marsali's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
5.0
theunrealerin's review
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
All of the stars are for the sweetness of the main characters. Most times this tries to go deeper, it is less successful. Anxiety rep, but it isn't amazing.
vezreads's review
emotional
hopeful
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? No
3.75
soph_la's review
emotional
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
4.0
perachdavida's review against another edition
5.0
Ok, so from a pure enjoyment standpoint, I can’t say I loved Tough Guy as much as Heated Rivalry, the previous book in the series which is an all-time favorite for practically everyone who reads it. HOWEVER, this book tackles difficult matters of mental health, sexual performance, and gender expression so exceptionally well that it would be shorting Rachel Reid to give it less than 5 stars. Ryan and Fabian are such a sweet, lovely couple. The juxtaposition of Ryan’s severe anxiety disorder with his huge, threatening physical presence feels so real and visceral. The effects of his medication on his sexual ability is also spot on, and something that is never discussed in books. The way that Fabian understands and negotiates Ryan’s needs with his own is a beautiful example of good communication that any sex therapist would be proud of. Finally, I read a lot of MM, and I don’t ever remember seeing a character that identifies as male (as opposed to trans/enby) but wears full make-up and flowered jumpers and high heels and pearl necklaces - and on top of that rep, his boyfriend finds him beautiful like that. I just....can’t even. Well done, Rachel Reid.
milointhewoods's review against another edition
3.0
i stopped reading this halfway though and kind of abandoned it for a few months, but i do really like ryan price and i loved ilyas little cameo
becca if you see this, i had it on my currently reading for like three months, and i was just finishing the last 100 pages. i love you, this is our secret. and no i won’t be mentioning it in my end of month wrap up
becca if you see this, i had it on my currently reading for like three months, and i was just finishing the last 100 pages. i love you, this is our secret. and no i won’t be mentioning it in my end of month wrap up
avalydia's review
4.0
More like 3.5.
I didn't think I was going to enjoy this book as much as some of the others in this series, because one of the leads was very femme and the other was a blatant Tormund Giantsbane knockoff, neither of which are my type, but the author did a fantastic job handling Ryan's anxiety/unhappiness playing hockey and I was far more invested in his story than I had expected. It's really nice to see romance novels addressing issues like these (even though, of course, there's still plenty of room for sexy scenes).
I didn't think I was going to enjoy this book as much as some of the others in this series, because one of the leads was very femme and the other was a blatant Tormund Giantsbane knockoff, neither of which are my type, but the author did a fantastic job handling Ryan's anxiety/unhappiness playing hockey and I was far more invested in his story than I had expected. It's really nice to see romance novels addressing issues like these (even though, of course, there's still plenty of room for sexy scenes).
blaireisrad's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
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
4.0
pinesandpages's review
4.0
I read this in one day bc I had a very long flight and also I liked them! I really enjoyed the two MCs being atypical in romance in general but also specifically in the world of hockey//sports. Great discussions of the toll human bodies endure to pay sports, which are like a silly thing to wreck yourself over for the rest of your life. Lmao I have taken a surprising anti-sports stance in this review, despite being fully aware I am voluntarily reading a sports romance.
I also liked that Ryan’s anxiety and performance issues aren’t just solved immediately after he falls in love - certainly they’re better but it wasnt like “the power of love has cured his anxiety!!!” which does happen in books but is simply not reality!! And I liked that this was one aspect of Ryan and Fabian didn’t…react poorly or make it seem like a burden. Fabian just calmly tried various things that might work for Ryan. Lol the bar is in the ground but I enjoyed that part a lot!!
Also I liked that there wasn’t the huge pressure to remain in the closet like in most sports romances. No long drawn out conversations about what this will mean for his career. Ryan was just out and that was that. Perhaps a little bit too easily tbh and it was literally never mentioned again by any of his teammates but that’s fine. I don’t like when the literal entire plot is a fear of coming out which is VALID but also I could use other plot points.
As always, it does feel like Rachel Reid tosses in marginal diversity for the sake of it (Fabian is Lebanese which is mentioned precisely once and then never again) and doesn’t really explore this aspect of her characters’ identities.
I also liked that Ryan’s anxiety and performance issues aren’t just solved immediately after he falls in love - certainly they’re better but it wasnt like “the power of love has cured his anxiety!!!” which does happen in books but is simply not reality!! And I liked that this was one aspect of Ryan and Fabian didn’t…react poorly or make it seem like a burden. Fabian just calmly tried various things that might work for Ryan. Lol the bar is in the ground but I enjoyed that part a lot!!
Also I liked that there wasn’t the huge pressure to remain in the closet like in most sports romances. No long drawn out conversations about what this will mean for his career. Ryan was just out and that was that. Perhaps a little bit too easily tbh and it was literally never mentioned again by any of his teammates but that’s fine. I don’t like when the literal entire plot is a fear of coming out which is VALID but also I could use other plot points.
As always, it does feel like Rachel Reid tosses in marginal diversity for the sake of it (Fabian is Lebanese which is mentioned precisely once and then never again) and doesn’t really explore this aspect of her characters’ identities.
lpk32's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
3.5