Dear Jerk Across the Street, sorry for accidentally walking in on you and catching an eyeful of your—equipment. And hard pass on the open invitation to join you in the shower “anytime”, A-hole.That’s the note I should’ve written. Instead I sent a pleasant and apologetic version.Had I known Phoenix “Nix” Russo would’ve been the neighbor from hell, I’d have told him right where he could shove my … him right where he could shove my words.
Nix is the big man on campus with everyone lined up at his games to make sure he knows it. Sure, he’s got piercing blue eyes, abs that don’t quit and a smile that could set fire to a set of panties from a hundred yards away, but he’s also the biggest pain in my ass.
Dear Pink-Haired Menace, learn how to take a joke and stop being such a kill-joy…
Elle Masterson called the cops on one of my parties—again. My sweet talking usually gets me out of trouble, but this time it got me into a nice pair of silver handcuffs. Now I’m on a reputation rehab tour with a stop at a spring break community service project.
Guess who’s my new boss?
Now we’re shoulder to shoulder, sweaty, tired and…she’s not anything like I expected. There might just be a heart under that hardass exterior. She’s invading my dreams and I can’t shake the feeling she’s the key to unlocking a piece of me that I’ve hidden away.
It’s only a matter of time until she finds out why I’m really here.
Maybe I can break through her walls and into her heart before that happens…one screw at a time.
***The Second We Met is a standalone new adult romance***
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4.5 stars/seconds
With one look…they started a relationship they never meant to.
With one wrong number…they became a thorn in each other side.
Preconceived notions, misguided judgments, and pasts held them in a war they never intended to start.
The Second We Met is a fun and entertaining enemies to lovers story. With some seriously entertaining secondary characters, best friends, and foreshadowing, it’s hard not to be ready for the next installments of Fulton U. I appreciate the realistic nature of Elle’s hang ups. I saw some other people bashing our heroine in reviews. Saying she wasn’t realistic. I may never have gone to college but I knew plenty of people like Elle. People struggling to find their own place, walls up to keep past hurts away, protecting themselves from future heartache. Totally not real…uh huh!
The Second We Met is an apt title because well their meet cute is unforgettable but it’s also a nod to being the second in the series and that makes me unreasonably giddy for unknown reasons.
With their emotional tolls on each other and wildly chaotic relationship, B and E and the Golden Boy will have you swept up in their mess before you even realize it. Careful, they aren’t the only ones out to snare you for their cause!
Maya really is one of the best writers of enemies to lovers romances and I loved this one. Who would have guessed that Nix the hot jock would fall in love with Elle, the geeky pink haired girl who lives across the road from him. After she catches him naked after getting out of the shower she has been the bane of his existence, and Nix has pushed her buttons just for fun.
It is so romantic how things change between them when they work together at a charity build. Maya gives us two fun characters with terrific chemistry, hilarious banter and some heartbreaking moments as we discover that Nix’s golden life is not all that it seems. The supporting characters especially Berk, Jules and Nix’s Grandfather were well written and great additions to the story. A super enjoyable read not to be missed.
This is the second book in the series and I can say it can be read as a standalone as all I can remember about the first one was that I loved it so hard I begged for this one. And I couldn’t be happier. From the first page I couldn’t put it down and I am dying to get my hands on the rest of the series already.
But right now I need to gush about Nix. He was the perfect new adult college sports hero. Even when he was being a cocky arsehole at the beginning I knew I was going to love him. And he just got better with every page. He made mistakes but he went above and beyond to fix them. And when Elle made mistakes he forgave quickly.
Elle had so much on her shoulders I was just waiting for her to snap and explode all over everyone. But she held it together and I loved that she took a leap of faith after everything she had been through.
The secondary characters were great but I felt like it was one big tease for the next few books. I am dying to get Berk and Jules story. I think that’s going to be amazing and of course Marisa and LJ and I am wondering if there are one or two other couples with stories of their own.
Although that doesn’t matter because it’s Berk and Jules next and I am praying that next is soon. Really really soon please.
Man can Maya write an enemies to lover!
If you like:
Major Swoon
Enemies-to-lovers
Hot football star
Sassy heroine with her walls up
FEELS and emotions
This is for you!!
Guys, okay first I want to be honest and say it took me awhile to warm up to Elle, there was just something about her personality that was just too close to home, she was judgemental at times, she put walls up, she was really sassy…….yep….sounds like me lol but when you delve deeper into the book you find out why she acts the way she does and I actually really love her.
Phoenix “Nix” Russo is the head honcho on campus, he’s the football king and he and Elle are neighbors and guys the way they met had me snort laughing, actually a lot of their interactions did, Maya brought as much humor as she did swoon and I couldn’t get enough!
Elle doesn’t think very highly of Nix or his friends and when she has to work side by side with him on a volunteer project she learns that with him there’s definitely more than meets the eye. I loved watching them become friends and seeing Elle’s guard go down and Nix fall for the girl next door.
Is there some drama? Of course!! Nothing good can ever come from secrets and the truth always comes to light!
The Second We Met will is super fun, emotional, swoony and these two have so much chemistry you won’t want to put it down!
The Second We Met is the second book in the Futon U series. This enemies-to-lovers romance is filled with enough sexual tension you could cut it with a knife. There’s plenty of hot chemistry, angst, funny banter and with a great group of friends.
Elle and Nix are neighbors who got off on the wrong foot when they first met—and since then became frenemies.
Nix is the star quarterback of his college team. He can seem cocky, but behind his football persona there’s more to him. He really is a good and genuine person.
Elle spoke her mind and doesn’t care what people think. She’s feisty and a badass. She’s quirky and isn’t afraid to be herself. I really liked her and how relatable she was.
Elle and Nix form a friendship which turns flirtatious. Elle realizes Nix is different and judged him too quickly. These two were perfect for each other—one another’s missing piece. It was easy to root for them and their happy ending.
The Second We Met was sweet, funny, romantic and steamy. All in all it was a fun and enjoyable read. And I honestly can’t wait for the next book in this series.
A great enemies to lovers!
The second Elle met Nix after wandering into the wrong house she automatically put him in a box as someone who was bad news. But when they were placed together to work on a project, Nix slowly started knocking down Elle’s walls. I loved Nix! He was truly a great guy even when he messed up, it was clear his heart was in the right place. It was nice reading about a Hero who was not afraid of his feelings & how he went out of his way to win Elle over despite how hard she made it.
This is the second book in the series and I’m just as hooked on this series. Nix and Elle’s first meeting is quite memorable. They are enemies at first, but once they get to know one another sparks fly. I loved the journey that is Elle and Nix. Nix is following the dream of another while. Elle is at a crossroads for her future. This book has plenty of laughs and feels. I teared up a few times towards the end. One thing that stood out to me is close relationship Nix has with his grandfather because I’m really close to my grandpa. I gobbled up this book. The characters are great. I’m really looking forward to the next book in the series. The set up for it was awesome!
The Second We Met is the newest installment from this series but my first read from the author. It’s new adult, contemporary romance with parts enemies-to-lovers and sports romance. Though part of a series, this can be read as a standalone.
I admit that what lured me in to read this book was the cover because, hot damn! That cover model is just so fiiiine!!! I agree that he is the perfect guy I imagined Nix should be.
“I’d been around hot guys before. Generally, they came in two varieties: complete-and-total douchebag and excels-at-hiding-that-he-is-a-complete-and-total douchebag. Guess which camp Phoenix too-cool-not-to-shorten-his-name-to-Nix fell into.”
Elle had to find a new house after catching his philantrophist but two timing boyfriend in bed with a volunteer. After barging in on the wrong house and getting an eyeful of Nix, the two had it since then. Some phone calls to the police to shut down his parties that turned to Nix being cuffed and charged. When they both participated at a build a house project, will it be the perfect time for them to do their do-over of the second they met?
Elle is a smart mouth girl who tries to make ends meet by joining numerous volunteer works to get the Huffington award and its prize money. She was cheated by her two previous boyfriends and one of them being a football player, cemented her opinion of Nix. In my opinion, I guess that makes her a bit of a man hater? Phoenix or Nix is more than just the surface, football player. He much preferred the organized chaos of working at the kitchen of his grandfather’s restaurant. But being a dutiful son, he tried to live up to his father’s expectations to play for the big league.
I’ve enjoyed the witty retorts, back and forth of Elle and Nix right from the start of the story. I’m a huge fan of enemies-to-lovers trope and it never fails to make an engaging read. But aside from that, this is a story of making the right choice, following your dreams and self discovery. Highly recommends this and pretty much excited to read the next couple’s story!
The Second We Met by Maya Hughes was awesome! It was angsty, funny, romantic and just so awesome!
I fell in love with Nix and Elle immediately. Their enemies-to-lovers relationship were like catnip to me and me and I just ate it all up.
I loved Elle’s quirkiness. She was feisty, funny, sweet and so cool! I loved her banter and bickering with Phoenix and when things grew between them, I fell in love with her more. I loved all aspects of this character.
Phoenix was just awesome. Heart of gold, and the body of a god. I adored his wonderful personality and the way he was with his family, friends, Elle. He was the dream boyfriend, and I am so in love with him.
This book was sweet, it was steamy, it was romantic. It was full of angst and drama and passion and I lived for all of it.
The Second We Met is a definite recommendation. If you love sweet, angsty college romances with a golden-hearted football player and a feisty, sweet woman then this is the perfect read for you!
Extremely entertaining, captivating and interesting sexy read. I could not put it down. Wonderfully written with strong, intriguing characters. I want to read more from this author.
I enjoyed this a lot overall. I’m giving it 4 out of 5 stars. This review is for an ARC, and reflects my honest opinion.
It took me a while to get back into the Fulton U world, and remember all the characters. I kept getting it confused with another series, but once my mind was clear on who everyone was again, everything went smoothly. I finished the book in 3 nights, although I did read most of it in 2. I loved the characters, and can’t wait to read more from them.
I remembered Phoenix (Nix) from the first book, but I wasn’t sure if he was just okay, or I loved him. After finishing this, I was definitely leaning towards the loving him side. I thought he was really sweet, and a guy that can cook? Swoon! Plus I adored the relationship he had with his grandpa. As for Elle, I did like her for the most part. I liked her less than Seph, but that was mostly due to her being judgy sometimes, and also kind of oblivious. She was a good person though, so I forgave her. This was mostly enemies-to-lovers with how it played out, but it sort of become friends-to-lovers at one point too.
The last couple chapters were adorable, and after that ending, I want the next book ASAP. This wasn’t a tearjerker, but I did cry some while reading. There were definitely some emotional parts! I highly recommend this series if you like new adult, or sports, romance books.
I loved this fun enemies to lovers romance. Be prepared to laugh and swoon as Elle and Nix’s story unfolds. The sparks are hot and plentiful as sharp, clever barbs fly back and forth and the sexual tension simmers. I loved both of these characters so much. I felt for them both and I thought they were both incredibly relatable. Elle has earned those heavy protective walls she has the hard way and even if I sometimes felt a bit frustrated by how hard they were to get past, I could also completely understand her desperate need to protect her heart and the huge trust issues she had. As for Nix, well it is not easy to find the courage to walk your own path. Burdened by expectations and a deep seated longing for approval have made him always stick easy road. What made this story so special was that it was not just swoon worthy romance about finding love. It was also a wonderful story about learning who you really are, accepting how things are, finding the courage to take that chance and daring to risk your heart even after you have had it broken before. A simply terrific read that left me already craving book #3.
Maya Hughes has done it again – The Second We Met is so good, and nothing less than amazing story.
This author seduced me by Her words, She sucks me compeletely in college world of Fulton U. My heart feel captivated and very happy – every next book from Maya is always better than the previous one. I love to watch how she is „growing up” as an author. All Her stories were amazing, but with The Second We Met, Maya shows that she made the best decision ever with becoming an author – let Her writting never stops, I want more and more of Her words.
I was waiting so impatiently for Nix and Elle’s book since book no 1 in this series. I was so curious what twists this author will prepare for Nix… and what kind of a woman he will have by His side. Gahhhhh I knew it will be emotinal, funny and steamy adventure… HOWEVER it was so much more. I couldn’t dream about more prefect Girl for Nix than Elle is . She’s amazing ! From the begining I was in love with her character. I wanted to be her best friend, her favorite sister… and everything else. Maybe she’s little too much stuppborn, BUT Nix needed to have adequate rival, right? This sexy young man has to find out that not everything will comes easily. There are some things in life , that are worth fighting. When love is somewhere around, nothing else is matter, beacause that’s the most important thing in life.
Highly recomenndet title for readers of all kind!
WOW!! This is my first Maya Hughes book and she has made it to my “must one-click” list!! I live for enemies to lovers romances and this had it all, I fell hard for Nix and Elle! Their chemistry, amazing. Their banter, hilarious & frustrating. The way they finally opened up to each other, priceless. This story grabbed from the first chapter and I just could NOT put it down. I’ll be going back and reading the first book in the Fulton U series (each book can be read as a standalone) and many more of Maya’s books!
The Fulton U football players are back again and this time it is Nix’s story.
The Second We Met is the sweetest and cutest frenemies story that I have ever read. I loved everything about Phoenix “Nix” Russo. He loves his overbearing dad who he desperately wants to please but is fighting doubts about his career that may completely change his future. He also cares deeply about his football teammates, so much in fact, that he has earned the nicknamed “dad”. His only flaw seems to be his need to tease and torment his uptight, pink haired neighbor Elle Masterson.
They way these two met is the makings of a rom com movie. From mistaken houses to condoms dropping out of boxes (don’t ask!), to loud parties and calls to cops about said loud parties, Nix and Elle were bound to be nothing more than enemies. But the world seems to be conspiring against Elle because the one volunteer job she needs to help her graduate college is the same one Nix has been assigned to. Yikes!
There were times throughout this story that Elle annoyed me. She was so wishy-washy about her feelings for Nix that it gave me a headache. But I did like that she was always introspective, looking at her flaws and past mistakes and trying to rectify them. But really, Nix never gave up on Elle, even when there were times that she would push him away. Out of the two of these characters, I definitely loved Nix the most.
This story is a standalone but is connected to Maya Hughes other book “The Perfect First’. While I liked that book, I really enjoyed Nix and Elle’s story more than Reece and Seph’s story.
Dear Jerk across the street, can I be your tight end or any other position you want me in.
All jokes aside Nix is all that and some. He may come off as the jock who has it all but that’s just the surface there’s more to Nix than meets the eye. Elle aka B and E has had a huge dislike for him since the moment they met. She’s sure he has zero redeeming qualities but what happens when they’re forced to work side by side. It’s hard for her to keep her hate in check when he keeps being so nice and thoughtful.
Maybe these two enemies might find some common ground or it may all come tumbling down.
5 Nerf dart shaped stars!!!!!
Maya knocked it out of the park with this beauty. The one-liners. Those alone were worth reading the entire book. I laughed my a** off. Some of which , I maaaay be stealing for future conversations.
Elle and Nix’s first meeting is memorable lol. She has a MAJOR chip in her shoulder that he doesn’t do much to disengage. It only gets worse when she plays a part in him being arrested. Not the best way to start a relationship.
A little good PR sounds like the perfect opportunity for both. They find out that sometimes first impressions aren’t always correct. That sometimes, letting your guard down, can take you to the highest peaks or the lowest lows. It just all depends on how much you’ll willing to risk.
The Second we Met is the next installment in the Fulton U series and it did not disappoint!! Elle is one stubborn stubborn girl who lets the past hold her back keeping her from a promising future. Nix is the hero quarterback with a heart of gold, but fame isn’t high on his list of wants. The Second we Met had a little bit of everything, hot, sexy, drama, laughs, some angst and explosive chemistry between these two! I loved getting reacquainted with the rest of the FU gang and I can not wait for whats to come!!
I forgot how much I LOVE a good enemies to lovers romance! Nix and Elle have chemistry in spades. I enjoyed the ‘warm fuzzies’ between them almost as much as their bickering. I loved how well they just ‘fit’ each other, completing each other and was pulling for them to figure out a way past the forces and the unknown that was seemingly pulling them apart. And the glimpse of Reece and Seph from the first book of Fulton U made me smile. Their journey is everything.
I was convinced that no one could top the story of Seph and Reese in the Perfect First but Maya Hughes has proved me wrong. Nix is part of the Falcons football team but he is also one of the guys who resides in the frat house, “The Brothel” at Falcon University. The beginning of his love/hate relationship with Elle starts right before their Junior year when she moves in to the rental home across from the frat house. Fast forward to senior year when the Hate part of their relationship comes to a head. Football season has just ended but all the real plays are about to begin. Elle is working herself to the bone, striving to live, complete her degree and capture the humanitarian award she needs to move forward towards a career. Nix needs to concentrate on his degree while preparing for the NFL draft and a professional career in football. Neither one needs the distraction of a relationship. Fate always seems to have a different plan. I loved this one so much that I can hardly wait for Berk and Jules – secret love can be so sweet!