I discovered something about myself while reading this book….I really like sports romance! The Friend Zone by Sariah Wilson is the first book in her series End of the Line. Following the story of Logan Hunt, this story will pull at your heartstrings and make even the non-sports fans root for the team.

The Friend Zone opens with Logan getting off the bus in Seattle. He is determined to follow any rules the coach sets for him and not mess up this last chance at his dreams of playing in the NFL. I understood Logan. He comes from the wrong-side of the tracks. Growing up poor and coming from an abusive home left him angry. That anger got him in a lot of trouble when he was finally out on his own. Now he has a second chance and he will not screw it up for anything….even the coach’s daughter.

Jess is fantastic! She can handle her own, but her past keeps coming back to haunt her. When she was a freshman, she was assaulted at a party by her father’s football players. It cost him his job and Jess her confidence and security. Now a few years later, she’s ready to move past it. She’s got a crush on her partner in the math lab and football players are a big no thanks to her dad’s rules. So why is she so attracted to her dad’s new quarterback?

Logan is instantly attracted to Jess, but he knows she’s off limits and not just because she’s the coach’s daughter. The coach has three hard and fast rules: no swearing, no drinking/drugs, no dating. Break them and you’re off the team. Fine, no dating. Logan and Jess can be friends, right? Jess likes Ben the math nerd anyways, and in exchange for helping him with his math grade, Logan can help Jess capture Ben’s attention. Awkward dates and sexual tension ensue as Logan and Jess try to walk a fine line between just friends and something more.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. I love Jess and Logan! Their banter and chemistry ooze off the pages. I found myself smiling most of the story, and when I wasn’t my heart was breaking for them. If you enjoy college romance, sports romance, and off limits tropes, you are in for a treat!

This review first appeared on Mom with a Reading Problem. To see it and other reviews, follow the link.