The Recruit

Halverson Prep pulls four recruits from the other side of the river every year and turns them into champions. Imani Cole is the first girl they've ever taken, and the whole boathouse knows it. Her partner in the double is Hollis Vance, the coach's son, who sat in front of the selection committee and said she wasn't fast enough. He then voted to admit her. She's still deciding which of those she hates more. Four months of dark water, bad weather and a coach who will only take one of them to the championship. Imani works out the math before the season is half over: the singles slot has a name on it that isn't hers, and she's a hurdle Hollis is meant to clear. So she rows. And they row. And the last five hundred meters, with everything already decided, they pull the best piece either of them has ever done. An academy, sports, enemies to lovers romance about two people who were set up to beat each other and chose to be a crew instead.