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juliesleseecke's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
3.75
3,75 Sterne. War es gut geschrieben? Nein. (Wirklich, manches war so primitiv, dass es schon wieder lustig war) War der Plot vorhersehbar? Ja und wie. Hat es trotzdem Spaß gemacht? Irgendwie schon.
Absolutes guilty pleasure. Es war so cringe, dass es echt schon wieder lustig war. Wer ein Buch wie Icebreaker sucht ist hier genau richtig. Ehrlich gesagt besteht der Großteil des Buches einfach nur aus Sex bzw Gedanken rund um dieses Thema (fand ich auch irgendwann einfach nur noch nervig und sehr unrealistisch, selbst in wilden Collegejahren denkt doch kein Mensch so). Aber irgendwie hatte es trotzdem seinen Charme, war locker leicht und die Hauptcharaktere hatten tatsächlich mal Charakter. Zum Ende hin wurde es auch nochmal spannend und das hat das ganze für mich zu einem besseren Icebreaker gemacht. (Auch wenn es etwas abrupt geendet hat, ein zwei Sachen hätten ruhig noch passieren können)
Und wie alt bin ich bitte: habe vor 8 oder mehr Jahren The Deal gelesen und bin erstmal komplett ausgerastet, weil die Protagonistin aus The Graham Effect einfach die Tochter von den Protagonisten aus The Deal ist. Komme nicht klar 😭
Falls ihr also was locker leichtes mit viel Spice und ein klein wenig Handlung sucht, seid ihr hier genau richtig.
Absolutes guilty pleasure. Es war so cringe, dass es echt schon wieder lustig war. Wer ein Buch wie Icebreaker sucht ist hier genau richtig. Ehrlich gesagt besteht der Großteil des Buches einfach nur aus Sex bzw Gedanken rund um dieses Thema (fand ich auch irgendwann einfach nur noch nervig und sehr unrealistisch, selbst in wilden Collegejahren denkt doch kein Mensch so). Aber irgendwie hatte es trotzdem seinen Charme, war locker leicht und die Hauptcharaktere hatten tatsächlich mal Charakter. Zum Ende hin wurde es auch nochmal spannend und das hat das ganze für mich zu einem besseren Icebreaker gemacht. (Auch wenn es etwas abrupt geendet hat, ein zwei Sachen hätten ruhig noch passieren können)
Und wie alt bin ich bitte: habe vor 8 oder mehr Jahren The Deal gelesen und bin erstmal komplett ausgerastet, weil die Protagonistin aus The Graham Effect einfach die Tochter von den Protagonisten aus The Deal ist. Komme nicht klar 😭
Falls ihr also was locker leichtes mit viel Spice und ein klein wenig Handlung sucht, seid ihr hier genau richtig.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Gun violence, Grief, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Animal death, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
lindsaymc74's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
WOW WOW WOW. I have always said I will read anything and everything Elle Kennedy by this book was PHENOMENAL. I would definitely reread it in the future. Ryder and Gigi just become more and more loveable as the book goes on
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
dale96's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Gun violence, Death of parent, and Alcohol
btwnprintedpgs's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-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? No
3.5
I feel like romances that are about 500 pages should either hit it out of the park, or just not be 500 pages, and this landed in the middle.
I feel like this could've been so much shorter. The author could have trimmed some of the extras that didn't add much to the story (I'm looking at you team building exercises that basically did nothing). Some of the team stuff was just a general lack of communication, and a lack of accountability. I liked the overall arc of the story - Ryder and Gigi helping each other grow and accept their own emotions and pasts; the smorgasbord team that's cobbled together becoming one in the end; the dreams realized and shattered. It was all solid, and I enjoyed the characters and the banter, but at the end of the day, I feel like I could've had all that even if the story was tightened up a bit. I'd reread this book in a heartbeat if it didn't have all the superfluous stuff (yes, that's a callback to the book cause that moment made me laugh).
I also hated how much sexism there was. Dumb comments from Ryder about females only being figure skaters, some other comments from other people about "crazy" women, and the fact that half the characters were f-boys who could just get anyone to sleep with them. Idk, it all felt a bit toxic, but I guess sports are generally just a bit toxic at any given time. That part was not for me, but I guess it was to be expected.
As a whole, I enjoyed the cast. I liked all characters and the different personalities they brought to the table, and I loved the romance arc! In the end, it was very much all devotion, and love, and emotion, and that worked very well. It was just some of the other pieces that really fell short for me. I'll likely read on in the series, as I like Gigi's friends enough to be curious about their stories, but it may be more of a skim going forward, because that's entirely too many pages for a romance for me.
TW: death of a parent, incarcerated parent, alcohol consumption, infidelity, sexism, injury detail; mentions cyber bullying, defamation
I feel like this could've been so much shorter. The author could have trimmed some of the extras that didn't add much to the story (I'm looking at you team building exercises that basically did nothing). Some of the team stuff was just a general lack of communication, and a lack of accountability. I liked the overall arc of the story - Ryder and Gigi helping each other grow and accept their own emotions and pasts; the smorgasbord team that's cobbled together becoming one in the end; the dreams realized and shattered. It was all solid, and I enjoyed the characters and the banter, but at the end of the day, I feel like I could've had all that even if the story was tightened up a bit. I'd reread this book in a heartbeat if it didn't have all the superfluous stuff (yes, that's a callback to the book cause that moment made me laugh).
I also hated how much sexism there was. Dumb comments from Ryder about females only being figure skaters, some other comments from other people about "crazy" women, and the fact that half the characters were f-boys who could just get anyone to sleep with them. Idk, it all felt a bit toxic, but I guess sports are generally just a bit toxic at any given time. That part was not for me, but I guess it was to be expected.
As a whole, I enjoyed the cast. I liked all characters and the different personalities they brought to the table, and I loved the romance arc! In the end, it was very much all devotion, and love, and emotion, and that worked very well. It was just some of the other pieces that really fell short for me. I'll likely read on in the series, as I like Gigi's friends enough to be curious about their stories, but it may be more of a skim going forward, because that's entirely too many pages for a romance for me.
TW: death of a parent, incarcerated parent, alcohol consumption, infidelity, sexism, injury detail; mentions cyber bullying, defamation
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexism, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death of parent and Alcohol
Minor: Bullying
swamprat410's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Death of parent
Moderate: Gun violence, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
britwalsh16's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I didn’t think it could get better the The Dare. & then I read this book!!! While, The Dare hit home for me. I just fucking enjoyed this book like crazy!!! Seeing Hannah & Garrett as parents is priceless! & then all the little breadcrumbs about all the other characters & their kids were the BEST PART!!!
Fucking Dean giving Gigi a huge box of condoms was hilarious!! And such a Dean thing to do!!
I love all they are all so close & Gigi grew up with them all as Aunts & Uncles & their kids as cousins! This has gotta be one of the best found family series I’ve ever read!!
But also, I just fucking loved Gigi & Ryder!!! They way they were there for eachother & supported one another! 🥰
Also how they first got together… Use Me… Fuck Yes!! Haha 😂
This book gives you all the laughs, but then also gives you heart & the struggles of life. I really could not get enough!!! 💜💜💜
I love all they are all so close & Gigi grew up with them all as Aunts & Uncles & their kids as cousins! This has gotta be one of the best found family series I’ve ever read!!
But also, I just fucking loved Gigi & Ryder!!! They way they were there for eachother & supported one another! 🥰
This book gives you all the laughs, but then also gives you heart & the struggles of life. I really could not get enough!!! 💜💜💜
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment
Minor: Blood and Alcohol
lillianslittlelife's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Alcohol and Sexual harassment
mabellene'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Bullying, Sexism, and Violence
Minor: Animal death, Infidelity, Abandonment, and Alcohol
natshu's review against another edition
lighthearted
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol
saoreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Evidently, I'm not a huge fan of foul language, but it leaves an impression and has some compelling qualities. The sexual tension and romance portrayed align with liberal perspectives, which can be perceived as common and cliché. However, the plot provides sufficient background for the main characters, making it easy to root for them. There were surprising twists, and it's great that the focus was on the evolution of the characters' personalities and behaviors, rather than solely the romantic aspects. Although I'm not knowledgeable about hockey, it appears to be well-represented in the narrative.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol