Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan (Hoop Series)Book Review by Mariah V - Chapter and Charms

✨ “I’d play you at the five.” ✨

From New York Times bestseller Kennedy Ryan comes a RITA Award-winning romance that has captivated readers with its raw emotion and unforgettable characters. Long Shot isn’t just a love story,it’s a powerful journey of survival, healing, and the kind of love that refuses to give up.

Set against the high-stakes world of professional basketball, the novel follows Iris DuPree and rising NBA star August West. Their instant connection is undeniable, but cruel timing, and Iris’s entanglement with another man, the league’s golden boy who hides monstrous secrets, keeps them apart. What unfolds is a gripping, heartbreaking, and ultimately redemptive story that balances pain with passion and hope.

My Thoughts

One thing Kennedy Ryan never fails to do is pull you straight into your feelings. Long Shot had me hooked from the very first chapter, I devoured it in just two days, only putting it down when my eyes begged me to sleep.

⚠️ Content Warning: This book deals with domestic and sexual abuse. It’s intense, raw, and unflinchingly honest. Please take care of yourself while reading.

Now, let’s talk characters. Falling in love with August West is the easiest thing in the world. He’s everything you want in a romance hero, protective without being overbearing, deeply respectful, and someone who loves with his whole heart. Iris, meanwhile, is strong, ambitious, and resilient. Watching her navigate the nightmare of her relationship with Caleb, the league’s beloved player on the outside but a predator behind closed doors,was both painful and empowering. Kennedy Ryan doesn’t shy away from showing the ugliness of abuse, but she also shows us the strength it takes to survive it.

One of the most powerful moments for me was when Iris texted her cousin Lotus their safe word: “Hopscotch.” My heart was pounding. Despite years of silence after a falling out, Lotus came running, ready to protect Iris after she endured horrific abuse. Their bond was so much deeper than blood,it felt soul-deep. They carried generational trauma, colorism, and family scars, but together, with the guidance of their voodoo healer Mimi, they found healing and strength. Mimi’s presence, rooted in Louisiana culture and spiritual practice, added such a rich, magical layer to the story.

And then there’s August and Iris. Their love felt fated, cosmic, magnetic, like the universe aligned just for them. What I loved most is that August isn’t there to “save” Iris. He simply loves her fiercely, provides safety for her and her daughter, and reminds her of the life and love she deserves. That’s the kind of romance that melts you from the inside out.

When August tells Iris, “If you were mine, Iris, there would be no doubt what position you’d hold in my life. You’d be center. I’d play at the five.”,I had to laugh at myself because I didn’t know much about basketball positions. But even without fully understanding, the meaning was clear: she was his everything. And who wouldn’t want that kind of love?

Final Thoughts

Long Shot is not an easy read, but it is a necessary one. It’s heartbreaking, healing, and hopeful all at once. It shows that trauma does not define you, that survival is possible, and that love can bloom even in the darkest of places. Kennedy Ryan masterfully blends grief, resilience, spirituality, and passion into a story that will leave you gutted and glowing all at once.

💫 Long Shot is more than a romance,it’s a story of survival, healing, and the kind of love that feels written in the stars. If you’re a fan of Kennedy Ryan books, sports romance, or emotional contemporary romance novels, this one is absolutely worth the read.

Why You Should Read 

Long Shot

If you’re searching for:

• Sports romance books with depth and heart

• Emotional slow-burn romance that makes you cry and swoon

• Stories about healing, resilience, and second chances

• A romance hero who is pure book-boyfriend perfection

…then this book deserves a spot on your TBR.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5+ stars!)

I’ll definitely be picking up the next book in the Hoop Series, Block Shot.