Blindsided By You by Caroline Corvin is a sweet and easy read with some genuinely heartfelt moments. The chemistry between the main characters is charming, and the premise is engaging enough to keep the pages turning. However, some of the plot points felt a bit predictable, and the pacing lagged in places. While not groundbreaking, it’s a decent pick for a cozy weekend romance if you’re in the mood for something light and familiar.

An age gap romance, the story of Jenna and Geordie. he is her best friends younger brother and plays on the team her dad coaches, so should be off limits. but will that keep them apart? I liked how it was told from both points of view.

Thank you so much NetGalley for gifting me this ARC. The cover instantly drew me in, I am a sucker for a sports romance and this didnt disappoint, just minor editing errors but that's expected in an ARC and I will still buy the book. However, I know this will be updated for the general public and they will love this book!

Firstly, Jenna and Geordie? Love. Love. And just love. It was a nice and easy read, with a cosy read. It has lovely family elements which really showed who the characters are and also portrayed real life about real family dynamics.

I cannot wait to buy this book and will definitely be part of the bookclub

A little slow for my liking but it was enjoyable. Great concept. I loved the team.
I did like reading about family dynamics.

There's the miscommunication tripe which isn't my favorite. Not bad though.

This was a cute book! I had a hard time getting into the book and didn’t connect with the characters. I’m rating it 3 stars, it wasn’t a bad book, it just wasn’t for me!

This was so cute!! I love a good sports romance and one about a sport I knew little about taught me something new too! Caroline seamlessly was able to incorporate a learning disability and self discovery into her characters without making the story about that—it was just part of who the characters were and how they developed. The chemistry was amazing and it was so nice to see an awesome strong FMC be so supported by those around her

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC opportunity! And congrats to Caroline for writing a great book!
I’m rating this a 3 star, not because it was bad by any means but because I had a tough time getting into the story. At the moment I’m in a bad reading slump so it’s not the books fault! I just want to emphasize that. I found it entertaining at times, with a great storyline. The characters were lovable with great development through the book. This is a great best friends brother/sisters best friend sprinkled with a reversed age-gap.
Thanks again for this opportunity!

so grateful to have received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, i hope the author had a lovely release day and lots of love for her book baby!

unfortunately this book was not for me, and i did not finish it. i did not mesh with the writing and struggled with feeling engaged however, i know so many people would love this and wish the author all the best!! rating 5 stars as i don’t feel comfortable rating lower for a book i dnf

I enjoyed this book but was frustrated with the Jenna because she is trying to set herself up for failure before she even begins. She is also using the one failed relationship she had to label every male in the world as going to leave her. I guess this is something a lot of people think about but I personally don't understand it. I do like the Jenna does take the risk with Geordie but the best part was when she finally got rid of the dress. A great message to not waste your life pining over "what if" and the things that didn't go to plan. Plans can change!

On the other hand, I really like Geordie and understand his perspective of being the younger person in the relationship and having to worry how his sister is going to react to him dating her BFF.

I know of a few friends who would really enjoy this story and will definitely tell them to read this book.

I adored a sports romance and this rugby one hit! The age gap and forbidden aspect was done so well! I loved that it was older sister’s best friend and coaches daughter.

I enjoyed that the sport was played for fun rather than a professional player! Such a realistic concept.

Overall would really recommend for any person who loves a sports romance.

✨️💚✨️Book Review✨️💚✨️

Book: Blindsided By You
Author: Caroline Corvin
Rating: 4 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Wow! This was my first book by Caroline and it definitely won't be my last.

Scottish rugby players? Say less.

There were so many amazing things about this book. I love the depth to the characters, I also really enjoyed the reverse age gap and how there was a strong turning point between the characters seeing each other in a romantic way.

I want to unalive the FMC's toxic ex who made her feel less than and I want to let Geordie know to never change, just keep on being your wannabe American self.

You get:
• Contemporary Romance
• Spicy
• Rugby Player MMC
• Best Friend's Brother
• Age Gap
• Secret Relationship
• Forced Proximity

I highly recommend this one! Available on KU, ebook, and paperback.

this book was incredible. it made me cry with laughter, cry with sadness, gasp and fall in love with the colourful cast and the scottish small town backdrop that holds such a special place in my heart.
caroline corvin truly brought to life a beautiful cast of characters, making me love each and every one and leaving me desperate for another book immediately. the siblings friend trope will always be a favourite of mine, and books like this prove exactly why.
if you love sports romance that isn’t the stereotypical hockey romance...i beg you to read this book and join me in practically worshipping the series already

I love a sports romance, and I liked that this was a rugby romance, which I have never read before. It’s a sport I only watch during the Olympics.

I found it refreshing that this featured an amateur team, and that Geordie has found success through working on oil rigs, and is not a multimillionaire athlete. In fact, Jenna has had more career success than he has, which is an interesting dynamic.

They have both returned to their hometown in Scotland, and they immediately feel a spark, but she is his coaches daughter, and sister’s friend. When their chemistry can no longer be ignored, they decide to be secret friends with benefits.

I enjoyed the interactions between all the characters and pets. It really gave off that small town vibe. I liked the golden retriever/ black cat dynamics but I must admit that Jenna’s behaviour toward my sweet Geordie was not always appreciated, and some of her decisions did frustrate me somewhat. I felt quite protective of him.

I enjoyed learning a bit more about rugby and appreciated the realistic portrayal of a couple falling for each other, while navigating their own insecurities.

Caroline’s acknowledgment that Jenna’s dad, the coach, was inspired by her own dad was very heart warming.

Thank you to @netgalley, @carolinecorvin for the ARC in return for an honest review.

This is a good summer read. Jenna who was jilted at the altar, got her feeling insecure even though she's a badass PR lady for one of the premium rugby teams. Then you have Geordie who is Jenna's childhood best friend's little brother. He's got the hots for Jenna, but will she still see him as the little kid brother of her BFF?

They both have insecurities, but they're now grown, and hot, what's harm to do a one-night stand? The heat and thirst didn't quench, how about FWB? Had Jenna been honest, they could be the hot couple long ago. Geordie knew, he knew that she's the one, she's all he wanted. He may not be good enough for her, but she's all that he'll ever wanted (paraphrased from the book).

Here's some quick note:
Age-Gap (she's older)
Heartbreak (she was left at the altar, he was emotionally mistreated by his dad)
off page death (several of them)
miscommunications (galore)
no third act

Thank you to NetGalley & Victory Editing for the ARC.

I adore Caroline Corvin’s writing style and the feelings her books bring out, and Blindsided by You was another hit for me!

Rugby player Geordie is my dream MMC—just such a genuinely good guy you absolutely root for! He lived and worked abroad for a while, but now he’s back home to play rugby and live a different life. He’s loved Jenna since they were teenagers and wants to be in it for the long haul. But Jenna’s got baggage and isn’t going to let herself fall again only to have her heart broken. Plus her dad’s the rugby coach and strictly off limits…

The chemistry is there from the start and I LOVED them together. They agree to a casual fling to get this attraction under control and have some fun. But it’s not casual to Geordie, and Jenna can’t admit it’s the real thing. Jenna did start getting on my nerves after a while with wanting to keep everything a secret and hurting Geordie in the process. Still, this was such a fun, well-written book that I really enjoyed reading! The team dynamic was really done well, the writing was captivating, and I absolutely love a good sports romance.

Some of my favorite tropes are coach’s daughter and siblings best friend! Add to that an age gap and the golden retriever/black cat dynamic and it’s even better! I had high hopes for this book. I get it’s a rugby romance but I felt that the rugby was a little too over powering. There was a lot of attention to detail when it came to the sport, but it felt like it took away from the story of the two characters. I also wish there was a little more depth to the love story between Jenna and Geordie. A little more dialogue between them and banter would have been good. They really only spoke about keeping their secret or becoming public with it.

I was beyond thrilled when I got approved for this ARC. A romance involving sports, a best friend’s younger brother, and a reverse age gap? Count me in! The fact that it revolves around rugby, a sport I absolutely love, made it even more exciting.

The story follows Geordie, a rugby player who’s just come back to his quiet Scottish hometown after spending a few years overseas. Once he’s back, he crosses paths with Jenna, who’s been close to his sister for years.
She also happens to be the daughter of his rugby coach, which makes things complicated. From the moment they meet again, there’s clear chemistry between them. Hiding their growing feelings in a town where everyone knows everything is not so simple.
The romantic tension and steamy scenes were so well done. Every time Geordie called Jenna “sweetheart,” I couldn’t help but swoon. Their relationship had such a sweet and sincere vibe. I especially loved how Geordie was always looking out for Jenna, even when he was trying to suppress his own feelings.

With so many sports romances around these days, what really made this one different was its focus on amateur-level passion. Most books in the genre highlight pro athletes, but this story was more grounded. It was about someone who played purely because he loved the game. That made it feel much more relatable and heartfelt.

I’d definitely recommend picking this up when it comes out on June 3rd. It’s perfect for fans of:
🏉 Sports romance
🏡 Small-town settings
💔 Off-limits relationships

A big thank-you to NetGalley and Caroline Corvin for sending me this early copy in exchange for an honest review!

ARC Review – Blindsided by You by Caroline Corvin

Unfortunately, I ended up DNFing Blindsided by You, but I want to be clear—it was more about my reading mood than the book itself. I simply wasn’t in the right headspace for this story when I picked it up, and I found myself struggling to stay engaged, which isn’t fair to the book or the author.

That said, I love the premise. A younger MMC who's a rugby player and an older FMC working for her father's rugby team? Yes, please! The age gap dynamic is always intriguing, and the rugby backdrop added a fun, high-energy layer to the story. The vibes immediately reminded me of the Boys of Tommen series, with that same kind of atmosphere—rugby culture, camaraderie, and the Irish or Scottish setting that fans of that series will absolutely appreciate.

While it wasn’t the right time for me personally, I truly believe this book will hit all the right notes for the right reader. If you love sports romances with strong settings and compelling age-gap dynamics, I definitely recommend giving Blindsided by You a shot. I’m planning to revisit it when I’m in the right mood because I can tell this is the kind of story I’d really enjoy with a fresh mindset.

I really loved the premise behind the novel. At first the narrative moved at a great pace and we were able to see the two main characters reconnecting, but the farther I got into it I felt that some of the scenes were rushed and we didn't get to see as much interaction between the main characters. Toward the end though, the pace of the novel evened out and the book ended sweetly, even if there were some bumps along the way.

I love that the rise of sports romances has meant that we get an insight into all kinds of different sports, different dynamics and different cultures. This is the first rugby romance I've read, taking place where the lowlands of Scotland becomes the highlands.

But despite this book being a sports romance, it reminded me of a cowboy romance. The book occurs in a small-town Scotland, and the book is very concerned with the fact that our main characters, Jenna and Geordie, grew up together and so have both an intertwined history, as well as the eyes of small town gossip on them. Geordie has recently returned home after time on an oil rig (ok, ok, very Scottish, in cowboy stories, it would likely be oil fields), and has adopted cowboy boots on the advice of his American colleagues.

So if you have ever wanted to read a story with the small town dynamics of a cowboy romance, but with Scottish accents - this story is for you. Recommended for fans of Mariana Zapata. Thanks to Grenwyvern Publishing for the early copy.