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garbage_mcsmutly's Reviews (1.74k)
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
π I probably would've rated this higher if I'd gone in knowing it's only the first of a three part series where you don't get the HEA until book 3. But I didn't find out until I was near the end, so it was disappointing. That said, I fully plan to read the other 2 books. This one was interesting/intriguing, with a fair bit of action/adventure, and I want to learn more about both MCs.
π§ 3rd person single POV, one narrator. He did a good job.
πΆοΈ 3/5 A smattering of explicit encounters, generally kind of brief, well done, not particularly wild.
βπ½π³οΈβπ Both MMCs are queer (one seems to be bisexual, one seems to be gay, but neither is outright identified as such). Both of them have female best friends, at least one of whom is queer, and one is Black. There aren't many other side characters besides the antagonists (who I think are all white men).
π§ 3rd person single POV, one narrator. He did a good job.
πΆοΈ 3/5 A smattering of explicit encounters, generally kind of brief, well done, not particularly wild.
βπ½π³οΈβπ Both MMCs are queer (one seems to be bisexual, one seems to be gay, but neither is outright identified as such). Both of them have female best friends, at least one of whom is queer, and one is Black. There aren't many other side characters besides the antagonists (who I think are all white men).
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
π IDK, this wasn't a great one. I like the author's work generally, and I appreciate the fat and disability representation, but the conflict keeping the MCs apart felt pretty stupid TBH. And it took up SO much real estate in their story. I would definitely recommend Kayla's other books over this one.
π§ Dual POV, 1st person, 2 narrators. They both did well.
πΆοΈ 3/5 A handful of scenes with pretty straightforward sexytimes.The lightest touch of kink in the final scene.
βπ½π³οΈβπ Not particularly diverse. The FMC seems to be white, straight, and cis, but she is fat and invisibly disabled (has a heart condition). The MMC appears to be white and straight and cis, and he is supposed to be a little on the not-fit side, but I think more in the "average body" sense than the "actually fat" sense. This book is so focused on the two MCs that we seldom even meet any side characters. Her female best friend (who is white and marrying a man) is kind of the only side character we get, so no additional diversity there really.
π§ Dual POV, 1st person, 2 narrators. They both did well.
πΆοΈ 3/5 A handful of scenes with pretty straightforward sexytimes.
βπ½π³οΈβπ Not particularly diverse. The FMC seems to be white, straight, and cis, but she is fat and invisibly disabled (has a heart condition). The MMC appears to be white and straight and cis, and he is supposed to be a little on the not-fit side, but I think more in the "average body" sense than the "actually fat" sense. This book is so focused on the two MCs that we seldom even meet any side characters. Her female best friend (who is white and marrying a man) is kind of the only side character we get, so no additional diversity there really.
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
This book was really funny at points, so that gave it a bump for me, but it started off pretty boring and I almost DNFed. The first 25-30% was just vignettes of them hooking up with very little insight into their interior lives. But that did get better.
Also I don't know how to feel about the ending and whether it even qualifies as a HEA. But apparently there's a sequel focused on this couple later in the series, so maybe that resolves some things???
π§ Man, IDK. This narrator didn't really do it for me? (Single narrator but dual POV.) He just made a lot of choices I wouldn't have made in his shoes.
πΆοΈ 4.25/5 There are plenty of explicit scenes of them hooking up, and while they don't get super adventurous for the most part, the scenes are still hot.
βπ½π³οΈβπ Both MCs are queer (one bi, one gay). One of them is half white, half Japanese. There's a teammate who is Black, and of course the Japanese mother of the MC, but I think that's about it in terms of ethnic diversity. Not great diversity overall, but also it's the NHL so like, not so unrealistic either?
Also I don't know how to feel about the ending and whether it even qualifies as a HEA. But apparently there's a sequel focused on this couple later in the series, so maybe that resolves some things???
π§ Man, IDK. This narrator didn't really do it for me? (Single narrator but dual POV.) He just made a lot of choices I wouldn't have made in his shoes.
πΆοΈ 4.25/5 There are plenty of explicit scenes of them hooking up, and while they don't get super adventurous for the most part, the scenes are still hot.
βπ½π³οΈβπ Both MCs are queer (one bi, one gay). One of them is half white, half Japanese. There's a teammate who is Black, and of course the Japanese mother of the MC, but I think that's about it in terms of ethnic diversity. Not great diversity overall, but also it's the NHL so like, not so unrealistic either?
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
π This was a delightful cozy fantasy, even though there was some violence (but like, cozily). Things I really appreciated in this book:
- Portraying complicated family dynamics and a MC who prioritizes her own happiness over toxic relationships.
- The nod towards politics as the book reaches its conclusion, which includes a semi-subtle indictment of the US political system.
- The puns. So many supernatural puns.
π§ This was dual 3rd person POV with only one female narrator. It was a solid performance.
πΆοΈ 3/5 It wasn't light on spice but it wasn't spice forward either. A few explicit scenes (well written) and a fair amount of sexual tension.
βπ½π³οΈβπ The MMC is a centuries old demon so he is of course pan, and this is accepted. Both MCs appear white. There are a couple side characters who are POC (Black and Maori). There is also rhetoric from the antagonist about (CW racist/xenophobic language)
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
π This was a great book! Closed door, which I'm not usually a big fan of, but Mimi Matthews always does it well.
π§ Dual POV, 3rd person, two narrators. They both did a great job.
πΆοΈ 1/5 Just a few kissing scenes, and an opaque reference to "when they were intimate" in the epilogue.
π³οΈβπβπ½ Not a ton of diversity, but there were a couple POC characters. I didn't clock anyone queer.
π§ Dual POV, 3rd person, two narrators. They both did a great job.
πΆοΈ 1/5 Just a few kissing scenes, and an opaque reference to "when they were intimate" in the epilogue.
π³οΈβπβπ½ Not a ton of diversity, but there were a couple POC characters. I didn't clock anyone queer.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexism, Classism
Moderate: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment
Minor: Alcoholism, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Trafficking, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
π Loved it, no notes. The age gap is addressed pretty thoroughly and seeing everything from her perspective really helps cement that there isn't any sort of abuse.
π§ First person POV, only her perspective. Duet narration. The voice actors were both really good, although early on I had a hard time separating Eric Nolan's voice in this from a serial killer character he performed for a different author/book. But the actors both were good at portraying nuance in emotion.
πΆοΈ 3.5/5 Typical spice for an AH book. A handful (or less) of explicit scenes that were all done really well. Only a whisper of kink at one point.
π³οΈβπβπ½Diversity in side characters, both in sexuality and ethnicity, but both MCs appear to be white and straight and cis. Also everyone seems to have a lot of money.
π§ First person POV, only her perspective. Duet narration. The voice actors were both really good, although early on I had a hard time separating Eric Nolan's voice in this from a serial killer character he performed for a different author/book. But the actors both were good at portraying nuance in emotion.
πΆοΈ 3.5/5 Typical spice for an AH book. A handful (or less) of explicit scenes that were all done really well. Only a whisper of kink at one point.
π³οΈβπβπ½Diversity in side characters, both in sexuality and ethnicity, but both MCs appear to be white and straight and cis. Also everyone seems to have a lot of money.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No