The Striker: The Instant #1 Sunday Times Bestseller

"She's the only woman he wants and the only woman he can't have " Though I don't agree with it cz he had her quite easily. I loved the story as well as Scarlett and Asher's chemistry but I'm already in love with Vincent ( and idk why tf) but can't wait for Vincent to come in action

This is the first book in Ana Huang’s new sports romance series-Gods of the Game, and it is filled with searing passion, redemption, and some great emotional depth and healing. The book follows Asher Donovan, a star footballer known for his skill and reckless reputation, and Scarlett DuBois, a former prima ballerina whose career ended abruptly after an injury. When certain circumstances forces the two to work together, sparks fly and we see what began as forced proximity slowly turn into something beautiful and deeper between them. What really stood out to me was the way the author blended two very different worlds i.e. football and ballet, showing us how both require discipline and passion. The rival’s sister trope was also perfectly executed and Scarlett’s journey of recovery and resilience along with Asher’s character development gave me all the feels. That said, the pacing does slow down in a few places and some sections felt a bit stretched, but that’s just my take. Overall, I enjoyed the book, so if you’re into angsty, slow-burn sports romances with strong character growth and some redemption+healing, then this one’s definitely worth picking up.

The book's condition is excellent...must buy

1. Asher calling Scarlet as "Darling" 2. Justice for Pluto 3. Blackcastle Brotherhood Camaraderie ☆Same Plot with a different Setting☆ I had high hopes for this book, but sadly, the only thing that kept me hooked was my curiosity about whether it would ever pick up the pace. Thankfully, halfway through the book, plot looked interesting enough to keep me engaged and not add it into my DNF list. ☆Plot Summary☆ The story follows the classic ' Forbidden Love ' arc, with a setting swap that seemed to promise a fresh take on the formula. However, much of it felt like a rehash of the author’s previous work, with a setting change that didn't add much to the core of the story. However, the second half of the book can be called a saving grace as it had some character building. Again, the breakup scene looked forced as if it was added just because the author wanted to add it but not all required. Somehow, it got related to some heart touching realizations which added up to the drawbacks. But, I haveto mention that the brotherhood that the Blackcastle teammates showed towards each other was adorable. And don't get me started with the "Blackcastle Book Club". That was sooo hilarious. ☆The Pacing and Breakup Drama☆ The pacing left a lot to be desired. There were sections that felt like they dragged on without contributing much to character development or the plot. And the breakup? It felt completely forced—like it was included just to add drama, but it didn't feel authentic to the characters or the relationship. ☆Characters☆ The characters, unfortunately, didn’t shine as much as I hoped. Scarlett and Asher had potential, but they didn't really develop as much as I wished them to. Anyway, Asher calling Scarlett "Darling" got me blushing so hard. It wasn’t the intimate scenes that left me blushing throughout the book. It was Asher calling Scarlett "Darling" was soo cute and very romantic. ☆Final Thoughts☆ This book might still appeal to readers who love slow-burn romances or enjoy a familiar storyline, but for me, it missed the mark. The pacing issues, forced breakup, and lack of chemistry between the leads left me feeling more frustrated than satisfied. ☆Would I recommend it?☆ If you’re a fan of the And Huang's previous works and enjoy slower-paced, dramatic love stories with a predictable structure, you might find some enjoyment here. But for anyone looking for fresh romance with strong character development, you might want to skip this one.

Worth it

5/5 stars yess !! I loved the book so much nd what's more I got the deluxe edition with a character art in it nd original book ,loved it tq amazon

Very good quality and story

I love it

Estaba segura que odiaría a Asher y se convirtió en uno de mis personajes masculinos favoritos de Ana Huang.

i love the book itself but it did not come as the deluxe edition as stated in the product title… the deluxe edition has the picture on the cover of the book but mine does not.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Prêt a entrer dans une era de sport romance avec la nouvelle saga « Gods of the Game » de @anahuang entre un joueur professionnel de foot en première League et une ancienne ballerine ? ⚽️🩰 Et quoi de mieux pour ça que de poser nos bagages à Londres 🇬🇧 Il s’agit d’un tournant par rapport à ce qu’a pu écrire Ana. Et qu’est-ce que j’ai adoré ce premier tome. Honnêtement je n’ai absolument rien à redire, toutes les cases ont été pour moi cochées. La plume d’Ana est toujours aussi additive, et la nouvelle dimension qu’elle a apporté aux personnages d’Asher et Scarlett en abordant des thèmes importants notamment sur la santé mentale est si justement traité. J’ai ressenti toutes les difficultés à exercer un sport de haut niveau, la pression, le besoin constant de se dépasser au risque de négliger sa santé physique et mentale. Asher et Scarlett sont devenus leur bouée de sauvetage réciproque, mais aussi pour apprendre à prendre soin d’eux mêmes. Scarlett et Asher sont hyper attachants et leur première rencontre a été si drôle. Leur proximité forcée est un régal et les voir ressentir une attraction si forte sans oser la franchir est dingue. Leurs séances d’entraînements et moment à deux m’empêchaient de poser mon livre. Le talentueux joueur de foot Asher Donovan est une chose, mais l'humain, l'homme, Asher, c'est quelque chose d’autre… Je veux dire quel genre d'homme te demande officiellement en personne d'aller à votre premier date ? 😮‍💨🤌 Et la scène du match, le voyage à Tokyo leur officialisation sont ✨ OMG 🥹 mais c’est aussi des cicatrices invisibles… Scarlett est humaine, attentionnée et déterminée. Malheureusement elle a subit un grave accident qui a brisé sa carrière. Alors comment passer à autre chose ? Elle est si juste et toujours prête à s’investir pour ceux qu’elle aime. Je l’ai trouvé si forte, courageuse et rempli de sagesse. Alors forcément, Asher & Scarlett ensemble ça ne peut que fonctionner. Et je suis la première à être leur plus grande fan 😍 p.s : Le premier épilogue est un fou rire 🦖

Good condition recommend it

This book is the easiest 5 stars ever. Ana Huang is one of my fav authors ever and every single book she writes, she just continues to amaze me and prove me right. The Striker is her debut into a sports romance and what an incredible debut that was. I’m continuously amazed at Ana’s writing and story-telling. The story between Scarlett and Asher is absolutely perfection. I’m having a hard time put into words how much I love them and their story. Asher and Scarlett chemistry is off the charts amazing. And while I loved their relationship, one of my favourite things about this book was how much we got to actually know the characters. They are incredibly well developed and you almost feel that they are real (please don’t tell me they aren’t). I felt so connected to Scarlett in a way that it feels so so real. I practiced ballet since I was 3 years old for 23 years and I could totally see myself in Scarlett’s shoes. Between incredible characters - not just Scarlett and Asher - but the other characters that you get to know, you just know that this series is going to be an amazing one. Ana Huang is truly setting up for yet another successful series with Gods of the Game. And then we have the spice. And let me tell you that the spice is absolutely spicy in this one!!! Ana Huang and mirror scenes are a thing right? Also, we got to see lots of crumbs from other characters in her series and every time a character was mentioned my heart warmed a little bit more. The Anaverse truly feels like home. Can’t wait for everyone to read this book and fall in love with Asher and Scarlett. And beware because you are going to fall in love with Asher Donovan and you’ll have a even harder time to pick your fav book boyfriend written by Ana Huang. Thank you Ana Huang for the ARC for this book.