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btwnprintedpgs's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I feel like romances that are about 500 pages should either hit it out of the park, or just not be 500 pages, and this landed in the middle.
I feel like this could've been so much shorter. The author could have trimmed some of the extras that didn't add much to the story (I'm looking at you team building exercises that basically did nothing). Some of the team stuff was just a general lack of communication, and a lack of accountability. I liked the overall arc of the story - Ryder and Gigi helping each other grow and accept their own emotions and pasts; the smorgasbord team that's cobbled together becoming one in the end; the dreams realized and shattered. It was all solid, and I enjoyed the characters and the banter, but at the end of the day, I feel like I could've had all that even if the story was tightened up a bit. I'd reread this book in a heartbeat if it didn't have all the superfluous stuff (yes, that's a callback to the book cause that moment made me laugh).
I also hated how much sexism there was. Dumb comments from Ryder about females only being figure skaters, some other comments from other people about "crazy" women, and the fact that half the characters were f-boys who could just get anyone to sleep with them. Idk, it all felt a bit toxic, but I guess sports are generally just a bit toxic at any given time. That part was not for me, but I guess it was to be expected.
As a whole, I enjoyed the cast. I liked all characters and the different personalities they brought to the table, and I loved the romance arc! In the end, it was very much all devotion, and love, and emotion, and that worked very well. It was just some of the other pieces that really fell short for me. I'll likely read on in the series, as I like Gigi's friends enough to be curious about their stories, but it may be more of a skim going forward, because that's entirely too many pages for a romance for me.
TW: death of a parent, incarcerated parent, alcohol consumption, infidelity, sexism, injury detail; mentions cyber bullying, defamation
I feel like this could've been so much shorter. The author could have trimmed some of the extras that didn't add much to the story (I'm looking at you team building exercises that basically did nothing). Some of the team stuff was just a general lack of communication, and a lack of accountability. I liked the overall arc of the story - Ryder and Gigi helping each other grow and accept their own emotions and pasts; the smorgasbord team that's cobbled together becoming one in the end; the dreams realized and shattered. It was all solid, and I enjoyed the characters and the banter, but at the end of the day, I feel like I could've had all that even if the story was tightened up a bit. I'd reread this book in a heartbeat if it didn't have all the superfluous stuff (yes, that's a callback to the book cause that moment made me laugh).
I also hated how much sexism there was. Dumb comments from Ryder about females only being figure skaters, some other comments from other people about "crazy" women, and the fact that half the characters were f-boys who could just get anyone to sleep with them. Idk, it all felt a bit toxic, but I guess sports are generally just a bit toxic at any given time. That part was not for me, but I guess it was to be expected.
As a whole, I enjoyed the cast. I liked all characters and the different personalities they brought to the table, and I loved the romance arc! In the end, it was very much all devotion, and love, and emotion, and that worked very well. It was just some of the other pieces that really fell short for me. I'll likely read on in the series, as I like Gigi's friends enough to be curious about their stories, but it may be more of a skim going forward, because that's entirely too many pages for a romance for me.
TW: death of a parent, incarcerated parent, alcohol consumption, infidelity, sexism, injury detail; mentions cyber bullying, defamation
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexism, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death of parent and Alcohol
Minor: Bullying
clemfandango69's review against another edition
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Elle Kennedy’s books really seem to have this undercurrent of misogyny to them, most often reflected in the way male characters, including the MMCs, talk about women. Despite DNF’ing a few of her titles, I gave this one a shot because she’s so prolific in the hockey-romance space, and I keep hoping I’ll find one by her that I like. But unfortunately and unsurprisingly, that same issue persisted in this book. (Speaking of her other books, there are frequent nods to those characters in this, which I personally find tedious. I don’t know who this man is. He could be walking down the street, and I wouldn’t know a thing. Sorry to this man.)
The writing is fine. There were some comedic gems here and there, and the sex scenes were solid. I liked that the FMC is also a hockey player, and she had a couple decent feminist-lite takes. But fuck man, why take the sexism and misogyny of the worst men in the real world into romantic fiction?! Why make the bar subterranean even in fantasy?
In addition to that gripe, this book started off s l o w l y. If nearly 200 pages have passed and your two leads haven’t even kissed yet, you better have built some intense sexual tension or you need to tighten that shit up. This needed editing.
Also, I REALLY hated how the FMC continued to call the MMC by his first name despite him explicitly telling her not to and explaining why it was triggering for him. She really took some kind of trauma-ignorant, charmed-life, nepo-baby approach, wanting the MMC to ~*reclaim*~ his first name, whether he wanted to or not. Even though he had already embraced going by his last name as a way to honor his mom. It annoyed me every time she did it. UGH.
Anyway, lesson learned. Elle Kennedy’s books still give me the ick.
The writing is fine. There were some comedic gems here and there, and the sex scenes were solid. I liked that the FMC is also a hockey player, and she had a couple decent feminist-lite takes. But fuck man, why take the sexism and misogyny of the worst men in the real world into romantic fiction?! Why make the bar subterranean even in fantasy?
In addition to that gripe, this book started off s l o w l y. If nearly 200 pages have passed and your two leads haven’t even kissed yet, you better have built some intense sexual tension or you need to tighten that shit up. This needed editing.
Also, I REALLY hated how the FMC continued to call the MMC by his first name despite him explicitly telling her not to and explaining why it was triggering for him. She really took some kind of trauma-ignorant, charmed-life, nepo-baby approach, wanting the MMC to ~*reclaim*~ his first name, whether he wanted to or not. Even though he had already embraced going by his last name as a way to honor his mom. It annoyed me every time she did it. UGH.
Anyway, lesson learned. Elle Kennedy’s books still give me the ick.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexism
FMC and others repeatedly use MMC’s first name despite it being triggering for him. That disregard may upset other people with PTSD.britwalsh16's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I didn’t think it could get better the The Dare. & then I read this book!!! While, The Dare hit home for me. I just fucking enjoyed this book like crazy!!! Seeing Hannah & Garrett as parents is priceless! & then all the little breadcrumbs about all the other characters & their kids were the BEST PART!!!
Fucking Dean giving Gigi a huge box of condoms was hilarious!! And such a Dean thing to do!!
I love all they are all so close & Gigi grew up with them all as Aunts & Uncles & their kids as cousins! This has gotta be one of the best found family series I’ve ever read!!
But also, I just fucking loved Gigi & Ryder!!! They way they were there for eachother & supported one another! 🥰
Also how they first got together… Use Me… Fuck Yes!! Haha 😂
This book gives you all the laughs, but then also gives you heart & the struggles of life. I really could not get enough!!! 💜💜💜
I love all they are all so close & Gigi grew up with them all as Aunts & Uncles & their kids as cousins! This has gotta be one of the best found family series I’ve ever read!!
But also, I just fucking loved Gigi & Ryder!!! They way they were there for eachother & supported one another! 🥰
This book gives you all the laughs, but then also gives you heart & the struggles of life. I really could not get enough!!! 💜💜💜
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment
Minor: Blood and Alcohol
mabellene's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Bullying, Sexism, and Violence
Minor: Animal death, Infidelity, Abandonment, and Alcohol
jordanez's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying, Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol
notamouse's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
3.0
🌶️🌶️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Child abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Murder, and Abandonment
k8ecallahan's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Murder
Minor: Homophobia
katharina90's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.0
Cute, hilarious, moderately spicy hockey romance.
Sadly the plot got away from the author towards the end, but I still enjoyed it overall.
I did appreciate that there was no unnecessary third act breakup.
Sadly the plot got away from the author towards the end, but I still enjoyed it overall.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Sexism and Sexual assault
plsnotanotherdamselindistress's review against another edition
emotional
funny
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Okay...I accidentally did not save my carefully formulated review..haha...so here are some key notes:
-- "bad-boy" does not have to be asshole (and especially sexist comments don't have to be used to give the mMC "edge")
-- the trope where one male character acts shitty and then grovels gets boring when it is used for almost all male characters in a book and repeatedly
- I get that the book was already long..but skippin certain scenes was disappointing
+ liked wide repertoire of side-characters who did not exist only to bring along this story
+ more show than tell
++ a fMC who is driven, career-oriented and stubborn while also being feminine and in touch with her emotions was really refreshing
++ the portrayal of other relationships or them being formed other that the romantic one
Spice(quantity&quality):
4/5
The tension was gooood. It also felt like the spicy scenes actually added sth to the story and felt "custom-fitted" for the MCs there is also variety and detail.
-- "bad-boy" does not have to be asshole (and especially sexist comments don't have to be used to give the mMC "edge")
-- the trope where one male character acts shitty and then grovels gets boring when it is used for almost all male characters in a book and repeatedly
- I get that the book was already long..but skippin certain scenes was disappointing
+ liked wide repertoire of side-characters who did not exist only to bring along this story
+ more show than tell
++ a fMC who is driven, career-oriented and stubborn while also being feminine and in touch with her emotions was really refreshing
++ the portrayal of other relationships or them being formed other that the romantic one
Spice(quantity&quality):
4/5
The tension was gooood. It also felt like the spicy scenes actually added sth to the story and felt "custom-fitted" for the MCs there is also variety and detail.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Death of parent
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexism, Murder, and Sexual harassment
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