This book wasn’t for me. I didn’t connected to the characters very much. The writing was a little bit repetitive for me, and I lost my concentration with the plot. The storyline was good and I loved how it started, but unfortunately this wasn’t for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Compass Press, and Ms. Sutton for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

This was an easy read, one of those books you can get through in a couple of hours. Charlie (Charlene) and Beck (Beckham) have been friends since they were little, an inseparable trio along with Charlie's twin brother Casey. Charlie and Beck even dated for several years until a big breakup in high school. Now Charlie is transferring back to Walker University and reuniting with her twin and with Beck.

This is purportedly a second-chance romance (okay) and lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers (dubious). We don't really see much of their high school relationship and almost none of the breakup. The "enemies" phase lasts for all of five minutes before they're friends again, and bam! they're in bed together pretty darn fast. I guess lust and some out-of-season flowers (seriously, is this kid made of money? buying PEONIES out of season, in fall and winter, in Oklahoma?!) mend all wounds. I wasn't really sure why they broke up and at the end of the book, I still wasn't.
Then there was this huge drama with Charlie's ex roommate Britney that just... dissolved (?). If I understand things correctly, despite knowing Beck for half her entire life, one rando insinuation from Britney about Beck's motives was enough to make Charlie not trust him and break up with him? *side eye* ... honestly, if that is what happened, then I am team Beck all the way. Girl! You know this guy like the back of your hand and ONE WORD from a sketchy girl and you dump him? Sigh.
However, I have to say, it seems like Beck told plenty of people about his mom - Charlie's parents, his coaches, etc. But he couldn't have told Charlie?! Ugh. These two were crap communicators and yessssss I realize they are like 19, 20 years old and that's par for the course but it just made me tired. If they're mature enough to decide "it's time to let things go" with Britney and her mystery drama (81%) then they're mature enough to talk about stuff.

Serviceable NA sports romance. I would have preferred a little more conversation between the MCs, more scenes with just the boys - I think the roommate relationships between Beckham, Casey, Liam and Arch were the highlight of the book for me - and a little more heft to the conflict with the mysterious, nefarious Britney.
⭐⭐1/2 rounded up to 3 for GR.

A solid 4.25 stars from me. The story pulled me in right from the beginning and didn’t let go. The pacing was great, and the characters were easy to connect with. There was just enough drama and emotion to keep things engaging without feeling over the top.

It’s the kind of book you can fly through in a day, and it leaves you feeling satisfied but still thinking about it after. I’d definitely recommend it if you’re in the mood for something emotional and fast-paced.

Huge thank you to the author and NetGalley for the chance to read this early. I received a free copy and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

This sports romance had me hooked from the start. Unfortunately, I lost this a little further in my reading. I think the story could have been shorter.
Beside that, it's a good and emotionnal second chance romance. The tension and the sparks between Charlie and Beck is really good. I enjoyed reading this story and would recommend the book to anyone who loves sports romance with spice!!

A solid 4 stars for me. The story kept me hooked from start to finish, with well-paced writing and good characters. There was just the right amount of tension to keep things interesting
It’s a great choice for anyone looking for something emotional yet quick to get through. Definitely recommend. Thank you so much to the author and NetGallery for giving me the opportunity to read the book in advance, I received this for free and I'm leaving a honest review voluntary

This book was so good, it kept me on my toes. The writing was fantastic and the spice scenes were “chef kiss”. I loved how much spice and drama was this book. I received an advanced reader copy for free and I am writing this review voluntarily. I will definitely be telling all of my friends and family about this book. It’s a 10/10.

There is nothing I love more than a sports romance, and this one delivered! The tension between Charlie and Beck from the beginning was fantastic, and I felt pulled in to the story from the beginning. I cannot wait to see where the rest of the series goes!

A cute and satisfying second-chance romance with the bonus of brother’s best friend and childhood friends tropes. The chemistry worked, all the characters were lovable, and the dynamic felt real. There’s a decent level of spice without overshadowing the story. Definitely looking forward to more from this series.

I loved how Sutton wrote the main characters in this new title. It was fun to read a story about a man chasing after a woman who has been in his life for so long. I felt the romance and the heat! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This was such a sweet and emotional debut. I’m so glad I got the chance to read it! Beck and Charlie had incredible chemistry, and their second-chance romance hit all the right notes. From the moment they were back in each other’s lives, the sparks flew, and it was impossible not to root for them.

Beck may have let Charlie go once, but he’s determined not to make that mistake again. His love for her runs deep, protective, possessive, and completely devoted. Their connection is undeniable, and while the steam is definitely there, so are the feelings, the hurt, and the secrets they still need to face.

I appreciated how the story tackled Beck’s childhood trauma with care. His struggle to open up and let people in felt raw and real, and it added depth to the romance. The miscommunications were frustrating at times, but watching them work through it and grow stronger together made it worth it.

The friendships and found family vibe were such a great addition, and the football scenes were detailed and full of heart, you could really feel the passion behind them. The Walker University setting was fun, and the side characters added so much life to the story. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing more of this world!

A heartfelt, steamy, second-chance, brother’s best friend college romance done right.

romance novel between college football player and his high school sweetheart (now ex) who is his best friends twin sister. conveniently end up living together after a room assignment mishap. poorly written.

Counter Play was such a great college football romance. I typically am not a huge of fan of childhood friends to lovers or second chance, but it was done so well! The main characters and side characters were likable! It was a slow burn but the spicy scenes were done well so well and made the wait worth it! This was a quick read and it flew by quickly. I was thankful that it was not too overly dramatic which is a tendency for some other college-setting romances. I definitely will be recommending this friends to read and can't wait till more of the series come out.

This was an ok read. The spicy scenes were so well described and hot! but the story just felt sooo long and anticlimactic. For a book that is less than 300 pages if took me ages to get through it!
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read and review.

counter play is the first book in the walker university stallions series, and while i didn’t fall head over heels for it, i definitely liked it. it’s a solid college sports romance with a mix of sweet, spicy, and emotional moments that kept me turning the pages, even if i wasn’t totally obsessed. the story follows charlie and beck, who were childhood best friends and clearly always had something more brewing between them. they reconnect in college after years apart, and their bond is still there—but it’s complicated.

i really liked beck. he’s been through a lot, and his quiet, soft side mixed with all that emotional baggage made him feel real. my heart broke for him at several points, especially once everything about his past came to light. charlie was likable too, but i’ll be honest—there were a few moments where she kind of annoyed me. considering how close they were for so long, it didn’t totally make sense that she didn’t know more about his family situation. i get that people keep secrets, but still. some of her reactions just felt a little off.

the romance itself is a mix of second chance, friends-to-lovers, and brother’s best friend, with a bit of forced proximity thrown in. there were definitely cute and steamy moments between them, and their chemistry was there, but i didn’t always feel as emotionally connected to them as i wanted to. sometimes it felt like something was missing, or like their relationship needed just a little more depth.

the pacing was mostly good, though it did slow down in the middle. one thing i really liked was the side characters. casey, noelle, liam, and arch—they all added personality to the story, and honestly, i’m really hoping casey gets his own book next. the college sports angle was fun, and i liked the found family vibes woven in with the friend group and support systems.

overall, this book didn’t completely blow me away, but i still enjoyed it. it had enough emotional weight to balance out the romance, and it touched on some serious stuff like trauma, addiction, and mental health in a way that felt genuine. i’m definitely curious to see where the series goes from here, and i’d read more from ava sutton.

heads up: there are some heavy topics in here—past abuse, alcoholism, grief, and emotional trauma—so keep that in mind before diving in. if you’re into second chances, a little drama, and a lot of heart, you might want to give this one a try.

thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this digital arc in exchange for my honest review!

New romance series! I LOVED this story 💖 It’s a perfect childhood friends to lovers romance that I couldn’t read fast enough. Beck & Charlie are so good for each other and I love how supportive their families are, especially Charlie’s brother. The plot was well defined as were the characters. I’m really looking forward to reading more from this author. It looks like we will get 3 more books and I can’t wait to see which side characters are involved!

A cute, spicy romance with all the tropes: second chance, brothers best friend, sports romance, forced proximity.
Beck and Charlie meet at 10 years old and know right then they they belong together. Beck has a difficult past and hasn't shared a lot of it with Charlie, despite their closeness, which leads to them being separated.
I raced through this and enjoyed the pace of the story. The side characters were great too and the ending leaves us wanting more from the next book. (Which I'm really hoping is Casey's book!)

Quick Summary: A NA college sports romance

My Review: Counter Play by Ava Sutton is book #1 in the Walker University Stallions series. It is scheduled for release on 5/2/25.

About the Book: "In the game of love, it’s hard to level the playing field when your opponent is the one who got away.

Charlie doesn’t want anything to do with me but I’ll be damned if I let her walk out of my life again.

When we’re down to the wire, it’s time to make a counter play and win my girl back for good. "

In My Own Words: Two former best friends turned lovers split and take steps to make their way back to each other.

About the Premise & Hook: The premise of this book was compelling enough to draw my interest. The win or lose scenario did what it does and got my attention. The more I read, the more I wanted to read.

About the Cast of Characters: The setup of characters in this book was done so effortlessly that it was easy to fall in like with them. From the players to the partners, I wanted to know what was what. They were all so interesting, particularly Casey and Noelle, as well as Liam. (It's a toss up tie for fav between Pitz and Arch, actually.)

About the Conflict: There were a number of issues in this story, but the main one concerning Beck was devastating. My heart hurt for him and his family. How do you come back from that? Thank goodness for the love and support that he and his family found.

About the Sports Angle: Go, Stallions!

My Final Say: I really enjoyed this NA romance. There was a lot to it. The story offered sweetness, spiciness, and the bitterness of the sour challenges that come with living life. The characters were charming and relatable. They all seemed to be at an in between stage of life - growing yet still in need of maturation. They did the best they could, under the circumstances. All in all, the ending and the epilogue took it there...to the place of HEA and new beginnings.

I'm totally ready for book #2. Let's go!

Readers who enjoy the following tropes will adore this read:

College Sports Romance
Brother's Best Friend
Close Proximity
Second Chance
Found family
Overcoming Tragedy
Friends to Enemies to Lovers
Dual POV

Other: I appreciated the mental health representation. It was definitely needed. The distinguishable elements were necessary for this story and for those who were involved.

Trigger: Potential readers are advised to read all author & publisher notes related to this book. There is an indication of violence and abuse, as well as alcoholism & addiction.

Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: NA
Status/Level: 💕
Pacing: M
Plot: Character-driven
Triggers: Yes

Appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Compass Press LLC | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles), and to NetGalley. Thank you for providing access to a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest critique. I am grateful for the opportunity to voluntarily share my thoughts and opinions on this title. I look forward to continuing this series, as well as reading more from this writer.

Second chances romance with all the trimmings - childhood sweethearts, brother's best friend, forced proximity, college sports, all woven together. Misunderstandings and mean girls get in the way, but we know there will ultimately be a HEA. A bit more plot than the usual college sports romance, with a subplot of extreme child abuse in the past and it's lasting effects, so keep that in mind for a trigger.

Loved this one! I truly love Beck and that boy deserves the world. I liked Charlie as well but I was a little annoyed with her over a couple of things. After the reveal about his mom I found myself siding with Beck because Charlie seemed so naive. Also, how do you have a childhood friends to lovers type deal and she doesn't know about his mom? Seems like something you would discuss since you have been friends forever. I do really like them as a couple overall and feel like in the end they balance each other out well.

Also, this is so nitpicky and I apologize in advance but do these MC's have jobs? Beck is constantly buying Charlie flowers and those are expensive!

Small issues aside, this was a great spicy romance! Definitely recommend. I'm also looking forward to reading the others in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Compass Press LLC | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ava Sutton is an amazing romance author, this book had me hooked from the start. I love the dynamics between the characters and the way the story played out. I 100% recommend this for anyone looking for a good time with a sports romance.