Going for Gold by Ivy Smoak

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Alina – The rumors you’ve heard about the summer games are true. I mean…what do you expect when you put a bunch of sex-starved athletes in the best shape of their lives together in one small village? But it doesn’t matter to me. I’m focused on winning gold. So what if the hottest guy at the summer games seems intent on winning me over? Because I’m focused on…wait, what was I focusing on again?

Bryce – I need to win gold. I’ve been training my whole life for this moment. The prize money will be life changing. But there’s a woman with golden hair that my eyes keep wandering to instead of the gold medal. I can’t get her off my mind. But winning her over is the only game here I don’t know how to win.

Going for Gold

Summer Games, Scandal, and Second Chances

The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💚💜💙
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘
World building: 🌏🌍🌎
Character development: 😋🙂🤨
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration type: Dual Narration

🛡️ Audiobook Review: Going For Gold

Genre: Sports Romance | Narrators: Lynn Barrington and Jason Clarke
Series: Sweet Cravings

🦸🏼‍♀️ Heroine Spotlight: Alina

Alina is a fierce competitor on the USA Volleyball Team, determined to spike her way to gold in Brazil during the summer games. With her team advancing to the quarterfinals and a potential podium finish within reach, she’s laser-focused—despite the distractions of a steamy athletes’ village where temptation runs high and discipline is tested. Her resolve is admirable, especially with a no-romance rule enforced until the final whistle blows.

🧑🏻‍🔧 Hero Spotlight: Bryce

Bryce, a track and field athlete with a quiet strength, is in Brazil not just for glory but for family. Supporting his college-aged sister back home, he’s driven by duty and heart. A chance encounter in the locker room—where Alina accidentally wanders in—sparks a connection that’s sweet, serendipitous, and refreshingly wholesome amid the chaos of the games.

🔥 Plot Pulse

Alina’s relationship with her swimmer boyfriend Chris is tested when her longtime rival Gabriella, a Brazilian volleyball star with a flair for drama, drops scandalous photos of herself with Chris right before a crucial match. The betrayal rattles Alina, threatening her performance and her heart. Enter Bryce, whose grounded presence offers comfort and clarity. But just as romance begins to bloom, Bryce is pulled into a darker subplot involving a gangster’s threat against his sister—forcing him into a moral dilemma that feels jarringly out of sync with the story’s earlier tone.

💘 What Hit Home

• Alina and Bryce are genuinely likable leads, and their chemistry feels earned.
• The supporting cast—especially their teammates—add warmth, humor, and camaraderie that enrich the narrative.

😬 Room to Grow

• The conflict veers into melodrama with the gangster subplot, which felt out of place in what started as a sporty, flirty romance.
• The medal tie-breaker—decided by a strip dance competition—was a tonal whiplash moment that strained believability and pulled me out of the story.

🎧 Narration Vibes

Told in dual POVs, the audiobook features Lynn Barrington and Jason Clarke. Jason’s gravelly voice is a standout—he brings Bryce to life with depth and charm. Lynn Barrington, while technically solid, sounded a bit mature for Alina’s youthful energy, which made it harder to fully connect with her character.

📝 Final Thoughts

This audiobook had the potential to be a fun, flirty romp through competition romance, and parts of it absolutely delivered. Alina and Bryce shine as individuals and as a couple, and their journey has moments of real emotional resonance. But the plot’s detours into over-the-top drama and implausible twists dulled some of the sparkle. Still, if you’re in the mood for a sports romance with heart, heat, and a dash of chaos, this one might just serve up a win.

Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|BookBub




View all my reviews