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This was so adorable, I hated every single French word in this book but it was so damn wholesome. The falling in love happened too fast and the writing was so damn cheesy, but the relationship between Bryce and Hunter was so tender and sweet.
I don’t understand the whole French thing though because as someone who is bilingual in French and English, no one ever switches languages like that, like yes it happens but the way it’s done here is so confusing and weird. Plus wrong, more often than not. I hate French as a language, but every single French word in this book that made no sense hurt my soul.
Hunter has been admiring Bryce for so long, and Bryce was so cute, and they fit together so well. Soulmates, fr fr
Anyway, I still had a good time, I love any book that doesn’t do the third act breakup, and lowkey I know it’s bad but I love the injury trope. When two players are dating in secret but one of them gets hurt so their lover goes ballistic and outs himself?? Literature. Loved the side cast of this too, the teammates were not super developed but I love how obviously they cared for their Bunny (this nickname is the cutest thing ever, bye) and how accepting they were - no homophobic asshole in this book, victory!! So yeah, maybe it was a little (a lot) cheesy but it was sweet as hell!
I don’t understand the whole French thing though because as someone who is bilingual in French and English, no one ever switches languages like that, like yes it happens but the way it’s done here is so confusing and weird. Plus wrong, more often than not. I hate French as a language, but every single French word in this book that made no sense hurt my soul.
Hunter has been admiring Bryce for so long, and Bryce was so cute, and they fit together so well. Soulmates, fr fr
“Hunter Lacey.” His smile widens. He has a sharp Quebecois accent, and the upriver French cuts through his spoken English like a melody. “Bonjour.”
Holy shit, he knows my name.
[…]
I could faint. I could also puke, right onto the ice, right between his skates. “Hi,” I squeak. “I wear your number.”
“Enchanté.” Bryce's grin grows. “I wear your number, too.”
Anyway, I still had a good time, I love any book that doesn’t do the third act breakup, and lowkey I know it’s bad but I love the injury trope. When two players are dating in secret but one of them gets hurt so their lover goes ballistic and outs himself?? Literature. Loved the side cast of this too, the teammates were not super developed but I love how obviously they cared for their Bunny (this nickname is the cutest thing ever, bye) and how accepting they were - no homophobic asshole in this book, victory!! So yeah, maybe it was a little (a lot) cheesy but it was sweet as hell!
I reread this book every few months. Their love is poetic
The pining is real in this one. This book is good for if you want a lot of self development with characters. The writing was beautiful, but for me the plot did go a little slowly at times. Overall a good book.
3.5 stars!
Firstly, this book was fast and got me out of a reading slump, so I can’t complain too much.
This was a cute friends to lovers, it gave me everything I wanted from it. My main qualm was the French. Real bilingual people don’t speak two languages in a single sentence. I would know, I’m bilingual. Also I feel like I didn’t understand certain bits of the French, and there was not always a translation, so not sure if I missed out on bits. ‘Twas a tad weird. Also how did Hunter suddenly know loads of French but there was no mention of lessons?!? Bizarre.
Firstly, this book was fast and got me out of a reading slump, so I can’t complain too much.
This was a cute friends to lovers, it gave me everything I wanted from it. My main qualm was the French. Real bilingual people don’t speak two languages in a single sentence. I would know, I’m bilingual. Also I feel like I didn’t understand certain bits of the French, and there was not always a translation, so not sure if I missed out on bits. ‘Twas a tad weird. Also how did Hunter suddenly know loads of French but there was no mention of lessons?!? Bizarre.
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
5 Stars
Tal Bauer is an artist. This book...was absolutely beautiful. The amount of love, joy, loyalty, and camaraderie that is packed into these pages is absolutely astounding.
Bryce and Hunter have instant chemistry, and I would say that the beginning of their bond does feel a tidge like insta-love. I usually have a hard time with that, but Bauer backs it up with the bonding and development between these two afterward. I feel like it is more of a sense of that deep bond, rather than having it play directly out on the page.... but I felt it. Then there is the team and that connection. That bond. Ahhh, I loved it all! Not to mention what happens towards the end of the book... my goodness, does Tal Bauer know how to rip out those heart strings. This was an emotionally gripping and absolutely lovely book. I enjoyed every second and will be buying a physical copy and rereading in the future. 10/10 do recommend.
Tropes Include:
MM Love Interests
Dual POV
Hockey Romance
Instant Chemistry
Insta-Love Vibes
Self-Discovery
Secret Relationship
Ultimate Cuddles
Sunshine x Sunshine
Found Family
French/English
Hopelessly Devoted MMCs
Tal Bauer is an artist. This book...was absolutely beautiful. The amount of love, joy, loyalty, and camaraderie that is packed into these pages is absolutely astounding.
Bryce and Hunter have instant chemistry, and I would say that the beginning of their bond does feel a tidge like insta-love. I usually have a hard time with that, but Bauer backs it up with the bonding and development between these two afterward. I feel like it is more of a sense of that deep bond, rather than having it play directly out on the page.... but I felt it. Then there is the team and that connection. That bond. Ahhh, I loved it all! Not to mention what happens towards the end of the book... my goodness, does Tal Bauer know how to rip out those heart strings. This was an emotionally gripping and absolutely lovely book. I enjoyed every second and will be buying a physical copy and rereading in the future. 10/10 do recommend.
Tropes Include:
MM Love Interests
Dual POV
Hockey Romance
Instant Chemistry
Insta-Love Vibes
Self-Discovery
Secret Relationship
Ultimate Cuddles
Sunshine x Sunshine
Found Family
French/English
Hopelessly Devoted MMCs
I enjoyed how Hunter was hero-worshiping Bryce and his fumbling through his words and the feeling of being star-struck was sweet and fun, could be relatable. I felt that it took a lot longer for Hunter's personality to shine through / I didn't feel that it was as strong as or impactful as Bryce.
I like seeing how much these two were doing activities together when they first met, they went to dinner they went hiking Etc. While I personally did want a smidgen more emotional development and to see some of their conversations on page to see how these two connected and fell in love, this was better than a pure instant love situation. I felt that this was just a slight missed opportunity to really flesh out the characters and be even more endearing to the reader. I think it was done quite well within the page count.
I overall loved how Bauer's writing, I feel that he does big sweeping emotions very well and you can really be in the mind of Bryce when he is feeling his sadness and wrenching disappointment, and his longing; and also with Hunter while Hunter is trying to figure out what he wants-- it's easy to be very present with the characters and I like the author's flowery and emotional writing. Overall I wanted this book to be longer because I wanted to be both in the author's writing more but also to be present for this ongoing love story.
I liked the inclusion of French words and phrases, and also how Bryce sings to Hunter which was just so sweet! I felt it was a little bit too easy-going once the characters got together, it just felt like logistics had to be sorted out and their team was all on board and good. On the one hand I was glad for no homophobia or issues there, but there was zero angst or conflict or tension.
Hockey felt important to the book, this was a main focus and passion for both of our main characters and something that was a huge bond between them as a couple, I liked how prevalent hockey was in the book. The hockey team was a nice found-family aspect as well.
Overall this is a sweet and sappy quick love story that felt cute and earnest.
One reviewer points out that the French used was mostly French used in France, not French used in Quebec. I saw many complaints that the amount of French was too much or became annoying to read. I saw that some reviewers seem to love how romantic the writing was and felt that the cheesiness was what they were looking for in the story, but some other reviewers felt that this made things feel too over the top or ultimately it became boring/ repetitive.
I like seeing how much these two were doing activities together when they first met, they went to dinner they went hiking Etc. While I personally did want a smidgen more emotional development and to see some of their conversations on page to see how these two connected and fell in love, this was better than a pure instant love situation. I felt that this was just a slight missed opportunity to really flesh out the characters and be even more endearing to the reader. I think it was done quite well within the page count.
I overall loved how Bauer's writing, I feel that he does big sweeping emotions very well and you can really be in the mind of Bryce when he is feeling his sadness and wrenching disappointment, and his longing; and also with Hunter while Hunter is trying to figure out what he wants-- it's easy to be very present with the characters and I like the author's flowery and emotional writing. Overall I wanted this book to be longer because I wanted to be both in the author's writing more but also to be present for this ongoing love story.
I liked the inclusion of French words and phrases, and also how Bryce sings to Hunter which was just so sweet! I felt it was a little bit too easy-going once the characters got together, it just felt like logistics had to be sorted out and their team was all on board and good. On the one hand I was glad for no homophobia or issues there, but there was zero angst or conflict or tension.
Hockey felt important to the book, this was a main focus and passion for both of our main characters and something that was a huge bond between them as a couple, I liked how prevalent hockey was in the book. The hockey team was a nice found-family aspect as well.
Overall this is a sweet and sappy quick love story that felt cute and earnest.
One reviewer points out that the French used was mostly French used in France, not French used in Quebec. I saw many complaints that the amount of French was too much or became annoying to read. I saw that some reviewers seem to love how romantic the writing was and felt that the cheesiness was what they were looking for in the story, but some other reviewers felt that this made things feel too over the top or ultimately it became boring/ repetitive.
4.7⭐️
Honestly I just felt like, so happy? Idk. Tal Bauer writes a quality MM romance. Also I feel l a bit like I relearned French and learned about hockey too.
Honestly I just felt like, so happy? Idk. Tal Bauer writes a quality MM romance. Also I feel l a bit like I relearned French and learned about hockey too.
This was the book I didn't know I was waiting for. I'd give it 6 stars if I could