Readers describe "The Wall of Winnipeg and Me" as a slow burn romance novel featuring a personal assistant, Vanessa, to a football player, Aiden. The story revolves around their unique relationship dynamics, starting with a fake marriage for a green card. The plot is engaging, focusing on the character development of Vanessa and Aiden, showcasing their growth and flaws throughout the novel. The writing style is immersive, with constant pacing and well-thought-out interactions between the characters, making it easy for readers to get involved in the story.

Characters:

The characters include Vanessa, a strong but sometimes passive heroine, and Aiden, a gruff protagonist who experiences growth, with secondary characters adding some depth.

Writing/Prose:

The prose is characterized by extensive inner monologue and detail, with opinions polarized on its engagement, making it lengthy and sometimes repetitive.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative follows a slow burn romance built around a personal assistant and a professional football player, highlighting a marriage of convenience that develops as their relationship evolves.

Setting:

The setting is contemporary and revolves around the sports industry, specifically American football.

Pacing:

The pacing is notably slow, often prioritizing dialogue over action, leading to mixed feelings about its effectiveness in character development.

“Aiden,” I grumbled, even though I knew better. Grumbling only got me the look—that infamous, condescending expression that had gotten Aiden into more than one fight in the past. Or so I’d been told. ...

Notes:

The Wall of Winnipeg and Me features a personal assistant named Vanessa Mazur who works for Aiden Graves, a professional football player.

The plot revolves around a slow-burn romance and a marriage of convenience between the two main characters.

The book is notable for its long length, with many reviewers remarking it could have been shorter while maintaining the slow burn.

A common criticism of the book is the repetitiveness of the protagonist's inner monologues, which some readers found boring or irritating.

Many readers appreciated the character development of Vanessa and Aiden, noting how they grow closer over time despite a rocky start.

Aiden Graves is often described as aloof and grumpy, which adds to the tension in their relationship.

The relationship includes a lack of physical intimacy for much of the story, with some readers frustrated by the slow build-up.

Readers felt the pay-off at the end of the book, specifically the final romantic scene, was rushed compared to the build-up.

The book explores themes of personal growth, family dynamics, and the importance of communication in relationships.

The author, Mariana Zapata, is often referred to as the queen of slow-burn romance, which is a hallmark of her writing style.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings for the book include references to child abuse and alcoholism, which may be triggering for some readers.

Has Romance?

Romance is a significant aspect of The Wall of Winnipeg and Me, with a strong presence throughout the plot as the characters navigate their complex relationship.

implied steam level

From The Publisher:

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 even 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?

Ratings (210)

Incredible (47)
Loved It (84)
Liked It (38)
It Was OK (26)
Did Not Like (13)
Hated It (2)

Reader Stats (329):

Read It (213)
Currently Reading (1)
Want To Read (82)
Did Not Finish (10)
Not Interested (23)

1 comment(s)

lulareviewla

Loved It

3 months

I'm not a sports fan—I know no terminology and have no clue as to positions or rules—so I wasn't sure if I would enjoy this book based on how much "sports" would be included. I shouldn't have worried because Zapata did a great job of conveying the love of the sport to the reader without them needing to hold any previous knowledge.

The characters developed nicely, as well as the relationship between them. They were believable, sharing enough interactions, emotions, and time to make their feelings seem valid and compelling. One of my biggest pet peeves in a book that contains romance is having seemingly no reason for the character to feel the way they do. Zapata showed the relationship progress through each stage perfectly.

Contrary to many reviewer's opinions, Aiden was not the most swoon-worthy male lead to me. I found nothing wrong with him, but the general archetype of his character is not my favorite—I can never seem to get inside their heads and sympathize with them. I did enjoy his relationship with Vanessa, however, which is all that matters, I suppose.

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The Wall of Winnipeg and Me

Mariana Zapata