I liked this more once the actual romance started picking up! I'd heard Zapata has more of a reputation for being a slow-burn author, but I think I've pinpointed exactly what made this book feel TOO long in terms of page count — the fact that Vanessa and Aiden seemed to have the same conversation multiple times, often within the same scene. Trimming out those repetitive instances of dialogue, introspection, and/or circular arguments between them probably would've made the book's pace a bit tighter. I do think the slow-burn romance served the story well in this particular instance, but some of Aiden's emotional repression read more as indifference at first, and I need my love interests to start showing some <i>interest</i> a little sooner, thank you! (Also, a few too many instances of him telling her to "shut up," tbh.)

That said, once those big emotional moments started dropping I was way more invested in the progression, and any marriage-of-convenience tropes are things I'm going to eat up with a spoon. This one definitely has quite a few CWs attached including familial abuse (past, recounted on-page), and partner abuse (side character), so just tread into this one with caution if you're more sensitive to those topics.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this edition from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Oh man is this a slow burn but so so worth it! This is a romance with a teeny tiny bit of spice (be patient!). The development of Vanessa and Aiden's relationship is so so well done. Zapata understands subtlety and weaving a story.

Loved Aiden's pining and protectiveness and how much he just wants to scream "SHE'S MINE!" 🔥🔥🔥

We love the "wife" 🥵

For a slow burn, sports romance with a marriage of convenience, and 12 hours of wonderful agony, fall for Aiden Graves ♥️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶

I immediately downloaded the spin-off about Zac, a friend of the couple seen in the book, and can't wait to read more of Zapata (and hopefully get a look into Van and Aiden's life!). I'm going to be on a sports romance kick for awhile after this one.

I listened to the audiobook version of The Wall of Winnipeg and Me on a road trip. It was a super long book but worked out well since I had a long trip as well. Slow-burn romance, the hero is a tough one to break down the wall. He is socially isolated, broody pro football player and his personal assistant. I wish for a little more sexy times before the end :) Over all it was enjoyable for my drive!

This is a super slow burn that you can see coming from the start and was one of my main annoyances throughout the story. You could see from the very start that Vanessa and Aiden had feelings for each other; however, both were very much into being independent and goal oriented. I grew to really LOVE the banter between Vanessa and Aiden. I didn't like that Vanessa came off a little weak during some very tough issues but I understood it. I didn't like the consent reference to Aiden's size, I sort of think that it was over the top. Although I did finally get use to Vanessa's nickname of "Big Guy" for Aiden. Overall as I said I grew to really love these characters and story; it was emotional, funny in the right moments, and just overall a beautiful story.

Okay, I absolutely loved this slow burn! The characters had such great chemistry with all of the build up. Also, could it be any more perfect that they named their dog Leo - that’s my dogs name and I literally threw my kindle down when I saw that from how much I loved that coincidence 😂

Thank you very much for the opportunity to read this book early! I really enjoyed it. I thought the writing was very well done, and the story kept me interested. I believe my students/patrons would also love this book and will be acquiring it for the library!

Aiden and Vanessa are such an elite couple. I loved them. The slow burn built between the main characters was so fun with all the top-tier banter, the chemistry, angst and the sexual tension. Ugh, I loved them

This is my favorite Mariana Zapata book. It's the poster child of slow burn romance with really incredible characters that you immediately fall in love with, faults and all. For those who have read this title before, this new edition with extra content that makes it worth the purchase!

This book started off slow and then got soooo much better! The descriptive language along with back story of the characters was much needed to understand everything that happens throughout the story. I love Aiden's character development and the way he expresses himself. He's the perfect grumpy guy for Van's (mostly) sunshine personality. This is the slowest slow burn of them all, but the author does it REALLY well. And even though there's like 0 spicy scenes until the last four chapters, it's well worth it! And I truly enjoyed the bonus epilogue! Well written characters with a great plot behind it and behind every FMC is the love interest with a great ass. Certain scenes had me giddy, kicking my legs and others had me crying real tears. So I guess I can say I'm officially a fan of Zapata's work!

Mariana Zapata is the absolute queen of slow burn romances. Her writing is smooth and flows effortlessly- building tension and energy gradually until she finally lets it all erupt in awesomeness. So many slow burn stories feel stagnant and hard to stay rooted in, but The Walk of Winnipeg and Me is so well done. I was invested all the way through and didn't miss the spice until the tension was so high I thought I'd go mad, but that's the moment Mariana leans in to the tension. *Chefs kiss*. Amazing.

YESSS!! I loved this book. Talk about a slow burn that kept me addicted to this book. Vanessa was so sassy and amazing! I thought she was a great female lead. She was funny and smart, but she had a vulnerable side as well. Aiden was a bit more difficult getting to know since we don't get his POV, but I stilled loved this book and I think Vanessa was able to update us on Aiden enough so I didn't feel lost.

I am officially a Mariana Zapata fangirl! I've been racing through her books, and each deliciously slow burn has killed me in its own unique way - this one included! I absolutely adored the set up, a real case of not knowing what you have until it's gone. Seeing Aiden and Vanessa's relationship evolve was enchanting - though I will say Zac was maybe my favorite character, lol. I just loved him!

Zapata has a skill for make small moments seem huge, so even though her books tend to be long and slow, I'm racing through them, unable to stop until I get to the end!

Even though this is a long novel, the story was written for me. I am glad it has been rereleased. I have found a new author to enjoy in Mariana Zapata. Thank you for the advanced copy.

It's probably embarrassing how many times I've re-read this book. This is how you do a slow-burn romance. This is also how you do a sports romance. This is such an amazing, sweet, comforting book.

Zapata is one of my favorite authors of all time and the re-release of WOW&M is definitely one of my favorite books from her. Aiden and Vanessa have such a believable love story and I love the extra bonus content we got in this edition.

What a slow burn! I usually don’t like them but Mariana can make slow burns so enjoyable. It was a real long book but it didn’t feel like it took forever to read. I’ve never read a football fantasy before and I’m obsessed now.

Mariana Zapata is one of my favorite authors of all time, and she can do no wrong in my eyes! I was so thrilled to find out that this book — one of my favorites by her — was being traditionally published, and it gave me the perfect opportunity to re-read this amazing book 🥰

A lot of people say that Mariana Zapata is the queen of slowburn, and they are absolutely right! She has this way of pacing books and developing a romance in a slow but incredibly satisfying way, in my opinion. This was exactly the case with Vanessa & Aiden's story 🫶 Vanessa has worked as an assistant for famous football player Aiden for years until she finally decides to quit. But this situation soon turns into a marriage-of-convenience-turned-real, which neither of them saw coming...

I absolutely loved that Vanessa was the only person who was able to put such a grumpy man like Aiden in his place. After having a professional relationship for so many years, it was amazing to see how their relationship developed into friendship and then something more. You could see how much Aiden truly cared for Vanessa (and has for many years), and he was always doing the most amazing things for her — this book also has one of THE BEST "my wife" moments 😫 They have the kind of romance that I will never forget, and seeing them get their HEA was the most satisfying thing ever 💛

Overall, this book had the perfect balance of relationship development, banter, and swoon-worthy moments in classic Mariana Zapata slowburn fashion 🤩 I will never get over Vanessa & Aiden, and their bonus epilogue was such a treat after how long it's been since I read this book for the first time when it was self-published. I hope I never run out of Mariana Zapata's books to read because she delivers every single time in all the ways possible.

Thank you so much to NetGalley & Avon for an ARC of this book 💌

Okay I love a slow burn, but this was a bit pushing the limits for how long the burn was. A lot of filler, but a cute couple overall and would recommend.

Tropes/Themes:
-MF contemporary romance
-Sports (professional football)
-Football Player x Assistant
-Age gap
-Grump x Sunshine
-Marriage of convenience
-Forced proximity
-Sloooow burn
-Standalone

Mariana Zapata is a queen and everything she touches is gold. No one else does slow burn/grump x sunshine romances better than her.

This is not the first time I've read The Wall of Winnipeg and Me. Its not even the second or third time. I'm a fan of this novel along with all the others written by Mariana Zapata. I will continue to reread this title.

For someone who previously read this novel, the bonus scene is well worth a reread. For someone who is reading The Wall of Winnipeg and Me for the first time, the characters (including supporting) make the book. You will laugh and root for the characters through the long slow burn.

I always recommend this title for those interested in sport romance, grumpy/sunshine romance, and marriage of convenience.