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danielargl's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
orangeandmilk's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
cnapierkowski's review against another edition
4.0
I genuinely loved this book. I loved how the characters took care of one another - so swoony!
elle_reads_lots's review against another edition
3.0
standard hocky storyline - however I enjoyed it more than most hockey books. Especially the initial romance between the MC and how it developed over time. Jason mcKay is an out hockey player and seems to be a confident macho type but also sweet underneath everything. Beck is a younger, newer, player and just coming out in the sport. After a sexy encounter, due to a misunderstanding they don't meet for another year - and that makes the storyline that more charged and interesting.
Listened on audio and the narrators were great and really added something to the story. Not sure I would have enjoyed quite so much reading it - and that's why I've given it 3 stars. It was good, but I probably wouldn't re-read.
Listened on audio and the narrators were great and really added something to the story. Not sure I would have enjoyed quite so much reading it - and that's why I've given it 3 stars. It was good, but I probably wouldn't re-read.
xanetiaz's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
molsen7961's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars
This book was LONG, which I usually love, but not so much here. I like long books because it leaves time for both a slow burn and a long time with the characters actually together. But here, the characters don’t commit to each other, not really anyways, until 400 out of 450 pages. I wish they got committed to making it work earlier on. The rest of the book could have been dedicated to dealing with the fallout of their relationship coming public. Instead, they get together right at the end and there’s basically no fallout.
The “forbidden” part of this book was kind of a stretch. They start by hooking up, and talk about a second date, so they’re clearly both looking for more from the beginning. Then one of the MCs ghosts their second date, they lose touch for a year, and reconnect. They’re now on rivaling teams, so they agree that nothing can come of their attraction. Except, then they start hooking up. But for some reason they still keep resisting and acting like it can’t be anything more than a hook up…but why? They’re already more than friends, they want to be more than just hook ups, so why not just go for it? They’re both out publicly too, and I just felt the whole rival teams thing was a flimsy plot premise, especially since basically no one cared once the secret came out.
I also felt that both characters prioritized their careers over their relationship, which I didn’t like. One of the MCs states outright that he broke up with an ex because he chose football over the ex, and that football would always be his first love. When the characters think they were caught dating by their team owners, they mutually decide to break up before even talking to the owners or trying to engineer a solution. It turned out that the owners actually didn’t know anything, but they decide to break up anyways because it was too close of a call. I’m not saying anyone should have to give up their career for a relationship, but your person should always be more important than your job.
I did like that the characters had a lot in their lives outside of each other, and that they didn’t make each other their end all be alls. They both had boundaries on what they would and would not tolerate in a relationship and stuck to them. When they had problems, they turned to each other for support, but didn’t treat each other like they were the only possible solution. Especially with mental health issues, the characters supported each other without becoming dependent on each other. Beck even seeks out therapy. I’m a big fan of healthy relationship dynamics.
This book was LONG, which I usually love, but not so much here. I like long books because it leaves time for both a slow burn and a long time with the characters actually together. But here, the characters don’t commit to each other, not really anyways, until 400 out of 450 pages. I wish they got committed to making it work earlier on. The rest of the book could have been dedicated to dealing with the fallout of their relationship coming public. Instead, they get together right at the end and there’s basically no fallout.
The “forbidden” part of this book was kind of a stretch. They start by hooking up, and talk about a second date, so they’re clearly both looking for more from the beginning. Then one of the MCs ghosts their second date, they lose touch for a year, and reconnect. They’re now on rivaling teams, so they agree that nothing can come of their attraction. Except, then they start hooking up. But for some reason they still keep resisting and acting like it can’t be anything more than a hook up…but why? They’re already more than friends, they want to be more than just hook ups, so why not just go for it? They’re both out publicly too, and I just felt the whole rival teams thing was a flimsy plot premise, especially since basically no one cared once the secret came out.
I also felt that both characters prioritized their careers over their relationship, which I didn’t like. One of the MCs states outright that he broke up with an ex because he chose football over the ex, and that football would always be his first love. When the characters think they were caught dating by their team owners, they mutually decide to break up before even talking to the owners or trying to engineer a solution. It turned out that the owners actually didn’t know anything, but they decide to break up anyways because it was too close of a call. I’m not saying anyone should have to give up their career for a relationship, but your person should always be more important than your job.
I did like that the characters had a lot in their lives outside of each other, and that they didn’t make each other their end all be alls. They both had boundaries on what they would and would not tolerate in a relationship and stuck to them. When they had problems, they turned to each other for support, but didn’t treat each other like they were the only possible solution. Especially with mental health issues, the characters supported each other without becoming dependent on each other. Beck even seeks out therapy. I’m a big fan of healthy relationship dynamics.
julcsiii's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0