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bookieboogie'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
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent, and Medical trauma
georgia_sara93's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Willa has never met someone so rude as Ryder. Their lecturer instructs her to get the class notes of him, but he won’t give her a chance to grab them. She’s busy training as a hopeful professional soccer player, balancing college and spending time with her unwell mum. As things progress miscommunications become clearer and completely valid and so do connections progress.
Ooft! This is cute, cute, cute!!!! The relationship? Beautiful! The miscommunication trope? Actually well done for a change! The diversity? Loved it! If you’re looking for your next diverse romance author - I think Liese seems to be where it’s at! Thank you so much my friend for getting me to read this one already for my 12 books recommended by 12 friends! I fear how much longer it would’ve sat on my TBR unread for longer when all I need is all the other 6 Bergman Brothers books! 🙊🙊
Also don’t feel it’s not AMAZING at a 4⭐️ rating. This appears to be Liese’s first novel. The themes approached are some heavy, all complex and are beautifully done! Were there a lot of obstacles? Maybe! But at least the story had a realistic timeline and story to it! In all other aspects a heavy 5⭐️ and DEFINITELY a new favourite book! 😍😍
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Death
whatbeccareadnext's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Well I sobbed my way through at least half of this book. To the point that I'm surprised I could still read the words on the page.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Ableism, Alcohol, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Sexual content, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Abandonment
lindslikesbooks's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.0
While a little long, this book wraps you in a warm hug after the emotional rollercoaster the characters go through together.
- College age
- Sports romance
- Diverse representation
Plot:
Willa is a whip-smart college athlete. She works harder than anyone to crush it on the soccer pitch and make it to the pros. She pushes herself to excel in her classes so she can make it after college. Ryder is assigned as her partner in one of her classes where she needs a bit of help. But a misunderstanding leaves them more like enemies. Circumstances force them to spend time together but that is the last thing Willa wants.
Character development:
The author did a great job showing the growth of these characters. They both have highly difficult challenges that they deal with and that did have me in my feelings. That said, the miscommunication trope did not add to the story in my opinion. I think we could have done without it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
- College age
- Sports romance
- Diverse representation
Plot:
Willa is a whip-smart college athlete. She works harder than anyone to crush it on the soccer pitch and make it to the pros. She pushes herself to excel in her classes so she can make it after college. Ryder is assigned as her partner in one of her classes where she needs a bit of help. But a misunderstanding leaves them more like enemies. Circumstances force them to spend time together but that is the last thing Willa wants.
Character development:
The author did a great job showing the growth of these characters. They both have highly difficult challenges that they deal with and that did have me in my feelings. That said, the miscommunication trope did not add to the story in my opinion. I think we could have done without it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Medical trauma
Moderate: Death of parent
abcdefgerda's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.0
Okay first of all, as an (apparently) annoying person, f*** you to all who called Willa too annoying when I was looking into this book. Will is basically me so it really cut deep, guys.
But yeah, it was a damn good book, if a little slow going at times.
Beautiful disability rep, I was actually not aware of the deafness going into the book but it really added a good layer to the story and now I've read this, I really want more dead characters in books (where are my recs at?)
Also this
My head swivels to hers, and Ryder’s follows suit. His eyes narrow. He missed what she said.
“You can’t talk around him, Roo. Say it again.”
Her eyes widen. “Seriously?”
Ryder nods.
“I said—” Rooney clears her throat, her cheeks turning pink. “I said ‘so we don’t hate him anymore?’”
Is quite honestly the hottest scene I've read. Just mwah. Yes please 👏
Also Willa and Ryder are adorable? And the piggyback rides? *fans herself* it's like the author took all the things I love in romance books and put them in this one! Asking persmission for kisses/touches/making sure everything is consensual? Check. One very openly affectionate and quick(er) to fall in love and one who is absolutely 1000% incapable of admitting their feelings? Check. Love making? Check. Rough "I love you passionately" s*x? Check. "I want you. You and not just your body (even though I love your body and saying this is physically painful"? Check!
But also. I really liked how Willa's grief was portrayed before her mother's death (not putting it as a spoiler. She has cancer, it's valid to assume it's gonna happen and I also think it should be as a warning so..) but after we just had months of grief OFF-PAGE, then some therapy(?) OFF-PAGE and suddenly okay(ish)?
The ending overall was pretty rushed to be quite honest.
Also with books that take place during such a long timeline, really should have some trackers, like dates at the beginning of the chapter or something. I was really lost at some point where I thought it had been hours or a day since the last scene but was actually weeks or months and that only came out a few paragraphs later...
But yeah, it was a damn good book, if a little slow going at times.
Beautiful disability rep, I was actually not aware of the deafness going into the book but it really added a good layer to the story and now I've read this, I really want more dead characters in books (where are my recs at?)
Also this
My head swivels to hers, and Ryder’s follows suit. His eyes narrow. He missed what she said.
“You can’t talk around him, Roo. Say it again.”
Her eyes widen. “Seriously?”
Ryder nods.
“I said—” Rooney clears her throat, her cheeks turning pink. “I said ‘so we don’t hate him anymore?’”
Is quite honestly the hottest scene I've read. Just mwah. Yes please 👏
Also Willa and Ryder are adorable? And the piggyback rides? *fans herself* it's like the author took all the things I love in romance books and put them in this one! Asking persmission for kisses/touches/making sure everything is consensual? Check. One very openly affectionate and quick(er) to fall in love and one who is absolutely 1000% incapable of admitting their feelings? Check. Love making? Check. Rough "I love you passionately" s*x? Check. "I want you. You and not just your body (even though I love your body and saying this is physically painful"? Check!
But also. I really liked how Willa's grief was portrayed before her mother's death (not putting it as a spoiler. She has cancer, it's valid to assume it's gonna happen and I also think it should be as a warning so..) but after we just had months of grief OFF-PAGE, then some therapy(?) OFF-PAGE and suddenly okay(ish)?
The ending overall was pretty rushed to be quite honest.
Also with books that take place during such a long timeline, really should have some trackers, like dates at the beginning of the chapter or something. I was really lost at some point where I thought it had been hours or a day since the last scene but was actually weeks or months and that only came out a few paragraphs later...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Death of parent
Moderate: Medical content and Medical trauma
dianaschmidty's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Cancer, Medical content, Terminal illness, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, and Vomit
Moderate: Ableism
danajoy's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Sexual content, Death of parent, Cancer, Medical trauma, and Medical content
thefatpaperback's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
5.0
You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll get a happily ever after. This is a “he falls first” frenemies to lovers rap ver romance that was impossible for me to put down!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Medical content, Ableism, War, Abandonment, Cancer, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Sexual content, and Misogyny
gtrue21's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
It seems like every romance read ever is in love with this book. It wasn’t for me. Parts of it were just super cringy and spoiler: the female main character’s mom dies which was very triggering . It wasn’t awful but it was just okay.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Terminal illness, Cancer, Death, Grief, Chronic illness, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Vomit
janinetrimble's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
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
4.5
This book was a bit complicated for me. It was told by Ryder and Willa, two soccer players who end up paired together for a project and start off as frenemies but by the end....it deals with diverse ability representation but also death of a parent, so be forewarned.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Ableism, Cancer, Death of parent, and Grief