Author: Natalie Decker
Genre/Age: Contemporary Romance/YA
Series: Offsides (Book Two)
Publisher: Swoon Romance
Format: ebook via Chapter by Chapter Tours
Rating: ✺✺✺.5
Links: Goodreads
Synopsis: You'd think a girl with the most romantic name in the world would have her pick of boyfriends.
But Valentine's Day sucks when you're single. Just ask Juliet Valentine, whose last name happens to also be the name of the most dreaded made-up holiday ever.
A romantic at heart, this year is especially hard on Juliet. Her sister, Layla, is in a new relationship, her mom's match-making business is doing great, and her school's new fundraiser is "Love-Grams."
Juliet's miserable, a little jealous, and lonely.
Quarterback Jared Black is the most popular guy in school. A star athlete, Jared tops the most-eligible bachelor list year after year. But to Juliet Valentine, he's all but invisible. She isn't impressed.
Jared's never had to work hard to get the attention of a girl before. Valentine's Day is fast approaching, and he's determined to ask Juliet out. After all, if Tyler can win over Layla, Jared ought to have a shot with Layla's sister.
Unlike Tyler and Layla, charm, flattery and good looks won't work on Juliet. So with the V-Day dance coming up, Jared uses the school’s Love-Grams to let Juliet know how he feels. Should be simple enough, right?
Wrong. Each attempt ends up either in the trash or thrown in someone's face. Juliet won't play his game.
Now, without a date to the dance Jared realizes it’s going to take a Hail Mary to win the girl of his dreams.
Other Books in the Series
Natalie Decker is the Author of Rival Love. She loves oceans, sunsets, sand between her toes, and carefree days. Her imagination is always going, which some find odd. But she believes in seeing the world in a different light at all times. Her first passion for writing started at age twelve when she had to write a poem for English class. However, seventh grade wasn’t her favorite time and books were her source of comfort. She took all college prep classes in High school, and attended the University of Akron. Although she studied Mathematics she never lost her passion for writing or her comfort in books. She’s a mean cook in the kitchen, loves her family and friends and her awesome dog infinity times infinity. If she’s not writing, reading, traveling, hanging out with her family and friends, then she’s off having an adventure. Because Natalie believes in a saying: Your life is your own journey, so make it amazing!
**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book.**
When the object of your affection...hates your guts.
Juliet is through with love and everything that goes along with it. That includes Valentine's Day and the stupid Love-Grams that everyone is gushing about at school. When she starts to receive some of her own, she's sure that they are coming from her scumbag cheater of an ex-boyfriend. So she promptly throws the grams right back in his face. Oh, and some in the trashcan too.
Jared is shocked when the grams he sent Juliet wind up in the garbage. She thinks they came from her ex and couldn't possibly believe that Jared might have sent them. And even if he did admit to having sent them, Juliet has sworn off all members of the football team. She won't even look his way unless it's to bite his head off.
But nothing will stop Jared from trying to win over the girl he's wanted for so long. If he doesn't step up now, someone else will and take his place. Unfortunately, more than one obstacle still stands in his way. His father has forbidden him from dating and another girl thinks that he's her boyfriend. If he wants Juliet, Jared will have to stop trying to please everyone and give himself permission to break the rules.
This book left me feeling a little unsure in the end. The story started out so well and then somewhere along the way it became a little tedious. I liked Juliet. And I found her I-hate-Valentine's attitude to be pretty entertaining in the beginning. Those anti-love t-shirts of hers were funny. I even laughed when she started getting the Valentine grams that she despised so much. Sure, she was a grouch, but she was still getting over being hurt.
Jared, I liked from the beginning. He was sweet and under a lot of pressure from his father. I felt bad for him but also rooted for the boy to win the girl. Eventually, I started to get annoyed with his behavior. Because while he was still a good guy, he began to do things that I thought were outside of his character. I wish he had been more honest with the girls who were chasing after him.
It's hard to blame the characters in this situation, when I think it's more that the story just got carried away. There was so much conflict, coming from every side. No one was acting the same way toward the end of the book as they did in the beginning. That made the story feel forced. I still liked the characters and wanted them to find a happy ending, but I just wish it had gotten there a little sooner.
On the other hand, I did enjoy a lot about this book and I didn't want to put it down. I laughed quite a bit at Jared's attempts to get Juliet's attention. Poor guy kept sending the Valentines even when it continued to blow up in his face. The monopoly game was entertaining. And I thought the trip to visit the school nurse was downright adorable. Jared was incredibly swoon-worthy in that moment.
Juliet is through with love and everything that goes along with it. That includes Valentine's Day and the stupid Love-Grams that everyone is gushing about at school. When she starts to receive some of her own, she's sure that they are coming from her scumbag cheater of an ex-boyfriend. So she promptly throws the grams right back in his face. Oh, and some in the trashcan too.
Jared is shocked when the grams he sent Juliet wind up in the garbage. She thinks they came from her ex and couldn't possibly believe that Jared might have sent them. And even if he did admit to having sent them, Juliet has sworn off all members of the football team. She won't even look his way unless it's to bite his head off.
But nothing will stop Jared from trying to win over the girl he's wanted for so long. If he doesn't step up now, someone else will and take his place. Unfortunately, more than one obstacle still stands in his way. His father has forbidden him from dating and another girl thinks that he's her boyfriend. If he wants Juliet, Jared will have to stop trying to please everyone and give himself permission to break the rules.
This book left me feeling a little unsure in the end. The story started out so well and then somewhere along the way it became a little tedious. I liked Juliet. And I found her I-hate-Valentine's attitude to be pretty entertaining in the beginning. Those anti-love t-shirts of hers were funny. I even laughed when she started getting the Valentine grams that she despised so much. Sure, she was a grouch, but she was still getting over being hurt.
Jared, I liked from the beginning. He was sweet and under a lot of pressure from his father. I felt bad for him but also rooted for the boy to win the girl. Eventually, I started to get annoyed with his behavior. Because while he was still a good guy, he began to do things that I thought were outside of his character. I wish he had been more honest with the girls who were chasing after him.
It's hard to blame the characters in this situation, when I think it's more that the story just got carried away. There was so much conflict, coming from every side. No one was acting the same way toward the end of the book as they did in the beginning. That made the story feel forced. I still liked the characters and wanted them to find a happy ending, but I just wish it had gotten there a little sooner.
On the other hand, I did enjoy a lot about this book and I didn't want to put it down. I laughed quite a bit at Jared's attempts to get Juliet's attention. Poor guy kept sending the Valentines even when it continued to blow up in his face. The monopoly game was entertaining. And I thought the trip to visit the school nurse was downright adorable. Jared was incredibly swoon-worthy in that moment.
In closing...
I hope Juliet's best friend gets her guy in the sequel. 3.5 suns!
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