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Zarah Detand
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Pull Me Under: Fake Dating and Soccer — An MM Sports Romance Kindle Edition

by Zarah Detand (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 out of 5 stars 1,149 ratings

A love story to sweep you off your cleats! For five years, Ben Jimmer has hidden behind the headlines. Star midfielder for Manchester United, he’s lived the dream—fame, fortune, and the constant pressure of staying on top. But one drunken night in a gay club threatens to send his carefully constructed life crashing down.

His agent’s solution? A fake boyfriend, media spin, and damage control at its finest. But Henry, the supposed “fake” boyfriend, is too real: too kind, too attractive, and too good at making Ben question why he’s been hiding all these years.

Between fake dating, a grumpy-sunshine dynamic, and the unexpected pull of real feelings, Pull Me Under is a witty, heart-pounding MM soccer romance about a footballer who’s spent his life running from himself—and the one guy who makes him want to stop.

____________

From verified Amazon reviews:

“ONE OF MY ALL-TIME FAVES. A MUST READ.”
“Overall, I cannot recommend this story enough. There is romance, humor, heartache, and happiness…each element coming together like a puzzle you can’t wait to complete.”
“A favorite book I’ve reread too many times to count”
“I WOULD GIVE THIS BOOK SEVEN STARS”
”I highly recommend this book to anyone, low on angst, high on men being dense until they're not.”
“I loved this book. I have read A LOT of m/m fiction but this is probably my favourite.”
“Addicting, fast-paced and compelling!”
“I loved this book. It's sweet and romantic and it leaves you all warm and fuzzy.”
“Two gorgeous MCs and some brilliant secondary characters make this an absolute delight to read and impossible to put down until finished!”
“I highly recommend this book!!!”

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  1. Print length
    422 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    February 14, 2014
  4. File size
    1.9 MB
  5. Page Flip
    Enabled
  6. Word Wise
    Enabled
  7. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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From the Publisher

Pull Me Under - Upper Half
Pull Me Under - Lower Half

What Others Say

  • "Loved this book! Poignant, cute, funny, a story of misunderstandings and male egos, of compassion and giving and negotiation. Well worth the read I promise." —Susan, GR review
  • "I highly recommend this book to anyone, low on angst, high on men being dense until they're not." —James, GR review
  • "ONE OF MY ALL-TIME FAVES. A MUST-READ." —Jana, Amazon review
  • "Overall, I cannot recommend this story enough. There is romance, humor, heartache, and happiness…each element coming together like a puzzle you can’t wait to complete." —Amanda, Amazon review
  • "The writing was beautiful, the pacing was great. Definitely a stand-out amongst my recent reads." —M, GR review
  • "I WOULD GIVE THIS BOOK SEVEN STARS" —Charlie, Amazon review
  • "I loved this book. I have read A LOT of m/m fiction but this is probably my favourite. Both main characters are well written and believable and the supporting cast is also great." —Kirstyn, Amazon review

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Writer of M/M romances. Loves a good book, a well-crafted White Russian, and long walks to the closest supermarket.

People in love with other people is her jam, with a particular penchant for snappy dialogue and a slow burn that is all the more satisfying once it finally catches fire. Playing with tropes of the famous-meets-non-famous variation? Bring it on! Fake relationships? Yes, please. All's fair as long as everyone gets their happy ending.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00IGYE3BE
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 14, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.9 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 422 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 1,149 ratings

About the author

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Zarah Detand

Zarah Detand

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Author of witty M/M romances with snark and heart. Chaos monkey. Coffee snob. Cheese is her love language.

Zarah’s partial to a slow burn that unfolds with maddening patience and an extremely satisfying payoff. She loves opposites that attract and has never met a celebrity romance trope she didn’t like—and frankly, at this point, might need professional help. Expect sharp banter, inconvenient feelings, and guaranteed happy endings.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
1,149 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers praise this sports romance novel for its well-written story and terrific narrative style, with one review noting the fantastically accurate internal monologue. The book features well-developed characters and a wonderful exploration of a developing relationship, while maintaining a realistic and believable tone throughout. Customers find the dialogue witty and appreciate how it makes them feel emotional, with one review highlighting the slow-burn romance.

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43 customers mention "Story quality"43 positive0 negative

Customers praise the book's story quality, describing it as one of the best they've read, well-written, and a must-read.

"...I love all the characters. I love the story. I love the writing. I love Ben's narration. I love the fake relationship. I just love it all...." Read more

"...Some surprises pop up, but nothing terribly angsty. Just a fun and interesting path to HEA. Well written. Will happily read more from this author." Read more

"Even though this story is a work of fiction, the author handles the subject matter with such a sense of realism and depth of character that you will..." Read more

"Pull Me Under is a wonderful novel about an British football (US: soccer) player who, upon being outed, develops a relationship with an out-and-out..." Read more

24 customers mention "Writing quality"24 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, particularly its terrific narrative style and beautiful dialogue flow. One customer notes the fantastically accurate internal monologue, while another highlights the author's skill with third-person limited point of view.

"...Zarah is a master at writing third person limited POV and be able to convey so much about the other characters; this is all the evidence you..." Read more

"...Just a fun and interesting path to HEA. Well written. Will happily read more from this author." Read more

"Even though this story is a work of fiction, the author handles the subject matter with such a sense of realism and depth of character that you will..." Read more

"...The characters are solid and believable, the dialogue is great, the tension is just right...." Read more

20 customers mention "Character development"20 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, noting the well-developed main characters and vibrant supporting cast.

"...I love all the characters. I love the story. I love the writing. I love Ben's narration. I love the fake relationship. I just love it all...." Read more

"...handles the subject matter with such a sense of realism and depth of character that you will find yourself completely empathetic to Ben, Henry, and..." Read more

"...The characters are solid and believable, the dialogue is great, the tension is just right...." Read more

"...The book is well written. The characters very well developed. And is sweet and funny. Oh I love Ben and Henry...." Read more

16 customers mention "Love story"16 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the love story in the book, finding it sweet and heartwarming, with one customer describing it as a cute rom-com.

"...I love her style - it's so amazing how she gets into the narrator's POV and thoughts and conveys it on the page with such weightlessness...." Read more

"...This book is sweet, slow, and emotional, just how I like it, and there's a bit of drama but nothing traumatizing...." Read more

"...The book is well written. The characters very well developed. And is sweet and funny. Oh I love Ben and Henry...." Read more

"Sweet, non-toxic idiots-to-lovers. I enjoyed it thoroughly...." Read more

15 customers mention "Romance"15 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the romance in the book, describing it as an enjoyable sports romance with a wonderful exploration of a developing relationship, and one customer notes it's a nice slow burn.

"...From the start, I loved the development of Ben and Henry's relationship and how it was just the subtle things over time that made Ben realize he was..." Read more

"...Their interactions are believable and sweet attitudes the same time. Some surprises pop up, but nothing terribly angsty...." Read more

"...Overall, I cannot recommend this story enough. There is romance, humor, heartache, and happiness…each element coming together like a puzzle you ca..." Read more

"...It's a wonderful exploration of a developing relationship and emerging love that, at 1/3 of the way through the novel, I expected to rate it with 5..." Read more

8 customers mention "Emotion level"8 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the emotional content of the book, finding it heartwarming and happy, with one customer noting it's low on angst.

"...There is romance, humor, heartache, and happiness…each element coming together like a puzzle you can’t wait to complete." Read more

"...This book is sweet, slow, and emotional, just how I like it, and there's a bit of drama but nothing traumatizing...." Read more

"...This is not a strongly sex scened book. This is an emotional, sweet journey, that will have you frustrated and happy at the same time...." Read more

"Detand is amazing with the feelings. It is amazing to be both inside Ben’s head the entire time and also be able to see the things that he can’t see...." Read more

6 customers mention "Humor"6 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the humor in the book, particularly noting the witty dialogue and inner monologues.

"...Plus, his internal monologue is fantastically accurate and amusing at times, which always brings a smile to my face...." Read more

"...Overall, I cannot recommend this story enough. There is romance, humor, heartache, and happiness…each element coming together like a puzzle you ca..." Read more

"...The characters very well developed. And is sweet and funny. Oh I love Ben and Henry. And... hint to the author......" Read more

"...Good supporting cast, nice heat level along with great dialogue made this a win for me." Read more

6 customers mention "Realism"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book realistic and believable, with one mentioning there are no drawn out scenes of over-description.

"...fiction, the author handles the subject matter with such a sense of realism and depth of character that you will find yourself completely empathetic..." Read more

"...The characters are solid and believable, the dialogue is great, the tension is just right...." Read more

"...That part feels very realistic...." Read more

"...Henry and Ben are so fully formed and believable. Well done, Zarah!" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Jana Flint
    5.0 out of 5 stars ONE OF MY ALL-TIME FAVES. A MUST-READ.
    Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    If there's anything you take away from this review, let it be this: BUY THIS BOOK. BUY IT AND READ IT IMMEDIATELY. You won't regret it.

    I got this book less than a year ago and I've already read it 5 times. And each time I read it, I fall in love with it even more. It's become one of my top 5 favorite books of all time and everyone else needs to know that too. I will constantly be pulling this book off my shelf time and time again to revisit Ben and Henry.

    To say that I love Zarah's writing is an understatement because I absolutely, positively ADORE it. I love her style - it's so amazing how she gets into the narrator's POV and thoughts and conveys it on the page with such weightlessness. It doesn't feel like I'm actually reading something; it feels like I'm part of a conversation (or at least a very entertaining inner monologue).

    Fake relationship/dating is my #1 favorite trope - I love all the UST and the flirting/bantering that comes with it, the conflicted feelings of "does s/he like me?", that moment when a character realizes their feelings, and the natural conflict that comes along with pretending to be dating/in love with someone. And without fail, when the two characters finally do get their acts together and get rid of the "fake" part, my heart is always so, so happy.

    Zarah captures all of the things I adore about this trope so perfectly in this story. From the start, I loved the development of Ben and Henry's relationship and how it was just the subtle things over time that made Ben realize he was in love with Henry, rather than just one big moment. It's important to me that, in stories, when a character falls in love, I don't just want to hear the person saying they're in love; I want to SEE it too. And Zarah does that so well. I can see all the reasons Ben falls in love and I can see those moments too, as his behavior changes towards Henry. Plus, his internal monologue is fantastically accurate and amusing at times, which always brings a smile to my face. I also love how we get to see the not-so-happy side of the trope too in this story. Being able to see when Ben doubts his feelings and see his fears that Henry may not feel the same and to know his reasons why - it adds a sense of realism to the character. It makes him more human as you realize that this character isn't all perfect and happy all the time; that these are actual doubts people have as they're trying to navigate a potential relationship in the real world (fake or not).

    And it's not only Ben I can see falling in love. Even though Ben is our narrator and some of Henry's actions/words may be misconstrued across the page by the way Ben interprets them, we can still see Henry falling. We can see those things he does or the way he says things that Ben may be missing because he's Ben, but is still clear as day to us. Zarah is a master at writing third person limited POV and be able to convey so much about the other characters; this is all the evidence you need

    This is one of my favorite stories and will always be so. I feel all the feels while I'm reading and never want to put the book down. I love all the characters. I love the story. I love the writing. I love Ben's narration. I love the fake relationship. I just love it all.

    Also, Zarah SELF-PUBLISHED this. So, support an author and her work and buy this today.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Adorable couple
    Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Henry and Ben are two of the best " fake boyfriends" I have read. Their interactions are believable and sweet attitudes the
    same time. Some surprises pop up, but nothing terribly angsty. Just a fun and interesting path to HEA. Well written. Will happily read more from this author.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Amanda C.
    5.0 out of 5 stars A romance all can enjoy
    Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Even though this story is a work of fiction, the author handles the subject matter with such a sense of realism and depth of character that you will find yourself completely empathetic to Ben, Henry, and their burgeoning relationship. Even those who are not sports enthusiasts will understand the gravity of being an athlete who identifies as anything other than straight, and the importance of continuing to do what you love, while finding a new kind of love for yourself. This story is refreshingly absent of the tropes that seem to plague most stories of fictional romance, instead focusing on the issues that can arise from entering into what is, at the onset, a fake relationship, only to have genuine feelings develop along the way. Readers will be intrigued, anxious, but above all hopeful that Ben and Henry can navigate through the inevitable complications that they will face, and ultimately attain the happy ending they both deserve.

    This author is exceptional at relaying multi-person character development to the reader from one POV character. There are no drawn out scenes of over-description that seem more appropriate for speed dating instead of storytelling. Instead, the reader is immersed into the story through the use of literary devices that develop organically from within each scene. For example, a misunderstanding arises from an overheard conversation, rather than a blatant argument between two characters. The author also excels at creating conflict without damaging the integrity of the characters in question. Instead of ‘character assassination’, there are situations in which the reader will recognize the necessity for action, even if the immediate results appear negative.

    Overall, I cannot recommend this story enough. There is romance, humor, heartache, and happiness…each element coming together like a puzzle you can’t wait to complete.
    17 people found this helpful
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  • Geoffrey Segebarth
    3.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful and Frustrating
    Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Pull Me Under is a wonderful novel about an British football (US: soccer) player who, upon being outed, develops a relationship with an out-and-out Henry on a "pretend to be boyfriend" basis. It's a wonderful exploration of a developing relationship and emerging love that, at 1/3 of the way through the novel, I expected to rate it with 5 stars. Well, what happened? It began dragging on and on and on with Ben (the soccer player) unable to communicate his honest feelings to Henry and with Ben's insecurities over his own value continuing and continuing. At the 82% point, Ben still could not honestly communicate with Henry. And I gave up on further reading (pushed it back to the cloud). I really feel that if the novel was shorter I would have finished it -- probably to a "happy" ending. But, like other reviewers with 3 stars, I grew too impatient with Ben's inability to wrestle with his demons. What should have been a 5 star novel turns out for me to be a 2.5 star novel. If you have more patience with Ben's travails than I did then this is for you.
    3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Brown One
    5.0 out of 5 stars Kept me hooked
    Reviewed in Canada on December 28, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Excellent character and story development. Lots of depth. Not as much steam as I tend to prefer but what there is, is very much a contributing part of the story. I’ll take a well-written story with fewer sexy bits than stilted writing any day. Decent development of side characters too. I didn’t really like Jaime but want to know what happened with Colin, was Jaime a creep? Or did he find resolution? Not sure if that story will be written, but again, gets one thinking.
    Report
  • P D
    5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended!❤️
    Reviewed in Australia on September 5, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    The author is new to me. I discovered her in a promo group and I’m so glad I took a second look.
    This wonderful story about Ben and Henry held my attention from the start and I thoroughly enjoyed their journey. All of the secondary characters are well written and described, nothing like having a cast of many.
    I’m going to work my way through the back list as I have a feeling I’m going to love those stories too.
    Highly recommended!❤️
    Report
  • Andy161
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 5, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    When Manchester United star Ben Jimmer accidentally outs himself, his friend and agent, Aaron, suggests having a steady boyfriend might help navigate the media storm. Enter music student Henry Brown. As Ben and Henry navigate the spotlight, their feelings deepen.

    Pull Me Under is the fifth of Zarah Detand’s books I’ve read and is probably my joint-favourite with Be My Endgame. I loved Ben’s characterisation, from his sarcasm and humour to his self-doubt and confusion as he falls for Henry. The relationship between Ben and Henry is beautifully done. I found myself really rooting for the two of them.

    There are several codas. Ordinarily, I am not a fan, but these were great, and I loved that the fifth was from Henry's perspective.

    I highly recommend this story to anyone who enjoys a good slow-burner.
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  • Soulgal
    5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet and entertaining
    Reviewed in India on October 28, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Zara Detand has written Such a sweet yet thrilling story. Ben is absolutely a gem and I love how this book was low angst but kept me hooked with the way it progressed. Seeing Henry and Ben fall in love was magical and the humor in it had me chuckling.
    Loved it!
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  • Serena
    5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet and romantic
    Reviewed in Italy on April 1, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I loved this book. It's sweet and romantic and it leaves you all warm and fuzzy.
    I especially liked the fact that it's written in British English.
    The one thing that I liked the most, though, is that it's written in a GOOD English, with proper grammar, proper spelling and proper use of the language. It's so difficult to find a well edited book among self publishing authors! This is a true gem.
    Report

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