I knew I was going to like this because I really enjoy reading about more complicated characters like Ryan - with anxiety/mental health struggles and seeming to be not quite what you expect. I also love a good opposites attract in my LGBTQ+ romances and this hit all the marks for me. A sweet romance, some mild angst, but overall a good book about the conversation of sports and mental health. 

•minor spoilers• 

I knew I'd liked Ryan before I started and I wasn't disappointed. It makes me so happy when a character like that finds their special someone to care for and that was exactly what Fabian was. I wish Fabian was a little more understanding of the hockey stuff, but I can see how the toxicity of it all had shaped him and his struggles with it. I think this author does a good job of having pretty realistic conflicts in her books, which I really enjoy. Fabian's friends were great to read about because they called him out when he needed it, while having more depth than a usual side character. 

With Ryan and - not to label him, but for description's sake - seemingly asexual/demisexual tendencies, this book had about 1/4 of the sex scenes of the previous books in the series. As that was something I didn't love in those previous books, it was nice to see their emotional relationship develop a little more outside of their physical connection. And the book was a lot shorter, I assume because of that. I swear I'm not a prude. 

The writing was once again great, and like I previously said I enjoyed the discussion around mental health in sports. It's always interesting to read about those, if somewhat heartbreaking as well. I hope we get to see these guys more in the last books of the series. Especially with Ilya and Shane being in this one very lightly. I wish Wyatt had his own book but of course he's happily married to doctor. Onto the next! 

Read if you like: 
• hockey 
• opposites attract 
• mental health healing