Preview
  • Long Shot: A HOOPS Novel

  • Hoops Series, Book 1
  • By: Kennedy Ryan
  • Narrated by: Sean Crisden, Jo Raylan
  • Length: 13 hrs and 10 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (2,216 ratings)

Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.

Long Shot: A HOOPS Novel

By: Kennedy Ryan
Narrated by: Sean Crisden, Jo Raylan
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $21.49

Buy for $21.49

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

A forbidden love story 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 abuse not involving the hero.

©2018 Kennedy Ryan (P)2018 Tantor
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Featured Article: From Sweet to Steamy, Here Are Our Picks for the Best Black Romance Authors


Romance is a vast genre, but there is still a comparatively small number of Black authors working within it. But stories by Black authors are essential—their viewpoints, their art, and their experiences should be uplifted, celebrated, and widely listened to. Here are some of our favorite Black romance authors who are making their mark in the field. No matter what kind of romance fiction tugs at your heartstrings, there’s something to fall in love with in this list.

What listeners say about Long Shot: A HOOPS Novel

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,709
  • 4 Stars
    361
  • 3 Stars
    95
  • 2 Stars
    31
  • 1 Stars
    20
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,620
  • 4 Stars
    359
  • 3 Stars
    106
  • 2 Stars
    21
  • 1 Stars
    18
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,644
  • 4 Stars
    328
  • 3 Stars
    88
  • 2 Stars
    29
  • 1 Stars
    33

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

August West!

This was my first Kennedy Ryan's book and won't be the last. This is the first book in the Hoops Series. This forbidden love story, is set in the world of the NBA. This story wasn't what I had expected, it was so much more. The story is well written, realistic and breathtaking. The storyline is filled with angst, drama and suspense. I loved Iris and August. The other characters were also interesting. I can't wait for the next book in the Series! The narration was absolutely stunning, emotional and breathtaking. I really enjoyed my listening and I totally recommend this audiobook.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Warning label needed

This is my first Kennedy Ryan book. Although I loved it because it dealt with some really raw emotional stuff. This book is about overcoming domestic violence, rape and abuse and at the end of it all finding the love of your life through it all. There's a portion of postpartum depression and also getting through it. If there was one thing to say I think it should have noted the trigger warnings rather than sensitivity to others. I cringed at the most brutal parts cheered at the good because it definitely needed those good parts to be in there and to have that HEA. All in all good read just be warned that a good portion of this story has an extremely sensitive nature and my cause some triggers.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

This Story...

Heart wrenching and absolutely amazing. This book is so important. The story was funny, sad, suspenseful, terrifying and so much more. The narration was amazing and made me feel with the characters. I wasn’t just listening to the story. I was feeling the feelings of these amazing characters.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Intense

Will start this review by emphasizing that the small trigger warning noted in the blurb for this book is not to be taken lightly. When I see trigger warnings I always read reviews here and on Goodreads so I can go into the book with my eyes wide open.

They take is about survival and the journey to trust again and dare to be happy. Poor girl was victimized by everyone that was a potential savior it’s no wonder she had a hard time trusting.

Both narrators did a great job portraying their characters and bringing the book to life.
#AudiobookObsessionsReviewer #CristinasAudiobookObessions

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Intense and Beautiful Love Story

This may very well be the best audiobook I have ever listened to. I have noxwords for Jo Raylan’s portrayal of Iris. It is just overwhelming and raw and so heartfelt. I could feel so many emotions through her voice, she left me speechless. Sean Crisden was also excellent as August. The story is very difficult because it is sometimes painful, and they did it justice. It is awesome!!!

Long Shot was my first Kennedy Ryan book, and it definitely won’t be my last. I loved it so much. So, so, much. I love how real and heartfelt it feels. Iris and August are both incredibly awesome characters. They felt like real people to me.

Long Shot is truly beautiful. Everything about this story is simply outstanding. The writing, the characters, the story. Absolutely everything. Kennedy Ryan is a master storyteller, so talented. She makes you feel so much, experience so many emotions through her words. It’s raw, intense, sometimes painful, sometimes joyful, but the most amazing of all is that it feels so real.

Having said that, it’s not an easy book to read. It has plenty of ugliness, and violence, and hurt. But that is what makes it so powerful, so real. So compelling. There is so much violence against women in the world we live in, it’s something we even see every day on the news. This story tries to shine a few lights on this issue, specially how we as women see it from the outside. We need to be more compassionate and not judgmental. We, as women, need to stop judging women for being victims, for “allowing” men to abuse them, simply because we have no idea what they are going through.

But don’t worry, Long Shot is truly an epic love story. From the very beginning you can see the love, the connection between August and Iris, their devotion to each other. You can taste it. It’s a story of true, undying, unconditional love. Among all that raw ugly reality of violence and abuse, you see the beauty in Iris’s inner strength and August love for her. And as much as it their circumstances make you sad and despair, it also warms your heart and fills it with hope.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wow ... just wow

So you shouldn’t read this if you can’t handle graphic domestic violence but if you can omg you won’t be disappointed. This book left me with a hangover and I had to download the next book. You won’t retreat this

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Emotionally Brilliant!

Loved the story line, narration, and overall message. Very good read, powerful, empowering, and thought provoking!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

W. O. W.

The story is 5 stars - please know there are a lot of triggers in this book, but it’s very emotional. I had to get over the male narrators version of the female character (it just sounded...ummm...like bad.) But, as August - he’s totally believable. The female narrator puts you right into those scenes and you feel everything! Really enjoyed it, this is my first book from this author and I’m excited to read more!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

EMOTIONAL

This was a very.emotional book. I wanted to stop listening to this book several times but I continued to listen. I'm a fan of dark and disturbing books but for some reason I couldn't take what was happening to Iris. Deep down I felt her pain and understood the situation she was in. Iris was a survivor and I'm so happy she found her HEA at the end. I'm glad that the perfect timing came for Iris and August. Narrators did a great job.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Bitter sweet

I thought this was well done, yes it had some parts that were a bit.. much when they got into the domestic violence but I thought it painted the picture well. So many people think it’s all roses dealing with a athlete when it very well may not be. It was a happy ending I’m glad I stuck it out an listened until the end!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful