A review by perusing_pages
Headstrong by Eden Finley

funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.5

Book 3 in the multi author shared world Vino & Veritas series.

Whit is a newly out and proud college Hockey player who is determined not to still be a virgin by his 22nd birthday, so he goes to the new-ish inclusive bar Vino & Veritas where he meets bar tender Rainn, now Rainn had a promising hockey career once upon a time but due to injury had to leave that dream behind and has been stagnant in his life since so the first meeting between these two doesn't go smoothly because of Rainns resentment for losing his dream. They quickly become friends, and Whit enlists Rainn as his wingman in trying to find someone to lose his virginity with. However, it is like the blind leading the blind as Rainn has zero clue about same sex encounters as he is straight, which is super inconvenient for Whit and the crush he is developing. 

This was a low angst cutesy read that has some good banter, humour & spice. I liked both Whit & Rainns characters and the development of the romantic aspect between them was good, however the physical aspect occurring felt abrupt as we went from a slow-ish build to bam they were hopping on the good foot and doing the bad thing and I would have personally preferred a slower exploration of that between them instead it felt like the author was just ticking off points on a list one after the other. I listened to the Audiobook on Everand as part of my subscription and I really enjoyed Tim Paige & Iggy Toma's perfomances, these are two of my favourites for books like this as I think their voices and performances work well together. 🌶🌶