61 reviews for:

Wrap Around

Rebecca Rathe

4.19 AVERAGE

amala_0917's review against another edition

5.0

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

adhdandread's review

5.0

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

---

Wrap Around by Rebecca Rathe 

Forbidden Goals #7 

Length:  389 pages 

Source: Author-direct eARC 

Publication date: July 10, 2025 

 

5 ⭐ 

3 🌶 

 

What to expect with Silas and Gideon: 

🏒 Forbidden romance 

🏒 Brothers-in-law 

🏒 Hockey teammates 

🏒 Former best friends 

🏒 Secrets … lots of ‘em 

🏒 Opposites attract 

🏒 Grumpy/sunshine 

🏒 Slow emotional burn
 

Summary 

Silas and Gideon were childhood best friends, two peas in a pod trying to survive traumatic childhoods. One kiss, a couple secrets, and a handful of lies changed everything, driving Gideon away from everything he knew. Now, three years later, they’re back in each other’s orbits as teammates on the ice, secrets and lies still hovering between them and making it a less-than-ideal reunion. Will things be any better if the truth is brought to light, or are they broken forever? 

 

My thoughts 

People, run—do not walk!—to go get this one. It is beautiful and painful and hopeful, and I loved it. I don’t want to include a ton of reactions here, because that will take away from experiencing the book in the moment, but I can talk a little bit about the wonderfulness that is Silas’ and Gideon’s story. 

 

Their love isn’t perfect, but it’s real. They are SO sure of their own feelings for one another (even if they aren’t sure of each other’s feelings). They are certain and have been for years. Unwavering. Their journey is breathtakingly emotional and moving. You might need to put the book down for a few minutes in more than one spot, just to process. 

 

I am in love with their distinct voices and thoughts and the insightfulness they have into how their childhoods have impacted their current lives. (I’m telling you, I am an old soul, and I was still nowhere near as mature at 21 as these guys sometimes are when talking about their pasts or about their relationship, once they finally get on the same page.) I swear to goddess I highlighted at least 70% of this book. So many of their internal monologues and viewpoints are these astute, deeply emotional observations that are reflective and tender but also often hit me with this visceral, deep-rooted gut punch. It made for a powerful, sometimes difficult read, so just maybe have a Kleenex or two handy. 

 

Books with similar “You’re it for me” vibes: 

📕But make them cowboys: Fool Hearts by Emmy Sanders 

📗But make them wolf shifters: Wolfsong by T.J. Klune 

📘But make them divorced: Forgotten Romance by Saxon James 

 

Bottom line 

The Forbidden Goals series just keeps getting better. When I read the first one a couple years ago, I never imagined I’d love each successive book more, but it keeps happening. I’m definitely going to be thinking about Wrap Around on repeat. 

 

Why are you still here? You should be off getting this book! 

 

Content warnings 

Explicit sexual content, extreme religious trauma, on-page violence — I don’t want the warnings to give away a bunch of plot points, so please check the author’s complete list before you start reading if this sounds like it might be triggering for you. 

 

— A 

 

Thanks to Rebecca Rathe for an eARC of this book. All opinions are mine. Reviews posted regularly on StoryGraph, Instagram, BlueSky, and BookBub.

shrikebait's review

5.0

emotional hopeful inspiring tense 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: Complicated

---

Wrap Around is a well-balanced achillean romance with hockey drama, religious trauma, and one very unconventional little family. This story deals with some very serious subjects, including long-term healing from abuse. I felt the topic  was handled respectfully. This high tension is not without high reward: this spice hits the spot. You know the one. 

You don't need to like hockey to love this book. I am not a sports birdie but I'm very much a fan of men learning emotional vulnerability. 

Thanks so much to the author for sending an ARC my way. I'm leaving this review of my own accord. 

mitch_b_dragon13's review

5.0

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective 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: Complicated

---

What an amazing story and after reading about how these characters went through hell and back for each other made their love story all the sweeter and more meaningful. I was on the edge of my seat chapter after chapter needing to know what happens next Rebecca has a gift for hooking you into the story and not letting you go until the very end! Truly amazing Gideon and Silas are easy characters to love and feel for it’s like your experiencing the emotions right along side them! I can see myself reading this again soon it was just that good!!!

underworld_fairy's review

5.0

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective 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

---

 

To the person who said this book should be read completely blind: you were absolutely right. This book has everything  and more. It's like tropes within tropes. I don’t know if that makes sense, but there's a lot going on, and from the very beginning, you're completely pulled into the story of these two  because it’s heartbreaking, and you can truly feel their fear, regret, and anger. 

There’s a lot of religious trauma, and at some point, you might find yourself judging them, thinking: “Why did they do that?” or “Why didn’t they do this instead?” But as you get deeper into the story, you realize they didn’t have many choices. Yes, they made mistakes, but they were still just kids, scared kids,  looking for help that never came. So, they had to save themselves. 

I was really emotional while reading this book because it’s heavy on the angst, and you can clearly see how their past still affects their present. But when these two (or three because Lily is such an important part of this story) start to heal and reconnect, your heart will absolutely melt. 

And don’t even get me started on our beautiful Addy, she was so sweet and adorable. 

Once Silas and Gideon began to mend their broken bond and finally enjoy the love they had longed for, things got seriously spicy. These two have insane chemistry. But more than that , you can feel just how deeply they love each other. 

This story is incredible. It's angsty, it’ll make you cry, it’ll make you angry, but it’ll also make you reflect. Sadly, there are still people out there who are repressed and suffering, simply because others still believe that loving someone is a sin, all while failing to reflect on their own lives first. 

This book will break you, then slowly put you back together and give you a love story you won’t forget, about two boys whose only sin was loving each other. 

P.S. I was very interested in two side characters and yes, I mean Ives and his husband. A Frenchman and a pilot? Yes, please! 

Star Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Spice Rating: 3 /5   🔥🔥 🔥 

If you like to read:
🏒 Secret & Betrayal 

🏒 Brothers-In-Law 

🏒Hockey Romance 

🏒 Hurt/Comfort 

🏒 Best Friends To Enemies To Lovers 

🏒 Players W/A Past  

risque_romance's review

5.0

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective 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

---

Wrap Around - Rebecca Rathe

5/5✨🌟

* SPOILERS *

𝘚𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘶𝘯. 𝘖𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘸𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘵. 𝘞𝘦’𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦.

——

𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯'𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩. 𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩. 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵.

I think this may be my favorite book in this series, even though I still need to read the first three. I don’t think I could love this book so much. This book was perfectly written and it had me on the edge of my seat that I finished this book in a day and a half.

Silas and Gideon - Man, these two were my everything when we get to learn more of their history. I didn’t understand why Gideon was so mad, but man, when we find out, ugh I felt for him so much. His upbringing was just horrible and no wonder he was confused and just straight up conflicted.

I really loved the whole religious background from the three of them where we learn what Silas did for Lily and Addy. I just wish that over the span of years that Lily or Silas had reached out to Gideon, but this was just so perfect.

When Silas hit his breaking point and told Lily he needed Gideon to know, I knew this book was going to tear me to pieces.

I loved how adorable Addy was. She was just so perfect and just made your day better. From her giving Gideon his names, I was a goner for this little girl.

The hurt/comfort in this book was perfect and it’s one of my favorite tropes to read about. I love how these two connected with a little help from Lily and Addy. The journey that they went through to finally be together was amazing. Man, when Lily stood up for her daughter when they went home was everything I needed and more.

And that spice scene that was ridiculously hot, Gideon definitely been my favorite dirty boy here. I loved how he made it up to Silas and any future spicy scenes because I was done for.

I loved the nick name little wife that Silas gave to Gideon. Perfection. Also, both epilogues that we got was everything! 

I received a copy of this book and this is my honest review. 

shyandmoodreader's review

5.0

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious 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: Complicated

---

This book was a doozy, I tell you the angst had me at the edge of my seat 🥹. I just wanted to pull Gideon, Silas & even Lily into a hug and never let them go! 

When I say I ADORE this little family, Addy included, I mean that from the bottom of my heart. And I'm confident you will too! This has Rebecca's beautiful touch of hurt and comfort and spectacular spicy scenes between MC's 😈. Poor sweet Silas and Gideon has me simultaneously wanting to weep and scream at both their brokenness and their stubbornness when it came to how things played out in the past 😬.

If you've loved past books in this series you shall not be disappointed! It was well paced, and the TENSION between these two, particular in the showers and shared hotel rooms was explosive 💥🔥🥵. And when they finally fight past all their issues and get together it is so absolutely brilliant and beautiful 💜. Definitely check this bad boy out when it's available tomorrow 😘. 

naz_reads's review

4.25

emotional 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

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4.25/5 stars 3/5 spice

Rebecca really knows how to write books that are gripping. This one, like all her other books, is full of heart, emotion, and passion. 

Silas and Gideon’s religious upbringing, traumatic punishments, and their parent’s conditional love was just heartbreaking. I loved it when they finally stood up to them years later, being stronger together. 

Baby girl Addy truly was their saviours, changing and saving her parents and uncles lives. Her bond with her guncle was so cute. It was sweet seeing them forming their own family, where their love was unconditional for each other. Lily really added to the story and I adored her character. 

The communication issues were painful but also real, especially because of their trauma and age. There was a lot of pining and angst which really built up the moment they finally gave into each other. 

Overall, this is another great book by Rebecca. If you love her previous books, I can guarantee you’ll love this one as well. 

• Second chance
• Former best friends
• Secrets 
• Hockey teammates 
• Religious trauma 
• Small conservative hometown 
• Brothers in law 

gaelicgirl's review

5.0

emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

smutandwine_bookclub's review

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

---

" He needs to know. And I need to be able to tell him. That I've never stopped loving him. That I've never stopped wanting him. Aching for him"

Wrap Around by Rebecca Rathe

This book wrecked me in the best way. The characters, their love, their pain, their secrets, it all left such a lasting impact. If you’re someone who checks trigger warnings before diving in, just know,  it’s not what you think. And just like the plot itself, it's never what you think.

At the core of this story is the weight of silence, of unspoken truths that fester and hurt. It’s a painful lesson in how damaging secrets can be, even when they’re meant to protect. Silas kept two enormous secrets, one to shield Gideon, the boy he was falling for, and another to protect Lily, Gideon’s sister. But in the ultra religious, cult like household they all grew up in, those secrets were a matter of survival.

My emotions were all over the place. At first, I was rooting for Silas and Gideon. Then I found myself angry at Silas, at Lily. But slowly, as the truth unraveled and I started to understand the reasons behind it all, I fell in love with every single one of them: Silas, Gideon, Lily, even Adaline. I didn’t hate the characters, I hated their circumstances.

There’s so much packed into this story,  forbidden love, a teen pregnancy, hidden sexualities, toxic religion... oh, and hockey too. It’s heavy, but the pacing is done so well that you’re never stuck in the darkness for too long.

Silas truly broke my heart. To carry so much alone, to lose the boy you love, to watch him leave, grow up, work so hard to and find where the love of your life left to and see him so full of hate, and still stay silent? It gutted me. All because of fear, of shame, of people who preach love but practice hate and torture. 

But there’s hope. There’s healing. Everyone gets their own HEA in the end. You just have to take the emotional ride to get there. I picked up this book and wasn't able to put it down. I loved it! I am excited to listen to this once the audio is released, which I hope there will be.