Liam Ward just got the starter position on the hockey team and he’s determined to have the best year of his life. If only his teammates would stop pointing out how “grown-up” his best friend has become and putting thoughts he most definitely shouldn’t think about in his head.Evie Clark wasn’t supposed to fall in love with her best friend, but she did. She doesn’t know when or how it happened, … happened, only that one day being close to him brought butterflies to her belly and her heart would start racing every time he was near. If only the feeling were mutual.
Just when Evie thinks there might be hope for the two of them, she sees Liam flirting with another girl. To put a stop to her feelings before it’s too late, Evie will do anything, even go out with a football quarterback.
She might have put him in the penalty box, but the moment the timer buzzes, this hockey player is determined to win the game.
The Penalty Box is a complete standalone, sweet YA sports romance novella taking place in the world of Greyford High.
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Rating:
Sweet High School Romance!
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance:
Heat/Steam:
Story/Plot:
World building:
Character development:
The setting: Greyford High and the surrounding community.
The Hero: Liam – Sophomore in high school. Liam is a Hockey player and is popular. He always makes time for his best friend Evie. He waits for her to walk with him and sit at his table for lunch, he drives her to school each morning. But he never thought of her as anything but his best friend until some of the guys started commenting on how cute she is.
The heroine: Evie – Sophomore in high school, she is a mix of a tomboy and a girly girl. She likes action movies rather than chick flicks, hanging out with her best friend Liam, and watching his hockey games. She also likes wearing short skirts, tight tops and a bit of makeup. Her heart flutters when Liam is near.
The Love Story: Liam and Evie are next door neighbors, their Mom’s are best friends and they have been hanging out together since they could crawl. They are best friends, but Evie starts to feel something for Liam and is afraid it will ruin their lifelong friendship since Liam doesn’t feel the same way.
This was your standard high school romance. There were popular athletic boys, the studious girl who is just coming in to her own and hot senior girls who usually win out in the love department. There are sports events and high school parties as well. Evie is not only worried about losing her best friend because of her feelings for him, she is suffering from doubts and fears that he will be with someone else.
Evie decides to try to put her feelings behind her by going out with the football player that has been asking her out for a while. She had been turning him down because of her feelings for Liam, but she changes her tune after seeing Liam flirting with a popular senior girl. I like the situations and the feelings and the fact that Liam is so kind to Evie. It was a good short read, though I tend to like steamier fare.
I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
I can not for a fact describe how fucking amazing this book was!!! I am in love with Anna’s writing. She knows exactly what a reader is looking for. This is a high school romance of two childhood friends who turn lovers!!! What else is needed; oh I forgot to mention it’s a sports romance too.
And the way she describes everything and makes it easy to imagine every scene, I tell this everytime. It’s so perfect.
This is a short story which has only 14 chapters. It was perfect, so amazingly perfect. Evie loved Liam so much and he took some time to realise it. I mean alot. Before he realises she realises that he never thought of her the way she thought of him, hence she moves on with a football QB only to realise they were never meant to be.
That’s when Liam comes in and tells her how much he loves her. At the end they were perfect. The small clash with Habits book was oh so good.
This story is a mixture of sweet, charming, adorable, irresistible, swoon worthy and many more adjectives. You will absolutely love this book if you’re a fan of childhood friends to lovers or even friends to lovers in general.
It has 14 chapters only, but the impact it had on me is immense.
“Y-You ca-came…” I say, a soft hiccup making me stutter.
“Of course I came.” His soft fingers push a runaway strand of hair behind my ear. “You’re my best friend.”
This made me ugly cry
I am seriously such a fan of the Greyford High series! Every book is just simple but with so much impact. Its like you are actually living in the Greyford High world while reading the book.
The Penalty Box was a charming best friends romance! This story between two best friends who are now realizing they have feelings for each other, is just adorable. Its a short book that holds big emotions for these characters. Evie and Liam are a cute couple together, they are the definition of couple goals in high school.
I definitely recommend this book to everyone! I especially recommend this series!
Ms. Doe continues to build within her Greyford High world with this YA novella.
The Penalty Box is Liam and Evie’s story. Growing up, these two have been inseparable. Their mother’s are best friends as well combined with being next door neighbors, Evie and Liam are in and out of each other’s every moment all the time.
They’ve been a pair for years, but then they start to grow up. Become teens. Notice boys and girls. Liam is an up and coming hockey player for their high school team. He’s also not exactly ugly. Girls notice him. A lot. Liam dates them. A lot.
Evie is part of the group of friends that include Liam and his hockey buddies along with Evie’s other best friend Jessie. Evie has noticed guys as well. It’s just, her heart is set on Liam.
Evie struggles to keep her attraction to Liam under wraps. Jessie knows about it and keeps pushing Evie to do something about it. Anything about it.
Just as Evie works up the courage to tell Liam how she feels – She watches Liam flirt with a gorgeous senior. Feeling that she’ll never be more than Liam’s best friend Evie decides to start wiping Liam out of that part of her heart.
Noah has been asking Evie out for months. Evie is honestly still surprised he’s even still asking. She’s been feeling worse and worse about turning him down. Until now. Knowing that Liam doesn’t see her as a girlfriend, Evie decides to take Noah up on his offer.
That’s about all it takes for Liam to pull his head up and admit his feelings to himself.
Granted, he doesn’t handle the entire Noah/Evie dating situation well. In fact he stalks her, waits for her to get home and then forcibly kisses her. That’s the last for Evie. Utterly breaks her heart. She pushes Liam out and away from her life after that.
Noah knows that Evie isn’t as all into their relationship as he is. It confuses him and he acts out. Evie becomes more and more uncomfortable with Noah, but doesn’t talk to Jessie about it. She’s not talking to Liam at all.
On the other side, Liam is sliding downhill as well. His game suffers and his mom finally calls him out on his recent avoidance of Evie as well as his feelings for her.
Liam runs off to find Evie and winds up being there for her at the exact moment she needs someone.
This novella reads quickly, however the characters are well written and developed. The Greyford High world is descriptive, rich, and feels like a high school. The story relies on the character interactions and dialogue to move the plot along, which Ms. Doe does very well.
This novella is a perfect blend of the girl next door and friends to lovers troupes (at a mid high school level).
Loved Evie and Liam’s story. These two best friends were thick as thieves since they were in diapers. But what happens when one starts feeling more for the other? This sweet story is about first love and fighting for what you want. The push and pull and misunderstandings between these was a roller coaster ride and I devoured the book to find out what was going to happen next. Such a great story with a sweet HEA!
This is the first book I have read from this author and it didn’t disappoint. This is Evie and Liam’s story and is a short Novella that ticked every box.
Liam and Eve have been beat friends since they were little and have only just realised that they want more but are scared of taking their friendship to another level. When Evie goes on a date with Noah Liam realises that his feelings aren’t just friendly towards her and they argue. Liam realises that he has to do something or he will lose Evie forever.
This was a cute novella, and definitely a nice way to familiarize myself with Doe’s writing. It was a sweet, clean, classic best friends to lovers love story. While I wish the love between Liam and Evie had felt a little deeper, because they were in high school it’s not too far off for them to feel in love as quickly as they did. Also for how quickly this novella progressed was it’s understandable we didn’t have time to see them grow together as much as I would have loved that. This was an easy read and I’d definitely read more of Doe’s work in the future!
Thank you to the author for my review copy!
I love me a good friends to lovers and TPB had me smiling while wanting to reach inside my kindle to make these two just be together already!
I love a good sweet and charming novella- and Anna B Doe always writes such charming YA stories full of athletes and cliques and all that young love angst and feelings.
As part of her Greyford High series, this is a best friends to lovers story. Sweet Evie is in love with her best friend Liam- terrified he’ll love another but also terrified that if she comes out with her feelings it will ruin the friendship. She decides to go on a date- and of course that catalyzes everyone to deal with their secret feelings.
Both characters are charming, and given their history and the intensity of their bond, I couldn’t help but want a bit more backstory and a bit more time to swim around in their relationship. Alas, novellas always leave wanting even more!
If you are new to the series, this standalone novella is a quick read that will give you a perfect taste of the Greyford books and Anna B Doe’s writing.
Overall 3.5 stars
sweet, endearing, and amazing, love their story how the got to one point to the nex, is a light read that is going to leave your heart full and happy. Highly recommended.
Awww Liam and Evie were so sweet!
This was a short, sweet and easy read that left me warm-hearted.
I would love to read more of their story!
The Penalty Box is a sweet, short, high school friends-to-lovers romance. This book follows Liam and Evie, both sophomores in high school. They have been best friends their entire lives. Liam is a popular hockey player who always has time for his best friend and Evie is a tomboy and girly girl mix.
Evie’s feelings toward Liam are that of more than a friend, but fearing that her feelings would ruin their friendship she didn’t mention anything to Liam. After seeing Liam flirt with other girls, Evie decides to move on by accepting a date with a footballer. Liam’ feelings toward Evie change after seeing all the attention Evie gets from other guys. Liam struggles with his feelings for Evie as he tries to keep her in his life.
These characters were relatable and interesting and they struggled to get their happily ever after in this young adult romance. I absolutely loved this book and it can be read as a standalone in the Greyford High series.
The Penalty Box is a Young Adult best friends to lovers/hockey sports romance and is book number 4 in the Greyford High series by Anna B. Doe.
Evie Clark and Liam Ward have been best friends since they were little kids. Now they are both in High School. He just got the starter position in their hockey team and his teammates always tease him how hot his best friend is. Which he doesn’t like … at all. Of course he saw the changes and has developed feelings he never thought he would have for Evie.
Little does he know that Evie has the same feelings for him. One day she decides she can’t hide her feelings anymore and wants to talk to him and she sees him flirting with another girl and is totally crushed. So she agrees to go out with Noah, who asked her for weeks. When Liam finds out, he is not happy about it.
I must say I normally don’t read YA books, but I really loved this one! A must read!
This is a beautifully written story which had me intrigued and hooked throughout this additive page turner and I recommend this for all readers.
This was a cute novella that fell on the heels of book three, you didn’t really need to read the other stories as there was just a glimpse of the one of the couples. Liam and Evie have been best friends forever, and neither one knows that the other is feeling a bit more than just friendly. Things in their relationship take a turn when Evie goes out with another guy. Will the two lose this friendship? Or will they own up to what the problem really is? I give this cute friends to lovers story 4 stars.
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This is a short and sweet novella, friends to lovers story in the Greyford High Series! Super sweet and cute, with a bit of heartache!
Evie has been in love with her best friend, Liam Ward. Though she didn’t mean to, it just happened but he didn’t see her the way she did to him. Until he started to see her hanging out with a current football player and other guys taking interest in her *gasp* From there on Liam started to feel things and see her in a different way. Evie had little hope that something more than between them would happen but she saw him with another girl so she gave up. Decided to go out with the football player which didn’t go so well with Liam. Will Liam step up his game to get what was his all along or remain in the penalty box before it’s too late?
I really love the characters in this book, I felt I got more insight on them than The Stand-In Boyfriend The relationship between Evie and Liam was a bit angst when things started to change but not too much! It was a pull and tug; Evie trying to pull away from Liam where he’s trying to tug her back to him. The slow burn for Liam to realize his own feelings for Evie was like a waiting game!
I thought it was all so cute and very sweet, heartfelt and slight angst. Really love how this was written directed towards young readers as well the setting. I felt like a high school girl reading this.
Received this digital arc copy from the author for an honest review!!
I’ve got this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I freaking LOVED this book! This was a second piece I’ve read by Anna (first being Kiss To Conquer – Review is up) and she’s amazing!
This book was a very different than what I usually/normally read.
This was way lighter, funnier, happier but at the same time some parts were sad and heartbreaking.
I reevaluated my 5 star policy right now with Anna. I usually don’t give 5 stars until there are a certain things I’m looking for. Even though this book didn’t have it all, it was special and amazing in it’s own way.
I really loved it. I loved the relationship AND friendship of the main characters Liam and Evie. I wish I had a best friend like they are, seriously. It sometimes makes me reconsider to change my two (girl) best friends, haha. But no, in all fairness this book ruled! It was exactly what I needed.
As of right now I can already tell that any book by Anna is going to be amazing! I have one more to come, but she’s talented and the best!
Cute quick, high school friends to lovers within the Greyford High series. Liam and Evie have been neighbors and best friends for as long as they can remember but now those feelings are changing and they arent sure how to deal with them. Neither one wants to ruin the special relationship they have but neither one of them can deny they feel more.
This is the first book I have read by this author and it won’t be my last. As I am jumping straight to book four I wasn’t lost at all in this book and I will be going back to read the first three books. A short and sweet best friends-to-lovers romance with the hockey boy next door. Liam & Evie sucked me in and didn’t let go until I was done with the story
Evie has had more than just friends feelings for Liam for awhile. He just doesn’t seem to see her that way. So when a football player shows some interest, Evie decides it’s her chance to move on. Now it’s up to Liam to decide whether he’s willing to let her go or if he’s going to risk it all and hold onto her forever. Do you think he will risk it all?
3.5
Evie and Liam’s story was really cute. Evie and Liam had the whole denial thing going on but before long, their feelings became too much to ignore. Their story was one the taught you to take chances even if you’re scared, because the only thing scarier than facing your feelings is losing the one you love because you didn’t. It was low on the steam but high on the sweetness.