Scan barcode
lmrivas54's review against another edition
5.0
Ilsa Madden-Mills delights us again with another YA hockey romance. I was dying to read Eric’s story and it was every bit as delightful and angsty as Zack’s story!
We’d already met Julia and Eric in Boyfriend Bargain, Eric is Zack’s best friend and team winger in the HU hockey team and Julia was Sugar’s roommate. Zack and Sugar have already graduated and moved to Nashville where Zack is playing with the Nashville Predators. Julia is now living with Taylor and Poppy, who used to be Sugar’s besties and have now adopted her.
As is to be expected, it’s not all happy and unicorns with their lives. Julia’s mother is an addict, she got into debt with a loan shark, and now it’s Julia’s problem to pay it off. She got into stripping because the pay and tips are bigger. So she went from a nerd with hopes and dreams to a stripper who is in a spiral trying to survive. She’s still studying art but it gets more difficult every day.
Eric has family trauma. His big brother Kurt was the family golden boy, great athlete, great scholar, studying law in Harvard, but unknown to his family he’s doing heroin. He was shot during a deal and now his father expects Eric to step into Kurt’s place. Eric is trying to please his father but he doesn’t have the attitude nor the aptitude for what is expected of him. He’s dancing a crazy dance of doing his thing, pleasing his father and trying to find time to be with Julia.
I love how the author presents her young adults with all their family drama and their attempts to fulfill their destinies and also do their best by their families. Eric and Julia had a moment in high school that ended in heartbreak for Julia. Eric is doing the best he can, he wants to fix things and find a way for both of them but there are so many obstacles in their way. They have a strong chemistry and it feels so easy to be together. If feels they belong together if it weren’t for their family trauma.
There are other incidents regarding a fraternity that has deviated from the norm and is now a bastion for binges and sleaziness. Both Julia and Eric are affected by their proximity and I loved this plot twist because it added a ton of drama to the story, which would have been a little bland otherwise. There was a lot of back and forth between Eric and Julia and the story needed some fireworks.
I loved both Eric and Julia, and absolutely loved Reese and Booth and their puck game. I laughed a lot when Poppy and Taylor go with Julia to a hockey game and how clueless they were about the game. I love that these youngsters have hopes and dreams, they live and have fun, but also have direction. It’s not all booze and party, there are obligations and family love and they all turn up when they’re needed. Another great feel-good story!
We’d already met Julia and Eric in Boyfriend Bargain, Eric is Zack’s best friend and team winger in the HU hockey team and Julia was Sugar’s roommate. Zack and Sugar have already graduated and moved to Nashville where Zack is playing with the Nashville Predators. Julia is now living with Taylor and Poppy, who used to be Sugar’s besties and have now adopted her.
As is to be expected, it’s not all happy and unicorns with their lives. Julia’s mother is an addict, she got into debt with a loan shark, and now it’s Julia’s problem to pay it off. She got into stripping because the pay and tips are bigger. So she went from a nerd with hopes and dreams to a stripper who is in a spiral trying to survive. She’s still studying art but it gets more difficult every day.
Eric has family trauma. His big brother Kurt was the family golden boy, great athlete, great scholar, studying law in Harvard, but unknown to his family he’s doing heroin. He was shot during a deal and now his father expects Eric to step into Kurt’s place. Eric is trying to please his father but he doesn’t have the attitude nor the aptitude for what is expected of him. He’s dancing a crazy dance of doing his thing, pleasing his father and trying to find time to be with Julia.
I love how the author presents her young adults with all their family drama and their attempts to fulfill their destinies and also do their best by their families. Eric and Julia had a moment in high school that ended in heartbreak for Julia. Eric is doing the best he can, he wants to fix things and find a way for both of them but there are so many obstacles in their way. They have a strong chemistry and it feels so easy to be together. If feels they belong together if it weren’t for their family trauma.
There are other incidents regarding a fraternity that has deviated from the norm and is now a bastion for binges and sleaziness. Both Julia and Eric are affected by their proximity and I loved this plot twist because it added a ton of drama to the story, which would have been a little bland otherwise. There was a lot of back and forth between Eric and Julia and the story needed some fireworks.
I loved both Eric and Julia, and absolutely loved Reese and Booth and their puck game. I laughed a lot when Poppy and Taylor go with Julia to a hockey game and how clueless they were about the game. I love that these youngsters have hopes and dreams, they live and have fun, but also have direction. It’s not all booze and party, there are obligations and family love and they all turn up when they’re needed. Another great feel-good story!
beeya_bookreads's review against another edition
im sorry but him being a ginger and having a man bun threw me off
taniamg's review against another edition
4.0
Eric and Julia “relationship” was different. Julia is a strong girl that has faced so many adversities in her life. She’s strong, fierce and hardworking. She did whatever she needed to do to survive. Her relationship with Eric is complicated. They knew each other since prep school; she was the scholarship kid and he the wealthy one. That never stopped him from pursuing her back then but then he broke her heart. Fast forward couple years and they’re attending the same college and he feels the need to protect her. She’s a bit wary because of their past. Eric was wishy washy with her at times because he had so much going on personally. At times his attitude made me dislike him but then he’ll do things and you realize he isn’t that bad. Julia I loved. She rolled with the punches and did what she needed to do to survive. Eric finally realized that he loved her and finally took full control of his life. Julia was by his side along the way. Their friends were a great group.
heatherb528's review against another edition
5.0
Ilsa delivers an epic enemies to lovers college sports romance with Boyfriend Material! I was immediately pulled into with drama angst hot af spice! Eric and Julia take you on an emotional roller coaster but it’s worth every second!!
jade_vista's review
3.0
There is little more I love more than enemies to lovers, but this one fell a little flat to me. Overall Ilsa Madden-Mills has blown me away. Her writing style is fresh, the story flows, the pacing is done well, and the character development is on point.
I don’t know if I’m just struggling to read more contemporary books when I’ve basically been inhaling every dark romance and fantasy I could find for the last six months, but Contemporary just isn’t quite doing it for me right now.
⚠️ check TW before reading ⚠️
I don’t know if I’m just struggling to read more contemporary books when I’ve basically been inhaling every dark romance and fantasy I could find for the last six months, but Contemporary just isn’t quite doing it for me right now.
⚠️ check TW before reading ⚠️
onceinabluemoon88's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
ravenclawincabin13's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
azelmed's review against another edition
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? Yes
4.0
patticorrea_ecbc's review against another edition
5.0
Oh how I love Ilsa's books. This series is great.
This book offers all the feels. Second chance, enemies to lovers and the perfect fast paced story.
Cannot wait for the next book!!
This book offers all the feels. Second chance, enemies to lovers and the perfect fast paced story.
Cannot wait for the next book!!
janella_11's review against another edition
4.0
Quite liked this book.
I have read quite a few of this authors books and have never been disappointed.
The SA is a trigger of mine but it was handled well in this book and justice is served.
Wish the guy on the cover was a ginger like the MMC
I have read quite a few of this authors books and have never been disappointed.
The SA is a trigger of mine but it was handled well in this book and justice is served.
Wish the guy on the cover was a ginger like the MMC