abbiebraaten's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
andreatorres's review against another edition
5.0
4.75 ⭐️ This book made me actually enjoy Shakespeare quotes, it had me crying every other chapter… and I loved every single second of it.
This was one the most beautiful, heart-breaking, wonderfully told romances probably ever written. It made me feel the type of elation/pain I felt when I read The Kiss Quotient for the first time. It was the first book I’d ever read where the FMC was on the spectrum, and god, did it felt raw to read about someone who I could relate to so much. Now, I’m not autistic (as far as I know), but everyone that suffers with a mental illness, or just a chronic illness really, knows what it feels like to feel invisible and unheard in your wants and needs; to feel like the problem in every single situation and like everyone would be better off if you just weren’t around bringing them down. I’m not saying that’s true at all, but sometimes it feels like the most objective truth.
Queue this f*cking book. Frankie works in social media, she’s autistic and has rheumatoid arthritis – and she’s all around a BAMF who could literally crush me with her Elder Wand cane and I would say thank you. Listen, I said what I said… I also do love that there’s JK Rowling slamming in this book – we do not support transphobes, even if they do know how to create lovely pieces of fiction. Ren is a hockey player and an absolute geek when it comes to Shakespeare and theatre. He's dorky and sweet, all around the most perfect man imaginable, really. I’ll admit the whole no-swearing thing doesn’t agree with me, and the weird old-timey insults got cringy at times, which is the only reason why I didn’t give this book the whole five stars – but, honestly, Søren was all kinds of wholesome and cute, so I’m obviously rounding it up.
This book also has something that I had never read before, and that’s a v¡rgin MMC/ experienced FMC dynamic. I’ve read other books where both MCs were inexperienced, and definitely lots where the FMC’s the v¡rgin, but never the other way around. I always find myself sceptical when it comes to v¡rgin MCs because I don’t really understand or support the idea of v¡rginity as a concept – it was created to perpetuate shame and control over women’s bodies, and it’s therefore obsolete and f*cking disgusting. In this book, though, there is no emphasis in the concept of v¡rginity, which I absolutely loved. Yes, the word is used to describe the fact that Ren had never had penetrative s*x with anyone before, but that’s it. He was experienced in other areas and there was no shame or possessiveness whatsoever when it came to their experiences with each other. The spice is really mild here, but it’s not a close door romance, thankfully.
The chemistry between these two was so sweet, and the fact that he's a year younger than her, and he’s been waiting and pinning for her it’s so fantastic to read. Almost refreshing, really. I’m so tired of Age-Gap romances that are always 10+ years and it’s always the male identifying character who’s older. I want variation and diversity, and this book brings it.
After all, my all-time favourite books are always spicy and diverse, and this has both!
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ .75/ 5
This was one the most beautiful, heart-breaking, wonderfully told romances probably ever written. It made me feel the type of elation/pain I felt when I read The Kiss Quotient for the first time. It was the first book I’d ever read where the FMC was on the spectrum, and god, did it felt raw to read about someone who I could relate to so much. Now, I’m not autistic (as far as I know), but everyone that suffers with a mental illness, or just a chronic illness really, knows what it feels like to feel invisible and unheard in your wants and needs; to feel like the problem in every single situation and like everyone would be better off if you just weren’t around bringing them down. I’m not saying that’s true at all, but sometimes it feels like the most objective truth.
Queue this f*cking book. Frankie works in social media, she’s autistic and has rheumatoid arthritis – and she’s all around a BAMF who could literally crush me with her Elder Wand cane and I would say thank you. Listen, I said what I said… I also do love that there’s JK Rowling slamming in this book – we do not support transphobes, even if they do know how to create lovely pieces of fiction. Ren is a hockey player and an absolute geek when it comes to Shakespeare and theatre. He's dorky and sweet, all around the most perfect man imaginable, really. I’ll admit the whole no-swearing thing doesn’t agree with me, and the weird old-timey insults got cringy at times, which is the only reason why I didn’t give this book the whole five stars – but, honestly, Søren was all kinds of wholesome and cute, so I’m obviously rounding it up.
This book also has something that I had never read before, and that’s a v¡rgin MMC/ experienced FMC dynamic. I’ve read other books where both MCs were inexperienced, and definitely lots where the FMC’s the v¡rgin, but never the other way around. I always find myself sceptical when it comes to v¡rgin MCs because I don’t really understand or support the idea of v¡rginity as a concept – it was created to perpetuate shame and control over women’s bodies, and it’s therefore obsolete and f*cking disgusting. In this book, though, there is no emphasis in the concept of v¡rginity, which I absolutely loved. Yes, the word is used to describe the fact that Ren had never had penetrative s*x with anyone before, but that’s it. He was experienced in other areas and there was no shame or possessiveness whatsoever when it came to their experiences with each other. The spice is really mild here, but it’s not a close door romance, thankfully.
The chemistry between these two was so sweet, and the fact that he's a year younger than her, and he’s been waiting and pinning for her it’s so fantastic to read. Almost refreshing, really. I’m so tired of Age-Gap romances that are always 10+ years and it’s always the male identifying character who’s older. I want variation and diversity, and this book brings it.
After all, my all-time favourite books are always spicy and diverse, and this has both!
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ .75/ 5
giz_story_graf's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
victoria_tsonos's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
twicelovely's review against another edition
1.0
I couldn’t finish this book. I’m all about a hockey romance, but within the first 20% I heard about her Harry Potter panties 3 times and she named her cane “the elder wand”, which HP aside, I found pretty rude for elderly people who rely on the device as an aide.
Also, a completely virgin MMC who is just MAGICALLY phenomenal at sex. Ok.
Also, a completely virgin MMC who is just MAGICALLY phenomenal at sex. Ok.
califor127's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I could read this one a million times and still keep coming back to read it again. Chef's kiss.
nerdoutwithmybookout's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you to @chloe_liese for my copy of Always Only You. It’s a sports romance, forbidden love and a slow burn. Ren is an adorkable hockey star and Frankie is a grumpy social media manager for the team. It was so fun seeing their relationship develop, especially Frankie letting Ren in on her autism diagnosis and chronic pain. The nicknames, the steam, so prefect.
charliclement_'s review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
beckylewis82's review against another edition
5.0
I live in a house that loves hockey but I am not a fan! That being said I love sports romances and especially hockey ones, not sure why
lucile_hbrt's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0