Kick Off by CF White

Amazon

Blurb:

What happens when opposite sides of the track collide?

East Londoner Jay Ruttman has only ever wanted one thing― to be a professional footballer. But after a disastrous brawl on the pitch gets him released from his pro-Academy, he has to follow plan B and enrolls as university Sports Scholar. Head down, train hard and get scouted is his motto. Until he crashes into the man who might just shoot his dreams out of the park.

Kensington elite Sebastian (Seb) Saunders has only ever wanted one thing―to be a rock star. But his father has other plans for him, including taking the helm of his multimillion-pound new business venture across the pond. Live it up, chase the dream and rock out for as long as he can is his mantra. Until he crashes into the man who might just rock his world off its scale.

Jay and Seb live at opposite ends of London’s District Line, separated by wealth, status, family traditions and their own life-long dreams. This startling and gritty contemporary romance series sees them both having to overcome barriers, face fears and beat rejection to fight for the love they need to achieve it all.

NOTE: This is a revised edition of the previously self-published The District Line by C F White in 2016. This version has gone through major edits, including character name changes and new chapters, yet the overall story remains the same.



REVIEW:

Kick Off left me so sad, and angry with the ending. Until I realized that the story continues in the next  book, The Break Through. 

By itself, Kick Off is a really good book, with a sad ending. I like Jay and Seb. They are not a likely match, but they are good together. They have a  lot of issues to get through if they want to stay together. 

This book contains a whole lot of ongoing issues. The struggle to be openly gay in a macho sport. Trying to live your life on your own terms instead of your parent's terms. And intense pressure from your parents.

Jay is planning on going to school while trying to get another chance at playing professional football. Seb is trying to make a name for his band.  When they meet, both men suddenly have to make room in their lives for something else, romance. And decision need to be made - chase your dream, or chase love. 

Overall, Kick Off is a great book. It left me raw and gutted. I experienced a whole range of emotions while reading it. What makes a book good v/s great? Does a book need a happy ending to be great? Probably not. And this book does what a great book should do - takes you on a journey, makes you understand why the characters are making the choices that they are making, and having you feel every emotion that they are feeling. We might be left unhappy in the end, but that is life. But, along the way, this book gripped me and played with my heart-strings. 

That said, there is a Book two, The Break Through, so all will be redeemed. I repeat, their story does not end in this book.  And for that, I am thrilled.

If you haven't read Kick Off yet, check it out!