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oceaneanagonye's reviews
185 reviews
The Long Game by Rachel Reid
3.0
I mostly loved the Game Changers series and really enjoy Rachel Reid's writing style. The characters are unique and complex, and their connections are usually electric. This book however... Buckle up.
I'll be honest, I've never been a Shane Hollander stan. In my opinion, he's always come across as neurotic and egotistical, with a few shining moments of empathy here and there. This book was the nail in the coffin for me. Shane is so incredibly self-obsessed and downright mean to Ilya for most of the book. I was confused because in HR, he at least seemed capable of feeling empathy for Ilya and seemed like he wanted to be a good person. In this book, that all goes out the window from his first scene where he makes the thoughtless comment about Ilya's mom not pestering him like Yuna was. All the way to when he berates him saying that he still wants to win games instead of just getting high with his teammates between losses like Ilya. Does Shane ever atone for his wrongs? Sure. If you consider sex, shallow conversation, and an ill-fitting wedding band to be atonement.
There is also the issue of Shane's orthorexia. It's treated as more of an annoying quirk than the serious eating disorder that it is and is magically cured by the end of the book. I've seen orthorexia ruin relationships and destroy people's self-worth in my own life, so maybe I'm a bit sensitive to how it was handled here. Ilya's depression was a bit jarring after seeing how he was portrayed in HR, but depression is like that sometimes. I don't fault the author for how she portrayed his struggles, and appreciated that HE at least got the help he needed.
Overall the book just felt devoid of depth and heartfelt moments. It had so much potential as a book focused on a decade long relationship between two beautiful characters, but it just didn't deliver.
I'm a Happily Ever After addict, so I'm glad that these characters got to skate off into the sunset together with Anya. I hate being a negative Nancy, but this book really bothered my spirit enough to leave this review.
I'll be honest, I've never been a Shane Hollander stan. In my opinion, he's always come across as neurotic and egotistical, with a few shining moments of empathy here and there. This book was the nail in the coffin for me. Shane is so incredibly self-obsessed and downright mean to Ilya for most of the book. I was confused because in HR, he at least seemed capable of feeling empathy for Ilya and seemed like he wanted to be a good person. In this book, that all goes out the window from his first scene where he makes the thoughtless comment about Ilya's mom not pestering him like Yuna was. All the way to when he berates him saying that he still wants to win games instead of just getting high with his teammates between losses like Ilya. Does Shane ever atone for his wrongs? Sure. If you consider sex, shallow conversation, and an ill-fitting wedding band to be atonement.
There is also the issue of Shane's orthorexia. It's treated as more of an annoying quirk than the serious eating disorder that it is and is magically cured by the end of the book. I've seen orthorexia ruin relationships and destroy people's self-worth in my own life, so maybe I'm a bit sensitive to how it was handled here. Ilya's depression was a bit jarring after seeing how he was portrayed in HR, but depression is like that sometimes. I don't fault the author for how she portrayed his struggles, and appreciated that HE at least got the help he needed.
Overall the book just felt devoid of depth and heartfelt moments. It had so much potential as a book focused on a decade long relationship between two beautiful characters, but it just didn't deliver.
I'm a Happily Ever After addict, so I'm glad that these characters got to skate off into the sunset together with Anya. I hate being a negative Nancy, but this book really bothered my spirit enough to leave this review.
The Friendship Equation by J.R. Gray
5.0
This book was near perfection. No cheating, no giving in to controlling characters or blackmail, and no separation of the main characters for the sake of drama. The steam was there, but didn't take the place of tenderness or emotional conversations. There were plenty of those as well! I have listened to it three times already and it's quickly becoming a new comfort read. ❤️ I will say I wish some of the dialogue flowed more naturally instead of reading like an essay where you're not allowed to use contractions. Hopefully this gets better as the series progresses.
Promises: The Next Generation by A.E. Via
5.0
The chokehold A.E. Via has on me is absurd. I've devoured the Nothing Special, True Lovers Stories, and Promises series. However, I can see why some people would not enjoy this story.
If you have a history of religious trauma or a past emotionally abusive relationship, you might be sensitive to some of Tyrell's thoughts and actions. After reading the book to the end, I really feel like his motives are more about culture than control. It's possible to read it through a certain lens and see Ty as a very conservative misogynist. It's also possible to see him as a person who clings to what he has left of his father who he idolized and demands a certain level of respect.
I don't fault anyone for loving or hating this book. I personally really started to enjoy it after the scene in the forest and loved their relationship from that point on. Ty wanted to love and care for Kell in every way possible while still being amazing partners at Duke's. Kell wanted to be loved, cared for and respected which is exactly what Ty did for him. His hood and scarf as a nod to a hijab and niqaab was an interesting touch as well.
I don't know if I can recommend this book to everyone as it might be triggering. But if you've read the potential triggers I've listed above and think you'll be ok, I say go in with an open mind and give it a try.
If you have a history of religious trauma or a past emotionally abusive relationship, you might be sensitive to some of Tyrell's thoughts and actions. After reading the book to the end, I really feel like his motives are more about culture than control. It's possible to read it through a certain lens and see Ty as a very conservative misogynist. It's also possible to see him as a person who clings to what he has left of his father who he idolized and demands a certain level of respect.
I don't fault anyone for loving or hating this book. I personally really started to enjoy it after the scene in the forest and loved their relationship from that point on. Ty wanted to love and care for Kell in every way possible while still being amazing partners at Duke's. Kell wanted to be loved, cared for and respected which is exactly what Ty did for him. His hood and scarf as a nod to a hijab and niqaab was an interesting touch as well.
I don't know if I can recommend this book to everyone as it might be triggering. But if you've read the potential triggers I've listed above and think you'll be ok, I say go in with an open mind and give it a try.