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The Grand Mountain #1
Replaying the Game
Hadleigh Baker is a chart-obsessed, snarky, brilliant girl who loves reading and hanging out with her friends.
Since her last relationship ended horribly, she has sworn off dating. Especially dating athletes like the one who broke her heart. Until a hockey player needs her help, she agrees to tutor him, even though she can't stand him. As the semester progresses, she realizes there is more to him than meets the eye.
Grant Carter is a go-with-the-flow hockey player who has tried his entire life to succeed. Failure was never an option. But his only choice is to get a tutor when he starts failing quizzes and assignments in his Literature class and is threatened with being kicked off the hockey team. He never expected to fall so hard for this girl, even after she hits him with rulers, but he will try his hardest to make her realize that he is the one for her. The only problem is that she might not open her heart back up. Neither of them expected to fall for the other, and their relationship's whiplash might drain them before they realize what they really want.
Since her last relationship ended horribly, she has sworn off dating. Especially dating athletes like the one who broke her heart. Until a hockey player needs her help, she agrees to tutor him, even though she can't stand him. As the semester progresses, she realizes there is more to him than meets the eye.
Grant Carter is a go-with-the-flow hockey player who has tried his entire life to succeed. Failure was never an option. But his only choice is to get a tutor when he starts failing quizzes and assignments in his Literature class and is threatened with being kicked off the hockey team. He never expected to fall so hard for this girl, even after she hits him with rulers, but he will try his hardest to make her realize that he is the one for her. The only problem is that she might not open her heart back up. Neither of them expected to fall for the other, and their relationship's whiplash might drain them before they realize what they really want.
361 pages, Hardcover
Published February 20, 2023
290 people are currently reading
7510 people want to read
About the author
Emily Tudor
9 books406 followersEmily Tudor creates characters and stories about platonic and romantic love for anyone and everyone. She lives in the state of New York and loves listening to music and creating stories. She loves Marvel movies, the song mirrorball by Taylor Swift, and buying too many books when she already has many to read at home.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 375 reviews
November 30, 2024
i can’t believe my book is on goodreads someone pinch me😭😭😭😭😭😭
July 19, 2025
— 1 ★
oh god, did this book frustrate me. it literally pushed me over the edge—I went through full-on existential crisis because of it. it made me act insane, i was literally yelling at the screen like a maniac because it was just so ridiculous 😭
⭑𓂃 ⌗ a list of reasons that genuinely made me want me to rip my hair out:
1. it was supposed to be lovers to haters but there was literally no any valid reason for hadleigh to hate grant. she hated him because he ACCIDENTALLY bumped into her, like be for real. don't act like you're a high school student—you're in college, for god's sake 🙄
2. hads offered herself up as a tutor but when grant asked her for help with his studies she had a problem with this. like girl, isn't that what you wanted? make it make sense.
3. she was straight up MEAN to him for no reason. she acted as if he'd killed her cat or a family member. girl, relax! he only walked into you.
4. EVERYONE warned her that this one dude was bad news, but ofc she didn't listen to them, and then acted surprised when it turned out that he only wanted to sleep with her. like are you dumb or stupid?
5. there was ZERO chemistry between the main characters. they talked like 5 times, but I blinked and suddenly they were saying how madly in love they were with each other...yeah, I didn't buy it. I don't even understand why they loved each other—as their connection didn't just feel genuine to me.
6. the writing style was ATRACIOUS. it made it even harder to get through this book.
7. there were too many characters and I simply didn't care about any of them. when you can't connect to any of the characters, something's seriously off-kilter.
⭑𓂃 ⌗ lovely quotes :)
⤿ only one of them is decent
"hades is probably around 5’4”, and she dresses like an art museum threw up on her"
"I don't need a therapist when I have friends. you guys, combined, can help me."
"he wants me to tutor him? It's been two weeks of actual semester work; there is absolutely no way he is already failing something. honestly, it's laughable if he is. I can't help but feel a tiny twinge of guilt and pity wrapped into one. I don't feel that bad, though."
"we all walk in silence for a minute, just listening to the breeze and bustle of the campus around us. it's a friendship like this that I never thought I would find, people with whom you can share the silence and not have to fill it with meaningless conversation. sometimes their mere presence is just enough, my three nonbiological big sisters."
⟡ — pre-read !
I barely know what that's even about—I randomly found it today so I'm about to find out ig...anyway, I've been on a bit of a sport romance binge recently so let's go 💋
⊹ "the smell of books is one of my favorite smells ever. I would like to bottle it up and spray it on myself daily." ៹࣪⭑𓂃 ⌗ my thoughts
oh god, did this book frustrate me. it literally pushed me over the edge—I went through full-on existential crisis because of it. it made me act insane, i was literally yelling at the screen like a maniac because it was just so ridiculous 😭
⭑𓂃 ⌗ a list of reasons that genuinely made me want me to rip my hair out:
1. it was supposed to be lovers to haters but there was literally no any valid reason for hadleigh to hate grant. she hated him because he ACCIDENTALLY bumped into her, like be for real. don't act like you're a high school student—you're in college, for god's sake 🙄
2. hads offered herself up as a tutor but when grant asked her for help with his studies she had a problem with this. like girl, isn't that what you wanted? make it make sense.
3. she was straight up MEAN to him for no reason. she acted as if he'd killed her cat or a family member. girl, relax! he only walked into you.
4. EVERYONE warned her that this one dude was bad news, but ofc she didn't listen to them, and then acted surprised when it turned out that he only wanted to sleep with her. like are you dumb or stupid?
5. there was ZERO chemistry between the main characters. they talked like 5 times, but I blinked and suddenly they were saying how madly in love they were with each other...yeah, I didn't buy it. I don't even understand why they loved each other—as their connection didn't just feel genuine to me.
6. the writing style was ATRACIOUS. it made it even harder to get through this book.
7. there were too many characters and I simply didn't care about any of them. when you can't connect to any of the characters, something's seriously off-kilter.
⭑𓂃 ⌗ lovely quotes :)
⤿ only one of them is decent
"hades is probably around 5’4”, and she dresses like an art museum threw up on her"
"I don't need a therapist when I have friends. you guys, combined, can help me."
"he wants me to tutor him? It's been two weeks of actual semester work; there is absolutely no way he is already failing something. honestly, it's laughable if he is. I can't help but feel a tiny twinge of guilt and pity wrapped into one. I don't feel that bad, though."
"we all walk in silence for a minute, just listening to the breeze and bustle of the campus around us. it's a friendship like this that I never thought I would find, people with whom you can share the silence and not have to fill it with meaningless conversation. sometimes their mere presence is just enough, my three nonbiological big sisters."
⟡ — pre-read !
I barely know what that's even about—I randomly found it today so I'm about to find out ig...anyway, I've been on a bit of a sport romance binge recently so let's go 💋
February 24, 2023
horrible writing but good cover so pemdas i think
just trying to get over joey and aoife nothing is working
just trying to get over joey and aoife nothing is working
July 20, 2025
the main character was so mean😭
June 10, 2023
i need to stop reading books just bc there is a fricken hockey player in them
March 5, 2023
4.25★
-hockey play x tutor
-reverse grumpy x sunshine
-he falls first
-found family / amazing friend group
-bookish girlies
-slow burn
first round of applause to emily for putting out her first novel!!! i loved the story & characters in this book! it was a quick read & i absolutely devoured it!
first hadleigh & grant😭🥰🥹🤩🤭
their banter, their nicknames, their dynamic, their friendship — literally yes to all of these things! hadleigh had a vendetta against dating jocks (for good reason) and i loved seeing grant wriggle his way into her heart. grant was smitten from the beginning!! this man was everything!! he looked out for her and wanted to protect her no matter what. he listened to her when she talked and noticed the little things about her (which is always my favorite thing) i loved the back and forth banter between these two and i loved how hadleigh was unsure of how she should feel. she took her time to digest her feelings and talk through them with those she cared about. grant is my baby. he deserves everything & more. he was fully himself all the time. he didn’t shy away when things got tough and he continued to show up!! also jacks is a real mvp!! & ryan can go away (literally who even are you)
relationships:
this book is huge on relationships!! you can really feel the found family dynamic through out the whole book! hadleigh & her brother, oliver, had weekly morning walks to just hangout and stay in touch, he was also so protective of her i loved it.
hadleigh & the girls — books truly do help you find your people and this book is proof of that. these girls all met for a bookclub and quickly became family. they talked about books but they talked about the hard things as well. reservations, fears, hopes, love, and even funny little snippets of the little things. any scene that had the 4 of them together made me so giddy. you could just see how well they understood & supported one another. they knew when to push for more information & when to take a step back and wait for the other to be ready to open up (i feel like that’s not talked about enough in life & books) it takes time to open up about how certain things feel and this book did such an amazing job of showcasing that!!
if there’s one reason why you should read this book
it’s 100000% the relationships and the way that emily is able to grow her characters and make them feel real & relatable! she also left us on a HUGE cliffhanger for the next couple in book 2 so i am now (im)patiently waiting for that book to come out now🙃
moral of the story give this book a read & support your fellow indie authors🧡
-hockey play x tutor
-reverse grumpy x sunshine
-he falls first
-found family / amazing friend group
-bookish girlies
-slow burn
first round of applause to emily for putting out her first novel!!! i loved the story & characters in this book! it was a quick read & i absolutely devoured it!
first hadleigh & grant😭🥰🥹🤩🤭
their banter, their nicknames, their dynamic, their friendship — literally yes to all of these things! hadleigh had a vendetta against dating jocks (for good reason) and i loved seeing grant wriggle his way into her heart. grant was smitten from the beginning!! this man was everything!! he looked out for her and wanted to protect her no matter what. he listened to her when she talked and noticed the little things about her (which is always my favorite thing) i loved the back and forth banter between these two and i loved how hadleigh was unsure of how she should feel. she took her time to digest her feelings and talk through them with those she cared about. grant is my baby. he deserves everything & more. he was fully himself all the time. he didn’t shy away when things got tough and he continued to show up!! also jacks is a real mvp!! & ryan can go away (literally who even are you)
relationships:
this book is huge on relationships!! you can really feel the found family dynamic through out the whole book! hadleigh & her brother, oliver, had weekly morning walks to just hangout and stay in touch, he was also so protective of her i loved it.
hadleigh & the girls — books truly do help you find your people and this book is proof of that. these girls all met for a bookclub and quickly became family. they talked about books but they talked about the hard things as well. reservations, fears, hopes, love, and even funny little snippets of the little things. any scene that had the 4 of them together made me so giddy. you could just see how well they understood & supported one another. they knew when to push for more information & when to take a step back and wait for the other to be ready to open up (i feel like that’s not talked about enough in life & books) it takes time to open up about how certain things feel and this book did such an amazing job of showcasing that!!
if there’s one reason why you should read this book
it’s 100000% the relationships and the way that emily is able to grow her characters and make them feel real & relatable! she also left us on a HUGE cliffhanger for the next couple in book 2 so i am now (im)patiently waiting for that book to come out now🙃
moral of the story give this book a read & support your fellow indie authors🧡
June 11, 2023
if there was -1000 starts i would give this book that
she is so annoyingly rude to the guy when he ACCUDENTLY bumped into her ?!?! and than she complains about how she’s in a crisis about saying yes to his favor when she literally wnated to be a tutor ?!? WHATS WEONG WITH YOU !?😨 this book made me MAD
LIKE WHY ARE YOU MAD AB SOMETHING YHAT YOU WANTED TO DO ?!?
i would rather hang by the balls than EVER read this again.
have a good night 😘
she is so annoyingly rude to the guy when he ACCUDENTLY bumped into her ?!?! and than she complains about how she’s in a crisis about saying yes to his favor when she literally wnated to be a tutor ?!? WHATS WEONG WITH YOU !?😨 this book made me MAD
LIKE WHY ARE YOU MAD AB SOMETHING YHAT YOU WANTED TO DO ?!?
i would rather hang by the balls than EVER read this again.
have a good night 😘
August 24, 2023
i dont know how i've managed to finish this book, each chapter made me angrier
- there's too many characters so i didnt connect with any of them
- haters to lovers but there's no actual reason to hate him?? like she just hates him for nothing???
- they've only hung out for like three times for no longer than an hour and they have these deep feelings/are in love????
- they're in college but it literally feels like a middle school drama
- hockey is supposed to be one of the main themes but there's barely any mention of it apart from training and like a game or two
conclusion: don't waste your time like I did
- there's too many characters so i didnt connect with any of them
- haters to lovers but there's no actual reason to hate him?? like she just hates him for nothing???
- they've only hung out for like three times for no longer than an hour and they have these deep feelings/are in love????
- they're in college but it literally feels like a middle school drama
- hockey is supposed to be one of the main themes but there's barely any mention of it apart from training and like a game or two
conclusion: don't waste your time like I did
July 2, 2023
this was actually so adorable 🤭
February 19, 2025
finally got to meet hadsgrant and i've never been happier!!!!
i'll come back for a better review but here are my immediate thoughts:
gm2 paigeoliver were my ogs so i kind of have them out of order but its so nice to now have met the couple that started it all! obviously with gm being interconnected standalones i've seen hads and grant's relationship but i finally now have read the story behind it!
as always, ems characters always somehow find a way to resonate with me so deeply and in such a special way!! hads and grant have the cutest relationship ever and this was such an easy story to fall in love with.
they have the bestest banter and i lovee the tropes in this one!! first of all, hockey romances have my entire heart and then also tutoring trope?? perfect combo obviously!!
4.3 stars from me!!
i'll come back for a better review but here are my immediate thoughts:
gm2 paigeoliver were my ogs so i kind of have them out of order but its so nice to now have met the couple that started it all! obviously with gm being interconnected standalones i've seen hads and grant's relationship but i finally now have read the story behind it!
as always, ems characters always somehow find a way to resonate with me so deeply and in such a special way!! hads and grant have the cutest relationship ever and this was such an easy story to fall in love with.
they have the bestest banter and i lovee the tropes in this one!! first of all, hockey romances have my entire heart and then also tutoring trope?? perfect combo obviously!!
4.3 stars from me!!
July 2, 2023
This book was bad on so many levels, like so many. I kept having to push myself to keep reading, but I kept being pulled out of the story.
This book takes place in college, and yet it reads like a middle-grade book. Which made reading the book awkward and made it feel very surface-level. Also like, we get it they hate each other at the start of the book, the author just kept hammering that point in the most obvious and obnoxious ways. On top of all that, the character descriptions throughout the book read like a freaking dating profile, which made learning about them all incredibly boring.
This was supposed to be haters-to-lovers, but there was no actual hate or at least any valid reason. Instead, the author just had the main character keep screaming that she hated the guy, which made my skin crawl.
Then every single character felt two-dimensional and that surface level, making it hard to connect with them on any level. Anything about any of them was revealed in the most direct and obvious way. I just wanted to learn about them all in a natural and organic way. Also, the main character was just flat-out mean and rude to the guy, which made me hate her a lot.
Overall I was bored throughout the book, and it lacked any sort of substance.
This book takes place in college, and yet it reads like a middle-grade book. Which made reading the book awkward and made it feel very surface-level. Also like, we get it they hate each other at the start of the book, the author just kept hammering that point in the most obvious and obnoxious ways. On top of all that, the character descriptions throughout the book read like a freaking dating profile, which made learning about them all incredibly boring.
This was supposed to be haters-to-lovers, but there was no actual hate or at least any valid reason. Instead, the author just had the main character keep screaming that she hated the guy, which made my skin crawl.
Then every single character felt two-dimensional and that surface level, making it hard to connect with them on any level. Anything about any of them was revealed in the most direct and obvious way. I just wanted to learn about them all in a natural and organic way. Also, the main character was just flat-out mean and rude to the guy, which made me hate her a lot.
Overall I was bored throughout the book, and it lacked any sort of substance.
May 7, 2024
It was a cute and fast read. It’s a close door romance and a cute story. I didn’t loved the female main character and maybe that’s why I couldn’t love this book more. It was the first time I read anything my Emily Tudor and I enjoyed very much even tho the writing needs some care. It was a great first story and a cute romance.
I’m looking forward for the next book because i was rooting for the couple to be together hehehe
I’m looking forward for the next book because i was rooting for the couple to be together hehehe
October 25, 2024
beta read for the new edition and OHMYGOSH it’s perfect! full review coming closer to release 💚
February 8, 2023
4.5⭐️ (rounded to 5 for Goodreads)
check triggers before reading, just in case🤍
can’t believe this is emily’s debut book! the cutest, romcom hockey romance! absolutely loved the teasing and banter between hads and grant, as well as the adorable girly friendship group—literally my heart felt so full reading it. all main and side characters were so adorable, all so easily loveable.
grant was super swoony, get ready to absolutely fall for him. if you love sweet declarations of love, hockey romance and tutor/tutee, you’re absolutely going to LOVE this book.
an absolute privilege to have been able to beta read this book🥹💘
tropes:
* college hockey sports romance
* tutor / tutee
* dislike to love
* golden retriever mmc
check triggers before reading, just in case🤍
can’t believe this is emily’s debut book! the cutest, romcom hockey romance! absolutely loved the teasing and banter between hads and grant, as well as the adorable girly friendship group—literally my heart felt so full reading it. all main and side characters were so adorable, all so easily loveable.
grant was super swoony, get ready to absolutely fall for him. if you love sweet declarations of love, hockey romance and tutor/tutee, you’re absolutely going to LOVE this book.
an absolute privilege to have been able to beta read this book🥹💘
tropes:
* college hockey sports romance
* tutor / tutee
* dislike to love
* golden retriever mmc
November 10, 2024
4.5 stars | I’m so happy with the new edition of this book!!! Emily Tudor is 100% incredible and can do no wrong. Hads and Grant are everything. I love them so so much. RTC very very soon.
read this book if you love:
✨ college hockey romance
✨ hockey player x tutor
✨ he falls first
✨ found family
read this book if you love:
✨ college hockey romance
✨ hockey player x tutor
✨ he falls first
✨ found family
March 3, 2023
“Loving you feels like losing myself in my favorite book. It feels like listening to my favorite audiobooks on repeat. It feels like being in an art museum while it's raining and hearing the rain tap on the roof. Loving you feels like realizing I'm not scared of all the tough things with you. I want all of it. As long as you're by my side, I don't feel scared.”
this was such a good debut novel, i mean i was literally giggling and kicking my feet while reading this!!! grant is so 🥹🥹🥹🥹 and this story had so many good elements to it, enemies to lovers, an amazing girl group, jealousy trope, sports romance, ugh. i loved it. it’s such an easy and lighthearted read i feel like i’ll be coming back to this series whenever i’m stressed or just want a quick escape from the world.
also THAT EPILOGUE????? so excited for book 2!!
this was such a good debut novel, i mean i was literally giggling and kicking my feet while reading this!!! grant is so 🥹🥹🥹🥹 and this story had so many good elements to it, enemies to lovers, an amazing girl group, jealousy trope, sports romance, ugh. i loved it. it’s such an easy and lighthearted read i feel like i’ll be coming back to this series whenever i’m stressed or just want a quick escape from the world.
also THAT EPILOGUE????? so excited for book 2!!
June 10, 2023
So this is one of those books you see on TikTok and the TikTok makes you download the book instantly and start reading. Normally i am immediately in love with the book and can’t put it down. This one…. Not so much.
The idea behind the book is great. In love with it. The execution. Not so much.
I mean hell, a book club and a hockey play. College setting. Enemies to lovers. Dirty scumbag hockey player that tries to steal the girl. Tutor and student moment.
What got in the way of my loving this book was writing. The conversation was just so unrealistic that it made everything seem fake. You want to be immersed into the book and taken out of reality but because of the unrealistic dialogue it never happens.
The introduction to the characters at the beginning of the book makes it seem like the fmc is retelling her story to an audience. The sexc hockey player is not so sexc because he overshares his feelings with all the guys. Like I’m sorry, when have you ever met a dude that willing shares his feeling with other dudes. Not to mention with the girls brother he’s only meeting for the first time.
I feel bad for hating on it but. I hate on it.
Also no spice besides a little making out.
The idea behind the book is great. In love with it. The execution. Not so much.
I mean hell, a book club and a hockey play. College setting. Enemies to lovers. Dirty scumbag hockey player that tries to steal the girl. Tutor and student moment.
What got in the way of my loving this book was writing. The conversation was just so unrealistic that it made everything seem fake. You want to be immersed into the book and taken out of reality but because of the unrealistic dialogue it never happens.
The introduction to the characters at the beginning of the book makes it seem like the fmc is retelling her story to an audience. The sexc hockey player is not so sexc because he overshares his feelings with all the guys. Like I’m sorry, when have you ever met a dude that willing shares his feeling with other dudes. Not to mention with the girls brother he’s only meeting for the first time.
I feel bad for hating on it but. I hate on it.
Also no spice besides a little making out.
February 23, 2023
[5⭐️]
You have no idea how excited I was to go onto Kindle and find Emily’s book sitting there I immediately drop my current ready to start this.
Characters [ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️]
I loved the characters in this group, the friend group/ book club felt so real and alive. I genuinely loved each character and how different they were . As well as I love grand and hads they’re so cute 💞 jacks being a swiftie probably made the book for me lol! I loved that.
The romance [⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️]
I really REALLY loved the romance in this
book .
“I, the guy who used to hate the library, am now reading a book. For a girl. That I like. Possibly love.” I really love how books are included in their love language and the fact he read and annotated a book for hads and just ahh I love them!!
I love all the one tree hill references , there’s a book playlist included which always feels like a treat. I love books where the other person falls first and I just really loved it. I annotated it on my kindle , there’s a lot of things that just made me smile and I really loved it.
This was so , so so good . I’m so proud of you Emily <3
I’m so bad at writing reviews haha
You have no idea how excited I was to go onto Kindle and find Emily’s book sitting there I immediately drop my current ready to start this.
Characters [ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️]
I loved the characters in this group, the friend group/ book club felt so real and alive. I genuinely loved each character and how different they were . As well as I love grand and hads they’re so cute 💞 jacks being a swiftie probably made the book for me lol! I loved that.
The romance [⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️]
I really REALLY loved the romance in this
book .
“I, the guy who used to hate the library, am now reading a book. For a girl. That I like. Possibly love.” I really love how books are included in their love language and the fact he read and annotated a book for hads and just ahh I love them!!
I love all the one tree hill references , there’s a book playlist included which always feels like a treat. I love books where the other person falls first and I just really loved it. I annotated it on my kindle , there’s a lot of things that just made me smile and I really loved it.
This was so , so so good . I’m so proud of you Emily <3
I’m so bad at writing reviews haha
July 22, 2023
Hadleigh baker is the most annoying character I have ever read in a book. I mean what’s wrong with you, which world are you living in. A selfish character who is actually playing with the feelings of someone who genuinely cares about her. Yeah off course it’s tough to move on, but she doesn’t want to even give a chance to someone who has proved again and again that he cares. Stupid annoying girl. Grant deserves sm better. He is such a boyfriend material I can’t-
The only thing saving this book is the other girls, I love them all, especially Paige. Grant is such i sweetheart, I don’t know what he saw in hadleigh…the amount of disappointment I have in a female lead character is unmatched. Giving only one star because of grand and other people in the book. And if you want to get your head screwed up and brain fried then go ahead with the book, I would suggest not to waste your time on someone as stupid as hadleigh baker
The only thing saving this book is the other girls, I love them all, especially Paige. Grant is such i sweetheart, I don’t know what he saw in hadleigh…the amount of disappointment I have in a female lead character is unmatched. Giving only one star because of grand and other people in the book. And if you want to get your head screwed up and brain fried then go ahead with the book, I would suggest not to waste your time on someone as stupid as hadleigh baker
February 22, 2023
4.25 stars!! what made me love this book so much is the FRIENDSHIPS in it - ugh it was so so good and cute and I adore it!! I only wish it was longer !!! read & support fellow bookstagram authors <333
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July 12, 2023DNF'ed at 56%
I'm gonna be a little harsh in this review but I feel like future readers for this book should know what to expect.
First and foremost, the writing in this book absolutely sucks. I feel like it wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't dual pov(and I love dual pov). This author in my opinion doesn't know how to write boys so every guy in this book acted like a girl.. and I think she tried to make them sound more "masculine" by putting curse words every sentence.
This book was WAY too descriptive, I forgot how everybody looked after they were described. I prefer books to have small comments about their appearance every once in a while rather than a 3 page long description on how all the girls look and are dressed. This isn't a fashion show.
Now lets talk about our MC's
Hadleigh is a "snarky" girl who loves reading. She is rude to Grant for absolutely no reason(I'll talk more about it in the plot section). Now Grant is this hockey player who is possessive over Hadleigh after knowing her for 1 week maybe even less. He's also willing to do anything for her and frankly she's not worth it. Hadleigh friendzoned him and he says "As long as I get to see her." Desperate much? I also feel like all of the characters even the MC's were 2 dimensional and I didn't feel a deep connection with them.
Okay lets talk about the plot aka the whole reason you're reading this book. It's a supposed "enemies to lovers" trope. They aren't enemies, Hadleigh just hates Grant solely because he's a jock. He ran into her once (and apologized afterwards) and that's how they became " enemies" like what?? I feel like the author wanted to make an enemies to lovers but didn't know how to make them enemies. Once you get later into the book when Hadleigh and Grant are on better terms there is absolutely no chemistry between them. The first time Grant kissed Hadleigh there was absolutely no build up, it was just like "Oh we're talking? Let me kiss you". Same with the second time he kissed her, there was no build up!!
Overall I'm really disappointed because I thought I would enjoy this book and I had high hopes for it.
I'm gonna be a little harsh in this review but I feel like future readers for this book should know what to expect.
First and foremost, the writing in this book absolutely sucks. I feel like it wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't dual pov(and I love dual pov). This author in my opinion doesn't know how to write boys so every guy in this book acted like a girl.. and I think she tried to make them sound more "masculine" by putting curse words every sentence.
This book was WAY too descriptive, I forgot how everybody looked after they were described. I prefer books to have small comments about their appearance every once in a while rather than a 3 page long description on how all the girls look and are dressed. This isn't a fashion show.
Now lets talk about our MC's
Hadleigh is a "snarky" girl who loves reading. She is rude to Grant for absolutely no reason(I'll talk more about it in the plot section). Now Grant is this hockey player who is possessive over Hadleigh after knowing her for 1 week maybe even less. He's also willing to do anything for her and frankly she's not worth it. Hadleigh friendzoned him and he says "As long as I get to see her." Desperate much? I also feel like all of the characters even the MC's were 2 dimensional and I didn't feel a deep connection with them.
Okay lets talk about the plot aka the whole reason you're reading this book. It's a supposed "enemies to lovers" trope. They aren't enemies, Hadleigh just hates Grant solely because he's a jock. He ran into her once (and apologized afterwards) and that's how they became " enemies" like what?? I feel like the author wanted to make an enemies to lovers but didn't know how to make them enemies. Once you get later into the book when Hadleigh and Grant are on better terms there is absolutely no chemistry between them. The first time Grant kissed Hadleigh there was absolutely no build up, it was just like "Oh we're talking? Let me kiss you". Same with the second time he kissed her, there was no build up!!
Overall I'm really disappointed because I thought I would enjoy this book and I had high hopes for it.
November 7, 2024
4.25/5⭐️
arc review!
“You’re my green light. I’ve been reaching for you this whole time, unable to get you. But now I have all these pieces of you in mind, ones I never want to let go of.”
this books follows hadleigh, a girl in her sophomore year of college, who has sworn off dating since her last relationship ended poorly, and has decided to focus on keeping her grades up to her academic standard. this year, along with the book club she has with her best friends, she also decides to put herself up for tutoring, where she meets the star hockey player on campus, grant carter. grant has always had a one track mind on hockey, until he starts failing his class and gets threatened to be kicked off the hockey team, and decides he needs a tutor, but he didn’t know that his tutor would be the girl he wouldn’t be able to get off his mind…
okay, i never would have thought that i would be getting the arc to one of my favourite indie authors, and to be able to have the honour to review and read in advance the rerelease of my first book read by her. i really enjoyed reading this story, and refalling in love with grant and all his acts of service towards hads, he will always be a green flag in both the original and this one as well! i also really loved the found family aspect of this book, and the book club girls, i really loved a lot of the moments where you see how valuable each of the girls friendships are to one another, and this aspect of the book was really refreshing to see. i loved seeing many different moments between hads and grant, and how they were both able to communicate their feelings comfortably with each other was really great to read. can’t wait to read the next books(especially leo and ella’s)!
arc review!
“You’re my green light. I’ve been reaching for you this whole time, unable to get you. But now I have all these pieces of you in mind, ones I never want to let go of.”
this books follows hadleigh, a girl in her sophomore year of college, who has sworn off dating since her last relationship ended poorly, and has decided to focus on keeping her grades up to her academic standard. this year, along with the book club she has with her best friends, she also decides to put herself up for tutoring, where she meets the star hockey player on campus, grant carter. grant has always had a one track mind on hockey, until he starts failing his class and gets threatened to be kicked off the hockey team, and decides he needs a tutor, but he didn’t know that his tutor would be the girl he wouldn’t be able to get off his mind…
okay, i never would have thought that i would be getting the arc to one of my favourite indie authors, and to be able to have the honour to review and read in advance the rerelease of my first book read by her. i really enjoyed reading this story, and refalling in love with grant and all his acts of service towards hads, he will always be a green flag in both the original and this one as well! i also really loved the found family aspect of this book, and the book club girls, i really loved a lot of the moments where you see how valuable each of the girls friendships are to one another, and this aspect of the book was really refreshing to see. i loved seeing many different moments between hads and grant, and how they were both able to communicate their feelings comfortably with each other was really great to read. can’t wait to read the next books(especially leo and ella’s)!
November 13, 2024
— ARC Review : 1 star ✰
dnf @ 47% - a lot of dialogue but very little plot
╰┈➤ pre-read
got an arc of the republished version and it’s my first time buddy reading with maine 💞
dnf @ 47% - a lot of dialogue but very little plot
╰┈➤ pre-read
got an arc of the republished version and it’s my first time buddy reading with maine 💞
November 7, 2024
I AM OBSESSED WITH SO MANY OF THE CHARACTERS!!!
like can i order a grant carter on amazon? i need him fr.
also so many of the other characters were written so well. and i loved that there was focus on the friendship between the book club girlies.
you guys. i literally cant stop thinking about this book. i ate it up so soo so fast. i am honored to be one of the firsts and you guys are not prepared for this one.
ems style is so easy to read and i was hooked from the beginning all the way to the end.
5/5
like can i order a grant carter on amazon? i need him fr.
also so many of the other characters were written so well. and i loved that there was focus on the friendship between the book club girlies.
you guys. i literally cant stop thinking about this book. i ate it up so soo so fast. i am honored to be one of the firsts and you guys are not prepared for this one.
ems style is so easy to read and i was hooked from the beginning all the way to the end.
5/5
February 21, 2023
3.5/5 ⭐️
this was a really good debut, but it did feel a little rushed and instalove to me and i’m personally just more of a slow burn person, but that doesn’t mean this book isn’t worth reading!! i love any and all hockey romances so much BUT i can’t lie, i’m hoping we get a book about paige. as a criminal justice major paige just seems so relatable and WOW i was not expecting that ending? this series def seems to be taking a turn but i’m super excited to read more!!
also these pop culture references?? the 1975?!?! taylor swift?!?! oh my god i can’t
this was a really good debut, but it did feel a little rushed and instalove to me and i’m personally just more of a slow burn person, but that doesn’t mean this book isn’t worth reading!! i love any and all hockey romances so much BUT i can’t lie, i’m hoping we get a book about paige. as a criminal justice major paige just seems so relatable and WOW i was not expecting that ending? this series def seems to be taking a turn but i’m super excited to read more!!
also these pop culture references?? the 1975?!?! taylor swift?!?! oh my god i can’t
April 16, 2023
3.5 stars
this was very good for a debut novel and i’m so proud of emily. i’ve been following her over on instagram for quite a while and it’s been so much fun to watch the process.
the writing got a bit iffy in a few places and i feel like it was a but too insta lovey but after the 50% mark, i really liked how the romance picked up. also, the friendships in this group were so precious to me and i’m excited to see the continuation of the found family throughout the rest of the series!
this was very good for a debut novel and i’m so proud of emily. i’ve been following her over on instagram for quite a while and it’s been so much fun to watch the process.
the writing got a bit iffy in a few places and i feel like it was a but too insta lovey but after the 50% mark, i really liked how the romance picked up. also, the friendships in this group were so precious to me and i’m excited to see the continuation of the found family throughout the rest of the series!
February 28, 2023
So…I read this in one sitting! I couldn’t put it down!
I loved the characters and the story and the development! The friendship is just ❤️🩹
And I want my Grant, please?!
Emily, you’re in charge of writing my future boyfriend now. Thank you!
I love how there are different stories and I could relate to every single character at some point
And I love that this friendship is based on something real. And it feels like a hug to the heart with how books brought these girls together!
I will say, I wish there was a bit more sport lol, being as the book was a sports romance…like Hads just going to more games to “not” watch Grant or something.
I can’t wait to read the others!!
I loved the characters and the story and the development! The friendship is just ❤️🩹
And I want my Grant, please?!
Emily, you’re in charge of writing my future boyfriend now. Thank you!
I love how there are different stories and I could relate to every single character at some point
And I love that this friendship is based on something real. And it feels like a hug to the heart with how books brought these girls together!
I will say, I wish there was a bit more sport lol, being as the book was a sports romance…like Hads just going to more games to “not” watch Grant or something.
I can’t wait to read the others!!
February 24, 2023
4.25/5 stars
this book was cute haha im excited for the rest of the series
this book was cute haha im excited for the rest of the series
February 9, 2023
adored this book!! such a cute hockey/enemies-to-lovers/tutor romance, loved the banter between the characters and the lovely relationship between hadleigh and her friends!
ily emily!!
ily emily!!
May 31, 2023
These characters hold such special place in my heart. They feel SO real to me. I love the friendship between all the girls, they’re truly everything to me. The way they support each other, help each other, take care of each other, makes my heart ache 🥹
Hadleigh deserves the world, while reading this I just wanted to give her a giant hug and tell her that she was worth more than she thought. I also wanted to shake her into a reality check, because Mr. I AM RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU! Was in fact, right in front of her. I’m so glad she was able to open up her heart again and feel what REAL love and adoration is.
Grant was perfection. He showed Hads what real love was and felt like, all while giving her time to come foreword with her emotions. He waited for her, even when he thought there was no chance. He was there for her when she was sick, caring for her. He was there at some of her worst moments. I can’t express how much I love Grant. 🫶🏼
I loved the dynamic between Hads and Grant, it was so cute. I could FEEL the tension between these two bleeding off the page. Also their banter?? Show stopping. Incredible. And they were so both so funny, I was cackling at every interaction. When he called her Hades for the first time, I was laughing uncontrollably.
I love how these characters slowly grew to realize that maybe they actually do like each other after all. It was a perfect progression of events, honestly. From haters, to friends, to lovers. PERFECTION.
Also Ryan is such a dick and I hate him. He deserved what he got, and I couldn’t be happier about him failing. What a piece of shit.
The epilogue was INSANE. And I can’t WAIT for the next book!
You all need to read this IMMEDIATELY
4.75/5 ✨
Hadleigh deserves the world, while reading this I just wanted to give her a giant hug and tell her that she was worth more than she thought. I also wanted to shake her into a reality check, because Mr. I AM RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU! Was in fact, right in front of her. I’m so glad she was able to open up her heart again and feel what REAL love and adoration is.
Grant was perfection. He showed Hads what real love was and felt like, all while giving her time to come foreword with her emotions. He waited for her, even when he thought there was no chance. He was there for her when she was sick, caring for her. He was there at some of her worst moments. I can’t express how much I love Grant. 🫶🏼
I loved the dynamic between Hads and Grant, it was so cute. I could FEEL the tension between these two bleeding off the page. Also their banter?? Show stopping. Incredible. And they were so both so funny, I was cackling at every interaction. When he called her Hades for the first time, I was laughing uncontrollably.
I love how these characters slowly grew to realize that maybe they actually do like each other after all. It was a perfect progression of events, honestly. From haters, to friends, to lovers. PERFECTION.
Also Ryan is such a dick and I hate him. He deserved what he got, and I couldn’t be happier about him failing. What a piece of shit.
The epilogue was INSANE. And I can’t WAIT for the next book!
You all need to read this IMMEDIATELY
4.75/5 ✨
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