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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Outing, Alcohol
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Religious bigotry
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
jesus christ the communication issues in this made me want to pull all of my hair out
So I'm halfway through and it's not bad or anything but I have yet to read about a single hockey game beyond vague mentions that Brody has them sometimes. I really liked that the first book in the series was very much a sports novel at least as much as it was a romance. Based on that this is a bit of a let down. Maybe I'll get back to it if I'm ever in the mood for a musician romance novel.
rep: gay mcs, aro side character
Review also posted on Reads Rainbow. ARC provided by the publisher.
Everyone always has their own checklist that needs to be all filled out for a book to be considered a good romance. That’s why it is so difficult to be at all objective when rating romance novels: everyone will find something else romantic. And well written.
For me that list goes as follows: fleshed out, likeable characters; amazing chemistry between the leads; a lot of pining (no pain, no gain, my lads!!); ridiculous set-up but in a cool, ‘might actually happen, maybe’ way. Contract Season checks all of those, and more!
I really thought Nary’s debut novel would be my favourite romance forever, and then she went and outdid herself with this one! Every single thing about this book is tailored perfectly to my taste (and I dare say a lot of other people who grew up reading fan fiction.) (Yes, I keep bringing up fics every time I review a romance, but that’s only because I’m aware that good fan fiction is actually the pinnacle of romance to which all published romances should aspire.)
Contract Season takes the premise of fake dating and brings to life all its best features. It understood the assignment. If you need one book to explain to someone what the fake dating trope is all about, you should just use Contract Season. Because despite what some readers think, it’s not enough for the two people to pretend to date. Especially when they were strangers beforehand, which seems to be a common trope recently. There needs to be tension! It needs to be completely unbearable for the characters that they can touch the other in public, but not in private. It needs to be soulcrushing for them that they can kiss their ‘partner’ while on a date somewhere, but not do anything else when no one is looking.
In this particular case it’s even better: the sexual tension manages to remain unresolved, despite the fact that the couple does sleep with each other in the first chapter. That’s the magic of fake dating, though! Whatever propelled you to have sex for real at first clearly doesn’t count anymore, because now you’re just pretending to be into the other person for the public. It makes sense in their minds! And it’s a testament to how talented a writer Nary is that it does.
The thing is, Nary’s writing might seem simple at first glance, but it’s that simplicity that’s brilliant. Because it allows her to pierce you right through the heart with a single line you were absolutely not expecting. It’s extremely detail oriented and focused on the smallest changes in emotions. The (gay) devil truly is in the details.
Contract Season is undoubtedly one of the best romances of recent years, and it’s fascinating to think what Nary might gift us next. Whether you know a single thing about hockey or not, this has to be on your radar. You can thank me later.
Review also posted on Reads Rainbow. ARC provided by the publisher.
Everyone always has their own checklist that needs to be all filled out for a book to be considered a good romance. That’s why it is so difficult to be at all objective when rating romance novels: everyone will find something else romantic. And well written.
For me that list goes as follows: fleshed out, likeable characters; amazing chemistry between the leads; a lot of pining (no pain, no gain, my lads!!); ridiculous set-up but in a cool, ‘might actually happen, maybe’ way. Contract Season checks all of those, and more!
I really thought Nary’s debut novel would be my favourite romance forever, and then she went and outdid herself with this one! Every single thing about this book is tailored perfectly to my taste (and I dare say a lot of other people who grew up reading fan fiction.) (Yes, I keep bringing up fics every time I review a romance, but that’s only because I’m aware that good fan fiction is actually the pinnacle of romance to which all published romances should aspire.)
Contract Season takes the premise of fake dating and brings to life all its best features. It understood the assignment. If you need one book to explain to someone what the fake dating trope is all about, you should just use Contract Season. Because despite what some readers think, it’s not enough for the two people to pretend to date. Especially when they were strangers beforehand, which seems to be a common trope recently. There needs to be tension! It needs to be completely unbearable for the characters that they can touch the other in public, but not in private. It needs to be soulcrushing for them that they can kiss their ‘partner’ while on a date somewhere, but not do anything else when no one is looking.
In this particular case it’s even better: the sexual tension manages to remain unresolved, despite the fact that the couple does sleep with each other in the first chapter. That’s the magic of fake dating, though! Whatever propelled you to have sex for real at first clearly doesn’t count anymore, because now you’re just pretending to be into the other person for the public. It makes sense in their minds! And it’s a testament to how talented a writer Nary is that it does.
The thing is, Nary’s writing might seem simple at first glance, but it’s that simplicity that’s brilliant. Because it allows her to pierce you right through the heart with a single line you were absolutely not expecting. It’s extremely detail oriented and focused on the smallest changes in emotions. The (gay) devil truly is in the details.
Contract Season is undoubtedly one of the best romances of recent years, and it’s fascinating to think what Nary might gift us next. Whether you know a single thing about hockey or not, this has to be on your radar. You can thank me later.
The action was slow to start but once it got rolling I couldn't put the book down. I wish some parts of the initial chapters was shaved off, it was difficult for me to keep an interest in the first 30% of the story.
Brody, a hockey player, and Seamus (I refuse to call him 'Sea', using this as a nickname was definitely a choice), a country singer, are publicly outed after a not-so-successful 1.5-night-stand and resort to fake dating to salvage their careers.
I felt this was more a book about Seamus than Brody: he's struggling with his identity and image as a (first closeted, then out) gay country artist in some unexpected ways.
Strong points:
- The many discussions of sexuality from various characters were always sex positive and supportive.
- There was little homophobia and a lot of inclusivity
- Both characters had strong support groups in their friends and family.
-
- Kiwi (the cat) I will never not love this trope.
- The writing style! I loved how the scenes were grounded in the surroundings.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Brody, a hockey player, and Seamus (I refuse to call him 'Sea', using this as a nickname was definitely a choice), a country singer, are publicly outed after a not-so-successful 1.5-night-stand and resort to fake dating to salvage their careers.
I felt this was more a book about Seamus than Brody: he's struggling with his identity and image as a (first closeted, then out) gay country artist in some unexpected ways.
Spoiler
I loved his journey of growing out of his own prejudices, his reflecting on the idea of virginity, and learning to trust and express his feelings.Strong points:
- The many discussions of sexuality from various characters were always sex positive and supportive.
- There was little homophobia and a lot of inclusivity
- Both characters had strong support groups in their friends and family.
-
Spoiler
Seamus had expressed dislike of oral sex and his feelings aren't invalidated by Brody - it's never treated as a problem he needs to resolved (nor one that gets resolved).- Kiwi (the cat)
Spoiler
being wary of every human ever except Seamus.- The writing style! I loved how the scenes were grounded in the surroundings.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
If you like character development and slow build-up then this one is for you.
Both men are in the closet, because Hockey and Country Music are not bastions of acceptance and rainbow flag waving. When they are outed after a couple of hookups, they both fear the worse.
Though attracted to each other, agreeing to lie and fake a relationship are not really the best foundation for trust and a relationship. But the longer they are together, the harder it becomes to know if the whole thing is fake or not.
This novel is on the longer side of your typical romance, and you definitely need to be prepared to wait for the happy ending, but it’s well written with solid and interesting characters, so it’s a nice journey. And there is always something satisfying about a happy ending that comes after the MCs having to really work for it.
Both men are in the closet, because Hockey and Country Music are not bastions of acceptance and rainbow flag waving. When they are outed after a couple of hookups, they both fear the worse.
Though attracted to each other, agreeing to lie and fake a relationship are not really the best foundation for trust and a relationship. But the longer they are together, the harder it becomes to know if the whole thing is fake or not.
This novel is on the longer side of your typical romance, and you definitely need to be prepared to wait for the happy ending, but it’s well written with solid and interesting characters, so it’s a nice journey. And there is always something satisfying about a happy ending that comes after the MCs having to really work for it.
Without a doubt I'm an absolute sucker for any types of hockey romances and Contract season was no exception. It was so easy to fall in love with our two main characters because they were uniquely their own and had so much personality throughout the entirety of their story. Contract Season has one of my favourite tropes, like fake dating, which makes it so much sweeter when we all know it's soooo much more than fake dating. I couldn't put this book down! I'm obsessed & I'm in desperate need of more from Cait Nary!
Contract Season
Contract Season
By: Cait Nary
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:
Contract Season
By: Cait Nary
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: