A review by chloemcg
The Deal by Elle Kennedy

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? No

1.5

I'll admit part of why i didn't like this book was that it was not what I expected but also to a degree the description did not fairly represent the story, particularly the pacing. I felt that each of the characters' trauma was approached in an odd way, oversharing some details too quickly to the reader and not explaining other  pieces of information that would make the story make sense. There were some funny moments but jocks are not for me and i felt misrepresented as a history major. Side note the American university experience is so strange, like i could walk around campus for a without seeing anyone i know, how do they know who everyone is it's weird. It also needs some pretty major content warnings for sexual assault and domestic abuse which i did not see when i borrowed this book and part of why i felt the blurb was not an accurate representation

also old mate's bestie being into hannah was so odd and unnecessary like why have that. they also both had a lot of friends and the side characters of this book were a little overwhelming. i get that the hockey team was important for the future books which all more or less have the same plot as this book and you dont want hannah to look lame but it just got a lot to follow

 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse

you could not avoid these issues in this book - no real way around it. I found it tolerable, not overly graphic but it was consistently talked about throughout the book