Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Hook Shot: A Verdadeira Jogada by Kennedy Ryan

11 reviews

mayawata_'s review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I LOVE how they put his daughter first. One thing I love about this series is how relevant the problems the characters face are. How brutal and heart wrenching the trauma can be while also showing that life can be beautiful. Lotus and Kenan worked so well together. This might be my favorite. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Death, Mental illness, Grief, Sexual content, and Car accident

amanda_reads13's review against another edition

emotional funny sad 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

It was love a frist sight for Kenan, but Lotus's past has her shying away from any long term commitments. 

As usual, this book is so beautifully written. This story is so heartbreaking and emotional, yet has so many heartwarming moments. The characters are so vibrant and well developed. 

Their chemistry was palpable. The tension and banter was perfection. I loved the slow burn in this book. They took their time to slowly transition from friends to lovers. The slow pace of their relationship makes so much sense considering Lotus's past trauma and Kenan's challenges with his ex-wife. Their relationship isn't perfect, but they choose each other and have open communication.

Kenan has been through a horrible and public divorce after his wife cheated on him with a teammate. His ex-wife was so emotionally abusive and was a master at manipulation. He is such a empathetic, compassion, protective, and complicated man. He didn't let many people in, but he felt an instant connection to Lotus. He was so patient with her and his letters were so endearing. 

Lotus was a strong and mighty woman. She is struggling with PTSD and has massive trust issues. She was a survivor.

As a child, she was raped by her mother's boyfriend and then her mother rejected her for him.

Her circle is small, but close, it takes a lot for her to trust. She was bold and loud, yet vulnerable and struggling. It takes a lot for her to let Kenan in, but once he is in, he is her world. 

The addition of Voodoo was interesting. Lotus was raised by her grandmother and was taught about her "power". 

Lotus predicts death around Kenan. They end up discovering that his daughter has ODed and then she almost dies. Lotus assumes this was the feeling she gets, but later in the book Kenan is in a car accident and is declared dead. Lotus and Iris somehow save him with their "energy".  To me it seemed like a bit of a gimmick in the book. I would have liked to have seen it explored more.

Tropes: friends to lovers, found family, slow burn, single dad

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Grief, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Rape

gabichatslit's review against another edition

5.0

I have the most bittersweet feeling growing in my chest, having completed this series now. So much so that I stretched this last book out because I didn’t want it to end and to leave this world that Mrs. Ryan created and this lovable cast of characters. 

And wow, was it easy to love and root for Lotus and Kenan. 

Two characters who had an undeniable connection, who meet during a crossroad in their respective lives and try to ignore (mostly on Lotus’s part lol) what they know will be a life changing love. Getting to see more of Lotus upbringing and her time with MiMi was really nice, despite the heartbreaking circumstances. I enjoyed seeing how devoted she was to her career as well. And I loved her conviction— in herself, in her love, in her faith even in the face on misunderstanding or other’s uncertainty. I loved Kenan’s surety of Lotus. His commitment to her and to his daughter. To being Lotus protector, her ‘gris-gris’. 

Also the bits of Song of Solomon, made my heart ache and brought tears to my eyes.  

This book was so beautiful and healing in its portrayal of love. I loved seeing Lo’s village grow and provide space for her to heal and grieve and stretch. She deserved every second of her HEA and Mrs. Ryan delivered ten-fold. This is my new favorite book series. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Moderate: Child abuse, Abandonment, Death of parent, Grief, Rape, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Misogyny, Car accident, and Pregnancy

blakeandbooks's review against another edition

emotional funny 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Abandonment, Suicide attempt, Rape, Medical trauma, Child abuse, Sexual content, Grief, Death, Death of parent, Sexual assault, and Injury/Injury detail

discarded_dust_jacket's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring sad 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

4.25

I just KNEW as soon as we met Kenan and Lotus in the first book, that I wanted to read their story as soon as I finished. And this book did not disappoint; I liked it even better than Long Shot.

As always, Ms. Ryan breaks our heart but she puts it back together. I cried so many times during this book, and the love story is so beautiful (the Song of Solomon quotes? Are you kidding me?? *sobs*)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Pedophilia, Infidelity, Rape, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Sexual violence, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Pregnancy

Minor: Car accident and Panic attacks/disorders

bronxgirlreading's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny inspiring tense medium-paced

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

4.75

So excited to read Lotus’ story!! I’ve been obsessed with her since she showed up in Iris’ story. If you love strong but broken, independent women who fall for too good to be true but is true and is good men, this is for you. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Child abuse, Rape, Car accident, and Grief

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship

stephwtsn27's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

I loved everything about this book! The love story, family dynamics, divorce/parenting, fashion, basketball, music, friendships. Kenan was so patient with Lotus the entire book and Lotus was unapologetically herself. The entire Hoops trilogy is AMAZING and you should probably do yourself a favor and go read them all immediately!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Death of parent, Grief, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Car accident and Infidelity

Minor: Toxic relationship and Pregnancy

sarahsbookstacks's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Rape, Abandonment, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Sexual violence

jonezzzing's review against another edition

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Medical content, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, and Rape

shaipanda's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I’m so glad I got back into Kennedy Ryan’s work because I loved Reel but also reading it was so painful at times that I never delved into the rest of her backlist. But I’m seriously so glad I did because this is literally by far one of my favorite couples I’ve read about this year - they go through so much in this book but they combat it all so well and I suprisingly didn’t feel like what they gave throughout the book was too much too quickly. I mean obviously it’s a lot in one book and probably one of the huge crises/hospital trips in this book could have been cut because it was a lot, but also everything served a purpose and was amazing written and discussed 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Abandonment, Suicide attempt, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Car accident, Sexual content, Grief, and Child abuse

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Pregnancy, Infidelity, and Physical abuse