It is also considered somewhat of a Romance Novel and Mystery Thriller. It is a short story and considered a Classic because of its author.
"Dear little God help me, please help me."
The description of this short story in most places is pretty short and simple. "An unlikely couple find themselves drawn together by their mutual fascination for a sinister little stone idol high on a shelf in the British Museum in London" (Goodreads).
Oakland Library has a bit better description: "In the quiet halls of the British Museum, a forgotten stone idol sits unnoticed on a high shelf - its features eroded by time, its purpose long lost. But for Frank Oliver, a lonely man recently returned to England, the little god becomes something more: a symbol of connection in a world that has passed him by. When Frank notices a young woman visiting the same statue, day after day, something begins to shift. In their quiet devotion to a nameless figure, two strangers begin to find the possibility of something else - companionship, perhaps even love."
The Review
This is one of the few Agatha Christie books I have not read yet. It was a short story, but it was pretty good. It was quite different from the typical crime stories Agatha Christie usually writes. I think even though it isn't what we usually think of when we think Agatha Christie, it still has a nod to her writing style. If that makes any sense.
The story really pulls you in, and you can start to feel for Frank, his isolation, his loneliness. The sadness that he experiences. And the beacon that calls to him. I think we can all say that we have been there at one time or another. And that's what makes the story so good and relatable.
SPOILER ALERT
I think we can all identify with falling in love with someone who breaks our heart. Someone that feels like "the one", like the sun rises and sets with them. And then when they are gone, it feels like the world is ending. Thankfully, Frank takes these emotions and this sadness and puts them into his creativity. He uses the lonely lady as inspiration and starts to paint.
In the end, the story of the lonely Princess inspires Frank to paint her. And when the lonely lady sees the photo, she goes to the Museum to tell him that she is the Princess and that is why she left.
I borrowed the audiobook from the library through the Libby App.
Rating and Recommendation
A little confusing at the end. But I think this short story was great. It really makes you think. And for a moment you have to replay what you just read (or hear) to really understand the ending but once you do, it is a great story. While it is considered a mystery, I think a better description would be "Fate-based love story". But I don't think Goodreads has a tag for that! I absolutely recommend anyone who enjoys Agatha Christie's quirkiness to read this, and anyone who likes just a nice clean book with a happy ending.
I honestly don't think you can buy a physical copy of this book. I searched, and the best I can find is that it is part of a collection of short stories, "While The Light Lasts and Other Stories," as well as "The Harlequin Tea Set and Other Stories." You can however, find it on Amazon as an e-book and probably find it at your library.
Conclusion
If you are a Christie fan or you just enjoy quick little romance stories. This is the book for you. Hell, even if you just enjoy short books. It is twenty-six minutes as an audiobook. Worst to worst, you have wasted less than half an hour of your life. But I promise you, you will not be disappointed. Just keep in mind this isn't a typical Agatha Christie mystery. It is more romance.
You can find The Lonely God in its respective mediums below:
* Book cover image retrieved from GoodReads. All rights belong to the author and/or publisher. * All the "stickers" in this blog were provided by Bookish (presented by NetGalley).
* Knife Photo via Pixabay, and used under the Pixabay Content License * Links in this blog may be generated through the Amazon Associates Program. By using this link, I may make a small profit (at no cost to you) from your purchase.
This book is considered Fantasy, Vampires, Romance, Paranormal, Supernatural, Slightly Erotic, Adult
Trigger Warning:
This book deals with death, war, explosions, vampires, and sexual assault.
"You've won the evolutionary lotter: You're a vampire."
Wrath, the last purebred vampire on the planet, the would-be king of the race if only he would embrace his heritage. But Wrath has a different title that he prefers: leader of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. Fueled by his hatred for humans and a growing society of "Lessers", sworn enemies to the vampire world, Wrath's main focus is to avenge his parents.
Darius, son of Marklon, is a warrior in the Brotherhood. Darius is a three-hundred-year-old-plus ladies' man and has many sons whom he has lost in battle. One of his only remaining children is Beth Randal. Beth's mother was special to Darius, even though she was human. From afar, he has kept track of Beth and her life. He had hoped that she would live a normal, happy, human life. But Darius is growing concerned as she ages closer to her transition.
Darius knows that if his daughter goes into her transition, her human blood may cause complications. Some full-blood vampires don't survive the transition. So he goes to Wrath, the purest blood of the race and begs him to watch over his daughter and help her through her transition if needed. At first, Wrath refuses; he hates humans, and he has better things to do than babysit one. But after a car bomb, placed by a member of the Lessening Society, kills Darius, Wrath feels obligated to honour his last request.
The Review
This book was recommended to me years ago. And at the time, I was skeptacle. I wasn't really a fantasy girl. I wasn't into vampires. The closest I had ever gotten to fantasy was Harry Potter, and the closest I had gotten to vampires was Twilight. But I was into romance, and so I gave it a try.
I fell in love with these vampires. Wrath is just a tall drink of water, bad boy, the typical kind of "I can change him" main character. And Beth is a spitfire! You think a woman who was approached by this huge man and told all this stuff would crumble to pieces, but she is so strong and handles everything her way.
I also love meeting the other vampires. Vishous is my favourite by far. But I think they all are so lovable. They all bring something new to the table and their stories are interesting if not heartbreaking. When I originally read Dark Lover I could not wait to get my hands on the next one.
SPOILER ALERT
I think the relationship between Wrath and Beth is beautiful. It starts with him hating humans, and the thought of him being with a half-human is absurd. In fact, if Darius hadn't begged him to take care of her. . . Wrath probably wouldn't have given Beth the time of day. But something changes as he watches her and gets closer to her. And I think that's a beautiful sort of enemy to lovers thing before that was even a "thing".
By the end, to see the way not only Wrath accepts her, but the whole brotherhood accepts her as their Queen, it is really something. I loved it! And when they decide to all live together and unite together, that just seems to be the cherry on top.
I borrowed this book from a friend originally.
Rating and Recommendation
I originally gave this book five stars; looking back, I still feel that way. I still love Wrath and Beth and all the other brothers. I think that it's a great twist on vampires, and each has their own unique personality, which makes the entire world fun. The addition of Butch is also a wonderful little treat. I think getting a glimpse at these rough and tough warriors is a nice twist on traditional vampire stories, also. We don't really get to see them putting their abilities (be it mental or physical) to use.
I ran out and bought this book after reading it. I also bought every other book that was out at the time, and I continued to buy each book as they came out, until the series got away from the original brothers.
Conclusion
These books are a bit dated now, but I think anyone who enjoys a good romance story and is open-minded to the vampire stuff will love this book. It hits a lot of different elements, so I think a wide range of people can find something they like in it. Along with the love story, we also have vampires (enough said), and the war with the Lessening Society in the background. And of course, all kinds of fun drama here and there.
You can find Dark Lover in its respective mediums below:
The Black Dagger Brotherhood has been adapted into a television series by PassionFlix. Dark Lover was represented in the first season, out now. Season two will be released later this year.
* Book cover image retrieved from GoodReads. All rights belong to the author and/or publisher. * All the "stickers" in this blog were provided by Bookish (presented by NetGalley). * Links in this blog may be generated through the Amazon Associates Program. By using this link, I may make a small profit (at no cost to you) from your purchase.
Other genres: Romance, Contemporary, Queer, MM Romance, Fake Dating
Trigger Warning: This book deals with abandonment, some slight homophobia
"I don't want fine. Fine isn't enough."
Luc O'Donnell is famous adjacent. His deadbeat father is a rockstar, and that has reluctantly left a spotlight on Luc and his life choices. Because of this spotlight, Luc has found himself the subject of a cover story on more than one occasion, and none of those occasions painted him in a good light. The latest scandal, drinking at a party until he passed out, has left a sour taste in people's mouths. Now, desperate to keep his job as fundraiser for dung beetles, Luc is looking for a fake boyfriend to save his reputation.
Oliver Blackwood is a handsome lawyer, ethical and successful, the exact opposite of where Luc is in life at the moment. He has had a hard time in love, but he is the perfect man to help rehabilitate Luc's image.
As their fake relationship progresses, Luc finds himself laughing at inside jokes, and Oliver finds it harder and harder to keep a professional distance from the man who was supposed to be arm candy for a family party he didn't want to go to alone.
The Review
It was a bit slow at first, building up to the premise of the book. I enjoyed the back and forth between Luc and Oliver. They are clearly very different. They were raised in different classes, their family life is very different, and they hold themselves differently for various reasons. They hate each other at first (I don't think that's a spoiler). But watching them work through that to fake their relationship is very engaging, and you become invested in this plan. It feels like one of those classic "let's make a deal" romances.
SPOILER ALERT
I didn't realise how invested I was in Luc and Oliver until Oliver broke things off. My head almost snapped off my neck in shock. I wanted to grab him and shake him and say what are you doing!? Luc had finally opened up to him, he was finally coming to terms with the fact that being in a relationship meant trusting your partner, opening up to him. The bathroom scene was so touching and moving, and a huge step for Luc. And then Oliver just closed down and shut him out.
Thankfully, Oliver comes to his senses, and they find a way to make it work out. I like to think that after meeting Oliver's family, Luc's reaction and support really were what Oliver needed in a partner. It felt a little one-sided, but after meeting the parents from hell, I can see what Luc brings to the table.
I listened to this book through my local library (via Libby).
Boyfriend Material is narrated by Joe Jameson. I enjoyed his reading of the book. I think he did a great job with voices, and it was a nice and relaxing listen. It didn't take away from the book in any way. And that to me is one of the most important aspects of an audiobook.
Rating and Recommendation
I really enjoy this type of story. It feels like a "real life" romance. Which is what I try to write. As you read, you feel like Luc and Oliver could be real people. Their life and relationship are realistic. There's no fancy grand romantic thing that makes you roll your eyes. It's just real, relatable themes that make you connect with one or both of them. I think those are the best stories. While it is nice to think of Prince Charming, or a Rich lover, it's nice to see "normal" to see two people just trying to find something more.
I don't own this book yet, but it is definitely going on the wish list. I think it would fit in nicely with the shelf I am creating of LGBTQIA+ books (aka The Game Changer Series and Red, White and Royal Blue at the moment).
Conclusion
I think this book is a palate cleanser of sorts. It is a tad boring in places. But there is something about it that is just a calming, good read. There's no huge drama or rollercoaster of emotions. It's two people trying to figure out themselves and how to be a partner in a new relationship. Realising why things never worked out before and what is different now.
You can find Boyfriend Material in its respective mediums below:
* Book cover image retrieved from GoodReads. All rights belong to the author and/or publisher. * All the "stickers" in this blog were provided by Bookish (presented by NetGalley). * Links in this blog may be generated through the Amazon Associates Program. By using this link, I may make a small profit (at no cost to you) from your purchase.
This book specifically is focused on a gay men and a man trying to figure it out
Other genres: Romance, Contemporary, Queer, MM Romance
Trigger Warning: This book deals with struggling with mental health, sexual identity, childhood abuse, and families that suck.
"You're deserving of a relationship in whatever form you want it."
Dev Deshpande is a romantic. He believes in fairy tales, in happily ever after, and he has made a career of crafting love stories that will last on the reality dating show Ever After. He prides himself on scripting the perfect story of the contestants and audience, even if his own love life is lacklustre at best.
Charlie Winshaw is not Prince Charming. In fact, he doesn't really believe in the whole Happily Ever After, thing that the television show stands for. He knows that half the girls are there to promote themselves, their brand and whatever ventures they have going on. Not that he can blame them. Charlie agreed to do Ever After to rehabilitate his image after being pushed out of his own company.
It is Dev's job to get Charlie camera-ready. With fake practice dates, Dev realises there is much more to Charlie than the awkward, emotionally closed-off person being portrayed on screen. And Charlie realises he has more of a connection to Dev than any of the contestants.
The Review
It was a bit slow at first, and I really was concerned with how long the chapters were. But that quickly changed. Charlie is so awkward, and Dev is so sweet. And things between them are just so screeching awkward. The kind where even you have second-hand embarrassment that makes you screech with delight and humiliation and a "just kiss him already" train of thought.
It is so easy to fall in love with Dev and Charlie. Realising that they both were missing something growing up and just accepted that there was something wrong with them is heartbreaking. But to realise that that missing piece was something as simple as being asked, "How can I help?" It's tragic and yet heartwarming to see how comfortable they grow together simply because they are absolutely shocked that the other can accept their mental health issues/hangups.
SPOILER ALERT
I hate the way Dev dealt with things. But with that being said, I can relate. As someone with mental health struggles, it's always easier to run from hard things. It's always easier to go back to what is familiar. And it is hella hard to ask for help. I like how realistic this book was. Mental health is hard work sometimes, and it comes in all shapes and sizes. And Dev was a great example of how tricky Mental Health can be. One day you're fine, and the next day you're spiralling. You go from working a typical job to not being able to get out of bed, shower, dress, all the "normal" things.
Charlie was also a great example of how frustrating mental health can be. Even when you think you have a handle on things, a simple stain on a T-shirt derails you. A crowded boardroom or marketplace triggers you. It's so unpredictable at times. And you have to find your own ways of coping with it.
I love that Dev shows us how easy it is to overlook our mental health. He didn't realise he still needed therapy. He didn't realise he wasn't coping with things well. And in my experience, that's usually how it is. We realise things aren't "normal", but they aren't "bad", and yet once we seek help, we realise it was bad, we just didn't notice how bad.
I am glad that Dev quit his job. While he didn't handle his coworkers and Charlie properly around that time, he made a hard choice for his own sanity and for that, he should be applauded.
I listened to this book through my local library (via Libby).
The audiobook of The Charm Offensive has three narrators. Vikas Adam does Dev's point of view. Graham Halstead does Charlie's, and Cassandra Campbell reads "director's notes" and stuff like that. It was quite interesting to have the different voices for different POVs. I enjoyed it, and I think they did each character justice.
Rating and Recommendation
This is the perfect love story. If you don't have someone there for you like Dev and Charlie, you need to re-evaluate your relationship. You deserve love. That fact does not change because of your mental health, or because of your sexual preference or status. If ANYONE makes you feel unlovable, like a burden or any negative feelings because of your mental health, they don't deserve to be in your life.
When Dev asks Charlie, "How can I help?" That is the ultimate green flag. Your partner is supposed to support you, to make your journey easier. And not to make you feel even worse about yourself. Dev's revelation about how a relationship is supposed to be and why it never felt right with Ryan is a real eye-opener.
I don't own this book yet, but it is definitely going on the wish list. I think it would fit in nicely with the shelf I am creating of LGBTQIA+ books (aka The Game Changer Series and Red, White and Royal Blue at the moment).
Conclusion
If you struggle with your mental health. If you don't know where you belong. If you are gay or still trying to figure it all out. You will find representation in this book. And that is more important than any review or recommendation I can make. So many people can find themselves in this book. I really encourage you to give it a try.
You can find The Charm Offensive in its respective mediums below:
* Book cover image retrieved from GoodReads. All rights belong to the author and/or publisher. * All the "stickers" in this blog were provided by Bookish (presented by NetGalley). * Links in this blog may be generated through the Amazon Associates Program. By using this link, I may make a small profit (at no cost to you) from your purchase.
This book specifically is focused on two gay men (MM)
Other genres: Romance, Sports, Sports Romance
"I'd rather struggle to do what I love than devote myself to something I hate"
They have nothing in common. Ryan Price is a big, strong hockey goon whose role on the Toronto Guardians is to fight. Fabian Salah is a loud and proud gay man living in Toronto's dynamic LGBTQ Village. He is an aspiring musician who hates hockey and everything to do with it.
Until Ryan Price walks back into his life. It's a shock to say the least, but when the burly, gingered defenseman pops up one day at the pharmacy Fabian is working at, they both can't help but think of the chemistry they once shared.
Ryan used to billet with Fabian's family when he was growing up. While Fabian assumed Ryan would be like all the other hockey players that lived with his family, he was different. The two almost kissed one night after one of Fabian's performances for school. But both pulled away.
Now, they are in close proximity for the first time since, and things are heating up. Everything that should keep them apart means nothing as anxious Ryan battles the ultimate question about who he is and what his future in hockey looks like.
The Review
I wonder if I was too excited for this book. If I loved Game Changer and Heated Rivalry so much that I expected this book to be as good as those. And it simply wasn't. To be fair, if someone asked me, I would tell them to skip this one and go to the next one. Not that it is terrible, it's just disappointing in comparison.
Ryan and Fabian do make a cute couple, and it is nice to see them grow into each other. It is a bit more like Scott and Kip's story. They are finding each other again. Struggling to find where they fit in each other's lives without making serious life changes. I think in the end everything works out okay, but the getting there leaves something to be desired.
SPOILER ALERT
I hate Fabien. I haven't hated a character this much in a long time. He is so hypocritical. He is selfish, he is judgmental, he is biased. And he is self-obsessed. Ryan can't see himself fitting in with Fabian's friends, but he tries (in fact, he changes his whole life to fit into Fabian's life), but Fabian can't even imagine anything to do with hockey.
They are from two different worlds, that is true. But Ryan is trying to be a part of Fabian's world, where Fabian doesn't seem to try at all. He watches one hockey game where Ryan gets hurt, mostly because of Fabian, and then he freaks out. He even knows it is selfish of him to want Ryan to give up hockey, and yet he throws a tantrum until Ryan does.
Of course, it is just a story. But I can't help thinking that if it were real life, Fabian would be a manipulative boyfriend. Ryan would probably feel like he had to quit hockey and follow him around like a lost puppy (which he kind of does). It seems like Ryan didn't really choose to quit hockey, but was given an ultimatum, and hockey didn't win. And that doesn't sit right with me. Ryan's decision should have been his alone, and I think in real life this would have led to resentment between the two.
I listened to this book through my local library (via Libby).
The audiobook of Tough Guy was narrated by Tor Thom. He narrated the first three books of the Game Changer series. As I said previously, I didn't have a problem with his narration. I enjoyed it even in the first one, until the TV show came out. But I understand some did not like him.
Tor Thom was replaced by Cooper North for the next books. Some fans are hoping Cooper will rerecord the first three books.
Rating and Recommendation
I loved Ryan, I felt for him, and I could see myself in him. Fabian killed this book for me. While I came around to him, I love that he could help Ryan deal with his mental health. It just took too much away. I felt like both Ryan and Fabian weren't as well developed as Ilya and Shane were or even Kip and Scott. Something just felt missing in this story.
For me, the highlight was that Ilya made an appearance. Which really shouldn't be the case.
After listening to this Heated Rivalry, I bought it (and the whole series) from Indigo online. I also pre-ordered the next book in the series.
Conclusion
If you are a fan of sports romance novels, of hockey, or just a fan of MM stories, you will love the Game Changer Series. Keep in mind, there are a lot of sexual scenes that are very detailed. If you offend easily or are under the age of majority, a different series may be better suited for you.
You can find Tough Guy in its respective mediums below:
You can find Heated Rivalry (2025, directed by Jacob Tierney),Season 1, on Crave (CAN) or HBO Max (USA).
* Book cover image retrieved from GoodReads. All rights belong to the author and/or publisher. * All the "stickers" in this blog were provided by Bookish (presented by NetGalley). * Links in this blog may be generated through the Amazon Associates Program. By using this link, I may make a small profit (at no cost to you) from your purchase.
This book specifically is focused on one gay man and one bisexual man (MM)
Other genres: Fiction, Queer, Young Adult (YA), Enemies to Lovers, New Adult (NA), Gay
"History, huh? Bet we could make some."
Alex Claremont-Diaz is the First Son of the United States. He is the closest thing to a Prince America has. He, along with his sister June and the VP's granddaughter, the three of them (the White House Trio) make up this beautiful millennial marketing bombshell for President Ellen Claremont, the first woman President of the United States. Along with keep apperences at home, Alex is expected to be an international socialite. He is quite good at a skill that will help him on his own political path.
The only downside, Prince Henry. He and Alex are like oil and water, and yet Alex sees Henry as his British counterpart. Maybe that's why the two don't get along. And it is possibly why punches get thrown, and a gigantic wedding cake gets destroyed as their antics get the attention of tabloids around the world.
Trying to save face for her reelection bid and to keep American/British relations intact, President Claremont decides that Alex needs to do some damage control. The Crown agrees, and for a day, Alex and Henry take photos showing that they truly are friends; everything is fine. The lie benefits both sides.
But, as they both struggle through the day, something changes.
The Review
My first impression of Alex and June is that they are mischievous and live life under a microscope. They expect to behave, and June obsessively brings the tabloids in every day to make sure there aren't any stories about them, and if there are, they fit the narrative correctly. But it quickly becomes clear that even though they are the president's children, they still are children. It's funny to see Alex and Henry go at it. It's kind of like those old 90s movies where the dramatic moment happens that changes everything! (Think Lindsay Lohan in The Parent Trap.)
I wish the rivalry had lasted a bit longer, the awkward tension, the anxious air when things get kind of awkward and then everything changes. But I really enjoyed what there was. It was funny to see them awkwardly trying to recover from Philip's wedding and give the tabloids a put-together narrative. They are friends. And though that seems ridiculous to both of them, they slowly start looking at each other differently. And that's an interesting transition. Fighting the urge but losing. A casual fling that turns into life-altering love. It checks all the boxes.
SPOILER ALERT
I love the Moms in this book. Catherine, Henry's mom, is amazing. She doesn't take any of the Queen's nonsense. She stands up for Henry and Alex, and she has come out of her funk for her son. It's a true testament to a mother's love. It is very interesting to see the drastic difference between Henry's Mom and Alex's Mom. President Ellen Claremont is not subtle. She is the President of the United States, but she will always be a Mother first. She supports Alex from the minute she finds out, even though she knows it may kill her chances at getting re-elected. It's amazing to see these strong women stand up for their children, doing what mommas do. In the end, I think Henry and Alex can embrace their true selves because of the support of their moms, specifically.
I listened to this book through my local library (via Libby).
Ramon de Ocampo is the narrator of Red, White, and Royal Blue. I have to admit, at first, I couldn't stand the way he was reading this book. I felt like he wasn't doing enough to separate each voice; it seemed like his tone was changing, but each character sounded the same. The English accent for Prince Henry was nonexistent at first.
But as the book went on, it got much better. And I barely noticed any hang-ups I originally had.
Rating and Recommendation
I think this rating reflects my age and generation. In the 90s, the Royal family was very important. The world cried when Princess Diana Spencer died. Prince William was the equivalent of Prince Charming, and the dream of being Cinderella was alive and well. Maybe that mindset doesn't translate to younger generations, just a changing of the guard type thing. But if you ever fantasised about being a princess as a child (or a prince), you will enjoy this book.
After listening to Red, White and Royal Blue, I decided to add it to my Amazon wishlist. I enjoyed it, and I think I would like to add it to my collection. Though full price ($22 at the moment), it is a little much.
Conclusion
I think this was a good book. I think that in the last few years, we have seen that being a prince is hard. And it's clear that art mimicked life in this book. Just looking at Prince Harry and the challenges he faced when he fell in love with someone "different" to the ideal mate for a prince of England. And it isn't hard to imagine how a gay first son would be received in the United States. It's a nice break from reality, I think, and a reminder that there are people out there who will never accept you, but there are people out there who will.
I am not sure if I am not "sensitive" to "spice", but I didn't find that this book was that spicy. It did have some scenes where there was sexual stuff, but to me, I always thought "spicy" meant more in-depth detail, maybe a little kink thrown in. So to me it wasn't spicy, but to others it may be.
You can find Red, White & Royal Blue in its respective mediums below:
You can find Red, White & Royal Blue (2025, directed by Jacob Tierney),Season 1, on Crave (CAN) or HBO Max (USA). You can watch the trailer below via Prime Video's YouTube Channel.
* Book cover image retrieved from GoodReads. All rights belong to the author and/or publisher. * All the "stickers" in this blog were provided by Bookish (presented by NetGalley). * Links in this blog may be generated through the Amazon Associates Program. By using this link, I may make a small profit (at no cost to you) from your purchase.
Other genres: Romance, New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Hockey, Fake Dating, Friends to Lovers (though probably more like Enemy to Lovers).
Trigger Warning: This novel discusses and deals with Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault (SA) Trauma, and reliving SA events. This blog will also touch on SA trauma and experiences. This review will also have foul language.
One Unexpected Kiss Leads to the Wildest Sex of Both Their Lives
Hannah Wells has baggage. She is smart and confident in most areas of her life, she is doing well in her courses, and she is perfecting her performance for the upcoming concert. But her baggage makes her less confident in the area of sex and seduction. After the ordeal she has been through, Hannah doesn't drink, doesn't like partying and rarely finds a man worth dealing with. Until she laid eyes on Justin.
Justin, a football jock, was a recent transfer to their University. And the moment she laid eyes on him, Hannah was smitten. Due to her sexual assault, she doesn't typically crush on men, let alone get turned on by them. But Justin changed all that. Now all she has to do is get him to notice her.
Garrett Graham has baggage of his own. His father was a professional hockey player, and he has been trying to live up to his expectations his whole life. The plan is and has always been to play hockey after graduation. But with his GPA plummeting, all his hard work is about to go down the drain. Unless he can convince the smartest girl in his class to tutor him.
Hannah Wells, or "Wellsy" as he calls her, is not thrilled to be tutoring him. In fact, she downright refuses, over and over. . . it isn't until Garrett has a proposition for her that she can't refuse. Fake Date? Will that really work? If Hannah tutors him, Garrett will pretend to date her to try to make Justin jealous. But as things progress, Garrett realises that he may be the jealous one every time he thinks of Hannah with someone else.
The Review
I'll be honest, I usually listen to new books at regular speed. Books I have already read, I "re-read" at 1.5x speed. But I got so fed up with this book that I switched to 1.3x speed around chapter 17. This book is SLOW. Ironically, just as I sped it up, it started to pick up a little bit.
If you're coming here from Heated Rivalry, you're going to be disappointed. I think that "Hockey Romance" is a loose tag for this book. It doesn't really matter that Garrett is the captain of the Hockey team. The only role that it plays in the plot is a reason why Garrett needs Hannah's help.
Not for the first time, I wonder if I am simply too old for "New Adult". It has the vibe of 90s movies where the enemies-to-lovers trope was huge! But unfortunately for me, I felt it fell short of being one of those classics. The book did get better as it went on, thankfully.
SPOILER ALERT
I wasn't through the first chapter, and already I hated Hannah Wells. She just came off cold, and like a bitch. It was obvious she was bitter and jaded, and it really came across like she was mad at the world. One of the first things mentioned about Hannah is that she was raped. But it is just thrown out there, and then the chapter moves along without any real comment about it beyond that. And yet, it is always brought up when it is convenient for the storyline. We learn that Hannah hates parties, she doesn't trust people, and she won't drink anything anyone hands her, even her friends. And she doesn't drink because she was raped. And that is why Justin will never notice her. But this isn't explained any further. I think it would help the story and the Hannah character if we heard a little about why. Even something as simple as, "Last time I was at a party. . . ." or "That's how he got the upper hand, he handed me a drink, and I hadn't noticed. . ." Anything that alludes to why this is such a big deal. While you can assume that's what happened, it would be nice to know more.
And this happens often in the novel. Hannah has 9-1-1 dialled until she gets home, just in case, but she gets in the car with Garrett. Hannah even says she spent a lot of time in therapy to get over her trauma, but she still has these habits that she insists will probably never go away. She also goes to Garrett's house, a frat house basically, instead of insisting they meet somewhere in public. Which probably isn't realistic for a survivor of sexual assault and a guy she barely knows.
I think this may be why I don't like Hannah; I don't think it's the character per se, but it's the lack of explanation as to why she is like this. And it feels forced for the storyline. Even when she talks about Thanksgiving with her parents, it's just a few "shocking" statements and no details about what happened. It also feels like she is judgmental when it comes to men because of her experiences, but again, there is no explanation. If inner dialogue were to say that Garrett reminds Hannah in any way of her abuser and that's why she has a low opinion of him (or athletes in general - which wouldn't work anyway because Justin is an athlete), then maybe it would sit better. But again, she just comes off as judgmental.
By today's standards, I can understand why some feel like Garrett is an egotistical jerk. But I think this is by design because of the parallels to 90s movies with the same enemy-to-lover trope (think A Walk to Remember, The Duff, and She's All That). But I think if you look beyond how annoying he is when it comes to begging her to tutor him, you can see the scared little boy who just wants to make his dad proud.
I listened to this book on Audible.
On Audible, this book is narrated by Lorelei Avalon (as Hannah) and Christian Fox (as Garrett). I wonder if this is another reason why I don't like Hannah. Lorelei's voice is so deadpan. She sounds like a bored teenager forced to read her diary or complaining to a friend. I am not sure if that is just Lorelei's voice in general or style in general, or if that is her interpretation of the character. Either way, I think that reading the book myself may have helped my opinion of Hannah, though probably not by much.
Christian Fox is better. But something about his voice doesn't click with me. It's not bad. But it doesn't scream University Jock. He has a lot of steamy titles under his belt, which may play a part in it. But he doesn't seem to really embody Garrett.
Also, as a side note, I hated that to start each chapter, they said the character's name. "Chapter 8 - Hannah", I really don't think that was necessary.
Rating and Recommendation
I started by giving this book only two and a half stars. But it did get better as the book went along. So I changed my rating at the last minute.
This book is a "New Adult" book, which means its target audience is college-aged kids (which makes sense since that's what it is about. Maybe I am a little too old for it. But I just couldn't enjoy it. As I said previously, I think it is the Hannah character that threw me off. And her lack of depth. I felt like the author had a real chance at showing what challenges someone who has been sexually assaulted can face as they try to process their trauma and learn to cope with it. But it felt like she dropped the ball at every turn.
If you like hockey romances and enemy-to-lovers, you may like this book. I like those things, but couldn't get past the character holes. Maybe I am just too old-fashioned.
I paid for Audible so I could listen to this book. When I tell you I regret it, I say that with seething rage. I wanted to get this review in close to the show's Amazon Prime premiere. So I paid for Audible and got this book with the free credit. At least I didn't actually spend money on it. It would have been my first DNF, but I refused to give up on it because of the price I paid for Audible.
Conclusion
Even though the trailer for the TV show is just a few seconds long, it already seems better than the book. I recommend watching the TV series. If you enjoy it, you may want to try reading the book. (If you like the series, you may be more determined to finish the book.) If you didn't finish the book or didn't like the book, I would recommend giving the TV show a try. Already, the Hannah character seems different, more relatable. Maybe I just prefer drunk Hannah instead of regular Hannah.
I am not sure "Hot" is the word for it, really. There is sex in the book. And it is described, but it isn't what I would say "hot". Again, it is a reminder that this book is aimed at "New Adults". So that may play into it a little, also. But it is definitely not PG-13 by any means.
Sexual Assault (Trigger Warning)
It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of Canadian women experience sexual assault in some form annually. Though we will never truly know this exact number because of severe underreporting, it is safe to say that Canada has a sexual assault problem. According to an infographic on the Government of Canada's website, only 6% of sexual assaults are reported to police. Of that six percent only about 1 in 19 cases lead to an accused person being sentenced to custody. It is also believed that of that six per cent of sexual assaults, 89% are women or girls, and 97% of the accused are men or boys.
According to another infographic, "Sexual assault" is any unwanted sexual activity (e.g. sexual touching, kissing someone without consent, rape). It also goes on to say that 1 in 3 women experienced unwanted sexual behaviour in public, which includes unwanted sexual attention or unwanted physical contact.
I want to be completely honest, I think most of us (ladies) have experienced some kind of sexual assault, violence, abuse, harassment, etc. And I think, depending on when and how you were raised, a lot of us learned to shrug it off. "Oh, Uncle John grabbed my ass? It's okay, he's just drunk." But it's not okay. Those are lies we were told or tell ourselves to minimise what has happened to us.
I've done it myself. Someone grabbed my ass at a party, and I just let it go because he was drunk and everyone was having a good time. And in reality, he probably didn't mean anything by it. But it was still inappropriate. I think part of the problem with sexual assault is that everyone thinks of rape. Sexual assault doesn't always mean rape. Sexual assault doesn't always mean legal issues. That story, for example, I didn't want the guy to go to jail. He had never done it before, never did it since, and he was drunk. Was it an accident? Maybe. But it was still sexual assault. And even though I didn't want anything to come of it, I still had to recognise it and validate myself and the situation. It's really a mindset we need to break.
A sexual assault victim never HAS to do anything. You never HAVE to report, you never HAVE to tell someone. But you do need to validate yourself. Oftentimes, that comes with talking to a therapist, sharing with a friend or family member, or calling the police. Whatever you choose, it is up to you. And it is NEVER too late.
You can find The Deal in its respective mediums below:
You can find Off Campus(2026, directed by Silver Tree, Samantha Bailey, Erica Dunton, and Dawn Wilkinson),Season 1, on Amazon Prime. You can watch the trailer below via Amazon Prime's YouTube Channel.
* Book cover image retrieved from GoodReads. All rights belong to the author and/or publisher. * All the "stickers" in this blog were provided by Bookish (presented by NetGalley). * Links in this blog may be generated through the Amazon Associates Program. By using this link, I may make a small profit (at no cost to you) from your purchase.
