Oh, the title is definitely not misleading because this entire book was them hooking up, lol.

The Hookup delivers exactly what it promises: a steamy, chemistry-filled romance that kicks off fast and keeps the heat turned all the way up. If you're in the mood for a fun, sexy, and low-commitment read, this book is a solid pick.
That said, I personally went into it hoping for a bit more emotional depth or character exploration, and this one didn't quite deliver on that front. The characters are likable and the banter is entertaining, but I found myself wanting more substance beneath all the steam.

Still, I can absolutely see the appeal. If you're in the mood for a spicy, no-strings-attached romance that leans heavy into the hookup trope (and stays there), The Hookup hits the mark

This wasn't my favorite. I'm not a huge fan of instalove -- which this basically is from the very first page. The writing seems to want to give the audience a constant wink. It was a find read, but lacked anything to compel me forward through the book. Because a lot of the characters were so internal in how they were written, they often came off as pretty immature while reading, which kept taking me out of the story. Wasn't for me.

Absolutely brilliant, Entertaining read that will definitely be a future re-read! So sweet, so funny and the best amount of angst

The Hook Up was a steamy, emotional ride with a lot of heart. I really enjoyed the chemistry between Drew and Anna—their banter and connection felt authentic, and the slow burn kept me turning the pages. Drew, in particular, was a refreshing love interest: confident but also thoughtful and vulnerable.

That said, there were parts where the pacing dragged a bit, and some of the drama felt a little too drawn out or repetitive. I also found Anna’s hot-and-cold attitude frustrating at times, even though I understood her hesitancy.

Overall, it's a solid, emotional college romance with depth and heat—but it didn’t quite hit “favorite” status for me. Still, I’d recommend it to fans of sports romance who like their love stories with a little angst and a lot of swoon.

4.25⭐
Good characters with realistic flaws and misunderstandings. Anna's insecurities were especially poignant. I've read two in this series so far and they both have been good. Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was already struggling wanting to pick this book up (I’ve been trying to read it off and on for almost 4 months now), but then the FMC makes a joke about the MMC’s mom being a “slave driver” & DNF for me at 24%

This is a good book. The two main characters are Anna and Drew. They go to the same college. They meet in a class, they are seniors. Anna part time works as a caterer. Drew is the starting quarterback. There is an instant attraction. They start dating. They fall in love.

Thanks so much for the copy! This was a book i requested based on the cover and it didn't disappoint! This is a new author to me, and i cannot wait to read what comes next.

A college football romance that brings the spicy heat but also all the swoons and sighs. Anna doesn’t have time for a relationship but cannot resist the draw of spending one hot night with Drew, the successful and talented quarterback which leads to a pact to just hook-up. Drew is determined to make Anna his beyond their superficial agreement and will do just about anything to get Anna to actually care for him. I adored the push/pull of their relationships, the growth of their feelings and how he falls first and hard. Overall, a fun and spicy college football romance! 4.25 stars

*Thank you to NetGalley for gifting me this ARC*

I don't typically read a lot of sports romance but the synopsis of The Hook Up was too intriguing to pass up.
I love that Drew and Anna set boundaries. You don't typically see that in a lot of romance books, especially from both MC's.
Probably my favorite part was that the MC's had great chemistry and banter. Anna was feisty and with the way she grew up, she naturally had walls up all the time. I loved how Drew wasn't the typical playboy jock. He was charismatic and truly took his time to break down every single one of Anna's walls. They were both in it to win it for each other and when they needed each other the most, they were both right there. Ready to fight for each other.

A sweet and spicy romcom, with emotional depth and a great sports romance/new adult. Definitely an easy rec during the season.

This book was a good time and the different relationships within the book were fantastic! I love Iris and Anna’s friendship and the reality of having to be brutally honest but also always there for your friends. Drew and Grey’s friendship was terrific. Anna and Drew’s issues felt real, raw, and very true to college life. I loved seeing them grow!

Loved Anna and Drew's chemistry, and the way he pursued her and didn't care what anyone else thought. I didn't love the one-drama-after-another last 1/3 of the book, where the characters overcome one setback just to face another over and over. It was exhausting. Love the HEA though.

This one was okay for me! I’m not a big fan of insta love, but I did love the banter between the MCs. There were definitely parts I enjoyed and thought were fun! Even though there was a decent amount of spice, I’m glad the author took the time to also show the connection between the MCs. If you like sports romance with spice and college settings, you will likely enjoy this one!

A super cute rom-com! Fun and engaging with just the right amount of spice. I love a good sports romance and The Hook Up delivers.

The Hook Up by Kristen Callihan is EVERYTHING I want in a sports romance! If you love insta-love/lust, off-the-charts banter, and spice that’ll leave you blushing, then this book is for you. The chemistry between the characters is immediate and undeniable, and I was hooked from the first chapter!

The MMC, Drew, is the star quarterback, and I’m here for all the campus hottie, famous athlete vibes. His connection with the FMC, Anna, is electric—opposites attract, and their banter is top-notch. I loved how their relationship started as just a hook-up, but the tension between them made things so much more swoon-worthy.

There’s so much spice in this book—seriously, SO MUCH spice—but it’s balanced perfectly with their developing connection. It’s fun, it’s steamy, and the chemistry is just off the charts.

If you want a book that combines sports, banter, sizzling chemistry, and a little bit of everything to make your heart race, The Hook Up is a must-read!

2.5 stars....This was ok, but nothing too exciting or intriguing. The beginning was rough for me to get into. I am a big mood reader, and I need books to grab me right at the start or my mind wanders. So this took me longer to get through than I would've liked.

College setting
Sports romance
Insta-love
Angst
Break-up drama

To be extra honest, I pretty much forgot everything after reading and almost DNFd, but I skipped through to the end to keep my Netgalley percentage high 🤷‍♀️.

Thanks to the publisher and author for the gifted copy.

This was a good read with fun characters. I liked their banter and chemistry, and I thought the overall pacing worked well.

✨ The Hook Up ✨

This was such a fun, spicy, sweet college sports romance. Drew and Anna had such a great dynamic. I loved their flirty banter and how their "instant attraction" and hookup grew into so much more. I also love all the angst while they were both trying to navigate their feelings and fought the urge to be together. Drew was such a good main character- you expect him to be a typical jock, but he was relentless in his pursuit of Anna and had so much more depth than expected. I'm normally not a huge fan of a college romance, but I was pleasantly surprised by this one.

Check it out if you like:

✨ College Sports Romance
✨ Football Quarterback
✨ Hookup to More
✨ Opposites Attract

📚 Book: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Hook Up by Kristen Callihan was an okay read for me. The chemistry between the characters was there, and the romance had its sweet and steamy moments, but I struggled to fully connect with the story. Some parts felt a bit slow, and the push-and-pull dynamic got a little repetitive. It wasn’t a bad read, just not as engaging as I had hoped. Still, if you love sports romances with emotional depth, it might work better for you!