Nodus Tollens

by Remi Rose

Our lives were like a story. Predestined for us by the hands of some writer we didn’t know. We were given a beginning and end and some of us endured a climax like a roller coaster that shook and jerked us around, testing us in the process.In my story, I thought I knew what to expect. That was until a hot-shot hockey player with sweet words and an even kinder soul changed my course. It took everything in me not to fall for him, but unwanted emotions were developing, and warmth I swore I’d never expose myself to began to wreak havoc on my already failing heart.A bond was created.One that changed the trajectory of everything. I just wished we would have had more time…Nodus Tollens is book one in a duet. While book two will end in an HEA, book one will not

Genres: Sports, Sports Romance, Hockey, Romance, Hockey Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance

524 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 4, 2023

About the author

Remi Rose lives in Missouri with her boyfriend, young daughter and lazy dog. When she's not writing, she's either watching a serial killer documentary or eating way too much chocolate.

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Reviews

[Jamie]

Note to self: h of this book dies and in the next book he gets with his best friend’s girlfriend 💀 I guess everyone can’t have H’s like Rune from ATBK

[Laura (lady_h_reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
😭😭😭😭😭 (New Rating just for this book)
“My greatest plot twist was you.”

I will be filing this under “books that had me sobbing”. Honestly, I’m feeling a little broken after finishing it. Part One in a duet; it does NOT end in a HEA.

I am keeping this review intentionally vague as I feel readers should experience it just as I did, going in blind (though I recommend checking out the TW that I will mention below).

The love story is sweet and tragic. Hayes, the MMC, is the golden retriever boyfriend we all crave. He chips away at the FMC's walls until she lets him in.

It’s a slow, smoldering burn with minimal spice. More emphasis is placed on the MCs’ budding love than spice. There are some incredibly sweet (I keep saying that, but it’s true) first-time scenes.

This book is sitting heavy in my heart, and I need the eventual HEA to soften the blow.

I recommend this book if you love being pulled into an emotional rollercoaster.

Genre: Contemporary Hockey Romance
Tropes/Features: Hockey, college setting, he falls first, golden retriever hockey player, reserved FMC, learning to love, highly angsty and emotional, virgin FMC, first times
Narrator: Multiple 1st Person POV
Relationship Type: MF, slow burn, mild spice
Book Type/Ending: Part One of Nodus Tollens Duet, heartbreaking cliffhanger ending
TW/CW: Major TWs – death of MC, FMC dying from heart condition

[Abby Settlemier · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nodus Tollens supposedly means “when the plot of your life no longer makes sense” . Yeah… I definitely felt that a lot reading this book because I don’t think it had a plot. At all. It was truly the worst kind of insta love. Wren spoke to BOTH (?!) love interests once and suddenly they could not live without her? Not only was the whole thing predictable, it also didn’t make sense. There were a lot of mistakes and inconsistencies (one love interest saying she had blue eyes? The other saying she had brown…) and there was simply no logic to the angsty parts. Hayes (terrible name but now I’m being picky) would not have taken a 3 hour Uber to get home to her—maybe he would, he’s certifiably an idiot who has no rational brain…. But yeah, he died. Shocker. I’m disappointed but not surprised this went viral

Bonus round for things that don’t make sense:

Mal ‘I can fit a girl’s entire ass in the palm of one hand because that’s anatomically possible’ Villarreal

Wren’s doctor who she’s had since birth does not live across the country in Kansas where she lived, he lives in her college town? 15 minutes away from the hockey arena? Make it make sense babes

[Jessica Mallo · Rating 2 out of 5]

First of all, why is Hayes in love with her after one day of meeting? Same goes with Mal, he met her at a vending machine once, and then he sees her again and it’s the girl of his dreams? They’re both some of the biggest playboys on campus who “don’t do relationships” and then all of a sudden they’re both in-love with wren after meeting her once? It just doesn’t seem realistic. And then she’s already in love with Hayes at this point and they go to a bar and that’s where she sees Mal again for the first time and he’s jealous of seeing her with Hayes and he’s leaving with a girl and now she’s jealous? Why would she be jealous over a guy she talked to for like 10 seconds… At least with Hayes he kind of groveled for her friendship with cute notes and texts. That’s the only thing I like about this book. Don’t even get me started on the end why kill him off and then have his best friend end up with his girl in the next book (I’m assuming that’s what the next one is about bc otherwise why would it be in 3 POV’s). That just seems so wrong lmao. I realize it’s called a Sad Romance, but I thought the sad part was gonna be about her heart in the end. That ending totally caught me off guard. I was confused on the dual point of view in the beginning between Mal and Wren and then Hayes popped in and I’m like “oh here we go a love triangle…” *side eye* if the next book doesn’t take place like five years later, I think it would be pointless. At least let them grieve a little over Hayes. I personally won’t be reading book 2.

[Hailey Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. Stupid fricking ending.

[Cristina]

According to reviews, someone dies whether is the H or h. Nonetheless, not for me ✌🏽

[Hetvi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book broke me. Like I literally had to study for a final and I couldn’t because of how sad I was for Wren.

Honestly I went into the book knowing what was about to happen. I knew the whole plot and the tragic end but I just decided to torture myself LOL. Hayes was the cutest most gentlest book boyfriend I’ve ever encountered. Like I feel in love with him at the first encounter. The love Wren and Hayes had for each other was just magical, it was way too pure for them to be broken apart like that. Wren deserved so much better, her past made me cry so much. The way life keeps throwing her the saddest curveballs, our girl needs a happy ending please. I also loved Mal he is the bestie everyone deserves. The bond between Hayes and Mal was so pure I couldn’t. Also their family dynamics and how Mal called Hayes mom his mom, I melted.

Also…. Idk how I feel about Mal and Wrens book like ummmm ik wren deserves a happy ending but with Mal???

[Kristin · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m DNF-ing this book. I’m usually on board for a hockey romance. However, this needs to be heavily edited. The concept could be successful but I couldn’t even make it to the actual plot because the grammar and word usage was so terrible. The tense the author was writing in was constantly changing, even from one sentence to the next. If you do want to go into this book for the plot, just be prepared. I'm sure the story itself is great. I wish I could have made it through.

[embear · Rating 2 out of 5]

i don’t get books where HE dies and then in the 2nd book she is getting with his BEST FRIEND???

too cringey for me, we all saw this coming, like sorry but the getting with bsf or brother’s bf is the worst trope ever

[Hailey Beaupre · Rating 5 out of 5]

My greatest plot twist was how heart-shattering this was WTF!???? I’m a wreck.
10/10

[Allison Herekamp · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me so long to finish because I didn’t want it to end. I knew it would wreck me and I wasn’t prepared. My heart is shattered. 😭

[Samantha Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t expect that ending, I knew something was gonna happen but not THAT!!! 🫣😭👀
I’ll be going straight into book 2 because I need to know what happens.

“𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻'𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 '𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴?”

Wren our FMC has a heart condition, she is very reserved and has never fallen in love or opened herself up to it because she is worried about her future. Until Hayes our MMC comes barreling into her life (quite literally) she leaves her phone at a hockey rally and he returns it to her ….. as she is leaving the showers.

Without giving too much away we have another male character Mal who is broody and grumpy, Wren meets Mal at the start during one of her hospital appointments and she is captivated by his broody presence.

“𝗪𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀? 𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲
𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱? 𝗢𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀, 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗿 𝘂𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲?”

…….. plot happens…. Without spoiling 😂😂😂
But basically this is a duet and to conclude the story book 2 needs to be read with how they deal with their emotions

“𝗜 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲. 𝗧𝗼 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝘂𝗽 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗲.”
“𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁'𝘀 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲, 𝗶𝘁'𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀.”

4⭐️
1🌶️

Tropes
-𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘱𝘺 𝘴𝘶𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦
-𝘩𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘺 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦
-𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵
-𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺
-𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨

[Rachael*Caribbean*girl*bibliophile]

Spoilers ahead, note to self



Booktok ikyfl 😒
H1 dies but that's ok his best friend plays backup and becomes her H in book 2 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂🤭🤭🤭🤭


There are RH for this reason🙄 so everyone can have their HEA

NO HEA means it's NOT A ROMANCE BOOK TF!

[Emmi (bookish_redpanda) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Actual rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️

“𝓜𝔂 ����𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓮𝓼𝓽 𝓹𝓵𝓸𝓽 𝓽𝔀𝓲𝓼𝓽 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝔂𝓸𝓾."

Oh my goodness. This book. I'm still shocked and in awe and nursing a slightly broken heart almost 12 hours after finishing this book. It's incredibly rare that I get on the verge of tears reading - I honestly think it's happened maybe twice before - but that's how much of an emotional impact it had on me. It's an absolutely phenomenal read that really tugs at the heartstrings, while also making you think.
I can't even put into words my true thoughts, other than I definitely want to re-read this, I cannot wait for book two, and this is going to live rent-free in my head for a long time.

Wren is such a strong character, and her growth through this book is what kept me reading. I needed to know what decisions would be made, and when she took the plunge, I cheered for her.

Hayes is the golden-retriever MMC that you can't help but fall a little bit in love with, too. As we see his story unfold, your heart just aches and all you want to do is love him more.

The spicy scenes were beautifully written and woven almost seamlessly into the story, and helped us watch as Wren and Hayes grew not only as people, but as a couple.

The illness/chronic condition rep in this book is what had me hooked, and it's what kept me reading. It's one of those "I need to know what happens" books that makes it near impossible to put down.

“𝐵𝑒𝒸𝒶𝓊𝓈𝑒 𝓌𝒽𝑒𝓃 𝐼’𝓂 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝓎𝑜𝓊, 𝓃𝑜𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝑒𝓁𝓈𝑒 𝑒𝓍𝒾𝓈𝓉𝓈. 𝑀𝓎 𝒽𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓉 𝒽𝒶𝓈 𝒻𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓁𝓁𝓎 𝒻𝑜𝓊𝓃𝒹 𝒾𝓉𝓈 𝓅𝓊𝓇𝓅𝑜𝓈𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝒷𝑒𝒶𝓉.”

[Britney Chavez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grab your tissues for this one!

What a heartbreakingly beautiful story this was. This book took me on such an emotional journey I did not see coming. I thought I was getting your typical hockey romance, but nooooo. Don’t get me wrong you still get that hockey romance but with such an emotional twist.

I loved how this was a 3 person POV book!! I don’t read them that much but I love them. I would say it is a love triangle but not really. Without giving so much away there is two MC that love each other and one that missed their opportunity on love with the MFC. So with that it isn’t a love triangle but missed opportunities.

Can I just say I loved Mal from the beginning. There was just something about that big, grumpy teddy bear of a man that just broke me and had me falling in love with him. Reading his POV chapters just…ugh broke me.

But nothing broke me more then that ending. Holy moly did that bring on the tears. Not what I saw coming.

You must read this book to found out what happens and know that it does end in a little cliffhanger. It will have you asking what comes next!

You will fall in love with the sweet talking Hayes.
You will break right along with Wren.
And you will want to hug Mal.
.
.
.
4️⃣.5️⃣⭐️
🌶️🌶️
🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻
😭😭😭😭😭- like I said bring tissues!
8/10 recommendation‼️

[Ari Loves All The Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!! Going into this book, I knew it wasn't going to be a HEA, but I wasn't expecting to love these characters the way I did. I absolutely loved their love for each other. I felt the love in the words I read and I absolutely felt all the emotions that Remi wanted us as readers to feel. A very great book and I cannot wait to read the second part.

[Hanna Parham · Rating 1 out of 5]

I HATE DNFing books especially at 50% but I just couldn’t do it anymore 😭 I started this after seeing people say it devastated them and I was looking to have my heart crushed 🙋🏼‍♀️ but I could not look past the insta-love. Maybe it would’ve picked up in the second half but I wasn’t connecting with any of the characters and sometimes ya gotta just ditch it ya know???

[Jenni Weiss · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are only a couple of books that have made me cry. It definitely didn’t end with the sadness I thought there was going to be, almost worst. My heart swelled and broke within a few chapters of each other.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crying my eyes out rn

[Elsa Gomes (BookishAurora) · Rating 4 out of 5]

These two were so bloody cute, but my heart did hurt for Mal the whole way through. And then that ending 3 I am excited to see how the next book will play out though.


*Read as editor.

[sab · Rating 5 out of 5]

so! that was actually fucking brutal! what the hell?

knew exactly what i was getting into and still devoured every word of wren, hayes, and mal’s story. brutal. brutal brutal brutal.

miss rose you will be paying my therapy bills bc wtf

*immediately opens book 2*

literally sobbed my eyes and heart out for these humans.

12/10 would recommend!

—some favorite quotes:
(let me preface this with- OUCH?!!?!!)

“There was nothing I wouldn’t do to keep her. Nothing I wouldn’t sacrifice to have this girl a little longer. If I had to, I’d give her the heart right out of my chest if that meant she’d be okay.”

“If this is love and I have a feeling it is, don’t take her away from me. I’ll give up everything to be able to have this forever. To have her forever.”

“I had this man. He was all mine, and I never wanted to be without him. Even when I was gone, I hoped that one day I could find him again and love him till the end of time.”

“My greatest plot twist was you.”

[Ashley Beek · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book hurt my heart.

[Aubrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t know whether to give this 3 or 4 stars but that ending was just straight up emotional warfare.

[Ms Cat's World · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tragically Beautiful, Outstanding 📚

"Life is precious, love with all your heart, and live life to the fullest."

Best friends from two different paths but with a shared love for 🏒

Mal, a heavily burdened upbringing where he found a silver lining to survive it when he was befriended by Hayes.

Hayes, another heart of gold just like Mal. One is a bit more broody than the other, but both immediately smitten by Wren.

Wren, living life with a heart defect, counting down each moment she is alive. Yet, not truly living until she meets her true love and soul mate.

How many times have you wished for more time?

Great ✍️ beautiful heartfelt romantic tragedy, swoonworthy, and heartbreaking.

[Summer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dare I say six stars

[Melanie (pageturnertrials) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the story in general. I loved the characters, they where so different but got along so well. Also the kinda but not really there love triangle aspect was cool with the 3 differnt povs.

The book had quite a few typos I just couldn't ignore and the scenes were way too long most of the time.

Was I the only one confused with the eye colors? When Mal first saw Wren he described them as brownish. Then later in the bar he said her ocean eyes? Hayes once said her eyes are blue and then back at his parents house they were brown again? And I know Mal has green eyes but what color are Hayes'? I think wren said ice blue but later she said the green disappeared when he was aroused?

What also bugged me was the fact that her parents never showed up. I mean she never said they had a bad realtionship or sth. And yet they never showed up, called or even texted her. Man we don't even know their names. And from what I got they live nearby her college? I have children myself and I woul at least want to hear from them once a week.

[Bella · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking for friends to lovers,heart disease and reverse grumpy/sunshine than this is for you. When they first met it had me laughing and giggling.my favorite character might just be kate because she is so me it's quite funny. Hayes is such a golden retriever that's so obsessed with her it's cute . I loved Hayes and Mal's friendship and the way they treated each other. Wren is a grumpy yet softie on the inside .My favorite parts has to be chapter 5 and 18 . The way he fought for her was so cute I tell u and I'm kinda jealous.But mal honestly deserves better and hope he gets his own book.Remi rose why !! this book made me cry and laugh. it has such a big plot twist .Now I need the second book . Definitely recommended

[Kenna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book so much. From the beginning meeting the two boys I already knew the ending, but that was okay because I love a heartbreak to feel good romance. That being said, the way both MMC’s fell in love with her instantly was a little over the top for me, they gave no context as to why other than she was the girl of their dreams and because of her looks. You didn’t get much from Mal, obviously the duet will be more about him and Wren but I still wish you would’ve gotten more. I also can’t stand when authors go into more detail for the sake of word count and not story building. All in all I think this book needed to heavily edited, but I am excited to read the duet I think it could really go places.

[Christina Rybka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wren is introverted and doesn’t want to be in a relationship. When she loses her phone and Hayes brings it to her grumpy self. He falls for her , but she wants nothing to do with him. Hayes starts to woo her with gifts and letters. They both have issues they are dealing with, and Wren is starting to soften towards Hayes. Can they be together? Great characters and storyline Highly recommend Amazing book. I absolutely love Wren and Hayes and their character development was excellent. This book has all the feels, and deals with some heavy topics. This is book one and ends on a soft cliffhanger. I’m patiently waiting for book two.

[Myra Henninger · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the ending absolutely broke me - I really couldn't stay 100% focused in the book itself. It felt like it was written by a high schooler doing a short story for an English class.
I really believe that this could be an amazing book had it went through a few more editing rounds.

I'm a hopeless romantic and love a good "Love at first sight" book. But this seemed way too unrealistic.. Not only that - but coming from someone who also has a pretty big life altering birth defect, I don't like how everyone treated her. Like she was a porcelain doll. Too many times a character was "worried" about her.

I get being worried. But it's extremely annoying and is a huge turn off..