*I was given an ARC of Score to Settle in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Bookouture Audio and Bella North my copy of the audiobook*
Synopsis:
In high school, he broke her heart—now he’s the famous football player whose image she’s meant to clear. Game on.
NFL superstar Jake Sullivan’s playboy reputation is finally catching up with him. To keep his sponsors happy, he needs to wipe the slate clean—and fast. He’s never backed away from a challenge, so he’s confident he can charm the hotshot city journalist sent to write a glowing piece on him without revealing the real reason behind his behavior.
Harper Cassidy is determined to show the world the real Jake. The one who broke her teenage heart. Pulling up to his (admittedly idyllic) family ranch, Harper steels herself for his ridicule once he realizes who she is. But when his stormy dark eyes and stupidly handsome face give nothing away, her blood boils. He doesn’t even remember her! Her boss wants her feature to convince people he’s a good guy. Yeah, right.
They would both rather be anywhere else, but for the next five weeks they’re stuck with each other. So why does Harper’s heart flutter when Jake offers up his sweatshirt and their hands accidentally brush? Why can’t Jake resist taking Harper to places he’s never shown anyone? And stranger still: supposed playboy Jake hasn’t glanced at a single woman since Harper arrived in his spare room…
They both came into this game determined to win. But somewhere along the way, the rules have started to change…
Review:
Score to Settle was ok. I don’t think I can use a more positive word than just ok. Overall it was a decent read but I didn’t find the story to be very engaging. This was promised to be an ‘enemies to lovers’ book but you can’t be enemies with someone that didn’t even realise you existed until you “got hot”.
I really hate the ‘she’s worthy of love now because she lost weight and wears make up’ trope in romance novels. Jake and Harper kind of knew each other in high school but obviously he didn’t pay any attention to her because he was the star football player and she was the nerdy, frumpy girl with frizzy hair and glasses. Gross. Honestly, it was super creepy that Harper wrote that story/letter about him. I really didn’t like her.
Well, I didn’t really like any characters in Score to Settle. They were one dimensional and their motivations didn’t make sense. Harper agrees to write the piece so she can basically ruin his image further, but why? That seems a little far for someone you think embarrassed you in high school.
Obviously Jake’s very first thought about Harper is how hot she is because what else would a playboy football player say about a woman he’s just met? Honestly, if it was revealed that Jake actually did like Harper in school, I would have been more on board with their relationship, but the whole thing just felt like lust, not love.
The narrators did a pretty good job. I knew this would be a decent production with Andi Arnt as one of the narrators and I can happily say that Sean Masters did a really good job too. If anything, some of his narration was even better. I loved that they both narrated the dialogue in each other’s chapters, it’s so much more immersive. Although, all three brothers sounded the same so it did get a little confusing at times.
I honestly don’t have anything else to say about Score to Settle. I finished the book a couple of weeks ago now and I didn’t have strong enough opinions about what was going on to write notes while reading.
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Like this post? Why not read this one too: Audiobook Review: Misdirected by Lucy Parker
[…] Like this post? Why not read this one too: ARC Review: Score to Settle by Bella North […]