The End Zone by L.J. Shen Published by L.J. Shen on December 14, 2017
Pages: 119
Genres: New Adult, Romance, Sports Romance
Amazon
Jolie Louis is a smart girl. She knows that her best friend, Sage Poirier, is a bad idea. He’s a walking, talking cliché. The Adonis quarterback with the bulging biceps and harem of fangirls trailing behind him on campus like a stench you can’t get rid of. Sadly, that’s also the reason she can’t stay away from him. Well, that and the fact that they’re roommates. Jolie is already straddling the line between friendship and more when Sage comes to her with an offer she cannot refuse: be his fake girlfriend and live for free for the rest of the semester. She tells herself that she can handle it. He’s just the boy she saved ten years ago, right? Wrong. So very wrong. He is a man now, and she is his captive Heart, body, and soul…
The End Zone is a novella, originally published as part of the Team Player anthology. The End Zone now includes an extended epilogue, and a bonus, ORIGINAL epilogue for the book Vicious (Sinners of Saint #1), for your enjoyment.
I love L.J. Shen’s writing, but I’m afraid this The End Zone missed the mark for me. Let me start by saying that I don’t have the same expectations for novellas as I do for full-length novels. It’s extremely difficult to convey a well-rounded storyline with fully developed characters in under 150 pages.
To make a food analogy, I think of novellas as snacks. I know in advance they won’t be completely satisfying, but sometimes I want a little something quick to tie me over until I’m ready to eat a full meal. However, some snacks are more satisfying than others. The End Zone reminded me of a bag of potato chips – the kind where you open the bag only to discover it’s mostly filled with air. There’s just not enough substance there to sustain you.
The book starts with a promisingly prologue that establishes an emotional bond between a young boy and girl that lasts into their college years. It seems like a nice big bag of chips. Once we’re into the story, though, craziness ensues when literally overnight, Sage decides he wants Jolie in a rip-your-clothes-off / me-Tarzan, you-Jane / nobody-else-can-even-look-at-you / I-want-to-spend-the-rest-of-my-life-with-you-and-give-you-babies kind of way. Where the heck did that come from? Someone obviously filled the bag with hot air. Oh well, maybe the chips will be tasty?
I sensed zero chemistry between Jolie and Sage, other than friendship. I liked Jolie and her best friend, but Sage acts like an immature and volatile egomaniac. The necessity of the “fake girlfriend” arrangement made no sense to me, and it’s poorly executed. There are several conflicts that could have—dare I say—enriched the flavor of story if only they were explored even a little bit more. Welp.
Stale chips aside, it is a quick read for jock lovers who are looking to entertain themselves while passing a short bit time. I remain of fan of L.J. Shen and am looking forward to reading more books by her.
About L.J. Shen
L.J. Shen is an International #1 best-selling author of Contemporary Romance and New Adult novels. She lives in Northern California with her husband, young son and chubby cat.
Before she’d settled down, L.J. (who thinks referring to herself in the third person is really silly, by the way) traveled the world, and collected friends from all across the globe. Friends who’d be happy to report that she is a rubbish companion, always forgets peoples’ birthdays and never sends Christmas cards.
She enjoys the simple things in life, like spending time with her family and friends, reading, HBO, Netflix and internet-stalking Stephen James. She reads between three to five books a week and firmly believes Crocs shoes and mullets should be outlawed.
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