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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
emotional
*Prefacing my review by saying that I'm a non-disabled person*
(Also trigger warning for a slur directed at disabled people; won't be using it, but there will be mention of it)
I had very high hopes for this book, and some of those hopes were met and others weren't. The story is about two people, Corey and Hartley, who are neighbors in an accessible dorm on their college campus. Corey recently suffered a spinal injury and now uses a wheelchair or crutches to get around, and Hartley has a broken leg causing him to also need crutches to get around. The two bond over a video game, their mutual annoyance of needing aids to walk, and hockey. Sounds great right? Well that part of the story is, but the other part that caused me to give it a lower rating was the way the discussions of disability went. Corey and Hartley both threw around a particular word in reference to themselves that I would deem a slur throughout the book, and anytime it came up, I got very uncomfortable. I understand that Corey was newly injured and had a lot of emotions about not being able to walk like she used to, but the way she demeaned the disabled community by complaining about needing to use a bus to get around campus or adaptive sports made me feel like she was being very snobbish about the idea that she is in fact now disabled and may need to use those things.
Even with that very large issue I had with the book/writing, it was a good book, but VERY similar to Elle Kennedy's "The Deal". So if you don't want to deal with problematic themes about disability, then "The Deal" may be better suited to you (trigger warning for that book: does discuss rape although I don't believe there's any depiction of it)
(Also trigger warning for a slur directed at disabled people; won't be using it, but there will be mention of it)
I had very high hopes for this book, and some of those hopes were met and others weren't. The story is about two people, Corey and Hartley, who are neighbors in an accessible dorm on their college campus. Corey recently suffered a spinal injury and now uses a wheelchair or crutches to get around, and Hartley has a broken leg causing him to also need crutches to get around. The two bond over a video game, their mutual annoyance of needing aids to walk, and hockey. Sounds great right? Well that part of the story is, but the other part that caused me to give it a lower rating was the way the discussions of disability went. Corey and Hartley both threw around a particular word in reference to themselves that I would deem a slur throughout the book, and anytime it came up, I got very uncomfortable. I understand that Corey was newly injured and had a lot of emotions about not being able to walk like she used to, but the way she demeaned the disabled community by complaining about needing to use a bus to get around campus or adaptive sports made me feel like she was being very snobbish about the idea that she is in fact now disabled and may need to use those things.
Even with that very large issue I had with the book/writing, it was a good book, but VERY similar to Elle Kennedy's "The Deal". So if you don't want to deal with problematic themes about disability, then "The Deal" may be better suited to you (trigger warning for that book: does discuss rape although I don't believe there's any depiction of it)
dark
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3,5/5
Warning: the review below might reveal important information about the book, therefore you could get spoiled.
I enjoyed this book, it was a fun, diverse read, but nothing out of the ordinary. The characters really grew on me, and partly tempted to continue the series eventually. There are though a few things that bothered me:
- the romance between the main characters started out a bit too insta-lovey for my taste;
- I did not appreciate the fact that it was almost okay to cheat because the girl that's with the love interest is considered "shallow" or "dumb", I'd have thought it much more interesting if Corey was faced with a perfectly normal other girl;
- also, this is just me, but I thought the fact that Hartley had shown her a way to skate would have some kind of impact in the end of maybe Corey creating a team of ice hockey for disabled people.
Overall, I liked it, maybe some things could be improved but it is a nice book to maybe get you out of a slump. I did really like Bridger so maybe if I have a little free reading time I'll give his story a go.
"ESSE QUAM VIDERI To be, rather than To Seem.”
Warning: the review below might reveal important information about the book, therefore you could get spoiled.
I enjoyed this book, it was a fun, diverse read, but nothing out of the ordinary. The characters really grew on me, and partly tempted to continue the series eventually. There are though a few things that bothered me:
- the romance between the main characters started out a bit too insta-lovey for my taste;
- I did not appreciate the fact that it was almost okay to cheat because the girl that's with the love interest is considered "shallow" or "dumb", I'd have thought it much more interesting if Corey was faced with a perfectly normal other girl;
- also, this is just me, but I thought the fact that Hartley had shown her a way to skate would have some kind of impact in the end of maybe Corey creating a team of ice hockey for disabled people.
Overall, I liked it, maybe some things could be improved but it is a nice book to maybe get you out of a slump. I did really like Bridger so maybe if I have a little free reading time I'll give his story a go.
emotional
funny
slow-paced
I’ve had this series on my TBR for quite some time, and while this was an enjoyable read, it wasn’t my favourite. I am excited to continue the series though!
Corey and Hartley were super sweet together. I did like how they built a friendship first that developed into something more later on. But it did annoy me how he stayed with his girlfriend (who barely appeared) through the majority of the book, when it was clear he didn’t really want to be with her very early on…It was a dragged out slow burn that didn’t really need to be. Hartley and Corey were both really likeable characters so I did enjoy them together, I just wish we cut the girlfriend out a lot earlier!
I did love the disability representation🫶🏼
Had fun with this one. I really enjoy Sarina Bowen’s writing and the very wonderful fact that her characters are so layered and have real problems. Can’t wait to continue reading.
Wow. Just wow. What an awesome (free for now) book. I seriously can't wait to get the rest and devour them....
I noticed a lot of people on GR bashing Hartley. I was nervous to meet him, but I LOVED him. Yeah, some of his reasoning was f'd up, but there wouldn't have been a story line if it wasn't. Callahan, loved her too. I kinda wish the "hope fairy" had been left out, that made it kind of cheesy and reminded me of a certain someone *cough* EL James *cough*
I would recommend this book to someone wanting a New Adult romance with angst.
I noticed a lot of people on GR bashing Hartley. I was nervous to meet him, but I LOVED him. Yeah, some of his reasoning was f'd up, but there wouldn't have been a story line if it wasn't. Callahan, loved her too. I kinda wish the "hope fairy" had been left out, that made it kind of cheesy and reminded me of a certain someone *cough* EL James *cough*
I would recommend this book to someone wanting a New Adult romance with angst.