Good Losers

Lochkelvin Academy #3

by Evie Kady

Things have changed. It wasn't supposed to be like this.

She was a novelty, a girl to be disregarded.
Somehow she's danced her way into our minds.
Not to mention our homes, our lives, our hearts...
Unfortunately the rest of the world's on fire.
But who cares about all that when we've got the saint in our bed?

---

Summer is long and I'm trapped in a luxurious mansion.
There are worse vacations.
But betrayal is fresh on our minds.
A political crisis is looming, and we helped it to flourish.
Now there are two realities:
The outside world, with its surging anger and chaos in the streets.
And the one we delve into at night, of moonlight and mouths and memories.

I know which one I prefer — because, despite it all, I think I'm falling madly in love.



Good Losers is a plotty romance set in a political academy. It’s Reverse Harem, which means the main character doesn’t choose between her love interests. This is Book 3.

Genres: Why Choose, Royalty, Contemporary Romance

623 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 30, 2021

Reviews

[Merbabe Kara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m sorry. I rarely give a book three stars or less. I’m angry and beyond annoyed. I hate doing this, absolutely hate rating a book low and writing a review to go with it, but I need to.

I was positively in love the first two books of this series. So much so that I binged both one and two and started book three thinking I’d do what I always do, a combo review. Unfortunately this book ruined that plan. THIS IS NOT A REVERSE HAREM. I’m sorry but it’s fucking not and while it be fine had it not been marketed as RH it was so here we are. This is basically a girl obsessed with one guy and he “graciously” allows her to have side bitches/fuck buddies.

I’m angry with myself for trying to force myself to finish this book. Once I got to the first group sex scene after the main asshole “proposes” to her I couldn’t do it anymore. It was at the point when said asshole is being a major jackass to her friend that I’d finally had enough and couldn’t take a second more of the book. Before you say “oh you DNFd it so you can’t have an opinion” I’d like to make it clear that I almost finished said book and was at 91% when I said fuck this.

I’m mad at myself for not DNFing days ago. I’ve had such a great reading year full of phenomenal books and this is the book I’m ending with. To say it’s infuriating would be an understatement. I’ve never left a review like this before and it pains me to have to do so now but when I went through other reviews and saw no one had mentioned all this I knew I needed to.

If you go into this series without the normal definition of reverse harem in mind you should be fine. I also want to add on that I stand by my rating for books one and two. They were solid five star reads.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well book 3 certainly brought up the steam levels a lot higher then the first two books. Away from Lochkelvin Academy more secrets come to light between Jessa and the guys - Rory, Danny, Luke and Finley. Old unsettled troubles come out but it also brings them closer. Which i liked. I also liked that we read more about Luke. I felt like we didnt get much book time from him in the previous 2 books. I loved that Jessa grew in confidence in this book and she definitely embraced it with the guys. That ending though? Killed it. This series is getting better and im loving reading it

[jessica jensen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ya I cant finish this, this made me cringe every single page oh my god.

[Tayler Martinez · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF’d. I really tried to like this book but I COULD NOT anymore. I really liked the first two books but a couple reasons why book 3 rubbed me the wrong way. 1) not a reverse harem at all. from the MANY I have read, it’s equal love between the female character and the men. However, she verbatim said she would give up Finlay for Rory because she is so obsessed with him. Like miss mam no. 2) like rory is obsessed with her but wants to desperately change her into a leader so she’s essentially his equal? like i understand wanting to help someone reach their full potential but just seems too much like he’s trying to change her. 3) IM SO OVER ALL THE WHINING ABOUT THE POLITICS. 4) for me not enough smut but that’s a me thing not necessarily the books problem. 5) kind of don’t like Jessa? the whole thing with rory’s dad is very off-putting like he’s a creep but she’s also turned on by it?! like i know with her past she probably has some major daddy issues but idk. just really turned me off her character and not to mention it seems like she loses all her fire when she finally gives into rory. I finished about 70% but I could not make myself read more.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

this series is incredibly frustrating to me. the political slant is fascinating, and it’s incredibly interesting to hold up a world like this against current political attitudes and looking at the pieces that feel especially relevant is an exercise in restraint. because this series has a lot to say about political involvement and equity and fairness.

but it’s all bogged down by jessa and her horrible choices. she’s becoming so much worse by being surrounded by these people. her sycophantic devotion to rory is so fucking irritating, especially watching the way rory treats all of them. and i get it, he’s supposed to be the magnetic force that somehow gathers everyone, but it just feels like an assault on jessa’s character. we have to watch her watch this stupid guy fuck over all of his friends for sport, and then a page later, we have to watch her talk about how in love with him she is. where is her fucking spine?? where is her righteous fury on the part of her friends?? in the first book, she at least noticed the unfairness and the bullying and the fucked up way rory tried to run everything, and it seemed like she actually fucking got it. she thought he was hot, but his behavior was inexcusable. and i thought that’s what we were going to get more of.

in the last book, i started to dislike her for not standing up to rory when he insults danny, but i was trying to give her the benefit of the doubt when i read this one. but no, she’s not getting any better. she’s actively getting worse. she only cares about what rory wants, she only wants to do what he says, and she has no desire to hold him accountable for any of his shitty behavior. and then, if that’s not enough, she treats both finlay and danny like toys. she knows that danny has or had some sort of crush on rory, and she knows finlay is totally in love with him. and instead of respecting that, she begs finlay and rory to make out for her during a sex scene, literally just for her to watch. she has absolutely no regard for the fact that she’s asking finlay to practically bare his soul, get something he wants desperately, but as a lark.

PLEASE stop putting bisexual men in your reverse harem/why choose books if you’re going to treat their sexuality and attractions as simply seasonings to sprinkle in and flavor the sex for the benefit of the fmc. it just makes her seem so selfish and disrespectful of these men that she “loves” because she does not respect them enough to recognize that they are entitled to private feelings that do not involve her.

and for the record, i’m using reverse harem/why choose very very loosely in this description. because this doesn’t feel like that. this feels like rory, the jackass, is giving his girlfriend “permission” to pick up strays. like this is not the found family polycule that i wanted. this is jessa being so obnoxiously “devoted” to someone who treats her (and everyone she knows) as though they’re all pawns in his game, and rory knows she’s attracted to the others, so he “graciously allows” her to fool around with them for his entertainment.

i’m invested in the plot of this series, so i’ll read the rest, hoping that maybe these will become better people. but at this point, i hate jessa and i hate rory, and i wish they’d go get married or some shit and go away so i can see luke and danny and finlay get to be happy and stop being manipulated by rory’s bullshit and jessa’s blind, pathetic devotion.

[Brita Mackay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not sure what to think of this series at the moment. I get frustrated at moments. The political slant is amazing, and yes, I will admit that it's interesting to hold the world up like this against current political attitudes as such. Looking at the pieces that feel relevant can be seen as a restraint. This series has so much to say about political involvement, equity, and, of course, fairness. And that's a lot to pack into a book dealing with young adults.

It's all mucked down and made harder to take by our FMC Jess and her horrific choices. She is getting worse, and I think that it is happening because of the people that she is surrounded by, and it has been by her choice for the most part. She has this almost sycophantic devotion to Rory that is just so irritating, especially when you watch how she treats everyone else around them. And I understand, he was meant to be this magnetic force that was supposed to gather everyone around him and be this great leader, and he is just this gross assault on Jessa and her good kind character.

For what ever reason we are forced to watch her stupid scr*w over his friends just because he could and then the next second we get to read how shes in love with him she's lost her spine. She needs to get a fury behind her and stand up for herself, and protect her friends from this bully.

At least in book 1, she saw that he was being unfair and a bully, and she wanted to do something to stop Rory from running everything, and it was like she was going to actually get it. Yes, she thought he was hot, but thinking someone is hot and acting on it are two different things. His behaviour, though, is inexcusable, and her attitude in book 1 was what I thought we were going to get more of. Not this.

In book 2, Jessa stopped standing up to Rory when he was insulting Danny, but I was willing to give her a one time off shoot, but this was no more. No, I can't do it anymore. She's not going to get any better. She's is getting worse, and it's like it's on purpose, and she only wants to do what Rory says. She treats Finlay and Danny like toys and she knows that Danny has feelings or is in love with Rory and instead of respecting Danny and his feelings and she knows that Finlay has feelings for Danny and instead of respecting any of the guys she begs Finlay and Rory to make out for her during a s$x scene. She literally just wants to watch them and get her jollies off on them, and she doesn't care if anyone gets hurt by what she asks. Finlay finally bares his soul and gets what he wants, but sadly, it's just on a lark.

I really wish all authors would stop using any bisexual person in their work if they are going to treat their sexuality and attractions as simply a seasoning to add in some flavour to the s$x scenes for the FMC. This just makes her look selfish and disrespectful of those she says she cares for when she says that they are entitled to private feelings that don't involve her.

I do love this series and I am invested and I can't wait to read the next book and I will be reading the next book ASAP and I have hopes that they will all be better people but I am not holding my breath. I am not happy with the person that Jessa or Rory have become, and I honestly would love to see Luke, Danny, and Finlay just break off and form their own little harem. They would be so happy together. Especially without Rorys crap and Jessa being so blind and her pathetic devotion to Rory.

[Ceej · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was truly a chore to get through. If you are looking for a genuine RH romance, look elsewhere, because there’s too much going on with this cluster-f*ck of an unequal relationship. I kept going with the hope that it would get better, but it honestly just got worse. In this relationship, we have a main couple who are unhealthily obsessed with one another (although where the development of the relationship came from in previous books, I’ll never know). She admits that at the end of the day, he is her “god” and if he commanded it, she would ditch all of the other guys she has an interest in and exist as his happy little sheep follower for the rest of her life (but don’t worry, she’s a feminist still, just not when it comes to Rory). She and Rory consistently use and abuse their friends for their own sexual gratification, while also making it clear to these friends that they are expendable, depending on Rory’s whims.
There’s also a weird homophobic undertone throughout the books that seemed a bit odd for a series that included MM (something which *shockingly* has still not happened, even by the third book). Rory and Finlay claim to be completely straight, despite their numerous sexual encounters in the past and Finlay’s obsession with Rory (“consequences of an all-boy academy, lol”). When they kiss during the (entirely too-drawn-out, multi-chapter) orgy scene, it’s with the implication they want to get revenge on Rory’s dad by having the “shameful” news leak that, omg, Rory’s bisexual! (Also, the kiss between Rory and Finlay was described as “fraternal in its ease” and idk, something about kissing the homie in a brotherly manner just doesn’t sit well with me). There’s also the whole Danny arc throughout the series, where her gay best friend is only straight for her, after being assaulted with her advances multiple times throughout the series. But she also has platonic love for him? But she also s*cks him off? Just bizarre vibes all-around. And throughout the whole series, Luke is just off chilling somewhere until he's needed for a romantic encounter, I guess.
I could go on and on about why I have gradually lost interest in this series, but honestly, I kind of just want to forget that these books exist. Best of luck to those of you that decide to soldier on through the next two books. I am physically incapable of that feat of strength.

[Ines · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first two books in this series were slow burn, with a lot of simmering feelings and lust. In this book the brakes go off, things soon heat up and it's "all systems go!". Jessa and the boys are away from school, with Jessa staying with Rory and gradually meeting up with Finlay, Luke and Danny. In the mean time protests on the street grow and the political atmosphere becomes grimmer.

First of all, I think it is important to mention that the heating up in this book also means certain taboo topics get touched. People sensitive for cheating, dubcon, dom/sub vibes, and age gap (with a father's interest in his son's girl) should be a little cautious starting this book. There were moments where I thought "what the hell am I reading now!?", but I also couldn't put it down and kept wondering what else the author would throw at me. This book is not a regular reverse harem, where a girl loves multiple men equally. The powers that exist between these characters make for an interesting read, but also occasionally an awkward one.

This is the kind of book you enjoy, and then never tell a living soul about...

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

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Good Losers'' is the third installment of the Lochkelvin Academy series We finally see a relationship of sorts forming in this book. As the students are released for summer break Jessa is invited to spend the summer with Rory at his home and to trained to become a leader. As all the chiefs slowly assemble at the house for the summer the intensity of the relationships grow. Jessa and Rory finally admit and give in to their attraction eventually becoming a throuple with Finlay. There is lots of political turmoil brewing and dividing Scotland. The end is met with a cliffhanger that I don't fully comprehend when the Chiefs and Jessa return to Lochkelvin, but am sure will be an intriguing reveal in the final installment of the series. The book was quite long but well written for this genre. It's filled with lots of details and sub plots that give depth to the relationships forming. The individual and group chemistry between the chiefs and Jessa is wild and finally being unleashed. Can't wait for the next book.

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

[Miss L J Mileham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why oh why do you keep doing this to me? I can’t deal with the twisty turny story, with Rory’s moods giving me whiplash and the whole group (eh hem Finlay) becomes more and more complicated.

The story is so gripping, you don’t realise how much you need to see what happens.
It is again, wonderfully written with such invocative scenes described down to the tiniest detail!

Jessa started to annoy me a bit in the last book, with her lost puppy vibe, so I’m happy she’s starting to put on her big girl knickers and get active!

The story is one deceit and betrayal, and you spend your time really wondering what each persons motives are and whether they’re doing it for the good of all or just to get themselves ahead!
Another great instalment of the LochKelvin series and I cannot WAIT to see what happens in the finale!

[Laura O · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 3rd book in the series. I quite like the story. However, with this book, I feel that it is getting a bit bogged down in the details. I feel the books are more of a political fiction series, than a contemporary romance. The romance seems to be a side plot. I will say we finally see a sort of relationship form in the 3rd book. I would not call it a Reverse Harem although it is a Female main character and multiple Male characters. One male character seems to be in charge of everything including the relationship. He tells her who and when she can spend time with the other guys. Also, during the steamy scenes there seems to be a lot of introspection instead of living in the moment. Even with those criticisms I look forward to the next book.

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

[Emi · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Spoilers* This is the third installment of this series. It does not disappoint at all. Jessa’s life with the boys is never dull. She and Rory are fire. The way he commands the room and bedroom is amazing. He is a true Alpha. Jessa has a good handle on him and reads him really good. The other guys really invest their time with Jessa and each other. The rebel group keeps you on you toes. The story, the history, the setting of the book is truly entertaining for the reader. Thank you for the amazing read. I can’t wait for the next book in this by Evie Kady.

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

[Ingrid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well… Things look better in terms of romance, the guys have taken a big step with Jessa.
The spicy scenes are wild. The author really did not hold back, but in a way it shows the personality of the characters. Rory giving orders, Finlay following them…
I did not expect the relationship the guys have with each other, that was definitely interesting.
However, it doesn’t sit right with me that she is only dating Rory. Why? She already showed that she is interested in Luke and Finlay… I hope that gets fixed.
The politics plot gets more interesting, I like that it is difficult to know how the situation is going to end.
I definitely enjoyed reading this book.

[Lynne Davison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read book one and two and can honestly say I loved book 3. It takes place away from school during the summer break and is a much more upbeat story.

Love and friendship is the over riding theme in this book

The book ends with a cliff hanger when Jesse and the boys return to school and I cant wait to read book 4.

Would definitely recommend this whole series.

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

[Tricia Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can I give it more than 5 stars.

Love this series! Love the amazing characters, don't want to leave a spoiler but was hoping a certain bad guy with a red ribbon was in the book a little more. Hoping.he's in the next one. And dang I know Oscars not a favorite but was kinda bummed that rory ruined that night. But.I guess I get why!!! I love the author she does a great job at explaining things and definitely leaves me wanting more.

[E. Molgaard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally some romance

It takes three books and you finally get some romance. But really it’s more like a crazy unhealthy obsession other than romance. At least you get some reverse harem sex scenes. The chiefs, Jessa, and Danny spend the summer months in hiding as their country and world goes up in flames. They need each other for the next phrase of their political life so they fight to get over their hurt and betrayals.

[Flori · Rating 5 out of 5]

God help me with this series because I don’t think anything else can. I didn’t know what to expect after the first two books (which I loved more than words can express) but everything happening in this one is totally worth it. I think so far this is the best RH I’ve ever read. The story is a constant roller coaster. It is addictive and excruciatingly beautiful, so much that it hurts. It is so well written with an amazing plot and true character development. I can’t wait for more.

[Tasha Horn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy crap

Or should I say all for one! This entire series has left me in tears, laughing out loud, and wishing for far away places. Jessa and her guys have left a mark im not sure will go away. I wait with excitement and sadness for the conclusion on their story because as excited as I am for what happens next. Telling them good bye will not be easy.

[Kristin Lindes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fantastically crafted political-scape and story is just getting better and better. The way the characters interact and grow is amazing and you just can't wait to see what happens next.

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

[Rebecca Zabik · Rating 5 out of 5]

The three chiefs, Danny and Jessa spend the summer together. All sorts of drama occur during this time. Some hot and steamy scenes happen between them all. Cant wait for the next book.

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

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the third installment to this series! I'm enjoying to see how each of the guy's relationship with Jessa is progressing and everything with the rebel group keeps you on your toes! Definitely excited for the next book to come out!

[Chelsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series!

I love the characters and how they’re all growing together!! Honestly I think we’re all obsessed with Rory at this point! Can’t wait for the next book!!!

[Christina Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very entertaining read.

Firstly, absolutely loved the occasional reference to Flirtmajics and the guys from the 5 Boys series.
Again, I find myself struggle somewhat with regard to how Jesse allows Rory to treat her, though to be fair, this book was a great improved (except for the public sexual acts, which I still found to be slightly abusive at best).
Still, an interesting and enjoyable read. Now for book 4.

[Mulan Book Princess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Talk about intense! Jessa and the boys are on summer vacation and things are definitely heating up. The chemistry between them is still as strong, but so many twists and turns to this novel with things cropping up that I didn't expect. So much happens that I am not even sure anymore about who feels what and what is going on, so will wait until book 4 to see what else is revealed.

I received a free advanced review copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my fair and honest opinion.