"'I'm not a hockey fan.'....Logan stares at me. 'You couldn't have told me this before I asked you? What are we even doing here, Grace? I can never marry you now --- it would be blasphemous.'"
And that's how I knew I really liked this book.
While I had a few issues with this one that I didn't with the first, I still greatly enjoyed it. Elle Kennedy is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.
Much like The Deal, The Mistake is a hockey romance between a couple that is trying to overcome their pasts. However, unlike Garrett, John Logan isn't always as quick to make the girl know how much she means to him.
Logan, star defender of the Briar University hockey team, had no interest in a relationship until he met his best friend's girlfriend, Hannah. While he loves Garrett ("I'm comfortable enough with my heater status to say that if I did play for the other team? I wouldn't just fuck Garrett Graham, I'd marry him"), and would never consider moving in on his girlfriend, he can't help the crush his heart has been nursing for months. When his friend, Tucker, calls him out on it, Logan realizes he needs to move on from it.
Grace is a Briar freshman that doesn't know who she is. After meeting her best friend in the first grade, she quickly learned she would forever be the quiet one while Ramona was the star. They went to the same college, had the same dorm, and even shared the same friends, despite Grace having nothing in common with them. The one thing she does know about herself: she finds hockey star Logan to be the hottest boy on campus.
After an awkward interaction with Hannah, Logan decides to get out of the house. He meant to meet up with some friends, but he quickly realizes he's knocked on the wrong door when petite Grace answers.
Realizing his night is a bust, he decides to hang out with Grace. As an action-movie lover, she's got Die Hard 2 playing and gummy bears on hand - what more could he need? Well, perhaps an intense make-out will help make the evening an A+ night.
While their relationship continues to grow, Logan starts to feel extreme guilt. With Hannah still on his mind, he feels like he's leading Grace, a very nice girl, on far too much. Dead set ready to break it off, he heads to her dorm - and is immediately groped by Grace. His bottom head doesn't catch up with his top half and things get a little out of hand. When she admits to her virgin status, ready for to hand it over to him, he owns up to everything, going so far as to confess to his feelings for Hannah.
Embarrassed, humiliated, and hurt, she kicks him to the curb. However, Hannah shortly kicks some sense into Logan, making him realize he just let go of perhaps the only relationship he's ever truly wanted.
I'm going to go backwards here and start with what I didn't like.
Cons:
1. A good chunk of the book is dedicated to Grace ignoring Logan, claiming to be over him when it's clear she's not. Now, I know the guy pulled a dick move, but the drama lasted too long. A couple chapters would have sufficed yet she it drags on.
2. The shittiness that is Ramona. There is bad friend and then there is just plain evil. Ramona essentially breaks every version of girl/guy/friend code and texts her bestie's man behind her back. I think if you're going to go for someone a friend has dated, you have to consider a couple things - how long was their relationship and how close are the two of you. If they only dated once or twice, I think if you discuss it with the friend, then there is the potential to make a move. And you never move in on someone's ex if it's a risk to the friendship. Ramona, the best friend, is a grade A tool bag. I HATED her character and felt no sympathy for her and, yet, Logan and Grace do? Nah.
3. Sidney Crosby. Don't EVER mention Sidney Crosby. Ever. No. Just no.
Pros:
1. The comedy. I loved loved LOVED how funny this was. I laughed aloud as I read it. Like I giggled. A book that can make me have a reaction - whether it's crying, laughing, etc. - is a book that makes me happy.
2. The realism. This book delves deeply into the ugly side of alcoholism and how it affects families. I can say firsthand that it was handled well. Substance abuse is ugly and painful and hurtful and plain sucks.
"My mom says it's genetic, and I know Dad's side of the family has ah history of depression as well as alcoholism. And fuck, maybe that's it. Maybe those really are the reasons he can't stop drinking. But a part of me still can't fully accept that. He had a good childhood, damn it. He had a wife who loved him, two sons who did whatever they could to please him. Why couldn't that be enough for him?"
Ugly, but very real.
3. The hockey! The first book didn't dive into much hockey, but this one did. It discussed the downsides to the draft and harsh realities the players trying to make it go through. It talked about the game and made real life comparisons. The lingo was properly used! As a hockey fan, it made me happy.
4. This quote: "Thousands of screaming hockey fans fill the seats, an endless sea of faces, a blur of black and yellow occasionally broken up by the white and turquoise of the Sharks fans who happen to be in attendance."
The Sharks reference made up for the Crosby one!
Now, it's on to Dean's book. Let's do this!
Final Rating: 4 stars
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