The End Zone

By: L. J. Shen

Narrated by: Tessa Ellory, Joe Arden

Length: 2 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's Summary

Jolie Louis is a smart girl. She knows that her best friend, Sage Poirier, is a bad idea. He's a walking, talking cliché. The Adonis quarterback with the bulging biceps and harem of fangirls trailing behind him on campus like a stench you can't get rid of. Sadly, that's also the reason she can't stay away from him. Well, that and the fact that they're roommates.

Jolie is already straddling the line between friendship and more when Sage comes to her with an offer she cannot refuse: Be his fake girlfriend and live for free for the rest of the semester. She tells herself that she can handle it. He's just the boy she saved 10 years ago, right? Wrong. So very wrong. He is a man now, and she is his captive, heart, body, and soul....

©2018 L. J. Shen (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

✫✫ 3 Stars ✫✫

This is a 50/50 book for me. I like 50% of the story! I love a friends to lovers story, I really enjoyed most of the sexy scenes and I have to say I love that the "pretend" didn't last long. On the other hand, I rolled my eyes A LOT during this short 3 hours book. It mostly felt a little hokey to me but really I should not expect more from a short story since there isn't much background build up to help feel the story.

The narration was good. Both narrators did a great job but I did notice that she sounds like a teenager and he sounds like a 30-40 year old man, that was a little off putting but that was casting and no reflection on either of their narration skills.

10 people found this helpful

A Quick Read that hits the Spot!!

I’m not much into Novellas but I honestly enjoyed this one.
In true LJ Shen fashion, she packs the heat and the passion in this enjoyable friends to Lovers romance.
I listened to this on audio and I honestly felt this was one of Joe Arden’s best performances. His voice was husky and deep and absolutely on point.
This was the first time I listened to Narrator, Tessa Ellory and I highly enjoyed her sweet southern accent and soft spoken voice.
Great narration and a Great Listen!!

3 people found this helpful

Douche Bag Alpha

Sage had the potential to be a melt your heart southern heart throb. However, he developed into a possessive, entitled Alpha with complete disrespect for boundaries. This was my first read from this author and I’m hoping that her other male characters will be less offensive.

1 person found this helpful

if you like weak female leads, here you go

was this a concept story during a dry spell? this book sucked. terribly. immature characters, baby mama drama and seven bazillion chances for a loser boy. nope.

1 person found this helpful

Don't let the length fool you!

Just because this is a short one, it does not take away from the punch that LJ Shen is able to put into it. This gem is a fully, well developed story and does not give you that rushed feeling. Meet childhood friends Jolie and Sage. As they grow up, Sage becomes the football star he is always meant to be and Jolie remains his rock through his life. When his friend decides he would like to date Jolie, all things change, and we get the taste of the hotholes that LJ Shen is famous for. This short is full of sexual chemistry, a little angst and characters that you can't help but fall for. She even gives us a glimpse into the future with an unbelievable epilogue. Cannot wait to see where she goes with this!

I love that Shen brought this to audio with Joe Arden and Tessa Ellory. Joe is a wonderful narrator and he brought Sage's attitude and vulnerabilities to life with his voice. This is my first encounter with Tessa Ellory and she has that perfect new adult voice for Jolie, and she hyped up the angst in the right places making you feel each insecurity Jolie had. Loved this!

1 person found this helpful

OK novella

This was OK for a novella. I was hoping for something longer and more involved like Tyed, which I love. The narration was really good. Joe Arden is one of my favorite narrators.

3 people found this helpful

too.short

wish it was much longer for when book you know. but it was still good

Want more of the end zone

It’s a bit of a fast short story, but it felt long in a great way, lol ... ahh sexy,funny and and heart warming The end Zone got me hooked. I’m going to end up reading / listening to this audiobook again . It’s a most read 5⭐️ all the way love the narrators .

cute and naughty

Loved this short story. Full of complications, new adventures and LOVE. This story is a must listen

It was good

I liked both Jo and Sage
They’re characters were like able and believable. The story was good. No wholes. Pacing was consistent. I’m not sure why I didn’t LOVE this one as I do with most everything LJ Shen writes but The Endzone was just good for me.

A contemporary New Adult novella

This is a great novella. The characters are really well drawn, entertaining and likeable, and as with LJ Shen's other books, there's really good banter between the characters. This is a story of childhood friendship between Sage and Jolie, that grows into something more. I really enjoyed the narration in this audio, and found it was a perfect length story for me to listen to in one go (it's circa 3 hours).