I’m gonna admit that I am not quite sure what to rate this due to the excess language at times. But otherwise it was great. One thing that I have comment on is the FMC’s love for her child. It was so heartwarming.

Genre: ya contemporary, sports romance
Age: older young adult/new adult
Series/Standalone: series. I read as a standalone but it is probably best to read the prior books.
Tropes: single mother
Content: FMC has a daughter that was born after rape, some intense kissing but it doesn’t go further, MMC comes across father having affair, language
Rating: 4/5 Stars ( )

I knew I would enjoy Brady and Riley's story because I have loved Brady from the beginning, but I had some issues with the storyline. The whole Uncle Boone thing seemed to come out of nowhere for me. He seemed like such a stand-up and loyal man in the first book and his indiscretion kind of blindsided me. Maybe that's what Abbi was going for? I guess it can happen that way in real life. Either way, it broke my heart. I also had issues with Rhett. Why does he make an appearance at the end? Again, it seemed to come out of nowhere and didn't really add anything to the story for me. I wanted some justice... A heartfelt apology.. A swift kick to his balls... Something. I don't know. I also hated the ending. It seemed like the distance thing didn't get resolved. I would have loved an epilogue into the future so we could see where everyone was. I want to see where the whole gang ends up. Overall, I really liked the story, but some areas just fell flat for me. Maybe it's because I loved West and Maggie's story so much? I'm not sure. I have loved all of Abbi Glines' books, so I am hoping the next one ties everything in a pretty bow for me. I would love to see where everyone ended up. ( )

I am sorry the series has now ended. I loved Brady and Riley in this one. It was not to see the other characters from the last two books with them. Would recommend to all. ( )

This has been my favorite book of the series so far. It built on the first two and I liked that we still saw the other couples, but Brady and Riley are my favorite couple. Riley was raped by the town golden boy and no one believed her. She now has a daughter and is trying to make the most of her situation. Brady thought everything was going great, until he realizes people aren't always the perfect facade they put on.
The way Brady treats Riley and her daughter is so sweet. He's a good son and friend and he has a future laid out. Riley has let things go and moved on in a way a lot of people wouldn't be able to. They are both resilient and stronger together. The narration for the audiobook was great and I really enjoyed listening to this. ( )

Loved this book, I really enjoy this series, it's just good old fashioned YA. definitely 14 for language, there is no sex, but obviously with the topic there is alluding to, and even that is glossed over. it's almost wholesome. The story kept me up until 2 Am reading, I couldn't put it down. Some times you just need these sweet ya romances to make you take stock of your life. told in dual pov. ( )

This is a fantastic series that helps you believe in yourself right along with the characters. It helps you gain a strength from inside that could be hard to find. So far every book in the series has built very strong characters that have had to grow and change from very tough or complicated issues in their lives. Each story touches on something that can happen to anyone. Previous books showed us a character grow past a family death, another that dealt with a teen suicide, and all the while these characters manage to find best friend and love. I think this is an excellent series and as I am invested three books in, I will be continuing to follow if there are more.

This book has the PERFECT TITLE and Cover to go with this storyline to date. Not just for this book for Brady and Riley but the teammates and girls to this point. You definitely can read this a stand alone and understand everything that has happened in this world. However, I would recommend reading from the beginning because Brady has changed so much from the start of the series with how he handled his cousin Maggie entering his life. Granted he was just a side character in the first and second book, he was a constant character so reading the whole series to the same feeling I did at the end of this is a MUST. What I mean by that is that at the end of this book, you feel complete. This could end as a trilogy and it would make sense and you would be happy with how everything turned out for these friends. It leaves you looking forward to their future and what could be to come for them. I am not just writing like I am in fan girl mode. I am a mother, and this is a series I wouldn't mind my daughter if she were a teen to read. I would have confidence that it would positively affect her.

About the book itself and Not the series, this was a wonderful way for the good ole boy Brady to finally get a clue to how the world really works. While he is getting to know Riley and how harshly this town has treated it begins to change him. It's like someone is peeling one of those painful face masks off. You know the ones that leaving you with this burning, searing hurt, but after you heal you feel fresh and renewed. Like that one thing can turn you into a completely new person. That is exactly how the chain of events in this book affect Brady. Riley also goes through a decent change from being completely closed off to the world so that her painful past won't happen again. She can't live like she did before and let this town hurt her again, especially because that would hurt her little daughter. Things change for her though, and she learns to be a friend again, and to have a friend and how much that could mean for her and her baby.

This was an amazing book, that came with new relateable struggles for these teens in this town. I have enjoyed reading about them so far, and again, I look forward to the future for them. This is a book series that I without a doubt would read over and over again. It can help you get over a very tough situation because it helps remind you that someone might have it worse, and maybe you need someone to help you get through that. And that it is ok to need someone.

I was so blessed to get an ARC copy of this book from the publisher. I couldn't be more thankful to read this beautiful story. ( )

************SPOILERS - SPOILERS - SPOILERS - SPOILERS - SPOILERS - SPOILERS************
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After the Game is book #3 in Abbi Glines' Field Party Series and follows Brady and Riley's story. While I enjoyed the book very much my favorite in this series continues to be Book 1 - Maggie and West's story.

Summary:

Brady Higgens is the golden boy of Lawton, Alabama. He comes from a good family and has never experienced any real hardships in his "perfect" life. He is the star quarterback of the high school football team and is very well liked and respected by his team members, coaches, teachers and the people of Lawton.

Riley Young was a good girl. She was well liked and was friends with Brady and his crew. That all changed when Riley accused Rhett Lawton of rape. Rhett was popular and loved in his community. As a result, nobody believed Riley causing her to leave Lawton only to return two years later to help her parents care for her sick grandmother. However, the night of the rape changed Riley's life in many ways. Riley didn't just return to Lawton with her parents, she returned with her daughter Bryony.

On his way home one night during a rain storm, Brady sees Riley walking with Bryony and gives them a ride home. It is then that Brady begins to wonder if he had been unfair to Riley and he begins learning that Riley never lied about the rape. Brady offers Riley his friendship but wants to keep their friendship a secret until after the football championship game.

Review:
Brady is a great 17-year-old boy who is always doing the right thing or is always expected to do the right thing. He is the only one from his close friends who haven't dealt with any real life issues like his friends West and Gunner and his cousin Maggie have encountered at their young age. Brady is one of the best football players on the football team and the entire town of Lawton is looking to him to keep the team together and win the championship. However, his life takes a complete left turn when he catches his father cheating on his mother. Brady becomes angry and a different person than the one everyone knows. Because he had never dealt with any real life difficulties, Brady doesn't know how to handle his father's affair. His perfect world came tumbling down on him. Brady finds comfort and support from Riley. Riley is a 17-year-old single mother whose life changed when she was raped two years prior to returning to Lawton. The entire town turned on her and didn't believe her. Riley was very fortunate to have the love and support of her parents who never turned their back on her and helped her every step of the way. Riley has experienced tragedy and loss of innocence, betrayal and hurt and she is a strong young lady who stands up for what she believes. She helps Brady cope with his father's affair and ultimately the divorce of his parents.

This book explored some serious topics; rape, betrayal, teen pregnancy, infidelity, and divorce. Just like the other books in this series, it addresses real life issues that result in difficult situations and consequences. I read a couple of reviews wherein the reader felt that the issue of rape should have been explored more deeply and that when Rhett appeared in the story he should have faced consequences but I feel that this story was more about Riley's survival and her courage in coming back to the town that judged her. Riley needed the confrontation in order to close that chapter of her life. She ultimately was a forgiving person and her life was now about her daughter.

Also, although I feel bad for Brady's life turning upside down I am glad that Abbi decided to shatter his perfect life. Brady had to learn how to be strong on his own and how to survive and overcome life's challenges. The characters in this series became more relatable as they encountered and ultimately survived their issues.

I would say, however, that I feel that Riley and Brady's story isn't complete. I need more. It reminds me in a way of Abbi's While it Lasts and Sometimes it Lasts books. Cage and Eva had to deal with living apart while Cage played college ball and Eva had to deal with the death of her father. I feel we need another Brady and Riley book. How will they deal with living apart while Brady pursues his college football career?

Maybe Abbi can expand the Field Party Series and give us the Field Party College Series as we continue to follow the characters through their adulthood.

All in all this is one of my favorite young adult series.





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I am not sure how I feel about this one. I liked the story, but the romance moved way too fast. I understand we got a little bit of both Brady and Riley is previous books, but not enough around their romance to have it move so quickly in this story. In one day the characters were already falling for each other, and I just wanted more build up around their relationship and past relationship. I think if their past relationship was recapped a little more, I would have been fine with them instantly having all those feelings coming back so quickly.

With the romance moving so quickly, I feel the rest of the plot moved too slow. I found myself so bored!

I know that Riley has a kid, but both Riley and Brady did not feel like teenagers at all. Yes, but are dealing with different situations but I never felt like these were younger characters. Somethings that were happening just would not be handled the way they were due to their ages.

Overall, this was just meh for me. ( )

This was super cute! Their story was really heartfelt and mature in a way you don't always see in YA contemporary romances. Watching these two learn to forgive and forget about what people think was fabulous. They're just so likeable as characters and super sweet that you want to see them succeed.

I do wish the romance was a little more though. I just wanted to see that connection emphasized a little more at the start but they do make a great pair when all is said and done. I was thoroughly addicted to this story!

It was like the perfect hybrid between the first and second novel but with a new set of unique leads.

Check out more spoiler-free book and series reviews on my blog SERIESousBookReviews.com as well as read book series recaps!

Full Review: http://wp.me/p7hLUw-18c
Actual Rating: 4/5 ( )

After Under the Lights, I really really hoped that this book would be better & that my mixed feelings about UtL were just a fluke. I was relieved when -- fortunately -- I loved this book just as much as the first one. Of course, Until Friday Night will always remain my favorite of the series, but After the Game comes in at a close second!

All the books in this series can be read as standalones, but personally, I think you should read the first two before reading this one. This book is pretty connected to the first 2 books, and for someone who hasn't read them, that could be confusing. In addition to that, Book 2 sets the stage for this book, so you really don't want to miss that.

I'll start off by saying just how much I adored Riley in this book. I've always wanted to read more about her; now I've finally got the chance to get to know her in this book! I really like how this book doesn't shy away from the truth. Riley's just like, "Yeah, he raped me, and I don't care whether you believe me or not." She didn't give a shit about what the rest of the town thought and I loved that.

"Just because others hadn't accepted me hadn't made me less of a person."

I also enjoyed catching up with the other characters, West & Maggie... Gunner & Willa... All their stories are interconnected so seeing everyone interact made me so happy, especially Riley, Maggie, and Willa. Also, can we just take a moment to talk about the real star of this book? Bryony was so adorable! I just wanted to reach out and squeeze her. She was a ray of sunshine amidst all the negativity. Somebody please give her all the cookies!

This book was very family-centered, even more so than the previous books. Riley always makes sure she puts Bryony's needs first, and Riley herself has such an excellent support system in her family. The book didn't focus on the rape itself so much as the aftermath. You'd think that I'd be more emotional if Riley was unhappy and depressed, but what got to me was how happy and satisfied she was to have Bryony in her life. It was honestly the sweetest thing ever.

It was also really nice getting a more in depth view of Brady's character. I've always thought of him as one-dimensional and as that "nice guy". I'm glad this book delved deeper into his character. Also, like Riley, family plays a major role in Brady's POV. I won't say more because that would be considered a spoiler; you'll just have to read the book to find out!

Despite the above, there were a few things that kind of weighed the book down, the first being the pacing. I expected Riley and Brady's "friendship" to last a little while longer before they started locking lips, but that didn't happen. I didn't want a slow burn or anything, but a lil angst sure din't hurt nobody... which leads me to my next point. This book, overall, was definitely less angsty than the first two. There were a few unexpected turns of events, but not many and they were far too predictable & anticlimactic. Maybe this book was more about wrapping everything up, rather than starting new drama.

Another thing worth mentioning is how Rhett got off practically scot free. I feel like he was forgiven at the end merely as a means to tie off any loose ends. That doesn't sit well with me. What he did was a crime, so why is no one fighting it? I just find it so sad because it reflects how the world views rape and its victims.

In conclusion, I'd like to say that reading this book was bittersweet. It was like the end of an era. Our characters are all grown up! I can't wait to see who the next book centers on. My guess is either Asa, Ryker, or Nash. Either way, I'm so pumped to read whatever comes next and follow new (and hopefully old) characters on new journeys!

Many thanks to the publisher, Simon & Schuster, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This in no way impacted my views & opinions above.

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Check out my reviews of the first 2 books:
Until Friday Night
Under the Lights ( )