Reviews - Stick By Me | The StoryGraph

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47 reviews for:

Stick By Me

Christie Gordon

3.58 AVERAGE

slee907's review against another edition

4.0

emotional funny hopeful 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: Yes

This is the first book in Christie Gordon's Desert Ice series that connects to her Rock U series. Archer is an ASU hockey player looking for some validation from his dad and his first long-term relationship. Leo is a nerdy numbers guy keeping a large part of himself secret from his friends and family. But when he meets Archer while volunteering at a local animal shelter, the dam is broken and he can't hold back his feelings. They have instalove chemistry and the steam starts pretty early. There is also a lot of affection and care taking which I really like. And of course, Finley Cole just kills it in the narrating. Excellent use of accents, and I especially like the Minnesota one. Great start to the series.

r_santabarbara's review against another edition

2.5

challenging emotional lighthearted reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

hmsbrown's review against another edition

4.0

Stick By Me - Book 1 of the Desert Ice Hockey series - is the first book by Christie Gordon, an author I discovered via social media. It's a hockey romance, so naturally, I'm happy with it and can't wait to read more.

Leo and Archer worked so well together, I almost wish the book were several chapters longer. I know - I'm selfish. I always want more. No worries - it's book #1, so there will be more. Life is good.

Can't wait to read more by Christie Gordon!

vondav's review against another edition

5.0

First can I say I have not read the Rock U series and to be honest I did not need to, to understand the story. What it has done, is want me to read it to read Axel and Remy's story.
This story is about Leo, Axel's older brother and Remy's best friends who to the world is straight for reasons whilst it mentioned, I still cannot get my head round his reasoning.
Archer is a D Man at the local University, who is openly bisexual, It was refreshing to read about an openly queer hockey player and his teammates as most books have them still being in the closet.
This was a story that kept my interest from the first page and the incident how they met had me laughing. From the moment Archer sprayed Leo with the hose it was instant attraction, but they had work to do to have a relationship. Archer was one of the most patient and understanding characters I have read in a while and he was all into Leo. Leo was a caring soul and when Archer needed him stepped up to give him support. This scene was the scene that made me like Leo as prior I thought he was a bit wishy washy. Archer I like from page 1.
There were some mystery and family drama, which whilst I guessed I was still surprised with it. Although Leo is a nerd there was not much nerdy scenes and I would love have seen more of his nerdy side come out.
The epilogue rounded the story off without giving any of the other team members stories away.
Overall this was a good read and has me excited to read about the rest of the team and I cannot wait for Jonah, Archer's best friend.

tinybull's review against another edition

3.25

emotional lighthearted 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

Archer & Leo. Leo is 29 and has a regular job. Archer is 23 and in his last year of college playing hockey. Leo is bi but has previously only dated women when he has a meet cute with Archer at the Humane Society volunteering. This book was cute. It took me a minute to get into it. And I really didn’t understand Leo’s coming out struggles at first, but once the situation developed a bit more, it was easier to wrap my mind around. I think the actual scene was a bit underdeveloped, but that was kind of scenario induced. The “twist” was easy to see coming (if you could really call it a twist). I think this story could’ve improved with a bit more pining. Overall, I enjoyed it though.

badhorsebinks's review against another edition

3.0

This book was ok overall, the storyline between the MCs was....fine. Fine as in, not great but not terrible. However it was weird that such a large part of the story was related to MC1 not wanting to come out to his family, when he already had an out brother. His attitude seemed like internalized homophobia to me, but this was never addressed. I also didn't like the resolution

between MC2 and his father. His father was terrible to him for many years, but it was all just....ok? There needed to be a lot more to the resolution of this storyline before MC2 was just suddenly ok with his father and things were fine.

Something else that annoyed me.....this is book 1 in a series so I didn't realize it is actually a spin off of another series, and it would have been a lot better if I had read that other series first. While I guess this is technically a stand alone.. MC1s brother had a book in the other series and MC1 lives with his brother so there is a lot in here about the brother and SO. I would have this enjoyed more if I had read their story, but since I hadn't it was just a lot of unnecessary filler.

Content Warnings

wjquick32's review against another edition

4.5

challenging funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

I really like Archer and Leo’s meet cute, but I will say the constant second guessing of when to explain things to the relevant parties started to frustrate me after awhile. That said, it’s not something I’ve had to deal with personally so I try not to be too hard on people. 4.25-4.5 stars.