Scan barcode
amanda_reads13's review
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? Yes
4.5
Mary, a tattoo artist, is down on her luck when her rental, that she can barely afford, floods. She cannot afford to rent another place and going back to her parents place is not an option. Enter Leo. Leo, a football player with a reputation for being a cocky playboy, offers her a place to stay in their house across the street. Since she has no other option, eventually accepts his invitation. The problem is, Mary HATES Leo.
Leo presents himself a cocky player, but deep down he is pining for Stig, the girl who ghosted him. He is hiding away this genuine, caring, soft side of himself from the world. He is protective of Mary, yet incredibly respectful of her. Though he wants nothing more than to be with her, he respects her space and works to earn her trust.
Mary endured a lot of trauma as a teenager and felt completely rejected by her parents, especially her mother. She knew from a young age that she wanted to be a tattoo artist and would stop at nothing to achieve her goals. She is stubborn and closed off, but slowly learns to trust again.
As a teenager, she was bullied a lot. She did not fit in and would rather play videogames than go shopping. While playing Halo, she starts to play with Leo, a popular football player at her highschool. They start to talk and text and form a strong emotional connection. Though she never reveals who she really is to him. She thought she could trust him, but when she decided to approach him in person and give him the drawing she made for him, he rejected her and her life became so much worse. His friends made her life a living hell after that and, Mary, thinking Leo had rejected her cut off all ties with him. Meanwhile Leo, did not make the connection that the girl who gave him the drawing was the same girl her poured his heart to over the phone. He though she ghosted him and it broke his heart.
Fast forward to present day, Mary still carries so much hate for Leo, meanwhile Leo has no idea why Mary hates him so much. When she reveals the truth to him, it is truly heartbreaking to read through him realizing how much he destroyed the woman he is falling in love with.
I love them together so much! When Mary finally starts to forgive Leo and allow herself to give into her feelings, she still keeps her heart partially guarded out of the fear that he will hurt her again. Meanwhile Leo is head over heels in love with her and will literally do anything for her and to prove he loves her.
I loved seeing her and her mom connect when Mary realized she was just like her. I am so sad that we won't be getting a book for the rest of the guys, because they added so much to the story!
Tropes: enemies to lovers, forced proximity, football
Leo presents himself a cocky player, but deep down he is pining for Stig, the girl who ghosted him. He is hiding away this genuine, caring, soft side of himself from the world. He is protective of Mary, yet incredibly respectful of her. Though he wants nothing more than to be with her, he respects her space and works to earn her trust.
Mary endured a lot of trauma as a teenager and felt completely rejected by her parents, especially her mother. She knew from a young age that she wanted to be a tattoo artist and would stop at nothing to achieve her goals. She is stubborn and closed off, but slowly learns to trust again.
Fast forward to present day, Mary still carries so much hate for Leo, meanwhile Leo has no idea why Mary hates him so much. When she reveals the truth to him, it is truly heartbreaking to read through him realizing how much he destroyed the woman he is falling in love with.
I love them together so much! When Mary finally starts to forgive Leo and allow herself to give into her feelings, she still keeps her heart partially guarded out of the fear that he will hurt her again. Meanwhile Leo is head over heels in love with her and will literally do anything for her and to prove he loves her.
I loved seeing her and her mom connect when Mary realized she was just like her. I am so sad that we won't be getting a book for the rest of the guys, because they added so much to the story!
Tropes: enemies to lovers, forced proximity, football
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Grief, and Sexual assault
More...