DNF at 40%. I'm just honestly bored and the FMC is so annoying, I can't take it anymore lol. Read via audio and the FMC was southern so the accent was terribly cheesy. The male narrator's southern accent for the female parts was like the part in The Office where Oscar pretends to be a woman from Savannah. Terrible hahah.

Becca was everything I love in a heroine. She was sassy, quick witted and despite the cards she was dealt being the preachers daughter—coming from a small town where everyone’s judgey eyes were on her, she didn’t feel sorry for herself. Her growth throughout the book was what really stood out to me. I felt torn in my feelings for Eli because I’d read the first book in the series and I knew what he’d lost. But I also felt like some of his actions were a little selfish and unwarranted.

Both Becca and Eli had their individual flaws and made some choices I didn’t necessarily agree with but that’s what I love so much about Emily’s writing. She takes us through all the emotions before giving us that happily ever after.
The only thing that held me back on giving five stars was I really, really, wanted more of an epilogue. I wanted to see more of the good times between Eli and Becca rather than the back and forth.

Who am I ! because book 1 was 2 stars for me. I received the audio ARC of book 1-3 .. and I thought oh nooo after reading book 1 but this book was so different and I don’t even know how/why. I loved Eli and Becca’s character they are likable, genuine and just down to earth. I will say the instalove from enemies to lovers was a punch in the face. Im taking they are doing the tango within 100 pages.. which is great we love that.. but then why make the book 400 pages. That part is why I took off half a star.. serious thought halfway through it was about to end and I opened my app to get ready to pick a new one to discover there was still 10 hours left on the audio and I was only 50% in! But what saved this book is that rekindled relationship/enemies to lovers to enemies to lovers situation we got. If the book shaved 100 pages off this would be a 5 star. But I loved the characters so theres that. Im not JUST a long book hater

Beneath the Stands is book 2 in the Sugarlake Series. This is an enemies to lovers, best friends brother, forbidden romance.

Becca, Alina’s best friend from Beneath the Stars has been going to school at FCU but she knows she does not want to return to Sugarlake when she is done so she ends up with a job with the school basketball team. Alina’s brother, Eli, is at the same school working for the same team as a coach. They shouldn’t want each other, everything says they shouldn’t go near each other but their magnetic pull is too strong and things heat up very quickly between them.

Becca is full of sarcasm, she’s snarky and outspoken. On the outside she appears strong and confident. As we learn more about her and her parents we see how vulnerable she is. She is afraid of ending up like her mother and being unhappy, but while trying not to be like her mom, she still ends up making herself unhappy.

Eli is the dirtiest talker that will make your knees weak. In the first book of the series you probably ended up hating Eli but he quickly became my series favorite. Seeing things from his perspective changes everything about how you see him as a person, as a son, as a brother, as a lover.

The fact that their relationship is forbidden, for many reasons, can’t stop their feelings, in fact it makes it that much more passionate. There were so many steamy scenes between the two and so much of this book was filled with quotes that just burned the page. Eli and Becca are lost souls who are better together than apart but they also don’t always make the best decisions that create problems for them. But when the love that you have for each other is strong and real, you will always find your way back to each other

A forced proximity, best friend's brother, second chance, sports romance.

The narrators Brooke Bloomingdale and Liam DiCosimo portrayed the angst, as well as the blurry lines between resentment and love realistically, in this sweet and spicy story.

If you enjoy a sports romance, give this one a listen.

With thanks to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for the advaced listening copy, in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ALC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I did enjoy this more than the first one.

I was really excited to find out what went down with Eli and Becca and I finally got the answers here. I liked the first of this but the second half did not need to be as messy as it was. There's nothing worse than someone in denial of their feelings moving on to someone else and then hurting both the person they actually love and the stand in.

Eli being all up in his arms about no one caring about him frustrated me a bit because he too lacked in effort. He abandoned his sister in the wake of their mums death and left her dealing with their alcoholic dad and wants to be all woe is me, I got injured and can't play ball anymore? Give me a break.

I also really did not like Becca's parents, especially her mum. They're very much keeping up with the Jones' but its a lie and when Becca calls them out on it they gaslight, threaten and manipulate her. She deserved better than them.

This was such a wonderful listen. I am really loving this series! Highly recommended to all romance fans.

I can’t get past the thick generic southern accent of the narrator to focus on the story. And I’m Appalachian.

Hard pass. I’m sorry. This is one of these books. I can’t handle in audio form.

I’m a sucker for a best friend’s brother romance, and this one had me feeling it all. Eli and Alina’s story was emotional, complicated, and full of that slow-burn tension I love. It’s messy in the best way—full of hurt, love, and growth.

The narrators (Brooke Bloomingdale and Liam DiCosimo) did a great job bringing out the chemistry and all that angsty buildup. Definitely recommend if you’re into second chances and stories that aren’t afraid to dig into the tough stuff.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #BlackstonePublishing for an advance listening copy of #BeneathTheStands. Local basketball star falls for his sister's best friend. Sweet and spicy. Four stars.

This was my first sports romance and I really enjoyed. I am familiar with Emily's past books so I was very excited to listen to this one.
I have an Instagram post scheduled for May 26th. I'll provide that link once it's live.

This story is so sweet and heart breaking.
Narrator did an excellent job. The male voice could have been better.
The “Baby Girl” parts were a little cringy.
Two hearts broken and pulling each other back together works until it doesn’t.
Hunky older brother to her best friend shows up at her college. Washed up and coaching college ball he fell under her spell right away
I wish I would have read SugarLake #1 first. They all tie in together and reading it wasn’t a requirement. I would have liked to read the other couples stories before knowing the outcome.
It’s a great book and I am going to read the others.

I love Brooke as a narrator! But the male who voiced Eli was so hard to listen to....I couldn't. I stopped this book at 19% because the language and the imagery was just too much for me. I normally love the enemies to lovers trope! I had high hopes for this one but, alas, it was just too graphic and the foul language was unnecessary.

Thank you for allowing me to review this upcoming audio. The narrator did a great job keeping you invested in the story. I loved the accents and the dedication to the characters.
The story was entertaining and enjoyable. I was rooting for Eli and Becca the entire time!

I wish I could give half stars. This was a 3.5 for me. It ain’t hold my attention as well as the first. Plus the nick name big head just was an ick to me.

Other than that the book was still good. After the 5 year jumped I liked it a lot more and the ending felt kinda quick.

Becca and Eli are fire. I enjoyed their story. I enjoyed the preacher's daughter's aspect of the book. The book, I think tackles some real big issues very well. Can't wait to get back to Sugarlake. I did listen to the book and the narration was great.

This one really had me feeling so many emotions. My heart ached so much for our FMC and then how that rolled over and impacted our MMC! I loved this one. Gosh, this one was really pulling at the hearts. It goes through many different themes, check trigger warning.
I really loved the voice actors! I highly recommend this one.

I loved the characters, Eli and Becca! I liked the enemies to lovers trope. I can’t wait to read the first book in the series now.

This was a good story about learning to take a stand for your own life and your own beliefs. The narrators did a great job bringing the characters to life!

3.5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

The story is cute, spicy and a little crazy 🤭. It covers YEARS of the on and off between Eli and Becca. I love a best friend’s brother trope so was excited for this one.

I listened to this as an audiobook, which made the setting of the American south a more immersive experience. I really enjoyed the female narrator and how she portrayed Becca. Every time she spoke I pictured Reese Witherspoon in Sweet Home Alabama 🥰

I wasn’t the biggest fan of the male narrator’s accents (it can be hit or miss) but more importantly I didn’t like ANY of feminine voices he did. Honestly, it added a sour note to his chapters.

The story is great for fans of small town southern romance

Thank you to NetGalley for this free audiobook in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own ❤️