snipinfool's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Willa Sutter was a star on UCLA's women's soccer team. Her time was stretched between classes, soccer practice and games, and time with her mother. Willa was doing her best, but she was not doing well in her Business Math class. Often, she barely made it on time to class after team practice. Willa planned to play soccer professionally, but she was in danger of being ineligible for the next game due to her grade in the class. Usually, professors had no problem accommodating her for away games by helping her catch up with notes for the classes she missed. She was balancing on the border between a C and a D and needed to raise her grade quickly. Professor MacCormack's told her to "figure it out" and to get the notes from Ryder Bergman. Willa noticed Ryder had printed notes given to him by Professor MacCormack. She tried several times to get his attention to ask if she could copy the notes, but Ryder would ignore her. He usually just looked at her and left the classroom once class was dismissed.
Ryder Bergman was a quiet guy who usually sat on the first row of his classes. His life changed dramatically two years previously when he got bacterial meningitis. Ryder recovered, but his life was forever changed. A major difference was that he no longer played competitive soccer. Ryder loved the game and had come to UCLA on a athletic scholarship. He planned to play as a freshman starter on the men's team. When Willa Sutter, the women's soccer star, sat next to him in Business Math, he was reminded again of his loss. Ryder was confused as to why she seemed to dislike him. He often looked up and saw her staring at him angrily. Ryder was confused by her actions, but didn't try to figure out why. It was a shame she felt the way she did because Ryder found her very attractive.
I loved their story. This was a very slow burn frenemies to lovers romance. Once they got past their communication issues, Willa and Ryder's relationship took a turn for the better. They were no longer at odds with each other and became someone the other could depend on. The secondary characters in the story were relatable and helped to carry the story forward. The loving relationship between Willa and her mother was very touching. This book is the first in the seven book Bergman Brothers series (7 siblings- 5 brothers and 2 sisters). I love a good series and I can't wait to meet Willa and Ryder again in the upcoming books. I am sure they will still be living their happily ever after.
Ryder Bergman was a quiet guy who usually sat on the first row of his classes. His life changed dramatically two years previously when he got bacterial meningitis. Ryder recovered, but his life was forever changed. A major difference was that he no longer played competitive soccer. Ryder loved the game and had come to UCLA on a athletic scholarship. He planned to play as a freshman starter on the men's team. When Willa Sutter, the women's soccer star, sat next to him in Business Math, he was reminded again of his loss. Ryder was confused as to why she seemed to dislike him. He often looked up and saw her staring at him angrily. Ryder was confused by her actions, but didn't try to figure out why. It was a shame she felt the way she did because Ryder found her very attractive.
I loved their story. This was a very slow burn frenemies to lovers romance. Once they got past their communication issues, Willa and Ryder's relationship took a turn for the better. They were no longer at odds with each other and became someone the other could depend on. The secondary characters in the story were relatable and helped to carry the story forward. The loving relationship between Willa and her mother was very touching. This book is the first in the seven book Bergman Brothers series (7 siblings- 5 brothers and 2 sisters). I love a good series and I can't wait to meet Willa and Ryder again in the upcoming books. I am sure they will still be living their happily ever after.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Death of parent
Moderate: Chronic illness and Medical content
kirareadssometimes's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- 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
The main characters in this book have such a fun dynamic. Enemies to frenemies to friends to lovers and everything in between. As a hearing person I can’t speak to how accurate the deaf representation was but I loved that it was there, and from my perspective treated with respect. I also loved Willa going to therapy. Felt like a very realistic and healthy way to cope. Really enjoyed the moments of sexual tension that led to momentary exploration. I feel like I don’t find that very often in books or only for one scene. Made me cry but at this point what doesn’t. Great read
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, and Sexual content
Moderate: Cancer, Medical content, and Ableism
Minor: Abandonment
cates_reading_nook's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Death of parent
Moderate: Medical content
thelostartofsecretkeeping's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Cancer, Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Medical content
galleytrot'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? Yes
3.25
READ: Apr 2023
FORMAT: Audio
BRIEF SUMMARY:
In this contemporary romance, Willa is a full-ride soccer student who is having difficulties in one of her courses. When the professor refers her to Ryder for the lecture notes, she finds the man won’t so much as give her the time of day. A misunderstanding and some competitive spirit sparks a series of escalating pranks and shenanigans between the two as they dance around their attraction to one another, while they condition themselves to mistrust and stay suspicious of each other’s motives.
ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: 3 / 5⭐
A bit of context before I get into my review: I do not typically read hetero romances. They don’t tend to do much for me, they’re near-impossible for me to relate to, and they plain and simply tend to bore me. This series was recommended to me more than once based on the amount of representation it’s known for, and for one of the books in particular being queer. I was immediately intrigued, as I am all for people from all walks of life getting their happy-ever-afters. I am mostly interested in reading the fifth book of the series, but I figured it might be a good idea to give the rest of the series a try and expand my horizons a bit.
A bit of context before I get into my review: I do not typically read hetero romances. They don’t tend to do much for me, they’re near-impossible for me to relate to, and they plain and simply tend to bore me. This series was recommended to me more than once based on the amount of representation it’s known for, and for one of the books in particular being queer. I was immediately intrigued, as I am all for people from all walks of life getting their happy-ever-afters. I am mostly interested in reading the fifth book of the series, but I figured it might be a good idea to give the rest of the series a try and expand my horizons a bit.
Alas, my personal response to this book was not what I was hoping for. And by no means was that the fault of the author, or the characters, or the representation. I simply was not the target demographic for this one. I tried to make the shoe fit, and wound up with blisters for my effort. I adored Ryder’s character well enough, but couldn’t find it in me to get past Willa’s stubbornness, suspicion, and self-sabotage. The whole prank-wars trope generally doesn’t work for me in the first place (although the term “prank” is used rather loosely – these guys’ idea of getting at each other is just making the other one sexually frustrated, with the side-effect of also making themselves sexually frustrated, ad nauseam).
TECHNICAL / PRODUCTION: 3.75 / 5⭐
I didn’t have any notable issues with the writing of this story, except maybe how the passage of time was tackled. There were a couple times where there had been some time jumps but I didn’t realize it. There were other times where I felt like there must have been a time jump, but it was only a day or two later. It’s possible I missed something from the translation to audiobook format – I find I have more trouble with time passage when I’m listening to a book instead of reading it.
Both of the narrators for this book were new to me, and I had no problems with their performances.
FINAL THOUGHTS - OVERALL: 3.25 / 5⭐
I can understand why this book has as much appeal as it does. To the correct audience, it ticks all the right boxes. Antagonistic enemies-to-lovers, a hefty dose of angst and tragedy, plenty of spice (after it finally actually gets to the spice; it’s a pretty long wait, but there is payoff). I simply was not the correct audience, though I wouldn’t say I disliked the book at all.
This book has representation for hard-of-hearing individuals (sensorineural deafness). At least one character is a person of colour.
The following elaborates on my content warnings. These may be interpreted as spoilers, but I do not go into deep detail.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Grief, Terminal illness, Death of parent, and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Cursing, Medical content, and Vomit
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, and War
fbzcab's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Cancer, Medical content, and Terminal illness
Minor: Death of parent
hazelgirl21's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Sexual content, and Medical content
Moderate: Grief and Death of parent
Minor: Abandonment
tacoshark's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Pretty solid romance - one of the MCs is hard of hearing, which is not something I see represented in this genre often. A bit over-long and a little heavy on the miscommunication/non-communication trope, but overall pretty good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Cancer, and Grief
Moderate: Medical content and Ableism
cady_sass's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Meh. I picked this up because I inadvertently read #2 in the “series” without realizing it’s a series, but it’s really not. Each book is a standalone about a different brother. I appreciate what the author did in both books with normalizing disabilities and making them accessible to the layman, but the overall story here just falls flat for me. #2 was much better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Cancer, Sexual content, Abandonment, Ableism, Chronic illness, Alcohol, Medical content, Cursing, and Grief
kaydeedickins's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol and Cancer
Minor: Vomit, Sexism, and Medical content