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.

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!!

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!

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

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.

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.

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.

Excellent Friends to Lovers Romance Story!!♥️

I highly recommend The End Zone. L.J. Shen is one of my favorite authors because she creates great worlds with wonderful characters that are well rounded. I love how her stories ends with a HEA but the journey there is always complex and The End Zone is all of that and more. The End Zone is a little shorter than most of her books but it still told an excellent story of two children who were best friends and turned into lovers. There are twists and turns and one big secret that came out of left field and I for one am glad that it didn’t end Jolie and Sage. There were a lots of heat and chemistry between Sage and Jolie. I have to say that I read so much I don’t always have a book friend but I think Sage could really totally be mine 😂🥰🥰. The End Zone will have you laughing, a little sad, and so many other emotions so be prepared. In other words if you are reading at night next to your spouse and laugh out loud you can potentially wake them which they will not appreciate...true story 😂😂

The narrators did an excellent with their tone, speed, and emotion they conveyed while telling the story of Jolie and Sage. Their voices were perfect for the characters and there was enough of a difference in how they changed their voices for the different characters. It is important so as not to confuse listeners on who is speaking.

I listened and read parts of the story as I had the ebook and audiobook so am leaving a review for both formats. The ebook had an extended epilogue that I had to laugh and I loved it! 😂 so for readers it is definitely worth reading it but if you have the option I would suggest getting both as you can trade off seamlessly. Hope you love the story whether you are reading it or listening to it.

So so good

I know there are some mixed reviews on this book. I thought the story was highly romantic and the only thing that would have made it better is having more time with Sage and Jolie.

If you want to truly experience this book - get the Audible.

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).