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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
what a ride!
I can’t sing this story’s praises enough. Beware the trigger warnings at the beginning but what a great ride. I listened to the audiobook and Michael Ferraiuolo did a truly wondrous job depicting Julien and Isaac. Isaac (22) is new to Pittsburgh and has been crushing on Julien (27) since he was a teenager and is completely tongue tied to find himself on the same team as him. They quickly find themselves falling deeply for each other but Julien’s past he’s determined to bury keeps popping its head up threatening their happy life together. Thankfully with the support of wonderful friends, teammates and family they find themselves working to get to them to the other side. 5 star read for sure!
I can’t sing this story’s praises enough. Beware the trigger warnings at the beginning but what a great ride. I listened to the audiobook and Michael Ferraiuolo did a truly wondrous job depicting Julien and Isaac. Isaac (22) is new to Pittsburgh and has been crushing on Julien (27) since he was a teenager and is completely tongue tied to find himself on the same team as him. They quickly find themselves falling deeply for each other but Julien’s past he’s determined to bury keeps popping its head up threatening their happy life together. Thankfully with the support of wonderful friends, teammates and family they find themselves working to get to them to the other side. 5 star read for sure!
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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:
Yes
4.5 stars. This was really great - I loved all the characters. I liked how homophobia and being outed wasn't the main conflict, as it is so often is in m/m sports romances. Really looking forward to Nikki and Elias's book. I also appreciate how the meaning of the title changed as the book progressed.
“Everything seemed brighter with Isaac in my arms.”
This was so good. I’ll never understand people who think 500+ pages is too long for a romance novel. I live for the slow roll of life as two characters fall in love and deal with the ups and downs of life and their relationship. This book gave me that. Issac and Julian’s relationship was heartwarming and sometimes heartbreaking. Issac dealing with his first relationship and being a rookie while Julian had to deal with demons from his past that haunted and wrecked him still. I absolutely loved it.
This was so good. I’ll never understand people who think 500+ pages is too long for a romance novel. I live for the slow roll of life as two characters fall in love and deal with the ups and downs of life and their relationship. This book gave me that. Issac and Julian’s relationship was heartwarming and sometimes heartbreaking. Issac dealing with his first relationship and being a rookie while Julian had to deal with demons from his past that haunted and wrecked him still. I absolutely loved it.
slow-paced
This book has an intense, absorbing story and addresses an important issue. The characters are great and you’ll be sucked in and experiencing all their emotions. But the book is way too long. A really good editor would have helped immensely. And there are way too many sex scenes. So many that it got to the point that I was just skipping over them. They were repetitive and seemed to be thrown in as sex for sex sake as opposed to contributing to the storyline.
So definitely a story I enjoyed but wish I didn’t have to wade through all the unnecessary, distracting stuff. I really want to read Nikki and Elias’ story but know I’ll be looking at the same thing.
So definitely a story I enjoyed but wish I didn’t have to wade through all the unnecessary, distracting stuff. I really want to read Nikki and Elias’ story but know I’ll be looking at the same thing.
Advanced Reader Copy Review
An absolute roller coaster of a story, with well-developed main *and* side characters and steamy sex scenes and emotional upheavals and pure romance! There were several moments that made me cackle out loud, even more that made my heart absolutely feel like it'd swollen to twice its normal size, and even MORE that made my blood pressure reach way unhealthy levels. I absolutely already can't wait for Book 2 (and others if there are any more coming). There's definitely at least one relationship that would make an excellent follow-up!
An absolute roller coaster of a story, with well-developed main *and* side characters and steamy sex scenes and emotional upheavals and pure romance! There were several moments that made me cackle out loud, even more that made my heart absolutely feel like it'd swollen to twice its normal size, and even MORE that made my blood pressure reach way unhealthy levels. I absolutely already can't wait for Book 2 (and others if there are any more coming). There's definitely at least one relationship that would make an excellent follow-up!
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
slow-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
I was worried that this book was so long, but I really enjoyed how in depth their relationship was because the authors could fully explore it.
I loved all the characters and thought they dealt with the topic of SA very well and showed the importance of community.
I'm really excited to read the next book bc I loved Nikki and Elias so I'm interested to learn more about them.
I loved all the characters and thought they dealt with the topic of SA very well and showed the importance of community.
I'm really excited to read the next book bc I loved Nikki and Elias so I'm interested to learn more about them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship
Moderate: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Vomit, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicide, Outing
I wanted to listen to a lighthearted hockey romance between high fantasy books and ooh boy this was not that. Two players on the same team flirt and end up together which is great. Some things are new between them and they're really focused on communication which was a breath of fresh air honestly.
As the story creeps on, you learn that Julien has been in a bad relationship in the past. As it keeps going, you realize that he's not using the right words to describe what happened to him with this predator and he's not the only one.
A bunch of things slipped into place throughout the story and I was satisfied with the ending. I was happy with how their relationship grew through the season and strengthened with the extra issues involving the horrible ex who would not go away.
I would recommend but maybe skip if you're sensitive to gaslighting, emotional abuse, sexual assault, or just toxic SOBs.
As the story creeps on, you learn that Julien has been in a bad relationship in the past. As it keeps going, you realize that he's not using the right words to describe what happened to him with this predator and he's not the only one.
A bunch of things slipped into place throughout the story and I was satisfied with the ending. I was happy with how their relationship grew through the season and strengthened with the extra issues involving the horrible ex who would not go away.
I would recommend but maybe skip if you're sensitive to gaslighting, emotional abuse, sexual assault, or just toxic SOBs.
adventurous
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment
Minor: Violence, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail