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Fighting Spirit
As the mascot for Allbreck University’s football team, the last thing Ruth expects during a late-night practice session is getting thrown over someone’s shoulder and stuffed into the back of a minivan.
She’s been kidnapped by players from Beaufort College, Allbreck’s fiercest rivals, in some kind of prank-gone-wrong. When all hell breaks loose and the perpetrators bail, it’s Rowan - their intriguing center - who gets left to pick up the pieces.
Ruth doesn’t need another catastrophe, with the unmanaged ADHD that’s taking over her life and a sort-of-ex who acts like they were never more than friends, she’s got enough to deal with.
All she wants is a way to get home, unfortunately the only guy who can help is the one who wants nothing to do with this night and even less to do with her.
When Rowan accepts a coaching job for after graduation, he knows that things are going to change. He just didn’t think that that change would feel like losing everything before his last playing season is even over.
His dad’s disappointed in him, his head coach’s expectations are growing, and his teammates treat him more like staff than one of their own.
When his team shows up drunk one night with their rivals’ kidnapped mascot, they assume that once again he’ll clean up their mess.
But when she takes off the oversized toad head and he gets his first look at those big green eyes, he realizes he might have bigger issues.
Even long after the night is over, their connection keeps pulling them back together. But Ruth can’t handle any more distractions, and Rowan can’t give his team any more reasons not to trust him. With everything to play for and their hearts on the line, can they make it into the end zone?
She’s been kidnapped by players from Beaufort College, Allbreck’s fiercest rivals, in some kind of prank-gone-wrong. When all hell breaks loose and the perpetrators bail, it’s Rowan - their intriguing center - who gets left to pick up the pieces.
Ruth doesn’t need another catastrophe, with the unmanaged ADHD that’s taking over her life and a sort-of-ex who acts like they were never more than friends, she’s got enough to deal with.
All she wants is a way to get home, unfortunately the only guy who can help is the one who wants nothing to do with this night and even less to do with her.
When Rowan accepts a coaching job for after graduation, he knows that things are going to change. He just didn’t think that that change would feel like losing everything before his last playing season is even over.
His dad’s disappointed in him, his head coach’s expectations are growing, and his teammates treat him more like staff than one of their own.
When his team shows up drunk one night with their rivals’ kidnapped mascot, they assume that once again he’ll clean up their mess.
But when she takes off the oversized toad head and he gets his first look at those big green eyes, he realizes he might have bigger issues.
Even long after the night is over, their connection keeps pulling them back together. But Ruth can’t handle any more distractions, and Rowan can’t give his team any more reasons not to trust him. With everything to play for and their hearts on the line, can they make it into the end zone?
386 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 3, 2025
290 people are currently reading
4026 people want to read
About the author
Anna Harrison
1 book41 followersAnna Harrison is a romance author living in the English countryside with her tortoise (who makes an excellent co-writer.)
As a neurodivergent and chronically ill person, she writes swoony stories that reflect her own experiences, in the hopes that everyone can find a safe space in her books.
When she isn’t writing she’s usually found knitting, watching Chappell Roan edits or adding garlic to recipes that absolutely didn’t call for it.
As a neurodivergent and chronically ill person, she writes swoony stories that reflect her own experiences, in the hopes that everyone can find a safe space in her books.
When she isn’t writing she’s usually found knitting, watching Chappell Roan edits or adding garlic to recipes that absolutely didn’t call for it.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 310 reviews
July 9, 2025
Giggled my way through this book 🐸 A really fun & easy to read college sports romance with great neurodivergent/ADHD rep ⭐️
July 19, 2025
3.75⭐️
“You’re it for me, Ruth. You’re always gonna be my favorite, my first choice. You’re fuckin’ everything to me”
.☘︎ ݁˖ .☘︎ ݁˖ .☘︎ ݁˖ .☘︎ ݁˖ .☘︎ ݁˖ .☘︎ ݁˖ .☘︎ ݁˖ .☘︎ ݁˖ .☘︎ ݁˖ .☘︎ ݁˖ .☘︎ ݁˖
🐸 strangers to friends to lovers
🏈college romance
🐸 neurodivergent representation
🏈 cinnamon roll MMC
🐸 sunshine FMC
🏈 takes care of her when she is ill
🐸 rival teams
.☘︎ ݁˖ .☘︎ ݁˖ .☘︎ ݁˖ .☘︎ ݁˖ .☘︎ ݁˖ .☘︎ ݁˖ .☘︎ ݁˖ .☘︎ ݁˖ .☘︎ ݁˖ .☘︎ ݁˖ .☘︎ ݁˖
This book was so sweet, fluffy and funny . The banter between the main characters was cute although I may have cringed a bit . Rowan the MMC was such a cinnamon roll ; he likes to take care of everyone around him and of course our FMC ALOT . He was always their for her and was basically her rock when things got tough with her . I didn’t like how his problem with his father got solved it felt like it was rushed in my opinion .
Ruth the FMC was so cute and energetic . I felt her struggle with her ADHD and her insecurities. The way it was described how she felt like she doesn’t know what to do with her future and her struggle with relationships and friendships in college was real .
I may have felt the ending was little bit rushed and I’m not a typical fan of the third act breakup but over all this book was enjoyable and would recommend it if you are looking for some easy read and like any of the tropes above
☘︎ ݁˖ pre-read .☘︎ ݁˖
Thank you so much author Anna Harrison for sending me the E-ARC so excited to start it
I was supposed to start it way earlier but Life was hectic this past months I barely had time to breathe
“You’re it for me, Ruth. You’re always gonna be my favorite, my first choice. You’re fuckin’ everything to me”
.☘︎ ݁˖ .☘︎ ݁˖ .☘︎ ݁˖ .☘︎ ݁˖ .☘︎ ݁˖ .☘︎ ݁˖ .☘︎ ݁˖ .☘︎ ݁˖ .☘︎ ݁˖ .☘︎ ݁˖ .☘︎ ݁˖
🐸 strangers to friends to lovers
🏈college romance
🐸 neurodivergent representation
🏈 cinnamon roll MMC
🐸 sunshine FMC
🏈 takes care of her when she is ill
🐸 rival teams
.☘︎ ݁˖ .☘︎ ݁˖ .☘︎ ݁˖ .☘︎ ݁˖ .☘︎ ݁˖ .☘︎ ݁˖ .☘︎ ݁˖ .☘︎ ݁˖ .☘︎ ݁˖ .☘︎ ݁˖ .☘︎ ݁˖
This book was so sweet, fluffy and funny . The banter between the main characters was cute although I may have cringed a bit . Rowan the MMC was such a cinnamon roll ; he likes to take care of everyone around him and of course our FMC ALOT . He was always their for her and was basically her rock when things got tough with her . I didn’t like how his problem with his father got solved it felt like it was rushed in my opinion .
Ruth the FMC was so cute and energetic . I felt her struggle with her ADHD and her insecurities. The way it was described how she felt like she doesn’t know what to do with her future and her struggle with relationships and friendships in college was real .
I may have felt the ending was little bit rushed and I’m not a typical fan of the third act breakup but over all this book was enjoyable and would recommend it if you are looking for some easy read and like any of the tropes above
☘︎ ݁˖ pre-read .☘︎ ݁˖
Thank you so much author Anna Harrison for sending me the E-ARC so excited to start it
I was supposed to start it way earlier but Life was hectic this past months I barely had time to breathe
August 7, 2025
Finally I finished this book. It was a good read had its moments and sometimes I wanted to toss the book. We have Ruth who has ADHD is going though her classes as well as she can she thinks she’s a mess with how her life is. She thinks she’s a child because she has to print out sheets that tell her to brush her teeth do homework and all that’s.
She’s a Mascot for her school and is kidnapped one night and meets Football player Rowan who has his own problems its his last years with the team and he isn’t going to the big leagues since he wants to be a coach this doesn’t sit well with his father who wants him to be in the NFL. So team and family drama for Rowan or so he thinks on one. He’s Annoyed that his team mates kidnapped a girl. He watches over her and since he’s Demisexual his feelings are different. Ruth baby girl didn’t know so when she tried to get close or kissed him and felt rejected I felt for her since Rowan didn’t tell her until after there sorta fights or when they gave each other space.
So be warned it takes them awhile to finally get together. And when they do it’s cute they still have some ups and downs as a couple but I loved that both didn’t care for the things they were going though they understood and were supportive boyfriend/girlfriend≥ we do have a break up.. last a few weeks. And that was pretty it.
Low angst, no ow/tiny om, no cheating, drama, sexy time, virgin guy no woman hoe lol
Recommend-maybe
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶️
Slow burn
Push away from both
Tiny praise kink
Safe sex
Internalized Ableism
Ableist comments
Acephobic comments
Toxic parents
Gaslighting/Manipulation from ex partner
Hea
Epilogue
She’s a Mascot for her school and is kidnapped one night and meets Football player Rowan who has his own problems its his last years with the team and he isn’t going to the big leagues since he wants to be a coach this doesn’t sit well with his father who wants him to be in the NFL. So team and family drama for Rowan or so he thinks on one. He’s Annoyed that his team mates kidnapped a girl. He watches over her and since he’s Demisexual his feelings are different. Ruth baby girl didn’t know so when she tried to get close or kissed him and felt rejected I felt for her since Rowan didn’t tell her until after there sorta fights or when they gave each other space.
So be warned it takes them awhile to finally get together. And when they do it’s cute they still have some ups and downs as a couple but I loved that both didn’t care for the things they were going though they understood and were supportive boyfriend/girlfriend≥ we do have a break up.. last a few weeks. And that was pretty it.
Low angst, no ow/tiny om, no cheating, drama, sexy time, virgin guy no woman hoe lol
Recommend-maybe
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶️
Slow burn
Push away from both
Tiny praise kink
Safe sex
Internalized Ableism
Ableist comments
Acephobic comments
Toxic parents
Gaslighting/Manipulation from ex partner
Hea
Epilogue
Read
May 19, 2025if Trevor has no fans, i am dead — put this on your radar peeps. Full review to come
May 3, 2025
fighting spirit, anna harrison💚🐸🏈
one month until this beautiful book releases and i am so grateful to anna for the arc and the opportunity to meet ruthrowan early! i have been desperate to read this book since i first saw anna posting about it and it exceeded every expectation i had, i loved it so much and can’t wait for everyone else to too!
from the first chapter i was cackling and so hooked into the story. our fmc ruth is the mascot for her school, allbreck’s football team and a slight miscommunication leads to her being kidnapped by their rival team in a prank gone (very) wrong. and who is stuck to clean up the mess and deal with the girl in a toad costume? mr reliable, rowan ainsley, centre of the rival team, beaufort university. he looks after her (aka nearly poisoning her) and even after they part ways, their connection (and a pair of toad gloves) draws them back together.
petition for more mascot romance books because this was incredible. the passion and pride ruth took in her role and how much happiness it brought her was adorable. she really put her all into being the mascot and showed how much effort and dedication it takes to fulfil the role! her athleticism and enthusiasm is unmatched and i adored this unique aspect of her character!
she was such a real, relatable and human character. ruth has adhd and the representation of this was so well done and written with so much care and genuine portrayals of how it can affect people. it also highlighted the ignorance that some people have surrounding adhd and how a lack of support can have such a big impact. throughout the book we see firsthand how ruth struggles with her studies despite trying so hard to focus and keep on track. this representation is so important to show how adhd affects people in everyday life and to help eliminate the stigmas that they are “lazy” etc. her determination and work ethic were so admirable, she was the opposite of lazy and unmotivated.
i absolutely adored ruths friend clara who always showed up for her and helped her with her studying and how rowan gave her the push she needed to seek more academic support. reading how she thrived following this made me so emotional and happy for her.
her complicated relationship with her friends georgie, marshall and other girls from her class was - although painful to read how upsetting the experience was for ruth - one of my favourite aspects of the book. this whole book oozes realness and the reality that friendships are hard and not always clearly defined and equal, was a big part of ruths story. i really related to her character throughout, but especially in these moments where she was questioning her friendships and struggling with feeling like a second option. she was such a ray of sunshine and always looking for the best within people despite not always receiving that same energy back and i fell in love with her for it. she was such a good friend to those around her and you could feel her sincerity through the book, eg how easily she understood rowan when he came out to her and how comfortable she made him feel, my heart melted in that moment. her sunny disposition was beautiful to read and im so glad that she understood her worth and realised her genuine relationships by the end of the book. my heart hurt for her in so many moments but she was so strong and such a powerhouse! LOVE HER💚
onto rowan. he was a dream. from the moment they met (although not under the best circumstances) he showed ruth so much care and you could tell that this was simply his nature. i laughed so much during their first interaction, the whole cheese sandwich fiasco was hilarious and so was their banter throughout the book. he had so much weight on his shoulders, dealing with his fathers expectations and how to balance his relationships with his teammates, all while being someone reliable that would do anything for any of them. despite all this he took the time to care for ruth and make sure she was safe, at the beginning and CONSTANTLY throughout the book. a walking green flag if i ever did see one.
this was my first book reading about a demisexual main character and i really enjoyed reading how attraction and intimacy is experienced differently between ruth and rowan. as they grow closer and get to know each other more deeply, this is when rowans sexual attraction develops. in a lot of romance books, sexual attraction is quite immediate and there is nothing wrong with that but it was lovely to read rowans experience and to see his and ruths friendship and chemistry build before they are intimate. i loved how comfortable he felt with ruth and how strong their connection was, it was tangible and beautiful and explored wonderfully!
one of the things i loved about this book was the honest portrayal of friendships. rowan too struggled with his relationships with his teammates, which again made this story a unique sports romance. his best friend trevor (my husband) was such a fun character and i loved how much he brought to the story! he was so funny and light and such a good friend to rowan and ruth! i really hope he gets a book because i am dying to read more about him!
ruth and rowan are, in short, soulmates. despite the most unconventional meet cute ever and being from rival schools, their relationship was inevitable. their immediate chemistry was so engaging that i could not put this book down, i was so invested in them from the get go and was never bored at any moment in this book.
their love was so soft and supportive, genuine and just so beautiful to read. rowans acts of service love language was a perfect match to ruth, he was the calm to her chaos but he also loved her wild and didn’t try to change her or make her smaller. he loved her where and how she was and only ever tried to support and be there for her. him printing out her charts and braiding her hair🥹🤧and ruths love was patient and understanding, despite her rejection sensitive dysphoria making it difficult sometimes. she never tried to push rowan for what he couldn’t give her even when she wanted more sooner. how she defended rowan to his dad even when their friendship was still relatively new? sobbing she was so sweet😭they were each others perfect balance and so perfect together. i absolutely adore them and their story.
their banter, text interactions and conversations from ruths window all intensified my love for them. they had so much chemistry and made me laugh with their repartee constantly throughout the book. throw in trevor and drunk kidnapping teammates, this book was comedy gold and so much fun!
overall i rated this book five stars and am blown away by this debut! i can’t wait for more people to fall in love with ruth and rowan and anna’s writing because this book is a masterpiece and one of my favourites i’ve read this year! please, if you’ve made it this far in the review, read this book (out june 3rd) because you will not regret it!!!!
tropes:
accidental kidnapping meet cute
rival teams
mascot x football player
grumpy x sunshine
demisexual mmc
“just friends”
adhd representation
acts of service man
dual pov
one month until this beautiful book releases and i am so grateful to anna for the arc and the opportunity to meet ruthrowan early! i have been desperate to read this book since i first saw anna posting about it and it exceeded every expectation i had, i loved it so much and can’t wait for everyone else to too!
from the first chapter i was cackling and so hooked into the story. our fmc ruth is the mascot for her school, allbreck’s football team and a slight miscommunication leads to her being kidnapped by their rival team in a prank gone (very) wrong. and who is stuck to clean up the mess and deal with the girl in a toad costume? mr reliable, rowan ainsley, centre of the rival team, beaufort university. he looks after her (aka nearly poisoning her) and even after they part ways, their connection (and a pair of toad gloves) draws them back together.
petition for more mascot romance books because this was incredible. the passion and pride ruth took in her role and how much happiness it brought her was adorable. she really put her all into being the mascot and showed how much effort and dedication it takes to fulfil the role! her athleticism and enthusiasm is unmatched and i adored this unique aspect of her character!
she was such a real, relatable and human character. ruth has adhd and the representation of this was so well done and written with so much care and genuine portrayals of how it can affect people. it also highlighted the ignorance that some people have surrounding adhd and how a lack of support can have such a big impact. throughout the book we see firsthand how ruth struggles with her studies despite trying so hard to focus and keep on track. this representation is so important to show how adhd affects people in everyday life and to help eliminate the stigmas that they are “lazy” etc. her determination and work ethic were so admirable, she was the opposite of lazy and unmotivated.
i absolutely adored ruths friend clara who always showed up for her and helped her with her studying and how rowan gave her the push she needed to seek more academic support. reading how she thrived following this made me so emotional and happy for her.
her complicated relationship with her friends georgie, marshall and other girls from her class was - although painful to read how upsetting the experience was for ruth - one of my favourite aspects of the book. this whole book oozes realness and the reality that friendships are hard and not always clearly defined and equal, was a big part of ruths story. i really related to her character throughout, but especially in these moments where she was questioning her friendships and struggling with feeling like a second option. she was such a ray of sunshine and always looking for the best within people despite not always receiving that same energy back and i fell in love with her for it. she was such a good friend to those around her and you could feel her sincerity through the book, eg how easily she understood rowan when he came out to her and how comfortable she made him feel, my heart melted in that moment. her sunny disposition was beautiful to read and im so glad that she understood her worth and realised her genuine relationships by the end of the book. my heart hurt for her in so many moments but she was so strong and such a powerhouse! LOVE HER💚
onto rowan. he was a dream. from the moment they met (although not under the best circumstances) he showed ruth so much care and you could tell that this was simply his nature. i laughed so much during their first interaction, the whole cheese sandwich fiasco was hilarious and so was their banter throughout the book. he had so much weight on his shoulders, dealing with his fathers expectations and how to balance his relationships with his teammates, all while being someone reliable that would do anything for any of them. despite all this he took the time to care for ruth and make sure she was safe, at the beginning and CONSTANTLY throughout the book. a walking green flag if i ever did see one.
this was my first book reading about a demisexual main character and i really enjoyed reading how attraction and intimacy is experienced differently between ruth and rowan. as they grow closer and get to know each other more deeply, this is when rowans sexual attraction develops. in a lot of romance books, sexual attraction is quite immediate and there is nothing wrong with that but it was lovely to read rowans experience and to see his and ruths friendship and chemistry build before they are intimate. i loved how comfortable he felt with ruth and how strong their connection was, it was tangible and beautiful and explored wonderfully!
one of the things i loved about this book was the honest portrayal of friendships. rowan too struggled with his relationships with his teammates, which again made this story a unique sports romance. his best friend trevor (my husband) was such a fun character and i loved how much he brought to the story! he was so funny and light and such a good friend to rowan and ruth! i really hope he gets a book because i am dying to read more about him!
ruth and rowan are, in short, soulmates. despite the most unconventional meet cute ever and being from rival schools, their relationship was inevitable. their immediate chemistry was so engaging that i could not put this book down, i was so invested in them from the get go and was never bored at any moment in this book.
their love was so soft and supportive, genuine and just so beautiful to read. rowans acts of service love language was a perfect match to ruth, he was the calm to her chaos but he also loved her wild and didn’t try to change her or make her smaller. he loved her where and how she was and only ever tried to support and be there for her. him printing out her charts and braiding her hair🥹🤧and ruths love was patient and understanding, despite her rejection sensitive dysphoria making it difficult sometimes. she never tried to push rowan for what he couldn’t give her even when she wanted more sooner. how she defended rowan to his dad even when their friendship was still relatively new? sobbing she was so sweet😭they were each others perfect balance and so perfect together. i absolutely adore them and their story.
their banter, text interactions and conversations from ruths window all intensified my love for them. they had so much chemistry and made me laugh with their repartee constantly throughout the book. throw in trevor and drunk kidnapping teammates, this book was comedy gold and so much fun!
overall i rated this book five stars and am blown away by this debut! i can’t wait for more people to fall in love with ruth and rowan and anna’s writing because this book is a masterpiece and one of my favourites i’ve read this year! please, if you’ve made it this far in the review, read this book (out june 3rd) because you will not regret it!!!!
tropes:
accidental kidnapping meet cute
rival teams
mascot x football player
grumpy x sunshine
demisexual mmc
“just friends”
adhd representation
acts of service man
dual pov
December 3, 2025
This was a book find from a Facebook or TikTok ad - but it sounded so different I had to give it a try. And it was, it had such beautiful representation of mental health (adhd, anxiety) and how different people feel love and attraction. These characters were so clumsy in their love of each other, but fiercely loyal and determined to it.
This story begins with a mistaken k!dn@pping. Rival college football schools decide to pull a prank and think taking their mascot is the best idea. But, they were meant to take an amphibian, not a woman in a toad suit. Hence the weirdest meet-cute I’ve read in a while - because who comes to her aid but the captain of the rival team who walks in the whole scenario. Rowan sees Ruth and is immediately intrigued. Not just by the green mascot outfit. But as they try to tentatively become friends, and flirt with becoming more, their own issues/baggage and their rival schools becomes a bigger and bigger barrier to their happily ever after.
This story begins with a mistaken k!dn@pping. Rival college football schools decide to pull a prank and think taking their mascot is the best idea. But, they were meant to take an amphibian, not a woman in a toad suit. Hence the weirdest meet-cute I’ve read in a while - because who comes to her aid but the captain of the rival team who walks in the whole scenario. Rowan sees Ruth and is immediately intrigued. Not just by the green mascot outfit. But as they try to tentatively become friends, and flirt with becoming more, their own issues/baggage and their rival schools becomes a bigger and bigger barrier to their happily ever after.
Read
May 19, 2025A champion of a debut. Harrison has crafted this story with such care, the characters leaping off the page with dimension and complexity, their struggles resonant and realized. From their representation (ADHD and demisexuality) to their personalities to their chemistry, Harrison has molded some of the strongest characterization of a couple I've come across in quite some time. Despite not being a huge contemporary rom-com reader (or sports fan), I found myself swept up in Ruth and Rowan's romance, sucked into this world, unable to put this book down. Romance readers, do not hesitate to pick this one up.
Thank you so much to the author for sending me an ARC in exchange for a review! (Disclaimer that I am friends with the author, but my opinions are completely my own.)
CW: ableism, internalized ableism, acephobia, kidnapping, manipulative parents, sexual content
Thank you so much to the author for sending me an ARC in exchange for a review! (Disclaimer that I am friends with the author, but my opinions are completely my own.)
CW: ableism, internalized ableism, acephobia, kidnapping, manipulative parents, sexual content
August 27, 2025
OMG can’t remember the last time I cried and enjoyed a good this much. He was the sweetest, and I really felt for the h and her struggles with her ADHD.
- College romance
- She gets kidnapped (the fun way)
- Hero virgin
- Forbidden love
- Football player // their rivals teams maskot
- PTSD heroine
The only bad thing about this, is the third act breakup. He really hurt her, and a little more grovel would have been lovely. I would have forgiven him myself because his reasons was valid, even tho he should have chosen the h from the start, but I understand his fears.
Safety:
- some omd with h ex/ex hookup
- No owd
- H is demisexual (takes some time to feel attraction towards another person) and he’s a virgin. Never done anything before. She’s his first and last everything
- College romance
- She gets kidnapped (the fun way)
- Hero virgin
- Forbidden love
- Football player // their rivals teams maskot
- PTSD heroine
The only bad thing about this, is the third act breakup. He really hurt her, and a little more grovel would have been lovely. I would have forgiven him myself because his reasons was valid, even tho he should have chosen the h from the start, but I understand his fears.
Safety:
- some omd with h ex/ex hookup
- No owd
- H is demisexual (takes some time to feel attraction towards another person) and he’s a virgin. Never done anything before. She’s his first and last everything
June 2, 2025
— 4 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“She just stares at me and it tells me everything I need to know. That she has noticed, that maybe she's noticed far more than I'd realised, more than maybe I'd want her to.”
📖 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 379 pages
👤 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: Anna Harrison
🏢 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: published independently
📅 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: 3 June 2025
What you can expect:
— Adult Contemporary Sports Romance
— First Person X Dual POV
— Mascot X College Football Player
— Accidental Kidnapping = Meet Cute
— Rival Teams
— Grumpy X Sunshine
— Friends-To-Lovers
— Demisexual MMC
— ADHD Representation
— Acts of Service Love Language
— 'Who Made You Cry?'
— He's Soft, But Only For Her
𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: explicit language, sexually explicit content, internalised ableism, ableist comments, acephobic comments, manipulation and gaslighting from an ex-partner, kidnapping (prank gone wrong), and difficult parental relations.
𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲:
Fighting Spirit is an Adult Contemporary Sports Romance by debut author Anna Harrison. I was hooked from the very first chapter and just knew that I wouldn't be able to put the book down until I consumed it in its entirety from start-to-finish. This was such a wonderful and strong debut from Harrison as I find myself yearning for more from this world and it's vast array of side characters that I would love to see explored within their own books. The writing prose was stunningly immersive as I found myself ensnared into the captivating minds of our two main characters as they learn how to embrace their differences through displaying emotional vulnerabilities in a safely curated space that felt like the comforts of home. The way that the ADHD and demisexual representation felt so well fleshed out and explored in its refusal to undermine the lived in experiences that can occur as a result, and I appreciated that this created a deeper understanding for the readers' benefit. It felt seamless to invest my time into the journey that we follow about two young adults who are feeling broken, vulnerable and unsure about their place in a world that refuses to understand them and is determined to squeeze them into a box that does not fit. The steady-paced plot made Fighting Spirit an ease to read and an investment of my time as a feel-good romance that will leave you feeling giddy whilst perfectly balancing the difficult themes that are explored with care. This was a wonderful debut and I look forward to what comes next for the author.
𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭:
Imagine your children in the future asking how you and your soulmate met, just to have to explain the circumstances surrounding an accidental kidnapping which was the result of a minor miscommunication. The whole dynamic was hilarious in retrospect as ultimately there was no actual intended harm... but it's definitely understandable how traumatic this experience was for our main character, Ruth. I really appreciated that despite being fun to read about in a fictional setting, this behaviour was still highlighted to be problematic with the consequences of said behaviour swift to follow. Accountability is important regardless of intent, and I was really pleased to see the boys on the team accept those punishments without a fight as they clearly seemed to understand the severity of their mistake. I will say that I was sad at how little we saw of the team after this incident as their interactions only ever seemed to revolve around college football. I would've loved to have seen more appearances from them and to be able to witness that growth myself first-hand, but ultimately this is just a personal preference on what I had hoped to see from the book. This in no way lessens the story or its impact, so instead I am holding out hope to see more characters gain their own books in potential continuations of the series. After this occurs the plot definitely seemed to move into a more character-focused direction which I personally loved a lot as it felt well-suited to the purpose of the story. Ruth and Rowan are two young and very confused individuals who find themselves stumbling through life in search of their place in the world. Getting to understand their wants, hopes, dreams and their fears helped to humanise their characters and shaped them into something that felt immensely relatable for the reader. A large, defining aspect to both characters is the difficult relationships they have with their parents which is present throughout the entire plot. I appreciated the topics that were addressed surrounding this, however I do personally think this part of the plot felt a bit underdeveloped as a whole. I appreciated getting to meet Rowan's dad which offered a greater understanding to the divide in their relationship, however we never actually meet his mother outside of a phone who has spent the entire time acting like the peacekeeper. His father made the first move towards mending their relationship by the end, but I just really wish this had been a journey that we got to see overall as I feel like it could've further strengthened the plot and emotional significance of their progression. It's similar to Ruth's parents who don't get me wrong... they're awful people, but the only time we get to see them in during a very strained interaction during the epilogue. I would've loved to have witnessed the scene where Ruth stood up for herself and the impact that followed. This plot point felt slightly lacking in finality for me as I'm left with questions, however overall these are just the things that I personally would've loved to have seen for greater understanding and emotional impact. Fighting Spirit was still a beautifully written love story following the compelling narrative voices of our two main characters that I will happily recommend in the future.
𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬:
Ruth Walcott was such a raw and vulnerable character to explore as she worked hard to divulge into the mess of her life and transform it into a process that best supported her struggles with ADHD. The way she tried to manage everything alone without a strong support system honestly broke my heart because past experience with prejudice and judgement surrounding her disability has taken root into her brain and impacted her willingness to reach out for aid. I loved getting to explore Ruth in all of her complexities as her vulnerabilities came to the forefront of her character as a dictation of her reactions and decisions. She is messy, chaotic and worthy of so much of the love and loyalty that she continued to crave and yet be denied. Her passion and dedication towards her work as the Allbreck University’s mascot was incredible to see as it offered more insight into the sheer athleticism and enthusiasm that goes into the role. But honestly, my favourite thing about Ruth's character was just how relatable she felt for me as a reader. I do not have ADHD and therefore cannot relate on that front, but otherwise it truly felt like I was seeing a little bit of me within her. The way she continues to try so hard in the face of failure garnered all of my respect and admiration in her refusal to lay down and call it quits. The way she loves fully without hardship as she continues to offer everything she has in the hope that it'll be enough. Her quiet resolve and ability to set aside her own troubles in order to help support others was a beautiful attribute to Ruth's character that made her so easy to love and appreciate. Ruth is young woman who is full of so much light and life as she yearns to find her people in a very lonely and isolating world who continues to tell that she's not worth it. It broke my heart to come to to same realisations that she did alongside her, but I felt so much pride in the way Ruth held herself strong during these difficult moments and still continued to search for the positives. I was really proud of her character evolution as she slowly learned how to reach out for the support that she is entitled to, and the confidence within herself that began to build as a result. I can say for certain that had I had my own Ruth Walcott within my life, she would have been cherished and validated forever. I have so much love for this beautiful soul and it made me so happy to see her get to the end of her journey on such a positive and hopeful note.
Rowan Ainsley had me feeling giddy from his very first introduction as it painted a clear picture into the role that has character finds himself playing for the people in his life. Protector. Caretaker. Problem solver. Rowan gives away so much of himself without ever asking or expecting anything in return... and honestly the more we delved into the depths of his character, the more this started to make my heart ache at the injustice of it all. The entirety of Rowan's self-worth is rooted into what he feels he can do for others without complaint expectation. The way he shows up without question was beautiful to see in context but I hated seeing how his teammates and friends failed to notice how badly he was drowning in the pressure of it all. Rowan put so much focus onto himself and what he perceived to be the right course of action to take. He struggled with putting his own wants and needs first to the point that he considered them to be selfish. All he clearly wanted was to enjoy his final year at school as a young man in college before adulthood and careers came knocking, and I hated that he essentially missed out on a lot of the experiences that he yearned to have as a result of these pressures. His relationship with his father was horrible to witness as it was clear how deeply his father's disapproval and pushing surrounding the future weighed upon his shoulders. This was my first time reading about a demisexual character and I really appreciated how insightful and clear this outlined Rowan's perception of attraction and intimacy... so much so that it has me pondering my own experience with my sexuality which is not something that I've put much thought and consideration into. And yet, I've ended this book having unexpectedly seeing so much of myself within this aspect of Rowan to the point that I truly feel seen and understood for the first time in a long time. I can't explain how grateful for I am for his character as it just further cements the importance in reading diversely as you truly never know what knowledge is waiting for you to discover. I was so glad to see Rowan have the consistent love and support of his very chaotic yet immensely loyal friend, Trevor. It was a refreshing experience to learn that despite his many struggles Rowan has one constant in his life that is here to stay no matter what. I loved getting to further explore his character in a more intimate and vulnerable level as the story progressed, and honestly my biggest take away from Rowan's character is how much of a green flag he is. He doesn't always get things right and makes plenty of wrong decisions for misguided reasons throughout the book, but the conscious effort to learn and evolve from those mistakes is evident as Rowan strives to wake up every day as a better human being who has a circle of people that he is proud to claim. His gruffness was perfectly balanced with the softness that he secretly harbours, and I loved seeing all of his disconnected pieces slowly come together in the end as Rowan found himself in the midst of a life filled with love, connection and honesty.
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭:
The beginning of Rowan and Ruth's relationship was rocky at best which was made up for the fact their introduction was so memorable. I loved how much Rowan desperately tried to care for Ruth and put her at ease during one of the most terrifying moments of her life. The way he immediately adapted the role of protector despite being a complete stranger at the time reaffirmed the way that they are the perfect opposites that work to compliment each other. Their chemistry was instantaneous and easily reflected through their witty banter and genuine interactions, but I love that it took time to build on the trust and respect that acted as a foundation for their romantic relationship. I adored that the building of their friendship was the first priority as this helped establish a clear and genuine connection that seamlessly transitioned into a romantic exploration. Rowan's anxiety surrounding his sexuality and the worry about potentially being dismissed really broke my heart, but I know that I could rely on my sweet girl Ruth who accepted him without batting an eye. The way she immediately asked for clarification so that she knew how to best support him and any boundaries that he has in place truly warmed my heart, and it was beautiful to watch how seamless and instantaneous their development was from this moment. My soul hurt for Ruth when it became apparent how terrified she was to confide in Rowan about her ADHD as she has been met with mockery and dismissal in the past. The way he accepted her without question and made a conscious effort to support her without relying on her every input really showcased just how much this sweet man loves and dotes on Ruth which is everything that she deserves. I definitely found their build from acquaintance to friendship to feel more slow burn whereas their their romance felt more fast-burn once the connection was established with declarations being made seemingly quite soon, however I will say that this book has a number of smaller time jumps which progresses the story over a few months so I don't think it's as fast as it may come across. Ruth and Rowan's relationship was just so soft and wholesome as they learned how to navigate each other's individual needs so that they can thrive better as a couple. The comfort and security that they find as they learn to rely on the other without judgement was everything that I was yearning to see and I was not left disappointed. I loved how realistic their relationship read as both characters can be found making mistakes throughout the book as they continue to learn and grow, and it was incredible to see how they embraced those mistakes in a bid to learn how to be a better partner. Rowan and Ruth are such a perfect contrast and polar opposites to compliment each other so beautifully, and I had the most amazing experience getting to join them on their journey towards love filled with hardship, self-discovery, acceptance and forgiveness.
𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
This was such a strong debut by Harrison which has definitely put them on my radar for all future releases. Fighting Spirit is so worthy of being at the top of everybody's TBR and I cannot wait to see more people fall in-love with Ruth and Rowan like I have. This is an author to watch out for, for sure. I'm definitely holding out hope that we will get more from this world and its characters, especially sweet Trevor.
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“She just stares at me and it tells me everything I need to know. That she has noticed, that maybe she's noticed far more than I'd realised, more than maybe I'd want her to.”
📖 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 379 pages
👤 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: Anna Harrison
🏢 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: published independently
📅 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: 3 June 2025
What you can expect:
— Adult Contemporary Sports Romance
— First Person X Dual POV
— Mascot X College Football Player
— Accidental Kidnapping = Meet Cute
— Rival Teams
— Grumpy X Sunshine
— Friends-To-Lovers
— Demisexual MMC
— ADHD Representation
— Acts of Service Love Language
— 'Who Made You Cry?'
— He's Soft, But Only For Her
𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: explicit language, sexually explicit content, internalised ableism, ableist comments, acephobic comments, manipulation and gaslighting from an ex-partner, kidnapping (prank gone wrong), and difficult parental relations.
𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲:
Fighting Spirit is an Adult Contemporary Sports Romance by debut author Anna Harrison. I was hooked from the very first chapter and just knew that I wouldn't be able to put the book down until I consumed it in its entirety from start-to-finish. This was such a wonderful and strong debut from Harrison as I find myself yearning for more from this world and it's vast array of side characters that I would love to see explored within their own books. The writing prose was stunningly immersive as I found myself ensnared into the captivating minds of our two main characters as they learn how to embrace their differences through displaying emotional vulnerabilities in a safely curated space that felt like the comforts of home. The way that the ADHD and demisexual representation felt so well fleshed out and explored in its refusal to undermine the lived in experiences that can occur as a result, and I appreciated that this created a deeper understanding for the readers' benefit. It felt seamless to invest my time into the journey that we follow about two young adults who are feeling broken, vulnerable and unsure about their place in a world that refuses to understand them and is determined to squeeze them into a box that does not fit. The steady-paced plot made Fighting Spirit an ease to read and an investment of my time as a feel-good romance that will leave you feeling giddy whilst perfectly balancing the difficult themes that are explored with care. This was a wonderful debut and I look forward to what comes next for the author.
𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭:
Imagine your children in the future asking how you and your soulmate met, just to have to explain the circumstances surrounding an accidental kidnapping which was the result of a minor miscommunication. The whole dynamic was hilarious in retrospect as ultimately there was no actual intended harm... but it's definitely understandable how traumatic this experience was for our main character, Ruth. I really appreciated that despite being fun to read about in a fictional setting, this behaviour was still highlighted to be problematic with the consequences of said behaviour swift to follow. Accountability is important regardless of intent, and I was really pleased to see the boys on the team accept those punishments without a fight as they clearly seemed to understand the severity of their mistake. I will say that I was sad at how little we saw of the team after this incident as their interactions only ever seemed to revolve around college football. I would've loved to have seen more appearances from them and to be able to witness that growth myself first-hand, but ultimately this is just a personal preference on what I had hoped to see from the book. This in no way lessens the story or its impact, so instead I am holding out hope to see more characters gain their own books in potential continuations of the series. After this occurs the plot definitely seemed to move into a more character-focused direction which I personally loved a lot as it felt well-suited to the purpose of the story. Ruth and Rowan are two young and very confused individuals who find themselves stumbling through life in search of their place in the world. Getting to understand their wants, hopes, dreams and their fears helped to humanise their characters and shaped them into something that felt immensely relatable for the reader. A large, defining aspect to both characters is the difficult relationships they have with their parents which is present throughout the entire plot. I appreciated the topics that were addressed surrounding this, however I do personally think this part of the plot felt a bit underdeveloped as a whole. I appreciated getting to meet Rowan's dad which offered a greater understanding to the divide in their relationship, however we never actually meet his mother outside of a phone who has spent the entire time acting like the peacekeeper. His father made the first move towards mending their relationship by the end, but I just really wish this had been a journey that we got to see overall as I feel like it could've further strengthened the plot and emotional significance of their progression. It's similar to Ruth's parents who don't get me wrong... they're awful people, but the only time we get to see them in during a very strained interaction during the epilogue. I would've loved to have witnessed the scene where Ruth stood up for herself and the impact that followed. This plot point felt slightly lacking in finality for me as I'm left with questions, however overall these are just the things that I personally would've loved to have seen for greater understanding and emotional impact. Fighting Spirit was still a beautifully written love story following the compelling narrative voices of our two main characters that I will happily recommend in the future.
𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬:
Ruth Walcott was such a raw and vulnerable character to explore as she worked hard to divulge into the mess of her life and transform it into a process that best supported her struggles with ADHD. The way she tried to manage everything alone without a strong support system honestly broke my heart because past experience with prejudice and judgement surrounding her disability has taken root into her brain and impacted her willingness to reach out for aid. I loved getting to explore Ruth in all of her complexities as her vulnerabilities came to the forefront of her character as a dictation of her reactions and decisions. She is messy, chaotic and worthy of so much of the love and loyalty that she continued to crave and yet be denied. Her passion and dedication towards her work as the Allbreck University’s mascot was incredible to see as it offered more insight into the sheer athleticism and enthusiasm that goes into the role. But honestly, my favourite thing about Ruth's character was just how relatable she felt for me as a reader. I do not have ADHD and therefore cannot relate on that front, but otherwise it truly felt like I was seeing a little bit of me within her. The way she continues to try so hard in the face of failure garnered all of my respect and admiration in her refusal to lay down and call it quits. The way she loves fully without hardship as she continues to offer everything she has in the hope that it'll be enough. Her quiet resolve and ability to set aside her own troubles in order to help support others was a beautiful attribute to Ruth's character that made her so easy to love and appreciate. Ruth is young woman who is full of so much light and life as she yearns to find her people in a very lonely and isolating world who continues to tell that she's not worth it. It broke my heart to come to to same realisations that she did alongside her, but I felt so much pride in the way Ruth held herself strong during these difficult moments and still continued to search for the positives. I was really proud of her character evolution as she slowly learned how to reach out for the support that she is entitled to, and the confidence within herself that began to build as a result. I can say for certain that had I had my own Ruth Walcott within my life, she would have been cherished and validated forever. I have so much love for this beautiful soul and it made me so happy to see her get to the end of her journey on such a positive and hopeful note.
Rowan Ainsley had me feeling giddy from his very first introduction as it painted a clear picture into the role that has character finds himself playing for the people in his life. Protector. Caretaker. Problem solver. Rowan gives away so much of himself without ever asking or expecting anything in return... and honestly the more we delved into the depths of his character, the more this started to make my heart ache at the injustice of it all. The entirety of Rowan's self-worth is rooted into what he feels he can do for others without complaint expectation. The way he shows up without question was beautiful to see in context but I hated seeing how his teammates and friends failed to notice how badly he was drowning in the pressure of it all. Rowan put so much focus onto himself and what he perceived to be the right course of action to take. He struggled with putting his own wants and needs first to the point that he considered them to be selfish. All he clearly wanted was to enjoy his final year at school as a young man in college before adulthood and careers came knocking, and I hated that he essentially missed out on a lot of the experiences that he yearned to have as a result of these pressures. His relationship with his father was horrible to witness as it was clear how deeply his father's disapproval and pushing surrounding the future weighed upon his shoulders. This was my first time reading about a demisexual character and I really appreciated how insightful and clear this outlined Rowan's perception of attraction and intimacy... so much so that it has me pondering my own experience with my sexuality which is not something that I've put much thought and consideration into. And yet, I've ended this book having unexpectedly seeing so much of myself within this aspect of Rowan to the point that I truly feel seen and understood for the first time in a long time. I can't explain how grateful for I am for his character as it just further cements the importance in reading diversely as you truly never know what knowledge is waiting for you to discover. I was so glad to see Rowan have the consistent love and support of his very chaotic yet immensely loyal friend, Trevor. It was a refreshing experience to learn that despite his many struggles Rowan has one constant in his life that is here to stay no matter what. I loved getting to further explore his character in a more intimate and vulnerable level as the story progressed, and honestly my biggest take away from Rowan's character is how much of a green flag he is. He doesn't always get things right and makes plenty of wrong decisions for misguided reasons throughout the book, but the conscious effort to learn and evolve from those mistakes is evident as Rowan strives to wake up every day as a better human being who has a circle of people that he is proud to claim. His gruffness was perfectly balanced with the softness that he secretly harbours, and I loved seeing all of his disconnected pieces slowly come together in the end as Rowan found himself in the midst of a life filled with love, connection and honesty.
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭:
The beginning of Rowan and Ruth's relationship was rocky at best which was made up for the fact their introduction was so memorable. I loved how much Rowan desperately tried to care for Ruth and put her at ease during one of the most terrifying moments of her life. The way he immediately adapted the role of protector despite being a complete stranger at the time reaffirmed the way that they are the perfect opposites that work to compliment each other. Their chemistry was instantaneous and easily reflected through their witty banter and genuine interactions, but I love that it took time to build on the trust and respect that acted as a foundation for their romantic relationship. I adored that the building of their friendship was the first priority as this helped establish a clear and genuine connection that seamlessly transitioned into a romantic exploration. Rowan's anxiety surrounding his sexuality and the worry about potentially being dismissed really broke my heart, but I know that I could rely on my sweet girl Ruth who accepted him without batting an eye. The way she immediately asked for clarification so that she knew how to best support him and any boundaries that he has in place truly warmed my heart, and it was beautiful to watch how seamless and instantaneous their development was from this moment. My soul hurt for Ruth when it became apparent how terrified she was to confide in Rowan about her ADHD as she has been met with mockery and dismissal in the past. The way he accepted her without question and made a conscious effort to support her without relying on her every input really showcased just how much this sweet man loves and dotes on Ruth which is everything that she deserves. I definitely found their build from acquaintance to friendship to feel more slow burn whereas their their romance felt more fast-burn once the connection was established with declarations being made seemingly quite soon, however I will say that this book has a number of smaller time jumps which progresses the story over a few months so I don't think it's as fast as it may come across. Ruth and Rowan's relationship was just so soft and wholesome as they learned how to navigate each other's individual needs so that they can thrive better as a couple. The comfort and security that they find as they learn to rely on the other without judgement was everything that I was yearning to see and I was not left disappointed. I loved how realistic their relationship read as both characters can be found making mistakes throughout the book as they continue to learn and grow, and it was incredible to see how they embraced those mistakes in a bid to learn how to be a better partner. Rowan and Ruth are such a perfect contrast and polar opposites to compliment each other so beautifully, and I had the most amazing experience getting to join them on their journey towards love filled with hardship, self-discovery, acceptance and forgiveness.
𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
This was such a strong debut by Harrison which has definitely put them on my radar for all future releases. Fighting Spirit is so worthy of being at the top of everybody's TBR and I cannot wait to see more people fall in-love with Ruth and Rowan like I have. This is an author to watch out for, for sure. I'm definitely holding out hope that we will get more from this world and its characters, especially sweet Trevor.
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲.
August 11, 2025
if someone called me a default friend i think i would k*ll myself in front of them to change the trajectory of their life forever but thats just me
September 16, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
“You’re it for me, Ruth. You’re always gonna be my favorite, my first choice.”
this was cute it was very fast paced and addicting like i was never bored which is always a plus!! idk the cussing and it didn’t start out very physical but their relationship sort of developed fast and then it sort of seemed lusty ?? idk but i also cringed a little at some of the lines or like what was happening. still liked it tho 🫶🏻
“You’re it for me, Ruth. You’re always gonna be my favorite, my first choice.”
this was cute it was very fast paced and addicting like i was never bored which is always a plus!! idk the cussing and it didn’t start out very physical but their relationship sort of developed fast and then it sort of seemed lusty ?? idk but i also cringed a little at some of the lines or like what was happening. still liked it tho 🫶🏻
July 30, 2025
My ADHD is ADHDing and I feel SEEN
This is a cute lil ETL-lite romance that spoke to me in so many ways. Oof. Frog is me and I am Frog.
🥲
This is a cute lil ETL-lite romance that spoke to me in so many ways. Oof. Frog is me and I am Frog.
why can't I just be somebody's first choice?
🥲
I'm just so tired of my big feelings, of living in my chaotic brain, of all these unmet expectations.
July 20, 2025
I had such a good time: it was a read that was both cute and impactful. I couldn't help but be touched by the author's words. This book was a real hug for the heart. Various important topics that we don't often read about in romance.
Rowan, what a perfect bookboyfriend. A sweetheart! He's demisexual and I loved following his journey to love someone. I've never read a character like this. The fact that he doesn't feel any attraction unless he gets to know the person very well first. Rowan also wants to make his dad proud by sharing his passion for football with him but he doesn't see all his efforts…I loved how Ruth protects Rowan from his father and how he cares about her allergies.
Ruth, what a smart, capable young woman. I felt like I was seeing myself, at a time in my life I'd rather forget. Ruth's studies are difficult; she's an ADHD student and doesn't have much academic support. She's truly brave because she also has to manage her allergies. But it's in her relationships with others and the way she reacts that I recognized myself. The fear of rejection, the feeling of being unwanted, that someone doesn't want our company. Being the last choice. I feel you, Ruth.
It's the story of two young people who just needed to be someone's first choice. Nothing was rushed: they figured things out in their own time and let themselves be carried away by their feelings. There were so many cute moments that showed how much they cared about each other.
This is the author's first book but I need her to write more because DAMN. Is it possible to have something about Trevor? He's the cutest chef in the world (not the best though)...
Rowan, what a perfect bookboyfriend. A sweetheart! He's demisexual and I loved following his journey to love someone. I've never read a character like this. The fact that he doesn't feel any attraction unless he gets to know the person very well first. Rowan also wants to make his dad proud by sharing his passion for football with him but he doesn't see all his efforts…I loved how Ruth protects Rowan from his father and how he cares about her allergies.
Ruth, what a smart, capable young woman. I felt like I was seeing myself, at a time in my life I'd rather forget. Ruth's studies are difficult; she's an ADHD student and doesn't have much academic support. She's truly brave because she also has to manage her allergies. But it's in her relationships with others and the way she reacts that I recognized myself. The fear of rejection, the feeling of being unwanted, that someone doesn't want our company. Being the last choice. I feel you, Ruth.
It's the story of two young people who just needed to be someone's first choice. Nothing was rushed: they figured things out in their own time and let themselves be carried away by their feelings. There were so many cute moments that showed how much they cared about each other.
This is the author's first book but I need her to write more because DAMN. Is it possible to have something about Trevor? He's the cutest chef in the world (not the best though)...
June 1, 2025
It started really well and I was enjoying the first 50% of the book, the meet-cute, the typical romance subplots, but then everything felt rushed and the FMC’s actions felt unlike an act of an adult woman, I understand that she struggles with ADHD but there’s the childish things she’s saying and/or doing that I reached the point of rolling my eyes. MMC was oookay, but, his lines were cliche at almost everything he says about Ruth, now I understand that this is I debut, and I’m not one to judge and be “it’s a debut so it won’t be good” type of person, but when I read the first half my expectations were getting high and I generally thought that I would LOVE this book. The writing is SURPRISINGLY was really great, imo.
Thanks for whoever is responsible for giving me this ARC.
Thanks for whoever is responsible for giving me this ARC.
November 14, 2025
I didn't expect a sport romance to hit me in the feels. Both main characters were very relatable; I recognized some of their struggles, and they were a great match. I loved that there was more room for the emotions of the male main character, and his personal life besides the relationship was just as important as hers. There was also the right amount of sport without making it seem like it's their whole life.
Oh, and one more thing: what is an "endlessly sexy two-finger wave"? 😂 We had so much fun figuring out what that looks like.
Nothing that makes your life easier to manage or run more smoothly or whatever the fuck it is you need, none of it is embarrassing or shameful. If you need these lists to help you, then I'll turn them into my fuckin' wallpaper, and nobody's gonna say shit about it.
Oh, and one more thing: what is an "endlessly sexy two-finger wave"? 😂 We had so much fun figuring out what that looks like.
July 18, 2025
It is actually criminal how this book can have an original and thoughtful premise but still end up being terrible. This could have been a well fleshed out coming of age/adulthood story but the main plot lines were rushed and not properly executed. The prose was all over the place, misplaced like the author didn’t know how to tackle each plot point. She just made a checklist of ideas and stopped the brainstorming. I know writing a book is difficult and practice makes perfect so I won’t completely write off Anna Harrison.
And you’re probably thinking, “it’s a kindle romance, it was never going to be pulitzer worthy” I have read multiple kindle books that are well written and i thought this would be one of them.
Honestly. Is just me that wants to treat herself to some NICE lighthearted reads about people (girls especially) with adhd? We are unfortunately too old to be rating books like these with anything above 3 stars because that just makes room for more poor storytelling.
And you’re probably thinking, “it’s a kindle romance, it was never going to be pulitzer worthy” I have read multiple kindle books that are well written and i thought this would be one of them.
Honestly. Is just me that wants to treat herself to some NICE lighthearted reads about people (girls especially) with adhd? We are unfortunately too old to be rating books like these with anything above 3 stars because that just makes room for more poor storytelling.
June 24, 2025
I LOVED THIS!!!
I was kicking my feet and giggling the whole time!!
(literally laughing out loud on an airplane, how gauche)
No but Ruth and Rowan are adorable and so in love with each other and they love taking care of one another!!!
Ruth has really severe ADHD, and it’s important both to the story and to their relationship!! It’s talked about and addressed in such a great way!
Mini highlights reel:
-he braids her hair
-she stands up for him
-acts of service
-witty banter
-she’s a mascot for her college football team and LOVES IT
-he’s a football player from the rival team
I was kicking my feet and giggling the whole time!!
(literally laughing out loud on an airplane, how gauche)
No but Ruth and Rowan are adorable and so in love with each other and they love taking care of one another!!!
Ruth has really severe ADHD, and it’s important both to the story and to their relationship!! It’s talked about and addressed in such a great way!
Mini highlights reel:
-he braids her hair
-she stands up for him
-acts of service
-witty banter
-she’s a mascot for her college football team and LOVES IT
-he’s a football player from the rival team
June 8, 2025
I really enjoyed this read and the characters! I love how it wasn't your typical sports romance. I was also pleasantly surprised how well the topic of ADHD and other topics in the story were written and how each character developed through the story. As her first novel I think Anna Harrison did a great job. I really hope Trevor gets a story next 🤞🏻
June 11, 2025
3/3.5
It was cute! Classic college sports romance vibes
It was cute! Classic college sports romance vibes
July 7, 2025
i LOVED THIS SO MUCH OMMMMG
July 17, 2025
this was such a soft & sweet college romance!! a truly solid debut that makes me excited to read more from this author in the future <3
August 24, 2025
I absolutely loved this book!
The ADHD representation is perfect and so accurate. I almost cried.
It is the perfect mix between reality, human flaws and a beautiful romance
The ADHD representation is perfect and so accurate. I almost cried.
It is the perfect mix between reality, human flaws and a beautiful romance
September 1, 2025
2.5 ⭐️ but rounding up
November 22, 2025
I know the whole thing was that she feels she is too much and never enough but both of them were too much.
August 1, 2025
absolutely devoured this book during my hiatus from reading ❤️
June 8, 2025
1.5 ☆
Honestly, every character was insufferable. I should've DNF'd.
Honestly, every character was insufferable. I should've DNF'd.
September 1, 2025
4.5 stars! Now. I've read some life changing books in my life. But this was completely unexpected! I had the worst time with the first 20%, my bestie also bless her tried reading this for me, but couldn't get past 15%. I soft dnf'd for over 50 days. Almost dnf'd completely. And then BAM. One of my new favourites. I picked this book up because the fmc has ADHD and I'm fairly sure so do I. So I wanted to see this authors interpretation. What I wasn't expecting was how much I felt seen, and validated. I learnt so much more about myself through reading this book. Things that I've always blamed myself for now make sense. I have a new level of understanding and even respect for myself. Ruth is a character I'm now forever indebted to for showing me things about myself I didn't know were related to ADHD that are. Also her rejection sensitive dysphoria was CRAZY relatable. And my sweet sweet Rowan. He was a virgin and is demisexual, as someone who is also both I felt so seen and represented. I related so much to both characters. Rowan was just top tier book boyfriend, constantly looking out for Ruth, being protective and possessive but also so so sweet. I just truly loved this book. I love NA and college romance so the setting was perfect, the Footballer and Mascot was so good. There's a scene where Ruth realises her friend is actually just someone who she projected friendship on and that she didn't have any friends outside of, and her friend was only inviting her because she felt bad. And that exact thing happened to me in sixth form and that hurt too. Ruth is also not the most trusting and it's hard to get her talk about herself and I RELATE. All the quotes. All the scenes. The spice! When he puts her charts on his walls. The honest conversation he has with his team! Just everything about this book was perfection to me.
Quotes for my bestie because she asked!
“I’m just being oversensitive.” “You’re not over-anything.
Why do I always have to be such a mess? I thought I’d got past all this shit. The ugly feeling of failure bears down so hard it might crush me. I tried so hard to do everything right, but still can’t seem to manage the things that are so basic for everyone else.
Even if it’s just for a minute, just so I can breathe for a second without the self-loathing killing me. Besides, it’s partly true. My brain will hook onto anything to distract itself
I figured he would be relieved not to be bombarded by all my bullshit.
Maybe we’ve both just been circling, waiting for the other to show their belly first.
My body itches to break the quiet, not sure what he’s thinking and desperately uncomfortable with that, but I can’t think of a single reasonable thing to say.
This is the kind of humiliation that’s going to keep me awake ten years from now.
“Stop it over there.” “I’m not doing anything,” I hiss back, immediately going on the defensive. “You’re spiraling,” he replies bluntly. “It’s annoying.” “Of course I’m fucking spiraling!” I know my anger is misdirected
“I’ve never gone for anything casual. You know I’m not a spontaneous guy, and I just… I just don’t really feel that way…ever. About anyone. Not unless I know them really well.”
“I’ll call you, okay?” I won’t. I know I won’t. I know myself, and I know that this embarrassment, this feeling of hot, prickly rejection, isn’t something that’s going to go away in a hurry. Until it does, the thought of showing my face anywhere near Rowan Ainsley feels absolutely unbearable.
try to rationalize the feeling, telling myself that it’s just my rejection-sensitive dysphoria.
Idon’t know where I’m headed, but I know I need to get there fast. What in the actual hell was I thinking? It was like my brain got hijacked and I just started spouting off at Rowan’s dad.
“I’m not good with feelings. It takes me a while to work out where I stand, but I know I’m crazy about you, Ruth.”
stacking bobby pins back into the ceramic dish I bought at a flea market to hold them in. I’d thought having a cute container would get me to actually put them away, but it only lasted a week before they were thrown across my room again.
The despair is unstoppable. I feel like I’m never going to be able to get through school, or achieve anything I want to do—if I even knew what I wanted to do—if I can’t get over this one thing.
“I tried, but when I went to the school, it was this whole process and a bunch of forms, and I couldn’t face it.”
“It just feels really insurmountable, like it was this whole thing and I didn’t know how to fix it, so I just kept putting it off, and then suddenly a whole year had passed, and I was in this black hole I couldn’t get out of, and all my professors think I’m lazy and that I don’t care because I forget projects and I don’t study for tests.” It’s hard to keep talking through the tears that threaten to come again. “But I care so much! They just never see that because none of them think to wonder why I’m having so much trouble.”
“I don’t want to live like this,” I wail, “I want to be normal. I can’t do anything, I can’t keep my room clean, I can’t do my dishes or shower or brush my teeth without a chart telling me to. I just want to get through school without feeling like such a total fuckup all the time.” Every bad feeling I’ve ever had, every mean comment or condescending word I’ve ever heard crashes over me like a wave. It’s like I’m drowning with no way to the surface.
“You are mine. So your problems are mine, your hurt is mine, your happiness is mine to share, and your achievements are mine to cheer you on for. The same way I’m yours. Every breath in my lungs, every cell in my body, is yours. If you want something, fuckin’ take it because it’s my privilege to give it to you.
Holy shit. It was all in my head. Our whole friendship, I just projected feelings onto her. I basically forced her to hang out with me so that I wouldn’t feel so alone. I’m not even angry anymore. None of this is her fault. I just can’t believe how stupid I am.
You’re my first choice, I want to say. My first, my only, the best choice I ever made. I’d live with you on the moon, under the sea, in a treehouse fifty feet high, and I’d never get tired of you, never stop thinking how I’m the luckiest bastard in the world to get to see you every day, because I’m so God damn in love with you that it’s nearly killing me. I don’t know who the fuck decided to put you in my path that night, but I wish I did so I could tell them they sent me the girl that turned my world upside down in the best possible way. You make me Ruth, you make me whole, you make me happy, you’re fuckin’ everything to me, and any kind of life that you’re not in is a pale imitation now that I’ve seen the real thing. But I can’t tell her any of that. Not tonight, not when she wouldn’t believe me.
Nothing that helps you, nothing that makes your life easier to manage or run more smoothly or whatever the fuck it is you need, none of it is embarrassing or shameful. It kills me that you feel like you need to hide these parts of yourself. I
“It seemed really daunting, the thought of explaining everything and then having to work out what I actually wanted to ask for. It just got really easy to put it off. Plus, I think I was embarrassed. I thought if I just kept my head down and worked harder, then I would be able to manage fine by myself.”
“I haven’t even figured out my major yet,” I say weakly. “So?” She frowns. “Ruth, most students your age still have no idea what they want to do with their lives, and that’s fine. Allbreck doesn’t actually require you to declare until the end of your junior year, so there’s plenty of time for you to figure out what you like and what you might want to focus on. Besides, your major here doesn’t determine the trajectory of your life. Obviously it can be helpful, and it’s a decision you should take seriously, but all it really is,
I’m just so tired of my big feelings, of living in my chaotic brain, of all these unmet expectations.
Quotes for my bestie because she asked!
“I’m just being oversensitive.” “You’re not over-anything.
Why do I always have to be such a mess? I thought I’d got past all this shit. The ugly feeling of failure bears down so hard it might crush me. I tried so hard to do everything right, but still can’t seem to manage the things that are so basic for everyone else.
Even if it’s just for a minute, just so I can breathe for a second without the self-loathing killing me. Besides, it’s partly true. My brain will hook onto anything to distract itself
I figured he would be relieved not to be bombarded by all my bullshit.
Maybe we’ve both just been circling, waiting for the other to show their belly first.
My body itches to break the quiet, not sure what he’s thinking and desperately uncomfortable with that, but I can’t think of a single reasonable thing to say.
This is the kind of humiliation that’s going to keep me awake ten years from now.
“Stop it over there.” “I’m not doing anything,” I hiss back, immediately going on the defensive. “You’re spiraling,” he replies bluntly. “It’s annoying.” “Of course I’m fucking spiraling!” I know my anger is misdirected
“I’ve never gone for anything casual. You know I’m not a spontaneous guy, and I just… I just don’t really feel that way…ever. About anyone. Not unless I know them really well.”
“I’ll call you, okay?” I won’t. I know I won’t. I know myself, and I know that this embarrassment, this feeling of hot, prickly rejection, isn’t something that’s going to go away in a hurry. Until it does, the thought of showing my face anywhere near Rowan Ainsley feels absolutely unbearable.
try to rationalize the feeling, telling myself that it’s just my rejection-sensitive dysphoria.
Idon’t know where I’m headed, but I know I need to get there fast. What in the actual hell was I thinking? It was like my brain got hijacked and I just started spouting off at Rowan’s dad.
“I’m not good with feelings. It takes me a while to work out where I stand, but I know I’m crazy about you, Ruth.”
stacking bobby pins back into the ceramic dish I bought at a flea market to hold them in. I’d thought having a cute container would get me to actually put them away, but it only lasted a week before they were thrown across my room again.
The despair is unstoppable. I feel like I’m never going to be able to get through school, or achieve anything I want to do—if I even knew what I wanted to do—if I can’t get over this one thing.
“I tried, but when I went to the school, it was this whole process and a bunch of forms, and I couldn’t face it.”
“It just feels really insurmountable, like it was this whole thing and I didn’t know how to fix it, so I just kept putting it off, and then suddenly a whole year had passed, and I was in this black hole I couldn’t get out of, and all my professors think I’m lazy and that I don’t care because I forget projects and I don’t study for tests.” It’s hard to keep talking through the tears that threaten to come again. “But I care so much! They just never see that because none of them think to wonder why I’m having so much trouble.”
“I don’t want to live like this,” I wail, “I want to be normal. I can’t do anything, I can’t keep my room clean, I can’t do my dishes or shower or brush my teeth without a chart telling me to. I just want to get through school without feeling like such a total fuckup all the time.” Every bad feeling I’ve ever had, every mean comment or condescending word I’ve ever heard crashes over me like a wave. It’s like I’m drowning with no way to the surface.
“You are mine. So your problems are mine, your hurt is mine, your happiness is mine to share, and your achievements are mine to cheer you on for. The same way I’m yours. Every breath in my lungs, every cell in my body, is yours. If you want something, fuckin’ take it because it’s my privilege to give it to you.
Holy shit. It was all in my head. Our whole friendship, I just projected feelings onto her. I basically forced her to hang out with me so that I wouldn’t feel so alone. I’m not even angry anymore. None of this is her fault. I just can’t believe how stupid I am.
You’re my first choice, I want to say. My first, my only, the best choice I ever made. I’d live with you on the moon, under the sea, in a treehouse fifty feet high, and I’d never get tired of you, never stop thinking how I’m the luckiest bastard in the world to get to see you every day, because I’m so God damn in love with you that it’s nearly killing me. I don’t know who the fuck decided to put you in my path that night, but I wish I did so I could tell them they sent me the girl that turned my world upside down in the best possible way. You make me Ruth, you make me whole, you make me happy, you’re fuckin’ everything to me, and any kind of life that you’re not in is a pale imitation now that I’ve seen the real thing. But I can’t tell her any of that. Not tonight, not when she wouldn’t believe me.
Nothing that helps you, nothing that makes your life easier to manage or run more smoothly or whatever the fuck it is you need, none of it is embarrassing or shameful. It kills me that you feel like you need to hide these parts of yourself. I
“It seemed really daunting, the thought of explaining everything and then having to work out what I actually wanted to ask for. It just got really easy to put it off. Plus, I think I was embarrassed. I thought if I just kept my head down and worked harder, then I would be able to manage fine by myself.”
“I haven’t even figured out my major yet,” I say weakly. “So?” She frowns. “Ruth, most students your age still have no idea what they want to do with their lives, and that’s fine. Allbreck doesn’t actually require you to declare until the end of your junior year, so there’s plenty of time for you to figure out what you like and what you might want to focus on. Besides, your major here doesn’t determine the trajectory of your life. Obviously it can be helpful, and it’s a decision you should take seriously, but all it really is,
I’m just so tired of my big feelings, of living in my chaotic brain, of all these unmet expectations.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 3, 2025
”I’m a toad, asshole.”
Rating: 5/5 ⭐
Spice: 2/5 🌶️
This book was without any doubt amazing and I’m so grateful to have received this arc.
When I saw a post about this pop up on tiktok, I immediately followed the author and was so excited when there was arc sign ups. I was drawn to the accidental kidnapping and ADHD rep and something I hadn’t read about in a book, Rowan being demisexual.
This book had me smiling and laughing within the first two chapters and I could hardly put it down.
‼️ Slight spoilers in form of quotes in italics ‼️
“Well we wouldn’t have knowingly kidnapped a lady…”
“You shouldn’t be kidnapping anybody!”
The accidental kidnapping was a hilarious start or the story and immediately set the vibes and the first feel of the characters. We had Rowan being the “fixer” for his teammates and immediately trying to take care of Ruth.
Ruth’s chaotic mind was amazingly written and I could relate to her sometimes spiralling out of control. Her insecurities were something that hit home hard as someone who’s always felt like a second choice.
I loved the banter between the two of them, it had me kicking my feet and giggling the entire time.
“I’d give this kidnapping a six out of ten at best.”
“Only a six?”
“Don’t worry, you’re still in my top five kidnappers.”
Now Rowan was an amazing mmc and immediately hit my list of favourite book boyfriends. The way he was always there for Ruth. He had his own insecurities and pressure onto him and he definitely made me cry a few times. Hearing him tell Ruth about his demisexuality was something that made me feel seen. I would put it in this review but I feel like it needs to be read in the book to get the full impact so you’ll just have to read it to experience it!
They’re the cutest couple and this book made me feel so happy, understood and emotional in the best way possible.
The spice was romantic and minimal, but be aware that it is open door even if there’s only two scenes in it!
Also shoutout to Trevor because I love him and he’s a hilarious side character.
“I’m that weird third wheel where you’re basically my parents.”
Definitely a five star read for me and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future!
Rating: 5/5 ⭐
Spice: 2/5 🌶️
This book was without any doubt amazing and I’m so grateful to have received this arc.
When I saw a post about this pop up on tiktok, I immediately followed the author and was so excited when there was arc sign ups. I was drawn to the accidental kidnapping and ADHD rep and something I hadn’t read about in a book, Rowan being demisexual.
This book had me smiling and laughing within the first two chapters and I could hardly put it down.
‼️ Slight spoilers in form of quotes in italics ‼️
“Well we wouldn’t have knowingly kidnapped a lady…”
“You shouldn’t be kidnapping anybody!”
The accidental kidnapping was a hilarious start or the story and immediately set the vibes and the first feel of the characters. We had Rowan being the “fixer” for his teammates and immediately trying to take care of Ruth.
Ruth’s chaotic mind was amazingly written and I could relate to her sometimes spiralling out of control. Her insecurities were something that hit home hard as someone who’s always felt like a second choice.
I loved the banter between the two of them, it had me kicking my feet and giggling the entire time.
“I’d give this kidnapping a six out of ten at best.”
“Only a six?”
“Don’t worry, you’re still in my top five kidnappers.”
Now Rowan was an amazing mmc and immediately hit my list of favourite book boyfriends. The way he was always there for Ruth. He had his own insecurities and pressure onto him and he definitely made me cry a few times. Hearing him tell Ruth about his demisexuality was something that made me feel seen. I would put it in this review but I feel like it needs to be read in the book to get the full impact so you’ll just have to read it to experience it!
They’re the cutest couple and this book made me feel so happy, understood and emotional in the best way possible.
The spice was romantic and minimal, but be aware that it is open door even if there’s only two scenes in it!
Also shoutout to Trevor because I love him and he’s a hilarious side character.
“I’m that weird third wheel where you’re basically my parents.”
Definitely a five star read for me and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future!
June 19, 2025
4.25⭑
Fighting Spirit is a phenomenal debut from Anna Harrison and i already can’t wait to read any and all future releases from her!!
This book follows Ruth, a college student who also happens to be her football team’s mascot, and Rowan, a football player on the rival football team. One evening Rowan’s teammates kidnap Ruth while she’s still in her costume and take her to their team house. Rowan is, understandably furious with his teammates and does his best to make things up to a scared Ruth.
The two of them develop a strong friendship followed by a tension filled slow burn romance. I can’t put into words how much i LOVED the romance between them and just want everyone to experience it and love it like I did!!
This book has everything you’d love from a dual pov, grumpy x sunshine and a college romance setting. It also has excellent representation of ADHD and demisexuality, which the author handled with care.
A huge thank you to the author for sending me an early copy in exchange for my honest review.
Fighting Spirit is a phenomenal debut from Anna Harrison and i already can’t wait to read any and all future releases from her!!
This book follows Ruth, a college student who also happens to be her football team’s mascot, and Rowan, a football player on the rival football team. One evening Rowan’s teammates kidnap Ruth while she’s still in her costume and take her to their team house. Rowan is, understandably furious with his teammates and does his best to make things up to a scared Ruth.
The two of them develop a strong friendship followed by a tension filled slow burn romance. I can’t put into words how much i LOVED the romance between them and just want everyone to experience it and love it like I did!!
This book has everything you’d love from a dual pov, grumpy x sunshine and a college romance setting. It also has excellent representation of ADHD and demisexuality, which the author handled with care.
A huge thank you to the author for sending me an early copy in exchange for my honest review.
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