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Verdict: A warm, low-angst age-gap romance between a WNBA star and a veteran commentator, with a memorable meet-cute and convincingly researched basketball. Moody’s fans loved it; critics found it overlong, repetitive in the middle and short on spark between the leads.
Best for: Readers who want kindness, communication and an HEA, with an older heroine.
Heat level: Explicit
Rating: ★★★★☆ (3.6/5 — a 4.0 Goodreads average across 434 ratings, 3.4 on StoryGraph from 53 reviews, and 4.3 stars across 337 Amazon ratings)
Tropes: Age gap, forbidden (conflict of interest), secret relationship, meet-cute, friends to lovers, slow burn.
Take the Shot is Jamey Moody’s 2026 contemporary lesbian romance and, readers note, her first sports romance. During a season opener, point guard Ariana Villa dives for a loose ball and lands in the lap of her favourite commentator, Nicole Neal.
It holds a 4.0 average across 434 Goodreads ratings, with 70% of them four or five stars, 3.4 on StoryGraph from 53 reviews, and 4.3 stars across 337 Amazon ratings.
What Is Take the Shot About?
Nicole has a spot on the WNBA’s top broadcasting team, a reputation for sharp analysis and no luck in romance. Ariana, the league’s superstar point guard, is known for fearless play and unshakeable focus.
After one look, the connection is instant — and off-limits. Both must decide whether risking their careers and public scrutiny is worth a chance at love.
What Works in This Romance
- The meet-cute: Readers love the literal fall into Nicole’s lap.
- Authentic basketball: Several readers felt like they were in the arena, and one notes nothing reads as written by someone who doesn’t watch sports.
- Mature leads: Reviewers praise emotionally grown-up characters who talk through problems.
- Warmth: Fans describe the Hallmark-style comfort Moody is known for.
Book Synopsis
A superstar player and a veteran broadcaster share one electric moment courtside.
Their careers say stay away. Their hearts say take the shot.
My Review
This is comfort reading with a sports backdrop: friendship first, a secret romance, supportive best friends and a guaranteed happy ending. Readers who know Moody’s style say it delivers exactly what they expect, with a bit more angst than usual.
The critics are consistent: once the pair start seeing each other, they have the same conversations over and over, and the book feels around 150 pages too long. Others found the characters flat, the formal dialogue tiring, the villain obvious, or the “forbidden” element not very forbidden. One reader felt they got together too early.
My honest note: Great if you want low stakes; skim-friendly in the middle.
| Element | In Take the Shot |
|---|---|
| Central relationship | Ariana Villa, 29, a New York point guard, & Nicole Neal, 42, a WNBA commentator |
| Core tropes | Age gap, conflict of interest, secret relationship |
| Setting | The WNBA and its broadcast booth, New York |
| Heat level | Explicit |
| Length | 367 pages (Kindle listing) |
| Series | Standalone |
| Content notes | Workplace scrutiny |
How Spicy Is Take the Shot?
Once the slow burn breaks, readers call the heat scorching, and StoryGraph users have tagged graphic sexual content.
Otherwise it is a gentle read; readers mention little in the way of dark content.
Who Should Read This Book?
You’ll likely love it if: you enjoy Jamey Moody’s warm, drama-light romances or age-gap stories. It is on our sapphic sports romance list.
You may want to skip it if: repetitive dialogue or a long middle will lose you.
In short: Warm, sweet and a bit long.
What Readers Are Actually Saying (September 2026)
On Goodreads the split is 40% five stars, 30% four, 22% three, 6% two and 2% one. On StoryGraph, 85% tagged it lighthearted and 87% found the characters loveable, though the average there is a lower 3.4.
Why readers love it (according to the discourse): The warmth first. Second, the basketball detail. Third, the meet-cute. Fourth, the heat.
What readers argue about and complain about: Length and repetition, above everything. Second, flat characters. Third, low stakes.
The comparison worth making first: For another broadcaster-and-player romance, see Rooting Interest.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the age gap in Take the Shot?
About thirteen years. Readers note Ariana is 29 and Nicole is 42.
Is Take the Shot low angst?
Yes, largely. Jamey Moody is known for warm, low-angst stories, though readers say this one has a little more angst than usual because of the secret relationship.
Does Take the Shot have a happy ending?
Yes. Readers confirm an HEA.
How spicy is it?
Fairly. Readers describe a slow burn followed by scorching heat, and StoryGraph users have tagged graphic sexual content.
Is Take the Shot on Kindle Unlimited?
Yes, at the time of writing it was available through Kindle Unlimited, or $7.99 to buy on Kindle. An audiobook edition is also available.
If You Loved Take the Shot, Read These Next
Try Play You For It, or browse our sapphic sports romance list and the full Book Reviews archive.
The Bottom Line
Take the Shot sets out to be a warm, low-angst WNBA romance, and it is. What holds it back is a saggy middle. For comfort readers. Check Take the Shot on Amazon →
The Eikna Overall Ranking
On the Eikna scale, Take the Shot ranks as a fair-to-good comfort romance — warm, long.
The Evidence Scorecard
Overall ★★★★☆ 3.6/5
- ✓ 4.0 average across 434 Goodreads ratings
- ✓ 70% of Goodreads ratings are four or five stars
- ✓ 3.4 on StoryGraph from 53 reviews
- ✓ 4.3 stars across 337 Amazon ratings
Romance ★★★★☆ 3.6/5
- ✓ Great meet-cute
- ✓ Age gap
- ✓ Secret romance
- ✓ Repetitive middle
Characters ★★★☆☆ 3.4/5
- ✓ Mature leads
- ✓ 87% loveable characters
- ✓ Flat for critics
- ✓ Obvious villain
Writing ★★★☆☆ 3.3/5
- ✓ Authentic basketball
- ✓ Formal dialogue
- ✓ Too long
- ✓ Song references
Emotional Impact ★★★☆☆ 3.3/5
- ✓ Tagged lighthearted by 85%
- ✓ Low angst
- ✓ Warm
- ✓ Low stakes
Heat Level ★★★★☆ 4/5
- ✓ Explicit
- ✓ Scorching payoff
- ✓ Slow build
- ✓ Graphic tags
Ending ★★★★☆ 3.9/5
- ✓ HEA
- ✓ Love wins
- ✓ Standalone
- ✓ Satisfying for fans
Re-read Value ★★★★☆ 3.5/5
- ✓ Kindle Unlimited
- ✓ Audiobook available
- ✓ $7.99 Kindle price
- ✓ 367 pages
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