Z for the win

Z was perfection. I loved how relatable he was with his anxiety and personal baggage. Sugar (I hated her name) was a great character, she brought out the best in Z, and she proved to Z that even if you go through rough times you don’t have to let that define you. Also her goal to go to law school where her dad went just to show him up was annoying but I can totally see where she wanted to set out and prove she wasn’t trash like he thought. Other than that they were great together and had perfect chemistry and I loved loved the book. ( )

While this romance isn't without some problematic elements, overall I enjoyed this one a lot. I was especially compelled by Zack's struggle with anxiety and how his relationship with Sugar helped him work through it. This was a great summer romance read. ( )

Sugar Ryan hasn't had a terrific life. Actually, it's kinda sucked. She's the love child of an illicit affair where her father always hid her and her mother from "his real family." When her mother died, instead of living with her father she moves from Alabama to live with her mother's best friend. Sugar wants to prove herself to her father and his "real family" by attending her father's alma mater--Vanderbilt University School of Law. Only she's waitlisted. She knows that the admissions director is an avid hockey fan especially Zach Morgan, who is being courted by a NHL team in Nashville. If she can talk Morgan into pretending to be her boyfriend for the waitlist mixer and woo the director, Sugar will be in.

Surprisingly, the hockey God agrees to all of Sugar's requests. He's tired of all the puck bunnies and hanger-on constantly harassing him. The only rule Sugar is adamant about is "Do not fall in love." Too bad Z was already well on his way there before they made the deal. There's something special about Sugar. She doesn't put up with his ego and calls him on his crap. The more he's with her the more he doesn't want to let her go. Plus, she calms his anxiety and his panic attacks that keep popping up. She grounds him. She thinks all of it pretend. He's never pretended with her. How will she react when she finds out his feelings are real? When tragedy strikes he does what he can to be with her even if it means revealing his true feelings for her.

What happens when Sugar ends their deal?

How will Z cope?

Will Sugar get into Vanderbilt without Z's help? ( )

**I received a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest voluntary review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**

I'm always eager for a new Ilsa Madden-Mills New Adult read but when I saw that her newest book featured two of my favourite tropes--hockey player and a fake relationship premise--I knew that this was going to be a read-ASAP type of book.

I thought that this book would be a little lighter than it was but I liked the tone it had. Both of our leads have their own struggles and I enjoyed watching them deal with them as they navigated their budding feelings.

In particular, I really appreciated and admired Zack's mental health storyline. Anxiety in sports (not simply the pressure of doing the sport but how one's personal mental health affects their playing) isn't something I've really come across in the genre before. I loved how it was dealt with here and how it was one of the main focuses and not something mentioned in passing.

For me, I didn't see the chemistry between these two right away. Zack borders on some insta-love I thought in the first bit and I wasn't entirely convinced why. But by the mid-way point we watch them talk and share a little more so it helped me to see why they were a good pair. This is one of those times where the various dramatic stressors they undergo helped to cement why they work as partners.

Overall: This is a solid contemporary romance and one that has a refreshing take on the genre!

Check out more spoiler-free book and series reviews on my blog SERIESousBookReviews.com as well as read book series recaps!

Full Review: https://wp.me/p7hLUw-2VH
Actual Rating: 3.5/5 ( )

Ilsa Madden-Mills hits it in the net with BOYFRIEND BARGAIN. Sugar Ryan enlist the help of NHL number one draft pick Zack Morgan to pretend to be her fake boyfriend at an event to help get her into her first-choice law school. He makes a counteroffer with her being his girlfriend of the month to keep the girls away so he could focus on hockey, but Zack wants more than a month. This story takes place in Minnesota. It is suitable for new adult readers.

I loved this story. Ilsa Madden-Mills does a great job of slowly feeding you information keeping you hooked throughout the novel. The characters were adeptly developed. Sugar and Zack both have their share of secrets. They have fun verbal banter and chemistry. Zack has a playboy reputation. He feels guilt for something he is not responsible for and suffers anxiety. He and his brother, Reece, have some conflict they need to resolve. Sugar is introverted and awkward. She is driven to prove her worth. Zack and Sugar undergo numerous obstacles while helping each other heal and grow.

The story had a great epilogue that felt well concluded. I wouldn’t mind seeing this book turn into a series with some of the other Hawthorne University hockey players. I recommend this book to people that enjoy sports romances and fake boyfriend books. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book. ( )