This was an overall cute read with lots of fun tropes - sports, tutor, fake dating, etc. I didn't dislike any of the characters, but I also didn't lovThis was an overall cute read with lots of fun tropes - sports, tutor, fake dating, etc. I didn't dislike any of the characters, but I also didn't love them. James fell a bit too hard and fast for Bex, but my issue was more with what he was willing to do to maintain that relationship. I love a feral MC who only has eyes for the other MC, but this was A LOT considering how important football was to him. There was also too much OM drama on top of all the baggage with Bex's mom and history. I'm not sure this author/series is for me, but I will probably try the next book just in case.
CW (from the author): Explicit sexual content, praise kink, forced kiss/sexual misconduct (not within the main couple), violence (not within the main couple), brief mentions of miscarriage (not on the page/not a main character), mentions of a suicide attempt (not on the page/not a main character), brief moments of substance abuse (not a main character)...more
The Hurricane Wars was an action packed enemies to lovers fantasy romance! It's a great start to a new romantasy trilogy and I'm very impressed that tThe Hurricane Wars was an action packed enemies to lovers fantasy romance! It's a great start to a new romantasy trilogy and I'm very impressed that this is the author's debut.
The reader is dropped right into the action at the start of the novel. It's somewhat overwhelming at first and the world building is quite heavy throughout (as is the case for most first books in a fantasy series). I found the level of detail a bit daunting and I will admit that it bogged down the flow of the story at times. I'm glad I had the audiobook to refer to as well, so I could hear the correct pronunciation of names, titles, etc.
The political maneuverings and magical elements were intriguing, but it's the slow burn romance between Alaric and Talasyn that hooked me. They truly are sworn enemies, which made the marriage of convenience and forced proximity tropes work so well for the story. Alaric and Talasyn had such fantastic banter and their bickering and barbs built up the sexual tension wonderfully. I did feel that their actions and thoughts sometimes felt younger than their ages (Talasyn is 19/20 and Alaric is 26 I believe), but given their histories and the length of the war, it's no wonder they're both a bit emotionally stunted. Even with one steamy-ish scene*, this did make the book feel more YA/NA at times. Thankfully, the book doesn't end on a painful cliffhanger and it will be interesting to see where the next book takes us and how things evolve between Talasyn and Alaric.
I listened to a majority of The Hurricane Wars and the narration by Jeanne Syquia was wonderful! She was spot on as Talasyn and really captured her sass and snark so well. The variety of voices and accents used really brought the story to life. Jeanne Syquia is a new to me narrator, but I look forward to listening to more of her titles in the future.
*Note: There is kissing and a steamier bedroom scene, but there is no consummation of the marriage.
CW: death of parent/loved ones, grief, parental abandonment, fighting/violence, war and destruction, manipulative and complicated family/parental relationships, FMC grows up as an orphan and experiences danger and housing/food insecurity
*I voluntarily read and listened to an advance review copy of this book*...more
Unless you've been living under a rock, you've likely seen this book all over social media. The plot definitely intrigued me, but this was more a caseUnless you've been living under a rock, you've likely seen this book all over social media. The plot definitely intrigued me, but this was more a case of bookstagram made me do it than anything else. My review will be divided between the audiobook and my general thoughts about the book.
*Audiobook Review*
I know many who have loved this book, but I think the audiobook really colored my opinion of the novel. Rebecca Soler is a talented narrator, but unfortunately, it was painfully obvious that she was unwell when she recorded this audiobook. Her voice lacked range due to her congestion and even sped up, you could hear that there was something in her throat. Listening made me feel like I was also sick. The beginning was especially uncomfortable and difficult to get through and I ended up abandoning the audio around the 25% mark and reading my physical copy. I was told it did get better though, so I started listening again around 55%. The narration did indeed feel more tolerable and she gave an emotional performance (or perhaps I finally got used to her voice), but I think the damage was already done. I'm surprised and disappointed that the audiobook was approved and published with this glaring problem.
It should also be noted that Teddy Hamilton is listed as a narrator for the audiobook, but he only does 1 chapter in the entire book. I thought the book was going to be dual POV, but I clearly missed the "with" before his name. I love Teddy Hamilton and he is one of my favorite narrators, but I felt that his voice did not fully match the gruff and growly Xaden. I'm just so glad that I borrowed this audiobook from my library and did not purchase or use a credit on it.
Fourth Wing was an entertaining ride, but it wasn't anything that hasn't been done before (which can be a good and a bad thing). Most of the twists were pretty predictable, but that didn't necessarily make it less enjoyable. The pacing was on the slower side as the world was being established and characters introduced though and this made the book feel overly long. I also didn't feel like the plot made the most sense with this hunger games style college where it's kill or be killed and a war raging on where every soldier counts. I did like seeing Violet rise and prove all the naysayers wrong, but often her focus was on how hot Xaden was and that lust got old.
I didn't realize when I started this book that the author plotted it to be a 5 book series. I can't imagine that Violet and Xaden's journey can be spread out to that many books without a great amount of filler. I'm hoping the author means 5 books in the world and that some of the books will focus on different characters. The book does end with a cliffhanger, but it wasn't one of those rip your heart out and leave you hanging endings. I'm not sure I'm invested enough in the characters to continue, especially if it ends up that I have to read 5 books to get to the conclusion. Overall, it was good, but it didn't live up to the hype....more
This was a really cute novella that also addressed consent in a great way. Andy was so Audiobook Review Overall 4 stars Performance 4 stars Story 4 stars
This was a really cute novella that also addressed consent in a great way. Andy was so sweet and adorkable. I loved the animal game that he played with Katie and how he listened and was so supportive. His inner dialogue had me laughing so hard when things got steamy and Nick Podehl did such an amazing job as shy and sweet Andy. Saskia Maarleveld was also great and I especially enjoyed her male voices. She sounded a little too mature for freshman Katie though. This novella is labeled #2.5 in the series, but can be enjoyed as a standalone (though characters from book 2 are mentioned and that's where the MC's are originally introduced).
CW: FMC is unknowingly watched by fraternity brothers (via a hole in the door) during oral sex ...more
This was quite the angsty ride. I knew it would be messy, but I still wasn't fully prepared. Elizabeth O'Roark crafted a story that was so compelling This was quite the angsty ride. I knew it would be messy, but I still wasn't fully prepared. Elizabeth O'Roark crafted a story that was so compelling that I couldn't put it down. Yes, there were red flags galore and the tone of the book was very, very depressing, but I had to find out what happened. The book switches between the past and the present, slowly revealing how things began and ultimately fell apart between Juliet, Luke, and the Allen family. I know the author set things up for readers to justify the cheating, but all the relationships were so toxic. I sympathized with Juliet and my heart broke for how she struggled, but I was also annoyed by her repeated attempts to "fix" everything (which often messed things up more/was illegal) and suffer in silence. So much time was spent teasing out the major conflict that the ending felt extremely rushed. The book really would have benefited from also having Luke's POV (versus only Juliet) and I wish there had been more chapters in the "now". I never felt like Juliet and Luke had an honest conversation with each other about what happened and every time it seemed like they might, they had sex instead. I also wanted more joyful moments in general in the book to balance out the hopelessness and sadness. Overall this was an addictive read, but I didn't love it.
Even though the book isn't dual POV, the narration is duet style, with Teddy Hamilton voicing all the male characters and Samantha Brentmoor voicing all the female. I really love this style of narration and both narrators did an incredible job. They balanced all the characters well, but there were a few times during scenes involving multiple characters that I wasn't sure which character Teddy Hamilton was voicing (Danny? Luke? One of the other guys?) The audiobook was really well done though and kept me listening way past my bedtime.
There are too many CW's to list, but the main ones are: sexual assault and rape by a family member, grief, trauma, assault/violence/fighting, financial and housing insecurity, parental abandonment, death of loved ones, toxic relationships, on page cheating
*I voluntarily listened to a review copy of this book*...more
This book started out really strong for me and I was eating this new adult/just a hookup to enemies to lovers romance up. It's very emotional3.5 stars
This book started out really strong for me and I was eating this new adult/just a hookup to enemies to lovers romance up. It's very emotional at times (please check content warnings) and definitely had my heart hurting a time or two. I loved the banter between Bailey and Riggs and the baking show competition was a great forced proximity set up after their pasts/motivations were revealed (though I did find Rigg's overly territorial/jealous streak a bit much).
My favorite parts were Rigg's relationship with his mother and the found family between Bailey, Ivy, Kelley, and Jesse. That friend group showed up time and time again for each other and they provided love, understanding, and lots of laughs. Riggs and Odette melted my heart and made it ache all at the same time. The sweetness and bond between them was beautiful and I loved the addition of all the French language.
What kept me from loving this, was the continued lying by omission/miscommunication. It bothered me that Riggs was not more forthcoming about what was going on the second time around and I wasn't fully convinced he would have come clean if Talia hadn't forced the issue. (view spoiler)[It actually made me really annoyed with Riggs that even though things between him and Talia were settled and she was willing to play along, he didn't consider her feelings or situation at all when he pursued Bailey. It was so selfish. I knew where things were headed regarding Odette's health, but I felt that was pushed more on the readers for shock value and to get Bailey and Riggs back together. (hide spoiler)] The ending wrapped up way too conveniently (Bailey's relationship with her parents, Rigg's future with baseball, etc) and though I appreciate what the author was trying to do, it all felt too tidy and neat. We get it - Riggs is rich. It started to feel like he was a genie at the end granting wish after wish. The writing was addictive though and even though I didn't love it, I definitely want to read more by the author.
Tropes: found family, enemies to lovers, second/third chance-ish, forced proximity, just a hookup, only one bed, epistolary (texts), sports, grumpy + sunshine
CW: ALS, terminal illness/deterioration leading to death of parent, transphobia, forced outing, bullying, death of loved one, dead naming, grief, toxic/strained parental relationship, financial hardship...more
This was a sweet (and sometimes frustrating) friends to lovers romance. Elliot and Auden meet when they’re 16, so this starts as YA, but the 3.5 stars
This was a sweet (and sometimes frustrating) friends to lovers romance. Elliot and Auden meet when they’re 16, so this starts as YA, but the book spans several years, so I would categorize it more as a new adult romance.
The book is broken down into 3 consecutive summers and then college. I usually love this kind of build up, but I felt like the transitions between sections was really jarring. We never get to see them interacting except for during the short summer trips (and even that was somewhat lacking), so it was a little hard to believe in their connection.
I think my biggest issue with the book was that Auden would say she was fine with Elliot’s decisions/focus on hockey, and then be hurt that he wasn’t picking her. I found the scene on the couch cringey and awkward, especially because of the lack of consent. It always felt like Auden was coercing/convincing Elliot to take things further (even though we know from his POV chapters that he does actually want to). The book was fairly predictable (lots of lack of communication and back and forth), but the writing kept me intrigued and I definitely want to try some of the author’s other books in the future.
CW: parental abandonment (past), divorce, strained family relationships ...more
This book was a beautiful story about hope and triumphing over adversity, but it was also so incredibly heartbreaking. I'm not sure I would h3.5 stars
This book was a beautiful story about hope and triumphing over adversity, but it was also so incredibly heartbreaking. I'm not sure I would have picked it up had I realized that the main characters were so young (17/18 years old). The majority of the book occurs when the characters are still in high school and then 4 years later, but I wouldn't classify this as a young adult novel. Tenleigh and Kyland had to grow up very fast and my heart broke over and over for them as they struggled. The town of Dennville was described in such detail, it was like a living and breathing character in the story. I wish there had been more chapters in the future/further down the line, especially since the majority of the novel was so somber. The book kept me reading and though I figured out the twists before they were revealed, it still didn't diminish their emotional impact. Kyland is a tender story about first love and the sacrifices we make, but unfortunately, I didn't love it.
CW: physical/sexual assault (on page), parental abandonment (past), mental illness, poverty, financial & food insecurity, rape (secondary character), house fire, discussions and mentions of mining accident resulting in death of loved ones, claustrophobia, homophobia
*I voluntarily read a review copy of this book*...more
I really wanted to love this one, but at 27% I still don’t care for the heroine and am not invested in the romance. There’s too much hot andDNF at 27%
I really wanted to love this one, but at 27% I still don’t care for the heroine and am not invested in the romance. There’s too much hot and cold between Anastasia and Nate and I don’t feel any true chemistry between them. The “enemies” plot line didn’t make 100% sense and it just made Anastasia seem mean.
I’m also not a fan of reading about the main characters with other men/women, even if they haven’t met each other yet. I have no problem with the characters having other sexual experiences, I just don’t need it detailed in the book since I’m supposed to be rooting for their HEA together. This book seems unnecessarily long and so I think it’s better to put this one down.
*I voluntarily read a review copy of this book*...more
This was such a fun and cute read! It had all the things I love about Ali Hazelwood's writing - witty banter, fun secondary characters, and wonderful This was such a fun and cute read! It had all the things I love about Ali Hazelwood's writing - witty banter, fun secondary characters, and wonderful chemistry between our leads. Yes, there was still the usual Ali 'he's so massive and she's so smol', but I felt like it worked better in this book since it's YA/NA and there aren't any open door sex scenes. I actually really liked and appreciated how sex and sexuality were addressed and handled in the book.
Nolan was such a softie inside and he was just so gone for Mallory. The little (and big) ways he showed he cared were so sweet and I loved how supportive he was. I actually felt like there should have been more grovel from Mallory after what she said, but I can understand why she would be upset. The epilogue was so perfectly sweet and I loved the glimpse into the future. It was also really interesting to learn more about the world of chess and the rigors of the sport. I had no idea so much training went into it!
I think Mallory and her relationship with her mother and sisters was what kept me from completely loving this one. I didn't fully understand why Mallory felt so guilty/the need to take on so much responsibility for the household. It bothered me how they all treated Mallory/allowed it to happen, and yet were mad that she assumed that mothering role. Though it was resolved at the end, it still left me with an unsettled feeling.
I read the ebook and listened to the audiobook of Check & Mate, and Karissa Vacker was amazing! I absolutely loved her narration! She's so talented and voices various characters distinctly with ease. I'm always happy to listen to titles that she narrates.
CW: death of parent (past), parental infidelity, sexism, misogyny, parent with rheumatoid arthritis, grief, financial insecurity, violent incident with family member (who had an illness that affected their cognitive function)
*I voluntarily read and listened to an advance review copy of this book*...more
I saw this book recommended on Sarah MacLean’s website and thought I’d give it a try. It had a lot of potential, but unfortunately it didn’t work for I saw this book recommended on Sarah MacLean’s website and thought I’d give it a try. It had a lot of potential, but unfortunately it didn’t work for me. The writing/dialogue felt very awkward (especially during the sex scenes) and the plot didn’t really make sense. Even after we get the weak explanation for why Tate bullied Letty (which we learned thanks to a huge invasion of privacy), I still couldn’t believe Letty forgave him and essentially fell in love with him for being a halfway decent reformed human being. She excused his behavior because he showed remorse, but she seemed so traumatized by what happened in the past that I could never truly believe that she could fall in love with him. It all just felt so toxic.
The sex scenes were hot, but also cringey thanks to the odd word choices and all the discussions about his "so massive it scared everyone away" c*ck. The mobster plot line made zero sense and the ending felt very rushed. I probably should have DNF’ed the minute it was revealed the MMC was part of a group of guys that bullied and tried to kill the FMC by hitting her with a car/knocking her off a cliff (yup - he wasn’t driving, but they literally tried to kill her). 2 stars only because curiosity got me to actually finish it.
CW: Occurs in the past, but on page descriptions and discussion of: harassment - specific mentions about weight/fat shaming, bullying, attempted murder, hospitalization, and rehabilitation. Invasion of privacy/emails, intimate photos and video recordings taken without consent, stalking
Tropes: forced proximity, childhood bully, enemies to friends to lovers, MMC is a virgin (he's never had penetrative sex with OW, but has had many sexual encounters/experiences with OW and OM)...more
So I didn't love Bully, (read my review here), but I thought maybe reading this book would clear things up for me/help me understand what happened betSo I didn't love Bully, (read my review here), but I thought maybe reading this book would clear things up for me/help me understand what happened better. Unfortunately, it just reinforced that this series is not for me.
Being inside Jared's head was even more terrible than what I had imagined was going through his mind in Bully. His thoughts and actions contradicted each other so much and he was just so incredibly angry. Honestly, every single character in this book needed therapy. I had hoped that there would be something redeeming about his character, but he truly is awful. It still bothered me too, that Tate forgave him so easily for everything that he'd done. The writing was better this time around and I really was impressed that this wasn't just a regurgitated version of Bully. I liked seeing certain scenes from a different POV and just like the first book, this was a car crash I couldn't look away from.
I think for a bully romance to work for me, I need more growth and change from the characters and for the majority of the story to take place years later. I think having so many details about Jared's abuse of Tate and the lack of maturity by pretty much everyone was just too much to overcome. So thanks, but no thanks. This is the end of the line for me and the Fall Away series.
Lots of CW's: death of parent (past), physically & emotionally abusive parent (past), alcoholic parent (past), unstable home life, anger, depression, grief, attempted sexual assault, slut shaming, revenge porn/recording without consent, OW/OM drama, MMC has numerous sexual partners and experiences prior to starting a physical relationship with the FMC, fighting, bullying (obviously) and harassment...more
This was a cute new adult sports romance. It's a spin off from the Smart Jocks seriAudiobook Review Overall 4 stars Performance 4.5 stars Story 3.5 stars
This was a cute new adult sports romance. It's a spin off from the Smart Jocks series and the hero, Heath, is the brother of the MMC in The Fake. The narration by Joe Arden and Vanessa Edwin was great and I especially enjoyed Vanessa Edwin's performance. She really made those emotional scenes hit home!
There are lots of fun tropes in this one like teammate's little sister, friends to lovers, and forbidden-ish romance. The reformed player isn't my favorite type of hero, but I appreciated that the book was pretty low angst and that Heath's character arc and growth was an important part of the story. I also liked that there wasn't a rush for the characters to have penetrative sex. Things were plenty sexy without that and when they did decide to take that step, both were 100% ready and on board. I loved the little cameo's from the Smart Jocks characters/couples and the epilogue was a beautiful way to bring those worlds together. I'm looking forward to reading more books in this series, especially Rhett's!
CW: death of parent (past), grief, panic attack (on page), fear of dark/confined spaces, alcohol ...more
I was unsure about reading a book about Gray after meeting him in The Hook Up, but Kristen Callihan worked her magic again and got me to fall for thisI was unsure about reading a book about Gray after meeting him in The Hook Up, but Kristen Callihan worked her magic again and got me to fall for this reformed manwhore. I loved the meet cute and set up between him and Ivy and how they fell so naturally into friendship and then more. Gray stole my heart when he “danced” with Ivy at the club and that chapter was both the sweetest and funniest. I did feel that the story lost focus in the last half though and there were one too many plot lines thrown in, which made the story feel too long. Gray’s relationship with his father and brothers as well as Ivy’s future career plans were introduced and kind of glossed over, leaving me with more questions than answers. The epilogue was such a great way to bring the story full circle though and now I’m ready for Dex!
I tried listening to the audiobook, but unfortunately Grace Grant’s voice didn’t work for me. I’ve listened to other titles narrated by her before without a problem, but for some reason I found her voice too nasally and off-putting to continue. I love Teddy Hamilton and enjoyed his performance, but I ended up going back to the ebook.
CW: death of parent (past), grief, physical and emotional abuse (past), miscarriage (on page)...more
I loved heading back to Moo U and Boyfriend definitely hit the spot. This new adultAudiobook Review Overall 5 stars Performance 5 stars Story 4-4.5 stars
I loved heading back to Moo U and Boyfriend definitely hit the spot. This new adult sports romance had so many awesome tropes like: fake dating, friends with benefits to lovers, caring for someone who isn't feeling well, and a personal favorite - there's only 1 bed. It was such a feel good and funny book, while also addressing some very serious topics. These topics might be upsetting to some readers, however, so I recommend checking the content warnings below.
Weston and Abbi were so playful and I loved their banter and back and forth. I thought they complemented each other very well and it was so sweet how their relationship began and evolved. It snuck up so perfectly on them both and their chemistry was incredibly hot. I appreciated that there wasn't a lot of drama between Weston and Abbi and that the majority of the angst was external to them. I wasn't a huge fan of the Price storyline and I did feel that it dragged on a little too long and the resolution felt rushed. There is also some push away, but it was addressed very quickly and was understandable given both of their histories and concerns. The epilogue had me smiling ear to ear and couldn't have been more perfect for these two.
This audiobook is fantastic! Jason Clarke can do no wrong. He is one of my very favorite narrators and I am always impressed by his performances. Paired with Emma Wilder, it really doesn't get better than this! The casting was spot on and their voices complemented each other so well. I highly recommend experiencing this one on audio!
CW: death of parent (automobile related), grief, sexual harassment and intimidation and physical assault (on page), parental infidelity, strained parental relationship, alcohol and drunken outburst (on page), financial uncertainty and concerns
*I voluntarily read and listened to an advance review copy of this book*...more
I'd been wanting to read this one for a while and it was very funny and sweet at times, but sadly I didn't love it. I just wasn't a fan of all the catI'd been wanting to read this one for a while and it was very funny and sweet at times, but sadly I didn't love it. I just wasn't a fan of all the catty drama and slut shaming and the plot was fairly predictable. The humor was great (though sometimes immature) and I loved the friendship between Becca and Kinsley. I also liked that the story revolved around soccer, since so many sports romances focus on hockey, football, or baseball. The beginning of the book flowed pretty well, but once the forbidden/taboo aspect fizzled out around the middle, everything felt really repetitive. It left me wondering why the book was still so long. Every character felt too perfect and cliche, especially Liam and Kinsley. It could definitely be a "it's me not you" situation though because many of my friends have read and loved Scoring Wilder.
CW: cheating exes, slut shaming, catty behavior, hazing, jealousy, assault related to paparazzi/fan (resulting in stitches/injury), OW & OM drama...more
CW: death of parents related to cancer (on page) and automobile accident (discussed/off page), slut shaming, cattty behavior, mentions of: attempted rCW: death of parents related to cancer (on page) and automobile accident (discussed/off page), slut shaming, cattty behavior, mentions of: attempted rape/being drugged, childhood abuse (physical and emotional), starvation, and poverty, parental drug addiction and imprisonment.
This was a cute new adult sports romance, but it also tackled some very serious issues as well. It was a great mix of some of my favorite tropes like tutor/forced proximity, helping the other get the attention of someone else, friends to lovers, and also some taboo thrown in since Jess is the daughter of the coach. I enjoyed the slow burn build up between Jess and Logan and how these two tried to keep each other in the friend zone. Logan had some of the funniest puns and I loved their banter. I did find that the story dragged at times though, as things went round and round. I also wasn't a fan of how long the Ben and Danielle storyline lasted, since they were only there to cause unnecessary drama. The ending was a little too perfect in how everything worked out, but it did leave me with a smile on my face. Overall, The Friend Zone was an entertaining read, but please make sure to note the content warnings, as many of the items mentioned play prominent roles in the story and character development....more
This was an overall entertaining new adult hockey romance, but sadly it didn't quite hit the mark for me. As much as I liked both Indi and Hu2.5 stars
This was an overall entertaining new adult hockey romance, but sadly it didn't quite hit the mark for me. As much as I liked both Indi and Hudson, I didn't feel their connection and the transition from friends to more felt contrived. They certainly have a memorable meet cute though (if you can call it that LOL) and there were quite a few sweet moments like the "prom". I also liked how the topic of virginity was addressed and that it wasn't an all consuming topic in the story.
Although I appreciated the diversity of the characters, I'm not quite sure how to feel about the Chinese rep in the book. I think Darkroom raised some thoughtful discussions about culture and belonging, but it also felt very stereotypical in its depiction. Ultimately, I think that there was too much going on for both characters and it ended up making the story feel very overwhelming and disjointed. I also didn't think that any of the issues raised were ever sufficiently explored or fully resolved. One scene in particular was extremely hurtful and I did not feel moved by the apology or "grand gesture". The resolutions that were presented felt very convenient and the entire ending of the book felt rushed.
I really enjoyed the narration by Joe Arden and Victoria Mei. This is my first time listening to Victoria Mei and I was definitely impressed. Both narrators voiced a variety of characters uniquely (male and female) and I had no problems differentiating between characters.
CW: bullying, anxiety, possible spoiler (view spoiler)[hearing loss, internalized racism/rejection of one's own ethnic group (hide spoiler)]
*I voluntarily read and listened to an advance review copy of this book*...more
DNF at 40%. I was so excited to read Paxton’s story after meeting him in the previous Moo U books. I’m always a fan of the quieter and more reserved hDNF at 40%. I was so excited to read Paxton’s story after meeting him in the previous Moo U books. I’m always a fan of the quieter and more reserved heroes, but unfortunately the writing and story did not flow for me at all. Everything felt very disjointed and the characters were not very likable. I tried to push through, but ultimately decided to put this one down. ...more
I loved this book so much! I'm kicking myself for waiting so long to read it. Heated Rivalry has been on my TBR forever and has been recommended to meI loved this book so much! I'm kicking myself for waiting so long to read it. Heated Rivalry has been on my TBR forever and has been recommended to me countless times. There's not much I can say that hasn't already been said about this fantastic book, but here are a few highlights/notes:
- Even though this is book 2 in the series, I jumped right in with this book and didn't feel lost at all. I'm sure I missed some Easter eggs and it was a bit spoilery for book 1, but this can definitely be enjoyed without reading the first book. - I didn't realize this story would span so many years. Ilya and Shane meet when they're teenagers and though it's instalust/attraction, it's very much a slow burn for them to realize they want much more than the occasional convenient hook up. They actually spend the majority of the book living in different cities/apart. I did find the dates at the start of the chapters a little distracting because my brain had to know how much time had elapsed between chapters. LOL - The tropes! Rivals/enemies to lovers, forbidden, sexual instruction/lessons, virgin MC*, cinnamon roll MC, grumpy + sunshine, opposites attract, sports romance, slow burn, and just a hook up all make appearances in this book. - The vulnerability and sexual exploration. I loved Shane's character arc and seeing him come into his own. His fears and feelings were so relatable and felt so authentic. Ilya was the grump with a gooey soft center. I loved seeing him humbled and laid bare. These two don't make sense on paper, but their connection from the start is undeniable. - The spice. Holy moly this book is hot. Like absolutely melt your kindle inferno levels. I haven't quite recovered yet ;) LOL - The angst! Oh my heart. Like I said, I didn't realize just how epic Shane and Ilya's story would be, but I will say that I appreciated the shift in the last quarter or so of the book. Readers had already gone through so much that I was glad there wasn't any push away/unnecessary drama at the end. Seeing them happy and *finally* together was everything <3
This is my first book by Rachel Reid, but I'm already looking forward to continuing the series. Especially because we get more Shane and Ilya in The Long Game.
* The MC has had sexual experiences with women, but not men.
CW: death of parents (mentions of Alzheimers, depression, suicide - overdose), homophobia, grief...more
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