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aromanticreadsromance's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
Okay this felt super loooooong (it could have/should have been a lot shorter, imo. it got really repetitive) but read this if you like slow burns! I'm talking we don't get a first kiss until the 60% mark! The magic system in this was fascinating and neat (I'd love to read more books with this type of magic) but sometimes confusing. I'm not gonna lie, I also sometimes forgot who certain side characters were, lol. There were so many names mentioned that they jumbled in my head. This read like a fanfiction or Wattpad book (which isn't a bad thing!). It kind of reminded me of E. L. Massey's hockey fanfics. It was a good palate cleanser.
It's kinda half open door half closed door. We see the start of sex scenes but never the whole thing (it fades to black after a few paragraphs), if that makes sense.
I'm not mad that I read this because AB and Matthew's relationship was really cute and sweet and well developed (it kinda had to be, with how slow that burn was lol but the payoff was gratifying with the emotional depth involved in their relationship before they actually got together). I thought the distinction between fate and Bonding was really interesting!
It's kinda half open door half closed door. We see the start of sex scenes but never the whole thing (it fades to black after a few paragraphs), if that makes sense.
I'm not mad that I read this because AB and Matthew's relationship was really cute and sweet and well developed (it kinda had to be, with how slow that burn was lol but the payoff was gratifying with the emotional depth involved in their relationship before they actually got together). I thought the distinction between fate and Bonding was really interesting!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Homophobia, and Mental illness
kennyscoffee's review
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
3.5
Overall, fun read about two famous boys very slowly falling in love. They have LOTS of long conversations about social media, coming out, and mental health. As someone who adores the soulmate trope, this book was fine. I didn’t fully understand why or how they were soulmates since the book said they were in one chapter but then later made it seem like they weren’t??
The magical realism aspect of the book was hard for me to grasp. I got the basics after a while but the later half was very confusing as nothing is explained since the characters already know about the magic.
Coming out and mental health issues are a major topic in this book!
The magical realism aspect of the book was hard for me to grasp. I got the basics after a while but the later half was very confusing as nothing is explained since the characters already know about the magic.
Coming out and mental health issues are a major topic in this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
OCD, Coming Out, Sports/Media Homophobia, Famous individuals, Social Medialetsgohawks91's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Homophobia
There is very little (if any) actual on-screen homophobic comments, but there is broad, general discussion of the homophobic nature of hockey culture, and one character is anxious about encountering homophobia in hockey. Overall, this book manages to allow characters to experience their very real concerns about the possibility of dealing with homophobia without subjecting the reader to any major instances of homophobia. One character has an obsessive disorder that is central to their development throughout the book, and while their physical sensations are sometimes loosely described, there was nothing intense or seriously triggering on-screen.