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4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
As someone who actually cares about and watches women’s footy, the distaste I feel about a player/coach romance is actually impossible to overcome. Zapata’s truly childish worldbuilding (why are we inventing a new World Cup - is there like a copyright issue?) was also eye-rolling. Really disliked her writing style overall and read too many detailed bad reviews that didn’t even GET into how she cannot write about the soccer world to find it in me to keep reading.
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:
No
Zapata writes stories with such different pacing to many (most?) others writing romance genre stories. The way she crafts a slow-paced story completely from one character's perspective, which creates the fun of looking for clues for the other's feelings, makes these stories enjoyable.
This story finds 2 elite soccer players, one at the end of his career, one at the peak of hers. He's the new assistant coach for her team. He's obviously at a low point in his life. She's had some past toxic experiences that have affected her.
This story finds 2 elite soccer players, one at the end of his career, one at the peak of hers. He's the new assistant coach for her team. He's obviously at a low point in his life. She's had some past toxic experiences that have affected her.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-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
The progression felt real. The rivals-to-friends arc was slow, steady, and believable, and by the time it tipped into romance it made sense that two people that close would cross that line. Reiner was difficult, prickly even, but Sal handled it with a backbone instead of becoming a doormat, which made their dynamic compelling instead of frustrating. It was satisfying in how it unfolded.
No one writes a slow burn like MZ!! Tell me he didn’t even glance at her until 200 pages in and I ate it up. Reiner Kulti the man you are
the coach/player romance of my dreams - dal and kulti had the slowest slow burn but i loved ebry minute of the tension. it was built so nicely and realistically, there were no weird power dynamics you can usually find in these types of relationships but just a fun grump/sunshine dynamic.
kulti was hilariously grouchy and sal a genuinely lovable mc who tries to be the best version of herself. their characters fit perfectly because they both had areas where the other helped develop each of them individually.
when I say long slow burn, I mean they don't kiss until near 90% but it's so worth it, and just so them, it doesn't come off out of character and it works.
that epilogue of.. kulti retiring, sal kulti just yes they're married!!
the love confession from my favorite German bratwurst was simply beautiful, some quotes I saved from this book:
"What would I gain from telling you the first moment I realized you were meant to be mine? Nothing. You’re supposed to protect what you love, Sal. You taught me that. I didn’t wake up one day and know I didn’t want to live without your horrible temper. I saw so much of me in you at first, but you aren’t like me at all. You’re you, and I will go to my grave before I let anyone change any part of you. I know that without a doubt in my mind. This,” he pointed between us. “This is what matters. You are my gift, my second chance, and I will cherish you and your dream. I will protect both of you. “I’ve been waiting, and I will keep on waiting until the time is right. You are my equal, my partner, my teammate, my best friend. I’ve done so many stupid things that you’ve made me regret—things I hope you will forgive me for and look beyond— but this, waiting a little longer for the love of my life, I can do."
"Your loyalty and friendship amazes me every day. I have never wanted anything more in my life than I want your love, and I don’t want to share that with anyone. I haven’t done a single thing in my life to deserve you, schnecke, but I will never give up on you, and I won’t let you give up on me."
"Someone could tell you that they loved you every day, but still lie and cheat. Or they could never say those three words, but be there for you every day and be more than you ever wanted or dreamed. He wasn’t warm or cuddly, quiet or particularly nice to others, but he was nice to me, and in my heart I knew he would stand by me every time I needed him"
my first zapata book and it was excellent, highly recommend, 1000/10, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
kulti was hilariously grouchy and sal a genuinely lovable mc who tries to be the best version of herself. their characters fit perfectly because they both had areas where the other helped develop each of them individually.
when I say long slow burn, I mean they don't kiss until near 90% but it's so worth it, and just so them, it doesn't come off out of character and it works.
that epilogue of.. kulti retiring, sal kulti just yes they're married!!
the love confession from my favorite German bratwurst was simply beautiful, some quotes I saved from this book:
"What would I gain from telling you the first moment I realized you were meant to be mine? Nothing. You’re supposed to protect what you love, Sal. You taught me that. I didn’t wake up one day and know I didn’t want to live without your horrible temper. I saw so much of me in you at first, but you aren’t like me at all. You’re you, and I will go to my grave before I let anyone change any part of you. I know that without a doubt in my mind. This,” he pointed between us. “This is what matters. You are my gift, my second chance, and I will cherish you and your dream. I will protect both of you. “I’ve been waiting, and I will keep on waiting until the time is right. You are my equal, my partner, my teammate, my best friend. I’ve done so many stupid things that you’ve made me regret—things I hope you will forgive me for and look beyond— but this, waiting a little longer for the love of my life, I can do."
"Your loyalty and friendship amazes me every day. I have never wanted anything more in my life than I want your love, and I don’t want to share that with anyone. I haven’t done a single thing in my life to deserve you, schnecke, but I will never give up on you, and I won’t let you give up on me."
"Someone could tell you that they loved you every day, but still lie and cheat. Or they could never say those three words, but be there for you every day and be more than you ever wanted or dreamed. He wasn’t warm or cuddly, quiet or particularly nice to others, but he was nice to me, and in my heart I knew he would stand by me every time I needed him"
my first zapata book and it was excellent, highly recommend, 1000/10, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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
Notes
Don't listen to what they have to say because at the end of the day, you're the one that has to live with your choices and where they take you. No one else is going to live your life for you.
What she didn't know was that telling me not to worry was like telling me not to breathe.
Forgive him for not knowing better.
I could have been more and I could have been less, but I was just me. At some point, you just have to decide to be the best version of yourself, the one you can live with and look at in the mirror day after day.
"You know your reputation is just what everyone else thinks of you, your character is what you really are."
"Someone told me I can't take back what I've done, but what I do from now on is what matters."
You don't get to live your dreams by waiting around for someone to hand them to you. Or at the very least, you hold on to them for dear life when others try and take them away.
Someone could tell you that they loved you every day, but still lie and cheat. Or they could never say those three words, but be there for you every day and be more than you ever wanted or dreamed.
"Every single thing that has ever happened in my life has led me here, Sal. I Destiny is a ladder, a series of steps that takes you where you're supposed to go. I am the man that I am, and I have done the things that I've done, to get me to you."
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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