Rachel Reads & Reviews

Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid

Pro hockey star Shane Hollander isn’t just crazy talented, he’s got a spotless reputation. Hockey is his life. Now that he’s captain of the Montreal Voyageurs, he won’t let anything jeopardize that, especially the sexy Russian whose hard body keeps him awake at night.

Boston Bears captain Ilya Rozanov is everything Shane’s not. The self-proclaimed king of the ice, he’s as cocky as he is talented. No one can beat him—except Shane. They’ve made a career on their legendary rivalry, but when the skates come off, the heat between them is undeniable. When Ilya realizes he wants more than a few secret hookups, he knows he must walk away. The risk is too great.

As their attraction intensifies, they struggle to keep their relationship out of the public eye. If the truth comes out, it could ruin them both. But when their need for each other rivals their ambition on the ice, secrecy is no longer an option…

I’ve finally given in and read the book that has everyone buzzing. No I haven’t watched the show yet but I was spoiled on a few salient points like the timeline and the cabin weekend. Which yes, it was my favorite part.

I enjoyed Reid’s slow burn between Shane and Ilya and the reasonable evolution between professional rivalry and respect meshed with physical attraction, getting hook-ups out of their system to developing real feelings. Both also have a nice arc growth. admittedly Illya’s is more interesting as he has to contend with Russia’s anti-LGTB laws, his loyalty to his country and embracing more freedom on the Boston Bears, and stepping out to using his platform to help others. Shane’s arc is more predictable and less angst-filled since he has a supportive family behind him when he realizes his sexuality, but I also appreciate how Reid emphasizes the stakes in the sports world where queerness isn’t accepted and could affect Shane’s career trajectory.

The one point that took me out of the story is how much sex they had. I mean, I understand why because it started as a purely hook-up situation, but they were like rabbits. I didn’t know they could have so much endurence. Plus the contrasts allows for the non-sexual moments when they’re talking in the cabin, and rmeeting Shane’s parents to stand out even more, but every chapter? It takes away the spiciness of the act when it’s done in every chapter.

Well, That Was Unexpected by Jesse Q. Sutanto

After Sharlot Citra’s mother catches her in a compromising position, she finds herself whisked away from LA to her mother’s native Indonesia. It’ll be exactly what they both need. Or so her mother thinks.

When George Clooney Tanuwijaya’s father (who is obsessed with American celebrities) fears he no longer understands how to get through to his son, he decides to take matters into his own hands.

To ensure that their children find the right kind of romantic partner, Sharlot’s mother and George’s father do what any “good” parent would do: they strike up a conversation online, pretending to be their children.

When the kids find out about their parents’ actions, they’re horrified. Not even a trip to one of the most romantic places on earth could possibly make Sharlot and George fall for each other. But as the layers peel back and the person they thought they knew from online is revealed, the truth becomes more complicated. As unlikely as it may seem, did their parents manage to find their true match after all?

Sutanto’s hilarious rom-com brings the most humiliating teen experience (getting caught about to have sex/masturbating by a parent) and leads to an unexpected catfishing situation with real romance.

Sharlot’s situation is understandably frustrating and her relationship with her mother is filled with lack of communciation and disappointment on btoh sides. Sharlot is particularly hard on her mother, seeing her secretiveness about talking about her family or Indonesia as a sign that she thinks Sharlott isn’t good enough to meet that side of the family. Plus Shar does bring some American bias in viewing Indonesia as a third world country, which she admits is very privileged of her. Thus it was fun to Jakarta and Bali through her eyes, and come to appreciate the country’s unique culture, its food and see her mother as more than a hard-to-please parental but a human with her own flaws and regrets.

George Clooney as heir to one of the biggest families in Indonesia is well-aware of some of its flaws like overbearing family members, double standards regarding sex and dating, and high expectations. He doesn’t appreciate all the hullaboo directed at him just because he’s the only boy. He’s not even going to be in charge of the company. However when he’s pulled into the OneLiner’s toxic masculinity campaign he starts to feel he might be able to make an impact beyond being a hot face.

I love Sutanto’s combination of humor and self-aware protagonists that even the miscommunication issue isn’t blown up to a third act migraine but has a unique subversion that bolsters Shar and George’s bond. Although their respective families’ have some issues, the love is evident and they’re willing to own up to their mistakes. Plus she tackles very timely issues like slut-shaming, mental health stigma and queer love with nuance in regards to Indonesia’s cultural mores. It’ll make you laugh and make you “aww” in equal parts.

Mutual Discord by Liana de la Rosa

Sofia Mendoza has had enough. She’s done watching male co-workers steal credit for her talent, and now she’s going to do something about it. No one knows she’s the brains behind a popular video series highlighting and celebrating women in history who’ve been erased from their own inventions and discoveries. Her family and friends still think she has a successful corporate job and if they discover she is supporting herself by creating social media content, they’d be stunned.

Keeping her online persona a secret is lonely, but when she sparks a virtual friendship with an anonymous follower—A—first in her comment section with his insightful perspective, then in their private video chats, where he proves to be witty and catfish level good looking, the chemistry between them ignites.

But when her old friend, Caitlin, arrives for a visit, Sofia’s lies threaten to unravel. A is Alex Castillo, her best friend’s boyfriend. Alex doesn’t reveal that he knows her, and Sofia realizes he may be keeping secrets, too. With their friendship now in real life, can they keep their attraction in check?

I love Sofia. She’s strong, outspoken person who’s Tiktok highlights female and other marginalized women in STEM. Some I knew already like Rosalind Franklin, but I learned a few new ones as well. Her chemistry with Alex was off the charts and I enjoyed her arc of navigating an industry that wants to use her for token PR points rather than her actual skill. Alex’s arc was great too and relatable to me as he struggles to feel connected to his Hispanic heritage. He feels less than as a blonde, blue-eyed Hispanic and that he doesn’t have the right to claim the identity because he didn’t look like the stereotype. So he’s in the tricky grey area of having white-passing privilege but not fitting in either. It’s always nice when both protagonists have clear struggles and flaws to get through.
But while their chemistry was hot, the relationship also faltered because of the whole cheating aspect. Well not cheating exactly. . .

One thing readers may not enjoy (at least I didn’t) was the whole miscommunication trope of which their relationship hinges on. As the summary implies, Sofia thinks Alex is dating her BFF Caitlin. But it really doesn’t seem like Caitlin is Sofia’s best friend. They never talk! Furthermore, if they did she would have found out that Caitlin and Alex only went on a few dates and thus were not BF/GF. Surely, Sofia would have realized that by the lack of Alex going on dates with Caitlin that they weren’t in a serious relationship. It’s just so annoying even though the chemistry was hot. Also how could Caitlin not know of Sofia’s work if she’s gone Tiktok viral so that made it feel even more realistic.

Sunflower Season by Danica Nava

Drained by her high-pressure tech job, June Walker finds an escape in homesteading videos and the fantasy of a quieter life. When she finally hits her breaking point, she does the only reasonable she quits her job and buys a crumbling sunflower farm in rural Oklahoma where she grew up.

June thought her biggest challenge in restoring Sunshine Farm would be the rotting fences, but soon comes to the crushing realization that “positive vibes” are not a business plan. Nothing, however, tests her resolve quite like running into her first love, the boy she left behind after her world imploded when she was seventeen. She’s back for a fresh start, not to unpack old heartbreaks.

Noah Abbott never left Love County. Between his family, his job with the local fire brigade, and a town that knows him inside and out, he has everything he needs—except answers. So when June Walker returns as the new owner of Sunshine Farm, Noah is determined to find out why the girl who once meant everything to him vanished without a word.

As old wounds crack open and attraction flares back to life, June and Noah are forced to reckon with their past and decide whether first love is a memory best left buried, or the one thing worth replanting.

The second chance romance failed flat for me. While June had a good arc in taking hold of her anxiety, Noah was not the right guy for her. I mean, he sparks her into a panic attack as a joke second time he sees her again. And while her leaving after their engagement without a word is hurtful, him sleeping with her childhood bully was past decency. I’m supposed to believe they were best friends, and he’d do that to her. Totally turned me off which is unfortunate since I enjoyed Nava’s other works. This felt like a Hallmark movie with pacing problems.