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This was cute. I’m a sucker for a romance where one of them has been pining for the other - even better when it has the boss/employee trope. I think I made a funny noise when it switched to Abel’s perspective and learned that he’d had feelings for Scarlett for a long time. Abel is very soft and adorable, even if he is a bit grumpy sometimes, and they had a lovely relationship.
I liked the friendship aspect of the romance. It was very sweet when they were getting to know one another, and they had good chemistry. He’s always looking out for her in a way that’s very cute. I personally felt that it switched to romance a bit too quickly - I think it needed more work on their relationship before they began sleeping together - but it was sweet.
For me the book struggled when all of the drama started near the end. It was very gentle throughout and the drama itself felt a bit unnecessary. I didn’t think the book needed conflict of this type - it felt a bit obvious and it didn’t really work for me at all.
But the book as a whole was cute. It passed the time and I had quite a lot of fun reading it.
Content Notes: Fake relationship, boss/employee, neighbours, grumpy MMC, unrequited love, friends-to-lovers.
Warnings:
Other:No condoms used, FMC on birth control, no discussion of STIs. , rough sex, spanking / impact play, references to anal play, spit play, choking during sex / sexual asphyxiation, infidelity / cheating (in past), mild OW drama .
I liked the friendship aspect of the romance. It was very sweet when they were getting to know one another, and they had good chemistry. He’s always looking out for her in a way that’s very cute. I personally felt that it switched to romance a bit too quickly - I think it needed more work on their relationship before they began sleeping together - but it was sweet.
For me the book struggled when all of the drama started near the end. It was very gentle throughout and the drama itself felt a bit unnecessary. I didn’t think the book needed conflict of this type - it felt a bit obvious and it didn’t really work for me at all.
But the book as a whole was cute. It passed the time and I had quite a lot of fun reading it.
Content Notes: Fake relationship, boss/employee, neighbours, grumpy MMC, unrequited love, friends-to-lovers.
Warnings:
Spoiler
Death of a parent (in past), cancer (in past), absent parent.Other:
Spoiler
On-page sex, unprotected sexSpoiler
Throughout the book the FMC worries about a woman who appears to be the MMC’s ex-girlfriend, he appears to go on dates with this OW during the book and later it looks like he’s having an affair with her, but it turns out she’s not his ex but hisSpoiler
half-sister.
I read this book when it first came out, and I loved it. I am so confused by all of the negative reviews. If you like sports romance and fake dating this book is for you!
was so excited to read this because my fave trope is: it-has-always-been-you trope or the pining-from-far-away trope!!!
i usually like the shy, hide your heart female characters but in this book i loved how Scarlett was not shy to say what she wants or express what she feels on multiple occasions. (her feelings when she flew to see abel, the voicemail she left abel, & the epilogue)
would also want a Mae and Lea in real life thank you very much!!!
deducted 1 star because in the beginning Abel was a babbling, nervous idiot in front of Scarlett to the point he cant make decent conversation. BUT all these traits were wiped away instantly after he asked her out. i just wanted a smoother progression of their relationship or a seamless transition of how his character expressed himself around Scarlett. it's like a few chapters were ripped out from the book.
in line with the last paragraph: i also would have loved to see more of Abel's pining toward Scarlett in the beginning because it was just mostly mentioned towards the end. i wanted to see the pining IN ACTION. this would have built the tension more and made the asking out part nicer.
"You follow alongside part of their story and somewhere along the way, they become a part of you, so you do everything in your power to prolong the ending."
- ME RIGHT NOW
super excited about the next books especially Lea's i want to know how that shit goes down!!!
p.s. appying pressure to ease pain is not placebo hehe the message of pressure travels faster to brain so this blocks the path the pain will also travel to reach the brain :)
i usually like the shy, hide your heart female characters but in this book i loved how Scarlett was not shy to say what she wants or express what she feels on multiple occasions. (her feelings when she flew to see abel, the voicemail she left abel, & the epilogue)
would also want a Mae and Lea in real life thank you very much!!!
deducted 1 star because in the beginning Abel was a babbling, nervous idiot in front of Scarlett to the point he cant make decent conversation. BUT all these traits were wiped away instantly after he asked her out. i just wanted a smoother progression of their relationship or a seamless transition of how his character expressed himself around Scarlett. it's like a few chapters were ripped out from the book.
in line with the last paragraph: i also would have loved to see more of Abel's pining toward Scarlett in the beginning because it was just mostly mentioned towards the end. i wanted to see the pining IN ACTION. this would have built the tension more and made the asking out part nicer.
"You follow alongside part of their story and somewhere along the way, they become a part of you, so you do everything in your power to prolong the ending."
- ME RIGHT NOW
super excited about the next books especially Lea's i want to know how that shit goes down!!!
p.s. appying pressure to ease pain is not placebo hehe the message of pressure travels faster to brain so this blocks the path the pain will also travel to reach the brain :)
I always appreciate a super simple quick sports romance—and gobbled this one up. The last like 20% of the book was just a lot of sex which I know a lot of people would love, for me I skipped over most of it lol
3.5 ✨
Omg when I say I need a book boyfriend, this is what I mean. Abel Abbott (maybe except for the name) has changed my definition of swooning men that kiss their partners feet. Literally, I feel like these men written by women are destroying my view on real life men and I’m not sure if I should be mad about it.
Final conflict was predictable and epilogue felt really rushed but in general I really enjoyed it. Simply fake relationship extravaganza.
Omg when I say I need a book boyfriend, this is what I mean. Abel Abbott (maybe except for the name) has changed my definition of swooning men that kiss their partners feet. Literally, I feel like these men written by women are destroying my view on real life men and I’m not sure if I should be mad about it.
Final conflict was predictable and epilogue felt really rushed but in general I really enjoyed it. Simply fake relationship extravaganza.
3⭐
It was okay
It felt too rushed and there were a lot of similarities with MZ's the wall of Winnipeg and me
It was okay
It felt too rushed and there were a lot of similarities with MZ's the wall of Winnipeg and me
funny
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:
No
Quick, Insta-love read, the characters were charming and the banter was cute and witty but the “big secret” could be spot a mile away and the “conflict” could have been avoided. The last few chapters were rushed and made for a sloppy finish. I would rather have the book end in a reconciliation with the insinuation of a future than a rushed epilogue with a time jump. Would have loved to see more deep conversations happening between Abel and Scarlett.
2.5 ⭐️
It wasn’t bad but it wasn’t anything too special as well. It also doesn’t have much reread ability in it. If I was solely ranking the romance then maybe a 3 ⭐️. I did like the whole fake dating and how that build. I just truly hated the misunderstandings I found them beyond childish and the fmc ability to convince herself that her assumptions are correct.
It wasn’t bad but it wasn’t anything too special as well. It also doesn’t have much reread ability in it. If I was solely ranking the romance then maybe a 3 ⭐️. I did like the whole fake dating and how that build. I just truly hated the misunderstandings I found them beyond childish and the fmc ability to convince herself that her assumptions are correct.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A