i love ryan and the representation of his anxiety through playing and fighting, how he feels he can’t quit even though it’s eating him alive. i loved that he and fabian were so different, it was a nice flip after having ilya and shane both being masculine hockey players roughing constantly in the previous book, now having slowed down sex scenes where ryan is shown struggling with his medication and mental health in a sexual situation.

i wish there was a bit more development on fabian’s hatred of hockey and how it effected ryan because almost as soon as fabian looks up ryan’s fights and confronts him about him quitting hockey he does, while it is because he’s over it it seems like he just does because fabian asks.

overall series ranking:
- the long game
- heated rivalry
- role model
- tough guy
- common goal
- game changer