Schuss Review — Is It Worth Reading?

Verdict: A sweet, low-angst new adult spin-off that gives Gold’s young side characters their own best-friends-to-lovers story. Fans enjoyed revisiting the family; many felt the teenage leads were less compelling than Gold’s couple and wished the story had been set years later.

Best for: Readers who loved Gold and want a gentle coming-of-age romance.

Heat level: Low

Rating: ★★★★☆ (3.5/5 — a 4.02 Goodreads average across 1,055 ratings, 3.87 on StoryGraph from 190 reviews, and 4.4 stars across 361 Amazon ratings)

Tropes: Best friends to lovers, mutual pining, new adult, coach’s daughter, dual POV, spin-off.

Schuss is E.J. Noyes’s 2022 contemporary lesbian romance from Bella Books, a follow-up to her award-winning Gold. Olympic medallist ski racer Stacey Evans is a little in love with her best friend, Gemma Archer — whose stepmom is Stacey’s coach.

It holds a 4.02 average across 1,055 Goodreads ratings, with 74% of them four or five stars, 3.87 on StoryGraph from 190 reviews, and 4.4 stars across 361 Amazon ratings.

What Is Schuss About?

Stacey wants only to be the best alpine ski racer she can be; everything else, including her girlfriend, is a bonus. Fresh from her first Olympic medal, she is not thinking about how she might be in love with Gemma.

Gemma has had a crush on Stacey forever, but between Stacey’s coach being her stepmom and college looming, confessing could ruin the best friendship she has ever had.

What Works in This Romance

Returning family: Readers loved seeing Cate and Aspen again, including a note of parental advice one called genius.
Sweet first love: Fans call it well paced, fluid and adorable.
Noyes’s writing: Even readers less keen on new adult say the prose is superb.
Slow burn: Readers enjoyed the mutual, secret pining.

Book Synopsis

An Olympic ski racer and her supportive best friend are secretly in love with each other.

With college ahead and a family connection complicating everything, one of them has to take the plunge.

My Review

For readers who finished Gold hoping for Gemma and Stacey’s story, this is a tender answer, told from both of their perspectives.

The most common reservation is age: several readers expected — and wanted — a story set ten years later, and found an 18-year-old high school senior and a 20-year-old athlete less compelling than Gold’s adults. Others found it predictable, coy or full of teenage drama, and one struggled with Stacey’s girlfriend storyline.

My honest note: Read Gold first, and expect young adult energy.

Element	In Schuss
Central relationship	Stacey Evans, 20, an Olympic ski racer, & Gemma Archer, 18, her best friend
Core tropes	Best friends to lovers, mutual pining, new adult
Setting	Alpine ski racing and the Archer family
Heat level	Low
Length	302 pages (Kindle listing)
Series	Follow-up to Gold
Content notes	Minor sexual content

How Spicy Is Schuss?

Not very. StoryGraph users tag only minor sexual content, fitting its new adult framing.

There is little dark content; readers describe mild angst and teenage drama.

Who Should Read This Book?

You’ll likely love it if: you loved Gold and want more of the Archer family. It is on our sapphic sports romance list.

You may want to skip it if: you prefer adult leads.

In short: Sweet, young, safe.

What Readers Are Actually Saying (September 2026)

On Goodreads the split is 32% five stars, 42% four, 20% three, 3% two and under 1% one. On StoryGraph, 83% tagged it lighthearted and 82% found the characters loveable.

Why readers love it (according to the discourse): Returning to Gold’s world first. Second, sweet first love. Third, the writing. Fourth, low angst.

What readers argue about and complain about: The leads’ young age, above everything. Second, predictability. Third, teen drama.

The comparison worth making first: Gold, which several readers prefer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to read Gold first?

Readers say it isn’t required, but most recommend it: Gemma and Stacey were introduced as teenagers in Gold, and Cate and Aspen return here.

How old are the main characters?

Stacey is 20 and an Olympic medallist; Gemma is 18 and a high school senior. Readers describe it as new adult bordering on YA.

Is Schuss low angst?

Yes. Readers call it sweet, low angst and mild, with some teenage drama.

How spicy is Schuss?

Low. StoryGraph users tag only minor sexual content.

Is Schuss on Kindle Unlimited?

Not at the time of writing — the Kindle edition was listed at $9.99. An audiobook narrated by Abby Craden is available.

If You Loved Schuss, Read These Next

Go back to Gold or try Pas de deux, or browse our sapphic sports romance list.

The Bottom Line

Schuss sets out to give Gold’s kids their own love story, and it does so sweetly. What holds it back is how young and low-stakes it feels. For Gold fans. Check Schuss on Amazon →