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Hundred Oaks #1
Catching Jordan
ŷ Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Young Adult Fiction (2012)ONE OF THE BOYS
What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though-she leads them as the captain and quarterback of her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university.
But everything she's ever worked for is threatened when Ty Green moves to her school. Not only is he an amazing QB, but he's also amazingly hot. And for the first time, Jordan's feeling vulnerable. Can she keep her head in the game while her heart's on the line?
What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though-she leads them as the captain and quarterback of her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university.
But everything she's ever worked for is threatened when Ty Green moves to her school. Not only is he an amazing QB, but he's also amazingly hot. And for the first time, Jordan's feeling vulnerable. Can she keep her head in the game while her heart's on the line?
288 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2011
1,096 people are currently reading
53.7k people want to read
About the author
Miranda Kenneally
20books4,250followersGrowing up in Tennessee, Miranda Kenneally dreamed of becoming an Atlanta Brave, a country singer (cliché!), or a UN interpreter. Instead she writes, and works for the State Department in Washington, D.C., where George W. Bush once used her shoulder as an armrest. Miranda loves Twitter, Star Trek and her husband.
Note: I don't answer direct messages, but do answer questions on ŷ and Twitter. Please feel free to check in with me there!
Note: I don't answer direct messages, but do answer questions on ŷ and Twitter. Please feel free to check in with me there!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,834 reviews
December 4, 2013
What did I think of Catching Jordan? Umm.. well.. it was FREAKING AMAZING! There is just so much I could say about this book. It has romance, humor, love, loss, friendship, family - it has something for absolutely everyone. Even if you aren't into sports - like me - or know nothing about football - like me - don't even hesitate to pick it up. This is a masterpiece written by a brilliant mastermind that you Can. Not. Miss!!
*fangirling!*
Ok, phew. Now, let's start with Jordan. Our dear wonderful Jordan who is over six feet tall, plays football and is considered "one of the guys" is completely loveable and such a sweetheart. She may be a tomboy, but she has the same teenage angst and emotions as any other girl. She wants to talk about her recent crush, vent about not being supported by her dad, and someone to teach her how she's supposed to kiss. I connected with Jordan immediately - she made me laugh and cry. She made me feel her heart flutter and then break. This was a definite emotional ride that I won't soon forget!
The romance is absolutely swoon-worthy. The chemistry in Catching Jordan is phenomenal. Not just the love chemistry either. A connection is deeply felt between all of the characters: the team, the friends, the families. It's all so incredibly well-written with charisma floating off the pages that you'll see these people come alive. This is the first book I've read that has made me laugh to the point of tears (I'm so glad I wasn't in public) and now that it's over, my heart is so filled that I desperately want to hug this book, marry it, and have it's babies!
Catching Jordan is not simply a love story. It's so so so much more; It's about going for your dreams, overcoming obstacles and never giving up believing they will happen. You will undoubtedly finish this book with a smile on your face!
*fangirling!*
Ok, phew. Now, let's start with Jordan. Our dear wonderful Jordan who is over six feet tall, plays football and is considered "one of the guys" is completely loveable and such a sweetheart. She may be a tomboy, but she has the same teenage angst and emotions as any other girl. She wants to talk about her recent crush, vent about not being supported by her dad, and someone to teach her how she's supposed to kiss. I connected with Jordan immediately - she made me laugh and cry. She made me feel her heart flutter and then break. This was a definite emotional ride that I won't soon forget!
The romance is absolutely swoon-worthy. The chemistry in Catching Jordan is phenomenal. Not just the love chemistry either. A connection is deeply felt between all of the characters: the team, the friends, the families. It's all so incredibly well-written with charisma floating off the pages that you'll see these people come alive. This is the first book I've read that has made me laugh to the point of tears (I'm so glad I wasn't in public) and now that it's over, my heart is so filled that I desperately want to hug this book, marry it, and have it's babies!
Catching Jordan is not simply a love story. It's so so so much more; It's about going for your dreams, overcoming obstacles and never giving up believing they will happen. You will undoubtedly finish this book with a smile on your face!
December 10, 2016
Last page impression:
Fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun... (feel free to keep going..)
OK, i got tired of repeting it (as writing on ipad is so not fun) and I guess that you got my point by now: This book was so damn fun to read!
Actual Review:
Ha-haa, what a fun way to spend the evening.
This book was amazingly cute, and the characters too adorable for words. From Jordan and Henry, to JJ, Carter, Ty and the girls, and even the family members � they were all so great that I wished for them to be part of my life. They filled my day with their jokes and their joy and for a moment, between laughs, they made me miss my old friends from high school. I could have hugged them all and take them home, that’s how much I like them.
The cover:
It’s beautiful. In fact it’s what caught my attention back in April when I saw it for the first time.
Also there’s something about that line between the boy and the girl � maybe it’s not supposed to have a meaning, but the book is all about crossing the line � with the guy Jordan liked, with her friends, with her family, her choices and options, and so on.
Jordan:
As I found out, Jordan is the girl, and it’s funny because before reading the book I was so sure that Jordan was the guy in the story, LOL.
Anyways, I really liked her. She had this optimism like an aura around her words, and even with all her insecurities and her problems she seemed to know where she was standing and she seemed to be enjoying her life.
I liked in a way how Jordan reacted when the guy she liked didn’t make a move. She was like: “ok, you don’t want me, it is not the end of the world, there are plenty of fish in the sea, I’ll find someone else (in fact I have someone else), let’s see how you like it�. And I was like: “finally a girl with something between her ears that doesn’t spend all her time moping around�. She didn’t just wait for him, crying in a corner (even though the guy of her choice was not the best she could have found, and also there were plenty of tears involved here and there).
As a side note I’ve also noticed that she seems to like (and want) mostly the things that she doesn’t have, but.. don’t we all? Maybe this is another thing that made her ‘real� (as a character can be). Because we all make mistakes. And sometimes we don’t realize what we have until it’s too late, but don’t we all deserve another chance?
Henry:
For about 2/3 of the story (more or less) he was the best character ever. The cute one, the funny one, the one that makes you laugh until you choke, the one that you want to give breathless hugs, the one that you want to kiss for being so sweet, the one with a “take me home� sign on his forehead.
I would have given this book 5 stars if Henry wouldn’t have started at some point acting like an emo jerk (no offence to emo or jerk people). I wanted to stuck him and Jordan in a room for 7 minutes (even though they need more than 7) to figure out what was wrong with them.
Anyways, I liked how Henry supported Jordan with everything, even when supporting her was breaking his heart.
He was a good friend.. that is until he wasn’t a friend at all. But at the end he was cute again, thanks god!
Ty
I thought that he was supposed to be the bad guy, playing with Jordan’s feelings for his own interests. I waited for him to show his real face and let me tell you that when he finally did I was a bit surprised � but not in the way I’ve expected it.
I couldn’t make myself like him, mostly because he was so damn controlling. Yes, there was a bit of a tragedy there, I understand that, but he was too much of a drama queen for my taste. He is the only character I couldn’t really understand as his moods changed all through the story. Maybe he was a bit instable because of what happened in the past, maybe he was just there to fill in the space between Jordan and Henry (to make the story work) and the author didn’t pay enough attention to him� Who knows. The fact is that he remained a mystery to me, and not one that I wanted to uncover.
Friends:
I guess there’s no need to repeat myself, still I’m gonna say again how much I loved all Jordan’s friends.. Guys and girls. They were awesome and cute, and they had their own moments to star in the story and I laughed like crazy at their jokes. They were so.. alive, if you get what I mean. The dialogue was realistic and fun, and they made me want to know more about them (e.g. about Carter and his relation with his father, or Ty and his family)
Family
I liked them all, from the parents to Mike (the big brother) and his friend.
Even if I wanted for more the half of the book to punch Jordan’s father in the face.. with a baseball bat, he was really nice in the end, and I liked how even when he didn’t agree with Jordan’s choices (to play football) he never told her not to.
Also, helping Ty and his family was so nice of them.
Sweet moments:
- Henry’s victory dance
- the fake baby
- truth or dare
- Ty and Jordan’s first kiss
- Henry pretending to be asleep
- my splash is bigger than yours :p
This review can also be found at
Book source: ARC from the publisher, via Netgalley. Thank you!
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Fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun... (feel free to keep going..)
OK, i got tired of repeting it (as writing on ipad is so not fun) and I guess that you got my point by now: This book was so damn fun to read!
Actual Review:
Ha-haa, what a fun way to spend the evening.
This book was amazingly cute, and the characters too adorable for words. From Jordan and Henry, to JJ, Carter, Ty and the girls, and even the family members � they were all so great that I wished for them to be part of my life. They filled my day with their jokes and their joy and for a moment, between laughs, they made me miss my old friends from high school. I could have hugged them all and take them home, that’s how much I like them.
“When unrequited love is the most expensive thing on the menu, sometimes you settle for the daily special�
The cover:
It’s beautiful. In fact it’s what caught my attention back in April when I saw it for the first time.
Also there’s something about that line between the boy and the girl � maybe it’s not supposed to have a meaning, but the book is all about crossing the line � with the guy Jordan liked, with her friends, with her family, her choices and options, and so on.
Jordan:
As I found out, Jordan is the girl, and it’s funny because before reading the book I was so sure that Jordan was the guy in the story, LOL.
Anyways, I really liked her. She had this optimism like an aura around her words, and even with all her insecurities and her problems she seemed to know where she was standing and she seemed to be enjoying her life.
I liked in a way how Jordan reacted when the guy she liked didn’t make a move. She was like: “ok, you don’t want me, it is not the end of the world, there are plenty of fish in the sea, I’ll find someone else (in fact I have someone else), let’s see how you like it�. And I was like: “finally a girl with something between her ears that doesn’t spend all her time moping around�. She didn’t just wait for him, crying in a corner (even though the guy of her choice was not the best she could have found, and also there were plenty of tears involved here and there).
As a side note I’ve also noticed that she seems to like (and want) mostly the things that she doesn’t have, but.. don’t we all? Maybe this is another thing that made her ‘real� (as a character can be). Because we all make mistakes. And sometimes we don’t realize what we have until it’s too late, but don’t we all deserve another chance?
“I didn’t know crushing on a guy would require me to up my calorie intake.�
Henry:
For about 2/3 of the story (more or less) he was the best character ever. The cute one, the funny one, the one that makes you laugh until you choke, the one that you want to give breathless hugs, the one that you want to kiss for being so sweet, the one with a “take me home� sign on his forehead.
I would have given this book 5 stars if Henry wouldn’t have started at some point acting like an emo jerk (no offence to emo or jerk people). I wanted to stuck him and Jordan in a room for 7 minutes (even though they need more than 7) to figure out what was wrong with them.
Anyways, I liked how Henry supported Jordan with everything, even when supporting her was breaking his heart.
He was a good friend.. that is until he wasn’t a friend at all. But at the end he was cute again, thanks god!
“I love how when we sleep head-to-toe,
he always finds a reason to sleep head-to-head instead.�
Ty
I thought that he was supposed to be the bad guy, playing with Jordan’s feelings for his own interests. I waited for him to show his real face and let me tell you that when he finally did I was a bit surprised � but not in the way I’ve expected it.
I couldn’t make myself like him, mostly because he was so damn controlling. Yes, there was a bit of a tragedy there, I understand that, but he was too much of a drama queen for my taste. He is the only character I couldn’t really understand as his moods changed all through the story. Maybe he was a bit instable because of what happened in the past, maybe he was just there to fill in the space between Jordan and Henry (to make the story work) and the author didn’t pay enough attention to him� Who knows. The fact is that he remained a mystery to me, and not one that I wanted to uncover.
“I’ve never been to a dance, and I’ve certainly never worn a girly evening gown dress thing. [...] It had better drive Ty crazy, because I can’t breathe in this damned thing.�
Friends:
I guess there’s no need to repeat myself, still I’m gonna say again how much I loved all Jordan’s friends.. Guys and girls. They were awesome and cute, and they had their own moments to star in the story and I laughed like crazy at their jokes. They were so.. alive, if you get what I mean. The dialogue was realistic and fun, and they made me want to know more about them (e.g. about Carter and his relation with his father, or Ty and his family)
Family
I liked them all, from the parents to Mike (the big brother) and his friend.
Even if I wanted for more the half of the book to punch Jordan’s father in the face.. with a baseball bat, he was really nice in the end, and I liked how even when he didn’t agree with Jordan’s choices (to play football) he never told her not to.
Also, helping Ty and his family was so nice of them.
Jordan: You know what I think about dreams?
Ty: (smiles slightly) What?
Jordan: That if you spend too much time dreaming, you’ll stop actually doing.
Sweet moments:
- Henry’s victory dance
- the fake baby
- truth or dare
- Ty and Jordan’s first kiss
- Henry pretending to be asleep
- my splash is bigger than yours :p
This review can also be found at
Book source: ARC from the publisher, via Netgalley. Thank you!
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February 3, 2012
It was an okay read.
I liked the storyline of the book, the uniqueness of Jordan's character (liked her honesty but she lacked a bit of maturity), the football references (even though I'm not a football fan), Jordan's relationships with the guys on her team (I loved that her best friends were guys who loved her and looked out for her), her best friend Sam Henry (even though he was a wussy tramp at times), development of friendships with girls, her supportive brother, and resolution in relationship with her dad.
I didn't like the immaturity of Jordan's character (why does she fall apart with the look of one cute guy? is it really necessary to punch the guys so much?), obsession with casual sex (particularly the football guys and cheerleaders - too much stereotyping), fast relationship with Ty who had a compelling story himself but she barely knew him (and gave herself up to him quickly - why?), the love triangle seemed forced, Sam coping with his heartbreak through lots of sex (really? he had no other outlet?), and despite the sex talk the book really lacked romance of any kind.
Addendum: The more I think about it, the less I liked it. Bottomline, I really didn't connect with the characters and the more I think about it, I didn't care much for them or the story development.
I liked the storyline of the book, the uniqueness of Jordan's character (liked her honesty but she lacked a bit of maturity), the football references (even though I'm not a football fan), Jordan's relationships with the guys on her team (I loved that her best friends were guys who loved her and looked out for her), her best friend Sam Henry (even though he was a wussy tramp at times), development of friendships with girls, her supportive brother, and resolution in relationship with her dad.
I didn't like the immaturity of Jordan's character (why does she fall apart with the look of one cute guy? is it really necessary to punch the guys so much?), obsession with casual sex (particularly the football guys and cheerleaders - too much stereotyping), fast relationship with Ty who had a compelling story himself but she barely knew him (and gave herself up to him quickly - why?), the love triangle seemed forced, Sam coping with his heartbreak through lots of sex (really? he had no other outlet?), and despite the sex talk the book really lacked romance of any kind.
Addendum: The more I think about it, the less I liked it. Bottomline, I really didn't connect with the characters and the more I think about it, I didn't care much for them or the story development.
January 5, 2012
I'm a night reader. After I'm done for the day, I take a shower, lay in bed, and read for about an hour. But not with this book. I stayed up. I didn't write the next day. I read.
The story, the characters, it hooked me.
And I developed a crush on Sam Henry.
Dear Miranda,
You could write a book solely about Sam Henry and I would read it. Just sayin'.
From,
Katie
The story, the characters, it hooked me.
And I developed a crush on Sam Henry.
Dear Miranda,
You could write a book solely about Sam Henry and I would read it. Just sayin'.
From,
Katie
February 18, 2014
(forgive me for my bad poetry skills)
And this book was so badddd
it hurt my brain
I wish I could
write something better
but I cannot
with its angst
and its woman hating
female lead
it tried to tell me
that I was wrong
it tried to put
femininity into a box
and I just couldn't
take it any more
but it didn't get better
for the love interest
was just as crappy
he was the worst best friend ever
and gave excuses
and then became a man-whore to cope
with what was ultimately his decision
he didn't listen to what she had to say
because he obviously knew better
the supporting cast was no better and showed no real respect
for females and everyone in this book was just
a big fat cliche
so you see
I have nothing else to say
but this book was
SO NOT FOR ME
And this book was so badddd
it hurt my brain
I wish I could
write something better
but I cannot
with its angst
and its woman hating
female lead
it tried to tell me
that I was wrong
it tried to put
femininity into a box
and I just couldn't
take it any more
but it didn't get better
for the love interest
was just as crappy
he was the worst best friend ever
and gave excuses
and then became a man-whore to cope
with what was ultimately his decision
he didn't listen to what she had to say
because he obviously knew better
the supporting cast was no better and showed no real respect
for females and everyone in this book was just
a big fat cliche
so you see
I have nothing else to say
but this book was
SO NOT FOR ME
August 28, 2012
Catching Jordan does not do justice to the YA genre, lurve triangles, college football or girls who aspire to play traditional "boy" sports. For a better, I mean completely different league better, book about a girl who plays football, pick up and forget this one.
In , protagonist DJ Schwenk struggles with the reality of a girl playing a tough, physical boy sport. She deals with different degrees of acceptance. She balances her hopes, dreams and the realities of her situation. Unlike Jordan here.
Let’s see, Jordan is a high school senior, and daughter of a NFL pro. Not only is her dad a NFL hero, but in college he was a two-time Heisman trophy winner. Um...what the fuck with the slap in the face to ??? The man who happens to be the only real life two time Heisman winner, and an alumni of The Ohio State University! (On that note, author Miranda Kenneally clearly has a beef with Ohio State... her players don't care when Ohio State scouts come to the game but get theirpanties jockstraps in an uproar when scouts from the team up North come to check them out. Whatever :P)
At any rate... Jordan. Her dad is a football hero. Her brother is doing quite well in college ball. And Jordan herself has been her town's star quarterback since she was in grade school. So it is accepted that she is a kick ass football player, despite being a girl. Uh huh. I get it. Really. Girls can do anything boys can do. Except... sometimes they can't. Sorry ladies. But physically girls simply don't measure up. We don't. So while a girl may be able to compete with some guys, in the end guys are bigger, have more muscle mass and therefore more strength. Yet Jordan seems to think that she has a shot at winning a full football scholarship at a Division I-A football school. Do you know how very difficult that is? For talented football playing boys??? Let alone a girl? She says she loves football and wants to play football... which I can believe. But why must she go to the best of the best? To compete in a sport in which girls can't possibly compete? What the fuck is wrong with going to a smaller school? Do you know how many high school kids may be hometown (or even statewide) heroes and have to make the heartbreaking decision between accepting a scholarship to a Division I-A school and probably not getting field time because of the talent and the competition... and accepting a scholarship at a smaller and less prestigious school yet getting lots of playing time because the competition isn't nearly as fierce? When boys, talented boys, are faced with this decision... it is difficult for me to believe that a girl would be recruited by (and play at) a Division I-A school.
Furthermore, the kids in this book casually make statements such as, "He's NFL material" Uh, what? Firstly... going from high school football to college football is such a huge leap. So many high school stars simply fizzle out when it comes to college ball. And the transition from college to NFL is an even greater one. In so many ways, it is an entirely different game.
Anyway..... the "sports" aspect of this book severely disappointed me. Clearly, LOL. As for the lurve aspect... clichéd triangle. Jordan was shallow, the story line was unrealistic. Lurve triangle at its worst. Sorry, but there was nothing redeemable or enjoyable about this story.
In , protagonist DJ Schwenk struggles with the reality of a girl playing a tough, physical boy sport. She deals with different degrees of acceptance. She balances her hopes, dreams and the realities of her situation. Unlike Jordan here.
Let’s see, Jordan is a high school senior, and daughter of a NFL pro. Not only is her dad a NFL hero, but in college he was a two-time Heisman trophy winner. Um...what the fuck with the slap in the face to ??? The man who happens to be the only real life two time Heisman winner, and an alumni of The Ohio State University! (On that note, author Miranda Kenneally clearly has a beef with Ohio State... her players don't care when Ohio State scouts come to the game but get their
At any rate... Jordan. Her dad is a football hero. Her brother is doing quite well in college ball. And Jordan herself has been her town's star quarterback since she was in grade school. So it is accepted that she is a kick ass football player, despite being a girl. Uh huh. I get it. Really. Girls can do anything boys can do. Except... sometimes they can't. Sorry ladies. But physically girls simply don't measure up. We don't. So while a girl may be able to compete with some guys, in the end guys are bigger, have more muscle mass and therefore more strength. Yet Jordan seems to think that she has a shot at winning a full football scholarship at a Division I-A football school. Do you know how very difficult that is? For talented football playing boys??? Let alone a girl? She says she loves football and wants to play football... which I can believe. But why must she go to the best of the best? To compete in a sport in which girls can't possibly compete? What the fuck is wrong with going to a smaller school? Do you know how many high school kids may be hometown (or even statewide) heroes and have to make the heartbreaking decision between accepting a scholarship to a Division I-A school and probably not getting field time because of the talent and the competition... and accepting a scholarship at a smaller and less prestigious school yet getting lots of playing time because the competition isn't nearly as fierce? When boys, talented boys, are faced with this decision... it is difficult for me to believe that a girl would be recruited by (and play at) a Division I-A school.
Furthermore, the kids in this book casually make statements such as, "He's NFL material" Uh, what? Firstly... going from high school football to college football is such a huge leap. So many high school stars simply fizzle out when it comes to college ball. And the transition from college to NFL is an even greater one. In so many ways, it is an entirely different game.
Anyway..... the "sports" aspect of this book severely disappointed me. Clearly, LOL. As for the lurve aspect... clichéd triangle. Jordan was shallow, the story line was unrealistic. Lurve triangle at its worst. Sorry, but there was nothing redeemable or enjoyable about this story.
May 7, 2014
(I'm sick. I'm lazy. Go away.)
So this is She's The Man...
... meets High School Musical...
(scratch that for BOY)
... meets The Vampire Diaries...
... and most of the time I was just like...
... but sometimes IT WAS like this.
Overall: forgettable.
Surprisingly, the sports/college talk part of this book is what I liked the most.
So this is She's The Man...
... meets High School Musical...
(scratch that for BOY)
... meets The Vampire Diaries...
... and most of the time I was just like...
... but sometimes IT WAS like this.
Overall: forgettable.
Surprisingly, the sports/college talk part of this book is what I liked the most.
December 18, 2011
What can I say, I can relate to this book....
Yes people, there are girls out there that play football. And yes, they're good. I was starting right tackle and middle linebacker for my team leading in tackles and sacks. I guess what bothers me about some of the reviews is they're bashing the book for being unrealistic. Can a girl play football? Yes. Is it likely a girl could quarter back for a D-1 school? Probably not, but last time I checked this was called FICTION!!!!
fic·tion (fik-shuhn)
noun
1.The class of literature comprising works of imaginative narration, especially in prose form.
2.Works of this class, as novels or short stories: detective fiction.
3.Something feigned, invented, or imagined; a made-up story: We've all heard the fiction of her being in delicate health.
4.The act of feigning, inventing, or imagining.
Isn't reading improbable or unlikely situations what makes reading fun?
Standing at almost 5'll myself, growing up an undoubtable tom-boy, loving sports, and having more guy friends than girl friends makes me feel a kinship to Jordan. I have personally lived alot of what she went through so let me tell you what is real about this story. The bond between teammates is something only an athlete can understand; it's a family. In Catching Jordan that bond is wonderfully portrayed. I loved her friendships with her teammates! They constantly have Jordan's back and are always taking care of her. On the other end of the spectrum you have the girls. Most girls are quite catty when it comes to other girls that make them feel threatened. Jordan gets a lot of attention from playing football and has a bond with the guys that the other girls don't. They are jealous and petty; constantly giving Jordan a hard time. However, there are two very refreshing exceptions to that rule in this book. It's not Jordan's fault that she relates more to the guys than girls. Past experiences have lead her to completely shut the same sex out; she feels like they're all the same. It's nice to see her get out of her comfort zone and give a few of them a chance.
I adored everything about Catching Jordan especially Sam Henry. I get ridiculously giddy and excited when it comes to life-long friendships between the opposite sex. I fell head-over-heels in love with the relationship between Sam and Jordan. However, I wasn't a huge fan of Ty. Partly because I'm not a fan of love triangles and partly because he was such a complete weeny! I just wanted to smack him!
Jordan overcomes so much in this book; she's driven and passionate which makes it easy to like her. You learn that she likes "guy stuff", despises being a "girly-girl" and gets along better with the opposite sex. Just because she doesn't act like a girl doesn't mean she doesn't have the heart of a girl!
Also check out the BOOK-tune that goes along with Catching Jordan at
Yes people, there are girls out there that play football. And yes, they're good. I was starting right tackle and middle linebacker for my team leading in tackles and sacks. I guess what bothers me about some of the reviews is they're bashing the book for being unrealistic. Can a girl play football? Yes. Is it likely a girl could quarter back for a D-1 school? Probably not, but last time I checked this was called FICTION!!!!
fic·tion (fik-shuhn)
noun
1.The class of literature comprising works of imaginative narration, especially in prose form.
2.Works of this class, as novels or short stories: detective fiction.
3.Something feigned, invented, or imagined; a made-up story: We've all heard the fiction of her being in delicate health.
4.The act of feigning, inventing, or imagining.
Isn't reading improbable or unlikely situations what makes reading fun?
Standing at almost 5'll myself, growing up an undoubtable tom-boy, loving sports, and having more guy friends than girl friends makes me feel a kinship to Jordan. I have personally lived alot of what she went through so let me tell you what is real about this story. The bond between teammates is something only an athlete can understand; it's a family. In Catching Jordan that bond is wonderfully portrayed. I loved her friendships with her teammates! They constantly have Jordan's back and are always taking care of her. On the other end of the spectrum you have the girls. Most girls are quite catty when it comes to other girls that make them feel threatened. Jordan gets a lot of attention from playing football and has a bond with the guys that the other girls don't. They are jealous and petty; constantly giving Jordan a hard time. However, there are two very refreshing exceptions to that rule in this book. It's not Jordan's fault that she relates more to the guys than girls. Past experiences have lead her to completely shut the same sex out; she feels like they're all the same. It's nice to see her get out of her comfort zone and give a few of them a chance.
I adored everything about Catching Jordan especially Sam Henry. I get ridiculously giddy and excited when it comes to life-long friendships between the opposite sex. I fell head-over-heels in love with the relationship between Sam and Jordan. However, I wasn't a huge fan of Ty. Partly because I'm not a fan of love triangles and partly because he was such a complete weeny! I just wanted to smack him!
Jordan overcomes so much in this book; she's driven and passionate which makes it easy to like her. You learn that she likes "guy stuff", despises being a "girly-girl" and gets along better with the opposite sex. Just because she doesn't act like a girl doesn't mean she doesn't have the heart of a girl!
Also check out the BOOK-tune that goes along with Catching Jordan at
December 19, 2011
When unrequited love is the most expensive thing on the menu, sometimes you settle for the daily special.
Oh football fumble! I was really looking forward to reading and falling head over heels for Catching Jordon. The reviews were looking positive, my book club was enjoying this, and I was getting the whole D.J. Schwenk vibe just by reading the book jacket. But after finishing this book, the score is 5 stars, Catching Jordon 3 stars. I really didn’t feel more than a minimal like for this book, which is pretty disappointing considering how much I was looking forward to it.
In this story, we meet Jordon Woods who plays football for Hundred Oaks High. She’s on her way to having a stellar season with a team that not only respects her as the captain of the team, but cares for her as a friend. Jordon also has a great chance at making full scholarship with Alabama, and her football stats have never looked better. But, that all changes when Tyler Green walks on the field and threatens to steal her position and heart faster than she can pass the football to her wide receiver.
There were a few reasons I had a hard time falling for this book. First and foremost, I felt character confusion. I didn’t know who Sam versus Henry was until half way through the book, when I found he was the same person. (DOH!) Also, I was never quite sure if I was suppose to fall for Ty, but there was just something about him that left me feeling cold about this character. In addition, I feel some of the characters suffered from lack of development to such a degree that if you ask me to name more than three characters in this book in about a month, I’ll be stumped. None of them stood out to me to any significant degree.
Next, I was bothered by the way Pop Warner Football and Cheerleaders in general were portrayed in this book. Too many stereotypes and misconceptions were thrown out there for me to just let it slide.
Lastly, I don't like it when characters use physical force to get their point across... even if it's a girl doing the punching. That just rubs me the wrong way. So when Jordon punched Sam or Henry in the jaw, I cried FOUL. Just not cute or funny. : { I get Jordon was trying to act tough and un-girly... but there's other ways to achieve that, and hitting/punching is not one of them.
Overall, the concept was great and I liked the whole theme of girl football player trying to beat the odds in addition to the teenage concepts as they relate to friendship, loyalty and first love� All very promising, but when the final play was delivered I sort of let my poms poms fall to the floor feeling disappointed in the story. :(
Oh football fumble! I was really looking forward to reading and falling head over heels for Catching Jordon. The reviews were looking positive, my book club was enjoying this, and I was getting the whole D.J. Schwenk vibe just by reading the book jacket. But after finishing this book, the score is 5 stars, Catching Jordon 3 stars. I really didn’t feel more than a minimal like for this book, which is pretty disappointing considering how much I was looking forward to it.
In this story, we meet Jordon Woods who plays football for Hundred Oaks High. She’s on her way to having a stellar season with a team that not only respects her as the captain of the team, but cares for her as a friend. Jordon also has a great chance at making full scholarship with Alabama, and her football stats have never looked better. But, that all changes when Tyler Green walks on the field and threatens to steal her position and heart faster than she can pass the football to her wide receiver.
There were a few reasons I had a hard time falling for this book. First and foremost, I felt character confusion. I didn’t know who Sam versus Henry was until half way through the book, when I found he was the same person. (DOH!) Also, I was never quite sure if I was suppose to fall for Ty, but there was just something about him that left me feeling cold about this character. In addition, I feel some of the characters suffered from lack of development to such a degree that if you ask me to name more than three characters in this book in about a month, I’ll be stumped. None of them stood out to me to any significant degree.
Next, I was bothered by the way Pop Warner Football and Cheerleaders in general were portrayed in this book. Too many stereotypes and misconceptions were thrown out there for me to just let it slide.
Lastly, I don't like it when characters use physical force to get their point across... even if it's a girl doing the punching. That just rubs me the wrong way. So when Jordon punched Sam or Henry in the jaw, I cried FOUL. Just not cute or funny. : { I get Jordon was trying to act tough and un-girly... but there's other ways to achieve that, and hitting/punching is not one of them.
Overall, the concept was great and I liked the whole theme of girl football player trying to beat the odds in addition to the teenage concepts as they relate to friendship, loyalty and first love� All very promising, but when the final play was delivered I sort of let my poms poms fall to the floor feeling disappointed in the story. :(
June 21, 2012
Honestly, for a much cuter, much funnier, much more poignant, non-shallow version of this story, try . Plus, there are cows!
March 2, 2016
First of all, I wanna make it very clear that in this corner of the world, whenever you say football you're talking about this baby:
However, I must admit that after watching the entire five seasons of Friday Night Lights I've grown fond of american football even if I still have no clue how to play it. I consider myself a sport enthusiastic, the kind who watches it, never plays it so I got into this book with the same excitement I'd read the series. I'm not sure if the first installment in the Hundred Oaks series filled my expectations, though. Sport wise? There's no much here.
I enjoy reading these stories because I'll never understand how this college thing works in the States. Here we've got it too easy I think, so it's difficult for me to imagine the struggle kids go through in their final year of high school. Jordan not only loves football but has the privilege of being the team leader of the most unique bunch of guys ever with the pressure of getting a scholarship.
I had fun reading Catching Jordan because the writing is simple and I was absorbed in the familiarity of the characters. For the first half of this book, I'm all in. And when I say the first half, I mean Henry. Oh, boy. They are so sweet and adorable together. And I think the story works for me because of their friendship, the history they share, the anecdotes, the banter and silly games. They're pretty much Barney and Robin!
When it comes to love triangles, I'd rather step on a lego. Yet, this was not the case. I'm no Sherlock but I think the resolution was very clear since the very beginning so it did bothered me how much time it took Jordan to realize not what she had to do but when to do it. I'm too old for the angsty shit.
I really liked the way sex isn't the Holy Grail in Jordan's life. I loved the relationship between Jordan and her teammates. It was great to see her surrounded by a supporting family even if dad took his time to do it. I did like that Jordan finds two girl friends in the end. 
I didn't like how she treated those girls in the beginning the same way I didn't like how the book portrayed cheerleaders, as stupid, shallow or mean. I've never seen a cheerleader in my life but I guess the stereotype is what bothers me. I'm no cheerleader and I'm shallow and mean whenever I want to be, so... And I didn't like the way the author tried to convince me Ty wasn't for her just by making him look like a jerk in the end.All in all, it was a fun, one-sit read but not sure if it was a memorable one.
November 13, 2014
I was skimming through all the positive reviews of this book and kept wondering if I read the same book. I loved the cover, it totally drew me to the book and even though I thought the premise sounded a little silly I wanted to read it.
I think guys should be guys and girls should be girls. I’m all for girl’s being strong, independent, playing sports, etc. But, I think girls should also be feminine, should be respected and treated like ladies.
I wish I could have liked Jordan more, which is one of the reasons I kept reading. Jordan was just such a boy. Not a tomboy, but a boy. She acted like a guy, cussed like a guy, and did just about everything like a guy. Sure, when hot Ty comes around she wants to be a little more girly, and even makes a couple girl friends, but at the end of the day she was still pretty boyish. I was really disappointed that she started sleeping with Ty. Her attitude (and everyone else’s) about sex was WAY too casual. It was kind of gross actually. What I also thought was sad was that no one actually respected Jordan. Yes, they appreciated her football skills and treated her like one of the guys. Which was part of my problem; they treated her like a guy not a girl. They didn’t treat her with respect, course they didn’t treat any girl with respect, so I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised.
In fact, I didn’t care for any of the guys in this book. Her brother’s friend Jake was a creep; there is NO WAY my brothers would EVER let a guy talk to me the way Jake talked to Jordan. Even if he was just kidding. Ty was okay, but I never really felt like I got to know him. Once they hooked up he kind of disappears from the story, even though they were still sleeping together…I mean dating. I know Henry was supposed to be our hero, but I thought he was a creep to. To help sooth his broken heart he sleeps with every girl that looks his way. Are we supposed to feel bad for him in his unrequited love and so it’s okay if he uses girls he has no feelings for? Whatever.
I thought the writing was okay. I liked that there was more conversation than inner dialog, even if the dialog felt unnatural at times. I liked that Jordan had a goal and was doing all she could to achieve it. Leave out all the swearing and sex and I probably would have given this a 4 star rating.
I’m just left wondering what the moral of the story is. Is it to be a strong girl you have to give up all feminine qualities and act like a guy? Is it that it’s okay to sleep around and it’s not a big deal? I’m sure the author meant it to be something about achieving goals or whatever, but at what cost?
Content: LOTS of swearing. Lots of casual sex (although no details).
I think guys should be guys and girls should be girls. I’m all for girl’s being strong, independent, playing sports, etc. But, I think girls should also be feminine, should be respected and treated like ladies.
I wish I could have liked Jordan more, which is one of the reasons I kept reading. Jordan was just such a boy. Not a tomboy, but a boy. She acted like a guy, cussed like a guy, and did just about everything like a guy. Sure, when hot Ty comes around she wants to be a little more girly, and even makes a couple girl friends, but at the end of the day she was still pretty boyish. I was really disappointed that she started sleeping with Ty. Her attitude (and everyone else’s) about sex was WAY too casual. It was kind of gross actually. What I also thought was sad was that no one actually respected Jordan. Yes, they appreciated her football skills and treated her like one of the guys. Which was part of my problem; they treated her like a guy not a girl. They didn’t treat her with respect, course they didn’t treat any girl with respect, so I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised.
In fact, I didn’t care for any of the guys in this book. Her brother’s friend Jake was a creep; there is NO WAY my brothers would EVER let a guy talk to me the way Jake talked to Jordan. Even if he was just kidding. Ty was okay, but I never really felt like I got to know him. Once they hooked up he kind of disappears from the story, even though they were still sleeping together…I mean dating. I know Henry was supposed to be our hero, but I thought he was a creep to. To help sooth his broken heart he sleeps with every girl that looks his way. Are we supposed to feel bad for him in his unrequited love and so it’s okay if he uses girls he has no feelings for? Whatever.
I thought the writing was okay. I liked that there was more conversation than inner dialog, even if the dialog felt unnatural at times. I liked that Jordan had a goal and was doing all she could to achieve it. Leave out all the swearing and sex and I probably would have given this a 4 star rating.
I’m just left wondering what the moral of the story is. Is it to be a strong girl you have to give up all feminine qualities and act like a guy? Is it that it’s okay to sleep around and it’s not a big deal? I’m sure the author meant it to be something about achieving goals or whatever, but at what cost?
Content: LOTS of swearing. Lots of casual sex (although no details).
April 20, 2023
3/5⭐️
It was fine. The only thing I really liked about this book was it was friends to lovers and a sports romance.
It was fine. The only thing I really liked about this book was it was friends to lovers and a sports romance.
December 15, 2011
Such a great comfort book for rainy days (like today here).
I looked at Catching Jordan with my "snarky eyes" - if there is such a thing - for a good part of it, to be honest.
First of all, a girl playing football?! How can you write a book about a girl playing football after DJ Schwenk in and not expect to be mercilessly subjected to comparison with that winning series? Ok, the plots differ but, at the end of the day, they're both about the coming of age of two girls chasing their dreams.
Add to that a fairly predictable plot, a few clichés including a love triangle, a difficult father/daughter relationship and some mean cheerleaders and you got yourself the perfect recipe for imminent disaster - or the same, unmemorable old soup, at the very least.
Surprisingly, Catching Jordan is far from unmemorable, in my opinion. What makes it stand out from the mass of mediocrity and triteness?
Two things worked particularly well for me: characters and dialogues.
Jordan can definitely shake hands and go eat some wings with DJ, rest assured. Ok, she is probably the most oblivious girl ever to walk the planet in a few millennia in matters of the heart but, aside from that, her voice is real, funny, honest and even though I am not sure I can relate to a teen quarterback, she's one of those characters that are instantly likable, if only for the fact that she's not afraid to stand up for what she believes in. Plus, she's one of those girls that feel more comfortable hanging out with guys rather than with girls and with that I can totally relate.
Ok, let me clear my voice now... the real star of this book is, in fact, Sam Henry. Ty looks like Chace Crawford? Ty, WHO? This guy can easily compete for the swoon-worthy crush title any day of the year, as far as I'm concerned... I haven't liked a male (teen) character this much since Tucker Avery in . Enough said.
But if you feel that might not be enough for you, let me assure you this book is also freaking hilarious. It's fun, fun, fun. Relaxing, refreshing, obviously light, there might have been a passage or two involving a fake baby that had me stifling my laughter not to wake the kids.
Of course it's also not perfect. Clichés and predictability aside, personally I thought Jordan got off the hook in a certain situation a little too easily for my taste. Still, I am sure this book will see a lot of readers satisfied and entertained; just look at the ratings.
Don't let yourself be misled by the footballish theme because, even though it is, in fact, about playing ball, it never gets too much or too technical. This is a 100% kick-back-and-relax kind of book.
For this review and more check out .
I looked at Catching Jordan with my "snarky eyes" - if there is such a thing - for a good part of it, to be honest.
First of all, a girl playing football?! How can you write a book about a girl playing football after DJ Schwenk in and not expect to be mercilessly subjected to comparison with that winning series? Ok, the plots differ but, at the end of the day, they're both about the coming of age of two girls chasing their dreams.
Add to that a fairly predictable plot, a few clichés including a love triangle, a difficult father/daughter relationship and some mean cheerleaders and you got yourself the perfect recipe for imminent disaster - or the same, unmemorable old soup, at the very least.
Surprisingly, Catching Jordan is far from unmemorable, in my opinion. What makes it stand out from the mass of mediocrity and triteness?
Two things worked particularly well for me: characters and dialogues.
Jordan can definitely shake hands and go eat some wings with DJ, rest assured. Ok, she is probably the most oblivious girl ever to walk the planet in a few millennia in matters of the heart but, aside from that, her voice is real, funny, honest and even though I am not sure I can relate to a teen quarterback, she's one of those characters that are instantly likable, if only for the fact that she's not afraid to stand up for what she believes in. Plus, she's one of those girls that feel more comfortable hanging out with guys rather than with girls and with that I can totally relate.
Ok, let me clear my voice now... the real star of this book is, in fact, Sam Henry. Ty looks like Chace Crawford? Ty, WHO? This guy can easily compete for the swoon-worthy crush title any day of the year, as far as I'm concerned... I haven't liked a male (teen) character this much since Tucker Avery in . Enough said.
But if you feel that might not be enough for you, let me assure you this book is also freaking hilarious. It's fun, fun, fun. Relaxing, refreshing, obviously light, there might have been a passage or two involving a fake baby that had me stifling my laughter not to wake the kids.
Of course it's also not perfect. Clichés and predictability aside, personally I thought Jordan got off the hook in a certain situation a little too easily for my taste. Still, I am sure this book will see a lot of readers satisfied and entertained; just look at the ratings.
Don't let yourself be misled by the footballish theme because, even though it is, in fact, about playing ball, it never gets too much or too technical. This is a 100% kick-back-and-relax kind of book.
For this review and more check out .
January 11, 2021
It has been a while since I found a good YA romance. Catching Jordan is cool. A girl as QB, love triangle and whole lot of fun stupidity. I usually do not like immature stupidity, but Miss Kenneally makes it work with a sense of humor.
This is my first read by Miss Kenneally and I am lookong forward for another book by her. Such an enjoyable reading.
4 stars
This is my first read by Miss Kenneally and I am lookong forward for another book by her. Such an enjoyable reading.
4 stars
October 12, 2016
My dear friend Jasmin and I decided it was about time for us to do another buddy read together and Catching Jordan was the book we chose was the perfect choice, because we always buddy read YA (or NA) contemporary.
Catching Jordan is the first book in Hundred Oaks series and it follows Jordan and her friends who play football (or like I prefer to call it, American rugby, because you know, us people from Europe prefer another sport called football).
Jordan is a Quarterback, the captain of her team and � a girl. Yes, guys, you read it right. She is one badass girl who plays rugby better then any guy in her team, she is the only female member of her team and she is one of the guys.
As a result, her best friends are all guys, they appreciate her, and watch her back in a way.
Even though at first it sounds pretty unbelievable that a girl could be so much better then guys at sports, especially if you consider the fact that the female body is naturally builted weaker then male, there are things explained in this book.
Jordan comes from family of sport champions. Her father is great Alan Woods, one of the best rugby players in America. Her brother also plays rugby professionally, and she is bigger then other girls. She is just a big girl.
Jordan has a dream to play rugby professionally and to go to study to Alabama where all the best rugby players go.
She wants to be looked at equally as men.
This book talks a lot about sexism and how hard it is for women to be appreciated equally as men even if they are as good or even better then them.
Jordan was an interesting character but I wasn't fond of her.
Don't get me wrong, being a tomboy myself, I had nothing against her manly behaviour (except in times when it went too far).
What I didn't like about her was that she was supposed to represent feminists when in reality she wasn't feminist, not at all! The reason I'm saying that is because she more then few times brang down cheerleaders just because they had an interest in make up. She put them all in the same box, labeled them as stupid and thought she was better then them just because they liked girly stuff.
I know one of them did her wrong in the past, but still, I think Jordan's behaviour said more about her then about any of those cheerleaders.
This book is good, funny and easy to read in general.
I enjoyed reading about Jordan's relationship with her friends. JJ was my favorite.
Henry is her best friend who has a habit to spend nights in her bed. Her parents are fully aware of that but they approve it. Let me ask you one thing: What kind of parenting is that??
They trust her. They know she has no interest in Harry. The only precaution they did is to say that Jordan and Harry can't sleep head to head, but have to sleep head to legs. Yeah, like that's gonna stop teenagers from doing anything!
Don't forget we're talking about minors, teenagers full of hormones.
Maybe I took it too harsh, but I just can't get over that aspect of the story. I didn't like it, not at all!
There's also one more thing (third to be precise) thing I didn't like: how Jordan hits like it's a fun game. She hit Harry so hard that his jaw cracked, and she laughed about it, along with him.
If the similar thing happened with roles versed, if guy hit a girl, that would be women abuse, but when the girl hits a guy it supposed to be funny? I don't think so!
I feel like I'm in minority here, but I actually liked Ty. I think he was right most of the times and everytime Jordan had problems with his behaviour, I was on his side.
Of course he had problems with his girlfriend sleeping in the same bed with another guy. Who wouldn't?
As you can clearly see from m y review, I had more then few problems with the story but I am still glad I read it and, believe it or not, I actually had a good time reading it.
I would like to read next book in the series because it follows different characters and I am curious to see whether I'll like that one better.
Read this and more reviews on my blog:
Catching Jordan is the first book in Hundred Oaks series and it follows Jordan and her friends who play football (or like I prefer to call it, American rugby, because you know, us people from Europe prefer another sport called football).
Jordan is a Quarterback, the captain of her team and � a girl. Yes, guys, you read it right. She is one badass girl who plays rugby better then any guy in her team, she is the only female member of her team and she is one of the guys.
As a result, her best friends are all guys, they appreciate her, and watch her back in a way.
Even though at first it sounds pretty unbelievable that a girl could be so much better then guys at sports, especially if you consider the fact that the female body is naturally builted weaker then male, there are things explained in this book.
Jordan comes from family of sport champions. Her father is great Alan Woods, one of the best rugby players in America. Her brother also plays rugby professionally, and she is bigger then other girls. She is just a big girl.
Jordan has a dream to play rugby professionally and to go to study to Alabama where all the best rugby players go.
She wants to be looked at equally as men.
This book talks a lot about sexism and how hard it is for women to be appreciated equally as men even if they are as good or even better then them.
Jordan was an interesting character but I wasn't fond of her.
Don't get me wrong, being a tomboy myself, I had nothing against her manly behaviour (except in times when it went too far).
What I didn't like about her was that she was supposed to represent feminists when in reality she wasn't feminist, not at all! The reason I'm saying that is because she more then few times brang down cheerleaders just because they had an interest in make up. She put them all in the same box, labeled them as stupid and thought she was better then them just because they liked girly stuff.
I know one of them did her wrong in the past, but still, I think Jordan's behaviour said more about her then about any of those cheerleaders.
This book is good, funny and easy to read in general.
I enjoyed reading about Jordan's relationship with her friends. JJ was my favorite.
Henry is her best friend who has a habit to spend nights in her bed. Her parents are fully aware of that but they approve it. Let me ask you one thing: What kind of parenting is that??
They trust her. They know she has no interest in Harry. The only precaution they did is to say that Jordan and Harry can't sleep head to head, but have to sleep head to legs. Yeah, like that's gonna stop teenagers from doing anything!
Don't forget we're talking about minors, teenagers full of hormones.
Maybe I took it too harsh, but I just can't get over that aspect of the story. I didn't like it, not at all!
There's also one more thing (third to be precise) thing I didn't like: how Jordan hits like it's a fun game. She hit Harry so hard that his jaw cracked, and she laughed about it, along with him.
If the similar thing happened with roles versed, if guy hit a girl, that would be women abuse, but when the girl hits a guy it supposed to be funny? I don't think so!
I feel like I'm in minority here, but I actually liked Ty. I think he was right most of the times and everytime Jordan had problems with his behaviour, I was on his side.
Of course he had problems with his girlfriend sleeping in the same bed with another guy. Who wouldn't?
As you can clearly see from m y review, I had more then few problems with the story but I am still glad I read it and, believe it or not, I actually had a good time reading it.
I would like to read next book in the series because it follows different characters and I am curious to see whether I'll like that one better.
Read this and more reviews on my blog:
April 9, 2017
My friend had told me: Don't read this. I hated it - it was so bad.
Well, jokes on her, because I read it anyways and actually quite enjoyed it.
It was definitely not what I had expected from the blurb, and yes, it did kind of read like a Wattpad story (which it was, so) but it was an enjoyable read nonetheless. In the long run, it did have a good message, and I loved how the main character was so self-empowering and independent.
-
Don't know why, but I felt like rereading this.
Well, jokes on her, because I read it anyways and actually quite enjoyed it.
It was definitely not what I had expected from the blurb, and yes, it did kind of read like a Wattpad story (which it was, so) but it was an enjoyable read nonetheless. In the long run, it did have a good message, and I loved how the main character was so self-empowering and independent.
-
Don't know why, but I felt like rereading this.
July 19, 2016
PROBABLY SPOILERS - YOU'VE BEEN WARNED
Catching Jordan was a book I read in 2012 and for some reason I can remember like the back of my hand. I've read a lot of books in the years in the four years that have passed.
It's not that this story is well written, it's not. It's not that this story is really that interesting, it's not. I honestly can't tell you why this group of characters and plot line have stayed in my head for the past four years. I'm not even sure this book had a meaningful impact on me at the time. I mean 15 was a time where I didn't really know who I was as a person, so maybe that's why I enjoyed it so much.
Moving on to the actual book, and not ramblings from my mind, Catching Jordan is a fast paced book that can easily be read in one sitting. It's also free if you don't mind ebook formats on Wattpad. Though, everything was kind of annoying. It was a bit soap opera like, cliche, and our leads seemed ridiculous with some of their actions to the point I couldn't stop rolling my eyes.
Characters
Jordan a tomboy football player who thinks anyone who portrays a remotely feminine quality is a slut or not worth her time. She was rude and I honestly didn't feel the tomboy element of her bar the football element. My sister is a tomboy and I don't think I could pay her to wear a dress or her to miss a soccer practice.
Jordan just was judgemental to the core and honestly, I'm not sure she was overly talented at football. I don't know anything about football though so I could be wrong.
Henry was obviously who was going to be the winner of this love triangle. He was the best friend turned lover, which is a bit annoying considering I just want a platonic female and male relationship. All I want. He seemed cool, but whatever. I didn't care in the end because he was a drama queen. Ignoring his best friend and sleeping with a bunch of girls despite being in love with her was so immature.
Ty was an asshole. I have nothing more to say. Controlling, manipulative asshole.
These characters were overall ridiculous and beyond realistic.
Plot
I mean - what plot at the end of the day? It was a whole drama fest going on between the characters that had me rolling my eyes. Football took the backseat as the protagonist focused on which boy she chose and the ridiculous problems she faced.
Though, I had some incredibly large problems with the plot such as;
Blatant stereotyping, every girl who wasn't Jordan was either a slut or bimbo. She couldn't handle the fact that maybe other woman would like football. She had to be the special snowflake.
Sexism due to fact Jordan is a female football player and a super special snowflake. Her dad doesn't want her to play and won't support her, the university of Alabama won't let her play, and ultimately she gets ridiculed for loving football. Most of the time however, it's ignore.
Slut shaming which I slightly mentioned in the stereotyping. Everyone bar Jordan is a slut in this book. They're always sleeping with each other, the football team is always talking about sex. It was just ridiculous.
Writing
Was meh. It took me a while to really slip into. The writing was all over the place in some parts and left me, yet again, rolling my eyes at a bulk of this book.
Overall
I'm honestly not sure if two stars is too harsh or too kind for this book. It's flipped me on my head but I hope that, now, I'll finally stop thinking about this plot. Not to say this isn't a bad book, it's a quick read to indulge in while between books or feeling a slump coming. It just won't be high on my recommendation list.
Catching Jordan was a book I read in 2012 and for some reason I can remember like the back of my hand. I've read a lot of books in the years in the four years that have passed.
It's not that this story is well written, it's not. It's not that this story is really that interesting, it's not. I honestly can't tell you why this group of characters and plot line have stayed in my head for the past four years. I'm not even sure this book had a meaningful impact on me at the time. I mean 15 was a time where I didn't really know who I was as a person, so maybe that's why I enjoyed it so much.
Moving on to the actual book, and not ramblings from my mind, Catching Jordan is a fast paced book that can easily be read in one sitting. It's also free if you don't mind ebook formats on Wattpad. Though, everything was kind of annoying. It was a bit soap opera like, cliche, and our leads seemed ridiculous with some of their actions to the point I couldn't stop rolling my eyes.
Characters
Jordan a tomboy football player who thinks anyone who portrays a remotely feminine quality is a slut or not worth her time. She was rude and I honestly didn't feel the tomboy element of her bar the football element. My sister is a tomboy and I don't think I could pay her to wear a dress or her to miss a soccer practice.
Jordan just was judgemental to the core and honestly, I'm not sure she was overly talented at football. I don't know anything about football though so I could be wrong.
Henry was obviously who was going to be the winner of this love triangle. He was the best friend turned lover, which is a bit annoying considering I just want a platonic female and male relationship. All I want. He seemed cool, but whatever. I didn't care in the end because he was a drama queen. Ignoring his best friend and sleeping with a bunch of girls despite being in love with her was so immature.
Ty was an asshole. I have nothing more to say. Controlling, manipulative asshole.
These characters were overall ridiculous and beyond realistic.
Plot
I mean - what plot at the end of the day? It was a whole drama fest going on between the characters that had me rolling my eyes. Football took the backseat as the protagonist focused on which boy she chose and the ridiculous problems she faced.
Though, I had some incredibly large problems with the plot such as;
Blatant stereotyping, every girl who wasn't Jordan was either a slut or bimbo. She couldn't handle the fact that maybe other woman would like football. She had to be the special snowflake.
Sexism due to fact Jordan is a female football player and a super special snowflake. Her dad doesn't want her to play and won't support her, the university of Alabama won't let her play, and ultimately she gets ridiculed for loving football. Most of the time however, it's ignore.
Slut shaming which I slightly mentioned in the stereotyping. Everyone bar Jordan is a slut in this book. They're always sleeping with each other, the football team is always talking about sex. It was just ridiculous.
Writing
Was meh. It took me a while to really slip into. The writing was all over the place in some parts and left me, yet again, rolling my eyes at a bulk of this book.
Overall
I'm honestly not sure if two stars is too harsh or too kind for this book. It's flipped me on my head but I hope that, now, I'll finally stop thinking about this plot. Not to say this isn't a bad book, it's a quick read to indulge in while between books or feeling a slump coming. It just won't be high on my recommendation list.
May 7, 2021
This book was
okay
. Not perfect, I didn't expect it to be, and not very bad. So I'm not disappointed or anything because this was exactly what I expected.
Jordan is the Quarterback of the team. One of the best high school football players in Tennessee. She's a girl, but mostly she acts like a guy. Until this new kid arrives at her school. He's a QB too. And a good one. Will he steal her place? And worst, she's attracted to him and he's definitely into her. Alabama's the university of her dreams, but will they accept her being female and let her play? Her dad, a famous football player, doesn't want her to play. She's a girl, you know, and he's afraid. Still, her life was fine and despite her reservations, she finally gives up and starts dating Ty. Until she discovers that her best friend is in love with her. They were best friends for ten years. He always sleeps in her bed and spent the nights at her house. So what now? What's the best thing to do?
The characters aren't that interesting, especially Jordan. She wasn't compelling or anything. She tries to act too much like a guy. And Ty? He was boring. I mean I know what he's been through and his huge responsibilities, but I wasn't attracted to him. Not even a little, even before I knew about Sam's love. I guess my favorite characters were Henry and Mike. Her father isn't bad at all, when she talked about him, I expected him to be evil or something. But no he's very kind! I hated how she judged Marie without knowing her, how she pushed away all the girls as if she's better than them or something. while I wouldn't go as far as saying there was girl-on-girl hate, I didn't understand why girl friends weren't included, it's a very outdated thing to do.
Overall, it was certainly a forgettable book. I'm not a fan of football, I don't know anything about this game except what I see in movies honestly, mostly because we don't play it in my country. I rated 3 stars only because it was a quick fun read since the quality certainly didn't impress me, too generous? Maybe.
February 26, 2017
4.5 Stars
Jordan Woods is a senior in high school, captain and quarter-back of the foot-ball team, she's also a girl. Jordan lives and breathes foot-ball, she's been playing since she was seven. Her father is an NFL star player (although, he doesn't approve of Jordan playing), her brother plays in college, and all her friends are the players on her team. Because of this Jordan has never had a boyfriend or even kissed a guy. She worries she'll lose focus on her goal of getting a scholarship, and playing on her favorite college team at University of Alabama. Jordan also knows exactly how the guys on her team treat girls, hooking-up and using them for sex, with no regard for their feelings. Jordan doesn't want to be among the list of one-night-stands.
Enter Ty Green, just transferring from Texas. Ty could be a look-alike for Chace Crawford. He's also a quarter-back and now on Jordan's team. Suddenly Jordan's is not so focused, not when Ty's is making her hormones do flip-flops. Ty doesn't seem to be distracted by the cheerleaders, like her other teammates that are always throwing themselves at the players. He seems to only have eyes for Jordan. But Jordan's best-friend, and teammate, Henry worries that Ty is cozying up to Jordan for his own good, trying to use her to get her position. Add to that Jordan suddenly finds out why Henry's last girl-friend broke up with him, and now she's really confused.
I loved this book. This is another one I had to stay up late to finish. Jordan is a great character, strong and determined on the outside, but soft as a marshmallow on the inside. Your heart breaks right along with hers in a few places. I liked this quote:
"I get it. But Kristen Markum?" His face goes all red, and he kicks some rocks into the river. "Won't happen again." "You mean, you're not going to screw around with girl after girl anymore?" "I dunno. I gotta cope somehow." "Your coping," I say, making finger quotes, "is fucking with my heart. You were breaking it long before I even knew how you felt. I've been worried about you."
Ughh!! Hate that girl Kristen!!
I loved Jordan's relationship with her family, her mother was such a sweet-heart, always being there for Jordan and supporting her. Jordan's brother was also supportive and there for her too. She obviously had issues with her father, and I like how that played out, as well. The only reason I rated this 4.5 stars instead of 5 is because I wish we would have had more at the end. The payoff was short and felt a bit rushed. However, I just read that there is another book coming out in fall 2012 that is a companion to Catching Jordan. I hope these characters show up and maybe we'll get to see the "more" I'm talking about: together as a couple!!!
Jordan Woods is a senior in high school, captain and quarter-back of the foot-ball team, she's also a girl. Jordan lives and breathes foot-ball, she's been playing since she was seven. Her father is an NFL star player (although, he doesn't approve of Jordan playing), her brother plays in college, and all her friends are the players on her team. Because of this Jordan has never had a boyfriend or even kissed a guy. She worries she'll lose focus on her goal of getting a scholarship, and playing on her favorite college team at University of Alabama. Jordan also knows exactly how the guys on her team treat girls, hooking-up and using them for sex, with no regard for their feelings. Jordan doesn't want to be among the list of one-night-stands.
Enter Ty Green, just transferring from Texas. Ty could be a look-alike for Chace Crawford. He's also a quarter-back and now on Jordan's team. Suddenly Jordan's is not so focused, not when Ty's is making her hormones do flip-flops. Ty doesn't seem to be distracted by the cheerleaders, like her other teammates that are always throwing themselves at the players. He seems to only have eyes for Jordan. But Jordan's best-friend, and teammate, Henry worries that Ty is cozying up to Jordan for his own good, trying to use her to get her position. Add to that Jordan suddenly finds out why Henry's last girl-friend broke up with him, and now she's really confused.
I loved this book. This is another one I had to stay up late to finish. Jordan is a great character, strong and determined on the outside, but soft as a marshmallow on the inside. Your heart breaks right along with hers in a few places. I liked this quote:
"I get it. But Kristen Markum?" His face goes all red, and he kicks some rocks into the river. "Won't happen again." "You mean, you're not going to screw around with girl after girl anymore?" "I dunno. I gotta cope somehow." "Your coping," I say, making finger quotes, "is fucking with my heart. You were breaking it long before I even knew how you felt. I've been worried about you."
Ughh!! Hate that girl Kristen!!
I loved Jordan's relationship with her family, her mother was such a sweet-heart, always being there for Jordan and supporting her. Jordan's brother was also supportive and there for her too. She obviously had issues with her father, and I like how that played out, as well. The only reason I rated this 4.5 stars instead of 5 is because I wish we would have had more at the end. The payoff was short and felt a bit rushed. However, I just read that there is another book coming out in fall 2012 that is a companion to Catching Jordan. I hope these characters show up and maybe we'll get to see the "more" I'm talking about: together as a couple!!!
October 9, 2012
This was such a sweet, adorable read. Another one of those "mood" stories and thankfully, it fell into my lap at just the right time.
Jordan's a complete tomboy and despite being in her senior year, she hasn't even had her first kiss yet. That all changes when there's a new transfer in town, whom she actually starts developing "girly" feelings for.
I really enjoyed Jordan's voice and her interaction with her team members. I was afraid the account of an almost 18 year old girl discovering love for the first time would come across as unconvincing or implausible, but I could completely relate to Jordan and her problems and feelings. She was surprisingly easy to love, though I'll admit that at one point, her bursting into tears after every few sentences got on my very last nerve.
And the romance would've been enjoyable yet entirely unmemorable had Kenneally not added the greatest twist ever to it. I was completely caught off guard by the genius development and change in the romance about midway through. It cleverly discarded all my theories and sealed my love for this book.
Overall, was a realistic and highly entertaining account of first love and growing up. I'll definitely be reading all other titles by Kenneally, if for nothing else but to catch a glimpse of Jordan again.
For more reviews, visit my blog:
Jordan's a complete tomboy and despite being in her senior year, she hasn't even had her first kiss yet. That all changes when there's a new transfer in town, whom she actually starts developing "girly" feelings for.
I really enjoyed Jordan's voice and her interaction with her team members. I was afraid the account of an almost 18 year old girl discovering love for the first time would come across as unconvincing or implausible, but I could completely relate to Jordan and her problems and feelings. She was surprisingly easy to love, though I'll admit that at one point, her bursting into tears after every few sentences got on my very last nerve.
And the romance would've been enjoyable yet entirely unmemorable had Kenneally not added the greatest twist ever to it. I was completely caught off guard by the genius development and change in the romance about midway through. It cleverly discarded all my theories and sealed my love for this book.
Overall, was a realistic and highly entertaining account of first love and growing up. I'll definitely be reading all other titles by Kenneally, if for nothing else but to catch a glimpse of Jordan again.
For more reviews, visit my blog:
July 10, 2015
Sorry, but I just can't. Too many stereotypes (cheerleaders are Evil, you know?) and a love triangle hell.
Okay, so I was going to dnf it, but I felt bad, because, you know, really great reviews.
I waited until Jordan stopped annoying me.
She didn't.
I waited until Henri stopped acting like a childish man whore (yeah, that exists, apparently)
He did, but too late.
I waited until Ty stopped acting like a control freak.
He did, but too late.
Oh, but there is a pattern here I think!
The only character I ended to enjoy was Jordan's father. Hey, NFL player!
Too sum up : I'm sorry, but it wasn't for me. You want a wonderful book with a strong-minded heroin who plays football? Read Dairy Queen (I know, that's in french, sorry^^)
Okay, so I was going to dnf it, but I felt bad, because, you know, really great reviews.
I waited until Jordan stopped annoying me.
She didn't.
I waited until Henri stopped acting like a childish man whore (yeah, that exists, apparently)
He did, but too late.
I waited until Ty stopped acting like a control freak.
He did, but too late.
Oh, but there is a pattern here I think!
The only character I ended to enjoy was Jordan's father. Hey, NFL player!
Too sum up : I'm sorry, but it wasn't for me. You want a wonderful book with a strong-minded heroin who plays football? Read Dairy Queen (I know, that's in french, sorry^^)
December 31, 2015
Since Jesse's Girl is due for publication, I thought this would be the prefect time to re-read the entire Hundred Oaks series, and my Book Depository voucher sold me on purchasing physical copies. The second read of this book was even better than the first. During this time, I was able to understand stuff a whole lot better, and connect with the characters even more.
Catching Jordan is about Jordan Woods, the captain and Quarter Back of her school's football team. As a girl, she suffers with some quite sexist comments and ideals, and strives to work as hard as she can, to be the best that she can be. Her dream is to go to Alabama and play college football, and for her dad, the 'great' Donovan Woods, to go to her games, and finally be happy for her.
I loved Jordan. She was one of the best female protagonists I've seen in YA contemporaries for quite some time. Yeah, she's popular, sporty, etc., but that's not all she is. She still has insecurities and things that she feels like she must time from other people, such as her love for writing and poetry. She feels that, because she is on the football team, she can't enjoy 'girly' things as they'll make her seem weak. For the majority of the book, she can't stand being around other girls, especially the cheerleaders, and doesn'treally have much in common with them. I loved how she came into her own and started to realise that just because she was captain doesn't that she can't be a girl, and just because someone else is a cheerleader doesn't mean they're vapid and shallow. I'm really glad that she discovered this, and that she finally had some girl friends.
That's not to say that I didn't like her guy friends, though. I adored them all, especially Sam Henry. JJ and Carter were wonderful friends/older brother figures, and even though they don't do feelings, I'm glad they helped Jordan when she was struggling emotionally. Sam and Jordan were beautiful from page 1, and even without knowing what happens, you could see the romantic and emotional connection between them from the very beginning.
As with basically all YA contemporaries, romance plays a large role in this book. While I liked parts of Ty and Jordan's relationship, I really couldn't 'ship' it. I thought Ty was controlling and jealous, especially when it came to Sam. I kind of thought their relationship went very fast too, perhaps a bit too fast. I also hated who Jordan was when she was with Ty, as she became a whole new person, one who didn't stand up for herself, and who began to doubt herself. Ty wanted her to stop doing the thing that she loved, and didn't support her when she was being criticised, even by her own father.
Sam, on the other hand, was the perfect gentlemen to Jordan throughout the whole book. Though he had his own issue, being a 'man-whore' and all, whenever it came down to it, he was there for Jordan, until he wasn't. He always supported her and was the best best friend she could want. It was only when his feelings became known to Jordan (everyone else had already known) that he became distant. His jealousy of her relationship with Ty was fun to see, even he was the one who pushed her towards Ty. However, when Jordan really needed him, when she was injured, he never left her side, and did everything he could to help her, right to the very end. I think I shipped Jordan and Sam pretty much from page 1, and could not stop smiling at the end. I know we see more of them in further books, and I honestly can't wait to read the others, especially , for this reason.
Hundred Oaks is one of my favourite contemporary series, and everyone should read at least one of them during their life, as they aren't just about cute, fluffy stories, but actual real issues prevalent in today's society.
Catching Jordan is about Jordan Woods, the captain and Quarter Back of her school's football team. As a girl, she suffers with some quite sexist comments and ideals, and strives to work as hard as she can, to be the best that she can be. Her dream is to go to Alabama and play college football, and for her dad, the 'great' Donovan Woods, to go to her games, and finally be happy for her.
I loved Jordan. She was one of the best female protagonists I've seen in YA contemporaries for quite some time. Yeah, she's popular, sporty, etc., but that's not all she is. She still has insecurities and things that she feels like she must time from other people, such as her love for writing and poetry. She feels that, because she is on the football team, she can't enjoy 'girly' things as they'll make her seem weak. For the majority of the book, she can't stand being around other girls, especially the cheerleaders, and doesn'treally have much in common with them. I loved how she came into her own and started to realise that just because she was captain doesn't that she can't be a girl, and just because someone else is a cheerleader doesn't mean they're vapid and shallow. I'm really glad that she discovered this, and that she finally had some girl friends.
That's not to say that I didn't like her guy friends, though. I adored them all, especially Sam Henry. JJ and Carter were wonderful friends/older brother figures, and even though they don't do feelings, I'm glad they helped Jordan when she was struggling emotionally. Sam and Jordan were beautiful from page 1, and even without knowing what happens, you could see the romantic and emotional connection between them from the very beginning.
As with basically all YA contemporaries, romance plays a large role in this book. While I liked parts of Ty and Jordan's relationship, I really couldn't 'ship' it. I thought Ty was controlling and jealous, especially when it came to Sam. I kind of thought their relationship went very fast too, perhaps a bit too fast. I also hated who Jordan was when she was with Ty, as she became a whole new person, one who didn't stand up for herself, and who began to doubt herself. Ty wanted her to stop doing the thing that she loved, and didn't support her when she was being criticised, even by her own father.
Sam, on the other hand, was the perfect gentlemen to Jordan throughout the whole book. Though he had his own issue, being a 'man-whore' and all, whenever it came down to it, he was there for Jordan, until he wasn't. He always supported her and was the best best friend she could want. It was only when his feelings became known to Jordan (everyone else had already known) that he became distant. His jealousy of her relationship with Ty was fun to see, even he was the one who pushed her towards Ty. However, when Jordan really needed him, when she was injured, he never left her side, and did everything he could to help her, right to the very end. I think I shipped Jordan and Sam pretty much from page 1, and could not stop smiling at the end. I know we see more of them in further books, and I honestly can't wait to read the others, especially , for this reason.
Hundred Oaks is one of my favourite contemporary series, and everyone should read at least one of them during their life, as they aren't just about cute, fluffy stories, but actual real issues prevalent in today's society.
January 3, 2012
4.5 stars
� How can you be in love with someone for forever
and not be willing to take a chance when it finally
hits you in the face like a linebacker?�
Miranda Kenneally did a fantastic job with her debut novel Catching Jordan. I don’t think I’ve had as much fun reading a book since . It had me sitting on the edge of my seat for four days. I was actually annoyed that I decided to read it over the Christmas break, as I either had endless family members over or had to go out visiting family. I just wanted to lock myself away with this amazing book. Finally when I did get a little reading time, I found myself in a dilemma; once I started reading I couldn’t put the book down, I wanted to devour it but at the same time because I was having so much fun, I didn’t want my reading journey to come to an end. I simply adored this book; it left me with a huge goofy smile on my face, tears in my eyes from laughing so much and just tore my heart into tiny shreds.
Jordan is the star quarterback for the Hundred Oaks Red Raiders, her dream is to play for Alabama; the best football team in the country. She messed up at last year’s state championship, but she won’t let anything come in the way this year and so far this year she’s been playing perfectly. That is until Ty another great quarterback moves from Texas to her school, Jordan not only has great competition for her position, but Ty is also incredibly good looking so she can’t let him distract her from her dream.
I really liked Jordan, she was a strong character, she knew exactly what she wanted and how to go after it. These days it’s really hard to like or connect with female protagonists as they’re either really whiny or are a damsel in distress and need helping out in every situation they find themselves in. But Jordan wasn’t like that at all, she was a hugely likeable character, who exuded confidence and I found myself continually rooting for.
What is it about calling guys by their surnames makes them sound so hot? St. Clair , Barrons and now Henry? Henry has quickly become one of my favourite literary crushes; he was so sweet; in the fake electronic baby assignment and he showed he had a big heart as he was always looking out for Jordan. He was self-assured, but not cocky and did I forget to mention totally swoon worthy! His friendship with Jordan was one of the best ones I have come across.
“I’m glad he’s here with me, even if he’s not saying
anything. Sometimes friendship is just that, just
being with someone�
I thought Ty was also a sweet guy, but I felt that there was something shifty about him which I couldn’t put my finger on. I always thought that he didn’t really care about Jordan and had his own agenda, I was just waiting for him to stab Jordan in the back.
Catching Jordan could never be the same without JJ and Carter, I adored these guys and their friendship with Jordan and Henry, they had me laughing all the time. I loved their over-protectiveness over Jordan, how they always had her back covered and how they weren’t always big and macho but also had a softer, caring side to them such as when Carter took Jordan to the waffle house when she was stressed out. I would love to have friends like these guys!
I still can’t believe that this is Miranda Kenneally’s debut novel, she has written such a wonderful story full of fun, charming characters and special friendships. I can’t praise this book enough. If you haven’t already picked up a copy of Catching Jordan do it now! You simply won’t regret it. Catching Jordan has quite easily become one of my 2011 favourites. I can’t wait to get my hands on more of Miranda Kenneally’s books.
� How can you be in love with someone for forever
and not be willing to take a chance when it finally
hits you in the face like a linebacker?�
Miranda Kenneally did a fantastic job with her debut novel Catching Jordan. I don’t think I’ve had as much fun reading a book since . It had me sitting on the edge of my seat for four days. I was actually annoyed that I decided to read it over the Christmas break, as I either had endless family members over or had to go out visiting family. I just wanted to lock myself away with this amazing book. Finally when I did get a little reading time, I found myself in a dilemma; once I started reading I couldn’t put the book down, I wanted to devour it but at the same time because I was having so much fun, I didn’t want my reading journey to come to an end. I simply adored this book; it left me with a huge goofy smile on my face, tears in my eyes from laughing so much and just tore my heart into tiny shreds.
Jordan is the star quarterback for the Hundred Oaks Red Raiders, her dream is to play for Alabama; the best football team in the country. She messed up at last year’s state championship, but she won’t let anything come in the way this year and so far this year she’s been playing perfectly. That is until Ty another great quarterback moves from Texas to her school, Jordan not only has great competition for her position, but Ty is also incredibly good looking so she can’t let him distract her from her dream.
I really liked Jordan, she was a strong character, she knew exactly what she wanted and how to go after it. These days it’s really hard to like or connect with female protagonists as they’re either really whiny or are a damsel in distress and need helping out in every situation they find themselves in. But Jordan wasn’t like that at all, she was a hugely likeable character, who exuded confidence and I found myself continually rooting for.
What is it about calling guys by their surnames makes them sound so hot? St. Clair , Barrons and now Henry? Henry has quickly become one of my favourite literary crushes; he was so sweet; in the fake electronic baby assignment and he showed he had a big heart as he was always looking out for Jordan. He was self-assured, but not cocky and did I forget to mention totally swoon worthy! His friendship with Jordan was one of the best ones I have come across.
“I’m glad he’s here with me, even if he’s not saying
anything. Sometimes friendship is just that, just
being with someone�
I thought Ty was also a sweet guy, but I felt that there was something shifty about him which I couldn’t put my finger on. I always thought that he didn’t really care about Jordan and had his own agenda, I was just waiting for him to stab Jordan in the back.
Catching Jordan could never be the same without JJ and Carter, I adored these guys and their friendship with Jordan and Henry, they had me laughing all the time. I loved their over-protectiveness over Jordan, how they always had her back covered and how they weren’t always big and macho but also had a softer, caring side to them such as when Carter took Jordan to the waffle house when she was stressed out. I would love to have friends like these guys!
I still can’t believe that this is Miranda Kenneally’s debut novel, she has written such a wonderful story full of fun, charming characters and special friendships. I can’t praise this book enough. If you haven’t already picked up a copy of Catching Jordan do it now! You simply won’t regret it. Catching Jordan has quite easily become one of my 2011 favourites. I can’t wait to get my hands on more of Miranda Kenneally’s books.
November 12, 2012
“It’s not that guys aren’t interested in me, because they are, it’s that most of the guys I know are either:
1. Shorter than me;
2. Pansies;
3. On my team;
4. All of the above.�
So you read the synopsis? Figure it's a straight forward YA Jordan and Ty hook up and HEA?
Catching Jordan caught me off guard by how much I liked it, and with its twists and turns!
First of all let me say as an Aussie I HAVE NO IDEA about NFL! Only what I see on movies and books and sometimes ESPN, but I still liked this book with all the football talk and references.
The story
Jordan Woods is the Quarterback of the high school football team.
Jordan is well liked.
Well respected.
Looked up to.
She is also a girl.
Although at times she doesn't act it. She is just one of the boys.
Her best friend since she was 7 is Sam Henry (All the guys are mainly called by their surname in the whole book but sometimes Sam gets Sam and Henry) Also JJ and Carter make up their own small little posse. They are her protectors and best friends.
Jordan's father is the great Donovan Woods. NFL star.
Don has no problem watching his son Mike play Football at University. He doesn't watch, talk or play with Jordan.
Besides her rocky relationship with her Dad Jordan is loving her senior year of high school.
Until Ty Green is transferred.
He trys out for the football team, he is also a QB.
NONE of the team are happy about this is, especially Jordan.
One of the MAIN reason Jordan isn't happy is she's starting to feel all "girly" like have "feelings" and stuff.
She doesn't even know how to kiss let alone being a virgin.
She can't talk to any of the boys about this and she hates the cheerleaders, what does she do?
She doesn't want to fall in love now. She wants to play Ball at Alabama!
This is a story about all things high school, the hierarchy, cheerleaders, football, different relationships and the future.
My thoughts
I LOVED JORDAN, CARTER, JJ AND HENRY! They rocked! Jordan's relationship is different with each one but they are all rock solid.
Great banter and Jordan could hold her own with all of them.
Great Secondary characters - (excluding Lacey and Kristen but hey they are highschool!) Mike, Jake, Marie, Carrie, Vanessa, Jordan's mum. all good sorts.
Ty- I really started to like Ty when he first came, I even felt sorry for him and then became all boyfriendy and it pissed me off - but yeah that's what was supposed to happen so well done there Miranda!
I could easily see this as a TV show lol
The one major problem I had with this book was
1. Shorter than me;
2. Pansies;
3. On my team;
4. All of the above.�
So you read the synopsis? Figure it's a straight forward YA Jordan and Ty hook up and HEA?
Catching Jordan caught me off guard by how much I liked it, and with its twists and turns!
First of all let me say as an Aussie I HAVE NO IDEA about NFL! Only what I see on movies and books and sometimes ESPN, but I still liked this book with all the football talk and references.
The story
Jordan Woods is the Quarterback of the high school football team.
Jordan is well liked.
Well respected.
Looked up to.
She is also a girl.
Although at times she doesn't act it. She is just one of the boys.
Her best friend since she was 7 is Sam Henry (All the guys are mainly called by their surname in the whole book but sometimes Sam gets Sam and Henry) Also JJ and Carter make up their own small little posse. They are her protectors and best friends.
Jordan's father is the great Donovan Woods. NFL star.
Don has no problem watching his son Mike play Football at University. He doesn't watch, talk or play with Jordan.
Besides her rocky relationship with her Dad Jordan is loving her senior year of high school.
Until Ty Green is transferred.
He trys out for the football team, he is also a QB.
NONE of the team are happy about this is, especially Jordan.
One of the MAIN reason Jordan isn't happy is she's starting to feel all "girly" like have "feelings" and stuff.
She doesn't even know how to kiss let alone being a virgin.
She can't talk to any of the boys about this and she hates the cheerleaders, what does she do?
She doesn't want to fall in love now. She wants to play Ball at Alabama!
This is a story about all things high school, the hierarchy, cheerleaders, football, different relationships and the future.
My thoughts
I LOVED JORDAN, CARTER, JJ AND HENRY! They rocked! Jordan's relationship is different with each one but they are all rock solid.
Great banter and Jordan could hold her own with all of them.
Great Secondary characters - (excluding Lacey and Kristen but hey they are highschool!) Mike, Jake, Marie, Carrie, Vanessa, Jordan's mum. all good sorts.
Ty- I really started to like Ty when he first came, I even felt sorry for him and then became all boyfriendy and it pissed me off - but yeah that's what was supposed to happen so well done there Miranda!
I could easily see this as a TV show lol
The one major problem I had with this book was
August 28, 2012
2.5 stars.
Hmm. I am perplexed. I had a very difficult time believing the majority of this book. Let us start with the positives, shall we?
Jordan is one of the most kick ass quarterbacks in Tennessee. She is 6 feet tall, she has a cannon for an arm, she has the respect of her all-male teammates and her coach. They've ALL got this girl's back. She's a LEADER. And yet, she's got this group of guy friends with whom she's been thick as thieves for years. Can you imagine having a bunch of football players ready and waiting to kick anyone's ass that messes with you? Sure, things would get a little overly testosterone-y, but it's kind of sweet if you think about it. (Even if they are all horndogs. Seriously, it got to the point where I pictured pelvic thrusts and "SCHWING!" every time the guys mentioned a girl.)
Also, I love that her dad was an NFL player. AN NFL PLAYER FOR A DAD. That's incredible.
And they totally mention the University of Michigan (GO BLUE!)
But our straight-up jock, never-been-kissed and doesn't-have-the-slightest-idea-how main character abandons all hesitation when new, hot, one-dimensional Ty Green shows up on the field as her back-up quarterback. One day she's shying away from Ty's kisses to demanding his ownership of a condom the next. Which is totally fine with me, as a reader. I just feel like Jordan was not a very solid character. She didn't have any defining traits or personality, other than: she's a jock. After 280 pages, I like to feel like I KNOW a character. Especially when I'm reading from a first person point of view. But I don't know her at all.
The love triangle aspect wasn't bad. I mean, OBVIOUSLY I knew what was going to happen. Kenneally at least provided enough back story to Henry & Jordan's friendship to give me a couple warm fuzzies, but Jordan completely let herself be ruled by these boys. And LORD, she was naive. About so much. I don't care if her best friend is the spitting image of Johnny Depp circa Crybaby, the fact that he's put his coin roll into like, EVERY game at the arcade is not attractive. If you catch my drift.
All in all, there were some really cute parts in Catching Jordan, but this book did not work for me. I could not relate to many of the characters and unfortunately could not find a basis for establishing a relationship with any of them. Being a huge fan of Friday Night Lights, this was pretty devastating to me. I'm off to drown my sorrows into Coach & Tami Taylor's epic marriage now.
Hmm. I am perplexed. I had a very difficult time believing the majority of this book. Let us start with the positives, shall we?
Jordan is one of the most kick ass quarterbacks in Tennessee. She is 6 feet tall, she has a cannon for an arm, she has the respect of her all-male teammates and her coach. They've ALL got this girl's back. She's a LEADER. And yet, she's got this group of guy friends with whom she's been thick as thieves for years. Can you imagine having a bunch of football players ready and waiting to kick anyone's ass that messes with you? Sure, things would get a little overly testosterone-y, but it's kind of sweet if you think about it. (Even if they are all horndogs. Seriously, it got to the point where I pictured pelvic thrusts and "SCHWING!" every time the guys mentioned a girl.)
Also, I love that her dad was an NFL player. AN NFL PLAYER FOR A DAD. That's incredible.
And they totally mention the University of Michigan (GO BLUE!)
But our straight-up jock, never-been-kissed and doesn't-have-the-slightest-idea-how main character abandons all hesitation when new, hot, one-dimensional Ty Green shows up on the field as her back-up quarterback. One day she's shying away from Ty's kisses to demanding his ownership of a condom the next. Which is totally fine with me, as a reader. I just feel like Jordan was not a very solid character. She didn't have any defining traits or personality, other than: she's a jock. After 280 pages, I like to feel like I KNOW a character. Especially when I'm reading from a first person point of view. But I don't know her at all.
The love triangle aspect wasn't bad. I mean, OBVIOUSLY I knew what was going to happen. Kenneally at least provided enough back story to Henry & Jordan's friendship to give me a couple warm fuzzies, but Jordan completely let herself be ruled by these boys. And LORD, she was naive. About so much. I don't care if her best friend is the spitting image of Johnny Depp circa Crybaby, the fact that he's put his coin roll into like, EVERY game at the arcade is not attractive. If you catch my drift.
All in all, there were some really cute parts in Catching Jordan, but this book did not work for me. I could not relate to many of the characters and unfortunately could not find a basis for establishing a relationship with any of them. Being a huge fan of Friday Night Lights, this was pretty devastating to me. I'm off to drown my sorrows into Coach & Tami Taylor's epic marriage now.
July 27, 2015
This book has been on my TBR for ages and I'm so glad that I've finally read this. I must say this book is a fun, quirky and light read. I started this last night and I am instantly hooked with it. If you want some quick & relaxing reads, I highly recommend this one.
I really like the characters in this book. I simply adore Jordan Woods. She's a team captain and quarterback in their school football team. Her leadership and toughness just made admire her. I always admire sporty female characters who can play with guys. It's just cool. Plus, I like her wits and she's not really that girly. Her best friends are guys: Henry, JJ, and Carter.. talk about these guys, aside from their good looks.. these guys have the sense of humor, and they're very protective of Jordan. Damn. I want brothers like them. But her ultimate best friend is Sam Henry. I love how these two bond and throw each others banters. Such a strong friendship going on between them.
Then this new guy, Tyler Green came into the picture and Jordan had a crush on him despite of being threatened he might took the spot as a Quarterback. As much as possible she doesn't want to date any of her teammates because she might lose her concentration.
This story is so cute and it definitely put a smile on my face. Though some of the football terms quite confuse me because I wasn't really fan of that sports, it's still a great read. The love story.. SO DAMN CUTE AND FLUFFY!
I really like the characters in this book. I simply adore Jordan Woods. She's a team captain and quarterback in their school football team. Her leadership and toughness just made admire her. I always admire sporty female characters who can play with guys. It's just cool. Plus, I like her wits and she's not really that girly. Her best friends are guys: Henry, JJ, and Carter.. talk about these guys, aside from their good looks.. these guys have the sense of humor, and they're very protective of Jordan. Damn. I want brothers like them. But her ultimate best friend is Sam Henry. I love how these two bond and throw each others banters. Such a strong friendship going on between them.
Then this new guy, Tyler Green came into the picture and Jordan had a crush on him despite of being threatened he might took the spot as a Quarterback. As much as possible she doesn't want to date any of her teammates because she might lose her concentration.
This story is so cute and it definitely put a smile on my face. Though some of the football terms quite confuse me because I wasn't really fan of that sports, it's still a great read. The love story.. SO DAMN CUTE AND FLUFFY!
August 15, 2016
Actual ratings=5+++++++++++++ Stars
Screw assignments. I just totally devoured this book. Since the day I received the package from Amazon i've been dying to read this and I just gave up everything and read this in few hours straight and man I don't regret that a bit.
This was a book I've heard so much about and something i wanted to read for ages. Thanks to me being in a virtually almost non-existent country, I've never seen this book in any of our bookstores. Obviously. So it took me quiet a while to get the book down as it takes almost 2 months for books from amazon to reach Sri Lanka (yes, I know). Those months were totally worth the wait.
Talking about the book, it was just super fantastic. I mean I've got no words. I loved it. Like completely loved it. LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!! I never loved a young-adult book as much I've loved this one. I was so scared it'll turn out to be like The DUFF which I hated but this was a total opposite. Jordan was an awesome heroine. Like I totally wanted to be like her. Her life was so awesome and she wasn't the least bit annoying. And Henry.
Damn boy you made my heart skip so many times. I love how they made mistakes on their way but still totally understood each other. I wish I could have read more about the two of them. Like an epilogue or something but it's ok. Im in love with this book so much!!!!!
*Edit*
I forgot to say how hilarious this book is. Like I randomly started laughing out loud :D Loved it :D :D
*Re-edit*
Ok I don't know who the hell this is but I accidentally saw him on pinterest and the first thought that came to me was "This is Sam Henry"
Screw assignments. I just totally devoured this book. Since the day I received the package from Amazon i've been dying to read this and I just gave up everything and read this in few hours straight and man I don't regret that a bit.
This was a book I've heard so much about and something i wanted to read for ages. Thanks to me being in a virtually almost non-existent country, I've never seen this book in any of our bookstores. Obviously. So it took me quiet a while to get the book down as it takes almost 2 months for books from amazon to reach Sri Lanka (yes, I know). Those months were totally worth the wait.
Talking about the book, it was just super fantastic. I mean I've got no words. I loved it. Like completely loved it. LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!! I never loved a young-adult book as much I've loved this one. I was so scared it'll turn out to be like The DUFF which I hated but this was a total opposite. Jordan was an awesome heroine. Like I totally wanted to be like her. Her life was so awesome and she wasn't the least bit annoying. And Henry.
Damn boy you made my heart skip so many times. I love how they made mistakes on their way but still totally understood each other. I wish I could have read more about the two of them. Like an epilogue or something but it's ok. Im in love with this book so much!!!!!
*Edit*
I forgot to say how hilarious this book is. Like I randomly started laughing out loud :D Loved it :D :D
*Re-edit*
Ok I don't know who the hell this is but I accidentally saw him on pinterest and the first thought that came to me was "This is Sam Henry"
July 18, 2016
When there is a book centered around a football team, that creates problems for people who are footballily clueless (moi).
However, I didn't have many problems understanding what was going on, despite all the football lingo.
I found this read refreshing. Yes there were stereotypes, but it was still different.
The cheerleaders were there, but not all of them were stuck-up.
The football players were there, but not all of them acted like holier-than-thou-players. And best of all? Not all of them were boys ;)
That's right! Jordan. Quarterback extraordinaire. Female. She kicks butt on the field!
I loved how she could hang out with both girls and guys comfortably. A lot of times when there is a tomboy, they are presented as not knowing how to deal with girls or their hobbies. Admittedly Jordan isn't a fan of shopping and dresses, but neither am I really! That doesn't make her not a lady, just a lady with different preferences.
The romance was decent. I liked the ending and the whole story, which I will not disclose because spoilers.
Henry is fabulous and I love his relationship with Jordan.
Tyler is pretty cool. I have nothing against him, but
Jordan's dad: He was kind of a jerk, but I respect his reasons.
The rest of her family was awesome!
I would rec this book, but only if you're in a light mood because otherwise, I get the feeling this book would get on your nerves :P
And those are my two cents!
However, I didn't have many problems understanding what was going on, despite all the football lingo.
I found this read refreshing. Yes there were stereotypes, but it was still different.
The cheerleaders were there, but not all of them were stuck-up.
The football players were there, but not all of them acted like holier-than-thou-players. And best of all? Not all of them were boys ;)
That's right! Jordan. Quarterback extraordinaire. Female. She kicks butt on the field!
I loved how she could hang out with both girls and guys comfortably. A lot of times when there is a tomboy, they are presented as not knowing how to deal with girls or their hobbies. Admittedly Jordan isn't a fan of shopping and dresses, but neither am I really! That doesn't make her not a lady, just a lady with different preferences.
The romance was decent. I liked the ending and the whole story, which I will not disclose because spoilers.
Henry is fabulous and I love his relationship with Jordan.
Tyler is pretty cool. I have nothing against him, but
Jordan's dad: He was kind of a jerk, but I respect his reasons.
The rest of her family was awesome!
I would rec this book, but only if you're in a light mood because otherwise, I get the feeling this book would get on your nerves :P
And those are my two cents!
December 6, 2011
I loved this book!!!! My intention, when I started reading this a little after ten o'clock last night, was to read a couple chapters and go to bed. Um, yeah. That didn't happen. The next time I looked up, it was 5 am and I was finished. :-)
I loved Miranda Kenneally's characters. The guys were both funny and hot, there was the right blend of realistically bitchy girls and girl next door fun, and the protagonist was so completely endearing and likable.
I am from the South where football is king, and I watch at least two games a weekend (LSU and Saints, Woot!), but even so, I did have concerns going into reading this book. I loved the premise, but I wondered if the football portions would be too much. If the author would find that perfect balance of letting us into Jordan's world as a girl quarterback, yet still be a fun "girl book," for lack of a better description. As you can probably tell from the fact that I stayed up reading all night, Ms. Kenneally rocked that balance.
Dialogue was perfect, the action and pace spot on. I can't wait to see what Miranda Kenneally does next.
I loved Miranda Kenneally's characters. The guys were both funny and hot, there was the right blend of realistically bitchy girls and girl next door fun, and the protagonist was so completely endearing and likable.
I am from the South where football is king, and I watch at least two games a weekend (LSU and Saints, Woot!), but even so, I did have concerns going into reading this book. I loved the premise, but I wondered if the football portions would be too much. If the author would find that perfect balance of letting us into Jordan's world as a girl quarterback, yet still be a fun "girl book," for lack of a better description. As you can probably tell from the fact that I stayed up reading all night, Ms. Kenneally rocked that balance.
Dialogue was perfect, the action and pace spot on. I can't wait to see what Miranda Kenneally does next.
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