A week ago, my friend Sarah insisted I read “Fangirl Down.” I had not heard of this book, so I didn’t take it seriously. Last Friday, Sarah came to me, and when she knew I hadn’t read that book, she was just like, “Okay then, I thought we were friends and friends do what the other says…..blah blah.” What could I do now? I asked her for the copy and started reading it. The experience was just unbelievable.
The story is underrated. The book is all about fandom, friendship, and unexpected twists. Laughter and chaos went perfectly throughout the book. First, I would say that “Fangirl Down” is the book you want to hop on. On my and my friend’s behalf, you won’t regret it!
Fangirl Down Overview:
In “Fangirl Down,” we meet Wells. He is a sports star. But after some time, he lost his fame and spark. On the other side, there is Josephine. She is his biggest fan and becomes his only support. When Josephine gets a job working for Wells, their relationship takes a turn. This book is all about opposite attractions. This is one of the best sports romances I ever read.
Wells is struggling with his mental health, and Josephine is dealing with chronic illness. The novel is heartwarming and romantic, with lots of laughs. We learn that love and connection can improve everything, even when life gets tough. If you ever read Ali Hazelwood Books you definitely love this book.
Overall, it’s a good story about finding hope and happiness in unexpected places. I didn’t admire Tessa Bailey, but this book changed my perspective. Tessa is on my reading list, and I will further review her here.
Genre and Tropes:
Fangirl Down mainly targets the sports romance genre, which is not just a simple but extremely well-written sports genre. The root aspects revolve around sports and romance. Contemporary romance and Adult Fiction lovers will actually love this book the most.
The tropes include slow-burn romance, spicy scenes, and fan-to-lover. The female protagonist falls in love easily, but the male falls harder.
Is Fangirl Down Right for You?
This book is perfect for anyone who enjoys:
- Romantic comedies
- Sports stories
- Strong female characters
- Second chance romances
- Feel-good reads
Age Rating:
Fangirl Down is a YA and spicy book with some hard scenes. There is a use of language and some medical references, which might not be suitable for some readers. The readers over 17 will be able to extract the juice and have real fun.
The minimum age recommended by professionals is 17. However, if a young one is comfortable with adult content, he can go through this.
Characters:
Two main protagonists follow the series:
Wells Whitaker: Wells is the male protagonist. He is a bad-boy type golfer. He is moody and uncomfortable in anyone’s company except Josephine. Wells doesn’t even talk to anyone. Wells is a weird boy who hates the world. The main thing I loved about Wells was how hard he fell in love with her and how they both developed.
Josephine Doyle: She has a witty nature. Josephine is funny and caring. I felt pity when I knew that she had type 1 diabetes. She is Wells’ top-of-the-list fangirl with a bundle of feelings packed for him.
Spoiler Free Summary:
Fangirl Down is all about Josephine. She is the number one fan of the rising and hot golf star Wells. Josephine always stood by his side, even if he performed poorly. Everyone was thinking that Wells was going to be the best golfer ever. But now, Wells could be doing better. He’s always drunk, and his golf clubs are all no more. Almost no one supports him anymore. The only person who still believes in him is Josephine.
One day, Wells decides that all this is enough. He quits playing golf in a dramatic way. And when he does, Josephine finally leaves. That’s when he realizes he’s made a big mistake. Josephine Doyle was always a fan of Wells, even when he wasn’t doing well. But when he gives up, she starts to doubt if she is right to believe in him. Then, one day, Wells comes to her and wants her to be his new caddy. Josephine is sick with diabetes; her parents’ shop was destroyed in a hurricane, so she is in real need of money.Â
He thinks they can return to winning together and share the prize money. Josephine could use the money because her life is a mess right now.
| Publisher | Avon |
| Published Date | First published February 13, 2024 |
| Language | English |
| Pages | 384 |
| Series | Big Shots (#1) |
| Characters | John Logan, Grace Ivers |
| ISBN-10 | 0063308355 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0063308350 |
As they travel and spend time together, they really like each other. Wells starts winning again, and Josephine discovers that he’s not just a grumpy athlete. He’s actually kind and caring. He even wants to do nice things for her, like brush her hair and take baths together. But Wells is technically her boss, and it seems silly for an athlete to fall for his fan. They can’t leave each other, and they are not comfortable. What can they choose in this kind of situation? The fun starts here.
Review:
One thing: the chemistry between Wells and Josephine is skillfully written and designed. The addition of tropes like opposites-attract, love-at-the-workplace, and forced proximity feels totally organic. Now I know why my friend Sarah was forcing me to read this book. I discussed it with Sarah and agreed on the top-notch relationship between Wells and Josephine.
Sports romance is often less likely to me. I remember the last sports romance genre I liked, Icebreaker by Hannah Grace. Tessa Bailey has done well here and made this sports romance more interesting.
Tessa Bailey wrote the steamy scenes well and made them more meaningful. While the steamy scenes add intensity to the romance, I found certain explicit scenes, like the “ass-eating” reference, which was awkward for me. While the plot was developed well, Sarah said she found some pacing issues that I guessed could be corrected. Overall, there are only minor flaws, and I enjoyed it. I think we should add Sarah to our blog team; she suggests great 🙂
About The Author:
Tessa Bailey grew up in Carlsbad, California. She loved telling stories, so she studied English at Pace University after attending Kingsborough Community College. She’s good at writing romance books. People love her stories a lot. Two of her books, “Fix Her Up” and “It Happened One Summer,” got great reviews from important places like Publishers Weekly and Kirkus Reviews.
Two of her other books, “Hook, Line and Sinker” and “Unfortunately Yours,” even became New York Times bestsellers! Tessa lives on Long Island with her husband and daughter. She keeps writing amazing stories with interesting characters that readers just can’t get enough of.
Conclusion:
To cover up, “Fangirl Down” is a story about love winning over tough times. It’s about Wells and Josephine, who show us how strong people can be when they face challenges together. This book mixes sports and romance genres that kept me engaged. The main characters felt amazing. Their love story has incredible chemistry and is full of twists and turns. Even though some parts might be intense, the overall message is hopeful and happy. Tessa Bailey’s storytelling is so good that she’s become a must-read author. “Fangirl Down” isn’t just a book—it’s a journey that helps you find comfort and happiness in unexpected ways.