I'm loving all the sports romance novels that are around at the moment and Hit Or Miss certainly didn't disappoint. From the very first page I was hooked and I kept reading until the end as I wanted to know what happened. I loved the author's writing style and the pacing was just right. I loved the great mix of characters plus there were some spicy scenes. Overall a brilliant novel that I highly recommend to other readers. I look forward to reading more by the author.
💝 Thank you to HQ Digital/ HQ Stories, the author Elle Kelk and Netgalley for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

To say that I screamed when I get approved for Hit or Miss would be an understatement. But it's the only suitable and apt reaction because your favourite rom com author wrote a college romance under a new pen name. WHICH MEANS it's going to be amazing AND spicy.

Hit or Miss follows the story of Mia Meyers who works her ass off to get a place in the most prestigious (and fictional) Hemden College and takes it as an opportunity to reinvent herself in college. And escape her overbearing parents and her life back in South Carolina. What she doesn't know is that she's not the only from home at Hemden. Enter Ethan Taylor, star soccer (I mean football, because Jenna would bludgeon me) player who mysteriously enrols at Hemden following an "incident".

When I say I devoured this, I meant it. What's not to love about a college romance with the classic Kelk wit and humour and a wonderful cast of characters? I was locked in from the first page and lost myself in the story. Hit or Miss is a tale of self-discovery, friendship and love that's full of heart and sprinkled with the right amount of spice and sass.

Firstly thank you Netgalley for an early copy of in this fab story.

This is the first in a new series by Elle Kelk set in the historic grounds of the fictional Hemden college .

We meet two exchange students Ethan and Mia who are both spending their third year abroad in the UK. They both attended Marshall College back in the USA but moved in very different circles .

Ethan was very popular and the Captain of the soccer team. Mia was nicknamed ‘The librarian’ by Ethan’s ex girlfriend and best friend- and was never on his radar . She knows of him but not to talk to . Ethan suddenly realises who Mia is but only knows her by the nickname his ex girlfriend gave her. They end up having their Dorm rooms next to each other in the college Halls. Ethan can’t understand why this girl he’s never really engaged with is so hostile to him.

As you can imagine Mia wants to shake off her quiet image and enjoy her year where nobody can judge her. Ethan is hiding a secret and his real reasons for being in the UK which are very different to Mia’s.

This is such a fab story and shows how the tables are turned when Mia finds her people. Ethan starts to reflect on his mistakes and the more he sees Mia the more he falls for her.

There is a love triangle with the very unlikeable Oliver which is a great part of the story. Mia is torn between the mysterious Oliver and Ethan . She is off course very cautious as Ethan was never in her social circle and this change in him is quite a shock to her.

This is such a touching college romance story- and both Ethan and Mia find it takes them to cross an ocean in order to start to get to know each other. There are spicy moments 🌶️ but also real sweet ones with Ethan not being the school jock but just himself.

A very easy 5 stars from me and really look forward to the next instalment of this series.

This book gave me all the feelings! Ethan as the MMC made my heart melt constantly throughout and I liked that he and Mia weren't instantly all over each other as their relationship felt much more natural, and I loved the amazing friend group Mia found, we all need a friend like Alice <3

This was such a fun and addictive read. It has that perfect mix of college romance chaos, tension filled banter, and a surprising amount of emotional depth underneath all the flirting and sparks. I finished it with a huge smile and a soft spot for Ethan and Mia.

What a gut wrenching five-star read. This was just a great story for anyone who has felt like their life hasn’t gone the way they wanted to, those who didn’t feel as popular as others, or as pretty. This was nicely done at showing us the grass isn’t always greener, and sometimes the opposite isn’t what we expect. I love how Mia grew into herself. This is a story about younger people, and they do have aspects of immaturity, but they also show us what passion is and how we need to grow into ourselves before we grow into each other.

Well I loved this 💖 When I heard that Elle was bringing out a spicy sports romance, I was excited and Hit or Miss didn’t disappoint!

Mia and Ethan have both transferred from South Carolina to the elite British Hemden University. One is the captain of the football (soccer to him) and the others is an English Lit major. For both of them this transfer is an escape, somewhere to start again.

But not everything from their pasts can, or should be escaped. As they find their way in the UK, can they also find their way to each other?

Hit or Miss has the slow burn and the swoon I love in a romance - with lots of M&S references that are essential for us Brits. I also loved connecting with Elle more in this book - you can feel that this is a special story for her and I’m so happy that it’s coming out into the world.

⚽ 💖 📚

4.5 rounded up! Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ohhhh here we are, a delicious college sports romance! I was so excited to pick this one up, this genre is absolutely catnip for me.

Mia arrives at Hemden University (an Oxbridge stand-in) from Marshall College, South Carolina, ready for a fresh start. She felt like a nobody back at home, no friends to speak of, overbearing parents..she was in a rut. Now she has the freedom to be who she wants to be, if she could just work out who that is.

Coincidentally, football (soccer) phenom Ethan Taylor is also arriving at Hemden University from Marshall College, as a form of punishment following a tragedy back home. Mr Popular recognises Mia, but she is all too familiar with his reputation. Before long they can’t keep their eyes off each other, and it turns out this fresh start is just what they both need.

This was so sweet, and wow was Mia one of the most relatable characters I have ever had the pleasure of reading about. I am her, she is me. This sweet, innocent, anxious little lamb has the weight of the world on her shoulders and it was absolutely lovely to see her come into her own and finally find her people! She was just my perfect little romantic bookish soulmate!

“nothing sets my heart racing like foiled boards and fancy spredges” - same girlie.

“None of my beloved books, not even Shakespeare’s sonnets or love songs, could have prepared me for this moment. This is love at first sight, it has to be. Shit. My most loathed of tropes, slapping me right in the face.”

Ethan’s story was so sad, he was facing a particularly unique brand of eldest sibling trauma and my heart broke for him. He was such a cinnamon roll, and it makes total sense that someone like Mia would be exactly who he needed. And he was everything she didn’t know she needed too, ugh my heart 💕

Oliver gave me the ick IMMEDIATELY. Jenna coming in hot with the truth bomb “Blonds are always evil, we should’ve known.” Preach!!

I did feel personally attacked at one point, when Mia points out that Temple of Doom was released TWENTY YEARS before she was born…insert Jamie Lee Curtis “I’m old” gif here.

You could feel how much of herself the author put into this book, especially with Mia’s character. The dedication set the tone with this immediately:

“For all the bookish girls who thought they would never find their people or their place. You are exactly where you’re meant to be.” 🖤🖤🖤🖤

Please pick this up if you love a college romance, any of the following tropes - forced proximity/friends to lovers/reformed rake/he falls first and harder, want a cute, spicy story filled with hope and great mental health representation!

I love Elle Kelk and I am so excited for this new upcoming book! I enjoyed reading it immensely and I know readers will as well. It was fun watching Mia & Ethan adjust to life across the pond and find love and each other along the way! So gals this is going to be part of a series

LOVED IT!!!I
Elle Kelk — the pseudonym of rom-com queen Lindsey Kelk — delivers another feel-good story that never fails to leave a smile on your face. Her writing feels fresh, funny and effortlessly romantic, with just the right balance of heart and heat.
Mia and Ethan both escape the same small American hometown to start over at a UK university — but while Mia knows all about Ethan and his reputation, he has no idea who she is. Ethan is running from a traumatic event: a tyrannical father, a passive mother, a wheelchair-bound brother and a relationship that suddenly ended . Mia, meanwhile, is determined to shed her old identity as “the librarian” and step out from under the watchful eyes of her overprotective parents.
When they end up sharing halls and moving in the same social circles, sparks inevitably fly. It’s the ultimate jock-meets-quiet-girl romance — heart-warming, swoony, with a pinch of spice and even a second love interest to keep things deliciously complicated.
A sure-fire hit. I can’t wait to read more from Elle!

It wouldn’t be a Lindsey Kelk book without multiple Taylor Swift and Percy Pig references. Even writing under a pseudonym, her signature style that I love so much through with just some added smut (yessss add more smut next time)!

What I didn’t expect from Hit Or Miss was to be crying my eyes out after getting hot and bothered, and I love a book that can do both! Hating one love interest while rooting for the other, this is a perfect college romance.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy, can’t wait for the next book in the series!!

Lindsey is one of my favourite writers. She’s incredibly witty and her characters are always very human and therefore flawed which in turn makes their stories not just believable, but so relatable. She also has knack for writing beautiful female friendships that I’m always a little jealous of. Her venture into college romance is no exception. Her sparkling humour shines through immediately and I was laughing out loud by page 3. Both our main characters, Mia & Ethan, have been shaped by their family dynamics and see their time at Hamden as a new start. However they discover they didn’t need to change who they are, just the way they see themselves. Ms Kelk is not usually a spicy writer but, as it turns out, she does that spectacularly too. PS Oliver was written so well that every time he came on to the page I raged and just wanted to hit him with his own guitar.

Heartwarming and sweet with a gentle angst and tension, I loved reading this book and related to the main character "Mia" so much.

I was really intrigued by the thought of one of my long term favourites, Lindsey Kelk, writing under a pseudonym about a college romance? Does reading get any better than this??

Mia is an exchange student from the US, over to start college at a traditional English university. She’s hoping to restart her life away from an over bearing family and an impolite nickname. So what could be worse than bumping into Ethan, super jock and man about campus who has also joined the program? And what will occur as a result?

Well suffice to say I am seated for book 2. Please. Wherever you are ready Elle. Thank you

Wow! I did not expect that!!!
When I was giving the chance to read this book in advance of publication, I read the blurb and thought ‘I’m definitely not the target audience for this book, as a woman of a certain age, who tends to read murder, police procedural interspersed with the odd romantic comedy,’. However ………..I’m a big fan of Lyndsey Kelk’s rom/com books so I thought I’d give this book, written under her pseudonym a go.
I’m so glad I did!! If you are thinking the same………..don’t dismiss this book, it’s a great read.
The book is set in a University in England, where Mia, from South Carolina, USA has a place as a foreign student. She hopes to reinvent herself and is dismayed when she discovers another student from her college is also at Hemden University. He’s Ethan, a bit of soccer star back in Marshall where his girlfriend Breanna was a nemesis for Mia, having christened her ‘The Librarian’ - a nickname she was homing to have left behind when she got on the plane to England.
The storyline reeled me in straight away and frankly kept me page turning right to the end.
As with all this author’s books, the humour is most definitely there and had me chuckling all the way through.
The storyline is cleverly written and although I guessed the twist, that didn’t detract at all from the book. The main protagonists Mia and Ethan are such well written and likeable characters but there are a wealth of supporting characters like Alice and Jenna who are also well written and I suspect might well feature in future books in this series.
The story is quite steamy in parts and those parts are well written and on point too……..although I did find myself wondering when 20yr old boys like Ethan got such sexual expertise?? They certainly didn’t have it in my day! 😂
I will most definitely look out for the sequel!
My thanks go to the author, the publishers and NetGalley for an advance reader copy of this book.

Absolute perfection. No Notes.

I loved the enemies to lovers trope. I really enjoyed the friendship group (Oliver aside) and I loved a HEA <3

As a massive fan of Lindsey Kelk I was really grateful to be accepted to read this and share an honest review.

Writing under a new pseudonym of Elle Kelk, this book follows Mia and Ethan, 2 US college students who come to the UK to study for a year at Hemden University for a year. It is packed full of romance, uni drama and a bit of spice.

Really well written and I always appreciate the humour of this authors writing, and the real-life culture references.

Certainly worth a read and I am looking forward to the next one!

So, having read all of the ‘I Heart’ books years ago, I absolutely leapt at this one. And I’m so glad I did. A college read, a bit coming of age and a lot of romance, this was easy to read, easy to get into and hard to put down. Can’t wait for the next one.

**Book Review: *Hit or Miss* by Elle Kelk**

Thank you to HQ Stories for providing me with an advance reading copy via NetGalley.

I was incredibly excited to discover that Lindsey had introduced a new pen name, and after seeing all the teasers, I couldn’t resist applying for this ARC — and I’m so glad I did, because it absolutely did not disappoint.

Mia, the female lead, is such a relatable and well-crafted character. There’s something so authentic about her that makes it impossible not to root for her. I found myself completely invested in her journey from start to finish.

Ethan is equally compelling — a genuinely likeable character with so much depth. I really appreciated how his personality and actions added to the emotional core of the story.

One of my favourite aspects of the book is the friendship group. I always love seeing strong, supportive friendships in stories, and given Mia’s transition to a new school, it was especially enjoyable to watch her find her people in such a natural and heartwarming way.

Without giving away any spoilers, the character development throughout this story is outstanding. The growth — both individually and collectively — is powerful and adds real substance to the narrative.

I’m thoroughly enjoying seeing Elle Kelk step into the sports romance genre — I am absolutely here for it and can’t wait to see what comes next.

---

Side note : wouldn't class this as erotica

5 ⭐️♾️
 
Thank you to Rachel Quin, HQ and HarperCollins UK for the e-ARC of Hit or Miss in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

I actually cannot thank Rachel enough for inviting me to read Elle Kelk, Lindsey Kelk's pen name, and upcoming release of Hit or Miss, because I ATE THIS UP!!!! OMG, OMG, this was so, so good. I was addicted; it was spectacular, give me 14 more of them, right now!!

Ahhhhm I literally love this so much, I could not put this down since I picked it up, it's easily one of my favourite reads of 2026!! 💖🎓

Mia is excited to start at Hemden College, in the UK, and for a much needed fresh start. Ethan is also starting at Hemden College, and is starting over too, but for reasons that are undisclosed. What Mia isn't expecting is for Ethan to be at Hemden, too; he's the boyfriend of the girl who made her life a living hell, and she isn't about to let him derail her fresh start. And Ethan can't help want to lean on a familiar American in a new place.

They're at an unavoidable crossroads, but they are both navigating settling into a new place and country, and come to some sort of truce; after all they're having to share a wall, as they're roomates.

I absolutely loved Mia and how determined she was to wanting to try new things, and step out of her comfort zone and make new friends. Equally, I loved Ethan, too. I loved how things developed between them, their insane chemistry, and watching how hard Ethan fell for Mia, how he got jealous over Oliver, I ABSOLUTELY LOVEEEEED IT!! There is nothing I love more than a jealous mmc!!

I also loved the insight into them both, as I got to know them better, and their lives in the US, Mia and her over protective parents, and why Ethan was even at Hemden, omg bless, my heart broke for him and his brother, but I'm so, so glad that they were able to patch things up between them.

Ugh, I'm literally obsessed and in my feels about this incredible book, I love it so much!! I cannot wait for more from this series and what Lindsey has in store under her pen name, Elle Kelk! 💖