Overall Grade: B+
Tropes: he falls first; close proximity; friends to lovers; pro hockey/sports romance; roommates; found family; band of brothers
I had eagerly anticipated Meghan Quinn’s He’s Not My Type, mostly because I’ve enjoyed her Vancouver Agitators series and secondly because I’ve been intrigued with Halsey Holmes. Insight into Professor A’s romance loves: broody, quiet, emotionally complex heroes/MMCs are my favorite. Hence, other than Silas Taters, I’ve hoped for Halsey’s story.
For the most part, Quinn doesn’t disappoint with him. For one, what’s not to love about a “he falls first” trope for Quinn’s most internal character? Halsey falls deep, at first sight, for Blakely, her FMC. This creates two situations: his unrequited love grows to the point that he becomes awkward (very funny stuff) when he finally has the opportunity to date her, and two, his friends, the foundation of this series, are enlisted to help him. This provides pages upon pages of hilarious banter with this band of brothers we’ve all come to love. You’ll laugh out loud at their antics as they seek to aid Halsey in his pursuit of Blakely. Honestly, it’s the best part of He’s Not My Type…which is where the problem of this story lies.
You see, as much as I anxiously awaited this book, some aspects disappointed me…or, more concisely, confused me. For one, the pacing was strange. If you’ve read the first books of this series, you know that Halsey’s twin brother has died. I had wanted the background as well as the emotional journey that Halsey must undertake to work through the grief at the loss of his brother. Quinn does proffer that up, but she spends the last ten percent of the book working out Halsey’s emotions about it. What happens is a strange pacing situation in her book. The second issue is Blakely’s chemistry with Halsey. It’s clear that he pines for her. He’s attracted to her into speechlessness, but Blakely doesn’t return it until much later in the book. In fact, Blakely’s character journey feels pretty flat in contrast to Halsey’s, and it makes it difficult (at least for me) to accept her change of interest in Halsey…at least at first. Their physicality changes her impression of him. Quinn has Halsey morph from awkward broody quiet guy to alpha stud in the sheets. It’s not hard to understand Blakely’s change of heart, but it causes you to consider her reasons behind it. Then, when Halsey has his breakdown (again, in the last ten percent of the book), she’s all in and his emotional support. The emotional development of their relationship lacks the depth necessary to pull off the last portion of the story. At least, that’s how I felt in reading it.
He’s Not My Type is less about the romance between Halsey and Blakely. That’s a foregone conclusion. Instead, it’s about the band of brothers and its impact on helping Halsey grieve. Much of that is couched in some delicious funny banter, but it’s more a deflection to the heart of this story: the love shared with teammates. Is this book typical Meghan Quinn? Indeed. Is it spicy? Absolutely! Halsey Holmes is a beast in the bedroom. But does the storytelling match the quality of the other Vancouver Agitators books? I’m not so sure. I am absolutely ready for Posey’s story; Quinn has set that up well. I’m thinking we might also get another character in this world, thanks to a crossover with the other books in her universe. I just hoped Halsey’s story would have had a stronger emotional impact than Meghan Quinn gifted us.
In love and romance,
Professor A
Professor Romance 