I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. I could not get into this book and just didn't connect with the characters.

Was a good quick read for me. I am a sucker for sports romances which I think is why I enjoyed this one so immensely.

The characters were all well written and the leads had great chemistry. I'm not a sports fan but the game scenes were just the right length to keep non-football fans engaged. I liked the camaraderie between team members. However, one of the leads was constantly starstruck over the other, which was a little off putting. The drama at the end also took away from the believability factor of the story.

Wow! What a sweet story. There were some ups and downs but the romance, chemistry and main characters made it worth going through the rough patches. I absolutely loved the epilogue. Overall my heart is full and so happy! I’m looking forward to checking out other books by M. Ullrich!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book received through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a sports novel revolving around football or, as Americans would say, soccer. I'm not a big fan of the sport, so I was confused with some of the terminology. Regardless, I was still able to follow along pretty easily. The game scenes were awesome to build tension but not so much that the romance goes unnoticed. I enjoyed the fact that while the national team played a part.

The chemistry between Kenzie and Sutton was nice, it didn't feel forced nor rushed, even if Kenzie's crush on Sutton was a bit too much at times. Even if the writer tried to find good reasons to justify Kenzie's and Sutton's relationship, it always reappeared. However, Kenzie's initial awkwardness and their growing connection, even if it started as simple attraction, were endearing.

There's also the mandatory angsty scene, which I didn't like much because of how clichéd it was, even if it made sense in some way. Also, I didn't really like how the main conflict was handled. One thing that I've noticed is repeated in reviews is how the sexual abuse was treated. I must agree, because it felt unresolved, like something happened between the end and the epilogue that as a reader didn't get to know. However, the way the team handled the issue did feel like something that would happen nowadays.

Overall, it is a good lesbian sports romance and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading a cute romance or loves women's soccer.

A bit slow with this review but I just wanted to pop in and say that I absolutely loved this book. I think part of why I enjoyed it so much was because I am a big soccer fan. The characters are fun and the book is an easy and enjoyable read.

This is a romance set in the backdrop of the world of women’s soccer. When I read an abstract of Top of Her Game, I could not wait to get a review copy. I find most sports themed books to be a fun read.

Kenzie Shaw and Sutton Flores are the two main characters in this book. Kenzie is a rookie who has been drafted to a professional team out of New Jersey. She is extremely talented and has a bright future. Nearing the end of her career, Sutton Flores has played for this team and is one of the top women soccer players in the world.

As a teen and college player, Kenzie had a huge crush on Sutton. When she is drafted out of college to play for the team that her “crush” is playing on, she is excited and scared that she might not play well in front of Sutton. As the story progresses, readers will see they are attracted to each other.

I have enjoyed Ms. Ullrich’s books in the past and found this one to be a good read. The plot is interesting, and the characters are thoroughly developed. Ms. Ullrich has done a great job in researching the sport of soccer. The secondary characters added depth to the story. At times, however, I found the pace of the book to be a little slow. I believe the harassment conflict which wove itself through the last half of the book seemed to take away from the romance and the soccer story being told.

I rate this romance as 4 out of 5 stars. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a sports romance.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An easy fun football romance. Ullrich writes a story that plenty of football fans will enjoy. It's all pretty fast and easy but turns dark later on with impacts to both major characters.

It’s an enjoyable, light read with some angst. I like the chemistry between Kenzie and Sutton is great until like 80% of the book. The theme of sexual harrasment introduced a nice element of tension but I thought it was a little underdone. The soccer plays were exciting and well-written.

Kenzie Shaw is a rookie in women's major league soccer. Drafted by the New Jersey Hurricanes, she's relieved because it's her home state. But now, she has to figure out how to play alongside her idol and the woman she's crushed on for years., Sutton Flores.

Top of Her Game revolves around Kenzie and Sutton's relationship which unfortunately, feel a little flat for me. I kept waiting to really feel the chemistry between them, but I never got it. Sutton was described as a player and I never got to the point where I felt like she was ready to settle down for Kenzie. On the other side, with Kenzie idolizing her for so long, I'm not entirely sure I ever got past the point when I thought that she was no longer doing that.

That said, it was clear that they did care about one another deeply. They did want the best for one another and were incredibly respectful. That's what I really loved. How respectful they were of what another and what they needed.

Now, the little twist with the sexual harassment was... I don't want to say disappointing because it is an important subject to talk about and bring up especially in sports, but it was. It came in late in the book which left me feeling like the resolution to it had been rushed and speed through. It didn't give me that satisfying conclusion to the ordeal.

Overall, this was a good book. The romance (aside from the issues I mentioned) did have it cute and wonderful moments. The soccer scenes were written well and were easy to imagine.

This was okay, but nothing spectacular. Some angst, some smut, and some soccer.

Rookie soccer player Kenzie Shaw gets drafted for the New Jersey team that's captained by her idol and crush Sutton Flores, one of the stars of women's major league soccer. Their chemistry as teammates quickly turns into more, but an allegation of sexual harassment can destroy everything they both have worked for.

I appreciated that there was no cheating in this story. Sutton has a girlfriend before Kenzie, but she makes sure to break up with her before anything happens with Kenzie. I just wish the big relationship conflict was handled with the same dexterity. As is, I was left feeling like one person had all the agency in the relationship and the other person was condemned to a passive role.

As for the sexual harassment element, there is no real resolution. Everything is still up in the air at the end of the story, and the epilogue doesn't answer any of the questions the reader might have about how that part of Kenzie's story was resolved. I think that most readers want and expect more from storylines involving harassment, especially in a post-#MeToo world.

The dialogue felt very stilted at certain points, and it made it difficult to get into the story at certain times. The pacing was off and it was often hard to tell when certain chapters were taking place.

I became extraordinarily annoyed at the use of "point" to mean a goal. In soccer (or football, as it should be called), you score goals during the game and you get points (0/1/3, depending on loss/draw/win) afterwards, which determine your league ranking. So whenever it said something like "Kenzie scored a point" or "the team was up by one point", a voice in my head just shouted "it's a GOAL." And that gets old real quick.

All in all, this was a bit disappointing.

Excellent book overall. This is a well-written, humorous, story which comes with its fair share of discomfort and trouble - and I love a women's football novel! Very enjoyable read and recommended.

I am a sports fan. Love all sport in general, but if you really want to make my heart sing, women's soccer. When I was a kid I looked up to the superstars of the game, Michelle Akers, Mia Hamm. They were just awesome! As a grown-up, I have followed the careers of the USWNT, Press, Rapinoe, Morgan and the international wonders, like Marta and Amandine Henry. Love the game, and I love the badass ladies that own the pitch. I have become timid when I pick-up a sports-based romance. Mainly for the reason, sometimes the sport can be written so heavy-handedly you spend more time with gameday analysis than the love connection. I don't like that at all. THIS IS NOT THE CASE! No, M. Ullrich gives us the best of both worlds with Top of Her Game. So good, so fun, and sexy as hell.

Kenzie Shaw is a rookie striker out of Penn State. She just entered the NWSL draft and was picked up by the New Jersey Hurricanes. This happens to be the team that her soccer idol, national teamer, Sutton Flores. You would think this book would go young player falls for an experienced older teammate... Kind of, but M. Ullrich never follows any ordinary trope. Nope! She shakes things up and gives power to both leading ladies. Kenzie holds her own on and off the field. Sutton experienced but cannot help but melt with Shaw looks her direction. Their dynamic is fun and it's passionate, did I say sexy, because it was HOT!

The chemistry and romance were done very well. I believed it, I felt it and I was invested until the last page. I thought Ullrich did a fabulous job when it can to the soccer aspect of the game. Without a doubt, she is a student of the game. It made me smile and brought joy into my heart reading this one. As a soccer junkie and a lover of romance, this book spoke to me. Even if you don't need sports in your life as I do, this is a really, really good book. The romance is more than enough to keep you satisfied.

Side note, (insert Tiff's soapbox here). We can all love the USWNT and those amazing World Cup games but if you love those ladies and you love what they are fighting for, turn on an NWSL game. Pick a team, pick a player, whatever floats your boat, but turn it on. Those ladies need you watching on the professional stage as much as the international one. Most games you can watch on an app that cost you zero dollars. Let me know what team you pick!

There is nothing better than a sports romances that is a f/f pairing, This book was so interesting and I loved it. The characters were so real and the love was so pure. I highly recommend this book to anyone that likes sports romances.

I loved reading this story! I felt like the story went at both a fast and slow pace. The storyline went a bit fast yet it took a little while for the main characters to get together. But I enjoyed that it wasn’t rushed, it seemed more realistic. In addition, I liked that from the first time Sutton and Kenzie met, you could notice the chemistry between them. They were in a tough position being teammates but they were able to balance their responsibilities to their team and their love well, making you always want to cheer them on. Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who might be interested.

I finished the book a while back. Got super busy and could not leave an immediate review, now I honestly remember nothing at all. this just tells me it did not leave any impact on me as reader.

OFC, the author gave me free copy to judge the material. so I went back again and read few stuff here and there. ( coz they deserve a feedback) . the writing is well balanced between romance and football talk,

Here's the thing. I like it loved how the author created a drama but not overly so. I loved the bus scene so much. Sutton is too sweet and loving I liked that. the way it was handled was kinda realistic

so over all it's great book for football lover who like romance as well.

thank you for the author and her team

I had to read this book. I love football (I am European so...) and some romance.

I’ve read a lot of these lesbian romance books and they all have something in common. There is a lot of built up towards getting the two main characters together. Not in this book, they end up together pretty early on. Kenzie is a rookie on Sutton’s team. Kenzie has had a celebrity crush on her forever. Sutton is in a relationship, but she is indifferent about it. It doesn’t feel right, but she doesn’t do anything about it. Until the sparks fly with Kenzie. Kenzie is the smart one when she walks away from Sutton saying they can only start talking about being together when Sutton is no longer tied to someone else. Well, of course Sutton goes to break up with her current girlfriend and come to Kenzie directly. After all these changes they take it slow, I like this! They play their matches, get called up to the USWNT and are happy. Until something happens with someone on the staff of their team. He touches Kenzie inappropriately. From here on I think the story feels a bit rushed. How they deal with series issue and all the problems that come with it is boiled down to a couple of chapters. I think, especially in a time like ours, it would have been nice to give it a little bit more body. I feel the writer might have been a little afraid to go to deep into a story like this.
How it all ends you will have to read for yourself.

I thought this book was an ok read with the football in it as well. Kenzie and Sutton have a good chemistry. I also like the addition of Sutton’s best friend Taylor, she is super direct and honest. They short storyline she gets with another team mate does feel like some sort of afterthought, which is a shame as well.
There are just some things missing for me, or feels to rushed. But I liked it just fine.

Top of Her Game by M. Ullrich is the story of two professional women’s soccer players Sutton and Kenzie. Sutton is an established veteran who has won several medals for the national team. Kenzie is a rookie fresh out of college who comes to play for the same league team as Sutton. Ullrich did a great job of writing a fun flirtation between Sutton and Kenzie. The soccer scenes were also exciting to read. I enjoyed the progression of the team and their relationship through the first half of the book or so.

This book contained some heavy topics (sexual harassment) that some readers might struggle with. Without giving spoilers, I will say that I struggled with how the harassment/assault was handled in the book and the fallout. I also had a hard time with the way Sutton and Kenzie got together (Sutton was fresh out of another relationship and ended her previous relationship with Kenzie in mind)—the circumstances made it harder for me to enjoy their coupling. The main drama of the story comes pretty late in the book and from there everything felt a little rushed and abbreviated and Sutton’s motivations didn’t make a lot of sense to me. Even the reconciliation seemed too quick and oversimplified.

Overall this was an enjoyable story with believable chemistry for the main characters plus soccer. The pacing and the conflict seeming contrived detract but don't ruin this story.

I finished this about a week ago and sat on a review mostly because I wasn’t sure how to rate it. The soccer back drop was good but I think my general overall was that I was looking for more finesse and that special story telling quality.

The characters should have been interesting but together they lacked chemistry and didn’t fully resonate with me. The supporting cast didn’t do much for me. They often felt more like invaluable drama.

The premise and parts of the storyline were good. The soccer play action was fun to read. The sexual harassment arc was good and gave the overall book some legs. There were some great aspects of specific scenes that I thought were well done.

You get a mix bag with this one.

I quite like soccer (even though I pretend not to when having to watch the Man U matches with my wife) so a novel focused on the women’s league was no hardship. Kenzie is drafted for the Hurricanes in her home state where her idol, Sutton Flores, plays.

It’s an enjoyable, light read with some angst. The chemistry and dialogue between Kenzie and Sutton is great but the failure to communicate at 80% was disappointing. The theme of sexual harrasment introduced a nice element of tension but I thought it was a little underdone. The soccer plays were exciting and well-written.

Book received from Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.