The First Score by Amie Knight
Review by Meaghan The First Score is a beautiful slow burn, a friends-to-lovers story which can be read as a standalone. The timeline of this book is intertwined with The Red Zone, which tells Scarlett and Luk’s story. Amie Knight has done a wonderful job at drifting from the present day and the past, slowly revealing snippets of the past to help you piece together the history between Oliver and Hazel. I really enjoyed seeing the relationship between Oliver and Hazel grow through the years and even related a little to Hazel about not wanting to ruin such a precious friendship. Oliver has been in love with his sister’s best friend, Hazel since they first met as young children – back before he even understood what love is. In the present day, he is a hot college football player and certainly plays the role of the ultimate ladies man. He is sweet and patient when it comes to his relationship with Hazel, and knows more about her then even his sister does. In order to get closer to Hazel he decides to join Hazel’s favorite online game, he creates a fake profile with a fake persona to catfish the love of his life. Hazel’s best friend growing up was Scarlett and she became fast friends with Scarlett’s younger brother Oliver, who she affectionately calls Winnie. After a difficult childhood, Hazel has found her support group in her crazy grandfather, Pops, Scarlett, and Winnie. She worries that if she opens herself up to the attraction she feels for Winnie that she might just lose him forever. In order to be truly happy, Hazel has to figure out how to overcome her insecurities and learn how to let a man into her life and accept the love and support of a partner. This book tackles some difficult themes with some references to childhood abuse and self-harm, as well as showing the aftermath that these events can have on the mental health of the people who survive them. Amie Knight has done a fantastic job of showing this struggle from the point of view of the survivor themselves, but also their loved ones who are helping them to rediscover what it means to be loved. This was one of those stories that draw you into the character's lives and makes you feel their highs and lows right along with them. **ARC provided for an honest review**
Release Date: May 28th 2020
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