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zaza_bdp's review
4.0
J'ai ce roman dans ma PAL depuis 2018, et c'est finalement la version revue et corrigée en 2022 que j'ai lue.
C'est le genre d'histoire avec laquelle on passe un bon moment, il y a un bel équilibre entre romance et hockey, un bon esprit de camaraderie et de cohésion au sein de l'équipe. Cependant, les personnages sont désignés soit par leur nom, soit par leur surnom (idem pour les équipes), et parfois, j'ai trouvé cela confus. Pas terrible aussi les quelques phrases en français qui sentent bon le google trad, encore moins les prénoms donnés aux personnages québécois (Pierre encore ça passe, mais Jacques, le goal de 34 piges, et sa femme Yvette, y'a comme un problème, non ?).
La romance est charmante, les deux héros sont mignons et vont bien ensemble, c'est plaisant de les voir en tant que couple, cependant, il m'a manqué quelque chose pour me sentir concernée par leur histoire. Finalement, ça va vite entre eux, on enchaîne les scènes où on les voit ensemble, mais pour moi, cela manque d'émotions et de sentiments. On nous dit les choses, mais on ne nous les montre pas suffisamment à mon goût.
Une lecture sympa, mais pour avoir lu des tas de romances de hockey avec plus ou moins les mêmes enjeux (quoique là, pour une fois, la question de l'outing intervient très tôt dans le récit, je ne m'y attendais pas, n'ayant pas lu le résumé), il m'a manqué ce truc en plus qui fait que je m'investis à fond dans un livre et un couple, pour moi, ce n'était juste pas assez abouti et développé. Je trouve dommage aussi le fait d'avoir situé l'intrigue à Québec, et de ne jamais tirer parti de cela au cours de l'intrigue, car au final, le bouquin pourrait se passer dans n'importe quelle ville d'Amérique du Nord. Pour le moment, je ne suis pas sûre de lire la suite, on verra !
C'est le genre d'histoire avec laquelle on passe un bon moment, il y a un bel équilibre entre romance et hockey, un bon esprit de camaraderie et de cohésion au sein de l'équipe. Cependant, les personnages sont désignés soit par leur nom, soit par leur surnom (idem pour les équipes), et parfois, j'ai trouvé cela confus. Pas terrible aussi les quelques phrases en français qui sentent bon le google trad, encore moins les prénoms donnés aux personnages québécois (Pierre encore ça passe, mais Jacques, le goal de 34 piges, et sa femme Yvette, y'a comme un problème, non ?).
La romance est charmante, les deux héros sont mignons et vont bien ensemble, c'est plaisant de les voir en tant que couple, cependant, il m'a manqué quelque chose pour me sentir concernée par leur histoire. Finalement, ça va vite entre eux, on enchaîne les scènes où on les voit ensemble, mais pour moi, cela manque d'émotions et de sentiments. On nous dit les choses, mais on ne nous les montre pas suffisamment à mon goût.
Une lecture sympa, mais pour avoir lu des tas de romances de hockey avec plus ou moins les mêmes enjeux (quoique là, pour une fois, la question de l'outing intervient très tôt dans le récit, je ne m'y attendais pas, n'ayant pas lu le résumé), il m'a manqué ce truc en plus qui fait que je m'investis à fond dans un livre et un couple, pour moi, ce n'était juste pas assez abouti et développé. Je trouve dommage aussi le fait d'avoir situé l'intrigue à Québec, et de ne jamais tirer parti de cela au cours de l'intrigue, car au final, le bouquin pourrait se passer dans n'importe quelle ville d'Amérique du Nord. Pour le moment, je ne suis pas sûre de lire la suite, on verra !
pinkierina's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
4.25
juliareadz's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
marianbooks613's review
4.5
You know why I don't give it a 5? Because of the drama they gave me, yes, it was necessary, but no, I wanted them to be happy and content all the time. Other than that, Dante and Gabe are my new protégés, this book was what I expected and I'm glad I started it when I didn't know what to read because it was the best decision of my week.
Gabe comes out to the world as gay after his ex published intimate photos of them, something he didn't know about, and it turned his world upside down because there are no (freely) queer people in the NHL at the moment. The good part? The whole team (both players and staff) took the news well (except one, but oh well) and this is where Dante discovers that he is Bi thanks to the fact that he started having feelings for Gabe and they ARE NOT AFRAID OF THEIR FEELINGS, they go ahead (but secretly) with everything, they are really cozy, they understand each other and I absolutely love that. Yes, there was some drama that had to happen for Gabe to understand Dante a lot more, because that's what our reserved boy is, reserved and he lacked communication with Dante, but I loved the ending.
Will I continue the series? of course yes!
Gabe comes out to the world as gay after his ex published intimate photos of them, something he didn't know about, and it turned his world upside down because there are no (freely) queer people in the NHL at the moment. The good part? The whole team (both players and staff) took the news well (except one, but oh well) and this is where Dante discovers that he is Bi thanks to the fact that he started having feelings for Gabe and they ARE NOT AFRAID OF THEIR FEELINGS, they go ahead (but secretly) with everything, they are really cozy, they understand each other and I absolutely love that. Yes, there was some drama that had to happen for Gabe to understand Dante a lot more, because that's what our reserved boy is, reserved and he lacked communication with Dante, but I loved the ending.
Will I continue the series? of course yes!
levilore_'s review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
3.75
I really enjoyed this book! I had a good combination of sweet loving moments and steamy sex scenes, but both were relevant to the character's relationship! I loved how Dante's sexuality was explored and that his bisexuality wasn't erased once he got with Gabe. Their relationship was awesome, but I also liked them a lot as characters. I didn't find myself obsessed with one over the other, I liked them both equally which is rare in romance books. Their relationship actually felt real and also was actually mature (another rarity). (The fact that Dante liked pegging made me laugh out loud and I thought that was a great addition to the normal trope that the gay guy has to show the other how to have sex)
The side characters were awesome as well! They were an awesome addition to the plot and the team,I particularly loved how they encouraged the relationship between Gabe and Dante plus supported them during the homophobic sections. This felt like a good exploration of homophobia in a sports enviroment
(like with Kitty) while also displaying how to be a good ally and friend.
Plus characters like Yorkie actually had a function for main character development.
The only issue I had with this book was that it was a bit slow at the beginningand I think the break up happened really suddenly. That might've been the point, but maybe the lack of drama is what made it less interesting to me lmao. I wish we had gotten to see more of their relationship once it was public like we did in the extra chapter 2 years later.
Overall, I really liked the writing, characters, and plot! I just didn't have the obsessive desire to keep reading as with other books, I just liked the characters' personalities so I kept going. Not necessarily a negative, I think I'm just a dramatic bitch.
The side characters were awesome as well! They were an awesome addition to the plot and the team,
The only issue I had with this book was that it was a bit slow at the beginning
Overall, I really liked the writing, characters, and plot! I just didn't have the obsessive desire to keep reading as with other books, I just liked the characters' personalities so I kept going. Not necessarily a negative, I think I'm just a dramatic bitch.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Cursing, Homophobia, Outing, and Sexual content
Moderate: Blood, Death, Grief, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
Minor: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
delainey_hutch's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
bitchie's review
4.0
This was really long, but I don't think I minded, much. It covered pretty much a whole season, a season complete with multiple injuries, an MC being outed, falling in love with a teammate, a pregnant coach, and all sorts of other odds and ends. Maybe a bit too much for one book, but I liked it anyway. Even though there was a lot of stuff going on, the story never devolved into the angsty melodrama, which I appreciated.
I did have a problem with the nicknames here. We had people being called by their nicknames, first names, last names, it got so confusing keeping everyone straight. Once, "Baller" walked into the bathroom, and Dante walked out, and I actually had to come find the blurb on GR, to figure out WTF Dante was! I don't think the author had used the name since the initial character introduction. Sure, the characters decided to use each other's first names in their private lives, but at that point in the book, this hadn't happened yet.
I loved all the characters, and wanted to cry when. I would like to have seen more talking in depth between Dante and Gabe though. More talk about Dante's sexuality, if he'd been attracted to men before Gabe, how he came to the decision to act on it his feelings, that sort of thing. I've come to hate single POV stories, because I always feel like I'm missing half the story. I didn't hate this story at all, but I still wish we'd gotten a glimpse or two inside of Dante's head.
All in all though, I really enjoyed this book, it fit nicely with my sudden love for gay hockey stories!
I did have a problem with the nicknames here. We had people being called by their nicknames, first names, last names, it got so confusing keeping everyone straight. Once, "Baller" walked into the bathroom, and Dante walked out, and I actually had to come find the blurb on GR, to figure out WTF Dante was! I don't think the author had used the name since the initial character introduction. Sure, the characters decided to use each other's first names in their private lives, but at that point in the book, this hadn't happened yet.
I loved all the characters, and wanted to cry when
Spoiler
Kitty was tradedAll in all though, I really enjoyed this book, it fit nicely with my sudden love for gay hockey stories!
bookishexpat's review
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
jennifer_bush_73's review
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
3.75