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All for the Game #4
The Sunshine Court
My name is Jean Moreau. My place is at Evermore. I belong to the Moriyamas.
It is a truth Jean has built his life around, a reminder this is the best he can hope for and all he deserves. But when he is stolen from Edgar Allan University and sold to a more dangerous master, Jean is forced to contend with a life outside of the Nest for the first time in five years. The Foxes call his transfer to California a fresh start; Jean knows it is little more than a golden cage.
Captain Jeremy Knox is facing his final year with the USC Trojans and fifth straight year falling short of the championships trophy he desperately craves. Taking in the nation’s best defenseman is a no-brainer, even if that man is a Raven. But Jean is no monster, just a man with no hope or desire for a future, and when Evermore's collapse starts dragging Jean's hideous secrets to light, Jeremy is forced to contend with the cost of victory.
It is a truth Jean has built his life around, a reminder this is the best he can hope for and all he deserves. But when he is stolen from Edgar Allan University and sold to a more dangerous master, Jean is forced to contend with a life outside of the Nest for the first time in five years. The Foxes call his transfer to California a fresh start; Jean knows it is little more than a golden cage.
Captain Jeremy Knox is facing his final year with the USC Trojans and fifth straight year falling short of the championships trophy he desperately craves. Taking in the nation’s best defenseman is a no-brainer, even if that man is a Raven. But Jean is no monster, just a man with no hope or desire for a future, and when Evermore's collapse starts dragging Jean's hideous secrets to light, Jeremy is forced to contend with the cost of victory.
First published April 13, 2024
About the author
Nora Sakavic
8 books6,553 followersHappy New Year, lovies. I do not use this account, so I am sorry for any & all missed messages.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,719 reviews
May 16, 2024
5/5
Four hundred highlights, two hours of sleep, a few mental breakdowns later and it’s over — not exactly over, because it's only the first part, but I still can't believe that this book has been published and I've read it. It feels like a dream I don't want to wake up from, but at least I can finally say that my most anticipated read of the first half of the year turned out being pretty much everything I wanted it to be. I know this series is really far from being perfect, but I always suddenly go blind when I see some negative opinions about it, because for me it's perfect and that's all that matters.
So let's get to the point of why this book turned out to be almost everything I wanted. The rest of my review contains spoilers!
one We finally got two points of view. Don't get me wrong, I loved reading the first three books from Neil's perspective — it was quite traumatic at times, but I still loved it because I adored his character, but Andrew's point of view would do wonders, so I’m incredibly happy that we got to see Jean and Jeremy's book from their both perspectives. It’s just the beginning of their story, but I was glad about it.
two Honestly, after finishing All For the Game books, I didn't expect it would one day stop being a trilogy and instead become a series. Even more so, I didn't expect the fourth book to be about Jeremy Knox and Jean Moreau, because I don't remember them having even one conversation — but I personally think that Nora couldn't have paired them better. I know a lot of people liked the idea of Jean and Kevin, but in my opinion, even though I know they would look good together, I think Jeremy is the most perfect partner for Jean. It was quite obvious here that Jean had some type of feelings for Kevin and Renee at some point in his life, but after everything he'd been through, he needs someone to brighten up his life, and Jeremy is the perfect candidate for that.
Jeremy Knox was the most precious, kind-hearted man and I can't wait to watch them fall in love in the second book. I just know that he will kiss Jean's scars, learn French for him, be the most caring and thoughtful partner who will never leave him and will always be a safe place for him. Already in this part, we could see that these two were slowly getting closer to each other through certain gestures and looks that even their team members noticed, so I can't wait to see how their relationship develops in the second book.
three Nora knew what she was doing when she put Jean in the USC Trojans, because what could possibly be better than having him live with a sunshine Captain who takes care of everyone and two chaotic lesbians who have treated him like one of their own from almost the beginning? What's better than this? Jean was literally saved from a place where if you don't follow the rules you die, and then brought to a court where the game is supposed to be fun for you and where your teammates, instead of torturing you, cook with you and want to take pottery classes with you. His change from thinking this way
to this
was the most perfect thing. He still has a long way to go to be truly happy, or at least content with his life, but you could already see that he had changed since the beginning of the book.
This was basically me when I read that last quote.
four We had a few cameos with the Foxes — Andrew, Neil, Kevin, Renee, and my favorite Coach Wymack, who still can't stand their bullshit but would do anything for them.
I teared up a little when I read this.
Okay, not a little.
A lot.
five And lastly, Riko is definitely dead and six feet underground. This time I didn’t tear up, but started smiling.
I still can't believe this book exists and I'm already praying that the second part comes out this year because I need to see Jean and Jeremy in their "I'm in love with my teammate" era. I need their friendship — finally acknowledged by Jean, to blossom into something more, and I hope Nora gives us even more of them in TSC2. I can’t wait.
────────
may 2024
I didn't think it was physically possible to love these two more, but I'm afraid I was wrong, they are everything to me (I have an unhealthy obsession with them, I would give my life for them, they mean the world to me, my life suddenly became better thanks to them, they are the best thing that happened to me this year, the yellow daffodil on the cover makes a lot of sense because they are "my yellow" — I know the meaning of this flower is different, but I don't care, it means that for me, they just make me so happy, if I ever stop loving them, it means I'm dead, or you know what — I'm wrong, I'll love them in the afterlife too, in fact, bury me with this book)
Yes, after rereading it, I am changing my rating to five stars.
Four hundred highlights, two hours of sleep, a few mental breakdowns later and it’s over — not exactly over, because it's only the first part, but I still can't believe that this book has been published and I've read it. It feels like a dream I don't want to wake up from, but at least I can finally say that my most anticipated read of the first half of the year turned out being pretty much everything I wanted it to be. I know this series is really far from being perfect, but I always suddenly go blind when I see some negative opinions about it, because for me it's perfect and that's all that matters.
So let's get to the point of why this book turned out to be almost everything I wanted. The rest of my review contains spoilers!
one We finally got two points of view. Don't get me wrong, I loved reading the first three books from Neil's perspective — it was quite traumatic at times, but I still loved it because I adored his character, but Andrew's point of view would do wonders, so I’m incredibly happy that we got to see Jean and Jeremy's book from their both perspectives. It’s just the beginning of their story, but I was glad about it.
two Honestly, after finishing All For the Game books, I didn't expect it would one day stop being a trilogy and instead become a series. Even more so, I didn't expect the fourth book to be about Jeremy Knox and Jean Moreau, because I don't remember them having even one conversation — but I personally think that Nora couldn't have paired them better. I know a lot of people liked the idea of Jean and Kevin, but in my opinion, even though I know they would look good together, I think Jeremy is the most perfect partner for Jean. It was quite obvious here that Jean had some type of feelings for Kevin and Renee at some point in his life, but after everything he'd been through, he needs someone to brighten up his life, and Jeremy is the perfect candidate for that.
Jeremy Knox was the most precious, kind-hearted man and I can't wait to watch them fall in love in the second book. I just know that he will kiss Jean's scars, learn French for him, be the most caring and thoughtful partner who will never leave him and will always be a safe place for him. Already in this part, we could see that these two were slowly getting closer to each other through certain gestures and looks that even their team members noticed, so I can't wait to see how their relationship develops in the second book.
three Nora knew what she was doing when she put Jean in the USC Trojans, because what could possibly be better than having him live with a sunshine Captain who takes care of everyone and two chaotic lesbians who have treated him like one of their own from almost the beginning? What's better than this? Jean was literally saved from a place where if you don't follow the rules you die, and then brought to a court where the game is supposed to be fun for you and where your teammates, instead of torturing you, cook with you and want to take pottery classes with you. His change from thinking this way
"Jean said, “I will hate them, but I will do what I must to survive."
to this
"Laila’s foot hooked around the leg of his stool, the ridiculous way Cat bobbed and danced as she made an absolute mess of the island, and the heat of Jeremy’s shoulder where he sat almost pressed into Jean’s side.
Friends, he thought again, and this time it almost felt real."
was the most perfect thing. He still has a long way to go to be truly happy, or at least content with his life, but you could already see that he had changed since the beginning of the book.
This was basically me when I read that last quote.
four We had a few cameos with the Foxes — Andrew, Neil, Kevin, Renee, and my favorite Coach Wymack, who still can't stand their bullshit but would do anything for them.
"Jean noticed how Andrew and Neil moved like they were caught in each other’s gravity, in each other’s space more than they were out of it, cigarette smoke and matching armbands and lingering looks when one fell out of orbit for too long."
I teared up a little when I read this.
Okay, not a little.
A lot.
five And lastly, Riko is definitely dead and six feet underground. This time I didn’t tear up, but started smiling.
I still can't believe this book exists and I'm already praying that the second part comes out this year because I need to see Jean and Jeremy in their "I'm in love with my teammate" era. I need their friendship — finally acknowledged by Jean, to blossom into something more, and I hope Nora gives us even more of them in TSC2. I can’t wait.
────────
may 2024
I didn't think it was physically possible to love these two more, but I'm afraid I was wrong, they are everything to me (I have an unhealthy obsession with them, I would give my life for them, they mean the world to me, my life suddenly became better thanks to them, they are the best thing that happened to me this year, the yellow daffodil on the cover makes a lot of sense because they are "my yellow" — I know the meaning of this flower is different, but I don't care, it means that for me, they just make me so happy, if I ever stop loving them, it means I'm dead, or you know what — I'm wrong, I'll love them in the afterlife too, in fact, bury me with this book)
Yes, after rereading it, I am changing my rating to five stars.
April 14, 2024
Fanon ship so powerful the author was forced to make it canon
Want to read
April 17, 2024edit: I have started reading this bad boy
my heart almost fell out of my ass when I saw this on my timeline 30 seconds ago. how am I just learning about this TODAY????
my heart almost fell out of my ass when I saw this on my timeline 30 seconds ago. how am I just learning about this TODAY????
Want to read
January 12, 2024excuse me. but WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
WHAT. WHAT!!!! WHAT????? W H A T ?!?!?!?!?!?!
SHUT UP MERRY CHRISTMAS HAPPY NEW YEAR HAPPY BIRTHDAY OMFG!!!
Twitter | Bookstagram | Youtube |
WHAT. WHAT!!!! WHAT????? W H A T ?!?!?!?!?!?!
SHUT UP MERRY CHRISTMAS HAPPY NEW YEAR HAPPY BIRTHDAY OMFG!!!
Twitter | Bookstagram | Youtube |
April 14, 2024
“i am jean moreau. i belong to the moriyamas. i will endure. i will endure. i will endure.”
SOMEONE TAKE ME OUT BACK AND PUT ME DOWNNNN SEDATE ME EXTERMINATE ME EVISCERATE ME SAW OFF MY BONES AND PLUCK OUT MY EYES AND FEED THEM TO THE BIRDS LEAVE ME TO ROT AND SEND ME BACK TO GOD I CANT TAKE THIS ANYMORE IM DISTRAUGHT IM INCONSOLABLE
SOMEONE TAKE ME OUT BACK AND PUT ME DOWNNNN SEDATE ME EXTERMINATE ME EVISCERATE ME SAW OFF MY BONES AND PLUCK OUT MY EYES AND FEED THEM TO THE BIRDS LEAVE ME TO ROT AND SEND ME BACK TO GOD I CANT TAKE THIS ANYMORE IM DISTRAUGHT IM INCONSOLABLE
May 6, 2024
like genuinely how am i supposed to carry on after reading this
May 9, 2024
permanently altered the trajectory of my life
Shelved as 'anticipated'
April 12, 2024update: COVER!!!!!!!! give me it i need it
——
saw this on my timeline and experienced an emotion so powerful and visceral i am certain it has never been felt by another human consciousness before. i am a specimen so rare and wondrous i should permit scientists to dissect my brain under a microscope. however all they would find is thoughts about nora sakavic's continuation of the original all for the game trilogy (2013-2014). still i believe it would be a great win for science
——
saw this on my timeline and experienced an emotion so powerful and visceral i am certain it has never been felt by another human consciousness before. i am a specimen so rare and wondrous i should permit scientists to dissect my brain under a microscope. however all they would find is thoughts about nora sakavic's continuation of the original all for the game trilogy (2013-2014). still i believe it would be a great win for science
April 13, 2024
4.75★
im trying to be very normal but there is genuinely not a single coherent thought in my head right now i feel like i just got stabbed in the chest multiple times. all i can say for now is that no one in history has ever suffered more than jean moreau not even jesus christ himself and neil josten i love you forever and ever it’s me and u against the world🫂🤞
————————————————
“it's about a boy who shouldn't be alive, who couldn't be his own person, learning how to breathe without permission and live without it hurting”
JEAN HEALING JEAN HAPPY JEAN HEALTHY JEREJEAN CANON🙏🙏🙏
oh i’m about to be the most insufferable person alive.
im trying to be very normal but there is genuinely not a single coherent thought in my head right now i feel like i just got stabbed in the chest multiple times. all i can say for now is that no one in history has ever suffered more than jean moreau not even jesus christ himself and neil josten i love you forever and ever it’s me and u against the world🫂🤞
————————————————
“it's about a boy who shouldn't be alive, who couldn't be his own person, learning how to breathe without permission and live without it hurting”
JEAN HEALING JEAN HAPPY JEAN HEALTHY JEREJEAN CANON🙏🙏🙏
oh i’m about to be the most insufferable person alive.
April 19, 2024
Where do I start?
I've read "The Sunshine Court" twice in a row, and I'm still not sure what to say or where to begin.
I tried to keep the spoilers hidden, but just in case: some spoilers ahead.
My brain has been completely taken over by this book, and by this whole series (and to be fair, that isn't new, since it happens at least once or twice year; I swear it's like crack in book form), and it's been on a constant loop of giddy (and sometimes anguished; sometimes frustrated; sometimes unbelievably, ridiculously happy) squeals/screeches/screams since Monday.
I don't know how am I ever supposed to recover; maybe I should re-read it a third time? Or wait, maybe I should re-read the previous three books for the umpteenth time, and for the second time in *counts week* a month. Yep, a new record for me.
One thing I know I want to say is: thank you, Nora. Thank you for gifting us Jean's story. Thank you for not giving up on this series, this world, despite how ridiculous and obsessive, and sometimes mean and toxic, the fandom is. Thank you.
I still can't believe this story is in our hands, and not only that, we have A SECOND BOOK COMING? Special editions of AftG with shorts stories on the way?! I feel like these two things, the anticipation of them being in my grabby little hands in just a few months, have made my life infinitely more brighter.
Back to "The Sunshine Court" though. Where do I start?
This story was exactly what I was hoping for, but it also absolutely exceeded my already high expectations.
It's Jean's story, but it's also the Trojans' story.
It's a story of healing, of a boy who's finally able to start picking up the pieces of a tortured, unhappy life, who's starting to see, one small miracle at a time (thank you Renee, my queen), finally, slowly, torturously, that happiness and health and friendship and safety, and yes, even love, might be something that's not earned or snatched away at a whim, but given freely, kindly, wholeheartedly.
It's also, mainly, a story about broken bonds, healing bonds, creating bonds; a story about friendships, and I absolutely would not want it any other way.
Jean's perfect for the Trojans, and the Trojans are perfect for Jean. I seriously wanted to start sobbing more than once, because oh god, found family as a trope will be the absolute death of me one day. My heart can't take it; and the way Nora writes found family? Absolutely crushing, absolutely masterful, absolutely brilliant.
I had high expectations for this book, and I was also worried that maybe after loving that feral, unhinged, complex, beautiful man that Neil Josten is, and his beatiful, complicated Foxes, for counts years eight, nine years now, I wouldn't be able to love a new AftG protagonist, and his new team, as much.
Oh boy, how glad I was to be wrong.
I'd literally die for Jean, but I'd also literally die for the other protagonist Nora has gifted us, Jeremy (my precious angel), and I'd also literally die for the whole Trojan team too, no exceptions (no okay, maybe one, but I'm okay with redemption arcs!).
Jean's head, his thoughts, his personality, his whole character was everything I expected it to be, and then some: awful, lonely, brutally unfair, traumatized and traumatizing; but also snarky and resilient and strong, and so damned brave and unexpectedly sweet, I wanted to tear my heart out. I also wanted to jump into the book, resuscite Riko, and get somebody (maybe Neil?) to murder him again. And also the whole of the Raven lineup; also that despicable, monstrous coach of theirs.
My precious son Jean, I loved him so damned much.
Seeing the Trojans through his eyes was a treat, and seeing the Foxes and especially Kevin and Neil through his eyes even more so. I had everything on my bingo card, but not
Also, I know this has been said a lot, but Jean's POV finally shows us (for real this time, fandom lore aside) what an unreliable narrator Neil was. Jean's not normal, by any standards, but his head is screwed on very differently from Neil's, and it definitely shows. My feral sons, my gangster sons, my traumatized baby girls, I love you so much?!
And it also shows how absolutely brilliant Nora was and is at character building, and at writing in general. Absolutely brilliant, no notes, chef kissing all around.
And here, all of the Trojans, even the ones that appear briefly, make a lasting impression: I loved them all to bits. And one Trojan in particular.
Jeremy Knox, where do I start with you? I haven't read much Jerejean fanfiction these past few years, because I try to steer clear of non-canon pairings to save my sanity. That Nora made Jeremy our other protagonist was already a dream come true. The fact that they're set up as love interests makes me want to pinch myself just to check it's true.
The thought of what (I'm assuming/hoping/crossing all my fingers and toes/praying/ready to sacrifice a few organs praying) will happen with them in the next book, them finally becoming canon, has my heart palpitating and in general, me wanting to jump on a roof to squeal from happiness. The signs are all there, the chemistry is DEFINITELY there, as is the attraction, the leaning on each other, the slow build-up to friendship, trust, happiness: Jean trusting Jeremy with his health, his safety, his words (and then, to come, his body and his heart) made me so, so, so happy, and I still cannot believe it is happening. I need Nora to confirm it though, because I fear this could be a mass hallucination.
Anyway, Jerejean aside.
Jeremy Knox, the man you are. The beautiful, silly, golden retriever, kind, gentle, generous man you are. He's the literal best. He's also, still, a bit of a mystery. Our captain here has a lot of hidden issues: I've just read a post on Tumblr where somebody said that Jeremy might have Mr. "I'm fine" Neil Josten, the king of deflection and avoidance, beat here. Something's going on with Jeremy, but he'll lie to himself and he absolutely won't shows us WHAT IS HAPPENING. Nope.
I fear the second book will crush us.
Anyway, I adored that man, I'd walk under a bus for him. He's silly and serious, funny and wacky and absolutely wonderful. He and Jean are a pairing of the ages, and I can't wait to get more of their interactions, of the bond slowly building between them.
< “If you say you deserved it, I’ll trip you,” Jeremy warned him. “You wouldn’t,” Jean returned. “Maybe not,” Jeremy allowed. “But I’ll think about it really hard.” >
And the other Trojans? The sunshine court indeed.
Laila and Cat: you're everything I hoped you'd be. Iconic, hilarious, absolutely wonderful. The way they were with Jean, fiercely protective, indignant and furious on his behalf, the easy way both Jeremy and them included him in their group, reminded me of how Dan was with Neil. Both Laila and Cat were unforgettable side characters, and I seriously cannot wait to have more time with them on page. I think I might have underlined half of the group interactions, but a few of these scenes will remain with my for months. Also, how I cackled. This book is definitely trauma packed, but the Trojans and their easy, just, kind, silly (THE FLOOZY LINE) demeanor gave the story a much needed lighter tones at times.
< “Sorry, sorry! His English is a little hit and miss still. That’s why you never see him talking to the press, you know?” She waggled her fingers at Jean to get his attention and said in as serious a tone as she could muster, “Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?” >
I loved this book, and I also loved how packed it is with parallels. The original AftG trilogy was absolutely teeming with them already, and god, this one just made everything even better. The Neil/Jean parallels (also @Nora, give us the Neil/Jean friendship we deserve!!!!!), the conversations between Jeremy and Jean giving me all the Andrew/Neil feels (including the deals, the "I'll have your back" conversation and the consent one too sniffles) (minus all the Neil cluelessness, and plus all the bisexual panic from Jean and the reluctant horniness/attraction from the both of them) ( )
< “Will you help me?” he asked. “Anything you need.” “A blank check is a dangerous thing to offer.” “Try me,” Jeremy said. “I can afford it.” >
I have so many more thoughts, and since I refuse to engage in fandom shenanigans just yet, I think I'll be adding to this review in the upcoming days and weeks (and years) just because.
Anyway, I loved this, and I need the second book LIKE AIR. I can't wait, I can't wait, I'm so excited I might cry.
Sorry for the rambling review friends, but this series is seriously my favourite thing.
TWs/CWs:
I've read "The Sunshine Court" twice in a row, and I'm still not sure what to say or where to begin.
I tried to keep the spoilers hidden, but just in case: some spoilers ahead.
My brain has been completely taken over by this book, and by this whole series (and to be fair, that isn't new, since it happens at least once or twice year; I swear it's like crack in book form), and it's been on a constant loop of giddy (and sometimes anguished; sometimes frustrated; sometimes unbelievably, ridiculously happy) squeals/screeches/screams since Monday.
I don't know how am I ever supposed to recover; maybe I should re-read it a third time? Or wait, maybe I should re-read the previous three books for the umpteenth time, and for the second time in *counts week* a month. Yep, a new record for me.
One thing I know I want to say is: thank you, Nora. Thank you for gifting us Jean's story. Thank you for not giving up on this series, this world, despite how ridiculous and obsessive, and sometimes mean and toxic, the fandom is. Thank you.
I still can't believe this story is in our hands, and not only that, we have A SECOND BOOK COMING? Special editions of AftG with shorts stories on the way?! I feel like these two things, the anticipation of them being in my grabby little hands in just a few months, have made my life infinitely more brighter.
Back to "The Sunshine Court" though. Where do I start?
This story was exactly what I was hoping for, but it also absolutely exceeded my already high expectations.
It's Jean's story, but it's also the Trojans' story.
It's a story of healing, of a boy who's finally able to start picking up the pieces of a tortured, unhappy life, who's starting to see, one small miracle at a time (thank you Renee, my queen), finally, slowly, torturously, that happiness and health and friendship and safety, and yes, even love, might be something that's not earned or snatched away at a whim, but given freely, kindly, wholeheartedly.
It's also, mainly, a story about broken bonds, healing bonds, creating bonds; a story about friendships, and I absolutely would not want it any other way.
Jean's perfect for the Trojans, and the Trojans are perfect for Jean. I seriously wanted to start sobbing more than once, because oh god, found family as a trope will be the absolute death of me one day. My heart can't take it; and the way Nora writes found family? Absolutely crushing, absolutely masterful, absolutely brilliant.
I had high expectations for this book, and I was also worried that maybe after loving that feral, unhinged, complex, beautiful man that Neil Josten is, and his beatiful, complicated Foxes, for counts years eight, nine years now, I wouldn't be able to love a new AftG protagonist, and his new team, as much.
Oh boy, how glad I was to be wrong.
I'd literally die for Jean, but I'd also literally die for the other protagonist Nora has gifted us, Jeremy (my precious angel), and I'd also literally die for the whole Trojan team too, no exceptions (no okay, maybe one, but I'm okay with redemption arcs!).
Jean's head, his thoughts, his personality, his whole character was everything I expected it to be, and then some: awful, lonely, brutally unfair, traumatized and traumatizing; but also snarky and resilient and strong, and so damned brave and unexpectedly sweet, I wanted to tear my heart out. I also wanted to jump into the book, resuscite Riko, and get somebody (maybe Neil?) to murder him again. And also the whole of the Raven lineup; also that despicable, monstrous coach of theirs.
My precious son Jean, I loved him so damned much.
Seeing the Trojans through his eyes was a treat, and seeing the Foxes and especially Kevin and Neil through his eyes even more so. I had everything on my bingo card, but not
Also, I know this has been said a lot, but Jean's POV finally shows us (for real this time, fandom lore aside) what an unreliable narrator Neil was. Jean's not normal, by any standards, but his head is screwed on very differently from Neil's, and it definitely shows. My feral sons, my gangster sons, my traumatized baby girls, I love you so much?!
And it also shows how absolutely brilliant Nora was and is at character building, and at writing in general. Absolutely brilliant, no notes, chef kissing all around.
And here, all of the Trojans, even the ones that appear briefly, make a lasting impression: I loved them all to bits. And one Trojan in particular.
Jeremy Knox, where do I start with you? I haven't read much Jerejean fanfiction these past few years, because I try to steer clear of non-canon pairings to save my sanity. That Nora made Jeremy our other protagonist was already a dream come true. The fact that they're set up as love interests makes me want to pinch myself just to check it's true.
The thought of what (I'm assuming/hoping/crossing all my fingers and toes/praying/ready to sacrifice a few organs praying) will happen with them in the next book, them finally becoming canon, has my heart palpitating and in general, me wanting to jump on a roof to squeal from happiness. The signs are all there, the chemistry is DEFINITELY there, as is the attraction, the leaning on each other, the slow build-up to friendship, trust, happiness: Jean trusting Jeremy with his health, his safety, his words (and then, to come, his body and his heart) made me so, so, so happy, and I still cannot believe it is happening. I need Nora to confirm it though, because I fear this could be a mass hallucination.
Anyway, Jerejean aside.
Jeremy Knox, the man you are. The beautiful, silly, golden retriever, kind, gentle, generous man you are. He's the literal best. He's also, still, a bit of a mystery. Our captain here has a lot of hidden issues: I've just read a post on Tumblr where somebody said that Jeremy might have Mr. "I'm fine" Neil Josten, the king of deflection and avoidance, beat here. Something's going on with Jeremy, but he'll lie to himself and he absolutely won't shows us WHAT IS HAPPENING. Nope.
I fear the second book will crush us.
Anyway, I adored that man, I'd walk under a bus for him. He's silly and serious, funny and wacky and absolutely wonderful. He and Jean are a pairing of the ages, and I can't wait to get more of their interactions, of the bond slowly building between them.
< “If you say you deserved it, I’ll trip you,” Jeremy warned him. “You wouldn’t,” Jean returned. “Maybe not,” Jeremy allowed. “But I’ll think about it really hard.” >
And the other Trojans? The sunshine court indeed.
Laila and Cat: you're everything I hoped you'd be. Iconic, hilarious, absolutely wonderful. The way they were with Jean, fiercely protective, indignant and furious on his behalf, the easy way both Jeremy and them included him in their group, reminded me of how Dan was with Neil. Both Laila and Cat were unforgettable side characters, and I seriously cannot wait to have more time with them on page. I think I might have underlined half of the group interactions, but a few of these scenes will remain with my for months. Also, how I cackled. This book is definitely trauma packed, but the Trojans and their easy, just, kind, silly (THE FLOOZY LINE) demeanor gave the story a much needed lighter tones at times.
< “Sorry, sorry! His English is a little hit and miss still. That’s why you never see him talking to the press, you know?” She waggled her fingers at Jean to get his attention and said in as serious a tone as she could muster, “Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?” >
I loved this book, and I also loved how packed it is with parallels. The original AftG trilogy was absolutely teeming with them already, and god, this one just made everything even better. The Neil/Jean parallels (also @Nora, give us the Neil/Jean friendship we deserve!!!!!), the conversations between Jeremy and Jean giving me all the Andrew/Neil feels (including the deals, the "I'll have your back" conversation and the consent one too sniffles) (minus all the Neil cluelessness, and plus all the bisexual panic from Jean and the reluctant horniness/attraction from the both of them) ( )
< “Will you help me?” he asked. “Anything you need.” “A blank check is a dangerous thing to offer.” “Try me,” Jeremy said. “I can afford it.” >
I have so many more thoughts, and since I refuse to engage in fandom shenanigans just yet, I think I'll be adding to this review in the upcoming days and weeks (and years) just because.
Anyway, I loved this, and I need the second book LIKE AIR. I can't wait, I can't wait, I'm so excited I might cry.
Sorry for the rambling review friends, but this series is seriously my favourite thing.
TWs/CWs:
May 18, 2024
jean moreau my poor little croissant i love you so
May 6, 2024
It’s been more than ten years since The Foxhole Court was first published, and we all know how late additions to previously completed series tend to go. That is to say I’m amazed at how perfect and true to the originals The Sunshine Court was, even with the complete shift from Neil’s narration to a new dual POV between Jeremy & Jean. Dare I even say this was the best AFTG book yet? I don’t think it’s much of a stretch with how heart-wrenchingly jean’s trauma has been laid out, and how carefully his slow journey to healing is being articulated, with no sparing of ups or downs and an incredible support system surrounding him.
To me, Jean’s story is somehow even more sorrowful than Andrew’s, Neil’s or Kevin’s. That’s something I never thought I’d say, but the juxtaposition of Neil having excessive boundaries surrounding his trauma, while Jean has nearly none because it’s the only way he can bear the pain? Oh I’m a mess. And Jeremy…. the ‘sunshine’ court being his team’s nickname can surely be attributed to him, Laila and Cat, because the careful kindness they showed Jean as he struggled to, but finally (with their help) accepted that he didn’t deserve the Ravens’ abuse broke my heart in a good way. Jean experiencing true friendships paired with kind words and affection for the first time really meant the world to me. I felt like I was on the verge of tears for Jean for almost this entire book (cried in a few places too), but the emotional whiplash all felt worth it as he began opening up little by little to not only those around him, but to himself. The self-deprecating lies he’d forced himself to believe in order to make sense of the abuse he’d endured were finally crumbling, and I was beyond overjoyed seeing Jeremy and the others work him through parts of it. I’m rambling so much but god, Jean has my heart and I loved this book so very much.
Then there’s Jean and Jeremy and their very unsubtle (and sickeningly sweet) pining for one another. I know these two both have their reasons not to make a move, but the trajectory of their relationship is abundantly more clear than it was for Neil and Andrew in TFC. Jeremy’s care for Jean’s well-being is unabashed and at times, painful. He wants more than anything to see Jean heal from his unspeakable trauma, and he refuses to give up the fight even when things seem impossible. On the other hand, Jean’s care for Jeremy is the unspoken kind; Jeremy is one of the only people who’s shown Jean an ounce of kindness, and the unfamiliarity of it all means he can’t help the urge to fight against Jeremy’s tender heart. Their attraction to each other is undeniable despite all of the pain lingering between them, and I’m so excited to see how they’ll come together in the next book (I can’t believe we’re getting another)!
This is one of the most rambly reviews I’ve written in a long time, but forgive me, I just finished TSC a couple minutes ago and the emotions are still fresh. I’ll probably fix this review up tomorrow and add a bit more when my thoughts are more settled. Either way, what a fantastic book, and a more-than-worthy addition to the beloved AFTG series.
Before reading
I feel like this was announced yesterday, what do you mean it’s already out?? Thankfully my last exam is tomorrow; its time for a summer AFTG reread so i can get into this asap!! so excited :P
Just when I thought my years-long Foxhole Court phase was over, I find out about this.
-and it's Jean's story. With dual POVs. Meaning Jeremy???
Lord help this fandom, it's over for us. (I'm insanely excited)
To me, Jean’s story is somehow even more sorrowful than Andrew’s, Neil’s or Kevin’s. That’s something I never thought I’d say, but the juxtaposition of Neil having excessive boundaries surrounding his trauma, while Jean has nearly none because it’s the only way he can bear the pain? Oh I’m a mess. And Jeremy…. the ‘sunshine’ court being his team’s nickname can surely be attributed to him, Laila and Cat, because the careful kindness they showed Jean as he struggled to, but finally (with their help) accepted that he didn’t deserve the Ravens’ abuse broke my heart in a good way. Jean experiencing true friendships paired with kind words and affection for the first time really meant the world to me. I felt like I was on the verge of tears for Jean for almost this entire book (cried in a few places too), but the emotional whiplash all felt worth it as he began opening up little by little to not only those around him, but to himself. The self-deprecating lies he’d forced himself to believe in order to make sense of the abuse he’d endured were finally crumbling, and I was beyond overjoyed seeing Jeremy and the others work him through parts of it. I’m rambling so much but god, Jean has my heart and I loved this book so very much.
Then there’s Jean and Jeremy and their very unsubtle (and sickeningly sweet) pining for one another. I know these two both have their reasons not to make a move, but the trajectory of their relationship is abundantly more clear than it was for Neil and Andrew in TFC. Jeremy’s care for Jean’s well-being is unabashed and at times, painful. He wants more than anything to see Jean heal from his unspeakable trauma, and he refuses to give up the fight even when things seem impossible. On the other hand, Jean’s care for Jeremy is the unspoken kind; Jeremy is one of the only people who’s shown Jean an ounce of kindness, and the unfamiliarity of it all means he can’t help the urge to fight against Jeremy’s tender heart. Their attraction to each other is undeniable despite all of the pain lingering between them, and I’m so excited to see how they’ll come together in the next book (I can’t believe we’re getting another)!
This is one of the most rambly reviews I’ve written in a long time, but forgive me, I just finished TSC a couple minutes ago and the emotions are still fresh. I’ll probably fix this review up tomorrow and add a bit more when my thoughts are more settled. Either way, what a fantastic book, and a more-than-worthy addition to the beloved AFTG series.
Before reading
I feel like this was announced yesterday, what do you mean it’s already out?? Thankfully my last exam is tomorrow; its time for a summer AFTG reread so i can get into this asap!! so excited :P
Just when I thought my years-long Foxhole Court phase was over, I find out about this.
-and it's Jean's story. With dual POVs. Meaning Jeremy???
Lord help this fandom, it's over for us. (I'm insanely excited)
April 15, 2024
prereview:
RTC WHEN I STOP CRYING AND BEATING MY HEAD INTO A WALL! NORA YOU DID AGAIN, AND I AM A MASOCHIST TO KEEP COMING BACK FOR MORE!
P.S. If anyone even breathes in Jean's direction in a way that I don't like, I am going to get violent. It cannot be helped.
______________________
preread: THE DAY HAS FINALLY COME AND YES THIS WILL BE MY ENTIRE PERSONALITY!
______________________
*deep breath* *SCREAMS!* One day away! I repeat! ONE DAY AWAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!
______________________
THIS IS MY BATMAN! THIS IS MY DUNE! THIS IS MY ROMAN EMPIRE! THIS IS MY ASDFGHJKLDHDJHDJSHGKJHFADDKF!
APRIL 13TH CANNOT COME SOON ENOUGH!
RTC WHEN I STOP CRYING AND BEATING MY HEAD INTO A WALL! NORA YOU DID AGAIN, AND I AM A MASOCHIST TO KEEP COMING BACK FOR MORE!
P.S. If anyone even breathes in Jean's direction in a way that I don't like, I am going to get violent. It cannot be helped.
______________________
preread: THE DAY HAS FINALLY COME AND YES THIS WILL BE MY ENTIRE PERSONALITY!
______________________
*deep breath* *SCREAMS!* One day away! I repeat! ONE DAY AWAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!
______________________
THIS IS MY BATMAN! THIS IS MY DUNE! THIS IS MY ROMAN EMPIRE! THIS IS MY ASDFGHJKLDHDJHDJSHGKJHFADDKF!
APRIL 13TH CANNOT COME SOON ENOUGH!
April 14, 2024
[CAR CRASH] [BOOM] “GOOD GOD” [EXPLOSION] BABY CRYING "WAAAAAAA" [YELLING] “SHUT THAT DAMN BABY UP!” [POLICE SIRENS] WEEE WOO WEEE WOOO [HELICOPTERS AND NEWS TRUCKS] [BANG] “MY LEG.... MY LEG...” [LOUD COMMOTION]
May 20, 2024
ugly cover, dramatic writing, horrifyingly sports-obsessed gay people... real literature is back
3.5 short rtc
3.5 short rtc
April 22, 2024
I was generally scared to read this because I knew it was going to tear me apart. And Well, yeah, It did. I originally thought this book was going to take place directly after the third one. But I’m glad that it didn’t. I liked going back to the relationship Jean formed with Renee and also hints at his life with Kevin when they were both with the Ravens. I was so happy when I figured out that we got both Jeremy and Jean's perspective. It was nice getting to see both of their thoughts and how they saw each other. Jeremy is so freaking sweet! He is the absolute best person Jean could have been put with, and I’m excited (and tbh a little scared) to see where their story goes. I also loved Cat and Laila, they're always there to clear up a bad mood and are open to listening, they’re just completely awesome. The only thing is, I get confused with a lot of characters sometimes but I think at the end I figured everything out. Despite how frankly gut-wrenching this book was I still tried to read it as slow as possible because I never expected we would actually get a fourth book and I didn’t want it to end :,)
(4.5)!!
(4.5)!!
April 14, 2024
loved this one so much my heart aches (with intention of killing myself)
April 20, 2024
4.5 Gut Wrenching Stars
Edit: You know what add Lucas to my hit list too I don't know how I forgot about that spineless fool
Before I start I want to apologize to Kevin. I am sorry I called you a bitch for being so afraid of Riko that you refused to remove his number from your face. In my defense i didn't know all the extent of the shit they went through in the nest.
Am gonna write a proper review at a later date when I get my feelings in order. But for now here were my thoughts while reading this book.
Well turns out I was right. This book did in fact ruin me. So you know that's great 😀👍🏻This book was traumatizing to say the least the hits just kept on coming like damn my baby Jean has been through so much that this was his first thought when someone treated him with a little bit of kindness,
“Surely this was an act, the carrot before the stick, a way of getting past his guard so they could use whatever they found on the other side. It had to be an act”
"He wants to know what it was for. The thought came out of nowhere, nearly turning his stomach inside-out."
The way he just wanted to know if it was all worth it at the end 😭 Why are you doing this to me?? 😭😭 I had to throw my kindle away when i read that.
“The memory of Zane turning his back on them with an impatient, “At least keep it down. I’ve got to be on the court in two hours,” was still devastating enough to make him ill four months later."
Death to Zane. Let me not catch you in these streets you stupid whore.
“Not Grayson,” Jean stressed, and was not above adding a desperate, “Please.” Begging had never saved him from Riko’s cruelty, but Riko still liked to hear it.”
I did not think it was a possibility to hate someone as much as I hate this sadistic bastard. If you were not dead already I would have hunted you down you little bitch.
“I don’t want to crowd you.” “You are not them,” Jean said. “Kevin would not have sent me here if you were.” 🫠
“If I ever make you uncomfortable or make you feel unsafe, will you promise to tell me? If you don’t trust me enough to tell me what’s wrong and why, at least trust me enough to tell me that something is wrong. I can’t fix things if I don’t know there’s a problem. As your captain and your partner, don’t I at least deserve the chance to not be a villain in your story?”
Jean favored him with a pitying look. “You are the captain of the sunshine court. In no universe could you be anyone’s villain.” 🫠
JEREMY AND JEAN!!!! My babiesss!!!!
“Endure, he warned himself, and on its tail-end came a desperate How much must I?”
NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! Why are you doing this to me??? TAke me off am DONE!!
“A cool evening breeze. Rainbows. Open roads. Teammates. But that last wasn’t quite right” [...] Friends? [..] “Friends, he thought again, and this time it almost felt real."
_____________
Pre Read:
“Jean Moreau came back to himself in pieces, dragging himself together as he had a thousand mornings before.”
This is the first sentence??? I just know this book is going to ruin me 😭
Edit: You know what add Lucas to my hit list too I don't know how I forgot about that spineless fool
Before I start I want to apologize to Kevin. I am sorry I called you a bitch for being so afraid of Riko that you refused to remove his number from your face. In my defense i didn't know all the extent of the shit they went through in the nest.
Am gonna write a proper review at a later date when I get my feelings in order. But for now here were my thoughts while reading this book.
Well turns out I was right. This book did in fact ruin me. So you know that's great 😀👍🏻This book was traumatizing to say the least the hits just kept on coming like damn my baby Jean has been through so much that this was his first thought when someone treated him with a little bit of kindness,
“Surely this was an act, the carrot before the stick, a way of getting past his guard so they could use whatever they found on the other side. It had to be an act”
"He wants to know what it was for. The thought came out of nowhere, nearly turning his stomach inside-out."
The way he just wanted to know if it was all worth it at the end 😭 Why are you doing this to me?? 😭😭 I had to throw my kindle away when i read that.
“The memory of Zane turning his back on them with an impatient, “At least keep it down. I’ve got to be on the court in two hours,” was still devastating enough to make him ill four months later."
Death to Zane. Let me not catch you in these streets you stupid whore.
“Not Grayson,” Jean stressed, and was not above adding a desperate, “Please.” Begging had never saved him from Riko’s cruelty, but Riko still liked to hear it.”
I did not think it was a possibility to hate someone as much as I hate this sadistic bastard. If you were not dead already I would have hunted you down you little bitch.
“I don’t want to crowd you.” “You are not them,” Jean said. “Kevin would not have sent me here if you were.” 🫠
“If I ever make you uncomfortable or make you feel unsafe, will you promise to tell me? If you don’t trust me enough to tell me what’s wrong and why, at least trust me enough to tell me that something is wrong. I can’t fix things if I don’t know there’s a problem. As your captain and your partner, don’t I at least deserve the chance to not be a villain in your story?”
Jean favored him with a pitying look. “You are the captain of the sunshine court. In no universe could you be anyone’s villain.” 🫠
JEREMY AND JEAN!!!! My babiesss!!!!
“Endure, he warned himself, and on its tail-end came a desperate How much must I?”
NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! Why are you doing this to me??? TAke me off am DONE!!
“A cool evening breeze. Rainbows. Open roads. Teammates. But that last wasn’t quite right” [...] Friends? [..] “Friends, he thought again, and this time it almost felt real."
_____________
Pre Read:
“Jean Moreau came back to himself in pieces, dragging himself together as he had a thousand mornings before.”
This is the first sentence??? I just know this book is going to ruin me 😭
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to read
April 13, 2024it's April 2024, the sun is back and so is AFTG. the world is healing.
Want to read
April 13, 2024I know many people on goodreads might be like: "What's this?"
But people like me who've been a die hard fan of the AFTG series for years might feel this reaction on a spiritual level:
*screaming, crying, throwing up, hyperventilating into a paper bag, kicking my feet in the air*
I'm fine.
But people like me who've been a die hard fan of the AFTG series for years might feel this reaction on a spiritual level:
*screaming, crying, throwing up, hyperventilating into a paper bag, kicking my feet in the air*
I'm fine.
Want to read
April 12, 20243.4.2024.
if the cover is not ugly like the rest of them then i don't want it
update 12.4.2024.
good
if the cover is not ugly like the rest of them then i don't want it
update 12.4.2024.
good
May 15, 2024
Thank u nora i can finally die
May 1, 2024
3.5 - Honestly the thing that stood out the most to me while reading TSC was how much potential Neil and Jean have as a couple. I never shipped them until reading this, but omg that has changed. If anyone has any good fic recs about a “Nathaniel”/Jean AU where they were raised in the Nest together, please send them my way 🙏🏻 Them being Raven partners, while having such opposite personalities like ughh thee potential… my eyes have been opened!!
As for the actual story, I feel like you could tell this wasn’t supposed to be two books (or multiple books - I wouldn’t be surprised if it ends up being a trilogy). It had poor pacing and felt like it lost itself in the middle especially. Aside from Jean, the characters felt pretty flat to me. I was excited for a dual POV, but honestly I didn’t think Jeremy’s added all that much in the end. I also thought the Trojans were pretty tactless and pushy about helping Jean. I get that they’re college kids and not professionals, but… It felt so forced to me at times. I’m hoping the next book will change my thoughts on all of this.
That being said, I’m still invested in Jean’s story and am eagerly awaiting the next book. I liked him as the new AFTG protagonist and I love healing journeys in fiction. He is the perfect foil to Neil. I’m glad to be back in this world with new canon content, but it wasn’t the 5 star read that I was anticipating it would be. Hopefully book two is stronger and maybe I’ll be more forgiving on this one once I have the full picture.
I do also feel like this is a bit of a “don’t look a gifted horse in the mouth” moment because, while I do have criticisms about TSC, ultimately I’m just happy it even exists. I would’ve never guessed the original trilogy would eventually get a fourth book and AFTG is a forever favorite of mine sooo yeah. I’m happy to be here despite the rating lol
As for the actual story, I feel like you could tell this wasn’t supposed to be two books (or multiple books - I wouldn’t be surprised if it ends up being a trilogy). It had poor pacing and felt like it lost itself in the middle especially. Aside from Jean, the characters felt pretty flat to me. I was excited for a dual POV, but honestly I didn’t think Jeremy’s added all that much in the end. I also thought the Trojans were pretty tactless and pushy about helping Jean. I get that they’re college kids and not professionals, but… It felt so forced to me at times. I’m hoping the next book will change my thoughts on all of this.
That being said, I’m still invested in Jean’s story and am eagerly awaiting the next book. I liked him as the new AFTG protagonist and I love healing journeys in fiction. He is the perfect foil to Neil. I’m glad to be back in this world with new canon content, but it wasn’t the 5 star read that I was anticipating it would be. Hopefully book two is stronger and maybe I’ll be more forgiving on this one once I have the full picture.
I do also feel like this is a bit of a “don’t look a gifted horse in the mouth” moment because, while I do have criticisms about TSC, ultimately I’m just happy it even exists. I would’ve never guessed the original trilogy would eventually get a fourth book and AFTG is a forever favorite of mine sooo yeah. I’m happy to be here despite the rating lol
April 17, 2024
Nostalgia fueled me while reading the book, and it’s what made me give it two stars out of pity at the beginning, but I cannot leave it like that, not in good conscience. So back to one star it goes.
I don’t even know where to start with this review, but I don’t think it’ll be spoiler free.
First of all I should say I was never interested in the part of the fandom that created the personalities of a whole new team out of a couple mentions in the last few chapters of The King’s Men, and when I saw that Nora Sakavic wished to go back to a series she claimed she’d never write again I was curious but very wary, and with good reason.
Her idea was to take Jean Moreau — a character that had died in every single draft of the original trilogy and had survived living in a literal cult only in the final one — and give him the healing journey he deserved. Did he get that? No, because while writing she decided she had to publish something on her self imposed deadline, and all that didn’t fit in one book would go into a new one. The same way I would put period, enter key and write a new paragraph. That is a problem that could have been easily solved by having a little patience and someone willing to tell her to cut the unnecessary stuff.
The whole premise of the book hinged on the idea, suggested in The King’s Men, that Jean would never be able to fit in with the PSU Foxes - while that is not at all what is presented here, where even after he’s saved from the Nest he isn’t asked his insight or informed opinion before Kevin asks the captain of a team on the other side of the country to take Jean off of his hands. So Jean has to, once again, eradicate his life, away from the (very minimal!!!) support system he was building with Renee and Dobson and a whole team of people that understood the trauma he had endured, some of whom also knew it intimately from first hand experience, and go play for a team that cannot understand him, forced to lie and hide lest they find out the ugly truth behind the Ravens and his role in that team. How is he supposed to heal in these conditions?
The USC team, and especially the three players he spends the most time with, have no qualms when it comes to push and corner what they recognise to be a very traumatised person into choked confessions and then spend the evening gossiping about the secrets they can extort from him. In comparison the ragtag team of dysfunctional Foxes is an emblem of tact and respect when we compare how they treated Neil in the first book, even when they simply thought him to be a skittish person that loved his privacy and not a known cult survivor. But let’s move on.
The exposition problem the AFTG original trilogy has is exacerbated here, where the first 35% is a summary of the last chapters in The King’s Men, and most of the rest is someone triggering Jean’s flashbacks. Whenever something happens the scene is either glossed over or described in painstaking detail . but only when those details don't matter (I swear the whole paragraph with the tv remote is the reason I have grays). We’ve been told Jean and the two (three) roommates are friends instead of being shown a developing rapport (and no, the shopping trips we don’t see and the cooking sessions mentioned en passant don’t count if we weren’t in the right pov to witness them) and god, the way they use every single occasion to push and push and push with no remorse made me hate every single one of them. That is not how good friends behave.
Now, technically this book has two protagonists, but we’ve been given an inkling to Jeremy’s problems in his pov chapters that don’t add anything to the book except for lots of questions; apparently they were only there to give the audience an inch to hold on to until the next book is out, and honestly that inch could have been given even in passing conversations or observations from Jean’s pov instead of taking a lot of space that leaves you with a bitter taste in your mouth.
The book goes on and on and on and literally nothing of note happens except for in the last two chapters where Sakavic recycles a storyline from the second book of the trilogy (thus proving my theory that if she doesn’t pile trauma upon a person the one they’ve suffered in the past is not enough to justify healing - they need ANOTHER catharsys on top of everything else) and reintroduces a beloved character in the last chapter to shoulder the weight of a shred of plot (which I’m choosing not to blow holes into just because I was so glad to finally see someone do something for a change).
The thing about this book and the way it relates to the original trilogy is that Jean and Neil are presented as foils of each other, so it makes sense that their stories are parallel in a way. Theoretically Jean is living the what-if life Neil always wondered about in his youth. What if he had been sold to the Ravens as a kid? What if he’d been a champion? What if he’d been Perfect Court?
But The Sunshine Court and the way it’s set up reads so much like the Foxhole Court without the compelling characters or something driving the story along that it makes me wonder whether the author had an actual story to tell after all, or if she simply saw how beloved some characters were and decided she wanted a share of it by writing what reads like fanfiction of her own books.
In short, this novel feels like a prologue to a story and despite everything I’m still interested in knowing what that story is; I will still read the next one because by now I’m beholden to this series, but I will probably complain about it, as is my right.
(Don’t think I haven’t noticed you, random account created the other day that keeps on shitting on negative reviews but hasn’t even posted one of their own.)
I don’t even know where to start with this review, but I don’t think it’ll be spoiler free.
First of all I should say I was never interested in the part of the fandom that created the personalities of a whole new team out of a couple mentions in the last few chapters of The King’s Men, and when I saw that Nora Sakavic wished to go back to a series she claimed she’d never write again I was curious but very wary, and with good reason.
Her idea was to take Jean Moreau — a character that had died in every single draft of the original trilogy and had survived living in a literal cult only in the final one — and give him the healing journey he deserved. Did he get that? No, because while writing she decided she had to publish something on her self imposed deadline, and all that didn’t fit in one book would go into a new one. The same way I would put period, enter key and write a new paragraph. That is a problem that could have been easily solved by having a little patience and someone willing to tell her to cut the unnecessary stuff.
The whole premise of the book hinged on the idea, suggested in The King’s Men, that Jean would never be able to fit in with the PSU Foxes - while that is not at all what is presented here, where even after he’s saved from the Nest he isn’t asked his insight or informed opinion before Kevin asks the captain of a team on the other side of the country to take Jean off of his hands. So Jean has to, once again, eradicate his life, away from the (very minimal!!!) support system he was building with Renee and Dobson and a whole team of people that understood the trauma he had endured, some of whom also knew it intimately from first hand experience, and go play for a team that cannot understand him, forced to lie and hide lest they find out the ugly truth behind the Ravens and his role in that team. How is he supposed to heal in these conditions?
The USC team, and especially the three players he spends the most time with, have no qualms when it comes to push and corner what they recognise to be a very traumatised person into choked confessions and then spend the evening gossiping about the secrets they can extort from him. In comparison the ragtag team of dysfunctional Foxes is an emblem of tact and respect when we compare how they treated Neil in the first book, even when they simply thought him to be a skittish person that loved his privacy and not a known cult survivor. But let’s move on.
The exposition problem the AFTG original trilogy has is exacerbated here, where the first 35% is a summary of the last chapters in The King’s Men, and most of the rest is someone triggering Jean’s flashbacks. Whenever something happens the scene is either glossed over or described in painstaking detail . but only when those details don't matter (I swear the whole paragraph with the tv remote is the reason I have grays). We’ve been told Jean and the two (three) roommates are friends instead of being shown a developing rapport (and no, the shopping trips we don’t see and the cooking sessions mentioned en passant don’t count if we weren’t in the right pov to witness them) and god, the way they use every single occasion to push and push and push with no remorse made me hate every single one of them. That is not how good friends behave.
Now, technically this book has two protagonists, but we’ve been given an inkling to Jeremy’s problems in his pov chapters that don’t add anything to the book except for lots of questions; apparently they were only there to give the audience an inch to hold on to until the next book is out, and honestly that inch could have been given even in passing conversations or observations from Jean’s pov instead of taking a lot of space that leaves you with a bitter taste in your mouth.
The book goes on and on and on and literally nothing of note happens except for in the last two chapters where Sakavic recycles a storyline from the second book of the trilogy (thus proving my theory that if she doesn’t pile trauma upon a person the one they’ve suffered in the past is not enough to justify healing - they need ANOTHER catharsys on top of everything else) and reintroduces a beloved character in the last chapter to shoulder the weight of a shred of plot (which I’m choosing not to blow holes into just because I was so glad to finally see someone do something for a change).
The thing about this book and the way it relates to the original trilogy is that Jean and Neil are presented as foils of each other, so it makes sense that their stories are parallel in a way. Theoretically Jean is living the what-if life Neil always wondered about in his youth. What if he had been sold to the Ravens as a kid? What if he’d been a champion? What if he’d been Perfect Court?
But The Sunshine Court and the way it’s set up reads so much like the Foxhole Court without the compelling characters or something driving the story along that it makes me wonder whether the author had an actual story to tell after all, or if she simply saw how beloved some characters were and decided she wanted a share of it by writing what reads like fanfiction of her own books.
In short, this novel feels like a prologue to a story and despite everything I’m still interested in knowing what that story is; I will still read the next one because by now I’m beholden to this series, but I will probably complain about it, as is my right.
(Don’t think I haven’t noticed you, random account created the other day that keeps on shitting on negative reviews but hasn’t even posted one of their own.)
April 14, 2024
“I am Jean Moreau,” he told her. “I have always gotten exactly what I deserve.”
rating: 4.25
jean moreau, let me give you a hug and keep you safe my beautiful boy 🥲 the journey of this book was painful but necessary. the sad but very real fallout from the collapse of a toxic establishment and the people who were left behind to try to pick up their own pieces.
“As your captain and your partner, don’t I at least deserve the chance to not be a villain in your story?”
“You are the captain of the sunshine court. In no universe could you be anyone’s villain.”
jeremy gave me all the sunshiney golden retriever energy, but i'm really hoping for more of him in book 2. the subtle tension and snippets between jean and jeremy FED US thank you nora.
jean's zingers really got me as well:
“Permission to break his face, Coach?” Jean asked.
“Denied,” White said.
i really hope we get to see jean starting not only healing but further coming into himself the next book and find joy.
Friends, he thought again, and this time it almost felt real.
rating: 4.25
jean moreau, let me give you a hug and keep you safe my beautiful boy 🥲 the journey of this book was painful but necessary. the sad but very real fallout from the collapse of a toxic establishment and the people who were left behind to try to pick up their own pieces.
“As your captain and your partner, don’t I at least deserve the chance to not be a villain in your story?”
“You are the captain of the sunshine court. In no universe could you be anyone’s villain.”
jeremy gave me all the sunshiney golden retriever energy, but i'm really hoping for more of him in book 2. the subtle tension and snippets between jean and jeremy FED US thank you nora.
jean's zingers really got me as well:
“Permission to break his face, Coach?” Jean asked.
“Denied,” White said.
i really hope we get to see jean starting not only healing but further coming into himself the next book and find joy.
Friends, he thought again, and this time it almost felt real.
April 21, 2024
how it feels to be reading aftg books in 2024..... we are so fucking back
April 26, 2024
BRAVO!!!! I’m amazed, speechless, utterly in love!
The magic of this series continues on.
I can’t tell you how much this book made me happy. The book delivered in every possible way.
It was better than expected. Better than I could have dreamed of.
It even had some really great glimpses of Neil, and one awesome one of Andrew and Neil ♡ I live for those!!!!
And I’m hoping, I’m daring to hope, that this is just the beginning. It feels like more books are coming.
ooh, I'm very exited about this - but secretly wishing it was a Andrew and Neil book 🦊
The magic of this series continues on.
I can’t tell you how much this book made me happy. The book delivered in every possible way.
It was better than expected. Better than I could have dreamed of.
It even had some really great glimpses of Neil, and one awesome one of Andrew and Neil ♡ I live for those!!!!
And I’m hoping, I’m daring to hope, that this is just the beginning. It feels like more books are coming.
ooh, I'm very exited about this - but secretly wishing it was a Andrew and Neil book 🦊
April 15, 2024
The pace is snail-slow; the dialogue pretentious; the descriptions unfollowable; the backstories absurd; the characters brain-washed. We are SO back!!
April 20, 2024
OMFG YOU’RE NOT A PIPE DREAM… Jean I love you so much
April 23, 2024
23/04/2024
RTC
UPDATE 3
I had a dream about it. It’s that ingrained in my brain. Can’t get it soon enough!
UPDATE 2
April 13 it is, Trojansss! You don’t understand how excited I am😭.
UPDATE
we're getting TWO BOOKS, FOXESSSS!
I still can't believe this is real. I feel like I'm in a fever dream and am going to wake up any time now. Please don't wake me up.
RTC
UPDATE 3
I had a dream about it. It’s that ingrained in my brain. Can’t get it soon enough!
UPDATE 2
April 13 it is, Trojansss! You don’t understand how excited I am😭.
UPDATE
we're getting TWO BOOKS, FOXESSSS!
I still can't believe this is real. I feel like I'm in a fever dream and am going to wake up any time now. Please don't wake me up.
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