Do you like some comedy with your romance? A down-on-her-luck heroine just trying to figure out what she wants in life? A drool-worthy hero who’s sweet and sexy?
Do you kind of like soccer?
Then I’ve got the book for you! Fresh from the bookshelf, it’s Rock Bottom Girl by Lucy Score.
At thirty-eight, Marley Cicero finds herself dumped, jobless, and back in her childhood bedroom. It’s the rockiest of bottoms, as her main goal in high school was to escape the small town of Culpepper and live a life with meaning. She’s determined to get out again, but in the meantime accepts a temporary teaching position at her old high school, as well as the job of girl’s soccer coach. Her team hates each other, and her students don’t respect her. What’s a girl to do? Turn to the sexy history teacher who once roamed the school’s halls as the resident bad boy and stole a kiss from her under the bleachers, that’s what. Jake Weston can’t help but be drawn to the pretty new teacher who’s in way over her head. When a desperate situation calls for desperate measures, the two find themselves signing an ethics contract for the school stating they’re in a relationship, and can’t break up until the end of the semester. Jake agrees to help Marley out and be her fake-boyfriend, but there’s a catch: He’ll teach her how to coach, and she’ll teach him how to be in a relationship. It’s the perfect plan…until the line begins to blur between fake and real, and Marley finds herself falling for the job and the guy.
Rock Bottom Girl is one of the most adorable romances I’ve read in a long time. It’s lighthearted, funny, and has just the right amount of tension to keep you turning the page without bogging down the plot. Marley is such a down-to-earth character, anyone struggling to figure out what they want to do with their life can relate to her (which, I’m assuming, is a lot of people). Jake Weston is the perfect balance of fantasy and reality, with fully evolved emotions, real faults (the guy is a slob), and plenty of swooniness to make you blush.
The story doesn’t dive into the romance as quickly as I usually like, but the foundation that is laid leading up to the relationship of the leads adds a layer of authenticity that feels healthy and realistic. It’s clear the author took great care in bringing Jake and Marley together, and wanted them to be fully-fledged individuals before evolving into a couple. Also, I wouldn’t say I was necessarily a soccer fan before reading this book (I wouldn’t necessarily say I am after reading it) but the attention to detail and character development of the individuals on the team draws you in until you’re as emotionally invested in their growth as a group as you are in Jake and Marley’s growth as a couple.
I highly recommend this book, especially to anyone looking for a warm-hearted story that will make you say “ahhhhhhh” one minute, and have you fanning yourself the next. It’s available for Kindle Unlimited, and in paperback (perfect beach read!). It’s cute, fun, and I already want to read it again.
Until next time!
Erin K.