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im_just_vidu's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
It's been about 8 hours since I finished reading. I just wanted some time to digest it. In my mind I was like "I'm gonna give this 2.5 or 3 stars" until half of the book. Oh god how can I do that when it is so perfect like this? I can't. I liked both Hannah and Garrett since the beginning. Their characters were portrait so well that it's impossible for you to not fall in love with them.
And it's not also not JUST a romance book. It's also facing problems, trauma, dark past, PTSD, trying to get better, slowly healing and many more. It feels more realistic because of that. This is a sport romance by the definition of it. Not just "I play sports" kinda one. It's "I gave my blood and sweat for this and sports are my life" kinda one.
First of all I like Hannah's characters. She's not "I'm the top student, I study 24/7" type student. She's a good singer, get scholarships by her own hard work and be there for her friends. She helps her friends to get better with their grades too. She's an idol student since the beginning. It's true that she got traumatic past but she's trying her best to not let that prevent her from living her life.
Garrett is also ideal sports student who does best in sports and yet get his academic done. He's a good player and also a leader. For him, sports is his life. Anything else isn't gonna change his life. He's a closed open book. You see everything about him but sometimes you don't know anything about him. Being a son of the top hockey player, he have this huge responsibility of proving his value to the world. Sometimes it's unfair that you get judged by your parent's reputation, but it's inevitable.
Justin is Hannah's love interest, who is a football player. Glimpse of Justin can make Hannah pass-out from happiness. In Hannah's eyes, there's no other one who's perfect like Justin.
The story starts with Garrett wanting to get good grades and asking Hannah for help with that. It's so cute to see how Garrett basically begging to Hannah and how they tease each other. Hannah on the other hand is only interested in Justin, so it's not easy for Garrett to make her tutor him.
I swear those few chapters in the beginning were the cutest. Those push and pull friendship they have is so wholesome.
I listened to the audiobook for most of the parts of the book and sometimes read while listening to the audiobook. I listened to the audiobook while I'm in the bus and boy it was the stupidest idea ever. Things got steamy sometimes and I blushed like a tomato. Good thing that I was wearing a mask cuz I was melting and getting red. Reading smut in the public transportation is something I've mastered, but listening to an audiobook? Moreover when things get spicy. Oh boy. Audible audiobook was narrated well so they do a perfect job with narrating all small sound effects. If you're a person who blush like crazy, I would recommend you to avoid public places while listening to audiobook.
So overall I loved this book. I surely am gonna continue reading this series cuz Elle Kennedy's writing is so good. If you're an adult who's looking for a cute romance, I would like to recommend this to you. (If you're a minor, I think you should wait until you grow up. Not recommend for minors at all) I can see myself reread this book in the future. It's so good.
And it's not also not JUST a romance book. It's also facing problems, trauma, dark past, PTSD, trying to get better, slowly healing and many more. It feels more realistic because of that. This is a sport romance by the definition of it. Not just "I play sports" kinda one. It's "I gave my blood and sweat for this and sports are my life" kinda one.
First of all I like Hannah's characters. She's not "I'm the top student, I study 24/7" type student. She's a good singer, get scholarships by her own hard work and be there for her friends. She helps her friends to get better with their grades too. She's an idol student since the beginning. It's true that she got traumatic past but she's trying her best to not let that prevent her from living her life.
Garrett is also ideal sports student who does best in sports and yet get his academic done. He's a good player and also a leader. For him, sports is his life. Anything else isn't gonna change his life. He's a closed open book. You see everything about him but sometimes you don't know anything about him. Being a son of the top hockey player, he have this huge responsibility of proving his value to the world. Sometimes it's unfair that you get judged by your parent's reputation, but it's inevitable.
Justin is Hannah's love interest, who is a football player. Glimpse of Justin can make Hannah pass-out from happiness. In Hannah's eyes, there's no other one who's perfect like Justin.
The story starts with Garrett wanting to get good grades and asking Hannah for help with that. It's so cute to see how Garrett basically begging to Hannah and how they tease each other. Hannah on the other hand is only interested in Justin, so it's not easy for Garrett to make her tutor him.
I swear those few chapters in the beginning were the cutest. Those push and pull friendship they have is so wholesome.
I listened to the audiobook for most of the parts of the book and sometimes read while listening to the audiobook. I listened to the audiobook while I'm in the bus and boy it was the stupidest idea ever. Things got steamy sometimes and I blushed like a tomato. Good thing that I was wearing a mask cuz I was melting and getting red. Reading smut in the public transportation is something I've mastered, but listening to an audiobook? Moreover when things get spicy. Oh boy. Audible audiobook was narrated well so they do a perfect job with narrating all small sound effects. If you're a person who blush like crazy, I would recommend you to avoid public places while listening to audiobook.
So overall I loved this book. I surely am gonna continue reading this series cuz Elle Kennedy's writing is so good. If you're an adult who's looking for a cute romance, I would like to recommend this to you. (If you're a minor, I think you should wait until you grow up. Not recommend for minors at all) I can see myself reread this book in the future. It's so good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Domestic abuse, and Sexual violence
Minor: Grief, Death of parent, and Cancer
rosie_read_it's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
After seeing so much hype about this book, I finally gave it a shot. I love the fake-dating trope and a sports romance and it delivered on those two things, although the fake-dating portion was very short lived. Overall I enjoyed the book, but it was not my favorite. Hannah’s past sexual trauma and rape was introduced within the first page, so it at least puts that content warning right out there from the start. I felt that the author handled how this affected the character in so many ways well, and while it was present it wasn’t overbearing. The plot was predictable, but the writing was good enough to keep me entertained. I enjoyed the characters, but I’m not sure that I’ll continue with the series at this time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Physical abuse and Child abuse
ellezenner's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Cursing, Alcohol, and Drug use
readwithria's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
3.5
The Deal was exactly what I was expecting it to be, and it didn’t disappoint.
HOWEVER, as a singer I could not get past the misuse of music theory jargon. Like damn, I don’t expect an author to be an expert on every interest their characters have, but wow it was distracting. Luckily it stopped pretty early in the book, but oof it hurt my heart. That’s what kept this from being a four star book.
What kept this from being a five star book was mostly the lack of trigger warnings and the casual misogyny. The spice was good, the relationship development was good, I liked the balance of plot and romance, and I loved the strangers to enemies to friends to lovers pipeline! But please, read trigger warnings before you read this book.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book and will probably read the rest of the series at some point. 3.5 stars.
HOWEVER, as a singer I could not get past the misuse of music theory jargon. Like damn, I don’t expect an author to be an expert on every interest their characters have, but wow it was distracting. Luckily it stopped pretty early in the book, but oof it hurt my heart. That’s what kept this from being a four star book.
What kept this from being a five star book was mostly the lack of trigger warnings and the casual misogyny. The spice was good, the relationship development was good, I liked the balance of plot and romance, and I loved the strangers to enemies to friends to lovers pipeline! But please, read trigger warnings before you read this book.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book and will probably read the rest of the series at some point. 3.5 stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Misogyny, and Rape
Minor: Alcohol, Cursing, Death of parent, Cancer, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
kendallllllll's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Child abuse
shanno_h0'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Rape, and Sexual content
alainareading's review against another edition
tense
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? Yes
1.5
Please carefully read through the TWs in this review.
This was honestly such an uncomfortable read that I have to write down my thoughts. I couldn’t believe the casual misogyny, slut-shaming, and degradation throughout the book from both MCs. Like, Hannah labels the women that Garrett has hooked up with as “floozies” and puts herself way above every single woman since she’s just sooo different — her “panties” don’t “melt away” every time she looks at him. And Garrett isn’t any better! He says the grossest things about women, like how Hannah will be seen as “higher status” if she sleeps with him or if people think she’s sleeping with him, and therefore more desirable to men.
Also I couldn’t get over how no one talks like these characters, let alone college juniors. Who says “douchecanoe” and “tough cookie” and thinks those terms are hilarious?! I’d also like to share this excerpt that I cringed at while reading:
“I happen to be a fantastic kisser. Sadly, you will never get to find out.”
“Never say never,” he answers in a singsong voice.
“Thanks for that, Justin Bieber.”
Like, in what world would any twenty year old say that??
I genuinely thought this book was written in the 2000s or early 2010s but then the MC mentions the show Ted Lasso.
This was honestly such an uncomfortable read that I have to write down my thoughts. I couldn’t believe the casual misogyny, slut-shaming, and degradation throughout the book from both MCs. Like, Hannah labels the women that Garrett has hooked up with as “floozies” and puts herself way above every single woman since she’s just sooo different — her “panties” don’t “melt away” every time she looks at him. And Garrett isn’t any better! He says the grossest things about women, like how Hannah will be seen as “higher status” if she sleeps with him or if people think she’s sleeping with him, and therefore more desirable to men.
Also I couldn’t get over how no one talks like these characters, let alone college juniors. Who says “douchecanoe” and “tough cookie” and thinks those terms are hilarious?! I’d also like to share this excerpt that I cringed at while reading:
“I happen to be a fantastic kisser. Sadly, you will never get to find out.”
“Never say never,” he answers in a singsong voice.
“Thanks for that, Justin Bieber.”
Like, in what world would any twenty year old say that??
I genuinely thought this book was written in the 2000s or early 2010s but then the MC mentions the show Ted Lasso.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Bullying, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Grief, Body shaming, Classism, and Cursing
nami_lou's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
So trope-y, with some pretty cringe-y moments. Definitely not a literary masterpiece, but absolutely the light hearted bantering book that I needed. Thoroughly enjoyed my time in this book, even though I'll never admit it because of the cover.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual violence
katiekaiser's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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? No
4.5
I really enjoyed this book!!! It’s a cute love story. It’s not excessively complicated or emotional, but that’s what I like about it! The characters have some trauma which makes them more realistic. I found the love story to be very believeable. I found the book pretty funny at times. I liked that the characters interacted in a realistic way (i.e. the dialogue didn’t make me cringe) and they had other things going on in their life besides their romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Rape, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Sexual assault, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Alcohol and Cursing
maggie_hamel's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
2.0
it wasn’t well written or anything! just kinda fun. also hannah IS NOT like other girls in case you were wondering. she eat junk food and doesn’t care about fashion!!!! isn’t she special!!!!! the plot was silly, but the main characters make me want to shoot myself
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual violence