One on One
A Novel
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4.5 • 14 Ratings
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
“Move over, hockey romance fans. There’s a new game in town. Jamie Harrow’s debut novel sails through the net with the perfect blend of romance, spice, and a healthy dollop of a serious issue that bears addressing.”—Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author
They call it March Madness for a reason: Anything can happen on the way to a national championship.
Eight years after graduation, Annie Radford is not happy to be back at her alma mater in her old job with the Ardwyn Tigers’ basketball team. Worse, her coworker from back in college, Ben Callahan, is still on the Tigers staff, and he’s annoyingly wholesome, hot, and clinging to a grudge against Annie for abandoning him and the team their senior year.
But as Ardwyn becomes the season’s Cinderella Story, things start heating up between Annie and Ben, too. And while neither of them can deny this could be something special, Annie’s afraid to tell Ben the truth about why she left basketball—the thing she loves most—in the first place. She’ll have to learn to trust him if they have a shot at being together.
In addition to being funny, romantic, and sexy, One on One examines the pressure put on college athletes, challenges the sexism in the world of sports, and exposes the dangers in whole communities idolizing the big men on campus.
For readers of The Hating Game and The Ex Talk, a workplace, enemies-to-lovers debut for anyone yearning for a courtside romance, perfect for anyone who can’t get enough sports rom-coms.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Harrow's promising debut finds videographer Annie Radford reluctantly returning to her alma mater. Eight years after graduating from college one semester early—and abruptly abandoning her work-study job shooting game tape for the basketball team—she's offered her old position back. Desperate for work, she accepts. Her anxiety about being back on campus seems reasonable given both a past trauma and the icy welcome she receives from Ben Callahan, her former work-study colleague turned team statistician, who still resents her for leaving mid-season. Still, she's determined to make the best of an awkward situation. Annie's hype videos and genuine connection with the players are quickly appreciated—and even Ben starts to warm up to her, particularly when she joins his reality TV fantasy league. But as Ben and Annie grow closer, they have to agree to disagree on how they communicate about Coach Maynard, the former basketball coach who has mentored Ben since he was a teen, but is the reason Annie avoided the sport after college. The central couple is appealing, but the conflict, which surfaces late in the narrative and could be resolved with a simple if difficult conversation, frustrates. Still, the high-stakes world of college basketball provides a fun backdrop, and the author does a fine job dealing with sensitive and topical issues, including sexual misconduct and the abuse of power. Harrow should win plenty of fans.
Customer Reviews
Just the right everything…
Work romance but work is your passion, it’s exciting, it’s not just something you’re good at it moves you. Plus plot twists, justice arch, and catholic college basketball. Yes please!