The only thing wrong with this book is that it ends. I did not want to put it down. It picks up where The Senator’s Wife leaves off (it’s not a standalone), and adds some drama I didn’t see coming. I love Jen Lyon’s writing, and the way she peppers cultural references throughout. Neither book dwells on their age gap, which I usually don’t prefer, but worked well with these characters- their focus is their wealth gap and external pressures. I also liked that each character felt like her age - I always knew which “head” I was in. As in the first book, everywhere Alex and Catharine travel feels realistic. It’s the best soccer/football book I’ve read. I’ve never been that interested in watching sports outside the Olympics, but this makes me want to follow the World Cup and US women’s soccer. All the side characters are richly developed - Natalie is a great example of a relationship morphing into deep friendship, and Amelia, wow (in a good way), the women on the team are also well done. I can’t say more about the story without giving too much away, so I’ll finish with- this series has everything I want in a romance- the chemistry, tension, romance, support system, and side politics/culture etc. and most especially, the characters. I cannot wait for Book 3.

Short summary: Catharine and Alex are riding high after book 1, but their love is still a secret. Can the women outrun their circumstances and continue living in bliss or will reality come calling?

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐