Fraternize by Rachel Van Dyken

Synopsis:
Emerson just made her dream come true as a professional cheerleader for her favorite pro football team. But even though the plus-size athlete is breaking down boundaries, she still has to contend with the massive rulebook. Carbs? Nope. Chocolate? Definitely not. Still, Emerson loves her curves, and she’ll rock the hell out of this job even if it kills her. Except for one mandate that is easier read than done…

No fraternizing with the players.

Problem one is Miller Quinton: Emerson’s first love, first sex, and the guy who still ignites her daydreams and R-rated fantasies. Thrown back together, Miller and Emerson feel the undeniable pull of passion again, even if the conflict that tore them apart seems insurmountable. Then there’s way-too-sexy Grant Sanchez. He has a serious reputation with the ladies, and when it comes to winning someone he wants, he doesn’t let anyone stand in his way.

Now Emerson is breaking every rule in the manual. But what she doesn’t know is that she’s part of a wicked little game—one that could steal both her dream and her heart.
(Synopsis from Goodreads).

My Thoughts:
I love Rachel Van Dyken's books. She's one of my favorite authors. Unfortunately, due to recent time constraints, I've fallen behind on reading quite a few of her newer releases. Now that I have a little bit more free time, I wanted to catch up on all of her books. I decided to start with Fraternize because I found the synopsis to be the most intriguing out of my unread books she has written. I loved reading the book.

Fraternize is one of the best romance books that I've read so far this year. I loved being sucked back into the worlds that Rachel Van Dyken writes about. She really makes you care about the characters, and what happens to them. While reading, I could empathize with them and feel the emotions they were going through, especially Emerson. I enjoyed Sanchez and Miller's banter with each other, and with Em. I also found the plot to be interesting. It was intriguing to learn everything the three main characters had been through, and to see how it all tied together at the end. It was also interesting to learn more about football, which I have to admit, I don't know a lot about. I thought it was interesting seeing all of the small rules and things that most people don't think about when watching a game that makes the teams work so well together the way that they do.

There are a couple of things that I did have issues with in Fraternize. I thought that the book was predictable at times. I easily predicted who Emerson would be with in the end within the first few chapters. Don't get me wrong, I was happy with who she chose in the end. I just wish there would have been more subtle hints instead of outright ones. I also guessed the big plot twist that happens to her within the first few chapters as well. It ruined some of the shock of the big reveal for me. The other thing that bugged me was that at the beginning of the book, the coach makes it clear that cheerleaders and players are not allowed to be in relationships together. However, when it happens Emerson and the person that she chooses are very obvious about it. No repercussions happen for that. I felt like it was a big plot hole that I kept thinking about throughout the story.

Fraternize made me happy to be able to read a Rachel Van Dyken book again. I loved the characters and the plot that she created in this world, even if I did have a few issues with it. Based on the end of Fraternize, I can't wait to read the sequel, Infraction. I'm really excited to see the couple at the end of Fraternize get together, and overcome the one big adversity facing them. I'll probably start Infraction as soon as I finish typing this review. There are a couple loose ends from Fraternize that I'd really like to see tied up.  

I give Fraternize: 4/5.

Want to know more about the author?
Website: http://rachelvandykenauthor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RachelVanDyken/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RachVD
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachvd/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4882127.Rachel_Van_Dyken

I received this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review.