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brittknee52's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, and Sexual harassment
The MMC was not for me.lindsaymck's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
I am holding out hope for the rest of this series, but I was disappointed by this one. James, a silver-spoon NFL legacy who transfers to McKee? as a senior because of a scandal at LSU, always puts his relationship first to the detriment of all his other responsibilities and his future. A MMC who puts the FMC first should be a green-flag, but for James it is the deepest red. Also, why write a fake college but name-drop other real schools?
Beckett/Bex is a wishy-washy enabler who is too afraid to go after what she wants and set boundaries for her absentee mom and stalker ex-boyfriend. It sucks that the ex kept pursuing her and intruding on the happiness she was trying to find with calls/texts, wrist-grabbing, and an un-consenting kiss, but the fact that she chose to be alone with him to talk before the freakin championship game was the stupidest decision an FMC has ever made. She calls herself out for this stupidity to a friend afterwards and as the friend was comforting her, I was wishing the friend would tell it like it is and say “YUP! You were so dumb. That conversation could’ve happened literally any other time, but you had to make it before the biggest game of their lives. Way to make a day they’ve worked so hard for as a team all about you.”
I think I could love a football romance despite not loving football, but the climax of the book made me SO angry. Forget for a second how unrealistically it handled collegiate athletics, the decision James makes on the field in the championship game ruined the book for me. I understand that it’s fiction, but James’ priorities are so f**cked up and he has not learned a damn thing about how to keep the drama off the field. I hated the way he villainized his dad who was only trying to point out the tunnel-vision he always gets for the woman he’s dating, protect him from his own obsessive savior complex, and safeguard his future in the NFL.
James and Bex felt so one-dimensional and their fake dating actually accomplished nothing because everyone around them knew it was fake from the beginning, yet they seemed to jump from “let’s pretend” to “come home for Christmas with me, I love you.” Their co-dependency and immaturity gave me the ick.
Beckett/Bex is a wishy-washy enabler who is too afraid to go after what she wants and set boundaries for her absentee mom and stalker ex-boyfriend. It sucks that the ex kept pursuing her and intruding on the happiness she was trying to find with calls/texts, wrist-grabbing, and an un-consenting kiss, but the fact that she chose to be alone with him to talk before the freakin championship game was the stupidest decision an FMC has ever made. She calls herself out for this stupidity to a friend afterwards and as the friend was comforting her, I was wishing the friend would tell it like it is and say “YUP! You were so dumb. That conversation could’ve happened literally any other time, but you had to make it before the biggest game of their lives. Way to make a day they’ve worked so hard for as a team all about you.”
I think I could love a football romance despite not loving football, but the climax of the book made me SO angry. Forget for a second how unrealistically it handled collegiate athletics, the decision James makes on the field in the championship game ruined the book for me. I understand that it’s fiction, but James’ priorities are so f**cked up and he has not learned a damn thing about how to keep the drama off the field. I hated the way he villainized his dad who was only trying to point out the tunnel-vision he always gets for the woman he’s dating, protect him from his own obsessive savior complex, and safeguard his future in the NFL.
James and Bex felt so one-dimensional and their fake dating actually accomplished nothing because everyone around them knew it was fake from the beginning, yet they seemed to jump from “let’s pretend” to “come home for Christmas with me, I love you.” Their co-dependency and immaturity gave me the ick.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm, Sexual assault, and Stalking
brittinyh3711's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
the_reading_italian's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.75
Oh my gosh. This was so cute!! I love sports romance, but really don't enjoy hockey, so this was super refreshing for me. I loved the main characters (even if I did experience second hand embarrassment, and want to yell at them sometimes), and really loved reading about the relationship that they did have. The family dynamics in this book are amazing, and I love how close the MMC is with all of his siblings. It just made the entire book that much better!
*SPOILERS*
I thought there was going to be a third act break up. It was almost a dnf, I was so upset about it. That being said - they didn't break up. I didn't love that they 'went on a break,' but there are worse things that could've happened. That is the only reason I wouldn't give this book 5 stars, because it was otherwise entirely flawless!
*SPOILERS*
I thought there was going to be a third act break up. It was almost a dnf, I was so upset about it. That being said - they didn't break up. I didn't love that they 'went on a break,' but there are worse things that could've happened. That is the only reason I wouldn't give this book 5 stars, because it was otherwise entirely flawless!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
Minor: Miscarriage, Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Fire/Fire injury
mrs_gale's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
4.25
A nice, easy and light-hearted story. Perfect quick summer read. Love the siblings too so thrilled it's a series with a book for each of them!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
allingoodtime's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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
This story has a good mix of angst, fun, and falling in love. James and Bex both had a rough time over the last year and don’t want any distractions this year—especially no romantic entanglements. Been there, done that, got burned. The problem is, Bex’s ex doesn’t believe their relationship is over and Bex is sick of arguing with him. He finally drives her over the edge at a party and she grabs James, a virtual stranger, and gives him a big old kiss. There are fireworks, but she quickly leaves the situation hoping never to see him again.
Of course, they have a class together, and of course, James could really use some help in that class. To keep Bex’s ex at arm’s length and to help James pass this class he needs for graduation, they delve into the world of fake dating. The fake dating can’t stay fake for long with the chemistry these two have. But James is still focused on his football future and Bex knows she will be moving back home to run her mom’s diner…their futures don’t mesh. But what can a little fling hurt?
Not only are Bex and James great characters, but the side characters are also amazing. While James and Bex come from very different worlds, they try to understand each other. Bex is determined to earn her own way and James comes from a well-off family so he struggles with watching Bex struggle. There are a lot of obstacles in their way due to their different worlds, but they work through them all. Even those things that seem impossible.
I’m looking forward to reading about the rest of James’ sporty siblings finding their HEAs.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
bheis14's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
mhudak3's review against another edition
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt
annikenr's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual content, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Sexual harassment
kell_yeah_reads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
per my spreadsheet:
men. why are men. why do girls always have to deal with em. bless the author for adding the bonus chapters to the kindle edition. cherry on top. tho it had me sweating when things were getting heated and i still had 25% of the book left lol
spice 🌶 - a 4 🌶 spicy (romance.io scale)
length - just right
reading speed - read in 2 days
did it make me cry? - tears fell
men. why are men. why do girls always have to deal with em. bless the author for adding the bonus chapters to the kindle edition. cherry on top. tho it had me sweating when things were getting heated and i still had 25% of the book left lol
spice 🌶 - a 4 🌶 spicy (romance.io scale)
length - just right
reading speed - read in 2 days
did it make me cry? - tears fell
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Mental illness, Self harm, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment