ggbookrecclub's reviews
788 reviews

All on the Line by Lo Everett

lighthearted medium-paced

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

2.0

I started this series because I was excited for a book later in the series. I’m really hoping that the author is able to find their footing before I get there because this was hard to get through.

⭐️ Rating: 2/5
🌶️ Spice: 3/5

⚾️ Neighbors to Lovers
⚾️ Found Family
⚾️ Baseball Romance

Overall, this book is cute. It’s a fun premise and the characters are unique. Where I struggled was with the pacing and number of grammatical errors. As an avid KU reader, I understand that books will have errors. It’s bound to happen, even in those that get traditionally published. That being said, this book had sooooo many errors. Both the omittance as well as using the wrong word in some cases. The pacing was jerky. Like it’s all steam ahead and then stops. Then a couple weeks go by and then we’ve arrived at pound town. I get that MMC was jumping to conclusions because of his past relationship but it was 1 to 100 real quick. The grandmother was also a weird insertion. It felt more like a fairy godmother who could solve problems with a wink and a houseplant. It was just hard when I felt like we should be around the 80% point and it’s closer to 95%. 

Idk. Overall, the world of the Denver Bandits is interesting and engaging. I will continue to book two as the author did a good job setting up the series. Here’s hoping for a better book 2!

Kilt Trip by Alexandra Kiley
Did not finish book. Stopped at 48%.

Eesh. I really struggled with this one. I listened to this book and the narrators were... fine. It was oddly dually narrated but in the 3rd person? 

The plot could've been good, but it was also, just... fine. I just wanted it to be so much more. I ended up DNFing this book at 48%. I feel like that's a solid try but after the FMC had used to the word 'folklore' for the 5th time I just couldn't anymore. Is this author being paid by the Scottish tourism board? I hope not. 

Santa's Coming by Serena Pier

funny lighthearted fast-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? No

4.0

Santa Clause is coming to town…

⭐️ Rating: 4/5
🌶️ Spice: 3/5

🎅🏼 Single Parent
🎅🏼 Strangers to Lovers
🎅🏼 Insta Love
🎅🏼 Holiday Romance
🎅🏼 Small Town Romance

This holiday rom-com was everything it was promised to be. It was a hot, steamy, face paced, insta love, holiday romp. Santa’s Coming is book one in the High Five Novela series by Serena Pier. The first book established a fun friend group in this small town. It sounds like each of the women will be getting their own storyholiday. My only complaint? It was too short. I was ready for Santa to come back down that chimney. Maybe we’ll get a follow up come Valentine's day.

Funny Story by Emily Henry

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Would it be an Emily Henry book if it didn’t end with me in tears?

⭐️ Rating: 5/5
🌶️ Spice: 1.5/5

💙 Acquaintances to Friends to Lovers
💙 Fake Dating
💙 Roommates, Forced Proximity
💙 Jilted lovers
💙 Found Family

Funny Story is by far my favorite Emily Henry book. She really knows how to dig and pull at those insecurities until they’re right on the surface. It’s sad and imperfect, but also hopeful.

This story really kicks off with a bang. After uprooting her life to move to Michigan with her fiance, Daphne wakes up to a rude awakening. Her fiance dumps her for his super chill, super carefree (and promised platonic) female best friend. Needing a new living situation, Daphne moves in with Miles-the other dumped party in this equation. The two couldn’t seem more different. When the wedding invite comes in the mail, announcing the engagement of the happy couple these two can’t cope. They tie one on and RSVP “yes”. As a couple.

Coach Sully by Sloane St. James

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Don’t worry, Daddy Sully’s home.

⭐️ Rating: 4.5/5
🌶️ Spice: 3.5.4/5


🏒 He Falls First
🏒 Age Gap
🏒 Workplace Romance - she’s his producer
🏒 Accidental Pregnancy
🏒 Daddy

Sully’s been a staple in the Lakes Hockey series from the very beginning. And his time has finally come. Here’s the overly simplified synopsis: Sully is offered his dream job post retirement from the league but it comes with a catch-he has to film a dating show but the producer(who he can’t date) is the woman he just fell for. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but I look forward to seeing Sully coach and his family grow over the course of this brand new series.

For whatever reason, the first quarter of this book felt slightly stilted, like it wasn’t written by the same author. I read this right after blowing through the Lakes Hockey series and those felt very cohesive. Eventually, oddly enough, as soon as the dama kicked in, the writing seemed to level out. And from there on out it wasn’t an issue. In the preface of the story, the author mentioned the difficulty/process of writing a BIPOC character. I’m chalking up wanting to do right by the character and I can’t fault the author for that. 

I am so excited for this series. I’m looking forward to seeing how the PWHL shapes this series. I wish more romance books would do the same. There were a number of tidbits sprinkled throughout Coach Sully paving the way for a drama and fun filled Rogues series. I’m dying to know what’s going on with the GM and their team captain.

Stand and Defend by Sloane St. James

challenging emotional lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

“Where did you meet?” Rhys asks.
“Remember that wedding I was the best man in?”
“Ohhh, shhh, Banksy bagged himself a bridesmaid!” Shep Shouts.
I shake my head and smirk. “She’s the bride.”

⭐️ Rating: 5/5
🌶️ Spice: 3.5/5

🏒 Ex best friend’s finance
🏒 Runaway Bride
🏒 Friends with Benefits
🏒 Forced Proximity
🏒 Reformed playboy
🏒 No 3rd Act Break Up

Wow. What a way to wrap up the Lakes Hockey series. Throughout this series, Camden/Teller/Banksy (you pick the name) has been portrayed as a playboy who cares about very little in life but hockey and bunnies. This season he’s captain and he’s got a lot to prove. His mom married into money when he was a kid so he grew up with a privileged set of friends. That’s how he ended up being best man to Brain who we learn early on is just a terrible human. His finance, Jordan is also from that world, but even more so. Like if these guys are rich, she’s rich rich. In the book it’s explained that his parents know senators, but her parents know the president. That kind of rich. 

She’s a good girl who’s never made waves. After dating throughout college it just kind of made sense to get married. She just chalked it up to this is how it’s going to be. After all that’s the kind of marriage her parents have. But after Brain gets aggressive and takes things WAY too far she’s done. With her parents out of the country, she turns to Cam for assistance. And oh man do they find… comfort in one another. I absolutely loved watching Jordan come out of her shell, make friends, and build a life she was happy with. Also, her dog is named chicken salad and that’s just hilarious. 

This was a fun sports romance read that also had a number of serious moments. I suggest you read the trigger warnings before starting this book.

In The Game by Sloane St. James

challenging emotional lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I love a He Falls First MMC. Barrett is such a precious hero, I can’t even handle it.

⭐️ Rating: 5/5

🌶️ Spice: 3/5

🏒 One Night Stand

🏒  Secret Baby

🏒 He Fell First

🏒 No 3rd Act Breakup

This entire series is a doozy. And In the Game is not your typical accidental pregnancy hockey romance book. 

These characters are so incredibly heartfelt and well rounded. They are multifaceted and contain a whole lot of depth. First, we have Raleigh, like the city, as our FMC. When they first meet, she’s your typical promotion model with a pension for the away teams. Having grown up playing hockey herself, she knows a lot about the sport. She may sleep with players, but don’t call her a bunny. Barrett on the other hand is your hockey golden boy. Everyone loves Barrett and he’s looking for something special. He thinks he found it in Raleigh during their night where everything that possibly could go wrong does. But an offhanded bunny comment is all Raleigh needs to shut it down and sneak away in the night. 

Turns out it’s really hard to track someone down when all you know of them is their first name and the night you shared together. In the Game does a great job of jumping timelines. At the end of book 2 in the Lake Hockey series, we see a current day reaction to Raleigh seeing Barrett across the room at Mickey’s soft opening of her bar and patisserie. It is the perfect kicking off point to wind up your “how did we get here” and “why is it a big deal” hackles. 

I loved the backstory of Raleigh and her upbringing. Actually that’s a lie, what I loved was her ability to overcome it and give her son the life and parent she wishes she had. I won't spoil any of the story, but everyone gets a HEA.

Strong and Wild by Sloane St. James

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

She thinks she likes being the one in control until she meets her new neighbor. And the mouths on these two? 🥵

⭐️ Rating: 4.5/5

🌶️ Spice: 3.5/5

🏒 Forced Proximity

🏒 Secret Identity

For once, TikTok hyped up the RIGHT series. Omg, this is so good. Technically there wasn’t a third act breakup, but I’m still calling it a breakup. If that would have happened to me I 1. Probably would have never talked to him again and 2. I would’ve given him the nastiest look when he referred to me as his girlfriend. 

Okay, but back to the good stuff. Mickey is new to town and is working in the bar under her apartment. This girl has goals. Determined to make her dream of opening a patisserie/speakeasy bar come true she runs an OF style account on the side. Everyone loves a bit of naked baking, including her og subscriber/new neighbor and rookie of the Lakes hockey team. I kind of expected the drama of him knowing who she was to be a major sticking point but was impressed with how well they communicated and navigated that massive sticking point.

But beyond all that, this book is trying to rip out the reader's heart as we see how families with addiction have colored both of their lives. 

Before We Came by Sloane St. James

emotional lighthearted tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This book gave me that, “but when can I go home and read?” feeling. 

⭐️ Rating: 5/5

🌶️ Spice: 3/5

🏒 Childhood Friends to Lovers

🏒 Brother’s Best Friend

🏒 Forced Proximity

🏒 Mistaken Identity

Sloane St. James is a new to me author, and OMG, I’m going to blow through the series so fast, I can feel it. It’s been a long time since a story has made me feel something. This story was done so well. I’ve never read a hockey romance book that opened up with the FMC coming to the conclusion that she was kidnapped as a child. This book had me giving my best friend updates WHILE I was reading. Like, “guess what just happened?”

When the family reunited, I balled. I expected for them to be a little more hesitant that this was their long lost sister/daughter, but was really pleased with how it played out. Lonan, family friend/first crush, was a tinge manipulative at times to get his way. But we’ll chalk this up to losing the love of her life once and being unwilling to let her out of her side again.

Parts of this book were absolutely haunting. The journals of her adopted mother showed what a hateful person she was. They were first introduced when Birdie found them while cleaning and then throughout the book as evidence.  I only wish we got to know more about this murder case. 

The world building in this story was done so incredibly well. Immediately fell in love with this family and hockey team. 

Fall I Want by Lyra Parish
Did not finish book. Stopped at 66%.

Oof. It’s like this book didn’t know what it wanted to be. Like it wanted to be a cozy fall book with a swoon worthy billionaire but he’s either love bombing or an asshole and it gave me whiplash. Also, it feels like we were promised magic?

⭐️ Rating: DNF

🌶️ Spice: -2/5

🍂small town romance

🍂billionaire romance

I wanted this to be good. But it’s like the book was written by a different person after their first date. Do you remember the movie, Simply Irresistible? If you didn’t, I’m not surprised, I just had to google “Sarah Michelle Geller magic movie” and then not get distracted by Freddy Prinze Jr. to remind myself of the title. The tagline of that movie is literally “a magic crab works wonders for a terrible chef ‘s culinary skills, leading her towards the man of her dreams.” It’s like this book wanted to be that movie. She’s a terrible barista? Check. There’s a weird magical element in the air leading her to the man of her dreams? Check. Idk. It just left a lot to be desired. I was so conflicted about finishing it but I had to know if there was a magic spell/hex involved.