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bookishval's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
Chloe Liese has to take responsability for making me believe men like Ren exist.
Let's break down this review in things I liked and did not liked about this book, because I have plenty to talk about.
Things I did like:
Ren Bergman: Is anyone surprise? If you're familiar with Chloe Liese's books (which I am), you know you can trust her when it comes to writing great male protagonists. Counting this, I've read four of her books, and the male leads are always the highlight of the story. However, it did surprise me how much I enjoyed reading Ren's POV. He's such a perfect guy, and to be honest sometimes I felt like the author only brought up his past to remind the reader he's not. He's by far Liese's most perfect male lead, and while that might be difficult to read for some people, because characters whithout flaws tend to be boring, I feel like Ren's feelings for Frankie, and the way he expressed them, either in his inner monologue or with his actions, was so endearing, fun and interesting to read. Don't get me wrong, he does have a personality, he's a well-constructed character, but it's been a long time since I read a book boyfriend be so in love and obssesed with the female lead.
A plot that flew by and I actually liked: so, in my review of Only When It's Us, I mentioned how I struggled to keep reading because nothing about the plot or the direction things were taking was doing it for me. And I also said I felt obligated to read this first book because I wanted to read books 2 and 5 so bad.
I expected to like this book, this whole grumpy-sunshine inversed sold it to me instantly, and I was right! I do have to mention that around the 50-60% mark, I was wondering what else was left in the book. Like, the characters were great, I was having a fun time, but I didn't feel like the plot had more to offer and that the rest of the book would be boring, but boy was I wrong. The following 30% flew by! So I wanted to mention it.
Frankie, a character I related so much and learned a lot from: I had my issues with her, but that was more on the way the story was developed than in her as a character, so I'll explain it later in the review. What I mean by the first sentence is that I found myself feeling seen by Frankie in so many moments even though I'm not autistic, and I also felt like I learned more about the autistic espectrum from her. I've read autistic leads before in other romance books, but Frankie felt different. And I think it has to do with the fact the author said she put a lot of herself in Frankie, and if I'm not mistaken, Frankie was the first time she portrayed autism in one of her stories. So yeah, Frankie felt so real and raw, written with so much care, love and heart.
As a plus, even though I found Frankie's love for Harry Potter a bit too much at times, like certain sentences and dialogues (I was a potterhead, btw), I appreciated how the author made it clear she was aware of J.K. Rowling's problematic behaviour.
Things I did not like:
Chloe Liese's signature conflict: As I mentioned before, I've read my share of Chloe Liese's books, and I realized she has this tendency to develop the conflict between the main leads (or like the breaking point in their relationship, the issue) in the 90-95% mark, and I hate it!
When it comes to romance books, of course I would prefer having no major misunderstandings, I hate even more the old miscommunication trope. I love it when authors make the characters actually communicate their issues, talk through their fights or conflicts. Then we have the famous third act conflict/break up that even though I don't particularly enjoy, you see it coming, and by being in the 75% of the book, it gives the characters room to face whatever mess they got themselves into. It makes sense, you expect it to happen. But Chloe puts the conflict when the book is almost over, and while she covers everything perfectly, it still feels rushed, I don't know how to explain it, but this is the second time I have an issue with how she handles it. The first time was in "Two Wrongs Make a Right". Let's just say it's not my thing, something I personally don't enjoy, okay? Thankfully, I learned my lesson already, and I know what to expect in her next books. Because I plan on reading books 4 and 5 in the Bergman Series next.
Let's break down this review in things I liked and did not liked about this book, because I have plenty to talk about.
Things I did like:
Ren Bergman: Is anyone surprise? If you're familiar with Chloe Liese's books (which I am), you know you can trust her when it comes to writing great male protagonists. Counting this, I've read four of her books, and the male leads are always the highlight of the story. However, it did surprise me how much I enjoyed reading Ren's POV. He's such a perfect guy, and to be honest sometimes I felt like the author only brought up his past to remind the reader he's not. He's by far Liese's most perfect male lead, and while that might be difficult to read for some people, because characters whithout flaws tend to be boring, I feel like Ren's feelings for Frankie, and the way he expressed them, either in his inner monologue or with his actions, was so endearing, fun and interesting to read. Don't get me wrong, he does have a personality, he's a well-constructed character, but it's been a long time since I read a book boyfriend be so in love and obssesed with the female lead.
A plot that flew by and I actually liked: so, in my review of Only When It's Us, I mentioned how I struggled to keep reading because nothing about the plot or the direction things were taking was doing it for me. And I also said I felt obligated to read this first book because I wanted to read books 2 and 5 so bad.
I expected to like this book, this whole grumpy-sunshine inversed sold it to me instantly, and I was right! I do have to mention that around the 50-60% mark, I was wondering what else was left in the book. Like, the characters were great, I was having a fun time, but I didn't feel like the plot had more to offer and that the rest of the book would be boring, but boy was I wrong. The following 30% flew by! So I wanted to mention it.
Frankie, a character I related so much and learned a lot from: I had my issues with her, but that was more on the way the story was developed than in her as a character, so I'll explain it later in the review. What I mean by the first sentence is that I found myself feeling seen by Frankie in so many moments even though I'm not autistic, and I also felt like I learned more about the autistic espectrum from her. I've read autistic leads before in other romance books, but Frankie felt different. And I think it has to do with the fact the author said she put a lot of herself in Frankie, and if I'm not mistaken, Frankie was the first time she portrayed autism in one of her stories. So yeah, Frankie felt so real and raw, written with so much care, love and heart.
As a plus, even though I found Frankie's love for Harry Potter a bit too much at times, like certain sentences and dialogues (I was a potterhead, btw), I appreciated how the author made it clear she was aware of J.K. Rowling's problematic behaviour.
Things I did not like:
Chloe Liese's signature conflict: As I mentioned before, I've read my share of Chloe Liese's books, and I realized she has this tendency to develop the conflict between the main leads (or like the breaking point in their relationship, the issue) in the 90-95% mark, and I hate it!
When it comes to romance books, of course I would prefer having no major misunderstandings, I hate even more the old miscommunication trope. I love it when authors make the characters actually communicate their issues, talk through their fights or conflicts. Then we have the famous third act conflict/break up that even though I don't particularly enjoy, you see it coming, and by being in the 75% of the book, it gives the characters room to face whatever mess they got themselves into. It makes sense, you expect it to happen. But Chloe puts the conflict when the book is almost over, and while she covers everything perfectly, it still feels rushed, I don't know how to explain it, but this is the second time I have an issue with how she handles it. The first time was in "Two Wrongs Make a Right". Let's just say it's not my thing, something I personally don't enjoy, okay? Thankfully, I learned my lesson already, and I know what to expect in her next books. Because I plan on reading books 4 and 5 in the Bergman Series next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Sexual content
Minor: Bullying
fuzzywilson's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Cursing
Minor: Bullying, Blood, and Cancer
pandalesque's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I preffered this to the first book so I'll continue the series.
Steam/Spice π₯π₯.5/π₯π₯π₯π₯π₯
- I liked the Autistic and Chronic Illness Rep, though I can't really speak to authenticity and if it's an actual good/non-harming representation. Only thing I can say is, when talking about F. maybe having ADHD but instead having Autism, I know that people on the spectrum are more likely to have ADHD and that she could have both and it's not mutually exclusive.
- I liked Francesca as characters didn't quite connect with Soren though. Found Frankie interesting especially being on the spectrum and having chronic illnesses but being a social media manager. Her future dreams and how much work it is to mask all of her struggles. But also her actually working with it/against it (moving against pain, products that help her, therapies...)
- Liked the talk about friendships, family and her actual friendships
- Liked the italian and swedish words woven in though I know that "zenzero" wasn't pronounced well by the narrators
- Also liked the section about the period talk
Soren felt less "natural" I thought making him a Shakespeare lover while being an athlete... felt like an attempt to make him "Not like other men/athletes on the team" but I didn't quite eat it up.
Felt like they're more mature than 25.
Better handled in this book:
- Last book I noticed the casual talk about god/god's will... Which I didn't like I thought this time I it was well weaved into the story/handled bcs of Frankie's catholic background, it made more sense to me.
- I appreciated that this time there was the explicit mention of STDs not only birth control when having intercourse/sex without protection.
-
What took me out of the story and find not appealing:
- Found the Shakespeare thing cringy
- When social issues were talked about like JKR being a turf, toxic masculinity, other feminist statements or else... it didn't feel authentic/natrual to me... rather performative (e.g. in hospital with the child talking about men crying, bar brawl ( her thinking she shouldn't love it, but does), the talk about burgers and eating meat. W. not caring about greenhouse gasses and T. felt a bit like the women are aware of what they're doing but don't care, R. then intervening... (didn't like the implication that they're cool because they eat meat/don't care. Being a cool girl that can hang with the guys... not being like everyone else in LA...))
- Him being a virgin but making her come left and right without a lot of instructions, with him being totally confident or him informing himself what to do or asking his brothers...
Some reoccurring themes (from the last book) in Liese's writing that I don't particularly like:
- I found the obsession with and references to HP unnecessary and cringe-y (especially her "spell casting"...)
- "perfect" athletic bodies no matter who (athlete or not, always a huge dick...)
- Having sex without condoms
- The childish nicknames for female genitalia even though they're able to talk serious about sex, periods or otherwise
- The sometimes very black and white portrayal of femininity vs. masculinity (protectiveness, physical strength, facial hair vs. soft body/skin, their sents...) but then again adding attributes/hobbies to round them out/make them interesting (Love for books and Shakespeare, liking sports,...)
Steam/Spice π₯π₯.5/π₯π₯π₯π₯π₯
- I liked the Autistic and Chronic Illness Rep, though I can't really speak to authenticity and if it's an actual good/non-harming representation. Only thing I can say is, when talking about F. maybe having ADHD but instead having Autism, I know that people on the spectrum are more likely to have ADHD and that she could have both and it's not mutually exclusive.
- I liked Francesca as characters didn't quite connect with Soren though. Found Frankie interesting especially being on the spectrum and having chronic illnesses but being a social media manager. Her future dreams and how much work it is to mask all of her struggles. But also her actually working with it/against it (moving against pain, products that help her, therapies...)
- Liked the talk about friendships, family and her actual friendships
- Liked the italian and swedish words woven in though I know that "zenzero" wasn't pronounced well by the narrators
- Also liked the section about the period talk
Soren felt less "natural" I thought making him a Shakespeare lover while being an athlete... felt like an attempt to make him "Not like other men/athletes on the team" but I didn't quite eat it up.
Felt like they're more mature than 25.
Better handled in this book:
- Last book I noticed the casual talk about god/god's will... Which I didn't like I thought this time I it was well weaved into the story/handled bcs of Frankie's catholic background, it made more sense to me.
- I appreciated that this time there was the explicit mention of STDs not only birth control when having intercourse/sex without protection.
-
What took me out of the story and find not appealing:
- Found the Shakespeare thing cringy
- When social issues were talked about like JKR being a turf, toxic masculinity, other feminist statements or else... it didn't feel authentic/natrual to me... rather performative (e.g. in hospital with the child talking about men crying, bar brawl ( her thinking she shouldn't love it, but does), the talk about burgers and eating meat. W. not caring about greenhouse gasses and T. felt a bit like the women are aware of what they're doing but don't care, R. then intervening... (didn't like the implication that they're cool because they eat meat/don't care. Being a cool girl that can hang with the guys... not being like everyone else in LA...))
- Him being a virgin but making her come left and right without a lot of instructions, with him being totally confident or him informing himself what to do or asking his brothers...
Some reoccurring themes (from the last book) in Liese's writing that I don't particularly like:
- I found the obsession with and references to HP unnecessary and cringe-y (especially her "spell casting"...)
- "perfect" athletic bodies no matter who (athlete or not, always a huge dick...)
- Having sex without condoms
- The childish nicknames for female genitalia even though they're able to talk serious about sex, periods or otherwise
- The sometimes very black and white portrayal of femininity vs. masculinity (protectiveness, physical strength, facial hair vs. soft body/skin, their sents...) but then again adding attributes/hobbies to round them out/make them interesting (Love for books and Shakespeare, liking sports,...)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Ableism
Moderate: Violence, Sexual harassment, and Bullying
tragicgloom's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Sexual content, Ableism, Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Mental illness
Moderate: Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pregnancy
Minor: Bullying, Blood, and Alcohol
laurenkimoto's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Some good troupes and some good rep
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Chronic illness, Bullying, and Injury/Injury detail
eligru's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Drug use, Chronic illness, and Sexual content
Minor: Bullying and Body shaming
buttermellow's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Chronic illness
Minor: Bullying and Sexism
readwithvirginia's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
A hockey romance already has me sold but throw in a grumpy girl and sunshine guy and I am so beyond thrilled.
Frankie and Ren are just adorable. Ren has been head over heels for this girl since the first time he saw her but knew that boundaries were important and there for a reason so he waited. What a sweet and kind man yβall π Iβm obsessed with him
Frankie is a beautiful written character that is complex and shows a wonderful representation of a woman with autism. Chloe Liese wrote a wonderful Own Voices book that allowed a window into the experience of a someone with autism and how that is just one piece of who they are as a person and all they bring into the world.
I love the Bergman family and cannot get enough of them. I canβt wait to see what Aiden and Freya are up to in the next book. Also can I go to this cabin because it sounds wonderful
Frankie and Ren are just adorable. Ren has been head over heels for this girl since the first time he saw her but knew that boundaries were important and there for a reason so he waited. What a sweet and kind man yβall π Iβm obsessed with him
Frankie is a beautiful written character that is complex and shows a wonderful representation of a woman with autism. Chloe Liese wrote a wonderful Own Voices book that allowed a window into the experience of a someone with autism and how that is just one piece of who they are as a person and all they bring into the world.
I love the Bergman family and cannot get enough of them. I canβt wait to see what Aiden and Freya are up to in the next book. Also can I go to this cabin because it sounds wonderful
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying
rakizaka's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
loved first half but second half just became sooo boring
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Sexual content
Moderate: Drug use and Sexual harassment
Minor: Bullying and Death of parent
cheffreckles's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, and Sexual content
Minor: Bullying