bookographic's review
dark
emotional
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse and Alcoholism
romancejunkie's review
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
3.75
I really liked this one, and that’s all down to these characters. While there were parts I didn’t much enjoy (how much of the book they spent in different states or continents and the overwhelming attention on Danny’s alcoholism and addiction, how many fucking times Mike said like), the good outweighed those. The connection these two had was palpable from the beginning, both in and out of the bedroom. And I really loved the sex scenes—the chemistry was blatantly obvious, and I loved the equal push/pull between them.
dalstellar's review
emotional
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
5.0
Okay long overdue but here is a review finally. I've been anticipating this book for so long and started reading it when it came out but put it away until I had brain space to read something I actually cared about lmao. So finally!!! Finally!!!
Um, this book was really good. A masterpiece some might say.
I don't usually feel like characters feel like real people but these ones did I would not be shocked if I woke up this morning to discover I was in a universe where they were real hockey players. They have flaws, personalities, fleshed out backstories and families. And this is true for not just Mike and Danny. Bee, Singer, Reed, etc - they all have stories.
I love this book because it does what hockey romances should: it actually focuses on the hockey and the story is very much dependent on the main characters being professional hockey players. It's not just a story with a backdrop of hockey it is a hockey story and it worked so much for me.
Also it respected how serious hockey injuries and playing through injury can be and didn't just use it for angst. It was real and I appreciate that it asked questions of is it worth it? If you've put all you had into hockey, which is incapable of loving you back, what do you have?
I love Buddy.
I love Mike's family background it really got me lol
The sex works for who the characters are
My emotions while reading were basically ouch that hurts :-) very Mike and Danny pressing each others' bruises
Um there's probably more but tbh I'm at work rn lol. TLDR loved it
Um, this book was really good. A masterpiece some might say.
I don't usually feel like characters feel like real people but these ones did I would not be shocked if I woke up this morning to discover I was in a universe where they were real hockey players. They have flaws, personalities, fleshed out backstories and families. And this is true for not just Mike and Danny. Bee, Singer, Reed, etc - they all have stories.
I love this book because it does what hockey romances should: it actually focuses on the hockey and the story is very much dependent on the main characters being professional hockey players. It's not just a story with a backdrop of hockey it is a hockey story and it worked so much for me.
Also it respected how serious hockey injuries and playing through injury can be and didn't just use it for angst. It was real and I appreciate that it asked questions of is it worth it? If you've put all you had into hockey, which is incapable of loving you back, what do you have?
I love Buddy.
I love Mike's family background it really got me lol
The sex works for who the characters are
My emotions while reading were basically ouch that hurts :-) very Mike and Danny pressing each others' bruises
Um there's probably more but tbh I'm at work rn lol. TLDR loved it
claire_melanie's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
This left me feeling very conflicted - there were some sweet elements towards the end and it did genuinely feel like both characters grew as did their relationship but a lot happened off page. The beginning was really rough though and difficult to read. There’s enemies to lovers and then there’s just straight up violent abuse … The on-ice fights felt very outdated and I’m very opposed to romanticising poorly (or non) negotiated sexual behaviour.
bubblegrunge's review
reflective
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
3.5
wumbachumba's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
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? Yes
5.0
💞💓💞💗💞💗💕💕💞💗💞💗💕💗💕💞💗💗💞💕💕💞💗💕💞💗💕💞💗💕💗💞💞💕💗💕💞💗💕💞💗💕💞💗🧡💞💗🧡💞💗🧡💞💗
cherryblossomreads's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Abso-effing-lutely brilliant! Jeg elsker den her. Den er rå, ubarmhjertig og samtidig så fuld af kærlighed og varme. Den rammer lige ind i en tone af alvor og humor, som er helt perfekt til indholdet og formår at balancere tunge følelser og tanker med håb og glæde.
Slutningen kunne godt have været længere - historien blev rundet fint af, men med tanke på, hvor meget der er kredset for detaljer og følelser igennem bogen, så savnede jeg lidt mere. Mest er jeg dog bare glad for, at jeg ikke blev holdt hen i uvidenhed med alt muligt. Og så kommer der jo en toer, så mon ikke vi får liiidt at vide om Mike og Danny også, selv om det er to andre spillere, der er i fokus.
Slutningen kunne godt have været længere - historien blev rundet fint af, men med tanke på, hvor meget der er kredset for detaljer og følelser igennem bogen, så savnede jeg lidt mere. Mest er jeg dog bare glad for, at jeg ikke blev holdt hen i uvidenhed med alt muligt. Og så kommer der jo en toer, så mon ikke vi får liiidt at vide om Mike og Danny også, selv om det er to andre spillere, der er i fokus.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Alcohol
Minor: Homophobia
catknit7's review
dark
emotional
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
4.75
I wasn’t sure at first if this was going to be for me, but the characters really hooked me in. I was never really sure where it was going, what the HEA would look like, but I always trusted the author would get there and they absolutely did. I’m excited for the next book in the series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Violence, Drug use, and Addiction
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Homophobia
sm_almon's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? Yes
4.5
I loved this - I read it in one sitting because I simply could not put it down. My only minor quibble is that I wish we had a bit more time with Mike & Danny together at the end of the book. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series.
arianashea's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? It's complicated