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thecontinuitybibliophile's review
emotional
funny
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? No
4.0
Dual POV, Spicy, Forced Proximity, Her First Time, Fake Dating, Second Chance, College Hockey, Bookish MMC
There's something about a fake dating romance when the MMC agrees to help the FMC land a date with another guy only to realize he'd rather sell this soul than see her with someone else. Can't Block My Love features this trope perfectly and the tension between Poppy and Ren is off the charts. Both slowly transform with the help of the other. Poppy grows out of her introverted shell, and Ren learns to let the world see the softer side of him.
There's something about a fake dating romance when the MMC agrees to help the FMC land a date with another guy only to realize he'd rather sell this soul than see her with someone else. Can't Block My Love features this trope perfectly and the tension between Poppy and Ren is off the charts. Both slowly transform with the help of the other. Poppy grows out of her introverted shell, and Ren learns to let the world see the softer side of him.
theeclecticreview's review against another edition
5.0
I love Xavier Neal’s dirty bad boys and the sweet feisty girls that steal their hearts so I couldn’t wait to read her newest novel.
With a name like Remington Ronald Rutledge the 3rd I’m sure you can guess the privilege and entitlement, this one has had. When his hockey coach calls him out on an incriminating video and punishes him with community service at an animal rescue league, he thinks he can buy himself out of it, but the mouthy little manager at the league is not an easy payoff. She has a proposition of her own.
Poppy Diesel has known Ren Rutledge since they were kids, but he disappeared from her life when she was eight years old. An age when she felt abandoned by the people she cared for and anxiety set in. Now, while in college when he tried to buy her off so he wouldn’t have to do his community service, she was saddened that he didn’t remember her name. I mean why would he? He’s the MVP of the hockey team. He’s every girl’s dream. Why would he remember the landscapers’ kid who knew him before his rise to hockeydom? When he proposes a deal to get out of community service, she takes her roommate’s suggestion of using his social status and gaining some status of her own. Namely, a date with one of his teammates. A date Ren will set up for her. A request that doesn’t go as planned.
Ren is such an unlikable person at first. He’s a pompous ass who thinks he is invincible until first, the very likable Coach Stiles takes him down a few pegs; and then, secondly, the adorable nose-twitching Poppy aka “Hootie” (Ren’s endearing name for her) appears back in his life. I love how Poppy’s confidence grows as she is around Ren and I love how Ren’s humanity surfaces while he is around Poppy. My favorite part about Ren is his love of reading which he hides from his teammates because he doesn’t want to be labeled a nerd. In addition, he wants to become a writer which Poppy supports wholeheartedly. It’s the struggle between his duty to be a winner (Rutledge) and his dream to be a writer (Ren) that holds him back from just being himself and having a healthy relationship with Poppy. Poppy’s patience and kindness to animals are precious, and she even wins Ren over with a few canine friends. It’s her cute nervous tick and her happy steadfast nature that bring Ren out of his dickhead mode. She wanted him to find his compassion. I love that he, early on, reneges on his deal to set her up on a date with his teammate because he wants her for himself. He also eventually starts dating her himself, shows her his book collection, and claims her v-card, but only on her terms. She has never forgotten Ren and has loved him from afar. Her opportunity to finally be around him is her dream come true and she doesn’t give up on him. She makes him whole by being herself around him. Of course, they have some ups and downs, but there’s a happy ever after plus a sweet epilogue that gave me the feels.
The supporting characters really shined for me. Especially Ren’s teammates and friends who were there for both him and Poppy. Poppy’s roommate Della, is a solid friend as well with her direct and outspoken advice and support. But my favorite supporting character was Coach Stiles who really handed Ren his ass at the beginning (way to go, coach!) and becomes a wonderful mentor and matchmaker.
This was such a captivating story, to see a cocky asshole finally meet his match and discover all the good things a healthy loving relationship holds… it did my heart SO good. If you like steamy and funny friends-to-lovers stories, then I have no doubt you will love meeting Ren and Poppy. I can’t wait to read more in this series.
Thank you to Ms. Neal for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
With a name like Remington Ronald Rutledge the 3rd I’m sure you can guess the privilege and entitlement, this one has had. When his hockey coach calls him out on an incriminating video and punishes him with community service at an animal rescue league, he thinks he can buy himself out of it, but the mouthy little manager at the league is not an easy payoff. She has a proposition of her own.
Poppy Diesel has known Ren Rutledge since they were kids, but he disappeared from her life when she was eight years old. An age when she felt abandoned by the people she cared for and anxiety set in. Now, while in college when he tried to buy her off so he wouldn’t have to do his community service, she was saddened that he didn’t remember her name. I mean why would he? He’s the MVP of the hockey team. He’s every girl’s dream. Why would he remember the landscapers’ kid who knew him before his rise to hockeydom? When he proposes a deal to get out of community service, she takes her roommate’s suggestion of using his social status and gaining some status of her own. Namely, a date with one of his teammates. A date Ren will set up for her. A request that doesn’t go as planned.
Ren is such an unlikable person at first. He’s a pompous ass who thinks he is invincible until first, the very likable Coach Stiles takes him down a few pegs; and then, secondly, the adorable nose-twitching Poppy aka “Hootie” (Ren’s endearing name for her) appears back in his life. I love how Poppy’s confidence grows as she is around Ren and I love how Ren’s humanity surfaces while he is around Poppy. My favorite part about Ren is his love of reading which he hides from his teammates because he doesn’t want to be labeled a nerd. In addition, he wants to become a writer which Poppy supports wholeheartedly. It’s the struggle between his duty to be a winner (Rutledge) and his dream to be a writer (Ren) that holds him back from just being himself and having a healthy relationship with Poppy. Poppy’s patience and kindness to animals are precious, and she even wins Ren over with a few canine friends. It’s her cute nervous tick and her happy steadfast nature that bring Ren out of his dickhead mode. She wanted him to find his compassion. I love that he, early on, reneges on his deal to set her up on a date with his teammate because he wants her for himself. He also eventually starts dating her himself, shows her his book collection, and claims her v-card, but only on her terms. She has never forgotten Ren and has loved him from afar. Her opportunity to finally be around him is her dream come true and she doesn’t give up on him. She makes him whole by being herself around him. Of course, they have some ups and downs, but there’s a happy ever after plus a sweet epilogue that gave me the feels.
The supporting characters really shined for me. Especially Ren’s teammates and friends who were there for both him and Poppy. Poppy’s roommate Della, is a solid friend as well with her direct and outspoken advice and support. But my favorite supporting character was Coach Stiles who really handed Ren his ass at the beginning (way to go, coach!) and becomes a wonderful mentor and matchmaker.
This was such a captivating story, to see a cocky asshole finally meet his match and discover all the good things a healthy loving relationship holds… it did my heart SO good. If you like steamy and funny friends-to-lovers stories, then I have no doubt you will love meeting Ren and Poppy. I can’t wait to read more in this series.
Thank you to Ms. Neal for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
lady_h_reads's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Remington Ronald Rutledge the 3rd just hijacked my first kiss. And like everything else he does, he did it without remorse.
I stalled out at 20% for several weeks before I dove back in and finished it in a night. While it didn’t hold my attention initially, I began to enjoy it and crave more once I got further into the character development and plot.
I did not think Ren would be redeemable. He was the typical entitled jock asshole who thought he could throw his money and fame around to get what he wanted. It took him A LONG time to turn himself around. And he fucked up several times to get there. Was he truly redeemed by the end? There definitely was growth potential.
I loved that Poppy refused to take his shit, at least in the beginning. In several instances, I wish she would have not forgiven Ren as instantly as she did. Ren did zero groveling when it was 100% warranted.
This is a medium-burn and moderately spicy MF romance.
A standalone, Ren and Poppy get their HEA in the end.
Genre: NA Hockey Romance
Tropes/Features: College romance, forced proximity, friends to enemies to lovers, second chance, grumpy/sunshine, hockey “god” MMC, nerdy FMC, virgin FMC, puppies!, third act breakup
POV: Dual 1st Person POV
Relationship Type: MF, medium-burn, moderately spicy
Book Type/Ending: Standalone with HEA
TW/CW: Available in book
raeujeana's review
funny
fast-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
4.0
justafellowreader's review
DNF @41%. Unfortunately, this book was not for me. I just couldn’t get over Ren’s attitude throughout the book and I didn’t like how he walked around like he was the most entitled person on the planet. I’m sure there was good character development, but I just couldn’t keep forcing myself to read. Not the book for me.
woeckie03's review
4.0
Loved how this book had so much character growth, especially for Ren, but also for Poppy and some of the side characters as well! I loved seeing Poppy embrace her confidence and stand up for herself! This book was full of sweet, funny, and also some steamy moments that I loved! The banter between Red and Poppy was perfect! Overall, I'd recommend this if you enjoy hockey romances or second chance romances!
Big thanks to Xavier Neal for sending me a copy of this book to read/review. All opinions are my own and honest.
Big thanks to Xavier Neal for sending me a copy of this book to read/review. All opinions are my own and honest.
madison_renee2415's review
4.5
I just love a second chance romance and a fake dating romance!
Ren is in trouble with his Hockey Coach and can’t get out of it with just throwing money at this problem. He is required to do community service to even be able to play.
He just so happens to have to report to his childhood friend (who he stopped talking to) Poppy.
Poppy is obsessed with animals and loves her time at the animal shelter. Ren tries to bribe her so he doesn’t have to do community service, so she says that she wants to go on a date with his enemy ( even though she has been in love with Ren since they were kids).
This was such a good book! Ren has a dirty mouth and mind and I love how he helps Poppy get out of her comfort zone.
beckyrendon's review
5.0
Freaking hilarious
Have you ever started a book and cackled, yes cackled in glee, at the idea of watching them fall? If not, one click now, the unexpected joy of watching them fall without realizing the only parachute is the one they are pretending doesn't matter is freaking epic. When they go splat, it would be so satisfying if they didn't mess with the best person ever!
So Poppy is weird, that doesn't make her any less than the @sshat. Just because you must love dogs to talk to her doesn't make her weird...I like to think of her as awesome, loyal, and faithful...and a tiny bit weird. However, Poppy is going to join my new sorority of awesomeness and bring Della's crazy self into the fold too.
Can't Block My Love is an absolute blast to read. The banter is completely engrossing. The romance is subtle and even more romantic in its simplicity. But the absolute joy I experienced laughing my self sore, priceless.
Xavier Neal is going to have to hold her calls, put her current work on hold, and absolutely tell me everything. Because some of this crazy, CANNOT be faked.
I cannot stress enough how utterly awesome, ridiculous, and entertaining some of these situations and conversations are. Seriously...Ren's first time I am still losing my cool snickering, choking, and sputtering over that doozy.
Can't Block My Love is definitely worth the time and you may even get a few new friends out of the deal.
Have you ever started a book and cackled, yes cackled in glee, at the idea of watching them fall? If not, one click now, the unexpected joy of watching them fall without realizing the only parachute is the one they are pretending doesn't matter is freaking epic. When they go splat, it would be so satisfying if they didn't mess with the best person ever!
So Poppy is weird, that doesn't make her any less than the @sshat. Just because you must love dogs to talk to her doesn't make her weird...I like to think of her as awesome, loyal, and faithful...and a tiny bit weird. However, Poppy is going to join my new sorority of awesomeness and bring Della's crazy self into the fold too.
Can't Block My Love is an absolute blast to read. The banter is completely engrossing. The romance is subtle and even more romantic in its simplicity. But the absolute joy I experienced laughing my self sore, priceless.
Xavier Neal is going to have to hold her calls, put her current work on hold, and absolutely tell me everything. Because some of this crazy, CANNOT be faked.
I cannot stress enough how utterly awesome, ridiculous, and entertaining some of these situations and conversations are. Seriously...Ren's first time I am still losing my cool snickering, choking, and sputtering over that doozy.
Can't Block My Love is definitely worth the time and you may even get a few new friends out of the deal.
jnremerypearson's review
3.0
Liked it but needed more groveling
I really enjoyed the pacing of this book and the overall storyline was great. I felt like Ren could have been a little easier to like... How fatshaming was a bit uncomfortable. But overall it was a fun book and I'd recommend it.
Spoiler: I needed way more grovel... After the terrible things he said he needed to put in way more work, even with the bff helping his case. That alone sent that from 4 to 3 stars.
I really enjoyed the pacing of this book and the overall storyline was great. I felt like Ren could have been a little easier to like... How fatshaming was a bit uncomfortable. But overall it was a fun book and I'd recommend it.
Spoiler: I needed way more grovel... After the terrible things he said he needed to put in way more work, even with the bff helping his case. That alone sent that from 4 to 3 stars.