1k reviews for:

Rival Darling

Alexandra Moody

3.63 AVERAGE

Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
medium-paced

This book was a fake dating and dating he ex’s rival in hockey whatever it was pretty good. 
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Cute story, a bit cliché. The story didn’t really pull me in. The writing was very ”simple” and obvious things were spelled out, disturbing the flow. The characters, especially the FMC, could’ve been developed more. 
emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing sad tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

2.5 ⭐
This was slow, and nothing really happened.
emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
emotional funny hopeful lighthearted slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

i blame this one on ari
so bad it was actually the most incredible thing i've ever read
funny lighthearted fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
lighthearted medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This book is not something I would typically go for, and I thought I would quit pretty soon into it, but I actually did not! I read the whole thing. I enjoyed the pace and tone, it was almost always fun and fluffy. I mean, it really is what you'd expect from a book like this I think, as for some of what I didn't like, like its corny dialogue and unrealistic dynamics (eg. the whole population of two towns is getting into this high school hockey rivalry. bfr) and cringey references to 2024. And I feel like Reed, as a character, was so 2d and boring? Like, did we ever learn anything about him? I'm not sure.
Some notes from reading, just for fun:
  • "There was a smear of grease on his cheek." Aw it takes me back to the baker trope! Why are working class romance protagonists always smearing stuff on their cheeks? Adorable.
  • growl count  卌 I
  •  How do you lose your footing nudging someone's shoulder?
  • The dialogue "Watch it Hoffman." "Or what, Darling?" plus this winking at him "tauntingly" as he's pulled into the penalty box... like in complete seriousness tell me there is not real romantic tension between Reed and Jeremy. 
  • Adding "I struggled to withhold a growl" to growl count btw
Basically, if you think you'd be into it, I'm guessing you probably will. It's still not my thing, but it was cute.