There are certain romance books that are BookTok darlings and one of those is easily the Jacksonville Rays series by Emily Rath. The series centers around the Jacksonville Rays players and their different romances.
While most people start with Pucking Around, you can either start there or start with the novella right before Pucking Around which is That One Night. Basically, if you want to know a bit more about the characters before starting Pucking Around, then you want to pick up That One Night.
For those who are series completionists, picking up That One Night is going to be an easy choice for you. However, I had ulterior motives as it was the book club pick for me and my best friend's book club. With that being said, this is still going to be an open and honest review.
Ultimately, if you want something short and sweet with some spice Sabrina Carpenter would appreciate it, then That One Night will be a winner for you.
That One Night is short yet intensely steamy novella.
Given how beloved the entire Jacksonville Rays series is by BookTok, I had a feeling about That One Night. However, Emily Rath really surprised me as this book felt like just enough. This story follows Rachel who is having a terrible night after attending her brother's wedding. Basically, her life isn't going how she wants and she's also getting hit on by this annoying Chad.
A man comes to the bar and rescues her, pretending to be her brother. After that, the two start to talk and it's clear a connection is there. While it seems casual at first, it's clear there are much deeper feelings at play. Eventually, the two end up going up to Rachael's hotel room and things get very steamy very quickly.
If you want a short and steamy time, you'll adore That One Night. These two truly do not stop for the entire night and it makes for a fun read. Aside from that, we also learn a little bit of backstory about our two characters: Rachel and Jake. While we don't get as much info about them, it's a nice enough tease to get you some context without giving away too much about the next book.
As mentioned, you don't have to read That One Night but it's a good place to start if you want a preview of what's to come in the Jacksonville Rays series. This is a series I plan on reading and reviewing so I had to start with this novella before diving into Pucking Around. Either way, you'll have to return to I Prefer Reading to see if this series is a slapshot or needs some time in the penalty box.