Long Shot: A Slow-Burn, Second-Chance Survivor Romance (Hoops, 1)

This book needs a TRIGGER warning! The DV and SA were overwhelming at times and I didn't know if I'd be able to finish the book. Kennedy is always going to give us a loving, happy ending though so I'm glad I pushed through. I'm now on the fence about reading the others in the series, but I probably will.

Long Shot is not the basketball romance the blurb led me to expect. It is a harrowing story about domestic violence, survival, young motherhood, and healing wrapped inside a love story that often takes a backseat to the trauma. Iris DuPree appears to have landed the fairy tale. She is dating rising NBA star Caleb Bradley and building a future that looks perfect from the outside. Behind closed doors, that dream slowly transforms into a nightmare. Iris finds herself trapped in a dangerous relationship with few options for escape as Caleb's controlling behavior escalates into brutal abuse. August West, another NBA player, enters her life as a source of hope and genuine kindness. Iris's freedom proves far more complicated than simply finding a better man. I found parts of this book incredibly difficult to listen to as a survivor of domestic violence. Kennedy Ryan does not soften the reality of abuse. The manipulation, isolation, fear, and impossible choices Iris faces felt painfully authentic. I wish the blurb had included more explicit trigger warnings because I was not prepared for how graphic and emotionally exhausting portions of this story would be. The portrayal of why leaving an abusive relationship is so complicated is vividly depicted in the story. Iris is intelligent, ambitious, and capable. Yet, she remains trapped for reasons many outsiders struggle to understand. Ryan captures the psychological realities of abuse with compassion and honesty. The novel forces readers to confront the systems and circumstances that make leaving so difficult, rather than asking why a victim stays. I connected with Iris's experience as a young mother. Her postpartum depression felt heartbreakingly real. Iris mourns the career she wanted, the future she imagined for herself, and the timing of motherhood that was taken from her. Her frustration and grief resonated with me because they acknowledge a reality many women experience but rarely discuss openly. Loving your child and grieving the opportunities you lost can exist at the same time. My feelings about the romance were more complicated. August is unquestionably a better man than Caleb. He is patient, supportive, and willing to wait for Iris to heal. He becomes exactly the partner she deserves. At the same time, much of their early connection develops while Iris is enduring horrific abuse. I sometimes struggled with the timing because survival understandably overshadowed any romantic storyline. By the time Iris and August could truly build a relationship, I wanted more scenes showing their life together. I longed for more relationship building moments between August and Sarai. I also wanted more exploration of Iris rebuilding her career after everything she had to put aside to survive. Lotus was one of my favorite characters. Her unwavering support during Iris's darkest moments provided some of the book's most powerful scenes. She helps Iris document the abuse and later confront Caleb. Lotus's support during Iris's escape felt deeply cathartic. Many survivors dream of seeing their abusers face consequences. Ryan delivers Iris's satisfying karma moment without losing sight of the pain that came before it. The audiobook narration was solid, but I struggled with the production choice to have each narrator read entire chapters based on point of view. I would have preferred duet-style narration where each narrator consistently voiced their own character throughout the story. Hearing narrators perform opposite-gender voices during emotionally intense scenes sometimes pulled me out of the story. Long Shot is not an easy read. I would hesitate to recommend it to readers without warning them about the heavy content. Kennedy Ryan delivers a powerful examination of abuse, resilience, and healing for readers prepared for its difficult subject matter. The romance may be what attracts readers, but Iris's fight for freedom is what makes the book unforgettable.

Slow start but it picks up and it was a good read.

Im halfway thru this book and i really like it and damn its heavy if domestic violance abuse r word bothers u then its not the book for you

Love her books! Always empowering. This one does have an explicit act of domestic violence. May not be suitable for some readers. Overall a great read.