Long Shot has mild spice (2/5)—there are some intimate scenes but they're not the focus.

Does Long Shot have a happy ending?

Yes, Long Shot has a Happily Ever After (HEA) ending.

What tropes are in Long Shot?

Long Shot features several romance tropes including forbidden love, athlete romance, second chance, rescue romance, secret relationship.

What are the content warnings for Long Shot?

Content warnings for Long Shot include: abuse, domestic violence, emotional abuse, gaslighting, graphic violence, kidnapping, rape, sexual assault.

Is Long Shot a standalone or part of a series?

Long Shot is book 1 in the Hoops series.

Is Long Shot dual POV?

Yes, Long Shot is dual POV—you get both perspectives throughout the story.

How long is Long Shot?

Long Shot is 462 pages, which takes roughly 15 hours to read at an average pace.

What is the mood of Long Shot?

Long Shot has a emotional, heartbreaking, intense, dark, hopeful feel to it.

Is Long Shot on Kindle Unlimited?

No, Long Shot is not currently available on Kindle Unlimited.

What order should I read the Hoops series?

Long Shot is book 1 in the Hoops series.

Long Shot

by Kennedy Ryan

🌶️🌶️mild·Hoops #1·✓ Series Complete

3.0 on MoodReads (1 rating)4.2 on Goodreads (77,199)

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Ending

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Why Read This?

Synopsis

A Standalone FORBIDDEN LOVE SET IN THE EXPLOSIVE WORLD OF THE NBA... Think you know what it's like being a baller's girl? You don't. My fairy tale is upside down. A happily never after. I kissed the prince and he turned into a fraud. I was a fool, and his love - fool's gold. Now there's a new player in the game, August West. One of the NBA's brightest stars. Fine. Forbidden. He wants me. I want him. But my past, my fraudulent prince, just won't let me go. *Contains domestic/sexual abuse not involving the hero. Read reviews for further guidance.

book details below may contain spoilers. some hidden

At a Glance

Long Shot is a heavy hitter—Kennedy Ryan does not shy away from depicting domestic abuse, sexual assault, and the long road to reclaiming autonomy. August West is the patient, golden-hearted MMC readers deserve after that darkness. First in the Hoops series but fully standalone. Check trigger warnings before recommending; this is not a light sports romance.

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Book Details

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Goodreads Rating

4.17 ★ (77.2k)

Page Count

462 pages

Published

2018

Primary Genre

Contemporary Romance

Pairing

POV

Dual POV

Romance Pacing

Cliffhanger

reveal ending

Audiobook

Available

Yes

Format

Dual Narration (M+F)

Narrator

Sean Crisden, Jo Raylan

Narrator Count

Dual

Narration Style

Dual

Tropes

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Theme Constellation

Mood & Vibe

Mood

emotionalheartbreakingintensedarkhopefulromantic

Writing Style

emotionalrawdramaticengaginglyrical

Story Pacing

medium

Emotional Weight

devastating

Energy Required

high

Vibes

comfort read vibespage turnersurvivor storyemotional devastation with redemptive ending

Characters

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FMC Archetype

MMC Archetype

Relationship Dynamics

Spice Details 🌶️

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🌶️

Spice Level 2

Spice Style

Getting Steamy

Bringing the Heat

None

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World & Setting

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World Type

contemporary

Primary Setting

sports world / training facilitybig city / metropolis

Fantasy Creatures

humans only

Representation

Reading Context

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Emotional Payoff

Best Time of Year

anytime

When & Where to Read

at night cozy evening rainy weekend

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Quick Facts

🌶️🌶️mild

462

2018

4.17 ★ (77.2k)

reveal ending

Series

Hoops #1

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Long Shot

At a Glance

Book Details

Goodreads RatingThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.

Page CountHow long the commitment is.

PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.

Primary GenreWhat type of book this is. Romance? Fantasy? A 400-page therapy session disguised as a thriller?

PairingWho's falling in love? The gender makeup of your main romance. Helps you find your specific flavor of love story.

POVWhose head are you in? First person = deep in the feels. Third = watching from above. Dual = emotional whiplash (affectionate).

Romance PacingHow long until they kiss? Slow burn = 300 pages of tension. Insta-love = page 12 and it's already chaos.

CliffhangerEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.

AudiobookCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

AvailableCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

FormatHow fancy is the audio? Standard = one narrator. Full cast = theater kids went off. GraphicAudio = a MoViE iN yOuR mInD.

NarratorThe voice in your ears.

Narrator Count

Narration Style

TropesPlot devices and story situations that drive the romance. These are the circumstances that throw characters together or create conflict, not how they personally relate.

Mood & Vibe

MoodWhat you felt reading this. Swoony? Gutted? Deliciously unhinged? The emotional fingerprint.

Writing StyleHow the author writes - prose style, dialogue approach, and narrative voice. This is about craft and delivery, not emotional effect.

Story PacingDoes the story sprint or saunter? Fast = you'll miss sleep. Slow = you'll savor every word. Medium = balanced chaos.

Emotional WeightHow much are you gonna cry? Light = fun feels. Moderate = real stakes. Heavy = bring tissues. Devastating = call your therapist.

Energy RequiredCan you read this on a Tuesday after work, or do you need a full Saturday and three cups of coffee? Low/Medium/High.

VibesOne perfect sentence that captures the essence. Like: 'Fae politics meets forbidden romance with zero chill.'

Characters

FMC ArchetypeWho is she? The female main character's core identity/role. Assassin? Healer? General Badass?

MMC ArchetypeWho is he? The male main character's core identity/role. Your exact flavor of book boyfriend.

Relationship DynamicsThe interpersonal dynamic between the main characters. How do they relate to each other? This is about character energy and connection style, not plot situations.

Spice Details 🌶️

Spice StyleNot just how much spice, but what kind. Emotional intimacy? Explicit but vanilla? Plot-driven heat? Know your flavor.

Getting SteamyGentle kinks. Fun but nothing too crazy. The appetizer, so to speak.

Bringing the HeatFor those who know exactly what they came for. This is where you find your exact brand of chaos. The good stuff.

⚠️ Content Warnings

World & Setting

World TypeWhat kind of world are you stepping into? High fantasy = full secondary world. Urban fantasy = magic in modern cities. Portal = starts here, goes there.

Primary SettingWhere does the story physically take place? Court intrigue = palace. Dark academia = campus. Cozy witch vibes = small town. This is about location, not world rules.

Fantasy CreaturesWhat supernatural beings populate this world? Fae courts, vampire covens, dragon riders, or just regular humans doing their best.

RepresentationIdentity representation in the book. LGBTQ+, race/ethnicity, disability, neurodivergence, body type, age and more.

Reading Context

Emotional PayoffWhat you get for showing up. The catharsis, the growth, the 'I'm a different person now' moment. This is why the hard books are worth it.

Best Time of YearSeasonal mood rings for books. Summer romance reads different than winter gothic.

When & Where to ReadContext matters. Some books are Beach Trip energy, others are 3am Bedtime spiral-reads. Trust.

Long Shot

At a Glance

Book Details

Goodreads RatingThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.

Page CountHow long the commitment is.

PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.

Primary GenreWhat type of book this is. Romance? Fantasy? A 400-page therapy session disguised as a thriller?

PairingWho's falling in love? The gender makeup of your main romance. Helps you find your specific flavor of love story.

POVWhose head are you in? First person = deep in the feels. Third = watching from above. Dual = emotional whiplash (affectionate).

Romance PacingHow long until they kiss? Slow burn = 300 pages of tension. Insta-love = page 12 and it's already chaos.

CliffhangerEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.

AudiobookCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

AvailableCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

FormatHow fancy is the audio? Standard = one narrator. Full cast = theater kids went off. GraphicAudio = a MoViE iN yOuR mInD.

NarratorThe voice in your ears.

Narrator Count

Narration Style

TropesPlot devices and story situations that drive the romance. These are the circumstances that throw characters together or create conflict, not how they personally relate.

Mood & Vibe

MoodWhat you felt reading this. Swoony? Gutted? Deliciously unhinged? The emotional fingerprint.

Writing StyleHow the author writes - prose style, dialogue approach, and narrative voice. This is about craft and delivery, not emotional effect.

Story PacingDoes the story sprint or saunter? Fast = you'll miss sleep. Slow = you'll savor every word. Medium = balanced chaos.

Emotional WeightHow much are you gonna cry? Light = fun feels. Moderate = real stakes. Heavy = bring tissues. Devastating = call your therapist.

Energy RequiredCan you read this on a Tuesday after work, or do you need a full Saturday and three cups of coffee? Low/Medium/High.

VibesOne perfect sentence that captures the essence. Like: 'Fae politics meets forbidden romance with zero chill.'

Characters

FMC ArchetypeWho is she? The female main character's core identity/role. Assassin? Healer? General Badass?

MMC ArchetypeWho is he? The male main character's core identity/role. Your exact flavor of book boyfriend.

Relationship DynamicsThe interpersonal dynamic between the main characters. How do they relate to each other? This is about character energy and connection style, not plot situations.

Spice Details 🌶️

Spice StyleNot just how much spice, but what kind. Emotional intimacy? Explicit but vanilla? Plot-driven heat? Know your flavor.

Getting SteamyGentle kinks. Fun but nothing too crazy. The appetizer, so to speak.

Bringing the HeatFor those who know exactly what they came for. This is where you find your exact brand of chaos. The good stuff.

⚠️ Content Warnings

World & Setting

World TypeWhat kind of world are you stepping into? High fantasy = full secondary world. Urban fantasy = magic in modern cities. Portal = starts here, goes there.