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duckyreads's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
In Olympic Enemies, we follow two male gymnasts, Oliver and Lucas, as they prepare to compete in the Paris 2024 Olympics. Despite their contentious relationship as teammates for Great Britain, Oliver and Lucas are assigned as roommates and spend the next three weeks learning more about each other, leading to an understanding and eventually developing into a heartfelt relationship.
I really enjoyed Oliver and Lucas as the main characters, and as someone who religiously watched gymnastics every Olympics, this setting was perfect! I loved that the story was dual POV, and I thought that the writing flowed easily.
I usually don't mind cultural references in contemporary romances, but the Brooklyn Nine-Nine references felt like there were on every other page and took me out of the narrative at times. The switch from arguing to kissing was also very abrupt and there could've been more time developing a friendship between Lucas and Oliver before they took that leap.
Hopefully, we get a sequel with Tom and Alicia!
Thank you to The Wild Rose Press and Netgalley for a copy of the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed Oliver and Lucas as the main characters, and as someone who religiously watched gymnastics every Olympics, this setting was perfect! I loved that the story was dual POV, and I thought that the writing flowed easily.
I usually don't mind cultural references in contemporary romances, but the Brooklyn Nine-Nine references felt like there were on every other page and took me out of the narrative at times. The switch from arguing to kissing was also very abrupt and there could've been more time developing a friendship between Lucas and Oliver before they took that leap.
Hopefully, we get a sequel with Tom and Alicia!
Thank you to The Wild Rose Press and Netgalley for a copy of the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Outing
Moderate: Death
Minor: Grief, Car accident, Child death, and Abandonment
tristatereader's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
*THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS*
As a former athlete and someone who religiously watches the summer Olympics, I was super excited when I read the book description. The plot was unique and I’m always a sucker for a good enemies to lovers trope.
Lucas and Oliver are two gymnasts and Olympic athletes in their 20s competing during the Paris 2024 games. Despite running in the same sports circle for 5 years, the two have never gotten along. Enter room assignments at the Olympics, and our two enemies are forced to be roommates. While there are two beds, shenanigans still ensue 😉
Unfortunately, this book just didn’t deliver the way I was hoping. To me, it read a bit like a fan fiction and the relationship between Lucas and Oliver had my head spinning. Every time I thought their relationship and communication was solidifying, something new would happen and any progress they made was gone. I was also confused about the last few days of the Olympics, when Oliver came back from the hospital and separated their beds. Did they just spend the rest of their time not speaking to one another despite sharing a room? And then the author wrote Oliver just casually walking up to Lucas at the finals, talking about celebratory sex, and the readers are supposed to believe Lucas laughed about it and then agreed to talk to Oliver in private as if he hadn’t had his heart broken the day before? I think the ending could have used some reworking. It felt messy to me.
I also felt Oliver’s deceased girlfriend plot line was not teased out enough. That was an incredibly traumatic event, especially since she was on her way to get Oliver’s uniform (he had to have blamed himself) plus her being pregnant PLUS having to mourn in private because the media never knew about their relationship. I feel like there has to be so much unresolved grief to unpack there. There were a few plot lines like this that the author introduced, but didn’t really explore. I think it would have been helpful for character development.
This was a fast paced read and I finished it in 2 days. I would recommend it to someone who enjoys fanfics and the Olympics. There was definitely character growth for both Oliver and Lucas, which I really enjoyed. I also liked the side characters (for the most part).
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Backlit PR for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Abandonment, and Child death
lilyrooke's review
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: Grief, Car accident, Child death, Death, and Abandonment
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