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silver_lining_in_a_book's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
relaxing
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Kiss me, Ilya wanted to say. Kiss me and hold me in front of all these people. Pull me onstage and do it. I don’t care anymore. Please. I’m dying. “Nothing,” Ilya said, and stepped away. “Nothing.”
This book cover, unfortunately, is not at all representative of how difficult some parts of this book were to read, particularly in the first half of the book. I was expecting to just have a tonne of fun as I did with the first part of Ilya and Shane's love story, but instead, I was greeted with depictions of untreated depression, undiagnosed (and not discussed) orthorexia, and Ilya's heartbreaking and under-appreciated sacrifices for Shane's sake. Many of the discussions in this book were so important, but I found them to be so mentally draining at times.
However, after slightly struggling through the first part of the book, I finally found myself sinking into the story and I couldn't stop reading it. Shane's behaviour in this sequel slightly disappointed me - he didn't quite feel like the same person at times and I thought he was really taking Ilya for granted - but he did get better throughout this novel. Ilya, on the other hand, has to be one of my favourite characters. I absolutely loved him because of how relatable he was to me. His emotions and actions felt very realistic and true to his character; I appreciated the depiction of his mental health struggles and how well he understood his own emotions, and my heart absolutely went out to him.
Overall, I think this was a really great book and it must be one of the best follow-ups to an enemies-to-lovers romance that I have ever read. It didn't feel like Reid was forcing any unnecessary conflict into the book, but there were still lots of high stakes and emotions throughout!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Mental illness, and Sexual content
Moderate: Eating disorder
Minor: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent
cluckieduck's review
emotional
funny
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? Yes
4.0
Oh man, I am having a hard time reviewing this one because it is so obviously fan-service - filled with soooo much Rozander smut, but also touching on some really heavy issues surrounding depression, trauma, and stress which would have been better handled (I think) if there was more focus on the plot > porn. So, on the one hand I loved it - inject as much Ilya ❤ Shane content into my veins as possible, please. On the other hand, the writing felt a bit rushed with all the forced conflict to progress the story, which I felt was a disservice.
I loved how the story overlapped with some of the timeline in Role Model, especially surrounding a particular incident.
This go-round is very Ilya-centric and he does a lot of the heavy lifting plot-wise. A lot of the reviews shit on Shane, and yeah, he was a bit oblivious, but stress manifests differently in every one. Shane very obviously exhibited signs of disordered eating, but it was only brought up in a joking manner with an eye-roll at his expense. He also, IMO, showed signs of dissociation. Neither of these were really dealt/written about beyond the surface. Perhaps if he was given as much depth as Ilya was, maybe he could have been a bit more sympathetic of a character.
Before Ilya sought out his therapy, Shane directly asked him if he was ok, and that he would be there for him whether Ilya wanted to talk to him or not. Being in a relationship is hard enough (not even counting the fact that it's a secret one), but being in a relationship with a depressed partner presents it's own challenges. Especially when said partner keeps trying to push you away because they don't think they're good enough and deserving of happiness.
On a lighter note, there were so many cute moments in this one - I mean...Uncle Ilya & painting nails!?! Major swoon. And their talks about a future with children?? I just can't. I feel greedy in saying this, but I think they need another book (at least a novella) without any angst where they can just be settled, grounded, and happy in their relationship.
I have an idea about who the next book will be about (perhaps a certain Centaur rookie), so I look forward to seeing more of our past couples pop up in the future!
I loved how the story overlapped with some of the timeline in Role Model, especially surrounding a particular incident.
This go-round is very Ilya-centric and he does a lot of the heavy lifting plot-wise. A lot of the reviews shit on Shane, and yeah, he was a bit oblivious, but stress manifests differently in every one. Shane very obviously exhibited signs of disordered eating, but it was only brought up in a joking manner with an eye-roll at his expense. He also, IMO, showed signs of dissociation. Neither of these were really dealt/written about beyond the surface. Perhaps if he was given as much depth as Ilya was, maybe he could have been a bit more sympathetic of a character.
Before Ilya sought out his therapy, Shane directly asked him if he was ok, and that he would be there for him whether Ilya wanted to talk to him or not. Being in a relationship is hard enough (not even counting the fact that it's a secret one), but being in a relationship with a depressed partner presents it's own challenges. Especially when said partner keeps trying to push you away because they don't think they're good enough and deserving of happiness.
On a lighter note, there were so many cute moments in this one - I mean...Uncle Ilya & painting nails!?! Major swoon. And their talks about a future with children?? I just can't. I feel greedy in saying this, but I think they need another book (at least a novella) without any angst where they can just be settled, grounded, and happy in their relationship.
I have an idea about who the next book will be about (perhaps a certain Centaur rookie), so I look forward to seeing more of our past couples pop up in the future!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Outing, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Homophobia
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Eating disorder, Injury/Injury detail, and Alcohol
Minor: Death of parent and Suicide
fraise's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Mental illness, Outing, and Eating disorder
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, and Death of parent
Minor: Drug use, Alcohol, and Suicide
kharlan3's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Outing, Sexual content, and Homophobia
Moderate: Mental illness, Eating disorder, Drug use, Bullying, and Biphobia
Minor: Alcohol, Sexual violence, Suicide, Dementia, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Sexual assault, Racism, and Grief
there is amspecht's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I just think they’re neat 😭😭😭😭
I cried, I laughed until I cried, I pterodactyl screeched, I threw the book across the couch many times.
There’s a line in HR where Ilya wants to smash burning campfire embers into his eyes bc he just feels too much when he looks at Shane and that’s how I felt reading this, which is my favorite kind of story.
I would fight the entire NHL with my bare hands for the Centaurs and Shane and especially precious angel baby Ilya 😤
Also the trophy room scene will be living in my head rent-free until the day I die BYYYEEEE
I cried, I laughed until I cried, I pterodactyl screeched, I threw the book across the couch many times.
There’s a line in HR where Ilya wants to smash burning campfire embers into his eyes bc he just feels too much when he looks at Shane and that’s how I felt reading this, which is my favorite kind of story.
I would fight the entire NHL with my bare hands for the Centaurs and Shane and especially precious angel baby Ilya 😤
Also the trophy room scene will be living in my head rent-free until the day I die BYYYEEEE
Content Warnings
Graphic: Outing, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Homophobia
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Death of parent
Minor: Eating disorder
reesa16's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Outing, and Mental illness
Moderate: Suicide, Eating disorder, and Suicidal thoughts
penguinsquack's review
emotional
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
This is probably only a five star read if you are a huge Heated Rivalry fan. Interestingly, it is impossible not to be a huge Heated Rivalry fan.
Rachel Reid continues her ratio of two sex scenes per angsty moment, which is very much appreciated.
Loved this, and am probably going to reread a tonne of her books now.
Rachel Reid continues her ratio of two sex scenes per angsty moment, which is very much appreciated.
Loved this, and am probably going to reread a tonne of her books now.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Mental illness, and Outing
Minor: Eating disorder and Suicidal thoughts
There isn't an explicit eating disorder, but people with or who have had one may find a character's dieting behaviour triggering.bookedinsideout's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
1.5
“I’ve been mad at the game for a while, and I needed this.”
That’s how I felt after reading the last book, Role Model, but pretty much the opposite after reading this. I’m really upsetfor Ilya and Shane that they were publicly outed, and that the commissioner was so awful as well as Shane’s teammates. Hayden, who inadvertently outed them, was apologetic and it was an accident, but I didn’t think the way he told them was very comforting, that he really gave them as much support as he could have, and Shane’s friend JJ was awful to him — not to mention his teammates. It just left an extremely bad taste in my mouth. Role Model was a comfort book, but this felt like one big downer.
I think if I had been more aware of content warnings it might have helped, or if I hadn’t read it at a particularly low period, but there was just so much heavy in this book. The disordered eating and shaming of other people (with no real resolution or countering of it); the homomisia; the depression that was being treated by a therapist but then kind of left off; theforced outing and treatment of that . There were a lot of cute and funny moments in the book, but the heavy lines and moments made it feel heavier for me than it was probably meant to. I don’t even think it’s that I had high expectations for the book, it’s just how it was. And a little anger too that now that we know what’s going on concurrently with the events of Role Model, I’m not sure I’ll be able to take comfort in it in the same way anymore.
I didn’t mind the pacing in the beginning, but everything happened really quickly at the end and I’m sure a few of the many (many) sex scenes could have been cut to make room for a more rounded and satisfying conclusion. (I’m not usually one to complain about that, but there were a lot, especially noticeable when they’re not doing a lot of communicating outside of that and developing their relationships in other ways.) I can definitely see how there were parts of the book that others will focus on and love, but unfortunately I could only focus on the parts that dragged me down.
That’s how I felt after reading the last book, Role Model, but pretty much the opposite after reading this. I’m really upset
I think if I had been more aware of content warnings it might have helped, or if I hadn’t read it at a particularly low period, but there was just so much heavy in this book. The disordered eating and shaming of other people (with no real resolution or countering of it); the homomisia; the depression that was being treated by a therapist but then kind of left off; the
I didn’t mind the pacing in the beginning, but everything happened really quickly at the end and I’m sure a few of the many (many) sex scenes could have been cut to make room for a more rounded and satisfying conclusion. (I’m not usually one to complain about that, but there were a lot, especially noticeable when they’re not doing a lot of communicating outside of that and developing their relationships in other ways.) I can definitely see how there were parts of the book that others will focus on and love, but unfortunately I could only focus on the parts that dragged me down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Outing, Homophobia, Mental illness, and Eating disorder
Moderate: Death of parent and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Suicide
satanicllama's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
🥹😍
Content Warnings
Minor: Eating disorder
anil's review against another edition
emotional
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
Having a hard time rating this bc I'm like 'its ok I guess' but also I still have tears in my eyes and I cried like three separate times. I don't know. I don't think it really works as a story exactly but it works on my FEELINGS.
We start before the beginning of Role Model, run parallel to Role Model for a lot of this book (and boy does reading the plane crash from ilyas pov hurt) and then go until several months later. If I thought I knew what was going on with Ilya during that book: no I did not.
Mostly this is a book about Ilya Rozanov dealing with depression. This makes him significantly less fun to read than we've been used to. Please do not read that as a criticism, I honestly think this makes it even more interesting that Role Model is some of the most fun we've ever seen Ilya be. I'm not just told Ilya tries to hide his issues and fools most people *he fooled me*.
But unfortunately he's dealing with depression by just not doing a lot. Things keep happening and sometimes he tries to do something and it helps for a little while and sometimes he tries to do something and it doesn't help and nothing about it ever feels really resolved to me. And that's honestly most of the story. There is the making the relationship public yes/no thing but that (vague spoiler)doesn't get resolved by anyone making an actual decision. Which imo works to kick off a story but not to resolve it.
I am also leaving this book incredibly bitter about that one Thing on Shane's behalf and I can't even demand that get resolved better, I understand that this is the best case scenario once that Thing happened but I hate it and the book didn't give me nearly enough time to process that because suddenly it was all over.
We start before the beginning of Role Model, run parallel to Role Model for a lot of this book (and boy does reading the plane crash from ilyas pov hurt) and then go until several months later. If I thought I knew what was going on with Ilya during that book: no I did not.
Mostly this is a book about Ilya Rozanov dealing with depression. This makes him significantly less fun to read than we've been used to. Please do not read that as a criticism, I honestly think this makes it even more interesting that Role Model is some of the most fun we've ever seen Ilya be. I'm not just told Ilya tries to hide his issues and fools most people *he fooled me*.
But unfortunately he's dealing with depression by just not doing a lot. Things keep happening and sometimes he tries to do something and it helps for a little while and sometimes he tries to do something and it doesn't help and nothing about it ever feels really resolved to me. And that's honestly most of the story. There is the making the relationship public yes/no thing but that (vague spoiler)
I am also leaving this book incredibly bitter about that one Thing on Shane's behalf and I can't even demand that get resolved better, I understand that this is the best case scenario once that Thing happened but I hate it and the book didn't give me nearly enough time to process that because suddenly it was all over.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Death of parent, Outing, Eating disorder, and Suicidal thoughts
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