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dermkat 's review for:
Pucking Strong
by Emily Rath
I loved this story so much! Like the other books in the series, it's full of queer joy and love, found family, emotion, sometimes harsh reality, and hockey.
I'd been waiting somewhat patiently for this story ever since the incredible cliffhanger at the end of book 3 where we learned Henrik and Teddy got married and needed Poppy's help, and became even more intrigued as months went by and we got to see the author's care and love for these special characters. Let me tell you, it was worth the wait.
Henrik was always around, one of the players on the front line with some of the other Jacksonville Rays we know & love, a quiet man we didn't get to know much about. We learn that it was intentional on his part, always keeping himself focused on hockey alone until a tragedy occurs at the start of this book & he needs help. Teddy was a PT intern six years ago but hasn't been back until now, and on his first day in a temporary job he volunteers himself to go with Henrik to Sweden to help the man take care of his sister's affairs & bring back his injured five year old niece. Then while there, he offers to marry the man to help him get custody of Karolina. Never mind that Teddy has been in love with Hen since they met but is certain he's straight and has no interest in him.
The story progresses slowly (SO SLOWLY) but in a way that makes sense as Hen grieves and slowly develops romantic and sexual feelings for the ball of energy that is his fake husband. This is an example of demisexual rep done so well and though we eventually get to the spice when it makes sense, we consistently get the best part of any slow burn: the PINING. The story also addresses the homophobia & racism rampant in the media & the league itself, with Henrik standing up for their privacy and especially the safety of his gay, Black husband & their child. All the while, found family is huge, as the Rays welcome the men in and support them through all this and the family tensions on both sides (parents in another country, one with dementia, and a single mother who creates a temporary rift).
Emily Rath has somehow again given us a book that she acknowledges should be too long and not do well, like the other Rays books were and shouldn't have but did. This one, yes, is over 500 pages, but I read it over the course of one extended evening in essentially one sitting with mini breaks, and it didn't feel long or drawn out in any way. It sucked me right back into this world I love, and I'm fairly certain I caught the hints sprinkled in that may have told me who some of the MCs in the next (and I think final?) book will be along with Jake's sister Amy. I will revisit the entire series again, and have happily added this one to my collection, even reading the paperback I ordered from the UK when ebook has become more accessible for me because I already loved those covers and it isn't out here in Canada until Aug 26 and I couldn't wait!
I'd been waiting somewhat patiently for this story ever since the incredible cliffhanger at the end of book 3 where we learned Henrik and Teddy got married and needed Poppy's help, and became even more intrigued as months went by and we got to see the author's care and love for these special characters. Let me tell you, it was worth the wait.
Henrik was always around, one of the players on the front line with some of the other Jacksonville Rays we know & love, a quiet man we didn't get to know much about. We learn that it was intentional on his part, always keeping himself focused on hockey alone until a tragedy occurs at the start of this book & he needs help. Teddy was a PT intern six years ago but hasn't been back until now, and on his first day in a temporary job he volunteers himself to go with Henrik to Sweden to help the man take care of his sister's affairs & bring back his injured five year old niece. Then while there, he offers to marry the man to help him get custody of Karolina. Never mind that Teddy has been in love with Hen since they met but is certain he's straight and has no interest in him.
The story progresses slowly (SO SLOWLY) but in a way that makes sense as Hen grieves and slowly develops romantic and sexual feelings for the ball of energy that is his fake husband. This is an example of demisexual rep done so well and though we eventually get to the spice when it makes sense, we consistently get the best part of any slow burn: the PINING. The story also addresses the homophobia & racism rampant in the media & the league itself, with Henrik standing up for their privacy and especially the safety of his gay, Black husband & their child. All the while, found family is huge, as the Rays welcome the men in and support them through all this and the family tensions on both sides (parents in another country, one with dementia, and a single mother who creates a temporary rift).
Emily Rath has somehow again given us a book that she acknowledges should be too long and not do well, like the other Rays books were and shouldn't have but did. This one, yes, is over 500 pages, but I read it over the course of one extended evening in essentially one sitting with mini breaks, and it didn't feel long or drawn out in any way. It sucked me right back into this world I love, and I'm fairly certain I caught the hints sprinkled in that may have told me who some of the MCs in the next (and I think final?) book will be along with Jake's sister Amy. I will revisit the entire series again, and have happily added this one to my collection, even reading the paperback I ordered from the UK when ebook has become more accessible for me because I already loved those covers and it isn't out here in Canada until Aug 26 and I couldn't wait!