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tanvibkk's review
2.5
i wanted to read this because i wanted to be able to form my own opinion on it that wasn't skewed by booktok or booktok haters. and boy, do i have an opinion. it's embarrassing that this is about to be my longest review.
to start, the first ~100 pages are absolute garbage. it's literally 100 pages of exposition/explaining characters. a whole lot of "[character] is like this and [other character] is like this." show not tell, Hannah Grace. show not tell. it reads like a 5th grader's narrative piece. on top of that, the conflict doesn't even start until halfway through the novel. i almost dnf'ed at this point tbh.
despite the fact that there are two perspectives in the book, it's really from Anastasia's perspective. her chapters are about herself, and most of the time, Nate's chapters are ALSO about her. now i hated Anastasia for the first ~25% of the book because she does a lot of stupid shit; she sits on the lap of one of Nate's teammates (...) and she wears the jersey of the same teammate for Halloween (just the jersey...). personally, i just find this stuff annoying, but whatever floats your boat i guess. she does, however, change for the better as the story goes on, so my annoyance subsided. she's an orphan, she feels extreme pressure to succeed as a figure skater, and her partner is an abusive asshole. by the end, i was just happy that she was happy after everything she went through. as for Nathan, hes... there. he's more of a love interest than a protagonist. sure, he's kind, caring, and supportive, along with having a terrible father, but that's it. he's a very flat character, and he serves as a pillar of support for Anastasia throughout the book more than anything.
finally, saying you hate this book because it's bad is like saying you don't like candy because it's unhealthy. like duh. after all the exposition, i found myself having fun reading this because it knows how absurd it is and leans into it.hell, they have sex while he's dressed as Gru from Despicable Me. so was it a good book? absolutely not. was it a good time? yes. i'm allowed to enjoy shitty things, people!
to start, the first ~100 pages are absolute garbage. it's literally 100 pages of exposition/explaining characters. a whole lot of "[character] is like this and [other character] is like this." show not tell, Hannah Grace. show not tell. it reads like a 5th grader's narrative piece. on top of that, the conflict doesn't even start until halfway through the novel. i almost dnf'ed at this point tbh.
despite the fact that there are two perspectives in the book, it's really from Anastasia's perspective. her chapters are about herself, and most of the time, Nate's chapters are ALSO about her. now i hated Anastasia for the first ~25% of the book because she does a lot of stupid shit;
finally, saying you hate this book because it's bad is like saying you don't like candy because it's unhealthy. like duh. after all the exposition, i found myself having fun reading this because it knows how absurd it is and leans into it.
hattie05's review
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
cxffee_addxct's review against another edition
4.0
I need my own Nate Hawkins.
Honestly, this book makes me regret going to a college that doesn't have a hockey team. I wish I could do that webtoon-style transmigration "travel back in time" plotline so I can relive the last 10 years of my life and set myself up to be able to get my own Nate Hawkins, because he's truly written to be the best book boyfriend. Total golden retriever energy, I love him, I need one pLEASE. And Stassie? I felt for her throughout this WHOLE book, oh my god. She worked so hard and pushed herself so far trying to do everything right and she deserves so much better than she got 70% of the time.
The one thing that really bothered me about this book (and what inevitably knocked it down a star for me) is the fact that it's made such a point by the author that Stassie recognizes toxicity because of her extensive therapy, but Aaron gaslights and abuses her throughout the whole book and she...just never notices until it's almost too late? Until he literally long-jumps over the line and forces himself on her? I don't fucking think so. First of all, he deserved to get his ass beat by the whole hockey team. SECOND of all, it's a massive logical hole and creates plot armor for Aaron, Stassie should've called him on his bullshit long before Christmas break if she had really learned all that from therapy. I call shenanigans.
Otherwise, fantastic book. I can't wait for Maple Hills book 2!!
Honestly, this book makes me regret going to a college that doesn't have a hockey team. I wish I could do that webtoon-style transmigration "travel back in time" plotline so I can relive the last 10 years of my life and set myself up to be able to get my own Nate Hawkins, because he's truly written to be the best book boyfriend. Total golden retriever energy, I love him, I need one pLEASE. And Stassie? I felt for her throughout this WHOLE book, oh my god. She worked so hard and pushed herself so far trying to do everything right and she deserves so much better than she got 70% of the time.
The one thing that really bothered me about this book (and what inevitably knocked it down a star for me) is the fact that it's made such a point by the author that Stassie recognizes toxicity because of her extensive therapy, but Aaron gaslights and abuses her throughout the whole book and she...just never notices until it's almost too late? Until he literally long-jumps over the line and forces himself on her? I don't fucking think so. First of all, he deserved to get his ass beat by the whole hockey team. SECOND of all, it's a massive logical hole and creates plot armor for Aaron, Stassie should've called him on his bullshit long before Christmas break if she had really learned all that from therapy. I call shenanigans.
Otherwise, fantastic book. I can't wait for Maple Hills book 2!!
_reveriedarling's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
amylferg's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
viselik's review against another edition
I am so bored, I put it down and no interest to pick it back up.
flowerreadsalot's review against another edition
3.0
I don’t know. I feel like in my heart I want to give it a 2 but objectively I don’t think it deserves that?
Let’s start with positives:
Nate Hawkins is actually perfect and I love him. I also liked the representation and discussion around going to therapy. I appreciated the way Nate and Anastasia were able to have open conversations about their feelings and the things they were going through.
The spice was top tier
Let’s start with positives:
Nate Hawkins is actually perfect and I love him. I also liked the representation and discussion around going to therapy. I appreciated the way Nate and Anastasia were able to have open conversations about their feelings and the things they were going through.
The spice was top tier
vic_forlani's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
shauntiel's review
This book was so boring. I could not get into it and I could not stand the fmc, she was annoying.