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takarakei's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
slow-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
My first book by this author, who I've been told is the queen of slow burns. I personally love a slow burn so this one def hit in that aspect. It is a 'football romance' but I wouldn't really say there's a whole lot of sports in it. There's actually more marathon running because Vanessa trains to run a marathon. I really enjoyed her friendship with Zac as well.
Vanessa had a rough childhood and still has a very strained relationship with her family so that is good to know going in.
🌶️3/5 (sneaks in)
Vanessa had a rough childhood and still has a very strained relationship with her family so that is good to know going in.
🌶️3/5 (sneaks in)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, and Car accident
Minor: Drug abuse and Sexual assault
This is the new to trad pub version and I will say some things could've done to be updated a bit more ex: there's a scene in which Aiden is groped by a fan.setsailforthestars's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This book was a fun read for the most part. I picked it up mainly because I’m from Winnipeg and the title caught my eye. I was surprised to find I enjoyed it. The pacing was weird and I got annoyed with how often Aiden was referred to as “the big guy” or his wall of Winnipeg nickname, like, we get it, he’s huge. Three stars because it was mostly enjoyable but I almost DNF’d because of the spoiler below.
I was disappointed by the double standard when Vanessa laughed at Aiden getting groped by a fan, which was never addressed. Especially when Aiden later got in a fight with someone for groping her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse and Domestic abuse
Minor: Sexual assault
ohlovehandles's review against another edition
hopeful
tense
slow-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? No
4.25
I've honestly always liked slow burns once they're done right and this did it for me. It's not the best writing out there and definitely not the intense burn at the end that you yearn for when ending off a slow burn. But the way that I got so attached to where the two main characters would end up and how, had me in a serious chokehold. I could not put down this book for the life of me and honestly I regret nothing.
If you're not into slow burn I definitely would not recommend this because it is a long book that has a lot of repetitive inner dialogue, which can definitel annoy some people. But, if you were into Wattpad romances as a teen, it may seriously give you so much nostalgia of those days but with a lot more consistent writing.
All in all, I loved the ride this book took me on and I'd definitely re-read because I'm a sucker for love i know I'd never have :').
If you're not into slow burn I definitely would not recommend this because it is a long book that has a lot of repetitive inner dialogue, which can definitel annoy some people. But, if you were into Wattpad romances as a teen, it may seriously give you so much nostalgia of those days but with a lot more consistent writing.
All in all, I loved the ride this book took me on and I'd definitely re-read because I'm a sucker for love i know I'd never have :').
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Car accident, Alcoholism, Physical abuse, and Sexual content
Minor: Drug abuse, Gaslighting, and Drug use
margo_sha's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- 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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
louisa_pennyfeather2021's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Mariana always completely ruins my expectations for love. I'm a hopeless romantic now. Me and my bleeding heart are in shambles.
In all seriousness, it's a great book. I started reading it because of my love for football and Mariana's work. I love how(like in so much of Mariana's work) each character has depth and purpose. The real world details factored into this fictional romance adds some flare. I really enjoyed this read.
In all seriousness, it's a great book. I started reading it because of my love for football and Mariana's work. I love how(like in so much of Mariana's work) each character has depth and purpose. The real world details factored into this fictional romance adds some flare. I really enjoyed this read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Addiction, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Fatphobia, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Sexual harassment, Car accident, Death, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
thesometimesbookworm's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault
Minor: Body shaming
booknerdbetty's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
3.25
So many people have recommended this book to me, and I enjoyed it, but it definitely could’ve used more work.
Things I liked - slow burn to build an emotional connection, showing their growing love through their actions in the second half of the book, character background, and more.
Room for improvement - There were typos, easy grammar mistakes, using a similar-sounding word instead of the word that should’ve been used (think of using excess instead of access; that’s not an exact example from the book, but along those lines). The first 48% of the book also just seemed to be internal monologue and setting the scene - I really think it could’ve been condensed down to about 6 chapters maximum, and improved a lot with more editing. There was also frequent underlying or blatant misogyny, sexual assault, and fatphobia.
Things I liked - slow burn to build an emotional connection, showing their growing love through their actions in the second half of the book, character background, and more.
Room for improvement - There were typos, easy grammar mistakes, using a similar-sounding word instead of the word that should’ve been used (think of using excess instead of access; that’s not an exact example from the book, but along those lines). The first 48% of the book also just seemed to be internal monologue and setting the scene - I really think it could’ve been condensed down to about 6 chapters maximum, and improved a lot with more editing. There was also frequent underlying or blatant misogyny, sexual assault, and fatphobia.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Fatphobia, and Misogyny
zoecrepp's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Sexual assault
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Alcoholism
This book deals with a lot of tough issues, especially childhood trauma, very well! However, I was incredibly disappointed by how the author dealt with the sexual assault in the story. I believe this is because the character getting molested was male and therefore, because of the societal biases towards men in those types of situations, the author decided it could be a joke. So I’d say if you are sensitive to any situation like that maybe avoid this book. Additionally , though the sex scene was steamy the author also needs to consider including more verbal consent because it not expressly stated at the beginning of the scene.tayloraddison's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Alcohol, Drug abuse, Addiction, Alcoholism, Car accident, Child abuse, Cursing, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Body shaming, Sexual assault, and Injury/Injury detail
howlinglibraries's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
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? Yes
2.5
By the end of this book, I rooting for Vanessa and Aiden (more or less), and MZ's writing is very engaging and quick, but none of that is enough to fully redeem this book from how shallow I found Aiden's writing to be (he felt very flat to me for at least the first 60% of the book) and how poorly certain topics are handled, such as:
- Vanessa laughing until she cries when Aiden is groped without consent by a fan (stop normalizing the idea that it's "acceptable" or anything less than sexual assault when a man is harassed, even if he's a famous and attractive celebrity)!
- When Vanessa finds out a loved one is being abused by their significant other, her entire inner monologue for several chapters isn't "I can't believe my loved one is being abused, how can I help them?" but is instead "how dare they lie to me about this?" and is ridiculously, painfully self-absorbed and victim-shaming.
- Vanessa's older sisters are VERY abusive towards her, but Vanessa blames FASD (fetal alcohol spectrum disorders) for causing their violent and abusive tendencies, which is an immensely ableist and hurtful stereotype that a LOT of people with FASD have to deal with in the real world.
- There is a lot of fat-phobia that never gets properly addressed.
Other than feeling bad for her terrible childhood, I struggled with liking Vanessa as a character more often than not, and I couldn't bring myself to care about Aiden until waaay too far into the book. We learn some of his motives, of course, but I didn't feel that any of them ever actually explained his behavior or redeemed his treatment of Vanessa in the first half of the book. The chemistry between the two of them felt forced, and even by the time they finally got together (literally at 95% through the book — I love a slow burn, but damn), I think my emotions were less joy at seeing them confess their love for each other, and more relief at having finally finished this immensely disappointing book.
I can objectively see why so many people love this book, I think, but it didn't work as well for me as I hoped it would. If I had rated this the moment I finished the book, I might have given it 3 or 3.5 stars, but after sleeping on it, I have too many issues with it on a lot of levels, and to be totally honest, it's reminded me of why, despite loving the only other MZ book I read (Dear Aaron) years ago, I've been very hesitant to pick up more of her books. This book is older than that one was, and I'm open to trying another newer release of hers, but I think I'll probably leave Zapata's backlist alone for now.
✨ Representation: Vanessa's best friend is Latinx
✨ Content warnings for: memories of severe domestic abuse, claustrophobia, nyctophobia (extreme fear of the dark), alcoholic parents, absent parents, memories of foster homes, body-shaming, victim-shaming of domestic and sexual abuse survivors, ableism, "jokes" about sexual harassment
- Vanessa laughing until she cries when Aiden is groped without consent by a fan (stop normalizing the idea that it's "acceptable" or anything less than sexual assault when a man is harassed, even if he's a famous and attractive celebrity)!
- When Vanessa finds out a loved one is being abused by their significant other, her entire inner monologue for several chapters isn't "I can't believe my loved one is being abused, how can I help them?" but is instead "how dare they lie to me about this?" and is ridiculously, painfully self-absorbed and victim-shaming.
- Vanessa's older sisters are VERY abusive towards her, but Vanessa blames FASD (fetal alcohol spectrum disorders) for causing their violent and abusive tendencies, which is an immensely ableist and hurtful stereotype that a LOT of people with FASD have to deal with in the real world.
- There is a lot of fat-phobia that never gets properly addressed.
Other than feeling bad for her terrible childhood, I struggled with liking Vanessa as a character more often than not, and I couldn't bring myself to care about Aiden until waaay too far into the book. We learn some of his motives, of course, but I didn't feel that any of them ever actually explained his behavior or redeemed his treatment of Vanessa in the first half of the book. The chemistry between the two of them felt forced, and even by the time they finally got together (literally at 95% through the book — I love a slow burn, but damn), I think my emotions were less joy at seeing them confess their love for each other, and more relief at having finally finished this immensely disappointing book.
I can objectively see why so many people love this book, I think, but it didn't work as well for me as I hoped it would. If I had rated this the moment I finished the book, I might have given it 3 or 3.5 stars, but after sleeping on it, I have too many issues with it on a lot of levels, and to be totally honest, it's reminded me of why, despite loving the only other MZ book I read (Dear Aaron) years ago, I've been very hesitant to pick up more of her books. This book is older than that one was, and I'm open to trying another newer release of hers, but I think I'll probably leave Zapata's backlist alone for now.
✨ Representation: Vanessa's best friend is Latinx
✨ Content warnings for: memories of severe domestic abuse, claustrophobia, nyctophobia (extreme fear of the dark), alcoholic parents, absent parents, memories of foster homes, body-shaming, victim-shaming of domestic and sexual abuse survivors, ableism, "jokes" about sexual harassment
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Sexual harassment, Fatphobia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Ableism