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Icing Hearts
The sunshine girl with a dark past never dreamed the grumpy hockey star could love her back... especially after he's loathed her for years.
Clara has been in love with Victory Amato for years. She's been sure to let him know her affinity often, and in no uncertain terms. Her cringe-worthy, tongue-in-cheek flirting is the perfect distraction from the issues that plague her terrible home life. No one will figure out the real problems if they're focused on her antics, right? Until, her History teacher assigns Tory as her project partner and he starts to get close... a little too close.
Tory, as Clara calls him, has hated her almost as much as that stupid nickname she's given him. That's exactly what he tells his History teacher who uses his disdain as motivation to pair the two on a project, in hopes that straight-A, bubbly Clara will help Tory turn his grades around. What's the point in being hyper-focused on hockey if his GPA is too low for college? But instead of focusing on the project, Tory finds himself growing in his obsession with Clara. An obsession that he's kept hidden for years under the guise of disdain. But when he finally admits his feelings, he has a plethora of obstacles to overcome, both on and off the ice.
If you're looking for burn so slow it's tantalizingly painful, unparalleled banter, and multi-dimensional characters, read J.J. Wright's Icing Hearts today!
Clara has been in love with Victory Amato for years. She's been sure to let him know her affinity often, and in no uncertain terms. Her cringe-worthy, tongue-in-cheek flirting is the perfect distraction from the issues that plague her terrible home life. No one will figure out the real problems if they're focused on her antics, right? Until, her History teacher assigns Tory as her project partner and he starts to get close... a little too close.
Tory, as Clara calls him, has hated her almost as much as that stupid nickname she's given him. That's exactly what he tells his History teacher who uses his disdain as motivation to pair the two on a project, in hopes that straight-A, bubbly Clara will help Tory turn his grades around. What's the point in being hyper-focused on hockey if his GPA is too low for college? But instead of focusing on the project, Tory finds himself growing in his obsession with Clara. An obsession that he's kept hidden for years under the guise of disdain. But when he finally admits his feelings, he has a plethora of obstacles to overcome, both on and off the ice.
If you're looking for burn so slow it's tantalizingly painful, unparalleled banter, and multi-dimensional characters, read J.J. Wright's Icing Hearts today!
399 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 1, 2023
232 people are currently reading
4183 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 268 reviews
December 27, 2023
ummm what...i have a lot of thoughts. and none of them are positive. first of all the fmc was so embarrassing. the way she acted and talked gave me so much second hand embarrassment. secondly this book felt like the author took a bunch of things you see in a "micro tropes i love in books" tiktok and smashed them together. thirdly for this to be marketed as a ya hockey romance i was most definitely not expecting all that mafia esque stuff. like what the heck. that's heavy for a ya book. fourthly why were there like 10 epilogues. 1 year later is the norm but we got that AND a 10 years later AND 15 years later AND 85 years later. like what...what do you mean 85 years later...also they got married at 18...what. sorry this book was just so absurd to me. everything was so messed up i can't believe people enjoyed this. and like the development was so weird. like one day tory just switched up and did a 180 like he literally became a different person overnight and it was so weird.
this book baffled me. i don't even want to give this book 1 star. 0.5 stars!
this book baffled me. i don't even want to give this book 1 star. 0.5 stars!
December 17, 2023
I was so excited to be selected as an ARC Reader for this book!
I powered through it in a single 4 hour sitting, it was THAT engaging.
Icing Hearts follows Sunshine Clara Larsen and her very public crush Grumpy Victory Amato.
The book is well paced with some of the best banter I’ve ever read. All the main and supporting characters were detailed and I really felt as though I knew every single character personally.
I will DEFINITELY be buying the paperback once this is released to display the STUNNING cover!
J.J. Wright has just become another author on my insta buy list!
~~~
“Looking at Tory is like looking at the sun. Life-giving, yet utterly destructive.”
“Do you not realise that when you’re close, I am mere moments from spontaneous combustion.”
“You are my favourite subject of study - and I am a scholar in the field.”
I powered through it in a single 4 hour sitting, it was THAT engaging.
Icing Hearts follows Sunshine Clara Larsen and her very public crush Grumpy Victory Amato.
The book is well paced with some of the best banter I’ve ever read. All the main and supporting characters were detailed and I really felt as though I knew every single character personally.
I will DEFINITELY be buying the paperback once this is released to display the STUNNING cover!
J.J. Wright has just become another author on my insta buy list!
~~~
“Looking at Tory is like looking at the sun. Life-giving, yet utterly destructive.”
“Do you not realise that when you’re close, I am mere moments from spontaneous combustion.”
“You are my favourite subject of study - and I am a scholar in the field.”
December 17, 2023
ARC REVIEW -- no compensation, unbiased
⭐4/5
🌶️0.5 NOTE THAT THIS IS A YA NOVEL!!! As a frequent open door spicy book reader, I will say that author J.J. Wright did so well with the closed door scenes!! Let's just say sometimes less is more...
I received this book as an ARC, and read it in one sitting!! I have absolutely no bias in reviewing this book, so let's look at all of the things I didn't think I'd love (I'm a picky reader, sorry not sorry) but did...
First and foremost... I hate when characters are insta-love. When I first started the book (this is NOT a spoiler, as it's mentioned immediately) I was put off a little by her obsession with him. This opinion changed nearly immediately, I'm not lying. I LOVE Clara. I thought I was going to find her character type annoying, since she's not my usual cup of tea... I genuinely could not have been more wrong. Her whimsy and flirtatiousness truly made the book. I love the dynamic between them, and this is coming from an avid hate-to-love or enemies-to-lovers enthusiast.
Trust me when I say that anything you THINK you know about this book... you don't. Seriously. All of your judgements or first thoughts will be so different pages, chapters into the book. My mind was constantly working, deciding on new ideas and opinions. What I thought when I started was not what I thought by the end.
Secondly, I loved how perfectly imperfect the characters were. They knew their own flaws, they didn't pretend to be something they weren't. Straight to the point. *chef's kiss*
Third... HE READS YOU GUYS, HE READS.
I have so many highlights of all of the moments that made me swoon.
That is to say... no book is perfect and this book is no exception. There are things I wish happened and things that I wish hadn't. There are times I feel like there could be some missed opportunities. But that is such with EVERY book. Ever. There are so many different routes a story can go. Despite those moments where you find yourself wishing for something different, as readers often (always) do... I promise you that this book will be worth the read.
Congratulations author J.J. Wright on Icing Hearts, and thank you so much for the opportunity to read it before the official publication. I loved every second of this book. It made me happy, it made me mad, it made me SWOON (where do I order my own Tory????)... it even made me cry. Great job!!!
⭐4/5
🌶️0.5 NOTE THAT THIS IS A YA NOVEL!!! As a frequent open door spicy book reader, I will say that author J.J. Wright did so well with the closed door scenes!! Let's just say sometimes less is more...
I received this book as an ARC, and read it in one sitting!! I have absolutely no bias in reviewing this book, so let's look at all of the things I didn't think I'd love (I'm a picky reader, sorry not sorry) but did...
First and foremost... I hate when characters are insta-love. When I first started the book (this is NOT a spoiler, as it's mentioned immediately) I was put off a little by her obsession with him. This opinion changed nearly immediately, I'm not lying. I LOVE Clara. I thought I was going to find her character type annoying, since she's not my usual cup of tea... I genuinely could not have been more wrong. Her whimsy and flirtatiousness truly made the book. I love the dynamic between them, and this is coming from an avid hate-to-love or enemies-to-lovers enthusiast.
Trust me when I say that anything you THINK you know about this book... you don't. Seriously. All of your judgements or first thoughts will be so different pages, chapters into the book. My mind was constantly working, deciding on new ideas and opinions. What I thought when I started was not what I thought by the end.
Secondly, I loved how perfectly imperfect the characters were. They knew their own flaws, they didn't pretend to be something they weren't. Straight to the point. *chef's kiss*
Third... HE READS YOU GUYS, HE READS.
I have so many highlights of all of the moments that made me swoon.
That is to say... no book is perfect and this book is no exception. There are things I wish happened and things that I wish hadn't. There are times I feel like there could be some missed opportunities. But that is such with EVERY book. Ever. There are so many different routes a story can go. Despite those moments where you find yourself wishing for something different, as readers often (always) do... I promise you that this book will be worth the read.
Congratulations author J.J. Wright on Icing Hearts, and thank you so much for the opportunity to read it before the official publication. I loved every second of this book. It made me happy, it made me mad, it made me SWOON (where do I order my own Tory????)... it even made me cry. Great job!!!
February 6, 2024
this book started off okay. the main character, clara, was quirky, but i can usually look past that. enjoy it even. however, i should"ve taken it as a sign to stop when the mmc was mention. guess his name. i bet you cant. VICTORY WINNER AMATO. THAT IS HIS NAME. VICTORY WINNER. i digress. Victory (tory) plays hockey. but does he? because that plot is dropped about 30-40 percent through, only to be mentioned a few times after that. same happens to characters. i feel like we are introduced many characters that serve no relevance, and ultimately do not get brought up again. this book was also 100-150 pages too long. new plots being added, most of which are so random and leave you thinking"what the hell is going on?" and the romance. it was okay. tory was obsessed with her, but acted like he couldn't stand her sometimes, but then like he wanted her. very hot and cold. she was obsessed with him, but was mostly the reason they wouldn't just get together. it was just meh. Now, my biggest complaint. i do not think this author has ever heard two teenagers converse, ESPECIALLY a teenage boy. What was the dialogue in this book? these characters are seventeen living in the twenty first century. NOT IN A SHAKESPEARE PLAY.???? like some of their conversations had me putting the book down because it was just so unrealistic and so painful to read. don't even get me started on the epilogues (yes, PLURAL.)
December 19, 2023
MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!
(I’ve added some quotes which may spoil parts of the book)
I was so excited to be chosen as an ARC reader for this book! It was also my first ARC so I’m happy it got to be JJ Wright’s Icing Hearts!
Honestly this book was written beautifully, the timeline of detail of each character was well paced and not overbearing. At first I was worried I wouldn’t like Charity and Tory due to their love obsession for each other - I’m more of a slow burn kinda gal. - I was convinced this was going to be a 4/5 star read for me. HOWEVER, it was perfect, their growing admission and understanding for each other was so perfect, it was hard for me to put the book down. Their banter and the way they understood each other without words was heartwarming. In one of Victory’s POV chapters JJ Wright used his nickname Tory to address it was his POV - this chapter ended up being a turning point for the characters love, where they connected on a deeper level and knew this was their fate, they were to protect and love each other. My favourite part though had to be the 85 year later segment which solidified the 5/5 starts, the quote “He fought for her until their dying breath.” had tears welling in my eyes. It was a beautiful way to close Victory Winner Amato and Clara Rachel Larson’s love story.
Favourite Quotes:
“Holy…books.”
“I think that’s pretty stupid.”
“Bite me. Please?”
“It’s kismet.”
“I still get nervous sometimes.
I still get nervous all the time.”
(I’ve added some quotes which may spoil parts of the book)
I was so excited to be chosen as an ARC reader for this book! It was also my first ARC so I’m happy it got to be JJ Wright’s Icing Hearts!
Honestly this book was written beautifully, the timeline of detail of each character was well paced and not overbearing. At first I was worried I wouldn’t like Charity and Tory due to their love obsession for each other - I’m more of a slow burn kinda gal. - I was convinced this was going to be a 4/5 star read for me. HOWEVER, it was perfect, their growing admission and understanding for each other was so perfect, it was hard for me to put the book down. Their banter and the way they understood each other without words was heartwarming. In one of Victory’s POV chapters JJ Wright used his nickname Tory to address it was his POV - this chapter ended up being a turning point for the characters love, where they connected on a deeper level and knew this was their fate, they were to protect and love each other. My favourite part though had to be the 85 year later segment which solidified the 5/5 starts, the quote “He fought for her until their dying breath.” had tears welling in my eyes. It was a beautiful way to close Victory Winner Amato and Clara Rachel Larson’s love story.
Favourite Quotes:
“Holy…books.”
“I think that’s pretty stupid.”
“Bite me. Please?”
“It’s kismet.”
“I still get nervous sometimes.
I still get nervous all the time.”
December 17, 2023
I devoured this book in one sitting it was so good !!.
The writing is absolutely brilliant and the author is extremely talented. Because I was on the edge of my seat since chapter 5 trying to figure out the secrets of her life . and not only that, you truly form a connection with the characters from chapter one and really feel their pain and every other feeling,this is the first book in a while that had me crying ,laughing and giggling kicking my feet.
The relationship between the main characters was absolutely amazing.
their banter was just *Chefs kiss* .
I loved how inlove he was but kept trying to deny it, he showed multiple times that she is the most important thing in his life. For instance he held parties just to spend time with her , he bought the box set of her favorite series . He even has Taylor swift songs on his phone because he knows she's a swfitie.
He is the new standard to which I'll be comparing all future book boyfriends.
Ps:I loved how the Epilogue went years into the future ♡.
The writing is absolutely brilliant and the author is extremely talented. Because I was on the edge of my seat since chapter 5 trying to figure out the secrets of her life . and not only that, you truly form a connection with the characters from chapter one and really feel their pain and every other feeling,this is the first book in a while that had me crying ,laughing and giggling kicking my feet.
The relationship between the main characters was absolutely amazing.
their banter was just *Chefs kiss* .
I loved how inlove he was but kept trying to deny it, he showed multiple times that she is the most important thing in his life. For instance he held parties just to spend time with her , he bought the box set of her favorite series . He even has Taylor swift songs on his phone because he knows she's a swfitie.
He is the new standard to which I'll be comparing all future book boyfriends.
Ps:I loved how the Epilogue went years into the future ♡.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 23, 2023
Personally this book just wasn’t for me. It was a lot of show but don’t tell. We got so much description of things happening but no actual dialogue or look into what’s taking place. Clara’s dad is built up so much and for the whole first half of the book we don’t see him at all in anything and are left in the dark. We know something is up between Victor (Tory’s) parents and her dad but don’t get any details until 50% of the way through. I think it was also forgotten at times that they are meant to be high schoolers due to how they act and things they say. The writing is just very Wattpad-y and not developed super well. Also the amount of times Shatter Me is mentioned in a cheesy and thrown in way was just not great. I think the idea is there but the execution just doesn’t match. As the book went on things just got worse and worse. It felt like any plot point or idea you could think of got thrown in somehow. I have a lot of other thoughts but don’t want to come off as too harsh so I’ll just stop here.
I was sent this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was sent this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 17, 2023
I absolutely loved the book. I can't even express how amazed i was about it. It was my first time being an ARC reader and i couldn't have been happier when i found out. I am a fast reader but have i ever finished a book in one day? Not until now i haven't. This book was so good I swear i couldn't put it down. I loved everything about the book and can't wait for it to be released so everyone can read it because J.J Wright this has got to be the best book i have read.💕💕
December 17, 2023
ARC Review!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
0 🌶️
Thank you very much JJ Wright for letting me be an arc reader for this book!
I read this book in one sitting so I think it’s safe to say that I was incredibly hooked. This is the first romance YA novel that I’ve read in a very long time and it did not disappoint.
I love Clara as a character, she’s so funny and relatable. I feel like her personality really makes the book and their banter is just too funny.
There are obviously parts I didn’t like but they were just things that I didn’t like specifically and it doesn’t make the book bad in any way.
I can’t wait for the hardcover for this book to release, I definitely plan on getting it! If you plan on reading this book when it comes out I 100% recommend it, you will not be disappointed.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
0 🌶️
Thank you very much JJ Wright for letting me be an arc reader for this book!
I read this book in one sitting so I think it’s safe to say that I was incredibly hooked. This is the first romance YA novel that I’ve read in a very long time and it did not disappoint.
I love Clara as a character, she’s so funny and relatable. I feel like her personality really makes the book and their banter is just too funny.
There are obviously parts I didn’t like but they were just things that I didn’t like specifically and it doesn’t make the book bad in any way.
I can’t wait for the hardcover for this book to release, I definitely plan on getting it! If you plan on reading this book when it comes out I 100% recommend it, you will not be disappointed.
July 3, 2024
I got bored of this book but decided I was going to finish it. The storyline was cute.
April 8, 2025
it’s so bad i wanna give you a zero, but that’s not possible, so i’ll give you a one <3
January 14, 2024
I was honestly so honoured to be a ARC reader for this book.
I am honestly a sucker for hockey romance and this one hit this spot. Clara and Victory (Tory) honestly have my heart.
This book contains:
Enemies to lovers
Sunshine x Grumpy
Slow burn
Young Love
I normally read books that contain a lot of smut and this book doesn’t have a lot of it but I honestly love that about it. It didn’t have every chapter containing smut and when there was those “spicy scenes” it felt right between Clare and Victory. It also happened behind closed doors and it was honestly so beautiful getting to experience their love for one another privately.
The storyline is so beautiful written and I honestly couldn’t put the book down, any free time that I had I was reading this book.
Also a green flag for me was it had Epilogue expanding over large periods of time which I honestly loved.
Also can we talk about how beautiful the book cover is, like J.J Wright honestly hit the mark with this one. I would honestly buy the book just for the cover art, but seriously I will be buying this book when it comes out because it was honestly such an amazing book it read. I would read it 100 times over.
Also I would recommend reading the trigger warnings before reading the actual book cause it does talk about some heavy topics.
I am honestly a sucker for hockey romance and this one hit this spot. Clara and Victory (Tory) honestly have my heart.
This book contains:
Enemies to lovers
Sunshine x Grumpy
Slow burn
Young Love
I normally read books that contain a lot of smut and this book doesn’t have a lot of it but I honestly love that about it. It didn’t have every chapter containing smut and when there was those “spicy scenes” it felt right between Clare and Victory. It also happened behind closed doors and it was honestly so beautiful getting to experience their love for one another privately.
The storyline is so beautiful written and I honestly couldn’t put the book down, any free time that I had I was reading this book.
Also a green flag for me was it had Epilogue expanding over large periods of time which I honestly loved.
Also can we talk about how beautiful the book cover is, like J.J Wright honestly hit the mark with this one. I would honestly buy the book just for the cover art, but seriously I will be buying this book when it comes out because it was honestly such an amazing book it read. I would read it 100 times over.
Also I would recommend reading the trigger warnings before reading the actual book cause it does talk about some heavy topics.
December 30, 2023
2.3 stars
okay the amount of times ive had to read about her calling him beautiful I GOT IT AFTER THE FIRST 3 TIMES.
this book confused me. i mean i had fun reading it but it also just felt so long... had to take a break in between because of how tired i was getting and im someone who tends to read books in one shot straight through. one moment gurlies obsessed with him and next moment shes... over him???? but also not over him??? he was the only tolerable character for the most part. the guy has terrible timing though how coincidental is it that he starts to show her he likes her but then his teammate likes her too🤨🤨 in his defense he was like a minute earlier but still.
no im sorry im not over her character flaw. sis has the biggest balls ever but is also kinda embarrassing idk i love her energy and how she openly declares her love for him and she doesnt give up (since he isnt pushing her away anyway) but GIRL I DONT THINK YOU HAD TO DO ALL THAT ERMMMM
yea idk 2.3 because im confused over what this story was trying to be and annoyed that the main character herself doesnt make sense
OKAY BUT LANGUAGE USE WAS GREAT I LOVE THE LITERARY DEVICES. helped me revise for my lit exam kinda
okay the amount of times ive had to read about her calling him beautiful I GOT IT AFTER THE FIRST 3 TIMES.
this book confused me. i mean i had fun reading it but it also just felt so long... had to take a break in between because of how tired i was getting and im someone who tends to read books in one shot straight through. one moment gurlies obsessed with him and next moment shes... over him???? but also not over him??? he was the only tolerable character for the most part. the guy has terrible timing though how coincidental is it that he starts to show her he likes her but then his teammate likes her too🤨🤨 in his defense he was like a minute earlier but still.
no im sorry im not over her character flaw. sis has the biggest balls ever but is also kinda embarrassing idk i love her energy and how she openly declares her love for him and she doesnt give up (since he isnt pushing her away anyway) but GIRL I DONT THINK YOU HAD TO DO ALL THAT ERMMMM
yea idk 2.3 because im confused over what this story was trying to be and annoyed that the main character herself doesnt make sense
OKAY BUT LANGUAGE USE WAS GREAT I LOVE THE LITERARY DEVICES. helped me revise for my lit exam kinda
September 5, 2025
I really loved this book I annotated so many quotes too I loved the characters and one of the only YA hockey romances I can’t find other than rival darling by Alexandra moody…
Reread:
5🌟 I absolutely ADORE this book. If you are an ultimate book lover this book is for you. It has all the classic tropes we all love put into one and the main characters are just so in love and amazing. This book has SO many shatter me references and other fantastic books, taylor swift references and also I found myself thinking of the boys of tommen series a LOT (when am I not thinking about that series)?! I LOVE the two main characters and their story it’s so gut wrenchingly beautiful and it’s sad but pure and then has THE BEST and most happiest ending which makes my heart feel whole. I don’t really know how to describe how I feel about this book just know I absolutely love it and I would recommend this book to everyone possible!!
Reread:
5🌟 I absolutely ADORE this book. If you are an ultimate book lover this book is for you. It has all the classic tropes we all love put into one and the main characters are just so in love and amazing. This book has SO many shatter me references and other fantastic books, taylor swift references and also I found myself thinking of the boys of tommen series a LOT (when am I not thinking about that series)?! I LOVE the two main characters and their story it’s so gut wrenchingly beautiful and it’s sad but pure and then has THE BEST and most happiest ending which makes my heart feel whole. I don’t really know how to describe how I feel about this book just know I absolutely love it and I would recommend this book to everyone possible!!
March 13, 2024
this being my first hockey romanced i loved it. some parts of the book seemed kinda stupid, like the characters actions and the way they acted, but it was understandable. otherwise omg it was acc such a great book. it thought it was going to be a light and easy YA romance read but it had me sobbing on the plane. their situation was acc so sad and i cannot get over how amazing tory is as a person, especially to clara. the banter and the flirting was on point acc had me smiling the whole book. i loved the references it made to Romeo and Juliette because tory and clara are literally them. it was heartbreaking reading abt their lives. OMG I ALSO ACC LOVED HOW OTHER BOOKS WERE MENTIONED IN THIS BOOK LIKE SHATTER ME SERIES AND CARAVAL, and it’s because they are both book worms even though he’s a hot shot hockey player. ahh it was js such a cute read
March 2, 2025
When I saw I was selected as an ARC reader, I was truly excited, and this book met every expectation I had for it.
I loved the character and relationship development of Clara and Tory. Their story was so beautiful and kind of tragic at the same time, but everything turned out perfect ❤️
I really appreciate how the author touched all the delicate aspects of their life in such a good way, and how poetic their interactions were.
Also, can we talk about them discussing books? Because it had me swooning. And their banter was impeccable 😍. Plus, that ending made me tear up, I'm not going to lie.
I loved the character and relationship development of Clara and Tory. Their story was so beautiful and kind of tragic at the same time, but everything turned out perfect ❤️
I really appreciate how the author touched all the delicate aspects of their life in such a good way, and how poetic their interactions were.
Also, can we talk about them discussing books? Because it had me swooning. And their banter was impeccable 😍. Plus, that ending made me tear up, I'm not going to lie.
December 18, 2023
ARC review! Not compensated & unbiased!
⭐️ 5/5
🌶️ 1/5
This book was SO good!! A very clean YA romance with no language (which I really appreciated because sometimes it just gets to be too much). I’m usually an open door reader, but these closed door scenes had just enough romance to keep your spice-needs satisfied without going full on spicy! I loved the plot and the characters’ depth kept me constantly engaged. I couldn’t put it down and finished it in less than a day!!
I loved the constant banter between Clara and Tory. I fell in love with them from the very beginning. I wasn’t totally sure I would love Clara because of her open obsession with Tory, but she was written so well that I really just started to love her so quickly! I could relate to her character so much. She’s a bit of a people pleaser in the sense that she covers up the messy parts of her life with frills and bows and perfect grades, but isn’t afraid to be herself and especially show her crazy love for Tory. The trials in her life push her to be even better and I love the decision she makes toward the end of the story to better herself.
Tory is such a bad boy who’s actually a softie and I could not get enough of him. His protectiveness over Clara from the very beginning had me swooning. Even though she couldn’t see his love for her, it was clear that he felt something and wanted to protect her over everything else. His attention to all of her little details (especially when Vince wasn’t doing so) made my heart smile and wish he was real! He always makes sure Clara is safe and has what she needs, especially when he finds out her secrets. Also…he READS. A hockey player jock who has full bookshelves to read books along with his girl…what more could you ask for?
The supporting characters (especially Jack!) were also so well-written. He was the perfect platonic bestie for Clara and I’m so glad he pushed her to begin opening up to others. While the story focused more on Clara and Tory’s relationship, I can still tell that Jack was so important to Clara.
I also feel like the conflict (that was a bit predictable because there’s always a conflict to break up the main love interests before the happy ending) was planned so well and had me on the edge of my seat! I was not expecting Tory’s background to be what it was, so this kept me turning the pages to get to the next reveal. I was so relieved when he finally told Clara, even though it caused some issues.
The epilogue(s) also gave me so much closure and made my heart so happy. They got the ending they deserved, full of love and joy for years to come.
Congratulations to J.J. Wright on this new book, and thank you for letting me be an ARC reader!!
⭐️ 5/5
🌶️ 1/5
This book was SO good!! A very clean YA romance with no language (which I really appreciated because sometimes it just gets to be too much). I’m usually an open door reader, but these closed door scenes had just enough romance to keep your spice-needs satisfied without going full on spicy! I loved the plot and the characters’ depth kept me constantly engaged. I couldn’t put it down and finished it in less than a day!!
I loved the constant banter between Clara and Tory. I fell in love with them from the very beginning. I wasn’t totally sure I would love Clara because of her open obsession with Tory, but she was written so well that I really just started to love her so quickly! I could relate to her character so much. She’s a bit of a people pleaser in the sense that she covers up the messy parts of her life with frills and bows and perfect grades, but isn’t afraid to be herself and especially show her crazy love for Tory. The trials in her life push her to be even better and I love the decision she makes toward the end of the story to better herself.
Tory is such a bad boy who’s actually a softie and I could not get enough of him. His protectiveness over Clara from the very beginning had me swooning. Even though she couldn’t see his love for her, it was clear that he felt something and wanted to protect her over everything else. His attention to all of her little details (especially when Vince wasn’t doing so) made my heart smile and wish he was real! He always makes sure Clara is safe and has what she needs, especially when he finds out her secrets. Also…he READS. A hockey player jock who has full bookshelves to read books along with his girl…what more could you ask for?
The supporting characters (especially Jack!) were also so well-written. He was the perfect platonic bestie for Clara and I’m so glad he pushed her to begin opening up to others. While the story focused more on Clara and Tory’s relationship, I can still tell that Jack was so important to Clara.
I also feel like the conflict (that was a bit predictable because there’s always a conflict to break up the main love interests before the happy ending) was planned so well and had me on the edge of my seat! I was not expecting Tory’s background to be what it was, so this kept me turning the pages to get to the next reveal. I was so relieved when he finally told Clara, even though it caused some issues.
The epilogue(s) also gave me so much closure and made my heart so happy. They got the ending they deserved, full of love and joy for years to come.
Congratulations to J.J. Wright on this new book, and thank you for letting me be an ARC reader!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 19, 2023
Full review to come but…
I first want to thank the lovely J.J. Wright for giving me the pleasure of being a part of this ARC team and reading this book. I started reading the six chapters she posted a while back and was immediately intrigued by this girl who openly flirted and made people label her an ‘obsessed stalker girl.’ I wondered why and theorized just why she wanted and craved such labels… but it was a lot of fun to finally learn all those answers. I got to see darkness and pain, but I also got to see a phoenix rise from the ashes. Clara found herself in the end, she found answers as well as some clarity. That’s all any of us can really hope for.
Make note: Clara is not my usual cup of tea and I could never put myself out there like her… but this teaches you even more about why you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover (or a girl by what’s she’s labeled).
I love how bold Clara is. Even with so much pain in her home life she manages to make and manipulate labels for herself. She is the one telling her story… telling it all wrong that is. She is a master of deception and disguise. She hides behind a facade I am not sure many could. I know what hiding your feelings is like, but the way she flaunts some to repress others so deep into the confines of her homes walls is truly showcasing bravery. Hear me out, yes she is hiding parts of herself and not letting others get to know the dark parts of her until finally some seek them out, but she showcases her love so strongly even for a game that you know through her love and her spirit that she was not broken by that monster.
Tory sees more than most. He watches for the smallest of details like missing meals because of money rather than just not being hungry. He plays the game because he can see she needs it. He knows more than he says, and he says much of what he doesn’t mean when they talk at school. He loves hard, but he loves quietly; however in the end he will love her brightly.
I have more to say about him and their story but I will leave you with this… HE IS A READER AND LETS JUST SAY THAT HE READS MY KINDA BOOKS. (Dude reads shatter me…)
I first want to thank the lovely J.J. Wright for giving me the pleasure of being a part of this ARC team and reading this book. I started reading the six chapters she posted a while back and was immediately intrigued by this girl who openly flirted and made people label her an ‘obsessed stalker girl.’ I wondered why and theorized just why she wanted and craved such labels… but it was a lot of fun to finally learn all those answers. I got to see darkness and pain, but I also got to see a phoenix rise from the ashes. Clara found herself in the end, she found answers as well as some clarity. That’s all any of us can really hope for.
Make note: Clara is not my usual cup of tea and I could never put myself out there like her… but this teaches you even more about why you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover (or a girl by what’s she’s labeled).
I love how bold Clara is. Even with so much pain in her home life she manages to make and manipulate labels for herself. She is the one telling her story… telling it all wrong that is. She is a master of deception and disguise. She hides behind a facade I am not sure many could. I know what hiding your feelings is like, but the way she flaunts some to repress others so deep into the confines of her homes walls is truly showcasing bravery. Hear me out, yes she is hiding parts of herself and not letting others get to know the dark parts of her until finally some seek them out, but she showcases her love so strongly even for a game that you know through her love and her spirit that she was not broken by that monster.
Tory sees more than most. He watches for the smallest of details like missing meals because of money rather than just not being hungry. He plays the game because he can see she needs it. He knows more than he says, and he says much of what he doesn’t mean when they talk at school. He loves hard, but he loves quietly; however in the end he will love her brightly.
I have more to say about him and their story but I will leave you with this… HE IS A READER AND LETS JUST SAY THAT HE READS MY KINDA BOOKS. (Dude reads shatter me…)
December 20, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Questo libro è stato la mia prima ARC.
Mi sono candidata alla lettura di questo libro perché oltre ad essere un hockey romance, uno dei miei generi preferiti, è anche un YA.
Dopo averlo divorato posso affermare che vale la pena leggerlo anche tutto d’un fiato.
Ho adorato i battibecchi e il flirt , i soprannomi che si sono dati a vicenda, e il costante voler conoscere di più dell’altro che entrambi i personaggi avevano.
Lei è una lettrice che cita Aaron Warner e lui un lettore che, per capire come mai molte ragazze lo citassero, ha letto la saga completa.
Le vibes di Clara sono un mix tra Taylor Swift e quelle di una ragazza che indossa un’armatura per gli altri ma che sotto quest’armatura vorrebbe semplicemente essere amata e non preoccuparsi costantemente dei soprannomi che gli altri potrebbero affiliarle.
Lui nonostante il carattere burbero, si preoccupa costantemente se lei ha mangiato, se lei ha i soldi sul telefono cosi da essere sempre raggiungibile, e soprattutto si preoccupa di chiedere scusa quando sbaglia e quando magari involontariamente la fa sentire male.
E se dopo queste descrizioni non siete ancora conviti a leggere il libro, pensate che lui si è fatto un tatuaggio per lei e che ha iniziato ha indossare gli occhiali da vista perché lei si sentiva insicura a indossare i suoi.
Questo libro è stato una delle migliori letture dell’anno, non vedo l’ora di leggere altro dell’autrice.
Questo libro è stato la mia prima ARC.
Mi sono candidata alla lettura di questo libro perché oltre ad essere un hockey romance, uno dei miei generi preferiti, è anche un YA.
Dopo averlo divorato posso affermare che vale la pena leggerlo anche tutto d’un fiato.
Ho adorato i battibecchi e il flirt , i soprannomi che si sono dati a vicenda, e il costante voler conoscere di più dell’altro che entrambi i personaggi avevano.
Lei è una lettrice che cita Aaron Warner e lui un lettore che, per capire come mai molte ragazze lo citassero, ha letto la saga completa.
Le vibes di Clara sono un mix tra Taylor Swift e quelle di una ragazza che indossa un’armatura per gli altri ma che sotto quest’armatura vorrebbe semplicemente essere amata e non preoccuparsi costantemente dei soprannomi che gli altri potrebbero affiliarle.
Lui nonostante il carattere burbero, si preoccupa costantemente se lei ha mangiato, se lei ha i soldi sul telefono cosi da essere sempre raggiungibile, e soprattutto si preoccupa di chiedere scusa quando sbaglia e quando magari involontariamente la fa sentire male.
E se dopo queste descrizioni non siete ancora conviti a leggere il libro, pensate che lui si è fatto un tatuaggio per lei e che ha iniziato ha indossare gli occhiali da vista perché lei si sentiva insicura a indossare i suoi.
Questo libro è stato una delle migliori letture dell’anno, non vedo l’ora di leggere altro dell’autrice.
December 18, 2023
I want this man in real life. He is the idea of if he wanted to he would
I loved this book I’m not even gonna lie. I was a little put off in the beginning with how Clara was obsessed with Victory. But as I was reading it was clearly and act to kelp people from getting in. I was hooked after the first couple chapters. It’s a YA book so very little spicy but hints of spice. This book gave off a little bit of wattpad energy in the best way possible it was cheesy and cute but also serious and enticing. There were so many twists I didn’t see coming. One thing I really liked was when even though they know the feelings are mutual you still have that tension and that push and pull between characters where they just can’t seem to get it right. I honestly loved the epilogue and how it went until the end of their lives. I broke down crying in the very last chapter because of the ending. I also loved how there was character development but the Characters didn’t loose their sense of self.
I really did love how cheesy and cute and enticing this book was. It was an easy read and didn’t loose my interest one bit
I loved this book I’m not even gonna lie. I was a little put off in the beginning with how Clara was obsessed with Victory. But as I was reading it was clearly and act to kelp people from getting in. I was hooked after the first couple chapters. It’s a YA book so very little spicy but hints of spice. This book gave off a little bit of wattpad energy in the best way possible it was cheesy and cute but also serious and enticing. There were so many twists I didn’t see coming. One thing I really liked was when even though they know the feelings are mutual you still have that tension and that push and pull between characters where they just can’t seem to get it right. I honestly loved the epilogue and how it went until the end of their lives. I broke down crying in the very last chapter because of the ending. I also loved how there was character development but the Characters didn’t loose their sense of self.
I really did love how cheesy and cute and enticing this book was. It was an easy read and didn’t loose my interest one bit
December 19, 2023
This was my first time reading one of Wright’s works, and I’ve got to say: I’m so incredibly impressed.
To have made such a polished ARC as an independent author must have been no easy task, and yet Wright followed through.
The characters are very well written, and their intentions and decision make so much sense. Clearly Ms. Wright put a lot of thought into Clara and Tory’s journey.
Now, I don’t write a lot of Goodreads reviews, this might even be my first one; but when I read books I tend to focus on how it will age or the small details that would’ve helped the story. I cannot do that with this book because I got a concussion right in the middle of reading it.
—and then one of the characters got a concussion and I have not been that amused in a hot minute.
J.j. Wright, you could not have planned that, but it’s a small detail that will attach me to this book and I cannot express how grateful I am that you released this story.
If you, reading this review want to know if you should read it, you should. Plain and simple.
To have made such a polished ARC as an independent author must have been no easy task, and yet Wright followed through.
The characters are very well written, and their intentions and decision make so much sense. Clearly Ms. Wright put a lot of thought into Clara and Tory’s journey.
Now, I don’t write a lot of Goodreads reviews, this might even be my first one; but when I read books I tend to focus on how it will age or the small details that would’ve helped the story. I cannot do that with this book because I got a concussion right in the middle of reading it.
—and then one of the characters got a concussion and I have not been that amused in a hot minute.
J.j. Wright, you could not have planned that, but it’s a small detail that will attach me to this book and I cannot express how grateful I am that you released this story.
If you, reading this review want to know if you should read it, you should. Plain and simple.
January 4, 2024
Thank you to the author for an ARC of this book!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’d like to start by saying sport romances, especially YA ones, are not my go to read. However, one of my goals for this year is to read more books outside of my typical norm and wow, I was not disappointed!
This book had it all - slow-burn, grumpy x sunshine, trauma healing, unconditional love and a HEA - it definitely took my heart for a ride 🎢 💛
Clara, our FMC, is literally the cutest - she’s bouncy, intelligent and definitely a romantic. While it did take me a minute to become accustomed to Clara’s personality and her teasing relationship with Tory, the author, J.J Wright, did a beautiful job building her and Tory’s story, and providing insight into why Clara is the way she is.
So, if you’re looking for a fun hockey YA romance to warm your heart this winter, then this book is definitely for you! 🏒 💛 ❄️
I will definitely pick up more books by this author in the future!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’d like to start by saying sport romances, especially YA ones, are not my go to read. However, one of my goals for this year is to read more books outside of my typical norm and wow, I was not disappointed!
This book had it all - slow-burn, grumpy x sunshine, trauma healing, unconditional love and a HEA - it definitely took my heart for a ride 🎢 💛
Clara, our FMC, is literally the cutest - she’s bouncy, intelligent and definitely a romantic. While it did take me a minute to become accustomed to Clara’s personality and her teasing relationship with Tory, the author, J.J Wright, did a beautiful job building her and Tory’s story, and providing insight into why Clara is the way she is.
So, if you’re looking for a fun hockey YA romance to warm your heart this winter, then this book is definitely for you! 🏒 💛 ❄️
I will definitely pick up more books by this author in the future!
December 17, 2023
ARC REVIEW
4/5 stars
I thought it was super cute, I like romance books because happy people make me happy. This book did not disappoint as it is a HEA in the end. The book is set in high school and the way the characters handle their emotions and interactions with others screams high school AND IT'S SO NICE. The main character cares about her grades, not everybody is all up in her business, she doesn't know the best way to handle things. She's a teenager of course she doesn't know everything just yet. I loved that so much as somebody who just recently graduated, we really don't know the healthiest ways to do things yet. ALSO there's amputee representation (side character), a "who did this to you?" scene, and epilogues (yes several time frames), that's the best. The main characters care about each other very deeply which I think can be said about a lot of high school "first loves." Plus, the banter between the main characters, Clara and Victory, was refreshing as I'd never read anything quite like it before. I was so into it that it only took me about 10 hours to read total across two days. I definitely recommend reading this book and I will most certainly be revisiting it in the future. Happy reading! :)
4/5 stars
I thought it was super cute, I like romance books because happy people make me happy. This book did not disappoint as it is a HEA in the end. The book is set in high school and the way the characters handle their emotions and interactions with others screams high school AND IT'S SO NICE. The main character cares about her grades, not everybody is all up in her business, she doesn't know the best way to handle things. She's a teenager of course she doesn't know everything just yet. I loved that so much as somebody who just recently graduated, we really don't know the healthiest ways to do things yet. ALSO there's amputee representation (side character), a "who did this to you?" scene, and epilogues (yes several time frames), that's the best. The main characters care about each other very deeply which I think can be said about a lot of high school "first loves." Plus, the banter between the main characters, Clara and Victory, was refreshing as I'd never read anything quite like it before. I was so into it that it only took me about 10 hours to read total across two days. I definitely recommend reading this book and I will most certainly be revisiting it in the future. Happy reading! :)
December 18, 2023
ARC reader-
I’m going to be honest, the beginning of the book was rough for me to get through. Clara was obsessed with Victory to the point of painful reading, and some of her personality made me raise my eyebrow. Wright did manage to pull together a good book though, with only a few minor editing errors that don’t detract from the readers’ understanding.
This book would have definitely gotten another star if it had been enemies to lovers, because I feel that would have made their transition to lovers easier. There was much enemies to lovers structure, but no dynamic. It would have added another level to their relationship, I think, since we don’t find out why they can’t be together until page 114.
On another note, the language varied throughout, changing from modern slang to Shakespearean without rhyme or reason. Wright seems to have forgotten what high schoolers are like, as Clara can be seen skipping through the school halls and Victory has tattoos.
Overall a good premise, and as this author grows and continues to publish I will be excited to see what else she writes!
I’m going to be honest, the beginning of the book was rough for me to get through. Clara was obsessed with Victory to the point of painful reading, and some of her personality made me raise my eyebrow. Wright did manage to pull together a good book though, with only a few minor editing errors that don’t detract from the readers’ understanding.
This book would have definitely gotten another star if it had been enemies to lovers, because I feel that would have made their transition to lovers easier. There was much enemies to lovers structure, but no dynamic. It would have added another level to their relationship, I think, since we don’t find out why they can’t be together until page 114.
On another note, the language varied throughout, changing from modern slang to Shakespearean without rhyme or reason. Wright seems to have forgotten what high schoolers are like, as Clara can be seen skipping through the school halls and Victory has tattoos.
Overall a good premise, and as this author grows and continues to publish I will be excited to see what else she writes!
January 13, 2024
wow. truly. this book was such a beautifully painful read and i am absolutely obsessed. the premise of this book seemed unique and interesting and that it is. it weirded me out at the start, i was confused and thrown off by the main character but i soon grew to love her and understand her in such an amazing way, even if i couldn’t relate to her life and her problems. it is weird and different in its own amazing way and i swear i’ve never read anything like it, even though i expected myself to give it 3-4 stars i can’t, even though there were things that i thought were weird, somehow all of the negative thoughts are crushed by the positive. the way the two protagonists love each other is inspiring to me and i don’t know if ill ever read a book that will make me feel the way this one did, even if i read it quickly, and this review isn’t even close to all i have to say about this book.
December 18, 2023
ARC Review
I flipping loved this book, their banter had me hooked from the start. Chapter 7 with Tory's first POV had me rolling, screaming and kicking my feet in joy. It SHOCKED me, the switch had me gasping for air. Also as someone who loves Shakespeare, the shakespearean influences in the way they spoke had me swooning, and I can only wish for that sort of relationship in the future.
For some reason I never saw the twist of . Also loved the way Tory stood firm in his love for Charity even when she was constantly being hot and cold (for justifiable reasons don't worry!) it just made me so happy, and the last epilogue??? Shivers, just perfect honestly.
Only thing I didn't really understand was the Amato family business, but that was easily overlooked. Absolutely loved this book.
I flipping loved this book, their banter had me hooked from the start. Chapter 7 with Tory's first POV had me rolling, screaming and kicking my feet in joy. It SHOCKED me, the switch had me gasping for air. Also as someone who loves Shakespeare, the shakespearean influences in the way they spoke had me swooning, and I can only wish for that sort of relationship in the future.
For some reason I never saw the twist of . Also loved the way Tory stood firm in his love for Charity even when she was constantly being hot and cold (for justifiable reasons don't worry!) it just made me so happy, and the last epilogue??? Shivers, just perfect honestly.
Only thing I didn't really understand was the Amato family business, but that was easily overlooked. Absolutely loved this book.
December 19, 2023
*SPOILER FREE*
I had the amazing chance to be an ARC reader for this book and not only am i impressed by the reach this author had with her ARC readers, but the story as well! I’ll most likely leave another review for spoiler content and one where i’ve had time to really sit with the book, but right now it’s definitely a 4 star read! This is for sure a “Tik-tok” worthy read! It was perfect for me since i’m a no-spice reader, but still had plenty of swoon-worthy moments! Cute Cute Cuteee scenes, and as a hockey-loving girl, i just KNEW i had to read this and i loved it! very excited to see the next work by this author!
I had the amazing chance to be an ARC reader for this book and not only am i impressed by the reach this author had with her ARC readers, but the story as well! I’ll most likely leave another review for spoiler content and one where i’ve had time to really sit with the book, but right now it’s definitely a 4 star read! This is for sure a “Tik-tok” worthy read! It was perfect for me since i’m a no-spice reader, but still had plenty of swoon-worthy moments! Cute Cute Cuteee scenes, and as a hockey-loving girl, i just KNEW i had to read this and i loved it! very excited to see the next work by this author!
December 28, 2023
I recived this book as an ARC and I am thankful for the author. I liked the vibes on this book and it also remided me of the Keeping 13 and Binding 13 of the Boys of Tommem series, so it was nice to read it, also adds a lot that the book has hockey on it, and i absolutely love hockey, especially if it has some apperances (there are some books that i have read this year were it was only mentioned). I also loved that has mentions of Romeo and Juliet. ALSOO ACOTAR, SHATTER ME AND CARAVAL !!! I AM SHOOK, loved how Aaron Warner was mentioned a lot of times and as fellow reades it is appreciated to see some mentions of books that we have loved. At this point I think Tory Amato has became one of my spiritual animals because he is so relatable in many ways. I loved the dynamic between characters.
December 19, 2023
I loved this book! The love story their friendship throughout, it was so well written and engaging.
I love a hockey romance so I knew this was going to be good but it exceeded my expectations. I feel so lucky to of been chosen to ARC read this book.
I cannot wait to purchase the physical copy of this book and J.J. Wright is going to be a go to author from now on.
I will be recommending this book to everyone! ❤️❤️
I love a hockey romance so I knew this was going to be good but it exceeded my expectations. I feel so lucky to of been chosen to ARC read this book.
I cannot wait to purchase the physical copy of this book and J.J. Wright is going to be a go to author from now on.
I will be recommending this book to everyone! ❤️❤️
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