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Forbidden Goals #7
Wrap Around
We were best friends, but secrets ruined everything.
Silas
I’ve worked hard to get here, kept my head down and sacrificed everything. Finally, I’ve made it. But no amount of success has ever silenced the past, and it’s staring at me now. Angry, silent, and still looking at me like I’m to blame for everything bad to ever happen.
He thinks he knows the truth.
But he only knows half the story.
Gideon
He left me with nothing but a kiss and a lie.
I walked away from everything after that- my home, my family, the faith I was raised in.
But now he’s here. On my team. In my space.
And the longer we pretend the past didn’t happen, the harder it is to ignore what still simmers beneath it.
Because there are too many things we left unsaid.
Too many secrets keeping us apart.
All the books in the Forbidden Goals series are complete standalones and can be read in any order. Please refer to the author's website for content information.
Silas
I’ve worked hard to get here, kept my head down and sacrificed everything. Finally, I’ve made it. But no amount of success has ever silenced the past, and it’s staring at me now. Angry, silent, and still looking at me like I’m to blame for everything bad to ever happen.
He thinks he knows the truth.
But he only knows half the story.
Gideon
He left me with nothing but a kiss and a lie.
I walked away from everything after that- my home, my family, the faith I was raised in.
But now he’s here. On my team. In my space.
And the longer we pretend the past didn’t happen, the harder it is to ignore what still simmers beneath it.
Because there are too many things we left unsaid.
Too many secrets keeping us apart.
All the books in the Forbidden Goals series are complete standalones and can be read in any order. Please refer to the author's website for content information.
430 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 10, 2025
253 people are currently reading
1154 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Rathe
26 books1,100 followersDeliciously dirty, delightfully neurotic, ratchet mess of a daydreamer.
See www.rebeccarathe.com for a full list of books, social media, and trigger warnings.
See www.rebeccarathe.com for a full list of books, social media, and trigger warnings.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 232 reviews
July 18, 2025
Frustrating and annoying is the only way I can sum up this book. There is a spoiler about what the secrets are further down in my review, so be warned.
I was not expecting this book to be so religion based - there was zero mention in the blurb so I was not expecting it at all. I usually avoid books with religion like the plague because I don't believe, I don't understand why people believe, and I really don't understand why people can't just be decent and good without a religion telling them they have to so they may get some kind of reward when they die.... It will never make sense to me!!! There was so much religion in this book that I nearly DNF'd a few times, but I perservered because I was curious about how they were going to get a HEA.
I also found this to be kind of like a deja vu experience because if you take out the religion and swapped the sport to rugby, this is so similar to a previous book by this same author, except in this case the wife is aware. There was also a huge focus on radicalised religion in another book in this series so it just felt a bit recycled and cobbled together. There were just enough small differences, but it felt weird reading it?
The lack of communication also frustrated me so much. Silas was so incredibly delusional thinking that he could just get his friendship back with Gideon if they were in the same place. At no point did it seem to occur to him that the reason Gideon hates him was because of how shitty a human he was by kissing Gideon and then announcing he was having a kid with Gideon's underage sister on the same day! What the fuck did he expect?? And to make it more frustrating, we're aware Silas is keeping a big secret for both Gideon and Lily, yet when it all comes out Silas is the 'mature' one and there's no fallout from the fact that he could have prevented the entire mess in the first place? I would have been so pissed at him for keeping his mouth shut for years and not insisting on the siblings having a conversation together before they even told the parents! I didn't want him to get a HEA 😂😂 Gideon was totally justified in his extreme feelings towards Silas, and for how supposedly intelligent Lily was, how did she never notice anything in all the years? How did she not put it together when Silas had a breakdown when Gideon left? I was shouting at my kindle 😂
I get that all of these things are what's driving the plot, but honestly it was just such a frustrating reading experience and I slightly regret reading this book because it annoyed me so much!
I was not expecting this book to be so religion based - there was zero mention in the blurb so I was not expecting it at all. I usually avoid books with religion like the plague because I don't believe, I don't understand why people believe, and I really don't understand why people can't just be decent and good without a religion telling them they have to so they may get some kind of reward when they die.... It will never make sense to me!!! There was so much religion in this book that I nearly DNF'd a few times, but I perservered because I was curious about how they were going to get a HEA.
I also found this to be kind of like a deja vu experience because if you take out the religion and swapped the sport to rugby, this is so similar to a previous book by this same author, except in this case the wife is aware. There was also a huge focus on radicalised religion in another book in this series so it just felt a bit recycled and cobbled together. There were just enough small differences, but it felt weird reading it?
The lack of communication also frustrated me so much. Silas was so incredibly delusional thinking that he could just get his friendship back with Gideon if they were in the same place. At no point did it seem to occur to him that the reason Gideon hates him was because of how shitty a human he was by kissing Gideon and then announcing he was having a kid with Gideon's underage sister on the same day! What the fuck did he expect?? And to make it more frustrating, we're aware Silas is keeping a big secret for both Gideon and Lily, yet when it all comes out Silas is the 'mature' one and there's no fallout from the fact that he could have prevented the entire mess in the first place? I would have been so pissed at him for keeping his mouth shut for years and not insisting on the siblings having a conversation together before they even told the parents! I didn't want him to get a HEA 😂😂 Gideon was totally justified in his extreme feelings towards Silas, and for how supposedly intelligent Lily was, how did she never notice anything in all the years? How did she not put it together when Silas had a breakdown when Gideon left? I was shouting at my kindle 😂
I get that all of these things are what's driving the plot, but honestly it was just such a frustrating reading experience and I slightly regret reading this book because it annoyed me so much!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2025
♾️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
To write a review for this masterpiece would spoil the entirety of the book for you. And I’m not about that. This book should be read by going in completely blind. Don’t even read the blurb. Don’t even question anything, (except if you have some triggers, in that case.. read the list first) just trust that Rebecca will take good care of you and through all the hurt, all the pain, give you an absolutely stunning story with an even better HEA.
There is a LOT to unpack here. Like a lot. A LOT. So many layers to Gideon and Silas’ story that you really just need to experience to believe. There’s a lot of pain here. A lot of growth. A lot of self discovery. A lot of living and learning and un-learning that takes place for all the characters in this story.
I think, sadly, I learned a lot from this book. A lot about what people experience, what it would be like to grow up in a world like these characters did. How hard it must have been to escape, and I felt nothing but PROUD of all of them for getting out and finding their happiness, no matter how unconventional it may seem.
Let’s talk about the spice for a second. You know I love Rebecca Rathe Spice™️ and there was (of course) a lot of that. Just the right amount. But that really wasn’t what made the story for me this time. These two made LOVE. Passionate, making-up-for-lost-time real, honest, beautiful, emotional love. And I devoured every minute of it. Memorable lines, delicious dirty talk, and spicy scenes that will live rent free.. but amongst all that.. just two men who FINALLY got to experience love and sex in all the ways they’ve always wanted.
I loved this book, and I know I say this every time.. but it might be my new favourite RR book to date. This was heartbreaking, and phenomenal. Not at all what I was expecting, but in the best way. You want a hockey romance? Well you’re in luck, there’s a lot of hockey. Like actual hockey playing. But it’s not your typical hockey romance, and I loved that for me.
Rebecca has a beautiful way of story telling, that is heavy on plot, spicy in just the right moments, emotional when it needs to be, and passionate everywhere else. Stunning side characters, a lovely found family, and no third act break up. Say less. Sign me up. Every. Single. Time.
Some tropes? * subject to change as I think of more 😂
🏒 Brothers in law
💜 Second chance
🏒 Lots of actual hockey playing
🇨🇦 Canadian Hockey (go Abbotsford!)
💜 He cares for him
🏒 Tragic Miscommunication
💜 Secrets + Betrayal
🏒 Friends to Enemies to Lovers
💜 He wants to hurt him.. but in a sexy way 🥵
🏒 Fun sweaters
💜 Shame and repentance
🏒 Knowing each others breathing habits
💜 First times
🏒 Miracles
💜 Semi-public sexy times
🏒 “Or whatever”
💜 (Lots of) Snowballing 💦
🏒 Forced Proximity
💜 A hypersensitive prostate 🫠
🌶️🌶️🌶️
To write a review for this masterpiece would spoil the entirety of the book for you. And I’m not about that. This book should be read by going in completely blind. Don’t even read the blurb. Don’t even question anything, (except if you have some triggers, in that case.. read the list first) just trust that Rebecca will take good care of you and through all the hurt, all the pain, give you an absolutely stunning story with an even better HEA.
There is a LOT to unpack here. Like a lot. A LOT. So many layers to Gideon and Silas’ story that you really just need to experience to believe. There’s a lot of pain here. A lot of growth. A lot of self discovery. A lot of living and learning and un-learning that takes place for all the characters in this story.
I think, sadly, I learned a lot from this book. A lot about what people experience, what it would be like to grow up in a world like these characters did. How hard it must have been to escape, and I felt nothing but PROUD of all of them for getting out and finding their happiness, no matter how unconventional it may seem.
Let’s talk about the spice for a second. You know I love Rebecca Rathe Spice™️ and there was (of course) a lot of that. Just the right amount. But that really wasn’t what made the story for me this time. These two made LOVE. Passionate, making-up-for-lost-time real, honest, beautiful, emotional love. And I devoured every minute of it. Memorable lines, delicious dirty talk, and spicy scenes that will live rent free.. but amongst all that.. just two men who FINALLY got to experience love and sex in all the ways they’ve always wanted.
I loved this book, and I know I say this every time.. but it might be my new favourite RR book to date. This was heartbreaking, and phenomenal. Not at all what I was expecting, but in the best way. You want a hockey romance? Well you’re in luck, there’s a lot of hockey. Like actual hockey playing. But it’s not your typical hockey romance, and I loved that for me.
Rebecca has a beautiful way of story telling, that is heavy on plot, spicy in just the right moments, emotional when it needs to be, and passionate everywhere else. Stunning side characters, a lovely found family, and no third act break up. Say less. Sign me up. Every. Single. Time.
Some tropes? * subject to change as I think of more 😂
🏒 Brothers in law
💜 Second chance
🏒 Lots of actual hockey playing
🇨🇦 Canadian Hockey (go Abbotsford!)
💜 He cares for him
🏒 Tragic Miscommunication
💜 Secrets + Betrayal
🏒 Friends to Enemies to Lovers
💜 He wants to hurt him.. but in a sexy way 🥵
🏒 Fun sweaters
💜 Shame and repentance
🏒 Knowing each others breathing habits
💜 First times
🏒 Miracles
💜 Semi-public sexy times
🏒 “Or whatever”
💜 (Lots of) Snowballing 💦
🏒 Forced Proximity
💜 A hypersensitive prostate 🫠
July 17, 2025
the avoiding and miscommunication made my head spin
July 1, 2025
Wrap Around is a powerful emotional second-chance romance between Silas and Gideon, childhood best friends who are now complete strangers and forced to play on the same NHL team. Both carry lingering resentment, pain, and unanswered questions about what happened in their past.
The story truly tugs at your heart, as both characters suffer greatly from miscommunication and nearly four years of separation. When they are reunited, the encounter is intense, primal, and filled with desire, while their lingering sadness remains a constant in their dynamic.
I greatly admired the difficult topics addressed in this story. It’s much more than a hockey romance. Both Silas and Gideon wrestle with religious trauma from their past, which continues to haunt them. Their history forced them to live inauthentically by conforming to an idea that is not who they are. This topic is handled with care and really amplifies the overall story.
I also love Lily, Gideon's sister. She plays a pivotal role in the story, carrying her own secrets and shame from her religious background. I appreciate how Silas, Gideon, and Lily form their own unconventional family, offering endless support and love for each other, thus creating the perfect family. This story is very emotional and makes me root for Gideon and Silas to find happiness together after all they’ve endured.
*** I reviewed a complimentary copy of this story.***
The story truly tugs at your heart, as both characters suffer greatly from miscommunication and nearly four years of separation. When they are reunited, the encounter is intense, primal, and filled with desire, while their lingering sadness remains a constant in their dynamic.
I greatly admired the difficult topics addressed in this story. It’s much more than a hockey romance. Both Silas and Gideon wrestle with religious trauma from their past, which continues to haunt them. Their history forced them to live inauthentically by conforming to an idea that is not who they are. This topic is handled with care and really amplifies the overall story.
I also love Lily, Gideon's sister. She plays a pivotal role in the story, carrying her own secrets and shame from her religious background. I appreciate how Silas, Gideon, and Lily form their own unconventional family, offering endless support and love for each other, thus creating the perfect family. This story is very emotional and makes me root for Gideon and Silas to find happiness together after all they’ve endured.
*** I reviewed a complimentary copy of this story.***
July 13, 2025
I love Rebecca Rathe! Unfortunately, this one was disappointing for me. I didn’t like the miscommunication and dishonesty. I hated all three characters for at least 60% of the book. The last 40% got a little better, but still… This book was actually painful for me to get through. Like, I didn’t even care about the spice, and that is not like me at all!
I have no problem saying this is a me thing. I will continue to recommend Rebecca Rathe and will read anything she writes. In fact, I have all her future releases on preorder!
I have no problem saying this is a me thing. I will continue to recommend Rebecca Rathe and will read anything she writes. In fact, I have all her future releases on preorder!
October 1, 2025
A shitfest that really needn't have happened. I don't get why it did.
You have this best friend that you're in love with, you know likes you back IN THAT WAY, but somehow you don't think to tell him, 'oh, btw, later tonight I'm telling your parents that I impregnated your high school age sister and I'm going to marry her but don't worry—it's only to keep her safe from your parents wrath and to keep me safe from my homophobic dad knowing about me. I've never touched her on account of being gay and in love with you.'
It's literally a no-lose situation. Why on EARTH would you keep all this a secret, thereby breaking the heart of the man you've been in love with for years?
This secret was kept for plot purposes and nothing else can convince me otherwise.
Three years? Over a no-fault situation? Nah. I'd have bought this story if Silas was best friends with Lily and not Gideon. Because he put Lily first, above and beyond himself and his supposed best friend.
And Silas kept this going even as he watched Gideon hate himself for being in love with his sister's husband?
Gideon kept making the moves in spite of the fact that it was him who'd been shut out and left to suffer the unnecessary emotional fallout?
And Silas kept acting like Gideon was doing too much because he wasn't immediately chomping at the bit to resume being besties with the ex best friend whom he believes to have kissed him moments before revealing he'd be marrying his now pregnant sister?
Sigh.
This is one of those things that I find unforgivable not because of the crime itself(because hello, no crime here) but because of the unnecessary suffering it caused.
Silas isn't Gideon's best friend. He's Lily's.
Booooo! (to Silas. Can't fault Lily. Any port in a storm and all that. Plus, she didn't know)
You have this best friend that you're in love with, you know likes you back IN THAT WAY, but somehow you don't think to tell him, 'oh, btw, later tonight I'm telling your parents that I impregnated your high school age sister and I'm going to marry her but don't worry—it's only to keep her safe from your parents wrath and to keep me safe from my homophobic dad knowing about me. I've never touched her on account of being gay and in love with you.'
It's literally a no-lose situation. Why on EARTH would you keep all this a secret, thereby breaking the heart of the man you've been in love with for years?
This secret was kept for plot purposes and nothing else can convince me otherwise.
Three years? Over a no-fault situation? Nah. I'd have bought this story if Silas was best friends with Lily and not Gideon. Because he put Lily first, above and beyond himself and his supposed best friend.
And Silas kept this going even as he watched Gideon hate himself for being in love with his sister's husband?
Gideon kept making the moves in spite of the fact that it was him who'd been shut out and left to suffer the unnecessary emotional fallout?
And Silas kept acting like Gideon was doing too much because he wasn't immediately chomping at the bit to resume being besties with the ex best friend whom he believes to have kissed him moments before revealing he'd be marrying his now pregnant sister?
Sigh.
This is one of those things that I find unforgivable not because of the crime itself(because hello, no crime here) but because of the unnecessary suffering it caused.
Silas isn't Gideon's best friend. He's Lily's.
Booooo! (to Silas. Can't fault Lily. Any port in a storm and all that. Plus, she didn't know)
July 13, 2025
*sigh* listen, there's miscommunication and then there's this. i'm still so confused as to why gideon couldn't know the truth, especially considering the rift it caused between him and silas. this was just not enjoyable. by the time they finally talked and worked shit out, i was skimming to get through it. and the drama at the end! oh lord, i just can't even
December 29, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
✨MM
✨AHL Hockey Players
✨Childhood bestfriends
✨Friends to enemies to lovers
✨Secrets that are not his to tell but they keep them apart
✨Second Chance
✨Hurt/Comfort
✨Religious Trauma
✨First times (Virgin MMC)
My best friend from before I can even remember. My first love. My first kiss. A stupid, foolish kiss that wrecked everything. Maybe if I'd never kissed him, he wouldn't have left the way he did. Maybe we could have stayed best friends, become brothers-in-law, and he could have stayed.
My review:
Wow! This book hit me way harder than I expected. It's an emotional gut punch about unlearning shame and allowing yourself to be loved, and watching that journey unfold was genuinely beautiful. Silas is one of those characters who feels unreal in the best way. Steady, patient, deeply caring, and willing to stand in the fire for the people he loves, even if it destroys him, and it does. Even once things are resolved, he's so caring and loving, you know that he would have kept suffering until he died if the people he loved weren't as broken by their secrets as they were. Gideon, on the other hand... he is so raw and broken that it hurts to read at times, but seeing him slowly realize that love does not have to come with fear, shame, guilt or punishment was incredibly powerful. The religious trauma woven through the story was heavy and uncomfortable, and it lingered with me long after I put the book down. It's not the first time Rebecca Rathe has tackled this subject, and she's done it perfectly both times!
Gideon is a wound that never healed. He’s the thing I want most in this world and can never have.
There are so many layers here. Pain, growth, self discovery, and a lot of hard unlearning. It honestly made me relate on how difficult it must be to grow up in an environment like this and how much courage it takes to walk away from it. I felt such a strong sense of pride for these characters as they carved out their own version of happiness, even when it looked messy or unconventional. They faced everything with an open mind and became better versions of themselves so you can't do anything but root for them and their happiness. And yes, the spice.... is there and it’s good, but what really stood out to me was how intimate it felt. These scenes were not just hot, they were emotional. It felt like two people finally being allowed to exist fully, to want, to touch, and to love without guilt. There was also a lot of care in it, because Gideo had hurt Silas in the past, and that only added another layer of love and sweetness to the spice.
That said, this wasn’t a flawless read for me. The constant secret-keeping between the siblings was exhausting. I understood why they were afraid and where they were coming from, but watching Silas get stuck in the middle for so long was frustrating. The tension kept being teased as if everything was about to explode into honesty, and then… nothing. Over and over again. When we hit the 50% mark, I truly wanted to reach for all three of them, shake them, and force them to sit down and spit all their truths out. By the time it finally resolved, I was more relieved than satisfied. Still, even with that frustration, the emotional payoff, the character growth, and the depth of the story made this a powerful and memorable read. It didn’t quite reach five stars for me because of this, but it came very close, and I will absolutely be thinking about these characters for a long time.
🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
✨MM
✨AHL Hockey Players
✨Childhood bestfriends
✨Friends to enemies to lovers
✨Secrets that are not his to tell but they keep them apart
✨Second Chance
✨Hurt/Comfort
✨Religious Trauma
✨First times (Virgin MMC)
My best friend from before I can even remember. My first love. My first kiss. A stupid, foolish kiss that wrecked everything. Maybe if I'd never kissed him, he wouldn't have left the way he did. Maybe we could have stayed best friends, become brothers-in-law, and he could have stayed.
My review:
Wow! This book hit me way harder than I expected. It's an emotional gut punch about unlearning shame and allowing yourself to be loved, and watching that journey unfold was genuinely beautiful. Silas is one of those characters who feels unreal in the best way. Steady, patient, deeply caring, and willing to stand in the fire for the people he loves, even if it destroys him, and it does. Even once things are resolved, he's so caring and loving, you know that he would have kept suffering until he died if the people he loved weren't as broken by their secrets as they were. Gideon, on the other hand... he is so raw and broken that it hurts to read at times, but seeing him slowly realize that love does not have to come with fear, shame, guilt or punishment was incredibly powerful. The religious trauma woven through the story was heavy and uncomfortable, and it lingered with me long after I put the book down. It's not the first time Rebecca Rathe has tackled this subject, and she's done it perfectly both times!
Gideon is a wound that never healed. He’s the thing I want most in this world and can never have.
There are so many layers here. Pain, growth, self discovery, and a lot of hard unlearning. It honestly made me relate on how difficult it must be to grow up in an environment like this and how much courage it takes to walk away from it. I felt such a strong sense of pride for these characters as they carved out their own version of happiness, even when it looked messy or unconventional. They faced everything with an open mind and became better versions of themselves so you can't do anything but root for them and their happiness. And yes, the spice.... is there and it’s good, but what really stood out to me was how intimate it felt. These scenes were not just hot, they were emotional. It felt like two people finally being allowed to exist fully, to want, to touch, and to love without guilt. There was also a lot of care in it, because Gideo had hurt Silas in the past, and that only added another layer of love and sweetness to the spice.
That said, this wasn’t a flawless read for me. The constant secret-keeping between the siblings was exhausting. I understood why they were afraid and where they were coming from, but watching Silas get stuck in the middle for so long was frustrating. The tension kept being teased as if everything was about to explode into honesty, and then… nothing. Over and over again. When we hit the 50% mark, I truly wanted to reach for all three of them, shake them, and force them to sit down and spit all their truths out. By the time it finally resolved, I was more relieved than satisfied. Still, even with that frustration, the emotional payoff, the character growth, and the depth of the story made this a powerful and memorable read. It didn’t quite reach five stars for me because of this, but it came very close, and I will absolutely be thinking about these characters for a long time.
July 11, 2025
Ms Rathe has been a 5* read for me till now. Loved all her books and "Man On" continues to be my favourite of hers till date. This got lost after an amazing start. The pining, angst, heartbreak was so intense in the first few chapters. but it fizzled out after Silas and Gideon come close again (which should have been opposite, the book should have picked up more rather than go down from this point). Too much religious text, too much monologuing, too much space given to Gideon's sister Lily.
This almost read like MMF story (although in a platonic way). I understand Lily playing a part until MMCs reunite but she continuing to be one of the focal points till the end is a no no. Many things got lost towards the end. Lily is shown as giving birth to another girl child. Whose child is it? Is it Silas'? how did she get pregnant? maybe this was covered in those long long texts and descriptions but I just lost interest and skimmed thro. And dnt ask me about "Zac" dude. Why the hell is he even in picture if he is not shown taking some responsibility of Addy?
Lily is very weird in the sense that she has kept who Addy's father was and how she ended up pregnant as some mysterious secret till the end which turned out to be total meh. Total OTT. On top of this, Silas preaching Gideon that Lily is intelligent and that they should let her live. How is she gonna live and grow if you both hover over her and keep her in your house 24x7?? BS.
All three continue to live together in same house (allegedly in separate wings, huh) till the end which totally weirded me out. And it ends on Gideon saying he is happy with this unconventional relationship. Dude!!
This almost read like MMF story (although in a platonic way). I understand Lily playing a part until MMCs reunite but she continuing to be one of the focal points till the end is a no no. Many things got lost towards the end. Lily is shown as giving birth to another girl child. Whose child is it? Is it Silas'? how did she get pregnant? maybe this was covered in those long long texts and descriptions but I just lost interest and skimmed thro. And dnt ask me about "Zac" dude. Why the hell is he even in picture if he is not shown taking some responsibility of Addy?
Lily is very weird in the sense that she has kept who Addy's father was and how she ended up pregnant as some mysterious secret till the end which turned out to be total meh. Total OTT. On top of this, Silas preaching Gideon that Lily is intelligent and that they should let her live. How is she gonna live and grow if you both hover over her and keep her in your house 24x7?? BS.
All three continue to live together in same house (allegedly in separate wings, huh) till the end which totally weirded me out. And it ends on Gideon saying he is happy with this unconventional relationship. Dude!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 5, 2025
Another great book in the Forbidden Goals series. I really enjoyed Silas and Gideon’s story, and I loved Lily and Addy as well. This one had so many of my favorite tropes, teammates, former best friends to enemies to lovers, forced proximity, second chance, secrets, brothers-in-law, and hurt/comfort.
July 10, 2025
Rating: 5/5 🌟
Spice: 3/5 🌶️
Heroes: Silas and Gideon
It's hard to really say much about this book without giving away spoilers and I really don't want to do that. I highly suggest going into this as blind as possible. There are so many secrets and layers that have a big impact on the characters and their emotions and actions.
I started it and could not stop reading it. Gideon and Silas completely stole my heart.
They grew up together along with Gideon's sister in a very small and religious town.
The book takes place years later. Not everything is as it seems and not everything that happened should be taken at face value.
The emotions are so intense right from the start. You see how much these two are struggling just being near one another. Gideon truly does lean heavily into his anger and hurt when it comes to Silas.
And the spice...it's always so good in Rebecca's books and this one is no different. It's so so good.
I finished this days ago and I haven't been able to stop thinking about these guys or their story and romance. It's a fantastic addition to the series and one of my absolute favorites within it.
Spice: 3/5 🌶️
Heroes: Silas and Gideon
It's hard to really say much about this book without giving away spoilers and I really don't want to do that. I highly suggest going into this as blind as possible. There are so many secrets and layers that have a big impact on the characters and their emotions and actions.
I started it and could not stop reading it. Gideon and Silas completely stole my heart.
They grew up together along with Gideon's sister in a very small and religious town.
The book takes place years later. Not everything is as it seems and not everything that happened should be taken at face value.
The emotions are so intense right from the start. You see how much these two are struggling just being near one another. Gideon truly does lean heavily into his anger and hurt when it comes to Silas.
And the spice...it's always so good in Rebecca's books and this one is no different. It's so so good.
I finished this days ago and I haven't been able to stop thinking about these guys or their story and romance. It's a fantastic addition to the series and one of my absolute favorites within it.
July 15, 2025
So, while this is not my favorite in the series, it was definitely still enjoyable overall.
Gideon and Silas both grew up in an ultra religious, Evangelical community in a small town in Tennessee, and have some pretty severe trauma from it.
When they were 17, they kissed and it changed everything...except later that same day (or the next day, can't remember for sure), Gideon's sister, Lily tells Silas she's pregnant and she and Silas tell her and Gideon's parents the news, with Gideon right there, heartbroken.
Right after that, Gideon leaves, not knowing the real truth, that is pretty plain to see pretty early on in this - - but Gideon has no idea and thinks the worst of the situation.
And Silas keeps both their secrets. Lily's, but also Gideon's secret that he's gay, which no one knows but Silas.
What proceeds is basically 50% of utter frustration.
I get it, I do. Both what Gideon is going through and what Lily went through, and why they were scared to tell each other their secrets.
But Silas gets caught in the middle and has to face Gideon's wrath because of the heartbreak for months on end because of both sibling's inability to trust in the other one.
So while I understood where the siblings were coming from, it frustrated me all the same. And the story had them think several times that the tension between them was getting to be too. much and it would all spill out soon enough - and it kept saying that several times and then NOTHING would happen.
That also annoyed the crap out of me. Like okay, yay! Let's get it all out in the open, lets stop dragging this out over and over and having Gideon constantly angry and treating Silas like crap.
But nah, they just kept not talking and not talking and not talking and it was driving me up the wall.
I was very relieved when they finally did, but it didn't make the first half any less frustrating. Also, it dragged a bit at times. I'm not usually one to care about that, but it felt like there were a LOT of inner monologues from both MCs and it would cut into the action or actual goings on and it was a bit frustrating as well. I didn't always need long, drawn out paragraphs that went for several pages at time just thinking and monologuing and such. I wanted to get to the action, to the story, and instead pages would be, well, not that.
So mainly the first half of this gets that start off from me. Also....was this entirely all that "forbidden"? I guess in the sense that their church and family back home would not approve and were absolutely horrible, but in the sense that Gideon's sister was involved? Nah, but because obviously , so it was all good. That also contributed to my start off a bit. Didn't get much of a sense of the "forbidden" in this story, imo.
But, once they talked and Gideon found out the truth and he came out to Lily and he and Silas could be together it got even more enjoyable.
I did genuinely enjoy these two together and loved their chemistry. It was quite sexy between them and I enjoyed all of their sex scenes together. Once Gideon got his head out of his ass, he was quite enjoyable too. When he let himself be happy, I was happy as a reader too.
The epilogues were sweet, although I was a bit confused if
Regardless of all that, it was sweet to see where they get to at the end after all the trauma they faced, and how happy they are with their new found family.
So definitely this still gets a thumbs up from me, it just could have improved a few areas to have made it a 5 star read for me.
I'm looking forward to the next one, which seems like it'll have a trans MC, if I'm not mistaken. I've only read about 2 or so books with trans MCs so it'll be interesting to read the next one as well, and to read more MM trans books.
Until then! 😍
My Ratings for the Forbidden Goals Series:
🔆 Head in the Game: 4 stars (my review)
🔆 Man On 3.5 stars (my review)
🔆 Choke Up: 4.5 stars (my review)
🔆 The Try Line: 4.5 stars (my review)
🔆 Off Balance: 4.5 stars (my review)
🔆 Off the Rim: 4.5 stars (my review)
🔆 Wrap Around: 4 stars
🔆 Full Split: TBR
🔆 Pinned Down: TBR
Gideon and Silas both grew up in an ultra religious, Evangelical community in a small town in Tennessee, and have some pretty severe trauma from it.
When they were 17, they kissed and it changed everything...except later that same day (or the next day, can't remember for sure), Gideon's sister, Lily tells Silas she's pregnant and she and Silas tell her and Gideon's parents the news, with Gideon right there, heartbroken.
Right after that, Gideon leaves, not knowing the real truth, that is pretty plain to see pretty early on in this - - but Gideon has no idea and thinks the worst of the situation.
And Silas keeps both their secrets. Lily's, but also Gideon's secret that he's gay, which no one knows but Silas.
What proceeds is basically 50% of utter frustration.
I get it, I do. Both what Gideon is going through and what Lily went through, and why they were scared to tell each other their secrets.
But Silas gets caught in the middle and has to face Gideon's wrath because of the heartbreak for months on end because of both sibling's inability to trust in the other one.
So while I understood where the siblings were coming from, it frustrated me all the same. And the story had them think several times that the tension between them was getting to be too. much and it would all spill out soon enough - and it kept saying that several times and then NOTHING would happen.
That also annoyed the crap out of me. Like okay, yay! Let's get it all out in the open, lets stop dragging this out over and over and having Gideon constantly angry and treating Silas like crap.
But nah, they just kept not talking and not talking and not talking and it was driving me up the wall.
I was very relieved when they finally did, but it didn't make the first half any less frustrating. Also, it dragged a bit at times. I'm not usually one to care about that, but it felt like there were a LOT of inner monologues from both MCs and it would cut into the action or actual goings on and it was a bit frustrating as well. I didn't always need long, drawn out paragraphs that went for several pages at time just thinking and monologuing and such. I wanted to get to the action, to the story, and instead pages would be, well, not that.
So mainly the first half of this gets that start off from me. Also....was this entirely all that "forbidden"? I guess in the sense that their church and family back home would not approve and were absolutely horrible, but in the sense that Gideon's sister was involved? Nah, but because obviously , so it was all good. That also contributed to my start off a bit. Didn't get much of a sense of the "forbidden" in this story, imo.
But, once they talked and Gideon found out the truth and he came out to Lily and he and Silas could be together it got even more enjoyable.
I did genuinely enjoy these two together and loved their chemistry. It was quite sexy between them and I enjoyed all of their sex scenes together. Once Gideon got his head out of his ass, he was quite enjoyable too. When he let himself be happy, I was happy as a reader too.
The epilogues were sweet, although I was a bit confused if
Regardless of all that, it was sweet to see where they get to at the end after all the trauma they faced, and how happy they are with their new found family.
So definitely this still gets a thumbs up from me, it just could have improved a few areas to have made it a 5 star read for me.
I'm looking forward to the next one, which seems like it'll have a trans MC, if I'm not mistaken. I've only read about 2 or so books with trans MCs so it'll be interesting to read the next one as well, and to read more MM trans books.
Until then! 😍
My Ratings for the Forbidden Goals Series:
🔆 Head in the Game: 4 stars (my review)
🔆 Man On 3.5 stars (my review)
🔆 Choke Up: 4.5 stars (my review)
🔆 The Try Line: 4.5 stars (my review)
🔆 Off Balance: 4.5 stars (my review)
🔆 Off the Rim: 4.5 stars (my review)
🔆 Wrap Around: 4 stars
🔆 Full Split: TBR
🔆 Pinned Down: TBR
July 17, 2025
ARC Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Another five-star read by Rebecca Rathe! She is my favorite author of MM romances, the master at writing stories that are both heartbreaking and uplifting.
In this book, beyond the sports romance bit, she delved into the theme of finding self-acceptance despite religious trauma. I was filled with so much anger, so much pain (tears were flowing), but then so much hope.
The miscommunication trope isn't my favorite, but it works here. When the secrets are all out, it makes sense why all sides were hurt, but also how easily things would have been resolved if they just TALKED! But then we wouldn't have this awesome book to read if the friends didn't become enemies and then lovers. And I'd be sad.
Slower burn but spicy with a virgin MMC.
This is a complete standalone with a HEA.
Thank you, Rebecca Rathe, for the advanced copy!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Another five-star read by Rebecca Rathe! She is my favorite author of MM romances, the master at writing stories that are both heartbreaking and uplifting.
In this book, beyond the sports romance bit, she delved into the theme of finding self-acceptance despite religious trauma. I was filled with so much anger, so much pain (tears were flowing), but then so much hope.
The miscommunication trope isn't my favorite, but it works here. When the secrets are all out, it makes sense why all sides were hurt, but also how easily things would have been resolved if they just TALKED! But then we wouldn't have this awesome book to read if the friends didn't become enemies and then lovers. And I'd be sad.
Slower burn but spicy with a virgin MMC.
This is a complete standalone with a HEA.
Thank you, Rebecca Rathe, for the advanced copy!
July 8, 2025
4.25/5 stars 3/5 spice
Rebecca really knows how to write books that are gripping. This one, like all her other books, is full of heart, emotion, and passion.
Silas and Gideon’s religious upbringing, traumatic punishments, and their parent’s conditional love was just heartbreaking. I loved it when they finally stood up to them years later, being stronger together.
Baby girl Addy truly was their saviours, changing and saving her parents and uncles lives. Her bond with her guncle was so cute. It was sweet seeing them forming their own family, where their love was unconditional for each other. Lily really added to the story and I adored her character.
The communication issues were painful but also real, especially because of their trauma and age. There was a lot of pining and angst which really built up the moment they finally gave into each other.
Overall, this is another great book by Rebecca. If you love her previous books, I can guarantee you’ll love this one as well.
- Second chance
- Former best friends
- Secrets
- Hockey teammates
- Religious trauma
- Small conservative hometown
- Brothers in law
Rebecca really knows how to write books that are gripping. This one, like all her other books, is full of heart, emotion, and passion.
Silas and Gideon’s religious upbringing, traumatic punishments, and their parent’s conditional love was just heartbreaking. I loved it when they finally stood up to them years later, being stronger together.
Baby girl Addy truly was their saviours, changing and saving her parents and uncles lives. Her bond with her guncle was so cute. It was sweet seeing them forming their own family, where their love was unconditional for each other. Lily really added to the story and I adored her character.
The communication issues were painful but also real, especially because of their trauma and age. There was a lot of pining and angst which really built up the moment they finally gave into each other.
Overall, this is another great book by Rebecca. If you love her previous books, I can guarantee you’ll love this one as well.
- Second chance
- Former best friends
- Secrets
- Hockey teammates
- Religious trauma
- Small conservative hometown
- Brothers in law
October 15, 2025
Not bad, but not incredible. When I saw that Rebecca Rathe wrote a hockey romance book for the Forbidden Goals series, I had so many expectations, because I know how great her books are and I love this series so much. Add the friends-to-enemies-to-lovers and second chance tropes, and yeah, I expected to love it. But honestly, I don’t think I did. It wasn’t horrible; I just didn’t connect with the characters or the relationship they developed.
The miscommunication trope was heavy in this one. I mean, it started with that and basically lasted until 50% of the book. Then they’re happy for a little while, and then it all falls back into miscommunication again… I can’t say I enjoyed that. The word that comes to my mind about this book is messy, but not in the sense that the writing or the structure of the book was messy, not on anything like that, it was more about the things that happened.
This book felt different from the others in the series, at least for me. The spice wasn’t the best—it felt rushed and not at all like what I’ve come to expect from this series. The writing was good as always, but there were these time jumps within chapters. One moment they’re doing something, and then suddenly a week has passed and they’re somewhere else completely, and all of this happens in the same chapter. I’ve read books that do this, but I just didn’t like it here. Another thing was how heavily religious based this book was. I understand that it tied into the MMCs’ childhoods and family experiences, but there has to be a balance, and I didn’t find that in this one. I get that it was a big part of Gideon’s and Silas’s struggles and helped explain them more deeply, but I wasn’t prepared for how much of it there was.
I did love their HEA, though. Lily played a really supportive role, and Adeline was adorable—her scenes with Gideon were genuinely sweet. It was an unconventional family, but it was good that all of them ended up happy. I’m struggling with how to rate this one because it wasn’t horrible—I didn’t get bored, and I liked both Gideon and Silas—but I’m definitely not crazy about it. I’m giving it 2.8 stars, rounding up to 3. I don’t know… this book just wasn’t for me.
The miscommunication trope was heavy in this one. I mean, it started with that and basically lasted until 50% of the book. Then they’re happy for a little while, and then it all falls back into miscommunication again… I can’t say I enjoyed that. The word that comes to my mind about this book is messy, but not in the sense that the writing or the structure of the book was messy, not on anything like that, it was more about the things that happened.
This book felt different from the others in the series, at least for me. The spice wasn’t the best—it felt rushed and not at all like what I’ve come to expect from this series. The writing was good as always, but there were these time jumps within chapters. One moment they’re doing something, and then suddenly a week has passed and they’re somewhere else completely, and all of this happens in the same chapter. I’ve read books that do this, but I just didn’t like it here. Another thing was how heavily religious based this book was. I understand that it tied into the MMCs’ childhoods and family experiences, but there has to be a balance, and I didn’t find that in this one. I get that it was a big part of Gideon’s and Silas’s struggles and helped explain them more deeply, but I wasn’t prepared for how much of it there was.
I did love their HEA, though. Lily played a really supportive role, and Adeline was adorable—her scenes with Gideon were genuinely sweet. It was an unconventional family, but it was good that all of them ended up happy. I’m struggling with how to rate this one because it wasn’t horrible—I didn’t get bored, and I liked both Gideon and Silas—but I’m definitely not crazy about it. I’m giving it 2.8 stars, rounding up to 3. I don’t know… this book just wasn’t for me.
January 3, 2026
Silas + Gideon
-mm romance
-hockey teammates
-friends to enemies to lovers
-second chance
-forbidden romance
-brother-in-law
-secrets & betrayals
GAHHHH OMGGG REBECCA DID IT AGAIN!!! idk how they continue to just FUCKING NAIL IT EVERY DAMN TIMEEE!! but shit!! the angst is just always SO DAMN GOOD!! like WHY are we hating him? WHAT did he do? but also WHY then is he following you around to get closer to you...WHILE HE'S MARRIED TO YOUR SISTER WITH A BABY?? & then...as it all starts to unravel...you're just like oh. Oh! OHHHHHH!! ugh!! i love them your honor!!
-mm romance
-hockey teammates
-friends to enemies to lovers
-second chance
-forbidden romance
-brother-in-law
-secrets & betrayals
GAHHHH OMGGG REBECCA DID IT AGAIN!!! idk how they continue to just FUCKING NAIL IT EVERY DAMN TIMEEE!! but shit!! the angst is just always SO DAMN GOOD!! like WHY are we hating him? WHAT did he do? but also WHY then is he following you around to get closer to you...WHILE HE'S MARRIED TO YOUR SISTER WITH A BABY?? & then...as it all starts to unravel...you're just like oh. Oh! OHHHHHH!! ugh!! i love them your honor!!
dnf
July 14, 2025DNF. My fault for not reading some reviews first but this type of premise if not for me at all.
July 6, 2025
" He needs to know. And I need to be able to tell him. That I've never stopped loving him. That I've never stopped wanting him. Aching for him"
Wrap Around by Rebecca Rathe
This book wrecked me in the best way. The characters, their love, their pain, their secrets, it all left such a lasting impact. If you’re someone who checks trigger warnings before diving in, just know, it’s not what you think. And just like the plot itself, it's never what you think.
At the core of this story is the weight of silence, of unspoken truths that fester and hurt. It’s a painful lesson in how damaging secrets can be, even when they’re meant to protect. Silas kept two enormous secrets, one to shield Gideon, the boy he was falling for, and another to protect Lily, Gideon’s sister. But in the ultra religious, cult like household they all grew up in, those secrets were a matter of survival.
My emotions were all over the place. At first, I was rooting for Silas and Gideon. Then I found myself angry at Silas, at Lily. But slowly, as the truth unraveled and I started to understand the reasons behind it all, I fell in love with every single one of them: Silas, Gideon, Lily, even Adaline. I didn’t hate the characters, I hated their circumstances.
There’s so much packed into this story, forbidden love, a teen pregnancy, hidden sexualities, toxic religion... oh, and hockey too. It’s heavy, but the pacing is done so well that you’re never stuck in the darkness for too long.
Silas truly broke my heart. To carry so much alone, to lose the boy you love, to watch him leave, grow up, work so hard to and find where the love of your life left to and see him so full of hate, and still stay silent? It gutted me. All because of fear, of shame, of people who preach love but practice hate and torture.
But there’s hope. There’s healing. Everyone gets their own HEA in the end. You just have to take the emotional ride to get there. I picked up this book and wasn't able to put it down. I loved it! I am excited to listen to this once the audio is released, which I hope there will be.
Wrap Around by Rebecca Rathe
This book wrecked me in the best way. The characters, their love, their pain, their secrets, it all left such a lasting impact. If you’re someone who checks trigger warnings before diving in, just know, it’s not what you think. And just like the plot itself, it's never what you think.
At the core of this story is the weight of silence, of unspoken truths that fester and hurt. It’s a painful lesson in how damaging secrets can be, even when they’re meant to protect. Silas kept two enormous secrets, one to shield Gideon, the boy he was falling for, and another to protect Lily, Gideon’s sister. But in the ultra religious, cult like household they all grew up in, those secrets were a matter of survival.
My emotions were all over the place. At first, I was rooting for Silas and Gideon. Then I found myself angry at Silas, at Lily. But slowly, as the truth unraveled and I started to understand the reasons behind it all, I fell in love with every single one of them: Silas, Gideon, Lily, even Adaline. I didn’t hate the characters, I hated their circumstances.
There’s so much packed into this story, forbidden love, a teen pregnancy, hidden sexualities, toxic religion... oh, and hockey too. It’s heavy, but the pacing is done so well that you’re never stuck in the darkness for too long.
Silas truly broke my heart. To carry so much alone, to lose the boy you love, to watch him leave, grow up, work so hard to and find where the love of your life left to and see him so full of hate, and still stay silent? It gutted me. All because of fear, of shame, of people who preach love but practice hate and torture.
But there’s hope. There’s healing. Everyone gets their own HEA in the end. You just have to take the emotional ride to get there. I picked up this book and wasn't able to put it down. I loved it! I am excited to listen to this once the audio is released, which I hope there will be.
July 10, 2025
Is this the best book Rebecca has ever done?! Or do I just think this of every new book she publishes? In any case, it's just great again! Gideon and Silas are both struggling with their religious past. A topic that always touches me deeply. The way they break away from their sometimes traumatizing past and build a new life for themselves, with new values, ideals, boundaries and beliefs, is extraordinary. Their story is told so emotionally and emphatically that you feel, suffer and love with them ❤️! I even caught myself crying at one point or another. And the spice is also simply on a top level once again 🔥🌶️! Rebbeca is one of my absolute favorite authors and I can only say, read her books, it's very worth it! I'm really looking forward to the next one!
July 11, 2025
They Were Made For Each Other
Dee’s Grade: A+
This book is great and has so many elements I love. Fair warning they are young and terrible at communicating for a while. It makes sense because of their upbringing.
Dee’s Grade: A+
This book is great and has so many elements I love. Fair warning they are young and terrible at communicating for a while. It makes sense because of their upbringing.
July 12, 2025
Another great story in Rebecca's Forbidden Goals series. I love Becca's writing and her ability to create likeable, broken and soulful boys.
Wrap Around is an emotional second-chance romance between Silas and Gideon. They were childhood best friends who became complete strangers, now forced to play on the same NHL team.
This book is another home run with great tropes and a beautiful but dramatic story to go along with them.
Hockey teammates, best friends to enemies to lovers, forced proximity, second chance, brothers-in-law, all the hurt/comfort and secrets.
Wrap Around is an emotional second-chance romance between Silas and Gideon. They were childhood best friends who became complete strangers, now forced to play on the same NHL team.
This book is another home run with great tropes and a beautiful but dramatic story to go along with them.
Hockey teammates, best friends to enemies to lovers, forced proximity, second chance, brothers-in-law, all the hurt/comfort and secrets.
July 18, 2025
"Maybe the apple was the first true act of love."
➻ my rating: ✩✩.5
When I read the prologue, I was a little worried that Wrap
Around was going to be a copy and paste of the Try Line but featuring hockey instead of rugby. Thankfully, that wasn't the case.
Unfortunately for me, my experience only got worse from there.
The first three books in the Forbidden Goals series were damn near masterpieces for me. It gave equal parts romance and character growth while also giving me steamy scenes that made me look at the imaginary camera in disbelief. However, after those three books, the series took an unexpected dive. Rathe started doing more telling than showing, the romance felt forced like they were shoving two dolls together and forcing them to kiss instead of creating two realized characters and putting them into a situation that influences internal and external dynamics, and the thought process of characters is downright contradictory and weak without the benefit of character exploration and growth and all of this couldn't have been made more clear by this book and our lead (not leads because Gideon is an angel who was wronged) Silas, and side character Lily.
I have 28 notes (that I won't be sharing) about how much those two characters pissed me off with the decisions they made and how Rathe twists the narrative to seemingly condemn Gideon for not sharing his sexuality when he was younger because it would have opened the door for the whole case to be cracked open and led to “smoother” lives. BOOOOOO!!
Am I going to read the next book? Yes, because I have hope that Rathe will one day return to the formula that made the first three books so great but for now I am disillusioned and in need of a pick-me-up.
➻ my rating: ✩✩.5
When I read the prologue, I was a little worried that Wrap
Around was going to be a copy and paste of the Try Line but featuring hockey instead of rugby. Thankfully, that wasn't the case.
Unfortunately for me, my experience only got worse from there.
The first three books in the Forbidden Goals series were damn near masterpieces for me. It gave equal parts romance and character growth while also giving me steamy scenes that made me look at the imaginary camera in disbelief. However, after those three books, the series took an unexpected dive. Rathe started doing more telling than showing, the romance felt forced like they were shoving two dolls together and forcing them to kiss instead of creating two realized characters and putting them into a situation that influences internal and external dynamics, and the thought process of characters is downright contradictory and weak without the benefit of character exploration and growth and all of this couldn't have been made more clear by this book and our lead (not leads because Gideon is an angel who was wronged) Silas, and side character Lily.
I have 28 notes (that I won't be sharing) about how much those two characters pissed me off with the decisions they made and how Rathe twists the narrative to seemingly condemn Gideon for not sharing his sexuality when he was younger because it would have opened the door for the whole case to be cracked open and led to “smoother” lives. BOOOOOO!!
Am I going to read the next book? Yes, because I have hope that Rathe will one day return to the formula that made the first three books so great but for now I am disillusioned and in need of a pick-me-up.
July 3, 2025
Damn Rebecca your stories just hit EVERY 👏 SINGLE 👏 TIME!!!!
Yes, this is an MM romance, but I have to say… I saw so much of myself in Lilly (the sister)
I once cut my hair really short and my father gave me the silent treatment.... he was SO ANGRY.
The religious trauma explored in this book? It’s real, and I related to it all too well.
That’s what I love most about your writing Rebecca
You don’t just give us spicy, hot as hell romance... you give us so much depth.
You dive into the trauma, the healing, and the identity in such a raw and beautiful way
I adored the relationship in this book.
The way they fought for each other * both individually and together * was so moving.
There was so much growth between the first page and the last. It felt earned and authentic.
You deserve to be on billboards, Rebecca.
Your stories are exceptional and they stay with me LONNGGGG after I finish them.
Yes, this is an MM romance, but I have to say… I saw so much of myself in Lilly (the sister)
I once cut my hair really short and my father gave me the silent treatment.... he was SO ANGRY.
The religious trauma explored in this book? It’s real, and I related to it all too well.
That’s what I love most about your writing Rebecca
You don’t just give us spicy, hot as hell romance... you give us so much depth.
You dive into the trauma, the healing, and the identity in such a raw and beautiful way
I adored the relationship in this book.
The way they fought for each other * both individually and together * was so moving.
There was so much growth between the first page and the last. It felt earned and authentic.
You deserve to be on billboards, Rebecca.
Your stories are exceptional and they stay with me LONNGGGG after I finish them.
January 20, 2026
This series is so wonderful.I love Rebecca's writing but more so the important topics that are covered. I have been reading this series back to back & the feels & emotions are big. I didnt even read the Blurb of this book, just went in completely blind because i knew i was going to read it no matter what. I'm so glad I did because this was an emotional journey. As hard as some of it was to read, knowing people go through this hits harder. Such a beautifully written love story.
June 30, 2025
If you’ve read all the previous Forbidden Goals books, you’ll probably feel like I did in the beginning; that this book was a merging of elements from Man On and The Try Line. However, this story is not just a retelling by any means. Of course it’s not, because, as usual, Rebecca has the ability to take tropes that you may have read before (in other author’s books or hers) and give them her own unique spin into something amazing you won’t soon forget. The combination of childhood religious trauma and second chance romance made me feral for these characters. Add in all the secrets and angst…chef’s kiss!
June 28, 2025
I think this is my favorite of this series so far. I love the relationship Silas has with Gideon and Lily. All 3 of them grew up in a very hard very abusive religious community. It was hard to read those parts but I absolutely loved seeing these 3 grow. I love the way they are raising that sweet little girl. I cried a few times because I felt Lilys pain at times. Although I didn't grow up in a religious family like hers we did go to church and I do hold on to some religious trauma. I often forget about it until it comes up like it did in this book. So read the trigger warnings.
My only complaint is I wanted more of Silas and Gideon at the end hahahaha but thats not on Rebbeca lol the book needs to end I just loved these 2 so much.
P.S.
Gideons epilog was EVERYTHING!
My only complaint is I wanted more of Silas and Gideon at the end hahahaha but thats not on Rebbeca lol the book needs to end I just loved these 2 so much.
P.S.
Gideons epilog was EVERYTHING!
August 3, 2025
I was so looking forward to Rebecca Rathe doing hockey, but I was really let down by this lame duck of a book. The story centers around Gideon and Silas - hockey-playing childhood best friends growing up in an extremely religious community who have a falling out when Silas gets Gideon's sister pregnant when they're teenagers. Added to the betrayal is the fact that Silas and Gideon shared an intimate moment as teenagers that changed both of them forever. Gideon carries an enormous chip on his should because of this, as well as a lot of religious trauma to boot.
Silas, now married to Gideon's sister, somehow finds himself on the same team and Gideon is having none of it. He is outright hostile and things do not go well for them. I just really, really disliked Gideon. He was an awful character, rash and violent, completely self-centered and emotionally immature. To be fair, they are like 20/21 years old, but still. Silas was a doormat and had no real personality of his own to speak of. I genuinely couldn't get a clear picture of either of them in my head.
As the story goes on, we get a lot of manufactured sexual tension between these two as they are forced to share space on the team and in hotel rooms and it progresses about how you would think. I found the chemistry to be extremely forced and even though the spice was spicy, it felt bloodless - I just could not care less about these two. Then we get to the family drama in the last 20%, which was just too much and compressed into too small of a space to feel realistic or resolved. By this point, I couldn't wait to be finished with this book.
I like Rebbeca Rathe, but this was a dud of a book. There were lots of emotionally heavy themes, yet it still felt trite and superficial. No one learns anything. Hopefully future offerings are better.
Silas, now married to Gideon's sister, somehow finds himself on the same team and Gideon is having none of it. He is outright hostile and things do not go well for them. I just really, really disliked Gideon. He was an awful character, rash and violent, completely self-centered and emotionally immature. To be fair, they are like 20/21 years old, but still. Silas was a doormat and had no real personality of his own to speak of. I genuinely couldn't get a clear picture of either of them in my head.
As the story goes on, we get a lot of manufactured sexual tension between these two as they are forced to share space on the team and in hotel rooms and it progresses about how you would think. I found the chemistry to be extremely forced and even though the spice was spicy, it felt bloodless - I just could not care less about these two. Then we get to the family drama in the last 20%, which was just too much and compressed into too small of a space to feel realistic or resolved. By this point, I couldn't wait to be finished with this book.
I like Rebbeca Rathe, but this was a dud of a book. There were lots of emotionally heavy themes, yet it still felt trite and superficial. No one learns anything. Hopefully future offerings are better.
August 9, 2025
ahhhhh....it's absolutely killing me to rate a Rebecca Rathe book this low. I don't know why, but this one just didn't work for me. It took me several weeks to even finish it. I have rated everything else she wrote 5 stars, so I guess it was gonna happen eventually. I think I will give it another shot once released on audio to make sure it wasn't me. I'm not even sure what I didn't like, I just couldn't vibe with the MMC's...Lilly's involvement annoyed me lol. All I know is that I will absolutely continue reading her books and am anxiously waiting for the next in this series and the rockstar romance it said she was writing to come out!!!
July 14, 2025
❤️❤️❤️❤️
I’m in LOVE with this series! So raw, so real, so much emotion. Anything she writes, it’s an instant buy for me. The way she captures the yearning and the despair. I gobble it up EVERY TIME!
I’m in LOVE with this series! So raw, so real, so much emotion. Anything she writes, it’s an instant buy for me. The way she captures the yearning and the despair. I gobble it up EVERY TIME!
January 5, 2026
“I met someone. The someone. And when I’m with him, I don’t feel sick. I don’t feel shame. I feel—” he draws in a breath. “I feel like maybe God didn’t make a mistake with me after all. That He meant for us to be together.”
im emo 🫠
im emo 🫠
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