Kenan’s case.

I loved the setting and how she tied together the sports and romance without it feeling too clunky. And Lotus is the best FMC. I loved getting to learn a little about the fashion world through her arc and seeing her progression/transformation through her trauma (check TW on this one before reading) just blew me away. Kennedy Ryan has the gift!

One of my new favorite authors and new favorite series!! The character development, the way she writes her characters are so relatable and her plots are incredible!!

Love, love, love Lotus - her personality, her style, everything. Her co-workers are funny and sweet. Kenan is a totally unrealistic perfect dreamboat. But the drama with Kenan's family was just too much for me - it was a total drag, way too "real life," and took away from the fantasy-ness that I look for in a romance book.

I’m a huge fan of Kennedy Ryan’s books. She has written some of my favourite romance books ever and I will read anything she writes.

I love how her stories have such complex characters like Lotus and Kenan. I enjoyed reading their love story and loved how naturally their relationship developed from friends to lovers.

Unfortunately, there were aspects of the book that I struggled to connect with like the voodoo stuff, but I still enjoyed it for the most part.

I absolutely loved the first book in Kennedy Ryan's basketball series Long Shot, and I thought I'd be able to get into Hook Shot as well. Unfortunately I kept setting this one aside and I'm finally giving up on it. Nothing wrong with the book itself, and I've heard great things, but it's not for me right now.

Such a wonderful book to lose yourself in... And I liked how both lotus and kenan had their own obstacles.... Lots of steamy scenes and drama, and just was on overall great book

I enjoyed reading this book. I love Kennedy Ryan. The drama wasn’t too over the top and there were some very sweet moments between the characters. Will recommend and read again.

The way I wanted to read everything that author Kennedy Ryan wrote after reading and loving Before I Let Go, and was so excited to get to this series.

Hook Shot is the third book in the Hoops series that follows basketball star Kenan and aspiring designer Lotus, with a career on the rise. It took them awhile to connect, but I loved how patient Kenan was with Lotus as she deals with her past trauma.

*many thanks to Sourcebooks, Bloom Books and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review.

The QUEEN! This book is so good! This series is phenomenal! I highly enjoyed this one!!!! I will always recommend this book and this series!

I adored this book just as much as the first two. Once again very heavy themes throughout so definitely check the triggers. However if you’ve got this far in the series you’ll be fine!

My favorite from the Hoops series. Ryan's writing was gorgeous, the characters individual storylines were equally as interesting and engaging as the chemistry between the characters.
Loved loved loved.

Hook Shot left me semi-hooked.

Kenan is the hot shot basketball player wanting to be the best of the best. He's got a meddling ex wife and a beautiful young daughter keeping him busy. So why can't his mind stay off beautiful Lotus? Lotus, who swears him off and won't form a relationship beyond the friend zone. Lotus, an up and coming designer, wants nothing more than to breathe and just live. Fighting demons of her own, she's got one problem: Kenan. Kenan and her past secrets may just come to haunt her.... sooner than she'd ever hoped.

I enjoyed reading Hook Shot by Kennedy Ryan but didn't feel as emotionally connected to it as I was to the others in the series. My favorite character was Kenan and his love/willingness to wait and meet Lotus exactly where she was. Read Hook Shot for the finish in the Hoops series but please, take care and check out those trigger warnings beforehand. Those should definitely be mentioned at the beginning of the book.

Ugh. Kennedy Ryan did it again.
I don't feel like she ever misses. For me at least, so far this ring trues. I loved every book l've read by her.
She just... kills me with her words every time. Every time. Poetic doesn't do her words justice. A deity of words, of romance, that's what Kennedy is for me.
"Love is as strong as Death."
"The power in our veins passed between two little girls in the Lower Ninth. We held it in a field of rotting cane, even when we were torn apart. It flows between us now through years and heartache and unconditional love. The power of an unbroken line. We are the magic."
"Give yourself permission to let it hurt, but allow yourself permission to let it heal."
"Sometimes we hold so tightly to the hurt from the past that we miss the happiness ahead, and if there is one thing we deserve, Lotus, it's happiness wherever we can find it."
Kennedy like l've stated before writes about the hard stuff. But does it so beautifully. She gives us the bad but also gives us the good. She gives us hope with her books.
& Los story is no different. I've been looking forward to this book ever since her bump in with Kenan in Long Shot. And it didn't disappoint. It went above and beyond my expectations.
These kinds of books are why I read. When an author has the ability to pull you inside the world they've created, that's when you know they're one of the good ones.

This is a good book. The two main characters are Lotus and Kenan. There is an instant attraction. Kenan is a basketball star nearing retirement. Lotus works for a fashion designer. When they meet Kenan decides he wants Lotus. They each have issues it together they work the out and find love.

4 hopscotch stars
i love how connected yet standalone this series was.
this story was about Keenan and Louts
the pain of <spoiler> child/sexual abuse </spoiler> was so accurate just typing it now brought back how I felt reading it. The book has a lot of moments and if i didnt fall head over heels for book 1 this would be the series best.
This book touches on divorce, suicide attempts, child/sexual abuse, love, second chances and we spend a good amount of time crying in an ER..

Love is as strong as death

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

***This is the first book I have ever DNF'd. I got about 60% through before I had to make the choice to stop.

I wanted soo badly to enjoy this book. The first two books in the series were okay, and I was hoping that this one would hit because I genuinely love the way Kennedy Ryan writes.

I could not connect to the characters at all and the trauma was really hard for me to stomach when it got graphic. I think Lotus needed a lot more help and growth from her past in order to fully move forward, and I hope she got there, but it not easy for me to read.

I will definitely be reading more Kennedy Ryan books, her writing is wonderful, this storyline just isnt for me.

what an ending. i feel broken and empty but also complete???? these were instant comfort reads for me and i am in shambles waiting for kennedy ryan’s latest release. everyone go read these immediately!!!!!! (but definitely make sure to check TW’s)