Ratings:
Star Rating: ★★★★★
If This Book Was a Movie Rating: R
Review:
“I’ve done so many stupid things that you’ve made me regret—things I hope you will forgive me for and look beyond— but this, waiting a little longer for the love of my life, I can do.”
OMIGOSH OMIGOSH I CAN’T I’M SCREAMING LAUGHING CRYING THIS WAS SUCH AN ABSOLUTE SLOWBURN ✨MASTERPIECE✨
I haven’t read a book that’s gotten me this happy since December and so EJFIOJEOFHSIEOUHFJFIOSF THIS WILL BE A VERY CAPITALIZED REVIEW SORRY NOT SORRY
*sobs in pure and complete joy*
here’s the publisher’s plot summary (i know i know this is cheap i’m sorry i just don’t have time to write it all out rn i’ll come back later and rewrite it 😭😭)
“When the man you worshipped as a kid becomes your coach, it’s supposed to be the greatest thing in the world. Keywords: supposed to.
It didn't take a week for 27-year-old Sal Casillas to wonder what she'd seen in the international soccer icon - why she'd ever had his posters on her wall or ever envisioned marrying him and having super-playing soccer babies.
Sal had long ago gotten over the worst non-break-up in the history of imaginary relationships with a man who hadn't known she'd existed. So she isn't prepared for this version of Reiner Kulti who shows up to her team's season: a quiet, reclusive shadow of the explosive, passionate man he'd once been.”
I usually don’t rate contemporary romances high. They’re fun, but they’re often shallow. I read Mariana Zapata’s other ultra-popular sports romance (The Wall of Winnipeg and Me) and gave it a proud two stars.
But this.
THIS.
this stupid book right here is one of my new favorites of all time.
HA YES I SAID IT
The plot was so slow and well-developed and the characters were practically leaping off the page (especially you Kulti 😍) and i really have nothing but love for this book.
let us begin with the plot.
First off, I absolutely adored the plot. It was slowburn served up on a silver platter. This thing is 570 paperback pages and 16 hours on audiobook but every minute was done to perfection. If the story had progressed any faster, the plot and the characters wouldn’t have felt so real, like I was in the room watching these characters make decisions, fail miserably, and get back again. It was amazing.
Now, while I adored 98% of this book, there was one thing I didn’t like. After nearly 15.5 hours out of 16 of cute yearning and romantic tension, we get two bedroom scenes. Two very graphic bedroom scenes. And as someone who literally cannot stomach said scenes, I had to fast-forward through the audiobook like my life depended on it 😂
so for anyone who also is affected by the same inability, skip the end of Chapter 26 and the beginning of Chapter 27 ;)
of course, i'm still giving it five stars because i LOVED the other 98%. THAT ROMANCE AND THAT BUILD UP AND THAT EPILOGUE WERE ALL JUST TOO CUTE I CAN’T SJFJSIOFOSFFHSIEHFIUD
*flops into much overused pillow and howls again*
in terms of the audiobook experience: wonderful. Callie Dalton’s narrated all the Mariana Zapata books I’ve read, and it is my personal opinion that her voice is PERFECT for Mariana’s writing. Her voice is slightly rougher, and she is such a good voice actor she can make even the cringiest of descriptions sound good. And even though there wasn’t a male voice actor for this one, Callie uses this thick deep voice with a German accent to make Kulti come to life. Like Kulti’s and Sal’s dialogue actually sounds like a guy and a girl having a conversation and falling slowly in love AND GOSH DARNIT THEY WERE JUST TOO CUTE FGHREGHRISGHIUE PLEASE
ok i really need to switch to the character discussion before i gush too much lol
The supporting cast was wonderfully developed. Sal’s two best friends were complete opposites and absolutely hilarious, and Sal’s dad was one of the sweetest, most innocent, most supportive parents I have ever had the privilege to read. But the fact that he was such a fanboy for Kulti was THE FUNNIEST THING EVER.
Like imagine having your daughter walk into the house for Thanksgiving break and announce that she’s brought home the celebrity you look up to and admire more than almost anyone on the planet. As a surprise. Without telling you. WHEN I TELL THAT SCENE WAS HYSTERICAL–
Speaking of Sal, let’s discuss our main girl for a brief moment.
“When something is broken into too many pieces, you can’t stare at them and try to glue them back together; sometimes you just have to sweep up the pieces and buy something else.”
Sal, an excellent take-no-crap queen. I loved her devotion to soccer, her desire to achieve her dreams, and not to derail any of it for a guy.
She could be a tad annoying at times, but she had her BFFs and Kulti to tell her she was being annoying so it was worth it 😌
Speaking of which, Sal’s romance with Kulti was THE MOST ADORABLE THING EVER. his tiny moments of jealousy, her slowly trusting him and them both falling for each other was SO GOSHDARN CUTE. There is a pretty significant age gap (Sal is 27 and Kulti is 39), which I enjoyed but know is not for everyone, but both characters are full, mature adults, and it was written in such a way that makes it not feel weird or strange at all.
I could talk about the romance more, but i need to spend my last few moments discussing Reiner Kulti.
*inhales deeply*
REINER KULTI SIR
I CANNOT WITH YOU
I NEED MORE
AHHISUHFISHEFFEHSOIFOIOFHOESHFORIOT
“Every single thing that has ever happened in my life has led me here, Sal. Destiny is a ladder, a series of steps that takes you where you’re supposed to go. I am the man that I am, and I have done the things that I’ve done, to get me to you.”
HNDGHOIHGWEUEUREUIRUWEOHRHOIRHGIRH– i apolgize i’m screeching again
“You are my equal, my partner, my teammate, my best friend.”
i can’t. isabelle cannot take any more of Kulti or her heart will explode.
so go read this book. squeal over it, laugh over it, cry over it.
and then come back over here so we can screech about it together ;)
Friend me on Goodreads (yes, you, I wanna be your friend): https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/136268749-isabelle
Buy this book:
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