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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
emotional
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
3.5 stars. The first quarter of this book was kinda hard to get through, and I debated dnf-ing it. But, slowly, the story started to pick up again, and by the halfway point, I was hooked. Overall, I really liked the main relationship and all the characters, and there were a number of scenes I really enjoyed; I think it was just a bit hard for me to get into.
First of all: great narration.
Second: great MC, well written inner monologue.
Plotwise? I hope this is part one of a series. I want more and this just not finished. .
Second: great MC, well written inner monologue.
Plotwise? I hope this is part one of a series. I want more and this just not finished. .
very extremely cheesy and way too many modern references for me but yknow what i was engrossed in the relationship. another nail in the “YA is just not for me” coffin and that’s ok. also they should have been in their late 20s.
coming back a day later to say mickey’s characterisation was really good !
coming back a day later to say mickey’s characterisation was really good !
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
This is an incredibly beautiful book. College is so hard all on its own with trying to find people you share interests with and really just trying to figure out who you are as a person. It’s even more difficult to navigate when you are struggling with depression and anxiety. This was a gripping story and one I could relate to! My only thing that didn’t make it quite a 5 star was sometimes it felt like I was reading a high school romance instead of a college romance. But overall, this book was fantastic!
Hockey and an honest representation of depression? This book was my cup of tea for sure. It had my attention from start to finish, and I loved all the characters. I know the ending is hit or miss for people, but I actually really liked it!
Actual rating 3.5
Enemies to lovers romances are some of my FAVORITE, esp since this one was queer, but I found the ending to be a bit lackluster (which is ironic because I think that's probably the most emotional part of the book. Perhaps it wasn't long enough).
Enemies to lovers romances are some of my FAVORITE, esp since this one was queer, but I found the ending to be a bit lackluster (which is ironic because I think that's probably the most emotional part of the book. Perhaps it wasn't long enough).
I thought this book was very good! There is some incredible mental health representation in here (I appreciate dorian’s trich ! never read a character w that in a book before and is something I wish was discussed more often in relation to coping with depression and anxiety etc).
The characters were all pretty interesting though I wish some of the side characters could’ve been fleshed out a bit more. The ending felt quite rushed, we seeMickey start meds and then it isn’t really brought up again until his drunken break down . His resolution with his Dad was also quite rushed to me and perhaps not entirely earned.
Mickey and Jaysen’s relationship, didn’t completely buy it. I think there was chemistry but wasn’t developed as consistently as I would’ve liked. I just wanted more development of both those things, this book had 5 star potential with how visceral Mickey’s feelings felt throughout the book, I thought that part was expertly done. His depression and anxious feelings felt so real and vulnerable and I really found myself drawn in by how it was written. But with how rushed the ending was I’m left feeling a bit unsatisfied unfortunately.
Still a great book and a really important story for the hockey genre.
The characters were all pretty interesting though I wish some of the side characters could’ve been fleshed out a bit more. The ending felt quite rushed, we see
Mickey and Jaysen’s relationship, didn’t completely buy it. I think there was chemistry but wasn’t developed as consistently as I would’ve liked. I just wanted more development of both those things, this book had 5 star potential with how visceral Mickey’s feelings felt throughout the book, I thought that part was expertly done. His depression and anxious feelings felt so real and vulnerable and I really found myself drawn in by how it was written. But with how rushed the ending was I’m left feeling a bit unsatisfied unfortunately.
Still a great book and a really important story for the hockey genre.
This story made the choice to pingpong between the daddy issues (aka parental expectations) and the romance, but ended up leaning heavily towards daddy issues before abruptly being over, which made it a not-so satisfying romance. I liked the characters and their relationship, but the ending was meh.
Unfortunately even the parental expectation plot was rushed and felt unfinished, so it didn't really achieve either thing it set out to do (in my opinion). Loved the sisters though, even if I got them confused sometimes. All the friendships were really beautiful, very diverse and touched on struggles such as misogyny, racism and mental health.
The thing that really worked for me was the depression rep; how it colored the whole book in a sort of numbness and the inability to express yourself. Mickey's struggle with mental health was so relatable and raw, it felt like looking in a mirror. It's a very accurate depiction of what's it like living with a brain that just CANNOT be happy.
cw: depression, alcoholism, mentions of homophobia, bullying, body shaming, brief injury, misogyny, parental abandonment (off page), sexual content (no explicit sex scenes)
Unfortunately even the parental expectation plot was rushed and felt unfinished, so it didn't really achieve either thing it set out to do (in my opinion). Loved the sisters though, even if I got them confused sometimes. All the friendships were really beautiful, very diverse and touched on struggles such as misogyny, racism and mental health.
The thing that really worked for me was the depression rep; how it colored the whole book in a sort of numbness and the inability to express yourself. Mickey's struggle with mental health was so relatable and raw, it felt like looking in a mirror. It's a very accurate depiction of what's it like living with a brain that just CANNOT be happy.
cw: depression, alcoholism, mentions of homophobia, bullying, body shaming, brief injury, misogyny, parental abandonment (off page), sexual content (no explicit sex scenes)
emotional
inspiring
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