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elizakay's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Grief
mabellene's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-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: Death and Grief
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Car accident
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Drug use
wanderingtales's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Grief
Moderate: Alcohol and Drug use
Minor: Car accident and Death
sundayseesstars's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
I really loved the aspec rep in this one!! I related to Landon so much in his attitude towards sex (except I'm ace and he's probably demi), and I could see my friend clearly in his attitude towards touching (I'd rec her the book if I didn't know she does not appreciate the genre :p). Overall incredibly sweet and well worth the read, as I've come to expect from Rachel Reid! I'd only discovered her earlier this year but I couldn't be more happy about it!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Death and Car accident
mlglenn's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
3readingcircus's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Bi mmc rep! Autistic-coded mmc.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Sexual content
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Car accident
garbage_mcsmutly's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.25
This was a really sweet story! Ace representation, lots of steamy scenes, and a very good performance from the narrator. Wrapped up kind of in a hurry though. I wish there had been more about Landon's personal growth (get him in therapy!!!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Grief, Sexual content, and Cursing
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Biphobia, Car accident, Death, Acephobia/Arophobia, and Injury/Injury detail
journey2's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.75
Hockey/sports aren't really my thing, but everyone was loving it so I thought I would give this one a try!
And I didn't hate it!
I found it actually quite enjoyable!
I don't plan on reading a lot of sports romance books but this was new for me and I enjoyed it.
Here's what I liked;
- the two main characters.
- I liked the Slow Burn Romance.
- I liked them working to find themselves and heal from things in their past. And they didn't work on themselves *for* each other or to make themselves "worthy" of each other but worked together in a way that showed support.
- Their communication about boundaries was excellent, especially when it came to things like knowing when Landon was touched out and didn't want physical contact with anybody because it made him uncomfortable. Their acceptance of each other with regards to any seggsual encounters was pretty fantastic. Casey absolutely respected Landon when he said he didn't really know if he had any interest in seggs at all; and then followed through with that, giving him space and time and understanding. Landon never seemed to feel like he couldn't speak up for fear of judgment if he was uncomfortable and Casey was always ready to listen and respect his wishes.
Of course the communication fell apart in *lots* of other ways but in this way, at least, it was very well handled.
- It was a very seggs positive book .
- The hockey was of course a very important factor in the story but wasn't the entire story, and my limited knowledge wasn't a detriment to my reading.
- I was a big fan of the Canadian storyline and a Canadian author and references to Canadian things like touques instead of beanies! (Although not a single mention of Tim Hortons??!?! Not one Timmies run? Not a single timbit?!)
For what I didn't like;
- The book seemed very surface level; even when they got into their personal histories and fears and traumas. There's nothing terribly profound about the book. Not that I expect profound wisdom from every book that I read every time, but even from books that I purely enjoy from a fluffy , comfort read point of view, there wasn't really anything that was a major takeaway or lines that made me stop and think. There were some cute lines, yes, but it was not particularly memorable; other than being very seggsy!
- It was sort of addressed near the end of the book a couple of times but the fact that everybody thought that one of the main characters was so stupid and continually laughed at their supposed idiocy was quite frustrating. To the point where the character just sort of thought that way about themselves regardless; and in a lot of ways didn't think that they were worthy of proper affection and care because they were just a stupid hockey player and hockey is all they were good for. He kind of laughed it off but I feel like there are a lot deeper issues because of it! I really despised that.
All to say...yes, I liked it alright. Not excellent, but if you want a fairly surface level book about hockey players having seggs...this is a good option! But don't expect a Stanley cup from this one!
And I didn't hate it!
I found it actually quite enjoyable!
I don't plan on reading a lot of sports romance books but this was new for me and I enjoyed it.
Here's what I liked;
- the two main characters.
- I liked the Slow Burn Romance.
- I liked them working to find themselves and heal from things in their past. And they didn't work on themselves *for* each other or to make themselves "worthy" of each other but worked together in a way that showed support.
- Their communication about boundaries was excellent, especially when it came to things like knowing when Landon was touched out and didn't want physical contact with anybody because it made him uncomfortable. Their acceptance of each other with regards to any seggsual encounters was pretty fantastic. Casey absolutely respected Landon when he said he didn't really know if he had any interest in seggs at all; and then followed through with that, giving him space and time and understanding. Landon never seemed to feel like he couldn't speak up for fear of judgment if he was uncomfortable and Casey was always ready to listen and respect his wishes.
Of course the communication fell apart in *lots* of other ways but in this way, at least, it was very well handled.
- It was a very seggs positive book .
- The hockey was of course a very important factor in the story but wasn't the entire story, and my limited knowledge wasn't a detriment to my reading.
- I was a big fan of the Canadian storyline and a Canadian author and references to Canadian things like touques instead of beanies! (Although not a single mention of Tim Hortons??!?! Not one Timmies run? Not a single timbit?!)
For what I didn't like;
- The book seemed very surface level; even when they got into their personal histories and fears and traumas. There's nothing terribly profound about the book. Not that I expect profound wisdom from every book that I read every time, but even from books that I purely enjoy from a fluffy , comfort read point of view, there wasn't really anything that was a major takeaway or lines that made me stop and think. There were some cute lines, yes, but it was not particularly memorable; other than being very seggsy!
- It was sort of addressed near the end of the book a couple of times but the fact that everybody thought that one of the main characters was so stupid and continually laughed at their supposed idiocy was quite frustrating. To the point where the character just sort of thought that way about themselves regardless; and in a lot of ways didn't think that they were worthy of proper affection and care because they were just a stupid hockey player and hockey is all they were good for. He kind of laughed it off but I feel like there are a lot deeper issues because of it! I really despised that.
All to say...yes, I liked it alright. Not excellent, but if you want a fairly surface level book about hockey players having seggs...this is a good option! But don't expect a Stanley cup from this one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Grief
zoiejanelle's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
5.0
RACHEL REID NEVER MISSES.
the individual character arcs were a bit shallow (Casey is afraid of the dark/of being alone… Landon is dealing with grief and depression) but their weird quirks made them so much more believable and complex. Reid really knows how to craft lovable, relatable three-dimensional characters—even if the pieced that make up each character seem a little silly.
i read some reviews before diving into this book which made me hesitant to read. after the Game Changers series, i doubted Reid could top her shilya duology. however, her extremely commercial, palatable style and the tangible, compelling chemistry drew me in. this book was fast, easy to digest, and gave me SO MANY FEELINGS. i don’t know how she does it.
i liked how she portrayed Landon’s demisexuality and his touch aversion, but i wish Landon and Casey had had a more awkward and realistic first-time experience. or that they would have acknowledged that sex can and will be awkward or uncomfortable. Casey’s sexual expertise and openness (and chattiness) certainly improved their first experiences with one another, but i like Reid’s REALISM in her relationships, and i wish she’d incorporated just a touch more of it here.
the main issue i had with this book was how quickly each character realized and acknowledged their crush. there weren’t really any “oh” moments, and their chemistry really didn’t leap off the page until after they’d stated they were crushing. <edit: i reread the book this week and disagree with this opinion now—i think the gradual build was done well despite not having any “oh” crush moments. we did get that much later though with casey at the christmas party. wink!>
i will say that once they caught feelings, i was hooked. i stayed up until 4am reading because i had such intense butterflies i just couldn’t wait to see what happened next. i loved how wholesome and unconditional their love for one another was, and how that balanced with the sexier scenes.
all in all, a slay. anything Rachel Reid writes, i will read.
the individual character arcs were a bit shallow (Casey is afraid of the dark/of being alone… Landon is dealing with grief and depression) but their weird quirks made them so much more believable and complex. Reid really knows how to craft lovable, relatable three-dimensional characters—even if the pieced that make up each character seem a little silly.
i read some reviews before diving into this book which made me hesitant to read. after the Game Changers series, i doubted Reid could top her shilya duology. however, her extremely commercial, palatable style and the tangible, compelling chemistry drew me in. this book was fast, easy to digest, and gave me SO MANY FEELINGS. i don’t know how she does it.
i liked how she portrayed Landon’s demisexuality and his touch aversion, but i wish Landon and Casey had had a more awkward and realistic first-time experience. or that they would have acknowledged that sex can and will be awkward or uncomfortable. Casey’s sexual expertise and openness (and chattiness) certainly improved their first experiences with one another, but i like Reid’s REALISM in her relationships, and i wish she’d incorporated just a touch more of it here.
the main issue i had with this book was how quickly each character realized and acknowledged their crush. there weren’t really any “oh” moments, and their chemistry really didn’t leap off the page until after they’d stated they were crushing. <edit: i reread the book this week and disagree with this opinion now—i think the gradual build was done well despite not having any “oh” crush moments. we did get that much later though with casey at the christmas party. wink!>
i will say that once they caught feelings, i was hooked. i stayed up until 4am reading because i had such intense butterflies i just couldn’t wait to see what happened next. i loved how wholesome and unconditional their love for one another was, and how that balanced with the sexier scenes.
all in all, a slay. anything Rachel Reid writes, i will read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Sexual content
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Drug use, and Alcohol
Minor: Homophobia and Medical content