I knew this was short and I think it tells a complete story--it's not a short story that needed to be more--but I've just already largely forgotten itI knew this was short and I think it tells a complete story--it's not a short story that needed to be more--but I've just already largely forgotten it. That might be more on me than the book....more
This was GREAT. I think part of my newfound love for m/m hockey romances is that they're so often best friends to lover OR rivals/enemies to lovers, wThis was GREAT. I think part of my newfound love for m/m hockey romances is that they're so often best friends to lover OR rivals/enemies to lovers, which are both things that I like! Also forced proximately! And secret relationships!
This is one of the best friends to lovers ones. Super intense friendship and dual bi awakening that I thought was handled really well. There was this mutual exploration and trust and great discussions of "hey, let's try it! If we don't like it, that's okay!"
Also! On page demisexuality! I was reading one of the leads as demi, but I never ever expected it to be said on page! But it was!!
There's no real conflict which worked well for me because I wouldn't have bought it. They just loved and trusted each other too much in all the ways....more
I left this review too long, but I liked! Forced outing leads to fake dating (which shockingly enough leads to real feelings). I liked the genuine looI left this review too long, but I liked! Forced outing leads to fake dating (which shockingly enough leads to real feelings). I liked the genuine look at, well, these two industries are not known for meeing gay friendly! (The author mentions Luke Prokop and uh . . . sorry, I returned the book, a gay country singer . . . in the acknowledgements, though I believe she also said she started writing this before either came out.)
I also liked how awesome they are at their jobs! And the cat!...more
I'm into this hockey world where you trade for a gay buddy for your struggling gay superstar. (view spoiler)[Okay, I know it was also about tanking thI'm into this hockey world where you trade for a gay buddy for your struggling gay superstar. (view spoiler)[Okay, I know it was also about tanking the team, but still. (hide spoiler)]
Anyway, I liked it. I also liked seeing a very bad team, you know? It's a different dynamic....more
This was cute! I enjoyed revisiting Dante and Gabe and seeing them as an established couple. It ended a bit abruptly. Also (view spoiler)[okay, I buy This was cute! I enjoyed revisiting Dante and Gabe and seeing them as an established couple. It ended a bit abruptly. Also (view spoiler)[okay, I buy DANTE not making the Michelle connection, but I don't really buy Michelle not making it. It feels like her mom would've mentioned, "Yeah, my boyfriend's son is that NHL player married to another NHL player." Like, it would've come up that he's famous!!
Dante being all "Who's going to be the captain?" though. AMAZING." (hide spoiler)]...more
Granted, I haven't read a TON in the genre yet, but this might be the first hockey book I've read that used a fake league. I've encountered it a lot iGranted, I haven't read a TON in the genre yet, but this might be the first hockey book I've read that used a fake league. I've encountered it a lot in other sports romances, but I've been reading books where, nope, it was the NHL!
Anyway, I "liked" that this showed how deeply homophobic sports can be. And the anxiety rep was really really great. I could've used more from Benji musing over his sexuality. (view spoiler)[I didn't need a gay panic or anything, but I couldn't really tell he was attracted to Olly . . . which can be a thing, but it never felt like we really saw the awakening on page? I didn't need a lot, just a little more.
I also needed a little more with Olly and his dad. Presumably his dad about Benji at the end of the book???? Is that . . . . okay???? (hide spoiler)]
Oh, and the sister in this was named Krista and, excuse me, that's MY sister. She's never been "Kris," though....more
So quite a lot of this book is 5 stars for me, but I'm with Sonni in that I'm over Massey characters hitting massive major life milestones as teena4.5
So quite a lot of this book is 5 stars for me, but I'm with Sonni in that I'm over Massey characters hitting massive major life milestones as teenagers. And the thing is, I think it might've worked for me in this book if it didn't ALSO happen in the previous book. (view spoiler)[Like, all things considered, they're not in a terrible place to raise a baby! And if you're making THAT commitment, I get getting married, too. (hide spoiler)]
And overall I liked this better than the first two books (which I liked a LOT). The pacing seemed less frenetic. And I was really into Rome's journey. I've BEEN that person that, "Uh, I may be white, but I'm not privileged!!!" person.
Just . . . calm down with the babies doing very adult things, haha....more
Annnnd here's my review of the original edition! I think reading them in this order worked because it felt like I got bonus details and stuff that mayAnnnnd here's my review of the original edition! I think reading them in this order worked because it felt like I got bonus details and stuff that may have bugged me if I'd read this one first was okay.
Like, there are a LOT of references to real teams and players (....including Patrick Kane). And there are indeed a lot of nicknames.
Anyway, the new edition is stronger, but this had nice stuff, too....more
Like a friend said, I’m fairly well emotionally satisfied, but mixed feeling overall. I DID like (view spoiler)[how the amnesia storyline was treated.Like a friend said, I’m fairly well emotionally satisfied, but mixed feeling overall. I DID like (view spoiler)[how the amnesia storyline was treated. That’s not a favorite trope of mine, but I liked that Evangeline knew things weren’t right and nobody we’re supposed to like was trying to trick her.
Didn’t really get Apollo at all. He was originally cursed to be in love with Evangeline??? It wasn’t real??? (Usual caveat that it wouldn’t have been okay if it WAS real. (hide spoiler)]...more
I really thought this was going to be a surefire win for me, based on friend reviews and my general enjoyed of the author, but it was just okay!!
I thiI really thought this was going to be a surefire win for me, based on friend reviews and my general enjoyed of the author, but it was just okay!!
I think maybe I needed Luke POV. Like, I get unreliable narrators are a thing, but I really didn't get a good sense of their past relationship. Were they good friends or not????...more
Rival players falling in love in a world where a) they're out and b) players are out in general is fun! (view spoiler)[Like, OF COURSE, the NHL would Rival players falling in love in a world where a) they're out and b) players are out in general is fun! (view spoiler)[Like, OF COURSE, the NHL would see this as a marketing opportunity. (hide spoiler)]
I did need a little more of their initial hooking up. I kept flipping back because they made it sounds like they'd slept together a lot and that just wasn't on page.
And I know it's not his book, but (view spoiler)[I need to know more about Dante's trade??? He was the captain and had been on the same team his whole career? How is he feeling!! (hide spoiler)]
I do think these books do a good job at Sports in general. It feels like a real world....more
So it turns out this is a revised version and some of the concerns I see in friend reviews are taken care of (no real world hockey references, less inSo it turns out this is a revised version and some of the concerns I see in friend reviews are taken care of (no real world hockey references, less intense hockey in general, fewer nicknames!!!). And Dante POV! (Obviously I am now reading the original version.)
Anyway, I enjoyed it! Overall, just a bunch of lovely boys....more
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