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The Shots You Take
A sweet and sexy hockey romance about two ex-teammates and former best friends with benefits who are about to discover whether you can ever really have a second chance, from the USA TODAY bestselling author of Heated Rivalry and The Long Game.
After moving back to his hometown ten years ago, Riley Tuck thought he had left his major league hockey career—and his broken heart—far behind. But when an unexpected tragedy strikes, it brings ex-teammate and former best friend with benefits Adam Sheppard back into his life.
Coming to the small town of Avery River, Nova Scotia, might have been a mistake. Adam’s not sure he’ll ever win back Riley’s trust after the way they left things—and the attention he’s getting as a huge hockey star isn’t exactly helping. Yet the chemistry that crackles between them is undeniable, even now.
As Adam helps Riley navigate his grief, long-buried feelings start to resurface. But they’ll have to square off with their complicated past if they’re going to have a real shot at a new beginning.
After moving back to his hometown ten years ago, Riley Tuck thought he had left his major league hockey career—and his broken heart—far behind. But when an unexpected tragedy strikes, it brings ex-teammate and former best friend with benefits Adam Sheppard back into his life.
Coming to the small town of Avery River, Nova Scotia, might have been a mistake. Adam’s not sure he’ll ever win back Riley’s trust after the way they left things—and the attention he’s getting as a huge hockey star isn’t exactly helping. Yet the chemistry that crackles between them is undeniable, even now.
As Adam helps Riley navigate his grief, long-buried feelings start to resurface. But they’ll have to square off with their complicated past if they’re going to have a real shot at a new beginning.
332 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 4, 2025
2311 people are currently reading
22110 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Reid
20 books12.7k followersRachel Reid is the pen name of Rachelle Goguen. She chose it because it is much easier to say, spell and remember than Rachelle Goguen!
Rachel writes cute, romantic smut, mostly about hockey players. Her Game Changers m/m hockey romance series is available from Carina Press.
Rachel/Rachelle lives in Nova Scotia, Canada. She has always lived there, and it's looking like she probably always will. She has two boring degrees and two interesting kids.
Rachel writes cute, romantic smut, mostly about hockey players. Her Game Changers m/m hockey romance series is available from Carina Press.
Rachel/Rachelle lives in Nova Scotia, Canada. She has always lived there, and it's looking like she probably always will. She has two boring degrees and two interesting kids.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,252 reviews
March 30, 2025
i would read rachel reid's grocery list
February 14, 2025
and god said, “let there be rachel reid”
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December 30, 2024
MM Romance
Second Chance
1 Star ⭐️
DNF @ 72%
This is an arc. I don’t remember requesting this but I gave it a fair try despite not being the biggest Rachel Reid fan. I am one of the only people that didn’t love Heated Rivalry so most of you will take my review with a grain of salt but I’m going to be honest. I actually love second chance, right person wrong time angsty romances so I was actually looking forward to this once I learned what it was about and I did like it for a while until I didn’t.
Because…
I HATE ADAM! I hate Adam so much that nothing he can do will make me forgive him so I just cannot pick this book back up. In my eyes what he did to Riley was unforgivable. The way Adam made Riley feel in the past and the way he robbed him of ever having a positive future unless it included him sickened me. I was able to keep reading it for so long because this is slow burn city and there have been absolutely no sex scenes in the past or the present which I actually enjoyed plus Riley treating Adam like the piece of shit fuckhead that he is has been everything but unfortunately now that’s all about change. Adam has somehow weaseled himself back in when I don’t feel like he properly groveled. He was just annoying AF and wouldn’t go away and hasn’t even acknowledged the pain he caused Riley. I want to say so much more but I can’t because it’s technically an arc.
This is a Maya Angelou quote and while it’s kind of corny, it fits the whole idea of this book.
”“At the end of the day people won't remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel.”
And Adam deserves to rot in hell alone for how he made Riley feel. The fact he now gets a second chance is ridiculous. What did Riley get? Nothing! But Adam? Adam got to have it all. He lived Riley’s dreams while Riley fell apart and now he thinks he can show back up 12 years later when Riley is at his most vulnerable? FUCK OFF!!!!
Second Chance
1 Star ⭐️
DNF @ 72%
This is an arc. I don’t remember requesting this but I gave it a fair try despite not being the biggest Rachel Reid fan. I am one of the only people that didn’t love Heated Rivalry so most of you will take my review with a grain of salt but I’m going to be honest. I actually love second chance, right person wrong time angsty romances so I was actually looking forward to this once I learned what it was about and I did like it for a while until I didn’t.
Because…
I HATE ADAM! I hate Adam so much that nothing he can do will make me forgive him so I just cannot pick this book back up. In my eyes what he did to Riley was unforgivable. The way Adam made Riley feel in the past and the way he robbed him of ever having a positive future unless it included him sickened me. I was able to keep reading it for so long because this is slow burn city and there have been absolutely no sex scenes in the past or the present which I actually enjoyed plus Riley treating Adam like the piece of shit fuckhead that he is has been everything but unfortunately now that’s all about change. Adam has somehow weaseled himself back in when I don’t feel like he properly groveled. He was just annoying AF and wouldn’t go away and hasn’t even acknowledged the pain he caused Riley. I want to say so much more but I can’t because it’s technically an arc.
This is a Maya Angelou quote and while it’s kind of corny, it fits the whole idea of this book.
”“At the end of the day people won't remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel.”
And Adam deserves to rot in hell alone for how he made Riley feel. The fact he now gets a second chance is ridiculous. What did Riley get? Nothing! But Adam? Adam got to have it all. He lived Riley’s dreams while Riley fell apart and now he thinks he can show back up 12 years later when Riley is at his most vulnerable? FUCK OFF!!!!
April 26, 2026
"I'm sorry," Adam said.Riley and Adam used to be two peas in a pod, a dynamic duo on the ice, hockey stars who were also best friends (and a little bit more).
... "I can't do this right now," Riley said, meeting his eyes. "It's been a fucking week, and I have to go across the street and put Dad in the ground."
But Adam could never handle the thought of others knowing the truth and so in his mid-twenties when he knocked up Maggie, he got married - much to Riley's shock and devastation.
"Riles," Adam whispered against Riley's jawline, and god, Riley loved it when Adam said his name when they did this.
Nearly twenty years later, with Adam's divorce finalized and custody for the kids arranged, he pops into Riley's small town to pay his respects for the loss of Riley's father.
Riley thought he was over Adam, he thought his life had moved on...and yet, part of him still misses who they were.
Riley exhaled. "I'm barely holding it together."
But with the nearly overwhelming grief, Adam's failed marriage, and the events that led to Riley dropping out of hockey alltogether...is rekindling a potential romance even worth the time?
Adam thinks so.
Well well well....I may be a hockey fan after all. It's the sport with with all the ice skating? And something about a lonnnnng stick, right?
Joking aside, there's just something about Rachel Reid and all her various hockey spinoff books that really capture my interest. I like how each couple has their own twist but not in a gimmicky way.
This couple is dealing with lost opportunities and grief over the loss of a loved one, and it never felt forced or like it was being used as a plot device. It felt like she was telling their stories and how they fit together despite their past wrongs.
I also appreciate how each book examines queerness and how people can relate to the movement and identity in different ways - and how that affects their relationships or how they interact with their world.
And of course...it was also delightfully spicy.
December 24, 2025
calling it now, this is gonna be my favorite rachel reid book right behind heated rivalry & the long game
December 21, 2025
Not my fav. A lot heavier than her other books and the second chance set up didn’t have me rooting for them but I honestly would read Rachel Reid’s grocery list at this rate!
TW: death of a parent
TW: death of a parent
September 29, 2024
*4.5 stars*
Heartbreak and grovel porn redemption... can we even ask for more?
The question I was asking myself before starting The Shots You Take is where does Rachel Reid go from Heated Rivalry? I mean, when you write nearly the perfect duology, it's so hard to keep innovating and finding new couples to enthrall readers. But enthrall me she did with The Shots You Take.
I think the older I get, the more I want older MCs in my romance. The fact that we get two men in their 40s finding each other and love again is just *chef's kiss*. Give me men starting to grow gray with smile lines any day of the week. As I got to know the characters, I wanted a HEA for them SO BADLY, especially Riley (more on him as the review goes on).
Now, I'm not a fan (usually) of second chance romances. My issue is that the relationship development happens mostly BEFORE the beginning of the story, so it's very hard to capture the nuance and all of the deep feelings of the couple. I rate these stories much more harshly, and I am often left without that emotional connection. However, we get emotions in SPADES here.
The angst and emotion hits you from the FIRST PAGE. Whew! Take head of the *pain and loss* trigger warnings, because I was honestly crying in the first quarter of this book. Riley is HURTING. He is going through one of the hardest times in his life, and Adam returning is anything but joyful. I wanted to hold Riley so close to me, and I wanted to punch Adam in his face at the same time. You will NOT want to forgive Adam. I didn't. I wanted Riley to make Adam suffffffeeeeerrrrr, and though we get lots of lots of groveling, I don't think I would have been as generous with Adam, in the end.
Adam is a complicated character because, though I understood him and what he was going through, the fact that he was so willfully ignorant and negligent with Riley's emotions for all of those years was a hard pill to swallow. Riley has to dig deep to come to terms with all of that and put the past behind them, and I think Adam really matures through the course of this book. But Adam was on very thin ice with me.
When it comes down to it, this angsty book with emotionally battered former professional hockey players in their 40s was just what I needed from Rachel Reid. Any book that makes me feel things as deeply as I did and makes me feel ALL the big emotions is a winner. I love you, Rachel Reid. Please never stop writing your complicated hockey players.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
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Heartbreak and grovel porn redemption... can we even ask for more?
The question I was asking myself before starting The Shots You Take is where does Rachel Reid go from Heated Rivalry? I mean, when you write nearly the perfect duology, it's so hard to keep innovating and finding new couples to enthrall readers. But enthrall me she did with The Shots You Take.
I think the older I get, the more I want older MCs in my romance. The fact that we get two men in their 40s finding each other and love again is just *chef's kiss*. Give me men starting to grow gray with smile lines any day of the week. As I got to know the characters, I wanted a HEA for them SO BADLY, especially Riley (more on him as the review goes on).
Now, I'm not a fan (usually) of second chance romances. My issue is that the relationship development happens mostly BEFORE the beginning of the story, so it's very hard to capture the nuance and all of the deep feelings of the couple. I rate these stories much more harshly, and I am often left without that emotional connection. However, we get emotions in SPADES here.
The angst and emotion hits you from the FIRST PAGE. Whew! Take head of the *pain and loss* trigger warnings, because I was honestly crying in the first quarter of this book. Riley is HURTING. He is going through one of the hardest times in his life, and Adam returning is anything but joyful. I wanted to hold Riley so close to me, and I wanted to punch Adam in his face at the same time. You will NOT want to forgive Adam. I didn't. I wanted Riley to make Adam suffffffeeeeerrrrr, and though we get lots of lots of groveling, I don't think I would have been as generous with Adam, in the end.
Adam is a complicated character because, though I understood him and what he was going through, the fact that he was so willfully ignorant and negligent with Riley's emotions for all of those years was a hard pill to swallow. Riley has to dig deep to come to terms with all of that and put the past behind them, and I think Adam really matures through the course of this book. But Adam was on very thin ice with me.
When it comes down to it, this angsty book with emotionally battered former professional hockey players in their 40s was just what I needed from Rachel Reid. Any book that makes me feel things as deeply as I did and makes me feel ALL the big emotions is a winner. I love you, Rachel Reid. Please never stop writing your complicated hockey players.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
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February 15, 2025
~3.5~
This book doesn't sugarcoat anything, especially grief.
Riley is a broken man. He's loved Adam for many years, but Adam used him, mocked him, traded him in, and left him behind.
Then Riley unexpectedly loses his beloved dad - the dad who cheered him on, put up Pride stickers, and was Riley's rock.
Adam shows up for the funeral, and Riley is anything but thrilled.
I'm honestly over reading about closeted athletes who fuck their best guy friend and pretend it was just ... Adrenaline? Alcohol? Entertainment?
This isn't the 80s. Nearly a third of Gen Z-ers identify as LGBQT. Despite the religious right's best efforts, "queer" is not a dirty word.
Anyway, after finally crawling out of the closet and divorcing his wife, Adam desperately wants another shot at love, but Riley is resistant, as he should be. I wanted Riley to be happy, but I hated Adam. He grew on me, but it took a while. Thankfully, Riley made him grovel.
I adored Lucky the dog, but Adam's kids were entirely absent, which was weird and uncomfortable. They were mentioned but never present. We have no idea how they reacted to Adam being with Riley.
The whole thing with Adam's ex-wife being his great friend or whatever ... cool, cool, but why the hell did you lie to her for over a decade? And she's like, yay, I'm so excited for you. Nah. This just rang false.
Hurray for MCs in their 40s, but it would be nice if the illustration actually reflected their age. Those dudes look like they're 28 max.
Despite these niggles, I'll say the writing is solid and the relationship complex. Reid has a way of painting raw emotions with words. If you like second-chance novels, this one's a good bet.
This book doesn't sugarcoat anything, especially grief.
Riley is a broken man. He's loved Adam for many years, but Adam used him, mocked him, traded him in, and left him behind.
Then Riley unexpectedly loses his beloved dad - the dad who cheered him on, put up Pride stickers, and was Riley's rock.
Adam shows up for the funeral, and Riley is anything but thrilled.
I'm honestly over reading about closeted athletes who fuck their best guy friend and pretend it was just ... Adrenaline? Alcohol? Entertainment?
This isn't the 80s. Nearly a third of Gen Z-ers identify as LGBQT. Despite the religious right's best efforts, "queer" is not a dirty word.
Anyway, after finally crawling out of the closet and divorcing his wife, Adam desperately wants another shot at love, but Riley is resistant, as he should be. I wanted Riley to be happy, but I hated Adam. He grew on me, but it took a while. Thankfully, Riley made him grovel.
I adored Lucky the dog, but Adam's kids were entirely absent, which was weird and uncomfortable. They were mentioned but never present. We have no idea how they reacted to Adam being with Riley.
The whole thing with Adam's ex-wife being his great friend or whatever ... cool, cool, but why the hell did you lie to her for over a decade? And she's like, yay, I'm so excited for you. Nah. This just rang false.
Hurray for MCs in their 40s, but it would be nice if the illustration actually reflected their age. Those dudes look like they're 28 max.
Despite these niggles, I'll say the writing is solid and the relationship complex. Reid has a way of painting raw emotions with words. If you like second-chance novels, this one's a good bet.
February 13, 2025
Dnf @ 28%
Calling it quits on this one as I can't imagine ANYTHING Adam could do that would redeem him in my eyes to the point of liking him and wanting him and Riley to be together. Second-chance romances only rarely work for me and The Shots You Take proved to me I should probably steer clear of them.
Reasons for my dnf of a book I've been super psyched for: (all the spoilers)
I read an ARC of this book from the publisher and Netgalley
Calling it quits on this one as I can't imagine ANYTHING Adam could do that would redeem him in my eyes to the point of liking him and wanting him and Riley to be together. Second-chance romances only rarely work for me and The Shots You Take proved to me I should probably steer clear of them.
Reasons for my dnf of a book I've been super psyched for: (all the spoilers)
I read an ARC of this book from the publisher and Netgalley
March 9, 2025
Oh, I liked this one more than Time to Shine (I liked that one too, but this one just a bit more!). It just hit all the right notes, a slow burn second chance romance (okay, the story itself only takes place in a week or so), two men in their forties (we need more older MCs!), and the first pages grief-stricken (and we know I’m a sucker for sadder stories).
Riley’s grief was so palpable in the first part of the story. His love for his father shone through the pages, and I loved all those small family dynamics. They were all so relatable. I immediately wanted to hug him.
Even though I hated the way Adam had treated Riley in the past, he was the one I had a soft spot for. Without many words, Adam was so quietly caring. All those tender moments, bringing coffee and breakfast in the morning, just lying in bed and comforting Riley because he needed it.
I think the tenderness in this story stood out for me the most. Two grown-up men who’d already lived a part of their lives and finally felt they were coming home. And that epilogue was chef’s kiss.
Thank you, Harlequin Romance and NetGalley, for this wonderful ARC. I loved reading it!
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Riley’s grief was so palpable in the first part of the story. His love for his father shone through the pages, and I loved all those small family dynamics. They were all so relatable. I immediately wanted to hug him.
Even though I hated the way Adam had treated Riley in the past, he was the one I had a soft spot for. Without many words, Adam was so quietly caring. All those tender moments, bringing coffee and breakfast in the morning, just lying in bed and comforting Riley because he needed it.
I think the tenderness in this story stood out for me the most. Two grown-up men who’d already lived a part of their lives and finally felt they were coming home. And that epilogue was chef’s kiss.
Thank you, Harlequin Romance and NetGalley, for this wonderful ARC. I loved reading it!
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March 12, 2025
3.5 stars
I really enjoyed the first two-thirds of the story. Much more than I expected. It's very slow burn and slow paced, which I liked. It felt more realistic, considering Riley and Adam haven't seen each other for so many years and didn't part ways on good terms. It's also quite sad.
Did I like the Adam in the past? No, I didn't. The way he treated Riley isn't something I would be able to get over. But this is fiction and I do feel that Riley got some kind of satisfaction in the end.
My interest started to wane in the last third of the book. There are a lot of sex scenes when they finally get together, like the author needed to make up for the rest of the book. They started to feel generic and repetitive. I 'skimmed' through most of them. There's also one conversation between Adam and his kids that I didn't like. Felt more like a quick solution to the future living situation, than a realistic conversation. The epilogue is a bit rushed and too far in the future for my liking.
A very enjoyable narration by Greg Boudreaux. He is the reason I wanted to give this book a try so soon.
I really enjoyed the first two-thirds of the story. Much more than I expected. It's very slow burn and slow paced, which I liked. It felt more realistic, considering Riley and Adam haven't seen each other for so many years and didn't part ways on good terms. It's also quite sad.
Did I like the Adam in the past? No, I didn't. The way he treated Riley isn't something I would be able to get over. But this is fiction and I do feel that Riley got some kind of satisfaction in the end.
My interest started to wane in the last third of the book. There are a lot of sex scenes when they finally get together, like the author needed to make up for the rest of the book. They started to feel generic and repetitive. I 'skimmed' through most of them. There's also one conversation between Adam and his kids that I didn't like. Felt more like a quick solution to the future living situation, than a realistic conversation. The epilogue is a bit rushed and too far in the future for my liking.
A very enjoyable narration by Greg Boudreaux. He is the reason I wanted to give this book a try so soon.
November 15, 2024
'I love you so much I might die from it.'—every time an MC thinks this, loving the other MC almost kills him💀 it's like some sort of cursed manifestation.
'They weren't gay. Adam just liked having sex with his friend sometimes.'
Oh. He's one of those.
I'm mildly offended on Riley's behalf that everyone who hears their story automatically assumes that what happened between him and Adam was a case of unrequited love.
Like, excuse me? Riley's the catch in this scenario.
Also, the more I read MM romances, the more I suspect that I've not been paying enough attention to men's crotches because how is it that one MC can always see the other's bulge FILLING UP while he's clothed? Is it a spidey sense that I'm missing? Much to think about.
I loved that Riley got to be prickly and petulant. Maybe because the format of the book allows for most of it to be one long grovel by Adam. But I like that Riley got to feel his feelings and express them without the Damocles sword of the book having only 15% to end hanging over him and pushing him to forgive before he was ready.
The "Why do you keep doing this to me?" 50% in broke my heart for this man.
My major issue is that it seems like Adam got to have it all and Riley got nothing. For twelve years. Then once Adam was done conquering frontiers, he doubled back to have Riley too. I hate that for Riley.
Sweet Riley, who fantasized about having kids with this man once upon a time.
Oh my God. I'm going to die alone. Because if I can't forgive fictional men for fictional crimes.....
12 years later and it's 'Thank you for being brave enough to come find me.'
Sigh. I wanted him to want better for himself.
Riley got to express his aggression and bitterness over the situation with Adam but I don't, so I'm resentful on his behalf. That man wasted SO. MUCH. TIME.
Anyway.
'Adam still wasn't the most skilled cocksucker in the world, but he didn't need to be. Not for Riley.'
And why not? Like if you HAD to ruin us and be gone for twelve years, at least return with SOMETHING.
But noooo. Busted shoulder and regret.
Anyway. I loved that this is the kind of hockey romance that involves almost zero hockey 🙈.
I loved that the MCs actually talk through things. Because there's a lot of amends to be made, and it wouldn't have worked otherwise.
I love that Shane now has company on the list of Reid MCs who are objectively shitty but we have to endure them because the other MC loves them so much.
I usually hate kids in romance, and I hated them here too.
Overall I loved the first 70% of this which was Riley being catty💀. The last 30% got too sappy for me.
'They weren't gay. Adam just liked having sex with his friend sometimes.'
Oh. He's one of those.
I'm mildly offended on Riley's behalf that everyone who hears their story automatically assumes that what happened between him and Adam was a case of unrequited love.
Like, excuse me? Riley's the catch in this scenario.
Also, the more I read MM romances, the more I suspect that I've not been paying enough attention to men's crotches because how is it that one MC can always see the other's bulge FILLING UP while he's clothed? Is it a spidey sense that I'm missing? Much to think about.
I loved that Riley got to be prickly and petulant. Maybe because the format of the book allows for most of it to be one long grovel by Adam. But I like that Riley got to feel his feelings and express them without the Damocles sword of the book having only 15% to end hanging over him and pushing him to forgive before he was ready.
The "Why do you keep doing this to me?" 50% in broke my heart for this man.
My major issue is that it seems like Adam got to have it all and Riley got nothing. For twelve years. Then once Adam was done conquering frontiers, he doubled back to have Riley too. I hate that for Riley.
Sweet Riley, who fantasized about having kids with this man once upon a time.
Oh my God. I'm going to die alone. Because if I can't forgive fictional men for fictional crimes.....
12 years later and it's 'Thank you for being brave enough to come find me.'
Sigh. I wanted him to want better for himself.
Riley got to express his aggression and bitterness over the situation with Adam but I don't, so I'm resentful on his behalf. That man wasted SO. MUCH. TIME.
Anyway.
'Adam still wasn't the most skilled cocksucker in the world, but he didn't need to be. Not for Riley.'
And why not? Like if you HAD to ruin us and be gone for twelve years, at least return with SOMETHING.
But noooo. Busted shoulder and regret.
Anyway. I loved that this is the kind of hockey romance that involves almost zero hockey 🙈.
I loved that the MCs actually talk through things. Because there's a lot of amends to be made, and it wouldn't have worked otherwise.
I love that Shane now has company on the list of Reid MCs who are objectively shitty but we have to endure them because the other MC loves them so much.
I usually hate kids in romance, and I hated them here too.
Overall I loved the first 70% of this which was Riley being catty💀. The last 30% got too sappy for me.
February 2, 2026
Okay, hear me out. On the one hand, this was an easy read, it kept me engaged, I finished it relatively fast, I really liked that it focused on older main characters, and I thought it was decently well written. But on the other hand, it also made me angry. Because this is a second chance romance, and those are always tricky because eventually it will come down to this: Is whatever happened to turn this into a second chance scenario forgivable? And in this case, my answer is FUCK NO.
Adam was irredeemable. He stringed Riley along for years, he broke his heart repeatedly and knowingly, he laughed in his face when Riley confessed his love to him when they were teammates, he married a woman and had children with her, cheated on her with Riley and then was upset about Riley finally putting himself first and walking away from him and this toxic relationship.
And don’t even get me started on Adam then coming back into Riley’s life by attending Riley’s dad’s funeral, years and years after Riley left, under the pretence of wanting to be there for him and support him when all of that actually was just for his own benefit.
Because at that point, Adam had finally admitted to himself that he was gay and decided that the funeral of Riley’s dad was a great opportunity to weasel his way back into Riley’s life. I was actually so mad reading this.
Like he doesn't even really apologise..
Riley deserved so much better.
__
New year, old me ✌️
Adam was irredeemable. He stringed Riley along for years, he broke his heart repeatedly and knowingly, he laughed in his face when Riley confessed his love to him when they were teammates, he married a woman and had children with her, cheated on her with Riley and then was upset about Riley finally putting himself first and walking away from him and this toxic relationship.
And don’t even get me started on Adam then coming back into Riley’s life by attending Riley’s dad’s funeral, years and years after Riley left, under the pretence of wanting to be there for him and support him when all of that actually was just for his own benefit.
Because at that point, Adam had finally admitted to himself that he was gay and decided that the funeral of Riley’s dad was a great opportunity to weasel his way back into Riley’s life. I was actually so mad reading this.
Like he doesn't even really apologise..
Riley deserved so much better.
__
New year, old me ✌️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2025
Rachel Reid truly never misses. I adored this book and everything about it. I loved both of the main characters and loved watching their journey. I loved the side characters too, it was a cast that felt so real. The setting was also wonderful to read about. Flashback scenes can be very hit or miss for me but I loved it in this book and seeing these small glimpses of Adam and Riley when they were young. Another book from Reid that proves I'm going to follow her to each release.
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January 31, 2025
The Shots You Take by Rachel Reid is a stand alone, MM, hockey romance. I just this minute finished this book and right now am overflowing with ALL the feels. That last chapter was so sweet, I suspect I might have a bit of a book hangover the next few days. I can say without a doubt that these two men are going to live for a very long time in my heart. The first half of the book was pretty emotional I have to admit while they navigated their past history. But the entire second half I feel like was filled with hope for their future. I really do love this book so much!
Adam Sheppard and Riley Tuck were hockey teammates when they were in their twenties in Toronto. They were also roommates both in their apartment and when they traveled. Riley knew he was gay at that time but kept it a secret. Riley was also secretly in love with Adam. They were together all the time and eventually developed a secret friends with benefits situation which in Adam’s mind was just for fun. Until he began dating a woman, married her and started a family. Riley eventually left Toronto for another team and they haven’t seen each other in twelve years.
In the present, they are both now in their forties, which I loved. When Riley has a family tragedy, Adam shows up in Avery River, Nova Scotia, Riley’s home town, to support him. Riley can’t understand why Adam has turned up after all the years and bad feelings between them. But Adam is persistent. He is there to help, even though Riley keeps trying to push him away. Adam wants to put things right between them once and for all.
With the emotional upheaval of Riley’s grief, and having Adam there which is bringing back all the emotions he spent twelve years trying to bury, it is overwhelming. But Adam proves over and over that he is there for him. Slowly, truths come out and old feelings resurface. Adam is determined to do things right this time. He is determined that he will earn Riley’s trust and heart. Riley’s heart slowly softens and he starts to let Adam back in but their time is limited. Adam has to go back to Toronto. Riley’s home is in Avery River. What could any future for them even look like?
Throughout the story, we get little glimpses into their pasts which helps us to understand their feelings for each other in the present. I just loved these two so much. Their pain was so big but their love for one another even bigger. And they were both so brave. Riley had been through so much but he did what he had to do to be healthy. And Adam might have been too scared when they were young to figure out his truths, but I loved the way he owned up to everything as the man he is now. The epilogue pretty much slayed me and as I said before, I’ll be thinking about these two for a very long time.
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
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Adam Sheppard and Riley Tuck were hockey teammates when they were in their twenties in Toronto. They were also roommates both in their apartment and when they traveled. Riley knew he was gay at that time but kept it a secret. Riley was also secretly in love with Adam. They were together all the time and eventually developed a secret friends with benefits situation which in Adam’s mind was just for fun. Until he began dating a woman, married her and started a family. Riley eventually left Toronto for another team and they haven’t seen each other in twelve years.
In the present, they are both now in their forties, which I loved. When Riley has a family tragedy, Adam shows up in Avery River, Nova Scotia, Riley’s home town, to support him. Riley can’t understand why Adam has turned up after all the years and bad feelings between them. But Adam is persistent. He is there to help, even though Riley keeps trying to push him away. Adam wants to put things right between them once and for all.
With the emotional upheaval of Riley’s grief, and having Adam there which is bringing back all the emotions he spent twelve years trying to bury, it is overwhelming. But Adam proves over and over that he is there for him. Slowly, truths come out and old feelings resurface. Adam is determined to do things right this time. He is determined that he will earn Riley’s trust and heart. Riley’s heart slowly softens and he starts to let Adam back in but their time is limited. Adam has to go back to Toronto. Riley’s home is in Avery River. What could any future for them even look like?
Throughout the story, we get little glimpses into their pasts which helps us to understand their feelings for each other in the present. I just loved these two so much. Their pain was so big but their love for one another even bigger. And they were both so brave. Riley had been through so much but he did what he had to do to be healthy. And Adam might have been too scared when they were young to figure out his truths, but I loved the way he owned up to everything as the man he is now. The epilogue pretty much slayed me and as I said before, I’ll be thinking about these two for a very long time.
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
March 22, 2025
First of all, thanks to Carina Adores and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this book before its release.
I am a huge Rachel Reid fan, but I have to admit I was a bit nervous about reading this book because I'm not a fan of second-chance romance and I was not sure I was going to love it as much as Heated Rivalry. But I have to say that I think this might be her best book so far.
I was not expecting to have all the feelings that this book gave me. I know that Rachel Reid can write angst like The Long Game is super sad and angsty so I sort of knew that she could do it but I kind of forgot because Time to Shine is more rom-com so I can say I was highly surprised by the level of angst, like this was angsty from chapter 1, it starts very sadly with the funeral of Riley's dad and the sadness doesn't stop until the very end.
By the end, I was very happy with how their relationship progressed, the forgiveness and the steps they made to be together, and the epilogue was just perfect ❤️
I am a huge Rachel Reid fan, but I have to admit I was a bit nervous about reading this book because I'm not a fan of second-chance romance and I was not sure I was going to love it as much as Heated Rivalry. But I have to say that I think this might be her best book so far.
I was not expecting to have all the feelings that this book gave me. I know that Rachel Reid can write angst like The Long Game is super sad and angsty so I sort of knew that she could do it but I kind of forgot because Time to Shine is more rom-com so I can say I was highly surprised by the level of angst, like this was angsty from chapter 1, it starts very sadly with the funeral of Riley's dad and the sadness doesn't stop until the very end.
By the end, I was very happy with how their relationship progressed, the forgiveness and the steps they made to be together, and the epilogue was just perfect ❤️
March 10, 2025
I still hate Adam
November 8, 2024
I’m usually not a fan of second chance romance, especially when it ended bad between the two MCs. But since it’s Rachel Reid I was ready to give it a chance and this felt like a brick to the face…in a good way?
This whole book just felt sad. Riley just lost his beloved father and the last thing he needs is for the love of his life to appear at the funeral, 12 years after they talked for the last time.
I was SO ready to hate Adam for everything he has done, but this story simply shows how bad it is for (men) in professional sports if you’re queer. Riley and Adam are in their 40s, so when they just started out their NHL career things had been even worse, not only in sports, but the general acceptance for queer people.
While Riley at least had a loving family, Adam grew up in an unsupportive household in every way, so I kinda got where he came from and why he acted the way he did.
For years both of them have been hurting in their own way and Adam really did his everything to support Riley in one of the worst times of his life.
I loved how they slowly warmed up to each other again, how Adam made small changes to Rileys situation turn into happier moments.
They actually talked and stopped denying themselves.
When this book started in the most sad way, it ended in the happiest way possible and made me want 300 pages more of them. I flew through this story and couldn’t think about anything else.
For a person who’s not into sad books OR second chance romance this made me change my mind about both!
TW for the mention of abusive parents (one sentence hit me out of nowhere and really triggered me, I hope they include a TW in the finished book!)
This whole book just felt sad. Riley just lost his beloved father and the last thing he needs is for the love of his life to appear at the funeral, 12 years after they talked for the last time.
I was SO ready to hate Adam for everything he has done, but this story simply shows how bad it is for (men) in professional sports if you’re queer. Riley and Adam are in their 40s, so when they just started out their NHL career things had been even worse, not only in sports, but the general acceptance for queer people.
While Riley at least had a loving family, Adam grew up in an unsupportive household in every way, so I kinda got where he came from and why he acted the way he did.
For years both of them have been hurting in their own way and Adam really did his everything to support Riley in one of the worst times of his life.
I loved how they slowly warmed up to each other again, how Adam made small changes to Rileys situation turn into happier moments.
They actually talked and stopped denying themselves.
When this book started in the most sad way, it ended in the happiest way possible and made me want 300 pages more of them. I flew through this story and couldn’t think about anything else.
For a person who’s not into sad books OR second chance romance this made me change my mind about both!
TW for the mention of abusive parents (one sentence hit me out of nowhere and really triggered me, I hope they include a TW in the finished book!)
March 16, 2025
This second chance romance is a sloooooow burn, but the payoff is so worth it! Rachel Reid manages to find a lot of just-right balances in this book-it’s both sweet and spicy, has just enough hockey, and balances moving the plot forward with creating a cozy, Canadian setting that is easily to fall in love with. I was able to listen to the audiobook through the Hive and Harlequin audio, and this audio is easy to listen to at 1.75-2x speed making it a super fast read. Riley and Adam’s chemistry is off the chart, and listening to both of their journeys of self-discovery is rewarding. Definitely recommend!
March 13, 2025
It's Rachel Reid so I knew I was going to love The Shots You Take, but I didn't know how much I'd love it. This is one of my favourites from her, just behind Heated Rivalry and The Long Game (Shane and Ilya will always be #1 duh!).
This is former teammates and former friends-with-benefits, set when they're both retired from hockey and a lot of shit has gone down between them. The second chance friends and romance was so well done, I really enjoyed it!
Riley and Adam have so much history together. We get a few scenes set in their past that did a really good job showing where, and why, they're at in their present. I love them together.
This is former teammates and former friends-with-benefits, set when they're both retired from hockey and a lot of shit has gone down between them. The second chance friends and romance was so well done, I really enjoyed it!
Riley and Adam have so much history together. We get a few scenes set in their past that did a really good job showing where, and why, they're at in their present. I love them together.
March 6, 2025
Another winner by Rachel Reid! Best friends to lovers, second chance romance, hockey players. I laughed, I cried, I swooned, I got mad, I got hot.
My only complaint is the epilogue, it was too far into the future and I would have loved to really live those moments on page with Riley and Adam rather than being told about them.
ETA: I will add that I totally understand why this book is not for everyone. But if you love a good heartbreak and a second chance for the jerk who broke it, this is for you. It hurt so good.
My only complaint is the epilogue, it was too far into the future and I would have loved to really live those moments on page with Riley and Adam rather than being told about them.
ETA: I will add that I totally understand why this book is not for everyone. But if you love a good heartbreak and a second chance for the jerk who broke it, this is for you. It hurt so good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2025
March 2025 re-read in audio: This book gets better on every read and the audio is really well done! That is all.
January 2025 re-read: Well I meant to read it at a slower pace and I failed. Once again could not put it down. And I get why some people are so mad at Adam but I think it's a solid redemption story and he really puts in the work! Looking forward to publication when more people can read it and I can listen to the audio!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Oh dear. Once again, I feel incapable of writing an objective and coherent review of a Rachel Reid book. Yet another pleasant surprise of a fave author making two of my least favourite tropes work: friend to lovers and second chances.
After reading the blurb, it basically took all of 1.5 pages before I was emotionally hooked. And then it was not long before I was all in and could not put it down. It's been a while since I read a book that I devoured in a day. I need to re-read at a slower pace in the next couple of weeks. And I'll be pre-ordering and listening to the audio on pub day for sure!
Compared to Rachel Reid's other books, tonally, this book is like a combo of Tough Guy and Time to Shine. There is no shortage of the author's trademark humour, but the humour is there to balance some ever-present grief - both of the fresh and unearthed variety - and mental health stuff. Oh and there is so much pining and romance. It had me swooning. This book is relatively less steamy than her others but the tension is excellent and it's still very hot.
What made this book stand out from the author's other books are the more mature characters (in their 40s!) and while there is some hockey on page, it feels more distant. I am inclined to say that this felt heavier than her other books but it might be more that the stakes feel higher.
If, like me, you have read and re-read all of Rachel Reid's books, you might notice a lot of familiar beats and micro core stories all rolled into this latest book. I'm never quite sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing but it's definitely there. (If you've read The Long Game, you can't help but think that this could be an alternate telling of Coach Wiebe's story . . .) And there were a few spots that felt like they could use some tighter editing (but I was reading the ARC so that could be cleared up before publication.)
Anyway, all that to say, I loved this book and look forward to adding it to my comfort re-read list.
Content notes include: very recent loss of a parent, so much grief, mental health issues and breakdown, alcoholism, infidelity, internalized homophobia, homophobia
I received a digital Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley and Carina Adores in exchange for an honest review.
January 2025 re-read: Well I meant to read it at a slower pace and I failed. Once again could not put it down. And I get why some people are so mad at Adam but I think it's a solid redemption story and he really puts in the work! Looking forward to publication when more people can read it and I can listen to the audio!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Oh dear. Once again, I feel incapable of writing an objective and coherent review of a Rachel Reid book. Yet another pleasant surprise of a fave author making two of my least favourite tropes work: friend to lovers and second chances.
After reading the blurb, it basically took all of 1.5 pages before I was emotionally hooked. And then it was not long before I was all in and could not put it down. It's been a while since I read a book that I devoured in a day. I need to re-read at a slower pace in the next couple of weeks. And I'll be pre-ordering and listening to the audio on pub day for sure!
Compared to Rachel Reid's other books, tonally, this book is like a combo of Tough Guy and Time to Shine. There is no shortage of the author's trademark humour, but the humour is there to balance some ever-present grief - both of the fresh and unearthed variety - and mental health stuff. Oh and there is so much pining and romance. It had me swooning. This book is relatively less steamy than her others but the tension is excellent and it's still very hot.
What made this book stand out from the author's other books are the more mature characters (in their 40s!) and while there is some hockey on page, it feels more distant. I am inclined to say that this felt heavier than her other books but it might be more that the stakes feel higher.
If, like me, you have read and re-read all of Rachel Reid's books, you might notice a lot of familiar beats and micro core stories all rolled into this latest book. I'm never quite sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing but it's definitely there. (If you've read The Long Game, you can't help but think that this could be an alternate telling of Coach Wiebe's story . . .) And there were a few spots that felt like they could use some tighter editing (but I was reading the ARC so that could be cleared up before publication.)
Anyway, all that to say, I loved this book and look forward to adding it to my comfort re-read list.
Content notes include: very recent loss of a parent, so much grief, mental health issues and breakdown, alcoholism, infidelity, internalized homophobia, homophobia
I received a digital Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley and Carina Adores in exchange for an honest review.
won-t-read-bc-nopes
January 7, 2025Just adding to the DNR shelf. Another cover I'm attracted to, but, after researching reviews, this is not one for me. I would be rooting for the heroes to NOT end up together, given the treatment of one for the other, the lack of remorse, the lack of apology or even remotely understanding just how hurtful he was, and for approaching at such a time of vulnerability? Are you kidding? Unheroic moral code...No.
However, if you're different from me? Many are LOVING the read, so, give it a shot! This author is a terrific writer. I find that about 50% of her choices with romance do not work for me. But the ones that do are great! Make your own decision.
However, if you're different from me? Many are LOVING the read, so, give it a shot! This author is a terrific writer. I find that about 50% of her choices with romance do not work for me. But the ones that do are great! Make your own decision.
March 9, 2025
I’m sorry I had to return this book. There’s just no way everything Adam did was forgivable.
January 10, 2026
Witty and emotionally resonant. I love the way this made me smile and ache in equal measure. Angsty and melancholic. But also funny with its incisive dry humor and banter. Tender and sweet. I’ll stop listing adjectives now! We get it all and it just *works,* splendidly. After Riley’s beloved dad dies, the man who was once both his best friend and lover returns to Riley’s small Canadian town to be there for him. The catch? Adam and Riley haven’t spoken in twelve years…for a laundry list of reasons. Adam broke Riley’s heart, first and foremost. They’re both in their 40s now. Is the saying true, can time heal all wounds? I enjoyed this one a lot. Felt the angst and longing from page one. The slow burn was delicious. The characters are complicated and interesting. I can see why in so many reviews Adam is hated by readers. I myself have my fair share of literary enemies. But Adam isn’t one of mine. His misdoings are one of the reasons I found him so interesting to read about. And maybe in another book I’ve complained about all the same things Adam did. But for me it will always be the way in which the character is written and the repentance after that makes me decide how I feel. There’s so much excellent groveling here and regret. I am not in the business of reading about someone who makes all the “right” choices. The plot, Adam’s wrong moves, getting back what was lost even though it will never be the same; were all incredibly compelling things to read about. I wouldn’t change a thing. The side characters were great too and added a lot to the story. The scenes with Riley’s mom and sister in particular were really special to me. Made me cry! Oh and of course Lucky the dog. His appearance consistently made me smile. I have various gripes with small town romances and tend to avoid them but I’m happy I picked this up. I’m going to list my typical small town romance gripes and then how The Shots You Take subverts those issues I have. Firstly, it feels like everyone is in the main characters business in an extremely annoying way. But somehow here even if that does still happen, I was so charmed. Maybe because the interactions rather than feeling nosey and obtrusive are so warm and kind. Interactions made out of care for our characters instead of ones solely looking for the next piece of hot gossip. Secondly, it often feels like nothing happens. But I was enthralled here. There was so much narrative tension and I was so engaged with the story. Nothing is easily resolved or glossed over. I love love LOVE the second chance romance trope when it’s done well. The past and present timelines add so much context to Riley and Adam’s relationship. We get to feel the lows but also the highs and I will always think that is so important in romance media. I don’t vibe well with the low low low low or hurt hurt hurt hurt being all we’re shown in a romance. It’s interesting I read this back to back with Sweet Wicked Thing for a few reasons. Both have the second chance romance trope, hurt / comfort trope, past and present timelines, one person clearly wanting the romantic connection back more than the other, groveling, something huge and life altering happening in the past that changed the two main character’s dynamic…it’s a long list! So I’m obviously comparing the two in my mind and just appreciating the execution of all of these same tropes in this book so much more. This book I suppose doing a lot of things “right” that Sweet Wicked Thing did in my eyes…not “right” (to me!!!). Using quotations here because reading is of course, subjective. But the groundwork of Adam and Riley’s relationship was laid. We get to see the WHY. One of my biggest issues with Sweet Wicked Thing…Not seeing the why. And yes I know there will be a part two and maybe more of the why comes in then. But…I think it’s so needed in the very first book!!! Why are these two characters obsessed or in love or still pining. A necessity in second chance romance! This book also deals a great deal with grief and mental illness. I thought this was handled well and with so much care. Overall I found The Shots You Take felt fresh and like something really special in a sea of romance book that are so by the numbers cookie cutter and can sometimes leave my mind immediately. Also this was my first ever audiobook that I actually finished! The narrator was fantastic - (Greg Boudreaux.) Oh my god!!! It also helped that I actually finally enjoyed the story of the audiobook I chose lol. Oh and taking turns between listening and reading! I listened to probably about 70% and read about 30% on my kindle. But anyways I just feel like this opened up a whole new world to me previously undiscovered. Turns out audiobooks can work for me, I just hadn’t found the right one yet. ☺️
March 10, 2025
Rachel Reid is a favorite author. I enjoyed this second-chances story of two hockey players who split apart in their youth due to the homophobia of the sport, finding each other and the truth of who they were and are now over a decade later. There is palpable angst, and warm love.
I wasn't totally sold on the structure. There are some flashbacks, and while they give us a glimpse at the early relationship, I felt they weren't needed. The interactions of the two older men in the present day was intense and nuanced, and I felt deeply engaged, so each flashback shook me loose from the story a bit. However I always got sucked back in immediately when we returned to the present day.
Riley was easy to love and empathize with and hurt for - in his past, his present losses, and in the way Adam had been so oblivious to his needs, and so scared of his own, that he broke Riley along with their relationship. Adam is more complex - while he does come to a recognition of what he did, I wasn't totally convinced he felt the true impact of his past actions on Riley. He does a ton of trying to make up for the past, and I was glad to see it. He's there for Riley, as they try to rebuild. But I'd have loved to see him get smacked in the face once with the true extent of Riley's past pain and the depth of his own selfishness. There is groveling, but I actually wished for a bit more.
However, I love books with older MCs and really enjoyed that part. I did believe these two loved each other, then and now, and was cheering for their relationship. The secondary characters were great, and this was an enjoyable read. I will pick up anything Rachel Reid puts out, even at mainstream press prices.
I wasn't totally sold on the structure. There are some flashbacks, and while they give us a glimpse at the early relationship, I felt they weren't needed. The interactions of the two older men in the present day was intense and nuanced, and I felt deeply engaged, so each flashback shook me loose from the story a bit. However I always got sucked back in immediately when we returned to the present day.
Riley was easy to love and empathize with and hurt for - in his past, his present losses, and in the way Adam had been so oblivious to his needs, and so scared of his own, that he broke Riley along with their relationship. Adam is more complex - while he does come to a recognition of what he did, I wasn't totally convinced he felt the true impact of his past actions on Riley. He does a ton of trying to make up for the past, and I was glad to see it. He's there for Riley, as they try to rebuild. But I'd have loved to see him get smacked in the face once with the true extent of Riley's past pain and the depth of his own selfishness. There is groveling, but I actually wished for a bit more.
However, I love books with older MCs and really enjoyed that part. I did believe these two loved each other, then and now, and was cheering for their relationship. The secondary characters were great, and this was an enjoyable read. I will pick up anything Rachel Reid puts out, even at mainstream press prices.
October 17, 2025
2.5 ⭐️
spice: 🌶️🌶️.5/5
format: audiobook
narration: 🎤🎤🎤/5
i’m so picky about second chance romance, and honestly i never warmed up to adam.
i don’t think after everything he put riley through, that he should’ve been able to waltz into his life after ten years—during a really vulnerable time for riley—and just put in almost no effort to get him back. where was the groveling? and i swear every time we got more of the past timeline, i liked him even less.
i do like that their reconnecting focused more on their relationship than sex. spice was very minimal in this book. i honestly think i would’ve gotten a bigger ick otherwise.
but i don’t know. just one of those times the second chance didn’t work for me. fuck adam honestly.
spice: 🌶️🌶️.5/5
format: audiobook
narration: 🎤🎤🎤/5
i’m so picky about second chance romance, and honestly i never warmed up to adam.
i don’t think after everything he put riley through, that he should’ve been able to waltz into his life after ten years—during a really vulnerable time for riley—and just put in almost no effort to get him back. where was the groveling? and i swear every time we got more of the past timeline, i liked him even less.
i do like that their reconnecting focused more on their relationship than sex. spice was very minimal in this book. i honestly think i would’ve gotten a bigger ick otherwise.
but i don’t know. just one of those times the second chance didn’t work for me. fuck adam honestly.
February 13, 2025
E-ARC generously provided by Carina Adores/Harper in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much!
Tender, angsty, and containing the exact alchemical mix of romance tropes that is catnip to me, The Shots You Take by Rachel Reid is a certifiable winner of a queer hockey romance that was equal parts heartwarming and heartrending.
Tender, angsty, and containing the exact alchemical mix of romance tropes that is catnip to me, The Shots You Take by Rachel Reid is a certifiable winner of a queer hockey romance that was equal parts heartwarming and heartrending.
March 20, 2025
March 2025 Re-Read (Audiobook)
I wasn't expecting to enjoy this more on re-read, but I did 💙 This audiobook is even more proof that you can't underestimate the influence a narrator has on a story. I'm a huge fan of Greg B already, but even more so than usual, he elevated this story 😌 His nuanced portrayal of the characters, particularly Adam, left me feeling more. I felt like I connected more with Riley, but even more importantly, I was able to feel for and understand Adam much more than before. Don't get me wrong, I still hated the choices Adam made and how he treated Riley, but I actually sensed his conflict and regret this time, whereas before, I found him a bit cold and ambivalent. So, kudos to Greg B for making this book more of what I wanted it to be 🫶🏻
Everything in my original review still stands, and while I don't think I can bring myself to bump this up to 5* because of how the ending was handled , I've come away from this re-read appreciating the story more than I did the first time through. It's always a nice feeling coming away from a re-read loving it more than you did the first time 🥰
Original Review
Well, this was an all-around surprise! I had no idea there was even a new Rachel Reid book on the horizon when I received an ARC invitation for The Shots You Take. What wasn’t a surprise though was how quickly I abandoned all of my upcoming reading plans to immediately devour it! 🤩
This was such a lovely departure from Rachel’s other books. While the topic of grief weighed heavier than her usual fare, I didn’t find the story overly sad or depressing. Having lost my own father unexpectedly over a decade ago, I found Rachel’s portrayal of Riley’s grief very relatable. Everyone’s experience with grief is different, but I felt she captured those early stages quite well. The way you go through your days and it feels like you just haven’t seen the person or spoken to them in a while until suddenly the grief catches you and you realize those things will never happen again. I appreciated how Rachel was able to capture Riley’s grief, give it space, and then weave it into his life as he moved forward and dealt with Adam’s reappearance. It was beautiful seeing the way Adam supported Riley along his journey while also grieving the loss of someone who was more of a father to him than his own.
Another thing I loved about this story was that Riley and Adam are in their 40s and we’re catching them later in life for their second chance romance. Also, while this is technically a hockey romance, there wasn’t actually much on page hockey. Even though we meet Riley and Adam after their hockey careers have ended and life has moved on, we get glimpses of the past and the pressure and expectations of living in the hockey world. We see its undeniable influence over the course of their lives and relationships and how those things led them to present day.
“You staying in town another night? Riley asked.
“Yeah.” Ask me why I’m divorced.
“Why?”
“You know why.” The words were out before Adam could stop them, and they hung in the air for what felt like forever.
Riley and Adam were great characters and Rachel did a fabulous job of showing us how messy they were and how messy they still are while making us root for them all along the way. My heart went through everything right along with them. I felt anger at young Adam and his treatment of Riley, but also anger at his situation and why he felt he had to make the choices he did. My heart ached for Riley and how he had to cope with his mental health and the fallout of what happened with Adam. It was a journey from anger to acceptance and understanding that Rachel handled wonderfully.
For all that I loved the story and how much I adore Rachel’s writing, this still fell short of a five star read for me. There were little things here and there that I found frustrating, but my biggest issue was the pacing. The last 15% or so felt off to me. It was almost like the ending was an afterthought 🫠 For around 85% of the story, everything takes place over the course of a week with flashbacks interspersed. However, as soon as the MCs got together, it was like we’d entered a lightning round, speed running through events as quickly as possible. I went from enjoying a nice, slow buildup for most of the book, to catching up a few weeks later, to being thrown into an epilogue 5 years in the future. I was left feeling sad I’d missed so much, especially the important moments that were only briefly mentioned 😭 I spent so much time becoming invested in Riley and Adam’s happiness that I wanted more time enjoying it with them once it had been achieved. I wanted to cuddle up with their HEA long enough to get warm and cozy, but that didn't happen. Still, this was a fabulous read and I can’t recommend it enough! If you enjoyed Rachel’s other books, you’re sure to love this one too!
I received an ARC from Carina Adores via NetGalley in exchange for my review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I wasn't expecting to enjoy this more on re-read, but I did 💙 This audiobook is even more proof that you can't underestimate the influence a narrator has on a story. I'm a huge fan of Greg B already, but even more so than usual, he elevated this story 😌 His nuanced portrayal of the characters, particularly Adam, left me feeling more. I felt like I connected more with Riley, but even more importantly, I was able to feel for and understand Adam much more than before. Don't get me wrong, I still hated the choices Adam made and how he treated Riley, but I actually sensed his conflict and regret this time, whereas before, I found him a bit cold and ambivalent. So, kudos to Greg B for making this book more of what I wanted it to be 🫶🏻
Everything in my original review still stands, and while I don't think I can bring myself to bump this up to 5* because of how the ending was handled , I've come away from this re-read appreciating the story more than I did the first time through. It's always a nice feeling coming away from a re-read loving it more than you did the first time 🥰
Original Review
Well, this was an all-around surprise! I had no idea there was even a new Rachel Reid book on the horizon when I received an ARC invitation for The Shots You Take. What wasn’t a surprise though was how quickly I abandoned all of my upcoming reading plans to immediately devour it! 🤩
This was such a lovely departure from Rachel’s other books. While the topic of grief weighed heavier than her usual fare, I didn’t find the story overly sad or depressing. Having lost my own father unexpectedly over a decade ago, I found Rachel’s portrayal of Riley’s grief very relatable. Everyone’s experience with grief is different, but I felt she captured those early stages quite well. The way you go through your days and it feels like you just haven’t seen the person or spoken to them in a while until suddenly the grief catches you and you realize those things will never happen again. I appreciated how Rachel was able to capture Riley’s grief, give it space, and then weave it into his life as he moved forward and dealt with Adam’s reappearance. It was beautiful seeing the way Adam supported Riley along his journey while also grieving the loss of someone who was more of a father to him than his own.
Another thing I loved about this story was that Riley and Adam are in their 40s and we’re catching them later in life for their second chance romance. Also, while this is technically a hockey romance, there wasn’t actually much on page hockey. Even though we meet Riley and Adam after their hockey careers have ended and life has moved on, we get glimpses of the past and the pressure and expectations of living in the hockey world. We see its undeniable influence over the course of their lives and relationships and how those things led them to present day.
“You staying in town another night? Riley asked.
“Yeah.” Ask me why I’m divorced.
“Why?”
“You know why.” The words were out before Adam could stop them, and they hung in the air for what felt like forever.
Riley and Adam were great characters and Rachel did a fabulous job of showing us how messy they were and how messy they still are while making us root for them all along the way. My heart went through everything right along with them. I felt anger at young Adam and his treatment of Riley, but also anger at his situation and why he felt he had to make the choices he did. My heart ached for Riley and how he had to cope with his mental health and the fallout of what happened with Adam. It was a journey from anger to acceptance and understanding that Rachel handled wonderfully.
For all that I loved the story and how much I adore Rachel’s writing, this still fell short of a five star read for me. There were little things here and there that I found frustrating, but my biggest issue was the pacing. The last 15% or so felt off to me. It was almost like the ending was an afterthought 🫠 For around 85% of the story, everything takes place over the course of a week with flashbacks interspersed. However, as soon as the MCs got together, it was like we’d entered a lightning round, speed running through events as quickly as possible. I went from enjoying a nice, slow buildup for most of the book, to catching up a few weeks later, to being thrown into an epilogue 5 years in the future. I was left feeling sad I’d missed so much, especially the important moments that were only briefly mentioned 😭 I spent so much time becoming invested in Riley and Adam’s happiness that I wanted more time enjoying it with them once it had been achieved. I wanted to cuddle up with their HEA long enough to get warm and cozy, but that didn't happen. Still, this was a fabulous read and I can’t recommend it enough! If you enjoyed Rachel’s other books, you’re sure to love this one too!
I received an ARC from Carina Adores via NetGalley in exchange for my review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 24, 2025
the queen has a formula and i love it!!
instead of rereading heated rivalry for the tenth time since the show got announced, i decided to pick up this authors new book. i was immediately in the book because of the tension and the past timeline. adam and riley used to be best friends/teammates/fuck buddies, but that all ended twelve years ago. now adam is back in riley’s life when riley is grieving and the two have to deal with the past.
i immediately loved adam and riley. it was very easy to root for the reconciliation but at the same time i don’t know if i would be rooting for them in real life. i know adam has gone through some healing and growth but if riley was my friend and told me what was going on, i would be worried for his wellbeing and skeptical of adam’s entrance into his life. like i said i liked the two as a couple but sometimes i’d catch myself being like.. should they get back together??? either way the story was so good. even with my thoughts about adam, i loved him. it’s important to see representation of coming out later in life so this was good. riley was also just lovely, i need to see his house now. i really enjoyed how riley had his own boundaries and the two didn’t just ignore them and jump back into something.
i pretty much need to visit avery river immediately, not sure if it’s real or not because i haven’t checked but catch me in nova scotia after reading this! i just love rachel reid and this book really reminded me to start reading more of her backlist, it’s just so hard to top shane and ilya so i always go back to the ogs.
instead of rereading heated rivalry for the tenth time since the show got announced, i decided to pick up this authors new book. i was immediately in the book because of the tension and the past timeline. adam and riley used to be best friends/teammates/fuck buddies, but that all ended twelve years ago. now adam is back in riley’s life when riley is grieving and the two have to deal with the past.
i immediately loved adam and riley. it was very easy to root for the reconciliation but at the same time i don’t know if i would be rooting for them in real life. i know adam has gone through some healing and growth but if riley was my friend and told me what was going on, i would be worried for his wellbeing and skeptical of adam’s entrance into his life. like i said i liked the two as a couple but sometimes i’d catch myself being like.. should they get back together??? either way the story was so good. even with my thoughts about adam, i loved him. it’s important to see representation of coming out later in life so this was good. riley was also just lovely, i need to see his house now. i really enjoyed how riley had his own boundaries and the two didn’t just ignore them and jump back into something.
i pretty much need to visit avery river immediately, not sure if it’s real or not because i haven’t checked but catch me in nova scotia after reading this! i just love rachel reid and this book really reminded me to start reading more of her backlist, it’s just so hard to top shane and ilya so i always go back to the ogs.
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