lindslikesbooks's review against another edition
- 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
- College age
- Sports romance
- Diverse representation
Plot:
Willa is a whip-smart college athlete. She works harder than anyone to crush it on the soccer pitch and make it to the pros. She pushes herself to excel in her classes so she can make it after college. Ryder is assigned as her partner in one of her classes where she needs a bit of help. But a misunderstanding leaves them more like enemies. Circumstances force them to spend time together but that is the last thing Willa wants.
Character development:
The author did a great job showing the growth of these characters. They both have highly difficult challenges that they deal with and that did have me in my feelings. That said, the miscommunication trope did not add to the story in my opinion. I think we could have done without it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
Graphic: Cancer and Medical trauma
Moderate: Death of parent
abcdefgerda's review against another edition
- 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
But yeah, it was a damn good book, if a little slow going at times.
Beautiful disability rep, I was actually not aware of the deafness going into the book but it really added a good layer to the story and now I've read this, I really want more dead characters in books (where are my recs at?)
Also this
My head swivels to hers, and Ryder’s follows suit. His eyes narrow. He missed what she said.
“You can’t talk around him, Roo. Say it again.”
Her eyes widen. “Seriously?”
Ryder nods.
“I said—” Rooney clears her throat, her cheeks turning pink. “I said ‘so we don’t hate him anymore?’”
Is quite honestly the hottest scene I've read. Just mwah. Yes please 👏
Also Willa and Ryder are adorable? And the piggyback rides? *fans herself* it's like the author took all the things I love in romance books and put them in this one! Asking persmission for kisses/touches/making sure everything is consensual? Check. One very openly affectionate and quick(er) to fall in love and one who is absolutely 1000% incapable of admitting their feelings? Check. Love making? Check. Rough "I love you passionately" s*x? Check. "I want you. You and not just your body (even though I love your body and saying this is physically painful"? Check!
But also. I really liked how Willa's grief was portrayed before her mother's death (not putting it as a spoiler. She has cancer, it's valid to assume it's gonna happen and I also think it should be as a warning so..) but after we just had months of grief OFF-PAGE, then some therapy(?) OFF-PAGE and suddenly okay(ish)?
The ending overall was pretty rushed to be quite honest.
Also with books that take place during such a long timeline, really should have some trackers, like dates at the beginning of the chapter or something. I was really lost at some point where I thought it had been hours or a day since the last scene but was actually weeks or months and that only came out a few paragraphs later...
Graphic: Cancer and Death of parent
Moderate: Medical content and Medical trauma
dianaschmidty's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Cancer, Medical content, Terminal illness, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, and Vomit
Moderate: Ableism
danajoy's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Ableism, Sexual content, Death of parent, Cancer, Medical trauma, and Medical content
thefatpaperback's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Medical content, Ableism, War, Abandonment, Cancer, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Sexual content, and Misogyny
gtrue21's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Spoiler
the female main character’s mom dies which was very triggeringGraphic: Death of parent, Terminal illness, Cancer, Death, Grief, Chronic illness, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Vomit
evefleming's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Ableism, Terminal illness, Cancer, Death of parent, Grief, Sexual content, and Death
Moderate: Cursing, Alcohol, Sexism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Medical trauma
janinetrimble's review against another edition
- 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
This book was a bit complicated for me. It was told by Ryder and Willa, two soccer players who end up paired together for a project and start off as frenemies but by the end....it deals with diverse ability representation but also death of a parent, so be forewarned.
Graphic: Medical content, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Ableism, Cancer, Death of parent, and Grief
greatestheights's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Chronic illness, Medical trauma, Vomit, Terminal illness, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
kaseybereading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Cancer, Death of parent, Grief, Medical trauma, and Medical content