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A review by williebenz
Beyond the Stroke by Erin Hawkins
4.0
Summer is guarded, sharp, emotionally locked up, and just the right kind of stubborn—the kind that makes you want to wrap her up and never let go. She left behind wealth, pressure, and a family that never really saw her, all in search of peace, freedom, and who she is without the noise.
Then there’s Rory Shields: Olympic swimmer and soft-hearted, with major golden retriever energy. He’s spent his life chasing dreams that weren’t always his—until one afternoon, he spots a mermaid in distress and everything shifts.
What begins as a no-strings “arrangement” slowly transforms into something honest, deep, and completely breathtaking. A story about trust, healing, and a man who really sees the girl who’s always kept herself hidden.
🔥 The banter? Laugh-out-loud.
💘 The romance? Protective, patient, and SO satisfying.
🎧 And the audiobook narrated by Lucy Rivers & Alex Knox? 10/10. Pure gold.
Then there’s Rory Shields: Olympic swimmer and soft-hearted, with major golden retriever energy. He’s spent his life chasing dreams that weren’t always his—until one afternoon, he spots a mermaid in distress and everything shifts.
What begins as a no-strings “arrangement” slowly transforms into something honest, deep, and completely breathtaking. A story about trust, healing, and a man who really sees the girl who’s always kept herself hidden.
🔥 The banter? Laugh-out-loud.
💘 The romance? Protective, patient, and SO satisfying.
🎧 And the audiobook narrated by Lucy Rivers & Alex Knox? 10/10. Pure gold.
Content Warnings
1st person POV, dual narration, Golden retriever MMC x Black cat FMC, “My wife”, “Good boy”, Marriage of convenience after knowing each other like a week, Olympic-level athlete (swimmer), She’s new to town and he’s the golden boy, Both have toxic parents, Adorable dog, Slowburn, Supportive friends for both, She has some secrets that last most of the book (not bad ones), Asthma rep, forced proximity, sports romance, found family/team dynamic, small town