Just as You Are


I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

2 and a half cups of tea, the book takes a while to get going. I was beginning to feel annoyed with the slow plot after only twenty-two percent of the way through. One of the most important parts of a book is the hook, and this book unfortunately didn’t grab me. I really began to lose interest after the first sex scene and intrigue dwindled from there. I like some parts of the book, I found the idea intriguing, but I didn’t enjoy the main character which makes it difficult to continue. I thought that the main character was annoying, and her mother was also irritating, but I did enjoy the writing style and the idea was good.

– Phoebe ❤

Suggestions for similar books I liked more:

Logan

I know I’ve been saying this a lot but what a great book! This book was the fourth in Samantha Whiskey’s Carolina Reapers series the first four being: Axel, Sawyer and Connell. This one was incredible and I literally couldn’t put it down, I started this one right after I finished Connell at 11:30 PM last night and immediately picked this one up and didn’t put it down until I finished it at 2:30 AM. Logan and Delaney were so cute together, I think they might be my favorite couple yet. Logan was super sweet and Delaney was incredible. Together they were just so good. Though I will say the plot was a little predictable but that doesn’t mean I had any issues with it. Though the plot was predictable there were still a few twists and turns that added an extra element to it. Let me just say that I love Echo, she’s been such a great addition to the gang of characters also Persephone! I’m so excited for her and Cannon’s story because that has to be next, I’ve been waiting for it for the whole series and I just need it next. I think what makes this book so good is the reliance on the universe that has been created and I think it’s so incredible that the author has been able to do that and that I can totally envision it. I was sad to leave the Seattle Sharks at first but the Carolina Reapers has not disappointed. Overall, this book was amazing and I give it 5 cups of tea! – Hannah

Connell

Wow what a book, best in the series so far the first two being Axel and Sawyer. This book was soooo good, I couldn’t put it down. First I have to say that Connell was so sweet it was absolutely ridiculous. I loved him and I loved the relationship between him and Annabelle. Again Samantha Whiskey did such a great job of incorporating known characters and creating a story that truly fit them. In Sawyer you see a hint of the vulnerability that exists with Annabelle and it really is expanded upon here and I just think the continuity is fantastic. I also think this was one of the funniest books the author has written, I don’t want to spoil anything but there was definitely one scene I really have in mind. I also like that the future books of the series are totally set up in front of you. Such as watching Logan and Cannon and their interactions with others speaking of I can’t wait for Cannon and Persephone because that is going to be quite a book and I know that the author has been building up to that. Anyway, this book was just generally very sweet and touching and a true romcom. I was so into this one that I was truly scared for any of the twists and turns, I was absolutely terrified over what would happen which shows how invested I was. All in all this book definitely gets 5 piping, scalding cups of tea! – Hannah

Sawyer

Okay after a long detour through the Seattle Sharks books which technically proceeded the Carolina Reapers books I’m back to this series which started with Axel. Okay so I really did like this book and I honestly like this series a lot but I did have a few issues with the book as well. I’ll start with what I liked. I really liked both Sawyer and Echo, I thought they were great really developed characters. Again I’ll say how much I like that Samantha Whiskey really introduces you to characters before you read the books so you feel like you already know them and you’re happy that they’re getting their story told. I think what I really liked about this book versus some of the others in the past series and even in the last book is that the characters were really upfront about the way they felt. There was no dilly dallying and being like I’m going to keep this feeling to myself. Both Sawyer and Echo really went for it. Also I think another positive to this book was the amount of humor, it was a really funny book and I would say it was pretty close to romcom level which for me is a high bar because they’re my favorite. Huge side note, I hope that Eden gets a book at some point because we’ve seen her several times and I just really want to see her get a story it kind of reminds me of how much we saw Lukas and Faith before their story in Wheeler. Okay on to what made me give it a 4 and not a 5. I really didn’t like the conflict with Chad and I really didn’t like the conflict about them having to work things out separately, I just felt like that was so pointless and if you read the book you’ll know what I mean I don’t want to ruin anymore. Anyway, overall I thought it was cute and definitely a happy ending that beloved Sawyer earned, 4 cups of tea! – Hannah

Defender

What a way to conclude a series what can I say. This series previously included Grinder, Enforcer, Winger, Rookie, Blocker, Skater, Bruiser and Wheeler. Okay so I accidentally read Axel first and let me tell you how upset I am that I did that because the book makes so much more sense now and I wish I had waited until I had read the rest of the series though it is technically a stand alone. Anyway, Nathan and Harper were so cute and this was a perfect couple to end the series with. Which is honestly crazy though that I’m discussing the fact that the series is over, I feel like I just met Gage and Bailey. Oh well though all good things must come to an end and let me just say that this series has really been incredible and so thought out and planned and just amazing so I bow down to Samantha Whiskey on this one. The point of this book too was so timely and I’m so glad that the idea of head injuries was really brought to light it’s so important in modern day sports. It was also just handled so well here and I really liked how full circle the book was because it really concluded the series on a strong note. I think the only reason that this book isn’t a 5 for me is because personally I really hate change and unfortunately change was looming over this entire book. From the fact that they were discussing the expansion draft to the definitive end date on their relationship. It was just honestly very bitter sweet in that I’m excited for Harper and Nathan and I thought they had a great story and I’m excited for the Carolina Reapers stories but it was sad to see most of the old team go and I know this is a completely personal thing for me but it still hurt just a little. Anyway still a great book and I give it 4 cups of tea! Now I’m off to reread Axel now that it will make more sense lol. – Hannah

Wheeler

Okay I hate to say it because I’ve been enjoying this series so much but I think this one was my least favorite. The others in the series being Grinder, Enforcer, Winger, Rookie, Blocker, Skater and Bruiser. I feel like this book served a purpose in furthering the series and also looping in the new series that starts with Axel which I accidentally read first (oops, I’ll probably reread it now before continuing onto the other ones). I honestly just felt like this one was a let down. I was so excited going into this one because Samantha Whiskey had been setting the stage for so long like this had been hinted at I think since either Blocker or Skater which is dedication. I do give Samantha Whiskey credit because she plays the long game versus the short game because now that I’ve read this one the whole set up for Axel makes total sense and she always sets up the next book before finishing the one she’s on. However, I just felt like Lukas was way too good for Faith and I generally feel the other way around that the girl is too good for the guy but oh well here we are. I just felt like every five seconds Faith needed some sort of validation and she was surprised every time Lukas told her the same thing. Faith was just really irritating because she wouldn’t trust Lukas and yet she kept saying that she trusted him so much. Just not it for me and the whole conflict in the end was weird because they honestly had been dealing with conflicts throughout the book that last one kind of seemed pointless but the ending was really cute! Anyway because of how much the author set up the next book and the next series and the pieces of Lukas and Faith’s relationship that I liked I’m giving this book 3.5 cups of tea. – Hannah

Bruiser

Okay I absolutely loved this book it was soooooo good. This was the seventh book in the Seattle Sharks series the first six being: Grinder, Enforcer, Winger, Rookie, Blocker and Skater. Okay this one was really good and my favorite since Winger which I also really liked. First off Hudson was so dreamy, like totally amazing. I think he might have been one of the best characters in the series yet. He was so sweet and just generally incredible. Second, Elliot, what a kid she was incredible and especially in that last really big scene. Finally, Shea what a great character too and so amazing with how much she had gone through. I also just loved that yes there were a couple relationship conflicts but the major conflict of the book was an external source. So they technically never broke up it was great. This book was also just such a great slow burn. Seeing everything come together between them was amazing and just what I wanted. Every book just has so much variety while being so good Samantha Whiskey does a great job on that variation because some series can get boring and repetitive. While some parts are repetitive the books are still different enough that I never get bored of them. And before I finish this review I’m just going to say again how absolutely incredible Hudson was as a character and just too sweet to be real. Anyway, I absolutely give this book 5 piping hot cups of tea! – Hannah

Skater

Okay I liked this one but it definitely was not my favorite in the series which includes Grinder, Enforcer, Winger, Rookie and Blocker. I’ll start with the things I liked before I delve into the reason why it wasn’t my favorite. I really liked the concept of the story in that he was fighting for guardianship of Hannah and I just thought it was especially well done because this was set up in the book before this one. I have to give Samantha Whiskey credit because all of these books are so planned out, the characters and their love interests and their plots are all introduced in previous books to their own so everything always makes sense. I think that’s one of the reasons that I like this series so much is that it doesn’t feel like each time something random was thrown in the book to be a plot. I also just really liked Hannah and her relationships with Ivy and Connor but mostly Ivy. That one scene between Hannah and Ivy at the end actually brought me to tears so watch out. Also I was impressed that the conflict was rooted in something very early like I was impressed that it came back around, I had a small inkling in the back of my mind but I wasn’t sure, and then it came back and I was like ohhhhh. On to the things I didn’t like so much. I didn’t really like his reasoning for why he hated her. Like from the beginning that he was holding on to the stuff that had happened in the previous book but it didn’t really happen to him and those characters had already forgiven Ivy so I guess I was just a bit confused as to why it hit him so hard. Then also the fact that he changed the reason why he hated her made a bit more sense but still a little confusing. That’s the only reason why I bumped it from a 5 to a 4. So overall I liked it even though I had basically 1 issue and I give it 4 cups of tea! – Hannah

Blocker

I really liked this one! this book is the fifth book in the Seattle Sharks series (the first being Grinder, then Enforcer, third Winger and finally Rookie). This one was really good just like the others. I think what was the best thing for me was just how sweet Eric was. Like talk about a nice character like it was kind of crazy how nice he was and how good he was to Pepper. A side note, I just wanted to say what an amazing job Samantha Whiskey did in transitioning this book into essentially a whole new friend group. I love that she’s showing us more players that will have matches and moving the attention of this book to a new group while also throwing us bits of the old group which we know and love. I thought it was just especially well done that Eric was the only one mentioned in the other books and so he was the one that brought that transition. Back to the book itself, Eric and Pepper were just really cute together starting from there meeting and up until that ending which was so adorable I almost cried. I honestly think this book was the most emotional one by far because there were several points where I almost did cry as opposed to the others so be prepared. I had a couple of problems but they were basically how Pepper could be so forgiving with what happens between her and her dad and her sister and that’s the only reason I bumped it down from a 5 to 4.5. Anyway another good one in the series! I give it 4.5 cups of tea! – Hannah

Rookie

Another excellent read by Samantha Whiskey in the Seattle Sharks series! The others in this series being Grinder, Enforcer and Winger. These books though they follow generally the same pattern have enough variety to just keep me going. And not going to lie I love the pattern. This one especially had a really strong start because we’ve seen Bentley (Rookie) in the other three books and have really seen his growth from an annoyance to an actual enjoyable character which has been done so well by the author. Additionally, I was drawn in from the beginning because of the fact that there was a mystery of sorts in an untold story between Bentley and Chloe. And it was so cute and definitely well handled with a running theme. This book even had an extra couple of things thrown in to keep you guessing. Though honestly there was one plot that was so short and not even really necessary except to force them back together that I didn’t care for and didn’t think was necessary. Honestly though that was my only issue with the entire book though it was a decent sized issue and that’s the reason why I bumped it down to a 4. But honestly loved the way the original characters were weaved in and I liked the hint of the fact that moving forward we’re moving to the younger guys on the team. The transition was handled super well and I’m excited to continue to the next book even though I am really going to miss these original characters and I hope that they’re at least in it a bit. Overall, I really liked this book so it’s 4 cups of tea from me! – Hannah

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