A review by roksyreads
Home Game by Odette Stone

emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Whilst Ryan Parker is trying to survive the transition to a new team in the NHL, Zoey is just trying to survive. Homeless and barely scraping by, she lives one day at a time. In a world that doesn’t care about her struggles, Zoey can’t afford to trust anyone—not even Ryan, who shows her generosity and kindness unlike any she’s ever experienced. But when her bad luck takes a turn for the worst, Ryan is there, helping her even though he’s facing his own challenges. His friendship changes Zoey, allowing her to blossom in a way that she never thought possible. Allowing her to trust. Zoey is new to the game of love, and winning is harder than it looks. She doesn’t know the rules or how to win, but she’ll play her heart out for a chance at a future she never dared to hope could be hers.

 

After reading and thoroughly enjoying Puck Me Secretly, I admit I was expecting more from Home Game, which is part of the same series. Whilst the premise was solid and held promise, the story was let down at times by the writing. Heavy on exposition, the narrative often lacked any real depth or emotion despite the first person narration by FMC Zoey and MMC Ryan. The dialogue was also oddly stilted at times, with characters speaking in an overtly formal manner and without any real personality. The dynamics between Zoey and Ryan shift significantly through the story, with Ryan initially acting as a saviour and Zoey as a reluctant dependent before their romance finally kindles in the closing chapters after significant angst. Perhaps it’s because I didn’t feel much of a connection to the characters or because the tropes as they occurred left much to be desired, but despite the tension between the MCs as their friendship developed, calling this a romance felt like a stretch.