The Short Game (Par For The Course Book 1) by J.L. Campbell

The Short Game (Par For The Course Book 1) Reviews

• 
  N.D.

  This is my first time reading a novel by J.L. Campbell. I purchased it yesterday and finished it today. It's a well-written and quick read. Overall, the characters, main and supporting, are entertaining and likable. Anna-Lise and Garth are two of six close friends. This is a friends to lovers story, which can work well. The normal barriers creep up, such as fears of losing their friendship if they shift the dynamics of their relationship. The main issue, however, is that both characters are in a relationship with other people and are blind to the depth of non-platonic feelings they have for each other. This is the bulk of the story and the part that left me baffled and sometimes annoyed with the main characters and the people who wanted more from them than they were willing to give.
  
  There were scenes with Anna-Lise and Jace, her boyfriend, that were one-sided and unfair. I questioned, repeatedly, why Anna-Lise's and Garth's significant others would stay with them when they were so insecure about their standing in the relationship and with the tight friendship between Anna-Lise, Garth and their friends. This is the thing, which I had to remind myself as I read, people stay in doomed relationships for all kinds of reasons. People try to change the person they're with to get what they think they want and/or need.
  
  Relationships can be messy and people, even good people, can make poor decisions that hurt others. Overall, The Short Game is a solid read.
• 
  Tiffany

  This is a romance about two friends that come with some obstacles. Garth and Anna-Lise both have been denying their feelings for one another for a long time. Anna-Lise doesn't want to act on their relationship for a couple of different reasons. They both have to decide if they are willing to take that jump.
  
  I was really drawn into this book and I loved the sports aspect to the book. I am hoping their friends will also get a story of their own. Overall I thought this was a great read.
• 
  Jane

  ✨✨➡️ I received this book in exchange for an honest review. ⬅️✨✨
  
  Guy and girl are friends for years. They couldn't stand their friend's partner and they don't know why. It seems very obvious to me though. Lol. It's very difficult to develop from friends to lovers cos if being lovers couldn't work out, not only you'll be losing a lover but also a friend. In this case is best friend.
  
  If you're interested in reading friends turn lovers, this will be a book for you.
• 
  Hilda

  I received this book via book group.
  I will be honest it took me a while to get into this book. The Short Game is a friends to lover’s storyline that is a solid read but just didn’t grab me and take ahold. I found that book is a solid read with good characters, although one got on my nerves, and a strong story line. I felt that the relationships were strong and the cautiousness that they approached the new relationship was needed but at times drawn out. The chemistry between the characters was well written. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes the friends to lover’s storyline.
  
• 
  Amanda Showalter

  I enjoyed this book. I like the by-play between the characters and the shock when Anna and Garth realize that they have feelings for each other. Funny how it takes a 3rd person to make someone realize who you care for. I like the way that they have to decide if they want to go for it and ruin what they have or find out that they have a love that's worth it. I found myself liking some characters while hating each other. That is a good thing, if an author can make you feel love or hate towards a character it means they are a good author.
• 
  Helen Clark

  Here all alone
  
  What a great intimate tale. Its funny how we're so cruel to ourselves when accepting our true feelings for another.
  
  I couldn't believe the denial going on amongst the couples.
  
  One kiss caused all kinds of havoc.
  
  Great story!
• 
  Donna Scoggins

  The Perils of Friendship
  
  Friends know each other from beginning to end. However, should they become lovers? Let Anna-Lise and Garth share their story with you!
• 
  Shae

  The Short Game was their first book in the Par for the Course series. This story is about the journey of two childhood friends that discovered a love interest in each other. Anna-Lise and Garth were friends since their very first golf lesson. Over the years, the hug out every Saturday playing golf with a group of friends. This group had a special bond their significant others envied and despised. Relationships truly changed after a near-death accident with Garth and Vance.
  
  Can men and women have a platonic relationship? If you were the significant other, are you concerned? Do you find yourself hating your friends' dates? Garth and Annalise will test your belief in platonic relationships. I recommend reading this book; I saw bits of my friendships in this book.
• 
  Nathalie

  This book was a pleasant read.
  
  A great story of friendship becoming love, and how it can turn your life inside out, especially when both friends are already in a relationship !!
  
  There was humour, sincerity, suspens and unexpected turns of events.
  
  I liked this book and read it very fast.
  
  I received this book from Ebook Dicovery in exchange for my honest review
• 
  Celeste

  I received an advanced readers copy of "The Short Game" by J.L. Campbell.
  Character development is important when I read a body of work. As it enables me to connect with the story on a level, that allows me to envision myself in the situation. Especially when the core subject matter is female to male platonic relationships. As I do believe men and women can be friends, without romantic ties. Yet, if the line is ever cross it must be one that gradually happens that is authentic to the foundation of the relationship. That is what we have with Garth and Anna-Lise, as they are two people who grew together in spite of having entertained others.
  
  In this story you see a bond of friendship, that is unbreakable. Garth & Anna-Lise and their friends, sought to be their for one another regardless of what others may have thought. You saw what it meant to be able to support one's friend in a dark moment. You saw what it meant to recognize when things changes and yet due to inner turmoil and doubt, that the strings that sought to bring the two together was constantly being pulled.
  
  It is that age old questions, of do friends make for better lovers? In this tell, you see the evolution. You see the slight changes that let you know there is more than what meets the eye. You want for the best, and you know that on a deeper level that Garth and Anna-Lise were meant to be, even when their hearts and minds were not aligned.
  
  You'll enjoy the story if you can see that relationships are work fighting for. That friendships can be maintained even when romance peeps its head through. As love comes after like, and when you recognize that love surpasses like, and is worth taking the risk, you come to root for Garth and Anna-Lise to take the plunge.
• 
  Brynette Turner

  Can I start by saying that only J.L. Campbell could make a person who hates golf fall in love with characters in a book where golf is their favorite pastime? Yep, she's that great at crafting strong plots in ways that make the characters' hobbies an integral part of their personalities; you'll understand if you take some time to dissect their strengths.
  
  This is a wonderfully written, cute, friends-to-lovers story with interesting main characters, strong supporting characters, and plot twists that are realistic and heartwrenching. The reader isn't always certain about which decisions will be made and which paths will be chosen, so that adds to the enjoyment. It's fascinating watching Anna-Lise and Garth come to terms with buried emotions, complicated entanglements, and long-term expectations. What I love most is the subtext of "What's for you is for you." Everything happens in its own sweet time, right?
  
  A solid 4 stars was easy to give. Now, I'm eager to read The Long Game because these snarky friends are my kind of folks.
• 
  Zoe

  "I received a copy of this book from eBook Discovery. This is my honest review.
  This book didn't grab me in the way many do. Saying that I really enjoyed it but could put it down and read it when I had the chance rather than not being able to put it down. I felt it was very drawn out and it could have been written better with more added to it rather than being padded out in the way it was.
  It was a lovely romance but you knew what was coming from less than half way through you just didn't know how they would get there.
  I would recommend it if you like a nice cosy romance without all the graphic sex that some have. I enjoyed it and will read the rest of the series to see what happens with them. I like the style the author had and will read more books by them. I'd say a book for a weekend or holiday romantic read.
• 
  Christine Menditto

  I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.
  
  This book was okay for me. The chemistry between the characters were great and I loved the friendships between everyone, but I had a hard time dealing with how whiny/immature Anna-Lise was throughout the book and her indecisiveness. It just felt like she could not make a decision if her life depended on it. That goes for both Nadine and Jace as well, they were acting like it was their way or no way at all. Some of it I understand due to the cheating, but then just end the relationship if you can't trust one another. None of them seem to actually act 30 like they are supposed to be. Like I said, this book was okay because there were some good parts, but it was hard to deal with the childish behavior.
• 
  Vivian

  Sometimes you are just meant to be with someone - no matter how long it takes. Everyone around Anna-Lise and Garth can see that they have been "in like" for years, but they can't seem to admit it to each other until now when their friendship starts changing after an unexpected kiss. It was a rough road on the path to true love for them - bad breakups with exes, uncertainty on both of their parts if they are doing the right thing by becoming lovers instead of remaining best friends - all the angst is here - and I was invested in their story and rooting for an HEA the entire time! I also really enjoyed the close knit group of friends and family support.
  
  I received this book for free from e-book Discovery. This is my honest opinion.
• 
  Nicole Normand

  I received a free copy from eBookDiscovery; this is my honest review. 4 stars.
  The story in itself could have been like: "friends to lovers? of course they chose lovers!". Maybe they did, maybe they didn't...but the author adds a few twists, a few sides, a bit of romance here and there. It was an easy read and I read it in one day. This is a multi-cultural book; I don't read a lot of those for some reason (maybe there's not enough of them out there) and I thought this one was interesting, but the difficulties of different cultures did not show here. All the secondary characters were important. I would have liked to have more description about their environment; for ex. the surrounding of where they play golf or where they live and work, that sort of thing.
• 
  Rose Morales

  The Short Game
  
  This book was somewhat different from the books I’ve read in the past by Mrs. Campbell. I know a lot of her books deal with friendships, but for me this wasn’t the same per se. In this day and age, she took me back to the days when friends weren’t just around for what one could give them. They were there because they truly loved and wanted what was best for you because you brought them happiness and companionship. Today most people are fair weather and only want you to help get them through their tuff times while abandoning you in your time of need; this book didn’t have the modern friendship of today, but of yesteryears.
  
• 
  Rosie

  I really did love the connection with Anna-Lise and Garth. There is always something about best friends falling in love that speaks to me. But the fights that each would have their significant other seemed too forced and unrealistic to me. I just didn't think they were well thought out. I found Jace and Nadine annoying, but maybe that's how she wanted to portray them. They just didn't work for me. Aisha was my favorite character. She was the best friend that any ggrl could want. Overall, this was a good book, but some of the characters could have been developed a bit differently for me.
• 
  Ka'Lu Underwood

  This was an easy read with a set of friends that had to decide if they were actually The One for each other. I almost got aggravated with the heroine for not realizing early on what she needed to do. But if she had, there would not have been a book. Anyway, they were pleasant young people that had to come to terms with their feelings, and decide if crossing the line from friendship to lover was worth it. I would be interested in reading about the other friends in the book in the future.
  
  I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
• 
  Ree

  I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this novel.
  
  I really enjoyed this friends-to-lovers tale. I liked the fact that there was a strong bond between the friends that kept going over a decade. Garth & Lise's story shows that sometimes, the best thing or person for you could be under your nose for the longest while before you realise it.
  
  I liked the Caribbean setting, too. I liked that the author used the secondary characters to be catalysts in their own way.
  
  I definitely would love to read Vance & Ayisha's story.
• 
  Michelle

  This is a 3.5 star for me. I'm on the edge. I liked this book but the H/h just waffled back and forth too much. I just didn't like the indecision. It made both of them look weak.
  
  By the time it was decided that Garth and Anna-Lise would try a relationship I almost didn't care. This also caused the ending to be rushed. Suddenly, in the last few chapters (give or take) you have them breaking current relationships, getting together, being stalked and professing love for each other. I would rather they got together mid-book and spend the last half of the book working things out.
• 
  BookCrazy

  So I love the friends-to-lovers premise and I like to try something new, like a book featuring golf. But this just didn't do it for me.
  1. Really? How can you not know you are romantically interested in your best friend when you are constantly jealous of his girlfriend's? WAKE UP.
  2.I wanted to learn more about golf but that was a bit too much. The book was full of explanations and technical references that I didn't get.
  3. And there were a few words that I didn't even understand. However, I was warned that the author's used slang from Jamaica.
  
  So unfortunately, I didn't like it.
• 
  Geri Evans

  Yes To “The Short Game!” 🤗
  
  Unfortunately, in this day and time, you don’t find many people who have real life-long friendships that are real, solid and loving! I loved everything about this group of friends who loved each other unconditionally! Even though there were issues with outside relationships, the underlying love between this couple came to the forefront after a horrible situation. They worked through it, but not without repercussions! I loved everything about this story! Now I’m going to see about “The Long Game!” Highly Recommended! Kudos, J.L. Campbell! 💜
• 
  C.M.

  Not so short, very sweet
  
  I liked Anna-Lise, Garth, and their crew. The friends golfed together and hung out. Garth's girlfriend Nadine was a snob and standoffish with the friends. Anna-Lise man Jace had the same jealousy bug. The story took us through the couples constant fighting and Anna and Garth trying to fight the inevitable. The couple that was meant to be ended up together. A good read.
• 
  Alex Jo

  This book was about a group of friends that are passionate about golf with a very strong friendship after years that they known each other some romance is growing. One thing that I noticed and enjoyed is the multicultural fact in the characters of the book. I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
  
  
• 
  Nati

  An interesting story about love, friendship and everything in between. Well written and with both points of view of the story, from Gart and Anne-Lisse. I'm looking forward to read the next story about Vince and Ayesha. I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. This is my honest review.