melly_book_review's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Car accident, Physical abuse, and Medical content
Minor: Addiction
acetheticallyy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Physical abuse
Moderate: Sexual assault and Suicidal thoughts
slee907's review
- 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? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Physical abuse
renrose03's review
3.5
Graphic: Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Child abuse
jennp28's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Bullying, and Car accident
Moderate: Medical content, Alcohol, Drug use, and Suicidal thoughts
endemictoearth's review
4.0
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.
Moderate: Physical abuse, Violence, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
nerdofalltrades'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
5.0
Graphic: Car accident, Physical abuse, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual content, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, and Suicidal thoughts
mynameisprerna's review
5.0
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.</>spoilerI 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.I read a few reviews from folks who thought that the book was pointless after
Spoiler
Coates was gone, but…The author’s website says there will be more in this hockey universe, and I can’t wait!
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Car accident, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
downtown_kb's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Sexual content, and Car accident
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Gaslighting
theunrealerin's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault