Description
When Emerson “Em” Reyes, the league’s top goal scorer, joins the struggling Seattle Stormers, everyone has great hopes: can this rookie star save a failing team? No one expects the man who is in her way to be: Levi Dalton is the team’s seasoned captain. His cold look and cutting determination have won him both respect and a reputation for being a brutal leader. Em’s record-breaking footwork and Levi’s iron-clad discipline clash in a way that could tear the Stormers apart unless they can learn to trust one other.
As soon as Em goes onto the Stormers’ wet field, things start to happen. Levi, who has been the team’s star for years, is angry at Em for being so good at what she does and getting so much praise from fans and the press. Em, full of confidence and aspirations of winning the title, doesn’t like Levi’s hard drills and harsh criticism. Their locker room talk is full of sharp compliments: Em’s quick wit and Levi’s cold sarcasm clash in a verbal battle that gets the rest of the squad fired up, even though it makes them both more angry.
But as the season goes on, both players have to deal with ghosts from their pasts. Em’s quick climb to fame came at the cost of her relationship with her older brother, whose own soccer goals she overshadowed. Levi was once a promising player for the national team, but an injury that almost ended his career almost made him stop loving the game. Levi learns that Em is actually a timid girl looking for approval when her secret her unexpected departure from home at seventeen to chase stardom comes to light. Em sees Levi’s late-night training sessions and private moments of uncertainty and realizes that his icy façade hides a heart that is struggling with failure and sorrow.
Coach Ramirez sees the chemistry between them and puts them together for intense one-on-one training. When Em and Levi have to practice together in the bitter cold, Em learns how to use her natural inventiveness within the structure that Levi wants. Levi gets back the joy of play through Em’s endless enthusiasm. Their complicated feelings are fueled by whispered strategy meetings under stadium lights, sneaked coffees after practice in the empty stands, and rain-soaked celebrations when Em leads the Stormers to an unlikely winning run.
As the playoffs get closer, outside pressures grow: a tabloid controversy threatens Em’s endorsement deals, and other teams swarm like vultures looking for a chance to take advantage of Levi’s poor leadership. During the championship semifinal, when an opposing defender makes a risky tackle on Em, Levi has to make a gut-wrenching choice: follow the rules and leave the play, or ignore the whistle and rush to her side, risking a red card and the team’s season. His choice on that fateful field shows how he felt in a moment of genuine emotion that neither can deny.
In the nail-biting end, Em and Levi have to choose between relying on each other’s strengths or letting pride rip them apart. They learn that winning isn’t just about scoring goals; it’s also about having the bravery to open your heart and give the ball of trust to someone who’s always been on your team.
Ana Huang’s The Striker is a triumphant hymn to collaboration, atonement, and the ability of love to turn even the fiercest enemies into the perfect match. This book will have you cheering for every shot on goal and every shot at love. It has heart-pounding match scenes, laugh-out-loud locker-room camaraderie, and a romance that scores quickly and lasts.
About the Author
Ana Huang is a #1 New York Times and international bestselling author known for her emotionally charged and addictive contemporary romances. Her signature blend of sharp dialogue, complex characters, and high‑stakes settings has captivated millions of readers worldwide. When she’s not weaving tales of passion and resilience, Ana enjoys playing (and sometimes watching) soccer, exploring new coffee shops, and mentoring aspiring writers in her hometown of Seattle.
Product Details
- Title: The Striker
- Author: Ana Huang
- ISBN-13: 9781952085444
- Publisher: Zando
- Published: August 2025
- Pages: 352
- Binding: Paperpack
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