Reviewed by Ro
TITLE: Schooling the Quarterback
SERIES: GSU Book 1
AUTHOR: Laura John
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 218 pages
RELEASE DATE: March 7, 2024
BLURB:
Football is my life.
Ever since I was little, my dream has been to play in the NFL. Now, I’m one step closer—the star Quarterback for the GSU Koalas. But I’m not exactly the studious type. Books and I don’t really get along, and if I can’t find a way to get my grades up, I’ll be kissing my football career goodbye.
With the risk of being benched looming over my head, I hire a tutor to get me back on track. When we meet up for our first session, I’m not prepared for Gabriel Miller. He’s the sexiest man I’ve ever met.
I feel an instant connection with him despite our differences, but when I get up the nerve to ask him out, he turns me down.
I’m not used to people telling me no, and now I’m determined to come up with a foolproof game plan to prove that I’m worth taking a chance on. Losing isn’t an option, because if there’s one thing Chase Anderson is good at, it’s winning.
But how do I convince the sexy nerd to finally say yes?
REVIEW:
This is the first book in the Green Springs University (GSU) series and focuses on Chase, a football phenom who is very worried about getting benched because of his grades. He tries, but the business class, especially the terms, make zero sense to him and he forgets them immediately. In desperation, he turns to tutoring, where he meets Gabriel, super smart (as in, started college at 16 smart) and really, really not into sports. He and his roommates are confusedby the obsession with sports. “Spring Green University lives and breathes sports, all sports, so it’s not even a seasonal thing, which sucks.” He’s at Spring Green because it’s one of the best law schools in the country, he’s studying to be a lawyer, and added bonus, he’s close to his Nana. Poor Gabriel has the worst parents. “At first, I thought it was because parents and grandparents show love differently, but I quickly found out it was because my parents were just plain old assholes.” To the point there, when Gabriel came out they kicked him out. His Nana took him in, tore his parents a new one and cut off all contact with them. Nana, let’s just put it out there, is awesome!
The book is told in alternating first-person POV by Chase and by Gabriel. I appreciated that because we get in both of their heads. Chase is astonished when Gabriel doesn’t recognize him “I stare at him like he’s grown a second head. I knew there were people out there who didn’t like sports but I’ve never met one before. It’s like I’m sitting next to an alien right now.” I rolled my eyes at that, because as Gabriel says, “I hate to break it to you, Chase, but not everyone’s world revolves around sports. Some people have better things to do with their time.” I wholeheartedly agree!
What matters is, Gabriel puts in extra effort to make sure Chase improves his grade (brilliantly, linking the business terms to football terms) and in the meantime, Chase is really pushing for a date. Gabriel can’t figure it out – why him? But slowly, Chase wears him down. Gabriel’s friends, Max, Sascha and Victor, all vet Chase and approve. All of them are awesome in their own right and this group of roommates are loyal, supportive and basically the best.
I am not a fan of super angsty but this is easy to almost a too sweet point. There is a tiny bit of angst that comes from an outside source (where we get to see Gabriel use his lawerly instincts) but that’s about it. We meet the friends, and Chase’s are also awesome. Chase begins to understand how lucky he is. “Sometimes I forgot how privileged I am….Maybe that makes me an asshole, but it wasn’t out of malice.”
This is an easy read, and like I said, very sweet and simple.
RATING: 
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