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A review by madlereads
Beyond the Stroke by Erin Hawkins
5.0
💒 fake marriage/marriage of convenience
🤭 forced proximity
🏖 small beach town
💖 black cat heroine x golden retriever hero
🏊♂️ he's a swimmer
I LOVED THIS BOOK. I cackled so much. It was sweet, funny, and heart warming. Rory and Summer were just perfect perfect perfect.
Summer has been on the move and she's been living in Coral Cove for a few months when one of her odd jobs goes wrong, town superstar swimmer Rory Shields saves her from drowning. They strike up a funny friendship. And when Rory's annoying overbearing parents and ex-girlfriend start trying to mess with him when he can't afford any distractions with his swim career on the rocks due to injury, Summer steps up and tells them they're married to get them to back off.
Rory and Summer's opposite dynamics cracked me up. I loved their connection from the start. Of course Summer fought it having been burned from a previous relationship but Rory, despite saying he can't afford distractions like a romantic commitment at the moment, found himself pursuing her hard. He was so puppy. Always clinging to Summer and his bright personality melted her walls away.
I loved that despite Summer's stand-offishness she was fair and never overly rude. She had good reasons to have her walls but she was never awful. But Rory always saw through her and he was so patient yet caring enough to earn her trust step by step. He helped her open up and let her know she's safe with him and he truly desires her heart and soul.
They were both protective of each other which was so cute! Summer went through a flavor of what Rory's parents are trying to do with him by kind of controlling his life and she doesn't want to see a kind and giving man like him get taken advantage of so that's why she stepped in to make them back off. Rory's always stood up for Summer when people get rude about her presumed status and such. Or when Summer would have asthma attacks and try to brush it off, he'd make sure she was taken care of.
And the reason why she needed the marriage? Health insurance! Rory was more than willing to marry her so she'd have access to his health insurance to afford her asthma medication.
I loved all the characters but Rory stood out to me. He had so many little gestures that were so cute like saving the side of the restaurant booth that was in the shade for Summer or little cozy domestic things or his support and solidarity with her with no hesitation. He always found excuses to be close to her which was so endearing. He was busy as hell as a pro athlete but he made time for her always.
This was so cozy too! I loved all the forced proximity going on. I expected it cause duh they get married but I wasn't expecting it in the beginning as well! Rory is such a touchy cuddler lol.
The small beach town hijinks was fun! There's fun side characters who I can't wait to read more about in this series. And everyone in town is obsessed with this anonymous artist who leaves their paintings in town. 🤭
This book was perfect to me. I'd read it over and over again if I could! I think my only tiny minor critique was I was expecting Rory's parents and ex to have more of a presence but I really didn't mind it in the end. The book didn't need that extra drama it was fine on its own! And ofc no third act breakup here!
🤭 forced proximity
🏖 small beach town
💖 black cat heroine x golden retriever hero
🏊♂️ he's a swimmer
I LOVED THIS BOOK. I cackled so much. It was sweet, funny, and heart warming. Rory and Summer were just perfect perfect perfect.
Summer has been on the move and she's been living in Coral Cove for a few months when one of her odd jobs goes wrong, town superstar swimmer Rory Shields saves her from drowning. They strike up a funny friendship. And when Rory's annoying overbearing parents and ex-girlfriend start trying to mess with him when he can't afford any distractions with his swim career on the rocks due to injury, Summer steps up and tells them they're married to get them to back off.
Rory and Summer's opposite dynamics cracked me up. I loved their connection from the start. Of course Summer fought it having been burned from a previous relationship but Rory, despite saying he can't afford distractions like a romantic commitment at the moment, found himself pursuing her hard. He was so puppy. Always clinging to Summer and his bright personality melted her walls away.
I loved that despite Summer's stand-offishness she was fair and never overly rude. She had good reasons to have her walls but she was never awful. But Rory always saw through her and he was so patient yet caring enough to earn her trust step by step. He helped her open up and let her know she's safe with him and he truly desires her heart and soul.
They were both protective of each other which was so cute! Summer went through a flavor of what Rory's parents are trying to do with him by kind of controlling his life and she doesn't want to see a kind and giving man like him get taken advantage of so that's why she stepped in to make them back off. Rory's always stood up for Summer when people get rude about her presumed status and such. Or when Summer would have asthma attacks and try to brush it off, he'd make sure she was taken care of.
And the reason why she needed the marriage? Health insurance! Rory was more than willing to marry her so she'd have access to his health insurance to afford her asthma medication.
I loved all the characters but Rory stood out to me. He had so many little gestures that were so cute like saving the side of the restaurant booth that was in the shade for Summer or little cozy domestic things or his support and solidarity with her with no hesitation. He always found excuses to be close to her which was so endearing. He was busy as hell as a pro athlete but he made time for her always.
This was so cozy too! I loved all the forced proximity going on. I expected it cause duh they get married but I wasn't expecting it in the beginning as well! Rory is such a touchy cuddler lol.
The small beach town hijinks was fun! There's fun side characters who I can't wait to read more about in this series. And everyone in town is obsessed with this anonymous artist who leaves their paintings in town. 🤭
This book was perfect to me. I'd read it over and over again if I could! I think my only tiny minor critique was I was expecting Rory's parents and ex to have more of a presence but I really didn't mind it in the end. The book didn't need that extra drama it was fine on its own! And ofc no third act breakup here!