2.5 stars

This was a bit of a disappointment for me. I feel like I hardly knew Aiden as a person, and I honestly didn't feel any chemistry between him and Vanessa. This book was wayyyyy too long and drawn out. I'm all for a slow burn but this just didn't do it for me. While some parts were funny, it kind of read like fanfic to me. It was really repetitive and a lot of telling and not showing. While I can usually understand the draw of some overhyped books, I honestly don't really get the hype surrounding this one.

Aiden Graves has been cemented as one of my top book boyfriends of all time. He is grumpy, he doesn't know how to love, but he is constant. He doesn't lie, he doesn't cheat and he always tells the truth. Vanessa is the joy that he needs in his life, and he just has to let her in. Sure she had a crush on him, but she also wanted to punch him a time or two. He is so focused on football that he has nothing else in life.
When he needs a bit of "greencard help" he asks Vanessa. She's the only one he knows, honestly, and while this seems like it could be a disaster, it turns into something more than either of them could have dreamed. Vanessa isn't without trauma and her past haunts her, but she never lets it get her down for long. With Aiden by her side though, she feels like she has something stable and doesn't know if she can give that up at the end of their agreement. She knows he is focused on only football and has no room for feelings, but that doesn't mean she wont' fall.
This is one of the slowest burns I have read, but the payoff is so worth it in the end. Getting to see little glimpses of the way Aiden is falling just brings so many butterflies to my belly and I was alternating between laughing out loud and swooning while reading.
Thank you to Avon, Mariana Zapata and Netgalley for an early copy.

- Marriage of convenience
- Forced proximity
- Sports romance
- Grumpy / sunshine
- MZ signature slooow burn

Vanessa had worked as Aiden's assistant for two years, before she quit to pursue her own career. His cold, dismissive attitude just made it easier for her to leave. Much to her surprise, Aiden tries to get her back, but Vanessa is done working for a self-centered grump. Until one day, Aiden shows up with a proposal Vanessa couldn't refuse.

I first read this book years ago, and it's been a comfort read for me ever since. Sometimes, when I'm not in a reading mood, I visit these characters again and they never fail to pull me out of my slump. I love them so much.

Vanessa and Aiden are perfect for each other. She is the softness he didn't even know he needed, and Aiden becomes the support Vanessa has always deserved.

I never mind MZ's slow burns because she always does such a great job building the relationship between the MCs.

The bonus chapter from the Avon edition? Perfect. I absolutely loved seeing what one of my favorite couples were up to after all this time. Team Graves forever 🖤

This book is so incredibly sweet. I love a good slow burn, and this delivers in spades! Both protagonists are emotionally constipated due to difficult childhoods, but their relationship develops in such a realistic way that it was incredibly satisfying to watch. Looking forward to more.

The first time I read this was right after Kulti and All Rhodes Lead Here. Both of those were some of my favorite romances ever and I think I just didn’t give this one a fair chance. I went in with an open mind for my reread and OMG it’s so good. The perfect slow burn, opposites attract, workplace, sports romance, Like, it’s literally perfect. I’m annoyed with myself for not truly appreciating my first time around because Aiden is an A+ love interest. If you’re patient enough for a slow burn romance, no one does it better than Miss Zapata. Kulti is still my favorite by her but this is an auto-buy author for me because she has NEVER let me down. Zapata is a fantastic writer and seeing her with a major publishing house like Avon and Harper is not only well deserved, but makes me extremely happy.

5/5 ☆

💍 marriage of convenience
🏈 sports romance
💍 grumpy x sunshine
🏈 forced proximity
💍 sloooooow burn

I read The Wall of Winnipeg and Me for the first time in 2018. It was my first Mariana Zapata book and the book that made me fall in love with her stories and slow burns in general. Since then, I’ve read it 8 times (it’s a comfort book for me) and it’s never lost its spark.

Vanessa Mazur has been football star Aiden Graves’s assistant for two years. He’s distant, cold, self-centered and curt, and now it’s time for her to pursue her own dreams. But when Aiden shows up at her door just weeks after she quits with a ridiculous request, Vanessa can’t turn him down no matter how much she wants to.

Vanessa and Aiden’s transition from boss/employee to falling in love was achingly slow and addicting. I don’t know how MZ does it, but I never mind that her stories are told solely from the FMC. Vanessa is such a resilient and admirable heroine. Her inner dialogue had me laughing out loud plenty of times, but it also never fails to make me shed some tears. If it hadn’t been for Vanessa, I don’t think Aiden would have ever appreciated a life outside of football. They were the perfect pair and I adored these two so much—even if Aiden deserved a smack upside the head a time or two.

The side characters also make this story worth every second. I love Vanessa and Diana’s friendship so so much, especially after having read Wait for It (another MZ fave). And I don’t know what Vanessa would have done if she didn’t have Zac in that house to keep her sane. The friendships in this book just felt so genuine 🥹

The Avon edition of The Wall of Winnipeg and Me includes a bonus scene I was lucky enough to read. Getting more of Aiden and Vanessa after all this time made my heart feel so full. This book will forever hold a special place in my heart 🖤

Mariana Zapatista is the queen of slow burn and I’m so happy to have gotten an arc of this book! The Wall of Winnipeg and Me is a marriage of convenience between Aiden, a football star, and Vanessa his assistant. Like classic Mariana, the relationship between these two slowly builds up. I love how good she is at getting readers to invest themselves in every book of hers. Vanessa, to me, was such a relatable character. She doesn’t feel like a caricature. Aiden is also like every Mariana Zapatista male character. You slowly start to peel back the layers of his character over the course of the book. The writing was honestly too good. The page count didn’t bother me and the pacing was perfect.

This is one of my most favorite books and I have read it several times over the years. I love a slow burn and Mariana Zapata writes some of the best. Her main characters are always strong and independent and I love her grumpy heroes. She does an excellent job of first building a friendship between the two main characters with lots of fun banter and tense moments that make the build up so worth it when the characters finally get together.

I am so happy to see Winnie get new life breathed into it. Aiden & Vanny forever<3

Mariana Zapata is the QUEEN of well developed slow burn romances. This one was SO. SLOW. And somehow I enjoyed every single second of it. I’m not a big fan of sports romance, but I felt like that was more of a subplot- but the chemistry and tension between these characters was the star of the show. The marriage of convenience trope was perfect here, and the payoff was *chef’s kiss* I will always always always recommend MZ books to everyone I know!

Absolutely loved loved loved this book. It was a little too much slow burn for me but ultimately I loved it. I’ve already purchased a copy for my friends to read as well. By far my favorite sports romance

Loved the characters in every way. The slowest of slow burns truly! No Insta love here. Just a well developed read with great characters!

This copy was kindly given to me by the publisher and Netgalley for review. All opinions are my own.

Mariana Zapata is quickly rising as one of my favorite authors. The queen of really slow burn romance-I can't get enough of it. Don't expect spice until the fourth quarter of most of her books. At first I didn't think I would enjoy the slow burn aspect to her books but I eat it up!

This was my first football/sport romance and I thoroughly enjoyed. I have already reread this book too many times to count. I love a good marriage of convenience which this story included.

I still loved it but nothing really changed except some bonus content at the end of like the happenings after the book ends.

Need a slow burn? Opposites attract? Marriage of convenience? Look no further! Mariana Zapata outdid herself with "The Wall of Winnipeg and Me". The characters (Aiden and Vanessa,, pacing, writing style were top-teir, I finished it in one sitting! This is a romance novel I know I will read time and time again!

5 stars!!

I love all the Mariana Zapata books that I have read and this one has just been added to the list. Slow burn and marriage of convenience? Sign me up! This will definitely be a comfort read for me from now on. I love how even though the book felt like it was so long, it also didn't feel long at all and I just wanted to keep reading. It felt like I was on the journey with Aiden and Vanessa. I am making sure we get this book in the library for sure!

This was an interesting and fun slow burn romance. The characters had pretty complex/tragic backstories and dealt with a lot of sadness in their lives. However the bond they made was really beautiful to watch unfold. There was a bunch of references to six packs and weight loss and stuff like that which always irritates me, especially because it was unnecessary to the plot. Some of the romance scene stuff was a little cringey, but I’d try another book by this author. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc.

*** Thanks you to the Publishers and to Netgalley for providing with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.***
While I was hesitant at the beginning because the "Wall of Winnipeg" was extremely monotone and uninteresting. I was thankful that the development was slow, but significant. This was a slow burn romance with a fake relationship trope.

I am a big Mariana Zapata fan and was excited to see her published traditionally.

The Wall of Winnipeg and Me tells the story of Vanessa Mazur, the personal assistant/housekeeper/cook to football superstar Aiden Graves. Aiden is broody and moody and extremely demanding and Vanessa decides enough is enough and quits her job. It is then that Aiden, a Canadian citizen, makes Vanessa an offer she can't refuse: a marriage of convenience that will benefit both of them.

As most marriages-of-convenience go in romance novels, pesky feelings quickly complicate things. This is a slow-burn story, yes, but you never feel cheated. I enjoyed watching Vanessa and Aiden's relationship slowly progress into something more. As they became comfortable around one another their small everyday interactions became more and more affectionate and it was lovely.

I loved the sweet epilogue and the bonus content. The Wall of Winnipeg and Me checks all the marks and continues to be one of my favorite reads.

Mariana Zapata is a master in her craft. While The Wall of Winnipeg isn’t my favorite of hers it was still so good! Enemies to lovers paired with slow burn is my kryptonite and I enjoyed it so much.

Mariana Zapata cannot do any wrong. She is an amazing writer and this is one of the best books I've ever read. Great characters, slow burn, fiesty, and a wonderful story. PICK IT UP!