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The Not-Outcast: A hockey standalone! Kindle Edition

by Tijan (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 out of 5 stars 11,034 ratings
Editors' pick Best Romance
Cutler Ryder was everything I wasn’t. He was the hockey star. I was an outcast. He was best friends with my stepbrother, that same stepbrother who hated me. His two parents loved him. My mom was a junkie. My dad barely knew me. Years passed. I got my life together. Cut went onto NHL stardom. Then there was a text. I was drinking. There was a party. Cut was there… I loved Cutler Ryder since the first moment I saw him. The only problem? He never knew I existed. ** This is a 103k sports romance standalone!
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  1. Print length
    432 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    December 1, 2020
  4. File size
    2.0 MB
  5. Page Flip
    Enabled
  6. Word Wise
    Enabled
  7. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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  1. “I love you because you have every reason to be angry at the world, and you’re not. You wake up smiling, and you stay smiling. You’d choose laughter over anything, all day and every day.”
    Highlighted by 689 Kindle readers
  2. I hadn’t known anything other than the cold until the first time he touched me.
    Highlighted by 590 Kindle readers
  3. When I looked down, Cut was still on the ice, but now he was staring right at me.
    Highlighted by 410 Kindle readers
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"The Not-Outcast manages to be both sweepingly romantic and rooted in realism at the same time. A beautiful blend of humor, resiliency, and fiery chemistry, this story is going to stay with me forever and is my favorite read of 2020."-- Author Catherine Cowles


"This beautiful love story is a story about personal growth, acceptance, and embracing differences. It is unconditional love and I love The Not- Outcast unconditionally."-- Goodreads


"Oh my god. This couple? PHENOMENAL."--BookishKayy


"This was definitely one of Tijan's best books ever!"--Like Books Best

"This is a story that changes you. Hands down, this is Tijan's best work to date."--The Romantic Rush Blog


"Tijan has yet again written another phenomenal book! This story was not what I had been expecting at all and I fu*king loved it!"--My Little Booktopia


"A thought provoking, slow burn romance which wrung out all the feels, relatable characters, and amazing side characters which made for such a compelling beautiful read. "--Kitty Kats Crazy About Books


"A slower burn that'll leave your aching and racing through the pages, Tijan has created another masterpiece."--Renee Entress's Blog


"Can I just say that December is already my FAVORITE MONTH of the year, but getting a new Tijan is like the icing on the cake!"- Goodreads


"This was ... I mean ... HOLY BALLS ... WoW"--Jessica, Goodreads


"WOW JUST WOW! This story was definitely something else. Sweet , sexy , funny and mind-blowing all at the same time. I loved it . It was definitely a page-turner book, I couldn't put it down for a second."--Goodreads


"A definite recommendation to all the contemporary Romance lovers out there who would love themes like. Second chance Romance , traumatic childhood and soulmates!!"--Abstract Books


"How does TIJAN keep writing my favorite stories and characters? I don't know but Im so thankful for her artistry and hope she continues for a very long time."--BLuvsBooks


"I was hooked on Chey and Cut and couldn't put The Not-Outcast down. This may well be one of Tijan's best books ever, and I couldn't have loved this thought provoking story more."-- Queen B


"The Not-Outcast by Tijan is not what you can expect and that's a glorious brilliant thing. This story was adorably quirky, darkly witty and devastatingly angsty. The author attacked my heart with amazingly executed complex characters and raw emotions. And I surrendered." --PP's Bookshelf


"A beautiful heart rending, tender love story. Heartbreaking and powerful at the same time. I loved every single word written."--The Book Whisperer

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08P7VQTHF
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 1, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.0 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 432 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 11,034 ratings

About the author

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Tijan

Tijan

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Tijan is a New York Times Bestselling author that writes suspenseful and unpredictable novels. Her characters are strong, intense, and gut-wrenchingly real with a little bit of sass on the side. Tijan began writing later in life and once she started, she was hooked. She’s written multi-bestsellers including the Carter Reed Series, the Fallen Crest Series, and Ryan's Bed among others. She is currently writing to her heart's content in north Minnesota with an English Cocker Spaniel she adores.

To find what to read next of hers, go to www.tijansbooks.com

WALLSTREET JOURNAL, NEW YORK TIMES, AND USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
11,034 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book captivating, with well-developed characters, particularly Cheyenne, and appreciate its blend of romance and mental health themes. The writing style receives praise for its brilliant execution, and customers describe the story as emotional, making them laugh and cry. They value the book's portrayal of struggles, with one customer noting how it provides a deeper understanding of mental health challenges.

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226 customers mention "Character development"211 positive15 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, particularly Cheyenne's character and the funniest, most caring side characters.

"...She was such a gentle soul with a big heart who didn’t deserve the scrutiny and glares from people who should’ve protected and loved her...." Read more

"I have so many feelings about this story, writing, and characters and I feel like I'm going to ramble just as much as Cheyenne...." Read more

"...Cut seems like a really nice guy and I admire his acceptance of Cheyenne... but I had a hard time understanding his motive outside of chemistry and..." Read more

"...written in first person I appreciate the fact that it is completely true to her character and really gave a sense of what it is like to battle with..." Read more

202 customers mention "Romance"172 positive30 negative

Customers enjoy the romance in this book, describing it as a heartwarming contemporary sports romance that goes beyond a love story, with one customer noting how it incorporates themes of mental health.

"...She’s truly a strong, fierce woman. Cut - he was just the best. He loved Cheyanne before her knew he did...." Read more

"...He was so understanding, protective and loving. I was brought to tears when he stopped the car to tell her all the reasons WHY he loved her...." Read more

"No plot spoilers outside of the summary. I do love a good contemporary sports romance, especially with unique female perspectives...." Read more

"...heartbreaking yet so uplifting with her attitude and ability to fight to overcome it all...." Read more

165 customers mention "Writing style"141 positive24 negative

Customers praise the author's writing style, describing it as brilliant and amazing, with one customer specifically noting how well Cheyenne is portrayed.

"...I love love love her books. She writes stories that are captivating and she truly captures the love a person can have for another...." Read more

"I have so many feelings about this story, writing, and characters and I feel like I'm going to ramble just as much as Cheyenne...." Read more

"...Being written in first person I appreciate the fact that it is completely true to her character and really gave a sense of what it is like to battle..." Read more

"...😍 The reason this was so close to a solid 4 stars was the writing was really good. It had all of the feels...." Read more

127 customers mention "Emotional content"121 positive6 negative

Customers find the book emotionally engaging, describing it as heart-wrenching in parts with a beautiful spectrum of feelings that brings real angst to life.

"...There was so much depth and development and laughter and absolute heartbreak. Tijan's writing of Cheyenne's character was phenomenal...." Read more

"This book had me in tears throughout the story. This book hits close to home and so glad that the author wrote it...." Read more

"This book tore me apart and put me back together. I loved it! I rarely write reviews, and when I do, they are typically short...." Read more

"...Tijan writes the best tragic, and angsty love stories I have read over the years...." Read more

74 customers mention "Beauty"71 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the book's beauty, describing it as sassy and sexy, with one customer noting its enchanting portmanteaus.

"...heartbreaking , heavy and tragic and make it something so light, and beautiful, that’s real talent...." Read more

"...I especially didn’t expect it to be portrayed so honestly and beautifully. I felt anxious during Cheyanne’s anxiety attacks...." Read more

"...It was beautiful. The Tomcats are awesome. Only issue I ha do with the book … That’s not Melanie’s word ….. it’s mine. 😁..." Read more

"...They are fun, dramatic and sexy. The not outcast is not different, but it is so different...." Read more

70 customers mention "Laughter rate"70 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's humor, particularly the funniest group of friends and Tomcats, with one customer noting it made them laugh and cry.

"...There was so much depth and development and laughter and absolute heartbreak. Tijan's writing of Cheyenne's character was phenomenal...." Read more

"...Cheyennes interactions with her friends are hilarious and I think everyone needs friends like hers...." Read more

"...There were several humorous moments that had me laughing so hard that I was crying. Especially when it came to the antics of Cheyenne’s two friends...." Read more

"...Her best friends are such a great laugh and the things they say are hilarious!..." Read more

68 customers mention "Struggle"48 positive20 negative

Customers appreciate the book's portrayal of struggles, particularly its deep exploration of mental health challenges, with one customer noting that the issues are not sugar-coated.

"...Cutler was another amazing character. He was so understanding, protective and loving...." Read more

"...as though are are right in Cheyenne's mind and understanding her different thoughts processes." Read more

"...Where it fell short for me was the book started super slow and I wasn't sure I was going to continue...." Read more

"...This is a very busy story. It touches many aspects in life. It is so sad, yet because of Cheyannes outlook on life you get happy vibes...." Read more

Tijan writes a story that truly stands out
4 out of 5 stars
Tijan writes a story that truly stands out
“ I love you because you have every reason to be angry at the world, and you’re not.” Tijan writes a story that truly stands out. We are taken on a journey with Cheyenne and Cutler, that will leave you with major book hangover. Read below for full review! Trope: sports, new adult, mental health issues HEA: Yes Cliffhanger: No POV: Dual 📖 Book Score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ _____________________________ Book Review: First and foremost I wanted to commend Tijan for highlighting issues of mental health and how debilitating it can be for a person. This is her best work yet when it comes to depth of characters. Cheyenne has not had it easy in her life, but even with all odds against her, she has become a successful person with great friends. All her life she has struggled with issues, which made it hard for her to focus, process situations, cause hypersensitivity, overstimulation and panic attacks. I have to be honest, at first I was confused a bit by writing, but then it all clicked. Tijan did not hold back and detailed what goes on in Cheyenne’s head, and what it feels like for her. She was so misunderstood and judged by people, I wanted to angry cry for her. “I look like I’m drunk, but inside I’m dying.”- this line really killed me. Then we have Cutler. He is completely taken with Cheyenne from the moment he sees her. Cut was an example of a compassionate and understanding person, ready to weather all the dark and hard moments with Cheyenne. But also has a healthy dose of alpha in him. Their communication as a couple was amazing and so mature. I loved that about them. I thought the secondary characters were great. The plot line and twist towards the end was unexpected. The only reason why this was not a 5 star read for me is that I found it lacking on the romance part. While I understand that may not have been the focus- I felt like I needed it even more to balance the heaviness of the story.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Allie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Shine and Cut!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I will always start off any Tijan review with “Tijan knows how to write a dedicated man in love with his woman.”

    Cheyanne/Shine- she was the best throughout this book, from start to finish. She was such a gentle soul with a big heart who didn’t deserve the scrutiny and glares from people who should’ve protected and loved her. No one gave her a chance except her little brother, Hunter, who was only a child but was never influenced by anyone. Cheyanne truly deserved all the good in the world. I must admit, I was so confused in the beginning. Her thoughts were all over the place but it all made sense considering what she went through. She’s truly a strong, fierce woman.

    Cut - he was just the best. He loved Cheyanne before her knew he did. He wanted to protect and love her and he did. He thought he didn’t know how to be there for Cheyanne when she had her panic attacks, but him being himself was all she needed. He was the perfect man for Cheyanne. He was loyal and always put her feelings first.

    I adore Cheyanne’s friends. They’re the true definition of family. They all knew how to be there for one another and their bond was special. Cheyanne’s nut-brother was the definition of an idiot. He annoyed me to no end. Not once did he make an effort to get to know Cheyanne. Not once and it pissed me off how he tried to defend his reasoning. My personal opinion, I felt Natalie only apologized because of Cheyanne’s relationship with Cut and her new husband. I think she was sorry because she didn’t want them to know what a monster she was to an innocent child.

    Once again, Tijan can do no wrong. I love love love her books. She writes stories that are captivating and she truly captures the love a person can have for another. All of her books stories are different but two things are constant (and I hope never changes) love and dedication between two people. They may have obstacles to overcome but they will forever have unconditional love and dedication for their soulmates.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • CherieLee
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another great story by Tijan
    Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    This story was so incredible, dealing with mental health and the labels society will put on people who struggle in this area. This book is a fascinating must read romance, and readers get an inside look at the inner turmoil some can have, and the families we "choose" who love unconditionally in spite of those struggles.
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  • FaithOryx
    4.0 out of 5 stars Contemporary NHL Romance with Uniquely Challenged Heroine
    Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    No plot spoilers outside of the summary. I do love a good contemporary sports romance, especially with unique female perspectives. This one was recommended to me and, I would say, hit those particular nails on the head. Our hero is Cut, an aggressively talented hockey player. And our heroine is Cheyenne (Shy for short) - a young woman with an incredible survivable story. She was one of the most unique characters I've read about it in a long time and I enjoyed the attempt at a rare character. Some of the lower star reviews seemed confused as to what her issue is.... It seems as though young Cheyenne was originally diagnosed with hyper disorder or likely ADHD, but later a doctor realizes she was misdiagnosed and actually has learning development disorders from fetal drug exposure. Additionally, as a young child, she developed delusions as a way of coping with neglect. I'm guessing this has something to do with self-deception survival techniques and Fantasy Bond. Perhaps I'm off here, but that was my understanding of what's told to us (and, yes, it's sorta vague). I really enjoyed the little prologue where we get to know and understand Cheyenne.

    I was really impressed with Cheyenne and how she succeeds in life. Also, I love that she had developed long-term friendships and there are other female characters. And (mild spoiler, but it's pretty early on) it wasn't missed by me that she went on to work in an industry where she helps people who are in situations not dissimilar to her own in childhood.

    Our hero, Cut, is not as developed. We don't get to know him as much as I wanted. He lusts after Cheyenne and he loves hockey. But maybe that's his character and I can accept that. But basically he sets his eyes on her for the first time (that he remembers), he decides that Cheyenne is HIS based solely on her looks. Spoiler in the first few pages on the book: He basically approaches her, they don't talk, and they end up in bed together. I don't mind this type of intro to a relationship, but I DO expect that after we get to know the characters and that they get to know each other (assuming they are supposed to end up together). Cut is bizarrely, totally, 100-percent committed to Cheyenne. Meaning, he believes in her, supports her, understands her, protects her, puts her above his life-long friends... but this seemed pretty unrealistic since he didn't know her AT ALL. Also, it meant there is no tension or issue to the plot. These are not spoilers even, because it happens in the sample length, but the couple are together at the beginning (but also not together)... and then basically remain static and unchanged together and not together. Cut seems like a really nice guy and I admire his acceptance of Cheyenne... but I had a hard time understanding his motive outside of chemistry and attraction.

    There wasn't too much of a plot to comment on and the intimacy level/scenes were just average. As much as I liked the heroine, I just didn't connect to the hero as much, and there wasn't a lot more for me here. It was worth reading for her story though. I went back to read some of the huge amount of high star reviews and it's like these reviews are describing a different, but similar, book than I read. I never found the character-driven depth and angst that's being described in these reviews. However, it's clear Tijan has a huge fan base and it's fair to assume some readers really connect with her work and are able to derive more from it than I was able to. So I think there's really something special here for some readers and, also, I give the author huge props for including Cheyenne's story. And although this book has some great stuff, sometimes we just don't connect to a written work the way others do.
    50 people found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars A lot of thoughts
    Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I have so many feelings about this story, writing, and characters and I feel like I'm going to ramble just as much as Cheyenne. First off, I loved Cheyenne and Cut's love story. There was so much depth and development and laughter and absolute heartbreak. Tijan's writing of Cheyenne's character was phenomenal. With all her ramblings and how scattered her thoughts were, I was getting as frustrated as she was. It gives the reader a true feeling and representation of what's going on in the mind of some with her particular mental illness. Her chapters were sometimes extremely difficult for me to read and understand but I knew that was on purpose. You could feel the mental breakdowns Cheyenne would be having. Cutler was another amazing character. He was so understanding, protective and loving. I was brought to tears when he stopped the car to tell her all the reasons WHY he loved her. It was like he couldn't believe that she would doubt his feelings but he knew that she needed the explanation. His conversations with Chad were so heartbreaking and frustrating. You could feel Cut's anger and sadness and sense his realization that his best friend wasn't who he thought he was. I'm so glad my sister suggested this book because it was definitely emotionally taxing but worth every minute.
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Familie Ruhl
    5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful
    Reviewed in Germany on October 15, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Like always a heard-filling wonderful book. You will laugh, you will cry and you will love it. And you will love Cut for his believe and love for Shine.
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  • @lendo_com_tcheis
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantástico! Surpreendente! Emocionante! Divertido! Ig lendo_com_tcheis
    Reviewed in Brazil on February 15, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Amei demais conhecer a Cheyenne e suas duas melhores amigas Sasha e Melanie. Esse trio mostra o que é verdadeira amizade, companheirismo. Elas mostram como realmente se conhecem apenas no olhar, reconhecem as necessidades umas das outras quando alguém precisa extravasar, ou chorar, ou gritar, ou brigar! É muito lindo de se ver!

    E então temos o Cutler, jogador de hóquei profissional, melhor amigo do ex meio irmão da Cheyenne, e antiga paixão dela. Quer dizer, não tão antiga assim, mas platônica.

    A história da Cheyenne é muito dura e difícil. Com uma mãe viciada que nem lembrava que tinha filha, pai que só descobriu sua existência aos 11 anos de idade e nunca a quis, ela não tinha ninguém em quem se apoiar até ter essas amigas.

    O mais extraordinário desse livro é que a Cheyenne tem problemas de concentração e foco e precisou de muita terapia e remédios para conseguir se sentir uma pessoa funcional. Só que o livro mostra a luta diária dela com esses problemas. Deixa claro que não é algo que tem cura ou que desaparece com os remédios. A autora optou por não diagnosticar porque não queria rotulá-la apenas por sua doença. Mas as situações que ela passa, as descrições feitas de como ela reage nos ambientes com muitos estímulos ou quando está sem remédios ou tem muito estresse são detalhadas e críveis.
    E a relação da Cheyenne com o Cut, sua auto estima, suas inseguranças por causa dessa doença que ela tem, tudo bem trabalhado e emocionante.

    Foi lindo ver a relação dos dois amadurecendo. No início parece que tudo vai muito rápido, e realmente vai, mas a autora consegue trazer profundidade e veracidade.

    Foi triste ver como a Cheyenne foi tratada por seu pai, madrasta e meio-irmão, Chad, quando ainda uma adolescente. E como o Chad tem seus preconceitos arraigados pela forma como foi criado e não consegue refletir e mudar sua forma de pensar.

    Esse livro mostra a grande luta de pessoas que tem problemas de concentração e ataques de pânico e como as pessoas ao redor podem ajudar e agir.

    Ri, chorei e amei demais! Está entre meus favoritos!
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  • TJ747
    5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favourite reads! (Neurodiverse Reader)
    Reviewed in Australia on October 20, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I love this book!
    I connected with and rode every single emotion that rolled through me while reading this book. It will always be a favourite and Tijan has done well to write as respectfully and carefully as possible. Thank you.

    No Spoilers.

    I understand Shy's challenges within herself, with others, with the world around her. In grappling with the understanding that those who were supposed to love and protect her, support her and learn to understand her (not the other way around), did not. It is heartbreaking but so very common. Also, how Shy deals in her recovery from childhood trauma and abandonment to build a successful life and understands her limitations and safe boundaries with her Mental Health, and her past hyper-fixations.

    This is a well written romance novel with a difference. There are strong characters, there are the emotional villains and the warm and fuzzies too. It will make you laugh, cry, yell obscenities and you may even want to punch a d*&#. However, it is a good read. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have... The 6 times I have read it.
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  • Lahar Joshi
    5.0 out of 5 stars Whoa! This is one of the best books I have read this year!
    Reviewed in India on March 22, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    It’s blown my mind completely. I love the writing, I love how the author has so simply explained the big struggles that Shine goes through, that you can feel it and visualise it. I love how real this story is. I love all the characters in the books. I love how it’s not perfect. I love how it’s about hokey, but at the same time it’s not about hokey. I love how it’s perfectly balanced. I loved every minute I spent reading it!

    - RW
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  • Analy JD
    5.0 out of 5 stars Six. Times.
    Reviewed in France on December 3, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Here is the thing with Tijan. When you get a new book from her, you know there is going to be something that'll make you laugh, and you know there is something that'll make you cry, something that'll turn your soul upside-down in a good way. This one isn't any different. During all the book, you laugh with Cut and Cheyenne, but you feel so much for them and with them, you wanna get there with them, with her, be the one to hold her hand and assure her everything is perfect, that she is perfect the way she is. You want to be part on the Tomcast for a night in Prankland. I could keep going cause you want to be part of it in any way you can.

    Now I'm gonna go take a nap, cause I tried 6 times, but couldn't let go of the book. (Six. Times !)
    Report

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