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A review by queenofswordsandwords
The Long Game by Rachel Reid
5.0
❝ I am Ilya. This is my ... Shane. ❞
HIS SHANE ? this book killed me from the beginning. the growth from heated rivalry, the commitment to their long game, the very tiny ways their lives are now intertwined even tho they are keeping their relationship a secret.
❝ He knew, rationally, that he wasn't worthless. (...) He was loved. But he wasn't sure he deserved to be. He couldn't make himself believe that. Not right now. ❞
I love Ilya's arc through this book. Him dealing with his mental health. Him trying to be okay and taking the steps, doing the work and still having bad days. It broke my heart time and time again, to see the things he wasn't allowing Shane to see.
This book was almost a tome, at close to 500 pages but it was still impossible to put down and I wanted even more. The tiny moments made this book all I could have wanted. I don't want to spoil anything but my copy is full of tabs and going through them for this review is making me want to read it again.
❝ What if Ilya had died ? What if he had fucking died ? Shane would have died too. Alone, secretly, and for the rest of his life. ❞
Seeing moments from the previous book through Ilya's pov was very emotional. This book had me tearing up so many times. I don't even like hockey but these two had me invested in their love and it's great that we get to explore their relationship even after they become a couple. sometimes romance books get to the ily's and then everything magically falls into place. in this book, they have to work for it, sacrifice to be together, and learn what is really important to them.
ONE OF MY FAVORITES OF THE YEAR.
GO READ IT. (OR REREAD IT)
HIS SHANE ? this book killed me from the beginning. the growth from heated rivalry, the commitment to their long game, the very tiny ways their lives are now intertwined even tho they are keeping their relationship a secret.
❝ He knew, rationally, that he wasn't worthless. (...) He was loved. But he wasn't sure he deserved to be. He couldn't make himself believe that. Not right now. ❞
I love Ilya's arc through this book. Him dealing with his mental health. Him trying to be okay and taking the steps, doing the work and still having bad days. It broke my heart time and time again, to see the things he wasn't allowing Shane to see.
This book was almost a tome, at close to 500 pages but it was still impossible to put down and I wanted even more. The tiny moments made this book all I could have wanted. I don't want to spoil anything but my copy is full of tabs and going through them for this review is making me want to read it again.
❝ What if Ilya had died ? What if he had fucking died ? Shane would have died too. Alone, secretly, and for the rest of his life. ❞
Seeing moments from the previous book through Ilya's pov was very emotional. This book had me tearing up so many times. I don't even like hockey but these two had me invested in their love and it's great that we get to explore their relationship even after they become a couple. sometimes romance books get to the ily's and then everything magically falls into place. in this book, they have to work for it, sacrifice to be together, and learn what is really important to them.
ONE OF MY FAVORITES OF THE YEAR.
GO READ IT. (OR REREAD IT)