Hat Trick

This is more of a 4.5.

I have been waiting very eagerly to read this book for a long time now and I've probably spent that last week checking my kindle religiously to see if the ARC had arrived. So when I finally saw the email in my inbox, I was ecstatic and had to read it immediately. And here I am a few hours later, very happy that it was a lot of fun but also sad that this awesome series has almost come to an end.

One thing I'm always sure I'll get in an Eden Finley book is a lot of laughs and banter and while I got all of that, this story also had a good dose of angst and I loved it all. It's almost like a second chance romance plus destined to be together plus forced proximity, and I thought the author did a brilliant job in making me feel all the feels. The one thing that made this book standout in my mind was the way the author managed to capture the feelings of loneliness that the characters feel as well as the anguish of heartbreak and a long distance relationship. It really made me all emotional and I sped through the book because I couldn't put it down for even a second.

The first time we met Jet in Trick Play, I fell in love and I kept hoping that he would get a book - so it's been a long wait but also very happy that we finally get to see his story. He has had a rough upbringing and then having to change a lot about himself to be a successful musician, has left him feeling very lonely and disbelieving in fairytale love; and he covers it all up by showing off a very over the top and mouthy version of himself to the world. But underneath it all, he is a softie and just wants someone who loves his true self and I wanted to give him a hug.

Soren on the other hand has known heartbreak and longing and doesn't think that young and vibrant Jet is for him, but their chemistry and attraction is off the charts right from get go and a relationship just seems so inevitable. He is exactly the kind of rock solid support that Jet needs and I loved how good they were for each other. And the idea of Jet writing emo songs about his feelings for Soren is so sweet and adorable and wow was I besotted throughout reading this book.

I am totally in love with the couple but I won't deny that the other best part of this book for me was meeting the whole gang - and I really do mean all the couples of the series. As Jet refers to them, the whole “Gay brigade” is on a vacation in Fiji for almost half of the book and I had so much fun following all their shenanigans and getting to know more about each of their lives. They are all such a delightful and supportive bunch and I adore how the author gives so much importance to friendship and found family. The way they all have each other's backs while also incessantly teasing each other is wonderful to read about and I have to say this is probably one of my most favorite fictional friend groups ever.

To conclude, if you have read the previous books in the series, you can't give this a miss. It's fun, sexy, lovely and angsty in equal measure and I promise you'll love it. It doesn't really work as a stand-alone because all of the characters from the series play major roles here, so you'll have to start from the beginning if you are new to the series. And while I'm extremely sad that the series is ending, I'm also excited that we'll be getting a final extended epilogue for each of the couple put together in a book soon and I can't wait to read it already.