THE WALL OF WINNIPEG AND ME
Author: Mariana Zapata
Date released: July 4th, 2023*
Category: Romance
Synopsis: Vanessa Mazur knows she's doing the right thing. She shouldn't feel bad for quitting. Being an assistant/housekeeper/fairy godmother to the top defensive end in the National Football Organization was always supposed to be temporary. She has plans and none of them include washing extra-large underwear longer than necessary.
But when Aiden Graves shows up at her door wanting her to come back, she's beyond shocked.
For two years, the man known as The Wall of Winnipeg couldn't find it in him to tell her good morning or congratulate her on her birthday. Now? He's asking for the unthinkable.
What do you say to the man who is used to getting everything he wants?
*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Original publication date of this book was February 28th, 2016
The UnReel Take:
Story: 8.0
Writing: 7.0
Characters: 8.0
Setting: 3.0
UnReel AR: 6.5
Bottom Line: Mariana Zapata is the queen of the slow burn and one of the best authors on Kindle Unlimited. The Wall of Winnipeg and Me is a mishmash of tropes (sports romance, marriage of convenience, enemies to lovers, and more) that somehow results in a really unique story. Aiden and Vanessa feel like people you might actually know, and neither of them fits cleanly into their “normal” character types. Aiden is a rich, successful football player, but he’s not a ho and Zapata actually shows how dedicated he is to his work. Vanessa is a likable girl-next-door type, except she’s low key always contemplating ways to murder people and get away with it (my kind of lady). What really makes this story excellent though, is that Zapata gives it time to breathe. By not rushing things along, we have the opportunity to really watch Aiden and Van’s relationship unfurl, so we actually buy in to their happy ending.
Also, Aiden is a dog dad and isn’t that just the sweetest thing ever?
Ideal Reading Location: You know when someone in your household wants to watch football, but you know you’re going to be bored the whole time? Pick up The Wall of Winnipeg and Me.
Drink Pairing: Gatorade, duh.
Maybe your experience will be different!