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potatogrr's review against another edition
slow-paced
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Outing
Moderate: Stalking and Toxic relationship
Minor: Homophobia and Emotional abuse
kaje_harper's review against another edition
4.0
An interesting look at two elite athletes (although Isaac is the main focus) that balanced out well between health issues and risks, addiction, media spotlights and past trauma, the pressures of competition, and the romance. The men fall in love quickly, but it doesn't feel over the top and they do talk, and try to deal with their personal insecurities and issues. Two characters I empathized with in a very realistic story with a setting that felt immersive and plausible. No big drama (perhaps slightly less than I was hoping for) but this is what it might well be like, if these guys were real.
dith_kusu's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this! Probably my favorite read by this author so far, surpassing the pro baseball sports romance. I found myself reading slower just because I didn't want the story, this timeline of the Madrid Olympics, to end. This was a nice escape from current life, and had the Tokyo Olympics gone on as scheduled, I imagine this book (I suppose publication was originally timed to hit that zeitgeist) would have hyped me up and had me paying closer attention than I had in my life.
There was so much detail and color layered into the hyper-specific world of the Olympics and elite athletes participating in this two-week time frame. It was immersive and absorbing, my favorite kind of background where the talent and passion of the characters are as much part of the fabric as the central romance. Lots of things about the mental and physical focus these world-class athletes put in, the nitty gritty of scoring, glimpses into their housing and the culture of the event. Touches upon issues like doping, pressures that athletes face, homophobia in this international sports world too.
Then the characters are just wonderful. Isaac and Tim are lovely as people and crazy talented- you root for them individually and support them getting together as a couple at the end of this Olympic bubble they're in. It's not just about their central romance but about their personal growth and conquering their own hardships. Isaac is so admirable in the comeback he's had, and the depictions of his struggle with alcoholism is realistically portrayed and well done. At one moment you're empathizing with his mental health struggles, and other moments you get a perspective on his headspace during competition; when it's zoomed out and he's a phenom, as the reader you're just in awe with and proud of him being so accomplished, same with Tim during his scenes.
The romance is also well-developed and sensible, which I appreciated. Both Isaac and Tim fall in love quickly, but aren't unrealistically dumb about being carried off in a whirlwind romance. They evaluate their situations, have doubts and their respective baggage, think about the future, while also steeping in all the fuzzy feels in the midst of performing at the pinnacle of their careers. The image pictured in my head of them kissing at the ceremony is swooningly romantic too though, as is the prediction of the dive teammate coming true at the epilogue, so there's a good balance struck here.
Tim's famewhore ex Pat, I wanted to pitch into the sun, lol. The surrounding characters were great- like their respective coaches, teammates Jason, Luke, Katie, Ginny, and their supportive parents. I'm really looking forward to reading the next books in this series, and getting to see this iteration of the Olympics from the highly specific perspectives of other athletes in different sports- great setup done here. Jake the gymnast and JJ the track runner are intriguing.
There was so much detail and color layered into the hyper-specific world of the Olympics and elite athletes participating in this two-week time frame. It was immersive and absorbing, my favorite kind of background where the talent and passion of the characters are as much part of the fabric as the central romance. Lots of things about the mental and physical focus these world-class athletes put in, the nitty gritty of scoring, glimpses into their housing and the culture of the event. Touches upon issues like doping, pressures that athletes face, homophobia in this international sports world too.
Then the characters are just wonderful. Isaac and Tim are lovely as people and crazy talented- you root for them individually and support them getting together as a couple at the end of this Olympic bubble they're in. It's not just about their central romance but about their personal growth and conquering their own hardships. Isaac is so admirable in the comeback he's had, and the depictions of his struggle with alcoholism is realistically portrayed and well done. At one moment you're empathizing with his mental health struggles, and other moments you get a perspective on his headspace during competition; when it's zoomed out and he's a phenom, as the reader you're just in awe with and proud of him being so accomplished, same with Tim during his scenes.
The romance is also well-developed and sensible, which I appreciated. Both Isaac and Tim fall in love quickly, but aren't unrealistically dumb about being carried off in a whirlwind romance. They evaluate their situations, have doubts and their respective baggage, think about the future, while also steeping in all the fuzzy feels in the midst of performing at the pinnacle of their careers. The image pictured in my head of them kissing at the ceremony is swooningly romantic too though, as is the prediction of the dive teammate coming true at the epilogue, so there's a good balance struck here.
Tim's famewhore ex Pat, I wanted to pitch into the sun, lol. The surrounding characters were great- like their respective coaches, teammates Jason, Luke, Katie, Ginny, and their supportive parents. I'm really looking forward to reading the next books in this series, and getting to see this iteration of the Olympics from the highly specific perspectives of other athletes in different sports- great setup done here. Jake the gymnast and JJ the track runner are intriguing.
dithkusu's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this! Probably my favorite read by this author so far, surpassing the pro baseball sports romance. I found myself reading slower just because I didn't want the story, this timeline of the Madrid Olympics, to end. This was a nice escape from current life, and had the Tokyo Olympics gone on as scheduled, I imagine this book (I suppose publication was originally timed to hit that zeitgeist) would have hyped me up and had me paying closer attention than I had in my life.
There was so much detail and color layered into the hyper-specific world of the Olympics and elite athletes participating in this two-week time frame. It was immersive and absorbing, my favorite kind of background where the talent and passion of the characters are as much part of the fabric as the central romance. Lots of things about the mental and physical focus these world-class athletes put in, the nitty gritty of scoring, glimpses into their housing and the culture of the event. Touches upon issues like doping, pressures that athletes face, homophobia in this international sports world too.
Then the characters are just wonderful. Isaac and Tim are lovely as people and crazy talented- you root for them individually and support them getting together as a couple at the end of this Olympic bubble they're in. It's not just about their central romance but about their personal growth and conquering their own hardships. Isaac is so admirable in the comeback he's had, and the depictions of his struggle with alcoholism is realistically portrayed and well done. At one moment you're empathizing with his mental health struggles, and other moments you get a perspective on his headspace during competition; when it's zoomed out and he's a phenom, as the reader you're just in awe with and proud of him being so accomplished, same with Tim during his scenes.
The romance is also well-developed and sensible, which I appreciated. Both Isaac and Tim fall in love quickly, but aren't unrealistically dumb about being carried off in a whirlwind romance. They evaluate their situations, have doubts and their respective baggage, think about the future, while also steeping in all the fuzzy feels in the midst of performing at the pinnacle of their careers. The image pictured in my head of them kissing at the ceremony is swooningly romantic too though, as is the prediction of the dive teammate coming true at the epilogue, so there's a good balance struck here.
Tim's famewhore ex Pat, I wanted to pitch into the sun, lol. The surrounding characters were great- like their respective coaches, teammates Jason, Luke, Katie, Ginny, and their supportive parents. I'm really looking forward to reading the next books in this series, and getting to see this iteration of the Olympics from the highly specific perspectives of other athletes in different sports- great setup done here. Jake the gymnast and JJ the track runner are intriguing.
There was so much detail and color layered into the hyper-specific world of the Olympics and elite athletes participating in this two-week time frame. It was immersive and absorbing, my favorite kind of background where the talent and passion of the characters are as much part of the fabric as the central romance. Lots of things about the mental and physical focus these world-class athletes put in, the nitty gritty of scoring, glimpses into their housing and the culture of the event. Touches upon issues like doping, pressures that athletes face, homophobia in this international sports world too.
Then the characters are just wonderful. Isaac and Tim are lovely as people and crazy talented- you root for them individually and support them getting together as a couple at the end of this Olympic bubble they're in. It's not just about their central romance but about their personal growth and conquering their own hardships. Isaac is so admirable in the comeback he's had, and the depictions of his struggle with alcoholism is realistically portrayed and well done. At one moment you're empathizing with his mental health struggles, and other moments you get a perspective on his headspace during competition; when it's zoomed out and he's a phenom, as the reader you're just in awe with and proud of him being so accomplished, same with Tim during his scenes.
The romance is also well-developed and sensible, which I appreciated. Both Isaac and Tim fall in love quickly, but aren't unrealistically dumb about being carried off in a whirlwind romance. They evaluate their situations, have doubts and their respective baggage, think about the future, while also steeping in all the fuzzy feels in the midst of performing at the pinnacle of their careers. The image pictured in my head of them kissing at the ceremony is swooningly romantic too though, as is the prediction of the dive teammate coming true at the epilogue, so there's a good balance struck here.
Tim's famewhore ex Pat, I wanted to pitch into the sun, lol. The surrounding characters were great- like their respective coaches, teammates Jason, Luke, Katie, Ginny, and their supportive parents. I'm really looking forward to reading the next books in this series, and getting to see this iteration of the Olympics from the highly specific perspectives of other athletes in different sports- great setup done here. Jake the gymnast and JJ the track runner are intriguing.
lovinglyread's review
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
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