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heather077's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
slow-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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Sexual content
princessgirlypop's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I have pretty mixed feelings about this book, there were aspects I loved and aspects I hated. I’ll start by saying I wasn’t a fan of the writing style/prose. It felt quite repetitive and convoluted a lot of the time. I frankly think the book could’ve been a lot shorter if there wasn’t a description of Ivan’s eye color on every other page. However, I think that’s just my preference, other people might engage with it more than me. Also, for the first 30-40% of the book I did not vibe with Jasmine at all and found her pretty insufferable. Their banter (while good which I’ll get into in a moment) became extremely repetitive at times. Like “get in the car” “no I don’t want to” for literally like 2-3 pages.
Now onto what I did like! The romance and story itself were amazing and what pushed me to finish the book. Like I was giggling and getting butterflies from how romantic it was. The slow burn romance had a well-paced build up that kept me enticed and the awkward/cheesy situations that fueled the romance didn’t feel forced. Also, in the latter part of the book Jasmine really grew on me and after finishing it, despite her not really being my kind of person, I still like her a lot! Finally, a lot of their banter actually had me laughing out loud and was super enjoyable!
Overall, I don’t think it was as good as tiktok made it out to be, but if you like slow burn, lots of a banter, and a hot male lead I’d recommend this book!
Now onto what I did like! The romance and story itself were amazing and what pushed me to finish the book. Like I was giggling and getting butterflies from how romantic it was. The slow burn romance had a well-paced build up that kept me enticed and the awkward/cheesy situations that fueled the romance didn’t feel forced. Also, in the latter part of the book Jasmine really grew on me and after finishing it, despite her not really being my kind of person, I still like her a lot! Finally, a lot of their banter actually had me laughing out loud and was super enjoyable!
Overall, I don’t think it was as good as tiktok made it out to be, but if you like slow burn, lots of a banter, and a hot male lead I’d recommend this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Bullying
jessieslibrary's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
lighthearted
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Stalking, Body shaming, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content
Minor: Car accident and Fatphobia
whatjasread's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-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
5.0
• holy Lukov
• honestly just floored, maybe it’s a case of me being sad as hell and Ivan saying all the things I needed to hear right now but this was so good
• as a fat person myself I didn’t like all the comments about appearances and weight it just felt so unnecessary with no explanation *but* the book has just been amazing vibes for me which is why I haven’t knocked stars off
• my heart bleeds for jasmine so much I adore her
• the bracelet!!!!!
• the Hershey kisses!!!!!
• I lost it with the hair stroking and the nursing to health honestly on the floor sobbing
• so so good honestly I’ve loved both the zapata books I’ve read so far maybe they’re an autobuy author now???
TWs: fatphobia, mockery of learning disability, mention of racism, bullying, car accident (mother, off page), skating accident & injury, strained family relationships, burnout, social pressure, sexual harassment (mail, social media), mention of stalking
Tropes: enemies to lovers, best friend’s brother, I see how they look at you, who did this to you, nursing to health, found family, celebrity romance
• honestly just floored, maybe it’s a case of me being sad as hell and Ivan saying all the things I needed to hear right now but this was so good
• as a fat person myself I didn’t like all the comments about appearances and weight it just felt so unnecessary with no explanation *but* the book has just been amazing vibes for me which is why I haven’t knocked stars off
• my heart bleeds for jasmine so much I adore her
• the bracelet!!!!!
• the Hershey kisses!!!!!
• I lost it with the hair stroking and the nursing to health honestly on the floor sobbing
• so so good honestly I’ve loved both the zapata books I’ve read so far maybe they’re an autobuy author now???
TWs: fatphobia, mockery of learning disability, mention of racism, bullying, car accident (mother, off page), skating accident & injury, strained family relationships, burnout, social pressure, sexual harassment (mail, social media), mention of stalking
Tropes: enemies to lovers, best friend’s brother, I see how they look at you, who did this to you, nursing to health, found family, celebrity romance
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, and Stalking
Moderate: Bullying, Body shaming, Mental illness, and Fatphobia
Minor: Racism and Car accident
bryelle's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
4.5
I love Jasmine so much. Reading about a bad ass, hard working woman is amazing.
She has worked hard her whole live to figure skate. She has had to make sacrifices of spending less time with her family, and work hard to earn money while competing. But she finally pairs up with her best friends brother who has teased her her whole life. They finally decided to work together and become friends, but the transition is hard.
She has worked hard her whole live to figure skate. She has had to make sacrifices of spending less time with her family, and work hard to earn money while competing. But she finally pairs up with her best friends brother who has teased her her whole life. They finally decided to work together and become friends, but the transition is hard.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Body shaming, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Car accident
lucy_36's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Fatphobia, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, and Stalking
sarahthebookwhore's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
fast-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Cursing, Sexual content, and Stalking
moonbin's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment and Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment and Cursing
Minor: Bullying, Car accident, Body shaming, and Racism
bookish_dinkleberg's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I was so excited to read a figure skating romance and was, unfortunately, let down by the lack of actual figure skating in the book. There's a lot of practice in the book, which was fun to read, but we don't ever really get to read about the competitions the characters have been preparing for.
What I liked about the book:
- flawed main character whose faults and insecurities impact the plot and her relationships with other people
- the figure skating that was in the book seemed well-researched and realistic to me (I'm no expert though haha)
- the slow-burn aspects of the romance
What I didn't like about the book:
- the writing (it seemed a bit overwritten, a lot of detailed dialogue tags like " said the red-haired woman who gave birth to me")
- the inner monologue was funny at times and I can understand why the author might have wanted to leave all that in there, but for me (this is a personal preference) it was way too much and slowed down the pace of the book
- fat-shaming - What was the point of all that?
- the ending felt a little bit rushed and as I said above, we don't actually get to read about the competitions in detail and just get a summary of everything that happened in the epilogue
What I liked about the book:
- flawed main character whose faults and insecurities impact the plot and her relationships with other people
- the figure skating that was in the book seemed well-researched and realistic to me (I'm no expert though haha)
- the slow-burn aspects of the romance
What I didn't like about the book:
- the writing (it seemed a bit overwritten, a lot of detailed dialogue tags like " said the red-haired woman who gave birth to me")
- the inner monologue was funny at times and I can understand why the author might have wanted to leave all that in there, but for me (this is a personal preference) it was way too much and slowed down the pace of the book
- fat-shaming - What was the point of all that?
- the ending felt a little bit rushed and as I said above, we don't actually get to read about the competitions in detail and just get a summary of everything that happened in the epilogue
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Sexual content, and Stalking
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Car accident and Pregnancy
anncatherine's review against another edition
emotional
funny
slow-paced
4.5
a good slow burn enemies to lovers.
“I love you so much I spend all day with you, and it still isn’t enough for me,” he kept going. I stopped breathing. “I love you so much, if I can’t skate with you, I don’t want to skate with anyone else. I love you so fucking much, Jasmine, that if I broke my ankle during a program, I would get up and finish it for you, to get you what you’ve always wanted."
“Because I’m okay with you having ten other people be your favorite. But you’re always going to be my favorite person,” he finished. “Always. No matter what.”
“I believe in you. In us. Regardless of what happens, you will always be the best partner I’ve ever had. You’ll always be the hardest working person I’ve ever known. There will only ever be you.”
i am in love with ivannnnn.
“I love you so much I spend all day with you, and it still isn’t enough for me,” he kept going. I stopped breathing. “I love you so much, if I can’t skate with you, I don’t want to skate with anyone else. I love you so fucking much, Jasmine, that if I broke my ankle during a program, I would get up and finish it for you, to get you what you’ve always wanted."
“Because I’m okay with you having ten other people be your favorite. But you’re always going to be my favorite person,” he finished. “Always. No matter what.”
“I believe in you. In us. Regardless of what happens, you will always be the best partner I’ve ever had. You’ll always be the hardest working person I’ve ever known. There will only ever be you.”
i am in love with ivannnnn.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment and Stalking
Moderate: Body shaming and Sexual content
Minor: Bullying