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Verdict: A sweet, spicy and emotionally grounded sequel that many readers prefer to Tip In. GJ and Leah’s casual arrangement grows into something real without a third-act breakup, and the family and mental-health threads give it weight; a few found it too drama-free.
Best for: Readers who want a no-strings-to-serious college romance with healthy communication.
Heat level: Moderately spicy
Rating: ★★★★☆ (3.9/5 — a 4.18 Goodreads average across 440 ratings, 4.05 on StoryGraph from 87 reviews, and 4.5 stars across 305 Amazon ratings)
Tropes: Teammate’s sister, forbidden romance, no strings attached, secret relationship, found support, HEA.
Bank Shot is Josie Mae’s 2026 contemporary lesbian romance, the second book in her Lakeside Green Coyotes series. GJ Mitchell is captain of a top women’s college basketball team; Leah Moretti is a cheerleader living in the shadow of her WNBA-bound twin, GJ’s teammate Mags.
It holds a 4.18 average across 440 Goodreads ratings, with 82% of them four or five stars, 4.05 on StoryGraph from 87 reviews, and 4.5 stars across 305 Amazon ratings.
What Is Bank Shot About?
GJ is cracking under the pressure of her senior season: her coach doesn’t seem to like her, and a breakout transfer is outplaying her. Leah has never been her parents’ favourite, chases approval through activities she doesn’t care about, and keeps landing in bad situationships.
Desperate to get over another fling, Leah flirts her way into GJ’s bed — breaking her sister’s rule against dating teammates. They agree to keep it secret and casual, but the lines soon blur.
What Works in This Romance
- No third-act breakup: Many readers celebrate a couple who communicate and don’t fight for the sake of drama.
- Growth: Readers loved Leah learning to stand up to her family and GJ letting her walls down.
- Mental health and life after college: Reviewers appreciated the honest look at performance anxiety and the fear of what comes next.
- Chemistry: Flirty banter and a spark from the first encounter.
Book Synopsis
A struggling captain and her teammate’s overlooked twin start a secret, casual arrangement to escape their lives.
As the season goes on, what was supposed to mean nothing starts to mean everything.
My Review
This is the series finding its feet. Readers who found Tip In uneven say Bank Shot has more going on for both leads, and the family storyline around Leah’s parents lands hard. The romance is cosy and communicative, with enough heat to keep it lively.
The reservations are small. One fan admits some will find a relationship this healthy boring, a three-star reviewer had mixed feelings about the plot, and others wanted more in the final chapter and epilogue. Mags, Leah’s twin, confused at least one reader ahead of her own planned book.
My honest note: A comfortable pick if you want low angst with some spice.
| Element | In Bank Shot |
|---|---|
| Central relationship | GJ Mitchell, a college basketball captain, & Leah Moretti, a cheerleader and her teammate’s twin |
| Core tropes | Teammate’s sister, no strings attached, secret relationship |
| Setting | Lakeside Green’s women’s basketball programme, senior year |
| Heat level | Moderately spicy |
| Length | 323 pages (Kindle listing) |
| Series | Lakeside Green Coyotes #2 — readable as a standalone |
| Content notes | Panic attacks, gaslighting, alcohol, injury |
How Spicy Is Bank Shot?
Moderately. Readers rate the spice at around two and a half to three out of five and call it a good balance of spice and substance.
StoryGraph users have flagged panic attacks, gaslighting, alcohol and injury, all at a minor level.
Who Should Read This Book?
You’ll likely love it if: you want a low-drama sports romance with growth and heat. It is on our sapphic sports romance list.
You may want to skip it if: you need high conflict to stay engaged.
In short: Sweet, spicy, healthy.
What Readers Are Actually Saying (September 2026)
On Goodreads the split is 40% five stars, 42% four, 14% three, 4% two and almost no one-star ratings. On StoryGraph, 81% tagged it lighthearted, 96% found the characters loveable and 93% said the character development was strong.
Why readers love it (according to the discourse): No third-act breakup first. Second, the growth. Third, the chemistry. Fourth, the family storyline.
What readers argue about and complain about: Low drama, above everything. Second, a thin ending. Third, Mags.
The comparison worth making first: Tip In, the first book, which introduces GJ as Theo’s best friend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Bank Shot be read as a standalone?
Yes, readers say so, though Theo and Maya from Tip In appear often and some wished they had read book one first for context.
Is there a third-act breakup in Bank Shot?
No. Several readers highlight the lack of a third-act breakup and the couple’s healthy communication.
How spicy is Bank Shot?
Moderately spicy. Readers rate it around two and a half to three out of five for spice and describe it as sweet and spicy.
What tropes are in Bank Shot?
Teammate’s sister, forbidden romance, no strings attached turned serious, secret relationship and college sports.
Is Bank Shot on Kindle Unlimited?
Yes, at the time of writing it was available through Kindle Unlimited, or $4.99 to buy on Kindle.
If You Loved Bank Shot, Read These Next
Go back to Tip In, or browse our sapphic sports romance list and the full Book Reviews archive.
The Bottom Line
Bank Shot sets out to be a sweet, spicy college romance with substance, and it delivers. What holds it back, for a few, is how little drama it has. Worth it. Check Bank Shot on Amazon →
The Eikna Overall Ranking
On the Eikna scale, Bank Shot ranks as a good sports romance — warm, healthy.
The Evidence Scorecard
Overall ★★★★☆ 3.9/5
- ✓ 4.18 average across 440 Goodreads ratings
- ✓ 82% of Goodreads ratings are four or five stars
- ✓ 4.05 on StoryGraph from 87 reviews
- ✓ 4.5 stars across 305 Amazon ratings
Romance ★★★★☆ 4/5
- ✓ Casual to serious
- ✓ Healthy communication
- ✓ No third-act breakup
- ✓ Instant spark
Characters ★★★★☆ 4/5
- ✓ 96% loveable characters
- ✓ 93% strong development
- ✓ Leah’s growth
- ✓ Confusing Mags
Writing ★★★★☆ 3.7/5
- ✓ Easy flow
- ✓ Good pacing
- ✓ Character-driven
- ✓ Plot mixed for one
Emotional Impact ★★★★☆ 3.8/5
- ✓ Family neglect
- ✓ Performance anxiety
- ✓ Tagged lighthearted by 81%
- ✓ Heartfelt
Heat Level ★★★★☆ 3.5/5
- ✓ Sweet and spicy
- ✓ Around 3 of 5
- ✓ Several scenes
- ✓ Balanced
Ending ★★★★☆ 3.8/5
- ✓ HEA
- ✓ Epilogue
- ✓ Wanted more for some
- ✓ Series continues
Re-read Value ★★★★☆ 3.7/5
- ✓ Kindle Unlimited
- ✓ $4.99 Kindle price
- ✓ Standalone-friendly
- ✓ Comfort read
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