The Striker by Ana Huang

592 pages, Paperback

First published October 22, 2024

Series: Gods of the Game (#1)

Contemporary romance /library

This was waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too long. It did not need 600 pages. I could have cut it in half and you would not have missed a thing.

I think they finally did it after 200 pages. And then there was some drama 500 pages in. And yeah I skimmed some.

Plotholes. Asher is the best player! But oh no he is feuding with a team mate, ok, that shit is gonna get you transferred. So they need to take ballet lessons...why? Srsly, WHY?!?!?! Other than the reason that he can meet Scarlett and fall in love. The thing is that the other guy is her brother and he does not even take the lessons cos he leaves for France. Wasn¨t the whole point to...oh forget it.

Anyway, they had no chemistry. So it certainly does not take 600 pages for them to fall in love cos I felt nothing.

The whole oh no, her brother is my teammate drama. Ugh, if my brother tried to pull that shit I would leave him in the dust. Who effing cares if you know her brother. I do hate this trope. It is stupid.

It did have some good things...like some, just make it shorter.

Would I recommended it? No

She's the only woman he wants...and the only one he can't have.

Asher Donovan is a living legend―the darling of the Premier League, the (arguably) greatest footballer in the world.

But his reckless antics and recent team transfer have caused much controversy, and when his feud with his rival-turned-teammate costs them a championship, they're forced to "bond" during off-season cross-training.

Surviving the summer shouldn't be hard…until Asher meets their new trainer. She's beautiful, talented, and no matter how hard he tries, he can't take his mind off her.

The only problem? She's his rival's sister―and completely off limits.

***

Scarlett DuBois is a former prima ballerina whose career was cut short by a tragic accident.

Now a teacher at a prestigious dance academy but still haunted by the ghosts of her past, the last thing she wants is to spend the summer cross-training Asher Donovan, of all people.

She swore she would never date a footballer, but when her brother leaves town for an emergency, she finds herself thrown into dangerously close proximity with the gorgeous, charming striker.

Training, she can deal with. But falling in love? That's out of the question―especially when he's the only person with the power to break her heart.