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sundayseesstars's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
I really loved the aspec rep in this one!! I related to Landon so much in his attitude towards sex (except I'm ace and he's probably demi), and I could see my friend clearly in his attitude towards touching (I'd rec her the book if I didn't know she does not appreciate the genre :p). Overall incredibly sweet and well worth the read, as I've come to expect from Rachel Reid! I'd only discovered her earlier this year but I couldn't be more happy about it!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Death and Car accident
mlglenn's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
3readingcircus's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Bi mmc rep! Autistic-coded mmc.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Grief
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Car accident
garbage_mcsmutly's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.25
This was a really sweet story! Ace representation, lots of steamy scenes, and a very good performance from the narrator. Wrapped up kind of in a hurry though. I wish there had been more about Landon's personal growth (get him in therapy!!!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Grief, and Alcohol
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Biphobia, Death, Car accident, Acephobia/Arophobia, and Injury/Injury detail
journey2's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.75
Hockey/sports aren't really my thing, but everyone was loving it so I thought I would give this one a try!
And I didn't hate it!
I found it actually quite enjoyable!
I don't plan on reading a lot of sports romance books but this was new for me and I enjoyed it.
Here's what I liked;
- the two main characters.
- I liked the Slow Burn Romance.
- I liked them working to find themselves and heal from things in their past. And they didn't work on themselves *for* each other or to make themselves "worthy" of each other but worked together in a way that showed support.
- Their communication about boundaries was excellent, especially when it came to things like knowing when Landon was touched out and didn't want physical contact with anybody because it made him uncomfortable. Their acceptance of each other with regards to any seggsual encounters was pretty fantastic. Casey absolutely respected Landon when he said he didn't really know if he had any interest in seggs at all; and then followed through with that, giving him space and time and understanding. Landon never seemed to feel like he couldn't speak up for fear of judgment if he was uncomfortable and Casey was always ready to listen and respect his wishes.
Of course the communication fell apart in *lots* of other ways but in this way, at least, it was very well handled.
- It was a very seggs positive book .
- The hockey was of course a very important factor in the story but wasn't the entire story, and my limited knowledge wasn't a detriment to my reading.
- I was a big fan of the Canadian storyline and a Canadian author and references to Canadian things like touques instead of beanies! (Although not a single mention of Tim Hortons??!?! Not one Timmies run? Not a single timbit?!)
For what I didn't like;
- The book seemed very surface level; even when they got into their personal histories and fears and traumas. There's nothing terribly profound about the book. Not that I expect profound wisdom from every book that I read every time, but even from books that I purely enjoy from a fluffy , comfort read point of view, there wasn't really anything that was a major takeaway or lines that made me stop and think. There were some cute lines, yes, but it was not particularly memorable; other than being very seggsy!
- It was sort of addressed near the end of the book a couple of times but the fact that everybody thought that one of the main characters was so stupid and continually laughed at their supposed idiocy was quite frustrating. To the point where the character just sort of thought that way about themselves regardless; and in a lot of ways didn't think that they were worthy of proper affection and care because they were just a stupid hockey player and hockey is all they were good for. He kind of laughed it off but I feel like there are a lot deeper issues because of it! I really despised that.
All to say...yes, I liked it alright. Not excellent, but if you want a fairly surface level book about hockey players having seggs...this is a good option! But don't expect a Stanley cup from this one!
And I didn't hate it!
I found it actually quite enjoyable!
I don't plan on reading a lot of sports romance books but this was new for me and I enjoyed it.
Here's what I liked;
- the two main characters.
- I liked the Slow Burn Romance.
- I liked them working to find themselves and heal from things in their past. And they didn't work on themselves *for* each other or to make themselves "worthy" of each other but worked together in a way that showed support.
- Their communication about boundaries was excellent, especially when it came to things like knowing when Landon was touched out and didn't want physical contact with anybody because it made him uncomfortable. Their acceptance of each other with regards to any seggsual encounters was pretty fantastic. Casey absolutely respected Landon when he said he didn't really know if he had any interest in seggs at all; and then followed through with that, giving him space and time and understanding. Landon never seemed to feel like he couldn't speak up for fear of judgment if he was uncomfortable and Casey was always ready to listen and respect his wishes.
Of course the communication fell apart in *lots* of other ways but in this way, at least, it was very well handled.
- It was a very seggs positive book .
- The hockey was of course a very important factor in the story but wasn't the entire story, and my limited knowledge wasn't a detriment to my reading.
- I was a big fan of the Canadian storyline and a Canadian author and references to Canadian things like touques instead of beanies! (Although not a single mention of Tim Hortons??!?! Not one Timmies run? Not a single timbit?!)
For what I didn't like;
- The book seemed very surface level; even when they got into their personal histories and fears and traumas. There's nothing terribly profound about the book. Not that I expect profound wisdom from every book that I read every time, but even from books that I purely enjoy from a fluffy , comfort read point of view, there wasn't really anything that was a major takeaway or lines that made me stop and think. There were some cute lines, yes, but it was not particularly memorable; other than being very seggsy!
- It was sort of addressed near the end of the book a couple of times but the fact that everybody thought that one of the main characters was so stupid and continually laughed at their supposed idiocy was quite frustrating. To the point where the character just sort of thought that way about themselves regardless; and in a lot of ways didn't think that they were worthy of proper affection and care because they were just a stupid hockey player and hockey is all they were good for. He kind of laughed it off but I feel like there are a lot deeper issues because of it! I really despised that.
All to say...yes, I liked it alright. Not excellent, but if you want a fairly surface level book about hockey players having seggs...this is a good option! But don't expect a Stanley cup from this one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Grief
shingekiyes's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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? No
5.0
RACHEL REID NEVER MISSES.
the individual character arcs were a bit shallow (Casey is afraid of the dark/of being alone… Landon is dealing with grief and depression) but their weird quirks made them so much more believable and complex. Reid really knows how to craft lovable, relatable three-dimensional characters—even if the pieced that make up each character seem a little silly.
i read some reviews before diving into this book which made me hesitant to read. after the Game Changers series, i doubted Reid could top her shilya duology. however, her extremely commercial, palatable style and the tangible, compelling chemistry drew me in. this book was fast, easy to digest, and gave me SO MANY FEELINGS. i don’t know how she does it.
i liked how she portrayed Landon’s demisexuality and his touch aversion, but i wish Landon and Casey had had a more awkward and realistic first-time experience. or that they would have acknowledged that sex can and will be awkward or uncomfortable. Casey’s sexual expertise and openness (and chattiness) certainly improved their first experiences with one another, but i like Reid’s REALISM in her relationships, and i wish she’d incorporated just a touch more of it here.
the main issue i had with this book was how quickly each character realized and acknowledged their crush. there weren’t really any “oh” moments, and their chemistry really didn’t leap off the page until after they’d stated they were crushing. <edit: i reread the book this week and disagree with this opinion now—i think the gradual build was done well despite not having any “oh” crush moments. we did get that much later though with casey at the christmas party. wink!>
i will say that once they caught feelings, i was hooked. i stayed up until 4am reading because i had such intense butterflies i just couldn’t wait to see what happened next. i loved how wholesome and unconditional their love for one another was, and how that balanced with the sexier scenes.
all in all, a slay. anything Rachel Reid writes, i will read.
the individual character arcs were a bit shallow (Casey is afraid of the dark/of being alone… Landon is dealing with grief and depression) but their weird quirks made them so much more believable and complex. Reid really knows how to craft lovable, relatable three-dimensional characters—even if the pieced that make up each character seem a little silly.
i read some reviews before diving into this book which made me hesitant to read. after the Game Changers series, i doubted Reid could top her shilya duology. however, her extremely commercial, palatable style and the tangible, compelling chemistry drew me in. this book was fast, easy to digest, and gave me SO MANY FEELINGS. i don’t know how she does it.
i liked how she portrayed Landon’s demisexuality and his touch aversion, but i wish Landon and Casey had had a more awkward and realistic first-time experience. or that they would have acknowledged that sex can and will be awkward or uncomfortable. Casey’s sexual expertise and openness (and chattiness) certainly improved their first experiences with one another, but i like Reid’s REALISM in her relationships, and i wish she’d incorporated just a touch more of it here.
the main issue i had with this book was how quickly each character realized and acknowledged their crush. there weren’t really any “oh” moments, and their chemistry really didn’t leap off the page until after they’d stated they were crushing. <edit: i reread the book this week and disagree with this opinion now—i think the gradual build was done well despite not having any “oh” crush moments. we did get that much later though with casey at the christmas party. wink!>
i will say that once they caught feelings, i was hooked. i stayed up until 4am reading because i had such intense butterflies i just couldn’t wait to see what happened next. i loved how wholesome and unconditional their love for one another was, and how that balanced with the sexier scenes.
all in all, a slay. anything Rachel Reid writes, i will read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Grief
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, and Alcohol
Minor: Homophobia and Medical content
amy_in_the_city's review against another edition
- 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
I loved both lead characters and their relationship. While he never actually labels himself this way, Landon's explanation of how he experiences attraction sounded demisexual to me. Casey was an amazing golden retriever type who was so patient with Landon, never pressuring him and always checking in with him to see if he was good with what was happening. I think this is the first romance I've read where one of the characters isn't into a common sex act, and their partner is absolutely fine with never doing that act with anyone ever again. That was so refreshing to see depicted.
I was initially frustrated with the third-act conflict because I thought Landon gave up on the relationship too quickly, but then I realized this was a case of "I'm in this photo, and I don't like it." As someone who also struggles with low self-worth making them give up on relationships too easily, Landon's actions made sense to me.
The development of this relationship felt realistic, and I found myself really cheering for the characters in a way I don't often do when reading romance novels.
I was initially frustrated with the third-act conflict because I thought Landon gave up on the relationship too quickly, but then I realized this was a case of "I'm in this photo, and I don't like it." As someone who also struggles with low self-worth making them give up on relationships too easily, Landon's actions made sense to me.
The development of this relationship felt realistic, and I found myself really cheering for the characters in a way I don't often do when reading romance novels.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual content, and Grief
Moderate: Death, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Violence
ninebookishlives's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death and Grief
Survivor's guiltbookcheshirecat's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
"Landon smiled back at him. “We’re going to the playoffs together.”
Casey glanced around, then gave Landon a quick kiss. “We’re going everywhere together.”"
Casey glanced around, then gave Landon a quick kiss. “We’re going everywhere together.”"
➽ I don't usually read sports romances, but Time to Shine was fun! It's about two hockey players falling for each other who couldn't be more different. Landon is an introverted, reserved person and the new backup goalie because another player got injured. It's a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Landon who is finally able to play in the NHL in a prestigious team. He's struggling with feeling like he's good enough and dealing with the effects of grief in his own family. Casey is an extroverted sunshine character and the son of a famous player. He's very energetic and intends to bring Landon out of his shell.
➽ For the most part, I enjoyed their dynamic! Landon becomes Casey's new roommate because the latter feels lonely in his huge house. I liked how different they were and yet still fit together. Casey is doing his best to make Landon feel welcome, even though his new roommate is pretty closed off. The audiobook was nice, so I really enjoyed listening to their banter and growing attraction!
➽ In the end, I wasn't completely sold on Time to Shine. The pacing was pretty slow at times and the ending dragged for me. I was also hoping for a more in-depth character Arc for Casey. His issues of being alone and insecurity about 'being dumb' were barely explored, which made him a bit more shallow compared to Landon, who had the storyline about his family's grief.
➽ I also wasn't the most comfortable with how Landon's demisexuality was portrayed. The word itself was never mentioned and though I'm sure the author had the best intentions, it didn't feel like she explored Landon's struggles with his sexuality well. I appreciated that Casey was supportive and willing to do what Landon was comfortable with! However, once Casey and Landon got together, it felt like his demisexuality was never brought up again. That was disappointing, as I wish Landon had the opportunity to figure out for himself how building an emotional connection with Casey might have affected his sexual attraction.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief
takarakei's review against another edition
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
4.5
- hockey romance
- teammates
- forced proximity
- queer discovery
- opposites attract
Casey is the most golden retriever character I've read. But also, a bi-king! Landon's journey was also so heartwarming to read, he is definitely on the ACE spectrum of sexuality. Holiday romance, but not centered on the holidays (more-so hockey season). Just a really wonderful queer romance!
🌶️4/5
🌶️4/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Grief
Moderate: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Car accident