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Boys of Summer
Summer Love and Basketball: A Love In Bloom Novella
DIRTY DANCING MEETS THE NOTEBOOK IN THIS YA SUMMER ROMANCE
When I snuck into a party on the wrong side of the beach, I never expected to meet anyone, especially not a guy as hot and confident as Duke Silvers.
I thought we'd spend the entire summer together. And then I learned who he really was, and it destroyed us before we even began.
Our budding romance became an all-out war. Until Duke showed up on my doorstep... as my new basketball coach's son.
I planned on spending the rest of the summer licking my wounds and staying as far away from Duke as possible. But, when a series of crazy dares push us closer than we ever thought possible, our war turns into an uneasy truce. And then, it turns into something more.
Summer Love and Basketball is a clean, Young Adult, enemies-to-lovers contemporary novella filled with beaches, romance, and of course, basketball. Download Summer Love and Basketball today.
This is a novella in the Boys of Summer series, a collaboration between several YA authors. They are all standalone stores that take place in the same fictional town. Escape to Sterling Beach today!
Saving Hadley by Amy Sparling
Beach Town Bad Boy by Maggie Dallen
Riptide by Jordan Ford
Don't Fall For The Summer Fling by Tammy Andresen
Flirting With The Enemy by Sally Henson
Beauty And The Beach by Kayla Tirrell
Falling For The Rich Boy by Yesenia Vargas
Summer Love And Basketball by Seven Steps
When I snuck into a party on the wrong side of the beach, I never expected to meet anyone, especially not a guy as hot and confident as Duke Silvers.
I thought we'd spend the entire summer together. And then I learned who he really was, and it destroyed us before we even began.
Our budding romance became an all-out war. Until Duke showed up on my doorstep... as my new basketball coach's son.
I planned on spending the rest of the summer licking my wounds and staying as far away from Duke as possible. But, when a series of crazy dares push us closer than we ever thought possible, our war turns into an uneasy truce. And then, it turns into something more.
Summer Love and Basketball is a clean, Young Adult, enemies-to-lovers contemporary novella filled with beaches, romance, and of course, basketball. Download Summer Love and Basketball today.
This is a novella in the Boys of Summer series, a collaboration between several YA authors. They are all standalone stores that take place in the same fictional town. Escape to Sterling Beach today!
Saving Hadley by Amy Sparling
Beach Town Bad Boy by Maggie Dallen
Riptide by Jordan Ford
Don't Fall For The Summer Fling by Tammy Andresen
Flirting With The Enemy by Sally Henson
Beauty And The Beach by Kayla Tirrell
Falling For The Rich Boy by Yesenia Vargas
Summer Love And Basketball by Seven Steps
- GenresRomance
110 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 9, 2019
9 people are currently reading
69 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
June 30, 2019
Just so cute!!!! Okay, so the ending was just a tad cheesy, but that made it so much more enjoyable. I had so much fun with the love to hate to love relationship! Their playful banter and sometimes harsh remarks were what made this book fun. Then the relationship and the parents gave it depth. I’ve never read a book by this author, but now I want to read all of them😂😂😂 So good!!! A definite recommendation from me
July 27, 2019
Summer Love And Basketball by Seven Steps is a really sweet romance. I loved the story of Duke and Indy.
July 29, 2019
It got a little better towards the end!
https://ladiikeiii.wordpress.com/2019...
*Just a few spoilers here and there: not many**
Ugh... I'm between a three or a four-star when it comes to this book... I thought this book was going to similar to the others but different in a way...but it never had me wanting more...
I was kind of disappointed... Duke was kind of judgmental towards Indigo if you look at it. I was stupid of him to blame Indigo about what her "dad" did... clearly, his mom and dad don't get along, but their moms do. I felt like what Indy dad did was foul and was glad that Duke mom told on Indy parents about them being together. You could tell he wanted his wife (Alicia) to play rather than Janae. He probably didn't like Janae anyways. & played favoritism. He also seems bitter (Indy dad) unlike Alicia, who appears to want to be closer to her best friend... his is clearly my thoughts halfway through well since I read up to chapter six...
& so on......
I really don't want to finish this book, but I really wanted to know what will happen next... so I have to continue...because halfway through maybe chapter nine it ended up being more interesting..... even though; I still think that Duke mom didn't want Indy around because of her father. I was kind of wishing Alicia; Indy mom find that Robert guy and marry or date him cause clearly her dad is just ugh! I don't like that dude at all... Janae doesn't seem that bad though because she didn't try to bash or be mean or call Indy names as Indy dad did when it came to Duke. I wanted to smack fire out of his ***... because clearly, he had a stick so far up his *** that he doesn't know what to do with his uppity think he better than the lower class people/sticking his nose down to someone who's different than he...
But was glad that in the end, Duke mom got a coaching job because I was stating to myself it'll be awesome Janae was actually coaching other basketball players as she did with Indy and even her son..... not only that Indy and Duke got to be together for GOOD. But I bet 9/10 her dad is going to try to mess that up! Especially if there's a book coming about them again called:
Indy and Duke in Rose and the Radio Rival (Love in Bloom Book 2) coming Fall 2019.
P.S. I still want a book with Hayes, and see if he'll walk again, so I am hoping that one of the authors or a newer one will be willing to write on about him & it is good too.
https://ladiikeiii.wordpress.com/2019...
*Just a few spoilers here and there: not many**
Ugh... I'm between a three or a four-star when it comes to this book... I thought this book was going to similar to the others but different in a way...but it never had me wanting more...
I was kind of disappointed... Duke was kind of judgmental towards Indigo if you look at it. I was stupid of him to blame Indigo about what her "dad" did... clearly, his mom and dad don't get along, but their moms do. I felt like what Indy dad did was foul and was glad that Duke mom told on Indy parents about them being together. You could tell he wanted his wife (Alicia) to play rather than Janae. He probably didn't like Janae anyways. & played favoritism. He also seems bitter (Indy dad) unlike Alicia, who appears to want to be closer to her best friend... his is clearly my thoughts halfway through well since I read up to chapter six...
& so on......
I really don't want to finish this book, but I really wanted to know what will happen next... so I have to continue...because halfway through maybe chapter nine it ended up being more interesting..... even though; I still think that Duke mom didn't want Indy around because of her father. I was kind of wishing Alicia; Indy mom find that Robert guy and marry or date him cause clearly her dad is just ugh! I don't like that dude at all... Janae doesn't seem that bad though because she didn't try to bash or be mean or call Indy names as Indy dad did when it came to Duke. I wanted to smack fire out of his ***... because clearly, he had a stick so far up his *** that he doesn't know what to do with his uppity think he better than the lower class people/sticking his nose down to someone who's different than he...
But was glad that in the end, Duke mom got a coaching job because I was stating to myself it'll be awesome Janae was actually coaching other basketball players as she did with Indy and even her son..... not only that Indy and Duke got to be together for GOOD. But I bet 9/10 her dad is going to try to mess that up! Especially if there's a book coming about them again called:
Indy and Duke in Rose and the Radio Rival (Love in Bloom Book 2) coming Fall 2019.
P.S. I still want a book with Hayes, and see if he'll walk again, so I am hoping that one of the authors or a newer one will be willing to write on about him & it is good too.
August 3, 2019
I should probably start by telling you that my all time favorite movie is Love & Basketball. I could watch it every single day and back in a time before Netflix, I often did. So, as you might imagine, as soon as this ARC hit my mailbox, I was excited but cautious. I try not to go into books with expectations or preconceptions but with a title like this, how could I not? Fortunately, Seven Steps is a beast of a storyteller. By the time I was 5 pages in, Monica & Q were out of mind and I was all in with Indy & Duke. I’ve read most if not all of Steps’ books and I love them but they are on the long side. I actually really like that aspect and her in depth characterizations so I was curious to see if she could capture the same magic in about 1/4 of the time. Well, she delivered. Summer Love & Basketball has depth and heart and conflict and overlaying story arcs and character development. I loved it. A pleasant surprise to say the least. I can’t wait to read more about Duke & Indy this fall!
P.S. I have to commend the author for something that will likely go unnoticed to most but is huge to me. Thank you for making this book about young people (or at least Duke) of color but NOT making it central to the plot. Yes, we need to be woke. I believe in the “don’t look away” philosophy as much as anyone but I also believe in reading or watching things just for fun sometimes. We don’t have a lot of books where black teens are just kids living life. All of us aren’t from the hood. All of us don’t fall in love with drug dealers and all of us don’t have tragic pasts to overcome. Also, I read Indy as caucasian although it was never really confirmed one way or the other and, assuming that’s correct, the little mixed girl in me is incredibly thankful that no extra attention was drawn to the interracial aspect. I don’t know if I can properly put it in to words so I’ll just say thanks for making it and them and me and us just....people. For treating us like the feature and not the bug. There’s a lot of power in that. Representation matters.
P.S. I have to commend the author for something that will likely go unnoticed to most but is huge to me. Thank you for making this book about young people (or at least Duke) of color but NOT making it central to the plot. Yes, we need to be woke. I believe in the “don’t look away” philosophy as much as anyone but I also believe in reading or watching things just for fun sometimes. We don’t have a lot of books where black teens are just kids living life. All of us aren’t from the hood. All of us don’t fall in love with drug dealers and all of us don’t have tragic pasts to overcome. Also, I read Indy as caucasian although it was never really confirmed one way or the other and, assuming that’s correct, the little mixed girl in me is incredibly thankful that no extra attention was drawn to the interracial aspect. I don’t know if I can properly put it in to words so I’ll just say thanks for making it and them and me and us just....people. For treating us like the feature and not the bug. There’s a lot of power in that. Representation matters.
May 21, 2019
Cute novella featuring sand, sun, beaches and basketball. Indigo, "Indy" comes from basketball royalty, her mother was a star player in the wnba and her dad was a coach, she has loved basketball all her life and wants to be a wnba star herself. The summer before senior year, her parents take her to Virginia Beach to have a private training from Janae, a former teammate of her mom's. The night before practice starts, she finds a party and meets the cutest guy. He is kind and fun and just as a connection begins the party ends with the cops showing up. Surprise, the boy is her training partner, Janae is his mom but he isn't so friendly when he finds out who she is. This is the classic tale of assumptions turning things difficult and the truth helping people grow together. Duke and Indy spend the summer together, practicing and dancing and walking the beach. Love grows and then summer ends. Happily things end well and it makes a nice link into other series, love in bloom. This is a sweet young adult love story that makes you smile.
May 23, 2019
This was a really cute and quick read. I liked the summer feel to it and it made me wish I lived closer to the beach. I loved that she was into something besides basketball and that they had so much in common.
Indy was a good character that loved basketball but her parents thought basketball was everything so even though it was the summer time she still had basketball practice twice a day for 5 weeks. Come to find out that her new basketball coach knew her parents back then and she has a son. I didn't really like Duke in the beginning but once he listened to Indy and understood her better than he became a better character. I loved the chemistry between these two though and that they ended up having so much in common. I loved the trash talking during basketball practice and the way they made bets about hanging out with each other. I wished the ending went a little differently but I also thought it was a good ending or a different ending than most books because it almost makes you wonder how the story was going to go or if they would end up together.
Indy was a good character that loved basketball but her parents thought basketball was everything so even though it was the summer time she still had basketball practice twice a day for 5 weeks. Come to find out that her new basketball coach knew her parents back then and she has a son. I didn't really like Duke in the beginning but once he listened to Indy and understood her better than he became a better character. I loved the chemistry between these two though and that they ended up having so much in common. I loved the trash talking during basketball practice and the way they made bets about hanging out with each other. I wished the ending went a little differently but I also thought it was a good ending or a different ending than most books because it almost makes you wonder how the story was going to go or if they would end up together.
July 24, 2019
Seven Steps is one of a small group of authors who, for me, are tops at YA romance. What they write just feels totally genuine and “real” while also be great romance stories as well. That’s certainly the case with Summer Love and Basketball: A Love In Bloom Novella (Boys of Summer). Ignore the complex title. This book works wonderfully as a stand-alone. Great backstory between the parents. Rich vs poor clash. Basketball culture done to perfection. Romance beautifully done. I loved Indigo (Indy) and Duke’s tale. But for the fact that I’m literally dictating this review to my husband from my hospital bed I could go on and on with praises. The book definitely deserves it. Since I can’t do that I will simply note that the book is most definitely one to read, and it is easy to highly recommend.
June 13, 2019
This is a story of young love for Indy and Duke the summer before their senior year in high school. Their mothers had been BFF once upon a time. Duke and Indy were terrific basketball players who had dreams of playing in the big leagues. Separated by their parents because they considered a relationship between Duke and Indy something that would be disastrous, thus causing undue angst for the young couple. Would they ever be together? Only time will tell but you can discover what ensues by reading Summer Love and Basketball by Seven Steps. I highly recommend it.
July 23, 2019
Ideal read for summertime brake - gives positive vibes
Quick bittersweet story about summer love. A lot of people have come through such an experience when being young and on summertime brake. This one is funny, with witty banter and trash talk between main characters. They connected instantly and sparks started to fly. As in those cases the parents are getting involved and not always in the best way. It made me smile but I also shed some tears especially towards the end of the novella. Now I just want to read more of their story.
Quick bittersweet story about summer love. A lot of people have come through such an experience when being young and on summertime brake. This one is funny, with witty banter and trash talk between main characters. They connected instantly and sparks started to fly. As in those cases the parents are getting involved and not always in the best way. It made me smile but I also shed some tears especially towards the end of the novella. Now I just want to read more of their story.
May 19, 2019
Indy is almost seventeen ans she has big dreams about WNBA. But her parents thinks she has to toughen her play so she ends up in Virginia with her mother’s basket player as a coach for the summer. The she mets Duke, her coach’s son and stars sparkle between them. Can they have a chance together against all odd? Their different background, their parent past secret’s and their resolution to keep them apart?
July 10, 2019
I gave this book 2,5 stars.
It is a clean ya romance book and ok cute. It has Dirty dancing and the notebook vibes.
I really didn’t like the first half of the book. Duke is so judgmental towards Indigo and both his and her parents are awful.
The ending gets better and gives me Dirty Dancing vibes (and I still love Dirty dancing). But it still feels more like a teenage obsession than a romance.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
It is a clean ya romance book and ok cute. It has Dirty dancing and the notebook vibes.
I really didn’t like the first half of the book. Duke is so judgmental towards Indigo and both his and her parents are awful.
The ending gets better and gives me Dirty Dancing vibes (and I still love Dirty dancing). But it still feels more like a teenage obsession than a romance.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 5, 2019
I've read several books written by Seven Steps; she has done a great job at writing a good book; she is becoming one of my favorite authors. I can’t wait to read more of books her books.
The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.
I loved the chemistry between the characters.
I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.
I loved the chemistry between the characters.
I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
May 18, 2019
Seven Steps has a way of helping us all remember the loves of our youth and how our lives were ending when we had to say good-bye.
Indy and Duke's story is one of hard work, competitiveness, learning tolerance of others and eventually love.
I have recommended this to my teenage Granddaughter and all her friends. I can't wait to see what will happen next.
Indy and Duke's story is one of hard work, competitiveness, learning tolerance of others and eventually love.
I have recommended this to my teenage Granddaughter and all her friends. I can't wait to see what will happen next.
July 15, 2019
Uplifting Teen Romance
This heartwarming and uplifting teen romance is why this is my favorite young adult author! I can't wait to see where she takes this series. The story is sweet, clean and totally believable. The plot is well done. The emotions and motivations are quite realistic. I received this ARC book for free from Booksprouts and this is my honest review.
This heartwarming and uplifting teen romance is why this is my favorite young adult author! I can't wait to see where she takes this series. The story is sweet, clean and totally believable. The plot is well done. The emotions and motivations are quite realistic. I received this ARC book for free from Booksprouts and this is my honest review.
August 4, 2019
I really wanted to like this story more than I did - but that's quite difficult when you don't like one of the main characters and are supposed to be rooting for them. :(
I liked Indigo, but I found it unfair how Duke treated her and judged her by what her parents (mostly her dad) had done to his mom in the past.
I liked Indigo, but I found it unfair how Duke treated her and judged her by what her parents (mostly her dad) had done to his mom in the past.
March 15, 2025
Duke was towards Indy at the start of the book for something her dad did, but he quickly for over of and it became a cute quick young summer love story.
Indy and Dukes banter had me laughing out loud a few times. Only problem the are form different world and their parents don’t want them together but fate had other plans for them.
Indy and Dukes banter had me laughing out loud a few times. Only problem the are form different world and their parents don’t want them together but fate had other plans for them.
May 15, 2019
I love the way Seven spins a storyline. This story is such an intense love between Duke & Indy. You can't help but relate to these characters in some way. Way to go Seven. Keep those stories coming.
May 24, 2019
Managed to read this book in one sitting I loved the summer beach vibe, the love between Indy and duke was intense and more than just your summer fling. Will definitely recommend to anyone looking for a beachside love story 😁
June 5, 2019
I really enjoyed this story! It was sweet and adorable and a very easy read. It flowed really well. It pulled me in from beginning to end. This is a short story and didn't take me very long to read. I enjoyed the characters a lot. It was entertaining. We get to know them pretty well within this short story. I liked the twist at the end and would have loved to have gotten more of them afterwards. This is a clean young adult romance.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
July 20, 2019
The book is a good teen and young adult sweet romance read. The story has a good story line. The characters are good. The story is an enjoyable quick and cute romance read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 21, 2019
Hate to love romance summer read. Indy and Duke met at a beach party and it seemed like they'll spend the summer together until they found out they're each other training partner.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 26, 2019
A quick, entertaining, enjoyable story! Loved the characters and the witty banter between them. Fun, clean, YA romance!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 28, 2020
Extremely entertaining, captivating and interesting sexy read. I could not put it down. Wonderfully written with strong, intriguing characters. I want to read more from this author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 17, 2019
Such a sweet read. I really enjoyed it :)
Definite Notebook tones, which I'm such a sucker for.
Can't wait to see what happens next for Duke and Indigo!
Definite Notebook tones, which I'm such a sucker for.
Can't wait to see what happens next for Duke and Indigo!
May 18, 2019
I really enjoyed this book.
I will be recommending this book to family and friends.
I will be recommending this book to family and friends.
May 19, 2019
Cute, fun summer short story - no surprises, but kept me interested.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews