The Defender

This was such a fun and addictive listen. Vincent DuBois, the star captain of Blackcastle FC, secretly rooms with Brooklyn Armstrong, a sports nutritionist and his coach’s daughter. The forced proximity creates the best slow-burn tension. Their banter, competitiveness, and that "who will give in first" bet had me grinning, and the chemistry only grew hotter from there. What surprised me was the emotional depth; beneath the flirty moments, both characters work through insecurities, expectations, and their true desires. I loved that Brooklyn saw the real Vincent, not just the celebrity. The narration brought their personalities and tension to life, and the late-book twist kept me hooked. A spicy, heartfelt story you need to listen to!

I wanted a sports romance and I love Premier League football, so this was almost exactly what I was looking for. The romance between Brooklyn and Vincent was great. I really liked both of them. However, the stalker storyline was kind of meh to me? All things considered I was underwhelmed by the reveal of who it was. It seemed like the characters should all have been smart enough to see through it.

But overall, I enjoyed myself while reading this! I will definitely pick up more by Ana Huang.