In His Corner

In His Corner. Alexandra Warren. 2017. 283 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.]

This book is actually a reread for me. I picked it up when it was released; I obviously was side-tracked before posting a review. I chose to revisit it this week when the author, Alexandra Warren, announced it would be leaving the Kindle Unlimited library.

In His Corner features Bella Stevenson, a staff writer for the online magazine Fullest Disclosure. Her attempts to write her way up the ranks land her at the latest boxing match of Princeton “The Prince” Lattimore, an undefeated boxer whose flirtatious innuendo gets under her skin. Lucky for her, his interest in her opens the door for an exclusive that she can’t turn down.

Bella and Prince’s relationship isn’t quite a fairy tale. While their attraction is hot and they’re almost effortlessly compatible, they have to fight for their relationship on several fronts. Prince owes his career — for better or worse — to his father, formidable boxing legend Sir Kingfield “The King” Lattimore. The two have a complicated relationship due to The King’s high expectations that Prince follows in his footsteps and tough love approach. The effects of this strained relationship cause continued issues when King turns that tough love is on Bella and questions her motives with Prince. Bella, on the other hand, is struggling to find her footing once she’s unceremoniously fired from her job, likely a result of an ill-advised fling with a coworker. On top of that, Prince generally has a way of throwing caution to the wind with Bella, where her tentative ways are often at odds with his plans for their future.

As always, a supporting cast makes this read enjoyable and the plot come together. Bella’s friend Gina is something of a devil on her shoulder, always encouraging her to lean into recklessness a little bit. Prince’s play cousins Brandin and Little Tony are nearly the same, perhaps almost to a problematic level. Nonetheless, they all balance their fun with wisdom that helps keep Bella and Prince on track. It wouldn’t be right not to have a villain, and in this case, there are at least three; some are redeemable, a few are clearly not worth the effort.

I appreciated this book more the second time around. While I read it almost three years ago, I found myself still resonating with the points I highlighted during my first read, and found a few more to add. Bella and Prince’s relationship, while atypical given his celebrity status, highlights typical issues that most couples face — family trauma, insecurity, career choices, and the like. In His Corner held up over time, and for that I recommend it.