I would like to thank Netgalley and Bonnier Books UK for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This was an enjoyable quick read. The writing style let it down at times.

This was a really good holiday read! It was fun, light hearted and brought many a laugh and a smile throughout. It had that enemies to lovers thing, but it wasn't too dragged out, and it was nice to see an actual friendship play out through the book and let the love story grow naturally as sometimes it can feel rushed and it doesn't have to be. There were a lot of sweet moments, and I liked that the characters grew in themselves separately but with the help of each other, but learning from that to be happy with who they were. A really easy, light, fun summer read. I really enjoyed it.

3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley & Bonnie’s Books for the arc.

Queer enemies to lovers you say? Set against the backdrop of the Oxford/Cambridge boat race? And they’re forced to work together? Take my money!

Even though it took me a little longer than usual to get into, I had so much fun reading this book. I loved getting to know Lucas and George and seeing how much they both grow. SYATFL will make you chuckle, it’ll make you mad (at times), it’ll make you tear up, and, most of all, it’ll have you kicking your feet like a giddy schoolgirl.

Did I know where it was going to end up before I turned the first page? Of course. Did that stop me enjoying every minute of this book? Absolutely not!

If you’re looking for a fun and frivolous rom-com, full of heart, then pick up this lovely book. You won’t be disappointed.

Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ (1 Star) – DNF at 40%

Review for: See You at the Finish Line by Zac Hammett
Publisher: Zaffre (Bonnier Books UK)
Release Date: May 8, 2025
Format: ARC from NetGalley

Review:
I was eager to dive into See You at the Finish Line, drawn by its promise of a queer enemies-to-lovers romance set against the backdrop of Cambridge University's rowing team. The premise seemed ripe for witty banter and heartfelt moments. Unfortunately, I had to DNF the book at around 40%.

The story centers on George, a charming but academically underperforming American athlete, and Lucas, a sharp-witted economics student. Their initial disdain for each other turns into a reluctant partnership when George needs help passing his exams and Lucas seeks assistance in wooing his crush, Amir.

Tropes featured:

Enemies-to-lovers
Academic rivals
Opposites attract
LGBTQ+ romance
Slow-burn tension
Why it didn’t work for me:

The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, often detracting from character development and immersion.
Characterization was lacking depth, with both protagonists displaying behaviors that felt inconsistent or exaggerated, making it challenging to connect with them.
The writing style came across as immature, which, combined with certain plot inconsistencies, made the narrative hard to follow and less engaging.
I encountered plot holes and inconsistencies early on, including character reactions that didn’t align with their established personalities and confusing narrative choices.
While I appreciate the effort to blend romance with academic and athletic challenges, the execution didn't resonate with me. I hope others find more to enjoy in this story.

Review of "see you at the Finish Line" by Zac Hammett - ★★★½

"See you at the Finish Line" is a delightful queer sports rom-com that captures the tension and humor of an unlikely partnership. The dynamic between George and Lucas is both entertaining and relatable, as their initial animosity gradually transforms into something deeper. Hammett skillfully balances the lighthearted aspects of their rivalry with the more serious themes of self-discovery and acceptance.

The premise of their deal—George needing academic help and Lucas wanting to learn the art of romance—provides a fun backdrop for their evolving relationship. The witty banter and character development are highlights, making their journey enjoyable to follow. However, the pacing occasionally falters, and some plot points feel predictable, which detracts from the overall experience.

Despite these minor drawbacks, the chemistry between the characters shines, and the supportive side characters add depth to the story. Overall, "Cross the Finish Line" is a charming read for anyone who enjoys a mix of sports, romance, and personal growth, though it could benefit from a bit more originality in its plot twists.

I am officially obsessed with George and Lucas!

This one was an incredibly fun enemies to lovers, and I loved the banter between the two of them! They bounced off each other so well! Lucas was adorable and loved that he was a little bit grumpy from having to work so hard for something that had just been handed to George!

This one was such a feel good and fun rom-com and i absolutely adored it!

oh come on what a brilliant book to smile all the way through. an enemies to lovers is good when done well and this was done better than well. gorgeous gorgeous read. i didnt want to stop and was giggling and crushing on these two. there slowly getting to know the real them whilst thinking they were both gaining something different was so sweet. and then when they gradually started to head towards eachother and see the truth it was like tada here i am. and here they were a beautiful couple who i was rooting for from the very beginning.
it was charming and fun and everything you could wish for from this genre of book.
in this book we have Lucas and George who are member of the university boat team. but after an appalling time they both now have to fight for their place. and this means that George actually has to do some work for it. and thats where he needs Lucas. and for Lucas, George could be of help for him too...to teach him how to win another guys heart.
what you get next is fantastic. give me more of books like this done to this standard please. it has all the right feels from start to finish.

I thoroughly enjoyed this read, seeing George and Lucas bond and helping each other out in different ways. They both showed each other there is more than what meets the eye - the slow burn definitely hits!!

OH MY GOD A ROWING ROMANCE?! This was so cute! I went in with super high expectations and it definitely met them all.

Lucas is the cox (he steers the boat) of the Cambridge University Blues boat (the Uni rowing club), while George is the stroke seat (the guy up front who drives the speed of the crew). After a cataclysmic race, both are forced to defend their place in the boat and, in George’s case, this means actually passing his exams on his own merit. Thank goodness Lucas is top of their year. If only he didn’t hate him. Fortunately, George also has something Lucas needs: advice on how to seduce a man.

Read if you like:
🩵 Forced proximity
🩵 ‘You teach me, I’ll teach you’ trope
🩵 Grumpy sunshine
🩵 Opposites attract

As a former rower, I was beside myself with joy when I saw this was a Cambridge rowing romance. For me, I loved all the rowing scenes and the nods to Cambridge. Being able to picture locations as I read the book made it super special for me.

But that’s not the only reason I liked it. Even if you’re not a rower or cantab surely you can appreciate a sweet funny romance about hot men in lycra. It’s really witty and I totally appreciated the opposites attract chemistry between Lucas and George.

This book is out 8 May and I highly recommend you go check it out!

I don’t know about you but I am very much on the count down to the Boat Race and I was very excited when a package from Zaffrebooks arrived on my doorstep with this delightful story.

The relationship between the stroke seat and the cox is always a unique but powerful one. It has the ability to make or break a boat. As the stroke seat you have to trust in your Cox to make the right call at the right time and as the Cox you have to trust that your stroke seat will follow your commands.

When George and Lucas come to blows after losing the Boat Race last year and it comes to light that George received special privileges in terms of his place at Cambridge, they need to come up with a plan. Lucas reluctantly agrees to help George with his academic problem in exchange for some help in getting his crush to notice him.

Along the way, the once team mates, turned enemies, turn partners in crime realise that they might actually enjoy being friends and maybe something more as roman feelings begin to blossoms between them.

I thoroughly enjoyed this read, seeing George and Lucas bond and helping each other out in different ways. They both showed each other there is more than what meets the eye - the slow burn definitely hits!!

If you love the below you’ll love this book
🫧Rowing Romance
🫧Slow Burn
🫧Opposites Attract
🫧Enemies to Lovers

Thanks to the author and publisher for the copy 💕

It's been a while since I read a mm romance and I really enjoyed this!! I loved the characters personalities as well as reading as their relationship progressed in both positive and negative ways. It was pretty slow burn which usually I'm not a big fan of long slow burn but I think it really worked with how the plot was set out and how the enemies to lovers worked. I was also really invested in both their rowing careers throughout and how they'd play out (and it definitely surprised me towards the end) as well as their uni exams and how it were a big threat in the plot

I enjoyed this, it took me a little while to warm up to the main characters, like their relationship with each other, I really liked them and thought their relationship was very cute

I could see sh!t was going to hit the fan in the 3rd act and it was so good, I didn't see what happened after coming

- MM romance
- sports romance - rowing
- university setting
- slow burn

✨4 stars✨

I devoured this in less than 24 hours!

I’ve read a lot of sports romances but never one about rowing so that initially piqued my interest and thankfully I really enjoyed this book. I found the writing engaging throughout, the characters entertaining and the romance between George and Lucas adorable!

I would 100% recommend this book if you’re looking for an entertaining queer romance or a fun sports romance in general! I look forward to seeing whatever this author writes in the future.

I received an ARC from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

This was such a fun read with some actual laugh out loud moments. I enjoyed the slow burn of George and Lucas as they navigated their way through the trails and tribulations of exam time at Cambridge University whilst also being on the rowing team. There were some really sweet moments and the sexual tension in parts was delightful. The latter part of the book seemed to move at a much quicker rate than the majority but this didn't detract from the overall enjoyment of this book.

This was such an enjoyable read - I honestly can’t remember the last time I laughed out loud so much as I had reading See You at the Finish Line. Both Lucas and George are hilarious in their own way and I loved their sense of humour and jokes. It was so nice to see them grow as individuals as well as see their relationship develop throughout the book.

As someone who used to row for several years (though never that competitively) I thought the sports aspect of the book was really well done. I love a good sports rivalry and this book hit the spot with the Oxford-Cambridge Rivalry as well as the intra-club rivalry (hello Tristan)!

What didn’t quite make this a five-star read for me was how both our MCs made some questionable decisions throughout the book, though I guess they were acting like the 21-year-olds they are. I also felt the pacing was a bit off towards the final 20% of the book. It felt like they resolved their issue a bit too quickly (but maybe I would just hold a grudge longer). It reminded me of the pacing in a typical rom-com movie, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing and is more of a personal preference.

Overall, I would recommend the book if you are in the mood for a rivals-to-lovers sports romance with great banter that will make you laugh out loud!

DNF after 22%.

Okay, first of all, I’m sorry. My previous read was a gem and might have influenced my reading journey. So, basically, there’s nothing wrong with this story. The thing is, though, the part I read didn’t feel groundbreaking or unique or anything like that. Except for the rowing, it felt like it was done a thousand times before. It was okay, nothing more, nothing less, and I was bored. So, I decided to DNF. Please check out other reviews if you want to read this one.

This isn't a negative review, despite the three star. I think this book had some really great moments, i just wanted more of them! There was enough there for me to get invested, especially in George as a character. I liked Lucas though some of the decisions he made were baffling. However! Like I said, I enjoyed this. I really liked the setting and seeing rowing at the main sport was something a bit different.

Initially I wanted a bit more of the enemies section of enemies to lovers, but i understand why it didn't last that long. I really liked the development as friends. There was just some fleshing out that I felt was missing. Maybe it was the dialogue? I don't know. I think this author could really become great, there's potential, but it just felt a bit rushed, especially toward the end. I think considering the fall out it was resolved pretty quick. I did understand some of Lucas's thinking, but i think telling the story of how he made the same mistake before but didn't learn a single thing from it was kind of a weird choice (especially since i'd forgotten he even had a sister).