Scan barcode
rosereads_books's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment
staticsandstationery's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
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
Rhi is the powerful, brilliant, and sexy founder of the popular dating app, Crush, and Samson is the ex-NFL player turned spokesperson for her rival company. They've hooked up once (thanks to her own app), and it left them both with a whole mix of emotions. Without knowing who the other is, they both attend a tech conference and end up meeting up for the first time since That Night. They're forced into closer proximity to one another as they decide to take a leap that will help both of their companies, and that goes, well, exactly how you'd expect it to when two people have known each other as intimately as they have.
I loved both of them. Rhi started as a boss babe who never slept with the same man twice (a trauma response to her last serious relationship) who was then able to balance her professional life and her focus on her work and her career with her relationships - with her family, her friends, and with Samson. Samson was multidimensional and powerful, and while I originally found myself wishing he hadn't been a hulking ex-linebacker and had been the mildly geeky owner of a rival company, the added element of CTE and the death of both his father and his uncle was surprising. It added a wonderful level of depth to Samson that made him even more loveable.
They diversity of the characters in this book should definitely be acknowledged - there is completely wonderful representation of different races, different sexualities (okay we could have seen more of this, but it was there), and different levels of mental wellness. It was fascinating and fun and steamy as hell.
I loved both of them. Rhi started as a boss babe who never slept with the same man twice (a trauma response to her last serious relationship) who was then able to balance her professional life and her focus on her work and her career with her relationships - with her family, her friends, and with Samson. Samson was multidimensional and powerful, and while I originally found myself wishing he hadn't been a hulking ex-linebacker and had been the mildly geeky owner of a rival company, the added element of CTE and the death of both his father and his uncle was surprising. It added a wonderful level of depth to Samson that made him even more loveable.
They diversity of the characters in this book should definitely be acknowledged - there is completely wonderful representation of different races, different sexualities (okay we could have seen more of this, but it was there), and different levels of mental wellness. It was fascinating and fun and steamy as hell.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, Sexual harassment, and Mental illness
katiejohns's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Injury/Injury detail
sultrytartreviews's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-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
This book had so many high points for me! The relationship was a sweet build in trust and understanding. I really appreciated Rhi's journey and I loved Sampson's heart. Some amazing things that I found unique to this story: 1) Discussing other kinds of love and intimacy unrelated to romantic love. Friendship and it's importance. 2) Discussing how society views sexual intimacy in strict confines and making space for other sexual acts that aren't strictly P in V intercourse. 3) Aunt Belle-she is an amazing side character and I want to be her.
Content Warnings
Minor: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Sexual harassment
ticktock's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual content, and Terminal illness
jen_sometimes's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Dementia, Death of parent, and Grief
kfmcf's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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? Yes
4.25
This book has a solid balance between character and plot. I am someone who prefers weak plots over weak characters, but I also, of course, appreciate a happy medium.
I found both leads likeable and grounded. Samson was sweet but not so absurdly so it became unbelievable. Rhi was spunky and fiery but showed a vulnerability that rounded her character out well. I do wish we had gotten to see a bit more of the side characters. For how long this book was we got a lot of the leads (which isn't bad) but we didn't get much time with some of the compatriots like Lakshmi, Harris, etc. I don't mention Katrina on that list because I know she's the FL of book #2.
Plot-wise, I knew where the story was leading but it mostly made sense and had a few surprises thrown in. I won't go into detail for spoilers sake but the ending was expected but made sense. Also, I do want to mention that this is one of the only romance books without an epilogue that I've read where I still feel fulfilled by the plot and characters' arcs. I do want to commend Alisha Rai on that because it is usually a severe pet peeve of mine.
Lastly, I want to say that I greatly appreciated this book's focus on the brain effects of prolonged football playing. As someone who likes sports, football has always been infuriating to me because of the disturbingly high rates of brain injury and sustained aftereffects. This book doesn't beat around the bush about the issue but it also shows why players keep playing. Focusing on this topic made this book have a more solid footing, in my opinion.
Overall, I do recommend this book and look forward to reading the sequels!
I found both leads likeable and grounded. Samson was sweet but not so absurdly so it became unbelievable. Rhi was spunky and fiery but showed a vulnerability that rounded her character out well. I do wish we had gotten to see a bit more of the side characters. For how long this book was we got a lot of the leads (which isn't bad) but we didn't get much time with some of the compatriots like Lakshmi, Harris, etc. I don't mention Katrina on that list because I know she's the FL of book #2.
Plot-wise, I knew where the story was leading but it mostly made sense and had a few surprises thrown in. I won't go into detail for spoilers sake but the ending was expected but made sense. Also, I do want to mention that this is one of the only romance books without an epilogue that I've read where I still feel fulfilled by the plot and characters' arcs. I do want to commend Alisha Rai on that because it is usually a severe pet peeve of mine.
Lastly, I want to say that I greatly appreciated this book's focus on the brain effects of prolonged football playing. As someone who likes sports, football has always been infuriating to me because of the disturbingly high rates of brain injury and sustained aftereffects. This book doesn't beat around the bush about the issue but it also shows why players keep playing. Focusing on this topic made this book have a more solid footing, in my opinion.
Overall, I do recommend this book and look forward to reading the sequels!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual harassment, Grief, Death, Death of parent, and Sexism
Minor: Alcohol
kylag's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment
jadorereadss's review against another edition
emotional
tense
slow-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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment
malenhar's review against another edition
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
You don't get to use your past trauma or mental health issues as an excuse to be a dick to people and that's a lesson the MC really needs to learn in this book. Rhi is kind of toxic and is not ready to be in an adult relationship. The way she treats Samson is terrible. The book wasn't all bad though. I was impressed with the amount of backstory and development each character got. There were some nice steamy scenes. As always dual POV in romances are superior.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual harassment and Toxic relationship