Ana Huang’s The Striker: Same Game, New Jersey

“The past was the past, and the future was unpredictable. But the present? It belonged to us, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Honestly, I’d been putting The Striker off ever since it came out. I literally bought it on release day… and then just let it sit there. 😅 I was nervous to start it because I had a gut feeling it would feel just like Ana’s other books, which, for me, have all started to blend together lately. And it hurts to say this, but I was kind of right. It felt like the same formula, only this time, instead of a billionaire, it’s a rich footballer. Everything else? Pretty much the same.

I gave it 3 stars. And while 3 ⭐ is still a good rating, it does feel a bit low for Ana, especially since she used to be a comfort author for me. But truthfully, her last three books I read all got 3 stars… so maybe I’m just growing out of my Ana Huang phase? 😔

Summary of The striker by Ana Huang

She’s the only woman he wants…and the only one he can’t have.

Asher Donovan is a living legend―the darling of the Premier League, the (arguably) greatest footballer in the world.

But his reckless antics and recent team transfer have caused much controversy, and when his feud with his rival-turned-teammate costs them a championship, they’re forced to “bond” during off-season cross-training.

Surviving the summer shouldn’t be hard…until Asher meets their new trainer. She’s beautiful, talented, and no matter how hard he tries, he can’t take his mind off her.

The only problem? She’s his rival’s sister―and completely off limits.

Scarlett DuBois is a former prima ballerina whose career was cut short by a tragic accident.

Now a teacher at a prestigious dance academy but still haunted by the ghosts of her past, the last thing she wants is to spend the summer cross-training Asher Donovan, of all people.

She swore she would never date a footballer, but when her brother leaves town for an emergency, she finds herself thrown into dangerously close proximity with the gorgeous, charming striker.

Training, she can deal with. But falling in love? That’s out of the question―especially when he’s the only person with the power to break her heart.

Review of The strikerby Ana Huang

My disappointment with The Striker mostly came from the fact that Ana seems to have found a formula that works for grabbing readers’ attention… and she’s been sticking to it without really switching things up. And I think I’m just growing out of it. Her books have started to feel repetitive to me, same vibes, different titles. 😕 Plus, Scarlett’s character really got on my nerves at times, which didn’t help.

But let’s get into the review to break things down a bit more. 💬👇

Plot Analysis of The striker by Ana Huang

So picture this: Premier League heartthrob Asher Donovan just landed on a new team, and surprise surprise, guess who’s already waiting with open hostility? Yep, Vincent Dubois, his long-time rival and walking grudge-holder. The tension between them? Electric. The kind that says “I hate you” but could also scream “enemies-to-lovers” in a different genre. 🤣

But this isn’t their story. Enter Scarlett Dubois, Vincent’s little sister, ex-ballet prodigy turned reluctantly retired, now teaching ballet while dodging the ghost of her old dreams and her brother’s constant overprotection. The girl can’t even blink without Vincent supervising it like it’s game strategy.

And as if life hadn’t humbled her enough, her boss decides to throw her into a full-blown chaos spiral: “Hey Scarlett, could you maybe coach your emotionally unavailable brother and the guy who makes his blood pressure spike? Thx bestie.” Because that’s totally normal. 😅💀

Characters of The striker by Ana Huang

Scarlett DuBois : Scarlett’s character really got on my last nerve. She was so contradictory I couldn’t keep up. Like, she keeps saying she doesn’t do friendships and doesn’t have friends… but then she meets Brooklyn and instantly becomes besties with her in 0.2 seconds, opening up about everything like they’ve known each other for years. And I’m sorry, but why are we telling a random girl you just met about your top secret relationship?? 😭 Babe, you don’t even know her last name. Make it make sense.

And don’t even get me started on the “I won’t make the same mistake by falling for another footballer” speech, only to be in love with Asher by, what, page 30? Seriously?? 😩

But what really threw me off, and made it hard to connect with her, was how her chronic pain was portrayed. She’s been living with it for five years, and yet somehow ends up in the hospital just because she overworked herself? As someone who lives with chronic illness and fatigue myself, that just didn’t sit right. I get pushing through pain, I get the burnout and flare-ups. But five years in, you know your limits. You learn the signs. Ending up hospitalized from overexertion felt immature and unrealistic, not in a judgmental way, but in a this doesn’t reflect lived experience kind of way. It didn’t resonate, and honestly, it felt more like a plot device than a thoughtful portrayal.

Asher Donovan : He is your classic Ana Huang MMC, hot, rich, possessive, the whole package. He definitely had his sweet moments, but not enough to make him stand out. Honestly, he felt kind of reckless just for the sake of the plot sometimes, and while he was charming, he wasn’t one of Ana’s strongest male leads. Sweet? Yes. Memorable? Not really. For the length of the book, I expected way more depth and character growth from him, but we didn’t really get that.

Scarlett & Asher : I’m still out here looking for the tension between them because the insta-love hit me like a brick to the face. I was honestly so confused how do you write an almost 600-page romance with zero slow burn? Like… where’s the yearning? The pining? The tension that makes your stomach twist? I need more than a “we locked eyes and now it’s love” situation to be convinced. And don’t even get me started on Vincent, they spent so much time stressing over him and acting like it was this huge forbidden thing… only to forget he existed the minute they got together? Make it make sense. If the whole thing is supposed to feel forbidden, then why did they stop caring the moment he was out of the picture?

Pacing & writing style

I know it probably sounds like I’ve been dragging The Striker from the start of the review, but I did give it 3 stars, and that’s because there were things I enjoyed. Like always, Ana Huang’s writing in The Striker is super easy to read. She has a way of pulling you into the world of her books that makes it really hard to put them down. Her style is smooth and immersive, no doubt about that.

That being said… I just wish she’d push herself outside of her comfort zone a little. I know that’s easier said than done, but her recent books are starting to feel really repetitive. And if we’re committing to almost 600 pages, I feel like the expectations naturally go up, I want more character development, more emotional depth, more something. For a “basic” romance, this much length isn’t really necessary, and it honestly started dragging in the middle. The story became so predictable (yes, I know it’s romance, don’t yell at me 😅), but I still found myself waiting for that one twist or surprise… and it never came. Just give me something to justify the length!

The pacing in The Striker was honestly good, it kept things moving for the most part. But (and let me say it again), the length really messed with the flow a bit. At almost 600 pages, it started to drag in the middle and felt a little boring at times. I really think if Ana trimmed her stories down a bit, the pacing wouldn’t suffer so much and it wouldn’t feel slow, even when it’s not. Sometimes less is more, especially when it keeps the momentum going!

Tropes and Trigger warnings of The striker by Ana Huang

Tropes of The striker by Ana Huang

• Brother’s rival
• Forced proximity
• Insta love
• He falls first
• Footballer x Ballerina

Trigger warnings of The striker by Ana Huang

• Car accidents and injuries
• Chronic pain representation
• Death of loved ones

Final Thought

So yeah… The Striker wasn’t a bad read, but it didn’t wow me either. It had potential, I mean, brother’s rival, ballerina x footballer, forced proximity? Yes please. But the execution just didn’t land the way I hoped. It felt a little too safe, a little too familiar, and honestly… I think I’m just growing out of Ana Huang’s formula.

It kind of hurts to say that, because Ana used to be a go-to author for me. But lately, her books have been hitting that same 3-star mark, enjoyable, but not memorable. And when you’re writing almost 600 pages? I need more than a recycled setup and predictable plot beats. I need growth, tension, emotional payoff. Something.

Still, I won’t lie, parts of it were fun. I flew through it, like I always do with Ana’s writing, and I did enjoy some soft moments between the characters. It’s just not a book that’ll stick with me, and that’s okay. Not every book has to be a favorite.

3 stars from me ⭐⭐⭐ and maybe, just maybe, it’s time for me to take a little break from Ana’s universe.

About the author

Practical Information for Readers

The striker by Ana HuangBook Formats

The striker is available in various formats to suit every reader’s preference:

• Paperback : Ideal for readers who enjoy the tactile experience of holding a physical book.
• eBook: Convenient for on-the-go reading, available on all major e-reader platforms.
• Audiobook: Narrated with emotional depth, available on platforms like Audible.
• PDF The striker by Ana Huang : While some may search for a PDF version, it’s recommended to opt for legal eBook options to support the author.

Where to Find The striker by Ana Huang PDF

1. Amazon Kindle: Offers a user-friendly interface with customizable reading settings.
2. Barnes & Noble Nook: Another popular platform with a wide selection of e-books.
3. Apple Books: Provides seamless integration with Apple devices and a smooth reading experience.

The striker by Ana Huang Age Rating

Due to its mature content, The striker by Ana Huang is recommended for readers aged 18 and older. Please review the trigger warnings above before reading.