Reviews with content warning for Emotional abuse - The Rest of the Story

Wow this book was a roller coaster. Dark and intense start, then a slow burn and a happy hockey story, then a mushy steamy happy part followed by a really dark part. There are some intense themes in this one, so reader beware, but mixed into that is THR sweetest instalove/slow burn HEA and a decent hockey story.

Content Warnings

endemictoearth's review

Go to review page

challenging emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

4.0

This book, uhhhh, hmm.

Can a book be a shit sandwich, but the bread is the shit part? Because the beginning of this book is rough (expected to be rough, tho!) and the middle is ooey gooey sweet sappiness, and then, the shit returns (supposed I should have expected it . . . if you subscribe to Chekov's gun but replace gun with "abusive asshole").

There is a lot to like here, but it is bookended by some very traumatic stuff, and the stuff at the end of the book actually affected me a lot more, and I think that the note that 'this book deals with themes of survivorship' possibly isn't sufficient to cover what this book contains. I would recommend this with extreme caution.

Content Warnings

mynameisprerna's review

Go to review page

5.0

10/30/23 Second review:
I did this re-read in the midst of global turmoil when I needed something I knew I would love that I could turn to. And it did not disappoint… although I am very much looking forward to my re-read of the short stories following Lawson & Brody!
I remembered from my first read that

Spoiler

Shea’s rules around virginity seemed bizarre and clunky. I still think the rules themselves, like where the line is and how immovable it is, are clunky. But this time around I was less bothered by his quest to find his one true love. I think I came around to the fact that it *is* outlandish, and there’s no use pretending that it’s not. But that’s who Shea is - he’s idealistic and he’s a rule follower, even if he made the rule himself We also need it because Morgan needs a brass ring that’s he’s reaching for, something he can use as a metric to prove himself.

With this reading

Spoiler

I found myself reading about the car crash pretty unemotionally, and I wondered if it simply hadn’t shocked me because I remembered it. But in rereading my review, I see that it was Brody’s story that really made me cry, and that still rang true for me this time.</>spoiler
I don’t remember

Spoiler

how much it did or did not bother me that the team seemed to have an impossibly small staff with the first read. This time, it did get to me. I understand why it’s needed to keep Morgan as the central figure for everyone and for him to have the most opportunity for growth, so I forgive it. But it just does not make any sense that a barely graduated physical therapist would suddenly be named the coach of an NHL team and no one would question it.

5/15/23 First Review:
I loved this book! I connected deeply with the characters and I found the plot compelling and emotional. Depictions of abuse and survivorship are never going to work for everyone, but I thought they were beautifully done in this book.
Before I read these two books (Gravity and TROTS) I saw a write up about the author that said usually the MCs have their “I love you”s by about 40% of the book, and the third act conflict is something external to them, and boy were they right!
I was a little surprised by this book

Spoiler

also having a horrific injury as that conflict, but it was different enough and worked. I also thought it was funny that the author repeated the theme of a couple thinking they’re being all smooth and hiding their relationship, and when they come out everyone already knows and has just been waiting for them to say it.

The things about Shea

Spoiler

waiting for something serious made sense, but when that solidified into waiting for marriage it felt very clunky. I mean, there’s nothing wrong with it, but it felt like an odd choice and I’m not sure it had to be that way. But anyway…
I cried when they were in Dallas and Shea left the bar, and when he came back to Morgan’s bed and begged him to try, relenting to a casual relationship, and again when Morgan got his shit together and finally told Shea they could date.

But most of all, I cried

Spoiler

for Brody as his story became clearer and clearer at the end, and Lawson’s love for him was breathtaking.

If you haven’t read the two follow up short stories on the author’s website, you MUST! All Your Tomorrows is from Lawson’s perspective and covers the summer, Boise Boy is from Brody’s perspective and takes us from the end of summer into the beginning of the next season. Both are terrific, but All Your Tomorrows had me sobbing.
I read a few reviews from folks who thought that the book was pointless after

Spoiler

Coates was gone, but…

it’s right there in the title. This was about the rest of the story! It was about what happens when you think the story is over. It was about the coming back from something so awful in several different permutations. I don’t think this author’s style is for everyone, and I guess that’s okay!
The author’s website says there will be more in this hockey universe, and I can’t wait!

Content Warnings

theunrealerin's review

Go to review page

emotional hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

Another solid Tal Bauer where the drama is not the couple once they get together, it's all external. The drama was a but melodramatic, bur the characters were great.

Content Warnings

kearstenkeepsreading's review

Go to review page

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-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

Please check TW before reading.

“You showed up, Morgan, when you didn’t have to. That’s the finest thing a man can do in this life: be there for someone.”

The way this book ripped me to shreds and put me back together again. This is a book about surviving trauma and fighting and scratching for tomorrow. I seriously could not put this book down and simultaneously wanted to know how it ended but also never wanted it to end! Morgan and Shea have my heart and soul!!!

Not only because of their love for each other but for their team and how they brought this group of broken men together and built a family. I cried happy, sad, angry and broken tears while reading this book. The writing is so heartbreakingly beautiful and you feel the MC’s love for each other and their team so viscerally. Truly a beautiful book and now if you’ll excuse me I’m going to go read the entirety of Tal Bauer’s backlog!

Content Warnings

astornant's review

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

Content Warnings

More...

Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

The Rest of the Story by Tal Bauer

melly_book_review's review

acetheticallyy's review against another edition

slee907's review

renrose03's review

jennp28's review

endemictoearth's review

mynameisprerna's review

theunrealerin's review

kearstenkeepsreading's review

astornant's review