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jenna_manning's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-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? Yes
5.0
yazaleea's review against another edition
5.0
Not to be dramatic but wtf.
I have been deep into a hockey romance mood, but The Rest of The Story has to be a new favourite. I loved everything about it, especially the romance and the found family trope.
At first I was so sure that the instant attraction between Shae and Morgan was not going to be my cup of tea, and that the book would just go down to join the rest of my non-remarkable romance reads but oh boy, was I wrong. Despite the very obvious immediate interest, the romance takes its time to develop into something so sweet it made me squeal. No dragged out misunderstandings or forced conflict, it felt so soft and lovely I loved every second of it. Morgan was struggling with shit but he never got trapped into the emotionally constipated asshole trope, he did everything he could for his hubby and his boys and I love him for that. Shea Darling... that man is everything to me I love him so much he is the sweetest kindest angel and it was a joy to see Morgan absolutely fall head over heels for Darling because... dude, same.
The only thing that made me pause a bit was how sugary and repetitive some of the love confessions/dialogue got in the end, but that's minor, I was absolutely hooked on them. I am not into the very sugary sweet romance usually, I love belligerent tension to death and Darling and Morgan are the very opposite of this, but this worked for me!
The plot is messy af but as a hardcore All For The Game fan, my standards of messy are in hell so I actually love the chaos of it.
Also Brody is my child I shall never forgive anyone who hurts him.... and I am so glad he got his very own boyfie hehe.
Kit-kat can step on me I am in love with her she is not married actually she is dating me it's canon thank you very much xoxo
(Content warning, mainly psychological, physical & sexual abuse, beware if these topics are triggering to you.)
I have been deep into a hockey romance mood, but The Rest of The Story has to be a new favourite. I loved everything about it, especially the romance and the found family trope.
At first I was so sure that the instant attraction between Shae and Morgan was not going to be my cup of tea, and that the book would just go down to join the rest of my non-remarkable romance reads but oh boy, was I wrong. Despite the very obvious immediate interest, the romance takes its time to develop into something so sweet it made me squeal. No dragged out misunderstandings or forced conflict, it felt so soft and lovely I loved every second of it. Morgan was struggling with shit but he never got trapped into the emotionally constipated asshole trope, he did everything he could for his hubby and his boys and I love him for that. Shea Darling... that man is everything to me I love him so much he is the sweetest kindest angel and it was a joy to see Morgan absolutely fall head over heels for Darling because... dude, same.
The only thing that made me pause a bit was how sugary and repetitive some of the love confessions/dialogue got in the end, but that's minor, I was absolutely hooked on them. I am not into the very sugary sweet romance usually, I love belligerent tension to death and Darling and Morgan are the very opposite of this, but this worked for me!
The plot is messy af but as a hardcore All For The Game fan, my standards of messy are in hell so I actually love the chaos of it.
Also Brody is my child I shall never forgive anyone who hurts him.... and I am so glad he got his very own boyfie hehe.
Kit-kat can step on me I am in love with her she is not married actually she is dating me it's canon thank you very much xoxo
(Content warning, mainly psychological, physical & sexual abuse, beware if these topics are triggering to you.)
tenou0's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
omasko's review against another edition
4.0
Looking to clear your sinuses via sobbing? Try this emotionally devastating but also sweet and supportive book
jamiz's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
4.75
kimap's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-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? It's complicated
4.25
kayetaz's review against another edition
5.0
5 ⭐️
Spice: 🌶️/5
Format: ebook
“‘I can see everything with you,’ Shea breathed. ‘Any dream I have, I see it coming true with you.’
‘You already made everything come true for me,’ I told him.”
No because what the actual fuck was that book?
I went in thinking I wasn’t going to be a huge fan, wasn’t totally vibing in the beginning, not really feeling Morgan or the way things were unfolding with Coates and thinking the story was a little ridiculous, and…
There isn’t a rating that could convey what I feel about this story.
I think this book just dethroned For the Fans for my #2 best of all time spot. It certainly became my favorite Tal Bauer book.
Shea Darling. Awful, terrible, absurd name. Perhaps my new all-time favorite character, after Brandon King. I loved him from his first page, after I got over his ridiculous name. Literal sunshine personified. I am so head over heels in love with him, his parents, his background, the relationships he had with him teammates, the love he poured out of every pore of his body.
I adored everything about Morgan and Shea’s relationship. I thought it was gonna be insta-love, and there was definitely immediate attraction on both sides, but they really made us work for that happily ever after. I loved that Shea was a virgin and was waiting for marriage. I loved that Morgan thought he wasn’t good enough and tried to distance himself. I loved that Morgan slowly realized that he was worthy of Shea’s love and that he would do anything to keep and return it.
Brody… God, I don’t think I’ve ever loved a side character as much as I loved Brody. That boy made me cry at least a dozen times. I never, ever read the short stories authors will sometimes link at the end of books for a bonus epilogue or a quick read about a minor character, but when I saw it was about Brody and Lawson, it was an immediate click and read for me. If you haven’t, go read “Boise Boy” right now. I love them so much, and if Tal ever writes a full novel for them I will preorder that shit in a heartbeat. Brody, you broke my fucking heart and I wish you all the happiness in the world.
The whole story with Coates was wild. My emotions were all over the place. The things he did to Brody, to Shea, made me sick. As a dark romance girly, I wanted Morgan to bury him alive to exact revenge for what he did to that team, but I have to say the conclusion we get is actually a lot more satisfying.
I love, love, love, am absolutely obsessed with the Rocky Mountain Outlaws. Easily the best sports team I’ve ever read about. I loved their comeback story, I loved their dynamic, I LOVED the way they love and support each other. God, I smiled for about three hours straight today just reading this book.
I’m… I’m in love. I want to reread it again right now. Tal Bauer, you own me, body and soul.
Spice: 🌶️/5
Format: ebook
“‘I can see everything with you,’ Shea breathed. ‘Any dream I have, I see it coming true with you.’
‘You already made everything come true for me,’ I told him.”
No because what the actual fuck was that book?
I went in thinking I wasn’t going to be a huge fan, wasn’t totally vibing in the beginning, not really feeling Morgan or the way things were unfolding with Coates and thinking the story was a little ridiculous, and…
There isn’t a rating that could convey what I feel about this story.
I think this book just dethroned For the Fans for my #2 best of all time spot. It certainly became my favorite Tal Bauer book.
Shea Darling. Awful, terrible, absurd name. Perhaps my new all-time favorite character, after Brandon King. I loved him from his first page, after I got over his ridiculous name. Literal sunshine personified. I am so head over heels in love with him, his parents, his background, the relationships he had with him teammates, the love he poured out of every pore of his body.
I adored everything about Morgan and Shea’s relationship. I thought it was gonna be insta-love, and there was definitely immediate attraction on both sides, but they really made us work for that happily ever after. I loved that Shea was a virgin and was waiting for marriage. I loved that Morgan thought he wasn’t good enough and tried to distance himself. I loved that Morgan slowly realized that he was worthy of Shea’s love and that he would do anything to keep and return it.
Brody… God, I don’t think I’ve ever loved a side character as much as I loved Brody. That boy made me cry at least a dozen times. I never, ever read the short stories authors will sometimes link at the end of books for a bonus epilogue or a quick read about a minor character, but when I saw it was about Brody and Lawson, it was an immediate click and read for me. If you haven’t, go read “Boise Boy” right now. I love them so much, and if Tal ever writes a full novel for them I will preorder that shit in a heartbeat. Brody, you broke my fucking heart and I wish you all the happiness in the world.
The whole story with Coates was wild. My emotions were all over the place. The things he did to Brody, to Shea, made me sick. As a dark romance girly, I wanted Morgan to bury him alive to exact revenge for what he did to that team, but I have to say the conclusion we get is actually a lot more satisfying.
I love, love, love, am absolutely obsessed with the Rocky Mountain Outlaws. Easily the best sports team I’ve ever read about. I loved their comeback story, I loved their dynamic, I LOVED the way they love and support each other. God, I smiled for about three hours straight today just reading this book.
I’m… I’m in love. I want to reread it again right now. Tal Bauer, you own me, body and soul.
jessbookrecs's review against another edition
5.0
♾️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
You know one thing I’ve noticed about this author? He likes angst. Like the type of angst where you could so obviously put yourself out of your mystery but prefer to stew in it. One thing is for sure though. Tal can write heartbreakingly beautiful stories with such realistic air, it’s uncanny.
There are some romance books you read, you’ll struggle to find the chemistry between the love interests, you’ll struggle to even release when and how they started to fall for each other but with this? It was clear as day. Their connection was as bright as the stars in the sky that even when Shea said “I’m in love with you” before anything was even defined between them I believed that shit.
And when they were finally each others? GAHHH
You know one thing I’ve noticed about this author? He likes angst. Like the type of angst where you could so obviously put yourself out of your mystery but prefer to stew in it. One thing is for sure though. Tal can write heartbreakingly beautiful stories with such realistic air, it’s uncanny.
There are some romance books you read, you’ll struggle to find the chemistry between the love interests, you’ll struggle to even release when and how they started to fall for each other but with this? It was clear as day. Their connection was as bright as the stars in the sky that even when Shea said “I’m in love with you” before anything was even defined between them I believed that shit.
And when they were finally each others? GAHHH