Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Play With Me by Becka Mack

20 reviews

sare131's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This is a great second book from Becka Mack. I really enjoyed Jennie and Garrett's story. It's quite emotional as it delves into their pasts. Jennie has lost a lot and finds it difficult to trust people. Garrett had a difficult childhood and that is discussed throughout the book. Somehow these two find one another and develop a loving friendship and build on that. This was the slow burn of slow burns! It's a long book and I felt it could have been 100 pages shorter, but there's lots of character development, spice, secondary characters, hockey and family. I enjoyed this book. I'm excited for book 3. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent and Grief

Minor: Bullying, Alcoholism, and Body shaming

linnea_tornblom's review against another edition

funny lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Car accident, Sexual assault, Grief, Eating disorder, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Alcohol, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Rape, Mental illness, Medical trauma, and Fatphobia

ambercunningham's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-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

5.0

My obsession with this book is unhealthy. I am unhinged for Garrett and Jennie. Jennie is one of the most relatable and fucking funny heroines on planet earth. Garrett is absolutely in my fictional boyfriend hall of fame forever. And the scene where Carter and Ollie’s daughter’s name is revealed? No, uh uh, I can’t handle it. Had me SOBBING. The emotional depth of this book combined with one of the best found family executions I’ve ever read make this an ultimate fav for me. And the spice? Fan-fucking-tastic. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Bullying, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Car accident, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Grief

kirareadssometimes's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I love the teammates sister trope and this book is top tier! So fun and addictive. Definitely had a heavier storyline than the first book, but it just made you feel like you had more insight into the characters. Garrett is so compassionate and caring. He and Jenny’s dynamic felt very natural and easy. Absolutely devouring this series!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, Grief, Sexual assault, Bullying, Car accident, and Sexual content

Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, and Pregnancy

absolutely_court's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Grief

Minor: Eating disorder, Body shaming, Pregnancy, Addiction, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Car accident, Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, and Sexual violence

kat7794's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing slow-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Car accident, Eating disorder, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Cursing, and Death of parent

siffpedersen's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent and Grief

chrisljm's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Alcoholism, Infertility, Death of parent, Bullying, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Alcohol, and Grief

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Abandonment, Toxic friendship, and Car accident

Minor: Infidelity

rachelmichelson's review against another edition

medium-paced

3.5

It's very sweet but unnecessarily long. The middle part dragged. And then there's Carter, our heroine's brother.

it became uncomfortable how afraid everyone was of him. Sure, he could be protective of his sister and there's very real reasons . Since the book is so long, the fear around his reaction became . . . Worrisome. Adding that when he does find out no one stood up to him, handing him his ass. It was just weird.

Spice is 5. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death of parent, Sexual assault, and Grief

amanda_reads13's review against another edition

lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Garrett is one of Carter's best friends and teammates. Everyone knows the rule: Carter's sister is off limits. Carter surprises his sister Jennie with a condo which happens to be 4 floors down from Garrett's. After an awkward interaction (iykyk), they agree to a committed friends with benefits situation. After spending time together they both realize that this is so much more. 

GARRETT. OMG Garrett. He is a cinnamon roll.  He is so patient, supportive, encouraging, understanding, and sweet. At first he is so intimidated by Jennie that he could barely form a coherent sentence, but once he became more comfortable around her.... Wow did he ever gain his confidence. He leaves space for Jennie to be herself and never holds her back. He becomes her support system, her shoulder to cry on, her number 1 fan. He listens to what she needs and never pushes her beyond her comfort level. Plus he isn't intimated by her box of "toys". We all deserve a Garrett. 

Jennie has been through so much. She has lost her father and

her highschool boyfriend betrayed her in a completly unimaginable way. Frankly, he should have been arrested. Plus her dance partner is a total creep.

Her trauma as lead to severe trust issues to the point where she hasn't been intimate with anyone since her highschool boyfriend. She is, understandably, closed off and scared of being hurt. She has always felt like the second Beckett, in the shadow of her brother and that all her friends only were her friends because of him. She suffered from a lack of confidence and withdrew from people. Garrett helped her learn to trust again and let people in. Eventually she realized that being in a relationship with Garrett added to her life, she could still be herself and find love. 

The development of this relationship is so cute and fun. Their friendship slowly progressed as they learn to open up to one another and trust each other. They gradually develop feelings for each other, as Jennie said they didn't really "fall" in love.

Again the supporting characters are so much fun! I LOVE Hank and liked that we got Ollie and Carter throughout the book. Unfortunately, Carter continued to be a controlling  man-child. 

Also NO 3rd act breakup! Win! 

I felt the book, like the last in this series, was a bit too long and repetitive. Also the who Toronto storyline was kinda pointless, she was never going to leave, that could have been taken out. 

Tropes: hockey romance, secret relationship, "friends"with benefits to friends to lovers, found family, brothers best friend

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Grief, and Gaslighting

Minor: Death of parent, Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Abandonment, and Car accident