What do you think?
Rate this book
Riverside Reapers #3
The Cruelest Kind of Hate
Hockey’s golden boy, Gage Arlington, is a world-renowned goalie and lovable jerk who expects his second season playing on the Riverside Reapers to go smoothly. Until his luck changes one game and he sustains an almost-career-ending injury. Now facing three months of recovery time, his sole focus is to get back on the ice. With a (supposedly) foolproof plan, he enlists the help of a certain dance instructor to rehabilitate him, only to find out that she’s none other than the girl who hates his guts and t-boned his car to prove it.
Dance instructor, Calista Cadwell, has been strapped in a never-ending rollercoaster loop her whole life. And when her mother falls terminally ill, she’s left with no choice but to become her brother’s primary caretaker. With a bank account that needs some serious CPR and an insane schedule, her great-sister status seems to be on the verge of tanking. But all her fears come true when she discovers her brother’s being bullied by his hockey teammates. So, when an arrogant, hip-hindered hockey player comes begging for her help, she forms a plan of action.
Gage and Calista strike a she’ll help him with his recovery in return for some hockey lessons for her brother. Over time, clashing heads devolve into clashing tongues, and Calista’s disdain toward Gage begins to change the more she’s with him. However, when Gage’s true feelings threaten to complicate their business transaction, Calista finds herself at a does she put herself first and chase after love, or does she become another cog in a family-oriented machine?
Will Gage be able to win the heart of a girl who’s too afraid to love, or will this be the one game he’s destined to lose?
The Cruelest Kind of Hate is a hilarious hockey romance featuring a lovable hockey goalie, a sassy heroine, a deal made between enemies, spice hot enough to make you question your religious values, and a slow journey of mutual healing that ultimately ends in love. It’s the third book in a series, but can be read as a standalone.
The Cruelest Kind of Hate is a dislike to lovers, hockey goalie x dance instructor, black cat x golden retriever, forced proximity, he falls first and harder, banter galore, hockey romance with no cheating, no third-act breakup, and a heart-warming happily ever after.
Dance instructor, Calista Cadwell, has been strapped in a never-ending rollercoaster loop her whole life. And when her mother falls terminally ill, she’s left with no choice but to become her brother’s primary caretaker. With a bank account that needs some serious CPR and an insane schedule, her great-sister status seems to be on the verge of tanking. But all her fears come true when she discovers her brother’s being bullied by his hockey teammates. So, when an arrogant, hip-hindered hockey player comes begging for her help, she forms a plan of action.
Gage and Calista strike a she’ll help him with his recovery in return for some hockey lessons for her brother. Over time, clashing heads devolve into clashing tongues, and Calista’s disdain toward Gage begins to change the more she’s with him. However, when Gage’s true feelings threaten to complicate their business transaction, Calista finds herself at a does she put herself first and chase after love, or does she become another cog in a family-oriented machine?
Will Gage be able to win the heart of a girl who’s too afraid to love, or will this be the one game he’s destined to lose?
The Cruelest Kind of Hate is a hilarious hockey romance featuring a lovable hockey goalie, a sassy heroine, a deal made between enemies, spice hot enough to make you question your religious values, and a slow journey of mutual healing that ultimately ends in love. It’s the third book in a series, but can be read as a standalone.
The Cruelest Kind of Hate is a dislike to lovers, hockey goalie x dance instructor, black cat x golden retriever, forced proximity, he falls first and harder, banter galore, hockey romance with no cheating, no third-act breakup, and a heart-warming happily ever after.
409 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 7, 2024
969 people are currently reading
16276 people want to read
About the author
Celeste Briars
11 books796 followersCeleste Briars is an indie author who specializes in spicy hockey romances. She’s a UC Davis alumnus with a bachelor’s in psychology. She loves creating memorable meet-cutes and happily ever afters. When she’s not writing, you can find her binge-watching horror movies, playing with her cats, or dancing the night away with her friends. If you’re looking for books with spice hot enough to question your religious values and feel-good moments that make your heart sing, please cuddle up with a Reapers novel and stay a while!
You can keep in touch through Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/celestebria...) and TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@celestebriars...).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 383 reviews
Read
August 25, 2025Dnf@ 58%
Somethings should not make the cut and this one of them
“I’m bleeding out of my pussy. My pussy!”
Believe me the context does not help🙂
I couldn’t wait until after work to write this it’s torturing me.
⋆. 𐙚 ˚ pre read ⋆. 𐙚 ˚
Do I remember why I wanted to read this? Nope and that’s why my expectations are in hell I’m expecting the most basic of them all 🥲
Somethings should not make the cut and this one of them
“I’m bleeding out of my pussy. My pussy!”
Believe me the context does not help🙂
I couldn’t wait until after work to write this it’s torturing me.
⋆. 𐙚 ˚ pre read ⋆. 𐙚 ˚
Do I remember why I wanted to read this? Nope and that’s why my expectations are in hell I’m expecting the most basic of them all 🥲
March 16, 2024
DNF at 30%
I was shocked by how bad this book was. Everything flat. One moment they hated each other and then after hanging out twice the MMC is falling for her and loves her. There was no depth, and it moved too fast to be realistic much less understandable. I am a bit confused as I read the first book in this series and it as significantly better, maybe there was a rush to get the second one out? I tried to keep reading hoping it would get better, but I had to stop after the sentences became grammatically incorrect. I think the author relied too heavily on tropes, and didn’t flesh out the actual world of the characters to carry the weight of the story. I really wanted this to be good but it wasn’t for me.
I was shocked by how bad this book was. Everything flat. One moment they hated each other and then after hanging out twice the MMC is falling for her and loves her. There was no depth, and it moved too fast to be realistic much less understandable. I am a bit confused as I read the first book in this series and it as significantly better, maybe there was a rush to get the second one out? I tried to keep reading hoping it would get better, but I had to stop after the sentences became grammatically incorrect. I think the author relied too heavily on tropes, and didn’t flesh out the actual world of the characters to carry the weight of the story. I really wanted this to be good but it wasn’t for me.
March 30, 2024
i had really high hopes for this book. like i read worst kind of promise and thought it was really good and i expected the same from this one. i was wrong. but it wasn’t that it was a bad book, it just didn’t keep me ok my toes and wanting to read it like everytime i’d pick it up i’d be like “am i almost done”
March 18, 2024
⭒ Rating: 2.5/5 🌟 / 🌶️: 1.5/3
Gosh, this was my first time reading Celeste and I had wanted to for a while but boy I didn’t love this🙈 I really wanted to but god I didn’t enjoy either of the mcs. They were both so annoying and confusing in the beginning of the book. I hated how they talked about each other in the first few chapters, but then one meeting later they wanted each other bad and the hero was already in love. C’mon. That was so ridiculous to me. Insta love really isn’t for me and this book was the insta love of insta loves when it came to the hero😅
I wanted to DNF this one a couple of times. The only reason I didn’t was because it was an arc and it was my first time reading the author, so I pushed through in hopes of it getting better. And even though I still found these two characters a little ridiculous, once they got together, they were kind of cute. Her little brother was also cute and I enjoyed his bromance with the hero.
Anyway, I’m curious about the other couples and I still want to check out their books, it just might not happen so soon.
⭒ ARC kindly provided by the author, in exchange for an honest review.
♥ Tropes: insta love, fast burn, obsessed mmc, single guardian, hockey romance
⭒ Order at: Amazon US
⭒ Follow me on: Instagram ⁕ Tiktok ⁕ Pinterest ⁕ Facebook
Gosh, this was my first time reading Celeste and I had wanted to for a while but boy I didn’t love this🙈 I really wanted to but god I didn’t enjoy either of the mcs. They were both so annoying and confusing in the beginning of the book. I hated how they talked about each other in the first few chapters, but then one meeting later they wanted each other bad and the hero was already in love. C’mon. That was so ridiculous to me. Insta love really isn’t for me and this book was the insta love of insta loves when it came to the hero😅
I wanted to DNF this one a couple of times. The only reason I didn’t was because it was an arc and it was my first time reading the author, so I pushed through in hopes of it getting better. And even though I still found these two characters a little ridiculous, once they got together, they were kind of cute. Her little brother was also cute and I enjoyed his bromance with the hero.
Anyway, I’m curious about the other couples and I still want to check out their books, it just might not happen so soon.
⭒ ARC kindly provided by the author, in exchange for an honest review.
♥ Tropes: insta love, fast burn, obsessed mmc, single guardian, hockey romance
⭒ Order at: Amazon US
⭒ Follow me on: Instagram ⁕ Tiktok ⁕ Pinterest ⁕ Facebook
July 30, 2024
Trying to read this book felt like trying to climb over a barbed wire fence wearing a ten pound body suit made of magnets.
March 7, 2024
The Cruelest Kind of Hate is a hate to love romance with a hockey goalie hero and a dance teacher heroine. Sooo I had never heard of this author before but I kept seeing ads for this new book so I decided to give it a try. While some parts I liked, there were plenty of parts that were kind of cheesy or cringe. This definitely feels like it was written to just meet all of those popular tropes and quotes and have the hero do/say all the things romance heroes do according to TikTok.
Calista is a dance teacher and also responsible for her 8-year old brother, their mother has MS and is pretty much bedridden when the story starts. She first meets hockey goalie Gage when he blocks her car in at the hockey arena and she crashes into it to get out of the space. Shortly after Gage suffers a hip injury during a hockey game and he’s told to help with his 3 month recover to take dance classes to help with flexibility. He just so happens to roll up to a dance class that Calista is teaching at, not realizing it’s for pole. He ends up asking her to help him anyways and in return he’ll give hockey lessons to her brother. Along the way he falls first (and hard) and they begin a friends with benefits type situation.
If you want a read that is super steamy and uses all the descriptors (and then some) to detail everything happening, this book is for you. There were moments in here that we do get some really sweet quiet moments and some grief being handled. I just wanted a better balance of that. Gage definitely falls fast and like I didn’t get why. I did like how he’s the sunshine, she’s the grumpy one, and he calls her “Spitfire”. All in all, this was just okay for me.
CW: self harm, grief, parental abuse/neglect, chronically ill parent, loss of a sibling as a child (heart defect), PTSD, death of a parent
Calista is a dance teacher and also responsible for her 8-year old brother, their mother has MS and is pretty much bedridden when the story starts. She first meets hockey goalie Gage when he blocks her car in at the hockey arena and she crashes into it to get out of the space. Shortly after Gage suffers a hip injury during a hockey game and he’s told to help with his 3 month recover to take dance classes to help with flexibility. He just so happens to roll up to a dance class that Calista is teaching at, not realizing it’s for pole. He ends up asking her to help him anyways and in return he’ll give hockey lessons to her brother. Along the way he falls first (and hard) and they begin a friends with benefits type situation.
If you want a read that is super steamy and uses all the descriptors (and then some) to detail everything happening, this book is for you. There were moments in here that we do get some really sweet quiet moments and some grief being handled. I just wanted a better balance of that. Gage definitely falls fast and like I didn’t get why. I did like how he’s the sunshine, she’s the grumpy one, and he calls her “Spitfire”. All in all, this was just okay for me.
CW: self harm, grief, parental abuse/neglect, chronically ill parent, loss of a sibling as a child (heart defect), PTSD, death of a parent
March 9, 2024
I’m giving this book 5 ⭐️ because I really don’t have any complaints. Sure, the plot isn’t that thick but other things are. Much more satisfying things are Lolol
This was my first sports romance and I’m glad that I started out with a really good one.
I loved the take no shit FMC and the MMC is super hot and gives you all the golden retriever energy you could want.
The spice was surprisingly tasty and was much more frequent than I anticipated. Good chemistry, realistic satisfaction.
I may be officially converted to a hockey romance kinda gal!
This was my first sports romance and I’m glad that I started out with a really good one.
I loved the take no shit FMC and the MMC is super hot and gives you all the golden retriever energy you could want.
The spice was surprisingly tasty and was much more frequent than I anticipated. Good chemistry, realistic satisfaction.
I may be officially converted to a hockey romance kinda gal!
March 9, 2024
firstly, thank you to the author for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
this book is book 3 in an interconnected series, but it can be read as a standalone (which is how I read it). this one was really cute. I loved gage and cali so much. From the first chapter I was kicking my feet and giggling, there banter is everything (and it even continues once they get together). when he made her a boo basket I was literally like -> 🥹. I loved that there was no 3rd act break up (superior) and I love love hockey romances. overall absolutely adorable but there were a few things that dropped my review down to a 4 star, firstly the writing. the writing was okay but I definitely cringed at a few parts especially during the smut scenes idk just some of the terminology and wording gave me the ick. second, I feel like a few things were missing from the story and it was insta-lovely in a sense, like I believe they hook up by 30%? anyways other than those who things I really enjoyed this one, it was cute.
you definitely should read if you love:
•Hockey Romance
•Dislike To Lovers
•Black Cat X Golden Retriever
•Hockey Goalie X Dance Instructor
•No Third Act Breakup
•Sexy Dance Lessons
•He Falls First And Harder
•Very Spicy
•Forced Proximity
•Banter Galore
this book is book 3 in an interconnected series, but it can be read as a standalone (which is how I read it). this one was really cute. I loved gage and cali so much. From the first chapter I was kicking my feet and giggling, there banter is everything (and it even continues once they get together). when he made her a boo basket I was literally like -> 🥹. I loved that there was no 3rd act break up (superior) and I love love hockey romances. overall absolutely adorable but there were a few things that dropped my review down to a 4 star, firstly the writing. the writing was okay but I definitely cringed at a few parts especially during the smut scenes idk just some of the terminology and wording gave me the ick. second, I feel like a few things were missing from the story and it was insta-lovely in a sense, like I believe they hook up by 30%? anyways other than those who things I really enjoyed this one, it was cute.
you definitely should read if you love:
•Hockey Romance
•Dislike To Lovers
•Black Cat X Golden Retriever
•Hockey Goalie X Dance Instructor
•No Third Act Breakup
•Sexy Dance Lessons
•He Falls First And Harder
•Very Spicy
•Forced Proximity
•Banter Galore
Read
February 11, 2024The forced proximity romance The Cruelest Kind of Hate by Celeste Briars centers on the relationship between dance instructor Calista Cadwell and hockey goaltender Gage Arlington.
This is the kind of novel where even though things are moving fast, you can still adore and enjoy every character. Like beign able to see Gage fall deeply and quickly for Calista was so wholesome.
Sunshine would be the best word to decribe Gage Arlington. Gage was such a golden retriever of a boyfriend and friend—I'm literally not exaggerating. The way that he would not only look out for Calista but her younger brother as well.
But I must say that there were times when his kindness and concern seemed a little cringe. Things were just being taken too far.
Considering that things were done a little differently in this novel, I wasn't sure how I would feel about it, but in the end, I liked it and the bonds that were forged throughout
*Thank you to the author, Celeste Briars, for providng me with this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.*
This is the kind of novel where even though things are moving fast, you can still adore and enjoy every character. Like beign able to see Gage fall deeply and quickly for Calista was so wholesome.
Sunshine would be the best word to decribe Gage Arlington. Gage was such a golden retriever of a boyfriend and friend—I'm literally not exaggerating. The way that he would not only look out for Calista but her younger brother as well.
But I must say that there were times when his kindness and concern seemed a little cringe. Things were just being taken too far.
Considering that things were done a little differently in this novel, I wasn't sure how I would feel about it, but in the end, I liked it and the bonds that were forged throughout
*Thank you to the author, Celeste Briars, for providng me with this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.*
March 14, 2024
considering that i’ve read the first and third book before i read the third. jeeezzzuhhhhsssssss. this book was seriously 10x better than the other two, the bar was fucking low on this one. and i didn’t even realize that this was the girls book i DNF’d so hard until i looked up the other books and literally went… nah…
anyways. i liked it. a huge statement considering the other books were bootycheeks.
anyways. i liked it. a huge statement considering the other books were bootycheeks.
March 15, 2024
It’s actually so bad, I felt like I was reading a book about horny teenagers. I had so much expectations for this book but I couldn’t get past the 28%, I’m really not the one to hate book but this one is a bit too much like everything is so rushed idk. But if you like smut I guess this one is for you
February 13, 2024
rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
spice- 🌶️🌶️🌶️
how i read- 📖
it’s always a good time for a hockey romance! this was my first celeste briars book and it did not disappoint. it was such a fun and quick read. i definitely want to read the other books in the series and find out more about gabe’s teammates!
i really liked gabe, his character was so sweet and caring. how much he cared about calista really just warmed my heart. he was so understanding of everything she was going through.
with that being said calista did bug me a little half way through the book. i understood why she was scared of commitment and getting hurt but i did feel like she was unfair to gabe at some points. all he wanted to do was show her that he cared about her and she kept pushing him away. i was so happy when she finally accepted that they had feelings for eachother.
i did love the banter in this book. i found myself giggling and laughing at their dialogue. i like how even when they were closer they still kept that sassy banter going between them.
i did really enjoy this book and i’m looking forward to reading the other ones in this series!
thank you to the author for providing me with a e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
spice- 🌶️🌶️🌶️
how i read- 📖
it’s always a good time for a hockey romance! this was my first celeste briars book and it did not disappoint. it was such a fun and quick read. i definitely want to read the other books in the series and find out more about gabe’s teammates!
i really liked gabe, his character was so sweet and caring. how much he cared about calista really just warmed my heart. he was so understanding of everything she was going through.
with that being said calista did bug me a little half way through the book. i understood why she was scared of commitment and getting hurt but i did feel like she was unfair to gabe at some points. all he wanted to do was show her that he cared about her and she kept pushing him away. i was so happy when she finally accepted that they had feelings for eachother.
i did love the banter in this book. i found myself giggling and laughing at their dialogue. i like how even when they were closer they still kept that sassy banter going between them.
i did really enjoy this book and i’m looking forward to reading the other ones in this series!
thank you to the author for providing me with a e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
April 23, 2024
i’m not sure how to feel about this book. i definitely have mixed feelings about it the plot just wasnt it for me. i didn’t really understand cali being so against gage for as long as she was. gage was literally falling in love with cali after knowing her for like 2 days which was really odd to me? the plot almost felt dragged on and somehow unfinished at the same time because the whole concussion scene at the end of the book was so unnecessary & then what happens to her mom??? idk idk and the spice was good which pisses me off because work on fixing the plot first next time 😫🫠🙄
July 12, 2024
3.75 ⭐️
This is definitely my least favourite. For this to be a hate to lovers romance the hate only lasted about 29 pages before they were completely infatuated with each other which I didn’t like
This is definitely my least favourite. For this to be a hate to lovers romance the hate only lasted about 29 pages before they were completely infatuated with each other which I didn’t like
October 11, 2025
2 🌟
safe to say i didn't like this book. i didn't like the plot, didn't like the writing, didn't like the characters.
tbh i don't even know how i got through it
safe to say i didn't like this book. i didn't like the plot, didn't like the writing, didn't like the characters.
tbh i don't even know how i got through it
March 7, 2024
Omg this book. I was hot and bothered the entire time and in the best way. This is my first book by Celeste and god I am sad why didn’t I pick a book my her earlier. This book not only revolves around their chemistry but also how he helped her heal in the way he knew. God few moments, they were like HAWTTTT. What I adored the most was Gage’s relationship with Cali’s brother. The setting & premise of the book was though on the common lines of sports romance but it was also different and I enjoyed it.
tropes:
🏒hockey romance
👠 dislike to lovers
🏒black cat x golden retriever
👠“i hate you.” / “it turns me on.”
🏒no third act breakup
👠spicy
tropes:
🏒hockey romance
👠 dislike to lovers
🏒black cat x golden retriever
👠“i hate you.” / “it turns me on.”
🏒no third act breakup
👠spicy
February 16, 2024
Thanks Celeste for reaching me,and having the plasure to receive ARC for your book.😊
Gage Arlington the hockey royalty and the golden boy of the Riverside Reapers is looking forward his second season in to pass perfectly.
Unfortunately the luck was not one his side when he get injured, almost with carieer stopinng conclusion.
Now getting three months recovery time, his whole priority is to get back one the ice,but unfortunately again he can't do it without the help of the girl, who is hating his guts lol🤭
Calista Cadwell a dance instructor that have her life one rollercoaster of emotions,is suffering when her mother geta terminal ill.
She have no choice but to become her little brother guardian. With no money, she is doing everything in her power to rise her brother, but when the arrogant player Gage Arlington is proposing her a opportunity for extra income if she help him,Calista have no other choice but to accept.
Golden retrievel is the perfect word to describe Gage.
He was totally sunshine for everyone,and was looking out for Calista,and her little brother who making me to melt.
The book hase banter that make me to giggle like crazy,and overall I have enjoyed the book.
Thanks again for the opportunity to receive this ARC!❤️
Gage Arlington the hockey royalty and the golden boy of the Riverside Reapers is looking forward his second season in to pass perfectly.
Unfortunately the luck was not one his side when he get injured, almost with carieer stopinng conclusion.
Now getting three months recovery time, his whole priority is to get back one the ice,but unfortunately again he can't do it without the help of the girl, who is hating his guts lol🤭
Calista Cadwell a dance instructor that have her life one rollercoaster of emotions,is suffering when her mother geta terminal ill.
She have no choice but to become her little brother guardian. With no money, she is doing everything in her power to rise her brother, but when the arrogant player Gage Arlington is proposing her a opportunity for extra income if she help him,Calista have no other choice but to accept.
Golden retrievel is the perfect word to describe Gage.
He was totally sunshine for everyone,and was looking out for Calista,and her little brother who making me to melt.
The book hase banter that make me to giggle like crazy,and overall I have enjoyed the book.
Thanks again for the opportunity to receive this ARC!❤️
October 29, 2024
the only reason i allowed this book to be a part of my profile is to say how bad it is. What the actual hell is going on. there is no emotion, the sexual
tension is non existent. Her only personality is the fact she’s got a nice pair of honkers. there is no reason for her not to want to date him since the major plot points were over by the 25% mark.
tension is non existent. Her only personality is the fact she’s got a nice pair of honkers. there is no reason for her not to want to date him since the major plot points were over by the 25% mark.
April 3, 2024
this book had me sobbing, highly recommend reading this series!!
this series has been so fun, i honestly couldn’t stop reading it even if i wanted to, the side characters are fun, i feel like every hockey romance just has such strong friendships that just make it 10x more fun to read!!
anyways, if this review is repetitive it’s because my brain is mush after work but the take away should be:
read if you like hockey romance, enemies to lovers, banter, found family, he falls first (boy VERY obsessed) and black cat fmc 💜
this series has been so fun, i honestly couldn’t stop reading it even if i wanted to, the side characters are fun, i feel like every hockey romance just has such strong friendships that just make it 10x more fun to read!!
anyways, if this review is repetitive it’s because my brain is mush after work but the take away should be:
read if you like hockey romance, enemies to lovers, banter, found family, he falls first (boy VERY obsessed) and black cat fmc 💜
May 16, 2024
Sweeter Than Expected
I knew Gage would be a bit of a freak and Cali definatky earns her nickname Spitfire but I didn't expect Gage to be such a cinnamon roll. He falls hard, fast and unashamadly deeply from day 1.
Of course the pair have their ups and down, especially with Cali caring for a sick mother and acting as loco parents for a little brother but with Gage busy her side, supporting her and loving her, the HEA was guaranteed.
I knew Gage would be a bit of a freak and Cali definatky earns her nickname Spitfire but I didn't expect Gage to be such a cinnamon roll. He falls hard, fast and unashamadly deeply from day 1.
Of course the pair have their ups and down, especially with Cali caring for a sick mother and acting as loco parents for a little brother but with Gage busy her side, supporting her and loving her, the HEA was guaranteed.
April 22, 2024
2/5☆
i knew this was going downhill when i realized how fast burn this was, i wanted to dnf this one 20% in tbh and it unfortunately did not get better
i knew this was going downhill when i realized how fast burn this was, i wanted to dnf this one 20% in tbh and it unfortunately did not get better
August 26, 2024
My favorite part of this book was when the man was unconscious
April 2, 2024
2.5/5 stars
For most of this book, I thought it would be between 3.5-4 stars, but honestly the last like 8 chapters of the book really turned me off from it. I think it was a nice book for the most part. Found this via Instagram reel and I’d been waiting for it to come out since like November. I don’t want to say I’m disappointed, but this definitely wasn’t my favorite book and like I said, the last like 80 pages or so just really gave me an ick.
In the beginning, it seemed like it was gonna have some plot! They hate each other, she helps rehab him to get money for her mom and lessons for her brother, and they fall in love after awhile. It felt very rushed instead. Gage was literally falling in love the second time he saw her (mind you, after she’d T-boned his car the first time they met). Love a good he falls first/harder but this was way too soon for me. Also, there were a lotttt of inconsistencies in setting. Like, one second the 8 year old brother is in the next room or downstairs, and the next Gage and Cali are getting it on like huh??? Also, in a lot of scenes where you would definitely either want to know where the little brother is or at least know he’s safe, they never mention Teague until you’re like halfway through the scene going ??. Also, there are definitely parts where it alludes/sounds like Teague is at home with their disabled mother who can’t even take medication sometimes so likeeeee interesting!
I think the whole last bit was unnecessary. From the head trauma thing (which, literally did not last for a single second after he opened his eyes 😐), to the weird dance number in the middle of Gage’s living room with all of his roommates?? To the “epilogue” chapter?? All in all, the last little bit of the book was weird as hell and knocked my rating of the book down a lot.
Otherwise, I do think Gage is very sweet in wanting to help Cali but I feel like a lot of the plot of this book goes missing halfway through. We never hear about how her mom’s doing in the end, and literally hockey is only mentioned like 3 times (with the exception of the couple hockey lessons Gage gives Teague). All in all, a lot left to be desired.
For most of this book, I thought it would be between 3.5-4 stars, but honestly the last like 8 chapters of the book really turned me off from it. I think it was a nice book for the most part. Found this via Instagram reel and I’d been waiting for it to come out since like November. I don’t want to say I’m disappointed, but this definitely wasn’t my favorite book and like I said, the last like 80 pages or so just really gave me an ick.
In the beginning, it seemed like it was gonna have some plot! They hate each other, she helps rehab him to get money for her mom and lessons for her brother, and they fall in love after awhile. It felt very rushed instead. Gage was literally falling in love the second time he saw her (mind you, after she’d T-boned his car the first time they met). Love a good he falls first/harder but this was way too soon for me. Also, there were a lotttt of inconsistencies in setting. Like, one second the 8 year old brother is in the next room or downstairs, and the next Gage and Cali are getting it on like huh??? Also, in a lot of scenes where you would definitely either want to know where the little brother is or at least know he’s safe, they never mention Teague until you’re like halfway through the scene going ??. Also, there are definitely parts where it alludes/sounds like Teague is at home with their disabled mother who can’t even take medication sometimes so likeeeee interesting!
I think the whole last bit was unnecessary. From the head trauma thing (which, literally did not last for a single second after he opened his eyes 😐), to the weird dance number in the middle of Gage’s living room with all of his roommates?? To the “epilogue” chapter?? All in all, the last little bit of the book was weird as hell and knocked my rating of the book down a lot.
Otherwise, I do think Gage is very sweet in wanting to help Cali but I feel like a lot of the plot of this book goes missing halfway through. We never hear about how her mom’s doing in the end, and literally hockey is only mentioned like 3 times (with the exception of the couple hockey lessons Gage gives Teague). All in all, a lot left to be desired.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 15, 2024
Also ich hab das jetzt endlich nach langer Zeit zuende gelesen. Meh… fand’s jetzt bisschen komisch. Eigentlich sollte es erst enemies to lovers sein aber gefühlt nach ein paar mal treffen war er direkt verknallt und blah blah blah… generell bisschen cringe gewesen aber was soll man machen. Ich mein ich fand’s ok so zu lesen aber ich hätte es mir auch sparen können
June 10, 2024
Es el que más me ha gustado de la saga.
Cali me ha parecido un personaje tan tooooop. ¿Y Gage? Oh dioses. Define el hombre perfecto y te sale Gage Arlington. Es que no sé, de verdad, este libro ha tenido algo que wow. La tensión al principio, el juego al final. Espectacular.
Y Aeris mi reina es que es un osito de peluche. La amo. Es mi personaje favorito de todo el universo Riverside Reapers y punto.
Este también es aún más spicy que los anteriores diría yo, pero increíble. De verdad que Celeste es brutal. Me encanta como escribe, como describe y lo divertida y fácil que se hace la lectura.
Cali me ha parecido un personaje tan tooooop. ¿Y Gage? Oh dioses. Define el hombre perfecto y te sale Gage Arlington. Es que no sé, de verdad, este libro ha tenido algo que wow. La tensión al principio, el juego al final. Espectacular.
Y Aeris mi reina es que es un osito de peluche. La amo. Es mi personaje favorito de todo el universo Riverside Reapers y punto.
Este también es aún más spicy que los anteriores diría yo, pero increíble. De verdad que Celeste es brutal. Me encanta como escribe, como describe y lo divertida y fácil que se hace la lectura.
February 11, 2024
“I’ll be here to love you and your scars on the days that you can't”
and after this quote let’s start this arc review with some tropes in the book:
hockey romance
dislike to lovers
hockey goalie and dance instructor
black cat and golden retriever
forced proximity
he falls first and harder
no third act break up
Gage and Calista what can I say about them?
Gage was a perfect example of a golden retriever, he was always there for Cali,his friends and her brother while Cali was a really strong girl and a determined one!
This was my first book from Celeste and it was a pleasure to read it!
thank you Celeste Briars for sending me the e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review <3
and after this quote let’s start this arc review with some tropes in the book:
hockey romance
dislike to lovers
hockey goalie and dance instructor
black cat and golden retriever
forced proximity
he falls first and harder
no third act break up
Gage and Calista what can I say about them?
Gage was a perfect example of a golden retriever, he was always there for Cali,his friends and her brother while Cali was a really strong girl and a determined one!
This was my first book from Celeste and it was a pleasure to read it!
thank you Celeste Briars for sending me the e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review <3
March 11, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
March 10, 2024
0.5 so poorly written omg
March 21, 2024
it was like eating a stale sandwich
Displaying 1 - 30 of 383 reviews