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A review by jehntooch
On the Rocks by Marja Graham
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I came across Marja on Instagram and am grateful to snag an ARC of the first in a series titled Fool’s Gambit.
Tropes
Age Gap
One night stand
Roommates
A Nickname!
INVISIBLE STRING
Set in Atlanta, GA
Lacey: sports photographer (hockey), only child of a rockstar. Lover of “B-horror films and used paperbacks with a five-dollar bottle of Sauvignon Blanc”
Drew: 33, ex-pop star drummer, owns a bar, hiding from his past in plain sight.
Oh my god this first interaction between the MCs:
“Whiskey is whiskey,” I defend.
“You’d probably like the taste of straight ethanol then.”
“And I bet you’d like the benefits of therapy, but I don’t think it’s worth listing things neither of us will try.”
Their continuous banter… the dirty talk from Drew right off the bat was chef kiss. It does quiet down and tame down through the rest of the book.
“I show him instead, intent on carving the words into his soul with my touch alone”
“And I know this ache will never truly stop because that’s grief. It isn’t the end of love; it’s the continuation of it. It’s carrying someone with you because the love you shared was so strong that you refuse to let them disappear.”
I enjoyed…
The age gap wasn’t made into a big deal.
The role of the chosen family Lacey has with the hockey team and her best friend, Price.
The relationship that Craig has with Drew and continuously wanting what’s best for Drew.
Meeting the band and setting up the next books in this series between Wes and Avery and Garrett and Evelyn. (Okay but Craig and Cara?!)
The undertones of grief (loss of person, life you once lived) are addressed with proper attention and care and finding a sense of closure.
A few things kept this from being a 5 star read for me:
The pacing is a bit uneven
Not a fan of how Lacey’s coworker, Tessa, is portrayed through the mid-end of the book.
When Lacey discloses her job to Drew, I wish they talked about his time in Chicago at the game.
THE picture in the apartment. I wanted more from that moment.
I appreciated the trigger warnings in a heartfelt note to the readers.
Overall, a 3.5 star read, rounding up.
Thank you to the author, Marja, for this eARC!
Tropes
Age Gap
One night stand
Roommates
A Nickname!
INVISIBLE STRING
Set in Atlanta, GA
Lacey: sports photographer (hockey), only child of a rockstar. Lover of “B-horror films and used paperbacks with a five-dollar bottle of Sauvignon Blanc”
Drew: 33, ex-pop star drummer, owns a bar, hiding from his past in plain sight.
Oh my god this first interaction between the MCs:
“Whiskey is whiskey,” I defend.
“You’d probably like the taste of straight ethanol then.”
“And I bet you’d like the benefits of therapy, but I don’t think it’s worth listing things neither of us will try.”
Their continuous banter… the dirty talk from Drew right off the bat was chef kiss. It does quiet down and tame down through the rest of the book.
“I show him instead, intent on carving the words into his soul with my touch alone”
“And I know this ache will never truly stop because that’s grief. It isn’t the end of love; it’s the continuation of it. It’s carrying someone with you because the love you shared was so strong that you refuse to let them disappear.”
I enjoyed…
The age gap wasn’t made into a big deal.
The role of the chosen family Lacey has with the hockey team and her best friend, Price.
The relationship that Craig has with Drew and continuously wanting what’s best for Drew.
Meeting the band and setting up the next books in this series between Wes and Avery and Garrett and Evelyn. (Okay but Craig and Cara?!)
The undertones of grief (loss of person, life you once lived) are addressed with proper attention and care and finding a sense of closure.
A few things kept this from being a 5 star read for me:
The pacing is a bit uneven
Not a fan of how Lacey’s coworker, Tessa, is portrayed through the mid-end of the book.
When Lacey discloses her job to Drew, I wish they talked about his time in Chicago at the game.
THE picture in the apartment. I wanted more from that moment.
I appreciated the trigger warnings in a heartfelt note to the readers.
Overall, a 3.5 star read, rounding up.
Thank you to the author, Marja, for this eARC!