A review by zoklazobrie
A Heart Worth Finding by Amanda Chaperon

lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Thank you to Netgalley and Victory Editing for allowing me to read this ARC.🏒

"Yesterday, today, tomorrow, always and forever..."

This book was almost a DNF but when I hit 23% I HAD TO finish it next day so if we have the same reading styles/moods, push through, this was such a cute one. I didn't realize this was a stand alone related to previous books and I think the bits I was lacking, probably wouldn't be if I read the previous books. I also hugely struggle reading time jumps and this flips from April 2020 (not real 2020 which is a separate gripe) to "Today" 2024, which again is a me specific issue, It's very clear in the book. If time jumps don't bother you, then you should be fine.  

Let's start with a quick critique, and then we'll jump into the bits I enjoyed. 

In the beginning I was a bit offput by keeping the timeline starting in 2020, but now that I know there's quite a few previous related books, I suspect the timeline couldn't change. Threw me for a loop to read someone getting black out drunk in Mexico at a club full of people in April 2020 when I was having sourdough struggles in my kitchen, but I digress. Another bit I struggled with was I could not understand the behavior on the Mexico trip. Their mothers brought their maybe 18yo daughters for April vacation to Mexico to *checks notes* run rampant with 4 other boys including going clubbing off resort (not even initially with the boys, with 2 other men strangers) and not even meeting the boys' chaperone till mid trip? I get that they're technically adults but something about the whole trip was just so strange to me. And/or I'm too old lol. And last but not major point, the beginning is so Mexico/Then heavy I struggled to get through it, I was wanting to skip to Michighan/Now. When I got a bit more current then I found balance. Totally a me issue though, the author did great with the time jumps I think. 

Ok the good stuff (see spoilers)!
I LOVE that Jess holds to her dreams and doesn't drop everything when Jack reenters the picture. I love the awareness that she's young but that she's worked so hard to be a teacher and doesn't drop her dream. I love the lines, it's the time to be selfish, because it's so true! I also loved that Jess didn't love hockey. Not everyone does, I get it, so her character was supportive but didn't just automatically pick it up like some other hockey books do with their FMC. That detail, explains why there's not a lot of hockey in the beginning too. Also appreciated that Jack ends up playing in a different league. I know the dream is to play NHL, but the reality is most play in OHL/AHL, even lower, sometimes, that's the end of their hockey career at all. Not everyone gets to the big leagues immediately or ever, and it was nice to see a hockey player character accept something other than the NHL path. I also loved that the Silas/Sofie bits were amicable. Not every ending has to end in drama to advance our characters growth, and I loved how the author ended their relationships in such a modern adult way.
 

 I appreciate the authors hockey knowledge too, as someone who actually follows hockey, the incorrect details can pull me out of a story, but this author knows what she's talking about, and I didn't have this issue at all in her story. I also love that Jack is a goalie, I feel like most hockey romances are about forwards and centers, but what about our defense man and goalies?! They need some love too haha. I also really loved the family dynamic, so I'm very excited to go back and start from the beginning of the timeline to see this dynamic form. 

Again, knowing there's previous books, I will absolutely be going back to read ALL OF THEM. Did I struggle a bit? Yes. But this author is well written, and I ultimately really liked her modern takes on current life experiences, so she's definitely one I'll be following for future works too. 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Tropes
• HEA
• Second Chance
• TW: Side Character has pregnancy/delivery complications, no death