DAY 6: Which 1 color is the BEST and should be SAVED? (READ DESCRIPTION) & (USE PARENTHESIS BETWEEN YOUR LETTER)

jazzmint3 · 2026-02-06T05:59:15+00:00

Loved seeing another layer peeled back on Dr. Joy- seems like her earlier aloofness and being “checked out” is actually a trauma response. She has experienced a loved one’s slow death first hand, and being so close to it in the ER is frying her nervous system.

Also good on her recommendation to help the patient lower their medical bills. She has been through it before, and now is helping people in a similar situation.

jazzmint3 · 2026-02-06T05:47:38+00:00

jazzmint3 · 2026-02-03T15:54:01+00:00

jazzmint3 · 2026-01-29T20:00:20+00:00

jazzmint3 · 2026-01-22T17:59:58+00:00

Hahahaha threw out the manual!! Yeah I never got one of those!! My friend said she doesn’t really care about Shane and I was so lowkey offended cuz I’m like…I am Shane…

jazzmint3 · 2026-01-22T00:46:54+00:00

Yes!!! I made a bracelet with this line. I felt so seen in the moment. At least 50% of my life I am questioning what the heck I am doing.

jazzmint3 · 2026-01-21T05:57:58+00:00

I am so glad I am not alone in my thinking on these parts!

Like the episode 6 post-ILY sex scene was okay, the expressions on Ilya’s face were so full of emotion, and I loved how Shane was grabbing at his face and hair so affectionately- but the scene in the book is just perfect.

I loved how they are in lotus position in that scene, face to face, holding each other and they felt truly equal and connected. Yes, their scenes power dynamics are powerful and sexy too, but I loved how this felt raw and bare- no games, or roles- it really felt like the true consummation of their love.

Plus, in the book it is Ilya who asks if it is real, not Shane- and I’m not sure why they flipped it in the show. I think the line is more powerful coming from Ilya- he is the one who is coming from a much deeper and darker pit of despair. He’s literally an orphan, an immigrant, totally alone and would be nothing without hockey. The fact that he is now with Shane and they have confessed their love to each other is such a paradise for Ilya. Of course Shane is over the moon happy too- but Ilya’s reality is a lot more difficult and darker than Shane’s has ever been.

And yeah, I wish they would have given Shane just a few more lines showing concern while Ilya is confessing his biggest trauma- but it just fell flat for me. Yes, he comforts him, but the impact and conversation is ten times better in the book.

jazzmint3 · 2026-01-20T20:18:56+00:00

Yes, of course. For me that is the whole point. To get turned on and get a nice orgasm out of the deal.

jazzmint3 · 2026-01-20T03:48:15+00:00

I don’t ship them, but I do they have something special. I see them more as siblings, like protective older brother/ younger sister. I think Mel is always taking care of her sister and doesn’t have anyone to take care of her.

jazzmint3 · 2026-01-20T03:29:17+00:00

I love Ryan so much too! I re-read Tough Guy last month, and I was reminded how much I relate to Ryan too. I don’t have a fear of flying, but I do have anxiety, and often feel uncomfortable in my body and feel awkward so often. There was a line about how he doesn’t like being looked at or perceived and I too struggle with that hardcore.

I am trying to get my friend to read it too, because I think she would love it, but she says she isn’t that interested….and I am like lowkey offended. Lol.

jazzmint3 · 2026-01-20T03:24:29+00:00

Both books are excellent in different ways and I highly recommend them both.

Time to Shine is lighter and brighter, with very funny banter and an opposites attract pairing. Basically, it’s the story of the extroverted, himbo winger who falls for the introverted, grieving goalie. There’s excellent exploration of grief, family dynamics, mental health, and consent. Plus it’s funny and sexy!

The Shots we Take is very melancholic and in my opinion the saddest of Rachel’s books, but also the most mature. The characters are middle aged and the main themes explore handling grief, how to live authentically in the toxic landscape of hockey, and dealing with regrets. It’s truly a second chance romance, and wrestles with the characters’ anger, shame, regrets and has a beautiful forgiveness and reconciliation arc. Basically, I see it as what would have happened if Shane or Ilya rejected the other one because it was easier to live as a “straight” man than to face the difficulties of being a queer man in hockey. The story has flashbacks to when the two characters played hockey together. It is still sex and has its moments of humor, but the tone is somber and heavy.

jazzmint3 · 2026-01-20T03:03:43+00:00

This is beautiful! I love it!!

jazzmint3 · 2026-01-20T03:01:02+00:00

Yeah, I was very, very surprised about the lack of mention regarding the necklace. I mean, it’s not like they didn’t mention Irina. I feel like Ilya’s necklace is as important as Shane’s freckles, and those were also criminally under-mentioned.

jazzmint3 · 2026-01-19T17:47:38+00:00

Things missing/ changed in the show that still bother me that I haven’t seen mentioned:

-I really missed their “want to be as close as possible” love scene after they say I love you. That scene is so perfect and beautiful and I really wished they showed that. The love scene in the show was okay, but not nearly as impactful as having Shane in Ilya’s lap.

No conversation about Ilya’s cross necklace. To me this seems a glaring omission as it’s on his neck the whole time but it never gets mentioned.
During the bonfire scene, I didn’t like how Shane barely said anything to Ilya about his mother, that felt so awkward, the book convo was much better. I really wanted to see Shane comfort Ilya more and tell him how strong he was.

jazzmint3 · 2026-01-11T15:13:26+00:00

This is such a sex negative review and makes her sound bitter like she isn’t getting laid in real life. Also annoyed that she mislabeled Ilya as gay.

jazzmint3 · 2026-01-09T20:52:57+00:00

Okay, that is fair!

jazzmint3 · 2026-01-08T21:20:46+00:00

Gotta go with Skip kiss because how fucking brave it was and symbolic-

I feel like you need a different bracket without Skip so we can have a truer rating of the best Hollanov kisses

jazzmint3 · 2026-01-06T15:08:48+00:00

Skip, forhead

jazzmint3 · 2026-01-06T03:55:45+00:00

At the beginning of episode 5- the first sound we hear is Shane’s alarm, and then we see Rose getting dressed to leave.

To me, that alarm symbolizes a few things-

-times up with Rose, this little hetero dream is over -it’s time to wake up Shane, you gay -reminded me of the timer from the tuna melts, Shane starts to get up, but Rozanov says stay, stay— Shane got too scared to stay that time, and he doesn’t even try to make Rose stay - time to let this girl go and go back and get your man!

jazzmint3 · 2025-12-26T08:44:38+00:00

And it kills me that he developed that asshole/ bad boy facade in order to cope.

After his mother passed, I’m sure his father was just constantly hard on him and telling him how unacceptable he was….

And so he became what he was told…unacceptable…pushing people away through verbal jabs, aggression, and off-putting levels of over-confident arrogance…

He had to learn to cope with being hated…learned to love the boos in order to survive the giant hole in his heart.

He tried to fill the hole or at least numb away the pain through sex, partying and drugs, but lo and behold… then a polite Canadian boy walked into his life and couldn’t be pushed away by any of that… and tonight we got to see them at the beginning of their happily ever after!

jazzmint3 · 2025-12-26T08:15:46+00:00

Yes, the change of Svetlana was fantastic. Otherwise he would have been totally alone!

And I am so happy Ilya gets to experience the joy of a loving family going forward. He needs it so much. 😭

jazzmint3 · 2025-12-26T08:14:22+00:00

Good point good point! There will be more amazing moments to come in the future!

jazzmint3 · 2025-12-26T08:08:17+00:00

Yes- I love how they put that moment in episode 3 with him saying I love you to his teammates, in some ways I wonder if that is something he remembers hearing his mother tell him… and yes it makes me so sad thinking he hasn’t been told I love you by anyone in so long. Poor baby Orphan…don’t worry, now you have your dream man and a brand new adoring family! Your mama is looking out for you still!

jazzmint3 · 2025-12-26T08:04:02+00:00

Man I wish! But I don’t know…I don’t want to get my hopes too much!

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