Review by Sunshine and rain
May 19⭐️⭐️ 2/5 stars
It took me a while to put this review into words. This book left me soooo uncomfortable and I despised one of the MCs.
This was a major letdown—especially as the sequel to what I considered a tour de force by the same author. Honestly, I almost can’t believe it was written by the same person.
The premise had potential: a widowed hockey player and father unexpectedly forming a connection with his flirtatious gay neighbor. But what unfolded felt rushed and emotionally tone-deaf. The neighbor’s relentless advance, despite the MC’s clear grief and boundaries, read more like harassment than charm. It made the power dynamic uncomfortable rather than romantic.
Worse still, the emotional arc was flat. We’re supposed to believe a grieving, previously straight man quickly falls for someone who’s barely employed, living with his aunt, and generally written as messy and intrusive. It felt unearned, like skipping to the ending without doing the work.
If you’re looking for a low-angst, fantasy-level romance, this might check the box. But if you loved the author’s previous book for its nuance, and emotional truth, prepare to be disappointed.
⭐️⭐️ 2/5 stars
It took me a while to put this review into words. This book left me soooo uncomfortable and I despised one of the MCs.
This was a major letdown—especially as the sequel to what I considered a tour de force by the same author. Honestly, I almost can’t believe it was written by the same person.
The premise had potential: a widowed hockey player and father unexpectedly forming a connection with his flirtatious gay neighbor. But what unfolded felt rushed and emotionally tone-deaf. The neighbor’s relentless advance, despite the MC’s clear grief and boundaries, read more like harassment than charm. It made the power dynamic uncomfortable rather than romantic.
Worse still, the emotional arc was flat. We’re supposed to believe a grieving, previously straight man quickly falls for someone who’s barely employed, living with his aunt, and generally written as messy and intrusive. It felt unearned, like skipping to the ending without doing the work.
If you’re looking for a low-angst, fantasy-level romance, this might check the box. But if you loved the author’s previous book for its nuance, and emotional truth, prepare to be disappointed.
