I had several issues with this book (especially the writing) but it was cute and I enjoyed. I’d say it’s a decent start to the new year lol

this was so so cute. loved the characters and their chemistry—so much great banter. the lack of miscommunication and third-act breakup tropes was really refreshing. it was nice watching their relationship evolve. the writing had me cringing/rolling my eyes sometimes (for real why are we using “the woman,” “the man next to me,” “the other woman,” etc in place of names/pronouns??) but I did get used to it and grew to enjoy the fmc’s inner monologue a bit more by the end

- this cinched why I am not a Mariana Zapata fan - so much introspection and debate, like 70+ pages of waffling about joining with Lukov
- Jasmine had all the problems: stalker, family, sickness and injury - while it was lovely to see Ivan help / support her, where was any opportunity for Jasmine to be a caretaker?
- he professed he would never comment on anything truly hurtful, or about her weight - but he made a crack early on about her dyslexia/reading?
- for how much time they spent together in the rink, we never really got to see any practice time, or really much conversation?
- well, Lukov spoke more than the main male characters from Wall of Winnipeg and Kulti, but I wanted more connection between these two
- writing was clunky, it is how someone speaks, which is weird in text format
- One reviewer points out: Jasmine has a decent arc, which I agree with, and that Jasmine and Ivan become friends - but take a left turn into romance too late to really feel substantiated and I agree. I think it was an ‘I’ve loved you all along’ that I just didn't like or felt had been well demonstrated?
- another reviewer counted ‘I blinked’ 191 times, which is not a reaction/emotion!
- the writing was repetitive and not for me