this book came highly recommended to me and i’m so glad i picked it up. i feel like queer hockey romances + non-white hockey romances are few and far between, so i really enjoyed the characterization. i kept screaming “GO TO THERAPY” for the entire book. if you don’t like open/ambiguous endings, this book is NOT for you.
This book showcased a really interesting dynamic, mixing a good concept with a dual timeline to really bring the characters to life. The story kept shifting throughout which kept me very invested in the book. Where some parts were definitely predictable, the way they were written and reflected on made it feel like you are chasing the answer the whole book. I think this book is a good reminder that friendships aren’t always meant to last forever, but that doesn’t make them any less important in the moment. We exist in a world where companionship comes and goes, teaching us lessons as we move through life and they’re all valuable even if they don’t end positively. the ending was a bit abrupt, but in a way that made sense to me and the flow of the book. i would recommend the audio version of this book, but I can understand how some of the emotion would be lost in a print version.
This was such a good read. I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed every second. It has found family vibes, diversity in many ways, and the chapter titles are actually hilarious and thematic.
I love anything Jenn writes and will continue to devour these books. I forced myself to wait a bit to read this so the time waiting for the next one wasn’t that long, but I am STILL going to go crazy waiting for the next one.
This book was just the thing i needed for a quick little gay read! I will say, everyone in this book needs therapy. ASAP. The way they acted went beyond “inexperienced teens making bad decisions” but I don’t know if i can blame them if the adults in their life weren’t interfering? The thing I hated the most was the fact that EVERYONE gaslight Jay into taking the blame for everything and was the only one at fault. Lu was a bad friend, refusing to celebrate Jay despite saying she would, Max broke Jay’s trust telling Tony. Albert was just trying to like a boy and got dragged into this. Also? Max told Jay it was okay to talk to Tony and Albert. Jay had NO experience, why wouldn’t he trust Max who ACTED LIKE THEY WERE A PRO DESPITE NOT BEING AS EXPERIENCED AS HE SAID?????
This book gives relatively detailed descriptions of financial struggles (not MC related, but adjacent) and it could be triggering to people with those experiences
I love it when 🥰🥰. The bond that these characters built from a shitty situation is everything. As a girl who has a similar story, I truly believe these bonds are irreplaceable. I also loved how each character changed and grew into themselves through the book.
Ari's grow, specifically, means so, so much to me.