Book Review: Consider Me by Becka Mack — A Swoony Romance That Left Me Wanting More 🤔💖📖

    

Ever have one of those reading moods where you just need to disappear into something fun, steamy, and utterly captivating? A book that feels like a warm hug and a flutter in your chest all at once? 😍 That was my exact headspace when I picked up *Consider Me*. Promised a delicious sports romance, it delivered on its core promise with gusto, wrapping me up in a world of athletic charm and sparkling wit. 🔥

    From the very first page, protagonists Carter and Ollie didn’t just meet—they exploded onto the scene with enough chemistry to power a small city. ⚡️ Carter is the quintessential golden boy athlete, all cocky grins and effortless charm on the surface, but with a hidden, tender heart that absolutely wrecked me. 😩💘 And Ollie? She is his perfect match in every sense: fiercely independent, brilliantly sharp-tongued, and so self-assured that she never lets him get away with a thing. Watching their dynamic unfold was a masterclass in tension. Their banter is razor-sharp and hilariously witty, a constant volley of teasing and challenge. The slow-burn flirtation between them is the addictive, heart-racing kind that hooks you completely. You find yourself muttering “okay, just one more chapter” at 11 p.m., only to blink and find it’s 2 a.m. and you’re physically incapable of putting it down. 📚⏰ Their connection isn’t just palpable; it’s electric, the kind of magnetic pull that makes you lean into the pages, cheering for them from the very start. 🙌

    And can we please, please take a moment to talk about the friend group? 👯 Because this is where the book truly ascended from "great" to "I'm-obsessed-with-this-world" levels for me. I am an absolute sucker for a tightly woven squad where every side character feels like a main character waiting in the wings. 💕 If you, like me, are still emotionally recovering from the friend groups in series like the Twisted Series by Ana Huang or The Off-Campus Series by Elle Kennedy, then you will feel right at home here. The scenes with the entire team are an absolute joy—the locker room ribbing, the chaotic parties, the unwavering, ride-or-die support they have for each other. It’s these moments that inject so much heart and authenticity into the story, making their world feel lived-in and real. 🤗💫 Those tantalizing glimpses of the other guys—their personalities, their quirks, their own hinted-at dramas—had me immediately itching for their books. It’s that brilliant promise of a larger, interconnected universe that transforms a good standalone romance into an irresistible, bingeable series.

    But… (and you knew there was a ‘but’ coming)... 😬

    As much as I utterly adored our main couple and fell head over heels for their amazing friends, I found myself in a constant tug-of-war with the book’s pacing. The first half is masterful—a flawless, slow-building symphony of flirty texts, charged glances, and a genuinely deepening emotional connection. I was fully invested, my heart wide open, buckling up for what I was sure would be an epic and emotional ride. 🎢

    And then, just as we hit the peak of the third-act conflict, it felt like the author slammed on the gas pedal and we went from 60 to 100 in a split second. 🚗💨

    The major subplot involving leaked photos had so much narrative potential. 📸😱 This was a golden, heart-wrenching opportunity for real, gut-punching angst, deep drama, and profound character growth. I braced myself—ready for the emotional fallout, the difficult, tear-filled conversations, the raw vulnerability and the hard work of rebuilding trust. Instead, this potentially massive crisis was introduced, briefly addressed, and then neatly wrapped up in what felt like a mere handful of pages. It was resolved so swiftly that the emotional impact barely had time to land before the story hurried on to the sunny uplands of the happy ending. I was left with a distinct sense of whiplash, genuinely craving the big, messy, complicated emotional payoff that the setup had so perfectly promised. 😤

This is one of those rare cases where I genuinely believe this book would have been a five-star, all-time favorite if it were longer—and I don’t say that lightly! 🤲 Another 100-200 pages could have given us the breathing room this story deserved:

• More of those quiet, in-between moments: The stolen mornings, the lazy Sundays, the simple conversations that build a relationship from passionate to profound. ☕️🛌
• More space to sit with the messy feelings:Allowing the characters (and us as readers) to truly process the hurt, navigate the challenges, and earn their way back to each other. 💔➡️
• More depth to the conflicts: Letting the major plot points land with the full, emotional punch they deserved, rather than glancing blows that were quickly smoothed over. 👊

    The rushed journey to resolution, unfortunately, made the ending feel a tad too neat and convenient, pulling me out of the story’s spell before my heart was truly ready to leave their world.

The Final Verdict:⚖️

    Consider Me is, without a doubt, charming, hilariously funny, and blazingly hot. 🔥😂 Carter and Ollie’s relationship is a pure joy to read, and their chemistry is absolutely off the charts. The fantastic friend group dynamic is a major highlight and a huge draw for anyone who, like me, lives for interconnected standalones. I devoured this book in a single sitting and had a great time doing it. I would still highly recommend it if you’re looking for a light, low-angst, chemistry-heavy sports romance with a fantastic squad at its core. ❤️

    However, if you’re a reader who craves deeply developed plot arcs and conflicts that are given ample room to breathe, unravel, and truly transform the characters, you might, like me, finish this charming read wishing for just a little more time in the game. ⏳

    Have you read Consider Me? I’d love to hear if you felt the same way about the pacing! And tell me your all-time favorite book series with an unbeatable friend group in the comments below. 💕📚

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.5/5) – 😍🔥💖 Loved it & devoured it, but I wished the pacing gave us more of those messy, emotional, earned moments!

P.S. … While I’m definitely curious about Garrett and Jenny’s love story, I can’t help but think the second book should’ve been about Adam. His whole arc with Courtney and his overall vibe feels like it deserved the spotlight next! 🖤 Someone please tell me I’m not alone in this. 💫