I loved the WHOLE vibe of this, ballet girl x basketball boy.

It felt like a mash up of Step Up & Gossip Girl, if you love those two then you’ll be obsessed with this story.

The whole story was so believable and reminded me of my younger years, the push and pull of complex relationships between friends and lovers and obviously unrequited love.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Tropes:
🏫College romance
🩰Basketball player x Ballerina
💔Unrequited love
💞He falls first
👥Dual POV

We are back at Astor Hill but this time with Gen and Grant who I was waiting for ever since the first book. I was really excited to read their story and it did not disappoint. Gen who is a beautiful ballerina has this bestie relationship with Will who we know is toxic and I still do not like him so nothing’s changed there…But the drama here is Gen has feelings towards Will which complicates everything and I do not like how she’s always defending him in almost every situation like girl do you not see how he behaves??? I guess I kinda get it from her POV that he acts differently when they are alone since childhood but people change you know. Tbh I think she is blinded by love which is why she always acts for him. And then we have Grant who is a basketball player from the same team as Will and Grant does not like him in every way which same, I relate to that. I really like Grant’s character in this book because he has genuine feelings towards Gen and he’s always there for her even though Gen always sides with Will. He really is loyal and supportive of her and what made me like him initially is the fact that he never has any bad intentions with Gen, even with the deal that they agreed to. Honestly, he is such a sweetheart and I can’t stop talking about how he only has eyes for Gen and no one else. Interesting how both of them have mommy issues and how they dealt with it.

I also enjoyed the side characters like Jean and Sloane, they are such a vibe and it’s so nice to read about Olivia and Ben again. Their friend group has always been so wholesome and I will really miss it. Hope to see more of them soon!

P.S. Thank you to NetGalley, Sydney Madison and PS Published for giving me another ARC to read the second book of this series!

This was my second book from the Sydney Madison writing duo and it did not disappoint. I read Astor Hill earlier this year and loved it. I was immediately hooked in by their writing style. Second Position is the second book in the Astor Hill series, and I would recommend reading these books in order. They could be read as interconnected standalones, but they don’t always reference back to the history of previous characters, so it could leave new readers feeling lost.

Gen was a character that I loved to hate in Astor Hill. I found her to be difficult, but I knew that she had a redemption story coming her way, and I was right. My heart broke for Gen as I watched her navigate her relationship with her mother. Her mother often shamed her and her weight as a ballerina, and it created a complex dynamic that made me understand Gen’s cool exterior in the previous book. Grant was a character that I loved and wanted more of, so I was excited to see him have his moment. He is the definition of a golden retriever MMC, and watching him love Gen and help her to fall back in love with herself was one of my favorite parts of the book.

I did struggle a little with the premise of their relationship. Gen is a virgin, and wants Grant to take her virginity to get back at her best friend, Will (who is dating a character from the previous novel). This sort of bet based relationship isn’t my favorite trope, but it was the catalyst for a relationship that otherwise, wouldn’t have happened, which I could understand.

Second Position definitely gives off total Gossip Girl vibes, which is something I loved from the first book! I love a little drama, spice, and sports romance all in one. I also love reading about ballerinas, so I especially loved that about our FMC!

If Sydney Madison isn’t already on your tbr, definitely give their books a chance! They are a fun, easy to read blend of sports romance, drama, and grief/healing. Their characters are real - they aren’t cookie cutter, and have you hooked from start to finish.

Thank you to Sydney Madison, the publisher, and Net Galley for the ARC!

Thank you to Sydney Madison, PS Published, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Truthfully I was very nervous to read this since I found most characters in the first book unlikable— including Gen. HOWEVER, I devoured this in one sitting and loved it. I really felt for Gen with the unrequited love and her mommy issues. Grant is so lovable, in the first book I automatically loved him because of his genuine and caring personality. They work so well together and I enjoyed the respect and pace of them getting to know each other. As always, frustrated with the build up at the ending (sorry I can’t stand that trope!!!!!) and I wish we had a more in-the-future epilogue but overall it was a great resolution to the story. I’ll definitely enjoy the next book in the series!!!

This book had me hooked from the start, with all the chaos, gossip, and longing I didn’t know I needed. It’s messy in the best way: characters making terrible choices, saying the wrong things, feeling so much. I wanted to scream at Gen half the time (girl, please), and Grant? Absolute book boyfriend material, protective, patient, and somehow never gave up, even when I might’ve.

It’s one of those books that makes you feel everything: frustration, empathy, hope. A chaotic, heartfelt, and seriously bingeable read.

A very fun and easy read; it was great to get back to the same world and see more of new characters, and a bit of the old ones also.

Grant and Gen are so likeable, though with their flaws, of course, but you start hoping for them from early on. It’s very interesting to see their development and to understand why they are the way they are from some of the flashbacks.

A very easy read, though emotional and reflective.

This is a cute, fast-paced romance with plenty of drama! Second Position definitely gives off Gossip Girl vibes with lots of scandals and secrets, aswell as family dramas.

I loved the relationship between Gen and Grant and once I picked up the book I couldn’t put it down. I would recommend this to lovers of teen drama shows such as One Tree Hill, etc.

this book was incredible...after making me cry at 2am and making me see the most complex characters I've seen in a sports romance to date, I wish I didn't have to stop reading when the end hit. gen and grant are a gorgeous couple and their flaws are so perfectly portrayed, it felt like they could have been in my own friend group instead of in writing. the side characters each get their moment to build up their characters and shine and it only makes me crave more of their stories and characters. the astor hill series is incredibly written by the wonderful duo sydney madison and I can't wait to see what they come up with next!

OKAYYYY this book was so good! This is my first book by this duo of authors and it won’t be my last!

I came into this conflicted because I contemplated reading the first book before this one, but I really wanted to finish this and a few other arcs before their pub dates so I just jumped in and honestly I have no regrets! There ARE a few parts where they reference something that had happened in the first book so if that would bother you maybe check the first one out before this comes out, but it didn’t bother me or effect the rating I gave it!

This book is a ‘my best friend’s enemy to lovers’ and a book about discovering your worth. Our FMC is in love with her best friend who likes to keep her just close enough that she stays obsessed but not close enough that they become more, and she starts to become fed up with feeling second best. While she is reeling these emotions, she kinda stumbles into our MMC and makes a deal with him. That deal slowly turns into two people who constantly find themselves feeling unwanted choosing each other, while still trying to become more than their past and traumas.

We get to dive into these two characters childhoods to see what really hurt them and bring them to where they are, with lots of drama along the way.

The reason I didn’t rate it a little higher would mainly be I felt there were certain pieces of the story that didn’t seem to finish, like they brought it into the plot but then it didn’t go anywhere, but nothing that makes me dislike the book as a whole. It just left me kinda pondering too many things and not feeling 100% complete at the end!

Otherwise SUCH A GREAT read that I would 100% recommend you check out! Thank you so much to NetGalley and the authors for allowing me to read an advanced copy!! I can’t wait for the next release from them!!!!

I adored this book!

It was fun, sexy and had a great relationship balance with the main characters.

This was a great second book to the Astor hill series! This book followed the story of Grant and Genevieve which was both messy and beautiful! This book explored the characters navigating new feelings and how other events in their lives have impacted them and their relationship. This book was packed with drama and toxicity however i think the romance made it all worth it and had me rooting for them to overcome their other issues. I rated it 4.25 stars as i think some issues were resolved really quickly or over looked but this messy romance should definitely be on your tbr especially if you loved the magnolia parks series or gossip girl!

“I wonder if she can hear the small hint of sadness in the phrase. The one that lands like a thud whenever anyone asks how I feel about Will. I never tell them that friends is an understatement. That ever since I met Will it feels like a part of us has fused together. That we aren't just friends-we're each other's person, our relationship surpassing labels, our tether a lifeline keeping us going.”

-5 stars-

Tropes:
-Sports romance
-Love triangle
-He falls first (and hard)
-Found family
-Ballerina x basketball player

Spice:
3/5

This was actually pretty cute!!
It's like Icebreaker meets Spiral! I quite liked this book, the only thing is that I felt like I was missing a lot. Part of that could have been because I haven't read book #1. But I found myself a little confused at time. That being said, I loved Grant and Gen's sweet chemistry, and just their relationship throughout the book.
I liked the dual POV, because it gave insight into what both Grant and Gen were thinking! Which will always get an extra star!
To be totally honest, this book was spicy. Like more than what I usually read. So if you're thinking about reading this book just be prepared for heat and spice! I didn't mind the spice (at this point I've read so much that it's just nothing special anymore.)
The only reason I didn't rate it 5 stars was due to the fact that the book skipped around a lot, so I often found myself confused. I'm sure the book would've made more sense if I read book #1, so that might be an error on my part.
Overall, cute and a sweet romance that was super fun to read!
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher/author. All opinions remain my own. Thank you so much for the ARC!

"I've always kept secrets Will, they've just been for you-not from you."

The premise—centering on a sports athlete and a ballerina—initially sounded promising and somewhat original. Accurately portraying a ballerina’s life is notoriously difficult, and I was genuinely curious to see how the authors would tackle that challenge. Unfortunately, despite this fresh setup, the execution fell flat in nearly every aspect.

Right from the start, the male lead was a major barrier to my engagement. His introductory chapter was drenched in negativity with zero redeeming qualities to make him relatable or likeable. When his attitude suddenly shifted to something more positive just a couple of chapters later, it felt jarring and unearned, lacking any believable character development. This inconsistent portrayal made it impossible for me to invest in him emotionally. On top of that, the writing came across as amateurish and often clunky, riddled with grammatical errors and awkward phrasing that pulled me out of the story repeatedly. With proper editing and tighter prose, this team could improve drastically, but as it stands, this book was a frustrating read that I ultimately abandoned.

What really killed the story for me was the male lead’s aggressive behavior, which the female lead seemingly accepted without question or pushback. This dynamic was toxic and uncomfortable, draining any potential tension or chemistry from their relationship. I even jumped ahead to see if this changed, but the aggression stubbornly persisted, leaving me no choice but to stop reading.

That’s not to say the book was entirely without merit. There were some genuinely tender moments between Grant and Gen, and Grant’s character occasionally revealed emotional depth that had the potential to add real weight. The secondary characters and the setting of Astor Hill brought some texture to the narrative, and I appreciated the effort to engage with heavier themes like abandonment, dysfunctional families, and the struggle to prioritize oneself.

However, the story’s emotional impact was crippled by its heavy reliance on events from the first book—something I was completely unaware of before diving in. The absence of any recap or context left me confused during critical scenes, which robbed them of their intended power. This was compounded by the numerous grammar mistakes and weird formatting that kept yanking me out of the narrative flow. Several plot threads felt rushed or left dangling, culminating in an ending that seemed slapped together rather than thoughtfully resolved. With better editing and more coherent pacing, this could have been a much stronger novel.

This was my first time reading Sydney Madison, and since I hadn’t read the series’ debut, I likely missed key background information. But based on what I encountered, and given the reliance on tired tropes, I have no interest in continuing with the series.

The plot itself was weighed down by repetitive arguments and endless back-and-forth around the central conflict, which sapped any momentum the story might have had. The romance between the leads was shallow and hurried, feeling more like a random pairing than a thoughtfully developed relationship. While the concept had potential, far too much focus was placed on secondary relationships, which left the central couple’s connection feeling undercooked and completely overshadowed.

I received a ARC for review. This is an interconnected standalone and book 2 of a series. I did not read book 1, but from reading other reviews you may need to in order to really understand some relationship dynamics in this book. I do think if it’s intended to be a standalone a little more explanation could have gone into this book, as it’s why I’m not giving a higher star review. As I read this as a standalone it made some of the plot which evidently is a carry over from book 1 seem undeveloped and lacking depth. The dynamic between Gen and Grant and some of the sub themes were reminiscent of Icebreaker. There’s a lot of drama and it was a fast paced read.

Second Position, the second book in the Astor Hill series, is a gorgeous, aching slow-burn that doesn’t just flirt with angst—it dives into it, delivering a romance that’s tender, emotional, and unforgettable.

Genevieve Dupont has spent her whole life trying to be enough—enough for her demanding ballet world, enough for her emotionally distant mother, and most of all, enough for her best friend, Will Chapman. But when Will starts spiraling and Gen begins losing herself in the shadows of her loyalty, she makes a reckless decision: she offers her first time to the one boy Will can’t stand—his teammate and golden boy rival, Grant Fielder.

And that one choice changes everything.

What starts as an impulsive moment of rebellion transforms into something so much deeper. Grant is the last person Gen expected to see her—to make her feel safe and wanted. And yet, behind Grant’s perfect image is a boy who’s constantly trying not to come in last, and who’s terrified to hope he could ever be someone’s first.

Their chemistry? Off the charts. But what really pulled me in was the vulnerability they shared—two people slowly lowering their walls, not just to fall in love, but to heal.

Another beautiful story from Sydney Madison. This isn’t just a romance—it’s about letting go of who you’ve been expected to be and daring to want more. definitely a must add to TBR!

Thank you Sydney Madison, PS Published and NetGalley for the #gifted ARC in exchange for my honest review, it was a wonderful read 📚💖

I really enjoyed Astor Hill (#1), but this one fell a little short for me. I think the best part was seeing the Will/Lilly/Olivia situation from a different perspective than the first one. The whole time, I just wanted to yell at Gen to snap out of it, stand up for herself. So, I’m glad that she finally managed to at the end. I felt pretty neutral about Grant. Some leads are insufferable, some are amazing, Grant just fell somewhere in the middle.

PS. I didn’t love the epilogue… bummer.

I loved how the characters felt like real people — flawed, funny, and full of heart. Their connection wasn’t just physical (although yes, that too 🔥), but emotional and built on trust, shared moments, and those soft, quiet beats that make romance so addictive.

Really good read!

This is the second book in the Astor Hill series, they are interconnected stand alones set in the same world. Second position was packed full of drama. I enjoyed the characters relationships with the side characters, but I didn’t feel the chemistry between the main Fmc and the mmc. I feel like there was a lot of things done on both sides that were unnecessary and it kind of made Gen unlikeable to me. Grant was so kind and patient with her until he wasn’t, and the last 25% of the book dragged for me.

Genevieve DuPont is a dedicated ballet dancer, with a very turbulent relationship with her mum. Infact her mum is awful to her, and I don’t feel like that was resolved in this book. Her best friend Will is also the boy she’s loved for a decade. He was also an awful character that treated Gen poorly, which in turn made her awful to Grant. To be fair, a lot of the characters were just horrible to each other.

Grant Fielder has abandonment issues stemming from being adopted when his mum upped and left him and his sister. He falls for Gen after she corners him and asks him to take her virginity to make Will jealous. Honestly a lot happens in this book. Grant is probably the only character in this book with any redeeming qualities.

Overall this book was written well, but it just wasn’t for me. I do think if this book is your thing then you’ll love it, but for me it was just a bit immature and cringy, with a lot of unnecessary drama. I will definitely give this authors future books a go. Thankyou to net galley and Sydney Maddison for the opportunity to read this arc.

I was very fortunate enough to be sent an early copy of this book and ended up rating it 3.5 stars overall.

The authors writing style was easy to get into which I loved and the plot was enjoyable. There are a few aspects of this book that definitely were not for me personally however I can see that the author was trying to depict character growth and having an emotional attachment to someone that does not share the same sentiment as you.

I loved our MMC in this book and how the two main characters came to be an item! I also loved how our FMC was confident and carefree when she was with our MMC. Another aspect of this book that I loved were the friendships portrayed particularly with our MMCs twin sister. There was great banter and some funny moments throughout the story that did stand out to me and had me laughing.

The only thing I didn't particularly enjoy was how much our FMC pined over her best friend Will when he did not reciprocate the same feelings towards her. Will's character did annoy me a little and I was constantly frustrated over the fact that our FMC would drop everything to go to him. A lot of the time this would result in her sabotaging good moments for herself repeatedly thus leading to a third act breakup that could have been avoided.

Despite this, I did genuinely enjoy the rest of the story and would recommend this book!

Sadly it was DNF for me.

I hate to give bad reviews but I just couldn’t stand the aggressive reactions from the MMC and how the FMC didn’t care about it. I jumped ahead a few chapters to see how the story kept developing and the aggressiveness in the MMC apparently didn’t change so I have just to stop.

In general all the characters were kind of insufferable.

But maybe this is just me, I’m glad to see there’s readers who really like this book, I’m taking note that New Adult is not for me.

Thank you NetGalley and author for the ARC ✨