Angela (Reading Frenzy Book Blog)'s Reviews > Out of Bounds

R.S. Grey certainly knows how to feed my sports romance addiction—not to mention my Summer Olympics obsession. In Out of Bounds she takes the sport of competitive gymnastics, adds in a fabulous enemies to lovers scenario, tons of heat, and a touch of forbidden romance, and—voilà—you’ve got a winning combination.

I’ve read many books that are categorized as enemies to lovers stories. In actuality, it’s rare to find a book of this trope where the couple doesn’t just dabble in some irritation with each other, only to fall in love a few chapters later. Out of Bounds is the epitome of a well done lust/hate story.

Brie Watson is an elite gymnast on her way to her first Olympics. Erik Winter is the newly appointed head coach of the USA women’s Olympics gymnastics team. They get off on the wrong foot and instantly can’t stand each other. Between Erik’s rude, cold then hot behavior and Brie’s fiery, rebellious temperament, the flames of hatred are well and truly stoked throughout most of the story. They seem to bring out the worst in each other, and yet much to their aggravation and confusion they find themselves battling an intense magnetism. The fact that Erik is Brie’s older coach and the world is watching their every move makes the situation even more complicated.

My main issue with the story is that Erik is downright cruel to such an extreme extent that I often wondered why Brie has a tough time getting him out of her system. His douchey attitude lasts a little too long for my taste. Brie is a smart girl, and her stubbornness helps her give as good as she gets, so sometimes I was irritated when her gullibility slips through. I must admit, though, that Erik is a walking advertisement for sex appeal, so he is hard to resist.

Learning about the discipline and hard work that is required of competitive gymnasts was interesting, and I relished the insider’s peak into the experiences of an Olympian. And while I appreciated the dedication and special hardships Brie endured on her path to the Olympics, I did find her bemoaning her mom’s sacrifices to be a tad repetitive.

I enjoyed the unpredictable dynamics between Brie and Erik and the simmering sexual tension. Their vehement disdain for each other, as well as their mutual attraction and Brie’s reluctant respect for Erik eventually meld into intense sexual chemistry and some seriously scorching scenes. I was also thoroughly entertained by Brie’s relationship with her diverse group of wacky teammates.

Out of Bounds is a fun and sexy treat that should delight readers looking for a satisfying sports romance fix.

Recommended for fans of:
Enemies to lovers stories
Sports romances
Gymnastics
The Olympics
Baking

**ARC received in exchange for an honest review.**