Why Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan is a must-read for all

Picking up romance books can be therapeutic for some. With a book like Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan, it can mean so much more.

With the rise in romance books being republished, I’ve taken to writing up the reasons why I think you should pick up that book. It’s a fun and fresh way to talk about the book without giving a full review.

In the case of Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan, there is so much to talk about and unpack that a post like that wouldn’t do the book justice. Instead of discussing reasons why you need to read Long Shot, let me start with one thing and one thing only.

If you’re reading this post and you haven’t read Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan, then do yourself a favor and pick up a copy. I’d like to thank Bloom Books for sending me a finished copy as it holds such a special place in my heart.

Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan is much more than just a book.

When it comes to books, people tend to close the book and then move with their day or even, move on to another book. With a book like Long Shot, it’s utterly impossible to read that book and simply close it to pick up another one. However, that’s the magic of Kennedy Ryan and why she’s such a beloved author.

While her Grip trilogy was my first experience with her writing, Long Shot sealed the deal on her being a favorite romance author. Let’s not get too ahead of ourselves though as we have yet to discuss what this book is about. Long Shot follows August and Iris who meet at a sports bar and have a connection but quickly find out the two simply cannot be together and from there, a path unfolds.

Gus becomes a successful NBA player while Iris marries Caleb and gets entangled in his web of domestic abuse. That’s where this book doesn’t shy away from things you might not be able to read or even stomach. Caleb is extremely abusive to Iris in every way imaginable from him mentally, physically, and sexually. All in all, it’s not an easy read.

Regardless, Long Shot is an important read because Kennedy Ryan doesn’t shy away from those scenes. She wants you to feel uncomfortable and look at the face of a man who seemingly has it all but has trapped Iris in an impossible situation. Thankfully as this is a romance, Iris and August do eventually end up together but not without a lot of work from both parties to be healthy enough for a relationship.

Even though Long Shot is a tough read, it’s a necessary one. It is incredibly tough to read but that uncomfortably is exactly what makes it such a good read. I don’t know how Kennedy Ryan managed to tell such a gut-wrenching yet incredibly beautiful story but I can’t get enough of her writing.

Mark my words: No one else is doing it like Kennedy Ryan and no one else will. She has changed the romance book world and it doesn’t seem like she’s slowing down anytime soon. If you’re sensitive to this topic, there are content warnings before the story begins but always make sure you’re feeling safe and are in a good place to read Long Shot.

While those reasons aren’t my typical fare when it comes to these posts, Long Shot is a special case and the entire Hoops series by Kennedy Ryan continues that trend. That’s a post for another day, though. If you’re even thinking about picking up Long Shot, do it even knowing you might not be able to pick it up until later?

Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan is out now at your favorite bookstore!

Will you be picking up Long Shot on release day? Let us know in the comments.