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A review by lilyrooke
Olympic Enemies by Rebecca J. Caffery
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
are you looking for an M/M enemies-to-lovers sports romance set in the Olympic Village?
read this if you enjoy: quick, easy reads in the same genre with angst and heat.
rep: gay MC; bi MC.
cw: public outing; references to the violent death of a spouse and (view spoiler); past trauma; sex.
Forced to share a room for the duration of the Olympics, rivals and teammates Lucas and Oliver's relationship moves fast from enemies to lovers under the pressure of the approaching performance. As they attempt to keep their 'rivals with benefits' situation secret from their team and the press, both men grow to learn more about what the other is hiding. While personally I did not feel the spark between Lucas and Oliver and had some questions about the pacing of their relationship bearing in mind the emotional context, I think readers who gravitate towards this subgenre should definitely give the book a go.
CAWPILE: 3.3 (2*)
favourite aspect: I thought the gymnastics and training scenes were written really well. I enjoy watching Olympic gymnastics but don't consider myself an expert by any means, yet I found these scenes engaging and fun to follow.
a wish: I would have liked the two protagonists to have had more varied narrative voices, as I often struggled to differentiate between whose perspective I was reading. I think if Oliver's past trauma had been explored in more emotional and psychological detail it would feel better embedded.
disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from The Wild Rose Press via NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving this honest review.
read this if you enjoy: quick, easy reads in the same genre with angst and heat.
rep: gay MC; bi MC.
cw: public outing; references to the violent death of a spouse and (view spoiler); past trauma; sex.
Forced to share a room for the duration of the Olympics, rivals and teammates Lucas and Oliver's relationship moves fast from enemies to lovers under the pressure of the approaching performance. As they attempt to keep their 'rivals with benefits' situation secret from their team and the press, both men grow to learn more about what the other is hiding. While personally I did not feel the spark between Lucas and Oliver and had some questions about the pacing of their relationship bearing in mind the emotional context, I think readers who gravitate towards this subgenre should definitely give the book a go.
CAWPILE: 3.3 (2*)
favourite aspect: I thought the gymnastics and training scenes were written really well. I enjoy watching Olympic gymnastics but don't consider myself an expert by any means, yet I found these scenes engaging and fun to follow.
a wish: I would have liked the two protagonists to have had more varied narrative voices, as I often struggled to differentiate between whose perspective I was reading. I think if Oliver's past trauma had been explored in more emotional and psychological detail it would feel better embedded.
disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from The Wild Rose Press via NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving this honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Outing
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Child death, Death, Grief, Car accident, and Abandonment