Review: Winning Bracket by Annabeth Albert
SYNOPSIS:
Originally published as part of the Campus Cravings bundle, Winning Bracket is now available on its own with a BRAND NEW bonus epilogue/short story!
A sexy bet on a basketball tournament challenges nerdalicious Edwin and party-boy Ollie to change their relationship status from frenemies to lovers.
Oliver Marshall has been a sexy pain in Edwin Schultz’s side since freshman year. Now seniors and competing dorm resident advisors, the two are in constant strife over noise levels and study hours. However, deep down, Edwin’s been nursing a painful crush on Ollie for years. When Ollie proposes a bet on a basketball tournament, Edwin seizes the chance to put his inconvenient feelings for Ollie behind him once and for all.
Edwin’s not the only one suffering a case of unwanted attraction—Ollie’s been running from his feelings for Edwin for a long time. He doesn’t understand how someone who drives Ollie so crazy with his adherence to rules can be the same guy who makes his pulse pound. In fact, Ollie’s never been so eager to lose a bet in his life.
As the challenge becomes a hot bedroom battle to avoid real emotions, the two “frenemies” must change their definitions of losing to win a shot at lasting love.
BONUS Epilogue/Short Story, Winning Wedding: When a lost receipt threatens their special day, Ollie and Edwin must wager on finding a solution before time runs out.
REVIEW:
This book sadly missed the mark for me…for a couple of reasons. First, it was plagued with insta-love. Secondly, the story itself was too substantial to be as short as it was. Finally, I really missed all the details that the book could have benefited from if it was longer.
The story starts off with Oliver and Edwin being RAs together during their 4th year of college. They have been stuck together since freshman when their dorms were next to each other and this has fostered a competitive, angsty animosity between them. Edwin has been pining for Oliver all throughout college while Oliver is obsessed with messing around with jocks and athletes. I would have loved to have seen their history together as I think the story could have really benefited from that sort of build up but alas we are only given crumbs here and there.
Then starts out the prelude to be bet…if Edwin wins, he wants a kiss. But suddenly lines begin to blur and the bet takes a wild turn. Honestly, the jump from tolerating each others existence to jumping into bed desperately lacked fluidity. It was like one page, there is endless tension and annoyance and the next they were making out and confessing their love. Which maybe if the story had more history wouldn’t feel so abrupt. But as it, I was like oh, that escalated quickly.
Finally, the build up to sex was also equally as cringy. Like Edwin just blurts out that he wants it randomly after a week of them kissing and getting off. It wasn’t cute or smooth but left me a little uncomfortable and wondering when the story was going to end. Then they begin to share their feelings and I was just confused because they have apparently been arranging this orbiting of each other by separately requesting to RA together…I guess all the tension from early on in the story is no longer a thing?
Then they sail off into the sunset. Not without challenges and difficulties but you know how the ending goes. I just wanted more substance, depth, and build up in the week long whirlwind from enemies to insta-lovers.
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