4.5/5

Trigger warnings: rape, physically & mentally abusive parents/partner

I've read other reviews and criticisms of this book, and I absolutely get where they are coming from. If I had gone into this story with a different mindset I think this review and rating could be different. But I came to The Deal wanting to read about a college hockey player trying to help his tutor snag the college quarterback. I think the difference for me comes from the fact that I was able to separate these fictional characters from real life men. That's not to pat myself on the back or anything, but just to try and define why my experience with this novel may have been positive.

I really liked our female MC. She was tough, firm, smart, and talented. A big portion of her story includes the fact that she was raped in high school. There are a lot of discussions surrounding the incident, and rape culture in general. So that's a huge trigger warning for this story. For me, I think it was handled really well, and I at no point wanted to put the book down from disappointment over that discussion. Our male MC is a no strings attached kind of guy. He takes his grades seriously because they keep him on the ice, and he treats his college hockey career as if he's already gone pro.

I loved the chemistry between these two characters, and I loved that these books have dual POV. This was spicy and sweet and hilarious and serious in all the right ways. I'm so happy Hoopla was offering this book during the February Bonus Deal. It was such a surprise and such a treat.

Trigger warnings: rape, physically & mentally abusive parents/partner