Rivals

Love on the Basketball #1

by Scarlet Rose

It’s always been my dream to play college basketball, but the thought of competing against the girl from my rival high school for a spot on the team feels almost hopeless.

Her name is Sarah Wood and she’s been a thorn in my side ever since middle school. Her school has beaten my school every time we’ve played. Now we’re not only going to try out for the same team, but we’re also going to be roommates? Could life get any worse?

However, just when things couldn’t get any more complicated, I find myself developing feelings for her. Am I gay? If my family found out, what would they think?

To make matters worse, our basketball coach has made it clear that someone is getting cut before the season starts and I’m just a walk-on. What if I’m the one who gets cut?

Am I able to put up with Sarah? Am I developing feelings for her? Will I be able to make the team? Find out by reading the book.


(WARNING! This book may not be suitable for everyone and deals with some serious issues that may be hard for many people to read about including but not limited to sexual assault and homophobia. All of these issues are serious and are presented in a manner that is respectful that does not glorify or promote.)

Genres: Romance

296 pages, Paperback

Published November 14, 2020

Reviews

[Diane (IF U'RE PRIVATE, PLEASE SKIP ME!!!) Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

**'Writers should never start thinking while at the beginning of a story -- they must feel the need to instead because that sense of intellect is sometimes buried in those feelings anyway..'

2.5stars!
An okay story -- bit tedious at times.

[John Gilbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a mixed bag for me, just ok in the end. Two University freshmen basketballers who were rivals in high school, are now on the same team now fighting for a place on their highly ranked team. The narrative alternates between Marcella and Sarah, one a confirmed lesbian who is out with her family, the other with no idea whatsoever of her sexuality. Lots of basketball talk and details of practices and scrimages and we get to know most of the other players as well. Having participated in varsity sport myself, I certainly did not experience the 'hazing' the freshman experienced by servicing their 'big sister' upper classmen (they were called 'shinies' for whatever reason and had to basically be slaves and carry around a basketball with their pet names everywhere).

But the petty dramas that went on throughout the story was wearing and it took a lot away from the nice romance building between the two main characters, they actually consumate their relationship in the final chapter. Ok, but not great. There is a follow up which I think I will miss.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scarlet Rose has created a world full of characters that you quickly grow to love and care about. While the story focuses primarily on Marcela and Sarah you easily grew to want to see all the characters succeed and be happy. The book is a rollercoaster of emotions as you see the world through their eyes with all their joy, pain, and self doubt. The book will leave you wanted to see where the characters go from here and continue watching them grow.

[dee (andie) 🕺🏼✨ · Rating 1 out of 5]

* free copy provided for a review *

1.5

this was bad. maybe it wouldn't have even been if it didn't have some problematic elements, that radically hindered my enjoyment of it.

every time a person of color's skin tone is described in this novel, it is compared to food. *DEEP INHALE* STOP. just- stop.

I started this book months ago and got to the 33% mark before dropping it for months and only picking it up again a few days ago, but from what I remember, race, as a whole, was handled in a... I wouldn't say problematic, but, rather, bizarre way? most of it made me go "what the hell does this mean."

secondly, there's one scene where the main character asks one of her colleagues "how did you know you were gay?" and she answers with something along the lines of "I saw a penis and wanted to throw up." (after which, it is reiterated many times how only men can have penises.) do I even have to explain how that's problematic? reinstating the idea that what's between your legs equals your gender is absolute transphobic bs. not to mention that it praises h*rry p*tter in one/two scenes.

aside from the problematic aspects of this book, it was fine. if it was more inclusive and sensitively written I probably would've enjoyed it much more, though it wasn't that special, in my personal opinion.

I know most of this was the author being uneducated, and not doing this in a malicious way, but, moral of the story: EDUCATE YOURSELF before writing a book with minorities in it. that's all!

P.S. take a shot every time one of the characters:
A) offers to go for a smoothie
B) tells someone they're gay
C) asks to have a talk with someone

and you'll die of alcohol poisoning. :)

[maggie🧸 · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars is very generous, but i was entertained..

the writing was very much giving wattpad and it was very cliche. there was no tension for being called rivals, they weren’t rivals for more than like 5 pages lmao

this was just very unrealistic in many aspects and i just couldn’t finish. i ended up dnfing at about 75% and i wont be reading the next one.

it did supply my women’s basketball fix tho so thats a plus, regardless id still give it 2 stars

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok but you better be into play by play.sports.... I may skip the next

[jason nales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story, especially dealing with coming out

I love this book even though I’m totally not into basketball.
It involves the fears and challenges of coming out for multiple characters and I always love this because I can so relate.

[Georgette B · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute story of enemies to best friends to lovers. Marcela and Sarah attended rival high school and were bitter enemies on the court. But during their freshman year of college, not only are they competing for a spot on their college basketball team, but they are also roommates. Although Sarah has a scholarship and Marcela is a walk on, coach makes it painfully clear that no one’s place on the team is guaranteed. They will have to earn their positions. Which leads the two young women to lean on each other to improve their skills. They become practice partners, coming early and staying well past the conclusion of practice to run drills. All that togetherness helps Sarah come to a jarring revaluation, she has a crush on Marcela and if she is honest, it’s been there since high school. The passing crush has now grown into much more for her rival/enemy turned best friend. But is it healthy to fall in love with a straight girl? Wait is Marcela straight? To help Sarah get answers about Marcela’s sexual orientation, a fellow teammate asks the question. To Sarah’s horror and disappointment, Marcela, unaware of Sarah’s feelings, declares in no uncertain terms, “I am not gay.” And in Marcela defense, she is sure-ish that she is straight.

Fast forward to their first weekend apart when each young woman girl goes to their respective home. Rejected and hurt, Sarah begins avoiding Marcela (as much as you can when you live and practice together). A few to many excess and awkward encounters leave Marcela confused. What’s up with Sarah’s sudden coldness toward her? While at home, Marcela can’t stop thinking about Sarah which challenges her firm-ish beliefs about her sexuality and makes her even more conflicted. Add to that her aunt and uncle’s venomous hatred for the new “lesbian neighbors” and that ratchets young adult confusion from 1 to 10 in no time at all. Luckily for Sarah and Marcela, they do not have to fumble in the dark with their feelings for each other. They have the wisdom of their upperclassman “big sisters” (who happen to be dating each other) as their confidants.

I enjoyed getting to know Marcela and Sarah as they navigate they tong adult angst to find something special between them. I have to admit there were several times that the story got away from me just because of the sheer amount of repetition in the dialogue. “We’re sisters” and “That’s what sisters are for,” became a running mantras through the book. After a few times it lost its sweetness.

I appreciate the author’s knowledge of basketball. Her descriptions of their practice sessions were detailed enough to keep the interest of someone who knows a lot about the game, while still not so detailed that it would go over the head of someone unfamiliar with the game. As a prior member of the “clueless about basketball” society, I found it easy to follow and it provided a good crash course (which will help me when watching and having conversations about basketball in future).

Overall this was a good story. I am looking forward part two of the story to see in how their relationship progresses, how the team rivalries play out, and to see if I guessed correctly about the teammate who Sarah’s brother has been texting...

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Douglas Williamson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our heroine loves basketball, but she has a rival that is now her college roommate. Are they going to continue to be at odds here as well, or is this a chance at something new?

This is a sport romance of the FF variety with a bit of enemies to lovers thrown in. The story is generally well written and easy to read, even for those of us not overly interested in the sport. The characters are well done and we get to know them pretty well over the course of the story. The story is a coming of age story and does have a bit more angst then I generally seek out, but watching our girls learn what they really want is something of a treat. Overall, it was a fun story and I look forward to seeing what happens in the next book.

Recommended.

I received an ARC from Hidden Gems for review purposes.

[mr s j robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

i have read other sport inspired lesfic and most of them have toned down the actual sport content this is not one of them, i am not into basketball and do not get the references to that sport,
i did however become very fond of the two m/cs i would read book 2 but only to become more acuanted with marcela elvira and sarah woodm may their relationship grow stronger and their family's more understanding of their love.

[C.Gomez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love and basketball

Rivals by Scarlet C. Rose is filled with basketball dialogue and training that gives perspective to what it takes to be a player.

However, I must point out there are some formatting issues that need to be addressed in order for a smoother reading experience.

[Dulaine Roode · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book that hits on some hard hitting facts

I really liked this book because it touched on real issues that are being faced by everyone in daily life situations. It had funny moments, true moments, hard moments, sexy and romantic moments.

A book well written.

[Angelique Wetherelt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was an okay read but it so unrealistic and hard to believe that all the people on the basket ball team is gay or bi. I played plenty of sports to know this isn’t real. Also the book seems rushed

[Looby Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. At first there was too much basketball terminology which I became familiar with as the book progressed without actually knowing what any of it meant. The storyline was intriguing and packed a little bit of punch too. Whilst a good place to stop I wish there was a book 2 to go straight onto. Enjoyable read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.