I am so disappointed in this book. I adored the first 3 books in this series however this book felt like fanfiction written by an unexperienced author. This book felt shoved down my throat where the author and editor chose to tell and not show the character's growth.
Unfortunately I think the series has jumped the shark. The characters from previous books are overly established and are now gross characterization of their previous selves. Carter literally throw his 1 year old daughter a party that resembles a wedding. Cara, Ollie, Jennie and Rosie are constantly wet and horny while watching their husbands play hockey. The constant choreographed dance videos, hour long karaoke performances and generally having zero boundaries as a friend group is so overdone.
The eating habitats of these characters (half of which are supposed professional athletes that go on to win the Stanley Cup) is disgusting. Lattes, Frappuccinos, doughnuts, and muffins are pre workout meals. Post game consist of pizza, wings, fried pickles and beers. They are constantly shoving Oreos, Poptarts, Sour Keys and other snack foods in their mouths. Cara eats fistfuls of Skittles and M&Ms at the same time. Has no one heard of a piece of fruit? Or a vegetable?
Spoilers below.
Some other pet peeves:
- Lennon goes on her honeymoon alone and only brings rainbow Crocs. Personally, I love my Crocs but there is a line.
- The reader first finds out that Lennon is African American when Jaxon describes her genitals as "brown." Yes, apparently only white woman are allowed to have "pink pussies." Everyone else gets a "brown pussy." Then we are reminded repeatedly of Lennon's bronze body parts.
- Lennon has no idea how to make a cup of coffee. She somehow fucks up using a Keurig machine. I am not sure who was making her coffee for the last ten years of her life because it certainly wasn't her asshole ex-fiancée.
- Somehow the team's professional photographer, Lennon, is positioned next to the WAGs (Cara, Ollie, Jennie and Rosie) during games.
- Lennon is forced to leave her apartment due to a burst pipe. Lennon is then unable to find a hotel room in all of Vancouver and her plan is to sleep in her car in a Walmart parking lot in the dead of winter. There were supposedly no hotel rooms available in all of Vancouver.
- Lennon binge eats pastries at a team event. However Lennon has a tree and peanut allergy. Lennon goes into anaphylactic shock and when the doctor tells her the pastries had almond flour in them her response is, "that's not how my grandma makes them." How is Lennon still alive?
- Jaxon sleeps naked and likes to spend his mornings naked around his apartment. When Lennon moves in he does not modify his habitats. He walks around the apartment buck ass naked while calling his penis "Magic Mike." And according to Lennon Magic Mike is 8 inches long when flaccid.
- At one point Jaxon wrestles Lennon onto the bed and gyrates against her a 2-3 times. This was enough for Lennon to soak through her underwear and sweatpants and leave a wet spot on said sweatpants.
- Lennon gets her period and has to ask Jaxon how to take Advil. She doesn't know if her pain levels justify a certain formula or what to take for dosage. I don't understand how Lennon does not know how to medicate and take care of herself on an extremely basic level.
- Lennon is African American and her hair care routine is brought up a few times. Mostly her making decisions that then give Jaxon the opportunity to be "romantic" and take care of her hair for her. Lennon will spend hours washing and styling her hair only to shower a few hours later, sleep without her silk wrap or lose it and not own a shower cap. At one point Jaxon, a Caucasian man, styles Lennon's hair. Apparently he learned by watching her a few times. Oh but then they shower together 10 minutes later.
- Jaxon needs relationship advice so he "checks out" a 12 year old girl from the children's shelter for the afternoon. At the end of the visit the 12 year old girls ask a brief opportunity to confess her insecurities and fears on no one wanting her/wanting to adopt her. Way to prioritize the child, Jaxon.
- Jaxon receives three concussion in the span of a few months and he is still allowed to play hockey. He is okay with this because fighting is all he is good for and nobody loves or wants him *eye roll*
- When Jaxon winks at Lennon, Lennon gets "butterflies in her coochie."
- Ryne, Lennon's ex-fiancée, who could not even do the bare minimum when they were a couple for 7-8 years and cheated on her at her wedding rehearsal dinner chases her down to Vancouver and re-proposes twice. The second time he brings his grandmother and re-proposed with a $50,000 ring. It makes zero sense.
- The team's assistant coach begins to see Carter's mother and tells Carter he is "going to eat his mother for breakfast" during a banter session in a team meeting.
Honestly, I could go on. I didn't even touch on the cat stuff which I'll admit was cute but exceedingly extra.
I barely made it through this book.