Not too long ago, I read Courtside Crush, the first book in the Varsity Girlfriends series. Yesterday, the second book in this series, Off Center, was released. Thanks to the author for providing me with an ARC to read and review! I loved this book so much and I’m excited to tell you about it!
I knew exactly what I wanted out of my senior year.
A full ride to Northwestern University, the title of American High School Journalist of the year,
and a kiss, not just any kiss, but one from the boy I’ve been in love with since the sixth grade.
By October, my plan was fully in motion with liplock by Christmas eminent. Eminent, that was, until Andie Mercantile moved to Marlowe Junction, swooping both my beat and my man.
Now, I’m stuck writing the sports column—a subject I know nothing about. My goals aren’t unobtainable, but they will take a lot more work. Just because a sports writer has never won journalist of the year before, doesn’t mean it can’t be done. And as for the kissing part, I’m not counting myself out just yet.
After all, maybe learning a bit about competition is just what I need.
Review
Once again, I have to start off by saying how much I love the covers this series has! I need them all in my bookcase! In this case, the story is just as good as its cover. Off Center follows Lane, who has planned her whole senior year! She’s three goals away from a perfect senior year.
Like most cases, her goals don’t go according to plan. Lane thinks all is going according to plan until a new girl moves to town. When she ends up writing the sports column, she sees her dreams fading! She knows nothing about basketball, so how is she going to survive the year?
I know nothing about basketball, so it was fun to learn along with Lane and see how she described things. I think I loved this the most, because in the end it wasn’t even about the sport, but about the players on the team. The author did an amazing job showing us what this sport meant to everyone and how close the team was. Maybe the friendships made are even more important than the sport.
Lane has more on her mind than just the newspaper. There are certain things we don’t learn until later on, but I think she’s stronger than she realizes. I didn’t quite understand why she pushed Andie away until later on, but in the end it made a lot of sense. I love the relationship she has with her mother (it’s awesome her mother writes romance books, haha) and even the problematic relationship with her Dad was relatable. I was really impressed how she solved everything in the end. I hope we read about her more in the next books.
After reading about Jackson in Courtside Crush, I really thought he was be on top for my favorite, but Mackey is giving him a challenge. Mackey was a character that really left a smile on my face! He’s not your typical jock. He’s so sweet!! He cares for his team and will do anything to help them.
The romance in this book was really sweet. It wasn’t instalove and time even passed before Lane realized what was going on. I would’ve loved a chapter from Mackey near the end. He’s definitely on the bookboyfriend list. I can’t wait for the next installment in this series.
I am so excited for the next book in this series!! If you love contemporary books and characters you will come to love, definitely pick up these books!
