໑ ▸ 3 stars
౨ৎ my thought
Sin-Bin made for a solid debut, delivering an enjoyable reading experience in certain areas while leaving me feeling somewhat underwhelmed when it came to the characters and romantic dynamics. Although the book had its strengths, including some engaging tropes, it fell short of what I was hoping for in terms of emotional depth and character connection.
The story is presented through dual perspectives, following Ava and Colton, the protagonists whose viewpoints give insight into a mix of entertaining themes such as enemies to lovers, frenemies with benefits, and a classic sports romance backdrop. These tropes unquestionably added flavor to the narrative and provided opportunities for drama and tension. However, despite these promising elements, the execution lacked the spark needed to fully captivate me.
While the storyline as a whole had its moments—it offered humor, heartfelt exchanges, and some entertaining scenes—it didn’t compel me to stay glued to the pages. In fact, it took me a couple of days to finish the book, largely because I wasn’t fully engaged throughout. One of my biggest challenges while reading was finding a genuine connection with Ava and Colton as individuals.
The romantic progression between the two characters felt serviceable but underdeveloped. While their intimate encounters were electrifying—well-detailed and undeniably steamy—it was difficult to invest in their emotional journey. From the outset, their relationship lacked sufficient build-up or depth to make their eventual declarations of love believable. Much of their emotional development only became apparent toward the end of the book, which left me struggling to understand how they reached the "I love you" stage. Furthermore, their initial meeting didn’t leave a favorable impression on me, and the inclusion of a brief other-woman/other-man subplot struck an odd note that detracted from the overall romance.
That being said, where the book truly excelled was in its depiction of physical intimacy. The spicy scenes between Ava and Colton were exceptionally well-written—dynamic, vividly descriptive, and bursting with passion. In this regard, the novel’s exploration of their physical connection became its defining strength. It delivered on kinkiness and intensity with remarkable flair.
Toward the end, however, the story introduced a surprise reveal that didn’t sit well with me personally. While other readers may find it intriguing, I felt that certain subplots could have used more development or resolution to balance out the narrative's pacing and impact. That said, the ending and epilogue were sweet, providing a sense of closure that left things on a positive note.
Overall, while this book contained commendable elements such as spicy romance, engaging tropes, and heartfelt moments, it ultimately didn’t resonate with me as much as I’d hoped. It has good aspects that will likely appeal to fans of this genre, but on a personal level, it failed to deliver an experience that truly worked for me from start to finish.