YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

Description: If someone were to ask Jasmine Santos to describe the last few years of her life with a single word, it would definitely be a four-letter one.

After seventeen years—and countless broken bones and broken promises—she knows her window to compete in figure skating is coming to a close.

But when the offer of a lifetime comes in from an arrogant idiot she’s spent the last decade dreaming about pushing in the way of a moving bus, Jasmine might have to reconsider everything.

Including Ivan Lukov.

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Date Changed. Restarting April 1st 2018. Happy Reading ☺

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Ch 5 - (view spoiler)[ Ok, I know I'm not the first person to ever say this, but I cannot stop thinking about that movie Cutting Edge from the 90's(??). I know the roles are a little reversed and there is no hockey involved, but I can just SEE that all this banter between Ivan and Jasmine is just foreplay in the making!!! I can't wait to see how it all plays out! (hide spoiler)]

Ch 10 - (view spoiler)[ Aw, I just love it how he takes her vulnerability and just wraps it up in a blanket and she doesn't even know it. BUT....that photoshoot is just F-ed up. I get that their athletic bodies are works of art and all, but yeah - people are probably masturbating to the pictures and it objectifies the people in them. Ick. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 15 - (view spoiler)[ Yeah the stalker messages creeped me out too and I don't understand why she didn't open a can of whoopass on the jerks that sent them. There are laws against that shit and I would have thought her character was no-nonsense enough to realize that and throw the book at them. (hide spoiler)]

Finished - (view spoiler)[ I loved this one. Even though I am usually an incredibly impatient person, and it took over 400 pages for them to do anything to "act" on the feelings they had for each other....I still loved it. The build-up was so well paced and my anticipation of everything had me smirking through all of the pages leading up to the end. (hide spoiler)]

Up to chapter 5 (view spoiler)[ I like the plot and characters so far, but I'm not the biggest fan of the writing style. It's very long winded and repetitive! I think this book could probably be cut in half. I don't see the appeal of Ivan yet as he has just been an ass so far. I hate that Jasmine's family just laughed about the comments Ivan made about her weight, that's just unacceptable. I love her brother and his husband otherwise though! Jasmine is very ambitious and driven, I love that. (hide spoiler)]

Up to chapter 10 (view spoiler)[ The Hunger Games on ice xD I don't know why I found that so funny! I loved seeing Ivan meet Jasmine's family, but again, why are her family fat shaming her behind her back? Such a problematic portrayal of weight. I'm not sure how I feel about this photo shoot coming up, it's unfair that she has no choice and feels very insecure around Ivan. (hide spoiler)]

Up to chapter 15 (view spoiler)[ Ah, the typical caring guy cares for sick girl trope. It's cute and all, but I'm over it xD Jasmine's acceptance of her priorities and how her family feels about her is an interesting element. I loved that she stood up for the girls being bullied. (hide spoiler)]

Up to chapter 21 (view spoiler)[ Jasmine's dad is such an ass! I loved the moment outside the restaurant though. It's so frustrating she got injured. You're telling me they finally kissed and Jasmine is taking it as a friendly kiss? (hide spoiler)]

Done :) Overall really enjoyed reading this! I did have a couple small issues that I talked about in my review.

starting this one today

Chapter 1: (view spoiler)[ I feel related with her because I felt envy sometimes too. (hide spoiler)]

She is very funny. I'm in chapter 3 but I don't like that the chapters are kind of long...
(view spoiler)[ Her description of James, her brother's husband, was hilarious. But yeah, love is this blind 😂 (hide spoiler)]

Felicia wrote: "I love this chick already. I don’t even know if I know her name yet. But I love her already! She loves to swear! Fuck yes! My kind of woman! 😁"

Her name is Jasmine 😊

✨Skye✨ wrote: "Up to chapter 5 [spoilers removed]"

Totally agree. I wish the story was short and less predictable

✨Skye✨ wrote: "Up to chapter 10 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ The portrait of her family is so realistic. I think that the size of her is not an issue for any of them so they can laugh about it. I want to know what happened next with the photo shoot... (hide spoiler)]

Felicia wrote: "There has literlly been nothing but [spoilers removed]

Made so much progress on this one. 😁
Page 243 half way. it has gotten ridiculously better now that they are like really seriously interactin..."
(view spoiler)[
Yes, it a little redundant.... The start was so slow but then they became friends and booom I have read half of the book in a couple of hours.
And he turned to be the best book boyfriend ever!!! (hide spoiler)]

✨Skye✨ wrote: "Up to chapter 15 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I love that he had been expecting to be her partner many years ago... (hide spoiler)]

Felicia wrote: "Page 371[spoilers removed]"

Hahaha I was swoon too😍😍😍

✨Skye✨ wrote: "Up to chapter 21 [spoilers removed]"
She is clearly oblivious to his feelings for her...

I like it a lot more than I was expecting from the firsts chapters...

Chapter 5: (view spoiler)[ I can already feel the tension between Jasmine and Ivan. I thought what Galina said about Jasmine deserving a chance was sweet. I can’t wait for the love story to unfold. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 10: (view spoiler)[ Photo shoot time! I think they are adorable together. Also, I wonder why Jasmine is so self conscious about her body. She should own it. Also, I love how Ivan talked her into going through with the photo shoot. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 15: (view spoiler)[ I can’t believe that she has been getting creepy messages and videos. Also, I really love how protective Ivan was after finding her. Learning more about him is interesting as well. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 20: (view spoiler)[ I laughed at this chapter. Jasmine is really stubborn. I love her though. (hide spoiler)]

Ending Thoughts: (view spoiler)[ I love this book. That epilogue was adorable. I can’t believe that they are married and had three children. I love the characters. (hide spoiler)]

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Date changed. Restarting February 18th 2023. Happy Reading ☺

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Starting this a couple days early, Couldn't wait!

up to chapter 7 (30%)

I am sooo loving this already...
(view spoiler)[ You can just tell that this is going to be amazing. The tension between them already building sooo thick.

I am adoring the enemies to lovers and fake dating trope. The coach asking them to do a naked shoot together was genius.

I also love her family atm, they seem so supportive (aside from dad). But I have a sneaky feeling something is going on with coach and Ivan, like maybe she is his mum or something secret? I don't think it's romantic although it was hinted that way. (hide spoiler)]

up to Chapter 13 (62%)

Arghhh I just can't stop reading!! (view spoiler)[ I love everything about this. Ivan is being so sweet and supportive, her rock without her even knowing it and the little thigh squeezes and family dinners are absolutely everything.

The nicknames are too cute meatball, grumpy her family are the best, she is way too hard on herself! I'm excited to see how their first competition goes and to see if we get a steamy kiss soon! (hide spoiler)]

up to Chapter 16 (78%)

How cute have these last 3 chapters been??!!
(view spoiler)[ First he babysits with her! Then takes such good care of her when she is poorly. He is such a sweetheart I love him so much and the fact he is calling her "baby" and saying stuff like "what's mine" meaning her, I want an Ivan :')

He did say to someone on the phone call I love you and I swear down that the coach is his mum, no way he would have a girlfriend but then treat jasmine like he has been.

I'm so happy he knows about the stalker so he can protect her and also, dogs, a pig and giant bunny what a cute twist! (hide spoiler)]

Finished!
(view spoiler)[ Eeeek how great was that?? I just could not get over how sweet Ivan was. Patient, supportive, protective, loving awww. I can't believe the first kisses were sweet since I thought this book was supposed to be mega spicy and the tension build up was insane.

I am so happy that her dad was finally ok with it, she got all the medals she wanted and a happy family, kids, ivan, dogs and pigs! Just too cute.

Although, I really did think coach was related to him somehow haha
(hide spoiler)]

Hi! Can I join you?

please! I'd love to see your thoughts :)

Great, thank you! :)

chapters 1-3
(view spoiler)[This is my first book by this author but I was very curious to try, and at the moment things are going good.
I am not the biggest fan of whiny characters, and Jasmine is almost there, but she is not just whiny she has a lot of baggage, and she is trying so I am not bothered by it, if not a little (but it's nothing major, and since it makes sense I am not complaining, even more so because I think that things are going to change soon). And I have to admit I love her attitude, so there is that too.
And her family seems a good one, I am curious to see more of them around. And more of Ivan because so far I just had a glimpse, but hate to love is a good trope so... I am in it for it! (hide spoiler)]

chapters 4-7
(view spoiler)[Now that we get to see Ivan too things are way more interesting! Not that the book was boring before, but I love Ivan and Jasmine's banter, their constant bickering and fighting. They are quite fun. And I also really like Jasmine's family. Father aside they all are so supportive and so present!!! (hide spoiler)]

Rosh wrote: "Starting this a couple days early, Couldn't wait!

up to chapter 7 (30%)
.."

(view spoiler)[I get what you are saying about the coach ad Ivan. There is something there and I want to know more!!! (hide spoiler)]

Rosh wrote: "up to Chapter 13 (62%)
"

(view spoiler)[The nicknames are the best! I love that her family call her Grumpy, and also Meatball is nice.
And they have such chemistry!! And Ivan is sweet, a lot! And putting down this book is really hard! (hide spoiler)]

chapters 8-12
(view spoiler)[I need to go back to this book ASAP because I need more! Ivan is really sweet, their bickering is the best ever and I am having a blast out of it!
And the scene with Ivan at dinner with Jasmine's family was amazing. And Karina's reaction? I loved her! And I really hope we get to meet her in person because she sounded fabulous! (hide spoiler)]

Sibil wrote: "chapters 8-12


I agree this book is soooo addictive!

Rosh wrote: "up to Chapter 16 (78%)

How cute have these last 3 chapters been??!!
."

(view spoiler)[They were the best! I loved these chapters so much! They were so cute babysitting, and they both were great with the children. And all those animals?? I want an Ivan too!!!! And the pets, all of them!!
Also, he was just so wow when he get mad for the stalker!! (hide spoiler)]

Rosh wrote: "Finished!
.."

(view spoiler)[There are some plot lines that weren't really well developed/finished. I mean, the part about the coach is a good example. I guess that the strange looks they exchanged all were because she and Ivan knew that the "one-year thing" was a ruse or something on the line, but it should have been explained a bit. And also the part about the stalker, I think it could have been developed differently, and a tad more.

But the ending was perfect! And I am so glad to see that things are finally going amazingly well for Jasmine. And the three kids are just adorable!! (hide spoiler)]

Finished
(view spoiler)[This book made me smile and laugh a lot. Especially smile, because it is funny but it is also full of heartwarming moments! And now I want an Ivan for myself, too! ;)
But I am so glad to see that finally Jasmine and her dad are going somewhere, that she and Ivan are a family, and they also have three little kids (I don't know if the world needed three mini-them around, because the two of them are a lot to handle on their own, so... it's a tad scary. But also the cutest thing ever! )It was a really good read, and now I am eager to try other books by this author! (hide spoiler)]