This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
Verdict: A spicy, funny and surprisingly emotional new-adult rivals-to-lovers romance set on a university women’s football team. Readers love grumpy captain Maya and sunshine transfer Jamie, the heat and the family storyline; a minority found it preachy, cringey in places or short on drama.
Best for: Readers who want grumpy/sunshine, sports and a lot of heat with real feeling underneath.
Heat level: Explicit
Rating: ★★★★☆ (3.8/5 — a 4.04 Goodreads average across 1,700 ratings, 3.85 on StoryGraph from 345 reviews, and 4.4 stars across 1,003 Amazon ratings)
Tropes: Rivals to lovers, grumpy/sunshine, teammates, new adult, grief, dual POV.
Take Her On is Emily Wright’s 2024 contemporary lesbian romance, a British university sports story. Maya is captain of a struggling women’s football team in her final year; Jamie, her old rival, transfers in looking for a fresh start.
It holds a 4.04 average across 1,700 Goodreads ratings, with 74% of them four or five stars, 3.85 on StoryGraph from 345 reviews, and 4.4 stars across 1,003 Amazon ratings.
What Is Take Her On About?
Maya is already overwhelmed — pining for her childhood best friend, trying to revive a team coming off another losing year, and dealing with family problems. Then her arch-rival joins the team, and she has to play alongside her without losing her mind.
Jamie wanted a fresh start after drama at her last university; she just wants football and her eighties music. But winding up her attractive new captain is too entertaining to resist, and as the championship nears, secrets threaten to come out.
What Works in This Romance
- Chemistry and banter: Readers say the banter continues even in bed, and the chemistry fizzes.
- Jamie: The sunshine love interest is a clear favourite, along with the eighties music references.
- Family and grief: Maya’s grandparents — a Yorkshire grandpa in particular — and a tear-jerking family storyline give it heart.
- New-adult realism: Reviewers say it captures the fears of stepping into adulthood.
Book Synopsis
A stressed university captain must share the pitch with the loudmouthed rival who has just transferred onto her team.
As the season builds to a championship, the rivalry turns into something neither can ignore.
My Review
Readers repeatedly describe binging it in a day or two. Wright writes flawed, believable characters, and Maya’s growth arc — she has a lot of growing up to do — pays off. The book mixes humour, spice and heavier topics, and British readers enjoyed the local references.
Not everyone was won over. One reader calls it the worst lesbian football romance they have read, another found it a bit preachy, and another cringey in parts. Some wanted a slower burn or more drama, one found Maya immature at first, and one DNF’d at 36%.
My honest note: Check the content notes — it covers more difficult ground than the cover suggests.
| Element | In Take Her On |
|---|---|
| Central relationship | Maya, a university football captain, & Jamie, a transfer and former rival |
| Core tropes | Rivals to lovers, grumpy/sunshine, teammates, new adult |
| Setting | A British university women’s football team |
| Heat level | Explicit |
| Length | 447 pages (Kindle listing) |
| Series | No series listed on Amazon |
| Content notes | Death and grief, bullying, sexual harassment and assault, gaslighting, alcoholism |
How Spicy Is Take Her On?
Very. Readers call it some of the best spice they have read; one counts four scenes, including strap-on play and a lap dance.
StoryGraph users have flagged bullying, sexual harassment, sexual assault, gaslighting, toxic friendship, alcoholism and death. Readers also say it tackles trans issues and sexual exploitation.
Who Should Read This Book?
You’ll likely love it if: you want a spicy, emotional sapphic sports romcom. It is on our sapphic sports romance list.
You may want to skip it if: you prefer low-heat romances or a very slow burn.
In short: Hot, funny and heartfelt.
What Readers Are Actually Saying (September 2026)
On Goodreads the split is 34% five stars, 40% four, 21% three, 3% two and under 1% one. On StoryGraph, 78% tagged it lighthearted, 70% emotional and 66% funny, and 93% said the character development was strong.
Why readers love it (according to the discourse): The chemistry first. Second, Jamie. Third, the family storyline. Fourth, the spice.
What readers argue about and complain about: Preachiness, above everything. Second, cringe moments. Third, not enough drama or slow burn.
The comparison worth making first: For another steamy UK football romance, see Last Chance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Take Her On enemies to lovers?
Rivals to lovers. Maya and Jamie were on opposing university teams before Jamie transfers onto Maya’s side; one reader describes it as close to, but not quite, enemies to lovers.
How spicy is Take Her On?
Very. Readers praise generous, well-written spice — one counts four explicit scenes — and StoryGraph users have tagged graphic sexual content.
Does Take Her On have a happy ending?
Yes. Readers say it ends happily and that Maya doesn’t lose the girl.
Do I need to like football?
No. Several non-fans say the football never overpowers the story.
Is Take Her On on Kindle Unlimited?
Yes, at the time of writing it was available through Kindle Unlimited, or $6.99 to buy on Kindle. An audiobook edition is also available.
If You Loved Take Her On, Read These Next
Try more by Emily Wright, or browse our sapphic sports romance list and the full Book Reviews archive.
The Bottom Line
Take Her On sets out to be a spicy, heartfelt rivals-to-lovers romance, and most readers say it scores. What holds it back is a tone some find preachy. Worth it for sports romance fans. Check Take Her On on Amazon →
The Eikna Overall Ranking
On the Eikna scale, Take Her On ranks as a good sports romance — spicy, emotional.
The Evidence Scorecard
Overall ★★★★☆ 3.8/5
- ✓ 4.04 average across 1,700 Goodreads ratings
- ✓ 74% of Goodreads ratings are four or five stars
- ✓ 3.85 on StoryGraph from 345 reviews
- ✓ 4.4 stars across 1,003 Amazon ratings
Romance ★★★★☆ 3.9/5
- ✓ Rivals to lovers
- ✓ Grumpy/sunshine
- ✓ Banter in bed
- ✓ Faster than some wanted
Characters ★★★★☆ 3.9/5
- ✓ 93% strong development
- ✓ Beloved Jamie
- ✓ Maya grows up
- ✓ Yorkshire grandpa
Writing ★★★★☆ 3.6/5
- ✓ Dual POV
- ✓ Humour
- ✓ Preachy for one
- ✓ Cringe in parts
Emotional Impact ★★★★☆ 3.9/5
- ✓ Tagged emotional by 70%
- ✓ Grief storyline
- ✓ Tear-jerking
- ✓ Heavy topics
Heat Level ★★★★★ 4.5/5
- ✓ Explicit
- ✓ Four scenes
- ✓ Graphic content tagged
- ✓ Generous spice
Ending ★★★★☆ 3.9/5
- ✓ Happy ending
- ✓ Championship arc
- ✓ Doesn’t lose the girl
- ✓ Satisfying for fans
Re-read Value ★★★★☆ 3.7/5
- ✓ Kindle Unlimited
- ✓ Audiobook available
- ✓ 447 pages
- ✓ Bingeable
Affiliate disclosure: Lesbian Romance Reads is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program. If you buy through the link below we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
1 thought on “Take Her On Review — Is It Worth Reading?”