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Follow the North Star
It technically starts when Fitzy comes out halfway through his first season with the North Stars.
126 154 words.
126 154 words.
388 pages, ebook
First published February 14, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 11, 2022
**** 3.5 stars ****
What we have here is a love triangle, and it is pretty dang cute.
…Said no one in all of history about love triangles, ever. But I’m saying it now, because it’s true. As these three guys bumble toward a resolution, they are aided — no, make that “aided” — no, make that semi-forcibly wrangled and maneuvered — by their North Stars teammate Liam Fitzgerald, whom many of you will know from Thrown Off the Ice.
If you loved TOTI, you need to read this, because both Liam and Mike are among the POV characters. If you haven’t read TOTI but are planning to, definitely go ahead and read it first. If you’re one of the people who are actively avoiding TOTI, for reasons, I think you’ll enjoy this just fine as a standalone. The M&L domestic scenes won’t have any resonance for you, but they’re basically a side dish to the main course anyway, a treat for TOTI fans.
The romantic adventures of these three pining idiots (as my friend Maygirl7 oh-so-accurately dubbed them) is full of humor, with an inevitable (given the setup) streak of angst that never swamps the story.
As I read I was struck by the challenge the author had set for herself in needing to make the character at the apex of the triangle one we could forgive for creating such a predicament. Twenty-year old Evan Connelly certainly didn’t set out to acquire two boyfriends (and both of them his teammates *cough*). He’s kind, shy, inexperienced, prone to anxiety attacks, and a favorite of the entire team. The reader needs to believe in his good intentions and his lack of selfishness in order to root for him — or at least this reader did. But Evan is honest with the other two right from the start; there’s no sneaking or cheating or manipulation going on. Everybody knows the score; everybody signed up for the ride.
Irascible loudmouth Harry Chalmers is a few years older than Evan, but joined the team in the same rookie year. They were both taken under the wing of the North Stars’ “rookie mentor,” 26-year old Roman Novák, who despite being built like a tank and looking like a thug is basically a good-natured goofus.
These three MCs are vivid and distinctive, and share POV chapters with a handful of quirky side characters. Something I didn’t much like at first is that changing POVs meant backtracking in the timeline, so that whatever just happened was revisited from someone else’s perspective. Not my favorite thing. But once I got used to it I was able to roll with it.
Still, it was a reminder that this isn’t actually a published book (although I was reading it as a mobi on my Kindle, so it was easy to forget that). It’s a series on AO3 (https://archiveofourown.org/series/65...), and I'm sure the few relatively minor pacing issues I encountered are attributable to that too. But for something written in serial form that hasn’t been reworked for publication as a novel, this is top-notch stuff — which is why I've rounded up from 3.5 stars instead of down.
In addition to the AO3 series itself, there are loads of side fics (like, 40+) about this trio, some of which overlap with other stories/characters in the YCMAL universe. I’m reading my way through them, and enjoying them, but I have to admit I didn’t fall in love with these guys to the extent I have with some of the other YCMAL MCs. Which is fine! It’s honestly kind of painful to be as emotionally over-invested as I am in David & Jake; I don’t expect to feel that level of attachment to all the author’s characters. I'd say this was on a level with giving in to the influence or Vinny Gets a Life. In other words: worth my time, and likely to be reread some day.
What we have here is a love triangle, and it is pretty dang cute.
…Said no one in all of history about love triangles, ever. But I’m saying it now, because it’s true. As these three guys bumble toward a resolution, they are aided — no, make that “aided” — no, make that semi-forcibly wrangled and maneuvered — by their North Stars teammate Liam Fitzgerald, whom many of you will know from Thrown Off the Ice.
If you loved TOTI, you need to read this, because both Liam and Mike are among the POV characters. If you haven’t read TOTI but are planning to, definitely go ahead and read it first. If you’re one of the people who are actively avoiding TOTI, for reasons, I think you’ll enjoy this just fine as a standalone. The M&L domestic scenes won’t have any resonance for you, but they’re basically a side dish to the main course anyway, a treat for TOTI fans.
The romantic adventures of these three pining idiots (as my friend Maygirl7 oh-so-accurately dubbed them) is full of humor, with an inevitable (given the setup) streak of angst that never swamps the story.
As I read I was struck by the challenge the author had set for herself in needing to make the character at the apex of the triangle one we could forgive for creating such a predicament. Twenty-year old Evan Connelly certainly didn’t set out to acquire two boyfriends (and both of them his teammates *cough*). He’s kind, shy, inexperienced, prone to anxiety attacks, and a favorite of the entire team. The reader needs to believe in his good intentions and his lack of selfishness in order to root for him — or at least this reader did. But Evan is honest with the other two right from the start; there’s no sneaking or cheating or manipulation going on. Everybody knows the score; everybody signed up for the ride.
Irascible loudmouth Harry Chalmers is a few years older than Evan, but joined the team in the same rookie year. They were both taken under the wing of the North Stars’ “rookie mentor,” 26-year old Roman Novák, who despite being built like a tank and looking like a thug is basically a good-natured goofus.
These three MCs are vivid and distinctive, and share POV chapters with a handful of quirky side characters. Something I didn’t much like at first is that changing POVs meant backtracking in the timeline, so that whatever just happened was revisited from someone else’s perspective. Not my favorite thing. But once I got used to it I was able to roll with it.
Still, it was a reminder that this isn’t actually a published book (although I was reading it as a mobi on my Kindle, so it was easy to forget that). It’s a series on AO3 (https://archiveofourown.org/series/65...), and I'm sure the few relatively minor pacing issues I encountered are attributable to that too. But for something written in serial form that hasn’t been reworked for publication as a novel, this is top-notch stuff — which is why I've rounded up from 3.5 stars instead of down.
In addition to the AO3 series itself, there are loads of side fics (like, 40+) about this trio, some of which overlap with other stories/characters in the YCMAL universe. I’m reading my way through them, and enjoying them, but I have to admit I didn’t fall in love with these guys to the extent I have with some of the other YCMAL MCs. Which is fine! It’s honestly kind of painful to be as emotionally over-invested as I am in David & Jake; I don’t expect to feel that level of attachment to all the author’s characters. I'd say this was on a level with giving in to the influence or Vinny Gets a Life. In other words: worth my time, and likely to be reread some day.
December 15, 2024
Evan's personality is as vibrant as a tomato that's been stuck between burger buns for two days so I don't understand why Harry and Roman are into him.
Also, this was the sneakiest way to get me to read an MMM. I really need to start looking at the tags on fics.
Because let me tell you the scream I let out when Harry was having confusing Roman-infested orgasms? LOUD AF.
Like there was just no way. He couldn't stand Roman because Evan seemed to prefer him.
This was a clusterfuck. But in a good way. The showing wasn't matching the telling. Both Harry and Roman thought Evan was more into the other.
And I can't even get into how unbelievable mousey Evan finding the balls to tell these two that he wanted to date them both was. There's no way. The Evan I saw? Wild. Always the quiet ones, huh.
Harry and Roman separately losing their minds to jealousy? That I could believe. Always imagining the other fucking Evan? Yep. The imagination always devolving into horny breathless behavior?
Immediately jail.
To be fair, it really wasn't shocking that it ended up that way. Though I still don't know what they see in Evan. That guy wouldn't be able to choose between an apple and an orange. Never met a decision he wanted to make.
And the time Roman kissed Harry and Evan thought that meant they'd decided to choose each other instead of him and all he had to say was 'okay'?
Evan is an insult to doormats everywhere.
Kinda sorta wish they'd chosen to move forward withOUT him lol.
But also.
This sounds like a logistical nightmare honestly. What if one gets traded? What if TWO get traded to different teams? Then what?
Anyway. Three (dick)heads are better than one so I'd hope they can figure it out.
Took WAY too long to get through this one because I'd legitimately have to fight tears at every Mike Brouwer x Liam cameo. Bittersweet reading their day to day romance knowing Mike's about to die. Officially retraumatized.
The overall worst thing about this though? How on earth did Roman blow a one YEAR lead? By all accounts Evan was panting after him the entire rookie year. And he only got his head out of his ass after Evan started fucking Harry.
Dude.
DUDE.
Also, this was the sneakiest way to get me to read an MMM. I really need to start looking at the tags on fics.
Because let me tell you the scream I let out when Harry was having confusing Roman-infested orgasms? LOUD AF.
Like there was just no way. He couldn't stand Roman because Evan seemed to prefer him.
This was a clusterfuck. But in a good way. The showing wasn't matching the telling. Both Harry and Roman thought Evan was more into the other.
And I can't even get into how unbelievable mousey Evan finding the balls to tell these two that he wanted to date them both was. There's no way. The Evan I saw? Wild. Always the quiet ones, huh.
Harry and Roman separately losing their minds to jealousy? That I could believe. Always imagining the other fucking Evan? Yep. The imagination always devolving into horny breathless behavior?
Immediately jail.
To be fair, it really wasn't shocking that it ended up that way. Though I still don't know what they see in Evan. That guy wouldn't be able to choose between an apple and an orange. Never met a decision he wanted to make.
And the time Roman kissed Harry and Evan thought that meant they'd decided to choose each other instead of him and all he had to say was 'okay'?
Evan is an insult to doormats everywhere.
Kinda sorta wish they'd chosen to move forward withOUT him lol.
But also.
This sounds like a logistical nightmare honestly. What if one gets traded? What if TWO get traded to different teams? Then what?
Anyway. Three (dick)heads are better than one so I'd hope they can figure it out.
Took WAY too long to get through this one because I'd legitimately have to fight tears at every Mike Brouwer x Liam cameo. Bittersweet reading their day to day romance knowing Mike's about to die. Officially retraumatized.
The overall worst thing about this though? How on earth did Roman blow a one YEAR lead? By all accounts Evan was panting after him the entire rookie year. And he only got his head out of his ass after Evan started fucking Harry.
Dude.
DUDE.
March 21, 2023
Horny hockey boys! Or as Harry would say, "boyz."
I really enjoyed this, but ngl, long stretches of it were like watching a slow-motion car crash. My experience of reading it was basically: "cringe-laugh-awww-OH GOD NO-blink furiously-laugh-cringe" *clicks 'next work'*.
Evan/Connie/Sweetheart made a muddle! And Harry and Roman leapt right into the puddle. With both damned feet.
If I didn't know that this ended up with a closed triad (with pups) and an HEA, I would have been waaaaaaay more stressed and not a little frustrated. This is not "established relationship opening up to include a third party", or even "three mutually-attracted guys deciding together to embark on a poly relationship." This is "indecisive sweetiepie carrying on two separate relationships with two dudes who are jealous of (and kind of want to kneecap) the other, but who carry on with this clearly unsatisfactory and unsustainable arrangement because they are so in looooooooove with aforementioned (genuine, good-hearted, anxious) sweetiepie."
🤨
Anyway, the point is that this is NOT modeling a healthy poly relationship right up until it . . . starts modeling a healthy poly relationship? Which is to say that eventually the boys go from "Evan with Harry" and "Evan with Roman," with all the angst and jealousy and hurt feelings and awkwardness that implies, to "Evan with Harry with Roman with Evan with (all the permutations)," with actual attempts at communication besides/in addition to the threesomes.
This really shouldn't work, because let's face it, Evan is being a selfish little shit by putting Harry and Roman and, yes, himself in this position. But since we never get Evan's POV until the very end, we never really dwell on Evan being a selfish little shit, because we're seeing him primarily through Harry or Roman's (smitten) POV, or Valeri or Victor's (bro-love loyal bud) POV, or Liam's (gleeful) POV. And Harry and Roman never blame Evan -- or at least, they recognize that Evan was honest with them about the situation from the start, and that by agreeing to go along with it, they brought this upon themselves. So no, it shouldn't work. But there's so much in the ycmal universe that shouldn't work, and yet (if you're an addict like me), there it goes, working.
Fuck, Roman actually feels a little better about himself now, though feeling better about yourself because you're judging someone else so hard is not exactly a sign you should feel better about yourself. Stop knowing me, Taylor Fitzpatrick.
The dual revelations by Harry and Roman regarding each other are maybe a bit abrupt, seeing as both men have spent so much time (mentally) kneecapping the other while pining for Evan. On the other hand, they've been circling and extremely aware of each other during the aforementioned kneecap-pining, and yes, that awareness was mostly because of Evan, but Evan is tied up with feelings and attraction and sex in both their minds, and so . . . anyway. There it goes, working.
(Also working: how Roman is all, I shall court this magnificent innocent with the respect and chivalry he deserves while Harry is all, that dick needs suckin', i'm on it, and both men are mutually baffled/ horrified by the other's approach. Evan is LIVING A LIFE!!!)
I embarked on this because I have been walking around sad and mopey the past week because my heart still hurts over Liam and Mike and, strange as it sounds to talk this way about fictional characters, I miss them so much. Reading TOTI is not necessary to enjoy this, but I would say that if you have read TOTI, this will be an extra (bittersweet) delight. We get lots of Liam and Mike here, including POV chapters. And it's not just the domestic scenes, though those are wonderful. It's also getting in Liam's head (which we (almost) aren't in TOTI) and, more than that, it's getting other characters' impressions of Liam to complement/ contrast Mike's. It adds a new dimension to our understanding both of Liam as a character and Liam-Mike as a couple and dynamic. Liam is basically a chaos demon in this story, but the few times he gets serious also shows us that loyal, sensitive, caregiving side of him that is so often disguised by the braggadocio and tomfoolery. So it's a lovely -- but again, bittersweet -- balm for TOTI-lovers. (On a more practical note, I wouldn't say this is spoilery for TOTI, except that the team all these hockeyhimbos are on is not the same team Liam and Mike were on when they met. So, very minor spoilers.)
Loved Val and Victor and poor long-suffering Finds as well. Taylor Fitzpatrick is so damned good at writing side characters that you love irrationally and will defend to the death. Yes, hello Willy, I see you over there, stop being smug. Et tu, Halla and Gabe and Stephen?
Oh, and go read Teal and wasteland baby's reviews. Because this is ycmal and you can never go wrong reading Teal and wasteland baby's reviews. I don't make the rules, people.
So thanks for the laugh, Evan/Connie/Sweetheart, Harry, and Roman. You dumb horny hockeyboys boyz.
ETA: This series is pretty steamy, but for the more kink-adjacent stuff, head to the outtakes/ tumblr. Yum. Yum. Yum.
I really enjoyed this, but ngl, long stretches of it were like watching a slow-motion car crash. My experience of reading it was basically: "cringe-laugh-awww-OH GOD NO-blink furiously-laugh-cringe" *clicks 'next work'*.
Evan/Connie/Sweetheart made a muddle! And Harry and Roman leapt right into the puddle. With both damned feet.
If I didn't know that this ended up with a closed triad (with pups) and an HEA, I would have been waaaaaaay more stressed and not a little frustrated. This is not "established relationship opening up to include a third party", or even "three mutually-attracted guys deciding together to embark on a poly relationship." This is "indecisive sweetiepie carrying on two separate relationships with two dudes who are jealous of (and kind of want to kneecap) the other, but who carry on with this clearly unsatisfactory and unsustainable arrangement because they are so in looooooooove with aforementioned (genuine, good-hearted, anxious) sweetiepie."
🤨
Anyway, the point is that this is NOT modeling a healthy poly relationship right up until it . . . starts modeling a healthy poly relationship? Which is to say that eventually the boys go from "Evan with Harry" and "Evan with Roman," with all the angst and jealousy and hurt feelings and awkwardness that implies, to "Evan with Harry with Roman with Evan with (all the permutations)," with actual attempts at communication besides/in addition to the threesomes.
This really shouldn't work, because let's face it, Evan is being a selfish little shit by putting Harry and Roman and, yes, himself in this position. But since we never get Evan's POV until the very end, we never really dwell on Evan being a selfish little shit, because we're seeing him primarily through Harry or Roman's (smitten) POV, or Valeri or Victor's (bro-love loyal bud) POV, or Liam's (gleeful) POV. And Harry and Roman never blame Evan -- or at least, they recognize that Evan was honest with them about the situation from the start, and that by agreeing to go along with it, they brought this upon themselves. So no, it shouldn't work. But there's so much in the ycmal universe that shouldn't work, and yet (if you're an addict like me), there it goes, working.
Fuck, Roman actually feels a little better about himself now, though feeling better about yourself because you're judging someone else so hard is not exactly a sign you should feel better about yourself. Stop knowing me, Taylor Fitzpatrick.
The dual revelations by Harry and Roman regarding each other are maybe a bit abrupt, seeing as both men have spent so much time (mentally) kneecapping the other while pining for Evan. On the other hand, they've been circling and extremely aware of each other during the aforementioned kneecap-pining, and yes, that awareness was mostly because of Evan, but Evan is tied up with feelings and attraction and sex in both their minds, and so . . . anyway. There it goes, working.
(Also working: how Roman is all, I shall court this magnificent innocent with the respect and chivalry he deserves while Harry is all, that dick needs suckin', i'm on it, and both men are mutually baffled/ horrified by the other's approach. Evan is LIVING A LIFE!!!)
I embarked on this because I have been walking around sad and mopey the past week because my heart still hurts over Liam and Mike and, strange as it sounds to talk this way about fictional characters, I miss them so much. Reading TOTI is not necessary to enjoy this, but I would say that if you have read TOTI, this will be an extra (bittersweet) delight. We get lots of Liam and Mike here, including POV chapters. And it's not just the domestic scenes, though those are wonderful. It's also getting in Liam's head (which we (almost) aren't in TOTI) and, more than that, it's getting other characters' impressions of Liam to complement/ contrast Mike's. It adds a new dimension to our understanding both of Liam as a character and Liam-Mike as a couple and dynamic. Liam is basically a chaos demon in this story, but the few times he gets serious also shows us that loyal, sensitive, caregiving side of him that is so often disguised by the braggadocio and tomfoolery. So it's a lovely -- but again, bittersweet -- balm for TOTI-lovers. (On a more practical note, I wouldn't say this is spoilery for TOTI, except that the team all these hockeyhimbos are on is not the same team Liam and Mike were on when they met. So, very minor spoilers.)
Loved Val and Victor and poor long-suffering Finds as well. Taylor Fitzpatrick is so damned good at writing side characters that you love irrationally and will defend to the death. Yes, hello Willy, I see you over there, stop being smug. Et tu, Halla and Gabe and Stephen?
Oh, and go read Teal and wasteland baby's reviews. Because this is ycmal and you can never go wrong reading Teal and wasteland baby's reviews. I don't make the rules, people.
So thanks for the laugh, Evan/Connie/Sweetheart, Harry, and Roman. You dumb horny hockey
ETA: This series is pretty steamy, but for the more kink-adjacent stuff, head to the outtakes/ tumblr. Yum. Yum. Yum.
September 22, 2026
I can’t not give this 5 stars… I mean there were several chapters from Mike and Liam’s perspectives, also solidifying TOTI as one of my favorite romances of all time. Yes, I will argue all day that it is a romance.
Other than being a little repetitive at times (same scenes from different POVs), I have no notes. Amazing writing, amazing spice and great romance!
Enjoyment (5) 5
Feelings (1) .75
Plot (1) 1
Setting (1) .5
Respectability/writing (1) 1
Characters (1) 1
Total rating: 9.25
Other than being a little repetitive at times (same scenes from different POVs), I have no notes. Amazing writing, amazing spice and great romance!
Enjoyment (5) 5
Feelings (1) .75
Plot (1) 1
Setting (1) .5
Respectability/writing (1) 1
Characters (1) 1
Total rating: 9.25
February 11, 2023
so the plot of this one can basically be recounted in meme format:
tired: love triangles
wired: people trying to navigate consensual non-monogamy with all the emotional (and logistical!) problems it can entail
inspired: a happy, functioning, zero-issues throuple!!
also I cannot believe Taylor wrote this in 2016-2018 and yet captured the very essence of the fanon depiction of Untamed(2020)'s juniors. like, that rookie detectives shit in the begining?? pure Untamed-levels chaos. you can literally draw one for one comparisons (Evan=Lan Sizhui, Harry=Jin Ling, Roman=Lan Jingyi, Val and Victor combined=Ouyang Zizhen). I love stupid boys, I love shenanigans, I love an Untamed hockey AU that doesn't know it's an Untamed hockey AU.
if we are extending this analogy, Liam and Mike are obviously Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji. AND THEY ALSO FIT THIS THEORY SO WELL!! I haven't read their origin story but they were very entertaining as side characters.
my one gripe with this one (this is something I've also noticed with some of Taylor's other multi-POV stories) is that there is a tendency to show the same scene multiple times from different characters' POV. which is a thing some romance novels do and that I sometimes enjoy, but it tends to slow the pace, and generally does not contribute to character work as much as the author may think it does? on the contrary, showing a scene (or writing the entire book) from a single POV and yet being able to clearly telegraph the other character's personality and interiority is, I think, the mark of a truly skilled writer. (KJ Charles comes to mind as a complete master of this craft.)
now of course, Follow the North Star is serialized hockey fluff published on ao3, so the lack of plot focus/tighness is both a bug and a feature? a bug in that there is obviously no editor involved even in those instances when the story could really use it, a feature in that the readers (and perhaps the author) just want to luxuriate in the vibes and don't really care that the story is a bit bloated as a result. I haven't read any of Taylor's published stuff that she's pulled from ao3, and I really wonder how much she edits down for official publication? does she hire an editor to help her kill her darlings (i.e. in this case the 20-40k of words that could comfortably have been left on the cutting room floor)?? I find this all so facinating.
tired: love triangles
wired: people trying to navigate consensual non-monogamy with all the emotional (and logistical!) problems it can entail
inspired: a happy, functioning, zero-issues throuple!!
also I cannot believe Taylor wrote this in 2016-2018 and yet captured the very essence of the fanon depiction of Untamed(2020)'s juniors. like, that rookie detectives shit in the begining?? pure Untamed-levels chaos. you can literally draw one for one comparisons (Evan=Lan Sizhui, Harry=Jin Ling, Roman=Lan Jingyi, Val and Victor combined=Ouyang Zizhen). I love stupid boys, I love shenanigans, I love an Untamed hockey AU that doesn't know it's an Untamed hockey AU.
if we are extending this analogy, Liam and Mike are obviously Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji. AND THEY ALSO FIT THIS THEORY SO WELL!! I haven't read their origin story but they were very entertaining as side characters.
my one gripe with this one (this is something I've also noticed with some of Taylor's other multi-POV stories) is that there is a tendency to show the same scene multiple times from different characters' POV. which is a thing some romance novels do and that I sometimes enjoy, but it tends to slow the pace, and generally does not contribute to character work as much as the author may think it does? on the contrary, showing a scene (or writing the entire book) from a single POV and yet being able to clearly telegraph the other character's personality and interiority is, I think, the mark of a truly skilled writer. (KJ Charles comes to mind as a complete master of this craft.)
now of course, Follow the North Star is serialized hockey fluff published on ao3, so the lack of plot focus/tighness is both a bug and a feature? a bug in that there is obviously no editor involved even in those instances when the story could really use it, a feature in that the readers (and perhaps the author) just want to luxuriate in the vibes and don't really care that the story is a bit bloated as a result. I haven't read any of Taylor's published stuff that she's pulled from ao3, and I really wonder how much she edits down for official publication? does she hire an editor to help her kill her darlings (i.e. in this case the 20-40k of words that could comfortably have been left on the cutting room floor)?? I find this all so facinating.
April 3, 2025
Not your typical ycmal story.
This is one of the ycmal stories that managed to be both intriguing (detection!) and off-putting (love-triangle/mmm) with the result that it was constantly on my shortlist for what to read next in ycmal-verse, but never made it on deck until now.
I can’t say it’s one of my favorites, but the writing itself is (as usual) excellent. It overall ranking with me is down mostly to the relationship structure not really being my thing, (more like my worst nightmare tbh).
I would typically expect to be a little put off by the fact there are more pov characters than I prefer (and more usual in ycmal stories) and especially that it avoids until the very last chapter giving us the pov of the most psychologically interesting of the characters and what we do eventually get from him gives far less insight into him than I’d like. But, TF’s characters and handling of pov is so good that I didn’t really mind.
The contrast between this story and the one it’s most closely tied to (Thrown Off The Ice, the worst of the ycmal-verse in my opinion) is extreme. TOTI starts out very porny and then turns very dark, whereas this is really fun, light on the sex, and surprisingly low angst despite the whole love-triangle thing. The eventual resolution to the triangle feels like it comes a little too easily, but again, I didn’t mind.
So, overall a good read, even if not among my favorites from the author.
This is one of the ycmal stories that managed to be both intriguing (detection!) and off-putting (love-triangle/mmm) with the result that it was constantly on my shortlist for what to read next in ycmal-verse, but never made it on deck until now.
I can’t say it’s one of my favorites, but the writing itself is (as usual) excellent. It overall ranking with me is down mostly to the relationship structure not really being my thing, (more like my worst nightmare tbh).
I would typically expect to be a little put off by the fact there are more pov characters than I prefer (and more usual in ycmal stories) and especially that it avoids until the very last chapter giving us the pov of the most psychologically interesting of the characters and what we do eventually get from him gives far less insight into him than I’d like. But, TF’s characters and handling of pov is so good that I didn’t really mind.
The contrast between this story and the one it’s most closely tied to (Thrown Off The Ice, the worst of the ycmal-verse in my opinion) is extreme. TOTI starts out very porny and then turns very dark, whereas this is really fun, light on the sex, and surprisingly low angst despite the whole love-triangle thing. The eventual resolution to the triangle feels like it comes a little too easily, but again, I didn’t mind.
So, overall a good read, even if not among my favorites from the author.
June 8, 2023
I liked it, they're endearing idiots. There's plenty humour and cute DOGS ❤️
But...
Connie is younger, pretty and for all his hulking size childishly nieve. While I understand the decision not to give his pov it meant at times he comes across very much like the sweet puppers.
- Harry is sweet behind the sharp grumpy attitude. I liked him.
- Roman, felt I was more told than shown his personality. Didn't seem as well drawn as Harry.
The different pov and wavy timeline took getting used to, it's not the smoothest.
Overall it's a cute bit of fun and free. Not my favourite by her but well worth a look. Plus bonus doggy stars.
But...
Connie is younger, pretty and for all his hulking size childishly nieve. While I understand the decision not to give his pov it meant at times he comes across very much like the sweet puppers.
- Harry is sweet behind the sharp grumpy attitude. I liked him.
- Roman, felt I was more told than shown his personality. Didn't seem as well drawn as Harry.
The different pov and wavy timeline took getting used to, it's not the smoothest.
Overall it's a cute bit of fun and free. Not my favourite by her but well worth a look. Plus bonus doggy stars.
December 23, 2022
The only "love triangle" you would ever want to read! *fans herself*
TF, I LOVE YOU!!!!!
Also, reading this after TOTI, is no surprise why the North Stars never won the Cup while Liam was there. I don't even know how they managed to ever win a game with all the time devoted to their ridiculous shenanigans.
TF, I LOVE YOU!!!!!
Also, reading this after TOTI, is no surprise why the North Stars never won the Cup while Liam was there. I don't even know how they managed to ever win a game with all the time devoted to their ridiculous shenanigans.
July 22, 2025
3,5* Liam Fitzgerald being his chaos demon-self
March 14, 2025
This was so unconventional in a few ways that I'm not sure what to think.
Firstly, it's told from many POVs! We hear from two of the three MMCs a lot, but also from several of their friends. We hear from Evan, the main MMC only in a few chapters.
Secondly, it's MMM. I often find books that feature more than two MCs are too unrealistic for me or focus on sex to the detriment of plot and character development, but that wasn't really the case here. The emotional journey for Roman and Harry's decision to enter into a throuple made sense to me.
As always, I really love this author's writing style. The sentences are long, and rambling, and wordy and stream of consciousness, which should be a be a problem. But it's not. Instead the style serves to immerse you completely in the character's psyche.
I also liked the world building here of the team and all the side characters.
My only main criticism is that Evan is a bit bland and we don't hear from him enough. He is the sun that the story revolves around, but I'm not sure why everyone liked him so much. He does seem likeable, sure, but is he likeable enough to have two guys fighting over him and then agreeing to be in non-exclusive relationships with him, and then agreeing to be a throuple with him? Not sure.
Firstly, it's told from many POVs! We hear from two of the three MMCs a lot, but also from several of their friends. We hear from Evan, the main MMC only in a few chapters.
Secondly, it's MMM. I often find books that feature more than two MCs are too unrealistic for me or focus on sex to the detriment of plot and character development, but that wasn't really the case here. The emotional journey for Roman and Harry's decision to enter into a throuple made sense to me.
As always, I really love this author's writing style. The sentences are long, and rambling, and wordy and stream of consciousness, which should be a be a problem. But it's not. Instead the style serves to immerse you completely in the character's psyche.
I also liked the world building here of the team and all the side characters.
My only main criticism is that Evan is a bit bland and we don't hear from him enough. He is the sun that the story revolves around, but I'm not sure why everyone liked him so much. He does seem likeable, sure, but is he likeable enough to have two guys fighting over him and then agreeing to be in non-exclusive relationships with him, and then agreeing to be a throuple with him? Not sure.
June 26, 2026
I didn't expect the way the relationship matured. I was sorta thinking we'd get more of Roman and Evan but Harry was kinda the primary narrator. I didn't really like him but he's alright considering those two are usually just awkward as shit without him as a buffer.
My 5 stars are for Mike and Liam's presence here.
It was bittersweet seeing cameos from Mike and Liam here but I really appreciated it. Mike's POV on Thrown Off the Ice didn't really show Liam's activities outside of their relationship so I was left wondering how he'd been dealing with his work away from Mike. So I'm really glad that Liam had friendship and lightheaded moments with his teammates while navigating being a caregiver for Mike.
My 5 stars are for Mike and Liam's presence here.
It was bittersweet seeing cameos from Mike and Liam here but I really appreciated it. Mike's POV on Thrown Off the Ice didn't really show Liam's activities outside of their relationship so I was left wondering how he'd been dealing with his work away from Mike. So I'm really glad that Liam had friendship and lightheaded moments with his teammates while navigating being a caregiver for Mike.
March 24, 2025
It’s a book by Taylor so I like it by default :-). I should have a special star rating just for her works alone. So while this is a 3, comparing it to her Thrown Off the Ice, it’s still a fun, well-crafted read. No one does dialogue quite like her. Story is the tale of three, Evan, Harry and Roman. Read Teal’s review for a full, better description. Includes some POV from Mike and Liam from TOTI.
January 5, 2025
3.5 stars
June 15, 2025
i honestly loved the liam appearances more than the rest of it but it wasn't bad. i just didn't feel anything for the three mcs.
July 29, 2025
It's not bad, it just wasn't for me. The middle was too angsty and the ending too quick, in my opinion.
December 11, 2025
3.5 stars
It’s very nice and I always think that the best solution for a love triangle is a throuple so…
Also, I didn’t think I had liked Thrown Off The Ice all that much, but I was eating up any little domestic detail about Liam and Mike, so I really wanna another one of these about them.
It’s very nice and I always think that the best solution for a love triangle is a throuple so…
Also, I didn’t think I had liked Thrown Off The Ice all that much, but I was eating up any little domestic detail about Liam and Mike, so I really wanna another one of these about them.
September 13, 2024
This was a whole Lotta fun
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