This one has been a massive hit in our library since it hit the shelves. I have been able to recommend it multiple times, and I often put it on our staff recommendations display as my pick. There are so many straight sports romances on the market so I love to see LGBTQ+ stories in the space too.

This debut novel is funny, flirty, and loaded with so many Cambridge references that you will wish you could study across the pond.

READ VIA:
Thank you, Zando and Slowburn, for the advanced readers' e-copy.

ABOUT:
George (himbo, former underwear model and current Cambridge stroke seat) has spent the last three years barely paying attention to his classes. Lucus, the coxswain and top of his class, has spent his time thinking he is not attractive or well-bred enough to fit in at school. When they suddenly need each other to achieve their goals, tensions, desires, and an unlikely but remarkable alliance ensue.

MY THOUGHTS:
This is the lighthearted, fun, sporty college romance I didn't know I needed. I loved that sports felt like a genuine part of the story here. Equal parts relationship lessons, academic pressures, racing scenes, and Cambridge traditions make this book such an entertaining debut.

The humor is dry and British. The pining is mutual, and the burn is (mostly) slow. I felt this all worked well. I appreciated that both characters had internal obstacles they needed to overcome. Additionally, I was invested in both the rowing and their connection, which is a must for me with sports romance.

I relished the way George’s (bi?) sexuality was just accepted by Lucus and even by George himself. The one thing I would say is that romance felt secondary to the plot and are involved with other people (not a big deal for me in this case). I loved their growth, so this worked for me, but their time in a relationship felt limited. That said, they spend a significant amount of time together on the page.

Overall, I was very impressed with this debut and look forward to whatever Zac writes next.

SIMILAR BOOKS:
If you enjoy Chip Pons' level of antics and Julian Winter’s comedy, this one will be a hit.

SHOULD YOU READ:
If you seek a gay sports romance with low angst, on page races, and college-age characters who feel age appropriate, this will surely be a hit!

I liked this book! I love a (semi) queer awakening, and especially when it’s friends to lovers, and also add the tutor trope and I’m so sold! I was a little lost when it came to the specific lingo used when it came to rowing but that didn’t take away from the story for me.

I’m incredibly sad that this didn’t work for me.

Reading about one or both of the MCs have OP action with others isn’t really my jam, and I had a really hard time connecting with George and Lucas. I feel like the chemistry wasn’t really there.

First, I would like to start this review by thanking NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for me to read in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book! Those who know me know I am not a super big fan of sports romance novels. But I discovered after reading Crash Test that I think I’m just not a fan of the continued use of dumb tropes in sports romance novels and sports that haven’t been overdone are super good to read. This was proven correct by just how much I loved this sports romance that takes place on the Cambridge rowing team.

I loved that this book didn’t oversell the drama. In my experience there are two types of bad romance novels, one that oversells the drama and one that undersells the drama to the point you wonder if that was supposed to be the drama. This book did the perfect amount of drama in my opinion. All the drama in it had a point and moved the story or relationships forward. I think because of this the ending was even cuter than I thought it would be with the way that they meet again at the same race where the whole book begins. The spicy rating was also a level 4.

Overall, I would rate this book a 5 out of 5 star rating and I can say with 100% confidence that I would purchase a copy of this book for my library.

I found this book to be an enjoyable read. The story kept me engaged from start to finish and had some moments that really stood out. Overall, it offered an entertaining reading experience.

This was such a cute book, nice storyline and characters. It was not my favorite, but I did enjoy it while a nice summer day. I recommend this book to everyone who would like a nice reading in summer day.

The comment alone on how the main character judges his family just kind of makes me think hes an asshole. I dont vibe with that

See You at the Finish Line is a fun rivals to lovers sports romance that follows Lucas, an above average student who stresses about everything, and George, a lovable jock who isn't afraid of having fun.

Lucas and George have an altercation during one of the biggest races which leaves them in a sticky situation, now both are threatened to lose their spots on their boat. George needs better grades and Lucas needs better game (when it comes to flirting with the boys). The two make a pact to help the other out and hopefully help out their sports worries at the same time. What starts as animosity tentatively grows into friendship and growing respect for one another and maybe something more.

We get to see Lucas and George through their highs and lows and how they learn to support each other in their goals and dreams. We also get to see them navigate their missteps, with other and each other. We also get to watch them decide what is more important to them, rowing or the potential between them.

I enjoyed this one! If you love a sports romance that doesn't shy away from tackling preconceived notions or putting people in boxes I highly recommend this one. Thank you to the publisher for providing an advanced readers copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Loved, loved, loved this queer love story about two rival members of the Cambridge rowing team who have different objectives when spending time together but the more time they do spend with each other, the more they are drawn together and not toward their initial goals. This was a fun enemies-to-lovers story that I found quite entertaining.

Lucas is the classic straight-A student, while George is the classic American jock. They’re forced to collaborate as teammates for Cambridge University’s rowing team, where Lucas is the coxswain and George is the stroke (yes those are both terms I learned from this book). After a mishap, George has to prove himself not only on the water but in the classroom. While Lucas is used to commanding George on the course, he agrees to tutor George in their coursework in exchange for George’s help getting the attention of Lucas’s crush. But desperate times call for desperate measures, including Lucas plotting to help George cheat on exams so he can stay on the team. But as exam week approaches and tensions are high, will they be swept off course or swept off their feet by each other?

To start, I loved this book. I’m entering my #SportsRomance era, and bonus points if it’s (unapologetically) queer. I’ve seen many comparisons to #RedWhiteAndRoyalBlue, and I have to say this lives up to that comparison: #EnemiesToLovers, British-American forbidden romance, bi awakening, and so many more. The only downside was that I didn’t love how much academic cheating played a major role; it helps to drive some key plot points, but at times it felt a bit excessive. That said, I’d read it again in a heartbeat. It’s a cinematic debut novel, and I can’t wait to read anything Zac Hammett puts out next!

Reviewed as part of #ARC from #NetGalley. Many thanks to Zando Projects/Slowburn for the #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

Read this book if you love:
🐴 the polo scene in RWRB
🇬🇧 saying “proper banter”
🤓 equal parts nerdy and sporty flirting


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This review will be posted to Instagram @AutobiographiCole on or around the release date!
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This review will be posted to Instagram @AutobiographiCole on or around the release date!

This was such a fun read! I love a good slow burn, spicy, sports romance & this delivered!

Opposites attract
Forced proximity
Grumpy / Sunshine
Banter
Rowing

George is an American who fell into rowing as a sport. He's going to Cambrige and enjoying the college life while focusing on having fun and rowing. Then Felix, the coxswain of the Cambrige boat complains about athletes not being held to the same academic standards as other students. George needs Felix's help to pass his classes under the increased scrutiny. As one of the best students in his year, Felix is the only one who can get George up to snuff. Unfortunately, they really don't get along. However, as they work together a friendship develops and maybe something more. A cute romcom for people looking for a light summer read

See You at the Finish Line by Zac Hammett
⭐️⭐️⭐️

Zac Hammett’s debut novel offers a fun and authentic story. I appreciated the realness of Lucas and George—two characters who feel true to life in both their choices and struggles. Their journey through friendship, identity, and growth is messy, imperfect, and all the more relatable because of it.

Hammett doesn’t shy away from showing the awkward moments, poor decisions, or emotional highs and lows that make up young adulthood. While there were moments where the pacing felt uneven or the narrative could have used tightening, the heart of the story rings true.

Overall, See You at the Finish Line is an honest and raw coming-of-age story that captures the turbulence of early adulthood with empathy and insight. It was fun to learn some about English rowing. A solid debut that shows promise for what’s to come from this author.

This book was such a spicy slow burn! It's funny and irreverent. I found myself laughing out loud at George's ease and Lucas' discomfort.
George is an gorgeous midwestern all-American country club bro.
His teammate on the Cambridge rowing team is the adorable and neurotic brit, Lucas.
When calamity strikes, they make a deal: academic help for dating advice.
Top student Lucas comes up with a plan to help George finish his degree... at whatever cost.
The two fish-out-of-water navigate the competitive world of collegiate rowing. As they explore sexuality, dating, and misadventures, you watch them bring out the best in each other.
This Exchange is worth the price of admission:
Lucas looks surprised. "You're kind of a twink."
"Please -- I'm a twunk at best."
Lucas looks blank. "What's a twunk?"
"A hunky twink."
Lucas frowns. "I'm not even totally sure I know what a twink is."
"You're a twink, Lucas! Young, skinny, cute. How do you not know this?"

The sun is shining fiercely in Madrid, and so it did that one day in Oxford, when two rivals were about to find out that the finish line isn’t always where the race really ends.

George is an American charmer with more charm than study skills; Lucas is a focused perfectionist with a hopeless crush and no patience for idiots (especially George). But when an academic ultimatum and a matchmaking deal throw them together, their mutual dislike turns into something dangerously close to chemistry. You might guess where this is going, with exams looming, rivals circling, and a centuries-old rowing feud on the line, there’s only one thing harder than winning: admitting they might actually like each other.

And how?! ‘See You at the Finish Line’ is a flirty, fast paced queer romcom that makes your heart swoon a little (or a lot) this summer. It’s more than just about allies and enemies, it’s about something way bigger, and way more interesting. What happens when the real prize isn’t a trophy… but each other?

*also, a rowing romance?! That might be a first for me!*

Opposites attract? Check. Forced proximity? Double check. Grumpy / Sunshine? You know the drill by now!

As always, a special thanks to the author Zac Hammet, Zando Projects, and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read and review ‘See You at the Finish Line’ before it’s official publication on September 2nd.

I love a sports romance but I don’t like football and hockey is feeling seriously overdone, so when I came across a rowing romance, I immediately wanted to read this.

Well written, fun, and engaging, I liked this and look forward to reading more by the author but I ultimately wound up feeling like it was almost there, but was missing some small but vital ingredient.



Thank you to Slowburn and NetGalley for the DRC

Fresh and very enjoyable. I appreciated that it isn't the usual sport romance as I'm tired of seeing novels about hockey or football. Give me more of these less-used sports novels.

I requested this book for the point of difference with the rowing aspect. It's a NA MM romance with an enemies to lovers trope, though the enemies row for the same crew. It's set in the world of Oxford/Cambridge.

George is the seemingly "mindless" jock and Lucas is the brainy nerd. They couldn't be more different, and hence these aspects are the basis for their relationship. Initially they do dislike one another but George agrees to help Lucas woo his dream guy Amir, if Lucas helps him pass his final exams.

This is a tricky one to rate as it involves the characters being involved with other people. Readers who don't find that challenging might like it more. For those that do, I think this might be a bit of a turn off, particularly since there's quite some time spent in the book with other "pursuits" before George and Lucas (sort of) get their act together. And getting it together really took some time for both of them and when it happened I felt as if what happened took less time than the on-page escapades with the other love interests. In this way the book didn't find it's footing and seemed to skew away from the romance, and the issues confronting this pair. There were some other issues that, if spent more time on, might have made their relationship seem more convincing.

In the end enjoyed aspects of the book but it lacked the depth that would have made it more memorable.

3.5 stars

A wonderful summer read! This was a sweet friends to lovers romance that ticked all of my boxes. Would definitely recommend to fans of Red, White and Royal Blue.