I cannot believe The Wall of Winnipeg and Me escaped me for so long. I saw it on Bookstagram and immediately put it on hold at the library. Sports romance? WINNIPEG reference!? Employee to lovers? Yup, this is right in my lane.
Book Information
Publisher: Avon
First Published: Feb 28 2016
Format: ebook
Source: Library
Genre: Romance
I loved The Wall of Winnipeg and Me. Aiden is so grumpy and speaks so briefly that every word carries more weight because he doesn’t use enough of them. I thought there would be a neuro-divergent subplot, but that didn’t materialize as I thought it would. As a Canadian from Winnipeg, I thought it was hilarious he wanted help getting his US residency.
Vanessa was strong, independent, and outstanding in setting boundaries for what she’d put up with. I’m so pleased she didn’t lose her identity or get too wrapped up in Aiden’s career. Romance often has unbalanced relationships, with one character being a billionaire or famous, and their partner’s identity disappears. I really value her independence.
Zac was an excellent side character. I appreciated the support and friendship between Zac and Vanessa. Zac acknowledged Aiden’s faults and limitations without holding them against him. It’s so hard to take people for who they are without judgment. I get excited about solid support characters demonstrating healthy relationships with the main characters.
The slowly escalating intimacy was satisfying. The emotional connection was steadily built over time, not just through grand gestures. The support during the storm and in the elevator struck me as excellent examples of being present for someone you care about. Aiden didn’t act like it was a big deal or expect anything in exchange.
It shouldn’t have taken me so long to read The Wall of Winnipeg and Me. It’s everything I like about sports romances and much of what I like about romance. Characters with depth and complexity, a romance that’s more than “insta-love,” and relatable issues/problems. I look forward to reading more from Mariana Zapata in the future!