As a big fan of contemporary books, I knew I was going to need to read the Varsity Girlfriends series. I’ve already read and reviewed Courtside Crush and Off Center and loved them! Today is the release day of the third book in this series, Rebound Boyfriend. Once again, a big thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC to read and review!
I am 100%, completely, totally over Jeremiah.
After all, he’s the one who dumped me.
For my best friend.
Via text message.
2 days before Christmas.
So I did what any self-respecting head cheerleader would do: I started dating his teammate. Who’s great. Really.
But now Jeremiah keeps looking at me like he misses holding me just as much as I miss being in his arms. And we’ve been paired up for the most important history project of my entire life.
Can my heart survive this? Or should I hope for another shot with the only boy I’ve ever loved?
Rebound Boyfriend is a sweet second chance sports romance you’ll swoon over instantly. It’s the third book in the Varsity Girlfriends series.
Review
Just like the previous two books, this book follows one of the starting five on the boys’ basketball team and one of the girls in this highschool as well. If you’ve read the first two books, I am happy to tell you, we do get a glimpse of the characters we came to love in those! Even though every book is a standalone, I love getting a little glimpse of the other characters.
Rebound Boyfriend follows Sammi, who was dumped by her boyfriend right before Christmas. To make matters worse, he broke up with her to be with her best friend. Not only that happens to her, but her life at home was turned upside down and it feels like she has no one in her corner.
In all honesty, I had a hard time with Sammi in the beginning. She’s a cheerleader and the captain of the team, so she does have to keep everything up for the team. Even though her heart may not be in it. In all honesty, I couldn’t understand why she’d still want a guy who broke up with her through a text message and chose to be with her best friend. I get that she really cared about him, but no one should be treated that way.
Her best friend Staci is quite the interesting one. I like how much she’s there for Sammi, even though the advice to have a rebound boyfriend even if she doesn’t like him, wasn’t exactly really smart. To use someone like that is just so wrong. Other than that, she definitely was a supportive friend! When she started realizing what she was doing was wrong in a way, she definitely grew as a character.
Just like Staci, Sammi really changes during this book. I think the way high school is these days it was very realistic in many ways. I loved how Sammi starts seeing she may not have been right in what she was doing and that is was up to her to feel stronger. Sammi seeing herself as an independent person I think was a big thing. We shouldn’t feel the constant need to be in a relationship. Especially one that makes you unhappy.
I can’t talk too much about everything that goes on with Jeremiah, because by doing so it would spoil most of the book, haha. The angst and drama surrounding their relationship/friendship was a bit too much at times and I think it would’ve been better for the book if the big secret was revealed a bit sooner. In the end, I really liked Jeremiah, but I would’ve liked to have had more time with him in this story. If that makes any sense.
Even though I had some issues with Rebound Boyfriend, I still really did enjoy Sammi’s story. This is a series you can’t put down and I just needed to know how things would continue. Rebound Boyfriend is an amazing example that things can change and may not always be as they seem. I was happy with how everything worked out in the end and I can’t wait for the next book in this series!
If you’re looking for a cute YA sports romance, I really suggest picking up this series. Basketball plays a big part in the lives of these characters, but in an interesting way. It doesn’t take over the rest of the story, but it’s the perfect fit. What are some of your favorite YA sports romances?
