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belle13's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Amount of spice: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Explicitness: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes/Themes:
❤ Hockey Romance
❤ Second Gen
❤ Secret Romance
❤ Found Family
❤ Laugh Out Loud Funny
❤ No Third Act Break Up
I’ve decided Elle is the queen of a secret, let’s sneak around romance and I eat it up every time. I’ll be honest, this didn’t hit quite at the same level as The Deal or The Score did for me because those are ten star books but I was absolutely glued to the pages. I normally find myself extremely bored by contemporary romance that drags for over 350 pages but I flew through this, I didn’t even notice the length.
I adored all the cameos from the original off campus crew and loved how they really have all become one big family. I wasn’t expecting this to be such a sweet, gentle romance but there were parts that were so moving, in a way I haven’t seen from Elle before. I also think this is the funniest of all the Elle Kennedy books so far. I found myself laughing out loud in an embarrassing way so many times while reading.
I would recommend this if you loved the Off Campus Series (and also if you haven’t read it), enjoy a secret romance and characters that will suck you in and have you wanting to stay in their fictional world for as long as possible.
Explicitness: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes/Themes:
❤ Hockey Romance
❤ Second Gen
❤ Secret Romance
❤ Found Family
❤ Laugh Out Loud Funny
❤ No Third Act Break Up
I’ve decided Elle is the queen of a secret, let’s sneak around romance and I eat it up every time. I’ll be honest, this didn’t hit quite at the same level as The Deal or The Score did for me because those are ten star books but I was absolutely glued to the pages. I normally find myself extremely bored by contemporary romance that drags for over 350 pages but I flew through this, I didn’t even notice the length.
I adored all the cameos from the original off campus crew and loved how they really have all become one big family. I wasn’t expecting this to be such a sweet, gentle romance but there were parts that were so moving, in a way I haven’t seen from Elle before. I also think this is the funniest of all the Elle Kennedy books so far. I found myself laughing out loud in an embarrassing way so many times while reading.
I would recommend this if you loved the Off Campus Series (and also if you haven’t read it), enjoy a secret romance and characters that will suck you in and have you wanting to stay in their fictional world for as long as possible.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, and Death of parent
hippie_raccoon's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
My main issue with this book is that it had too many plots. The romance. The men's team coming together to learn to be a team. The ex-boyfriend. The Team USA. The tragic past.
And yet there are scenes that we don't actually see that would have been a lot of fun. Like the hockey game after Christmas. OrGigi and Ryder thinking/discussing marriage or kids or any kind of long term plans.
I didn't hate it. Really the only reason I read it so quickly was because I wanted to read some seasonal books. But I feel like it could have benefited from some serious editing and about 150 pages skinnier.
And yet there are scenes that we don't actually see that would have been a lot of fun. Like the hockey game after Christmas. Or
I didn't hate it. Really the only reason I read it so quickly was because I wanted to read some seasonal books. But I feel like it could have benefited from some serious editing and about 150 pages skinnier.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Death of parent
circe813's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment
Minor: Bullying, Confinement, Fatphobia, Blood, and Grief
veg_sbn's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Death of parent, and Murder
lunahale's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
amazing. show stopping. unforgettable. this was amazing omgggg!! i didn’t even mind that i’d been spoiled for the ending bc all the clues were there haha. this definitely made me want to reread the deal 🫶🏼 and i will definitely be rereading this, ugh ryder has my heart!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Death of parent, and Murder
jamiejanae_6's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
cynic_reader's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
Well, this was... disappointing. The plot had potential but the overly unnecessary smut didn't give it enough room to grow.
Bear in mind, I like the Off Campus and Briar U series, and do expect the smut and some quirky characters. However, there was something about this book that was off-putting. I only finished reading it because I fell in love with Hannah and Garrett in The Deal, and wanted to give their daughter a chance. But, shucks! Gigi is definitely not a loveable character.
The whole ex-boyfriend situation being treated like it was a cheating scenario was absolutely ridiculous! The exhibitionism was weird af. The way the marriage trope was done is tasteless.
Anyway, this is definitely not my favorite Elle Kennedy book.
Bear in mind, I like the Off Campus and Briar U series, and do expect the smut and some quirky characters. However, there was something about this book that was off-putting. I only finished reading it because I fell in love with Hannah and Garrett in The Deal, and wanted to give their daughter a chance. But, shucks! Gigi is definitely not a loveable character.
The whole ex-boyfriend situation being treated like it was a cheating scenario was absolutely ridiculous! The exhibitionism was weird af. The way the marriage trope was done is tasteless.
Anyway, this is definitely not my favorite Elle Kennedy book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Gun violence, and Death of parent
It's giving toxic relationship.nbitzer's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Violence and Sexual harassment
demyajanayxo's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence and Death of parent
Minor: Abandonment
occasionalyarnie's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
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
4.5
This book was near-perfect for me, and I honestly can't even really say why it's not getting a full five stars. Maybe it's that I've read every other Briar book and it's hard to top some of the other titles? But I still really enjoyed it.
Firstly, I really appreciated that both leads were hockey players, and that it was something Gigi was serious about pursuing beyond college. It would have been easy to "feminize" her by making her less invested in the sport (or for her to only do it because her dad it), and I really loved that it wasn't taken that way. Overall, Gigi's character was really well-done; I liked that she was driven, introspective, and that she knew her value and stood up for herself when she needed to. Ryder's character was amazing, if frustrating at times. When his inability to communicate became an issue, it was pointed out as a problem and he actively worked on addressing it. I liked that he was quiet and secretly emotional. I liked them as a couple, too. It really made sense not only why they were into each other, by why they worked together.
The plot was pretty standard for a college sports romance. My biggest critique is that the write-up for the novel made it seem like the deal they make in the beginning of the book would play a larger role throughout, but it's largely forgotten after the first half (which is more a critique on the write-up than the book itself). At points, I also wished we actually saw more hockey. It's always there and they're often talking about it, but I would have liked to see more than the few games we got, especially for the women's team. But that's more of a personal preference thing and not something that I think detached from my overall enjoyment of the book. Major spoiler:I'm still not sure how I feel about them getting married. It happened really quickly and with very little lead-up, so to me it felt a bit rushed and impulsive, even if the characters didn't feel that way. We were also blindsided by the revelation, so it felt like it may have been done for shock value. I might have been okay if they got engaged, but marriage might be a bit much for me. But maybe it's just my old-fashioned coming through.
Lastly, I liked a lot of the Easter eggs and references to past characters and books in the Briar universe. They were incorporated well enough that they're fun for those of us who have read the books, but wouldn't leave new readers utterly confused by them.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story and look forward to adding it to my go-to rereads list. Fingers crossed that the next book in the series is just as good.
Firstly, I really appreciated that both leads were hockey players, and that it was something Gigi was serious about pursuing beyond college. It would have been easy to "feminize" her by making her less invested in the sport (or for her to only do it because her dad it), and I really loved that it wasn't taken that way. Overall, Gigi's character was really well-done; I liked that she was driven, introspective, and that she knew her value and stood up for herself when she needed to. Ryder's character was amazing, if frustrating at times. When his inability to communicate became an issue, it was pointed out as a problem and he actively worked on addressing it. I liked that he was quiet and secretly emotional. I liked them as a couple, too. It really made sense not only why they were into each other, by why they worked together.
The plot was pretty standard for a college sports romance. My biggest critique is that the write-up for the novel made it seem like the deal they make in the beginning of the book would play a larger role throughout, but it's largely forgotten after the first half (which is more a critique on the write-up than the book itself). At points, I also wished we actually saw more hockey. It's always there and they're often talking about it, but I would have liked to see more than the few games we got, especially for the women's team. But that's more of a personal preference thing and not something that I think detached from my overall enjoyment of the book. Major spoiler:
Lastly, I liked a lot of the Easter eggs and references to past characters and books in the Briar universe. They were incorporated well enough that they're fun for those of us who have read the books, but wouldn't leave new readers utterly confused by them.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story and look forward to adding it to my go-to rereads list. Fingers crossed that the next book in the series is just as good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Grief and Sexual harassment