What do you think?
Rate this book
Win Some, Lose Some
For Matthew Rohan, every day is a struggle. Each task others complete without thinking is a challenge for him. Recently orphaned, he has to finish the last few months of high school and take care of his disabled sister on his own.
When Mayra comes into his life, his comfortable routines implode. Matthew can’t handle change, but Mayra is unrelenting in her quest to understand him, to show him acceptance and maybe even love. When she breaks through his shell, Matthew’s world will never be the same again.
An awkward boy with Asperger’s Syndrome, a persistent girl who pulls him out of his isolated existence, and a lottery ticket that will change their lives forever.
When Mayra comes into his life, his comfortable routines implode. Matthew can’t handle change, but Mayra is unrelenting in her quest to understand him, to show him acceptance and maybe even love. When she breaks through his shell, Matthew’s world will never be the same again.
An awkward boy with Asperger’s Syndrome, a persistent girl who pulls him out of his isolated existence, and a lottery ticket that will change their lives forever.
425 pages, ebook
First published October 14, 2016
About the author
Shay Savage
46 books3,678 followersShay Savage is an independent author from Cincinnati, Ohio, where she lives with her family and a variety of household pets. She is an accomplished public speaker and holds the rank of Distinguished Toastmaster from Toastmasters International. Her hobbies include off-roading in her big, yellow Jeep, science fiction in all forms, and soccer. Savage holds a degree in psychology, and she brings a lot of that knowledge into the characters within her stories.
From the author: “It’s my job to make you FEEL. That doesn’t always mean you’ll feel good, but I want my readers to be connected enough to my characters to care.”
Savage’s books many books span a wide variety of topics and sub-genres with deeply flawed characters. From cavemen to addicts to hitmen, you’ll find yourself falling for these seemingly irredeemable characters!
From the author: “It’s my job to make you FEEL. That doesn’t always mean you’ll feel good, but I want my readers to be connected enough to my characters to care.”
Savage’s books many books span a wide variety of topics and sub-genres with deeply flawed characters. From cavemen to addicts to hitmen, you’ll find yourself falling for these seemingly irredeemable characters!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 461 reviews
October 7, 2016
As you may know, I’m a big fan of this author. I enjoyed every book I’ve read by her so far and honestly she never ceases to amaze me with her wonderful storytelling and perfectly executed male POV, which trust me when I say, it’s the best ever! 'Win Some, Lose Some' is very different from this author's other books, but it's as wonderful and well written, it's sweet and sexy, emotional, heartwarming and everything I expected to be.
“…you win some days; you lose others. That’s just how it works.”
Matthew Rohan is different and he knows that. He always had been “special” like his parents used to say. He has Asperger’s Syndrome so each task is a challenge for him. Every day is a struggle for poor Matthew, especially since his parents passed away a year ago. All of Matthew teachers know that he’s different and know one of his triggers is unexpected change, all with one exception apparently, because Matthew is paired for a school project with someone else than his usual partner. All he wants is to graduate, get a job and care for his big sister who also has Asperger’s Syndrome so he needs a good grade.
“This was new. This was different. I always panicked at new and different. However, I was also surrounded by the most incredible scent. It was all warmth and comfort and security and serenity—and just her.”
Matthew’s life changes for the better when he’s paired with Mayra Trevino, a popular, trendy, beautiful girl, the co-captain of the girls’ soccer team. Matthew is surprised when Mayra accepts him so easily wanting to work with him and also wanting to get to know him better. Spending time with Mayra working on their project, Matthew’s routine starts to change slowly, but surely in every possible way. With Mayra, Matthew finds everything he was looking for, starting to open up about his condition and about his past, they slowly becoming friends. But their friendship blossoms into something more, Matthew wanting more than anything for Mayra to be his.
Shay Savage did a spectacular job with this novel portraying Matthew in a very realistic way, but also the effects this disorder has on others. Matthew was a wonderful character! I absolutely adored him. I sympathize with him, I felt for him at times and I cheered for him other times. Like I mentioned above, the entire story is told from his POV which I really loved. Matthew’s voice was honest and clear and he felt real from beginning until the end. I admired Matthew so much as the story unfolded. He was such a brave boy pushing his limits to be better, to be with Mayra, but I have to say there were times when seeing him struggle with everything broke my heart. I wanted to hug him so much at times!
“Don’t let anyone, yourself included, try to tell you otherwise. You have a lot to offer.”
Mayra was an amazing heroine. She was a heroine in every possible way. I absolutely loved her! This story it’s a story about acceptance as much as it’s an informational story and Mayra was one of the most accepting, patient, thoughtful, kind, considerate characters I’ve read about in a long time. She was sweet and so caring and the way she was with Matthew warmed my heart. I loved the fact that she made Matthew feel “normal”, showing him how sweet, smart and dedicated he is, the way she trusted him, the way she made him feel like a WINNER so many times.
“As long as I could find a way to show her how much she meant to me, I didn’t have to worry about finding the right words.
Win. So much win!”
Matthew and Mayra were simply perfect together. I loved how their relationship unfolded, how slowly Matthew starts to trust Mayra, how gradually their relationship changed. They were so cute and sweet together, so perfect for each other.
I also have to mention some supporting characters that were simply wonderful – Matthew’s uncle and aunt and Mayra’s father. These characters were fantastic, well portrayed and every one of them has a role in these two characters’ story.
Matthew and Mayra’s story was not utterly emotional, which I quite enjoyed to be honest. It has humor, but also steam which I loved. Needless to say everything was balanced really well.
All in all, 'Win Some, Lose Some' was a wonderful read about acceptance, love, friendship and family that will make you feel and think. Personally, I loved every minute of it and I highly recommend it if you want to read something different, something special, something beautiful.
Find me on:
August 15, 2017
★★★★1/2! Win Some, Lose Some (stand-alone). Hero with autism disorder lucks out getting a chance at love & happiness with the most popular girl in class!
“At some point, the corner of my notebook had become slightly bent, which sucked. I’d have to write all notes into a new one.”
Win Some, Lose Some (stand-alone) is high school senior Matthew Anthony Rohan’s story.
In his eighteen years Matthew hasn’t had much going his way. He was born with autism spectrum disorder, a combination of Asperger’s, autism and OCD. Simple everyday tasks are a challenge. He’s endured bullying and setbacks. Add to that tragically losing his parents and being forced to put his autistic sister in a home…
But his luck is about to take a turn for the better…
Getting paired the cutest and most popular girl on school, soccer captain Mayra Trevino might be the best thing that ever happened to him. Rather than dismissing him, she wants to understand him, which blossoms into a friendship with promises of more. As Matthew and Mayra navigate many firsts, there is a looming potential for a first that many wish for…
An unclaimed multi-million-dollar mega jackpot. Who has the winning ticket?
Seven words to describe Matthew Anthony Rohan: Captivating, noble, protective, loyal, innocent, endearing and blunt.
Seven words to describe Mayra Trevino: Open-minded, loyal, patient, determined, wise, stubborn and independent.
Win Some, Lose Some, told from Matthew’s POV, is a candid account of the ups and downs of living with autism spectrum disorder. It’s a beautiful story of life, love, happiness and acceptance. It ends on a high, but I’d welcome and epilogue further into the future.
Spell-binding story-telling. Captivating hero! Feel-good plot! A message of hope and possibilities!
***
Hero rating: 5 stars
Heroine rating: 5 stars
Sexual tension rating: 4.5 stars
Sex scenes rating: 4.5 stars
Sex scenes frequency: 4 stars
Plot rating: 4.5 stars
Dialogue rating: 5 stars
Storytelling rating: 5 stars
Story ending rating: 4 stars
**********************************************
Overall rating: 4.5 stars
Would I recommend this book: Yes.
Would I re-read this book: Maybe later.
Would I read future books by this author: Yes.
ARC provided to me by author Shay Savage in exchange for an honest review.
September 26, 2016
5 stars!!!
Win Some, Lose Some is a heartfelt and beautiful story of love, friendship, and embracing the differences in others. As much as I love many of Shay Savages books, this has to be a personal favorite for me. I truly loved Matthew and Mayra both. Their story was touching and I loved watching them fall in love.
If being a teenager isn’t already hard enough, Matthew Rohan is a bit more awkward than the average guy. He has Asperger’s Syndrome and tasks that are normal for most people are challenging for him. Mayra is the co-captain of the girls soccer team and fairly popular. Mayra and Matthew go to school together, but don’t know each other well. Matthew is one of those guys that keeps to himself. When paired together for a science project, Matthew and Mayra start spending much more time together. It shakes up Matthew’s every day routines, but in the best way possible.
Mayra is a much needed change in Matthew’s world. I loved these two together. Mayra is determined to get to know Matthew. She really sees him for the amazing man he is. She’s patient with him, yet knows when to give him the little pushes he needs.
Matthew is a spectacular character. I loved being in his head. This book is 100% written from his point of view and I thought it was so insightful to see things through his eyes. People with autism have such a stigma. There are so many sides to the spectrum, and it was great to see how deep down Matthew is just a normal teenager in so many ways. Matthew and Mayra weren’t the only great characters in this book. I loved Mayra’s dad, Matthew’s aunt Beth and even his Uncle, though he irked me at first. I know that it was just him being protective over Matthew because he loves him.
This story takes place in Oxford Ohio which is actually about 15 minutes from where I grew up. It was so neat to see the characters go places and think- I’ve been there! I actually went to college at Miami University in Oxford OH so it definitely made me feel nostalgic.
If you’re looking for a sweet, fun and steamy New Adult Romance, I highly recommend picking this one up. Win Some, Lose Some is a beautiful read. I give it 5 stars!
Win Some, Lose Some is a heartfelt and beautiful story of love, friendship, and embracing the differences in others. As much as I love many of Shay Savages books, this has to be a personal favorite for me. I truly loved Matthew and Mayra both. Their story was touching and I loved watching them fall in love.
If being a teenager isn’t already hard enough, Matthew Rohan is a bit more awkward than the average guy. He has Asperger’s Syndrome and tasks that are normal for most people are challenging for him. Mayra is the co-captain of the girls soccer team and fairly popular. Mayra and Matthew go to school together, but don’t know each other well. Matthew is one of those guys that keeps to himself. When paired together for a science project, Matthew and Mayra start spending much more time together. It shakes up Matthew’s every day routines, but in the best way possible.
Mayra is a much needed change in Matthew’s world. I loved these two together. Mayra is determined to get to know Matthew. She really sees him for the amazing man he is. She’s patient with him, yet knows when to give him the little pushes he needs.
Matthew is a spectacular character. I loved being in his head. This book is 100% written from his point of view and I thought it was so insightful to see things through his eyes. People with autism have such a stigma. There are so many sides to the spectrum, and it was great to see how deep down Matthew is just a normal teenager in so many ways. Matthew and Mayra weren’t the only great characters in this book. I loved Mayra’s dad, Matthew’s aunt Beth and even his Uncle, though he irked me at first. I know that it was just him being protective over Matthew because he loves him.
This story takes place in Oxford Ohio which is actually about 15 minutes from where I grew up. It was so neat to see the characters go places and think- I’ve been there! I actually went to college at Miami University in Oxford OH so it definitely made me feel nostalgic.
If you’re looking for a sweet, fun and steamy New Adult Romance, I highly recommend picking this one up. Win Some, Lose Some is a beautiful read. I give it 5 stars!
November 30, 2018
Wow! Oh! Wow & Wonderful WIN WIN!!
If you are looking for a unique, sweet romance, I urge you to pick this one up. I don’t know how this author does it, but unique is her jam!
What I can tell you ...
I loved this storyline. I loved the hero and heroine. I smiled from beginning to end. It is a fascinating YA novel. Do yourself a favor and go in completely blind.
What I cannot tell you ...
Well, basically I won’t tell you a blessed thing about the actual story because it would ruin the whole experience. Just reinforcing my ‘blind is best’ policy. Haha!!
Oh yeah, more more thing I can tell you ... you will flipping fall in love with Uncle Travis! He had me grinning like the Chesire Cat.
And, LOL, who knew about the power behind baking someone a cake ;)
Just the most delightful read!!
If you are looking for a unique, sweet romance, I urge you to pick this one up. I don’t know how this author does it, but unique is her jam!
What I can tell you ...
I loved this storyline. I loved the hero and heroine. I smiled from beginning to end. It is a fascinating YA novel. Do yourself a favor and go in completely blind.
What I cannot tell you ...
Well, basically I won’t tell you a blessed thing about the actual story because it would ruin the whole experience. Just reinforcing my ‘blind is best’ policy. Haha!!
Oh yeah, more more thing I can tell you ... you will flipping fall in love with Uncle Travis! He had me grinning like the Chesire Cat.
And, LOL, who knew about the power behind baking someone a cake ;)
Just the most delightful read!!
March 28, 2019
5 winning stars. I haven’t read such a sweet, heartwarming, unique YA novel for a long time!
Matthew and Marley are memorable and amazing characters. It’s really hard to find such sweet, kind and lovely hero and heroine when you’re reading romances.
I loved Matthew’s efforts to gather his strength to involve in normal teenage life. I ached for him when he suffers from his panic attacks and people told him mean things but I respected his steadiness, his determination. He finally found a way of being winner in his own life.
I also Marley’s patience, intelligence ( to trick Matthew with cake). She was caring, strong, loyal heroine and the best thing about her is she accepted Matthew wholeheartedly and loved him unconditionally.
If you want to be hooked by sweet book and smile till your cheeks start hurting, this is the right book.
Matthew and Marley are memorable and amazing characters. It’s really hard to find such sweet, kind and lovely hero and heroine when you’re reading romances.
I loved Matthew’s efforts to gather his strength to involve in normal teenage life. I ached for him when he suffers from his panic attacks and people told him mean things but I respected his steadiness, his determination. He finally found a way of being winner in his own life.
I also Marley’s patience, intelligence ( to trick Matthew with cake). She was caring, strong, loyal heroine and the best thing about her is she accepted Matthew wholeheartedly and loved him unconditionally.
If you want to be hooked by sweet book and smile till your cheeks start hurting, this is the right book.
November 13, 2021
5 ‘WIN’ STARS
”My dad had always said life was full of ups and downs. “Son, you win some days; you lose others. That’s just how it works.”
I simply adored this all-male pov story of Matthew Rohan a high school senior who has mild forms of Asperger's, ADD, and various obsessive-compulsive behaviors. Shay Savage brilliantly gifted yet another all male pov and the actions and thoughts of Matthew were not only believable but I feel will help others understand his disorders in a nonclinical manner.
”I had something that resembled a plan now, and that usually got me going when I was stuck.”
Matthew not only handles his disorders but has suffered the loss of both his parents and his older sister’s placement into a live-in center for autism. The story takes flight when our hero gets into a car accident and the culprit blows him off with some harsh words and a lotto ticket.
Matthew’s world of order further gets thrown off course when his seat in ecology is taken and he’s assigned the popular Mayra Trevino as his project partner. Mayra is one of the kindest heroines I have met. She's patient and empathetic toward Matthew and may possibly be interested in him.
”What’s she doing with you, Matthew?” It was my turn to flinch. “I don’t know.”
The author’s portrayal of Matthew is completely on the money. There are so many quotes that were just fantastic both endearing and sweet yet this is my favorite:
”Was it too late to say hello?”
At the end of each day, Matthew views the day as a win or a loss. The incentive of cake, the sweetness of his heart, and the slow formed connection between Matthew and Mayra, was just too wonderful for any words I could string together, yet Shay Savage does just fine:
”She makes me feel normal. She makes me feel like maybe I can have what other people have.”
Matthew struggles with his crippling anxiety attacks when situations go into the unpredictable. There are bullies at school, a loving and helpful aunt and uncle, Matthew’s sister Megan, and a possible winning lottery ticket. Matthew and Mayra’s relationship also goes from kissing to being sexually active together. Which all was written with tack, humor, and Matthew Rohan is not only gorgeous but very sexy as well!
Overall, this is a very well written story that I wouldn’t mind reading more about this couple past their college years and into their golden years.
”Better than chocolate cake.”
”My dad had always said life was full of ups and downs. “Son, you win some days; you lose others. That’s just how it works.”
I simply adored this all-male pov story of Matthew Rohan a high school senior who has mild forms of Asperger's, ADD, and various obsessive-compulsive behaviors. Shay Savage brilliantly gifted yet another all male pov and the actions and thoughts of Matthew were not only believable but I feel will help others understand his disorders in a nonclinical manner.
”I had something that resembled a plan now, and that usually got me going when I was stuck.”
Matthew not only handles his disorders but has suffered the loss of both his parents and his older sister’s placement into a live-in center for autism. The story takes flight when our hero gets into a car accident and the culprit blows him off with some harsh words and a lotto ticket.
Matthew’s world of order further gets thrown off course when his seat in ecology is taken and he’s assigned the popular Mayra Trevino as his project partner. Mayra is one of the kindest heroines I have met. She's patient and empathetic toward Matthew and may possibly be interested in him.
”What’s she doing with you, Matthew?” It was my turn to flinch. “I don’t know.”
The author’s portrayal of Matthew is completely on the money. There are so many quotes that were just fantastic both endearing and sweet yet this is my favorite:
”Was it too late to say hello?”
At the end of each day, Matthew views the day as a win or a loss. The incentive of cake, the sweetness of his heart, and the slow formed connection between Matthew and Mayra, was just too wonderful for any words I could string together, yet Shay Savage does just fine:
”She makes me feel normal. She makes me feel like maybe I can have what other people have.”
Matthew struggles with his crippling anxiety attacks when situations go into the unpredictable. There are bullies at school, a loving and helpful aunt and uncle, Matthew’s sister Megan, and a possible winning lottery ticket. Matthew and Mayra’s relationship also goes from kissing to being sexually active together. Which all was written with tack, humor, and Matthew Rohan is not only gorgeous but very sexy as well!
Overall, this is a very well written story that I wouldn’t mind reading more about this couple past their college years and into their golden years.
”Better than chocolate cake.”
September 10, 2021
– 4 stars
Win Some, Lose Some is one of the most adorable & sweetest highschool story I've read all year! Matthew and Mayra need to be protected at all costs! ���🥺
But I'm still pissed about the fact that Matthew won the lottery and could been a millionaire, but what does he do? GIVE IT ALL AWAY. In which world?! WHO DOES THAT UNREALISTIC SHIT 😤
All the reasons why I love this book:
🎆 Matthew Rohan 🎆
Matthew has Asperger's Syndrome also known as autism spectrum disorder. He has social deficits and struggles to get close to anyone outside of his family.
I love how this book was completely written from his POVs and gave us a pretty good insight in what it's like to have this kind of disability.
My baby 🥺🥺🥺 I wanted to bubble wrap Matthew and protect him from the world. He is such a beautiful inside and outside, caring and selfless person. I wish he would see himself the way Mayra and his family see him 🥺 Matthew struggles with so many aspects in life, but he keeps trying and I love that about him. His strenghts lies within (even tho he could also kick your ass to the moon).
🎇 Mayra Trevino 🎇
Can I say FINALLY?! Mayra is a popular girl and the soccer team's captain and it was so refreshing to read about the popular girl / outsider guy trope for once. Usually it's either the other way around or the popular girls are all the nastiest bitches possible. Not Mayra tho.
Mayra is such a caring, kind and patient character. She really didn't understand Matthew from the start, but she wanted to get to know him and wasn't freaked out when Matthew behaved differently. She didn't pressure him to do something he wasn't ready for. This girl was seriously a fucking champ.
🥰 Romance 🥰
I don't know what else to say besides that Matthew and Mayra's romance was completely adorable, sweet and heartwarming. Two people who care so much and bring out the best in each other.
♥️ Family ♥️
All the secondary characters in this book were great. From Matthew's uncle and aunt to Mayra's father. Whether it was Travis (uncle) trying to give Matthew dating lessons or Bethany (aunt) baking her famous chocolate cake to bribe Matthew. Love them and how they were so supportive.
🌠 Friends 🌠
I mentioned the side characters in the point above, but an extra shoutout to Aimee (Mayra's best friend) and Joe (Matthew's friend). I'm so traumatized by petty female characters in books that some of them only have to do the bare minimum to get on my good grade lmao. I love how Aimee was so supporitve of Matthew and Mayra's relationship from the start. She even defended Matthew from the other jocks in high school that were making fun of him (as I said, doing the bare minimum a.k.a just being a decent human being, but I was awww 🥺).
Conclusion
Some books are wins, some books are loses. This one was definitely a win! Would totally recommend it for a soft romance! 🥰
Win Some, Lose Some is one of the most adorable & sweetest highschool story I've read all year! Matthew and Mayra need to be protected at all costs! ���🥺
But I'm still pissed about the fact that Matthew won the lottery and could been a millionaire, but what does he do? GIVE IT ALL AWAY. In which world?! WHO DOES THAT UNREALISTIC SHIT 😤
All the reasons why I love this book:
🎆 Matthew Rohan 🎆
Matthew has Asperger's Syndrome also known as autism spectrum disorder. He has social deficits and struggles to get close to anyone outside of his family.
I love how this book was completely written from his POVs and gave us a pretty good insight in what it's like to have this kind of disability.
"I don't know," I answered. "But Mayra...I'm still trying to get used to the idea that I have a girlfriend, especially one as beautiful as you are. I don't want..."
My voice trailed off, and I tilted my face back toward the pillow. Mayra's hand stroked my hair.
"Don't want what?" she asked quietly.
"I don't want"–I gritted my teeth an dmade myself say it–"I don't want to disappoint you."
My baby 🥺🥺🥺 I wanted to bubble wrap Matthew and protect him from the world. He is such a beautiful inside and outside, caring and selfless person. I wish he would see himself the way Mayra and his family see him 🥺 Matthew struggles with so many aspects in life, but he keeps trying and I love that about him. His strenghts lies within (even tho he could also kick your ass to the moon).
🎇 Mayra Trevino 🎇
Can I say FINALLY?! Mayra is a popular girl and the soccer team's captain and it was so refreshing to read about the popular girl / outsider guy trope for once. Usually it's either the other way around or the popular girls are all the nastiest bitches possible. Not Mayra tho.
Mayra is such a caring, kind and patient character. She really didn't understand Matthew from the start, but she wanted to get to know him and wasn't freaked out when Matthew behaved differently. She didn't pressure him to do something he wasn't ready for. This girl was seriously a fucking champ.
She makes me feel normal. She makes me feel like maybe I can have what other people have.
🥰 Romance 🥰
I don't know what else to say besides that Matthew and Mayra's romance was completely adorable, sweet and heartwarming. Two people who care so much and bring out the best in each other.
"You..what you've done for me...you...you're...you're everything to me. Everything good in my life is about you. You make me want to try harder and do things I never would have considered before, and I know even if I fail, you'll still be there to help me get back up afterwards."
♥️ Family ♥️
"You're supposed to give her a ring, not a watch."
All the secondary characters in this book were great. From Matthew's uncle and aunt to Mayra's father. Whether it was Travis (uncle) trying to give Matthew dating lessons or Bethany (aunt) baking her famous chocolate cake to bribe Matthew. Love them and how they were so supportive.
🌠 Friends 🌠
I mentioned the side characters in the point above, but an extra shoutout to Aimee (Mayra's best friend) and Joe (Matthew's friend). I'm so traumatized by petty female characters in books that some of them only have to do the bare minimum to get on my good grade lmao. I love how Aimee was so supporitve of Matthew and Mayra's relationship from the start. She even defended Matthew from the other jocks in high school that were making fun of him (as I said, doing the bare minimum a.k.a just being a decent human being, but I was awww 🥺).
Conclusion
Some books are wins, some books are loses. This one was definitely a win! Would totally recommend it for a soft romance! 🥰
December 2, 2018
Oh my god. Wow....Thank you, Shay Savage!
October 26, 2016
So, I've been out of the review game for a while - please forgive my laziness. That said, what a book to jump back into the game with. Win Some, Lose Some was just the reminder I needed. The perfect nudge saying, 'not every book you pick up is just a retelling of the same old shit.' This book was a big win for me. Quirky, sexy and heartwarming - Shay's male POV was spot on.
An endearing story about a young man struggling with Asperger’s and the girl helps him embrace new things. This book is the shit. Read it.
February 22, 2021
18-year-old Matthew Rohan is different. Every day is a win or a loss for him...
He has Asperger's Syndrome, so simple tasks will be difficult and scary for him. He lives with a strict routine and any change causes him anxiety attacks. And so, his daily routine is shaken when Mayra Trevino comes into his life. ❤
Despite his difficulty with changes, a strong friendships develops between them, and so much more... an emotion that Matthew never thought he would get to feel! 😍😍😍
📚 “𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐮𝐩𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐬. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬; 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬.” 📚
I fell in love with the plot, the writing and the characters, especially Mayra... she is one of the most amazing heroines I have ever read about. Beautiful, popular and smart with a heart of gold! Her patience and understanding were so admirable that I worried it would turn out that her motives were not pure. 💔🙈
This book is so special. It's so much more than just another romance... I think it is a must read - full of emotion and eye-opening! 👏
The author's degree in psychology was definitely noticeable... she was able to convey Matthew's thought and behavior perfectly and made a subject that might be "uncomfortable" into romantic.
I especially liked the realistic aspect of the story - Mayra did not change or cure Matthew - he improved... for her and thanks to her. ❤
📚 “𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡,” 𝐈 𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫. “𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞.”
“𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫,” 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝. “𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠..." 📚
This is the first time I have nothing bad to write! this is one of those books that I didn't want to finish, I wanted to keep reading more and more...
So if you're looking for an unusual love story, one you'll never forget - this is the book for you! 💃
▪️▫️▪️▫️▪️▫️▪️▫️▪️▫️▪️▫️▪️▫️▪️▫️
📖 ᖴOᒪᒪOᗯ ᗰE Oᑎ IᑎᔕTᗩGᖇᗩᗰ: https://www.instagram.com/the_romanti...
📖 ᐯIᔕIT ᗰY ᗷᒪOG ᖴOᖇ ᗰOᖇE ᖇEᐯIEᗯᔕ: https://books-romance.com/
📖 GOOᗪᖇEᗩᗪᔕ: https://bit.ly/3acMRMP
💕 לקריאת הסקירה בעברית, כנסו לבלוג: https://books-romance.com/ 💕
October 28, 2016
"Sometimes you just have to do, son. don't think. Just do."
You know those books that linger in your mind for days and days after you finish reading them? Those characters that are so unique and complex that you can't stop thinking about them? Those sweet and tender moments that you experienced the first time and loved them so much you go back to your Kindle and re-read entire scenes because you just want to experience it one more time? Win Some, Lose Some just happens to be that kind of book. There is simply nothing like it! I am in complete awe by this contemporary romance!
"No matter what else happened, cake days were always a win."Matt has spent his entire life living in the spectrum of Autism. Although he is high functioning, he still isn't exactly what they call "normal." Trouble making eye contact~check! Awkward in social situations~check! Never had a girlfriend~check! When it comes to "fitting in", Matt just doesn't. When a high school project teams him up with one of the hottest girls in school, his entire world is turned upside down.
"I couldn't even dream of a more wonderful thing to see, so I planned to do it again as soon as possible."
"I'd never let anyone hurt her. No one. Ever."Mayra represents everything Matt is not. She is polished, well put together, friendly, outgoing, and the list goes on and on. However, something about Matthew Rohan has drawn her in. Mayra and Matt spend time together working on their project and as Mayra gets to know Matt she begins to understand the severity of his diagnosis and yet, she is drawn to him. They develop feelings for each other. As Matt begins to grow closer to Mayra, he struggles with his desire to be with her and his inability to be the man that she deserves.
"I love you...I love you..." we repeated in unison between kisses. I couldn't imagine anything else could be closer to bliss, so I gave in to the warmth of her love. Best win ever."
"Everything good in my life is about you. You make me want to try harder and do things I never would have considered before, and even if I fail, you'll still be there to help me get back up afterwards."Told in Matt's POV, Win Some, Lose Some is an absolute must read. Because the main characters are 18, it still has a touch of coming of age, and yet, the circumstances of both Matt and Mayra give them a certain maturity that makes their romance that much more complex. Matt is, of course, the stand out character for me because we get to experience every moment he is feeling. We hear his inner dialogue voicing what he would like to say and then read his actual dialogue which is what he can express verbally. It was such a remarkable experience to watch his transformation. Mayra doesn't "cure him" because Matthew isn't broken. Instead, they find their way together. And the way is beautiful, sexy, romantic, tender, and unforgettable. The supporting characters enhance the plot with the family love and light drama they bring. The pacing is perfect with a well-developed plot and creative elements thrown in, you will be laughing until you cry!
"Win. So much win!"I started reading Win Some, Lose Some around 11:30 p.m. with the idea that I would read a chapter and then go to bed. Matt and Mayra were far to enticing and blew that plan out of the water. At approximately 4:00 am, I realized I had read the entire book cover to cover. I COULD NOT STOP! Shay Savage has always been one of my go-to authors. She is versatile, creative, and knows how to write! Win Some, Lose Some is now my favorite book written by her. After reading and reviewing so many amazing books this year, I can honestly say Win Some, Lose Some is one of my favorites for the year! I highly recommend this book to everyone. Why? You will love every single moment. Ms. Savage gets a standing ovation for this creative work. Bravo!
*ARC graciously provided via author in exchange for an honest review!
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
October 31, 2016
Awwwww this book, OMG it was sooooo sweet, so beautiful! I LOVED it. :)
Matthew and Mayra were so lovely together, I really enjoyed their story. :)
This book definitely a WIN for me. :) And if you wanna read a sweet love story, I highly recommend this book to you. <3
March 15, 2021
Win Some, Lose Some is an adorable and beautiful romance between two kind, caring people that warmed my stone cold heart.
I’m not going to lie, I have a soft spot for romances with autistic characters. I love how logical is their way of thinking and I find so effortless to relate with them. Who has never thought some “society rules” don’t have sense? Or being afraid of saying the wrong thing? Anxious of meeting new people and trying to make a good impression? I just feel it’s so easy to understand the struggle, because at some point of our life, even though it was only once, all of us have experienced something like that.
In this case, Matthew (h) is the autistic character (he has Asperger’s Syndrome, now called autism spectrum disorder). Matthew struggles with things that are not a problem for non-autistic people, but he never gives up. He just keeps trying and trying until he accomplishes it. I love characters as strong and brave as he is, they are so admirable and easy to care about.
“She makes me feel normal. She makes me feel like maybe I can have what other people have.”
Also, the romance feels so real and meaningful. Both of them had to put a lot in the relationship. Mayra has to be patient and adapt to the way Matthew needs to do certain things, while Matthew has to leave his comfort zone and face new things that are not easy for an autistic person. After all the things they do to make it work, how could there be any doubt of how great their love is?
“You are everything to me. Everything good in my life is about you. You make me want to try harder and do things I never would have considered before, and I know even if I fail, you’ll still be there to help me get back afterwards.”
Last but not least, Mayra and Matthew are the cutest, most adorable and caring characters ever. It was endearing to see how beautiful they are, how much they deserve the other. Also, Matthew’s uncle and his aunt were great side characters, and well written secondary characters always add so much to the story!!
I recommend Win Some, Lose Some to anyone looking for a sincere and sweet romance between two beautiful, kind souls.
“I know living with me is hard,” I said quietly. “I need everything done in certain ways, and I can lose control over the smallest things, but you’re still patient with me. You still stay beside me even though I know there are times when it’s hard on you. I’ll never find someone more loving and kind and wonderful than you are, and I’ll never love anyone like I love you.”
Thank you so much Carol for recommending this book to me!! I wouldn’t have met these wonderful characters if it wasn’t for you!!
My dad had always said life was full of ups and downs.
“Son, you win some days; you lose others. That’s just how it works.”
*Rating: 4.25/5
I’m not going to lie, I have a soft spot for romances with autistic characters. I love how logical is their way of thinking and I find so effortless to relate with them. Who has never thought some “society rules” don’t have sense? Or being afraid of saying the wrong thing? Anxious of meeting new people and trying to make a good impression? I just feel it’s so easy to understand the struggle, because at some point of our life, even though it was only once, all of us have experienced something like that.
In this case, Matthew (h) is the autistic character (he has Asperger’s Syndrome, now called autism spectrum disorder). Matthew struggles with things that are not a problem for non-autistic people, but he never gives up. He just keeps trying and trying until he accomplishes it. I love characters as strong and brave as he is, they are so admirable and easy to care about.
“She makes me feel normal. She makes me feel like maybe I can have what other people have.”
Also, the romance feels so real and meaningful. Both of them had to put a lot in the relationship. Mayra has to be patient and adapt to the way Matthew needs to do certain things, while Matthew has to leave his comfort zone and face new things that are not easy for an autistic person. After all the things they do to make it work, how could there be any doubt of how great their love is?
“You are everything to me. Everything good in my life is about you. You make me want to try harder and do things I never would have considered before, and I know even if I fail, you’ll still be there to help me get back afterwards.”
Last but not least, Mayra and Matthew are the cutest, most adorable and caring characters ever. It was endearing to see how beautiful they are, how much they deserve the other. Also, Matthew’s uncle and his aunt were great side characters, and well written secondary characters always add so much to the story!!
I recommend Win Some, Lose Some to anyone looking for a sincere and sweet romance between two beautiful, kind souls.
“I know living with me is hard,” I said quietly. “I need everything done in certain ways, and I can lose control over the smallest things, but you’re still patient with me. You still stay beside me even though I know there are times when it’s hard on you. I’ll never find someone more loving and kind and wonderful than you are, and I’ll never love anyone like I love you.”
Thank you so much Carol for recommending this book to me!! I wouldn’t have met these wonderful characters if it wasn’t for you!!
My dad had always said life was full of ups and downs.
“Son, you win some days; you lose others. That’s just how it works.”
*Rating: 4.25/5
August 10, 2017
4.5 ★★★★ "Do it for the Cake" Stars
Genre: YA Romance
Type: Standalone
POV: First Person – Male
Matthew Rohan; was born with autism spectrum disorder and a combination of other stuff like ADD and had developed various obsessive-compulsive behaviors aka OCD. Every single day was a struggle for him. Everything had to be perfect, he had to have a routine and any changes could cause him to black out and totally lose control. He was bullied at school and it was just awful to see this. This boy at only eighteen years old just wanted to graduate high school and was trying his best to adjust to a life without his parents. He had lost both parents and had an older sister at a facility for autism patients. Matthew was just adorable thought; he spoke whatever was on his mind without thinking and that made him so interesting and cute. He also had an Uncle Travis and his wife Beth who were there for him every step of the way.
Mayra Trevino; has never really paid too much attention to Matthew until they were both paired to do a project together. She knew Matthew was different but she never realized why until they had to interact. She was kind, patience and noble. I adored this heroine and her father they were both so important on this story. At only eighteen years old she had a heart of gold she really wanted to understand Matthew and the more time they spent together the more she wanted to be part of his world and help him with his daily struggles. At first she was scared but that didn't stopped her she wanted to help. Not even Travis the protective uncle was able to keep her away from Matthew once she realized how awesome and special Matthew was.
In the beginning of the book Matthew was rear ended by an unknown driver; the driver left the scene but gave him a lottery ticket. The entire time Matthew had a ticket he was so strict with his routine that checking if that ticket could change his life made him anxious and he rather not know. That ticket was almost lost but was it the winning ticket? What does that mean for Matthew? All these questions you will have to read this book to understand and find out for yourself. His disorder wouldn't allow to even thinking past that before he would break down. So he stopped thinking about it.
This book was so cute, a bit sad, but at the same time super funny. I have never read a book like it before; it just felt so real to me. The author really makes you understand the struggles children with special needs go thru in a daily basis and is really refreshing and eye opening. At the end of each day, Matthew views the day as a win or a loss. The incentive of cake, which I thought was adorable motivated him to try new things. His aunt and now Mayra would use the cake incentive to help him. I fell for Matthew and Mayra and all the characters. The aunt was hilarious she was the bomb. Matthew was so darn adorable he wanted to feel normal and Mayra was the one that made him feel that way something he never thought possible. I giggled so much until my cheeks hurt reading this book because he wanted to understand sexuality and get to that with Mayra he did but the way the author wrote this was so darn enjoyable and real. I recommend this book to everyone because it will always have a special place in my heart because it meant so much to learn that money is not everything.
F (BR) with my girl Jennifer, I'm the blonde on the left
Book Order:
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
Genre: YA Romance
Type: Standalone
POV: First Person – Male
"My dad had always said life was full of ups and downs. “Son, you win some days; you lose others. That’s just how it works."
Matthew Rohan; was born with autism spectrum disorder and a combination of other stuff like ADD and had developed various obsessive-compulsive behaviors aka OCD. Every single day was a struggle for him. Everything had to be perfect, he had to have a routine and any changes could cause him to black out and totally lose control. He was bullied at school and it was just awful to see this. This boy at only eighteen years old just wanted to graduate high school and was trying his best to adjust to a life without his parents. He had lost both parents and had an older sister at a facility for autism patients. Matthew was just adorable thought; he spoke whatever was on his mind without thinking and that made him so interesting and cute. He also had an Uncle Travis and his wife Beth who were there for him every step of the way.
Mayra Trevino; has never really paid too much attention to Matthew until they were both paired to do a project together. She knew Matthew was different but she never realized why until they had to interact. She was kind, patience and noble. I adored this heroine and her father they were both so important on this story. At only eighteen years old she had a heart of gold she really wanted to understand Matthew and the more time they spent together the more she wanted to be part of his world and help him with his daily struggles. At first she was scared but that didn't stopped her she wanted to help. Not even Travis the protective uncle was able to keep her away from Matthew once she realized how awesome and special Matthew was.
"You are pretty wonderful…You just need to be given the opportunity to show people that…You are gorgeous. Every girl in our school thinks so, and I am going to be the envy of half the population of Talawanda High School."
In the beginning of the book Matthew was rear ended by an unknown driver; the driver left the scene but gave him a lottery ticket. The entire time Matthew had a ticket he was so strict with his routine that checking if that ticket could change his life made him anxious and he rather not know. That ticket was almost lost but was it the winning ticket? What does that mean for Matthew? All these questions you will have to read this book to understand and find out for yourself. His disorder wouldn't allow to even thinking past that before he would break down. So he stopped thinking about it.
"The next piece will be waiting for you in my driveway," she said. She kissed me lightly and headed out the door to her car and down the street, taking the cake with her. Shit, Shit, Shit. I couldn't just let that cake get away, so I jumped into my car and followed her. Do it for the cake, I told myself."
This book was so cute, a bit sad, but at the same time super funny. I have never read a book like it before; it just felt so real to me. The author really makes you understand the struggles children with special needs go thru in a daily basis and is really refreshing and eye opening. At the end of each day, Matthew views the day as a win or a loss. The incentive of cake, which I thought was adorable motivated him to try new things. His aunt and now Mayra would use the cake incentive to help him. I fell for Matthew and Mayra and all the characters. The aunt was hilarious she was the bomb. Matthew was so darn adorable he wanted to feel normal and Mayra was the one that made him feel that way something he never thought possible. I giggled so much until my cheeks hurt reading this book because he wanted to understand sexuality and get to that with Mayra he did but the way the author wrote this was so darn enjoyable and real. I recommend this book to everyone because it will always have a special place in my heart because it meant so much to learn that money is not everything.
F (BR) with my girl Jennifer, I'm the blonde on the left
Book Order:
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
October 22, 2016
4.5 -absolute winner- Stars
And that folks, is how it's done! Bam!
Not gonna fuss about this too much as the book's synopsis tells us all we need to know before diving in, and other reviewers have probably raved about it more articulately than I can.
I WILL say; that I was a HUGE fan of a similar YA trope/story called Puddle Jumping, and me being a dirty old perv and all, I wished hard for a similar book to come along... but a little less YA... and with more graphic steamy scenes (and yes, I am hanging my head in shame)... Anyway, Ms Savage granted me ALL of my wishes, BUT in all fairness; she also gave me a very different style of writing and a very clear voice that is only unique to her, and her alone. So I will not do the author or this book gem any injustice by unfairly comparing the two.
Entirely written in the H's POV, Matthew was.... God, he was just the sweetest, blumbliest, most heartbreaking cutie, but he also had very REAL world setbacks in his life, his mental stability, finances and family. My heart broke and swooned for him at the same time.
I would say the steam was more tasteful and sweet, as opposed to kinky and graphic and to all those that are strict on their safety; you'll be rest assured that this book is 110% safe .
There is soooo much more that I can go on and on about. Like the awesome heroine, the secondary characters, the writing... but I'd end up rambling again, so I'll just conclude my thoughts by recommending this to everyone who loves a sweet and at times, heartbreakingly cute story about acceptance and love. It's also for those who would like a little bit of steam in their YA stories.
Standalone story with cute epilogue and HEA. I had to minus 0.5 stars because the ending did slow down a little to much for my liking, but this book will still be going on my favourites shelf :)
And that folks, is how it's done! Bam!
Not gonna fuss about this too much as the book's synopsis tells us all we need to know before diving in, and other reviewers have probably raved about it more articulately than I can.
I WILL say; that I was a HUGE fan of a similar YA trope/story called Puddle Jumping, and me being a dirty old perv and all, I wished hard for a similar book to come along... but a little less YA... and with more graphic steamy scenes (and yes, I am hanging my head in shame)... Anyway, Ms Savage granted me ALL of my wishes, BUT in all fairness; she also gave me a very different style of writing and a very clear voice that is only unique to her, and her alone. So I will not do the author or this book gem any injustice by unfairly comparing the two.
Entirely written in the H's POV, Matthew was.... God, he was just the sweetest, blumbliest, most heartbreaking cutie, but he also had very REAL world setbacks in his life, his mental stability, finances and family. My heart broke and swooned for him at the same time.
I would say the steam was more tasteful and sweet, as opposed to kinky and graphic and to all those that are strict on their safety; you'll be rest assured that this book is 110% safe .
There is soooo much more that I can go on and on about. Like the awesome heroine, the secondary characters, the writing... but I'd end up rambling again, so I'll just conclude my thoughts by recommending this to everyone who loves a sweet and at times, heartbreakingly cute story about acceptance and love. It's also for those who would like a little bit of steam in their YA stories.
Standalone story with cute epilogue and HEA. I had to minus 0.5 stars because the ending did slow down a little to much for my liking, but this book will still be going on my favourites shelf :)
February 2, 2019
Cute. (^.^)
November 19, 2021
dnf
“You’re my hero,” she said quietly as she looked into my eyes. I had to look away—the intensity of her eyes and everything boiling around inside of me was too much.
“You’re my heroine.”
nope nope nope nope. siri, play get out by jojo
if anyone has any *other* hot girl/awkward boy book recs send em my way pls
“You’re my hero,” she said quietly as she looked into my eyes. I had to look away—the intensity of her eyes and everything boiling around inside of me was too much.
“You’re my heroine.”
nope nope nope nope. siri, play get out by jojo
if anyone has any *other* hot girl/awkward boy book recs send em my way pls
November 3, 2016
“Life is full of ups and downs. You win some days; you lose others. That’s just how it works.”
This was a sweet and heartwarming teenage romance. It is told by only the hero’s point of view and this is good because we need to be in his head to understand why he acts the way he acts.
Matthew Rohan is different. He has Asperger’s Syndrome, which means having severely impaired social skills, restrictive and repetitive behaviors and often, a narrow set of interests. Asperger’s syndrome is now considered one of the autism spectrum disorders but it differs from other autism spectrum disorders by having relatively normal language skills and intelligence.
The tasks that are easy for other people can be scary for Matthew. He even has trouble in making eye contact with people. Saying, “Hi” or "Hello" requires a great mental effort for him. He has never had a girlfriend, he doesn’t fit in at school. His parents died a year ago, his older sister has a more severe case of autism. He only has his uncle Travis and his wife Bethany. He can communicate with them comfortably but he isn’t comfortable around other people. He has a strict routine he is used to and he gets panicked at any kind of change. At school, he only feels OK with one person: Joe. But one day, something happens and his daily routine is shaken.
“ Mr. Jones,” I said, “there’s someone in my seat.”
“There aren’t any assigned seats, Matthew,” Mr. Jones said. I stared at the papers on his desk. All of my teachers were supposed to know the ins and outs of my education plan, including some of my triggers such as unexpected change. Most of them were great about sticking to the plan, but Mr. Jones didn’t seem to understand how much it could impact me.
“But…my seat…” I could barely hear my own voice.
“Devin just transferred here,” Mr. Jones said. “There’s an open seat behind Mayra.”
Mayra. Mayra Trevino.
When Matthew is teamed up with Mayra, who is one of the hottest girls at school for a high school project, it scares the hell out of him. It is just too much of a change because he is used to doing homework with Joe only.
His coping mechanisms are working out in his gym room or running, otherwise he closes himself and becomes lost in his own mind, unresponsive to outer effects or he has panic attacks...
I stepped onto the mat surrounding the bag and pulled my arms in front of myself to stretch out a bit. I clenched my hands into fists, stared straight at the center of the bag, and began to punch.
Right, left, right, left.
Left, left, right.
Left, left, right.
Right, right, left.
Right, right, left.
Equal number, each fist.
Mayra Trevino is the co-captain of the girls soccer team and she is a popular girl at school. Matthew is incredibly smart, he is also handsome and hot but he has never had a girlfriend because of his lack of social skills and inability to connect to people. Although some students call Matthew “a freak”, Mayra has never done that but she has never had the chance to get to know him better, either. This project brings them together and Mayra sees the real person behind the façade and falls for him.
Matthew, although having difficulty at the beginning, starts to get used to being with her and then starts to like being around her. Mayra is extremely patient and understanding. She is full of love and affection. She stands up for him when other students push him. She slowly changes Matthew’s world and they are good for each other.
“You’re kind of like Sheldon, you know,” Mayra said.
“Yeah, Bethany says that, too. She keeps telling me I should go to school for physics. I don’t want to be like him though. He’s mean to people.”
“I think he’s cute,” she said... Thinking differently is okay, you know.”
“I know,” I said quietly.
***
"Why would anyone agree to go out with me after watching me freak out? I’m a fucking mess!”
“Matthew…”—my aunt sighed and flopped down on the couch—“You also have a lot to offer a girl.”
I snorted. “Yeah—instability and insanity. What a catch I am.”
Set sarcasm to kill.
I would hate the book if Mayra magically changed Matthew. It wouldn’t be realistic at all. Instead, here, everything was as real as possible, as believable as possible. Matthew isn’t healed but he gets improved. His tolerance gets better, he is calmer and a little bit more confident because of the acceptance of more people such as Mayra, her dad and some other people at school. His panic attacks get less frequent.
The slow-built intimacy between Matthew and Mayra was heartwarming. Although he has a problem with people touching him, he likes it when Mayra touches him. He slowly starts to touch her and then, he starts to need to touch her. Everything happens really slowly and you believe it.
“Mayra makes new things… a little easier.”
“The thought of not being around her was almost as bad as the apple on the floor.”
***
"Her tongue touched my lips, and I didn’t hesitate at all to meet it with my own.
Better than chocolate cake."
Mayra is the one who kisses him first, she is the one who says she wants to be closer and do other stuff. He needs time to adjust to the idea first, but he starts to discover that being intimate with Mayra is something wonderful, so he gets out of his comfort zone to be with her, to be her boyfriend, to be the man she needs and Mayra accepts him for what he is, pushing him only as much as necessary and mostly acting the way he needs, with patience, love and understanding.
“Don’t you ever do anything like that again!” she snapped at me. “Don’t you ever run off like that! I had no idea where you were, and I was worried sick! If you need to fall apart, you at least fall apart somewhere where I can find you!”
This is a beautiful book and although they are teenagers at the age of 18, I was able to connect and I loved their sweet and innocent story.
First, Mayra becomes his “heroine", and then, Matthew becomes her “hero”...
“I’d never let anyone hurt her... No one. Ever.”
Matthew normally doesn’t react to being bullied at school but Mayra is his exception and he gets out of his comfort zone and is able to protect her when she is in grave danger. All these scenes are really sweet.
The interaction with the family members is great, too. The uncle, the aunt and Mayra’s father contribute to this story a lot. Even, his autistic sister Megan contributes a lot.
“Everything good in my life is about you. You make me want to try harder and do things I never would have considered before, and I know even if I fail, you’ll still be there to help me get back up afterwards.”
“You’re my hero,” she said quietly as she looked into my eyes. I had to look away—the intensity of her eyes and everything boiling around inside of me was too much.
“You’re my heroine.” I nestled once more against her throat.
If you don’t mind a slow-built story of two teenagers, and if you want a deeper understanding of people with Asperger’s Syndrome, this is a good book to choose. I am glad I have read it. It mostly brought a big smile on my face.
This was a sweet and heartwarming teenage romance. It is told by only the hero’s point of view and this is good because we need to be in his head to understand why he acts the way he acts.
Matthew Rohan is different. He has Asperger’s Syndrome, which means having severely impaired social skills, restrictive and repetitive behaviors and often, a narrow set of interests. Asperger’s syndrome is now considered one of the autism spectrum disorders but it differs from other autism spectrum disorders by having relatively normal language skills and intelligence.
The tasks that are easy for other people can be scary for Matthew. He even has trouble in making eye contact with people. Saying, “Hi” or "Hello" requires a great mental effort for him. He has never had a girlfriend, he doesn’t fit in at school. His parents died a year ago, his older sister has a more severe case of autism. He only has his uncle Travis and his wife Bethany. He can communicate with them comfortably but he isn’t comfortable around other people. He has a strict routine he is used to and he gets panicked at any kind of change. At school, he only feels OK with one person: Joe. But one day, something happens and his daily routine is shaken.
“ Mr. Jones,” I said, “there’s someone in my seat.”
“There aren’t any assigned seats, Matthew,” Mr. Jones said. I stared at the papers on his desk. All of my teachers were supposed to know the ins and outs of my education plan, including some of my triggers such as unexpected change. Most of them were great about sticking to the plan, but Mr. Jones didn’t seem to understand how much it could impact me.
“But…my seat…” I could barely hear my own voice.
“Devin just transferred here,” Mr. Jones said. “There’s an open seat behind Mayra.”
Mayra. Mayra Trevino.
When Matthew is teamed up with Mayra, who is one of the hottest girls at school for a high school project, it scares the hell out of him. It is just too much of a change because he is used to doing homework with Joe only.
His coping mechanisms are working out in his gym room or running, otherwise he closes himself and becomes lost in his own mind, unresponsive to outer effects or he has panic attacks...
I stepped onto the mat surrounding the bag and pulled my arms in front of myself to stretch out a bit. I clenched my hands into fists, stared straight at the center of the bag, and began to punch.
Right, left, right, left.
Left, left, right.
Left, left, right.
Right, right, left.
Right, right, left.
Equal number, each fist.
Mayra Trevino is the co-captain of the girls soccer team and she is a popular girl at school. Matthew is incredibly smart, he is also handsome and hot but he has never had a girlfriend because of his lack of social skills and inability to connect to people. Although some students call Matthew “a freak”, Mayra has never done that but she has never had the chance to get to know him better, either. This project brings them together and Mayra sees the real person behind the façade and falls for him.
Matthew, although having difficulty at the beginning, starts to get used to being with her and then starts to like being around her. Mayra is extremely patient and understanding. She is full of love and affection. She stands up for him when other students push him. She slowly changes Matthew’s world and they are good for each other.
“You’re kind of like Sheldon, you know,” Mayra said.
“Yeah, Bethany says that, too. She keeps telling me I should go to school for physics. I don’t want to be like him though. He’s mean to people.”
“I think he’s cute,” she said... Thinking differently is okay, you know.”
“I know,” I said quietly.
***
"Why would anyone agree to go out with me after watching me freak out? I’m a fucking mess!”
“Matthew…”—my aunt sighed and flopped down on the couch—“You also have a lot to offer a girl.”
I snorted. “Yeah—instability and insanity. What a catch I am.”
Set sarcasm to kill.
I would hate the book if Mayra magically changed Matthew. It wouldn’t be realistic at all. Instead, here, everything was as real as possible, as believable as possible. Matthew isn’t healed but he gets improved. His tolerance gets better, he is calmer and a little bit more confident because of the acceptance of more people such as Mayra, her dad and some other people at school. His panic attacks get less frequent.
The slow-built intimacy between Matthew and Mayra was heartwarming. Although he has a problem with people touching him, he likes it when Mayra touches him. He slowly starts to touch her and then, he starts to need to touch her. Everything happens really slowly and you believe it.
“Mayra makes new things… a little easier.”
“The thought of not being around her was almost as bad as the apple on the floor.”
***
"Her tongue touched my lips, and I didn’t hesitate at all to meet it with my own.
Better than chocolate cake."
Mayra is the one who kisses him first, she is the one who says she wants to be closer and do other stuff. He needs time to adjust to the idea first, but he starts to discover that being intimate with Mayra is something wonderful, so he gets out of his comfort zone to be with her, to be her boyfriend, to be the man she needs and Mayra accepts him for what he is, pushing him only as much as necessary and mostly acting the way he needs, with patience, love and understanding.
“Don’t you ever do anything like that again!” she snapped at me. “Don’t you ever run off like that! I had no idea where you were, and I was worried sick! If you need to fall apart, you at least fall apart somewhere where I can find you!”
This is a beautiful book and although they are teenagers at the age of 18, I was able to connect and I loved their sweet and innocent story.
First, Mayra becomes his “heroine", and then, Matthew becomes her “hero”...
“I’d never let anyone hurt her... No one. Ever.”
Matthew normally doesn’t react to being bullied at school but Mayra is his exception and he gets out of his comfort zone and is able to protect her when she is in grave danger. All these scenes are really sweet.
The interaction with the family members is great, too. The uncle, the aunt and Mayra’s father contribute to this story a lot. Even, his autistic sister Megan contributes a lot.
“Everything good in my life is about you. You make me want to try harder and do things I never would have considered before, and I know even if I fail, you’ll still be there to help me get back up afterwards.”
“You’re my hero,” she said quietly as she looked into my eyes. I had to look away—the intensity of her eyes and everything boiling around inside of me was too much.
“You’re my heroine.” I nestled once more against her throat.
If you don’t mind a slow-built story of two teenagers, and if you want a deeper understanding of people with Asperger’s Syndrome, this is a good book to choose. I am glad I have read it. It mostly brought a big smile on my face.
October 17, 2016
5 - "You aren't alone..." Stars!
ITs LIVE!
Amazon US: www.amazon.com/dp/B01MCU752A
Amazon UK: www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01MCU752A
B&N: www.barnesandnoble.com/w/win-some-los...
It’s no secret that I am a huge fan of Shay Savage’s writing, I think the one thing you know to expect with her stories is that they are never going to be what you are completely expecting, and she never writes the same thing twice, so everything is always new, fresh, thoughtful and totally addictive.
Win Some, Lose Some is Shay writing at her best in my opinion, dealing with a tricky subject, and doing it in a respectful but really effective manner. I can only really recall reading a book of any similarity to Matthew and Mayra’s story, in that the H struggled with day-to-day life the way Matthew does due to Asperger’s Syndrome, and it wasn’t a good reading experience for me, in the way that particular author handled it. But Shay absolutely nailed the balance between the facts of Matthews’s condition and the fiction of the story she has given him as far as my reading experience is concerned.
My mind rarely went in the direction I commanded.
There is a certain understated charm to this story, and I loved the positive influence that Mayra bought to it, there were moments of sweetness between them as a pair, that just bought tears to my eyes, and the steady development of their relationship from tentative friendship to something more, moved at a pace that felt believable and perfectly paced with the way Matthew generally processed change and alteration to any type of routine in his head.
"Sometimes I just say random shit."
I think it was the inherent loneliness that you can feel from Matthew in the beginning was what struck me the most about this story initially, and although I don’t believe there is such a thing as ‘normal’ nowadays, I think the author highlighted perfectly that it is not necessarily all about the visible reactions and actions that make up any one person’s condition that are the important factors, but the fact that he was a young man dealing with so, so much and with a personality that makes it difficult to be anything other than a solitary being for a large part of the time, sharing the burden was not something he manages to do easily. The development of those traits, things that we generally just take as a given, through gentle coaxing and just general support, belief and acceptance from Mayra was just beautiful.
"I get lost in my head."
Shay isn’t afraid to deal with the darker aspects of human nature either, and the addition of the drama to the story, was at points hard to read, but also something that you can 100% see happening in the world we live in today. Again though it was dealt with in such a way that it didn’t feel glamorized, it happened, it was important to the story as a whole, but the general flow kept moving along.
"She makes me feel calm..."
This is a book that makes you think, feel and reassess. It’s a story you aren’t going to forget in a hurry, and as always it’s written beautifully.
"You’re my hero…"
"You’re my heroine."
ARC generously provided by the author, and it was my pleasure to provide the above honest review in exchange.
ITs LIVE!
Amazon US: www.amazon.com/dp/B01MCU752A
Amazon UK: www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01MCU752A
B&N: www.barnesandnoble.com/w/win-some-los...
It’s no secret that I am a huge fan of Shay Savage’s writing, I think the one thing you know to expect with her stories is that they are never going to be what you are completely expecting, and she never writes the same thing twice, so everything is always new, fresh, thoughtful and totally addictive.
Win Some, Lose Some is Shay writing at her best in my opinion, dealing with a tricky subject, and doing it in a respectful but really effective manner. I can only really recall reading a book of any similarity to Matthew and Mayra’s story, in that the H struggled with day-to-day life the way Matthew does due to Asperger’s Syndrome, and it wasn’t a good reading experience for me, in the way that particular author handled it. But Shay absolutely nailed the balance between the facts of Matthews’s condition and the fiction of the story she has given him as far as my reading experience is concerned.
My mind rarely went in the direction I commanded.
There is a certain understated charm to this story, and I loved the positive influence that Mayra bought to it, there were moments of sweetness between them as a pair, that just bought tears to my eyes, and the steady development of their relationship from tentative friendship to something more, moved at a pace that felt believable and perfectly paced with the way Matthew generally processed change and alteration to any type of routine in his head.
"Sometimes I just say random shit."
I think it was the inherent loneliness that you can feel from Matthew in the beginning was what struck me the most about this story initially, and although I don’t believe there is such a thing as ‘normal’ nowadays, I think the author highlighted perfectly that it is not necessarily all about the visible reactions and actions that make up any one person’s condition that are the important factors, but the fact that he was a young man dealing with so, so much and with a personality that makes it difficult to be anything other than a solitary being for a large part of the time, sharing the burden was not something he manages to do easily. The development of those traits, things that we generally just take as a given, through gentle coaxing and just general support, belief and acceptance from Mayra was just beautiful.
"I get lost in my head."
Shay isn’t afraid to deal with the darker aspects of human nature either, and the addition of the drama to the story, was at points hard to read, but also something that you can 100% see happening in the world we live in today. Again though it was dealt with in such a way that it didn’t feel glamorized, it happened, it was important to the story as a whole, but the general flow kept moving along.
"She makes me feel calm..."
This is a book that makes you think, feel and reassess. It’s a story you aren’t going to forget in a hurry, and as always it’s written beautifully.
"You’re my hero…"
"You’re my heroine."
ARC generously provided by the author, and it was my pleasure to provide the above honest review in exchange.
August 19, 2016
Coming out in October! A sweet, funny, and heart-felt romance. :)
December 27, 2020
GENRE: YA contemporary
TROPES: friends to lovers
CLIFFHANGER: no
TRIGGER WARNINGS: loss of parents, grief
HOTTIE METER: 2
SONGS: James Bay- Us
Billie Eillish ft Khalid- lovely
OMG THIS BOOK!!
one second I was crying, the next smiling, then doing it simultaneously...
it is a read that tugs on your heartstrings..
such a beautiful story!!!
JUST READ IT!!
TROPES: friends to lovers
CLIFFHANGER: no
TRIGGER WARNINGS: loss of parents, grief
HOTTIE METER: 2
SONGS: James Bay- Us
Billie Eillish ft Khalid- lovely
OMG THIS BOOK!!
one second I was crying, the next smiling, then doing it simultaneously...
it is a read that tugs on your heartstrings..
such a beautiful story!!!
JUST READ IT!!
October 30, 2016
This book is amazing! The hero Matthew has high functioning autism and being inside his head was wonderful! I loved knowing his thoughts and reactions and because the writing is so good I never missed Mayra's POV. Mayra is a great heroine- she was a popular soccer player- but was always kind to Matthew, even when other kids weren't. Working together on a science project was all it took to get their relationship rolling. Reading this reminded me of what a great writer Shay Savage is- Transcendence is one of my favorites! It also made me wish she would write more heroes like Matthew and Ehd. They wouldn't need to be virgins, but something different than her usual disgusting manwhores would be great! Oh well! I will be happy if every few years she puts out something this good with a hero that is admirable and not ruled by his sex drive!
October 23, 2016
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review
Breathtaking. Beautiful. Honest. Real. These are the few words that immediately comes to mind when describing how amazing Win Some, Lose Some by Shay Savage. Before I go on describing how this book is a winning read, I have a confession to make. This happens to be the first book that I have read from this author and I am completely blown away by Shay’s writing and characters. Shay delicately and sensitively wrote a story dealing with Asperger Syndrome in such a raw and profound manner. Readers like myself couldn’t help but feel every fiber of raw emotions, vulnerability, sadness, and hope being expressed through the pages.
I didn’t expect a New Adult read to take my heart so fast but Win Some, Lose Some was one of those reads that took you by surprise. The writing was phenomenal. The characters were fantastic. And the message in this book was a winner. The journey of Matthew Rohan made my heart race. I loved that Shay Savage allowed readers to see beyond the disability but to see a human being with feelings. And Matthew Rohan is not defined as someone who has Asperger syndrome but as someone who is a winner at life.
Matthew Rohan is no stranger to people looking at him weird. He is well aware that he is different. After losing his parents, Matthew is working hard to get into a good college so he can support his sister, who also has a disability. And so when he gets assigned to a project with Mayra, his life begins to take on a whole new shade of color and life. Soon Matthew found himself having his first real friend. A friend that soon becomes something more. So can two different people find a winning love story?
As someone who has a cousin who has Asperger’s Syndrome, this book holds a special place in my heart. And the way Shay Savage wrote the story of Matthew Rohan was done in such an effortless manner. Shay made you feel alive. She allowed you to understand Matthew and his way of thinking. And most importantly, to see his winning heart. Though this book may not be your standard romance, but this book was so much more than a love story. This book was about opening your eyes. To see the world is comprised of different people. And people like Matthew Rohan makes this world a little more special as they show us that you win some, lose some but in the end all that matters is that you tried your best and stayed true to yourself. So if you are looking for a story that highlights the beauty and different spectrum of humanity, then I highly recommend you to read Win Some, Lose Some by Shay Savage.
Shay Savage
Breathtaking. Beautiful. Honest. Real. These are the few words that immediately comes to mind when describing how amazing Win Some, Lose Some by Shay Savage. Before I go on describing how this book is a winning read, I have a confession to make. This happens to be the first book that I have read from this author and I am completely blown away by Shay’s writing and characters. Shay delicately and sensitively wrote a story dealing with Asperger Syndrome in such a raw and profound manner. Readers like myself couldn’t help but feel every fiber of raw emotions, vulnerability, sadness, and hope being expressed through the pages.
I didn’t expect a New Adult read to take my heart so fast but Win Some, Lose Some was one of those reads that took you by surprise. The writing was phenomenal. The characters were fantastic. And the message in this book was a winner. The journey of Matthew Rohan made my heart race. I loved that Shay Savage allowed readers to see beyond the disability but to see a human being with feelings. And Matthew Rohan is not defined as someone who has Asperger syndrome but as someone who is a winner at life.
Matthew Rohan is no stranger to people looking at him weird. He is well aware that he is different. After losing his parents, Matthew is working hard to get into a good college so he can support his sister, who also has a disability. And so when he gets assigned to a project with Mayra, his life begins to take on a whole new shade of color and life. Soon Matthew found himself having his first real friend. A friend that soon becomes something more. So can two different people find a winning love story?
As someone who has a cousin who has Asperger’s Syndrome, this book holds a special place in my heart. And the way Shay Savage wrote the story of Matthew Rohan was done in such an effortless manner. Shay made you feel alive. She allowed you to understand Matthew and his way of thinking. And most importantly, to see his winning heart. Though this book may not be your standard romance, but this book was so much more than a love story. This book was about opening your eyes. To see the world is comprised of different people. And people like Matthew Rohan makes this world a little more special as they show us that you win some, lose some but in the end all that matters is that you tried your best and stayed true to yourself. So if you are looking for a story that highlights the beauty and different spectrum of humanity, then I highly recommend you to read Win Some, Lose Some by Shay Savage.
Shay Savage
October 24, 2016
Omg!!!! This book was AMAZING!!! I absolutely loved everything about it. Matthew was amazing, just everything about him was real! I felt like I was going through everything with him, not gonna lie felt like I was holding back tears through the whole book. He was beautiful, so freaking sweet and REAL! This book had real life problems not crazy ow drama that every author puts in their books but actual real issues some people deal with on a daily basis and it was beautiful to read! Mayra was awesome! Her relationship with with Matthew was beautiful, she was always there for him and loved him with everything she had! She was also very patient with him which I loved. I am a very big fan of crazy insta love but this one was more of a slow burn which usually isn't my thing but in this story it worked perfectly! I loved watching them go from friends to lovers! I also felt this book had the perfect amount of steam! No ow, a little om drama but nothing that gets in between them. No push and pull they stay together through the whole book! Lovely book, I will probably have to reread this one :)
Shelved as 'dnf'
November 6, 2016NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS BOOK
In fact I am convinced I would have given it 5 stars here as I was so emotionally invested in the hero Matthew.
This book was too personal for me!
I could see my daughter's daily struggle in his character. It was just too much for me here!
The abuse the hero undergoes while in school is overwhelming for me. I am in tears every time someone calls him a freak and I can understand his uncle Travis's need to protect him. That was me at one time.
My daughter is just out of high-school now but her teens years were the worst years EVER.
I CAN'T DO THIS!
I thought I would be detached and able to objectively read this amazing book, but sadly I could not!
I hope others read it and become a little more tolerant of each other's differences!
BRAVO SHAY SAVAGE AND PEACE <3
I may pick it up again one day when I feel I am emotionally ready to deal with this subject matter.
In fact I am convinced I would have given it 5 stars here as I was so emotionally invested in the hero Matthew.
This book was too personal for me!
I could see my daughter's daily struggle in his character. It was just too much for me here!
The abuse the hero undergoes while in school is overwhelming for me. I am in tears every time someone calls him a freak and I can understand his uncle Travis's need to protect him. That was me at one time.
My daughter is just out of high-school now but her teens years were the worst years EVER.
I CAN'T DO THIS!
I thought I would be detached and able to objectively read this amazing book, but sadly I could not!
I hope others read it and become a little more tolerant of each other's differences!
BRAVO SHAY SAVAGE AND PEACE <3
I may pick it up again one day when I feel I am emotionally ready to deal with this subject matter.
November 16, 2016
4.25/5
Like my dad always said—you win at some things in life, and you lose at others. Before Mayra, I'd been satisfied just trying to keep a balance. Now I felt like there was no way I could lose as long as she was with me.
Such a beautiful and inspiring story!
With a mild form of autism, eighteen-year-old Matthew Rohan, was struggling to live a normal life on his own after losing both parents within three months. At school, almost everyone had thought he was different and weird, and some of them had occasionally bullied and made fun of him. But three months before his high school graduation, his world was about to change forever because of one girl.
As the story progressed, it warmed my heart to see Matthew try so hard to take a tiny step out of his own world and do many things that he could have never imagined doing them, not even once in his life.
Oh, I loved him! He simply stole my heart!
"You...what you've done for me...you...you're...you're everything to me. Everything good in my life is about you. You make me want to try harder and do things I never would have considered before, and I know even if I fail, you'll still be there to help me get back up afterwards."
Mayra was an amazing girl. Not only did she care about Matthew, but she was also very patient with him. Her kindness, understanding, tenderness, support, and loving, had a positive impact on him and made a great difference in his life. I wanted to hug her and thank her for being there for him no matter what.
I loved how true to life all the characters in this book were. They felt so real because they were flawed, exactly how they were supposed to be. Sometimes they got mad and started yelling, other times they could care and worry too much. And many times they felt so overwhelmed, or felt strongly about something that they couldn’t think clearly. I think the author did a good job with this part. Very impressive.
This book gave me so many feels. There were beautiful moments that made me unable to stop smiling, and there were emotional moments that broke my heart and moved me to tears.
By the way, it was wonderful reading this book. This was heartwarming, lovely, beautiful, sweet, and moving. This story truly touched my heart in so many ways. You will definitely not be disappointed with this one.
Like my dad always said—you win at some things in life, and you lose at others. Before Mayra, I'd been satisfied just trying to keep a balance. Now I felt like there was no way I could lose as long as she was with me.
Such a beautiful and inspiring story!
With a mild form of autism, eighteen-year-old Matthew Rohan, was struggling to live a normal life on his own after losing both parents within three months. At school, almost everyone had thought he was different and weird, and some of them had occasionally bullied and made fun of him. But three months before his high school graduation, his world was about to change forever because of one girl.
As the story progressed, it warmed my heart to see Matthew try so hard to take a tiny step out of his own world and do many things that he could have never imagined doing them, not even once in his life.
Oh, I loved him! He simply stole my heart!
"You...what you've done for me...you...you're...you're everything to me. Everything good in my life is about you. You make me want to try harder and do things I never would have considered before, and I know even if I fail, you'll still be there to help me get back up afterwards."
Mayra was an amazing girl. Not only did she care about Matthew, but she was also very patient with him. Her kindness, understanding, tenderness, support, and loving, had a positive impact on him and made a great difference in his life. I wanted to hug her and thank her for being there for him no matter what.
I loved how true to life all the characters in this book were. They felt so real because they were flawed, exactly how they were supposed to be. Sometimes they got mad and started yelling, other times they could care and worry too much. And many times they felt so overwhelmed, or felt strongly about something that they couldn’t think clearly. I think the author did a good job with this part. Very impressive.
This book gave me so many feels. There were beautiful moments that made me unable to stop smiling, and there were emotional moments that broke my heart and moved me to tears.
By the way, it was wonderful reading this book. This was heartwarming, lovely, beautiful, sweet, and moving. This story truly touched my heart in so many ways. You will definitely not be disappointed with this one.
October 23, 2016
I went into this book not really knowing what to expect. This book was absolutely amazing. The characters were so unbelievably sweet. There were definitely bumps in the road. Matthew had to work a lot harder at being in a relationship than most guys. But he never shied away from it because Mayra was worth that and so much more to him. It seemed totally believable the way their relationship progressed and the timing. I definitely recommend this one.
October 25, 2016
5 SUPER SWEET and ADORABLE Stars
I love Shay Savage, she’s the type of author you never know what you are going to get. Each book she writes is completely different and I’m taken to a different book world each time I read one of her books. I instantly one clicked Win Some, Lose Some because of the blurb. It’s different and I have a soft spot for young love.
Matthew is one of kind. He has Asperger’s Syndrome, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t any less lovable. The star of the book is Matthew and I love that the entire book is in his POV. I hope this book comes in audio because I would love to hear his voice. Anyhow, he’s unique, quirky and sure he’s different, but it’s a good different. Because not everyone is perfect.
He may have OCD issues, he may have panic attacks and act awkward during social occasions but he thinks a mile a minute and has a heart of gold. You want to squeeze him into pieces and put him in your pocket to protect him.
Mayra is the popular cool girl in school, but she isn’t mean. She’s never noticed Matthew before until he was forced to work with her on a school project and now she’s thinking Matthew seems like a pretty great guy. I felt like Mayra was the perfect Heroine of the book. She was understanding and patient with Matthew. She seemed very mature and kind. It was refreshing reading her as the Heroine.
The book goes through the troubles a teenager would go through during high school. There will be some teasing, awkward teen angst and plenty of young love.
I devoured this book up like mad. I read it in one sitting and I had a smile on my face the ENTIRE time I was reading. I really loved the characters and I loved the storyline. It doesn’t surprise me though, it is a Shay Savage book.
AMAZON
I love Shay Savage, she’s the type of author you never know what you are going to get. Each book she writes is completely different and I’m taken to a different book world each time I read one of her books. I instantly one clicked Win Some, Lose Some because of the blurb. It’s different and I have a soft spot for young love.
Matthew is one of kind. He has Asperger’s Syndrome, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t any less lovable. The star of the book is Matthew and I love that the entire book is in his POV. I hope this book comes in audio because I would love to hear his voice. Anyhow, he’s unique, quirky and sure he’s different, but it’s a good different. Because not everyone is perfect.
He may have OCD issues, he may have panic attacks and act awkward during social occasions but he thinks a mile a minute and has a heart of gold. You want to squeeze him into pieces and put him in your pocket to protect him.
Mayra is the popular cool girl in school, but she isn’t mean. She’s never noticed Matthew before until he was forced to work with her on a school project and now she’s thinking Matthew seems like a pretty great guy. I felt like Mayra was the perfect Heroine of the book. She was understanding and patient with Matthew. She seemed very mature and kind. It was refreshing reading her as the Heroine.
The book goes through the troubles a teenager would go through during high school. There will be some teasing, awkward teen angst and plenty of young love.
I devoured this book up like mad. I read it in one sitting and I had a smile on my face the ENTIRE time I was reading. I really loved the characters and I loved the storyline. It doesn’t surprise me though, it is a Shay Savage book.
AMAZON
March 4, 2017
Win Some, Lose Some is a New Adult standalone novel by Shay Savage that focuses on two (of age) high school students who are polar opposites.
Matthew Rohan, the orphaned, eighteen year old senior who has Asperger’s Syndrome, who needs order to his life in order to avoid panicking over new situations. And Mayra Trevino, the pretty and popular high school senior who has become Matthew’s new partner for a class assignment.
WSLS follows these two as they navigate new feelings and adjustments needed to avoid flair ups with Matthew’s condition. For Mayra, she is finally getting to know the boy that everyone just thought had something wrong with him. And as she gets to know him more, she discovers that his type of normal is something she wants.
But it’s not just the budding romance between these two or the dynamics of Matthew’s Asperger’s – it wouldn’t be a Savage book if there wasn’t something tossed in that made you think. Enter the lottery ticket.
I adored this story. From page one. Between the way these two got to know each other and the bigger questions that are raised throughout the conclusion; it was such a joy to read. Autism and the effects this had on not only Matthew, but his extended family and his relationship with Mayra was handled exceptionally well. I loved that it wasn’t just about one facet of the condition that we get to see these kids work through. But that we get to see the ways in which they cope with them as they happen.
I love the other books Shay has written and although I tend to like it dirty; I really, really loved who sweet this story was. Now, there was sex. So don’t think for a second that we don’t get some sexy times – we do ;) But we sort of get to experience all their firsts with them. It made the characters so much more endearing. I enjoyed watching the small shifts in Matthew as he became more connected to Mayra, how his feelings for her broke through some of his barriers. And how Mayra was willing to defend first her friendship with him and then latter her relationship.
There was just not a single thing in this story that I did not love. Flat out love.
Are you a blogger or an enthusiastic reader? Sign up for the cover reveal & an ARC opportunity. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA...
October 19, 2016
★★ 4.5 stars!! ★★
Can you imagine living in a world without being able to understand jokes or pick up on social cues or enjoy being surprised? I can’t, personally, but what makes Shay Savage and her writing in Win Some, Lose Some so brilliant is that you become immersed in the life of someone who does. Her poignant depiction of Matthew, a young man with Asperger’s Syndrome, is absolute perfection.
Matthew is a tenderhearted, eighteen-year-old orphan who lives by himself in his childhood home, attends high school to finish his senior year, and works computer jobs on the side. With the guidance of his aunt and uncle and his well-maintained schedule, he’s doing pretty well. However, Matthew can’t handle unexpected disruptions in his routine without completely shutting down.
Mayra is one of the ‘popular kids’, the ones who like to make fun of Matthew because he is different. But, Mayra isn’t like the other kids. She likes Matthew and wants to understand what makes him different. What starts out as a partnership for a school project turns into so much more, for both of them. Mayra is able to talk to Matthew, to get him to open up and express himself, and to help him to care about someone outside of his family.
I simply adored Matthew and Mayra together. They brought out the best in each other at every newly discovered step in their relationship. Mayra listened and she learned, she pushed and she comforted, she loved and she adapted.
This book is so well-written, it can be both heartbreaking and funny at the same time. I loved Matthew as a character so much that he started to feel like a real person. The story makes you feel like you have stepped off of the pages and into Matthew’s tortured mind. I’ve never read anything like it, but I hope to again. I want to hug Shay Savage for bringing Matthew to life, if only in a book.
▸ ARC generously provided in exchange for an honest review.
▸ Order: Kindle | Paperback | Kobo | iBooks | Nook
▸ For more reviews, visit
Can you imagine living in a world without being able to understand jokes or pick up on social cues or enjoy being surprised? I can’t, personally, but what makes Shay Savage and her writing in Win Some, Lose Some so brilliant is that you become immersed in the life of someone who does. Her poignant depiction of Matthew, a young man with Asperger’s Syndrome, is absolute perfection.
Matthew is a tenderhearted, eighteen-year-old orphan who lives by himself in his childhood home, attends high school to finish his senior year, and works computer jobs on the side. With the guidance of his aunt and uncle and his well-maintained schedule, he’s doing pretty well. However, Matthew can’t handle unexpected disruptions in his routine without completely shutting down.
Mayra is one of the ‘popular kids’, the ones who like to make fun of Matthew because he is different. But, Mayra isn’t like the other kids. She likes Matthew and wants to understand what makes him different. What starts out as a partnership for a school project turns into so much more, for both of them. Mayra is able to talk to Matthew, to get him to open up and express himself, and to help him to care about someone outside of his family.
I simply adored Matthew and Mayra together. They brought out the best in each other at every newly discovered step in their relationship. Mayra listened and she learned, she pushed and she comforted, she loved and she adapted.
This book is so well-written, it can be both heartbreaking and funny at the same time. I loved Matthew as a character so much that he started to feel like a real person. The story makes you feel like you have stepped off of the pages and into Matthew’s tortured mind. I’ve never read anything like it, but I hope to again. I want to hug Shay Savage for bringing Matthew to life, if only in a book.
▸ ARC generously provided in exchange for an honest review.
▸ Order: Kindle | Paperback | Kobo | iBooks | Nook
▸ For more reviews, visit
Displaying 1 - 30 of 461 reviews