I bought this book a few years back, because I wanted to read something with a winter sports setting - and honestly: that was the only redeeming quality of this book. I liked it a lot, the training, the race, everything cool.

Everything else was a little infuriating. We got Roxie, the protagonist, who is one of the most "not like other girls" girl I read about in a long time. (I should've known when the blurb said that not even the boys can keep up with her on her home mountain... which is fine of course, but having to mention it when describing a book should've been a sign that I wouldn't like it that much.) Of course she doesn't care that much about guys and of course she doesn't care that much about her looks. All of these traits are, as said, completly fine, but the way these things were phrased made it seem like this was supposed to differentiate her from other girls, which made it annoying.
I liked that Roxie wasn't easily intimidated, instead she makes quite a point of not letting others dictate what she does. She also confronts Ryker about the shit he does, which is a good thing in itself, but it is never effective. Roxie never has any actual power, because in the end she still lets him do whatever he wants, without any consequences for him - not that she has many chances to change that, but it was very frustrating to watch her agreeing with everything he expects of her, while she tells herself that she isn't afraid of him. (tbh this might be realistic in that situation for someone like her, but then this book should not be a romance book and rather something like the tale of a toxic relationship and how the protagonist hopefully overcomes it in the end.)
I get that this was supposed to be this "bad boy with a soft spot for this one girl", but the way it was executed didn't work for me at all. They don't even have any wholesome redeeming scenes, mostly they're arguing with the result of Ryker not chaning anything at all and behaving like a controlling asshat. I can't. The power imbalance is soooo drastic, he literally has the power to get her expelled. This doesn't make anything more thrilling, just more unhealthy. (Not helped by how even adults shake in fear because of this 18 y/o guy who started running a business empire as a teenager??????????? I get it, I get it, you gotta just buy into a story like this a little to find it enjoyable, but this one wanted you to do that way to much.) Roxie literally thinks at one point that she tries to make him "see her as a real person". What the fuck.
Ryker never explains anything about himself (with little exceptions), why he does anything or what he does in general. This is how he remains in complete control and it was sooooo infuriating to read. At the same time he does everything to make Roxie feel like she's the problem, she's being difficult and she can be happy about every little bone he throws her - and she is, of course.

Aside from this "love story" (not deserving that title in my opinion), the book is so short that we miss out on getting to know anyone aside from Roxie. In the beginning there are a few scenes that are probably supposed to make us bond with Monica and Ingrid, but after that we don't get to see them much, making these efforts ineffective. We don't even see Roxie bond with them that much, sometimtes we're just told about scenes that would be nice to see. (Like Monica and Roxie dancing together in their dorm.) Still, this book doesn't hold back at introducing a ton of different people, which is sad, because I personally didn't care about a single one of them, especially because we don't get to know them at all.

I'm really sorry that I don't have to say anything nice about this book. I knew that it wouldn't be a book that is right up my alley, but I did see myself liking a sports romance with a bit of a ridiculous plot and love interest. I do also think that there would've been a way to tell the same story without the relationship be that problematic. Sadly, I can't recommend this at all. (But if you're someone who gets wrapped up in power imbalances and bad boys, you might like it, or course. It felt a little like a soft launch for becoming a dark romance enthusiast.)

At last, I'll conclude this review with a few spoilers - if you read this book or never plan to read it but are interested in my rage, feel free to read 'em.

- it turns out that Ryker was the one who decided that Roxie would get the scholarship (of course he was) and he says in the end that he "wanted her since he first saw her race 2 years ago" ... which makes everything even worse, because he literally got her to come to his school to kind of make her his property, I can't
-  "i've been wanting to kiss you again since i let you stop me on thursday night" ... ew. really? good thing you stopped, bc it would've been assault to not stop if the person you're kissing does not want to be kissed anymore, my dude. 
- Roxie kisses him and then stops it, because she realizes she doesn't want to do this if Ryker doesn't want to be exclusive. Which is a good boundary to set if you're not comforable with that. Ryker reacts by saying she's teasing him. I wanted to scream.
- Roxie has a male best friend who's very protective of her. Ryker and him get in a fight over her. Ryker wants Roxie to not be close with Brad - her best friend - anymore, because he thinks Brad wants in her pants (wouldn't give Ryker the right to have a say in this). Roxie denies that. It turns out later that Ryker was right, because of course he was. Why would one ever write a strong friendship between a girl and a boy that stays platonic? No value in that.
-  "and i should never have to explain myself to you, roxanne" yes, you should have to, asshat, because that is how communication and healthy relationships work
- two mean girls decide to trick Roxie into going night skiing with them, but they're just dropping her off in the dark, leaving her with no cell phone service and a dying headlamp right before a serious snow storm. they later tell her that ryker ordered for this to happen. as it turns out, he didn't. when roxie and ryker talk about this, he seemed a little shaken that she believed these girls. why would she not???? she has no reason to trust you, ryker, because you never gave her any reason to think you actually care about her and would not treat her as she knows you treat others if she disagrees with you too much</

ok i'm done now.spoiler>