This was an ok read. The spicy scenes were so well described and hot! but the story just felt sooo long and anticlimactic. For a book that is less than 300 pages if took me ages to get through it!
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read and review.

counter play is the first book in the walker university stallions series, and while i didn’t fall head over heels for it, i definitely liked it. it’s a solid college sports romance with a mix of sweet, spicy, and emotional moments that kept me turning the pages, even if i wasn’t totally obsessed. the story follows charlie and beck, who were childhood best friends and clearly always had something more brewing between them. they reconnect in college after years apart, and their bond is still there—but it’s complicated.

i really liked beck. he’s been through a lot, and his quiet, soft side mixed with all that emotional baggage made him feel real. my heart broke for him at several points, especially once everything about his past came to light. charlie was likable too, but i’ll be honest—there were a few moments where she kind of annoyed me. considering how close they were for so long, it didn’t totally make sense that she didn’t know more about his family situation. i get that people keep secrets, but still. some of her reactions just felt a little off.

the romance itself is a mix of second chance, friends-to-lovers, and brother’s best friend, with a bit of forced proximity thrown in. there were definitely cute and steamy moments between them, and their chemistry was there, but i didn’t always feel as emotionally connected to them as i wanted to. sometimes it felt like something was missing, or like their relationship needed just a little more depth.

the pacing was mostly good, though it did slow down in the middle. one thing i really liked was the side characters. casey, noelle, liam, and arch—they all added personality to the story, and honestly, i’m really hoping casey gets his own book next. the college sports angle was fun, and i liked the found family vibes woven in with the friend group and support systems.

overall, this book didn’t completely blow me away, but i still enjoyed it. it had enough emotional weight to balance out the romance, and it touched on some serious stuff like trauma, addiction, and mental health in a way that felt genuine. i’m definitely curious to see where the series goes from here, and i’d read more from ava sutton.

heads up: there are some heavy topics in here—past abuse, alcoholism, grief, and emotional trauma—so keep that in mind before diving in. if you’re into second chances, a little drama, and a lot of heart, you might want to give this one a try.

thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this digital arc in exchange for my honest review!

New romance series! I LOVED this story 💖 It’s a perfect childhood friends to lovers romance that I couldn’t read fast enough. Beck & Charlie are so good for each other and I love how supportive their families are, especially Charlie’s brother. The plot was well defined as were the characters. I’m really looking forward to reading more from this author. It looks like we will get 3 more books and I can’t wait to see which side characters are involved!

A cute, spicy romance with all the tropes: second chance, brothers best friend, sports romance, forced proximity.
Beck and Charlie meet at 10 years old and know right then they they belong together. Beck has a difficult past and hasn't shared a lot of it with Charlie, despite their closeness, which leads to them being separated.
I raced through this and enjoyed the pace of the story. The side characters were great too and the ending leaves us wanting more from the next book. (Which I'm really hoping is Casey's book!)

Quick Summary: A NA college sports romance

My Review: Counter Play by Ava Sutton is book #1 in the Walker University Stallions series. It is scheduled for release on 5/2/25.

About the Book: "In the game of love, it’s hard to level the playing field when your opponent is the one who got away.

Charlie doesn’t want anything to do with me but I’ll be damned if I let her walk out of my life again.

When we’re down to the wire, it’s time to make a counter play and win my girl back for good. "

In My Own Words: Two former best friends turned lovers split and take steps to make their way back to each other.

About the Premise & Hook: The premise of this book was compelling enough to draw my interest. The win or lose scenario did what it does and got my attention. The more I read, the more I wanted to read.

About the Cast of Characters: The setup of characters in this book was done so effortlessly that it was easy to fall in like with them. From the players to the partners, I wanted to know what was what. They were all so interesting, particularly Casey and Noelle, as well as Liam. (It's a toss up tie for fav between Pitz and Arch, actually.)

About the Conflict: There were a number of issues in this story, but the main one concerning Beck was devastating. My heart hurt for him and his family. How do you come back from that? Thank goodness for the love and support that he and his family found.

About the Sports Angle: Go, Stallions!

My Final Say: I really enjoyed this NA romance. There was a lot to it. The story offered sweetness, spiciness, and the bitterness of the sour challenges that come with living life. The characters were charming and relatable. They all seemed to be at an in between stage of life - growing yet still in need of maturation. They did the best they could, under the circumstances. All in all, the ending and the epilogue took it there...to the place of HEA and new beginnings.

I'm totally ready for book #2. Let's go!

Readers who enjoy the following tropes will adore this read:

College Sports Romance
Brother's Best Friend
Close Proximity
Second Chance
Found family
Overcoming Tragedy
Friends to Enemies to Lovers
Dual POV

Other: I appreciated the mental health representation. It was definitely needed. The distinguishable elements were necessary for this story and for those who were involved.

Trigger: Potential readers are advised to read all author & publisher notes related to this book. There is an indication of violence and abuse, as well as alcoholism & addiction.

Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: NA
Status/Level: 💕
Pacing: M
Plot: Character-driven
Triggers: Yes

Appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Compass Press LLC | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles), and to NetGalley. Thank you for providing access to a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest critique. I am grateful for the opportunity to voluntarily share my thoughts and opinions on this title. I look forward to continuing this series, as well as reading more from this writer.

Second chances romance with all the trimmings - childhood sweethearts, brother's best friend, forced proximity, college sports, all woven together. Misunderstandings and mean girls get in the way, but we know there will ultimately be a HEA. A bit more plot than the usual college sports romance, with a subplot of extreme child abuse in the past and it's lasting effects, so keep that in mind for a trigger.

Loved this one! I truly love Beck and that boy deserves the world. I liked Charlie as well but I was a little annoyed with her over a couple of things. After the reveal about his mom I found myself siding with Beck because Charlie seemed so naive. Also, how do you have a childhood friends to lovers type deal and she doesn't know about his mom? Seems like something you would discuss since you have been friends forever. I do really like them as a couple overall and feel like in the end they balance each other out well.

Also, this is so nitpicky and I apologize in advance but do these MC's have jobs? Beck is constantly buying Charlie flowers and those are expensive!

Small issues aside, this was a great spicy romance! Definitely recommend. I'm also looking forward to reading the others in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Compass Press LLC | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ava Sutton is an amazing romance author, this book had me hooked from the start. I love the dynamics between the characters and the way the story played out. I 100% recommend this for anyone looking for a good time with a sports romance.