Reviews with content warning for Grief - The Right Move

This book went viral all over the place and all I kept hearing about was the infamous Ryan Shay so I finally had to check him out for myself. Now, for me, I first 60% or so were a drag for me to read that I even considered dnfing it at one point. (i'd like to note, that I didn't read the first book)

My thoughts on the first 60%:

I understand why people are obsessed with Ryan he's really thoughtful and really adheres to my love language of "listening"/act of service. One of the things I admire is when people pay attention to the little things about you and then act on them. He's so considerate too.
Getting her vegetarian meals. Buying her her own bed. Letting her use his card for new dresses and shoes. Wanting to learn sign language just to communicate with her dad. Etc.
My only qualm is that I'm not really into his jealousy and subtle possessiveness.
Like she couldn't even dance with Rio, her friend, without him being so threatening and I didn't like that, especially considering they weren't even together at that point. I just find that behavior unsettling. Like relax bro, she's not even your girlfriend?!
It's not anything too crazy. I've read worse, but it's still not my thing. Also, he's pretty mean to her at the start of the book so I found it even harder to be convinced that he liked her.
As I was getting halfway through, I liked how attentive Ryan can be, however, I still wasn't really feeling connected to this book. Everything felt so surface level and this book feels EXTREMELY tropey. Don't get me wrong the characters have chemistry, but in my opinion, this book lacks a lot of emotional depth in the first half. I felt like Indy and Ryan lacked a lot of emotional intimacy. Anytime when they're close to reaching it, things become overtly sexual between them. This is just personal preference but I prefer when the characters have more emotional moments before they start with the whole sexual talk. It was obvious they cared for one another, but it felt more lusty. I wasn't convinced why they liked each other beyond physical attraction so it rendered a lot of the nice things that Ryan did for her mute for me because I felt like there wasn't much warranting it aside from him being nice.
And honestly, everything about this book feels surface-level. We're told that Ryan loves his sister and has this crazy connection towards her and she's the only one he trusts but we don't really get any intimate moments between them to convey WHY they're as close as they are (aside from them being twins). We're just told. With Indy, we know she deals with infertility and is traumatized by her ex, but that's it. The only part of her trauma that we're shown is that she can't sleep alone and that she hasn't orgasmed in eight months. Like girl, what?! And the whole thing with why Ryan is so closed off and celibate feels so underdeveloped to me.
Like we're just told about his college ex and how she wanted to get a baby out of him so she could get 18 years' worth of child support out of him. And that's just supposed to be it. We're told this through like a page and that's IT! Again, the lack of emotional depth is what I was talking about earlier.
Just a lot of telling and not showing in this book.
I usually tend to "go with the flow" when I read romances, but this book was soooooo tropey that I just couldn't suspend my disbelief. Like you're telling me that she's made it overtly known that she's attractive to him, they flirt ALL THE TIME, and he even made her come just by using his leg (i'm sorry but that scene was so weird i had to look away🤣), and he showers her with all this thought and consideration and jealousy. And you expect me to believe neither one of them is aware that they like each other. Like, be so for real!😭 And don't get me started on how Ryan is always described as ungodly gorgeous with a giant package and Indy as a showstopper that has every guy's head turning. Aside from their traumas, they have no flaws.
And it was because of all the issues I listed previously that I just wasn't feeling this book. I just felt so disconnected from it. And because I wasn't feeling the book I found the couple mid so the tropey stuff just didn't have its desired effect. At that point, I was feeling a 3.5/5. Lowkey wanted to dnf.
I loved Rio though in this book! He was the saving grace, but I wasn't going to dnf I was determined! And surprisingly I'm glad I didn't because the last 40% MADE THIS BOOK!

My thoughts on the last 40%:

Shockingly enough after their first "intimate" scene the book just went uphill for me. It was actually pretty endearing how encouraging he was and how he just let her be and let her take charge in her own way by letting her take the agency to be taken care of. He REALLY put her first and that's something I rarely see in books. I feel like at that point their relationship was finally established and they finally expressed their feelings for each other and that's when all the tropey stuff started to HIT! Ryan was PHENOMENAL! I finally understood the Ryan Shay hype and it was everything! He was literally the ideal boyfriend. Even his possessive caveman moments hit.😅 And I also started feeling for Indy too! I didn't really care much for her character up till this point. I think around this mark is where we got to see a lot more emotional depth and a bit more complexity from the characters and just how much their traumas hurt them really serves to benefit the story in my opinion. I also like how Indy cared for Ryan too! Too often in romance books we just see the girl being pampered, but it was to see her being considerate of him too (maybe not to the same extent that he did, but it's something)! Everything just went uphill from there and it was just sooooo good! I even teared up during some moments in this book because I can totally relate to how untrusting one becomes when they've been hurt by someone that they once loved. It makes you not trust your own judgment and in turn, your own heart.

The little "conflict" they had I felt was pretty reasonable and I feel like it was handled well by the characters.
Although I know it's just a book and I feel like it fits the characters' story and situation, however, if my partner bought us a whole house without me consoling me first I wouldn't like it. But in context to the book, it was a very sweet gesture from Ryan.
Again, Rio is just A1! The way he helped Indy!🥰I hope he gets his own book! I loved him! His friendship with Indy was top-tier. Also, by this point, I really enjoyed the found family aspect of this book. Again, I don't know what magic sprouted after the 60% mark but I started to really enjoy this book and finally understood why it was so hyped and why people love it so much! (wasn't a big fan of the epilogue;
I just don't care for kids in romance books. Again, this book is very tropey.
)

The first 60% of the book was a 3.5/5 for me, but the last 40% was a 4.25/5 so I met in the middle and gave this book a 3.75/5. If the whole book was done like the second half I felt like I would've rated this book much higher. (I don't know if i'll continue the series, we'll see, but I'll most definitely be patiently waiting for Rio's book; also loved that Indy was a romance book girly😂)

Spice Rating:🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Content Warnings

ambercunningham's review against another edition

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emotional 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? It's complicated

4.75

Content Warnings

melissaslibraryy's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad 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

5.0

This book is out of this freaking world!!! I’m obsessed with it and this couple and will definitely be rereading this series after the third installment comes out.

The first interactions between Indy and Ryan happens in the first book Mile High and it’s funny to see how those first impressions of Indy put off Ryan once she moved in. When Ryan lies to his GM about her being his girlfriend, they come up with a plan to make it work which has their tension at an all time high. Between their insta-lust and slowburn friends to lovers, their chemistry is amazing and omg can this man dirty talk🤭 Their banter is adorable and I love how it’s a true depiction of grumpy x sunshine bc their personalities are exactly that. Where Ryan is reserved, quiet and doesn’t really show his emotions, Indy is the opposite by outgoing, social, and not afraid to cry when the moment calls for it. I love these two and am in love with the progression of their relationship from beginning to end. Seeing Ryan open up to Indy was heartwarming and the angst made me want to cry, which made it a true 5 star read☺️

Content Warnings

amanda_reads13's review against another edition

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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

5.0

Indy is a flight attendednt and best friend to Stevie. After catching her boyfriend of 6 years cheating, she is in a rough place. She is struggling emotionally and financially. Ryan, Stevie's twin brother, is one of the top NBA players, but due to his anxiety with his popularity he has become withdrawn and closed off. He prefers his own company and rarely leaves his apartment (other than work) for fear of ruining his reputation. Indy is struggling to find a place to live and, reluctantly, Ryan lets her live in his apartment.

Both Ryan and Indy have been through some trauma and are dealing with it in very different ways. He has isolated himself from the world where as she is trying to be optimistic. They are completely opposites he is a clean freak, she is messy, he is an introvert, she is an extrovert.

Indy is so kind and loves so fiercely. She wants nothing more than to take care of those she loves, but has never be taken care of. She has always put others first and has made herself small. Her asshole ex is a manipulative misogynist who wants nothing more than to put her down.

Enter Ryan. Ryan has been put through the ringer.

His college "girlfriend" ended up being a manipulative liar who made him believe she was pregnant with his baby but it was all a scheme to get money out of him. After that, he spent years dealing with depression and not taking care of himself properly. He then made the decision to close himself off, keep everyone at arms length, and trust hardly anyone. He was terrified of being used and his reputation being destroyed. He had his life plan and was sticking to it no matter what.

Indy turned his plans completely on their heads. As they slowly fell for one another, he opened up to her and began to trust again. He started to put her needs above his plans and wanted to protect her at all costs. He fell for her hard and struggled to deal with those feelings. He may not be a man of words, but did he ever show Indy how much he truly loved her (I mean he learned sign language so he could communicate with her dad!).

Indy's reluctance to open her heart and Ryan's inability to trust lead to some miscommunication and arguments, but I think that these were all understandable considering what they had been through. They both needed time to process the feelings they had for each other.

They balance each other out so well and work together so perfectly. He made her feel loved and protected and made sure she put herself first. She helped him trust again and slowly helped him gain the confidence to make connections with others.

Also, Indy's friends are the worst. Who tries to guilt their friend into getting back with their cheating ex. Gross.

I loved seeing Rio, Zanders, and Stevie throughout this book. I appreciated getting glimpses into the progression of Stevie and Zanders relationship. I cannot wait for Rio's book!

Tropes: best friends brother, forced proximity, sports romance, slow burn, fake dating

Content Warnings

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