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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was SOO much better than Collide, I finished it in one sitting because of how invested I was. Elias is my dream guy, Sage was an amazing fmc and their relationship was so cute 🥺 Like Collide, I do think that it was drawn out in places, and I would have loved more on the ballet drama at the end, but overall this was a strong read!
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Get ready to make Elias your new book boyfriend. This fake dating romance will have you confused as to when it was ever fake. Elias is the definition of “if he wanted to, he would” and there is nothing Sage wouldn’t do for her loved ones. 10/10 recommend.
I don't really know what to say about this one... I didn’t hate it, but I didnt really like it either. Sage, for starters is supposed to be sassy and independent, but a lot of the time, she just came off as rude. A scene that really kind of bothered me was one where she storms into the men’s locker room to yell at the MMC. You would figure someone who has who raised in the hockey world, the niece of a GM, she should know that’s wildly inappropriate (not to mention just like on a human level). AND it wasn't even for something important, or urgent. It felt very forced rather than natural , just a device to make her seem “strong,” but it just didn’t land for me.
Then there’s the actual hockey plot: And this is really where the book lost me entirely. the MMC Elias is a rookie defenceman and the big crisis is that he hasn’t scored a goal halfway through the season and they are threatening to trade him for that reason alone. That’s honestly not how hockey works. Dmen aren’t judged primarily on goals, and especially not rookies. He was making assists and contributing plays, which is what he should be doing as a rookie D. AND THEN after ALLLL these struggles, suddenly his game turns around just because he sees Sage talking to her ex? Like yea, okay then...So maybe I just shouldn't have read this during playoff season? I don't know, but it didn't make sense to me.
The romance itself was fine, standard issue for a contemp. But the spice? That was kind of cringey and didn’t quite hit the mark. The emotional beats felt rushed, and a lot of the side drama, like her relationship with her uncle, seemed underdeveloped (I need to check back but I'm pretty sure this was a key complaint I had in the first book too). It felt like the author tried to weave in multiple threads but didn’t fully flesh any of them out.
Overall? It’s fine. If you don’t know anything about hockey (or you can suspend disbelief) and just want a quick romance with a sports backdrop. But if you’re here for at least a little bit of accuracy with the sport and the love story, it might leave you feeling a little underwhelmed. As someone who does have working knowledge of hockey it didn't land at all. I rated this a generous 3 (it was a 2.5 for me personally), but I realize that's just my personal bias.
Then there’s the actual hockey plot: And this is really where the book lost me entirely. the MMC Elias is a rookie defenceman and the big crisis is that he hasn’t scored a goal halfway through the season and they are threatening to trade him for that reason alone. That’s honestly not how hockey works. Dmen aren’t judged primarily on goals, and especially not rookies. He was making assists and contributing plays, which is what he should be doing as a rookie D. AND THEN after ALLLL these struggles, suddenly his game turns around just because he sees Sage talking to her ex? Like yea, okay then...So maybe I just shouldn't have read this during playoff season? I don't know, but it didn't make sense to me.
The romance itself was fine, standard issue for a contemp. But the spice? That was kind of cringey and didn’t quite hit the mark. The emotional beats felt rushed, and a lot of the side drama, like her relationship with her uncle, seemed underdeveloped (I need to check back but I'm pretty sure this was a key complaint I had in the first book too). It felt like the author tried to weave in multiple threads but didn’t fully flesh any of them out.
Overall? It’s fine. If you don’t know anything about hockey (or you can suspend disbelief) and just want a quick romance with a sports backdrop. But if you’re here for at least a little bit of accuracy with the sport and the love story, it might leave you feeling a little underwhelmed. As someone who does have working knowledge of hockey it didn't land at all. I rated this a generous 3 (it was a 2.5 for me personally), but I realize that's just my personal bias.
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Minor: Alcoholism, Drug abuse
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated