Review: Fated Skates by Victoria Schade
Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager for my copy! All thoughts are my own.
One thing about me, I love the Olympics. So when I saw “Olympic Athlete Romance” I immediately requested this book. It’s between a gold medal winning speed skater and figure skater who fell from grace at the last games. It’s a second chance for her at love and at gold.
I liked it, mainly for the setting and premise. The writing and structure didn’t really work for me sadly.
Synopsis:
“Quinn Albright was America’s figure skating darling until a humiliating Olympic performance splashed her across every headline. Now she’s back, stronger than ever, ready to claim the gold medal on her own terms—no PR fluff, no perfect princess act, just the real, unapologetic Quinn.
But the one distraction she didn’t train for? Bennett Martino. Once the golden boy of speed skating, Bennett’s reputation took a hit he’s still paying for. The chance to host a sporty news magazine show is the perfect redemption arc, and nothing would boost his ratings more than an inside look at Quinn’s comeback. There’s just one issue—she’s the last person who wants him around.
As this year’s Olympic Games commence, past mistakes, shared secrets, and unrelenting chemistry collide. With cameras rolling and the ice melting under their skates, Quinn and Bennett must figure out if they can rewrite their stories—or crash and burn.” —NetGalley
What I Liked:
The Olympic Setting—I love the Olympics so I was really excited to read a book centered on Olympic athletes! I wish we spent more time in the actual games.
The Characters—I liked Quinn and Ben a lot. I like what they had to go through individually and together.
No 3rd Act Break Up—I am not anti-3rd act break, I actually think they’re really important! But the way this story unfolded, a non-3rd act break up structure made sense!
What Didn’t Work for Me:
The Pacing—How it all unfolded really didn’t work for my brain. I felt like things really dragged and made it hard for me to get into the story.
The Chemistry/How the Romance Came to Be—I didn’t feel it. It was a second chance trope but I didn’t feel the stakes as to why it didn’t work originally and why they couldn’t fight it anymore this time.
Character Authenticity: 3/5 Spice Rating: 1/5 Overall Rating: 3
Content Warnings:
eating disorder (in the past), strained parent/child relationship