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zaza_bdp's review against another edition
3.0
Lu dans la foulée du 1er, que je n'ai pas franchement aimé, parce que je pense que sinon, je ne l'aurais pas repris, et puis, bécasse que je suis, j'avais quand même envie de savoir s'ils allaient enfin avoir cette fichue médaille d'or.
Bref, on prend les mêmes et on recommence (ou presque). Ici la romance porte sur Bas & Jacob, 2 autres membres de la Team USA. Jacob est le petit nouveau de l'équipe, il a la pression, il est mort de trouille à l'idée de ne pas être à la hauteur et de décevoir ses coéquipiers. Dans le même temps, il craque pour Bas, mais ce dernier le tient à distance.
Bas, lui, est de retour aux JO avec la ferme intention de ne pas répéter les mêmes erreurs (on découvre progressivement de quelles erreurs il s'agit), et compte bien aider ses coéquipiers à rafler la médaille d'or en relais. Si le petit nouveau le fait craquer, il ne compte pas céder à cette attirance, parce que de toute façon, il n'est assez bien pour Jacob, yadayadayada ...
L'aspect sportif est plus présent que dans le 1er tome, ce qui est un point positif. MAIS alors franchement, j'ai eu envie de secouer les personnages comme des pruniers, parce qu'ils ne se concentrent pas sur la compétition (non mais oh les gars, c'est les JO là !!) et ont parfois des conversations à des moments PAS DU TOUT appropriés. Comme dans le tome 1, je trouve qu'à ce niveau-là, les personnages sont complètement immatures et irresponsables, et ça m'a fait râler et rouler des yeux comme une perdue ! Cela dit, l'auteur a bien rendu l'ambiance des jeux, des courses, et cela m'a donné envie de regarder des compétitions à la télé !
La romance est mignonne, mais bon, j'ai besoin de plus, et c'était pour moi trop marqué par ce que je trouve être du drama à deux balles.
Une duologie bien décevante donc, même si, encore une fois, je savais plus ou moins à quoi m'attendre au vu des avis sur le premier tome. Après, si ce n'était pas Layla Reyne aux manettes, j'aurais peut-être plus ... conciliante (quoique), mais là oui, c'est moyen.
Bref, on prend les mêmes et on recommence (ou presque). Ici la romance porte sur Bas & Jacob, 2 autres membres de la Team USA. Jacob est le petit nouveau de l'équipe, il a la pression, il est mort de trouille à l'idée de ne pas être à la hauteur et de décevoir ses coéquipiers. Dans le même temps, il craque pour Bas, mais ce dernier le tient à distance.
Bas, lui, est de retour aux JO avec la ferme intention de ne pas répéter les mêmes erreurs (on découvre progressivement de quelles erreurs il s'agit), et compte bien aider ses coéquipiers à rafler la médaille d'or en relais. Si le petit nouveau le fait craquer, il ne compte pas céder à cette attirance, parce que de toute façon, il n'est assez bien pour Jacob, yadayadayada ...
L'aspect sportif est plus présent que dans le 1er tome, ce qui est un point positif. MAIS alors franchement, j'ai eu envie de secouer les personnages comme des pruniers, parce qu'ils ne se concentrent pas sur la compétition (non mais oh les gars, c'est les JO là !!) et ont parfois des conversations à des moments PAS DU TOUT appropriés. Comme dans le tome 1, je trouve qu'à ce niveau-là, les personnages sont complètement immatures et irresponsables, et ça m'a fait râler et rouler des yeux comme une perdue ! Cela dit, l'auteur a bien rendu l'ambiance des jeux, des courses, et cela m'a donné envie de regarder des compétitions à la télé !
La romance est mignonne, mais bon, j'ai besoin de plus, et c'était pour moi trop marqué par ce que je trouve être du drama à deux balles.
Une duologie bien décevante donc, même si, encore une fois, je savais plus ou moins à quoi m'attendre au vu des avis sur le premier tome. Après, si ce n'était pas Layla Reyne aux manettes, j'aurais peut-être plus ... conciliante (quoique), mais là oui, c'est moyen.
rellimreads's review against another edition
3.0
3 stars. This was just an OK read. I was never tempted to put it down, but I wasn’t all that impressed by it either.
Like the last book, there was an overall “immaturity” that felt like NA instead of being about seasoned athletes. Yes, Jacob was 19 ~ but 80% of the time he was the most mature of the bunch. Bas’s issues didn’t really seem to have much of a foundation and maybe if he’d come around after the chat with his mom it would have been better, but he pulled his emotional walls on Jacob *again* and it felt tedious.
Also, like the last book, the sports competition/action was minimal and superficial. Making it weak on the Sport-Romance scale.
Glad we got a several-months-later epilogue so it felt more like HEA than HFN. Honestly the finals at the Olympics and the epilogue rescued this from being 2.5.
Read it on KU, it was OK, but not a book I’d buy to read again.
Like the last book, there was an overall “immaturity” that felt like NA instead of being about seasoned athletes. Yes, Jacob was 19 ~ but 80% of the time he was the most mature of the bunch. Bas’s issues didn’t really seem to have much of a foundation and maybe if he’d come around after the chat with his mom it would have been better, but he pulled his emotional walls on Jacob *again* and it felt tedious.
Also, like the last book, the sports competition/action was minimal and superficial. Making it weak on the Sport-Romance scale.
Glad we got a several-months-later epilogue so it felt more like HEA than HFN. Honestly the finals at the Olympics and the epilogue rescued this from being 2.5.
Read it on KU, it was OK, but not a book I’d buy to read again.
pigeomita's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
blreese's review
adventurous
emotional
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? Yes
3.75
kady_cordova's review
5.0
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 5 stars
🔥🔥🔥🔥 Heat Level: 4
This book has all the feels!
I loved it! This book has everything I don’t know I wanted! Angst, heart, drama, and love, this book took me on a ride and kept me entwined from beginning to end!
I love Jacob. He is so caring, selfless and considered, with his over-observing nature, he sees more than he should and is mature beyond his 19 years. He truely is the heart and glue of the team and brings out the best in everyone around him. I felt for his struggles and doubts and loved his adorable un-coolness (and pirate quips) he exudes throughout the book.
Now Bas sounds so hot! The characters descriptions for Bas are swoon worthy and I am so glad there is so much depth to Bas and his own struggles with commitment and personal doubts are just as relatable as Jacobs. While Bas and Jacob are different in many ways they fit together so perfectly I’m so glad I got to read their story. This book was a whirlwind ride, following on seamlessly from book 1 and concluding with the perfect happy ending for all four main characters from the two books. Jacob and Bas hold a special place in my heart and opened my eyes to the real world struggles bisexual people can face.
Thank you Layla for creating these characters and allowing us to become a part of their story!
Thanks for reading 📚!
🔥🔥🔥🔥 Heat Level: 4
This book has all the feels!
I loved it! This book has everything I don’t know I wanted! Angst, heart, drama, and love, this book took me on a ride and kept me entwined from beginning to end!
I love Jacob. He is so caring, selfless and considered, with his over-observing nature, he sees more than he should and is mature beyond his 19 years. He truely is the heart and glue of the team and brings out the best in everyone around him. I felt for his struggles and doubts and loved his adorable un-coolness (and pirate quips) he exudes throughout the book.
Now Bas sounds so hot! The characters descriptions for Bas are swoon worthy and I am so glad there is so much depth to Bas and his own struggles with commitment and personal doubts are just as relatable as Jacobs. While Bas and Jacob are different in many ways they fit together so perfectly I’m so glad I got to read their story. This book was a whirlwind ride, following on seamlessly from book 1 and concluding with the perfect happy ending for all four main characters from the two books. Jacob and Bas hold a special place in my heart and opened my eyes to the real world struggles bisexual people can face.
Thank you Layla for creating these characters and allowing us to become a part of their story!
Thanks for reading 📚!
sauriemilia's review
5.0
It was a delight to dive into (pun intended) this wonderful world of sexy romance and competitive swimming.
Since Relay, Bas caught my eye with his fun loving attitude and fierce friendship towards Alex. Here we get to see him more in depth.
Reyne does an amazing job in creating characters with emotions and motives we can relate to and weaving the story telling in a way you find yourself actively rooting and cheering for the characters in and out of the swimming pool.
Since Relay, Bas caught my eye with his fun loving attitude and fierce friendship towards Alex. Here we get to see him more in depth.
Reyne does an amazing job in creating characters with emotions and motives we can relate to and weaving the story telling in a way you find yourself actively rooting and cheering for the characters in and out of the swimming pool.
haletostilinski1's review
4.0
3.5 stars rounded up!
I enjoyed Bas and Jacob together, they were sweet together, and it was fun reading what happens when they finally get to the olympics and get to that medley relay they've all been stressing over for so long.
There is some drama here and there, but it wasn't near as heavy as in the first book, and in some ways I enjoyed that and in some ways I didn't that much. It was nice that this wasn't as drama filled as the first one, but I also felt that what drama there was, didn't quite feel right, like it wasn't genuine.
Like the relationship that Bas screwed up 4 years before in the last olympics,.
There is also some drama with one of the female swimmers, but that felt a tad lackluster in that it only took about two conversations for her to get over shit and be a good friend to Jacob. Not that I want her to be a biphobic asshole, but I feel like in real life people who act like she act rarely get it after one actual conversation pointing out to her her stupidity. I mean I guess it wasn't that unrealistic, but it also, again, imo, left for very little drama and made what drama there was easily fixed.
It just left me with a bit of "what is the point of introducing these characters if they barely even did anything?" kind of feeling. And that reminds me, Dane's parents stop by in the story for like 5 seconds and then get bowled over pretty easily, so I also wonder what the point was of them showing up again. These characters meant to insight drama just didn't feel necessary in the story to me.
But I did enjoy Bas and Jacob's story, I loved their chemistry - although the sex scenes could have been steamier, imo - and I enjoyed their romance. I also enjoyed the secondary characters introduced - Jacob's father and cousin, and Bas's mother (although I wish we had gotten more of her) - and I loved seeing Alex and Dane again, happy and in love.
And Alex and Dane make me wish that we totally could get an open kiss at the olympics or any sporting event between two LGBT+ people because we never actually get that. Of course only in fiction does that actually happen - unfortunately ;)
So overall...I feel like I might be flipped as I saw not many enjoyed the first but a few have enjoyed this one more...but I didn't quite enjoy this one as much as the first one. The only true plot point in this book was getting Bas and Jacob together and it totally could have happened sooner, but was drawn out for the melodrama of it all, in my opinion. (Like Bas not just talking to Jacob about his reasons for pulling back until he almost loses Jacob, of course. That's almost always how it is, isn't it? It's frustrating, imo, the lack of communication. Which is understandable to a point...but when it takes basically a whole book to communicate - and nothing like misunderstandings or bad feelings and whatnot get in the way - then it just feels ridiculous).
So...still a good read for me, still enjoyable with enjoyable MC's with good chemistry and an adorable romance. Just not as good as other works I've read by this author.
***ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review***
I enjoyed Bas and Jacob together, they were sweet together, and it was fun reading what happens when they finally get to the olympics and get to that medley relay they've all been stressing over for so long.
There is some drama here and there, but it wasn't near as heavy as in the first book, and in some ways I enjoyed that and in some ways I didn't that much. It was nice that this wasn't as drama filled as the first one, but I also felt that what drama there was, didn't quite feel right, like it wasn't genuine.
Like the relationship that Bas screwed up 4 years before in the last olympics,
Spoiler
the guy is there this time and tries to cause trouble but it didn't really go anywhere. So while there wasn't any OTT silliness with the drama...there also wasn't enough, and in the end I felt like "what was the point?" of this character coming back. He had barely any part in anything that he never felt like a real threat beyond the first meeting of him, and then he tries to get Bas back yet I never felt that much yearning or desire or plain want from the guy for Bas. He was felt pretty much...there, with lackluster attempts at trying to cause drama for these two. I didn't buy it.There is also some drama with one of the female swimmers, but that felt a tad lackluster in that it only took about two conversations for her to get over shit and be a good friend to Jacob. Not that I want her to be a biphobic asshole, but I feel like in real life people who act like she act rarely get it after one actual conversation pointing out to her her stupidity. I mean I guess it wasn't that unrealistic, but it also, again, imo, left for very little drama and made what drama there was easily fixed.
It just left me with a bit of "what is the point of introducing these characters if they barely even did anything?" kind of feeling. And that reminds me, Dane's parents stop by in the story for like 5 seconds and then get bowled over pretty easily, so I also wonder what the point was of them showing up again. These characters meant to insight drama just didn't feel necessary in the story to me.
But I did enjoy Bas and Jacob's story, I loved their chemistry - although the sex scenes could have been steamier, imo - and I enjoyed their romance. I also enjoyed the secondary characters introduced - Jacob's father and cousin, and Bas's mother (although I wish we had gotten more of her) - and I loved seeing Alex and Dane again, happy and in love.
And Alex and Dane make me wish that we totally could get an open kiss at the olympics or any sporting event between two LGBT+ people because we never actually get that. Of course only in fiction does that actually happen - unfortunately ;)
So overall...I feel like I might be flipped as I saw not many enjoyed the first but a few have enjoyed this one more...but I didn't quite enjoy this one as much as the first one. The only true plot point in this book was getting Bas and Jacob together and it totally could have happened sooner, but was drawn out for the melodrama of it all, in my opinion. (Like Bas not just talking to Jacob about his reasons for pulling back until he almost loses Jacob, of course. That's almost always how it is, isn't it? It's frustrating, imo, the lack of communication. Which is understandable to a point...but when it takes basically a whole book to communicate - and nothing like misunderstandings or bad feelings and whatnot get in the way - then it just feels ridiculous).
So...still a good read for me, still enjoyable with enjoyable MC's with good chemistry and an adorable romance. Just not as good as other works I've read by this author.
***ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review***
fsmeurinne's review
4.0
Entertaining story, Jacob is an interesting character, Bas well, he survived my wrath at times, their chemistry is there, I loved the secondary characters, the pacing was good the storyline was interesting enough, wished it was longer. The Olympic theme when we are actually watching the Olympics was what dragged me in, and I would've wanted to read more about the sport part of the story, the audiobook was well narrated, it's a 3rd person POV by Nick j Russo and was good enough for me to have a good time.
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bookish_notes's review
3.0
This review is also posted on my blog.
Medley is the sequel to Relay. Although the relationship could possibly work as a standalone, the story is strongly connected to the first book, and should be read as a sequel. Where Relay talks about the lead up to the Olympics, Medley picks up the story at the Olympics.
For the most part, I enjoyed this book. I love competitive swimming, especially so when it pertains to the Olympics. So, this book was right up my alley. I liked the characters, but I found myself preoccupied with the plot - will they or won't they win gold during their team medley??? I...tend to get really caught up on the sports aspect of a book when there is a sport in the story. Which means that I should probably re-read this book now that I do know outcome.
But what I can tell you guys is that this book is about fly swimmer Sebastian "Bas" Stewart, and breaststroke swimmer Jacob Burrows. Bas has been on the team as long as the captain, Alex. Bas is the second-in-command, if you will, and Jacob is the new kid on the Olympic team. Bas has a bit of a reputation upon the Olympics crowd, one that cost the relay team their gold four years ago. He's determined to not go down that same path this time around, but his growing attraction to Jacob could be his undoing.
Honestly, the characters just weren't a draw for me in this book. I liked them as secondary characters in book one, but it seems like they got lost in the shuffle when it was their turn to be in the spotlight. I liked reading about their backstory, and I liked their moments together. But...there was just something that was missing. I wasn't really feeling that spark between them like I did for Alex and Dane in Relay.
There's a bit of an underlying tension between Bas and Jacob that simmered, but never really came to life for me. And it's a weird feeling to have, because I liked both the characters, so why don't I love them being together? Bas is the older of the two and his uncertainty over whether him and Bas should be together takes up a majority of their storyline. It would have been nice for some Bas and Jacob to just BE, without all the extra drama from Bas and other characters butting in.
Sadly, this was just an okay read for me. I immensely enjoyed the Olympics-aspect of the story and seeing Alex and Dane again, but the relationship between the characters in this book just fell flat for me.
***Thanks to Riptide Publishing for providing me an ARC on NetGalley***
Medley is the sequel to Relay. Although the relationship could possibly work as a standalone, the story is strongly connected to the first book, and should be read as a sequel. Where Relay talks about the lead up to the Olympics, Medley picks up the story at the Olympics.
For the most part, I enjoyed this book. I love competitive swimming, especially so when it pertains to the Olympics. So, this book was right up my alley. I liked the characters, but I found myself preoccupied with the plot - will they or won't they win gold during their team medley??? I...tend to get really caught up on the sports aspect of a book when there is a sport in the story. Which means that I should probably re-read this book now that I do know outcome.
But what I can tell you guys is that this book is about fly swimmer Sebastian "Bas" Stewart, and breaststroke swimmer Jacob Burrows. Bas has been on the team as long as the captain, Alex. Bas is the second-in-command, if you will, and Jacob is the new kid on the Olympic team. Bas has a bit of a reputation upon the Olympics crowd, one that cost the relay team their gold four years ago. He's determined to not go down that same path this time around, but his growing attraction to Jacob could be his undoing.
Honestly, the characters just weren't a draw for me in this book. I liked them as secondary characters in book one, but it seems like they got lost in the shuffle when it was their turn to be in the spotlight. I liked reading about their backstory, and I liked their moments together. But...there was just something that was missing. I wasn't really feeling that spark between them like I did for Alex and Dane in Relay.
There's a bit of an underlying tension between Bas and Jacob that simmered, but never really came to life for me. And it's a weird feeling to have, because I liked both the characters, so why don't I love them being together? Bas is the older of the two and his uncertainty over whether him and Bas should be together takes up a majority of their storyline. It would have been nice for some Bas and Jacob to just BE, without all the extra drama from Bas and other characters butting in.
Sadly, this was just an okay read for me. I immensely enjoyed the Olympics-aspect of the story and seeing Alex and Dane again, but the relationship between the characters in this book just fell flat for me.
***Thanks to Riptide Publishing for providing me an ARC on NetGalley***
sarful's review against another edition
3.0
Following on the heals of the first book, this has the swimmers heading to Vienna to prepare for the Olympics. Bas and Jacob grew very close in the first book, but Bas hesitates to move things forward. Bas remains hot and cold the entire book, never once explaining why. He keeps thinking he’s doing Jacob a favor in denying a relationship but it gets tiring as it’s the most of the book.
And Jacob knowingly gets manipulated by Bas’s ex messing up a race. Then later he misses a heat. And all this during the damn Olympics! They worked so hard to get there and this nonsense childishness is their downfall? Luckily they figure it out in the end. But, by the end my investment in their relationship was waning. I kinda wish there was more Alex and Dane. This sequel just wasn’t as fun as the first book.
And Jacob knowingly gets manipulated by Bas’s ex messing up a race. Then later he misses a heat. And all this during the damn Olympics! They worked so hard to get there and this nonsense childishness is their downfall? Luckily they figure it out in the end. But, by the end my investment in their relationship was waning. I kinda wish there was more Alex and Dane. This sequel just wasn’t as fun as the first book.