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A review by lizzie1096
Shutout by Avery Keelan

emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5



This was really freaking cute, while also being kind of emotionally devastating. I definitely wasn't expecting the heaviness that came with this book. Offside was a very light read, and I was expecting much of the same from Ty and Sera's book, but this was anything but light. 

Sera and Ty hook up at Halloween party and then become accidental roommates when Sera transfers to Boyd to be closer to her mom while she's in cancer treatment. While these two give a valiant effort to act like they're unaffected by their shared history, it's not long before they decide on a friends with benefits relationship.

But the entire time, there's such a deeper story unfurling both for Ty and Sera. Tyler is struggling to find a hockey-life balance. His entire life revolves around the sport, and he doesn't know how to balance a relationship, school and hockey. He spends most of this book burning at both ends despite Sera trying to be there for him. And Sera, while dealing with the emotions of her mother's cancer treatment, finds out she might have a genetic predisposition for cancer as well, which leads her to sort of spiral by herself. 

I loved these two together, and my only wish for this book would've been for them to lean on each other more. The last couple chapters where everything is out in the open were so sweet and both of them were supportive in the ways I knew they would've been throughout the book had either been able to open up sooner. 

The epilogue and bonus chapters were everything I would've wanted for Ty and Sera's HEA. I know their road is far from over, but I love that they have each other through it all.
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