Reviews with content warning for Sexual assault - The Rest of the Story

This one was EMOTIONAL. Following veteran Morgan as he gets traded to the worst team in the league, and how upon arrival he finds a broken and traumatized team. He quickly steps in and finds himself irrevocably tied to the team, and not just because of his budding romance with his rookie co-captain Shea. I thought it did a good job of both introducing the collective trauma the Outlaws were going through without overly centering it in a way that made it unreadable as a romance novel. Definitely a darker story with its themes (please check the CWs before picking up), this is absolutely one of my favorite found family stories. The final major event of the book I did NOT see coming and was sitting on my couch staring at this book in shock as I furiously DMed my friends who told me to read this. The romance itself moved a little quick for me, and the language was overly fluffy for me, but I love Morgan and Shea so much my brain let it slide for the most part!

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ouroboros_00's review

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challenging emotional hopeful sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

As with any sports romance worth its salt, this book had me in my feels for the found family of the team and all the bros' ridiculous, adorable antics. I loved, loved, loved being in Morgan's head - he was hilarious and earnest and had a really solid development arc.

I really enjoyed the sweet, tender romance and the sloooow burn. It was delightfully sappy. Kind of wish I got to know Shea a little better... or maybe I just missed the dual POV.

I loved the tenderness of their marriage but it just felt too quick even though there was a lot of intensity in the relationship to build up to it.

The central tension was well done overall, definitely more intense and emotional than you'd expect for a sports romance, check TW/CW.

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lilnikki's review

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emotional 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

4.0

Another heart wrenching book by Tal Bauer but I can’t seem to quit.

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clewreads's review

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emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-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? No

4.25

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ruthiedr89's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No

4.5

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cozycritiques's review

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emotional hopeful lighthearted tense slow-paced

5.0

“I’d forgotten that it’s the brokenness of a kaleidoscope that brings out the beauty, and as easily as there can be order, everything can fall apart. Can shatter.”
- The Rest of the Story

Tropes: Sports (Hockey), Teammates, Age Gap, Former Playboy, Virgin Hero, Found Family
Representation: LGBTQ+ (Gay, Bisexual)
Spice Scale: 🌶🌶🌶
CW: Physical Abuse, Emotional Abuse, Sexual Assault, Suicidal Thoughts, Car Accident, Drug Abuse, Addiction, Injury, Hospitalization

Oh, wow, the chokehold this book had on me from start to finish. After reading Gravity, I expected to be taken on a rollercoaster of emotions. But let me tell you, from the moment the plot’s premise was set up in the second chapter, I nearly couldn’t breathe, I was so drawn into Bauer’s storytelling.
The romance between Morgan and Shea is beautiful. I absolutely felt the pining between them to my core. And the bond that forms between the men on this team… it was gut-wrenching and breathtaking.
I honestly don’t know how to review this book without giving way too much, but this is probably one of the most profound and intense books I’ve ever read. By the end, I felt raw and overwhelmed by emotion, but in the best way. This story tackles some pretty heavy themes (see content warnings), but it is also about family, bravery, strength, and love in its various forms. If you want something that will make you feel something with your whole chest, I can’t recommend this book enough.
Just a note: This book is set in the same world as Gravity, and there is a small cameo from Bryce and Hunter, but you don’t need to read it beforehand. There are, however, two short stories after this book on Tal Bauer’s website focusing on two of Morgan and Shea’s teammates, and I highly recommend reading them after this. They went a long way to mend my heart after this book destroyed it.

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