Pucking Around
Ratings81
Average rating3.7
Threesomes with a doctor that could lose her license for screwing her patients (x2) is not my idea of a good time. This could have been a really cute romance, but this book is just not my vibe.
DNF at 70%
Firstly, this book was wayyyyyyy too long. It's like the size of a yoga block.
I did not like the way the why choose was set up. I didn't like the interactions between all the characters. The story and writing felt, disjointed like I was reading two different books.
Love was rushed into. The characters weren't overly likeable in my opinion. And it started to feel like the plot was secondary to the spice.
I just couldn't bring myself to finish it. I've never dnf'd anything this late in, but it was necessary.
This was such an amazing book to kick off the new year with. MMFM romance where all the characters go through great growth and even the side characters feel really fleshed out.
On top of that, the spice was spice-ing. Loved it.
I'm sure there's a big audience for this book, but I am not part of it. I prefer characters with more depth and more realistic scenarios. There's nothing real about these interactions or anything believable about how this group of people navigate these new relationships and experiences. The connections feel forced and centered on the physical. When they attempt to be real with one another it just leads to another sex fest, never actually delving into truly connecting with one another. It's so lengthy I can't imagine investing in the series to see if more depth eventually develops. If you want lots of sex and a fantasy polycule, this could be for you.
Nice story but not a lot of plot in there! There's not a lot happening. Still a good read!
DNF @ 65% – Slight spoilers ahead.
I did NOT know when i put this on hold in at my library that it was a Why Choose (Reverse Harem), and when i started the audio book and heard that I though, why not. Lets give it a chance! And let me tell you, as much as I like spice between my characters, I dont mind an occasional 3rd person in them, but I much prefer heavy plot in my books. I like angst and heavy emotions. I felt NO connection to any of these characters, I didnt finish the book and I couldnt even be bothered to look up how it ends.
Some issues I have -
1. ALL the NO CONDOMS. I'm sorry, in this day and age it just seems unrealistic. Like, people, protect yourselves. I know its just a book, but EVERY sexual encounter this woman had was unprotected. Personally, thats just a pass for me especially when its a modern setting.
2. Rachel basically outed Caleb and Jake to Mars(Ilmari Kinnunen). It wasnt discussed in the book if she had their permission but again, personally, not your business to tell.
I will say, the smut was VERY well written, I was just overloaded with it. I would have liked more story, and a smidge less sex all the time with multiple people.
Make sure that you read the trigger warnings. This book was not for me, but others seem to enjoy it. From about a third of the way through until the end, it's constant sex scenes. While I normally enjoy more spicy books, I want the sex to make sense to the story and this did not. Instead, it seemed that the author was just going for shock value, rather than natural evolution of the story and the need for the sex scenes to move the story along. There was not enough character development for me to care about most of the characters and the more I got into the book, the less that I liked Rachel.
Dnf @ pg 380
I can't do it anymore. I cant stand the fmc any more than i can with her inner monologue. I like Caleb and Jake, but i find their connection so cringeworthy i cant explain it. Then the fmc wanted to add third guy who didnt even make sense in the dynamic they already established. The author could've twisted it into like two best friends and one friend? Why did it have to be a guy who doesnt even talk to them?
WOW! If you are looking for some good smut, you came to the right book. This was straight up porn in word format. Outside of all the sexual content there are so many other good qualities. I absolutely love how this book illustrates a woman being empowered and secure with her sexuality. This book did such a great job at showcasing a non traditional relationship in a positive way, in my opinion. The characters were definitely written as for people you want to root for, even if one of them gets kinda annoying. I totally recommend this book to men, women, trans, nonbinary, gay, straight, bisexual, even asexual. As long as you are for reading or listening to a lot of sex and can go into it with an open mind, you will enjoy this.
I've been trying to put together my thoughts on this book and it has taken me a week since I finished it to really do that. The beginning had me gripped tight as I could almost “feel” the dynamic between Rachel and Jake. However, halfway through the book, I started becoming disinterested because I'm not a “reverse harem” or “why choose?” fan. I had to set aside that bit and really look at what the reasons were that led me to finish this book. Intrigue over the hype surrounding this author and series led me to grab it from KU and after I got used to the parts I wasn't a fan of, I really started to enjoy the depth of the characters and their feelings for their partners. The story was well-written and I liked it enough to finish the series. I'm now reading the next book “Pucking Wild”.
I promised a bookish friend I would read this book if it ever came out in audiobook. Alas it did and I did. It is absolutely most definitely too long. Nope nope nope. No reason for it to be this long. Just no. Practice self control.
The main lead was a little annoying at times.
I'm happy for them. Viva love!
That's it.
The end.
PFFFF POR DONDE EMPEZAR, este libro prometía TANTAS cosas y ha acabado siendo larguísimo, aburridisimo y sin trama ninguna. Nunca me he quejado de la cantidad de smut pero siento que la trama ha quedado a un lado para poner escenas tras escenas de smut sin contexto ninguno.
A parte de la injusticia y la rabia de ver como se ha desperdiciado el potencial de Jake en el libro, o sea estamos hablando de un golden retriever a la altura de los icónicos Nate Hawkins o Evan Zanders y la autora ha decidido hacer un personaje cero desarrollado!?!?!?
He tenido que terminar el libro por obligación propia pero os digo desde ya que si queréis un libro con sport romance, este no es vuestro libro ya que es escena spicy tras escena spicy metidas a la fuerza, enserio.
It makes me SO angry how Jake's potential has been wasted in the book that uffff, that is, we are talking about a golden retriever at the height of the iconic Nate Hawkins or Evan Zanders and the author has decided to make a zero developed character!?!?!?
Finally, I'm going to put 4 stars because this advance promised the sky and the stars but the book itself?? Calaveritassssssss
While I really liked all of the main and side characters, the writing was the biggest weakness for me. I think it needed a lot of polishing. And I do think it could have been cut down by at least 100 pages.
If I could give it more then 5 stars I would. Totally loved this book, I went through it so fast, too fast because I didn't want it to end. Loved the building of relationships. The learning how to be a made family, the banter. Thank God I still have the Pucking Ever After sequel to give me more of Rachel, Jake, Caleb and Ilmari. These books will leave me with the biggest book hangover ever. For now this is my most favorite book of the year and it will be very hard to beat.
2nd read: Read this series right after finishing it the first time because could not leave it yet, I wanted to stay in this universe a little longer And I loved it again, so much. I normally am not a re-reader, but darn if this book has a grip on me. I can't wait for the audiobook, which I will probably listen more then once too. This will probably become an annual reread/listen for me.
This book! Oh my goodness this book! The Jacksonville Rays series is the first I've read from Emily Rath, and it definitely did not disappoint! I read the prequel novella, That One Night, first and I can't recommend that enough. It lays the foundation and sets the stage for what is to come in Pucking Around. Pucking Around is a why choose hockey romance, and it is so much more than just that. These characters feel developed and deep, and their story is such an emotional journey. The spicy aspects of why choose romance are of course there, and they are very hot! Rachel, Ilmari, Jake and Caleb are some of the best developed characters I've read in a why choose book. Pucking Around does have some length to it which had me hesitant to read it, but I really think all those pages were necessary to get the character development and depth that a story like this needs. The shorter chapters and multi-POV kept the pace and story flowing, and it never felt like it was lagging. The author has a very in-depth list of trigger warnings and things to expect in the book, which I really appreciated. Pucking Around and the novella, That One Night, are adult sports romance, 18+ for sexual content