Speechless!

This book took me on an emotional rollercoaster. I think the author really drew you into the characters situations and you could feel the hurt and outrage of every situation. Narration was also excellent. Definitely would recommend. I was hooked

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Absolutely captivating!

⭐️♾️ 🎧 Audio (but bought the paperback at chapter 12, it’s THAT good)

To start this review, let me just say that I went in blind to this. I wanted something light, sweet and wholesome… that was NOT this book but I couldn’t have been happier about that because had I read the subject matter I may not have read it. Then I would have missed out on the rawest, most brutally honest, captivating book I have EVER read. I have cried SO much listening to this audio.

Domestic violence, abuse of a physical emotional and mental nature. Complete control over a woman’s life. That’s what Iris experienced in this story. Caleb was a monster in the worst form imaginable. This story is about a love triangle between Iris, the man she chose, Caleb, and the man that could have been, August. However this is HER story. It is the story of survival, of a victim who refused to be a victim any longer, a woman who did what she had to do to protect their daughter.

Unless you’ve first hand experienced DV it’s hard to say what you’d do in that position. It’s easy to say ‘I’d leave his abuse ass’ because nobody wants to believe they’d let someone violate them in that way. Kennedy Ryan’s approach was raw. She didn’t shy away from using the harsh reality of what it can be like and as someone who experienced it myself, I can only say thank you to her for not sugar coating it. Because when you tell people how you felt it you don’t think people with believe you, that they’ll think you’re exaggerating because you wouldn’t possibly stay for so long with a monster like that, right? Wrong. Kennedy’s writing here is hard to read because she’s so truthful and sometimes the harsh reality is needed. I absolutely applaud every word in this book. Even if I did cry my way through 80% of it!

The characters are so real. The story is again, so real. If you at all feel uncomfortable with the topics in this, I urge you to give it a try because it is so worth it. There is a HEA, there is light at the end of the dark tunnel and there is love with a man who wants to do nothing but love, cherish, worship and protect Iris and her daughter. It isn’t an easy read, but I flew through it regardless. It’s heavy, it’s life altering and heartbreaking but also soulful and beautiful. And I’ve never read ANYTHING like it.

100% MUST read to me ❤️

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A COMPELLING AND GRIPPING STORY

"The heart speaks in whispers but sometimes by the time you listen its too late"

Hook shot is a compelling and gripping story. A story of, choices, domestic abuse and survival.



Wow, I was blown away with this story, not only does it awaken the awareness of domestic abuse but tells the story of two relationships, one that was destined to heal and one that had the potential to destroy.

Iris is young when she first meets Caleb, she is swept of her feet by the golden boy in Basketball, she has her own ambitions, her own future to look forward to. Iris is a strong independent young woman with a mother who used men her whole life to get what she wanted and Iris is determined to break the mould, determined to go through life being dependant on nobody. All Iris's plans and ambitions are destroyed when she finds herself in a relationship with an obsessive, possessive man, a violent and destructive to the soul relationship she didn't see coming.

Iris first meets August when Caleb is playing away,she is watching a game in a local bar near her hotel and they chat the night away, its like their souls are aligned, like they have known each other years and in the moment when it's time to say goodnight Iris doesn't take it any further and even though the pull is strong for them to kiss she tells August she has a boyfriend, that moment, if only Iris had known this was a sign, an invisible crossroads in her life.




August felt Iris, it was more than attraction so when he see's her again at a game he believes it's fate until he discovers the boyfriend she was taking about was his rival in the sport Caleb.

Caleb is a possessive and vindictive guy, she didn't see the evil side to him until it was too late, the once strong black woman became a shell of herself when she became trapped in a relationship she couldn't get out of.

Many times August and Iris cross paths, and even when they are apart he thinks of Iris. August has no idea what Iris is going through behind closed doors he sees only what the media see's, the golden boy of basketball and his new fiance but he was taught one thing by is father and goes by has gut and that is, when the time is right he needs to take a shot.

"The last thing I wanted to be was a poster child for domestic abuse, not with the way our culture finds a way of blaming the victim but none of that was the deciding factor in why I finally spoke, I spoke because maybe there's some girl like me, young, vulnerable, naive, flattered by his attention, maybe she thinks that jealousy means he loves her more or that's cute but she realises slowly, surely, shes being cut off from her friends, isolated from her family, being moulded into something shes not, into what he wants her to be. The heart speaks in whispers but sometimes by the time you listen, its too late"

A beautiful but powerful story. August will make you week at the knees and your heart melt.

This story is bittersweet and worth the five stars given. Kennedy Ryan has a way with words and when I listened to this book in audio, the words either went straight to my heart or sat at the forefront of my mind for me to ponder on.

I have read Book three HOOK SHOT which is Lotus's story, Iris's cousin and when I read that I was eager to know Iris's story. Each book ca be read as a standalone and the author gives away no spoilers to the other stories. I am eagerly wanting to read other books in this series and more books from Kennedy Ryan.

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1 person found this helpful

All the emotions, just brilliant

It’s been some time since I read the book, I knew the audio would be a hard listen due to some of the contents. However this was brought to life with so much emotion by the narrators. I felt every single one of those emotions.

Kennedy has a way to bring us to our knees with her words. This just brought it to another level.

An amazing book from a fantastic series.

Iris and August’s story is one of heartache, heartbreak, violence and then so much love. It’s certainly a very powerful read and so well adapted to audio.

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Just wow

This book is so impactful, and Kennedy Ryan is an artist when it comes to words; the vividness of everything happening can bring tears to your eyes or a smile on your face.

The narrators were 10/10! Great work.

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THIS BOOK

Oh my word this is NOT what I was expecting it to be! I’ve never been so stressed listening to a book in my life but mannn I love it! Listened to the entire thing in one sitting 😂 absolutely brilliant

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Great story line

So many twists and turns, raw and emotional, listening to it at every given opportunity great book

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Long Shot

What an incredibly tender, heart-rending piece of literature. There are so many stunning descriptions in this story I can’t decide on my favourite. The change between the love Iris feels vs. the despair kept me hooked. I felt tension in every line. I had chills, tears; I gasped, yelled, then I'd be blanketed and offered hot sweet tea and a cuddle. This story is one of my favourite listens of the year. Congratulations to Kennedy and well done to the narrators who truly elevated this story with such tenderness and honesty. Incredible.

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True love finds a way

This was a powerful and moving book reading it but this audiobook brings it to another level. Thankfully Iris survives everything Caleb does to her and August is one amazing man. The love Iris and August have for one another is so heart warming that it heals the heart after hearing all of the horrific things that Caleb does.

So sad that this book represents what really happens in the society today. Thankfully there are strong women out there who do make it to the other side.

I have heard Sean Crisden earlier this year and I think he is becoming one of my favourite narrators. I really love his voice. It’s so southing and really matched August’s character in my head to perfection. Jo’s performance was amazing as well.

Definitely happy to add this one to my library and so worth the credit used.

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Such a sensitively handled story

Kennedy Ryan is such a gifted author. The topics in this story were handled so sensitively, I felt really invested in the characters. The narrators were the best I've heard. I was completely gripped.

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