Stealing for Keeps

Frost Lake High, Book 1

De: Rebecca Jenshak

Narrado por: Abigail Reno, Max Meyers

Frost Lake High's new soccer star, the team captain's ex-girlfriend, and a dare that changes everything.

When Austin Keller's family moves across the country for his chance to play with the prestigious Frost Lake soccer team, he's ready to seize the opportunity. But on his first night out with the team, a dare to kiss the team captain's ex-girlfriend sets in motion a rivalry that threatens his future.

Claire Crawford was once an aspiring figure skater, but a recent injury has changed everything. To make matters worse, her boyfriend dumped her. Starting her junior year, she's unsure of her next steps. One thing she knows for sure: she's not falling for the new guy. That electrifying kiss at the bonfire? Already forgotten…almost.

He's chasing his dreams. She's lost hers. The more Claire tries to push him away, the harder he works to win her over. He's stealing her heart, and he's doing it for keeps.

©2024 Rebecca Jenshak (P)2024 Rebecca Jenshak

sweet YA romance read!

“I like the way he sees me. The way he draws me. The way he always seems to know exactly what I need.”

Stealing for Keeps was definitely Rebecca Jenshak’s cutest book to date. I felt like I was reading, instead of watching, one of my favorite young adult coming of age sitcoms. There’s drama, there’s angst, there’s the sweet butterflies in your stomach feeling of truly falling in love for the first time, but there’s also some relatable real stuff that happens in this story. The dynamics between some of the characters and their families and friends, and just how different teens have different expectations thrust upon them by others/themselves and how that impacts them.

I truly enjoyed Austin and Claire’s story and I’m excited to see there is at least one more book in the series. So many great characters that I fell in love with in SfK, and some who I’d love see get a little redemption with their own stories. I think this story is perfect for anyone who enjoys romance reads, but with the sweetness of young love.

I thought the voice actors did a great job bringing the story to life. I also enjoyed how they gave the background characters a true voice and personality of their own. Not only did it make it easy to fall for Claire and Austin, but it made me want more of the side characters too!

CW: cast from sport injury, kissing on page, mentions of first times, off page intimacy, underage drinking, fighting, complicated parental relationships (high expectations, ignored child, etc.)

*** If you let your teens watch shows like One Tree Hill or Gilmore Girls, then I’d say the content in this book will be fine. Always GENTLY suggest parents reading anything first to be ready to discuss with their teens if necessary.***

A Surprising Standout

Book Review: Stealing for Keeps by Rebecca Jenshak
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 | 🌶️ 1/5

High school romance isn’t usually my go-to genre, but Rebecca Jenshak has a way of making any story irresistible. After falling for several of her other books, I couldn’t pass up Playing for Keeps, the first book in her new Frost Lake High series. Let me just say—it did not disappoint.

This sports romance centers around Austin Keller, a driven junior with big dreams of going pro in soccer. His family uproots their lives to enroll him at Frost Lake High, where the legendary soccer program promises to catapult his future. But Austin’s focus wavers after a bold dare at a party—one that lands him in the middle of a complicated love triangle with Claire, the ex-girlfriend of Vaughn, his coach’s son and a soccer icon himself. And if that wasn’t enough? Austin can’t stop thinking about how much he wants to kiss Claire again.

Jenshak delivers a pitch-perfect blend of sweet and electric romance. The chemistry between Austin and Claire crackles, even with a closed-door approach (spice level: 1/5). It’s a coming-of-age story at its core, filled with self-discovery, the thrill of competition, and the pressure of growing up. I especially appreciated how realistic and relatable it felt, even from the perspective of someone far removed from high school but close to raising teens myself.

The story is fast-paced, heartfelt, and utterly captivating, with characters you’ll root for from the first page. Jenshak nails the dynamics of first love, navigating friendships, family pressures, and that all-too-familiar undercurrent of teenage sexual tension.

If you’re a fan of Rebecca Jenshak’s adult romances, don’t hesitate to dive into Stealing for Keeps. Yes, it’s set in high school, but it’s just as emotionally satisfying and engaging as her other works. Whether you’re a sports romance fan or just love a well-written, sweetly intense love story, this one’s worth your time.

Final Thoughts
• 🏫 High school romance with an adult romance vibe
• ⚽ Perfect for fans of sports romance
• 🔥 Low spice but high tension
• ❤️ A must-read for Jenshak fans

Would I recommend? Absolutely. Don’t sleep on this one just because of the high school setting!

Rebecca's debut YA romance is SPECTACULAR!

Stealing for Keeps had me smiling and giddy from start to finish! The first book in a new series, Frost Lake High, this one was amazing! The feels. The tension. The chemistry. The nostalgia. The narrators bring this story to life in the best way!

HS Soccer Romance

Cute but way too young for me. Cute story and nothing cringy just the MC’s are juniors in HS.

Tropes:
Soccer romance
HS Romance
Forbidden Romance
Secret romance
Friends to lovers
Teammates ex-gf

True high school romance!

The two narrators were some of the best I’ve ever heard! I loved the fact that it had both of their points of view. Overall good story line and a great performance. Will definitely be reading more books by her and finding books by these narrators.

I loved that this was kept very High School and wasn’t focused on all spice.

Great story, focused on high school kids and what it can be like to be a part of a team, new at school and to lose a part of your “dream” at an early age.

Adorable

Claire and Austin are absolutely adorable. Their romance is sweet and believable, and their glitter bomb meet-cute is chef's kiss. I could totally relate to both of them – their feelings, their thoughts, the whole deal. Even the side characters were awesome. The characters feel incredibly real and mature, even though they're navigating the high school scene. Abigail Reno and Max Meyers were new to me narrators but they were the perfect pairing to voice Claire and Austin. They brought out the emotion and helped me connect with these characters. I enjoyed it from beginning to end.