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.

This is the epitome of grumpy/sunshine!! I absolutely loved the dynamic. Vanessa is in a thankless job for the “Wall of Winnipeg”. Aidan is walled off and never shows emotion. Ever. When Vanessa quits, he says nothing except to tell his manager. After years of doing his bidding and not getting paid near enough, she vows to never see him again. But weeks later he shows up at her door and begs for her help. Letting his wall down and showing some emotion. Aidan and Vanessa are everything!! I loved this story so much! No wonder it is basically a classic in the romance genre!

LOVED having the excuse to reread this masterpiece AND give a review. I love Mariana Zapata - I've read almost all of her books and none have been disappointments. I enjoy seeing the little connections between each book and couple.

The Wall of Winnipeg and Me was the first book I read by Zapata and what drew me into the universe. Who doesn't love a sports romance with a marriage of convenience? And it's one of the very few slow-burns I can get through - which says a lot because this one is a monster at over 600 pages and only 30 chapters.

While I did like the bonus content, it doesn't bring anything extra aside from minor details about everyone. You hear about a wedding from another book couple. You read a bit more about Vanessa and Aiden's kids. But it was quick and okay.

This is a great standard-issue romance to add to any collection. I really recommend honestly anything Mariana Zapata writes!

This needed more editing. There were repeat phrases close together that annoyed me and sooooo much telling over showing. The romance took way to long to get going. Maybe someone new to the genre would enjoy this more

This was my second Mariana Zapata and it really cemented my love for her. Her slow burns aren’t for everyone (I’m talking no kissing until like 95% most of the time) but the character development and the tension between the characters is always top tier. She knows how to write a compelling 600 page slow burn romance, that’s for damn sure!

This is the marriage of convenience i compare all of marriage of convenience romances to. It’s excellent! Vanessa and Aiden are everything! Their sunshine and the grump romance and the banter made it impossible for me to put this book down. I devoured it in a day (which for a book this long is really saying something!)

5 stars! If you love a modern marriage of convenience The Wall of Winnipeg and Me is a must read (just make sure you’re in the mood for a SLOW slow burn before you read it!)

This is my first Mariana Zapata's book and absolutely enjoyed reading it. The writing was nice and it's different than the ones I am habituated with as the pace was a little slow for me. So it was a slow burn romance for me.
The characters were absolutely adorable and the scene, other than the spicy scenes too were so beautifully penned down that I was hooked till the very end page of the book.
The narration used is smooth and easy. The plotline was sweet and romantic. Now I am excited to read more of her works.

"The Wall of Winnipeg and Me" by Mariana Zapata is a heartwarming and slow-burn romance that captures readers with its delightful characters and emotional depth.

The story follows Vanessa Mazur, who works as a personal assistant for Aiden Graves, a top defensive end in the National Football Organization. Tired of the thankless job and Aiden's cold demeanor, Vanessa quits her position to pursue her own dreams. However, her life takes an unexpected turn when Aiden shows up on her doorstep, pleading for her to come back. As Aiden starts to reveal his vulnerability and emotions, Vanessa is left torn between her past experiences and the potential for a new connection.

Mariana Zapata's writing style excels in drawing readers into the emotions and thoughts of the characters. The slow-building romance allows for a deep exploration of their personalities, pasts, and growth. Vanessa's strong and determined character contrasts beautifully with Aiden's reserved and enigmatic nature, creating a dynamic relationship that develops gradually and believably.

The novel doesn't rely on dramatic twists or quick romantic resolutions; instead, it focuses on the small moments, gestures, and conversations that build a connection between the characters. The dialogue is witty, heartfelt, and often infused with humor, making it easy for readers to engage with the story.

Zapata's ability to convey emotions and relationships authentically is a standout feature of the book. The character development is substantial, as both Vanessa and Aiden face their fears, past traumas, and insecurities. Their personal growth is as captivating as their romantic journey.

"The Wall of Winnipeg and Me" offers a refreshing take on the enemies-to-lovers trope, emphasizing the gradual change and understanding that lead to a meaningful and enduring bond. This book is perfect for readers who appreciate a well-crafted romance with depth, strong character arcs, and a focus on emotional connections that stand the test of time.

This is the 4th Mariana Zapata book I have read and some how they keep getting longer and longer. It is true that Mariana is the queen of slow burn but like to the extreme. I do really like the chemistry between Vanessa and Aiden and by the end they were cute but it took so long for them to get together. While I did enjoy this book and read it mainly cause I read Wait For You, where we saw a little of Vanessa and Aiden, I didn't like it as much as that book. This book was so long for no reason and really could have been 200 pages shorter. Overall I did like this book but Mariana really needs to be on a word count restriction at this point lol

This is my favorite slow burn romance book of all time and I could probably write a 50 page essay over how much I love this book. I think I could reread this book everyday for the rest of my life and fall in love with it every time. I was so excited when I heard it was being rereleased with bonus content!!

Vanessa Mazur has worked for football star Aiden Graves, aka The Wall of Winnipeg, for 2 years while slowly saving money to branch out and pursue her graphic design business. Aiden barely speaks to Vanessa the entire time she works for him and was completely unfazed when she quit her job working as his assistant. Imagine Vanessa’s surprise when Aiden shows up at her apartment asking her to help him stay in the country. If Vanessa will marry Aiden and help him become a citizen, he will pay off her student loans and buy her a house. The more time Vanessa and Aiden spend together the more they grow closer, and eventually feelings start to arise. Will they be able to secure Aiden’s citizenship? Will their marriage of convenience turn into one filled with love? Read this book to find out!

I don’t even know where to start. I loved this book so much. I found myself rooting for Van through the whole book. She was so funny too! The banter was absolutely incredible! I wanted to punch Aiden more times than I care to admit. I ended up adoring him so much and loving the chemistry between him and Van. This was a VERY slow burn but well worth it. I couldn’t stop reading. I had to know exactly what was happening on the next page. I loved the extra chapter as well. I truly loved this book and would recommend it to anyone!

Thank you so much @AvonBooks for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 04 July 2023)

SYNOPSIS | Vanessa has been working as Aiden's personal assistant for the past two years, however she has been treated like garbage by him the entire time & she is very ready to pursue her own aspirations. One month later Aiden seeks her out with a new proposal… to be his wife for 5 years so he can get US citizenship & continue to play American football.

WHAT I LIKED:
- seeing their relationship develop from work colleagues, to friends, to more
- a good introduction to an American football sports romance

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- I really like slow burn but this story was SLOW BURN (no action until 97%)
- I sadly don't understand the hype around this one. It was fine, but I didn't swoon & I certainly didn't root for their relationship.
- fake marriage (especially for a US Green Card) is one of my least favourite tropes (it doesn't make sense why the US sports team wouldn't just sponsor him)
- I also tend to hate giant men & tiny women romances

i initially read the wall of winnipeg and me in 2021, i wanted to see if there was anything different about this book but there wasn’t. it was the same book just republished and i was hoping to see if there was anything new or a dual pov :(

Decided to read/listen to this one. Lots of fun tropes! Marriage of convenience, forced proximity to name a few! Full review to come!

Finally the giant man trope actually fits the story lol. I genuinely enjoyed the read more than I anticipated especially since I don’t care about sports, but I could have edited out a solid third. Warning it’s a sloooooowwwwwww burn.

unfortunately, this was not for me. I really tried to stick this one out but I couldn't handle the writing style. It came off incredibly juvenile to me and distracted me from feeling immersed in the story. I also couldn't care less about either character. Very unfortunate this is a DNF for me. Thank you again to the publishers for sending me a copy, I was really hoping to like this one.

The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata was entertaining, relatable, and pretty adorable! I love a good sports romance even though I'm not always the biggest fan of slow-burn but Zapata certainly nailed it! There was so much tension and build up that the romance flowed really way. Will definitely read more books by her!