When I finished reading Inside the O’Briens, (you can read the review here) I decided to read something a little lighter. I have been using my Kindle lately, as it is much lighter to carry around while I commute, so I scanned through the books I had and picked The One & Only by Emily Giffin.

I loved her previous books, Something Borrowed and Something Blue and Baby Proof. I am pretty sure I read her other books, with Where We Belong being my least favourite.

So I thought I would give this one a shot. And I’m glad I did.

A story about loyalty and love, set around the game of football.

I hate football, for the record. However, I do love a good football movie. And just like good football movies, there is always an undertow of passion and struggle, but there are sweet highs of victory and jubilation.

This book had it all.

And it had some serious chemistry.

The main character is Shae, a football loving, sports reporter, whom I instantly connected with, as she struggled to find her way in the male dominated world of football and sports writing. I could totally sympathize with her, fighting for acceptance in that world, where women really aren’t taken too seriously.

But Shae knows football. She loves, and you could say, lives for the sport. She also loves the college she went to, the town that worships the home team, the players and the coach who leads them all.

Coach Carr instantly wins your heart in this story. He is charismatic and charming; a good ole’ southern boy who is a legend in her hometown. He also happens to be her best friends’ father.

The story is endearing and funny and takes the reader on a journey as Shae faces her fears and her feelings as she struggles to find herself. (That was a lot of ‘f’ words!)

The main plot line, outside of football, was the growing affection between Shae and Coach. While it did make me uncomfortable at times, I felt the chemistry leap off the pages, so in that regard I think Giffin did a good job. I only read book reviews after I’ve finished a book, and I don’t agree with most of them that this relationship seemed forced. I think it was electric and plausible. Yes, he is her best friends’ father and a father-figure in her life. I wished after a while he would have stopped calling her “girl”, but I still think their hesitation and dynamic was cute. It didn’t upset me as it did others, but I wonder if that has to do with the fact that I’m over 40?

I enjoyed the book and couldn’t wait to see what happened next.

I’d love to hear your thoughts? Did you feel the chemistry between Coach and Shae was inappropriate or was it just another cute love story?