Defensıve ZONE

“I can’t do this anymore. I can’t watch him fall in love with someone else again. Someone who isn’t me. I can’t keep doing this to myself. This endless loop of torture. I can’t. It’s time for me to go.” 

I don’t know what Jodi puts in these books, but they are exactly my taste. I actually stumbled upon this one online, and once I realized it was part of a series, I went back to the beginning (a very wise decision, if I say so myself) 😎😎

This book follows the sweet toothed, soft-hearted giant Zach and his cinnamon-roll best friend Carter. Zach has secretly been in love with Carter for two decades, ever since Carter moved in next door when they were six. From that very first day — bonding over hockey and football — they became inseparable, so close that people often assumed they were dating. Even after being drafted, Zach to the NHL and Carter to the NFL, nothing about their bond ever really changed.

As the years pass, Zach finally reaches to a breaking point 💔💔 Seeing Carter with another woman convinces him it’s time to move on, even if it means letting go of the love he’s carried for decades. He begins to pull away, leaving Carter confused and lonelier than ever, struggling to make sense of the emptiness Zach’s absence leaves behind 😭😭

“Between my career being at its lowest and my best friend drifting away, I don’t know who I am anymore. It feels like my world is falling apart, and I don’t know what to do to make it right.”

If you looked up “idiots in love” in the dictionary, there would honestly be a picture of these two. Zach’s yearning and heartbreak hurt so much to read, but it made his moments of joy even sweeter. Carter, on the other hand, is the most oblivious yet endearing cinnamon roll — always snuggling up to Zach, playing with his hair, being physically affectionate — without realizing what it meant. When Carter finally realizes what Zach truly means to him, after years of obliviousness, it’s the ultimate “FINALLY” moment — and trust me, every bit of the angst leading up to it makes the payoff so worth it 🤩🤩

Their relationship felt so natural. They were basically a married couple even before they got together, and once they did, they were inseparable 🥰🥰 Zach’s struggles also felt incredibly real to me — especially <spoiler> his concussion, which broke my heart 😔😔 Thank God Carter was there to take care of him.</spoiler> That side of the story was written with such honesty that it added a deeper emotional layer to their romance.

It’s not just the main characters who feel mature in this series — the side characters shine too. I especially want to appreciate Reegan, Carter’s ex-girlfriend. Even after their breakup, she stayed a true friend to both Carter and Zach, becoming an incredible support for them. I absolutely loved seeing that dynamic 👏👏

Seeing glimpses of the other couples felt like a treat, too. I thought the next book would be Elliot’s, but apparently not 😮😮 There’s definitely some history between Zach’s manager and his teammate Jackson, and I can’t wait to uncover it.

Childhood best friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes, and Zach and Carter delivered it beautifully. If you love this trope, you need to give this book a chance. It’s heartfelt, angsty, sweet, and absolutely swoon-worthy 💘💘