Waiting on the Sidelines (Waiting on the Sidelines #1)

*This book was sent to me via NetGalley for an honest review*

Goodreads Summary 
Nolan Lennox had things figured out. Named after a baseball legend, she enjoyed being the Tomboy, her closet filled with her brother’s hand-me-downs, cut-off jeans and soccer shorts. But when her first trip

to high school results in a broken heart from the first boy to ever make her heart flutter and cruel words from an older girl she once thought a family friend, Nolan starts to question the very person she thought she was and wonders if her humble upbringing can compete with the afforded luxuries of her privileged peers.

Throughout the next four years, Nolan struggles to maintain herself throughout her path of discovery, learning just how cruel teenagers can be through the pressures of underage drinking, sexuality and class. And despite how life seems to continue to work against her, she still manages to listen to her heart, falling deeper and deeper for the guy the entire town adores, even if he only sees her as a friend. Can Nolan strike a compromise between her own integrity and the boy she loves? And can she make him notice her before it’s too late?

Reed Johnson came to Coolidge High School with a lot of fanfare. The son of a hometown football legend and the brother of a local football hero, Reed wore all the pressures of carrying a town without hope into the spotlight. Thankfully, he had the talent to back it up. But when he meets a girl who makes him think twice about exactly what being a hero means, he starts to wonder if following in his brother’s footsteps might be all wrong.

Nolan Lennox was everything that was opposite of expected. She didn’t flirt, she didn’t drink and she didn’t sleep around. Nothing about her was easy, but something about her made Reed want to try harder. Though she didn’t look the part, she seemed to be spending a lot of time in Reed’s thoughts, and he wondered if she could be the one who made it all worthwhile. But could Reed handle letting her down? And would breaking her heart break him beyond repair?

Waiting on the Sidelines explores young love to its fullest, exposing how real young heartbreak and passion is and how important it is to discover yourself and hold onto your own identity. The story follows two young characters as they deal with mature situations, including the prevalence of bullying and promiscuity in today’s high school setting. Ultimately, Waiting on the Sidelines is a story of hope, honesty and those powerful, first true loves—the ones worth holding onto at any cost.

My Thoughts
 Wow that summary is WAY more than anyone really needed. 

This book was just what I needed.  I felt like I needed a good romance story to get me through a funk and this did the trick. Nolan (kinda love that name) and Reed are an adorable couple. It took them a long time to realize what they have and they went through a lot of shit in order to be together, but I thoroughly enjoyed the journey. 

Reed and Nolan have the kind of love that most people look for. It was pretty instant, but it took them awhile to realize what was under their noses. They had some serious issues (some of which I truly wish hadn't happened), but they gave each other space and worked on the tough spots. I probably would have slapped Reed across the face for some of the things he said, but I know it came from a place of pain.  High school can be a bitch. 

I can't wait to read the follow-up novel Going Long and find out what happens next with these two!
Both Waiting on the Sidelines and Going Long are available now. Go check them out!