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proudtobeabookaholic's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
Willa Sutter is a soccer star at college and used to getting notes from the lectures she misses when she's away for games. But one professor tells her that Ryder Bergman has his notes and that she should ask him for them. When Willa tries to talk to this flannel-wearing neanderthal he completely ignores her. Ryder doesn't understand why Willa seems to hate his guts and they both get chocked when the professor pairs them together on a school project for the rest of the semester.
This is a frenemies-to-lovers, where both are stubborn and enjoy teasing each other; their banter is pure gold! Willa also has a short fuse, which sometimes leads to awkward moments. There's a clear s*xual attraction between them from the start, but neither are interested in a relationship. Willa's got her soccer career to think about, as well as a very sick mom. Ryder became deaf 2 years ago and hasn't spoken out loud since then; he only communicates by texts. I like how Liese depicts Ryder's hearing impairment, what obstacles he faces and how it has made him avoid interactions with most people. I haven't read that many books with a deaf main character and I appriciate to get that perspective.
Ryder's got a Swedish mom and the classic Swedish meatballs appear more than once. Since the narrators are American the few Swedish words that are tucked in sound very off (to a Swede like me), but that's really my only complaint and I can't blame the narrators for that!
This is a frenemies-to-lovers, where both are stubborn and enjoy teasing each other; their banter is pure gold! Willa also has a short fuse, which sometimes leads to awkward moments. There's a clear s*xual attraction between them from the start, but neither are interested in a relationship. Willa's got her soccer career to think about, as well as a very sick mom. Ryder became deaf 2 years ago and hasn't spoken out loud since then; he only communicates by texts. I like how Liese depicts Ryder's hearing impairment, what obstacles he faces and how it has made him avoid interactions with most people. I haven't read that many books with a deaf main character and I appriciate to get that perspective.
Ryder's got a Swedish mom and the classic Swedish meatballs appear more than once. Since the narrators are American the few Swedish words that are tucked in sound very off (to a Swede like me), but that's really my only complaint and I can't blame the narrators for that!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Grief, Medical trauma, and Death of parent
Moderate: Mental illness
rdreader's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
No... Just, no...
For a big part of the book it's doable, just like looking at a carcrash.
The amount of unneeded or boring detail the author goes into.
The mis-/non-communication trope.
The hypocrisy of Willa talking about men never talking and for her then literally having to be chased down when she has to have an honest talk with Ryder...
It just gets worse and worse and worse and not in a fun way at all.
There are positives such as a pretty good display of what it is like to be hard of hearing/deaf and how to deal/communicate with hearing people, especially when mute. But those positives are grossly overshadowed by the infuriating childishness, pettiness and just plain dumbness of not communicating properly or at all.
Spare yourself the frustration an go find a better book!
For a big part of the book it's doable, just like looking at a carcrash.
The amount of unneeded or boring detail the author goes into.
The mis-/non-communication trope.
The hypocrisy of Willa talking about men never talking and for her then literally having to be chased down when she has to have an honest talk with Ryder...
It just gets worse and worse and worse and not in a fun way at all.
There are positives such as a pretty good display of what it is like to be hard of hearing/deaf and how to deal/communicate with hearing people, especially when mute. But those positives are grossly overshadowed by the infuriating childishness, pettiness and just plain dumbness of not communicating properly or at all.
Spare yourself the frustration an go find a better book!
Content Warnings
Minor: Terminal illness, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Alcohol
carlyjoann's review against another edition
emotional
sad
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
3.5
I really liked this book until I got around halfway and it slowly declined from there for me. I loved how fleshed out and real the characters and their backstories were. They had a good playful energy for most of the book that I liked as well.
Ryder being so steadfast for Willa was adorable. Their relationship was so strong long before they got together and I liked that a lot. But while I liked Willa and Ryder there was honestly way too much emphasis on their sexual tension for me. I understood they wanted each other and didn’t need it spelled out page after page for most of the book. Also the word “lumberjack” has never been used so many times in a book before. Most of the later half of the book felt repetitive in some ways as well. It felt way too long towards the end but it also felt like we didn’t get enough of them actually being together and not “frenemies”.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Sexual content, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Death of parent
Moderate: War
bookieboogie's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Medical trauma, and Death of parent
georgia_sara93's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Willa has never met someone so rude as Ryder. Their lecturer instructs her to get the class notes of him, but he won’t give her a chance to grab them. She’s busy training as a hopeful professional soccer player, balancing college and spending time with her unwell mum. As things progress miscommunications become clearer and completely valid and so do connections progress.
Ooft! This is cute, cute, cute!!!! The relationship? Beautiful! The miscommunication trope? Actually well done for a change! The diversity? Loved it! If you’re looking for your next diverse romance author - I think Liese seems to be where it’s at! Thank you so much my friend for getting me to read this one already for my 12 books recommended by 12 friends! I fear how much longer it would’ve sat on my TBR unread for longer when all I need is all the other 6 Bergman Brothers books! 🙊🙊
Also don’t feel it’s not AMAZING at a 4⭐️ rating. This appears to be Liese’s first novel. The themes approached are some heavy, all complex and are beautifully done! Were there a lot of obstacles? Maybe! But at least the story had a realistic timeline and story to it! In all other aspects a heavy 5⭐️ and DEFINITELY a new favourite book! 😍😍
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Medical trauma, and Death of parent
whatbeccareadnext's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Well I sobbed my way through at least half of this book. To the point that I'm surprised I could still read the words on the page.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Moderate: Abandonment
lindslikesbooks's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
While a little long, this book wraps you in a warm hug after the emotional rollercoaster the characters go through together.
- College age
- Sports romance
- Diverse representation
Plot:
Willa is a whip-smart college athlete. She works harder than anyone to crush it on the soccer pitch and make it to the pros. She pushes herself to excel in her classes so she can make it after college. Ryder is assigned as her partner in one of her classes where she needs a bit of help. But a misunderstanding leaves them more like enemies. Circumstances force them to spend time together but that is the last thing Willa wants.
Character development:
The author did a great job showing the growth of these characters. They both have highly difficult challenges that they deal with and that did have me in my feelings. That said, the miscommunication trope did not add to the story in my opinion. I think we could have done without it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
- College age
- Sports romance
- Diverse representation
Plot:
Willa is a whip-smart college athlete. She works harder than anyone to crush it on the soccer pitch and make it to the pros. She pushes herself to excel in her classes so she can make it after college. Ryder is assigned as her partner in one of her classes where she needs a bit of help. But a misunderstanding leaves them more like enemies. Circumstances force them to spend time together but that is the last thing Willa wants.
Character development:
The author did a great job showing the growth of these characters. They both have highly difficult challenges that they deal with and that did have me in my feelings. That said, the miscommunication trope did not add to the story in my opinion. I think we could have done without it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Medical trauma
Moderate: Death of parent
abcdefgerda'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? Yes
4.0
Okay first of all, as an (apparently) annoying person, f*** you to all who called Willa too annoying when I was looking into this book. Will is basically me so it really cut deep, guys.
But yeah, it was a damn good book, if a little slow going at times.
Beautiful disability rep, I was actually not aware of the deafness going into the book but it really added a good layer to the story and now I've read this, I really want more dead characters in books (where are my recs at?)
Also this
My head swivels to hers, and Ryder’s follows suit. His eyes narrow. He missed what she said.
“You can’t talk around him, Roo. Say it again.”
Her eyes widen. “Seriously?”
Ryder nods.
“I said—” Rooney clears her throat, her cheeks turning pink. “I said ‘so we don’t hate him anymore?’”
Is quite honestly the hottest scene I've read. Just mwah. Yes please 👏
Also Willa and Ryder are adorable? And the piggyback rides? *fans herself* it's like the author took all the things I love in romance books and put them in this one! Asking persmission for kisses/touches/making sure everything is consensual? Check. One very openly affectionate and quick(er) to fall in love and one who is absolutely 1000% incapable of admitting their feelings? Check. Love making? Check. Rough "I love you passionately" s*x? Check. "I want you. You and not just your body (even though I love your body and saying this is physically painful"? Check!
But also. I really liked how Willa's grief was portrayed before her mother's death (not putting it as a spoiler. She has cancer, it's valid to assume it's gonna happen and I also think it should be as a warning so..) but after we just had months of grief OFF-PAGE, then some therapy(?) OFF-PAGE and suddenly okay(ish)?
The ending overall was pretty rushed to be quite honest.
Also with books that take place during such a long timeline, really should have some trackers, like dates at the beginning of the chapter or something. I was really lost at some point where I thought it had been hours or a day since the last scene but was actually weeks or months and that only came out a few paragraphs later...
But yeah, it was a damn good book, if a little slow going at times.
Beautiful disability rep, I was actually not aware of the deafness going into the book but it really added a good layer to the story and now I've read this, I really want more dead characters in books (where are my recs at?)
Also this
My head swivels to hers, and Ryder’s follows suit. His eyes narrow. He missed what she said.
“You can’t talk around him, Roo. Say it again.”
Her eyes widen. “Seriously?”
Ryder nods.
“I said—” Rooney clears her throat, her cheeks turning pink. “I said ‘so we don’t hate him anymore?’”
Is quite honestly the hottest scene I've read. Just mwah. Yes please 👏
Also Willa and Ryder are adorable? And the piggyback rides? *fans herself* it's like the author took all the things I love in romance books and put them in this one! Asking persmission for kisses/touches/making sure everything is consensual? Check. One very openly affectionate and quick(er) to fall in love and one who is absolutely 1000% incapable of admitting their feelings? Check. Love making? Check. Rough "I love you passionately" s*x? Check. "I want you. You and not just your body (even though I love your body and saying this is physically painful"? Check!
But also. I really liked how Willa's grief was portrayed before her mother's death (not putting it as a spoiler. She has cancer, it's valid to assume it's gonna happen and I also think it should be as a warning so..) but after we just had months of grief OFF-PAGE, then some therapy(?) OFF-PAGE and suddenly okay(ish)?
The ending overall was pretty rushed to be quite honest.
Also with books that take place during such a long timeline, really should have some trackers, like dates at the beginning of the chapter or something. I was really lost at some point where I thought it had been hours or a day since the last scene but was actually weeks or months and that only came out a few paragraphs later...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Death of parent
Moderate: Medical content and Medical trauma
dianaschmidty's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
relaxing
sad
fast-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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Terminal illness, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism
danajoy's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Cancer, Sexual content, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Death of parent