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Nerds vs Jocks #1
Schooling the Jock
Only an unfair universe makes a guy who’s that gorgeous so damned obnoxious.
A-hoe!
Poindexter!
Snarky, superbrain Dobbs and snooty football star Jesse stare at each other from their rival frat houses on opposites sides of the street -- and opposite sides of everything else.
Alpha Lambda Alpha and Sigma Mu Tau have been sworn enemies for decades. Then one disastrous prank proves to be the final straw, and the college dean blows his cork!
Work together or lose both your houses.
Question - -How can Dobbs win his coveted Quiz Bowl championship when he’s forced to put a dumb jock on his team?
Answer -- Lots of personal schooling.
But when personal becomes very personal, Jesse risks causing his overtaxed family one more huge worry and the running back starts running.
Will Dobbs give up on the shocked jock, or show him that the answer to the big question is, Yes?
SCHOOLING THE JOCK is an enemies-to-lovers, opposites attract, campus romance – with one hell of a lightning round.
A-hoe!
Poindexter!
Snarky, superbrain Dobbs and snooty football star Jesse stare at each other from their rival frat houses on opposites sides of the street -- and opposite sides of everything else.
Alpha Lambda Alpha and Sigma Mu Tau have been sworn enemies for decades. Then one disastrous prank proves to be the final straw, and the college dean blows his cork!
Work together or lose both your houses.
Question - -How can Dobbs win his coveted Quiz Bowl championship when he’s forced to put a dumb jock on his team?
Answer -- Lots of personal schooling.
But when personal becomes very personal, Jesse risks causing his overtaxed family one more huge worry and the running back starts running.
Will Dobbs give up on the shocked jock, or show him that the answer to the big question is, Yes?
SCHOOLING THE JOCK is an enemies-to-lovers, opposites attract, campus romance – with one hell of a lightning round.
310 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 16, 2021
348 people are currently reading
1293 people want to read
About the author
Eli Easton
70 books2,807 followersHaving been, at various times and under different names, a minister’s daughter, a computer programmer, the author of paranormal mysteries, a game designer, an organic farmer, an avid hiker, and a profound sleeper, Eli is happily embarking on yet another incarnation as a m/m romance author.
As an addicted reader of such, she is tinkled pink when an author manages to combine literary merit, vast stores of humor, melting hotness and eye-dabbing sweetness into one story. She promises to strive to achieve most of that most of the time. She currently lives on a farm in Pennsylvania with her husband, three bulldogs, three cows and six chickens. All of them (except for the husband) are female, hence explaining the naked men that have taken up residence in her latest fiction writing.
Her website in www.elieaston.com
You can email her at eli@elieaston.com
COMING SOON:
See what's in the pipeline here: http://elieaston.com/work-in-progress/
As an addicted reader of such, she is tinkled pink when an author manages to combine literary merit, vast stores of humor, melting hotness and eye-dabbing sweetness into one story. She promises to strive to achieve most of that most of the time. She currently lives on a farm in Pennsylvania with her husband, three bulldogs, three cows and six chickens. All of them (except for the husband) are female, hence explaining the naked men that have taken up residence in her latest fiction writing.
Her website in www.elieaston.com
You can email her at eli@elieaston.com
COMING SOON:
See what's in the pipeline here: http://elieaston.com/work-in-progress/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 323 reviews
March 3, 2021
This was kind of an odd read for me. I typically love Eli's books and was really looking forward to it; however, the pacing seemed a bit slower than I prefer, so the story didn't completely hold my attention.
I think it mainly came down to the fact that I honestly couldn't give 2 shits about Quiz Bowl. I've never been a real Jeopardy kinda guy, so all of the parts centering around being quizzed *FOR FUN*, well... not my thing in the slightest.
Having been in a fraternity in college, myself, I did enjoy many of the scenes of Greek life, which made me smile and gave me more than a few flashbacks to some of our own moronic, but 0h-so-fun campus hijinks.
My favorite parts of the book were the trips home to visit Jesse's family. I absolutely adored his little brothers and Dobbs' exposure to the very foreign concept of life on a farm. Maintaining interest in the story wasn't a problem there.
My very least favorite part of the book was where Jesse's fear caused him to betray Dobbs' trust, which I understood, but wasn't quite so quick to forgive. Shitty behavior is shittttttttty, sorry.
I'd rate this book at around 3.25 stars, but suspect that I'll probably like the next book in the series, a flag football, fish-out-o-water tale, much more than I did this one.
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February 23, 2021
I love Eli Easton's work, but she doesn't typically write with a coauthor so I was nervous going in. Fortunately, the narrative style is cohesive and the characters' voices distinct.
This story contains elements I love:
- enemies-to-lovers (opposing frat houses)
- opposites attract (super smart nerdy guy vs. football player)
- supportive family (I loved Jesse's parents and little brothers, and how much Jesse cared about his family.)
‐ coming out (which is not without angst, as Jesse is used to hiding his sexuality for fear of burdening his parents and losing his scholarship)
‐ fun, interesting secondary characters
- great chemistry and a decent amount of steam
- Quiz Bowl (The competition was exciting, and I loved Dobbs and Jesse's study sessions!)
- groveling (Jesse fucks up royally, but he apologizes and eventually does right by Dobbs. And Dobbs doesn't punish Jesse. Both guys show a level of maturity that belies their age, which is so attractive.)
- strong HFN (I wouldn't call it a true HEA only because the MCs are so young, although plenty of people marry their college sweethearts.)
I have two complaints:
- the animosity between the two frat houses seemed OTT; that much anger and hostility made me anxious.
‐ the last line of the book randomly breaks the fourth wall and addresses the reader directly ("as for you, dear reader"). This pulled me out of the story and irritated me to no end. I don't understand why (WHY??) the authors did this, but this dear reader was not happy.
Even so, I enjoyed this cute story and am looking forward to other books in the series.
This story contains elements I love:
- enemies-to-lovers (opposing frat houses)
- opposites attract (super smart nerdy guy vs. football player)
- supportive family (I loved Jesse's parents and little brothers, and how much Jesse cared about his family.)
‐ coming out (which is not without angst, as Jesse is used to hiding his sexuality for fear of burdening his parents and losing his scholarship)
‐ fun, interesting secondary characters
- great chemistry and a decent amount of steam
- Quiz Bowl (The competition was exciting, and I loved Dobbs and Jesse's study sessions!)
- groveling (Jesse fucks up royally, but he apologizes and eventually does right by Dobbs. And Dobbs doesn't punish Jesse. Both guys show a level of maturity that belies their age, which is so attractive.)
- strong HFN (I wouldn't call it a true HEA only because the MCs are so young, although plenty of people marry their college sweethearts.)
I have two complaints:
- the animosity between the two frat houses seemed OTT; that much anger and hostility made me anxious.
‐ the last line of the book randomly breaks the fourth wall and addresses the reader directly ("as for you, dear reader"). This pulled me out of the story and irritated me to no end. I don't understand why (WHY??) the authors did this, but this dear reader was not happy.
Even so, I enjoyed this cute story and am looking forward to other books in the series.
May 18, 2021
⭐ 3.5 “Even with its issues, this was just the fun I was craving” stars ⭐
After my last few disappointments, I was at my wits’ ends where books were concerned. I needed something to pull me in from the looming claws of a book slump, and desperately so.
Luckily for me…
Because this was (for the most part) the kind of lighthearted fun I was craving!!!
*******************************
Embarking on this review, I have to preface it by saying that despite a few nitpicks, this happened to be just what I needed at the time. The equivalent of finally getting to enjoy a rom-com after spending your entire week binging true crime documentaries and soul-crushing dramas. And for that, regardless of the rating granted, this one deserves all the stars.
Onto the actual story, however, I can admit that while it's nothing revolutionary, it still achieved what it set out to do. Playing into the archetypes we all know and love, the dichotomy between the Jock and Nerd personas, this book proceeded to challenge any preconceptions until the roles began to blend together in beautiful harmony. The MCs learned throughout the course of the story to look beyond the packaging they had been conditioned to judge, and instead relate as complex individuals who defied their own labels.
And yes, I know what you’re thinking…
Doesn’t make it any less entertaining though.
As for the protagonists, on the Nerd side you had Dobbs, the out and proud Quiz Bowl captain from Sigma Mu Tau. He was mouthy, witty to a fault and the kind of charming Eli Easton excels at. While not exactly a standout from other leads I’ve met of hers, I still found myself smiling and even chuckling while reading some of his chapters.
Then opposite him was our Jock, Jesse, who was the closeted running back for the college team and a member of Alpha Lambda Alpha. Admittedly, he was my favorite of the two. Despite some of his motivations for staying in the closet being flimsy at best (as in don’t look at them too closely because they’ll fall apart in minus ten milliseconds), the way he acted towards his family (and particularly his autistic younger siblings) still won over my heart from the start.
As someone who has been reading lots of books lately with toxic family dynamics and melodrama, Jesse and his fam were a VERY welcomed change of scenery. Seeing their bonds depicted as both heartfelt and healthy was something I didn’t even know I was craving.
Me after I realized I wasn’t getting yet another abusive and homophobic fictional household to deal with. The relief was palpable.
If anything, my favorite part of the book happened to be right at the start, when Jesse had to drive back to his farm in Iowa to take care of a family emergency and Dobbs decided to tag along, all under the premise of helping the Jock practice for an upcoming Quiz Bowl competition. Logically, I get that most of the “conflict” in the story centered around the animosity between frats and the college setting, but the MCs being all domestic while bonding with Jesse’s family was just much more interesting to me than any tournament ever was.
Because while the romance happened later on and was quite entertaining to experience, I couldn’t help but think back to how much better all that setup had been. The little moments there, the tension present, and the emotional gravitas of it all.
Plus, the switch between friendship and love for these two could’ve been smoother if you ask me. And especially considering how much Jesse’s fear of coming out was capitalized on by the story. We were supposed to think this guy almost had panic attacks at the prospect of being “found out” by his frat and the administration at his college, yet he was perfectly fine with some rather public displays of affection? As in exhibition levels, I mean.
Indeed, all the delicious build-up for such a porn-ish conclusion to be reached left me a bit underwhelmed. Even if it was amusing in a slightly OTT ridiculousness sort of way.
Accurate depiction of the kind of subtlety I’m talking about when I mean porn-ish conclusion. Only swap the office setting for a gym and you got the gist.
Yet none of those were things which fully detracted from my entertainment, not in all seriousness anyway. What I had a problem with, however, was that just when the romance was beginning to pay off in all its adorkable glory... I found myself becoming acquainted with the regular convoluted breakup scene I was hoping would not happen. And I think you all know exactly what I’m talking about, considering how many romance books sadly fall victim to this awful plot device. It made as little sense here as can be expected.
But I digress.
Because at the end of the day, with all my small or not-so-small niggles, this was still a mostly enjoyable experience. And on a larger scale, the authors also did a fantastic job at selling how adorably awkward young love can be. Both Jesse and Dobbs felt like college guys while they met, took the first tentative steps into friendship, and then while diving headfirst into romance.
Plus, when the MCs finally did come together, even if the scenes weren’t largely descriptive, the atmosphere of exploration surrounding them was still hawt. If you like a discovery story, this is deliciously tinted with it. Since Jesse wasn't a virgin in the technical definition of the word, having fooled around with a guy previously, but he was very much one in the emotional and romantic sense. Watching him not only grow confident in his sexuality, but also in outwardly expressing his affections?
It was simply delightful to witness.
So bottom line, I’m happy I picked this up to avoid an incoming slump. A flawless book this was not, but sometimes we don’t need flawlessness to have a grand ol’ time, and this story perfectly proved that.
Plus, you can bet your behind I’ll be continuing on with the series. Because after meeting Bubba and Sean here, who will be the next main couple, saying I’m excited would be an understatement lol.
*******************************
Now, as tradition dictates…
Keywords to figure out if this might be the book for you:
Jock/Nerd pairing. Opposites Attract. Defying expectations. A kind of contrived but still heartwarming coming-out narrative. Some delicious UST. Lovable side characters. Surprisingly accepting fraternities. Witty banter. Wholesome family dynamics. People taking quizzes VERY seriously. And the MCs being very committed to learning anatomy. Size difference (jock and nerd couple, duh). And, last but not least, quite a few inappropriate scenes at the gym. Because what’s a college romance without some exhibitionism? (Y’all, this and Extracurricular Activities are making me sense a pattern)
*******************************
Nerd vs Jocks series by Eli Easton and Tara Lain.
Schooling the Jock— 3.5 ⭐
Coaching the Nerd— TBR.
Head to Head— TBR.
After my last few disappointments, I was at my wits’ ends where books were concerned. I needed something to pull me in from the looming claws of a book slump, and desperately so.
Luckily for me…
Because this was (for the most part) the kind of lighthearted fun I was craving!!!
*******************************
Embarking on this review, I have to preface it by saying that despite a few nitpicks, this happened to be just what I needed at the time. The equivalent of finally getting to enjoy a rom-com after spending your entire week binging true crime documentaries and soul-crushing dramas. And for that, regardless of the rating granted, this one deserves all the stars.
Onto the actual story, however, I can admit that while it's nothing revolutionary, it still achieved what it set out to do. Playing into the archetypes we all know and love, the dichotomy between the Jock and Nerd personas, this book proceeded to challenge any preconceptions until the roles began to blend together in beautiful harmony. The MCs learned throughout the course of the story to look beyond the packaging they had been conditioned to judge, and instead relate as complex individuals who defied their own labels.
And yes, I know what you’re thinking…
Doesn’t make it any less entertaining though.
As for the protagonists, on the Nerd side you had Dobbs, the out and proud Quiz Bowl captain from Sigma Mu Tau. He was mouthy, witty to a fault and the kind of charming Eli Easton excels at. While not exactly a standout from other leads I’ve met of hers, I still found myself smiling and even chuckling while reading some of his chapters.
Then opposite him was our Jock, Jesse, who was the closeted running back for the college team and a member of Alpha Lambda Alpha. Admittedly, he was my favorite of the two. Despite some of his motivations for staying in the closet being flimsy at best (as in don’t look at them too closely because they’ll fall apart in minus ten milliseconds), the way he acted towards his family (and particularly his autistic younger siblings) still won over my heart from the start.
As someone who has been reading lots of books lately with toxic family dynamics and melodrama, Jesse and his fam were a VERY welcomed change of scenery. Seeing their bonds depicted as both heartfelt and healthy was something I didn’t even know I was craving.
Me after I realized I wasn’t getting yet another abusive and homophobic fictional household to deal with. The relief was palpable.
If anything, my favorite part of the book happened to be right at the start, when Jesse had to drive back to his farm in Iowa to take care of a family emergency and Dobbs decided to tag along, all under the premise of helping the Jock practice for an upcoming Quiz Bowl competition. Logically, I get that most of the “conflict” in the story centered around the animosity between frats and the college setting, but the MCs being all domestic while bonding with Jesse’s family was just much more interesting to me than any tournament ever was.
Because while the romance happened later on and was quite entertaining to experience, I couldn’t help but think back to how much better all that setup had been. The little moments there, the tension present, and the emotional gravitas of it all.
Plus, the switch between friendship and love for these two could’ve been smoother if you ask me. And especially considering how much Jesse’s fear of coming out was capitalized on by the story. We were supposed to think this guy almost had panic attacks at the prospect of being “found out” by his frat and the administration at his college, yet he was perfectly fine with some rather public displays of affection? As in exhibition levels, I mean.
Indeed, all the delicious build-up for such a porn-ish conclusion to be reached left me a bit underwhelmed. Even if it was amusing in a slightly OTT ridiculousness sort of way.
Accurate depiction of the kind of subtlety I’m talking about when I mean porn-ish conclusion. Only swap the office setting for a gym and you got the gist.
Yet none of those were things which fully detracted from my entertainment, not in all seriousness anyway. What I had a problem with, however, was that just when the romance was beginning to pay off in all its adorkable glory... I found myself becoming acquainted with the regular convoluted breakup scene I was hoping would not happen. And I think you all know exactly what I’m talking about, considering how many romance books sadly fall victim to this awful plot device. It made as little sense here as can be expected.
But I digress.
Because at the end of the day, with all my small or not-so-small niggles, this was still a mostly enjoyable experience. And on a larger scale, the authors also did a fantastic job at selling how adorably awkward young love can be. Both Jesse and Dobbs felt like college guys while they met, took the first tentative steps into friendship, and then while diving headfirst into romance.
Plus, when the MCs finally did come together, even if the scenes weren’t largely descriptive, the atmosphere of exploration surrounding them was still hawt. If you like a discovery story, this is deliciously tinted with it. Since Jesse wasn't a virgin in the technical definition of the word, having fooled around with a guy previously, but he was very much one in the emotional and romantic sense. Watching him not only grow confident in his sexuality, but also in outwardly expressing his affections?
It was simply delightful to witness.
So bottom line, I’m happy I picked this up to avoid an incoming slump. A flawless book this was not, but sometimes we don’t need flawlessness to have a grand ol’ time, and this story perfectly proved that.
Plus, you can bet your behind I’ll be continuing on with the series. Because after meeting Bubba and Sean here, who will be the next main couple, saying I’m excited would be an understatement lol.
*******************************
Now, as tradition dictates…
Keywords to figure out if this might be the book for you:
Jock/Nerd pairing. Opposites Attract. Defying expectations. A kind of contrived but still heartwarming coming-out narrative. Some delicious UST. Lovable side characters. Surprisingly accepting fraternities. Witty banter. Wholesome family dynamics. People taking quizzes VERY seriously. And the MCs being very committed to learning anatomy. Size difference (jock and nerd couple, duh). And, last but not least, quite a few inappropriate scenes at the gym. Because what’s a college romance without some exhibitionism? (Y’all, this and Extracurricular Activities are making me sense a pattern)
*******************************
Nerd vs Jocks series by Eli Easton and Tara Lain.
Schooling the Jock— 3.5 ⭐
Coaching the Nerd— TBR.
Head to Head— TBR.
April 9, 2021
4 Stars
If you don’t know this about me already, I’m a huge sucker for college romance books—especially ones that are M/M in theme. And although I haven’t had much experience with Lain’s work in the past, I faithfully worship at the House of Easton, so the decision to start their co-authored new series was a no-brainer for me.
With a premise that sees two warring fraternity houses having to essentially work together in order to avoid being disbanded, the story follows Alpha Lambda Alpha jock Jesse, as he gets drafted over to the Sigma Mu Tau Quiz Bowl team for the latest competitive season.
Quiz Bowl captain Dobbs couldn’t be more put out by this perceived intellectual hindrance to his team if he tried. But, surprisingly—at least for Dobbs—Jesse actually has a good head on his shoulders, at least as far as ALA jocks go, so actually competing with a chance of success suddenly doesn’t seem like the lost cause it once did, as long as they can whip Jesse into mental shape in time.
Pushing past their differences and scrambling through their combined busy schedules, Jesse and Dobbs decide to work one-on-one together to get Jesse as up to speed and as quiz-ready as he can be before each meet. And, as these things so often go, with increased alone-time, where these two not only become friendly but also develop an admiration and respect for one another, a romance begins to bloom, only hindered by the fact that Jesse is deeply closeted for the sake of his family and his education.
As the series title suggests, the story heavily leans into the nerd/jock trope, and as far as I’m concerned, it does it well. Although Jesse and Dobbs are as opposite as opposites can be, both playing well into their stereotypical jock and nerd-type roles, they also effortlessly complement one another—at least, once they get past their negative and false preconceived notions of who each other are.
The relationship development here was smooth and effortless, and although Jesse’s closet-status earned the story some mild relationship-angst moments, overall, these two were quite lovely together, with little in the way of serious book couple drama (which I appreciated).
Beyond liking Jesse and Dobbs themselves, I also quite liked many of their fraternity brothers, and I absolutely loved Jesse’s family, particularly adoring the way they would all do anything to put one another’s happiness first.
I also had fun with the whole Quiz Bowl thing. As a trivia lover and game board player, I feel like this would have been hardcore my thing had I grown up in America and attended a college with this sort of socially competitive element. Even though I can imagine these parts of the story being unappealing for some readers, I ate every quiz training/competing moment up, probably enjoying those scenes more than any others that happened throughout the book. Yep, I’m quite the nerd.
Overall, this was a really solid start to what I’m expecting to be a very enjoyable and memorable M/M new adult series.
If you don’t know this about me already, I’m a huge sucker for college romance books—especially ones that are M/M in theme. And although I haven’t had much experience with Lain’s work in the past, I faithfully worship at the House of Easton, so the decision to start their co-authored new series was a no-brainer for me.
With a premise that sees two warring fraternity houses having to essentially work together in order to avoid being disbanded, the story follows Alpha Lambda Alpha jock Jesse, as he gets drafted over to the Sigma Mu Tau Quiz Bowl team for the latest competitive season.
Quiz Bowl captain Dobbs couldn’t be more put out by this perceived intellectual hindrance to his team if he tried. But, surprisingly—at least for Dobbs—Jesse actually has a good head on his shoulders, at least as far as ALA jocks go, so actually competing with a chance of success suddenly doesn’t seem like the lost cause it once did, as long as they can whip Jesse into mental shape in time.
Pushing past their differences and scrambling through their combined busy schedules, Jesse and Dobbs decide to work one-on-one together to get Jesse as up to speed and as quiz-ready as he can be before each meet. And, as these things so often go, with increased alone-time, where these two not only become friendly but also develop an admiration and respect for one another, a romance begins to bloom, only hindered by the fact that Jesse is deeply closeted for the sake of his family and his education.
As the series title suggests, the story heavily leans into the nerd/jock trope, and as far as I’m concerned, it does it well. Although Jesse and Dobbs are as opposite as opposites can be, both playing well into their stereotypical jock and nerd-type roles, they also effortlessly complement one another—at least, once they get past their negative and false preconceived notions of who each other are.
The relationship development here was smooth and effortless, and although Jesse’s closet-status earned the story some mild relationship-angst moments, overall, these two were quite lovely together, with little in the way of serious book couple drama (which I appreciated).
Beyond liking Jesse and Dobbs themselves, I also quite liked many of their fraternity brothers, and I absolutely loved Jesse’s family, particularly adoring the way they would all do anything to put one another’s happiness first.
I also had fun with the whole Quiz Bowl thing. As a trivia lover and game board player, I feel like this would have been hardcore my thing had I grown up in America and attended a college with this sort of socially competitive element. Even though I can imagine these parts of the story being unappealing for some readers, I ate every quiz training/competing moment up, probably enjoying those scenes more than any others that happened throughout the book. Yep, I’m quite the nerd.
Overall, this was a really solid start to what I’m expecting to be a very enjoyable and memorable M/M new adult series.
February 22, 2021
3.5 stars. I've never read anything by Tara Lain, I love Eli Easton, so I was ready to read as soon as I saw this.
Though I do have to say that there was really nothing new here, I did enjoy the book. It was just what I was looking for before my next read, which I know will be tough. The characters were funny, sweet and imperfect. I loved Jesse's family and how much they cared about each other. And I loved how Dobbs was with Jesse's brothers. Both Jesse and Dobbs' frat brothers were terrific secondary characters and I'm definitely interested in their stories.
However, I did have a couple of small issues.
I really enjoyed the epilogue, getting to see them without all the drama *not that it was overdone at all*, and happy together. I'll be looking forward to the rest of the series.
Though I do have to say that there was really nothing new here, I did enjoy the book. It was just what I was looking for before my next read, which I know will be tough. The characters were funny, sweet and imperfect. I loved Jesse's family and how much they cared about each other. And I loved how Dobbs was with Jesse's brothers. Both Jesse and Dobbs' frat brothers were terrific secondary characters and I'm definitely interested in their stories.
However, I did have a couple of small issues.
I really enjoyed the epilogue, getting to see them without all the drama *not that it was overdone at all*, and happy together. I'll be looking forward to the rest of the series.
February 28, 2021
*3.5 stars*
It's been a very long time since I've read a Tara Lain book, but I was excited about her collaboration with Eli Easton in Schooling the Jock. And while it wasn't perfect, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I ended up liking this story.
I don't think I'll ever get sick of the geek jock pairing, no matter how overdone. There is just something about it that works for me. However, I'm drifting farther and farther away from new adult romances, and so I wasn't sure about how I would receive Schooling the Jock.
TBH, I wasn't into the fake animosity and frat house antics. I was yawn-city with some of the posturing and dumb banter between frat boys. Still, I was very much drawn to this story. For one, I'm currently on a weekly zoom trivia team with a group of my friends (yes, I'm that cool), and so I felt a personal connection to the quiz bowl environment. I still think that Jesse caught on too quickly and unrealistically for my tastes, but I loved the nerdiness of it all. It made me with I had been on my college quiz bowl team.
I also liked how the opposites-attract romance played out. I liked the kick of emotion and tension near the end (more groveling next time, please), and I enjoyed seeing Jesse and Dobbs grow and connect. There was a spark there, even if it took awhile to feel romance-y and not just like attraction for me.
I sense great potential with this series (I'm ready for the next one), and I think it was a decent start to something light and fun. Sure, Schooling the Jock wasn't particularly new or interesting, but it did hit the spot.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
goodreads|instagram|twitter|blog
It's been a very long time since I've read a Tara Lain book, but I was excited about her collaboration with Eli Easton in Schooling the Jock. And while it wasn't perfect, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I ended up liking this story.
I don't think I'll ever get sick of the geek jock pairing, no matter how overdone. There is just something about it that works for me. However, I'm drifting farther and farther away from new adult romances, and so I wasn't sure about how I would receive Schooling the Jock.
TBH, I wasn't into the fake animosity and frat house antics. I was yawn-city with some of the posturing and dumb banter between frat boys. Still, I was very much drawn to this story. For one, I'm currently on a weekly zoom trivia team with a group of my friends (yes, I'm that cool), and so I felt a personal connection to the quiz bowl environment. I still think that Jesse caught on too quickly and unrealistically for my tastes, but I loved the nerdiness of it all. It made me with I had been on my college quiz bowl team.
I also liked how the opposites-attract romance played out. I liked the kick of emotion and tension near the end (more groveling next time, please), and I enjoyed seeing Jesse and Dobbs grow and connect. There was a spark there, even if it took awhile to feel romance-y and not just like attraction for me.
I sense great potential with this series (I'm ready for the next one), and I think it was a decent start to something light and fun. Sure, Schooling the Jock wasn't particularly new or interesting, but it did hit the spot.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
goodreads|instagram|twitter|blog
February 26, 2021
Can't wait for the next one ❤️
May 5, 2021
This was super cute, sexy, and fun! The beginning was slow, and I was worried I’d get bored, but the pacing picked up. It’s nothing epic or memorable, but it’s a fun college romance.
February 5, 2021
I remember chatting to Eli about this way back and I loved the idea and was so excited to read it. I wasn’t disappointed - it’s fun and sweet, and sexy, and I can’t wait to read the next books in the series.
Eli is an auto-buy reader for me, and I love her writing with Tara.
Highly recommended :)
Eli is an auto-buy reader for me, and I love her writing with Tara.
Highly recommended :)
May 19, 2021
3.50 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’m so glad I got FOMO and decided to read this because although the premise is right up my alley, the cover was turning me off and I’m the kind of shallow person who cares about that. Moving on 😇
This was fun and very cute, and the perfect easy-breezy read everyone needs in their life. Dobbs and Jesse were very sweet together, although I don’t know that I’d describe this as an enemies-to-lovers story. Is mild contempt-to-lovers a thing? Either way, their snark to attraction to sex to feels was very entertaining. When Jesse called him Jeff...👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼. One of my all-time fave themes is when writers incorporate first name usage to signify intimacy. I live for it every time.
I could talk about the less dazzling parts of the plot, but I think I’d rather just close my eyes and ignore it in favor of entertainment. If you want something fun, this is your book. Just turn your brain off and enjoy the ride.
PS- I’m momentarily skipping book 2 to go straight to book 3 because I’m very interested in the Rand/Jazz story 😬🤷🏻♀️😆
I’m so glad I got FOMO and decided to read this because although the premise is right up my alley, the cover was turning me off and I’m the kind of shallow person who cares about that. Moving on 😇
This was fun and very cute, and the perfect easy-breezy read everyone needs in their life. Dobbs and Jesse were very sweet together, although I don’t know that I’d describe this as an enemies-to-lovers story. Is mild contempt-to-lovers a thing? Either way, their snark to attraction to sex to feels was very entertaining. When Jesse called him Jeff...👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼. One of my all-time fave themes is when writers incorporate first name usage to signify intimacy. I live for it every time.
I could talk about the less dazzling parts of the plot, but I think I’d rather just close my eyes and ignore it in favor of entertainment. If you want something fun, this is your book. Just turn your brain off and enjoy the ride.
PS- I’m momentarily skipping book 2 to go straight to book 3 because I’m very interested in the Rand/Jazz story 😬🤷🏻♀️😆
May 12, 2021
3 Stars
Overall Opinion: I went into this not expecting a super deep story, and that is exactly what I got. There were some deeper elements with Jesse’s home life, but it was pretty light overall and low in the drama. I liked the humor, I liked the silly premise, and I did like the characters (though I didn’t feel like we got that deep into the connection to them). It left me hanging with the closure which isn’t all that unusual for both NA and mm reads for me, so I wasn’t all that shocked when I didn’t get a full HEA like I like. I didn’t dislike it, I didn’t love it either...so a middle of the road 3 “just okay” star rating.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Dobbs and Jesse’s story. They are both part of rival fraternities. The dean is at the end of his rope with their house’s pranks and makes them spend time together by having two members of each house participate in an event they both care about, so football star Jesse ends up on nerd Dobbs’ Quiz Bowl, an academia jeopardy type competition, team. Dobbs is serious about winning the championship, so he works with Jesse to get him up to par to participate. When Dobbs returns home with Jesse after a family emergency, they start to see each other in a different light and their relationship starts to develop. There is some funny banter, some sexy times, and some mild drama...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Dobbs and Jesse’s POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, more like hate-to-friends-to-lovers
H1 (Hero #1) rating: 3.5 stars. Dobbs. I liked him and his humor, but I don’t think I really connected with him.
H2 (Hero #2) rating: 3.5 stars. Jesse. I liked him and how he was with his family, but didn’t feel like I fully connected with him either.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: No
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes, but only for a day or so
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends with a HFN ending and just a teaser for the next books in the series. I had many unanswered questions and I wanted much more.
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers
Overall Opinion: I went into this not expecting a super deep story, and that is exactly what I got. There were some deeper elements with Jesse’s home life, but it was pretty light overall and low in the drama. I liked the humor, I liked the silly premise, and I did like the characters (though I didn’t feel like we got that deep into the connection to them). It left me hanging with the closure which isn’t all that unusual for both NA and mm reads for me, so I wasn’t all that shocked when I didn’t get a full HEA like I like. I didn’t dislike it, I didn’t love it either...so a middle of the road 3 “just okay” star rating.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Dobbs and Jesse’s story. They are both part of rival fraternities. The dean is at the end of his rope with their house’s pranks and makes them spend time together by having two members of each house participate in an event they both care about, so football star Jesse ends up on nerd Dobbs’ Quiz Bowl, an academia jeopardy type competition, team. Dobbs is serious about winning the championship, so he works with Jesse to get him up to par to participate. When Dobbs returns home with Jesse after a family emergency, they start to see each other in a different light and their relationship starts to develop. There is some funny banter, some sexy times, and some mild drama...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Dobbs and Jesse’s POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, more like hate-to-friends-to-lovers
H1 (Hero #1) rating: 3.5 stars. Dobbs. I liked him and his humor, but I don’t think I really connected with him.
H2 (Hero #2) rating: 3.5 stars. Jesse. I liked him and how he was with his family, but didn’t feel like I fully connected with him either.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: No
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes, but only for a day or so
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends with a HFN ending and just a teaser for the next books in the series. I had many unanswered questions and I wanted much more.
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers
March 13, 2021
Schooling the Jock by Eli Easton and Tara Lain starts off silly with a prank gone wrong, but soon after, a sweet romance ensues.
I fell in love with both main characters; they were more profound than when we first meet them. Jesse comes across as severe and aloof, but he's carrying so much weight from wanting to do his best for his family. He reminded me of that saying, "You Never Know What Someone Is Going Through, So Be Kind."On the other hand, Dobbs was snarky as hell, but deep down is a gentle soul.
This book has-
-Enemies to lovers
-Humor, banter
-Chemistry
-Dual POVs
-Moderate steam
-Romance
-A touch of angst
AND leaves us wanting more! This was such a great start to the Nerds vs. Jocks series; I can't wait for the next two installments!
Highly recommend it.
Read
June 7, 2021DNF
October 3, 2022
5 just because stars
I loved everything about this story! It was so much deeper than I expected with Jesse's family. There were a lot of heartfelt moments and dedication. A very lovely story. And yeah, just because I cried, I'm giving it a 5 stars 💕
P.S. Shout out to Eli and Tara for how they manage to push you to happily read the series's next installments!
I loved everything about this story! It was so much deeper than I expected with Jesse's family. There were a lot of heartfelt moments and dedication. A very lovely story. And yeah, just because I cried, I'm giving it a 5 stars 💕
P.S. Shout out to Eli and Tara for how they manage to push you to happily read the series's next installments!
March 8, 2021
2.75 stars
This one is enemies to lovers.
Jesse and Dobbs belong to rival fraternities, Jocks v. Geeks, and an incident forces them to have to work together. If they do not, they risk their fraternity chapters being shut down. Which means Jesse, one of the smartest in his fraternity, has to participate in Dobb's fraternity's Quiz Bowl.
Since Dobb's is the captain he is in charge of getting Jesse up to speed. This causes them to spend a lot of time together and grow closer. However, Jesse is in the closet and afraid of the consequences he may face if he comes out. Needless to say that causes problems in the relationship.
Overall, an ok read. I didn't really like certain aspects or the pacing but I will be back to give the next book a try.
This one is enemies to lovers.
Jesse and Dobbs belong to rival fraternities, Jocks v. Geeks, and an incident forces them to have to work together. If they do not, they risk their fraternity chapters being shut down. Which means Jesse, one of the smartest in his fraternity, has to participate in Dobb's fraternity's Quiz Bowl.
Since Dobb's is the captain he is in charge of getting Jesse up to speed. This causes them to spend a lot of time together and grow closer. However, Jesse is in the closet and afraid of the consequences he may face if he comes out. Needless to say that causes problems in the relationship.
Overall, an ok read. I didn't really like certain aspects or the pacing but I will be back to give the next book a try.
February 17, 2021
3.5 Stars
Low angst, sweet, and nice steam. Wasn’t anything spectacular, but it passed the time nicely.
Low angst, sweet, and nice steam. Wasn’t anything spectacular, but it passed the time nicely.
February 20, 2021
4.5 stars
I was so in the mood for this!! Enemies to lovers college romance with a slowish burn and a heartwarming family visit. In vibe and feel, it reminded me a little of Unwrapping Hank - one of my favourite Eli Easton books.
I was so in the mood for this!! Enemies to lovers college romance with a slowish burn and a heartwarming family visit. In vibe and feel, it reminded me a little of Unwrapping Hank - one of my favourite Eli Easton books.
February 22, 2021
I REALLY ENJOYED THIS BOOK!
I think the whole idea of super bowl quiz was entertaining for me and the enemies to lovers trope worked so well in this book
I wanted a little more grovelling from Jesse but he still came through in the end so meh.
And Dobbs relationship with Eli and Micah melts my heart.
3.75 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I think the whole idea of super bowl quiz was entertaining for me and the enemies to lovers trope worked so well in this book
I wanted a little more grovelling from Jesse but he still came through in the end so meh.
And Dobbs relationship with Eli and Micah melts my heart.
3.75 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
February 16, 2021
Nerd/Jock romance.
When two of your favourite authors get together to create a series, you know you're in for a treat, and boy, what a treat this was. This book had absolutely everything, as far as I'm concerned: Nerds, Jocks, snark, romance, passion, lots of humour, fantastic secondary characters and great story telling.
This first book in this new series, totally blew me away. I absolutely adored this enemies to lovers college sports romance! It has hilarious banter, fabulous characters, insane chemistry, delicious Jocks and snarky nerds. I literally couldn’t put it down. It's so well written and funny, with a little dash of angst thrown in. Jesse and Dobbs were great together, I loved how their relationship developed.
A highly enjoyable read, I can’t wait for more in this series. A solid five stars with a believable and happy epilogue. Thank you Ms' Easton and Lain.
When two of your favourite authors get together to create a series, you know you're in for a treat, and boy, what a treat this was. This book had absolutely everything, as far as I'm concerned: Nerds, Jocks, snark, romance, passion, lots of humour, fantastic secondary characters and great story telling.
This first book in this new series, totally blew me away. I absolutely adored this enemies to lovers college sports romance! It has hilarious banter, fabulous characters, insane chemistry, delicious Jocks and snarky nerds. I literally couldn’t put it down. It's so well written and funny, with a little dash of angst thrown in. Jesse and Dobbs were great together, I loved how their relationship developed.
A highly enjoyable read, I can’t wait for more in this series. A solid five stars with a believable and happy epilogue. Thank you Ms' Easton and Lain.
February 13, 2021
4.5
Aww I loved this. Both sweet and hot.
After a prank gone wrong between the two rival frats, as punishment two from each house must play in their respective house games; quiz bowl or flag football.
Jesse, the hardworking, serious, and heavy load carrying jock of the house, is chosen to represent for his frat. In comes Dobbs, his enemy despite also being cute, the captain of said quiz bowl, sexy nerd. After needing to go home one weekend, Dobbs, accompanies Jesse to Iowa to quiz and practice.
And while in Iowa, the two enemies begin to see each other in a new light. I really appreciated how loyal and open Jesse was about his family, and Dobbs’ immediate reaction of acceptance without awkwardness was so wonderful.
It takes a while for Jesse to feel comfortable enough with his sexuality to be what Dobbs needs, but it’s done really well. Jesse’s growth and willingness to be open to those that care about him was so wonderful.
The secondary characters were also really awesome. Low angst, sweet AF, funny and a just all around great read. Also, hot. I’m looking forward to the next book!
Aww I loved this. Both sweet and hot.
After a prank gone wrong between the two rival frats, as punishment two from each house must play in their respective house games; quiz bowl or flag football.
Jesse, the hardworking, serious, and heavy load carrying jock of the house, is chosen to represent for his frat. In comes Dobbs, his enemy despite also being cute, the captain of said quiz bowl, sexy nerd. After needing to go home one weekend, Dobbs, accompanies Jesse to Iowa to quiz and practice.
And while in Iowa, the two enemies begin to see each other in a new light. I really appreciated how loyal and open Jesse was about his family, and Dobbs’ immediate reaction of acceptance without awkwardness was so wonderful.
It takes a while for Jesse to feel comfortable enough with his sexuality to be what Dobbs needs, but it’s done really well. Jesse’s growth and willingness to be open to those that care about him was so wonderful.
The secondary characters were also really awesome. Low angst, sweet AF, funny and a just all around great read. Also, hot. I’m looking forward to the next book!
February 23, 2021
Schooling the Jock is the first book in the ‘Nerds Vs Jocks’ series. It stars Dobbs the nerd, and Jesse the jock. This is told in first person from both Dobbs and Jesse’s povs.
I received an ARC of this book from the authors for an honest and unbiased opinion.
I received an ARC of this book from the authors for an honest and unbiased opinion.
February 17, 2021
The theme of this story is actually a cliché romance. A jock met a nerd, jock in the closet, the nerd is out and proud, but they fell in love and love conquers all.
But the way Eli Easton and Tara Lain tells the story is captivating and beautiful. Especially when they added family and how much family will support you or kill your dreams.
This series can read as stand alone, thee couples, at the same time/event, three books but each book is telling a different story.
Started with a silly fight between the brain and the muscle, ended in Dean's office, and they had to mingle. It was a chaos in the beginning but ended up with finding out their 'other' talents, and romances.
Dobbs is an out and proud geek, had to 'train' Jesse, the closeted jock to do Quiz Bowl. Not really a hard job, surprisingly, Jesse is smarter than they thought. It had to be a regular coaching, but when the coaching involved family and two autistic twins who liked Dobbs too much, it becomes a little bit personal. I won't elaborate why Jesse did that or why he's in the closet while his friend Rand is out.
Schooling The Jock is a cute campus romance with an addition two adorable ten year old twins that stole my heart.
I enjoyed this story too much it was hard to put it down.
Cannot wait to read another two installment in this series!
Recommended!
ARC provided by GRR ARC team for Lelyana's Reviews. No high rating required.
March 2, 2021
Ah, the never ending appeal of an enemies to lovers tale. This story even has the forever classic jocks vs. nerds setup, which is so hard to resist. I know I can’t! So let the snark and sparks fly…
A longstanding frat house feud sets our scene. The silly pranks and ridiculous name calling has been going on for years. But this college dean has had enough! Both fraternities are ordered to work together or be shut down for good. So now two “poindexters” have to play flag football with the jocks and two “A-hoes” have to be a part of the brainy Quiz Bowl. Can these houses learn to see past their rivalry and preconceived notions to save the day? Or will it be a plague on both their houses?
Jeffrey “Dobbs” Dobson is a “boy snark machine” and all about Quiz Bowl. But now his winning season is at risk because of a jock in the mix. Can he bring this “dumb jock” up to speed and still win? Our supposed dumb jock is Jesse Knox. The most stuck up, gorgeous athlete of the bunch. Or at least that’s how Dobbs sees him. Dobbs can’t stand Jesse! Except for those green eyes and 6’3, broad shouldered body that…no, no. Dobbs refuses to drool. Plus Jesse thinks Dobbs is obnoxious and mouthy. Well…except for that naughty professor vibe Dobbs has going on. Nope. No. Jesse can’t get distracted. But an unexpected road trip home and some personal one-on-one training might change everything for these two.
At page one, I was hooked. I could feel the fun and tension instantly. Mostly I just liked spending time with both Jesse and Dobbs though--learning their stories and schedules and struggles and watching them slowly begin to see the real person under all the walls of defense. Plus the frat guys and Jesse’s family added even more laughs and love to the story. It all added up to a sweet, big hearted read that made my heart flip and smile.
Come join the fun! This is book one in the series and I can’t wait for more.
Favorite word along the way:
July 14, 2022
Romance M/M
New Adult
Ambientato al college
Enemies to lovers
Due confraternite rivali:
Nerd del Quiz Bowl e Atleti!
Una storia dolce e sexy.
Consigliato!
New Adult
Ambientato al college
Enemies to lovers
Due confraternite rivali:
Nerd del Quiz Bowl e Atleti!
Una storia dolce e sexy.
Consigliato!
February 22, 2021
Eli Easton is one of my favorite writers. I usually don’t care for books about college students, but this one was great. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series about Bubba and Hedgehog.
September 7, 2021
I feel so dumb that I don't understand a single question from their Quiz Bowl. Talk about crushing my self esteem.
This is a light hearted and fun read about two rival frat house. The jock house vs the nerd house. The rivalry is childish and ridiculous, but is a good excuse for the Dean to let the guys from both houses to work together.
Dobbs is a fun, nerdy guy who is all about winning the Quiz Bowl. Jesse is a closeted football player who is pretty low key unlike the usual loud and brash jock. I have a soft spot for Jesse ever since learning about his family and his motivation to help his family. Who doesn't love a family man. I can't even fault him for staying in the closet because I totally understand his predicament.
This book is relatively low angst, so despite Jesse struggle to come out and keeping Dobbs a secret, everything eventually worked out in the end. I quite enjoy the camaraderie of the frat bros and even their rivalry, so I'm definitely reading the next two books.
This is a light hearted and fun read about two rival frat house. The jock house vs the nerd house. The rivalry is childish and ridiculous, but is a good excuse for the Dean to let the guys from both houses to work together.
Dobbs is a fun, nerdy guy who is all about winning the Quiz Bowl. Jesse is a closeted football player who is pretty low key unlike the usual loud and brash jock. I have a soft spot for Jesse ever since learning about his family and his motivation to help his family. Who doesn't love a family man. I can't even fault him for staying in the closet because I totally understand his predicament.
This book is relatively low angst, so despite Jesse struggle to come out and keeping Dobbs a secret, everything eventually worked out in the end. I quite enjoy the camaraderie of the frat bros and even their rivalry, so I'm definitely reading the next two books.
February 18, 2021
This is probably more like a 3.5 for me which was a surprise because NA is really not my jam. I love to read about old people finding love and I don't have a lot of patience for young stupidity having lived it once myself. That said, Dobbs and Jesse aren't immature despite their ages. They are both kind, thoughtful people and I enjoyed their story. Enemies to lovers is one of my favourite tropes and there is a bit of that going on here but they aren't stupid about it. Jesse is resolved to do his best and Dobbs is ready to help. I also really enjoyed the twins and their portrayal as full human beings despite their communication challenges and their diagnosis. I wasn't expecting to finish this book much less enjoy it but was very pleasantly surprised.
February 27, 2021
Most enjoyable College frat enemies to lovers story. I loved how we saw a different side to Jesse with his family, yet he felt completely the same. Dodds was patient and understanding.
I also liked how we have to read the next one to see some of this one's resolution (no spoilers). Can't wait.
I also liked how we have to read the next one to see some of this one's resolution (no spoilers). Can't wait.
April 30, 2021
3.5 stars.
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