Jodie Slaughter is an author I’ve loved for years and have been excited to see her journey as a published author. That’s why reading Ready to Score was high on my list for June.
Set in the same town as Bet on It and Play to Win, this was bound to be a hit for and as mentioned, I adore Jodie Slaughter and her writing. While the first two were m x f romances, Ready to Score bucks the trend as it’s an f x f romance.
Coupled with a sensual cover, there was no way I wasn’t going to be reading this one, especially during Pride Month. It was an easy decision to decide to pick this one up and see if the magic of Jodie Slaughter would continue. Spoiler alert: It did.
I’d like to thank St. Martin’s Griffin for putting this one on my radar and sending me an ARC so I was able to read and review this one early.
Ready to Score is an unforgettable sapphic sports romance
Before getting into my review, I’m a huge football fan, so when I saw the premise being two women wanting to be football coaches, I was in. We’re following Jade Dunn, who is a teacher and the assistant coach of Greenbelt’s football team. She seems like a shoo-in to replace the soon-to-retire head coach until Francesca comes into the picture. From that point on, the real fun begins.
From the start, it’s clear Jade doesn’t want to talk to, let alone like, Francesca Lim. Thankfully, Lim doesn’t let that deter her and instead decides to double down. It even goes as far as Dunn and Lim attending the weekly poker night at the head coach’s house. It seems like the two can’t stop running into each other, yet the attraction is unmistakable there. Coupled with the competition to find a place on the coaching staff, things aren’t nearly as picturesque in this small-town romance.
While I adored seeing how Dunn and Lim warmed up to each other, it was hard to read about how Jade was downright rude and dismissive to Francesca. I know that part of that was her trying to deny her attraction, but it was frustrating. Lim was trying her best to find a place in the town, along with possibly finding a new friend in Jade. While things worked out in the end, Jade’s behavior was annoying.
Regardless, the attraction and romance between Francesca and Jade were scorching once it finally got underway. These two were like moths to a flame, and once they touched, it was like they couldn’t stop. One thing I always adore about Jodie Slaughter’s books is the intimacy she injects into them. Seeing the two connect both physically and emotionally made for a great reading experience.
I do like the third-act-conflict Jodie Slaughter added, as it felt like something different. It truly made the book feel so much more real. Jade made some bad choices, and they came with some unsavory consequences. I can’t say that I didn’t chuckle at just picturing how the entire thing played out. No matter, I enjoyed this book, and if you’re looking for some sporty sapphic romances, make sure to add Ready to Score to your list.