Reviews

Boyfriend Bargain by Ilsa Madden-Mills

bookmaniacforever's review against another edition

4.0

⭐️4.5 "Dear Future Boyfriend" Stars ⭐️
I love a good college romance with all the swoon factor and heart-warming feelings. Boyfriend Bargain is exactly that kind of story! Ilsa Madden-Mills penned a charming and funny romance with two engaging protagonists that can turn on the heat with their powerful connection.

"She's consuming me, the way her lips pucker when she's thinking, her lashes fluttering against he cheeks after I kiss her. This crazy thing we have is mutual, which scares me and exhilarates me at the same time."

Sugar is the cute, dorky heroine that has a dream of being a lawyer. Zack Morgan, the hockey star player is the perfect candidate to play her new fake boyfriend to help her get admitted at the prestigious lax school of her choice. When they first meet it’s so intense between them. They truly share something special. Every single interaction is so delightful and diverting! The banter had me grinning so big and laughing a lot.

Z is really not the stereotype jock. I absolutely adored him and his fragile side. He hides dark secrets that could hinder his future in the NHL. With Sugar though, it seems like he’s slowly healing from a tragic event of the past. Everything he does to get the girl is adorable. When he accepts her offer to play her boyfriend, he already knows that he’s playing for keeps because she’s that special to him! Talk about a swoon-worthy, cocky hero!!!

As I mentioned earlier, their chemistry is undeniably intense! The little stolen moments where they get intimate are so juicy! They certainly had me losing my breath! Not only this couple is amazing, but the supporting characters bring a depth to this story. I enjoyed Eric's personality, always joking and flirting with Sugar to provoke Z. Reece, Zack's brother, is also very mysterious and the animosity with his brother had me intrigued. Sugar's group of friend are so supportive and fun to watch. Seriously, all the cast made this novel even more engaging!

"Fire and need all mixed together consume my body and I kiss him back, our mouths clinging. Each time we kiss, it's as if it's the first time, and I'm baffled by the intense desire that rises up inside me."

Globally, Boyfriend Bargain is an alluring story bursting with feels. It’s the textbook college sports romance that will give you a great enjoyment.

** ARC received in exchange for an honest review **

naheezy's review against another edition

2.0

I’m sorry but i am really not a fan of the “i was interested in you because you look like my dead ex-girlfriend” trope. Felt like it just ruined the whole thing for me

azelmed's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted medium-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

4.0

patticorrea_ecbc's review against another edition

5.0

OH MY!!! AMAZING! That about sums up this book. Hot hockey guy, shy smart girl, she needs him to help her, he just needs HER. This story touches on some points about mental illness, anxiety to be exact. It is about overcoming your 'faults' to move on and be the best you can be. I can relate to Zack, it is hard as hell to overcome a panic attack, they are scary, mean and suck the life out of you. To end up on the other side is a wonderful feeling.

This story is of moving past the guilt from the past and moving toward the bright future!

olovesbooks's review against another edition

5.0

Never Disappoints

Zack & Sugar didn’t have to come for us like that

k8readstoday's review against another edition

funny hopeful sad 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? Yes

3.25

el__s's review against another edition

classic she's not like other girls, she doesn't know she's beautiful and the bad boy who treats girls like accessories suddenly changes for her

bribreez's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

5⭐️/ 4🌶️

Ilsa Madden-Mills always writes such amazing, unique, enjoyable stories, and with, “Boyfriend Bargain”, it was the kind of story that switched things up. This story followed, Sugar and Zack. Not going to lie, the fact that her name was, “Sugar” caught me off guard, but oh well it was fine. Anyways, Sugar was a hardworking college student with aspirations of getting into law school. Whereas, Zack was the popular man on campus, captain of the hockey team at Hawthorne University, and number one prospect for the NHL draft. Sugar and Zack were from different worlds, but one encounter at a frat party changed everything. Sugar had hoped to ask Zack to pretend to be her fake boyfriend, but instead they shared a steamy night that left them either lingering memories of their instant chemistry. This story had fake dating, little bit of angst, heartfelt moments, romance, and an all together amazing story written by Ilsa Madden-Mills. 

All Sugar wanted was to accomplish her goal of getting into law school, getting her dream job, and prove to those that she was worthy of greatness. Aside from wanting to get into law school, Sugar was an introverted, sweet, kind, and at times sassy woman. I liked Sugar right away with the way she overcame her nerves, and took chances like, asking Zack to be her fake boyfriend to help get into her law school. Sugar wasn’t like the rest of the students that attended Hawthorne University who grew up wealthy. Instead, Sugar had always worked from a young age to support herself, and focused on her studies since she was not only driven, but also very intelligent. Sugar was in for quite a ride once she got Zack to be her fake boyfriend, and OOOO IT WAS GREAT!

You can never go wrong with a hockey romance, but you also can’t go wrong with falling for the captain of said hockey team like, Zack. On the outside, Zack was the kind of man who seemed to have everything he could want from popularity, friends, adoring fans, and a future cemented in the NHL. Deep down though, Zack dealt with some inner demons, a tragedy that affected his life, and an unsettling feeling of anxiety always in the background. I will say that I did like how the story highlighted Zack’s anxiety and his effort to work through it such as, going to therapy. As a student athlete, Zack had a lot of pressure resting on his shoulders, and with the loss of someone from his past still appearing at the forefront of his mind, he had a lot to deal with. Although, that fraternity party ended up being the best thing to happen to Zack since that was the night he shared an incredible, steamy night with Sugar. Zack was more than agreeable to help Sugar out, between the required outings, kisses, and flirting, it was all in the name of making Zack and Sugar’s relationship believable. 

The fake dating was a means to help Sugar out, but it was clear from the beginning that Zack wanted more with her. I’m a big fan of the fake dating trope, among others, but the way Zack and Sugar fake dated each other was sexy, passionate, and gradually became serious. There was the obvious chemistry between Zack and Sugar that I absolutely adored seeing throughout the story, and more so getting to see how much Zack fell for Sugar. Zack was use to just focusing on hockey and his future, but through fake dating Sugar, he felt a sense of happiness and utter joy being around her. Plus, there was the undeniable passion and desire that grew exponentially hotter between Zack and Sugar that had me blushing a couple of times! Zack was very much determined to make Sugar his girlfriend from the beginning! I loved how Zack didn’t pretend, and again despite it being fake dating, he didn’t hold back in letting Sugar know just how much he wanted her, and I WAS LOVING IT!!!!

The road to a happily ever after wasn’t easy for Zack and Sugar, but they eventually got there. Between Zack’s past and his mounting anxiety and Sugar coming to terms with her past as well, the two had some obstacles to overcome. Zack’s storyline was a mix of angst, emotional, and illustrated his struggles with his anxiety. I appreciated seeing the ways Zack took the initiative to seek therapy to help better manage his anxiety and mental health. As an anxious individual that’s something I always appreciate seeing highlighted in stories espoused in this case. Sugar was a lovely young woman and I really loved her! What started out as a means to help her get into the law school of her choice ultimately lead to her finding love! Sugar dealt with doubts and fears of being left behind, lied to, and lack of trust due to her past, but Zack worked hard to show her how much he cared for her. In the midst of some of the more emotional parts, there was the romance that had me swooning! The little things that Zack did for Sugar made me love him more. Not to mention, the spice was hot and had me flustered through out the book! OOOOO! HOT! There were so many wonderful aspects to this story, and I couldn’t put the book down! Sugar and Zack managed to find their way together and it ended on a very great note for them, especially the epilogue showing such a wonderful and beautiful scene between Zack and Sugar (sniff) I adored it! Ilsa Madden-Mills is just one of those authors I wholeheartedly adore and I absolutely loved this book! Highly recommend! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death, and Death of parent

bee_reading_books's review against another edition

5.0

Wow!
I FLOVED Sugar and Z.
I always love IMM's books and am dying for more by the time I reach the end and this was no different.
Their chemistry was on fire and Z was seriously so sweet.
Sugar was relatable and their relationship was super hot.
That closet scene.... *fans self*
Love, love, loved Boyfriend Bargain!

fethiye's review against another edition

2.0

Rating 1.5
The amount of red flaggs and signs of problematic relationship is astounding.