thaliareads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
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
While this started a little slow for me, as the plot started to unfold I really enjoyed it. I will say that miscommunication or a lack of communication is probably one of my least favorite tropes. While the initial miscommunication is a fun misunderstanding that sets the stage well, I wish that the characters had just been more honest with eachother later in the book.
However, I love how Ryder truly stuck by Willa no matter how many times she pushed him away. I also love how Willa never made Ryder feel like less than because he chose not to speak or not to pursue hearing aids or learning sign language. She took him at face value and loved him for who he was at his core, regardless of everything else.
However, I love how Ryder truly stuck by Willa no matter how many times she pushed him away. I also love how Willa never made Ryder feel like less than because he chose not to speak or not to pursue hearing aids or learning sign language. She took him at face value and loved him for who he was at his core, regardless of everything else.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Ableism, Cancer, Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Sexual content
Minor: Alcohol
linnea_tornblom's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Cancer, Death of parent, and Sexual content
kirareadssometimes's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
The main characters in this book have such a fun dynamic. Enemies to frenemies to friends to lovers and everything in between. As a hearing person I can’t speak to how accurate the deaf representation was but I loved that it was there, and from my perspective treated with respect. I also loved Willa going to therapy. Felt like a very realistic and healthy way to cope. Really enjoyed the moments of sexual tension that led to momentary exploration. I feel like I don’t find that very often in books or only for one scene. Made me cry but at this point what doesn’t. Great read
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, and Sexual content
Moderate: Cancer, Medical content, and Ableism
Minor: Abandonment
thecajunbookworm's review against another edition
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
livrosnstuff's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent and Alcohol
xennial_reader's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent and Cancer
internationalreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual content, Grief, Cancer, and Vomit
jillkaarlela's review against another edition
adventurous
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? It's complicated
4.25
Taylor Swift songs: “I think he knows”, “stay stay stay (tv), “labyrinth”
Bonus song: “I know it won’t work” by Gracie abrams
Mmc is hard of hearing and chooses not to speak, so they all communicate by text throughout most of it! I love the representation!! This was frenemies to lovers, semi slow burn, with lots of banter and tension and chemistry🔥! She’s grumpy/standoffish and he’s a shy/quiet brawny lumberjack with a long beard. He is literally so sweet and lovely and obsessed with her!! He doesn’t give up on her and respects and appreciates her boundaries!! She is such an independent, strong woman, and as she should because she’s a D1 soccer player!
It’s told in dual pov, with a song rec to being each chapter!
Overall I think this was cute, I enjoyed it! The reasons why they won’t date can be a bit frustrating and sad (check TW!) and take longer than I might have liked, but the payoff was worth it! They would definitely stay together!
I’m excited to read the rest of the the Bergman brothers series, since I liked this one, and I saw the others have similar diversity (disability and plus size rep from what I’ve seen!) I’ve also seen the next books are hockey romances instead of soccer, which I think I will like much better!
Age rating: 17+ (3-4 brief spicy scenes, 2/5🌶️)
Bonus song: “I know it won’t work” by Gracie abrams
Mmc is hard of hearing and chooses not to speak, so they all communicate by text throughout most of it! I love the representation!! This was frenemies to lovers, semi slow burn, with lots of banter and tension and chemistry🔥! She’s grumpy/standoffish and he’s a shy/quiet brawny lumberjack with a long beard. He is literally so sweet and lovely and obsessed with her!! He doesn’t give up on her and respects and appreciates her boundaries!! She is such an independent, strong woman, and as she should because she’s a D1 soccer player!
It’s told in dual pov, with a song rec to being each chapter!
Overall I think this was cute, I enjoyed it! The reasons why they won’t date can be a bit frustrating and sad (check TW!) and take longer than I might have liked, but the payoff was worth it! They would definitely stay together!
I’m excited to read the rest of the the Bergman brothers series, since I liked this one, and I saw the others have similar diversity (disability and plus size rep from what I’ve seen!) I’ve also seen the next books are hockey romances instead of soccer, which I think I will like much better!
Age rating: 17+ (3-4 brief spicy scenes, 2/5🌶️)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Cursing, Death of parent, and Sexual content
madscientistcat's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
2.5
I read the revised version so my complaints are only about the emotional immaturity, unlikeability, and complete unrealisticness of the characters and their relationship. However, there were several incredibly moving statements that really spoke to the truth of a late-onset disability in a way that few authors have ever really achieved, so I appreciated that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Death of parent, and Cancer