gabyyyp7's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
kathylee's review
5.0
《The Long Game》，by Rachel Reid
《Heated Rivalry》的续集，Ilya和Shane故事的延续。在发行的那一天就拿到了，可是一直处于不舍得读状态。终于在2023年打开了它。
因为Ilya和Shane是以知的情侣，而且两人都深爱对方是不可能分开的，所以这本书并没有很大的起伏。更像是一个超长番外。我不是很喜欢读婚后故事，但Ilya是那么的迷人，一如既往的嘴欠。
故事里Ilya出现了一些心理问题，原因有很多，包括妈妈的因素，隐藏着的两人的关系，和他一直很孤独。当读到Ilya笑着把Shane送走后，在厕所大哭了一场，我心碎了一地，说好的亲妈呢？读到他和Shane唯一一场吵架的时候，我想把Shane按地上来回摩擦。直到他毫无预兆的on his one knee的时候，我才原谅了他。（嗯on one knee ，平时他是on double knee的[喵喵]）。
值得一提的是，恋情公开后，Scott去找Ilya说谈一谈，ilya说，怎么滴？are we get a lecture from Dad？笑死 Hunter真的是你们爹好吧！
虽然《the Long Game》很平淡，但我还是会打五分，因为没有人能拒绝得了Ilya Grigoryevich Rozanov。
“Then, Shane Hollander is a lucky man.”
《Heated Rivalry》的续集，Ilya和Shane故事的延续。在发行的那一天就拿到了，可是一直处于不舍得读状态。终于在2023年打开了它。
因为Ilya和Shane是以知的情侣，而且两人都深爱对方是不可能分开的，所以这本书并没有很大的起伏。更像是一个超长番外。我不是很喜欢读婚后故事，但Ilya是那么的迷人，一如既往的嘴欠。
故事里Ilya出现了一些心理问题，原因有很多，包括妈妈的因素，隐藏着的两人的关系，和他一直很孤独。当读到Ilya笑着把Shane送走后，在厕所大哭了一场，我心碎了一地，说好的亲妈呢？读到他和Shane唯一一场吵架的时候，我想把Shane按地上来回摩擦。直到他毫无预兆的on his one knee的时候，我才原谅了他。（嗯on one knee ，平时他是on double knee的[喵喵]）。
值得一提的是，恋情公开后，Scott去找Ilya说谈一谈，ilya说，怎么滴？are we get a lecture from Dad？笑死 Hunter真的是你们爹好吧！
虽然《the Long Game》很平淡，但我还是会打五分，因为没有人能拒绝得了Ilya Grigoryevich Rozanov。
“Then, Shane Hollander is a lucky man.”
boyanna's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
5.0
elenajohansen's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
5.0
A wonderful capstone to a generally good series. Yes, my favorite couple gets their long-awaited happy ending, but this story also includes payoffs for another important theme throughout the series--the importance of male friendship and support outside of romantic partnerships.
That theme sneaked up on me as I read, because you can't have a network of friendships between the protagonists of each book until you've got several books under your belt. And I've read plenty of friends- or family-based series before, but it's hit or miss whether those friends/family keep being important to (or even present in) the overall story once their own book is done. Cameos are common, but continuing friendships less so.
I'm also not usually into books that cover the same time period from different perspectives, but because of the years-spanning nature of Shane and Ilya's relationship, there's no way around it--but it's handled with grace. I was worried about that early on because it was clear from the timeline that The Big Scary Thing that happened in #5 was going to happen again here in #6, but since I was so invested in this love story I really did want to see how the characters would react to it; it can't be helped that the reader knows it's coming, and knows how it ends, but the important thing in the repetition of the event isn't the shock value of the event itself, but the emotional aftermath for the characters we haven't seen go through the event yet.
I'm not going to lie, I cried. I cried a lot. I was a big emotional mess even though I knew that happy ending was coming, because it was all so much.
So I think this series did save the best for last, with the caveat that we wouldn't have #6 if we didn't have #2, and we wouldn't have the vital network of queer friendship throughout if we didn't have all of the books, even the ones I felt could have been better individually.
I do not usually have such good luck with romance authors I pick up on a whim on Hoopla, but I consider Reid a new favorite.
That theme sneaked up on me as I read, because you can't have a network of friendships between the protagonists of each book until you've got several books under your belt. And I've read plenty of friends- or family-based series before, but it's hit or miss whether those friends/family keep being important to (or even present in) the overall story once their own book is done. Cameos are common, but continuing friendships less so.
I'm also not usually into books that cover the same time period from different perspectives, but because of the years-spanning nature of Shane and Ilya's relationship, there's no way around it--but it's handled with grace. I was worried about that early on because it was clear from the timeline that The Big Scary Thing that happened in #5 was going to happen again here in #6, but since I was so invested in this love story I really did want to see how the characters would react to it; it can't be helped that the reader knows it's coming, and knows how it ends, but the important thing in the repetition of the event isn't the shock value of the event itself, but the emotional aftermath for the characters we haven't seen go through the event yet.
I'm not going to lie, I cried. I cried a lot. I was a big emotional mess even though I knew that happy ending was coming, because it was all so much.
So I think this series did save the best for last, with the caveat that we wouldn't have #6 if we didn't have #2, and we wouldn't have the vital network of queer friendship throughout if we didn't have all of the books, even the ones I felt could have been better individually.
I do not usually have such good luck with romance authors I pick up on a whim on Hoopla, but I consider Reid a new favorite.
grace_astudentreading's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
This book was leagues better than its predecessor, Heated Rivalry, and I almost regret procrastinating on reading it for so long. To start with what made it similar in rating to the first book: the smut and homophobia. I still struggled with both and wish there had been less of both. But I at least had an accurate expectation of both things going in to the book. Now, for what made this book better than the first book: Ilya. I loved getting more of his perspective and seeing inside his head. I also felt his mental health struggles were incredibly well portrayed. And of course, I adored the found family vibes he had with his team in Ottawa. As for his relationship with Shane, I was happy to see them communicating and showing their emotions more, though they still had a lot of room for improvement. Also, I struggled with Shane a bit, finding him to be so dense and oblivious at times, and also the whole diet thing, which he at least improved in regards to. Overall, I liked this sequel more than the first book, but neither book claimed my heart the way they did the rest of bookstagram.
krakenite's review
5.0
Gaaahh! One of those books where you want to swallow it whole and read it all at once, but also slow down because you hate the idea of it ending. ❤️
thesingingbook's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
reillyharr82's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
5.0
lindzmace's review against another edition
emotional
tense
slow-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
4.0
i want too give this book 5 stars for giving me so many emotions but the thing is like most of the emotions was STRESS and MORE STRESS so instead it gets 4. still a great book, did give me a stroke. would recommend.