Drumline by Stacy Kestwick Pages: 284
Genres: New Adult
Source: ARC
Also by this author: Wet, Soaked, Drumline
Goodreads
Traditions are important. Especially in the South. College football. Rivalries. Tailgating. Halftime shows.Some things just don’t change.Until Reese Holland shows up with her long legs and no-bullshit attitude to audition for the prestigious all-male Rodner University snare line.It doesn’t matter how much hazing she has to endure from Laird Bronson, with his narrowed green eyes and arrogant smirk. She wants that damn spot, and she’s more than good enough to earn it. She expects there to be tension. Even friction. But not sparks hot enough to burn the entire campus down.
Drumline appealed to me for several reasons: first, Kestwick’s books are awesome-sauce. Second, I was a band nerd and I love stories about other band nerds. I connected with the characters right away because even though I wasn’t a drummer, I was in band and thought that everything Kestwick wrote about various instruments and the people who play them were spot on. It was like a flashback to high school. I didn’t continue on in college, but I imagine it was exactly like high school except more…everything.
Laird wasn’t quite the asshat I was expecting. He falls for Reese quick and doesn’t dance around it. Reese is obviously hesitant because he is the captain and she doesn’t want the gossip. But, Laird is persistent! Holy moly are these two combustible. There is so much sexual tension between them. HAWT!
Laird and Reese are also deep characters. Both have pain in their past that has shaped who they are and who they plan to become. I particularly loved Laird’s backstory and his desire to be someone his brother would be proud of. Drumline gives you all kinds of feels-super steamy, deep emotional, and pure anger/hatred! Kestwick has a way with writing characters who seem so real yet so perfect they can’t possibly be real. Its kind of magical.
Smith is the kind of character everyone wants as a friend. I am hopeful we will get his story sometime 😉 (Please Stacy, we need it!). I could have kept reading about Laird and Reese forever because both of them are so damn likable. They didn’t have the usual miscommunication, drama-llama traps you find in most new adult romance and for that, I am eternally grateful!
- POV: dual 1st
- Tears: some!
- Trope: college, marching band, secret relationship
- Triggers: View Spoiler »
- Series/Standalone: stand alone
- Cliffhanger: View Spoiler »
- HEA: View Spoiler »
| Breakdown | |
|---|---|
| Hero | |
| Heroine | |
| Chemistry | |
| Writing/Plot | |
| Trope | |
| Overall: | |
Seriously swoony heroes like Jockblocked by Jen Frederick, Anti-stepbrother by Tijan, Embody by SE Hall…then you will probably like Drumline!
Drumline
Oooh a book about band nerds? I’m interested for sure! How have I not heard of this author! This definitely sounds like something I’d enjoy!
WHAT?!? Oh my gosh her first series was amazing too!! Wet and Soaked were the book names. She only has 3 books but I adore them all!
[…] [7 Sep] Drumline by Stacy Kestwick ★★★★½ […]
Ooh, this is one I had my eye on, now it’s going in the TBR.
[…] window.___gcfg = { lang:'en_US',parsetags: 'onload' }; window.___gcfg = { lang:'en_US',parsetags: 'onload' }; Drumline by Stacy Kestwick Genres: New Adult Source: Audible Narrator: Stephen Dexter, Tracy Marks Also by this author: Wet, Soaked, Drumline […]