I was so excited to read about Grant and Gen since I read the first book of the Astor Hill series. Grant is a walking green flag and Gen is the misunderstood pretty girl.

You REALLY have to remember things that happened in Book 1 because this basically takes place at the same time as Book 1. Basically a parallel narrative but with Grant and Gen's POV/story.

There are quite a few typos and funky formatting. Some parts felt rushed too, almost making me think I skipped something by accident.

Gen and Will's friendship/situationship is so tiresome. I think this book would've done well if it after all the events from Book 1.

The d r a m a was drama-ing in this book!

They weren't wrong when they said this book is for fans of Gossip Girl because the similarities were a little jarring. Toxic characters, gossip columnist, rich entitled college kids and horrible parents.

While this does say you can read it as a standalone (which I did), I would definitely read the first book. I was confused quite a few times as things weren't properly explained, especially in regard to the dynamic between Will/Olivia/Lily and why the characters are the way they are.

The FMC, Gen was insufferable honestly. I don't know why Grant was so down bad for her. Personally if someone I liked was constantly pinning over her best friend since forever when he clearly has no interest, I would be running the other way. I felt so bad for Grant on multiple occasions when he clearly wanted to give Gen his all yet it was so obvious she still has unresolved feelings for Will. She would run to his side the second he gave her an ounce of attention. It was beyond toxic.

Grant was the best part of this book! He was SO sweet and he was such an emotionally layered character 🥹

I think I would have enjoyed this a lot more if some plot points were more fleshed out rather than being quickly resolved.

Pre thoughts
- Ballerina FMC

Overall
- A genuinely swoon worthy book. This is my first Sydney Madison read and i loved every second of it, Grant and Gen are quite complex characters and the story is complex. Gens character developed, this allowed for the reader to be immersed by the story and did a great job in conveying the challenges of relationships. Lovely mental health representation, I will be revisiting this book in future.

Stars 4/5

Tropes
- Slow burn
- FMC falls first
- Sports romance
- HEA
- MMC pining
- Ballerina X basketball player

Thank you netgally and Victory editing for the eARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own xx

There were things I liked, but overall it just didn’t work for me :(

There were definitely things I liked about Second Position. Grant and Gen had really cute chemistry, and I loved how emotionally layered Grant’s character was. Some of their soft moments really hit, and the various characters in Astor Hill added a lot to the story. I also appreciated how the story touched on tough topics like abandonment, complicated family dynamics, and figuring out when to finally put yourself first.

That said, I had a tough time getting through this one. A lot of the emotional weight depends on things that happened in book one (I didn’t realize it was a series) and since there I was no explanation/recap, it left me confused during big scenes. The writing also had a TON of grammar mistakes and weird sentence formatting that kept pulling me out of the story, and some plot points felt rushed or unresolved by the end. I think with some tighter editing and a bit more clarity, this would’ve landed a lot stronger for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC!

The coziest read! I came across these authors at a book convention and immediately fell in love with their writing style. The character growth in this series is absolute perfection. I love how we evolve with the FMC. It’s such an emotional story and I needed a good cry. Lovely read!

📚Second Position by Sydney Madison
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was very surprised by this book, I wasn’t expecting to like it nearly as much as I did. But I loved these characters, both Grant and Genevieve had a lot of depth to them.
Grant was so charming and Gen had so much self growth.
I loved seeing them get together and I loved Sloane, I’m very excited to see more of her in the future!

Tropes:
🏀college romance
🩰he falls first
🏀complicated family relationships
🩰found family
🏀Mmc basketball player
🩰Fmc ballet dancer
🏀love triangle
Thank you so much to NetGalley in exchange for my honest review
📣‼️out July 25, 2025

3.75 rounded up to 4 stars

It was absolutely amazing being back into the world of Astor Hill. Gen was one of my least favourite characters personality wise but this book really had me warming up to her. This was such a fun quick read one that I really enjoyed. However, at times I found the main characters lacking true chemistry and intimacy. But it was overall such a fun and enthralling read and I can’t wait to see where the series goes next

Let me start by saying I read and loved Astor Hill. I was completely drawn into Liv and Ben’s story, and Grant ended up being one of my favorite characters from the first book. Gen, on the other hand, was decidedly my least favorite, so I went into Second Position a little apprehensive. But after finishing it, I’m happy to say I was completely wrong to doubt it.

Gen’s willingness to open up to Grant, and Grant’s ability to see through the version of her that the public sees, felt honest and emotionally grounded. Their chemistry was immediate and believable, and it kept me fully invested from the very first chapter. I was also pleasantly surprised by the increase in spice compared to Astor Hill. It felt natural, like it was meant to deepen the emotional connection rather than just add heat for the sake of it.

One of the standout elements of this book was seeing Gen’s perspective, especially her relationship with Will, through her own eyes. It added depth to her character and gave me a new appreciation for the broader Astor Hill storyline.

What I’ve really appreciated about this series so far is how it doesn’t shy away from difficult topics. Themes like mental health, loss, abandonment, and the weight of parental expectations are handled with care, and they feel relevant and relatable without being overwhelming.

Overall, this book was heartfelt and completely satisfying. I adored it. I’m now counting down the days until we get Sloane and Andy’s story, and I’m still holding out hope for a Will Chapman redemption arc.

Thank you to NetGalley and the authors for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Rating: 4.25/5

I really like this series. It was nice to get Gen’s side of the story and perspective. I love the relationship between Gen and Grant. I normally don’t like slow burbs, but this felt appropriate, especially since the characters develop a genuine relationship. I can’t wait to see what else the authors have in store for this series.

Genevieve, una bailarina apasionada y controladora de su imagen, ha crecido bajo la sombra de una madre abusiva y una reputación moldeada más por rumores que por hechos. Su historia se entrelaza con la de Will Chapman, su mejor amigo desde la infancia y objeto de un amor largamente no correspondido. Will, con novia y un historial de manipulación emocional, representa una constante frustración para Gen: una figura que fue refugio en el pasado, pero que se ha transformado en símbolo de todo lo que no puede controlar. Cuando Gen decide dejar atrás su virginidad, elige como cómplice a Grant Fielder.

Grant, por su parte, es un joven marcado por el abandono materno, la presión de encajar en un molde perfecto y un rencor silencioso hacia Will, lo que convierte su relación con Gen en algo más cargado que un simple encuentro físico. Lo que inicia como una propuesta impulsiva se transforma en una conexión profunda, compleja y emocionalmente desafiante.



-
No entiendo cómo Grant se enamoró de Genevieve. Ella pasa todo el libro más preocupada y centrada en Will que en sí misma, incluso cuando finalmente se da cuenta de que Will ya no es el mismo y que durante años solo la ha utilizado, sigue eligiéndolo a él.

Tampoco tiene sentido que Liv se hiciera amiga de Gen. Genevieve fue horrible con ella durante dos años: intentaba constantemente robarle momentos con Will, hablaba mal de ella, en cualquier momento aprovechaba para toquetear a su novio y solo esperaba que terminaran para poder ocupar su lugar.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest

Book 2 in the Astor Hill series

Second Position follows Gen and Grant in a dual POV, diving into themes of friendship, abandonment, and emotional growth. While it stands alone, I’d recommend reading First Position first to fully appreciate the characters and their connections—especially Gen's dynamic with her friend Will, and Liv.

Gen goes through some real personal growth in this one—finally learning to prioritize herself—and Grant’s backstory adds depth to his struggles with connection and intimacy. Their relationship is tender, a little messy, and full of genuine emotion.

The pacing flows well, and while some conflicts and resolutions felt a bit immature, it makes sense given the college-age characters. That said, their emotional journeys still show maturity and depth, especially as the story progresses.

I only wish we had a bit more resolution between Gen and her mom—there’s a thread there that feels unfinished. Overall, this book gave me One Tree Hill vibes in the best way: emotional, character-driven, and layered with friendship and longing.

A solid addition to the series and a good pick if you enjoy campus-set romance with heartfelt character arcs.

I will be publishing this review on Instagram closer to the publishing date.

I just love the world this author creates. How true and genuine and complex her characters are. This is the 2nd book in the series and goes back in time a bit in timing of the first book. To show us what was happening in 2 other people’s worlds at the same time. I love when authors do this because we saw hints and bits in book 1 about Grant and Gen but giving us their whole perspective I think is great. Reminds people not to have main character syndrome and how different everyone’s POVs are.

And I don’t know if it was Grant or Gen’s influence but Basketball felt a lot more interesting in this book somehow. Also loved the ballet side.

Honestly I think Astor Hill might be becoming a comfort series at this point. Can’t wait for book 3

Thank you to netgalley and the author/ publishing for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

The cover of this book is gorgeous and is what drew me in and I’m so glad it did, because what a cute story! Genevieve and Grant were so cute and their chemistry was fantastic. I adored them and their story!

I absolutely loved this book I loved gens and grants relationship and it was so pure and loving and it was soo beautifully written

I would 100% recommend this book

i really liked the overall vibe of this one—the dance setting was cool, and the emotions felt real. gen and grant both had layered backstories, and there were definitely moments that pulled me in. i loved seeing them work through all that hurt and figure out what they actually wanted, not just what other people expected from them.

that said, it took me a while to get into it. some of the pacing felt a little slow, and i didn’t always feel super connected to the characters, even when things were supposed to be intense. i wanted to love it more than i did.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for approving me to read this early, I’m rating it 4.0 - 4.25 stars.

I love how full circle this book has been after book 1, I feel like you get to see the other side of the chaos and secrets. I actually like Gen and I can empathise with her confusing situation that has her conflicted throughout. The side issues that occur in the main characters own lives adds emotional elements and personal struggles that were quite moving.

I highly recommend for fans of Elle Kennedy and romance books with an academic setting.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

First of all I didn’t read the first book and didn’t realize that this was the first one in the series when I requested it. So I need to go back and read the first one and I feel like I would love it more. But that being said I still loved this book. I loved the characters and it had me hooked from the first page. Like I said I will be going back and reading the first because now I’m invested.

This was a cute book. It was a little rushed in places and some places it was too long. But I freaking loved grant. Talk about a book boyfriend! ❤️

Second Position delivers a beautifully messy, emotionally charged ride through the complicated lives of two teens trying to outrun their pasts—and themselves. If you love friends-to-lovers, enemies-to-lovers, love triangles, and forbidden romance with a capital F, this one’s for you. Genevieve Dupont is a ballerina with a heart full of longing and a lifetime of trying to be enough—for her mother, for her best friend Will, and maybe most heartbreakingly, for herself. When a reckless choice puts her in the path of golden boy Grant Fielder—the one guy Will can’t stand—everything Gen thought she knew about love, loyalty, and desire begins to unravel.

Grant is the kind of swoony, emotionally complex love interest that romance dreams are made of. Burdened by duty and shadowed by a painful past, he and Gen are both trying to hold up everyone around them—until they finally start holding onto each other. Their chemistry is electric, their story is raw and real, and their journey will hit you in the chest in all the best ways. Second Position is full of angst, heart, and hard choices, but at its core, it’s about finally putting yourself first. Do yourself a favor—read this one with your heart wide open.

If you're looking for a swoon worthy - cant put the book down - romance, this is definitely the book for you.
It is so hard to find a romance book where the love is oozing from the book, without having such irritating characters and decisions that make it feel agonizing to get through, and being so mad that you want to stop reading along the way. This book perfectly captures the way to do it, and adds dimension using realistic moral boundaries that make you frustrated in the BEST way. It had me stepping back and wondering what I would do in these situations.
The romance in this book is young and longing, honestly making me giddy reading it.
I could not recommend this book more, it deserves 5-stars, not only because the story and depth, but because I could see myself rereading it in the future.