Book Review: Hands Down

I’ve added one more Mariana Zapata book to my read list before the end of the year. As many of you know, she is one of my favorite authors and her books never fail to give me all the slow burn feels. I’ve been wanting to read Hands Down for a while since it is about Zac who was a side character in The Wall of Winnipeg & Me and that is one of my favorite books.

Hands Down follows Bianca and Zac. Bianca works part time as a receptionist at a popular gym, but her real job is a food content creator on social media and a video platform like YouTube where she’s known as The Lazy Baker. Growing up she had a huge crush/was in love with her childhood friend and her cousin’s best friend, Zac, who was 7 years older. But 10 years ago, when Bianca was 17, Zac was in his early years of professional football and somehow they lost touch. Hurt that Zac seemed to not have time to keep in touch with her, Bianca decided it was time to move on and moved away to live near her older sister. Eventually, Bianca ended up in Houston and it just so happens that Zac has just moved there too.

When Bianca’s cousin, Boogie, needs her to track down Zac due to a family emergency and him not picking up his phone, she seems him for the first time in 10 years. She immediately remembers how amazing Zac is and why she loved him all those years ago. As much as she wants to keep her distance from him, Zac is determined that they stay in each other’s lives now. The two help each other through career obstacles and support each other through all life things now that they’re back in each other’s lives.

I loved seeing Bianca and Zac come back into each other’s lives and how amazing their friendship was and is becoming again. It’s so evident how much they both love each other and I loved the slow burn so much! And I, of course, loved the cameos from Vanessa, Aiden, and their kids!

The only thing I wish this book had is a Zac POV. I know Mariana Zapata doesn’t do dual POV (or at least she hasn’t yet from the books I’ve read of hers), but since Zac is the character I knew and loved from The Wall of Winnipeg & Me I wish I got his perspective on the love story and not only Bianca’s. Though I did love Bianca.

Anyway, overall I loved the book and miss Bianca and Zac already!

Read this if you want a spicy slow burn, friends to lovers, sports romance!

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