The silent count is all about trust. No snap count, no signal—just instinct, timing, and the kind of connection that can’t be taught.
I was locked into this season—focused on the NFL draft with tunnel vision on my future. But then my psych class hit me harder than any linebacker, and suddenly, I needed help.
Chelsea Sullivan was only supposed to be my tutor to keep me eligible. She’s quiet, brilliant, impossible to read—and the more I learn, the more I know she’s hiding something.
My dad says she’s a distraction. He says her past isn’t worth risking my future. But even with everything on the line, I can’t stay away.
Because when the crowd fades, and it’s just the two of us, she’s the only one I need.
(ARC Review)
Some books make you feel. Others make you heal. Silent Count does both, and Ava Sutton absolutely nailed it.
Silent Count is one of those stories that digs deep and stays with you long after you’ve finished. It’s tender, emotional, and heartbreakingly real. It’s the kind of love story that reminds you healing doesn’t happen all at once, but in small, quiet moments with the right person by your side.
Chelsea never really got to be a kid. Her childhood was chaotic, messy, and dangerous; the kind of upbringing that teaches you not to trust anyone and to always keep your guard up. She’s never truly felt chosen or loved, and she carries that belief into adulthood like armor. Why risk opening yourself up when people only ever leave? She’s strong, but it’s a quiet, self-protective strength; the kind you build from surviving rather than thriving.
Enter Bo Callaway. Walker University’s star quarterback. Charming, grounded, and utterly smitten with the one girl who refuses to let him in. When Chelsea becomes his tutor, their lives start to overlap in ways neither expected. What begins as friendly banter and late-night study sessions slowly turns into something more with casual flirting that builds and burns until the tension finally breaks.
“Because here’s the thing with a girl like her. You don’t just mess around with her. She’s the kind of girl that gets in your veins, and you crave.”
When a twist of circumstances forces Chelsea to temporarily move in with Bo and his roommates (thank you, forced proximity!), the walls she’s built around herself start to crack. Bo is patient and kind in all the ways she never knew she needed. He doesn’t try to fix her. He just shows up, again and again, quietly proving that love doesn’t have to be loud, chaotic, or painful.
“I want to give her peace. The kind of silence where you don’t have to fill the space—you just belong in it together.”
Their connection is passionate, wild, and deeply emotional. The chemistry between them? Absolutely electric — the kind that simmers until it finally explodes. But it’s also messy and real. When Chelsea’s trauma surfaces, when fear and panic hit out of nowhere, Ava captures those moments with raw honesty and compassion. It’s not just a romance book. This is a book about healing your past demons and striking a balance between acknowledging they exist and moving forward.
So despite my fears about losing myself to someone else, I let go. “I love you too.”
Bo never wavers. He’s steady through the storm, giving Chelsea the space to learn that vulnerability isn’t weakness — it’s love. And watching her take that leap, watching her finally let someone in? It’s beautiful. It’s a messy crying kind of moment that makes you thankful for the life you’ve been blessed with and the emotions that help you fight through each day.
“I absolutely mean it to my bones. Trust me, baby. Believe in us. Let go of your fears, and if you can’t, give them to me to shoulder.”
Beyond the romance, Silent Count has everything I love about this series: the close-knit friend group, the cozy college-town vibe, and the found-family warmth that fills every page. I adored Chelsea’s aunt and sister, who bring heart and humor into the story, reminding us that healing doesn’t happen in isolation, it happens through love, in all its forms.
Ava Sutton continues to write some of the best cinnamon-roll heroes with filthy mouths and hearts of gold, and Bo Callaway might just be her best yet. He’s the perfect balance of gentle and commanding. He’s the kind of man who can ruin you with a single line and then turn around and make your heart ache with tenderness. Bo falls first and he falls hard. From the very beginning, every look, every touch, every word drips with devotion. He wants Chelsea—not just the parts she’s comfortable showing, but the messy, guarded, complicated pieces she tries to hide. And he never pushes; he waits. Patiently. Steadily. Because he knows love isn’t about control or fixing someone. Love is about standing beside them until they feel safe enough to reach back.
“She used to think love was supposed to be loud—fast, dramatic, full of highs and lows. And I guess that’s what happens when you grow up around people who mistake chaos for care. But I’m trying to show her something different. I want to give her peace. The kind of silence where you don’t have to fill the space—you just belong in it together.”
Bo is everything Chelsea deserves: patient, passionate, loyal, and completely gone for her from the start. His love doesn’t save her. His love gives her the space to save herself. And that’s what makes their story so beautiful. Ava reminds us that real healing doesn’t come from being rescued; it comes from finally believing you’re worthy of the love that stays.
Truly, this book was amazing. I read it in one sitting and couldn’t put it down. Silent Count is a love story that burns hot, hits deep, and heals something inside you while it does.
Release Date: October 17th, 2025
Thank you to Ava Sutton and Wordsmith Publicity for the ARC read!