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sailorkchick's review against another edition
4.0
The child of 2 skating legends WAS a wunderkind, until a terrible performance sent her out of the spotlight.
In walks Jonah, an up-and-coming speed skater who gives her new passion on and off the rink.
This book was good in showing how life isn't over after a setback, it's not even over if it goes differently than you thought it would.
This book deals with athlete schedules/goals versus "normal" teen life, friendship, partnership, pressures on teens and there is a scene involving a school lockdown.
In walks Jonah, an up-and-coming speed skater who gives her new passion on and off the rink.
This book was good in showing how life isn't over after a setback, it's not even over if it goes differently than you thought it would.
This book deals with athlete schedules/goals versus "normal" teen life, friendship, partnership, pressures on teens and there is a scene involving a school lockdown.
rosietoesies's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
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
4.75
chandlerainsley's review against another edition
dnf @20%
cute but not what i'm in the mood for at the moment tbh. YA contemporaries are pretty hit or miss for me anyway
cute but not what i'm in the mood for at the moment tbh. YA contemporaries are pretty hit or miss for me anyway
mfumarolo's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this contemporary story focusing on two teens who have Olympic-sized dreams, but life throws each of them different curve balls on the path to making them come true. Olivia is the daughter of gold medalist pairs skaters, and was one-half of a power-house juniors pair that couldn't quite make it in the next age group. Instead of pushing through, she's focused on working at the rink her parents own, largely run by a young single mom since her own mother suffers from crippling pain and her dad is on the road touring. Things get interesting with a young, fellow skater-of-color shows up with the talent and drive to make it in the world of short track speed skating.
This was a fine one-time read for me. A few things that had me struggling to suspend belief especially given that novel falls solidly in the "contemporary, realistic fiction" category were the absentee parents, how healthcare actually works, and the vocabulary/actions/reactions of these apparent 15 year olds. As someone who worked in high schools for 7 years, some of these kids felt a bit Dawson's Creek/Gilmore Girls in how they spoke - If they were 17/18 I could buy it, but 15? Not so much. Good for library collections where contemporary romance is a popular genre.
This was a fine one-time read for me. A few things that had me struggling to suspend belief especially given that novel falls solidly in the "contemporary, realistic fiction" category were the absentee parents, how healthcare actually works, and the vocabulary/actions/reactions of these apparent 15 year olds. As someone who worked in high schools for 7 years, some of these kids felt a bit Dawson's Creek/Gilmore Girls in how they spoke - If they were 17/18 I could buy it, but 15? Not so much. Good for library collections where contemporary romance is a popular genre.
ngreader's review against another edition
5.0
OH MY GOSH - this book guys. I am SO excited for the sequel.
First of all, this book was about two ice skaters - a speed skater and a figure skater. I LOVE ice skaters and enjoyed the exploration this book had of the different types of ice skating and the different techniques needed.
I loved the romance - it was cute and showed growth in both characters as it progressed.
BUT
more than anything!
I LOVED our protagonist. It really explores the motivations of Olivia; her insecurities over her skating career, what it is to be "normal", what her own aspirations are, her issues with her family and friends. I loved her characterization and THAT is why I'm so excited for the sequel.
Seriously, I spent like an hour talking about this book with my roommate.
First of all, this book was about two ice skaters - a speed skater and a figure skater. I LOVE ice skaters and enjoyed the exploration this book had of the different types of ice skating and the different techniques needed.
I loved the romance - it was cute and showed growth in both characters as it progressed.
BUT
more than anything!
I LOVED our protagonist. It really explores the motivations of Olivia; her insecurities over her skating career, what it is to be "normal", what her own aspirations are, her issues with her family and friends. I loved her characterization and THAT is why I'm so excited for the sequel.
Seriously, I spent like an hour talking about this book with my roommate.
jess1carose's review against another edition
4.0
A good easy read! Love any stories to do with figure skating so already loved it.
amber_lyn's review against another edition
emotional
funny
slow-paced
2.75
Olivia was on track to becoming an Olympic athlete until a horrible rejection. While working at her parents ice rink and new client, a male speed skater, her age stirs things up for her.
I enjoyed all the other characters more than I cared for Olivia. The found family was some of the best parts, anything involving Mac.
The longer I read the more I disliked the main character and the more the story began to drag. There were things thrown into the story that didn’t need to be.
I enjoyed all the other characters more than I cared for Olivia. The found family was some of the best parts, anything involving Mac.
The longer I read the more I disliked the main character and the more the story began to drag. There were things thrown into the story that didn’t need to be.
nataliesboooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ava_griffy's review against another edition
4.0
To start, I got this book in the discount section of chapters. So my expeditions were pretty low going in. This book started off SUPER awkwardly. Employing the words “ako-taco”, “adorkable”, and asterisks roll playing in the texting between the main characters. But by the middle it was a super cute high school romance. It was actually super lovely to read this right now, totally felt like a throw back to J and I in high school. :)
I felt like this was one of those books taht kinda peaked in the middle. There was angst happening about whether they wanted to prioritize normal life or being number one in their own skating careers. But they were also just enjoying being in their first real relationship. BUT after that lovely middle bit, the last 40 pages went down hill a bit. It got very Hallmark “i have to save my parents small business before I can move on in my life”.
Overall, there were a lot of interesting themes throughout this book: parent/teen relationships, overachieving teens, POC dynamics, class differences, and even touched on violence in US high schools. I would recommend this book … but not recommend it to be taken all too seriously. It is definitely more of a young teen read.
I felt like this was one of those books taht kinda peaked in the middle. There was angst happening about whether they wanted to prioritize normal life or being number one in their own skating careers. But they were also just enjoying being in their first real relationship. BUT after that lovely middle bit, the last 40 pages went down hill a bit. It got very Hallmark “i have to save my parents small business before I can move on in my life”.
Overall, there were a lot of interesting themes throughout this book: parent/teen relationships, overachieving teens, POC dynamics, class differences, and even touched on violence in US high schools. I would recommend this book … but not recommend it to be taken all too seriously. It is definitely more of a young teen read.