The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
galleytrot's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
READ: Dec 2023
FORMAT: Audio
ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: 3.75 / 5⭐
TECHNICAL / PRODUCTION: 3.75 / 5⭐
FINAL – OVERALL: 3.75 / 5 ⭐
FINAL – OVERALL: 3.75 / 5 ⭐
After being left at the altar, Remy can see no reason why he shouldn’t go along with Sanden’s suggestion of turning the wedding reception into a “petty party” on Eman’s dime, then going on the honeymoon anyway – with Sanden at his side instead of Eman. It’s not all sunshine and roses once they return home and to their respective lives, though, because Eman has left a much larger stain on Remy’s life than he was willing to notice, and Sanden is haunted by his own traumas that keep him stuck in an unhealthy loop of duty and guilt. The pair must figure out their own problems before they become dangerously co-dependent and bring each other down.
This book held a more serious tone and more sensitive subject matter than I’m used to seeing from either James or Finley, but it still managed to maintain a note of good humor and never felt angsty or cruel. My biggest gripe about it was the way hockey was shoehorned into it at just about any opportunity, as if this book exists as an advertisement for the author-duo’s Puckboy series. Yes, this book’s main characters were all introduced in Aleks and Gabe’s book, so it’s reasonable they show up in Sandon and Remy’s, but the focus could have leaned more strongly on relationship support over the game itself. I found it very out-of-place.
The narrators did a good enough job on this one, but I honestly had a hard time distinguishing between the two of them, on top of neither picking particularly distinct voices – this was occasionally a problem in that I wasn’t always clear who was speaking. As a side-note, I think I’ve heard Gabe through a total of six different narrators by now over two different series plus this standalone, so my brain has no clear voice for him at all.
This book has representation for gays. A single character’s name implies they aren’t white, but they are used as the villain of this book. There is otherwise little else in the way of diversity.
The following elaborates on my content warnings. These may be interpreted as spoilers, but I do not go into deep detail.
This book contains: alcohol use; implications and accusations of infidelity; emergency response situations resulting in deaths and injuries ranging from mild to severe, including vehicular pileup and fire; injury descriptions including mention of shock, impalement, lacerations, head injuries, etc.; discussions of handling death and grief as first responders; past death of a young family member (house fire); grief, survivor’s guilt; gaslighting, toxic relationship and friendship, emotionally manipulative and abusive relationship; domestic incident, threat of violence, intimidation; and, off-page death of parent (for a minor character).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Car accident, Death, Infidelity, Violence, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical trauma
Minor: Child death, Gore, Blood, and Death of parent
pitsikakku's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Death, Fire/Fire injury, Stalking, Infidelity, and Grief
yomna_mohmmed20's review against another edition
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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
3.0
bearcate's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kelly_madden's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-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
3.0
zoey_blk's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
margotreads's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
sharingthebooklove's review
5.0
Oh wow!! This book is part of the Sadenverse but is different ..not hockey, not sweet and fluffy!
It is Sanden and Remy's story who we have met in prior books but this is a standalone!
Let me say read the content warnings as this book deals beautifully with some heavy topics.
And well I wanted to hurt the ex so bad for all his a$$holishnesh but the resolution that Saxon and Eden gave him was sufficient!
Sanden and Remy have a journey yo their HEA which can be quite heavy in parts but there is also love, laughter, happiness and healing and of course hot moments!
It is Sanden and Remy's story who we have met in prior books but this is a standalone!
Let me say read the content warnings as this book deals beautifully with some heavy topics.
And well I wanted to hurt the ex so bad for all his a$$holishnesh but the resolution that Saxon and Eden gave him was sufficient!
Sanden and Remy have a journey yo their HEA which can be quite heavy in parts but there is also love, laughter, happiness and healing and of course hot moments!