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The College Pact
The Last First Game
When Lila Avers accepts a medical internship through Astor University in California for the fall semester of her senior year, she doesn’t expect much. In fact, she’d rather work on her tan and meet a surfer instead of logging long hours at the hospital and studying. But before she even boards her flight to LA, she meets Astor University wide receiver, Cade Wilkins. A football player. When Cade turns out to be so much more than just muscle, Lila is smitten. Maybe a semester away from her friends won’t be so bad after all.
Cade Wilkins is beyond ready for his last season at Astor. Already being scouted and projected as a NFL draft pick, he’s riding a natural high and all set to breeze through his senior year. To sweeten the start of the fall semester, he meets his dream girl at the airport on his way back to LA. Lila Avers, a blond, blue-eyed angel. Could life get any better?
When Cade is sidelined by an unexpected injury, he’s devastated to learn of more serious health concerns. As his world implodes, Lila holds him together. But is she strong enough to see him through his recovery?
As their own insecurities and doubts emerge, their new, fragile relationship is tested. Can Cade and Lila handle the ugly truths of falling in love when tensions flare, boundaries are violated, and uncertainty looms over the future of their relationship?
Cade Wilkins is beyond ready for his last season at Astor. Already being scouted and projected as a NFL draft pick, he’s riding a natural high and all set to breeze through his senior year. To sweeten the start of the fall semester, he meets his dream girl at the airport on his way back to LA. Lila Avers, a blond, blue-eyed angel. Could life get any better?
When Cade is sidelined by an unexpected injury, he’s devastated to learn of more serious health concerns. As his world implodes, Lila holds him together. But is she strong enough to see him through his recovery?
As their own insecurities and doubts emerge, their new, fragile relationship is tested. Can Cade and Lila handle the ugly truths of falling in love when tensions flare, boundaries are violated, and uncertainty looms over the future of their relationship?
310 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 29, 2015
439 people are currently reading
734 people want to read
About the author
Gina Azzi
81 books783 followersHi! I'm Gina and I write realistic, relatable, sweet New Adult and Contemporary Romance books. A NJ native, I have lived and worked abroad before settling in Canada with my husband and Littles. Although I can't iron (at all), I am a passionate reader, frequent globetrotter, and aspiring baker (recipes appreciated!). I love hearing from fellow readers so please connect!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
December 23, 2015
Man, I really thought I was going to love this book and was even highlighting like crazy in the beginning when everything was all nice and was easygoing. That changed when Cade learned he has cancer and the book takes on a more serious, emotional turn. Cade and Lila lost their playful banter and I lost interest. Sorry if that seems kinda mean since they were both dealing with a lot of crap but I started skimming to get to the end.
I guess I was really enjoying them getting to know each other and then BAM it goes from 0 to 100 and they're very serious. And I was also disappointed at how very little steam there was. The sex scenes were fade to black.
Safety:
I guess I was really enjoying them getting to know each other and then BAM it goes from 0 to 100 and they're very serious. And I was also disappointed at how very little steam there was. The sex scenes were fade to black.
Safety:
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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August 25, 2019
Well-done college sports-related romance by Gina Azzi. I loved both main characters who, up until senior year, have lived almost perfect lives. This final year will challenge both in unthinkable ways.
From the utterly charming meet/greet through the last page, my mind was engaged and fully into the future NFL draft and doctor-to-be's stories -- before meeting and after. There are some possible triggers -- heads up for roofies and attempted rape on college campuses. It's there but not overly detailed.
I love a good sports-related romance -- and this one was above average with some depth and meaning attached. There were some missed editing opportunities, among them a LOL -- for college students who've lived the daily RAMEN noodles fix (not Raman)!
From the utterly charming meet/greet through the last page, my mind was engaged and fully into the future NFL draft and doctor-to-be's stories -- before meeting and after. There are some possible triggers -- heads up for roofies and attempted rape on college campuses. It's there but not overly detailed.
I love a good sports-related romance -- and this one was above average with some depth and meaning attached. There were some missed editing opportunities, among them a LOL -- for college students who've lived the daily RAMEN noodles fix (not Raman)!
May 27, 2019
In all honesty when I first read the synopsis of this book I wasn’t sure if I would like it. But Gina Azzi has become a one click author for me so I had to give it a whirl. And wow, am I glad that I did! The twists and turns of this book were very unexpected. The characters had to deal with some very difficult issues and they were written in a real way. This book is goosebumps galore! And that’s the thing about Gina Azzi’s books that I love. The characters are real people. I connect instantly with them. I feel their happiness, their sadness, their anger, their joy. And The Last First Game is no different. The friendship that Lila, Mia, Maura, and Emma have is amazing. One scene with Lila and Maura on the phone brought tears to my eyes. Everyone hopes to have friends like that! And Cade and Lila...they each had so much to overcome. And their issues weren’t sugarcoated. I got so angry and sad about what they had to deal with. It’s the connections with these characters that make Gina Azzi’s writing so special! It kept me up until after 1am wanting to know what happens! You can’t miss this book!
Reviewed by: Alexis B.
Reviewed by: Alexis B.
January 29, 2016
This book was about as real as life gets.
Lila is your typical college student. She's going away for a semester to accomplish her last step before med school and is scared to leave her friends behind. They've been with her every step of the way since freshman year of college. I could relate to the terror of college winding down.
All her fears disappear when she meets Cade, golden boy extraordinaire. He's a football star on track for the NFL. But, for now, he's still just a college student. There's all the typical falling in love stuff and that was okay but then the unthinkable happened and the book got real serious real fast.
This book tackled some very serious issues and it did so with a cautiousness I appreciated. I liked that when Cade got his diagnosis, we weren't given rose colored glasses with which to see things through. There wasn't the sickening "everything is going to be alright" theme or "we'll get through this as long as we're together". Cade and Lila still had their problems. I think it was a true representation of what might happen to a very young, very new couple when faced with these issues. They were very human.
The main theme I saw was one that I loved but it wasn't overdone. It was about realizing what's truly important. You may lose your dream, but it's the people and your life that matters.
Lila is your typical college student. She's going away for a semester to accomplish her last step before med school and is scared to leave her friends behind. They've been with her every step of the way since freshman year of college. I could relate to the terror of college winding down.
All her fears disappear when she meets Cade, golden boy extraordinaire. He's a football star on track for the NFL. But, for now, he's still just a college student. There's all the typical falling in love stuff and that was okay but then the unthinkable happened and the book got real serious real fast.
This book tackled some very serious issues and it did so with a cautiousness I appreciated. I liked that when Cade got his diagnosis, we weren't given rose colored glasses with which to see things through. There wasn't the sickening "everything is going to be alright" theme or "we'll get through this as long as we're together". Cade and Lila still had their problems. I think it was a true representation of what might happen to a very young, very new couple when faced with these issues. They were very human.
The main theme I saw was one that I loved but it wasn't overdone. It was about realizing what's truly important. You may lose your dream, but it's the people and your life that matters.
June 15, 2019
3 1/2 Stars
http://rpmbt-blog.com/rpmbt/review-th...
The Last First Game I thought was going to be a lighthearted college romance, but it was so much more. The characters in this book dealt with some heavy hitting issues in this book, and I wasn’t prepared for some of the twists and turns the author took us on.
For her senior year of college, Lila is spending her first semester away in California at Astor College and made a pact with her 3 best friends to live the best life while they are all away. She didn’t know that would mean meeting Cade, who is a top football player at Astor, or that some of the rules both of them have in place, would be broken. As soon as Lila and Cade meet the attraction is instant, and you know this is going to be a memorable story, and trust me it is. I love how they both tried to keep things simple, but everything about them is anything but. I loved the first part of this story and how they were getting to know one another, and how their relationship was forming and just everything about their love for one another, but when things got rough, that’s when I started to fall out of love with this story. Not because things got rough, but because of how the characters seemed to handle the situation, and how certain events seemed to get glossed over in this book.
Both Lila and Cade go through a lot in this book, and both have some heartbreaking things happen to them. Instead of coming together and working through things, they both seem to push one another away instead of coming together and working through things and TALKING to one another, which was totally contradictory to what they where and how much they loved one another, and this just seemed to rub me the wrong way, and then when Lila goes through what she did, and Cade makes his grand gesture I did swoon a little, but her healing process just didn’t seem to be shown or she really just seemed to bounce back quickly and I was like wait.. what? I don’t know, maybe it was just me, but it didn’t seem right to me.
I did really enjoy Lila and Cade together, and how this story ended was beautiful, but the middle part of this book where they were both going through things, I was looking for more depth, just more.. and I think that’s what made this book drop from a five star read to a three and a half for me. It had so much momentum and then just dropped and then picked back up again. I did really enjoy the concept of the College Pact, and I can’t wait to read the other girls stories to see what they did in their semesters away and if they find love as well.
http://rpmbt-blog.com/rpmbt/review-th...
The Last First Game I thought was going to be a lighthearted college romance, but it was so much more. The characters in this book dealt with some heavy hitting issues in this book, and I wasn’t prepared for some of the twists and turns the author took us on.
For her senior year of college, Lila is spending her first semester away in California at Astor College and made a pact with her 3 best friends to live the best life while they are all away. She didn’t know that would mean meeting Cade, who is a top football player at Astor, or that some of the rules both of them have in place, would be broken. As soon as Lila and Cade meet the attraction is instant, and you know this is going to be a memorable story, and trust me it is. I love how they both tried to keep things simple, but everything about them is anything but. I loved the first part of this story and how they were getting to know one another, and how their relationship was forming and just everything about their love for one another, but when things got rough, that’s when I started to fall out of love with this story. Not because things got rough, but because of how the characters seemed to handle the situation, and how certain events seemed to get glossed over in this book.
Both Lila and Cade go through a lot in this book, and both have some heartbreaking things happen to them. Instead of coming together and working through things, they both seem to push one another away instead of coming together and working through things and TALKING to one another, which was totally contradictory to what they where and how much they loved one another, and this just seemed to rub me the wrong way, and then when Lila goes through what she did, and Cade makes his grand gesture I did swoon a little, but her healing process just didn’t seem to be shown or she really just seemed to bounce back quickly and I was like wait.. what? I don’t know, maybe it was just me, but it didn’t seem right to me.
I did really enjoy Lila and Cade together, and how this story ended was beautiful, but the middle part of this book where they were both going through things, I was looking for more depth, just more.. and I think that’s what made this book drop from a five star read to a three and a half for me. It had so much momentum and then just dropped and then picked back up again. I did really enjoy the concept of the College Pact, and I can’t wait to read the other girls stories to see what they did in their semesters away and if they find love as well.
Shelved as '01-books'
April 24, 2019
May 26, 2019
I was so glad to have the opportunity to read this revamped story. I hadn't read the first version so I was coming into this story with fresh eyes and an open mind.
Now I will admit that young adult stories are not usually my go to when picking out a read, but I am glad to say that this story has really changed my thinking.
This is Lila and Cade's story. Yes they are young, seniors in college, but the issues they face and the way that their love grows makes them mature beyond their years.
Yes their love happens fast and burns bright, but you can tell it's long lasting, in good time and in bad, Lila and Cade will be there for each other.
Lila has a pact she made with her girlfriends, live big, laugh often and love hard. Rock the hell out of this final year of college and Lila prepares to do just that when she meets Cade.
Cade is the all-American football dream. He isn't looking for forever, he is just embracing his final year of college and his hopes for the future. Then he meets Lila!
You are gonna get all the feels from this story, you are gonna swoon, you are going to hurt, you are gonna cry and then you are gonna get angry. You are going to find heart and soul in this story! Well done Ms. Gizzi, I cannot wait for Mia's story next!
Now I will admit that young adult stories are not usually my go to when picking out a read, but I am glad to say that this story has really changed my thinking.
This is Lila and Cade's story. Yes they are young, seniors in college, but the issues they face and the way that their love grows makes them mature beyond their years.
Yes their love happens fast and burns bright, but you can tell it's long lasting, in good time and in bad, Lila and Cade will be there for each other.
Lila has a pact she made with her girlfriends, live big, laugh often and love hard. Rock the hell out of this final year of college and Lila prepares to do just that when she meets Cade.
Cade is the all-American football dream. He isn't looking for forever, he is just embracing his final year of college and his hopes for the future. Then he meets Lila!
You are gonna get all the feels from this story, you are gonna swoon, you are going to hurt, you are gonna cry and then you are gonna get angry. You are going to find heart and soul in this story! Well done Ms. Gizzi, I cannot wait for Mia's story next!
June 17, 2019
All the feels!
Such a sweet, emotional story. I was expecting a simple sweet love story but got so much more. I love Lila and Cade! They totally clicked from the start and all the sh*t they went through couldn't tear them apart. 😍
Such a sweet, emotional story. I was expecting a simple sweet love story but got so much more. I love Lila and Cade! They totally clicked from the start and all the sh*t they went through couldn't tear them apart. 😍
July 3, 2019
A college football romance with an emotional twist between two people from differently sides of the states. A pretty quick read with some unexpected situations thrown in where you least expect.
November 27, 2015
To an outsider, Lila Avers seems to have her life on the right track. She has the support of an awesome group of friends and will be starting a new medical internship in LA. Still she struggles with family issues and her career choice, so she really doesn't have time for a new relationship. But fate has other plans for her when she meets a handsome stranger in the airport while waiting for her plane to take her to LA.
Cade Wilkins has it all--a great family, a fantastic group of friends and a possible future as a professional football player. He's not usually one for relationships, but when he meets Lila on his way back to school, he can't believe his luck. It seems he has it all, until he finds himself facing an uncertain future.
This is one of those stories that stay with you after you're done reading it. It was fun, sexy and romantic with enough emotional undertones to make you feel for the characters.
I liked Lila. She was smart and funny and a hell of a friend with her strong sense of loyalty and ability to offer support in any situation. I especially liked her with Cade. Cade was easy-going, affectionate and sweet. It was great to see how they got along initially. They were care-free and totally smitten with one another. I enjoyed their flirty banter and watching as they got to know one another better. Once emotions came into play and the situation turned complicated, it was their candid moments of honest interactions and their strong connection that sold me on their relationship.
Lila and Cade had issues they had to deal with and I thought Gina Azzi did a great job of bringing these to the page. I appreciated the way she did this without taking away from the developing romance and without making it overwhelming to the reader to follow along. The story had its emotional moments, but not once did these feel overbearing or out of place.
My only problem, which is more of a personal preference rather than something overtly wrong with the story, was that there were moments betwen Cade and Lila that were glossed over. In all truth, I would have preferred it if more of Cade and Lila's initial interactions had made it to the page rather than have either character tell me about them. I could have done without so much interactions with friends and more interactions with Cade and Lila.
Having said that, I did come to understand that with this story being the first in the series, the author needed to set the stage and other characters for the rest of the books in the series. Once I reminded myself of that fact, I came to easily overcome my 'show me' rather than 'tell me' pet peeve and continued to enjoy the rest of the story. Especially since the author did bring Cade and Lila's connection to the page regardless. That one element is a must for me. So in the end, all was good!
All in all, The Last First Game was at times fun, at times emotional and enjoyable throughout. I will certainly be on the lookout for the upcoming books in the series.
*I received a copy of this title in exchange of my honest opinion.
Cade Wilkins has it all--a great family, a fantastic group of friends and a possible future as a professional football player. He's not usually one for relationships, but when he meets Lila on his way back to school, he can't believe his luck. It seems he has it all, until he finds himself facing an uncertain future.
This is one of those stories that stay with you after you're done reading it. It was fun, sexy and romantic with enough emotional undertones to make you feel for the characters.
I liked Lila. She was smart and funny and a hell of a friend with her strong sense of loyalty and ability to offer support in any situation. I especially liked her with Cade. Cade was easy-going, affectionate and sweet. It was great to see how they got along initially. They were care-free and totally smitten with one another. I enjoyed their flirty banter and watching as they got to know one another better. Once emotions came into play and the situation turned complicated, it was their candid moments of honest interactions and their strong connection that sold me on their relationship.
Lila and Cade had issues they had to deal with and I thought Gina Azzi did a great job of bringing these to the page. I appreciated the way she did this without taking away from the developing romance and without making it overwhelming to the reader to follow along. The story had its emotional moments, but not once did these feel overbearing or out of place.
My only problem, which is more of a personal preference rather than something overtly wrong with the story, was that there were moments betwen Cade and Lila that were glossed over. In all truth, I would have preferred it if more of Cade and Lila's initial interactions had made it to the page rather than have either character tell me about them. I could have done without so much interactions with friends and more interactions with Cade and Lila.
Having said that, I did come to understand that with this story being the first in the series, the author needed to set the stage and other characters for the rest of the books in the series. Once I reminded myself of that fact, I came to easily overcome my 'show me' rather than 'tell me' pet peeve and continued to enjoy the rest of the story. Especially since the author did bring Cade and Lila's connection to the page regardless. That one element is a must for me. So in the end, all was good!
All in all, The Last First Game was at times fun, at times emotional and enjoyable throughout. I will certainly be on the lookout for the upcoming books in the series.
*I received a copy of this title in exchange of my honest opinion.
November 23, 2015
Something about the synopsis of this book called to me. I'm so glad I listened to my instincts and read the book. I really enjoyed reading it. There's a great blend of romance, friendship, and emotion that grabbed my attention. At the heart of the book is a sports romance, but there's so much more to it.
I loved that the book was told from both points of view, especially with everything Cade and Lila experience. It was really easy to like Lila and Cade. They were friendly, considerate, and talented. It was obvious from their first meeting that there was something special between them. I really felt like they just sort of fell into an easy relationship with each other. There weren't really any sort of games they played with each other. Of course that easiness and smoothness didn't remain for long as life decided to play with them instead.
There were a couple of things I really liked about this book. One was how a number of very sensitive topics Cade and Lila dealt with were handled. Each matter was shown realistically and addressed fairly. Another was the power of friendship. Lila and her girl friends really relied on one another and it was wonderful to see such strong bonds of female friendship. I enjoyed getting peeks at what was going in their lives and I look forward to reading more about them in the following books in this series.
Gina Azzi has done a wonderful job at portraying not just college life and the perils it has, but she does a great job at portraying divisions in the family. It hurt to see Lila so upset about her father's actions and reactions to what she wanted to do with her life. I just wish I'd been able to read a little more about the rest of Lila's family. As it is, when the book ended I wasn't ready to say goodbye to Lila and Cade. I do hope I'll see more of them in the other books in this series.
I loved that the book was told from both points of view, especially with everything Cade and Lila experience. It was really easy to like Lila and Cade. They were friendly, considerate, and talented. It was obvious from their first meeting that there was something special between them. I really felt like they just sort of fell into an easy relationship with each other. There weren't really any sort of games they played with each other. Of course that easiness and smoothness didn't remain for long as life decided to play with them instead.
There were a couple of things I really liked about this book. One was how a number of very sensitive topics Cade and Lila dealt with were handled. Each matter was shown realistically and addressed fairly. Another was the power of friendship. Lila and her girl friends really relied on one another and it was wonderful to see such strong bonds of female friendship. I enjoyed getting peeks at what was going in their lives and I look forward to reading more about them in the following books in this series.
Gina Azzi has done a wonderful job at portraying not just college life and the perils it has, but she does a great job at portraying divisions in the family. It hurt to see Lila so upset about her father's actions and reactions to what she wanted to do with her life. I just wish I'd been able to read a little more about the rest of Lila's family. As it is, when the book ended I wasn't ready to say goodbye to Lila and Cade. I do hope I'll see more of them in the other books in this series.
June 30, 2016
I've become a big fan of Gina Azzi. Her characters are well-drawn, realistic, and could be people that you actually know (or knew). Her stories are invariably sweet and romantic, stories written about love and all the highs and lows that go with it.
Cade Wilkins is on the fast-track to the NFL as he begins his senior year. Lila is parting ways with her three best friends to head to California for a spell while she works out her own problems - her divorced parents and a career choice her father is constantly pushing her to follow. A chance meeting at the airport ends up changing their lives forever.
Both Cade and Lila face life-altering crises over the course of the book. As one might expect, heavy drama (or trauma) can often destroy a burgeoning relationship, or it can make it even stronger. Such is life. Through Gina Azzi's incredibly well-written narrative, we feel like we are part of the lives of Cade and Lila (the story is told through their alternating viewpoints) as well as the colorful cast of characters that surround them.
I recommend this story to college-age readers and older, and I am seriously looking forward to the next book in the series.
Cade Wilkins is on the fast-track to the NFL as he begins his senior year. Lila is parting ways with her three best friends to head to California for a spell while she works out her own problems - her divorced parents and a career choice her father is constantly pushing her to follow. A chance meeting at the airport ends up changing their lives forever.
Both Cade and Lila face life-altering crises over the course of the book. As one might expect, heavy drama (or trauma) can often destroy a burgeoning relationship, or it can make it even stronger. Such is life. Through Gina Azzi's incredibly well-written narrative, we feel like we are part of the lives of Cade and Lila (the story is told through their alternating viewpoints) as well as the colorful cast of characters that surround them.
I recommend this story to college-age readers and older, and I am seriously looking forward to the next book in the series.
June 3, 2019
This book was really good and the storyline was totally unexpected!
"Our eyes catch and the heat that flares in his does things to me, things that normally don't happen."
Lila Avers has made a pact with her best friends to embrace her best life and make her senior year at college an epic one. It gets off to a rocking start when she meets the most gorgeous guy at JFK on her way to her internship in California. Turns out that he's en route to the same destination.
"She's straight-up fierce, commanding the space around her, and coloring the air with her energy."
Cade Wilkins is in his final year of college with the promise of an NFL career in his future. He can't afford distractions but from the moment he lays eyes on the lovely Lila, he's pretty much a goner. No matter what he keeps telling himself, he can't help himself. She's refreshingly different, funny, confident and beautiful. He finds himself completely engaged by her.
"Let me light you up until we burn out."
Just when things start to look promising, he's blindsided by shocking news. When their situation is compounded by a horrible trauma, these two lovebirds are left questioning love, life and their future.
"The desperation I feel to touch her unnerves me. It's too intense. Everything is too damn raw, too real."
I really enjoyed Lila and Cade's story. Their attraction was sizzling and magnetic. This is the first time I've read this author, so I don't know if her writing style is always like this, but if you're looking for steamy scenes, you won't find it here. However, there's no mistaking their connection and their ardour. They were beautiful together. I loved their candour and their simple enjoyment of being in each other's company. I also enjoyed the dynamics they had with their friends, especially Lila's best friends, who will feature in the rest of this series.
The turn in this story was completely unexpected but I was pretty hooked on the development - from a light flirty start to something really serious, as events in Lila and Cade's life makes them evaluate what is truly important.
"Our eyes catch and the heat that flares in his does things to me, things that normally don't happen."
Lila Avers has made a pact with her best friends to embrace her best life and make her senior year at college an epic one. It gets off to a rocking start when she meets the most gorgeous guy at JFK on her way to her internship in California. Turns out that he's en route to the same destination.
"She's straight-up fierce, commanding the space around her, and coloring the air with her energy."
Cade Wilkins is in his final year of college with the promise of an NFL career in his future. He can't afford distractions but from the moment he lays eyes on the lovely Lila, he's pretty much a goner. No matter what he keeps telling himself, he can't help himself. She's refreshingly different, funny, confident and beautiful. He finds himself completely engaged by her.
"Let me light you up until we burn out."
Just when things start to look promising, he's blindsided by shocking news. When their situation is compounded by a horrible trauma, these two lovebirds are left questioning love, life and their future.
"The desperation I feel to touch her unnerves me. It's too intense. Everything is too damn raw, too real."
I really enjoyed Lila and Cade's story. Their attraction was sizzling and magnetic. This is the first time I've read this author, so I don't know if her writing style is always like this, but if you're looking for steamy scenes, you won't find it here. However, there's no mistaking their connection and their ardour. They were beautiful together. I loved their candour and their simple enjoyment of being in each other's company. I also enjoyed the dynamics they had with their friends, especially Lila's best friends, who will feature in the rest of this series.
The turn in this story was completely unexpected but I was pretty hooked on the development - from a light flirty start to something really serious, as events in Lila and Cade's life makes them evaluate what is truly important.
February 14, 2020
The Last First Game: A College Romance (The College Pact Series Book 1) - Gina Azzi
Reading a college romance was a bit different, since I’m old enough to have gone to College probably 6 or 7 times over. That being said the further into this book I got the more I enjoyed it.
Gina Azzi obviously connects to her story and as a reader if you turn off your age-o-meter you also find that you can connect and enjoy the story.
Cade and Lila become fast friends when they meet at the boarding gate to fly out west to California. Cade is a football player and it is assumed his is going to go far. Lila is doing a semester at another school to take a prep course for writing her MCAT’s to go pre-med. Having said that Lila isn’t sure that is what she really does want to do.
Lila is also going through a young adults reaction to her parents divorcing. That is not the easiest thing to deal with and maybe that is why I was able to feel for the anxiety and family pressure she felt she was under. I could relate. When Cade was injured and a life threatening medical issue discovered, not only did Cade had to deal with it, so did Lila. This is a lot of emotional stress on two young people. As the story continues we are able to not just watch Cade and Lila cope, grow and make new plans for themselves. It gives a reader a bit of an opening to see that it isn’t just grownups that face these issues that young adults do as well and with support and help they are able to become the adults we see by the end of the story.
I’m going to read the second book in this series because now I’m intrigued and want to see what comes next!
I was given this book to read by a 3rd party and this review is my opinion alone.
Reading a college romance was a bit different, since I’m old enough to have gone to College probably 6 or 7 times over. That being said the further into this book I got the more I enjoyed it.
Gina Azzi obviously connects to her story and as a reader if you turn off your age-o-meter you also find that you can connect and enjoy the story.
Cade and Lila become fast friends when they meet at the boarding gate to fly out west to California. Cade is a football player and it is assumed his is going to go far. Lila is doing a semester at another school to take a prep course for writing her MCAT’s to go pre-med. Having said that Lila isn’t sure that is what she really does want to do.
Lila is also going through a young adults reaction to her parents divorcing. That is not the easiest thing to deal with and maybe that is why I was able to feel for the anxiety and family pressure she felt she was under. I could relate. When Cade was injured and a life threatening medical issue discovered, not only did Cade had to deal with it, so did Lila. This is a lot of emotional stress on two young people. As the story continues we are able to not just watch Cade and Lila cope, grow and make new plans for themselves. It gives a reader a bit of an opening to see that it isn’t just grownups that face these issues that young adults do as well and with support and help they are able to become the adults we see by the end of the story.
I’m going to read the second book in this series because now I’m intrigued and want to see what comes next!
I was given this book to read by a 3rd party and this review is my opinion alone.
May 2, 2018
Lila has everything going for her and she's on the path to be a doctor. At least that's what people think. The truth is Lila isn't sure what she wants to do. Her dad is the one pushing her towards med school. Her home life hasn't been easy either since the divorce, which is why she's more than happy to escape to Astor University in California. However, she didn't expect to meet Cade.
Cade is the star football player at Astor University. He's also very popular, but when Lila catches his eye at the airport, he sweeps in. Cade didn't anticipate how much he'd like her and how different she is from the type of girls he's used to. When Cade breaks his leg during a football game, he can kiss the NFL goodbye, but there are bigger things for him to worry about according to the X-Rays. Lila sticks by his side through it all and their feelings for each other continue to grow.
Gina Azzi takes us into the dark and very real side of life. THE LAST FIRST GAME made me smile and made me cry. It was an emotional contemporary romance and it makes me want to look into more from this author. I was impressed with how raw everything felt and I enjoyed watching Cade and Lila discover who they are and who they want to be.
Final Verdict: I would recommend this to fans of contemporary romance and sensitive topics like sexual abuse. I want to give a trigger warning for it as well.
Cade is the star football player at Astor University. He's also very popular, but when Lila catches his eye at the airport, he sweeps in. Cade didn't anticipate how much he'd like her and how different she is from the type of girls he's used to. When Cade breaks his leg during a football game, he can kiss the NFL goodbye, but there are bigger things for him to worry about according to the X-Rays. Lila sticks by his side through it all and their feelings for each other continue to grow.
Gina Azzi takes us into the dark and very real side of life. THE LAST FIRST GAME made me smile and made me cry. It was an emotional contemporary romance and it makes me want to look into more from this author. I was impressed with how raw everything felt and I enjoyed watching Cade and Lila discover who they are and who they want to be.
Final Verdict: I would recommend this to fans of contemporary romance and sensitive topics like sexual abuse. I want to give a trigger warning for it as well.
January 25, 2020
This book just left me confused and let down.
June 4, 2019
I'm not getting into any sort of description of this story because it was nothing like I thought it would be, so in order for me not to give any clues whatsoever, I'm going to make this review short & sweet, and probably very cryptic. The talented Gina Azzi is definitely an author who knows how to zag when I think she's going to zig, so it's safe to say that The Last First Game has a ton of twists in it that had the f-bombs dropping along with giant twists that had colorful metaphor warnings in front of those particular f-bombs before they dropped. My emotions were played with like nobody's business, so frankly, I actually called Ms. Azzi some colorful metaphors as well, and once your read it, you'll understand where I'm coming from. It took me just a bit to get fully immersed into it, not sure why, but it did & once I got past my personal hump, I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough, though I'm still emotional. Cade & Lila had to overcome quite a bit, and at times, they sure didn't react well, which pissed me off greatly, so add in anger to the plethora of emotions that I had rolling through me. Anyway, I'm starting to add things that I don't need to add, so I'll just end it now by saying judge for yourselves by one clicking this baby that I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
May 29, 2019
*** 4.5***
ARC COPY
This was my first book by Gina Azzi. How I got an ARC in my email I am not sure, might have signed up during a giveaway (i do that a lot). Either way this most definitely wont be my last book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. While I wish I could give it 5 stars there were just a few questions left that weren't addressed or maybe I missed. Maybe they will be answered in the next books or maybe that is how the author meant for it to be. For us to use our own imaginations. I am not sure but I kind of like to know what happened in this particular instance. I wont say want it was as I do not like to leave reviews with spoilers.
All I will say is that I love Cade and Lila and how they were both there for each other when the other one needed them the most. It was refreshing how the "sex" scenes were handled. I like that they weren't as graphic as most are these days as I think it would have taken away from the story. Honestly I could not put this book down. The only time I did put it down was to recharge my Nook. I will most certainly be reading the rest of the series and if i see any other books by Ms. Azzi I will be looking them up and reading.
ARC COPY
This was my first book by Gina Azzi. How I got an ARC in my email I am not sure, might have signed up during a giveaway (i do that a lot). Either way this most definitely wont be my last book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. While I wish I could give it 5 stars there were just a few questions left that weren't addressed or maybe I missed. Maybe they will be answered in the next books or maybe that is how the author meant for it to be. For us to use our own imaginations. I am not sure but I kind of like to know what happened in this particular instance. I wont say want it was as I do not like to leave reviews with spoilers.
All I will say is that I love Cade and Lila and how they were both there for each other when the other one needed them the most. It was refreshing how the "sex" scenes were handled. I like that they weren't as graphic as most are these days as I think it would have taken away from the story. Honestly I could not put this book down. The only time I did put it down was to recharge my Nook. I will most certainly be reading the rest of the series and if i see any other books by Ms. Azzi I will be looking them up and reading.
June 4, 2019
Lila is a college senior who is heading to California for her final semester. Although she will miss the friends who have been by her side through thick and thin she will honor the promise she made to them to have fun and have the best semester of her life. She certainly got off to a good start when she meets Cade at the airport.
Cade’s life appears to be golden as he is a star player on the football team and is destined for the NFL. From the moment that he meets Lila he knows that she is special and their romance begins. When Cade suffers a career ending injury that becomes a minor problem when they realize what they must face next. Their love will be tested but will it bring them closer together or tear them apart?
This is my first story by this author but I would definitely read her other books. This story take you on a emotional journey with all the feels and is a lesson about living each day to the fullest.
Cade’s life appears to be golden as he is a star player on the football team and is destined for the NFL. From the moment that he meets Lila he knows that she is special and their romance begins. When Cade suffers a career ending injury that becomes a minor problem when they realize what they must face next. Their love will be tested but will it bring them closer together or tear them apart?
This is my first story by this author but I would definitely read her other books. This story take you on a emotional journey with all the feels and is a lesson about living each day to the fullest.
May 31, 2019
Reviewed on behalf of 3 Degrees of Fiction book blog
I love the premise of this series. Four best girlfriends making a pact to live their senior year to its greatest potential.
This is book one and features Lila and Cade. I thought the way they met was unique - well to me anyway. Their relationship went from zero to one hundred in a matter of a couple of weeks. Not long after they decide to be together, tragedy strikes Cade.
Well this was basically when I started to ugly cry. And I pretty much kept going until the end of the book.
Now I am a believer that bad things happen to good people because in the end it makes them even better by the time everything is resolved. I found this was the case for both Cade & Lila.
This is the first book and if the subsequent books are as good as this one I will be a very happy reader.
I love the premise of this series. Four best girlfriends making a pact to live their senior year to its greatest potential.
This is book one and features Lila and Cade. I thought the way they met was unique - well to me anyway. Their relationship went from zero to one hundred in a matter of a couple of weeks. Not long after they decide to be together, tragedy strikes Cade.
Well this was basically when I started to ugly cry. And I pretty much kept going until the end of the book.
Now I am a believer that bad things happen to good people because in the end it makes them even better by the time everything is resolved. I found this was the case for both Cade & Lila.
This is the first book and if the subsequent books are as good as this one I will be a very happy reader.
June 4, 2019
There are some books that when you read them you want to say so much in the review that you could simply spill the whole story out very quickly. Cole and Lila's story is one of these and as I sat here trying to decide just what to say, how to describe this book I decided that the less I said the better it would be for the reader. If you get this book, and man I hope you do, you will fall into their world, and maybe, just maybe recognize some things from your college days, if you went to college. If not, maybe you will recognize something in you life that resembles things that happened with them, or maybe to someone you know. This is because these characters and this story line is so life like that you may forget for a minute that it is just a story and not someones life you are reading about.
An absolutely breathless read. I highly recommend this book!
An absolutely breathless read. I highly recommend this book!
September 16, 2024
This book was raw and emotional. It dealt with so many real-life issues and it sucked me in from the start.
Lila is heading off on a semester at a different college, enrolled in a medical program. She's worried about being away from her closest friends for the semester - they are such a close-knit group of friends. I absolutely adore the love they have for each other.
After a chance meeting with Cade, college football star extraordinaire, Lila's semester experience changes pretty fast. We see their relationship grow and it gives you all the feels. Neither one was looking for serious but that's what they got.
It was swoon worthy, it made me laugh, it made me cry and it made me angry!
This was a story about living life, having fun, finding love and overcoming everything in your way to be your true self.
Lila is heading off on a semester at a different college, enrolled in a medical program. She's worried about being away from her closest friends for the semester - they are such a close-knit group of friends. I absolutely adore the love they have for each other.
After a chance meeting with Cade, college football star extraordinaire, Lila's semester experience changes pretty fast. We see their relationship grow and it gives you all the feels. Neither one was looking for serious but that's what they got.
It was swoon worthy, it made me laugh, it made me cry and it made me angry!
This was a story about living life, having fun, finding love and overcoming everything in your way to be your true self.
April 6, 2018
This is Book #1 in The Senior Semester Series and my first book by this author. I don't normally read books where the characters are in college, but there was something that drew me to wanting to read this book and the other 3 in this series. I was curious to see what happened between these 4 friends.
I love how Lila and Cade met at the airport. It was Cade, who had to change something in order to get to know Lila (read the book to find out what he did). The relationship between Lila and Cade was tested so many times.
I can not wait to read the rest of the series!
☆☆☆☆☆
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.
Recommend this book? Yes! Author? Yes!
Read more from this author? Yes!
Happy Reading!
Melissa
June 5, 2019
This is such a sweet love story that just swept me away. It does deal with some heavy issues that could be potential Triggers.
This is a college sports romance. Lila is headed to California for a semester in her senior year. She has made a pact with her three best friends to live their best lives during this last year. In the airport to head to California she meets Cade, with the storm cloud eyes & ripped body. Cade also in his senior year was headed back to school to finish his senior year, as a star football player and perspective NFL draft pick. They have instant chemistry and a relationship quickly develops. Unfortunately tragedy strikes that stresses and test their relationship. Can they handle these life changing events and get to the happily ever after they so deserve?
This is a college sports romance. Lila is headed to California for a semester in her senior year. She has made a pact with her three best friends to live their best lives during this last year. In the airport to head to California she meets Cade, with the storm cloud eyes & ripped body. Cade also in his senior year was headed back to school to finish his senior year, as a star football player and perspective NFL draft pick. They have instant chemistry and a relationship quickly develops. Unfortunately tragedy strikes that stresses and test their relationship. Can they handle these life changing events and get to the happily ever after they so deserve?
May 14, 2020
If you’re looking for a nice clean sports romance this is your book.
Sex? We get a poetic version of it one time no specific details just a round about understanding they had sex. For me that was a hard miss. I like my romance books raunchy but I understand some like it clean.
OW? Kind of for 2 pages but not really. As soon as she appears she disappears.
Tropes? Yes. 2 big ones people like to use that I think was overkill. The author wanted to make both characters go thru something extremely dramatic to fall back together. One would have been enough. You don’t get to really dive deep into either situation it’s lightly skimmed I guess like the sex really.
Over all enjoyed it but wished it was my normal raunchy sports romance. I like what I like folks!
Sex? We get a poetic version of it one time no specific details just a round about understanding they had sex. For me that was a hard miss. I like my romance books raunchy but I understand some like it clean.
OW? Kind of for 2 pages but not really. As soon as she appears she disappears.
Tropes? Yes. 2 big ones people like to use that I think was overkill. The author wanted to make both characters go thru something extremely dramatic to fall back together. One would have been enough. You don’t get to really dive deep into either situation it’s lightly skimmed I guess like the sex really.
Over all enjoyed it but wished it was my normal raunchy sports romance. I like what I like folks!
December 16, 2021
You need to read this book!!
It has the fun college/sports romance element, but then also packs an emotional punch! It’s soo good!!
So many elements of the book that I enjoyed would be a spoiler if I detailed them, but just know I binged the book because I became so consumed with their story.
What I also like is how this is the first book in a series. It’s too early to tell, but it seems like the stories might intertwine a bit? Their pact gives me the same friendship vibes as Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants - which I love.
I read this via audiobook on Hoopla. It’s read by two different narrators which adds to the dual POVs. An enjoyable audiobook.
(Definitely some trigger warnings - but would be spoilers. Ask if interested)
It has the fun college/sports romance element, but then also packs an emotional punch! It’s soo good!!
So many elements of the book that I enjoyed would be a spoiler if I detailed them, but just know I binged the book because I became so consumed with their story.
What I also like is how this is the first book in a series. It’s too early to tell, but it seems like the stories might intertwine a bit? Their pact gives me the same friendship vibes as Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants - which I love.
I read this via audiobook on Hoopla. It’s read by two different narrators which adds to the dual POVs. An enjoyable audiobook.
(Definitely some trigger warnings - but would be spoilers. Ask if interested)
June 8, 2019
A sweet, emotional story. Lila makes a pact with her friends before they all go their separate ways to live their senior year to the fullest date hot guys and go to wild parties. On her way to California where she is studying for a semester she runs into Cade star football player, attraction is instant. A beautiful story of college life, friends, football and trying to figure out what you want to do in life. It also deals with two emotional issues cancer and sexual assault. This was the first book I have read from this author and I can't wait to read more from this series and her other books.
February 3, 2020
sweet and emotional love story
Wow. The journey that Lila and Cade travel is paved with vulnerability and tragedy, but also friendship, humor and love. This emotional and touching love story is not just about two young co-eds finding themselves, and each other, through heartbreaking situations, but also sheds light on important issues that are often ignored. This is not just a college love story, but a truly thought-provoking journey with a beautiful HEA. I highly recommend reading Cade & Lila's story.
Wow. The journey that Lila and Cade travel is paved with vulnerability and tragedy, but also friendship, humor and love. This emotional and touching love story is not just about two young co-eds finding themselves, and each other, through heartbreaking situations, but also sheds light on important issues that are often ignored. This is not just a college love story, but a truly thought-provoking journey with a beautiful HEA. I highly recommend reading Cade & Lila's story.
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