This book. THIS book. So good. I don't tend to cry when reading books often, but this fucking book had me tearing up a few times. Drew fell so hard almost right away for Anna and she spent almost the whole time trying to fight the feelings she had for him. They both had reasons for why they made the choices they did, but it sure hurt my heart at times. One of my best reads of 2022.


CW: sports injury, death of family members (off page), parental abandonment (off page), adulting mishaps and overall difficult time trying to get thru life and shit ( )

Second read in 2023. My first reading was in 2015 with a rating of 3.5 with no written review. I don't remember what I was thinking back then. The reason I picked it up again in 2023 was I watched a few Booktube videos about football romances and even though I had read it before, I couldn't remember much about it and people were raving about it. So, here is are a few thoughts after my recent read. I think would keep the rating close to the same, but maybe bump it up a bit. This is new adult which I don't read much of anymore because I'm a long way from my early 20s and college. I really did like Drew. We get to see him go through a lot in this book and learn about the tragic loss of his parents which influences some of his choices. I was a little frustrated with Anna, but I understood her feelings and why she couldn't believe Drew could love her. There is quite a bit of steam and with a title like The Hook Up it goes with the story. What I did love was the slow burn caused by Anna's refusal to kiss Drew on the mouth. When they finally do it is very satisfying. I did find the angst realistic. Would have loved a little more of Drew getting better at the end, but it was ok. 3.75 this time. ( )

Noioso e insulso sono gli unici aggettivi con cui riesco a definire questo libro che nel complesso non è altro che il monotono e continuo ripetersi di scene pseudo erotiche, ma che risultano invece del tutto soporifere, tra due adolescenti in piena crisi ormonale.
Una trama inconsistente, due protagonisti molto poco simpatici e dallo spessore caratteriale inferiore anche a quello di un protozoo, una lettura che si trascina stancamente e che invita a saltare pagine su pagine per poter arrivare finalmente alla fine.
Nella sostanza un libro che non è mai riuscito a catturarmi e coinvolgermi e che, anzi, mi induce a non prendere neanche in considerazione la lettura degli altri della serie che, ahimè, troppo ingenuamente e sulla spinta dalle tante recensioni entusiasticamente positive – e che io non riesco proprio a capire - ho già acquistato.
Per me sconsigliato sotto tutti i punti di vista.
( )

After reading The Deal and The Mistake, I've been in a mood for another NA sports novel so I picked up The Hook Up. The pure instalove in the beginning didn't appeal, but I continued reading anyway. I thought the second half was a lot better than the first half, but it never really pulled me in (most likely because I had just read The Deal series which was amazing). Overall it wasn't bad, but not my favorite NA sport romance novel. ( )

Kristen Callihan is a must read author for me. I do not even read the book description before I purchase because I am so certain I will love anything she writes. Her stories are great but her characters are what really draw me in. The are totally realistic and also completely swoon worthy. I know when I read one of her books I will become totally obsessed with it. ( )