This read is not easy or light, but it very importantly talks about taking back your own body after someone has been forcefully taking it for so long.

MAJOR trigger and content warnings for a lot of graphic rape, stalking, being trapped, and a lot of very graphic physical, emotional, and mental abuse. I understood where she was coming from with her past with her mom as well as her past with Caleb, but I didn't like how she treated the H or behaved at times.I fell in love with Iris "Gumbo", an ill-fated girl, who tried so hard to believe in her love and family, just for the sake of her daughter. None for Caleb, the obvious villain of the story, parading his girlfriend/prize to spite his nemesis. I knew I’d go back to it because, if I know anything about this author’s writing, Author Kennedy Ryan always offers redemption in her books.

Ok, I need to stop here because I could spend all day re-reading and sharing all the highlights I have of all the delicious things that came from August. Before I get into it, I have to warn readers that this book has sensitive themes that may trigger some. Their chemistry was cosmic in nature, capturing the universe in its grasp and making the skies light up each time they crashed into each other with explosive force. This book did open some wounds for me, the ones I left behind long ago, but it definitely strengthened my belief in women being the stronger sex, esp when they have their backs to the wall and their kids hiding behind them.

I found this book brought an amazing insight and was written with great graphic detail into domestic violence and not only is it about physical but it also can have significant mental abuse. Kennedy Ryan does not shy away from showcasing what it means to be in an abusive relationship, both physical and emotional. But like I said, it truly did get better towards the middle and I really enjoyed how the author incorporated elements of humor, suspense, sports and romance all in one to create this phenomenal piece of writing!

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average.

If you are in the right mindset, and are looking for a good romance, I completely recommend Long Shot, and I anticipate it making many people’s best of 2018 lists. We have majority of the book with them not together, them getting together but the h is pushing away, some suspense, and then it's over. And August is a standup guy and understands, until he realizes the next night at his game that Iris is dating his childhood nemesis. First and foremost, I really want to emphasize that this is a book about abuse and what it is like to be in a very dangerous and abusive relationship. As their encounters solidify a connection too strong to deny and yet Iris’ circumstances too dangerous to leave.