HOOK SHOT by Kennedy Ryan
You know those romance novels that affect you so deeply you still think of them months or years later? Hook Shot is one of those for me. It was the first Kennedy Ryan book I ever read and a revelation in how a romance novel can tackle deep trauma but remain powerfully uplifting.
Its heroine, Lotus DuPree, is a larger than life goddess of a woman wrapped in a tiny, tattooed package. Fierce, funny & captivating, she's made a prominent place for herself in the design world and owns every room she walks into with the force of her charisma.
She's surrounded by remarkable women with whom she's developed deep, rich relationships. Her friends are funny and loving, equally supportive whether in raucous, bawdy discussions of her sex life or in quiet expressions of solidarity as she grapples with hard truths. She's also gifted with a wise, magical grandmother and a fiercely loyal cousin. The bond between them is a gorgeous portrait of strength born of unconditional love.
Lotus has built a beautiful life for herself, but she's also grappling with serious trauma from her past. She's determined to focus on herself and confront the wounds creating a sense of emptiness in her intimate relationships. The beautifully real way the book covers this painful but ultimately inspirational journey is a celebration of grit, tenacious self-examination, compassion and our remarkable capacity to heal.
Coming up with a hero worthy of Lo is a feat, but Ryan pulls it off in Kenan Ross. A warrior on the basketball court, he's a man of rare sensitivity and integrity off it. Recently divorced, he's working hard to maintain a decent parenting relationship with his cheating ex and is as dedicated to prioritizing the needs of his troubled young daughter as Lotus is to working on herself.
These very real obstacles juxtaposed with their undeniable attraction make for a hot, slow slide into ever deeper intimacy. Humor, forthright conversation, steadfast gentleness and breath stealing sexual tension eventually tip them from rare friendship into a magnificent, incendiary love affair with the most earned of HEAs.
It's a true masterpiece of a book.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
* While I found the issues to be addressed with great sensitivity, this book will not be for every reader. Please take care of yourselves. Content warnings included below.
“Too often religion says yes, I do have all the answers, and if you don’t like them, you can’t sit at my table. So we have all these tables. Too many tables, and not enough love.”
“I don’t kiss my friends.”
”Good. Then when you kiss me, I’ll know you want to be more than just my friend.”
“You populate my dreams. They are rich with the scent of you. Your heart is on my pillow, and I taste you in my sleep.”
CWs: child sexual assault on page in flashback, unrelated child suicide attempt by secondary character
