Miranda Kenneally Returns with More Southern Romantic Charm in Jesse’s Girl

There are so many things you can pretty safely count on in a Miranda Kenneally novel: strong-minded heroines, sex-positivity, the charming southern setting of her Hundred Oaks universe, and, one of my favorite things, recurring characters from previous novels. Reading a Kenneally book is like coming home from college for winter break, and spending a bunch of days of that break getting your ass kicked by top-notch female athletes. Though not all her books feature athletes—her newest, Jesse’s Girl, stars a singer who’s shadowing a country star—she’s definitely YA’s sports romance queen, and her other main characters will rock your socks off every bit as much. So on the eve of this newest release, here’s a rundown of Kenneally’s Hundred Oaks series so far. (And yes, they can all be read independently, you just won’t appreciate the glorious cameos as much!)
Catching Jordan
The book that started it all introduces readers to Jordan Woods, quarterback of the football team (and poet on the side). When a new guy enters the picture who has the potential to nab both her spot and her heart, Jordan fights to maintain her goals and achieve her dream future. Meanwhile, the guy who really has the power to make her fall hard is the one she never sees coming. Jordan is a badass main character on multiple levels, and the support for her from the guys in her high school life makes for a refreshing read.
Stealing Parker
When her mother left her father for another woman, it threw Parker’s perfect life into upheaval. Her relationships with her parents, friends, and brother have all changed, and she’s gone from respected softball star to ostracized outcast. So she responds the only way she can—by losing lots of weight, quitting softball, and shallowly connecting with every guy in sight, including the boys’ coach. Parker digs deep to forge her new identity, and when she hits rock bottom, it takes a whole lot of support and self-love to pull her out.
Things I Can’t Forget
Kenneally’s third novel in the series is unquestionably her biggest departure, turning the focus from sports and high school to summer camp and religion. Kate is a far cry from Kenneally’s other characters, who tend to veer toward the refreshingly open and nonjudgmental. In fact, Kate’s got a thought about pretty much everyone. But she’s hiding dark secrets of her own, and when she falls for Matt, she learns how hard temptation can be to resist.
Racing Savannah
Book four brings us back into an athletic world with Savannah, a horse trainer’s daughter who’s just moved with her dad and future stepmom to a southern estate with some of the most beautiful horses in the world. Though she loves horses and is happy to be apprenticed to her father’s position, learning she’s got talent as a jockey leads her to learn just how high she can aim and how much she can achieve. But when one of the biggest prizes in sight—Jack, the heir to it all—sets his sights on her, Savannah knows some things are still off limits…or are they?
Breathe, Annie, Breathe
While all of Kenneally’s books are solid, this is my personal favorite, and I’m guessing I’m not alone; it’s definitely the one that pinged my heart the hardest. Annie wasn’t a runner, until her boyfriend died and she decided to honor him by running the marathon he would have. Now she’s training her heart out as she learns to heal, and she’s also found the perfect guy to help her do both. A really beautiful and emotional story about honoring dead loved ones while moving on with your life, that also turned my lazy self off from ever, ever thinking I could run. (Just kidding—I never thought I could to begin with.)
Jesse’s Girl (out tomorrow!)
Maya wants to be a rock star, but the closest she’s gonna get is her opportunity to shadow a “mentor,” Jesse Scott, a country idol who’s steps from retirement. Even watching Jesse struggle won’t deter her, though—Maya’s got exactly the determined spirit I’ve come to love and expect from a Kenneally heroine. Together, Maya and Jesse spend a whirlwind day a la Ferris Bueller’s Day Off that shows both of them how much more there is to life than they bargained for, and the romance that springs up between them feels sweet and earned despite its speed. Add to that a lot of fun sightings of previous Hundred Oaks characters, and you have a can’t-miss installment that’ll leave you anxiously awaiting number seven.