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lily111's review
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
4.0
rellimreads's review against another edition
5.0
Updated 9/23/19:
I read this when it first came out and loved it. Solid 4 star, slow burn, Cutting Edge fangirl loved it.
When I saw it was on Audible Escape with duet narration featuring Teddy Hamilton speaking Ivan’s “lines” ~ I was actually kind of nervous. This whole book is from Jasmine’s POV and I wasn’t sure (despite being a huge fan of Hamilton as a narrator) that it was going to work for me.
It worked so well. Amazingly well. I loved it. I love the story even more in audio form. So, I’m bumping my story rating to 5 stars and giving Callie Dalton & Teddy Hamilton 5 as well.
I’m off to check out all the other Zapata stories on Audible.
I read this when it first came out and loved it. Solid 4 star, slow burn, Cutting Edge fangirl loved it.
When I saw it was on Audible Escape with duet narration featuring Teddy Hamilton speaking Ivan’s “lines” ~ I was actually kind of nervous. This whole book is from Jasmine’s POV and I wasn’t sure (despite being a huge fan of Hamilton as a narrator) that it was going to work for me.
It worked so well. Amazingly well. I loved it. I love the story even more in audio form. So, I’m bumping my story rating to 5 stars and giving Callie Dalton & Teddy Hamilton 5 as well.
I’m off to check out all the other Zapata stories on Audible.
isabzz's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
boisdelaire's review against another edition
3.0
★★★ ─── 3 stars.
frankly? i'm so disappointed. i expected SO much from this book because i loved kulti, and even if many people the latter was their favorite one, this one was so hyped up i was waiting for the same experience. and i decided to read it during winter for the total vibe package you know.. but maybe heterosexual romance is not it for me anymore, it doesn't bring me any joy, i don't relate and there are certain things in this book that made me want to scream, at the top of my head and because i don't want to crush this book more than needed (i liked some passages okay otherwise it wouldn't be a 3 stars) :
1. why do you call ivan's dick his anaconda, it threw me off so bad i didn't even giggle it was just plain weird. this was also one of the worst sex scenes ive read lol..
2. jasmine is hot-headed and strong woman there's no denying that, but the way this book was written, so familiar and not really enjoyable. i don't even have quotes to share, it lacked some good writing and i don't remember kulti being that bad actually
3. so many things were repeated again and again : his big hands holding jasmine's body yEAH WE GET IT, his beautiful body yadayada, not taking any shit from anyone except myself etc. so redundant at some point i just wanted to finish the story to be honest.
4. i got it, if tiktok recommends a romance book, i'll stay away from it !! and i love the theory that ppl who never read fanfic love these types of romance books bc it didn't bring me any emotion, they could've not ended together, would've been the same for me tbh
5. not but really, i didn't feel a thing for them the entire book, some passages were cute but solely for the scenarios otherwise i wouldn't have finished it. every scene felt like standalones in a way? cut from the entire series of events idk how to explain but this was my vision of it...
needless to say, that was disappointing for the first read of the year. what's worse is that i expected so much and got nothing. i still have one zappata book in my library and i'm still excited to give it a try, please be awesome!!
frankly? i'm so disappointed. i expected SO much from this book because i loved kulti, and even if many people the latter was their favorite one, this one was so hyped up i was waiting for the same experience. and i decided to read it during winter for the total vibe package you know.. but maybe heterosexual romance is not it for me anymore, it doesn't bring me any joy, i don't relate and there are certain things in this book that made me want to scream, at the top of my head and because i don't want to crush this book more than needed (i liked some passages okay otherwise it wouldn't be a 3 stars) :
1. why do you call ivan's dick his anaconda, it threw me off so bad i didn't even giggle it was just plain weird. this was also one of the worst sex scenes ive read lol..
2. jasmine is hot-headed and strong woman there's no denying that, but the way this book was written, so familiar and not really enjoyable. i don't even have quotes to share, it lacked some good writing and i don't remember kulti being that bad actually
3. so many things were repeated again and again : his big hands holding jasmine's body yEAH WE GET IT, his beautiful body yadayada, not taking any shit from anyone except myself etc. so redundant at some point i just wanted to finish the story to be honest.
4. i got it, if tiktok recommends a romance book, i'll stay away from it !! and i love the theory that ppl who never read fanfic love these types of romance books bc it didn't bring me any emotion, they could've not ended together, would've been the same for me tbh
5. not but really, i didn't feel a thing for them the entire book, some passages were cute but solely for the scenarios otherwise i wouldn't have finished it. every scene felt like standalones in a way? cut from the entire series of events idk how to explain but this was my vision of it...
needless to say, that was disappointing for the first read of the year. what's worse is that i expected so much and got nothing. i still have one zappata book in my library and i'm still excited to give it a try, please be awesome!!
meteowrite02's review against another edition
1.0
DNF, couldn't get into it past the first two chapters. Writing style wasn't for me, I'm sure it was for others tho. Would've loved a sweet ice rink romance
elisetu's review against another edition
4.0
I like to start my reviews with good things, but let’s switch it up this time! Why not five starts, easy, for a contemporary romance, it’s too long. Besides the romance (and, possibly spoilery, winning a few competitions), there wasn’t much action. If a book has practically nothing happening, it doesn’t have to have 493 pages (my eyes hurt from this number (is a person who reads 900+ pages of fantasy novels)).
ONTO THE GOOD STUFF!
This was so much fun! I listened to the audiobook and it was a great experience. This is my first time reading a sports romance and honestly, I want more, specifically, I want more Mariana Zapata. She writes with such simplicity and ease, a perfect formula for a romance novel. It has that “one more chapter” crack potential and that’s what we like in this house.
Also, breaking my silence, I read this for the plot (the plot being Ivan Lukov)- this review is TO LUKOV WITH LOVE (cringey winky face).
THE TENSION, THE ANGST, THE BUILD-UP THOSE TWO WERE EVERYTHING!!!
Some of y’all don’t like a slow-burn book BUT LISTEN, I DO, I’M A SLOW-BURN GIRLIE AND I WILL BE TILL THE DAY I DIE. I heard that’s how Mariana Zapata writes usually, and tbh, just give me more!
Amazing to get you out of a reading slump, loveable characters, go pick it up, have a fun time!
ONTO THE GOOD STUFF!
This was so much fun! I listened to the audiobook and it was a great experience. This is my first time reading a sports romance and honestly, I want more, specifically, I want more Mariana Zapata. She writes with such simplicity and ease, a perfect formula for a romance novel. It has that “one more chapter” crack potential and that’s what we like in this house.
Also, breaking my silence, I read this for the plot (the plot being Ivan Lukov)- this review is TO LUKOV WITH LOVE (cringey winky face).
THE TENSION, THE ANGST, THE BUILD-UP THOSE TWO WERE EVERYTHING!!!
Some of y’all don’t like a slow-burn book BUT LISTEN, I DO, I’M A SLOW-BURN GIRLIE AND I WILL BE TILL THE DAY I DIE. I heard that’s how Mariana Zapata writes usually, and tbh, just give me more!
Amazing to get you out of a reading slump, loveable characters, go pick it up, have a fun time!
michellebasile's review against another edition
4.0
Mariana, I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of reading your art.
What a good book. Interesting characters and plot, good slow burn, just ✨chef kisses✨
What a good book. Interesting characters and plot, good slow burn, just ✨chef kisses✨
adrianavc32's review against another edition
4.0
Me encantó este librooo, me sentí muy identificada en muchas partes con Jasmine, no siempre de la mejor manera, pero al ver todo su desarrollo de personaje se siente muy bonito ver como terminó todo. Creo que el final fue un poco apresurado y de repente hubo unas cosillas que nunca se acabaron de concluir para mí que parecían importantes pero igual disfruté muchísimo este libro